\^ v^w^:--::^ THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES 7^-'<: \. j^3^^ \ =.*<»< :^ >" THE ANNALS OF IRELAND TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL IRISH OF THE FOUR MASTERS. BY OWEN CONNELLAN, ESQ., IRISH HISTORIOGRAPHER TO THEIR LATE MAJESTIES GEORGE IV. AND WILLIAM IV., AUTHOR OF A GRAMMAR OF THE IRISH LANGUAGE, ETC. ANNOTATIONS BY PHILIP MAC DERMOTT, ESQ., M.D., AND THE TRANSLATOR. DUBLIN:- PUBLISHED BY BRYAN GERAGHTY, 8, ANGLESEA-STREET. MDCCCXLVI. DUBLIN : TRIXTED BY WrLLIAM JOSEPH WILSOX, HAWKINS'-STREET. TO J^/t SIR WILLIAM BETHAM, ^i^io KNIGHT ATTENDANT ON THE MOST ILLUSTRIOUS ORDER OF ST. PATRICK, JStetrr Sftifl of 'S.xmi, VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE ROYAL DUBLIN SOCLETY, MEXffiER OF THE ROYAL IRISH ACADEMY, FELLOW OF THE SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES OF LONDON, THE ASIATIC SOCIETY, MEMBER OF THE ROYAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF LISBON, THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES OF COPENHAGEN, &c. AUTHOR OP THE IlilSH ANTIQUARIAN RESEABCHES ; THE GAEL AND CIMBRI ; ETRURIA CELTICA ; HISTORY OF THE CONSTITUTION OF ENGLAND AND IRELAND, S^c. ^e. "Whose various Works on Irish, British, Gaulic, and Etruscan Antiquities, particularly his learned Analysis of the Ancient Languages of Ireland, Britain, Gaul, and Etruria, have obtained for him an European reputation, and made his name known and respected, as a most eminent Antiquary, as well among the ArchiBologists of the Continent, as the Literati of these Kingdoms ; a man to whom Irislimen are so much indebted, for his liberal and enlightened encouragement, and love of Irish Literature, the present publication, as well as many others, being enriched by many materials furnished from his valuable Library ; and through whose disinterested pa- tronage the Publisher has been mainly enabled to present to his countrymen the far-famed ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS: To liim, therefore, this Work is, on behalf of the Irish people, as a smaU tribute of esteem and regard, justly and most respectfully INSCRIBED BY 20G12;'l hr PREFACE. The Annals of the Four Masters being now published for the first time, there are some particular points which require explanation. The copy from which this translation has been made, has been accurately compared with that in the possession of Sir William Betham, which was transcribed by the translator from the original autograph MS. in the Library of the Royal Irish Academy, and is therefore perfectly authentic. Mr. Connellan the translator was eminently qualified for his arduous task, being one of the best Irish Scholars of the present day, having extensive experience in transcribing and translating ancient Irish MSS. for a period of more than twenty years, and had the honor of being appointed Irish Historiographer to their late Majesties George IV. and William IV. in the Royal Irish Academy. The copious Annotations to the Annals have been compiled by Philip Mac Dermott, Esq., M. D., assisted by Mr. Connellan, with valuable materials from the library of Sir WiUiam Betham. These Annotations are admitted to contain extensive and accurate information on Irish History and Antiquities ; and, together with the transla- tion, have stood, and will be found to stand the test of learned and candid criticism. In a work published in Numbers as these Annals have been, it was difficult to arrange the materials given in the historical and topographical Notes, which have no immediate reference to the text, as it was necessary that each Number should be noted with the matter that was prepared at the time, whereas, in a Book brought out all at once, any arrangement can be adopted. Independent of the Annals, the Notes will be found to contain a great mass of materials, and much mteresting and important information, not hitherto published, together with collections from various sources, rare Books and Manuscripts ; the whole forming a Compendium of Irish History, from the earliest ages to the English Invasion, vidth continued illustrations, to the end of the Annals in the l7th century, the great object of the present publication being to present to the Irish people as much as possible of their own History, at a moderate cost, and make it ac- cessible to all. With respect to the arrangement of the Annotations, it is recommended to read, rather as an Introductmi to the Annals, all the Notes which have apparently no immediate reference to the text of the Four Masters, such as the articles on the various ancient Colonies that peopled Ireland, and on the History and Kings of the early ages ; on the Danish Wars, on Antiquities and Topography ; for, by first reading those accounts of the ancient History before the English Invasion, the matters recorded in the Annals will be elucidated, and more easily understood, and as the Anglo-Norman Invasion immediately followed the Danish Wars, they both form part of one chain of events ; hence the wars of the Anglo-Normans in this country, will be more clearly comprehended by first getting an account of the Danes and Norwegians, who were the ancestors of the Normans of France who conquered England, and afterwards, mider the name of Anglo-Normans, or English, came here with Strongbow and his followers, and make such a remarkable figure in Irish History ; therefore, it was considered important to elucidate these affairs, which was the more particularly required, until the first part of the Four Masters can be published at some future time. The Topoffrapkj/ of ancient Ireland, of which an account is given in the Introduction to these Annals, forms a peculiar feature in this work; it was written about 450 years ago, but is now for the first time translated from the original Irish, and published in these Notes with copious explanations and additions. These Topographies of O'Dugan and O'Heerin may be considered as a sort of " Domesday-Book" of Irish History, containing an account of the rank, titles, and territories of the Irish Princes, Lords, and Chiefs, in the 12th, 13th and 14th centuries, thus forming a most important record, and affording invaluable infor- mation on the ancient families, and great landed proprietors. In the additions to those topographical works, ample accounts are given of the rank, genealogies, and possessions, not only of the Irish Princes and Chiefs, but of the Nobility, and families of note of English descent in Ireland, with memoirs of many eminent Irish and English historical characters ; the Annotations eAso contain a comprehensive outline of the History of each of the five Provinces or Kingdoms, Meath, Ulster, Connaught, Leinster, and Mun- ster, which constituted the Irish Pe^itarchy, together with a condensed account of the Histoi^y and Antiquities of every county, and of the Ancient Literature of each of the Provinces. It is to be observed that the numerous passages in parenthesis are not in the Irish of the Four Masters, but are additions explanatory of the text, and thus introduced to avoid the inconvenience of a great number of small notes, which would otherwise be required. The Index is condensed, but at the same time sufficiently comprehensive, and Avill be found to contain copious references to all the names of persons, places of note, and remarkable matters recorded either in the Text or Notes. The Publisher, grateful for the extensive patronage conferred on this Work by the Public, the friends of Irish Literature, and his numerous and highly respectable Subscribers, amounting to more than seven hundred, whose names he regrets he had not an opportunity of publishing, begs respectfully to state, that he has it in contemplation to bring out the first part of the Four Masters, and some other ancient Irish Annals, on receiving adequate public encouragement for the great expenditure required ; and to meet the wishes of learned men, and friends of Irish literature, he purposes, on receiving the names of a sufficient number of Subscribers, to give an accurate lithographic fac-simile copy of the Irish MS. of these Annals, the best means by which the Irish text can, in a perfect form, be handed dowTi to posterity. It is generally admitted that, as to embellishments, execu- tion and tj^ography, the present publication is one of the best that has hitherto issued from the Irish press ; and the Maj), the Illuminated Title-page, and ancient Irish Ornamental Letters, of which an account is given at the end, form remarkable features in this Book. The Publisher is happy to have been enabled, through great exertions, to complete this national work, composed by the illustrious and learned O'Clerys, and to present to his countrymen, as a rare production of Irish genius and patriotism, these faithful Annals, after they had been buried in libraries, and lost to the literary world for more than two hmidred years ; and he confidently hopes, that his future undertakings in Irish literature will receive the support of all patriotic and enlightened Irishmen. To complete the present publication in the best manner, excessive labour has been encountered, and great expenditm-e incurred, but no trouble or cost has been spared to render the work as perfect as possible, and a copy of it should be found in the public and private Libraries of the United Kingdom, for without these Annals the real his- tory of Ireland must remain miknowTi, as they contain, together with full historical memoirs of the Anglo-Normans and English in Ireland, by far the most copious and accm*ate accounts, and interesting information ever published on the Milesian Irish, their Kings, Princes, Chiefs, and Clans — their laws, manners,* and customs — their religious, literary, and charitable institutions. Colleges, Churches, Monasteries, and Houses of Hospitality — their Bards, Brehons, eminent Ecclesiastics, and learned men — their Music and Minstrels — their arts of War and Peace ; but are particularly rich in accounts of their military afi"airs, their forces and arms, their heroes and warriors, their battles and victories ; and, altogether, furnish a full and impartial record of the most important events in the entire range of Irish History. The writers candidly reveal the vices as well as the virtues of their countrymen, and demonstrate the defects, with the good qualities, in the Celtic character, the same =:il as that of the Celts of ancient Gaul and other countries, shewing the peculiarities of a remarkable race, so spirited, bold, brilliant, enthusiastic, and fond of fame, but prone to fierce feuds and dissensions amongst themselves, impetuous, rash, violent, wanting caution, coolness and calculation, greater talkers than thinkers — valiant, social, generous, high-minded, hospitable and humane, but too easily excited, passionate, and proud, every page of the Annals of our coimtry exhibiting w hat Byron designated " The magnificent and fiery spirit of her sons." The fierce wars of many centuries, with the Danes, Anglo-Normans, and English, must have greatly deteriorated the national character of the Irish, prevented the development of their virtues, and retarded all civili- zation ; for rapine, anarchy, and internal discord, constantly prevailed diu-ing these sangui- naiy contests, which were incessantly continued for a period of more than seven hundred years, through which the Milesians fought for their national independence, against powerful foreign foes ; and these Annals present a faithful picture of a people who, amidst all these adverse circumstances, were still renowned for their religious zeal, their love of literature, their hospitality, and feats of arms. INTEODUCTION. In publishing for the first time, the Annals of the Four Masters, it will be necessary to give some account of that celebrated work and its authors. The Annals were composed chiefly by the O'Clerys, a very leai-ned family, who were hereditary historians to the O'Donnells, Princes of Tyrconnel, now the county of Donegal. The O'Clerys had from the O'Donnells extensive grants of lands in Donegal, and resided at their Castle of Kil- barron, the romantic ruins of which still remain on the shore of the Atlantic near Bally- shannon. Michael O'Clery, Cucogry or Peregrine O'Clery, and Conary O'Clery, together with Peregrine O'Duigenan, a learned antiquai-y of Kilronan, in the county of Roscommon, were the four principal compilers : hence the work was called. The Annals of the Four Masters. The Annals are also quoted by various authors as The Annals of Donegal, from their being composed in the Franciscan Monastery of Donegal. There were, besides the above-named authors, two other eminent antiquaries and chronologers, who assisted in the compilation of the Annals ; namely, Fearfeasa O'Mulconaire or O'Conery, and Maurice O'Conery, both of the county Roscommon, of the ancient and learned family of the O'Mul- conaires, who were hereditary historians to the Kings of Connaught. But the chief author of the Annals was Michael O'Clery, a sketch of whose life and literai-y labours will not prove uninteresting. He was a native of Donegal, and born about the year 1580. Distinguished at an early age for his abilities, application, and piety, he retii-ed to the Irish Franciscan Monastery at Louvain, where his knowledge of the Irish language and history attracted the attention of his countryman, the learned Hugh Ward, then a Lec- turer at Louvain and guardian of its monastery. Ward, fully appreciating the character of O'Clery, determined to avail himself of his assistance and abilities to put into execution a project he had long formed, of rescuing from oblivion the Annals and Antiquities of his native land. Actuated by a spirit of patriotism and love of literature, O'Clery eagerly embraced the proposal, returned to Ireland, commenced his labours, and collected a vast number of ancient documents, which he transmitted tQ his friend at Louvain ; but the lamented death of Ward put a stop for a time to his noble intentions. The learned John Colgan, also a native of Donegal, then at Louvain, afterwards made ample use of these manuscripts when compiling his Acta Sanctorum Hibernia, and Trias Thaumaturga, those great works on the Irish Saints. O'Clery continued his collection for a period of fifteen years, travelled through all parts of Ireland, and got together all the ancient records, civil and ecclesiastical, that could be obtained, and then spent many years in arranging for publication this vast mass of materials. Amongst the collection enumerated as used in the compilation of the Annals of the Four Masters, are mentioned the following. The Annals of Tigernach, by the learned Abbot of Clonmacnois, and the Book of Clonmacnois. The Annals of Innisfallen, composed by the learned monks of that Abbey. The Book of the Mac Bruadins, hereditary historians to the O'Briens and other tribes of Thomond. The Annals of Ulster, by Cathal Mac Guire, and Roderick O'Cassidy, celebrated antiquaries in the diocese of Clogher. The Book of Conquests. The Book of the Mac Firbises, the learned antiquaries of Leacan, in Tireragh, county of Sligo. The Book of the O'Conrys, hereditary historians to the Kings of Connaught. The Book of the O'Duigenans of Kilronan, in Roscommon. The Book of the Island of All Saints in Loughree, and many others. After a life spent in the service of literature and of his country, Michael O'Clery died at the Monastery of Donegal, in the year lG43, and left to posterity the reputation of a truly great and learned man.* The Annals of the Four Masters commence at the earliest period of Irish history, and are carried down to A.D. I6l6. The learned and Rev. Doctor Charles O'Conor, Librarian to the Duke of Buckingham, at Stowe, in his great work, " Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores Veteres," translated into Latin, and published with the original Irish, in the year 1824, part of those Annals, namely, to the English invasion, A.D. 1172. But the chief and more interesting portion of the work has never yet been published. The present publication wiWcomTprise the AnneLh from A.D. 1171, to their termination in A.D. 1616, a period of 444 years, containing an ample account of the English invasion, and embracing by far the most important events in the whole range of Irish History. The Annals have been carefully translated from the original Irish by Owen Connellan, Esq., Irish Historiographer to their late Majesties, George IV., and William IV., and author of a Grammar of the Irish language, &c. Copious explanatory notes are added by the Translator, and by several eminent Irish Antiquaries. Some short eluci- dations of the text are given in brackets. The notes will be found very valuable and comprehensive, from the assistance aflPorded by Sir William Betham, Ulster King of Arms, who with his usual liberality, as a patron of Irish literature, has given free access to his extensive Library, containing by far the best collection of Irish MSS., in any private hands in the kingdom, and also rich in rare Latin and English MSS. on Irish History. In the course of the work, the notes will embody the Topographies of O'Dugan and O'Heerin, translated from the original Irish transcripts, and never before published. John O' Dubhagain, or O'Dugan, was the learned historian of the O' Kelly s, Princes of Hy-Maine, and died A.D. 1372. O'Dugan commences his Topography thus : " Triall- am timcheall na Fodla ;" that is, "Let us travel over Fodla, " (i. e. Ireland). And again he says : " Ni bhia duine gan duithchidh;" " No man shall be without his estate." He gives a full account of all the Chiefs and Clans of Leath Coinn (that is, of the King- doms of Meath, Ulster, and Connaught), and the territories they possessed at the time of the English invasion in the twelfth century. Giolla-na-Naomh 0' Huidhrin, or O'Heerin, another learned historian, who died A. D. 1420, wrote a continuation of O'Dugan's Topography, commencing thus : " Tuilleadh fcasa air Eirinn oigh ;" " An addition of Knowledge on sacred Erin." * Accounts of the O'Clerys, and otlier writers of the Annals of the Four Masters, are found in the works of Ware, Wadding and Colgan, and in O'Reilly's Irish Writers. O'Heerin in his work gives an account of all the Chiefs and Clans of Leath Mogha (that is, of Leinster and Munster), and the territories they possessed in the twelfth century. Both these works are very valuable and authentic, and furnish a complete Topo- graphy of ancient Ireland, never published till now, though absolutely necessary to be known, either for the elucidation of the Annals of the Four Masters, or of any other work on Irish History. Some of the notes are unavoidably long ; for otherwise a full and satisfactory account could not be given of the ancient Clans and their territories, as mentioned in those Topographies. Therefore these notes will be found clearly to eluci- date all old names of places and obscure passages in the text of the Four Masters, and will also contain descriptions of all the former territorial divisions of Ireland, and of every county, with an account of their ancient and modern possessors. The Ecclesiastical divisions will likewise be given, with an account of ancient Bishops' Sees, and the territories comprised in each Diocese. With the last number will be given a valuable Map, accompanied with explanations showing the ancient divisions of Ireland, and the territories possessed by the Irish Chiefs and Clans, together with the chief families of Anglo-Irish Proprietors in subsequent times. A copious Index wall also be added — containing references to every remarkable matter mentioned throughout the Work, either in the text or notes. To render these Annals one of the most important works ever published on Irish History and Antiquities, no trouble has been spared, or no available information neglected, and great expense has been incurred. All the best authorities, ancient and modern, have been consulted in the explanations of the text, and compilation of the notes ; and amongst the numerous authentic sources from which information has been collected the following may be mentioned : O'Conor's Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores Veteres, and the dissertations of Charles O'Conor on the History of Ireland ; O'Flaherty's Ogygia; Vallancey's Collectanea; the Histories of Ireland, by Keating, O'Halloran, Mac Geoghegan, and Moore ; the Works of Ware, Usher, Colgan, De Burgo, and Lanigan ; Harris's Hibernica; the Tracts of Sir John Davies; Cox's Hibernia Anglicana ; Pacata Hibernia ; the History and Annals of Ireland by Cambrensis, Camden, Holinshed, Hanmer, Campion, Temple, Borlase, Curry, and Leland ; the Topographies of O'Brien, Seward, Lewis, and others; the various Surveys of Ireland, with all the County Histories that have been published; various ancient Maps, as those of Ortelius, Petty, and others ; State Papers, Public Records, Inquisitions, and Peer- ages; together with numerous Irish Manuscripts, and many valuable documents in public and private collections. The Publisher respectfully submits the Work to the consideration of his country- men, as an impartial record of important events, consisting only of historical facts, free from all political or sectarian opinions ; and he confidently expects that these Annals, without which the genuine History of Ireland must remain unknown, will prove as acceptable as they will be found interesting to Irishmen of every class and of every creed. Dublin, January \st, 1845. Bryan Geraghty. DEDICATION TO PERGALL O'GARA, M.P. &c. I INVOKE the Almighty God that he may pour down every blessing, corporal and spiritual, on Fergall O'Gara, lord of Moy O'Gara and Coolavin, one of the two knights elected to represent the county of Sligo m the parliament held in Dublin, this present year of our Lord, 1634. In every country enlightened by civilization, and confirmed therein through a succession of ages, it has been customary to record the events produced by time. For sundry reasons nothing was deemed more profitable and honourable than to study and peruse the works of ancient writers, who gave a faithful account of the chiefs and nobles who figured on the stage of life in the preceding ages, that posterity might be informed how their forefathers employed their time, how long they continued in power, and how they finished their days. I, Michael O'Clery, poorbrotherof the order of St. Francis, (though ten years employed, under obedience to my several provincials, in collecting materials for our Irish Hagiology,) have waited on you, noble Fergall O'Gara, as I was well acquainted with your zeal for the glory of God, and the honour of your country, I perceived the anxiety you suffer from the cloud which at present hangs over our ancient Milesian race ; a state of things which has occasioned the ignorance of many, relative to the lives of saints, archbishops, bishops, abbots, and other dignitaries of the church ; the general ignorance also of our civil history, and of the monarchs, provincial kings, lords, and chieftains, who flourished in this country through a succession of ages, with equal want of knowledge of the syn- chronism necessary for throwing light on the transactions of each. In consequence of your uneasiness on this subject I have informed you that I entertained hopes of joining to my own labours the assistance of the antiquaries I held most in esteem, for compiling a body of Annals, wherein those matters should be digested under their proper heads ; judging that should such a compilation be neglected at present, or consigned to a future time, a risk might be run that the materials for it would never again be brought together. In this idea I have collected the most authentic Annals I could find in my travels through the kingdom, (and, indeed, the task was difficult,) from which I have compiled this work, which I now commit to the world under your name and patronage ; for you it was who set the antiquaries to work, and most hberally paid them for their labour, in arranging and transcribing the documents before them, in the Convent of Donegal, where the fathers of that house supplied them with necessary refreshments. In ti-uth every benefit derivable from our labours is due to your protection and bounty ; nor should it excite jealousy or envy that you stand foremost in this, as in other services which you have rendered your country ; for by your birth you are a descendant of the race of Heber, son of Milesius, which gave Ireland thirty monarchs, and sixty-one of which race died in the odour of sanctity. To Teige, the son of Kian, son of Oilioll Olum, (who died king of Munster, A.D. 260,) from whom eighteen of those saints sprung, your pedigree can be accurately traced from one generation to another. The posterity of that Teige have had great establishments in every part of Ireland, viz. : — The race of Cormac Galeng, in Leiny of Connaught, from whom you are descended, as well as the two O'Haras of the Routes ; also the O'Carrolls of Ely, O'Maghers of Hy Cairin, and the O'Conors of Kianactha of Glengiven, (in the county of Derry.) In proof of your noble extraction, here follows your genealogy : — Fergal O'Gara, thou art the son of Modha Neid, son of Teige, son of Derc Mac Dergtheinidh, son of Oilioll, son of Enda IMonchaoin, son of Dermod, son of Loich More, son of Owen, son of * Mofebis, son of Dermod, son of Muiredhach Muchna, son of Owen, son of Eachaidh Garbh, son of Tomaltach Oge, son of Duach Dalta Deadhaidh, son of Tomaltach More, son of Cairjjre Lusk, son of Dermod, son of lonadmar, son of Raighne, son of Niasedhaman, son of Congalach, son of Adamar Foltchain, son of Dunslevey, son of Fearcurb, son of Roderick, son of Modha Curb, son of Dunslevey, son of Cobhthach Caomli, son of Coucobar, son of Reachta Righdearg, son of Ruairc, son of Lughaidh Laigheach, son of Gadhra, from whom the O'Garas have derived Eachdach, son of the name, who was the son of Oilioll, son of Glethneaclian, son of Art, son of Saorgas, son of Lughaidh Lamhdearg, son of Bece, son of Eachaidh Uaircheas, son of Flaithios, son of Lughaidh lardhuinn, son of Taichleach, son of Enda dearg, son of Cinnfaola, son of Duach fionn, son of Dermod, son of Sedna lonnaireadh, son of Fionnbhar, son of Breasrigh, son of Brenann, son of Art Imligh, son of Nadfraoich, son of Feidhlimidh,son of Fideoin, son of Rotliechtach, son of Fiodcuire, son of Roan Righ Ailigh, son of Art Cm-b, son of Failbe lolcoraidh, son of Niadhcm-b, son of Caisced Coimhgnidh, son of Lui, from whom Leiny,* or Leiny, derived Fal Deargdoid, (or of tlie red finger rings,) son of its name, who was the son of Muineamon, son of Teige, son of Casclothach, son of Kian, son of Fear Arda, son of Oilioll Olum, son of Rotheachtagh, son of ilodlia Nuadhat, son of Rossa, son of * The barony of Lieny in the county of Sligo, and also an ancient district in the county of Westmeath, now the parisli of Leuey. Glass, son of Nuadat Deglam, son of Eachaidh Faobharglass, son of Conmaol, son of Eimbear Fionn, son of Milesius of Spain, son of Bile, son of Breogan, son of Bratha, son of Deaatha, son of Earchad, son of Aldoid, son of Nuadhad, son of Ninual, son of Eimh ear glass, son of Agnon fionn, son of Lamh fionn, son of Agnamhan. &c. On the 22nd January, 1632, this work was undertaken in the convent of Donegal, and was finished in the same convent on the 10th day of August, 1636, being the 11th year of the reign of Charles, King of England, France, Scotland, and Ireland. I am thine affectionate friend. Brother Michael O'Clery. TESTIMONIALS. The Fathers of the Franciscan Order, subscribers hereunto, do certify that Fergal O'Gara was the nobleman who prevailed on Brother Michael O'Clery to bring together the antiquaries and chi-onologers, who compiled the following Annals, (such as it was in his power to collect,) and that Fergal O'Gara, aforesaid, rewarded them liberally for their labour. This collection is divided into two parts, and from the beginning to the end has been transcribed in the Convent of the Brothers of Donegal, who supplied the transcribers with the necessary viands for their maintenance. The first volume was begun in the same Convent, A.D. 1632, when Father Bernardine O'Clery was guardian thereof. Tlie antiquaries and chronologers who were the collectors and transcribers of this work we attest to be Brother Michael O'Clery ; Maurice O'Maolconery, the son of Torna, who assisted during a month ; Ferfesa O'Maolconery, the son of Loghlin, (and both those antiquaries were of the county of Roscommon ;) Cucogry (Peregrine) O'Cleiy, of the county of Donegal ; Cucogry O'Duigenan, of the comity of Leitrim ; and Conary O'Clery, of the county of Donegal. The old books they collected were the Annals of Clonmacnois, an abbey consecrated by St. Kiaran, son of the Carpenter ; the Annals of the Island of Saints, on Lough Ribh, (now Lough Ree, or that part of the Shannon between Athlone and Lanesborough) ; the Annals of Senat Mac Magnus, on Lough Erne, (in the county of Fermanagh) ; the Annals of the O'Maolconerys ; and the Annals of Kilronan, (a parish in the county of Roscommon) compiled by the O'Duigenans. These antiquaries had also procured the Annals of Leacan, compiled by the Mac Firbises, (after having transcribed the greater part of the first volume,) and from those Annals they supplied what they thought proper in the blacks they left for any occasional information they could obtain. The Annals of Clonmacnois and those of the Island of Saints came down no farther than the year of our Lord 1227. The second part of this work commences with the year of our Lord 1208, and began to be transcribed in the present year 1635, when Father Christopher Dunlevy was guardian; and these Annals were continued down to the year 1608, when Father Bernardine O'Clery was for the second time elected guardian. Brother Michael O'Clery above-mentioned, Cucogry O'Clery, and Conary O'Clery, were the transcribers of the Annals from 1332 to 1608. The books from which they transcribed were ; the greater part of 0'Maolconerj''s book, ending with 1505 ; the Book of the O'Duigenans, aforesaid, from the year 900 to 1563 ; the Book of Senat Mac Mag- nus, ending with 1533 ; a part of the Book of Cucogry the son of Dermod, son of Teige Cam O'Clery, from the year 1281 to 1537 ; the Book of Maoilin OgeMae Bruadin from the year 1588 to 1603 ; and the Book of Liighaigh O'Clery, from 1586 to 1602. All those books we have seen in the hands of the antiquaries who have been the compilers of the present work ; together with other records too numerous to be mentioned. In proof of what we have here set forth, we have hereunto annexed our signs manual, in the Con- vent of Donegal, on the 10th day of August, in the year of our Lord 1636. Frater Bernardinus O'Clery, Guardianus Dungalensis. Brother Maurice Dunlevy. Brother Maurice Dunlevy. O'DoNNELL, (Prince of Tirconnell.) ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS. A.D. 1171. ETRUS O'MoRDHA, (or O'Moore,) bishop of Cloii- tcrt Brenan,' originally a pious monk, was drowned in the Shannon on the 27th December. Sadhbh (or Sabina,) daugh- luniairn Mac Murrogh, coai'b'^ to Saint Bridget, died after penance. The Cloicteach of Tealachard,^ which was crowded with people, was burned by Tiarnan O'Rourke. Derraod Mac Murrogh, Icing of Lein- ster, who had spread terror throughout Ireland, after putting the English in pos- session of the covintiy, committing exces- sive evils against the Irish people, and plundering and burning many churches, among which were Kclls, Clonard,^ &c., died this year of an intolerable and uncom- mon disease.' He became putrid while 1. Brenan.—St. Brendan founded in A.D. 553, the monastery of Cluain Fearta or Clonfert, in wliich originated the diocese of the same name, in the barony of Longford, county of Galway, and of which he was first abbot or bishop, and died in A.D. 577. 2. Com/tarfja, or coarb of St. Brifh/ef. — That is, the successor of St. Bridget, or abbess of Kildare. Tlie word coarb is applied to the successor or representative of the patron saint, or original foun- der of a monastery, priory, or any ecclesiastical establishment; or successor of a bishop, as the coarb of St. Patrick, that is, the suc- cessor or representative of St. Patrick at Armagh, as applied to the primates. The term Comorban is applied in the same sense by many writers. 3. Cloicteach thealc/ia airth or the round totrer of Tullaijhard, • — In a M.S. in the library of Sir ^^'illiam Betham. this place is mentioned as TuUaghard, near Trim, in the county of Meath. 4. Ctuan Eraird, or Ctonard, now a post town in the parish of the same name, in the barony of Moyfenragh, county of Meath, the original seat of the diocese of Meath, celebrated for its monastery and famous college, founded by St. Finnen, abbot of the same monastery, and general lecturer (or reader) to the saints of Ireland, ■who died in A.D. 548. 5. This disease is supposed to have been the morbus pedicularis of medical writers. living, by the miracles of God, through the inter- vention of Columkille, Finnen, and other saints of Ireland, for having violated and burned their churches. He died at Ferns without making a will, without penance, without the eucharist, and with- out extreme unction, as his evil deeds deserved.*" Maolcron Mac Gille Sechnaill, lord of Deisgeart Brcagh^ died. Tailtiu, daughter of Conor O'Melaghlin, the wife of lovar O'Casejr, lord of Saitne, ■ died. Donal, the grandson of llory O'jNIuUoy, lord of Fercall,^ was slain by the people of Munster. Donal O'Fogarty, lord of south Ety,'" was killed by Donal, son of Donagh, lord of Ossory :" he had committed slaughter in the two Elys, where three hundred and twenty persons fell. A piratical fleet from Uladh'- entered Tyrone and carried away a great number of cattle. Niall, son of Mac Loghlin, marched with the Kinel Owen*^ into Uladh, to plunder it. Many were slain by them ; and they carried away an immense prey of cattle. Niall afterwards took hostages from Oriel. '^ Manus ]\Iac Dunslevy O'Heoghy,'' with a party 6. Every Irishman, no doubt, is aware that the English invasion was accomplished through the agency of Dermod Mac Murrogh, king of Leinster, who seduced Dearvorgail, the wife of Tiarnan O'Rourke, prince of Brefney. On account of this act Roderick O'Conor, monarch of Ireland, invaded the territory of Dermod in the year 1167, and put him to flight. King Dermod was obliged, after many defeats, to leave Ireland in 1168, throw himself at the feet of Henry II., and crave his assistance, offering to become his liegeman. The English king, having received Dermod's oath of allegiance, granted by letters patent a general license to all his sub- jects to aid king Dermod in the recovery of his kingdom. Dermod then engaged in his cause Richard de Clare, earl of Pembroke, com- monly called Strongbow, to whom he afterwards gave his daughter Eva in marriage ; and through his influence an army was raised, headed by Robert Fitzstephen, Myler Fitzhenry, Harvey de Monte- Marisco, Maurice Prendergast, Maurice Fitzgerald, and others, with which in May, 1 109, he landed in Bannow-bay, near Wexford, which they soon reduced together with the adjoining counties. In 1 1 70 earl Strongbow landed at Waterford with a large body of followers, and laid siege to that city which he took. He then joined king Dermod's forces, marched for Dublin, and having defeated the monarch Roderick, entered the city, and after great slaughter made himself master of it. ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A.D. II71. of Ultonians, preyed Cul-an-tuaiscirt : he plun- dered Ciiil Rathain (or Coleraine) and other chur- ches. A small body of the Kinel Owen, com- manded by Conor O'Cathaua (or O'Kane,) over- took them, and a battle ensued, in which the Ultonians were defeated, with the loss of twenty-one King Dermod died in his castle at Ferns about the 65th year of his age. His character is drawn by various writers in the darkest colours ; he was ra])acious, fierce, cruel, vindictive, and of violent passions ; though to gain popularity he endeavoured to conciUate the lower classes of the people. It appears he was a man of great stature and strength of body, and possessed of much jiersonal bra- very. Holingshed says, *' he was a man of tall stature and of a large and great body, a valiant and bold warrior in his nation ; from his continual shouting his voice was hoarse ; he rather chose to be feared th.in to be loved, and was a great oppressor of his nobility ; to his own people he was rough and grievous, and hateful unto strangers ; his hand was against all men, and all men against him." 7. Deisceart Breac/h. — Now the parish of Dysart in Westmeath, which, according to O'Dugan, (who died A.D. 1372.) iu his topo- graphical poem, was the property of O'GioUa Seachlin. 8. Saitiie or Saithne. — This was one of the estabUahments referred to by Michael O'Clery in his dedication to Fergal O'Gara, as pos- sessed by the descendants of Teige, son of Kian, son of OilioU Oluni. According to O'Dugan, this district was the property of the O'Caseys, a clan in the county of Westmeath, where O'Dugan has fixed this district. This place is now traceable under the name Sonagh, the property of sir Hugh Morgan Tuite, Bart., where one of the castles of De Lacy stood, who conferred the property on the Tuite family. 9. Fear Ceall, or FercnU. — The lordship of O'Maolmuaidh or O'Mulloy, which O'Dugan places in the ancient kingdom of Meath, and which comprised the present baronies of Ballycowen, Ballyboy, and Fercall, or Eglish, in the King's county. 10. JSte, or Ell/. — Ely O'Fogarty, or South Ely, now the barony of Eliogarty, in the county of Tipjierary ; and Ely O'CarroU lay in the south of the King's county, west of Slieve Bloom, or that por- tion of the county beyond the boundary of the ancient kingdom of Me,ath. 11. Lord of Onraighe or Ossori/. — Mac GioUa Phadraic was lord or prince of Ossory ; and his ancient principality extended through the whole country between the rivers Nore and Suir, being bounded on the N. and E. by the Nore, and on the W. and S. by the Suir. The princes of Ossory make a considerable figure in Irish history, and one iu ])articular, Donal M'Giolla Ph.adraic, dis. tinguished himself in the wars with Strongbow and the English. At an early period they were dispossessed of part of their patrimony by the kings of Cashel ; and the southern parts of their territories were occupied by the Butlers, afterwards earls of Orraond, and other English adventurers ; but the northern jiarts remained with the original proprietors, who, on their connection with the English, changed their name to Fitzpatrick, and took the titles of earls of Upper Ossory. A full account of the county of Kilkenny and the clans of Ossoiy will be given in a future note. 12. V/arlh, or Ulidia. — UUdia comprised the present county of Down, and a part of the county of Antrim. It was also called Dal Araidhe, which took its name from Fiacha Araidhe, king of Ulster in the third century, and was latinised into Dalai-adia. In a future number a full account of this territory and its clans will be given. 13. Cenel.Eoghain, or Kinel-Owen. — That is, the descendants of Owen, whose territory was called Tir-Eoghain, anglicised to Tyrone, with parts of the counties of Derry and Antrim, and which derived its name from Owen, the fifth son of Niall of the nine hos- tiiges, monarch of Ireland, in the fourth century, ancestor to the O'Neills, princes of Tyrone. Tir Chonaill, now the pre- sent county of Donegal, derived its name from his brother Conall Gulban, the ancestor of St. Columkille, and of the O'Don- nells, princes of Tirconnell. The people of those two territories chiefs and sons of chiefs, and a large portion of their army. Manus himself was wounded in the engage- ment, and fled from the field. He was afterwards slain by his brother, Dunslevy, aided by Giolla Aongus, son of Gillespy, a prior of monks, at Down, after having committed many depredations. are generally designated in the annals under the denominations of Cenel-Eoghain, or the clan of Owen, and Cinel Conaill, or the clan of Connell. The Mac Loughlins were the senior branch of the O'Neills. In the course of these notes a full account will be given of Tyrone and Tyrconncli, and of the various clans who possessed those territories. 14. Orgialla. — The ancient kingdom or principality of Orgiall, comprised an extensive territory in Ulster, and was called by Ware, Usher, Colgan, and other Latin writers, Orgallia and ErgalUa ,- and by the English Oriel and Uriel. In the beginning of the fourth century three warlike princes, called Ihe three Collas, sons of Eochy Doimhlein, son of Cairbre Lifeachar, monarch of Ireland, of the race of Heremon, made a conquest of a great part of Ulster, which they wrested from the old possessors, princes of the race of Ir, cal- led the Clanna Rory, or Rudericians. The three Collas in the great battle of .\chalethderg in Fearmuighe, iu Dalaradia, on the borders of Down and Antrim, A.D. 332, defeated the forces of Fergus, king of Ulster, who was slain ; and the victors bin"ned to the ground Eamhain Macha or Emania, (near the present city of Armagh,) the famous jmlace of the Ultonian kings, which had stood for six cen- turies, and had been long celebrated by the Irish bards. The place where this battle was fought is called also Carn Achy- Leth-Derg, and is now known as the parish of Aghadeig, in the barony of Iveagh, county of Down, where there stiU remains a huge Carn of loose stones near Loughbrickland. The sovereignty of Ulster tlms passed from the race of Ir to the race of Heremon. The names of the three chiefs were CoUa Uais, or Colla the noble, CoUa Meann, or Colla the famous, and CoUa-da- Chrich, or Colla of the two territories. Colla Uais became mo- narch of Ireland A.D. 327, and died A.D. 332. The territory concpiered by the three Collas comprised according to Usher, O'Fla- herty, and others, the present counties of Louth, Monaghan, and Armagh, and obtained the name of Oirgiall, as stated by O'Halloran, from the circumstance of the Collas having stipulated with the monarch of Ireland, for themselves and their posterity, that if any chiefs of the clan Colla should be at any time demanded as hostages, and if shackled, their fetters should be of gold : thus, from the Irish or, gold, and giall, a hostage, came the name orgialla. The terra Oriel, or Uriel, was in general confined by the Enghsh to the present county of Louth, which in fomer times was part of Ulster; that province extending to the Boyne at Drogheda. We find in Colgan and Mac Geoghegan, that the O'CarroUs, a noble clan of the race of the Dal Fiatachs, were at the time of St. Patrick, kings of OrgiaU, or that part of it comprising the county of Louth. The Dal Fiatachs or Dalfiatacians, who founded many powerful fa- milies in Ulster, particularly in Dalaradia or Down, were descended from Fiatach Fionn, monarch of Ireland at the commencement of the second century, of the race of Heremon. The O'Carrolls con- tinued kings of Orgiall, down to the twelfth century, when they were dispossessed by the Anglo-Normans under John de Courcy. Donogh O'CarroU, prince of Orgiall, the last celebrated head of this race, founded the great Abbey of Mellifont in Louth, in the twelfth century. The territory of Louth is mentioned in the ear- liest times under the names of Magh Muirlheijnhite, or the Plain of Muirtheimhne, so called from Muirtheimhne, son of Breogan, uncle of Milesius, who possessed it. Part of the territory of Louth and Armagh was called Cuailgne, from Cuailgne, another son of Breogan, who, according to our old Annalists, was killed there in a battle between the Milesians and the Tuatha-De-Danans, about a thousand years before the christian era. Sliabh Cuailgne, now Slieve Gullion mountain in Armagh, acquired its name from the same person. Louth was in ancient times also called Machaire Chonaill, or the Plain of Conall, from Conall Cearnach, or Conall REIGN OF HENRY II. Tiarnan O'Rourke, with the men of Brefne,'^ plundered the people of Saithne, slew great num- bers of them, and cairied away an immense booty in cattle. Another predatory excursion was made by Tiar- nan O'Rourke, into Deisceart Breagh, on which the Victorious, the renowned warrior, who was chief of the Red Branch kni^lits of Ulster, about the commencement of the Christian era, and whose descendants possessed this territory. (It may be here remarked that the celebrated hero of Ossian's poems, Cuchulin, the relative and cotemporary of Conall Ceaniacb, had his residence at Dun-Dealgan, now Dundalk.) The descendants of Conall Cear- nach were the Magennises, lords of Iveagb, in Dalaradia, or county of Down, the O'Moras, or O'Moores princes of Leix, in Kildare and Queen's county, and others. Amongst the other chief clans who possessed Louth were the Mac Canns, Mac Cartans, O'Kellys, O'Moores, O'Callaghans, O'Carraghars, Mac Colmans, Mac Campbells, Mac Ardells, Mac Kennys, O'Devins, O'Markys, O'Branagans, Mac-Scanlons, and others. In the reign of king John, A.D. 1210, Louth was formed into a county, and acquired its name from the town of Louth, in Irish Liigh MhayJi. In the Inquisitions the county is called Lovidia. The chief Anglo-Norman or British families settled in Louth were the De Lacys, De Verdons, De Gernons, De Pepards, De Flem- mings, barons of Slane ; the Bellews of Bamieath, who had for- merly the title of barons of Duleek ; the De Berminghams, earls of Louth, a title afterwards possessed by the Plunkets, a great family of Danish descent ; the Taaffes, earls of Carlingford ; the Balls, Brabazons, Darcys, Dowdals, and Clintons, the Dromgools of Danish descent, &c. ; the Fortescues now earls of Claremont, and in more modern times, the family of Gorges, barons of Dundalk ; and the Fosters, viscounts Ferard, and barons of Oriel. The ]>osterity of the three Collas, called clan Colla, founded many powerful clans and noble families in Ulster and other parts of Ire- land. From Colla Uais were descended the Mac Donnells, earls of Antrim in Ireland, and lords of the Isles in Scotland ; also the Mac Rorys, a great clan in the Hebrides, and also many families of that name in Ulster, anglicised to Rogers. From CoUada Chrich, were descended the Mac Mahons, princes of Monaghan, lords of Ferney, and barons of Dartree, at Conagh, where they had their chief seat. The Mac Mahons were sometimes styled princes of Orgiall. An interesting account of the iVIac Mahons, of Monaghan, is given by sir John Davis, who wrote in the reign of James the First. It may be observed that several of the Mac Mahons in former times changed tlie name to Mathews. The other chief clans of Monaghan were the ^lac Kennas, chiefs of Truagh ; the Mac Cabes ; the Mac Neneys, anglicised to Bird ; the Mac Aidells; Mac Cassidys; O'Duffys, and O'Corrys ; the O'Cos- gras, Mac CuskersorMac Oscars, changed to Cosgraves,whoposses- sed, according to O'Dugan, a territory called Fearra Rois, which comprised the district about Carrickmacross in Monaghan, with the parish of Clonkeen, adjoining, in the county of Louth ; the Boylans of Dartree ; the Mac Gil Michaels, changed to Mitchell ; the Mac Donnells ; the O'Connellys, and others. This part of Orgiall was overrun by the forces of John de Courcy in the reign of king John, but the Mac Mahons maintained their national independence to the reign of Elizabeth, when Monaghan was formed into a county, so called from its chief town Muin- eachan, that is, the Town of Monks. The noble families now in Monaghan, are the Dawsons, barons of Cremome ; the Westenras, lords Rossmore ; and the Blayneys, lords Blayney. The other chief landed proprietors are the families of Shirly, Lesley, Coote, Corry, and Hamilton. From Col/a-rla-C'/iricA were also descended the Mac Guires, lords of Fermanagh, and barons of Enniskillen ; the O'Flanagans of Fermanagh ; the O'Hanlons, chiefs of Hy-Meith-Tire, now the barony of Orior in Armagh, who held the office of hereditary regal standard-bearers of Ulster ; the Mac Cathans or Mac Canns of Clan Breasail, in Armagh; the O'Kellys, princes of Hy Maine, in the comities of Galway and Roscommon ; and the O'Madagans or occasion he slew Giollu Enain Mac Lughadha, chief of Cuircne," and Mac Gilleseachnaill, chief of Deisceart Breagh. O'Lamhduibh was slain on that occasion by the men of Meath. Donal Breaghagh (O'Melaghlin) lord of East Meath, gave hostages to Tiarnan O'Rourke, O'Maddens, chiefs of Siol Anmchadha or Silanchia, now the barony of Longford, in the county of Galway. Colla Meann's posterity possessed the territory of Modhorn, that is, the districts about the mountains of Mourne. That part of Orgiall, afterwards forming the county of Armagh, was possessed, as already stated, partly by the O'Hanlons and JIac Canns, and partly by the O'Neills, O'Larkins, O'Duvanys, and O'Garveys of the Clauna Rory, who according to O'Brien, posses- sed the Craobh Ruadh, or territory of the famous Red Branch knights of Ulster; O'Hanrathysof Hy-Meith Machaj O'Donegans of Breasal Magha ; and others. The native chiefs held tlieir independence down to the reign of Eliza- beth, when Armagh was formed into a county A.D.I 586, by the lord deputy, sir John Perrott. In Pynnar's Survey of Ulster, in the reign of James the First, the following are given as the chief families of Bri- tish settlers, viz : — the Atchesons. Biownlows, Powells, St. Johns, HamUtons, Copes, RowUstons, &c. The noble families now in Armagh, are the Atchesons, earls of Gosford ; the Caulfields, earls of Charlemont ; and the Brownlows, barons of Lurgan. The Hamiltons in former times had the title of earls of Clau- brassil. In the ancient ecclesiastical divisions the territory of Orgiall was comprised within the diocese of C'fofffier ; but in the 13th century the county of Louth was separated from Clogher and added to the diocese of Armagh. In early times there were bishops' sees at Clones and Louth, which sees were afterwards annexed to Clogher. In the early writers we find the bishops of Clogher frequently styled bishops of Orgiall and Ergallia. At present the diocese of Clogher comprises the whole of Monaghan, the greater part of Fermanagh, parts of Donegal and Tyrone, and a small portion of Louth. The see of Armagh, founded by St. Patrick in the 5th century, became the seat of an archdiocese, and the metropolitan see of all Ireland. The diocese of .\rmagh comprehends the greater part of that county, with parts of Louth, Meath, Tyrone, and Londonderry, and has ecclesiastical jurisdiction over the sees of ]Meath, Ardagh, Kilmore, Clogher, Raphoe, Derry, Down and Conor, and Dromore. 15. Mac Duinsiebhe 0^ Heochada, or Mac Dunslei'ey O^Heoghy. — The Mac Dunsleveys were princes of Uladh or Ulidia, now the count)' of Down, and of the Clanna Rory of the race of Jr. The name of Roderick Mac Dunslevy, prince of Uhdia, frequently occurs in the account of the wars with John de Courcy, when the latter invaded Ulster. The name is derived from Dun a fortress, and Sleibhe, of the mountain, from the circumstance of one of the chiefs having his fortress at the mountains of IVIourne. The An- nalists add the name O'Heoghy, which was the original name of the family, and is still found in that countiy under the name of Haughy and Hoey ; and the name Mac Dunslevy is also found in various parts of Ireland. This name has undergone various mu- tations, as VlUach and UlUachan in Irish, always anglicised Dun- levy, the word Ulltach shewing the origin of the family from Ulidia. Some of this clan also call themselves Nultys and Mac Nultys, which is a modification of tlie same name. 16. Brefne. — Brefney was divided into two principalities, viz., Brefney O'Rourke, or West Brefney, comprising the present county of Leitrim, with the barony of Tullaghagh, and part of TuUagh- onoho, in the county of Cavan ; and Brefney O'Reilly, or East Brefney, now the county of Cavan ; the river at Ballycormell being the boundary between Brefney O'Rourke and Brefney O'ReiUy. In a future number a full account will be given of these two terri- tories, and all their clans. 17. Cuircne, or Mac/iaire Ciiircne. — This district comprised the present barony of Kilkenny West, in the county of M'estmeath, which, according to O'Dugan and Dr. O'Brien, was the lordship of O'Tolarg. ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A.D. 1171. The people of Hy Maine" plundered Ormond on seven different expeditions from Palm Sunday to Low Sunday. The church of St. Cianan of Duleek'^ was plundered by the knights of Miles de Cogan, Some of them were slain on the day following by the Danes of Dublin, in revenge of their dishonour of St. Cianan. A l:)attle was fought at Dublin between Miles de Cogan and Asgal, son of Reginald, king of the Danes in Ireland ; many fell on both sides of the English knights and Danes of Dublin, among whom was Asgal himself, John, a Norwegian from the Orkney Isles, and many others. Roderick O'Conor, Tiarnan O'Rourke, and Miu-chad O'Carroll, marched with an army to Dublin to besiege the city, then in the possession of earl Strong-bow and Miles de Cogan. Thev remained there for a fortnight, during which time many fierce engagements took place. The king marched through Leinster with the cavalry of Brefney and Oriel, and burned the corn of the English. While Roderick was thus engaged, earl Strongbow and Miles de Cogan attacked the camp of the northern Irish, slew many soldiers, and caj)- tured their provisions, armour, and horses. The son of Cormac Mac Carthaigh (or Mac Car- thy) defeated the Danesof Limerick, and slew many of them, including Foirne, son of GioUa Cainidh, and Torcar, son of Treni ; he also burned the mar- ket-place and half the fortress. 18. Ibh-Maine or Hy Maine. — The principality of the O'Kellys, a large territory comprised within the present counties of Galway and Roscommon, and extending from the Shannon at Lanesborough to the county of Clare, and from Atblone to Athenry in the county of Galway. 19. Duleek. — In the original Doimhliag, (that is, a house of stone,) was founded by St. Cianan, who died A.D. 4S9. This village which was formerly a jiarliamentary borough, lies in the pari>h of the same name about five miles S.W. of Drogheda. Du- leek had in early times a famous monastery, and was the seat of a small diocese, afterwards united to the see of Meath. 20. Tanist of Brefney. — " A successor was nominated for the prince in his life-time to fill the throne after his demise. As sup- pose his son or brother, or the most respectable relation, they denominated him Coimree, a word translated from the finger on which the ring is worn, which conies nearest to the middle finger in situation and length. Thus Tanist, (or the heir apjiarent,) second to the prince in rank and authority, and from this the title of Ta- nistry-law is derived by Davis and Ware. Each of the other can- didates of the family is called Riogh Damhna, (or heir presumptive) which is royal, that is, a subject qualified to receive the royal form. But if he was attached to any liberal or mechanical art, he was denominated Adhbhar only, which also denoted matter, (or material for a king or chief) ; that is, a matter disposed to be instructed in the rudiments of such an art." — O'Flaheriy's Ogygia. Tiarnan O'Rourke at the head of the men of Brefney and Oriel, marched a second time to Dub- lin, and attacked Miles de Cogan and his knights, but he -was defeated with the loss of his son Hugh, Tanist'^" of Brefney, the grandson of Dermod O'Quinn, and many others. A party of Siol Murray'*' went on a predatory excursion into Thomond,^^ they plundered Sir- taghan O'Lidiudha (Liddy,) and slew himself in a battle . Siol Anmchadha,-^ and Muintir Cionaeth,-* plun- dered Ely and took away a large prey in cattle. The earl's son having gone out on a predatory excursion, plundered the cluu'ches of the plain of Leinster and a large portion of Hy Faolain, (or O'Byrne's country.) The people of \Vest Connaught-' and a party of Siol Miu'ray plundered the west of Corcomroe,^'' and carried away an immense prey in cattle. The earl's people went on a predatory excursion and plundered Cluain Conaire, Galam, and Lath- rach Briuin, (in the county of Kildare.) The daughter of O'Heoghy, wife of Murchad O'Carroll, lord of Oriel, died. The Connaught squadron remained on the Shan- non and on Lough Derg Deirc'*' from November to May. Donnell Breaghagh (O'Melaghin) concluded a peace with Tiarnan O'Rourke ; and the people of East Meath submitted to him. 21. Siol Muireadhaigh or Murray. — The descendants of Muir- eadhach Muilleathan, king of Connaught, who died A.D. 700. The O'Conors were chiefs of this territory, and many of them were kings of Connaught. An account of this territory, and all its clans will be given in a future number. 22. Thomond. — TuadhMumhan or North Munster, which formed in ancient times a kingdom in itself, and of which a full account will appear in a future number. 23. Siol Amneliadha. — Now the barony of Longford, in the county of Galway, and the parish of Lusmagh, on the other side of the Shannon in the King's county, of which according to O'Dugan, O'Madagain, (O'Madden,) and O'Huallachain, were chiefs. 24. Muintir Cionaoth. — The family of O'Kenny, or as they are now called, Kenny, were, according to O'Dugan, chiefs of Clann Laitheamhain, conjointly with the family of O'Finnegan : their district lay in the west of the county of Roscommon, along the Shannon. 25. West Connaught or lar Connacht. — Now Connemara in the west of the county of Galway, of which O'Flaherty was principal chief. This territory was bounded on the east by Lough Corrib and Lough Mask, and on the west by the Atlantic Ocean ; and comprised the baronies of Moycullen and Balliuahinch, and the half barony of Ross. 26. Corcomroe. — In the original Corcumdruadh, or Corcomo- druadh, east and west. This territory derived its name from Core REIGN OF HENRY II. Henry the Second, king of England, duke of Normandy, earl of Anjou, and lord of man}' other countries, came to Ireland this year with a fleet of two hundred and forty ships, and landed at Waterford.-^ A.D. 1173. Brighdein O'Kane, coarb of St. Maedhog,' died. Giolla Aodha O'Muidhin (O'Mugin) of the peo- ple of Lough Con, bishop of Cork, died. He was distinguished for his piety, continence, and wisdom. Tigearnagh O'Maoileoin, (Malone) coarb of St. Kiaran" at Clonmacnois, died. Tiarnan O'Rourke, lord of Brefney and Con- maicne,^ for a long time a veiy powerfid chieftain, was treacherously slain at Tlaghtgha' by Hugo de Lacy and Donal, son of Annadh O'Rourke, one of his own tribe. He was beheaded and ignomi- niously carried to DubUn ; his head was placed o^'er the town-gate, and his body was gibbetted with his feet upwards, on the north side of the city, a woful spectacle to the Irish !' Donal O'Ferrall, chief of Conmaicne, was slain by the people of the king of England. Maolraaire Mac Murchadha, chief of Muintir Birne, was slain by Hugh Mac Aengusa (or Magen- Feardoid, third son of Fergus, by Jteadhbli or Maud, queen'of Con- naught, in the beginning of the Christian era, from whom descended O'LoughUn of Burren, and O'Conor Corcomroe, lords of the baronies of Burreu and Corcomroe, in the county of Galway. 27. An expansion of the Shannon in tlie county of Tipperary. 28. Henry II. landed at Waterford on St. Luke's day, the 18th of October, A.D. 1171, with an army consisting of 500 knights, and about 4000 men at arms. — Laniyan. 1. St. Maodhog was the founder of the monastery of Ferns, which afterwards became the seat of a diocese, of which he was first bishop. He died on the 31st of January, A.D. 632, and was in- terred at Ferns. He was a native of Brefney, where he founded monasteries and churches atDromlane and Rosinver. His original name was Aodh Off, that is. Young Hugh, to which, after he became a celebrated ecclesiastic or saint, was prefixed the pronoun Mo or " My," a title of respect in those days, precisely as at present used in the address " My Lord." 2. SI. Kiaran, who founded the monastery of Clonmacnois, afterwards a bishops' see, in the parish of the same name, in the barony of Garrycastle, King's county, died on the 9th of Septem- ber, A.D. 459. 3. Conmaicne. — There were several districts of this name in Connaught, the inhabitants of which were called Conmaicne, or the descendants of Conmac, one of the three sons of queen Maud of Connaught, whom she bore at one birth for Fergus Mac Roy, the exiled king of Ulster, about the beginning of the Christian era. This place was designated Conmaicne of Moyrein, in Brefney O'Rourke, which, according to O'Flaherty, extended into the county of Long- ford. Under the date A.D. 1475 it is stated that Fenagh, in the barony of Leitrim, and county of Leitrim, lay in Moyrein, and by some authorities Conmaicne of Moyrein and JIuintir Eoluis were nis, and by the Clan Hugh, (the tribe name of the Magennises,) of Ulidia. Dermod O'Caolaldhe (Keely,) died. The Kinel Owen were defeated by Flaith- bheartach O'Maoldoraidh" and the people of Tir- connell, who committed great slaughter among them by the miracles of God, through the inter- ■\entiou of St. Patrick and St. Columkille, whose churches they plundered. The fourth visitation of the entire province of Connaught, and as far as Armagh, was made by Giolla-Mac-Liag (Gelasius,) coarb of St. Patrick, and primate of Ireland. (He died in A.D. 1174, in the 87th year of his age.) Mac Gillepscoip (Mac Gillespy,) chief of the Clan Aeilabra, Brehon (or judge) of the tribe of Monaig, was treacherously slain by Dunsle^y O'Heoghaidh, king of Ulidia; the Ulidian nobles, who were the sureties between them, were the per- sons w'ho slew him. The people of Anghaile (Anally,) and Muintir INIegiollgain, were treacherously plundered by the son of Annadh O'Rourke and the English, who took much cattle and booty. They afterwards marched to Ardagh of bishop Mel, plundered all the country, and slew Donal O'Fen-all, chief of Anally.' considered identical. The Mac Rannalls, (anglicised to Reynolds) were the principal chiefs of Muintir Eoluis, which territory com- prised the southern part of the county of Leitrim, and extended from Slieve-an-Iarain and Lough Allen, to Siieve Carbry, west of Balona, in the county of Longford, and contained the castles of Riim, Lough Scur, and Leitrim, (See Annals under the year 1490,) and the monasteries of Fenagh, MohiU, and Cloon. Under the year 1562 it is stated that the power of O'Rourke extended from Caladh, in the territory of Hy Maine, (in the county of Roscommon) to Drobhaois, or Droos, on the borders of Leitrim, Donegal, and Sligo, and from Granard in Taffa or Tetfia, in the county of Long- ford, to the strand of Eohuile, in the barony of Tireragh, and county of Sligo, near Ballysadare ; and it may therefore be inferred that Conmaicne of Moyrein extended as far as Granard. It is stated however, under the presentyear 1172, that Donal O'Ferrall, of the Anally family, was chief of Conmaicne, or that portion of Longford adjoining the county of Leitrim. 4. TIachtffha. — .\ hill near Athboy, in the barony of Lune, county of Meath. Mr. Hardiman, in his Statute of Kilkenny, states that this is now called the HUl of Ward, between Athboy and Trim. It is stated by O'Flaherty that a fire temple of the Druids stood here in the time of paganism, and that in the reign of Tuathal Teaght- mar, monarch of Ireland in the second century, solemn conventions were held here every year on the night of the last day of October, or the feast of Samhain, to appease the gods by immolating victims and raising fires. 5. The Kingdom of Meath. — Tiaman O'Rourke, prince of Brefiiey, was married to the daughter of Murtagh O'JIelaghlin, king of Meath. The ancient kingdom of Meath was formed in the second century by Tuathal Teachtmar, (or Tuathal the Acceptable,) who was monarch of Ireland from A.D. 130 to A.D. IfiO, by the com- I hination of a portion from each of the then four provinces or king- ANNAiS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A.D. 1173. A general synod of Ireland, both of the clergy and chief laitj', was held at Tuam in Connauglit, at which Rory O'Conor and Cadhla O'Duify, arch- bishop of Tuam, presided; three churches were consecrated. A.D. 1173. Mun-agh O'Cobhthaidh (Coffey,) bishop of Derry and Raphoe, died. He was a man of pure chastity, a precious stone, a transparent gem, a brilliant star, a treasuiy of wisdom, and chief con- senator of the canons of the church ; after bestow- ing food and raiment on the poor and needy. doins, and their annexation to Meatli : hence it became a Culgeadli, or fifth province, whicli term was afterwards and has been to the present applied to a jtrovince. Tlie Irish name is Mldhe, or, aceor- dinjj to some authorities, Meidhi', which signities a neclt, because it was formed by a portion or necJi talcen from eacli of the four pro- vinces. Others derive it from Mldhe, wlio was chief Druid to Nemedius, and by whom tlio first sacred tire was kindled in Ireland at Utsneucli, By the Latin writers it is wTitten Midia and Me- dia. According to Keating, Meatli contained eighteen territories called Triochas, thirty townlands in each territory, twelve plough- lands in each townland, and a hundred and twenty acres in each ploughland. He describes its boundaries as extending from the Shannon eastward to Dublin, and from Dulilin to the river Eigh, (now tlie Rye water, which falls into the Lift'ey at Leixlip), then by a line drawn through Kildare and the King's county to Birr, from the Righ westward to Chian Conrach, from thence to French- Mill's ford, and to the Cumar (or junction) of Clonard, (on the southern border of Meath,) thence to Tochar Cairbre, (the bog pass of Carlierry, in the barony of Carberry, and county of Kildare,) thence to GeashiU, (King's county,) to Drumchuillin, (a parish in the barony of Eglisli, and King's county,) aud to the river called Abha'in Clxira (probably the Little Brosnii, or the river flowing into the Shannon from Lough Couragh, between Frankford and Birr,) thence by the Shannon northwards to Athlone, and Lough Ribh (or Lough Ree, a part of the Shannon between Westmeath and Anally or Longford on one side, and Roscommon on the other,) and finally thence to Drogheda, being bounded on the north by Brefney and Orgiall. Thus the ancient kingdom of Merith comprised the present counties of Meath and Westmeath, with parts of Dublin, Kildare, Iving's county, the greater part of Longford, and small portions of Brefney and Orgiall on the borders of the present coun- ties of Cavan and Louth. The great plain of Meath which included the greater parts of the present counties of Meath and Dublin, was known by the name of MtKjh Brenyh, signifying the Magnificent Plain, mentioned by the latin writers under the name of Bre/jiii, and by O'Conor, (Eer. Hih. Scrip. Vol. I.) as Cmnpii.9 Brhjiintium, or the Plain of the Brigantes, from being possessed by the Brigantes, who were called by the Irish Cltmnn Breor/ahu Part of the territory of Bregia obtained the name of F'm(jal from the Danes, or rather Norwegians, who planted a colony there in the tenth century, along the coast between Dublin and Drogheda, and who were called by the Irish Fionn GliaUl, signifying the Fair-haired Foreianers : hence the name Fingal. The plain of Bregia extended^from Dublin to Drogheda, and thence to Kells, and contained the districts about Tara, Trim, Navan, Athboy, Dunboyne, &c. Another great division of ancient Meath was called Teahhtha or Tefha, which comprised the present county of Westmeath, with parts of Longford and the King's county. Meath was for many ages the seat of the Irish monarchy; and from the kings of Meath were generally elected the monarchs of Ireland. From the earliest period to the fifth century the monarchs of Ireland were occasionally elected from the descendants of each of the three sons of Milesius, namely, from the races of Heber, ordaining priests, deacons, and clergymen of every degree, repairing and consecrating many ecclesi- astical estabhshments and cemeteries, builcUng many monasteries and abbeys, performing every clerical duty, and gaining the victory of devotion, pilgri- mage, and penance, his spu-it departed to heaven, in the Black Abbey church of ColumkiUe, at Derry, on the 1 0th day of February. A great miracle was performed on the night of his death, viz ; — the dark night became bright from dusk till morning, and it a])peared to the inhabitants that the adjacent parts of the globe were illuminated ; and a large body of fire moved over the town and remained Heremon, and Ir. From the fifth to the eleventh century, during a period of six hundred years, the Hy Nialls of the race of Here- mon held exclusive possession of the Irish monarchy, until A.D. 1002, when Brian Boroimhe, king of Monster, of the race of Heber, dethroned JIalachy the Secojid, and became monarch of Ireland. The Hy-Nialls took their name from their immediate ancestor, Niall of the Nine Hostages, who was monarch of Ireland from A.D. 370 to A.D. 406. They were divided into two great families, denominated the northern and southern Hy Nialls. One branch of the northern Hy Nialls consisted of the O'Neills, who were descended from Eoghnn, one of the sons of Niall of the Hostages, and were princes of Tyrone, and in many instances kings of Ulster, and monarchs of Ireland : the other branch consisted of the O'Don- nells, princes of Tyrconnell, and some of whom were also monarchs of Ireland, who were descended from Conall Gulban, another son of the monarch Niall. The southern Hy Nialls were descended from four other sons of Niall, but chiefly from his son Conall Criomthann, many of whose descendants were kings of Meath, and monarchs of Ireland. This family took the name of Clan Colman, from Column More, son of Dermod, son of Criomthann, and monarch of Ireland, from A.D. 564 to A.D. 665. The descendants of the Clan Colman, kings of Meath, took the name of O'Maolseachlain or O'Melaghlin, from Maolseachlain or Malachy, monarch of Ireland, their ancestor in the tenth century. The ancient monarchs had four royal palaces in Meath, namely, at Teamair or Tara, at Tailten, at Tlachtga, and at Uisneach. Amergin, the celebrated bard of Dermod, monarch of Ireland in the sixth century, derives the name of Teamair from Tea, the queen of Heremon, wlio was buried there, and 3/?/r, which signifies "Mound," hence Tea Mur, or the Mound of Tea. By Latin and English wTiters it is named Temoria and Temor, and was celebrated for the great national conventions held there, called the Feis Titmlirach. 'Taill- ten obtained its name frem Taillte, queen of Eochaidh, son of Eire, the last king of the Firbolgs, who was buried there. This place was long celebrated for the great assemblies of the people held there annually in August, at which various sports and recreations similar to the Olympic games of Greece were exhibited, and marriage con- tracts ratified. It is known as Teltown, near the river Black- water, between Kells and Navan. Tlachtga, according to the Annals of the Four Masters, was situate near Athboy, and was celebrated as a seat of Druidism The hill of Uisneach, in the barony of Rathconrath, in Westmeath, between MuUingar and Athlone, was another great seat of Drudism. The chief's and clans of the kingdom of Meath, and the territories they possessed in the twelfth century, are given in O'Dugan's To- pography as follows : to which are added various clans not men- tioned by O'Dugan, but whose names are collected from other sources. I. O'Melaghlins, kings of Meath. Of this family Mur- togh O'Melaghlin was king of Meath at the period of the Anglo- Norman invasion, when the kingdom of Meath was granted by Henry II., to Hugh de Lacy. II. O'Hairt or O'Hart ; O'Riagahi or O'Regan ; and O'Ceallaigh or O'Kelly, whom O'Dugan styled prin- REIGN OF HENRY II. in the south east ; all the people rose from their beds, for they thought it was day ; and it (the light) continued so eastward along the sea. Conaing O'Haengusa (Henesey,) chief canon of Roscrea, died. Etlru O'Miadhachain (O'Meehan,) bishop of Cluain (Clonard,) died at an advanced age, after a well-spent Hfe. Cionaodh O'Ronan, bishop of Glendalough, died. Maolmochta O'Maolseachnaill, abbot of Clon- macnois, died. A great prey was taken by Hugh Magennis and the Clan Hugh. They plundered the Trian More ces of Tara. Accordini; to the hook of Clonraacnois, quoted by Hardinian in his Statute of Kilkenny, page 7, the O'Kellys were lords of Bregia, long before the Anglo-Norman invasion. Tlie O'Kellys of Bregia, it appears, were of a different race from the O'Kellys of Hy Maine, lieing a branch of the southern Hy Nialls, and descended from Aodh Slaine, monarch of Ireland ; the son of Dermod was also monarch of Ireland, in the sixth century. III. O'Congalaidh, probably O'Comiolly, whom O'Dugan describes as one of the four princes of Tara. IV. O'Ruaidhri or O'Rory, now anglicised to Rogers, lord of Fionn Fochla, in Bregia. V. O'Fal- lamhain or O'Fallon, lord of Crioch-Ma-g-Ceadach, so called from Oilioll Cedach, son of Cathair More, king of Leinster, and monarch of Ireland in the second century. The country of the O'Fallons was near Athlone, in the county of Westmeath, but they were afterwards driven across the Shannon into Roscommon. VI. O'Coindealbhain or 0'Kendellan,or O'Commellan, prince of Ibh-Laoghaire, or Ive-Leary which, according to Mac Geoghegan and others, was an extensive ter- ritory in the present counties of Meath and Westmeath, and was pos- sessed by the descendants of Laoghaire, monarch of Ireland at the time of St, Patrick. The parishofCastletownKendellan in Westmeath shows one part of this ancient territory, and the townland of Ken- dellan's town near Navan shows another part of it. O'Braom or O'Brcen, chief of LuigUne, now the parish of Leney, in the barony of Corcaree, Westmeath. VIII. O'Haongusa or O'Hennesy, chief of Hy-Mac-Uais, now the barony of Moygoish, in Westmeath. The Clan Mac Uais, or Mac Evoys, sometimes called Mac Veaghs, of the race of Clan Colla, were the original chiefs of this territory. IX. O'Haodha, supposed to be O'Hughes or O'Heas, chief of Odli- bha, (probably Odra or Oddor, in the barony of Skrine, near Tara.) X. O'Dubhain or O'Duvan, chief of Cnodhbha, probably Knowth near Slane. XI. O'llainbeith or O'Hanvey, chief of Fearbile, now the barony of Farbill in Westmeath. XII. O'Cathasaigh or O'Casey, chief of Saithne, now Sonagh in Westmeath, [See note on Saithne.] XIII. O'Leochain or O'Loughan, chief of Gailenga, now the parish of Gallen, in the barony of Garrycastle, King's county. XIV. O'Donchadha or O'Donoghoe, chief of Teallach Modharain, probably now TuUamore, in the King's county. XV. O'Hionradh- ain or O'Hanrahan, chief of Corcaraidhe, now the barony of Cor- caree in Westmeath. XVI. O'Maolmuaidh or O'MulIoy, prince of Ferceall, comprising the present baronies of Ballycowen, Ballyboy, and Eglish or Fercall. XVII. O'Dubhlaidhe or O'Dooley, chief of Fertullach, the present barony of FertuUagh, in Westmeath. XVIII. O'Fionnallaln or O'Finnellan, of the race of Heber, and tribe of the Dalcassians, lord of Delbhna Mor, now the barony of Delviii, in Westmeath. XIX. O'Maollugach or O'MuUedy, chief of Brogha, part of the now baronies of Delvin and Farbill. XX. Slac Cochlam or Mac Coghlan,of tliejDalcassians, lord of Dealbhna- Eathra, now the barony of Garrycastle, in the King's county. XXI. O'Tolairg or O'Toler, chief of Cuircne, now the barony of Kilkenny West, in Westmeath. XXII. Mac Eochagain or Mac Geoghegan, prince of Cenel Fiahcaidh, now the barony of Moycashel, with parts of Rathconrath, and FertuUagh. The Mac Geoghegans were one of Armagh. He (Hugh) was, however, killed thi-ee months aftenvards. Domhnall Breaghach (Donald of Bregia) O'Me- laghlin, king of Meath, was slain at Durrow of Columkille, by his own brother Arthm-, aided by Muintir Laighachain. Giolla-Mac-Liag (Gelasius,) son of Rory, suc- cessor to St. Patrick, primate of Armagh, and of all Ireland, a son of chastity, and pure of heart towards God and man, bey was founded by St. Congal, in the sixth century, and was famous for its college in the early ages. Dalriada or Dalrieda. This ancient territory comprised all the remaining portion of the county of Antrim, not mentioned in Dalaradia, with a small part of the present county of Derry, as it is stated in these .\nnals at the year 1 182, that Dunboe was in Dalriada, now the parish of Dunboe, in the barony of Colei-ain, county of Derry. Dalriada was named from Cairbre Riada, son of Conaire, monarch of Ireland in the third century. Some Irish chiefs from Ulster, descendants of Cairbre Riada, founded a colony in Albany, afterwards called Scotland, and after having conquered the Picts of that country became the founders of a kingdom also called Dalriada. From tlie chiefs of the Dalriadians were descended the ancient Scottish kings, and also the house of Stuart. The 22 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A.D. 1189. after an English force came to that country, O'CaiToll and O'Maolruanaidh gave them battle, but O'CaiToll was defeated, and O'Maolruanaidh was slain. O'Conor, of Maonmoy, (son of Roderick,) king of Connaught over both Irish and English, was slain by a party of his own people, namely, by Manus, son of Floinn O'Finachta (who was called the Crosach Donn,'') aided by Hugh, son of Biyan of Brefney, son of Torlogh O'Conor; Murtogh, son of Cathal, son of Dermod, son of Teige ; and Giolla-na-naomh, son of Giollacomain, son of Muireadhach Ban (the Fair) O'Maoihnichil of the Tuatha^ (or Districts.) It was a sad thing for a faction to have conspired to kill the monarch elect of Ireland, to whom the greater portion of the princes of Leath Mogha (or the south of Ireland,) gave their suffi*ages, for Donal O'Brien came to territory which ohtamed the name of Dalriada in Ulster is con- nected with some of the earliest events in Irish history ; and our old Annalists record the battle of Murbolfi, which was fought in this di!*trict between the Nemedians and Fomorians. It is stateA that Sobairce, monarch of Ireland of tlie race of Ir, about nine centuries before the Christian era, erected a fortress, in which he resided, at Dunsobairce, or the fortress of Sobairce, near Murbol;;. It is also mentioned that Rotheachta, king of Ireland, was killed by lightning at Dunsobairce. This place, now called Dunseverick, is situated on a bold rock projecting into the sea near the Giants' Causeway. The chief, O'Cathain, in after times, had his castle at Dunseverick, the ruins of which still remain. On the sea coast of Antrim is that stupendous natural curiosity the Giants' Causeway, of volcanic origin, consisting of a countless number of basaltic coluums of immense height, which, from the regularity of their formation and arrangement, have the appearance of a vast work of art, and hence were supposed to have been constructed by giants. In O'Brien's Irish Dictionary, under the word Fomar, it appears that tlie ancient Irish called this wondrous production of nature Clocltnn-nri-Fomarniijh, signifying the Causeway of the Fomo- rians. These Fomorians, it may be observed, are mentioned by our old historians as a colony of African pirates, descendants of Ham, who had settled in the North of Ireland, on the coasts of Ulster and Connaught, and are represented as a race of giants. Dalriada was divided into two large districts: 1st. The Glynns, so called from its consisting of several large glens, e.\tended from Olderileet or Lame, to the vicinity of Ballycastlc, along the sea shore, and contained the barony of Glenarm, and part of Carey. 2nd. Tlie Routes, called Reuta, or Ruta, which comprehended the baronies of Duniuce, and Kilconway. The chief clans in Dalriada were the O'Kanes, above-mentioned, and the Mac Uidhilin or Mac Quillans, who held the territory of the Routes, and had their chief seat at Duniuce. In these Annals, A.D. 1211, the Mac Donnells of the Hebrides are mentioned as having invaded the territories of Antrim and Derry, where they aften\'ards made settlements. In the reign of Elizabeth Somhairle Buidhe Mac Donnell, called by English wri- ters Sorley Boy, a chief from the Hebrides, (descended from the ancient Irish of the race of Clan CoUa, as given in the note on Orgiall,) came with his forces and took possession of the Glynns. After many long and fierce battles with the Mac Quillans, the Mac Dormells made themselves masters of the country, and dispossessed the Mac Quillans. Dubourdieu, in his Survey of Antrim, says : " A lineal descendant of the chief Mac Quillau lives on the road between Belfast and Carrickfergus, near the silver stream, and probably enjoys more happiness as a respectable farmer, than his ancestor did as a prince in those turbulent times." The Mac his mansion at Dunleoda' and remained with him on a visit for a week, and O'Conor gave him sixty cows out of every Triochad Cead (or barony) in Connaught, and ten valuable articles of gold, but O'Brien accepted only of the cup (or goblet) of Dermod O'Brien, his own ancestor. Roderick Mac Dunslevey, king of Ulidia, also paid him a friendly visit. Donal Mac Carthy, lord of Desmond, came to his mansion, and O'Conor gave him five steeds out of every barony in Connaught. Mael- seachlain Beag, king of Tara, \-isited O'Conor, and received large presents, as did also O'Rom-ke.* After the death of O'Conor of Maonmoy, the Siol MmTay waited on Roderick O'Conor, king of Ireland, to give him the government of Connaught ; and as soon as Roderick came to Moy Aoi,^ he took under his charge the hostages of Siol Mur- ray and Connaught, for it was at Inisclothran on Donnells were created earls of Antrim, a dignity which they still enjoy. The O'Haras, a branch of the great family of O'Hara in Sligo, have also been long settled in Antrim. Several families of the O'Neills have been also in Antrim from an early period. The other clans in this territory were the O'Siadhails or O'Shiels ; the O'Quinns ; O'Furries ; Mac Allisters, Mac Gees, kc. The following are the noble families in Antrim, in modem times. The viscounts O'Neill, a branch of the O'Neills, princes of Tyrone. The Chichesters, earls of Belfast, and marquesses of Donegal. The carl Mac Cartney, baron of Lisanoure. The Clotworthys and Skeffingtons, earls of Massereene. And the Vaughans, barons of Lisbume. Antrim was formed into a county in the reign of Edward II. The diocese of Connor was founded by St. Aengus Macnisius in the fifth century. It comprehends almost the whole of the county of Antrim, with small portions of Down and Derry. 1. TTie Trian or Third, was a division of Armagh. 2. The great monastery was that of Mellifont, near Drogheda in Louth. 3. Eachmilidh Mac Cana, or Mac Can. The name Each- milidh is derived from Each, a steed, and MUidh, a knight, and is equivalent to the Latin equcs aiiratus. a knight or esquire; The Mac Cans were chiefs of Clan Breasail, an ancient territory on the borders of Armagh and Tyrone, near Lough Neagli, com- prising the present baronies of Oneilland m Armagh, and extend- ing into the county of Tyrone. The family of Hamilton have been in modern times earls of Clanbrazil. 4. O'Maolruanaidh was descended from the Clan Colla, and of the same stock as the Mac Guires, lords of Fermanagh. 5. Crosach Dmni signified the brown haired squinter 6. According to O'Dugan, O'Branan, and O'Maolmichil were chiefs of Corcaseachnaill, in the county of Roscommon, for which territory the Tuatha, or Districts, was another name. 7. liunleoda, now Dunloe, where a castle was built by Conor Maonmoy (O'Conor), near Ballinasloe, afterwards possessed by the earls of Clancarthy. 8. It appears that the large presents of cattle, golden articles, &c. made by O'Conor to the provincial princes, were in the nature of compensation, or tributes, which were always paid by the monarclis to the provincial kings and princes, who did them homage and acknowledged their authority, as may be seen in the celebrated work called Leabhar-na-g-Ceart, or the Book of Miyhts. 9. Moy Aoi, or Magh Aoi, also called Machaire Chonnacht, comprised the large plain in the county of Roscommon, between the towns of Roscommon and Elphio. EEIGN OF RICHARD I. 23 Lough Ree, that the hostages of O'Conor Maon- moy were kept at that time. Flaherty O'Maoldoraiclh, lord of Kinel Con- nell, remained encamped with liis forces at Corran (Ln SUgo,) and was opposed by all the Conacians, both Enghsh and Irish. Conor O'Dermott was slain by Cathal Carrach, son of O'Conor of Maonmoj', in revenge of the death of his father. Richard I.'" was proclaimed king of England on the 6th of July. O'Maoldoraidh (Flaherty,) marched a large force into Connaught, and encamped at Corran. The Conacians, both Enghsh and Ii-ish, opposed him, but no advantage was gamed on either side, and both armies returned. A.D. 1190. Dermod O'Rabhartaidh (O'Rafferty,) abbot of Durrow, died. Maelseachlain O'Neachtain and Giolla Bearaidh O'Sluaghadaigh, were slain by Torlogh son of Roderick O'Conor. Mor, daughter of Torlogh O'Conor, and of Diiibheasa, daughter of Dermod Mac Teige, died. A conference was held to conclude a peace between Cathal Croivdeai-g (O'Conor,) and Cathal Carrach (O'Conor,) at Clonfert Brendan. The Siol Murray came to the meeting, together with the successor of St. Patrick (Thomas O'Conor.) Conor Mac Demiott, and Aireachtach O'Rody, but they could not reconcile them. O'Conor and the Siol Murray came to Clonmacnois that night, and early on the foUovs-ing morning they embarked on the Shannon, and sailed into Lough Ree. A great storm arose on the lake by which their vessels were separated, and the boat in which O'Conor sailed became unmanageable in conse- 10. Riehard I. The chronology of the kincts of England, fol- lowed in those notes, is that of Sir Harris Nicholas, the most accu- rate authority on the subject. Henry II. died at the castle of Chinon, in Normandy, on the 6th of July, A.D. 1189, and was succeeded by his son Richard, surnamed Coeurde Lion. The year of king Henry's arrival in Ireland, as already given hi the Annals, is A.D. 1171. Ware, O'Flaherty, and Lanigan, give the same year, though Leland and others erroneously state A.D. 1172, as the year of his arrival. 1. Tlr Fiachrach was in the county of Galway. See note in p. 15. Kinel Aodha-na-hEchtge, a district in the south-east of the same county. quence of the %-iolence of the storm, and was swamped, so that all perished ittth the exception of Cathal Croivdearg and six. others. Amon" those drowned were Aireachtach O'Rody ; Conor, son of Cathal; Conor and Awlave, the sons of Hugh Mac Oirechtaidh (Mac Geraghty ;) O'^IaoUbrenainn, the son of O'Mannachain, and many others. A.D. 1191. Roderick O'Conor went from Connaught into Tirconnell to the seat of Flaherty O'Maoldoraidh, and from thence into Tyi'one, requesting forces from the north of Ireland to enable him to recover his kingdom of Connaught; but the people of Ulster would give him no support. He then proceeded to the Enghsh of Meath for the same purpose, but they would not assist him. From thence he went into Munster, whence he was recalled by the Siol IMurray, who granted him lands in Tir Fiachrach and Kinel Aodha-na- Hechtge.' Ailleaun, the daughter of Riagan O'MaOruan- aidh, the wife of Aireachtach O'Rody, died. A.D. 1192. The porch of the refectory of the black church of St. ColumkUle at Deny, was biult by O'Kane of the Creeve,' and by the daughter of O'Inneirghe (O'Henerj-.) Taichleach O'Dowd, lord of Hy ^Ymhalgaldh and Hy Fiaclirach,^ was slain by his two grand- sons. Hugh O'Fh-nn, chief of Siol Maoileruain,' died. The Enghsh were defeated at Carraidli Eacha- radh^ by the Muintir Maoiltsiona. The castles of Ath-an-urchair and CiUbisge' were erected this year. 1 . O'Kane of the Craoibh or Creeve. This territory was iden- tical with the present barony of Colerain, county of Derry. 2. Lordof Tyraicley atidTireragh. The baronies of Tyrawley, m the county of Mayo, and Tireragh,in the county of Sligo, which in the original are written tin n-Amhalga\dh and Ua Ffiachrack. 3. Siol Maoileruain, or Maoilruana. This territory lay in the west of the county of Roscommon, and comprised the parish of Kiltullagh, part of the parish of Kilteevan, in the county of Ros- common, and a considerable portion of Baflynakill, in the county of Galway. It also comprehended the mountain district of Sliabh- ui-Fhloinn, or O'Flynn's mountain, celebrated in the Irish song of the Droigheanan Donn, or the " Black Thorn." 4. Carraidh Eacharadh, now Corry, near BallinaJack, county of Westmeath. 5. The castles of Ardnorcher and Kilbixey, in Westmeath. 24 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A.D. 1193-94-95. The English committed great depredations on Donal O'Brien. They marched over the Plain of Cilldalua (Killaloe,) into iMoy O'd-Toirdheal- bhaidh (or Torlogh's Plain,) where they were over- taken by the Dal g-Cais (Dalcassians,) who slew a gi-eat number of them. On that expedition the Englisli built the castles of Cill Fiacal and Cnoc RafTonn." Donal O'Brien defeated the English of Ossory with great slaughter. A.D. 1193. Eochaidh O'Baoighill (O'Boyle,) was slain by the people of Hy Fiachra of Ard Sratha.' INIaolpadraic O'Coffey died. Cathal Mac Gaithene died. Derforghaill, wife of Tiaman O'Rourke, and daughter of JMurcliadh O'Maoileachlainn,'' died in the monastery of Droicheat Atha (Drogheda,) in the 85th year of her age. Dermod, son of Conbroghda O'Diomusaigh (O'Dempsey,) a long time chief of Clan ]\Iaoil- ughra, and lord of Hy Failge/ died. Cathal Odhar Mac Carthy was slain by Donal IMac Carthy. Murtogh, son of MuiTogh Mac Murrogh, lord of Hy Cennselaigh,'' died. Hugh O'Maoilbrcnan, chief of Clan Conchubh- air,^ was slain by the English of Dublin. O'CarroU, lord of Oriel, was taken by the English, who hanged him, having first put out his eyes. Inis Clothrann was plundered by the Mac Costelloes,'' and the sons of Conor of Maonmoy. 6. CUl Fincn'il, or Kilfcaclo, a parish in the harony of Clanwil- liaiii, county of Tippcrary. Knockraflbn, a leautifiil liill near the river Suir, in the parish of Knockgraflbn, in the barony of Middle- third, county of Tipperary. 1 . Tlie territory of Hy Fiaclira, in Tyrone, comprised the parish of Ardstraw,aiid some adjoining districts. 2. Derforghaill. This was the celeliratcd princess Dervorsilla, daughter of the king of Meath, and wife of Tiarnan O'Rourke, prince of Brefney. She has been already mentioned as celebrated in Irish history, on account of her abduction by Dermod Mac Murrogh, king of Lcinster, which was the cause of the English Invasion. By other writers her death is stated to have taken place at the monastery of Jlellifont, near Drogheda. ."3. The O'Dempseys were chiefs of Clan Maoilughra, or Glen- malire, a territory which, according to O'Brien, was divided between the King's and Queen's counties. Hy Failge, or Offaley, was an extensive territory, containing parts of the present King's and Queen's counties, of which O'Conor was supreme chief. A.D. 1194. Constantine O'Brien, bishop of Killaloe, died. Donal, son of Torlogh O'Brien, Idng of Munster, a refulgent torch of peace and war, and the bril- hant star of hospitality and generosity of the men of Munster and Leth Mogha, died. He was suc- ceeded by his son Murtogh. The English took possession of Inis O'Fionn- tain,' but they were driven out of it. Cumidhe O'Flynn^ was slain by the English. Gilbert Mac Costelloe (or Nangle,) marched to Easruadh (Ballyshannon,) but was obliged to return without obtaining advantages. Maolseachlain, son of Donal Fitzpatrick, lord of Ossoiy, died. Conor, son of Manus, son of Dunslevey O'Heoghy, was treacherously killed by O'Hanlon. Hugh the Blind, son of Torlogh O'Conor, died. Sitriug, son of Floinn O'Feenaghty, chief of Clan Murchadha,' died. Donagh, son of Murtogh, son of Torlogh (O'Brien,) was slain by Murtogh, son of Donal O'Brien. Murogh, son of Awlave O'Cmneidigh (O'Ken- nedy,) was Idlled by Loughlin, son of Macraith O'Kennedy. A.D. 1195. Donal O'Conaing (Gunning,) bishop of Killaloe, died. Florent, son of Riagan O'Maoilruanaidh, (Mul- rooney,) bishop of Elphin, died. Donal O'Finn, successor of St. Brenan of Clonfert, died. Eachmarcach O'Kane died in St. Paul's church. 4. Hy KlnselagJi, or Cennselagh, was an extensive territory, containing a great part of the county of Wexford, and part of Carlow. 5. The O'Maolbranans were chiefs of Clanconor, a district in the county of Roscommon ; and another family of the same name were located in Leix, Queen's county. 6. Inis Clothrann, was an island in Lough Ree, county of Long- ford, which had a celebrated abbey. The Mac Costelloes here mentioned were the English family of the Nangles, as explained in the note on Meath. 1. St. Fmtan's island, m Longh Dearg, county of Donegal. See Se^Bord. 2. O'FlvTin was lord of Hy Tuirtre, in Dalaradia, and this Cu- Midlie appears to have been the chief who defeated de Courcy in A.D. 1177. 3. O'Finnaghta was chief of Clan Murchada, a'district in the county of Roscommon. REIGN OF RICHARD I. 25 Conor Mac Fachtna died in the church of DeiTy. Sitrig O'Gormley was slain by the son of Dunslevey. John de Courcy, and the son of Hugo de Lacy, marched an army to bring the Enghsh of Leinster and Munster under subjection. Cathal Crovdearg O'Conor, joined by Mac Costelloe, and a party of the Enghsh and Irish of Meath, marched into Munster, as far as Imlcach lubhau- (Emly,) and Cashel ; they burned four great castles, and several others of a muior description. Cathal Mac Dermott came fi-om Munster into Connaught, and conquered all before him, until he an-ived at Lough Mask and Inisroba (at Bal- hm-obe in Mayo,) where he seized on all the shipping of Cathal Crovdearg, which he took to Caislean-na-CaiUighe (in Lough Mask,) from whence he committed many depredations on all sides. Cathal Crovdearg, with a party of the Enghsh, and the Clan (or Siol) Maohnianaidh, marched thither, and at length concluded a peace with Mac Dermott, notwithstanding aU the depredations he had committed. A.D, 1196. The cathedral of Peter and Paul at Armagh, with its churches, and a great portion of the fortress, were biu'ned. Mm-cheartach, son of jMurcheartach O'Lough- lin, lord of Kinel Owen, and heir presxunptive to the throne of Ireland, the tower of braver}-, and feats of arms of Leath Cuinn, the demolisher of the cities and castles of the English, and a founder of chmxhes and dehghtfid sanctuaries, was slain by Donogh, son of Blosgaidh O'Kane, at the mstigation of the Kinel Owen, after they had sworn by the three shrines, and the canon of St. Patrick, to be faithful to him. His remains were conveyed to Deny Columldlle, and interred there with honours and solemnity. Roderick Mac Dunslevey, joined by the Enghsh, 1. Termon Dobeog, or the church lands of St. Dabeog:, who founded a monasterj' on an island in Lough Derg, county of Donegal. 2. Laoighis, or Leix, the principality of the O'Mordhas, or and the sons of some chieftains of Connaught, marched his forces into the territories of Kinel Owen, and of Airtheara (Orior in Armagh.) The Kinel Owen of Tellaghoge, and the men of Orior, marched to the plain of Armagh to oppose them, and gave them battle ; and Mac Dunslevej' was defeated wth a dreadfid slaughter of his forces. In this battle were slain t^velve sons of the nobles and chiefs of Connaught, with a great number of tlie common soldiery. Among the nobles slain were Bryan Buidhe O'Flaherty ; the son of Maohsa O'Conor of Connauglit ; the son of O'Conor Faily ; and the son of O'Faelain of the Desies. Mac Blosgaidh O'Cairin, having plundered Termon Dabeog,' was himself slain in a month afterwards, with a dreadful slaughter of his people, through the interposition of God and St. Dabeog. Donal, son of Dermod Mac Carthy, defeated the Enghsh of Limerick and Munster, in a battle, with dreadftd slaughter, and expeUed them from Limerick ; he also defeated them in two other battles. Conor Mac Dermott, lord of Moylm-g, took holy orders in the monastery of Boyle, and was succeeded in the lordshij) by Tomaltach. Hugh O'Ferrall, lord of Muintir Anally, was treacherously killed by the sons of Sitiick O'Quinn. The chiefs of Muintir Eoluis were treacherously killed by the son of Cathal O'Rourke. Mmreadhach IMac Rannall, ^-iz. the Giolla Ruadh, cliief of Muuith Eoluis, was slain by the son of Manus O'Conor, at the instigation of the son of Cathal O'Rotu-ke, by whom the afore- mentioned nobles were slain. Mahon, son of Conor of Maonmoy, heir pre- sumptive to the crown of Connaught, was slain by O'Moore, (Donal,) and the men of Laoighis, - while defending a booty which he had taken fi'om the English ; and in retaliation, O'Moore was slain bj' Cathal CaiTach O'Conor. Congalach, son of Fergal O'Rourke, was slain by the men of Lieney, at SUabh Da-En.^ 0'5Ioores, was situated in the Queen's county, on the borders of Kildare. 3. Sliabh Da-En, or Sl'iere Daen, a mountain to the south of Lough Gill, in the barony of Tirerrill, county of Sligo. 26 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A.D. 1197. lodnaidhe O'Mannachain (O'Monaghan,) lord of Hy Briuin of the Shannon,'' died. Cathal, son of Hugh O'Flaherty, was slain by Muii'cheartach Midhig-h. A.D. 1197. John de Coiu'cy, wdth the English of Ulidia, marched to Eas Craoibhe,' where they built the castle of Kill Sanctan. They plundered and laid waste the district of Cianachta, and left Roitsel Pitun (Peyton,) with a strong gairison in the castle, from which they sallied out, plundering and devastating the countiy and churches. Shortly afterwards Roitsel Pitun went on a pre- datoiy excm-sion to the port of Deny, and plun- dered Cluain I, Eanach, and Dcarg Bruach ; but Flaherty O'Muldoraidh, lord of Tirconnell and Tii'owen, with a party of the northern Clan NeiU, attacked him on the strand of Ua-Congbhala (near Faughanvale.) The English were defeated with great slaughter, through the interposition of ColumkUle, Caindeach (Canice,) and Breacan, for having plundered then- cluu-ches. Amongst the slain was the son of Ardgal Mac Loughlin. Mac Etigh, one of the people of Keenaght, robbed the altar of the great chm'ch of DeiTy ColumkiUe, and carried away with him the four most valuable cups in Ireland, which were called, the Mac Riabhach, the Mac Solas, the cup of O'Maoldoraidh, and the crooked goblet of O'Dogherty. He broke them to pieces, and took off their valuable ornaments. In three days after the robbery, these precious ornaments and the robber were discovered. He was hanged by Flaherty (O'Maoldoraidli,) at the Cross of Executions, to avenge St. Columldlle for having profaned his altar. Flaherty O'Muldorry, lord of TirconneU, Tir- 4. Hy Briuhi'im-SUinnn^ or Htj Briuin of the Shannon^ a territory in Roscommon, between Elphin and the Shannon, cora- prisinp; the parishes of Aughrim, Kilmore, and Cloncraft. The O'Monaghans were chiefs of this terrltorj", and had tUeu: castle at Lisadom. 1 . Eas Craoihbe, is now called the Cuts' Fishery, near Cole- rain ; Kill Sanctan Castle was also near Colerain. Cianachta, above mentioned, is the barony of Keenaght, in the county of Derry. ■2. This celebrated chief, Flaherty O'Maoldoraidh, or O'Mul- dorry, is compared to the ancient heroes, namely, Conall Cearnach, owen, and OrgiaU, the defender of Tara, and heir presumptive to the throne of Ireland, a Conall^ in heroism, a Cuchulain in valour, a Guaire in hos- pitality, and a Mac Lughach in bravery, died on the 2nd day of February, after a patient suffering, at Inis Saimei', in ' the 30th year of his government, and 59th of his age ; and was buried at Druim Tuama, with the ciistomaiy honours. EachmarcachO'Dochartaidli (O'Dogherty,) there- upon assumed the government of Tirconnell, and in a fortnight aftei-wards John de Courcy, at the head of a strong force, crossed Tuaim (Toom Bridge,) into Tirowen ; from thence he proceeded to Ai'dstraw, and aftenvards marched round to Derry ColumkiUe, where he I'emained for five nights, and then crossed over by water to Cnoc Nascain (in Inisowen.) Eachmarcach O'Dogherty, at the head of the Kinell Connell, marched to oppose him, and a battle ensued, in which many fell on both sides, and the i)eople of Tirconnell sustained great loss, a hundred of their men being slain, amongst whom were Eachmarcach himself; Donogh O'Taircert, chief of Clan Snedgile, the mainstay of hospitality, generosity, wisdom, and counsel of all Tu'conneU ; Giolla Brighde O'Dogh- erty ; Mac Dubhain ; Mac Fergail ; the sons of O'Boyle, and many other cliiefs. The English, after the battle, plundered Inisowen, from which they took a great prey of cattle, and then retreated. Conchobhar O'Cathain, died. Conor, son of Teige (Mac Dermott,) lord of Moylurg, and of Moy Aoi, the tower of dignity, prudence, hospitahtj', and protection of all Con- naught, died, after sincere repentance, in the monastery of Ath-da-laarg (Boyle.) Iliac Raith O'Laithbheartaidli (O'Flaherty,) tanist of Tirowen, and Maolruanaidh O'Cairellain, chief of Clan Dermott, were killed. Donal, son of Rannall Mac RannaU, was chief of the Red Branch Knights of Ulster, and Cuchulainn, anotlier famous contemporary warrior of the Red Branch ; Mac Lughach, probably Lughaidh Mac Con, who was a great champion in Monster, in the reign of king Cormac ; or perhaps Lughaidh Lamhfada, who is celebrated for having expelled the Fomorians. Guaire, here mentioned, was a kmg of Connaught, renowned for his hospitality. Inis Saimer, given as the place of O'Muldorry's death, was the monastery of Ballyshannon, and the place of iiis burial was Druim Tuama, a monastery founded by ColumkiUe, now the parish of Drumhome, in the barony of Tirhugh, county of Donegal. REIGN OF RICHARD I. 27 treacherously slain by the sons of Mac Duibh- dara. Roderick O'Flaherty, lord of West Connaught, was taken prisoner by Cathal Croibhdearg (the Red Handed,) O'Conor, king of Connaught. A.D. 1198. Giolla Mac Liag O'Branain resigned his abbacy of Deny ColumkiUe, and GioUa Criost O'Cear- naigh (O'Keamey,) was appointed in his place by the chiefs and clergy of the north of Ireland. Roderick O'Conor,' king of Connaught and of all Ireland, both EngUsh and Irish, died in ca- nonical orders at Cong, after sincere repentance, victorious over the world and the devil ; his body was conveyed to Clonmacnois, and was intended there, on the north side of the altai" of the great church. The son of Bryan of Brefney, son of Toi'logh O'Conor, was slain by Cathal CaiTach, son of Conor of Maonmoy. Cathalan O'MaoMabhail, lord of Carraig Brach- aidhe,^ was slain by O'Derain, and in retahation O'Derain himself was immediately after killed. John de Courcy marched into Tu'owen, and plundered and spoiled the chui'ches of Ardstraw and Raphoe. He aftei^wards came to DeiTy ColumkiUe, where he remained for nine days, dming which time he plundered Inisowen and the adjacent country, but cUd not succeed in canying off the booty, for at tliis time Hugh O'Nedl, with five armed ships, came to the church of Lathau'ne (Larne,) bmTied a part of the town, and slew eighteen of the English. The English of Magh Line (Moylinny,) and Dalaradia, mus- tered three hundi-ed men, and marched against Hugh, who had no intimation of their approach 1. Runidhri Ua Conchobhair, or Roderick O'Conor, the last Jlilesiaii monarch of Ireland, after having reigned eighteen years, abdicated the throne A.D. 1184, and retired to the monastery of Cong, in Mayo, where, after a religious seclusion of thirteen years, he died, A.U. 1198, in the 82nd year of his age, and was buried in the same sepulchre with his father, Torlogh O'Conor, monarch of Ireland, at the north side of the great altar, in the cathedral of St. Kiaran, at Clomnacnois. O'Conor (Rer. Hib. Scrip, vol. I.,) says he bequeathed gold, sUver, and many other thmgs to God, to the poor, to all the churches of Ireland, and to those of Rome and Jerusalem. In the chronological poem on the Christian kings of Ireland, written m the twelfth century, by Giolla Moduda, abbot of Ardbracan, as quoted in vol. I. of O'Conor's Mer. Hib. Scrip. is the following verse : — imtil they came up to him, while in' the act of burning the town. A battle ensued in wiiich the Enghsh were defeated, as they were in five different engagements aftenvards, between that town and the place where the Enghsh took to their shipping. Hugh lost but five men. As soon as John de Cotu-cy received inteUigence of this he left Deny. A war broke out between the Kinel Connell and the Kinel Owen. The Kinel Connell joined O'Hegnigh against the Kinel Owen, and they held a conference to ratify their union at Termon Dabeog. Hus-h O'Neill came thither with the Kinel Owen to prevent the meetiag, attacked O'Heigny, and defeated him ; and O'Neill ob- tained hostages. Hugh, at the head of the Kinel Owen, marched the same day, and plundered the Kinel Connell, on the plain of Moy Ith ; he took away with him many cattle, after slaying O'Duibhdianna,^ who opposed him Tvath a troop of horse. Hugh O'Neill, with a force of the Kinel Owen, mai'ched a second time to the plain of Moy Ith, to give the Kinel Connell battle ; but the Kinel Connell marched out of then' camp, and made fi'iendly and peaceable terms -vvith them on that occasion. Cathal Croibhdearg O'Conor made peace with Cathal CaiTach, son of Conor of Maonmoy, whom he recalled to the country, and gave him lands. A.D. 1199. Maol losa Mac Giolla Erain, the au-chinneach of Kilmore, in Hy NiaUain,' successor elect of St. Patrick, died. Sanctus Mam-itius O'Baodain died in Hy (or lona,) of ColumkiUe. " Ocht m-Bliadhna agus deich Ruaidri an Ri, Mac Toirdhealbhaidh an t-Ard Ri, riaith na n-Eirend : gan fhell, Ri deighneach deig Eirenn. " Eighteen years the monarch Roderick, Son of Torlogli, supreme sovereign, Ireland's undisputed ruler, Was fair Erin's latest king." 2. Carraig Srachaidhe, in the barony of Inisowen, county of Donegal. 3. O' Duibhdiarma was a chief in Inisowen. 1. Kilmore in By Niallain, that is, the parish of Kilmore, E 2 28 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A.D. 1200. The English of Ulidia marched three great armies successively into Tirowen. The third anny pitched then' camp at Domhnachmore of Moy lomchlau',- from which they sent a large party to spoil and plunder the countiy. Hugh O'Neill, who marched to meet them, amved at the place at the same time with the Enghsh ; he attacked and routed them with great slaughter ; and such as escaped, fled by night, and did not halt imtil they passed over Tuaim (Toom Bridge.) Roiy O'Dunsleve, joined with a party of the Enghsh of Meath, marched his forces and plun- dered the monastery of S.S. Paul and Peter (at Annagh,) and left only one cow in the place. Donal O'Dogherty, lord of Kind Enda, and of Ai'dmiodhair,' died. Donogh Uaithneach, son of Roderick O'Conor, was slain by the English of Limerick. Rodubh Mac Roedig, chief of Kinel Aengusa, was slain by the Enghsh while plundering Hy Earca Chein.^ Cathal Croibhdearg O'Conor was diiven from Connaught, and Cathal Carrach assumed his place. Hugh O'Neill marched his forces to assist Cathal Croibhdearg, and was joined by the men of Moy Ith, and of Orgialla. They went as far as Teach Baoithin of Artagh,'' from whence they retm'ned to BaUysadai'e, where they were over- taken by Cathal Carrach, with the cliiefs of Con- naught, and William Burke, at the head of the English of Limerick. A battle ensued, in which the northern forces were defeated, and O'Hegnidli (O'Heney,) lord of Oriel, and many others, fell. John de Courcy, at the head of the English of Ulidia, joined by the son of Hugo de Lacy, at the head of the English of Meath, marched their situated partly in tlie Iiarony of Lower Orior, but cliiefly in that of O'Xeiliand, county of Armagli. 2. Doinlniach Mot Ma'tghe lomchlair. The parish of Donagh- more, in tiie Ijarony of Dungannon, county of Tyrone. 3- Lord of Kinel Enda and Ard Miodhair. See note on Kinel Enda at p. 10. According to O'Brien, Ard Miodhair lay near Fanat, in tlie county of Donegal. 4. Chief of Kinel Aongusn, ^-c- See note on Meath. Ily Earca Chein, or Ibh Earca, now the barony of Iverk, county of Kilkenny. 5. Teach Baoithin Airtigh, that is, Tibohine, Taughboyne, or Artagh, a parish in the barony of Boyle, county of Roscommon. It obtained its name of Teach Baoithin, or the House of Baoithm, from St. Baoithin, who, according to Colgan, waa bishop of this place in the seventh century. forces to reheve Cathal Croibhdearg, and anived at Kihnacduagh. Cathal Carrach, at the head of the Conacians, marched thither, and gave them battle, in which the Enghsh were defeated with such slaughter, that although their original force consisted of five battaUons, only two sumved the battle. They fled, but were closely pm-sued from the field of battle, as far as Rinn Diiin,'' at Lough Ree, where de Courcy was hemmed in, and a great number of the Enghsh slain ; many others were drowned, for they had no means of escaping but by crossing the lake eastward in boats. Ruarc O'Maoilbrenainn, chief of Clan Conor,' died. John was proclaimed king of England, on the 6thof April.8 Murchadh Mac Coghlan, lord of Delvin Eathra, died. A.D. 1200. Cadlila O'Duffy, ai-chbishop of Tuam, died at an advanced age. Uau-eirghe, son of Maolmordha, son of Uair- eirghe O'Neachtain, a learned professor of Clon- macnois, a man distuiguished for sanctity, charitj% and all other virtues, and chief of the Culdees of Clonmacnois, died on the 10th day of March. Maol Eoin O'Carmacain, coarb of St. Comman, (abbot of Roscommon,) died. Hugh O'Neill was deposed by the Kinel Owen, and Conor O'Loughhn was elected prince in his place ; he plimdered Tir-Enda, slew many people, and took away with him a large prey of cattle. Egneachan O'DomhnaiU (O'Donnell,) lord of Kinel Council, sailed with his fleet by sea, and sent his forces by land, and encamped at Gaoth- 6. Rinn Duin, signifies the peninsula of the fortress: This peninsula was situated in Lough Ree, on the shore of the Shannon, in the county of Roscommon, about eight miles north of Athlone. There was a fortress here from the earliest times, and afterwards a strong castle, called Randown castle, which belonged to the O'Conors. Cill Mic Duach, or Killraacduagh, a parish, and the seat of a diocese in the barony of Kiltarton, county of Galway. 