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deaċmaid hi Fhlaiżbertaiġ leis. Hua Muirgile o Muine-insadain, ardraċtaire hi Fhlairbentaiż. O Maelbindi on termand.1. baili colu leis. Hi Duaċ 7 hi Dagda ona dromaib. Hi Fadarzaiz taisig ceiżri maili dec muinntiri Faraig, cona fodaltaib, 7 cona freamaib firducara fein fuitib."

Erenach of Rathhindile, and he has the tithes of O'Flaherty. O'Murgaile of Muinne-in-radain is the Ardrachtaire® of O'Flaherty. O'Maelbindi of the termon has Bally-Colu'. O'Duach andO'Dagda of the Drums. O'Faharty is chief of the fourteen townlands of Muintir-Fahy, with their correlatives under them".

The foregoing curious and, perhaps at the present day, unique description of the establishment and dependencies of an Irish chieftain, previously to the twelfth century, developes a state of society, as then existing in Ireland, very different from the feudal system, which, at the time, prevailed over the greatest part of Europe. The evils of that system, which are described by all the writers on those times as insupportable, were never felt in Ireland. Almost the whole of Europe was divided into small societies; a few towns formed a petty state, and these states were continually at war with each other. There were no high roads, nor any security for merchants, who were plundered, and often murdered, by the lords and chatellains; whose castles and towers, on the banks of rivers, and in mountain passes, were little better than dens of robbers. Murders, rapines, and disorders of every kind, prevailed to such a degree,

divided into ballybetaghs, called after the families of O'Codel and O'Maelmuine, is now divided into minute denominations, and the names of the large ballybetaghs are forgotten.

e Ardrachtaire, i. e. head steward

f Baile-Colu.--There is a townland of this name close to the southern boundary of the barony of Clare.

Muintir-Fahy.--These names are still found widely interspersed over the country, but, like the generality of the old Irish families, they are mostly reduced to a state of poverty.

h See ante, p. 130, for the regal establishment of the Kings of Connaught, which subsisted at the same time with that of their subordinate chieftain O'Flaherty. We find in Scotland the same clan system, derived from the Irish; but there it continued to a later period than even in the parent country. Martin, in his Description of the Western Islands,

already quoted, has preserved some of the characteristics of this very ancient state of society. Describing the old and modern customs of the islanders, he tells us (p. 124, &c.): "At the first plantation of the isles, all matters were managed by the sole authority of heads of tribes, called in Irish Thiarna. The chieftain was usually attended with a retinue of young men of quality, with whom it was usual to make a desperate incursion upon some neighbour that they were in feud with, and to force his cattle, or die in the attempt. This, he adds, was not considered robbery; for it was usually followed by retaliation. When the chief entered on the government of the clan, he was placed on a pyramid of stones, a white rod was delivered to him, and the chief Druid or orator pronounced a stimulating panegyric, on the ancient pedigree, valour, and liberality of the family; all which he proposed to the young chief

degree, that the social compact was nearly dissolved. But in Ireland, although warfare between the clans was prevalent and violent, yet the laws were obeyed, and individual safety so much respected that, we are told, a young maiden, bearing a wand with a ring of gold on the top of it, traversed the island without fear of being molested. This illustration is, doubtless, overcharged, but the subordination which it was intended to illustrate is unquestionable'. M. Guizot, in his General History of Civilization in Europe, after alluding to the feudal and patriarchal states of society, thus describes the clan system of Ireland: "Un autre système de famille se présente, le clan, petite société dont il faut chercher le type en Ecosse, en Irlande, et par laquelle probablement un grande portion du monde Européen a passé. Ceci n'est plus la famille patriarcale. Il y a une grande diversité de situation entre le chef et le reste de la population; il ne mène point la même vie : la plupart cultivent et servent lui, il est oisif et guerrier. Mais leur origine est commune; ils portent tous le même nom; des rapports de parenté, d'anciennes traditions, les mêmes souvenirs, des affections pareilles établissent entre tous les membres du clan un lien moral, une sorte d'égalité. Voilà les deux principaux types de la société de famille que présente l'histoire. Est-ce là, je vous le demande, la famille féodale? Evidemment non." But upon this state of society in Ireland, the feudal system was suddenly obtruded in the twelfth century; and it was quite impossible that, from two such opposite political elements any other results could have followed than those which are familiar

bard,

tain for imitation. The chiefs had fixed officers to attend them upon all occasions. Sir Donald Macdonald had his principal standard-bearer, and quartermaster. Every chieftain had a bold armourbearer, called Galloglach: also a cup-bearer, pursebearer, steward, physician, orator, poet, musician, smith, piper, &c. Before battle, the Druid harangued the army, after which they gave a general shout, and charged the enemy. The drinking bouts were attended by a cup-bearer; and two men with barrows attended punctually to carry away those who got drunk. The chieftains bestowed the cow's head, feet, and all the entrails, upon their dependants; such as the physicians, orator, poet, bard, musicians, &c " This description is probably, so far as it extends, a picture of the Clan system which prevailed in the greatest part of Ireland until the seventeenth century. The most potent

of the Irish chiefs "carried the title of King," which was never assumed in Scotland. After a series of struggles for centuries, the clan system at length sunk in Ireland under the superior power of the Anglo-Norman feudalists of England

