My middle name is Banion, my mother's maiden name. We're told her side was Irish, and that Banion came from O'Banion. We haven't kept any geneology that I know of, so the fact that this name and the family are originally Irish could be completely false. Can someone tell me about the name or point me to a site where I might possible read something? Thanks.

I would say that it comes from ÓBanáin. This is from "The Surnames of Ireland" by Edward MacLysacht ( though "Banion isn't actually listed.)

(Ó)Bannon, Banane. The name of several distinct septs, the most important in Lower Ormand and Fermanagh. Though White is sometimes used as a synonym of Banáin that is not derived from bán, white. Leap Castle in Co. Offaly, near Roscrea, is 'Léim Uí Bhanáin' in Irish; and the name is also incorporated in Ballybannon on the west side of Lough Mask in Co. Mayo, which locates a third sept...

Another possibility, from the same source...

Bunyan, Bunion. An English family settled in Co. Kerry (Of Ballybunion). The name is now generally changed to Bennett. Binnane and Banane have also been used as synonyms of it in Kerry.

Then there is Texas Irish dice fader Benny Binion who founded the World Series of Poker.