THE AGE OF CHRIST, 1453. The Age of Christ, one thousand four hundred fifty-three.
Mac Mahon, Hugh Roe, son of Rory, an affable and pious man, well skilled in each art, distinguished for his prowess and noble deeds, died in his own
Cormac, son of Gilla-Duv, son of Hugh, son of Philip, son of Donn Carragh Maguire, died on the 16th of the Calends of July.
Rory, the son of Hugh O'Conor, was slain by the son of John Burke, in the territory of Conmaicne-Dunmore.
Rory, the son of Cathal, son of Rory O'Conor, died in the castle of Roscommon.
Murtough, the son of Owen, son of Donnell O'Conor, was slain by his own kinsmen, Donnell and Cathal.
Owen, son of Donnell Bane O'Reilly, died; and Edmond, the son of Turlough O'Reilly, was slain by the English.
The Clann-Hugh-Boy O'Neill sustained a great defeat at Ardglass from the Savadges, assisted by the English of Dublin. A fleet of Welsh ships of war had plundered the fleet of Dublin, and taken the Archbishop prisoner; and the English of Dublin having pursued them with a large fleet, as far as the north sea, Henry Mac-I-Neill Boy met them on their return at Ardglass, but was taken prisoner by the English; and Cu-Uladh, the son of Cathbharr Magennis, heir to the lordship of Iveagh, Hugh Magennis, Mac Artan, and fifteen captains from the territory of the Route, were slain. The total loss on the side of the Irish amounted to five hundred and twenty.
Brian, the son of Conor Mac Donough, assumed the lordship of Tirerrill; and Teige Mac Donough was abandoned by his own friends.
THE AGE OF CHRIST, 1454. The Age of Christ, one thousand four hundred fifty-four.
Donnell, the son of Niall Garv O'Donnell, was installed in the lordship of Tirconnell, in opposition to the real O'Donnell (Rury, the son of Naghtan). And not long after this Donnell was treacherously taken prisoner in his own house by O'Doherty, who sent him to be imprisoned in the castle of Inis. As soon as Rury had received tidings of this, he mustered an army. O'Kane and Mac Quillin came without delay to his assistance, bringing all their forces with them; and they proceeded to demolish the castle in which Donnell was imprisoned, with a few persons about him to guard the place, among whom was Cathal O'Duvdirma. Rury and his army burned the gate and door of the castle, and set the stairs on fire; whereupon, Donnell, thinking that his life would be taken as soon as the army should reach the castle, entreated (it being his dying request) that he might be loosed from his fetters, as he deemed it treacherous to be killed while imprisoned and fettered. His request was granted, and he was loosed from his fetters; after which he ascended to the battlements of the castle, to view the motions of the invading army. And he saw Rury beneath, with eyes flashing opposition, and waiting until the fire should subside, that he might enter, and kill him. Donnell then, finding a large stone by his side, hurled it directly down upon Rury, so that it fell on the crest of his helmet, on the top of his head, and fractured it, so that he instantly died. The invading forces were afterwards defeated, and by this throw Donnell saved his own life, and acquired the lordship of Tirconnell.
Donnell, son of John O'Reilly, died.
John Boy and Giollapatrick, sons of Auliffe, who was son of Donn Carragh Maguire, were treacherously slain by Niall, son of Cormac, who was son of Gilduff,
Brian Mac Donough, Chief of Tirerrill, died on the Friday before the Calends of January, after Unction and due Penance, and was interred in the monastery of Sligo.
Hugh, son of Niall O'Molloy, Lord of Fircall, died; and his son, Cucogry, assumed his place. Cucogry proceeded with his forces to the east of Fircall, to oppose Theobald O'Molloy, who was trying to obtain the chieftainship for himself, and seized upon great spoils, Theobald having left his fastnesses and his cows to them. The army marched off with their spoils, and O'Molloy's son was left, attended only by a few, in the rear of the prey. Theobald, the sons of Hugh Boy Mageoghegan, and the Hy-Regan, followed in pursuit of the preys, and, overtaking O'Molloy's son on the borders of a bog, they slew him, and many others, on the spot. They took Teige O'Carroll prisoner. Theobald and the grandson of Cosnamhach O'Molloy were then set up as chiefs, in opposition to each other.
