O'Mailfinnains, would be now called Mulfinnans. These were originally a noble Scotic or Milesian family, who were banished from their own territory, and were obliged to settle in Hy-Many, as serfs to the O'Kelly. The celebrated antiquary Duald Mac Firbis, in his interesting preface to his smaller genealogical work, compiled in 1666, gives us the following account of the six classes of plebeian families in ancient Ireland:— 1. The remnant of the Firbolgs and Tuatha De Dananns. 2. The descendants of the Scotic or Milesian nobility, who left their own territories, and were obliged to enslave themselves under other tribes. 3. Those tribes whose lands were converted into sword-lands, or who were enslaved by enemies. 4. Descendants of the Milesian nobility who lost their dignity and lands for their crimes, according to the law. 5. Those who are descended from common soldiers and foreigners. 6. The descendants of the slaves who came with the sons of Milesius into Ireland, and who were never able to get beyond their cast.’’
Duald Mac Firbis 1666, Introduction
It is true,' he adds, 'that there are many of the descendants of these tribes till this very day in Ireland, but their pedigrees are unknown. There are also many families of the purest Milesian blood, whose pedigrees have become unknown in consequence of their having become poor and indigent, and not having been able to support poets or historians to preserve their genealogies and history. Some of them sunk under the English five hundred years ago.'’’Duald Mac Firbis 1666—MS. in the Marquis of Drogheda's Library
.| From The Tribes and Customs of Hy-Many, commonly called O'Kelly's Country (Author: Unknown), p.84 (section .2) | Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition Close footnote |