Murphy, People & Places
Breen

There are several distinct branches of O'Breen and MacBreen in Ireland, but the majority of Breens, now without any prefix, belong to Wexford.' According to Dr. John O'Donovan, some of the Knocktopher (Kilkenny) MacBreens migrated to Wexford where they are not to be confounded with the O'Breens who, says O'Donovan, are descended from Bran Finn, son of Lachta, King of Munster and uncle of Brian Boru. O'Donovan states that these O'Breens, who became the chief family of the Duffry, were 'a lawless and restless race, continuously harassing their Anglo-Norman neigh bours.'
 Their chief, Murchad O'Brain, deserted Dermot MacMurrough and he and his son were executed by Strongbow at Ferns in 1171 and their bodies thrown to the dogs.' The townland of Clonyburn in Bunclody parish is anglicised from Cluain Ui Bhriain, i.e., O'Breen's meadow, and was formerly known as Cloneybreen. At the close of the sixteenth century it was owned by William O'Briain.
 A notable Wexford man of the name in modern times was Patrick (P.D.) Breen, who was President of the Gaelic Athletic Association (G.A.A.) from 1924 to 1926. He was a native of Carrig-on-Bannow and a national teacher in Castlebridge. Another Breen family were prominent grain merchants and maltsters in Castlebridge from 1825. The business passed to the Nunn family through the marriage of the daughter of Patrick Breen, J.P., to William Bolton Nunn. This Breen family are buried at Artramont in the old graveyard there, and in a vault behind the present Catholic church in Castlebridge. One of them was a Jesuit priest John Breen, Courtown Demesne, who died in August 1978, was one of the best known figures in the business, farming, sporting and social life of north Wexford. He was captain of Courtown Golf Club in 1955 and president of the club for three years (1967-'69). He was a native of Ballydonegan, Ferns. The Breen family of Kedmoor (p. of Kathangan) produced several noted religious and public representatives. The present parish priest of Bunclody, is Kev. Kichard Breen, a former Superior of the Mission House, in Enniscorthy. He is a native of Wexford town where his brother James Breen is a solicitor. Edward Breen from Enniscorthy was appointed Town Clerk in Wexford in 1978. Gerard Breen of Wexford town, was editor of The People newspapers from 1972 to 1986.

I.  MacLysaght, Irish Families, p. 59.
2.  Song oSDermor and the Earl,  p. )18; Orpen, Vol.  I , P· 237.