History of Clare and the Dalcassian Clans of Tipperary, Limerick, and Galway. With an ancient and a modern map

Front matter

HISTOEY OF CLAEE GEORGE PHILIP & SOM", LONDON & LIVERPOOL HISTORY OF CLARE AND THE Balcassian Clans OF TIPPERARY, LIMERICK, AND GALWAY "Ha ceao a fan g-cac ; na ueijeanaca ar-'' "THE FIRST INTO BATTLE, THE LAST OUT OF IT." WITH AN ANCIENT AND A MODERN MAP BY THE Very Eev. P. WHITE, PP..VG. DUBLIN M. H. GILL & SON 50 Upper O'Connell Street TO THE DESCENDANTS OF THE Dalrassiatt Clans AT HOME AND ABROAD THIS BOOK IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED BY THE AUTHOR.

Preface

. — ♦ — This work must not be criticised too severely. It was written under many disadvantages, and cannot be free of mistakes. The Author had solely in view to link together scattered records, and present an outline of the march of life in Thomond during all the past centuries. He felt, as many others must have felt, the need of something like this, and offers it more as a kind of elementary history for general readers than an attempt at erudite research. His acknowledgments for valuable aid rendered during its composition are thankfully tendered to Mrs. Morgan John O'Connell of Ballylean, P. J. Eyan, Esq., M.B.I.A, Dublin ; P. "W. Joyce, Esq., LL.D., M.E.I.A., Dublin ; and Mr. John O'Brien of Miltown-Malbay. The Maps are enlarged from one edited by P. W. Joyce, Esq., LL.D., M.E.I.A., for Messrs. G. Philip & Sons. PAGE 1 11 24 CONTENTS.

Chapter I

Extent — Population — Geographical Features — Natural Advantages— Scenery— Soil— Lakes— Minerals— Tuameens, near Tulla — Atlantic Ocean and Shannon — Environment— Moher Cliffs — Submergement at Milltown-Malbay— Kilkee— Bishop's Island- Loop Head— Carrigaholt Castle— Iniscatha— St. Senan's Island —Monasteries — Castles— Ennis and Quin Abbeys— Bunratty — Falls of Doonas, Killaloe — Kincora — Holy Island— Burren — Abbey of Corcomroe— Cell and Legend of St. Colman Mac- Duagh — Lisdoonvarna, ......

Chapter II

Earliest known History— By whom peopled— Race of Eber — Mogha Nuadhat — Division of Ireland into Leathmogha and Leathcuin — Luighaidh Meann, descended from Ossian, drives the Firbolgs out of Clare — Tuadh Mhumhain — Thomond — North Munster — Will of Oilioll Oluim — Origin and Division of the Thomond Clans — Their present Descendants — Crimhthan, King of Munster, becomes King of Ireland — Is poisoned at Cratloe — Conal Eachluaith — Niall of the Nine Hostages — Exclusion of the Dalcassians from Sovereignty, .....

Chapter III

from A.n. 432 to 554. Christianity introduced — St. Benignus, Nephew and Successor of St. Patrick, preaches in Thomond and Kerry — St. Patrick blesses Clare from Knoc Patrick, near Foynes — Baptises there People from Corcovaskin — Prophesies the Birth of St. Senan — Incidents in the Life of this Saint — His Labours — His Death and Burial — St. Ruadan, Abbot of Lorha, in East Thomond, curses the Ard-Righ and his Palace of Tara — Its Abandonment, Ix CONTENTS. XII PalsJE 31 42 49 72

Chapter IV. From

554 TO 800. Dearth of Historical Records— Mode of election of Chief, Prince, and King — Their Privileges and Tributes — Boromean Tax — Its Abolition at the instance of St. Molaing of Ferns— Influence of Christianity on the Arts and Customs of the People— Learning fostered — Long Peace, . .

Chapter V

from 800 to 952. Earthquake in West Clare— Danish Invasion— Cormac MacCuilenan — Flahertach, Abbot of Iniscatha— Both defeat Flann, the Ard- Righ, at Tullamore— Defeated near Carlow — Cormac surrenders the Crown of Munster to Lorcan, Prince of Thomond — His Death and Character— Callaghan, King of Cashel— Brian Boroimhe born— His father, Ceinnidigh, defeated and slain by Callaghan,

Chapter VI. From

952 TO 1014. Mahon, Brian's elder brother, becomes King of Munster — His Murder — Brian succeeds — Takes Vengeance on the Murderers— - His Character— His Victories — Defeated at Nenagh by the Ard- Righ Malachy — Deposes Malachy — Wise Administration of the Kingdom — Clontarf — His Death, .....

Chapter VII

from 1014 to 1086. Dissensions among the Victors — Brian's son Donogh procures the Murder of Teigue, his own Brother — He becomes King of Munster — Claims Supreme Rule — Parliament at Killaloe — Donogh flies to Rome with the Regalia of Ireland — Turlogh succeeds — His Exploits, .......

