No More Learning

After having taken the castle, and left his guards possession
son Torlogh, son Teige, was inaugurated his successor, just reward his own merits.
O’Donnell, i. e. Manus, marched with force
into North Connaught, between Christmas and
the festival St. Bridget, and having received
from the inhabitants his full tribute and hostages, he returned home safe.
O'Neill, i. e. Con, having gone O’Donnell’s
residence Donegal, about Easter, they formed
entire country. On his return came castle called Moy O'Gara (in the barony avin, county Sligo), which was taken
the Cool
English the latter times, that spoiled much the property Meath, than did these preda tory forces; great indeed was the booty, consist
REIGN OF HENRY VIII. 409
him
happened, however, that Niall Garv, the son of ing gold, silver, brass, iron, treasure, and every
O'Donnell, was unfortunately killed the shot kind property and goods general, they took ball from the castle, the time they attacked from the towns Ath-Firdiadh (Ardee) and Nua the town but O’Donnell pardoned the person Chongbhail (Navan), having completely plundered
whom the deed was committed, who, under them that expedition. On the return those
his protection, was liberty; O'Donnell
turned safe with his forces, except that great loss,
after having spoiled Moylurg, and the plain
Connaught, except such those who paid him his justice, lord Leonard, received intelligence this, tribute.
A. D. 1539.
Thomond, i. e. Conor, the son
collected the English forces Ireland, with those many the great towns Meath, both lay and ecclesiastic, and the fleets the neighbouring coasts, and particularly immense fleet which lay Cuan-Cairlinne (the bay Car lingford); after those forces were brought to
O’Brien
Torlogh, son
the lordship considerable time, during which gether the lord justice, marched pursuit his country flourished great affluence and pros the Irish army Oriel, place called Bel perity. Murrogh, the son O’Brien, i. e. the athahoa, Fearnmaigh'. The Irish forces were
Teige, died, after having been
Bellahoe was fought August 1539, and the
The Battle
place called Bellahoa, Ballyhoe, situated the parish
league peace, amity, and alliance, firmly possible, with each other.
Maguire, i. e. Cormac, the son Cuchonacht, son Cuchonacht, son Bryan, son Philip, tanist Fermanagh, worthy man, distinguished for his nobleness and hospitality,
was treacherously slain the people his own brethren, and even their presence.
O'Neill, i. e. Con, and O’Donnell, i. e. Manus,
marched, with mutual accord and consent, with their forces into Meath, and such territories did not pay them tribute they devastated and burned before them far Tara. They seized
between them strictly and
The son
immense booty that expedition, and the marched into Moylurg, and spoiled the Irish had not mustered army attack the
forces, there was exultation, boasting, vain-glory,
and pride, about the immense booty they obtained without any opposition. When the Saxon lord
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410 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A. D. 1540.
not able to form into proper order as they should, slain at Beandchor, (Banagher, in King's county), neither did they obey the commands of their by the sons of O'Madden, namely, Malachy leaders to keep and defend the field of battle, but Godh, after mass on a Sunday, on the second of rather dispersed in a scattered and disorderly the Nones of July.
manner, and left a great deal of their own pro The lordship of Delvin (in King's county), was perty, as well as the booty they had taken from divided by O’Melaghlin, namely, Felim, between the English, in the hands of their enemies at that Art, the son of Cormac Mac Coghlan, Donal, the place, after they were defeated; many of their son of Ferdorcha (Ferdinand), and Malachy, the common soldiers were slain, and not a few of their son of Edmond.
chiefs besides; and of the Tirconallians Maol
murry Meirgeach, son of John Roe Mac Sweeney, - A. D. 1540.
fell on the field of battle. Magennis, i. e. Mur Roderick O'Maoleoin, bishop of Ardagh, and
togh, was taken prisoner by a party of the people of Oriel, after having been separated with a few from his own forces in that defeat of Bellahoe; he was kept privately in imprisonment for a consi derable time, and they afterwards treacherously slew him at the instigation of some of his own tribe, who gave a bribe to those who had him in confinement, for putting him to death.
Niall Oge O'Boyle was killed by Conor, the son of O'Boyle.
O’Melaghlin, i. e. Art, a prosperous, intrepid man, and his son, Cahir O’Melaghlin, dean of Clon macnoise, were slain at Fornocht (Forgney, in Longford, on the borders of Westmeath), by the sons of Felim O’Melaghlin; and Felim assumed the lordship.
Mac Coghlan, i. e. Felim, the son of Myler, was
coadjutor bishop of Clonmacnoise, aprosperous and
man,
affluent
died. (This Roderick O’Malone is
not given in Ware's Bishops; Terence Kerawan,
or Kirwan, was then bishop of Clonmacnois).
The monastery of Clonroad, (at Ennis, in the
county of Clare), was given to the friars de ob servantia, at the request of O’Brien, namely, Mur
rogh, the son of Torlogh, and of the nobles of Thomond, with the permission and consent of the superiors of the order of St. Francis.
The English, in every place throughout Ireland
where they established their power, persecuted
and banished the nine religious orders, and par
ticularly, they destroyed the monastery of Mo
naghan' and beheaded the guardian, and a num ber of the friars.
borders of Cavan, Monaghan, Meath, and Louth, between Kings defeated, and the booty recovered. According to Cox, Magen
court, Carrickmacross, and Ardee; and the large lake of Ballyhoe is situated partly in the parish of Drumcondra, county of Meath, and partly in the parish of Magheracloone, in the county of Mo naghan, and from this lake runs the river Legan, at which the battle was fought. The following particulars of it have been col lected from Cox's Hibernia Anglicana, Campion, Leland, and Mac Geoghegan. Con O'Neill, prince of Tyrone, who was called Con Bacach, or Con the Lame, together with O'Donnell, Magennis, O'Kane, O'Hanlon, Mac William, and others, jointly invaded the Pale with a powerful force, marched to Meath, burned Ardee and Navan, and plundered all the country through which they passed, till they came to the hill of Tara, where they reviewed their forces with great ostentation; and having taken vast booty, they returned towards home. The lord deputy, Leonard Gray, having some time before sent to England for aid, sir William Brereton was imme diately despatched to Ireland with 250 Cheshire men, and, together with these, the lord deputy collected the forces of the Pale, with the mayors and citizens of Dublin and Drogheda, and marched to Bellahoe, where O'Neill was encamped on the other side of the river. The English forces came to the river by break of day; James Fleming, baron of Slane, led the van; but Robert Half penny, his standard bearer, having declined to advance because of the danger, he substituted the valiant Robert Betagh of Moy nalty, in Meath, to carry the standard, and he rushed boldly into the river, being well supported by Mahe of Mabestown, a com mander of great courage. The lord deputy's forces with great diffi culty crossed the river, and after a sharp conflict, at length suc ceeded in routing the Irish galloglasses; Mabe, and many of the
Anglo-Irish forces were slain; but O'Neill's forces were at length
mis, lord of Iveagh, was slain, together with about 400 of O’Neill's men. Mac Geoghegan, in his History of Ireland, says “Les Ir landois perdirent dans cette action pres de quatre cens hommes tues avec Magennis, un de leurs chefs; la perte des Anglois mefut pas moins grande, ayant laisse quelques-uns deleurs chefs, entr'autres le general Mabe, morts sur le champ de bataille. ” “The Irish lost in that engagement nearly four hundred men slain, together
with Magennis, one of their chiefs; the loss of the English was not much less, having left some of their commanders, amongst others general Mabe, dead on the field of battle. ” In some of the English editions of Mac Geoghegan, the number of the Irish slain has, by some typographical error, been made four thousand instead of four hundred, as in the French original, whereas, ac cording to Cox, and all the other accounts of this battle, only about four hundred of the Irish were slain; and as, according to Mac Geoghegan, nearly the same number of the English were killed, therefore about eight hundred fell on both sides in this bat tle. The lord deputy, says Cox, commanded in person with great courage, and after the battle, he knighted on the field, for their services, the chief justice Aylmer, Talbot, of Malahide, James Fitzsimon, mayor of Dublin, and Michael Courcey, mayor of Drogheda. Sir John Davies says of this battle, “that prosperous fight at Bellahoe, on the borders of Meath, the memory whereof is yet famous. ”
A. D. 1540.
1. The Monastery of Monaghan was founded by St. Moelo dius, or Maclodius, about the sixth century, and the place was called Muineachan, signifying the town of the monks; it was an Augustinian abbey of note for several centuries, and many of
its
REIGN OF HENRY VIII. 41 l
The two sons of O'Boyle, namely Niall Roe tains, and then returned home safe, in triumph and and Conor, were in dispute and contention with victory.
