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The Irish surname Shanley is an anglicised form of the Gaelic name Mac Seanlaoich, (pronounced "Mac "). The literal meaning of the Gaelic name Mac Seanlaoich is "son of the old hero". This surname originally appeared in English as MacShanley (or MacShanly) but records reveal that the prefix Mac of the name was dropped as early as the middle of the seventeenth century; |
| Occasionally, since that time, O has been prefixed to it, but quite erroneously, as it is truly a Mac name, Mac Seanlaoich in Irish. The sept is of Co. Leitrim, the chief being known as MacShanly of Dromod. One Donnachy MacShanly is described in 1404 as a wealthy farmer of this place - his father, Murray, being "servant of trust" to the King of Connacht. They were often at war with their more powerful neighbours the MacRannalls, and in 1473 the latter destroyed their dwellings by fire and slew several of their leading men. They remained steadfastly Catholic: one, Cormac Shanley, is among the priests enumerated in a Penal Law presentment for Co. Leitrim in 1714. Except for the Irish born Canadian poet, Charles Dawson Shanly (1811-1875), whose two brothers, Walter and Francis, were noted engineers in Canada. My family originated in Kilashee County Lonford. Kilashee, or Cill Sidhe, when translated means, 'The Church of the Fairy Mound' or 'The Wood of the Faires'. It probably got its name from the number of forts throughout the parish or mounds and hill which overlook the village. My grandfather John Shanley was brought up in a farm there, and until recently was owned by my uncle Michael. Michael still lives in there, just a few miles outside the village. My Grandfather eventually settled in Lisburn in Northern Ireland when he married my Grandmother Elizabeth. They had two children together, my father Christopher and my Aunt Elizabeth, (or Libby as we call her). My Father married my Mother Arline Bowman from Galgorm Ballymena. They also settled in Lisburn, and my Aunt Libby married and emigrated to Toronto Ontario Canada. She now lives in Oshowa Ontario Canada. My Parents had three boys, Christopher, Mel and me Paul. Not risking having another boy, they decided to adopt a girl, my sister Bernadette. My brother Christopher Married and has one daughter Danielle. Mel married Elaine, and have three boys, Aaron, Ryan and Luke. My sister Bernadette married and moved to Manchester England were she has three girls, Natasha, Geogia and Nieve. I married Linda Trodden and have two children, Cara and Matthew.
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