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Masters, at A. D. 690. This wonderful wolf was probably what the old Germans called a Were-wolf, for which see Verstegan, p. 237. Cambrensis has inserted this notable story in his Topographia. The Book of Lecan, fol. 61, and from it Colgan, p. 754, relate how one Lon, who had impiously opposed St. Cormac, going to Sliabh Botha Mountain, near Rosargid, was devoured by wolves Duazar com allta e; and a heap or Carncloch was laid on his bones. In the sixteenth century, wolves committed great devastation in Munster. After the destruction of Kilmallock by James Fitz-Maurice in A. D. 1591, that place became the haunt of wolves. For their ravages during Desmond's rebellion, see O'Sullivan in Compend. lib. viii. ch. 6.; and at a later period, Moryson, vol. ii. p. 367, Dub. Ed. See also Lombard, De Regno Hib. p. 92.

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Our Author has noticed the stranding of several whales on the coasts of Iar-Connaught; and since his time many have been cast ashore there. The following extract from a communication made by Lieutenant Burroughs, commander of the Coast Guard in the West of Ireland, and embodied in the valuable Fishery Report, alluded to p. 11, note, ante, may, on this subject, be considered interesting. "This coast, i. e. the west and north-west coast of Ireland (one of the best fishing coasts in Europe, abounding, from the most productive Whales, both Spermaceti and Greenland, to the common herring), possesses the worst and most ignorant race of fishermen, and (with a few exceptions) very indifferent boatmen. But the cause of these remarks may be easily accounted for; their poverty, which prevents them from procuring proper stout vessels for so dangerous a coast, and almost total absence of all patronage and support to follow up with energy and spirit the unbounded sources of wealth which nature has thrown within their grasp. It may appear still more extraordinary to those connected so extensively in the Greenland and South Sea whale fishery, that they should so long have remained in ignorance that those fish abound on the coast which I have described. In order to give proof to so bold an assertion, I shall state some circumstances which came under my immediate observation in my own vessels, and at a subsequent period in command of a revenue cutter. On a visit, in company with the Rev. Mr. Mahon, to the sun fishery at Bofin Island, we strayed on a blustry day to observe the coast and breakers; at a short distance from the shore we saw several large fish, which I supposed to be grampusses or finners, that had taken shelter under the lee of the island: still looking closely at them, they advanced towards the rocks immediately under the cliffs, where we had a perfect view of them at a distance of 500 yards with a spy-glass, their double tufted heads quite conspicuous, and no intervening back-fins; I decided at once on their species. In the month of July, after

the

the sun fishery, a large Spermaceti whale was drifted on shore, dead, at the bay of Bunowen, in Connemara, about two leagues from Clifden or Ardbear Harbour; in consequence of the ignorance of the peasantry and boatmen, and their continual squabbling and fighting, three-fourths of the oil was lost; the surface of the bay was dyed with a rainbow tinge from the floating particles of oil. Shortly after an immense fish was towed into the Island of Turk, by three of the island fishing-boats; the monster was observed floating about a mile from the island, and had been but recently killed, but how could not be ascertained; this fish completely filled up the small and only inlet in the island, and measured in length thirty-three yards; it was claimed by the proprietor, I believe the Archbishop of Tuam, who, I had been informed, gave it up to the islanders. A small village near the place where they had towed it up to shortly became deserted, the inhabitants never calculating on the fœtid air caused by their imprudence. The islanders were two months employed in cutting up and launching over the cliffs the bones and remains of their prize. About the beginning of August, in beating down Blacksod Bay, with light airs, and near the Island of Inniskea, two large whales came nearly alongside the cutter."

The Parliamentary Report from which the foregoing extract has been taken, sufficiently proves that no part of England or Ireland is better situated for commanding the endless treasures of the deep, than this of Iar-Connaught. But its population derives little benefit from the vast supply of every kind of fish which annually visits its shores. When the fisheries on the west coast of Ireland shall meet with adequate encouragement, the poor, and often destitute, inhabitants of the district will become industrious and happy. It has been with many a matter of serious doubt, whether the injury entailed on the Irish fisheries by the following royal "Dispensation" of King Edward VI., "to eate flesh at forbidden times," has been countervailed by all the Royal and Parliamentary Acts in their favour, from his time to the present day.