each other, and Niall went to make an attack on O’Donnell collected a force, and the following Conor at Luachras (Loughros, near Ardara, persons joined him, namely, Niall Conallach, the county of Donegal), for it was there Conor’s place son of Art Oge, tanist of Tyrone, and the son of of residence was, and he remained for a night in Mac Donnell of Scotland, namely, Colla, the son ambush in the church of Seanchan. On the fol of Alexander, together with a great many of the lowing day Conor appeared on the hill near the
church, when Niall sallied forth with his party
from the church; when Conor beheld them ad
vancing towards him, he retired to avoid comin
in contact with them, as he had only a few of his
men along with him, and who were of no service to him. The direction he took alone was down
across the strand of Loughros; Niall pursued him as quickly as he could, and having outrun his own party, he challenged Conor to a single combat, whereupon they attacked each other actively and fiercely, without regard to friendship or relation
ship; Conor gave a stroke to Niall on the crown
of the head and felled him to the ground, upon
which Conor fled from the place, being wounded.
Niall’s party having come up to him, he told them
to follow Conor, as he was not himself in danger
of death on that occasion; Niall’s people accord
ingly did so, and overtook Conor at the side of a
lake in the neighbourhood; they did not come gal), from which they began to spoil the country. into close combat with him, but knocked him
down with the stones which lay along the margin of the lake, and they then attacked him with their arms; on their return they found Niall quite dead; and there were not of their tribe in their time a greater loss, than those two who were slain by each other.
O'Donnell took them both prisoners, and also Eigneachan O’Donnell, at Baile-na-Congbhala;
of Felim, a man distinguished for nobility and The sons of William Mac-an-Easpuig O'Gal hospitality, died at an advanced age, after having
lagher, namely, William Oge and Hugh Gruama,
were slain by the sons of O'Boyle, namely, Donal
and Torlogh, in revenge for the death of their father.
O'Donnell, i. e. Manus, marched with a force into the province of Connaught, and did not halt until he entered Moylurg, from whence he proceeded to Clan Conway (in Galway); and he devastated and burned the entire of Moylurg, and Clan Conway, after which he took a prey at the Curlew moun
abbots are mentioned by the Four Masters, Colgan, and Archdall, from the eighth the fifteenth century, when, 1462, the monastery was rebuilt and re-founded for Conventual Franciscans, by Felim Mac Mahon, lord Monaghan. Its abbots were chiefly
the family Mac Mahon, and continued flourish the
gained the victory over the world and the devil. Donall, the son of Niall O'Boyle, was nomi
nated the O'Boyle.
John, the son of O’Donnell, was slain by the
sons of Murrogh Mac Sweeney, of the Tuatha (that the Districts Donegal. See 52, note Tirconnell).
The castle Leitrim was erected by O’Rourke, i. e. Bryan, the son Owen, while great war was carried against him every side, viz.
period above mentioned by the Four Masters, when the abbot was beheaded the extensive possessions the monastery were seized by the crown, and, according Archdall, were granted Ed
ward Wythe, and castle afterwards erected on its site by Ed ward, lord Blaney.
Scots. O'Donnell and those forces, in the first place, marched into Fermanagh, and spoiled a large portion of the country in the beginning, until
he received securities and pledges for the payment of his tribute; after that, they marched through
Brefney O’Rourke, and from thence to the Curlew mountains, where they encamped. They cut away
the pass of Bealach Buighe, and cleared every
other difficult pass before them. The entire of the
Clan Maolroona (Mac Dermotts), came to them
after that, and gave hostages to O’Donnell for
whatever he might demand thenceforth, and he then returned home safe.
The sons of O’Donnell, i. e. of Hugh Oge, the son of Hugh Roe, namely, Donogh Cairbreach,
and John of Lurg, rebelled against O’Donnell, namely, Manus, their own brother, and took posses
sion of the Cranoge of Lough Beatha (in the parish of Gartan, barony of Kilmacrenan, county of Done
he hanged John Lurg, and bound Eigneachan
and Donogh in chains; and he broke up and com
pletely demolished the Cranoge of Lough Beatha. O’Dogherty, i. e. Gerald, the son of Donal, son
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412 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A. D. 1540.
Moylurg, in Muintir Eoluis, and in Brefney of the men of Brefney, also warred against him; O’Reilly, and his own son, supported by a party but he, however, completed the castle in a short
IV. The Ancient Kings of Ulster. —In this article is con Denmark, and wife of the celebrated Tuathal Teachtmar, monarch tinued the ancient history of Ulster, and in the preceding parts of Ireland. Rath More of Moylinne was a residence of the kings accounts have been given of the various colonies that possessed of Dalaradia, or Ulidia; it is situated near Lough Neagh, in the
the country in the earliest ages, as the Partholanians, Nemedians,
Fomorians, Firbolg and Danans. Partholan resided at Inis-Samer,
an island at the bay of Donegal, adjoining the town now called
Ballyshannon; and, as already explained, various great battles Ir, ruled over Ulster for more than a thousand years, and for a
were fought between the Nemedians and Fomorians in the terri tory now called Donegal, and in other parts of Ulster. When the chief, named Ith, the son of Breogain, came from Spain to explore
Ireland, he proceeded to Ulster, where the Tuath-De-Daman
kings then resided, at the fortress of Aileach Neid, near Lough
Swilly, in Donegal; but his forces were defeated, and he himself
was mortally wounded at a place called Magh-Ith, or Moy-Ith,
signifying the plain of Ith, which was situated, as appears by a
passage in the Annals of Inisfallen at the year 1197, on the borders
of Tyrone, Derry, and Donegal, between Ardstraw, in Tyrone,
Raphoe in Donegal, and the city of Derry, but appears to have
been chiefly in Donegal, in the barony of Raphoe, and adjoining
the ancient fortress of Aileach. The Milesians from Spain, and Ireland; she called by the Irish writers Macha Mongruaidh, the Clanna Breogain, soon afterwards invaded Ireland, conquered signifying Macha the red golden tresses, from the colour the Danans, and became masters of the country. The three sons her hair, and her name has been latinised Macha Auri-coma.
of Milesius divided the island amongst them ; Heber and his des cendants, called Heberians, had Munster; Heremon and his pos
nial legislative assemblies, which account has been given 297 these annals. Cimbaoth, Kimbaoth, king Ulster,
his queen, the above-men Aodh Ruadh, Hugh the
terity, named Heremonians, had Leinster and Meath, and the
descendants of Ir, the third son, called Irians, or Clanna Rory,
had Ulster, while Amergin, the fourth son of Milesius, was ap Christian era founded the conventions Tara, great trien
pointed chief bard of the kingdom, with great power and privi
leges. In the division of the kingdom, the Firbolg tribes obtained lands in Leinster, with the greater part of Connaught, which they
held in subjection to the Milesians. These events, according to
the old annalists, took place about a thousand years before the
Christian era. Many places in Ulster in those early ages derived
their names from the chiefs of the Milesians and Clanna Breogain.
