THE AGE OF CHRIST, 1531. The Age of Christ, one thousand five hundred thirty-one.
Tuathal, the son of O'Neill, i.e. the son of Art, son of Con, was taken prisoner by O'Neill, i.e. by Con, the son of Con.
Mac Carthy Reagh (Donnell, the son of Fineen, son of Dermot), Lord of Hy-Carbery, a man of good jurisdiction and rule, and of great hospitality and prowess, a man who had given a general invitation of hospitality to all those in Ireland who sought gifts, died.
Donough, the son of Turlough, son of Teige O'Brien, Tanist of Thomond, a man of hospitality and nobleness, died.
The son of O'Doherty, i.e. Niall, the son of Owen Carragh, died.
Con, the son of John Boy Mac Mahon, was slain by Mac Mahon and the sons of Brian Mac Mahon.
Owen, the son of Gilla-Patrick Oge Maguire, was killed by his brother, Edmond.
Conor, the son of Cathal, son of Don Maguire, was slain by the people of Iochtar-tire.
O'Flanagan of Tuath-Ratha (Manus, the son of Gilbert, son of Cormac), distinguished for his nobleness, and the keeper of a house of hospitality, died on the 25th of February; and Gilla-Isa, the son of Turlough, was styled O'Flanagan.
Murtough, the son of Conor Mac Coghlan, Prior of Gailinn, and Vicar of Liath-Manchain, was treacherously slain by Turlough Oge O'Melaghlin and Rury.
Dermot, the son of John, son of Hugh, the most noble and humane of the descendants of Hugh, son of Mulrony Mac Donough, died.
Cormac, the son of Cathal Oge, son of Cathal Mac Manus, illustrious for his house of hospitality, died.
Tuathal, the son of O'Donnellan of Machaire-Maenmaighe, and Gilla-Patrick, the son of Adam Mac Ward, died.
An irruption was made by the son of Maguire (Cormac) into Kinel-Farry. He there took a prey from the son of Brian O'Neill, and the son of Brian himself was slain in pursuit of the prey; and the son of Maguire carried off the prey.
An army was led by the English Lord Justice, the Earl of Kildare, and the chiefs of the Irish recte English of Ireland, into Tyrone, at the instance of O'Donnell and Niall Oge O'Neill, and of the descendants of Hugh O'Neill; and they burned Tyrone from Dungal to Abhainn-mhor, demolished the new castle of Port-an-Fhaileagain, and plundered and burned the country of Brian-na-Moicheirghe. Monaghan was left empty to them. O'Donnell and Niall set out to join that English army at Kinard, and demolished the castle of Kinard; but, O'Neill being near them with a very numerous army, they dared not advance further into Tyrone; so that these hosts returned to their several homes, O'Neill not having come to terms of peace or armistice with them.
Rory Gallda (the Anglicised), son of O'Neill, was taken prisoner by O'Neill (Con, the son of Con).
Hugh Oge, the son of Thomas, son of Thomas, son of Gilla-Duv Maguire, died, after having gained the victory over the Devil and the world.
James O'Flanagan, the son of the Parson of Innis, a man of great name and renown in his own country, died.
Baile-Ui-Donnghaile was assaulted by Niall Oge, son of Art, son of Con O'Neill. He demolished the castle; and he made a prisoner of the son of O'Neill, who was foster-son of O'Donnelly, and carried him off, together with the horses and the other spoils of the town.
The castle of Belleek was taken by Hugh Boy O'Donnell, from which followed the disturbance of Tirconnell.
Maguire proceeded with an army into Tirconnell, at the instance of O'Donnell, for O'Donnell's sons were at strife with each other, from fear that the one
THE AGE OF CHRIST, 1532. The Age of Christ, one thousand five hundred thirty-two.
Thomas, the son of Pierce Roe, Earl of Ormond, was slain in Ossory by Dermot MacGillapatrick, who was heir to the lordship of Ossory. Not long after this, Dermot was delivered up by his own brother (the Mac Gillapatrick) to the Earl, by whom he was fettered, in revenge of his son and of every other misdeed which Dermot had committed against him up to that time.
