He was one of the sons of Daire Sirchreachtach, as appears from the following story given concerning him and his brothers in the Dinnseanchus in the Book of Leacan, fol. 256, a.b. voce CARN MAIL. Carnn Mail in Magh Uladh whence was it named? It is not difficult to tell. It was otherwise called Carnn Luighdheach, from Lughaidh Mal, who was driven from Eire with a fleet of seven ships, and from Alba he set out for Eire with the great fleet of Alba; and they gave battle to the Ulstermen and defeated them. Every man that came into battle with Lughaidh carried a stone, and thus the carn was formed, and it was on it Lughaidh was standing256 while the battle was fought. Whence Carn Lughaidh is called.
- Delightful what falls to my care,
It is not the knowledge of one place only,
My mind extends its clear view to the east
Over the depths and heights of the world.- But since they are enquiring it of you,
If they like difficult knowledge [I will tell]
Whence is the name still here before us,
Of Carnn Mail in Magh Uladh.- Lughaidh Mal, who destroyed much,
Was banished out of Eire,
With a fleet of seven ships the king's son sailed
From Eire to the land of Alba.- He fought for the eastern country
In battles, in conflicts,
From Eadain257 to the wide-spreading Lochlann,258
From the Islands of Orc259 to Spain.
- When he obtained the powerful kingdom,
He brought with him a numerous army,
So that the harbours of Uladh were filled
With the barques of the fierce champions.- Battle or tribute was demanded
By Lughaidh of the men of Fail,260
To draw them into battle
Was the object of the future monarch.- After this he came up quickly
To engage in battle very fiercely,
Each man brought a stone into the battle,
And thus Carn Lughaidh was made.- And where Lughaidh Mal [stood] was
On the even white-surfaced carn
Until the great battle was gained,
Over the beauteous men of Eire.- Lughaidh obtained by means of his lance
The sovereignty both of the foreigners and Gaeidhil,
The man by whom the carn was formed,
Which lies in the fair plain of Uladh . . . Delightful.- The comely Daire had seven sons;
Lughaidh was the name of each:
In hopes the prophecy in them would be fulfilled,
One name was given to them all.- Daire had a magical fawn as a familiar
In the shape of a yearling deer,
His four sons met it
By old Teamhair on the north-east.261
- The fawn passed on swiftly,
Until he reached the stream of Sinainn,
And the fawn there was slain
By the four noble and very comely youths.- They cast lots, without sadness,
The sons of Daire of Dun-na-n-eigeas,262
That each of them might know his share,
Of the magical fawn without danger.- To Lughaidh Corb it fell
To slaughter the fawn, though menial the deed,
And from him is named the sept
Of Dal Meascorb in Crich-Cualann.- Whilst each of them was at his share,
Lughaidh Cal was in his sleep,
So that his tribe, without condition,
Is Calraidhe in the regions of Connacht.- Lughaidh gave a drink of water,
Though clear, it was not the water of knowledge,263
So that his race after this
Are the Corca Oirche in the vicinity of Caiseal.- Lughaidh Mor the father of Maccon
Obtained alone all Eire,
So that from Lughaidh Laidhe henceforward
The sept of Corca-Laidhe are named.- As they were in the house,
The men within at the fire,
A hag approached, ugly and bald,
Uncouth and loathsome to behold.
- High she was as any mast,
Larger than a sleeping booth her ear,
Blacker her face than any visage,
Heavy on each heart was the hag.- Larger her front-tooth, who could but see it
Than a square of a chess-board,
Her nose projected far in front,
Longer than the plough's cold share.- Larger than a basketful of ears of wheat,
Each fist;in a woman it was unbecoming,
Larger than a rock in a wall
Each of her rough black knees.- She was one continuous belly,
Without ribs, without separation,
A rugged, hilly, thick, black head
[Was] upon her like a furzy mountain.- She went to them into the strong house
In which the sons of the king of Eire were,
Pitiful the deed, ugly the exhibition,
She made to them to excite them.- She maddened their sense and reason,
It was leaping into the middle of a conflict,
The sons of Daire were abandoned
To an ignominious death.- She spoke to them an evil speech,
'One of you shall lie with me to-night,
Or you, both hound and man so straight,
To monster shapes I will transform.'- When he saw the wonderful deed,
Lughaidh Laidhe said to them,
I will go with her, though loathsome the condition,
[It is] enough for you that I only am lost.- As the fire darkened,
She passed into another wonderful form,
She assumed a form of wondrous beauty;
Ruddy were her cheeks, and round her breasts.- Her eyes were thus,
They were not such as to cloud her face,
Three sunbeams in each of them shone,
Whatever she looked on grew bright.- The purple beautiful covering was removed
From her breasts down, by the old woman,
So that a flesh-worm could be taken out
In the house by the light of her fair skin.- After this the youth asked her,
'O fair damsel, whence camest thou?
Tell and inform us here,
Speak to me; do not conceal it from me.'- 'I say unto thee, O mild youth,
With me the arch-kings cohabit,
I am the majestic, slender damsel,
The sovereignty of Alba and Eire.- To thee I have revealed myself to-night;
That is all; but thou shalt not cohabit with me,
Thou shalt have a son, honored in him,
He is the man with whom I shall cohabit.- The name of thy son, the mode is good,
Shall be Lughaidh Mor; he shall be a royal son,
For we have been longing more for him,
He shall be a druid, a prophet, a poet.'
- The prophecy which Daire mentioned to them,
Regarding Maccon, the comely, was,
'Maccon shall obtain the hill of Breagh [Teamhair]
Alba and delightful Eire.'
The following account of Lughaidh Laidhe and his brothers is given in the Coir Anmann264, as in the Book of Leacan, fol. 222b223a
Lughaidh Laidhe and the other sons, &c. Let it be here enquired whence the additional names upon the sons of Daire Doimthigh, i. e. the five Lughaidhs, and what is the reason that each was called Lughaidh? It is not difficult to tell. It had been prophesied that one of his sons would assume the sovereignty of Eire, and that Lughaidh would be his name, wherefore each of the sons was named Lughaidh. The fair of Tailltin was celebrated by Daire, and his sons performed their horsemanship there; and the Druid said, what good are thy sons, only one of them shall assume the monarchy of Eire. Daire said to the Druid: What son shall assume the sovereignty after me? A fawn with the bright color of gold shall arrive at the fair, said the Druid, and the son who shall overtake the fawn is he who shall assume the sovereignty of Eire after thee. And the golden fawn arrived afterwards at the fair, and the men of Eire went in pursuit of it, and the sons of Daire followed it from thence to Beann Eadair, and a magical mist [here] arose between them and the men of Eire. The sons of Daire pursued it from thence to Dal-Meascorb, in Leinster, and Lughaid Laidhe, i. e. Maicniadh, overtook the fawn, and [another] Lughaidh had the flaying of the fawn, and hence is (called) Lughaidh Cosc. And a great snow afterwards fell, so that it was [great] work for them to carry or hold their arms. And one of them went in search of a house, and he found a large house with a great fire therein, and food and drink in abundance, and dishes of silver and beds of Findruine [German silver]; and there was a large hideous hag in the house. O young man, what dost thou seek? said she. A bed till morning,[replied the youth.] And she said, if thou wilt come into my bed or couch to-night, thou shalt obtain it. And the youth said that he would not, and he went out to his brothers. Thou hast refused sovereignty and monarchy, said she. The other brothers went in after him. She
The Castle of Dun-garbry, or properly Dun-Cairbre, signifying the Dun or Fort of Cairbre, is situate on a hill, on the south side, and not far from the mouth, of the Drowis, or Drobhaeisa river very celebrated in Irish historyand the estuary of the beautiful Loch Melghe, (Melvin,) in the lower part of the county of Leitrim, bordering on the county of Sligo. Though marked on the maps made in the reign of Elizabeth as an important fortress, its ruins are now but inconsiderable, and consist only of a side wall perforated by an arched doorway. But, trivial as these vestiges are, they impart some historic interest to scenery of the most delightful character by which it is surrounded, and are valuable as a memorial of an ancient Irish family, once of great rank in the county, though now reduced to utter decay, at least in their original locality.
Dun-Cairbre Castle was erected by the chief of the Mac-Clanchys, or correctly Mac Fhlannchadha, a sept or clan who possessed the ancient district called Dartraidhe, the present barony of Rossclogher, and of which the Castle of Rossclogher, situate on an island in Loch Melghe, was their chief residence. The name of its founder and the date of its erection are not preserved; but the latter may with probability be referred to a period anterior to the reign of Henry VIII, as the Annals of the Four Masters record, at the year 1538, the death of a chieftain of Dun-Cairbre.
It may be proper to state that there are in Ireland two perfectly distinct families of the name Mac Fhlannchadha, or, as it is now more usually written, Clancy; first, the family of Thomond or Clare, some of whom were hereditary Brehons or judges to the O'Briains, and who were a branch of the Mac Conmaras (Mac-na-maras;) and, secondly, the family of Dartraidhe, who were hereditary chiefs of that district from a very remote period.
The notices of the chiefs of this family, as preserved in the Irish Annals from the twelfth till the seventeenth century, will serve to convey a very vivid impression of the insecurity of life resulting from the unsettled state of society, and its retrogression towards absolute barbarism during this unhappy period of our history, and will teach us also to appreciate the blessings we derive from the progress which civilization has made within the last century.
1241. Domhnall Mag Fhlannchadha, chief of Dartraighe, died.
1274. Cathal Mag Fhlannchaidh, chief of Dartraighe, died.
1278. Ruaidhre, son of Toirrdhealbhach O'Concobhair, was slain by Gilla-Crisd Mag Fhlannchaidh and the inhabitants of Dartraighe, on he borders of Drum-Cliabh.
1301. William Mag Fhlannchaidh, chief of Dartraighe, was slain by Ualgharg, the son of Domhnall, son of Art O'Ruairc.
1303. Among these (the slain) was Muirceartach Mag Fhlannchaidh, chief of Dartraighe.
1337. Tadhg Mac Fhlannchadha, lord of Dartraighe, was slain by Corbmac, the son of Ruaidhre, son of Domhnall O'Concobhair, as were also numbers of others, in revenge of Seaan, the son of Domhnall. Great depredations were afterwards committed in Dartraighe by O'Concobhair, and the son of Muiris Mag Fhlannchaidh was killed while in pursuit of the prey.
1349. Aedh O'Ruairc defeated Flaithbheartach O'Ruairc, Donnchadh O'Domhnaill, and the people of Dartraighe. Aedh Mag Fhlannchaidh, chief of Dart-raighe, Gilla-Crist Mag Fhlannchadha, Lochlann, son of Aindilis O'Baeighill, and many others, were slain in the engagement.
1366. The O'Ruaircs went on a migratory excursion, accompanied by the people of Fearmanach; but the youths of Clann Muircheartach attacked and surrounded them, and killed Cathal Mag Fhlannchaidh, chief of Dartraighe.
1418. Tadhg, i.e. Mag Fhlannchadha, the son of Cathal, the son of Tadhg, chief of Dartraighe, died, having retired into a monastery, a fortnight previously; and his son Cathal assumed his place.
1420. Cathal, son of Tadhg Mag Fhlannchadha, chief of Dartraighe, was slain in his own house, together with Aedh Buidhe Mag
1421. A nocturnal attack was made by Cathal O'Ruairc and his sons upon Mag Fhlannchaidh, on Inis Caein [an island] in Loch Melghe [Melvin]; and the guards of the lake, namely, the Mag Gollaighs [Mac Galloglai] delivered up the boats of the lake to Cathal and his sons. And Mag Fhlannchaidh Og was taken prisoner by them; and they took possession of Loch Melghe and its castle. Five of the sons of Mag Fhlannchaidh, and a great number of the men of Dartraighe were slain by them, after which [the rest of] the sons of Mag Fhlannchaidh went to Cairbre.
1532. Toirrdhealbhach, the son of Mag Fhlannchaidh, was killed by his own two brothers, on the threshold of Mag Fhlannchaidh's mansion; and Brian O'Ruairc destroyed much in Dartraighe, on account [i.e. in revenge] of this killing.
1536. Mag Fhlannchaidh, chief of Dartraighe, i.e. Fearadhach, the son of William, died. He was a charitable and humane man.
1538. The son of Mag Fhlannchaidh, Cathaeir, the son of Fearadach, the son of William, heir of the chieftainship of Dartraighe, died at Dun-Cairbre.
1578. Mag Fhlannchaidh of Dartraighe died: that is, Cathal Dubh, the son of Fearadhach, and his son, Cathal Og, assumed his place.
1582. Mag Fhlannchaidh of Dartraighe (i.e. Cathal Og) was slain by his own kinsman, Tadhg Og.
It appears from an inquisition taken at the Abbey of Creevelea, on the 24th September, 1603, that Cathal Og Mac Clanchy died on the 3rd of January, 1582, seised of the castle and manor of Dun-cairbre, and of the whole country called Mac Clanchy's country, leaving a son and heir, Cathal Dubh, then aged twenty-eight years.
It appears, however, that, in accordance with the Brehon law, the chieftainship of Dartraidhe passed at his death not to his son, but to the eldest surviving representative of the name, as an inquisition, taken at Rossclogher on the 3d of October in the same year, finds that the greater part of the country, including the castle of Dun-cairbre, and the castle and chief town of Rossclogher, &c were in the possession
The property of the Mac Clanchys was confiscated after the rebellion of 1641, but their name is the prevailing one in the barony of Dartraidhe, or Rossclogher, to the present day.
It is a very extraordinary fact that the pedigree of O'Driscoll, as given by all the Irish Genealogical Manuscripts now accessible, is less correct than any other line. It is in fact more than forty generations short from Lughaidh, son of Ith, down to Lughaidh Maccon, monarch of Ireland in the third century, but from that period forward it is as correct as any of the lines deduced from Oilill Olum. This fact, which has not been acknowledged by any of our critics or genealogists, may help to fix the real period at which the Spanish colony of the Clann-Breogain settled in Ireland, but this is not the place to discuss such a question.
Maccon, the last O'Driscoll given in the Book of Leacan, died, according to the Annals of the Four Masters, in the year 1418, and was therefore the reigning chief of Corca-Laidhe, when the Book of Leacan was compiled. The line has been continued till the beginning of the seventeenth century, by Keating265, the Four Masters, Dubhaltach Mac Firbisigh, and in a manuscript in the British Museum, (Harl. 1425, p. 25.)
{column 1}
1. Maccon O'Driscoll, d. 1418,
2. Maccon, d. 1442,
3. Finghin, d. 1472,
Finghin (3.) splits into two branches:
{column 1}
4. Tadhg d. 1472
5. Finghin,
{column 2}
4. Conchobhar d. 1508
5. Conchobhar, m. Jane, daughter of Conchobhar Finn O'Mathghamhna
6. Sir Finghin, or Fineen,266 m. daughter to Sir Owen Mac Carthy Reagh
7. Conchobhar, or Cornelius O'Driscoll, a captain in the Archduke country, living 1615. He was married to Ellen, daughter of Donnell Mac Swyne of Muskerry.
Fingin (5.) splits into two branches:
{column 1}
6. Maccon,
{column 2}
6. Conchobhar,
Conchobhar (6.) splits into three branches:
{column 1}
7. Conchobhar, Tadhg, Finghin,
(The Society have been favored with the following note by the Rev. John Quarry, Rector of Clonakilty.)
Corca Laidhe, the territory of the O'Driscolls, is described in the Book of Leacan and Book of Ballymote267 as comprising originally the entire of the Diocese of Ross, and as extending from Beann-Fhinn to the Strand of Traigh-Omna, and thence westward to Frith-na-h-Imghona, and from a Ford called Beal-atha-buidhe to the Strand called Traigh-Claen where there is a great rock. Where Beann-Fhinn is situate I have been unable to ascertain; at least no place is now known by this name. But immediately over the present Church of Castleventry, nearly in the centre of the entire district described, there is a lofty hill called Knockfeen, I suppose properly Cnoc-Finn. The summit of this, which is a prominent point, might be intended by the name Beann-Fhinn, from whence the extent is measured in a south-westerly direction to Traigh-Omna, which is the present name of a Strand at the extreme south-west of the Parish of Castlehaven. Westward from this is an inlet called Lough Hina, which I have no doubt is a corruption of the ancient name as it appears in Frith-na-h-Imghona. This designation is very applicable to the district along the sea beyond Lough Hina, which is still unreclaimed as may be seen by the Ordnance Map. The place which I suppose to be Frith-na-h-Imghona is known by the name of Glanawhine, probably a corruption of another compound containing the same name. The Ford called Beal-atha-buidhe is on the Bandon river, and is still known by the same name. It is noted for a great fair, and is a central point on the north of the entire district. From thence the extent is measured in a south-easterly direction to the extreme eastern boundary of the district, the Broad Strand or Traigh-Claen, still known by this name, outside Court-mac-Sherry Bay. Off one extremity of this Strand is a dangerous rock known by the name of the Horse Rock, the great rock mentioned in the description. These,
The district thus described is not exactly conterminous with the Diocese of Ross, which it is said to have comprised; as will be seen by the dotted line on the map which marks the northern boundary of the present Diocese, another district of which lies entirely separated from this beyond Bantry. The name Corca-Laidhe still exists in the corrupted form Cothluidhe, which name however is now confined to two small districts called Cothluidhe-mor and Cothluidhe-beag, situate on either side of the river Ilen near Skibbereen. This name is known to the country people though not appearing in the maps.
