THE AGE OF CHRIST, 1561. The Age of Christ, one thousand five hundred sixty-one.
Art, the son of Felim Fin O'Gallagher, Bishop of Raphoe, died at Ceann-Maghair (Kinaweer), on the 13th of August. He was much lamented in Tirconnell.
Mary, the daughter of Calvagh, son of Manus, son of Hugh Duv O'Donnell, and wife of O'Neill (John), died of horror, loathing, grief, and deep anguish, in consequence of the severity of the imprisonment inflicted on her father, Calvagh, by O'Neill, in her presence.
O'Beirne (Teige, the son of Carbry, son of Melaghlin), a learned man, well skilled in Latin and Irish, and in the two laws, namely, civil and canon, died; and his young son was installed in his place.
Owny, the son of Ferganainm, son of Mulrony, son of John O'Carroll, was slain at Baile-Ui-Chuirc, in Ormond. Those who surrounded him were not worthy to have wounded or taken him. The territory of Ely was an orphan after him, for they felt the loss of their help and protection after the death of Owny.
Naghtan, son of Calvagh, son of Manus O'Donnell, was designedly killed by the cast of a javelin, which he himself had first thrown, and which was cast back at himself again.
The Lord Chief Justice of Ireland, Thomas Fitz-Walter, proceeded into Tyrone, to avenge the capture of Calvagh O'Donnell, and on account of his own enmity against that country. He pitched his camp of numerous hosts at Armagh; and he erected strong raths and impregnable ramparts around the great church of Armagh, in order that he might leave warders constantly guarding that place. When O'Neill (John) received intelligence of this, he sent some of his own faithful friends, and his servants of trust, to guard and keep Calvagh O'Donnell out of the way of the Lord Justice, from one island and islet to another, in the wilds and recesses of Tyrone, until the Lord Justice should leave the
At this time O'Neill was harassing and plundering the territories of Bregia and Meath. Tirconnell was also subjugated and surrounded by him, after having already made a prisoner of Calvagh, and O'Donnell being sick and infirm, so that there was no one ruling Kinel-Connell at this time. O'Neill (John) then assumed the sovereign command of all Ulster, from Drogheda to the Erne, so that at this time he might have been called with propriety the provincial King of Ulster, were it not for the opposition of the English to him.
Calvach O'Donnell was released from his captivity by O'Neill, after he had been ransomed by the Kinel-Connell.
The same Lord Justice, at the instance of Calvagh O'Donnell, assembled a numerous army, to march a second time into Tyrone, in the Autumn of this year. The five earls who were then in Ireland joined his army, namely, Garrett, the son of Garrett, son of Garrett, son of James, son of John, son of Thomas, Earl of Kildare; Thomas, the son of James, son of Pierce Roe, Earl of Ormond; Garrett, the son of James, son of John, son of Thomas, Earl of Desmond; Conor, the son of Donough, son of Conor, son of Turlough O'Brien, Earl of Thomond; and Rickard, the son of Ulick-na-gceann, son of Rickard, son of Ulick of Cnoc-Tuagh, Earl of Clanrickard. The Lord Justice and the Earls proceeded with their forces through Tyrone, until they arrived at Loch Feabhail, without opposition or battle. When the Lord Justice was returning, the resolution he adopted was, to make peace with O'Neill, and to grant him pardon, and take away his own warders from Armagh. He afterwards proceeded with his forces into Tir-Chonaill-Gulban, and left the command of the fortresses
O'Neill went to England about Allhallowtide, to the Queen; and he received
Owen, the son of Hugh Boy, son of Hugh Duv O'Donnell, a man of high and noble descent, learned and skilled in various arts, died.
Teige, the son of Turlough, son of Niall, son of Turlough O'Boyle, was slain at Termon-Magrath, by Mac Allister Gallda.
THE AGE OF CHRIST, 1562. The Age of Christ, one thousand five hundred sixty-two.