7. Clan Concliobhair, or Clan Conor. O'Dugan gives Maol- brenainn as cliief of Clan Conor, in south Connaught, in Roscom- mon. This name has been changed to Brennan, and by others to O'Mulrenan. 8. King Richard I. died on the Gth of April, A.D. 1190, at the castle of Chalus, m Normandy, of a wound he received from an arrow, while besieging that place, and was succeeded by his brother John. REIGN OF KING JOHN. 29 an-Chairgin. The Clan Diarmada, on the other side, came to Port Ross to attack the fleet. When the crews of the thu1;een sliips beheld them, they sallied forth and defeated them. Mac LougliUn, namely, Conor Beag, son of Murtogh, came at this time to assist the Clan Diarmada ; but his horse being wounded, he was dismounted, and finally slain by the Kinel Connell, to avenge Columkille and his coarb, whose shrines he had fonnerly violated. It was on account of the same \'iolation that Murchadh O'Criochain, lord of Hy Fiachrach, was killed. Egneachan's party followed up their ■\actory, and committed great slaughter among the Kinel Owen, and the Clan Diarmada.' Meier,'- and the Enghsh of Leinster, marched then- forces against Cathal Carrach, and remained two nights at Clonmacnois. They plundered the town of property and provisions, not sparing even the churches. Cathal Croibhdearg fled for protection into Munster, to Mac Carthy and WiUiam Burke. GeiTmaide O'BaoigheUain' (O'Boylan,) was IviUed by Egneachan O'Donnell. A battle was fought between O'Donnell and O'Ruao-c (Ualgarg O'Rourke,) aided by Conor O'Rourke of Glaisfene, in whuch the Hy Briuin were defeated with great havock, both in killed and di-owTied ; and among the latter was Conor O'Rourke. The place where that battle was fought was Leac O'Maoldoraigh.'' Donagh Uaitneach, son of Roderick O'Conor, was slam by the Enghsh of Limerick. ^lahon, son of Gillpatrick O'Ciardha, was slain by the Enghsh of Clonard. O'Ciardha bm-ned Clonard, and plundei'ed the English who resided there. Cathal Croibhdearg O'Conor went to plunder 1. It appears that O'Donnell sailed up Lough Foyle, and \ma attacked by the Clan Dermod, that is, the O'Carolans and others, on the opposite side, in the county of Derry. Hy Fiachra, of which O'Criochain was lord, was a territory about' Ardstraw, in Tyrone. 2. Meier and William Biirlie, that is, Meiler Fitz Henry, one of the Anglo-Xonnan leaders, who came over with Strongbow. He was grandson to king Henry I., and a very valiant commander. In A.D. 1199, he was appointed chief governor of Ireland, by king John, and had large grants of land in Westmeath and Kildare. lie died in A.D. 1-2-20, and was buried at Connell Abbey, in Kil- dare, which he had founded. WilUnm Burke, whose name occurs so frequently in the Annals at this period, was William Fitz Adelm de Burgo The family of de Burgo came from Nor- mandy with William the Conqueror, and were earls of Kent in Munster ; he bimied Castle Connell, the market- place of Limerick, and the castle of Wilkin, and took Wilkin and his wife prisoners, after having slain twelve knights, with many common people. Fiachra O'Flynn, chief of Siol Maobuain, died. Cathal Can-ach assumed the sovereignty of Connaught, and drove Cathal Croibhdearg into Ulster, who went to the residence of O'Eignigh, lord of Fermanagh, and from thence to the seat of John de Courcy, with whom he confirmed his covenant of friendship. A.D. 1201. Tomaltach O'Conor, successor of St. Patrick, and primate of Ireland, died. Conn O'Meallaigh, bishop of Eanach Duin, a brilliant gem, and a pillar of the chm-ch, died. Johanes de Monte Cehon, a cardinal, came to Ireland fi-om Rome, as the Pope's legate, and convened a great synod at Dubhn, which was attended by the bishops, the abbots, and the clergy of the various orders, as also many of the nobihty of Ireland. At this convention many regidations between clergy and laity were satis- factorily arranged. In a fortnight aftenvards, the cardinal convened a synod of the clergy and nobihty of Connaught at Tuam, where the neces- sary regidations were enacted. NiaU O'Flynn was treacherously slain by the English of Ulidia. Manus, son of Dermod O'Loughlin, was slain by Murtogh O'Neill, and Murtogh himself was afterwards slain in retahation. Conor, son of Mam-ice O'Edin, died. Teige O'Breen, lord of Leiney, in Meath, died. England. William de Burgo was chief governor of Ireland for some time in the reign of Henry II., and obtained extensive posses- sions in Connaught. He died A.D. 1-04, and was buried in the abbey of Athassell, in Tipperarj-, which he had founded. He was married to Isabella, natural daughter of king Richard I., and his descendants were earls of Connaught and Ulster, and founded many of the most powerful families in Ireland, as the earls of Clanrickard, and many others of the nobility. The name de Burgo was changed to de Burgh and Burke. See Lives of Illustrious Irishmen. 3. Tlie O'Boylans, a clan in 3Ionaghan,on the borders of TjTone. 4. Leac O'Maoldoraigh, or O'Muldorry's Rock, situated somewhere on the borders of Leitrim and Donegal, supposed to be at Ballysbannon. The Hy-Briuin, signifies the people of Leitrim, 33 Hy-Briuin was a name applied to that territory. 30 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A.D. 1202. Muireadliach, son of Neill, son of Sionnach O'Catharnaigh, clied. Miirogh O'Madden, chief of the half of Siol Anmchadha, received a wound in his head from an an-ow, of which he died. Cathal Croibhdearg, and WiUiam Burke, at the head of the English and Irish forces, marched from Limerick to Tuam, in Connaught, from whence they went to Huaran (Oran,) to Elphin, to the Rock of Lough Key, and finally to the monastery of Ath-da-lo-arg (Boyle,) where they took ujd then- quarters. Cathal Mac Deraiott went at this time to plunder Hy Diarmada ;' he was overtaken and attacked by Teige, son of O'Conor of Maonmoy, and a conflict ensued in which Mac Dennott was slain. Cathal Can-ach, king of Connaught, collected his forces (to oppose Cathal Croibhdearg and Burke before-mentioned,) and marched to Guir- tin Cuil Luachra, near the monastery, where they were encamped. The two armies remained close to each other for a week, during which time many Bkii-mishes took place. Cathal Carrach then went to view one of those engagements, when it happened that his party were defeated, and he himself, in the thick of the conflict, was slain ; this was attributed to the miracles of God, and the intervention of St. Kiaran. In the same engagement Collaid, son of Dermod O'Maoil- ruanaidh, and many others fell. After this Cathal Croibhdearg, and WiUiam Burke, marched with their forces through Moy- lurg, Moy Aoi, from thence to West Connaught, to Cong of St. Feichin, where they spent the Easter. William Burke, and the sons of Rory O'Flaherty, conspired to betray Cathal Croibh- dearg, but God saved him through the intercession of the clergy, who were the sureties of their mutual fidelity. Shortly afterwards William Burke's soldiers came to demand their pay from the Conacians, but the Conacians attacked and slew many of them. William Bm-ke afterwards returned to Limerick, and Cathal Croibhdearg again assxmied the title of king of Connaught. Ualgharg O'Rom-ke marched his forces into 1. Hy Diarmada, or Clan Diarmada, wa9 a district in Hy Maine, of which the Mac Egans were cliiefs. Kinel Connell, and seized on the cattle and property. O'Donnell (Egneachan,) overtook them at Leac-ui-Mhaoldoraigh. A conflict en- sued, in which the Hy Briuin were defeated with dreadful havock, both in killed and drowned. On that expedition Conor (O'Rourke,) of Glais- fene was drowned. The Kinel Owen went on a predatory excur- sion into Kinel Connell, on the same day, but were defeated by O'Donnell, in a battle in which Gearmaide O'Boylan, and many others of the Kinel Owen were slain. Tiarnan, son of Donal, son of Cathal O'Rourke, was slain by Mac Fiachraigh and the Clan Cathail. Mac Fiachi'aigh the younger was also slain on that occasion. A.D. 1202. Muircheartach O'Carmacain, bishop of Clon- fert, died. Maolcolaimm O'Branain, aircineach of Tor- aigh,' died. Donal O'Brolchain, a prior (of Derry,) an illustrious sage and learned doctor, distinguished for his wisdom and worth, form and figure, mild- ness and devotion, died, after a well spent life, on the 27th day of April. Maolfinnein Mac Colmain, an admired sage, and the devout Con O'Flanagan, died. Donal Carrach O'Dogherty, head chief of Ai'dmiodhair, was slain by Muintir BaoighiU,'^ after plundering many chiu-ches and districts. Conor Roe, son of Donal O'Brien, was killed by his own brother, namely, Murcheartach, son of Donal, son of Torlogh O'Brien. Torlogh, son of Rory O'Conor, having escaped from confinement, Cathal Croivdearg made peace with him, and granted him lands. Torlogh was aftenvards expelled by Cathal, hut he made peace wth him through the intercession of the English. Donal, son of Muirchertagh O'Melaghlin, died. Dermod, son of Art O'Melaghlin, was slain by the son of Loughhn O'Conor. 1. Tory Island, off the coast of Donegal, on -which an ahbey was founded ijy St. Ernan, in the seventh century. 2. Mulnt'iT BaoighiU, or the O'Boyles, a clan who possessed the barony of Boylagh, in the county of Donegal. REIGN OF KING JOHN. 31 A.D. 1203. Mac Giolla Cheallaigh O'Ruaidhin, bishop of Kilmacduagh, died. DeiTy Columkille was burned, from the cemetiy of St. Martin to the well of St. Adamnan. A monastery was unlawfully erected by Ceallach, in the centre of lona, in opposition to the people of that place ; and he did great damage to the town. The clergy of the north of Ireland assem- bled together, for the purpose of going to lona, natmely, Florent O'Cerbhallain, bishop of Tyrone, (Ardstraw) ; Maoliosa O'Dorigh, bishop of Tir- connell (Raphoe,) and abbot of the church of SS. Paul and Peter at Armagh ; Amhalgaidh O'Firgail, abbot of the chiu-ch of Derry ; Ainmu'e O'Cobh- thaigh (Coffey) ; with many of the people of Derry, and of the northern clergy. They proceeded to lona, and pulled down the chm'ch before men- tioned, in accordance with the ecclesiastical laws ; and Amhalgaidh O'Firgail was elected abbot of lona, by the suffi-ages of the Scots and Irish. Dermod, son of Murchertach O'Loughhn, with a party of English, proceeded on a predatory ex- cursion into Tyrone, and plundered the shrine of Columkille; but they were overtaken by •'party of the Kinel Owen, who defeated them, and Dennod himself was slain, through the miraculous interpo- sition of Columkille. The son of Hugo de Lacy marched, with a force of the EngUsh of Meath, into Ulidia, and expelled John de Courcy from thence, after a battle fought between them at Dundaleathglass (Down,) in which many were slain. Muircheartach of Teffia, son of Conor of Maon- moy, son of Roderick O' Conor, was slain by Dermod, son of Rory, his uncle, on the plain of Kilmacduagh. Donal, son of Mac Carthy, at the head of the people of Desmond, defeated the Enghsh in a battle, in which upwards of one hundred and sixty of the English were slain. Faolan, son of Faolan, lord of Hy Faolain, died in the monastery of Congalaidh.' 1. The monnsfpr;/ of Congalaidh, or Great Connell, a parish in the barony of Connell, county of Kildare, in whicli, according to Seward, are the ruins of Great Connell Al)bey. In A.D. 1202, a priory was founded liere, under the invocation of the Blessed Virgin and St. David, by Meyler FitzHenry, wlio placed in it regular canons from the monastery of Lanthony, in Monmouth- shire. Kells, Trim, and Newbridge were burned. Sitrig of Teffia O'Kelly, of Hy Maine, died. A.D. 1204. Sitrig O'Sruithen, aircineach of Congbhala, viz. : the leader of the Hy Murtele, and chosen chief of Clan Snedgile,' died, after tme penance, and was buried in the church built by himself. John de CoLU-cy, the plunderer of churches and territories, was driven by the son of Hugh de Lacy into Tyrone, where he sought the protection of the Kinel Owen ; but he was pursued as far as Carrickfergus, and the Enghsh of Uhdia slew many of his pai-ty. William Burke plundered the whole of Con- naught, both lay and ecclesiastical, but God and the saints visited him with their vengeance, for he died of an uncommon disease, unbecoming to mention. Muii-chertach O'Flaherty, lord of West Con- naught, ched. A.D. 1205. The archbishop O'Heinni,' having retired to a monastery, died shortly afterwards. Donal O'Becdha, bishop of Hy Amalgaidh, (Killala,) died. Saou-bhrethach O'D^^il'ed, aircineach of Domh- nachmore, and Patrick O'Moghroin, died. Manus O'Kane, son of the lord of Ciananacht and Fercraoibhe, the' tower, of bravery and activity of the North, was wounded with a javelin, of which he died. Mac Guillbhealaidh O'CarroU, lord of Ely,* was slain by the English. Conor O'Breen, of Breghmaine, died, while on a pilgrimage at Clonmacnois. Raghnall Mac Dermott, lord of Clan Dermott, died. Donal Mac Concoigrighe, chief of Muintir Ser- cachain, died. 1. Clan Snedgile, a tribe in Tirconnell. Congbhala, or Con- wall, an abljey over which St. Fiachra ])resided in the sixth cen- tury, was situated near Lough Swilly, in the barony of Kilma- orenan, county of Donegal, and gave name to the parish of Conwall. 32 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A.D. 1206- Donal O'Faolain, lord of the Deisi' of Munster, died. Teige, the son of Cathal Croibhdirg (O'Conor,) died, after one night's sickness, at Clonmacnois. Meyler, son of Meyler (Fitz Henry,) tooii forci- ble |iossession of Limerick ; on which account a great war broke out between the Enghsh of Meath and the English of Meyler. In tliis contest CuulacUi, son of ConmidJi O'Laeghachain, chief of Siol Ronain,* was slain by the Kinel Fiachach Mac Neill. A.D. 1206. Donal O'Muiredhaidh (O'Murray,) chief pro- fessor at Deny, died. Maolpeadair O'Colmain (O'Coleman,) successor of Caindeach (St. Canice of Kilkenny.) the pillar of piety and wisdom of the north of Ireland, died. Flaherty O'Flaherty, prior of Dungiven, and Gilpatrick O'Falachtaidh, aiixineach of Dun- cruithne,' died. Eignaghan O'Donnell, plundered and slew many in Tyi'one. The successor of St. Patrick^ went to the king of England on behalf of the churches of Ireland, and to complain against the Enghsh in Ireland. Tomaltach, son of Conor, son of Deimod, son of Teige (Mac Dennott,) lord of Moylurg, of Ai'tagh, and of the neighbom-mg tenitory of Clan Maolrooney, died. Eignachan O'Donnell plundered Hy Faranain and Clan Deniiod ; he carried away cattle, and slew many people. He was pursued and overtaken by the people of Clan Dermod, of Hy Forannaln, and of Hy Gormley f many were slam and di-owned on both sides, but the Kinel Connell at length, with difficulty, succeeded in can-jang away the booty. Rory O'Gara, lord of Sheve Lugha,'' died. 1. Archbishop O'Hehini. This was Matthew O'Heney, areh- bisliop of Casliel, who died in the abbey of Holycross. 2. O'Cearbhaill, or O'CarroU, lord of Ely O'Carroll, in the county of Tippcrary. 3. The O'Faolnms, or O'Phelnns, lords of Deisi, in the present county of Waterford, from which the baronies of Decies tooli their name. 4. O'Laeghnrhnhi, of Muintir Laedhachain, in Tcffia. Siol Ronain was m Cairbre Gaura, in Teffia. Kmel Fiacha was also in Teffia. See note on T^a. 1. Diintjiren and Duncruifhne. Dungiven, a parish in the barony of Kenauglit, county of Derry where there wa£ an Augus- Hugh, son of Miu-ogh O'Kelly, lord of Hy Maine, and Caithniadli O'Caithniadh, lord of loras (Ems, in the county of Mayo,) died. Hugh O'Goimghialladh, lord of Partraidhe,' in CaiTa, was slain by the people of Carra. Roiy O'Toghda, chief of Bredach," in Hy Amal- gaidh, died. Gilbert O'Flanagan, and Ivar Mac Murrogh, slew each other at Roscommon. Murtogh Mac Carghamhna, chief of Muintir Jlaoiltsionna, died. Hugo de Lacy, the younger, marched with the Enghsh of Meath and Leinster, into Tulaghoge (in TjTone.) He burned some churches, and the corn of the country-, but obtamed neither hostages nor cattle from Hugh O'Neill on that expedition. The same party marched into Kianaght ; they burned all the churches in that territory, and car- ried away an immense prey of cattle. A.D. 1207. Eignaghan O'Donnell went into Feara Manach (Fermanagh,) and seized some cattle. A large party of the inhabitants attacked him, and slew O'Donnell, lord of Tirconnell, the tower of valour and hospitaUty of the province in his time. Many of his chiefs were slain along with him, viz. : The GioUa Riabhach, son of Callaidhe O'Boyle ; Donogh Conailleach, son of Conor of Maonmoy ; Mathgamhan (iNIahon,) the son of Donal ilidhigh O'Conor, with many other warriors. Donal, son of Fergal O'Roiu-ke, lord of the greater portion of Brefney, died. Muiredhach, son of Rory O'Conor, and Awlave O'Ferrall, chief of Anally, died. Dennod O'Madagain (Madden,) lord of Siol Anmchadha, died. tinian priory, founded by the O'Kanes. Duncruithne, now Dun- crun, ill the parish of Magilligan, county of Derry, had a famous monastery, founded by St. Columkille. 2. The archbishop of Armagh at that time was Eugene Mac Gillivider, wlio waited on king John in England. 3. This affair happened on the borders of Donegal and Derry, at Lough Foyle. 4. SlUibh Lugha. O'Gadhra, or O'Gara, was lord of Moy O'Gara and Coolavin, in the county of Sligo. 6. Piirtraitjhe, or Partrij, an ancient territory in the present barony of Carra, county of Mayo. 6. Bredchn, or Bred/ich, in the parish of Moygawnagh, barony of Tyrawley, county of Mayo. REIGN OF KING JOHN. 33 The remains of Roderick O'Conor, king of Con- naught, were exhumed, and deposited 'm a stone coffin or shrine. Cathal Croibhdearg 0'Conor,kingof Connaught, expelled Hugh O'Flaherty, and gave his temtoiy to his own son Hugh. A great war broke out amongst the English of Leinster, viz, : between Meyler (Fitz Henry) Jeffiy Mares, and William Marusgal, so that Leinster and Munster were spoiled between them.' Great contentions also arose between Hugo de Lacy and Myler, in which all Myler's party were spoiled. Cathal CaiTach, son of Dennod, son of Teige (Mac Dennott,) plundered Cormac, son of Tomal- tach Mac Dennott, and O'Flynn of Eassa.'- He was pursued by the Conacians, headed by the fol- lowing chiefs, viz. : Dermod, son of Magnus, son of Murtogh O'Conor, and Cormac, son of Tomal- tach ; Conor Godh O'Hara, lord of Lieney ; and Donogh O'Dowd, lord of Tyrawley and Tireragh. A battle ensued, in which Cathal Carrach was defeated and taken prisoner, his eyes put out, and his son Muirghes, Mac Conghranna O'Flanagan, and many others slain. Myler Oge (young Myler,) Mm-togh O'Brien, and Torlogh, son of Roderick O'Conor, made a predatoiy excursion into Tir-Fiachra-Aidhne, where they plundered fifteen towns. Cathal, son of Rory, son of the Sionnagh O'Catharnaigh,^ lord of Teffia, died. The sous of Hugo de Lacy, and the English of Meath, marched with their forces to the castle of Ardnorcher, which they beseiged for five weeks ; and, having taken it and the territory of Ferkale, they drove Myler out of the countiy. A.D. 1208. Da\dd Breatnach (i.e. the Briton,) bishop of Purt 1. Jeoffrey Mares was Jeoffrey de Marisco, afterwards lord justice of Ireland. William Marusgal was William Mareschal, earl of Pembroke. 2. O'Flynn of Eassa, that is, Eass-ul-Fhloimi, or Assylin, near Boyle, in the county of Iloscomraon. 3. O'Catharnaigh was the Sionagh, or principal chief of the family of the Foxes, in Westmeath. See note on Teffia. 1. Purt Lairge was the ancient name of Waterford. This David, bishop of Purt Lairge, or Waterford, was kinsman to Lairge, was slain by O'Faolain (O'Phelan,) of the Decies.' Hugh O'Neill marched his forces, on a preda- toiy excursion, into Inisowen. O'Donnell (Donal More,) overtook them, an engagement ensued, with great slaughter on both sides. Donal Mac Murchadha, and a great number of the Kinel Owen, were slain, and the following also fell in the thick of the fight, namely, Cathbhar O'Don- nell, Fergal O'Boyle, Cormac O'Donnell, Da^dd O'Dogherty, and several other chiefs of the Kinel Connell. The Kinel Owen were finally defeated by superior valour. O'Donnell (Donal More,) marched liis forces against Hugh O'Neill, and the Kinel Owen, and took preys and hostages from the country ; but a peace was concluded between them, and they entered into an alliance against the English and Irish who would oppose them. Duibliinnsi Mac Gennis, lord of Clan Hugh, of Iveagh, was slain by Mac Dunslevy O'Heogh- aidh. Finghin, son of Dermod, son of Coi-mac Mac Carthy, was slain by his own kinsmen. Ualgharg O'Rourke was expelled from the lordship of Brefney, and Art, the son of Donal, son of Fergal, was set up in his place, by the influence of the English. John, bishop of Norbus,^ was sent by the king of England to Ireland as lord justice, but an interdiction was laid on the English by the Pope ; and in order that the bishop's authority might be opposed in Ireland, the Enghsh were denied the rites of mass, baptism, extreme unction, and burial, for the space of three years after his arrival. Murtogh, son of Donal O'Brien, lord of Tho- mond, was taken prisoner by the English of Limerick, in spite of the remonstrance of tlu-ee bishops, at the instigation of Donogh Cairbreach (of Carberry,) his own brother. Meyler Fitz Henry, lord justice of Ireland. He was appointed, through the English influence, against the will of the Irish, and had a long contest with O'Heda, the Irish bishop of Lismore, whose rights and possessions he had usurped. In consequence of these contests, bishop David was killed by O'Felan, chief of the Decies. See Ware, by Harris, on Bishops of Waterford and Lismore. 2. John, bisJwp of Norhus, was John de Gray, bishop of Nor- wich, who was appointed lord justice of Ireland. At that time Pope Innocent III. had laid an interdict on the kingdom of England, in consequence of king John's opposition to the see of 34 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A.D. 1209-10. Dermod O'Caomhain, chief of the district from Tuaim-da-bhodhar to Gleoir/ died. Awlave O'Rothlain, chief of Calry, of Cuil- cearnatan(Coolcarne}-,iiitlie county of Mayo,) died. A.D. 1209. Cele O'Duffy, bishop of Mayo, of the Saxons ; Giolla Crist O'Keaniey, the coai'b of Condere ; and Flaherty O'Fljnin, the coarb of Dachonna- Easa-Mic-Eirc, died.' Art, son of Donal, son of Fergal O'Rourke, lord of Brefuey, was slain by Cormac, son of xVrt O'Melaghlin, and Cormac, son of Art O'Roui-ke ; and Ualgarg: O'Rourke assumed the lordship. Donogh O'Ferrall, lord of Anally, died. John, kuicr of England, sailed for Ireland with a large fleet, and landed at Dublin, where he rested for some time after his voyage ; he then jiroceeded to Tiopraid Ultain, in Meath, where Cathal Crovdearg O'Conor came to meet him. Walter de Lacy was expelled from Meath into England. The king, accompanied by his nobles, proceeded to Canickfergus, and expelled Hugo de Lacy from Ulidia, into England. Hugh O'Neill attended the king's summons, but he retiuTied without making submission. The king besieged Canickfergus, which suiTendered ; whereupon he gairisoned it with his own forces. O'Conor returned home, and the king of England next proceeded to Raith Guaire,^ where O'Conor a second time waited on him ; the king demanded his son as a hostage, in confirmation of his fealty ; O'Conor, however, would not consent to give his Rome in ecclesiastical inatters, and it appears that the interdict extended to tlie Encrlisliin Ireland. 3. The O'Cnomhabu were chiefs of Tuaim-da-bhodhar to Gleoiv, a district on the borders of Mayo and Sligo, extending from Foxford to Killagiass, and comprised tlie parish of Tooranre. Tlie Gleoir is a small river in tlie parish of Killaglass, in Sligo. The O'Caorahains, a branch of the O'Dowds, were a numerous elan, and the name has been changed to Cavanagh. 1. Cele, or Celestine O'Duffy, as he is called by Ware, was bishop of Mayo, an ancient see, which was annexed to Tuam in the sixteenth century. Coarb of Condere, that is, liishop of Connor. TIjc bishops of Conor, m ancient times, were sometimes styled bishops of Dalaraidhe, while those of Dowu were called bishops of Ulidia. As the tenitories of Dalaraidhe and Ulidia were nearly co-extensive, and the two sees he'nrx afterwards united, it is difticult to determine the exact boundaries of each. Vnchonnn-Easa-Mic-Eirc, was a monastery founded by St. Mochonii, son of Eire, at Lough Key, near Boyle, county of Ros- common. son, but gave four of his chiefs in his stead, namely, Conor (xodh O'Hara, lord of Lieney ; Dermod, son of Coaor O'Mulrooney, lord of Moy- liu-o- : Fionn O'Carmacain ; and Aireachtach Mac Donogh, a young prince of O'Conor's friends. The king retiu"ned to England, and brought the hostages with him. A.D. 1210. The English came to Caolmsge (at BaUy- shannon.) Hugh O'Neill and Donal (3'Donnell pioceeded tliitlier with their foi'ccs, and defeated and slew many of the Enghsh, amongst whom was Fitz Henry the younger; and they distributed their property and booty amongst their ovm. men. Torlogh, son of Roderick O'Conor, having plun- dered Moyhu-g, took the booty with him to his kinsman Dermod's house at Seghais ; Hugh, the son of Cathal, pursued him, but Torlogh fled to the North. The hostages of Connaught, (taken by king John,) retmnied to Ireland, namely, Conor Godh O'Hara, lord of Lieney ; Dermod, son of Conor O'Muhooney ; Fionn O'Caimacain ; and Air- eachtao-h Mac Donotjh. Mmiogh Muinxlmeach (of Munster,) son of Torlogh More (O'Brien,) died. A great war broke out between the king of England, and the prince of Wales; and dispatches came from king John, commanding the Enghsh bishop (of Norwich,) and the English nobles in Ireland, to return to England. Richard Diuid' 2. In the month of June, A.D. 1210, according to various autho- rities, king John landed atWaterford, with a large fleet and power- ful army. According to these Annals he landed at Dublin. Copies of the Annals vary as to the number of ships ; in some it is stated at one hundred, in others more ; a discrepancy whicli pro- bably arose from a mistahe of the transcribers. In the month of July king John proceeded to Meath, to a place caUed Tiopraid Ultain, or St. Ultau's Well, which is considered to be Ardbraccan, as it had that name from a holy well there, in honour of St. Ultan, who was bishop uf Ardl>raccan in the sixtli century. 01 hers state that the castle of Trim was the place where the king stopped in Meath, hence it has Iieen called king John's castle. After pro- ceeding to DownpaM-ick, ('arrickferi;'us, and other parts of Ulster, king John returned in August by Carlingford, Drogheda, Duleek, Kells, Foure, and Granard, to Rathwire, where the de Lacys had a castle near Kinnegad, in the parish of Killucan, in Westmeath, where he received the submission and hostages of Cathal Crovdearg O'Conor, which place is given in the Annals as Rath Guaire. 1. Richard Diuid. This was Richard Tuite, who came over REIGN OF KING JOHN. 35 (Tuite,) was appointed lord justice over Ireland, and, shortly after, proceeded to Athloue, in order to send his kinsmen to Limerick, Wateribrd, and Wexford, whUe he himself should govern Duljlin and Athlone. During his stay at Athlone, some of the stones of the castle fell on his head, and killed him on the spot, together with his priest, and several others of his party, a circumstance which was altributed to the mu'acles of God, and SS. Peter and Kiaran. The sons of Roderick O'Conor, and Teige, the son of Conor of Maonmoy, having crossed the Shannon fi-om the east into the Tnatha,'^ accom- panied by a party of the people of Anally, they plundered the district, and carried away the booty into the recesses of Kinel Uobhtha. Hugh, son of Cathal Crovdearg pursued them, and an engage- ment ensued, ill vvhicli tlie sons of Roderick were defeated, so that they were compelled to recross the Shannon, losing many men and horses. A.D. 1211. Sitrig O'Laighenain, the coarb of Comgall (abbot of Bangor,) died. The castle of Cluan Eois (Clones in Monaghan,) was erected by the Enghsh, and the English bishop (of Norwich,) and they marched with a force on a predatory excursion into Tyrone, but wei'e, however, attacked by Hugh O'Neill, and defeated wlLli great slaughter ; among the slain was Myler, the son of Robert Fltz Henry. Thomas Mac Uchtiy, with the sons of Randal, the son of Somhairle, came to Deny ColumkUle, with a fleet of seventy-six ships ; and, after plun- dering and destroying the town, they pro(;eeded to Inisowcn, and spoiled the whole peninsula.' The Conaclans, by command of the Enghsh bishop, and Gilbert Mac Costello, marched with with Strongbow, and got large grants of lands in Westmeath. He was made a palatine peer, with the title of baron of Moyashell, as stated by the learned antiquary, John D' Alton, in his History of Drogheda. 2. Tuntha, that is, the districts, a large territory in (he county of Roscommon, through which Slieve Baglma, or Slieve Baun, ex- tends from north to south, parallel with the Sliannon. Slieve Baun, according to Weld, lies in the barony of Roscommon. It obtained the name Tuatha, from having comprised several districts. In the Annals, under the year 1530, it is stated that O'Hanley was chief of this territory, who is also styled by the Annalists and O'Dugan, chief of Kinel Dobhtha. their forces to Easroe (BaUyshannon,) and erected a caslle at Caohusge.'^ Roderick, son of Roderick, son of Torlogh O'Conor. was slain by the pet)i)le of Lieney, in Conuau'.!;hi;. Conuac, son of Art O'Melaghlln, dispossessed the English of Delviu ; and Malachy, son of Art, defeated la battle the English who were In posses- sion of that cotmtry, and slew Robert of Dun- comar, their constable. Cugaela O'Heyne, died. Raghnadt, and Callleach De (the nun,) two daughters of Roderick O'Conor, died. A.D. 1212. Drum Caoin,' and its church, were burned by the Kinel Owen, despite of Hugh O'Neill. Fergal O'Kane, lord of Ciaanachta, and of the Creeve, was slain by the Eirghsh. Gilbert Mac Costello was slain in the castle of Caoluisge, which was burned by O'Heignig. The castle of Clones was burned by Hugh O'Nedl, and the northern Irish. Donogh O'Heyne had his eyes put out by Hugh, son of Cathal Crovdearg, against the will of O'Conor. The battle of Caille-na-Grann,^ was fought by Cormac, son of Art O'Melaghhn, and Hugh, son of Conor of Maonmoy, against the Enghsh, who were defeated with great slaughter ; and Piarus (or Pierce) Mason, and the sons of Sleimhne, were amongst the slain. Donogh Mac Can, chief of Kinel Aongusa,^ died. Donal O'Daimhin (O'Devin,) was slain by the sons of Mac Loughhn, in the porch of the church of Deny. The Giolla Fiaclach O' Boyle, with a party of 1. Somhairle. This was Sorley Mac Donnell, a chief from the Hebrides. Thomas Mac Uchtry was another chief from Galloway m Scotland, and was sometimes styled earl of Athol. 2. Caol Ulsge, signifies the narrow water, or ford, where this castle was erected probably somewhere near BaUyshannon. 1. Drumchaoin, now Drumquin, near Omagh, county of Tyrone. 2. CaUle-na-granii signifies the pass of the wood, and is sup- posed to be the place called Culleen Wood, in the barony of Moy- ashell, in Westmeath. 3. Kinel Aomptsa. The Mae Cans were chiefs of Clanbrasil, in Armagh, as already stated, Kinel Aongusa is a territory given by O'Dugan in Meath. See note on Meath. F 2 36 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A.D. 1213. the Kinel Connell, plundered some of the Kinel Owen, who were under the protection of O'Tau-- ceii-t, namely, the GioUareiagh, chief of Clan Sneidgliile and Clan Fingin. O'Taircheirt over- took them, and a conflict ensued, in which, how- ever, he was slain, while fighting in defence of those whom he had taken under his protection. Dermod, son of Roderick O'Conor, took by force the house of Hugh, son of Manus O'Conor, in Killcolmain-Finn,'' in CoiTan, and set it on tire, by which thirty-five persons were burned. Donal, son of Donal of Bregia O'Melaghlin, defeated Cormac 0*Mela2:hlin, in an engagement in which Gillcreest Mac Colgan, with many others, were slain. Donal, son of Donal O'Melaghlin, was killed in a predatory affray by Mylei-'s party. The Enghsh of Munster marched with theu* forces to Roscrea, where they erected a castle ; and from thence they proceeded to Kilaghaidh,'^ where they were overtaken by Murtogh Mac Brien, and his forces, who opposed them in a battle, in which Melaghlin, the son of Catal Carrach, received wounds, of which he died. A.D. 1213. Giolla-na-naomh O'Ruadhain, bishop of Lieny, (Achonr)',) and Muii-igen O'Muu-igein, bishop of Clonmacnois, died. Ainmire O'Coffey, abbot of the church of Deny ColumkiUe, an ecclesiastic of noble birth, distin- guished for liis piety, meekness, charity, wisdom, and other vu-fues, died. Thomas Mac Uchtry, and Roiy, son of Randal (Mac DonneU,) plundered Derry ColumkiUe, and carried away the precious and valuable articles of the people of Deny, and of all the north of Ireland, from the Abbey Chiu-ch to Coleraine. O'Kane, and the men of Creeve, came to DeiTy to attack the house of the sons of Mac Loughlin. The prior of the great church of Derry, who inter- posed to make peace between them, was killed, and Mahon Magaithne, who collected and commanded this force, was slain in the sanctuary of ColumkiUe, in the porch of the Black Chm-ch, a circumstance 4. Kilcolmnin Finn, the parish of Kilcoleman, in the barony of Coolavin, county of Sligo. 5. Kllaghaidh is the parish of Kilaughy, in the King's county. which was attributed to the mu-acles of God, through the intervention of ColumkiUe. The castle of Coleraine was erected by Thomas Mac Uchtry, and the English of Uhdia ; and in order to build it, the houses of the town, with all the ecclesiastical establishments except the church, were pulled down. Hugh O'Neill defeated the English with dread- ful slaughter, and on the same day bm-ned Car- lingford, spai'ing neither persons nor property. Donn O'Breslein, chief of Fauad, was treache- rously slain by his own people. Fionn O'Brolchain, the steward of O'Donnell (Donal More), went toConnaught to collect O'Don- nell's tribute. He first went to Carbmy, of Drum- cliff, where he visited, along with his attendants, the house of the poet, Muireagh O'Daly, of Lissa- dill. On coming into the poet's presence, he betrayed appearances of fear and caution before him, as he was a man of gigantic strength, and as his master had advised him to beware of the poet. O'Daly became enraged on seeing him, and, seiz- ing a sharp axe, he struck him a blow, and slew him on the spot, and then fled into Clanrickard, being afraid of O'Donnell. When O'DonneU ob- tained intelligence of this, he collected his forces and pursued liim, and chd not rest until he arrived at the place afterwards called Derry O'Donnell, in Clanrickard (so named because O'Donnell en- camped there for the night,) when be began to de- vastate the country by fire and sword, until, Mac WilUam (de Burgo,) at last submitted to him, ha-vdng previously sent Muireagh into Thomond for refuge. O'Donnell pursued him thither, and proceeded to plunder and lay waste that country also, whereupon Donogh Cairbreach O'Brien sent Muireagh from him for protection to the people of Limerick, to the gates of which O'Donnell piu-sued him, and, pitching his camp at Moin-ui-Donnell (O'Donnell's Marsh, so called from that circum- stance) laid seige to the city, upon which the mhabitants, at the command of O'Donnell, expelled Muireagh, ^vho found no protection, but was sent from place to place, until he arrived at Dublin. O'Donnell after his pm'suit, and his visitation of all Connaught, returned home, and having mus- Mac Brien, the cliief, who commanded the Irish, was probably Mac Brien, or Mac I-Brien, of Ara, in Tipperary. REIGN OF KING JOHN. 37 tered another force ^\'ith all possible speed, in the same year marched to Dublin, and compelled the inhabitants to banish Muu-eagh to Scotland ; whilst there, the poet composed three poems m praise of O'Donnell, and requesting peace and pardon for his crime. The thu'd poem commences thus : " Oh ! Donal, benevolent hand of peace." Mui- reagh obtained pardon on account of his laudatory poems, and O'Donnell afterwards received him into his friendship, and with his usual generosity gave him lands and possessions. Cormac O'Melaghlin plundered and burnt the castle of Cinn Clair, beat the English, and can-ied away many horses, and much property. The English, ■svith a great force, marched to attack Connac Mac Art (O'Melaghlin,) and both parties ha\-ing met at the bridge of Tinne, an engagement ensued, in which Mac Art was defeat- ed, and Rory O'Ciardha was slain. Mac Art was expelled from Dehdn, and his people were plun- dered : after this, the English went to Athlone, where they erected a castle ; and they also built castles at Cinneidigh, But, and Durmaighe.' Cormac INIac Art went on a predatory expedition into Delvin, pkmdered Maoilseachlain Beag (the little,) expelled him from the comitry, slew William Muilinn, and reassumed the lordship of Delvin. A.D. 1214, The bishop O'Ceallaigh, (O'Kelly) of Hy Fi- achra', died. Ardgai- O'Conor, bishop of Siol Muu"eadhaigh, (Elpliin,) died. Benmidhe, daughter of Egnigh, wife of Hugh O'Neill, and lady of Aileach, died, after a well- spent life. A depredation was committed by Hugh, the son of INIalachy O'Loghlin, upon the coarb of Colum- 1. Cinn Clair was the castle at Clara, King's county. The Bridge of Tinne was at Tinnecross, on the river Cladagh, near TuUamore. The castles built by the English were, as stated in the text, those of Cinneidigh, that is, Kinnitty , in the parish of Kin- nitty, King's County; that of Birr; and that of Durmaighe, or Durrow. 1. Bishop of Hy Fiaclirn. The bishops of Killala, were styled bishops of Hy Fiachra Muaidhe, that is, of Hy Fiachra on the Moy, in Mayo and Sligo, to distinguish it from Hy Fiachra Aidhne, an ancient territory in Galway, co-extensive with the diocese of Kilmacduagh. The bishops of Killala were also sometimes called bishops of Tir Amalgaidh, or Tyrawley. See Ware's Bishops, by Harris. kiUe, but Hugh himself was slain by the English in a year aftei-wards, through the miracles of God and Columkille. Cathal Mac Dennott, the son of Teige, lord of Moylurgjthe towerof generosity of Connaught died. Bryan, son of Roderick O'Flaherty, son of the lord of West Connaught, died. Ualgarg O'Rom'ke plundered the property of Phihp ]\Iac Costello, in Crich Cau-pre,^ and carried off a great prey of cattle. A.D. 1215. Dionisius O'Lonargan, archbishop of Cashel, died at Rome. Conor O'Heny, bishop of Killaloe, died on his way home, while retm'ning from the fourth general council of Lateran. Annudli O'Murray, bishop of Conmaicne,' and j\Iaolpoil O'Mmray, prior of Dungiven, died. Trad O'Maoilfabhail, chief of Kinel Fergusa, with his brother, and many others, were slain by Muiredagh, son of the great steward of Leamhna.^ Donagh O'Duyiorma, chief of Breadagh, died in the black abbey church of Derry. Angus O'Carolan, chief of Clan Dermod, was slain by his own kinsmen. MuiTogh Mac Cathmail, cliief of Kinel Fera- dith, died. Mac Can, cliief of Kinel Aongusa, was slain by his kinsmen. Ror}- O'Flpin, lord of Berks', died. GioUa Cuitrigh Mac Cargamna, cliief of Muintir Maoilsiona (Fox, of Teffia,) died. Giola Caomgin O'Kelly, of Bregia, was taken prisoner by the EngUsh, in St. Petei-'s monasteiy at Athlone, and hanged by them at Trim. Teige Mac Eitigen, a chief of Clan Dermod,^ died. 2. Crioch Cairbre, the barony of Carburry, in Sligo. 1. Bishop of Conmaicne, that is, bishop of Ardagh, who is called by Ware, Adam O'Murray. 2. Kinel Fergusa, a tribe of the Kinel Owen; see note on Tir Ecain. The Steicard of Leamhna. This was Slurdoch, son of the Mormair, or the great Steward of Lennox, in Scotland ; one of the chiefs who came over with the Mac Doimells, and other Scots who invaded the north of Ireland at this period. Ogygia II. p. 306. 3. Derlais, a district in the county of Antrim, in Hy Tuirtxe, of which O'FUtiu was chief. See note on Dalaradia. 4. Clan Dermod. See note on Hy Maine. 38 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A.D. 1216-17-18-19. A. D. 1216, Mahon O'Laverty, (or O'Flaherty,) chief of Clan Donal,' died. Giolla-ArnainO'Martain, chief Brehon, or judge of Ireland, died. Tomaltach, son of Hugh, son of Ai'aghtagh O'Rody, was slain by Donal^ son of Hugh Mac Dei-mott. Eaghdon Mac Qilli-Uider,^ coarb of St. Pa- trick, and pi'imate of Ireland, died at Rome, after a well spent life. Malachy Mac Dermott was slain by the people of Ferkall, and those of Myler Fitz Henry. Moragh, son of Roderick O'Conor, died. The castle of Killaloe was erected by Geoffrey Marisco, and the Enghsh bishop (of Norwich,) also erected a mansion there, despite of all opposition. Henry III. was proclaimed king of England, on the 19th of October.' A. D. 1217. GioUa Tigernagh Mac GioUa Ronan, bishop of Oriel, (Clogher,) and chief canon of Ireland, died, after penance and repentance. Dermod, son of Conor Mac Dermott, lord of Moylurg, died. Mor, the daughter of O'Brien, (that is, Donal,) the wife of Cathal Crovdearg O'Conor, died. Donal O'Gara, died. Nial, the grandson of Loughhn O'Conor, died. Telge O'Ferrall was slain by Muragh Carragh O'Ferrall. Gillpatrick Mac Acadhain, chief of Clan Fer- maighe,' died. Donal, son of Murragh Mac Coghlan, lord of the greater portion of Delvin, was treacherously slain by the sons of Malachy Mac Coghlan, at Liath- di'uim.'^ 1. Clan Donnl. There was a district so called, near Lough Con, in the county of Mayo. •2. Mac Gilli. Uidhir. This was Eugene Mac Gillirider, arch- bjshiip o slain by the English on the same day. Rory and Malachy, the sons of Mac Coghlan^ died m the monastery of Kilbeggain.^ Longhliii O'Conor died in the monastery of Cnoc Muaidhe.'* The English of Meath, and Murtogh Carrach O'Ferrall, plundered the tenitory of Hy Criuin, of the Shannon, but were overtaken by Dermod, son of Torlogh, son of Mtlaghlin, with a party of the Conacians, who defeated the Enghsh, of whom upwards of one hmidred were eillier di'owned or slain ; and O'Conor himself, and many of his party, were also killed m the thick of the fight. A.D. 1219. Hugh O'Malone, bishop of Clonmacnois, v.-as drowned. 1. Rathhtra'icjh, that is, Ardstraw, a parish partly in the barony of Omagh, but chiefly in that of Strabane, county of T.yrine ; it was an ancient liishop's see, which was removed to Derry in A.D. ]lo8. 2. Marjh Lugnd, according to the brnks of Leacan and Bally- mote, lay in Kianaght of Glengiven, now tlie barony of Kenaught, in the county of Derry. Keating states that one of the plains clearci! hy Nemetius, was Moy-I.ughaidh, in Hy Tuirfre. 3. KUheyabiy now the parish of KUbcggan, in the barony of Moyoashel, Westmcath, where a monastery was founded by St. Becan, about A.D. CUO. 4. Cnoc il/«//(rf/?f, now the parish of Abbeyknockraoy, in the barony of Tyaquin, county of Galway : where an abbey was founded m A. D. 1189, by Cathal Crovdearg O'Conor, in commemoration of REIGN OF HEXRY III. 39 Fonachtan O'Bronain, the abbot of Deny, died, and was succeeded by Flau O'Brolchain. Malachy, son of O'Conor of Maoiimoy, was slaiii by Magnus, sou of Torloi^li O'Couor, after the latter had forcibly taken his house at Clon- tuaiscert.' O'Donnell {i.e. Donal More,) mai-ched his forces into the Gai-bh Thrian of Connaught, and ob- tained hostages, and the submission of O'Eom-ke, O'Reilly, aud the entire tribe of Hugh Fionn.- Ile aftei-wards led his forces tlu'ough Fermanagh, and spoiled every place through which he passed, both chui-ch and country, wherever he was op- posed. Walter de Lacy, and Mac Wiiham Bui'ke, anived fi-om England. Duvdai-a, son of Mtiireagh O'Malley, was put to death in prison b}' Cailial Crovdearg O'Conor, in his own fortress, for his misdeeds.' Enda, son of Danair O'iMdollcliiarain, died. A.D. 1220. Jacobus arrived in Ireland as the Pope's legate, to ai'range and settle the ecclesiastical ati'airs of Ire- land, after which he returned. Deriuod, sou of Roderick O'Conor, son of Tor- logh More (monarch of Ireland.) was sLiiu, on his voyage from the Hebrides, by Thomas Mac Uchtrs'. Demaod collected a fleet, with which he was coming, for the purpose of having liimself made king of Connaught ; Mulrooney O'Dowd was di'o\\iied on the same expedition. Malachy, son of Malachy Beag (the Little,) was di-ov>'ned iii Lough Ree. Dermod, son of Biyan the Blind, was treacher- ously killed by the son of Mahon O'Brien. Walter de Lacy, and the Enghsh of Meath, a great victory whicli he obtained there over the English ; hence it is said the monastery was called de colle victoria. 1. Clontusltert, a parish in the county of Galway. 2. Hugh Fionn, or Hugh the Fair, was one of the ancient kings of Connaught, and ancestor to the O'Rourkes and O'Reillys, princes of the tno Brefneys. The Garb Tricot, signifies the Rough Dis- trict, a name applied to the mountainous part of the county of Leitrini. 3. The O'JIalleys were chiefs of Hy Slaille, or Umalia, now the barony of Murrisk, in the county of Mayo. 1. Athliag, or Athleague,was the ancient name of the ford on the Shannon at Lanesborougb, between Longford and Rosconunon; so marched their forces to Athleague,' where they partly erected a castle, but Cathal Crovdearg, with his party, crossed the Shannon, eastward by the Feny, which so much temfied the Enghsh, that they made peaceable terms, and the Conacians demohshed the castle. The Cairneach Riabhach (?". e. the Grey Friar) Mac Flanchadha, and Fergal Mac Samlu'adhain, were slain by Hugh O'Rom-ke (i. e. the son of DouneU, son of Fergal,) and the Clan Fermaighe.^ A.D. 1221. Cormac, abbot of Comar,' was slain. The son of Hugo de Lacy came to Ireland, con- traiy to the command of the king of England, and having joined Hugh O'XeiU against the English, they first proceeded to Colerain, and thsmantled the castle, and fi-om thence marched to Meath and Lemster, and reduced the country on that expedi- tion. The Anglo-Irish collected twenty-four battalions at Dundalk, but Hugh O'Neill, aud de Lacy collected four large battahons, and marched against the English, who submitted to O'Neill on his own terms. A.D. 1222. Mac Gealan, bishop of Kiklare, died. Ailoin O'Mulloy, bishop of Fenis, died. Maoilisa O'Flj^nn, prior of Eas Mac Ere,' died. Teige O'Boyle, the prosperity and support of the north of Ireland, the bestower of rich presents, and patron of learned men, died. NiaU O'Neill violated Deny, in defiance of the daughter of O'Kane, but God and Columkille were avenged for this, for he did not Uve long after- wards. that it appears that this castle was buUt in the vicinity of that place, on the banks of the Shannon. •2. Mac Flanchadha, was Mac Clancy, and Mac Samradhain wa» Mac Gauran, sometimes anglicised to Somers. Both were chiefs in Leitrim and Cavan, as will be fully explained in the note on Bre&ey. 1 . Comar was probably the Cistercian abbey of Comber, in the county of Down, or perhaps Commer, now the parish of Kilmacrcen, county of Galway, where there was also a religious establishment. 1. Eas Mac Ere. There was a place so called, in the parish of Donagh, barony of Inisowen, county of Donegal. See also p. 34. 40 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A.D. 1223-24. Giolla Mochoinni O'Cahal, lord of eastern and western Kinel Hugh, was slain by Shaughnusagh Macgiollananeev O'Shaughnusy, after ha%dng been betrayed by his own people. Mor, daughter of O'Boyle, the wife of Awlave O'Beollain (O'Boland,) died. A.D. 1223. Maoliosa, son of Torlogh O'Conor, prior of Inis- meodhoin,' died. Du\1;hagh O'Duffy, abbot of Cong, died. O'Donnell (Donal More,) marched his forces to Croaghan of Connaught,from thence to the Tuatha, and proceeded westward across the river Suck, and devastated, by fire and sword, every district through which he passed, compelling them to give hostages, and make their submission. Seachnusagh Macgiollananeev O'Shaughnusy, was killed by Clan Cuilein,^ who carried off the great crozier of St. Colman of Kilmacduagh. Murogh Carragh O'FeiTall was slain by a dart, while making an attack on Hugh, son of Awlave O'Ferrall. A.D. 1224. The monaster}'- of St. Francis, at Athlone, was founded by Cathal Crovdearg O'Conor, king of Connaught, in the diocese of Clonmacnois, on the east bank of the Shannon. Maolmuire O'Conmaic, bishop of Hy Fiachra, and of Kinel Hugh,' died. The bishop of Conmaicne, i. e. the English bishop,^ died. Maurice, the canonist, son of Roderick O'Conor, one of the most eminent of the Irish for learning, psalmody, andpoetry, died,and was buriedat Cong. Maolkeevin O'Scingin, aircineach of Ardcarna,* died. 1. Inis Meodhain, an island in Lough Mask, county of Mayo. 2. Clan CiiUein, a district in tlie east of the county of Clare, of which the Mac Namaras were chiefs. 1 . Bishop of Hy Fiachra and of Cinel Hugh, that is, bishop of Kilmacduagh. 2. Bishop of Conmaicne, or Ardagh, mentioned by Ware as Robert, ^ Cistercian monk. 3. Ard Carna, or Ardcame, a parish in the barony of Boyle, county of Roscommon, had in early times a monastery, and was a bishop's see. 4. Cathal Crovdearg O'Conor, was the son of Torlogh, monarch of Ireland, and brother to king Roderick O'Conor, not his son, as Maolisa Mac-an-EspoIg O'Maolfaghmair, par- son and bishop elect of Hy Fiachra and Hy Amalgaidh (Killala,) was slain by the son of O'Dowd, a crime the more culpable in him, for none of the O'Dowds ever before killed an eccle- siastic. An awful and strange shower fell in Connaught, extending over Hy Maine, Sodain, Hy Diarmada, and other parts, followed by terrible diseases and distempers among the cattle that grazed on the lands where this shower fell ; and their milk pro- duced, in tlie persons who drank it, extraordinary internal diseases. It was manifest that these were evil omens, foreboding misfortunes to the people of Connaught, as they sustained irreparable loss and calamity in the same year by the death of Cathal Crovdearg, the son of Torlogh More O'Conor, and king of Connaught, the man who had, dm'ing a long time, destroyed more of the traitors and enemies of Ireland than any other had done, the chief supporter of the clergy, and benefactor of the poor and indigent — a man in whom God had implanted more goodness and greater virtues than in any other of the Irish nobility in his time. From the period of his wife's death till his own, he led a single and virtuous life. During his reign tithes were first lawfully collected in Ireland. This upright and noble prince, this warrior of pure piety and just judgments, died on the 28th day of Summer, on a Monday, in the habit of a grey fiiar, in the monastery of Knockmoy, which he himself had dedicated to God, and granted to the monks, with its site and lands, and in which he was inten'ed with due honours and solemnity. The place of Cathal Crovdearg's birth was at the Port of Lough Mask, and he was nurtured and educated in Hy Diarmada, with Teige O'Conceanain.* stated by several writers. He was long celebrated amongst the Irish, as a valiant warrior, and got the name Croibhdearg, signi- fying, of the Red or Bloody Hand, from the many battles he fought against the English. He was king of Connaught for many years, and made many energetic efforts to restore the Irish monarchy. Amongst the many victories he gained, was the battle of Knockmoy, A.D. 1189, in which he cut off the English forces commanded by the valiant Almeric de St. Lawrence, ancestor to the earls of Howth. In commemoration of this battle, he founded a great Cistercian monastery at Knockmoy, in the county of Galway, which was known imder the name de colle victoria, that is, of the liill of victory. Amidst the venerable ruins of Knockmoy, are still to be seen some interestmg remains of the magnificent monument of Crovdearg O'Conor. REIGN OF HENRY III. 41 Hugh O'Conor, (Cathal Crovdearg's son), succeeded immediately, mthout opposition, as king of Connauglit, for he held the hostages of Connaught previous to his father's death. Hugh, in maintenance of the laws and functions of a prince, when about to assume the government. On Irish proper names. It may here not be unnecessary to give an explanation of some of the proper and Christian names of men and women tliat frequently occur in the course of these Annals. Many of these Irish names appear strange and uncouth to the mere English reader, though if their etymology and pro- nunciation were perfectly understood, they would be found truly beautiful, euphonious, and expressive. A few examples are given, as follows ; — Andli, pronounced Ee and E, was one of the most frequent names of kings and chiefs amongst tlie Irish. The word signifies fire, and was probably derived from the Druidical worship. The name has been anglicised into Hugh, aud latinised variously, Hugo, Aedus, Aedanus, Aldus, and Odo. Aongiix, the name of kings and chiefs, pronounced Angus, derived from Aon, excellent, and Gia; strength. This has become a surname, Mac Aongusa, or Mac Gennises, lords of Iveagh. Ardijal, a name of chiefs, from Aril, exalted, and gnl, valour. Art, a name of kings and chiefs, derived from Art, noble. It was a frequent name amongst the O'Neills. It has been anglicised to Arthur. Brian, a name of kings and chiefs, derived from Bri, strength, and an, very great, that is, a warrior of great strength. It has been anglicised into Bryan and Bernard. It has become a surname in the great family of the O'Briens, kings of Thomond, as derived from their ancestor, Brian Boroimhe. Brandubh, the name of a king of Leinster in the sixth century, signifying the Black Raven, from the colour of his hair, the word Bran signifying a Raven, and Diihh, black. Tlie O'Brains or O'Bymes, chiefs of Wieklow, derived their descent from this king. Blosgach, the name of a chief, signifies a strong man, or a smasher. This has become the surname of Mac Blosgaidh, or Mac Closkey, a clan in Derry. Cathal, a frequent name of kings and chiefs, signifies a great warrior, from Cath, a battle, and all, great. Cathaoir, or Cathair, also a frequent name of kings and chiefs, has a similar signification from Cath, a battle, and ar, slaughter. In the pronunciation of these names the t is silent, and they are to be pronounced Cah-al and Cali-ir. It may be remarked that both these names have been absurdly anglicised into Charles. Cormac, a name of kings and chiefs, signifies the son of the Chariot, from corb, a chariot, and mac, a son. Cairhre, a fre- quent name of kings and chiefs, probably derived from the same source, as corb, a chariot, and i?i, a king, hence may signify the chief or ruler of the chariot. Conn, a name of kings and chiefs, may be derived from Conn, wisdom or sense ; or from Cu, which signifies a hound, and was figuratively applied to a warrior, as the genitive case of Cu makes Con. This was a favourite name with the chiefs of the O'Neills, from Conn of the Hundred Battles, monarch of Ireland, one of their ancestors. ConaU, a name of kings and chiefs, derived either from Conall, friendship, or from Cn, making in the genitive Con, signifying a warrior, and all, mighty, an instance of which may be given in the famous warrior Conall Cearnaeh, or Conall the Victorious. Cathbhar, pronounced Cah-war, was a favourite name amongst the chiefs of the -d.\ratka on the river Derg, now the parish of Ardstraw, in Tyrone, was an ancient liishops' see founded by St. Eugene in the sixth century. Ardshrath afterwards got the name of Rathlurig, or Rathlure, from St. Lurec or Lurac, to whom its church was dedicated. The see of .\rdsrath or Rathlure, at an early period, was transferred to Maghera, in the county of Derry, and afterwards annexed to Derry in the twelfth century. The bishops of these sees were styled bishops of Tir Eogain or Tyroile, or bishops of Cinel Eogain. See of Derry: A monastery was founded in the sixth century, by St.Columkille, at a place called Voire Calgach, that is the Oak Wood of Calgach, which St. Adamnanus, abbot of lona, in the seventh century, in his Life of St. Columkille, translates Jtobo- refum Calgachi It was also called Doire Coluim Cille, or the Oak Wood of St. Columkille, anglicised to Derry Columkille, and gave its name to the city and county of Derry. In these Annals the church of the monastery is called Dubh Reglnis, signifying the Black Church, and latinised by Ware, Cella 7iigra. This abbey was long famous as a seat of learning and religion, and its abbots were also styled bishops. In the twelfth century a regular bishop's see was formed at Derry, to which was afterwards annexed the see of Ardsrath, or Rathlure. A.D. 1104, Maurice Mac Loughliu, king of Ireland, erected a cathedral at Derry, which, together with the abbey and other ecclesiastical establish- ments, was destroyed by the English, under sir Henry Docwra, in the reign of Elizabeth. The diocese of Derry comprehends the greater part of the county of Londonderry, with nearly half of Tyrone, and a large portion of Donegal, and a very small portion of Antrim. St. Columkille, so often mentioned in the course of these Annals, was a native of Tir Connell, and born at Gartan, in the barony of Kilmacrenan, county of Donegal, .\.D. 5"21. He was a descendant of Conall Gulban, son of Niall of the Hostages, monarch of Ire- land, and consequently of the same race as the O'Donnells, princes i\rt, son of Art O'Rourke, was slain by Ran- naU OTinn. Malachy O'Monaghan was killed b}- his kins- men. of Tirconnell. The name in Irish is Colum, and signifies a dove, latinised to Coluniba, but he was generally called by the Irish Colum Cille, or Columkille, that is Colum of the Churches, from the many churches and monasteries he had founded, both in Ire- land and in \orth Britain. In the year 563, he proceeded to that part of North Britain called Albany, afterwards Scotland, as a missionary, and converted the inhabitants to Christianity, hence he has been styled the Apostle of the Picts. Having received the pa- tronage and support of his relative Conall, then king of the Albanian Scots, he founded a monastery on an island in the Hebrides, called after Iiim Hy Columkille, afterwards lona, which was long famous as a scat of learning and religion. St. Columkille died on the 9th of June, A. D. 597, in the seventy-sixth year of his age, and was buried at lona, hut his remains were a long time after removed to Ireland, and interred at Downpatriek. His memory has been always held in the highest veneration as one of the tutelar saints of Ireland. In the year 590, St. Columkille, accompaniedby .•Vidan,king of the Albanian Scots, came to Ireland to attend the great national convention held at Dromceat, in Cianachta, near Glengiven, in Derry, which was attended by the provincial kings, princes, chiefs, bishops, and clergy, to arrange a great contention that arose between Hugh, son of Ainmireach, then monarch of Ireland, and the bards, whose order the king had resolved to suppress, but Columkille opposed their abolition, and advocated their continuance under proper regulations, as a useful national institution, and through his influence the bards were continued, and all differences amicably arranged. I II, Tir Conaill. This territory comprised the remaining portion of the county of Donegal not contained in Tir Eogain, the boundary between both being Lough Swilly ; but in the twelfth century the O'AIaoldorrys and O'Donnells, princes of Tir Connell, became mas- ters of the entire of Donegal, thus making Lough Foyle and the rivers Foyle and Finn the boundaries between Tir Connell and Tir Eogain. This territory got its name from Conall Gulban, who took possession of it in the beginning of the fifth century. He was brother to Eogan, wdio conquered Tir Eogain, and son of the monarch Niall of the Hostages, and from him the territory obtamed the name of Tir Conaill, or the country of Council, and his posterity were designated Kiuel Conaill, or the race of Connell, a name which was also applied to the territory. Some of the earliest events in Irish history are connected with this territory, amongst which the following may be noticed : — Inis Stiimer is stated, by the ancient Annalists, as a residence of Partholan, who planted the first colony in Ireland. This is the small island near the cataract, called the Salmon-leap, at Bally- shannon. It got the name Inis Saimer, or the Island of Saimer, from the circumstance of Partholan having there killed Saimer, the favourite greyhound of his queen. Tliis island gave the name Saimer to theriver now called the Erne, and to Lough Erne, which in ancient times was called Lough Saimer. The waterfall at Bally- shannon is connected with anotlier early event, namely, the death of Aodh Ruadh, kuig of Ireland, who was drowned there about five centuries before the Christian era, hence it was called Eas- Aodha-Ruaidh, that is, the cataract of Red Hugh, and hence Eas-roe, or Ashroe, was the ancient name of Ballyshannon. The Fomorians, of whom an account has been given in the note on Dal- riada, formed settlements on the coast of Donegal, and, under one of their commanders, named Conning, erected a fortress on an island which was called Tor Conumg, or the Tower of Conning, and hence the island got the name of Tor Inis, or Tower-Island, in modem times Tory Island, The places along the coast of Donegal and Brefney, or Leitrim, are stated as the scenes of many great battles between the Fomorians and the colony called Nemedians. The plain between the rivers Erne and Drobhaois, that is, between Ballyshannon and Bundrowes, was called Magh Ceitne, which, as Keatmg states, derived this name from the frequent payment of H 2 52 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A.D. 1231. A.D. 1231. Dionysius O'Moore, bishop of Elphin, having ended liis days on Trinity Island, in Lough Key, tributes there, the Fomorians having compelled the Nemedians to deliver up at that place cattle, corn, and even some of their chil- dren, as a tribute. The race of Conall Oulban, who possessed Tir Connell, are cele- brated in Irish history, and, according to O'Flaherty and others, furnished ten of the monarchs of Ireland. In the tenth century a branch of the Kinel Comiell, or descendants of Conall Gulban, took the name of O'Canannain, many of whom were celebrated chiefs, particularly Roderick O'Canannain, who was distinguished for his great valour and abilities. Charles O'Conor, in his Dis- sertations on the History of Ireland, states that he was heir pre- sumptive to the crown, and got himself chosen king by military election, and expelled for a time the monarch Congalach from the throne. In A.D. 948, the Danes of Dublin and other parts of Ire- land, having collected a powerful army, under Godfred, the son of Sitric, Ivar, and other leaders, marched into Meath. Roderick O'Canannain, at the head of the Irish forces, marched to oppose their progress, and in a great battle fought on the festival of St. Andrew the Apostle (30th of November), at Muine Brocain, the Danes were totally defeated, sei-en thoitsand of them being slain, amongst whom was Ivar, one of their generals, but O'Canannain himself, towards the close of the battle, was killed in the thick of of the fight. Godfred, the son of Sitric, with the survivors, fled to Dublin. The ])lace where this battle was fought, mentioned as Jluine Brocain, is supposed to have been Ardbraccan. Another branch of the race of Conall Gulban took the name O'Waoldoraidh, or O'Muldorry, and became princes of Tir Connell. In the Annals of the Four Masters in the tenth, eleventh, and twelfth centuries, accounts are given of many contests between the O'Canannains and O'Maoldoraidhs, those rival chiefs of the same race, as con- tending for the sovereignity of Tir Connell. The O'Donnclls, in the twelfth century, became princes of Tir Connell, and were of the same race as the O'Canannains and O'Muldorrys, being descendants of Conall Gulban. The tribe- name, at an early period, was Clan Dalaidh, from Dalach, one of their chiefs. They are called in O'Dugan's poem, " Clnnna Dalaigh na n-tlonn sglath," that is, of the brown shields. They afterwards took the name O'Domhnaill, or O'Donnell, from Domhnall, or Donal, one of their ancient chiefs. The O'Don- nells, from the twelfth to the end of the sixteenth century, make a very distinguished figure in Irish history, as princes of 'Tirconnell. The last celebrated chief of the name was Red Hugh O'Donnell, long famous as one of the chief commanders of the northern Irish in their wars with Elizabeth, of whose actions copious accounts are given in the course of these Annals. An interesting Life of Red Hugh O'Donnell is given in that learned work. The Anti- quarian Researches, by Sir William Betham. Rory O'Donnell, the last chief of the race, was created earl of Tyrconnell, but died in exile on the Continent, and his estates were confiscated in the reign of James I. Many of the O'Donnells have been celebrated generals in the service of Spain, France, and Austria. The O'Don- nells were inaugurated as prhices of 'Tirconnell on the Rock of Donne, at Kilmacreuan, and had their chief castle at Donegal. The following clans and chiefs in Tir Conaill in the twelfth cen- tury, are given by O'Dugan under the head of Kinel Conaill : I, O'Maoldovaigh, O'Canannain, and Clann Dalaigh, were the prin- cipal chiefs. The Clann Dalaigh was the tribe name of the O'Donnells, as before stated. II. O'Baoighill or O'Boyles, were chiefs of Clann Chindfaoladh, of Tir Aiinmireach, and of Tir Boghaine, which territories comprised the present baronies of Boy- lagh and Bannagli, Crioch Baoighilleach, or the country of the O'Boyles, as mentioned in the Annals, gave name to the barony of Boylagh, Tir Boghame was the barony of Banagh. III. O'Maoil- maghna, probably O'Mulvany, chief of Magh Seireadh ; Magh Seireadh may probably be traced m a townland called Massarey, mentioned in the Inquisitions on Donegal. IV. O'Haodha or O'llugh, chief of Easruadh, that is Ballysliannon, in the barony of on the 15 th December, was succeeded by Donogh O'Conor. Flann O'Connachty, bishop of Hy Briuin Brefney (Kilmore), died. Tir Hugh. V. O'Tairceirt, chief of Clann Neachtain, and in the Annals (A.D. 1197 and I'312), of Clann Snedgaile. VI. Mac Dubhain or Mac Duvanys, chiefs of Kinel Nenna or Kinel Enda. This district, according to O'Flaherty, lay in Inisowen. VII. Mae Loingseachain or Mac Lynchys, chiel's of Gleann Binne, or Gleann m-Binne, and O'BreisIen, chief of Fanaid,on the western shore of Lough Swilly. VIII. O'Dochartaigh or O'Dogherty, chief of Ard Miodhair. The O'Doghertys were a powerful sept, a branch of the O'Donnells, and became chiefs of Inisowen ; and in the Annals, A.D. 1197, Eachmarcach O'Dogherty is mentioned as chief ol^ all Tirconnell. The O'Doghertys maintained their rank as chiefs of Inisowen down to the reign of James I., when sir Cahir O'Dogherty was killed in a contest with the English. IX. Mac Gillesamhais, chief of Ros Guill, now Rosgull, m the barony of Kihnakrenan. X. O'Cearnachain, or O'Keniaghan ; and O'Dalachain, or O'Dullaghan, chiefs of the Tnath Bladliaidh. XI. O'Maolagain or O'MuUigan, chief of Tir Mac Caerthain. XII. O'Donnagain, and Mac Gailjlin, chiefs of Tir Breasail. O'Maolgaoithe, chief of Muintir Maoilgaoithe. Some of this name have been anglicised to Mac Ghee, and others to \Vyim. XIII. And Mac Tigheamain or Mac Teman, chief of Clan Fearghoile. The following chiefs and clans not given in O'Dugan, are col- lected from the Four Masters, and various other sources. I. Mac Suibhne or the Mac Sweenys, a branch of the O'Neills which settled in Donegal, and formed three great families, namely, Mac Sweeney of Fanaid, who had an extensive territory west of Lough Swilly, and whose castle was at Rathmullin ; Mac Sweeny Bogh- amach, or of Tir Boghaine, now the barony of Banagh, who had his castle at Rathain, and in wliich territory was situated Reach- rain Muintire Birn, now Rathlin O'Beirne Islands; and Mac Sweeny Na d-Tuatli, signifying Mac Sweeny of the Territories. His districts were also called Tuatha Toraighe, or the districts of Tory Island. This JIac Sweeny's possessions lay m the barony of Kilmakrenan. According to O'Brien and others, he was called Mac Sweeny Na d-Tuagh, signifying Mac Sweeny of the Battle-axes, a title said to be derived from their being standard hearers and mar- shals to the O'Donnells, and chiefs of Galloglasses. A branch of these Mac Sweenys who were distinguished military leaders, settled in Munster in the county Cork, in the thirteenth century, and became commanders under the Mac Carthys, princes of Desmond. II. O'Galchobhairor O'Gallaghers, derived from Gallchobhair, a war- rior, were a clan of note in Donegal, in the baronies of Raphoe and Tirhugh, and had a castle at Ballyshannon, and also possessed the castle of LiS'ord, and were commanders of O'Donnell's cavalry. Sir John O'Gallagher is mentioned in the wars of Elizabeth. III. O'Furanain is given by O'Dugan in his poem as chief of Fiond Ruis, wliich probably was the Rosses, in the barony of Boylagh. IV. O'Donngaile or O'Donnelly, chief of Fear Droma, a district in Inisowen, is mentioned in the Annals A.D. 1177. Ferdrom is mentioned in the Inquisitions on Donegal. V. O'Lainidh is men- tioned as chief of Kinel Moain, a district in the barony of Raphoe, in the Annals at A.D. 1178. O'Clerigh or O'CIerys, celebrated as the hereditary historians to the O'Donnells, and the learned authors of the Annals of the Four Masters, and many other valuable works on Irish history and antiquities. They had large possessions in the barony of Tirhugh, and resided in their castle at Kilbarron, the ruins of which still remain situated on a rock on the shore of the Atlantic near Ballyshannon. VII. Mac Anbhaird, or the Mac Wards, were a clan in Donegal, and many of them bards to the O'Donnells, and were very learned men. Tir Connell was formed into the county Donegal by the lord deputy, sir John Perrott,in the reign of Elizabeth, and on its confiscation, and the settlement of British colonies called the Plantation of Ulster, in the reign of James I., the following families of English and Scotch settlers are given as the possessors of this county, in Pynnar's Survey, A.D. 1619. John Murray got all Boylagh and Banagh, being ten thousand acres. The following had various districts :— REIGN OF HENRY HI. 53 Stephen O'Breen, au'cineach of Mayo, died. Celechaii- O'Dobhailen (or O'Devlin), aircin- each of Camma,' a man eminent for charity, piety, and learning, died. Fethfoilge, daughter of Conor Mac Dermott, and wife of Murtogh Aluimnagh, son of Torlogh More, who was the mother of Manus, son of Murtogh, of Conor, of Roderick, of Tuathal, and of Torlogh the priest, prior of the chui-ch of SS. Peter and Paul, died. Duvchovlagli, daughter of Conor Mac Dennott, died in the monastery of Boyle. Flaherty O'Flanagan, chief of Clan Cathail,'- son of jMuii'eadliach Muilleathan, died on his pilgrimage, in the monasteiy of Boyle, and his wife Duvhemragli, daughter of O'Quinn, also died. Ualgarg O'Rourke, lord of Brefney, died on his pilgrimage to the river (Jordan). Giolla-Iosa Mac Samhradhain, chief of Teal- lach Eachdach,' and Duinnin O'Mulconaiy, chief poet and historian of Siol Murray (Roscommon), died. Conor Gott O'Hai-a, lord of Lieney, died. Donall O'Donnell, lord of Tirconnell, and Angus Mac Gillefinen, of Fermanagh, marched their forces into the territory of Cathal O'Reilly ; conveyed their vessels to Lough Uachtair,'' plun- dered Eo Inis, and carried away all the provisions and treasure of the entire town. captain Tliomas Dutton ; Alexander Cunning-ham ; Jolm Cun- niniilmm ; James Cunninjliam ; Ciithbert Cunningham ; sir James Cuiininj;hara ; James Mao Cuilagli ; William Stewart ; Laird of Dunduft'; Alexander Mae Awley, alias Stewart ; the Laird of Lusse ; sir John Stewart ; Petef Benson ; William Wilson ; Thomas Davis ; captain Mansfield; sir John Kingsmill ; sir Ralph Bingley ; sir Thomas Coach ; sir George Marburie ; sir ^^■illiam Stewart ; sir Basil Brooke ; sir Thomas Chichester j sir John Vaughan ; John Wray ; Arthur Terrie; captain Henry Hart; cajitain Paul Gore ; Nathaniel Rowley ; William Lynn ; and captain Sandford. The foUowuig have been the noble families in Donegal since the reign of James I. The Fitzwilliams, e-arls of Tyrconnell. Richard Talbot, lord lieutenant of Ireland in the reign of James II., was created duke of Tyrconnell. Tlie families of Brownlow and Car- penter have been subsequently earlsof Tyrconnell. The Chiehesters, earls of Donegal. The Conynghams, earls of Jlountcharles. Tlie Cockaynes, barons of Cullen. And the Hewitts, barons of Lifford. Amongst the great landed proprietors resident in this county, may be mentioned, Lord George Hill, a nobleman justly estimated by Jlrs. Hall, and other tourists, as one of the most excellent landlords in Ireland. Diocexe of Raphoe. The see of Raphoe was founded by St. Euuan, whom Lanigan considers to have been the same person as Adamnan, the celebrated abbot of lona, in the seventh century, who was a native of Tyrconnell. The diocese comprehends the greater part of the county of Donegal. On the Island in Lough Felim, son of Cathal Crovdearg, was made prisoner by Mac AAlUiam Burke, at MeeUck, in violation of the faith of the English nobles of Ireland. A.D. 1232. Fachtna O'Hallgaith, coarb of Drom Mochuda,' and official of Hy Fiachra, a man who kept a house of hospitahty for the entertainment of the learned, and for the relief of the sick and indigent, died. The church of Kilmore, in Tir Briuin of the Shannon, was consecrated by Donogh O'Conor, bishop of Elphin, and canons were appointed there by Conn O'Flanagan, prior of that place. Tiopraid O'Breen, the coarb of St. Comman,^ a man ieai-ned in divinity, history, and laws, died at Inis Clothran, while on a pilgrimage there. Hugh, the son of Awlave, son of Donal O'Fer- rall, chief of Anally, was burned on the island of Lough Cuille, by the sons of Hugh Ciabhach, son of Mvu'ogh O'FerraU, having been chief of Anally for nine years after Murogh Carragh O'FerraU. Manus, son of Awlave, son of Teige Mac Mtd- rooriy, a luminary of hospitahty, generosity, and piety, died. Donogh, the son of Tomaltach Mac Dermott, a man eminent for hospitality, and generosity to the distressed of Connaught, died of an epidemic. Conor, son of Hugh, son of Roderick O'Conor, Derg, in the county of Donegal, is the celebrated place of pilgrim- age, called St. Patrick's Purgatory. A. D. :'231. 1 . Camma or Camcha, a parish in the barony of Athlone, county of Roscommon. 2. Clan Cathail, a district in Roscommon near Elphin, and the tribe were so called from Cathal, son of Muireadhach Muilleathan, king of Connaught, who died A. D. 7U0. 3. Teallack Eachdnch, now the barony of Tullaghaw, in the county of Cavan, of which the Mac Samhradbains were chiefs, a. name that has been changed to Mac Gauran, and by some angli- cised to Somers. 4. Loch UachfalT. This was Lough Oughter, a chain of large lakes lying between Cavan, Killeshandra and Belturbet in the county of Cavan, or as it was called O'Reilly's country. En Inis or the Holy Island, which was plundered, was probably Trinity Island in Lough Oughter, where there was an abbey founded by this Cathal O'Reilly, prince of East Brefney ; or perhaps it may have been TJrney, where there was an abbey and small town, near Lough Oughter. A.D. 1-23-3. 1. Dromamttcadha, now the parish of Dromacoo, in the barony of Dunkellin, county of Galway. This parish was in Hy Fiachra, a territory co-extensive with the diocese of Kilmaeduagli. 2. Coarb of St. Commati, that is, abbot of Roscommon. 54 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A.D. 1233. haxdng escaped from the English, was joined by the sons of some chiefs of Connaught, with whom he marched into the Tuatha (in Roscommon), to make seizures there, but was slain by the Tuatha, along with Gillkelly O'Heyne, Gillcreest the son of Donogh Mac Dermott, and many others. On that day the ])eople of Tuatha had all white handled battle-axes, from which arose the adage, " The man with the white axe slew the son of Hugh." Hugh, the son of Roderick O'Conor, was again appointed king of Connaught, by Mac William Bvn-ke,' and made peace with him after he had made Feilim, the son of Cathal Crovdearg, pri- soner. The castle of Bona Gaillmhe was erected by Rickard de Burgo, and the castle of Dun lom- gain'' was commenced by Adam Stanton. Giolla-na-neev O'Daly, aman learned in poetry^, and who kept a house of hospitaUty both for rich and poor, died. Maoleoin, the Deaf, O'Mulconery, took Cluan Bolcain. Feilim, the son of Cathal Crovdearg, was set at liberty by the English. Conor, son of Niall O'Gormley, chief of Kinel Maoin, died. Donal O'Loughlin, lord of Tyrone, marched with a force consisting of Enghsh and Irish into Tirconnell, on which expedition he plmidered Fanat, and took hostages from Donal O'Boyle, and from O'Tairceirt. O'Donnell marched his forces into Tyrone, and anived at Tullaghoge, where he killed the cattle, burned the corn, plundered the country, and re- turned home in triumph. Midbeach and Eaghinish'' were plundered by the Kinel Owen, to which place they took then- shipping, but a party of the Kinel Connell, hc^aded by the son of Niall O'Donnell, attacked and slew Inisclotliran, an island in Lougli Ree, on the Shannon, between Roscommon and Longford, where there was a famous abbey. 3. Mac William Burke, so often mentioned at tliis period, was Richard de Burgo, son of William Fitzadelm de Burgo. He suc- ceeded JeofFrey de Marisco as lord justice, and was also lord deputy of Ireland 4. Crilslean Bun lomgain was the castle of Dunamon, near the river Suck, in Roscommon. The other castle was at Galway. many of them, but was himself killed in the midst of the fight. A.D. 1233. Geoffrey O'Doighre, aircineach' of Derry Columkille, died. Maolisa O'Maonaigh, a dignified priest and psalmodist, died. Donagh, archdeacon of Achaigh Fobhair,^ an arbiter who settled all disputes and contentions, a man of dignity and honour, died on the 15th day of December. Feilim O'Conor, son of Cathal Crovdearg, led his forces into Connaught, and Cormac, the son of Tomaltagh Mac Dermott, lord of Moylurg, went to meet him, and brought him with him to Moy- lurg, where they constructed a camp at Druim Gregraighe, and were joined by Cormac, by Conor his son, and the people of the three Tuatha, and by the two sons of Murtogh Mac Dermott, Donogh and Mm'togh. They then held a council, in which they resolved to go in pursuit of Hugh, king of Connaught, and the other sons of Roderick ; they attacked and defeated Hugh, the son of Roderick, slew himself, Hugh Muimnagh his brother, his son, and Donogh More Mac Dermott, son of Roderick, with many others. There were also slain Raghallagh O'Flanagan, Thomas Biris, constable of Ireland, John his brother, and John Guer, with many other Englishmen. This was after they had been cursed and excommunicated by bell, crozier, and the extin- guishing of candles, by the clergy of Connaught, for Hugh Muimnagh had violated and plundered Tibo- hine (in Roscommon), and many other churches, so that he and his adherents fell in avengement of the dishonour they had done to the saints by violating their churches. The kingdom and government of Connaught were that day WTested from the sons of Roderick, the son of Torlogh. Felim, the son of Cathal Crovdearg, then assumed 5. Eaghinis and Midhbheach, now Aghinis and Mevagh, near Lough Swilly, barony of Kilmakrenan, county of Donegal. A.D. 1-23.3. 1. Aircineach, sometimes written Airchindech, as already ex- plained, according to Lanigan, meant originally an archdeacon, and has been translated by Colgan, archidiaconus, hence in these Annals the word will in future be translated archdeacon. 2. Achad Fobhair, now the parish of Aughagower, in Mayo, where St. Patrick founded a church, and placed over it St. Senach. REIGN OF HENRY III. the sovereignty of Connaught, and demolished the castles which had been erected by the sons of Roderick O'Conor and Mac William Burke, namely, the castle of Bona Gaillmhe, Caislen-na- Circe,' Caislen-na-Caillighe, and the castle of Dun lomgain. William, the son of Hugo de Lacy (whose mother was daughter of king Roderick O'Conor), marched, with the English of Meath, into Brefuey against Cathal O'Reilly, where they committed great depredations; but a party of O'Reilly's peo- ple overtook de Lacy and his chiefs, while con- veying the plunder, and gave them battle, in which William Brit, and a number of the English nobles, were slain, and William de Lacy with many others were wounded ; they were cb'iven from the country without prisoners or plunder, and de Lacy, Charles, the son of Cathal Gall O'Conor, Feorus Fionn, the son of the English queen, and Dermod Bearnagh O'Melaghhn, died of the wounds they received in the battle of Mona-Crann-Chaoin,* and NiallSionagh O'Catharnaidh, lord of the men of Teffia, also died of the wounds he received in this battle, in his own house, after making his will and receiving extreme unction. A. D. 1234. Angus O'Maolfoghmair, bishop of Hy Fiachra (Kilalla) ; Giolla-na-neev, son of Art O'Breen, archdeacon of Roscommon ; Maolisa, son of Daniel O'Gormley, prior of Inis Mac Nerin ; Maol Peter O'Cormacain, prior of Roscommon ; and Giollisa O'Gibellan, monk and anchorite of Trinity Island (in Lough Key), died. Donal, son of Hugh O'Neill, lord of Kinel Owen, and heir presumptive to the crown of Ire- land, was slain by Mac Loughlin (i. e. Donal), and by the Kinel Owen themselves ; and Donal assumed the lordship. Aongus Mac GiUifinen, lord of Lough Erne, 3. CnlsIetm-na-Circe, or the Hen's castle, was situated on an island in Lough Corrib, county of Galway, and belonged to the O'Flahertys. The otlier castles at Dimamon and Galway have been already mentioned under A. D. 1232. Caislea>t-nu CiiillUjhc, or tlie Hog's castle, was also in the neighbourhood of Loupli Corril). 4. Moim Crunn Cliiioin. The place where this battle was fought signifies the bog or marsh of the handsome trees, and was situated on the borders of Cavan and Meath. Feorus Fionn, or Feorus the Fair, here mentioned as son of the English queen, must Iiave been the son of Isabella, widow of king John, who was mar- ried to the Count of La Marche in France. having revolted against O'Donnell, went to plun- der Tirconnell ; but O'Donnell, i. e. Donal More, attacked and slew him in revenge of the death of Eigneaghan (O'Donnell). Hugh O'Hara, lord of Lieney, was slain by Donogh, son of Duarcan O'Hara, after he (Donogh) had burned his (Hugh's) house, out of which he (Hugh) escaped, in revenge of the death of his (Donogh's) brother and five nephews, who had been slain by Hugh, who also put out the eyes of another brother (of Donogh). Dermod O'Quinn, chief of Muintir GioUgain,' was slain. Rickard, son of William Mareschal, having rebelled against the king of England, came over to Ireland and settled in Leinster. The English of Ireland, who were in favour of the king of Eng- land, collected their forces to oppose, him : these were Mac Maurice, the lord justice of Ireland, Hugo de Lacy, earl of Ulster, and Walter de Lacy, lord of Meath. Having marched to Cuir- each Lifi,^ in Leinster, they attacked Mareschal and slew him, and took Jeoffrey Mareschal pri- soner, for Mareschal had none to fight the battle, having been betrayed by his own people. A.D. 1235. Isaac O'Maolfoghmair, archdeacon of Kilalla, died. Mattheus, prior of Trinity Island (on Lough Key), died. Madden O'Madden, lord of Siol Anmchadha, died. Loughlin, son of Echtigim O'Kelly, was slain by the sons of the Giolla Riavach O'Boyle. Taithleach, son of Hugh O'Dowd, lord of Tyrawley and Tireragh, was slain by the cast of a dart, while interposing in a quarrel in the for- tress of FeUim (O'Conor), son of Cathal Crov- deta-g. A.D. 1234. 1. Muintir GioUgain, a district m Anally, or Longford, of which the O'Quiims were chiefs. See notes on Anally and Teffia. ■2. Cuireach Lifi was the ancient name of the Curragli of Kil- dare. Mareschal, above mentioned, was the celebrated Richard Mareschal, earl of Pembroke, who was treacherously killed on the Curragh of Kildare by the contrivance of Jeotfrey de Marisco, and the other English barons. Mac Maurice, so often mentioned at this period, was Maurice Fitzgerald, lord justice of Ireland. 56 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A.D. 1235. Tlie English of Ireland, having collected their forces under Rickard Mac William Burke, and the following leaders, namely, Mac Muiris (Mac- Maurice), lord justice of Ireland, Hugo de Lacy, cai-1 of Ulster, Walter Riddlesford, chief baron of Leinster, with the English of Leinster, and John Cogan, with the English of Munster, and the Routes (or lords of the Marches) of Ireland, proceeded across the Shannon at Athlone, to Roscommon, and burned the town ; from thence they went to Elphin, where they burned the great church, and from thence to the monastery of Ath- da-la-arg at Boyle, on the night of Trinity Sunday, A party of their soldiers attacked the monaster}-, broke open the scripta (sacristy or sanctuary), and took therefrom the cheJices, vestments, and other precious articles. The English nobles were much displeased at this act, and sent back every thing they could find, and paid for such as could not be recovered. On the following day they sent scouting parties to Creit, to Cairthe Muil- chen, and to the tower of Glen Fearna,' from which they carried away great booty to the lord justice at Ai-dcarne. The Enghsh then privately resolved, at the request of Owen O'Heyne (in order to be revenged of the people of Munster and Donogh Cairbreach O'Brien, for the wrongs he had sustaine ), to return back the same way through Tir Maine, Maonmoy, and from thence to Thomond, and to come unawares on the people of Munster ; and in their progress they committed great plunders. When Felim, son of Cathal Crovdearg, perceived that the English had departed, he resolved to lead his forces to join the men of Munster, and having arrived at their quarters, several fierce engagements took place every day, but at length the Conacians and Munster men gave the English a general battle, in which they : ought bravely, but were, however, finally defeated by the superior numbers of the A.D. 1235. 1 . Glen Fearnn, that is, the Glen of the Alder Trees, now Glcn- fame, a large valley surrounded by high mountains, near Manor- hamilton, in the county of Leitrim." Cairtke Miiilchen, now Glen- car, another large valley in the parish of Killasnet, county of Leitrim. Creit, afterwards called Crcy, in the parish of Kil- toghert, in Leitrim. Ardcame was near Boyle. 2. Conmnlcne Mnra, or the barony of Ballynahinch, in Cona- mara. Connuucne Culle Tola, now the barony of Kilmaine, in Mayo. 3. Dunmugltdord, an ancient fortress in the par"sh of Auggaval, English, whose cavalry and infantry were clad in armour. Many were slain on both sides, but the Munster men suffered most loss, through the mismanagement of Donogh Cairbreach O'Brien. The Conacians then returned home, and on the following day, O'Brien made peace with the English, and gave them hostages. The English then returned to Connaught, and first went to Hugh O'Flaherty, who made peace with them for the protection of his people and property. In the mean time, Felim, son of Cathal Crovdearg, determined on caiTying away all the cattle in Conmaicne Mara and Conmaicne Cuile,^ of those who would be counselled by hiiu, and took along with him the son of Manus and Conor Roe, son of Murtogh Muinagh (O'Conor), with whom he proceeded to ODonnell's country (i.e. Donal More), and left the territories quite bare to the English. After this the English came to Dun Mughdord, and sent a message to INIanus, son of Murtogh Muinagh, demanding hostages, but Manus would yield them neither submission nor hostages. The English then sent a veiy strong force from Mughdord,' against the sons of Roderick, plundered Eccuil, and carried away great spoils to the English at Druimni. Hugh O'Flaherty and Owen O'Hyne, marched round with another large force, and brought boats with them to Lionan-chinn-mara. This force, with the boats, met the lord justice from Druimne, at the port of Inis Aonaigh ; Manus, who at this time had his vessels on the sea at Inis Aonaigh, made frequent attacks on the English ; and they also attacked him, but they desisted for a time, removed their camp, and drew their boats round to the rear of a large strand in that place. As soon as Manus perceived this movement he sailed to Inis Raithne, and sent a party of his people . into Inis Aoinaigh, When the English saw that Manus and his people landed on those islands barony of Murrisk, county of Mayo. Vruimnl, now Druimneen, near Westport, in Mayo. Lionan-chinn-mara, now Leenan, near Killery Harbour, county of Galway. Inis Aonaigh, an island in Killery Bay, between Mayo and Galway. Inis Raithin, another of those islands in Killery Bay. Itm Modh, a general name ap- plied to the islands in Clew Bay, county of Mayo. Umaill, or Hy JSIalia, formerly the county of the O'Mallies, now the baronies of Murrisk and Burishoole, county of Mayo. Eccnill, now Achill Island, county of Mayo. Liit/lthardan, now called Luffer- tan, in the parish of Balliutobber, barony of Carra, county of Mayo. REIGN OF HENRY III. they conveyed their boats along the strand, and, having launched them on the sea, quickly filled them with well armed men clad in armour, and proceeded to the islands on which Manus's men were, except Inis Raithin, on which Manus him- self was posted, and slew all the people they found on the islands. Manus and his men, who were on Inis Raithne, took to their shipping and sailed from the island ; but had Manus been on friendly terms with the O'Malleys, they would have sent their shipping against the Enghsh. The English can-ied off all the cattle of Insi Modh in one day, and the inhabitants would have left the islands, together with their cattle, from excessive want, had they not been prevented. Many of the common people were slain that night by the English. On the following day, being Friday (Good Frida}'), the English invaded the islands north of UmhaiU, but the officers of the army, out of respect to the crucifixion of Christ, commanded that no person should be put to death on that day. After the English had devastated and spoiled Hy Malia, both by sea and land, they proceeded ■with the cattle and booty to Lughbardan, from whence they marched to Eas Dara (Ballysadare), and plundered O'Donnell, in consequence of his having protected FeUm O'Conor, who had fled to him for refuge. From this they proceeded to Corrsliabh-na-Seghsa (Curlew mountains), and to the harbour of the Rock on Lough Key,'' for the puqiose of taking it from the people of Felim O'Conor, and Cormac, son of Tomaltagh (Mac Dermott), who guarded it. The English and the lord justice gave protection and Tennon (sanc- tuary), to Clarus Mac MaoiUn, archdeacon of Elphin, and to the canons of Trinity Island, in honour of the Holy Trinity ; and the lord justice himself, accompanied by the English nobles, went to inspect that place and to offer up their prayers, after which they constructed wonderful engines, with great ingenuity and invention, by which they took the Rock of Lough Key fi-ora the people of Felim and Comiac, and, after taking possession of it, the lord justice left a gamson there, with as much provisions and ale as were necessary. The Enghsh on that expedition rendered Connaught 4. TJie JiocTi of Lmigh Key was a fortress of the Mac Der- motts at Lough Key, near Boyle, in the county of Roscommon, bare of food, raiment, and cattle ; deprived it of peace and happiness, and left the inhabitants nothing but discord, and mutual plunder and slaughter. The English, however, obtained neither hostages nor submission on that occasion. Felim (O'Conor) made peace with the lord jus- tice, and they (the Enghsh), gave him the five districts of the king free of purchase and rents. Cormac Mac Dermott regained possession of the Rock of Lough Key twenty days after it had been taken by the English, in the following man- ner : The constable, attended by a large party of his men, having gone out at night, one of their own gamson, named O'Hostin, closed the gates after them, and delivered up the fortress to Cor- mac. The English were conveyed by a guard to Trinity Island, and safely sent out of the countiy, after which the fortifications of the Rock were demohshed by Cormac, in order that the Enghsh might not take possession of it again. Donal and Murtogh, the sons of Muiredagh O'Malley, were slain by Donal, son of IManus, son of Mm-togh O'Conor, aided by Niall Roe, son of Cathal, son of Conor, at Chara (Claremorris), w^here he was also inteiTed. Tuathal, son of Mortogh O'Conor, was slain by Conor Buidhe, son of Torlogh O'Conor, and by Conor, son of Hugh Muinagh. The castle of Meelick was demohshed by FeUm O'Conor. A.D. 1236. Mac Raith Mac Maolin, priest of Kilmactreana, in Tiren'ell (in the county of Sligo), died. Hugh O'Gibellain, priest of Kih-odan (in tlie county of Sligo), and afterwards canon of Trinity Island, died on Christmas night. The lord justice, that is, Mac Maurice (Fitz- gerald), having summoned the Enghsh of Ireland to a convention held by him atAthfearaine, Felim, son of Cathal Crovdearg O'Conor, king of Connaught, came to the meeting ; but it was determined amongst them to act treacherously towards Fehm, although he was gossip to the lord justice. The motive of the English in assembhng at that place from which a part of that family were afterwards designated as the Mac Dermotts of the Rock. 58 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A.D. 1236. being such, Felim, who had received intelligence of their intention, fled from the meeting, with a few horse, to Roscommon, but was pm'sued thither, and from thence as far as the bridge of Sligo ; and he ])laced b.imsclf under the protection of O'Don- nell. As they did not succeed in capturing him, they committed great devastations in the territoiy of Teige O'Conor, and carried into bondage and captivity a great number of fair women, after which they returned with these captives to Druim Greg- raidhe in Moylurg, as it was there that the lord justice was awaiting their movements. The above- mentioned meeting was held after Mac William (Burke) liad gone to England. The lord justice and the English returned to theu' homes, and left the government of the countiy in the hands of Biyan, son of Torlogh (O'Conor), by whom and the English soldiers of the lord justice, great depredations were committed on the sons of Hugh, son of Cathal Crovdearg, and on many others of Felim's people. The sons of Hugh, in retaUation, plundered the English, and the Irish enemies who supported them, so that the country was altogether laid waste between them. Conor O'Conor, son of Hugh Muinagh, was slain by Manus, son of Mortogh O'Conor. Maolmuire O'Laughnan, having been elected to the see of Tuam, went to England, and after receiving the Pope's letters, was, with the consent of the king, consecrated. Mac WiUiam (Burke) returned from England, but it was not known whether for peace or ^var. FeUm, son of Cathal Crovdeai-g, returned to Connaught, having been invited thither by some of the Conacians, namely, by O'Kelly and O'Flynn, the sons of Hugh, the son of Cathal Crovdearg, and the son of Art O'Melaghhn, all fonning four strong battalions. They marched to Rinn-Duin, where Bryan, son of Torlogh (O'Conor), Owen O'Heyne, Conor Buidhe, son of Torlogh, and Mac Costello, had all the cattle of the country. Felim's men crossed over the rampart and ditch which fortified the island, and every leader of a troop, and chief of a band, drove off each a share of the cattle as they found them on the place ; and they then separated with their booty, leaving of the four battalions only four horsemen with Fehm. As Bryan, son of Torlogh, and Owen O'Heyne, with their party, perceived that Fehm's forces were scattered with their booty, they set out quickly and actively, with a small party of horse and many foot soldiers, to attack O'Conor and his few men. Conor Buidhe, son of Torlogh, did not ])erceive them until he came up, and, mistaking them for his own partj^, was killed by Roderick, son of Hugh, son of Cathal Crovdearg. Felim (the king), loudly calling his men, commanded them to leave their booty, and attack the enemy ; and many of the party were killed by Felim and his followers in the battle, both on and outside of the Island, and amongst the killed were many notorious for their crimes and e\'il deeds. Teige, son of Cormac, son of Tomaltagh Mac Dermott, was amongst the slain. When Mac William heard of the defeat of all those who had opposed O'Conor, he joined him to subdue them. Dennod, son of Manus, having heard of these events, proceeded to attack Manus, son of Mmlogh O'Conor. After this Mac William went to Tuam, unnoticed and unperceived, and from thence to Mayo, of the Saxons ; and he left not a rick or measiu'e of corn at the great church of Mayo, or in the church of Teampull Michil, the Archangel ; and his troops earned off from these churches eighty measures of corn. They aftei-wards went to Turlogh, and plundered his place in a similar manner. They then sent a party to plunder the people of Dermod, son of Manus, and, meeting with the people of Conor Roe and of Turlogh, the three parties plun- dered these places indiscriminately. Manus was obliged to banish and expel the people of Dermod, and on the following day Conor Roe went to Mac William, and made peace with him ; and the cattle of which he had been plundered were restored, and all the property which had been taken from the churches, and could be recognised as belonging to them, was also restored. Dermod, son of Manus, submitted to the English, and claimed protection for his people and property. Mac William proceeded to Balla, where he re- mained one night : from thence he went to Tuam ; and he left Connaught without peace, happiness, or provisions, either in churches or country. Hugh O'Flaherty, lord of West Connaught, died. The eyes of Dermod, son of Niall O'Rourke, were put out by Cuchonaght O'Reilly. Cathal Riabhach, son of GioUa Buidhe O'Rom'ke, lord of Hy Briuin, died. REIGN OF HENRY III. 59 Great stonns and rain and violent wars pre- vailed in this year. The sons of Roderick, and Conor, son of Cormac Mac Dermott, were defeated iia the battle of Cluan-Catha,' by Felim O'Conor. Gillpatrick Mac GioUaroidli (or Mac Gillroy), lord of Kinel Aongusa, died. Terraon Caollaine- was burned by the lord justice. O'Donnell (Donal More) led his forces into Ulidia as far as lubhar-chinn-choiche,^ plundered every place tlirough which he passed, and exacted hostages and submission from the greater part of Ulster. A. D. 1237. Thomas O'Ruadhain, bishop of Luighne (Achonry), died. Giolla-Iosa, son of the historian O'Tormaigh (or O'Tormey), bishop of Conmaicne (Ardagh), died. Giolla-na-neag O'Monaghan died in the monas- tery of Boyle. Fehm, son of Cathal Crovdearg, marched his forces into Connaught, to attack the descendants of Roderick O'Conor, namety, Bryan, son of Tor- logh, Mmiogh and Donal, sons of Dermod, son of Roderick, and Conor, son of Cormac, son of Dermod. In this expedition Felim was aided by Cuchonaght O'Reilly, with all the Hy Briuin (or people of Cavan), and Cathal Mac Rannall, at the head of the people of Conmaicne (or the people of Muintir Eoluis, in Leitrim). Fehm, with his forces, crossed the Curlew Mountains northward, and arrived at Druim Raide, in pm'suit of the people of Roderick, with the soldiers of the lord justice, and prepared to give them battle. Felim commanded his men not to lose time in discharging their arrows, or throwing missiles, but to charge and come to close quarters at once ; they did so accordingly, and the (Enghsh) soldiers did not long sustain the charge, but were defeated and di-iven A.D. 1236. 1. C/imn Cn<7(«, a place now called Battlefield, in the barony of Corran, county of Sligo. 2. Termon Caollaine, supposed to be the abbey of Callan, in the county of Kilkenny. 3. luhlinr-clihm-choiche, probably the same as lubbar-cliinn- traighe, the ancient name of Newry. back to their own people, and a great number of them slain, amongst whom was the son of Milrig. When Roderick perceived that their forces were put to flight, they retreated from the position j they had taken up, wthout losing any of their own men ; but after this defeat they became dispersed, and had no footing in Siol MiiiTay (Roscommon). All their people were plundered by FeUm, and much depredation was committed on Conor, the son of Cormac, in Tyi-en-ell. Fehm's party, after that, conveyed their vessels to Lough Key, from which they expelled Cormac Mac Dermott, lord of Moylmg, and plundered the entire of Moylurg ; and they put Donogh, son of Murtogh Luath Shuileach (the Quick Eyed), in possession of the government of the countiy, and of the lake. The lord justice made peace with FeUm, and the five districts of the king were given him, free of purchase or rents. Manus, son of Dermod, son of Manus, was slain by Donal, son of Dermod, son of Roderick O'Conor. Mmtogh, the son of Dermod, son of Roderick O'Conor, was slain by the son of Manus, son of Mm"togh Muinagh. Conor, son of Coraiac, committed depredations on Roderick O'Gara ; and the brother of Roderick was slain. Tlie hostages of Conor, son of Coraiac, were slain by Fehm, son of Cathal Crovdearg. A monastery of canons was founded by Clarus Mac Maihn, on Trinity Island, in Lough Uachtair,' under the recommendation and patronage of Cathal O'Reilly. The English barons of Ireland, ha-i-ing settled in Connaught, commenced building castles there. A. D. 1238. Fehx O'Ruanadha (O'Rooney), archbishop of Tuam, who had previously resigned liis bishoprick in honour of God, and had taken the monastic habit in Maiy's Abbey, m Dubhn, died. A.D. 1237. 1. Loch Uachtair, or Lough Oughter, in the county of Cavan, on an island in which, called Trinity Island, this monastery was founded and endowed by Cathal O'Reilly, prmce of Brefney. See Ware. 60 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A. D. 1238-1239-40. Donogh Uaithnagh, son of Hugh, son of Rode- rick O'Conor, was slain by Teige, son of Hugh, son of Cathal Crovdearg. Donogh, son of Duarcan O'Hara, lord of Lieny, was taken prisoner by Teige, son of Hugh, son of Cathal Crovdearg, and as he was brought to be confined, he was slain by his own kinsman, the son of Hugh O'Hara, in Hy Briuin of the Shan- non. Flaherty Mac Cathmaoil, head chief of Kinel Fereadaigh, and cliief of Clan Congail, and of O'Ceannfhoda, in Tir Manach, the most distin- guished for braveiy and hospitality in Tir Eogain, was slain by Donogh Mac Cathmaoil, his own kins- man. Donogh, son of Murtogh (Mac Dermott), hav- ing proceeded into Brefney, to O'Reilly, from wliich he marched with a great force into Connaught, plundered the people of Cluain Coirpthe,' and killed many of the chiefs of Muinter Eoluis, and of the Tuatha, who pm-sued him to recover the booty. Mulroony, son of Donogh O'Dowd, was slain by Malachy, son of Conor Roe, son of Murtogh Muimnagh, and by the son of Tiarnan, son of Cathal Migarain O'Conor. Castles were erected in Muintir Murchadha,^ in Conmaicne Cuile, and in Ceara, by the English barons before mentioned. Mac Maurice, lord justice of Ireland, and Hugo De Lacy, earl of Ulster, marched with their forces into Kinel Connell. They deposed Mac LoughUn (i. e. Donal), and gave the lordship of Kinel Owen to Bryan, the son of O'Neill, and they themselves took the hostages of the north of Ireland. The Cloicteach of Eanach Duin,' was erected. Cathal Mac Riabhaigh, chief of Scedne,* died. A. D. 1238. 1. Cliiain Coirpthe, OT Cnir/^f/fe, was a place in Kinel Dobhtha, a district wliicli lay alons the Shannon, in the present barony of Ballintobber, county of Uoscoinmoii. A church was founded here by the abbot, St. Berach, in tlie sixth century. 2. Muinter Miireliad/ia, in Conmaicne Cuile, now the barony of Kihnain, county of Mayo. Ceara, now the barony of Carra, county of Mayo. a. manach Duiii, and Cloicteach. Eanach Dtiin, nov the parish of Aniiadown, in the county of Galway, an ancient bishop's see. Cloicteach is derived by some from Cloeh, a stene, and teach, a building or house ; by others from Clog, a bell, and teach, a house, and is therefore supposed by some to siiirnated by O'Dugan, Ardrlgh Breifne n.i biinii sninchf, that is, chief king of Brefney of lasting sway, and to wliom, he states, the rents or tributes of Connaught were paid. 11. O'Raghallaigh or O'Reilly, chief of Muinter Maollmordha, designated as — ** Utoghfhaoisetich nn riwfhar u-garbh^ O'RaghaUaigh itti ruadh tirin.'' " Head chief of fierce conflicts, O'Reilly of the red arms or shields." III. Mae Tigheamain or the Mac Tienians, also rendered Mae Kiernan or Mac Kernan, and by some anglicised to Masterson, who were chiefs of Teallach Dnnchadha, signifying the tribe or territory of Donogh, so called from one of their chiefs, a name which has been luade Tullaiihouoho, now the barony of TuUyhunco, in the county of Cavan. Mac Tieman is designated as "' the true defender of valiant chiefs." The Mac Kemans are still very nu- merous in the coTinties of Cavan and Leitrim, and several of their chiefs are mentioned in the course of these Annals. IV. ^lac Samhradhain, designated " a bond of strength," who was chief of Teallach Eachach, or Eacbaidh, which signifies of the tribe or territory of Eachy, so called from one of their chiefs, and now the barony of Tullaghagh, county of Cavan. This name is now generally made Mac Gauran, and by some anglicised, or rather translated, Somers, from the word Samhradli, which signifies summer. The JIac Gaurans in modern times are very numerous in the counties of Cavan and Leitrim, and many chiefs of the name are mentioned in the Annals. A'. Mac Consnamha, cliief of Clan Cionnaith, or Clan Kenny, now known as the Muintir Kenny niovmtains, and adjoining districts, near Lough .Mien, in the parish of Innismagrath, county of Leitrim. This name has been anglicised to Ford, and there are several of the clan still in those districts. Mac Consnamha is mentioned as a chief in those Annals, A. D. 1-2.V-'. VI. Mac Cagadhain, chief of Clan Fearniaighe, a district south of Dartry, and in the present barony of Dromahaire, county of Leitrim. 'This name has been anglicised Cogan or Coggan. O'Brien, in his Dictionary, at the word Eagan, states that the Mac Egans were chiefs of Clanfearamuighe in Brefney ; hence ;Mac Cagadhain and Mac Eagain may probably have been the same clan. Vll. Mac Darchaidh,whichO'Brien writes Mac Dorchuighe, chief of Kinel Luachain, a district in the barony of ilohill, county of Leitrim, which may probably be traced in the name of the townlaiid of Laheen. This name has been by some anglicised to Darcy. VIII. JIac Flannchadha, a name rendered into Mae Clancy, who was chief of Dartraidhe or Dartry, an ancient territory co-extensive with the present barony of Rossclogher in Leitrim. Several chiefs of the JIac Clancys are mentioned in the course of these .\nnals, and they are designated by O'Dugan as the mighty Mac Clancys. IX. O'Finnand O'Cearbhaill or O'Car- roU, wiio were chiefs of Calraighe, a district adjoining Dartry, in A conference was held between the EngUsh and Irish concerning Fehm O'Conor, and peace was estabhshed between them. the present barony of Dromahaire, coimty of Leitrim, and which appears to have comprehended an adjoining portion of Sligo, near the present parish of Calry, in that county. This district is men- tioned by Lanigan, (vol. i. p. 2,^(0), under the name of Calrigia, and comprised the parishes of Drumlease and Killargj' in Leitrim, with part of the parish of Calry in Sligo. X. Mac Maoiliosa, chief of Magh Breacraighe, a district on the borders of Leitrim and Longford. XI. Mac Fionnbhair or Finnevar, chief of Muinter Greadain or Gearadhain, a district in the southern part of Leitrim. XII. Mac Raghnaill or Mac Rannall, a name anglicised to Rey- nolds, who were chiefs of Muinter Eoluis. This territory was sometimes called Conmaicne of Moyrein, and comprised almost the whole of the present baronies of Leitrim, Mohill and Carry- gallen, in the county of Leitrim, with a portion of the north of Longford. The JIac Rannalls were powerful chiefs, and are often mentioned in the course of these Annals. They were of the race of Ir, or Clanna Rory, and of the same stock as the O'Ferralls, princes of Anally, or Longford. They had ca.stles at Rinn, Leitrim and Loush Scur. Of this family wasGeorge Nugent Reynolds, esq., of Letterfian, in Leitrim, a celebrated wit and poet, who is stated to have been the author of the beautiful song called " Tlie Exile of Erin," though its composition was claimed by Thomas Campbell, author of " The Pleasures of Hope." XIII. O'Maoil- miadhaigh or D'JIulvey, chief of Magh Neise or Nisi, a district which lay along the Shannon in the west of Leitrim, near Carrick- on-Sliannon. The following Clans in the counties of Cavan and Leitrim, not given by O'Dugan, are collected from various other sources : I. Mac Brad- aigh or Mac Brady. Tiarnan Mac Bradaigh is mentioned in the Annals, at the year I'i.jfi, as one of the chiefs who foughtunder the O'Reillys, in a great battle at Moysleacht, or Fenagh. The Mac Bradys sometimes called O'Bradys are given by Mac Geoghegan, as a branch of the O'CarroUs, chiefs of Calry, a territory in Leitrun, in the barony of Dromahaire, as already explained in the precedmg part of this article ; and they are in fact often called O'Carrolls at the present day, particularly by persons speaking in Irish, who designate them Carullaghs. Tlie Mac Bradys are extremely nu- merous in the county of Cavan, particularly in the barony of Loughtee ; and there are many respectable families of the name in various parts of Ireland. Baron Thomas Brady, a distinguished field marshal for many years in the Austrian service, and who died at Vienna in 1827, was a native of the county of Cavan. 