O Donovan - Irish / Ua Donndubhain - donn / brown / dubh - black. A Heberian Eoghanacht Ui Fidgeinti Sept / Family branch who are descended from *Donovan / Donndubhan who died in 980 AD as the King of the Ui Choirpri Sept, who had their territory in the east of Co. Limerick in the mid - north - west of Thomond / Tuaisceart Mhumhain / Northern Munster. They were also Chiefs and Kings in the south - west of Co. Cork in Desmond / Des Mhumhain / Southern Munster and Chiefs of Cairbre Eva in the Barony of Kenry the ancient territory also of the O Clerkins and O Flannerys as they too were also descended from *85.Eoghan "Mor" - the Greater the oldest son of *84.Ailill "Olomm" the 1st King of Munster in the 2nd Century AD. Their particular Eoghanacht Ui Fidgeinti male line was unusual, as it was not to be through 89.Conall "Corc" whose personal Chaisil Sept was to mostly dominate the Munster / Cashel Kingships from their fortress on the Rock of Cashel in Co. Tipperary in the north - east of Ormond / Aur Mhumhain / North Eastern Munster. The Ui Fidgeinti Sept may have also played a further small part in the scheme of things in Munster if in fact 101.Olchobur was really the 20b King of Munster who was also from the Ui Fidgeinti Sept, and may have also ruled from Cashel before he died in 796 / 7 AD. Their particular Eoghanacht Ui Fidgeinti Sept had proceeded initially from *85.Eoghan "Mor" also and through his grandson, *87.Ailill "Fland Bec," the father of *88.Luigthech, the father of 89.Conall "Corc" the main ancestor of the Eoghanacht Chaisil Kings. But it was to be another of his sons, *88.Maine "Munchain," whose son *89.Fiachu "Fidgennid" was to become the direct ancestor of the Ui Fidgeinti Families. He in turn was then to be the grandfather of *91.Coirpre / Cairpre who was to be the direct ancestor of the Ui Choirpri Aebda Sept from whom the O Donovan Families originate. Owing to the ongoing Viking disruptions the Irish Brehon Laws at that time were thrown into turmoil and 104.Callaghan / Ceallachan the great Eoghanacht Chaisil 34th King of Cashel / Munster excelled during that period against them. Regrettably he was to leave no one of equal ability from his line male line and the Eoghanacht Tuathas / Family regions became destabilized by a rapid succession of weakened Kings, as did the long running domination of the Heremonian Ui Cobhthaigh Dal Cuinn "Southern" and "Northern" Ui Niaill Tuathas. Donovan along with his kinsmen, 109.Molloy / Maol "Muaidh," from the Eoghanacht Raithlind Cenel nAeda Cenel mBecce Sept was involved with the Vikings in the death of 105.Mahon the Ui Turlough King of Thomond and Heberian Dal gCais 39th King of Munster, and 109.Molloy became the 40th King of Cashel / Munster. 105.Brian "Boru," 105.Mahon's younger brother, who was then the outstanding Heberian Dalcassian King of Thomond / Tuaisceart Mhumhain / Northern Munster was to re - gain the upper hand and also become the 41st King of Munster and 170th High King of Ireland and halt the Viking menace at Clontarf near Dublin. During this battle 105.Brian "Boru," his son, and his grandson, were killed and this left a big hole to be filled for the aristocratic Heberians in the Munster Province. The other Heberian Munster Septs began to realize that they too could also stand up and be counted and the fighting for overall superiority in Munster between the Mac Carthys, descended from 107.Carrthaig (the Loving One) who was also a great - great grandson of 104.Callaghan, and his descendants the actual O Callaghans, weakened the Eoghanachta Tuaths further. Later on the Ui Turlough Ui mBriain Septs descended from 105.Brian "Boru" were able to force the O Donovans out to Carbery in Co. Cork in Desmond / Des Mhumhain / Southern Munster  where they had their main seat in Castle Donovan at Drimoleague. When the Anglo - Norman Invasion occurred later in 1169 - 1171 AD they were further weakened, and in 1326 AD Fitz Gerald the Anglo - Irish Earl of Kildare rebuilt their O Donovan Castle on the Margue River in Co. Limerick. Just like so many other Irish Septs they were only to survive as a Gaelic Family until the 17th Century AD when the English finally Confiscated their remaining territory also. *Daniel O Donovan at that time re - established the Family at Bawnlahan near Myross and at Castlehaven with their main fortress at Brurec in Co. Limerick, while at Ballylickey in Co. Cork was their Rahine Castle west of Glandore. When the famous Irish historian Dr. John O Donovan’s father was dying he repeated his Heberian Eoghanacht lineage back to 1641 AD telling his sons not to forget that that he was descended from *84.Ailill "Olomm" the Heberian 1st King of Munster. His particular branch had migrated to Co. Kilkenny from where Dr. John O Donovan’s brothers took him to Dublin to become better educated, and later in and around Co. Kilkenny in the south - west of Southern Leinster he gained a greater knowledge of the Gaelic language and the ancient history of the Irish Families. Born in 1809 AD he was to die in 1861 AD after founding the Irish Archaeological Society for the study and history of the Irish People and those of Irish descent must in the future be forever thankful for this. "The O Donovan" Chief is / or was Daniel O Donovan from Skibbereen in Co. Cork. Ancestors -  *89.Fiachu "Fidgennid" (Ui Fidgeinti), *88.Maine "Munchain," *87.Ailill "Fland Bec," *86.Fiachu "Mullethan," *85.Eoghan "Mor"(Eoghanachta), *84.Ailill "Oluimm" the 1st King of Munster.

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