O'Rourke (Brian Ballagh, son of Owen), the senior of Sil-Feargna, and of the race of Aedh Finn, a man whose supporters, fosterers, adherents, and tributaries, extended from Caladh, in the territory of Hy-Many, to the fertile, salmon-full Drowes, the boundary of the far-famed province of Ulster; and from Granard in Teffia to the strand of Eothuile, the Artificer, in Tireragh of the Moy,—who had the best collection of poems, and who, of all his tribe, had bestowed the greatest number of presents for poetical eulogies, died in consequence of a fall; and his son, Hugh Gallda, was installed in his place.
The Earl of Thomond went upon a chieftain's expedition into the territory of O'Conor, and into Gleann-Corbraighe, on which occasion there was slain
Mac Gilla-Riabhaigh died, namely, Rickard, the son of Donn, son of Conor, son of Thomas, son of Donnell. It was said that he was the best servant of trust that the Earl of Thomond had had in his time. Conor, son of Conor, who was son of Rickard, took his place.
Donnell (the son of Conor, son of Turlough, son of Teige) O'Brien, who had been Earl of Thomond before Conor, the son of Donough, and whom the Irish used to style O'Brien, returned from Ulster, to his own patrimony, after his expulsion, exile, and banishment; and in the same week Teige, the son of Murrough, son of Turlough, made his escape from Dublin; and, upon their arrival together in their native territory, they united in opposition to the Earl of Thomond. The Earl raised many encampments against them. The first contest between these kinsmen was a nocturnal assault, made by the two sons of Murrough O'Brien, upon the encampment at Baile-Meg-Riagain, on which occasion they slew several persons, and obtained spoils; but the inhabitants of that country went in pursuit of them. The day dawned upon both these heroic bands at Cathair-Meg-Gormain, in the centre of the territory of Hy-Fearmaic, in the upper part of Dal-Cais. The two sons of Murrough O'Brien, Teige and
Donough, the son of Cuconnaught, son of Cuconnaught, son of Brian, son of Philip, son of Thomas Maguire, died; a man by no means the least famous of the Irish of his age, and who was not expected to die as he did die, in his bed.
Hugh, the son of Niall Oge Mac Sweeny from Tir-Boghaine, died of the galar-breac.
Magrath, of Termon-Daveog, died.
Mac Mahon (Hugh, son of Brian-na-Moicheirghe, son of Redmond, son of Glasny) was slain by the men of Farney.
THE AGE OF CHRIST, 1563. The Age of Christ, one thousand five hundred sixty-three.
O'Donnell (Manus, the son of Hugh Duv, son of Hugh Roe, son of Niall Garv, son of Turlough of the Wine), Lord of Tirconnell, Inishowen, Kinel-Moen, Fermanagh, and Lower Connaught; a man who never suffered the chiefs who were in his neighbourhood and vicinity to encroach upon any of his superabundant possessions, even to the time of his disease and infirmity; a fierce, obdurate, wrathful, and combative man towards his enemies and opponents, until he had made them obedient to his jurisdiction; and a mild, friendly, benign, amicable, bountiful, and hospitable man towards the learned, the destitute,
O'Sullivan Beare (Donnell, the son of Dermot, son of Donnell, son of Donnell, son of Dermot Balbh) was slain by a bad man, namely, Mac Gillycuddy; and if his father, Dermot, was a man of great renown, this Donnell was a worthy heir of him. His kinsman, Owen O'Sullivan, took his place.
Margaret, the daughter of James, son of John, son of Thomas, the son of the Earl of Desmond, and wife of Mac Maurice, died; and she i.e. her death was a cause of lamentation.
Thomas, the son of Maurice Duv, son of John, the son of the Earl, died.
Thomond was one scene of warfare and contention, from the one Calends to the other, this year.
Baile-Ui-Ghalaigh, the residence of the sons of Murrough O'Brien, was taken and demolished by the Earl, who had brought ordnance and forces from Limerick for that purpose.
Baile-Ui-Charthaigh was likewise taken by the Earl.
