Farrelly — Irish Surname Origin & Meaning
Irish form: Ó Faircheallaigh
Meaning: 'descendant of Faircheallach'
Traditional stronghold: Meath, Cavan
Pronunciation: FAR-el-ee; Irish Ó Faircheallaigh: oh FAR-khal-ee
History of the Farrelly name
Ó Faircheallaigh is a sept of the Breifne country, Co. Cavan, where the family were hereditary erenaghs, custodians of the church lands, of Drumlane Abbey near Belturbet, one of the most important early monastic sites of the region. The name remains heavily concentrated in Cavan and across the border into Meath, and it is quite distinct from Farrell, with which it is sometimes confused. Bearers have included Agnes O'Farrelly, the Cavan-born professor of Modern Irish at UCD and pioneering woman of the Gaelic revival, the Meath garda Dick Farrelly, who composed The Isle of Innisfree on a bus to Dublin and heard it become the theme of The Quiet Man, and in America the film-making Farrelly brothers.
Variants: Farrelley · O'Farrelly · Farley
Famous bearers of the name
- Agnes O'Farrelly — Cavan-born professor of Modern Irish at UCD and a leading woman of the Gaelic League.
- Dick Farrelly — Meath garda and songwriter whose ballad The Isle of Innisfree became the theme of The Quiet Man.
- Peter Farrelly — Irish-American director who, after comedies with his brother Bobby, won Oscars for Green Book.
Related names from the same part of Ireland: Kelly · Brady · O'Reilly · McGowan · Smith · Clarke · McCabe · Plunkett