Taaffe is a Welsh name (means David). They went to Ireland in 1196 and settled in Louth and then Sligo but that was long ago and they've spread around. Did you ever hear the old nursery rhyme "Taffy was a Welshman; Taffy was a thief;
Taffy came to my house and stole a piece of beef; I went to Taffy's house; Taffy was in bed; I took the marrow bone and hit him in the head"? Since historically the Welsh were forever raiding the English cattle I can but assume the Taaffes were assisted out of Wales to Ireland by Edward Longshanks.
It's about the right time period. I sure wish I knew the particulars of the nursery rhyme.
I am the great-granddaughter of William and Mary Hafford Taffe of Somerville Ma.