And it probably explains the reason, why some of the early Anglo-Norman adventurers passed so easily, without molestation, over several districts of Ireland, before the unsuspecting natives were aware of their hostile intentions.-See Statute of Kilkenny, published by the Irish Archæological Society. A. D. 1843, p. 35, Note y.

jQuatrieme leçon.- "Another family system offers itself, the clans, a sort of petty associations, of which the type is to be found in Scotland and Ireland, through which, in all probability, a great portion of the European world has passed. This was very different from the patriarchal family. There

familiar to all acquainted with our melancholy history since that period. We may therefore conclude that the future historian of Ireland, keeping this great distinction in view, will be able to present the hitherto misunderstood annals of this island in a different light from that in which they have hitherto appeared to the world, and thereby add an important, nay even an instructive page to the history of mankind.

The twelfth century, the most memorable of Irish history, opened on the province of Connaught with dissensions and wars, between it and the princes and people of Munster. In A. D. 1117, a battle was fought between Brian, son of Morogh O'Flaherty, joined by the sons of Cathal O'Conor and the Connaught forces, against Torlogh, son of Dermod O'Brien, King of Munster and the Dalcassians, in which the latter were defeated with great slaughter. The Dalcassians took the field a second time, headed by Dermod himself, and crossed the borders of Connaught. They laid waste the territories of Hy-Briuin and Hy-Fiachrach; but the Connacians, under the command of Cathal O'Conor and Brian O'Flaherty, routed them in a second battle, pursued them as far as the mountains of Echtghe* and Burren, and destroyed considerable numbers in the pursuit. Turlough O'Conor, King of Connaught, soon after marched with an army into Munster, and destroyed Kincoradh the residence of the Kings of Munster. He then proceeded to Desmond, burned Cashel and Lismore, and destroyed the termon. land of the latter. Connor O'Brien, King of Munster, met him in battle near Ardfinan, and gained a signal victory; in which Mureadhach O'Flaherty, prince of Iar-Connaught, Hugh O'Heyne, lord of Hy- Fiachrach Aidhne, O'Lorcan, and many other nobles of Connaught, were slain". A strong castle was built at the mouth of the river Gaillimh (Galway), where Flann and Giolla-Riabhach, the sons of Anslis O'Heyne, were treacherously

existed an important distinction between the situations of the chief and the rest of the population; they did not lead the same life, the greater part tilled and served, whilst the chief was an idler and a warrior. But they had a common origin, and they all bore the same name; whilst relations of kindred, old traditions, identity in recollections, and feelings of attachment, established a moral tie, a sort of equality, amongst all the members of the clan. These are the two principal types of family association that history supplies. But do they contain the feudal family? Certainly not." Perhaps, in one respect only, there was a similarity between the clan population and the feudal serfs; which cannot be better expressed than in the words of the same talented and eloquent

historian: "Il n'y avait pour cette population point de societé générale; son existence était purement locale. Hors du territoire qu'ils habitaient, les colons n'avaient à faire à personne, ne tenaient à personne et à rien. Il n'y avait pour eux point de destinée commune, point de patrie commune; ils ne formaient point un peuple."-Id.

k Now called Slieve Aughty, or more corruptly Boughta. This is a range of mountains, to the S. E. of Galway county, on the confines of Clare. Four Mast. A. D. 1137.

Id. and "Law of Tanistry illustrated," by Doctor O'Brien, in Vallancey's Collect. vol. I. p. 562, Ed. Dub. 1770.