Chapter VIII

from 1086 to 1171. Mortogh Mor, last Dalcassian Ard- Righ — His rival, Turlogh O'Connor of Connaught — His Defeats and Death — Conor, son of Diarmid, elected — Death of Ceallagh (St. Celsus) — Building of Cormac'g Chapel at Cashel — Contests on Lough Derg and the Western Coast— Another Turlogh succeeds Conor — Diarmid MacMurrough CONTENTS. XIII TACK 88 109 122 130 --St. Malachi— National Councils— O'Ruarck, Prince of Breffny —Expulsion of Diarmid, father-in-law of Turlogh — English Invasion, .......

Chapter IX

from 1171 to 1194. Life in Thomond before the Norman Invasion— Battle of Thurles — Defeat of the Normans — Alleged Submission of Roderick, the Ard-Righ, to Henry II. — Capture of Limerick — Recovered and burned by Donal O'Brien— Defeat of the Eoghanachts— Battle of the Curlieu Mountains — Pursuit of the English — Second Defeat of Thurles — Death of Donalmor, . . . .

Chapter X

from 1194 to 1267. Capture of Limerick — Surrender of Cork — English Garrison driven out of Munster — Dissension again — Donogh Cairbreac O'Brien allows the building of a Castle at Killaloe — The Clans resist and drive out the English — Donogh surrenders to King John — Permits again the erection of a Castle at Killaloe and Roscrea — Abandons Kincora for Clonroad — Rise of Ennis — O'Heney, Bishop of Killaloe, at the Fourth Council of Lateran — Mac- Namaras and O'Shaughnessys — Clare invaded — Donogh gives Hostages — Conor succeeds, and founds the Franciscan Monastery at Ennis in 1247 — Drives out the English from all Thomond in 1257 — Conference of Irish Princes atCaeluisce (Ballyshannon) — Another Invasion of Thomond — Defeat at Kilbarron, near Feacle — Battle at Suidene, in Burren — Defeat and Death of Conor-na-Suidene, .......

Chapter XI

from 1267 to 1343. Clare Castle — Another Invasion of Clare — Brian Rua, the reigning Prince, deposed by his uncle MacNamara — He instals Turlogh, son of Teigue Caeluisce — Richard de Clare unites with Brian Rua - — Builds the Castle of Bunratty — Murders Brian Rua — Consequences of the Murder — Intestine Conflicts — The Cathreim Turlogha— Battle of Dysart O'Dea, ....

Chapter XII

from 1343 to 1500. Another Brian — The Black Death — Brian murdered by the "Clann Keogh " — Revenge — O'Briens and MacNamaras defeat the CONTENTS. XIV PAGE 141 153 160 173 183 English at Aenagh, on the Maigue— Ulie de Burgho defeated by the MacNamaras— Marries a daughter of the reigning Prince, and assumes the Irish title of MacWilliam Oughther — Sub mission to Richard IL— MacNamara builds Quin Abbey— Peace —MacMahon, attacked by Teigue O'Brien and the O'Malleys, defeats them— Teigue brings all Leinster and Munster to sub mission—Covets the dignity of Ard-Righ— Dies 1467— The Earl of Kildare, Lord-Deputy, invades Clare— Is defeated at Bally hicky, near Quin, ....-••

Chapter XIII

Internal Condition of Thomond at this period— Its Religion— Its Politics — The Manners and Customs of its People,

Chapter XIV

from 1500 to 1540. Disastrous Battle of Cnoctuagh, near Galway — Reversed at Monabraher, near Limerick — O'Daly of Corcomroe — Battle of Knockaroe, near Strabane — Defeat at Camur on the Suir — Earl of Kildare after Capture of Maynooth takes refuge in Clare — Portcroissi, above Castleconnell — Lord Grey in Clare — Submission but no Occupation, .....

Chapter XV

from 1540 to 1559. Henry VIII. — Surrender of O'Brien, MacNamara, O'Grady, and O'Shaughnessy for English Titles — Plunder of the Clans — Chiefs bribed by Gifts of Suppressed Religious Houses — Struggle to maintain Brehon Law — Battle of Spancil Hill, a.d. 1559,

Chapter XVI

from 1559 to 1576. Internal Conflicts — The Castles of Ballyalla and Ballycar captured by the Earl of Thomond and the English — Introduction of Clan Sheehy and Clan Sweeney— Subdivision of Clare between the Contending Parties — Execution at Tuaclea, near Lisdoonvarna — Morogh of Ara, the stripling, first Protestant Bishop of Killaloe — Malachy O'Molony, Cornelius O'Mulryan (Maol-Ryan), Catholic Bishops — First Assize at Ennis Monastery, a.d. 1570, CONTENTS. XV PAGE 192 210 225 242

Chapter XVII

from 1576 to 1590. Clare, annexed to Connaught in 1569, is reannexed to Munster in 1576 — The Dalcassians for the first time consent to pay Tribute — How Clare and Tipperary became at last an English Possession —The last Tanist of Thomond— The Protestant Earl of Thomond cuts asunder the Allied Northern and Southern Catholics — Donogh of Ennistymon, ancestor of the Dromoland O'Briens, hanged at Limerick, a.d. 1582— Fate of Donogh Beg O'Brien- Tripartite Deed — MacNamara and other Chiefs refuse to sign — Stout Resistance of Mahon O'Brien of Cluanoon (ancestor of the Clare Mahons) — Owners of Castles in Clare at this period — Suppressed Abbeys, ......