Mac Brody, Ollav of Hy-Bracain and Hy-Fearmaic, died, i.e. Dermot, son of Conor, son of Dermot, son of John; and his brother, Maoilin, took his place.
THE AGE OF CHRIST, 1564. The Age of Christ, one thousand five hundred sixty-four.
O'Rourke (Hugh Gallda, son of Brian Ballagh, son of Owen) was maliciously and malignantly slain by his own people, at Leitrim, in Muintir-Eolais;
O'Donnell (Calvagh) and O'Boyle (Turlough) repaired to Dublin to the Lord Justice, to confer with him. O'Donnell received great honour and respect from him. O'Donnell returned for home, and came into Fermanagh, where he stopped for some time; and O'Boyle proceeded directly to his own residence, where Con, the son of Calvagh, had come to meet him. O'Boyle had not been long at home when Con requested him to go with him to Donegal, to see if he could take it from Hugh, the son of Hugh Oge, son of Hugh Roe, who was in it at that time. Hugh at that time held his residence in the new tower; and he had sent Egneghan and Con, the two sons of Hugh Boy, son of Hugh Duv, his brother's sons, into the old castle; and these were the two who were betraying the castle to Con. Con and O'Boyle came to the town by night; and the sons of Hugh Boy admitted Con at once, but they said that they would not permit O'Boyle to come into them with his people; and O'Boyle's people said that they would not suffer their lord to go from them alone. O'Boyle, thereupon, went to the monastery of the friars to make them a visit. Con O'Donnell and the sons of Hugh Boy proceeded to demolish the tower in which Hugh, the son of Hugh Duv, was; and they took no notice of anything until very numerous hosts had poured into the town and around it in every direction. These are they who were there: O'Neill (John), and Hugh, the son of Manus O'Donnell, with their forces, which were very great and numerous who had come thither, after having heard that O'Donnell was on his way from Dublin, and that these other relatives were at strife with each other. Con, the son of Calvagh, was taken prisoner here on the 14th of May; and marauding parties of O'Neill's army went forth through Tir-Boghaine, and slew the son
The O'Briens were at strife with one another in this year. Donnell and Teige, the sons of Conor, son of Turlough O'Brien, and Teige and Donough, the sons of Murrough, set out upon a predatory excursion alongside Abhainn O'gCearnaigh, in Clann-Coilen. The Earl happened to be at this time at Ross-ruadh; and they burned and plundered that town more that they did any other. The inhabitants of the country from all quarters, from Sliabh-Oidheadha-an-Righ to Luchat, and from Rinn-Eanaigh to Scairbh, overtook them. They took an advantage of the soldiers of the Earl, and slew near a hundred of them on that occasion, but dared not approach them again until night. These O'Briens of the upper part of Thomond made their escape across the fair fields of the Forgus with their preys and acquisitions, without receiving a wound or injury. They afterwards brought from beyond the Shannon numerous bonnaghtmen and mercenaries of the Clann-Sweeny and Clann-Sheehy; and they had the ranging of the country, and its preys and property in their power, until the expiration of the term of their bonnaght. There remained not, however, of cattle with the inhabitants of the country, the value of what was permitted to be taken out of it by those soldiers for their services.
Corcomroe, with its rents and customary services, and acquirements in land in the territories of Thomond, and its church livings, were given to Donnell
Maurice Duv, the son of John, son of the Earl of Desmond, went upon a predatory excursion into Muskerry. The sons of Teige, son of Cormac Oge, son of Cormac, son of Teige Mac Carthy, namely, Dermot and Cormac, overtook him, and beheaded him, though the profit of sparing him would have been better than the victory gained by his death. He who was there slain was the firm steel of the Geraldines in the field of danger, the plunderer of his enemies, and the destroyer of his opponents.
THE AGE OF CHRIST, 1565. The Age of Christ, one thousand five hundred sixty-five.