Magh Muirthemhne, or the plain of Murhevney, now the plains
of the county of Louth, derived its name from Murhevney, son of
Breogain, a chief of the Clanna Breogain, or Brigantes of Spain,
who accompanied the Milesians to Ireland. Sliabh Cuailgne,
now Slieve Guillion, in Armagh, derived its name from Cuailgne,
another son of Breogain, a celebrated commander, who was slain
there in a battle with the Damans; he was buried on the moun
tain, and a cairn, or huge heap of stones, was raised over him as a
sepulchral monument, which remains to this day. Sliabh Fuaidh,
now the Fews mountains in Armagh, obtained their name from
Fuaidh, another son of Breogain, who was slain there by the
Danans. From Colpa the Swordsman, one of the sons of Mile
sius, who was drowned while attempting to land, the place called
Inver Colpa, or the bay of Colpa, derived its name: it is situated
at the month of the Boyne near Drogheda, and the adjoining pa
rish is called Colpe to the present day. Dun Sobairce, or the
fortress of Sobairce, derived its name from Sobairce, king of Ul Irian race; the kings and chiefs his posterity took the name
ster, of the race of Ir, who erected a fortress, and resided there nearly nine centuries before the Christian era; it is now called Dunseverick, and is situated on a bold rock projecting into the sea, near the Giant's Causeway; some of the O'Kanes, chiefs in Derry, and likewise of the Mac Quillans, powerful chiefs in An trim, had their residence in former times at the castle of Dunse verick, of which some ruins still remain. Ard Macha, or the hill of Macha, now Armagh, was so called either from Macha, wife of Nemedius, who, according to the old annalists, was buried there more than a thousand years before the Christian era, or from Macha, queen of Ireland, who had her residence there about four centuries before the Christian era, as hereafter explained. Rath Mor-Muighe-Linne, or the Rath of Mola of Moylinne, an ancient fortress and residence of the kings of Ulster, was so called, ac cording to O'Flaherty, and the Annals of Tigearnach, at A. D. 161, from Mora, wife of Breasal, king of Ulster, and, according to
Clanna Rua-raidhe, Clanna Rory, name which O'Flaherty and O’Connor have latinised Rudricii, anglicised Rudricians. Conchobhar-Mac-Nessa, Concovar, the son Nessa, called
from his mother Nessa, was king the Irian race, who lived Emania, and reigned over Ulster sixty years, and highly cele brated Irish history for his valour, munificence, and patronage
the bards and learned men his age he flourished the commencement the Christian era, and died, according the Ogygia, A. D. 48. Some historians state that became believer
the Christian faith consequence having heard an account
the crucifixion. The reign Concovar very remarkable
the works the Irish bards, connected with an account the famous heroes called the Red-Branch Knights Ulster; the wars between Ulster and Connaught, and many other extremely inte resting events his time. From their first settlement Ulster down the fourth century, the Irian kings ruled over that pro vince for more than thousand years; during the ages before the Christian era, recorded the old annalists, they had many
O'Flaherty's Ogygia, this fortress was erected a short time pre viously in the second century, by Bania, daughter of the king of
present parish of Antrim or Donegore, and the place is still known as the Manor of Moylinny.
Kings of the Irian race. —The Irian kings, of the posterity of
period of nearly seven centuries, namely, from about 350 years
before the Christian era to A. D. 332; they had their chief residence at the palace of Eamhain Macha, or Emania, near Armagh, where about thirty-five kings reigned, the Irian race, except three four the Heremonians Ulster; and these kings Emania, accounts are given the Annals Ulster and Tigear nach, published by Dr. O'Connor the Rer. Hib. Scriptores, and
O'Flaherty's Ogygia. Of the Irian kings Ulster, according
the Ogygia, twenty-four became monarchs Ireland, Ard righthe, and also one queen Ulster the Irian race, namely Macha, became queen Ireland about 350 years before the Chris tian era, and was the only supreme queen that ever reigned over
Amongst the most celebrated the 1rian kings Ulster, who also reigned monarchs Ireland, were Ollamh Fodhla, Ollav Folla, the famous legislator, whose reign placed by Tig
earnach, O'Flaherty, and others, about seven centuries before the
who becamemonarch Ireland from about 350 300 years be fore the Christian era, erected the palace Eamhain Macha,
which was also partly constructed tioned Macha Mongruadh, daughter
Ir, about four centuries
Red, monarch Ireland the race
before the Christian era, who was drowned the place called from him Eas-Aodha-Ruaidh, anglicised Easroe, signifying the cataract Red Hugh, and now known the waterfall called the Salmon-leap, the river Erne, Ballyshannon, Donegal. Macha was married her cousin king Kimbaoth, who died the plague Emania, and she reigned after him seven years su preine queen Ireland. According Keating, Eamhain Macha
derived its name from queen Macha’s having marked out the area the building her breast-pin bodkin, Eo-muin, Ea mhuin, signifies pin for the breast neck: the name Eamhain
Macha pronounced Evan-Macha, and latinised Emania. Rua raidhe Mor, that Rory Roderick the Great, whose name, according the Ogygia, has been latinised Rudricius Magnus,
was seventy years king monarch Ireland; Christian era, and was one
Ulster, and seventeen years supreme flourished about 150 years before the the most celebrated kings the
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REIGN OF HENRY VIII. 413
space of time, and spoiled a great deal in Moylurg A general invitation to an entertainment was on his enemies. given by Roderick, the son of Teige Mac Der
intestine commotions in Ulster among themselves, aud various tury, the 120th year her age; she resided the palace wars with the other provincial kings, and also with the Fomo Cruachan Connaught, which was erected by her father, and rians or African pirates, who had settled in Ulster in remote ages, situated near Elphin, Roscommon. Meva lived there style
and with the Firbolg tribes and Danans. No estimate can now be formed of the unknown thousands who were slain in those san
guinary wars, from the earliest times down to the Christian era, comprising a period of many centuries
The Cualanean War and Red-Branch Knights of Ulster. — The kings of Emania established an order of warriors who were highly celebrated, and known by the name Curaidhe-na-Craoibhe Ruaidhe, that Knights the Red Branch, and they were called, supposed some, from bearing devices red branches
their banners, or, according others, from their chief place
residence, which was called Teach-na-Craoibhe-Ruaidhe, signi
fying the house the Red-Branch—a large building erected
Emania, adjoining the palace which formed part, and here
they had their banqueting halls, where the kings Emania gave
grand entertainments guests and strangers; there was also combat many the best warriors Ulster; but, while carrying another building called Craobh-Dearg, signifying also the Red
Branch, where the knights kept their weapons, standards, and
military trophies, and made preparations for their battles and ex
peditions; adjoining these was third building termed Bron ney, another great champion Connaught. Conall Kearnach
chief commanders the Red-Branch Knights were the celebrated
champions Cuchullin; Conall Cearnach, Kearnach, that
Conall the victorious; Celtcair-na-g-Cath, that Keltcar the
battles, from whom Rath-Celtcair derived name, afterwards mentioned descendants Conall Kearnach, the Magennises, called Dun-da-leath-glas, now Downpatrick, and Laoghaire Buadh
ach, Laoghaire the valiant. The Cualanean war, celebrated the bards under the name Tain-Bo-Cuailgne, signifying the spoil the cattle Cualaney, had origin from the taking great prey cattle the people Connaught, commanded one their champions namedCeat, the son Magach, from the neighbourhood Cuailgne, now Slieve Gullion mountain, near Armagh, and also from the plain Muirthemne, now the county consequence this great cattle-spoil, arose the war between Ulster and Connaught, which commenced,
lords Iveagh the county Down; the O'Moores, princes
Louth. Cualgnean according
Clanna Deagha, and ma the seventeenth year
O'Flaherty's Ogygia, eight years before the Christian era, and continued for period seven years; its course many
bloody battles were fought, and the various fierce conflicts, proba
bly not less than fifty thousand men were slain both sides. The many battles and single combats with celebrated warriors;