I. A subdivision of this territory is called the country of O'Gillamichil, and is described as extending from Tuath-na-h-Imghona aforesaid to the head of a harbour or inlet called Ceann-mara, and from Beann-t-Sidhain to Beal-atha-na-Seamann. Ceann-mara is the present name of the head or inmost part of the harbour of Castlehaven. Beann-t-Sidhain is the highest cliff on the Southern Coast of the Parish of Castlehaven, as still known by this name. I have not been able to find any name exactly corresponding to Beal-atha-na-Seamann. There is a ford over a stream falling into the river Ilen north of Skibbereen, called Ath-na-Seang, which might be a corruption of the name. But it more probably designates some ford over the Saivenose falling into the same river. In Smith's History of Cork, written more than a century back, this stream is called Savenesag. The latter part of this name as thus written is probably a corruption of uisge, water, and then the former part might represent Seamann by the (m) assuming an aspirate. And this is the more likely to be the stream on which is the ford in question, as we shall find that the next division also terminates with a ford over the same stream, which would thus form a natural boundary to this part of the territory. The Parish of Castlehaven, called also Gleann-Bearchan, forms a large part of this division. St. Bearchan is reputed to have been a prophet, one of his predictions, prior to the invasion of the Danes, having been that the Easterlings would come. There is a place in this Parish called Killchangil or Gillahangil, which probably contains a reminiscence of O'Gillamichil, the big Vicar.
II. The next division called Tuath O'Coinned or the Garrdha, is described as extending from Ceann-mara, already identified, to Loch-an-Bhricin, and from Miross to the ford of Beal-atha-soluis. The Parish of Miross is still known to the country people by the name of Garry or the Garden, which is said to have formerly designated a larger district. Miross itself is situate a little west of the head of the harbour of Glandore. There is a ford over the Saivenose already mentioned, still known by the name of Ath-Soluis, and Loch-an-Bhricin is the present designation of a lake situate a little east of Glandore harbour.
III. The subdivision next to the Garry is called Tuath-Rois, which is plainly the district of Ross, or Tuath-Indolaigh, of which name a trace is to be found in the name of a rock in the Bay of Ross, west of the Gally Head, which is known to the country people by the designation of Carraigin Indolaigh, or in an abbreviated form Doolig. This district is described as extending from Loch-an-Bhricin already mentioned to Fidh-Ruis, and from the Strand of Traigh-long to the hill called Sidh-na-bh-fear-finn. Fidh-Ruis is no doubt the wooded and wild country immediately west of Ross, as implied by this descriptive and still applicable designation. Traigh-long is the present name of the Strand in a cove into which a stream falls from Loch-an-Bhricin. The lake is on high ground from which there is a great descent to a bog immediately inside the strand. This bog is lower than the sea, and passes under a white shingle for some distance into the water, which has in consequence the color of turf, and appears very remarkable when the sea is rough. I have not been able to discover any trace whatever of the name of the hill called Sidh-na-bh-fear-finn.
Iveleary, to which O'Leary is said to have removed, after the English invasion, from this district of which he was chief, is situate near Macroom; as also the Castle of Carraig-na-Corra. The first named in the list of his followers, O'Ruaidhre, probably gave name to the little river now called Rowry, which runs through this division a little to the east of Loch-an-Bhricin and Traigh-long.
IV. The next subdivision called Tuath O'n-Aenghusa is said to have extended from Fearsad-Ruis to the inlet called Goilin-na-Gaithneamhna,
V. The next division called Tuath O'Fithcheallaigh or O'Feehily's country is said to have extended from Goilin-na-Gaithneamhna already ascertained, to the Island of Inis-duine, and from Dun-Eoghain to Glaise-Droighneach. Inis-duine, or Inchydoney, is an Island in Clonakilty Bay, which constitutes a Prebend in Ross Cathedral. The point of it which projects farthest into the sea is called the Virgin Mary's Point, and on its summit are the impressions of a pair of knees supposed to have been made by the blessed Virgin herself.
The Parish of Ardfield on the southern coast of this division, taking the first part of the name from the great elevation of the ground on which the Church is built, which rises from the sea in very lofty and precipitous cliffs, contains in the latter part, no doubt, a corruption of the name of O'Fithcheallaigh, the chief of the district. Another remnant of the same is perhaps to be found in the name of the little stream which runs in a south-easterly direction to the town of Clonakilty, and was probably the boundary between this and the next subdivision. The name of this stream as given on the Ordnance Map is Fealge, but this spelling is of course arbitrary, and the name is commonly pronounced Feely or Feehily, and seems to be a corruption of Fithcheallaigh.
VI. The next subdivision is called Tuath-na-Donn-ghalaigh, and extends from Inis-duine, already mentioned, to Beal-atha-na-h-Uidhre, and from Greallach-na-g-Cruime to Achadha. Beal-atha-na-h-Uidhre is a ford over the River Airgidin, (silver stream, in sound and sense like Homer's APGUPODINE,) about five miles westward from Clonakilty. It is known by this name as a place where two priests were murdered, in consequence of some matrimonial affair, and whose bodies were found in the river adjacent to the ford. Greallach-na-g-Cruime is now known only in the former part of the name. There are two places called Greallach or Grillach, either of which may have been intended. One is a townland on the Bandon River a little east of Ballybuy
Amongst the followers of O'Domhnaill, the chief of this division, is mentioned O'h-Aedha of Cluain-da-Mhael. About a mile west from Clonakilty is the site of an ancient castle which stood upon a bold rock over a ford. The Castle belonged to the O'Heas, and the place is now called Aghamilla. The former part of this name being derived from the ford (ath), the latter might present some trace of the word which forms the latter part of Cluain-da-Mhael. This Castle was battered by Cromwell's forces, and only a small remnant of the foundation is now perceptible. A farmer, whose family has been long settled in the immediate vicinity, possesses a cannon ball found by one of his ancestors in the dyke of the roadside. The tradition is that the people were assembled to dance on a Sunday evening, when the battering commenced from a hill on the other side of the Castle, and that it fell almost immediately, being extremely ancient. O'Sealbhaigh is also mentioned, and this name is perhaps still retained in the small parish and the lands of Kilsallagh near Courtmacsherry within this division.
VII. The last division of the territory is called Tuath-Ui-Duibh-da-leith, and is said to have extended from Beal-atha-na-h-Uidhre to Beal-atha-buidhe, both already mentioned, and from Gortnadiha to Loch-an-Tairbh. Gortnadiha is a denomination of land very near Kilmeen Church, and Loch-an-Tairb or Lough-atariff, as it is commonly called in English, is a Lake in the western border of the Parish of Kilmeen.
J. Q.
On the 4th of September, 1368, the Poers of the County of Waterford, having gathered all their forces, and being joined by O'Hedriscol of the County of Cork, and his gallies and men, sailed towards Waterford with an intention to plunder the city, which the Poers bore a great enmity to, on account of their fidelity and good government. John Malpas then Mayor, being informed of their designs, prepared to resist them, and accompanied by Walter Devenish, Sheriff of the County, Richard Walsh, Master of St. John of Jerusalem, with a number of merchant strangers and English, set himself at their head, and sailed towards the enemy. But the event did not answer these preparations. For the Poers with the aid of the western gallies of the O'Hedriscols set upon the city forces, and routed them. In this battle the Mayor, with the Sheriff of the County, the Master of the Hospital, thirty-six of the most worthy Citizens, as also sixty merchant strangers and English were slain. On the other side, the head of the Poers called Baron of Don-Isle, his brother Bennet Poer, with many of that sept, and numbers of the O'Hedriscols fell. The day following the Mayor was brought to the city, all hewen and cut to pieces, and was buried in Christ Church, and Richard Brasborne was immediately elected Mayor in his room. M.S. Clogher, in College Library. Natural and Civil History of Waterford, 1746, by Charles Smith, pp. 125, 126.
In the year 1413, Simon Wickin, Mayor of Waterford, Roger Walsh and Thomas Sault, Bailiffs, surprised and took prisoners, O'Hedriscol, his family, and the rest of his followers in his strong castle of Baltimore in the County of Cork. They took with them a strong band of men in armour, on board a ship belonging to the city, and arrived at the castle on Christmas day at night. The Mayor landed his men and marched up to the gate, and called to the porter, desiring him to tell his lord, that the Mayor of Waterford was come to the Haven with a ship of wine, and would gladly come in to see him; upon this message the gate was set open, and the whole family made prisoners. M.S. Clogher Coll. Libr. Ibid. 127.
In the year 1450, Stat. 28, Hen. 6. No. 10. As divers of the King's subjects have been taken and slain by Finin O'Hedrischol, cheiftane of his nation, an Irish enemy, enacted, that no person of the ports, of Wexford, Waterford, &c. shall fish at Korkly Baltimore, nor go within the country of the said O'Hedrischol with victuals, arms, &c. and that proclamation be made of this by Writs in the parts aforesaid, under the penalty of the forfeiture of their goods, and ships to those who shall take them, and their persons to the King; and the town who receives the said O'Hedrischol or any of his men shall pay £ 40 to the King. M.S. Clogher Coll. Libr. Ibid. p. 129. See the Statute itself post, p. 98.
On the third of June, 1461, the Mayor and citizens of Waterford being informed of the arrival of O'Hedrischol at Tramore, invited there by the Powers, (who always continued their rancour to the city) prepared themselves in warlike manner, and set forwards towards Ballymacdane, where they met the O'Hedrischols and Powers, gave them battle and gained a compleat victory, 160 of the enemy being slain, and some taken prisoners, among whom were O'Hedrischol Oge and six of his sons, who with three of their Gallies were brought to Waterford. M.S. Clogher Coll. Libr. Ibid. p. 129.
On the 20th of February, 1537, four Portugal ships laden with Spanish wines, consigned to the merchants of Waterford, were driven by tempest to Cape Clear, Baltimore, and the old head of Kinsale. One of the ships called la Santa Maria de Soci, laden with 100 tun of wine, was driven into a bay adjoining to the entrance of the haven of Baltimore. Finen O'Hederischol Chieftane of the Island, Conogher his son, and Gilly Duffe his base son, came on board and covenanted with the Merchants for three pipes of wine, to conduct the ships safe into the haven. When the Gentry and Peers of those parts had tasted the wines, they forgot their safe conduct and invited the Merchants to dinner in the castle, seized and clapped them in irons, manned their Irish gallies and took the ship, and distributed 72 tuns of the wine among their neighbours.
On the 3rd of March news arrived of this action at Waterford. Immediately 24 men of the city with Pierce Dobbyn for their Captain, sailed in a Pichard, called the Sunday of Waterford, well armed, and the day following at noon arrived suddenly at the ship, and as
On the 27th of the same month, the Mayor fitted out a little fleet consisting of the ship lately retaken, another large vessel, and the great galley of the city, well appointed with artillery, victuals, and men to the number of four hundred, and put them under the command of Bailiff Woodlock, as chief Captain, Pierce Dobbyn, James Walsh, James Sherlock, Henry Walsh and John Butler under Captains. On Wednesday the first of April at night they sailed, and arrived within the haven of Baltimore, and anchored towards the castle, which was guarded with men and artillery. They fired at it all night, and at the break of day the ward fled, and the Waterford men landed in good order in the island, and besieged the strong fortress there, the mariners entered the castle by the small port, and put up St. George's standard, and the army all entered at the Bridge-gate, and kept it five days, which they spent in destroying all the villages of the Island; and also the house of the Friers Minors near the castle, and the mill of the same. The fortress being double warded by two strong piles or castles, with walls, and barbicans, the halls, offices, &c. were totally ruined to the ground, and were tumbled into the sea. There was found in the island great store of malt, barley and salt. There was taken here Finen's cheif galley of thirty oars, and above three or four score pinances, of which about fifty were burned, and the great galley carried to Waterford. Near to Inishircan was an island called Inchipite, where Finen had his most pleasant seat in a castle, adjoining to a hall, with an orchard and grove, all which they destroyed and razed to the earth, and from thence they entered into another island, and burnt all the villages of the same. Then landing in the main they burnt and destroyed Baltimore, and broke down Teig O'Hederischol's goodly castle, and bawn.
On Tuesday in passion-week one William Grant was on the top of one of the castles, which being all on fire under him, he stood upon one of the pinnacles and cried out for help; Butler tied a small cord
The fourth day of September in Anno one thousand three hundred three score and eight, and in the x7th year of King Edward the Third, the Powers of the Countie of Waterford being over evill willers and enemies unto the Citie of Waterford for their good government, they and Raymond O'h-Edriskoll, with his Galleys and men to come unto them to the Countie of Waterford to endamadge the Cittizens, upon knowledge of their arryvall John Malpas, then Maior of the said Citie, prepared himself with a nomber of the best men of the said Citie, accompanyed with one Mr. Walter Devenishe, Sheriff of the said Countie, and Mr. Richard Walsh, Mr. of the Hospitall of St. John of Jerusalem, the Justices of the Peace of the said Countie, with a nomber of Merchant Estrangers, and Englysh men under the leading of the said Maior, sett forth themselves toward the said Galleys to encounter them, and at Glenoradmore in the said Countie, the said Powers with the ayde of them of the said westerne galleys, did sett upon the said Maior and his Company, whom the Powers meeting in severall Companies dispersed abroade, did bicker together, which bickering of their side, the said Maior with the said Sheriff and Justice of the Peace, with the nomber of thirtie-six of the best and worthiest men of the said Citie were slayne, and three score Merchant Estrangers and Englishmen were then slayne to the great losse and damadge of the said Citie. And of th' other side were then slayne the Baron of Don'hill and his brother Bennett Power, with divers of the Powers and of the O h-Edriskolls. And so on the 10th day of the
Symon Wicken Maior of the Citie of Waterford, Roger Walsh, and Thomas Saulter, Bayliffs, in the first year of his maioralty, with a band of men in armor, in a shipp of the forsaid Citie, went on Christmas Eve towards Balintimore, and in nyght on Christmas day at supper tyme landed his men, and in good order came to the gate of O'h-Idreskoll's greate house or castell within the said haven, and called to the porter and willing him to tell his lo. that the Maior of Waterford was come unto the haven with a shipp of wyne, and that he would gladly come in to see his lo. Upon notice thereof given by the porter to O'h-Idriskoll, the gate was set open, and the porter presently taken by the Maior and put aside, and so the Maior walked into the greate Hall, where O'h-Idriskoll and his kinsmen and friends, sitting at boordes made ready to supp, commanded O'h-Idriskoll and his company not to move or feare, for he would not, nor meant not, to draw no men's blood of the same house, more than to daunce and drinke, and so to departe. With that the said Maior toke up to daunce. O'h-Idriskoll and his Sonne, the Prior of the Friary, O'h-Ydriskoll's 3 brethren, his uncle and his wife, and leaving them in their daunce, the maior commanded every of his men to hold fast the said powers, and so after singing a carroll came away, bringing with them aboorde the said shipp the said O'h-Idriskoll and his company, saying unto them they should go with him to Waterford to syng their carroll, and make merry that Christmas; and they being all aboorde made sayle presently, and arryved at Waterford St. Steven's day at night, where with greate joy received they were with lightes.
From the Carew MSS. No. b 32268, p. 254, per C. Nash.
The Maior and Cittizens of the Citie of Waterford being credibly informed of th'arryvall of O'h-Idriskoll, or Tramore being trayned thither by the Powers, who always continued in their ranckor and malice towards the Citie, the Maior and the Cittizens prepared themselves in warlike manner, and sett forward themselves with good courrage towards Ballimacdare, in the said Countie, where they, having mett with the said O'h-Idriskoll and the Powers, and so bickered together, where the Maior and his companions had the victory of their side, and several of the said O'h-Idriskoll's company and of the Powers were slayne then by the said Maior and his company, and some taken prisoners, and in especiall were taken then all prisoners, O'h-Edriskoll Oge with vi. of his sonnes, which were then brought to Waterford with three of their Gallyes.
Item que lou diverse liege people du Roy ount este prise destruez et tuhez per un Ffynyn Ohedirskoll chefteyn de sa nacion le quell est irrois Enemye a notre seigneur le Roy et a tout-son liege people de la dit terre Sur que lez premissez considerez Ordine est per auctorite du dit parlement que null manere persone dez partiez de Weyesford, Waterford, Yoghill, Cork, Kynsale ne null aultre liege people pessheront a korkly Balthymore deins la pays du dit Ohedirskoll ne veigne deins la terre du dit Ohedirskoll ove vitaile ne armure mesque qils allont sur le dit Ohedirskoll en tout son pais come Enemiez a notre seigneur le Roy. Et que proclamacion soit fait sur ceo per lez briefs du Roy fait en lez partiez avauntditz sur la peine de forfactur de touz lour biens ove lour Niefs lez biens a ceulx que prendront et lez personez al Roy et en queconque vile le dit Ohedirskoll on ascun de sez homez soient receyvez ou tenuz encountre l'entent du dit proclamacion la persone et la vile que eulx receyvent paier au Roy xl li.
17. Surrender by sir Fynnyn O'Driskoill of Baltimore, knt. and Thomas Crooke of the same, esq. and each of them, of the lands recited in the article next ensuing.[...]May 5th.
