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celebrated battle of Clontarf'. Muiredhach O'Flaherty was slain by the Connacians, and his son Murchadh soon after died'. The island of Lough Kime, the principal residence of the Muintir Murchadha, was taken and destroyed by the King of Connaught"; and Muredach O'Flaherty, prince of Hy-Briuin Seola", Murchadh an chapaill O'Flaherty, and Niall, son of Murges, presumptive heirs of Iar-Connaught, were slain". A. D. 1051, Amhailgadh, son of Cathal, son of Rory, the then prince, had his eyes put out by Aodh, or Hugh, surnamed an gaz bearnaig, or of the broken spear, King of Connaught, who thereupon established his rule over these western districts; but he was soon after expelled by the Muintir Murchadha, who regained Lough Orbsen, which was then considered of importance by the contending parties. This petty but destructive warfare continued with unabated virulence for many years, during which several chiefs were put to death on both sides; at length Ruaidhri, or Roderick, surnamed na soige buide, of the yellow hound, King of Connaught, was taken prisoner by Flaherty O'Flaherty, who treacherously and unjustly, say the Annalists, caused the king's eyes to be put out', upon which he was dethroned. Flaherty then conferred the sovereignty of Connaught on Hugh O'Conor, from whom he received back his own hereditary possessions of Moy-Seola'. But he did not long enjoy the fruits of his success, for he fell soon after by the hand of the assassin, in revenge for his cruel treatment of King Roderick. His death is thus recorded by the Four Masters : "Aoir Cp. 1098, Flairbentać ua Flairbentaicċ, tigerna sil Muireadaig agus jarżair-Connaċt, do marbad do Mhadudan ua Cuanna, 1 ccionaió dallta Ruaióri ui Concobair, .1. Ruaióri na soide buide, piż Connaċt. As do bliadain bais Flaiċbertaicċ adrubpao." Flaherty O'Flaherty, lord of Sil Murray and Iar-Connaught,

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was killed by Madudan Madden O'Cuana, in revenge for his foster-childa Roderick O Conor, i. e. Roderick of the yellow hound, King of Connaught. Of the year of his death the poet sung as follows:

“Oċt mbliaóna noċat ap mile, O jein mic de dai-nervaiz,

Ni szél fas oct is derb deimin,
Co bás feidil Flaiżbertaicċ.”

Eight years, ninety and one thousand,
From the birth of the son of God, all

strengthening,

It is no vain story, but is truly certain, 'Till the death of the faithful Flahertach.

This chieftain appears to have acquired considerable power and influence, and to have taken a leading part in the affairs of Connaught. He effectually resisted the O'Conors, and put an end to their incursions on his territory. To his time has been assigned the following description of Hy-Briuin Seola, which contains an account of the chiefs subordinate to O'Flaherty, and their possessions, with the principal officers of his establishment, and the lands which they held for the performance of their several duties. This historical fragment is preserved in a manuscript of ancient vellum, in the library of Trinity College, Dublin, H. 2. 17, p. 188.

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fein fuitib sein. O Darlaeić taireaċ ceiżri mbaile n-deg hua m-Ŏriúin raża ; 7 disein hi Cendetig, 7 hi Duind, 7 hi Indog Cnuic Tuaża, 7 hi Taiġin Zeaccaig, 7 hi Callanain comaɲba Cilli Cazail. hua Cendubain ollaṁ leiġis i Flairbentaiz, a tuait na toibrineao; arberat araile hua Taigió. Flaichi hua m-brúnneola, cona Fremaib.1. hi Feicin, hi balbain, 7 hi Duib, 7 hi Madudain. 7 mac Gilligannain o maigleaflaind taisi scuip hi Flaiżbertaiġ, 7 hi Colgon o baili hi Colgon go m-brataiġ hi Flare

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d O'Dathlaoich, “O’Dalaız.”—Book of Ballymote, fo. 54.

e Cnoc tuadh, now Knockdoe, see page 147 supra. f Ui Laidhenain, pronounced O'Lynan.

8 Lackagh, Leacaig, now Lackagh, a townland containing the ruins of a castle in a parish of the same name in the barony of Clare, and a short distance south-east of the conspicious hill of Knockdoe. See Ordnance map of Galway, sheet 70.