Ulster forces were commanded their king, Concovar Mac Nessa, Conall Kearnach, Cuchullin, and the other chiefs the Red Branch Knights above mentioned; the Connaught troops were commanded Ceat Keat, the son Magach, together with Fergus Mac Roigh, nephew king Concovar, who was Riogh
the plains second year the Annals
Tigearnach, mentioned the most renowned damhna, prince presumptive Ulster, but having revolted hero of the Milesians. Cuchulain made the hero of some of
against Concovar, was expelled from Emania, and took refuge the court Cruachan Connaught, where was received
into the favour Oilioll Mor and Meiva, then king and queen that province and being very valiant warrior, was placed command over the Connaught forces. Meadhbh, Meva,
queen Connaught, was daughter Eochy Feiloch, monarch Ireland, the race Heremon, and the most celebrated the heroines Ireland, conspicuous her valour, abilities, and beauty; she reigned over Connaught for ninety-eight years, and died, according the Ogygia, about the middle the first cen
Mac Pherson's Poems Ossian, but these productions, though containing many beautiful passages,are not the genuine Ossianic poems, and abound anachronisms; Cuchulain, who flourished about the commencement the Christian era, being placed by him the third century, and made cotemporary with Fionn Mac Cumhaill and the Fenian warriors. Various Irish M. S. compo sitions the Cualanean war and Red-Branch Knights Ulster, are mentioned by Keating and O'Flaherty, by Dr. O'Connor,
his notes on the Four Masters, and O'Reilly's Irish writers: the chief them are Tain-Bo-Cuailgne, the spoil the cattle
great splendour, and highly celebrated the Irish bards; during the war with Ulster, this heroine, like one the Amazons
old, often commanded her own troops person, and repre sented the historians wearing an Aision, golden crown, her head, seated her war-chariot, proceeding battle, and
surrounded retinue war-chariots and champions. During this war the palace Emania was taken and plundered by the Connaught troops; and various battles took place, one which Firdia Mac Damhain, Firdia, the son Damhain, who was one
the famous Damnonian Firbolg champions Connaught, was slain single combat the hero Cuchulain, ford
river Muirthemhne, which was called after him Ath-Firdia, the ford Firdia, now Ardee Louth. Keat, the son Ma gach, another celebrated champion Connaught, slew single
off their herds Connaught, and slain Conall Kearnach, Ath-Ceit, the ford Keat
trophies victory, was pursued place called from his death
Conall also slew Bealchu Bref
Bearg, signifying the house sorrow, where the sick and wound warriors received medical attendance, and were provided with
all things necessary for their recovery. further account the
having proceeded with his forces
Connaught, killed, with thrust
band queen Meva, and king
the spoils the palace, was pursued by the Connaught warriors, overtaken, and slain ford great river Brefney, and the place was called from him Beal-Atha-Chonaill, and now known
Ballyconnell the county Cavan. This Conall Kearnach was one of the most valiant and renowned of all the Irish war
riors, and famous swordsman and wrestler; he was descend from the Irian kings Ulster, called Clanna Rory, and his son Irial-Glummhar, was king Ulster, for forty years about the
given the subsequent part this article. Knights flourished Emania chiefly about the the Christian era and the early part the first
his spear, Oilioll More, hus Connaught, and returning with
palace Emania
The Red-Branch
commencement
century, the reign the celebrated Concovar Mac Nessa, king
Ulster; indeed the period from the first the fourth century would appear have been the most heroic era Ireland, for during that time flourished the renowned Red-Branch Knights
Ulster; the famous Fiana Eirionn, Fenians Ireland, who
were the chief warriors Meath and Leinster; the Munster middle the first century. The posterity Conall Kearmach heroes, designated Clanna Deagha, and the Damnonian possessed great part Dalaradia, now the county Down and Firbolg champions Connaught called Clanna Morna. The part Antrim, and also Muirthemhne, now the county
Louth, which was called from him Conall Muirthemhne, and Machaire Chonaill, the plain Conall. the genealogies Keating and O’Brien many eminent families Ireland are
Leix, the Queen's county and Kildare, and many other chiefs,
whom accounts are given the subsequent part this article
under the head Irians. Cuchulain, the other great chief the
Red-Branch Knights, was, like Conall Kearnach, his relative and
cotemporary, one the most renowned the Irish warriors for strength and valour, and celebrated for many ages the compo
sitions the hards; was paternally descended from the Here
monian chiefs Ulster called Ernans, ternally from the Irian kings Ulster.
had his chief fortress and residence Dundealgan, now Dundalk, and was slain, according some accounts, great battle
Muirthemhne, and, according the Ogygia, the the Christian era, the 27th year his age
his age distinguished himself
pursuing and attacking the Connaught troops who had carried off the cattle spoils Cualgney afterwards became famous
the palace Cruachan,
his undaunted valour
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414 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A. D. 1540.
mott and his wife, the daughter of Mac William all those who were in the habit of receiving pre of Clanrickard, to the schools of Ireland, and to sents, to come to them at the Rock, (of Lough
Cuailgne; Brisleach-Muighe-Muirthemme, or the battle of Moy Murthemney; Dearg Ruathar-Chonaill-Cearnaigh, or the san guinary conflicts of Conall Kearnach, and Oidheadh-na-gour raidhe, or the death of the heroes ; a poem by Congal, a famous bard, brother of queen Meva, on the death of the seven Maines, princes so called, who were sons of Oilioll and Meva, and were all slain in the Cualgnean war: this poem is quoted by O'Reilly. Copies of these various compositions are in the collections of Sir William Betham and other libraries, and if properly translated and published, would be found to contain much curious and inte resting information on these remote periods of Irish history.
married to Alechia, daughter of Updar, king of Alba, or Scotland,
by whom he had three sons called the three Collas, namely, Colla Uais, or Colla the Noble; Colla-da-Chrioch, or Colla of the two
Territories, and Colla Meann, or Colla the Famous. The three Collas being very valiant, warlike, and ambitious princes, com
bined against their uncle king Fiacha, and aspired to the monar chy; they collected powerful forces, and being joined by seven
Catha or legions of the Damnonions or Firbolg tribes of Con naught, they fought A. D. 327, according to the Ogygia, a fierce
battle against the army of the monarch Fiacha at Crioch Rois, south of Tailtean in Bregia, in which the royal army was defeated, and many thousands on both sides, together with king Fiacha himself, were slain. This was called the battle of Dubhcomair from Dubhcomar, the chief Druid of king Fiacha, who was slain there, and the place where the battle was fought was near Tel town, in a direction between Kells and Navan, near the river Blackwater in Meath. After gaining the battle, Colla Uais usurped the monarchy, and reigned four years, when he was com pelled to abdicate the throne by Muiredach Tireach, or Muire dach the Patriot, son of king Fiacha, who then became monarch
Kings of Ulster, from the first to the fourth century. —The
following were the kings of Ulster who reigned at Emania during
that period according to O'Flaherty’s Ogygia, the Annals of the
Four Masters, Tigearnach, and other authorities. Concovar Mac
Nessa, king of Ulster, died A. D. 48, and was succeeded by his
son Cumusgach, who reigned three years. Glaisne, another son
of Concovar, succeeded, and reigned nine years. Irial Glunmhar,
son of Conall Kearnach, succeeded as king of Ulster, and reigned
forty years, from A. D. 60 to A. D. 100. Fiacha, son of Irial, suc
ceeded, and after him Fiatach Fionn, of the race of Heremon, be of Ireland. The three Collas and their principal chiefs, to
came king of Ulster, and was also monarch of Ireland three years, and died A. D. 119. Elim, who was of the Irian race, succeeded as king of Ulster, and in his reign, in the beginning of the second century, the Firbolg tribes of Connaught revolted against the monarchy, and being joined by Elim and the Irians of Ulster, de
feated and slew the monarch Fiacha Finoladh, in a great battle fought at Moybologue in Brefney, as related at page 345, and
the number of three hundred, were expelled from Ireland, and forced to take refuge amongst their relatives in Albany; but they soon afterwards returned, and were pardoned by their cousin king Muiredach.