Joan, the daughter of James, son of Maurice, son of Maurice, died. Her death was among the sorrowful news of Leath-Mhogha, on account of her charity and humanity.
On one occasion as the Earl of Desmond (Garrett, the son of James, son of John) went on a visitation into the Desies of Munster, the Lord of the Desies (Maurice Fitzgerald, the son of John son of Garrett) treacherously drew the Earl of Ormond (Thomas, the son of James, son of Pierce Roe) into the country, unknown to the Earl of Desmond. The Earl of Desmond arrived in the country, and received no notice of their designs until he was surrounded on every side, at a place called Ath-meadhain, where he was overpowered by numbers, so that he was wounded and taken prisoner, and many of his people were slain and taken prisoners along with him. The Butlers were elated and in high spirits on that day, by reason of the great number of their prisoners
Mahon, the son of Turlough Mantagh, son of Donough, son of Donnell, son of Turlough Meith, was treacherously slain in his own town of Aircin, in Aran, by his own associates and relations. When the chief men of Galway heard of this, they set out to revenge this misdeed upon the treacherous perpetrators, so that they compelled them to fly from their houses; and they the fugitives went into a boat, and put to sea; and where they landed was in the harbour of Ross, in West Corca-Bhaiscinn. Donnell, the son of Conor O'Brien, having heard of this, he hastened to meet them with all the speed that he could exert; and he made prisoners of the greater number of them, and carried them in close fetters to Magh Glae, in the upper part of Corcomroe, in order that their sorrow and anguish might be the greater for being in viev of the place where they had perpetrated the crime; he hanged some of them, and burned others, according as their evil practices deserved.
A great defeat was given by O'Neill (John, the son of Con, son of Con, son of Henry) to the sons of Mac Donnell of Scotland, namely, James, Aengus, and Sorley. Aengus was slain, and James was wounded and taken prisoner, and he died of the virulence of his wounds at the end of a year. The death of this gentleman was generally bewailed; he was a paragon of hospitality and prowess, a festive man of many troops, and a bountiful and munificent man. And his peer was not to be found at that time among the Clann-Donnell in Ireland or in Scotland; and his own people would not have deemed it too much
Murrough, the son of Donnell, son of Rory O'Flaherty, was drowned.
O'Clery (Teige Cam, the son of Tuathal), Ollav to O'Donnell in history,—a man learned in poetry and chronology, a prop (i.e. a supporter), who kept a house of hospitality for the learned, the exiled, and the literary men of the neighbouring territories, died, on the 20th of October, at a venerable old age, after having gained the victory over the Devil and the world; and was buried with great respect and honour in the monastery of St. Francis, at Donegal.
THE AGE OF CHRIST, 1566. The Age of Christ, one thousand five hundred sixty-six.
O'Donnell (Calvagh, the son of Manus, son of Hugh Duv, son of Hugh Roe, son of Niall Garv, son of Turlough of the Wine) fell dead from his horse, in the beginning of Winter, i.e. on the 26th of October, on the public road, between Baile-aghaidh-chaoin and the church of Rath, in the midst of his cavalry, without the slightest starting, stumbling, shying, or prancing of his horse, after his return from England, where he had been that same year. This Calvagh was a lord in understanding and personal shape, a hero in valour and prowess, stern and fierce towards his enemies, kind and benign towards his friends; he was so celebrated for his goodness, that any good act of his, be it ever so great, was never a matter of wonder or surprise ; a man who was not expected to meet his death in this manner, but who was expected to live until he should have avenged the wrongs of his tribe. His brother, Hugh, the son of Manus O'Donnell, was inaugurated in his place.
Mary, the daughter of Manus, son of Hugh Duv, son of Hugh Roe O'Donnell, and wife of Magennis, died on the 8th of October.
Rose, the daughter of Maguire (Cuconnaught, the Coarb), and wife of Hugh Boy, the son of Hugh Duv, died on the 22nd of July.
