The story of an Irish sept : their character & struggle to maintain their lands in Clare

Each story keeps the passage it was read from. Open one to read the passage as the book has it, and, where the companion has written its own telling, that too.

1. Duke of Clarence's failed march on Thomond

   Thomond · street · Dublin · 1361

   Lionel, Duke of Clarence, marched on Thomond intending to break the power of the O'Briens, but his heavily armed men became bogged down and lost in forests for want of guides. O'Brien was able to cut them off in detail, forcing abandonment of the expedition and preserving Clare from English invasion.

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   the Duke of Clarence^ over to Ireland;* on arriving in the country one of the Duke's first acts was to ** publish an order to the effect that none of Irish birth should be allowed to approach him or his armyi nor be employed in service of the warres.'' f (a.d. 1361). Lionel, Duke of Clarence, then commenced his march on Thomond, intending to break the power of the O'Briens, but his heavily armed men soon got mixed up in the bogs, and lost their way in the forests for want of guides; O'Brien was thus able to cut them off in detail ; and the end of it was the expedition had to be abandoned, and so Clare was again preserved from an invasion by the English. The Duke of Clarence in the year 1367 met his Parliament in Kilkenny ; and they then passed thefiunous Act of that year. In the preamble of this Act it is affirmed that whereas at the conquest of Ireland, and for long after, the English had used the language, mode of riding, apparel, and had lived under English law, now many of them had forsaken these customs and laws and usages ; they live and govern themselves, according to the manners, fiishions, and language of the Irish enemies ; and also have made divers marriages and alliances between themselves and the Irish enemies aforesaid."

   The meaning of the expression *' Irish enemies'' is explained in a letter of Richard II. to the Duke of York, t He remarks : *' In Ireland there are three kinds of people, wild Irish, our enemies; Irish rebels, the English who had thrown off their allegance to the crown ; and obedient English."§ King Richard adds : '<To us and our Council it appears that the Irish rebels have rebelled in consequence of the injustice and grievances practised towards them, for which they have been offered no redress, and that if not wisely treated and given hopes of grace they will ally themselves with our enemies "zH language very similar to that which the Pope used to King Edward, and with as little result To return, however, to the Act passed by the Kilkenny Parliament in 1367 :

   Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 64

   As the companion tells it

   Along here in Thomond, in 1361, Lionel, Duke of Clarence, marched to break the power of the O'Briens. One of his first acts on arriving in Ireland was to publish an order that none of Irish birth should be allowed to approach him or his army, nor be employed in service of the wars. Then he commenced his march on Thomond. His heavily armed men soon got mixed up in the bogs, and lost their way in the forests for want of guides. O'Brien was thus able to cut them off in detail. The expedition had to be abandoned, and Clare was again preserved from an invasion by the English. In 1367 the Duke of Clarence met his Parliament in Kilkenny, and they passed the famous Act of that year. The preamble affirms that at the conquest of Ireland and for long after, the English had used the language, mode of riding, and apparel, and had lived under English law, but now many had forsaken these customs and laws and lived according to the manners, fashions, and language of the Irish enemies, and had made marriages and alliances with them. Richard the Second, in a letter to the Duke of York, explains that in Ireland there are three kinds of people: wild Irish, the enemies; Irish rebels, the English who had thrown off their allegiance to the crown; and obedient English. He adds that the Irish rebels have rebelled in consequence of the injustice and grievances practised towards them, for which they have been offered no redress, and that if not wisely treated and given hopes of grace they will ally themselves with the enemies.

2. Bodkin ear-cutting incident tried at Galway Assizes

   Galway · city · Galway · 1760–1800

   Mr. French of County Galway, married to a Clare O'Brien, was annoyed by one Mr. D. Bodkin. After Mrs. French wished aloud that Bodkin's ears were cut off, the butler and gamekeeper carried out the deed, presenting the ears in a snuff box. French and his wife were tried at the Galway Assizes but acquitted on the plea that it was all a mistake.

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   Sir J. Barrington relates another story regarding his grandfather, a Mr. French and his wife, of co. Galway, a family whose name appears in our pedigree. This Mr. French was married to one of the Clare O'Briens, and having been frequently annoyed by a certain Mr. D. Bodkin, Mrs. French remarked one night before a large company that *' she wished the fellow's ears were cut off ; that might quiet him. " At supper Mr. Regan, the old butler, with joy in his eyes presented his lady with a huge snuff box, and on opening it, out fell a pair of human ears. On the lady's exclamation of horror, he exclaimed, '' sure my lady, you wished that Dennis Bodkin's ears were cut off: so I told old Gahagan (the gamekeeper), and he took a few boys with him and here are his ears, my lady." Mr. French and his wife were tried at the Galway Assizes, but with his servants were acquitted on the pkA that it was all a mistake from beginning to end.f

   Barrington's description of an Irish party in his own younger days does one good to read, " a revel such as I never saw before, and shall never see again."^ It shows us at any rate that we are made of different stuff from our grandfathers.

   Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 120

   As the companion tells it

   As you pass through Galway, this is the city where the Assizes once tried one of the strangest cases on record. Sir J. Barrington tells of his grandfather, a Mr. French of County Galway, married to one of the Clare O'Briens. A certain Mr. D. Bodkin had been annoying French, and one night before a large company Mrs. French said she wished the fellow's ears were cut off, that might quiet him. At supper the old butler, Regan, presented her with a huge snuff box, and on opening it, out fell a pair of human ears. He told her he had passed the word to Gahagan the gamekeeper, who took a few boys with him, and here were Dennis Bodkin's ears. Mr. French and his wife were tried at the Galway Assizes along with the servants, but all were acquitted on the plea that it was all a mistake from beginning to end.

3. De Clare's march to Quin and the banshee at the Fergus

   Quin · town · Clare · 1318

   Sir Richard de Clare marched to Quin where he rested for a night before crossing the Fergus westward. A banshee called Bronach reportedly appeared to him while he crossed the river, washing blood-stained robes and inviting him to follow her, which he dismissed.

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   In the following year it was decided to hold a conference in limerick, to again endeavour to arrange terms of peace. De Clare and Mahon Brien attended this assembly, as well as the head of the Butlers and Bourkes ; Mortough O'Brien and Mac-con Macnamara also came to the council, and propounded terms and guarantees of peace to the barons ; but they were not acceptable. De Clare determined, therefore, to make a last efifort to overthrow the Celtic chiefs of Qare ; he had played one faction against another for years without success, and it seemed to him necessary now to rally all the Anglo-Normans he could collect, and, in conjunction with such of the Irish as chose to follow him, to do his best to crush the chiefs who had for so long stood between him and the possession of the territory now known as county Clare. De Clare was aided by Brian Bane, grandson of Brian Roet He marched to Quin, where he rested for a night, and then he passed over the Feigus westward. While crossing the river, a. strange female apparition is said to have appeared to De Clare. Magrath states that she spoke Gaelic; and so De Clare asked his Irish followers to teD him who she was and what she meant in washing a quantity of such blood-stained robes in the river. The banshee stated she was *'Bronach, and abode m the fairy hills of the land, but that her permanent residence was among the dwellers of hell, from which place she had come to invite De Clare to follow her." Sir Richard scoffed at the creature, and passed on ; his object being to attack the stronghold of the O'Deas. That chief was on the look out, and placed a number of his followers in some woods near a causeway and

   * ''Triumphs of Tnrioagh/' p. X2o.

   Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 61

4. Cromwell's slaughter at Drogheda

   Drogheda · town · Louth · 1649

   Cromwell's forces took Drogheda by storm and killed the garrison without quarter, including every friar found in the town. Survivors were transported to Barbados.

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   Wellington's authority for saying that a garrison or fortress which was taken by storm are not considered entitled to quarter.* Every friar found in Drogheda was knocked on the head and killed ; and numbers of the defenders of the town were subsequently slaughtered in cold blood. ''Not thirty of the whole number escaped with their lives," so Cromwell reported ; and these, he adds, « are safe, with many others, for Barbadoes."t And so with other places.

   All this slaughter in cold blood was done by Cromwell's orders, and under his own eyes ; he never denied his responsibility in these crimes, but was ready to justify the deeds he had committed, which in the seventeenth century, however, admitted of no possible excuse.^ . Ireland was speedily crushed ; she had never before been treated in this way. But unutterably horrible as was Cromwell's passage through that country, it was no worse for the people that were left than the lingering death so many of them suffered from famine and pestilence. Crorowdl at any rate had one good quality, he meant what he said, and he kept his word ; he has left behind him a name in Clare, upon which the bitterest curses are heaped whenever it is mentioned. But all this misery had been foretold by Adrian IV. in Henry III.'s reign, as what must necessarily sooner or later follow, the policy pursued by England in Ireland ; a policy which, terrible as were its results in Cromwell's time, was destined to cause yet more disastrous consequences in the latter half of the seventeenth, and in the first half of the eighteenth, centuries.

   Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 95

5. Two Macnamaras burnt at Bunratty for heresy, 1353

   near Bunratty · parish · Clare · 1353

   After the Macnamaras took possession of Bunratty Castle following the expulsion of the Anglo-Normans, two members of the sept were accused of denying the doctrine of the Holy Trinity and the authority of the Holy See. Rather than renounce their beliefs, they were burnt to death at Bunratty by order of the bishop in 1353.

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   The Macnamaras had taken possession of Bunratty after the departure or rather expulsion of &e Anglo-Normans from the castle, and in the year 1353 one of the few cases of *' ecclesiastical discipline " recorded in the history of Clare overtook two members of the Macnamara sept It seems these two men denied the doctrine of the Holy Trinity, and of the Incarnation, and rejected the authority of the Holy See. Rather than renounce dieir error they were burnt to death at Bunratty, by order of the bishop.ir

   The opinion of the best informed Irishmen as to the social and political position of their coui^trymen during the early part of the fourteenth century is to be found in a document which they drew up and forwarded to King Edward the Third of England. In this document the leading Celtic chiefs of Ireland urged the king to adopt one of two courses : either to govern Ireland by English law, which to them appeared what should be done ; or else to leave the country to govern itself according to her own laws and customs. King Edward referred thb petition to his advisers in Dublin, and they came to the conclusion that no action should be taken in the matter. Sir John Davies, Attorney-General for Ireland in the time of James the First, in his able work on the " True Cause why Ireland was never entirely subdued,'' refers to this appeal of the Irish chiefe. He observes : '* I note a great defect in the policy of England ; in that for the space of many years after the so-called conquest of Ireland, the English laws were not communicated to the Irish, nor the benefit and protection thereof allowed unto them, though they earnestly desired and sought the same." Sir

   Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 63

6. Brutal execution at Quin steeple under Perrott

   Quin · town · Clare · 1584

   Sir John Perrott passed through Clare and stayed a night at Quin, where the sheriff presented a prisoner named Donogh Bé, accused of plundering and rising in Connaught. The man was hanged from a car, his bones smashed with an axe, and his mangled body fastened to the top of the steeple of Quin as a warning to evildoers.

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   Sir H. Sidney, after having brought the landowners of Clare as a body to accept his views regarding a tax on the rents under the new sjrstem, left Galway and returned to Dublin. He resigned office in 1567, and for the time being his arrangement with the landlords of Clare was allowed to drop.t Although Sir Henry returned to Ireland in the following year, his hands were so fiill of other matters that he had no time to follow up his land scheme in Clare ; he ended his third deputyship in the year 1578. Passing over the important period of the Earl of Sussex's rule in Ireland, we find Sir John Perrott at the head of the government in the year 1584. After about a month's delay he visited Athlone, Galway, and then proceeded through Clare, remaining for one night at Quin, where he was met by the sheriff of the county with a prisoner, one Donogh B^, who had been concerned in some plundering and rising in Connaught. The " Four Masters " inform us that this prisoner ''was hanged from a car, and his bones were broken and smashed with the back of a heavy axe; and his body, thus mangled and half dead, was affixed, fiistened with hard and tough hempen ropes, to the top of the steeple of Quin, as a warning and example to cvid doers." Sir John Perrot, on his return to Dublin, then called a Parliament, at which, we are informed by the " Four Masters," that John Macnamara, the elected representative of county Clare, was present, as also was the Earl of Thomond and several other O'Briens, widi the Bishop of Killaloe | It b probable that the representations of the earl, regarding the affairs of Clare, led the Lord Deputy to take up the land question at the point at which it had been left by Sir Henry Sidney in the year 1567, however this may be, it is certain that Sir J. Perrott appointed a Commission to proceed to Clare and inquire into the nature of the titles by which the landowners held

   • Rev. P. White's " History of Clare," p. 194. t Jo3rce*8 " History of Ireland," p. 423. t " Annals of the Four Masters," a.d. 1585.

   Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 80

7. Lady De Clare abandons and burns Bunratty Castle

   near Bunratty · parish · Clare · 1318

   Upon hearing of the deaths of her husband and son, Lady de Clare placed her belongings in boats, crossed the Shannon, and ordered Bunratty to be set on fire before leaving. This marked the end of the Anglo-Norman presence in Clare.

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   Lady De Clare, directly she heard of the death of her husband and son, placed her belongings in boats, and passed over the Shannon ; before leaving Bunratty, she ordered the place to be set on fire. This was the last of the Anglo-NcMrmans in Clare ; they had absolutely failed, after fifty years' fighting, to obtain possession of a single acre in that part of Irdand. The O'Briens, and Macnamaras had resisted them manfully, and succeeded in preserving their lands firom the intrusion of strangers ; a condition of things they maintained until as late as the year 1654.

   It is true the English, after the battle of Dysert-O'Dea, assigned the castle and estate of Bunratty to Matelda, wife of Robert de Wells, and another sister of De Clare's, and appointed R. Sutton to hold the castle as a safeguard to the traders of Limerick, but in 1332, eleven years before Mortough O'Brien's death, the place was attacked and taken by Mac-con Macnamara, and so the king lived to see his power established firom Limerick to the cliffs of Moher.f

   Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 62

8. O'Brien defeats Kildare's army at the Shannon

   Shannon · town · Clare · 1504

   The Lord Justice Kildare marched to a wooden bridge O'Brien had built over the Shannon and broke it down, aiming to attack the O'Carrolls of Ely before they united with O'Brien. Torlogh O'Brien forded the Shannon, attacked the English army, slew Barons Kent and Barnewall, and returned home in triumph with great spoil.

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   that is, the Lord Justice — ^marched with his army until he arrived at the wooden bridge which O'Brien had constructed over the Shannon, and he broke down the bridge." Kildare's object was to attack the O'CarroUs of Ely and other clans of East Thomond before they could tinite their forces with those of O'Brien in Clare. Torlogh, however, with his followers forded the Shannon, and coming up to Elildare's army, encamped close to them, so that, as *'The Four Masters" state: ''the two forces could hear each other's voices and conversation during the night. On the morrow Kildare marshalled his army, placing the English and Irish of Munster in the van, and the English of Meath and Dublin in the rear. O'Brien's army attacked the English and slew the Barons Kent, and Bamewall, with many other men of distinction. The English only escaped by flight, and the army of O'Brien returned home in triimiph with great spoil"

   Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 70

9. O'Carroll killed near Rathfolan rescuing captives from Cromwell's soldiers

   Rathfolan · townland · Clare · 1655

   Captain O'Carroll, who had married a daughter of Daniel Macnamara of Rathfolan, was killed near Rathfolan after killing two English soldiers while attempting to rescue people seized by Cromwell's forces. His wife and young son were reportedly seized and exported to Jamaica.

