Name: The story of an Irish sept : their character & struggle to maintain their lands in Clare
Author: Nottidge Charles Macnamara (1832–1918)

Daniel Macnamara settles in Burren for smuggling

Muckinish · townland · Clare

Due to crushing English export duties on Irish wool, smuggling became highly profitable. The southern shore of Galway Bay with snug inlets like Muckinish and Kinvara Bays provided ideal hiding places with caves and dark recesses, and Daniel Macnamara and his numerous family settled there.

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eighteenth centniy. In consequence of the crushing eiqport duties levied by England on Irish wool and other agricultural produce, the temptation to smuggle was vastly augmented, and the profit to be derived fix>m it greatly increased. The southern shore of Galway Bay, with its snug inlets for boats, such as Muckinish and Kenvarra Bajrs, which run up to the Burren hills, with their wonderful caves and dark hiding-places, would seem to be an ideal place for freebooters; and here Daniel Macnamara and his numerous family settled/ They were Roman Catholics, and therefore excluded from the army, navy, or any of the liberal professions ; but even in this world-forsaken Burren district they were not allowed to acquire land, for we find in 1690 and in 1701 that petitions were forwarded to the Government against them by informers^ who claimed the lands which certain Macnamaras had acquired in Burren, because they had obtained these lands being Roman Catholics, and had consequently no right to them.t
Daniel Macnamara's eldest son, Teigie, after the capitulation of Limerick (p. 246) had retired to Smithstown, Burren, situated near the Atlantic coast, five miles east of Doolin, some thirteen miles south-east of his father's place at Ballinacragga.

Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 122

Dineley's Sketch of Rosroe Castle

Rosroe · townland · Clare

Dineley left a sketch of the Macnamara castle at Rosroe (rendered as 'Roscoe' in the text), showing the keep surrounded by dwellings and stables within an enclosing wall. This wall protected against wolves and served as an inviolable family refuge until Cromwell's time.

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Dineley has left us a sketch of one of the Macnamara castles, Roscoe. The keep or residence of the family was evidently surrounded by dwellings inhabited probably by the servants, retainers, and the stables, the whole being enclosed by a stone wall, which served not only as a means of defence against wolves, but within these walls was the inviolable refuge or home, a place which up to the time of Cromwell was sacred to the family, and into which, without permission of its head, neither the arm of the law nor any human being might enter. Sanctity of a precisely similar nature is in the mind of the Celt still connected with his house ; a man, however deep his crime, is safe under the protection of his home. So strong is this feeling, that although the police often
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Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 107

Dublin judgment abolishes Brehon land customs

Dublin · city · Dublin · 1605

A judgment delivered in Dublin in 1605 mandated that all Irish customs regarding landed property be set aside in favor of English common law. This effectively abolished the Brehon laws of tanistry and gavelkind, dispossessing many junior members of families.

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there they lived until prepared to go forth to administer to the religious wants of their coiuitrymen with death or imprisonment staring them in the hce.* As the Government were unable to lay hands on these youths in their Continental seminaries, they proceeded to punish parents who sent their sons abroad with the object of entering the priesthood; and the rules compelling Roman Catholics to attend Protestant services were rigidly enforced. But it was all to no purpose ; and the Government, in despair of converting the Irish to the Protestant faith by these means, gave up the attempt. The custom of tanistry and of gavelkind were abolished by law ; and from a judgment delivered in Dublin in the year a.d. 1605, all Irish customs appertaining to landed property were to be set on one side in favour of the common law of England ; but no means were taken to guard the interests of junior members of families who under the Brehon code would have inherited sufficient land to maintain them and their children in that grade of society to which they belonged. These people, having been deprived of their inheritance by the substitution of English for Irish law, were turned adrift impoverished and unable to gain a living. It was the sudden and untimely application of English law to the condition of the landed proprietors living under the old Brehon code that completely disorganised the land tenure in Ireland, and from which it has never recovered, t The Government soon afterwards re-enacted the law of gavelkind in Ireland, with the express object of sub-dividing the estates of Irish Roman Catholic landowners, so as to minimise their influence in the country, and this Act remained in operation until the time of George III.
It was necessary to refer thus briefly to matters aflecting the general

Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 85

As the companion tells it

Dublin, the city the road passes through, was where a judgment delivered in 1605 changed the shape of landholding across Ireland. The customs of tanistry and gavelkind, the old Brehon systems for passing on land, were abolished by law. From that judgment, all Irish customs appertaining to landed property were to be set on one side in favour of the common law of England. But no means were taken to guard the interests of junior members of families, who under the Brehon code would have inherited sufficient land to maintain them and their children in that grade of society to which they belonged. These people, having been deprived of their inheritance by the substitution of English for Irish law, were turned adrift, impoverished and unable to gain a living. It was the sudden and untimely application of English law to the condition of the landed proprietors living under the old Brehon code that completely disorganised the land tenure in Ireland, and from which it has never recovered. The Government soon afterwards re-enacted the law of gavelkind in Ireland, with the express object of sub-dividing the estates of Irish Roman Catholic landowners, so as to minimise their influence in the country. That Act remained in operation until the time of George III. Before all of this, the Government had tried other pressures. Unable to lay hands on youths training for the priesthood in their Continental seminaries, they punished parents who sent their sons abroad with the object of entering the priesthood. Rules compelling Roman Catholics to attend Protestant services were rigidly enforced. But it was all to no purpose, and the Government, in despair of converting the Irish to the Protestant faith by these means, gave up the attempt.

Dublin Parliament's 1689 Act of Attainder

Dublin · city · Dublin · 1689

The Dublin Parliament introduced a bill attainting 1,270 individuals of high treason for rebelling against King James II. The bill stated the rebellion had begun in the north of Ireland with the aim of dethroning the king.

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Another Act of this Parliament was << The Act of Attainder," which, as Mr. Davis observes, must be condemned; most of the persons attainted, and they formed a long list, were in arms against James II. Nevertheless, this Bill was on all fours with an Act introducted into the English House of Commons on the loth June 1689, ^' to attaint of high treason certain persons who are now in Irelend or any other parts beyond the seas, adhering to their Majesties enemies, and shall not return into England by a certain day." The Bill introduced into the Dublin Parliament stated that the rebellion had broken out in the north of Ireland to dethrone their legitimate king, and bring in the Prince of Orange^ and that full pardon having been offered and refused by the insurgents, they were attainted of high treason, and to suffer its penalties unless before the loth August they came and stood their trial ; their number amounted to 1270 individuals. By a second clause of this Bill,, attainted persons who absented themselves from Ireland before or since the 5th November 1688, were to have ail their goods and property confiscated.
* Connaught and Clare, as we know, had by CroraweU been set apart for Roman Catholic landowners from other parts of Ireland, who were innocmt, that is, who had not joined the Confederate army.

Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 111

As the companion tells it

As you pass through Dublin, this is the city where, in 1689, the Parliament passed what was called the Act of Attainder. Mr. Davis observed that it must be condemned, though most of the persons named on its long list were indeed in arms against James the Second. Even so, the Bill was matched by an Act introduced into the English House of Commons on the 10th of June 1689, to attaint of high treason certain persons then in Ireland or beyond the seas who would not return to England by a fixed day. The Bill brought before the Dublin Parliament stated that the rebellion had broken out in the north of Ireland to dethrone their legitimate king and bring in the Prince of Orange. It said full pardon had been offered and refused by the insurgents, and so they were attainted of high treason, to suffer its penalties unless they came and stood their trial before the 10th of August. Their number amounted to 1270 individuals. A second clause of the Bill ordered that attainted persons who had absented themselves from Ireland before or since the 5th of November 1688 were to have all their goods and property confiscated.

Ennis free trade meeting led by Col. Francis Macnamara, 1778

Ennis · town · Clare · 1778

In June 1778, a meeting held in Ennis, County Clare, presided over by Colonel Francis Macnamara as High Sheriff, passed resolutions pledging loyalty to the Sovereign and then vowing not to purchase English-manufactured goods until England granted Ireland free trade. Similar meetings were held throughout the country.

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The first real efibrt made by the Irish people to disentangle the political net by which they were surrounded, was to demand emancipation from the commercial restrictions imposed on the country; this demand was the more urgent in consequence of the terrible agricultural distress which exbted throughout Ireland in the year 1778. The Lord Lieutenant went so £u: as to urge on the Government in London the necessity for concessions in this direction, and after much hesitation Uie House of Commons consented to allow the agricultural produce of Ireland to be shipped to our colonies without, as heretofore, being first sent over to an English port to be transhipped to America or the West Indies. But even this relief to the starving Irish was violently opposed on the part of the mercantile classes and the landed proprietors in England. It was not, however, the time to heed clamour of this sort, tor public feeling was growing high in Ireland, and was soon likely to lead to very decided steps being taken against the restrictions on tnule.t For instance, in an outof-the-way place like Ennis, county Clare, at a meeting held in June 1778, presided over by Colonel Francis Macnamara, High Sheriff of the county, resolutions were first passed expressing the sincere loyalty of the meeting to the Sovereign ; after which it was moved and carried that the meettng pledged itself; and all those it could influence, not to purchase goods manu&ctured in England until sudi time as that country chose to grant Ireland FreeTtade ; similar meetings were held throughout the country 4 In October 1779, at an assembly of the Dublin Volunteers, placards were exhibited inscribed with the words ^ Free Ttade or revolution.''^ At the same time, Grattan, Sir Lucius O'Brien, and other members of the Irish Parliament, pressed the matter on the Government, and at length gained their end, for the restrictions on the produce of agriculture were removed in the yeai 1780. In die same session Bills were passed relieving Dissenters in Ireland from the Sacramental test; a habeas onpus Act was passed, in truth, England found it necessary to yield to the claims of the Irish, for she was then

Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 128

Henry VIII disturbs Brehon land tenure in Clare

near Clare · population centre · Clare

In the mid-sixteenth century, arrangements between Henry VIII and the leading landowners of Clare disturbed the traditional Brehon code of land tenure for the first time. Despite this, the people west of the Shannon continued under their old laws and customs until the reign of James I.

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In the preceding chapter I have endeavoured to give a brief account of the people from which the members of our sept were derived, together with the social, political, and religious conditions under which they lived until the middle of the sixteenth century:, at that time certain arrangements were made between Henry VIII. and the leading landowners of Clare, whereby the tenure of the land under the Brehon code was for the first time disturbed ; but in other respects the people living to the west of the Shannon continued to flourish under their old laws and customs until the reign of James I.
We may now proceed to leain from contemporary historians something as to the character of our ancestors, and to trace the influence which their inherited qualities had in moulding their career; for history is valuable in so far as it enables us to comprehend the causes which have led to the success or Mure of the people to which it refers, and to probe the virtues and vices which, as links in the chain, their descendants are destined to pass on to their children. In the case of Irishmen, it seems .that knowledge of this kind is of peculiar value : the government of that country has been, and still is, a vexed question, largely because due weight has not been given to the (act that die character of the Irish Celt and English Saxon difier, and laws and customs which to the latter appear to be unexceptionable, are by no means necessarily best fitted for the former people. Working on these principles, we must endeavour to discover from their actions in what the peculiarities of the Celtic Irishman consists, and if we come near the truth in this matter we shall have done something towards lajdng a foundauon on which to base a sjrstem of treatment calculated to alleviate, if not to remove some of the social and political anomalies under which Irish Celts exist

Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 36

Inauguration of Brian Roe as King of Thomond at Magh Adhair

near Magh Adhair · monument · Clare · 1260–1280

Sioda Macnamara presided over the inauguration of Brian Roe as King of Thomond at the historic inaugural site of Magh Adhair. This was followed by Turlough O'Brien's revolt, in which the Macnamaras joined, leading Brian Roe to seek aid from the Earl de Clare.

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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, Chapter 47

Lord Clare's 1746 letter to Captain MacDonogh at Doolin

Doolin · townland · Clare · 1746

Lord Clare, living in Paris, addressed a letter to Captain MacDonogh at Doolin in October 1746, congratulating him on his marriage, urging his return to the Irish Brigade, and referencing the victory at Fontenoy.

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Donogh does not appear to have returned to Fhmce with his men, for in 1746 Lord Clare addressed a letter to him at Doolin ; this letter was dated Paris, October, i746.*
Teigie Macnamara lived at Smithstown until he had attained an advanced age, he left a laige family ; his grandson (William), bom in 1 7 14, married the daughter of Francis Sarfield, of Doolin Castle, and he succeeded to that property, containing some of the richest grazing lands in the country. William's grandson, who was for some time M.P. for county Clare, married the only child of M. Finucane, whose wife was the daughter of £. O'Brien of Ennistjrmon, in this way the Castle and estates of Ennistymon came into possession of the Macnamaras of Doolin, and are still held by William's grandson, H. W. Macnamara, Esq., High Sheriff of county Clare.t

Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 122

As the companion tells it

Somewhere close to Doolin, in October 1746, a letter arrived from Paris. Lord Clare, writing from there, addressed it to Captain MacDonogh. He congratulated him on his marriage and urged him to come back to the Irish Brigade, and he spoke of the victory at Fontenoy. MacDonogh does not appear to have returned to France with his men. The letter is the record of that moment, sent across the sea from Paris to this coast.

