History of Liscannor

Cornelius O’Brien was the third son of Henry and Helen O’Brien, of Ennis, County Clare. He was born in Birchfield, (originally Beaghy but angliscised to Birchfield) Liscannor in 1782. The estate is first mentioned in an inquisition of 1625 as the property of Thomas O’Cahill whose family name is preserved in the neighbouring town land of Caherycahill.

He married in 1816, to Margaret, daughter of Peter Long of Waterford. Cornelius was

a solicitor in Ireland from 1811,

a magistrate for Clare,

a Liberal in favour of the Repeal of the Union with Ireland,

Sat for Clare from 1832 to 1847 when he was an unsuccessful candidate. Regained seat July 1852.