The king of Tara has granted,Or offered, ro edpair. This verb is obsolete in the modern Irish language, unless iodhbair may be considered a form of it. The Latin verb offero i.e. obfero, and its derivatives, bear some analogy with it, the Latin fer and the Irish beir being obvious cognates, and the ob and ed being prefixes. that is, Maelsechnaill,i.e. the servant or devotee of St. Sechnall or Secundius, the patron saint of Domhnach Sechnaill, now Dunshaughlin, in Meath. See Ussher's , p. 826, and Lanigan's , vol. i. p. 271. The name is usually anglicised Melaghlin, and latterly Malachy. The surname of O'Maelsechnaill was taken by the descendants of Maelsechnaill or Maelsechlainn, monarch of Ireland (who died in the year 1022), who were the heads of the southern Hy-Nial race; it is usually anglicised O'Melaughlyn or O'Melaghlin, in Anglo-Irish documents previous to the reign of Queen Anne, since which period it has been changed to Mac Loughlin, by an unaccountable whim of custom. son of ConchobharUsually anglicised Conogher, Cnogher, or Crohoor, in old Anglo-Irish documents, and now Conor. It is also often latinized Cornelius. O'Maelsechnaill, and the comharba ^successor of Columbkille, that is, Domhnall Mac Robhartaigh,This name is anglicised Magroarty, in the county of Donegal, where there are still many persons of the name, and evidently of this race. The head of the family dwelt at Ballymagroarty, near the town of Donegal. He was keeper of the celebrated relic called the Cathach, of St. Columbkille. See the Ulster Inquisition of 1609, and Archdall's , at Baile mic Rabhartaigh, p. 95. with all the ecclesiastics of Kells, in like manner, both priest, and bishop, and professor; also the vice-erenagh has granted, that is, Cormac Mac Rechtogain,Now anglicised Raghtigan, and in some places Rattigan. The name is still extant in Meath. with young clerics of the congregation of Columbkille in like manner; these have all granted for ever Disert-Columbkille in Kells, with its vegetable garden, to God and pious pilgrims; no pilgrim having any lawful possession in it at any time until he devotes his life to God, and is devout.

These are the guarantees and securities given for securing ^{the grant} of this Disert, viz. the clergy of Kells themselves, with their abbot; the King of Meath, that is, Maelsechnaill, the son of Conchobhar O'Maelsechnaill, with the kings and chieftains of Meath in like manner; Donnchadh,Now anglicised Denis; but it is usually made Donough in Anglo-Irish documents of the sixteenth century. It is latinized Dionysius and Donatus. the son of ArtNow anglicised Arthur. O'Rourke, King of Connaught and Galeng,A territory of considerable extent in Meath. The name is still preserved in the barony of Mor-Gallion, i.e. Galeng mor. the GarbhanachThis name, which would be pronounced Garvanagh, and means rough-faced, is now obsolete as the proper name of a man. O'Corran,Now anglicised Corran, without the prefix O. with the young lords of Galeng in like manner; in the presence of the King of Cashel of the Kings, that is Donnchadh, the son of Carthach, descendant of Ceallachan of Cashel, this grant of Disert was confirmed.

The blessing of Jesus Christ and of Columbkille, with all the saints of heaven and earth, upon every one who shall increase the respect and veneration of this grant. But a curse and a misfortune from God and his saints upon the person who shall oppose the respect and veneration of this grant. The blessing of the living God and of all the just upon the king, the abbot, and the congregation who confirmed this Disert to God and his pious ^pilgrims. A prayer for Mac Maras Trogh, who wrote the freedom and the confirmation of this Disert to God and his pious ^pilgrims.