O'Donnellan, Flann, the son of Cormac, died.
Dunadhach, the son of Cathal O'Madden, was slain by the sons of William O'Kelly.
Sir Edward Eustace, Lord Justice of Ireland, died; and the earldom of Kildare was assumed by the son of John Cam, i.e. the son of tile Earl, who was appointed Lord Justice after the death of Sir Edward Eustace.
O'Byrne was treacherously slain by the son of his own brother, as he was leaving Cill-Mantain.
Farrell Roe Mageoghegan resigned his lordship, and retired into the monastery of Durrow-Columbkille, having lost his sight; and Niall Mageoghegan assumed his place.
Turlough Dall, the son of Turlough Oge O'Conor, died of a short fit of sickness.
Turlough, the son of Murtough, son of Hugh O'Conor, was slain by the Clann-Keherny.
THE AGE OF CHRIST, 1455. The Age of Christ, one thousand four hundred fifty-five.
Thomas O'Cairnen, Prior of Athlone, the most eminent man of his time in Connaught for wisdom and knowledge, died.
Turlough Carragh, the son of Donnell, son of Murtough, Lord of Sligo, died.
Cahir, the son of Murrough O'Conor Faly, was slain by Teige, the son of Calvagh O'Conor; and Cuilen O'Dempsey was slain by him on the same day.
Cumhscrach, son of Conor O'Reilly, died.
A war broke out between Philip, the son of Thomas Maguire, heir to the lordship of Fermanagh, and Magauran. Philip pitched his camp at Beann-Eachlabhra; and Brian and Tuathal, Philip's sons, went forth with twelve
Turlough, the son of Philip Maguire, went to Loch Melge, and took and plundered Mac Clancy's crannog on it.
Owen O'Neill was banished from his lordship by his own son, Henry.
The successor of St. Patrick i.e. the Archbishop of Armagh, Maguire, Mac Mahon, and all the O'Neills, went with Henry, the son of Owen, who was son of Niall Oge, to Tullyhoge, to inaugurate him; and they called him O'Neill after the lawful manner.
Henry Mac-I-Neill Boy made his escape from the English, by whom he had been held in fetters.
The castle of Athlone was taken from the English, having been betrayed by a woman who was in it.
Caislen-na-Sraide was demolished by O'Farrell; and the son of Mac Herbert was slain by him while taking the castle.
Mulrony, the son of Connor, who was son of Cathal Roe Mac Rannall, died.
Geoffrey, the son of Murrough Oge, son of Murrough More, son of Cathal, Lord of Clann-Hugh of the Mountain, died.
Owen Mac Dermot Roe, Lord of the Woods, was slain by his own kindred.
Maine, the son of Melaghlin Mac Cabe, materies of a Constable of the two Breifnies, of Oriel, and Fermanagh, died.
O'Cassidy of Cuil, i.e. Dermot Roe, son of Niall Roe, died.
THE AGE OF CHRIST, 1456. The Age of Christ, one thousand four hundred fifty-six.
O'Neill, Owen, the son of Niall Oge, son of Niall More, died.
