MEANING: An Irish version of the Germanic ragan + mund “”counsellor, protector.”” Particularly popular in Northern Ireland where Redmond O’Hanlon was a charismatic outlaw, the Irish “”Robin Hood.”” He was born about 1623 in Country Armagh where his father owned seven townlands. During the Cromwellian settlement their estate was taken over by the English. Redmond, his three brothers and a band of about 50 followers took to the hills. Known as “Rapparees,” they were the terror of those who had confiscated the Irish lands and avenged some of the wrongs inflicted upon their peasant neighbors. On Douglas Bridge I met a man Who lived adjacent to Strabane, Before the English hung him high For riding with O’Hanlon. (From the “”Ballad of Douglas Bridge”” by Francis Carlin.)

MEANING: An Irish version of the Germanic ragan + mund “”counsellor, protector.”” Particularly popular in Northern Ireland where Redmond O’Hanlon was a charismatic outlaw, the Irish “”Robin Hood.”” He was born about 1623 in Country Armagh where his father owned seven townlands. During the Cromwellian settlement their estate was taken over by the English. Redmond, his three brothers and a band of about 50 followers took to the hills. Known as “Rapparees,” they were the terror of those who had confiscated the Irish lands and avenged some of the wrongs inflicted upon their peasant neighbors. On Douglas Bridge I met a man Who lived adjacent to Strabane, Before the English hung him high For riding with O’Hanlon. (From the “”Ballad of Douglas Bridge”” by Francis Carlin.)

MEANING: From ri “”king”” and bardan “”poet”” it means “”royal poet.”” In Irish tradition the poet was very highly regarded in any royal household as he acted as scholar, historian and advisor to the king.

MEANING: From rua + ri meaning “”red king, great king.”” Rory O’Connor, the last High King of Ireland was forced to abdicate the throne in 1175.