Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition
Annála Connacht (Author: [unknown])

Annal 1538

1538.1

1538 First of January on Tuesday, the age of the Lord one thousand five hundred and thirty-eight years.

1538.2

O Domnaill's son, Aed Buide son of Aed Dub son of Aed Ruad, eligible prince of Tir Conaill, a man full of knowledge and hospitality and understanding of the arts, the surest defence on fields of conflict and in unguarded gaps, one who above all others was expected to attain to the lordship of his own land, from the visible qualities of a lord [which he displayed], if God had given him enough of life, died this year after a very short sickness at Killodonnell, after Unction and Sacrifice, on the Friday after St. Patrick's day.

1538.3

Niall son of Conn son of Art O Neill, a good prince, noble and hospitable, was killed in a night-attack on Omagh Castle by the son of Niall O Neill, to whom some of those inside the castle had given it up. Niall O Neill demolished it after that and blamed his son for that killing.

1538.4

Mag Flannchaid's son, the prospective chieftain of Dartry, that is Cathair son of Feradach son of Uilliam, died at Duncarbry in the month of May.

1538.5

O Domnaill, that is Magnus, led an expedition into Lower Connacht and succeeded in taking Sligo Castle, which was well provided with garrison and ordnance, so that his father had been a long time previously about the taking of it, but never took it. After taking the castle he entered Moylurg, which he entirely devastated, and as he was passing round Moygara on his way back a good son of his, Niall Garb son of Magnus son of Aed Dub, was unfortunately killed by a gun-shot under the castle. They returned unharmed but for this, having devastated all Moylurg and lower Connacht except [the lands of] such as came in and submitted to O Domnaill.

1538.6

The miraculous image of Mary at Trim, which had been venerated for ages by all the Irish, which used to heal the blind and the deaf and the lame and all other sufferers; and the Staff of Jesus, which was in Dublin, where it worked miracles and


p.711

wonders renowned in Ireland from the time of Patrick to this time, which was in Christ's own hand when He was among men and in the hand of Moses son of Amram at the drying-up of the Red Sea before the Children of Israel; these were burnt by the English. More than this, there was no holy Cross or effigy of Mary or famous image in Ireland which they did not burn if it fell into their power; nor was there one of the seven Orders which their power could reach in Ireland that they did not destroy; and on that account the Pope and the Church both here and in the east were excommunicating the English. And I am not sure that this entry does not belong to the previous year. I am John and I am the worse for the absence of Dolp.