Land which the priest of Kells and his kinsmen purchased, i.e. O'Breslan and his kinsmen. This is the land, viz. Achadh Muine Choscain,i.e. the field of Coscan's hill or shrubbery. This name, which would be anglicised Aghamoney-cosquin, is now obsolete. It was evidently near Donaghmore in Meath. with Achad mori.e. the great field, would be anglicised Aghamore, but the name is obsolete. lying opposite to it, and with their meadows and bogs, i.e. as far as the lathachi.e. the slogh or quagmire. to the south, and as far as Coel-Achachi.e. narrow field, now obsolete. to the east, and as far as Sidh Aithliusi.e. the fairy-mount of Aithlis, or ford, or fort; would be anglicised Shee-Ahlis, but is now obsolete. to the east, with their houses and out-houses, and with its lawns, i.e. as far as the lathach of Domnach mor.i.e. Dominica magna, now Donaghmore, a parish and townland, with the ruins of an old church and round tower, situated to the north-east of the town of Navan, in the county of Meath. All the lands above were probably in this parish. And this is the price, eighteen ounces ^{of gold}, with other additional considerations, i.e. to the value of twenty ounces. And from O'RiamanThis name is obsolete. it was purchased, it being his own lawful land. The following are the guarantees and sureties given in it, Oengus,Also written Aengus, and, in modern orthography, Aonghus. It is anglicised Angus and Aeneas. the son of Mac Rancan,Now Rankin. full chief of Sil-Tuathail and Coill-Follamhain,The position of Coill Follamhain, which was the name of a woody district, may be determined from a note in the Felire, or Festigolium of Aengus at 14th September, which places it in the church of Roseach, now Russagh, near Rathowen, in the barony of Maygoish, and county of Westmeath. and Gilla-Odhar,i.e. the pale youth, would be pronounced Gilly-ower, but is now obsolete as the proper name of a man. the son of Mac Ruadachan,Anglicised Mac Roughan, and latterly shortened to Roughan, Rowan, and Rouen. and Cu-dubh,i.e. canis-niger, is now obsolete as the proper name of a man. the son of Mac Comhgain;Anglicised Mac Cowgan. these were of the Clann-Ruadach;The situation of this clan has not been determined. and Cu-duiligcanis-avidus, is now obsolete. O'SneainThis surname, which often occurs in the Irish annals, seems obsolete. The Editor has not met the name, or any possible form of it, in any part of Ireland. with his kinsmen, these were of the Clann-Murchadha;Anglicised Clann-Murrough. The situation of the tribe is unknown to the Editor. and O'Gorman of the Clann-Conaill;Situation unknown. the three sons of Mac Cearnach,Anglicised Mac Kearney or Mac Carney. This name is now usually written Kearney, without any prefix. and the two sons of Mac Searraigh,Anglicised Mac Sherry, and latterly Sherry. and the son of O'Dubhthaigh,Now anglicised Duffy in Leinster, Dowey in Ulster, and Duhig in Munster. The O is never prefixed to this name in modern times. of the Clann-Congalaigh,Anglice Clann-Connolly. This tribe was seated near Tara, in Meath. as guarantees for themselves and for the O'Riamains, with all the guarantees already and hereafter mentioned for themselves, i.e. for the Clann-Congalaigh and the Erenagh of Grellach,Now called in Irish Greille, and anglicised Girley by metathesis. It is the name of a parish lying a short distance to the south of Kells. and the Sech-nabbi.e. the vice-abbot. and the Crozier of Reodaidhe,This saint is still vividly remembered in the parish of Girley, near Kells, of which he is still regarded as the patron, but his name is now shortened to Raed. In the Irish Calendar of the o'Clery's he is set down as St. Rodhaighe of Greallach-buna, at 16th of December, thus: 'Dec. 16. Naomh Rodaighe ó Greallach buna, mac Failbhe, mic Ronain, do sliocht Neill Nóighiallaig.' 