Macnamaras complain to Sidney at Limerick about ruin of Thomond

Limerick · city · Limerick · 1571

When Lord Deputy Sidney was at Limerick in 1571, two Lords of Thomond called Mac Nemarroes came to him lamenting the ruin and waste of their countries, craving the execution of English laws and sheriffs. Sidney confirmed they were ruined and sought to plant sheriffs among them.

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The Lord Deputy Sidney made an official visit to Clare in the year 157 1. One of the main objects he appears to have had in view was to suppress the practice of landlords in chargmg their tenants with *^ uncertaine cesses, cuttings, and spendings ''; but this custom among the Irish was of such long standing that even the Lord Deputy could do little in the matter. He states that when he was at Limerick ** two Lords of Thomond, called Mac Nemarroes, came to him lamentinge the niyn and wast of their countries." The Lord Deputy adds *' and ruyned they are indede, craving to have the execution of English lawes and to have Sheriffes planted amongst thera.'^t Again, writing to the Council in April 1576, Sir Henry Sidney observes "that he left L3rmerick on the 37th of February, and entered Thomond attended by Earl of Thomond, and several of the O'Briens, who had in former times been Kings of Limerick, all so neire kinsmen and yet no one of them friende to another." Sidney adds, " I also had with me the twoe MacNemarroghes, by us called East and West Mac Nemarroghes, cheife gentlemen of that countrey, which, if it were in quiet, they might lyve lyke principale knights in England." Among all the chief men Sir Henry Sidney met with in Thomond, he states he " could not find one descended in English race. They all complained of the Obryens for the rujme of their countrey ; and truly in such desolation and wast it is." Sir Henry, after crossing the Shannon, marched through Clare in two dsLjs on his way to Gal¥7ay, so that he really could have seen very little of the country. The Lord Deputy remained for some time in Galway, and bound the O'Briens " by bonds of great sommes," and further he carried off the earl's brother with him to Dublin, where he " still deteined hym in iron.'' Sir Donell O'Brien of Ennistymon was made Sheriffs of Clare. Other officers were appointed, such as a Provost-Marshal, with a proper force to back his authority, and keep the idle people which swarmed in the country in restraint. Sir H. Sidney states that '' the root and origine of all this trouble was the uncerteine grannte, and unstable possession of their landes, whereupon grewe their warres." The Lord Deputy adds,

Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 76

As the companion tells it

Coming through Limerick now. In 1571 Lord Deputy Sidney came here on an official visit to Clare, meaning to stop landlords charging their tenants what he called uncertaine cesses, cuttings, and spendings. But that custom was so old among the Irish that even the Lord Deputy could do little. While he was in this city, two Lords of Thomond called the Mac Nemarroes came to him lamentinge the ruyn and wast of their countries. Sidney confirmed it. He said, and ruyned they are indede. They were craving the execution of English laws and to have sheriffs planted amongst them. Later, writing to the Council in April 1576, Sidney said he left Limerick on the 27th of February and entered Thomond attended by the Earl of Thomond and several of the O'Briens, who had in former times been Kings of Limerick, all so neire kinsmen and yet no one of them friende to another. He also had with him the two MacNemarroghes, called East and West, cheife gentlemen of that countrey, which, if it were in quiet, they might lyve lyke principale knights in England. Among all the chief men he met in Thomond, he could not find one descended in English race. They all complained of the O'Briens for the ruin of their country, and truly, he said, in such desolation and wast it is. He crossed the Shannon and marched through Clare in two days on his way to Galway, so he saw very little of it. In Galway he bound the O'Briens by bonds of great sommes and carried off the earl's brother to Dublin, where he still deteined hym in iron. Sir Donell O'Brien of Ennistymon was made Sheriff of Clare. A Provost-Marshal was appointed with a proper force to keep the idle people in restraint. Sidney said the root and origine of all this trouble was the uncerteine grannte and unstable possession of their landes, whereupon grewe their warres.

Macnamara territory extended between Fergus and Shannon

near Clare · population centre · Clare · 1318–1343

After the long struggle against the Anglo-Normans, the Macnamara sept's lands were extended with King Mortough O'Brien's approval to include almost the whole part of Clare between the rivers Fergus and Shannon, about twenty miles east to west and eighteen north to south.

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during the thick of the contest had attempted to crush Clancuilein, and who had put to death their favourite chief, Lochlain Macuamara. The lands of our sept were therefore, mth King Mortough's full approval, extended so as to include almost the whole of that part of Clare situated between the rivers Fergus and Shannon, an area occupying some twenty miles from east to west, and eighteen miles from north to south.
Brian Bane, who had fought for De Clare at Dysert, fled from the field, and, with the consent of King Mortough O'Brien, was assigned lands in Ormond. He here came in contact with the English of the Pale, and entered into an alliance with them such as that which had existed between himself and De Clare. With the aid of his new friends Brian Bane first attacked De Burgo, who was supported by the Macnamaras and O'Briens ; but the latter were defeated, and in the following year, a.d. 1328, Mortough and Mac-con Macnamara were again worsted by Brian and the English. After tliis, until the time of Mortough's death, which took place in the year 1343, the inhabitants of Clare seemed to have enjoyed comparative peace. We unfortunately lose the assistance of Roiy Macgrath at this period of our history, for his work was brought to a close with the death of Mortough O'Brien. Macgrath, however, mentions Mac-con Macnamara as being alive in the year 1343, and we have good reason to believe that he continued as head of his sept certainly as late as A.D. 1365.

Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 62

Papal Nuncio Rinuccini arrives in Cork

Cork · city · Cork · 1644

Archbishop of Fermo, Monsignor Rinuccini, was sent by Pope Innocent X as Nuncio to Ireland. After considerable delay, he arrived in Cork in October 1644 with written papal orders to restore ecclesiastical discipline and reform Catholic habits without prejudicing anyone's temporal dominion.

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Innocetit X. was supreme pontiff at Rome, and in 1642 was kept informed of all that was going on in Ireland by Father Scarampi ; but on an appeal for help firom the Irish, the Pope, when sending them munitions of war, including considerable sums' of money, thought proper to appoint one of the ablest ecclesiastics at his command as Nuncio to Ireland The person selected for this mission was the Archbishop of Femo, Monsignor Rinucdni; after considerable delay the Nuncio arrived in Cork in October 1644, with written orders fh>m the Pope ^' not to go beyond the limits of pure benefit to the Catholic religion, to restore ecclesiastical discipline, and to reform the habits of Catholics relaxed by a long course of firee livmg ; " he was << to have no thought of prejudicing the temporal dominion of any one;" t but the Nuncio had no sooner arrived in Kilkenny than he found himself overwhelmed in politics and siurounded by a council engrossed in their own squabbles rather than uniting with fixed resolve to fight the battle of those who elected them to office.
About the time that Rinucdni appeared on the scene in Ireland a very different individual came to the fore. The young Earl of Inchiquin, an O'Brien, a man of wonderfiil energy, and a thorough soldier, but unstable as the wind: at one time a Protestant and Royalist, at another an officer under Cromwell's government, afterwards a Roman Catholic* He was carried by pirates to Morocco, but he escaped, and was soon heard of fighting, first in the cause of France, and then of Spain. Inchiquin commenced his military training as a lad in the Italian army, and, after active service in that country and in Spam, he relumed to Ireland, and came to be on friendly terms with Strafford He was, at the age of twenty-four, appointed to the command of Charles I.'s troops in Munster, and in that capacity was enabled to afford the kmg material aid.^ Inchiquin, not content with being in •command of the king's forces, aspired to become governor of the

Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 92

As the companion tells it

Passing through Cork, this is where a papal mission came ashore in October 1644. Pope Innocent X had been kept informed of affairs in Ireland since 1642 by Father Scarampi. When the Irish appealed for help, the Pope sent munitions of war and considerable sums of money, and chose one of the ablest ecclesiastics at his command as Nuncio to Ireland. The man selected was the Archbishop of Fermo, Monsignor Rinuccini. After considerable delay he reached Cork carrying written orders from the Pope. His instructions were "not to go beyond the limits of pure benefit to the Catholic religion, to restore ecclesiastical discipline, and to reform the habits of Catholics relaxed by a long course of free living." He was "to have no thought of prejudicing the temporal dominion of any one." But the Nuncio had no sooner arrived in Kilkenny than he found himself overwhelmed in politics, surrounded by a council engrossed in their own squabbles rather than uniting with fixed resolve to fight the battle of those who elected them to office. About the time Rinuccini appeared in Ireland a very different individual came to the fore. The young Earl of Inchiquin, an O'Brien, a man of wonderful energy and a thorough soldier but unstable as the wind: at one time a Protestant and Royalist, at another an officer under Cromwell's government, afterwards a Roman Catholic. He was carried by pirates to Morocco but escaped, and was soon fighting first for France and then for Spain. He began his military training as a lad in the Italian army, and after service in Italy and Spain returned to Ireland and came to be on friendly terms with Strafford. At 24 he was appointed to command Charles I's troops in Munster.

Phelim's army encamps on the Shannon against Thomond

Shannon · town · Clare

Phelim, King of South Munster, marched an army against Thomond demanding tribute from the Dalcassians and encamped on the eastern bank of the Shannon. Lachtna, chief of Thomond, sought peace, disguised himself, and visited Phelim's camp to negotiate an amicable agreement.

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bishop of South Munster.* Unmindful of the £sict that the Dalcais were exempt from paying tribute either to the monarch of Ireland or to Munster, Flan nevertheless demanded pa]rment and submission from Lachtna, which was refused, whereupon Phelim marched an army against Thomond and encamped on the eastern bank of the Shannon. Lachtna desired peace and assembled his chiefs, including Maolchuite, who at that period was the head of Clancuilein; they determined to resist the demand for tribute, and against the advice of their king wished to resort to arms in defence of their rights. Thereupon, Lachtna disguised himself and proceeding to Flan's camp he obtained an audience with the King of Munster, and came to an amicable agreement with him ; the chief of Thomond then returned home; but in the meantime Phelim's mind had been poisoned by a sage he had consulted on the subject of the negotiations which he had been engaged in, and having been persuaded to distrust Lachtna he sent off a messenger in hot haste to recall that chief to his camp. On receiving this message Lachtna at once retraced his steps, ''and when Flan saw his good firith he felt iuU confidence in the chief of Thomond, and as a token of regard gave him his own steed and robes." Flan, we are told, also gave his blessing to Lachtna, which, as Mr. T. J. Westropp observes, could hardly have been accounted of much importance, as this king and bishop had just previously attacked and robbed the churches of Clonmacnoise, Armagh, Durrow, and Kildare,t and put their clergy to the sword.

Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 41

Quin Abbey college reopened with scholars, 1646

Quin · town · Clare · 1646

After the Confederate Government granted freedom of religious worship, the clergy reopened their college at Quin Abbey. An individual who studied there in 1646 reported it was soon crowded with scholars.

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the second half of the sixteenth century, states: ** Without either precepts or observation of congruity, they speak Latin like a vulgar language, learned in their common schools oiLuchcraft and Law^ whereat they bq;in as children, and hold on sixteen or twenty years, conning Groate, the ^Aphorisms of Hypocrates,' and the Civil Institutions, and a few other parings of those two faculties."* Champion continues : ^ I have seen them where they kept schoole, ten in some one chamber, upon couches of straw, their books at their noses, themselves lying flatte prostrate, and so chaunte out their lessons by peecemeale, being for the most part lustie young fellows." Such were the students of medicine and law in the West of Ireland in the year 1571. A system of secular education had existed there from the earliest times ; b^ond this up to the period of the Reformation the clergy had excellent schools all over the country, and we have noticed (p. 200) that no sooner had the Confederate Government granted them freedom of religious worship, than they reopened their coU^e at Quin Abbey, which we are told by one who studied there in a.d. 1646, was soon crowded with scholars.

Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 107

Sioda Macnamara's lands beyond the Shannon, proposed as Baron of Clancuilein

Shannon · town · Clare · 1543

The Lord Deputy wrote to Henry VIII describing Sioda Macnamara as a man whose ancestors had great influence in those parts, whose lands lay wholly on the far side of the Shannon. He requested Sioda be advanced to the honour of a baron by the name of Clancuilein.