O'Carroll (Mulrony), the most distinguished man of his own tribe for generosity, valour, prosperity, and renown; a man to whom the poets, the exiled, the clergy, and the learned, were indebted; who had gathered and bestowed more wealth than any other person of his stock; a protecting hero to all; the guiding, firm helm of his tribe; a triumphant traverser of tribes; a jocund and majestic Munster champion; a precious stone; a carbuncle gem; the anvil of the solidity, and the golden pillar of the Elyans, died in his own fortress, on the festival of St. Matthew the Evangelist; and his son, Ferganainm, was inaugurated in his place. On that very day, and before the death of Mulrony, his sons defeated the Earl of Ormond and the sons of John O'Carroll, who were deprived of many men and horses, and of cannon called falcons, in consequence of which the ford at which the defeat was given was called Bel-atha-na-bhfabhcún; and this was Mulrony's last victory. His son, Ferganaimn (as we have already stated), was styled the O'Carroll, in preference to his seniors, the sons of John O'Carroll. Many evils resulted to the country in consequence of this, for the sons of John first took the castle of Birr, and plundered the country out of it. The son of the parson O Carroll was slain on the Green of Birr by Teige Caech, the son of O'Carroll. After this O'Carroll drew his cliamhain father-in-law, the Earl of Kildare, Lord Justice of Ireland, against
It was in commemoration of the year of the death of Mulrony O'Carroll that the following quatrain was composed:
- One thousand and five hundred years,
Twenty years and twelve beside,
From the birth of Christ who saved us
To the autumn when O'Carroll died.
Owen, the son of Tiernan, son of Owen O'Rourke, a distinguished gentleman, was slain by O'Mulvey and his kinsmen, in the monastery of Druim-da-Ethiar Dromahaire.
Turlough, the son of Mac Clancy, was killed by his own two brothers, on the threshold of Mac Clancy's mansion; and Brian O'Rourke destroyed much in Dartry, on account i.e. in revenge of this killing.
Mary, the daughter of Mac Sweeny Fanad, and wife of O'Boyle, died suddenly, after having been thrown from her horse, at the door of her own mansion, on the 21st of April.
Mac Quillin (Walter, the son of Garrett) was killed in the church of Dunbo; and Conor, the son of O'Kane, a rich and affluent man, was burned in it, and Mac Con-Uladh (viz. James, the son of Art Mac Con-Uladh) was taken prisoner by the son of Donnell Cleireach O'Kane.
The Coarb of Fenagh, i.e. Brian, died.
Cormac O'Hultachain, Erenach of Achadh-Beithe Aghavea, died.
Magauran, son of Manus, son of Thomas, Chief of Teallach-Eachdhach Tullyhaw, died.
John, the son of Philip, son of Turlough, son of Philip Maguire, was killed with one stab of a knife dagger by Donnell, the son of Maguire, i.e. by the son of Cuconnaught, son of Brian, son of Philip.
O'Mulconry (Torna, the son of Torna) died; and Conor, the son of Donnell Roe, was styled O'Mulconry in his place. He, too, died shortly afterward.
O'Donnell and Maguire went to the English Lord Justice, William Skeffington, and after they had formed a league of mutual friendship and amity with each other, the Lord Justice went with them into Tyrone. The castle of Dungannon was broken down and the country was ravaged.
The Earl of Kildare (Garrett, the son of Garrett) came to Ireland from the King as Lord Justice.
O'Donnell proceeded to Moylurg with his forces, being accompanied by Mac Donnell, namely, Alexander, the son of John Cahanagh. O'Donnell plundered and burned Moylurg, until at last Mac Dermot gave him his own demand that he might be at peace with him.
The sons of O'Neill, i.e. the sons of Art Oge, namely, Donnell and Tuathal, who had been for a long time detained in captivity by the other O'Neill, were hanged by him.
The castle of Ard-na-riagh Ardnarea was taken by the sons of O'Dowda from the sons of John Burke, in consequence of which a war arose between them and the descendants of Richard Burke, and many depredations and slaughters were committed on both sides.
Great depredations and desperate ravages were committed by Niall Oge O'Neill upon Ruibilin Mac Donnell, and he carried the spoils into Fermanagh.