   Read the passage

   It was in ccmnection with this proceeding that the rumours arose which are referred to by the Rev. P. White in his ** History of Clare" (p. 205). A daughter of Daniel Macnamara, of Rathfolan, had married a young Captain CCarroU, and it is reported that in an attempt to rescue some of the poor creatures who had been seized by Cromwell's soldiers, O'CarroU, having killed two of these Englishmen near Rathfolan, was himself shot dead. His young wife is said to have been seized, together with her little boy, and exported to Jamaica; the lad, in after-years, passed over to America, and subsequently became a person of note in Virginia.

   On the restoration of Charles II. the hopes of many an Irish &mily rose high, for most of them had lojrally supported his father; but they were doomed to disappointment, for the king could not be troubled with Irish grievances, but he appointed a commission to inquire into their claims. Mr. Frost has given us an abstract of most of the work done by this commission, so £bu: as their investigations in Clare extended.! The Qrown benefited largely by the confiscations ; thus Charles II. bestowed no less than one hundred and seventy thousand acres of these lands on his brother James.t About two-thirds of the best lands in Ireland in 1641, which had belonged to Roman Catholics^ in a.d. 165 i were made over to Protestants, most of them either Englishmen or Scotchmen. It seems that the commissioners appointed by Charles did their work in a very perfimctory manner, and three thousand cases were dismissed because Uiere was not sufficient time to inquire into their merits.^ But the slight amount of concessions made to the old landowners of the country produced intense excitement, and disaffection among the English and Scotch adventurers ; so much was this the case,, that Pepys, in his Diary, informs us that '' a plot was discovered in the north of Ireland among the Presbyters and others to sea;re Dublin

   Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 111

10. Anglo-Norman chiefs adopt Irish dress on the Shannon

    Athlone · town · Westmeath · 1316–1367

    Ulick de Burgho (Clanricarde) and Sir E. Bourke, ancestor of Viscount Mayo, declared themselves independent of England. On the banks of the Shannon within sight of the royal garrison at Athlone, they discarded their Norman dress and arms and assumed the saffron robe of Celtic chieftains.

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    It was to preserve then: tribe and people from the untold misery created by such a state of society as that described by so able a lawyer as Sir J. Davies, that the O'Briens and Macnamaras fought so obstinately and so effectively during the twelfth, thirteenth, and following centuries, their object being to maintain their lands and laws, and to this end prevent the English from gaining possession of Clare. The Anglo-Norman families in the West of Ireland had, together with the native Celts, become so convinced of the misery caused by the action of England in Ireland, that the former preferred to throw in their lot with those Irish chiefs into whose famUies they had married. Ulick de Burgho (Clanricarde) and Sir E. Bourke, ancestor of Viscount Mayo, declared themselves independent of England, and ^*on the banks of the Shannon, in sight of the royal garrison of Athlone, threw aside their Norman dress and arms and assumed the safifron robe of Celtic chieftains." * So completely did these and other Anglo-Norman chiefe Decome fused into Uie native population liiat they are described as having become more Irish than the Irish themselves. No doubt the proclivities of these noblemen were towards the freedom of action enjoyed by Irish chiefs, who exercised not only the power of life and death over their tribemen, but could also command their services to a man in any military undertaking which they and their clan approved.

    Edward III. has left us his views as to the condition of Ireland. He stated that his dominion in that country had ^ been reduced to such utter devastation, ruin, and misery, that they may be totally lost if our subjects there are not immediately succoured.'' **Our subjects" meant the English of the Pale ; and to succour these he sent his son,

    Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 64

    As the companion tells it

    Coming up through Athlone now. This town on the Shannon was the site of a royal garrison, and it was here, on the banks of the river, that two Anglo-Norman lords made a very public break with England. Ulick de Burgho, known as Clanricarde, and Sir E. Bourke, the ancestor of the Viscount Mayo, declared themselves independent of England. Then, on the banks of the Shannon, in sight of the royal garrison of Athlone, they threw aside their Norman dress and arms and, in the words of the source, "assumed the saffron robe of Celtic chieftains." This was not an isolated act. The Anglo-Norman families in the west of Ireland had become convinced of the misery caused by the action of England in Ireland, and many preferred to throw in their lot with the Irish chiefs into whose families they had married. These and other Anglo-Norman chiefs became so fused into the native population that they are described as having become more Irish than the Irish themselves. Their proclivities were towards the freedom of action enjoyed by Irish chiefs, who exercised power of life and death over their tribesmen and could command their services in any military undertaking the clan approved. Edward the Third left his own views on the condition of Ireland. He stated that his dominion there had been reduced to such utter devastation, ruin, and misery that they may be totally lost if his subjects were not immediately succoured. His subjects meant the English of the Pale, and to succour them he sent his son.

11. Brian Roe dragged to death at Bunratty castle

    near Bunratty · parish · Clare · 1277

    After the defeat at Mongressan, Brian Roe escaped to Bunratty where De Clare's wife accused him of treachery. De Clare seized Brian, bound him to a horse, and dragged him to death in the castle-yard, then suspended his body by its feet from the gallows, despite having sworn a sacred blood-brother alliance with him.

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    Turlough O'Brien passed from the MacMahon territory into Barren, and then northward into Galway ; and, having secured help from WiUiam de Burgho (Bourkes), he proceeded to join Clancoilein in the woods of Echty, and the combined force then conmienced offensive warfare against De Clare, and the other Anglo-Normans who had settled in the district of Tradree. So constant were these attacks that the foreigners constructed a wall and trench across the northern part of their lands, in hopes of preserving them from the Irish ; but defences of this kind were useless as means of protection against a race of active light-footed creatures like the men of Clancuilein. Turlough soon felt himself strong enough to attack De Clare, and, with Sioda Macnamaxa, passed first to the north-east and ravaged the O'Grad/s lands and other septs who had joined Brian Roe and De Clare; he then led his forces southward, and met his Anglo-Norman adversary in the open fields of Mongressan (a.d. 1277). De Clare was completely beaten, and his brother-in-law and other knights were slain* Brian Roe and De Clare escaped to Bunratty, where the earl's wife denounced Brian of treachery and as having been the cause of her brother's death. The unfortunate Irish chief was seized and brought into the castle-yard, where he was "bound to a stem steed " and dragged to death, and his body was then suspended by its feet fix>m the gallows. This murder was perpetrated by De Clare notwithstanding he had entered into a sacred alliance with Brian, upon which occasion they swore by the most solemn oaths to support one another, and mixed their blood in token of firiendship. The details of this crime are recorded by the ** Four Masters," and were also transmitted by certain Iri0h chiefr to Pope John XIL

    Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 49

12. Lord Grey destroys the bridge at Killaloe

    Killaloe · town · Clare · 1535

    Lord Grey, having arrived in Ireland with a considerable force, attacked the Irish of Thomond east of the Shannon and destroyed the bridge at Killaloe. This completely isolated Conor O'Brien and the Dalcasians of Clare from the rest of the country.

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    The Earl of Kildare was at the time Lord Deputy, and, having been summoned to England, he left his son, Thomas FitzGerald, at the head of affairs. Soon after the earl's departure, rumours reached Ireland that he had been seized and executed by command of the king. Fitz- Gerald, without waiting to ascertain the truth of this rumour, threw up his office and renounced his allegiance to the Crown. He took up his quarters with his relations, the O'Carrolls of Ely, and was soon joined by other Irish chiefs; but Lord Grey, having arrived in Ireland with a considerable force, FitzGerald had to cross the Shannon and take refuge with the O'Briens at Clonroad. Lord Grey, however, attacked the Irish of Thomond east of the Shannon, and, having again destroyed the bridge at Killaloe, he completely isolated Conor O'Brien and the Dalcasians of Clare from the rest of the country. A still more severe blow was to fidl on this tribe, for Conor's eldest son turned traitor, and entered into an alliance with the Earl of Desmond, whose daughter he had married. Donogh O'Brien's conduct may best be given in his own words, as they were reported at the time (6th of October 1535) by Lord Butler to Henry VIIL* Donogh is stated to have observed to Lord BuUerthat:

    Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 71

13. Battle of Sulcoit and capture of Limerick by Brian Boru

    Limerick · city · Limerick · 968

    The Dalcasians met the Norsemen at Sulcoit in Tipperary and defeated them. The Norsemen fled to Limerick, which Brian Boru took, destroying its fortifications and inflicting great loss on the enemy in 968.

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    Mahon, hearing of his brother's desperate condition sent for him, and at a meeting which took place between them Mahon argued in favour of submission to the Norsemen, for he had given up all hope of returning to govern in Cashd. From the old Celtic records we learn that Brian expressed great indignation at sentiments of this kind and even accused his brother of cowardice; he taunted Mahon by asking him if he thought their father or grandfather would have made peace while an enemy occupied Ireland. Mahon admitted all this, but argued that if they had not the power to resist the invader it was useless holding out against the foe ; he asked Brian if he wished to see the whole of his tribe in the same state as his own followers. To this Brian replied ^that such an argument was bad, because it was hereditary for him to die, and for the whole of the Dalcais likewise ; as their fathers had passed away so must they ; but it was not natural or hereditary for the Dalcais to submit to insult or contempt ; their forefiathers had never submitted to this, and no power on earth would make him do so." * The tribe on hearing this assembled to resist the invaders, and met them at Sulcoit in Tipperary. In this battle the Norsemen were defeated and fled to Limerick, which town Brian took, and destroyed its fortifications, inflicting great loss and injury on the enemy, a.d. 968.! This victory added so much to the prestige of the Dalcasians, that their rivals the Eoghanites grew jealous of them, and at the instigation of Malloy, chief of Desmond, they treacherously murdered Mahon, a.d. 976. Brian Boru was not slow to avenge his brother's death ; he first sent a challenge to Malloy to meet him in single combat, and directed his messenger to add, diat nothing short of the death of one of them would suffice. Receiving no satisfactory answer, Brian marched his forces into South Munster, and met Malloy^ a battle ensued, in which the latter chief was killed by one of Brian's sons.

    Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 41

    As the companion tells it

    As you pass through Limerick, you are in a city Brian Boru took by force in 968. The story begins with a quarrel between Brian and his brother Mahon. Mahon argued for submission to the Norsemen, saying resistance was hopeless. Brian would have none of it. He accused Mahon of cowardice and asked if he thought their father or grandfather would have made peace while an enemy occupied Ireland. Mahon said if they lacked the power to resist, holding out was useless. Brian answered that it was hereditary for the Dalcais to die, as their fathers had, but it was not natural for them to submit to insult or contempt. No power on earth would make him do so. The tribe assembled and met the Norsemen at Sulcoit in Tipperary. The Norsemen were defeated and fled to Limerick. Brian took the town, destroyed its fortifications, and inflicted great loss on the enemy. The victory added greatly to the prestige of the Dalcassians, but it also bred jealousy. Their rivals, the Eoghanites, grew envious, and at the instigation of Malloy, chief of Desmond, they treacherously murdered Mahon in 976. Brian was not slow to avenge his brother. He sent a challenge to Malloy for single combat, and told his messenger that nothing short of the death of one of them would suffice. Receiving no satisfactory answer, Brian marched into South Munster. In the battle that followed, Malloy was killed by one of Brian's sons.

14. Cromwell's capture of Irish girls and boys for Jamaica, 1655

    near Clare · population centre · Clare · 1655

    Cromwell ordered Irish boys and girls to be captured and exported to Jamaica. Thousands were seized in Clare and Galway and shipped to the West Indies in October 1655.

    Read the passage

    H. Cromwell, in rq>lj» stated that there was no difficulty in executing this order, only ''force would be required to take them/' and Cromwdl adds "that in addition to the looo young women^ 1500 bojrs of from twelve to fifteen years of age should be included, for,'' he observes, "they can be well spared, and might be made Christians." This number of girte and boys were captured in ClBie and Galway, and exported to the West Indies in October 1655.*

    It was in ccmnection with this proceeding that the rumours arose which are referred to by the Rev. P. White in his ** History of Clare" (p. 205). A daughter of Daniel Macnamara, of Rathfolan, had married a young Captain CCarroU, and it is reported that in an attempt to rescue some of the poor creatures who had been seized by Cromwell's soldiers, O'CarroU, having killed two of these Englishmen near Rathfolan, was himself shot dead. His young wife is said to have been seized, together with her little boy, and exported to Jamaica; the lad, in after-years, passed over to America, and subsequently became a person of note in Virginia.

    Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 111

15. Donogh O'Brien's wounded Dalcasians defy the King of Ossory

    Thomond · street · Dublin · 1014

    After Clontarf, Donogh O'Brien led the surviving Dalcasians homeward into Thomond, but the King of Ossory refused them passage. Donogh had stakes driven into the ground so his wounded warriors could stand and fight; awed by their resolve, the King of Ossory let them pass. Menma Macnamara, a Clontarf survivor, was believed to be among them.

    Read the passage

    Donogh O'Brien, another son of Brian Boru, who previous to the battle of Clontarf had been directed by his father to proceed with a body of troops bto Leinster, returned after the battle and took command of the remnant of the Dalcasians. Wounded and worn, these men were not to be allowed to return home in peace, for the King of Ossory, having a grudge against the Dalcais, refused to permit them to cross his territory. Donogh determined, nevertheless, to march on into Thomond, and drew up his men to resist those of Ossory. He directed the wounded to be sent to the rear, but they b^;ged to be allowed to die fighting with their comrades. So weak were many of these Dalcasians that they were unable to stand without support ; Donogh, therefore, bad stakes driven into the ground, against which his wounded warriors might lean for support, and, with a sound man on each side of a wounded one, they stood prepared to receive their enemies. We are told that the King of Ossory when he learnt what was taking place in the Dalcasian camp, thought it imprudent to fiurther resist men of this stamp, and so the Dalcasians were allowed to pass on into their own territory. As already stated, there is every reason to believe that Menma (Macnamara), who had survived the battle of Clontarf, was one of the chiefs with Donogh O'Brien on this memorable occasion.^

    PROSE VERSION OF MAC LONAIN'S POEM (a.d. 877).t Lorcain of Loch Derg. in whom there is no shadow of deceit, generous and hospitable to all.

    Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 42

    As the companion tells it

    Along here is Thomond, where Donogh O'Brien led the surviving Dalcasians homeward after the Battle of Clontarf in 1014. Donogh, a son of Brian Boru, took command of what remained of the Dalcasians, but the King of Ossory, bearing a grudge against the Dalcais, refused to let them cross his territory. Donogh determined to march on regardless and drew up his men to resist those of Ossory. He directed the wounded to be sent to the rear, but they begged to be allowed to die fighting with their comrades. Many were so weak they could not stand without support, so Donogh had stakes driven into the ground for them to lean against, with a sound man on each side of a wounded one. When the King of Ossory learned what was taking place in the Dalcasian camp, he thought it imprudent to further resist men of this stamp, and the Dalcasians were allowed to pass on into their own territory. Menma Macnamara, who had survived Clontarf, is believed to have been among the chiefs with Donogh on this occasion.