18. Grant from the King to Thomas Crooke of Baltimore, Cork county, esq. Cork county. The territory, country or cantred of Collymore otherwise O'Driskall's country, and the soil, shore, and strand of the haven of Baltimore, with the islands of Inisherkine, Downygall, Capecleere and Inispicke, being parcel of the said cantred, which cantred extends by land towards the East on one side to the utmost bounds of two carucates of land of the Old Court near Drishen, on the other side to the utmost bounds of Drishenmore near Drishenbegg, and on another side to the utmost bounds of Randacassane near Ardgehan; to the North to the river of Downegall; to the West to the promontory of Capecleere and Inisherkane upon the sea; and to the South from Capecleere, to the utmost parts of Randacassane; and it extends by sea from Fashney rock by West Capecleere, to the rocks called the Staggs the castle, town, and three carrucates of Baltimore, otherwise Downyshead, called by the common name of Tullagh, within the territory of Collymore the town and 3 carucates of Ballialen-shahane the like of Rathe 2 carucates of Old-Court otherwise Shane-Court Laccaghane, 1 caruc.Gortarde, 1 1/2 1 carucMoonnagh, 1 caruc. Ringarogeh, 1/2 caruc.Clay, 3 caruc.Slewmore, 1 3/4 caruc.Fearanacoishe, 1 1/2 caruc.Gorterd, 1/2 caruc.Gortilascah, 1/2 caruc.Teignayne, Gortilasca, and Kilbeacon, commonly called the 3 quarters of Downygall Ardaghe, 2 caruc.Glanvigane otherwise Glanyfoyne, 1 1/2 carucBallinard, 3 caruc.Lacke, 2 caruc.Gortivestre otherwise Gortivisir, 1/2 caruc.Drishane, 3 caruc, all being within the said territory and island of Collymore, and lately being the demesne lands of Fynnin O'Driskoil, knt. and lately in the possession of Thomas Crooke; annual value, £10 Irish.the chief rents, all in Irish money of £ 4 3s. 4d. out of 1 1/2 caruc. of Ferrencassie. £1 out of 1 1/2 caruc. of Balliarde and Glanifinne £1 17s. 4d. out of 2 caruc. of the Old- Court 4s. 8d. out of Gortinvoher £1 17s. 4d. out of 2 caruc. of Ardagh 15s. out of 3 caruc. and 3 gnives of Randacassane 3s. 4d. out of 1/2 caruc. of Annagh 2s. 3d. out of the 4 gnives of Clonegon £4 15s. 4d. out of Sloughtea in Clere Island and certain lands of
Inquisition taken at the towne of Roscarrybry in the County of Corke the viiith. day of April, in the sexth year of the Reign of our sovereign Lord James of England, &c. before William Lord Bishop of Cork (and another.) By the oaths of good, &c. who find that the bounds of the Country or Cantred of Colly More, alias called O'Driscoll's Country, are eastward the uttermost bounds of the two ploughlands of the Old Court towards Dryshen, and the furthest bounds of Drishane More, bounding upon Drishane Begg and the uttermost bounds of Randacassan, bounding upon the lands of Ardgehane, and northwards upon the Ryver of Downegal, and westward from Cape Clyre and Innyshirckane upon the mayne sea, and southward from Cape Clyre to the uttermost part of Randacassan. The land of Collymore, alias called O'Driscoll's Country, containeth threescoare and fyve ploughlands, that is to say, in the mayne lande thirtie nyne ploughlands and a half; in the illande of Downygall fower ploughlands; the illande of Innyshirckane nyne ploughlands; the illande of Cape Clyre twelve ploughlands; the illande of Innyspike half a ploughland. The whole illandes of Innyshirckane and Clyre are within the Lordship or Country of Collymore, and all Innyshirckane is within the parishe of Tullaghe. That Cnogher mac Fynine O'Dryscoll, grandfather to Donnoghe Karragh O'Dryscoll was quietly seized in his demesne of Downylonge, and the moiety of the lands and rents of the O'Dryscolls, and of the moietie of the royalties of the Harbrough of Baltymore, and that Conogher mac Conogher father to Sir Fynyne O'Dryscoll, was quietly seized in his demesne of Downeysheade, and
Inq' capt' apud vill' de Bandonbridge in Com' Cork vicesimo die Augusti anno regni domini Caroli, &c. octavo, coram Wilielmo Wiseman ar' Escaetore domini regis Com' pred' (et alio) per sacramenta proborum, &c. qui dic' quod Fynnyne O'Driscoll nup. de
[...]
de et in vill. et de Downesheade et x carr. terrae et dimid' un' carr' terr' in
[...]
un' carr' terr' de Lacaghane, un' carr' et dimid' carr' vocat' Gort
[...]
Et ulterius Jur' pred' dic' quod pred' Thomas Crooke seisit' existen' de omnibus predictis per fact' suu' geren' dat' vicesimo secundo die Julii anno domini 1610 concessit rer' con' premiss' prefat' Walter' Coppinger et hered' suis in perpetuum prout per fact' pred' plenius apparet cujus quidem tenor sequit' in hec verba: To all Christian people, &c. Et ulterius dic' quod pred' Thomas Crooke, per fact' 'suum geren' dat' octavo die Novembr' anno regni nuper Regis Jacobi Angl.' &c. nono, relaxavit omnia premiss' pred' prefat. Walter' Coppinger et hered' suis in perpetuum prout per pred. fact' plenius apparet: cujus quidem tenor sequit' in hec verba: To all Christian people, &c. Et ulterius dic' quod Donat' O'Driscoll de Downenylonge in Com' pred' per fact' suum geren' dat' primo die Marcij anno domini 1608 feoffavit pred' Walter' Coppinger et hered' de omnibus premissis pred' et de tribus carr' terr' de Ballinshighane ann' val' VIs. ac de tribus carr' terr' de Ballinelane ann' val' VIs. ac de trigint' acr' terr' de Gohane ann' val.' VId. jacen' in Com' Cork prout per pred' fact' plenius apparet: cujus quidem tenor sequitur in hec verba: To all Christian people, &c. Et ulterius' Jur' pred' dic' quod pred' Walter' Coppinger in possessione existen' de omnibus premiss' pred' ad usum ipsius Walter' et hered' suorum pred' Fynyn O'Driscoll per fact' suum geren' dat' duodecimo die April, 1611, relaxavit omnia premiss' pred' prefat' Walter' Coppinger et hered' suis in perpetuum prout per pred' fact' plen' apparet: cujus quidem tenor sequit' in hec verba: Omnibus Christi fidelibus ad quos, &c. Et ulterius Jur' pred' dic' quod pred' nup'
Inquisit. capta apud Bandonbridge in Com. Cork decimo quarto die Augusti 1630, coram Phillippo Percival, Wilielmo Wiseman ar. Escaetor' domini regis Com. pred' (et alio) per sacram' probor', &c. qui dicunt quod Dermott MacConnogher O'Driscoll de Castlenard juxta Baltimore in Com. Corke predict' seisitus fuit de feodo de undecim gneeves de terra de Castlenard predict' in Com. pred' val' per annum vigint' et duor' denar'. Et quod predictus Dermott MacConnogher O'Driscoll sic inde seisitus existens per factum suum gerens dat' vicesimo primo die Novembris anno domini millesimo sexcentessimo vicessimo octavo alienavit quinque gneeves parcell' predict' undecem gneeves de Castlenard predict' cuidam Johanni O'Crowly de Gortard gen' et hered' suis in mortgag' suum et trigint' et duo libr' sterl' sub condicion' redemptionis. Et ulterius dicunt quod predict' Dermott obiit de et in resid' premiss' decimo die Septembris anno domini 1629. Et quod Margaret ny Dermott est ejus filia et unica heres et etatis duorum annorum tempore mortis predict' Dermot patris sui et non maritat'. Postremoque jurat' predict' dicunt quod omnia premissa tenentur de Domino rege in capite per servic' militar'.
Inquisit' capt' apud Bandonbridge in Com. Cork decimo quarto die Augusti anno domini regis Caroli, &c. sext' coram Philippe Percivall, Wilielmo Wiseman ar' Escaetor' domini regis Com. pred' (et alio) per sacram' probor', &c. qui dicunt quod Hugo MacKnoghar O'Driscoll de Farreneconshey in Com. Cork predict' seisitus fuit de feodo de novem gneeves terr' jacen' et existen' in occidental' partibus de Farreneconshy predict' in Com. Corke predict' val' per annos duor' solid'. Et sic inde seisitus obiit decimo die Novembris viginti et quatuor annos
Inquisit' capt' apud Bandonbridge in Com. Cork decimo sexto die Septembris anno regni domini Caroli, &c. septimo, coram Phillippo Percivall, Wilielmo Wiseman ar' Escaetor domini regis com. pred' (et alio) per sacram' probor', &c. qui dicunt quod Maccon O'Driscoll alias Maccon Gorme O'Driscoill seisit' fuit de feodo de castr' et duobus carrucat' terrae de Donegalle ann' val' v solid. Et de dimid' carrucat' terr' de Gortilasca ann' valor' xv d. Et de dimid' carrucat' terr' de Glane Srirhaghe in insula de Capecleere ann val xv d. Et de novem gneeves terrae de Gokane, ann. val. xxid que omnia premiss' pred' jacen', &c. existen' in Com. Cork pred. Et sic inde seisit' existens obiit sic inde seisit' existen' circa trigint' annos jam ultim' elapsis. Et quod Fynyn O'Driscoll alias Carraghe fuit ejus nepos et prox' heres vizt. fil' et hered' Conoghor O'Driscoll fratr' et proxim' hered' predict' Maccon et quod fuit etat' viginti et septem annor' tempore mort' pred' Maccon et maritat'. Et ulterius dicunt quod pred. Fynyn postea obiit scilicet decim' die Septembris anno domini 1609. Et quod Donnoghe Carraghe est ejus filius et heres et plen' etat' tempore mort' pred' Fynyn et maritat. Postremoque jurat' pred' dicunt quod omnia premiss' pred' tempore mort' pred' Maccon et Fynin tenebantur de nuper domina nostra regina Elizabetha et de domino nostro rege Jacob' respective in capite per servic' mil', vizt. per tertiam partem unius feodi mil'. Et ulterius dicunt quod Donnoghe O'Driscoill clamat premiss' pred' esse jus suum et hereditat'. Et quod annual' reddit', debit', et solubil' est MacCarty Reoghe ex pred' premiss'.
Inquisit' capt' apud Bandonbridge in com' predicto nono die Octobris anno regni domini Caroli, &c. octavo, coram Peregrine Banaster, Wilielmo Wiseman ar' Escaetor' domini regis Com' pred' (et alio) per sacram' probor', &c. qui dic' quod Teige O'Driskoill de Byaledwilveige in Com' predicto gen. seisitus existens de feod' de vill' et terr' de Lacken Coskerane et Faneadrill in Com' pred' contin' un' carucat' terr' annui valor' trium solidor' per chartam suam dat' quarto
Inquisit' capt' apud the Kings Ould Castle in Com' Cork decimo septimo die Septembris anno regni domini Caroli, &c. nono, coram Pho. Percivall, Willo. Wiseman ar' Escaetor' domini regis Com' pred' (et alio) per sacram' probor', &c. qui dic' quod Cnoghor MacDermod O'Driskoill de Glanefyne in Com' pred' gen' seisitus fuit de feodo de duobus carrucat' terr' de Glanefyne pred' in Com' pred' annual' valor' decem solidor'. Et sic seisitus existens obiit inde seisitus primo die Augusti anno domini 1629. Et quod Moriertagh MacCnogher O'Driskoill est ejus filius et prox' heres' ac fuit plene etat' tempore mortis patris sui pred' et maritat'. Et quod premissa pred' tenentur de Domino Rege in capite per servic' mil', videlt' per vicesimam partem unius feodi mil'.
Inquisit' capt' apud Bandonbridge in Com. pred' decimo quarto die Octobris, anno regni domini Caroli, &c. quinto, coram Wilielmo Wiseman ar' Escaetor' domini regis Com' pred' (et aliis) per sacram' probor', &c. qui dic' quod Fynen O'Driscoll alias Carragh nuper de Donalonge in Com' Corke pred' gener' seisit' fuit de feodo de Castro vill' et terr' de Donolonge in Com' pred' contin' tres carrucat' terr' valor' per annos viginti solid'. Ac de una carrucat' et tertia parte unius carrucat' terr' in tribus partibus divis' in Sleamore in dicto Comitatu valor' per ann' octo solid'. Ac de dimid' carrucat' terr'
Inquisit' capt' apud the King's Ould Castle in Com. Cork decimo septim' die Octobris 1636, anno regni domini Caroli, c. duodecimo, coram Wilielmo Fenton mil' (et alio) per sacram' probor', &c. qui dic' quod Daniel MacCarty alias MacCarty Reigh, nuper de Kilbrittan in Com. Cork ar' seisit' fuit de feodo de maner' de Kilbrittan contin' trigint' et tres carrucat' terr' viz. in carrucat' terr' de Kilbritten pred' Ballybeg et Ballymore contin' un' carrucat' terr' Carriggin, Ignory et Baltyn Ignyn contin' un carrucat' terr' Coolesynagh contin' dimid' unius carrucat' terr', Burren contin un' carrucat' terr' Ardicroe contin' un' carrucat' terr', Rathclaren contin' un' carrucat' terr', lez du' Glannduffes ex parte oriental' et occidental' contin' un' carrucat' terr' Shanyquill contin' dimid' un' carrucat' terr' Garranfyne contin' un' carrucat' terr'.
To the Right Hon. his Majesty's Commissioners appointed for putting in Execution the Actt of Parliament intitled, An Act for the better Execution of his Majesties Gracious Declaration for the Settlement of his Kingdom of Ireland, and Satisfaction of the Several Interests of Adventurers, Soldiers, and other his subjects there.270
The Claime of Donogh O'Drisscoll, alias Carragh, Sonne and heir of Conor O'Drisscoll, late of Donegaule in the County of Cork, Gentleman, deceased, and of Catherine Driscoll, alias Carthy, the Relict of the said Connor.
The humble Petition of the said Donagh and Catherine.
Shewing that the Claimant's Grandfather Donogh O'Drisscoll, alias Carragh, late of Downlong, in the County of >Cork, Gentleman, deceased,
That the Claimants. and the said Donogh the Grandfather behaved themselves Civilly, Innocently, and Inoffensively, during the Rebellion, never acting any thing against his Majesty or Peace of the Nation, and as a further testimony of theire loyalty and fidelity, from time to time observed and obeyed his Majestye' commands, as well those Commands and Directions held forth in the Artickles of peace concluded and made in the year of our Lord God (1646) and the Peace made in the year (1648) by the order and authority of his late majesty of ever blessed memory as others his Comands, and that they have likewise ever since behaved themselves inoffensively, nor ever sued for any Decree or Lands in Conoght or Clare, but always patiently expected the happy Restauration of his Gracious Majesty.
The humble petition and Desire of the Claimants is therefore that
The schedule annexed to the Claime of Donogh O'Driscoll, alias Carragh, expressing as well the Names and Quantities of Plowlands held by them as his ancient Inheritance, as also his Chiefries, Royalties, and other Duties appertaining to him in his Estate in the County of Corke, and being tennant in taile as heir male of the body of Donogh O'Drisscoll the Claimant's Grandfather.
Co. | Parish | Lands and Denominations | Present Possessors | Barony | Debentir |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cork | Tullagh | The Castle, town and lands of Downinglonge, containing three plowlands in Heritance in the Island of Inishskirkane | Henry Beecher | Carbry | The Heires or Assigns of Sir John Renalds, whom I know not |
Id. | Idem | The town and lands of Sleevemore, containing three half plowlands in the Island of Inishskirkane, inheritance morgaged from me. | Captain Jarvoys | Idem | |
Id. | Idem | The town and lands of Rineidrolane, containing three half plowlands, inheritance and part of my mother's jointure; it lyes in the above said Island. | Henry Beecher | Idem | The heires or assigns of Sir John Renalds |
p.139 | |||||
Cork | Tullagh | The town and land of Clidaugh containing half a plowland in the Island of Inishskirkane | Henry Beecher | Carbry | The heires or assigns of Sir John Renalds |
Id. | Idem | The town and lands of Kilmoone, containing half a plowland in the Island of Inishskirkane morgaged to me | Idem | Idem | The heires or assigns of Sir John Renalds |
Id. | Idem | The town and lands of Kinnigh, containing half a plowland in the aforesaid Island morgaged to me | Idem | Idem | The heires or assigns of Sir John Renalds |
Id. | Creagh | The Castle, town and lands of Downegaule, containing two plowlands, inheritance, & part of my mother's Joynture | Idem | Idem | The heires or assigns of Sir John Renalds |
To the Honorable His Majestie's Commisioners appointed for executinge the Act of Settlement and the Explanatory Act of the same.
May it please your Honors.
Pursuant to your Honour's Instructions wee have compared and examined the Petition and Schedule of Coll. Cornelius O'Driscoll.
Com. Corke.
East and West Carbury.
Ballymackaun, 337 acres.
Baltymore, alias Dunenashead, 545 acres.
Ballyliney,
Ragh,
Gortard,
Lackaghane,
Bally-Iland,
Monig,
Rincormack,
Cree,
Gurtylomaue,
Ardnavohonnane,
Lappagh,
East plowlands of Licke,
containing in the whole 1500 acres.271
King's Letter readin poss. Aug. 63To Have a Certe
Indorsed.
[Reporte upon the Peticon and Schedule of Coll. Cornelius O'Driscoll.]
NoteThis Record seems imperfect. However, all that remains is contained above.
