The O'Galvins are a sept of Thomond and are mentioned among the Co. Clare septs which took part in the Battle of Loughraska, otherwise called the Battle of Corcomroe Abbey, in 1317. They do not appear prominently in any branch of Irish public life since that time, but representatives of the sept have remained continuously in their original homeland and are still found in Co. Clare and, in greater numbers to-day, in Co. Kerry. A branch located in Co. Roscommon was strong enough to be included among the more numerous names in the barony of Athlone in the 1659 census. The name is O Gealghain in Irish, possibly a compound of geal (bright) and ban (white). The prefix O is not used with this name in modern times but O'Galvin and O'Gallivane are old forms of it in English. The most famous comedian in England at the end of the last century was Dan Leno. His real name was George Galvin (1860-1904): he was born in London of Irish parents.