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The day previous to recommending Henry to create Morrogh O'Brien an '' Erie," the Lord Deputy addressed a letter to the king, in which, referring to Sidoa Macnanuura's submission, he observes, ^^ and that the «aid M*Nemarro ys a man whose anncestors have in those partes alwayes borne a grete swynge, and one that for himself is of honest confomiities, whose landes lye holy on the farsyde the Shanan, we most humbly beseech your Majestie to regarde him according to your princly bounty to advance him to the honour of a baron by the name of Clancuilein, and that he may holde such landes and possessions as he now hathe." To this communication Henry VIII. replied, probably at the instigation of O'Brien, who was at the time at Greenwich, that ''we have made the lord of Upper Ossery Macnamarrow a knight"* This title was never assumed by Sioda Macnamara. The Rev. D. White suggests it may have been lost or sent to some one else, for Sioda Macnamara died as he had lived, simply a landlord of Clare and chief of his sept.
Sioda Macnamara married a daughter of Desmond O'Shagnasie of Gort, and had four sons, the eldest, John, died in 1570, leaving an in£uit son, Sir John Macnamara, who died without issue. Shan, the second son of Sioda, died on March 31, 1587, leaving five sons his co-heirs under the law of gavelkind, which was still in force in Clare ; the second of these sons, named Teigie, and his son Sioda, was made heir at law by his cousin Sir John Macnamara. It was from this branch of the &mily that James Macnamara, M.P. for Leicester, and his brother Admiral John

Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 74

Skull stolen from Clonmacnoise brings disease on Turlough

Clonmacnoise · townland · Offaly · 1070–1086

Turlough O'Brien removed the skull of a former king of Meath from Clonmacnoise and took it to Kincora. A mouse emerged from the skull, and Turlough fell ill until the skull and gold were restored to the church.

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Turlough O'Brien now became King of Munster and Thomond, and after the death of his foster-&ther he assumed the sovereign power over the whole of Ireland ; Ulster at first held out against him, but ultimately paid him tribute as a mark of submission. Turlough would appear to have had no great reverence for the Church, for he not only plundered the rich monasteries of Clonard and Kells, but he also removed firom Clonmacnoise the skull of one of the former kings of Meath, and took it with him to Kincora. It is reported by the annalists that a mouse came out of the skull and ran under Turlough's mantle. The king was at once seized with *^ a sore disease, so that his hair fell off, and he was like to die, until the said skull, together with a certain amount of gold, was restored to the church, when the king began to recover." * In spite, however, of Turlogh making free with church property, Lanfranc, William the Conqueror's Archbishop of Canterbury, addressed the Irish king in a.d. 1070 as ''the magnificent King of Ibemia, to whom God was mercifiilly disposed, and also to the people of Ireland, in giving him royal power over the land." Lanfiranc proceeds to bear testimony as to Turlough's '* pious humility, severe justice, and discreet equity." This letter was sent to Turlough O'Brien through the hands of Patrick, who had been elected Bishop of Dublin by the Danes, and passed over to England to be consecrated by Lanfianc; Dublin, a Danish colony, having before this period placed her ecclesiastical a£rairs directly under the Roman Pontiff.

Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 45

Treaty between Parliamentarians and Clare Brigade, April 1652

Limerick · city · Limerick · 1652

A formal treaty was drawn up in April 1652 between the Parliamentarians and the officers of the Clare Brigade, signed on behalf of the Brigade by Daniel Macnamara. The troops surrendered their arms but retained horses and property, and soldiers wishing to leave Ireland for the Continent were to be transported at government expense.

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In the April following the capitulation of Limerick a formal treaty was drawn up between the Parliamentarians and the officers of the Clare Brigade. Under this treaty, among other stipulations it was agreed that the troops forming the Brigade should deliver up their arms, but were to be allowed to retain their horses, and any real property they possessed^ so long as they kept the peace. Provision was also made that any of the soldiers of the Brigade who desired to quit Ireland for the Continent should be enabled to do so at the expense of the Government. This document was signed on behalf of the Clare Brigade by Daniel Macnamara.! Ludlow informs us that in April 1652 '* the number of Irish who submitted on condition of being transported into foreign service was so great, that they became a heavy burden to the Sute, before shipping could be provided to carry them dl out of the country."
* Ladk>w*8 *' Memoirs/' pp. 199 and 340.

Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 96

Anglo-Normans around Bunratty exploit Celtic sept strife

near Bunratty · parish · Clare · 1311

The Anglo-Normans living in and around Bunratty took advantage of weakness caused by strife among the Celtic septs of Clare. Richard De Clare formed an alliance with Dermot Brian Roe and assumed authority at Bunratty.

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The Anglo-Normans living in and around Bunratty, were not slow to avail themselves of the weakness caused by the strife that was raging among the Celtic septs of Clare ; Richard De Clare at once formed an alliance with Dermot Brian Roe, who before De Clare assumed the head of affairs at Bunratty, had been defeated by King Donough O'Brien and Clancuilein, for the latter, notwithstanding their struggle with the other Dalcasian septs, appear to have joined Donough against the common enemy. The Macnamaras, after the murder of their chief, had elected his brother Lochlain Mac Cumea Macnamara in his place, he being, as Magrath states, '' a favourite with the chiefs for his bravery, with his hospitallers for his good-natured deference, with the clergy for his justice, and with little children for his mildness, with ladies for his affable sweetness of temper; " he married a daughter of Donough O'Connor, chief of Corcomroe.*
Donough O'Brien, in conjunction with the De Burghos of Galway, in May 131 1 attacked Bunratty, but De Burgo was taken prisoner, and

Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 54

King Flan's warlike expedition to Magh Adhair

near Magh Adhair · monument · Clare · 877

Around 877, Flan, King of Ireland, came with warlike purpose to Magh Adhair in Clare, the fertile plain associated with the Dalcasians. The Dalcasian forces overwhelmed Flan's cavalry so completely that not one horse was left on the plains of Adhair. After three days without food or rest, Flan sought protection from the men of Dal-Cas and was granted safe conduct with guides to the Shannon and onward to Tara.

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Flan (King of Ireland) said, " Fortunate it is Mac Lonain that thou hast arrived ; reach me the chessboard.'* Flan, with warlike purpose, had come to Magh Adhair :
• Heating's ** History of Ireland " (translated by O'Mahoney), p. 581.

Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog

Moyrisk mansion and the last of the Macnamaras

Moyrisk · townland · Kerry · 1800–1850

The Moyrisk mansion was a centre of hospitable society, with Colonel Macnamara keeping a pack of hounds and multiple teams of horses. Heavy debts ultimately led to the property being sold, and John 'Fireball' Macnamara was the last of the Moyrisk Macnamaras.

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Major Macnamara's brother John, ^ Shawn Bwee," as he was called, or *' Yellow John," on account of his swarthy complexion, lived at Moyrisk during his father's lifetime, and added much to the pleasure ofthe roUiddng society which always crowded the rooms of that hospitable mansion. His father kept a pack of hounds, and more than one team of horses filled his stables, and with an establishment in proportion he ran up heavy debts, which ultimately led to the property being sold. But during the early part of this century the future was the last thing which Colonel Macnamara and his sons thought of. Jdm, or as he was better known, Fireball Macnamara, was a great fiivourite throughout Clare ; he is said to have fought fifty-seven duels during his early }rears, besides standing second in numerous affairs of honour. He is supposed to have fought incognito at the Battle of Vinegar Hill with the peasantry* and was then wounded in the thigh, and so ?^as lame for the rest of his life. Fireball's name is at the present time a household word in Clare, and among the people numberless tales are told of his deeds ; for he evidently exercised a fiiscinating influence over his neighbours and fiiends, and was overflowing with brave and generous sentiments ; a keen lover. of sport of every kind. The tender side of Fireball's nature was brought out in his chivalrous devotion to his charming sister. Fair Mary cf Moyrisk^ who seems not only to have been a remarkably beautiful young woman, but was also held in the highest respect by all who came under her influence. There ?ras much in John Macnamara's character which reminds us of the qualities displayed by so many of his ancestors, who were chiefs of one of the principal families of our sept. Fireball was the last of the Moyrisk Macnamaras, and, like many of those who had preceded him he attached ♦ Very Rev. P. White, P.P.. V.G. : " History of Clare," p. 337-
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Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 133

Ballyallia garrison evacuated to Bunratty

near Bunratty · parish · Clare · 1641–1642

After the capitulation of Ballyallia Castle, Donogh Macnamara and his followers conducted such of the garrison as wished to leave the country to Bunratty, where they took ship to England. Others returned to their farms and remained in possession throughout the succeeding years of trouble.

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invested by the Irish.* Not having any ordnance, die besi^ers constructed a large wooden shed some thirty feet by nine in size; it was •covered with layers of hides '^ so as to be impenetrable to musket bullets or arrows.*^ This machine was moved up to the walls of the castle, and from it workmen commenced to undermine the foundations of the building. The Irish also made ^* a leather piece of ordnance about five feet long, which, being loaded with thirteen pounds of powder, burst at the first discharge.'' So matters went on until one of the Cufies was taken prisoner by the Irish in an attempt to procure food for the garrison. The Irish then sent a message to the English that unless they consented to give up the castle, Cu£fe junior would be hanged. Provisions and water were runnmg short, and as no prospect of relief seemed probable, the garrison capitulated. Whatever the feeling may have been 'between the English and Irish in other parts of Ireland neither treachery or cruelty was shown them at this time in Clare. Donogh Macnamara and his followers conducted such of the garrison of BallyaUia as wished to leave the country to Bunratty, and they took ship to England ; others returned to their farms and remained in possession of them throughout the years of trouble which succeeded the surrender of Ballyallia.

Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 91

Banshee folklore traditions of the Burren

Burren · townland · Clare

The supernatural being that appeared to the army before the Battle of Corcomroe reflects enduring folklore in the Burren district. The author notes that circumstantial accounts of Banshee visitations remained common among local people even in modern times.

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As Mr. Westropp observes, remarkable as Magrath's account of the appearance of this supernatural being is, no one who has heard the stories of people living in Burren at the present day can be surprised at his description. In this district circumstantial statements are common as to the visits of Banshees even in recent times, often told by people who had themselves seen such apparitions ; it is no wonder therefore that an author of the thirteenth century should indulge his readers with myths of this description.
We must, however, retmn to our historian's account of Dermot O'Brien's force which, as before stated, passed the night before the battle in the Abbey of Corcomroe. At the dawn of day they were awakened by reports of the advance of the enemy with standards displayed, with

Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 58

Brian Boru and Aodh Macnamara storm Scattery Island

Scattery Island · townland · Clare · 977

In 977, Brian Boru, assisted by Aodh Macnamara, chief of Clancuilein, stormed the island of Scattery, driving the Danes who had taken refuge there to their ships and clearing Thomond of its enemies.

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From the ** Annals of Innisfiedlen " we learn that, in the year a.d. 977, Brian Boru, assisted by Aodh (Macnamara), chief of Clancuilem, stormed the island of Scattery, driving the Danes, who had found refuge there, to their ships, and completely clearing the district of Thomond of their enemies.
Brian Boru t was now proclaimed King of Munster, but Malachy, who

Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 41

Brian Boru's residence overlooking the Shannon at Killaloe

Killaloe · town · Clare

Brian Boru lived on a spur of hills overlooking the Shannon where it flows out of Loch Derg, a spot of great beauty commanding the ford at Killaloe. This ford was the only weak point in Clare's eastern boundary, the only place where the Shannon could be crossed.

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The county is divided by the river Fergus into east and west Clare, the greater part of the former being covered by low hills and bog land ; but to the south-east of this part of the county there are a mass of lofty rugged hills which run down to the Shannon and the western shore of Loch Derge. These hills in former times were covered with forest trees and were known as one of the best hunting districts in Ireland ; it was here that Brian Boru lived, his place of residence being situated on a spur of the hills overlooking the Shannon as it passes out of Loch Deige, a spot of exceeding beauty, and commanding the ford of Killaloe, the only weak point in the boundary of Clare to the east.
The northern part of the western division of Clare is formed by the district of Burren, which Cromwell's general, LudloW, refers to as not possessing vrater sufficient to drown a man in, wood eilough to hang a man on, or soil sufficient to bury him in. Burren is in fact little more than a series of bare hills, some of them rising a thousand feet above the level of the sea ; the sides of these hills are terraced in a remarkable manner and are of a light slate colour, with patches of exquisitely green grass scattered over their surface ; they are, however, intersected with deep valleys, forming some of the finest grazing lands in the country.^ Burren, with all its barrenness, has singular charms : its northern boundary, formed by Galway Bay, is indented with creeks which run up to the foot of its hills for long the home of numerous smugglers. To the west, the hills of Burren form perpendicular cliffs against which the Atlantic hurls its mighty waves, a coast which can hardly be equalled for the wildness or grandeur of its scenery, and which has been so well described by the Hon. Miss Lawless in her pathetic story of *' Hurrish."

Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 8

Catholic priests transported to Aran Islands and Inishbofin

Inishbofin · townland · Donegal

Catholic priests who failed to depart Ireland under Cromwell's orders were arrested; some were sent to Spain and Barbados, while those too numerous to be provided for were removed to the islands of Arran and Inis Bonfin. This was part of a policy of stern repression of Roman Catholicism.

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Mr. Froude describes this act as a ^' masterly stroke of policy " on the part of Oliver Cromwell ; this historian continues as follows : *' The western province had a natural boundary in the Shannoa Beyond this deep and effectual barrier, the families of the chiefs — ^the middle and upper classes as we should call them, from whose ranks the worst elements of disorder arose — might receive an equivalent of lands of which they were deprived. There livmg among themselves, they might die out or multiply as their lot might be : a line of physical demarcation would then be drawn between the Teutonic and Celtic population." Mr. Froude adds that '' the Catholic priests were judged guilty of high treason and ordered to depart — such of them as did not remove were put on vessels for Spain, and to the Barbadoes — ^finally, when the number arrested were too great to be provided for, they were removed to the islands of Arran, and Inis Bonfin. Romanism, sternly repressed, must have died out, and the lines of difference between the two countries, now as marked as ever, and almost as threatening, would have long ago disappeared."*
. * " The English in Ireland " (Froude), voL i. pp. 133 and 140 ; see Prendeigast's ^' Cromwellian Settlement," 2nd edit. p. 246.

Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 97

Cormac's Chapel built on the Rock of Cashel

near Rock of Cashel · rock or rocks · Tipperary · 1127–1134

During Connor O'Brien's reign, Cormac, Prince Bishop of Cashel, built a beautiful chapel which still exists on the rock at Cashel. The chapel is described as a gem of massive architecture demonstrating that the arts were not neglected amid the fighting and turmoil of twelfth-century Ireland.

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Cumea Mor Macnafnara. — During the year 1134, Connor O'Brien, King of Thomond, being absent from his territory, Macarthy, chief of Desmond, invaded the province, ^'and in an engagement with the Dalcais, headed by Cumea Macnamara of Ui-Caisin,''t that chief was killed. His death is referred to by the annalists as follows : they state " it was a just judgment on Cumea for having plundered, during the previous year, the great cathedral church of Tuam." Macarthy, after having slain the chief of Clancuilein, was returning with great booty to South Munster, but was overtaken by the Macnamara sept, who recaptured their property and slew Macarthy. It was during Connor's reign that Cormac, Prince Bishop of Cashel, built the beautiful chapel which still exists on the rock in that place, a very gem of massive architecture, which, together with the wonderful missab and other penmanship of the time, demonstrate the fact that, amidst all the fighting and turmoil going on in Ireland, the arts were not neglected ; the work of the twelfth century in iron, gold and silver, not only shows taste in design but skill in workmanship.
Turlough O'Brien determined to subdue Connaught, and on his march from Clare had to '^ cut his way by clearing a path for his followers through a densely thick forest" which covered the route which he took along the line of country between the existing towns of Gort and Atheney. He destroyed the " red birch tree " under which the O'Hjmes were elected chiefs, and, having taken the chief of the O'Kellys prisoner, returned vi& Leinster into Thomond.

Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 45

Council at Killaloe enacts laws to restrain injustice

Killaloe · town · Clare · 1063

A council was assembled at Killaloe where laws were enacted to restrain every injustice, great or small, after a period of famine and disorder in Ireland.

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destroyed, and the people grew dishonest, there was no safety for any one." In these circumstances a council was assembled at Killaloe, and we are told that laws were then enacted '* to restrain every injustice, great or small, and in consequence God gave peace and favourable weather."
Turlough O'Brien now became King of Munster and Thomond, and after the death of his foster-&ther he assumed the sovereign power over the whole of Ireland ; Ulster at first held out against him, but ultimately paid him tribute as a mark of submission. Turlough would appear to have had no great reverence for the Church, for he not only plundered the rich monasteries of Clonard and Kells, but he also removed firom Clonmacnoise the skull of one of the former kings of Meath, and took it with him to Kincora. It is reported by the annalists that a mouse came out of the skull and ran under Turlough's mantle. The king was at once seized with *^ a sore disease, so that his hair fell off, and he was like to die, until the said skull, together with a certain amount of gold, was restored to the church, when the king began to recover." * In spite, however, of Turlogh making free with church property, Lanfranc, William the Conqueror's Archbishop of Canterbury, addressed the Irish king in a.d. 1070 as ''the magnificent King of Ibemia, to whom God was mercifiilly disposed, and also to the people of Ireland, in giving him royal power over the land." Lanfiranc proceeds to bear testimony as to Turlough's '* pious humility, severe justice, and discreet equity." This letter was sent to Turlough O'Brien through the hands of Patrick, who had been elected Bishop of Dublin by the Danes, and passed over to England to be consecrated by Lanfianc; Dublin, a Danish colony, having before this period placed her ecclesiastical a£rairs directly under the Roman Pontiff.

Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 45

Death of Sioda Macnamara at Quin

Quin · town · Clare · 1277

Sioda Macnamara died at Quin in 1277 after Donogh Brien succeeded his father and joined de Clare. He was succeeded as head of the sept by Covdha or Cumheadha, who was later refused to De Clare by Mac Carthy of Desmond.

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Thomond, on Magh Adhair-— Turlough O'Brien's revolt joined by the Macnamaras— Brian Roe seeks aid of Earl de Clare— Turloogh and Clancnilein (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 Qain» a.d. 1277 — Succeeded by Covdha or Cumheadha— Mac Carthy of Desmond declines to give Covdha up to De Clare— Cov^ha 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 Quinby Cov^ha Macnamara— His death, a.d. 1306 — ^Donchard Macnamara succeeds— His victory over other Dalcasian septs and his murder . . . Pp. 94-115

Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 2

De Clare's agent retreats to Bunratty

near Bunratty · parish · Clare

After De Clare's agents failed to persuade the Clancuilein sept to abandon Mortough O'Brien's cause, despite offers of expanded territory, the agent departed for Bunratty following much excited speech.

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declined to listen to these overtures, or to be tempted by De Clare's offers of an increase of their territory to give up the cause of their ^ected king and relation, Mortough; and the agents of De Clare had consequently, after much excited speech, to take himself off to Bunratty.*
Soon after this attempt to allure Clancuilein from his cause, Mortough O'Brien came into the heart of the Ui-Caisen territory. The sept were right glad to welcome their lord and foster-brother ; and with him they marched eastward to punish the Hi-Blood clan, who had taken an active part in the events which led to the execution of Lochlain ; this deed, in fcurt, had been perpetrated in the Hi-Blood territory. Mortough O'Brien and his forces were well-nigh coming to grief in this expedition, for the Hi-Blood managed to out-manoeuvre the king, and suddenly appeared in his rear. Maccon Macnamara instantly divided his men into two parties, ordering one to appear as if in flight, while the rest of his followers were to pretend to be in pursuit ; the enemy were thus deceived, and taking those in flight for Mortough's force and their pursuers as a party of their own followers, rushed down in confusion on the rear of Maccon's men, who instantly turned on their enemies, and before they could re-form cut them to pieces. This kind of warfare was carried on throughout the years 1314 and 1315, Maccon and his sept always being in the thick of the fray.

Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 56

Disbanded officers at Aughrim

Aughrim · parish · Galway

Disbanded Protestant officers dismissed from the Irish army by Tyrconnel went to Holland and subsequently fought at Aughrim in the ranks of William's army.

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James II. appointed Tyrconnel as Lord Deputy of Ireland ; he was a Roman CadioliCy and devoted to the king's poliqr. At the time of James* accession, the Irish army numbered some six or seven thousand men, all of them being Protestants. Tyrconnel, under the reserve or short service system of that period, incr^ued the fighting men in Ireland to forty thousand, all of them being Roman Catholics, most of them descended from the old Celtic landowners. The Lord Deputy then dismissed all Protestants from the army; he took the clothing of some four thousand of them, and sent them almost naked to gain a living as best they could. The disbanded Protestant officers, to the number of three hundred, mostly went to Holland, and appeared in the ranks ci William's army at the Battle of the Boyne, and at Aughrim.t
King James landed in Ireland in March 1689, and on his arrival in Dublin issued a proclamation, requiring his absentee subjects to return to Ireland. He exjvessed his determination to suppress any civil disturbance in the country, and to grant religious freedom. Lastly, he summoned a Parliament to meet at Dublin on the 7th of May. The Irish had never abandoned the hope of obtaming a repeal or mitigation of the Acts of Settlement and Explanation ; as late as 1686 they had sent agents over to England to seek the repeal of these Acts ; but these agents were attacked 1^ the London mob, and were glad to make their escape bade to Ireland.

Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 111

As the companion tells it

You are coming into the parish of Aughrim. This is ground where men who had been cast out came back to fight. When James II took the throne, the Irish army had six or seven thousand men, all Protestants. He appointed Tyrconnel as Lord Deputy. Tyrconnel was a Roman Catholic, devoted to the king's policy. He raised the fighting men in Ireland to forty thousand, all of them Roman Catholics, most descended from the old Celtic landowners. Then he dismissed every Protestant from the army. He took the clothing of some four thousand of them and sent them almost naked to earn a living as best they could. The disbanded Protestant officers, three hundred of them, mostly went to Holland. They appeared in the ranks of William's army at the Battle of the Boyne, and at Aughrim. King James landed in Ireland in March 1689 and issued a proclamation from Dublin requiring his absentee subjects to return. He promised to suppress civil disturbance and grant religious freedom. He summoned a Parliament to meet in Dublin on the 7th of May. The Irish had never given up hope of obtaining a repeal or mitigation of the Acts of Settlement and Explanation. As late as 1686 they had sent agents to England to seek the repeal of these Acts, but the agents were attacked by the London mob and were glad to escape back to Ireland.

Ecclesiastical establishments late to take hold in Clare

near Clare · population centre · Clare

In Clare, ecclesiastical establishments were hardly operative until the fifteenth century, meaning the Celtic relieving officer system for care of the poor and needy persisted long before monastic charity became widespread there.

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agents in the distribution of charity. But in Clare such establishments were hardly operative until the fifteenth century. The Celtic relieving officer had large powers, for he was entitled to levy a rate in kind on the landowners of the district in which he resided for the maintenance of the <^ wretched and wandering poor.** This officer is described as a "pillar of endurance/' a truly Celtic idea of a relieving officer; he was ffarther to suffer " the reddening of his face without insult to his tribe f in other words, he was not to consider himself disgraced because he was abused by beggars. Each tribe was chargeable for the maintenance of its own " sick men and women, and for the keep of those who were incurable." We also learn with ** respect to sick maintenance " that it included the attendance of "a ph3rsician, and for providing food, bedding, and lodging, and in guarding the sick from things prohibited by the physician."* Amongst the things thus prohibited by law were ** that the sick man be not injured by women, or by dogs (that is), fools and female scolds were not to be allowed to approach the sick person, or to offer him forbidden food.'*! Careful provision was also made for the children of lepers, or of those who were of unsound mind, of blind people and of orphans.

Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 22

Fair Mary of Moyrisk

Moyrisk · townland · Kerry

Fair Mary of Moyrisk, sister of John 'Fireball' Macnamara, was described as a remarkably beautiful young woman held in the highest respect by all who came under her influence. Fireball showed chivalrous devotion to her.

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Major Macnamara's brother John, ^ Shawn Bwee," as he was called, or *' Yellow John," on account of his swarthy complexion, lived at Moyrisk during his father's lifetime, and added much to the pleasure ofthe roUiddng society which always crowded the rooms of that hospitable mansion. His father kept a pack of hounds, and more than one team of horses filled his stables, and with an establishment in proportion he ran up heavy debts, which ultimately led to the property being sold. But during the early part of this century the future was the last thing which Colonel Macnamara and his sons thought of. Jdm, or as he was better known, Fireball Macnamara, was a great fiivourite throughout Clare ; he is said to have fought fifty-seven duels during his early }rears, besides standing second in numerous affairs of honour. He is supposed to have fought incognito at the Battle of Vinegar Hill with the peasantry* and was then wounded in the thigh, and so ?^as lame for the rest of his life. Fireball's name is at the present time a household word in Clare, and among the people numberless tales are told of his deeds ; for he evidently exercised a fiiscinating influence over his neighbours and fiiends, and was overflowing with brave and generous sentiments ; a keen lover. of sport of every kind. The tender side of Fireball's nature was brought out in his chivalrous devotion to his charming sister. Fair Mary cf Moyrisk^ who seems not only to have been a remarkably beautiful young woman, but was also held in the highest respect by all who came under her influence. There ?ras much in John Macnamara's character which reminds us of the qualities displayed by so many of his ancestors, who were chiefs of one of the principal families of our sept. Fireball was the last of the Moyrisk Macnamaras, and, like many of those who had preceded him he attached ♦ Very Rev. P. White, P.P.. V.G. : " History of Clare," p. 337-
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Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 133

Inauguration of Conor O'Brien as King of Thomond

near Magh Adhair · monument · Clare · 1243

Conor O'Brien was inaugurated as King of Thomond in 1243 at Magh Adhair by Sioda MacNamara. This event highlights the traditional ceremony of Gaelic king-making in Thomond.