Kilcahil, Cill Cażail, i. e. the church of St. Cathal. This is the name of an old church in a townland of the same name in the parish of Annaghdown, in the same barony, situated immediately to the left of the road as you go from Galway to Tuam. The ruins of the church shew that it was very small. See Ordnance map of the County of Galway, sheet 57, where the position of the ruins of this church is shewn, under the name "St. Cathaldus' church."

O'Canavan, &c. According to the tradition in the country, the families of O'Canavan and O'Lee were hereditary physicians to O'Flaherty. There IRISH ARCH. SOC. 15. 3 B

having their own tribe subject to them. O'Dathlaoich is the taiseach of the fourteen ballys of the Hy-Briuin ratha; and of these are the O'Kennedies, and the O'Duinns, and the O'Innogs of Cnoctuadh', and O'Laighin' of Lackaghs, and O'Callanan, comharba of Killcahill". O'Canavan', medical ollamh of O'Flaherty, in Tuath na d-Toibrineadh, but others say that O'Laighidh [O' Lee]. The chiefs of HyBriuin-Seola, with their correlatives, are O'Fechin, O'Balbhain, O'Duff, and O'Madudhain, MacGilla Gannain of Moyleaslainn is master of the horse of O'Flaherty. The O'Colgans of Bally-Colgan* are the standard-bearers of O'Flaherty. Mac Ginnain is

the

was a Dr. Canavan, the lineal descendant of O'Flaherty's physicians, in constant attendance on the house of Lemonfield about sixty years ago.

i O'Lee. For an eccentric physician of this name, see p. 78, supra. In Duald Mac Firbis's copy of this tract the reading is, hua ceandubain 7 hua Zaiġid leaġa Muintire Murćada 7 Ua Ailella, 7 do Tuaiż na droibrinead had; adeir leabap ele U Flairbeartag, i. e. "O'Canavan and O'Lee are the physicians of Muintir Murchadha and of Hy-Ailella, and they are of the tribe of Tuath-na-d-Toibrineadh. Another book says of O'Flaherty"-[i. e. another book calls O'Canavan and O'Lee the physicians of O'Flaherty, instead of calling them physicians of Muintir-Murchadha, &c.]

* Bally-Colgan, Baile Uí Cholgáin, i. e. O'Colgan's town. This place retains its name to the present day, and is a townland now divided into two parts, called Ballycolgan Upper and Ballycolgan Lower, situated in the parish of Kilkilvery, near Headford, in the barony of Clare.

benraig. Meic Cinnain comarba Cilli Cuana, 7 hi Maelampaill Domnaig Patraic breżemain hi Flairberzaiz. hi Cleirceain o pair buiob, cona m-baili. hi Zaebucain, 7 hi Maelin oircinnió Cilli ceilbili. Hi Dubain o cluain ai, luċt comideaċta hi Flaiżbertaiż ćum a ligi coitcinn. Hi Meallaig o Cill manać agus o Cill na cailán taisaiż Bogogi, cona freamaib ducusa. H-1 Dorigean, 7 hi Caizearaig on Beitig, cona freamaib duċusa. O h-Aingli o daire i Aingli cona baili. Mac beólann o Cill leabair oircineaċ cluig duib Pa

τραις,

1 Kilcoona, Cill Cuana, i. e. St. Cuana's church, a well-known parish, situated to the southeast of Headford, in the same barony.

m O'Maelampaill. This name is written O'Maoil fabuill in Duald Mac Firbis's copy of this tract. The name is still extant, but pronounced O'Mullawill, and sometimes anglicised Lavelle. According to the tradition in the barony of Murrisk, or Iar-Umhall, this family is of Danish descent, but this tradition does not appear entitled to much credit.

" Donaghpatrick, Domnaiz Parraig, i.e. of St. Patrick's church. This is the name of a parish in the north of the barony of Clare. Its original church stands in ruins near the margin of Lough Hackett, which is the Loch Cime of the old Irish writers.

• Rath-Buidhbh, pronounced Rá-weev, now Rafwee, a townland in the parish of Killeany, in the barony of Clare. See Ordnance map, sheet 56.

P Cill-Cillbile, now Kilkilvery, a well-known parish in the barony of Clare, containing the town of Ath-mic-Cing, or Headford.

