Origins & History of the Gallagher Clan
Gallagher (from Ó Gallchobhair) is the premier surname of County Donegal. The Gaelic root gall (foreigner or stranger) and cabhair (help) translates as “foreign helper” or “helper of strangers.”
The Gallaghers were marshals of the powerful O’Donnell clan, commanding their armies and maintaining the royal horses at Ballyshannon and Raphoe.
Gallaghers were pioneers in American hard-rock and coal mining, notably in the anthracite valleys of Scranton, Pennsylvania and the copper mines of Butte, Montana.