The Battle of the Three Collas. —The three Collas, assisted by king Muiredach, collected a powerful army, and joined by nu
merous auxiliaries, and seven legions of the Firbolg tribes of Con
Elin then became monarch of Ireland for four years, but was
defeated and slain, A. D 130, at the Battle of Aichle or Acoill, province from the Irian kings. Fergus Fogha, king of Emania,
near Tara, by Tuathal Teachtmar, son of the former monarch Fiacha Finoladh; Tuathal then became monarch, and was one of the most celebrated of the Irish kings of the race of Heremon.
assembled his forces to oppose them; and both armies having met, fought a tremendous battle, which continued for six successive days; but the Collas were at length victorious, the forces of Fer gus Fogha being vanquished, and himself slain; but Colla Meann fell on the side of the victors. This engagement was called by the Irish writers Cath-ma-ttri-goolla, or the battle of the three Collas, and also Cath-Cairn-Eachalethalearg, being fought at a place so called in Fernmoy, in Dalaradia, and the place is now known as the parish of Aghaderg, in the barony of Iveagh, county
The battle of Moylinny. — Mal, a descendant of Conall Kear
nach, became king of Ulster after Elim, and in A. D. 160 the for
ces of the monarch Tuathal, and those of the Irians of Ulster,
fought a great battle at Magh-Linne, in which king Tuathal was
defeated and slain by Mal, after he had reigned over Ireland thirty
years, and Mal then became monarch. The place where this
battle was fought in Dalaradia was called Moin-an-Catha, or the of Down, on the borders of Antrim and Armagh; and there is still
Bog of the Battle, and likewise Ceann-Guba, or the Hill of Grief, in the Four Masters, and the place was situated where the river Ollar and Ollarba have their source, and is considered to have been near the town of Antrim, or, according to others, in the vicinity of Olderfleet, near Larne. Mal, after he had reigned as monarch of Ireland four years, was slain, A. D. 164 by Feidhlim Reachtmar, or Felim the Lawgiver, son of king Tuathal, and Felim became monarch. Breasal succeeded his uncle Mal as king of Ulster for nineteen years, and Tibradh Tireach, son of Breasal, succeeded for thirty years, and he slew Conn-Cead-Cathach, or Con of the Hundred Battles, the celebrated monarch of Ireland. Ogaman, son of king Fiatach Fionn, of the race of Heremon, succeeded as king of Ulster twelve years, and Aongus Gaibnion, grandson of
Tibradh, succeeded fifteen years. Fiacha Araidhe, son of Aon
there a great heap of stones or carn at Drummillar, near Lough brickland. This battle was fought A. D. 332, and as there were powerful forces collected on both sides, and the fierce contest continued for six days, immense numbers must have been slain ; probably not less than ten thousand men fell on both sides, and the historians state that the slaughter was so great that the earth was covered with dead bodies, from Carn Eochy to Glenrighe, now the vale of the Newry river, a distance of about ten miles. The victory of the three Collas transferred the sovereignty of Ulster from the Irian kings, who reigned at Emania nearly seven hundred years, to the Clan Colla, who were of the race of Here mon. Immediately after their victory, the Collas proceeded to the palace of Emania, which they plundered and burned to the
ground, so that it never after became the habitation of any of the gus, succeeded for ten years, and Fergus, surnamed Dubhdeadach, Ultonian kings. The period assigned by O'Flaherty in his
or black teeth, a descendant of Ogaman, succeeded as king of Ulster four years, and usurped the monarchy for one year, having
expelled king Cormac from Tara; but Cormac having collected his army, the forces of Fergus were defeated, and he himself was slain A. D. 254 at the great battle of Crionna in Meath. Rossa, of the Rudrician race, or Clanna Rory, succeeded Fergus as king of Ulster for one year, and Aongus Fionn, son of king Fergus, succeeded for two years. Fergus Fogha, of the Irian race, suc ceeded and reigned as king of Ulster seventy-five years; he was slain, as hereafter explained, A. D. 332, and was the last of the Ultonian kings of Emania.
The Battle of Dubhcomar. —Fiacha Sraibhtine, son of Cairbre Liffeachair, and grandson of Corinac, both monarchs of Ireland, of the race of Heremon, succeeded to the monarchy A. D 296, and reigned thirty-one years. Eochy Doimhlein, brother of king Fiacha, was
Ogygia for the duration of Emania, from its first foundation by king Kimbaoth, 352 years before the Christian era, to its destruc tion by thé three Collas A. D. 332, is six hundred and eighty-four years. In the Cualgnean war, and the numerous great battles fought between the Irian kings of Ulster and the monarchs of Ire land, together with the battles of the three Collas, all comprising a period of about 340 years of fierce contests, it is probable that not less than one hundred and fifty thousand men were slain.
The Palace of Emania. -An account of the first erection of Emania, and the origin of its name, has been given in the pre ceding part of the present article; it was long a favourite theme of the Irish bards, who celebrated its splendour under the Irian kings, and glories associated with the achievements the renowned Red-Branch Knights Ulster. Accounts are given of great Legislative Assemblies held there those early ages, and
naught, marched into Ulster to wrest the sovereignty of that
in
of
its
of
magnificent entertainments by the kings, with various amuse
ticle account has been given the habitations the Red Branch Knights Emania, and the entire the buildings appear have been vast extent and rude magnificence, like the palace
years before the Christian era; Fiach, son king Aongus, had son named Oilioll Aronn, who got great possessions Ulster, and his descendants, according O'Flaherty, were called Ermaans, but observed that they were quite different tribe from the Erneans Brefney, who were the Firbolg race. Senn, son Oilioll Aronn, had son called Deag, and and his bre thren, the race the Ernaans, being Heremonians, were ex pelled from Ulster by the Irians, Clanna Rory, the ancient
also states, that earthen rampart the kings.
adjoining townland called Trea, there mound still traditionally called the stables
the birth Conaire was
The following passages poem Emania have been trans lated from copy the library Sir William Betham, the an cient Irish work denominated Dinseanchus, which was written
Amergin, celebrated bard the sixth century:—
“This plain which our steeds have ran, According the strictest testimony truth— On was built an abode commemorate
The death Macha, the wife Nemedius.
“Before this famous fortress was erected, Nemedius clear'd woods twelve great plains— Of those was this pleasant plain,
O'er which they ruled with powerful sway.
“Macha, always victorious and triumphant;
The renowned daughter Hugh the red weapons– Here was she buried, the fairest the fair,
Who by Rectaidh Righdearg was slain.
“It was not formed without the attending aid Of the stern sons of Dithorba—
An affair for the learned perpetuate the name Of Emania the rising ground the plain.
“In grief for her their sorrow record; The hosts Ulidia every time
Christ took place. Conaire II. , descendant
monarch Ireland, eight years, the beginning
tury, and died A. D. 220, according the Ogygia. The Dega dians, Ernaans Munster, are designated
graphical Poem “the princes Erna
Of the race the Degadians, according
and O’Brien, were the O'Falveys Kerry, hereditary admirals
Held, unremittingly, The assembly Macha
the east
the great plain. ”
Desmond, the O'Connells Kerry, Limerick, and Clare; the O'Flynns, O'Sheas, O’Cullenans, O'Donegans, and some other chiefs note Munster, whom accounts have been given the notes Thomond, Desmond, and Ormond.
The Dalriedians, Dalriedinians, were branch the above mentioned Degadians the race Heremon, being des cended from Cairbre Riada, one the sons the monarch Conaire II. from Cairbre Riada his posterity took the tribe name Dal-Riadimh, signifying the descendants Riada, the Irish term Dal means part, tribe, posterity; hence was prefixed many tribe names; the name the tribe Dalriada has been latinised by O'Flaherty and others Dalriedii and Dal riedini, and the territory they possessed was denominated Dal rieda and Dalriada. Cairbre Riada and his posterity obtained extensive territory Ulster called from them Dalriada, which now forms the northern parts the county Antrim; this Cairbre Riada was celebrated warrior, and, according the Irish historians, and the venerable Bede, led his forces into that part North Britain called Albany, now the west Scot land, and settled colony there the territory which now forms Argyleshire, and other adjoining parts Scotland, during the reign Art, monarch Ireland, the early part the third century. Before that period, and even previous the Christian era, colonies frcm Ireland settled Albany, Scotland, and some the Firbolg tribes Connaught, called Attacots, who were expelled from Ireland the first and second century, set tled the western parts Scotland; various alliances and in termarriages between the Irish kings and the kings the Picts and Caledonians, are mentioned by the Irish historians before the Christian era. Various other colonies, chiefly from Ulster, went
Albany from the third the fifth century, and conquered
the article Ptolemy's Geography, pp. 393, 394, an ac count has been given the various tribes placed Ulster the Greek geographer the beginning the second century, namely, the Erneans, the Venicians, the Robogdians, the Darinians, and the Uluntians Ultonians. The following accounts the tribes and clans of ancient Ulster have been collected from the old an nalists, historians, and topographers.
