Foley Irish Family Gifts & Heritage

Foley comes from the Irish Ó Foghladha, “descendant of Foghlaidh,” an old personal name meaning plunderer or raider. County Waterford was the family’s first homeland, and one of its early churchmen, Maelíosa Ó Foghladha, served as Archbishop of Cashel in the twelfth century. From those Waterford roots the Foleys spread west into the neighboring counties of Cork and Kerry and across Munster and South Leinster, where the name is still strongest today.

Dublin-born John Henry Foley carried the surname into the front rank of Victorian sculpture: his O’Connell Monument anchors O’Connell Street, and his Prince Albert sits at the heart of London’s Albert Memorial.

Wrap up in the Foley woven blanket or the printed throw blanket, both set on the Irish National Tartan, and pour the morning tea into the Foley heritage mug. A wall pennant gives the name pride of place, a framed ornament brings it to the Christmas tree, and the Irish harp T-shirt makes an easy gift for any Foley. Learn more in our Foley surname history.