Origins of the Family Name - Ó.Ficheallaigh According to various Genealogists
(O) Fihilly , Ó.Fithcheallaigh (chess player) . A sept of the Corcha Laoidhe (Co Cork),often abbreviated to Feeley and sometimes anglicised Field. In modern times the form Feeley is mainly found in north Connacht, where it is a Silmurry sept.
Also
gives the origin as from fichel an ancient chess type board game
Fihilly (Arms; Argent, an oak tree eradicated ppr)
Muredach MaolLeathan, the 16th Christian King of Connacht, who is number 97 on the
** O'Connor" (Connacht)
pedigree, was the ancestor of Ó.Ficheallaigh; anglicised Fihilly,Feely,
Field, Fielding, O'Feeley.
99. Ficheallach ("fiacail"; Irish, a tooth; Hebrew "acal" he eats): his son ;a quo O.Ficheallaigh meaning "the descendants of the man who had large teeth."
In Connacht our family crest is identical to that of the O'Connor (Don) branch ,but without the motto
.**
The O'Connor clan were very prominent in the history of the province of
Connacht and indeed throughout Ireland for many centuries. Two of the High
Kings of Ireland before the Norman Invasion were Turlough.O'Connor (d1136) and
Rory.O.'Connor (d1161). The inauguration site of the kings of Connacht was at Rathcroughan, Tulsk, Co Roscommon.
Donnachadh.Ó.Corrán & Fidelma Maguire.-Irish Names
Fíchel:
Fítheal .(fi-hal)- Meaning, perhaps 'a sprite goblin'. Fíthel was a
legendary judge amongst the ancient Irish who could give no false judgement. Fithel
was also the name of a brother of Fionn mac Cumhaill. Fithel remained in use
among the learned family of O Mulchonry or Conry chroniclers to the Kings of
Connacht, by whom it was anglicised Florence and Florry.