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Donough O'Brien was succeeded by his eldest son Conor» who was inaugurated on Magh Adhair (a.d. 1243) Kitfg of Thomond» by Sioda (Sheeda) MacNeil Macnamara. The territory of Tbomond then extended from Loop Head to Cashel, thence to Parsonstown and the Bay of Galway ; but no longer included South Munster, which had passed to the MacCarth)rs and other chiefi of Desmond. Conor O'Brien married the daughter of Niel Macnamara, who at the time was chief of Clancuilein, an event which had an important influence on the disturbed state into which Thomond was plunged by two rival sections of the O'Brien &mily who claimed the leadership of the Dalcasian tribe. By the marriage of the head of one of these Actions with the Macnamaras, the most powerful septs of this famous tribe were intimately imited, and through many years of terrible strife they maintained their supremacy, although the rival section of the O'Briens was supported by the Anglo-Normans under De Clare, who so soon as he could conquer its chief had been granted possession of Thomond by the King of England.
The first appeal to anns which Conor O'Brien was called upon to consider was at the request of Henry III^ who summoned him, a.d. 1252, to cross over to England and aid in his proposed expedition against the King of Scotland ; before Conor could ascertain the feeling of the Dalcasians as to taking part with the King of England in a war of this kind, Henry came to terms with Scotland and so the n^otiations between him and Conor O'Brien fell through.

Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 49

Inauguration of Kings of Thomond at Magh Adhair

near Magh Adhair · monument · Clare

The inauguration of the Kings of Thomond took place at Magh Adhair as a civil procedure with no reference to ecclesiastics or religious observances. The head of the Macnamara sept officiated on these occasions.

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It is difficult to form an opinion as to what effect the Christian religion may have had upon the lives of individual members of our sept. The invasion of Ireland by the Danes' and Anglo-Normans, together with the subsequent war and turmoil going on in Thomond during the twelfth, thirteenth, and fourteenth centuries, must have turned the minds of men towards self-preservation rather than to the practice of religion. Even in important ceremonies, such as the inauguration of the Kings of Thomond on Magh Adhair, no reference is made to ecclesiastics or to any religious observances ; the head of our sept officiated on these occasions, and the function of making the king was a civil procedure. The Macnamaras built Quin Abbey, and other churches on their estates, but they never held Church preferments, as did some of the 0*Briens, O'CarroUs, and other Dalcasian families ; nevertheless, in the time of persecution which fell upon the Irish Church in the seventeenth, and eighteenth centuries, by far the greater number of the sept remabed staunch to their Church ; some of them, as, for instance, Roger Macnamara of Quin, rather than renounce their religion willingly yielded up their lives.*

Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 107

Irish soldiers embark at Cork for France under Sarsfield

Cork · city · Cork · 1691

After the Treaty of Limerick, approximately 19,000 Irish soldiers under Sarsfield embarked at Cork for France. This comprised the residue of St. Ruth's army shipped abroad in 1691.

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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

John Macnamara raises Yellow Dragoons in Clare

near Clare · population centre · Clare · 1689–1690

John Macnamara, a member of the Dublin Parliament of 1689, soon became Colonel of the Yellow Dragoons, which he raised in Clare and led at the Battle of the Boyne.

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James II. entered Dublin on March 24, accompanied by D'Avaux as ambassador from France, and with a splendid Court On May 7 his Parliament had assembled, and the king, "with robe and crown," addressed the Commons ; he pronounced his policy to consist in ** liberty of conscience, and against invading any man's property." The king stated he had come to Ireland, '* to venture my life with you in defence of your liberties and my own rights." The conditions under which the Parliament of 1689 met therefore were exceptional, the King of Ireland was there to guard and control the deliberations of Parliament, Dublin was predominated by his Court, and full of his English and French friends and supporters. The members of this Parliament met, but many of them had other urgent duties to atteiid to ; for example, John Macnamara was soon to be Colonel of the ** Yellow Dragoons," which he raised in Clare, and led at the Battle of the Boyne ; Florence Macnamara, another member of the Dublin Parliament, was engaged in oiganising a regiment of infantry raised in his own county* In these circumstances, with the exception of the Act of Attainder, the Dublin Parliament of 1689 did good work, and in a thcMroughly business-like manner. Among other matters it laid down the principle that **the EngUsh Parliament had not, and never had, any right to legislate for
♦ See p. 194.

Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 143

Lord Deputy marches armed force to Wexford

Wexford · town · Wexford

Upon James I's accession, the Lord Deputy marched an armed force to Wexford to ensure Protestant services were read in churches throughout Ireland. This action was taken against the backdrop of Irish Catholics turning Protestants out of their churches.

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James I. having Celtic blood in his veins, and being the son of the unfortunate Mary Queen of Scots, the Irish rushed to the conclusion that he must be a Roman Catholic, and, acting under this impression, so soon as he came to the throne they turned the Protestants out of their churches, and re-established the old services. The Lord Deputy, however, marched with a force of armed men to Wexford, and made provision for the Protestant services being read in all churches throughout Ireland. At the same time the gentry were conunanded to take an oath of allegiance to the King, which they had no objection to do; but most of them refused to acknowledge him as head of the Church ; for this reason they received the name of ^' recusants," and measures were taken to confiscate their lands. So great was the persecution of the recusants that many of them left the country, including such men as the Earls of Tyrone and TyrconnelL It was in vain the Irish urged on the King that all they desired was to be allowed to '^exercise in public the religion which they had always practised privately; and as their public prayers gave testimony to their loyal hearts, so they were no less careful to manifest their duty to God, in which they never would be dissembling." The only answer they got to this appeal was an order that every Popish priest must leave the country on pain of death or imprisonment.
Another effect of this coercive policy was to drive a number of Irish youths abroad to be educated for Holy Orders. Seminaries were established for their reception in almost every country of Europe, and

Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 85

As the companion tells it

As you pass through Wexford, this town carries a story from the time James the First came to the throne. He had Celtic blood in his veins and was the son of Mary Queen of Scots, so the Irish rushed to the conclusion that he must be a Roman Catholic. Acting under that impression, they turned the Protestants out of their churches and re-established the old services. The Lord Deputy responded by marching a force of armed men to Wexford, and made provision for the Protestant services being read in all churches throughout Ireland. At the same time the gentry were commanded to take an oath of allegiance to the King, which they had no objection to do. But most of them refused to acknowledge him as head of the Church. For this reason they received the name of recusants, and measures were taken to confiscate their lands. The persecution was so great that many left the country, including the Earls of Tyrone and Tyrconnell. The Irish urged on the King that all they desired was to be allowed to, in their words, exercise in public the religion which they had always practised privately, and as their public prayers gave testimony to their loyal hearts, so they were no less careful to manifest their duty to God, in which they never would be dissembling. The only answer they got to this appeal was an order that every Popish priest must leave the country on pain of death or imprisonment. This coercive policy also drove a number of Irish youths abroad to be educated for Holy Orders, and seminaries were established for their reception in almost every country of Europe.

Mac Con's army lands near Galway

Galway · city · Galway

Mac Con, having been banished from Munster, secured help from the King of Scotland and Britain. His army, commanded with Beine a Prince of Wales, landed in Ireland near the site of the present town of Galway to invade the country.

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Olioll had nine sons. Of these, Eoghan, the eldest, and six of his brothers were killed in a battle fought against their half-brother Mac Con, the son of Sabia's former husband, ^ nursed on the same knee as Eoghan, and at the same breast" Mac Con appears to have been a delicate, peevish child, and, when nothing else would pacify him, those under whose care he was brought the boy to Olioll's favourite wolfhound, who was so tender and fond of children that young Mac Con and the hound became fiist friends, so much so that he received the name of Mac Con (son of a hound). When Mac Con had grown to manhood he was entrusted with certain duties by his step&ther, and, having £dled in his trust, he was banished by the king from Munster. He sought refrige with the King of Scodand without revealing his name and position, and was received on friendly terms. One day some Irishmen arrived in the Scotch king's presence while he and Mac Con were engaged in a game of chess; Mac Con questioned the strangers as to die state of affairs in Ireland, and then turned the conversation to that of bis own frunily in Munster. "Oh!" said the strangers, "with them nothing goes weU ; they are under the bondage of women ;" upon hearing this remark, Mac Con seized scAie of the heavy chessmen he was plajdng with and flung them at the strangers. "A fit of affection," exclaimed the King of Scotland ; "it is evident to whom you belong." Mac Con dien related his history to the king, and sought his help to regain his position in Ireland. The king accepted this obligation, and, having obtained help from Britain, they assembled "what there were of ships and galle3rs and barges in the coast of Britain and Saxonland, so that they filled the King of Scotland's ports." t The troops on board these vessels were placed under the command of Mac Con, and Beine, a Prince of Wales. The army landed in Ireland near the site of the present town of Galway. The monarch of Ireland, hearing of the invasion of his country, joined his forces with those of Olioll, Kling of

Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 37

As the companion tells it

As you pass through Galway, you are near where an army once landed to invade Ireland. Mac Con was the son of Sabia's former husband, nursed at the same breast as Eoghan, the eldest son of Olioll. He was a delicate, peevish child, and nothing would pacify him until they brought him to Olioll's favourite wolfhound, a hound so fond of children that Mac Con and the animal became close friends. He was given the name Mac Con, son of a hound. When he grew to manhood, Olioll entrusted him with certain duties. He failed in his trust, and the king banished him from Munster. He sought refuge with the King of Scotland, without revealing his name or position, and was received on friendly terms. One day some Irishmen arrived in the Scotch king's presence while he and Mac Con were playing chess. Mac Con questioned the strangers about the state of affairs in Ireland, and turned the conversation to his own family in Munster. The strangers said, "with them nothing goes well; they are under the bondage of women." Mac Con seized some of the heavy chessmen and flung them at the strangers. The King of Scotland exclaimed, "it is evident to whom you belong." Mac Con then related his history and sought help to regain his position. The king accepted, and having obtained help from Britain, they assembled ships and galleys and barges from the coast of Britain and Saxonland until they filled the King of Scotland's ports. The troops were placed under the command of Mac Con and Beine, a Prince of Wales. The army landed in Ireland near the site of the present town of Galway. The monarch of Ireland, hearing of the invasion, joined his forces with those of Olioll.

Macnamara castles built across newly acquired Clare territory

near Clare · population centre · Clare · 1365–1373

After the death of Lochlain Macnamara, the sept built many strong castles across their newly acquired district in Clare to protect themselves from local disturbances arising from having imposed tribute on eleven Dalcasian septs. The ruins of many of these castles still existed in Clare at the time of writing.

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of some eleven Dalcasian septs, on whom they imposed tribute, and thus converted them into bitter enemies. To protect themselves from local disturbances the Macnamaras therefore built many strong castles over the newly acquired district,, and no doubt ruled with a firm hand* The ruins of many of the Macnamara castles still exist in Clare, and Mr. T. J. Westropp has kindly sent me pen-and-ink sketches of some of these buildings, which I am thus able to reproduce.
At the time of Lochlain Macnamara's death, aj>. 1365 (or 1373), Teigie, the son of his first wife (Sioda, his elder brother, was kill^ at Limerick 1369), and Hugh, the son of his second wife, came to an agreement by which they divided Ui-Caisin. The former fiunily were to retain possession of the original tribal lands or West Oancuilein, and Hugh was to be chief of the recently acquired territory, and so become lord of East Clancuilein. But difficulties arose between these chiefe, and in the year 1377 we find Teigie Macnamara supporting the De Burgos, while Hugh had thrown in his lot with the English, who were commanded by the Lord Deputy. In an engagement that ensued the latter were successfiil and the Chuiricardes (De Burgos) suffered severely. In the following years, we are informed by ^'The Four Masters," that ^' Teigie, the son of Lochlain Macnamara, was slain by the son of the daughter of CKelly," that is by his half brother. We have further official reference to the part which Macnamara took m these transactions in a close roll, 48 of Edward HI., dated May 1374.*

Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 65

Middlemen supplant Macnamara septs in Clare

near Clare · population centre · Clare

The author describes how middlemen had largely supplanted the heads of Macnamara and other septs in Clare, replacing the older clan-based land system that existed before 1641 with an oppressive rack-renting regime over descendants of once-great families.