The Degadians, called the Irish writers Clanna Deagaidh,
REIGN OF HENRY VIII. 415
James Oge, the son the prior Mac Coghlan, was treacherously beheaded by Ceadach O'Me
laghlin, his own castle, i. e. Caislean-an-Fhead ain (in the barony Garrycastle, King's county),
and great destruction befel the country that
latinised Degadii, were the posterity Aongus Turmeach, who ments peculiar those times. the preceding part this ar was monarch Ireland the race Heremon, about 150
Kea, near Boyle), and they were supplied by that couple.
plentifully
Teige, the son Bryan, son Dermott Roe, was drowned along with O’Rourke's forces.
Manus Mac the Bann, while
the ancient kings Tara, surrounded with great earthen ram
parts, and the interior buildings chiefly constructed wood, par
ticularly oak, with which Ireland abounded those early ages,
and these ancient palaces were also partly composed great
stone walls without cement, the style denominated Cyclopean
architecture. According Colgan his Trias Thaumaturga, possessors. Deag being celebrated warrior, went with his fol
there were his time, the year 1647, extensive remains Emania. The site of Emania about two miles westward of Ar
magh, near the river Callan, place called Navan hill, which name was thus anglicised from the Irish Cnoc-Eamhain, the hill Emania; and Dr. Stuart, his History Armagh says, that near Navan hill townland called Creeve Roe, which, already explained, was the site the habitation called Craobh Ruadh, which was the residence the Red-Branch Knights. Around Navan hill, between the base and summit, fosse and moat, earthen rampart, the whole comprising area about twelve acres; and there are also there some circular mounds forts, that these remains ramparts, and great earth works
such an extent include twelve acres, demonstrate the greatness the ancient palace and fortresses Emania. Stuart
lowers Munster, and was favourably received by Duach, king that province, and afterwards monarch Ireland the race Heber. After the death Duach, Deag became king Mun
ster, and his tribe got extensive possessions that province. The Deagadians got their tribe-name, Clanna Deagaidh, from this Deag, and account them has been given pp. 146, 150,
the note Thomond they settled Munster short time before the Christian era; and during the first, second, and third centuries,
they make remarkable figure
warriors and military commanders
came kings Munster, and three
Ireland, namely, Ederscol, grandson
scol, namely, Conaire Mor, Conary the Great, celebrated monarch, who made military expeditions Gaul and Britain. According the Ogygia, Conaire reigned sixty years, and died A. D. 60; and his reign remarkable, during
Irish history, the chief Munster; several them be
them were also monarchs Deag, and the son Eder
the third cen
O'Heerin's Topo the golden shields. ”
Keating, O'Flaherty,
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416 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A. D. 1540.
account. Felim O’Melaghlin brought the Eng turned home, after having destroyed a great deal. lish and the treasurer (sir William Brabazon) Donal, the son of Ferdorcha Mac Coghlan, with him to Delvin; but, however, they could chief of his own sept, died before James Oge, the not take the castle of Fedan, and they re son of the prior, had been slain.
great part of Scotland from the Picts and Caledonians. The
country conquered by Cairbre Riada, and his followers in Albany,
was denominated the kingdom of Dalriada, and the colony was
called Dalriedians, like their ancestors in Ireland. In the latter
end of the fifth century Erc, or Eric, a descendant of Cairbre
Riada, was prince of Dalriada in Ulster, and his sons Fergus,
Loarn, and Aongus, led another colony from Ulster to Albany,
and becamemasters of a great part of Western Scotland, as Argyle shire, Bute, the Hebrides, &c. ; and Loarn became the first king of
conquered the kingdom of the Picts, and thus becamethe first king of all Scotland. Of the Dalriadic race, who were a branch, as
above shewn, of the Irish Milesians, of the race of Heremon,
sixty-one kings reigned over Albany or Scotland, according to
O'Flaherty's Ogygia, and other authorities, during a period of Antrim the Mac Eochys, princes Dalaradia, name now ren 783 years, from king Loarn, A. D. 503, to the death of Alexander dered O'Heoghey and Hoey, and they were branch the Mac III. king of Scotland A. D. 1286. The Scottish kings of the Dunleveys; the O'Loingsys Lynches; and the O'Lalors houses of Baliol and Bruce, and lastly the house of Stuart, kings
of Scotland and of Great Britain, were maternally a branch of
the Dalriadic kings, descended from the Milesian Irish race, as
shown in O'Flaherty's Ogygia, Charles O'Conor's Ogygia Vin accounts are given the end O'Brien's Irish Dictionary; the
the Albanian Scots in the beginning of the sixth century, A. D.
503. Fergus, brother of Loarn, succeeded as king, A. D. 513,
and kings, the descendants of Loarn and Fergus, ruled in
succession till the ninth century, when Kinneth Mac Alpin, one
of their posterity, became king of Albany, and in A. D. 842, he Leix, Kildare and Queen's county; the Magennises,
sprung
world, and as likewise shown, he is a Scot, descended from the western Hibernians, who are subject to the British sceptre; re lating a few matters, O Muse ! proceed to describe the Ogygian Iernian colonists (the Irish), whose island, encompased by the deep Vergivian sea, was in ancient times known to the Greeks as
“But since our monarch is
from the northern Scottish
the icy Ierne. ” In Cox's Hibernia Anglicana, in the reign of west Munster, and possessed large territory called from him
James I. the following passage is quoted from a speech delivered by king James at the Council table in White Hall, on the 21st of April, 1613:—“There is a double cause why I should be care ful of the welfare of that people, (the Irish) first as king of Eng land, by reason of the long possession the crown of England hath had of that land; and also as king of Scotland, for the ancient kings of Scotland are descended of the kings of Ireland. ”
The Dalaradians, in Irish Dal-A raidhe, a name which has been latinised Dalaradii, were so called as descendants of Fiacha Araidhe, a king of Ulster in the third century, who was of the Irian race, or Clanna Rory; his posterity chiefly possessed the territory called from then Dalaraidhe, and latinised Dalaradia, which comprised the present county of Down, with the southern parts of Antrim, as explained in the note on Dalaradia, and this territory was also called Ulidia ; the Dalaradians were the same as the Irians, hereafter described. -
Ciar-Rioghacht, signifying the kingdom Ciar, from which was derived the name the county Kerry; from this Ciar were descended the O'Conors ancient times, kings and princes Kerry; and also the O'Scanlans, chiefs Kerry, and likewise the county Louth, and also the O’Brosnaghans. From Corc, the second son, who possessed large territory North Munster,
the county Clare, and the O'Loghlins, who were styled prin ces and lords Burren, Clare; also the O'Cahills, O'Conways, O'Caseys, O’Tierneys, some whom anglicised the name Lord, the word Tiarna Irish signifying lord; the O’Marcachans,
O'Markeys, some whom changed the name Ryder, the word Marcach Irish meaning horseman; these chiefs and clans were located different parts Munster, and also Ul ster. Conmac, the third son, and his posterity, called Commac nians, possessed extensive territories, named from them Con
The Cruthneans, or Picts, called by the Irish Cruithnidh, maicne Annaly, Longford, West Brefney Leitrim, and
and latinised Crutheni, of whom an account has been given at p. 266, sent colonies from Scotland to Ireland about a century
also Galway and Mayo. The chief families the Conmacnians were the O'Ferralls, princes and lords Annaly, Longford; the Mac Rannalls, name anglicised Reynolds, who were lords
before the Christian era, and these Cruthenians were located chiefly
in Dalaradia, now the counties of Down and Antrim, and also in
a part of Derry, and were mixed by intermarriages with the
Irians; several kings and chiefs of those Irish Picts are men the Mac Shanleys; O'Rodaghans; Mac Dorchys; O'Mulveys; tioned in the old annalists. O'Morans, and O'Mannings, chiefs and clans various parts
The Irians, of whom accounts have been given in the preceding parts of the articles on Ulster, were also called Clanna Rory, a name anglicised Rudricians, and latinised Rudricii, as before ex
plained, being the descendants of the monarch Rughraidhe, of the race of They were divided into two great branches, namely, the descendants the renowned warriors Conall Kear nach, called Clann-Conaill, and the posterity his cotemporary and relative Fergus Mac Roigh, king Ulster, both whom flourished the beginning the first century, and whom ac counts have been given the preceding part this article, under the Red-Branch Knights. The Clann-Conaill, descendants
Conall Kearnach, according the genealogies Keating, O'Flaherty, O'Brien, and O'Halloran, were the O'Moores, princes
lords Iveagh, the county Down, who possessed the baro nies upper and lower Iveagh and Lecale, with part Mourne; the O'Donleveys, Mac Dunleveys, who were ancient times kings andprinces Uladh Ulidia, nowthe county Down, and part
dicated, Chalmer's Caledonia, and likewise in the learned Dr. Slater's poem, entitled Palae-Albion, on the history of Great Bri tain, in which is the following passage, speaking of king James I. of England—
“At quoniam Arcto Scotico Rex noster ab orbe,
Nec minus occiduis, perhibent, Scotus ortus Hibernis, Qui Britonum parent sceptris, mihi pauca recensens Musa age, et Ogygios Iernes referato colonos,
Insula Vergivio circum undique cincta profundo, Quae fuerit Graiis olim glacialis Ierne. ”
Mac Artans, Mac Cartans, lords Kinel Fogartaigh, now the baronies Kinelearty and Dufferin, the county Down the Mac Gowans, O'Gowans, name anglicised Smiths, were pow erful chiefs Down, and many clans them also settled Donegal, Leitrim, and Cavan; the Mac Wards, clans Down and Donegal the O'Carolans, chiefs Clan Dermott, near Derry; the O'Kenneys, chiefs Louth, and others.