Cormac, the son of Maguire, was treacherously taken prisoner by the sons of O'Neill, namely, by Ferdoragh, the son of Con, son of Con, and Felim Doibhlenach, the son of Art Oge, son of Con O'Neill. A party of his cavalry vere slain, and, among the rest, William, the son of Dermot, son of Cormac
THE AGE OF CHRIST, 1533. The Age of Christ, one thousand five hundred thirty-three.
Mac Dermot of Moylurg (Dermot, the son of Rory Mac Dermot) was treacherously slain by the sons of Owen, son of Teige Mac Dermot; and Owen, the son of Teige, assumed the lordship after him.
O'Molloy (Donnell Caech, the son of Cosnamhach), Lord of Fircall, was treacherously slain on the Green of Lann-Ealla by his own brother, Cucogry, and Art, his brother's son; and his brother, Cahir, was styled O'Molloy.
Felim Bacagh, the son of Niall, son of Con O'Neill, died.
The two sons of Felim, the son of Rory Bacagh O'Neill, were slain by Manus O'Donnell.
Edmond, the son of Con, son of Niall, son of Art O'Neill, was slain by the sons of Maguire.
The castle of Sligo was taken by Teige Oge, the son of Teige Oge, son of Hugh O'Conor, by means of a nocturnal assault, the warders of the castle having betrayed it and surrendered it to them.
The castle of Ard-na-riagh Ardnarea was likewise taken at night by the sons of Thomas Burke, from the sons of O'Dowda.
A great depredation was committed by O'Donnell upon O'Hara Boy, between the two rivers, because the latter had been disobedient to him.
Niall, son of Murrough Mac Sweeny, was slain on the bridge of Sligo. He was the best and most renowned youth of his own tribe.
Murtough, son of Felim, who was son of Turlough Carragh O'Conor, was
The Earl of Kildare went a second time into Ely, to assist Ferganainm O'Carroll, to Suidhe-an-roin; and he laid siege to the castle, on which occasion he lost a good constable of his people; and, having taken the castle, he returned home. Owny Carragh, son of John, was styled O'Carroll in opposition to Ferganainm, in consequence of which internal dissensions arose in Ely.
Cormac Mac Coghlan, Lord of Clann-Conor, died.
Cahir Mac Coghlan, Erenagh of Clonmacnoise, died.
THE AGE OF CHRIST, 1534. The Age of Christ, one thousand five hundred thirty-four.
O'Conor Roe (Teige Boy, the son of Cathal Roe) died; and his son, i.e. Turlough Roe, was styled O'Conor.
Mac Dermot of Moylurg (Owen) died in the Rock of Lough Key, after having been a year in the lordship, during which time Moylurg was in a state of disturbance and commotion. The Abbot of Boyle was then styled Mac Dermot, namely, Hugh, the son of Cormac Mac Dermot. The sons of Teige Mac Dermot however took the Rock from him, and the country was not less disturbed during his time.
Owen, son of Hugh, son of Niall, son of Con, the best man of the descendants of Hugh Boy O'Neill, was slain with a cast of a dart by a party of Scots, on Loch Cuan.
Turlough Duv O'Dempsey was treacherously killed by his own kinsman, Murtough Oge O'Dempsey, although he was under the protection of God and St. Evin. Murtough Oge was slain himself soon afterwards by O'More, through the miracles of God and St. Evin.
O'Gallagher, i.e. Edmond, the son of John, son of Tuathal, died suddenly.
Cormac, the son of Farrell Mac Ward, a learned poet, the best of his tribe in his time for alms-deeds and humanity, died, after unction and penance.
Mulmurry Mac Keogh, intended Ollav of Leinster in poetry, a learned man, skilled in various arts, who kept a good house of hospitality, was accidentally killed by his mother's brothers, the sons of O'Toole.
Manus Boy O'Duigennan was strangled in the night by his own wife.
Great complaints and accusations were transmitted from the chiefs of the English of Ireland and from the Council, to the King, Henry VIII., of England, against the Lord Justice (i.e. the Earl of Kildare, Garrett Oge, the son of Garrett, son of Thomas, commander of the strength and power of Ireland); and the Earl went over to the King, to vindicate his conduct before him, but it was of no avail, for he was taken and confined in the tower, where he remained for one year, and they were exerting the rigours of the law against him. The Earl Garrett, on his departure for England, left the sword of the King with his son, Thomas. Others however say that it was William Skeffington who succeeded Garrett in the office of Lord Justice.