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Arthur Young found these middlemen not unfrequently the masters of a pack of miserable hounds, with which they w^^ed their time and money; they were the hardest drinkers in the land, "and were the I most oppressive species of t3rrants that ever lent assistance to the I destructioa of a country.'' f They were relentless in collecting the rents from die tenants to whom they had sub-let holdings ; and in case of failure to pay had no more compunction in turning the unfortunate cotter out on the road than they had of expelling a pig from his stye.t These were the men who in Clare had largely supplanted the heads of the various families of Macnamaras and other septs livmg under a system such as that referred to previously to 1641. Nor does this description of the state of things complete the picture, for we must bear in mind that the rule of these middlemen was exercised over a highly sensitive people, full of retrospective imagination, and pride of race and land. Arthur Young states, mth truth, that many of these cotters were the ''lineal descendants of great fiunilies, once possessed of vast property, but now in the lowest situation, working as cotters for the great-great-grandsons of men, many of whom were of no greater account in England than these poor labourers are at present, on that property which was once their own.'' Young continues : ^ So entire an overthrow and change of landed possession is, within the period, to be found in scarcely any country of the world. In Ireland fiunilies were so numerous, and so united in clans that the heirs of an estate are always known ; and it is a fact, that in most parts of the kingdom the descendants of the old landowners regularly transmit by testamentary deed, the memorial of their right to those estates which once belonged to their families." §
* "Inquiry into Causes of Popolar Discontent in Ireland"; also Professor J. E. Caimes' " Political Essays." t A. Young : •• Tour in Ireland," vol. ii. p; 27. t /Wi., p. 59. § Ibid,, p. 59.

Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 119

Parliament at Limerick to formalise Thomond land agreement, 1542

Limerick · city · Limerick · 1542

In 1542, Lord Deputy St Leger summoned a Parliament to meet at Limerick to legalise an agreement with the chiefs of Thomond regarding land tenure. Morrogh O'Brien and Sioda Macnamara came to Limerick with documents stating the terms upon which they would hand over their lands to the Crown.

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In the year 1542, St L^er, who was Lord Deputy of Ireland^ summoned a Parliament to meet at Limerick, with the object of legalising an agreement with the chie& of Thomond regarding the tenure of the land and other questions concerning the l^;al government of that part of the country. Morrogh O'Brien, and Sioda Macnamara came to Limerick to meet the Lord Deputy, with documents which they had prepared, stating the terms upon which they were willing to hand over their lands to the Crown, the basis of the understanding being that the landlords of Clare should receive their lands back with tities drawn up according to English law and procedure. The following is a copy of the agreement entered into between Sioda Macnamara, and Henry VIIL on this occasion :
Patent 34, Henry VIIL, a.d. 1542, December 10.

Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 72

As the companion tells it

Coming through Limerick now. This is the city where, in 1542, the Lord Deputy of Ireland, St Leger, summoned a Parliament to legalise an agreement with the chiefs of Thomond over the tenure of their land. Morrogh O'Brien and Sioda Macnamara came here to meet the Lord Deputy carrying documents they had prepared, stating the terms on which they were willing to hand over their lands to the Crown. The basis of the understanding was that the landlords of Clare should receive their lands back with titles drawn up according to English law and procedure. A patent was entered into between Sioda Macnamara and Henry the Eighth on this occasion, dated the 10th of December 1542.

Patrick elected Bishop of Dublin by the Danes

Dublin · city · Dublin · 1070

Patrick was elected Bishop of Dublin by the Danes and travelled to England to be consecrated by Lanfranc, Archbishop of Canterbury, who sent a letter to Turlough O'Brien through him.

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Turlough O'Brien now became King of Munster and Thomond, and after the death of his foster-&ther he assumed the sovereign power over the whole of Ireland ; Ulster at first held out against him, but ultimately paid him tribute as a mark of submission. Turlough would appear to have had no great reverence for the Church, for he not only plundered the rich monasteries of Clonard and Kells, but he also removed firom Clonmacnoise the skull of one of the former kings of Meath, and took it with him to Kincora. It is reported by the annalists that a mouse came out of the skull and ran under Turlough's mantle. The king was at once seized with *^ a sore disease, so that his hair fell off, and he was like to die, until the said skull, together with a certain amount of gold, was restored to the church, when the king began to recover." * In spite, however, of Turlogh making free with church property, Lanfranc, William the Conqueror's Archbishop of Canterbury, addressed the Irish king in a.d. 1070 as ''the magnificent King of Ibemia, to whom God was mercifiilly disposed, and also to the people of Ireland, in giving him royal power over the land." Lanfiranc proceeds to bear testimony as to Turlough's '* pious humility, severe justice, and discreet equity." This letter was sent to Turlough O'Brien through the hands of Patrick, who had been elected Bishop of Dublin by the Danes, and passed over to England to be consecrated by Lanfianc; Dublin, a Danish colony, having before this period placed her ecclesiastical a£rairs directly under the Roman Pontiff.

Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 45

Quin Abbey granted to an O'Brien by Elizabeth

Quin · town · Clare

Queen Elizabeth granted Quin Abbey to an O'Brien, reflecting the Crown's policy of favouring the O'Briens in the distribution of ecclesiastical and monastic properties in Clare.

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O'Neill's rebellion — Desmond, a.d. 1582 — Confiscation of the greater part of land of Ulster and South Monster by the Crown— Terrible years of war and famine, 1551 to X582 — Clare and the Macnamaras remained at peace— References to members of the sept by **The Four Masters*' — Commencement of trouble between O'Briens and Macnamaras, a.d. i567^Sidney's remarks on the dispute— ^Important inquisition in connection with land tenure by Macnamaras. A.D. i585^Borome tax existed in Clare at the end of sixteenth century — Macnamara, chief of Clancuilein, refuses to sign Sidney's new plan of land tenure and revenue — Abides by his contract of Henry VIII.'s time — Sir J. Perrott orders tenure of land and amount of rents to be taken in Clare before a Commission— The Macnamaras had to ^>pear before the Commissioners — They decline all change for reasons given by the Lord Deputy who supported Macnamara's contentions — He reports to Lord Burghley that there were no better men or any like the Macnamaras in their country— Correspondence on this subject between Lord Deputy and the Privy Council— J. Macnamara's letter to Lord Burghley— Quin Abbey granted by Queen Elizabeth to an O'Brien— Close of the sixteenth century in Clare attended with inroads from the North and rising of O'Briens of Ennistymon against the Macnamaras.

Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 77

Scots encamp at Castleconnell, skirmish on the Shannon

Castleconnell · town · Limerick · 1316

The Scottish army lay at Castleconnell on the Shannon, intending to attack the men of Thomond gathered on the opposite bank. Skirmishing ensued between the parties along the river vicinity.

Read the passage

In the following year Donough, who had been elected to succeed Dermot Brian Roe, having been defeated by Maccon Macnamara's sons, fled into Ulster, and in conjunction with some of the chiefe of that province entered into communication with King Robert Bruce, urging him to come over and conquer Ireland. Bruce was willing to accept this invitation, hoping thereby to weaken his enemies the English, and so he despatched his brother, Edward Bruce, with a well-equipped army, into Ireland. The Scotch army, with Donouj^ Brian Roe and his allies, passed southwards from Ulster, ravishing and burning the whole country; as Magrath states, '^like a black cloud with vaporous-creeping offshoots and dark mist, hard to meet."t Edward Bruce ultimately fought his way south as far as Cashel, where he was joined by King Robert Bruce. Donough Brian Roe urged them on to attack Thomond and sack Limerick, and, so our historian informs us,t ^ the Scots reached the Shannon's banks, with intent to attack them of Thomond gathered on the opposite bank, the Scots lying at Castleconnell ; and between the parties ensued some akirmishing in the river vicinity. As for such as were hurt of the ♦ " Triumphs of Turk)Qgh," p. 64. t Ibid., p. 83. t Ibid., p. 83.
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Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 56

As the companion tells it

You are coming through Castleconnell, on the Shannon in Limerick. In 1316 a Scottish army lay here on the river, intending to attack the men of Thomond gathered on the opposite bank. The trouble began when Donough, who had succeeded Dermot Brian Roe, was defeated by Maccon Macnamara's sons and fled into Ulster. He urged King Robert Bruce to come over and conquer Ireland. Bruce saw a chance to weaken his English enemies, and sent his brother Edward Bruce with a well-equipped army. The Scots, with Donough Brian Roe and his allies, passed south from Ulster, ravaging and burning the country. The chronicle says they came "like a black cloud with vaporous-creeping offshoots and dark mist, hard to meet." Edward Bruce fought his way as far as Cashel, where King Robert Bruce joined him. Donough Brian Roe urged them to attack Thomond and sack Limerick. The Scots reached the Shannon's banks and lay at this place, and between them and the men of Thomond on the far bank there was skirmishing along the river.

Sidney's march through Thomond to Galway, 1576

Galway · city · Galway · 1576

In February 1576 Sir Henry Sidney left Limerick and entered Thomond attended by the Earl of Thomond and several O'Briens, along with the two MacNemarroghes. He marched through Clare in two days on his way to Galway, where he bound the O'Briens by bonds and detained the earl's brother in Dublin.

Read the passage

The Lord Deputy Sidney made an official visit to Clare in the year 157 1. One of the main objects he appears to have had in view was to suppress the practice of landlords in chargmg their tenants with *^ uncertaine cesses, cuttings, and spendings ''; but this custom among the Irish was of such long standing that even the Lord Deputy could do little in the matter. He states that when he was at Limerick ** two Lords of Thomond, called Mac Nemarroes, came to him lamentinge the niyn and wast of their countries." The Lord Deputy adds *' and ruyned they are indede, craving to have the execution of English lawes and to have Sheriffes planted amongst thera.'^t Again, writing to the Council in April 1576, Sir Henry Sidney observes "that he left L3rmerick on the 37th of February, and entered Thomond attended by Earl of Thomond, and several of the O'Briens, who had in former times been Kings of Limerick, all so neire kinsmen and yet no one of them friende to another." Sidney adds, " I also had with me the twoe MacNemarroghes, by us called East and West Mac Nemarroghes, cheife gentlemen of that countrey, which, if it were in quiet, they might lyve lyke principale knights in England." Among all the chief men Sir Henry Sidney met with in Thomond, he states he " could not find one descended in English race. They all complained of the Obryens for the rujme of their countrey ; and truly in such desolation and wast it is." Sir Henry, after crossing the Shannon, marched through Clare in two dsLjs on his way to Gal¥7ay, so that he really could have seen very little of the country. The Lord Deputy remained for some time in Galway, and bound the O'Briens " by bonds of great sommes," and further he carried off the earl's brother with him to Dublin, where he " still deteined hym in iron.'' Sir Donell O'Brien of Ennistymon was made Sheriffs of Clare. Other officers were appointed, such as a Provost-Marshal, with a proper force to back his authority, and keep the idle people which swarmed in the country in restraint. Sir H. Sidney states that '' the root and origine of all this trouble was the uncerteine grannte, and unstable possession of their landes, whereupon grewe their warres." The Lord Deputy adds,

Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 76

As the companion tells it

As you come through Galway, this is where Sir Henry Sidney's march through Thomond ended in February 1576. He had left Limerick and entered Thomond attended by the Earl of Thomond and several of the O'Briens, who in former times had been Kings of Limerick. Sidney noted they were all close kinsmen and yet no one of them was a friend to another. He also had with him the two MacNemarroghes, called East and West MacNemarroghes, chief gentlemen of that country, which, if it were in quiet, they might live like principal knights in England. Among all the chief men Sidney met in Thomond, he could not find one descended in English race. They all complained of the O'Briens for the ruin of their country, and truly, he said, in such desolation and waste it is. After crossing the Shannon, he marched through Clare in two days on his way to Galway, so he really could have seen very little of the country. The Lord Deputy remained for some time in Galway, and bound the O'Briens by bonds of great sums. He carried off the earl's brother with him to Dublin, where he still detained him in irons. Sir Donell O'Brien of Ennistymon was made Sheriff of Clare. Other officers were appointed, such as a Provost-Marshal, with a proper force to back his authority and keep the idle people which swarmed in the country in restraint. Sidney stated that the root and origin of all this trouble was the uncertain grant and unstable possession of their lands, whereupon grew their wars.

Son of Aodh attacks Donogh near Kincora, 1019

near Kincora · monument · Clare · 1019

In 1019 the son of Aodh, chief of Ui-Caisin, attacked Donogh son of Brian Boru, wounding him severely on the head and right hand with a sword. Donogh escaped but the son of Aodh was slain. Ui-Caisin extended to within a few miles of Kincora, separated only by the hills of Bemagh.

