|
|
Based
on an article by Joe Creedon
|
| Although most families with Creedon names are now tracable back to Munster, specifically County Cork and there in the area of Macroom; the earliest mention of the clan seems to be at the start of the second millenium from County Antrim in what is now Northern Ireland. Like most Irish families their name appears widely in Australia, U.S.A., Canada and New Zealand during the nineteenth century and later. |
| The
Creedon Clan belonged to the
Race of Old Ireland. These
were the old Celtic inhabitants
who were in Ireland before
the arrival of the Gaelic
people, or Milesians.They
might have been Erainn folk,
or more possibly Cruithne
(Picts).
Like most Clans they were a distinct community living in their own hereditary area under their Chieftain. This area is now known as the Parish of Magherameske, County of Antrim, in the Province of Ulster. The name of O’Criodain (or possibly MacCriodain) seems to have derived from an eminent early Bishop called Cridan. He was buried in 638 AD on Island Mahee in Strangford Lough in nearby County Down. About 1550 AD the Chieftain moved South to County Cork.The Creedon name appears in the late sixteenth century Fiants in Counties Cork and Tipperary as MacCredon and MacCridan.. The 0' prefix was occasionally used even in the sixteenth century. The Clan were distinguished by having many noted Harpers, and these Harpers were dispersed throughout the Province of Munster seeking patronage at the courts of the great Lords. By 1600 AD the Clan System had broken down, and the Creedons left the Bantry Rosse area and were spread around the Province of Munster.There is evidence that Creedons accompanied O'Neill troops from Ulster to fight at the battle of Kinsale, 1601, and after their defeat began to try to get back to the North. At this time the name begins to appear in more County Cork records, perhaps indicating that they were received and sheltered here, and some made it their home. One court where they were welcomed was that of FitzGerald of Cloyne, at Ballymaloe. He was a distinguished member of the family of the Earls of Desmond, who for some time lived at Castle Martyr Castle. In 1621 AD there were two Creedon Harpers at his court, Patrick and Jeremiah. Parts of one of the harps which they played survives to our time. It is a unique Creedon artefact. A facsimile and parts of the original harp can be seen today in the New National Museum at Collins Barracks in Dublin. Creedon has been abbreviated to Creed to a considerable extent - even as early as 1659 when Francis Creed was a titulado in the parish of Kilquan, Co. Limerick. Then it occurs as MacCreed in the Irish army lists preserved in the Ormond manuscripts. Both Creed and Creedon appeared in the marriage licence bonds of the diocese of Cork, Ross and Cloyne from 1682. Many of the Clan Harpers appear to have married into wealthy merchant families and the families of the aristocracy. Others of the Clan entered into various Trades, while some became tenant Farmers who finally obtained Freeholds after 1900 AD. The Creedon name may be found in some Parishes over a period of about 400 years, while the genealogy of certain Creedon families can be traced in the same Townland for almost 200 years. An example of this is Ballyvourney where many generations of Creedon families lie in the Parish graveyards.In 1866 there were 40 Creedon, Creedan and Creeden births registered (37 in Co. Cork) while Creed was only 8; the figures for 1890 were Creedon 15 (all Co. Cork or near) Creed 9 (5 Co. Cork). In the Macroom districts cases there have been records of their synonymous use by one family in registering births. *Fiant: An old word sometimes used to describe official grants of land; of clemency;etc.
|