treacherously killed by Conor O'Flaherty; who was himself slain in a battle fought near Athlone, in A. D. 1132, between the Kings of Munster and Connaught, in which the latter was defeated with great slaughter". The newly erected castle at the Gaillimh was thereupon destroyed; and Flaherty O'Flaherty was slain by the sons of Loghlin O'Loghlin, in revenge for the death of their father. The entire of Connaught was laid waste from the river Drowes to the Shannon, and to the southern mountains of Echtghe. Torlogh O'Conor fled into Iar-Connaught, where he was pursued by the O'Briens; who plundered the territory, taking a prey of a thousand cows, and destroying the fort at the Gaillimh. Aodh (Hugh) O'Cadhla (O'Kealy), prince of Conmhaicne-mara, [Conamara], was killed by his own clan". The province was again miserably ravaged by the Momonians, and Roderic O'Flaherty, with other persons of distinction, was slain. Torlogh O'Brien a second time spread devastation over the country of O'Flaherty, where he seized great preys of cattle (bopaime móp); and in his progress, prostrated the fortification at the Gaillimh, (muissut dun n-gaillme) in which latter exploit, one of his principal chieftains, O'Loghlin of Corcomroe, was drowned'. Having now arrived at the middle of the twelfth century, it is time to close this appalling paragraph of outrage and crime; which must have proved as disagreeable to the reader to peruse, as it has been revolting to the editor to narrate. But the histories of all nations are made up of similar details. Thus, while we find the Irish engaged in the work of mutual destruction; we must remember that the surrounding nations were at the same time similarly employed. To go no farther for examples than to the neighbouring Welsh and Saxons-what appalling instances of human destruction do we not meet with in every page of their ensanguined annals. The historian of the latter people, shrunk from the narrative of their petty broils, which he compared to the battles of kites and crows; and considered them too insignificant for a place in history. Some writers on Irish affairs have explained succeeding disasters, as punishments inflicted by Providence on the nation for "their old accursed feuds, their convulsions, violences, rapine, oppressions, revenge, their spilling of one another's blood to death." But another solution may, perhaps, be discovered in this eternal maxim, that "a nation divided against itself cannot stand;" and that maxim will be found verified in the pages of Irish history.

Torlogh O'Conor, Monarch of Ireland and King of Connaught, towards the close of

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of his long and turbulent reign, projected a maritime expedition against the northern parts of his dominions. This was, perhaps, the greatest national armament witnessed before or since that time in Ireland. The fleet consisted of the ships of the Dun or fort of Galway, and of Conmhaicne-mara; those of the O'Malleys of the Umhaills [the Owles], who were long considered the best mariners of Ireland"; and those of the territories of Tirawly and Hy-Fiachrach, all in the west and north-west of Connaught. Over this fleet, Cosnamhach O'Dowda was appointed commander or admiral; and a predatory descent was made on the territories of Tirconnell and Inishowen. The Kinel-Eoghain with their chief, Muircheartach the son of Niall, dreading the plunder and destruction of their country, sought succour from the Scots of Alban, and subsidized the fleets of the Gall-Gadelians of Arran, Cantire, the Isle of Man, and other parts, under the command of Mac Skellig. The two fleets met near Inishowen, and, after an obstinate engagement, the Irish gained a complete victory; but with a considerable loss of men, among whom was the admiral, O'Dowda". All the enemy's ships, with their commander, Mac Skellig, fell into the hands of the Connacians".

Soon after this victory King Torlogh died; and although the Annalists have been loud in sounding his praise, pompously styling him "the Augustus of Western Europe," yet it is certain that he did as much as any man that ever lived, to render his country an easy prey to foreign invaders. He was succeeded by his son Roderic, in whose time the Anglo-Normans landed in Ireland'. It was not until A. D. 1177 that these adventurers first set a hostile foot in Connaught, and that event is thus related in the Book of Leinster: "An army with Miles Cogan to Conaght, unawares

" O'Dugan, in his topographical poem, which refers to the twelfth century, thus celebrates the O'Malleys :

Duine maiz riaṁ ni raibe

D'ib Máille, act na maraide.

Which may be translated, "there never was a good man of the O'Malleys, who was not a mariner." They have preserved the same character to modern times. See Four Masters, A. D. 1560.

Id. A. D. 1154. See also Treatise on Hy-Fiachrach, Ir. Arch. Soc. p. 352.

The above is the most considerable maritime engagement of the ancient Irish on record; if we except the celebrated sea fight, said to have taken place at Dundalk in A. D. 944, and which see detailed in O'Halloran's History of Ireland, vol. II. p. 221.

to

from a MS. entitled the "Wars of Callaghan Cashel."
But it must be observed here, that the authen-
ticity of that MS. is doubtful. By our best Anti-
quaries it has been pronounced a Romance; but
O'Halloran's honest zeal "to render that justice to
our ancestors which had been long denied them,"
(Dedication), induced him to treat it as a genuine
document, in order to give "our ancestors" the credit
of the brilliant achievements which it relates. And
that, he conceived, was doing the justice to which he
had alluded. Others have given the story as au-
thentic history, but it is not to be found in any of
our accredited Annals.

x Four Masters, A. D. 1156.
Id. A. D. 1170.

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