J. H.
On 12th August, 3 It Car. II. A Grant to Colonel Richard Townsend, Jeremy Donovane, gent. Daniell O'Donovane, Esq. Colonel Cornelius O'Driscoll, Sir Edward Scott and Alexander Heyden, gent. or reducing of Quit Rents.
Patent Roll.
1st May, 16th year of Queen Elizabeth, Letters Patents the Office of Proctor of the Cathedral Church of Rosse.
3rd June, 26th year of Elizabeth Pardon (general) to Fynyn O'Driscoll and others.
Last day of August, 32d year of Queen ElizabethPardon (general) to Finnig Mac Dermott O Driscoll and others.
There is a Surrender from the O'Driscolls to the Crown, inrolled on the Patent Roll, 5th James I. 2nd pars, facie. See Extract from this in the Printed Repertory Patent Roll, James I. given above, p. 99.
See O'Driscoll Inquisitions Nos. 208, 209, 344, 477, Charles I.
Two ancient vellum copies of this work are in existence, one in Leabhar Leacain, (the Book of Lecan,) which was compiled from various other MSS. by Gilla Isa Mor Mac Firbisigh of Leacan, in the county of Sligo, in the year 1418. This copy begins at folio 119, b, b, and ends with folio 122, b, b. The other copy is preserved in Leabhar Bhaile an Mhuta, (the Book of Ballymote,) which was compiled by various persons, but chiefly by Solamh O'Droma, from older MSS. about the year 1390, for Tomaltach Mac Donnchadha (Mac Donough) then chief of the territories of Tir Oililla, Corann, Airteach, Tir Thuathail, and Clann Fearmaighe, extending into the counties of Sligo, Roscommon, and Leitrim. This copy begins at folio 109, b, b, and ends at 112, b.
There is also a copy of it which was transcribed on paper by Dubhaltach Mac Firbisigh in the year 1650, in the Library of Lord Roden, and a second paper copy made from the latter, by Mr. E. Curry, in the Library of the Royal Irish Academy.
Corca-Laidhe, the original country of the Dairinne, or O'Driscolls and their correlatives, was originally co-extensive with the diocese of Ross272, or Ros-ailithre of which St. Fachtna of this race, who flourished in the sixth century, was the first bishop. But on the encrease of the power and population of the Deirgthine or race of Oilill Olum, the original territory of the Dairinne was much circumscribed. Long before the English Invasion the Ui-Eathach-Mumhan, or O'Mahonys, wrested from them that portion of their territory called Fonn-Iartharach i. e. West land, otherwise
AI. , 1232.2.
The surrounding tribes still continued to encroach upon the Corca-Laidhe, until at length they narrowed their territory to the limits of the following parishes, which, according to the Regal Visitation Book of 1615, constitute the rural deanery of Colleymore and Colleybeg, viz.:
Myross, Glanbarahane, (now Castlehaven,) Tullagh, Creagh, Kilcoe, Aghadowne and Cleere. In this territory they built the castles of Gleann, Bearchain, or Castlehaven, Lough-Hyne, Ardagh, Baltimore, Dun-na-n-gall, Dun-an-oir in Cape Clear Island, Rincoliskey, and a Castle and Abbey on Sherkine Island.
Regal Visitation Book.
In 1636, the entire of O'Driscoll's country,That the ancient Irish should have been careful to preserve their genealogies need not be a matter of surprise, and that these are perfectly authentic may be expected as they were entered in the local books of pedigrees, and preserved in the poems of family or hereditary poets. Those of the lowest rank among a great tribe, traced and retained the whole line of their descent with the same care, which in other nations was peculiar to the rich and great; for it was from his own genealogy each man of the tribe, poor as well as rich, held the charter of his civil state, his right of property in the cantred in which he was born, the soil of which was occupied by one family or clan, and in which no one lawfully possessed any portion of the soil if he was not of the same race with the chief.
This was also the case with the Welsh, as we are informed by Giraldus, in the first chapter of his Cambriae Descriptio, and again,
more particularly in the seventeenth chapter, where he writes as follows:
Generositatem vero et generis nobilitatem prae rebus omnibus magis appetunt. Unde et generosa conjugia plus longe cupiunt quam sumptuosa vel opima. Genealogiam quoque generis sui etiam de populo quilibet observat, et non solum avos, atavos sed usque ad sextam vel septimam et ultra procul generationem memoriter et prompte genus enarrat in hunc modum, Resus filius Gruffini, filii Resi, filii Theodori, filii Aeneae, filii Oeni, filii Hoeli, filii Cadelli, filii Roderici Magni, et sic deinceps.
Genus itaque super omnia diligunt, et damna sanguinis atque dedecoris ulciscuntur. Vindicis enim animi sunt et irae cruentae, nec solum novas et recentes verum etiam veteres et antiquas velut instantes vindicare parati.
Cambriae Descriptio, cap. 17
- Death of my heart! Is the head of Brian
In a strange country under cold clay;
O head of Brian of Sliabh Sneachta,275
Eire after thee is an orphan!- To the king of the Saxons276 eastwards
Was carried the head277 of the king of the Gaeidhil278 by the Galls279
Is it not sufficient victory over the Gaeidhil
That thou, O head, art triumphed over!- It is equal to all the evil the foreigners have done
To bring the head of Brian to London,
It is a sore consummation of his fate,280
That his head should be in a stranger's church.
- Alas! that his noble face was removed from Dun,281
From the place wherein is the grave of Patrick,
It is grievous to us that the king of Caiseal282
Is not interred near the relics of the Tailginn.283- In Ard Macha284 are the interments
Of the Ulaidh with their lime-stone graves,
Among the tomb-stones of our Clann-Neill;
Alas! that his resurrection shall not be there!- There is in London under a white flag-stone285
A head which the Gaeidhil would dearly ransom
All my cattle, although thou hearest it not, O head!
I would give to ransom thee.- He gave twenty horned cows
For my poem,286 it was a goodly purchase,
Were they twenty cows with golden horns,
My honor was greater and better.- I brought away with me on another day
Twenty cows at May-day,
Along with much other wealth besides
Not counting gold and raiment.- I received a better gift,
The blessing of the chief king of Eire;
The reward for his poem was not trifling;
But more lasting the fame of his blessing.
- All have poured from east and west
Upon my cattle since the good Brian departed,
They and my king have passed away at the same time,
The noble Brian, from whom I got them.287- Were we without horse, without cow,
For want of cattle we would not repine,
And there would not want be felt in my house,
If the king of Macha288 were living.- Wo is me! it would seem distressing to Brian
To see what indignity is offered me;
Injustice to me, east or west, would be unlikely
If Brian were living.- The war of the Gaeidhil with the foreigners
Was playing for a check at foreign chessmen;
The foreign pawns checked our chess king!
We cannot now escape defeat.- The top of our corn was cut down
By a hideous exotic horde of reapers;
Who came against us on Sunday289 to Dun,
When the crop was but to ripeness turning.- Till the day at Dun no battle was gained
Over the race of Mileadh of Teamhair;290
But when it is the destiny291 of people to pass away,
Valor or prowess is of no avail.
- In its own time we have not seen
The deed which would relieve Eire,
As valor, it is ascertained,
Ought to be exerted on the cessation of prowess.- From the number of forts which he plundered and burned
From the number of great battles which he gained;
Every flank of a fortressed town which he shattered,
By the foreigners of Dun was revenged.- The foreigners from London,
The hosts from Port-Lairge, 292
Came in a bright green body thither,
In gold and iron armour.- Unequal they engaged in the battle,
The foreigners and the Gaeidhil of Teamhair,
Fine linen shirts293 on the Race of Conn,294
And the foreigners in one mass of iron.- The cause of our defeat was our being in guilt,
In the battle for the possession of Maenmhagh;
Ah! if all were induced to abstain from the battle!
Sunday was no day for fighting.295
- Of what avail is valor or many spears?
By poison a fierce battle is gained,
Until O'Neill was disabled by poison,296
The prowess of the hero was terrible.- The cow of a poor man was never brought to his house,
The reliquary of a priest he never violated,
What curse could have followed him for which the battle was
There is no church against which he sinned.- A steed, with his ornamental bridle on his head,
Should pass throughout Eire,
Through Inis Fail297 to Brian of Breagh:298
It would pass299 without any one putting a hand to the bridle.- A woman300 would pass to Brian
From Sliabh Callainn301 to Coirrshliabh;302
The walk among the Gaeidhil is frightful to me
Since the chief man of Eire has departed.- O'Neill did not violate a sanctuary;
He did not disobey the church;
The prosperity of Brian was destroyed by poison;
To be pious after him is difficult.- The heroes of Leath-Chuinn303 in the battle
Fell together in defence of Teamhair;
As when the prop304 is withdrawn from a house
Its ridge falls down after it.- The fall of the chieftains of the men of Fail
Is not to be compared to this one plague,
The chieftains of the Gaeidhil being mortally wounded,
One man would supply their loss.305- There, upon the heroes of Leath-Chuinn,
Reproach on reproach is heaped by us:
To have allowed the king into the battle was not right;
Alas the deed, that he was not prevented.- To leave the king of Oileach among the slain
Is a disgrace to the Race of Eoghan306 of white steeds,
It was a false guarding in the soldiers of Eamhain,307
To have allowed their lord to break through them.- After the bloody battle
The Gaeidhil cannot move:
The flag-staff of Fail moves not west or east,
Only because Brian liveth not.- It was the first battle308 which Brian fought,
In which the head-chieftain of Oirghialla fell;
Until our fair chief fell at Dun,
His footstep was not put back.- When Brian of Beann Abhaidh309 fell
In the battle of Dun by the barbarians,
For the battles gained by the races of Niall of old
We have there fully paid.
- Our battle at the heavy Craebh-tulcha310
At Dun was avenged upon us;
Eochaidh311 fell in the eastern conflict
But it did not here go unrevenged.- The battle of the placid ford of Ath-solais312
We paid for to the foreign tribe;
The defeat at Dun revenged our battle
On the smooth plain of Magh-n-Athrach.- At the battle of Rath-bhoth,313 which we gained,
At the battle of the fair-sided Sliabh-Toadh,314
The rivers were full of blood,
On the plain of Maighin315 in Mumhan.- The battle of Sliabh-Caein316 was fought by Niall
To defend us against the country of Oirghialla,
Our battle in the fertile valley of Moin-ghlas,317
Alas! was revenged, eastwards, at old Dun.- We fought a battle at another time,
At Dun-droma Dairinne318
We caused slaughter at Loch Cuan319 in my memory
But, alas! we have paid for it.
- Proud were our people
When we fought the battle of Formaeil;320
And Oh! high were our spirits
When the battle of Caisbhearna321 was won.- Chess of the shin-bones of Leinstermen322
In our work-shop was constructed,
Smooth chessmen were on the tables of our ancestors
Of the bare bones of Leinstermen.- The tribute of Ath-cliath from the foreign race,323
The hasting of the leathern coats obtained
We got hostages from Caiseal-Chuirc;324
At the knotty wood of Dun it was revenged.- Ceallachan, king of Caiseal Chuirc,
In a fetter325 was brought to our house,
We burned the palace of Ceann-coradh326
In which were steeds without fetters.- Conchubhar, the son of Tadhg,327
Chief king of Connacht was a captive at our court;
The hostages of the king of the foreigners328 were in our custody;
Alas! that it was not at home he tarried.- The victories,till the death of Brian of Banna,
The preys, deaths, and defeats,
And all the achievements of the foreigners till the slaying of O'Neill,
Were to us nothing but mere reproach.- A severance of the heart from the body
Is the death of Brian of Loch Laeghaire:329
Not a white wound, but a head wound330 to us
Is the loss of the man from Coirrshliabh, whom I lament.- The beheading blow of the men of Fail
Is the death of O'Neill of white-glebed Oileach
The death of the tall fair hero is a manacling of the Gaeidhil
And a dispersion of the men of Eire.- The tomb of the king of Oileach of thick hair,
you people who forget its identity,
I would point out to you the grave
On the north side of the church.331- Brian Borumha332 in the north in the church,
Brian O'Neill of red-armed Oileach,
Farther to the west is the descendant of Conn of Cobha,
And his feet towards Brian Borumha.- As Mac Liag of Luimneach333 said
To the head of Conaing334 of battle-troops
It grieves me that an enemy has cut it off
The head of O'Neill, beloved guest!- Thirteen score bright years
And one thousand from the birth of Christ in full,
Until on the dark green sward fell
Brian at bright Dun-da-leath-ghlas.- Twenty enduring years had passed
From the battle of Caim-Eirge335 of red spears;
One year too and part of a year
To the death of the descendant of Niall Naoi-ghiallach.- Bitter to my heart to see the grey Galls
Triumphing over the slaughtered Maghnus;336
That the head of O'Cathain, attracting no notice,
Should be seen on the bridge of Dun.- A night did Maghnus of Macha remain
Between wounded bodies;
If Brian had not been in the slaughter
There would be no loss like O'Cathain.- Maghnus337 himself, Eachmarcach338 too,
Muircheartach, Donnchadh, Domhnall,
And Niall O'Cathain all falling with wounds:
Alas! it was not one loss only.- A misfortune to our children and our wives
Was the killing of Maghnus O'Cathain,
That scion of Inbhear-Abhaigh339 never neglected
A son or daughter of Eoghan's race.- Vain is the joy of this perishable world
Wo be to him whom it deceives after Domhnall;
Powerful was the voice of O'Carra over the rest,
Alas! that the descendant of Niall Caille340 should obtain such a reward.- Often had I gone on a visit of pleasure.
To see Amhlaeibh O Gairmleadaigh;341
Why shoud I go now to the house, though beside me,
Alas! It is now a house without Amhlaeibh.
- Conchubhar of Malainn,342 son of Conn,
Women and men lament at Faendruim;343
O'Duibhdhirma344 is a breach in our house,
A people without head are his race.- With Cian345 of the fleet hounds disappeared
The nobility and glory of Eire;
Removed from us were wisdom and comeliness
When Cian was hidden in the grave.- Want of friends and of wealth
Is Mac Cana to the Race of Eoghan:
Donnsleibhe Mac Cana346 the fair-skinned
Is a loss to hospitality and to valor.- Wo to him who wielded the axe or spear,
By which fell Cu Uladh of Eamhain;347
Great the pity that thou beneath the axe hast fallen,
Oh Cu-Uladh O'h-Anluain!348
- There would be no weakness in Leath-Chuinn,
If Mac Lochlainn349 had not been slain
From this day of the death of generous Brian;
'Tis grievous that Diarmaid lived not after him.- The son of Niall O'Neill now
Who was in the succession to his patrimony;
A blossom not ripened into fruit
Was Conchubhar,350 when carried off from us all.- The sons of the king of Connacht of Cam Meadhbha351
Deserted not their lord
Until every noble prince was cut down
Of the valiant scions of Cruachan.- The son of Tighearnan352 fell in the east,
And the curling-haired son of Cormac,353
And O'Maeilsheachlainn of all Midhe354
Of the fine race of Conn, by the foreigners.- The comely youth of great Eamhain Macha
Fell by them on the day of the violent battle,
The great complaisant O'Duibheamhna355
Good right have his people to mourn him.
- Alas! deep grief overspread the country
To anticipate the death of O'Duibhlin;356
Gofraidh our grief unto the judgment-day;
Generous of his banquet was the youth.- Seven days wanting of a month
Before the battle Ruaidhri357 was slain;
It was a drop before the shower358 for us to part
With the blue eyes of O'Gairmleadhaigh.- O'Neill the great359 and his son,
(Dear are the oak and the sapling,)
Oh, what a noble pair are they,
Domhnall and Aedh of Oileach!- Ardghal of Oileach under sacred mould
In the Diseart of Doire Chalgaigh,360
Near the fair miraculous hill;
Well do we remember O'Laithbheartaigh.361- Brighid the chaste of Cill-dara, 362
My holy virgin, my woman friend,
May she encircle my body like a warm girdle,363
May she come to visit me as a guest.
The preceding poem is now translated and printed for the first time. The text has been obtained from four copies, the only MSS of it known to the Editor, which are preserved the one in a parchment MS. the property of John Nugent, Esq. of Farranconnell, County of Cavan, and the others in paper MSS. the property respectively of the late O'Conor Don, the Royal Irish Academy, and Mr. Eugene Curry, all copied by very good scribes.
The poem itself, as stated in all the MSS., was composed by Gilla Bhrighde Mac Conmidhe (or Gilbride Mac Namee) who was chief poet of Ulster in his time, and the friend and follower of Brian O'Neill, King of the Irish of the North, and Righdhamhna or heir presumptive to the throne of Ireland. The family of Mac Conmidhe, of which this Gilla-Bhrighde was the head, were hereditary poets to the northern Ui-Neill, and are still very numerous in Ulster. Maelseachlainn Mac Conmidhe (Loughlin Mac Namee) of Draperstown Cross in the County of Derry, was believed to be the head of this family in 1835, when he told the Editor several anecdotes of his ancestors.
Moryson states that the family of O'Neill lived in obscurity till the time of Bruce, 1318, but this is not exactly correct as will appear from the history of the hero of this poem.
