The ancient territory of Fermoy

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The ancient territory of Fermoy (Author: Unknown)

The exact boundary of the Caoille,
is there anyone of you who would describe it?
It was given to the son of Sonasc
for assisting at the Forbais. Et cetera.

¶2] That country consisted of two tricha (cantreds) before it was given to Mogh Ruith, and there were eigth tuatha in each triucha; and this is the boundary of the two triucha; even as flows the stream of Muilenn Mairteil in Sliabh Caín and Loch Luigni through An Machaire (the plain) and Glenn na nDíbergach (the glend of the reavers) through Móin Mór. On being given to Mogh Ruith they were made into one triucha, to lessen their rent-tribute

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for Mogh Ruith's posterity. And the security for keeping it thus relieved was Mogh Corb, son of Cormac Cas, and his posterity. And it was then portioned out into ten tuatha, eight answering to (ordinary) land and two of border land.

¶3] The first tuath that is reckoned of these is Eoghanacht of Glennomain (Glanworth), for it is the noblest of them, being of the free-tuatha of Cashel, together with its fortuath; and Hí Ingair, which is called Magh Fece, is the noblest townland of this tuath; Glennamhu and Ceapach Ingine Fearchair opposite, and Glenn Cainntin: out of which are the Hí Fhinghuie; and Lis Leithísil and Doire Hí Thnúthghaile, out of which are the Hí Thnúthghaile; Cathair Droinne (Caherdrinny), out of which are the Hí Annratháin; Dún Maelclaigh, —i.e. Daingen Eóghanachta (Ballindangan?) — and Achadh Loiscthí, out of which are the Hí Lachtnain and Hí Dubhthaigh and the Hí Leannáin and Hí Draignéin; Seanchua — that is Cell Ghalláin (Kilgullane) and Móin Banba — out of which are the Hí Doronaigh; and Lis na Caille, out of which are the Hí Dhubhghaill and Hí Chléirigh; and Ráth Mór, out of which are the Hí Drornáin. Leathbhaile Hí Chonchubhair (the half townland of Ó Conchubair), for Ó Conchubhair was chieftain of Ingair, that is, of Magh Feigi; and these are its names: Dún Loibín — that is, Teach an Turtáin — Cluain Dalláin (Clondulane), Móin Luachra, Cell Garháin. And its boundary is as runs the road that leads from Airgetlainn (Araglin) to Cnocán Dúin Martan and through it down to the Abhann Mhór (Blackwater); and the dyke running westward from Gort an Grain to Gort Droma Airthri, and thence west to the Seiscnén where it enters the Blackwater; and the Hí Dhalláin are hereditary owners (?) of Cluain Dalláin (Clondulane), Móin Luachra and Gort an Grain. Cell Aenamhna is the church of the Eoghanacht of Glennomain. And a third of the lands of Brí Gobhann (Brigown) belongs to that tuath, viz., Carrac Cormaic and Cell Danan, Cúl Domnann, Cluain Locha, Cluain Lena, Cluain Cairbreach, Cell Bracáin, Corrlis dá Conall craescru, Tipra Grugáin, Tulach Aedha, Ard Catha, Caim inssi, Dún Droighnén to the east of Aithlis Cenn fhaeladh.

¶4] After one tuath was made of two tuatha of Hí Chuáin, viz., of Hí Máille Machaire and Hí Ingardail, the chief townland

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of Hí Ingardail was Conbaidh (Convamore) — (so called) from Fionn's hounds which were drowned there — and out of that are the Hí Buadhaigh; An Mhartra, that is, áth Ubhla (Ballyhooly), out of which are the Hí Aichir; Cell Aichech (Killathy), out of which are the Hí Riagáin; Leitir (Letter), out of which are the Hí Corcráin; An Reclés, out of which are the Hí Mhaeil luaigh; Cell Conáin is the church of this tuath. Ó Conbaidhi is the chief over Hí Chuáin; and before one tuath was made of these Ó Riagáin was chief over Hí Ingardail.

¶5] Hí Máille Machaire, viz., Leac Glas (Licklash) and Cúl Baedáin, out of which are the Hí Thaimhdinigh and Hí Fhórgartaigh; Leathnocht in which are twelve² faimilies, viz: Ó Conbaidhi from Cathair Mic Máille, Hi Gormacháin from Lis Donnchadha, Hí Uallacháin from Corr Hí Uallacháin; Hí Lachtnáin from Fidhrus; Mac Cuirc from Cell Féichín; Hí Cheithearnaigh from Cnocán Tulaird; Hí Chaelbeannaigh from Corr Hí Chaelbeannaigh; Hí Chúichneacháin from Greallach Hi Chúichneacháin; Cell Cromglaisi, out of which are the Hí Chuáin; Laiche Hi Fiaich, out of which are the Hí Finnachta; Ard Fleadha, out of which are the Hí Chinn fhaela; Manann out of which are the Hí Chianaigh. Cell Cruimthir (Kilcrumper) is the church of that tuath. And a third of the termon of Brí Gobhann (Brigown) belongs to Hí Chuáin, viz: the two Ceannecains and Cúl Lughdhach, Móin Muicrinni, Cell Droma, An Mairbthír, Na Lianáin, Cnocán Hí Chróingilla, Bealach na Ros.