4 Cluain-ai, q. Cloneen?, in the parish of Killeany. Kilnamanagh, Cill na manaċ, i. e. church

the comharba of Kilcoona'. O'Maelampaillm of Donaghpatrick" is the brehon [judge] of O'Flaherty. O'Cleircin of Rathbuidhbh, O'Laebacain and O'Maoilin are the Erenachs of Cill-Cillbile". The O'Dubhans [O'Duanes] of Cluain-aia are the attendants of O'Flaherty at his common house. The O'Meallaighs of Kilnamanagh and of Kill na Cailans are the chiefs of Bogogi, with their correlatives. O'Doregan, and O'Caitheasaigh, from Beith each' [Beagh], with their correlatives. O'Haingli" of Derry Aingli with his bally. Beolan, of Killower", is the keeper of the

Mac

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taic, cona baili. Hi Doigin 7 1 Dubain oirciniz Cilli hursa, cona mbaili leo, 7 do aiscin Fursa i Dubain. Meic Cilli cellaig ollamáin hi Flaiżberraig a senčus 7 a filidect, co tri leazbailtib leo don leitsin .1. Ceannopoma, 7 Ɑż cind, 7 Cazair na hailigi a ceneal mbuizin. O Domnall na h-Apdraża taiseać comoil hi Flaiżbertaiż, cona reim duċusa fein fai 1. o Daiġean arda fintainn paċtairi i Domnaill, 7 hi Chiċirain o lis Cicapain, 7 hi Conlaċina obaili hi Conlacena. Beaċadoir hi Flaibertaiġ..... 1 n-Eocaill 7 bailii Conlaczna. 7 hi Chodil o baili i Chodil, hi Maelmuini o baili i Maelmuini, 7 o aż mic cind go loc a n-dużaiż sin. Hircineċ Raza hindile .1. o Teażcargais con

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black bell of St. Patrick, with his bally. O'Dubhain are the Erenachs of Killursa*, with their bally (and St. Fursa cursed O'Dubhain). The Mac Kilkellys are the ollamhs of O'Flaherty in history and poetry; and for this they have three half ballys, which are Ceann-droma', Athacind", and Cathair-na-hailighi" in Ceneal m-buithin. O'Domhnaill of Ardratha is the master of the feast of O'Flaherty, with his own correlatives under him, viz., O'Daigean of Ard-Fintain", who was O'Domhnaill's reachtaire [steward], and O'Chichearan of Lis-chicheran, and O'Conlachtna of Bally-conlachtna are the keepers of the bees of O'Flaherty..... in Eochaill and Bally-conlachtna. O'Chodil of Ballycodil, O'Maelmuine of Ballymaelmuine; and from Ath mic Cinn to the laked their country extends. O'Leathcargais is the Erenach

near Ballinrobe, in the county of Mayo, in the year 1837, but it is said to be now in the possession of one of this family who removed to the town of Castlebar. It is generally believed that this bell was originally of pure silver, but that it was rendered black by its contact with the demons on Croaghpatrick, when the apostle of Ireland was expelling them thence.

* O'Dubhain, now O'Duane. The O'Duanes and O'Lees, in the thirteenth century, crossed lough Orbsen with the O'Flaherties. Some respectable descen dants of these old families still reside in Iar-Connaught.

* Killursa, Cill Fhuppa, i. e. St. Fursey's church, a parish forming the north-western portion of the barony of Clare. The western portion of the old church of this parish is of extreme antiquity.

This name is now obsolete.

Athacind, now Headford, a well-known town in the parish of Kilkilvery, in the barony of Clare.

a Cathair-na-hailighi, now Cahernally, situated to the south-west of the town of Headford, in the parish of Killursa. The original cathair, or Cyclopean stone fort, from which this townland derived its name, is still in existence, in tolerable preservation. b Ard-Finntain, i. e. Finntan's eminence, or hill, now Ardfintan, a townland in the west of the said parish of Killursa.

c Bally-conlachtna, baile Hi Conlaċtna, i. e. O'Conlachtna's town, now Ballyconlaght, in the parish of Cargins, in the barony of Clare. See Ordnance map, sheet 55.

d From Ath mic Cinn to the lake, i. e. from Headford westwards to Lough Corrib. This district, which was, at the period of the writer of this tract,

y Ceann-droma, i. e. head of the long hill, or ridge.

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