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Aodh {Macnamara). — From the " Annals of the Four Masters " under the date of a.d. 1019, we learn that '' the son of Aodh, chief of Ui-Caisin, attacked Donogh, son of Brian," and with a sword wounded him severely on the head and right hand. ^' The son of Brian escaped, but the son of Aodh was slam." It is difficult from the records at our command to discover the cause of this attack on Donogh ; probably it arose from some personal quarrel between the two chiefs, or it may be that Clancuilein had espoused the claims of the rightful heir to the throne as against his uncle Donogh ; whatever the cause of the quarrel, the heir to the chieftainship of the Macnamara sept was slain, in consequence of his attack on the king. Ui-Caisin extended to within a few miles of Kincora, in bsX was only separated from it by the hills of Bemagh, so that the O'Briens and Macnamaras must have been in
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Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 45

Spanish Armada vessel stranded on Macnamara land in the Shannon

Shannon · town · Clare · 1588

A vessel of the Spanish Armada, the St. John commanded by Admiral de Ricade, was driven up the Shannon and stranded on land belonging to a Macnamara. The owner seized the ship and its contents and obstinately refused to surrender them to the Crown when ordered by the Earl of Ormond.

Read the passage

The first occasion on which we hear of any of our sept being engaged in transactions connected with shipping was hardly of a creditaUe nature, although it was neither an act of piracy nor of smuggling. It seems that one of the vessels of the Spanish Armada had been driven up the Shannon and stranded on land belonging to one of the Macnamaras.
* *• State Papers, Henry VIIL,*' 3. of a.d. 1521.

Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 121

Steelboys captured and tried at Carrickfergus

near Carrickfergus · town · Antrim · 1772–1773

The Steelboys were captured and tried at Carrickfergus, but local juries refused to convict them, prompting an Act to remove their trials to Dublin. This Act was repealed in 1773, leading to the movement's rapid decline as thousands emigrated to America.

Read the passage

the Steelboys were captured and tried at Carrickfei)|;us, but no local jiuy would convict them ; so that an Act was passed removing them for trial to Dublin. But in 1773 this obnoxious Act was repealed, and the organisation speedily subsided. Thousands of the Steelbo3rs emigrated to America, and were afterwards found in the ranks of the American army.* Mr. Lecky observes this sudden subsidence of a formidable insunrection in the north of Ireland is a remarkable contrast to that of the persistence of the Whiteboys in the south. To my mind, however, the difference is to be accounted for in the diversity of character of the two peoples. The Catholic Celts of the south were a distinct race from the Presbyterians of the north of Ireland, who had not that intense love of land and brotherhood which characterised the agricultural population of Munster.
I wish, however, to draw special attention to Arthur Young's description of the Whiteboy movement, for if we analyse it we find it contains, in a concise form, as applied to a widely disseminated movement in the west of Ireland, the characters which we have seen specialised in the individual members of our sept before they had been driven from their old home in coimty Clare (see Chapter XV.).

Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 124

Survival of Quin Friary to the present century

Quin · town · Clare · 1651–1685

Quin in County Clare is noted as one of the few mediaeval fraternities in Ireland that survived into the present century. Despite the execution of its leading monks in 1651-2, the community managed to re-assemble by the reign of Charles II.

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" Tke Last Friars of Quin, co. Clare. — Quin is one of the few Irish mediaeval fraternities which prolonged its existence to the present century. Despite the execution of so many of its leading monks in 1651-2, the community had reassembled by the reign of Charles IL We find an excommunication, 7th April. 1670, in the names of Eugenius Callinan and Bonaventura Bruodin, guardians of Meelick and Ennis, against four friars who had rebelled against Moriartagh Ogrypha and Thady Broudin, guardians of Quin and Limerick priories (MSS., T.C.D., F. 4, 14), and later on, i8th November. 1689, Thady O'Brien, of Coolreagh, near Scariff, leaves by his will (now at Coolreagh), 'unto Father Daniel Macnamara, towards praying for the salvation of my soul, 5 shillings; to the friars of the Abbey of Quin 5 shillings '; and Daniel, Viscount Clare aoth October, 1690, bequeaths ' /ao to the friars of Quin.'
'* The burning of the Abbey by Colonel George Stamer, and his brother Henr>', dispersed the monks, but at the time of Lady Chatterton's tour one of them still meditated, prayed, and wrote ' beautifrd lines ' to Lady O'Brien in the desolate cloister. I have known two persons who remembered the last monk, whose tombstone, a plain slab of limestone, in the east cloister walk, bears this inscription :

Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 114

Synod at Kilkenny denounces war cessation, 1648

Kilkenny · city · Kilkenny · 1648

A synod of archbishops and bishops assembled before Nuncio Rinuccini at Kilkenny issued an edict declaring the cessation of the war to be evil and dangerous, and that no one could with safe conscience advocate it. The Confederation Council ignored both the edict and the threat of excommunication.

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'' By authority of the Archbishops and Bishops of this reahn, assembled before the illustrious and most Rev. Lord John Baptist Rinucciniy Ardibishop and Prince of Fermo, and Apostolic Nando Extraordinary, it is declared that die cessation of the war to be evil and dangerous, and that no one can with safe conscience advocate the same.***
Matters, however, moved on. The Council of the Confederation neither heeded this edict nor the threat of excommunication, but they proceeded to conclude a tireaty with King Charles upon the terms above referred to ; and what in the eyes of the Nuncio was a still greater offence, they opened communications with Inchiquin, as a medium through whom they could treat with the Earl of Ormond, and persuade him to return as Lord Deputy to Ireland. Inchiquin had not long previously to these overtures forcibly entered the cathedral of Cashell, and slaughtered some of the priests ; it was not therefore surprising that Rbucdni absolutely refused to have an]rthing to say to him. As to Ormond returning as Viceroy to Ireland, the Nuncio urged that a step of this kind would cancel ** the glory reaped by the deigy m expelling hun from his office becanse he was a Protestant" The Earl of Ormond, however, consented to return, and was received by Inchiquin at Cork, and subsequently took up his residence in his castle of Kilkenny. Rinuccini, finding his mission to Ireland was hopeless, took ship at Galway in December 1648, and returned to the Continent

Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 94

1782 Ennis meeting asserts Irish legislative independence

Ennis · town · Clare · 1782

At a public meeting held at Ennis in 1782, resolutions were passed thanking local volunteers and declaring that no power had any right to make laws binding Ireland save the Lords and Commons of Ireland. This echoed earlier principles of Irish legislative independence articulated by Molyneux, Swift, and Lucas.

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With regard to the political aspirations of the Irish, we may learn something from speeches made at a public meeting held at Ennis in 1782. The first resolution passed was a vote of thanks to the local volunteers for their services and excellent conduct It was then resolved that '^ no power had any right to make laws to bind the kingdom save the Lords and Commons of Ireland." This was going back to the principle contained in Act iil of James II.'s Dublin Parlian^ent, and to much that followed in the works of Molyneux, Swift, Lucas, and other political writers. Opinions of this kind were urged on the Government by Grattan, Flood, and others in the Parliament sitting in Dublin, and in the House of Commons by Edmund Burke. It was largely through their influence, backed by the people of Ireland, that C. Fox carried the Bill by iriiich Act vi. of Gecnrge I. was repealed. This Act had reasserted the right of England to legblate for Ireland. At the same time, the duration of Irish Parliaments were curtailed from an indefinite period to a term of eight years ; and it was further enacted that the Irish Parliament was to have the same authority over local aflidrs in Ireland as the English legislative assembly had over the affitirs of that country. A Mutiny Act was also passed; and for all these fiivours Ireland willingly supplied England with some twenty thousand young fellows to help to man the Royal Navy.

Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 129

Book of Ballymote preserves Celtic transmigration verses

Ballymote · town · Sligo

The ancient Book of Ballymote, a compilation of still older Celtic poems, contains verses describing the transmigration of the hero Cairrill through multiple animal forms over centuries. The verses recount his lives as a wild ox, wild boar, old bird, and salmon in the flood.

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With reference to the idea of transmigration, it seems probable that it may have arisen in the minds of the ancient Aryans from their experience of the hereditary transmission of the disposition of parents to their posterity. The sins of the fiithers had to pass through several generations before their effects were expunged firom their descendants. However this may have been, transmigration was a belief accepted by the Aryan races and by the Celts of Ireland. In the ancient book of Balimote, which was a compilation of still older Celtic poems, the following verses refer to this belief in plain language. The poem alludes ato the birth of a famous Irish hero, Cairrill, who, we are told,t for
One hundred years complete he lived, He lived in blooming manhood ;

Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 28

Brian Roe O'Brien inaugurated at Magh Adhair

near Magh Adhair · monument · Clare · 1268

Conor O'Brien was succeeded by his second son Brian Roe, who was inaugurated King of Thomond at Magh Adhair by his uncle Sioda Macnamara. Brian Roe reigned at Clonroad for nine years and fought the English, governing with a strong hand.

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Conor O'Brien was succeeded by his second son Brian Roe, who was inaugurated King of Thomond, on Magh Adhair, by his uncle Sioda Macnamara, but his eldest son had left as his heir a lad named Turlough, nine years of age, and consequently too young to succeed to the government of Thomond. Brian Roe, therefore, reigned at Clonroad for nine years, **and fought the English, governing with a strong hand; " but in the year 1277, Turlough revolted against his uncle, Brian Roe; aided by the Clancuilein sept, who were related to him, his grandmodier having been the daughter of NeD Macnamara, they drove Brian Roe out of Clonroad. And after a conference with his supporters Brian determined to seek the aid of the Anglo-Normans ; so he went to ^'Thomas, the Earl of Clare's son, who was of English race, a man of great consequence, then residing in Cork," who undertook to assist Brian with all the EngUsh in Munster, if Brian would grant him possession of all that part of Thomond between the Shannon and a line drawn fix>m Limerick to Athsollus." t These terms having been agreed to, De Clare obtained the help of the Fitzgeralds, the Butlers, and other Anglo-Nomum barons, and together with Brian Roe's followers they sallied forth fix>m Limerick
* Edmund Spenser's '* View of the State of Ireland," p. 24.

Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 49

Cromwellian government recognizes Clare's destitution

near Clare · population centre · Clare · 1653

In May 1653, the government acknowledged the extreme poverty of County Clare after years of war, noting the few remaining inhabitants were starving and their substance pledged for arrears. It ordered that no further monthly contributions be charged to the county until the Commission in England gave further direction.

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The eight years' turmoil and war carried on by the Confederation, followed by Cromwell's conquest of Ireland, had wrought frightful havoc among the inhabitants of the country ; the misery and destitution to which they had been brought was appalling. For instance, in Clare in the year 1659, although many Irish Roman Catholic families from other parts of. Ireland had been imported into the country, the total number of its population amounted to 16,474 Catholics, and 440 Protestants; its present population is about i4hA1S P^ple. The Government seems to have recognised the deplorable state to which the people of Clare had been reduced, for in May 1653, it is stated that '^upon the serious consideration of the poverty and disability of the county Clare, and of the starving condidon in which the few remaining inhabitants are, and the impossibility of getting in the monthly contributions charged upon the county, their whole substance being pledged for their arrears hitherto; it is ordered that the said county shall be chaiged with no sum until the frirther pleasure of the Commission in England for the a£fairs of Ireland shall be known therein." It was into this impoverished county, that Cromwell determined, if possible, to transplant the great bulk of the Irish who had not taken part in the late war.

Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 97

Division of Clare: Burren assigned to Donough Brian Roe

Burren · townland · Clare

The King of Thomond agreed to divide county Clare with Donough, who was to rule the territory between the river Fergus and the sea, including its 'endless forests, the sea-shore, and the defensible valleys of Burren.' Turlough retained eastern Thomond.

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and he there compelled De Clare to banish Donough Brian Roe into Desmond. In the following year the King of Thomond agreed for the sake of peace to divide county Clare with Donough, who was to rule over that part of the territory situated between the river Fergus and the sea, with its *' endless forests, the sea-shore, and the defensible valleys of Burren"; while Turlough was to retain eastern Thomond with its fertile soil, its lakes abounding in fish, and the natural strongholds of its mountains to the north and south-east.* This arrangement between the two rival O'Briens was hardly likdy to lead to permanent peace, and in fact complications soon arose between them, and led to endless fighting, in which, Magrathstates,"that the poet andeye-witness of these scenes affirms that it was Clancuilein that maintained '^ the cause of Turlough O'Brien.
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."!

Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 50

Donald O'Brien returns to Kincora, ignores English authority

near Kincora · monument · Clare · 1172

After submitting to Henry II at Cashel, Donald O'Brien returned to Kincora and carried on the government of Thomond on the old lines, ignoring the matter of tribute. The King of England had no power whatever over the country.

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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

Early Trade in Galway and Limerick

Galway · city · Galway

From the earliest times, Galway and Limerick established considerable overseas trade with France and Spain. The ports imported wine, tin, and silk in exchange for Irish goods such as wool, hides, and oak.