11. The Mac Gobhains,Mac-an-Ghobhains, or 0'Gobhains,aname which has been anglicised to Smith, are very numerous in the county of Cavan, particularly in the parishes of Lavey, Laragh, and Killinkere, among whom have been many respectable families. The Mac Gowans are also very numerous in Rossinver in the county of Leitrim, as explained in the note on Dalaradia, or county of Down. The Mac Gowans are of the race of Ir, or Clanna Rory,' descended from the famous warrior Conall Cearnach, or Conall the Victorious, who was chief of the Red Branch Knights of Ulster, about the commencement of the Christian era ; and many of the name have proved their distinguished descent, being remarkable for great strength and bravery, and having been chiefs of gallowglasses under the O'Reillys. The Mac Gowans, originally a powerful clan in Dalaradia, or the county of Down, in early times produced many eminent ecclesiastics, learned men, and poets, too numerous to be here mentioned , and in modem times there are many highly respectable families of the name of Smith in many parts of Ireland, and several have been eminent lawyers, some of whom, no doubt, may trace their descent from the Milesian Mac Gowans. III. Mac GioUaduibh or Mac GilldufF. In the .\nnals, at the year 12.52, Manus Mac GioUaduibh is mentioned as chief of Teallach Gairbheith, now the barony of TuUygarvey, m the county of Cavan. IV. Mac Taichligh or Mac Tally. Giolla Michil Mac Taichligh, is mentioned in the Annals, at 1256, as one of the chiefs who fought under the O'Reillys at the battle ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A. D. 1259. A. D. 1259. Cormac O'Lulmluin, bishop of Clonfert of St. Brenan, and the chief sage of Ireland, died a vener- able divine at an advanced age. of Fenasli. The Mac Tullys were chiefs of a district coinprisnig tlie greater part of tlie jiiirisli of Drmi};, in the harony of Tullj- garvey. V. Mac Cal)es, a clan originally from Monaglian, hut settled for many centuries in the county of C'avaii, where they are very numerous, particularly in the haronics of Tullygarvey and Clankee. The Mac Cabes were a warlike (_!lan, and are frequently mentioned in the Book ofCavan, as commanders of battle-axe men under the O'Reillys in their wars witli the English of the Pale. VI. The O'Sheridans, an ancient clan in the county of Cavan, and still numerous, particularly in the barony of Claninahon. Of this clan were several persons distinguisheil in the literary world for the most brilliant ahilities, us the Uev. Dr. Thomas Sheridan, president of the great school of Cavan, the friend and favonrite companion of Dean 8wil't, and distinguished for his great wit and talents ; Thomas Sheridan, his son, a celebrated actor, and author of an English J)ictionary and other works ; and Richard Brinsley Sheridan, the son of Thomas, well known for his .sjdendid genius, and one of the most eminent men of ills age as an orator, dramatist, and jioet. Many other members of this family, too numerous to be here mentioned, ha\ e also been highly distinguished in the literary world. VII. The O'C'orrys or O'Currys, given in the Map of Ortelius as a clan in Cavan, in the barony of TuUy- garvey. They w'ere located about the place afterwards called Cootehill. Of this family was James Curry, M.D., the celebrated writer on the civil wars of Ireland. VIII. The O'Clerys or Clarkes, a branch of the O'Clerys of Connau'^ht and Donegal, and of the same stock as the celebrated authors of the Annals of the Four Masters, numerous in the county of Cavan, jiarticularly in the baronies of Tullygarvey and Clankee, and many of whom have been distinguished for literary aciiuirenients. IX. The C)'Dalys and O'MuUigans, clans in the county of Cavan, who were heredi- tary bards to the O'Reillys, and of whom accoimts may bo found in O'Reilly's Irish Writers. X. The Fitzpatricks, a numerous clan in the county of Cavan, chielly located in the baronies of Tullyhunco and Loughtee. They were originally of the Fitzpa- tricks of Ossory,but have been settled for a long period in the county of Cavan. XI. The Fitzsimons, a numerous clan in the county of Ca^an, chiefly in the barony of Castlerahan, wlio came originally from the English Pale, being of Anglo-Norman descent, but have been long located in the county of Cavan. XII. The O'Farrellys, anumerous clan, particularly in the parish of Mullagh, comity of Cavan. XIII. Several other clans in consideralile num- bers, in various parts of the county of Cavan, as the O'Murrays, Mac Donnells, O'Conaghtys, O'Connells, Mac jianusses, O'Lynches, Mac Gilligans, O'Fays, Mac Gaft'ncys, Mac Hughs, O'Dolans, O'Droms, &c. XIV. Several clans in the county of Leitrim not mentioned by O'Dugan, as the Mac (iloins of Rossinver ; the Mac Fergu.-es, who were hereditary creniiclis of the churches of Rossinver, and whose name has been anglicised to Ferguson ; the O'Cuirnins, an ancient clan in the barony of Dromahaire, and many of whom were celebrated bards and historians ; the Mac Kennys or Keaneys ; the Mac Cartans, O'Murrays, and O'Meehans, are also numerous in the county of Leitrim. Bi\fney O'Boufke was formed into the county of Leitrim, and so called from the town of Leitrim, in the reign of Elizabeth, A.D. 1065, by the lord deputy, sir Henry Sidney, and large crrants of lands were given, in the reigns of Elizabeth and James I., to various British settlers there, the chief of whom were the Hamil- tons, who erected a castle at Manorhamilton : the family of A'illiers, dukes of Buckingiiam, had also large grants of lands in it. The Sherrards were in after times barons of Leitrim ; and the family of Clements arc at the present day carls of Leitrim. Biefin'ii Olicilh/ was formed into a county, by the lord deputy, sir John Perrott, A. D. I'lXi, in the reign of Elizabeth, and called Cavan, from its chief town. On the eonilscation of si.\ counties in Tomaltach, son of Torlogh, son of Malachy O'Conor, returned from Rome after having been consecrated archbishop of Tuam in the Pope's palace, having brought -with him a Pallium, and great favours for the clergy besides. Ulster, as stated in the note on Tyrone, in the reign of James I., the county of Cavan, in accordance with the project called the Plantation of Ulster, was planted with British colonies, and in Pyimar's Survey of Ulster, A. D. 1010, as given in Harris's Hibernica, the following were the families of English and Scotch settlers in the county of Cavan : In Clankee, sir James Hamilton, John Hamilton, William Hamilton, and William Bailie. In Cas- tleralian, sir Thomas .^ she, Captain Culrae, and sir John Elliot. In Tullygarvey, Captain Hugh Culme, Arcliibald Moore, John Ashe, and Captain Richard Tyrrell. In Lougbtee, John Taylor, Thomas Waldron, John Fish, sir Hugh Wirral, sir Stephen Butler, sir fjeorge Manneriucr, and Peter Ameas. In Clannmhon, lord Lambert, Archibald Moore, and Captain Fleming. In Tullyhunco, sir Claude Hamilton, sir James Craig, and Archibald Acheson. In Tidlaghagh, Captain Cidme, Walter Talbot, sir Richard, and sir ficorgc Orimes, and William Parsons. The following natives obtained grants of the forfeited lands: In Castlerahan, Shane Mac Philip O'Reilly, nine hundred acres. In Tullygarvey, Mul- mora Mac Philip O'Reilly, one thousand acres; Captain O'Reilly, one thousand acres ; ^lulmora Oge O'Reilly, tliree thousand acres ; and Maurice Mac Tclligh (or Mac Tally), three thousand acres. In Clanmahou, Mulmora Mac Hugh O'Reilly, two thousand acres. In Tiillaghagh, Mac Oauran, one thousand acres. The following ha\'e been the noble families in the county of Cavan, since the reign of James I. The LainherLs, earls of Cavan ; the JIaxwells, earls of Farnham ; the Cootes, earls of Bellamout; the Popes, carls of IJeltnrbet ; and tlie Verneys, barons of Bel- turbet. Amongst the great landed proprietors, but not resident in the county, are the marquess of Headfort; the earl Annesley ; and the earl of Gosford ; and of the landed proprietors resident in the county, the chief are the earl of Farnham, and the families of Saundcrsou, Pratt, Burrowes, Clements, Coote, Southwell, Hum- phreys, and Ncsbitt. Tlie fre nf Kilmore was founded by St. Feidlimidh or Felimy, in the sixth century. The bishops of Kilmore were in early times styled H'tshops of Srefnci/, of Hy-Sriune Brefufij, and some- times of Tlr Jiriuncj a name latinised by Ware to Trihurna. The (Uoceae comjirises almost the entire of the county of Cavan, with the greater part of Leitrim, a large portion of Fermanagh, and a small jiortion of Meath. II. 7'c/v»n»m//(, an ancient territory, the same as the present county of Fermanagh. It is written in the Irish, Fcnrn JMttnacfi, Fcnrniiinnch, and Fenrn Monach. The origin of the word is diHicult to determine, but it might be derived from Fenra, men, and ttui/uich, of monks, which might originate from its famous monastery at Devinish ; or, it might be derived from Fenni, men, and iiioiiiicli, of marshes, that is, men inhabiting a marshy country. About eight centuries before the Christian era, in the reign of Fiacha Labhruine, monarch of Ireland, as stated by all the ancient annalists, the lake afterwards called Lough Erne suddenly burst forth and overflowed a great tract of land, which was called MagU Cieannain, or the Plain of Geannan, so called from Gean nan, one of the Fir Bolg kings. This lake, as explained in the note on Tirconuaill, had at first the name of Lonijh Sahiier (and is cidled by Cambrciisis, Saraarius), hut afterwards obtained the name of Lougli Erne, whicli, according to Peter Walsh, in quoting Cam- brensis Eversus, derived the name of Erne from Erua, the fa- vourite waiting-maid ofMeav, the famous Queen of Connaiight, who was drowned there. The ancient inhabitants of this territory, as explained in the note on Breiiicy, were the Erneans, of the race of the Fir Boigs, who were conquered in a great battle by the above-mentioned monarch, Fiacha Labhruinne, leaving the Milesians masters of the country. In the tenth century, as stated by various historians, the Danes bad a large fleet on Lough Erne. REIGN OF HENRY III. The GioUa Cam Mac Gillcliiarain, a man dis- tiiiiiuished in literature and poetry, died. gave the residence of Awlave, Hugh O' Conor the of Art, to Art Beag, the son of Art In tlic tenth, eleventh, and twelfth centuries, the head chief of this territory was O'Dulihdara, and several of the name are mentioned in the Annals of the Four Masters ; amongst others, Giolla Criost O'Dubhdara, Prince of Fermanagh, who was killed by the men of Fermanagh at Daimhinis, or Devinish Island, in Lough Erne, A.D. 1076. The O'Duhhdaras were probably of the same race as the Mac Guires, who afterwards became princes of Fermanagh. The name in Irish is Mac Uuih'ir, sometimes writ- ten Maguibhlr, which is pronounced Mac Ivir, and has been made Mac Guire and Maguire. The Mac Guires took this name from U'ldhir, one of their ancient chiefs ; and they are of the race of CUin Colla, of the same descent as the Mac Mahons, lords of Monaghan ; the 0"Hanlons, chiifs of Orier, in Armagh ; the O'Kellys, lords of Hy Maine, in Galway and Roscommon ; and other clans, of whom a full account has been gi\en m the note on Or//inll. Many valiant chiefs af the Mac Guires are men- tinned in tlie course of these Annals ; and in O'Dugan's Topogra- phy of the twelfth century, Mac Uidhir, or Mac Guire, is given as chief of Feara Mouach, or Fermanagh, and designated in terms which may be thus translated : " Mac Guire, the head of the batalions, Over the mighty men of Monach, At home munificent in presents, ' The noblest chief in hospitality.'' The JIac Guires were inaugurated as princes of Fermanagh on the summit of Cuilcagh, a magnificent mountain near Swanlinbar, on the borders of Cavan and Fermanagh, and sometimes, also, at a place called Sciath Gabhra, now Lisnaskea. They possessed the entire of Fernuinagh, wliicli was called Mac Giiire'.i coiintri/, and maintained their independence as lords of Fermanagii down to the reign of James I., when their country was confiscated like other parts of Ulster ; but Conor Roe Mac Guire obtained re-grants of t\velve thousand acres of the forfeited lands of his ancestors, and was created baron of Enniskillen — a title which was also borne by several of his successors. Several chiefs of the Mac Guires are mentioned during theCromwellian andWilliamite wars, and many of them were afterwards distinguished ofiicers in the Irish Brigade, in France, and also in the Austrian service. The Mac Guires produced several eminent and learned ecclesiastics ; amongst whom may be mentioned Cathal, or Charles Mac Guire, archdeacon of Clogher, in the fifteenth century, the author of the celebrated Annals of Ulster. An interesting account of the Mac Guires in the reign of James I., is given in the works of Sir John Davies, who, amongst other particulars, states that the lands of Fermanagh were divided into three great portions, one of which was entirely possessed by JIac Guire, and another by the church, while the third was allotted to the rhymers and gallowglasses, that is, to the bards and swordsnjen. The Mac Guires are still numerous, particularly in the counties of Fermanagh and Cavan ; and many respectable families of the name exist in various parts of Ireland. The following chiefs and elans of Fermanagh, and the territories tliey possessed in the twelfth century, have been collected from O'Dugan's Topography : I., O'Maolduin, or O'Muldoon, chief of Muinter Maolduin and Feara Luirg. This territory is now known as the barony of Lurg. The O'Maolduins are mentioned in the Annals, as early as the latter end of the tenth century ; and Dubhdara O'Maolduin, lord of the men of Lurg, is stated to have been killed, A. D. 1000. II. Muintir Taithligh, or Mac Tullys, chiefs of Hy Laoghaire of Lough Lir, a district which lay in the barony of Lurg, near Lough Erne, towards Tyrone. III. Mac Duilgen, not mentioned in O'Dugan, is given in the Annals, which state that Fergus Mac Duilgen, lord of Lurg, was killed by the men of Brefney, A. D. 9'24. IV. O'Flannagain or O'Flanagan, chief of Tuath Ratha, that is, the district of the fortress, a terri- tory which extended from Belmore to Belleek, and from Lough O'Rourke, and he took prisoner Art, the son of Cathal Riavach O'Rourke, after he had displaced Awlave. Hugh O'Conor went to Deny Columkille, to Melvin to Lough Erne, comprising the present barony of Jlahera- boy. It contained the ancient districts of larthar Maighe and Magh Niadh, and its name is still retained by the mountain Tura. At the year A. D. 1498, in these Annals, it is stated that Achaidh More was the town or residence of O'Flanagan. Of this ancient family were James O'Flanagan, a lieutenant general of Dillon's regiment in the Irish Brigade in France, and his brother, John O'Flanagan, who was a coloncd in tlie Austrian army. V. Mac Giolla Fineui or Mac Gillfinnen, chief of Muintir Peodachain of the Port. This territory, on the borders of Fermanagh and Donegal, is still traceable in the name of Pettigoe. At the years A. D. 1 231 and 1234 in the Annals, Mac Gillfinnen is mentioned as a warlike chief, who made expeditions in his ships along with O'Donuell j and he is styled lord of Lough Erne ; he is also men- tioned in several other parts of the Annals. VI. Mac Giolla Michil, chief of Clan Congail. In the .\nnals at A. D. 1238, it is stated that Clan Congail and O'Ceanfoda lay in Tir Manach. Tirkennedy barony is probably Tir O'Ceanflioda. The name Mac Giolla Michil, has been anglicised to Mitchell. VII. O'Maolruana orO'Mulrooney,and O'Eignigh or O'lleignigh, probably O'Heaney, who were chiefs of Muintir Maolruanaidh, and of Maoith Leirg Monach. VIII. Mac Domhnaill or Mac Donnell, chief of Clann Ceallaigh, now the barony of Clankelly. The following clans in Fermanagh are not given in O'Dugan ; I. The Mac Manuses, formerly a numerous clan, chiefly in Tirken- nedy, who had the controu! of the shipping on Lout^h Erne, and held the office of hereditary chief managers of the fisheries under Mac Guire. II. The Mac Cassidys, who were hereditary physi- cians to the Mac Guires, and many of the name also learned eccle- siastics and historians, amongst whom may be mentioned Rode- rick Mac Cassidy, archdeacon of Clogher, who partly compiled the Aimals of Ulster. III. The O'Criochans or O'Creehans, a nume- rous clan in Fermanagh, and many of whom changed the name to Creighton. IV. The Magratlis, who held some possessions at Termon Magrath, where they had a castle in the parish of Tem- plecarne. Fermanagh was formed into a county by the lord deputy Sir Henry Sydney, A. D. l.jGO, in the reign of Elizabeth. On the plantation of Ulster with British colonies, in the reign of James I., the following families of English and Scotch settlers obtained ex- tensive grants of the confiscated lands in Fennanagh, as given in Pynnar's Survey, A.D. 1G19, in Harris's Hibernica. Sir James Belford ; Mr. Adwick ; sir Stephen Butler, ancestor of the earls of Lanesborough ; John Sedborow ; Thomas Flowerdew ; Edward Hatton ; sir Hugh Wirrall ; sir John Davies, who was attorney- general to King James I., and a celebrated writer; sir Gerrard Lowther ; John Archdall ; Edward Sibthorp ; Henry Flower ; Thomas Blennerhasset ; sir Edward Blennerhasset, Francis Blen- nerhasset ; sir William Cole, ancestor of the earls of En- niskillen ; sir Henry Folliot ; captain Paul Gore ; captain Roger Atkinson ; Malcolm Hamilton ; George Humes ; sir John Humes ; and John Dunbar. Two or three of the natives ob- tained grants, namely. Con Mac Shane O'Neill, 1,500 acres; Bryan Slaguire 2,000 acres at Terapodassell ; and Conor Roe Maguire, who obtained large grants, and was created baron of Eunisldlien, as before stated. The following have been the noble famiUes in Fermanagh since the reign of James I. The Coles, earls of Enniskillen ; the Creightons, earls of Erne ; the Corrys, earls of Belmore ; the Verneys, viscounts of Fermanagh ; and the Butlers, barons of Newtown-Butler, and earls of Lanesborough. The family of Loftus, earls of Ely, have a seat in Fermanagh. In the ecclesiastical division the chief part of Fermanagh is comprised in the diocese of Clogher, but a considerable portion of the county is in the diocese of Kilmore. The abbey on Devinish Island in Lough Erne, founded by St. Molaise or Laisrean, in the sixth century, was celebrated for many ages as a seat of learning and religion, and some of its venerable ruins still remain, together 80 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTESS, A. D. 1260. espouse the daughter of Dubhghall (Dugald), the son of Sorley (Mac Donnell). Cathal jMac Consnamha, chief of Muintir Kenny (in Leitrim), had his eyes put out by Hugh O'Conor, who also put out the eyes of the hos- tages of Donal O'Rourke, namely, Niall Mac Donogh, and Bryan Mac Neill, and Ukewise those of the hostages of Hy Briuin. Hugh O'Conor and Bryan O'Neill held a con- ference at Daiminis (Devinish Island), on Lough Erne. Hugh O'Conormadepeace withDonal O'Rourke, and gave him the lordship of Brefney. Taichleach Mac Dermott died. Miles Mac Costello died. Hugh O'Conor took Gilbert Mac Costello pri- soner, and plundered the entire of Sliabh Lugha (in the county of Sligo). Gilbert gave his three sons as hostages for his own release, and Hugh O'Conor set him at lil)erty. Teige O'Brien, heir presumptive of Munster, died. Sidhridh O'Boyle was slain by his own kinsmen. O'Donnell (Donal Oge), collected a great force and marched into Tyrone ; Hugh Buidhe O'Neill marched with another force to join him, and they jDlundered the adjoining territories and proceeded into Oriel, and all submitted to them wherever they came, after which they returned home. Felim O'Tuathail (O' Toole), lord of Siol or Hy Muiredhaigh,- cUed. A. D. 1260. Cionaoth O'Beirne, prior of Kilmore, (in Ros- common,) died. Maolfinnen O'Mithigen died. The archbishop of Armagh consecrated Mala- chy O'Conor' a bishop at Dundalk. with one of the ancient round towers, a beautiful structure, in per- fect preservation. G. TeaUach Dunchndhn,'no-w the barony of Tullyhunco, in the county of Cavan, of wliich the Mac TIarnans or Mac Kemans were chiefs, as explained in the note on Brefney. 7. Ardrathnn, a parish in the baronies of Kiltartan, Lough- rea, and Dunkellin, in the county of Galway. Kilcolgan another parish in the same baronies. A. D. 1259. 1 . Aodh Buidhe or Hiiyh Buidhe O'Neill, that is Hugh O'Neill, the Yellow, prince of Tyrone, who about this time took possession of a great part of tlie counties of Down and Antrim, which districts were called from him Upper and Lower Clanaboy, as explained in the note on Balaradin. 2. Siol or Hy Muireudlmigh, sometimes called I Mail, was an The battle of Drom Deirg^ at Dundaleathghlas (Downpatrick) was fought by Brj-^an O'Neill and Hugh O'Conor against the English of the north of L'eland, in which many of the Irish chiefs were slain, namely, Bryan O'Neill, the chief ruler of Ireland ; Donal O'Cairre ; DermodMac Loughlin ; Manus O'Kane ; Kane O'Hennery ; Donslevey Mac Can ; Conor O'Duvdiorma, and his son ; Hugh O'Kane ; Murtogh O'Kane ; Awlave O'Gormley ; Cu-ula O'Hanlon ; and Niall O'Han- lon ; and in the whole fifteen chiefs of the O'Kanes were slain there. A number of the chiefs of Con- naught were also killed there, namely, Gillcreest, son of Conor, son of Cormac, son of Tomaltach (]\Iac Dermott), lord of ^loylui-g : Cathal, son of Tiarnan O'Conor ; Maolrooney Mac Donagh ; Cathal Mac Donagh, the son of Murtogh ; Hugh, son of IMurtogh Fionn ; Teige, son of Cathal, son of Bryan O'Mulrooney ; Dermod, son of Teige, son of Murrogh, son of Tomaltach O'Mul- rooney ; Conor Mac Gillarraith ; Teige, the son ofKian O'Gara; Gillbaraigh O'Cuinn(O'Quinn) ; Carolus Mac Anespoig O'Murray, with many others of the chiefs, and common soldiers of the Irish. Mac William Burke marched with a force to attack Felim O'Conor, and plundered the country before him, until he came to Roscommon; he did not, however, attempt to proceed further, for Felim and his son Hugh-na-n-Gall were in the Tuatha prepared to meet him, and the Cona- cians were at their back in the recesses ; so they came to a resolution on both sides to make peace, which they accordingly did ; and Mac William re- tmnied home. Mac Maurice marched with his forces into Tho- mond to attack Conor O'Brien, who was then at Coin Bearrain,^ where the chiefs of his people assembled to support him ; the English w'ere ancient territory in the county of Wicklow, of which the O'Tua- thails or O'Tooles were chiefs. A. D. 12fiO. 1. Miilachy O'Cono)", bishop of Elphin, is tlie person here men- tioned, who died A. D. 1262. 2. The Battle of Drom Deirg, at Downpatrick. Stephen Longespe or Longsword, earl of Salisbury, tlien lord deputy of Ireland, commanded the English in the battle of Down. Bryan O'Neill, prince of Tyrone, who fell in this battle, is generally desig- nated by the Irish writers, B rian-Catha-JUuin, that is, Bryan of the battle of Down. 3. Coin Bearrain was probably Kilbarron, near Burrisokane in Tipperary, on the borders of the Shannon or Lough Derg, opposite the county of Clare, a place where there were some ancieut castles. REIGN OF HENRY III. 81 defeated by them ia the first onset ; and Da\nd Pren- dergast, who was a powerful knight; the Failgeach ; the parson of Ardrathan ;* Thomas Barret, and many others whose names have not been recorded, were slain. Manns, son of Hugh Mac Oiraghty, was slain by Donal O'Flaithimh. Loughhn, son of Awlave, son of Art O'Rourke, and Tiarnan, his brother, were killed by Hugh O'Conor, after they had been dehvered to him by Donal, son of NiaU, son of Congallach O'Rourke. Donal, son of Conor, son of Tiarnan O'Rourke, was killed by the people of Tidlyhuncho (in Ca- van) ; and Murtogh, his brother, was slain soon afterwards by Hugh O'Conor. Art Beag, son of Ai-t O'Rourke, was slain by Hugh O'Conor. Teige Duv, son of NiaU, son of Congalach, was slain by Malachy, son of Awlave, son of Art (O'Rom-ke). A great depredation was committed by Hugh O'Conor, in Tuaith Ratha (in Roscommon), on which occasion Conor Mac Brannan, chief of Core Achlan ; Murtogh O'Maonaigh ; the son of Bryan O'Fallon, and many others, were slain. A depredation was committed by Mac Maurice on O'Donnell ; but a party of O'Donnell's people overtook him at Bennan Brechmoighe, where thej^ burned some of his people, and slew others. An immense depredation was committed by O'DonneU on Mac Maurice; and he, (O'Donnell), plundered the whole of Carbury (in Sligo). The fortress of Conor O'Kelly (in Galway), was burned by the people of Hugh O'Conor. Sitrick Mac Seanlaigh was slain in Athlone by Don- cathach Mac Oiraghty andTomaltaghMac Oiraghty. O'Donnell marched with a predatory force into TjTone, after the battle of Dun (Down), and plun- dered and biu-ned the greater portion of Tyi'one on that occasion. Abraham O'Conellan, coarb of St. Patrick, (archbishop of Aimagh), died. A. D. 1261. Maolpatrick O'Scannail(orO'Scanlan), bishop of 4. Ardrahan, a parish in the county of Galway. The chief called FailReacli was probably O'Conor Failgeach, that is, O'Conor, lord of Oifaly in the King's county. Mac Maurice mentioned above, as Rathboth (Raphoe), was elected archbishop of .\i"magh. Sixteen of the most distinguished of the clergy of Tirconnell, together with Conor O'Firgil, were slain by Conor O'Neill and the people of Tyrone, at Deny Columkille. Conor O'Neill was soon afterwards killed by Donn O'Breislein, chief of Fanad (in Donegal), through the miracles of God and Columkille. Hugh, son of Malachy O'Conor, was slain by MaoltavaiU O'Heyne. Cathal O'Hara, together with five others of the people of Lieney, were slain by the English, at the instigation of Bermingham, in the great church of St. Fechin at Ballysadare. Fingin, son of Donal Mac Carthy, and his brethren, waged war and committed many depre- dations on the EnffUsh. The Geraldines marched with a great force into Desmond, to attack Mac Carthy (Fingin), who encountered and defeated them in an engagement in which eight barons, five knights, and several others of the English gentry, were slain, together with John Mac Thomas, and BaiTy More ; an innumerable host of their common soldiers also fell in that battle. Fingin jNIac Carthy was slain afterwards by the English ; and his brother, the Aithchleireach Mac Carthy, assumed the lordship of Des- mond. Art, son of Cathal Riavach O'Rourke, made his escape from Hugh O'Conor ; and the chiefs of Brefney and Conmaicne gave him the government of Bref iiey. Donal O'Hara plundered the sons of Ber- mingham in revenge for the killing of Cathal O'Hara, and violating the church of St. Fechin (at Ballysadare) ; and he slew Sefin, son of Bermingham, the weapon with which he kil- led him being the bell which he (Bermingham), had carried away from the chm'ch of Bally- sadare. Biyan Roe O'Brien burned and demoUshed the castle of O'Conaing (Castleconnell in Limerick), and slew all the gaiTison. The fortress of Hugh O'Conor, at Snamh- eommander of the English, was sir Gerald Fitzgerald, baron of OfFaly, who was son to Maurice Fitzgerald, formerly lord justice of Ireland. M 82 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A.D. 1262. an-Redaigh,' was burned by the men of Bref- ney. Cluan Suilionn, the fortress of Fehm O'Conor, was burned. Torlogh Oge, son of Hugh O'Conor, was sent to Art O'Rourke to be fostered. A great prey was taken by Hugh O'Conor in Brefney ; who marched as far as Druim Leathan (Dromlane in Cavan), where a part of his forces were encountered and defeated, and many of his common soldiers slain. Hugh Buidlie O'Neill was deposed, and Niall Culanach O'Neill was appointed in his place. Niall O'Gormley, chief of Kinel Moain, died. Niall Culanach O'Neill was defeated in battle by O'Donnell ; and many of the chiefs of Tyi-one were slain and taken prisoners, amongst whom were Mac CathmoU, chief of Kinel Feredaigh, and many other chiefs (in Tyrone), not recorded. A.D. 1262. Maolpatrick O'Scannail, archbishop of Armagh, celebrated mass in a Pallium, on the Octave of John the Baptist, at Armagh. Malachy, son of Teige O'Conor, bishop of Elphin, died. The English of Ireland marched with an im- mense force to attack Fehm, son of Cathal Crov- dearg (O'Conor), and his son Hugh-na-n-Gall ; upon which O'Conor sent the greater portion of the cattle of Connaught into Tirconnell, to secure them from the English, while he himself remained at Inis Saimer (Ballyshannon), to defend his pro- perty and people. Mac William Burke proceeded with his forces from the west across Tochar Mona Coinneadha, and anived at Elphin. The lord justice of Ireland and John de Verdun came by Athlone to Roscommon. They sent out scouting parties into Kinel Dobhtha Mic Aongusa,' and plundered aU those that remained in Connaught after O'Conor; and they also marked out the place for a castle at Roscommon. Hugh O'Conor at the same time collected his forces, marched into A.D. 1261. 1. Snamhanredaigh, probably Drumsna, on the Sliannon, on the borders of Leitrim and Roscommon A.D. 126-2. 1 . Kinel Dobhtha Mic Aongusa, a district along the Shannon, in the west of Connaught, and plundered all the country eastward from Mayo of the Saxons and Balla, burned their (the English) towns and corn as far as Sliabh Lugha (in Mayo), and slew many people between those places. He sent his chiefs and young officers into South Connaught, and they bm'ned and plundered the country from Tuam to Athlone, and slew all the fighting men whom they met between those places. After this the English sent messengers to O'Conor and his son, oflfering them terms of peace. Hugh (O'Conor) went to Ath-Doire-Chuirc to hold a conference, in which they made peace, neither party yielding to the other hostages or securities, on the occasion. Hugh O'Conor and Mac William Burke slept together that night, after the peace, in the same bed, cheerfully and amicably ; and on the following day the English departed, after taking leave of O'Conor. Hugh Buidhe O'Neill was again restored (to his principality), and Niall Culanach was deposed. A great depredation was committed by the English of Meath on GioUa-na-neev O'Ferrall, lord of Anally ; and his own party, having con- spired with the EngUsh, deposed him, and conferred the lordship on the son of Murrogh Carrach O'Ferrall. After this GioUa-na-neev com- mitted many evils, depredations, plunders, da- mages, spohations, and slaughters on the English, and succeeded in recovering by main force, the lordship of Anally, from which he expelled the son of Murrogh Carrach. Donslevey Mac Cathmoil, chief of Kinel Fere- daigh, was slain by Hugh Buidhe O'Neill. Mac William Burke and the English of Ireland marched with an army into Desmond, to attack Mac Carthy, and proceeded as far as Mangartach of Lough Lein,^ where Mac Carthy slew Gerald Roche, who was considered one of the three best barons in Ireland in his time ; but the victory was without joy to the people of Desmond, for Cormac, son of Donal Gud Mac Carthy, was also slain in that engagement, and many of the Irish as well as of the English fell on the previous day at Mangartan. the barony of Ballintobber, county of Roscommon. The lord jus- tice mentioned at this time was Richard de Rupella. 2. Mangnrtack of Liitigk Lein, that is, the Mangartan moun- tains at Loughlene, oue of the lakes of Killarney, in the county of Kerry. REIGN OF HENRY III. 83 Donal O'Monnaghan was slain by the sons of Roderick and Teige O'Conor. O'Donnell (Donal Oge), marched with a force first into Fermanagh, and from thence to Gairbh- Trian-Connacht (or the Rough District of Con- naught, in Leitrim), and as far as Granard of Teffia (in Longford); and in all the places through which he passed the people paid him tribute and yielded him submission ; after which he returned home \'ictoriously. A. D. 1263. Thomas O'KeUy, bishop of Clonfert, and Mul- kiaran O'Maoileoin (or O'Malone), died. Da^dd O'Finn, abbot of the monastery of Boyle, and Gillpatrick Mac Giolla-na-Guisen, priorof Doi- rein,' a man eminent for piety and hospitality, died. Donn O'Breslein was slain in the bishop's court at Raphoe, by Donal O'Donnell. Mac William (Burke)- having marched a force to attack Fehm O'Conor and his son, came as far as Roscommon ; but the Siol MuiTay (©'Conor's people), fled before them into the north of Con- naught, and the Enghsh found nothing to plunder on that expedition. Donogh O'Flynn and Teige his son, attacked their forces, and slew one hun- dred of them, both officers and common soldiers, amongst whom were Aitin Russel, and his son, the five sons of Cuchonaght O'Conor, and many others, after which the army (of the English) retm-ned to their homes much dismayed. Maol- favaill O'Heyne was slain by the English. Dermod Clerach, son of Cormac Mac Dermott, died. Aindiles Mac Fionnvar,' chief of Muintir Gearadhain, died. A. D. 1263. 1. Doirein, supposed to be Ballagliaderrcen, in the parish of Kileoleman, barony of Clanmorris, county of Mayo, where a Car- melite Friary was founded by the Prendergasts in the thirteenth century. 2. Mac William Burke, so often mentioned at this period, was Walter de Burgo or Burke, son of Richard de Burgo, formerly lord justice of Ireland, and grandson of William de Burgo ; hence he is called by the annalists Mac William Burke. Walter having married the daughter of Hugh de Lacy the younger, earl of Ulster, obtained, in right of his wife, the earldom of Ulster; and, besides being earl of Ulster, was also styled lord of Connaught. He was the most powerful nobleman in Ireland in his time, and formed alliances with many great families, by the intermarriage of five of his daughters, one of whom was married to Robert Bruce, king of Scotland ; two others to the Fitzgeralds, earls of Kildare A castle was built by Mac William Burke at Athangail in Con-an (in the county of Sligo). Machair O'Ruadhain was slain by the English in the porch of the church of Kilsesgnen.* Etaoin, daughter of O'Flanagan, died. O'Donnell (Donal Oge), led his forces into Connaught, and joined Hugh O'Conor at the Curlew mountains, fi'om whence they proceeded to Cruachan,'^ westward across the river Suck, and from that into Clanricard ; they completely plun- dered and devastated the country as far as Echtge and to Galway, where Hugh O'Conor parted from O'Donnell to retiu-n home ; O'Donnell then pro- ceeded across Sruthair and Rodhba, through TjTawley, and across the Moy, and enforced tributes and submission from all. Hugh, son of Fehm (O'Conor), committed great depredations on the English of Sliabh Lugha and of Ciarraidhe (in the county of Mayo), slew many of them, and cai'ried away a great number of cattle. A.D. 1264. Aongus O'Clumain, bishop of Lieney (Achonry), died in the monasteiy of Boyle, he having long before resigned his bishopric. A war broke out between Art O'Melaghhn and the English of Meath, and he slew and di-o^Tied many of them in a battle at the river Brosnach (in King's county). Murtogh, son of Donal O'Hart, was slain, and his people's property burned by Donogh Maguire (in Fermanagh). The people of Dealbhna' committed a great depredation in the ten-ltorj- of Siol Anmchadha, and Desmond ; another to de Bermingham, earl of Louth; and the fifth to the earl of Gloucester, in England. He died A.D. 1271. See Lodge's Peerage bv Archdall. 3. Mac Fionnbhar or Mac Fiimaver, chief of Muinter Geradh- ain, a district m Muintir Eoluis, county of Leitrim.— See note on Brefhev. 4. Kilsesgnen, an old church in the parish of Killasser, barony of Gallen, county of Mayo. 5. Cruachan, near Elphin in Roscommon. Echtge, a district in the south east of Galway, on the borders of Clare, so called from the mountain Echtge, nowSlieveAughty. Sruthair and Rodhba are the rivers Shrule and Ballinrobe. A.D. 1264. 1. Dealbhna, or Delvin, here mentioned, was Dealbhna Eathra, M 2 84 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A. D. 1265. and slew the five sons of O'Madden on that occasion. A conference was held at Athlone between the lord justice of Ireland (accompanied by the Enghsh, the earl of Ulster, and Maurice Fitz- gerald, with their united forces), and Fehm O'Conor, together with his son. The English were much perplexed and dismayed in mind when they beheld the king of Connaught and his son advancing with a great force to attend the meeting, and they came to a resolution to sue for peace. Fehm and the chiefs of his people consented to make peace with them, and they afterwards sepa- rated on peaceable tenns. A war broke out between Mac William Burke, earl of Ulster, and Mac Maurice Fitzgerald ; and the greater portion of Ireland was laid waste between them. The earl took all the castles in Connaught belonging to Fitzgerald, burned his manors, and plundered his people. Art O'Melaghlin burned all the castles and towns in Delvm,^ in Calraigh, and in Breaghmaine, and expelled aU the English therefrom, and after- wards took hostages from their chiefs. The lord justice of Ireland, with John Cogan, and Tiboid (Theobald) Butler, were taken pri- soners by Maurice Fitzgerald' in a consecrated church. The castles of Lough Mask (in Mayo), and Ardrahan, were taken by Mac Wilham (Burke). Maolpatrick O'Scannail, archbishop of Armagh, brought the friars minor to Armagh ; and it was Mac Donnell, the GaUoglaoch (according to tradition), who commenced the building of that monastei-y. A.D. 1265. Thomas, son of Fergal Mac Dermott, bishop of Elpliin, Thomas O'Maicin (or O'Miachain), bishop now the barony of Garrycastle, in the King's county, and not Del- vin in Westmeath. Siolajimchadha , now the barony of Longford, in the county of Galway, was O'Madden's territorj'. 2. Delvin barony in Westnieath. Breaghmaine, the barony of Brawney in Westmeath. Calraigh was an ancient territory com- prising part of the barony of Clonlonan, in Westmeath, and, according to Mac Geoghegan, part of the barony of Kilcourey, in the King's county, of which the Mac Gawleys were chiefs. See note on Meath. 3. Maurice Fitzgerald, so frequently mentioned at this period, was son of the former Maurice Fitzgerald, lord justice of Ireland. of Lieney (Achonry), and Maolbride O'Gruagain (O'Grogan), archdeacon of Elphm, died. Maurice, son of Niall O'Conor, was elected to the see of Elphin. The castle of Shgo was demohshed by Hugh O'Conor and by O'Donnell, and they also burned and destroyed , the castles of Beannada and of Rath- Ardcroibhe. ' The monastery of Tobberpatrick (in Mayo) was burned. Teige Mac Fionnvar was slain by Conor Mac Rannall and the son of Donal O'Ferrall. Felim, son of Cathal Crovdearg O'Conor, king of Connaught, the defender and protector of his province, and of all his friends ; the spoiler and exterminator of his enemies ; a man eminent for hospitality, generosity, and magnanimity; a patron of religious orders, of the clergy, and of learned men ; a worthy heir to the crown of Ireland for his nobility, his personal figure, braveiy, wisdom, justice, and truthfulness, died after the victory of extreme unction and penance, in the monastery of the friars of St. Dominick, at Roscommon, which he himself had dedicated to God, and granted to that order.^ Hugh O'Conor, his son, was appoin- ted his successor as king of Connaught, who made his regal plundering excursion into Otfaley, and, on his return to Athlone, put out the eyes of Cathal, son of Teige O'Conor, of which punish- ment he died. Murtogh, son of Cathal, son of Dermod, son of Teige O'Mulrooney, lord of Moylurg, died. Giolla-na-neev O'Quinn, chief of Muinter GioU- gain (in Longford) ; Cathal Mac Rannall, chief of Muintir Eoluis, and Muireagh O'CaiToll, cliief of Calry (in Leitrim), died. A conference was held by Tomaltagh O'Conor, archbishop of Tuam, with David Prendergast and the Mac Murchadas ; and many of the archbishop's people were slain by them on that day, at Kil- meadhain (Kilmaine, county of jMayo). Dearvor- A. D. 1265. 1. Ardcrnoihhe, now Ardclare, in the parish of Kilmacteige, barony of Lieney, county of Sligo. Beannada, or Banada, a vil- lage in the same parish. 2. King Felini O'Conor had a magnificent marble monument in the abbey of Roscommon, ornamented with beautiful sculptured representations of his body-guard of galloglasses, with their ancient arms and armour. REIGN OF HENRY III. 85 gall, daughter of O'Dowd (the mother of the arch- bishop Tomaltach O'Conor), died, after receiving the rites of the church. A.D. 1266. O'Scopa, a friar of the order of St. Dominick, was conseci-ated a bishop at Armagh for the see of Raphoe. Thomas O'Maolconry, archdeacon of Tuam, and Maolisa O'Hanainn, prior of Roscom- mon and Athleague, died. Thomas O'Miadhachain (O'Meehan), became bishop of Lieney (Achonry). A bishop elect came from Rome to Clonfert' of St. Brenan, and he, together ^viib Thomas O'Mee- han, were consecrated bishops at Athenry, on the Sunday before Christmas. Donal O'Hara, lord of Lieny, was slain by the Enghsh while he was burning Ardnaree. Mahon, son of Cethernach O'Keirin, lord of Ciarraidhe (in Mayo), was slain by the English. Mahon O'Cuilein, lord of Claonglaise,^ was killed by his wife with a thrust of a knife, which she gave him through jealousy. The castle of Tighe-da-Coinne^ was demolished, and the entire of Conmaicne was laid waste. Torlogh, son of Hugh, son of Cathal Crovdearg (O'Conor), died in the monasteiy of Knocmoy. Dermod Roe, son of Conor, son of Cormac Mac Dermott, and Donncathach, son of Duinoig Mac Oiraghty, had then" eyes put out by Hugh O'Conor. The borough of Beol-an-Tachair'' was burned by Flann Roe O'Flynn, who slew many of the EngUsh of the town. Hugh O'Conor, king of Connaught, marched into Brefney to depose Ai-t, son of Cathal Riavach (O'Rourke), and he conferred the lordship of Brefney on Conor Buidhe, son of Awlave, son of Art O'Rourke, and took hostages from all the chiefs of Brefney. A. D. 1266. 1 . Clonfert. The bishop of Clonfert here mentioned was John, an Italian, the Pope's Nuncio, who, being appointed to the see of Clonfert, was consecrated at Athenry, and the year following went to Rome, but returned soon afterwards, and continued bishop of Clonfert until A.D. 1-296, when he was translated to the see of Benevento iu Italy. Robert, a monk of Christ Church, Canter- bury, succeeded as bishop of Clonfert, and died A. D. 1307. See Ware's Bishops, by Harris. Wilham Burke marched with a force to attack O'MelaghUn ; and many of his men were drowned at Ath Crochda,'^ and he was obliged to return without succeeding or gaining hostages. A party of O'Conor's people, namely, Loughlin Mac Dermott; the sonof MurtoghMac Carney; and the son of Donal Duv O'Hara, committed great slaughter on the Welsh and Leinster men, in the west of Connaught, and brought thirty-one of them pi'isoners to O'Conor. Cormac, son of Gillcreest Mac Dermott, re- ceived a wound, of which he died. Sava, daughter of Cathal Crovdearg (O'Conor), and Maoleoin Bodhar O'Mulconry, historiographer of Siol Murray (in Roscommon), died. Maolpatrick O'Scannail, primate of Armagh, brought friars minor to Armagh ; and he caused a deep and broad ditch to be constructed round their church. A. D. 1267. The bishop of Clonfert, that is, the Roman, went to the court of the Pope. Murogh Mac Sweeney was taken prisoner in Hy MaUa (in Mayo), by Donal, son of Manus O'Conor, who delivered him into the hands of the earl (Burke, earl of Ulster), and he died in prison. Biyan, son of Torlogh, son of Roderick O'Conor, died in the monastei-y of Knockmoy. Mac William (Burke) made a predatory attack on O'Conor, and plundered Tir Maine and Clan Uadach (in Roscommon). The English of the west of Connaught commit- ted depredations in Carbm-y of DrumcUff, and plundered Ballysadare. Donogh, son of Roderick, son of Hugh O'Conor, was slain by the English. The king of Connaught was seized with a grievous disease, the report of which was made known aU over Ireland. 2. Claonglaise, an ancient territory in Limerick. See note on Thomond. 3. Tighe-da-Coinne, probably Tiaquinn, in the county of Galway. 4. Belantachair, probably Ballintogher, barony of Tyrerrell, county of Sligo. 5. Ath Crochda was the ancient name of a ford on the Shan- non, at the place now called Shannon Uarbour. 86 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A.D. 1268-69. Alise, daughter of Mac Cargavna (in West- meath), died. Hugh O'Murray, chief of the Lagan,' was slain at Kilalla by O'Maolfoghmalr, the coarb of the church, on Sunday, after hearing Mass. A.D. 1268. Hugh, son of Conor O'Flaherty, the official (vicar general) of Anadown (in Galway), died. The great church of Armagh was commenced to be built by the primate, Gillpatrick O'Scan- nail. Conor Roe O'Brien, lord of Thomond, his son John, his daughter, his daughtei-'s son, that is, the son of Roderick O'Gara, Duvloghlin O'Loughlln, Thomas O'Beolan, and many others, were slain by Dermod, the son of Murtogh O'Brien, but he himself was soon afterwards killed. Bryan, son of Conor O'Brien, then assumed the lordship of Thomond. Torlogh Oge, son of Hugh, son of FeUm, son of Cathal Crovdearg (O'Conor), the ward of the Hy Briune, died. Awlave O'FerraU, the tower of defence of the Conmacnians (in Longford), was treacherously slain by the English. Conor O'Kelly, lord of Hy Maine ; Aongus O'Daly, a man eminent for poetiy, and who kept a house of hospitality ; Manus Mac Oiraghty, chief of Clan Tomalty ; Donal O'Grady, chief of Kinel Dungaile ; and Dubhgall Mac Rory, lord of Innsi Gall, and of the eastern Irish, died.' Maurice Roe Fitzgerald was drowned at sea, along with all the crew of a ship, on his passage from England. Hugh O'Conor marched with his forces to at- tack the English of Athlone, who met him at the Feadha (woody district), and an engagement en- sued, in which the English were defeated, and many of them slain. Donn, son of Teige O'Monaghan (in Roscom- A. D. 1267. 1. Lagan a district in the north of the barony of Tyrawlej", county of Mayo, of which the O'Murrays were chiefs. A.D. 1208. 1. O'Kelly was lord of Hy Maine, in Galway and Boscommon. mon), and ten of his people, were slain by Teige O'Flanagan and GiUcreest O'Beirne. Fergal O'MulIoy, chief of Ferkale (King's County), and Malachy Mac Coghlan, were slain by the English. Aongus O'Maolfoghmalr was slain by the O'Murrays (in Mayo), in revenge for the death of their chief. A.D. 1269. David O'Brogain, bishop of Clogher, died, and was interred in the monastery of Mehfont, for he was one of the monks of that place. Teige, son of Niall, son of Morogh O'Conor, was slain at Elphin by a young man of his own kinsmen, who was put to death for that deed. Ivar O'Beirne, a young chief, the confidential friend of Hugh O'Conor, abandoned the cares of the world, and retiring fi'om the midst of his family and property, entered the monastery of Roscommon, where he spent the remainder of his days amongst the brothers of St. Dominick. Biyan, son of Donal Duv O'Hara, was slain by the English at Sligo. Benmidhe, daughter of Torlogh, son of Roderick (O'Conor), the wife of Maolmuire Mac Sweeney; Geoffrey, son of Donal Clannach Mac Gillpatrick, lord of Slieve Bloom (in Ossory) ; and Hugho Feenaghty, an eminent minstrel, died. Echmilidh Mac Arten (in the county of Down), was slain by O'Hanlon (of Armagh). Donal O'Fen-all and Hugh his son, men distin- guished for friendship, hospitality and benevolence, were slain by GioUa-na-neev O'Ferral and the English. Christina, daughter of O'Naghten, the wife of Dennod Midheagh Mac Dermott, the most distin- guished woman of her tribe for hospitality and benevolence, and the most bountiful benefactress to the order of grey friars, died after the victory of repentance. Mac Oiraghty was chief of Clan Tomaltaijih in Roscommon. O'Grady was chief of Kinel Dungaile, a district in the county of Clare. Dubhgall or Dugald Mac Rory, lord of Innsi Gall, tliat is, lord of the Hebrides. The Mac Rorys were a branch of tlie Mac Donnells of the Hebrides, and are styled lords of the eastern Irish, as tliey had large possessions m the counties of Down and Antrim. REIGN OF HENRY III. 87 The castle of Sligo was re-built by Mac Maurice Fitzgerald, after it had been destroyed by Hugh O'Conor and O'Donnell. The castle of Roscommon was built by Robert de Ufford, lord justice of Ireland, taking advan- tage of the illness of Hugh O'Conor, king of Connaught, who on that account could not engage the English in battle, nor oppose them in building the castle, and Connaught was plundered a hun- dred times over by the English before his recovery. Flaherty O'Maoilfhiona (O'Mulleeney), chief of the half of Calraighe of Moy Heleog,' was slain by O'Gaibhtheachain (O'Gavaghan) his co-pai"tner chief. A.D. 1370. Maolpatrick O'Scannail, archbishop of Armagh, went to England to be presented to the king, who received him honourably, and he returned invested with great authority. A great war arose between O'Conor and the earl of Ulster, Walter Burke, who together with the lord justice (Robert de Utford), collected the nobles of the Enghsh of Ireland, and also theu* Irish allies, with whom they marched into Con- naught, and came to Roscommon the first night, and on the second to Elphin, from whence they proceeded to Port Lecce, where they halted and encamped for that night ; on the following day they proceeded to Ath-Cara-Conaill (Carrick-on- Shannon), across the Shannon eastward. The king of Connaught was at this time with a few of the chiefs of his people, in Moy Nise,' prepared to meet the English, and the lord justice with a small portion of the English army, remained on the eastern side of the Shannon, to watch their move- ments. When the earl had passed Ath-Caradh- Conaill, a small division of O'Conor's forces attacked the English in the woods of Conmaicne, A. D. 1269. I. Cnlrnigh of Moy Hehog, an ancient district in the county of Mayo, now the parish of Crossmolina, of which O'Maolfhiona was head chief, from whom Crossmolina derived its name. A. D. 1270. 1. Moj/ Nine was a district along the Shannon in the county of Leitrim, near Carrick-on-Shannon ; and the events here narrated occurred about tliat place, and in those parts of Roscommon on the opposite side of the Shannon. 2. Kllcolinain Castle was in the parish of Kilcoleman in the and slew many of them, after which they returned to Moy Nise, where they encamped for the night. They then held a council, and came to the reso- lution of making peace with the king of Connaught, and agreed to deliver the earl's brother (William Oge, the son of Rickard Mac William), into the hands of O'Conor's people, while he himself (O'Conor), should be at the earl's residence ratifying the peace. This having been done, O'Conor's people immediately made the earl's brother prisoner, and slew John Dolofin and his son. When the earl received intelligence of this, he became enraged, and he spent that night in sadness and in soitow, and early on the following morning he mustered his English and Irish forces, and marched towards O'Conor's residence, until they arrived at Ath-an-chip, where they met Torlogh O'Brien front to front, who was on his march to aid O'Conor. The earl personally at- tacked Torlogh, and remembering his enmity to him, he slew him on the spot. The Conacian forces at this time advanced up to the ford, and fell on the English with their horse and foot, broke their van guards, dislodged their rere ranks after much opposition ; and slew nine of their chief knights at the ford, along ^vith Rickard (Burke) of the Wood, and John Butler, with many of their other officers and of the common soldiers. They also took immense booty from them, con- sisting of arms, armour, horses, &c. After the battle the earl's brother was slain by O'Conor as an Eraic (in retaliation) for the son of O'Brien, who was slain by the earl. The castle of Ath-an-Gaile, the castle of Sliabh Lugha, and the castle of Kill Colmain^ were pulled down by O'Conor, and Roscommon, Rinn-Duin, and Uillinn Uanach, were also burned by him. Bryan Roe O'Brien turned against the English; he committed great plunders on them, and took the castle of Clar-Ath-da-Caradh.^ barony of Costello, county of Mayo. SUabh Luglin a mountainous district in the barony of Costello, county of Mayo. Uillinn Uanach. Sliabh Cairpre in Longford, according to O'Reilly, was originally called Sliahh Uilinn, hence probably Uiluin Uanach and Sliabh Uillinn were the same, the castle of which might be on the opposite side of the Shannon to that of Rinn Diii>i,'now St. John's, a peninsula running into Lough Ree, on the Roscommon side of the Shannon. 3. Clnr-Atha-da-Caradh, now Clarisford near Killaloe, in the county of Clare. 88 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A.D. 1271-72. The earl (of Ulster) and the Enghsh of Con- naught committed great plunders in Tirerell, on the people of Hugh O'Conor, and David Cuisin was slain on that occasion. The son of MuiTogh Gan-ach O'Fen-all, a bear in agility, a leopard in activity, and famous for feats of arms, was slain by the Enghsh. Tannaidhe More, son of Duinnin, son of Nedhe, son of Conaing Buidhe O'Maolconry, was appoin- ted chief Historiographer of Connaught ; and Dubhsuileach O'Maolconry and Dunking O'Maol- conry were removed from that professorship. Sligo was burned by O'Donnell and the people of Tyrconnell ; and Mac Breallagh-an-chairn O'Maolbrennan was slain on that occasion. A.D. 1271. Simon iNIagrath, dean of Ardcarne, cUed. Walter Burke, earl of Ulster, and lord of the English of Connaught, died in the castle of Gal- way of a short sickness, after the victoiy of repentance. Thomas Mac Maurice died in the town of Lough Mask.' Ivar O'Beirne, the confidential friend of Hugh O'Conor, died in Roscommon after the victory of repentance, and was buried there. Hugh O'Conor, the son of the coarb of St. Coman, was slain by Thomas Butler, at Muine- Inghine-Crechain (in Roscommon). Donal O'Flynn was slain by the son of Robin Lawless on the same day at the upper end of Sruthra.2 Mahon O'Conor was slain by the English of Dunmore (in Galway). Nicholas, son of John Verdun, lord of Oriel, was slain by Geoffrey O'Ferrall. Conor, son of Tiarnan O'Conor, was slain by Malachy, son of Art O'Rourke, and by the Clan Fermuighe (in Leitrim). A.D. 1271 1 . Lough Mask. The town here mentioned was called Bally- lougliinask or Loughraask castle, near Lough Mask, in the county of Mayo. Thomas Mac Maurice here mentioned, was Thomas, the son of Maurice Fitzgerald. 2. Sruthra, now the parish of Shrule, barony of Kilmain, county of Mayo. 3. Templehotise Castle or Caulean-Tighe-Templa, was a house of tlie knights templars, founded by the English in the thirteenth The castle of Templehouse,' the castle of Sligo, and the castle of Athleague were demolished by Hugh O'Conor. Hugh, son of Niall O'Dowd, (in Sligo), died. A.D. 1272. Henry Butler, lord of Umaha (in Mayo), and Hoitse Medbrick, were slain by Cathal, son of Conor Roe (O'Conor), and by the sons of Mur- togh O'Conor. The castle of Roscommon was demolished by Hugh O'Conor, king of Connaught. TeigeDall(the Bhnd), son of Hugh,son of Cathal Crovdearg (OConor), died, and he was the most eligible candidate for the crown of his tribe, until he was bhnded by the people of O'Reilly. James Dodaly,' lord justice of Ireland, was slain by O'Braoin and by the Conacians. Maurice, son of Donogh, son of Tomaltagh O'Mulrooney (in Roscommon), the most hospita- ble and generous man of his tribe, died in the fortress of O'Donnell at Murbach (in Donegal), and his remains were conveyed to the monastery of Boyle, where he was buried. Donogh, son of Giolla-na-neev Mac Gauran, was slain by his brother Thomas. Richard Tuite, the most noble of the English barons, died. Hugh O'Conor burned Meath as far as Granard, and also burned Athlone, and broke down its bridge. O'Donnell (Donal Oge) collected his vessels and boats on Lough Erne, with which he pro- ceeded to Lough Uachtar, and seized on the property of the adjoining places, (namely, on the islands of that lake), which he carried away, plundered the people, and reduced them in all the neighbom-ing parts under his sway and subjection. Edward L^ was proclaimed king of England, on the 1 (3th of November. century, near Ballymote, county of Sligo, now the residence of Colonel Percival, Member of Parliament for the county. A.D. 1272. 1. J'wme,'! I>orf/!?e^ was sir James Audley, then lord justice of Ireland. O'Braoin m the text means O'Byme, but probably it sliould be O'Brien, as Audley was killed in 'fhnmond. 2. Eibcurd I. Kmg Henry I II. died on tbe 16th of November, A. D 1272, and was succeeded by his son Edward I. REIGN OF EDWARD I. 89 A. D. 1273. LAN O'Tierney, lord )t' C'eara,' was slain by O'Murray, concerning the lordship of Ceara, through the influence of Hugh, son of Felini O'Conor. Conor Buidhe, son of Awlave, son of Art 0'Rourke,lordofBref- ney, was slain by the i^ons of Conor, son of I'iarnan O'Conor, for he (O'Rourkc) had kill- ed the best of the sons, namely, Tiarnan. Eochy Mac Mahon, lord of Oriel (Monaghan), and many others along with him, were slain by O'Hanlon and by the peojile of Tyrone. Jordan Dexetra having commit- ted a depredation in Corran (in Sligo), was overtaken by some of the young chiefs of Con naught, who imprudently attacked him by advice of some of their soldi ers^ in consequence of \>hich Donal, son of Donogh, son of Manus ; and Manus, son of Art (O'Conor); Aireachtach Mac Egan; Hugh O'Beu-ne, and many others were slain. Mac Maurice Fitzgerald marched with a great force into Thomond, and took hostages from O'Brien and brought him under subjection. Cormac I\Iac Dcrmott, son of Roderick, died. Donal of Erris, son of Manus, son of Murtogh Muinagh (O'Conor), was expelled from Umalia and fi-ora Erris, and Roderick O'Flaherty was expelled from West Connaught. O'Donnell (Donal Oge) mustered a great force of the chiefs of Tirconnell and of Connaught, with which he marched into Tyrone and spoiled the countn\ Donal O'Quinn, chief of half of Aicideach (in Longford), was slain by O'Dufly. A. D. 1273. 1. Ceara now tlie barony of Carra, in the county of Mayo. A. D. 1274. Hugh, son of Felini, son of Cathal Crovdearg O'Conor, king of Connaught, a prince who laid waste all parts of Connaught in possession of both English and Irish enemies, who often defeat- ed the English, who demolished their courts and castles, and slew their chamjiions and ^varriors ; who took the hostages of Hy Briuin and of the race of Hugh Fionn ; a king who was most dreaded and victorious ; the most eminent for hospitality and magnanimity ; and who, though sometimes a spoiler, was also an improver of Ire- land, died after the victory of repentance on a Ihnrsday, being the third day of summer. Owen, son of Roderick, son of Hugh, son of Cathal Crov- dearg (O'Conor), was appointed king in his place, but he reigned only three months, when he was slain by one of his own kindred, namely, by Roderick, son of Torlogh, son of Hugh O'Conor, in the church of the friars at Roscommon ; and Hugh, the son of Cathal Dall (the Blind), son of Hugh, son of Cathal Crovdearg (O'Conor), was elected king by the Conacians, but his reign was not long, being slain in a fortnight after by Mac Oiraghty (Tomaltagh) and O'Beirne ; and Teige, son of Torlogh, son of Hugh, son of Cathal Crovdearg, was appointed king over the Cona- cians. Tiarnan, son of Hugh O'Rourke, lord of Bref- ney ; and Donal, son of Manus, son of Murtogh Muinagh (O'Conor), the most eminent man in Ireland for hospitality and generosity, died. GioUa-na-neev, son of Hugh, son of Awlave O'Ferrall, lord of Anally, the mainstay of hos- ])itality and generosity of the Clanna Rory, a man full of dignity and abilities, intrepid against his enemies, but kind to his friends, died after the victory of repentance. Malachy, son of Awlave, son of Art O'Rourke, lord of Dartry and of Clan Fermuighe (in Leitrim), was slain by Conor, son of Donal, son of NiaU O'Rourke. Teige, son of CaiToll Buidhe O'Daly, chief poet to Hugh O'Conor, died. Donal Oge, son of Donal, son of Art O'Rourke ; and Cathal Mac Clancy, chief of Dartry (in Lei- trim), died. Fergal O'Caithniadh, lord of Erris (in Mayo), died in Hy Maccaechain. N 90 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A.D. 1275-76-77. A. D. 1275. O'Laidigh, bishop of Killala ; and Cairpre O'Scuapa, bishop of Raphoe, in Tirconnell, died. Roderick, son of Torlogh O'Conor, was taken prisoner by O'Conor (Teige, son of Torlogh his brother) : Roderick made Ids escape through the assistance of Conor O'Hanley, who accompanied him, but their pursuers overtook them, and slew Conor O'Hanley. Teige, son of Cathal Mac Dermott, was phm- dered by O'Conor. Conor, son of Fergal, son of Donogh, son of Murtogh (O'Conor), \\as slain by his own kinsmen. Art, son of Cathal Riavach O'Rourke, lord of Brefney, was slain by Mac Fionnvar and by the English at Granard, and many of his people were killed. The English sustained a great defeat in Ulster, in which they lost two hundred of their cavalry, both men and horses, besides what were slain of common soldiers. Thomas Mac Gauran was slain by the people of Kinel Luachain (in Leitrim). The Tyronians marched into Tirconnell and plundered a great portion of the country ; O'Don- nell (Donal Oge), having collected his forces pursued them to the foot of Sliabh Truini, defeated them and slew many of their men ; a great num- ber of their horses with accoutrements, arms, and armour, were taken by the people of Tirconnell on that occasion. A.D. 1276. Giolla-an-Coivde O'Carolan, bishop of Tyrone (Derry), died. Hugh Muinagh, son of Felim, son of Cathal Crovdearg (O'Conor), went from Munster into Connaught, and from thence went to O'Donnell, who accompanied him with the whole of his forces A. D. T27fi. 1. Echennach, now tbe parish of Aiijrhanagli, barony of Tir- crell, county of Sliffo, where a church was built by St. Patrick. 2. Lentil Cafha'd, now tlie barony of Lecale, in the county of Down, of which Mac Gilla Muire, or tlie Mac Gilraors, were chiefs. A. D. 1277. 1 . The carl of Clare here mentioned was Thomas de Clare, son to the earl of Gloucester, who got large grants of land in that part to Echeanach,' where O'Donnell parted from him ; and Hugh remained in Connaught. The sons of Torlogh (O'Conor) committed a depredation on the son of Felim and on the sons of Mac Dermott, and Gilcreest O'Mulbrenan was slain by them. A depredation was committed by the son of Felim on the sons of Murtogh (O'Conor), and Giolla-na-Naingeal (servant of the Angels) O'Con- roy, was slain by the sons of Murtogh while they were pursuing their plundered property. Roderick, son of Torlogh, committed a plunder on the people of Naghtan (the Nortons), who, however, defeated him, and recovered their pro- perty. Dona! (called Giolla-an-ime), son of Niall, son of Congalach O'Rourke, and many others of Roderick's people were slain by them. Gillcreest 0"Naghtan (or O'Norton), and Wil- liam O'Naghtan were slain after this by Roderick, son of Torlogh. Dermod Mac Gillmurry, lord of Leath Cathail,^ died. A.D. 1277. Braon O'Mulmoicheirghi, abbot of Kells, died. Brien Roe O'Brien, lord of Thomond, was treacherously taken prisoner by the son of the earl of Clare,' and was dragged to death between horses, although they had both previously become gossips to each other, and had exchanged bells and holy rclicks (or oaths), in confirmation of their friendship for each other. Gillcreest O'Bcirne, the bosom friend of Hugh O'Conor, was slain by Giolla-Roe, son of Lough- lin O'Conor. Giolla-na-neev O'Bcirne died after repentance. Hugh Muinach, son of Felim (O'Conor), ac- companied by the Conacians and by Donall of Thomond afterwards called the county of Clare. Moore in his History of Ireland (v. 3. p. 33,) quotes the Annals of Inisfallen, which give the following account of this affair ; " The earl of Clare's son took Bryan Roe O'Brien prisoner very deceitfully after they had swoni to each other all the oaths in Munster, as bells, bachals, and relicks of saints, to be true to one anotlier ; also after they had become sworn gossips, and for confirmation of this bond of perpetual friendship, drew part of each other's blood, wiiichthey mingled together in a vessel. After all these protestations Bryan Koe was taken as aforesaid and bound to a horse and so was tor- tured to death by the said earl's son." REIGN OF EDWARD I. 91 O'Donnell, demolished the castle of Roscom- mon. The people of Teallach Eachdach- committed a great depredation on the Kinel Luachain in Glen- da-Duile, on which occasion they slew Conor Mac Dorchaidh and many others. A.D. 1278. Thomas O'Quinn, bishop of Clonmacnois, died. Flaherty O'Daimhin,' lord of Fermanagh, died. Teige (O'Conor), son of Torlogh, son of Hugh, son of Cathal Crovdearg, king of Connaught, was slain by the sons of Cathal Mac Dermott. Roderick, son of Torlogh O'Conor, together with the parson riavach, the son of Tiarnan O'Conor, and many others who are not recorded, were slain by Gillcreest Mac Clancy and the people of Dartry (in Leitrim), on the borders of Dromcliff. Donogh, Fergal, and Gillcreest, the three sons of Maurice Mac Donogh, son of Tonialtach, were slain by Teige, son of Donal (O'Conor) of En-is (county of Mayo). Donogh, son of Bryan Roe, and the other sons of Bryan, defeated the son of the earl of Clare in the battle of Cuince ;'- they burned the church of Cuince on his people (the English), and put great numbers of them to death both by slaying and burning. Tomaltach Mac Oiraghty, head chief of Siol Murray, was slain by the people of the Tuatha (in Roscommon). Hugh Muinach, son of Felim (O'Conor), as- sumed the sovereignty of Connaught. Bryan O'Dowd and Art-na-Capall (Art of the Horses) O'Hara, lord of Lieney, fought a battle with the Berminghams, in which the Berminghams were defeated, and the two sons of Myler More, 2. Teallach Enchdnch, now the barony of Tullagha, county of Cavan, of wliich the Mac Gaurans were chiefs. Kinel Luachain was a district in the barony of Mohill, county of Leitrim. Tlie Mac Dorchys were chiefs of tliat district. See note on Brefney. A D. 1-278. 1. O'Daimhin or O'JJeiin. The O'Devins were formerly a powerful clan on the borders of Tyrone and Derry ; and this O'Devin, lord of Feruiana^jh, was probably a chief, in the northern part of Fermanagh, on the borders of Tyrone. 2. Cuince, anciently called Quincy, now the parish of Qiiinn, with Conor Roe Bemiingham, and many more besides, were slain. A.D. 1279. Tomaltach, son of Torlogh, son of Malachy O'Conor, archbishop of Tuam, the most eminent man in Ireland for wisdom, learning, and charitj^, died after the victory of repentance. Giolla-an-Choivde O'Carolan,' bishop of Ty- rone, died. Conor, son of Dermod, son of Manus O'Conor, was slain. MuiTogh O'Naghtan (or O'Norton in Roscom- mon), was slain by Donal O'Naghtan ; and Robert, his brother, challenged Donal to a conflict, in which Robert was also slain. Donal, son of Gillcreest O'Naghtan, was slain by Hugh O'Concannon. Malachy, son of Torlogh (O'Conor) was slain. Giolla-Iosa More Mac Firbis, chief historiogra- pher of Hy-Fiachra (in Sligo), died. A.D. 1280. John O'Laidhigh, bishop of Killala ; and Mat- thew, son of Manus O'Conor, abbot of Boyle, died. A dispute arose between Hugh Muinach (O'Conor), king of Connaught, son of Felim, son of Cathal Crovdearg, and the sons of Murtogh Muinach O'Conor, on which occasion Hugh Muinach was slain in the wood of Dangan ;' and on the same day they took Malachy, son of Manus (O'Conor), prisoner, whom, however, O'Donnell released, on their receiving a ransom of four hvnidred cows and twenty horses. Cathal, son of Conor Roe, son of Murtogh Muinach, son of Torlogh More O'Conor, was elected king ailer this by the Conacians. barony of Biinratty, county of Clare ; the church which was burned was that of Quinn-abhey, of which some magnificent ruins still remain. A. D. 1279. 1. O'Carolan, bishop of Tyrone, that is, Derry, here mentioned, was probably the same person as another bishop of the same name whose death has been recorded A. D. 1276. A. D. 1280. 1. Dangan, a town in the barony ofTiaquin, county of Galway. N 2 92 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A. D. 12S1-82. Malaohy O'Gormley, chief of Kinel Moain (in Donegal), and Conor O'Gormley, were slain by the people of Tellach Modhai-ain.^ A.D. 1281. Teige, son of Cathal Mac Dermott, lord of Moy- lurg, a man distinguished for hospitality, genero- sity, and magnanimity, died. The battle of Disirt-da-Chrioch,' was fought between the Tirconnellians and Tyronians, Hugh Euidhe (O'Neill), son of Donal Oge, son of Hugh Metli, son of Hugh, generally called the Macaomh Toinlcasg, aided by the English of Ulidia, on the one side ; and Donal Oge O'Donncll, lord of Tir- connell, Fermanagh, Orgiall, and of the greater ])art of the Irish of all Ulster, and nearly of all Connaught, with the entire of lirefney, on the other side. The Tirconnellians were defeated ; and Donal O'Donnell, the most eminent man of the Irish for hospitality, generosity, prudence, and magnanimity, in his time, and the most valiant wai-rior of the west of Europe, was slain in this battle, in the forty-tirst year of his age, and ■s\as buried in the monastery of the friars at Derry Columkille, having through life gained the palm of pre-eminence in everj' goodness. The following were the most eminent who were slain along with him, namely, Mulrooney O'Boyle, chief of the three territories (in Donegal) ; Owen, son of IMalachy, son of Donal More O'Donnell; Ceallach, son of Giolla Brighde O'Boyle, one of the most distinguished chiefs of his tribe for hospitality and generosity to men of learning and science ; Ain- dileas O'Boyle, and Dugall, his son ; Gillcrecst IMac Clancy, chief of Dartry (in Leitrim) ; Donal Mac Gilfinen, chief of Muintir Feodhachain (in Fermanagh) ; Enna O'Gormley, head chief of Kinel Moain (in Donegal) ; Cormac, son of the professor O'Donnell, chief of Fanad (in Donegal) ; Giolla-an-Coivde O'Muldoon, chief of Lurg (in Fermanagh) ; Cormac, son of Cormac O'Donnell; 2. Tenllach Modhara'in, a district in the barony of Strabane, county of Tyrone, on the borders of Donegal, near tlie riicr Alournc. A.D. 1281. 1. Disirt-dn-Chr'ioch, now the parish of Desertcreight, in the barony of Dungannon, county of Tyrone. Giolla-na-Noge Mac Dail-le-docair ; Malachy, son of Niall O'Boyle ; Aindiles, son of Murtogh O'Donnell ; Manus Mac Quinn ; Gio!la-na-neev O'Heoghagain (or O'Hogan) ; Murtogh O'Fla- herty ; Murtogh Mac Nulty ; Flaherty Mac Buidheachain ; and many others of the sons of lords and chiefs who are not recorded. Hugh, son of Donal Oge O'Donnell, was appointed his father's successor. A battle was fought between the Barretts and Cusacks.'- in which the Barretts were defeated, with the loss of William Barrett, Adam Fleming, and many others. There were assisting the Cu- sacks in this battle two of the Irish, who were the most accomplished in achievements, bravery, activity, and dexterity, of those who fought, namely, Taichleach O'Boyle, and Taichleach O'Dowd. Hugh Muinach, son of Torlogh O'Brien, died. A.D. 1282. Min-togh Mac Murrogh, king of Leinster, and Art Mac Murrogh, his brother, were slain by the English. Taichleach, son of Mulrooney O'Dowd, lord of Hy Fiachra, one of the most distinguished of his tribe in his time, for hospitality and bravery, was slain by Adam Cusack, on the strand of Eothuile (in Sligo). Lasarina,daughterof Cathal Crovdearg O'Conor, the wife of Donal More O'Donnell, and the mother of Donal Oge, the most noble woman of the north of Ireland, died. Matthew O'Reilly, lord of Muintir Maolmordha (in the county of Cavan) ; and Giolla losa More Mac Tiarnan, chief of TuUaghonoho (in the county of Cavan), died. Cathal, son of GioUa-na-neev O'Ferrall, lord of Anallj-, died on Inis Cuan, on the river of Cluain- Lis-Bece,' of the son of Conla. Geoffrey, son of Giolla-na-naov O'Ferrall, assumed the lordship of Anally after him. 2. This battle between the Barretts and Cusacks was fouglit in the county of Mayo. A. D. 1282. 1. C'JumiUs Bi'cc was probably in the parish of Cloongish, ba- rony and county of Longford, tiirough which run the rivers CiiTolin and Shannon. An abbey may have been situated on Inish Cuan, an island on one of those rivers. REIGN OF EDWARD I. 93 A. D. 1283. llujrh Buidhe O'Neill, lord of Tyrone, the most illustrious of the Irish for hospitality and bravery, the most eminent man of the north for bestowing favours and gifts, the most dreaded and triumphant man of his race in his time, and the worth}' heir presumptive to the throne of Ireland, was slain by Mac jMahon (Bryan) and the Orgiallians, aided by Giolla losa Roe, son of Donal O'Reilly. Teige, son of Donal of Erris (in Mayo) O'Conor, was wounded by the people of Lieney (in Sligo), and, being delivered into the hands of Cathal O'Conor, died of his wound. Dublin and Christ Church were partly consumed by tire. A.D. 1284. Maurice O'Conor, bishop of Elphin, died; and Awlave O'Tomalty was consecrated his successor, but died soon afterwards. Giolla losa Mac Anliatanaigh O'Conor, abbot of Trinity Island on Lough Key, of the order of Premonstratensians, was then elected to the see of Elphin. Donogh O'Brien, lord of Thomond, was slain by Torlogh O'Brien. Dubgall, son of Manus O'Boyle, chief of Cloch- Chinn-Faoladh,' was slain by the people of O'Maolgaoithe. Mac-na-hoidhche- Mac Dorchy, chief of Kinel Luachain, died. Simon de Exeter was slain by Biyan O'FljTin and by the two sons of O'Flanagan, Dermod and ]\Ialachy ; in consequence of which, war and con- tentions arose in Connaught, and the English committed great depredations, but restored the plunder to the people of Trinity Island, and to the monks of the monastery of Boyle. The Castle of Kilcoleman (in the county of Mayo), was demolished by Cathal, son of Conor Roe (O'Conor), king of Connaught. A. D. 1284. 1 . ClocJi-Chinn-Fhaolndh, now Cloghaneely, a district near the Atlantic, in tlie barony of Kilmaltrenan, county of Donegal. 2. Mfic-nn~hoidhche signifies Son of the Night, but has been anglicised to Nicholas. The Mac Dorchys were chiefs of Kinel Luachain, a district in Leitrim, as explained in the note on Brefney. A. D. 1285. 1. LotKjhO'GaraaxiiSliabhGamh. Lough O'Gara is a large Dunmore (in the comity of Galway), was burned by Fiachra O'Flynn. A.D. 1285. Simon O'Rourke, bishop of Brefney (Kilmore)j died. Roderick O'Gara, lord of Sliabh Lugha, was slain by Bermingham, at Lough O'Gara.' Maurice Maol (tlie Bald) Fitzgerald, died. Henry Mac Gillfinnen (a chief in Fermanagh), died. Manus O'Conor defeated Adam Cusack and the English of the west of Connaught, in a battle at Ballysadare, in which many were slain, and Coilin Cusack, brother of Adam, was taken pri- soner. Philip Mac Costello defeated the people of Manus O'Conor on Sliabh Gamh ; and many of Manus's people were slain. A.D. 1286. The earl of Ulster marched with a great force into Connaught, and plundered many monasteries and chui-ches throughout that country. He re- duced to submission every place through which he passed, took hostages from all Connaught, and brought the Conacians with him into Tirconnell and Tyrone, where he also took hostages ; he de- posed Donal, son of Bryan O'Neill, and appointed Niall Culanach (O'Neill), to the lordship. Philip Mac Costello (in the county of Mayo), died. A.D. 1287. Florent O'Gibellain, archdeacon of Elphin, an eminent philosopher, died. Giolla-na-noge O'Monaghan, lord of the three Tuatha (in Roscommon), died. Dermod Midheach, son of Dermod, son of Ma- lake in the barony of Coolavin, county of Sligo, on the borders of the barony of Costello, county of IMayo. It lay in the ancient district of Sliabh Lugba, partly in the county of Mayo and partly in that of Sligo, of which O'Gara was lord. Sliabh Gamh is a chain of high mountains which separate the barony of Tireragh from that of Lieney, in the county of Sligo. It has been for a considerable time erroneously called by the people of that county Slieve JJnrnh. and translated Ox Mountains, the name by wliich it is now marked on the maps. 94 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A.D. 1288-89. nus, son of Cathal Mac Dermott, lord of Siol Maolruain (in Roscommon and Galway), the best, the oldest, and the most noble of his race, died. Malachy, son of Tomaltach Mac Oirajrhty, was slain by Torlogh, son of Owen O'Conor, in revenge for his father, who had been killed by the afore- mentioned Tomaltach. Adam Cusack ; Bean IMumhan, daughter of O'Kane ; and Donal O'llanley, chief of Kinel Dobhtha (in Roscommon), died. A.D. 1288. Stephen (de Fulburn), archbishop of Tuam, died. Michael Mac Antsaoir (or Macintire), bishop of Clogher, died. Manns,sonof ConorRoe O'Conor, with all whom he could procure to join him of the Conacians, of the Ily Briune, and of the Conmacnians (people of C'avan and Leitrim), marched to Athslisen (in Roscommon), where his brother, the king of Con- naught, was then with his forces. A battle ensued between them, in which Cathal's (the king's) forces were defeated, and he himself taken prisoner; Manus took by force the sovereignty of Con- naught, and deposed his brother. Torlogh, son of Owen O'Conor, stormed the house of Manus, at Rossmore, where Manus and Niall (iealbuidhe O'Conor were wounded; and Rannall Mac Rannall, chief of Muintir Eoluis (in Leitrim), was slain by the cast of a javelin. Manus O'Conor, after his wound was healed, led his forces into Siol Murray, where he gained power and took hostages. The Red Earl,' Richard, son of Walter, earl of Ulster, son of William the Conqueror, having A.D, 1288. 1. The Red Em-l here mentioned. WHS Richard de Burgo, earl of Ulster, and lord of Connauslit, son of Walter the former earl of Ulster. His ancestor, William de Burgo is here called William the Conqueror, from his l)eiiig the tirst of that family who had conquered a part of Connaught. Richard was called the Red Earl from the colour of his liair, and was celehrated for his military exploits ; he was commander in chief of the Anglo-Irish forces under Henry III. and Edward I., iu their wars in Ireland, Scot- land, Wales and Gascoigne. In Ills ilay he was the must power- ful nobleman in Ireland, and erected many castles, and founded several monasteries. A short time hefore his death he retired to the monastery of Athassel in Tipperary, which was founded by his ancestors, where he died, A.D. 132G. See Lodge's Peerage by Archdall, on the House of Clanricarde. marched with his forces, to attack the people of Connaught, arrived at Roscommon, where there were then assembled, Manus, son of Conor Roe, king of Connaught, with Fitzgerald and the king's forces, who collected there to support him ; and, having intimidated the earl from proceeding fur- ther, he came to the resolution of leaving the country, and dispersed his forces. A.D. 1289. Miles, bishop of Conmaicne,' that is, the Eng- lish bishop ; and Simon O'Feenaghty, archdea- con of Elphin, died. Matthew O'Sgingin,^ chief historiographer of Ireland, died. Teige O'Flanagan, chief of Clan Cathail (in Roscommon), died. Richard Tnite, with the English of Meath, and Manus O'Conor, king of Connaught, marched with a force to attack O'Melaghlin, who collected his forces to resist them, and marched to Cross Sliidjh^ in their vicinity. A battle ensued, in which Richard Tuite, the great baron, together with his kinsmen, and Siecus O'Kelly, were slain. Fiachra O'Flynn, chief of Siol Maoilruain (in Roscommon), one of the chiefs of Connaught, and celebrated for his hospitality and generosity, hav- ing; cone to make a marriage alliance with the English, was treacherously slain by Mac Rickard Fionn Bin-ke, Mac William, and Bermingham. Benningham and the English of the Lieneys,'' marched with a great force against Calvach O'Conor ; and a battle ensued, in which the Eng- lish were defeated ; Myler Dexeter, with many A.D. 1289. 1. Miles, bishop of Co7imnicne, here mentioned ai the English bishop, was Miles de Dunstable, bishop of Ardagh. 2. Matthew O'Sgingin. The O'Sgingins were in early times historiographers to the O'Donnells, princes of Tirconnell, an otiice afterwards held by the O'CIerys, who had intermarried with the O'Sgingins. See note on Tirconnell. 3. Cross Slinbh or Cross Mountain, where this battle was fought, was probably the place now called Crosswood, near Ath- lone, in the parish of St. Mary's, barony of Brawney, county of Westmeath ; or perhaps it niisht have lieen the place called Cross, in the parish of Rathaspic, barony of Moygoish, in Westmeatii. O'Melaghlin here mentioned was styled king of Meath. 4. Lieneys. This term was applied to the barony of Lieney in the county of Sligo, and some adjoining parts of the barony of Costello in the county of Mayo j hence the diocese of Achonry, REIGN OF EDWARD I. 95 others of the EngHsh, being slain, and a great number of horses and much booty being taken from them. A.D. 1290, O'Sedachain, bishop of Kilmacduaoh, died. Carbry O'Melaghlin, king of Meath, the most vaUant young warrior in Ireland in his time, was slain by Mac Coghlan (of the King's County.) Donal, son of Brj'an O'Neill, marched with a force into Tyrone, from whence he forcibly ex- pelled Niall Culanach O'Neill ; and lie himself assumed the lordship of Tyrone by strong hand. Hugh, son of Donal Oge O'Donnell, was de- posed by his brother, Torlogh O'Donnell, through the influence of his mother's family, namely, the Clan Donnell (Mac Donnells), and several other Galloglaochs (Scots) ; and he took the lordship by force. A.D. 1291. Edru Magrath, abbot of the monastery of the Trinity, on Lough Key (in Roscommon), died. Torlogh, son of Owen O'Conor, the most cele- brated man in Ireland for hospitality, generosity and valour, in his time, was slain by Niall Geal- buidhe O'Conor. Conor Conallach O'Dowd, lord of Hy Fiachra, was drowned in the Shannon. Congalach Mac Geoghegan, chief of Kinel Fiachach, (in Westmeath), died. Rickard Burke, earl of Ulster, called the Red Earl, marched ^\ ith an army into Tyi'one, where he deposed Donal, son of Bryan O'Neill, and ap- pointed in his place Niall Culanach O'Neill, but after the earl had left the country, Niall Culanach was slain by Donal O'Neill. This atfair did not turn out fortunate for Donal, for Bryan, son of Hugh Buidhe O'Neill, was, through the influence of the earl, appointed to the lordship by Mac Martin and Mac John, who expelled him (Donal) from TjTone. anciently called the diocese of Lieney, comprises part of the county of Mayo. The Lieneys are designated by the people of that country Lieney O'Hara, and Lieney Costello. The earl marched with a force into Tirconnell against Torlogh, son of Donal Oge (O'Donnell), and he plundered the country, both clergy and people, after which he proceeded to Elphin in Connaught ; and the Conacians gave him hos- tages. An instuTection was raised by Cathal O'Conor, Niall Gealbuidhe, and their allies among Enghsh and Irish, to depose Manus (O'Conor) ; and a battle was fought between them at Cul Maile,' in which Cathal was wounded, and Murrogh, son of Teige (O'Conor), with many others that are not recorded, were slain ; but Manus, however, was defeated and forced to surrender, having lost many of his cavalry. The people of Cathal O'Conor and Niall Gealbuidhe, after Cathal had been wounded, committed great depredations in Car- bury (county of Sligo), but the Siol Murray, his own supporters, and the English of Roscommon, came to the assistance of Manus on the following day ; and they went to meet those who had taken the plunder, and came up to them on the marshy plain, where they were collected, and took the booty from them. Nia'l made his escape by means of his activity and valour. On this occa- sion Thomas jNIac Costello was slain, and his brother, David Mac Costello, taken prisonei-, and put to death in prison. Many others, both of the Enslish and Irish, were either routed or slain. Niall after this returned to his own country on obtaining terms of peace, and his own lands were restored to him, but great complaints and dis- sensions aflerwards arose between them (the O'Conors), and Niall was compelled to leave the country. Bryan O'Flynn, lord of Hy Tuirtre (in Antrim), died. Manus O'Conor committed a great depredation on Niall Gealbuidhe (O'Conor). Hugh O'Fallon (in Roscommon), was slain. A.D. 1292. Aindilis O'Dogherty, chief of Ard Miodhair A.D. 1291. 1. Cul Maile, mentioned as Coolmoney in the Down Survey, now called CoUooney, a post town in the county of Sligo. 96 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A.D. 1293. (in Donegal) a man of general hospitality ; and Donogh, son of Owen O'Conor (in Roscommon), died. Sorley O'Gormley was slain by O'Neill. Niall Gealbuidhe O'Conor was slain by Teige, son of Andrew O'Conor, and Tuathal, son of Murtogh. Mac Coghlan, lord of Delvin More (in King's County or AVestmcath), was slain by Sifin Mac Feorais (Bermingham), at the instigation of the earl (of Ulster). Congalach O'Kelly, lord of Bregia (in Meath), died. The Red Earl marched with a force against Manus O'Conor to Roscommon, but departed thence without taking hostages or gaining any ad- vantage ; Manus, however, followed him to Mee- lick and paid him his tribute. A.D. 1293. Florence O'Carolan, bishop of Derry, died. A.D. 1203. 1. Saints Piiti-ic}i, CulunJilUe, find Bridget. The accounts of tliis matter quoted liy Laniijaii from Ware, Usher, Colf;aii, and otliers, difl'er from that of tlie Four Masters. St Patrick died at Sabhal, or Saul, near Donupatriok, and was buried in the churcli he himself had founded at Downpatrick. Joeelin, the monk, in his Life of St. Patrick, says, that his body was buried in a very deep R-rave under a stone live cubits deep in the earth, to prevent its removal, for it appears that a preat contest arose be- tween the peoi)le of Uliclia, ot Down, and those of OrfjiaU, the latter wishing to have his remains buried at Arrnaich ; this eon- test was, however, amicably arransjed, and the saint's remains were buried at Downpatrick. According to Colgan and Usher, pfrt'of St. Patrick's remains or relicks were, after some time, re- moved to the catliedra! of Armagh, which removal might he tlie circumstance here mentioned by the Four Masters, as occurring under Nicholas Mac Maolisa, archbishop of Armagh. St. Bridget was buried in the monastery of Kildare, hut during the wars of the Danes in the ninth century, Kildare having been plundered, Ceallach, the abbot or bishop of Kildare, about A. D. 850, caused the rich shrine containing the remains of St. Bridget to be removed for safety to Downpatrick, and Ijuried there near the remains of St. Patrick. St. Cohnnkille was buried in the abbey founded by him on the island of lona in the Hebrides, but his remains were also removed to Down in the ninth century, to preserve them from the ravages of the Danes, who had plundered lona. Ac- cording to the Annals of Ulster, Dermod, abbot of lona, came to Ireland A. D. 851 with the rich shrine containinir the remains or relics of Columkille, which were buried in Downpatrick, along with those of St. Patrick and St. Bridget. The Four Masters say that this removal of his relics took place A. D. 875 ; though", according to Lanigan, it occurred A. D. 878 (see Lanigan, v^ 3, pp. 274, 326). Thus it appears, that the remains of the three tutelar saints of Ireland were buried in Downpatrick, as univer- sally believed both from history and tradition. In the twelfth century, as stated by Colgan, Usher, and other authorities, and quoted by Lanigan (vol. 4, p. 274, &c.) the place where the re- mains of the three saints lay in the church of Down was revealed in a vision to Malachy, bishop of Down, in the year 1185, who Nicholas Mac Maolisa, coarb of St. Patrick (arclibishop of Armagh), having had a revelation that the relicks of SS. Patrick, Columkille, and Bridget were deposited in Saul, he had them raised, and great miracles and wonders were after- wards wTought by them, and having been solemnly covered, they were finally deposited in a shrine.' Mm-togh O'Melaghlin, king of Meath, died. Manus O'Conor, king of Connauaht, a valiant wanior, the most dreaded and the most illustrious of the Irish for bravery and hospittility in his time, died, after three months' illness, and Hugh, son of Owen (O'Conor), was appointed to succeed him as king, through the influence of the lord justice;'^ and on the tenth day after his appointment he was taken prisoner by Fitzgerald, and fifty of his men were slain, and others of them plundered. Cathal O'Conor was slain by Roderick, son of Donogh Riavach (O'Conor). Cathal Roe O'Conor assumed the sovereignty of Connaught after Hugh, son of Owen, had been taken prisoner, but in three months afterwards he caused the floor to be dug up and the remains of the bodies put into three distinct coffins. Malachy having comnuniicated wliat had occurred to John de Courcy, then the English chief governor of Ulster, who resided at Downpatrick, they determined on send- ing messengers on the subject to Pope Urban III ; and Cardinal Vivian, the pope's legate, coming to Ireland soon afterwards, went to Downpatrick, and in his presence, and that of Thomas O'Conor, archbishop of Armagh, iifteen other bishops, and a numerous attendance of abbots and other clergy, the remains of tliB three saints were solemnly tninstntedf and placed in one mo- nument in the cathedral of Downpatrick in the year 118(1, on the 0th of June, the festival of St. Columkille. According to Cambrensis the following inscription was engraved on the mo- nument : — " Hi tres in Duno tumulo tumulantur in uno, Patricius, Brigida atcjue Columha pius." Thus translated by the old chroniclers : — " In Down three saints one tomb do fill, Patrick, Bridget and Columkille." The cathedral of Downpatrick was for many centuries decorated with beautiful marble statues of the three saints, but in the reign of Henry VIII. A. D. 1538, the lord deputy, Leonard Urey, hav- ing invaded Ulster, plundered and burned the town and cathedral of Downpatrick ; and he and his barbarian soldiers broke and de- faced the statues of SS. Patrick, Bridget, and Columkille. Representations of the statues of tlie three saints from Messing- ham's Florileg'ium are given in a plate prefixed to the life of St. Patrick by Joeelin, a Cistercian monk of Furness-al.bey, in Lan- cashire, written m the twelfth century, translated from tlie ori- ginal Latin by Edmund Swift, and published in Dublin at the Hihernia press in the year 1800. 2. The Lord Justice and Fitzgerald. William de Vessey was then lord justice of Ireland. The de Vesseys caine from Nor- mandy to England with William the Conqueror, and had large grants of lands in Yorkshire, with the title of barons of Knapton. M'illiam de Vessey, baron of Knapton, was appointed lord justice of Ireland by King Edward I., obtained large grants of lands in REIGN OF EDWARD I. 97 was slain by Roderick, son of Donogh Riavach O'Conor. Hugh, son of Owen, being after this set at hberty, resumed the government of Con- naught, through the influence of the lord justice and of the people of the king (of England). Kildare, and was styled lord of Kildare ; but, during his adminis- tration, he liad frequent disputes with John Fitzthomas Fitzgerald, baron of Otfaley, wlio cliarged him with treason. Both parties repaired to England to lay their complaints before the king, and having challenged each otiier to battle in single combat, a day was appointed, and great preparations were made, but in the mean time de Vessey tied to France, and his estates in Kildare, liecoming forfeited to the crown, were conferred by the king on Fitzgerald, who was afterwards created the first earl of Kildare. This Fitz- gerald, earl of Kildare, so often mentioned in the Annals at this period, was a celebrated warrior, and had frequent contests with Richard de Burgo, earl of Ulster ; these two noblemen, then the most powerful in Ireland, contending for mastery. On the inva- sion of Ireland by Edward Bruce, in 1315, the earl of Kildare commanded the Anglo-Irish forces in several engagements, in some of which he defeated Bruce. The earl died A. D. 1316, and was buried in the Franciscan Friary of Kildare. See Lodge's Peerage on earls of Kildare, and barons of Knapton ; and Willis's Lives of Illustrious Irishmen. I. North Connniiyht. The terms TuaUceart Conacht, or North Connaught, and Deisceart Conacht, or South Connaught, frequently occur in these Annals. In this article on North Con- naught will be given the history and topography, with the chiefs and clans of the ajicient territories comprised in the present coun- ties of Sligo and Mayo. In the succeeding number will be given a full account of tlie ancient territories comprised in the present counties of Galway and Roscommon. An account of the county of Leitrim has been given in the note on Brefney. A portiou of Connaught was also called lar Conacht, or West Connaught, which comprised Connamara in the county of Galway. The an- cient kingdom of Connaught comprised the present counties of Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Roscommon, and Leitrim, together with Clare, now in Munster, and Cavan, now a part of Ulster, as ex- plained in the note on Hrefney. The territory w'hich forms the present county of Clare, as stated m Charles O'Conor's Disserta- tions on the History of Ireland (p. 289), was taken from Con- naught in tlie latter end of the third century by CormacCas, son of Oilioll Olum, king of Munster, or by Lughaigh Mean, king pf Mun- ster, in the tliird century, another descendant of Oilioll Olimi, and added to part of Limerick under the name of Tiiadh-Mumlia'm, or North Munster, a word anglicised to Thomond (see O'Brien's Dictionary at the word Tuadh). Tlie O'Briens of the Dalcassian race became kings of Thomond. Conacht, according to Keating, O'Flaherty, and others, derived its name either from Con, one of the chief druids of the Tuatli de Danans, or from Conn-Cead- Cathach, that is Con of the hundred battles, monarch of Ireland in the second century, whose posterity possessed the country j the word iacht, or iocht, signifying children or a posterity, and hence Conlocht means the territory possessed by the posterity of Con. The more ancient name of Connaught, according to O'Fla- herty and Charles O'Connor, was Olnegniacht, and was so called from Olnegmacht, an ancient queen of the Firbolgs ; and hence the inhabitants were called Fir Olnegmacht. Sligo derived its name from the river Sligeach, which was probably derived from slig, a shell ; and the word may signify abounding in shells, a prohable inference, as the tide in its course up the river carries with it many sea shells. Mayo, in Irish Magh-Eo, or Muigh-Eo in the genitive, is supposed to take its name from magh, a plain, and eo, a yew tree, tmd therefore may signify the plain of the yew trees. The territory of North Coimaught is connected with some of the earliest events in Irish history, as mentioned in all our ancient annalists. In the time of Partholan, who planted the first colony in Ireland, the lakes called Loughs Con, and Mease or Mask, in Mayo, Fergal O'Reilly, lord of Muintir Maoilmordha (county of Cavan), died. More, daughter of Felim O'Conor, died. Murtogh O'Flanagan, chief of Clan Cathail (in Roscommon), died. and Lough Teithed, or Techet, now Lough Gara in Sligo, on the bor- ders of Roscommon, suddenly burst forth, as stated in Ogygia, and in the Book of Leacan, folio 273. The lakes of North Con- naught are numerous, and many of them large and very beautiful, as Loughs Mask, Con, and others in Mayo ; Lough Gara, Louuh Arrow, Lough Gill, and others in Sligo. There are many mag- nificent mountains in it, some of them ranging between two and three thousand feet above the level of the sea, as those of Croagh Patrick, Muilrea, Partry, Furnamore, Nephin, Bengorm, Ben- goriff, and others in Mayo ; and those of Slieve Gamh, corruptly changed to Slieve Damh, and anglicised the Ox Mountains ; the King's Mountain, Truskmore, Bengulban or Benl)ulban, Knock- narea, and Keis Corran, in Sligo ; together with the Curlew Mountains on the borders of Sligo and Roscommon. In some of the mountains of Mayo are still found herds of red deer, which in former times inhabited the ancient forests in vast numbers. The coasts of Mayo and Sligo along the Atlantic abound in wild and sublime scenery, such as towering ocean cliffs, and immense rocky caverns, and contain Achill, and other interesting islands, and many fine bays,mlets and harbours, as those of Killery, Clew, Blacksod, Broadhaven, Killala, and Sligo. On the arrival of the colony of Firbolgs, or Belgians, in Ire- land, a division of them landed on the north-western coast of Connaught, in one of the bays now called Blacsod, or the Broad Haven. These Firljolgs were named Fir-Domhnan, which has been anglicised to Firdomnians, and sometimes Damnonians. The place where they landed was called Inbhear-Domhnan, or the Bay of the Damnonians, and the adjoining country larras, or Irras-Domhnan, a name probably derived from lar, the west, and ros, a promontory or peninsula, and which, therefore, may signify the western promontory or peninsula of the Damnonians, a term exactly corresponding with the topograjdiical features of the country ; and the name has been retained in that of the barony of Erris, in Mayo, to the present day. When the colony called Tuatha-De-Danan first invaded Ireland they landed in Ulster, and proceeded thence to Sliabh-an-iarain (the iron mountain) in Brefney, and forward into the territory of Connaught. The Firbolgs having collected their forces to oppose their progress, a desperate battle was fought between them at a place called Magh Tuireadh, or the Plain of the Tower, in which the Firbolgs were totally defeated, ten thousand of them being slain, together with Eochaidh, son of Eire their king, who was buried on the sea shore, a cam of large stones being erected over him as a sepulchral monument, which remains to this day. This place is on the strand near Ballysadare, in the county of Sligo, and was called Traigh-an-Chairn, or the Strand of the Cam, from the earn erected there to the Firbolg king ; and in later times it obtained the name of Tralgh EotUuile-an t-Saoir, that is, the Strand of Eothuile the carpenter. This was called the battle of South Moyturey, and took place on the borders of Lough Mask, between Ballinrobe and Cong, in the county of Mayo. In thirty years afterwards the Fomorians, aided by the Firbolgs, fought another great battle with the Danans for the recovery of the kingdom, but were defeated. This was called the battle of North Moyturey, or Moyturey of the Fomorians, and took place near Lough Arrow, in Tirerrill, in Sligo, on the borders of Roscommon, about fifty miles distant from the place of the first battle. The townland of Moterra, in the parish of Kilmac- tranny, in the barony of Tirerril, points out the place where this battle was fought. An account of the Fomorians has been given in the notes on Dalriada and Tirconnell. After the battle of North Moyturey the Danans became possessors of Ireland, which they ruled for nearly two centuries, until the arrival of the Milesian colony from Spain, who conquered them, and became masters of 98 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A. D. 1294. Tuathal, son of Murtogh O'Conor, was slain by the O'Haras. The castle of Sligo was given to John Fitz- thomas (one of the Fitzgeralds), who soon after- wards went to England. Ireland. The Firbolgs, who were defeated and dispossessed by the Danans, having assisted the Milesians in the conquest of the Danans, were in consequence restored by the Milesians to a great part of their former possessions, particularly in Connaught, in which province they were ruled by their own kings of the Firholg race for more than a thousand years, and down to the third cen- tury, when the Milesian kings of the race of Heremon became chief rulers of Connaught. The Firbolgs appear to have been an athletic race, and those of Irros Domhnan, in Mayo, in the early ages, about the commencement of the Christian era, are described in O'Flaherty's Ogygia, under the name of Gamanradi- ans, as celebrated champions and wrestlers. The Clanna Morna of Connaught, under their chief, GoU, son of Morna, are also celebrated in the Ossianic poems and ancient annals, as famous warriors in the third century. JIany of the Firbolg or Firdoranian race are still to he found in Connaught, but blended by blood and intermarriages with the Milesians. The ancient city called Nagnata by the Greek geographer, Ptolemy, in the second century, in his map of Ireland, is supposed to have been situated near Sligo ; but, according to others, near Galway. Cormac, the celebrated monarch of Ireland, in the third century, as stated in O'Flaherty's Ogygia, and the book of Ballymote, was born in Corran, at the place called Ath-Cormaic, or the Ford of Cormac, near Keis Corran, in Sligo, and hence was called Cormac of Corran. The territory of North Connaught is connected in a remarkable manner with the mission of St. Patrick in Ireland. Colli Fochladh, or the Forest of Fochuth, in Tir Amhalgaidh, now Tyrawley, in the county of Mayo, is mentioned in the various Lives of St. Patrick as the scene of his vision respecting the conversion of Ireland, and a place which he afterwards visited in the course of his mission, and where he converted to Christianity Enda Crom, king of the territory, with his seven sons, and baptized twelve thousand persons in the water of a well called Tobar Enadliarc. The place where St. Patrick held the assembly was called Foracli Mac Amalgaidh, and is now known as MuUagh Farry, near Killala. Tlie wood of Fochluth was situated between Ballina and Killala ; and the village of Foghill, near Killala, is supposed to retam the ancient name. Croagh Patrick mountain, m Mayo, was long celebrated for the miracles the saint performed there, and has continued a famous place of pilgrimage to this day. In the sixth century, A. D. 555, or, according to others, A. D. 561, was fought in the territory of Carhury, near Sligo, the great battle of Cula Vreimhne, between the forces of Meath and Lein- ster, under Diarmaid, monarch of Ireland, and the people of Tir Eogain and Tir Conaill, commanded by the princes Fergus and Domhnall, sons of Murtogh Mac Earca, former monarch of Ire- land, and aided by Aodh or Hugh, king of Connaught, with his forces ; in which battle the army of the monarch Diarmaid was totally defeated, three thousand of his men being slain, and he himself having hardly saved his life by flight. Hy Fifichra or Hy Fiachrach was a name applied to the territories possessed by the race of Fiachra, one of the sons of Eochaidh Muighmeadhoin, monarch of Ireland in the fourth century, of the race of Heremon. Tlie following accounts of the race of Hy Fiachra have been collected from the Books of Leacan and Ballymote, O'Flaherty's Ogygia, and other authorities. Fiachra was for some time King of Connaught, and was a celebrated warrior, and commander-in-chief of the Irish forces under his brother Niall of the Hostages, Monarch of Ireland ; and according to the Book of Ballymote, folio 145, on his return home victorious from a great battle which he had fought with the men of Munster, A. D. 40'2, he died of his wounds at a place called Hy Mac-Uais A.D. 1294. Great depredations were committed by Hugh, son of Owen (O'Conor), on the sons of Murtogh. Murtogh, son of Manus O'Conor, the most in Meath, where he was buried with great honours, and where a monument was erected to his memory with an inscription in Ogham characters, on which occasion fifty prisoners taken in the battle were, according to the Pagan customs, sacrificed around his tomb. The place called Hy Mac-Uais is now the barony of Moygoish in Westmeath. Datki, son of Fiachra, was king of Connaught, and afterwards Slonarch of Ireland ; he was one of the most celebrated of the Irish monarchs, and carried his victo- rious arms to Gaul, where he was killed by lightning at the foot of the Alps, A.D. 429. His body was brought to Ireland and buried in Relig-na-Riogh, the ancient cemetery of the Irish kings at Cruachan, near Elpliin. Dathi was the last Pagan monarch of Ireland. Oilioll Molt, son of Dathi, was also king of Connaught and monarch of Ireland in the fifth century. Amhalgaidh, ano- ther son of Fiachra, was also king of Connaught, and from him the territory of Tir Amhalgaidh or Tirawley in Mayo obtained its name. Dathi the Monarch had a son called Fiachra Ealgach, whose posterity gave name to the territory of Hy Fiachrach Muaidhe or Hy Fiaclira of the Moy, also called Tir Fiachrach, and afteiTvards Tireragh barony, in the county of Sligo. This Fiachra had a son called Amhalgaidh, who raised a cam of great stones called Carn Amhalgaidh, where it appears great assemblies of the people were held and wliere Amhalgaidh himself was buried. It is supposed that this earn w-as on the hill of MuUaghcam, near the town of Killala. On this hill are some remauis of an earthen rampart or fort, with some very large stones arranged in a cir- cular form, apparently the remains of a Druidieal monument, which the writer saw a few years ago. At Carn Amhalgaidh the chiefs of the O'Dowds were inaugurated as princes of Hy Fiachra, though according to some accounts the O'Dowds were sometimes inaugurated on the hill of Ardnarea near Ballina. Bryan, khig of Connaught, ancestor of the Hy Briuin race, and Niall of the Hostages, Monarch of Ireland, ancestor of the Hy Nialls, of whom accounts have been given in the notes on Meath and Brefney, were brothers of Fiachra, son of Eochaidh Muighmeadh- ain, monarch of Ireland ; and hence these three brothers were the progenitors of the kings and head chiefs of Meath, Ulster and Connaught. 'llie territories possessed by the race of Fiachra also obtained the name of Hy Fiachra, and comprised the present counties of Sligo and Mayo with a great portion of Galway. The territory of Hy Fiachra in Cialway, or southern Hy Fiachra, was called Hy Fiachra Aidhne from Eogan Aidhne, son of Eochaidh Breac, son of Dathi, monarch of Ireland. The posterity of Eogan Aidhne, the chief of whom were the O'lleynes, O'Clerys, and O'Shaughnesseys, possessed this territory, which was co-ex- tensive with the diocese of Kilmacduagh ; and an account of its chiefs and clans will be found in the note on South Connaught. The chiefs of North Hy Fiachra in Sligo and Mayo were the O'Dowds, &c. According to O'Dugan and Mac Firbis, fourteen of the race of Hy Fiachra were kings of Connaught, some of whom had their residence at Aidhne, in Galway ; others at Ceara, now the barony of Carra, in Mayo ; and some on the plain of Muaidhe or the Moy, in Sligo. The Clans of Hy Fiachra are thus designated by O'Dugan ; — " Binn sluagh na m-borb cliathach." " The music-loving hosts of fierce engagements." O'Duhhda, a name sometimes anglicised O'Dowda, but more frequently O'Dowd, and by some O'Dowde, by others O'Dooda and O'Doody, was the head chief of North Hy Fiachra, whose territory comprised nearly the whole of the present county of Sligo, with the greater part of Mayo. The name Dubhda ap- pears to be derived from Dubh, dark or black, and datk, a REIGN OF EDWARD I. 99 eligible heir to the province (of Connaught) of his family, was slain by Teige (O'Conor), and Donal, son of Teige. Malachy O'Flanagan, chief of Clan Cathail, was colour, which, by the elision of the two last letters, which have no sound, makes IJubhda^ and miiiht signify a dark-haired chief. Taithleach was a favourite name amongst the chiefs of the O'Dowds, and may be derived from Tath a ruler, and laech or htoch a warrior ; hence it may signify the ruling warrior. Tlie O'Dowds are descended from Fiachra Ealgach, son of Dathi, monarch of Ireland above mentioned, and took their name from Uiil)hda, one of their ancient chiefs. Several celebrated chiefs of the O'Dowds are mentioned in the Annals of the Four Masters, in the tenth, eleventh and twelfth centuries. At A.D. 