Maguire (John, the son of Cuconnaught, son of Cuconnaught, son of Brian, son of Philip, son of Thomas) died on the 29th of September, in the army of the Lord Justice, after having been banished from his country by O'Neill. He was an intelligent, virtuous, and bounteous lord; he was worthy of any chieftainship he could obtain, by reason of the great number of learned men and exiles supported by him, and the vastness of his premiums and goodly gifts. His brother, Cuconnaught, was inaugurated in his place.
O'Rourke (Hugh Boy, the son of Brian Ballagh) was slain by the Kinel-Connell, at Baile-an-tochair, in order that the son of the daughter of Manus O'Donnell, namely, Brian, the son of Brian, son of Owen (O'Rourke), might enjoy the lordship of Breifny.
Mac Carthy Reagh (Fineen, the son of Donnell, son of Fineen, son of Donnell) died. He was a man who had not placed his affections on this world, and who had no knowledge of his possessions, or how much he had laid up.
O'Madden (Melaghlin Modardha, the son of Melaghlin, son of Breasal) died. He was, as a reader of Latin and Irish, by no means the least distinguished of the gentlemen of Ireland in his time. He was the defender of his lands and his territory against his neighbours, a supporting pillar of women, of the poor, and of the weak and unwarlike; and Donnell, the son of John O'Madden, took his place.
Pierce Butler, the son of Edmond, Lord of Trian-Chluana-Meala, died. He was a person who had obtained the wealth and inheritance of his territory without battle or war, a man who did not possess or procure the value of a single penny of the property of the Church of God by right of Pope or prince. And his son, Theobald, succeeded in his place.
A shower of fish in Tirconnell this year.
A hosting was made by O'Donnell (Hugh, the son of Manus) into Tyrone, in the winter of this year; and he committed many depredations. He returned safe to his house.
THE AGE OF CHRIST, 1567. The Age of Christ, one thousand five hundred sixty-seven.
A hosting was made by O'Donnell (Hugh) precisely in the spring of this year; and, having crossed Lough Foyle, he proceeded to Sliabh gCarbatach, and plundered and totally ravaged the whole neighhourhood, and he returned in safety to his house.
O'Neill (John, son of Con, who was son of Henry, who was son of Owen) mustered a very numerous army, to march into Tirconnell against O'Donnell (Hugh, the son of Manus, son of Hugh Oge, son of Hugh Roe), to plunder and ravage the country, as he had done some time before, when O'Donnell (Manus) was not able to govern or defend his principality or country, in consequence of his own infirmity and ill health, and the strife and contention of his sons. The place where O'Donnell happened to be with a few forces at this time, with Hugh Oge, the son of Hugh Roe, and with others of his relations, was Ard-an-ghaire, on the north side of the estuary which is called Suileach; and, hearing that O'Neill had arrived with his forces in the country, he dispatched messengers to summon such of his chieftains as were in his neighbourhood, and he himself awaited them there at Ard-an-ghaire; they did not, however, come fully assembled at his summons. As they were here waiting, they received no notice of any thing, until, at break of day, they perceived, just within sight, on the other side of Fearsad-Suilighe, a powerful body of forces rapidly advancing towards them, in hosts and squadrons ; and they stopped not in their course, without halting or delaying, until, without halting or delaying, they had crossed the Fearsad, for the tide was out at the time. When O'Donnell perceived this,
After O'Neill had arrived in Tyrone, as we have already stated, he did not take ease, nor did he enjoy sleep, until he had sent messengers to Scotland, to invite James, the son of Alexander, son of John Cahanagh Mac Donnell to come to his assistance. It was an omen of destruction of life, and the cause of his death, that he should invite to his assistance the sons of the man who had fallen by himself some time before. They came hastily with a great marine fleet, and landed at Bun-abhann-Duine, in Ulster, where they pitched their
- Seven years, seventy, five hundred,
And a thousand years, it is no falsehood,
To the death of John, grandson of Con,
From the coming of Christ into a body.
After the murder of John, Turlough Luineach, the son of Niall Conallagh, was styled O'Neill.