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In Henry VIII/s time the Earl of Thomond had to borrow money from the Lord Deputy m Dublin to pay his expenses' to London, because ** there was no money in his part of Ireland." All the dealmgs carried on by these people had been by barter, or the interchange of goods the products of dieir own lands and labour. K Champion, in his History of Ireland, published 1571, observes, that ''they exchange by commutation of wares for the most part, and have utterly no o^rne stirring in any great lord's house. Some of them be richly (dated ; their ladies are trimmed rather with massive jewels than with garish apparell, and count it a beauty to be tall." In Galway and Limeridc, however, a considerable trade had from the earliest times been established with France and Spain, wine, tin, silk, and other articles, being, imputed in exchange for wool, hides, and oak, together with oth^ articles produced in Ireland.
Potatoes had been introduced into the country by Captain Hai^dns as early as a.ix 1565 ; but nothing from the history of Uie period we are considerbg, would lead any one to suppose that potatoes would m subsequent years play so important a part in the food supply of the Irish. Tobacco had already gained a footing in the country, in spite of James 1. having prohibited its use as ''a loathsom custom." Venice was at this time the chief centre from which tobacco in a manufactured form was distributed through Europe.

Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 107

As the companion tells it

As you pass through Galway, this was one of the two ports in the west where real overseas trade had been running since the earliest times. Galway and Limerick both carried on a considerable commerce with France and Spain. Wine, tin, silk and other articles came in, and went out in exchange for Irish wool, hides, and oak, along with other goods produced in Ireland. That trade made these ports different from the rest of the country. In Henry the 8th's time the Earl of Thomond had to borrow money from the Lord Deputy in Dublin to pay his expenses to London, because there was no money in his part of Ireland. All dealings were done by barter, the interchange of goods that were the products of their own lands and labour. Campion, in his History of Ireland, published in 1571, wrote that they exchange by commutation of wares for the most part, and have utterly no coin stirring in any great lord's house. He noted that some of them be richly appointed; their ladies are trimmed rather with massive jewels than with garish apparel, and count it a beauty to be tall. Potatoes had been introduced into the country by Captain Hawkins as early as 1565, though nothing from the history of the period would suggest they would later play so great a part in the food supply. Tobacco had already gained a footing in the country, in spite of James the 1st prohibiting its use as a loathsom custom. Venice was at that time the chief centre from which tobacco in a manufactured form was distributed through Europe.

Fireball Macnamara's death and tomb at Quin Abbey

Quin · town · Clare

Fireball Macnamara, a notable member of the clan who commanded the devotion of his countrymen and could have led them anywhere, died in a small cottage close to Quin. His tomb is located in a corner of the oratory of the old abbey at Quin, on the left-hand side of the high altar.

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to himself the devotion of his coantr3nneny and could hiive led them anywhere he pleased. It would be quite possible to fill many pages with anecdotes concerning this individual, but want of space renders this impossible and must be reserved for other hands than mine ; but if properly arranged they would clearly bring out the qualities which have influenced the lives of so many of our clan. Fireball died in a small cottage close to Quin, and his tomb is to be seen in a comer of the oratory of the old abbey at the left-hand side of the high altar.*
Loid Cloncurry in his Memoirs states that when he first came to London, in the year 1795, he was invited to dinner by one of his countrymen, Mr. John Macnamara, who lived in Baker Street, and that on this occasion he met Mr. Pitt, England's great statesman and Prime Minister. Lord Cloncurry was a young man, and had come to study law at the Temple ; at this dinner-party he, for the first time, heard the subject of the Union discussed, and he remarks that *^ it acted like a ferment on him," and led him to publish a pamphlet which he observes •*cost him a heavy price."t

Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 134

Rinuccini overwhelmed by politics in Kilkenny

Kilkenny · city · Kilkenny · 1644

Upon arriving in Kilkenny, the Papal Nuncio Rinuccini found himself overwhelmed by politics and surrounded by a council engrossed in their own squabbles rather than uniting to fight the Confederate cause.

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Innocetit X. was supreme pontiff at Rome, and in 1642 was kept informed of all that was going on in Ireland by Father Scarampi ; but on an appeal for help firom the Irish, the Pope, when sending them munitions of war, including considerable sums' of money, thought proper to appoint one of the ablest ecclesiastics at his command as Nuncio to Ireland The person selected for this mission was the Archbishop of Femo, Monsignor Rinucdni; after considerable delay the Nuncio arrived in Cork in October 1644, with written orders fh>m the Pope ^' not to go beyond the limits of pure benefit to the Catholic religion, to restore ecclesiastical discipline, and to reform the habits of Catholics relaxed by a long course of firee livmg ; " he was << to have no thought of prejudicing the temporal dominion of any one;" t but the Nuncio had no sooner arrived in Kilkenny than he found himself overwhelmed in politics and siurounded by a council engrossed in their own squabbles rather than uniting with fixed resolve to fight the battle of those who elected them to office.
About the time that Rinucdni appeared on the scene in Ireland a very different individual came to the fore. The young Earl of Inchiquin, an O'Brien, a man of wonderfiil energy, and a thorough soldier, but unstable as the wind: at one time a Protestant and Royalist, at another an officer under Cromwell's government, afterwards a Roman Catholic* He was carried by pirates to Morocco, but he escaped, and was soon heard of fighting, first in the cause of France, and then of Spain. Inchiquin commenced his military training as a lad in the Italian army, and, after active service in that country and in Spam, he relumed to Ireland, and came to be on friendly terms with Strafford He was, at the age of twenty-four, appointed to the command of Charles I.'s troops in Munster, and in that capacity was enabled to afford the kmg material aid.^ Inchiquin, not content with being in •command of the king's forces, aspired to become governor of the

Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 92

Sealing of Macnamara land surrender in Dublin

Dublin · city · Dublin · 1542

The Lord Deputy Anthony St. Leger placed his seal on the indenture formalizing the surrender and regrant of the Clancuilein lands to King Henry VIII at Dublin in December 1542.

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aforesaid, in no parte, parcel, or nnmber thereof shall from henceforth be charged cessed, or imposed, or be contributory with any other parte or partes of the Principalitie of Thomond in any manner, cesse, charge, exaction, rising out or otherwise by any manner or means, bat shall be and remain severed from them in the charge aforesaid, any custom or use heretofore to the contrary notwithstanding ; and the saide Rt. Hon. the Lord Deputie for and in the behalf of the King's most excellent Majestie doth promise and grant to and with the said Sioda and the rest of the gentlemen and freeholders of the baronies and places aforesaid, that if it shall fortune at any time hereafter any part or parcell of the lands, tenements, and hereditaments chargeable with the said yearly rent of fiftjre marks, to be seized, recovered, or taken out of the lands or possessions of the said Sioda or of any of the rest of the gentlemen and freeholders of the baronies and places aforesaid, by due order and ceremony of the King's Majestie's laws, that then and for soe much of the yearly rent charge of fiftye marks as the same lands, tenements, and hereditaments were charged with to be defaulted and allowed in the said yearly rent of charge of fiftye-two marks anything hereinafter contained to the contrary notwithstanding. In witness of this part of this indenture remaining in the custody of the said Sioda for him and the rest aforesaid, the said Rt Hon. Xx>rd Deputy, for and in the behalf of the King's most excellent Majestie, has hereunto put his seal at Dublin, the loth day of December in anno 1542, and in the thirty-fourth year of the reign of our sovereign lord, Henry VIII., by the grace of God, King of England, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, and so forth.
Anthony St. Lbgbr.

Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 73

As the companion tells it

As you pass through Dublin, this is where a document was sealed in December 1542 that shaped the fate of the Macnamara lands in Clare. The Lord Deputy, Anthony St. Leger, acting on behalf of King Henry the Eighth, put his seal to an indenture at Dublin on the 10th day of December, in the thirty-fourth year of Henry's reign. The king was described as King of England, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith. The indenture dealt with the lands of Sioda Macnamara and the rest of the gentlemen and freeholders of the baronies and places concerned. It declared that those lands would no longer be charged, cessed, or imposed upon, or be contributory with any other part of the Principality of Thomond. They would remain severed from Thomond in matters of charge, any custom or use to the contrary notwithstanding. The Lord Deputy promised and granted, on the King's behalf, that if it should fortune any part of the lands charged with a yearly rent of fifty marks to be seized, recovered, or taken out of the possessions of Sioda or any of the other gentlemen and freeholders, by due order of the King's laws, then so much of that yearly rent as those lands were charged with would be defaulted and allowed in the rent of fifty marks. One part of the indenture remained in the custody of Sioda, for him and the rest. Anthony St. Leger sealed it in witness.

Sioda Macnamara buried in St Brendan's churchyard, Burren

Burren · townland · Clare

Sioda Macnamara, younger brother of Lochlain, caught a sickness while on an expedition into Burren and died. He was buried in St Brendan's churchyard in Burren, his household raising three loud cries of sorrow.

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Magrath' informs us that Sioda Macnamara, younger brother of Lochlain, while on an expeditiou into Burren caught a miserable sickness, from which he died, ^ his body he willed to St Brendan, and his soul to heaven's high King — none ever thought that the descendant of Mogh Corb would have died save on the field of batde." In St Brendan's chturchyard in Buna his body was laid to rest, and "his household mourning for him raised three loud cries of sorrow."
Dermot Brian Roe, in the year 1312, seems to have overrun the greater part of Thomond, except the Ui-Caisen territory, which held its own under Lochlain Macnamara ; many a time attempts were made to gain access to their lands, but never once did any captain firom such an attempt return, unless altogether penitent t Throughout the winter, with its cold, its blast, and sough of boisterous gales, this contest was carried on; and then Lochlain's clansmen exhorted him to set out (ot Bunratty, he having a safe conduct firom De Clare. But this was a trap

Internet Archive storyanirishsep00macngoog, Chapter 55

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

The stories, best first

Daniel Macnamara settles in Burren for smuggling

Dineley's Sketch of Rosroe Castle

Dublin judgment abolishes Brehon land customs

Dublin Parliament's 1689 Act of Attainder

Ennis free trade meeting led by Col. Francis Macnamara, 1778

Henry VIII disturbs Brehon land tenure in Clare

Inauguration of Brian Roe as King of Thomond at Magh Adhair

Lord Clare's 1746 letter to Captain MacDonogh at Doolin

Macnamaras complain to Sidney at Limerick about ruin of Thomond

Macnamara territory extended between Fergus and Shannon

Papal Nuncio Rinuccini arrives in Cork

Phelim's army encamps on the Shannon against Thomond

Quin Abbey college reopened with scholars, 1646

Sioda Macnamara's lands beyond the Shannon, proposed as Baron of Clancuilein

Skull stolen from Clonmacnoise brings disease on Turlough

Treaty between Parliamentarians and Clare Brigade, April 1652

Anglo-Normans around Bunratty exploit Celtic sept strife

King Flan's warlike expedition to Magh Adhair

Moyrisk mansion and the last of the Macnamaras

Ballyallia garrison evacuated to Bunratty

Banshee folklore traditions of the Burren

Brian Boru and Aodh Macnamara storm Scattery Island

Brian Boru's residence overlooking the Shannon at Killaloe

Catholic priests transported to Aran Islands and Inishbofin

Cormac's Chapel built on the Rock of Cashel

Council at Killaloe enacts laws to restrain injustice

Death of Sioda Macnamara at Quin

De Clare's agent retreats to Bunratty

Disbanded officers at Aughrim

Ecclesiastical establishments late to take hold in Clare

Fair Mary of Moyrisk

Inauguration of Conor O'Brien as King of Thomond

Inauguration of Kings of Thomond at Magh Adhair

Irish soldiers embark at Cork for France under Sarsfield

John Macnamara raises Yellow Dragoons in Clare

Lord Deputy marches armed force to Wexford

Mac Con's army lands near Galway

Macnamara castles built across newly acquired Clare territory

Middlemen supplant Macnamara septs in Clare

Parliament at Limerick to formalise Thomond land agreement, 1542

Patrick elected Bishop of Dublin by the Danes

Quin Abbey granted to an O'Brien by Elizabeth

Scots encamp at Castleconnell, skirmish on the Shannon

Sidney's march through Thomond to Galway, 1576

Son of Aodh attacks Donogh near Kincora, 1019

Spanish Armada vessel stranded on Macnamara land in the Shannon

Steelboys captured and tried at Carrickfergus

Survival of Quin Friary to the present century

Synod at Kilkenny denounces war cessation, 1648

1782 Ennis meeting asserts Irish legislative independence

Book of Ballymote preserves Celtic transmigration verses

Brian Roe O'Brien inaugurated at Magh Adhair

Cromwellian government recognizes Clare's destitution

Division of Clare: Burren assigned to Donough Brian Roe

Donald O'Brien returns to Kincora, ignores English authority

Early Trade in Galway and Limerick

Fireball Macnamara's death and tomb at Quin Abbey

Rinuccini overwhelmed by politics in Kilkenny

Sealing of Macnamara land surrender in Dublin

Sioda Macnamara buried in St Brendan's churchyard, Burren

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