'M\, Aodh O'Dubhda or Hugh O'Dowd, who is styled lord of North Connaught, died. By a typographical error in O'Connor's Rer. Ilib. Scrip, the name is translated O'Duify instead of O'Dowd. In the Annals at A. D. 1097, is recorded the death of Murchartach O'Dowd, lord of Hy Amhalgaidh. JIany valiant chiefs of the O'Dowds are mentioned in these Annals down to the seventeenth century; and they had large possessions in the county ofSli^'o until tlie Cromwellian wars, when their estates were confiscutcd. The O'Dowds were inaugurated as princes of 11 y Fiachra or North Connaught at C'arn Amhalgaidh, near Killala, as above stated. They appear from history to have been a valiant race ; and many of them even down to modern times were remarkable for their great strength and stature: indeed, it may lie observed that most of the clans of Sligo and Mayo furnished many men of great size and strength. The following chiefs and clans of Hy Fiachra, and the territo- ries they possessed in the twelfth century in the ju'esent counties of Sligo and Mayo, have been collected from O'Dugan and other authorities : I. O'Maolcluiche, or O'Mulclohy, chief of Cairbre, now the barony of Carbury, county of Sligo. (^arbury derived its name from Cairbre, one of the sons of King Niall of the Hostages. This name has been anglicised to Stone, and there are still many of the family in Carbury. II. Mac Diarmada or Mac Dermott, chief of Tir Oiliolla, now the barony of Tirerrill, in Sligo, which derived its name from Oilioll, one of the sons of Eochaidh Muigh- meodhain, monarch of Ireland. The Mac Dermotts were also princes of Moylurg, a large territory in the county of Roscommon, of which an account will be found in the note on south Connaught. They afterwards became chiefs of Coolavin, as successors to the O'Garas, lords of Coolavin, and have to the present day estates in Coolavui, and retain the title of princes of Coolavin, being the only family of the Milesian clans who have preserved their an- cient titles to the present time. III. Mac Uonchaidh, that is, Mac Donogh, a branch of the Mac Dermotts, afterwards chiefs of Tirerrill and of Coran, now the barony of Corran in Sligo. Several chiefs of the Mac Donaghs are mentioned in the course of the Annals ; and they were great patrons of learned men, as mentioned in the subsequent part of this article, in the account of the Book of Ballymote. O'Donchathaigh is given as a chief by O'Dugan in Corran, and is also mentioned in the poem of Giolla Io.sa More Mae Firbis, in which he is styled O'Dun- chadha of the " learned men," and it is stated that his territory extended as far as the beauteous stream of the salmons, by which was meant the river of Ballysadare. This name has been anglicised O'Donagh or O'Donaghy. IV. O'Dobhalen or O'Devlin, is given as another chief in Corran ; and some chiefs of the name are mentioned in the course of the Annals. V. O'Headhra or O'Hara, chief of Luighne, now the barony of Lieney in the county of Sligo ; but Lieney anciently comprised part of the baronies of Costello and Gallen in Mayo. The O'Haras were descended from Cormac Gaileng, son of Teige, son of Cian, son of Oilioll Olum, king of Munster in the third century, of the race of Heber, and therefore of the same stock as the Dalcassians of Thomond, of whom the O'Briens were kings. From this Cor- mac Gaileng, who lived in the fourth century, the territory of Galinga, now the barony of Gallen in Mayo, toolt its name. The territory of Luighne or Lieney derived its name from Luighne, a slain by Cathal, son of Teige Mac Dermott, in the street of Sligo. Cathal, son of Teige Mac Dermott, lord of Moylurg, died soon afterwards, and Maolrooney, brother of Cormac Gaileang. The O'Haras took their name from Eaghra, lord of Lieney in the tenth century, whose death is men- tioned in the Annals at A.D. 92G. Many chiefs of the O'Haras are mentioned in the Annals in the tenth, eleventh and twelfth centuries, amongst others Donal O'Hara, lord of Lieney, who was killed A- D. 10'23 ; and from the twelfth to the seventeenth cen- tury they held their rank as lords of Lieney, and had large pos- sessions to the period of the Cromwellian wars, when a great deal of their property was confiscated, though they still hold consider- able estates in the barony of Lieney. In the reigns of Queen Anne and George I., the O'Haras were created barons of Tyrawley and Kilmain, in Mayo, and some of them were distinguished ge- nerals in the British service. The O'Haras are thus designated by O'Dugan. " Righ Luighne na m-bladlial ; Luighne na laoch lann." " The lords of Lieney of high fame ; The men of Lieney, of warlike swords." VI. O'Gadhra or O'Gara, given by O'Dugan as a chief of Lieney, but in after times lord of Cuil O'bh-finn, now the barony of Coolavin in the county of Sligo, and sometimes styled lord of Moy O'Gara, of Coolavin, and also Sliabh Lugha, which latter district extended into a part of the barony of Cos- tello in Mayo. The O'Garas derived their descent from Teige, son of Cian, son of Oilioll Ollum, being exactly of the same stock as the O'Haras. They took their name from Gadhra, one of their ancient chiefs. Some chiefs of the O'Garas are mentioned in the Annals as early as the beginning of the eleventh century, amongst others, Roderick O'Gara, lord of Luighne, who died A. D. 1056. Many other distinguished chiefs are mentioned in the course of the Annals ; it appears that they retained considerable rank and possessions in the county of Sligo down to the seventeenth cen- tury ; and one of them, Fergal O'Gara, lord of Moy O'Gara and Coolavin, is justly celebrated as a great patron of learned men, particularly of the O'Clerys and other authors of the Annals of the Four Masters, the beautiful dedication of which work may be seen prefixed to the First Number of this publication, as addressed to their patron Fergal O'Gara. VII. O'Ciearnachain and O'Huath- mharain, given by O'Dugan as chiefs in the territory of Lieney. VIII. O'Muiredhaigh or O'Murray, chief of Ceara, now the barony of Carra, in Mayo. The O'.Murrays were of the race of Hy Fiachra, and were also chiefs of the Lagan, a district in the northern part of the barony of Tyrawley in Mayo. Several chiefs of the O'Murrays are mentioned in the course of the Annals. IX. O'Tigheamaigh or O'Tierney, a chief in Carra. Several of the O'Tierneys are mentioned as lords of Carra in the Annals. X. O'Gormog, also given as a chief in Carra. XI. O'Maille or O'Malley, chief of Umhall, which O'Dugan states was divided into two territories. The name has been rendered sometimes into Umalia and Hy Malia. This territory comprised the present baronies of Murrisk and Burrishoole in the county of Mayo. The O'Malleys are of the Hy Briuin race, descended from Bryan, king of Connaught in the fifth century, who was also the |)ro- genitor of the O'Connors, kings of Connaught, of the O'Rourkes, O'Reillys, Mac Dermotts and other chiefs, as explained in the note on Brefney. The O'Malleys were celebrated chiefs, and many of them are mentioned in the course of these Annals. They are thus designated by O'Dugan : " Duine maith riamh ni raibhe, D'ibh Maille acht na mharuidbe, Faidhe na sine sibhse, Dine baidhe is braithirsi." " A good man yet there never was, Of the O'Malleys, who was not a mariner, Of every weather ye are prophets, A tribe of brotherly affection and of friendship." o 2 100 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A. D. 1294. son of Gillcreest Mac Dermott, succeeded him in the lordship. Donogh, Mac Consnamha, chief of Muintir Kenny (in Leitrim) ; Durkan Mac Tiarnan, lord or chief of Tullaghonoho (in the county of Cavan) ; The O'Malleys were valiant chiefs and particularly distinguished in naval engagements, having a considerable fleet always under their command. In the reign of Elizaheth, Grace O'JIalley, daughter of Mac William Burllin. Cumhrensis Eeersns, a Latin work, published about the year 1665, was written by John Lynch, a native of Galway, a learned A.D. 1342. A contest arose between Torlogh O'Conor (king of Connaught), and Conor Mac Dermott, lord of Moylurg, and Edmond Burke joined Mac Der- mott against O'Conor. Hugh, son of Felim O'Conor, and Donogh ecclesiastic, who was archdeacon of Tuam, and afterwards, R.C. bishop of Killala, and died about A.D. 1670. He published his work under the name Gratianus Lucius, and it contains much learned information on the ancient history of Ireland, and a full refutation of the calumnies of Giraldus Cambrensis against the Irish. O'Flnherty's Otjygia, a large work written in Latin by Rode- rick O'Flalierty, a gentleman farmer, in the barony of Moycullen, county of (ialway. He was a man of great learning, and died in the year 171H, in the 89th year of his age. The Ogygia was pub- lished in Loudon, A.D. 1685, and translated into English by the Rev. James Healy, and published in Dublin, A. D. 17!)3. The work contains vast infornjation on ancient Irish history, and is particularly valuable on Chronology. Dlisertnfloiis on the Ancient History of Ireland, a very learned work, published about the year 1780, by Charles O'Conor of Belenagar, in the county of Roscommon, who also published O'Flaherty's Ogygia Vindicated, and other learned works. Beruin Hibernicarnm Scriptores Veteres. The Rev. Dr. Charles O'Conor, nephew to Charles O'Conor of Belenagar, and librarian to the duke of Buckingham, at Stowe, in England, published in 1824, in four large quarto volumes, this great work, containing various learned dissertations, and translations into Latin, of the chief works of the Irish annalists, as the Annals of the Four Masters, to the English invasion ; the Annals of Inuis- fallen ; the Annals of Tigearnach ; the Annals of Ulster ; of Boyle, &c. Amongst the learned poets and historians of Connaught, the O'Dalys, as already stated, were eminent ; also the O'Duigenans ; O'Higgins ; O'Gibleans, &c. The O'Duigenans of Kilronan, in the county of Roscommon, composed a learned M.S. work on Irish history, often quoted, and called the Booh of the O'Duigenans, and also assisted in the compilation of the Annals of the Four Masters. The Book of Fenagh, called also the Book of St. Caillin, from St. Caillin, who founded the abbey of Fenagh, in the fifth century. It was partly compiled by St. Caillin himself, and contains some poetical pieces, called the Prophecies of St. Caillin ; and much interesting information on the history of the O'Rourkes, and the aff'airs of Connaught. Patrick O'Maolconry, Teige O'Rody, ab- bot of Fenagh, and others, are mentioned amongst its compilers, and a fine copy of it is in the possession of JNlr. Geraghty, of Anglesea-street, the publisher of these Annals. The Boohs of Leacan and BaUymote, compiled by the learned Mac Firbises and other historians, in Sligo, are two of the greatest works on Irish history and antiquities, and an account of them has been given in the note on North Connaught. Thus it appears that the province of Connaught holds a distinguished rank with respect to ancient Irish literature. In the present article only a sliort sketch could be given of the works composed in Con- naught, and many have not been mentioned ; but in the course of these notes full accounts will be given of the ancient literature of Ireland, and of the works composed in the dift'erent provinces, with memoirs of the various writers. The history and topography of the ancient kingdoms of Meath, Ulster, and Connaught, are finished in the present number, and in the succeeding numbers will be given the history and topography of Leinsterand Monster, together with their chiefs and clans, and the ancient territories possessed by each, commencing with Thomond. A.D. 1340. 1. Oirbealaigh, afterwards called JIuckross Abbey, situated on a peninsula on one of the lakes of Killamey, county of Kerry. REIGN OF EDAVARD III. 135 O'Beirne, chief of Tir Briune of the Shannon, confined Torlogh O'Conor in the church of El- phin, after he had gone to make reprisals for a depredation committed by the Muintir Bcirne on Hoberd Burke, and they slew some of the gallo- glasses of O'Conor, together with his constable Mac Rory. A general commotion arose after that in Con- naught, the Clan Murtogh (O'Conors) having at first joined O'Conor against Mac Dermott, but subsequently sided with Mac Dermott and Mac William ; the Clan Maurice then committed a disgraceful treachery in their own country against the Clan William Burke, and slew Thomas Burke ; and John Burke was slain on the same occasion by the Clan Rickard, at the instigation of the Clan Maurice and O'Conor. Cathal, son of Gilcreest INIac Dermott, was slain by Fergal O'Teige in this contest, and Fergal the son of Gilcreest Finn (the Fair), Mac Cormac was also slain. Mac Dermott with his chiefs made a vigorous attack on O'Conor at Belathslisen (in Roscommon), in which he gained the Ford against him ; and Dermod, son of Bryan O'Ferrall, the best man of the Conmacnians (in Longford) of his tribe, with the son of Hoberd Burke, and Conor, son of Donogh Duv O'Healey, were slain on that occa- sion. John Mac Mahon, lord of Oriel (Monaghan), went to plunder Hugh, son of Ralph Mac Mahon, and was slain in the rere of the preying party, and many of his galloglasses were slain and drowned. Cormac, son of Roderick, son of Donal O'Conor, was taken prisoner by Conor, the son of Teige, and by Roderick, the son of Cathal O'Conor; and Conor, the son of Teige, was afterwards taken prisoner by Bryan, the son of Roderick, and he delivered him into the hands of Conor Mac Der- mott, who sent him to be confined on the Rock of Lough Key. Donal O'Dogherty, chief of Ard Miodhair 2. Lios Sealbhaidh, probably Lissonuffy, in the barony of Ros- common. A. D. 1341. 1. CToc/iar, or Clogher, in the comity of Tyrone, which place, accordingf to the learned Cathal Mac Guire, canon of Armagh, and archdeacon of Clogher, who compiled the Annals of Ulster in the fifteenth century, obtained its name from a celebrated idol of the Druids worshipped there, and called Clock oir, or the Golden (in Donegal), and of Triochaced Tire Enda, a man full of hospitality and generosity, died, and was succeeded in the chieftaincy by John O'Dogh- crtv. All the Siol Murray (clans of Roscommon), with the chiefs who supported them, turned against Torlogh, son cf Hugh, son of Owen O'Conor, and the following were the principal chiefs amongst those who united against him on that occasion, namely, Edmond Mac William Burke; Conor Mac Dermott, lord of Moylurg, with his kinsmen and party; Hugh, son of Hugh Brefnach, son of Cathal Roe O'Conor ; Teige, son of Roderick O'Conor ; Cathal, son of Hugh Brefnach, son of Cathal Roe, with the forces of Brefney and of Conmaicne ; and Hugh, son of Felim, son of Hugh, son of Owen O'Conor, all of whom assembled against O'Conor, and expelledhimasecondtime from his country and lands, upon which he was advised by his friends to go secretly, without telling many of it, to Mac Dermott's place, to ascertain if he would make peace with him. The Clan Murtogh (O'Conor), however, having received intelligence of his inten- tion, and of the particular night on which O'Conor was to come to Mac Dermott's house, they planted themselves in the perilous passes of the way through which O'Conor was to proceed to Mac Dermott's fortress, but Torlogh however escaped them until he got to the road leading to the fortress, when he was attacked, and Cathal, son of Hugh Brefnach Glass, was wounded in the first onset; and although he (O'Conor), with his other three companions were but a few against many, compared to the force which opposed him, he escaped in despite of them, without himself or any of his party losing a drop of blood, or receiving a wound. Mac Der- mott had no knowledge of the great danger in which Torlogh was placed until he heard the loud shouting, clamour, and swearing all around the fortress, and being informed of the circumstances, he despatched messengers privately for O'Conor to conduct him safely to the Rock^ and have him Stone, from its being covered with gold. Saint Patrick founded a church here, over which his disciple, St. Mac Cartin, presided, and it became the seat of the diocese of Clogher, of which an ac- count has been given in the note on Orgiall. The abbey of Clogher was long celebrated as a seat of learning and religion. Mac- an-Gobhan, or Mac Gowan, a name which has been anglicised to Smith, were an ancient clan, of whom an account has been given in the notes on Dalaradia and Brefney. 136 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A.D. 1343. protected until he could ascertain if he could make peace for him. O'Conor remained there for a week, during which time the chiefs of the countiy frequently visited him at the request of Mac Der- mott, who finding he could not succeed in obtain- ing terms of peace for him, escorted him with a force of cavaby, and left him at Roscom- mon. Conor Roe Mac Geoghegan, lord of Kind Fiacha (in Westmeath), was slain by the EngUsh. Thomas O'Cinga, Maurice Mac Geoghegan, and Simon, the son of Conor, who was the son of Simon Mac GiollaiTaidh, one of the chiefs of Lieney (in Sligo), died. Murrogh, son of Tomaltach O' Flanagan (in Roscommon), one of the best men of his name, was slain by the galloglasses of the son of Cathal. Hugli, son of Hugh Brefhach, the son of Cathal Roe O'Conor, was appointed king of Connaught by the Conacians, and Mac Wilbam Burke, on the first Monday of winter after they had deposed Torlogh; and they conferred the Tanistship of Connaught on Hugh, son of Fehm O'Conor, and Tirerill (in Sligo), was given toFergalMac Dermott. Teige, son of Tomaltach, the son of Maurice Mac Donogh, was expelled from his own territoiy (in Tirerill), by Conor Mac Dermott and his kinsmen, and he went to reside with Torlogh O'Conor ; and Fergal (Mac Dermott), the son of Tomaltach, then took possession of Tirerill. The Giolla Duv Mac Guire was drowned in Lough Erne. Matthew Mac Manus (in Fermanagh), an affluent landed proprietor, who never refused hos- pitality to any man rich or poor, died. Conor, son of Hugh, son of Donal Oge O'Don- nell, lord of Tirconnell, of North Connaught, Fer- managh, Kinel Moain, and Inisowen, a worthy heir to the sovereignty of Ireland in personal figure, wisdom, hospitality, nobility, prudence, ingenuity, cheerfulness, abilities, strength, valour, piety, and benevolence, was slain by his brother NiaU O'Donnell, who had surprised him by night in his fortress at Mm-beach (in Donegal), and Niall himself assumed the lordship. Flann Oge O'DonneUan, chief professor of poetry in Connaught, died. Donal O'Coinlesg, a learned historian, was slain by the people of Hy Diarmada (in Roscom- mon), shortly after Easter. Thomas Mac Gilcoisgley, a man distinguished for hospitality and benevolence, died. Pierce Albanach (the Scot), was slain by the sons of Myler Bermingham. A. D. 1343. John Mac Eoigh, bishop of Conmaicne ( Ardagh), died. Johannes O 'Lai thin, bishop of Killala; and Cathal Mac AnUathanaigh, abbot of the Trinity (Trinity Island on Lough Key, county of Ros- common), died. Donogh Cleireach O'Mulbrenan, a canon of the chapter of Elphin, was slain by the cast of a javelin by the people of Hoberd, the son of David Dunn Mac VViOiam (Burke). Slaine, daughter of O'Brien, and wife of Tor- logh O'Conor, king of Connaught, died. Cathal O'Madden, the most distinguished man of his name for hospitality and nobleness, was slain by the Clanrickard. Dearvoil, daughter of Hugh O'Donnell, having gone to Inis Doighre on a visit to Mac Dermott, was seized with a fatal disease, of which she died, and was buried with honour and solemnity in the monastery of Boyle; and no lady of her family ever before excelled her in goodness. Duvcovlagh, daughter of Mac Dermott, and wife of O'Brien, died. Murtogh O'Brien, lord of Thomond, died, and Dermod O'Brien assumed the lordship, but was, however, dispossessed of it by Bryan O'Brien, to whom the nobility of Thomond made their sub- mission. Thomas Mac Gauran, chief of Tullaghaw (in Cavan), died. Ulick Mac Rickard (Bm'ke), the son of WiUiara Liath (the grey), the most distinguished young nobleman of the EngUsh of Ireland for hospitahty and generosity, died. TheBerminghams and the people of Clanrickard, (Burkes), gained a great victory over the people of Hy Maine, (O'KeUys), in which eleven of the chiefs of Hy Maine, along with Conor Cervach O'Kelly were slain. REIGN OF EDWARD III. 137 Niall O'Donnell was deposed from his lordship by Aongus O'Donnell, aided by Donal Duv O'Boyle, Hugh O'Doghertj', and by the influence of Hugh Reamhar O'Neill, and the Clan Sweeney ; and Aongus, son of Conor, son of Hugh, son of Donal Oge, (O'Donnell), was appointed to the lordship of Tirconnell. The Clan Murtogh, (O'Conors of Sligo), were expelled from Brefney by Ualgarg O'Rourke, Torlogh O'Conor, and Teige Mae Rannall. The Clan Murtogh removed to Tir Hugh (in Donegal), under the protection of O'Donnell, and Aongus, that is, O'Donnell, gave them Tir Hugh. A bat- tle took place after that between Aongus and Niall (the O'Donnells) at Achadh Mona, and the Clan Murtogh having joined Aongus against Niall, they defeated Niall and his people; and Andiles O'Boyle, chief of Tir Ainmireach (in Donegal), with his son ; Owen, the son of Art O'Donnell, and many others were slain there, and Aongus was victorious. David Mac Oiraghty, the coarb of St. Patrick (archbishop of Armagh), died. John Mac Duibhne, archdeacon of Dromleathan, (Drumlane in Cavan), died. Conor Mac Dermott, lord of Moylurg, the foun- tain of generosity, and the most eminent of the Clan Midrooney More, the son of Teige, son of Cathal, son of Conor, died in his own house a week after Lammas, on a Saturday, after having gained the victory over the world and the devil, and was buried in the monastery of Boyle ; and Fergal Mac Dermott, his brother, was appointed in his place. Roderick Mac Craith, chief poet of Leath Mogha (south of Ireland), died. A.D. 1344. The bishop of Lieney (Achonry), died. Murrogh, son of Maolmuaidh O'Hara, abbot of Boyle, and bishop elect of Lieney, died. Nicholas Magrath, coarb of Termon Dabeog (abbot of Lough Derg, in the diocese of Clogher), died. Art More the son of Coi-mac O'Melaghlin, king of Meath, was slain by Cormac Ballach O'Melagh- lin, who assumed the government. Hugh, son of Ralph Mac Mahon, lord of Orgiall (Monaghan), died, and Murrogh Oge Mac Mahon assumed the lordship, but died in a week afterwards, and Manus son of Eochy, son of Ralph Mac ]Mahon, then assumed the lordship. AVilliam, son of Mahon Mac Rannall (in Lei- trim), was slain by the sons of Cathal Mac Ran- nall. Mahon Mac Gilcreest, the chaplain of Mac Dermott, was slain by Muintir Heley, on the Cm- lew mountains. Bryan, the son of Roderick Mac Guire (in Fer- managh), died. A. D. 1345. Giolla-na-neev O'Cianain (O'Keenan), abbot of Lios Gabhail (Lisgoole in Fermanagh), died. Torlogh, son of Hugh, son of Owen O'Conor, king of Connaught, was killed in harvest by the cast of a javelin, in Fiodh Daradha (the oak wood), in Muintir Eoluis (in Leitrim), he having gone to aid Teige Mac Rannall against the Clan Murtogh Muinach O'Conor, at Lough Airinn (Lough Ar- row, in Sligo) ; the Clan Murtogh, and the other portion of Muintir Eoluis followed him to Fiodh Doradh, and slew him at Guirteen na-Spideoige, and none of the Irish that had been slain for a long time was a greater loss than he. Hugh, son of Torlogh, was appointed his successor. Bryan O'Ferrall, a worthy heir to the lordship of Annaly, died, a man blameless in every thing he had done through life, and finally gained the vic- tory over the world and the devil. Hugh O'Neill sailed with a fleet on Lough Neagh, but the Clanaboy (O'Neills of Clanaboy), with their forces attacked him, and many were killed and wounded on both sides ; but Hugh, however, escaped in despite of them, in his ships. Manus O'Flynn of Line (Moylinny in Antrim), was slain by Donal Donn and by Bryan O'Neill. Cormac, son of Roderick O'Conor, died. Cormac, son of Murtogh Mac Loughlin, was slain by the sons of Ualgarg, the son of Fergal (O'Rourke.) A.D. 1346. A war arose between O'Rourke, that is, Ual- garg, and Roderick, son of Cathal O'Conor, and a battle was fought between them atCalraighof Lough Gill (in Sligo), in whichO'Rourke was defeated, and all his galloglasses slain, viz., Mac Buiroe, and the son of Niall Cam, with his party ; O'Rourke, being T 138 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A.D. 1347-48. pursued by Roderick O'Conor and the Mac Don- oghs, was slain by Mulrooney Mac Donogh, and his death was much lamented. Tlie four sons of Cathal, son of the Caoch Mac Rannall, were taken prisoners on Lough-an-Sguir (Lough Scur in Leitrim), by Conor Mac Rannall, and were conveyed by Tomaltach ]\Iac Rannall to Caisiol Cosgraigh, where they were slain. Cu-uladh Mac Cathmail, chief of Kinel Fere- daigh (in Tyrone), was killed by Donal Mac Cathmail. Bryan Mac Mahon (chief of Monaghan), de- feated the English in a battle, in which they lost three hundred men. Niall O'Donnell, with the sons of Murtogh, son of Felim O'Conor, and Maurice Mac Der- niott, having pursued Roderick, son of Cathal (O'Conor), to Culmaoile (Collooney in Sligo), defeated him and the Mac Donoghs in battle, with great slaughter, and afterwards plundered them, and carried away as much booty as they pleased. Mac Dermott Gall was treacherously slain in his own house, by the sons of Waldrin Mac Cos- teUo, and they also killed Cormac Caoch Mac Finin. Conor O'Bcirne (of Roscommon) was slain. Ivar, son of Murrogh O'Ferrall (in Longford), was slain by Biyan Mac Tiarnan, and by the Clan Mac Murtogh. Art, son of Thomas O'Rourke (in Leitrim), was slain by Donal Mac Tiarnan. A.D. 1347. Maolmoeg O'Tully, the official (vicar-general), of Lough Erne (diocese of Clogher), died. Giolla-na-neev, son of Geoffrey, son of Giolla- na-neev O'Ferrall, lord of Annaly (Longford), the chief defender of Conmaicne, in valour, fortitude, hospitality, and nobleness, died at Cluan Lisbeag, having been for a long period in the chief govern- ment of Annaly, and after having gained the palm of victory over the world and the devil. Cathal, son of Murrogh, son of Giolla-na-neev O'Ferrall, then assumed the loi'dship of Annaly. Maurice Mac Dermott (in Roscommon), was slain by John Roc, son of David Burke. Teige Mac Rannall, chief of Muintir Eoluis, was taken prisoner by the Clan Murtogh, (O'Conors of Sligo). William Mac David (Burke), was slain by Teige Roe Mac Dermott Gall, at Ballintobber. Thomas Mac Artan, lord of Hy Veach in Ulidia, (county of Down), was hanged by the English. Owen O'Madden, chief of Siol Anmcha (in Galway), died, and was succeeded in the chief- taincy of Siol Anmcha by his son, Murrogh. Aongus, the son of Gara O'Madden, died. The church of Kilronan (in Roscommon), was re-built by Fergal O'Duigenan. Fionguala, daughter of Mac Finin, and wife of Fergal O'Duigenan, died. Henry, son of Hugh Buidhe O'Neill ; Fion- guala, daughter of Malachj' O'Reilly (of Cavan) ; and the Giolla Duv Mac Giollamochua, died. Donogh, son of Hugh Oge O'Ferrall, died. Sidredh O'Cuirnin, the learned poet and histo- riographer of Brefney, died. A. D. 1348. Niall Garv O'Donnell, lord of Tirconnell, after having experienced much trouble during the period of his government, was treacherously and maliciously slain, by Manus Meabhlach (the De- ceitful) O'Donnell, at the harbour of Inis Saimer (Ballyshannon). Niall was a tower of bravery, strength, and defence, until then, and his death, in such a manner, was a melancholy occurrence. Aongus, the son of Conor O'Donnell, who was in contention with Niall, assumed the government. Cathal O'Ferrall, lord of Annaly, died. Malachy Mac Oiraghty, chief of Muintir Roduiv (in Roscommon) ; and Donogh Mac Brady, chief of Cuil Brighde (Kilbride, county of Cavan), died. A contention arose between Fergal Mac Der- mott and Roderick, son of Cathal, son of Donal O'Conor, and the fortress of Mac Dermott was burned by Roderick; Mac Dermott, after that, having collected his friends, pursued Roderick to his fortress at Ballymote (in Sligo), and burned the town, both stone and wooden buildings, and they returned home without meeting any opposition; they liberated the son of O'Rourke, who was impri- soned in the town, together with all the other prisoners they found there. The Berminghams were expelled by Edmond Burke ; and Bermingham himself was forced to fly for refuge to the house of O'Conor. I REIGN OF EDWARD III. 139 A.D. 1349. Hugh O'Rourke gained a victorj^ over Flaherty O'Rourke, Donogh O'Donnell, and the people of Diirtry (in Leitrim) ; and Hugh Mac Clancy, chief of Dartry ; Gilci-eest Mac Clancy ; Loghlin, son of Andilis O' Boyle, and many others, were slain in the conflict. John Duv Mac Donnell was slain by Manus, son of Eochy Mac Mahon (in Monaghan). Giolla-na-neev O'Higgin, a learned poet (in Connaught), died. Another commotion arose between Mac Dcrmott and Roderick O'Conor ; Mac Dermott collected all the English and Irish he could, to- gether with the Clan Murtogh (O'Conors of Sligo), and the Tirconnellians, with whom he marched against the son of Cathal (O'Conor), but Roderick fled before them, and they pursued him to Clan Fermaighe (in Leiti-im), but he escaped from all the English and Irish together, and they returned without gaining any advantage or obtaining hos- tages. Roderick then, having collected a force, burned, laid waste, and plundered the greater part of Moylurg. A great plague raged in Ireland, and particu- larly in Moylurg (in Roscommon), by which an immense number of people were destroyed ; and Matthew, the son of Cathal O'Rourke, died of the same plague. Donogh Riavach, son of Malachy Carrach Mac Dermott, was taken prisoner by Cormac Bodhar Mac Dermott, and conveyed to Airteach (in Ros- common), where he was put to death, at Dun- thaidhe, by the people of Airteach, namely, Gilcreest Mac Tully, and O' Kearney. Richard O'Reilly, lord of East Brefney (county of Cavan), and the son of the earl, died. Gilbert O'Flanagan, chief of Tura (in Fer- managh), was slain bythesonsof BryanO'Flanagan. Murtogh Riaganach Mac Gennis (in the county of Down), was slain by his own kinsmen. Roderick O'Kane, lord of the Creeve, and of Ard Kianaght (in Derry), died. Hugh O'Reilly (in Cavan), and the Giolla Caoch Mac Dorchy (in Leitrim), died. Maurice Mac Donogh, chief of Corran (in Sligo), a man distinguished for knowledge and hospitality, died. The lord justice and the Enghsh of Meath gave a great defeat to O'Melaghlin and the Irish of Meath, in which many of the chiefs were slain. A.D. 1350. William O'Dowd, bishop of Killala, a founder of churches and sanctuaries, a man eminent for his piety, alms-giving, and humanity, died. Hugh, king of Connaught, the son of Hugh Brefnach O'Conor, who was called the O'Conor, was slain by Hugh O'Rourke, at Moy Angaidhe. Fergal O'Rourke, son of Ualgarg, was slain by the son of Cathal Cleireach Mac Donogh. Bryan Mac Dermott, heir to the lordship of Moylurg, was slain at Roscommon, by Muintir Aneaspuig O'Feenaghty, with a chance cast of a javelin, and the person who was accused of casting it, namely, Roderick Antseomra O'Donaghoe, was instantly put to death, as a reparation for the deed. Bryan, son of Donal, son of Bryan Roe O'Brien, was treacherously slain by the sons of Lorcan Mac Keogh ; and for liim the following was composed — " Sorrowful was the fate of Donal's only son, Mournful was the death of Brian Boromha, Sorrowful was his unexpected end, Pity that the Clan Keogh should exult in his fall." Torlogh Oge O'Brien slew sixteen men of the Clan Keogh, in retaliation for their misdeeds ; he also deprived them of their lands and property. Roderick, son of Cathal, son of Donal O'Conor, was treacherously slain at Garrdha-na-fionguine on Brecslieve," by the sons of Fergal Mac Donogh, at the instigation of Hugh, the son of Torlogh. Hugh, the son of Torlogh (O'Conor), was de- posed by Mac William Burke, and the people of the Tuatha of Connaught (in Roscommon), and they appointed, in opposition to him, Hugh, the son of Felim (O'Conor). Cuchoigrighe (Peregrine) More Mac Geoghe- gan, lord of Kinel Fiacha (in Westmeath) ; Hugh, the son of Awlave Mac Guire (in Fermanagh) ; and Maurice Mac Donogh (in Sligo), died. Aongus Roe O'Daly (of Westmeath), chief poet of Ireland ; and Aongus O'Heoghusa, an eminent poet, died. A.D. 1350. 1. JJrec.rfJo6/i, or Bracklieve Mountains, in the northern ex- tremity of Hoscommon, near Lough Allen. T 2 140 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A. D. 1351-52-53-45. A. D. 1351. The monaster)' of Rusoirbeallaigh,' in the dio- cese of Tuam, was erected for Franciscan friars. Owen Nalaithighe Mac Sweeney (in Donegal), was slain by Manus O'Donnell. Philip Mac Gnire, chief of Muintir Peodachain (Pettigo in Fermanagh) ; and Enna O'Flanagan, chief of Tura (in Fermanagh), died. Hugh, son of Torlogh (O'Conor), regained his power, and the hostages of Connaught were de- livered up to him ; and Hugh, the son of Fehm, was expelled from the country. Hugh O'Rourke was taken pi-isoner by Mac Philbin Mac William Burke, on his i-eturn from Croagh Patrick ; and Mac Dermott rose in oppo- sition to the Clan Philbin on that account, and great depredations were committed between them. Mahon Mac Consnamha (in Leitrim), was slain by the family of Donogh Mac Consnamha. A public invitation to a general entertainment, at Christmas, was issued by Wilham, the son of Donogh Muinach O' Kelly (lord of Hy Maine, in Gfilway and Roscommon), to the colleges of Ire- land, to all travellers, and to the poor and indigent ; and all classes, noble and ignoble, rich and poor, were abundantly entertained, and were perfectly satisfied with himself and his son Malachy. A.D. 1352. Hugh, son of Torlogh O'Conor, re-assumed the government despite of all the English and Irish that were opposed to him. Hugh O'Rourke, lord of Brefnej', was slain by Cathal, son of Hugh Brefnach O'Conor, and by the Clan Murtogh (O'Conors), and a slaughter of the galloglasses of the Mac Sweeneys took place on that occasion. HughO'Mulbrenan (in Roscommon), and his two sons, were slain by Hugh, the son of Felim O'Conor. Aongus, son of Conor, son of Hugh, son of Donal Oge O'Donnell, lord of Tirconnell, a vigor- ous and resolute man, the most distinguished in Ulster in his time for hospitality and nobleness. A.D. 1351. 1. BiwoirfteaJfligi/i, now Rosserelly, situated on the river Ross, in tlie barony of Clare, county of Gahvay, where some ruins of this extensive monastery still remain. was slain by Manus O'Donnell ; Felim O'Donnell succeeded him, and John, the son of Conor O'Donnell, contended with him for the lordship. Ballindoon was taken by Torlogh O'Conor. Conor, son of Maurice Mac Donogh (in Sligo), a general patron of men of learning and arts ; Davock Dillon, the son of Ulick of Hy Malia (in Mayo), the chief of the kerns (light troops), and of the Dillons of Connaught ; Thomas Mac Ran- nall ; and Teige, the son of Siacus O'Kelly, died. A.D. 1353. John O'Carbry, the coarb of Tighernach, of Cluan Eois,' died. Gormley, daughter of O'Donnell, and wife of O'Neill, died, and no woman in her time was more distinguished for virtue and good fame. Hugh, the son of Roderick O'Neill ; and Mahon, the son of Giolla-na-neev O'Ferrall, lord of Annaly, died. Teige Mac Rannall, chief of Muintir Eoluis, was slain by the Clan Geoffrey Mac Rannall. Hugh, the son of Torlogh (O'Conor), was de- posed,and MacBrenan retained him in the country. The monastery of Kilconnell, in the diocese of Clonfert, in Connaught, was founded for Francis- can friars, by WiUiam O'Kelly, lord of Hy Maine. A.D. 1354. O'Laghnan, bishop of Connaught, and John O'Feenaghty, bishop of Elphin, died. Mac Murrogh was put to death by the English, and a great war arose in consequence thereof, between the English and Irish. Roderick O'Moore, lord of Leix (in the Queen's county), was slain by his own kinsmen and house- hold. Bryan O'Dowd, chief of his tribe in Tireragh (in Sligo), died, and was succeeded by his son Donal. Bryan, the son of Hugh More O'Neill ; Cathal, the son of Niall O'Rourke ; Geoffrey Mac Ran- A.D. 1.353. 1. Cluan Eois, now Clones in Monairhan, of which St. Tlehear- nach was founder in tlie sixth century, hence the coarb of Tighear- nach signifies the abbot of Clones. REIGN OF EDWARD III. 141 nail ; Geoffrey O'Reilly ; Sitrick Mac Gauran ; and Fero-al Mac Geoo;hea;an, chief of Kinel Fiacha (in Westmcath), died. Roderick, the son of John Mac Mahon (in Monaghan), was slain in the fortress of Mac Mahon. The Clanaboy O'Neills and the English of Dundalk gave a great defeat to Hugh O'Neill, in which a great niuxiber were slain. DerforgaiU, the daughter of O'Conor ; Felira, the son of Cathal O'Conor ; and Hoberd Burke, died. Flaherty Mac Gilefinen (in Fermanagh), and his brother, were slain by his own people. MuiTogh, the son of Cathal O'Ferrall, and Teige Mac Seanlaich, died. Saerbrethach, the son of Maolisa Dunn Mac Egan, chief pi'ofessor of Conmaicne (in Leitrim), died on Inis Clothran (in Lough Ree, county of Longford). Malachy Mac Raiferty, chief professor of poetry in Fermanagh, died. A. D. 1355. Conor Mac Consnamha, bishop of Brefney,' from Drumcliff to Kells ; Mac Gallgael, prior of the Trinity ; and Mac Cathail, abbot of Sruthra, died. Donogh, son of Felim, son of Hugh, son of Donal Oge O'Donnell, was slain while forcibly attempting the abduction of Gormley, the daughter of Hugh Roe Mac Guire (lord of Fermanagh), and Donn, the son of Murrogh, was the man who slew him in the fortress of Mac Guire. Donal, the son of John O'FeiTall, lord of Annaly, died. Dermod O'Mulvey, chief of Muintir Carolan (in Leiti'ini), was slain by Muintir Beirne (of Ros- A. D. 1355. 1. Bishop of Brefney, from Kells to Drumcliff, that is from Kells in Meath to Drumcliif in Sligo, which was the extent of the diocese of Kilraore. Mac Consnamha, a name anglicised to Ford, were chiefs of Muintir Kenny in Leitrim. The prior of the Trinity here mentioned, was that of Trinity Island on Lough Key, in the county of Roscommon. The abbot of Sruthra was abbot oi' Shrule, in the barony of Kilmaine, county of Mayo. A. D. 1356. 1. Primate of Armagh. The archbishop of Armagh at this time, according to Ware and others, was the celebrated Richard Fitzralph. This Fergal, son of Geoffrey Mac Rannall, is not given in Ware's Archbishops of Armagh; he appears to have been of the common), and a great number of Muintir Eoluis were slain along with him. Cathal O'Quinn, chief of Muintir Giollgain (in Longford), and also five of his kinsmen, were slain by the Clan Shane and the Clan Hugh. Cormac Mac Rannall, chief of Muintir Eoluis, was slain by the sons of Ivar Mac Rannall. Fergal, son of Fergal, son of Murtogh More, the son of Congalach Mac Geoghcgan, chief of Kinel Fiacha (in Westmeath), died. Murrogh, the son of Cathal O'Ferrall ; Derfor- gaiU, the daughter of O'Ferrall ; and Teige Mac Egan, a man learned in the law (Brehonism), died. The English of the west of Connaught defeated Mac William (Burke), and slew many of his people. Edward Mac William Mac Rickard (Burke), was slain by the people of Siol Anmcha (in Gal- way). Rickard Oge gave a great defeat to the people of Mac William (Burke), that is, Edward, and the people of Siol Anmcha, in which Stephen Mac Jordan, Henry Mac Philbin, and sixteen of the chiefs of Siol Anmcha, were slain. Niall Mac Mahon (in Monaghan), was slain by the sons of John Mac Mahon. Aduc Mac Quillan (of Antrim), was slain by the people of Orior (in Armagh). Ten lambs were yeaned at once by one sheep. A.D. 1356. Fergal, son of Geoffrey Mac Rannall, primate of Armagh,' and successor of St. Patrick, died. Nicholas Mac Cathasaigh, bishop of Orgiall,^ died. Solotnon O'Meallan, keeper of an adjuration bell,^ died; he was the most illustrious of the clergy of Ireland. ancient family of the Mac Rannalls, chiefs of Mumtir Eoluis in Leitrim, and was probably the same person as the primate called Fitzralph by W^are and others. •2. Bishop of Orgiall, that is bishop of Clogher. There are two or three of the Mac Cathasaighs given as bishops of Clogher, and the name appears to be Mac Casey, but some suppose it to he Mac Cassidy. 8. Adjuration Bell. In ancient times the Irish held in great veneration some of the bells used by the saints in early times, and preserved them for many ages, some of them even to the present day ; amongst other purposes for administering solemn oaths and adjurations, and to swear falsely on them was considered the greatest crime and profanation. 142 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A.D. 1357-58-59. Hugh, son of Torlogh O'Conor, king of Con- naught, was slain in Baile Loch Deacair," by Donogh Carrach O'Kelly, and by the Clan Mac Award, at the instigation of the Hymanians, for the crime of carrj'ing otf clandestinely the daughter of Seoinin Burke, the wife of O'Kelly. Hugh, son of Felim O'Conor, then assumed the sovereignty of Connaught. Conor, son of Teige O'Kelly, was slain by Teige, the son of Dermod O'Kelly. Torlogh, son of Hugh Brefnach O'Conor, was slain by the Mac Donoghs. Dermod, son of Dermod Mac Carthy (in the the county of Cork), and his son Donogh, were slain by the son of O'Sullivan. More, daughter of O'Conor, and wife of O'Fer- rall, died. Murtogh, son of John O'Neill (of Tyrone), was slain by Philip Mac Guire. Dugall Mac Sweeney was slain by Donal O'Conor. Roderick, son of Hugh O'Conor, and Donal, son of Hugh Brefnach O'Conor, died. Donogh Mac Namara (of Clare), the best chiefs son in Munster ia his time, was slain by the O'Briens. Donogh Praisteach was treacherously slain by two of his own people. Garrett Tyrrell was put to death by the king of England's people on the plain of Dublin. Murrogh, son of Bryan O'Neill, died. Felim, son of Hugh, son of Donal Oge, lord of Tirconneil, was slain by his brother's son, namely, John, the son of Conor O'Donnell, who assumed the lordship of Tirconneil without opposition. A.D. 1357. Clement O'Duigenan, vicar of Kilronan (in Ros- common), died ; he was called the priest of the Sionachs. Manus Mac Mahon, lord of Orgiall (Monaghan); Loghlin, son of Murtogh O'Conor ; and Fergal Muinach O'Duigenan, chief professor of Con- maicne (in Leitrim), and of Clan Maolrooney (in Roscommon), north and south, died. 4. Baile Locha Deacair was probahly in that part of Galway called Hy Maine, lielonging lo the O'Kellys ; and the Mac Wards were a clan in the barony of Tiaquin, county of Galway. John, son of Bryan O'Reilly (chief of Cavan), was slain by the English. Bryan, son of Gilcreest O'Rourke, and Manus Buidhe Mac Gauran (in Cavan), were slain in the Routs (county of Antrim) of Mac Quillan, by Hugh O'Neill. Donslevy Mac Carroll, the most accomplished master of music and harmony in his own time, died. A general peace was concluded between the two Cathals, namely, Cathal, son of Hugh Bref- nach (O'Conor), and Cathal Oge, son of Cathal, son of Donal (O'Conor). A.D. 1358. Bryan Mac Cathmoil, bishop of Orgiall (Clogher), died. Manus Mac Guire was slain by the Clan Cath- mail (of Tyrone). Donal O'Hara, lord of Lieney (in Sligo), died on Easter Day. Conor O'Hanley, chief of Kinel Dobtha, the son of Aongus( in Roscommon), died after he had gained the palm of victory over the world and the devil. Hugh O'Neill gained a battle over the Orgal- lians (people of Monaghan and Armagh), and the people of Fermanagh, in which Hugh Mac Cabe and Malachy Mac Anaspuig O'Dowd, with many others, were slain. O'Moore (of Leix, in the Queen's county), gained a great victory over the English of Dublin, and left two hundred and forty of them dead on the field of battle. Torlogh, son of Hugh of the Wood O'Neill, and the son of Andrew Bermingham, died. A great shower of hail fell in Crioch Cairpre (Carbury in Sligo), in the summer, and each stone was as large as a wild apple. Senicin Mac Quillan, high constable of the province of Ulster, died. The son of Giolla losa O'Flanagan was slain by Manus, son of Cathal, the son of Hugh Brefnach (O'Conor). A. D. 1359. Cormac Mac Carthy, lord of Desmond, and Donal, son of Teige O'Mahony, died. Cathal Oge, the son of Cathal O'Conor, gave a great defeat at Ballyshannon, to John, the son of REIGN OF EDWARD III. 143 Conor O'Donnell, and the Connallians, and he took John O'Dogherty, chief of Ard Miodhair ; Owen Conactach; and Torlogh Mac Sweeney, prisoners, and slew many others ; Matthew Mac Gauran, heir to the chieftaincy of Tullaghaw (county of Cavan), received wounds on that day of which he died, after he had reached his own house. Cathal Bodhar, the son of Cathal O'Rourke, and Malachy O'Gormley, fell by each other's hands in the course of this contest, after Cathal O'Conor had marched his forces a second time into Tirconnell, on which occasion a party from the teiTitory of O'Gormley, came in contact with Cathal Bodhar O'Rourke. Murtogh, son of Thomas O'Flynn of Line, heir to the lordship of Hy Tuirtre (in An- trim), was slain by Hugh, son of Bryan, son of Hugh Buidhe O'Neill. Bryan Mac Donogh, heir to the lordship of Tirerrill (in Sligo), was slain by Mac Sencha, of the party of O'Gara. Henr}% son of Ulick, son of Rickard Burke (in Galway), died. Murrogh Oge Mac Mahon, heir to the lordship of Corco Baiscind (in the county of Clare), was slain by the O'Briens. Manus O'Dowd, son of the lord of Tireragh (in Sligo), and Hugh, son of Conor Mac Egan, the chief Brehon (judge) in Ireland, died. Donal, son of Teige O'Mahony, was slain. Art, son of Awlave O'Rourke, was slain by Mac Gennis (of the county of Down). A.D, 1360. Maolrooney, son of Cammuinelach (the crooked necked), O'Boyle, chief of the three Tuatha (in A.D. 13G0. 1. The King of England's son -WAS Lionel, duke of Clarence, son to Edward III., who being appointed by his father, lord lieutenant of Ireland, landed at Dublin on the 1.5th of September, with a force of fifteen hundred men , consisting of arch ers and men at arms, togetherwith Ralph, earl of Stafford, whowas one of the com- manders under the Black Prince, at the battle of Cressy ; James Butler, earl of Ormond ; sir John Carew ; sir William Windsor, and other kniirhts. A curious account of the pay received by these officers and soldiers is given at page 25 in the Tracts of sir John Davies. Tlie Duke of Clarence was accompanied by his countess, Elizabeth, daughter of William de Burgo, earl of Ulster, whose death is recorded in these Annals, at A.D. 1333, and in right of Donegal), a man distinguished for dignity, hospi- tality, wisdom, heroism, and protection, died. Awlave, son of Geoffrey Mac Rannall, was slain. Sir Robert Savadge (of the county of Down), and Dermod O'Hanley (of Roscommon), died. Roscommon, Ennis, Sligo, and the monasteries of Lisgoole (in Fermanagh), Fenagh (in Leitrim), and Drumlias (in Sligo), were burned. John, son of Gilcreest O'Rourke, was slain by Hugh Mac Dorchy. Dermod O'Brien was deposed by his brother's son. Dermod, son of Donogh Riavach Mac Dermott, was slain by Cathal Oge, the son of Cathal O'Conor. The daughter of Torlogh O'Conor, the wife of Fergal O'Reilly (of Cavan), was kUled by *a fall. A bridge of stone and mortar was built by Cathal Oge O'Conor over the river of Bally- sadare. Fergal, son of Geolfrey Mac Rannall (of Lei- trim), and Tuathal O'Feenaghty (of Galway), died. Naovoge O'Duigenan (of Roscommon), died. Cathal, son of the Caoch Mac Rannall, was slain. Giolla-na-neev O'Conmaighe (O' Conway), chief professor of music in Thomond, died. The kino- of England's son' came to Ireland. Art, son of the Giolla Riavach Mac Gennis (county of Down), was treacherously slain by the family of the Savadges, and the son of Murtogh Riaganach Mac Gennis. Cathal O'Conor marched with a force into Tyrawley (in Mayo), and destroyed many houses and churches. his wife he became earl of Ulster and lord of Connaught, titles still held by the royal family of England. The Duke of Clarence held the office of lord lieutenant to A.D. 1307, and in his adminis- tration was held the celebrated parliament at Kilkenny, in which was passed the Act called the Statute of Kilkenny, which pro- hibited, under penalty of high treason, the families of Anglo- Norman or English descent, settled in Ireland, to form any alliances or intermarriages with the native Irish, thus endeavouring to prevent all intercourse between them ; and prohibiting the Anglo-Irish from adopting Irish surnames, the Irish language, dress, manners, or customs ; and also making it penal to appoint any of the native Irish to ecclesiastical livings, bishops' sees, abbotships over monasteries, or any other preferments. 144 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A. D. 1361-62. A.D. 1361. Benedict O'Moghan, erenachof Kill Athrachta,' died. Art Mac Murrogh, king of Leinster,^ and Donal Riavach (Mac Murrogh) heir presumptive to the crown of Leinster, were treacherously taken pri- soners by the king of England's son, at his own residence, and they died in prison. Cormac Ballaoh O'Melaghlin, king of Meath ; DonoghO'Loughlin,lord of Corcamroe (in Clare); Cathal and Murtogh, the sons of Hugh, son of Owen ; Duhhoge, daughter of Hugh Mac Guire, the wife of Cuchonacht, the son of Philip Mac Mahon (of Monaghan) ; Thomas Mac Tiarnan, chief of Tullyhunco (county of Cavan) ; Nicholas O'Feenaghty (of the county of Galway) ; and Tuathal O'Malley (of Mayo), died. Sir Edmond Burke; Raymond, the son of Burke of Buine ; Walter Stanton; and Gilbert Mac Myler, died. Cluit"he-an-Righ (some epidemic disease), pre- vailed throughout Ireland generally, of which Richard Savadge died. Magrath O'Finn, chief professor of Siol Murray (Roscommon), in mu- sic and minstrelsy, died. Great depredations were committed by Mac William Burke, Bermingham, and all the English of Connaught, on Cathal Oge, the son of Cathal O' Conor, and they plundered and devastated Lieney and Tireragh (in Sligo) ; Cathal after that marched with a force, to retaliate for all the devas- tations they had committed, and they plundered the people of Birmingham, and the territory of Edmond Mac Hoberd (Bm-ke), and spoiled and laid waste the entire country. A.D. 1362. O'Beollan, the abbot of Drumcliff (in Sligo) ; Giolla Ancovde Mac Mughroin, erenach of Kil- laniomaire' ; Oirechtach Mac Brennan, archdeacon of Elphin ; Aongus Mac Anaglaoigh, erenach of A.D. 1361. 1. Kill Athracht, now Killaraght, a parish in the barony of Coolavin, county of Slijio, so called from Athrachta, a female saint, who founded a nunnery there in the fifth century. 2. King of Leinster. It appears tliat these two chiefs of the Mac Murroghs were confined in Dublin Castle, where, according to some accounts, they were put to death by the English. Killarry; O'Fergus, vicar of lomtha; and Mur- ragh Mac Teige, the monk, died. Owen Fionn (the Fair) O'Conor, son of the king of Connaught; Maolrooney O'Dowd (in Sli- go), and his wife, the daughter of Mac Donogh ; Niall Mac Gauran, chief of Tullaghaw (county of Cavan); Dermod, son of John O'FeiTall, lord of Annaly ; Carbry O'Qiunn, chief of Muintir Gioll- gain (in Longford) ; Donal, son of Roderick O'Kelly (of Galway) ; Tomaltach O'Beirne (of Roscommon) ; Murtogh Don Mac Oiraghty (of Roscommon) ; Owen O'Malley, and Dermod, his son, both lords of Umalia (in Mayo), died. Peregrine Mac Geoghegan, son of Dermod Mac Geoghegan, and Maurice, son of Murtogh Mac Geoghegan, died. Cathal Oge, and the son of Felim O'Conor, took the castle of Ballintobber (in Roscommon). Hugh, son of Felim O'Conor, king of Con- naught, and Cathal Oge O'Conor, marched with a great army into Meath, which they biu-ned and laid waste ; they also burned Kilkenny, with its fourteen churches, in which the English had taken up their quarters, and after inflicting great injuries on them in that expedition, they returned safe to their own homes. Teige, son of Conor, son of Torlogh O'Brien, was slain by the Clan Coilein (of Clare). Cathal Oge O'Conor, the most illustrious heir presumptive, for excellence, magnanimity, power, honour, hospitality, and generosity, of his time, died in SHgo, of the plague. Murtogh, son of Thomas, son of Cathal Ria- vach O'Roin-ke (in Leitrim), died. Donal, son of O'Kelly (of Galway), and Cu- chonacht O'Duigenan, vicar of Kilronan (in Ros- common), died. Awlave Mac Firbis, chief historian elect of Hy Fiachra (in Sligo) ; Fergal, son of Teige Mac Egan, a learned Brehon ; John, son of Donogh Mac Fir- bis, chief historian elect of Hy Fiachra ; Dermod, son of Mac Carthy (of Cork) ; Conor, son of Mala- chy Carrach O'Dowd, and Murtogh his son, died. A. D. 1362. 1. Kill-an-Iomaire, now the parish of Killanummery, in the diocese of Ardagh, county of Leitrim. Kill-Arraidh, now the parish of Killery in Sligo. lomtha, now Immagh, or Omey, an is- land off the coast of Galway, where there was an ancient abbey, founded by St. Feichm. REIGN OF EDWARD III. 145 VCd- A.D. 1363. J THIS year Manus Eoghanach, son of Co- nor, son of Hugh, son of Donal Oge O'Donnell ; »,and Hugh Roe Mac , Guire, lord of Ferman- agh, died. Manus Mebhlach (the Crafty), son of Hugh O'DonneU, heir pre- sumptive to the lordship of Tir- conneU, a man who performed the most noble and enterprising deeds of any in his time, was slain by Manus the son of Cathal Sra- mach O'Conor. Teige Mac Consnamha, chief of Muintir Kenny (in Leitrim), was wounded by Cathal, son of Hugh Brefnach (O'Conor), by whom he was after that taken prisoner ; and he died in his imprisonment. It is necessary to observe that the above figure represents the two ancient Irish letters I N. One of these ornamental letters has been given with each number of these Annals, and will be so continued in every succeeding number, the publisher having for that purpose, at a great cost, got all of them engraved by one of the ablest artists in Dublin, being anxious to preserve these curious and beautiful specimens of ancient Irish art, but few of which have been ever engraved in any printed works, and which are only to be found in the old Irish MSS., many of them illuminated, and of very elegant execution ; and though many of them are as early at least as the fifth and sixth centuries, as for instance, in the Book of St. CoUmikille, or the Hook of Kells, the original of which is in the library of Trinity College, Dublin, yet, in point of execution and colouring they could not be excelled, or probably equalled by any artists at the present day. As to the ancient Irish MSS. themselves, they furnish some of the most beautiful specimens of penmanship in any language, and are even considered in beauty superior to any specimens of typography. on THE AltCIEST DIVISIONS OP IRELAND. According to our ancient annalists, the first colonies wliich came to Ireland were Scythians, namely, the Partholanians and Nemedians, and afterwards, the colonies of Firboigs, Tuath De Danans, and Milesians, who were also either Celts or Scythians. The Fomorians or African pirates also settled in the north of Ire- land in early ages. Accounts of all these colonies have been already given in the notes on North and South Connaught, Dalri- ada, and Tir Conaill. Lasairiona, or Catharina, daughter of O'Ferrall, and wife of O'Reilly (of Cavan), died. Murtogh Roe, son of Donal, of Erris O'Conor, was slain by Teige Mac Manus. Bebin, daughter of Mac Geoghegan, and wife of the Sionach (Fox of Westmeath), died. Cathal Mac Donogh (of Sligo), was slain by the people of Moylurg. An awful storm of wind in this year destroyed many churches and buildings, and many ships and vessels were sunk. Conor O'Dowd was slain by Donogh O'Dowd and Murtogh O'Dowd. A.D. 1364. Hugh O'Neill, king of Tyrone, the best Irish- man in his time, died, after gaining the palm of victory for justice, hospitality, and magna- nimity. Dermod O'Brien, lord of Thomond ; Malachy, son of Murrogh, son of Giolla-na-neev, son of Hugh, son of Awlave (O'Ferrall), lord of Annaly; Dervail, daughter of O'Donnell, and wife of Mac Guire (of Fermanagh) ; Donal Mac Guire, chief of Clan Fergaile (barony of Knockninny, county of Fermanagh) ; Giolla-na-neev O'Duibhda Boi- reann, chief Brehon of Corcomroe (in the county The Firboigs divided Ireland into _/?i!e portions or provinces, over each of which they placed a king. The Tuath De Dnmnis, according to some accounts, divided the island into three parts, with a king over each, one of whom ruled alternately as supreme monarch over the entire country. The Milesians under their pruices, the three brothers, Heber, Heremon, and Ir, divided the island among them into three parts ; Heremon and his posterity, called Heremonians, had Leinster and Connaught ; Ir, and his descendants, called Irians, and Clanna Rory, or Rudricans, had Ulster ; and Hel)cr Fionn, or Heber the Fair and his posterity, called Helierians, had Munster. The kings of the race of Ir or Clanna Rory, it appears, were very powerful in early times, for, according to our annalists, about nine centuries before the Christian era, two brothers, princes of the posterity of Ir divided the entire island between them. Sobairce had the portion from Droglieda northwards, and built his chief fortress at Dun Sobairce, now Dunseverick, near the Giant's Causeway, in the county of Antrim ; and his brother Cearmna had his chief fortress at Dun Cearmna, near the place now called Kinsale, in the county of Cork. Ugaine Mor, or Hugony the Great, who was monarch of Ire- land of the race of Heremon, nearly four centuries before the Christian era, divided the island into twenty-fve portions among his twenty-five children, namely, twenty-two sons and three daughters. Eochaidh Feidhlioch, who was monarch of Ireland, of the race of Heremon, a short time before the Christian era, divided the kingdom into^^i-e proi^inces, namely, Ulster, Connaught, Leinster, and the two provinces of Munster. U 146 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A.D. 1364. of Clare) ; and AifFric, daughter of Bryan O'Reilly (of Cavan), the wife of Bryan Mac Tiarnan, died. Tunthfd Teoc/i^fHo?-, monarch of Ireland, oftberace of Here- mon, in the beginning of the second century, formed anew division of Ireland into five provinces, and having taken a portion from each of the provinces of Leinster, Munster, Ulster, and Connaugbt, as already explained in the note on Menth, formed the new province of Meath, which was to be appropriated as mensal lands for the use of tile monarcbs of Ireland. This division continued for many centuries, and even long after the Anglo-Norman invasion ; a king ruling over each of the five provinces or kingdoms, namely, Meath, Ulster, Connaught, Leinster, and Munster, the Irisii government being a Penfarchy, and a supreme monarch being elected to preside over all the provincial kings, and designated Ard rigli, or the High King. The island being thus divided into five provinces, the name of a province in Irish was Coigeadli, which signifies a fifth part. About the middle of the second century. Con Cead Cathach, or Con of the hundred battles, monarch of Ireland, of the race of Heremon, and grandson of the monarch Tuathal Teaehtmar, hav- ing long and fierce contests for the sovereignty of Ireland with Eogan Mor, called Mogha Nuadhat, king of Munster, of the race of Heber, they at length agreed to divide the kingdom between them into two parts, by a line drawn direct from Dublin to Gal- way ; the northern half, consisting of the kingdoms of Sleath, Ulster, and Connaught, being Con's share, and hence called Leath Cuinn, or Con's half ; and the southern portions or kingdoms of Leinster and Munster, being allotted to Mogha Nuadhat, and hence called Lerith Mogha, or Mogha's half; and this division was long recognised in after times, and is often mentioned in the course of these annals. The Kingdom of Menth, as already described in the note on Meath, comprised the present counties of Meath and Westmeath, with parts of Longford, King's county, Kildare, and Dublin ; and in the early ages, like other parts of Ireland, was ruled by the Firbolgs and Danans, and lastly by the Milesians of the race of Heremou. The ancient kingdom of Meath was in after times added to the province of Leinster. The Ktngcloni of Ulster comprised the present counties of Armagh, Down, Antrim, Tyrone, Derry, Donegal, Fermanagh, and Monaghan, with a portion of the eastern part of Cavan, the greater part of Cavan, called East Brefney, belonging to Connaught. Ulster also contained the present county of Louth, which was part of Orgiall, as explained in the note on Orgiall, the boundaries between Ulster and Meatli being the rivers Boyne and Black- water, from Drogheda to Kells. The Firbolgs, Danans, and Fomo- rians ruled over Ulster in the early ages ; and afterwards the Milesians, of the race of Ir or Clanna Rory ; but in the fourth and fifth centuries, the race of Ir were conquered by the Heremonians of the race of Hy Niall and Clan Colla, who became rulers of Ulster, as already explained in the notes on Orgiall, Tir Eogain, and Tir Conaill. The Kingdom of Connaught, as explained in the notes on North and South Connaught and Brefney, comprised the present counties of Sligo, Mayo, Galway, Roscommon, and Leitrim, with the greater part of Cavan, whicli was part of ancient Brefney. The territory of the present county of Clare also originally belonged to Connaught, but was in early times added to Munster. Connaught in the early ages was ruled by the Firbolgs, Danans, and Fomorians, and lastly by the Milesians of the race of Heremon. The Kingdom of Leinster comprised the present counties of Wexford, Wicklow, Carlow, with the greater part of Kilkenny, the Queen's county, the greater part of the King's county, and of Kildare, and that part of Dublin south of the river Litfey ; hut in after times, the kingdom of Meath, and also the county of Louth in Ulster, were added to the province of Leinster. The Firbolgs and Danans were the first rulers of Lemster, and lastly the Milesians of the race of Heremon. Tlie Kingdom of Munster, in Irish, Mumha, Mumhan, and Miimhain, according to O'Flaherty's Ogygia, derived its name from Donal, son of Roderick O'Kelly, heir presump- tive to the lordship of Hy Maine, died. Giolla-na-neev Mac Gowan, of the records, a Eochaidh Muraho, who was king of Munster and monarch of Ireland of the race of Heber, about eight centuries before the Christian era ; Mimster is latinised Momonia. Ancient Munster comprised the present counties of Tipperary, Waterford, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, and part of Kilkenny, to which was added the territory now forming the county of Clare, by Lughaidh Mcann, king of Munster, of the race of the Dalcassians in the latter end of the third century, who took it from Connaught and added it to Munster. Ancient Munster is mentioned under the following divisions, namely, Tuiidh il/j(m/«/7! or North Munster, anglicised Thomond ; JJeas Mainhnn, or South Munster, rendered Desmond ; Urmhumhri or Oirmhumha, which signifies East Munster, and has been anglicised Orniond, and leir Mumhan, or West Munster. These divisions will be followed in the course of tliese notes ; and in the first place will bo given the historj- and topography of the kuigdom of Thomond, with its chiefs and elans. I. Thomond, under its ancient kings, extended from the isles of Arran, ofl' the coast of Galway, to the mountain of Eibline, near Cashel in Tipperary, thence to Cam Feradaigh, now Knock Aine, in Limerick, and from Leim Chuchullain or Cuchullin's Leap, now Loophead, at the mouth of the Shannon in the county of Clare, to Sliabh Dala mountain in Ossory, on the borders of Tipperary, Kilkenny, and Queen's county, thus comprising the present counties of Clare and Limerick, with the greater part of Tipperary, but in after times Thomond was confined to the present county of Clare. The Milesians of the race of Heber or the Hcberians, as above explained, possessed Munster, but the descendants of Ith, son of Breogain, and uncle of Milesius, also possessed in early times a great part of Munster. The race of Heber furnished most of the kings of Munster, and many of them were also monarcbs of Ire- land. The Heberians are called by the old annalists Deirgtheine, from one of their ancient kings named Deirgtheine. Tlie race of Ith or Ithians also furnished many kings of Munster, and some of them were also monarcbs of Ireland in the early ages. They were called Dairine, from one of their kings so named. The Deirgtini- ans and Darinians had frequent contests before the period of the Christian era, for the sovereignty of Munster, which they at length agreed to hold alternately ; thus while the head of one race reigned as king, the other held the office of chief Brehon or judge. The Clanna 2>«/(//(«irf/i, another colony, also settled in Munster a short time before the Christian era. They were named Deagadhs or Degadians, from Deagadh or Deag their chief, and as stated in O'Flaherty's Ogygia, (vol. ii., p. 14-2), were also called Ernans, from Oilioll Arronn, a prince of Ulster, and grandfather of Deag. These Deagadians or Ernans were of the race of Heremon, and being expelled from Ulster by the race of Ir, or Clanna Rory, went to Munster, where they were favourably received, and had lands allotted to them by Duach, king of Munster, of the race of Heber, who was also monarch of Ireland. The Clanna Deagha make a remarkable figure in the ancient history of Munster; they had extensive possessions, became very powerful, and, as stated by Keating, O'Flaherty, O'Halloran, and other historians, were the chief military commanders of Munster, and masters nearly of the entire country. Some of them became kings of Munster, and three of them also monarcbs of Ireland, namely, Eiderscol, and his son Conaire, about the beginning of the Christian era ; and Conaire II., a descendant of Conaire I., was monarch of Ireland in the beginning of the third century. From Cairbre Riada, son of Conaire II., were descended the Dalriadians, princes of Ulster, who planted a colony in Albain, afterwards called Scotland, in the third century ; and from them were descended the Scottish kings of Jlilesian race, and the royal house of Stuart. In the second century, the Deagas becoming so powerful as nearly to assume the entire sove- reignty of Munster, to the exclusion oftberace of Heber, they were attacked and conquered by the celebrated Eogan More, or Mogha Nuadhat, who expelled them from Munster, except such families of them as yielded bun submission. Amongst the chiefs of the REIGN OF EDWARD III. 147 learned historian ; Dermod O'Sgingin, chief his- toriographerof TirconneU; and Margaret, daughter Clanna Deagadh, are mentioned Daire, and liis son Conrigh Mac Daire, famous warriors in Munster about the beginnina; of the Christian era ; and celebrated by tlie ancient bards, amongst tlie coteniporary heroes Cucliullain, and Conall Cearnach, cliiefs of the Red Brancli Knights of Ulster. This warrior, Conrigh Mac Daire, had his fortress, called Cathair Conraidh, on tlie top of a mountain still called Cahir Conrigh, situated between the bays of Castlemain and Tralee, in the county of Kerry ; and of this fortress, composed of huge stones in a circular form, there are some remains to this day ; and on the opposite shore, at the mouth of the Sliannon, is a promontory called Loophead, anciently named Leini Chuchullain, or Cuchullan's Leap, from which place the ancient bards state that the famous hero Cuchullain set out, when on his expedition to attack Conraidh Mac Daire, whom he slew. On the hill of Knoekfennell, near Lough Gur in Limerick, are the remains of an immense fortress of Cyclopean nrcliitccfiire, of a circular form, three hundred and sixty feet in circumference, with walls ten feet thick, composed of massive stones accurately laiil together without cement ; and on Calan mountain in the county Clare are some huge stones, said to be the tomb of Conan, one of the celebrated Fenian heroes of the third century. About the beginning of the Christian era, Eochaidh Abrat Ruadh, or Eochy of the Red Brows, of the race of Heber, a man of gigantic stature, was king of South Munster; and Conrigh Mac Daire was prince of North Munster, and was succeeded by Cairbre Finn More, son of the monarch Conaire, also of the ClannaDeagadh, as king of Munster. In the second century, amongst the battles fought by the monarch Tuathal Teachtmar, are mentioned those of Magh Raighne, and of Clar or Clare, in which fell Felim and Conall, two princes of the Deagadhs of Munster, as mentioned in O'Flaherty's Ogygia, vol. ii. pp. 1!)2, 1!)5 ; and Eochaidh, the son of Daire, succeeded as king of both Munsters. In the latter end of the second century, Eogan More, or Mogha Nuadhat, called also Eogan Taidhleach, or Eogan the Splendid, of the race of Heber, and maternally descended from the Clanna Deagadhs, was a celebrated warrior ; and having contended for the monarchy of Ireland with Con of the Hundred Battles, they at last divided the island between them as already stated ; but Eogan being afterwards defeated, and forced to fly into Spain, where lie lived many years in exile, and married Beara, a Spanish princess, daughter to Heber, king of Castile ; and entering into a confederacy with Fraeeh, the son of Heber, they collected a powerful army, with which they landed in Ireland, to recover the sovereignty from Con of the Hundred Battles, and both armies, A.D. 192, fought a tremendous battle on the plain of Moylena, in which Con was victorious, and Eogan More was killed by Goll, the son of Morna, a celebrated champion of Connaught of the Firbolg race. Tlie place where this battle was fought, as stated in O'Flaherty's Ogygia, (vol. ii p. 212), is the ancient barony of Fircall in the King's county, and there are still to be seen there two hillocks or sepulchral mounds, in one of which was buried the body of Eogan, and in the other that of Fraeeh, the Spaniard, who was also slain in that batlte. Oilioll Olum, the son of Eogan More by the Spanish princess Beara, and sou-in-law of the monarch Con of the Hundred Battles, being married to his daughter Saba, having contended with Lugh- aidh Mac Con, a prince of the race of Ith, for the sovereignty of Munster, defeated him and Nemeth, prince of the Ernans, in a great battle at Ceann Febradh, in which Eogan, the son of Oilioll, slew Dadar the Druid, and Nemeth was slain by Cairbre Riada; after this victory, Oilioll Olum became king of Munster. Oilioll Olum had three sons, Eogan, Cormac Cas, and Cian, and by his will, he made a regulation that the kingdom of Munster should be ruled alternately by one of the posterity of Eogan and Cormac Cas. From Cormac Cas, king of Munster, or according to others, from his descendant Cais, who was king of Thomond in the fifth century, their posterity got the name Dal Cais or Dnl GaiSf anglicised Dalcassians, the various families of whom, were located chiefly in that part of Thomond which forms the present of Walter Burke, the wife of Hugh, son of Felim O'Conor, king of Connaught, died. county of Clare, and the ruling family of them were the O'Briens, kings of Thomond. From Eogan, another of the sons of Oilioll Olum, were descended the Eoijanuchts or Eiiijcnuins, who were, alternately with the Dalcassians, kings of Munster, and sometimes styled kings of Cashel. The Eugenians possessed Desmond, or South Munster, the present counties of Cork and Kerry, and they also had a territory, part of the present county of Tipjierary, about Cashel, called the Eoganacht of Cashel. The head family of the Eugenians were the Mac Carthys, princes of Desmond. From Cian, the third son of Oilioll Olum, were descended the Clnii Kian, who were located chiefly in Orinond, and the chief of which families were the O'Carrolls, princes of Ely. An account of the various families of the Dalcassians, Eugenians, and Clan Kian, and of the other Milesian families of Munster, are given in the subse- quent part of the present article on Thomond, and in the notes on Desmond and Orinond. In the latter end of the third century, Lughaidh Meann, king of Munster, of the race of the Dalcassians, took the territory afterwarurned to the ground the royal palace of Kincora, A.D. 1088; but in the year 1101 Murtogh marched a powerful army into Ulster, and having proceeded to Easroe, or Ballyshannon, and to Inisowen, took the fortress of Aileach, tlie celebrated residence of the kings of Ulster, which he totally demolished, in retaliation for the destruction of Kincora. Murtogh O'Brien was a powerful prince, and one of his daughters was married to Sigurd, king of the Hebrides and Isle of Mann, and son of Magnus the celebrated king of Norway ; and it is said that one of his relatives, a prince of the O'Briens, was also king of the Isle of Mann. A. D. 1095, Murtogh invaded Leinster, and having expelled Godfrey Merenagh, the Danish king of Dublin, became himself king of Dublin and Fingal, and ruled over the greater part of Leinster, and ap])ointed his son Donal governor of Dublin. Murtogh O'Brien being deposed, A. D. 1116, retired to the monas- tery of Lismore, where he died, A.D. HID. Dermod O'Brien, his brother, succeeded as king of Munster. Conor O'Brien, son of Dermod, succeeded as king of Munster, A.D. 1120, and died at Killaloe, A.D. 1142. Torlogh 0'Brien,brother of Conor, succeeded as king of Munster ; but Teige, son of Dermod O'Brien, having contended with him for the sovereignty, was assisted by Torlogh O'Conor, king of Connaught, who, having collected a powerful force, marched to Munster, joined by the men of Meath and those of Leinster, under Dermod Mac Murrogh, king of Leinster, and also aided liy Dermod Mac Carthy, king of Desmond. A bloody REIGN OF EDWARD III. 149 Felim, the hospitable, son of Donal O' Conor, lord of Corcomroe (in Clare), a man of unbounded battle was foiiglit at a place called Moin Store, or the Great Bog, between Cork and the River Blackwater, A.D. 1151, in which 9000 of the Dalcassians were totally defeated ; and, according to the Four Masters, and the Book of Leaean, uinvards of 7000 of them were slain, together with Murtogh, the son ofConor O'Brien, prince of Tlioraond,and heir presumptive to the throne of Munster; Lughad, the son of Donald O'Brien, and the following chiefs: Aneslis O'Grady, lord of Hy Caissin, and five others of the O'Gradys ; Flaherty O'Dea, and eight other chiefs of the O'Deas ; two of the O'Kennedys ; nine chiefs of the O'Seanchans ; upwards of twenty-four chiefs of the O'Hogans ; five of the O'Neils, and many other chiefs. Torlogh O'Brien died A.D. 1107, and was succeeded by his son, Murtogh O'Brien, who was killed the follow- ing year by Conor O'Brien, or, according to other accounts, by the people of Desmond, who, on account of his death, had to pay an e/Y(«f, or fine, of 3000 cows, as stated by O'Halloran. Donal O'Brien, brother of JIurtogh, succeeded, and was kuig of Thomond at the period of the Anglo-Norman invasion. The O'Briens had long and fierce contests to maintain their in- dependence against the Anglo-Norman and English settlers ; hut they held their rank as kings and princes of Thomond, and are also styled kings of Limerick down to the reign of Henry VIII., and many celebrated chiefs of them are mentioned in the course of these Annals. The O'Briens in the twelfth century are thus desig- uated in the topographical poem of O'Heerin : " Airdrigh air Eirinn uile O'Briain bile na Boruimhe O crich Caisil cead do chind Treabh os taisibh an tailgiun." " High king of all Erin, Is O'Brien, the stately tree of Bornime, Over the country of Cashel by permission ordained A tribe of protectmg chiefs are the pious warriors." The place o{ inauguration of the O'Briens as kings and princes of Thomond, as stated in O'Brien's Dictionary, at the word Bile, was at Mugh Adhuir, a plain in the barony of TuUagh, county of Clare, at a large tree there, the word Bile, in Irish, signifying a tree, hence the place was called Bile Magh Adhair. The Imttle- crij of the O'Briens was Lamh laidir an unchdar, or the strong hand uppermost, and on their armorial ensigns were three lions rampant, which were also on the standards of Brian Boru, borne by the Dalcassians at the battle of Clontarf, as stated in O'Brien's Dictionary, under the word Coueuhar. The O'Briens had nume- rous castles in various parts of the counties of Clare and Limerick. Tliere were, altogether, one hundred and seventy-two castles in the county of Clare, most of which were erected by the O'Briens ; fifty of them, it is said, were built by the Mac Namaras, and twenty belonged to the O'Loghlins. There were about one hundred cas- tles in the county of Limerick, many of them belonging to the O'Briens, but several of the castles in Limerick and Clare were also erected by the Fitzgeralds, de Clares, and other Anglo-Nor- man settlers. There are still to be seen ruins and remains of about one hundred and fifty castles in the counties of Clare and Limerick. In A.D. lo43, Murrogh O'Brien, having dispossessed his nephew Donogh of the principality of Thomond, repaired to England, and made his submission to king Henry VIII., to whom he resigned his principality, and was created earl of Thomond, and baron of Inchiquin, the conditions being, as stated in Lodge's Peerage, that he should utterly forsake and give up the name of O'Brien, and all claims to which he might pretend by the same, and take such name as the kuig should please to give him ; and he and his heirs, and the inhabitors of his lands, shouhl use the English dress, manners, customs, and language ; that he should give up the Irish dress, customs, and language, and keep no kerns or galloglasses ; and Conor O'Brien, earl of Thomond hi the reign of Elizabeth, as stated by Lodge, did, in the year loJB, on Sunday hospitality and generosity ; and Tomaltach, son of Murcha O'Ferrall, died. the lOth of July, after divine service, publicly and solemnly swear for ever to renounce the name of O'Brien, and use only the name of earl of Thomond. Donogh O'Brien was, hy King Henry VIII. , created baron of Ihrackan, in the county of Clare; and other branches of the O'Briens were created viscounts of Clare by king Charles II., and earls of Clare by king James II. In the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries the O'Briens were lords and ad- mirals of the Isles of Arran, in the county of tialway. In modem times the O'Briens are marquesses of Tliomond, earls of Inchiquin, and barons of Burren, in the county of Clare ; and a female branch of the O'Briens had the title of countesses of the Orkneys, in Scotland. Many of the O'Briens have been distinguished com- manders in the Irish Brigades in the service of France, under the titles of earls of Clare and counts of Thomond. The O'Briens are still a very numerous name in various parts of Leinster and Mon- ster, and there are many highly respectable families of them, par- ticularly in the counties of Clare, Limerick, and Tipperary. The chief representatives of the O'Briens at the present day are the marquesses of Thomond, and the O'Briens of Dromoland, in the county of Clare, of which family are Sir Lucius O'Brien of Dromo- land, and his brother, William Smith O'Brien, M. P. for the county of Limerick, who are lineal descendants of Brian Boru. On Irish Surnames. — The meaning of the terms, O' and Mac, Kinel, Clan, Sec, has been already explained. Surnames were partially adopted by various tribes as early as the ninth and tenth centuries, as may be seen in the Four Masters, and other annalists; but hereditary and permanent surnames were not established until the eleventh and twelfth centuries. Brian Boru made an ordinance that every family and clan should adopt a particular surname, in order to preserve correctly the history and genealogy of the diffe- rent tribes, and his own descendants took from himself the name of O'Briain, or O'Brien. It appears that surnames were not arbitra- rily assumed, but each family or clan were at liberty to adopt a surname from some particular ancestor, and generally took their names from some chief of their tribe, celebrated for his valour, wisdom, piety, or some other great qualities, some prefixing Mac, which means a son, and others l/a, or O, which signifies of, a grandson, or descendant. The Minister Milesians. — The following are the chief families of Milesians in Munster, and first will be given the three branches of the race of Heber, namely, the Dalcassians, the Eugenians, and the Clan Kiau : I. The Dalcassians. The descent of the Dal- cassians has been explained in the preceding part of this article, and they were located chiefly in Thomond, in the present counties of Clare and Limerick, and partly in Tipperary. Of these were the O'Briens, Mac Namaras, Mac Mahons, Mac Doimells, Mac Enirvs, O'Gradys, O'Kennedys, O'Deas, 0'Heas,0'Quinns, O'He- hirs," O'Heffemans, O'Hogans, O'Hurlys, O'Hartigans, O'Mo- lonys, O'Spillans, Mac Graths, O'Sheehans, O'Seanchans, or O'Seanachans, Mac GioUaiosacht, or Lysaghts, O'Lonergans, O'Mearas, Mac Arthurainsor Mac Arthurs, O'Kearneys, O'Caseys, O'Considines, O'Brodys, Mac Bruodins, Mac Clancys, Mac Cur- tins, O'Hickeys, O'Healys, O'Hanraghan?, O'Cashins, O'Davo- rans, O'Liddys, O'Tuomys, O'Nunans, O'Duhiggs, O'Aherns, O'Slatterrys, O'Naghtans or O'Nortons, Mac Conroys, O'Heafes, and some other clans. The following were also of the Dalcassian race, namely, the Mac Coghlans, chiefs in the King's county ; and the O'Finnellans and O'ScuUys, chiefs in Teffia or Westmeath, of whom an account has been given in the note on Meath. II. The Eugenians, whose descent has been already described, were located chiefly in Desmond, or the present counties of Cork and Kerry, but partly in Limerick, Clare, and Tipperary. Of these were the Mac Cartliys, princes of Desmond ; the O'SuUivans, O'Mabonys, O'Caliaghans, O'Donohoes, O'Keeffes, O'Fogartys, Mac Gilli- cuddys, Mac EUigotts, Mac Aulilfes, Mac Donaghs, Mac Fineens, O'Moryartys, O'Kerwies, O'Cuilleans, O'Finegans, OTraeys, O'Leclians," O'Flannerys, O'Meighans, and some other clans. III. The Clan-Kinn, whose descent has been already given, were located chiefly in Ormond, or the present county of Tipperary, and the head of tlus tribe were the O'CarroUs, prmces of Ely. The 150 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A. D. 1365. The Clan Costello (of Mayo), made an attack on the people of Lieney (in Shgo), in which Cor- other families were the O'Meaghers or O'Mahers, the Mae Keoghs, O'Corcorans, O'Dulhunty, changed to Delahunty. The O'Haras and O'Garas, lords of Lieny and Coolavin in Sligo ; and the O'Conors, chiefs of Kianaght in Derry, of whom accounts have been already given in the notes on North Connaught and Tir Eogain, were also branches of the Clan-Kian of Munster. IV. The Ithians, or Durinlans, descended from Ith, sou of Breogain and uncle of Milesius, had several respectable chiefs and clans settled in Munster, as the O'Driscolls, O'Learys, O'Baires, O'Hallinans, O'Finns, O'Cowheys, O'Crowleys, O'Corniacs, and some others in the county of Cork. The Mac Auleys, chiefs of Calry in West- meath ; the Mac Clancys, chiefs of Dartry in Leitrim ; and the O'Cuirnins of Leitrim, were also of the race of Ith. As stated in O'Flaherty's Ogygia, and the Dissertations of Charles O'Conor, the Campbells of Scotland, of whom were the dukes of Argyll, and several other noble families in that kingdom, were also of the race of Ith, descended from Lughaidh Mac Con, who was monarch of Ireland in the third century ; and according to O'Flaherty and O'Halloran, the High Stewards or ancient earls of Lennox and Mar in Scotland, were descended from the Heberians of Munster, and hence they assisted Brian Boru at the battle of Clontarf V. The Claniut Deiiga or Degndlinis also called Ernans, of whom an account has been given in the preceding part of this article, were celebrated chiefs in Munster, hut originally descended from the Heremonians of Ulster ; and from the Clanna Deaga were descended, as already shewn, the Dalriednns or Didriedlmans of Ulster, who, in the third century, planted the Milesian colony in Albany or North Britain, afterwards called Scotland, and from whom were descended the Scottish kings and the House of Stuart. Of the Clanna Deaga there were several families of note settled in Munster, given by Keating, O'Flaherty, and O'Halloran, as the O'Falvies of Kerry, hereditary admirals of Desmond ; the O'Con- nells of Kerry, Limerick, and Clare; the O'Flynns, O'Sheas, O'CuUenans, O'Fihellys, O'Donegans, O'Connings or Gunnings, O'Cuires, and some other clans ; also the O'Baiscins and O'Don- nels of Clare, as may be seen in vol. iii. pp. 397, 407, and 409 of O'Halloran's Ireland. VI. The Irians or Clantta Rory of Ulster, also settled several families of note in Munster, as early as the first and second centuries, descended from Fergus Mac Roy, king of Ulster, of the race of Ir, and Meva the celebrated queen of Connaught, daughter of Eochy Feidhlioch, monarch of Ireland a short time before the Christian era, of whom were the following, namely, the O'Conors, lords of Kerry ; the O'Conors, lords of Corcoraroe in Clare ; and the O'Loghlins, lords of Barren in Clare ; and of the same race were also the O'Ferralls, lords of Annaly or Longford ; and the Mac Rannalls, lords of Muintir Eo- luis in Leitrim. From another branch oftheClanna Rory, descended from tlie celebrated warrior Conall Cearnach, chief of the Red Branch knights of Ulster a short time before the Chi-istian era, were the Mac Gennises, lords of Iveagh in the county of Down ; the O'Moores, princes of Leix in the Queen's county ; the Mac Cartans, Mac Dnnlevys, Mac Gowans or Smiths, O'Garveys, O'Carolans, and some other chiefs and clans in the county of Down and other parts of Ulster. Of the Le'mster Mlleskins of the race of Heremon, were some chiefs and clans of note in Munster, as the O'Felans, pruices of Desies in Watcrford ; and the O'Brics, chiefs m Watcrford ; the O'Dwyers and O'Ryans, chiefs in Tipperary ; and the O'Gormans, chiefs in Clare. In the notes of the preceding numbers has been given the entire of O'Dugan's Topography, comprising Leath Cuin, or the ancient kingdoms of Jleath, Ulster, and Connaught, with then- chiefs and clans, and the territories possessed by each in ancient and modem times ; and in the following numbers will he given the topography of O'Heerv), of which an account has been given in the introduction to this publication, as comprising the topography of Leath Mogha, or the kingdoms of Leinster and Munster, together with their chiefs and clans. In the present article on Thomond, will be given the topography of the ancient territories comprised in the present counties of Clare and Limerick, together with their mac O'Hara, and six of the chiefs of his tribe were slain. chiefs and clans, and the possessions of each in ancient and modern times. It may be observed here, that the topographies of O'Dugan and O'Heerin were transcribed by Peregrine O'Clery, one of the Four Masters, and by Duald Mac Firbis, one of the learned historians of Leacan in Sligo, and from these two transcripts, the translator has made copies, and also had access to various other copies in the library of Sir William Betham, all of which he has accurately compared, to make the topography as perfect as possible. Sir William Betham having given free access to all his valuable MSS. on Irish history and antiquities, with his usual liberality, always an.\-ious to patronize and promote the interests of Irish literature. The following verses descriptive of Clare and the Dalcassian clans have been translated from O'Heerin : — " Let us treat of the race of Cormac Cas, Let us proceed across the Shannon of clear streams, From the tribe of Core our course record, To the tribe of Lure of brilliant deeds. (Core and Lure, ancient kings of Thomond). " The Deis Beag of the purple mantles Is an estate to the lawful tribes, The heroes of Clare are proclaimed by us From the fairest lands of Erin. 'Tlie Dalcassians of Clare's battalions, Pure is their silver and abundant their property. Their gold by the furnace is purified. The hospitable hosts have great affluence. " Rich is each chief in bis own territory, Of the Dalcassians renowned in victories. Men of great prosperity whom we thus place, [Shannon." They possessed the land eastward from Callan to the I. O'Deadhaidh or O'Dea, chief of Triocha Uachtarach, called also Kind Fearmaic and Diseart I Dhegha, or Dysart O'Dea, now the parish of Dysart, barony of Inchi(ium, county of Clare. The O'Deas are thus mentioned by O'Heerin : — " With due respect we give the lead To the high lands of Triocha Oughter, O'Dea is the inheritor of the country, Of the brown nut producing plains." The O'Deas had several castles m this territory, of which some ruins still remain, and some chiefs of the O'Deas are mentioned in the course of these Annals. II. O' Cuinn or O'Quinn, chief of Muintir Ifernain, a territory about Curofin in the county of Clare. The O'Hefiernans were the tribe who possessed this territory over whom O'Quinn was cliief. They are thus mentioned by O'Heerin ; " O Quinn of the honest heart. Is chief of the boimtiful O'Heifemans; Their land is fruitful and purely fair, About Curofin of the banquets," The O'Quinns had also possessions in Limerick, and are placed in the barony of Kenry on the map of Ortelius. At the present tune the ancient family of the O'Quinns have the title of barons of Adare m the county of Limerick and earls of Dunraven. REIGN OF EDWARD III. 151 Hugh Mac Dermott made an incursion into Muintir Eoluis (in Leitrim) and committed great III. O'Flaithri or O'Flattery, and O'Catliail or O'Cahil, chiefs of Fiondchoradh. They are thus designated by O'Heerin : — " O'Flaithri wlio commands our praise, Possesses the land of Fionchora, The country of O'Cahil to the east and west Is the smooth plain of the fields of yews." IV. O'Maoilmcda, chief of Kinel m-Baith or Breintire, now Brentry, near Callan hill ui the county of Clare. They are thus mentioned by O'Heerin : — " Kinel Baith of the numerous tribe, The noble chiefs of Brentire, O'Mulmea ofthe bright fair plains, Possessed the woods about delightful Einigh." v. O'Haithchir or O'Hehirs, chiefs of Hy Flanchadha and Hy Cormac, districts in the barony of Islands, county of Clare, and, according to O'Halloran, of Callan, m the county of Clare. They are thus designated by O'Heerin : — " Of the race of Eogan of Oirir Cliaeh Are the Hy Cormac of the fine fair plain. To O'Hehir belongs the fertile country. The lord from whom great nobles sprung. " Chiefs who were powerful in each house Are of the noble clans of O'Hehir, They rule over Hy Flancha of hospitable mansions, They are noble and well armed Fenian warriors. VI. O'Duibhghinn or O'Duigin, chief of Muintir Conlochtaidh, a district in the parish of Toragraney, in the barony of Tullagh, county of Clare, is thus mentioned by O'Heerin : — " O'Duigan of the ruddy fair face Rules over the mild IMuinter Conlochta, A chief who gained his possessions By force of his spears in battle." VII. O'Grada, or O'Grady, chief of Kinel Donghuile, a large ter- ritory comprising the present barony of Lower Tullagh, in the county of Clare, wliere they are placed on tlie Map of Ortelius. The O'Gradys also had large possessions in the county of Limerick, accordmg to O'Halloran, at Carn Feradaigh, now the parish of Knockaney , or Auey , in the barony of Small County, in the county of Limerick, where the O'Gradys had their castle at Kilballyowen, which place is at present the residence of The O'Grady, the head of this ancient and respectable family. The O'Gradys are thus de- signated by O'Heerin, and several chiefs of them are mentioned in the course of these Annals : " Do ghabh O'Grada uile Cenel duasbog Donghuile A cuilg bunbuidhe bleachta Uird urlaidhe a oireachta." " O'Grady took the entire lands Of the profitable Kinel Dongally, His swords were yellow-liandled and keen, Powerful are the blows of his forces in battle." There are several highly respectable families ofthe O'Gradys at the present day in the counties of Clare and Limerick, and also in the county of Cork ; and in modem tunes they were created viscounts Guillamore, that title having been conferred, in the year 1831, on the Right Hon. Standish O'Grady, chief baron of the Exchequer in Ireland. VIII. Mac Conmara, or Mac Namara. The Mac Na- depredation.s, which plunders, however, were not unavenged, for Cormac Mac Dermott Roe, the maras have taken their name, as stated in O'Brien's dictionary at the word Cumara, from one of their ancient chiefs in the tenth century named Cumara, a descendant of Conall Eachluath, or Council of the Swift Steeds, who was king of Monster in the fourth century. The word Cumara makes, in the genitive, Conmara, which signifies a warrior of the sea, this ancient chief probably having been a great naval commander. The Mac Namaras were chiefs of Triocha Cead Hy Caisin, which territory, according to O'Brien and O'Halloran, is now the barony of 'Tullagh, in the county of Clare ; and, according to Mac Geoghegan, (p. 234), con- tained also part of the barony of Buuratty. The Jlac Namaras are also sometimes styled chiefs of Clan Cuileain, which was the tribe name of his family, derived from Cuilean, one of their chiefs in the eighth century. 'The Mac Namaras are thus designated by O'Heerin, and many chiefs of them are mentioned in the course of these Annals : " Riogh thaoiseach na ruathar n-glan Mac Conmara o Mhuigh Adhair, Criocha na sed thall a thir, Ar Triocha Cead Clann Caisin. " The princely chief of well fought battles Is Mac Namara from Moy Air, The land of riches is his country. It is the territory of Clan Caisin." The Mac Namaras held the high and honourable office of hereditary marshals of Thoniond, were very powerful, and had numerous castles; and there are at the present day some highly respectable families of the name in the county of Clare ; the head of which is Major William Nugent Mac INamara, of Doohn Castle, M.P. for the County of Clare. Some of the Mac Namaras have been distinguished in the service of France, particularly John Mac Namara, who died A.D. 1747, and was, as stated by Mac Geoghegan, (p. 334), an admiral in the service of France, of the grand military order of St. Louis, and governor of the port of Rochefort. IX. O'Conchubhair or O'Conor, chief of Triocha Cead Fear n-Arda and of Corcamruadh, the ancient name of the barony of Corcomroe, in the county of Clare, also anciently called Crioch Cuirc or the territory of Core, wUicli got its name from Core, prince of the race of Ir from Ulster, who settled there in the first century. The O'Conors were chiefs of this territory, and some of them are mentioned in the course of these Amials ; they are thus designated by O'Heerin : — • " The territory of Fear Arda of the gold, Corcomroe of the hosts of flashing battalions, O'Conor obtained the land. The heights from delightful Conagh." X. O'Lochlainn or O'Loghlin, chief of Boirinn, now the barony of Barren, county,of Clare, which was sometimes called Eastern Cor- comroe; they are thus mentioned by O'Heerin : — " O'Loghlin, a hero commanding battalions, Over the fertile watered plains of Barren, And the lands of Core which he holds by right, A country of cattle and abundant wealth. Several chiefs of the O'Loghlins are mentioned In the course of these Annals; they were very powerful, had many castles, and held their rank as lords of Burren down to the reign of Elizabeth. As already stated in the present article, the O'Conors and O'Loghlins were of the same descent, namely, a branch of the Clanna Rory descended from the ancient kings of Ulster of the race of Ir. There are at the present time some highly respectable families of the O'Loghlins in the county of Clare, and the head of this ancient and distinguished family is Sir Colman O'Loghlin, son of the late sir Michael O'Loghlin, a very emment lawyer, and Master of the Rolls m Ireland. 152 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A.D. 1365. general Biatach' of Connaught, was slain, and also the two sons of Tomaltach O'Beii-ne, namely. XI. O'Conaill, or O'ConnpIl, chief of Hy Cuilein, from Luachair Ailleto Claenglais,according to O'Heerin. Tlje commons of Claon- (jlas are marked on the maps south-east of Abbeyfeale, in the barony of Upper Conello, on the verge of the county of Limerick, towards the river Feale, and the borders of Cork and Kerry. According to O'Brien, at the word Conal, and also O'Halloran, (vol. iii. p. 389,) the territory of the O'Connells was called Hy Conaill Gabhra, and comprised the present baronies of Upper and Lower Conello, in the county of Limerick, and got its name from Conall Gabhra, one of its ancient chiefs, the ancestor of the O'Connells. The O'Connells, chiefs of Hy Conall Gaura, had also, according to O'Halloran, a district called Aos Grcine,^ extending from Knock Greine to near Limerick, and had their chief residence at Castle Connell. At an early period, namely, in the twelfth century, as stated in O'Brien's Irish Dictionary, at the word Ibh Conail Gabhra, the O'Connells settled in Kerry, where they had a large territory extending from Sliabh Luachra, and the river Feale, toClaenglais, on the borders of their ancient possessions. According to O'Halloran, (vol. iii. p. 4U7,) as already stated in this article, the O'Falvies, admirals of Desmond ; the O'Connells of Kerry, O'Sheas, chiefs of Muskerry, in Cork, and several other chiefs, were descended from the ClannaDeaga, celebrated chiefs of Munster, originally a branch of the Heremonians of Ulster. Of the Clanna Deaga, was Conaire II., monarch of Ireland in the beginning of the third century, who was married to a daughter of his prede- cessor. Con of the Hundred Battles, monarch of Ireland ; by whom lie had a son, named Cairbre Riada, from whom were descended the Dalriedians of Ulster. This Cairlire Riada, about the middle of tlie third century, settled the colony of Dalriedians, in that part of North Britain called Albany, afterwards Scotland ; and from this colony were descended the Scottish kings, and the House of Stuart. From Cairbre Muse, brother to Cairbre Riada, Muiscrith, or Muskerry, in Cork, got its name ; and according to Keating's Genealogies, the O'Falvies and other chiefs were his descendants ; or, as stated in a learned Essay on ancient Ireland, by John T. O'Flaherty, Esq., published in Cork in the year 184-2, a son of Cairbre Riada got large possessions in South Munster, in parts of the present counties of Cork and Kerry ; and from him were descended the O'Connells of Kerry ; and according to some MS. communications, also the O'Falvies and O'Sheas. In the topo- graphical poem of O'Heerin, the O'Connells of the twelfth century are thus designated : — " OConail! catha Mnmhan, Toirteamhuil an tiomsughadh, Fian eath-armach is dual dreim, Sluagh cathadhnach O g-Cuilein." " O'Connell of the battalions of Munster, Mighty are his mustering forces, A Fenian armed warrior frequent in the fight. Commands the battling hosts of Hy Cuilein." The O'Connells had large possessions in Kerry, chiefly in the barony of Iveragh, and branches of them were also settled in the county of Clare. From an early period they were coimecfed, by marriage alliances, with the O'Conors, the ancient lords of Kerry. Maurice O'Connell, of the county of Clare, who was a general of brigade, and colonel of the king's guards, under James II., was killed at the battle of Aughrim ; and Charles O'Connell, his brother, of Braintree, in Clare, was a colonel in king James' service. Several of the O'Connells afterwards entered the Irish Brigade, in the service of France ; and some of them were distinguished com- manders, amongst whom may be mentioned Count Daniel O'Con- nell, a general in the French service ; others of them were officers in the Austrian service. Lieutenant-general sir Maurice O'Con- nell, is at present commander of the British forces in New South Wales. After the Cromwellian wars, and the Revolution, a great Malachy Dall and Gilcreest, with many others of the people of Muintir Eoluis, while in pursuit of part of the extensive possessions of the O'Connells were confis- cated ; but there are still many very respectable families of the O'Connells in the counties of Kerry and Clare ; and of this ancient family, the head is the celebrated Daniel O'Connell, of Darrynane Abbey, in the county of Kerry, who retains in his pos- session ancestral estates which never were forfeited during a tenure of sixteen hundred years. XII. Mac Inderigh, Mac Aneiridhe, or Mac Eneiry, chief of Corca Muiceadha, also called Conaill Uach- tarach, or the barony of Upper Conello, in the county of Limerick. The Mac Eneirys were descended from Mahon, king of Munster, brother of Brian Born, and were a highly respectable family in for- mer times, and their chief residence was at Castletown Mac Eneiry, where there are still some ruins of a large castle and monastery. Accounts of the Mac Eneirys are to be found in the third vol. of O'Halloran's Ireland, pp. 390, 398 ; and in O'Brien's Dictionary, at the words Concubar and Muiceadha, they are thus mentioned by O'Heerin : — " Mac Eneiry the hero of precious gems, Rules over Corea Muiceada of the mounds, A noble Fenian who always flourished, As doth the fair blossom on the apple tree." XIII. O'Billraidhe, a chief in Hy Conaill Gabhra, now the baronies of Upper and Lower Conello, in the county of Limerick, is thus mentioned by O'Heerin : — " O'Billry the bestower of cattle. Was a chief of fertile Conall Gaura, They were truly bountiful men of the fair plains, The rich lands of productive crops." XIV. O'Cuilein, or O'Cullen, by some rendered Collins ; O'Kenealys and O'Sheelians, are given by O'Halloran, vol. iii. p. 390; and in O'Brien's Dictionary, at the word Conal, as chiefs in the baronies of Conello, county of Limerick. Some chiefs of the O'Cuileins are mentioned in the course of these Annals. XV. O'Maolmacasa, or O'Mackessy, chief of Corca Oiche ; and O'Berga, chief of Tuath Rossa, districts in the county of Limerick, are thus mentioned by O'Heerin : — " Corca Oiche of the delightful woods, The country of white mantles and clear streams, A fair land of great fertility. Is governed by O'Maolmackessy, O'Berga of the fair country took possession of. The districts of Hy Rossa a rich portion." XVI. O'Maolchalloin, a chief in Caonraidhe, now the barony of Kenry, county of Limerick, is thus mentioned by O'Heerin : — "The Fenian chief of Kenry of delightful lands. Is O'Mulcallen of the numerous tribe." XVII. O'Cleircmn and O'Flannabhra, or O'Flannery, chiefs of Dail Cairbre Aodhbha, a territory in the barony of Kenry, in the county of Limerick, thus mentioned by O'Heerin: — " The portion of the delightful Dal Cairbre Eva, Of the princes of Cashel of white standards, Lasting is his prosperity to the country, The brave and high chief O'Cleircinn." XVIII. O'Donnobhain, or O'Donovan, who is given by O'Brien at the word Cairbre, as chief of Cairbre Aodhbha, now the barony of Kenry, in the county of Limerick, which as stated by O'Halloran, (vol. iii. p. 387), was the ancient territory of O'Donovan, O'Cleircin, and O'Flannery ; O'Donovan is thus designated by O'Heerin : — " Hereditary to O'Donovan of Dun Cuire, Is this territory as his fortress land, To him without tribute belongs Maghmoill, And the level plains down to the Shannon." REIGN OF EDWARD III. 153 their property, and they also took prisoners Der- mod Mac Dermott and Maolrooney Mac Donogh Riabhach, after defeating their people. There are several respectable families of the O' Donovans at the present day, in tlie county of Cork, where, it appears, they have been chiefly located in modem times. The O'Donovans of Limerick had their chief castle at Bmree. XIX. O'Ciarmaic, anglicised O'Kirwick, chief of Eoganacht Aino, called by O'Hal- loran, .