The Clan-Fergus were the descendants Fergus, surnamed Mac Roigh, from his mother Roigh Rogia, and was son Rossa Ruadh, Ross the Red, and grandson Rughruidhe, the celebrated king Ulster, and monarch Ireland, before men tioned; Fergus was three years king Ulster about the begin
ning the Christian era, but was dethroned his uncle Conco var Mac Nessa, who became king Ulster. Fergus was expelled from Emania, and retired Connaught, where was well re ceived Meva, the famous queen that province, whom had three sons named Ciar, Corc, and Conmac. Ciar settled
Lawlors, who were ancient times likewise princes Dalaradia, and also chiefs note Leix, Queen's county; the O'Gar veys, who were powerful chiefs Down and Armagh, whom
Thomond, were descended the O'Conors, lords Corcomroe,
Conmaicne Moy-Rein and Muintir-Eoluis, Leitrim the Mac Keoghs, who were chiefs Galway, and also Leinster;
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REIGN OF HENRY VIII.
A. D. 1541.
OISTEROUS and ex cessively stormy wea
ther, both frost and snow, happened in the beginning of this year, which prevented tillage and ploughing from being properly per formed throughout Ire
417
John, the son Donogh Caoch, the castle Clonlis (in King’s county); and although O'Car roll was the time old man, and far advanced
land.
O’Carroll, i. e. Fer thal.
ganainm, the son of Felim O’Melaghlin proceeded after that Mulroona, was treache Clonfert, and plundered and demolished the great rously killed, although church and monastery Clonfert.
blind, by Teige, the son of Donogh, son of John Tuathal Balbh (the Stammerer), theson John,
years, had performed such feats and given such assistance redounded
and renown against his slayers; twelve people were slain along with him.
arms, his fame his
O’Mulloy, i. e. Cahir, man great fame and
excellence his own time, died.
Tessauran (in the barony Garrycastle, King's
county), both houses and churches, was burned and plundered exactly Lent, the sons O'Madden, namely Murrogh, Breasal, and Ca
O'Carroll, his kinsman, and by the son of O’Mulloy, son Roderick O'Gallagher, one
the most
O'Neilland Ar MacGeoghegan.
Longford, Leitrim, and Roscommon. An account of the chiefs and clans the Irian race, and the territories possessedby each, will found the notes Dalaradia, Orgiall, Brefney, Annaly, Leix, Thomond, and Desmond.
The Dalfiatachians, Irish Dal-Fiatach, latinised Dalfia tacii, were called, the descendants Fiatach Fionn, Fia tach the Fair, who was king Ulster, and monarch Ireland the beginning the second century, and the race Heremon. The Dalfiatachians were powerful tribe Ulster, and located chiefly the territories which now form the county Down, and
and lords Clanbreasail, now the baronies magh, were the race Dalfiatach, according
parts Antrim, Armagh, and Louth. Ogaman, King Ul ster, who has been already mentioned, was this tribe, and his descendant, Fergus, was king Ulster and monarch Ireland; Eochy Gonnat, Eochy the Wounder, grandson Fergus, be came monarch Ireland for about one year after the celebrated Cormac, and died 279, according Ogygia. Many the race Dalfiatach were kings Ulladh, Ulidia, from the fourth the twelfth century, whom accounts are given by
The Ulidian Kings. --After the conquest the kings
Emania by the Clan Colla the fourth century, the ancient kings Ulster, the Irian race, lost the greater part that province, and were confined Ulladh, Ulidia, which name appearsthey gave the territory, more anciently called Dalaradia, and which
comprised the present county Down and southern parts
Antrim, over which some the Irians, the race Conall, Kearnach, and others the tribe Dalfiatach, ruled kings, princes, and chiefs, from the fourth century till the Anglo-Norman invasion and conquest great part Ulster by John de Courcey and his followers, the latter end the twelfth century. The kings Ulidia had their chief residence and fortress Rath Celtcar, which was also called Dun-da-Lethglas, afterwards Downpatrick, and accounts these Ulidian kings are given the annals Tigearmach, Ulster, and the Four Masters.
The Orgiellians, race Clan Colla. -An account the princes named the three Collas has been given the preceding
O'Flaherty and Mac Firbis. According Colgan, Mac Geoghegan, Eochy, son Muredach, the tribe
tach, was king Ulidia the time St. Patrick; but
obstinate Pagan, and having opposed the apostle, the sceptre was
transferred his brother Carroll, and many his posterity be came kings Ulidia. The O'Carrolls, kings and princes Or giall for many centuries, were, according Mac Geoghegan, the descendants the above mentioned Carroll; but according other authorities, the O'Carrolls were the race Clan Colla,
hereafter explained. The O'Carrolls ruled over Orgiall, chiefly
quoted by
Dalfia being
the Irian kings, and the fourth century, Ulster, and founded
that part now forming the county Louth, down the
Anglo-Norman invasion, when John Courcey and his followers
conquered Louth and great part Ulster. Donogh O'Carroll, Oirgiall, Airgiall the Irish, was latinised by O'Flaherty
prince Orgiall, the last celebrated chiefos this race, co-opera tion with St. Malachy, archbishop Armagh, the twelfth cen
tury,A. D. 1142,foundedandamplyendowedthefamousCistercian monastery Mellifont Louth, the first that order established Ireland, which was filled with monks sent over by St. Bernard
from his abbey Clareval France; the monastery Mellifont, which had extensive possessions,was for many centuries celebrated seat learning and religion, and some its venerable ruins
and others Orgiellia and Ergallia, and anglicised Orgiall and Oriel, and sometimes Uriel but the term Oriel was, after times, chiefly confined the present county Louth. The chief residence the kings and princes the race Clan Colla
early times was Clogher Tyrone, which was also great seat Druidism, and got its name from the Cloch-Oir, golden stone, famous Druidic idol, which was worshipped there. The following were the chiefs and tribes the race Clan Colla, who
still remain. Iarlath, the secondarchbishop Armagh, after St. were branch of the Heremonians. The Mac Donnells of Dal Patrick, was the tribe Dalfiatach, and there were many other riada, who became earls Antrim, and likewise the Mac Don eminent men this race. The Mac Cans, ancient chiefs note, nells the Hebrides Scotland, who were lords the Isles; the
part this article. After their conquest
the destruction Emania, the early part
they became possessed the greater part
the kingdom Orgiall, which was long possessed their pos terity. Ancient Orgiall comprised the territories which now form the counties Louth, Monaghan, and Armagh but the term Orgiall was also originally extended parts Tyrone, Derry, and Antrim, and likewise Fermanagh,-over all which terri tories the race Clan Colla had extended their authority; but they were deprived great part their possessions the fifth century by the Hy Niall race, hereafter explained. The name
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418 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A. D. 1541.
