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(o)bROGAN (o)BROHAN BANKS
The sept of Brógáin belongs originally to the Hy Fiachrach group and possessed estates in the barony of Carra and Breaghwy in Co. Mayo, where, with Co. Donegal, the name is chiefly found today. In the sixteenth century men of the name were found in both counties: in the Co Mayo they were among the followers of Rory O'Donnell. Benedict Ó Brócáin was bishop of Leyney (i.e. of Achonry) from 1286 to 1312. The placename Ballybrogan suggests that they were also established in Co. Roscommon. In 1504 Dom Dermicius O'Brogan was a member of the community of the priory of Kilkenny West near Athlone. The 1659 "census" suggests that the O'Brogans were then chiefly located in Co. Westmeath but on the side farthest from Connacht. Charles Brogan, of Cavan, was one of the attainted Jacobites. There is evidence to show that much earlier than the seventeenth century the name was not confined to Connacht. In Munster a Mahony O'Brogan was in 1300 among the tenants of Cahirconlish
manor, Co. Limerick, and Stephen O'Brogan (d. 1302) was archbishop of Cashel In Ulster Nehemias O'Brogan was Bishop of Clogher from 1227 to 1240. Broganstown, Co. Wicklow, would seem to suggest a connexion with that county also. Broghane, which is found in the "census" of 1659 as one of the principal names in the barony of Geashill Co. Offaly)is not the same as Brogan, though said to have originated in Connacht. it isBroachdin ( Brohan in the anglicized form) and sometimes, by mistranslation, Banks. The Bankses in Ireland are mostly of this Gaelic stock; but the family of the best known of the name in Ireland, Sir John Thomas Banks (1816 one of the most notable medical men of his time, although connected with Co. Clare, is of English origin.