\ine Cliach, now the parish of Knockaney, in the barony of Small County, county of Limerick. The O'Kirwicks are thus mentioned by O'Heerin : " Eoganacht Aine of the wealthy lands, O'Kirwick is the mainstay of the territory, A country inhabited by the most noble tribes, They are Hy Enda, Aine, and Auluiin." XX. O'Maolduin, or O'Muldoon, is also given as a chief of Eogan- acht Ame, and thus mentioned by O'Heerin. " The race of O'Maolduin from Dun Cais, Over Eoganacht Aine in due order, A numerous tribe who proceeded o'er the waves, The armed Fenian heroes from Aughrim." XXI. O'Cinnfaolaidh, probably O'Kinealy, chief of Eoganacht Grian Gabhra, a district comprising parts of the baronies of Coshma and Small County, m Limerick, and thus mentioned by O'Heerin : " The Eoganacht of the fertile Grian Gaura, A land producing most delicious apples, A crown of female households in fame, Belongs to O'Kmfaola of the red arms." XXII. O'Conuing, a name anglicised to Gunning, was chief of Crioch Saiugil and Aosgreine, which territories are now com- prised in the barony of Small County, in Limerick, according to O'Brien, at the word Aos-Greine. Crioch Saingil, according to O'Halloran, (vol. iii., p. 304), is called Single Land, and sitimted near Limerick. The O'Cmnings are thus mentioned by O'Heerin : " Aos Greine of the fine fair plains, Was possessed by O'Cuining of Crioch Saingil, He cheerfully held the fair Grian, From the noble race of Eogan." XXIII. O'Caelaidh, or O'Cadhla, probably O'Keeley ; and O'Maille, or O'Malley, are given as chiefs of 'Tuath Luimnidh, or the district about Limerick. XXIV. O'Ceadfadha is given as chief ofTriocha-Cead-an Chalaidh, called Cala Luimne, that is, the port or ferry of Limerick. XXV. O'Haodha, or O'Hea, chief of Musgraidhe Luachra, a territory lying between Kilmallock and Ardpatrick, in the barony of Coshlea, in the county of Limerick, is thus designated by O'Heerm : " O'Hea, the bestower of cattle. Obtained the extensive Muscry Luachra, The tribe of the fair land of melodious song, Dwelt along the great salmon stream." There are some respectable families of the O'Heas in tlie counties of Limerick and Cork. XXVI. Mac Domhnaill, or Muinter Domh- naill, and O'Baiscind, chiefs of Triocha Cead Corca Baiscind, which, according to O'Halloran, is now the barony of Moyarta, hi the county of Clare. O'Maolcorcra is given as chief of Hy Bra- cain, now the barony of Ibrackan ; and another chief, O'CaoIaidh, or O'Keeley. In the poem two Corca Baiscins are mentioned, one of which was the present barony of Clonderlaw. Mac Don- Brj'an, son of Matthew Mac Tiarnan, chief of Tullyhunco (in Cavan), the most distinguished for prosperity, nobleness, good fame, and power, of nell's district is mentioned by O'Halloran, under the name of Darach, whom he also calls O'Dounell. These chiefs are thus designated by O'Heerin : " The two Triocha Ceads we remember. The two delightful Corca Baiscins, The Mac Donnells were its inheritors, The host who have shared the country. " Another chief of this land of music. Noble is the origin of his descent, O'Baiskinn, the stately tree from its root. The tribe who marched with every force. " The lord of Ibrackan of silken garments, A chief who musters mighty forces, O'Maolcorcra of prevailing fame. Whose land extends from both the bays. " The two territories of the entire Fochla, Are possessed by the valiant race of Couary, Along the land of Braonmoy 'tis true, Its lawful defender is O'Keely. Let us leave the race of Conary of Battles, The princes of Ema of the golden shields." XXVII. Mac Mathghamhna, nr Mac Mahon. The Mac Mahons, it appears, succeeded the above chiefs, as lords of Corca Baiscinn ; and possessed the greater part of the baronies of Moyarta and Clonderlaw, in the county of Clare, m which they are placed on the map of Ortelius ; and a further account of them may be found in O'Halloran, vol. iii. pp. 388, 390 ; and in O'Brien's Dictionary, at the words Baisginneach, Concubar, and Domhnal, where the Mac Mahons and Mac Donnells are given as branches of the O'Briens, the posterity of Brian Born, and therefore, of quite a difl'erent descent from the Mac Mahons, lords of Mooaghan, and the Mac Donnells, earls of Antrim, who are of the race of Clan CoUa, as explained in the note on Orgiall. Several chiefs of the Mac Mahons of Tliomond are mentioned in the course of these Annals. There were of this family, a marquis Mac Mahon and some other military commanders of the name, in the service of France and Spain, in the last century, of whom accounts may be found m Ferrar's History of Limerick; and the late sir William Mac Mahon, Master of the Rolls m Ireland, and his brother, General Mac Mahon, of the British service, were of this family. There are still some respectable families of the Mac Mahons in the county of Clare, and some have changed the name to Mahon, and the chief representative of this ancient family is O'Gorman Mahon, formerly M P. for Clare. XXVIII. O'Gormain, or O'fiorman, is given by O'Halloran, vol. iii. p. 402, as chief of Tullichrin, a territory comprising parts of the baronies of Moyarta and Ibrackan, in the county of Clare, in which they are placed on the map of Ortelius. There are several respectable families of the O'Gormans in the county of Clare, the head of which is, Nicholas Purcell O'Gorman, at present Assistant Barrister for the county of Kilkenny. XXIX. O'DiochoUa and O'Maoleithigh, are given as chiefs in Corcomroe, in the county of Clare, and thus mentioned by O'Heerin ; " O'Diocholla's possessions by inheritance. Are in Corcomroe of the intrepid battalions, Also O'Maoleithigh the hospitable. Who maintained his hereditary rights." XXX. O'Droighnean, or O'Drennan, chief of Slieve Eise Film and X 154 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A.D. 1365. all the chiefs in Brefney, died, composed the following — For him was " Bryan Mae Tiarnan of the battles, Whose liospitality was unbounded, And his liberality as unlimited As his achievements were extensive." of Kinel Seudna, a district on the borders of Clare and Galway, is thus mentioned by O'Heerin : "The lands about the fair Slieve Else, Are possessed by the Clan Seudna of melodious bards, A tribe who tirnily support their clans. Chief of their territory is O'Drennan. " XXXI. O'Neill, chief of Clan Dealbuidhe and of Tradraidhe, a district in the barony of Inchiquin, county of Clare, is thus men- tioned by O'Heerhi ; " The land of Clan Dalvy of the poets Was ruled by O'Neill chief of Fionnluaragh, The forces of Tradree came to his fortress, The descendant of the yellow-haired chiefs." It appears that these O'Neills of Thomond were originally some of the O'Neills of Ulster, some of whom, as stated in Ferrar's History of Limerick, (pp. 258, 36.3), changed the name to Nihell, of whicli name there were many respectable families in the counties of Limerick and Clare ; and of these was sir Balthazar Nihell, a Brigadier-general in tlie service of the king of Naples ; and colonel Nihell, of the Irish brigade, in the French service. The Creaghs also, of whom there are still many highly respectable families in the counties of Clare, Cork, and Tipperary, were descended from the O'Neills of Ulster, according to Ferrar, some of them having come to Limerick, in the tenth century, to assist in the expulsion of the Danes. Many of them were valiant chiefs, and gained several victories over the Danes ; and on one occasion, having worn green boughs in their helmets, they from this circum- stance got the name O'Craoibh, which signifies, of the branches, which name was anglicised to Creagh. Of this family was Richard Creagh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Armagli, who died A.D. 1585, an eminent writer on ecclesiastical history, and the lives of the Irish saints. The O'Creaghs are also given by O'Halloran, (vol. iii. p. 414), as a branch of the O'Neills of Ulster. XXXII. O'Dobharchon or O'Davoran, chief of Muintir Lidheagha, or the O'Liddys, the tribe name of this clan. The O'Davorans are placed on the map of Ortelius, in the barony of Corcomroe, county of Clare. They are thus mentioned by O'Heerin : " The O'Davorans of the intelligent learned men. Chiefs of the O'Liddys of whom I treat. They belonged to the clans of Siunill, And are the supporters of nobility." The following chiefs and clans of Thomond, not given by O'Heerin, are collected from other sources. XXXIII. The O'Moloneys, according to O'Halloran, (vol. iii. p. 387), were chiefs of Cuilte- nan, now the parish of Kiltonanlea, in the barony of Tulla, county of Clare, where they are also placed on the map of Ortelius. Tliere are also, at present, many respectable families of the name, in the county, the head of which is James O'Molony of Kiltan- non, Esq. XXXIV. The O'Keameys, given by O'Halloran, (vol. iii. p. 400), as chiefs of Abhuin Ui Cbearnaidh, or O'Kear- ney's river, a district about Six- Mile- Bridge, in the baronies of Tulla and Bunratty, county of Clare. XXXV. The O'Caseys, given as chiefs of Rathconan, in the barony of Pubblebrien, county of Limerick, by O'Halloran, (p. 400), who states, that the viscounts Perry, afterwards earls of Limerick, possessed part of this estate, in right of his great grandmother, who was the heiress of O'Casey. Bryan, son of Hugh Mac Mahon, having assumed the lordship of Orgiall (Monaghan), proposed a marriage connection to Sorley, son of Edin Duv Mac Donnell, heir presumptive to the lordship of the Hebrides, and high constable of the province of Ulster, and prevailed on him to XXXVI. O'Dinnahans or O'Dinans, given by O'Halloran, (p. 420,) as chiefs of Uaithne, now the barony of Owneybeg, in Limerick. XXXVII. The O'Hallinans and Mac Sheeliys, are given by O'Halloran, as chiefs of Ballyhallinan, in the barony of Pubble- brien, county of Limerick. The O'Hallorans, given by O'Hal- loran, as chiefs of Faith-ui-Hallurain, a district between Tulla and Cjlare, in the county of Clare. The following families of note are given on the map of Ortelius, an ancient authority often quoted, which gave tiie localities and territories possessed by the Irish chiefs and clans, in the reign of James I., in the beginning of the seventeenth century, and was orignally compiled by Abra- ham Ortelius, of Antwerp, the celebrated geographer to king Philip II. of Spain, and re-published with improvements by the learned Charles O'Conor, of Belenagar. XXXVIII. The Mac Giollaio- saghts, a name anglicised to Lysaghts, are placed on the map of Ortelius, about Ennistymon ; the Mae Considincs, in the barony of Ibrackan ; the O'Dalys, in the barony of Barren ; the Mae Ciillereaghs, in the barony of Clondcrlaw ; the Mac Clancys, in the liarony of Tulla ; and the Mac Bruodins, in the barony of Inchiquin, all in the county of Clare. The following families are placed on the map, in the county of Limerick : the Mac Arthurs, in the barony of Pubblebrien; the O'Scanlans, in the barony of Pubblebrien ; and the O'Mornys, in the barony of Lower Conello. Several of the Dalcassian chiefs and clans, not mentioned in this article, are given in the notes on Ormond and Desmond, on the territories which they possessed. In the year 1180, king Henry II. granted the kingdom of Limerick to Herbert Fitzherbert, but he having resigned his claims, it was granted by king John to William and Philip de Braosa. In the latter end of the twelfth, and beginning of the thirteenth century, the Anglo-Normans penetrated into Tliomond, and formed some settlements about Limerick, under William de Braosa and William de Burgo ; and in tlie thirteenth century, king Henry III., gave a grant of the whole kingdom of Thomond, or O'Brien's country, to Thomas de Clare, son of the earl of Ciloucester ; and the Fitzgeralds, Burkes, and other Anglo-Nor- man families, also got large possessions in Limerick and Clare. The O'Briens, and other chiefs, maintained for centuries fierce contests with the Anglo-Norman and English settlers, in defence of their national independence. The following were the chief families of Anglo-Normans, and early English settlers, in the counties of Limerick and Clare. The de Burgos or Burkes, Fitzgeralds, Fitzgihbons, a branch of the Fitzgeralds, the de Clares, de Lacies, Browns, Barretts, Roches, Russels, Sarsfields, Stritches, Purcells, Husseys, Harolds, Tracys, Trants, Comyns, Whites, ^Valshcs, Woulfes, Dongans, Rices, Aylmers, Nashes, Monsells, Ma^sys, &c. The Fitzgeralds, earls of Desmond, had vast possessions in Lime- rick, and of the estates of Gerald, the sixteenth earl of Desmond, in the reign of Elizabeth, about one hundred thousand acres were confiscated in the county of Limerick, and divided amongst the following English families : the Annesleys, Barkleys, Billingsleys, Bourchiers, Carters, Courtenays, Fittons, Mannerings, Stroudes, Trenchards, Thorntons, and Uthereds. In the reign of George I., according to Lodge's Peerage, Thomas, baron Southwell, brought over and settled on his estates about Bathkeale, in the county of Limerick, a colony of about three thousand Cicrmans, from Suabia and the Palatinate of the Rhine hence they were called Pal/itines. Limerick was formed into a county as early as the reign of king John, A.D. 1210. The Book of D'mn Smnclms, written in the sixth century liy Amergin, chief bard to Dermod, monarch of Ire- land, is a work which gives an account of the origin of the names of remarkable places, as fortresses, cities, mountains, lakes, rivers, &c. in Ireland. A copy made from the Books of Leacan and Bal- REIGN OF EDWARD III. 155 put away the daughter of O'Reilly (of Cavan), but not long after and to take his own daughter lymote, and an original Irish MS. of the eighth century on vellum, by the translator of these Annals, is in the library of Sir William Bethuin. Tlie Dinn Seanclius gives the following aecoinit of the origin of the name of Limerick. In the early ages a battle was fought here between the kings of Munster and Connaught, and the forces of botli sides engaged at the fords, when the tide was out ; but during the contest, both parties liecauie so hotly engaged that tliey were iiiimindful of the tide, which flowed in, and the flood coming so suddenly on them, they were forced to throw off their sliields, wlien tiie beholders exclaimed, *' Tlie pool is covered with shields" — hence the place got the name of Luinuieacli, the word Lvimne, in the ancient Irish, signifying shields. Tlie city of Limerick is suijposed by some to liave been the ancient Regtn of the Greek geographer Ptolemy, in his account of Ireland in the second century ; and, according to O'Halloran, Limerick was a large city as early as the tenth century, and ha\ ing commerce with Spain and other countries, and great shipping, got the name of Lu'imneuch-na-luingeas, or Limerick of the Ships. The geogra- pher Ptolemy mentions the inhabitants of the territory now forming the county of Clare, and the southern part ofGalway, un- der the name of Gnnynnl, whom Camden, and Dr. Charles O'Co- nor consider to have been a tribe of the Concoti! of Spain. Clare was formed into a county in the reign of Elizabeth, A. D. 1505, by the Lord Deputy, Sir Henry Sidney, and got its name, not from the de Clares, who were lords of tliat country, as asserted by va- rious writers ; but, according to JIac Curtin, as quoted from one of his ancient MSS. given in the account of the parish of Kilnamaneen, in tlie county of Clare, in the first volume of Sliaw JIason's Statis- tical Survey of Ireland, it derived its name from an ancient bridge of planks built over the river Fergus, and the word CInr in Irish signifying a plank, hence the adjoining town got the name of Clnr, or Clare, and the town gave its name to the entire county. The county of Clare forms a large peninsula, boimded on one side by the Atlantic ocean, and on the other by the Shannon ; and the counties of Clare and Limerick, along the coast of the Atlantic, and course of the Shannon, and the river Fergus, abound in grand and beautiful scenery. An extensive tract in the county of Lime- rick, called the Golden Vale, contains some of the richest lands in Ireland, famous for their unbounded fertility. The counties of Limerick and Clare are celebrated for orchards, and the production of cider. Nobiliti/. — The following have been the noble families in Lime- rick and Clare since the reign of Henry VIII. The O'Briens, earls and marquesses of Thomond, earls of Inchiquin, barons of Ibrackan, and barons of Hurren, also viscounts of Clare, and barons of Moy- arta ; the Burkes, barons of Castleconnell : tlie Roches, barons of Tarbcrt ; and the Fitzgeralds, knights of Glin, in the connty of Limerick j the Sarsfields, viscounts of Kilmallock, in the county of Limerick ; the Dongans, earls of Limerick ; the Hamiltons, vis- counts of Limerick ; the Fanes, viscounts Fane, and barons of Loughguire, in Limerick ; the Southwells, barons Southwell of Castlematross, in Limerick ; the Fitzgibbons, carls of Clare ; the Perrys, earls of Limerick ; the Quinns, earls of Dunraven and ba- rons of .\dare, in Limerick ; the O'Gradys, vi>-counts Guillamore, in Limerick ; the lords Fitzgerald and Vesci, in the county of Clare; and tlic Massys, barons of Clarina in Limerick. Ecdexifist'ical Uiviximis. — TJie See of KUfenora, according to Lanigan, (vol. ii. p. 107), was founded tiy St. Fachna, or St. Fach- nan, and the bishops were also styled bishops of Fcnabore, and sometimes bishops of Corcomroe, all of which names were applied to this see. A celebrated Cistercian monastery was founded and endowed at Corcomroe, in the twelfth century, by Donal O'Brien, king of Limerick, and his son Donogh Cairbreach O'Brien, prince of Thomond. The Diocese of KUfenora comprises only the baro- nies of Barren and Corcomroe, in the county of Clare, being the smallest in Ireland. Tlie See ofKiUaloc, in Irish CiU-da-Lua, or the church of Lua, got its name from St. Lua, or Molua, who founded a cliurch there in the sixth centurv. The name of Killaloe is latinised Laonia, and Mac Mahon gave him an invitation to his house, and ha'ving been drinking for some time, a dispute it became a bishop's see in the seventh century, the first bishop being St. Flannan, a disciple of St. Molua, who was consecrated at Rome by Pope John IV. A. D. G30. St. Flanan was the son of Torlogh, king of Monster, who endowed the see with extensive lands, and was interred in the cathedral. The abbey and see of Killaloe were amply endowed by the O'Briens, kmgs of Thomond, who erected the cathedral, in which many of them were interred. The ancient see of Roscrea, in the county of Tipperary, was in the twelfth century united to Killaloe, and the bishops of Killaloe were sometimes styled bishops of Thomond. The Diocese ofKiUidoe comprehends the gTeater part of the county of Clare, with a large portion of Tipperary, and parts of Limerick, King's and Queen's counties, and Galway. The See of Limerick was founded in the sixth century by St. Munchin, who became the first bishop. In the tenth and eleventh centuries, several of the bishops of Limerick were Danes, a colony of that people possessing the city at that period. In the twelfth century a new cathedral was erected by the O'Briens, kings of Thomond, who amply endowed the see. The Diocese of Limerick comprises the greater part of the county of Limerick, with a por- tion of Clare. The See of Iiiis Cathayv:a» founded in the fifth century by St. Patrick, and St. Senan, bishop and abbot of Inis- Cathay, is mentioned as his successor Inis-Cathay is an island situated near the mouth of the Shannon, and its ancient monastery was a celebrated seat of religion in early times, and continued for many years a great place of pilgrimage. Tbe ancient see comprised some adjoining districts in the counties of Limerick and Clare, and was annexed to the see of Limerick in the twelfth century. Ancient Literature. — The Mac Clancys w'ere hereditary Bre- hons ; the Mac Bruodins hereditary historians ; and the Mac Cur- tuis hereditary bards of Thomond, of whom, and other learned men, accounts are given in the course of these Annals, and also in O'Reilly's Irish Writers. Tile Mae Craiths, or Magraths, of Tho- mond, are also mentioned as bards and historians. The Wars of Thomond, styled, Cathreim Thoirdhetilhhitiyh, or, a Catalogue of Torlogh's Battles, contains, as stated in O'Reilly's Irish Writers at A. D. 1450, an account of the battles of Torlogh O'Brien, and of the wars of Thomond, from the landing of Henry II. in Ireland, to the death of Robert de Clare, A. D. 1318. This work was written by Rory Mac Craith, in the fifteenth century, the original of which, on vellum, is in the library of Sir \\'illiam Betham, and if translated and published, would form a valuable contribution to the history of that period. Mac Cartings Irish Dictionary, writ- ten by Hugh Mac Curtin, a native of Clare, a celebrated poet and historian, and published at Paris \.T). 1732. It is an English- Irish Dictionary, and the only one extant. Mac Curtin also pub- lished an Irish Grammar at Louvain, in 17'28, and also other learned works on Irish history and antiquities. Andrew Mac Curtin, a celebrated poet of the same family, is also mentioned by O'Reilly. Several Irish poems by the Mac Curtins are in the possession of Sir William Betliam, and form the best collection of them extant. The chevalier Thomas O'Gorman, of the family of the O'Gormans of Clare, was an officer in the French service, and distinguished in Irish literature, and collected many works. He is often mentioned in O'Reilly's Irish Writers, and died in Clare about the year 1815, and some of his MSS. are in the possession of Sir William Betham. O'Brien's Irish i))C^ioHor;/, written by John O'Brien, R. C. bishop ofCloyne, and first published at Paris, .\. D. 17C8 ; and anew edition of it was published in Dublin, in the year 1832, by the Rev. Robert Daly, at present bishop of Cashel. O'Brien's Dictionary is a very learneil and valuable work, not only on the Irish language, but on the topography of Ireland, and the genealogies of the ancient chiefs and clans. O'Connell's Irish Dictionary, written by Peter O'Connell, a native of Clare, a learned and laborious scholar, who flied about the year 1828, a large work in MS., the original of which is in the library of the British Museum, London, and a copy in the library of Trinity College, Dublin. Anthony Bruodin, a native of Clare, who died about A. D. 1680, was a Franciscan friar and learned lecturer in the Irish monastery at Prague, and wrote the X 2 156 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A. D. 1366. arose between them ; Brj'an folded his arms about Mac Donnell, and had him firmly bound, and cast into the adjacent lake, where he was imme- diately drowned. Donal, son of Hugh O'Neill, with his kinsmen ; Bryan, son of Henry O'Neill, with the chiefs of Clanaboy ; and Torlogh More Mac Donnell, with all those of his name in Ulster, having collected themselves together, marched with one accord into Orgiall, until they arrived at Rath TuUoch, the fortress of Mac Mahon ; infor- mation was sent before them to Bryan, who fled, leaving the to\'\n quite empty, but they pursued Mac Mahon, who, together with the chiefs of his country, were engaged in securing their property and cattle, in the fastnesses of the coimtry ; the Orgiallians were then defeated, and their arms and cattle were taken from them. Afler that Mac Mahon was expelled from his own territory, and compelled to take refuge with Muintir Maolmordha (O'Reillys of Cavan), and his wife and his daughter were made prisonei's. Cuchonacht O'Reilly, lord of Brefney, having entered a monastery, left the lordship to his bro- ther Philip. Hugh, son of Niall O'Donnell, heir presump- tive to the lordship of Tirconnell, was slain by Donal, son of Murtogh O'Conor, but Teige, son of Manns O'Conor, overtook Donal on the same day, defeated him, and slew a number of his peo- ple, together with Hugh, son of Conor, the son of Teige. Robert, son of Watin Barrett (in Mayo), died. The king of England's son left Ireland. A. D. 1366. The bishop of Raphoe, that is, Mac Maengail (Patrick Mac Moengal, or Magonail), died. celebrated work entitled Passio Martyrum Hibernlce^ and many learned works on tlieology. Richnrd Crenijh, Roman Catholic archbishop of Armagh, was a native of Limerick, and wrote Lives of the Irish ^^aints, and other learned works on Ecclesiastical His- tory ; he died A. D. 1585. O'Hulluran's History of Ireland, written by Sylvester O'Halloran, a native of Limerick, who was an eminent surgeon there, and a man of great learning on Irish history and antiquities. His History of Ireland, from the earliest period to tlie English invasion, is a learned and valuable v^ork. It was first published in the year 1778, in two volumes quarto, and afterwards republished by Fitzpatrick of Dublin, in three \olumes octavo, A.D. 1803. Ferrar's History of Linier'wh, written by John Ferrar, and published at Limerick, A.D. 1787. In the notes on Desmond and Ormond, will be given a full account of the ancient literature of Munster, and of many natives of IMuuster, distinguished in the military service of foreign states. Cathal, son of Hugh Brefnach (O'Conor), the son of Cathal Roe ; IManus Oge, his son ; Miu*- togh, the son of Dailredacair ; Maurice O'Maol- tuile ; Dermod Mac Simon ; and Dermod Mac GioUabearaigh, were treacherously slain by the men of Fermanagh, at the river of Firluirg (ba- rony of Lin-g), and they also committed great depredations on the Clan Murtogh (O'Conors), and made peace with the O'Rourkes, and forgave them their trespasses, through spite for the Clan Murtogh, and the O'Rourkes made terms with them. The son of Roderick O'Conor took Cathal's place after that, and the O'Rourkes fled with their property, under the protection of the people of Fermanagh, and, having surrounded the Clan Murtogh ; took them by suprise, and slew Cathal Mac Clancy, chief of Dartry. Murtogh Mac Rannall, son of Rannall More Mac Rannall, the undisputed heir presumptive, was treacherously slain by Malachy Mac Rannall, chief of Muintir Eoluis (in Leitrim), and Malachy himself died in two months afterwards. Cormac Don Mac Carthy, lord of Hy Cairpre and of Hy Eachach of Munster (both in the county of Cork), was treacherously slain by his own brother's son, the son of Donal of the Donals. Conor O'Conor, lord of Ciarraidhe Luachra (in the county of Ken-y), was slain by the Branachs.' Roderick, son of Murtogh O'Conor, was drowned in the Shannon. Teige, son of Manus O'Conor, defeated John O'Donnell and his galloglasses^ in a battle, in which a great many were slain, and Mac S^veeney, and several of the chiefs of Tirconnell, were taken prisoners and kept as hostages. Donal O'Neill and the Clan Donnell, namely, Torlogh Mac Donnell and Alexander his son, col- A.D. ISG.'j. 1. Biiitarh, derived from B'lodh, food, and teach, a house, was the term applied to the keepers of tiie imuses of hospitality, an order of persons, as already explained, very numerous in Ireland in ancient times, having grants of lands and other public endow- ments, for the purpose of keeping open houses of hospitality, for the entertainment of the poor and indigent, and all travellers and strangers, &c. ; therefore this Cormac Mac Dermott Roe appears to have been the chief inspector and regulator of these establish- ments in Connaught. A. D. 1366, 1. Brnnachs. Branachs was a name applied to the descendants of Bran, one of the kings of Leinster in the sixth century, of which trilie were the O'Byrnes, O'Tooles, and other clans in Wexford and M'icklow. 2. G(dloglasses, in Irish Galloglacha, were the heavy-armed REIGN OF EDWARD III. 157 lected their forces to attack Niall O'Neill; they expelled Mac Cathmail from the country, who went and joined O'Neill with his forces and cattle ; but they overtook the rear of Mac Cathmail's party with their flocks, attacked them, and captured all their property ; Randal, the son of Alexander, heir of the clan of Alexander, arrived at the same time from the Hebrides, to join Niall O'Neill. The kerns from either side of the Clan Donnells having approached each other, Randal sent mes- sengers to Torlogh, and his son Alexander, entreating them to let him pass in respect of his seniority and of their friendship with each other ; but they, however, treated that application with indifference, for they advanced to the ford over wliich they saw him preparing to pass, and a determined .and fierce engagement ensued, in which many were slain and wounded on both sides ; a son of Randal was slain by Torlogh in the thick of the fight, and Alexander, the son of Torlogh, was taken jjrisoner by Randal's party, whom they resolved instantly to put to death ; but Randal, however, would not consent to their pro- posal, for he said that he should not be deprived both of his son and of his kinsman on the same day. A great war broke out among the English of Connaught ; Mac Maurice was expelled from the countiy by Mac ^Villiam, and sought refuge with the Clan Rickard ; Mac William, with Hugh O'Conor, king of Connaught, and William O'Kelly, lord of Ily Maine, collected a force in South Connaught, with which they marched into Clan Rickard, where they remained nearly three months opposing each other, until at length Mac VViUiam obtained the superiority, took the hostages of Clanrickard into his possession, and then vic- toriously returned to his own country. John iMac Costello, lord of Slieve Lugha (in Mayo), died. Hugh TiiTell, lord of Fertullach, (in West- meath), was slain by the Berminghams. A.D. 1367. The bishop Malachy O'Fenall, that is, bishop foot soldiers of the Irish; they wore iron helmets, and coats of mail, studded with iron nails and rings ; had long swords by tlieir sides, and bore in their right hands broad battle-axes with very keen edges, by a single blow of whieh they, often clove the skull of a warrior through his helmet. It appears that the Scots also had troops called galloglasses and kerns, as in Shakspear's Jlac- of Ardagh, a prelate eminent for his piety, alms- giving, humanity and wisdom; and Malachias Mac Guire, archdeacon of Orgiall, (diocese of Clogher), died. Cuchonacht O'Reilly, lord of Brefuey, until he resigned it to God, and took holy orders, was succeeded by Philip (O'Reilly). The Clan Murtogh (O'Conors) , made an incur- sion with their forces into Moy Nisse (in Leitrim), and they attacked Mojdm-g (in Roscommon) ; the chiefs on that expedition were, Teige, the son of Roderick O'Conor ; Fergal Mac Tiarnan, lord of Tidlyhunco, and Dermod Mac Rannall, lord of Miunter Eoluis, with many galloglasses, and they burned the fortress of Hugh MacDermott; Fergal Mac Dermott, lord of Moylurg, accompanied by Hugh Mac Dermott, overtook them, and a conflict ensued, in which many were slain on both sides, after which Teige O'Conor and Mac Rannall re- turned, without prisoners or booty. Donal, son of Murtogh O'Conor, the O'Rom-kes, and the Mac Donoghs, with their retained kerns, defeated Teige, the son of Manus O'Conor, on the strand of Eothuile the carpenter (near Sligo), in which (battle) the galloglasses of Manus's son were slain, eighty of the bravest of them being killed, along with Donal, the son of Sorley (Mac Don- nell), Donal Oge his son, the two Mac Sweenys, Mac Aneas])uigO'Dowd, and William MacSithidh. Denail, daughter of Midroony More Mac Der- mott, and wife of Ualgarg O'Rourke, was slain by the Clan Murtogh. Malachy, the son of Geoffrey Mac Gilpatrick (of Ossoiy), and a great many of his people, were treacherously slain by the English. Teige Mac Gauran, and Aongus Mac Andeaga- naigh Mac Gauran, died. Teige and Loughlin, the two sons of Aongus Roe O'Daly, and Maolmaire Oge Magrath, died. Mac Maurice Nambrigh ; Owen, son of Rode- rick O'Kelly (of Galway) ; Murtogh, son of Mur- togh O'Conor ; and Bebinn, the daughter of Ual- garg O'Rourke, the wife of Tomaltagh Mac Do- nogh, died. beth mention is made of " the merciless Mac Donnell, from the Western Isles, with his kerns and galloglasses." Kerns, in Irish, Cethern, derived, according to Cormac's Glossary of the tenth century, from Ccth, that is, Cath, a battle, and am, plundering, was the term applied to the light troops of the Irish, armed with spears,javelins, darts, sUngs and arrows, Jcc. 158 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A. D. 1368. Tlie ClanMurtogh (O'Conorsof Sligo), made an attack on the people of Fermanagh, at Inis Moi'e, Lough Berraid,andSeanadh Mac Manus,andhaving earned away much booty, they returned home safe. A. D. 1308. • The coarb of St. Maog', and archdeacon of Bref- ney, a man full of the gifts of the Holy Ghost, died, after gaining the victory over the world and the devil. Hugh, son of Felim O'Conor, king of Con- naught, the most heroic and valiant of the Irish, the Lughaidh Lamhfada^ of Leath Cuinn against the English and other enemies, died at Roscom- mon, after gaining the ^•ictol■y of repentance ; and Rodei-ick, the son of Torlogh, assumed the sove- reigntj' of Connaught. Crioch Cairpre (Carbury, in Sligo),was di\'ided between the son of Manus (O'Conor), and Donal, the son of Murtogh (O'Conor). Fergal Mac Dermott, lord of Moylurg, the lion of nobleness and of feats of arms of his tribe; To- maltach, son of Fergal Mac Dermott, tanist of Moylurg ; and Conor Mac Dermott, died. Hugh, son of Conor Mac Dermott, assumed the lordship of Moylurg. Roderick, son oi' Seonnig Mac Geoghegan, the hawk of heroism and of feats of arms of his tribe, the most hospitable man from Dublin to Athloue ; and Tiarnan, son of Cathal O'Rom-kc, died. Dermod, son of Cormac Dun Mac Carthy, was taken prisoner by Mac Carthy of Carbery, (county of Cork), by whom he was deUvered up to the English, who put him to death. David O'Tuathail (O'Toole, in Wicklow), was slain by the English of Dublin. William Sasanach, the son of Sir Edmond Burke, heir to the Mac Williams, died of the small-pox at Inis Cua'. Fiachra O'Flynn, heir to the chieftaincy of Siol Maolruain (in Roscommon), the best man of his tribe in his time, and also his wife, died. A. D. 1368. 1. Coarb of St. Maoyc, that is, abbot of Drumlane, in the county of Cavan, tlie monastery of which was founded by St. Maoge, in tlie sixth century. Archdeacon of Brefney, that is archdeacon of the diocese of Kilmore. Niall O'Neill, king of Tyrone, marched with a great force into Orgiall, and all the chiefs of the province (of Ulster), joined him to attack Bryan Mac Mahon, and they encamped at Meodhan Tire (the middle country); Mac Mahon offered them great terms, \dz., that he would give the half of Orgiall (Monaghan), to Niall, the son of Murtogh, son of Bryan (Mac Mahon) Nagoileach Naiffrin (of the chalices), namely, the lord who was pre- viously over the country, and other large gifts to O'Neill himself, as a reparation for the death of Mac Donnell; O'Neill consentedto make peace with him on those conditions, but the son of Murtogh Mac Mahon, and Alexander Oge M.ic Donnell, lord of the galloglasses (or Scots), with one accord proceeded with three troops of kerns to attack Mac Mahon, without O'Neill's pei-mission, and they made a sally upon his fortress ; jSIac Mahon and all his household were on theu- guard, armed and accoutred in their fortress, and the other party having instantly attacked them, a fierce and des- perate conflict ensued, in which Mac Mahon de- feated them, and slew the son of MuiTogh Mac Mahon, tanist of Orgiall, together with Alexander, the son of Torlogh Mac Donnell, the constable of the galloglasses ; Owen, son of Torlogh, son of Malachy O'Donnell, and many others, on that oc- casion. Thomas O'Flynn, lord of Tuirtre (in Antrim), a man full of hospitality and honour, died. Teige, son of INIanus, son of Cathal, son of Donal O'Conor, was treacherously taken prisoner by Roderick, the son of Torlogh (O'Conor), in his own fortress, at Ard Anchoillin, (in Roscommon), after he had been brought to the house of O'Con- or, by Cormac Mac Donogli ; and was, after that, delivered into the hands of Donal, son of Murtogh O'Conor, who finally slew him in the castle of Sliffo. All bad deeds afterwards committed were compared to those perpetrated on Manus O'Con- nor's son, so that it followed as an old saying of abhorrence, " that the taking and slaying of the son of Manus was not worse than whatsoever trea- cherous deed they might hear of being committed." 2. Lughaidh Lamhflwda, to whom Hugh O'Conor is here com- pared, was a celebrated warrior king of the Tuatli Ue Danans. Leath Ciiin was a term applied to the northern half of Ireland. 3. Inis Clin, now Iniscoe, situated near Lough Con, in the parish of Crossmolina, barony of Tyrawley, county of Mayo. REIGN OF EDWARD III. 159 A great war arose in Connaught, between O'Conor, Mac William, and Mac Dermott, on account of that taking and slaying (of O'Conor). Cuuladh Mac-an-Gir Mac Cathmail, the chief of his own tribe, and his son, an experienced and learned master in the arts and sciences, cUed in England. William, son of Donogh Muinach O'Kelly, lord of Hy Maine, was taken prisoner by O'Mad- den, and by the Clan Mac Eogain ; and Donal, son of Conor O'Kelly, and Ardgal Oge O'Con- canon, were slain on the same day, by O'Madden. Donal Mac Namara, (of Clare), died. Slevin Mac Quillan, constable of the province of Ulster, died. Muiredhach O'Fairchellaidh (O'Farrelly), the abbot of Drumlane, and archdeacon of Brefney, (diocese of Kilmore), died. Dermod Lamh-dearg, (the red-handed), Mac Murrogh, king of Leinster, was taken prisoner by the English, and he was the most valiant provin- cial king in his time. A.D. 1369. Hugh O'Neill, bishop of Clogher, a pious and charitable prelate; and Richard O'lleiliy, bishop of Kilmore,' died. The Dean O'Bardain, and Cuchonacht O'Reilly, lord of Brefney, died. Philip O'Reilly was taken prisoner by his own kinsmen, and was sent to be im])risoned in the castle of Lough Uachtar, closely bound and fettered. Manus O'Reilly assumed the lordship then, and a war and commotion arose in Brefney, on account A.D. 13G9. 1. Bishop of Kilmore. Many of the O'Reillys of Cavan have been bishops of Brefney or Kilmore, and of several other sees, of whom the following have been collected from Ware, Archdall, Stewart's Armagh, Brennan's Ecclesiastical History, and various other sources. Richard O'Reilly, bishop of Brefiiey, died A. D. 1369 ; he wasthesonofMalachy O'Reilly, chief of Brefney. Jolin O'Reilly, bishop of Brefney, died A.D. 1393; he was the son of Geof- frey, son of GioUalosa Roe O'Reilly, prince of Brefney, who is called by Ware, Gelasius Rnfus O'Reilly, and was founder of the abbey of Cavan. John O'Reilly, abbot of Kells, and afterwards liishop of Brefney, from about A.D. 1464 to AD. 1474. Dermitius O'Reilly, abbot of Kells, afterwards bishop of Kilmore, from A.D. 1511 to 1.322. Hugh O'Reilly, Roman Catholic bishop of Kilmore, from about A.D. IGIO to 1C26, and afterwards translated to Armagh. Jlichael O'Reilly, vicar-general and administrator of the diocese of Kilmore, from A.D. 1715 to 1727, afterwards Roman Catholic bishop of Derry, and lastly translated to Armagh. of that imprisonment ; Annadh, the son of Richard O'Reilly, collected a great force, and Mac Mahon and the chiefs of Orgiall, (Monaghan), came to assist him to compel Manus to release Philip O'Reilly ; Manus, and his kinsmen, with all their forces, united together to defend their own coun- try, and a battle ensued, in which however, Manus was defeated at Blen Chupa f and the three sons of Cormac O'Ferrall, namely, Seoinin, Malachy, and Fergus ; Felim, son of Hugh Anchleitigh (of the plume), O'Conor ; the two sons of Flaherty More ]\Iac Conruba, namely, Donogh, and Brien ; Sitrick-na-srona Masterson, and many others, were slain in that engagement. Gerald Cavenagh, heir presum]itive to the crown of Leinster, was slain by the Black Knight. Tiarnan O'llourke went on a predatory excur- sion, to Lurg, (in Fermanagh), and carried away great booty ; but Hugh Oge, the son of Hugh O'llourke, was slain by O'Maolduin, of Liu'g, while in pursuit of the plunder. Dermod, the red-handed, Mac MuiTogh, king of Leinster, was put to death by the English of Dublin, (in the castle of Dublin), after he had been a long time imprisoned by them. Mahon, of Maonmoy, O'Brien, lord of Thomond, the best and most noble of the Irish of the south of Ireland, died in his own fortress, after gaining the victory of repentance. Bryan O'Brien assumed the lordship of Tho- mond, after Mahon. O'Maolduin, that is, Donal, chief of Tuath Luirg (in Fermanagh), was slain by the sons of Niall O'Donnell, who can-ied with them a booty on one of the islands of Lough Erne called Badhba (Boa Island) ; Philip Mac Guire, lord of the seven Charles O'Reilly, Roman Catholic bishop of Kilmore, died in 1800. Fergal O'Reilly, Roman Catholic bishop of Kilmore twenty-two years, died A.D. 1829. Philip O'Reilly, Roman Catholic bishop of Raphoe twenty-one years, died about A.D. 1780. Daniel O'Reilly, Roman Catholic bishop of Clogher thirty years, died A.D. 1778. Hugh O'Reilly, Roman Catholic bishop of Clogher twenty-three years, died A.D. 1801. The following O'Reillys have been in the see of Armagh : — Hugh O'Reilly, Koman Catholic archbishop of Armagh twenty-eight years, died A.D. 1C5.J ; Edmond O'Reilly, vicar-general of the diocese of Dublin, after- wards Roman Catholic archbishop of Armagh lourteen years, died A.D. 10G9 ; Michael O'Reilly, Roman CatLolic bishop of Derry, afterwards archbishop of Armagh ten years, died A.D. 1758; Richard O'Reilly, coadjutor bishop of Kildare, afterwards Roman Catholic archbishop of Armagh thirty-six years, died A.D. 1818. 2. Blen Chupa, a place now called Blencup, in the parish of Kilmore, county of Cavan. 160 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A.D. 1369-70-71. districts, sailed with a large fleet, to avenge the death of his young friend on the sons of O'Don- nell ; and Niall Oge, son of Niall Garv, son of Hugh, son of Donal Oge (O'Donnell), was slain hy him in a naval engagement on Fionn Lough, at the side of the island. Bryan, son of Hugh Ijuidhe O'Neill, a worthy heir to the crown of Ireland, in nobility, hospitality, and feats of arms, died. Bryan O'Brien, lord of Thomond, gave a very great overthrow to the English of Munster, and took Gerald, earl of Desmond, and many of the Enghsh nobles, prisoners, and slaughtered an immense number of their people besides. The people of Thomond, and the Clan Cuilein, (Mae Namai-as), burned Limerick on that occasion ; the people of the town submitted to O'Brien, and Sioda Cam, (Mac Namara), son of O'DwjTe's daughter, assumed the wardenship of the town ; but the Enghsh who were in the town, acted treacheroiisly towards him and slew him, which was a great calamity, as regarded the son of a chief. Philip Mac Guire, lord of Feraianagh, sailed with a fleet, on Lough Oughter, (county of Cavan), and having taken the castle of Cloch Oughter, liberated Philip O'Reilly, lord of Brefney, who re-assumed his lordship. Malachy Mac Mahon, heir presumptive to the lordship of Orgiall, (Monaghan) ; Biyan, son of Murtagh O'Conor ; John, son of Edmond Mac Hoberd ; Donogh O'Beirnc, chief of Tir Briune, (Roscommon) ; Rannall O'Hanley, (of Roscom- mon) ; Cormac O'Hanley ; also John Mac Egan, and Gilbert O'Barden, the two most famous harpers of Conmaicne, (Leitrim), died. William O'Farrelly, abbot of Drumlane, and archdeacon of Brefney, (Kilmore), died. A. D. 1370, A firm and friendly peace was concluded between the Tyronians, amongst themselves, on the fol- lowing conditions : that Donal should give hos- tages to Niall, as security, in not opposing him about the lordship, and that Niall should give Donal a portion of lands and possessions. Gilpatrick Mac Cathmail, chief of Kinel Ferad- aidli, (in Tyrone), Cuuladh his son, and his wife, and the daughter of Manus Mac Mahon, were treacherously slain by the Clan Hugh Mac Cath- mail, and Murtogh, his brother, succeeded him in the chieftainship. Caheer O'Conor, heir presumptive to the lord- ship of Offaley, (King's county), and Murtogh O'Moore, were killed in a predatory excursion by the English of Leinster. Ducola, the daughter of O'Reilly, and wife of Philip Mac Guire, died. Manus O'Reilly, (chief of Cavan), was taken prisoner by the sons of Thomas, the son of Mahon O'Reilly, and was imprisoned in the castle of Lough Oughter. Cathal, son of Dabug O'Concanon, lord of Hy Dermada, (in Roscommon) ; Siobhan (Jud- ith) Cham, daughter of Mac Carthy, and wife of Mac Namara, (in Clare) ; Sioda of Kilkenny, the son of John Mac Namara ; John O'Hara, heir to the lordship of Lieney ; and Dermod, the son of Cathal Oge O'Conor, died Niall O'Neill, lord of Tyrone, defeated Bryan Mac Mahon, lord of Orgiall, (Monaghan), and great numbers of Mac Mahon's people were slain and drowned. Donal, son of Malachy ; and Teige, son of Loghlin O'Kelly, (of Galway), with his two sons, died. Malachy Conactach O'Ferrall, and Cathal Oge O'Ferrall, died. Teige O'Rourke assumed the lordship of Bref- ney, but he was expelled therefrom, and driven into the country of Mac WiUiam, (Burke), by the Clan Murtogh, (O'Conors) ; and by Mac Tiar- nan, aided by Conor Roe, son of Cathal, the son of Hugh Brefnagh, (O'Conor). William Don, the son of Uhck, (Burke), died. A.D. 1371. John O'Grady, archbishop of Tuam, the most distinguished man in his time for wisdom and hospitality, died. Fergal Mac Coghlan, (of the King's county), died while imprisoned by O'Kennedy. Fergal Mac Geoghegan, (of Westmeath), died. Murrogh, son of Owen O'Madden, the most distinguished man in Ireland for his contributions to the clergy, the poor, and the destitute, was slain by the cast of a javelin, in the rere of a prey- ing party, in Onnond. REIGN OF EDWARD III. 161 Biyan O'Kennedy, lord of Ormond, was trea- cherously slain by the English. Edmond O'Kennedy, heir to the lordship of Ormond, died. Teige Oge, sonofManus O'Conor, was treache- rously slain by Donal, son of Miu'togh O'Conor, in the castle of Sligo, after he had been sent to him by the king of Connaught, Roderick, the son of Torlogh, as before stated. Eachmarcach, son of Manus, son of Roderick, son of Manus, son of Don More Maguire, a great landed proprietor who lived at Lough Erne, died. O'Dowd, (Donal) committed great depredations in Tireragh of the Moy (in Sligo), plundered the country, took the castles, namely, those of Ardna- ree and Castle Conor, and expelled all the English who possessed them, and then divided the countiy among his kinsmen and people. A. D. 1372. Biyan More Mac Mahon, lord of Orgiall, (JNlo- naghan), marched with his forces against the English, to give them battle, but was treacherously slain in ambush by one of the galloglasses of his own party, who then made his escape by flight. John More O'Dugan', chief bard and historio- grapher of Hy Maine, died after the victoiy of extreme unction and repentance at Rinn Duin, among the monks of St. -John the Baptist. Murtogh Muinach, son of Murtogh More Mac Geoghegan, chief of Kincl Fiacha, died, after gaining the victory of repentance. Bermingham (of Galway), was taken prisoner by O' Kelly and his sons, and Richard Bermingham, his heir, was slain. Mj'lerMacHoberd (Burke) was slainby O'Conor. William Mac Ulick (Burke), the most humor- ous and affable of the Burkes, and William Oge O'KeUy, heir to the lordship of Hy Maine, died. A.D. 1373. William Mac Cormaic, bishop of Ardagh, a man distinguished for his wisdom and piety, died. A.D. 1372. 2. John More O^Dngan, chief bard and historian to the O'Kellys, princes of Hy Maine, in Galway and Roscommon, of whom an account has been given in the introduction to the present publication, was the celebrated author of the Topography of ancient Ireland, which is embodied in the course of these notes, together Adam O'Keenan, a canon and learned historian, died at Lisgoole (in Fermanagh). The English of Meath attacked Annaly, and slew Roderick, the son of Cathal O'FeiTall, and his son, with many of his people, on that occasion. Donogh O'Ferrall, with all his forces, pursued and slew a great many of them ; the commander of the English was slain by the cast of a javelin, in con- sequence of which his forces were defeated. William D'Alton, and the sheriff of Meath were slain by the Kinel Fiacha (Mac Geoghegans of Westmeath), and by O'Melaghlin. Mac Anphearsuin Bermingham was slain by Torlogh Roe O'Conor with a single stroke of a sword, in Conmaicne of Dunmore (in the county of Galway), after they (the Berminghams), had acted treacherously towards him, while on his way from Conmaicne Cuile (in Mayo), after which he made his escape from his enemies by the strength of his arm, although he had been wounded ; An- drew Mac Kenny was slain afterwards by them (the Berminghams), he havingbeen left as a hostage with them by Torlogh, for the purpose that they should obtain their choice ransom in lieu of him, at the time they had deceived him on a former occasion. Barduv, daughter of O'Rourke, and wife of Do- nal Mac Tiarnan (of the county of Cavan), died. John Mac Namara, head chief of Clan Cuilein (in Clare), and Teige Oge O'Durnin, died. Sabina, daughter of Cathal O'Conor, and wife of Flaherty O'Rourke (of Leitrim), died. Raiuiall, son of Cormac Mac Rannall, was trea- cherously slain by the son of Mac Naiscin. Malachy Conachtach O'Neil died. Master Niocol Mac Techedain, official of Cloyne, died. Bryan Oge, son of Bryan O'Dowd (of Shgo), was slain by the Barretts. A.D. 1374. Senicin Savadge was slain by Mac Gennis (of the county of Down). Donal Oge, son of John O'Dogherty (of Done- gal), died. with numerous extracts literally translated from his beautiful topographical poem on the Irish chiefs and clans. At Rinndune or Randown, now called St. John's, was situated an ancient abbey and castle, on a peninsula extending into the Shannon m Roscom- mon. 162 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A.D. 1374-75. Peregrine Oge Mac Geoghegan, chief of Kind Fiacha, having gone to Athlone in company with the bishop of Meath, was treacherously slain there with one thrust of a spear by the Sionach (Fox), who was one of William D' Alton's party ; but he himself was immediately after torn asunder, and small fragments were made of his body, as a retri- bution for his misdeeds. Theobald Burke, heir to Mac William, was slain by the people of Hy Maine. Niall O'Neill defeated the English in an engage- ment, in which the Knight Roche, with Bocksa of the Rock (Carrickfergus), Sandal Burke, W^il- liam of Ballydolet, the most hospitable man in Ire- land, and many others, not recorded, were slain. Teige, son of Roderick, son of Cathal Roe O'Conor, the worthy heir of O'Conor, died. Malachy, son of Dermod O'Ferrall, having marched from Annaly with his forces to join Muin- tir Maolmordha (the O'Reillys of Cavan), against the English, a fierce and desperate battle was fought between them and the English, in which, however, he (O'Ferrall) and many others were slain. Teige Oge Mac Rannall was wounded by the cast of a javeUn, of which he died, but it was not ascertained who had thrown it; the Muintir Beirne (of Roscommon), accused the Clan Murtogh (O'Conors) of the deed, and the Clan Murtogh in turn accused the O'Beirnes, for a strife existed be- tween them at that time ; but a contest, however, arose in consequence of it between the Mac Ran- nalls and O'Beirnes. Cormac, son of Tomaltach O'Ferrall, was slain. Fergal, son of Flaherty O'Rourke, was slain by Philip. Tiarnan, son of Bryan Mac Tiaman, died. Malachy Roe O'Duigenan, a learned historian, and Mahon Anchinn, sonofDonal, son of Murtogh O'Rourke, fell by each other's hands. A.D. 1375. Donogh Cavanagh Mac Mun-ogh, king of Lein- ster, was treacherously slain by the English, he having often, before that, spread destruction among them. A.D. 1375. 1. Sir James here mentioned, of Bally-Atha-TIiid, or Alabid, was probably one of tlie Talbota of Malabide, and as he is desig- Mahon, son of Manus O'Conoi-, died, after hav- ing gained the palm of hospitality and generosity. The castle of Roscommon was given to Rode- rick O'Conor by Torlogh Roe, in exchange for Ballintobber, and other property. Mac Arten, chief of Kinel Fogarty (county of Down), was treacherously slain by his own kins- man, the son of Gille Trenoinn Mac Arten. Niall O'Neill gave the English of Down a signal overthrow, in which Sir James of Bally Atha Thid, or Alahid, the king of England's viceroy,' Burke of Camlinn, and many others who are not recorded, were slain. Cu-uladh Mac Mahon, Tanist of Orgiall (Mo- naghan), died from the bleeding of a vein. Ai't, son of Maguire (of Fermanagh), a man fuU of hospitality and generosity, died. Dermod Mac Rannall went on an expedition to attack Cormac O'Beu'ue ; and Donogh, son of Co- nor of the Cup, was slain on that occasion, together with many others, and they also took much booty. Malachy O'Donnellan, the chosen professor of poetry in Siol Murray (Roscommon), and also chief professor of Arts in Ireland, died of an ulcer. Cairbre and Owen, the sons of Mac Tiarnan (of Cavan), marched with all their forces to attack the English ; but one of their own men, having acted treacherously, betrayed them for a bribe to the EngHsh, who surrounded them, and took twenty- five of the Mac Tiarnans, and of the chiefs of their people, whom they beheaded in one place. Geoffrey, son of Giolla-na-neev O'Ferrall, a wor- thy heir to the lordship of Annaly, for hospitality, feats of arms, personal figure, and affable manners, ched after the victory of extreme unction and repentance. Sir Edmond Albanach, the son of WiUiam Burke, died, after the victoiy of repentance, and Thomas, liis son, succeeded him in the lordship. Osgar, son of Art Mac Guire (of Fermanagh), was slain by the sons of Donogh Mac Guire. Donogh, son of Teige, son of Conor of the Cup (Mac Rannall), was slain by Muintir Beirne. Thomas Bermingham, lord of Athenry, and John Mac Loghlin, head chief of his own tribe, died. nated the King of England's viceroy, he might have been a deputy under Sir William de Windsor, who was at that time lord lieute- nant of Ireland. REIGN OF EDWARD III. 163 Cathal Oge, son of Cathal Oge, son of Cathal More, son of Donal O' Conor, was slain by the people of Clan Rickard, and Loghlin, son of Do- nogh O'Dowd, was taken prisoner on the same occasion. Brian O'Brien, lord of Thomond, was expelled from his country by Torlogh, son of Murtogh O'Brien, and by the Clan Rickard. A war broke out between Roderick O'Conor, king of Connaught, and Malachy O'Kelly, lord of Hy Maine, but at length O'Conor gained power over Hy Maine. Cathal, son of Manus Mac Dermott, died. A.D. 1376. Teige O'Rourke, lord of Brefney, a man full of hospitaUty, generosity, excellence, and renown, the bear of the Brefnians, and the lion of the north of Ireland, died, and Tiarnan, his son, then assumed the lordship of Brefney. Hugh O'Tuathail, lord of Imaile (county of Wicklow), was slain by the English. Dalvach, son of Malachy O'Byrne, the most dis- tinguished man in Leinster for hospitality and ge- nerosity, was wounded by his own spur, of which wound he died. Hugh, son of John O'Fen-all, died, a man who, from Ijoyhood to that time, was an inexhaustible fountain in hospitahty and liberality to the clergy of Ireland in general. Bebinn, daughter of Donal O'Dunn, and wife of O'Dempsey (of the Queen's county), died. Robert O'Ferrall died, after gaining the victory of repentance. Cuaifne O'Conor Faily, a most worthy heir to the lordship of OfFaley (King's county), died. Conor O'Beehan, a learned historian ; Ceallach Mac Curtin, chief historian of Thomond ; John O'Roonej', chief poet to Magennis (county of Down) ; Malachy O'Maolmhena, cliief professor to O'Kane, (of Derry) ; Donogh Mac Firbis (of Sligo), a good historian ; and Ruarcan O'Hamill, chief poet to O'Hanlon (of Armagh), a man who kept a house of general hospitahty, and refused none, died. Cumoighe O'Kane, lord of Oireacht O'Kane (of Derry), was taken prisoner by the English at the port of Colerain, and sent prisoner in fetters to Carrickfergus. The English of Meath, Ulster, and Leinster, marched with their combined forces to Annaly, and treacherously committed depredations in the coun- try ; O'Ferrall then collected all his forces, attacked by turns the English of Ulster, Leinster, &c. burned their fami-houses and towns, plundered their ten-itories, and returned home victoriously, with great booty. A.D. 13T7. O'Kelly, bishop of Clonfert Brenain ; John O'Rodachain, the coarb of St. Caillin (abbot of Fe- nagh) an eminent scholar ; and the great dean Mac Maurice, died ; the dean died at Rome. The monasteiy of Easroe (Ballyshannon) was biuned. Walter, son of Sir David Burke ; Donal, son of Fergal Mac Anmanaigh O'Gallagher (of Donegal), Geoffrey O'Flanagan, chief of Clan Cathail, (in Roscommon) ; Donogh, son of William Alain O'CarroU, lord of Ely ; Dermod Bacach Mac Brenan, chief of Corcachlan, (in Roscommon) ; Fachtna, son of David O'Moore (of the Queen's county) ; and Brj'an O'Flaherty (of Galway), died. Rickard Burke marched with a force into Clan Cuilein (in Clare), and the people of Clan Cuilein, ha^dng collected their forces, headed by i\Iac Na- mara, the son of O'Daly's daughter, attacked and defeated the Clan Rickard in an engagement, in which Theobald, son of Ulick (Burke), the leader of the kerns, with the three sons of O'Nedin, and many of the chiefs of Clan Rickard, were slain. Roderick O'Conor defeated at Roscommon Mac William Biu-ke, and Malachy O'Kelly, lord of Hy Maine, in an engagement in which Richard Burke, brother of Mac AViUiam; Donal, son of Cathal Oge O'Conor; Teige Oge, son of Teige O'Kelly; O'Mannin, chief of Sodain ; and Mac Dugal of the galloglasses, with many others who are not re- corded, were slain. The castle of Lios-Aird-Abla (Lisard, in Long- ford), was erected by John O'FeiTall, lord of Annaly. A contention arose between Mac Dermott and Roderick O'Conor, from which resulted the spoli- ation of Moylurg, and the bmning of its crops and dwellings ; a great many were slain on both sides ; but they at length made peace, and Mac Dermott 164 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A. D. 1378-79. received presents for making that peace, and com- pensation for the injuries he had sustained from Roderick O'Conor. Mahon, son of John Mac Namara (of Clare), died. Richard II.' assumed the sovereignty of England on the 21st of June. Geoffrey, son of Annadh O'Reilly (of Cavan) was slain bv the sons of Caoch O'Reilly. A. D. 1378. Carbre O'Ferrall, bishop of Ardagh, the reten- tive bond of piety, the protecting link of wisdom, a vessel of divine love and humanity, died at Rome, after gaining the victory over the world and the devil. More, daughter of O'Ferrall, and wife of Der- mod Mac Rannall, died, and was buried with great solemnity at Cluan Conmaicne'. Walter Mac William Burke was slain by the O'Malleys (of Mayo). Fergal Mac Rannall was slain by Con, son of Murtogh Mac Rannall, Gilcreest O'Rourke, son of the lord of Brefney, died. Torlogh Mac Sweeny, high constable of Con- naught, died. Teige, son of Loghlin Mac Namara, chief of Clan Cuilein, was slain by the son of O'Daly's daughter. Donal j\Iac Brady, chief of Cuile Brighdin, and of Teallach CaiToll (in the county of Cavan), a man of general knowledge ; John O'Felan (of Wa- terford), an eminent poet ; and Duvcola, daughter of Mac Rannall, and wife of O'AIulvey, died. Mac Rannall, with his kinsmen and party, the two clans of Hugh and Fergal O'Rourke, made an attack on Cathal Roe Mac Rannall ; but Cathal having collected his kinsmen and connexions, to- A. I). 1377. 1. Richard II. King Edward III. died on the 21st of June, A. D. 1377, and was succeeded by his t;randson, Richard II., son of Edward the Black Prince, then only in the eleventh year of his as;e, his uncles, John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster, Edniond, duke of York, and'l'liomas, duke of Gloucester, being appointed regents of the kingdom during his minority. A.D. 1378. 1. Cluan Conmaicne, now Cloon, in the parish of Cloon, barony gether with Dermod Mac Dermott, to oppose them, they defeated Mac Rannall ; and Fergal Mac Rannall, a worthy, prosperous, and wealthy man; Mac Shanly, Mac Gildufl', and many others not recorded, were slain in that conflict. Gilcreest O'Sgingin, chief historian of Tircon- nell, died of an ulcer. Bryan Mac Guire, heir to the lordship of Fer- managh, was slain by the sons of Art Mac Guire. Fergal O'Mulvey, chief of Muinter Carolan (in Leitrim), died. Teige Mac Egan, chief Brehon (judge) of North Connaught, a man of learning, free from pride and arrogance, who kept a house of general hospitality, died. A.D. 1379. Faltach, bishop of Meath,' died in England. James O'Conolly, prior of Devenish (in Ferma- nagh), died. Flaherty O'Mongan, erenach of Rossorry (in Fermanagh), died. Philip, son of Niocol, that is. The D' Alton, lord of AVestmeath, died. Ferbisigh Mac Firbis (of Sligo), a learned his- torian, died. David O'Dunn, chief of HyRiagain (in Queen's county), was slain by the son of CaiToU O'Dunn. Richard Mac Cathmaill (of Tyrone), was slain by Philip Mac Guire, lord of Fermanagh, and Donal O'Neill. O'Neill, that is Niall More, defeated Mac Guire at the battle of Dreche^, in which Teige Mac Guire, with the two sons of Mac Manus ; Torlogh, son of Donogh Maguire ; Bryan, the son of Ma- grath, and Murtogh Mac Miolchon, were slain. Mac Anchaoich O'Reilly (of Cavan) was slain by the son of Annadh O'Reilly. Cumara Gearr Mac Namara was treacherously slain by his own kinsmen. of Mohill, county of Leitrim, in Muintir Eolnis, or Mac Rannall's Country, where there was a celebrated abbey founded by St. Fraech in the sixth century. A.D 1379. 1. The hkhnp of Meath here mentioned under the name of Faltach, was Stephen de Vale, Wale, or Wall. 2. The buttle of Dreche, now probably Draha, near Newtown- butler, county of Fermanagh. REIGN OF RICHARD II. 165 Cuchonnacht, son of Philip Mac Giiire, a worthy heir to the lordship of Fermanagh, for hospitahty and nobleness, was slain by the Clan Donnell of Clankelly. Maolmora Oge, son of Maolmora Roe O'Conor, of Oftaley, was slain by the English. Fionguala, daughter of 0"Kelly, and wife of Mae William Burke (of Galway), died. Richard O'Dugan, a worthy successor to the professorship of Hy Maine, died. William, son of the Giolla Caoch Mac Carroll, the most delightful minstrel of the Irish, died. A. D. 1380. The abbot, Mac Dermott Roe, of Trinity Island, on Lough Key (in Roscommon), and Donal O'Lea- nan, prior of Lisgoole (in Fermanagh), died. John, son of Conor, son of Hugh, son of Donal Oge (O'Donnell), lord of Tirconnell, and of the adjoining districts, and heir presumptive to the crown of all Ulster, and his son, Malachy Duv, were slain at the monastery of Easroe (Ballyshan- non), by Torlogh, son of Niall O'Donnell, aided by the sons of Cathal Oge O'Conor, and by the Muintir Duirnin, in a nocturnal attack on his camp. Mac W^iDiam Burke gave Mac William Oughter (Richard Oge) a great overthrow in the town of Ath Leathan (in Mayo), in which Mac Jordan Dexeter, lord of Ath Leathan, and John Dexeter, were slain. Teige, the son of Murtogh O'Brien (of Tho- mond), was slain by Bryan Sramach O'Brien. Roderick, son of Cathal, son of Hugh Bref- nach O'Conor, made an attack on the O'Rom-kes, but was slain by Manus O'Rourke. Art Mac Gennis (of the county of Down), gave the English and the people of Oirior (in Armagh), a signal and awful overthrow, in which O'Hanlon, lord of Oirior, and a great many of the English were slain. The Mortimer' came to Ireland with sovereign power, as lord cliief justice, and the Irish nobility. A.D. 1380. 1. The Mortimer here mentioned was Edmond Mortimer, earl of March and Ulster, wlio was married to Pliilipa, daughter of Lionel, duke of Clarence, one of the sons of king lidward III.; hence his son, Roger Mortuner, earl of March and Ulster, became with the heirs presumptive to the throne of Ire- land, waited on him, namely, Niall O'Neill (of Ty- rone), O'Hanlon (of xVrmagh),0'Ferrall (of Long- ford), O'Reilly (of Cavan), O'Mulloy (of the King's county), Mac Geoghegan and the Sionach (Fox of Westmeath), with other chiefs. Art Mac Gennis, lord of Iveagh, in Ulidia (county of Down), was treacherously taken prisoner, at the residence of Mortimer, in consequence of which the Irish, and many of the English themselves, became afraid to place any confidence in him, or trust themselves to his power. Art, son of Gerald Cavenagh (of Leinster), was slain by the English. Torlogh O'Donnell gained a great victory over Conor Oge, son of John, son of Conor, son of Hugh, son of Donal Oge (O'Donnell), and over O'Dogherty and the Mac Sweeneys, in which en- gagement many of their chiefs were slain ; two brothers of the Mac Sweeneys were taken prisoners, namely, John and Murrogh, and he took much property from them in horses, arms and armour. Art, son of Gerald, son of Thomas Fionn (the foir), of the Mac Murroghs, was slain by Mac Mm-- rogli, king of Leinster. The Clan Murtogh (O'Conors of Sligo), and Philip O'Reilly (of Cavan), marched with a force into Brefney O'Rourke, and slew Thomas Mac Dorchy, but O'Rourke overtook them and drove tiiem forcibly out of the country, after they had lost some of their men and horses. Cian, son of Roderick O'Carroll, an illustrious heir to the loi'dship of Ely (in Ormond), was slain by Hugh, son of Murtogh O'Mulloy, with the cast of a javelin. Mortimer marched with an army into Ulster, where he destroyed many fortresses and towns on his expedition, together with the churches and country, including Urney," Donoghmore, Ai'a- gail, Clogher, &c. Cormac Oge Mac Carthy (of Cork) ; Henry, son of Donal O'Ferrall ; Hugh, son of Mui-togh Muinach Mac Geoghegan (in Westmeath), and Donal, son of David Mac Geoghegan, died. heir presumptive to tlie throne of England. Edmond Mortimer died at Cork, A.D. Ui«l. 2. Urney, in the parish of Urney, near Strabane ; Donaghmore, a church in the parish of Donaghmore, near Dungannon ; Airegal, now Errigal Kerougue, in the barony of Clogher; and Clogher church, all in the county of Tyrone. 166 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A. D. 1381-82. Donal, son of Bryan O'Dowd, lord of Tireragh and Tyi-awley (inSligo and Mayo), a man who de- fended his territory against the English and Irish who opposed him, died in his own town on the 3rd of May, and was succeeded by his son Roderick. A. D. 1381. William, son of Donogh Muinach O'Kelly, lord of Hy Maine, the most distinguished man of his race for high character, excellence and renown, a man who gave a general invitation of hospitable entertainment to the clergy and learned of Ireland, and made presents to them all according to their wants, died at a venerable old age, after gaining the victoiy of repentance, and was succeeded by his son Malachy. Teige Roe Mac Dermott Gall, who had the chief power over Airtheach, was slain by the Clan Costello. Dermod Mac Carthy, heir to the lordship of Desmond, was slain by O'Mahony. Kennedy Mac-I-Brien of Coonagh(in Ormond), was slain by the English. The sons of Felim O'Conor were expelled by Roderick O'Conor, and dispossessed of Ballintob- ber (in Roscommon). Cathal, son of Roderick O'Conor, was valiantly and victoriously taken pri- soner soon after by Bryan Ballach (O'Conor), at Beol-an-Tachair(in Roscommon), as were also some other chiefs, together with Bryan O'Beirne and Loghlin O'Hanley, who were returning from Con- maicne of Dunmore (in Galway) ; Bryan kept them in confinement until he obtained his own tenns from O'Conor, and they then concluded a jjeace. The castle of Athlone was taken by the earl Mortimer, and the son of Ricard Fox was slain there. The castle of Athleathan (in Mayo), was de- molished by the Mac Donoghs, who carried away its portal-gates to Ballymote. O'Dunn was slain by the people of FercaU (in the King's covmty), while plundering them. Niall O'Neill marched with his forces into Or- giall (Monaghan), where they committed great depredations, but the Orgiallians pursued them, attacked the rear of O'Neill's party, and recovered a part of their prey ; Donogh, son of Manus Mac Mahon, was slain in that engagement. Sir Edmond Mortimer, lord of the English of Ireland, died. Duvcola, daughter of Hugh Mac Dermott, and wife of Cathal Roe Mac Rannall ; Lasarina, daugh- ter of Torlogh O'Conor, and wife of Mac Rannall ; Fionguala, daughter of Conmaighe O'Kane, and wife of Torlogh Mac Sweeney ; Sabina, daughter of Ulick Biu'ke, and wife of O'Conor ; Duvcola, daughter of O'Conor Failey, and wife of Donal, son of Theobald O'Mulloy ; and Lasarina, daugh- ter of Fergal O'Duigenan, and wife of O'Mithigen of Bealach, died. Owen Fox, Tanist of Muintir Tadhgain (in Westmeath), was slain by the D'Altons. Hugh, son of Murtogh Muinach ]\Iac Geoghe- gan (in Westmeath), was slain by Myler, the son of Theobald O'Mulloy, by the thiiist of a spear. Dungallach O'Madden (of Galway), was slain in a conflict with the Clan Rickard. Raghnailt, daughter of Mac Brady, and wife of Mac Dorchy (of Leitrim),died. Owen O'Quinn, chief of Munitir Giollgain (in Longford), died. Donal O'Murchadha (O'Murphy), lord of Hy Felimidh, was slain by the people of Hy Kinsel- lagh (in Wexford). Philip, the grandson of Philip O'Kennedy, lord of Ormond, and Aine, the daughter of Mac Na- mara, his wife, died. A. D. 1382. Thomas O'Carmacain, bishop of Thomond (Kil- laloe), and Matthew Mac Murray, prior of Kilmore (in Roscommon), died. Dermod O'Donnell, son of Owen, son of Hugh, son of Donal Oge, heir to the lordship of Tircon- nell, died. Laurence Tuite (of Longford) was slain by the sons of John O'Ferrall, namely, Murrogh, Cormac and Donal. Fergal Roe, son of Donagh, son of Murtogh More Mac Geoghegan, chief of Kinel Fiacha, was treacherously slain by the people of Fercall, at Kilmona, eastward of Rath Hugh Mac Brie (Rath Hugh, in Westmeath). Fergal O'Mulloy and the son of Theobald were the persons who attacked him, and Myler Maintin was he who struck him. Some of the chiefs of Connaught were taken prisoners by Roderick O'Conor in his own terri- REIGN OF RICHARD II. 167 tory, namely, O'Hanley, O'Beime, and Mac Kear- ney, in consequenc'e of his having received inteUi- gence that they were about joining the sons of FeHm (O'Conor) against him. Roderick, the son of John O'Ferrall, died. The Clan Mam-ice (of Mayo) having made an attack on Corcomogha,' and plundered the inha- bitants, O'Concanan went in pursuit of the prey and was slain ; Conor Oge Mac Dermott, with his kinsmen, after that attacked the Clan Maurice, and on his march for that purpose, the Clan Mau- rice with their forces prepared themselves to meet him ; but in spite of them he proceeded onwards, burned both dwellings and corn, and slew many people about the place, and then Conor and his party returned victorious by their valour, without any of them having sustained an injuiy. MuiTogh O'Brien marched with a force into Desmond, which he completely plundered. Donal, son of Mahon Donn O'Kennedy (of Oi- mond), and Edmond Oge, son of Edmond Butler, died. Murtogh, son of Mahon Maonmoy O'Brien, died in imprisonment at Trim (in Meath) . Donal O'Brien ; Torlogh, son of Dermod O'Brien, and Biyan, son of Dei-mod O'Brien, of the Clan of Biyan Roe, died. Gillabride O'Sgingin, the intended chief profes- sor of Tirconnell, died. Murtogh Oge, son of Mac Manus of Tir Tua- thail (in Roscommon), died. A.D. 1383. The abbot, Mac David of Boyle, a man distin- guished for charity and humanity, died. Teige Mac Donogh, son of Tomaltach, son of Maurice, son of Donogh, from whom the Clan Donogh (or Mac Donoghs of Sligo) derived their name, lord of Tu-errill, a man full of hospitaUty and generosity, died on Good Friday. Niall O'Neill, with his sons and the chiefs of Tyrone, marched with a great force into Trian Congail to attack the English, and they com- pletely plundered and burned many of their towns ; A.D. 1382. 1. CoTComodhn, a district in the tiarony of Killian, county of Galway, comprising the parish of Kilkerrin, on the borders of Mayo. the English of the district collected together to op- pose them, and Hugh O'Neill, and Raibilin Sa- vadge ha^^ng encountered each other in a charge of their cavalry, they pierced each other's bodies with two violent thrusts of their spears ; Raibi- lin retiuned to his house desperately woimded, where he was again attacked, and killed, by the son of John Bisett, and Hugh O'Neill died on the tWrd day from the effects of his wounds, and the son of John Bisett was slain by Raibilin's people three days after Raibilin himself was killed. Murtogh O'Flanagan, chief of Tura (in Ferma- nagh), and Cormac, son of Art Mac Guire, died. John Mac Gaffrey and Manus Mac David were slain on the same day. Art, son of Thomas Fion, of the family of the Mac Murroghs, heir jjresumptive to the crown of Leinster, was slain by the English of the coimty of Lough Garnian (Wextbrd). An awfiJ and very fatal plague raged through- out Ireland. Ai-t Mac Gennis, lord of Iveagh, in Ulidia (county of Down), the most distinguished prop of hospitality in Ireland in his time, died of the plague in the town of Ath Truim (Trim, county of Meath), M'hei-e he was confined by the English. MuiTogh-na-Raithnigh O'Brien ; More, daugh- ter of Murrogh O'Madden, the wife of Rickard MacWilUam (Burke) of Clan Rickard ; and Judith, daughter of the earl of Ormond, the wife of Teige O'CarroU, lord of Eh', died of the plague. MiuTOgh, son of Bryan O'Kennedy (of Or- mond) ; Donogh-an-Chuil j\Iac ]\Iahon, lord of Corcobaiscind (in the county of Clare) ; Owen, son of Donogh, son of Roderick O'Kelly ; andLondres, of the town of Athboy, died. Fonntach of Tigh Mvma,' and the daughter of O'Brien, the wife of O'Kennedy, died. Honora, daughter of William Burke, the wife of O'Magher; Mac Gillpatrick, lord of Ossoiy, and Mac Kelly Mac Gillpatrick, tanist of Ossorj', all died of the same plague. Dermod O'Dempsey, lord of Clan Malire (in Queen's county), was slain by the English. Donogh O'Conor, lord of Kerry Luachra (in A.D. 1383. 1 . Tigh Muna, now Timoney, near Roscrea, in the county of Tipperary. 168 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A. D. 1384. county of Kerry), and Malachy Mac Gauran, ta- nist of Tullaghaw (in Cavan), died. John, son of Donal O'Fen-all, lord of Annaly, died at Lisard, and was buried in the monastery of Leath-Ratha.'^ Cathan, son of Roderick O'Kane (of Derry) ; John Gallda, son of the earl ; William Barrett ; and Roderick, son of Hugh Oge O'Mulloy, lord of Fercall (in King's county), died. Roderick, son of Art Mac Guire, was slain by Donogh Mac Guire. Dermod Mac Dermott, tanist of Moylurg (in Roscommon), died. Fergal, son of Thomas Mac Tiernan, chief of Tullyhunco (in Cavan), died. Murrogh, son of Caliir O'Conor Faily (King's county), died. Milig Mac Costello was slain by the Clan of Fiachra O'Flynn (of Roscommon). lomar O'Hanley, heir to the chieftaincy of Ki- nd Dovha (in Roscommon), was slain by his own kindred. Cathal, son of Geoffi-ey O'Ferral, died. Dermod Mac Rannall, chief of MuintirEoluis (in Leitrim), committed a depredation on O'Rourke. A. D. 1384. John Mac Gillcoisgle, master, erenach, and par- son of Airigh Brosga,' died. Roderick, son of Torlogh O'Conor, king of Connaught, died of the same plague on the eve of St. Catherine's festival, having reigned king of Connaught sixteen years and three months, as the poet Maoilin O'Maolconry has recorded in his poem of Reim Riograidhe (or Catalogue of Kings) : " For three months and sixteen years, The royal Roderick held the rule, At Croghan, in honour, free from contest, The son of Torlogh fierce in conflicts." Ailer that two lords were elected in Connaught, viz. i Torlogh Oge, son of Hugh, son of Torlogh, was appointed to the government by O'Kelly, Clan Rickard, Donal, son of Murtogh O'Conor, and 2. Leath Hatha, now Lerlia, or Laragh, in the parish of Ab- beylaragh, in the barony of Granard, county of Longford, where there was an ancient abbey. A.D. 1384. 1. Airigh Brosga, now Derrybrusk, a parish in the barony of also by the Mac Donoghs ; and Torlogh Roe, son of Hugh, son of Felim, son of Hugh, son of Owen, was appointed to the government in like manner, by Mac Dermott, the Clan of Murtogh Muinach (O'Conors), and by the chiefs of Siol Murray (Ros- common) besides ; in consequence of which a war broke out all over Connaught, by which the peo- ple were much disturbed. Dermod Mac Rannall Duv, son of Malachy, the worthy, hospitable, and generous chief of Muintir Eoluis, ^vas treacherously slain by the clan of Ran- nall Mac Rannall, in the hall of the house of Rich- ard Mac Rannall. Murtogh O'Conor, lord of Offaley,died at an ad- vanced age. TomaltachMac Dorchy, chief of Kinel Duachain (in Leitrim), was kiUed accidentally with a wound by his own knife. A meeting was held between the parties of O'Flaherty and O'Malley, at which a dispute arose, and Owen O'Malley, Cormac Cruin O'Mal- ley, and many others, were slain on the occasion. Carrickfergus was burned by Niall O'Neill, who gained great power over the English. Cuchonacht O'Ferrall, son of Hugh, lord of Moy Treagha (in Longford), and Geoffi-ey O'Fer- rall, died. William, son of sir Edmond Burke, and Rickard, son of Maduc, son of Tomin Ban-ett, a general benefactor to the clergy, died. Uigh O'Duigenan, chief historian of Conmaicne (Leitrim), died. Ualgarg O'Rourke, a worthy heir to the lord- ship of Brefney, was drowned in Lough Gawnagh (in Longford). Philip O'Reilly, lord of Muintir Maolmora (in Cavan), died. Myler, son of sir William Burke, was killed by a fall ; John and David, the two other sons of sir William Burke, died of the plague. Manus, son of Malachy O'Ferrall, Tomaltach, son of Cairbre O'Ferrall, and Fergal, son of Cathal O'Ferrall, died. Donal Mac Murtogh (O'Conor), with his chief. Tyrkennedy, county of Fermanagh, near Lough Erne, where a Dominican monastery was founded by Mac Manus, lord of the ter- ritory, of which there are still some remains, near the village of Golla. REIGN OF RICHARD 11. 169 clans marched a force into Moylurg, and burned the fortress of Mac Dermott. Donogh O'Dowd died, and was succeeded by his son Murtogh. Donal, son of Flaherty O'Rourke, died. A.D. 1385. David, son of Edmond Mac Hoberd (Burke), was taken prisoner by O'Conor, and died in his confinement at Ballintober. O'Rourke (of Leitrim) and Mac Donogh (of Sligo), with their respective chiefs, marched their forces into Moylurg, where they burned the for- tress of Mac Dermott, and the country in general ; the son of John O'Hara was slain in pursuit of them, and his brother was taken prisoner. Felim Cleireach O'Conor and Conor Oge Mac DeiTnott, led their forces into Tirerrill (in Sligo), but notice of their approach was sent before them, and an ambush was laid for them ; they, however, proceeded through the country, slew many people, and carried off cattle, but the guards of the coun- try overtook them afterwards, and a battle ensued, in which Cathal Cairbreach Mac Donogh was slain, Conor Mac Dermott was taken prisoner, and Fe- Hm O'Conor was wounded. Murtogh, son of Cathal (O'Conor), Cormac, son of Roderick (O'Conor), Teige Mac Dermott, and Cathal Mac Dermott, made an attack upon Mac Rannall Roe, and on Hugh O'Conor, whom they took prisoners and conveyed to the Rock of Lough Key (in Roscommon), where they were im- prisoned. Cathal O'Ferrall, a worthy heu- to the lordship of Annaly,andCumuigheO'Kane, lordof O'Kane's country (in Derrj'), died much honoured and re- spected. O'Conor Roe, with Mac Dermott, the Clan Murtogh (O'Conors), and the chiefs of Connaught, marched with a very great force intoHy Maine, and burned the town of Edmond O'Kelly ; and Wilham Buidhe O'Naghtan was slain on that occasion. The men of Brefney and the people of TirerriD A.D. 1385. 1. Tochar Cntachnn Brieilc, that is, the bog-pass of Croghan of Brieile, where this battle was fought, near Croglian Hill, in the parish of Crogban, barony of PhilipstowD, king's county, on the borders of Westraeath. 2. Cluan Cairpthe, now Cloonaff, or Clooncraff, a parish in the barony aud county of KoscomiDon, where a monastery was founded having joined O'Conor Don, made an incursion into Corcoachlan (in Roscommon), where they burned many of their towns and cut down much of their crops. Tireragh was burned by Mac William Burke, after which he proceeded to Sligo, which he also burned, together with the south of Carbuiy, where he was opposed, and a battle fought, in which Maideog Maol, one of the chiefs of his people, was slain, and hostages were taken from him after- wards. Tyrawley (in Mayo) was burned by Donal, son of Murtogh O'Conor, who slew many people, seized much booty there, and afterwards took some of their chiefs as hostages. Murrogh O'Conor, lord of Ophaley, and the people of Kinel Fiacha (Mac Geoghegans of West- meath), defeated the English of Meath at Tochar Cruachan Bri Eile,' in which Nugent of Meath, Chambers and his son, with many others of the English nobility, and an immense number of their common soldiers, were slain. Tanaidhe O'lMaolconry, chief historiographer and bard of Connaught, died at Lamas, in his own house, after having gained the victory of extreme unction and repentance, and was interred at Cluan Coirpthe^ with due honours. The Conacians having made peace with each other, Siol Mun-ay (Roscommon), was divided into two portions between the two O'Conors.^ Art, son of Art More O'Melaghhn ; Dervor- gail, daughter of Cathal Oge, the wife of O'Conor Roe ; and Bean Midhe, daughter of Mac Mahon, the wife of O'Neill, died. Gillcreest Mac Gilfinen, chief of Pettigo, (in Fermanagh), died. The Mac Donoghs committed great depreda- tions in Cara (in Mayo), but they were, however, overtaken by the clan of Cathal Oge O'Conor, aided by the Stantons and many others besides ; the Mac Donoghs were defeated, many of their people slain, and they themselves were afterwards driven into KilcondufF (in Mayo). by St. Baraeh, in the sixth century. This district was the pos- session of the O'Maolconrys, hereditary bards and historiogra- phers of Connaught. 3. The two O'Conors here mentioned were the two great branches of that family named The O'Conor Don and The O'Conor Roe, who divided the county of Roscommon between them, as explained in the note on South Connaught. Z 170 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A.D. 1386-7. A. D. 1386. Aine, daup;hter of Teige Mac Donogh, the wife of Tiariian O'Rourke, lord of Brefney, one of the most worthy women of Leath Cuinn (north of Ire- land), died at Tuam Seanchadhaat Lough Fionn- maighe, and was buried in Sligo. Carbre, son of Bryan, son of Murrogh O'Fer- rall, lord of the Port of Annaly, a hospitable, be- neficent, valiant and protecting man, died after having gained the victory of good fame, veneration, extreme unction and repentance. Niall, son of Peregrine Oge Mac Geoghegan, the intended lord of his sept, was slain by William D'Alton and his son, and Manus, son of Hugh Mac Dermott, was also slain by the D'Altons. Donal, son of Murtogh O'Conor, with the Mac Donoghs, O'Dowd and the O'Haras, marched with a great force into the country of Mac Waittin (Barrett of Mayo), which they devastated and plundered on that expedition, and slew many peo- ple, together with Robert of Dun Domnain,' Mac Myler of Corran (in Sligo), and Maigoge Gallda; and they took Castle Lynod, and cut down the orchards of Caorthanain and of Inis Cua. Heremon O'Melaghlin (of Meath), was slain by Mac Awley and the D'Altons. O'Conor Roe, with all the Conacians he could collect to join him, went to aid Mac William Burke against Donal, son of Murtogh (O'Conor), and the Mac Donoghs ; they carried otf great preys from Tireragh of the Moy (in Sligo), after which they proceeded on a predatory expedition into Clanrickard ; O'Brien, at the head of a great force, and Mac William of Clanrickard overtook them ; O'Conor Roe turned on them and defeated them, and C(mor, son of Teige, son of Conor O'Brien, was slain by them in that engagement. A. D. 1386. 1. Dun Domnninn, an ancient fortress, situated on a hill in the valley of'Glencastle, parish of Kilcoraraon, haronyof Erris, county of Mayo. Castle Lijiiod was situated in the harony of Tyrawlcy, county of Mayo, and the chief residence of the English family of the Lynotts. Inis Cttfiy now Iniscoe, situate near Lough Con, in tlie piirish of CrosmoliTia, and harony of Tyrawley. Caertliiiiwn, now called Castle-hill, a townland on the west side of Lough Con, in the barony of Tyrawley. A. D 1387. 1. cm NnUe, now Kinav/ley, a parish partly in the harony of Knockiiiuny, county Fernianaah, and partly in Tullaghaw, county of Cavan, so called from St. Nail, or Natalis, who founded a mo- nastery there in the sixth century. Many of the English of Ossory fell by Mac Murrogh, king of Leinster. Donal Mac Coghlan, lord of Delvin (in King's county), died. Fingin,son of RoderickMacGeoghegan,wasslain. The Conacians made peace with each other after their war, and Mac William Burke made his sub- mission to Mac William of Clanrickard ; Berming- ham was appointed to a lordship on submission to him in like manner. Donogh Mac Cabe (county of Cavan), was slain by the clan of Manus O'Reilly. Cathal O'Naghtan (of Roscommon) was slain by O'Conor Roe. A. D. 1387. A house of general entertainment and support was founded for the learned men of Ireland at Eamhain Macha (Armagh), by Niall O'Neill, king of Ulster. Sabina, daughter of Hugh O'Neill, one of the most illustrious women of the race of Niall of the Nine Hostages, in her time, the wife of John Bi- sett's son, died after the victory of repentance. Richard Oge Mac William of Clanrickard died. Geoffrey Fionn O'Daly (of Munster), chief poet of Ireland, and Roderick O'Cianain, a learned his- torian, and chief poet of Oriel, died. Donal, son of Donogh Docair Mac Guire, and Matthew Mac Conleagh, were slain at Kil Naile'. Conor, son of Bryan Carach O'Neill, was slain by the English of Dundalk. William, son of Dermod Mac Rannall, the in- tended chief of Muintir Eoluis, was slain by Muin- tir Beirne. John, son of Aongus Mac Donnell, lord of the Hebrides, died. Dermod Roe O'Duirnin died. I. Desmond. The territory called Desmond, in Irish Deas Muinlirin, signifying South Munster, comprised, according to Smith, in his histories of Cork and Kerry, and other authorities, the whole of the present county of Cork, and the greater part of Kerry, together with a portion of Waterford, and also a small part of the south of Tipperary, hordering on Cork, called the Eoga- nacht Cashel, thuscNtending from Brandon Mountain, in the harony of Corcaguiney, county of Kerry, to the river Blackwater, near Lis- niore, in the county of Waterford ; hut in after times, under the Fitzgeralds, earls of Desmond, this territory was confined to the haronies of Hear and Bantry,and some other portions of the south west of Cork, together with that part of Kerry south of the river Mang. The north-western part of Kerry, with a large portion of Limerick, extending to the Shannon, and comprising the present baronies of Upper and Lower Conello, was called lar Mumhrniy or REIGN OF RICHARD II. 171 A. D. 1388. ORMAC Mac Donogh, the valiant ^van'ior and tanist of Tirerrill (in Sligo), went by night to plunder Moylurg, where he committed great depredations; O'Conor Roe, with the sons of Felim ; the sons of Cathal Oge O'Con- or ; and the sons of Hugh Mac Dermott, namely, Ca- thal and Conor, with their forces, followed them in pursuit of their property ; Cormac Mac Donogh took the rear of his own West Mnnster. In the present article will be given the history and topograpliy of the territories comprised in the present counties of Corii and Kerry, together with tlioir chiefs and clans, and tlie possessions of each, in ancient and modern times, compiled from the Annals of tlie Four Masters, the Books of Leacan and Ballymote, O'lleerin's Topography, 0'Conor"s Rerum Hib. Scrip., the Disser- tations of Charles O'Conor, O'Flaherty's Ogygia, O'Halloran's Ire- land, O'Brien's Topographical Dictionary, Ware's worlis, Lodge's Peerage, tlie histories of Cork and Kerry by Smith, Windele's History of Cork, county surveys, and various other sources, to- gether with the MSS. in the library of Sir William ISetham. This teiTitory is connected with some of the earliest events in Irish history. Partholan the Scythian, who planted the first co- lony in Ireland, according to our ancient annalists, sailed from Greece through Mulr Toil inn (the ancient name of the Mediter- ranean), and landed on the coast of Ireland at Itiver Sceiiie, now the bay of Kenmare in Kerry. After the colony of Partholanians had become extinct by a plague, \eimedh, or Nemedius, another Scythian, sailed from the Eu.vine sea, and, arriving in Ireland, settled a colony there called Nemedians, who fought luany battles with the Fomoriaus or African pirates, who had .-ettled in Ulster, as mentioned in the notes on Dalriada and Tir Connell. Neme- dius, together with three thousand of his people, died of the plague on an island called from him OHean-Ard-Xeimidh, now the island of Barrymore, or Great Island, near the city of Cork. When the colony of Firbolgs subsequently took possession of Ireland, they divided the island into parts or provinces among the five brothers, who were their five principal commanders. Slainge possessed the territory from the place afterwards called Drogheda to Cumnr-na-dtrl-n Uinge, or the Jleeting of the Three Waters, that is, the confluence of the rivers Suir, Nore, and Bar- row at \\'aterford ; to Gann belonged the country from the Meet- ing of the Three Waters to Bealach Conglais, near the bay of Cork ; Seangann possessed the country from Bealach Conglais to Luinmeach or Limerick ; Cieannan had tli-) territory after- wards called Connaught, from Luimneach to Drolihaois, that is from Limerick to Bundrowes, in the county of Leitrim, on the coast of the Atlantic ; and Rughridhe possessed the country after- wards called Ulster, from Drobhaois to tlie Boyne at Drogheda. The colony called the Tuath De Danans, as already explained in tlie notes on North and South Connaught, having conquered the Firbolgs, possessed Ireland for two hundred years. The Milesian colony from Spain, originally Celts or Scythians, of whom an ac- count has been given in the note on South Connaught, with a large fleet and powerful force, commanded by the sons of Mllesius, sailed for Ireland, and while attempting to land, a violent storm occurred, and two of the sons w ere drowned oft' the coast of Kerry, namely, Heber Donn, at a place called from him Teach Doinn, and Ir, at the rocks of Skellig ; another of the sons called Colpa-un- Chloidhimh, or Colpa the Swordsman, was driven eastward, and force, and was soon engaged by some of 0"Co- nor's party, who actively attacked him ; at this time O'Conor himself came up, and gave orders to his men not to kill him, if they could take him prisoner, but in this they did not succeed ; and at length he (Mac Donogh) was slain ; and during his life time none of his tribe had excelled him in hospitality and feats of arms ; Conor Mac Do- nogh, Murrogh, son of Cormac Mac Donogh, and Mac Dermott Roe were taken prisoners after that and were kept as hostages, and O'Conor Roe pur- sued the force across the moinitain (the Curlews) northward, but the Mac Donoghs fled before him to CoUooney, and the lower part of Tirerrill. Murtogh, son of Donal, son of Murtogh O'Co- attempting to land was drowned at a place, named from him Inver Colpa, or the bay of Colpa, now the mouth of the Boyne, near Drogheda. Tiie surviving sons of Milesius, Heber, Ileremon, and Amergin, efi'ected a landing at Inver Sgeine, now the bay of Ken- mare, and soon after were attacked by the Tuath De Danans, and a great battle was fought between tliem at Slieve ]\Iis Jloun- tain in Kerry, where the Danans were defeated. In this battle Scota, the relict of Milesius, who commanded along with lier sons, was slain and buried in a valley adjoining the sea, near Tralee, called after her Gleann Scota, or the valley of Scota. The Milesians afterwards totally vanquished the Danans in a great battle at Tailten, in Meath, and thus became masters of Ireland. The Milesians, called Clnnna Mileadh, or race of Milesius, and Clnnnn Gaodhul, that is Gadelians or Gaels, and Cineadli Sciiit, or race of the Scythians, divided the island amongst them. He- remon and his posterity, called Heremonians, possessed the king- doms ofMeath, Leinster, and Connaught ; the posterity of Heber Fionn, or Heber the Fair, named Helierians, had Munster; and the descendants of another Heber, who was son of Ir, had Ulster, and were called Irians or Clanna Rory, and sometimes Rudricians. The arriv al of the colonies of Partholanians, Nemedians, Fomorians, Firbolgs, and Danans, in Ireland, is placed by our old chrono- logers from twelve to fifteen centuries before the Christian era ; and the arrival of the Milesians about a thousand years before the Christian era. The Fomorians are mentioned by our ancient an- nalists amongst the first inhabitants of Ireland, and stated to have been African pirates, descendants of Ham, and represented as a race of giants, being men of great strength and stature, which exactly corresponds with the accounts of ancient writers, who frequently mention the gia7it race of Ham. (See article Ama- lekitex in London Penny Cyclopedia). These Fomorians are considered to have been some of the Phenicians and Canaanites who were expelled from Palestine and the land of Canaan, by Joshua, about fifteen hundred years before the Christian era, and who made settlements on the northern coasts of Lybia or Africa, and, beins expert navigators, sailed to Iberia or Spain, and other northern nations. A remarkable record of the expulsion of the Phenicians from the land of Canaan, and of their settlement in Africa, is given by the historian Procopius, who was himself a native of Palestine, and wrote in the sixth century. He was secretary to the Roman general Belisarius, and in his account of the wars of the Vandals in .-Ifrica, states that in his own time there were near the fountain of the Magi, at Tangier, two marble columns, with inscriptions in the Phenioian language, to the fol- lowing effect : — " We fly from the face of Joshua the robber, the son of Nun." These Fomorians were of the same stock as the Phenicians, and Tyrians, who in after times settled colonies in .\frica, and founded Carthage, and also Gades, or Cadiz, in Ibe- ria or Spain, and were celebrated for their commercial inter- course with various ancient nations, as Greece, Italy, Spain, Gaul, z 2 172 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A. D. 1388. nor made an attack on O'Donnell's camp, in the neighbourhood of Eas Roe (Ballyshannon), and and Britain, and no doubt some of them sailed to Ireland, and most prolialjly settled colonies there in early a^es. On the Ber- bers, who were the most ancient inhabitants of northern Africa, and descendants of the Canaanites, Philistines, and Amalekifes, who were expelled from Canaan by Joshua, some curious and in- teresting information may be found in the articles on the Berbers and Amalekitcs, in the London Penny Cyclopedia, and various circumstances seem to coincide witli the statements of our old annalists, about the settlement of the colony called Fomorians in Ireland in the early ages, of whom some accounts have been al- ready given in the notes on Dalriada, Tir Connell, and South Connaught. That some people of Phenician origin traded to Ire- land, and probably settled colonies there, has been a general opi- nion amongst our ablest antiquarians. The ancient territory called Fear Muighe Fihte, which now forms the barony of Fermoy, with the half barony of Condons, in the county of Cork, got its name, as stated in O'Brien's Dictionary at the word Fearmuighe, from its being peopled in the early ages by Phenicians ; hence the word Fir Jluigbe Peine signifies the Men of the Plain of the Phenicians, which O'Brien translates into Latin, Viri, cnmpi Phenlonim, and he considers them to have been a colony of the Gaditanian Phenicians from Gades, now Cadiz in Spain ; and Dr. Charles O'Conor, in his edition of the Annals of Inisfallen, was also of opinion that a colony of Phenicians or Celtiberians from Spain settled in those parts ; and the learned Spaniard, Dr. Joachim Villaneuva, in his Hibernia Phenicea, maintains the same opinion. At Glanworth, in the barony of Fermoy, and in the parishes of Temijlebrian and Templeomalus, are the remains of Cromleacs and Druidical Temples, consisting of stones of enor- mous size, supposed to be monuments erected by the Phenicians ; or according to others, by Mogruth, a celebrated Druid, who got possession of the territory of Fermoy from Fiach, king of Munster in the third century, as a reward for liis bravery in assisting Fiach in several battles, and also for his extraordinary skill in music. Large stones, with Ogham inscriptions, have been discovered, at various times, in the counties of Cork, Kerry, Limerick and Clare, accounts of which, by the learned antiquaries of Cork, Messrs. Abel, Horgan, Windele, O'Flanagan, &c. may be found in Windele's Notices of Cork, &c. Cyclopean Architecture. — Of that massive rude architecture composed of large stones without cement, and forming walls and fortresses of immense strength, there are many remains in Ireland, resembling the Cyclopean architecture of ancient Greece and Etruria, such as the fortresses of Aileach in Donegal, and of Dun Aonguis, on one of the Arran Isles, oft" the coast of Galway, al- ready described in the notes on Tirconnell aiid South Connaught. The Cyclopean fortress of Knockfennell in Limerick, and that of Cahir Conree in Kerry, have been described in the note on Tho- mond. At Cabirdonnell, in the parish of Kilcrohanc, county of Kerry, are the remains of a large Cyclopean fortress, but the most remarkable specimen of Cyclopean architecture in Ireland is that called Stah/ue Fort, situated also in the parish of Kilcrohane, on a hill near the bay of Kenmare. It is built of stones, without ce- ment, but of admirable architecture, of a circular form, and the internal area about ninety feet in diameter, the walls eighteen feet high and thirteen feet thick, a doorway opening to the interior ; on the outside a broad and deep fosse surrounds the entire building. A full account of Staigue Fort, given by Mr. Bland in the year 1821, may be seen in the 14th volume of the Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy; and there is a modelof thefortin the Royal Dublin Society House. That Ireland has been peopled from the most remote ages there exists abundant evidence over the entire country. In every county, and almost in every parish, are found some memorials, such as remains of Cromleacs, Druidical temples, round towers, cairns, sepulchral mounds, Cyclopean fortresses, raths, and other antiquities, the histories of which, and even their traditions, are long lost in the niglit of time. The Heburiaiis were the chief Munster Milesians, as already explained in the note on Thomond, and were divided into three great branches, namely, the Dalcassians, Eugenians, and Clan slew many persons, among whom were the sons of O'Boyle and O'Gallagher, with their kinsmen ; he Kian. Eogan More, the celebrated king of Munster in the second century, had by his wife Bera, the Spanish princess, a son named Oilioll Oliim, who became king of Munster ; and Oilioll had three sons, Eogan, Cormac Cas, and Clan. From Eogan were descended the lioganachts or Eugenians ; from Cormac Cas the Dal Cais, or Dalcassians; and from Cian the Clan Kian. The chief families of the Dalcassians, Eugenians, and Clan Kian, have been mentioned in the note on Thomond, which may he referred to in order to save a repetition of their names in this place. Cormac Cas or Cais, sig- nifying Cormac the Beloved, the progenitor of the Dalcassians, was king of Munster, and a celebrated warrior. O'Halloran, quoting the Psalter of Casliel, and the Book of Munster, says that his first queen was Samhair, daughter to Fionn Mac Cumhaill, the cele- brated hero, who was general of the Fenian forces, and his second queen Oriund, daughter of the king of Locblin, or Denmark, by whom he had a son called Mogha Corb, who became king of Munster in the third century, and was a celebrated warrior. He invaded Denmark with a powerful force to support his maternal uncles in a contest for the crown of that country, and after gaining some victories, succeeded in placing his uncles, Osna and Airid, on the throne of Denmark, as stated in the Psalter of Casliel and other ancient annalists. The intercourse between the Irish and the Scandinavians, or northern nations, as the Danes, Norwegians, Swedes, &c. in these early ages, is remarkable ; but, according to our ancient annalists, an intercourse and marriage alliances, in more remote times, were formed between the Irish kings, and those of Spain, Gaul, and Scandinavia. Eogan More, king of Munster in the second century, father of Cormac Cas, was married to the Spanish princess Bera, daughter of Heber, king of Castile. Eochaid, king of the Firboigs many centuries before the Christian era, was married to Tailte, daughter of Magh Mor, king of the Cel- tiberians in Spain. Ugaine Mor, monarch of Ireland nearly four centuries before the Christian era, was married to Ceasair, daugh- ter of the king of Gaul. Lughaidh Riabhdearg, monarch of Ire- land in the first century, was married to Dervorgal, daughter of the king of Locblin, or Denmark. Tuathal Teachtmar, monarch of Ireland in the second century, was married to Bania, daughter of the king of Denmark and Finland. Feilimidh Reachtmar, mo- narch of Ireland, son of Tuathal, was married to Ughna, daughter of the king of Denmark, by whom he had a son, Con Cead Cathach, or Con of the Hundred Battles, the celelirated monarch of Ireland in the second century. Eochaidh Muighmeadhain, monarch of Ireland in the fourth century, was married to Carinna, either a British or a Saxon jjrincess, by whom he had a son, the celebrated Niall of the Nine Hostages, monarch of Ireland. This Carinna is called by the Irish writers Carthan Cais Dubh, or Carthan the Beloved, of the Dark Hair. Eogan, son of Niall of the Hostages, and progenitor of the O'Neills, princes of Tyrone, was married to Indorba the Fair, a Saxon princess ; and Murtogh O'Brien, king of Munster in the eleventh century, had for his second wife Driella, daughter of Godwin, earl of Kent, and sister of Harold, the last Saxon king of England. The race of Heber, or Heberians, and the race of Ith, or Ithians, as stated in the note on Thomond, alternately ruled as kings of Munster in the early ages, before the Christian era. The Ithians were so called as descendants of Ith, son of Breogain, and uncle of Milesius, and were also called Clanna Breogain, as descended from Breogain. The Clanna Breogain are mentioned by various Latin wTiters, under the name Srigautes. The race of Ith areplaced on the Map of Ancient Ireland by Charles O'Conor, in the south of Cork, and called liy him Lughadii, as descended from Lugaidh, the son of Ith. A list of the chief families of Ithians, or Lugadians, has been given in the note on Thomond. They were chiefly located in that part of Cork called Corea Luighe, which got its name from the above-mentioned Lughaid, and, according to O'Brien, as explained at the words Cairbre and Cobtach, comprised a large territory in the south west of Cork, extending from Bandon to Crookhaven, and to the bay of Kenmare, including the present baronies of Carbery, Bear and Bantry. The Clanna Deayha or Degadians, a branch of the Heremonlans REIGN OF RICHARD II. 173 took Mac Sweeney and his son prisoners, whom he took with him, together with some property, horses, arms, and armour; and the Clan Mur- of Ulster, settled in Munster a short time before the Christian era, and tiie chief families descended from thein have heeu mentioned in the note on Thomond. They possessed that part of Kerry and Limerick called West Munster, which also had the name of the province of Conrigh Mac Daire, being possessed by that celebrated ■warrior and his posterity, of whom an account has been given in the note on Thomond. The Degadians, under the name a? Degndil, are placed in Charles O'Conor's map in the west of Kerry, and considered by him to be the same as the Udce'i who are placed on Ptolemy's map about the same territory, the word Udici being formed from the Ua Deagaidh of the Irish writers. The Irians, CInnna Rory, or Biidiicians of Ulster, settled in Munster in the first century, and the chief families of them have been mentioned in the note on Thomond. On Cbarles O'Conor's map they are placed in tlie southern and central partsof Cork and Kerry, and called Iberi aitstrales or southern Ibei'ians, to distin- guish them from the Irians of Ulster, whom ho designates northern Iberians. The Irians or Iberians of Munster are considered to be the same as the Velabri, Iberi, Juverni, and Uterni, given ou the maps of Ptolemy and other geographers. According to Dr. O'Conor they are the same as the Siol Eibbir, that is the race of Heber or Heberians of the Irish writers, and according to others are supposed to be a colony of Iberians from Spain The Lucenil are placed on Ptolemy's map in these parts of Kerry and Limerick towards the Shannon. These Lucenians are supposed to be a colony of the Luceni of Spam, who, according to Sn'ith, are placed by Strabo in Galicia and Cantabria, and said to be of Scythian origin, which corresponds with the accounts of our ancient annal- ists, who make the Milesians originally a colony from Scythia. According to Smith the barony of Lixnaw is considered to have derived its name from the Lticenians. Tiie Ganganl or Cnncanl of Spain, also stated by Strabo to have been Scythians, are given by Ptolemy as the ancient inhabitants of the territories now forming the counties of Clare and Galway, a colony of tliem having come from Spain in remote ages. From the Concanians of Galway some antiquaries suppose that Connaught deri\ed its name. The Cori- ondoi are placed on Ptolemy's map in the central parts of Cork, and considered by Sniith and others to have been a colony of the Corltani of Britain, who inhabited in early times the present coun- ties of Lincoln, Leicester, and >'orthampton, and, according to Camden, these Coritanians fled to Ireland about the first century, in consequence of the conquest of Britain by the Pomans From the great intercourse between Spain and tlie south of Ireland in tiie early ages, there is much of the Spanish blood in Munster, particularly in the counties of Kerry, Limerick, and Cork ; and as in the tenth and eleventh centuries colonies of the Danes settled in the cities of Waterford, Limerick, and Cork, and continued tliere down to the English invasion, there is much of the Danish race in those cities mixed by intermarriages with the old Irish. Cork, in Latin Corcagia, and also Coraciuin, gut its name, ac- cording to O'Brien, at the word Corca, and also according to other authorities, from Corca or Corcach, which signifies a marsh, as the city of Cork was originally founded on marshy ground, but accord- ing to others the name was derived from Core, a prince of the Euge- nian race, who was king of Munster in the fourth century. Kerr;/, in Latin Kerrigia, got its name from Ciar, son of Fer- gus Mac Roy, by Meava, the celebrated queen of Connaught, a short time before the Christian era. This Fergus, king of Ulster, was of the race of Ir, and hence his descendants were Irians or Clanna Rory. His son Ciar, in the first century, got possession of a large territory in Munster, called from him Cinr Rioghucht, sig- nifying Ciar's kingdom ; hence came the word Ciaraidhe, or as it is written in the Book of Armagh, Ciarrichi, anglicised Kerry. By the old ecclesiastical writers Kerry was called St. Brendan's country, from Brendan, a celebrated saint of the sixth century, who founded many monasteries there, and several places in Kerry etill bear his name, amongst others Brendan or Brandon mountain ; and Camden calls that part of the Atlantic off the coast of Kerry, togh (O'Conors) turned against O'Donnell on that occasion. John Roe O'Tuathail, lord of Hy Murray (in at the mouth of the Shannon, Mare Brendarticum, or the sea of Brendan. Cork and Kerry are frequently mentioned hy various writers under the names of the kingdoujs of Cork and Kerry. Kings of the race of the Dalcassians and Engenians alternately ruled over Munster, from the third to the eleventh century ; but while a king of each race governed by turns the whole of Munster, a king of the Dalcassian race ruled over Thomond, and a king of the Eugenian race over Desmond. A few of the remarkable events in Desmond, from the fourth to the twelfth century, may be here mentioned. The Battle of Ventry. In Hanmer's Chronicle, collected chiefly from the ancient record called the Book of Ilowth, is given an account of the battle of Fentra in JIunster, that is of Ventry, fought in the beginning of the fourth century, about A. D. 320. The Scandinavians, Gauls, Saxons, and other foreigners, with povv-erful forces, invaded Ireland, and fought many great battles with the natives in Ulster and Meath, which Hannier describes ; and another powerful force of these foreigners, attempting to land at Ventry in Kerry, were opposed by the Irish, and both sides having fought desperately for the space of seven days, tlie slaughter was so great that the sea shore was dyed red with the blood of the slain. After the foreigners efl'ected a landing, many terrific battles were fought almost incessantly during a whole year, but finally the invaders were vanquished, and an enormous number of them slain in the various conflicts. This battle has been celebrated by the Irisli writers under the name of Cath Fion Tragha, and some ancient MSS. on the subject still remain. In the ninth and tenth centuries the Danes and Norwegians overran Munster, as they did various other parts of Ireland, and settled colonies in the cities of Waterford, Limerick, and Cork. An account of various victories gained over the Danes by Brian Boru and Ceallachan, king of Cashel, has been given in the note ou Thomond. Ceal- lachan, a celebrated warrior of the Eugenian race, was king of Cashel in the tenth century, and having defeated the Danes in several battles, Sitric, king of the Danes of Dublin, with his brothers Tor and Magnus, having proposed a peace with the people of Munster, witli an ofi"er to give in marriage to Ceallachan their sister Beibhion, an accomplished princess, the proposals of alliance being accepted by Ceallachan, he prepared to go to Dub- lin to meet his intended bride, but on his arrival there his party were treacherously attacked and defeated by the Danes, who took Ceallachan prisoner, together with Dunchuan, son of Cineide, king of Tlioniond, the entire proceedings on the part of the Danes being a conspiracy to get Ceallachan, their formidable enemy, into their power. Tlie Munster chiefs, in order to redeem their king from captivity, collected a powerful force, amongst whom were two thousand Dalcassians, and three thousand Engenians, com- manded by Donogh O'KeefFe, prince of Fermoy ; O'Sullivan, prince of Beara ; the O'Conors Kerry ; O'Driscolls ; O'Moriartys ; O'Flynns ; O'l-'elans, and other chiefs of Munster, aided by one thousand of the Connaught forces, under the O'Haras, O'Garas, Mac Coghlans, and others ; the entire, it is stated, amounting to twelve thousand men, the chief commander of the Euge- nians being O'Keeff'e; and Cineidi, king of Thomond, with his brothers Congalach, Cosgrach, and Lonargan, commanded the Dalcassians. They also had a large naval force under O'Falvey, hereditary admiral of Desmond, who equipped thirty ships; O'Conor Kerry, twenty ships; O'Driscoll, O'Cobhtaich, and O'Flynn, armed and manned ten ships each ; the Mac Namaras, O'Conors, and O'Loghlins of Clare, sent twenty ships ; and from Corca Baisein, in Clare, came twenty more, making in all one hun- dred and twenty sail. The army, which proceeded by land, marched through Connaught and Ulster to Armagh, which city was then in possession of the Danes, and whither they brought Ceallachan prisoner, in order to put him on board their fleet at Dundalk, and send him to Denmark ; the Irish attacked Armagh by the pro- jection of large stones from machines, together with arrows, darts, slhigs, and other missiles, and applying scaling ladders to the 174 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A.D. 1388. Wicklow), the most distinguished of his tribe for hospitality and feats of arms, was slain by a pea- sant of his own clan, within the precincts of his walls ; the Danes, under Sitric, were at length defeated with great slaughter, and having evacuated the city liy night, they marched off towards Dundalk and einharked their forces in their fleet, which lay in that hay. The Irish pursued them, and O'KeefFe, sending a flag of truce, demanded of Sitric the princes Ceallachan and Uun- chuan, who were his prisoners, hut the Danes returned for answer that the prisoners would not be restored until an eric was first paid for the Danes who fell in fifteen different battles with Ceal- laclian and his forces ; and Sitric ordered Ceallachan to be hound to the mast of his own ship, and Dunchuan Iti like manner on the king of Norway's ship, in view of the whole Munster army. The Irish were enraged at thissight, but their land forces had no means of attacking the enemy ; shortly after, however, O'Falvey, the Irish admiral, ap])eared in sight, and drawins; uj) his ships in an extended line, prepared for action. A des]jerate engagement en- sued, and the Irish commanders grappled with, and hoarded the Danish vessels ; both sides fought with great fury, but O'Falvey at length succeeded in releasing Ceallachan, and, giving him one of his own swords, bade him take the command. The Irish, animated by seeing their prince at liberty, fought with renewed vigour; but the valiant O'Falvey at length fell pierced by many wounds, and his head was immediately displayed on the mast of Sitric's ship. Fingal, a chief who was second in command to O'Falvey, animat- ing the Irish, the fight was continued with great fury on both sides, but at length Fingal, encompassed by the Danes, and seeing his own death certain, seized on Sitric by a sudden grasp, and having jumjjcd with him in his arms overboard, both were instantly drowned. Conal and Sioda, chiefs of the Clareforces, who were engaged with the ships commanded by Tor and Magnus, brothers of Sitric, following the example of Fingal, gTasped the Danish chiefs in their arms, and leaped witli them in like manner into the deep. O'Conor Kerry slew one of the Danish commanders in single combat, and cut off his head, but while holding it up in triumph, he was himself killed by another Dane. The Danish forces were at length totally defeated, and their fleet destroyed, but almost the whole of the Irish chiefs and men engaged in that fierce contest, were also slain. Tliis great sen Jiijht in the hny of Dundalh took place A. D. 944, according to O'Halloran and other authorities. Copies of the ancient Irish MSS. giving accounts of the battles of Ventvy and Dundalk, are to he found in the library of Sir William Betham. That respecting the battles of the Mun- ster forces with the Danes, is entitled Toniigheacht Chenllacliain Chnisil, signifying The Pursuit for the recovery of Ceallaclian Cashel, which would be well worth having translated and publislied. The great battle of Main Mor in Cork, fought in the twelfth century, A.D. 1151, between the Connaught, Leiiister, and Des- mond forces on one side, and the Dalcassians on the other, has been described in the note on Thomond. The Eugenians ruled as kings over Desnu>nd, and the Dalcassian kings over Thomond, and from each race, as already explained in the note on Thomond, was alternately elected a king of all Mun- ster, which mode of government in Munster continued from the third to the eleventh century, when Brian Boru, of the Dalcassian race, became king of Munster and monarch of Ireland, and his descendants the O'Briens were kings of Munster and kings of Thomond, and the Mac Carthys, who were the head of the Euge- nian race, were kings and princes of Desmond. The Mac Carthys, in Irish Mac Ciirthaidh or Mac Cairthy, and pronounced like Mac Carha or Mac Cawra, took their name fromCartkach or Cflir^Aconeoftlieir ancestors, aprince ofDesmond in the eleventh century, son of Justin, king of Munster, who was grandson to Ceallachan, king of Cashel. Of the Mac Carthys in early times some accounts may be found in tlie Annals of Inis- fallen. The Mac Carlhys of the twelfth century are thus desig- nated in ttie topograpliical poem of O'Heerin : — " Flaithe Mumhan muir Sionna Siol Eogain mic Oiliolla, Mac Carthaidii cuing a cana. Mar thuind anfaidh etragha." own fortress, and the bodach (clown) who slew him, was immediately put to death. The sons of O'Cuirnin,' Siodhraidh, Carbre, "' Heroes of Munster of the fortress of the Shannon, Are the race of Eogan, the son of Oilioll, Mac Carthy the mainstay of its tributes, Is like an unceasing stormy wave." On the English invasion, when king Henry II. landed at Waterford, in October A. D. 1171, Derniod Mac Cartliy, king of Desmond, waited on him the day after his arrival, delivered to him the keys of the city of Cork, and did him homage. According to Mac Geo- ghegan, this Dermod Mac Carthy, in the year 1185, was, together with all his retinue, treacherously slain at a conference held with Tlieobald Fitzwalter, and the English of Cork. At the time of the English invasion, tlie Danes were in possession of the city of Cork and the adjoining districts, being permitted by the Mac Carthys, kings of Desmond, to reside there for com- mercial purposes. In A.D. 1174, the forces of Strongbow and Kaymond le Grosha\hig plundered various parts of Waterford and Cork, dispatched the booty to Waterford by sea, under the com- mand of Adam de Hereford ; the Danes of Cork equipped thirty- five vessels, and attacked the English fleet at Dungarvan, hut after a severe engagement they lost the victory, chiefly through the valour of Philip Walsh, who Imarded the admiral's ship, and killed CJilbert, the son of Turgesius, the Danish commander. A. D. 1177, King Henry II. granted to Roliert Fitzslephen and Milo de Cngan, for the service of sixty knights, to liimself and Ills son John and their heirs, the whole kingdom of Cork or Des- mond, with the exception of the city of Cork, and the adjoining cantreds, which belonged to the Ostnjen or Danes of that city, which the king reserved to hold in his own hands. The Mac Carthys maintained long contests for their independence with the Fitzgeralds, earls of Desmond, the Butlers, earls of Ormond, and other Anglo-Noririan and English settlers, and held their titles, as j)rinces of Desmond, with considerable possessions, down to the reign of Elizabeth. They were divided into two great liranches, the head of which was Mac Carthy More, of whom Donal Mac Carthy was created earl of Glencare or Clancare, A. D. 1566, by t^ueen Elizabeth; the other branch, called Mac Carthy Reagh, were styled princes of Caibery. Besides the earls of Clancare, the Mac Carthys were also created at various periods barons of Valentia, earls of Clancarthy, earls of Muskerry, and earls of Momitcashel, and had several strong castles in various parts of Cork and Kerry. According to Windele, the Mac Carthy Jlore was inaugurated at Lisban-nacahir in Kerry, at which ceremony presided O'Sullivan Mor and O'Donoghoe Mor ; his captains of war were the O'Rourkes, probably a branch of the O'Rourkes, princes of Brefncy ; the Mac Egans were his heredi- tary Brehons, and the O'Dalys and O'Duinins were his hereditary poets and antiquaries. There are still in the counties of Cork and Kerry many highly respectable families of the Mac Carthys, and several of tlie name have been distinguished commanders in the Irish Brigades, in the service of France and Sj>ain. Tiie following accounts of chiefs and clans in Desmond, or the counties of Corlc and Kerry, and the territories possessed by each in ancient and modern times, have been collected from O'Heerin's Topography, O'Brien, O'Halloran, Smith's histories of Cork and Kerry, and various other sources. I. O'Suilleabhain or O'Sullivan. The O'Sullivans had the ancient territory of Beara, now the baronies of Beare and Bantry, in the county of Cork, and were called O'Sullivan Beara, and styled princes of Beara. Another branch of the family called O'Sullivan Mor were lords of Dunkerron, and possessed the ba- rony of Dunkerron, in the county of Kerry, and their chief seat was the castle of Dunkerron, near the river Kenmare. A third branch of the O'Sullivans were chiefs of Knockraffan, in Tipperary, of whom an account is given in the note on Ormond. The O'Sul- livans are of the Eiigenian race of the same descent as the Mac Carthys, princes of Desmond, and took their name from Suileabh- an, one of their chiefs in the tenth century. As princes of Beara they held a high rank in ancient times in the county of Cork, REIGN OF RICHARD II. 175 and Gillpatrick, were slain by the English of Lehister. and liad several strong castles, the cliief of which were those of Diinboy, Ardea, and Carrijanas. In tlie reign of James I. tlieir extensive possessions were confiscated, in conse- quence of tlieir adherence to the earls of Desmond and Tyrone in the Elizabetliian wars, and tlie heads of the family retired to Spain, where many of them were distinguislied officers in the Spanish service, and liad the title of Counts of Bearliaven. 