Motto: ARM DUTHCHAS

Translation: "Vigor, Our Heritage"

The DOHERTY family belongs to that group of clans, known in Celtic genealogy as Cinel Conall, whose homeland was called Tirconnell, modern County Donegal. These clans trace their orgin to Conall Gulban, son of Niall of the Nine Hostages, High King of Ireland, A.D. 379. The ancient Gaelic name, O'Dochartaigh, is variously anglicized as DOHERTY, O'DOHERTY, DOUGHERTY, and DAUGHERTY.

The original territory of the sept was the barony of Raphoe and their stronghold was at Ardmire. Later they extended their sway over all Innishowen, the peninsula most commonly associated with the DOHERTY name of today. The Annals of the Four Masters record one O'DOHERTY name today. The Annals of the Four Masters record on O'DOHERTY chieftain as the chief of all Tirconnel in 1179 A.D.

The DOHERTY'S were noted for their valiant defense of their independence and Gaelic traditions. They held sway in Innishowen down to the reign of James I. Finally, stung by the arrogance and aggression of Sir George Paulett, English Govenor of Derry, the last of the great O'Doherty cheiftans, and the last of the noted Ulster leaders, Sir Cahir O'Doherty, raised again the standard of revolt. Though hopelessly out-numbered, he siezed Derry, killed Paulett and many of the English leaders. With a few other Ulster cheiftans he succelssfully defied the might of crennan. After his death, the O'Doherty lands were confiscated and given to Sir Arthur Chichester. The memory of Sir Cahir O'Doherty, the personification of the family motto, "Vigor, our Heritage," lives in song and in story in Donegal, as in the lines:

By the dark eye that's blended of midnight
And the bearing and stature so princely and tall,
Sir Cahir you'll know in the midst of them all.

Despite their dispersal and confiscation of their lands the descendenants of the DOHERTY clan today stand fifteenth in the list of the commonest surnames in Ireland. The family has given many able leaders to Irish civic and political life. Among them may be mentioned John Doherty (1783 - 1850), Parliamentary leader and Chief Justice, and Kevin Izod O'Doherty, (1823 - 1905). His Eminence, the late Cardinal Dougherty of Philadelphia, was one of the best known representatives of the family in the United States.

(The picture and article above were taken from a plaque that once belonged to my Father-in-Law. There is no author or artist listed.)