"And where, by the lower and common orders of our Realme, certain dayes and tymes be appointed nott onely to eat ffyshe: Our pleasure by advise aforesaid, is, that you, our Deputie, shall and may, by force hereof, graunte to such and as manny as you thinke good, full libertie to eate fleshe in all tymes forbidden; Any statute, lawe, or custome to the contrarie, notwythstanding.-To Sir Anthony Sentleger, Knt. L. D. of our realme of Ireland, and to the rest of our counsaill there."-Pat. Roll, 4 Edw. VI. Rolls Office, Dublin.

NOTE F. See page 13, note e.

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Geology of Iar-Connaught."

The first development of the Geology of Iar-Connaught was made by the late Alexander Nimmo, one of the ablest engineers and geologists of his time. It appeared

in his Report on the Bogs of Galway, West of Lough Corrib, printed in the Appendix to the Fourth Report of the Commissioners on the Nature and Extent of the Bogs of Ireland, ordered by the House of Commons to be printed, 28th April, 1814. The geological portion of Mr. Nimmo's Report will prove a valuable and appropriate addition to the description of West Connaught.

The Royal Dublin Society, aware of the mineralogical importance of these western districts, in A. D. 1825-8, deputed their Professor of Mineralogy and Geology, Sir Charles L. Giesecke, to proceed thither, and report the result of his investigations. His Reports are incorporated in the Proceedings of the Society. Perhaps no other part of Ireland has had the advantage of similar investigations; and we are not altogether without a hope that they may ultimately prove advantageous to this long neglected district.

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On an island in this lake, Eoghan Beul, fourth Christian King of Connaught, who began his reign, according to Tigernach, in A. D. 502, held his residence. See the curious life of St. Cormac in the Book of Lecan, fol. 63, and in Colgan, p. 752, for an account of the Saint's visit to that king, at his Dun or residence, called Dun Eoghain, on the island of Inis-meadhoin (now Inishmean) in Lough Measg. Here an abbey, said to have been predicted by St. Cormac, was afterwards erected.-Id. In A.D. 1223, Maoiliosa, son of Torlogh O'Conor, prior of Inis-meadhoin, died.-Four Masters A. D. 1227, the abbey was burned by the forces of Hugh O'Conor, who was leagued with the De Burgos.-Id. Some ruins of this abbey yet remaining, indicate it to have been a small but beautiful building. The site and considerable vestiges of the Dun of Eoghan Beul may still be traced. The celebrated Cathal Crovedearg O'Conor, King of Connaught, was born at the harbour of Lough Mask; and was fostered by Teige O'Concanon, at Hy-Diarmada in the present county of Galway, the ancient patrimony of the O'Concanons. Cathal died in A. D. 1224. For a curious notice of Eoghan Beul, see "The Tribes and Customs of Hy-Fiachrach,” p. 471, edited by Mr. O'Donovan, for the Irish Archæological Society, A. D. 1844.

Caislen na Caillighe, or Hag's Castle, on Lough Measg, called by our author "an impregnable castle," is frequently mentioned in our annals. In A. D. 1195, Catha the son of Dermott led an army from Munster into Connaught; and proceeded without interruption until he arrived at Lough Measg and Inis Robha; where he captured the boats or vessels of Cathal Crovdearg O'Conor, King of Connaught, and brought them to Caislen na Caillighe. A. D. 1233, Cathal's son and successor, Felim King of Connaught, demolished this castle, and others throughout the province, which were IRISH ARCH. SOC. 15.

