No one can doubt that the original possessor of this name in the County Waterford has a goodly number of successors to the family patronymic. Nowadays we meet the name hourly among the inhabitants of Waterford. The Powers succeeded the Deesi in their territory. That liberal King, Henry II., granted to Robert le Puher (le Poer) in 1177 the City of Waterford, with all the circumjacent province, "and that all the lands which lie between Waterford and the water beyond Lismore shall belong to the service of Waterford." This was a fair reward for Robert le Poer, marshall to the King. But in 1704 the male line of the le Poers became extinct, and the inheritance fell Catherine Poer, who married Sir Marcus Beresford, as who was created Lord Viscount Tyrone by George I. The descent from Robert le Poer is thus traced: - From Robert le Poer was descended Richard le Poer who was created Baron le Poer and Curraghmore, 13th September, 1535 From him, Richard le Poer; Viscount Decies and Earl of Tyrone, 1673. From him, John, died 1693 and his brother James, died 1704, neither of whom having male issue, James's only daughter, Catherine Poer, was married to Sir Marcus Beresford, who was created Lord Viscount Tyrone by George I.
It must not be concluded that after the Norman invasion by Strongbow, 1169-70, or the English invasion by Henry II.,1172, and that the Irish princes and chieftains were so completely subdued as to be no longer capable of asserting their power. This is not so. For centuries after, the native harassed the invaders, while occasionally, it cannot be denied, they fell upon each other with that unhappy augury of division and want of unity which finally left the island is possession of the stranger.