11. O'llcidir- sceoil or O'Driseoll, head of the Ithian race, was chief or prince of Corcaluighe, otherwise called Cairbreacha, comprising ancient Carbery, an extensive territory in the south-west of Cork. Ano- ther branch of tiie O'DriscolIs were lords of Beara, now the ba- ronies of Beareand Bantry, in the county of Cork, of which they were the original possessors, but tlie O'SuUivans in after times lie- came tile possessors of this territory as above stated. The O'Dris- colIs of the twelfth century are designated in O'lUerin's topogra- phical poem, in terms which may be thus translated ; — " To the race of Luighee along the shore, I now proceed beyond the bounds, To pass tlie tribe is not meet for roe. But to record the warriors' fame. " O'Driseoll, head chief of the land Of Corcaluigliee, I treat of now. He took possession of the coasts of Cleire, The fittest headland for the princely lord. " O'Driseoll of the wealthy Beara, Rules over the land of the salmon coast, A blue water shore abounding in harbours, Exhibitmg to view large fleets of wine." Tlie O'DriscolIs had the island of Capeclear, alluded to in the poem, and the territory about the bay of Baltimore, and, accord- ing to Smith, had a part of Iveragh in Kerry. They h^id castles at Dunashad and Dunalong near Baltimore, the castle of Diina- niore on Capeclear island, and others. Tliere are still several respectable families of the O'DriscolIs in the county of Cork. III. O'Caoimh orO'Keeft'e, is given by O'Heerin as chief of Glan Anih- ain and of Hrluaelira. Gleanamhain, according to O'Brien, is now Glanworth, in the barony of Fermoy, county of Cork ; they had also afterwards a large terrilory in 1 he barony of Duliallow,knownby the name of Pobal O'Keeffe. In ancient times the O'Keefies had the territory of Fearmuighe Peine, now the liarony of Fermoy, in the county of Cork, which afterwards was possessed by the Anglo- Norman family of Roche, viscounts of Fermoy, and called Roche's country. The O'Dugans and O'Coscraighs were also ancient chiefs in Fermoy. They are thus designated by O'lleerm : — "Chief of Fermoy of enclosed fortresses. Is O'Dugan of Dunmanann, A tribe of the Gaels of precious jewels; O'Keeffe is chief of Glen Avon. " O'Keeffe of the handsome brown brows, Chief of Urluachra of the fertile lands. The hiheritor of the hospitable country. Which resembled In beauty the fair plains of Meath.'" Tlie O'Keeffes were in ancient times marshals and chief military leaders of Desmond, and were styled princes of Fermoy. They had several eastles, the chief of which were those of Dro- magh and Duaragil. There are still several respectable families of the O'Keeffes in the county of Cork. IV. Mac Donnocha or Mac Donogh, of whom an account is given in O'Brien's Dictionary at the word Donnoch, was chief of Duhalla, now the barony of Duhallow, in the county of Cork. The Mac Donaghs were a branch of the JIac Carthys, and powerful chiefs ; they were styled princes of Duhallow, and their chief residence Great depredations were committed by O'Conor Roe and Mac Dermott on O'Conor Don, in con- was the magnificent castle of Kanturk. V. O'AIathghamhna or O'Mahony. The O'Mahonys are given by O'Heerin as chiefs of Hy Eachach, and also of Kinel m-Beice ; the latter is now the barony of Kinalmeaky, in the county of Cork, and Hy Eachach is in modern times called Ivaugli, which, according to Smith, com- prises the whole peninsula in the barony of West Carbery, extend- ing from Ballydehob to the bay of Dunmamis. O'Brien and O'Halloran give the territory Kinel Aodha as possessed by the O'Mahonys, which is now the barony of Kinnalea, in the county of Cork : audO'Brien in his Dictionary, at the word Mnthijhnhhaln, states that the O'Mahonys, who were a branch of the Eugenian race, had a large territory in Muskerry, south of the river Lee, in the county of Cork, and also another territory called Tiobrad, in the county of Kerry ; and the O'Mahonys are placed on the map of Ortelius, in the west of Kerry, opposite the island of Valentia. The O'Mahonys were powcrl^ul chiefs, and were sometimes styled princes. They are thus designated by O'Heerin : — " Ivaugh , the most western part of Banba (Ireland), Is the great estate of O'Mahony, The well watered lands of fair fortresses, Extensive are the brown-nut-producing plains. " Kinnalmeaky of the pleasant fields About Bandon, of the fair woods. The most warlike chief, in victory supreme, Is O'Mahony of the white foaming coast." Tlie O'Mahonys had several castles, as those of Rosbrin, Ardin- tenant, Blackcastle, Ballydesmoiid, Dunbeacan, Dunmanus, Ring- niahon, &c., all along the sea coast. There are several respectable families of the O'Mahonys in the counties of Cork and Kerry, and many of the name, styled counts O'Mahony have been highly dis- tinguished commanders in the Irish brigades in the service of France and Spain. VI. O'Ceallachain or O'Callaghans, given by O'Heerin as chiefs of Clair Beire, and of Kinel Aodha. Accord- ing to O'Brien and O'Halloran, the territory of the O'Callaghans was called Pobul O'Callaghan, signifying O'Callaghan's people, and extended from Mallow westward, on both sides of the Black- water, in the barony of Duhallow, county of Cork, and comprised, according to Smith, the present parishes of Clonraeen and Kil- shannick, an extensive territory containing about fifty thousand acres. Tlie O'Callaghans mentioned by O'Heerin were chiefs in Kinel Aodha, now the barony of Kinnalea, and of Clar Beire, which signifies the plain of Beara, a district situated in the barony of Beare, both in the county of Cork. They are thus mentioned in the poem of O'Heerin : — • *' Ar Clienel Aedha an fiiinn te, O'Ceallachain Clair Beire, Fonn glaislinde co grian geal, Fiadh is fairsinge inbhear." " Over Kinnalea of the fertile lands. Rules O'Callaghan of the plain of Beara, A land of blue waters and bright sunshine. The country of the most expanded bay." The O'Callaghans are of the Eugenian race, and took their name from their ancestor Ceallachan Casliel, the celebrated king of Munster in the tenth century, and accounts of them may be found in the .\nna!s of Inisfallen and the Four Masters. The O'Callaghans, lords of Clonmeen, were in former times very powerful chiefs, and had their chief residence at the castle of Clonmeen, the ruins of which still remain on a rock near the river Blackwater. Accord- ing to O'Brien, at the word Pobul, the chief of the O'Callaghans was transplanted into the county of Clare, by Cromwell where he gave him a considerable property at Kilcorney, in lieu of his an- cient estates. O'Brien mentions bartm Louis Dennis O'Callaghan, grand Venuer to his Serene Highness the Prince Margrave of 176 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A.D. 1388. sequence of which great commotion ensued in Connaught ; and Mac Donogh burned Moylurg on account of these depredations. Baden-Baden, and some of them were also distinguished officers in the French service. There are several highly respectable families of the O'Callaghans in the county of Cork, and a branch of them in Tipperary are viscounts of Lismnre. VII. O'Liathain or O'Lchan, by some rendered to Lyne and Lyons, is given by O'Hecrin chief of Hy Liathain, and of lly Nanmchadha. According to O'Brien, at the words Cuislean and Ilih Nanmcha, and also ac- cording to Smith, the O'Lehans had the territory in the county of Cork, afterwards called the barony of Barrymore, from the Anglo- Norman family of the Harrys, who became its possessors. According to O'Brien, the O'Lehans took their name from one of their chiefs in the beginning of the eleventh century, named Cuilean O'Liathan, who, in A.D. 1010, built Castle Lehan, now Castlelyons, which was the chief seat of that family. The O'Lehans are thus men- tioned by O'Heerin : " Lord of Hy Lehan, a warrior of fame, The hardy leader of the battalions of Munster, Of Hy Nameha he is lineal chief. The host of keen arms, of high nobility." Vltl. O'Floin or O'Flynn, chief of Arda and Hy Bagamhna, ac- cording to O'Heerin, and given by O'Brien, at the words Ardach and Donnchu ; and by O'Halloran as chiefs of Arda, a territory in the barony of Carbery", and also of Muiserith Miotaine,or Muiscrigh ui-Fhloinn, a district in the barony of Muskerry, both in the county of Cork. The district in Muscry possessed by theO'Flynns, according to O'Heerin, extended from the river Dribseach, or Dripsey, to Ballynoorney. O'Maolfabhail is another chief given by O'Heerin, in the same territory. The O'Flynns are thus men- tioned by O'Heerin : " O'Flynn Arda of the blooming woods, A tribe of the purest pedigree, Heir to the lordship is each man, They are the clan of Ibawne." " Of the race of Conary of the great forces. Let us speak of the chiefs of Muscry, A host whom the bright sun salutes On the land of the Martineans of Munster." Hy Baghamna is now the barony of Iliane and Barryroe, adjoining Carbery. According to \Vindele, the O'Flynns built the castle of Macroom, which was called O'Flynn's castle. The O'Flynns were of the Clanna Deaga, descended from the Ernans of Ul- ster, and Eochy O'Flynn, a celebrated bard and historian is stated to be of this sept, and is mentioned in O'Reilly's Irish AVriters amongst the chief bards of the tenth century, whose com- positions are contained in the Books of Leacan and Ballymote. IX. Mac Amhiaidhibh or Mac Auliffe, given hy O'Heerin as chief of the country from Amhaiu Ella westward beyond Gleann Salcain. This territory was in the barony of Duhallow, in the county of Cork, extending westward from the river Alia to the borders of Limerick. According to O'Brien, at the words Curmac, Glean Omra, and the end of the letter M , the Mac Auliffes were a branch of the Mac Carthys, and possessed the territory called Glean Omra, in the barony of Duhallow, and that the last chief of the family was co- lonel of a regiment in Spain, and died about the year 17-20. Their chief seat was castle Mac Auliffe, near Newmarket. The Mac Auliffes are thus mentioned by O'Heerin : " Far beyond the bountiful river Ella, To the westward of Glen Salcain of stately trees, A fair land of affluence undenied ; The territory belongs to the noble Mac Auliffe." Another chief in this territory is mentioned hy O'Heerin, as follows : " An estate of the plain of Core belongs, It is Aes Ella of the fine level land ; To the stately scion of Banba of the ringletted hair, He is O'Tedgauina of Uun Durlais." Peregrine O'Mulloy, lord of Fercall (in the King's county), died. O'Conor marched into the plain of Connaught X. O'Donnagain or Donnegans, chiefs of Muiscrith-na-dtri-Magh, or Muscry of the Three Plains, now the half barony of Orrery, in the county of Cork, according to O'Brien at the word Muiserith. They are thus mentioned by O'Dugan : "The country of O'Donnegan is certified. The great Muscry of the three plains. Which belongs to the host of polished steel, The district of charming sunny lands." O'Cullenanisgivenby O'Brienasaehiefonthe same territory. The O'Cullenans were celebrated as hereditary physicians of Munster. XI. O'llionmhuinein, chief of Tuath Saxon, is thus mentioned by O'Heerin : " Tuath Saxon of the fair pleasant plain, To O'Hinmanen I proclaim, A country of harbours in atfluence abounding, Belong to the hardy sept of Clan Conary." XII. O'Maolhleoghaidh, of the race of Core, chief of Muiserith Treithirne, is thus mentioned by O'Heerin: " Muscry Trehime of the mighty men. Rightfully belongs to the race of Core, O'Mulbleaghain is powerful over the land. He possesses the country of smooth plains." XIII. O'Breaghain or O'Bregan, O'GIaisin, also O'Mictire and O'Coelidh, or Keeley ; likewise O'Ciaran, are given by O'Heerin, O'Brien, and O'Halioran, as chiefs of Hy Mac Caille, or I Mac- cuile, now the barony of Imokilly, county of Cork. O'Bregan and O'GIaisin are thus mentioned by O'Heerm : " A valiant clan, warlike in pursuit, Ruled Imokilly of the hospitable banquets, Two tribes possessed the smooth plains, O'Bregan and the fair O'GIaisin." XIV. O'Cuire or O'Curry, of Clan Torna, chief of Ciarraidhe Cuirc, now the barony of Kerricurrehy, in the county of Cork, is thus mentioned by O'Heerin : " Kerricurrehy of the fair coast. That country belongs to Clan Torna ; O'Curry obtained the fertile land. Its green aspect is like the plains of Meath." XV. O'Cobhthaidh, anglicised O'Cowhiggs or O'Cowhys, of Fuinn Cliodhna, chiefs of Triocha Meadhona, now the barony of West Barryroe, in the county of Cork. The O'Cowhiggs were in ancient times powerful chiefs, and, according to Smith, had seven castles alon" the coast in the barony of Ibawne and Barryroe. They are thus mentioned by O'Heerin ; — " Lord of the county of Triocha Meona, Is O'Cowhy of the white-stoned shore. The land of Cleena is the plain of O'Cowhy, In the sea fights they are valiant foes." XVI O'Fichiolla or O'Fihellys, a name anglicised to Field, are also given by O'Brien as chiefs in West Barryroe. XVII. O'Baire, given by O'Heerin as chief of Muintir Baire, and by O'Halloran as chief of Aron. In O'Brien's Dictionary at the word Riun, the O'Baires are stated to possess a territory and foreland called Muintir Baire, part of ancient Carbery, in the county of Cork. This name has been anglicised to Baery ; they were of the Ithian or Lngadian race, and descended from Fathaidh Airgtheach, a king of Munster in tlie third century, according to O'Heerin, by whom they are thus designated : I REIGN OF RICHARD II. 177 (in Roscommon), burned Ard-an-Choilein, and the island of Lough Cairgin, and slew Donal Oge Mac Donnell, a constable of ""gaUoglasses, on that occasion. " Miiintir Baire of the fair fortress, They are of the race of Fathaidh Airghtheach ; O'Baire rules over the land of waves, Which is not surpassed by the smooth plains of Manainn." This name has bejn anglicised to Barry, not Baery, as left uncor- rected hy the printer in the foreffoing part of this article. XVIII. O'Laoghaire orO'Learys, chiefs of Hy Laoghaire or Ive- leary, were, according to O'Brien at the word Ihh, of the Luijadian or Ithian race, and possessed in ancient times the city of Roscar- bery and its environs ; and, according to Smith and \Vindele, Ive- leary, or O'Leary's country, lay in Muskerry, in the county of Cork, between Macroom and Inchaeeela, where tliey had several castles, as those of Carrigafooky, Carrignaneelagh, Carrignacurra, Dundarierk and Drumeurragh XIX. The O'Heas and O'Dcas, of whom accounts have been already given in the note on Tlio- niond, are mentioned by O'Brien at the word Cairbre, amongst the chiefs of Carbery, county of Cork, and Smith states that the O'Heas were chiefs of Pebble O'Hea in Carbery. XX. The O'Donovans, of whom also an account has been given in the note on Thomond, likewise settled in Cork, and according to Smith, were chiefs of Clan Cathail, an extensive district in West Carbery, and had their chief residence at Castle Donovan. XXI. O'Beice is given by O'Heerin as a chief of Beantraidhe, now the barony of Bantry, county of Cork, and is thus designated : — " O'Beice, chief of the fair land, Rules over Bantry of delightful bloom, Heroes whose noble actions I certify. They are of the race of Fergus of Ulster." XXII. The O'Caseys are given by O'Brien at the word Coillte, as chiefs of CoiUte Maibineacha, a territory near Mitchelstown,in the county of Cork. XXIII. The O'Healys or O'Helys are given by O'Brien at the word Domhnach, as chiefs of Domhnach Mor O'Healy, or Pobble O'Healy, a large parish in the barony of Mus- kerry, county of Cork, and he states that the lord chief baron, Hely Hutchinson, was descended from this family. XXIV. The O'llerlihys or O'Hurleys are given by O'Brien, at the end of the letter /, as chiefs of a district in the barony of Muskerry, and he states tliey were hereditary wardens of the church of St. Gobnait of Ballyvoorny, and were possessors for many ages of the large parish of that name. Smith states that they were chiefs near Macroom. For a further account of the O'Hurleys, see note on Ormond. XXV. The O'Nunans are given by O'Brien at the letter U, as chiefs of Tullaleis and Castlelissen, now the parish of TiiUi- lease, in tlie barony of Duhallow, county of Cork, of which they were hereditary wardens of St. Brendan's church. XXVI. The O'Dalys, according to Smith, had the parish of Kilcrohane, in the barony of West Carbery, county of Cork, and were bards to the Mac Carthys, O'Mahonys, Carews, and other great families. An account of several of the O'Dalys, eminent poets in Munster, is to be found in O'Reilly's Irish writers. XXVII. The Mae Egans are men- tioned by O'Brien at the word Eagan, as Brehons, in the counties of Cork and Kerry, under the Mac Carthys, kings of Desmond. The Mac Egans were also hereditary Brehons or judges of Or- mond. XXVIII. The Mac Sweeneys are mentioned by O'Brien at the end of the letter M, as military commanders under the Mac Carthys, princes of Desmond, who, in the thirteenth century, brought a body of them from Tirconnell or Donegal, where they were celebrated as military chiefs under the O'Donnells, and hence the head of the clan was styled Mac Suibhne-na-dTuadh, or Mac Sweeney of the Battle-axes. According to Smith and Seward, the Mac Sweeneys had the parish of Kilmurry, in the barony of Muskerry, county of Cork, and their chief castle at Clodagii, near Macroom, and had also Castlemore, in the parish of Movidy. They were famous for their hospitality, and one of them erected a large stone near the castle of Clodagh, O'Donnelljthat is, Torlogh of the Wine, marched his forces against the Clan Murtogh (O'Conors) to Sligo, preyed and devastated the entire of Car- bury of Drumcliff, and after he had slain many, with an inscription in Irish, inviting all passengers to repair to the house of Edmond Mac Sweeney for free entertainment. XXIX. The Mac Sheehys, according to Smith, were a warlike clan, brought from Coimaught in the fifteenth century by the Fitzgeralds, earls of Desmond, who appointed them their body guards. They were afterwards numerous in the counties of Cork and Limerick ; some of them cliangcd the name to Joy, and of this family was the late judge. Baron Joy; they are supposed by some to be originally the same as the Joyces of Connemara. XXX. The O'Kearneys were a clannear Kinsale,in the county of Cork, where they are placed on the Map of Ortelius, and are mentioned by O'Heerin as chiefs of Hy Floinn. XXXI. TheO'Riordans were a clan of note in Muskerry, in the county of Cork, and distinguished military chiefs in ancient times. Of this family was the late Dr. O'Riordan of Limerick, a distinguished Irish scholar, and patron of the late Peter O'Connell, the compiler of an Irish Dictionary, which has been described in the note on Thomond. XXXII. The O'Crowleys are mentioned by Smith as chiefs of Kilshallow, west of Bandon, in the county of Cork, and originally a clan from Connauaht. XXXIII. TheO'Murphys, originally from Wexford, are mentioned by Smith as a numerous clan in Muskerry, and there are many respectable families of the name in the city of Cork. XXXIV. The O'Aherns, 0'Ronaynes,and O'Heynes, were also old and respectable families in the county of Cork. Of the O'Creaghs and O'Gradys, of whom an account has been given in the note on Thomond, there are several respectable families in the county of Cork. The following have been the chiefs and clans in Kerry, in an- cient and modern times. I. O'Concobhair or O'Conors, styled by O'Heerin kings or princes of Kerry, who thus mentions them in his topographical poem : — " Fagbham siol Conaire cliach, Riograidhe Ema na nor sciath, Taile ar nucht ar fein Fearguis, As ceim a hucht f heicheamhnuis. " Hi Ciarraighe os clannaibh Ceir, O'Concobhair coir doisein, Cele clair an niiodhf huinn mir, On traigh co Sionaind sruithghil. " Let us leave the race of Conary of battles, The princes of Ema of the golden shields, We come to our friends the race of Fergus, Tliey are entitled to command our attention. " The king of Kerry over the clans of Ciar, O'Conor rules that land by right. Chief of the plain of fertile fields, From the strand to the Shannon of clear streams." The Ciar above-mentioned was son of Fergus Mac Roy, king of Ul- ster, by Meava, the celebrated queen of Connaught, and having settled in Munster, in the iirst century, as already explained in the preceding part of this article, he became possessed of the greater part of the territory, afterwards called Kerry, which derived its name from him, being named Clarrioyhnclit, signifying Ciar's kingdom, also written in Irish as above, Ciarraigh, and sometimes Ciaraidh. This Ciar and his posterity of the Irian race possessed the territory called lar Mumhan, or West Munster, which com- prised the north-western half of the present county of Kerry, with a part of Limerick, as already explained. Of the race of Ciar were some eminent persons in early times, as St. Brendan of Kerry, in the sixth century, the founder of the see of Ardfert, and many monasteries ; and St. Carthach or Mochuda, who in the seventh century founded the college of Lisniore, in Waterford, which was long celebrated as a seat of literature, and attended by students 2 A 178 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A. D. 1388. and plundered the district on that occasion, Donal, son of Murtogh (O'Conor) waited on O'Donnell, made peace with him, paid him his tribute, and from all parts of Europe. Torna Eigeas, the celebrated bard to the monarch Niall of the Hostages in tlie fifth century, was also of the same race. Mac Beatach, king of Ciaraidhe Luachra, the ancient name of West Kerry, fouglit under Brian Boru, at the battle of Clontarf. According to a printed pedigree of the O'Conors Kerry, they took their name from Con, one of their chiefs in the eleventh century, and from Ciar their great ancestor, thus mak- ing the word Conciar or Coniar, anglicised O'Conor ; or according to others they took their name from Conchobhar or Conor, one of their ancient chiefs. Of the O'Conors Kerry, several distin- guished chiefs are mentioned in tlie Four Masters, and Annals of Inisfallen, from the twelfth to the sixteenth century ; they were very powerful, and in ancient times styled kings and princes of Kerry. In the thirteenth century, the Fitzmanrices, earls of Kerry, got much of the possessions of the O'Conors, whose an- cient principality was diminished to the territory called Oireacht- ui-Chonchobhair, signifying the inheritanceof O'Conor, now forming the barony of Iraiihticonor. The O'Conors Kerry had several strong castles, the chief of which was that of Carrigafoile, at the small island of Carrig, near the mouth of the Shannon, but after the Eliza- hethian and Cromwellian wars, most of their estates were confis- cated. According to Lodge's Peerage, several of the O'Conors, lords of Kerry, were connected by marriage alliances with the Fitzmanrices, earls of Kerry, and they were also connected by intermarriages with the O'Connells of Kerry. There are several re- spectable families of the O'Conors in Cork and Kerry, and some of them have been distinguished officers in the service of France and Naples. The chief representative of the ancient fiimily of the O'Conors Kerry, and maternally descended from the O'Connells of Kerry, is Captain Daniel O'Connell O'Conor, at present an officer in the Austrian service. II. O'Donchadha or O'Donoghoes, given by O'Heerin as chiefs of Lough Lein, and also of Clan Seall)huidhe, aiid thus designated in his topography, together with the O'CarroUs : " O'Donoghoe of Lough Leine, And of the Fleisg who are full powerful, Rule over the Clan Shalvey, They are men of happiness in Munster." " O'Donoghoe of Lough Lein, He is prince of that Eoganacht, O'Carroll is there our friend, Of pure and noble origin." O'Brien, at the word Donchu, states, that the Donoghoes were of the Eugenian race, and originally settled in that part of Desmond, now the county of Cork, where they possessed a large territory, extending from Iniskean to the borders of Bantry, and from thence northward to Ballyvurny and Macroom, comprising the district called Iveleary (which is part of Carbery), and also a great por- tion of Muskerry ; but hi the twelfth century, the O'Donoghoes were expelled from Cork by the Mac Carthys and O'Mahonys, and settled in Kerry, where they became proprietors of all the country about Lough Lein and Killarney. From the tenth to the thir- teenth century, several distinguished chiefs of the O'Donoghoes are mentioned in the Annals of Inisfallen, and they are styled kings and princes of the Eoganacht of Lough Lein. The O'Do- noghoes continued powerful chiefs down to the reign of Elizabeth, when, in consequence of having joined the earls of "Tyrone and Des- mond, most of their estates were confiscated. The O'Donoghoes were divided hito two great branches, namely, those of Lough Lein and those of Glenflesk, the latter called O'Donoghoe More. The O'Donoghoes, lords of Lough Lein, had their chief castle at Ross Island, on one of the lakes of KilLirney, the romantic ruins of which still remain. The O'Donoghoes of Lough Lein or Ross, according to Windele, are now extinct ; but the O'Donoghoe of the Glens still holds a great deal of the extensive possessions of his ancestors. Some hiteresting accounts of the O'Donoghoes will be found in Windele's Notices of Cork and Killarney. III. O'Domhnaill or O'Donnell, of the same race as the O'Doooghoes, restored the hostages previously taken from Tir- connell. A contest arose between O'Rourke (of Leitrim) is given by O'Heerin as a chief of Clan Shalvey, and mentioned as follows : — " Clan Shalvey of the limpid streams, Recorded as a well known land. Belongs to O'Donnell of the powerful hand, M'ho took possession of the brown nut plaui." IV. The O'Carrolls, princes of Lough Lein, are mentioned by O'Heerin, and also in the Annals of Inisfallen, in the eleventh and twelfth centuries. V. O'Failbhe or O'Falvey, given by O'Heerin as chief of Corca Duihhne, and of the territory from the Mang, west- ward toFiontraigh orVentry. Corca Duibhne, is now the barony of Corcaguiney, in the county of Kerry. The O'Falveys are men- tioned by O'Brien, at the words Corca Duibhne and Failbhe, also as lords of Ihherathu, now the barony of Iveragh in Kerry. The O'Falveys were powerful chiefs, and in ancient times held the rank of hereditary admirals of Desmond. VI. O'Seadha or O'Shea, is also given as a chief of Ibh Ratha or Iveragh. VII. O'Conghaill or O'Connell, is given by O'Heerin, as chief of Magh O g-Coiiichiiin, now the barony of Magonihy, in Kerry. These O'Connells it appears were a branch of the O'Connells, the ancient lords of Hy Couaill Gawra, now the baronies of Upiier and Lower Conello, in the county of Limerick, which, as already stated, formed a part of West Munster. An account of the O'Connells of Clare, Limerick, and Kerry, has been given in the note on Thomond, and in Burke's History of the Commoners, will be found accounts of several chiefs of the O'Connells of Kerry, who were formerly styled lords of Bally Carberry, in the barony of Iveragh. The best authorities on the ancient chiefs ot Kerry, are the topo- graphical accounts in O'Brien's Irish Dictionary, O'Halloran, Smith's Kerry, Windele, &c., but particularly O'lleerin's Topo- graphy of Munster, a work of undoubted authority, written in the fourteenth century, and now for the first time translated from the Irish MS., and embodied in those notes. The three last-men- tioned chiefs are stated by O'Heerin, in his topography, to be of the race of Clan Conaire, that is the descendants of Conary XI., monarch of Ireland, in the beginning of the third century, who was of the race of the Clanna Deaga of Munster, of whom an ac- count has been given in the preceding part of this article, and also in the note on Thomond, where it has been shewn that Cairbre Riada, sou of the monarch Conary, in the third century, settled the Irish colony in North Britain or Alhan, afterwards called Scotland, from whom were descended the ancient Scottish kings and the House of Stuart. The above chiefs are thus designated by O'Heerin : " After the battalions of Clar Broine, Let us treat of the clans of Conary, Fine Fenian heroes from Tulaich-an-Trir (an ancient name of Tara), Rulers in Munster of the smooth flowing streams. " Three chiefs who possessed the lands, Of Corca Duivney of the fine forces, O'Falvey the warrior, and O'Shea, The strengthening bond of the eastern parts. " O'Connell of the sharp swords Rules over the shaded fortresses of Magonihy, Like a stately tree in the hazel woods, Is the Munster leader of the cavalry forces. From Mang, westward, is the estate. Possessed by O'Falvey as far as Ventry, Without dispute an extensive land. Was obtained hy O'Shea, chief of Iveragh." VIII. O'Laoghain, probably O'Leyne, chief of Hy Fearba; and O'Duibhduin, chief of Hy Flannain, districts in the county of Kerry, are thus mentioned by O'Heerin : — REIGN OF RICHARD II. 179 and the Mac Donoghs (of Sligo) ; and Donal, son of Murtogh (O'Conor), joined the Mac Donoghs against O'Rourke. " O'Laoghain, a warrior of fame, We found him over Hy Fearba, O'Caithneandaigh obtained tlie land, Firmly settled under the high hills of Cualan. " Hy Flannain an extensive land, A verdant country of delightful streams, O'Duivdin over the fertile soil. Rules as its chief and protecting lord." IX. The O'Neides and Clan Conary are given as chiefs of All- traighe, or of Clar Ciarraidhe, that is, the Plain of Kerry, and thus mentioned by O'Heerin : — " The men of Alltraighe maintain. Two chiefs of the plain of Kerry, A elan the most active in pitch of battle. Their chiefs are O'Neide and Clan Conary." X. O'Dunodaidh or O'Dunady, chief of Slieve Luachra, that is, the district about the mountain of Slievlogher, on the borders of Limerick and Kerry, is thus mentioned by O'Heerin — *' The plain of Luachra, a productive country, Belongs to the liberal O'Dunady, A tribe of hard-fighting battles, A district of fair well-watered lands." XL O'iluircheartaigh or O'Moriarty, and O'Hionnasbhain, chiefs of Aos Aisde of Orlar Eltaigh, are thus mentioned by O'Heerin : — " Aos Aisde of the plain of flocks, Which the chief O'Moriarty obtained, A fair country of blooming aspect, Which was possessed by O'Hiunesvan." Tlie O'Moriartys had the parish of Templenoe, and some adjoining districts in the barony of Dunkerron. XU. The MacGillicuddys, a branch of the O'SuUivans, were chiefs of a territory in the barony of Dunkerron, and from them the mountains called JIae Gillicuddy's Reeks got their name. There are several respectable families of them in Kerry, some of whom have anglicised the name to Archdeacon. The bead of the family is styled ;Mac Gillicuddy of the Reeks. XIIL The Mac EUigotts, an ancient family in Kerry, from whom the parish of Ballymacelligott, in the barony of Trugh- enackmy, got its name. In Lodge's Peerage, in his account of the earls of Kerry, it is stated that in the latter end of the thir- teenth century, one of the Fitzmaurices, earl of Kerry, was mar- ried to the daughter of sir John Mac Leod of Galway, and that others of those Mac Leods of the same family settled in Kerry, and the name was changed to Mac EUigott ; thus it would appear that the Mac EUigotts are descended from the Scottish clan of the Mac Leods. Some of the Mac EUigotts were distinguished officers in the service of foreign states, amongst others Baron M.1C Elligott, a major-general in the Austrian service, under the empress Maria Theresa. Some of the Mac EUigotts who resided in Limerick about twenty years ago, were eminent Irish scholars. XIV. The Mac Finneens, according to some, a branch of the Mac Carthys, or according to others, of the O'SuUivans ; the Mae Crehans ; the O'Scanlans ; and O'Hameys, were also clans of note in Kerry. Anglo-Xorman and EnglUh families in Desmond, As already stated, king Henry II. gave a grant of the kingdom of Cork or Desmond to Robert Fitzstephen, and to Milo de Cogan. The Fitzgeralds, descended from the Anglo-Norman chief, Maurice Fitzgerald, of whom an account has been given in a note in these Amials, at the year li24, got large possessions in Cork and Kerry, Manus, son of Malachy Mac Manus, was slain by the sons of Mac Donogh and Mulroony Mac Donosh. and were created earls of Desmond in the reign of Edward III. .\nother branch of the Fitzgeralds, also descended from ilaurice Fitzgerald, became earls of Kildare. The earls of Desmond be- came one of the most powerful families in Munster, and several of them were lords deputies of Ireland in the fourteenth and fif- teenth centuries. Gerald Fitzgerald, sixteenth earl of Desmond, was one of the greatest subjects in Europe, held the rank of a Prince Palatine, with all the authority of a provincial king; had many strong castles, and his vast possessions extended 150 miles over the counties of Cork, Kerry, Limerick, and Waterford, comprising nearly six hundred thousand acres of profitable land, independent of immense tracts of waste lands, notsurveyed, so that his entire property amounted to nearly one million of acres. He had an immense number of vassals, and could raise at a call a force of two thousand foot and six hundred horse, and had be- sides, in his retinue of his own kindred, five hundred gentlemen of the Fitzgeralds. The earl of Desmond having resisted the Re- formation in the reign of Elizabeth, and waged war against the English government, his forces after long contests were defeated, and he himself was slain by one Kelly, an Irish soldier, in a glen near Castle Island, in the county of Kerry, on the 11th of No- vember, 1.583 ; his head was cut off and sent to England by Thomas Butler, earl of Ormond, as a present to the queen, who caused it to be fixed on London bridge. His son, James, suc- ceeded to the title, but died soon after. James Fitzgerald, ne- jihew of Gerald, earl of Desmond, attempting to recover the es- tates and honours of his ancestors, took up arms, and joined the standard of Hugh 0'lveill,earl of Tyrone. He was styled earl of Desmond, but his title not being recognised, he was designated the siitj/in earl, .signifying the earl of straw. His forces bemg at length defeated,and himself taken prisoner, he was sent to England alons with Florence JIac Carthy, and imprisoned in the Tower of London, where he lUed, A. D. 1UU8, and thus terminated the U- lustrious house of Desmond. After his death the Fitzgeralds, who were the chief representatives of this great family, went to Spam, became commanders in the Spanish and .\u8trian service; and were styled Counts of Desmond. Accounts of the Fitzgeralds, earls of Desmond, will be found in Smith's Histories of Cork and Kerry, Mac Geoghegan's Ireland, and Lodge's Peerage. The vast estates of Gerald, earl of Desmond, were confiscated in the reign of Elizabeth, and granted to various English settlers, called planters or undertakers, on conditions that no planter should con- vey any part of the lands to any of the mere Irish, and the Eng- lish settlers were also prohibited to intermarry with the Irish, and none of the Irish were to be maintained in any family. Of the Desmond estates in Cork and Waterford Sir Walter Raleigh got grants from Elizabeth of about forty thousand acres. Sir Walter Raleigh resided some time near Yoiighal, and after his return from a voyage to America, brought with him from Virginia the pota- to-root, together with tobacco, being the first who had introduced these articles into Ireland, and he planted the first potatoes in a field near Youghal, about A.D. 1010. The other English settlers who got grants of the Desmond estates in the county of Cork, were Arthur Robins, 18,000 acres; Fane Beecher,12,000 acres ; Hugh Worth, 12,000 acres; Arthur Hyde, 1-2,000 acres ; Sir Warham St. Leger, 6,000 acres; Hugh Ciiffe, 6,000 acres; Sir Thomas Norris, G,000 acres ; Sir .-irthur Hyde, 0,000 acres ; Thomas Say, 0,000 acres; Sir Richard Beacon, 0,000 acres; Edmond Spencer, the poet, 3,000 acres. In the county of Kerry the following per- sons got grants of the Desmond estates: — Sir William Herbert about 13,000 acres ; Charles Herbert, about 4,000 acres ; Sir Valentine Brown, ancestor of the earls of Kenmare, about 6,000 acres ; Sir Edward Denny, 6,000 acres; and some grants to the families of Conway, Holly and others. Of the fandlies who got the Desmond estates in Limerick, an account has been given in the note on Thomond. The other principal Ji'orman and English families of the coumy cf Cork, wc-e Ihe Cogans, Carews, Condons, or Cantons, de Courcvs, Barrys, Bamwalls, Barretts, Roches, 2 A 2 180 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A. D. 1389. A.D. 1389. The vicar of Iniscain (in Louth) died. Niall Oge O'Neill was taken prisoner by the English. Mac Gibbons, and Fitzgibbons, branches of the Fitzgeralds ; the Flemraings, Sarsfields, Naples, Martells, Percivals, Russells, Pigotts, Prendergasts, Lombards, Lavallans, Morgans, Cotters, Meaghs, Murroghs, Supples, Stackpotcs, Whites, Warrens, Hodnetts, Hardings, Fields, Beeehers, Hydes, Jephsons, Garretts, Kents, Delaliides, de Spencers, Deanes, Daunts, Vincents, Gardi- ners, Beamishes, Courtnays, Cuifes, Cores, Hores, Newenhams, &c. The Coppingers, Goulds, Gallways, Skiddys, and Terrys, considered by O'Brien, Windele, and others, to be of Danish descent, were in former times very numerous and powerful fami- lies in Cork, and a vast number of them were lord mayors of that city, from the fourteenth to the seventeenth century, as maybe seen in Smith's History of Cork. The de Courcys were barons of Kin- sale, and some of the family took the Irish name of Mac Patrick, being descendants of one of the earls named Patrick. The de Harrys, Anglo-Normans, became earls of Barryraore, and gave name to the baronies of Barrymore and Barryroe ; some of them took the name of Mac David. The Anglo-Norman family of de la Rupe or Roche became viscounts of Fermoy, and their ter- ritory was called Roche's country ; several of them were distin- guished officers in the Irish Brigade in the service of France, and others in the Spanish and Sardinian service. The Sarsfields, Anglo-Normans, settled in Cork, and also in Limerick, and in tlie fifteenth and si.Tteenth centuries, several of them were lord mayors of Cork, and also of Dublin ; t!ie Sarsfields of Limerick were created viscounts of Kilmallock, the first w-ho got the title being sir Dominick Sarsfield, chief jvistice of the common pleas, in the reign of James I. Patrick Sarsfielil of the same family was created earl of Luean by James II., under whom he was cele- brated as a commander of the Irish forces. Many of the Sars- fields were distinguished generals in the service of France and Spain ; and it may be here mentioned, that some of the de Lacys and Browns of Limerick were amongst the most celebrated mi- litary commanders in Europe, in the eighteenth century, as mar- shals and generals in the Russian and Austrian service. Tiie Barretts gave name to the l)arony of Barretts ; and the Condons to the barony of Condons. The de Barnwalls, Anglo-Normans, were styled lords of Bearliaven, and had large possessions in that district, hut were expelled by tlie O'SuUivans, and having settled in Dublin and Meath, founded several great families, as the Bam- VN'alls, barons of Trimblestown and Turvey, and viscounts Kings- land. Some of the family of Hodnelt took the Irish name of Mac Sherry, and their chief residence was at Court JIac Sherry ; from the Magners, Castle Magner got its name ; and from the Hydes, Castlehyde. The Nagels had extensive possessions, and from them the Nagles mountains derive their name ; of this family was sir Richard Nagle, attorney-general to James II. The Daunts, descended from tlie ancient family of Daunt, in Glouces- tershire, held the lands ofTracton Abbey, which were leased to Thomas Daunt by sir Warham St. Leger, in the reign of Elizabeth. William Daunt, his brother, had also part of those lands, and from these brothers are descended the Daunts ofNewboro', Slieve- roe, Fahalea, Kilcaskan, and Tracton Abbey. The following have been the chief Anglo-Norman and English families in Kerry. The Fitzmaurices, earls of Kerry, descended from Raymond le Gros, a celebrated warrior who came over with Strongbow. Raymond having formed an alliance with Dermod Mac Carthy, kincr of Desmond, got large grants of lands in Kerry, in the territory called Lixnaw, which, from being possessed by his son Maurice, got the name of Clanmaurice. From Maurice were descended the Fitzmaurices, earls of Kerry. The other principal English families were the Herberts, Browns, Stacks, Blenner- hassetts, Crosbies, Dennys, Gunns, Godfreys, Morrises, Rices, Springs, &c. Nobility. The following have been the noble families in the county of Cork, from the reign of king John to the present time. Maurice Maol O'Conor Fairly was slain by the cast of a javelin, at the church of Cluau Dathorc,' by a man of the O'Kellys of Legi (Leix, Queen's county). The de Courcys, barons of Kinsale and Ringrone ; the Fitzgeralds, earls of Desmond, barons of Decies, and seneschals of Imokilly. One of the family of Preston was created earl of Desmond, and in modem times the Fieldings, earls of Denbigh in England, have the title of earls of Desmond. Itmay be remarked that the O'Briens, earls of Thomond, have their chief residence in the county of Cork. In the reign of Richard II., Edward Plantageuet, son of king Edward III., was created earl of Cork, and Richard Plantagenet, duke of York, viceroy of Ireland in 1449, was also earl of Cork ; and it may be here remarked, that of the royal family, the dukes of Clarence are earls of Munster. The Carews were created mar- quesses of Cork. The Mac Carthys were earls of Clancare, earls of Clancarthy, earls of Muskerry, and earls of Mountcashel. The Rarrys, barons of Olethan, viscounts of Buttevant, and earls of Barrymore. The Roches, barons of Castlelough, and viscounts of Fermoy. The Boyles, barons of Youghal, Bandon, Broghill, and Castlemartyr, viscounts of Dungarvan and Kinnalmeaky, earls of Cork, Orrery, and Shannon, and earls of Burlington in England. The Percivals, barons of Duhallow, Kanturk, and Arden, and earls of Egmont. The St. Legers, viscounts of Doneraile ; the Touchets, earls of Castlehaven ; the Bernards, earls of Bandon ; the Wjiites, viscounts of Bearhaven, and earls of Bantry ; the Berkleys and Chetwynds, viscounts of Bearhaven; the Brodericks, viscounts Middleton; the Moores, earls of Charleville; and the Moores, earls of Mountcashell ; the Kings, earls of Kingston ; the O'Callaghans, viscounts of Lismore in Waterford, are originally from Cork ; the Evanses, barons of Carbery ; the Deanes, barons of Muskerry ; the Tonsons, barons of Riversdale ; and the family of Cavendi^h, barons of Waterpark. In Kerr;/ the following have been the noble families since the reign of king John. 'The Fitzmaurices, barons of Lixnaw and O'Dorney, viscounts of Clanmaurice, and earls of Kerry; the Pettys or Fitzmaurice Pettys, barons of Dunkerron, viscounts Clanmaurice, earls of Kerry, earls of Shelhurne, and marquesses of Lansdown in England ; the Fitzgeralds, knights of Kerry ; the Browns, earls of Kenmare, and viscounts of Castleross ; the Her- berts, barons of Castleisland ; the Gages, viscounts of Castle- island ; the Childs, viscounts of Castlemaine, and earls Tylney in England ; the Monsons and Palmers, viscounts of Castlemaine ; the Powers, viscounts of Valentia ; the Annesleys, viscounts of Valentia ; the Crosbies, viscounts of Brandon, and earls of Gian- dore; the Wynnes, barons Headley ; the de Moleynes, barons of Ventry ; the Hares, barons of Ennismore, and earls of Listowel ; and Thomas Spring Rice, baron Monteagle of Brandon. Desmond was formed into the counties of Cork and Kerry, in the reign of king John, A. D. 1210, but of the immense territory comprised in those two counties, no description can be given in the limits of this article, beyond the remark, that the inland and ocean scenery of those counties is grand and beautiful, and that their extensive hiays and noble harbours are amongst the finest in any country. Down to as late as a century ago, the mountains of Cork and Kerry were covered with ancient forests of oak, ash, pine, alder, birch, hazel, and yews of immense size, and aftbrded retreats to wolves, and numerous herds of red deer. Of the majes- tic mountains and magnificent lakes of Kerry it is needless to speak, celebrated as they are for sublime scenery and surpassing beauty. Ecdesinstical divisions. — The following are the bishops' sees in Cork and Kerry ; The see of Cori was founded by St. Barr, called Fin-Barr, in the beginning of the seventh century. The diocese comprises, together with the city, a large portion of the countyof Cork. Tlie see of Cloyne was founded in the latter end of the sixth, or beginning of the seventh century, by St. Colman, a disciple of St. Fin-Barr of Cork. Cloyne is called in Irish Cluan Uama, sig- nifying the Retreat of the Cave, and is latinised Cluanvania. The REIGN OF RICHARD II. 181 Malachy Cam O'Loghlin, lord ofCorcomroe (in Clare), was treacherously slain by his own brother. diocese of Cloyne comprises about a third part of the county of Cork. The see of Ross was founded in tlie beginning; of the sixth cen- tury by St. Fachnan ; it was anciently called in Irish Ross Aili- thri, si^ifying the Plain of Pilgrimage, and in modern times Rosscarberry. Ross had in ancient times a college and Benedic- tine monastery, and was long celebrated as a seat of learning, at- tended by students from all parts of Ireland, and even from Bri- tain. The diocese of Rossis very small, comprising only a few parishes in the county of Cork, and has lieen generally united to the see of Cloyne, and sometimes to that of Cork. The see of Ardfert -was (onndeA, according; to some accounts, as in Ware, Harris, and others, by St. Ert or Ere, in the latter end of the fifth century, but Lani^an considers this account doubt- ful, and is of opinion that St. Brendan of Kerry was its chief founder in the sixth century, to whom its cathedral is dedicated, as patron saint of the diocese, which is also sometimes mentioned as the see of Ardfert Brendan. The see of Ardfert was also some- times styled the archbishopric of lar Miirahan or West Munster, and is also called the see of Kerry. Aghudoe, an ancient bishop's see, situated near the abbey of Inisfallen and Lakes of Killamey, was in very early times annexed to Ardfert. The united diocese of Ardfert and Aghadoe is very large, comprehending the entire county of Kerry, with a small portion of Cork. Anc'tent literature. The following account of some ancient Irish MSS. and other works, has been collected from Ware, Ni- cholson's Historical Library, O'Reilly's Irish Writers, O'Conor's Rer. Hib. Scrip., de Burgo's Hibcrnia Dominicana, Brennan's Ec- clesiastical History, Smith's Cork and Kerry, and various other sources. The Annnh of Inisfollen. This work was written by the learned monks of the abliey of Inisfallen, which was founded by St. Finian, in the sixth century, on an island in the Lakes of Kil- larney, and was long celebrated as a seat of learning and religion, and tlie importance of this venerable sanctuary is shewn by some interesting ruins, whicii still remain. These annals give some sketches of ancient history, but commence principally at A. D. 252, and terminate at A. D 1320, thus giving a history of Ire- land from the tliird to the fourteenth century, but more particu- larly relate to the history of Munster. Amongst the authors of of these annals are mentioned in O'Reilly's Irisli Writers at A. D. 1009, Mai Suthain O'CarrnU, lord of Lough Lein, and one of the monks of Inisfallen, who died in this year, and is styled by the Four Masters one of the most learned men of the western world ; and at A. D. 1197, Giolla Patriiic O'lluidhir, monk of Inis- fallen, a famous poet and historian. The original of these annals is in the Bodleian Library at Oxford, and copies of them are in the Duke of Buckingham's Library at Stowe, in the library of Trinity College, Dublin, in that of the Royal Irish Academy, and an ex- cellent copy in the library of Sir William Bethara. 'These annals are also called the Annals of Munster, as relating chieriy to the history of Munster, and have been translated into Latin, and pub- lished in O'Conor's Rer. Hib. Scrip, down to A. D. 1088. These annals, if properly translated from the Irish, and published with the necessary annotations, would form a valuable contribution to an- cient Irish history. The Booti of Munster, a large work in MS., principally com- piled from the ancient record called the Psalter of Cashel, con- taining notices of the History of Ireland, from the earliest period to the end of the fourteenth century, but particularly relating to the history of Munster, giving accounts of its kings, chiefs, clans, and principal families, with various and interesting information on the ancient laws, arts, aiiriculture, commerce, manners and cus- toms of the country. Copies of the Book of Munster are inserted in the Books of Leacan and Ballymote, of which accounts have been given in the note on North Connaught. The Book of Mun- ster would be found very valuable if properly translated and pub- lished with sufficient annotations. It may be here remarked that Owen O'Rourke, and the sons of Cathal Oge O'Conor, having gone to Caislean-an-uabhair, there met with the cavalry of Muintir Hely, which the translator of these Annals has, together with transcribing copies of the Books of Leacan and Ballymote, for tlie Royal Library at Windsor, as Irish Historiographer to their late Majes- ties George IV., and William IV., also translated the greater part of those books, having personally received instructions fur that purpose from his Royal Highness the late Duke of Sussex, to the effect, that translations of these great records, with annotations, should accompany his copies in the royal library. The Book of the Mac Bruodlns, compiled by the Mac Bruodins, hereditary historians of Thomond, and particularly relating to the affairs of Munster, is an ancient MS. often mentioned, and is quoted as one of the records used in the compilation of the Annals of the Four Masters. The Booh of Fermoy, an ancient and valuable large Irish MS. on vellum, relating to the general history of Ireland, but parti- cularly to Munster, and originally compiled by the monks of Fermoy, was a few years ago in the possession of William Monck Mason, of Dublin, Esq., a learned collector of Irish MSS. O'Heerbi^s Topography, described in the introduction to the present publication, and in the note on Thomond, is a valuable Irish MS. containing the topography of Leinster and Munster, with an accomit of their chiefs and clans, and the territories pos- sessed by each, in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. This topography is perfectly authentic, and now translated for the first time frcun the best copies extant, and the entire of it published and embodied in the notes given in the course of these Annals, together with literal translations of numerous passages from the topogra- phical poem of O'Heerui, which accompanies the prose part of his topography, and contains descriptions of the territories, with designations of the various chiefs and clans. This topography was compiled from personal inspection of the various places, by Giollo-na-Neev O'Heerin, a learned poet and historian, whose death is mentioned at the year 1420, in O'Reilly's Irish Writers, and the Annals of the Four Masters. O'Brien, in his Irish Dic- tionary, mentions O'Heerin as an authority on his topography, under the name of Mac Fergail, under which name he is also mentioned by various Munster writers. Florence Mac Cori/ii/, a native of Cork, is mentioned in Kea ting's Ireland, under the reign of Malachy II., as an eminent Irish an- nalist in the fifteenth century, wlio wrote a general history of Ireland, which work is stated by Ware to be in the library of Trinity College, Dublin. JJonal O'Fihetly, a native of Cork in the fifteenth century, studied at Oxford, and is mentioned by Ware as having written the Annals of Ireland in the Irish language. Maurice O'Fihelly, a native of Cork, was bom at Baltimore (the ancient seat of the O'Fihellys); hence he was called Maurice de Portu. He became a Franciscan friar, and was a long time a lecturerof the imiversity at Padua, and celebrated not only over Italy, but throughout IJurope, as one of the most learned men of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, eminent for his piety, and extraordinary knowledge of theology, logic, philosophy, and meta- physics, and for his great endowments was designated Flos Mundi, or the Flower of the World. He was held in particular esteem by Pope Julius II., who, in the year 1506, advanced him to the archiepiscopal see of Tuara. He attended the council of Lateran in 1515, but, on his return to Ireland, died in 1516, about the 50th year of his age, and was buried in the Franciscan monas- tery at Galway. An account of his life and various works will be found in Ware's Bishops, and Brennan's Ecclesiastical His- tory. Historice Catholicce Hibertiiff Compendium, alarge Latin work in 4to., published at Lisbon, A. D. 1021, written by Philip O'Sul- livan Beara, a descendant of the O'Sullivans, ancient princes of Beara, in the county of Cork, who was a sea captain in the Spanish service under king Philip IV. This work gives an account of the history and antiquities of Ireland from the earliest times, but par- ticularly of the wars in the reign of Elizabeth, from A. D. 1588 to 182 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A.D. 1389. they put to flight, and slew Manus O'Hely and others at that place, after which they plundered MuintirHely and slewMurtogh O'Hely. O'Rourke, 1003, and also of events in the reign of James I. to A. D. 1618. Tliis worlt is very rare, but, if translated and published, would form a valuable contribution to Irish history, O'SuIlivan wrote several other learned works on the Lives of the Irish Saints and on Ecclesi- astical History. Pacata Hibcrnia, or Ireland Pacified, giving an account of the wars in the latter end of the reign of Elizabeth, from A. D. 1599 to 1G02, particularly with reference to tlie events in Munster, in the counties of Cork and Kerry, and the battles fought with the Irish forces under Hugh O'Neill, earl of Tyrone, and with the Spaniards at Kinsale, compiled by sir George Carew, lord president of Munster, afterwards earl of Totness, iirst published in London, A. D. 1633, but since re-published. Hibernia Anglicann, containing a history of Ireland from the English invasion to the reign of Charles II., written by sir Richard Cox, a native of Bandon, in tiie county of Cork, who was a judge of tlie Common Pleas, and afterwards lord chancellor of Ireland, published in tw'o volumes 4to., in London, 1689. Edmond Spencer, the celebrated poet, was secretary to the lord deputy Arthur Grey, in the reign of Elizabeth, got large grants of the Desmond estates, in the county of Cork, and resided at the castle of Kilcoleman, near Doneraile, where he composed his great work The Faert/ Queen, which abounds in many beau- tiful descriptions of scenery in Munster. Spencer also wrote a work called A View of Ireland, which contains much curious information on the history and antiquities of the country. Daniel O^Daly, styled Douiinicus de Rosario, a native of Kerry, studied in Spain, was a lecturer at Louvain, and was a man of great learning and piety ; he was patronised by Philip IV., king of Spain, and by Johu, duke of Braganza, and founded the Irish Dominican colitge at Lisbon, A. D. 1G.J9 ; he was elected bishop ti't Coimbra, and died \. D. lOO'i, in the 67 th year of his age. He published at Lisbon, in Iftjo, a Latin work giving a history of the Geraldines , earls of Desmond, and lords Palatine of Kerry. Frnncit Mathews and John. Ponce, were learned Franciscans, natives of the city of Cork, in the seventeenth century, and an account of their works is given in Brennau's Ecclesiastical History. John O'Connell, Unman Catholic bishop of Ardfert, is men- tioned in O'Reilly's Writers at the year l{i59, as the author of a metrical work in Irish, on the history of Ireland. Maurice O'Connell, M. D., of Cork, a learned physician, called the Irish Sydenham, published in 3 746, in Latin j a valuable medi- cal work, particularly on epidemic diseases. There have been several of the O'(":onors of Cork and Kerry learned writers. Berniird O'C'onor, a native of Kerry, studied medicine at Montpelier and Paris ; went to Poland, where he was well re- ceived at the court of king John Sobieski, who appointed him his chief physician. He afterwards read lectures in Oxford and Lon- don, and became a fellow of the Royal Society ; he published some works on medicine, and also a History of Poland; he died A.D. 1698. Dermod O'C'onor, a native of Kerry, an Irish scholar, translated and published, A.D. I7'23, Keating's History of Ireland. Brum O'Conor, of Kerry, is stated in the Disserta- tions of Charles O'Conor to have coin])iled a History of the county of Kerry, about the year 1770, which work, it is said, still remains in MS., in the collections of the Marquess of Lansdowne Daniel Poderick O'Conor, of Cork, published about the year 1798 a work on Irish history and antiquities, in two volumes octavo. Roger O'Conor, of Cork, brother of the celebrated Arthur O'Con- nor, published in London in 18'22, in two volumes octavo, the Chronicles of Eri, a work containing much curious matter on Irish history and antiquities, but mixed with romance. OBrien's Pound T'oice/s', written by Henry O'Brien, said to be a nativeof Cork or Clare, who died in London a few yearsago. Hewas a young man of great abilities and acquirements, particularly in oriental literature, and published in London, in 1832, a curious and learned work on the round towers of Ireland, in which he ascribes their erection to the Tuath de Danans, and intended for that form Donal, the son of Murtogh (O'Conor), and the Mac Donoghs made peace with each other ; Mac Dermott and the Mac Donoghs also made peace ; of pagan worship, denominated Buddhism, and for astronomical observations. George Berkeley, bishop of Cloyne, died in 1753, an eminent philosopher, whose works are well known. The Boi/les, earls of Cork, Orrery, and Burlington, were many of them distinguished in the literary world, in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, and of this family was Robert Boyle, the great philosopher. Arthur O'Leary, a native of the county of Cork, a Fran- ciscan or Capuchin friar, was a man of great learning and wit, and one of the most celebrated political writers of the last cen- tury ; he died in London in 1802, in the 73rd year of his age, and was buried in the church-yard of St. Pancreas, in that city, where a monument was erected to his memory by the earl of Moira. Pichard Parr, a native of Ferraoy, a learned clergyman, who died A.D. 1670, wrote a life of Archbishop Usher. Smith's History o/ Cori, two volumes 8vo, written by Charles Smith, M.D., a native of Cork, published A. D. 1750, republished in Dublui, A.D. 1774. Hiatory of Kerry, also written by Dr. Smith, one volume 8vo, and publisiied about the same time j Dr. Smith likewise wrote a history of Waterford. Statistical Survey of Cork, by the Rev. Horatio Townsend, published hi Dublin in 1810. Not'ices of Cork and Kerry, by J. Wmdele, published at Cork, in 1839. Campbell's Survey of the South of Ireland,'m letters addressed to John Watkinson, M.D., published in 1778, contains much in- teresting information on Irish history and antiquities, particularly on the counties of Cork, Lituerick and Tipperary. O' Dri.icoU's Views of Ireland, a work on political and religi- ous matters, published in London in 1823, was written by John O'Driscoll, a native of Cork, and judge in the Island of Dominica, who also published in 1827 a History of Ireland in two volumes. James Cnvanagh Murphy, a native of Cork, travelled in Spuin and Portugal, and died in London in 1814, was an eminent architect, and wrote a celebrated work on the remains of Arabian architecture and antiquities in Spain. Amongst the learned men of Cork may be mentioned the Right Rev. John Murphy, R. C. bishop of Cork, who has collected one of the finest libraries in Ireland, particularly rich in Irish literature. Cork has produced various other persons eminent for their ge- nius, and distinguished in arts and literature ; anumgst the ar- tists may be mentioned James Barry, a native of Cork, who died in London in 1806, an eminent painter, whose productions rival those of the great masters of Italy ; and John O'Kcffe, Samuel Forde, Daniel Mac Clise, highly distinguished painters, and John Hogan, one of the tirst sculptors of the present age. Amongst the dramatists, novelists, and poets, may be mentioned O'Keefi'e, the dramatist, in the last century ; and Slieridan Knowles, a dis- tinguished dramatist of the present day ; Dr. M'illiara Maginn, well known as a writer in Frazer's and Blackwood's Magazines; the Rev. Francis Mahony, the celebrated Father Front of Frazer; Thomas Crofton Croker, author of Fairy Legends ; Gerald Grif- fin, a great poet and dramatist; Richard Milikin, a poet and no- velist, and Miss Milikin, a novelist; Jeremiah Joseph Callanan, a poet ; John Augustine Sliea, a poet ; P. Meagher, a poet. Owen O'Keijfe, mentioned in O'Reilly's Irish Writers at the year 1720, as jiresident of the great bardic assemblies of Munster, held at Charleville, in the county of Cork, wrote many interest- ing Irish poems, amongst others one on the Battle of Aughrim. John Clarach Mac Donnell, a native of Charleville, died A.D. 1754, was a learned historian and poet, and president of the bar- dic assemblies of JMunster. He wrote many excellent poems in Irish, particularly Jacobite songs, which are now in course of publication, translated by John Daly of Kilkenny, with elegant metrical versions by Edward Walsh, Esq. ; and many of these poems have been also translated with great taste, and published by Conor Mac Sweeny, Esq., a learned Irish scholar. REIGN OF RICHARD II. 183 and the hostages which were previously taken from the Mac Donoghs were restored, and Cathal Mac Dermott, who was in confinement with the Mac Donoghs, was liberated after they had con- cluded the peace. Donal, son of Murtogh (O'Conor), plundered Tirconnell. Rannall Mac Rourke, chief of Teallach Con- mara, died. Bryan, son of Donal Oge O'Reilly, was slain by the Clan Murtogh (O'Conors). Manus O'Rourke was treacherously taken pri- soner by Cormac O'Ferrall. Aifric, daughter of Hugh O'Neill, the wife of Henry Aimreidli O'NeUl, died. A.D. 1390. Niall O'Tully, acanonof the chapter of Clogher and abbot of Devenish, (in Fermanagh), died. Petrus O'Heoghain, dean of Lough Erne, (dio- cese of Clogher), and Bartholomew O'Conolly, ca- non and sacristy of Lisgoole (in Fermanagh), died. A great contention arose among O'Rourke, O'Reilly, the people of Annaly (O'Ferralls of Longford), and the Muintir Eoluis (Mac Rannalls of Leitrim) ; and the Clan Murtogh (O'Conors, Sligo), were induced to join in the contest at the instigation of Donal Mac Murtogh and Tomaltach Mac Donogh. Manus O'Rourke, who was in confinement with O'Reilly in the castle of Lough Oughter, made his Amongst the eminent men of Cork, are to be mentioned Edmond Burke, the Irish Cicero, one of the most illustrious orators and statesmen that have appeared in any age ; he was maternally de- scended from the Naples of Cork, and his father was also a na- tive of tliat county. John Philpot Curran, a native of Newmar- ket, in the county of Cork, master of the Rolls in Ireland, an un- rivalled wit, orator, and advocate, and Barry Yelverton, an eminent judge, orator, and statesman, was also a native of Cork. As the most eminent native of Kerry, and one of the greatest ora- tors Ireland has produced, may be mentioned Daniel O'Connell, the Irish Demosthenes, a man whose fame requires no eulogium. Aeeoimts of numerous eminent bards and historians of JIunster, and of other parts of Ireland, from the earliest ages to the eigh- teenth century, will be given in the course of the notes to these Annals- A. D. 1388. 1. O'Cuirnm. Tlie O'Cuirnins were a respectable clan in the parish of KiUargy, county of Leitrim, and several of them were eminent poets and historiographers of Brefney. A. D. 1380. 1. Cluan-da-thorc, now Clonehorke, a parish in the Kmg's escape therefrom and fled to the castle of Lough Scur (in Leitrim), but was, however, betrayed to the Clan Murtogh, who slew him while in the act of coming out of a boat. A peace was concluded between O'Rourke and O'Reilly, and O'Reilly received great presents for having expelled and banished from him O'Rourke's enemies ; and Owen O'Rourke, and the son of Ca- thal Riavach, were given him as securities for these presents. The Clan Murtogh (O'Conors, Sligo), and the people of Tullyhunco (the Mac Tiernans of Cavan) having proceeded to take by force from the O'Rourkes the districts of Fiodh-na-Fionnoige, Sluagh Corrain, and Kinel Luachain (districts in Leitrim) ; O'Rourke on receiving intelligence of this, he being then at Gleann Gaibhle (Glan- gevlin), marched his light forces to the upper part of Kinel Luachain, where he attacked and defeated them, and continued pursuing and slay- ing them and their people from Beal-Atha-Derry- Dubhain, as far as the Hills of Brefney. O'Reilly, that is, Thomas, the son of Mahon, died ; and John, son of Philip O'Reilly, assumed the lordship. The castle of Kilbarron' was demolished by Donal Mac Mortogh (O'Conor Sligo). BiyanMacEgan, chief Brehon of Brefney, died; and John Mac Egan, the official, successor of Bryan, was killed three nights after Christmas. Duignan O'Duigenan," chief historian of Con- maicne, died. Fergal O'Hara, lord of Lieney (in Sligo), died. county, on the borders of the Queen's county, near Portarlington. A. D. 1390. 1. CUl Barrainne, now Killbarron, near Ballyshannon, in the county of Donegal, which castle belonged to the O'CIerys, the bards and historians of the O'Donnells, princes of Tirconnell, and the celebrated authors of the Annals of the Four JIasters. This castle was situated on a wild rock, overhanging the Atlantic, and some of its ruins still remain. 2. O'DuihIigionnnin or O'Duigenan. The O'Duigenan here mentioned as the historian of Conmaicne, was historiographer of Leitrim. Several of the O'Duigenans, learned men and historians, are mentioned in the course of these annals ; many of them were abbots of Fenagh, in Leitrim, and they are also often mentioned as erenachsand superiors of the church of Kilronan, in the county of Roscommon, which was so called from being dedicated to St. Ronan. The O'Duigenans compiled a learned work on Irish his- tory, still extant in MS., and called the Book of the O'Duigenans, or Book of Kilronan, and they also assisted in compiling the ce- lebrated work on Irish history called the Book of Ballymote, of w-hich an account has been given in the note on North Connauglit. It appears that the O'Duigenans were chiefs in the parish of Kil- 184 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A. D. 1391-92. A.D. 1391. O'Rourke (that is, Tiarnan), proceeded with a small body of his forces to Drumlanc (in Cavan), to hold a conference with John O'Reilly, but when the Clan Murtogh O'Conors received intel- ligence of it, they marched with a force before him to Bealach-an-Crionn ; O'Rourke with his small party attacked and defeated them, and he slew with his own hand John, son of Mahon O'Conor, and Donogh, son of Hugh of the Plume, besides all those that fell by his party. Donal Oge Mac Carthy, lord of Desmond, died, and was succeeded in the lordship by his son Teige. O'Hanlon, chief of Oirior (in Armagh), was treacherously slain by his own kinsman. Cu-uladh Mac Gillmore of Mourne, chief of Nercacein and Lecale (in county of Down), was slain by his own kinsman. Teige, son of Gillcoluim O'Higgin, and Bebinn, daughter of O'Maolconiy (of Roscommon), a learned professor of poetry and humanity, died after repentance. Cormac Maol O'Ferrall was treacherously slain by the Enghsh. A.D. 1392. Gregory O'Moghan, archbishop of Tuam, a man distinguished for his piety and charity, died. Henry Aimreidh, son of Niall More O'Neill, the heir presumptive of Tyrone, and also a worthy heir to the throne of Ireland, by right, nobility, and hos])itality, died about the festival of St. Bren- nan, after having gained the victory of extreme unction and repentance. Donal, son of Henry O'Neill, was taken prisoner by Torlogh of the Wine O'Donnell, lord of Tircon- nell, who committed great depredations and inju- ries on the son of Henry and his people, the same day. Niall O'Neill, king of Tyrone, accompanied by the chiefs of the province, marched with a great force against the English of Traghbally and Dun- dalk, whom he brought under subjection on that oc- ronan, barony of Boyle, county of Roscomnion, which was part of the territory of the Mac Derinotts, princes orMoylurg, and in which parish are situated near Lou<;h Alien, tlie celebrated Arigna Iron and coal mines. In the cemetery of the ancient church of Kil- rouan, now in ruins, were interred the remains of Torlogh O'Ca- casion, and Seffin White fell by him in the conflict. O'Conor Don, accompanied by the greater por- tion of the chiefs of Connaught, marched with a great force into Hy Maine, and they burned and completely plundered the country ; O'Conor Roe followed them, and Cathal, son of Hugh O'Rourke, having been in the rear of O'Conor Don's party, was taken prisoner by O'Conor Roe, and many of his people were slain. The countess of Desmond, daughter of the earl of Ormond, a benevolent and hospitable woman, died after having gained the victory of repentance. Torlogh Mac Brien of Cuanach (in Tipperary) ; Roderick, son of Donogh O'Carroll, tanist of Ely ; and Fionnguala, daughter of Manus, the son of Cathal O'Conor, died. Dermod Mac Geoghegan, chief of Kinel Fiacha, died. Niall O'Neill, with the sons of Henry O'Neill, and all the Ultonians, marched with a great force into Tirconnell, against Torlogh O'Donnell ; Donal Mac Murtogh(O'Conor) and his kinsmen, marched with another force against O'Donnell also ; the people of the country fled with their cattle into the fastnesses and inaccessible parts, while O'Donnell with his army remained behind to defend the coun- try ; the Conacian forces did not halt until they reached Ceann Maghair (near Ballyshannon), and seized on the property of that place ; O'Donnell came up to them with his forces at this place, de- feated them, and slew many of them, amongst others the son of Donogh Mac Cabe ; as to O'Neill and the sons of Henry, with their forces, they plundered the territory of O'Dogherty, both churches and country, and did not halt until they came to Fearsad More, to give battle to O'Don- nell ; the two armies remained there for some time confronted, but at length they concluded a peace with each other. O'Donnell committed great depredations on the sons of John O'Donnell, because they were the persons who invited the Clan Murtogh( O'Conors of Sligo), and directed the movements of the before- mentioned forces. rolan, the last and most celebrated of the Irish bards, who, in the year 1738, died at the residence of his great patron Mae Dermott Roe. The O'Duigenans werea branch of the southern Hy Nialls, of whom an account has been given in the note on Meath. REIGN OF RICHARD II. 185 A.D. 1393, OHN, son of Geoffrey O'Reilly, bishop of Brefney (Kilmore), died. MatthewO'Heoghain chaplain of Iniskeen, and the priest O'Clerj', died. Hugh, son of Conor, son of To- maltachMac Dermott, lord of Moy- lui-g, a man distinguished for his hospitality, died after the victory of repentance, and his son Cathal was afterwards drowned. Mulroona, son of Fergal Mac Dermott, assumed the lordship of Moylurg by the influence and assistance ofTomaltach Mac Donogh. The sons of Hugh Mac Dermott marched to Cluain O'Coinnen, at the port of Lough Techet (Lough O'Gara in Shgo), to make an attack upon Mac Dermott ; both parties engaged in a conflict, in which the sons of Hugh were defeated, and Conor and Roderick, the sons of Hugh Mac Der- mott, were taken prisoners, and Fergal, the son of Donogh Riavach, was also taken, but afterwards made his escape ; Donal Duv Mac Dermott and many others were slain on that occasion. Bryan, son of Malachy O'Kelly, tanist of Hy Maine ; Fergal Mac Gauran, chief of Tullaghaw (county of Cavan), a man of unbounded hospi- tality to the clergy ; and Manus O'Hara, tanist of Lieney, died. A peace was concluded between the chiefs of Moylurg, concerning the division of the patrimony, and the releasing of their respective prisoners from confinement. Raghnailt, daughter of Hugh, son of Felim O'Conor, a woman distinguished for her personal figure and humanity ; Maurice Cam, son of Roderick Mac Geoghegan ; and Bryan, son of William Oge Mac Geoghegan, died. Edina, daughter of Cathal Oge O'Conor, the wife A.D. 1393. I. cm Achaidh, now Killeigh, a town in the barony of Geas- liill, King's county, where there are still some ruins of this abbey and churches. A.D. 1394. 1. T}ie King of England here mentioned was Richard II., of whose proceedings in Ireland an account will be found in a note at the year 1399. 2. Inis Caoin, now Inniskeen, in the barony of Farney, county of Bryan, the son of Malachy O'Kelly ; and Donal and Edmond, the sons of Malachy O'Kelly ; and Dermod O'Flanagan, heir to the chieftaincy of Tura, died. The monastery of Kil Achaidh,' in the diocese of Kildare, was erected by O'Conor Faily for Franciscan friars. A.D. 1394. Richard, king of England,' arrived in Ireland at Michaelmas ; he landed at Waterford from whence he proceeded to Dublin. Giolla Downaigh O'Heoghain, the oflScial of Lough Erne, and parson and erenach of InisCaoin f MatthewMacGiollacoiscly, vicar of Claoininis; and Luke Mac Scully, vicar of Achaidh Urchair, died. The earl of March (Mortimer) arrived in Ireland. Teige Mac Giolla losa O'Flanagan, chief of Tura (in Fermanagh), was slain by the sons of David O'Flanagan and the sons of Murtogh O'Flanagan. Hugh O'Dempsey was slain by the English while in pursuit of a prey. Thomas O'Dempsey, heir to the lordship of Glen- malire (in Queen's county), was slain by the English. John Mac Jordan, the son of Myler, lord of the town of Athleathan (in Mayo), was treacherously slain by his own kinsmen, namely, the sons of John Dexeter. Art Mac Murrogh, king of Leinster, marched with a force against the English, and burned Ros Mac Treoin' with its houses and castles, and car- ried away with him gold, silver, and hostages. The earl of Ormond marched with a force into Leinster, and burned and laid waste Gailine, the territory of O'Kelly, of Moy Druchtain, in Leix (in Queen's county), after which he returned home. Roderick, son of Roderick O'Neill, was slain by the sons of Henry O'Neill. Mac MuiTogh, that is. Art, son of Art, waged war against the king of England and his people, and many of them were slain by him ; he of Monaghan, where there are some ruins of an ancient church and a round tower. The official of Lough Erne signified the vicar-ge- neral of the diocese ofClogher. Cliian Inis, now the parish of Cleenish, near Lough Erne, in the county of Fermanagh. Achaidh Urchair, now the parish of Aghalurclier, partly in Fermanagh and partly in Tyrone, where there are still some ruins of the an- cient church dedicated to St. Ronan. 3. Bos-mic-Triuin, also called Ross Glass, now Old Ross, in the county of Wexford, where there was a castle erected by Strongbow. 2 B 186 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A. D. 1395. finally came to the king's residence (Dublin cas- tle), at the request of the English and Irish of Leinster, where he was made prisoner, on a charge made against him by the earl of Ormond, the lord justice ; he was soon after set at liberty, but O'Byrne, O'Moore, and John O'Mallain, were kept in prison after him. Thomas 3Iac William Burke, having waited on the king at his residence, received great honors, and was appointed lord and governor over the English of Connaught. Torlogh, son of Murtogh-na-Raithnighe O'Brien, of the clan of Brian Roe, waged war against the king's people in Munster and Leinster, and burned and plundered the county of Limerick. Camcluana O'Dugan was slain by the king of England's people at Dublin. Bryan, son of Mulroona, son of Fergal Mac Dermott, the intended lord of Moylurg, was killed by Malachy Cleireach Mac Dermott, his uncle. Teige O'Hagan (of Tyrone), a truly learned poet, was killed by the sons of Cuchonacht O'Daly, concerning the chief professorship to O'Neill. A.D. 1395. The young bishop O'Moghan (probably of Tuam) died on his way to Rome. O'Flannelly, vicar of Screen of St. Adamnan (in Shgo), died. The official O'Tuathail, \'icar of lomdha Feichin (Lnmagh or Omey in Galway), a noble minded man, who kept a house of hospitality, died. O'Neill Buidhe died and was interred at Ar- magh. Philip, son of Hugh Mac Guire, lord of Fer- managh, the supporter and defender of his ter- ritory, a man whose good fame and noble character extended over Ireland, died after the Adctory of repentance, and Thomas Gilladuff Mac Guire, the son of Philip, assumed the government of Fer- managh. Donal O'Muldoon of Lurg (in Fermanagh), was treacherously taken prisoner by the sons of Art Mac Guire, at Termon Dabeog (at Lough Dearg) ; A.D. 1395. 1. Arrlsrntlia and Clochar Mac Daimliin, that is, Ardsrath, or Ardstraw, and Clogher, both in the county of Tyrone, which he was sent prisoner to O'Donnell, and died in confinement. Conor, son of Hugh Roe Mac Guire, was taken prisoner by the Giolla Duv, that is, Thomas, and by his brother Hugh Mac Guire, but he afterwards effected his escape by the assistance of his son. A party of the king of England's people having gone to plunder Offaley, O'Conor followed them to Tochar Cruachan (Croaghan, King's county), where he slew a great many of them, and took sixty of their horses. Another party of the English, commanded by the earl marshal, went to plunder Ely O'Carroll, and his people overtook them, slew great numbers of them, and took many of their horses. Niall Oge, son of Niall, son of Hugh O'Neill ; and Bryan O'Brien, the son of Mahon, made their submission to the king of England. Covlaigh More, daughter of Cathal, the son of Donal O'Conor, who was the daughter of the king of Connaught, a very wealthy and affluent woman, of great hospitality, died after the victory of repen- tance, and was biu-ied in the monastery of Boyle ; she was called the protectress of the three enemies, having been the wife of Niall O'Donnell, lord of Tirconnell ; of Hugh O'Rourke, lord of Brefney ; and of Cathal, the son of Hugh Brefnach O'Conor, presumptive heir to the crown of Connaught. Una, daughter of Teige, son of Manus O'Conor, the wife of Mac Giure, died. John, son of Art Mac Guire, was taken pri- soner by Mac Guire, who delivered him into the hands of the people of Hy Maode of Dunlurg (in Fermanagh), who put him to death on Fionn- tracht of Troma Bair, as his previous acts had me- rited from them. The king of England departed from Ireland in May, after a great number of the English and Irish had submitted to him ; and he left Morti- mer as his viceroy in Ireland ; but although Mac Murrogh had submitted to the king, he did not afterwards continue friendly to him. Ardsratha and Clochar MacDaivin' were burned, with all their immense riches. Roderick O'Kelly, heir to the lordship of H)^ Maine, died. were bishops' sees, and had large churches, and other ecclesiastical establishments. REIGN OF RICHARD II. 187 Mac Jordan Dexeter (of Mayo), was taken pri- soner by the sons of Mac Jordan, and was delivered into the hands of Mac William Burke. Donal Mac Murtogh (O'Conor), and the Irish of North Connaught, marched their forces into the territory of Mac William, in consequence of the taking of Mac Jordan, whom they set at liberty, and peace was made between the English and Irish of the province on that occasion. Torlogh O'Donnell marched with a force into Tyrone against the Clan Henry O'Neill, and com- mitted great depredations and plunders in the ter- ritory; the Clan Heniy pursued them, and a battle ensued between them, in which, at length, the Tyi'onians were defeated with slaughter ; Biyan, the son of Henry O'Neill, and thirteen of the chiefs of his party, were taken prisoners. O'Donnell marched with another force to Sligo, through Carbury of Drumcliff'e, and they plun- dered and laid waste every part of the country through which they passed, and they carried off to their own country much booty and property ; but a few of the rear of his force were wounded. Donal, son of Henry O'Neill, made an attack upon Bryan, the son of O'Neill, whom he took prisoner, and plundered his property ; Donal, the son of Henry, made another attack on the town of O'Neill, and took O'Neill and others prisoners, whom he dehvered up to the Enghsh. The English of Leinster treacherously planned to take Art Mac Murrogh prisoner, but were not successful, for he made his escape despite of them, by the strength of his hand and braveiy, and they were not able to subdue him. Donal Mac Mm-togh O'Conor, lord of Carbury and of Sligo, and also the entire country, north of the mountain (the Curlews), died in the castle of Sligo a week after Christmas. Hugh, son of Cathal Oge O'Conor, son of Tor- logh 0'Conoi''s daughter, and Maurice, son of Paul Ultach (Mac Donlevey), chief physician of Tyrconnell, died. A.D. 1396. The bishop O'Hara (probably of Achoniy) died. Matthew O'Luinin, archdeacon of Ai-dagh, a man versed in various arts and sciences, in histoiy, poetry, music, and general hteratm'e, died. O'Conor Kerry was treacherously slain by his own people. O' Kennedy, lord of Ormond, died. Irial O'Loghlin, lord of Corcomroe (in Clare), was slain by Mac-Girr-an-adhistir, one of his own people, in revenge of his foster brother, namely, Ma- lachy O'LoghUn, whom he had previously slain. Conor, son of Owen O'Malley (of Mayo), went with a ship's crew to plunder in the west of Con- naught, and loaded the ship with goods and va- luable property in that adventure, but they were all drowned except one, between Arran Island and the coast. O'Conor Roe and his kinsmen defeated O'Co- nor Don, Hugh O'Conor, Con Mac Branan, and Hugh O'Hanley, chief of Kinel Dovha, at the battle of Creaga (in Roscommon), in which Con Mac Branan, chief of Corcachlan, John O'Teige, with the son of John O'Hanley, and many others, were slain. O'Donnell marched into Carbury, and with a portion of his forces encountered the sons of Ma- lachy Caoch Mac Murtogh (O'Conor), who, with a great body of cavalry, were guarding and pi'o- tecting the Conacians, but they were, however, de- feated by O'Donnell, leaving behind them the greater portion of their horse ; many men were wounded, and others effected their escape by flight ; Carbury was then plundered by O'Donnell's forces, who returned home with the prey. Malachy Caoch, son of Murtoch, the son of Donal O'Conor, died. The English of Leinster and the Saxons were defeated by O'Toole (of Wicklow) with great slaughter, and six score heads were brought to O'Toole, and a great number of prisoners, with much property, arms, armour, and horses. Cu-uladh Mac Gennis, heir to the lordship of Iveagh (in county of Down), was slain by the Eng- lish ; and O'Hanlon, lord of Orior, was treache- rously slain by a party of his own people. Marj^, daughter of O'Kane, the wife of O'Dogh- erty, died. Bryan, son of Henry O'Neill, was hberated from O'Donnell by O'Neill, who gave much horses, cattle, and property, for his ransom ; O'Neill then delivered him to Donal, the other son of Heniy, together with other presents, as a ransom for his own son. 2b2 188 ANNAI.S OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A.D. 1397. Torlogh O'Donnell, son of Nial Garv, and Teige, son of Cathal O'Conor, marched with a force to Sligo, which they burned, both the wooden and stone buildings, and slew the son of Conor of Maonnioy, with many others, on that occasion ; and it was lamentable to burn that town, for its buildings both of wood and stone were very hand- some. A. D. 1397. Nial O'Neill, king of Tyrone, mustered a great force to attack Torlogh O'Donnell, and the sons of Henry O'Neill ; O'Donnell and the Clan Henry O'Neill collected another force to oppose them, and both parties having approached each other, re- mained stationary for some time, without giving battle ; at last O'Neill and his force, after rest- ing themselves, decamped home, unperceived by the others, who as soon as they discovered it, dis- patched skirmishing parties after them, who slew some of O'Neill's people, who left behind them many horses and much property, which were taken by the Tirconnellians and the sons of Henry on that occasion. Torlogh O'Donnell, lord of Tirconnell, marched with a force into Fermanagh, and proceeded with many boats and men to the islands of Lough Erne, which he preyed and plundered, except alone the churches and sanctuaries, and having carried away an immense property, returned imopposed; O'Don- nell marched with another force into Carbury (in Sligo), to expel the clan of Donal Mac Murtogh (O'Conors), and burned the country as far as Cluan Dergratha. Hugh Mac Mahon recovered his eye-sight through fasting, which he performed in honour of the Holy Cross of Raphoe, and of the image of the Virgin Mary at Athtruim (Trim, in Meath). Niall More, son of Hugh O'Neill, king of Ty- rone, the defender of Ireland, the champion of dignity and pre-eminence of the principality, the unyielding tower against tyranny, the scatterer of the English, the uniter of the Irish, the patron of the church and learned men of Ireland, died, after gaining the victory of extreme unction and repen- tance, and his son NiaU Oge succeeded him in the government. Mac Donogh of Tii-errill proceeded to the Plain of Connaught(in Roscommon) with his whole force, property, and cattle, in order to aid O'Co- nor, and encamped at Currach-Chin-Eitigh where O'Conor was ; but O'Connor Roe ha\ing received intelligence of this, he collected together all his friends and forces, amongst whom were Mac William Burke, Thomas, the son of Sir Edmond Albanach (Burke), the sons of Cathal Oge O'Co- nor, the sons of Hugh Mac Dermott, the Hy Ma- nians, and the grandsons of Felim (O'Conor), himself, with their respective trooj)s and gallo- glasses ; they then proceeded to the Plain, at which period O'Conor Don was absent from Mac Do- nogh, who did not perceive the forces until O'Co- nor Roe came up and surrounded him with a great body of cavalry ; a fierce and determined battle ensued, in which, however, Mac Donogh's party were defeated, and the cavalry who put them to flight, followed them up with slaughter; Mac Donogh himself was slain, and also Hugh Caoch, son of Hugh, the son of Torlogh O'Conor, with Mac Sweeney, high constable of Connaught from the mountain (the Curlews) northward ; his two brothers, Donogh and Dunslevey ; Cuaifne, son of Conaifne O'Conor, and Dermod Mac Donogh, ta- nist of Tirerrill, besides many other chiefs and nobles of their party and people. The quantity of property and riches which fell into the hands of O'Conor Roe on that occasion was incalculable, independent of horses, anns and armour, and it was on the eve of the festival of first Lady day in hai-vest, that battle of Cinneitigh was fought. O'Conor Don having received intelligence of this, on the thud day after the battle, he proceeded to seize on the cattle of O'Conor Roe and of the sons of Felim, and their stalls, which were situated about Leitrim, and having given them a defeat, which was called the Gealmaidhm, he carried off with him an immense booty and property on that oc- casion. Felim, son of Cathal Oge (O'Conor), and Du- gald Mac Donnell, a galloglass, having gone to O'Donnell to ask his assistance against their ene- mies, O'Donnell, with the chiefs of Tirconnell, marched into Carbury to aid the sons of Cathal Oge ; the people of Carbury and of Tirerrill fled into the fastnesses and retreats of the country, and O'Donnell having proceeded to the Aonach of Ti- remll, where his army burned many houses and much corn, and plundered the son of Corraac, son REIGN OF RICHARD II. 189 of Roderick ; Mulroona Mac Donogh, lord of Tirerrill, O'Dowd and O'Hara gave sureties and hostages to O'Donncll and the sons of Cathal Oge after that, on conditions that they would never op- pose them ; O'Donnell concluded a peace with them on thosetenns, and imniediatelyreturned to Tircon- nell. The sons of Cathal Oge, Muintir Duirnin, and Mac Donnell the galloglass, with their clans, then proceeded into Carbury, and halted at Lisa- dill, for the purpose of dividing the prey among them, about which they disputed ; O'Donnell, with a few horse, came on the following day to them to settle their disputes ; at this time Murtoch Ba- cach, son of Donal, the son of Murtoch O'Conor, and the Mac Sweeneys happened to be at Fassa Coilleadh, and O'Hara of the West, and the clan of Flaherty O'Rourke were with them ; they pro- ceeded early in the morning to attack the sons of Cathal Oge and O'Donnell at Bun Brenoige, near Lisadill, and a body of horse belonging to the sons of Cathal Oge having passed towards Sligo, and having the river Bun Brenoige on one side, and the sea having flowed on the other, a cir- cumstance very fortunate for themselves, as they could not therefore be encompassed, a battle en- sued between both parties, in which O'Donnell and the sons of Cathal Oge were defeated, and Marcus Mac Donnell, his son Donald, with John Mac Sheehy, and a great number of galloglasses were slain ; the sons of Cathal were then plun- dered and expelled beyond the Erne (river) in sor- row and sadness, on the festival of Great Ladj' Day. Dermod, son of Ivar O'Beirne (of Roscommon) being in a fever, was taken from his own house to have him conveyed to the house of Murtogh, son of Thomas, in a boat on the lake, out of which he leaped unperceived, and was drowned. A. D. 1398. Thomas, the son of Maurice Mac Donogh, bishop of Achonry, died. A great conflict arose between NiaU Oge O'Neill, and Torlogh O'Donnell, who, being A.D. 1398. 1. Eachdru'im. Mac Ndodhn, now the parish of Aughrini, si- tuated near the Shannon, between Carrick-on-SLannon and Elphui, in the county of Roscommon. 2. Leath Ratha, now Abbeylaragh, a parish in the barony of forsaken by his chiefs and people, was put to great straits by the sons of Henry O'Neill, and the sons of John O'Donnell, with O'Dogherty and the Mac Sweeneys; the son of O'Donnell, (NiaU Garv), and the sons of Donal, son of Niall O'Donnell, went on an expechtion into Fanait ; they took Mulmurry Mac Sweeney prisoner, and plundered the place ; the English and Irish of the province of Ulster submitted to O'Neill and gave him hostages, O'Donnell excepted. Niall Oge O'Neill, king of Tyrone, and the sons of Henry O'Neill, marched a great force to Eas Roe (Ballyshannon) to attack O'Donnell, and they plundered the monastery of all its treasure, and the entire of Tir Hugh ; a party of O'Donnell's people gave them battle, and Hugh, son of Fergal O'Rourke, was taken prisoner on that expedition, and O'Neill returned to Tyrone. Thomas Burke, lord of the English of Con- naught, and O'Conor Roe, with the sons of Ca- thal Oge, and the sons of Mac Dermott, marched with a force into Tirerrill, which they completely plundered ; Conor Oge, son of Hugh Mac Dermott, and his kinsmen, returned from the party to ransack Moylurg ; Fergal Mac Dermott, lord of Moylurg, having gone that night to the monastery of Boyle, removed all the provisions and treasure he found there to the town called the Rock ; the sons of Mac Dermott having discovered the direction of those who were convej'ing the property, they pursued them ; when the other party found they were pursued, they hastened through the country until they arrived at Eachdruim Mac Naodha,' in Tir Briune of the Shannon ; the sons of Mac Dermott burned the cliiu'ch of Eachdruim, slew Conor Mac Dermott, the son of Fergal, and many of his people ; they made Mulroona Mac Dermott prisoner, and took, as booty, their horses, arms, and armour. Murrogh Bane, son of John, the son of Donal O'Ferrall, a worthy heir to the lordship of An- naly, the most distinguished person of his age for hospitality, nobleness, valour, and achievements, of the race of Fergus, died after he had gained the Granard, county of Longford, where a monastery was founded by St. Patrick, over whicli he appointed St. Guasacht, its first ab- liot ; it was refounded in A. D. 120.5, by lord Richard Tuite, for monks of the Cistercian order, and dedicated to the Blessed Vir- gin. 190 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A.D. 1399. victory of repentance, a month after Christmas, and was buried at the monastery of Leathratha,- in the tomb of his father and ancestors. Maurice, son of Pierce D'Alton, was slain by Murtogh Oge Mac Geoghegan, and by Brj'an, son of O'Conor Faily. Glendalough' was burned by the English. Murtogh O'Conor having gone to Tir Hugh (in Donegal), returned to Eas Roe without obtain- ing much booty on that excursion ; he was over- taken by Hugh O'Duirnin, who attacked and put him to flight at Ballyshannon ; Hugh's horse was wounded, and he himself was dismounted, and afterwards slain. Gerald, earl of Desmond, a man of gaiety and affability, the most distinguished of the Enghsh of Ireland, and also of many of the Irish, for his at- tainments, and knowledge of the Irish language, of poetry, history, and of other branches of literature which he had acquired, died after he had gained the victory of repentance. The earl of Kildare was taken prisoner by the Calvach O'Conor, and the cavalry of the territory of Offaley, and was delivered into the hands of Murrogh O'Conor. Sir John, earl of Desmond,"* was drowned in the Suir, shortly after his accession to the earldom. O'Byrne and O'Toole fought a battle against the English, in which the earl of March, (Morti- mer, earl of March), and avast number of the Eng- lish were slain. Fionnguala, daughter of Ualgarg More O'Rourke, and wife of John ]\Iore O'Hai'a, died. David O'Duigenan, chief professor in history of Clan Mulroona (the Mac Dermotts, princes of Moylurg, in Roscommon), a Biatach of unbounded hospitality, and learned in the arts and sciences, died. O'Conor Roe and Mac Dermott marched a great force to Moytuire (near Lough Arrow in Sligo), to attack the Mac Donoghs of Tirerrill, where they committed great depredations ; the Mac Donoghs, and Murtogh, son of Donal O'Co- nor, with all their forces, overtook them, and a 3. Gleann-da-Locha , or Glendalouyh, in the county of Wick- low, one of the most celebrated places in Ireland for its ruins and remains of numerous churches, round towers, and other antiqui- ties. The name of Glendalough signifies the glen or valley of the two lakes, there being two beautiful lakes situated in the valley, fierce battle ensued, in which O'Conor was de- feated, and Sorley Buidhe Mac Donnell and his people were slain. Thomas, son of Cathal, son of Murrogh O'Ferrall, lord of Annaly, the chief bond of hospitaUty and nobleness of the Clan Rosa, was slain by the English of Meath, and the baron of Delvin (Nugent), in his own town at Coillin Crubach (in Longford), after he had been elected to the lordship over his elder kinsman, John O'Ferrall, who, however, was even- tually appointed to the lordship of Annaly. Mac Carthy of Carbery (in Cork), gave O'Sul- livan a complete overthrow, and the two sons of O'Sullivan, Owen and Conor, were slain in that battle, together with many others. O'Brien Maol died of the epidemic, while with the English. The son of Maurice Buidhe O'Moore, lord of Slieve Mairge, (barony of Slieve Mairgue, Queen's county), an entertainer of the learned men, and of the travellers of Ireland, died. Mac Wilham Burke burned Sligo. Cathal, son of Roderick Maguire, was slain by Owen, son of Niall Oge O'Neill ; and Art Cuile, the son of Philip Maguire, was slain by the people of TuUaghaw (county of Cavan). The sons of Henry O'Neill, with the sons of John O'Donnell, and the men of Fermanagh, mus- tered a force against O'Donnell, who collected his party to oppose them, and both parties remained encamped in view of each other, but at length se- parated without performing any action of note. A.D. 1399. O'Neill (Niall Oge) marched with a force against the Enghsh ; and he plundered and expelled the greater portion of them. Conor Mac Cormac, bishop of Raphoe, of the Hy Donnells of Corca Baiscind (in Clare), died. Cu-uladh Roe, son of Niall More, the son of Hugh O'Neill, died of the epidemic. Brian O'Brien, the son of Mahon, lord of Tho- mond, died. surrounded by majestic mountains, and abounding in sublime and beautiful scenery. 4. Earl of Desmond. — The earl of Desmond here mentioned was John, the son of Gerald Fitzgerald, who was drowned at the ford of Ardfinnan, on the river Suir. REIGN OF HENRY IV. 191 Torloghj son of MurroghNaRaithnighe O'Brien, died. Felim, son of Caheer O'Conor, tanist of Oifaley, died of the epidemic in the house of O'Reilly (of Cavan) . The sons of Henry O'Neill having gone to at- tack the English of Traghbally (Dundalk), the EngUsh collected their forces to ojjpose them, and defeated them, and Donal the son of Henry was taken prisoner, and a great many of his people were slain; Donal was sent to England the year follow- ing, after his release had been refused. John O'FeiTall, lord of Annaly, a man distin- guished for his virtue, ingenuity, learning, wisdom, great hospitality, and generosity, died. Hugh O'Douoghoe, lord of the Eoganacht of A.D. 1399. 1. Richard II., and Art Mac Murrogh. As explained in the course of this note, king Richard II. was deposed on the ■29th of September, 1399, and succeeded hy Henry, duke of Lancaster, as Henry IV. In.