A great war broke out between Donnell, the son of Niall Garv, Lord of Tirconnell, and O'Neill, Henry, after the expulsion of the sons of Naghtan O'Donnell, by O'Donnell, into Tyrone. O'Neill and Maguire went with the sons of Naghtan into Inishowen, and marched, without halting, until they pitched their camp near the confines of Cuil-Mic-an-treoin. When O'Donnell heard of this, he and his brother, Hugh Roe, and Mac Sweeny Fanad (Mulmurry), proceeded expeditiously on horseback, and, unattended by any others, to place warders in the castle of Cuil-Mic-an-treoin, to oppose this great army, which the sons of Naghtan had drawn into the territory. But when O'Donnell left the town with his small number of attendants, the other party espied them, and followed them as quickly as they could, until they overtook them; and then they did not shew them the rights of men, nor did they oppose to them an equal number of their forces, but the many rushed upon the few, so that O'Donnell, Donnell, the son of Niall Garv, was slain (on the l8th of May, which fell on Friday), and Hugh Roe and the son of Mac Sweeny were taken prisoners. Turlough Cairbreach, the son of Naghtan, then assumed the lordship of Tirconnell.
Farrell, the son of Conor Mac Dermot, Tanist of Moylurg, and Lasarina, daughter of the same Farrell, and wife of Carbry O'Conor, died.
THE AGE OF CHRIST, 1457. The Age of Christ, one thousand four hundred fifty-seven.
Brian, the son of Philip-na-Tuaighe Maguire, son of the Lord of Fermanagh, died, after the victory of Unction and Penance.
A war broke out between Maguire and Rury Mac Mahon; and Maguire assembled the forces of his country to march into Oriel. When the sons of
Philip, the son of Thomas Maguire, and his sons, marched with an army into Breifny O'Rourke; and O'Rourke, before their arrival, sent his cows into the fastnesses of the country. Philip advanced to O'Rourke's town, and burned it, as well as the entire country around it. O'Rourke however came up with Philip; and a battle was fought between them, in which Tiernan, the son of Teige O'Rourke, and the son of Manus Grumach, son of Cathal Bodhar O'Rourke, and many others, were slain by the men of Fermanagh.
Brian, the son of Murtough Oge O'Farrell, Lord of the Clann-Auliffe O'Farrell, died.
THE AGE OF CHRIST, 1458. The Age of Christ, one thousand four hundred fifty-eight.
The church of Achadh-beithe, with many valuable books, was burned on the official, i.e. Niall, son of Magrath Mac Mahon.
A hosting was made by O'Donnell, Turlough Cairbreach; and O'Neill, Henry, came to join his muster. They first went to Lower Connaught, and from thence they proceeded into Breifny; and they spoiled and burned that part of the territory lying from the mountain westwards; and they also burned O'Rourk's town, Druim-da-Ethiar Drumahaire. They obtained the hostages of Lower Connaught, who were given into the hands of O'Donnell; after which they returned home.
O'Conor Faly, Calvagh More, son of Murrough-na-madhmann, Lord of all Offaly, a man who never refused the countenance of many, and who had won more wealth from his English and Irish enemies than any lord in Leinster, died; and Con O'Conor, his son, was elected in his place, before his father was buried in (the monastery of) Killeigh.
O'Rourke, i.e. Loughlin, the son of Teige Liath, Lord of Breifny, died.
Art O'Neill, the son of Owen, son of Niall Oge, the most eminent man of Tyrone for hospitality and prowess, died.
Magauran, Thomas, the son of Farrell, died.
Tomaltagh, the son of Cathal Mac Dermot, Lord of Moylurg, Airtech, Tir-Tuathail, &c, general patron of the learned of Ireland, and who had been very bountiful to the soldiery and other stipendiaries, died on the night before the
Geoffry, the son of Edmond, son of Thomas O'Farrell, was slain by John, the son of Donnell, son of John O'Farrell, assisted by the sons of Conor Laoighseach, &c.
Edmond Burke, Lord of the English of Connaught, and of many of the Irish of the same province, the choice of the English of Ireland for his personal shape, comeliness and stature, noble descent, hospitality, clemency, and veracity, died at the end of this year.
Farrell Roe Mageoghegan, Lord of Kinel-Fiachach, died on the 17th of February.
THE AGE OF CHRIST, 1459. The Age of Christ, one thousand four hundred fifty-nine.
0'Brien (Turlough), Lord of Thomond, died.
Cumara Mac Namara was treacherously slain.
