Hierlihy History

Yellow Equestrian Statue, Cork, Ireland — "Cork Corporation decided to build an equestrian statue in honour of George II in 1760. A Dutchman named Van Nost was commissioned as the sculptor. He supervised the modelling and casting of the statue in a foundry in Kift's Lane. On 7 July 1762 the statue was unveiled. It was situated in the centre of Tuckey's Bridge which connected Tuckey's Quay, now part of the Grand Parade, and George's Street which we now know as Oliver Plunkett Street. . . . To most Cork people the statue was known as 'George a-horseback'. On the pedestal an inscription read: 'The citizens of Cork erected this statue to the memory of King George the Second in gratitude for the many blessings they enjoyed during his auspicious reign MDCCLXII.' After the statue was painted a golden-yellow colour in 1781 the statue became known as the Yellow Horse or, to Irish speakers, an Capall Buí. This is the origin of the Irish name of the street, Sráid an Chapaill Bhuí (the Street of the Yellow Horse)." Thanks to corkpastandpresent@corkcity.ie for use of the image. Note from Mary Lynn Smith: Timothy and Philip Hierlihy (brothers or cousins) were born in Cork and emigrated to America.

Hierlihy Heraldry and History

From Your Irish Ancestors by J. Anderson Black
Great Irish Families

Excerpt from Page 192

“O’Hurley . . .

Gaelic: O’hUrthhuile

Common Variations: Hurley, O’Herlihy

This very common surname is the anglicized form of two distinct Gaelic names, O’huirthile of Thomond and O’Muirthile or O’Murghaile of County Cork. The Thomond Hurleys are now found mainly in County Limerick although their original homeland was in County Clare. The vast majority of Hurleys in Ireland today however come from County Cork and are sometimes, though rarely called Murley. Their ancestral territory was situated near Kilbritain in Carbery East, County Cork.

Dermot O’Hurley (1519 – 1584) Archbishop of Cashel, is noted for his act of martyrdom in defiantly refusing to acknowledge the ‘Queen’s religion’ in Ireland. Born in County Limerick, he was educated at Paris and Louvain and in 1581 appointed to the see of Cashel. But soon after he arrived to take up his post he was arrested ‘bearing treasonable papers’ and subjected to excruciating torture. The executioners placed the Archbishop’s feet and calves in tin boots filled with oil; then they fastened his feet in wooden shackles, or stocks, and placed fire under them. The boiling oil so penetrated the feet and legs that morsels of the skin, and even flesh, fell off and left bone bare’. The Archbishop reluctantly refused to purchase a cessation of his torments by acknowledging the Queen’s supremacy in matters of religion. An end was put to his sufferings by his being hanged on a tree outside of Dublin, 19 June 1584.

Patrick Hurley (d. 1700) led an adventurous and infamous career as an informer and self-styled ‘Count of Mountcallan’ . . .”

From Irish Pedigrees by John O’Hart

Excerpt from page 100

“… The stem of the ‘Macnamara’ Pedigree Lords of Bunratty, County Clare. … URTHUILE ( ‘ur’ ; Irish, recent, ‘tuile’ ; a flood, a torrent) : his son ; a quo O’h-Urthuile ; anglicised Harley, Hurley, Herlihy, Flood-Torrens.”

From A Genealogical History of the Milesian Families of Ireland Compiled by Heraldic Artists Limited

Excerpt from Page 67

“… Various modes of spelling Irish names of Milesian descent : Herlihy, Hurlihy, Harlihy.”

Excerpt from Page 79

“… The O’Herlihys or O’Hurleys were chiefs of a district in the barony of Muskerry. O’Heerin states that they were hereditary wardens of the church of St. Gobnait of Ballyvoorny, and were possessors for many ages of the large parish of that name.”

From Irish Names and Surnames by Reverend Patrick Woulfe

Excerpt from Page 577

“… Ohurtuile – I – OHurrilly, O’Hurley, Hurley ; des of Urthuile ; … the name of a Dalcassian family in Thomond, akin to those of O’Moloney and O’Kearney ; now dispersed throughout Munster. An important branch of the family settled at Knocklong, in the last of County Limerick, where remains of their castle is still a conspicuous object on the hill of Knocklong, and commands a magnificent view of the Galtee Mountains and the plain of County Limerick.”