THE AGE OF CHRIST, 1535. The Age of Christ, one thousand five hundred thirty five.
The Earl of Kildare, Lord Justice of Ireland (Garrett Oge), the son of Garrett, son of Thomas, the most illustrious of the English and Irish of Ireland in his time, for not only had his name and renown spread through all Ireland, but his fame and exalted character were heard of in distant countries of foreign nations, died in captivity in London. After which his son, Thomas, proceeded to avenge his father upon the English and all who had been instrumental in removing him from Ireland. He resigned the King's sword, and did many injuries to the English. The Archbishop of Dublin came by his death through
Egneghan, the son of Donnell O'Donnell, was slain by the sons of O'Boyle.
The daughter of O'Neill and wife of Manus O'Donnell, namely, Judith, daughter of Con, son of Henry, son of Owen, died on the 21st of August, in the middle of her age and affluence. She was the most renowned woman for her years of her time for piety and hospitality, for she was only forty-two years of age when she resigned her spirit, and was honourably buried in the monastery of St. Francis at Donegal.
Mac Sweeny of Tir-Boghaine (Mulmurry More, the son of Niall Mac Sweeny) was treacherously slain by his own brother, Niall, at the door of Mac Sweeny's castle of Rathain, on the festival of SS. Peter and Paul.
Ferdoragh Mac Coghlan, Lord of Delvin Eathra, died, and Felim, the son of Meyler Mac Coghlan, took his place.
Fineen, the son of Conla Mac Coghlan, was slain by Ferganainm, son ot Ferdoragh.
Murtough Mac Donough, the son of Murrough, and his two sons, John Glas and Farrell, were slain at Magh-Imleach by O'Hara Boy, having been first deceitfully betrayed by one of their own people.
Mac Auliffe gained a great battle, in which were slain the Lord of Claenglais and Mac Gibbon, with a large battalion of the Clann-Sheehy. Maelmurry, son of Brian Mac Sweeny, was slain in the commencement and fury of the conflict.
Melaghlin, the son of Carbry O'Beirne, was slain by the sons of Cathal, son of Mac Dermot.
THE AGE OF CHRIST, 1536. The Age of Christ, one thousand five hundred thirty-six.
The monastery of Druim-da-ethiar Dromahaire was accidentally burned in the night, while all were asleep, and Eremon O'Donnell, a Friar Minor, was burned within it, and a great quantity of property was also destroyed in it.
Many diseases and maladies raged in this year, namely, a general plague, galar-breac, the flux, and fever, of which many died.
Cormac Oge, the son of Cormac, son of Teige Mac Carthy, the choice of the Irish of Leath-Mhogha, died, after having gained the victory over the Devil and the world, and was interred at Kilcrea.
Mac William of Clanrickard (John, son of Rickard, son of Edmond) died; and a great war broke out in Clanrickard, concerning the lordship; two Mac Williams were nominated in the country, namely, Richard Bacagh, the son of Ulick, was called Mac William, and Ulick, son of Richard Oge, was called Mac William also. On this occasion Ulick-na-gCeann sided with Richard Bacagh.
O'Reilly (Farrell, the son of John, son of Cathal), Lord of Hy-Briuin and Conmaicne, a generous, potent, upright, and truly hospitable man, died, after receiving the communion and sacrifice.
Mac Clancy, Chief of Dartry (Feradhach, the son of William), died. He was a charitable and humane man.
Thomas O'Higgin, Chief Preceptor of the men of Ireland and Scotland in poetry, died.
Felim, the son of Felim O'Rourke, died in captivity with Brian, the son of Owen, son of Tiernan O'Rourke.
Cathal, the son of Johnin, son of John O'Mulmoghery a constantly-spending and lastingly-affluent man, died.
The chiefs of Lower i.e. north Connaught, namely, Teige Oge, the son of Teige, who was son of Hugh; Teige, the son of Cathal Oge O'Conor; the Clann-Donough, and the sons of O'Dowda, went on an excursion against the descendants of Richard Burke, at the instance of the Bishop Barrett. The spoils of the country fled i.e. were carried before them to the Termon of St. Tiernan of Errew, but the bishop took them out of the Termon to the army, and the spoils were not restored in honour of the saint.