vately set fire the fortress; that act was per ceived and detected, and they were pursued the
valour, who slew and subdued opponents, and
never went battle conflict, but he carried
away hostages. happened him one time,
while on visit, that he heard one of the friars of prisoner, was hanged by the sons Donal, Donegal preaching sermon, and the course the son Donogh O’Rourke.
powerful men among the chiefs of Tirconnell, died in February ; he was a man of great bravery and
the sermon he heard stated, that those who slew, shed blood, should have bad reward and having pondered upon this subject his
mind, put the resolution never wounding
any man, which fulfilled during his life.
Mac Quillan, Roderick, the son Walter,
gave the sons Hugh O’Neill great overthrow, which Angus, the son Donogh, son Maol
O’Donnell, Manus, marched with force
join the Saxon lord justice Tyrone, and they overran and spoiled the country that occasion; the lord justice came back into Meath, and
O’Donnell having parted with him, returned through Tyrone, and arrived safe, without getting battle opposition going coming that ex pedition. O’Donnell directed his march the
murry Mac Sweeney, and number the gal eastern side the lake (Lough Erne) Fer loglasses Tirconnell were slain; company managh, and spoiled Cuil-na-Noirear, and the
galloglasses, the Clan Donnell (Mac Donnells), country the eastern side the lake, both with many others, were also slain there. Mac land and islands, having his boats and vessels
Glennade, Donal, son Donogh O’Rourke, from Donogh, the son
Leitrim), was taken by the sons
Mac Mahons Monaghan and Louth, who were princes Or giall, and lords Monaghan the O'Carrolls, already mentioned, who were princes Orgiall before the Mac Mahons the eleventh and twelfth centuries, were, according some accounts,
Michaels, Mitchells, and the O’Keirans, were all chiefs note various parts Louth, Monaghan, and Armagh; the Mac Sheeheys, great commanders galloglasses Ulster, and also Leinster and Munster; the Mac Cabes Monaghan and Cavan,
the race Clan Colla, but the tribe others; the Maguires, princes and lords
Dalfiatach according Fermanagh, and
also celebrated commanders galloglasses, under the O'Reillys and O'Rourkes, princes both Brefneys and various parts Ulster; the Magees and Mac Gilmores, chiefs Down and An
lake, and were overtaken by the sons Donal; Ferganainm, the son Donogh, was slain, and
drowned them; and Donal having been taken
Quillan marched second time with force against the sons Hugh O’Neill, and slew Con and Donal, the sons Hugh.
spoiling and preying the islands, while his forces plundered by land, that left them without corn that year.
O’Donnell, Manus, having gone
Saxon lord justice (Sir Anthony St. Leger)
Cavan; the lord justice received him with great side the lake, and sent portion his forces
the
O’Donnell, some time after that, marched with his forces into Fermanagh, the western
league boats along the lake, while himself, with the that oc remainder, proceeded land; they conjointly plundered the country, both land and water,
honour and respect, and they formed
peace and amity with each other casion.
The eastern Cranoge, fortress the lake
Donogh O’Rourke. some time after, the sons Roe (O’Donnell), was slain O'Boyle, after Donogh O’Rourke, namely, Donal and Ferga Donal had gone aid Torlogh, the son mainm, made attack the Cranoge, and pri O'Boyle, opposition his father; they first
the lake Glencar,
Glen-Dallain
far Enniskillen; they broke and demolished the castle Enniskillen, and victoriously returned safe from that expedition.
Donal, the son Niall Garv, son Hugh
barons Enniskillen; the O'Hanlons, lords
and Royal Standard Bearers Ulster; the O'Kellys, princes and trim the O'Flynns, lords Hy Tuirtre, territory along Lough lords Hy Maine Galway and Roscommon; the O'Maddens, Neagh, the county Antrim; the Mac Rorys; Mac Dougalls, lords Siol Anmcha, Galway O'Naghtans, O'Nortons; and Mac Dowells; the Mac Allisters, some whom changed the the O'Mulallys, chiefs note, Galway; the Mac Evoys, name Saunderson; the Mac Cleans, all chiefs note chiefs the barony Moygoish Westmeath; the O'Flanagans, Down and Antrim, and likewise all the same clans the Hebrides lords Tura, Fermanagh the O'Muldoons, chiefs Lurg; Scotland the Mac Quillans, powerful chiefs Antrim, the O'Cassidy's, chiefs Coole; the Mac Gillfinnens, lords former times, are some considered have been the race Pettigoe the Mac Donnells, chiefs Clankelly; the Mac Man Clan Colla, and have come from Scotland; but, according uses, Magraths, and Mac Tullys, were all chiefs note Fer others, they came from Wales. Accounts the various chiefs managh. The Mac Kennas, chiefs Truagh, Monaghan; the
O'Neneys, Mac Neneys; the O'Hanratty's O'Connollys;
O'Neillans; O'Boylans; Mac Ardells; Mac Osgars; Mac Gil nagh, South Connaught, Brefney, and Meath.
Orior, Armagh,
the race Clan Colla, and the territories possessed each, have been given the notes Orgiall, Dalaradia, Dalriada, Ferma
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REIGN OF HENRY VIII. 419
put O'Boyle to flight, but O'Boyle having turned Oge, son Cormac Ballach, was slain Ballysgi on them, defeated them, and slew the son of Niall gin (Gigginstown, barony Delvin, Westmeath),
O’Donnell.
Con, the son of Bryan, son of Owen O’Rourke,
the night, by the sons and Cedach Roe, and was man duly entitled
Mac Geoghegan, Conla, Edmond Roe Dillon;
was slain by the Clan Manus of Tirtuathail.
Mac Ward, i. e. Conor Roe, the son of Fergal, his ancestors, and was record the death
chief professor in poetry to O’Donnell, a president of schools, and a man profoundly learned in
poetry and other arts; a man who founded and maintained an open house for general hospitality,
died, after extreme unction and repentance, on the 20th of December.
O’Melaghlin, the following was composed:
“One thousand and five hundred years, And forty-two without falsehood;
From the birth Christ, through the sin the Tree, To the death Felim O’Melaghlin. ”
The sons of O’Madden marched with their
forces attack the castle Fedan (in King's county); they plundered and burned the town, and slew Malachy O’Raighne that occasion; the people the country pursued them Tigh Sarain (Tessauran), but were, however, defeated, and Malachy, the son Edmond Mac Coghlan,
A. D.
1542.
The son of O’Neill, i. e. Felim Caoch, the son
of Con, son of Con, was slain by Mac Donnell of
the galloglasses, with one blow of a dart, and two other sons of O’Neill died.
Donogh, and Conor, with the Nones
the titles and lordship
David, the son Felim, son Bryan, the son of Niall Connallach, son of Art Torlogh, the son Fergal, son
Oge, son of Con O’Neill, heir apparent to the
lordship of Tyrone, the most distinguished man
that came of the race of Eogan, the son of Niall, for a long period, for nobility, hospitality, and feats of arms, died in the old castle.
man of his age, in his time, for manual action, fame, and excellence, died at Inchiquin.
The son of Con Mac Conmeadha, son of
many others, were slain the 4th of October.
O’Donnell, i. e. Manus, marched with force
into North Connaught, and was accompained by
his sons, Calvach and Hugh those sons and
O’Dogherty proceeded before the main body Murrogh, son of Torlogh, the most distinguished Ballymote, and having plundered Mac Donogh,
The son of O’Brien, i.