\. D. 1.394 Richard II., having resolved on the conquest of Ireland, collected an immense array, and landed at Waterford,on the second of October, Tvith a fleet of two hundred sail ; his forces consisted of four thousand cavalry, or men-at-arms, and thirty thousand archers : he was attended by the earls of Gloucester, Nottingham, Rutland, Percy, and many other distin- guished noblemen. The men at arms, in the English army, were cavalry completely cased in armour; their bodies and limbs, covered with mail, formed of plates of steel; their heads defended with iron or brazen helmets ; they wore on their left arms large shields of a circular or oval form, made of wood, and covered with thick leather, a rim of iron surrounding their edges, and some- times embossed with knobs of brass, and other metals ; they had long lances or spears ; large, double-edged, and pointed swords ; together with daggers, .ice. ; and their horses were also partly covered with defensive armour. The archers were mostly foot forces, but there were also troops of mounted archers, who acted as light cavalry ; these archers wore thick quilted jackets, or light leathern coats of mail ; and were also armed with swords and spears. The archers sometimes used the arbalest or cross-bow, but mostly the long-bow, and shot their arrows with such force as to pierce the strongest armour. The English soldiers had a great advantage over the Irish, whose arms, armour, and equipments, were very incomplete, while an English knight was so armed as to be almost invulnerable, except by the strong cast of a dart, or thrust of a spear, or the powerful blow of aiiattle-axe, the latter bemg the chief weapon of the heavy infantry forces of the Irish, who were csMed galloglasses ; and their light troops, called kerns, were armed with darts, javelins, spears, swords, slings, and sometimes arrows. The Irish chiefs, unprepared to cope with the formidable forces of king Richard, appeared inclined to make their submission, and enter into terms of peace ; and for that purpose the king deputed Mowbray, earl of Nottingham, earl marshal of England, to receive their submission ; and Art Mac Murrogh, king of Leinster; JIurrogh O'Conor, lord of OfFaley ; Malachy O'Morrogh, or Murphy of Wexford ; Gerald O'Byme, of Wicklow ; Daniel O'Xolan of Carlow ; and Rory Oge O'Moore, of Lei.x, attended at the English camp, held a conference, and entered into a treaty of peace, on the plain of Ballygorry, near Carlow. King Richard proceeded to Dublin, where he remained some months, and went from thence to Drogheda ; where on the 16th of March, 1395, he received, in the Dominican monastery of St. JIarv Magdalen, the submission of O'Neill, king of TjTone, of O'Donnell, O'Reilly, O'Hanlon, Lough Lein (in Kerry) ; Gerald O'Byrne, the son of Teige, (of Wicklow) ; Torlogh, son of Mulmurry Mac Sweeny of Fanait (in Donegal) ; and Awlave, son of Philip, son of Awlave, the son of Duinn- charry ^lac Guire, chief of Muintir Feodachain (in Fermanagh), died. Hugh Mac ^lahon died, after having lost his eyes'-sight. Donal, son of GioUa losa Roe O'Reilly (of Ca- van), died. Alurtogh Oge Mac Gennis, the son of Murtogh More, lord of Iveagh (in county of Down), was slain by his own people. Heniy IV. was proclaimed king of England on the 29th of September.' Baothghalach (Boetius) Mac Egan (of Ormond), Mac Mahon, and other northern chiefs. King Richard, on his return to Dublin, entertained the provincial kings, O'Neill, O'Con- or, O'Brien, and Mac Murrogh, together with many of the Irish princes and chiefs, in a style of great splendour ; and it is stated that he had all the crown jewels brought to Ireland, for the pur- pose of making as magnificent a display as possible. After many entertainments attended with great pomp and pageantry, king Richard conferred the honour of knighthood on several of the Irish kings and chiefs with great ceremony, in the cathedral of Christ church, on the '2oth of March. The celelirated French chronicler, Froissart, attended in king Richard's train, and gives an account of these atfairs, and states, that Henry Castide, a gentleman of the court, who had lived long amongst the Irish, and learned their language, acted as interpreter. During the -visit of king Henry II. to Ireland, A.D. 1171, he, in a like manner, spent the winter in that city, and entertained the Irish princes and chiefs with great magnificence, in a temporary royal pavilion, con- structed of wood and wicker work, and erected near St. Andrew's church, on Hoggin-green, now College-green. Treating of these affairs, and the dainty dishes with which king Henry regaled the Irish princes, Campion, in his chronicle says, that all the Irish kmgs and chiefs yielded submission to king Henry, except those of Ulster, " finally, there was no man of name in the land, except them of Ulster, but they to him bowed, and did obeysance, all of which he feasted royally, with a dinner of crane's flesh, a fowl till then, utterly abhorred by the Irish." King Richard, after remaining nine months in Ireland, most of which time he resided in Dublin, returned to England in the summer of 1395, and left his cousin, Roger Mortimer, earl of March, as viceroy of Ireland. Morthner, after several contests with the Irish of Leinster, was defeated in a great battle fought with the O'Bymes, O'Tooles, and other chiefs, at Kenlis, in Ossory, now Kells, in the county of Kilkenny, on the 20th of July, 1398, a great number of the Enslish "forces, tigether with Mortimer himself, bemg slain. Roger Grey was then appomted lord justice ; and the same year, Thomas Holland, duke of Surrey, and earl of Kent, who was half brother of king Richard, was appoiuted lord lieutenant of Ireland ; and arrivedirfDublinon the 7th of October, A.D. 1399. Kuig Richard, enraged at the death of his cousin Mortimer, earl of March, who was heir presumptive to the crown of England, collected an immense army, and embarked at Bristol, with a fleet of two hun- dred sail, to invade Ireland, and avenge his death, and landed at Waterford, on the 1 st of June, according to Borlase and Marle- hurgh, attended by the dukes of Exeter and Gloucester, the earl of Salisbury, Henry, lord of Lancaster, aftenvards kmg Henry V., and many other nobles and knights. His army amounted to about [forty thousand men, composed of archers and cavalry, or men at arms. Having spent a week at Waterford, he proceeded 1 192 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A.D. 1400. a man learned in the laws and in music, and emi- nent for hospitality ; and Giolla-na-neev, son of Conor Mac Egan, chief professor of laws, died. A.D. 1400. Hugh O'Mulloy, lord of Fercall (in King's county) ; Laighneach, son of Fergal Roe, son of to Kilkenny, wliere he remained fourteen days ; and thence marched atcainst the Irisli, towards Wexford and Wicklow, advancing tlie standard of St. Edward, which, says sir Jolin Davies, the Irish held in great veneration. Art Mac JIurrogh was posted at tlie liead of tlie Leinster clans, with a force of three thousand men ; but avoided coming to an open engagement on the plains, and entrenching his forces in the dense woods, they made frequent and sudden attacks on the English, of whom they slew great numbers, and then raj)idly retreated to their woody recesses and mountain fortresses. Together with the army under king Richard himself, his cousin, the duke of Albemarle, landed at Dublin soon after, with a fleet of one hundred sail, and a powerful additional force, which joined king Richard, but they could not reduce the Irish chiefs to subjection ; and in Froissart's Chronicles, it is stated, that it was almost impossible to carry on war in Ire- land, in consequence of the impenetrable and extensive forests, bogs, and lakes ; and the Irish soldiers, he says, were remarkably strong, and so active, that on foot they could overtake an English horseman at full speed, leap up behind the rider, and pull him off liis horse. King Richard having appointed the duke of Gloucester to treat with Mac Murrogh, the duke for that purpose, marched with a guard of two hundred lancers and one thousand archers, and held an interview with Mac Murrogh, as hereafter described, which apparently took place on the borders of Wexford and Carlow, A Gascon knight, who accompanied king Richard's army, and was an eye witness of their engagements with the Irish, wrote an account of this expedition in French, which was translated into English by sir George Carew, earl of Totness, lord president of Munster in the reign of Elizabeth. This very curious and interesting narrative is given in Harris's Hibernica, from v^'hich are extracted tiie following passages : *' After si.x days stay at Waterford, the king departed from thence, and marched to Kilkenny, where he remained fourteen days ; and, upon St John the Baptist's eve, the king departed from Kilkenny, and marched towards Mac Murrogh, who styled himself king of Ireland, by right ; and wlio professed to maintain the war, and to defend the land unto his death, saying, that the conquest thereof was wrongful. He remained hi his house, the woods, guarded with three thousand stout men, such as it seemed to me, the English- men marvelled to beliold. At the entry of the wood, the king's army was ranged into order, expecting to have been fought withall ; but the Irishmen did not then appear, where- upon the king commanded the houses in the woods to be burned, which was immediately done, and many villages fired. The king's standard, wherein he had three leopards, was advanced, under which, he knighted the duke of Lancaster's son, %vho was a fair and puny bachelor : and to honour him the more, he made at the same time eight or ten other knights, hut what their names were, I know not, neither was I very curious to understand. The king, with his army, being lodged at the entrance into the woods, as aforesaid, commanded two thousand five hundred of the country people to cut down the wood, that his way might be made passable, which was then overgrown with trees, and guarded with the enemy ; and besides, so boggy, that in divers places, as the soldiers marched, they sunk up to the reins in mire, where they could not overtake the Irish in their retreat. An open pass being made, the Irish, in our passage through it, made such cries and clamours as might have been heard a good league otf, but still avoiding us, for fear of our archers ; yet, they assailed us often botli in t!ie van and rere, casting their darts with such might, as no habergeon, or coat of mail, were of sufficient proof to resist their Donogh Mac Geoghegan : Muintir Taagain and chief of Teffia Donogh Fox, lord of and Dermod and Brj'an, the sons of Catharnach, the son of Fox, died. The castle of Dun lomdhain (Dunamon, on the river Suck, county of Roscommon), was taken by Mac Anabaidh O'Conor, and Hoberd, son of Ed- mond, son of Hoberd Bm'ke, was slain in it; and force, their darts piercing tliem through both sides. Our foragers that strayed from their fellows, were often murdered by the Irish, for they were so nimble, and swift of foot, that, like unto stags, they run over mountains and valleys, whereby we received great annoyance and damage. Nevertheless the king's army, that was courageous and hearty, became so fearful unto them, as Mae Murrogh's uncle, accompanied with divers others, bare-legged and unshod, with halters about their necks, humbly submitted them- selves to the king, falling prostrate at his feet, craving mercy, whom the king freely pardoned, conditionally, that he and his companions should receive an oath, from that time forward to con- tinue his true and loyal subjects. This being done, the king sent to Mac Murrogh to submit, with a halter about his neck, as his uncle Iiad done ; and he would not only grant him the like mercy, but in these places he would bestow upon him castles, towns, and ample territories. Unto the king's messengers, Mac Murrogh made no other answer, but this : ' that for all the gold in the world, he would not submit himself, but he would continue to war and endaraacre the king in all that he might,' which bold answer pro- ceeded from the knowledge he had, that the king's army wanted victuals, and that for money there it could not be supplied, the present necessity wiiereof was such, that for the space of eleven days the soldiers liad lived only upon what they could find in the country, formerly wasted, winch was very little ; their horses also were faint and almost starved, as well for want of food, as by standing uncovered in the rain and wind, and of this famine many of the king's anuy perished. A biscuit in one day between five men was thought good allowance, and some in five days togetiier had not a bit of bread ; knights, esquires, and gentlemen likewise, felt this misery, and for mine own part I wished myself without one penny in my purse at Paris. In this time three ships laden witli victuals came from Dublin, and the hungry soldiers, greedy of food, waded into the sea above their reins, to come to the ships, where hi disorder, not abiding by the order for disposing of the vic- tuals, they rifled the same and spoiled them, and in the confusion many a blow was given and received amongst themseh'es. Here- upon the next day the king dislodged and marched towards Dub- lin ; the enemy attended us with fierce and fearful outcries, and skirmished often with us." At this time, Mac Murrogh proposed a parley with king Richard, and the narrative thus proceeds : *' This news brought nmch joy into the English camp, and the king, by advice of his council, sent the earl of Gloucester, at- tended with a guard of two hundred lances, and a thousand good archers. Among other gentlemen, I was one that went with them to see Mac Murrogh, his behaviour, estate, and forces, and to what issue the treaty would grow unto. Between two woods, not far from the sea, Mac Murrogh, attended by multitudes of the Irish, descended from a mountain, mounted upon a horse without a saddle, which cost him, as it was reported, four hundred cows ; for in that country they bartered by exchange horses for beasts, and one commodity for another, and not for ready money. His horse was fair, and in his descent from the hill to us he ran as swift as any stag, hare, or the swiftest beast that 1 have seen. In his right hand he bore a great long dart, which he cast from him with nmch dexterity. At a wood side his men staid behind him, and he met the earl at a little ford. He was tall of stature, well composed, strong and active, and his countenance fierce and severe. Much speech passed between the earl and him, but tlie parley produced little effect. Mac Murrogh departed to his men, and the earl of Gloucester to king Ricliard, to whom he recounted all the passages between them. The king at this report was much REIGN OF HENRY IV. 193 the son of Edmond O' Kelly, confined there, was liberated. Gregory, son of Tanaidhe O'Maolconrj', a man experienced in his professional calling, the worthy intended chief professor of Siol Murray (Roscom- mon), was accidentally killed by the cast of a dart from the hand of William Garv, at the Tochar (or pass) of Dunamon, in a mistake, and one hundred and twenty-six cows were given as an eraic (or fine) for his death. Roderick, son of Ai-t Mac Gennis,lordoflveagh in Ulidia, was slain by the sons of Cu-uladh O'Neill, and by Cahwar Mac Gennis, his own brother. enraged, swearing by St. Edward t}iat he would never depart out of Ireland until he had Mae Murrogh in his hands, living or dead. Immediately upon the earl's return of the answer aforesaid, the king dislodged, and marched the next way to the city of Dublin, which is a good town, the best in that realm, seated upon the sea and rich in merchandise, where we found such plenty of victuals to relieve our army, horse and foot, consisting of thirty thousand or thereabouts, that the prices of the same did not much increase. The king could not forget Mac Murrogh, to prosecute him, and divided his army into three parts, commanding them to hunt him in his woods, and promised to give him that could take him, alive or dead, ayi hundred marks i>t gold; but in my opinion it was impossit>le to be effected while the leaves were upon tlie trees ; hut after that time, when the trees were bare, tlien to burn the woods would be the best means to do service upon him, and not otherwise. At this time the earl of Rutland, duke of Aumarle and high constable of England, with an hundred sails of ships of war, arrived at Dublin, who was more beloved of the king tiian any of his blood, and by his advice he was most directed. Of his coming the king was exceeding glad, and joy appeared in his face when he saw him, accusing him of his long absence, which the duke humbly excused to the king's contentment. During the space of six weeks we remained in Dublin, where we lived in joy and delight ; but in all that time, by reason of foul weather and contrary winds, we never heard out of England, which undoubtedly, in my opinion, was a presage that God was displeased with the king." As stated in the above passages, king Richard, after remaining six weeks in Dublin, having heard of the duke of Lancaster's rebellion, proceeded to Waterford, and set sail for England to oppose his enemies ; but Lancaster's party having succeeded, Richard was forced to resign the crown, and after liis deposition was imprisoned in Pomfret castle, where he soon after died, being, it is said, starved to death. Art Mac Murrogh, so celebrated in these transactions, was also called O'Cavenagh, as the Mac Murroghs took that name ; he was descended from the ancient kings of Leinster, and was himself elected king of that province by the chiefs and clans, and chosen as their leader, while only in the sixteenth year of his age. He was a man of fine person, tall stature, great strength and activity, and most undaunted valour ; for a period of more than thirty years he waged incessant war on the English, and defeated their forces with great slaughter in more than fifty battles, in various parts of Leinster, and compelled them to pay him tribute for permitting them to reside in that province. In personal com- bats he killed many of their stoutest knights, often cleaving the skull of a mailed warrior, through his iron helmet, by a single blow of his battle-axe. During his time as leader of the Leinster elans, the O'Cavanaghs, the O'Nolans, O'Ryans, and O'Murphys of Wexford and Carlow, the O'Byrnes and O'Tooles of Wiejtlow, the Fitzpatricks of Ossory, the O'Conors of OtTaley, the O'Moorea and O'Dempseys of Leix and Kildare, he gained Niall Oge O'Neill marched with a great force into Tirconnell, where he destroyed much of the crops and corn ; the Tirconnellians came to oppose him, and a battle ensued, in which the Tyronians were defeated, and many of them slain ; and many horses were taken from them on that occasion. Giollapatrick, the son of Manus Mac Guire, who was called the GioUa Buidhe, died in his own house from the effects of blood-letting. John, son of Philip, son ofGioUaisaRoe O'Reilly, lord of Brefney, the most hospitable and noble man of his name, died of a sudden fit in his bed at TuUy Mongan. The king of England's son' an-ived in Ireland. many victories, as already mentioned, over the English forces. It is stated in Marleburgh's Chronicle that, in the reign of king Henry V., in May, 1419, while John Talbot, lord Furnival, was lord deputy, Mac Murrogh, chief captain of his nation, and of all the Irish of Leinster, was taken prisoner ; and in Moore's Ireland it is mentioned that he was sent to the tower of London ; but these writers have mistaken Donogh Mac Murrogh, the son of Art, for Art himself, as in the Four Masters, at the year 1419, it is stated that Donogh Mae Murrogh, king of Leinster, the son of Art Cavenagh, was taken prisoner by lord Furnival, "which was a lamentable loss to the Irish." The English attempted to assassinate Art Mac Murrogh, as mentioned in these Annals at the year 130.5 ; and in Taaife's Ireland the fol- lowing account is given of that affair: " He was invited to a ban- quet by the English lords, all of whom came secretly armed ; and Mae Murrogh arrived, accompanied only by his bard and one attendant. After the feast the minstrel, placed at a window, delighted the company with his music, but suddenly changed his notes to the Boscj Catha, or war song, for which he was repri- manded by Mac Murrogh, and ordered to play only festive airs ; but the bard again resumed his war ode, which surprised Mae Murrogh, who becoming indignant at the disobedience of his harper, arose from the table to remonstrate with him, but per- ceived that the house was surrounded with armed forces ; bran- dishing his sword he struck terror into the company, none of whom dared to attack a warrior of such gigantic vigour. Mac Murrogh cut his way through the armed forces, mounted his steed, and, in spite of all" their efforts, escaped with safety." Taaffe quotes from one of the ancient annalists the following account of the death of Mac Murrogh : " In this year died Art Mac Murrogh O'Cavanagh, one of the greatest heroes the world ever saw ; had I the tongues of men and angels I would never be able to relate his merits, the mighty defender of his injured kindred — the valiant avenger of tyranny and oppression — the sure refuge of the weak and dis- tressed — the patron of literature and of science — the glory of chivalry is gone — poor Erin weep ; when alas ! shall his equal return ?'" In these Annals the death of Mac Murrogh is placed in the year l4l7, in the sixtieth year of his age, and the forty-second of his government over Leinster, and an elegant eulogium passed on his memory. A.D. 1400. 1. The king of England's son wzathomAS, duke of Lancaster, son of king Henry IV., who, t!ien in the 20th year of his age, was appointed'lord lieutenant of Ireland for ten years; he landed at Dalkey with a strong force on the 13th of November, 1401, but returned to England A.D. 1 403, leav ing sir Stephen Scroope as his deputy in Ireland. In 1404, James Butler, earl of Ormond, was appointed lord justice ; and in 1400, Gerald Fitzgerald, earl of Kildare, succeeded as lord deputy ; in 1406, sir Stephen Scroope was a second time appointed lord deputy ; and in 1407, James 2 c 194 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A.D. 1401. Manus, son of Cuchonacht O'Reilly, the intended lord of Muintir Maolmordha (Cavan), died. Conor, son of Donal, son of Niall Garv, son of Hugh, son of Donal Oge O'Donnell, went on a predatory excursion across the mountain eastward in Tirconnell, and he and Owen Roe Mac Sweeny fell by each other's hands. The sons of Flaherty O'Rourke being expelled from Brefney, went into Tirconnell, from whence they brought with them a ])arty of the Tirconnel- lians into Brefney, where they committed great Butler the younger, earl of Orinond, was lord justice. In 1408, on the second of August, Tlionias, Duke of Lancaster, came again to Ireland as lord lieutenant, and landed witli a large force at Car- lingford. In tiie same year, according toTaaiFe and others, a great battle was fought on the plains of Kilmainham, near Dublin, by the Irish under Art JIac Murrogh O'Cavenach, against the English forces commanded by the duke of Lancaster, in which the English were defeated witii great slaughter, particularly at a ford on the Liffey, which was so heaped witii dead bodies, that the river was reddened with the blood of the slain, and hence designated Ath- cro, or the bloody ford ; and the bridge erected there afterwards was known by tiie name of Bloody Bridge, in modern times Bar- rack Bridge. In this l)attle the duke of Lancaster was severely wounded, and narrowly escaped witli his life ; he soon after re- tired to England, leaving Tliomas Butler, prior of BLilmainham, son of the duke of Ormond, as lord deputy. A.D. 1401. 1. The two Mac Willtnnis here mentioned were styled Mac William Eigliter and Mac William Oughter, two great branches of the Burkes of Connaught, the one ancestors of the Burkes, earls of Clanrickard, the other of the Burkes, earls of Mayo, of whom ac- counts have been given in the notes on North and South Con- naught. Ormond and Vesies. In this article will be given the history and topography of the territories comprised in the present counties of Tipperary and Waterford, together with their chiefs and clans, and the possessions of each in ancient and modem times, collected from the topographies of O'lleerin, O'Brien, and O'Halloran, O'Flaherty's Ogygia, Keating, Ware, Giraldus Camhrensis, Cam- den, O'Conor's Rerum Hib. Scrip., Lanigan'sEcclesistical History, the Annals of the Four Masters and of Inisfallen, Lodge's and otiier Peerages, Mac Geoghegan's Ireland, Smith's History of Waterford, the Map of Ortelius, Surveys, and various other works. Ormond, in Irish Oir Mumlian, Oir Mumha, or XTrmhumha, signifying East Munster, was one of the large divisions of ancient Munster, as explained in the note on Thomond, and the Kmgdom of Munster, at A. D. 1 364. Ancient Ormond extendean,and shortly after, St. Molaisre, who was also called Laserian, made Leighlin a bishop's see. In A. D. 630 a great synod of bishops and clergy was held at Leighlin, to regulate the time for the celebration of Easter. The abbey of Leighlin became celebrated under St. La- serian ; and it is stated, that at one time it contained fifteen hun- dred monks. Tlie Diocese of Leighlin comprises the whole of the county of Carlow, a considerable part of the Queen's county, with some portions of Kilkenny and AVicklow. The See of Ferns was founded by St. Moeg, in the latter end of the sixth century. The name Moeg, in Irish Maodhog, is la- tinised Maidocus, also Aedanus and Aidanus, and anglicised Moeg, or Maidoc, also Aidan or Edan ; Giraldus Cambrensis says " Sanctus Aidanus qui et Hibernice Maidocus dicitur." The ce- lebrated St. Moeg, or Aidan, was a native of that part of Brefney now called the county of Cavan, and founded there the abbey of Dromlane ; he afterwards went to Britain, and studied some time under St. David, bishop of Menevia, in Wales, and on returning to Ireland, Brandubh, king of Leinster, granted him the territory about Ferns, where he founded the cathedral and see of Ferns, and died at an advanced age, on the 31st of January, A. D. 632. The see of Sletty, as already stated, was the chief see of Leinster, in the fifth and sixth centuries ; but in the beginning of the seventh century. Ferns was made the metropolitan see of that province ; hence the bishops were styled bishops of Leinster, and Ferns con- tinued to be the chief see until the beginning of the ninth cen- tury, when Kildare was constituted the metropolitan see, and continued so till the twelfth century, w hen Dublin was constituted archiepiscopal see of Leinster. In the Lives of St. Moeg, quoted by Colgan and Lanigan, it is stated that at a great synod in Lein- ster, the king Brandubh, with the clergy and people, decreed that the archiepiscopal see of Leinster should be that of St. Moeg, " Delude facta synodo magna in terra Lageniensium de- crevit rex Brandubh et tarn laid quam clerici ut archiepisco- patus omnium Lageniensium semper esset in sede et cathedra Sancti Moedoc." Ferns, called in ancient times Ftarna Maodh- oifl, or Ferns of Moeg, became a great city, and was the chief residence of the kings of Leinster, i>ut fell into decay from its re- peated ravagesby tlie Danes, in the tenth and eleventh centuries. 7^he diocese of Ferns comprises nearly the whole of the county of Wexford, with small portions of Wicklow and Queen's county. The see of Glendalovgh was founded by St. Caoinigin, or Keivin, in the sixth century. The name in Irish is Gleann' diiloch, signifying the valley of the two lakes, it being si- tuated in a beautiful valley containing two lakes, and surroimded with magnificent mountains in the county of Wicklow Glenda- lough has been called by Latin writers Eplscopattis Bistagniensis, or the Bishopric of the two Lakes ; and by Pope Lucius III. it is mentioned as Epiiicopatus Insulnruvi^ or the Bishopric of the Isles. The diocese of GlendaUntgh^ in ancient times, comprised the county of Wicklow, and a great part of the county of Dublin ; it was annexed to the see of Dublin in the thirteenth century, A.D. 1214, but the archbishops of Dublm being all English, REIGN OF HENRY V. 227 Mac Murrogh, lord of Leinster, that is, Donogh, the son of Art Cavenagh, was taken prisoner by lord Furnival, which was a lamentable loss to the Irish. Thomas Bacach (the lame), the son of the earl of Ormond, having gone to aid the king of Eng- land in the war in France, died there while with the king, and the greater part of those who ac- companied him from Ireland, died in like manner either in France or England. Fereadach, son of Teige, the son of Donal O'Kelly, was slain by the grandson of William Oge O'Kelly. Donogh, the son of Murtogh O'Conor, died suddenly in the porch of Sligo castle. Murrogh O'Conor, the intended lord of OfiFa- ley ; Cathal, the son of Hugh Mac Guire ; Dermod Roe, the son of O'Conor Don ; Mac ]Mam-ice-na-mBrigh, a man of wisdom and learn- ing ; O'Dooyiarma; Murtogh, son of Cathal, son of Hugh Brefnach (O'Conor) ; Gillananeev O'Mi- thigheiu, the Coarb of Beallach ; Tomaltach Mac Clancy ; the BaiTy More, and O'Sullivan, died. A.D. 1420. The monastery of St. Francis at Askeaton, in Munster, on the banks of the Shannon, in the diocese of Limerick, was founded for Franciscan friars by the earl of Desmond, and he erected there a tomb for himself and his posterity. Matthew O'Brenan, master, parson, and ere- nach of Doii-e Maolain (Derryvidlan, in Ferma- nagh), died on the 6th of the Ides of September. The erection of the castle of Bundroos (in Leitrim, at the bay of Donegal), was commenced by Bryan, son of Donal, son of Murtogh O'Conor ; and the Tirconnellians having come with their forces to prevent the work, Bryan collected a party to resist them, consisting of his own kinsmen, O'Rourke (that is Teige), and Mac Donogh, with their respective troops, so that the Tirconnellians could not obtain peaceable possession of it till the fifteenth cen- tury. Glendalouph, in ancient times, was a celel)rated seat of learning and religion, and contained a large city ; but being re- peatedly ravaged by the Danes, during the ninth and tenth cen- turies, and by the English in the thirteenth and fourteenth cen- turies, it fell into complete decay ; but its former greatness is sufficiently demonstrated by the extensive ruins of a cathedral and seven churches, a round tower, and other interesting an- tiquities, which still remain. did not attempt to pass the entrenchments on the borders on that occasion ; but having remained en- camped on the coast of Eas Roe (Ballyshannon), the sons of O'Donnell, Niall Garv, Donal, and Neaghtan, came to the plain with a troop of ca- valry ; the sons of Bryan O'Conor came with another body of cavalry, on the other hand, to re- connoitre Ballyshannon, so that the two forces confronted each other ; the Connellians attacked and put to flight the Carburians (people of Car- bury, in Sligo), in which defeat John, the son of Bryan O'Conor, Hugh Buidhe Mac Donogh, Ca- thal, son of Dermod, son of Cormac, son of Ro- derick, and Owen O'Dowd, were slain ; Bryan O'Conor having received intelligence of this dis- aster, marched with his forces to Moy Eni ; in five nights after, Owen O'Conor and Turlogh Car- rach, the sons of Donal, the son of Murtogh, pro- ceeded with a large body of horse across the river at Ballyshannon, at which time the sons of O'Don- nell were with their cavalry at Port-na-long (the Port of the Ships), on the opposite side of the ca- taract, where they were after drinking their wine ; Owen having received intelligence of this, at- tacked them by night, and slew Donal, the son of Torlogh O'Donnell, the intended lord of Tyrcon- nell, with many others, who are not recorded; Niall O'Donnell fled to the shore, and swam to one of the merchant vessels then in the harbour, and Bryan O'Conor returned home after that victory. Owen, son of Roderick O'Conor, died on the eighth of the Kalends of March, and was interred at Clonmacnois. Teige, son of Fergal O ' H ara, tanist of Lieney, died. Cathal, son of Teige Mac Clancy, chief of Dar- try (in Leitrim), and Hugh Buidhe Mac Clancy, were slain in Cathal's house by their own kinsmen, Teige, Maurice, and Henry, about the festival of St. Bridget. The earl of Ormond, lord justice of Ireland, An account of the ancient literature of Leinster will he given in the notes of subsequent numbers. A.D. 1410. 1. Gairbh Thrian Chonnacht, signifying the rough district of Oonnaught, comprised, as it apjiears by the Annals, the greater part of both Brefnies,that is, of West Brefney, or Leitrim, and of East Brefney, or the county of Cavan. 2 G 2 228 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A. D. 1421. was in war with the people of Ulster, aiding O'Neill, and he brought Mac Gennis under sub- jection, and delivered his hostages to O'Neill. William, son of Malachy, son of William O'Kelly, the intended lord of Hy Maine, a man fiill of prosperity and hospitality, died after the victory of extreme unction and repentance. O'Neill, that is Donal, having been expelled fi-om the province of Ulster by Owen O'Neill, and the son of O'Neill of Claneboy, and by Niall Garv O'Donnell, and all the chiefs of the province, came to Sligo to the house of Bryan (O'Conor), son of Donal, son of Murtogh, lord of North Con- naught. A contest arose in Fermanagh between Hugh Mac Guu'e and the Mac Guire, in which Donal, the son of Hugh, was slain. The Barry More (that is John), died. Hugh Buidhe O'Fallon, died. GioUa-na-naomb O'Huidhrin,' a learned his- torian ; Roderick, son of David O'Duigenan, ano- ther learned historian ; and Fergal O'Daly, chief poet of Corcomroe (in Clare), died. The bishopric of Raphoe was obtained for O'Gallagher (Laurence or Loghlin O'Galiagher). Eachmarcach Roe Mac Conmidlie,a very learned poet, died. A. D. 1421, Nicholas Mac Brady,' bishop of Brefney, a man distinguished for his wisdom, piety, continence, and uprightness, died. Thomas Oge O'Reilly, the most illustrious heir to a lordship, in hospitality and feats of arms, of any in his time, of the race of Aodh Fionn (Hugh, the Fair, king of Connaught in the seventh cen- tury), died at his own house (in Cavan). Roderick, son of Hugh Mac Dermott, lord of Moylurg, a man of general hospitality, died at the Rock (of Lough Key) on the 11th of the Kalends A. D. 1420. 1. GloUn-na-naomk O'Huidhrin, or GioUananeev O'Heerin, was the celebrated historian and topographer whose work on the topography of Leinster and Monster has been so often quoted, and is given in the annotations annexed to these Annals. A. D. 1421. 1, Nicholas Mac Brady, bishop of Brefney, or diocese of Kil- inore. There were several of the Mae Bradys, of the ancient clan of that name in the county of Cavan, bishops of Brefney or of May, and was bm-ied in the monastery of Boyle ; he was succeeded by Tomaltach, the son of Conor. Murrogh O'Conor, lord of Offaley, a man who defeated the English and Irish, who opposed him in many battles, after having gained the victory over the world and the devil, died at his own for- tress, and was interred in the monastery of Kil- lachaidh (Killaughey, in King's county). A contest having arisen between the O'Rourkes and Mac Donoghs, O'Rourke mustered a great force, and O'Donnell, that is, Torlogh, came with his party to relieve and support him, as did also Hugh Mac Guire with his forces, and O'Rourke himself and his people, with all these allies, having marched into Tu'errill, burned the country and slew Cathal, the son of Mac Donogh, and many others on that occasion. Niall O'Donnell and his forces, and O'Rourke with his troop of cattle-drivers, having marched to the shore of Ballyshannon, the Mac Donoghs, and Cathal, the son of Roderick O'Conor, went in their absence to the fortress of O'Rourke, burned the town (Dromahair, in Leitrim), demo- lished the castle, and destroyed all the cattle folds of the country ; the Connallian forces were at this time encamped at Ardfearna (Glenfarn, in Lei- trim), and those of Carbury (in Sligo), were at the castle of Bundroose, and between both parties many men and horses were slain and wounded daily; Murtogh Buidhe, the son of Cosnavach O'Dowd, O'Maonaigh, and the son of Donogh Cavenagh, were slain by the Connelhans on that occasion ; and Hugh, son of Murray Roe Mac Loghhn, was drowned at Ballyshannon ; and after that they made peace. Cathal O'Rourke, and his sons, made a noctur- nal attack on Mac Clancy at Iniscaoin on Lough Melge (Lough Melvin, county of Leitrim) ; the guards of the lake, namely, the Mac Gloins, deli- vered up the boats of the lake to Cathal and his Kilmore, and other sees. Roderick Mac Brady was appointed by Pope Boniface IX. bisliop of Brefney, A. D. 1396 : and Gilbert Mac Brady was appointed the same year bishop of Ardagh. Nicholas Mac Brady, above-mentioned, bishop of Brefney, died A.D. 1421. Andrew Mac Brady, appointed by Pope Nicliolas V. bisliop of Kihnore, died A. D. 1456. Thomas Mac Brady, bishop of Kilmore, died A.D. 1511. Richard Brady, bishop of Kihnore, died about the year 1600. Andrew Brady was R. C. bisliop of Ardagh, from about 1780 to 1795. — See Ware's Bi- shops and Brennun's Ecclesiastical History. REIGN OF HENRY VI. 229 sons ; and they took young Mac Clancy prisoner, and possessed themselves of the lake, and of its castle ; five of the sons of Mac Clancy, and a great number of the men of Dai-try, were slain by these, and the other sons of Mac Clancy then went into Cai-bury, (in Sligo). More, daughter of Brian O'Brien, the wife of Walter Burke, and previously the wife of Teige O'Carroll (of Ely), the most distinguished woman in Munster in her time, in fame, hospitality, good sense, and piety, died ; she was generally called More of Munster. Cormac of the Wood, the son of Mac Carthy Carbeiy (in Cork), the best lord's son of Munster of his time, was slain by the sons of Owen Mac Carthy. The Giolla Riavach O'Clery, a learned historian, died after a well-spent life. Owen O'Neill was apprehended by the son of O'Neill, of Claneboy, while on his journey to hold a conference with the earl at Dundalk. Mac Gillpatrick, and the son of Libned Afrene, an Englishman, marched with twelve score soldiers to plunder Leix (in the Queen's county), and they did not halt until they arrived at the monastery of Leix ; O'Conor Failey met them there, attacked Mac Gillpatrick and the English, and defeated them with slaughter, and his people gained great prizes of arms, armour, and accoutrements, wliich belonged to the English ; and O'Conor, that is Murtogh, then retm-ned home, and having been taken ill of a severe disease, retired to the Friarj- of Killaghy, entered amongst the monks and took the monastic habit ; he appointed his kinsman, Dermod O'Conor, to succeed him, and O'Conor himself died in a month after he became a friar, after a well-spent life. Ai-t, son of Teige O'Rourke, was appointed the O'llourke, in opposition to Teige, the son of Tiarnan. A.D. 1422. Torlogh, son of Niall Garv O'DonneU, lord of A.D. 1422. \. Henry VI. The death of Henry V. took place at Vincennes, in France, on the 31st of August, A. D. 1422, in the 34th year of his age ; he took the title of regent of France, in consequence of his conquests in that country, and was succeeded as king of Eng- TirconneU, assumed a monastic habit in the mo- nastery of Eas Roe (Ballyshannon), after ha\nng gained the palm over this transitory life, and his son, Niall Gan', was appointed his successor. Roderick, son of Conor O'Conor, lord of Cor- comroe (in Clare), was slain by his own kinsmen, namely, the sons of Felim O'Conor, at his own town in Caislean-na-Dumhcha. Owen O'Neill was released by his wife and sons from O'Neill of Claneboy. Dermod, son of Teige Mac Derraott, was slain. Donal Finn O'Flaherty, was slain by the sons ofDonal O'Flaherty. O'Donnell, that is Niall ; O'Neill ; Owen O'Neill, and O'Neill of Claneboy, with the chiefs of the province, having proceeded with their forces, burned and plundered the entire of Carbuiy, as far as Sligo ; Owen O'Conor, with Torlogh Carrach and O'Rourke, collected their forces to oppose them at Sligo, and gave battle to the eastern party, in which seven of them were slain by the Cona- cians, and the others marched from thence into Tirerrill, and spoiled the entire country. The young Cosnamach Mac Egan, chief profes- sor in Brehonism (laws), of Kinel Fiacha (Mac Geoghegans of Westmeath), and of O'Conor Faily (in King's county), was slain by thesons of O'Me- laghlin, by an accidental cast of a javelin. Niall Garv, son of Torlogh, the son of Niall Garv' O'Donnell, having proceeded into Ferma- nagh, brought Mac Guire, Mac Mahon, and Mac Gennis under subjection, and took them with him to O'Kane, who paid him his tribute ; from thence they proceeded, accompanied by the O'Kane, to O'Neill of Claneboy, and to theGlynns (in Antrim), and they completely plundered the son of John Bissett, and burned the country ; they then pro- ceeded into Claneboy, and Magh Line (Moylinny, in Antrim), conveyed their booty to Carrickfergus, and then returned home. Henry VI.' was proclaimed king of England on the 31st of August. NiaU O'DonneU and O'Neill, with the chiefs of the entire province, marched their forces against land by his son Henry VI., then an infant only eight months old, who was soon after proclaimed at Paris king of Friince, a title borne by the succeeding kings of England down to the reign of George III., when it was abolished by Bonaparte. 230 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A. D. 1422-23-24. O'Neill of Claneboy, took his strongholds, oven-an his woods, and brought him under subjection ; he gave hostages to O'Neill, and they took from him all the treasure he had taken from Owen O'Neill, together with other property. The same Niall (O'Donnell), having collected the chiefs of the province, namely, O'Neill, the sons of Henry O'Neill ; Owen O'Neill, with his sons and kinsmen ; the sons of Cu-uladh Roe O'Neill ; the people of Fermanagh, and the Orgial- lians, with Mac Mahon, Mac Guire, Mac Gennis, 0'Hanlon,0'NeillofClaneboy,withtheirforces; the 0'KanesandConallians,with their galloglasses,and the English of the province, all marched into Con- naught; the sons of Cormac Mac Donogh, and the sons of Mulroona Mac Donagh joined these forces, having been dispossessed of their pro- perties by Conor Mac Donogh, their fathei-'s bro- ther, his sons, and Tomaltach Oge Mac Donogh, for Mac Donogh erected a castle on the lands be- longing to the sons of Muli-oona Mac Donogh, at Caisiol-Locha-Deargain (Castledargin in Sligo), completely destroyed their crops, and expelled them afterwards into Mac William Burke's coun- try. It was at their request that this great force came to spoil North Connaught, and the same forces having marched into Carbury, (in Sligo), they slew and wounded several persons at the cas- tle of Bundroos, burned and plundered the country, and then proceeded to Sligo ; Owen, the son of Donal (O'Conor), and Torlogh Carrach, attacked and defeated the rear of their forces, slew seven of them, and wounded some of their men and horses ; the army remained at Killery (near Sligo), that night, and on the following day marched into Ti- reragh to spoil the country ; O'Dowd came and made peace with Niall, and gave him hostages in behalf of his own country ; from thence they pro- ceeded into Tirerrill and Con-an, and spoiled and burned the country, and while the sons of Cormac, and the sons of Mulroona (Mac Donogh), were engaged in burning the upper portion of the country, they were overtaken by Tomaltach Oge, AD. 1423. 1. The King of England's Viceroy at this time was James Butler, earl of Orniond. In an interlineation in the Annals it is stated, that the English knight above mentioned was slain by Mulroona Mac Sweeney, chief constable of O'Donnell's forces in and by the sons of Mac Donogh, near Cluain Gad, where a battle took place between them, in which Maurice Mac Cormac, Dermod son of Mulroona Mac Donogh, and the son of Donal Mac Hugh of Gaovach, were slain ; the Ultonian forces remained that night at Castledargan, after spoiling the country, and having proceeded to O'Rourke, whom they took prisoner, they returned home across the Erne. A.D. 1423. Conor O'Coineoil, the bishop ; and O'Bolan, the coarb of Drumclitf, died. Maurice, son of Matthew, the son of Osgar Mac Guire, archdeacon of Clogher, parson of Aghalurcher, lord of Claoininsi (Cleenish), and of Rosairthir (Rossory), died on the sixth of the Kalends of May. Torlogh, son of Niall Garv O'Donnell, lord of Tirconncll, Kinel Moain, and Inisowen, a man of peace, prosperity, and affability, died in a monastic habit, in the monastery of Eas Roe, after having gained the victory of extreme unction and repent- ance. O'Neill (Donal), and O'Donnell, (Niall), and Owen the son of Niall, marched with the Irish of Ulster to attack the English ; they first proceeded to Traghbally (Dundalk), to the plain of Oriel, to Louth, and from thence to Meath, where they engaged in battle with the king of England's viceroy,' in which the commanding knight of the English battalions, with many more of their peo- ple, were slain, and the Irish obtained immense booty on that expedition. They then made peace with the English, and put Dundalk, and all the English of the surrounding country, under tribute. The castle of Ballyshannon was built by Niall, the son of Torlogh O'Donnell. O' Kennedy Finn, lord of Ormond, and Faolan Mac Gowan, a learned historian, died. A.D. 1424. Conor O'Ferrall, bishop of Conmaicne (Ar- Connaught, through whose valour the English forces were defeated, and one hundred of them killed in this engagement; and that they compelled the English to agree to a peace and to pay tribute, and that valuable articles and hostages were taken from them as security. REIGN OF HENRY VI. 231 dagh), a man of dignity, honour, benevolence, learning, charity, and humanity, died Gillaisa, the son of Bryan Mac Tiarnan, heir to the chieftaincy of TuUaghonoho (in Cavan), a man ■who kept a general house of hospitality, died after the victory of repentance. A great contest arose among the O'Roui'kes, after the death of Hugh Buidhe O'Rourke. Teige, son of Tiarnan O'Rourke, made peace with the O'Reillys, and with Owen, the son of John O'Reilly ; and the lordship of the entire of Brefney, was given to Teige, after he had attacked Art Mac Angaidh (O'Rourke), and burned his town ; Art made submission after they had been in contention for the space of four years. Malachy Mac Cabe, constable of the two Bref- neys, of Fermanagh and Orgiall (Monaghan), died of the plague. A great number of Saxons amved in Ireland with the earl of Ormond, by which circumstance the English gained great power. The earl (of Ormond), with the Saxons and the English of Meath, committed great depredations in the plain of Armagh, and in Machaire Muc- namha;' they made another attack on Mac Gen- nis, and demohshed his castle at Lough Bricren (Lough Brickland, in the count)^ ofDown), and slew his constable of galloglasses, and the greater por- tion of the garrison of the castle. A great war and commotion arose in the province of Ulster, occasioned by the Enghsh on that expedition ; the chiefs and nobles of the province, headed by O'Neill, O'Donnell (NiaU), and Owen O'Neill, including the lords, warriors, and chiefs, collected their forces to oppose the English ; but some of the chiefs of the province having joined the Eng- lish in that war, namely, Mac-I-Neill of Clane- boy, O'Hanlon, and Manus Mac Mahon, Mac Gennis was expelled from his territory by Mac-I- Neill of Claneboy, and the EngUsh,and was obliged to take refuge among the Irish of the province. Mac Gennis, that is H ugh, died of a ht of sickness, and his son Roderick was appointed his successor. A. D. 1424. 1. Machn'ire Mucnamha, or the plain of Mucnamha, now the parish of Mucknoe, in the harony of Cremome, county of Mo- najrhan, in which parish is situated the town of Castle-Blayney. 2. y/te ear/ o/'3/rt^c/^ was Edmund Mortimer, ear! of March and Ulster, who, in 1423, was appointed lord lieutenant, and ar- Mac William of Clanrickard, that is Ulick Burke, died at his own house, after having gained the victory over the world and the devil. O'Kelly, lord of Hy Maine, that is Donogh, son of Malachy, son of William, son of Donogh Muinach, was slain by his own brother AVilliam's sons, while endeavouring to estabUsh his lordship over them. Mulroona Mac Sweeney, constable ofTircon- nell, the star of defence and bravery of the pro- vince, died. Gillaisa, the son of Bryan Mac Tiarnan, chief of TuUaghonoho, died. The earl of March," the king's viceroy, arrived in Ireland about the festival of St. Michael, and the English of Ireland submitted to him. Roderick Mac Sweeney, the son of Mac Sweeney of Connaught, was slain by Cathal Duv O'Conor, together with several other galloglasses. Conor, son of Murtogh, son of Cathal, son of Hugh Brefney O'Conor, was slain on that occa- sion. A. D. 1425. The bishop Toimineach, namely, Thomas, son of William Duv, son of Maigeog, died a week before the festival of St. Bridget ; he was a man full of wisdom, knowledge, and benevolence. The earl of March, the king of England's vice- roy in Ireland, died of the plague about the fes- tival of St. Bridget. O'Neill, and Owen O'Neill, Naghtan O'Don- nell, Mac-I-Neill Claneboy, Mac Quillan, Mac Donnell of the galloglasses, and O'Mellain, the keeper of St. Patrick's adjuration bell, came to the earl's house, and were taken prisoners by lord Furnival,' an English earl, after the death of the earl of March, and he took those chiefs with him to Dublin as prisoners. The Regent of Scotland, that is, Muredach Stuart, with his son Walter Stuart, and the Maormor of Leamhna, were put to death by the king of Scotland, namely, the son of the lame rived in Ireland with a £n"eat army : he died of the plague the year following at the castle of Trim, in Meath. A. D. 1-12.5. 1. Lord Furnival \^as John Talbot, earl of Shrewsbury, who had a few vears before been lord lieutenant of Ireland, and was asain appointed to that ottice. 232 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A.D. 1426-27 king, and the other son of the Regent, that is James Stuart, and the son of the earl of Lennox, were expelled into Ireland.^ Owen O'Neill was released from the English. Bryan Ballach, the son of O'Neill Buidhe, the most distinguished man in his time for hospita- lity, for presents, benevolence, and knowledge in arts and sciences, was slain by the rustics of the Rock (Carrickfergus), together with John, the son of Henry O'NeiU. Gormley, daughter of Donal O'Conor, and wife of Tiarnan O'Rourke, died after repentance. Teige O'Fallon, chief of Clan Huadach (in Roscommon), was treacherously slain in his own castle by his kinsmen. Roderick Roe O* Higgin, a very learned poet, died. Magrath, the son of Flynn Magrath, chief poet of Thomond, a man of wealth and prosperity, died. Mac Gowan of the Stories, that is, Thomas, the son of Gillananeev Mac Gowan, chief histo- rian to O'Loghhn of Corcomroe (in Clare), died. Bryan Garv and Manus, the sons of Mac Do- nogh of Tirerrill, that is Mulroona, the son of Teige Mac Donogh, were slain by the sons of theii- uncle Cathal Mac Donogh. A. D. 1426. Naghtan O'Donnell, who was imprisoned with the English, was released by O'Donnell, i. e. Niall, his brother, for whose liberation an immense deal of property was ])aid, besides leaving another hos- tage in his place, namely, Toi-logh O'Donnell, who however, made his escape from the English, with four others who were confined along with him. O'Conor Roe, that is Torlogh, the son of Hugh, son of Felim, a man who both spoiled and defended Connaught ; a man distinguished for his skill and knowledge in the arts and sciences, died after hav- ing gained the victory of repentance, and conquer- ing the world and the devil. A.D. 14-25. 2. Begent of Scotland. Robert Stuart, duke of Albany, was appointed Rei^ent of Scotland, during the udnority of James Stuart, heir to the throne; and on the death of Robert, his son Muredach, duke of Albany, became regent. James Stuart having been kept a jirisoner many years in England, was at length libe- rated, and in 1424 became king of Scotland as James I. ; Mure- dach, the regent, having aspired to the crown, was beheaded, together with his son Walter, and the earl of Lenno,x. James Stuart, Felim, son of Murtogh, son of Donal, the son of Murtogh O'Conor, heir to the lordship of North Connaught, died. Conor O'Brien, lord of Thomond, died at an advanced age on Easter Saturday, and Teige, the son of Brian O'Brien, was appointed his successor. Torlogh Mac Mahon Bodhar, lord of Corca- baiscin (in Clare), was slain and burned at an advanced age, by his own kinsmen, in a nocturnal attack. Conor Crom, the son of Teige O'Rourke, died. Roderick, that is, the Mac Gennis, son of Hugh IMac Gennis, was slain in his own house by Bryan Mac Gennis. Henry Caoch, the son of O'Neill Buidhe, had his eyes put out by his own kinsmen, the sons of Bryan Ballach, the son of O'Neill Buidhe. Teige INIac Gillfinnen, and his son Hugh, were slain by Art, the son of Owen O'NeiU. O'Duigenan, of Kilronan, that is, Philip, the son of David, cliief historian of Clan Maolroona (Mac Dermotts, princes of Moylurg), died. O'Hely More, that is Conor Caoch O'Hely, died. O'NeiU and Owen O'NeiU, the sons of NiaU, made peace with each other, and Owen having made his submission to O'NeiU, the lands he had been deprived of during the time of their quarrels were settled between them. > Kian, the son of Gilla Oilbe Mac Gowan, a learned historian, and a man who kept a house of general hospitality, was kiUed by the kick of a horse. Bebinn, the daughter of Tiaman O'Rourke, lord of Brefney, died. Richard Mac Jordan of the Wood (in Mayo), was taken prisoner by Owen, the son of O'Fla- herty, who delivered him into the hands of Mac Jordan Duv, by whom he was plundered. Fereadach, son of Biyan O'KeUy, died of the plague. John, the son of Bermingham, was slain by Thomas, his own brother's son. another of Muredach's sons, retired to the HigJilands, and raised a rebellion, but was forced to fly to Ireland, with some of tiie nobi- lity, his associates ; it appears that this James Stuart, whose death is mentioned in these Annals at the year 1429, had a powerful party supporting his claims to the crown of Scotland, as a fleet was sent to Ireland to bring him home. The Waorraor of Leajnhna above-mentioned, was the earl of Lenno.\, the title Maormor being applied, in the Irish and Gaelic languages, to the Great Stewards, or earls of Lennox, Marr, and Moray, in Scotland. REIGN OF HENRY VI. 233 A. D. 1427. 'MULLOY, i.e.Fergal, lord of Fercall (in King's county), died, and Ro- derick, the son of Niall O'Mulloy, was appoint- ed his successor. Roderick O'Dunn, chief of Hy Riagain (in Queen's county), died. Donal, son of Art, son of Gillcreest O'Rourke, died. Murrogh, son of Tor- logh, son of Murrogh-na- Raithnidhe O'Brien, was slain by his brother. Dermod O'Mahony, lord of Fuinn lartharaidh (the western land in the barony of Iveragh, county of Kerry), a man distinguished for his hospitality, and who never refused a favoiu'. died after having gained the victory of repentance. Cormac Oge Mac Dermott died. Catherine, daughter of Ardgal Mac Mahon, the wife of O'Neill, that is Owen, the son of Niall Oge, died. Una, daughter of Hugh Mac Guire, the wife of O'Rourke, that is Teige, the most hospitable, cha- ritable, and pious woman of her time in North Connaught, died in the latter end of Lent. Fergal Mac Tiarnan, heir to the chieftaincy of Tullaghonoho, died. Bryan, son of Fergal Mac Gauran, son of the chief of Tullaghaw, died. Bryan O'Daimhin (or O'Devin), chief of Tir- cenfoda (Tyrkennedy, in Fermanagh), died. Aine, daughter of O'Beirne, the wife of Mac Rannall, i. e. Geoffi'ey, died. The son of Donal, son of Mahon Dunn O'Ken- nedy, lord of Upper Ormond, was slain by ^V alter Tobin, with a single cast of a javelin. Niall O'Donnell, i. e. the O'Donnell, lord of Tir- connell, marched a force into Trian Congail (in Antrim), to aid the grandsons of Mac-I-Neill, of Claneboy, against O'Neill, and on that expedition O'Donnell defeated Mac Quillan, and slew a great number of his people ; he also took prisoners the two sons of Donogh Mac Sweeny, who aided Mac Quillan; and the people of O'Donnell, and the grandsons of Mac-I-Neill Buidhe, gained much booty and valuable property on that day. The earl of Ormond nun-ched with an army into Muintir Maolmordha (county of Cavan), burned the town of O'Reilly (Cavan), and demolished his castle. Hugh O'Malley, the son of Dermod, heir to the lordship of Hy Malia (in Mayo), having gone with his fleet to Tirconnell, was killed by the cast of a javelin while in the rear of his party, on his return to his ship. A. D. 1428. Mac Murrogh, lord of Leinster, namely, Do- nogh, the son of Art Cavenagh, who was impri- soned in England for the space of nine years, was ransomed by his own pro\ince, which was joyful news to the Irish. Dermod O'Kane, lord of Kianacht, and of the Creeve, (in Derry), a man full of prosperity and of honour, died. Robert, the coarb of St. Cailin (abbot of Fenagh in Leitrim), died. Hugh the Hospitable, son of Philip Mac Guire, the most famous man of his time for nobleness and hospitality, died at Kinsale on the night of his ar- rival in Ireland, on the Sth of the Ides of August, after having performed the pilgrimiige of St. James', and rigidly repented of his sins ; Thomas Oge Mac Guire, who accompanied him, conveyed his body to Cork, where it was buried. Mac Namara, chief of Clan Cuilein, (in Clare), a man of charity and hospitality, who suppressed theft and robbery, and established peace and secu- rity in his own estate, died. Cormac O'Beirne, chief of Tir Briuin (in Ros- common), died. Hugh Oge Mac Guire, the son of Hugh, was slain by Mac Gillfinnen, and by the sons of Do- nogh Ballach Mac Gauran. The castle of the sons of Hugh Mac Guire was taken by Mac Guire and his sons, who expelled the sons of Hugh from the country, and completely plundered their jjeople. AD. 14-28. 1 . The PUnrimnge of St. James was tliat of St. James of Com- postella iu Sjjaiii, a celebrated place of inlgrimage in former times. 2 H 234 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A. D. 1429-30. John, the son of Thomas O'Reilly, was treache- rously slain by his own clan. Gilbert O' Flanagan, heir to the chieftaincy of Tura (in Fermanagh), died. Mac Jordan Dexeter, and John Mac Costello, made a hostile incursion into Tyrawley (in Mayo), against Thomas Barrett and the sons of Mac Wat- tin, whom they plundered ; Richard Barrett was slain while pursuing the prey, and John Fionn Mac Costello was also killed on that occasion. H enry Barrett, the son of Wattin, died. Ivar, son of Edmond Mac Rannall, heir to the chieftaincy of Muintir Eoluis, was slain by Cathal, the son of Mac Rannall. A.D. 1429. James Stuart, son of the regent of Scotland, and also king presumptive of Scotland, having been expelled from Scotland into Ireland, died, after a fleet had come from the men of Scotland for him, to make him king. Niall O'Dogherty, chief of Ardmiodhair, died. Graine, daughter of Niall More O'Neill, the wife of O'Donnell, i. e. Torlogh of the Wine, died. O'Flanagan of Tura, i. e. Gillaisa, was slain by the sons of Hugh Mac Guire, in his own house, in a nocturnal attack. A contest arose between O'Rourke, i. e. Teige, and O'Reilly, i. e. Owen, and the sons of Mahon O'Reilly, and the English of Meath having joined O'Roui-ke against O'Reilly, burned O'Reilly's town (Cavan) ; O'Reilly then, having induced O'Neill, the OrgiaUians (people of Monaghan and Louth), and those of Fermanagh to come to his aid, he sent his cattle-driving troops with those chiefs to Achaidh Kilmore' ; O'Rourke, Mac Ma- hon, the baron of Delvin (Nugent), and Mac Cabe, pursued them with a great force to Achaidh Kil- more ; O'Neill, and his sons and galloglasses, the men of Fermanagh, with O'Reilly and his kins- men, attacked them there, and defeated them in the battle of Achaidh Kilmore, in which the baron of Delvin, with Mac Cabe, Henry Mac Cabe, Der- mod O'Rourke, and many others, were slain and taken prisoners by O'Neill on that occasion. A. D. 1429. 1. Achnidh Kilmore, where this battle -nas fought, is considered to have been some place in the parisli of Kiluiore, county of Cavan. Donogh Mac Gilfinnen died. Hugh Direach O'Donnell, the son of Torlogh of the Wine, and his son, were slain by Torlogh, the son of Niall Garv O'Donnell, on the 8th of February. Roderick O'Dogherty died in the same quarter at Fathan Mura Othna (Fahan of St. Mura, in Do- negal). The men of Brefney sustained a severe loss, both in slain and wounded, by Muintir Feodachain (people of Pettigo, in Fermanagh), atTuIach Odra, on Slieve-da-chon, having lost no less than forty persons, along with Conor, the son of Donal Mac Sweeny, who had gone on that incursion through folly and youth ; and some of the people of Dartry (in Leitrim), and others of Hugh Mac Guire's clan, were also slain. MiuTogh, the son of O'Byrne (ofWicklow), died. Malachy, son of Conor Anabaidh O'Kelly, son of the lord of Hy Maine, was killed by the cast of a dart, by Shane Cam O'Teige, of the people of O'Conor. Malachy O'Malley, heir to the lordship of Hy Malia, was slain by the sons of O'Malley. Mahon, son of Thomas O'Cuirnin, chief profes- sor of Brefney, a learned historian and musician, died in his own house. O'CotFey, i.e. Malachy Mac-an-Classaigh O'Cof- fey, was slain by Edmond, the son of Hoberd D'Alton (in Westmeath). A.D. 1430. Gillananeev O'Lennan, canon and sacristan of Lisgoole, (in Fermanagh), died. Owen, the son of Niall Oge O'Neill, marched a great force against the English of the plain of Oriel (in Louth), and plundered, burned, and laid waste all belonging to the English of the entire plain ; he also burned the fortress of Dundalk, and having compelled the inhabitants to submit, and pay him tribute, he returned home with triumph and victory. Owen O'Neill, accompanied by the chiefs of the province, marched with another great force into Annaly (county of Longford), and proceeded to the old fortress (of Longford) ; he went from thence to Coill Salaidh, where he remained for some time, after which he proceeded to Freamhatn of Meath (near Mullingar), to which place the Irish of the south re- paired to Owen, to receive his pay, namely, O'Conor REIGN OF HENRY VI. 235 Faily, that is the Calvach ; O'Mulloy, O'Madden, Mac Geoghegan, and O'MelaghHu ; the entire of Westmeath, together with Kilbixey, was burned by these forces, after which the baron of Delvin (Nu- gent), the Phuiketts, the Herberts, and the English of West Meath in general, waited on Owen O'Neill, in order to pay him tribute, on behalf of their country, which they did, and made peace ; Owen then returned home victoriously and triumphantly, and took with him the son of O'Ferrall, i.e. the son of Donal Buidhe, to Dungannon, as a hostage for O'Ferrall's lordship. Mac Guire, i. e. Thomas, the Giolladuv, lord of Fermanagh for thirty-six years, a man of unbounded hospitality to rich and poor, a founder of monaste- ries, churches, chapels, and many images ; a paci- ficator of the chiefs and country ; a defender of his territory against aggressors ; a man beloved both by the laity and clergy for the justness of his go- vernment, died, after ha%Tng gained the victorv' of repentance and extreme unction, and his son Tho- mas Oge was appointed his successor, according to the election of the clergy and laity. Niall, the son of Henry O'Neill, died. A great contest arose between M'Carthy Riavach and the earl, that is James (earl of Desmond) ; the earl took the castle of Kilbritain (in the county of Cork), from Mac Carthy, and gave it to Donogh Mac Carthy, the brother of Mac Carthy, who was along with him demolishing the castle. Mac William of Clanrickard, Mac Donogh of Tirerrill, and Bryan, the son of Donal, the son of Murtogh O'Conor, marched a force into Con- maicne Cuile (in Mayo), where they made great conflagrations, slew Hugh, the son of O'Conor Roe, and Carbry, the son of Bryan O'Beirne, and re- turned home victoriously ; the castle of Tulsk (in Roscommon) was taken by Cathal, the son of O'Conor Roe, from the sons of Torlogh Oge, the son of Hugh, the son of Torlogh O'Conor. Bryan, the son of Tiarnan Oge O'Rourke, was slain by the sons of Malachy Mac Rannall, at Maoithil Manchain (Mohill of St. Manchan, in Leitrim) ; and Donogh, the son of Tiarnan, was compelled to take refuge in the monastery of Mo- hill ; Donogh, however, came out to his people un- der the protection of INIac Rannall, and a peace being made between them, Bryan's eraic (fine) was after that paid by O'Rourke. Art O'Rourke, heir to the lordship of Brefney, was treacherously slain in his own house by his brother's son, namely, Manns, the son of Conor O'Rourke, a week before Easter. Teige Mac Donogh, the son of Murtogh, died. Wilham Roe, the son of Loghlin O'Rourke, died. Donogh Oge, the son of Mac Loghlin, died. Fergal, son of Boetius, the son of Teige Mac Egan, chief Brehon of North Connaught, a man learned in the laws and sciences, and who kept a house of hospitality for all persons who came to his place, died after a well-spent life. A.D. 14.31. O'Martain, orO'Martin, bishop of Clogher, died. O'Maolagain, or O'MuUigan, bishop of Leigh- lin, died. Teige O'Heoghain, official of Lough Erne, (\'icar general of Clogher), a man of learning, died. Simon Mac Garraghan, one of the canons of Lisgoole (in Fermanagh), died. O'Conor of Corcomroe, i.e. Murtogh, was slain by his own brother's sons. Con O'Melaghlin, king presumptive of Meath, was slain by the people of Annaly, and the English of West Meath ; and his kinsman. Core, was taken prisoner. Gerald Cavanagh, king presumptive of Leinster, a man distinguished for his hospitaUty and feats of arms, died. Mac Rannall, i. e. Geoffrey, an accomphshed man, and the chief of his own tribe, died. John, son of Cuchonacht, the son of Philip Mac Guire, was slain by the people of Tullaghaw (in Cavan), after having gone on a visit to their coun- try at their own invitation, and Bryan Caoch, the son of Mac Gauran, was the person who acted treacherously towards him, which was an unpro- fitable act for him, for he himself, and a number of his people, were slain ; John had only seven per- sons on his side, while those opposed to him were forty, by whom he was overwhelmed, and thus slain. Mac Guire, i.e. Thomas, marched with a great force into Tullaghaw, to be avenged for his kins- man's death; he preyed, plundered, and spoiled the country, and slew many of its chiefs, and also 2 H 2 236 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A. D. 1432. burned the town of Mac Gauran (Ballymac Gau- ran), and victoriously returned home. Manus Mac Mahon committed great depreda- tions on, and slew many of, the English. Owen O'Neill, Mac Guire, and O'Reilly, marched with a great force to attack Mac Quillan, (in Antrim), and jihindered and spoiled his country, and Owen, with his forces and Caoraighacht (the cattle-driving, or preying troops), remained half-a- quarter of a year in the country, destroying the corn, and burning the dwellings, and then returned to Tyrone. Henry, son of Owen, the son of Niall Oge O'Neill, was taken prisoner by Naghtan O'Don- nell ; Owen O'Neill and Naghtan having held a conference with each other, made peace, and set- tled their disputes, and Henry was set at liberty. Naghtan O'Donnell went to attack the castle of Lough Laoghaire (on the borders of Ty- rone and Donegal, at the lower end of Lough Erne), took it from Torlogh O'Donnell, and carried away all the property he found in it. The English, with a great force of cavalry, marched to plunder the territory of Clan Caoch O'Reillys' ; on the same day Manus, the son of Ardgal Mac IMahon, went to plunder the English settlements, and having received intelligence of the proceedings of the English, he quickly went in pursuit of them, and found them watching their plunder ; he vigorously attacked them, took their prey from them, made their chiefs prisoners, and slew others of them, and returned home victo- riously, Donal Mac Gillpatrick, the son of the lord of Ossory, died. Barduv (the Dark-haired), daughter of O'Rourke, a pious and hospitable woman, died. Aine, daughter of O'Rourke, the wife of O'Fer- rall, died. Mac Cormick of Fermanagh, i.e. Gillpatrick, and Murtogh, the son of Philip, were slain by Donogh Mac Cormick and his people. Maein, son of Henry O'Gormley, was slain by A.D. 1431. 1. The Clan Criovli O'Reilly were a powerful tribe of tlie O'Reillvs, so called from one of their ancient chiefs named the Caoch O'Reilly, which signified the one-eyed O'Reilly : this clan possessed an extensive district, wliich p;ot its name from them, and now forms the barony of Clankee, in the county of Cavan, towards Donal, son of Teige, the son of Cathal Oge, and by O'Duirnin. Gilbert O'Duigenan, Owen O'Felan, a learned poet, and Donal, the son of David O'Toole, died. Conal, son of Naghtan O'Donnell, entered Tir Hugh to plunder Mac Nulty ; the O'Gallaghers, and the son of Mac Nulty overtook and slew Co- nal, with the cast of a javelin. Mac Murrogh, lord of Leinster, that is, Donogh, the son of Art Cavenagh, made a hostile incursion into the county of the town of Dublin ; the Eng- lish marched out to oppose him, but were defeated in the early part of the day by Mac Murrogh, who killed many, and took much booty from them ; the English having re-assembled on the same day, overtook Mac Murrogh's people, who had much booty, attacked them in the evening, defeated them, and slew some of their party, together with Mac Maidh Mac Teige O'Byrne; and two sonsof O'Co- nor Kerry and O'Toole were taken prisoners. A.D. 1432. Art Mac Caghwell, bishop of Clogher, a man of piety, who kept a house of general hospitality for the poor, and the pilgrims of God, died after re- pentance. O'Neill, that is Donal Bocc, the son of Henry Aimreidh, was slain in O'Kane's country by the two sons of Dermod O'Kane, namely, Donal and Aibhne, aided by the rest of the 0'Kanes,after they had taken by assault the house in which he had been ; they also slew Donal, the son of Niall, Pa- trick O'Mulcallan, and the son of O'Mellan ; Owen, the son of Niall Oge O'Neill, was inaugurated his successor, on Leac-na-riogh (theStone of the kings), at TuUaghoge (in Tyrone). A conference was held between O'Neill (Owen), and the sons of Donal (O'Conor Sligo), the son of Murtogh, namely, Owen and Torlogh Carrach, at Caoluisge (near Ballyshannon, on the river Erne), for the purpose of combining against O'Donnell ; four score horsemen was the number that attended the borders of Monaghan, the term Clan Caoch being anglicised Clankee; and it may be here mentioned that Clanmahon, another barony in the county of Cavan, derived its name from being pos- sessed by the clan or descendants of Mahon O'Reilly, who was lord of Claninahon, and prince of East Brefncy, in the fourteenth century. REIGN OF HENRY VI. 237 there, and the MacDonoghs (ofSHgo), also repaired thither. O'Donnell, namely Niall, sent his party to guard the pass, in order to prevent the con- ference ; O'Neill and Mac Guire having come to the narrow pass, were met by O'Donnell's people, and as soon as Mac Guire's party landed on the o])posite side, they were put to flight through Miodhbolg, and a great number of persons were killed and wounded by the Tirconnellians on that occasion, but the sons of Donal, the son of Mur- togh (O'Conor), arrived at the place whei'e O'Neill was ; they shook hands, in confirmation of their alliance and friendship to each other. A great contest arose between O'Neill and O'Donnell, and Henry, the son of O'Neill, having gone to Sligo for the sons of Donal, the clan of Murtogh (O'Conors), O'Donnell and O'Rourke, namely Teige, and the sons of Hugh Mac (luire, were watching them while Henry remained in the west ; Henry, accompanied by the Carbreans (of SUgo), entered Moyene (a plain in Fei'managh, on the borders of Donegal, near Ballyshannon) ; and Mac Guire, that is Thomas Oge, sailed with a fleet to Caoluisge, (on the river Erne), to meet Henry and the Carbreans, whom he conveyed to his house ; O'Neill, Mac Guire, and the son of Mac- I-Neill Claneboy, marched with a great force into Kinel Moain, (in Donegal), in the neighbourhood of O'Donnell, where both parties remained en- camped opjjosite each other from the festival of the cross until Lammas, and during that period many persons were killed and wounded on both sides ; the town of O'Donnell and the town of Naghtan (O'Donnell) were burned on that expedition ; and both parties retui-ned to their homes without mak- ing peace or ceasing hostilities. Great and frequent depredations were committed on the English, and numbers of them slain, by ManusMacMahon(of Monaghan),who raised their heads on the spear-poles of the guards of the town of Lurgan (Lurgan-Green, in the county of Louth), Manus's own fortified residence, a disgusting and hateful sight to those who beheld their putre- faction. Owen, the son of Mac Carthy Riavach, having A.D. 1432. 1. Dnrfry of Co'mivsi. The term Coininsi sijrnifies the district of tlie islands wliioli appears by tlie Annals to have comprised tlie present barony of Dartry, in the county of Mojiaghan, in Mac Jla- gone on a predatory excursion to Kinsale, was killed by the cast of a dart. Mac Mahon, namely, Bryan, the son of Ardgal, having risen in opposition to O'Neill, and his own kinsmen Roderick and Manus, went with his Cao- raighacht (predatoiy band), to the English ; and the English having mustered their forces, marched with Mac Mahon into Orgiall, burned Dartry of Coininsi', and proceeded from thence to the plain of Armagh, and having taken out of the churches ail the provision stores, and burned them on the plain of the town, they took large sums from the professors and clergy of the town, for abstaining from burning their churches, after which the English and Mac Mahon returned to their homes. Malachy Maineach Mac Namara, chief of Clan Cuilein (in Clare), died. Teige O'Mahon (or Mac Mahon), heir to the lordship of Corca Baiscin (in Clare) ; Maolmora O'Reilly, and Torlogh, son of John O'ReiUy (in Cavan); and Cathal, son of Thomas O'Ferrall, died. O'Duigenan, that is, Matthew Glas of Kih-onan, a learned professor of history, died. Gregory, son of John O'Maolconiy, the intended chief historian (of Connaught), died. Teige, son of Donal, the son of Bryan O'Dowd, lord of Hy Fiachra (in Shgo), a man who secured his hereditary property to every person in his country, both lay and ecclesiastical, a man who pa- tronized poets and learned men, died on the 16th of January. Niall Roe, the son of Henry O'Neill, died. Walter Burke, the grandson of the earl of Ulster, a charitable, humane man, died. O'Donnell committed great depredations on O'Neill ; Bryan Oge O'Neill also committed plun- ders on O'Neill the same day. A great contest arose between O'Carroll, lord of Ely (in Tipperary and King's county), and the earl of Ormond ; and the earl, having marched with a great force into Ely, spoiled the country, and de- mohsbed O'Carroirs two castles. j\Iac Murrogh, lord of Leinster, greatly spoiled the English settlements, but the Enghsh having hon's country, and also some adjoininjr parts ahout the islands and rivers, on the borders of Cavan and i'ermanagh, as mentioned in these Annals at the year 1520. 238 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A. D. 1433. made an attack on him, he put them to flight, took Waher Tobin and others prisoners, and slew and wounded many more. A.D. 1433. A great contest arose between the Tirconnellians and the Tyronians ; and O'Donnell, namely, Niall Garv, the son of Torlogh oi'the Wine, marched his forces into Duv Thrian (the Black District), to aid Mac Quillan' ; and O'Neill, that is, Owen, led a great force in pin'suit of O'Donnell and INIac Quil- lan ; at this time Mac Donnell of Scotland came with a large fleet to aid O'Neill, and the Scots proceeded to attack the preying parties of Mac Quillan, and of Robert Savadge, whom they over- came, and committed great slaughter and destruc- tion on Robert's and Mac Quillan's people ; and such of their party as escaped from the Duv Thrian were mostly slain at the shallow pass at Newcastle (in the parish of Kilcoo, county of Down) ; after that O'Neill, Henry his son, and Mac Donnell, marched with their forces to Ardglass, which they burned ; and Mac Donnell afterwards, with his Scots, proceeded from Ardglass in their ships to Inisowen (inDonegal), whileO'Neill with his party proceeded by land to co-operate with them in plun- dering Tirconnell ; at this time Naghtan O'Don- nell, and the daughter of O'Conor Failey, the wife of O'Donnell, with the sons of the Tirconnellian chiefs, met them in Inisowen, and made peace with O'Neill, without O'Donnell's permission ; and O'Donnell, with Mac Quillan, went to the English of Meath, and entered into terms of alliance and friendship with them, and also with the king's viceroy ; and they marched a great force to the plain of Armagh, and the English ravaged the mo- nastery, but returned home without gaining a con- quest on that expedition. O'Donnell went west- ward through Meath to Athlone, from thence to Hy Maine and through the plain of Connaught in- A.D. 1433. 1. The Mnc Quillans, of vihom an account has been given in the note on Dalriada, were powerful chiefs, and possessed a large territory in the northern part of the county of Antrim ; they are said to have come originally from Wales in the twelfth century, and the name is stated to have been Mac Lewillyn, in Irish Mac Uidhilin. After long and fierce contests they were finally con- quered, and dispossessed of their territory, by the .Mac Donnellsof the Hebrides, or Lords of the Isles, several chiefs of whom, with powerful forces, came from Scotland, and settled in Antrim, as to Moylurg (in Roscommon) to Mac Dermott and to O'Rourke, thatisTeige, the sonofTiarnan, and O'Rourke accompanied him across the river Erne ; O'Neill and Mao Guire came to Caoluisge to hold a conference with O'Donnell, where they concluded amicable terms with each other; Mac Quillan was protected by the English of the plain of Oriel, after he had been expelled by O'Neill. Eignachan O'DonneU, the son of Torlogh, went to plunder his brother, Donogh O'Donnell of the Wood, who pursued and slew him at Belathcaolain. A contest took place between Mac Rannall of the plain and the sons of Malachy Mac Rannall ; the sons of Malachy, having engaged for payment the services of the Clan Mahon Mac Cabe, made an incm-sion into the plain, and burned the town of Cathal Mac Rannall; the other party, having mustered a large body, pursued them when leaving the town, and having perceived the sons of Mahon (Mac Cabe), in the rear of the plundering party, they slew three of Mahon's sons, Ross, Do- nogh, and Bryan, with many others, and Roderick, their eldest brother, was taken prisoner, being half dead at the time, but the fifth son, Torlogh Bal- lach, made his escape ; Una, the daughter of John O'Reilly, was their mother. Cathal, son of Manus Mac Guire, a man who kept a house of general hospitality, died, and his son Cathal was appointed his successor by O'Neill and Mac Guire. Cathal Duv, the son of O'Conor Roe, died. Margaret, the daughter of O'Carroll, the wife of Calvach O'Conor Faily, gave two general enter- taiiunents to the learned men and clergy. A famine occurred in the summer of this year, which was designatedfor alongtimeafterwards "the summer of slight acquaintance," for no one would recognize friend or relative on account of the great- ness of the famine. O'Kane, i. e. Geoffrey, the son of Conmuidh O'Kane, died. mentioned in these Annals, in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, and from them are descended the noble family of the Mac Don- nells, earls of Antrim ; and it may be here observed, that the Mac Donnells of the Hebrides, styled Lords of the Isles in Scotland, were originally descended from the Irish chiefs who settled in Al- bany, and were of the race of Clan Colla, of whom an account lias been given in the note on Orgiall. The family of the Savadges, so frequently mentioned at this period, were of English descent, and had large possessions in the county of Down. REIGN OF HENRY VI. 239 Mac Namara, the son of Conceand More, chief of Clan Cuileln, died. Mac Quillan, having been expelled from his own country by the Mac-I-Neills of Claneboy, was forced to take refuge in the Ardes of Ulidia (in county of Down), with Savadge. A. D. 1434. Felim, son of Mahon O'Loughlin, bishop of Kilfinabra (Kilfenora), died. A contest arose between O'Donnell, i. e. Niall, and his brother Naghtan, on account of the death of Eignaghan O'Donnell, and many depredations and slaughters were committed on both sides ; Naghtan havino; allied himself to the sons of Do- nal, the son of Murtogh (O'Conor), O'Donnell plundered the plain, and also Carbury (in Sligo), on the sons of Donal, the son of Murtogh, and Naghtan. Naghtan, Bryan, the son of Donal, and all the sons of Donal, having entered the plain in Tir Hugh, to retaliate for those depredations, they burned the dwellings, slew some, and took much booty ; Naghtan again entered Tir Connell, and plundered Conor, the son of O'Donnell, and Conor entered the territory of Carbury, and plun- dered the whole district ; the same contest having continued between O'Donnell and Naghtan, the latter joined Mac Quillan, and Bryan Oge O'Neill, to carry on the contest against O'Donnell ; O'Don- nell and O'Neill besieged Naghtan's castle, namely, Castlefin (in county of Donegal), and having re- mained there for a considerable time carrying on the siege, they found it impossible to take the for- tress. Luke O'Lennon, prior of Lisgoole ; and Mat- thew O'Congaile (or O'Connelly), erenach of Ros- soi-y (both in Fermanagh), died. O'Neill, i. e. Owen, and O'Donnell, that is Niall, marched with the whole forces of the province (of Ulster), to spoil and plunder the English of Meath ; the English of Dundalk came to O'Neill, and paid him his tribute, and gave him much valuable arti- cles besides; they (O'Neill and O'Donnell), after- wards proceeded and burned the j)lain of Oriel ; and the sons of O'Neill went to burn some of the fortresses belonging to some of the English, and while engaged in the burning they did not perceive themuntil the king's viceroy, with his forces, came up to them ; Henry and Hugh, the sons of O'Neill, sent their party before them, while they themselves covered the retreat, and made their escape without losing a man. O'Donnell and his sonTorlogh, heir to the lord- ship of Tirconnell, and Mac Caghwell, passed in another direction the same day to plunder pro- perty, but unfortunately for them they were met by an immense body of English cavalry, who sur- rounded them on every side ; they defended them- selves for a long time, until at length Torlogh O'Donnell, Mac Caghwell, and Hugh Macanaspy Mac Caghwell, with many others, were slain ; O'Donnell, after the loss of his people, was taken prisoner, and was delivered bound to the son of John Stanley (Sir Thomas Stanley), the king's viceroy, who had come to Ireland, and he was sent to Dublin to be imprisoned ; and the son of Manus Caoch O'Donnell was also taken pi-isoner along with O'Donnell on that occasion. O'Rourke, i. e. Teige, the son of Tiarnan ; Donn Cathach Mac Guire ; and O'Byrne, i.e. Donogh, died. Maolisa ]Mac Conway, chief poet of O'Neill (in Tyrone), and Sencha Mac Curtin, chief historian of Thomond, a man versed in various arts, died. Dermod, son of Murtogh Garv O'Shaughnessy, was killed by his own horse, while it was in the act of being shod. O'Kelly, Mac Dermott, and Teige, the son of O'Conor Roe, went to attack Ballintobber ; they and the people of the town having fought, many persons were killed and wounded, both inside and outside of the town ; and one of the party outside having chipjjed the end of a wattle which he held in his hand, he lighted and cast it into the town, which having fallen on the side of a house, set it on tire, which communicated to the next house, until the greater portion of the town and wall were bm'ned, with an immense deal of valuable property. A. D. 1435. The Red bishop, O' Hara, bishop of Achonrj', died. O'Donnell, i. e. Nial Garv, was conveyed to England. An extraordinary frost and ice occurred this year, which was so intense that the people were enabled to travel over all the lakes and rivers of Ireland on the ice. O'Ferrall, i. e. Donal, the son of John, chief of Annaly, died. 240 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A.D. 1435. Bran O'Byrne, heir to the lordship of Crioch Branach (O'Byrne's country, in Wicklow), died. O'Neill having mai-ched with his forces into Fermanagh, pitched his camp at Creev O'Fuad- dachain (Pettigo), where he remained three days and three nights ; the people of Fermanagh sent their cattle and other properties over Lough Erne westward, not in boats, but on the ice of the lake, over which horses and beasts of burden passed from the greatness of the frost. Mac Guire, hav- ing collected his forces to oppose O'Neill, made peace with him, and afterwards joined him, upon which O'Neill marched with his troops into Tir- connell, and burned and ])lundered a great portion of it, on which occasion he slew John, the son of Donal O'Donnell, with the cast of a javelin, and returned home victoriously. Donal, son of Owen Mac Carthy, a general be- nefactor to the jioor and indigent, was killed by Teige, son of Cormac, the son of Dermod Mac Carthy. Don Mac Conchonacht Mac Guire died in ca- nonical orders at Cluain Eois (Clones), after having gained the victory of repentance, having previous- ly resigned the cares of this world for the love of God. Bryan Oge O'Neill and Naghtan O'Donnell combined in a contest against O'Neill and his sons Henry and Owen ; O'Neill and his sons marched with their preying parties into Kinel Moain, to meet Naghtan and Bryan, and did not halt until he encamped in the Rosses (in Donegal) ; when Naghtan and Bryan Oge received intelligence of this, they hastily collected their forces together to attack O'Neill's camp, and having marched di- rectly, they attacked O'Neill and beat him out of his camp, and took possession of it ; O'Neill, his sons, and Mac Donnell of the galloglasses, felt ashamed and dissatisfied at being dislodged after that man- ner, and, by the advice and entreaty of Henry, they came to the resolution of retaking the camp by surprise ; but the young soldiers became over excited, suddenly and rashly rushed forward in a confused and disorderly manner to attack the camp, led on by Henry, and never halted until tliey got among the thick of the enemy ; Mac Donnell of the galloglasses and Mac Sweeny of Fanad, having encountered each other, heroes were hacked and harassed on either side in every direction ; friends or foes could not distinguish each other from the darkness of the night, and the close contact of those engaged ; sparks of fire flashed from the helmets of warriors, and from the swords of champions ; Hugh O'Neill and Brj'an O'Neill having met in a personal encounter, Hugh made a thrust of his spear at Bryan, and wounded him severely, after which, Bryan and Naghtan withdrew from the fight, leaving the galloglasses after them ; Mac Sweeney having perceived Naghtan and Bryan Oge retiring from him, he commanded a retreat, which he himself covered, and thus left the field without dispute to O'Neill ; Heniy and his kinsmen having noticed this, they jHirsued Mac Sweeney to SUeve Truim, where they defeated him, and took himself and many others of his people prisoners, and O'Neill vias thus victorious on that expedition. Naghtan O'Donnell gave the castle of Ballyshannon to Biyan Oge O'Neill, on condition that he should join him in the contest against O'Neill; but Bryan afterwards deceived him, and, after having left his guards in the castle of Ballyshannon, he proceeded to O'Neill's place, without the knowledge of Naghtan ; but as soon as Bryan appeared before O'Neill, he was made prisoner by him, and he cut off one of his hands and one of his feet, and he also treated his two sons in the same manner, of which one of them instantly died. O'Gara was killed by his own kinsmen, on Inis- bolg at Lough Teched (Lough Gara in Sligo). Donal, son of Fergal Caoch O'Hara, was slain by the son of Manus, the son of Dermod Mac Donogh. The castle of O'Rourke was taken by Donogh BacachO'Rourke from the sons of Teige O'Rourke, after which the sous of Tiarnan O'Rourke commit- ted depredations on Donogh Bacach at Coillanan- ma (in Leitrim). Loghlin O'Rourke, the son of Teige O'Rourke, was nominated the O'Rourke. Naghtan O'Donnell committed great depreda- tions on O'Neill. Bryan Oge, the son of Henry O'Neill, having gone on a predatory incursion into Tirhugh, a party from the house of O'Donnell, i. e. Niall, overtook him, and recovered the prey, took himself prisoner, and slew a great number of his people. Cormac O'Donnallan, the son of Malachy ; REIGN OF HENRY VI. 241 Donal Bacach O'Higgin ; and Carbry O'Cuirniii, died. Mac Watten, i. e. Roljert Barrett, lord of Ty- rawley, a charitable, humane, and hospitable man, and one who defended his territorial estates in despite of the English of Connaught, died. A. D. 1436. O'Conor Faily carried on a great war against the English, by burning, plundering, and slaying, in revenge of O'Donnell, his relative by marriage, whom they had in conlinement. Niall, son of Owen O'Neill, with many of his people, were slain in an attack made on him in his own house by the clan Mac Kenna of Truagh (in Monaghan), aided by the sons of Henry O'NeiU, and by the Orgiallians. Conor, son of John O'Reilly, the son of the lord of Brefney, a man distinguished for his hos- pitality, died. The Cranoge of Lough Leaiy (a fortress on the lake in lower Lough Erne), was taken possession of by the sons of Bryan O'Neill ; O'Neill and Henry (O'Neill), having come to the lake, they sum- moned thither Thomas Oge Mac Guire, and he having arrived, they commenced constructing boats to go to the Cranoge, but the sons of Bryan, who were then in the Cranoge, came to the resolu- tion of delivering it up to O'Neill, and of making peace with him ; O'Neill and Mac Guire after that went on a hostile incursion into Tirhugh, where they committed great depredations and damages, and afterwards returned to their homes. Morogh, son of Cormac Mac Donogh, heir to the lordship ofTlrerrill, died. The sons of Tomaltagh Oge Mac Donogh went on a hostile incursion into Coolavin (in Sligo), to attack O'Gara and Teige Mac Donogh, but were put to flight, and seven of them slain, along with Conor Cam O'Gara, who had treacherously slain O'Gara, his own brother, on a previous occasion. Manus Roe, son of Malachy, the son of Flaherty O'Rourke, died. Gillaisa Mac Egan, chief Brehon to Mac Wat- ten (Barrett of Mayo), a pious, charitable, and humane man, and professor of a school of laws and poetrj', died. Geanan Mac Curtin, the intended chief histo- rian of Thomond, was drowned ; and there was not in the south of Ireland a better historian in his time. A.D. 1437. The archbishop of Connaught (Tuam) of the Bermingham family, died. A peace was concluded between O'NeiU and Naghtan O'Donnell. Conor O'Donnell made a hostile attack on the son of Naghtan O'Donnell, on which occasion the two sons of Owen Roe Mac Sweeny, with many others, were slain. A contest arose between O'Conor Faily and his brother Cahir O'Conor, who, having joined the English, led them into Otfaley, and burned the town of Dermod O'Conor, with several other cas- tles, and slew and wounded many people. O'Conor Faily also earned on a great contest against the English of Meath, during which he plundered and slew many of them. Henry O'Ryan, lord of Hy Drona (Idrone, in the county of Carlow), died. Mac Costello, i. e. Edmond of the Plain (in Mayo), died. A great contention arose between Mac Mahon and Manus Mac Mahon, on which occasion Manus joined O'Neill and his sons, and Mac Mahon join- ed the English. A ereat contest broke out between O'Neill o and young Bryan O'Neill. Malachy O'Maolconry, and Gillpatrick, the son of Conor O'Cormick, died. A. D. 1438. LoghHn O'Gallagher, Bishop of Raphoe, died. The prior of Kill Maighneann (Kilmainham, at Dublin), grandson of the earl of Kildare, died. The abbot of Kilnamanagh, and Nicholas O'Mee- ny, vicar of Castleconnor (both in Shgo), died of the plague. Donogh O'Donnell of the Wood was slain by Conor Don O'Donnell, in Tirenda (in Donegal), who plundered him on the same occasion. Cahir O'Dogherty died ; Philip Mac Guire was taken prisoner by Mac Guire. Conor, the son of ]\Iurtogh O'Dowd, lord of Clan Donogh O'Dowd, and his three sons, were 2 I 242 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A.D. 1439. treacherously killed at night by his own kinsmen, namely, Taichleach, son of Coi'mac, the son of Donogh O'Dovvd, Roderick, the son of Taichleach, Loghlin, the grandson of Loghlin O'Dowd, and Henrj' Barrett. William, the son of Roderick O'Dowd, died. O'Conor Faily still carried on the war against the English of Meath, in revenge for O'Donnell. The son of Mac Clancy, that is, Henry Ballach, was slain by a party of the people of Fermanagh, at the town of Bryan O'Higgin, in Moyene (near Lough Erne). John, the son of Edmond Burke, died of the small-pox ; and WiUiam Barrett, the son of Mac Watten, died. WiUiam, the son of John Burke, died at his own house. A peace was concluded between O'Conor Faily and his brother, Cahir O'Conor. O'Brien, i. e. Teige, the son of Bryan O'Brien, was deposed by his brother Mahon, who had him- self nominated the O'Brien. Richard, the son of Bermingham, died. Jordan, the son of John Mac Costello, died. O'Clumhain (O'Coleman), chief poet to O'Hara, died. Donogh, son of Siodraidh O'Cumeen, a learned historian (in Leitrim) ; O'Daly of Brefney, that is Hugh, chief poet to O'Reilly ; and Conor Mac Egan, chief Brehon of Clanrickard, died. A.D. 1439. A lord justice', the king of England's viceroy, an'ived in Ireland, and was taken prisoner by Ca- hir, the son of O'Conor Faily ; after he had re- mained some time in confinement he was ransomed by the English of Dublin, who deUvered the son of Plunket in his stead to Cahir. O'Donnell, namely Niall, was conveyed to the Isle of Man, in order that he might be redeemed from the English, and a hundred marks were given to ascertain his ransom ; but O'Donnell, that is Niall Garv, died while in captivity in the Isle of Man ; he was the most prized hostage in Tircon- A.D. 1439. 1. The Lord Justice. In 1438, Lionel, lord Wells, was ap- pointed lord lieutenant of Ireland ; and in 1439 Richard Talbot, archbishop of Dublin, was lordjnstice ; in 1440 James Butler, earl of Orniond, was appointed lord lieutenant, hut it is difficult to say nell and Tyrone, and of the north in general ; the chief subject of conversation of the north of Ire- land, in his time ; the spoiler and subduer of the English, imtil at length they were revenged of him for all he had committed against them ; a defender and protector of his tribe against the English and Irish who opposed him before and subsequent to his appointment to the lordship ; Naghtan O'Don- nell, liis brother, was appointed his successor. Mac Guire was taken prisoner by Donal Ballach Mac Guire, in Mac Guire's own town, and Donal also liberated Philip Mac Guire, on the same day ; and the chains by which Philip was bound were then put upon Mac Guire, in his own house, by Donal ; when Henry O'Neill received intelligence of Mac Guire's imprisonment, he collected his forces, and marched to Port-Abla-Faolain to meet Donal and Philip, who had Mac Guire in confine- ment; Mac Guire was liberated, and other hostages were received in his stead, namely, Edmond Mac Guire, his son, Mac Guire's wife, the daughter of Mac Geoghegan, and others besides; and the castle of Inis Ceathleann(Enniskillen),was then dehvered up to Donal Ballach Mac Guire. Teige Caoch, son of Hugh, the son of Philip of the Battle-Axe Mac Guire, died. Feredach, the son of Dun, the son of Cucho- nacht Mac Guire, was slain by the people of Oriel. Henry Roe, the son of Bryan Mac Gilfinnen, chief of Muintir Peodachain (in Fermanagh), died. More, the daughter of Hugh Mac Gauran, the wife of the son of Bryan Mac Manns, died. O'Conor of Connaught, namely, Cathal, the king of Connaught, son of Roderick, died on the 19th of March, in consequence of which a war arose through the plain of Connaught (Roscommon), between the Clan Mac Fehm (O'Conors Roe), and the clan of Toi-logh (O'Conors Don), for Teige, the son of O'Conor Roe, was nominated the O'Conor by the Clan jNIac Felim, and Hugh, the son of O'Conor Don, was nominated the O'Conor also by Bryan, son of Donal, the sonof Murtogh (O'Conor Sligo), and his kinsmen, and by the Mac Donoghs (of Sligo). which of these was taken prisoner by O'Conor. The son of Plun- ket here mentioned was probably the son of sir Christopher Plun- ket, who had been lord deputy in 1432, under the lord lieutenant, sir Thomas Stanley. REIGN OF HENRY VI. 243 0'Dogherty,that is, John Balb,the son of Conor, chief of Ard Miodhair (in Donegal), died, and his brother Donal succeeded him. Dermod O'Dowd, the son of the O'Dowd, namely Donal, heir to the lordship of Tireragh, died. O'Hara Duv, Donogh, the son of John O'Hara, having entered amongst the friars in the monastery of Beann Fhooda (Banada, in Sligo), resigned his lordship in favour of his brother Cormac, the son of John, who was nominated the O'Hara ; and Cormac's place was conferred on John Mac- an-Easpuic O'Hara. The son of O'Hara of the Plain, namely, Cor- mac, the son of Teige, and Hugh, the son of Der- mod Mac Donogh, died. The son of Niall Riavach O'Conor was killed b}' Donal, the son of Murtogh Mac Donnell. The plague raged most violently in Dublin, of which three thousand of the inhabitants, men, wo- men, and children, died, from the beginning of Spring to the end of May ; Donogh, the son of O'Dowd, i. e. Teige ; Conor, son of Donal, the son of Cormac Mac Donogh, and his wife, the daugh- ter of Teige Mac Donogh; the vicar of Imleach Iseal (in the parish of Easkey, county of Sligo) ; Donogh, the son of Tomaltach O'Bolan ; and Ed- mond Burke, the son of Mac William of Clanri- card, heir to the lordship of Clanricard, all died of the plague. Owen O'Flaherty was treacherously killed in his bed by night, bj' a farmer of his own tenantry. Donal, son of Roderick, the son of Taichleach O'Dowd, had his eyes put out, and was hanged by Donogh, the son of Murtogh O'Dowd ; Catlial, the son of Cormac O'Dowd, and his son, were killed by Teige Roe, the son of Murtogh O'Dowd, on the same day, at the mstigation of the foremen- tioned Donogh. Depredations were committed by O'Conor, i. e. Hugh, the son of O'Conor Don, on Mac Costello Roe. O'Mithidhein, or O'Meehan, of Bealach-, the coarb of St. Molaise, died. 2. Beallnch, now Ballaghameehan, a parish in tlie county of Leitrim, and diocese of Kilmore, part of tlie ancient Rossinver, wliere tlie O'Meebans were tlie cliief clan : hence it got its name from them, and their patron saint was Molaise of Devenish, a ce- lebrated saint in the sixth century ; and a curious relic, consisting A. D. 1440. Mac William Burke, namely, Walter, the son of Thomas, the son of sir Edmond Albanach, lord of the English of Connaught, and of many of the Irish, died of the plague a week before the festival of the Cross in Harvest ; and Edmond Burke, his brother, was nominated the INIac William in suc- cession. O'Donnell, i. e. Naghtan, and O'Neill, namely, Owen, made peace with each other. O'Dogherty, i. e. Donal, the son of Conor, chief of Ard Miodhair, died, and two O'Dogherties were nominated his successors, namely, Edmond, the son of Conor, and Hugh, the son of John. Magrath, namely, Matthew, the son of Marcus, the coarb of Termon Dabeog (abbot of Lough Dearg, in Donegal), died, and Shane Buidhe was appointed his successor. Bryan, son of Donal, the son of Murtogh O'Co- nor, lord of North Connaught (O'Conor Sligo), the star of valom" and bravery of the Irish in his time, died two days before the festival of St. John, having been thirty-seven years in the lordship. Manus Eoganach Mac Guire, the son of Philip, and Catherine, daughter of Don, the son of Cucho- nacht Mac Guire, the wife of Manus Mac Guire's sou, died. Ross, son of John Mac Guire, and Fehm Roe, son of Donogh Roe Mac Guire, were slain. Donal O'Breslen, a learned Brehon, and the in- tended chief professor of Fermanagh, died. Duibhgen Gruama O'Duigenan (of Roscommon), a learned historian, died. Manus O'Donal, the son of Donal, was killed at Bunleacaigh, by the Mac Sweenys of Connaught ; and Conor, the son of John Easboc, that is, Mac-an- Easpoic the ConalUan, and Dermod, the son of Do- nogh Mac Hugh, the historian of O'Donnell, were slain on the same day; another son of Donal O'Don- nell and a number of theConnallians,slew the son of Mac Sweeny, namely Conor Mac Sweeny, in re- venge for his kinsman. Graine, daughter of O'Kelly, the wife of Teige O'Brien, died. of a metal box, which contained the gospel of St. Molaise, and was brought by him from Rome, is still in the possession of the family of the O'Meebans, having been preserved among that tribe for a period of more than twelve hundred years. 2 I 2 244 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A.D. 1441-42. The castle of O'Boyle's Town (in Donegal) was taken by the son of Donal, the son of O'Donnell, he having obtained an advantageous opportunity, and in it he found much property, money, clothes, and armour ; but the castle was retaken by O'Donnell and given to O'Boyle, and the sous of Donal O'Donnell, who were in the castle, were taken by O'Donnell, and imprisoned for their misdeeds, O'Rourke, that is, Loghlin, the son ofTeige, was taken prisoner by the sons of Art O'Rourke, who delivered him to Donogh Ballach Mac Gauran, and his sons, and they handed him over to the sons of Tiarnan O'Rourke, after which a contest arose in Brefney between the sons of Tiar- nan O'Rourke and the sons of Teige O'Rourke, so that they disturbed the country between them. Fionguala, daughter of O'Dogherty and wife of O'Donnell, died. O'Conor Faily, with his sons and his brother Cahir, having gone into Leix O'Moore (in Queen's county), on a predatory incursion, the earl of Des- mond and Mac Gillpatrick overtook them, after they had sent the prey on before them ; O'Conor was defeated, and his son Con and sixty of his soldiers were slain. The castle of O'Dogherty, i.e. the castle of Cuil Macantrcoin (in Donegal), was taken by O'Donnell. Mac Watten, i. e. Thomas, the son of Ileniy Barrett, lord of Tyrawley, died on the fifteenth day of July ; and the grandson of Barrett was nominated the Mac Watten. The son of O'Rourke, namely, Hugh, the son of Hugh Buidhe O'Rourke, heir to the lordship of Brefney, was treacherously slain by the son of Dermod Nangamhnach O'Rourke, at Druim-da- ethiar (Dromahaire), together with the wife of Donogh Bacach O'Rourke. Donal, son of Cormac Mac Donagh, heir to the lordship of Tirerrill ; O'Dugan the historian, John, the son of Cormac ; and Duibhgen Gruama O'Duigenan, chief historian to Mac Donogh (of Shgo), died. A.D. 1441. Thomas O'Kelly, archbishop of Connaught (Tuam), died. Gillpatrick O'Maoluidhir, abbot of Clogher, died. Murtogh, son of Cathal More Mac Manus, archdeacon of Clogher, and parson of Aireach Maolain (Aughnamullen in Monaghan), died. Donal O'Moghan, abbot of the monastery of Boyle, the most distinguished man in the province of Connaught, for wisdom, knowledge, and preach- ing, died. Conor, son of Teige Mac Donogh, lord of Tirer- rill, the chief patron of the clergy of Ireland in his time, died after having gained the victory over the world and the devil. Mac Donnell, of Clan Kelly (in Fermanagh), was killed by the sons of Donal, the son of Cucho- nacht Mac Guire ; and great depredations were committed by Mac Guire, i. e. Thomas, on the sons of Annadh Mac Donnell ; and the grandson of Edmond Mac Donnell was slain by him on the same expedition. Conor Oge Mac Guire died, after having resigned the cares of this world. O'Maolconry, i. e. Maolin, the son of Tanaidhe, the son of Paidin, chief professor of Siol Murray (Roscommon), the most respected and honoured man in Ireland in his time, died on the thirteenth of February, and was honourably interred in the church of Cloonaffe ; and Dermod Roe, the son of Donogh Ban O'Maolconry, died in a month after. Pierce Cam O'Luinin, a learned historian and genuine poet, erenach of Ardes and of Trian Airigh Maolain (probably j^jdes in the county of Down, or Ardmagilligan in Derry), a man highly respected and venerated, died. O'Kennedy Roe, i.e. Roderick, the son of Philip Liath (the grey), lord of Ormond; and Thomas, the son of O'Kennedy Don, died. The castle of O'Madden, i.e. the castle of Port- an-Tulchain on the Shannon (in Galway), was taken by Mac William Oughter, and by the sons of Rickard O'Madden ; and O'Madden was taken prisoner in it, with fourteen prisoners, who were in the town ; they took besides much valuable pro- perty, including armour and arms. Cormac Mac Gauran committed great depreda- tions on the sons of Donach Ballach Mac Gauran. O'Higgin i. e. Maiion Roe, a genuine poet, died. A.D. 1442. Mac Carthy Riavach, lord of Hy Eachach (Ivaugh REIGN OF HENRY VI. 245 in the county of Cork), in Munster, and the abbot O'Carthy, died. Ossory, Offaley, and Leix. — In the present article will be given the history and tiipography of the territories comprised in Kil- kenny, King's and Queen's counties, with tlieir ciiiefs and clans, and the possessions of eacli in ancient and modem times. Ancient History. — An account of the ancient liistory and inha- bitants of Leinster has been already given in the note on Hy Kiii- sellagh and Cnalan. I. Ossory comprised almost the whole of the present county of Kilkenny, witii a small part of the south of Tipperary, and also that portion nf tlic Queen's county now called the barony of Upper Ossory ; and the name of this ancient principality, whicii was also called the kingdom of Ossory, is still retained in the diocese of Osssory. Ancient Ossory, according to some accounts, extended from the river Nore to the Suir, and was sometimes subject to the kings of Leinster, but mostly to the kings of Munster ; and it is stated by O'Halbiran, Mac Geoghegan, and others, tiiat Conaire Mor, or Conary tlie (ireat, who was monarch of Ireland at the commencement of the Christian era, having made war on the peo- ple of Leinster, to punish them for having killed his father, Eder- sceol, monarch of Ireland, imposed on them a tribute, of which an account has been given in the note on Hy Kinsellagh ; and he se- parated Ossory from Leinster, and having added it to Munster, gave it to a prince of his own race, named Aongus, and freed it from all dues to the kings of Munster, except the honour of com- posing their body-s:uards ; hence Aongus was surnained Amhas- Kigh, signifying the king's guard, and from this circumstance, according toO'IIalloran, the territory got the wameoi Amhns-H'iyhy changed afterwards to Osralyhey and anglicised Ossory. Tlie Mac Gillapadraics, or Fitzpatricks, of whom an account is here- after given, were in ancient times princes of Ossory. Offaley, or O/jIinlcy, in Irish Hy Failge, derived its name from Rossa Failge, or Uossa of the Rings, king of Leinster, son of Cahir More, monarch of Ireland tovvards the end of the second century, of whom an account has been given in the note on Hy Kinsellagh. The extensive territory of Hy Falgia, possessed by the posterity of Rossa Failge, comprised almost tlie whole of the present King's county, with some adjoining ])arts of Kiidare and Queen's county ; and afterwards under tile O'Conors, who were the head family of the descendants of Rossa Failge, and styled princes of Offaley, the territory of Ofl'aiey appears to have comprised the present tiaronies of Warrenstown and Coolestown, and the greater part of Philips- town, and part of Geashill, in the King's county, with the barony of Tinehinch, in Queen's coimty, and those of East and West Ot^- faley, in Kiidare, in which the ancient name of this principality is still retained. Zeix. — In the latter end of the first century, the people of Mun- ster made war on Cuchorb, king of Leinstei', and conquered that province as far as the hill of Maistean, now Mullaghiuast, in tiie county of Kiidare ; but Cuchorb having appointed, as commander- in-chief of his forces, Lughaidh Laighis, a famous n-arrior, who was grandson to the renowned hero, Conall Cearnach, or Conall the Victorious, chief of the Redbranch knights of Ulster, both ar- mies fought two terrific battles about A.D. 90, one at Afhtrodntij now Athy, in Kihiare, and tiie other at Cainthine, on Magh Itta- dn, now the plain or heatli of Maryboro, in the Queen's county, in which, after many thousands had been slain on each side, the men of Leinster were victorious, having routed the Munster troops from the hill of Maistean across the river Bearbha, now the Barrow, and pursued the remnant of their forces as far as Sliabh Dala mountain, or Beallach Mor, in Ossory, near Borris in Ossory, on the l)orders of Tipperary and Queen's county. Cuchorb being thus reinstated in his kingdom of Leinster, chiefly through the valour of his ge- neral, Lughaidh Laighis, in gratitude conferred on him an exten- sive territory, to which he gave the name o^ LaoighUe, or the seven districts of Laoighis, a name anglicised to Lcist or Leix, and still retained in the name of .'Vbbeylei.x. This territory was pos- sessed by Lughaidh Laoighis and his posterity, who were styled princes of Leix ; they were famous warriors, and held high honors and privileges inider the kings of Leinster, being hereditary mar- shals and treasurers of that province ; and it is stated that the The son of William Barrett, the dean of Killala, died. chief commander of the king of Leinster's galloglasses was always appointed to collect the tributes of the princes of Leix. The descendants of Lughaidh Laoighis, in after times, took the name O'JIordha, or O'Morra, anglicised O'Moore, held for many cen- turies their rank as princes of Leix, and furnished many of the most valiant chiefs of Leinster, of whom an account is given in the sub- sequent part of the present article. The territory of Leix, under the O'Moores, comprised the present baronies of Marylioro, Culli- nagh, Ballyadams, Stradbally, and partof Portnehinch, in Queen's county, together with Athy, and the adjoining country in Kiidare, now part of the baronies of Narragh ancl Rheban. The other j)arts of the Queen's county, as already shewn, formed parts of other principalities : the barony of Upper Ossory belonged to Ossory ; Tinehinch to Offaley ; part of Portnehinch to O'Dempsey of Clan Maliere, and the barony of Slievemargy was part of Hy Kinsellagh. The territories of Ossory, Offaley, and Leix are connected with many of the earliest events recorded in Irish history, and there are many memorials of distant ages still existing in Kilkenny, King's and Queen's counties, as extensive remains ofDruidieal temples, cromleacs, and earns, sepulchral mounds, numerous round towers, raths, ruins of castles, abbeys, and churches, of which accounts may be found in Tighe's Survey of Kilkenny, Sir Charles Coote's Surveys of King's and Queen's counties, Vallaneey's Collectanea, and various topographies, as those of Seward, Lewis, Sec. Alore than a thousand years before the Christian era, according to our ancient annalists, a great battle was fought between the Ne- medians and Fomorians, at Sliabh Bladhma, now the Slievebloora mountains, on the borders of King's and Queen's counties. An ac- count of the colonics of Nemedians and Fomorians will be found in the notes on Dalriada,TircoimelI, North Connaught, and Desmond. Heremon and Heber Fionn, sons of Milesius, having contended for the sovereignty of Ireland, fought a great battle at Gelsiol, now Geashill, in the King's county, in which the forces of lleber were defeated, and he himself slain, and Heremon became the first Mi- lesian monarch of Ireland ; he had his chief residence and fortress at Airgiodross, near the river Feoir, now the Nore, and this royal residence was also called Rath Beathach, and is now known as Rathbeagb, near Freshford, in the county of Kilkenny. Heremon died at Ratiibeagh, and was buried in a sepulchral mound, \\ liich still remains ; it appears that other kings of Ireland in early limes also resided there, for it is recorded that Ruraigbe More, who was monarch of Ireland about one hundred and fifty years before the Christian era, died at Airgiodross. Conmaol, son of Heber Fionn above-mentioned, was the first monarch of Ireland of the race of Heber, and fought many great battles for the crown with the race of Ilereuion, particularly a great battle at Geashill, where Palpa, the son of Heremon, was slain. The Battle of Moylei>u, celebrated by the Irish bards and his- torians under the name Cath Muighelena, and lonnsuighe Muighe- lena, was fought in the latter end of the second century, A.D. li)2, on the heath of Moylcna, a plain in the barony of Fearcale, or Eglish, in the King's coimty. Eogan More, called Mogha Nuadhat, king of Munster, a celebrated warrior, of whom an account has been given in the note on Thomond, having carried on long contests with Con of the Hundred Battles, for the sovereignty of Ireland, was at length overcome, and forced to fly to Spain, where he re- mained in exile for many years, and married Beara, a Spanish princess, daughter of Heber, king of Castile, and being assisted by his brother-in-law Fraoch, son of the king of Castile, he invaded Ireland, with a force of SOOO Spaniards as auxiliaries, for the re- covery of the kingdom, and, joined by his Irish allies in Munster and Leinster, his army amounted to nine Catha, or battalions, of three thousand men each, making in all about *27,OUO men. The monarch Con having collected the forces of Meath, Ulster, and Connauglit, both armies marched to Moylena, and fought a furious battle, in which many thousands were slain on both sides, but the monarch Con proved victorious, chiefly through the valour of Goll, the sou of AJorna, a celebrated champion of the Damnouian or Fir- bolg race, who commanded the Connaught warriors, and slew the heroic Eogan More, in single combat. Tlie place where 246 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A.D. 1442. The son of Mulroona, the son of Gilcreest Mac Donogh, the dean (probably of Achoniy), died. this battle was fought, as stated in O'Flaherty's Ogygia (Vol. II. p. '212), is the ancient barony of Fearcall, nowEglish,in the King's county, and there are still to be seen two hillocks, or sepulchral mounds, in one of which was buried the body of Eogan More, and in tlie other that of Fraoch the Spaniard, who was also slain in that battle. Another great battle, fought at Moylena A.D. 907, in which the army of the monarch Flann Sionna was defeated with great slaughter by the Munster Forces, under Cormac Mae Culle- nan, archbishop of Cashel and king of Munster, has been described in the note on Ormond. Several of the ancient kings or princes of Ossory, who were of the Heremonians of Leinster, are mentioned by the annalists. In the sixth century, Aodh Ainmireach or Hugh, the son of Ain- mireach, monarch of Ireland, is stated to have imprisoned Sean- Ian More, king of Ossory, who refused to pay the usual tribute to the monarch ; but Scanlan was liberated thrimgh the influence of St. Columkille, who was at that time in Ireland, having come from lona, in Albany or Scotland, to attend the great national council held at Droniceat, in Kianachta of Glengiven in Derry, to adjust the contention between the monarch of Ireland and the bards. The Battle of Bealach Ele, in Ossory, was fought A. D. 730, between the people of Leinster and Munster, in wliich the Munster forces were commanded by C'athal, the son of Finguin, king of that province; and it is stated in the Four Masters, that a great number of the Lagenians fell, and that three thousand of the Munster men were slain, together with Ceallach, prince of Ossory, and the two sons of Cormac, son of Rossa, prince of the Desies. Bealach Ele, where this battle was fought, is considered to be Ballyhale, in the parish ofDerrynahinch, barony of Knocktopher, county of Kilkenny. The Battle of Athsenalth or Uchbadh, fought A.D. 738, between Aodh Ollan, monarch of Ireland, and the people of Leinster, in which the Lagenians were defeated, and nine thousand of them slain, has been described in the note on Hy Kinselagh. This battle was fought near Clonmacnois, in the King's county. The Battle of Bathheathachm Rathbeagh, near Freshford, in Kilkenny, was fought A. IJ. 740, in which the Picts of Ulster, who had invaded Leinster with a powerful force, were defeated with great slaughter liy the people of Ossory ; and Cathasach, king of the Picts, was slain, as mentioned in the note on Hy Kinsellagh. Irish Chiefs and Clans. The following accounts of the Irish chiefs and clans of Ossory, Offaley, and Leix, have been collected from the topograpies of O'Heerin, O'Dugan, O'Brien, O'Halloran, and the various other works so often enumerated in the course of these notes ; I. Mac Giolla Padruig or Mac Gillpatrick, anglicised to Fitzpat- rick, is thus designated in the topographies of O'Heerin and O'Du- gan, in which his territory of Osbory is thus mentioned by O'Heerin : "^ye journey across the Barrow of ancient streams, After treating of the heroes of Leinster, To the level plain of tlie land of my heart, To the noble hosts of Ossory. " To Mac Gillpatrick of the fine fortress, The land of Ossory is by law ordained. From Bladhma, southward to the sea, Brave are his battalions in the battles. " Chieftains who are mighty warriors. Let us treat of the heroes of Liathdroim, From the Barrow to the smooth plains of Munster, To the king of Tara its protection belongs." O'Dugan desoribes Ossory and the Mae Gillpatricks as follows : " A country not excelled in force of cavalry, Let us now proceed into Ossory, Which doubtless maintained in every degree The honour and nobleness of Erin. Bryan, son of Ardgal Mac Mahon, lord of Oriel (Monaghan), died after a well-spent life. " There are three tribes who possess it, Tlie Clan Carroll who are free from opposition. They are fierce as leopards under their leaders. Likewise the Clan Donnchadha of the brown shields." " The third tribe which is recorded. Are the Mac Gillpatricks of the fair fortress, Noble and of fine figure are the clan. Their habitation is the seat of great kings." It appears from the above passages in the poem, that Ossory ex- tended from Bladhma, or the Slieve Bloom mountains, on the bor- ders of King's and Queen's counties, as far southward as the sea; that is, to the confluence of the rivers Nore, Suir, and Barrow, near the bay of Waterford, to which place the southern extremity of Kilkenny nearly extends ; and it is also mentioned, that Ossory extended from the Barrow to the plains of Munster, which corresponds with the extent of Ossory, as explained in the preceding part of this article. Liathdrom, above mentioned, was an ancient name of Tara ; and it appears that it is here alluded to, to shew that the chiefs of Ossory, who were of the Heremonians of Leinster, were descended from the ancient kings of Tara. The Mac Gillpatricks took their name from Giolla Padruic, prince of Ossory in the tenth century, one of their celebrated chiefs ; and several of the Mac Gillpatricks, styled kings and princes of Ossory, are mentioned in the tenth and eleventh centuries in the Four Masters and Annals of Inisfallen. In the beginning of the eleventh century, Donogh Mac Gillpatrick, prince of Ossory, is mentioned as having opposed the progress of the Dalcussians on their return from the battle of Clontarf ; and Donal Mac Gillpa- trick, prince of Ossory in the twelfth century, carried on various contests with Dermod Mac Murrogh, king of Leinster, and his English allies under Strongbow and others, who had invaded and ravaged his territories ; and as stated in Maurice Regan's account of these aft'airs, given in Harris's Hibernica, the prince of Ossory had a force of five thousand men, and fought many fierce battles with the English and their Irish allies. Several valiant chiefs of the Mac Gillpatricks are mentioned in the course of these Annals, during their contests with the English. In early times, the Mac Gillpatricks, as prmces of Ossory, ruled over the entire of the county of Kilkenny, and part of Queen's county ; but in after times, were dispossessed of the greater part of their possessions by the Butlers and other English settlers in Kilkenny, and were con- fined to the barony of Upper Ossory, in the Queen's county. The Fitzpatricks, at different periods from the reign of Henry VIII. to that of George II., were created barons of Castletown, barons of Gowran, and earls of Upper Ossory, of whom accounts may be found in Lodge's Peerage. The Fitzpatricks are still found in the Queen's county, but are much more numerous in the counties of Cavan and Leitrim, to which they were expelled at an early period by the English. II. O'Cearbhaill or O'Carroll, and O'Donchadha or O'Donoghoe, are given by O'Dugan and O'Heerin as ancient chiefs or princes of Ossory, and thus designated ; " O'Carroll of the reddened spears, O'Donoghoe of the generous aspect, Sloigh Liag of the productive land, They are two princes in the same country. " Near to the Barrow of productive borders. Is the chief of the territory you have heard recorded, A man who is elected over Moy Mail, He is O'Donoghoe of the fair Gowran. " From Kilkenny of the marble (lime) stones, To Sliabh Gaithle of the smooth fertile hill, Is Cluann Carrol of the fair plain, The country on the borders of the blue mountains. The territory possessed by O'Carroll and O'Donoghoe appears to REIGN OF HENRY VI. 24: John and Donal, the sons of Phihp Mac Guii-e, died. have been the barony of Gowran and Slo^h Liag, which is probably the barony of Shillelo^her, both in Kilkenny. These O'CarroUs were probably a branch of the O'Carrolls, princes of Ely ; and the O'Donojhoes, perhaps a branch of the O'Donoghoes, princes of Cashel ; an account of both these families has been given in the note on Ormond. III. O'Conchobhuir or O'Conor, prince of Hy Failge or Offaley, and his territory, are thus designated by O'Dugan and O'Heerin: " Let us westward proceed to Offaley, To which brave heroes make submission, Of their laws I make mention, Of their convention I make remembrance." " The lord of Offaley, a land of mirth. Not unknown to the poets, Is O'Conor the mainstay of the fair plain, Who rules at the green mound of Crnachan." The extent of the principality of Offaley, which comprised a great part of King's county, with parts of Kildare and Queen's county, has been explained in the preceding part of this article. The green mound of Cruaglian, mentioned in the above passage of the poem, was Croghan, a beautiful hill situated in the parish of Croghan, within a few miles of Philipstown, on the borders of KiTig's county and Westmeath. TheO'Conors were the head chiefs of the Cahirian race, the descendants of Rossa Failge, eldest son of Cahir More, monarch of Ireland in the latter end of the second century, of whom an account has been given in the note on Hy Kinsellagh, and were consequently a branch of the Heremonians of Leinster, and of a different descent from the O'Conors, kings of Connaught. The O'Conors, princes of Offaley, usually denomi- nated O'Conors Failey, took their name from Concobhar or Conor, prince of Hy Failge, who is mentioned in the .