'Dec. 16. St. Rodhaighe of Greallach-buna, the son of Failbhe, son of Ronan, of the race of Niall of the Nine Hostages.' The Editor could learn nothing of the crozier of this saint in the parish of Girley. and the Erenagh of Cill Scire,Now Kilskeer, a parish lying to the north-west of Kells, where the virgin Scire is still remembered as the patron saint, and where a holy well retains her name. Her name appears in the Irish Calendar under 'Nono Calend: Aprilis, Scire, virgin of Kilskeer in Meath.' Colgan agrees with the Calendar, where he writes: Hujus virginis festum celebratur in Ecclesia ab ipsa denominata in occidentali regione Mediae 24 Martii juxta S. Aengussium, Mart Tamhlachtense, et Calend. Casselense in quo et ejus genealogia sic refertur: S. Schirra de Kill Schire in Mediâ, filia Eugenii, filia Canannani, fil. Alildi, fil. Fergusii, fil. Eochadii Moimedonii, et eodem etiam modo Sanctilog. gen. & Aenguss. Auct. ejus tradunt genealogiam.' , p. 337, n. 31. and the Crozier of Scire, and Conall Mac Duibh, and Iarnan, i.e. all these are of Sord,This word is very obscure in the original. Sord or Sordus, as it is now locally called in Irish, is the Irish name of Swords, a village in the county of Dublin, where there was a celebrated abbey dedicated to St. Columbkille. and the Comharba of Columbkille, Ferdomnach O'Clucain,This family name is now obsolete in Meath. with all the congregation of Columbkille, and Oengus O'Domhnallain,Would be anglicised Angus or Aeneas O'Donnellan. the Anmchara,Literally, friend of the soul. This word is used by the Irish annalists in the sense of spiritual director. It is translated confessarius by Colgan in , p. 294, A.D. 749; and Ard-anmchara is rendered in the same work, p. 298, col. 2, by Archisynedrus, seu praecipuus confessarius. i.e. Comharba of Disert-Columbkille; and the Bishop O'Dunan, senior of Leth-Chuinn;i.e. Conn's half, i.e. the northern half of Ireland. and the King of Tara, i.e. Domhnall, the son of Flann O'Maelsechnaill, and with the four strangers from the four cardinal points, i.e. Gilla-Becan,i.e. the servant of St. Becan. Mac Gilla-Sechnaill, O'Oedhan,Would be anglicised O'Heaun, but the name is now obsolete. Erenagh of Greanach,Now Granagh, in the barony of Rathoath, county of Meath. and Oisin Mac EachtghailWould be anglicised Mac Aughteel, but the name is obsolete. Ostiarius of Kells; and Mac Duibhdaman,Obsolete. Erenagh of Rath-Beccan,i.e. the fort of St. Beccan, now Rathbeggan, a parish in the barony of Rathoath in the county of Meath. This church is not mentioned in the , or in the Irish Calendar of the O'Clerys. There was a St. Beccan of Imleach Fia in the district of Fera Cul in Bregia, whose name appears in these Calendars at 5th April. The name Rath-Beccan is now Rathbeggan. and O'Fiachrach,Now obsolete, or perhaps altered to Feary. Erenagh of Domhnach mor,Now Donoghmore, near Navan, in Meath. and these sureties were taken as they were passing around the land, and through the middle of the land, and the blessing of God upon all these sureties, so they do not violate their guarantee; and they shall not have defence or protection from God if they violate it. No rent is due of this land before its being purchased, or after its being purchased.

One time that Conchobhar O'Maelsechlainn came to a peaceful conference with the grandson of Aedh (i.e. Gilla Coluimb alumnus of Kells), so that the Comharba of Columbkille (i.e. Maelmuire O'Uchtain) with his congregation and reliques came to give them protection. But he ^Conchobhar took him ^{Gilla Columb} on his back from the altar of Columbkille and carried him to Les-Luigdech,i.e. Lughaidh's fort: name obsolete. and deprived him of sight in the valley which is to the south of Dun-mic-Cennan.i.e. fort of the son of Cennan. It was in atonement for this violation that Conchobhar O'Maelsechlainn gave Cill-Delga, with its territory and lands, to God and to Columbkille for ever, no king or chieftain having rent, tribute, hosting, coigny, or any other claim on it as before, for no chief durst touch it while ^staying in the territory. Now these were the sureties and guarantees given in it viz. Amalgaidh, Comharba of Patrick, with the staff of Jesus;i.e. the Archbishop of Armagh. For some account of 'the Staff of Jesus,' see the Book of Obits of Christ Church, Introd. p. viii-xx. the Comharba of Finnen;i.e. the Abbot of Clonard. the Comharba of Ciarani.e. the Abbot of Clonmacnoise. with his reliques, of the clergy; also the King of Telach-ardd,Now Tullyard, a townland in the barony of Upper Navan, about two miles to the north-east of Trim. This name, which was evidently that of a Ballybetagh or large ancient Irish townland, containing the seat of O'Coinnealbhain, originally embraced many of the modern denominations of land adjacent to the present townland of Tullyard, and among others that called Steepletown, in which stood a round tower, called in the Irish Annals Cloicthech Telcha aird. The family of O'Coinnealbhain, now Quinlan, are still extant in Meath, but not possessed of any portion of their original territory of Iveleary. O'Coinnealbhain