Teige Oge, the son of Teige, son of Hugh, son of Turlough Carragh O'Conor, was styled O'Conor. He was the first man of the descendants of Brian Luighneach, in Lower Connaught, who was styled O'Conor, for he who until then had the leadership, or chief command, of that tribe was styled Mac Donnell Mic Murtough; and it was for sake of honour, and in order to outshine the lords who had preceded him that he made that change in the name. This new O'Conor and the son of Cathal Oge O'Conor made an incursion against the Clann-Costello; but they seized on no prey, and as they did not obtain any spoils, they encamped around Kilcolman, the town i.e. mansion of the son of Rury Mac Costello, who came to O'Conor, and delivered himself into his hands, on condition that O'Conor would spare his town, and presented to O'Conor a grand coat of mail which he had, namely, the coat of mail of Mac Feorais. O'Conor then returned to Sligo with this hostage and purposing to keep him in pledge for a full ransom for him.
At this time war and contentions arose between O'Donnell and all the chieftains of Lower Connaught, with the single exception of Brian, the son of Owen O'Rourke, who did not, on this occasion, join either side. An army was, therefore, mustered by O'Donnell and his sons (excepting Manus alone, who did not come into his father's army on this expedition, because he was biassed by O'Neill). Into this army of O'Donnell came Maguire (Cuconnaught); the son of O'Neill (Niall Oge, the son of Art); and the son of O'Reilly (Hugh, the
Donough, the son of Teige, son of Rory, son of Conor, son of Tomaltagh, son of Maurice, son of Donough, was styled Mac Donough, before the death of Mac Donough himself, namely, Owen, son of Donough, son of Murrough, who, however, was in the decline of his life, and had lost his sight. A war broke out between the sons of Owen and the new Mac Donough, concerning the lordship; but nothing remarkable was destroyed in the contests between them.
An army was led by O'Conor Sligo; Brian, the son of O'Rourke; and by the son of Cathal Oge O'Conor, at the instance of Mac Dermot and the sons of
The English Justiciary marched with an army into Munster, where he took Carrac-O-Cainnell, and broke down the bridge of Murrough O'Brien. Some assert that the son of Donough O'Brien was a party to inducing the Chief Justice to go on this expedition.
Brian, son of Owen, who was son of Tiernan O'Rourke, was styled the O'Rourke; and he pulled down Caislen-an-chairthe now Castlecar.
Donnell, the son of Donough O'Kelly, a distinguished captain, and Tanist of Hy-Many from Caraidh to Grian, and Egneghan, the son of Melaghlin, son of Donough, his nephew, were both treacherously slain by Melaghlin, the son of William, son of Melaghlin O'Kelly, in the Feadha of Athlone, at the instigation of the sons of Donnell's own brother, namely, the sons of Teige, son of Donough O'Kelly.
The sons of Mac William of Clanrickard, John Duv and Redmond Roe, the
Mac Costello (John, son of Gilla-Duv), a bountiful and truly hospitable man, a captain distinguished for noble feats, was treacherously slain by a party of his own tribe.
O'Conor Faly (Brian, the son of Cahir) was banished from his country, and all his castles were demolished; and numbers of his people were slain, during the taking of them, by the English Lord Justice, i.e. Lord Leonard. And this was done through the envy and machinations of Cathal Roe, O'Conor's own brother.
Donough O'Carroll deposed Ferganainm, and Owny Carragh, his own brother, and deprived both of the lordship.
THE AGE OF CHRIST, 1537. The Age of Christ, one thousand five hundred thirty-seven.
A war broke out between Hugh Boy O'Donnell and Manus O'Donnell. The sons of O'Boyle sided with Hugh, who was in the castle of Donegal. In consequence of this dissension between the sons of O'Donnell, a great commotion arose in Tirconnell, during which a party of the descendants of the Bishop O'Gallagher were slain by the sons of O'Boyle, namely, the son of Turlough Oge, son of Brian, and the two sons of Owen Ballagh, the son of Brian, and others besides these.
