The McGillycuddy of the Reeks () is the hereditary Chief of the Name of McGillycuddy, a family originating around MacGillycuddy's Reeks, a range of mountains (reeks) in County Kerry in Ireland. Origins of the title The Annals of the Four Masters records in AD 234 the death of Prince Oilill Olum, King of Munster, the 43rd direct descendant of Milidh, or Milesius, who died in 1284 BC. Thus in legend and in history, the line of the most distinguished families of Munster traces back over 3,300 years. The McGillycuddys were a cadet sept of the O'Sullivans who about 1600 adopted the surname , in recognition of their devotion to St Mochua. A seventh-century O'Sullivan Mór sent his trusted son, Mac Giolla, to be educated under the tutelage of Saint Mochuda at Lismore. He hence became known as O'Sullivan Mac Giolla Mochuda. The name was anglicised into McGillycuddy. Recent chiefs Ross McGillycuddy (1882–1950), educated at Fettes College and RMA Woolwich, joined Royal Field Artillery, posted to India and earned his Jacket. Played rugby for RMA and for Kent County vs Springboks on their first tour in 1906. They played 28 matches, winning 25. He married Helen Grace Courage of Shenfield Place, Essex in 1908. He was a lieutenant colonel, 4/7th Royal Dragoon Guards (United Kingdom), witnessed the first action of the first world war on 23 August 1914 at Casteau, when a colleague was ordered to go after an Ulan patrol with his sword, which he did with fatal consequences for the Ulan. The sword is in the regimental museum at Tidworth. He was awarded a DSO and Legion d'Honneur for improving the mobility of the Vickers machine gun. Brigadier de Lisle ordered him to form the first 36 companies of the Machine Gun Corps. He retired to Ireland on his father's death in 1921 and became a Kerry county councillor and member of Seanad Éireann (Irish Free State) throughout its existence (1922–1936) then of the modern Seanad from its 1938 revival until 1943. During the second world war he was at the same time a senator, an officer in the British Army and Chief of the Name (the highest social rank of the Old Gaelic order). After Ross McGillycuddy complained to the BBC, its 1949 Green Book of standards entered the stricture 'Do not mention the McGillycuddy of the Reeks or make jokes about his name'. John McGillycuddy (1909 -