16. Mac-con Macnamara captures Bunratty Castle

    near Bunratty · parish · Clare · 1332

    After the battle of Dysert O'Dea, the English assigned Bunratty castle to De Clare's sister, but in 1332 Mac-con Macnamara attacked and took the place, securing the king's power from Limerick to the cliffs of Moher.

    Read the passage

    It is true the English, after the battle of Dysert-O'Dea, assigned the castle and estate of Bunratty to Matelda, wife of Robert de Wells, and another sister of De Clare's, and appointed R. Sutton to hold the castle as a safeguard to the traders of Limerick, but in 1332, eleven years before Mortough O'Brien's death, the place was attacked and taken by Mac-con Macnamara, and so the king lived to see his power established firom Limerick to the cliffs of Moher.f

    Our sept had taken a leadmg part throughout the long years of warfare in Clare, so that we are not surprised to hear at the termination of the struggle they annexed the territory of the Hybloids and other septs who

    Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 62

17. Richard II lands at Waterford with 34,000 men

    Waterford · city · Waterford · 1394

    In October 1394, Richard II landed at Waterford with a massive army of 34,000 men to subdue Ireland. The O'Brien and other chiefs recognised the hopelessness of resistance and met the king to promise obedience.

    Read the passage

    Richard the Second having determined to cross over to Ireland with the object of subduing that country, landed at Waterford, in October 1394 with an army of 34,000 men ; the O'Brien and the other chiefs recognised the hopelessness of resisting a force of this kind, and they met King Richard at Drogheda and promised obedience to his rule ; this was all that was demanded from them by the English king, with the exception of the King of Leinster, who, together with the entire native population of the province were ordered to leave their homes and lands by a certain date so as to make way for English settlers. Richard soon afterwards left the country and returned home, as Sir J. Davies observes, " having spent huge masses of treasure, yet did he not increase his revenue thereby one sterling pound, nor enlarge the English border the breadth of one acre of land ; neither did he extend the jurisdiction of his courts of justice by one foot further than the English colonies wherein it was used and exercised before." *

    Brian O'Brien after visiting King Richard at Drogheda, and subsequently in Dublin, returned to Clonroad; he died in the year 1399. ** Brian had by Slaine, daughter of Lochlain Macnamara, three sons. ♦ Sir J. Davies* " Historical Tracts," p. 51.

    Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 67

18. Rinuccini locks Kilkenny Council in castle

    Kilkenny · city · Kilkenny · 1646–1647

    Nuncio Rinuccini, unable to persuade the Kilkenny Council to reject the treaty with Charles I, ordered the council members locked up in Kilkenny Castle and put on low diet. They treated the punishment as a joke and it had no effect on their conduct.

    Read the passage

    The a£fairs of Charles I. and of the Irish Confederation were now reaching a climax ; the Kilkenny Council, in spite of the iMX)tests of Rinuccini, concluded a treaty with the King of England, by which it was agreed that the Irish Roman Catholics were to have freedom of religion so long as they remained faithful to the Crown ; but they were not to be compelled to take the oath of supremacy to the king as head of die Church. The Nuncio at this time was President of the Council of Kilkenny, and he gives an amusing account of a meeting of that assembly. It seems that as usual there was considerable difference of opmion on a certain subject under discussion, and after debating the question at issue with great animation, the parties concerned became much excited, so much so, that one-half of the assembly jumped up from their seats and rushed out of the council chamber, t The Nuncio discovered that he could neither manage his Council, nor persuade them to adopt his views regardmg the treaty with Charles. He determined therefore to try what mild restraint would effect, and so he ordered the members of the Council to be shut up in Kilkenny Castle, and to be put on low diet for a time ; but they took their punishment rather as a joke ; and it had no effect whatever on their conduct.§

    There was, however, one other measure left in the hands of the Nuncio, and that was to excommunicate those who refused to follow his advice regarding the government of Ireland. That this act might have full ecclesiastical authority, Rinuccini summoned a synod of the Irish bishops

    Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 93

19. Siege and capitulation of Limerick, 1651

    Limerick · city · Limerick · 1651

    Limerick was surrounded by Ireton's troops, cut off from supplies, and ravaged by plague. Captain Teigie Macnamara, Colonel Fennell, and one of the Burkes seized a city gate and opened negotiations for capitulation against the wishes of Bishop O'Brien, who along with eleven other citizens was subsequently hanged by order of the English general.

    Read the passage

    Limerick was now completely surrounded by Ireton's troops, and so cut off from all supplies of food, and the plague which had broken out in the town some time previously to the commencement of the seige, began to commit terrible ravages among its half-starving population ; nevertheless, under the energetic leadership of Bishop O'Brien, the in* habitants of the city for several months refused to surrender. A party within the walls of Limerick, had from an early stage of the siege, considered that further opposition to the Parliamentary forces was hopeless ; and as time went on and the distress of the people became aggravated, this party led by one of the Burkes, Captain Teigie Macnamara, and Colonel Fennell, determined to open negotiations with Ireton. There was no hope of relief coming to the aid of the garrison, and their suflferings augmented day by day. In these circumstances the officers above named seized one of the gates of the city and proceeded to enter upon terms of capitulation with the beseigers ; although Bishop O'Brien and some of the principal citizens strongly opposed these proceedings, and endeavoured to drive Teigie Macnamara and his party fh)m the post they had occupied ; the gates of the city were opened to the leader of the Parliamentary forces, and Limerick fell into their hands. The whole of the garrison were allowed to march out of the town, and its inhabitants, as had been agreed to by the beseigers before the capitulation, obtained permission to retain possession of their houses and property ; an exception, however, was made in the case of Bishop O'Brien and eleven other citizens, who were hung by order of the English general.t

    Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 96

    As the companion tells it

    Coming up now is Limerick, the city the road is passing through. In 1651 this place was completely surrounded by Ireton's troops, cut off from every supply of food. A plague had broken out in the town before the siege even began, and it now committed terrible ravages among the half-starving population. Still, under the energetic leadership of Bishop O'Brien, the inhabitants refused for several months to surrender. But a party within the walls had considered from an early stage that further opposition to the Parliamentary forces was hopeless. As time went on and the distress of the people grew worse, this party, led by one of the Burkes, Captain Teigie Macnamara, and Colonel Fennell, determined to open negotiations with Ireton. There was no hope of relief coming to the aid of the garrison, and their sufferings augmented day by day. These officers seized one of the gates of the city and proceeded to enter upon terms of capitulation with the besiegers. Bishop O'Brien and some of the principal citizens strongly opposed these proceedings and endeavoured to drive Teigie Macnamara and his party from the post they had occupied. But the gates of the city were opened to the leader of the Parliamentary forces, and Limerick fell into their hands. The whole of the garrison were allowed to march out of the town. Its inhabitants, as had been agreed by the besiegers before the capitulation, obtained permission to retain possession of their houses and property. An exception, however, was made in the case of Bishop O'Brien and eleven other citizens, who were hanged by order of the English general.

20. Teige O'Brien dies at Inchiquin

    Inchiquin · townland · Clare · 1466

    Teige O'Brien, ruler of Thomond, who had marched through Munster compelling tribute from Irish and English alike, fell ill and died at Inchiquin after a few days' illness, cutting short his ambitions to emulate Brian Boru.

    Read the passage

    The War of the Roses was at its height when Teigie O'Brien became the ruler of Thomond ; and the attention of England was so completely absorbed in her own affairs that Ireland was entirely abandoned by her, unless in a smaU area of the country surrounding Dublin. In these circumstances the Macnamaras, under the orders of Teigie O'Brien, collected, as MacFirbis informs us, a host ^ such as we have not heard of with any of their name or ancestry since the days of Brian Boru." It would seem as if the intention of Teigie had been to emulate the deeds of his ancestor and to drive all foreigners out of Ireland ; he marched with his forces through Munster, compelling both Irish and EngUsh to pay him tribute. He then returned to Clanroad. Whatever Teigie O'Brien's intentions may have been, his career was cut short by death ; he exjnred at Inchiquin after a few days' illness. The inhabitants of Clare continued to flourish after the death of Teigie O'Brien, for we learn from *' The Four Masters " that a certain MacGorman was at this period ** the richest man in Ireland in live stock." This individual lived in the Baronie of Ibrickan in county Clare.

    In connection with the history of the Macnamaras during the first half of the fifteenth century we must not overlook the work they did in founding and endowing the Abbey of Quin (about the year a.d. 1402) as a Frandscan monastery. The remains of this fine building are still in an admirable state of preservation, and are likely to remain so, having been included among the historical buildings to be kept in repair by the Board of Works under Sir John Lubbock's Act. The tomb of the founder of the abbey still remains, and the cloisters and walls endosmg

    Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 68

21. Vision at Loch Rask before battle

    Loughrask · townland · Clare

    As Donough Brian Roe and his force advanced to the shore of Loch Rask, they saw a monstrous and hideous hag washing heads and limbs in the bright lake. This eerie apparition preceded their fatal battle with the forces of Thomond.

    Read the passage

    Donough Brian Roe and his force in the meantime had assembled on the hills to the west of Corcomroe ; he told his men to remember that the purpose with which they had come on this perilous expedition was to gain the battle, and so make an end once and for all of the long discussions (of our tribe), either by your antagonists' destruction or your own death one and all. Magrath repeats that Donough explained to his men that their opponents were children of Cas as they were, of the same blood, '' with whom your close embrace of kinship will be that of steel to steeL" Then he ordered the advance stead&stly therefore : " children of Cas, now steady be " — and so they came to the shore of Loch Rask, and while all were looking at the shining mere ** they saw the monstrous and distorted form of a lone, ancient, hideous hag, that stooped over the bright loch's shore. The loathly creature's semblance was this : she was thatched with elf locks, foxy-grey and rough as heather, long as sea- wrack, inextricably tangled ; that had a bossy, wrinkled, foully ulcerated forehead, every hair of her eyebrows was like a strong fishhook, and from under them, bleary dripping eyes peered with malignant fire between lids all rawly crimson-edged. .... Thecronehadacaimof heads, a pile of arms and legs, a load of spoil, all of which she rinsed and diligently washed, so that by her labour the water of the lake was covered with hair and

    * S. H. O'Grady's translation of *• Triumphs of Turlough," p, 89. t /W<^t p. 89.

    Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 57

22. Donough Brian Roe drowns in the river Fergus

    near River Fergus · river · Clare · 1284

    After a drunken verbal assault on Turlough O'Brien at a peace meeting, Donough Brian Roe was pursued by enemies, and wounded, reached the river Fergus. He plunged into it and sank beneath the surface in an act of penance, dying there.

    Read the passage

    In 1284 it was agreed that the contending chieb should meet and try and settle their quarrels. Donough Brian's coming was after this fiftshion : *' He was sufficiently well drunken with mead to make him noisy, and when he came to Uie river's opposite bank, he thence gave Turlough O'Brien to feel the rough side of his tongue." t At his violent and bitter words Turlough's face grew red, and the chiefe who had been Donough's fiiends were so outraged that they passed over to Turlough, and they determined to attack Donough in one or other of the places in which he was sure to sleep that night Donough hearing of this, mounted his beautiful horse and, followed by a few retainers, attempted to escape from his enemies, but they were too numerous for him. Wounded, he reached the river Fergus and plunged into it, ^ then it was that Donough, fervently adoring the true God, in hurried act of penance lifted up his hands, and so, widi good courage, sank under the river's surface ai^y from his enemies."!

    Turlough O'Brien was left the undisputed King of Thomond, or rather of Clare, with the exceptbn of that part of it known as Tradree.

    Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 50

23. Ennis jail empty amid agrarian unrest

    Ennis · town · Clare · 1895

    In 1895, the county jail at Ennis stood empty despite ongoing agrarian crime in County Clare. It was considered nearly impossible to prosecute agrarian offenders, prompting English soldiers to guard landed proprietors in their homes.

    Read the passage

    The Solicitor-General of Ireland could hardly write in these terms of the Celtic Irish at the present day.^ The county jail at Ennis is empty, not because there is no crime in co. Clare, but because it is well-nigh impracticable in the year 1895, to bring a certain class of agrarian offenders to justice in that country; and only a short time since many of the landed proprietors had to be guarded night and day m their houses by EngUsh soldiers. The reason icn: this is, that the character of the Irish in the nineteenth is precisely what it had been in the sixth century ; the people have not altered, but the laws which govern them have changed, and some of their provisions relating especially to that subject of paramount imp<»tance to an Irishman — the land — ^are foreign to the nature of the Celt No one saw this with greater clearness than Edmund Spenser, who, as secretary to the Lord Deputy of Ireland, and residing as such afterwards among the people, knew them well ; in 1596 he wrote of the wrong England was doing to Ireland in forcing her laws on a people, whose nature and customs were so different from that of Englishmen.* Thb twct has been ignored by England with reference to the people of Ireland, but in India a different system was fortunately adopted, otherwise our hold on that country would have been an impossibility.

    The Irish Celt held their women in tender regard, and so females were treated by them with consideration such as they then received among few other nations. Especially in the case of the lower classes. Irishwomen were never held to be the slaves of men; they were employed in attending to their children, in weaving, looking after the domestic creatures belonging to the family, and such like occupations. These women were chaste as girls and as wives, and when young,

    Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 108

24. Henry II at Cashel receives submissions of Irish chiefs

    Cashel · town · Tipperary · 1172–1173

    Henry II proceeded to Cashel where most of the Irish chiefs visited him, including Donald O'Brien, King of Thomond, who made submission and engaged to hand Limerick over to him. Before leaving Ireland, Henry also convened a synod at Cashel in 1173 decreeing the Church of Ireland be reduced to the order of the Church of England.

    Read the passage

    Henry axjrived in Waterford (in November 11 72) accompanied by Strongbowy De Bui^ho, and other barons ; he was met by MacCarthy^ King of Desmond, who was the first Irish prince to swear fealty and subjection to the Kling of England. Henry proceeded to Cashel ; he was visited by most of the Irish chie£s, including Donald O'Brien, King of Thomond, who made submission to the king and engaged to hand Limerick over to him. Donald, however, returned to Kincora, and seems not only to have overlooked the matter of tribute, but he carried on the government of Thomond exacdy on the old lines, the King of Engluid having no power whatever over the country.