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erected

erected by the sons of Roderic O'Conor and the De Burgos. It was afterwards rebuilt by the Bourkes, and continued in the possession of their descendants until A. D. 1586, when it was besieged by Sir Richard Bingham, Governor of Connaught. It was then considered the strongest fortress in the province, and was defended against him by Risdeard an Chorrain Bourke, and others of his kinsmen, the descendants of Richard O'Cuairsci Bourke, who had flocked thither, as well for safety as to avoid attending the "English" session (assizes), then first established in this country. The Governor attacked it with some four or five vessels manned with the best of his troops; but was obliged to retire, with the loss of one vessel and several men. The Bourkes, however, apprehensive of the result, retreated with their wives and children across Lough Measg. The Governor thereupon demolished the castle, and caused Richard oge, commonly called Fal fo Erinn, the son of Mac William Bourke, to be put to death. See an account of this transaction in the Four Masters, at A. D. 1586; but it will be found more amply detailed in Bingham's own narrative in Stowe's Chronicle, London, 1632, fo. p. 720, et seq. The death of this young chief caused a great sensation at the time. It formed one of the Forty-three Articles of Complaint against Bingham, delivered to the Lord Deputy of Ireland in A. D. 1595; and to it the accused Governor gave the following answer :—“" Richard oge, commonly called the Perall of Ireland, was well and worthily executed likewise, for, pretending to do service, laide a plot in deed to bring in Scotts, aud raise a generall rebellion within that County, having made his castle for that same purpose, as appeareth by an act then sett down under the said Sir Richard's hand, and seven more of the councell of the province, which were present at that time, and witness to the whole proceeding; and likewise with the consent of the best gents of the countrie themselves, Sir Richard having no other meane of ordinary trial at that time, by reason of the great troubles; and that he was worthily executed, and the same no manner of discontentment or feare to any, appeare by the aforesaid certificate under all their hands; but all those matters Sir Richard hath answered before, and of this is acquitted by the Councell." See the answers to all the charges, preserved in the Cotton Library, British Museum, Titus B. xiii., p. 451. The charges themselves I have not found, but suppose that they may be discovered among the State Papers of the reign of Elizabeth. To the future topographer or historian of this part of Ireland, they will be indispensable.

NOTE H. See page 24, note. "Inis an Ghoill."

Of the "two chappells" on this island, mentioned by our author, " that dedicated to St. Patrick" is the oldest, and, like all the primitive Irish churches, it is divided into nave and choir. The other, which was dedicated to the Gall Craibhtheach, literally

"the

"the devout foreigner," is now called Teampull na Naomh, the church of the Saint, and is a highly-finished specimen of the religious houses erected by the Irish from the eighth to the eleventh century, but it has suffered much by time. It lies a short distance to the south-east of the church of St. Patrick, and an old winding road or passage, which led from the one to the other, may still be traced. It is not improbable that this "devout foreigner" was the holy priest, Egbert, mentioned by Bede, 1. iii. c. 27. The nave of the church or chapel dedicated to St. Patrick is about twenty-two feet long, and thirteen broad. The choir arch is still standing. The doorway, three concentric arches, is formed of red grit stone. At the south-east corner of the church is a square tomb, probably that of archbishop Muirges O'Nioc, who died in this island in A. D. 1128, as mentioned above, and in the Annals of Ulster and Four Masters. At a small distance to the southwest is a small perpendicular headstone of hard granite, three feet over ground, and five inches square, which bears the following inscription: "Lie Lugnaedon macc Lmenueh." The stone of Lugnaedon, the son of Limenueh. This Limenueh, or Liamain, otherwise called Darerca, was sister of St. Patrick; and Lugnaedon is styled his dalta or alumnus in the Irish Martyrologies.-See the Book of Lecan, 43 (a, b), Trias Thaum. 226. (b.), and Acta SS. 716. This is considered the oldest Christian monument as yet discovered in Ireland. The inscription is in the Roman characters of the fifth century. An attempt to decipher it may be seen noticed in a publication which was popular in its day, entitled the Irish Magazine, printed in Dublin, June, 1810, p. 256. "It is written in the hard Irish, or virgin" [by this word was probably meant virgular] characters, and is in English: Underneath this stone lie Goill, Ardan, and Sionan."" This was utterly unworthy of notice, and would not be alluded to here, except to shew the lamentable ignorance which then prevailed, when none could be found capable of reading and explaining an inscription, which required but ordinary knowledge of the language and history of Ireland. It becomes necessary here to notice an oversight of the learned translator and editor of the Annals of Ulster and the Four Masters, Doctor O'Conor. In both these Annals, at the entry of the death of Murges O'Nioc, Archbishop of Tuam, A. D. 1128, Inis an guill, where he is stated to have died, appears translated "insulis Alienigenarum," and in the Annals of Ulster this is explained, "(i. e. Ebudibus)" the Hebrides; mistaking it for inpi gall, which these islands were always called by the ancient Irish. But that this was a mere oversight appears from a note to a previous entry in the Annals of the Four Masters, A. D. 726, which contains the following passage: "Est etiam prope Congam Insula dicta Inis-an-Gaill-chrabhuig, Insula Saxonum Religiosorum, in qua sunt duæ Capella et multa Sanctorum Sepulchra;" though even here "Gaill-chrabhuig" should be rendered "Saxonis Religiosi."

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