The Earl of Desmond was taken prisoner at Kilmallock, by the Lord Justice, who conveyed him from thence to Limerick, and from thence to Galway, to Athlone, and afterwards to Dublin. This capture was made a short time after the festival of St. Patrick. And his kinsman, John, the son of James, went to the English to visit the Earl the ensuing Allhallowtide, and he was immediately taken prisoner. Both were afterwards sent to England.
Mac Pierce died, i.e. Edmond, the son of James, son of Edmond. He was a man of general hospitality, who kept a free house of guests, a man learned in tongues and languages; and his son, James, was elected in his place.
John Burke, son of John, who was son of John-na-bhfiacal, son of Ulick Roe, was killed by some peasants and spiteful labourers belonging to the Earl of Clanrickard.
The son of O'Brien of Thomond, i.e. Teige, the son of Donough, son of Conor, son of Turlough; the son of the Earl of Ormond, i.e. James Oge, the
Manus, the son of Edmond, son of Manus Mac Sheehy, was slain by Mac Maurice (Fitzmaurice) of Kerry, i.e. by Thomas, the son of Edmond, son of Thomas. And there was not of his tribe a man of his years more distinguished for prowess and hospitality than he.
The bridge of Athlone was built by the Lord Justice of Ireland, i.e. Sir Henry Sidney.
THE AGE OF CHRIST, 1568. The Age of Christ, one thousand five hundred sixty-eight.
The Countess of Clanrickard, i.e. Margaret, daughter of Donough, son of Conor, son of Turlough, the most famous woman in Ireland, and the supporter of her friends and relations, died.
Mac Mahon, Lord of East Corca-Bhaiscinn, i.e. Brian Oge, the son of Brian, son of Turlough, son of Teige, died; and Teige, the son of Murrough, son of Teige Roe, son of Turlough, son of Teige, took his place.
Mac Sweeny Fanad (Donnell Gorm, the son of Donnell Oge) was treacherously slain by a party of his own people, i.e. by Muintir-Sruithen.
Catherine, the daughter of Maguire (Cuconnaught), and wife of O'Boyle (Turlough, the son of Niall, son of Turlough), the best chieftain's wife in Ulster, died on the 5th of January.
A hosting was made by James, the son of Maurice, son of John, son of the Earl, about Lammas, against Mac Maurice of Kerry, i.e. against Thomas, the son of Edmond. This James was commander of the Geraldines in the stead of the sons of James, son of John, who had been kept in captivity in London for a year previous to that time. The country was soon plundered, devastated, burned, and totally ravaged by James and his forces. The greater part of the inhabitants of the country fled, carrying with them to Lec-Snamha as much
THE AGE OF CHRIST, 1569. The Age of Christ, one thousand five hundred sixty-nine.
The Bishop of Killaloe, i.e. Turlough, the son of Mahon, son of Turlough O'Brien, died.
O'Shaughnessy (Gilla-Duv), the son of Dermot, son of William, son of John Boy, the alighting hill to all the English and Irish who came to him; a man who, though not skilled in Latin or English, was held in much respect and esteem by the English, died. His son, John, took his place.
Slaine, the daughter of Murrough, son of Teige, son of Teige, son of Turlough O'Brien, died.
More Phecagh, daughter of Brian, the son of Teige, son of Turlough, son of Brian Catha-an-aenaigh O'Brien, and wife of O'Shaughnessy, i.e. Dermot, the son of William, son of John Boy, a woman distinguished for her beauty and munificence, died.
James, the son of Maurice, son of the Earl, was a warlike man of many troops this year; and the English and Irish of Munster, from the Barrow to Carn-Ui-Neid, entered into a unanimous and firm confederacy with him against the Queen's Parliament. The Earl of Ormond, i.e. Thomas, the son of James, son of Pierce, son of James, son of Edmond, being at this time in England, his two brothers, Edmond of Caladh and Edward, had confederated with James, the son of Maurice. These two sons of the Earl went to the fair of Inis-corr on Great Lady-Day; and it would be difficult to enumerate or describe all the steeds, horses, gold, silver, and foreign wares, they seized upon at that fair. The Earl returned to Ireland the same year, and his brothers were reconciled to the State.
