Blake

Blake is another Norman name of welsh origin. Richard Caddell came to Ireland from Wales with the Normans in the 12th century. He was known as Niger or Le Blaca (the black one), which in time was tranformed into Blake. The Blakes were one of the original Tribes of Galway, groupings of wealthy merchant families in Co. Galway. By the end of the 18th century, the Blakes had squandered their money and lost most of their estates.

William Blake (1757-1827), the English poet and mystic, was the son of an Irish hosier. Blake's life and work were unconventional, and his poetry was not appreciated until long after his death. In 1752 an amateur horse rider called Edward Blake challenged a neighbour to race him from Buttevant in north Co. Cork to Doneraile, four miles away, all the time keeping Doneraile steeple in sight. Thus was born the word steeplechase.

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Also from Appletree: Tracing Your Irish Roots. Click here to buy from Amazon.com, or here, for more information

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