Does anyone out there remember the little rhyme about the "Mac" and "Ó" name prefixes that ends with the line:

"And if he lacks both O and Mac no Irishman is he."

I'm writing a blog entry on Irish surnames, and I want to include this rhyme (and yes...I do plan to dispel that myth), but I can't remember the first part! Google's not been much help...I'm guessing because I'm misremembering the wording of the ending line.

Cuidigí liom, le bhur dthoil!

Redwolf

By mac and ó you'll always know
True Irishmen, they say
But if they lack the ó or mac
No Irishmen are they

(My surname is Norman in origin. Apparently we're "more Irish than the Irish themselves")

_________________
Táim ag foghlaim fós. Fáilte roimh gach aon cheartúchán.

Does that mean you came in with a fizz?

I asked this on Facebook, and it generated quite a belligerent response...even though I told the guy that one of the things the article will do is explain why that little rhyme isn't entirely accurate. I hate having to defend my work before I've even put pen to paper (or, in modern parlance, put my fingers on the keyboard). Raised my blood pressure for no good reason!

Some people just like to argue, I guess.

Thanks all!

Redwolf

This is not controversial. Dá nach bhfuil Mac nó Ó sa sloinne, is fíor nach Gaelach é. Níl mé ach ag magadh.

LOL

Féabar MACMAOILÁIN, LOL

My surname is originally scottish (though my dad rekons french before that but who can tell really going back that far its all guess work, sure didnt we all come from africa in the first place?) , a definate case here too of becoming more irish than the irish themsevles

My family name is Scottish but it was originally French and there's no Mac and no Ó and no Fitz

No they don't.

What are some relatively common Irish sur-names of Gaelic origin that do not bear the prefix Mac, Ó, Fitz or de; or have been derrived from an English sur-name. One that occurs to me is Blaney.