The King’s Cousins

The King’s Cousins is a sweeping journey through a thousand years of Irish history - seen through the remarkable story of one clan. Springing from the Dalcassian line of Cennétig mac Lorcáin, father of High King Brian Boru and namesake of the mighty O’Kennedy line, the McGraths emerge as poets, warriors, churchmen, rebels, emigrants, and builders whose path mirrors the fate of Ireland itself. Following the rise, fall and rise again of this ancient and noble clan provides a fascinating ride through the epic story of the Irish experience.From medieval Waterford and Ulster strongholds, through the upheavals of Norman invasion, Tudor conquest, the Plantation era, and the tragic fall of Gaelic Ireland, the McGraths carved a uniquely Irish destiny. Their saga continues across the Atlantic, where famine survivors forged new lives in America - joining Union battalions, building cities, policing streets, writing songs, and shaping immigrant communities. Along the way, readers encounter unforgettable figures: Legendary bards, an infamous archbishop, chieftains clashing with Viking raiders, rebels in the IRA, innovators, artists, mob bosses, and modern cultural icons.Told with drama and clarity, The King’s Cousins offers a unique way to learn the story of Ireland and the Irish in America through the lens of a single resilient clan whose branches stretch across centuries and continents. Whether your interest is in medieval Ireland, bardic traditions, the Great Famine, legends of St. Patrick, the Irish Brigade of the American Civil War, the Troubles, or exploring your own Irish family tree, this book brings the past alive with vivid detail and human warmth.A chronicle of survival, identity, and belonging, The King’s Cousins is both a family history and a grand narrative of a people - an excellent read for anyone curious about Irish history, genealogy, culture, and the enduring legacy of the McGrath name.