The Maguire (/ məˈɡwaɪər / mə-GWIRE) family is an Irish clan based in County Fermanagh. The name derives from the Gaelic Mac Uidhir, [1] which is "son of Odhar" meaning "dun", "dark one".

The late Hon. John Francis Maguire, of Cork, patriot, littérateur and journalist, was for many years preceding the recent Irish movement the eloquent champion of the Irish people, and their national representative, so to speak, in the British Parliament. His services to the Irish race at home and abroad were many and important.

There were 248 Maguires and 74 McGuires in all. Maguire was the most numerous surname in Fermanagh in 1890, and the 39th in all Ireland. Famous Maguires/McGuires Apart from the illustrious examples mentioned in the text, family members have peppered the ranks of the Irish Alumnii. Among these: George Maguire (1796-1882) born in Omagh, Tyrone.

THE famous and truly Irish family of Maguire, the chiefs of Fermanagh since the year 1302, derive their name and descent from Odhar, the eleventh in descent from Colla-da-chrich, great-grandson of Cormac Mac Art, monarch of Ireland about the middle of the third century.

MaGuire is a surname of Irish origin, from the Gaelic "Mag Uidhir." The name means, "son of Odhar." Some historical background seems to indicate that the name Mag Uidhir, Maguire, or McGuire stems from the Magi of Éire who were the priests of ancient Ireland.

Hugh Maguire (Irish: Aodh Mág Uidhir; [1] before 1570 [a] – 1 March [N.S. 11 March] 1600) was an Irish nobleman and military commander who served in the Nine Years' War. As Chief of the Maguire clan and Lord of Fermanagh, he was the first [2][3] of the Gaelic chiefs to openly rebel against Elizabeth I 's conquest of Ireland.

The Irish in America by John F. Maguire provides a substantial and invaluable account of the extreme difficulties faced by pioneer Irish immigrants in North America during the 19th Century. The book is also available in Kindle .

The surname Maguire / McGuire comes from the Irish 'Maguidhir', meaning 'son of the brown(haired) one'. The first recorded spelling of the MagUidhir family name appears in the "Ancient Annals of Ulster" dated 956, during the reign of Brian Boru, High King of Ireland.

The Maguire family has a rich history in Ireland. By the 1300's began their ascendancy as rulers in the area of Fermangagh in Northern Ireland. Donn Carrach Maguire the first Maguire king died in 1302.

The name is derived from the Irish Gaelic, Mag-Uidhir (Mag, Mac - son of & Uidhir - Dun colored, sallow). You can hear the actual pronunciation in Irish of the name at the PBS site Irish in America <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/Irish/genealogynames.html> - Maguire.