Brian O'Neill, the hero of this poem, became King of the Cineal Eoghain, in the year 1241, after having defeated and slain his predecessor, Domhnall Mac Lochlainn, prince of Tir Eoghain, in the battle of Caimeirge. From this period to the year 1248, the Annals are silent about his exploits, although it would appear from this poem that he was not idle. In 1248, he made an expedition into Fermanagh, carrying light currachs from Loch Feabhail (Lough Foyle) across the plain of Magh-Ithe and Tearmann Daibheog, and launched them on Loch Eirne, the islands of which he plundered, and demolished a stone castle which had evidently been erected by the English. In 1252, however, he and his brother submitted and gave hostages to Maurice Fitzgerald,
When O'Neill received intelligence of his feeble condition, he collected his forces to invade Tir-Conaill, and sent messengers to O'Domhnaill to demand submission and hostages from the Cineal-Conaill, as now they had no chief capable of leading them to battle. The messengers, on delivering their embassy to O'Domhnaill, and receiving an answer that O'Domhnaill's people would not submit to O'Neill, returned to O'Neill with all possible speed.
O'Domhnaill now ordered the Race of Conall to assemble from all quarters and come to him; and after they had assembled at his summons, he ordered them to construct for him the bier in which his body should be finally carried to the grave, and to carry him in it in the midst of his people. This was accordingly done; and he exhorted his people to exert their bravery, and keep up their spirits, for that he himself, though feeble from his wounds, would once more lead them to victory. The Cineal Conaill then proceeded on their march against O'Neill's forces and met them near the mouth of the river Suileach
When O'Neill heard of the death of O'Domhnaill he again sent messengers to the Cineal Conaill to demand submission and hostages. Thereupon the Cineal Conaill held a council, to deliberate on what they should do, and whom they would elect as their chief. While they were deliberating on these subjects, Domhnall Og, the son of Domhnall Mor, presented himself at the meeting, having just arrived from Scotland where he was fostered. This noble youth, who was the son of Domhnall by the daughter of Cathal Croibh-dhearg O'Conchobhair (Charles the Redhanded O'Conor,) king of Connacht, was then in his eighteenth year, and was inaugurated at Cill Mic Neanain [Kilmacrenan] by O'Firghil, the Comharba of that Church and the subchiefs of Tir-Conaill. He conferred with O'Neill's emissaries in the Gaelic of Alba, and pronounced the demands of O'Neill as extravagant and exorbitant, and said in Erse that every man should have his own world.
O'Neill's ambition, however, was not lessened by this answer, for he made every effort to become not only sovereign of Ulster but even monarch of Ireland. In the same year he marched with his forces to Cael-Uisce on the borders of Tir-Conaill, where he held a conference with Hugh son of Felim O'Conor, king of Connacht, and Tadhg O'Briain, king of Thomond, and here, according to the Annals of Ulster and Clonmacnoise, the sovereignty of the Irish of Ireland was conferred on Brian O'Neill, and Hugh O'Conor delivered him hostages, and he received also the hostages of the O'Reillys, and of all the Ui-Briuin from Kells to Drumcliff. But a somewhat different account of this conference is given in the Caithreim Thoirdhealbhaigh, or Wars of Toirdhealbhach O'Briain, and in the Dublin copy of the
It looks very strange that neither Leland nor Moore should have noticed this attempt of the Irish chieftains to unite against the English, for, although the result was insignificant, the attempt had it succeeded would have proved disastrous to the English in Ulster.
The following is the account of the meeting at Cael Uisge given in the Caithreim Thoirdhealbhaigh:
Do bhí Goill fá'n am so tré lí(o)nadh i(o)mad uabhair agus antoile
ag fás agus ag fí(u)chadh i(o)nnta, ag imirt annfhlaithis agus éagcóra,
broide agus buan-argain ar Ghaedhalaibh agus ag buain a bh-fola
agus a bh-fearainn dí(o)bh go foiréigneach ann gach áit dá d-tigeadh
leo, agus mar thugadar Gaeidhil sin d' á n-aire, do thógradar iat
féin do réidhi(u)ghadh ó'n ann-bh-flaitheas aini(o)chtach sin na n-Gall
maille re h-aen aird-righ do thogha ós a g-ci(o)nn d' á n-geillfidís
uile; i(o)nnas go d-tiucfadh leo Eire do chosnamh do'n dul soin amhuil
fa dual dóibh. Uime sin do chineadar comhairle um coinne do
dhéanamh re chéile ar bhruach na h-Eirne oirear doimhnighe oileanaighe,
áit ar thi(o)nóladar uaisle agus ard-urradha Gaeidheal
Eireann ar aen láthair.Dala Thaidhg taeibhghil Caeil-uisge, deagh-mhac cian-teasdach
Conchubhair Uí Bhriain triallas mar aen le h-urmhór uaisle
Leithe Mogha agus Connacht d' i(o)nnsuidhe na dála soin, agus tigid
slogha Uladh uile um O'Néill ann. Ba nós anallód gíbe righ
tri(o)cha chéd no cóige do ghlacfadh tabhartas no tuarasdal ó árdfhlaith
oile go n-gabhadh mar aen ris an d-tuarastal soin umhla
agus oglachás an féin maille re bheith umhal do mar chodhnach,
agus um dí(o)l cí(o)sa agus chána ris. Iar suidhe 'san g-coimhthi(o)nól
do na h-uaislibh sin do chuir O'Briain céad each tar an sruith ba
thuaidh a n-ainm tuarasdail cum Uí Néill; agus mar do chonairc
O Néill sin, ro órdaigh go bh-feirg mhóir bh-fuireachair tar an
sruith chédna tar ais dá chéad each go n-a sriantaibh bláth-órdha
g-cimhis-gléigeala do sholatair sé a g-comhair na dála soin,
chum a m-bronta d' fearaibh Eireann do'n dul soin, tré mhéid a
chirt agus a chumas ar Eirinn do chosnamh tar aen oile do
Ghaedhalaibh, agus fós gur aentuigheadar fir Uladh uile ris, an
trath sin. Agus ar fhaicsint na n-each sin go na sriantaibh,
d' uasal Thadhg cuiri(o)s na h-eich céadna ó n-a bh-fuirinn laechra
tar an sruith d' fosdadh an tuarasdail d' ais nó d' éigin; Agus
an tan do thug O'Néill uaill agus ard-mheanma Uí Bhriain d' á
aire, triallas d' á thigh fa dhi(o)mdha agus táinig do'n easaenta
soin gur sgaeileadar fir Eireann as an dáil sin, gan ard-chodnach
do thogha ná d' óirdneadh ortha féin, ná fos cine ar
chomhairle um Eire do chosnamh re Gallaibh, acht amháin go g-coimhthi(o)nóladaeis
doríse a g-ci(o)nn athaidh 'na dheadhaigh sin um an g-cúis
céadna; gidheadh tángadar a n-urmhór d' én-mhéin áirdthighearnas
do ghabháil ortha féin d' uasal Thadhg.
The foreigners, through much pride and haughtiness with which they were filled and inflated, were exerting tyranny, injustice, captivity and constant depredation upon the Gaeidhil and taking their cattle and their lands from them with violence wherever they were able. And when the Gaeidhil perceived this, they wished to free themselves from that cruel tyranny of the foreigners by electing one sovereign over them to whom they should all yield hostages, that they might by this means defend Eire as they were accustomed to do. Wherefore they came to the resolution of holding a conference with each other on the margin of the deep harboured islandful Eirne. Here the nobles and chief lords of the Gaeidhil of Eire assembled together.
With respect to the whitesided Tadhg-Cael-uisge, the goodly and
far-famed son of Conchubhar O'Briain, he proceeded with the greater part of Leath-Mhogha and Connacht to that meeting; and all the hosts of Ulster came there with O'Neill. It was a custom formerly that whenever the King [chief] of a Trícha chéd, or of a province, would receive a gift or wages from another great chief, he thereby signified that he became a subject and a vassal to him, as his lord, and that he was to pay him rent and tribute. After these nobles had sat in the assembly O'Briain sent one hundred steeds northwards across the stream in the name of wages to O'Neill; and when O'Neill perceived this he, with great violent anger, ordered to be sent across the same stream two hundred steeds with their gold-ornamented white-bordered bridles, which he had collected for bestowing on the men of Eire at this meeting on account of his right and power beyond any other of the Gaeidhil to contest for Eire, and moreover because all the men of Ulster were obedient to him at that time. When the noble Tadhg saw these steeds with their bridles, he sent the former steeds from their heroes across the stream to retain the subsidy by will or by force.When O'Neill perceived the pride and high-mindedness of O'Briain he returned home in sorrow; and the result of that dissension was that the men of Eire dispersed from the meeting without selecting or appointing any supreme King over them, or even agreeing upon a resolution about defending Eire against the foreigners, except that they would in some time after meet again for the same purpose. But the greater number of them consented that Tadhg O'Briain should assume the chief lordship over them.
In 1259 Brian O'Neill and Felim O'Conchobar held a conference at Daimh-inis [Devenish] in Loch Eirne, to deliberate upon the best means of checking the encreasing power of the English in Ireland. But in the mean time treachery was at work in Ulster: Aedh Buidhe O'Neill, the next aspirant to the chieftainship of the Cineal-Eoghain, conspired with the young O'Domhnaill to weaken the power of Brian, and they plundered Tir-Eoghain and obtained hostages from some of the Oirghialla.
In the next year Aedh O'Conchobar (Hugh O'Conor) King of Connacht, marched into Ulster with the elite of his chieftains and forces to assist Brian O'Neill to crush his English and Irish enemies, and came
The following notice of the battle of Dun-da-leath-ghlas is given in the Annals of Ulster.364
It is thus noticed in the Annals of Clonmacnoise: A. D. 1260. Hugh O'Connor went to the North to assist Bryan O'Neale against the English, with a great company of Connoughtmen, where the said Bryan with the forces of Tyreowen and Hugh O'Connor with their accomplices went to give battle to the English, in which battle Bryan O'Neale, named the King of the Irish of Ireland, was killed, with these ensuing of the Irish nobility, vizt. Donnell O'Kearney; Dermott Maglaughlyn; Magnus O'Cahan; Kyan O'Hinnerge; Donnsleyve Macanna; Hugh O'Cahan; Mortagh O'Cahan; Connor O'Duffdirma and Hugh his son; Awley O'Garmley; Cowuly O'Hanlon; and fifteen of the chiefest of the family of the O'Kahans.
There was also slain of Connoughtmen these ensueing persons, vizt. Cahal mac Tyernan O'Connor; Gillchrist mac Connor mac Cormaick; Donnell mac Dermoda; Moyleronie Mac Donnogh; Cahal mac Donnogh mac Mortogh; Hugh mac Murtagh Fyn; Teig mac Cahal mac Bryen mac Moyledowne; Dermott mac Teig mac Moreye mac Thomalty O'Moyleroine; Connor Mac Gilbarie; Teig mac Keyn O'Garey; Gilleberry O'Koyne, and Charles the Bushopp O'Mory's son, with many others of the noble and ignoble sort.
This battle is called the battle of Downe-Dalehglass, and Bryan O'Neale is since called Bryan Catha in Dwyn (Brian catha an Dúin h-Ua Néill,) which is as much as to say in English Brian of the battle of Downe. (Mageoghegans Translation.)
The Annals of the Four Masters and the Annals of Kilronan agree with those of Clonmacnoise nearly word for word. But the old Annals of Innisfallen, preserved in the Bodleian Library at Oxford, differ from all the Ui Neill Annalists, and positively state in brief words that Brian O'Neill was killed by his own Gaeidhil, or Irish followers.
A.D. 1260. Brien O'Neyll, rí Cinal Eoghin, d' á tugsat Gedhil braghdi, agus ná tug Kys na Kayn do rig Sagsan, do mharbhadh d' á Gedhelib fén, agus do ní do Gallibh, ac Dun-da-Leath-ghlas.
A.D. 1260. Brian O'Neill, king of Cineal Eoghain, to whom the Gaeidhil had given hostages, and who had not given rent or tribute to the king of the Saxons, was killed by his own Gaeidhil and some of the foreigners at Dun-Da-Leath-ghlas.
The notice of this battle by the Anglo- Irish Annalists are curious though brief. Clyn notices it as follows:
A.D. 1260. O'Neyl, regulus Ultonie occiditur cum multo populo apud civitatem de Duno, dominica infra octavas Ascensionis.365
In Grace's Annals the death of O'Neill is incorrectly entered under the year 1259:
A.D. 1259. Stephanus de Longa Spata Justiciarius. Interfectus O'Neil ad Dunum.366
In Dowling's Annals this battle is incorrectly entered under the year 1258, thus
A.D. 1258. Stephanus de Longe Espee Justiciarius Hibernie
These Anglo-Irish authorities have been followed by Dr. Hanmer and Sir Richard Cox, who writes in his Hibernia Anglicana, p. 69, that Stephen de Long Espee, Lord Justice, encountered O'Neale, and slew him and three hundred and fifty-two Irishmen in the streets of Down.
From these Anglo-Irish authorities the following brief notice of the battle has been inserted in the Dublin copy of the Annals of Innisfallen, which was compiled in 1760:
A.D. 1258 [1260] Brian Catha-an-Duin, son of Niall Ruadh, son of Aodh O'Neill, was slain at Dun-da-leath-ghlas by the English under the command of the Lord Justice Stephen de Long Espee, and a great slaughter was made of the chiefs of Cineal-Eoghain. The transaction happened on Sunday, and his head was carried to London.
But Dr. Leland, who had the translation of the old Annals of Innisfallen made in 1665 by Dudley Mac Firbisse for Sir James Ware, of which he had a copy in the Library of Trinity College, Dublin, writes of this battle as follows:
Ireland, in the mean time, felt all the melancholy effects of a feeble government, an aspiring nobility, laws suspended and controuled, factions engendered by pride and oppression, the anarchy of the old natives, the injustice of the new settters, local feuds, and barbarous massacres. Brian O'Nial of Tirowen, who with his principality inherited an inveterate aversion to English government, rose up in arms, compelled some neighbouring chiefs to join his standard, and spread confusion through all the North. Stephen Long Espee was called out to oppose him, and notwithstanding some advantage gained in the field, would have found it difficult to suppress this insurrection, had not the Irish prince fallen by the treachery of his own people. (Annals of Innisfallen MS.) History of Ireland, vol. I. p. 230.
The poem affords us curious glimpses into the distracted state of Ireland at the period to which it refers, and into the kind of monarchical sway which the family of O'Neill claimed over all Ireland. The bard boasts of victories which Brian O'Neill and his ancestors had gained in their own province over their immediate neighbours in
I. 1. Eoin Masach Ua Maethagain composed this.368
- Farewell to the son of Conchobhar!
It is to me parting with a real friend;
From this death, as is evident,
My eyes I have reddened;
That I am without the son of Conchobhar
You may believe from the palms of my hands.- A noble man was O' h-Eidirsceoil
A man from whom I received great honor
I am now in Beirre Beare with little honor.
After him, it is a general course of sorrow;
The death of O' Eidirsceoil is true,
The general grief of the countries acknowledge it.- I recognised not this western land;
My honor has been lost,
The death of my kindred man
Is not the loss of a game, but a lasting grief;
It is a sign of Diarmaid's death
That his people have lowered their respect for me.
- O' h-Eidirsceoil would not have listened
To any one dishonoring me;
When the noble smooth-faced chieftain died
I am to-night unhonored;
O' h-Eidirsceoil's hospitality has received
At length its proper acknowledgment.- The worthy minister of humanity
Was O' h-Eidirsceoil my hospitable friend,
After my kindred man
I no longer obtain my desires;
Noble friends with us are few
With whom to stay in this western land.- To separate from that Diarmaid
Is a loss above every loss;
The people of Beirre, through constant grief for him,
Have not risen out after him.
From eyelashes for that Diarmaid
Crimson streams are the first that drop.- Certain that for him is shown
That state and church are in equal trouble;
No blossom in his country is seen,
No day comes on without fierce rain,
The fruit is scarce on account of Conchobhar's son,
And scarce is the milk with milch cows.- No bee requires the watcher's care,
Through heat, in the land of West Munster,
The weather is gloomy on account of this one misfortune,
And every person is deeply grieving;
Nor Moon nor Sun shows brilliant-disc
After him in the land of West Munster.
- I am in grief and in bad repute
For the want of O' h-Eidirsceoil,
The keen, candid, placid man,
Who to humanity was a worthy minister,
To my heart it is an unwholesome visit,
I on the grave of O'Eidirsceoil- Out of Beirre we started
Until his heirs grew up,
Sorrowful am I beyond any of the Munstermen
After the warlike hero.
But now the children of a friend we have seen
And with his heirs we shall remain.- I shall say unto our Diarmaid,
To the growth of thy fame thou didst yield
To be saved thou mayest well hope.
On the day of the dangerous judgment:
Let it be believed that since thou departedst
Hospitality is without a shepherd.- Not to have died is to us a reproach;
If I am well and thou livest not,
My being well is to me a misery,
Whilst thy death is boiling up my grief;
It is a submersion in an abysm to us
To live, and thou not living.- I have gone into listlessness,
Our pride was but a dream,
Mighty is every one over us,
My debility is not attended to,
The cause of our heavy sadness
Is that thy heir recognises us not.
- I used to be about my Diarmaid with my distresses
Till the time for asking would I be moaning
Thou wert the guarantee of my protection.
