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Very shortly after the invasion of 1170 the Anglo-Norman family of Terrell or Tirrell, which had gone from France to England with William the Conqueror, came to Ireland, obtaining a grant of the greater part of the barony of Fertullagh in Westmeath as well as the lordship of Castleknock in county Dublin. There or thereabouts thet have remained since, appearing in the records down the centuries in every walk of life but always with representatives in the highest ranks of society. In the Ormond Deeds and other mediaeval records the name occurs frequently from the year 1176 onwards, the most prominent of the many mediaeval officials of the name being Hugh Tirrell, who was seneschal of Ulster in 1224. In some sixteenth century records, e.g. Dowling's Annals and the Fiants, the name is given as MacTyrrell: this is not to be taken as indicating that there was also a Gaelic sept of the name but merely that many families of the name had become assimilated in the Irish nation by that time. The name has been gaelicised as Tirial.

While not becoming hibernicized so completely as other Norman families more remote from the Pale, they were typical of the powerful "Old English" Catholic families which in the seventeenth century were identified with the Confederation of Kilkenny, opposition to the Cromwellian regime, and later support of the Jacobite cause. Tyrrell's Pass (Tyrrellspass) in Co. Westmeath got its name from the victory won there in 1597 by Capt. Richard Tyrrell, one of O'Neill's ablest commanders; in that year was born Edward Tyrrell (d. 1671) superior of the Irish College, Paris, and official agent of the Confederation of Kilkenny in France. In the next generation Dr. Patrick Tyrrell O.F.M., Bishop of Clogher from 1676 to 1688, afterwards Bishop of Meath, was closely associated with St Oliver Plunket, and nine Tyrrells were officers in King James II's Irish army, including two in Sarsfield's own regiment.

In modern times Professor Robert Yelverton Tyrrell (1844-1914), was a celebrated classical scholar and poet; the Rev. George Tyrrell (1861-1909) was the author of religious books for the publication of one of which he was excommunicated.

Captain Richard Tirrell is mentioned under A.D. 1597, in the Annals of the Four Masters. In a note at page 621 of Connellan's Edition of that great Work, it is stated that the said Captain Tirrell was "a gentleman of the Anglo-Norman family of the Tyrrells, lords of Fartullagh in Westmeath. He was one of the most valiant and celebrated commanders of the Irish in the war against Elizabeth; and, during a period of ten or twelve years, had many conflicts with the English forces in various parts of Ireland. He was particularly famous for bold and hazardous exploits, and rapid expeditions; and copious accounts are given of him by Fynes Morrison, MacGeoghegan, and others. After the reduction of Ireland, he retired to Spain.

The battle of Tyrrell's Pass is described by MacGeoghegan, and mentioned by Leland and other historians; it was fought in the summer of 1597, at a place afterwards called "Tyrrell's Pass," now the name of a town in the barony of Fartullagh, in the county Westmeath. When Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone, heard that the English forces were preparing to advance into Ulster, under the Lord Deputy Borrough, he detached Captain Tyrrell, at the head of four hundred chosen men, to act in Meath and Leinster; and, by thus engaging some of the English forces of the Pale, to cause a diversion, and prevent their joining the Lord Deputy Borrough, or co-operate with Sir Conyers Clifford. The Anglo-Irish of Meath assembled at Mullingar to the number of one thousand men, under the command of Barnwall, Baron of Trimblestown, intending to proceed to and join the Lord Deputy. Tyrrell was encamped, with his small force, in Fartullagh, and was joined in command by young O'Connor Faley of the King's County. The Baron of Trimblestown, having learned where Tyrrell was posted, formed the project of taking him by surprise, and for that purpose, dispatched his son (young Barnwall) at the head of the assembled troops. Tyrrell, having received information of their advance against him, immediately put himself in a posture of defence, and, making a feint of flying before them as they advanced, drew them into a defile covered with trees, which place has since been called Tyrrell's Pass; and, having detached half of his men under the command of O'Connor, they were posted in ambush in a hollow adjoining the road. When the English were passing, O'Connor and his men sallied out from their ambuscade, and with their drums and fifes played "Tyrrell's March," which was the signal agreed upon for the attack. Tyrrell then rushed on them in front, and the English being thus hemmed in on both sides, were cut to pieces; the carnage being so great that out of their entire force only one soldier escaped the slaughter, who having fled through a marsh carried the news to Mullingar. ... Young Barnwall being taken prisoner, his life was spared, but he was delivered to O'Neill.

A curious circumstance is mentioned by MacGeoghegan, that, from the heat and excessive action of O'Connor's sword-arm on the occasion, his hand became so swelled that it could not be extricated from the guard of his sabre until the handle was cut through with a file."

The great castle built by Sir Richard Tyrrell in Tyrrellspass, stands close to the main Dublin to Galway road. It is in excellent repair and currently serves as a restaurant with mediaeval banquets a specialty.

Some Family Pedigrees (according to O'Hart)

1. SIR HUGH TIRRELL; a quo Tyrrell, came into Ireland with Philip, of Worcester, lord justice, was the ancestor of Tyrrell, and was identical with the Sir Hugh Tirrell, who was called the "Græcian Knight." This Sir Hugh had two sons -

1. Richard Ruadh [roe], who was ancestor of the Tyrrell family who were hereditary sheriffs and sometimes governors of the lower borders of Meath, now called "Westmeath," where they acquired the ancient territory of Fertulagh, which they enjoyed until confiscated by Cromwell; and
2. James. We read that, in 1316, a lord Hugh Tirrell, governor of Castleknock, was taken by the "Scots" (or Irish people).

2. Richard Ruadh: his son; had a brother named James, who was, according to the Linea Antiqua, an ancestor of Purcell.
3. Richard (2): son of Richard.
4. Richard (3): his son.
5. Redmond: his son.
6. James: his son.
7. Richard (4): his son.
8. Thomas: his son.
9. Sir John: his son.
10. James (2): his son.
11. Jerratt Tyrrell: his son.

Another Line
1. RICHARD DUFFE TIRRELL, of Brenockstown, had;
2. William, who had;
3. Philip, who had;
4. Richard, who had;
5. Walter (the second son), of Brenockstown, who died 26th July, 1637. He marrried Elizabeth, daughter of Walter Tirrell of Clonmoyle, county Westmeath, gent., and had:

1. Walter, who d.s.p.
2. Thomas.

6. Thomas: second son of Walter; married Mary. daughter of Walter Browne of Kilpatrick, co. Westmeath.

Another line
1. RICHARD TIRRELL, of Caverstown, co. Westmeath, gent., had;
2. Edmund, who had;
3. Edward, who died 11th May, 1636. He marrried Onora, daughter of John Tirrell of Clonemoil, gent., and had;

1. Richard.

His second wife was Amy, daughter of Richard Sutton, of Richardstown, co. Kildare, and had one son and three daughters;

1. James.
2. Barbara.
3. Onora.
4. Bridget.

4. Richard: eldest son of Edward.