One of the principal clans of the ancient Irish province of Connacht, the O’Rourkes can claim an illustrious descent from one of the island's most remarkable warrior kings.
• Fighting at great cost to themselves for the preservation of their freedom and independence, many were forced to forge new lives for themselves on foreign shores, where their descendants flourish to this day.
• In the creative literary sphere, Patrick Jake O’Rourke is better known as the American journalist, writer, and political satirist P.J. O’Rourke, author of books that include Parliament of Whores and Give War a Chance, while Frank O’Rourke was the American writer whose 1964 novel A Mule for the Marquesa was adapted for the screen in 1966 as The Professionals.
