Famous Beara People

Don Phillip O’Sullivan who was born in 1590 in Beara lived through and personally experienced possibly the most interesting period of Anglo-Irish history which was the reign of Elizabeth the First. Phillip’s father, Dermot O’Sullivan, built a castle in Dursey Island. His cousin was the great chieftain Donal Cam O’Sullivan who had a castle at Dunboy. Dermot fought with Donal Cam in his wars. Don Phillip O’Sullivan received his education from a priest in Spain where he was sent with several youths for safety. The one outstanding work of the history of that period is the “Compedium of the Catholic History of Ireland” written by Don Phillip O’Sullivan which is just one of his many famed works. He is renowned as the one who has done the most as a layman to illustrate the suffering and history of Catholic Ireland during the 17th Century.

Morty Og

Morty Óg O'Sullivan was born in the early 18th Century in Eyeriesbeg and was one of the last best known chiefs of the O’Sullivan Bere clan, who continued to live in Beara after the fall of Dunboy. He went to France at an early age, like so many more Catholics at the time, where he served with distinction in the wars of Maria Theresa of Austria. After the failure of the rebellion he returned to Beara where he got married to the daughter of Dearmad MacOwen O’Sullivan of Bank, Rossmacowen, Castletownbere. At the time of Morty Óg’s return, smuggling all kind of items was a thriving business and Morty became so involved in this industry that the legend of his expertise as a smuggler lives on until today.

Places & People