A great hosting was made by the Lord Justice of Ireland, Sir Henry Sidney, in the autumn of this year, to proceed against the Munstermen, after the peace and league which they had made; and the route he took was south-west, through Leinster; and he did not halt until he arrived in Ui-Mac Caile, in Munster, and there he pitched a commodious camp of vigorous hosts around Baile-na-martra, and he remained for a week besieging the town, the Munstermen threatening every day of that week to give battle to the Lord Justice and his army, but they did not put this threat into execution. The town was finally taken by the Lord Justice, and he left warders in it to guard it for the Queen. He passed from thence through Barry's country, and through Gleann-Maghair, to proceed to Cork. Here there was a rising out of Munstermen in readiness to give him battle; but the pass was nevertheless ceded to the Lord Justice. The Lord Justice abode some time in Cork, during which time his military confederates were separating from James, and coming in under protection and pardon. From thence the Lord Justice went on to Limerick, and he demolished some of the towns of Munster between Cork and Limerick. On this expedition Cluain-Dubhain and Baile-Ui-Bheachain in Thomond, were taken by the Lord Justice, and he afterwards proceeded to Galway. In that town he remained some time, reducing the Dal-Cais, the Clann-William, and the inhabitants of West Connaught, to subjection. On his departure from Galway he took Dunmore-Mic-Feorais and Roscommon, (and) he left a president in Athlone to govern and reduce to obedience all the province of Connaught from Drobhaois to Limerick. This was the first president ever appointed in that country: his name was Sir Edward Phitun. The Lord Justice returned at the close of that autumn into Fine-Ghall and
THE AGE OF CHRIST, 1570. The Age of Christ, one thousand five hundred seventy.
Mac Sweeny Fanad (Turlough Oge, the son of Turlough, son of Mulmurry), the brother of Hugh Boy Roe and Mac Sweeny-na-dtuath (Murrough Mall, the son of Owen Oge) were treacherously slain at Dun-na-long in the presence of O'Neill (Turlough Luineach), by the Clann-Donnell Galloglagh. The fall of these three was a great blow to the hospitality and prowess, to the power and pomp, to the protection and support of the north of lreland, but the death of one of them was more particularly a cause of great lamentation, though the other two were truly good, namely, Murrough Mall, who was renowned above heroes, a burning brand without extinction, the champion of the valour of the Gaels, the star of the conflict of the men of Ulster against the men of Ireland, a mighty champion at forcing his way through the Pass of Danger, the distributor of the jewels and noble wealth of the Clann-Sweeny. His kinsman, Owen Oge, took his Murrough's place; and his kinsman, Donnell, was elected in the place of Mac Sweeny Fanad.
Egneghan, the son of Hugh Boy O'Donnell, was treacherously slain, on his return from O'Donnell's army, by Ferdoragh, the son of O'Gallagher, and his people, and by others of the descendants of Donough O'Gallagher.