\nnals at A. D. 1014, and were very powerful and warlike chiefs, of whom many are mentioned in the course of these Annals ; and they make a remarkable figure in Irish history during their contests with the English for more than three hundred years, whose forces they defeated in numerous battles recorded in the Annals ; and they generally fought in conjunction with the llac Geoghegans, power- ful and valiant chiefs in Westmeath, of whom an account has been given in the notes on Meath and Teffia. The O'Conors had their chief fortress at Dangan, now called Philipstown, in King's county, and several castles in other parts of that county and in Kildare, and maintained their independence and large possessions down to the reign of Elizabeth, after which their estateswere con- fiscated. O'Halloran states that one of these O'Conors, under the title of count Ofalia, was captain-general of the coast of Grenada, inSpain,aboutthe year 1770. IV. O'Mordha or 0'. Moore, prince of Laoighis or Leix, and his territory, are thus designated by O'Heerin : " After Offaley of the ancient lands We advance to Leix of Leinster ; The brown-haired heroes in wealth abound, On their history for some time we dwell. " The great district of Leix of the keen swords, It is of Leix of Iliada I now treat; O'Moore the fighter of battles, Of the one-coloured golden shield." The extent of the principality of Leix, which comprised the greater part of the Queen's county, and part of Kildare, has been already described in the present article. Laoighis or Leix of Riada, men- tioned in the above passage, ^^ as also called Magh Riada, and was the ancient name of the great plain or heath of Maryboro, in the Queen's county. The O'Moores, styled princes of Leix, as ex- plained in the preceding part of the present article, were of the Irian race, or Clanna Rory of Ulster, and descended from the re- nowned hero, Conall Cearnach, who was chief of the Red Branch Knights of Ulster about the commencement of the Christian era; O'Flaherty, i.e. the Giolla Duv, the son of Brj-an, lord of West Connaught (inGalway), died. and they held the high rank of marshals and treasurers of Lein- ster. They had thcirchief fortress at Dunamase, a few miles from Maryboro, erected on a rock situated on a hill ; it was a place of almost impregnable strength, of which some massive ruins still re- main. The O'Moores, like other independent princes, as the O'Reillys of Brefney, the O'Tooles of Wicklow, &c. coined their own money ; and it is stated in Sir Charles Coote's Survey of the Queen's County, that some of the silver coins of the O'Moores are still extant. Many chiefs of the O'Moores are mentioned in the course of these Annals, and they were highly distinguished for their valour during their contests with the Enclish forces for seve- ral centuries. Rory O'Moore, a celebrated chieftain in the reigns of Queen Mary and Elizabeth, defeated the English forces in many engagements, and recovered the territory of Leix, possessed by his ancestors, which he held 'till his death,in 1578,when he was killed in a conflict with Fitzpatrick, baron of Ossory, who had joined the English. Amongst the heroic actions of Rory O'Moore, it is men- tioned by Mac Geoghegan and others that on one occasion, having been betrayed and surprised at night at his residence in the woods, by Robert Hartpole, at the head of two hundred of the English, the valiant O'Moore alone performed the amazing exploit of cutting his way through their ranks with his sword, and escaped in safety. His son, Owen O'Moore, generally called Owney Mac Rory O'Moore, was a famous commander in the wars against Elizabetli, and defeated the English in many engagements, in one of which, in the year 1599, he cut off a great number of the troops under the Earl of Essex, in a defile on their progress through Leinster, at a place called from that circuinstance Bearna Cleitigh, signifying the Pass of Plumes, from the great quantity of plumes left there which were worn by the English knights who were slain. Another of Owen O'Moore's daring exploits is recorded, namely, that at a parley held with him in the year 1600, near Kilkenny, by Sir George Carew, president of Munster, the earl ofThoniond, and Thomas Butler, earl of Ormond, O'.Moore boldly took the earl of Ormond prisoner, and detained him from the 10th of April to the 12th of June, when he liberated him, on receiving for his ransom three thousand pounds. Roger O'Moore, his descendant, a man of extraordinary abilities and bravery, is celebrated in Irish history as the chief leader who organised the great insurrection of 1641. There are still several highly respectable families of the O'Moores in Kildare, King's and Queen's counties, the heads of which are the O' Jloores of Ballyna, in Kildare, and Sir Garrett O'Moore, of Cloghan Castle, in King's county. V. O'Dioraosaigh, or O'Dempsey, lord of Clann Maoilughra, or Clanraaliere, is thus mentioned by O'Heerin, with an introduc- tion to the other chiefs of Offaley : *' The clans of the country of extensive plains. Let us now proceed to treat of their chieftEiins, What hosts are more wealthy than they. Over the territory of Offaley of fair lands ? " Clanmaliere above all tribes, Noble is the source of their pedigree, The smooth plains of the land they have defended. The country is the inheritance of O'Dempsey." The territory of Clanmaliere possessed by the O'Dempseys con- tained parts of the baronies of Geashill and Philipstown, in the King's county, with part of Portnehinch, in Queen's county, and part of Offaiey, in Kildare, including Monasterevan and the ad- joing districts ; and, according to sir Charles Coole in his Survey, the O'Dempseys had part of Ballycowen, in the King's coimty. The O'Dempseys were a branch of the Cahirian race of the same descent as the O'Conors Faily, and were head chiefs of Clanma- liere, and sometimes styled princes and lords of Clanmaliere and Offaley ; they were very powerful in former times, and many of them are mentioned in the course of these Annals. In the twelfth century they contended with the English forces under Strongbow, earl of Pembroke, who in the year 1173, together with his son-in- law Robert de Quiney, or de Quincy, constable and standard- 248 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A.D. 1442. Mac Guire, namely Thomas Oge, gave up the castle of Enniskilleii to Philip Mac Guire, after Edmond and Thomas Oge had been set at liberty. hearer of Lein?ter, marched a powerful force into Kildare and Oft'aley ; but hein'^' opposed by the Irish clans, commanded by the O'Dempseys, chiefs of Cianmaliere, the Enfrlisli were defeated with great slaughter ; and amongst the slain was de Quincy, the standard-bearer ; the affair is thus mentioned by Maurice Regan, in Harris's J-Iibernica : " From thence the earl (Strongbow) went to Kildare, jnaking many incursions into OiFaley, upon O'Dempsey, lord of that country, who refused to come unto him, and to deliver hostages; the earl, to subdue him, made a journey in person upon hire, Offaley was burned and harassed, the whole prey of the country taken, and the army retired towards Kildare ; in the retreat, the earl, with a thousand men, marched hi the van- guard, and the rere was commanded by Robert de Quincy ; in the pass, when the van-guard was passed, O'Dempsey gave upon the rere, at which charge Robert de Quincy, with many others, were slain, and the banner of Leinster lost ; and for his death, as well by the earl as by the whole army, great lamentation was made." The O'Dempseys had their chief castle at Geashill, in the King's county, and many others in that county, also in the barony of Ofi'aley in Kildare, and one at Ballybrittas, in the barony of Portneliincb, in the Queen's county. The O'Dempseys were de- prived of most of their possessions after the Elizabethian wars, but afterwards got regrants of several thousand acres of their ancient lauds, as may be seen in the Inquisitions of Leinster ; and sirTorlogh or Terence O'Dempsey was knishted in May, I.'jOO, by Robert Devereux, earl of Essex, lord lieutenant of Ireland ; be was afterwards created baron of Philipstown and viscount of Cianmaliere, by patent, the eighth of July, 1G3I, in the reign of Charles I. Lewis O'Dempsey, his grandson, who succeeedcd as viscount of Cianmaliere, died in l(i83, and was succeeded by his eldest son Maximilian, who was made lord lieutenant of the Queen's county, by king James II., and sat in his parliament in 1G89. His estates were confiscated for his adherence to the house of Stuart, by act of attainder of William III., in 1691. Maxi- milian O'Dempsey, the last viscount of Cianmaliere, died in 1714, and the title is supposed to be extinct. James O'Dempsey was a colonel in the army of James II. ; and Terence O'Dempsey, a younger branch of this family, settled in Cheshire, and died in 1769; his grandson, James O'Dempsey, an eminent merchant now living in Liverpool, is one of the chief representatives of this ancient family. VI. O'Duinn, O'Dunn, or O'Dunue, chief of Hy Riagain, is thus mentioned by O'Heerin : " Over Hy Regan of the mighty victories, Are active warriors who conquer in battle, O'Dunn is chief of the conquering troops, The mainstay of the battling spears." The territory of Ily Riagain, possessed hy the 0'Dunns,now forms the barony of Tinehinch, in the Queen's county. The O'Dunns were chiefs of note in former times, and they are still numerous in Kildare, King's and Queen's counties, and also in Meath there are several respectable families of the name, but many of them have changed the name to Uoyne. VII. O'Riagain or O'Hegans were, it appears, the ancient chiefs of Hy Riagain, and gave its name to that territory, which is still retained in the parish of Oregan or Rosenallis, in the barony of Tinnehinch. Of the ancient clan of the O'Regans was Maurice Regan, secretary to Dermod Mac Murrogh, king of Leinster, and who wrote an account of the Anglo-Norman invasion under Strongbow and his follow'ers, which is published in Harris's Hibernica. Sir Teige O'Regan was a dis- tinguished officer in the army of king James the Second. VIII. O'Brogharain, probably O'Brogans, are given by O'Dugan as chiefs on the same territory as O'Dunn and O'Dempsey, and thus mentioned : " The O'Brogans dwell in their towns, The Clan Kenny and Clan Conor, Their lands are well known to support O'Dumiand O'Dempsey." Henry, the son of Owen O'Neill, having gone to the English, who supplied him with a very large force, marched to Castlefin (in Donegal), and IX. O'llaongusa orO'Hennesey, chiefof ClarColgan, andO'Haira- irgin, chief of T uath Geisille, are thus mentioned by O'Dugan and O'Heerin : "Of the chiefs of the fair fertile plain Are O'Hennesey and O'Haimirgin ; Strong-voiced are their troops, and great their fame, And magnanimous are the Clan Murchadhan." *' Another chief who is known to ns, O'Hennesey who rules over Clar Colgan ; His lands are fair beyond those of the Fenians of Fail, He closely adjoins the borders of Croghan. " The fair district of Geashill is possessed By a chief on the borders of Leinster ; His rapid progress is a march of power. The name of this chief is O'llamirgin." The districts of these two chiefs appear hy the above passage to have been situated about Geashill and Croghan, in the baronies of Geashill and Philipstown, in the King's county. Another O'He- nesey is mentioned by O'Dugan as chief of Galinga Beag, now the parish of Gallen, in the barony of Garrycastle. X. O'Maolchein, probably O'Milliken, or O'Mullipan, some of whom have changed the name to Molyneux, chief of Tuath Damhuighe, signifying either the land of the oxen, or of the two plains, is thus mentioned by O'Heerin, and the district possessed by him appears to have adjoined that of O'Hennesey : " Over Tuath Damhuigh of the fair fortress Is O'Maolchein of the happy heart ; Delightful is the smooth district of the plain, Its borders resemble the fairy land." XI. O'Maolmuaidh, or O'Mulloy, prince of Fear Ceall, is thus de- signated by O'Dugan ; " The prince of Fearcall of the ancient sworda Is O'Mulloy of the free-born name j Full power was granted to him. And he held his own country uncontrouled." The extensive territory possessed by the O'Mulloys comprised the present baronies of Eglish or Fearcall, Ballycowan, and IJally- boy in the King's county, and formed originally a part of the ancient kingdom of Meath. The O'Mulloys were of the race of the southern Hy Nialls or Clan Colman, the ancient kings of Meath, and as princes of Fearcall were very powerful, and many chiefs of them are mentioned in the course of these Annals ; and when reduced to the subjection of English rule, in the reign of Elizabeth, they had conferred on them, under the crown, the office of royal standard-bearers of Leinster, which they held for a long time ; the greater part of their estates were confiscated after the Cromwellian and Williamite wars, but there are still many respectable families of the name in the King's county, and also in Roscommon, of whom copious accounts may be found in the learned D'Alton's Annals of Boyle. XII. The O'Carrolls, princes of Ely O'Carroll, of whom an account has been given in the note on Ormond, possessed the barony of Lower Ormond, in Tipperary, and those of Cloulisk and Ballybritt, in the King's county, and had their chief castle at Birr. XIII. Mac Cochlain or Mae Coghlan, prince of Dealbhna Eathra,and O'Maollugbach, probably O'MuUedy, chiefof the Brogha, are thus mentioned by O'Dugan : " Mac Coghlan is the valorous mainstay. And prince of delightful Delvin Ahra, Tile chiefof the Brogha of great prosperity, Is O'Mulledy of the brilliant achievements. The territory of the Mac Coghlans, lords of Delvin Ahra, com- prised the present barony of (Jarrycastle, in the King's county ; they were of the race of the Dalcassians, a powerful tribe of the REIGN OF HENRY VI. 249 O'Neill, his father, proceeded to the same place to join Henry and the English, with all his forces ; Munster Jlilesians, and were chiefs of note in former times, of wliom many are mentioned in tlie course of tliese Annals. They had their chief castles at Gallen and Garrycastle, near Banagher, and the last representative of note of the family was Thomas Mac Cos;hlan, M.P. for the borough of Banaprher in the Irish parlia- ment, who died in 1790. Brogha, the district of the O'Mulledys above-mentioned, appears to have adjoined Mac Coghlan's terri- tory, and was probably part of the barony of Garrycastle, in King's county, and of Clonlonan, in VVestnieatl;, as there were in former times many families of note of the O'Mulledys in Westmeath, whose estates were confiscated after the war of the Revolution, and of whom accounts may be found in the various Inquisitions. XIV. O'Sionnaigh, lord ofTeffia. O'Dugan, in his topography, gives O'Catharnaigh as head prince ofTeffia, whom he thus designates: " High prince ofTeffia who obtained renown Is O'Caharney of the battling arras." This name was rendered O'Keamey, and the ancient chiefs posses- sed an extensive territory in Teffia, or Westmeatli, and there are still many respectable families of the O'Kearneys in Meath and Westmeath ; the chief branch of them took the name of Sionnach O'Catharnaigh, and the word Sionnach signifying a fox, the family name became Fox, and the head chief was generally designated an Sionnach, or the Fo.v. Tliey were of the race of the southern Hy Nialls, and their territory was called Muintir Tadhgain, and comprised an extensive district in Teffia, containing parts of the baronies of Rathconrath and Clonlonan, in Westmeath, with part of the barony of Kilcourcy, in King's county. Several chiefs of them are mentioned in the course of these Annals, and in the reign of Elizabeth they got the title of lords of Kilcourcy ; there are still many respectable families of the name of Fox in Meath, West- meath, Longford, and King's county. XV. Mac Anihalgaidh, Mac Auley, or Magawley, is given by O'Dugan as chief of Cal- raidhe-an-Chala, and thus designated ; " The fair Mac Auley rules over The entire of the ports of Calry." The territory called Calry comprised the present parish of Bally- loughloe, in the barony of Clonlonan, in Westmeath ; and the ports alluded to in the above passage were those of the Shannon, to which this parish extends ; and according to Mac Geoghegan, the Mac Auleys, lords of Calry, also possessed part of the barony of Kilcoursey, in the King's county; they were chiefs of note in former times, and the present head of this ancient family is the Count Magawley of Teraora, near Frankford, in the King's county. XVI. O'Gormain, O'Gorman, or Mac Gorman, is given by O'Dugan and O'Heerin as chief of Crioch mBaii'ce, and thus designated by them ; " The tribe of Eochy of exalted fame Rule over the clans of Hy Faolain, Mac Gorman of great valour Rules over the fair Hy Bairce. " The country of Hy Bairce of the fair fortress, Of the melodious race of Daire Barach, O'Gorman took possession of the lands, A chief who actively rushed to battle." The territory of the O'Gormans called Hy m Bairce, is now the barony of Slievemargue, in the Queen's county ; they were chiefs of note in former times, and some of them settled in the county of Clare, and had large possessions, and an account of them has been given in the note on Thomond. XVII. O'Duibh or O'DutF, chief of Hy Criomthain, is thus mentioned by O'Heerin : " About Dun Masc of the smoothest plaius, O'Duff rules over Hy Criomthain, Chief of the country of great produce, A land which yields the finest fruits." The district of Hy Criomthain, about Dun Masc or Dunamase, O'Donnell, that is Naghtan, went to oppose them, but made peace with O'Neill on that occasion, as comprised the greater part of tlie two baronies of Maryboro, in the Queen's county. XVIII. Mac Fliiodhbhuidhe, ]^Iac Aodh- buidhe, or Mac Evoys, are mentioned in O'Brien's Dictionary, at the word Tuath, as chiefs of Tuath-Fiodhbhuidhe, in the Queen's county, and they are thus mentioned by O'Heerin : " The ancient country of Fighbuigh of the fair lands Is a good lordship for a chieftain, The Clan Mac Evoy are its inheritors. The yellow-haired host of hospitality." The territory of the Mac Evoys appears to have been situated in the barony of Stradbally, in the Queen's county. The Mac Evoys were of the Clan C'olla of Ulster, and chiefs of note in ancient times ; and they also possessed a territory in Teffia, called Hy Mac Uais, now the barony of Mojgoish, in Westmeath ; and there are still many respectable families of the name in Meath and Westmeath, some of whom have changed the name to Mac Veagh. XIX. O'Ceallaigh or O'Kellys, chiefs of Magh Druch- tam and of Gailine, are thus mentioned by O'Heerin : " Over Moy Druchtain of the fair fortress. Rules O'Kelly over the plain of the salmon; The smooth aspect of the level country Is like the fruitful land of promise. " Galine of the pleasant rivers. Is O'Kelly's undisputed right, Powerful is the tribe in hunting, Over the sunny lands af Gailine." These territories of the O'Kellys appear to have been situated in the baronies of Stradbally and Ballyadams, in the Queen's county, along the Barrow, as alluded to in the above passages in the poem, where the districts are mentioned as the plain of the salmon, and of the pleasant rivers. XX. O'CaoUaidhe, O'Keeley, or O'Keily, chief of Crioch O'Muighe, is thus mentioned by O'Heerm : " The country of Omoy of the fair plams. Along the Barrow of the flowing streams. To O'Keeley is the pleasant land, A chief who always ruled in peace." Tills district, situated along the Barrow, is now probably the parish of Tullowmoy, in the barony of Ballyadams, Queen's county. XXI. O'Leathlabhair, O'Lawlors, or O'Lalors, took their name from Leathlabhar, prince of DalaradiaorUlidia,now the county of Down, in the tenth century, who was their ancestor, and they are therefore of the Irian race, or Clanna Kory of Ulster, and of the same descent as the O'Moores, princes of Leix. The O'Law- lors had in ancient times extensive possessions in Leix, chiefly, it appears by inquisitions and other records, in the barony of Strad- bally, Qeeen's county ; and there are still several respectable families of the name in Queen's county, Kildare, Kilkenny, and Tipperary. XXII. O'Dubhlaine, orO'Delany, chief of Tuath-an- Toraidh, is thus mentioned by O'Heerin: " High chief of the productive territory, From the delightful Coill Oughteragh, Is O'Delany the man of hospitality. From the mountain of the most delightful hay." The O'Delaneys were a clan of note in the barony of Upper Ossory, Queen's county, and also in Kilkenny. XXIII. O'Braonain, or O'Brennan, chief of Hy Duach, is thus mentioned by O'Heerin : " Idoagh of Ossory of the fertile laud, The fair wide plain ofthe Nore, Throughout this plain rules most active Its rightful chief O'Brennan." The territory of the O'Brennans, chiefs of Idoagh, now forms the barony of Fassadining, in Kilkenny, where the name is still numerous. XXIV. Mac Braoin or Mac Breen, and O'Broith, or O'Bree chief of Magh Seadna, are thus mentioned by O'Heerin : 2 K 250 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A. D. 1442. he had not a sufficient force, and delivered up the castle to O'Neill, together with Kinel Moain, and also the rents of Inisowen ; and Henry having left guards in the castle, he and O'Neill returned home after their victory on that occasion. " Mac Breen of the land of the fortress, Rules over the clans whom I remember, A fair, nut-producing country, O'Bree is chief of the free IMoy Sedna." XXV. 0'Caibhdeanaich,0'Coveney,or O'Kevenys, chiefs of Magh Airbh and Clar Coill, are thus mentioned by O'Heerin : " Over Moy Arve let us now record O'Keveney of the woody plain, Head of each conference was the fair counsellor, Who resides at Coill O'Cathosaigh." The plain of Magh Airbh comprised the present barony of Cranaph, in Kilkenny. XXVI. O'Gloiairn, O'Gloran or Mac Gloran, chief of Callainn, is thus mentioned by O'Heerin : "O'Gloran the flourishing scion Obtained a territory in a delightful country, A smooth land about charming Callan, He inherits a country without reproach." The name of this territory is still retained in the parish of Callan, barony of Kells, county of Killienny. XXVII. O'CaoUaidhe or O'Keeley, chief of Hy Bearchon, is thus mentioned by O'Heerin : " Ibercon of the yellow mantles, Chief of the country is O'Keeley, The plain of the host of great wealth. The land of the Barrow of limpid streams." This territory was Ibercon, an ancient barony, as stated by Seward, now joined to that of Ida, in the county of Kilkenny ; and there is a parish called Rosbercon,in the barony of Ida. XXVIII. O'Brua- dair, O'Broder, or O'Brody, chief of Ily n-Eirc, is thus mentioned by O'Heerin : " Lord of Iverk of the swift steeds Is the friendly O'Broder, like a stately tree; A sandy country from the heavy floods, A land as delightful as Moenmoy." This territory is now the barony of Iverk, in the county of Kil- kenny. XXIX. The O'Sheas, who changed the name to Shee, were numerous and highly respectable, in former times, in the county of Kilkenny, and were some of the O'Sheas, chiefs of note in Munster, of whom an account has been given in the notes on Thomond and Desmond. XXX. The O'Ryans and O'Felans, an- cient families of note in Carlow, Tipperary, and Waterford, of whom accounts have been given in the notes on Ormond, Desies, and Hy Kinsellagh, were also numerous and respectable in Kilkenny. XXXI. The Tighes, of whom there are some respectable families in Kilkenny and other parts of Leinster, are said to be of the ancient Irish clan of tlie O'Teiges, who were chiefs of note in Wicklow and Wexford, and of whom an account has been given in the notes on Hy Kinsellagh and Cualan. XXXII. The Floods, of whom there are many respectable families in Kilkenny and other parts of Ireland, are said to be of Irish descent, though supposed to be of English origin ; as many of the ancient clans of the Maoltuiles, and of the Mac Thellighs or Mac Tullys, changed the name to Flood, thus translating the name from the Irish Triile, which signifies a Fhnd. .X.X.XIII. The Mac Coscrys or Cos- graves, ancient clans in Wicklow and Queen's county, changed their name to Lestrange. The O'Mooneys are placed in the Queen's county on the map of Ortelius; and the O'Dowlings and O'Niochals or O'Nicholls, are mentioned by some writers as clans in Queen's county. The O'Bcehans or O'Behans were a clan in the King's and Queen's counties, and several learned men and Donal Glas Mac Carthy, lord of Carbery (in Cork), died. O'Driscoll More, namely, Mac Con, lord of Corco Laoighe (in Cork), died. Teige, the son of Tomaltach Mac Dennett, was eminent ecclesiastics of the name are mentioned in the course of these Annals. liUkeimi/. — The greater part of Ossory was formed into the county of Kilkenny, in the reign of king John, and so called from its chief town, the name of which, in Irish Cill Chalnnigh, signifying the church of Canice or Kenny, was derived from Cainneach, a celebrated saint, who founded the first church there in the latter end of the sixth century. Kinij's and Queen's counties. — The greater part of the principality of Leix,with parts of Ossory and Olfaley.were formed into the Queen's county ; and the greater part of tlie principality of Hy Falgia or Offaley, with parts of Ely O'Carroll and of tlie ancient kingdom of Meath, was formed into the King's county, both in the sixteenth century, A.D. lool, by the earl of Sussex, lord deputy in the reign of Philip and Mary; from which circumstance they were called the King's and Queen's counties ; and the chief town of King's county got the name of Philipstown, and that of Queen's county Maryboro. Kilkenny, King's and Queen's counties, are amongst the finest in Ireland, and abound in lands of great fertility and beauty; the scenery along the Shannon and Brossna, in King's county, and the Barrow, in Queen's county, and the Nore, Suir, and Barrow, in Kilkenny, is extremely fine ; and the extensive and magnificent mountains of Slieve Bloom, on the borders of King's and Queen's counties, with Croghan, a large and beautiful verdant hill in King's county, present much interest- ing scenery, and have been celebrated in Spenser's Fairy Queen. These counties and Kildare were in former times covered with extensive woods ; and in King's and Queen's counties and Kildare arc immense tracts of the great bog of Allen, formed of the remains of ancient forests. Kilkenny is famcus for its coal mines and marble quarries, and was also celebrated for its woollen manufac- tures, particularly frieze and blankets ; and in Queen's county are also extensive coal mines and potteries, and iron mines were formerly worked. Anglo-Norniuns and English in Kilkenny, King's and Queen's counties. As already explained in the note on Hy Kinsellagh, Eva, the daughter of Dermod Mac Murrogh, king of Leinster, having been married to Richard de Clare, earl of Pembroke, com- monly called Strongbow, the kingdom of Leinster was conferred on Strongbow by king Dermod ; and William Marshall, earl of Pembroke, having married Isabella, daughter of Strongbow, by his wife Eva, the inheritance of the kingdom of Leinster passed to the family of the Marshalls, earls of Pembroke, and was possessed by the five sons of \\'illiam Marshall, who became in succession earls of Pembroke and lords of Leinster; and on the extinction of the male line of the Marshalls the ditferent counties of Leinster were divided amongst the five daughters of M'illiara Marshall, earl of Pembroke, and their descendants in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, of which a full account is given in Hanmer's Clironicle, and in Baron Finglas's Breviate of Ireland, in Harris's Hibemica. Joanna, the eldest daughter of William Marshall, earl of Pem- broke, had, on the partition of Leinster, Wexford allotted as her portion ; and being married to Warren de Montchensey, an English liaron, he, in right of his wife, became lord of Wexford, which afterwards passed, by intermarriage, to the de Valences, earls of Pembroke, and lords of Wexford ; and in succession to the family of Hastings, earls of Ahere:avenney,and to theTalbots,earlsofShrews- bury, Waterford, and Wexford. Matilda or Maud,anotherdaughter of William, earl Marshall, had the county of Carlow allotted to her, and married Hugh Bigod, earl of Norfolk, and that family became lords of Carlow, which title, together with the county of Carlow, afterwards passed in succession, by intermarriages, to the Mow- brays and Howards, earls of Norfolk. Sibilla, another of the earl Marshall's daughters, got the county of Kildare, and was married to William Ferrars, earl of Ferrers and Derby, who became lord REIGN OF HENRY VI. 251 slain by the people of Cathal Mac Rannall, on the plain of Kiltathchomarc, with the cast of a dart. of Kildare, a title which passed, by intermarriage, to the de Veseys. Tiie sreat family of the Fitzgeralds, afterwards became earls of Kildare. Isabel, another daughter of William Marshall, earl of Pembroke, bad for her portion, the county of Kilkenny, and was married to Gilbert de Clare, earl of Gloucester and Hereford ; and after his decease, without issue, the county of Kilkenny fell to his three sisters, and passed, by intermarriage, chiefly to the family of de Spencers, barons de Spencer, in Eng- land, and afterwards became possessed mostly by the Butlers, earls of Ormond. Eva, the fifth daughter of William Marshall, had Leix, and the manor of Dunamase, or O'Moore's country, com- prising the greater part of the present Queen's county ; and having married William de Bruse, lord of Gower and Brecknock, in Wales, he became, in right of his wife, lord of Leix ; and one of his daughters being married to Roger Mortimer, lord of Wigmore, in Wales, Leix passed to the family of Mortimer, who were earls of March, in England. The King's county, as already stated, was formed out of parts of Oifaley, Ely O'Carroll, and the kingdom of Meath ; and in the grant of Meath given by Henry II. to Hugh de Lacy, a great part of the present King's county was possessed by de Lacy, who built in that county the castle of Durrow, where he was slain by one of the Irish galloglasses, as narrated in these Annals at the year 1186. The Fitzgeralds, earls of Kildare and barons of Otfaley, became possessed of a great part of the King's county ; and the family of de Hose or Hussey, had part of Ely O'Carroll, and tlie country aboiit Birr. The following have been the chief families of English descent in Kilkenny, King's and Queen's counties : In Kilkenny, the Butlers, Graces, Walshes, Fitzgeralds, Roths, Archers, Cantwells, Shortalls, Purcells, Powers, Morrises, D'Al- tons, Stapletons, Wandesfords, Lawlesses, Langrishes, Bryans, Ponsonbys, &c. The Butlers became the chief possessors of the county of Kilkenny, as earls of Ormond and Ossory, dukes of Or- mond, earls of Kilkenny and Gowran, viscounts of Galmoy, and various other titles derived from their extensive estates in this coun- ty and in Tipperary, as already explained in the note on Ormond. The Graces. — In a note in these Annals at the year 1-2-24, an account has been given of Maurice Fitzgerald, a celebrated Anglo- Xorman chief who came over with Strongbow, and was an- cestor of the earls of Kildare and Desmond. William Fitzgerald, brother of Maurice, was lord of Carew in Wales, and the descend- ants of one of his sons took the name of de Carew, and from them are descended the Carews of Ireland, great families in Cork, Wex- ford, and Carlow. From another of the sons of William Fitzgerald, as shewn in Lodge's Peerage, were descended the Keatings and Gerards, families of note in Ireland. The eldest son of William Fitzgerald, called Raymond Fitzwilliam, got the name of Raymond le Gros from his great size and strength ; he was one of the most valiant of the Anglo-Norman commanders, and was married to Basilia de Clare, sister of Strongbow, and held the office of standard bearer of Leinster, and was also for some time chief governor of Ireland ; he is thus described by Holingshed and Camhrensis : " Raymond was large-bodied and broad-set, of more than middle stature, his hair yellow and curled, his eyes large, grey and round, his nose somewhat high, and his countenance well coloured ; he was pleasant and merry, and though heavy in body yet active; he had special care of his men and soldiers, and watched many whole nights, ranging and walking abroad in the camp; he was wise, mo- dest and wary, nothing delicate in his fare, nor curious in his ap- parel, could bear all weathers, hot or cold, and endure any toils ; was patient and self-commanding as a governor, wise and circum- spect, and albeit a very valiant captain and a noble soldier, yet in all martial affairs he passed in wisdom, and excelled in all things appertaining to a valiant captain." Raymond died about A. D. 1184, and was buried in the abbey of Molana, on the island of Da- rinis, on the river Blackwater, in the bay of Youghal. Maurice, the eldest son of Raymond le Gros, was ancestor of the great family of the Fitzmaurices, earls of Kerry, of whom an account has been given in the note on Desmond. Raymond had another son called Hamon le Gros, and his descendants took the name of A commotion arose between O'Kane and Mac Quillan, in which Mac Quillan, aided by the sons le Gros, or le Gras, afterwards changed to Grace. Hamon le Gras got great grants of land in Ossory, now the county of Kilkenny, and several distinguished chiefs, his descendants, are mentioned in Irish history during the wars of the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth centuries, as Hamon le Gras, a celebrated warrior, who was slain in the battle of Ascul, near Athy, in 1315, fighting against the forces of Edward Bruce ; and in 1385 Sir Alniaric, ba- ron Grace, is mentioned as head of the family. Several of the Graces were barons and lords of Parliament, and held the ofiice of seneschals and sheriffs in Kilkenny, Tipperary, and Limerick ; and in 1410 sir John Grace was Custos of the county of Kilkenny, and, in conjunction with the Butlers, they were the chief military com- manders in Ormond and Ossory ; many families of the Graces also settled in the counties of Tipperary, Wexford, and Dublin, and also in the Queen's county, at Ardglass and Gracefield. The Graces were created barons of Courtstown, and held an extensive territory in the county of Kilkenny called Grace's Country, com- prising the greater part of the barony of Cranash, and had a mag- nificent castle at Courtstown, in the parish of TuUaroan, of which some ruins still remain ; they possessed the entire of the parish of Tullaroan, hence they were sometimes styled barons ofTuliaroan; and in the old church there, and also in the cathedral of Kilkenny, are still to be seen some of their monuments, amongst others, one to John Grace, baron of Courtstown, who died in 1568. In the wars of the Revolution the Graces lost their hereditary estates, John Grace, the last baron of Courtstown, having forfeited thirty thou- sand acres of land in Kilkenny for his adherence to King James II. Richard Grace, a very valiant officer, was a colonel in the army of James II., and particularly distinguished for his defence of Ath- lone ; and several of the Grace family were officers of note in the Austrian service. The chief representatives of this ancient family are the Graces of the Queen's county, and those of Mantua, in the county of Roscommon. Accounts of the Graces will be found in the Memoirs of the family by Sheffield Grace, in Phelan's and Ledwiche's Antiquities of Kilkenny, and Lodge's Peerage. The Walshes, called by the Irish Branaghs, from IJreatnach, which signifies a Briton, as they originally came from Wales with Strongbow and his followers, got extensive possessions in Waterford, Kilkenny, Wexford, and Carlow, in which counties they are still very numerous. The Walshes were distinguished for their valour and lield the office of seneschals of Leinster under the successors of Strongbow ; they were very powerful in Kilkenny, and had eighteen castles in the barony of Knoctopher, where an extensive territory has derived its name from them, and is called the Walsh Mountains ; they had also parts of the barony of Gow- ran, and Thomas Fitz Anthony Walsh, seneschal of Leinster in the reign of king John, founded the town of Thomastown, on the river Nore. The Walshes lost most of their possessions in the Williamite wars, but they are still numerous about the Walsh Mountains, where they hold extensive grazing farms, famous for dairies. The Butlers, viscounts of Galmoy, the Graces, Walshes, Roths, and Shees, lost their extensive estates in Kilkenny in the war of the revolution for their adherence to James II., and many members of these families, having entered the Irish brigades, were distin- guished officers in the service of France, Spain and Austria. The Burkes, a branch of the Burkes of Connaught, settled in Kilkenny and Tipperary, and some of them in Kilkenny took the name of Gaul, from Gall, signifying an Englishman, and from them Gauls- town got its name. The Purcells were also numerous and respec- table in Kilkenny and Tipperary, and in the latter county had the title of barons of Loughmoe. In Queen's county the following were the chief families of Eng- lish descent ; after Leix had been formed into a county the follow- ing seven families were the chief English settlers in the reigns of queen Mary and Elizabeth, and were called the seven tribes, namely, the Cosbys, Barringtons, Bowens, Rushes, Hartpoles, Hethering- tons, and Hovendens ; and in the reign of Charles I.,Villiers, duke of Buckingham, having got extensive grants in Queen's county, his lands were formed into the manor of Villiers, and passed to the presentdukes of Buckingham; and after the Cromweliian wars and 2 K 2 252 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A. D. 1442. of Bryan Oge O'Neill, defeated O'Kane, and slew in the engagement thirty-two of O'Kane's people, and during the same contest many depredations and slaughters were committed by both parties ; the son of Mac Quillan was slain by O'Kane, and Mao Quillan plundered Aibne O'Kane. The English of Dublin and Meath made an in- cursion into O'BjTne's country (in Wicklow), where they committed great depredations ; but they were overtaken by the O'Byrnes and O'Tooles, the revolution the families of Parnell, Pole, Pigott, Prior, Coote, Cowley, Uawson, Dcsparil, Vese.v, Staples, Brown, Johnson, Trench, Weldon, and Walpole, got extensive possessions. In King's county, the Fitzgeralds, Digbys, Husseys, and Fitz- simons, were the chief families of English descent before the reign of Elizabeth, and some of the Fitzsimons took the Irish name of Slac Ruddery, from the Irish Mac Ridire, which signifies the Son of the Knight. In after times the Armstrongs, Droughts, Burys, Parsons, llolesworths, Lestranges, and Westenraa were the chief English settlers. NobilUy. — The following have jeen the noble families in Kil- kenny, King's and Queen's counties, from the reign of king John to the present time : In Kilkenny. — The Marshalls, earls of Pembroke, the de Clares, earls of Gloucester and Hertford, and the de Spencers, as above mentioned, were all lords of Kilkenny ; the Butlers, earls of Or- mond and Ossory, and m.irquesses and dukes of Orniond, earls of Kilkenny, earls of Gowran, earls of Glengall, earls of Carrick, viscounts of Galmoy, viscounts Mountgarrett, and barons of Kells ; the Bullens, earls of Ossory ; the Fitzpatricks, barons of Gowran and earls of Ossory ; the Graces, barons of Courtstown ; the Fitzgeralds, barons of Burntchurch ; the Wandesfords, earls of Castlecomer ; the de Montmorencys, viscounts -Mountmorres and viscounts Frankfort ; the Flowers, barons of Castle Durrow and viscounts Ashl)rook ; the Ponsoubys, earls of Besborough, and viscounts Uuncannon ; the Agars, barons of Calan, viscounts of Clifden and barons of Dover ; theCuffes, viscounts Gastlecutfe and barons of Desart ; the family of Mathew, earls of Landaff, and of great note in Tipperary, were forgotten to be mentioned in that county. In Queen's county, the Marshalls, earls of Pembroke ; the de Bruses and Mortimers, as above mentioned, were lords of Leix ; the Fitzpatricks, barons of Castletown, barons of Ciowran, and earls of Upper Ossory ; the Butlers, barons of Cloughgrennan ; the Cootes, earls of Mountrath ; the Molyneuxes, viscounts of Maryborough and earls of Sefton, in England ; the Dawsons, earls of Portarlington ; the de Veseys, barons of Knapton and viscounts de Vesey. In Kinrj's county, the Fitzgeralds, barons of Offaley and earls ofKildare; the Digbys, barons of Geashill, and earls Dighy, in England ; the O'CarroUs, barons of Ely ; the O'Sionnaghs or Foxes, barons of Kilcoursey ; the O'Dempseys, barons of Philips- town and viscounts of Clanmaliere ; the Lamberts, barons of Kil- courcy and earls of Cavan ; the Blundells, barons of Edenderry ; the family of Parsons, at Birr or Parsonstown, are earls of Ross and barons of Oxraantown ; the Molesworths, barons of Philips- town ; the Moores, barons of Tullamore ; the Burys, barons of TuUamore and earls of Charleville ; the Tolers, earls of Norbury viscounts Glandine ; the Westenras, barons of Rossmore, have extensive estates in Monaghan and King's county. Ecclesittnticnl Divisions. The following have been the bishops' sees in Kilkenny, King's and Queen's counties : The See of Ossory was first founded at Sniffer, now the parish of Seir-Kieran, near Birr, in the King's county ; and was so called from Kiaran of Saiger, a celebrated saint who founded a church there in the beginning of the fifth century, and who was called St. Kiaran the elder, to distinguish him from Kiaran of Clon- macuois, who lived at a later period. The see of Saiger was who defeated the English, and slew four score of them, and took from them immense spoils. The son of Mac Mun-ogh, lord of Leinster, namely Murtogh Cavenagh, heir to the lordship of Leinster, was slain by the English of the Condae Riavach (Wexford), and Mac Miurogh, after the death of his son Murtogh, waged war against the English of Wexford and of Leinster, who were obliged to liberate the seven hostages who were taken on the day Murtogh was slain, and to pay afterwards transferred to Achadhboe or A ghnboe, sometimes caWed Aghnvoe, in the barony of Upper Ossory, in the Queen's county, where a celebrated monastery was founded by St. Canice, in the sixth century. The see of Aghaboe continued to be the seat of the diocese of Ossory, to near the end of the twelfth century, when it was removed to Kilkenny, and called the see of Ossory ; and the bishops of Ossory were in early times styled bishops of Saiger, and sometimes bishops of Aghavoe. The diocese of Ossory compre- hends almost the whole of the county of Kilkenny, with the barony of Upper Ossory, in the Queen's county ; and the pari^ of Seir-Kiaran, in the King's county, being nearly co-extensive with the ancient principality of Ossory. Clonenagh, in the Queen's county, had a celebrated monastery founded in the fifth century by St. Fintan, and its abbots were also styled bishops ; it was annexed to the see of Leighlin. Birr had a celebrated abbey founded by St. Brendan, in tho sixth century, and its abbots were styled bishops ; it was annexed to the see of Killaloe. The See of Clonmoctiois, in Irish, Cluan Mac Nois, signifying, according to some accounts, the retreat of the sons of the noble, either from the great numbers of the sons of the Irish nobility who resorted to its college for education, or, from many of the Irish princes having their burial places in its cemetery. An abbey was founded here in the sixth century by St. Kiaran the younger, on lands granted by Dcrmod, the son of Carroll, monarch of Ireland, and it became one of the most celebrated seats of learning and religion in Ire- land in the early ages. It was formed into a bishop's see, and the ca- thedral was erected in the twelfth century by the O'Melaghlins, kings of AIeath,who conferred most extensive endowments of land son the abbey and see. A city and college were also founded here, and the jjlace maintained its literary and religious celebrity for many centuries; but having been repeatedly devastated by the Danes, during the ninth, tentli, and eleventh centuries, and frequently ravaged by the English, in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries ; and its cathedral and churches having been finally demolished by the barbarian soldiers of the English garrison of Athlone, in the reign of Elizabeth, it has fallen into utter decay ; but its ancient greatness is amply demonstrated by the magnificent and venerable ruins of the cathedral and seven churches, and of a castle, together with two beautiful round towers, some splendid stone Crosses, and other antiquities which still remain. It contains one of the most ancient and extensive cemeteries in Ireland, and was the burial place of many of the Irish kings and princes, as the O'Conors, kings of Connaught, of whom Torlogh O'Conor, monarch of Ire- land in the twelfth century, together with his son Roderick O'Conor, the last Milesian monarch of Ireland, were buried in its cathedral, and also many of the O'Melaghlins, kings of Meath ; the O'Kellys, princes of Hy Maine ; the Mac Dermotts, princes of Moylurg, and several other ancient and noble Irish families. Clonmacnois, called the lona of Ireland, is beautifully situated in a lonely retreat on the banks of the Shannon, and though now part of the King's county, the diocese originally formed part of the ancient kingdom of Meath, and was united to the see of Meatli in the latter end of the sixteenth century. In the abbey of Clonmacnois was written the celebrated work called the Annals of Tigearnach, by that learned abbot, in the eleventh century ; and of this work , together n ith the Book of Clonmacnois, and various other ancient Irish MSS., an account will be given in a future mmiber on the ancient literature of Lemster. REIGN OF HENRY VI. 253 Mac Murrogh eight hundred marks as an eraic (fine), for the death of his son. A contention arose between Husrh Buidhe O'Neill and Mac Quillan, in which the O'Neill joined Mac Quillan against Hugh Buidhe. A.D. 1443. Aongus Mac Gillfinnen, abbot of Lisgoole, died. Manus Mac Mahon, a worthy heir to the lord- ship of Oriel (Monaghan), for hospitality and feats of arms, died. Eiver Mac Mahon was killed by O'Neill, i. e. Owen, the son of Niall Oge. Fingin and Dermod, the sons of Mac Gillpa- trick, lord of Ossory, were treacherously slain in Kilkenny, at the instance of the son of Richard Butler. Bn,'an, son of Edmond, son of Thomas, son of Cathal O'FeiTall, was killed and drowned while endeavouring to make his escape from the island of Port-an-goirtin (in Longford), where he had been kept confined for two years and a half by Donal Buighe O'Ferrall. Mulroona, the son of Teige O'Carroll, lord of Ely, died. Teige O'Dowd, the son of the lord ofTireragh, was slain by his own kinsmen. Hugh Buidhe O'Neill committed great depreda- tions on his elder brother, j\Iurtogh Roe O'Neill, ■who was obliged to pay him his tribute for the plunder, afler which they made perfect peace with each other. O'Flynn of Siol Maoih-uain (in Galway), and some of his kinsmen, were slain by the Clan Cos- tello, in the house of O'Killeen. Mulroona, son of Mulroona O'Dowd, was trea- cherously slain by his own brother. Mac Egan of Ormond, namely, Gillananeev, son of Gillananeev, the son of Hugh, chief professor of Brehonism in Munster, a man versed in various arts, and who kept a house of general hospitality, died. Hugh j\Iac Egan, son of Fergal, the son of Boetius, died, in the tide of his prosperity ; and he was the most learned and eloquent man of the Irish in his time, and chief professor of laws in North Connaught. A.D. 1444. Richard, son of the great dean, the son of Donal, son of .John Gallda O'Ferrall, the bishop of Ar- dagh, died. William O'Hetigen, bishop of Elphin, went to Rome, accompanied by a great number of the clergy of Connaught, where he and the greater part of them died ; among them ^\ere Teige, the son of Teige Mac Dermott, after ha\ing obtained the abbacy of Boyle ; Wilham, son of the dean O'Flanagan, prior of Roscommon ; the son of Ma- lachy, son of Cormac, son of Cormac Mac Donogh, abbot of Ballysadare, as well as many also of the clergy of Ulster. Hugh Buigh, the son of Brj-an Ballach O'Neill, king presumptive of Ireland, the most famous for hospitality and feats of arms of any of the hens presumptive in his time ; a man who recovered by force most territory from the English, was wound- ed by the cast of a javelin in Iveagh (in county of Down), of which he lay in the pains of death for twenty-five days, namely, from Spy Wednesday to the second day of summer, when he died, on a Sa- turday, after having gained the ^•ictory over the world and the devil. O'Neill, namely, Owen, the son of Niall Oge, and the greater portion of the Irish of Ulster, ex- cept O'Donnell, marched with a very great force to plunder and dispossess the sons of Hugh Buighe (O'Neill), after his death ; Murtogh Roe O'Neill, Henry O'Neill, Mac Quillan, with all their auxili- aries, mustered a large force to oppose them in the Duv Thrian (in Antrim), and they cut a naiTOw pass through the wood, in the direction in which they expected they would march on them ; O'Neill having entered this naiTow pass with his forces, the other party attacked them, and slew Mac Donnell of the galloglasses, who was in the rear of the army and amongst those that w^ere marching ; the army became greatly dispirited on that account, and offered the other party their choice hostages, whom they might select on conditions of per- mitting them to return out of the narrow pass, which they did with soitow and disappointment ; amongst the hostages they offered, selected by themselves, to the sons of Mac-I-Neill Buidhe, were Hugh, the son of O'Neill; the son of Henry O'Neill; the son of Mac Mahon; the son ofO'Mil- lan, and fifteen others along with them. 254 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A. D. 1444-45. Owen, the son of Donal, the son of Murtogh O'Conor, lord of Sligo and of the territory of Car- buiy, was slain with the cast of a dart by the sons of Cormac Mac Donogh ; for the son of Malachy, the son of Cormac Mac Donogh, had been killed before that time in a fight by the grandson of John O'Hart, and it was on that account Owen, the son of Donal, was slain. O'Neill, that is Owen, marched with his forces into theEngUsh settlements in Oriel, and plundered and burned many of them ; he also plundered Stradbally of Dundalk, and he obtained sixty marks and two tuns of wine for sparing the town from burning. A great miracle was wrought by the image of the Virgin Maiy at Trim, namely, a bhnd person was restored to sight, a dumb person to liis speech, a cripple to the use of his feet, and the use of his hand was given to a person who had it contracted and bound to his side. O'Neill having attacked the English, plundered a great deal of their property, and received great payments from them on condition of making peace with them for half a year ; and after that peaceable agreement with the son of O'Neill, Bryan, son of Donal, the son of Owen O'Neill, mai-ched with a preying party into the English settlements, where Bryan himself was killed by the cast of a stone, and Eiver Mac Mahon was taken prisoner, and many others of his party were slain. Torlogh, son of Owen, the son of Roderick O'Conor, was killed by the Clan Conmaigh, by the cast of a dart. John, son of Bryan, the son of Edmond O'Fer- rall, and eight others, were slain by John O'Fer- rall, and by the sons of Donal Buidhe O'Ferrall, on Slieve Callan of Brileth (in Longford). Edmond, son of Thomas, the son of Cathal O'Fen-all, died. Manus Mac Mahon, heir to the lordship of Oriel (Monaghan), died, and was buried at Clones. Eber, the son of Bryan Mac Mahon, heir to the lordship of Oriel, was killed. Teige O'Brien, lord of Thomond, died. Sioda Cam Mac Namara, chief of Clan Cuilein (in Clare), a general entertainer of the men of Ireland, died between the two Christmases (witliin the twelve days of Christmas). Duvcovlagh, daughter of Thomas Mac Guu-e, lord of Fermanagh, the wife of Owen Mac Cagh- well, a humane, charitable, and hospitable woman, died. A. D. 1445. Thomas O'Lennon, a canon and sacristan of Lisgoole, died. O'Donnell, Philip Mac Guire, the sons of Hugh Mac Guire, and the sons of Owen O'Conor, marched with a great force to Sligo, and burned it, and slew Mac Donogh, lord of Tirerrill, namely, Tomaltach Mac Donogh, and many others, William, son of John, the son of Donal O'Fer- rall, lord of Annaly, died at an advanced age, after a well spent life ; and two chiefs were then nomi- nated for Annaly ; namely, Rossa, son of Murtogh Midhiach, the son of Bi-yan O'Ferrall, was nomi- nated by the entire tribe of Murrogh O'FeiTall ; and Donal Buidhe, son of Donal, the son of John O'Ferrall, was nominated chief by the clan of Hugh, and the clan of John O'Ferrall, and by all his friends ; the country was very much disturbed between them, until at length they made peace by dividing Annaly between them. Roderick, son of Thomas Mac Guire, the son of the lord of Fermanagh, died. Mac Gillfinnen, namely, Bryan, chief of Muin- tirPeodachain (in Fermanagh), a man distinguished for hospitality, and for defending his rights against neighbouring enemies, died. Donogh Ballach Mac Gauran, heir to the chief- taincy of TuUaghaw (in Cavan), died. Dermod O'Toole, lord of Clan Toole (in Wick- low) was slain while endeavouring to recover a plunder taken from him the same day by the sons of Tomaltach O'Dempsey, being at the time eighty years of age. Conor, the son of O'Conor Kerry, was slain by Mahon O'Conor, his kinsman, both being in the same boat at the time going to Iniscatha (Scatteiy Island on the Shannon). Richard Mac Quillan (in Antrim), was killed. Thomas Dillon and young Richard Dillon died. Laighnagh, the son of Hugh Buighe Mac Geoghegan, was slain at Cuill an Connaidh (the wood of Connaidh in W^estmeath), by the sons of Murtogh Oge Mac Geoghegan. Donogh Bacach O'Rourke died, and West REIGN OF HENRY VI. 255 Brefney nominated Donogh, the son of Tiarnan Oge O'Rourke, the O'Rourke, in opposition to Loghhn, the son of Teige O'Rourke. A.D. 1446, Owen O'Lennon, prior of the monastery of Lisgoole, died. Roderick, son of Ardgal More Mac Mahon, lord of Oriel, died ; and his son Hugh Roe was appointed his successor by O'Neill. O'Donnell marched with a great force into Con- naught to aid his friends, first to O'Rourke's place, and from thence through Moy Nisse (in Leitrim, near Carrick-on-Shannon), crossed the Shannon into Moylurg through the plain of Connaught, and through Clanconway; and Mac William Burke having come to meet him at Dunamon, took him with him to Conmaicne Cuile Tola (Kilmaine in Mayo). Peregrine, son of INIaine, the son of Niall Sionach (Fox), lord of the men of Teffia, died. Edmond O'Byrne, lord of Hy Faolain (borders of Wicklow and Kildare), died, and Dunlaing O'Byrne was appointed his successor. Donogh, son of Art, the son of Dermod (Mac Murrogh), lord of Hy Kinsellagh (in Wexford and Carlow), was killed by the O'Byrnes and O'Tooles. A great contest was carried on between O'Co- nor Faily and the English of Meatli, a great part of Meath was burned and plundered, and many of the people slain ; the predatory parties often ad- vanced as far as Tara, northward, and as far as Cuil Maighe Claraigh' eastward ; and Bryan, the son of the Calvach O'Conor, was taken prisoner by the English in that war. A contest arose between the two O'Conors in the plain of Connaught, in which Dermod Roe, the son of Teige O'Conor, was slain by O'Conor Don, aided by the Clan Maurice-na-mbrigh (Clan Morris, in Mayo), and by some of the Clan Felim A.D. 1446. 1. Cut Maiijhe Clnrn'ujh, or the district of the level plain, was an extensive tract in the south-eastern part of Meath, situated be- tween Kilcock and Dunboyne, and the name is still retained in the parish of Moyglare. 2. Lough Ainn'inn of the son of Neimid was so called from Ainnian, the son of Neimid, or Nemedius, a Scythian, who planted the colony called Nemedians inlreland, in the early ages ; it is now (O'Conors), in Cuil O'Fionntain (Coola^^n in Sligo). A great commotion took place in Thomond, by which the entire territory was spoiled, and O'Brien himself was taken prisoner ; but Mac William of Clanrickard having entered Thomond forcibly, liberated O'Brien, and restored all to order. The Mac Donoghs, Torlogh CaiTach O'Conor, and O'Conor Don, having joined Mac William of Clanrickarde, for the purpose of appointing a Mac Donogh (in Tirerrill, county of Sligo), they finally agreed on electing two Mac Donoghs, giving half of the country to each, namely, John, the son of Conor Mac Donogh, and Teige, the son of Tomal- tach More Mac Donogh. Feilim, the son of John O'Rourke, was killed within the precincts of Fenagh by his own clan, namely, by the sons of Loghhn O'Rourke. The son of Donal O'Rourke was killed by the sons of Donogh, the son of Tiarnan O'Rourke. Thomas, the son of Thomas Oge O'Reilly, was slain on great Christmas day by the sons of Red- mond, the son of Gillaisa O'Reilly. Donal O'Coffey, a good military leader, and a learned poet, and his two sons, were slain on Cro- Inis of Lough Annan'- of the son of Nemeth, by the sons of Art O'Melaghlin, and the sons of Fiacha Mac Geoghegan. Tanaidhe, son of Maoilin, the son of Tan- aidhe O'Maolconiy, died in Clan Feorais, between the two Easters, and was buried in the monastery of Baile-ui-Bhogain.* Teige Mac Clancy (in Leitrim), was kdled by Cormac, the son of O'Flanagan. Edmond, the son of Mac Maurice Kerry, was slain by Cormac, the son of Owen Mac Carthy. Bryan O'Dowd was killed by the people of Ty- rawley. Dermod, son of Ir, the son of Cathal Roe ]\Iac Rannall, was slain. known as Lough Ennell, near Mullingar, in Westmeath, and Cro- inis was the name of one of the islands on the lake. 3. Bnile-ui-Bhog(iin, a parish in the barony of Upper Moyfen- ragh, county of Meath, where there was an ancient Augustinian abbey. The Clan Feorais, above-mentioned, signifies the Berming- hams, as it appears that this district belonged to the Bermingbams of Kildare. 256 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A. D. 1447-48. A.D. 1447. The abbot of Fenagh, a man who kept a house of general hospitality, died. A great plague raged in the summer and harvest of this year, of which the following died: theprior of Ballybogan(in Meath) ; the prior of Connala(Con- nell inKildare) ; the baron of Calatrom (Hussey, ba- ron of Galtrim in Meath) ; Gerald, the grandson of Waldron, and a great many in Meath, Munster, and Leinster ; and some say that seven hundred priests died of it. The church of Aghalurcher (in Fermanagh), was roofed, and the eastern tower was raised, by Tho- mas Oge Mac Guire, lord of Fermanagh, in honour of God and SS. Tigearnach and Ronan, for the benefit of his own soul. Donal Ballach, son of Thomas, the son of Philip Mac Guire, was killed by Donogh, the son of Philip Mac Guire, aided by the sons of Art Mac Guire, and the people of Orgial, and by the sons of O'Daivin ; for Donal was in opposition to Mac Guire, and against Philip, the tanist of the country ; and it happened, while he was returning from Brefney O'Reilly, on his journey to the town of Henry O'Neill, that he was attacked and slain ; and he was buried in the monastery of Lisgoole. Hugh, son of Thomas Oge Mac Guire, the son of the lord of Fermanagh, died. Feihm, son of John, the son of Philip O'Reilly, a worthy heir to the lordship of Brefney, for noble deeds and hospitahty, having gone to Trim (in Meath), to visit the king of England's viceroy, lord Furnival, was taken prisoner by him, and died of the plague, after having gained the victory of extreme unction and repentance, and was buried in the monastery of Trim. Fionnguala, daughter of Calvach O'Conor Faily, and of Margaret, the daughter of O'CarroU, who was first the wife of O'Donnell, and afterwards of Hugh Buighe O'Neill, the most distinguished woman in Ireland in her time, except her mother alone, for personal figure and form, in fame and nobility, having exchanged this transitory world for eternal life, entered a religious and devout order in the monastery of Killaghy (in King's county). Hugh, son of Murtogh Oge Mac Geoghegan, the most active champion of the southern Hy NiaU, and heir to the chieftaincy of all Kinel Fiacha (in Westmeath), died of a short sickness. Edmond, son of Edmond Burke, and Fehm, son of Murrogh Mac Rannall, died. Gillananeev, son of Aireachtagh, the son of Solom (Solomon) Mac Egan, chief Brehon and professor of laws in Ireland, died. William O'Doran, chief Brehon of Leinster, and his wife, died of the plague. Owen, son of Pedras, the son of Saordalaidh O'Breslen, chief Brehon of Fermanagh, and head erenach of Aireach Maolain (DerryvuUen in Fer- managh), died. Conor, the son of John Mac Branan (in Ros- common), having resigned his lordship, Tomaltach Carrach, son of Con, the son of Hugh, was ap- pointed his successor. The monastery of Leix (Abbeyleix in Queen's county), in Leinster, in the bishoprick of Leighhn, was founded by O'Moore, in honour of St. Francis ; and he selected it as a burying place for the O'Moore and his posterity. A.D. 1448. A great plague raged in Meath, of which Conor, the son of Hugh O'FeiTall, Dermod Mac Conway, and Henry Duv Mac Techeden, three of the friars of Longford O'Ferrall, died. Conor Mac Faolchudha, bishop of Ros Ailithir (Ross), died. The abbot of the Trinity on Lough Key died. James Oge, son of James Gallda, the son of the earl of Ormond, died. Cathal, the son of O'Conor Faily, was killed by the English of Leinster. Cuchonacht, the son of Philip Mac Guire, died after having gained the victory of repentance, and was buried in the church of Aghalurcher. O'Hara Riavach was killed. O'Loughlin, lord of Burren, died. NiaU O'MuUoy was killed by the people of Hy Riagain (in Queen's county). Conor, son of John, the son of Eachmarcach Mac Branan, lord of Corcachlan (in Roscommon), for thirty six years, died at Dumha Sealga in Moy Aoi, having resigned his lordship the year previous, and was interred at Roscommon. Cathal, son of Felim, the son of Roderick O'Conor, was killed by the sons of Roderick, the son of Cathal O'Conor, namely, Torlogh and Dermod. REIGN OF HENRY VI. 257 Teige Oge, son of Teige, the son of Gillacollam O'Higgin, chief professor of poetry of Ireland and Scotland, died after repentance, at Kilconla (in Galvvay), and was buried in the monastery of Ath- leathan (in Mayo). Derniod, son of Owen, the son of Mahon O'Daly, chief professor of the men of Meath, a learned man and poet, died, and was interred at Durrow of Columkille (in King's county). A. D. 1449. Donogh, son of Tiarnan Oge (O'Rourke), lord of West Brefney, being in a consumptive disease of the chest for a year, died, and Tiarnan, the son of Teige O'Rourke, was elected by West Brefney as his successor, Owen, the son of John (O'Reilly), lord of Muin- ter Maolmora (county of Cavan), died, and John O'Reilly, his son, was appointed by O'Neill, and by the tribe of John O'Reilly ; and Fergal, the son of Thomas More OReilly, was elected by the Clan Mahon O'Reillys, and by the English, in conse- quence of which a great contention and commo- tion arose between them ; the lord justice (Richard Nugent, baron of Delvin) and the earl of Ormond, having gone to aid Fergal O'Reilly, John, with his forces, made an attack on the van of their army, and slew and took prisoners three score of them, with the son of Torlogh, and the son of Donal Bane O'Reilly. Bryan Oge O'Neill died. More, daughter of Hugh, the son of Philip Mac Guire of the Battle Axe, the wife of Ai-t, the son of Owen O'Neill, died. A.D. 1449. 1. Dtihe of YorJi. Ricliard Plantagenet, duke of York, earl of March and Rutland, earl of Ulster and Cork, lord of Connauglit, Clare, Trim, and Meath, landed at Howth in July, 1449, as lord lieutenant of Ireland, the conditions on which he accepted the ap- pointment heing, that he should be the king's lieutenant in Ireland for ten years, and that to support the charge he should receive all the king's revenues without account ; and that he should also be supplied with treasure out of England, namely, four thousand marks the first year, and two thousand pounds advanced before- hand, and for the other nine years should receive two thousand pounds per annum ; that he might let or farm any of the king's lands, and place or displace all officers at his pleasure ; that he might levy what numbers of men he thought fit, and might be at liberty to appoint a deputy, and return at his pleasure. During his administration in Ireland, for a period of eight years, the following Lords Deputies acted under him, namely — in 1450, James Butler, earl of Ormond ; in 14,r2, Richard Nugent, baron of Delvin ; in 14.53, John Mey, archbishop of Armagh ; in 1454, Thomas Fitzge- rald, earl ofKildare; in 1436, Edward Fitz Eustace, baron of Manus Buighe, son of Carbury, the son of Dun- Mac Guire, died. Mac tiuillan defeated Murtogh Roe O'Neill in an engagement, in which the son of Maolmuire Mac Sweeny, the constable of O'Neill's son, and Aon- gus, the son of Mac Donnell of Scotland, with many others, were slain. A great commotion arose among the Connal- lians, by which much damage was done. O'Felan and Gillcreest Mac Ward, died. Hugh, son of Loghlin, the son of Geoffrey (O'Flanagan), for a considerable time lord of the Clan of Cahill, the son of Muiredach Muilleathan (king ofConnaught in the seventh century), having resigned his lordship for the love of God, and con- sented to have Dermod, the son of GeofiVy O'Flana- gan, appointed in his place, died. The duke of York' having arrived in Ireland with great honour, the earls of Ireland, and the Irish on the borders of Meath, came and submitted to him ; and gave him as many oxen as he desii'ed, for the use of his kitchen. A.D. 1450. The archbishop of Connaught, namely, the son of the parson, the grandson of John Burke, died in Galway, (according to Ware, John Burke, archbishop of Tuam). Pierce or Peter Maguire, bishop of Clogher, died at Cleenish, and was interred at Lisgoole. The bi.shop O'Gallagher (of Raphoe) died. Edmond, abbot of Eas Roe (at Ballyshannon), died. Conor O'Donnell, tanist of Tu'connell, died. Portlester; and in 1450, Thomas, earl ofKildare, a second time. The duke of York had extensive hereditary estates in Ireland, de- rived from the de Burgos, earls of Ulster, the Mortimers, earls of March, and Lionel, duke of Clarence, and had many contests with the Irish chiefs, particularly the Mac Geoghegans of West- meath, of whom he complains in a curious letter, given in Cam- pion's Chronicle, that they had burned one of his chief towns, called Rathmore, in Meath. His administration in Ireland is stated to have been conducted with great equity and moderation, and he became very popular amongst all classes. The duke departed from Ireland in"l4fiO to assert his claim to the crown of England against King Henry VI., of the house of Lancaster, for as head of the House of York' he was heir to the throne ; a great number of the Anglo-Irish nobility and gentry of Meath, and other jiarts of the English pale, accompanied him to England, but were mostly all killed at the liattle of Wakefield, A. D. 1460, in which the Lan- castrians were victorious, and nearly three thousand of the York- ists, together with the duke himself, were slain. The duke's sou succeeded to the throne of England as King Edward IV. 2 L 258 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A.D. 1451. Nicholas O'Flanagan, parson of Devenish, died at Rome, whither he had gone on a pilgrimage. Maguire, namely, Thomas, son of Thomas, the son of Philip of the Battle- Axe, went on a pilgrim- age to Rome, and in a week after his departure Donogh Dunchadhach, hrother of Maguire, namely toThomasOge, proceeded to the residence of Cathal, the son of Maguire, and took him prisoner in his house at Cnocnindidh (Knockninny in Ferma- nagh), and after having plundered his place he brought him to Gort-an-Fheadain, where he slew him, and then proceeded to Tullaghonoho (in Ca- van), to attack Edmond and Donogh Maguire ; and some time after Donogh Duncadhach went to hold a conference with Edmond and Donagh at their place, where they made j)eace with each other ; but, however, Edmond at length took Donogh Duncadhach prisoner by surprise, and brought him with him to Aughalurcher, where he cut off one of his hands and feet, in revenge of the death of Cathal. Murtogh O'Flanagan, chief of Tura (in Ferma- nagh), having gone to Rome on a pilgrimage, died after having gained the victory of repentance, and his brother Connac succeeded him, Henry O'Neill, Art O'Neill, and the son of Owen O'Neill, having collected their forces, march- ed into Trian Congaile' to aid Mac Quillan; and Niall, the son of Henry, the son of Owen, went to commit depredations on Murtogh, the son of Niall Buighe, and plundered him; but Owen, the son of Bryan Oge O'Neill, overtook him, defeated his party, and gave Niall two thrusts of his spear, by which he killed him, and he was buried at Armagh with great honours. John, the son of Owen O'Reilly, and Donal Ban O'Reilly, concluded a peace with each other, and Fergal, the son of Thomas More, (O'Reilly), hav- ing resigned the lordship, received pay from John, the son of Owen, who got possession of all Brefney. Teige, son of Philip, the son of Thomas Ma- guire, was killed by the sons of Cormac Mac Gau- ran, and was buried at Lisgoole. Andrew, son of Gillcreest O'Droma, a wise and pious man, died after returning from Rome. O'Cassidy of Cuil (Coole in Fermanagh), namely, A.D. 1450. 1 . Trinn Congnil appears to have been a large territory in tlie Teige, the son of Joseph, chief physician of Fer- managh, died. O'Higgin i. e. Tuathal, chief professor of Ireland in poetry, died of a sudden sickness. Great depredations were committed by the son of Mac Geoghegan on the English, during which he plundered and burned Rathvvire, Killucan, (both in Westmeath), Bally Portel, Bally-na-nGall Orgiall (the town of the English of Oriel), and Kilbixy (in Westmeath) ; and during that com- motion he took Carbry, the son of Lisagh, the son of Rossa, (O'Ferrall), prisoner, and slew the two sons of Tobias, the son of Hoberd, and Bryan, the son of Lisagh, the son of Rossa, in the great town of LoughSeudy (in Westmeath), and, in short, spoiled an immense deal during that war. The English of Meath, and the duke of York, with the king's standard, marched to Mulhngar ; and the son of Mac Geoghegan, with a great force of cavalry in armour, marched on the same day to Beul-atha- glas, to meet the English, who came to the resolu- tion of making peace with him ; and they forgave him all he had committed on them, on conditions of obtaining peace. Donogh O'Gallagher, the coarb of Adamnan (abbot of Raphoe), died. A. D. 1451. Redmond, son of William Bermingham, died on his journey from Rome, after his appointment to the see of Tuam. The monastery of Cavan was burned. Margaret, daughter of O'CarroU, i. e. Teige, the wife of O'Conor Faily, namely, the Calvach, the best woman in her time in Ireland, for it was she who gave two general entertainments of hospitality in one year to the poor, died after the victory of extreme unction and repentance, and having gain- ed the victory over the world and the devil. Felim O'Conor, the son of the Calvach, and of the forementioned Margaret, heir to the lordship of Oft'aley, a man of great fame and nobility, died, after having been in a consumptive disease for a long time ; and there was only one night between the death of each. soutliern part oftlie county of Antrim, of which the O'Neills of Claneboy were lords, as stated in tlie course of these Annals. REIGN OF HENRY VI. 259 MuiTogh O'Madden, lord of Siol Anmcha, (in Galway), the most provident man in his own territory, and of the most valiant hand and best government, died. Roderick, son of Maohnora Riavach O'Conor, died. Owen, son of Conor Mac Gillfinnen, son of the chief of Muintir Peodachain (in Fermanagh), and Gillpatrick Buighe Mac Gillfinnen, were slain by Cuchonacht, the son of John, the son of Cu- chonacht Maguire, on the 6th of the Ides of February. A great commotion arose amongst the Hy Ma- nians (O'Kellys of Galway), and O'Conor Don marched to the aid of O'Kelly, who gave him his son, along with two other hostages, as security for twenty marks, which the Hymanians had previously received, viz. : fourteen marks in purchase for peace land from Torlogh Oge, which Hugh O'Co- nor had paid in, and six marks more fi'om Mac Geoghegan in the same contest; and he (O'Conor) defended O'Kelly on that occasion. The castle of Corra Finne was erected by Mac William of Clanrickard. Cathal Duv, the son of Tomaltach Oge Mac Do- nogh, was killed. Cathal, the son of Bryan Mac Donogh, was kill- ed by Bryan himself, who cast a skean at him while opposing him respecting his protection. The three sons of Malachy O'Beirne, Teige, Wil- liam, and Donogh, were slain at Cluain Creamha, (Cloncraff, in Roscommon), in one hour, by the tribe of Malachy Mac Rannall, and by Donal, the son of Bryan O'Beirne. Fclim O'Conor plundei'ed 0'Gara,'and O'Gara plundered the inhabitants of the great town of O'Flynn (probably Castlerea, county of Roscom- mon). Dermod, son of Teige, the son of Cormac Mac Carthy, was killed ; and Dermod, the son of O'Sul- livan More (both in the county of Cork), was killed in revenge of him. Cathal Roe, the son of Cathal Duv O'Conor, died. Gillpatrick Oge O'Felan, a distinguished poet, died. A.D. 1452. 1. Cloch-an-bhodaigh, or the Giant's Stone, is a name applied A.D. 1452. Naghtan O'Donnell, the son of Torlogh of the AVine, lord of Tirconncll, Kinel Moain, Inisowen, and the neighbouring territories, a brave de- fending hero, the capital letter of peace or war of the north, was slain by the sons of Niall O'Don- nell, his brother, in the dusk of the night, on the festival of St. Brendan, because he had prevlouslj- expelled from Tirconnell those sons of Niall, namely, Donal and Hugh Roe ; Naghtan was sixty years of age when he was slain. Great commotions and dissensions arose between Donal, the son of Niall Garv, and Roderick, the son of Naghtan O'Donnell, about the lordship of Tirconnell, so that the country w^as in confusion between them, each having friends and abettors, in plundering and destroying one another ; many were slain and destroyed, and great plunders and de- predations were committed on both sides. O'Neill, i. e. Owen, with his forces, joined by Maguire, mai-ched into Feadha (the woods or Fews in Armagh), to war with the English of the plain of Oriel (Louth) ; the son of O'Neill, namely, Owen Oge O'Neill, and Maguire's people, pro- ceeded to Cloch-an-Bhodaigh' to plunder the English, from whom they carried oft" a prey to their camp, the English, and the people of Mac Mahon, with their ti-iends, pursued them, to reco- ver the prey, until they came to the camp ; O'Neill and Maguire, with their forces, pi-epared to oppose them, and a conflict ensued, in which Mac Donnell of the galloglasses, namely, Sorley More, and many besides, were slain, and others of their forces (O'Neill's and Mac Quire's forces), taken prison- ers. O'Neill returned to his fortress that night, in great wTath, and Henry, his son, on receiving intelligence of this, came to his father's place, and after thatMacMahon went to O'Neill and his sons, and they made peace with each other, and an eraic (fine) was given to O'Neill as a reparation for the dishonour done him, and also a fine for the death of Mac Donnell. The earl of Ormond (James Butler) lord justice of Ireland, demolished the castle of Uaithne (Ow- ney, on the borders of Tippei-ary and Limerick), on Conor O'Mulryan ; he took the castle of to some huge stones, part of a Drniplied in ancient times to the plains on both sides of the river Liffey, comprising a great part of the present county of Kildare, on both sides of the river Liffey, including the Curragh of Kildare, which was called Cuireach Liffe, and also parts of Dublin, along the Liffey. Sref/ifi, in Irish Magh Srengha, which signifies the fair or mag- nificent plain, was the name applied to the immense plain com- prising the present counties of Meath and Dublin, extending from Dulilin to Drogheda, to Duleek, Slane, Navan, Kells, Trim, Tara, Dunboyne, thence to Dunshaughlin,C'loonee,andCastleknock. In the account of the battle of Clontarf, in tlie Annals of Innisfallen, it is mentioned that Bryan Born fell in Bregia, tlius the plain of Clontarf was part of Bregia. Tliis extensive territory was di- vided into North and Soutii Bregia, as frequently mentioned in tlie Annals. Doctor Charles O'Conor translates Magh Breagha into Campus Brigantium, signifying the ]dain of the Brigantes, as he considered that it was chiefly possessed in ancient times by the Clnnna Breogain, or Irish Brigantes, a branch of the Milesians, of whom an account has been given in the note on Hy Kinsellagh. Flngall, a name still retained, was applied to a large territory, part of ancient Bregia, extending between Dulilin and Drogheda, along tlie sea coast, and a few miles into the interior, containing the greater part of the present baronies of Coolock, Nethercross, and Balrothery, in the county of Dublin, and got its name, ac- cording to various authorities, from a colony of Norwegians who settled there in the tenth century, and were called by the Irish Finnn Ghaill, signifying the Fair-haired Foreigners, and the Danish colony, wJio are stated to have lieen partly located south of the river Liffey, near Dublin, were called Diibh Ghaill, signifying Dark-haired Strangers. In the Annals of the Four Masters Fin- gall is written in the Irish Fine Gall, which signifies a Colony of Foreigners. The territory ofFingall, together with the city of Dublin, was possessed by the Danish and Norwegian colonies for about three centuries, as hereafter explained. All that part of the present county of Dublin north of the river Liffey was, it appears, part of Bregia, and was comprised within the ancient kingdom of Meath, as explained in the note on Meath; and when Hugh de Lacy obtained a grant of the kingdom of Meath from king Henry II., Hugh Tyrrell, one of de Lacy's friends, was made baron of Castleknock, and another of his barons, namely, Adam Feipo, or Phepoe, obtained Skrine, Santriff, or Santry, and Clontorth, now either Clouturk, near Dublin, or Clontarf That part of the present county of Dublin north of the river Liffey, being included in the ancient kingdom of Meath, was subject to the kings of Meath ; and the part south of the Liffey was subject to the kings of Leiuster. A great part of the county of Kildare, as above ex- order of St. Francis, and Inis Arcain lies in the country of O'DriscoU. The monastery of InisCorthadh,'' in Leinster, in the diocese of Ferns, on the banks of the river called Slaney, was founded for Franciscan friars. plained, was included in Moy Liffey, and the rest of Kildare be- longed to different other territories, as shewn in the notes on Menth, Ossory, Offaley, and Leix, partly to the kingdom of Meath, which contained parts of the baronies of Ikeath and Carbery ; partly to Offaley, which contained Mie two baronies *of Offaley, in the principality of O'Conor Failey, and in part of Clanmalierc, or O'Dempsey's country ; partly to Leix, which contained the barony of West Narragh and Rlieban, in the principality of O'Moiu-e, and partly to the O'TooIes, princes of Imaile in VVicklow, who pos- sessed, as shewn in the notes on Hy Kinsellagh and Cualan, parts of the baronies of South Naas, Kilcullen, East Narragh, Kilkea, and Moone. Ancient History. — The territories now forming the counties of Dublin and Kildare are connected with some of the earliest events in Irish history. Partholan, the Scythian, who planted the first colony in Ireland, according to our old annalists, about fifteen cen- turies before the Christian era, had his residence at Bi>in Eadair, signifying the Hill of Eadair, now the Hill of Howth, which was also called Dan Eatair, signifying the fortress of Fltair, and de- rived its name, according to the Book of Dinseanchus, from Eadar, or Eatar, one of the Tuath de Danan queens, who was buried there, and to whose memory a great cairn was raised. This is a more probable derivation for I^inn Eadair than that of various writer?^ who state that it signified the Hill of Oaks. Partholan was cut off at this place by a plague, together with his entire co- lony, consisting of nine thousand persons, all of whom were buried at Moy nEalta, or the Plain of the Birds, so named from the great numbers of sea fowl that resorted thither, and afterwards called Clontarf According to O'Brien and others, however, the Partho- lanians were buried at a place called Tamlachta Muintire Partho- lain, signifying the burial cairns of Partholan's people, which is now the Hill of Tallaght, near Dublin. Fulman, one of the Mile- sian chiefs, about one thousand years before the Christian era, is stated to have erected a fortress at a place called Raith-Arda- Suird, now Swords, near Dublin. Conary the Great, who was monarch at the commencement of the Christian era, had a royal residence and fortress on the Hill of Howth, and made many mili- tary expeditions into Gaul and Britain. C'riomthan Nianair, mo- narch of Ireland in the first century, also had his chief residence and fortress, called Dun Criomthain,on the Hill of Howth ; he was a famous warrior, celebrated for his military expeditions to Gaul and Britain, and brought to Ireland from foreign countries many valuable spoils, amongst other things a gilded war chariot, three tables ornamented with gems, four rich garments, two golden- hilted swords, adorned with precious stones, and shields embossed with silver ; two hounds coupled together with a silver chain, va- lued at three hundred cows; and, according to the Glossary of Cormac Mac Cullenan, this was the first introduction of grey- hounds into Ireland. Criomthan brought o\ er various other arti- cles of great value, as mentioned in 6'Flaherty's Ogygia, and in the old historians. The ancient Irish chieftains, like their Celtic or Scythian ancestors, and various nations of antiquity, fought in war chariots, in the same manner as the Gauls and Britons described by CiEsar and Tacitus, in their battles with the Romans, and our ancient bards and annalists give copious accounts of the Irish chiefs fighting in their chariots, amongst others the cele- brated champion Cuchullin, who was one of the chiefs of the Red Branch Kniglits of Ulster about the commencement of the Chris- tian era, and had his fortress at Dun Dealgan, now Dundalk ; and bis cotemporary Meava, the famous heroine and queen ofC'on- natigiit, like the British queen Boadicea, is described as command- ing her own forces in person, mounted on a magnificent gilded chariot, and wearing a golden A>:io7i or crown on her head, and attended by a great retinue of chiefs, also in their war-chariots. In the second century, Dublin is mentioned by our old historians un- REIGN OF EDWARD IV. 267 A.D. 1461. DWARD IV.' was proclaimed king of England, on the 4th of March. Felim, son of Ow- en, son of Niall Oge O'Neill, died of a sudden fit ; and he was a man distinguished for hospitality and feats of der tliename of Afh CVmfh DtibhVinne, siixnifying the Ford of the Hurdles on the Black Pool, and so called from a ford over which a passage was constructed by hurdles, on the bofrtry pool of the Liffey. About the middle of the second century, Mogha ^flladhat, called also Eo^ran More, a celebrated kinc; of Munster, havintj long: contended for the sovereignty of Ireland with the monarch Con of the Hundred Battles, they at length agreed todividc the island be- tween them Ity a line, drawn direct from Dublin to Galway, along the river Liffey to Leixlip, thence through Kildare and Oft'aley, now part of the King's county, to the Shannon at Clonmacnois, and onward to the bay of Galway. This boundary was marked, according to O'Halloran and otliers, by ramparts, and a cliain of fortresses, and was called Eisyir Riado, from Eisgir, which signi- fies a ridge, and a chain of small hills is still traceable along the line of this ancient boundary. The southern division of Ireland, belonging to the king of Munster, was called Leath Mogha, or Mogha's Half, and comprised the ancient kingdoms of Leinster and Munster, and the northern division, called Leath Cuinn, or Con's Half, comprehended the ancient kingdoms of Meath, Ulster, and Connaught, and these two great divisions of Ireland, in the poli- tical contests of various kings, were recognised afterwards for many centuries, as several so\ereigns w^ere styled kings of Leath Cuinn, and others kings of Leath Mogha, and these divisions are frequently mentioned in our Annals, even down to the sixteenth century. Amimgst the notices of Dublin in those early times, it may be mentioned that Laoghaire, monarch of Ireland in the tifth century, liad a royal residence and fortress at a place called from him Dun Laoghaire, afterwards Dunleary, now Kingstown. Many of the most celebrated battles recorded in Irish history in ancient times, have been fought on the great plains of Meath, Dub- lin, and Kildare ; and many of those battles, as those of Cnucha, Maistean, Almhain, Athrodain, and Beallach Mughna, have been described in the notes on Hy Kinsellagh, Ossory, Offaley and Leix. The Battle of Gaum, caWed by the Irish historians Cath Gabh- ra, celebrated in the writings of the ancient annalists and hards, was fought, according to the Four Masters, A. D. -84; but in O'Flaherty's Ogygia it is placed at A. D. 296. In the Four Mas- ters it is called the battle of Gabhra Aichle, a place situated near Tara in Bregia, and considered to be Skreen, in Meath ; but, ac- cording to others, the place where the battle was fought is sup- posed to be that now called Garristown, in the county of Dublin, on the borders of Meath ; and the circumstances which led to this battle were as follows : Tlie Fenians, called by the Irish writers Fianna Eirionn, sig- nifying the Fenians of Ireland, are mentioned in the Four Masters under the name of Fene, or Peine, which, aecordini to Dr. O'Conor in his notes to the Pour Masters, signifies the Phenicians of Ire- land, as Peine, according to Dr. O'Brien, in his Dictionary at the word Fearmoigh, signifies Phenicians ; and they were probably called so from the tradition that Phenicians came to Ireland in the early ages. They are also called by the Irish writers C/ann-l/a- Baoisgine, and so named, according to Keating and others, from Baoisgine, who was chief commander of these warriors, and ances- arms,an entertainer of learned men and strangers, a man who purchased more poems, and possessed a greater collection of poetry, than any other man in his time : he died, after havina; gained the victory over the world and the devil. Hugh, son of Torlogh Oge O'Conor, lord of half Connaught in opposition to Teige O'Conor, a wor- thy representative of a king .of the province of Connaught, in form and personal figure, in valour, in warfare, and in patronage of learned men, and of all others who were deserving of it, died at Bal- lintobber of St. Bridget (in Roscommon), on the Ides of May, after extreme unction and repentance. tor of the famous hero Fionn, the son ofCamhall; but according to O'Conor, in his notes to the Four Masters, they were called Baoisgine, as being descended from the Milesians wlin came from Basconia, in Spain, now Biscay, in the country anciently called Cantabria. The Fenian warriors were a faujous military force, forming the standing national militia, and instituted in Ireland in the early ages, long before the Christian era, but brought to the greatest perfection in the reign of tiie celebrated Cormac, monarch of Ireland in the third century. None were admitted into this mi- litary body but select men of the greatest activity, strength, sta- ture, perfect form, and valour, and, when the force was complete, it consisted of seven Catha, that is, battalions or legions, each battalion containing three thousand men, according to O'Halloran and various other historians, making 21,000 for each of the five provinces, or about one hundred thousand fighting men in time of war for the entire kingdom. The Ardrigh, or head king of Ire- land, had, for the time being, chief cimtroul over these forces, but they often resisted his authority. A commander was appointed over every thousand of these troops, and the entire force was com- pletely armed and admirably disciplined, and each battalion had their liands of musicians and bards to aitiinate them in battle, and celebrate their feats of arms. In the reisxn of the monarch Cormac, the ce- lebrated Fionn MacCumhaill, who was descended from the Here- monian kings of Leinster, was the chief commander of the Fenian warriors, and his great actions, strength, and valour are celebrated in the Ossianic poems, and variousotherproductionsof the ancient bards ; he is called Fingal in Mac Pherson's Poems of Ossian ; but it is to be observed that these are not the real poems ofOssian, but mostly fictions fabricated by Mac Pherson himself, and containing some passages from the ancient poems. Fionn had his chief resi- dence and fortress at Almhuinn, now either the hill of Allen, near Kildare, or Ailinn, near Old Kilcullen, where a great rath still re- mains, which was a residence of the ancient kings of Leinster. The Fenians were the chief troops of Leinster, and were Milesians of the race of Heremon ; and their renowned commander Fionn, ac- cording to the Four Masters, was slain by the cast of ajavelin, or, according to others, by the shot of an arrow, at a place called Ath Brea, on the river Boyne, A. D. 283, the year before the battle of Ciaura, by the Lugnians of Tara, a tribe who possessed the terri- tory now called the barony of Lune, near Tara,-in Meath ; and the place mentioned as Ath Brea, or the Ford of Brea, was situated somewhere on the Boyne, between Trim and Navan. Clanna Mornn, so called from Monia, one of their celebrated chiefs, were the warriors of Connaught and of the Firbolg race, called Fir Domnians or Damnouians, and were afterwards com- manded bv a famous champion named Goll,the son of Monia. The Red Branch Knights of Ulster, called Cnraidhe-na- Craoibhe Runidhe, signifying the Warriors of the Red Braneli, were the chief military force of Ulster, principally residing about Emania, where stood the palace of the kings of Ulster, near Armagh, and highly celebrated in the first century under theur champions Cuchullain, and Conall Ceamach or Conall the victo- rious. 2 M 2 268 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A. D. 1461. in the 63rd year of his age, and was interred at Roscommon. The sons of Niall Garv O'Donnell, namely. The Clanna Denga, or Degnd'inns, in the first, second, and third centuries, were tlie cliief warriors of Munster ; they were Heremonians originally from Ulster, but settled in Munster in early times, and an account of them has been given in the notes on Thomond and Desmond. The Dnlcnssmns, called by the Irish writers Dal-gCais, from Corniac Cas, a famous king of Munster of the race of Heher in the third century, were the chief warriors of Munster from the third to the twelfth century, and formed mostly by the clans of Thomond, now tlie county of Clare, with parts of Limerick and Tipperary ; and they are highly celebrated in Irish history, particularly under Brian Boru, who was himself of the Dalcassian race ; an account of them has been given in the notes on Thomond and Desmond. In the reign of king Cairbre Liffeachair, son of the monarch Cor- mac, the Fenian forces revolted from the service of Cairbre, and joined the famous Mogh Corb, king of .Munster, of the race of the Dal- cassians. After the death of Fionn Mac Cumhaill, the Fenians were commanded by his son Oisin or Ossian, the celebrated warrior and bard ; and at tlie time of tlie battle of Gaura, Osgar, another famous champion, the son of Oisin, commanded the Fenian forces. The array of .Munster, commanded liy Mogh Corb, a name which signifies the Chief of the Chariot, and by his son Fear Corb, that is, the man or warrior of the chariot, was composed of the Clanna Deagha and Dalcassian troops, joined by the Fenians and their Leinster forces ; and it is stated in tlie Ossianic poems, and in Hanmer's Chronicle, from the Book of Howth, that a great body of warriors from North Britain, Denmark, and Norway, came over and fought on the side of the Fenians at Gaura. The army of the monarch Cairbre was composed of the men of Meatli and Ulster, together witli tlie Clanna Morna, or Conuaught warriors, commanded by Aodh or Hugh, King ofConnaught, sonof Garadh, grandson of Morna of the Damnonian race. The Munster forces, and Fenians, marched to Meath, where they were met by the com- bined troops of the monarch Cairbre, and fought one of the most furious battles recorded in Irish history, which continued through- out the whole length of a summer's day. The greatest valour was displayed by the warriors on each side, and it is difficult to say which army were victors or vanquished. The heroic Osgar was slain in single combat by the valiant monarch Cairbre, but Cairbre himself soon afterwards fell by the hand of the champion Simon, the son of Ceirli, of the race of the Fotharts of Leinster. Both armies amounted to about fifty thousand men, the greater part of whom were slain ; of the Fenian forces, who consisted of twenty thousand men, it is stated that eighteen thousand fell ; and on both sides, thirty thousand warriors were slain. In the follow- ing year, Hugh, king of Connaught, according to O'Flaherty's Ogygia, defeated the Munster forces in a battle at Spaltraeh, near the mountain Senchua, in Muscry, in which he slew Mogh Corb, king of Munster. The tremendous battle of Gaura is considered to have led to the subsequent fall of tlie Irish monarchy, for after the destruction of the Fenian forces, the Irish kings never were able to muster a national army equal in valour and discipline to those heroes, either to cope with foreign foes, or to reduce to sub- jection the rebellious provincial kings and princes; hence the monarchy became weak and disorganised, and the ruling powers were unable to maintain their authority or make a sufficient stand against the Danish and Anglo-Norman invaders of after times. The following passages respecting the battle of Gaura, have been literally translated from one of the poems attributed to Oisin on that subject, and supposed to have been written in the third century, though it is to be observed that many of the poems called Ossianic were written long subsequent to that period, as they refer to events which occurred several centuries afterwards, and appear to be additions to the original poems of Oisin. The best collection extant of the Ossianic poems in Irish MS., with translations into English, are in the library of sir William Betham, and if published by that learned antiquary and Irish scholar, would form a valuable contribution towards ancient Irish literature. In the poem, Oisin Hugh Roe and Owen, having mustered all their forces, marched to Fanat (in Donegal), to the re- sidence of Maolmuire, the son of Mac Sweeney, the bard, the father of Osgar, is introduced as narrating the events of the battle, as follows : " On our march from Binn Eadair (Howth) The entire of our numbers were Three hundred Fenian chiefs, With their respective bands of warriors. "There were thirty descendants Of the race of Fionn of the Fenians, Who always bore shields and spears. In the time of conflict and slaughter. " There were the Fenian champions From Alba (Scotland) and from the king of Britain, Through their friendship for the Fenians of Almhuin, Who joined us in that great battle. " From the commander of nine upwards. There were of the mighty Fenians of Lochlin (Denmark), Numbers who joined us in that great conflict, And who also shared in the slaughter. " In this battle of Gaura of fearful blows, Fighting against Osgar, my son, Was the monarch Carbery of the Liffey With all the forces of Erin. "There was Hugh, the son of Garadh, With his ten hundred warriors ; The king of Connaught and his forces Were against us in that battle. " There were five battalions from Ulster, Together with the men of Meath Wiio joined against us, with Carbry, And we were unequal to the number of our foes. " When my son Osgar had seen The king of Erin taking the lead. He vowed, himself, to slay the monarch And cut him down with his keen sword. " Then Osgar the Great and Generous Earnestly requested permission To lead tl:e van of the battle, At the head of his own battalions. " And Beine, the son of Breasal, A hero of great strength and valour, Said that he and the Fenians of Britain Would march in the same rank with Osgar. " The son of Lughaidh the brave. Who was always victorious in battle. Said that he, accompanied by Cuirioll, Should lead the army in the battle of Gaura. " Then Cuirioll cast his spear At random with fierce rage. And drove the unlucky dart Through the body of the son of Breasal. " The noble Osgar, in a loud voice, Then demanded from Cuirioll, ' Why hast thou slain my friend. Thou son of Fionn, the son ofCumhall?' " Cuirioll the Fair then made answer In a violent passion to Osgar — ' If thou be the son of Oisin I wish that thou hadst fallen in his stead.' REIGN OF EDWARD IV. 269 to aid him against O'Donnell, i. e. Torlogh Cairp- for his having aUied himself to the sons of Niall. reach, who was wi-eaking his vengeance on the The sons of Niall, and the sons of Mac Sweeney, son of Mac Sweeney, and on the entire of Fanat, held a consultation to determine on what they " My son was seized with anger On hearing such utterance, And, on the instant, demanded A combat from the champion. " On the body of the son of Garaidh, On retiring from the combat with Osgar, Were inflicted three score wounds, And very deep and dangerous were they. " Then Osgar and CuirioU Met each other in conflict, Whilst I endeavoured to intercede Along with Faolan and Fiachra, " From the overwhelming blows of Osgar, And of the descendants of Morna of combats ; You might behold, over the glens, A flashing fire from the clash of their arms. " With regard to my son, Osgar, In this contest with Cuirioll, Two hundred of the Fenians fell In our efforts to appease their anger. "The son of Garaidh was subdued, And great indeed was the loss, By Osgar, who was never conquered, Either in combat or in the battle field. ** We then raised our standards To commence tlie battle of Gaura, We ourselves, and the Fenians of Leinster, Against Carbry and the Clanna Morna. " A dart was cast by the king of Erm, Who bore in his hand the poisoned arms, Which pierced the body of the sharp-sworded Osgar, And this fatal wound extended to his heart. " Then Fergus the poet prepared, The chief bard of the Fenians, To encourage us on to the fight In advancing to the battle of Gaura. " Osgar, my son, fell to the ground, Who had never before been conquered, But before he fell his pointed spear Pierced the body of the monarch Carbry. "' March onward, 0! valiant Osgar, Thou cleaver of the helmets of heroes, And by thy prosperous standard, Obtain renown and victory. " Seven princes in that battle, Who were eligible to the throne of Erin, Were slain that day by my son. Before he encountered Carbry. "* Acquire fresh conquering courage Against Hugh, the son of Garaidh, And against the opposing kings, And completely subdue them by slaughter.' " Numerous were the pools of blood. On the extensive plain of Gaura, And many heads were strewn there. Severed from their bodies by the carnage of that battle. " We advanced closely to the conflict, And rushed against the king and his forces ; And such a sight as then appeared Will never again be recorded. " Of the valiant heroes who fell on that plain Were two hundred presumptive heirs. Who were by right entitled To royal crowns in Erin. " The Fenians of Britain, who fought on our side. Against a thousand men of the son of Garaidh, Were fiercely cut down in that battle; Oh ! unhappy to us was their destructitm. *' With undaunted valour we fought That dreadful battle of Gaura ; Together tlie Fenians bravely fell Eighteen of their kings and royal princes. " The Fenians of Leinster were likewise cut down. And the Fenians of Alba, by the son of Garaidh, Ten hundred valiant warriors In that onset were slaughtered. " Many a polished buckler you might behold, And standards of chieftains of the finest Srol, Many lifeless heroes, with tiieir fihields. Strewed in heaps all over the plain. " My son then rushed onward On the battalions of Tara, Like a hawk amongst small birds, Or like a dashing wave of the ocean. " We did not collect the precious ornaments But of heroes famed for victory. We did not take away from the battle field But the jewels of kings and exalted chiefs. 1 " He made a fierce charging onset Against the forces of the men of Erin, When three hundred chieftains fell. By Osgar of the powerful strokes. " From the day of the battle of Gaura The Fenians never after raised their voices. And there passed neither night nor day, That we did not spend in grief and siglis. " Ten hundred, without fear, Of our determined enemies Now came on with the son of Garaidh, Who had not before engaged in the contest. " There has not been found from India in the cast To the very extremities of the world A king who has not been under our controul. Until the time of fighting that battle. " The son of Garaidh rushed onward, After arranging his men for battle. To meet Osgar of the purple armour. Brave and terrific were those chiefs. " No foreign invading prince ever came To the land of Fodhia (Ireland), in our time, But was forced to return without conquest. And retrace his steps by our valour. ** Twenty-four wounds were inflicted On the body of the brave Osgar, Which he received from the men of Carbry, Before he advanced against the son of Garaidh. " Lastly we raised the heroic Osgar, Exalted on the shafts of our spears, We conveyed him to a rising ground. To warn the Fenians of our sorrowful loss. 1 270 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A. D. 1461. should do in defending themselves against the sons of Naghtan O'Donnell and their forces, for they (the Mac Sweeney s) resolved to be revenged of " We constructed the graves of the heroes, And buried them witli princely honours, The tombs of the nolile and valiant Os