was the lineal representative of Laeghaire, the last pagan monarch of Ireland, and the senior of the southern Hy-Niall race, though by no means the most powerful of them. It appears from various authorities that his territory comprised the baronies of Upper and Lower Navan. The hill of Tlachtga, near Athboy, is described in the Dinnsenchus as in O'Coindelbhain's territory. Oengus O'Cainelbain; the King of Telach-Cail,i.e. the slender hill. This name is now unknown. Mael-Isu Mac Cairthen;Would be pronounced Mac Carhen, but the name is obsolete. the King of Magh-Lacha,This is probably the parish of Moylagh in the barony of for, in the north-west of the county of East Meath. Gilla-Griguir O'Dummaig;Obsolete. the King of Tuath Luighne,i.e. the territory of Luighne. The name of this territory is still preserved in Lune, called in Irish Luighne, a barony in the west of the county of East Meath; but it would appear from some ancient references to it that the ancient Luighne was more extensive than the modern barony. Laignen Mac Moelain,This name would be anglicised Lynan Mac Moylan. The surname Moylan is extant in Meath, but without any prefix. Mac Mullen is common in the south of Ireland, but they are not of this race. of the laity; and also Queen Mor, the daughter of the son of Conchobhar, without any revocation of this for ever. In the presence of the men of Meath, both clergy and laity, these sureties and guarantees were given; and they all, both laity and clergy, gave their blessing to every king who should not violate this freedom for ever; and they all gave their curse to any king who should violate it; and though it is dangerous for every king to violate Columbkille, it is particularly dangerous for the King of Tara, for he is the relative of Columbkille.St. Columbkille was descended from Conall Gulban, the son of Niall of the Nine Hostages; and of O'Melaghlin, King of Meath or Tara, from Conall Creamhthainne, another of the sons of King Niall. The clause within brackets in the Irish is a repetition evidently unnecessary.

A houseLand.—In Irish this word is used to denote a repository, and sometimes a house. It is used by the Welsh to denote a church; see Colgan, , p. 150, n. 24, and p. 328, n. 10; and sometimes used in the same sense by the Irish, as in Lann-Elo, now Lynally, near Tullamore, in the King's County (See Ussher , p. 960), in Lann-abhaic, now Glennavey, in the county of Antrim; Lann-Beachaire, in Fingal. See Lanigan's , vol. iii. p. 85. See also , at the years 625, 741, 745, where mention is made of Lana Cluana airthir, evidently meaning the church of Cluain airthir. was purchased by Congal O'Breslen, i.e. the half house of Mac Aedha Cerd.i.e. Mac Aedha the artificer or worker in brass, silver or gold. These are the sureties for its perpetuity for themselves and for all men in like manner; viz. the Comharba of Columbkille, i.e. Gilla-Adomnan O'Coirthen; and the Priest of Kells, i.e. Maelmartin O'Breslen; and the Lector of Kells, i.e. Guaire O'Clucain ; the Erenagh of the hospital,Thige Oiigid, literally means house of the guests. i.e. Oengus Mac Gillabain;This name is anglicised Mac Kilwane by the Irish, and Mac Ilwain by the Scotch. and Cumara, the son of Mac Duarc O'M Anad Mac OisinAnglicised Mac Cushen, it is to be distinguished from the name Cúisín or Cushin, which is that of a family of English origin, who settled in Connaught in the thirteenth century. and the Fos-Erenagh,i.e. the Vice-Erenagh, a person deputed by the Erenagh to act in his place. i.e. Muiridhach,This name is more usually written Muireadhach. It is anglicised Murray. the son of Mac Rechtacan;Now Raghtigan or Rattigan. and the Chief of Mac Manchan;Would now be anglicised Mac Monahan. This name is to be distinguished from O'Manchain, which is that now anglicised Monahan without either prefix. and the Chief of the Scologes,i.e. the farmers. i.e. Oengus O'Gamhna.This name is very common in most parts of Ireland, and anglicised Gaffney. There was a family of the name in the townland of Glenmore, in the barony of Ida and county of Kilkenny, remarkable for gigantic stature, as well as for courage, activity, and strength. In some parts of Ireland the name is translated Cauffield, from an idea that gamhain means a calf, which, indeed, it does; but this does not warrant the translation into Cauffield. This is the price given to and Flann, the son of Mac Aedha, and an ounce ^{of gold} for the fee-simple the Erenagh.