Mac Namara (John, the son of Sida, son of Maccon, son of Sida, son of Teige, son of Loughlin), Lord of the eastern part of Clann-Coilen, died. He
A proclamation for holding a court in the monastery of Ennis, in Thomond, was issued by the President of the province of Connaught, to the O'Briens and the inhabitants of Upper Connaught. Teige, the son of Murrough O'Brien, who was at this time sheriff in the territory (and he was the first sheriff of Thomond), placed a quantity of food and liquors in the monastery of Ennis for the use of the President. The President arrived in the town about the festival of St. Bridget. The Earl of Thomond (Conor, the son of Donough, son of Conor O'Brien) was at this time at Clare, and the President on the third day dispatched a party of his guards, consisting of the chiefs of his people and his cavalry, to summon the Earl. It was at the same hour of the day that these and Donnell, the son of Conor O'Brien, who was also coming to the Earl, arrived at the gate of the town. The Earl came to the resolution of making prisoners of Donnell and all those who were withinside the chain of the gate, and killing some of those who were outside. This he did. The rest of them perceiving his intention escaped, by swiftness of foot and the fleetness of their horses, to the President, to Ennis. On the following day the President departed, and the sons of Murrough, son of Turlough O'Brien, i.e. Teige and Donough, conducted him out of the country, and guided him through the narrow passes and the wild and intricate ways. The Earl followed in pursuit of them, and continued skirmishing with them until they arrived at Gort-innsi-Guaire on that night. When this news reached the Lord Justice, he was filled with wrath and indignation; and he and the Council agreed to order the Earl of Ormond (Thomas, the son of James, son of Pierce Roe), in the Queen's name, to go to chastise the Earl of Thomond for that very arrogant deed which he had committed, for there was a close relationship and friendship between them. The Earl of Ormond accordingly immediately proceeded into Thomond with his forces; and the Earl, Conor O'Brien, came to a conference with him, and promised that he would do his bidding
The same President and the Earl of Clanrickard (Rickard, son of Ulick-na-gCeann, son of Rickard, son of Ulick of Cnoc-Tuagh) laid siege to Sruthair in the summer of this year 21st June. On this expedition, along with the President, were most of the chieftains and mighty champions of valour and prowess of Upper Connaught, from Magh-Aoi to Echtge, and from Galway to Athlone. There were also in the President's camp a great number of captains, with their soldiers along with them, and two or three battalions of Irish hireling soldiers. There were in it also Calvagh, the son of Turlough, son of John Carragh, son of Mac Donnell, and his two sons, with their forces; also
When Mac William Burke (John, the son of Oliver, son of John) heard that the President and the Earl had this great army assembled around Sruthair, it grieved his heart and disturbed his mind; and he called forthwith to his assistance the Lower Burkes and the descendants of Meyler Burke, also the Clann-Donnell Galloglagh, and Murrough of the Battle-axes, the son of Teige, son of Murrough, son of Rory O'Flaherty. These came, attended by as many as they had been able to procure of Scots and Irish, hired soldiers and youths; and they never halted until they reached a hill which was nigh to the camp of the President and the Earl; and here they held consultation, to consider in what way they could disperse or scatter those choice and irresistible forces, who had invaded them for their territory and patrimony. They resolved first to convert their cavalry into infantry, and having done so they formed into order and array; and they promised one another that they would not disperse or depart from that order, whether they should route the enemy or be routed by them. They all resolved that if the son or kinsman of one of them should be slain in his the survivor's presence, they would not stop with him but pass over him at once, as though they were enemies and strangers. In such state they advanced towards the other army. As for the President and the Earl, they placed their ordnance, their soldiers gunners, their halberdiers, and their men in armour on foot, in the perilous narrow defiles through which they supposed that the other party would advance upon them, and placed by their side the Clann-Sweeny, the Clann-Donnell, the Clann-Dowell, and all the other infantry of their army; while they themselves, and the body of vigorous cavalry they had with them, stood on one side in reserve, to support the fight
A hosting was made in the autumn of this year by the Earl of Ormond, i.e. Thomas, the son of James, son of Pierce Roe, and he marched westwards across the Suir, by Cliu-Máil-mhic-Ugaine, into Hy-Connell-Gaura, and to Kerry Luachra; (and) he never halted until he took and demolished Dun-Loich, on the River Leamhain, in the south of the province of Curoi, the son of Daire. On this expedition he obtained hostages and spoils; and he returned home by the same road without receiving battle or opposition. The reason that he received none was, that the sons of the Earl of Desmond were then in prison in London; and James Mac Maurice, the only person of his tribe who was opposed to the English and to the Geraldines, was himself opposed by the whole country. Another reason why the Earl met no resistance was, that he had the assistance of the Queen's army on this expedition.