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Shanahan Family History

This interesting Irish surname is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic "O'Seanachain", the prefix "O" denoting male descendant of, plus the personal name "Seanachan", from "sean", meaning old. The O'Shanahans were a Dalcassian sept of sufficient importance to have a recognized chief, one "Ui Bloid". The territory held by the clan lay between Bodyke and Feakle in Co. Clare, where the name Shanahan still survives. In the year 1318 Ui Bloid and his followers were dispossessed by the MacNamaras, and during the 14th Century they became dispersed all over Munster.