Conla Mageoghegan, Lord of Kinel-Fiachach, was slain by the sons of Art O'Melaghlin.
O'Beirne (Brian), Chief of Tir-Briuin, died.
Farrell, the son of Thomas 0'Reilly, died.
A great defeat was given by the Earl of Kildare to O'Conor Faly, Con, the son of Calvagh, in which Con himself was taken prisoner; and the grandson of William O'Kelly, and many others of his people, were slain.
The spoils of Kinel-Duachain were carried off by Brian, the son of Philip, son of Thomas Maguire.
The spoils of Magh Slecht were seized on by Maguire (Thomas Oge); and Ballymagauran was burned by him on this occasion.
Glasny, the son of Conor O'Reilly, was slain by the sons of Rory Mac Mahon.
O'Neill, Henry, the son of Owen, brought an army of the English against the castle of Oghmhagh, to take it from the sons of Art O'Neill; but they made peace with each other.
John Cam, the son of Cu-Uladh Mac Ward, died.
O'Cuirnin, Manus, Chief Historian to O'Rourke, died.
Mulmurry O'Keenan, a materies of a historian and poet, died.
Murtough O'Daly, a learned poet, died.
THE AGE OF CHRIST, 1460. The Age of Christ, one thousand four hundred sixty.
The monastery of Maighin in Tirawley, in the diocese of Killala, in Connaught, was founded by Mac William Burke, at the request of Nehemias O'Donohoe, the first Irish provincial vicar of the order of St. Francis de Observantia.
O'Brian, Bishop of Killaloe, was killed by Brian-an-Chobhlaigh, the son of Donough, son of Mahon O'Brien of Inis-Cluana-ramhfhoda.
Rory, the son of Manus O'Mochain, Provost of Elphin, died.
Hugh Roe, the son of Niall Garv O'Donnell, and the son of Mac Sweeny Fanad (Mulmurry), were liberated from prison by O'Neill (Henry), after they had been detained by him as prisoners for four full years; for the sons of Naghtan who during this time enjoyed the chieftainship were dearer to him than the sons of Niall.
A great defeat was given to the English by O'Conor Faly, Con, the son of Calvagh, in which the Baron of Galtrim, and many others besides, were slain.
The English defeated O'Reilly, John, the son of Owen, son of John, son of Philip, son of Gilla-Isa-Roe; and in the conflict O'Reilly himself, his brother Hugh, Owen Caech, the son of Mahon Mac Cabe, and a great number of others, were slain. Cathal, the son of Owen, assumed his place.
Magauran, Owen, died.
Rory Ballagh, the son of Murtough O'Conor, died.
Thomas, the son of Thomas Burke (who became Mac William on the death of Edmond Burke), died.
Mac Cabe, Henry, the son of Gilchreest, went with O'Farrell into Annaly, where he died of a short fit of sickness at Lisaird-abhla Lissardowlin. He was carried to Cavan, to be interred there, attended by two hundred and eighty gallowglasses, armed with battle-axes.
Mac Manus of Tir-Tuathail, Rory, the son of Owen Roe Mac Manus, fully worthy to be Lord of that territory, was slain by Con, the son of Niall Garv, son of Turlough-an-Fhiona O'Donnell, and Teige, the son of Teige O'Rourke, while in pursuit of the spoils of the territory. O'Donnell's people carried the spoils with them to Airged-glenn; but, after the killing of Mac Manus, the chiefs of the Clann-Manus deprived them of their preys in that valley.
Donnell, the son of Dermot O'Malley, William O'Malley, and John O'Malley,
Brian O'Mailly was slain by his brother, Hugh O'Mailly, in a dispute which occurred between them. These were two sons of Teige O'Mailly.
A monastery was founded for Franciscan Friars in Inis-Arcain, in Munster, in the diocese of Cork. Inis-Arcain is in O'Driscoll's country.
The monastery of Inis-Corthadh, in Leinster, in the diocese of Ferns, on the margin of the river called Slaine, was founded for Franciscan Friars.