O'Donnell (Hugh, the son of Hugh Roe, son of Niall Garv, son of Turlough of the Wine, Lord of Tirconnell, Inishowen, Kinel-Moen, Fermanagh, and Lower Connaught), died; he was a man to whom rents and tributes were paid by other territories over which he had extended his jurisdiction and power, such as Moylurg, Machaire-Chonnacht, Clann-Conway, Costello, Galleanga, Tirawly,
Maguire (Cuconnaught, the son of Cuconnaught, son of Brian, son of Philip), Lord of Fermanagh, a charitable and humane man, the most renowned for dexterity of hand, nobleness, and hospitality, that came of the race of the Collas for a long period of time; who had brought under his jurisdiction that tract of country from Clones to Cael-Uisge; the suppressor of thieves and evil-doers; a man who possessed happiness and affluence in his time, was, on the 8th of October, treacherously slain on Creachan, an island in Lough Erne, belonging to the Friars, by the descendants of Thomas Maguire, and the descendants of Turlough, i.e. by Flaherty, the son of Philip, son of Turlough Maguire. He was first buried in Devenish, but was sometime afterward disinterred by the Friars Minor, who carried him to the monastery of Donegal, and there interred him in a becoming manner.
An army was led by O'Neill (Con) into Trian-Chongail Clannaboy, and spoiled and plundered a great part of the country; the son of O'Neill, however, was taken prisoner in the rear of the army, at Belfast. O'Neill then returned to his house.
Niall Oge, the son of Niall, son of Con O'Neill, Lord of Trian-Chongail Clannaboy, died suddenly at that time; and O'Neill returned again into Trian-Chongail. and obtained his son, who was in captivity; and dissensions and contentions afterwards arose in Trian-Chongail concerning the lordship.
Niall, the son of Hugh, son of Niall, son of Con, son of Hugh Boy, heir to the lordship of Trian-Chongail, a man who was likely to follow in the wake of his ancestors in nobleness and hospitality, and in the patronage of the learned and the destitute, was slain by the Scots.
The son of O'Reilly (Brian, the son of Farrell), a great loss in his own country, was slain by the people of the English Lord Justice, who came to commit ravages in Clann-Mahon.
The son of Mac Sweeny (Mulmurry) was slain by the sons of Murrough Mac Sweeny.
An army was led by O'Donnell (Manus) into Lower Connaught, in the month of September; and he destroyed much corn, and traversed and burned all Lower Connaught, namely, Carbury, Tireragh, the two Leynys, Corran,
O'Gara (Owen, the son of Dermot, son of Owen), Lord of Coolavin, died.
Teige, the son of Hugh, son of Mac Consnamha, Chief of Muintir-Kenny, died.
The son of O'Reilly (Cahir Modardha, the son of John, son of Cathal) was slain by the English on a pursuit.
The son of O'Doherty (Niall Caech, the son of Gerald, son of Donnell, son of Felim) was slain in a nocturnal assault by Rury, son of Felim O'Doherty, at Baile-na-gCananach, in the Termon of Derry.
O'Flanagan of Tuath-Ratha (Gilla-Isa) and his son were slain by his own tribe; and many other misdeeds were done in Fermanagh, both by burning and plundering, after the death of Maguire.
Depredations and burnings were committed by Calvagh O'Donnell in Clanawley; and another depredation was committed by him on O'Kane.
O'Conor Faly obtained the dominion of his own territory again, contrary to the will of the English Lord Justice and his own relatives, the sons of O'Conor; and many of their people were slain by him.
The son of O'Melaghlin (James, son of Murrough) was slain by the son of O'Conor Faly. He was the most illustrious and triumphant of his tribe in his time.
Turlough Cleireach, i.e. the O'Melaghlin, was slain in Calry, by the sons of Felim, namely, Kedagh and Connell; and Art O'Melaghlin took the place of O'Melaghlin.
Thomas, the son of the Earl of Kildare, the best man of the English of Ireland
A heresy and a new error sprang up in England, through pride, vain-glory, avarice, and lust, and through many strange sciences, so that the men of England went into opposition to the Pope and to Rome. They at the same time adopted various opinions, and among others the old law of Moses, in imitation of the Jewish people; and they styled the king the Chief Head of the Church of God in his own kingdom. New laws and statutes were enacted by the king and Council Parliament according to their own will. They destroyed the orders to whom worldly possessions were allowed, namely, the Monks, Canons, Nuns, Brethren of the Cross, and the four poor orders, i.e. the orders of the Minors, Preachers, Carmelites, and Augustinians; and the lordships and livings of all these were taken up for the King. They broke down the monasteries, and sold their roofs and bells, so that from Aran of the Saints to the Iccian Sea there was not one monastery that was not broken and shattered, with the exception of a few in Ireland, of which the English took no
THE AGE OF CHRIST, 1538. The Age of Christ, one thousand five hundred thirty-eight.
