Most people, if asked to define reek, no doubt would inform you correctly that it meant "To emit an unwholesome or disagreeable vapour or fume; hence to smell strongly or unpleasantly: to stink". But if asked about the noun "reek", many might suggest it meant a mountain. But it does not - at least none of our dictionaries contains such. The Irish word cruach means "a heap, a stack, a rick, a clamp (of turf); a symmetrically shaped mountain".
Kerry's major mountain range, Na Cruacha Dubha, `the black ricks/mountain stacks', was translated with a Kerry accent to "The Reeks". Later when the Macgillycuddy branch of the sept of O'Sullivan came to dwell at the southern base of these mountains, they became known as Cruacha Dubha Mhic Ghiolla Mhochoda - The MacGillycuddy Reeks. Boazio's 1599 map names the mountain range `The Great Righes', while Petty's Atlas of 1685 renders it `McGullycuddy Reeks'.
The personal name Giolla Mochuda - `servant of St Mochuda (of Lismore) - was much favoured by a branch of the O Suilleabhain
Mor, and in the 16th century Mac Giolla Mochuda became established as a sept distinct from the parent stem. M.F. Cusack - `The Nun of Kenmare' - in her The King- dom of Kerry says Conor, son of Giolla Mochuda O'Sullivan, was treacherously slain by his own kinsman in 1411. This Conor is the ancestor of the Mac Gillycuddy of the Reeks. It is stated this is one of the few septs whose present-day representative is officially recognised as chief of the name Mac Gillycuddy. (We are not informed who is the recognising authority.)
The earliest listing of this surname in The Irish Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns (1521-1603) is Moriertagh M'Gillicode, named among a group pardoned in Co Cork in 1550. Donell M'Moriertagh M'Gillicoda is among the pardoned listed in a Fiant of 1585. Again the county suggested is Cork, those `pardoned' being "Sir Owen O'Sullivan's tenants". In 1563 O'Sullivan Beare ".. . fell by the hand of a bad chief, namely Mac Gillicuddy.. . "
The History of Cork by the above `Nun of Kenmare' gives Carew's estimate of O'Sullivan's forces in 1598, among which 100 companies of M'Gillicuddy in the Co Kerry barony of Dunkerron. A map of Munster in 1608, dedicated to Cecil, has appended to it `Lists of men of note', among which is M'Gellecudde of Boddesmeen. This is spelled Bodevysmine is a report of the death of Donogh M'Dermot O Sullivan, alias M'Gillycuddy in the Desmond wars. We read in King James's Army List that in the year 1630 Connor Mac Gillicuddy, of Castlecarrick, Co Kerry, was shipwrecked and drowned. "Near Churchtown in the Co Kerry parish of Knockane are the ruins of Castle Cor, formerly the residence of the M'Gillycuddy family", informs Lewis's 1837 Topographical Dictionary of Ireland.
A letter dated July 6th 1691 informed that nothing of moment had happened since the taking of Athlone, noting that the only persons of note killed were colonels Mac Mahon and McGillycuddy. On April 30th 1742, a declaration was filed regarding lands at Culleeny in the Co Kerry parish of Kilbonane, and one of two witnesses was Cor McGillycuddy. Around 1796 together with Thomas Fitzgerald, Eusabius McGilacudy was renting land on Lord Kenmare's estate at Oldtown and Knockmanus, Co Carlow.
William Petty, who started his mapping of the 22 forfeited counties of Ireland in 1654, subsequently acquired `soldiers' land for himself in Co Kerry. This forfeited land had formerly been the heritage of the Mac Gillycuddy, which later was restored to MacGillycuddy by King Charles. This led to a long legal wrangle between MacGillycuddy and Petty.
Richard M'Gillycuddy of the Reeks was a deputy lieutenant of Co Kerry, and among its magistrates in 1836, at which time James M'Gillycuddy, Tralee, was one of the county's coroners, and Francis Chute M'Gillycuddy, Tralee, was a subsheriff. Owners of Land on One Acre and Upwards (1876) lists Thomas M'Gillycuddy, Whitefield, Killarney, with 15,518 acres. In the election of 1896 "Mr Burke Roche was returned for East Kerry by a large majority over the Unionist candidate, a M'Gillicuddy of the Reeks, after a terrific washing of dirty linen on the nationalist side".
Current telephone directories show the majority entries of this surname to be in the 06 area, particularly in Co Kerry. There are three entries in Co Carlow.