¶6] Tuath Ó Cuscraidh; viz. Liathmhuine and Cúl na nAracul, out of which are the Hí Lighda; Cluain Mac Carthain, out of which are the Hí Artúir; Lis an Cnuic, out of which are the Hí Donnchadha; Cell Mochuille, out of which are the Hí Bechegáin and Hí Dhunadhuigh and Hí Riagáin; Daire Faibleinn, out of which are the Hí Adhnacháin; Loch Arda Ó Cillín, out of which are the Hí Chuind; the half-townland of Hí Fhinn, out of which are the Hí Fhinn; and its other half-townland—The Ards—is in the termon of the Brí Gobhann (Brigown); Liagán Lig Uanach, out of which are the Hí Ithfearnáin; Durmach, out of which are the Hí Dunadhuigh. And the church of this tuath is áth Cros Molaga

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(Ahacros), out of which are the Hí Corcráin, Hí Ceannsáin, Hí Aenghusa, Hí Muircheartaigh, and Hí Duibhéidigh. And a third of the termon of Brí Gobhann itself and Cluain Aei, Carrac an Furnaidhi, Garrán Hí Adhnacháin, Baile Hí Mhaeil mórdha, Baile Hí Chuinn, Cnocán Muighi Ginne, Cluain Garbháin, Cúl Aithlis Cinn fhaeladh, Gort na Fuinnsinn, Cell Seanaigh (Kilshanny); and the surnames of this church are Ó Maeil mórdha its coarb and Ó Fhíngbín its doorkeeper, Ó Brain, Ó Dergáin, Ó Mulalaidh, Ó Flannagáin, and Meic an Bhreathnaigh; and the Hí Artúir are the chiefs of that tuath.

¶7] Tuath Ó Conail, that is, from Glenn Cubra to Lebglaise; and the Hí Dublaídh are the chiefs of this tuath; and Liatruim (Leitrim) from the Airgeadlainn (Araglin) eastward to Lebglaise—that is the hereditary land of Hí Dublaídh and Hí Aibiláin; Baile idir dá abhainn (Ballyderowen), that is, Ard Mac Coilbeard and Uamh Cróine, and from that eastward to Dún Ó nGennti is one townland; and out of that place are the Hí Aengusa; Magh Driséin half to the south of the river and half to the north; these are one townland, and out of it are the Hí Mhannóg; Feic Beg which is half a townland, and out of it are the Hí Riain and Hí Fhearghusa; its other half townland is Ráth Siadail and An Corrán, and out of it are the Hí Chuáin. Cell Uird (Kilworth) is the church of this tuath, and out of it are the Hí Mongáin, Hí Chuilinnáin and Hí Brocáin.

¶8] Hí Chuscraidh Sléibhe is the border land of the territory we have mentioned, viz., Cill Meithne (Kilbehenny), Gort Aicde, Maelrach, Lurga, Daire Léith, Ré mac Meadha, Glenn Domhain, Ceapach na Fian, Gort Ruadh, Ceapach Hí Mheadhra, Daire Leathan, Eidhnén Molaga, with its termon, is the church of this tuath; the coarb of this church is Mac Floinn, and the clerk of its crosier is Ó Coscráin.

¶9] The noblest tuath of the other half of that country is the tuath of Magh Finne, in which is Cathair Dubhagáin (Caherduggan) out of which are the Hí Dhubhagáin; and in breadth that tuath extends from Leth Reilgi na mBainleagh on the west to the river Carker on the east. Maistre Meic na Gamhnaighi, the Hí Dhaerghala are its hereditary owners; Daire Hí Dhiarmada, its hereditary owners are the Hí Dhiarmada and Hí Chochláin; Dún Tuilche, Cell

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Cuirnáin, Croch, out of which are the Hí Dhathail of Croch; Ard gCeananuis and Dún ar Aill (Doneraile), these are one townland, and out of it are the Hí Fhaeláin and the Hí Uirisi. Cell Fhada (Killadda) is the burial ground of that tuath, and it was Mac Congarbh—that is, Mochaomhóc—who consecrated that church. The Hí Mhaelbili are its coarbs; Hí Amhradha and Hí Labhardha and Hí Eirc are its hereditary owners, and the Hí Dubhtrochmhaeil their chieftains.

