What is the connection between the song Father O'Flynn and exophthalmic goitre? The first was composed by Alfred Perceval Graves (1846-1931), and the latter, more commonly known as "Graves Disease", is named after its discoverer Robert James Graves (1796-1853).
Alfred Perceval was the compiler of many books of songs - Songs of Killarney (1873), Irish Songs and Ballads (1880), Songs of Old Ireland (1883), Songs of Irish Wit and Humour (1884). He contributed to many magazines, including the Spectator, as well as spending many years as a school inspector and co-writing a work on school management.
Charles Graves (1812-1899), scholar and academic named Bishop of Limerick, Ardfert, and Aghadoe in 1866, wrote: "The history of our country and its language has especial claims on our consideration unless we choose to renounce the name of Irishmen."
Arnold, brother of Alfred Perceval, wrote verse, plays and novels, including Prince Patrick (1898). The above Robert James was physician to the Meath Hospital and founder of the Park School of Medicine, and was president of the Irish College of Physicians 1843-44.
Clotide Inez Mary Graves (1864-1932), born in Buttevant, Co Cork, was a well-known playwright in her day, having produced 16 plays in New York and London. All were members of what Sean de Bhulbh, in his Sloinnte na hEireann/Surnames of Ireland, described as "a remarkable family of scholars and churchmen of the old Gaelic order".
Primarily of English origin, Grave(s) has been gaelicised de Greibh, and betimes equated with the Connaught surname O Griabhain. Sometimes spelt Greaves, it has been in Ireland since the 16th century.
A commission of 1596 restored the temporalities of the sees of Ferns and Leighlin to Robert Graves AM, and in 1600 he was granted the above sees as well as the deanery of Cork, the precentorship of Limerick, and the prebend of Tulloghbracky (now Tullabracky), Co Limerick.
A Census of Ireland 1659 shows William Graves, gent, as titulado of Bebegg, Duleek, Co Meath; Captain Graves, titulado of Damask Street, in the city of Dublin's parish of Saint Audeons; Edmond Graves, titulado of Drogheda, Co Louth, and Edward Graves, a 1661 commissioner of the poll-money ordinance for the town of Drogheda.
Taylor & Skinner's Maps of the Roads of Ireland (1778) locates Rev Mr Greaves at Tarterraghan church, south of Lough Neagh and west of the River Bann. The 1814 Directory lists two of the name in Co Meath - one at Rathmullen, and the second at Newtown-platton. Brookville, Cappoquin, Co Waterford, and Fortwilliam, Rathkeale, Co Limerick, were other Graves residences.
Seven of the name subscribed to Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of Ireland (1837) - one captain, one justice of the peace, and two reverend gentlemen - in Cos Cork, Limerick, Wexford, Laois, Derry, and Offaly.
Co Offaly was the location of the largest Graves holding in "Owners of Land of One Acre and Upwards" (1876). Major William Grogan Graves had 1,503 acres at Cloghan Castle, Banagher. Modest enough Graves holdings are listed in four Leinster counties, two in Munster, two in Ulster, and one in Co Galway. The Galway holding and a Waterford holding exceeded 900 acres, and one in Co Derry was over 800 acres.
Offaly One Hundred Years Ago is a reprint of The King's County Directory 1888. Among "Families of the King's County" was William Grogan Graves DL, High Sheriff 1880, Cloghan Castle, Banagher. "The principal landed family of Graves, which was until recently seated at Cloghan castle, Co Offaly, was earlier of the city of Limerick where John Graves was sheriff in 1719" (MacLysaght's Irish Families, 1957).
Banagher derives from Beann char. Duinnin's Focloir Gaeilge agus Bearla gives beannachair as meaning "abounding in peaks or gables, pinnacled."
MacLysaght's The Surnames of Ireland says some authorities reckon that Graves derives from a word denoting "grove" (from residence there) and by others from one denoting "steward". The Northern Ireland phone book contains three Graves, 13 Greaves, and 28 Greeves.
South of the Border there are but three Greeves entries, with 24 Greaves, and 21 Graves. Over half are in the Dublin 01 area.