Hugh Boy O'Donnell, son of Hugh Duv, son of Hugh Roe, heir to the lordship of Tirconnell, a man who was well skilled and learned in every science, who was most distinguished for munificence and hospitality, for prowess in the field of battle and the gap of danger, and who was expected, from his steadiness and other characteristics, to attain to the lordship of his own country Tirconnell, died at Cill O'dTomhrair, on the 22nd of March, after having received the Communion and Extreme Unction.
Niall, the son of Con, son of Art O'Neill, a man illustrious for his valiant deeds and nobleness, was slain in a nocturnal assault by the son of Niall O'Neill, in the castle of Omagh; the castle having been first betrayed by a party who were within the castle. Niall O'Neill afterwards destroyed the castle, and persecuted his own son for this killing.
The son of Mac Clancy (Cahir, the son of Feradhach, son of William), heir to the chieftainship of Dartry, died in Dun-Carbry.
Ferganainm, the son of Ferdoragh Mac Coghlan, Tanist of Delvin Eathra, was slain by the sons of the Prior Mac Coghlan.
An army was led by O'Donnell (Manus) into Lower Connaught, and triumphantly took the castle of Sligo, which was well defended by warders and
THE AGE OF CHRIST, 1539. The Age of Christ, one thousand five hundred thirty-nine.
O'Brien of Thomond (Conor, the son of Turlough, son of Teige) died, after having been for some time in the lordship; and the country was prosperous and flourishing in his time. Murrough, the son of O'Brien, i.e. the son of Turlough, son of Teige, was inaugurated in his place, as his qualifications deserved.
An army was led by O'Donnell (Manus) into Lower Connaught, between Christmas and the festival of St. Bridget; and he exacted from them the inhabitants his full tribute and hostages, and returned safe to his house.
O'Neill, i.e. Con, came to Donegal about Easter, to visit O'Donnell; and they made peace, friendship, and alliance with each other, as well and as firmly as they possibly could.
The son of Maguire (Cormac, the son of Cuconnaught, son of Cuconnaught, son of Brien, son of Philip), Tanist of Fermanagh, a good man of nobleness and hospitality, was treacherously slain by the people of his brother, in his brother's own presence.
An army was led by O'Neill (Con) and O'Donnell (Manus), with one will and accord, into Meath; and such part of these territories as were disobedient to them they spoiled and burned before them, as far as Tara, and the possessions of all those who refused to submit to them. They obtained immense and innumerable spoils on this expedition, for the Irish had not in latter times assembled to oppose the English army, that destroyed more of the property of Meath than this plundering army; for many were the spoils of gold and silver, copper, iron, and every sort of goods and valuables besides, which they took from the towns of Ardee and Nuachongbhail, which they entirely plundered on that expedition. Upon their return, these troops were elated with courage and high spirits, and filled with pride and haughtiness, on account of the vastness of their spoils, and because they had not met any opposition. When the English Lord Justice, Lord Leonard, heard the news of this, he made a complete muster of all the English in Ireland, the forces of the great towns of Meath, both ecclesiastical and lay, and all the fleets in the adjacent harbours, and especially the large fleet in the bay of Carlinne. After all these forces had collected to one place to the Lord Justice, he set out in pursuit of the Irish army into Oriel, and came up with them at a place called Bel-atha-hoa, in Farney. The Irish army were not able to go into order or array, as was meet for them; nor did they take the advice of their chiefs, to stand and maintain their battle-ground, but they fled in a scattered and disorderly manner, leaving a great deal of their own property, and of the spoils taken from the English at that place, to their enemies, after being routed. Some of their common people were slain, but none of their gentlemen, except Mulmurry Mergeach, son of, John Roe Mac Sweeny, whom the Tirconnellians lost on that field. After this defeat of Bel-atha-hoa, Magennis (Murtough), who had wandered away from
Niall Oge O'Boyle was slain by Conor, the son of O'Boyle.
