“In the part of Monaghan from which my father’s ancestors emanated, there was a severe glut of families called McNally. So, to keep track, they all had to be given nicknames. This was a haphazard process, and a family could be unlucky in its subtitle. But my forefathers did well in the lottery. As a result, to this day, their offspring are known as the ‘College’ McNallys …” (more)
[Frank McNally, Irish Times, 4 June]