It was thee we selected as our patron
To pray for thee at masses,
The schools are around their protector.- The love of God thou hast of a certainty,
It was not for nought thou obtainedst it;
It is thou that causedst my heavy sadness;
Thou were the guarantee for my relief,
Thou hast given us a knowledge of affliction
Thy fame lives; thou hast thyself departed.- Thou wert my security,
Thou wert my lord,
None of them in this land
Have I seen like unto thee,
Greatly has thy death affected me,
No one is mighty without a lord.- Thou have brought distress upon all,
The loss of thee presses on us,
To depart with thee would behove us;
Methinks it is a cause of debility;
To confer with thee in visions
Is a severe trial to us.- I am on account of Diarmaid a banished man,
In severe bondage of late,
Without a security to redeem me,
Grief for him first confusing me;
Though we have sustained many losses
The last afflction is the greatest.
- That death of O'h-Eidirsceoil
To my tears is a dyer;
His fame he ever continued to augment,
From God he will receive pure honor;
The death of O'h-Eidirsceoil has caused
The tear to be the dyer of the eye.- The fullest misfortune I have met
Is the death of my kind patron;
The chivalrous heroic scion,
To me attending earnestly
To remember Diarmaid's kindness!
To me that kindness is devoutly dear.- The death of a friend since we heard of,
It is a disease not usually relieved;
Near his grave-stone with torches
All assemble in multitudes;
I am alone in West Munster
At fairs and in drinking houses.- For us to asperse him would be dishonest,
Good was Diarmaid's humanity;
For spending I have not heard
Of one like him in this western land;
His worldly wealth is not near
To his son after Diarmaid.- At first I am not lively hearted
At putting my back to the land of West Munster;
Diarmaid gave with generous eagerness
Without our asking what we sought;
God has taken vengeance
Now upon the land of West Munster.
- That he may be thine on the day of exaltation,
(The man who is pain to my heart!)
Better, O Jesus! that he has known thee;
The heir of Ith is of thy flock;
O Christ, it is cause of moan to us,
The royal prey369 thou hast taken!- Heavier than any oppressive disease is
Grief for him penetrating me;
The death of one man has humbled me,
I cannot be redeemed.
Now, O God, be it avenged,
My own desires370 if I have heretofore obtained.- The cross of Christ, the powerful cross!
May it defend me now; be it not concealed;
May His holy cross strengthen me;
Close is the relationship;
It is the powerful assistance,
That cross in which we have believed.- To praise the daughter of Anna
For me is no evil work,
Without altering the race of Adam,
May the mother of Christ comfort us;
Pray for us earnestly,
Mary, the illustrious, whom we have chosen.I am Tanaidh O' Maelchonaire, and I am at Druim Cholpa in the house of Doirghre O'Duibhgheannain. For Cuconnacht O'Duibhgheannain this was transcribed.
I. 2. Tadhg, Son Of Diarmaid Og O'Dalaigh, sang This.371
- Tir-Luigheach has met a mischance,
The angle of the habitations of noble hosts,
The territory of bright lakes of war ships,
Heavy is the misfortune which has overtaken them.- At the time of her chiefs coming in to possession
A heavy misfortune occurred to Tir-Luigheach,
Her distress overtook her,
The weight of affliction became manifest.- When the territory heard her evil news,
The expiration of O'h-Eidirsceoil's life,
It was cause of malady in the speckled soft plain,
The prosperity of the land of Teamhair it obstructed.- The pure soil had been fruitful
From the eye that has just been clouded;
Softly bending with nuts in the land of the ancients
Might the fair smooth hazel be seen.- Alas! for the tribe who look upon
The eye which now is motionless;
Which lately was so rapid
Viewing the extremity of his land.- Early in seeking the heavy weapons
Was the hand which has lost its motion;
A fact that has suppressed the cheerfulness of the hosts
Is the absence from that hand of its activity.
- The powerful tongue, which I used to hear,
Is now bereft of its eloquence,
No feeble word it ever uttered,
It was forcible in time of difficulties.- The ear which is no longer watching
The beautiful borders of Corca-Laidhe,
The smooth lands of ancient ships,
Of oppression on them it would not hear.- The declension of his mental powers
Has ruined that land of Finghin,
That smooth plain of hospitable mansions;
Their powers of thought are now overclouded.- The warning of the death of his noble hand
Shall lower the prosperity of the land,
It has poured out lamentations from its heart
For the shortening of the knight's372 life.- Heavy the loss to Lughaidh's land
Is the extinction of the mind of Conchobhar's son;
His heir is far from the land,
No greater cause of grief could we have.- Twenty years and more besides
His back is turned to his native territory;
The son of Finghin standing the brunt of spears
Without having partaken of the wine-feasts of Eire.
- Should he but reach the extremity of Munster
It is certain that Conchobhar would press
The battle of armed steeds for the raising of prey,
In the broad rough third of Lughaidh.- To plunder his chartered land,
To contend for the territory of his sons;
In the expedition which he would make this day,
And which would be a deed difficult to be performed.- On the stormy surface of the furious ocean
The vigilant son of Finghin has met
Hotter trouble in Turkey
In the fight of the wonderfully armed hosts.- Three ships had this fair-cheeked chieftain,
Fifty ships had the opposing warriors,
Behold the horseman of the plain of Cian373
Not one of those returned thanks.- In Turkey of the branching tribes
The beautiful ship of the son of Eibhilin
Had the track of its breast-plank in the east
Through the middle of the fleet.- The entire fleet of the harbour
The heart of Conchobhar did not meditate
That his speckled ship should shun them;
Though it was an unequal fight to the stranger.- The large ship he directly steered
Against the fierce hateful horde;
The bravery of his valiant heroes in the ships
Was proved by them on that occasion.
- By the hand of the hero of the land of Uisneach
The commander of that fleet fell,374
And a battle disproportioned to his few noble men
Was by him gained on that day.- He sustained at another time
By the exertions of his valor
Against the attacks of the fair green land
The plain of the great festive Flanders.- Rapid wheels that bore good news
The heir of Ua h-Eidirsgeoil was used to send
Through Almaine in every direction
And shrieks of death through the countries around him.- It pleases us that, in the books of the schools,
It is not any of the kingdom of the Saxons,
Who obtained the title as a title of fame,
Who spread a name by these achievements.- Alas for the country wanting the aid
Of the victorious red hand of Conchobhar;
Alas for the native land that is deprived
Of the man of these warlike achievements.- The chief of the clustering locks disliked not
To scour the coasts of foreign lands,
Although on his account we have been plundered,
Yet still shall he not make a descent upon Eire.- The son abroad from his people,
The father in decrepit age,
A cause of deadly lamentation to that western land
Which sheltered the great blood of Maicniadh.
- The son of Eibhilin of the hot conflicts
Obtained the great affection of the king of Spain;375
He will be therefore hated at this side
In the holding which he by right perpetually possesses.- The sagacious king yonder of Spain has selected
One who will humble the might of his foeman;
Conchobhar is the one he has chosen,
He is the fulfilment of valor's engagements.- The son of Johanna376 of the race of heroes
Is a check upon the achievements of West Munster;
The scion's wisdom is spread throughout Flann's land,
Whilst his father's age is extending beyond the boundary.- The manhood of her true love has ended,
Far from her is the mind of her young son;
This district has no bond of union,
Very severe is this affliction which has overtaken it.- The Heavenly King was born
Of the fruitful illustrious virgin,
Whose breast-milk he consumed,
Our salvation through her he worked.- The clustering tendrils of the branch
Supplied to her its goodly wealth;
Her fruits like the family branch
Have come to an ebb with Eibhilin.377- A host of poets from Snamh-dá-éan378
Were used to receive wealth from the daughter of Ellen;379
The school from the ship-abounding Liné380
Received wealth from this Mac Carthyan matron.- Graceful hospitality is ministered
To all who come each night,
At the quiet banquet of the populous mansion,
By the placid, generous, cheerful dame.
Fearfeasa O'Cainte381 sang this.
- By themselves [alone] the Clann Itha382 make war,
(Long has the desire of extirpation been
In their hearts one and all),
For the sovereignty of the land of Eire.- It not on the Race of Eibhear383 or Ir384
They make war in unpeaceful times,
The offspring of kings of heavy muster,
Nor on the great progeny of Eireamhon.385- These have no other cause
For checking peace or waging war,
But to assist the rights of the Race of Lughaidh
At the powerful incitement of their ollamh.386- The Race of Ith have the right,
Many is the cause of their disquietude,
On account of the harbour-full country of Cobhthach387 [Ireland]
Which they won from strangers.- Many a prize, not a trifling prize,
Many a loss of heroes they sustained
For the green, bright-hilled, fine country,
From the adventurers of Crimhthann's Plain [Ireland].
- Many a beautiful, shamrock-flowering plain,
Many a noble, bright-shining court,
[Are lost] from the Race of Ith and in the hands of knights,
So that it would be a sufficient cause of fury to hear them [numbered.]- Not to rise up in warlike alliance,
After all the evils which they have sustained,
The tribe of the land of round-nutted woods;
'Tis wonderful how long their forbearance.- It is hard if victory they gain not,
For it is not excessive ambition, it is not injustice,
That drove this noble tribe of sharp spears
To take to steps of wars.- ['Twas] their own danger, the fear for their lands,
That contributed, though long their forbearance,
([And] peace not having been spoken of for some time)
To kindle the fire of the heroes.- Well it becomes the blood of Ith
To fight battles, to kindle wars,
For the prize of the land of the nobles
They were bound to relieve it.- The Race of Ith, who suffer injury,
Tis' they who have the best right to make battle
For the smooth, well-placed, far-stretching land
Of all the Gaeidhil of the land of Felim (Ireland).
- There is not of them, by the justice of God,
One to whom the heirship is more fitting,
To free her mountains, protect her cattle,
Than the best heir which is of them.- The son of O h-Eidirsceoil, of smooth breast,
For him it is the most becoming of all the men of Eire,
To fight for its sake in the battles,
The land famed for battling and wars.- Conchobhar, heart of a lion,
Will fight, as for him it is right,
For the fertile, warm, music-loving land,
With the old English at the bank of Boinn.388- Well may they fear, tis God that wills,
His tribe and Conchobhar,
Who will extirpate them, no trifling deed,
For the warlike plain of Felim.- The descendants of Lughaidh389 will defend,
In battles and in conflicts,
Corca-Laidhe390 of the fine plains,
A deed which it is most difficult to perform.- It is not more right for them, God has ordained it,
To fight for Corcach or for Caiseal,391
Than to make battle in becoming manner
For the plain of Teathbha,392 or for the North.- Or for Nas of Leinster393 of the warm plains,
Or for Ath-cliath394 of breezy harbours,
Or for the lands of Baei,395 one and all,
Or for Cruachain-Aei,396 or for Aileach.397- Were a just division made with them,
With the Race of Ith, who shed crimson blood,
To them would come the grassy plain of the fair men
By the judgment of the patron of Eire.- The manner in which they obtained
The Race of great Lughaidh, son of Ith,
Right to the great Boinn of Breagh of the banners,
As an honor beyond the sons of Milidh [Milesius].- From the top of his own fortress398
Ith of the sharp-pointed weapons perceived
Over the great clear calm sea
The semblance of an island from Spain.
- Ith, son of Bile,399 son of Breogan,
Set out in temperate weather
With a select party of heroes, of evil,
To seek for the country which he saw.- No delay happened to his ships
Until he arrived without much of error,
[Until] he reached, and it was a perilous adventure,
The briny harbours of the land of Eire.- He proceeded upon his coming to land
With a band of heroes, not great in number,
Firm was their advance as if to give battle
Unto the sons of Cearmad.
- About the division of Eire of the sweet grass,
These sons of Cearmad had come
To fierce words on either side
On Ith's arrival at Aileach.- The kings bade him welcome,
They disclose the cause of their dispute,
Wisdom had not governed their distribution,
Until Ith made peace between them.- He bids them farewell after this,
He takes from them their [good] words,
From the north, what greater pity,
They [then] meditated to pursue him.- They considered after disclosing his adventure,
That his coming to the island was dangerous to them;
Their children were disgraced by their conspiracy;
Towards Ith they acted treacherously.- On Magh Itha400 of the soft pasture
He is slain by the sons of Cearmad,401
Though they exulted having slain him in the conflict,
It repented them [soon] that they pursued him.- The people of the son of Bile carry
By force from the stranger tribes,
(An event from which evil to them all arose,)
The body of the hero to Spain.- Lughaidh402 of the ancient swords sets out
And his relatives the sons of Milidh
In a compact consecrated host
To force his eiric from the men of Eire.- On coming to land, what more dangerous exploit;
After killing the sons of Cearmad
The fury of the men was not fully abated
Until they had avenged the death of Ith.- In eiric for him the land remained,
With them from the Tuatha-De-Danann,
From thence the race of Ith the fair scion
Are the chiefs of a cantred of a province.- Therefore they had the best right
(Until their power was opposed)
On account of the fair-acred land of the heroes
To the great evil of [all] Eire.- The eiric of Ith on the land of old Ir,
Let not the son of Eibhilin forgive;
From every man it is due to thee
To obtain thy share of the eiric.- If it be that you seek not
This eiric from the sons of Milidh,
If it be compensation to thee for the person slain,
Let it not go with the foreigners.- O descendant of Ith, son of Bile!403
As an eiric from this stranger tribe,
Take you, one and all,
Their share of the woody lands of Eire.- Many an eiric besides this,
Due to thee O heir of Finghin,
Without denial from the rough hirelings of the English;
It is a pity to brook the grievance.
- Much of blood have they shed on the plain,
Many heroes, who should be lamented,
They have slain for a long time back
Throughout the land of the Gaeidhil of the ripe fields.- Spill thou blood for these bloods,
O hand of battles, O Conchobhar!
Accept no eiric for them
But equal slaughter in lieu of them.- Think of the false judgments of the English horde;
Understand how there is treachery in their friendship;
A passive secret should not be made of it;
Think of their enormous slaughters.- If we but continue to beseech her,
The Virgin who was in poverty,
(If her heir should refuse us)
She would raise us to dignity.- A Queenly disposition, without hidden blemish,
Eibhilin, the daughter of Domhnall404
Not one is found unthankful to her,
Of those who would otherwise abuse her.- From those who cause woman's face to blush405
On account of the money which they seek;
The chosen flower of the family trees,
Eibhilin is ever free.- A scion of the woods of the blood of Suibhne
A sprout from the soil of the fertile plain of Modhuirn406
A fruitful plant which distorts not justice,
The rich bearing tree of the north.- She is sufficiently distinguished from every side
By her checking of plunder, her hatred of injustice;
By her serene countenance, which causes the trees
To bend with fruit; by her tranquil mind.
A.D. 352. St. Ciaran, Bishop of Saighir and patron saint of the people of Osraidhe (Ossory) was born in the Island called Cape (Cleire) Clear, a promontory of Corca Laidhe, in the Co. of Cork. Ann. Innisf.
A.D. 402. Ciaran and Deaglan, two Bishops, came from Rome to preach the Gospel in Ireland. Ciaran after having preached the Gospel in Inis-Cleire and all over Corca-Laidhe founded a Bishop's see at Saighir, in Ossory, and Deaglan also another Bishop's see at Ardmor in the Desies. Ann. Innisf.
A.D. 600. Died Fachtna first Bishop of Ross-Ailithre in Corca-Laidhe which goes by the additional name of O'Laeghaire of Ross i.e. Corca Laidhe-I-Laeghaire Ruis Ann. Innisf.
A.D. 746. Flann Fortre, chief of Corca-Laidhe, died. Annals of the Four Masters.
A.D. 770. Cuchoingealta, lord of Corca-Laidhe, died. Annals of the Four Masters.
A.D. 800. Maelbracha, son of Breslean, lord of Corca-Laidhe, died. Annals of the Four Masters.
A.D. 844. Clothnia lord of Corca Laidhe died. Annals of the Four Masters.
A.D. 860. Bruadar, son of Dunlaing lord of Corca-Laidhe, died. Annals of the Four Masters.
A.D. 901. Mudan, son of Donnghal lord of Corca-Laidhe, died. Annals of the Four Masters.
A.D. 942. Finn, son of Matan, lord of Corca-Laidhe, was slain by the Feara-Maighe-Feine. Annals of the Four Masters.
A.D. 1057. Mughron Ua-Mutain, successor of Bairre noble bishop and lector, was killed by the robbers of Corca-Laidhe after his return from vespers. Annals of the Four Masters.
A.D. 1058. Mac-na-h-Erlamhe Ua Dunchadha [O'Donohoe] was slain by the Corca-Laidhe. Annals of the Four Masters.
A.D. 1063. Cathal O'Dunchadha, King of Ui-n-Eathach, and of the south of Ireland, died. Ann. Innisf.
A.D. 1072. Brodchu, son of Mathghamhain, son of Cian, son of Maelmhuaidh, son of Bran, marched with an army into the Desies from which he carried off much booty and spoil, to recover which he was pursued by the people of Magh
A.D. 1096. Mathghamhain O'Seaghsa, King of Corca-Laidhe died a penitent. Ann. Innisf.
A.D. 1104. The son of O'h-Eidirsceoil with twenty-five others went out to sea and never were heard of more. Ann. Innisf.
A.D. 1154. Amhlaeibh O'h-Eidirsceoil, prince of Cothluighe was slain at the gate of the church of Birr. Ann. Innisf.
A.D. 1169. Maccon O'h-Eidirsceoil was slain in Mac-Carthaigh's army fighting against Strongbow and his 200 knights and 2000 bowmen at Waterford. Ann. Innisf.
A.D. 1179. Muircheartach, son of Diarmaid Mor Mac Carthaigh was treacherously slain by O'h-Eidirsceoil at Ros-ailithre.
