1592 Murtagh MacAodhagain is born in Westmeath. He later becomes a leading Brehon to Clann MacGeoghan. One generation later a Murtagh Keegan is born who is thought to be his son.
1600s MacAodhagains move to North Uist where they favour the name McKeighan.
In South Uist, the name McEachin becomes prominant and it is not known whether they are McKeighans (MacAodhagain) or if they are MacEacherns the former being a sept of MacDonald and the latter being a sept of Maclean.
At the same time McCaghans (thought to be McEacherns or McEachins but could easily be McKeighans) return to Ireland. It is possible these are the progenitors of the Keegans.
1602 Owen MacEggan (also Hegaine) is a prominent supporter of Tyrone is his fight against the protestant Elizabethans
1609 The plantation of Ulster. English and Scottish protestants colonise Northern Ireland, having confiscated the lands of the Catholic Irish.
1620s The following Keegans are born. They may be the offspring of Murtagh MacAodhagain. - Henry Kegan 1620, Dublin - Dudly Keegan 1620, Esker, Dublin - William Keegan, 1620, Crumlin - Walter Kegan 1620, Dublin - Robert Kegan 1627 - Una Keighan, 1620 - Murtagh Keegan 1624
1640s Robert Kegan (1627, see above) migrates from Ireland to Kent. His children are:
- William Keggin, 1644, Greenwich, England - Henry Keggin II, 1647, Greenwich, England - William Keggin II, 1649, Greenwich, England - Ann Keggin II, 1652, Greenwich, England
1640-1650 Walter, Ann and Rowland Keegan are born in the Dublin area
1649 Cromwell's troups commit two acts which directly affect our clan. Burning down Redwood Castle and the massacre of Drogheda.
1659 The name Keegan (Keigeen) is recorded in the Isle of Man by a Margaret Keigeen
1681 Rowland Keegan's first son Derby is born in Dublin, four years later in 1685 his second son Robert Keegan II is born in Drogheda which becomes the most significant Keegan home for the next two hundred years.
1712-1727 Children of Robert Keegan and his wife Elizabeth are:
Robert Keegan III, 1712, Drogheda John Keegan, 1714, Drogheda Mary Keegan, 1716, Drogheda Richard Keegan, 1718, Drogheda Margaret Keegan, 1720, Drogheda Robert Keegan IV, 1722, Drogheda John Keegan II, 1724, Drogheda John Keegan III, 1727, Drogheda
1745 Neil MacEachen (McKeighan?) also known as Neil MacDonald of South Uist is a prominent supporter of Bonnie Prince Charlie. After the Battle of Culloden, Neil and Flora MacDonald help the prince escape to France.
1750-1761 Keegans born in Drogheda:
Robert Keegan V, 1750, Drogheda Thomas Keegan, 1753, Drogheda Margaret Keegan, 1756, Drogheda James Kegan, 1758, Drogheda Robert Kegan VII, 1761, Drogheda Robert Keegan VI, 1750, Drogheda James Keegan, 1754, Drogheda John Keegan IV, 1756, Drogheda Elizabeth Keegan, 1758, Drogheda Robert Keegan VII, 1759, Drogheda Martha Kegan, 1761, Drogheda
1823 John Keegan V is born in Drogheda. He probably has a brother called Thomas and they are thought to be the sons of James Keegan II and Judith Bagnall. He becomes a stonemason and later moves to Liverpool during the Irish famine.
For continuation and more on John Keegan's life, see Drogheda Keegans page and Liverpool Keegans page
Ancestry of Simon Keegan, Keegan England Group (Clann MacAodhagain UK) Aedhagain Flann MacAodhagain Muircertaigh (Murtagh) MacAodhagain Donoch (Duncan) Mor MacAodhagain Donoch (Duncan) Oge MacAodhagain Simeon (Simon) MacAodhagain Saorbhreathach (Justin) MacAodhagain Maoliossa MacAodhagain Flann MacAodhagain Finghin MacAodhagain Connor Ruadh MacAodhagain Donal MacAodhagain Tiege MacAodhagain Tiege Oge MacAodhagain Boetius MacAodhagain Brian MacAodhagain Murtagh MacAodhagain Henry Kegan Rowland Keegan Robert Keegan John Keegan James Keegan James Keegan John Keegan John Keegan Paul Keegan Walter Keegan David Keegan Simon Keegan Poppy May Keegan
26 Carby Egan (1680) 27 Darby Egan of Ballymacegan (1700)
28 29 30 31
32 Darius J MacEgan (1856-1939) 33 Michael J Egan, pictured below (1917) 34 Michael JS Egan (current clan chief)
Ancestry of former clan chief Michael J Egan Aedhagain Flann MacAodhagain Muirdach MacAodhagain Dommchadh MacAodhagain Dommchadh MacAodhagain Simeon MacAodhagain Justin MacAodhagain Flann MacAodhagain Finghin MacAodhagain Connor MacAodhagain Domnall Mac Egan Teige Mac Egan Teige Mac Egan Boetius Mac Egan Brian Egan ---- ---- ---- ---- Murtagh Egan Patrick Egan Michael Egan of Curraghore, Waterford (C1840) Thomas Egan of Glenisland, Mayo (c1875) Michael Joseph Egan, Mayo (c1900) Michael Joseph Egan of Castlebar, Mayo (1917)