Edward IV. was make King of England on the 4th of March.
THE AGE OF CHRIST, 1461. The Age of Christ, one thousand four hundred sixty-one.
Felim, son of Owen, son of Niall Oge O'Neill, died of a sudden fit. He was eminent for his hospitality and prowess; he was a protector of the learned and the exiled, and a man who had purchased more poetry, and had a larger collection of poems, than any other man of his time. He died after having overcome the world and the Devil.
Hugh, the son of Turlough Oge O'Conor, Half Lord of Connaught, in opposition
The sons of Niall Garv O'Donnell, Hugh Roe, Con, and Owen, assembled all their forces, and proceeded into Fanad to the son of Mac Sweeny, Mulmurry, because O'Donnell (Turlough Cairbreach) was wreaking his animosities on the son of Mac Sweeny and all Fanad, for their friendship to the sons of Niall. The sons of Niall and the son of Mac Sweeny held a council, to consider how they should act, in order to defend themselves against the sons of Naghtan and their forces, who were ready to wreak their vengeance and enmity on them. When O'Donnell and the sons of Naghtan were informed that the sons of Niall had arrived in Fanad, he set out after them with his brothers, his troops, and a battalion of Scotsmen then in his service, and pitched his camp at Ceann-Maghair, to watch and check the sons of Niall O'Donnell and Mulmurry Mac Sweeny, who was passing with them out of the territory. The sons of Niall O'Donnell and the people of Fanad having heard of this, they consulted with one another; and they came to a determination not to abandon or cede the pass to any host or army that should oppose them: and when this resolution was adopted, the sons of Niall O'Donnell, Mulmurry MacSweeny, Owen Bacagh Mac Sweeny, and all the people of Fanad who adhered to them, proceeded to Ceann-Maghair to meet and oppose the forces of O'Donnell and the sons of Naghtan; and as they i.e. the hostile parties approached each other, they did not hesitate to attack each other, in consequence of their enmities and hatred, provocations and animosities; and they met each other in a furious and obstinate battle, in which O'Donnell, i.e. Turlough Cairbreach, and the sons of Naghtan, were defeated. O'Donnell himself was taken prisoner, and his brother Manus, and numbers of others, were slain. Turlough Cairbreach was afterwards maimed. After this defeat at Ceann-Maghair, these victorious chieftains
Manus, the son of Brian, son of Donnell, son of Murtough O'Conor, Lord of Carbury, died.
Mac Cawell, i.e. Brian, Lord of Kinel-Farry, died; and Owen Mac Cawell was made lord.
Farrell O'Gara, Tanist of Coolavin, was slain by Mac Costello.
The Dean O'Malone, the most learned man in all Ireland, died at Cluain-muc-Nois-mic-Fidhaigh.
Aengus Magrath, a learned poet, Niall O'Higgin, and Niall, son of Farrell Oge O'Higgin, died.
Mahon, son of William O'Farrell, died.
William O'Flannagan, Priest and Canon Chorister of Elphin, died.
In the beginning of this year Felim Finn O'Connor was taken prisoner by
An army was led by Mac William Burke and his kinsmen into Machaire-Chonnacht, to release Felim Finn from the son of Brian Ballagh; and they gave him his own demand for his ransom, and the chiefs of Connaught as guarantees for the payment of it, whereupon Felim was set at liberty. He took those chieftains with him to Carn-fraoigh-mhic-Fiodhaigh-foltruaidh; and Mac Dermot put on his shoe, after having purchased him; and they obtained the hostages of the descendants of Ona, the son of Aengus, and those of the Hy-Briuin. Mac Williain left these hostages with the son of Brian Ballagh, and returned home. As soon as the sons of O'Conor Roe had heard of this, they ransomed Teige O'Conor from O'Conor Don, by giving the half townland of Baile-an-chlair for him; and they afterwards went over to Conor Mac Branan.