A.D, 1196. The son of O'h-Eidirsceoil, and Gilla-na-bhflann O'Suileabhain, died. Ann. Innisf.
A.D. 1212. Aedh Garbh O'h-Eidirsceoil [O'Driscoll] was slain by the O'Ceadagain's. Ann. Innisf.
A.D. 1215. The English gained great power in Munster. Sleibhne built a castle at Dun-na-ngall in Cothluighe, and another at Dun-na-sead. Barrett built a castle at Traghbhaile and another at Cuan-Dor. Nicholas Boy de Barry built the castles of Tigh-Malaga or Timoleage and Dun-Deide. Ann. Innisf.
A.D. 1233. Domhnall Got Mac Carthaigh came to dethrone O'Mathghamhain and O'Cobhthaigh. Ann. Innisf.
A.D. 1235. The English defeated the Irish at Tragh-Li, and Diarmaid, son of Cormac Finn son of Domhnall Mor na Curradh Mac Carthaigh, Gaiscinach O'h-Eidirsceoil [O'Driscoll] together with his brother Muircheartach and many others were slain. Ann. Innisf.
A.D. 1258. Eoghan mac Muircheartaigh was slain at Dun-na-sead by the English. Ann. Innisf.
A.D. 1260. The castles of Dun mic Tomain, Dun Insi an duine, Dun-na-nGall, Cuan-Dor, Dun-Deide, Dun Urlaing and Dun Gaill were broken down by Finghin Reanna Roin son of Domhnall Got Mac Carthaigh. Ann. Innisf.
A.D. 1305. The Castle of Dun-na-sead burned and demolished by Domhnall God Mac Carthaigh, after he had taken it from the English of Desmond. Ann. Innisf.
A.D. 1302. Finghin O'h-Eidirsceoil and many others of the people of Mac Carthaigh Riabhach were slain. Ann. Innisf.
A.D. 1409. O'h-Eidirsceoil Og, died. Annals of the Four Masters.
A.D. 1418. The Bishop O'h-Eidirsceoil, and Maccon O'h-Eidirsceoil, his brother, lord of Corca-Laidhe, died. Annals of the Four Masters.
A.D. 1419. O'h-Eidirsceoil Mor died. Annals of the Four Masters.
A.D. 1442. O'h-Eidirsceoil Mor (Maccon), lord of Corca-Laidhe, died. Annals of the Four Masters.
A.D. 146O. A monastery was founded for Franciscan friars in Inis-Arcain in Munster, in the diocese of Ross. Inis-Arcain is in O'h-Eidirsceoil's Country. Annals of the Four Masters.
A.D. 1472. O'h-Eidirsceoil Mor (Finghin, son of Maccon, son of Maccon son of Finghin, son of Donnchadh God) died in his own house after having performed the pilgrimage of St. James; and his son, Tadhg, died penitently one month after the death of his father, after having returned from the same pilgrimage. Annals of the Four Masters.
A.D. 1508. O'h-Eidirsceoil, (Conchobhar, son of Finghin son of Maccon) died. He was a brave and protecting man, the friend of the religious orders, and the learned, and his son Finghin was installed in his place, after being liberated, for he had been imprisoned in Cork for more than a year. Annals of the Four Masters.
Among the Veteres Iberni qui pro fide Catholica pugnauerunt, P. O'Sullevan Beare mentions O'Driscol Cothliae princeps and Cornelius O'Driscolis Magni filius. Hist. Cathol. Iber. tom III. lib. I. c. I.
A.D. 1585. O'h-Eidirsceoil Mor (Finghin, son of Conchobhar, son of Finghin son of Maccon,) went to Dublin to attend a Parliament there assembled that year.
This Sir Finghin, Finin, or Florence O'Driscoll, tooke his landes by Letters Pattents from Queen Elizabeth, and thereby extinguished the Irish rite. The former custome was that the eldest of the familie succeeded, unto whome Mac Cartie Reagh did give a rod, and then he was reputed and obeyed as lord of the Countrie of CollimoreMS. Brit. Mus. Harl. 1425, p. 25.
The island of Cape Cleare also belonged to them; the castle of which place, together with all their other castles, were by Sir Fineene O'Driscoll, delivered up to the Spaniards anno 1601; but were taken by the English two years [recté in a few weeks] after.Smith's Cork book, I. ch. I.
P. O'Sullevan Beare gives the following account of the conduct of the O'Driscolls at this period, in his History of the Irish Catholics:
Zubiaur cum navibus septem, quibus munitiones, et commeatum vehebat, rursus Aquilam secutus juxta Portucastellum (Cuan an Caishlean) non procul a scopulis errans periclitabatur. Tunc temporis ilium locum possidebant, Dionysius, Dermysius, Cornelius, Thadaeus, et Darius O'Driscoles fratres, qui Zubiauri aditum ostenderunt; et Castellum tradiderunt: et cum Dermysius vir prudens, et Latinae linguae non inscius regni statum docuit. Brevi classis reginae optime instructa et militum numero superior portum ingressa Zubiaris naves non ad pugnam satis instructas, sed vectorias, navigatione vexatas, et littori applicatas, atque castellum machinamentis nudum tormentorum ictibus impune verberat, et ipsi Angli in terram descensuri videbantur. Caeterum Zubiaur a Dermysio de rebus egregie edoctus, et impendens sibi periculum praevidens aliter ac Aquila fecit; litteris missis O'Sullevani Bearrae principis auxilium nomine Catholici Regis imploraverat. O'Sullevanus, et pater meus Dermysius,
The following is the English account of this affair published in the Pacata Hibernia, book II. c. 18.
Untill this time [of the arrival of O'Donnell to join the Spaniards] none of the Provincialls of Mounster, that had been either protected, or pardoned, relapsed; but now upon the comming of these seconds to Castlehauen, Sir Finnin O'drischall, and all the O'drischalls, Sir Owen Mac Cartie's sonnes, and almost all the Carties in Carbrie, Donnell O'sulevan Beare, O'sulevan Mores eldest son, Donnell Mac Cartie, the Earle of Clancares base sonne, with all the Carties of Desmond, John O'Connor Kerry, the Knight of Kerry, all the protected and pardoned men in Kerry and Desmond, and all else from Kinsale and Limericke westwards, joyned with O'donnell and the Spainards; whereat little wonder is to be made, considering what power Religion and Gold hath in the hearts of men; both which the Spaniards brought with them into Ireland. The supplies of Spaniards were but seuen hundred, but more were promised to follow; which mooved the wavering Irish to conceive that now the time was come for their deliverance from the English Government; whereupon they cast themselves into the Spanyards' armes, and for testimonie of their truths Donogh O'drischall delivered unto them his castle at Castlehaven, which commanded the harbour. Sir Finnin
Again the narrative is continued in c. 19.
This night late Sir Richard Levison returned into the harbour of Kinsale, and the next day came to the Lord Deputy, unto whom hee imparted that the sixth day, with the Warrespit, the Defiance, the Swiftsure, the Marlin, one Merchant and a carvill, he arrived at Castle-haven about ten of the clock in the fornoone, before four o'clock the same day, one ship of the Enemy was suncke. The Spanish Admirall with nine foote water in hold drove to the shore upon the rocks, the Viceadmirall with two others drove likewise aground, most of the Spaniards quitting their ships; the seventh of December the wind being extreamely at south-east, hee rode still at Castle-haven, the night following, with wind at west-south-west, hee warped out with the ships, the eigth at night he returned as aforesaid.
Since wee are informed by the Lord Coursie that they are all sunck but one ship, and great harme done both to their provisions and men.
The Spaniards after their comeing to Castle-haven, understanding the Queene's fleet was at Kinsale, expecting their comming thither, to make themselves as strong as they could, landed five peeces of Ordnance which they planted close by the water side for the securing the harbour; but Sir Richard Levison did so ply the shipping, that he suncke and drove ashore as is related, and having effected as much as might be done by sea, was willing to have left the harbour and returne to Kinsale; but the wind being contrary, hee was not able to get forth, but was forced to ride foure and twentie houres within the play of those five peeces of Ordnance, and received in that time above three hundred shot, through hulke mast and tackle, being by no industry able to avoid it, untill some calmer weather came where by the helpe of some warpes layed forth by their boats, not without great danger and some loss (575!) he came to set sail and returned
The next notice of an O'Driscoll is found in O'Sullevan Beare's History of the Irish Catholics, tom III, lib. VII. cap. 1.
Post foedus Aquilae Osullevanus in Hispaniam mittit Dermysium Odriscolem probatae fidei et prudentiae virum [filius erat Cornelii, filii Florentii, O'Driscolis Magni patruelis] celerem opem rogatum, et Danielem filium suum natu maximum paternae fidei pignus et obsidem. Quibus cum una ego quoque puer, et alii juvenes nobiles venientes a Carazenae comite Galletiae praefecto viro vetusta nobilitate claro, et in Ibernicam gentem maxime pio honorificentissime sumus excepti. Ubi ego Patricio Sinoto (Patric og Sinot) populari meo, grammatico et rhetorico polito, et limato Latinae linguae, Rotherico Vendanna Hispano ingenii acutissimi philosophiae, sed aliis aliarum doctrinarum praeceptoribus sum usus. Interim Osullevanus omni ratione, et studio conandum putavit, ut usque ad Hispani auxilii adventum se, et eos, quos Hispanorum partes sequendas moverat ab hostis impetu defenderet. Ei auxilium ferunt Daniel Maccarrha, Clancarrhae principis filius, Daniel, Osullevani Magni filius, Cornelius et Dermysius, Odriscolis Magni filii, Dermysius, Osullevanus pater meus, Dermysius, duo Dionysii, et Florentius Maccarrhas Fusci, equites Macsuinnii, Dionysius Odriscol cum suis fratribus. Ad eum confugiunt Oconchur Kierrius, Macmoris Lacsnaae Baro, eques auratus Kierrius, eques Auratus Vallis. Johannes Giraldinus comitis frater. Jaimus Buttlerus baronis Catharae frater superiore bello suis possessionibus ejecti. Osullevanus Gulielmo Burko, Richardo Tirello, et aliis conductis obaeratorum delectu conscripto, et sociorum auxiliis millia militum circiter duo juventutis electae comparat. Quibus ea hyeme Torrentirupem (Carraig an-eas-aig) arcem, quam solam in Beantria tenebat Engenius Osullevanus semper reginae partes secutus, partim aggere, turribus, vineis, musculis, pluteis oppugnatam, partim aeneis tormentis quassatam in suam potestatem redegit. Odonnobhanum ad Anglos reversum, et alios Anglorum auxiliares depraedatur. Regias copias, quae in Momoniis erant, terrore perculsas in oppida munita, et arces compellit. tom III, lib. VII, c. i.
Eisdem diebus, quibus arx Dumbea oppugnatur, Eugenius Osullevanus et Johannes Bostokus Anglus in Beam insulam [Dursey Island] navibus vehuntur, in qua erat monasterium a Bonaventura Episcopo Hispano extructum, sed a piratis dirutum, templum sancto Michaeli-Archangelo dicatum, et Castellum a patre meo Dermysio conditum, quod pauci milites Cornelii Odriscolis praesidio tenebant. tom III, lib. VII, c. 3.
Per eosdem dies, quibus Osullevanus has clades [Dunbei arcis et Beae insulae castelli excidium] recipit, Dermysius Odriscol ex Hispania reversus Osullevano tradit a Catholico Rege viginti millia nummorum aureorum in militum stipendium, litteras, quibus auxilium promittitur, et aliquas munitiones. Post vero
Of the money sent on this occasion Sir Finnin O'Driscoll and his son Connor or Cornelius received £500. Pacata Hibernia b. II, c. 7.
Cum Cerda Maculliamus in Hispaniam se confert; ubi brevi moritur. Eodem quoque tempore Cornelius Odriscol, quem in Hispaniam ab Osullevano missum fuisse docuimus, acceptis a rege Catholico duobus millibus aureorum in Momonias applicat. Ubi cum Osullevanus non esset in Hispaniam revertitur, uxorem suam et alias foeminas devehens. Tom III, lib. VIII. c. 3.
It appears from a letter of the Lord Deputy and Council written on the 20th of March 1601-2 to the Lords in England that Sir Finnin O'Driscoll, the O'Donovan, and the two sons of Sir Owen Mac Carthy had joined the English.
As for Sir Finnin O'drischall, O'donnevan and the two sonnes of Sir Owen Mac Cartie, they and their followers, since their coming in, are growne very odious to the Rebels of those parts, and are so well divided in factions among themselves, as they are fallen to preying and killing one another, which we conceive will much availe to the quieting of these parts. Pacata Hibernia b. 2, c. xxx.
Again it appears from the following passage in the Instructions given to the Earl of Thomond on the 9th of March, 1601-2, that O'Driscoll was received into favor by the English Government.
The service you are to perform is, to doe all your endeavours to burne the rebels' corne in Carbery, Beare, and Bantry, take their cowes, and to use all hostile prosecution upon the persons of the people, as in such cases of rebellion is accustomed.
Those that are in subjection, or lately protected (as Odrischall, Odonevan, and Sir Owen Mac Cartie's sonnes,) to afford them all kind and mild usage. Pacata Hibernia, book 3, ch. II.
Dr. Smith writes, on what authority the Editor knows not, that in order to ingratiate himself with Queen Elizabeth, a fleet of English ships of war were supplied, for a considerable time with fresh provisions, by this Sir Fineene O'Driscoll, who also nobly entertained all the Captains, and other officers in his castles. That, the Queen being informed of it, pardoned his joining the Spaniards, and sent for him to court. But, that before he arrived the Queen died. That during his absence, great part of his possessions were intruded into by Sir Walter Coppinger, which caused this ancient family to fall to decay. Book I, ch. I.
The truth is, however, that Sir Finghin let Baltimore and the whole of Collymore territory to a certain Thomas Crooke for 21 years, for a fine of £2000, Sterling, and that he thus, probably, laid the foundation of a forfeiture. See Smith's Cork, Book 2, ch. IV. His son Cornelius, by Ellen, daughter of Sir Owen Mac Carthy Reagh, was a captain in the archduke's country. His grandson, another Cornelius, an Ensign in the Spanish navy, was killed in an engagement
The following Extracts from the Liber Tenurarum for the Province of Munster,in the Office of the Chief Remembrancer, Dublin,will show other branches of this family who had property in Collymore at this period.
Finin Mc. Donogh O'Driscoll, tenant of four gneeves of land, and half a gneeve, lying on the western part of the town and lands of Farrencoushe, in the County aforesaid [Cork].
Held of the Lord the King by the fortieth part of one Knight's fee. By an Inquisition after the death of Donat Mc. ffinin O'Driscoll, 12th April, 1631, delivered Easter. 1631, roll 15.
Donat O'Driskoll, Tenant of the Castle, Town, and Lands of Donelonge, containing 3 carrucates of land, one carucate and the third part of a carucate in Sleamore, half a carucate in Glan-Iragh in the Island of Cape Cleere, half a carucate of Gortidroghide in the Island of Donegall.
Held of the Lord the King in Capite by military service, but by what part of a Knight's fee the Jurors are ignorant. Livery sued 26th November, 1629, by order, Hilary, 1632, roll 26.
Donat Carragh O'Driskoll, tenant of the Castle and two carucates of Donegall, two carucates of Gorticlosca, two carucates of Glane Ireragh in the Island of Capecleere, nine gneeves of land of Gokane.
Held of the Lord the King in Capite by military service, namely, by the third part of one Knight's fee. By Inquisition post mortem of Fynen O'Driscoll, 16th September, 1631, roll 13, delivered Easter, 1632.
There is an Inquisition taken in the County of Cork in the reign of James the first, relating to Teig Mc Conoghure O'Driscoll of Glanbarryhane, a rebel, who paid rent to Lord Mc Carthy Rioghe and Dermod Mc Conoghure O'Driscoll. [of. ch. Rem. Dublin].
Inrolment on the Memoranda Roll 5 James I. m. 72, relating to Dermod O'Driscoll and Donnell O'Driscoll.
Inrolment on the Memoranda Roll of Cromwell, Roll I., relating to Donoghue Driscoll of Bally Island Co. Cork.
The following persons of the name of O'Driscoll are mentioned in the family documents of the O'Donovan at Montpellier in the County of Cork, who writes (December 5th, 1850) I have the fee of three ploughlands in Creagh and Tullagh parishes, which were once part of the O'Driscoll territory, in Carbery, and appear, by the many deeds which I have, dating from 1629 to 1677, to have passed from them to my ancestor, Teige, his executor and brother, Morogh, and Teige's surviving son, Morogh. The names of the lands are Lick, Bunlick, Gortshanecrone, Knockvallytaggart, Ardagh, two ploughlands, and Ballinard, the third. The first seem to have belonged to one family, and I select at foot such names from the deeds as occur, and do the like by the second. You have every O'Driscoll name in them that occurs in my family documents. List, &c., Ardagh.
1. Teige Mac Moriertagh O'Driscoll, of Gurtshanecrone, (a marksman) to Teige O'Donovane, of Drishane, 12th March, 1632.
2. Daniell Mac Dermodie Driscoll, of Ardagh (marksman), to Teige O'Donovan, of Drishane, 16th October, 1632.
3. Teige Mac Moriertagh O'Driscoll, of Gortshanecrone (marksman), to Teige O'Donovan, of Rahine, 2nd November, 1632.
4. Dermod Mac Ffynyne O'Driscoll, of Cnockvollytaggart (marksman), to Teige O'Donovan of Drishane, 6th June, 1633.
5. Florence O'Driscoll, of Bally Illand, to Teige O'Donovan, of Drishane, 17th June, 1633.
6. Daniell Mac Dermodie Mac Donagh O'Drishcoll, of Ardaghmaggeanie, to Morrogh O'Donovan, of Carragarruffe, 3rd October, 1643.
