Irish surname search
MacDermot, Kermode
The MacDermots are one of the few septs whose head is recognized by the Irish Genealogical Office as an authentic chieftain, that is to say he is entitled in popular parlance to be called The MacDermot; and in this case this is enhanced by the further title of Prince of Coolavin, though of course as titles are not recognized under the Irish Constitution the designation is only used by courtesy. The family descends from Tadhg O'Connor, who was King of Connacht before the Norman invasion. The MacDermots divided into three distinct septs, or, if we disregard the branch which early accepted English domination, into two septs. The more important, having precedence, is that of Coolavin, Co. Sligo, formerly of Moylurg, whose territory embraced much of Co. Roscommon, the other, further north in Co. Roscommon, owned Kilronan and was called MacDermot Roe (I.e. Red). Madam MacDermot (1659-1739), of Alderford, wife of MacDermot Roe, was noted for her patronage of O'Carolan the harper at the time when aristocratic patronage of the bards was almost a thing of the past. O'Carolan was buried in the MacDermot family vault at Kilronan. The name is numerous - it is included in the hundred commonest in Ireland. It is the second most common in its home county (Roscommon) and is also found frequently in Counties Donegal and Tyrone. It is seldom used without the prefix Mac, except in Co. Leitrim where the simple form Dermott is not uncommon. Its derivation is simple - Mac Diarmada (son of Diarmuid or Dermot). Three of the name may be mentioned as outstanding: two of these were of the Chiefly family of Moylurg - Brian MacDermot (d. 1592), learned owner of the famous manuscript "The Annals of Loch Ce" and Hugh MacDermot (1834-1904), leading barrister and politician; and a third, Martin MacDermott (1823-1905), Young Irelander and poet of The Nation. The name MacDermot is also to be found among the prominent members of exiled Irish families on the continent, both as ecclesiastics and as soldiers.
In some parts of Connacht the name has been corrupted to Kermode, due to the aspiration of the initial D of MacDiarmada in spoken Irish.