    Molyneux states that the princes, both temporal and ecclesiastical, of Ireland not only did homage to Henry, and swore fealty to him and his heirs, but he also received letters from them with their seals pendant in manner of charters, testifying they had ordained him and his heirs their king, after which he returned to England, in April 11 73. This author also states that Henry II. introduced the laws of England into Ireland in a public assembly of the Irish at Lismore, and allowed them the freedom of Parliaments to be held in Ireland as they were held in England.* Without questioning the validity of these documents, the fact remains that, before leaving the country, Henry II. gave away the whole of Ireland to some ten of his Anglo-Norman barons, who were to take possession of their lands, if necessary, by conquestf

    Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 49

    As the companion tells it

    Somewhere close to Cashel, Henry the Second held court in the autumn of 1172. He had landed at Waterford in November of that year, with Strongbow, De Burgho, and other barons at his side. MacCarthy, King of Desmond, was the first Irish prince to swear fealty and subjection to the King of England. Henry then came here, to Cashel. Most of the Irish chiefs came to visit him. Among them was Donald O'Brien, King of Thomond, who made his submission and promised to hand Limerick over to the king. But Donald went back to Kincora and seems to have overlooked the matter of tribute entirely. He carried on the government of Thomond exactly on the old lines. The King of England had no power whatever over the country. Molyneux states that the princes of Ireland, both temporal and ecclesiastical, did not only do homage to Henry and swear fealty to him and his heirs. They sent him letters with their seals pendant in the manner of charters, testifying they had ordained him and his heirs their king. After this, Henry returned to England in April 1173. Molyneux also says Henry introduced the laws of England into Ireland at a public assembly of the Irish at Lismore, and granted them the freedom of Parliaments to be held in Ireland as they were held in England. But before leaving the country, Henry gave away the whole of Ireland to some ten of his Anglo-Norman barons, who were to take possession of their lands, if necessary, by conquest.

25. John Macnamara of West Clancuilein refuses the composition

    near Clare · population centre · Clare · 1585

    A Commission appointed by Sir John Perrott held proceedings in Clare, proposing a fixed land tax in lieu of uncertain cesses. An indenture dated 17 August 1585 was signed by every chief and lord throughout the country, except John Macnamara, lord of West Clancuilein, who refused to put his hand to the composition, distrusting the authorities' intentions regarding land titles.

    Read the passage

    The representatives of the leading fiunilies of Clare were called on to appear before the Commission, and among them John Maciuunara of West Clancuilein, and Donald Macnamara of East Clancuilein. An indenture was drawn up dated August 17, 1585, upon the above understanding, which the '' Four Masters " state was agreed to and signed by ** every head and chief of a sept, and every other lord of a barony throughout the whole country, except by John Macnamara, lord of West Clancuilein, who did not put his hand to the composition they made."t

    John Macnamara's father was the son of the individual who had so shortly before come to an agreement with Henry VIII., and there was every reason why this compact should not be disturbed, so far as his sept was concerned. They declined therefore to fall in with the views put forward by Sir Henry Sidney in this matter; and they >had cogent reasons for distrusting the purpose of the authorities in Clare with regard to^this land question, a fact clearly elucidated on reference to various official documents of this period. In a letter written by Lord Deputy Fytzwylliam to Lord Burghley, dated Dublin, July 26, 1588, it is stated that ^' by the fault of some of the Commissioners the composition book of Connaught with a yearly quit rent to the Earl of Thomond, wherewithal Macnamara findeth himself greatly greeved, he and his ancestors having always held the lands and owing no duty to the said Earl— by this rent charge laid on Macnamara the Earl of Thomond will ease himself in the composition money he ought to pay for Thomond. Macnamara to be

    Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 81

26. Kilkenny Parliament passes the Statute of Kilkenny, 1367

    Kilkenny · city · Kilkenny · 1367

    The Duke of Clarence met his Parliament in Kilkenny in 1367 and passed the famous Act of that year, which proscribed marriage, fostering, and other alliances between English and Irish, and condemned those English who had adopted Irish language, customs, and laws.

    Read the passage

    the Duke of Clarence^ over to Ireland;* on arriving in the country one of the Duke's first acts was to ** publish an order to the effect that none of Irish birth should be allowed to approach him or his armyi nor be employed in service of the warres.'' f (a.d. 1361). Lionel, Duke of Clarence, then commenced his march on Thomond, intending to break the power of the O'Briens, but his heavily armed men soon got mixed up in the bogs, and lost their way in the forests for want of guides; O'Brien was thus able to cut them off in detail ; and the end of it was the expedition had to be abandoned, and so Clare was again preserved from an invasion by the English. The Duke of Clarence in the year 1367 met his Parliament in Kilkenny ; and they then passed thefiunous Act of that year. In the preamble of this Act it is affirmed that whereas at the conquest of Ireland, and for long after, the English had used the language, mode of riding, apparel, and had lived under English law, now many of them had forsaken these customs and laws and usages ; they live and govern themselves, according to the manners, fiishions, and language of the Irish enemies ; and also have made divers marriages and alliances between themselves and the Irish enemies aforesaid."

    The meaning of the expression *' Irish enemies'' is explained in a letter of Richard II. to the Duke of York, t He remarks : *' In Ireland there are three kinds of people, wild Irish, our enemies; Irish rebels, the English who had thrown off their allegance to the crown ; and obedient English."§ King Richard adds : '<To us and our Council it appears that the Irish rebels have rebelled in consequence of the injustice and grievances practised towards them, for which they have been offered no redress, and that if not wisely treated and given hopes of grace they will ally themselves with our enemies "zH language very similar to that which the Pope used to King Edward, and with as little result To return, however, to the Act passed by the Kilkenny Parliament in 1367 :

    Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 64

27. Siege of Ballyallia Castle

    Ballyallia · townland · Clare · 1641–1642

    English residents in Clare assembled and fortified Ballyallia Castle, belonging to Mr. Maurice Cuffe, refusing to surrender their arms. The Irish invested the castle, constructing a covered wooden shed to undermine its walls and a leather cannon that burst on first discharge; the garrison eventually capitulated after provisions ran short.

    Read the passage

    The English formed a very small proportion of the population of Clare, and were for the most part engaged as farmers on the estates of the Earl of Thomond. Hearing of the cruelties perpetrated by the Irish on their countrymen in the north, they naturally began to take measures for their own safety, and many of them assembled in a castle (Ballyallia) belonging to an Englishman, Mr. Maurice Cufife. The Earl of Thomond was not trusted by the English ; they accused him of favouring the Irish, and some time previously Wentworth had objected to the Earl being appointed Governor of Munster, because the Lord Deputy believed that he " merited nothing, as bis brother, the late Earl, did." Lord Thomond issued an order to the effect that the English in Clare were to give up their arms for the use of the militia ; but when men were sent to enforce this order, the English assembled at Ballyallia refused to obey it Cuffe fortified and provisioned his castle, and the Irish then invested it, hoping to starve out the garrison rather than storm the castle, which, without artillery, would have been a risky proceeding, defended as it was by a body of well armed Englishmen.

    Early in January, Donogh Macnamara, with a company of horsemen, was despatched by the Irish in Clare to confer with Phelim CVNeil as to the state of affiurs in the West of Ireland; and further, if war was to be carried on, to procure the means for arming the people. Of cannon O'Neil had none to spare, and so Donogh Macnamara returned to Clare. He had an interview with Mr. Cuffe, offering to conduct him and the garrison of his castle to limerick if they would give up the place. This they declined to do, and so Ballyallia remained closely

    Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 91

28. Macnamara appeals to Burghley against Earl of Thomond

    Thomond · street · Dublin · 1588

    A Macnamara wrote to Lord Burghley on March 3, 1588, complaining of the Earl of Thomond's encroachments on his living through lawsuits by Dame Ellen Butler and other means. He noted that the most famous lawyers in Ireland were allied to the Earl through marriages with the houses of Kildare and Ormond, forcing him to seek refuge in the conscience of the Queen's ministers.

    Read the passage

    I thought it necessary to acquaint you with the unkind dealing of the Earl of Thomond my cousin sheweth towards me. He tries to encroach upon my living as weU by procuring his grandmother, Dame EUen Butler, to sue me, as in demand of her third, as in divers other sorts. I will not mention the sundry orders passed for mollifying the dissentions between his lordship's father and my Iftther, as also between his Lordship and me. If the said Earl, either now at Court (London) or in this land, after coming here, will begin any suit against me for land, or otherwise prejudice me, persuade him to be contented with the observation of such orders as formerly hath past as well between our fathers as ourselves, or else that the vdiole matter or controversy between him and me, and between the said lady and me, be referred to the Lord Deputy, the Lord Chancellor, and the Chief Justice, whereby the said Earl and Lady may leave their continued vexing of me. For if it please your Lordship, the most and " famoustest " member of lawyers of this land are allied to the Earl of Thomond through marriage with the house of Kildare, and his kindred with the house of Ormond, whereby I am forced to take refuge in the conscience of her Majesty's ministers of the Council of Ireland.*

    Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 83

    As the companion tells it

    Along here in 1588, on March 3, a Macnamara wrote to Lord Burghley complaining of the unkind dealing of the Earl of Thomond, his cousin. The Earl was trying to encroach upon his living, both by procuring his grandmother, Dame Ellen Butler, to sue him, and in demand of her third, and in divers other sorts. Macnamara wrote that he would not mention the sundry orders passed for mollifying the dissentions between the Earl's father and his own father, as also between the Earl and himself. He asked Burghley that if the Earl, either at Court in London or in Ireland, should begin any suit against him for land or otherwise prejudice him, to persuade him to observe such orders as had formerly passed between their fathers and themselves. Or else, he asked, let the whole controversy between him and the Earl, and between him and the said lady, be referred to the Lord Deputy, the Lord Chancellor, and the Chief Justice, so that the Earl and Lady might leave off their continued vexing of him. He wrote that the most and, in his words, famoustest members of lawyers in this land were allied to the Earl of Thomond through marriage with the house of Kildare, and his kindred with the house of Ormond, whereby he was forced to take refuge in the conscience of her Majesty's ministers of the Council of Ireland.

29. Abduction of Margaret Macnamara at Cratloe, 1707

    Cratloe · town · Clare · 1707

    On 21 July 1707, Dame Margaret Macnamara, widow of John Macnamara of Cratloe, petitioned the Parliament in Dublin, stating that John O'Brien with six followers had violently attacked her house and carried off her daughter Margaret. A parliamentary committee reported within three days that O'Brien had barbarously treated the girl and forced a friar to marry them against her consent.

    Read the passage

    of six followen» had attacked her house '* in a most violent and notorious manner, and had forced away Margaret her daughter out of her custody." Dame Margaret had iailed to regain her child, and petitioned the House to help her. Parliament ordered a Committee of the House to report on the matter, and with praiseworthy celerity they reported after three days' mquiry, that the facts mentioned in Dame Margaret's petition were true, and ftuther that, '' John O'Brien had forcibly gotten into his power Margaret Macnamara, and had barbarously treated her and threatened to ravish her if she would not consent to marry him : whereupon he procured John Machlin, a fryer, to marry him to the said Margaret against her consent" *

    Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 120

30. Aftermath of the Battle of Corcomroe Abbey

    near Corcomroe Abbey · monument · Clare · 1317

    After the battle at Corcomroe Abbey, the Dalcasians carried their wounded and dead back into the monastery. The wounded were in extremity, soldiers mutilated, and leaders in dead faint, with young men making lamentation. The battle was reckoned the third summit of honour achieved by the far-western clans.

    Read the passage

    ''Their heavy burthens they raised accordingly and bore into the abbey, where abundant wounded were in extremity, soldiers mutilated, leaders in dead faint, and where young men made lamentation."^

    " A banefdl scare ye had . . . ." Magrath tells us that in the battle "a spear was put through Mac-con Macnamara's foot, which was the only part of his body not covered with armour." He adds that " if this was done to pin him to his place there was but little need to so severely harm it ; for always in all battles and affrays his step was as deliberate as bold, solidly maintained no less than lively taken. Fine command he had of his strong fast-striking arm and polished long blue Danish blade, that shore and rent and laid about whenever any measured swords with him. In all phases of war his heart was firm, daring, hardy to tmdertake ; never fear nor anxiety assailed his nature for enemy's numbers tRat he saw drawn up against him ; and it was to expound all this that the poet made these quatrains : — " A hero's qualities has Maccon ....'* f

    Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog

    As the companion tells it

    Somewhere about Corcomroe Abbey, in 1317, the Dalcasians carried their wounded and dead into the monastery after battle. The wounded were in extremity, soldiers mutilated, leaders in dead faint, and young men made lamentation. The battle was reckoned the third summit of honour achieved by the far-western clans. Magrath tells us that in the fighting, a spear was put through Maccon Macnamara's foot, the only part of his body not covered with armour. He adds that if this was done to pin him to his place, there was little need to so severely harm it, for in all battles his step was as deliberate as bold, solidly maintained no less than lively taken. He had fine command of his strong fast-striking arm and polished long blue Danish blade, that shore and rent and laid about whenever any measured swords with him. In all phases of war his heart was firm, daring, hardy to undertake. Never fear nor anxiety assailed his nature for enemy's numbers that he saw drawn up against him. The poet made quatrains to expound this: "A hero's qualities has Maccon."

31. Banshee of Cragliath foretells Brian Boru's death

    Craglea · townland · Clare · 1014

    Before the Battle of Clontarf, the banshee Aoibhel of Cragliath appeared to Brian Boru and predicted he would be killed that day. Brian later recounted this prophecy to his attendants when they urged him to flee the battlefield.

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    The old monarch, Brian Boru, although unable to lead his army, watched its movements from a distance throughout the day. We are told that his attention was constantly fixed on the standard of his son Morrogh, for so long as he saw it carried aloft he felt sure that all was well with the Irish. Towards evening Morrogh's banner disappeared; at first Brian tried to persuade himself that it was his faulty sight and anxious watching that prevented him from recognising his son's standard, but when the truth came home to him the old man's grief was extreme, he could no longer watch the contest, but went into the tent his attendants had prepared for him, to give vent to his sorrow in secret. It is stated that his attendants urged him to retire from the scene, but Brian replied, ** Retreat becomes us not, and I know that I shall not leave this place alive, for Aoibhel of Cragliath appeared to me last night and told me that I should be killed this day." Soon after this the Danes fled in all directions, and Brian's servants seeing this left the old king and joined their comrades in pursuit of their enemies. The king was thus alone, and at this moment a party of fugitive Danes came upon his tent ; Brian was recognised, and though he did his best to defend himself the old man was soon overpowered and killed.*

    Morrogh after fighting throughout the whole of the day, towards the evening found his hands so swollen that he was unable any longer to grasp his sword; when in this condition he was attacked by a Dane, and the two closed with each other. Morrogh is said by main force to have pulled the armour ofi* his antagonist, and then to have felled him

    Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 42

32. Battle between Columba's tribesmen and the men of Meath

    Meath · county · Meath · 561

    After a dispute over a copied manuscript, St. Columba ordered his tribesmen to attack the men of Meath in 561 AD. A battle ensued in which around 3,000 men were reportedly killed.

    Read the passage

    We may refer to the life of St Columba as illustrating the working of this sjTStem; he was bom aj>. 521, and belonged to the tribe of O'Donnell. Columba was educated in the £unous school of Clonard,. and being destined for the Church was sent to Clomford to be ordained a ** domestic bishop." On arriving in that place Columba found the bishop engaged in ploughing his land ; having been ordained, the saint devoted himself to missionary work among his countrymen. Columba was a distinguished scribe, and having borrowed a portion of the Scriptures from his friend the Abbot of Clonard, he proceeded to copy the work ; the owner of the book subsequently demanded not only its return, but also the copy Columba had made, but the saint refused togive up his copy of the work, and the friends not being able to settle the matter in dispute referred it to the King of Meath. The king decided that Columba must give up his copy as well as the original book to the abbot, upon the principles contamed in the Brehon Laws, that '* to every cow belongs her little offspring, so to every book belongs its copy."^ Columba gave up bis MS., but he was '* rash, passionate, and revengeful," and being a chief in his tribe as well as an ecclesiastic, in the year A.D. 561 he ordered out a large body of his tribesmen to attack the men of Meath, a battle ensued, in which some 3000 men are said to-

    t •• Richey's •* Short History of Ireland," p. 82.

    Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 31

    As the companion tells it

    As the road carries you through Meath, you are passing through the county where a battle was fought in 561 over a copied manuscript. St. Columba, born in 521, belonged to the tribe of O'Donnell. He was educated at the famous school of Clonard and sent to Clonford to be ordained a domestic bishop. When he arrived there he found the bishop engaged in ploughing his land. Columba was a distinguished scribe. He borrowed a portion of the Scriptures from his friend, the Abbot of Clonard, and made a copy. The abbot later demanded not only the return of the original but also the copy Columba had made. The saint refused to give up his copy. The friends could not settle the dispute, so they referred it to the King of Meath. The king decided that Columba must give up his copy as well as the original, following the principle contained in the Brehon Laws, that “to every cow belongs her little offspring, so to every book belongs its copy.” Columba gave up his manuscript, but he was, in the words of the source, “rash, passionate, and revengeful.” He was a chief in his tribe as well as an ecclesiastic. In the year 561 he ordered out a large body of his tribesmen to attack the men of Meath. A battle ensued, in which some 3,000 men are said to have been killed.

33. Battle of Lismarkea near Enniskillen, July 1689

    near Lisnaskea · town · Fermanagh · 1689

    On 30 July 1689, raw Clare levies serving under Lord Mountcashel's troops advanced to within ten miles of Enniskillen. Colonel Berry's English force drew up across a narrow causeway over a bog near Lismarkea, ambushing the advancing Irish dragoons and infantry under Colonel Hamilton, who was shot down. Colonel Wolseley then arrived with reinforcements, and the Irish took up a strong position on steep wooded hills along the road to Newtown Butler.

    Read the passage

    A regiment of horse was raised, and also a regiment of infantry in Clare, for service under James 11. Among the list of cavalry officers we find the names Colonel J. Macnamara (commanding), also Captain Fineen and a second John Macnamara. In the infantry were the names of Captains Donogh, and Teigie, and also Lieutenants John and Daniel Macnamara. These regiments were enlisted during the spring of 1689, and in July of the same year they were called upon to take the field and fight against Dutch and English soldiers, who had served in military operations on the Continent. Neither officers nor men of the Irish levies had the slightest knowledge of drill or the use of firearms ; they were raw recruits drawn from agricultural pursuits, and utterly unfit to fight on equal terms with veteran soldiers. But such as they were, the Clare, among other levies, were directed in July 1689 to join Lord Mountcashel's trqops, and attempt to drive the English out of the north of Ireland. On July 30, a portion of these raw levies arrived within ten miles of Enniskillen, the force in that town being under the command of Colonel Wolseley, who sent Colonel Berry with a detachment of troops to watch the movements of the Irish army. Colonel Berry came unexpectedly on a large body of Irish Dragoons and infantry, he retired therefore towards a place called Lismarkea, sending off an express to Wolseley for reinforcements. Berry's road led him across a narrow causeway over a bog, at the fiuther side of which was a quantity oi thick brushwood ; here he drew up his forces, covering his men in the bushes to await the approach of the enemy, who were under the command of Colonel Hamilton. As the Irish advanced over the narrow causeway Hamilton and his second in command were shot down by Beny's men, and as a number of the Irish fell they retreated from their position and fell back on the advance guard of their army; this movement on the part of the Irish was effected about nine o'clock in the morning. At eleven a.m. Colonel Wolseley arrived on the scene accompanied by a considerable force of cavalry and infantry. The Irish took up a strong position on the side of steep wooded hills, through which the road passed to Newtown Butler, in front of them was a bog crossed by a causeway which was defended by the artillery of the Irish • Frost's " History of Clare," p. 568.

    Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 111

34. Bishop Nicholson witnesses starving cotters near Tuam, 1728

    Tuam · town · Galway · 1728

    Bishop Nicholson, travelling in Ireland in 1728, observed extreme destitution among the poor. His horse died on the road to Tuam, and its carcase was immediately surrounded by desperate cotters seeking flesh for themselves and their children.

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    Bishop Nicholson, who seems to have been a hard, selfish Englishman, and not disposed, therefore, to spare much sympathy on the Irish, writes of the cotters as he saw them in the year 1728 ; he observes : *' I never beheld, even in Picardyi Westphalia, or Scotland, such dismal marks of hunger and want as appeared among the poor of Ireland." The bishop states that one of his horses died on the road to Tuam ; the carcase was immediately surrounded " by a number of poor Irish cotters, struggling desperately to obtain a morsel of flesh for themselves and their children." All this, be it remembered, occurred before the years of actual famine in Ireland 1729-40, and '44. Nicholson dilates on the evils springing from the practice of the middleman, and from rack-rent; he dwells on the starved, naked cotters in their mud cabins, unfit even for a pig to dwell in, much less a human being ; but there the matter ends, they were Roman Catholics, and Irish men and women. Arthur Young states that the cotter ** spoke a language that is despised, they professed a religion which was abhorred, and being disarmed, find themselves in many cases slaves even in the bosom of written liberty. The cotter is punished with the cane or horsewhip with perfect security, a poor man would in Ireland have his bones broken if he offered to lift his hand in his own defence."* Can we wonder at people in these conditions growing deceitful or untruthful ? Young was an Englishman who had visited * See also Hdy Hutchinson: ** Commercial Relations of Ireland.'*

    Digitized by VjOOQIC

    Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 119

35. Confederate siege and capture of Bunratty Castle

    near Bunratty · parish · Clare · 1646

    Confederate forces surrounded Bunratty Castle from the land side, and with the English fleet unable to pass upriver, the garrison surrendered after a brave defence. The victors found valuable plate, military stores, and a splendid stud of horses; the Pope's Nuncio described it as the most beautiful place he had ever seen.

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    In March 1646, some of the ships under orders of the Parliamentarians arrived in the Shannon, and anchored as near as possible to Bunratty Castle, which was then the residence of Barnabas, Earl of Thomond, he invited the officers of the fleet to visit him, and entertained them with great hospitality. Subsequently he handed the castle over to the English commander, and then took his departure for England; and joined his wife at her residence in Northamptonshire. With an English fleet obstructing the passage up the Shannon to limerick, and Bunratty garrisoned by Parliamentary troops, the base of operations of the Confederates was so imperilled that it became necessary to dislodge the garrison of Bunratty from its position in Clare. The Confederate forces therefore surrounded the castle from the land side, and as the fleet could not pass up the river on which the castle stands, the garrison, after a brave defence, were compelled to surrender. During the siege the Pope's Nuncio joined the Irish army, and did much to expedite the military operations against the place. The Confederates found much valuable plate and vast quantities of military stores in the castle, ''together with a splendid stud of horses." In his letter to Rome commimicating the news of the &11 of Bunratty, the Nuncio writes '' that he had no hesitation in asserting that it is the most beautiful place he had ever seen. In Italy there is nothing like it, with its magnificent park and three thousand head of deer." We can well imagine this to be the case ; the walls of this grand old casde, built by the De Clares in the thirteenth century, are still ahnost perfect, and are inhabited at the present time. Close beneath the castle is a fine stream, with the lower Shannon in the distance, and behind it undulating, park-like lands, beautifully wooded and covered with exquisite green turf.

    Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 93

36. Cromwellian destruction of Quin Abbey

    Quin · town · Clare · 1651

    Major William and Henry Stainer seized Quin Abbey while monks were celebrating Mass; Stainer attempted to drag the officiating priest from the altar and then burned down the building. The Cromwellians also seized the head of the college, Eugene O'Cahan, whom they scourged and hanged.

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    We learn from Mr. T. J. Westropp's interesting notes on Q«un Abbey, that its community, taking advantage of the freedom of religious worship granted by the Roman Catholic Confederation of 1641, repaired and re-opened the college which had been connected with the monastery,and that in the course of a short time no fewer than eight hundred Irish youths were receiving instruction, under the guidance of the Franciscan fraternity of Quin. One of these scholars was the historian Anthony Bruodin, together with eighteen members of his £unily. From this author we learn some focts relating to the College of Quin, and further of its destruction by Cromwell's soldiers. There seems good reason to believe that a Major William, and Henry Stainer, seized the abbey while the monks were celebratmg Mass, and the former attempted to drag the officiating priest from the altar, but the old friar with uplifted arm found time to curse his assailant, and foretell the extinction of his race. Stainer burnt down the building, and according to one account hanged the celebrant (T. J. Westropp's "History of Quin Abbey "). The Cromwellians seized the head of the college, Eugene O'Cahan, who they first scourged and then hung. Another of the community, Roger Macnamara, is referred to as follows : " This friar was a learned professor of the College of Quin Abbey, which his ancestors had built, and was ever a model of a simple and pious man. God determined to reward his piety, and so permitted him to be seized by soldiers, and by them taken to the town of Ennis, where, having refused to abandon his religion, he was first shot and then his head was severed firom the body." The remainmg monks of Quin fled to Drim, not fax firom their abbey, and aiding the parish priest, lived unmolested by the Government. One of the Quin monks clung to his old home till the middle of the last century, and wrote

    * At present the seat of Lord Dunboyne. The keep of the old castle is still inhabited.

    Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 96

37. Death of Sioda Macnamara in battle at Quin

    Quin · town · Clare · 1276

    Sioda Macnamara, with only a small company of retainers, launched a desperate dawn attack on Donough Roe's encamped force at Quin, hoping to reach Donough's tent for single combat. Sioda penetrated the camp but was overborne by numbers and fell, pierced with many wounds.

    Read the passage

    sion of Tbomond, was of about as much value as the paper on which it was written ; but he still considered his wisest policy was to incite the jealousy of die Irish chiefs, and through their mutual destruction step into the position he so much coveted in Clare ; his next move, therefore, was by flattering and hypocritical messages sent to Donough, the son of the Brian Roe, to induce this young man to throw in his fortunes with the Anglo-Normans; and, surprising as it may seem, Donoug^ actually consented to co-operate with his iather^s murderer, in order to gain his own ends. The confederates started off on a raid through West Clare, attacking the MacMahons and odier chieb who had supported Turlough O'Brien ; De Clare then turned east and suddenly appeared before Clonroad ; Turlough O'Brien had to esaq>e from this place, and he again sought refuge in Ui-Caisin and threw himself on the protection of the Macnamaras ; he was followed by a portion of De Clare's force under command of Donough, who that night encamped at Quin. We are informed by Magradi (quoting from .O'Gnuly's translation of the "Triumphs of Turlough" (p. ii), ''that the sheet anchor of the people, Sheeda (or Sioda) Macnamara, excellent with the spear," at the first dawn of the morning, with but a small company of retainers, determined to attack Donough Roe's force^ hoping that during the confusion produced by a sudden onslaught he might be able to penetrate to Donough*s tent and engage him in single combat. So desperate was this attack that Sioda penetrated into the midst of the camp of his enemies. These, however, converging bom all side9 encircled the chief, and most of his followers were killed. Sioda, however, never for an instant allowed an enemy to get a stroke home on him. ^ And so far now from desisting, the lion in this his solitary position in the hostile centre the more provoked him to mow down and clear his enemies, till at last he and Donough Brian Roe met face to (ace. Then he thought to have avenged himself on that chief, but Sioda was overborne by numbers and the valiant chief fell, pierced with many wounds." In bewailing Sioda Macnamara's death the poet wrote the followmg quatrains :

    Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 49

38. Donogh O'Brien offers to betray Carrigogunnel castle

    Carrigogunnel · townland · Limerick · 1535

    Donogh O'Brien, Conor's eldest son, turned traitor and offered to help the English seize the castle called Carygogoillin near Limerick. Lord Grey proceeded to attack the castle, which surrendered through Donogh's treachery.

    Read the passage

    " I have maryd your syster, and for becaus I have maryd your syster, I have forsaken my father, myn unkle, and all my firyndes and my contrey, to come to you and to help to doo the Kyng's servys. I have been sore wounded, and have no rewarde nor nothing to leve upon. What wolde ye have me do ? Iff that it wolde plese the Kyng's grace to take me into hys servys, and that you will come into the contrey, and bring with you a piese of ordnannce to wjm a castell, the whych castell is called Carygogoillin, and his Grace to give me that which never was none Inglishe man's 200 yere, and I will desyer the King no helpe nor ayde of no man but this Ynglishe captyn with his honderyth and od of YngUsh men to go with me upon my father and myn unkle, the which are the Kyng's enemies, and upon the Irish men that never Ynglish men were amongis, and for all land that I shall conquer, it shall be at the King's pleser to sett YngHsh men in yt, to holden of the King as his pleser schal be, and I to refewys all such Irish fasehions, and to order myselfe after the laws of Ynglish. and all that I can make conquer.'*

    Lord Grey at once proceeded to attack the casde above referred to, situated near Limerick, and through means of Donogh's treachery it sunendered. This, together with the loss of East Thomond and the destruction of the bridge over the Shannon, was a heavy blow to the

    Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 71

39. Galway jury fined for refusing Crown verdict under Wentworth

    Galway · city · Galway · 1635–1637

    During Wentworth's campaign to vest Connaught and Clare land titles in the Crown, the Galway jury refused to return a verdict for the king. Wentworth imposed a fine of £1,000 on the sheriff and bound the jurors to appear in the Castle Chamber, where each was sentenced to a heavy fine and imprisonment.

    Read the passage

    Mr. Lecky writes concerning this transaction : ** In distinct violation of the king's solemn promise, after the subsidies that were made on the £uth of that promise had been duly obtained, without provocation, or pretext, or excuse, Wentworth, who now presided with stem despotbm over the government of Ireland, announced the withdrawal of the two principal articles of the Grace, the limitation of Crown claims by a possession of sixty years, and the legalisation of the Connaught (including Clare) tides. Inquisitions were made in order to preserve the show of justice, juries were summoned, and were peremptorily ordered to bring in verdicts vesting all the tides referred to them to the king." Every means was taken to insure compliance ; men such as might give furtherance in finding a tide for the king were carefully selected, and a grant of 4s. in the pound was given to the Lord Chief Justice and the Lord Chief Baron, out pf the first yearly rent raised upon the commissions of defective tities, "which money," Wentworth, writing to Charles I. states ^^ I find to be the best that ever was given. For now they (the Irish judges) do intend it with a care and diligence such as it were their own private property, and most certainly the gaining to themselves any 4^. once paid, shall better your Majesty's revenue ever after at least ^^5." These were words written by a Lord Deputy of Ireland to the King of England.! Mr. Lecky continues : ''The sheriffs and the judges were the creatures of the Government, and Wentworth was present to overcome all opposition. The juries were assured that the project was for the advantage of the king and country ; that if they presumed to give un&vourable verdicts, those verdicts would be set on one side, and that, as Wentworth threatened, they might answer the king a round fine in the Castie Chamber in case they should prevaricate. In Galway the jury refiised to give a verdict for the Crown, and the Lord Deputy at once imposed a fine of ;£ 1000 on the sheriff who had summoned this jury, and bound the jurors to appear in the Castie Chamber, where they were each sentenced to pay the heavy fine of ;;£4ooo (about ^^20,000 of our money), and to lie in prison tiU it was paid."!

    Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 89

40. Henry VIII proclaimed King of Ireland at Dublin Parliament, 1541

    Dublin · city · Dublin · 1541

    In 1541 a Parliament assembled in Dublin created Henry VIII King of Ireland, a title to descend to his successors, with opposition deemed high treason. This marked England's decisive policy shift toward bringing Ireland under the English crown.

    Read the passage

    The question Henry VIII. had to decide was, should he bring Ireland under the English crown, or give her up completely to the control of her native chiefs. The king determined in favour of the former policy, and^ A.D. 1541, in a Parliament assembled in Dublin, Henry was created King of Ireland^ a title which was to descend to his successors ; and it was enacted that it should be deemed high treason to impeach this tide or oppose its authority. It is impossible to read Henry VIII. 's despatches without coming to the conclusion that, while he determined to strive and enforce law, and bring the Irish people into subjection, he wished to prevent violence and to meet their wishes as far as possible with reference to their religion, laws, and ancient customs. The king instructed Wolsey to direct " the Irish clergy to preach and to publish that the king only required to bring the country to order, not to make war against those who do their duty, nor to take anything from any man who is lawfully entitled to it, but to make a fair distribution of land at reasonable rents, seeing that they ncfw lived without order, nor wealth,, nor being assured to any succession to their lands."* Henry adopted this policy in spite of the recommendation of his Irish advisers ta proceed to conquer the country, to exterminate its inhabitants, and replace them with " men bom in England."!

    The Irish chiefs must have felt at this time that it was useless for them to attempt to resist England, so that Henry VIII.'s opportunity for effecting a settlement of the Irish question was favourable ; and, from documents in our possession, we must arrive at the conclusion that the king's acts did not fiilsify his intentions as expressed in the above extract from his message to the Church in Ireland. Before we can

    Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 70

    As the companion tells it

    As you pass through Dublin, you are in the city where, in 1541, a Parliament assembled and created Henry VIII King of Ireland. It was a title meant to descend to his successors, and it was enacted that to oppose it or impeach it would be deemed high treason. This was Henry's answer to a question he had to decide: whether to bring Ireland under the English crown, or give her up to the control of her native chiefs. He chose the crown. His despatches suggest he wanted to enforce law and bring the Irish into subjection, but also to prevent violence and meet their wishes as far as possible regarding their religion, laws, and ancient customs. He instructed Wolsey to direct the Irish clergy to preach and publish that the king only required bringing the country to order, not war against those who did their duty, and not taking anything from any man lawfully entitled to it, but a fair distribution of land at reasonable rents, seeing that they now lived without order, wealth, or assurance of succession to their lands. He adopted this policy in spite of his Irish advisers, who recommended he conquer the country, exterminate its inhabitants, and replace them with men born in England. The Irish chiefs must have felt resistance was useless. Henry's opportunity for a settlement was favourable, and the documents suggest his acts did not falsify his intentions.

41. Inauguration of Brian Roe at Magh Adhair

    near Magh Adhair · monument · Clare

    Sioda Macnamara presided over the inauguration of Brian Roe as King of Thomond at the traditional site of Magh Adhair. This act highlights the political influence of the Macnamara sept in the succession of Thomond. The event was followed by Turlough O'Brien's revolt, which the Macnamaras joined.

    Read the passage

    Ireland, on account of her sins, made over by the Supreme Pontiff to Henry II. of England — King of Leinster invited Anglo-Normans to conquer the country and made the Earl of Pembroke his successor, a.d. 1x72 — Henry II. visited Ireland and received submission of chiefs — Divides the country among his barons to take possession by conquest — Resistance of the O'Briens and Macnamaras — Attack on them by the Lord Deputy effectually resisted, a.d. 1x92 — Henry III. assumed right to govern Thomond, but had no power to enforce his rule— The Macnamaras and other septs refuse to submit to English rule — ^Niel Macnamara, a.d. i242~His daughter married Conor O'Brien. King of Thomond— Importance of idliance — They defeat the English, a.d. X257 — Meeting of provincial kings for combined action futile— Magrath's '* History of Wars of Thomond" — Sioda Macnamara inaugurates Brian Roe. King of Thomond. on Magh Adhair— Turlough O'Brien's revolt joined by the Macnamaras—Brian Roe seeks aid of Earl de Clare— Turlough and Clancuilein (Macnamara) gain a victory — Brian Roe murdered by De Clare — His son, Donogh Brien, succeeds his father and joins De Clare — Death of Sioda Macnamara at Quin. a.d. 1277— Succeeded by Cov^ha or Cumheadha— Mac Carthy of Desmond declines to give Cov6ha up to De Clare — CovSha defeats the Anglo-Normans— The Earl de Clare killed, a.d. 1287 — ^The O'Briens and Macnamaras retain their lands and homes — Burning of fort at Qtdn by Cov&ha Macnamara — His death, a.d. 1306 — Donchard Macnamara succeeds — His victory over other Dalcasian septs and his murder.

    Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog

42. Inquisition at Galway on Macnamara land tenure (1585)

    Galway · city · Galway · 1585

    An inquisition held at Galway before Sir R. Bingham on 27 January 1585 inquired into the rents payable to the heirs of the recently deceased John Macnamara and the title by which he held his property. The document revealed that Macnamara, despite being an extensive landlord, had no settled rental, as land was managed on the conjoint family principle rather than for monetary profit.

    Read the passage

    Before referring to the important steps taken by Sir Henry Sidney at Galway, in relation to the land belonging to the members of our sept, we may with advantage refer to an inquisition made at Galway, before Sir R. Bingham, on January 27, 1585, as it throws much light on the nature and scope of the Lord Deputy's proposal concerning the tenure of land* This inquisition was made with reference to the property of John Macnamara, who had recently died. We learn in the first place that, although J. Macnamara was an extensive landlord, he had no idea of what his rental was, for it is stated in this document that *^ neither the owner of the land, nor any one else, knew for certain how much rent they had or ought to pay on any of the said quarters of land.'' In these circumstances the commission had to refer the matter *^ to those who knoweth best how much the said rent should be." The estates referred to belonged to one of the chiefs of our sept, the son of the Sioda Macnamara who had signed the agreement widi Henry VIIL on behalf of a number of the freeholders of his dan. It would seem to us almost incredible that a person in this position, as late as the sixteenth century, should have been xmable to state the amount of his rental. The truth was, he had never received any rent, according to our meaning of the term. Lands which he did not require for his own purposes he made over to his family or relations to cultivate, they suppljring him with a certain quantity of stock and grain to enable him to keep open house, and live as one of the chief men of his sept. The management of the property was still conducted on the conjoint fomily principle, modified according to the necessities of the times. The out-turn of the soil was consumed by man and beast living upon the land which produced the stock and grain. There was no idea of sending gold and silver derived from the sale of stock to London or Dublin to be spent by individuals who had no personal interest in the land, and, in not a few instances, who had never even seen it. Englishmen, however, had discovered that land in Ireland was worth having, from their point of view, which was to make money out of it. When this fact had been realised a rush of all sorts and conditions of men passed into Ireland from the east, and the confiscated estates of Ulster and Munster offered them an oppoi^ tunity of which they were by no means slow to avail themselves.

    Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 79

    As the companion tells it

    As you pass through Galway, you are moving through a city where, on the 27th of January 1585, an inquisition was held before Sir R. Bingham into the property of John Macnamara, who had recently died. Macnamara had been an extensive landlord, yet the inquisition found that neither he nor anyone else knew for certain how much rent they had or ought to pay on any of the said quarters of land. The commission had to refer the matter, in the words of the document, to those who knoweth best how much the said rent should be. This was the son of the Sioda Macnamara who had signed an agreement with Henry the Eighth on behalf of a number of the freeholders of his clan. What seems almost incredible is that a man in this position, as late as the sixteenth century, could not state the amount of his rental. The truth was that he had never received rent in the way the term is understood. Land he did not need for himself he handed to family and relations to cultivate, and they supplied him with stock and grain so he could keep open house and live as one of the chief men of his sept. The property was managed on the conjoint family principle. The produce of the soil was consumed by the people and animals living on the land. There was no thought of sending gold or silver to London or Dublin for spending by people with no personal interest in the land. Englishmen had discovered that land in Ireland was worth having, to make money from it, and a rush of men came in from the east to take up the confiscated estates of Ulster and Munster.

43. Irish chiefs submit to Richard II at Drogheda

    Drogheda · town · Louth · 1394

    The O'Brien and other Irish chiefs met King Richard II at Drogheda and promised obedience to his rule. No lasting provision for governing the country was made, and English rule remained confined to the neighbourhood of Dublin.

    Read the passage

    Richard the Second having determined to cross over to Ireland with the object of subduing that country, landed at Waterford, in October 1394 with an army of 34,000 men ; the O'Brien and the other chiefs recognised the hopelessness of resisting a force of this kind, and they met King Richard at Drogheda and promised obedience to his rule ; this was all that was demanded from them by the English king, with the exception of the King of Leinster, who, together with the entire native population of the province were ordered to leave their homes and lands by a certain date so as to make way for English settlers. Richard soon afterwards left the country and returned home, as Sir J. Davies observes, " having spent huge masses of treasure, yet did he not increase his revenue thereby one sterling pound, nor enlarge the English border the breadth of one acre of land ; neither did he extend the jurisdiction of his courts of justice by one foot further than the English colonies wherein it was used and exercised before." *

    Brian O'Brien after visiting King Richard at Drogheda, and subsequently in Dublin, returned to Clonroad; he died in the year 1399. ** Brian had by Slaine, daughter of Lochlain Macnamara, three sons. ♦ Sir J. Davies* " Historical Tracts," p. 51.

    Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 67

    As the companion tells it

    You are coming through Drogheda, in Louth. In 1394, this town saw a remarkable scene of submission. King Richard II landed at Waterford in October of that year with an army of 34,000 men, determined to subdue Ireland. The O'Brien and the other Irish chiefs recognised the hopelessness of resisting a force of that kind. They met King Richard here at Drogheda and promised obedience to his rule. That was all the English king demanded of them, with one exception: the King of Leinster, along with the entire native population of that province, was ordered to leave their homes and lands by a certain date, to make way for English settlers. Richard soon left the country and returned home. As Sir J. Davies later observed, he had spent huge masses of treasure, yet did not increase his revenue by one sterling pound, nor enlarge the English border the breadth of one acre, nor extend the jurisdiction of his courts by one foot beyond where it already stood. No lasting provision for governing the country was made. English rule stayed confined to the neighbourhood of Dublin. Brian O'Brien, after visiting King Richard here and later in Dublin, returned to Clonroad. He died in 1399.

44. Macnamara holds the key position at the Battle of Corcomroe

    Corcomroe · barony · Clare

    At the Battle of Corcomroe, Macnamara (Maccon) bore the task of keeping the battle line braced together, standing rooted in the centre of the fight and dealing death to his enemies. His sept, the Clancuilein, suffered most severely with twenty-one principal leaders killed, including the young Hugh mac Donough Macnamara.

    Read the passage

    darts and arrows. The two sides then met hand to hand with ringing cheers, and spears well to the fore. Magrath gives a detailed account of the battle and of the valour shown by the chiefs of the various septs engaged, which may best be read in Mr. O^Grady's translation of Magrath's history.* As regards Clancuilein, he states that on Macnamara '^fell the task of keeping the battle braced together; there he stood rooted and held the key of the position, dealing death to his enemies. For out of the West hardly was there come champion or great chiefs son, chieftain or noble captain of Clan Brian Roe but continually and wildly cried out for Macnamara " — ^and in response to them his chiefs, one after the other, sprang to meet his challengers. Maccon had no easy game to play, as he found himself planted in the centre of the fight, encircled with a trusty band of his sept, who parried many a blow for him — ^among these, Nicol Macnamara fought desperately — and the feats that he performed, which, but for his shield, that proved his salvation, could never have been carried through. Hugh mac Donough Macnamara likewise did doughty service, though but a stripling, and so on with other members of the sept.t At length Donough Brian Roe was slain, and his followers were completely defeated by Dermot O'Brien and the Clancuilein and other septs of the Dalcasian tribe under his command. Dermot addressed his soldiers, urging them not to be overcome by the grief for the friends that had been slain. His words are reported as follows :

    Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 59

45. Norse fort built at Tradraighe, later site of Bunratty Castle

    near Bunratty · parish · Clare · 890–968

    As a result of Brian Boru's guerrilla tactics from the Clare forests, the Norsemen concentrated their forces on the Shannon and built a fort in the district of Tradraighe, which belonged to the Macnamara sept and later became the site of the Anglo-Norman castle of Bunratty.

    Read the passage

    The west of Ireland, from the year a.d. 890, was overrun with Norsemen, who, we are informed, occupied the homes of the Irish, so that the owners had not even power to ''give milk or eggs to a sick or infirm man ; the foreigners claimed the right over everything." The Norsemen were far better armed than the native Irish, who at the time were utterly imable to withstand them.t It was in circumstances of this kind that Mahon and his brother Brian, the sons of Kennedy appeared on the scene. From its geographical position, and in consequence of the dense woods which covered its hiUs and plains, Clare was not so completely occupied by the Norsemen as other parts of Ireland. At any rate, from the account given in the wars of the Gaedhil with the Gail, we learn that Mahon and Brian, with the greater part of the Dalcasians living to the east and south of the Shannon crossed the river into Clare so as to escape from the invaders of their country ; and they '' dispersed themselves among the forests and woods situated between Loch Durge and the Fergus," or, in other words, over the Macnamara territories ; from this locality the Irish proceeded to sally forth and kill all the foreigners they could lay their hands on. The effect of these tactics were to compel the Norsemen to concentrate their forces on the Shannon, where they built a fort in the district of Tradraighe, which at that time belonged to our sept and was subsequently the site of the Anglo-Norman castle of Bunratty. In these operations Brian Bom's forces suffered fearfully from constant fighting and want of food; and

    Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 41

46. Sir J. Barrington's description of Donnybrook Fair

    Donnybrook · parish · Dublin · 1790

    Sir J. Barrington describes the sociality of the Irish at Donnybrook Fair around 1790, noting the numerous tents and good-humoured fighting. He observes that men were often knocked down and cut, but there was no malice or animosity in the proceedings.

    Read the passage

    cadgelling, or fighting on the green. Bat it was all a good-hamoured proceeding. ** Men, to be sure, were knocked down now and then, bat there was no malice in it A head was often cat, bat as qoickly tied up by the man who had inflicted the woand.*' There was no bratal fighting, no cheats, gamblers, or even pickpockets, perluqps for the very good reason that there was no money worth stealing. Sir J. Barrington states that the £air was " rich in all the glories of drinking, fighting, kissing, making friends, dancing, singing, and joining sincerely in the dance as if the doat tied roand their heads were a Turkic turban. Whatever happened in the fair, neither revenge nor animosity went ovt of it with any of the parties." All of which, Sir J. Barrington remarks, were incomprehensible features, and therefore all wrong and barbarous to the " most egotistical animal in creation. John Bull, who measures every man's coat according to his own cloth, and can only fancy an Irish mob to be like a London rabble, and so that Donnybrook Fair was a compound of all the vice, robbery, and swindling which is so dear to St. Bartholomew."