O'Melaghlin (Art), a successful and warlike man, and his son, Cahir O'Melaghlin, Deacon of Cluain, were slain at Fornocht, by the sons of Felim O'Melaghlin; and Felim assumed the lordship.
Mac Coghlan (Felim, the son of Meyler) was slain at Beannchor, by the sons of O'Madden (Melaghlin God, &c.), after he had heard mass on Sunday, the second of the Nones of July.
The lordship of Delvin was parcelled out by O'Melaghlin (Felim) among Art, the son of Cormac Mac Coghlan; Donnell, the son of Ferdoragh; and Melaghlin, the son of Edmond.
THE AGE OF CHRIST, 1540. The Age of Christ, one thousand five hundred forty.
Rory O'Malone, Bishop of Ardagh, and representative of the Bishop of Clonmacnoise, a prosperous and affluent man, died.
The monastery of Cluain-Ramhfhoda Clonroad was given to the friars of the Observance, by order of O'Brien (Murrough, the son of Turlough) and the chiefs of Thomond, and by the consent and permission of the superiors of the Order of St. Francis.
The English, throughout every part of Ireland where they extended their power, were persecuting and banishing the Orders, and particularly they destroyed the monastery of Monaghan, and beheaded the guardian, and some of the friars.
The two sons of O'Boyle, Niall Roe and Conor, were in contention and at
The sons of William, son of the Bishop O'Gallagher, namely, William Oge and Hugh Gruama, were slain by the sons of O'Boyle, namely, by Donnell and Turlough, in revenge of their father.
An army was led by O'Donnell (Manus) into Connaught, and never halted until he arrived in Moylurg,from whence he passed into Clann-Conway; and he totally devastated and burned Moylurg and Clann-Conway. He afterwards plundered the Curlieu Mountains, and then returned home safe, after victory and triumph.
Another hosting was made by O'Donnell, and he was joined by Niall, the son of Art Oge, Tanist of Tyrone, and by Mac Donnell of Scotland (Colla, the son of Alexander), with many Scots along with him. O'Donnell and this army
The sons of O'Donnell (i.e. of Hugh Oge, the son of Hugh Roe), namely, Donough Cairbreach and John of Lurg, rose up in opposition to O'Donnell (Manus, their own brother), and went into the Crannog of Loch-Beiathaigh, from which they proceeded to spoil the country. O'Donnell took them both prisoners, and took also Egneghan O'Donnell in the town of Conwall. He hanged John of Lurg, and put Egneghan and Donough in fetters; and he broke down and demolished the Crannog of Loch-Beathaigh.
O'Doherty, i.e. Gerald, the son of Donnell, son of Felim, a noble and hospitable man, died at an advanced age, after having vanquished the Devil and the world.
Donnell, the son of Niall O'Boyle, was styled O'Boyle.
John, son of Con O'Donnell, was slain by the sons of Morogh Mac Sweeny-na-dtuath.
The castle of Leitrim was erected by O'Rourke (Brian, the son of Owen) while a great war was waged against him on every side, namely, in Moylurg, Muintir-Eolais, and Breifny-O'Reilly; and his own son and a party of the men of Breifny were also at war with him. He finished the castle in a short time, and destroyed a great portion of Moylurg on his opponents.
A general invitation of hospitality was given by Rory, the son of Teige Mac Dermot, and his wife, the daughter of Mac William of Clanrickard. The schools of Ireland, and those who sought for presents, flocked to them to the Rock of Lough Key, and they were all attended to by that couple.
Teige, the son of Brian, son of Manus Mac Dermot Roe, was drowned in the River Bann, while on an excursion along with O'Rourke.
James Oge, son of the Prior Mac Coghlan, was treacherously beheaded by Kedagh O'Melaghlin, in his own James Oge's castle, i.e. the castle of Feadan, in consequence of which great injury was done to the country. Felim O'Melaghlin brought the English and the Treasurer with him to Delvin, but did not, however, take the Feadan ; and they returned to their respective homes, after having destroyed much.
Donnell, the son of Ferdoragh Mac Coghlan, head of his own branch of that family, died before the killing of James Oge, son of the Prior.