High in Wicklow’s mist-shrouded mountains, rugged peaks guard ancient secrets. It is here where the Byrne clan firmly took root, descended from Bran mac Máelmórda of the Uí Faeláin, rulers of Leinster. From these wild hills, the Byrnes forged a legacy of strength and resilience that would echo through generations. When Norman invaders seized Kildare in 1169, the Byrnes sought refuge in Wicklow’s hills. From Ballinacor, Rathdrum, and Glenmalure, they defended their lands, preserved Gaelic traditions, and nurtured poets and scholars. Even under the harsh Penal Laws, they remained steadfast in their heritage. Their most daring chapter came in 1798, when the teenage Myles Byrne rose in the Irish Rebellion. He later served in Napoleon’s Irish Legion, carrying the family motto, Certavi et Vici—“I have fought and conquered”—to distant lands. The Great Famine of the 1840s tested the family once more. Many Byrnes crossed the Atlantic to New York, Boston, and beyond, rebuilding their lives with the same resolve that had guided them at home. Thomas F. Byrne led the New York City police, while Gabriel Byrne achieved international fame in cinema, a testament to the clan’s adaptability and enduring influence in new lands. Drawing on a lifetime of research into Ireland’s historic families, Waterford genealogist Sean Kelly blends archival records, emigration documents, and personal testimonies to bring the Byrnes’ story vividly to life. His meticulous research and compelling storytelling reveal the defining features of this remarkable clan. For anyone of Byrne lineage, this book returns you to your misty origins and bears witness to the enduring legacy your ancestors built across time and continents. Discover your heritage today.