A great war broke out between the English of Meath and those of Leinster, during which war a great part of Meath was destroyed. O'Conor Faly and Mac Richard Butler went to Druim-Tuirleime with one thousand horsemen, or more, all wearing helmets, and remained there, without fear or dread, shoeing their steeds; and their army and marauding parties were plundering and burning Meath in every direction. It was in this war that the son of Felim, who was son of Calvach O'Conor, was taken prisoner by John, son of Mac Thomas.
Great depredations were committed by Mageoghegan on the Baron of Delvin. Great depredations were also committed by him on the Ledwiches, so that he plundered the country as far as the River Inny.
The sons of Irial O'Farrell plundered Port-Lomain.
Melaghlin, son of Flann O'Donnellan, died.
Theobald O'Molloy, Lord of half the territory of Fircall, was slain by O'Molloy of the Wood.
THE AGE OF CHRIST, 1462. The Age of Christ, one thousand four hundred sixty-two.
A monastery for Friars Minor was commenced at Muineachan, while Felim, the son of Brian, son of Ardgal Mac Mahon, was Lord of Oriel.
The Prior of Devenish, i.e. Bartholomew, the son of Hugh O'Flanagan, died on Lough Derg.
Brian, the son of Philip Maguire, the most hospitable and chivalrous man of all the men of Ulster of his age, was killed, while in pursuit of a prey, by the sons of Art O'Neill, i.e. Rory and his brothers, after they had promised to protect him, and after he had been in their hands for some time. Edmond Roe, the son of John Maguire, was slain by the same Rory.
Teige, the son of Owen O'Conor, Lord of Carbury, died.
Teige O'Conor and his kinsmen defeated the sons of Brian Ballagh. Dermot, the son of Donough, son of Brian, and John, the son of Teige Mac Tiernan na Corra, were slain in the battle. The sons of Brian Ballagh were then driven from their country, and spoiled of all their property. The two sons of Brian himself went over in dismay to Conor Mac Branan to Greanach; but Mac Branan was forced to abandon them, so that they were proclaimed and driven from country to country, and Mac Branan himself was banished from his country into Annaly, where O'Farrell received him, and gave him lands for his cattle, and coigny to his peoples in his territory.
An army was led by Mac William of Clanrickard into Hy-Cairin, where O'Meagher, i.e. Teige, and his confederates, rose up to oppose him. The son of O'Meagher slew William Burke, the son of Mac William, by one cast of a javelin; and it was this cast that saved O'Meagher and his army. This O'Meagher, Chief of Hy-Cairin, died a short time afterwards, and his son assumed his place.
Mac Branan, i.e. Tomaltagh Carragh, son of Con, son of Hugh, died at an advanced age.
The young Earl of Ormond came to Ireland with a great number of Saxons i.e. Englishmen. A great war broke out between the Earls of Ormond and Desmond, in the course of which Garrett, the son of the Earl of Desmond, was taken prisoner by the Butlers. Waterford was also taken by them. They i.e. both Earls afterwards agreed to give battle to each other, and they came to an engagement; but it was against the will of the Earl of Ormond that Mac Richard went to fight the battle on that day. Howbeit he was defeated, and taken prisoner; and, according to some accounts, there were four hundred and ten of the
O'Farrell was defeated by the son of Con O'Melaghlin, the Dillons, and Laoighseach, the son of Ross, at Nuachongbhail, where Edmond, the son of O'Farrell, and eleven men of the descendants of Murtough Oge O'Farrell, were taken prisoners. They i.e. the vanquished lost in all seventy men, including the prisoners and the slain.
Thomas, the son of Cathal, son of Thomas O'Farrell, Tanist of Annaly, was slain at Bel-atha-na-Pailise, at night, while in pursuit of a prey, which the party of the Dillons, the Clann-Conor, and the sons of Murtough, were carrying off. They bore away his head and his spoil with them, having found him with merely a few troops, a circumstance of rare occurrence with him.