7. Manan Mac Teige Mac Dermodie Driscoll (marksman), to Morrogh O'Donovan, of Carruggarruffe, 31st October, 1640.
8. Lease of 20th April, 1664, by Morrogh O'Donovan, of Drishane, to Donagh Mac Daniell Driscoll, of the parish of Tullagh.
Touching Ballynard, in Tullagh parish.
1. Cnoghor Oge O'Driscoll, of Ballynard, to Teige O'Donovane, of Drishane, 12th December, 1629.
2. Cnoghor Oge O'Driscoll, and Donogh Mac Cnoghor O'Driscoll, son and heir of said Cnoghor, of Ballynard, to Teige O'Donovane, of Drishane, 9th December, 1635.
3. Same to same, 12th May, 1638.
4. Donnagh Mac Cnoghor Oge O'Driscoll, of Ballynard, to Morrogh, Mac Teige O'Donovane, of Drishane, llth December, 1664.
5. Deed of sale of Ballynard by same to same, styled of Letterlickey, in Durrus parish, 1st May, 1670.
6. Bond of same to same, 19th September, 1670.
7. Obligation of Morrogh Mac Teige O'Donovane, at the entreatie, &c., of Daniel O'Donovane, alias O'Donovane, Esq., Coll. Cornelius O'Driscoll, Ffynyne O'Mahowny, of Ardryrynggie, from Wm. Goghin and from John Coghlane, to restore Ballynard to Donogh Mac Cnoghor O'Driscoll, in case of, &c. &c. (not dated nor executed, but would appear from the rest, to be about latter end of 1670.)
On the llth of July, 1650, F. O'Driscoll entered into a covenant with Donough Mac Daniel Carthy and O'Donovan, reciting
For as much as it is thought convenient and necessary that friends and neighbours in those more than troublesome times, should joyne and unit their helping hands together, to withstand and resist all insolencies and annoyances that should invade either by their enemyes, back friends, or any other: wee therefore, the undernamed, doe, by these presents, covenant and faithfully promise, and thereupon ingage our honesties to the utmost of our power, to be ayding and assisting one to another in maintaining, uphoulding, and defending our lives, estates, and goods whatsoever, against all person and persons that would intend or act any violence, oppression, or any other unlawful prejudice unto any or either of us, or that would incroach upon any of the respective cantridges of Clan-Cahill or Clandermod, and Collimore, or any other, of our rights or intrests whatsoever: further, it is faithfully promised and agreed upon betwixt us, the undernamed, that if any or either of us would conceave or apprehend any cause of jealousie or suspition of imperformance of this covenant, that it shall not be a breach hereof, but rather to be reconciled by the major vote of the undernamed not concerned in that cause of jealousie, if any be; this tending to a faire correspondencie betweene us in the three cantridges before mentioned: and for the due performance hereof wee have heereunto subscribed our hands the llth of July, 1650. Moreover, it is agreed upon and faithfully promised by and betweene us, that noe person or persons shall or may have command over our men in armes, or to be in armes, without our approbation, or the approbation of the major parte of us, if we may from our superiours obtaine it; moreover, that any officer or officers voted and named by us may not exact, prejudice, or charge any or either of us, nor proceed in any thing wherein wee may bee concerned, without the consent of us, or the major parte of us: and for the better performance heereof wee have taken our oathes upon the holy Evangelists, as witness our hands, the llth of July, 1650.
DANIKLL O'DONOVAN.
DONNOGH MAC DANIELL CARTHY.
F. O'DRISCOLL.
That this family continued to be highly respectable and important, in Ireland, not only after the Cromwellian Usurpation, but till the Revolution, is evident from various records and historical authorities. It appears from King Charles II.'s letter in favor of Col. Daniel O'Donovan that there was a Col. O'Driscoll in the royal service in Cromwell's time. This letter recites: That Daniell O'Donovane of Castle O'Donovane in the County of Corke, in our kingdome of Ireland, submitted unto the peace concluded in our said kingdome in the year One Thousand Six Hundred and Forty-eight, and constantly adhered thereunto contributing his best endeavours to advance it, and suppress all oppositions that might be thereunto given, signally testifying upon all occasions his loyalty and fidelity to our service; and that he raised at his own cost and charge by Commission from the said Duke of Ormond then our Lieutenant of Ireland, two foote Companies, whereof one was commanded, as Captaine, by Morrogh O'Donovane, his brother in the regiment of Colonel Hennessy, under the command of our said Lieutenant of Ireland, at the seidge of Dublin, where the said Captaine Morogh O'Donovane was killed in our service. And that Richard O'Donovane retired himself and company into forreigne partes, and there was also killed in our service, when hee had first, as Captaine of the other foote Companie in Colonell O'Driscoll's Regiment, contributed his best endeavours for the furtherance of our service, till the late usurped power became prevalent in our said kingdome of Ireland; and that Daniell O'Donovane persevering still constant in his loyalty to us, the said usurped power seized upon all his Estate, burning, killing, and destroying all that came in their way, and blew up with powder two of his the said Daniell's Castles.
There is a well preserved copy of this letter in the possession of Edward Powell Esq. of Bawnlahan, in the county of Cork, and another in the Chief Remembrancer's Office, Dublin (Adventurers' Certificates Roll xviii.)
Soon after the levying of Col. Daniel O'Donovan's Regiment of infantry for the war of the Revolution was commenced, Cornelius O'Driscoll is mentioned as its intended Lieutenant Colonel. In Col. O'Donovan's papers connected with the above regiment there is a Capt. Driscoll mentioned more than once.
On the 2nd. of October, 1690, the Lord Marlborough came to Kinsale with the army; on the 3rd, Major General Tettau and Colonel Fitzpatrick, with about 800 men, got over in boats unperceived near Ringroan Castle, marched down towards the old fort (called Castle-ni-Park) which they boldly assaulted, and took by storm, whereupon the enemy retired into the Castle, but at the same time 3 barrells of their powder took fire at the gate and blew it up, with about 40 soldiers. At length, the Governor Colonel Driscoll and 200 of the garrison being killed, the rest surrendered upon quarter. Cox's Narration quoted by Smith in his Natural and Civil History of Cork, book 3. c. VII.
November 23rd, 1690, an attack was made by a Jacobite party of 500 men under the young Colonel O'Driscoll on Castletown House, near Castlehaven, the mansion house of Colonel Townshend, which they attempted to burn; but
In French accounts of the Irish Brigades in the possession of John Cornelius O'Callaghan, Esq. Dublin, the Sieur Corneille or Cornelius O'Driscoll is spoken of as a distinguished officer in Spain in 1707 and 1708, or during the great war of the Succession, when he was Lieutenant Colonel to the Regiment of Dragoons of the famous Count Daniel O'Mahoni. In a hostile sally from Alcoy, January 2nd 1708, it is said that le Sieur Corneille Odriscol, Lieutenant Colonel du Regiment de O'Mahoni, fut blessé au pied dangereusement.
The following brief notice of the present condition of the O'Driscoll tribe is abstracted from a paper on the subject written by Rickard Donovan Esq. Clerk of the Crown for the County of Cork.
The family of O'Driscoll having fallen into decay and lost every portion of their former possessions, it is not easy now to ascertain satisfactorily who is the head of that Clan. Most of this ancient sept may now be discovered in bitter contests with the overseers of the work-houses of Skibbereen and Skull, who are more keenly anxious as to the minimum rate of food to keep alive the animal man, than the oldest and most calculating political economist of the day. From these paupers who most submissively exclaim that their present abject condition is wholly to be attributed to the will of God, no information can be obtained, except a vague tradition about Sir Fineen O'Driscoll having entertained the officers of Queen Elizabeth's fleet at his Castle at Baltimore. However, the head of the race, I believe, lately existed in the person of Mr. Michael O'Driscoll of Baltimore, who, born only to the repute of being an Irish chief, connected himself in marriage with the daughter of a namesake [of Mr. Timothy O'Driscoll and sister of the late Alexander ODriscoll esq. J.P.] by whom he got some money, by means of which he advanced himself in the world, and even became a justice of the peace, but Lord Manners swept him out of that distinction with some half dozen other Roman Catholics in the county of Cork, who had stolen into that dignity owing to some good-natured oversight in the preceding chancellor.
This gentleman died about twenty years ago, leaving no male descendant. He had three daughters, of whom two died unmarried, and one, Eliza, was married to James O'Brien, esq, a coroner of the County of Cork, who died leaving one son Fitzjames O'Brien, who is now twenty-one years of age, and living at Castleconnell, in the county of Limerick. This Mr. Michael O'Driscoll, or 'the O'Driscoll' as he was called, had a brother, who early in life having to seek his fortune in the English Colonies, was satisfied to leave the hereditary honors to his brother, and styled himself 'William Driscoll,' thinking, no doubt, that his fortune would not be much improved by taking the O. On the death of his brother however he styled himself the O'Driscoll. He is still living [in the 84th year of his age] and has one son William Henry O'Driscoll. This
He claims descent from Donogh O'Driscoll who married Mary, daughter and heir at law of Gerald, 19th Baron of Kinsale, who died about the year 1642; but his pedigree has not been yet satisfactorily proved by the evidence of authentic documents. The following is furnished by Miss Mary Jane Freke of Baltimore Castle, whose mother is an O'Driscoll, and William Henry O'Driscoll of Stoke near Plymouth, the only son of the O'Driscoll.
1. FLORENCE O'DRISCOLL of Ballyisland, (son of Coll. Cornelius, son of Donogh, chief of his name.) He was born about the year 1677, and married in 1706 the daughter of O'Donovan, by whom he had two sons, 1. Denis, who succeeded him as head of the sept, and 2. William O'Driscoll, from whom the late Daniel Mac Carthy of Gortnascreena, was descended in the female line. He married, secondly, a Miss Fitzgerald, by whom he had also two sons, 1. Michael, who married Miss Honora Morris, daughter of Mr. Samuel Morris of Skibbereen, surveyor of Excise, by Sarah, eldest daughter of Colonel Daniel O'Donovan of Bawnlahan, M.P. but who died without issue; and 2. Cornelius O'Driscoll, of Florence Court and Riverview, surnamed the Admiral, on account of his attachment to naval sports, who left one daughter, the wife of the late Dr. Power of Clonakilty, uncle to the present Dr. Power, M.P. for the County of Cork.
2. DENIS O'DRISCOLL of Creagh Court. He was born in the year 1707, and married three wives but had issue by the second only, namely, Martha O'Hea, daughter of O'Hea of Kilkern, by Mary O'Grady, daughter of the O'Grady of Kilballyowen in the County of Limerick. His children were, I. Matthias who was born in 1754: he settled in America, where he married, and had issue one son Denis, who was shot in a duel, and three daughters who are still living; II. Michael O'Driscoll of Baltimore, born in 1764, commonly called THE O'DRISCOLL, who married Miss Helena O'Driscoll of Lakeland, daughter of Timothy O'Driscoll, Esq. J.P. and sister of Alexander O'Driscoll, Esq. J.P. and had issue Denis O'Driscoll, who died without issue, and three daughters, Helena, Eliza, and Jane, who are all dead without issue, except Eliza who married, 1. James O'Brien, Esq. Coroner of the County of Cork, by whom she had one son Michael Fitzjames O'Brien, now living; and 2ndly, De Courcy O'Grady, Esq. of Castleconnell, in the County of Limerick. III. William O'Driscoll, now the O'Driscoll, of whom presently, and IV. Cornelius O'Driscoll, who settled in America, and became an officer in the United States' Navy, in which service he died, leaving one legitimate son, William Cornelius O'Driscoll, now living at Charleston, and having legitimate issue male, who will probably become the future representatives of the family. Denis O'Driscoll had a daughter, Lucy, who married John O'Grady, Esq., of Castlefarm, in the County of Limerick.
3. WILLIAM O'DRISCOLL, now THE O'DRISCOLL. He was born on the 6th of June, 1766; and he married, in August, 1802, Mary Raby, of Kingsland, in the county of Middlesex, by whom he had issue, William Henry O'Driscoll, of whom presently, and one daughter, Mary, who was born on the 6th of August, 1805, and died on the 9th of December, 1833.
This gentleman, during the lifetime of his brother Michael, wrote his name William Driscoll, but after his death assumed the O', and began to call himself the O'Driscoll. He entered the British navy in 1782, in which he served for some time under his relative, the Honorable Captain de Courcy, who had command of the Wizard sloop. He afterwards commanded the Devonshire, 20 guns, but left the service, and next commanded an Indiaman, in which service his son, William Henry, was actively employed for several years.
This O'Driscoll (William, son of Denis, son of Florence), who is now living, was in his youthful days a most magnificent specimen of the old Irish chieftain race, having been mighty of limb and strong of sinews, very tall and bread in proportion; of noble countenance, and in pitch of body like a giant.
4. WILLIAM HENRY O'DRISCOLL, Esq., of Stoke, near Plymouth. He was born on the 16th of June, 1803, and, though a fine specimen of the old Irish chieftain race, he is still unmarried. The senior line of the O'Driscolls is, therefore, likely to become extinct in the British Islands, and the genealogist of the next century will probably have to look for it in the United States of America: though, according to a wild tradition in the country, there are fishermen on Cape Clear and on other islands off the Coast of Carbery, who are lineally descended from the youngest son of Sir Finghin, or Florence, of 1602. The Rev. James O'Driscoll, P.P. of Kilmichael in the County of Cork, is said to be the great-grandson of Denis O'Driscoll of Dunbeacon Castle, who is remembered by tradition for his skill in performing on the Irish harp, who was the son of Florence O'Driscoll, called the Captain Cam, who was killed at the siege of Dunboy in 1602. Sed cum de his nihil certi scio, nihil etiam assertive determino.
Cornelius O'Driscoll, the father of Florence O'Driscoll, No. 1 supra, had a son Alexander, who married Mary O'Sullivan, daughter of Mac Fineen Duff, by Mary Mac Gillicuddy, of the Reeks, from whom descended the Mount Musick branch of the O'Driscolls, and (according to Miss Freke of Baltimore Castle) the late Alexander O'Driscoll, whose sister, Mrs. Freke, of Baltimore Castle, is still living.
John O'Driscoll, late Judge of the Island of Dominica was a native of the city of Cork. He inherited a small property acquired by the industry of his parents who kept a shop in Cork, and educated him well. He published in 1823 Views in Ireland, in two volumes, and in 1827 a History of Ireland in two volumes, works of considerable reputation. He died in June, 1828, whilst in his judicial appointment which he obtained through the patronage of the Marquis of Landsdowne. Mr. Windele, of Cork, lias a large collection of his papers.
The late Alexander O'Driscoll, Esq., J.P., of Norton Cottage, Skibbereen, was the son of Timothy Driscoll, commonly called Tim the Guager, who was in appearance far beyond the ordinary run of men, being remarkably handsome, tall, and athletic, appearing like the son of a giant. This Timothy was, no doubt, of ancient respectable descent; but nothing seems to have been known in the country of his pedigree. He acquired considerable property as a middleman, and was a magistrate of no ordinary capacity; he was a jovial companion, had a good head, and was a kind of sense-carrier to several of his aristocratic neighbours, who had no time for anything but drinking and hunting. His son, Alexander, succeeded to a considerable property in land and tithes. This Alexander (whatever his lineage may have been and his bearing, his virtues and vices all denote that he was of no common ancestry), may be considered as the last celebrated man of the O'Driscolls in the O'Driscoll territory. He was a remarkably fine looking man; he looked, in fact, like a prince; hunted well; rode and shot well; drank well: his hospitality was boundless to all. Being in politics a high Conservative, his popularity lay with the aristocracy, who repaid him for his hospitality by giving him all those posts of honor which gentry sigh for, and which cost nothing. He was of overbearing disposition; despised all popular institutions; was severe to the peasantry, and no favorite with the Roman Catholic clergy, although a Roman Catholic himself. His end was most melancholy. In the summer assizes of 1849 he served on the county grand jury, although his embarrassments were notorious; and, instead of proceeding homewards after the duties of a grand juror were over, he remained in the city of Cork, and was arrested by a wine merchant. He applied for his discharge on the score of being on duty as a grand juror; but the application was refused, and he was confined in the city gaol. The cholera then prevailing very severely, he was seized with it, and dieda sad but not unusual reverse of fortune to befal a man who certainly gave more dinners to persons whom he did not care about than any man in her Majesty's empire. He left no issue, and his property may be said to have perished with the potatoes. A remnant of his property is in the 'Encumbered Estates' Court' for sale.R. Donovan.
Mr. Alexander O'Driscoll, of Crookhaven, is said to represent a respectable branch of this family. The heads of other respectable branches were the late Dr. O'Driscoll, of Skibbereen, whose son and nephew are still living. The late Alexander O'Driscoll, J.P. left no issue; but his sister, Mrs. Freke, of Baltimore Castle, is still living.J. Mac Carthy Downing.
William Justin O'Driscoll, Esq. 28, Lower Fitzwilliam-st. Dublin, is of an ancient and respectable branch of this sept, but the Editor has not been able to learn anything of his pedigree.407