    Digitized by VjOOQIC

    Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 106

    As the companion tells it

    As the road passes through the parish of Donnybrook, you are near the ground where Sir J. Barrington described the fair around 1790. He wrote of cadgelling, or fighting on the green, but called it all a good-humoured proceeding. Men were knocked down now and then, but there was no malice in it. A head was often cut, but as quickly tied up by the man who had inflicted the wound. There was no brutal fighting, no cheats, gamblers, or even pickpockets, perhaps for the very good reason that there was no money worth stealing. Barrington said the fair was "rich in all the glories of drinking, fighting, kissing, making friends, dancing, singing, and joining sincerely in the dance as if the cloth tied round their heads were a Turkish turban." Whatever happened, neither revenge nor animosity went out of it with any of the parties. He called these incomprehensible features, and therefore all wrong and barbarous, to John Bull, "the most egotistical animal in creation," who measures every man's coat according to his own cloth, and can only fancy an Irish mob to be like a London rabble, and thought the fair was a compound of all the vice, robbery, and swindling dear to St. Bartholomew.

47. Donchadh Macnamara rallies his sept at Ballycullen hill

    Ballycullen · townland · Clare

    Donchadh Macnamara, having dismissed his forces after peace was declared, recalled his warriors and assembled the sept of Clancuilein at the grass-clad hill of Ballycullen. He addressed his followers, boasting of their unity despite few numbers, and prepared himself for battle with a detailed suit of mail, helmet, and weapons typical of an Irish chief of the early fourteenth century.

    Read the passage

    attacking them. Peace, however, having been declared, Donchadh had dismissed his forces, and his hostages had been given, so that he was deprived of their help ; we are told on hearmg this news '* his brow lowered and his &ce flamed with anger. He gathered hh household and sped messengers after his scattered warriors to recall them." His sept were, however, disturbed by what appeared to them to be ** fickle counsels," first peace and then war, in spite of the precious hostages they had given. '* And in all this they saw the destruction of the amity of the Dalcasian tribes, a beginning of Munster's confusion, an end of the kmgdom built up by Turlough (O'Brien) and Cov^ha (Macnamara), the peacemaker."* Nevertheless, the members of the sept in their families burned in to the call of their chief, and " all craved to be led against the enemy ; they advanced to the dewy, grass-clad hill of BallycuUen." This force was composed of the sept of Clancuilein, and only a small contingent of the O'Dorcons. Donchardh said to his followers : My brave people, whose courage is unquestionable, although your numbers are few ; ye are loyal each to each ; the bond that unites you is a chain of love, and your charge is that of the squealing litter of one sow. Woe to them at whom ye shall let yourselves go— you have the advantage of being led by one head who knows what he is aiming at, while your enemies have many heads, and no one knows which of them to obey. Donchardh then set to harness himself for battle. The first piece brought to him was a trusty, well-made acton, dense, close-ridged ; easily did he assume it, and the extent to which it protected him was firom his throat to his knees. Over which he was invested with a loose mail shirt of hard rings, close of texture and with gilded borders. A fighting belt, moderately thick and fitted with a chased buckle, this he drew tight over his mail, and in it hung his dirk ready to hand ; it was strong in the point, wide in the blade, thickbacked, and fixed in a decorated wooden haft. Over his shoulders he wore a fine-textured white tippet of proof. He set his strong plated, conical hehnet on his head, took his broadsword, deeply fluted, having a golden cross hilt and a tracery-embellished scabbard, which he girded to his side. In his right hand he took the handy dart, to hurl among the enemy ; in his left he grasped the thick-shafted, solid-riveted, great spear that he bore with which to charge the enemy.f

    Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 52

48. Sir Turlough O'Brien of Ennistymon granted Quin Abbey

    Quin · town · Clare · 1541–1583

    Sir Turlough O'Brien of Ennistymon received letters patent dated December 14, 1583, confirming him in fee of the dissolved Abbey of Quin and its appurtenances. The abbey had been formally dissolved by Henry VIII in 1541 and granted to O'Brien, Baron of Ibirkane, who protected the monks.

    Read the passage

    The Lord Deputy, in forwarding this letter to Burghley, urges him ''to have the cause of Macnamara in £sivourable remembrance, on account of his faithful and dutiful course " ; and adds, " there are not two more like him in the whole province,'^ t The Earl of Thomond's mother was a daughter of the Chancellor, Sir Thomas Cusack, and his wife a daughter of Lord Nugent of Delvin ; he had been brought up in the Court of Elizabeth. Another member of the O'Brien family. Sir Turlough of Ennistymon, received letters patent bearing date December 14, 1583, confirming him in fee of the dissolved Abbey of Quin and its appurtenances.! In 1 541 Quin Abbey had been formally dissolved by Henry VIII. and granted two years later to O'Brien, Baron of Ibirkane, who protected the monks. After Elizabeth's confirmation of this grant, the fiiars still remained in possession. As Mr. Westropp remarks, well had the Franciscans kept their vow of poverty, for in 1541 they owned but one acre of land. The Macnamaras, however, must have felt keenly the suppression of the abbey, which had been founded and built by their ancestors in the year 1420, and since then the head of the sept and members of the fiunily for many generations had been buried within its walls, where their tombs remain to the present time.

    The close of the sixteenth century was destined to witness more

    Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 83

49. Synod of Irish clergy at Armagh

    near Armagh · town · Armagh

    A synod of all the clergy of Ireland met at Armagh to discuss the invasion by foreigners, concluding that divine vengeance had fallen on Ireland because of the people's sins, especially the purchase of English natives as slaves. The synod decreed that all Anglo-Saxon slaves should be freed.

    Read the passage

    At a synod of all the clergy of Ireland, which met at Armagh, the state of the country and its invasion by foreigners was the sul>ject of serious discussion. It was agreed that the divine vengeance had fallen on Ireland because of the sins of the people, especially in that they were wont to purchase many of the natives of England as slaves. The synod decreed that all Anglo-Saxon slaves should be restored to freedom.* llie clergy would appear to have realised the danger that threatened their country, and to have done their best to rouse the provincial kings and chiefs to a sense of their duty, with the effect of drawing a large force of Irish under the command of the King of Connaught to invest the town of Dublin, within the walls of which place the English of Leinster had to withdraw. No attempt was made to storm the walls of the town, and when the English cavalry and well-armed footmen sallied out of Dublin they took the Irish by surprise ; the latter fled without making any resistance.

    Dermot MacMurfbgh died in the spring of 11 71, and the Earl of Pembroke, who bad married Dermot's daughter, according to English law succeeded to the tide and estates of the King of Leinster. This, however, was going rather too fas. Heniy II. had no idea of seeing one of his barons become King of Leinster, and he therefore recalled Strongbow to England, and determined to visit Ireland himself. King

    Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 48

50. Vision of Ireland's Sovereignty at Loch Derg

    near Lough Derg · lake or lakes · Clare · 1304

    As Turlough's army moved along the wooded banks of Loch Derg, a lone woman appeared who identified herself as Ireland's sovereignty, telling Turlough that if strangers had not caused him to turn back, the rule of all Ireland would have been his, before disappearing in a bright cloud.

    Read the passage

    As Turlough's army moved along the lovely wooded banks of Loch Derg, Magrath informs us that '* they were met by a lone woman who approached them, fair of face she was and of modest mien. From her strange aspect and beautiful form, the whole of Turlough's followers took heed of her : a maid with red lips and taper fingers, long and wavy flowing hair; her whole being commanded respect" She spoke to the king as follows : '* My name is Ireland's sovereignty, and if strangers had not caused thee to turn back, the sovereign rule of the whole of Ireland would have been yours." Such delight had the army in listening to her that they pressed close on her ; but she disappeared in the semblance of a bright doud, repeating as she passed away a long poem which Magrath has given us in detail Turlough then deeply repented having followed the Earl's counsel; nevertheless he ruled the whole of Munster and Thomond as his ancestors had done before him. For no less than nine-and-twenty years Turlough reigned over this province, during which time we are told there was exceeding abundance in the country and ** every man was able to attend to and to perform the office of his station.''^

    * State Papers, Ireland, No. 459, a.d. 1301.

    Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 51

51. Battle of Corcomroe: forces muster at the abbey

    Corcomroe · barony · Clare · 1317

    Dermot O'Brien's force spent the night before the 1317 battle in the Abbey of Corcomroe. At dawn they were roused by reports of the enemy's advance and streamed out of the monastery to fight, with Maccon Macnamara rallying his Clancuilein sept.

    Read the passage

    colours flying, and with gilt spears." Dermot, and Maccon Macnamara issued from the abbey, and Magrath observes, ^'a strange sight it was to see those Clancuileins come tumbling out and wriggle on their harness as they ran ; nor ever, out of any monastery whatsoever had there streamed an order more grimly bent on fighting for their lands." We are informed that " the septs ranged themselves each under their own individual lord apart, and they then closed order under Dermot." Magrath states that Maccon Macnamara got himself into his armour, hard mail of proofs over which was a tunic, in which garb, as the chief was a-hamessing, his attendants in haste put it back in front upon him; he bade them return it carefully, and said : " We shall all the better be for this oversight, which portends some gain " still [even greater than that looked for]. Now steadily hook on the tippet and clasp the mail, fasten my helmet on my head, for this armour I will not change imtil as its price from yonder folk I win a better set.

    ** Here Clancuilein's phalanx fell in about their lord, and the leading gentlemen of tht attack were Nicol Mac Cumea Macnamara, extreme particular spear point on all onset, special shield of deadly retreat; he was a ruddy youth of open countenance and handsome features, redlipped, close-bearded, stalwart, and staunch, whose lot it was in this affair to take his brother and chiefs right shoulder; nor surely may we pity one that at this juncture hath a shoulder prop such [as this of Maccon's] in battle ; young Hugh Macnamara also, bushy and curlyheaded, a genuine heir of Clancuilein, who stepped to his kinsman's other shoulder to be his guard."* And so Magrath continues, evidently describing as an eye-witness only could do, the words and characteristics of the men who fought in the year 131 7 at Corcomroe.

    Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 58

52. Bingham's letter from Athlone on Macnamara's composition grievance

    Athlone · town · Westmeath · 1588

    Sir R. Bingham, Governor of Connaught, wrote from Athlone on 26 July 1588 to Walsyngham in London, reporting that Macnamara, chief of his sept in Thomond, had been grievously injured by the composition settlement, which cut off his ancestral rents and duties and imposed new charges for the Earl of Thomond. Bingham stated he and other commissioners had opposed this at the time.

    Read the passage

    Athlonb, Julf 26, 1588.

    At the makiiig of the late composition between her Majesty and the lords and inhabitants of this province, Macnamara, chief of the Wony of Denigenyriggin in Thomond, found himself greatly injured that such rents, duties, chiefries, and seignories as of right belonged to him and his ancestors, by lawful and ancient course of inheritence, and that they quietly enjoyed for a long time, were cut off and taken away, and a new rent charge and many other things set upon the said barony and the inhabitants of it his tenants, for the Earl of Thomond, which the said earl or his ancestors had not any time before within the same, to the utter undoing of the said Macnamara and his heirs and successors for ever, which indeed myself and others of the Commissioners did much impugn and withstand at that very instant, but the late Lord Deputy Perrett and Sir Nicholas White, who took much upon him in these matters, handled the matter so far in favour of the earl, as after his coming to Dublin ihey made up the boohs according to their own pleasure, to the no little hindrance of mainy a man in the province. The said Macnamara had now of late put up a petition to the new Lord Deputy Fytzwylliam, craving to be freed of the earl, saving of such things as in past right he ought to yield him, and offering, nevertheless, ta pay 10" a quarter to her Majesty, so as he may have a reasonable freedom

    Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 82

    As the companion tells it

    Coming through Athlone now. In 1588 this town was where Sir Richard Bingham, Governor of Connaught, sat down on the 26th of July to write to Walsingham in London about a wrong done to Macnamara. Macnamara was chief of his sept in Thomond, and when the composition settlement was drawn up between the Queen and the lords and inhabitants of the province, he found himself greatly injured. The rents, duties, chiefries, and seignories that belonged to him and his ancestors by lawful and ancient inheritance, and that they had quietly enjoyed for a long time, were cut off and taken away. A new rent charge and many other burdens were set upon his barony and upon his tenants, all for the Earl of Thomond, though the earl or his ancestors had never had any such claim there before. Bingham called it the utter undoing of Macnamara and his heirs for ever. He said he and other commissioners had impugned and withstood it at the time, but the late Lord Deputy Perrot and Sir Nicholas White, who took much upon himself in these matters, handled it so far in the earl's favour that after coming to Dublin they made up the books according to their own pleasure, to the hindrance of many a man in the province. Macnamara had now petitioned the new Lord Deputy Fitzwilliam, craving to be freed of the earl, saving what in right he ought to yield, and offering to pay 10 shillings a quarter to her Majesty for a reasonable freedom.

53. Ceallachan captured near Dublin by Sitric's soldiers

    Dublin · city · Dublin · 954

    Sitric, leader of the Norsemen, lured King Ceallachan of Munster toward Dublin under pretence of marriage. The cavalcade, including Dunchan son of Kennedy of Thomond, was attacked and made prisoner just short of Dublin.

    Read the passage

    The invaders soon returned in greater numbers than before, and overran the whole country. Kennedy, son of Lorcam, was at this time King of Thomond, and Ceallachan King of Munster. The Norsemen were anxious to obtain possession of these chiefs ; but rather than attack Munster they hoped to entice Ceallachan to Dublin under ^alse pretences, and then make him prisoner. Sitric therefore, who was leader of the Norsemen, entered into negotiations with the king of Munster proposing to give him his sister in marriage. Kennedy, King of Thomond, hearing what was going on and suspecting treachery, warned Ceallachan of the danger of leaving his province, and especially of withdrawmg from it any large body of followers to swell his tiain in Dublin. Ceallachan therefore set out with a few retainers to bring his intended wife home, and among this force was Kennedy's son, Dunchan. The cavalcade had nearly reached Dublin, when they were attacked by Sitric's soldiers and made prisoners. Directly Kennedy heard of this treachery, he assumed command of the forces of Munster as well as those of Thomond to revenge the insult offered to Ceallachan and, if possible, to release him and also his own son from the hands of the Danes. Keating records the fact that ^^ Kennedy resolved to prosecute his designs with the greatest despatch, and he raised in addition to his other forces a body of five hundred Dalcasians, and placed them under command of Esida (Macnamara), chief of Clancuilein.^'t

    Everything being ready, and a fleet having started from Limerick for Dundalk, to which place Sitric had removed his prisoners, the army of Thomond marched for that port On the approach of the Irish forces, Sitric took the prisoners on board his vessels which lay in the bay of Dundalk, so that when the Irish arrived they could do no more than stand on the shore and curse their enemies. Before long, however, they saw their own fleet, which had been sent from the Shannon entering the harbour, and the Irish vessels at once closed with the Norsemen. The commander of the Irish ran his ship alongside that of Sitric's and

    Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 41

    As the companion tells it

    As you pass through Dublin, you are moving through a city with a story that goes back to 954. Sitric, leader of the Norsemen, wanted to seize King Ceallachan of Munster, but rather than attack Munster directly, he hoped to lure Ceallachan to Dublin under false pretences and take him prisoner. Sitric entered into negotiations with the King of Munster, proposing to give him his sister in marriage. Kennedy, son of Lorcam, King of Thomond, heard what was going on and suspected treachery. He warned Ceallachan of the danger of leaving his province, and especially of withdrawing from it any large body of followers to swell his train in Dublin. Ceallachan set out anyway with a few retainers to bring his intended wife home. Among this force was Kennedy's own son, Dunchan. The cavalcade had nearly reached Dublin when Sitric's soldiers attacked them and made them prisoners. As soon as Kennedy heard of the treachery, he assumed command of the forces of Munster as well as those of Thomond, to avenge the insult offered to Ceallachan and, if possible, to release him and his own son from the hands of the Danes. Keating records that Kennedy resolved to act with the greatest dispatch. He raised, in addition to his other forces, a body of 500 Dalcasians and placed them under the command of Esida, chief of Clancuilein. A fleet was sent from Limerick for Dundalk, to which place Sitric had removed his prisoners.