Chapter XVIII

from 1590 to 1602. The Earl of Thomond joins the English in an Attack on the Northern Princes — Driven back — Besieged in Armagh and Newry — O'Brien of Ballycorick hanged — Defeat at Ballyshannon — Uprising in Clare — O'Donnell's Raid in Clare — Sieges of Carrigaholt, Dunbeg, and Dunmore — Second Raid of O'Donnell, a.d. 1600— The Earl of Thomond reduces Clare to submission, .......

Chapter XIX

from 1602 to 1641. Recusants — Priests flung overboard at sea after leaving Scattery (Iniscatha) Island — Parliament in Dublin a.d. 1613 — Interesting State of Protestantism in Thomond, as described by Protestant Bishops — First Great Confiscation, . . * .

Chapter XX. From

1641 TO 1646. The Rising — Sieges of Ballyalla, Inchicronan, and Tromoroe— Swearing of Affidavits — Curious Incidents— Proposed Extermination of Catholics — John O'Malony of Killaloe surprised near Quin — Siege of Bunratty — Cardinal Rinuncini — His Description of Bunratty — Thomond freed once more of the Foreigners, . CONTENTS. XVI PAGE 255 263 285 297 312

Chapter XXI

from 1646 to 1651. Morogh na Thothaine — Cromwell — Ormond in Clare — Council of the Confederation takes refuge in Ennis — Ireton — Betrayal of the Irish Cause — Ludlow at Inchicronan — Surrender of Limerick — Mauria Rhua, ......

Chapter XXII

from 1651 to 1690. Formation of the Irish Brigade — Second Great Confiscation — Expulsion of Priests — Destruction of Clare Castles — Families transported to Clare — Partial Recovery of Properties at the Restoration of the Monarchy — Bishops of Killaloe — Curious Lettings — Clare Representatives in King James' First Parliament — Burgesses of Ennis — Officers of King James — Battle of the Boyne — Athlone — Limerick — Sarsfield — Clare's Share in the Defence, ........

Chapter XXIII

from 1690 to 1703. Second Siege of Limerick — Butchery on Thomond Bridge — Treaty of Limerick — Flight of the Wild Geese — Clare reduced to a Desert — The Third Great Confiscation — Plans for Plunder — Those who secured it — Sums paid for it — Origin of Titles of most of the Present Owners, .....

Chapter XXIV

from 1703 to 1770. Working of the Penal Laws in Clare — Government Tools — Bishops in the Penal Times — Curious Elections — Cutting of Woods — Irish Brigade — Letter of Lord Clare — Thomond Marshal of France — Flag presented by Louis XVI. — Charles Lucas,

Chapter XXV

from 1770 to 1801. Condition of Clare — Dilapidation — Commerce impeded — Population increasing — Families from Neighbouring Counties — Public Spirit reviving — First Signs of Toleration — Building of Catholic Chapels — Clare Members of Parliament on the side of Liberty — Relief Acts— Nationalist Meeting at Ennis— Spanish Admiral O'Kuoney — Donogh Rua MacNamara— And. Magrath — Thomas Dermody — Other Clare Celebrities of the last century, CONTENTS. XVII PAGE 328 342 360

Chapter XXVI

from 1801 to 1828. The false Lord Clare— The Forty-Shilling Freeholders— Influence of Napoleonic Wars on Clare— O'Connell— Clare Protestants in favour of Catholic Relief— O'Connell's Duel with D'Esterre— Major MacNamara — Famine of 1822 — Tom Steele— "Head Pacificator of Ireland" — The O'Gorman Mahon — Amusing Incidents — Vesey Fitzgerald — Father Murphy of Corofin — Ennis besieged — Nomination Speeches — Droll Story against O'Connell — Obstruction Tactics of the Protestant Party — Declaration of the Poll — Clare killed with one blow Protestant Ascendancy and the Catholic Association,

Chapter XXVII

from 1828 to 1851. Bill of 1829 for Catholic Emancipation — Petty Restrictions — O'Connell at the Bar of the House claiming to sit as M.P. for Clare — O'Gorman Mahon succeeds him in '30 — Unseated on Petition for Bribery — Quarrel with O'Connell — " Terry Alts " — Classical Schools — National System — Workhouses — Monster Meeting at Ballycoree — From Life to Death — The Famine — Drowning at Poulnasherry — The Times becomes a Balaam — Statistics of Evictions and Deaths — Letter of Very Rev. Dr. Kelly, P.P., V.G., Kilrush— Father Malachy Duggan, .