¶10] Another third of Hí Chon gan gairm is Magh Ó Catháin, that is, Mis Signighi and Carrac Léime Laeghairi (Carrigleamleary), out of these are the Hí Domnaill Ceannmuighi (?); Cell Cuili out of which are the Hí Fergala; Baile Hí Fhiacháin out of which are the Hí Fiacháin; Cluain Caisil and Daire na Téidi, Ardbaili Hí Annadha, out of which are the Hí Annadha; Garrán Ó nGníma, out of which are the Hí Gníma; Cúl Baili Hí Finn, out of which are the Hí Finn. Claenúir (Clenur) is their burial ground, and to the Hí Annadha, out of which are the Hí Annadha belongs by right the coarbship of that church, and the Hí Ceannagáin are its clerks. The Hí Brain from Cleitig, and they are of the Rathan people. And the Hí Domnaill are hereditary chieftains of that third, and with it belongs by custom the other two-thirds, when it happens that they have not a cheiftain among themselves.

¶11] The third third of Hí Chon gan gairm, viz., Magh nAla (Mallow), together with its sub-divisions (?), out of which are the Hí Gormáin; An Brugh adn Flaithneim, out of which are the Hí Ardgala; Tulach Finnlethid, out of which are the Hí Chuiléin; Magh Lis an Ibair, out of which are the Hí Donnagáin; Baile Hí Mhaelghuala (Ballymagooly), out of which are the Hí Mhaelghuala; Cell Ó nGeibinnáin, out of which are the Hí Gheibennáin and Hí Chaílte. Claenúir (Clenur) is the burial ground of that pair and of Hí Gormáin; Rathan is the burial ground of the remainder of the third. And Meic Fináin are the coarbs of Rathan. Its remaining surnames are Hí Chrainche, Hí Chonaill, Hí Chonaic, Hí Brain, and Meic Coirtéin; and the hereditary chieftain of that third is Ó Ardghala.

¶12] Hí Béce Abha—that is Dún Cruadha—out of which are the Hí Laeghairi; Na Rinni (Renny) by the river (Blackwater); out of these are the Hí Chairbre and Hí Chathail; Cell Laisre on

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both sides (of the river); out of it are the Hí Chléirigh; Móin Ainme (Monanimy) on both sides; out of it are the Hí Eóghuin; Ath na Crainn on both sides; out of it are the Hí Buachalla; Cell Chuáin (Kilquane) out of which are the Hí Fhiadhain—or I Iain—and the Hí Laegairi are its chieftains.

¶13] Hí Béice Uachtarach is the other half of that tuath, viz. Sonnach Gobann and Cluain Lochluinn about the Awbeg east and west, out of which are the Hí Ghobhann; Baili Hí Ghrigín; Glenn Tuircín east and west by the river; Daire Hí Chinnéidigh, out of which are the Hí Chinnéidigh; Cell Ossáin, Luimneach Beg to the west beyond Taedan, and from that eastward to Loch Luigni iwth its other surnames. Ó Gobhann is the hereditary chieftain of that half, and to him belonged by right the other half of Hí Béce whenever there was no suitable man of the Hí Laeghaire. Cell Commuir (Kilcummer) is the burial ground of the two divisions of the Hí Béce; and the Hí Chochláin its clerks.

¶14] Tuath Ó Fiannadhuigh extends from Baile Hí Ghormáin westward to the road in Druim Raite and to áth na Ceall and from the Blackwater to the territory of Magh Finne; Mac Fiannadhaigh is the chieftain of that tuath and its surnames are Hí Etromáin, Hí Annratháin and Hí Fir Eidhinn, Hí Brain Fhinn and Hí Dhubháin. Cill Cluaisi (Kilcoosha) is the burial ground of the that tuath.

¶15] Tuath Ó nDuinnín; in length it extends from the summit of Sliabh Caín to Echlasca Molaga, and in breadth it extends from the stream of Muilenn Marteil to Bearn Mic Imhair. Ó Lannáin is the chieftain of that tuath; Hi Chinaeda, Hí Seasnáin, Hí Dunghasa, and Hí Dungaili are its family-names.³ Cell Mainches is their burial ground.

¶16] The border land of this half is Rosach na Ríghraidi and Cathair Gobhann and Cluas Dubhoigi and an Charcuir (The Carker); adn the burial ground of that tuath is Cell Colmáin gerg (?), and the proper name is Hí Rosa; its length is from the top of Sliabh Caín to the Awbeg.