54. Limerick burnt by Clancuilein; Sioda Macnamara slain

    Limerick · city · Limerick · 1369

    In 1369, after Brian O'Brien defeated the Earl of Desmond with the aid of Luchlain Macnamara, the Clancuilein burnt Limerick, forcing the inhabitants to capitulate. Sioda, son of Lochlain Macnamara, assumed wardenship of the town but was killed treacherously by the English within it.

    Read the passage

    Brian O'Brien (p. 132) had hardly come into possession of Thomond when he was attacked by the Earl of Desmond (Gerald FitzGerald), but with the aid of Luchlain Macnamara, the English Earl and his allies were thoroughly beaten, and Desmond, together with several other noblemen, were taken prisoners by O'Brien and Clancuilein. ^' On this occasion Limerick was burnt by the Clancuilein, upon which the inhabitants capitulated. Sioda, son of Lochlain Macnamara (by his first wife O'Dwyer) assumed the wardenship of the town, but the English who were in it acted treacherously towards him and killed him.** a.d. 1369.*

    Sir William Wyndsor had been sent over from England as Lord Deputy of Ireland, and he took advantage, as his predecessors had done, of the fighting propensities of the Irish^ which he considered might, in the interests of Ei^land, be expended in slaughtering one another rather than against his countrymen. It was not difficult to sow discord among the sept of Macnamaras after the death of Lochlain. We have seen that this dan had nearty doubled the extent of their territory at the expense

    Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 65

    As the companion tells it

    As you come through Limerick, this is a city that was burnt in 1369. Brian O'Brien had come into possession of Thomond when the Earl of Desmond, Gerald FitzGerald, attacked him. With the aid of Luchlain Macnamara, O'Brien and the Clancuilein thoroughly defeated the English Earl and his allies, and Desmond and several other noblemen were taken prisoner. The Clancuilein burnt the city, and the inhabitants capitulated. Sioda, son of Lochlain Macnamara by his first wife O'Dwyer, assumed the wardenship of the town. But the English who were in it acted treacherously towards him and killed him. After this, Sir William Wyndsor was sent from England as Lord Deputy of Ireland. He took advantage, as his predecessors had done, of the fighting propensities of the Irish, which he considered might be expended in slaughtering one another rather than against his countrymen. It was not difficult to sow discord among the sept of Macnamaras after the death of Lochlain.

55. Macnamara plots to seize Bunratty Castle

    near Bunratty · parish · Clare · 1608

    In a letter dated February 1608 from Montallion, Sir John Macnamara wrote to Donal O'Sullivan in Spain, pledging to take the Earl of Thomond's house of Bunratty when a Spanish army arrived at the river of Limerick or the bay of Galway. The letter reveals Macnamara's conspiracy against the Earl of Thomond.

    Read the passage

    My honourable brother in Christ — I received your letter since the going away of O'Neale and O'Donnell, and am still according to my fedthful vow and promise to you at our being last at Mockheins, wherein I will live and die. The Vicar- G^ieral, Mahoura Magralye, is with me still in these borders to perform these actions. And when the army cometh, according to your promise, either to the river of Limerick or the bay of Galwaye, I will presently come to them and take the Earl of Thomond's house of Bunrattie, for the better performance of my promise to you. I proposed to have gone thither when O'Neale and O'Donnell went away, but I altered my mind for the causes aforesaid. The Earl of Thomond ia determined to go for England, and I cannot tell but that I may go with him to learn more news, and so write to yon all.

    The Baron of Delvin was taken prisoner and committed to the castle of Dublin, when he confessed all the secrets he had, and afterwards made an escape, and hope he is there with you ere now. Yours for ever confirmed,

    Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 86

56. Colonel Macnamara of Cratloe petitions Charles II for restoration of estates

    Cratloe · town · Clare · 1654–1660

    Colonel J. Macnamara of Cratloe petitioned King Charles II for recovery of ancestral estates, having lent the king £100 during exile in Paris in 1654. Despite a letter of acknowledgment from the king, most of his lands had been granted to Peter Creagh, an Englishman.

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    In spite of this assurance, but little could be done for Colonel Macnamara. The greater part of his lands had been made over to Peter Creagh, an Englishman, so detested by the Irish that he had to be provided with a considerable part of the Cratloe property, because it was situated not far distant from the garrison of Limerick.* In spite, however, of the loss of most of his estates, J. Macnamara was elected a Member of Parliament for his county in 1689 ; he was also appointed High Sheriff of Clare. A relation of his, Florence Macnamara, of Dromad, was Member of Parliament for Ennis.t Some other members of the sept also secured portions of their former estates, as, for instance, J. Macnamara, of Creeragh ; Colonel Daniel ; and John, of Moyriesk. Teigie Macnamara, the eldest son of Daniel, of Rathfolan (p. 205), was a distinguished officer in James II.'s army. Under the stipulations of the treaty of Limerick, he held the remnant of his father's property in lower Bunratty; but having mortgaged these lands to Sir D. O'Brien, under failure of redemption, the mortgage was , foreclosed, and the last ancient property of Rathfolan passed from the Macnamaras into other hands (a.d. 1703). The castle, which had only been completed by Daniel Macnamara's father, is now a complete ruin.t After parting with the remainder of his former estates, Teigie Mac-

    • White's " History of Clare." p. 267.

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57. O'Brien-Macnamara land dispute brought to Limerick, 1567

    Limerick · city · Limerick · 1567

    The Earl of Thomond complained to Lord Deputy Sidney that the Macnamaras had taken cattle and killed men. Sidney wrote to the earl urging him not to tangle with the Macnamaras and summoned both parties to meet at Limerick. The dispute was rooted in the earl's appropriation of Macnamara lands.

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    We hear of trouble between O'Brien (Earl of Thomond) and the Macnamaras in the year 1567. The former had been educated in England, his mother and grandmother having been Englishwomen ; the Macnamaras, on the other hand, were still pure Celts, bred and bom in Clare. In a letter which the Lord Deputy, Sir Henry Sidney, sent to the Council in London, dated from Cork, February i, 1567, he observes that he had written to ''the Earl of Thomond regardii^ his letter complaining against the Macnamaras, that so soon as we came to Limerick we would consider the complaint and require him to remember your lordships' letter, and not tangle with the Macnamaras. In the mean we received the earl's answer declaring that he could not do so, for that Macnamara had done many things which he could not su£fer." Sidney continues, the earl afiirms that they (the Macnamaras) had not only taken cattle, but also "despatched some knaves," which, he observes, '< God knoweth, they might spare enough, and her Majesty lose never a good subject " ; and, further, he charged those concerned in the matter to meet him at Limerick on the following Thursday ; '' he spared not to tell the earl of his lack of dutie in oure said letter to his lordship." f There was, however, much more than a few cattle involved in this matter, for, as we shall discover from subsequent correspondence, the Earl of Thomond, presuming on his position had appropriated lands belonging to the Macnamaras, and on the latter appealing against these proceedings, the earl had attempted to carry the point with a high hand^ conduct which the Lord Deputy was not disposed to permit. Matters however seem to have quieted down for the time, and Sir Henry Sidney passed through Clare to Galway. He gave orders to abolish ''coyning and livery," and such like cesses, directing that the rules of English law should be substituted for the Brehon code ; and to aid him in efiecting this purpose, Donald O'Brien of Ennistymon was made governor of Clare. The new ruler signalized his accession to office by hanging

    * "Annals of the Four Masters," a.d. 1584.

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58. Thomas de Clare strengthens fort at Quin

    Quin · town · Clare · 1277

    De Clare entered Clonroad unopposed and strengthened and garrisoned a fort at Quin, a strategic post in Macnamara territory separated from the chief's residence by the river Rine. He converted a church dedicated to St Finghin into a church and fortress, building a courtyard with walls nearly 10 feet thick and round towers at three angles.

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    At the time of De Clare's advance from Limerick to Clonroad,Turlough O'Brien was away to the west of the Fergus receiving the fealty of the MacMahons, and De Clare therefore entered Qonroad unopposed; the Macnamaras were not prepared to meet him single-handed, and they retreated, with their cattle and goods, into the dense forests nordi of Clare. Several of the Dalcasian septs, however, jomed Brian Roe and the Anglo-Norman forces, and he strengthened and garrisoned the fort which before Conor's time seems to have been erected at Quin (p. 99), an important strategical post in the Macnamaras' territory ; in fact, it was only separated from the residence of the chief of our sept by the river Rine. There was a church in this place dedicated to St Finghin, which De Clare converted into '' a church and a fortress." This edifice still exists, with its massive walls and narrow lancet windows ; but De Clare's fort was on the opposite or eastern side of the stream. It consisted of a courtyard some 1 20 feet square, with walls nearly 10 feet thick, and round towers 40 feet broad at three of its angles. The lower part of these towers and the walls of this fort still remain ; it was within these that De Clare subsequently (1380) built a strong castle,* which has since made way for the beautiful Franciscan abbey erected on the site occupied by the castle within the fort of Quin. In fact, the walls of the old castle and of the fort constitute part of the existing abbey. De Clare at this time also built the castle of Bunratty at the ''dear harboured mouth of the River Raite." Part of this building is inhabited at. the present time by the Irish constabulary.

    ♦ •• The Normans in Thomond,*' by T. J. Wcstropp, M. A., (" The Proceedings of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland*') ; also " Annals of InnisfKllen/' xaSob

    Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 49

59. Clare Brigade assembles at Quin Abbey after Treaty of Limerick

    Quin · town · Clare · 1691

    Following the Treaty of Limerick, the men of the Clare Brigade assembled at a cavalry camp under the walls of Quin Abbey before marching to Limerick to embark for France. Among their officers were eight of the Macnamara family who entered the French service along with their followers.

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    Under the treaty of Limerick it was agreed that the Irish troops who had fought for James II. were to be allowed to leave their country at the Government expense. The greater number of the men of the Clare Brigade assembled at the cavaby camp under the walls of Quin Abbey, and from thence marched to Limerick and embarked for France, among their officers were eight of the Macnamara fomily, who, together with their followers, entered the French service. The residue of St. Ruth's unfortunate army were shipped to France (1691). In all it is computed that some 19,000 splendid Irish soldiers under the gallant Sarsfield embarked at Cork.f The history of the Clare Brigade has yet to be written, and a most interesting one it would be, not only from a military but also from a social and political point of view. In the last battle the Brigade fought under the orders of Lord Clare, the Frendi army in Piedmont was tmder the command of Catinat, who, we are told, at the battle of Marsaglia (October 1693), *' to support and animate his troops by the example of the Irish soldiers, placed in the right wing of the first line the King's and Queen's Irish Dragoons, numbering some 1400 men. Clare's infantry, three battalions strong amounting to 2000 men were placed to the left of the line, and the Limerick regiment, 2800 strong, in the centre. Prince Eugenes attacked and routed three of the French re^ments posted in the first line. These giving way, their place was taken by Clare's three battalions, with two of the French from the second line, who charged the Germans with such fiiry that they in their turn were obliged to £dl back. The battle was thus restored on the left wing, and the Irish dragoons being equally successful on the right, the day seemed lost to the AUies, when Eugene led up his centre,

    ♦ Frost's •• History of Clare,*' p. 603.

    Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 114

60. Mac-Con Macnamara founds Quin Abbey

    Quin · town · Clare · 1400–1433

    Mac-Con Macnamara, prince of Clann-Cullin, constructed and founded the noble and magnificent monastery of Quin for the Observantine Brethren at the beginning of the fifteenth century. The Bull of Eugene IV, dated 1433, confirmed this foundation, addressing Mac-con Macnamara as Prince of Clann-Culin.

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    Mac-Con Macnamara, prince of Clann-Cnllin. constractedand founded, aboat the beginning of the fifteenth century, the noble and magnificent monastery of Connyeh (Quin), for the Observantine Brethren, and the Bull of Engene IV. is seen bearing upon this point, under the year 1433. " Dil$do filU nobUo mro. Mac4^on^ac' namara Dud de Claim-CuUytm, 6«. 6«., i.e., to " His beloved son, to the noble man, Mac-con-Macnamara, Prince of Clann-Culin, Ac. &c.'* This house hath never ceased to rule the Principality of Clann-Culin up to the middle of the sixteenth century, a time in which finding itself aggraved by the continuous incursions of the supporters of the English Reformation, and much enfeebled by the betrajral of its parent, the chief of the House of O'Brien to the common cause, in submitting himself as well as his estates to Henry VIII., and accepting from this Sovereign the title of Count of Thomond, it judged it prudent to submit likewise, as well as its principality, to Queen Elizabeth, and to receive from this princesss the Investiture thereof, with this difference, that it had rather, without altering its illustrious character, to hand down to its posterity the title of chief of this ancient house, than to receive it anew from the English Court, which up to that time was to it a stranger. At all times this illustrious house has made sacrifice of itself for the support of religion, and for the maintenance of the power to which it hath been attached, many of whose members have lost their life and their property in the service of Charles I., decafntated in 1649, for whom they raised two regiments at their expense. They made the same efiforts for James II., and passed with him into France, where James IIL gave them an authentic testimony of their services, and the antiquity and nobility of their birth, by a patent dated at St. Germain en Laye, the 7th of April, 1704. They have exhibited in our regards the same sentiments of honour and love for us personally ; in a word, ever since that period of time, they have served us with the same zeal and distinction. Wishing therefore to give on all occasions the testimony of our satisfaction of the signal services which the brave Irish nobility has rendered to the kings who preceded us, and which it still continues to render to ourselves, we have resolved to adorn our well-beloved, the said Henry Pantaleon Macnamara, or Macnemara, with the title of Count of our kingdom, reversible for ever to the chief of the branch of this house, established in our said kingdom, as a distinctive mark due to his high nobility. For this purpose, &c*

    Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 115