T HE ST OR Y OF AN I R I SH PR OPERT Y

BERT RAI T RO S .

‘ AUTH OR 0? m s u rn: AN D CAMPAI GNS or H U GH ’ rm sr vx scovm Go ucn

O"FO R D PR IVATELY PR I N TE D AT T H E UN IVE R SI TY PR ESS 1 908

P REFATORY IN OTE

Tm s l le book must be its own a olo itt p gy.

a m t s ak f r and I have no cl i o pe o I el .

‘ Yet grate ful title may I plead ’ For many a kindly word and de ed .

Reverence for the me mory of a gre at and

allan so dier sincere ra ude to those who g t l , g tit

succeed ed to his name and his house and have , the recollections ofmany happy weeks in recent summers ha e led me to bri n his i e ibu e , v g t l ttl tr t to a beautiful land .

I ha e endea ou ed in the course of m v v r , y narra e to ex ress m obl a ions as I incu red tiv , p y ig t r

hem But I mus he re add an ex ress on of t . t p i m deb to the V scoun and Viscountess Gou h y t i t g ,

r m h l and in er fo uch e p t est . R R S . . .

N EW LLEGE "FOR D CO , O , u ust 1 08 A g , 9 .

20608 25

CON TE N TS

H A T R C P E I .

H I STOR Y A N D TRAD ITIONS

HA T C P E R II .

THE I SLE OF SAIN TS

CHAPTE R I II .

’ THE O S HA UGH N ESSYS

CH APTE R IV . THE FAMILY o r GORT

R CH A PT E V . THE FAMILY OF GOUGH

APPEN D I"I .

PLAC E- NAMES

APPEN DI"I I . THE TRI B ES or GALWAY

APPE N DI"I I I . THE D ISTRI CT A T TH E AC C ESSION o r QUEEN VI CTORIA

LI ST OF I LLUSTR ATI ON S

' ' H G I ST I SC O T GOUC H F ronhs zece U H, V UN p

’ T O SSY t HE SHAUGHNE oface p . 6o

T to e 1 06 LOUCH CUTRA CAS LE fac p .

A I VAN ASTL to ace 1 0 R DI MULL C E f p . 9

For the photographs ofLough Cutra Castl e and Ardi mullivan Castl e the writer i s indebted to the kindness of

c Mr . c . . C . P M arthy

THE

STOR Y O F AN I R I SH P R OP ERTY

CHAPTER I I

TH E place of which we are to speak has been a home fthe men e of many gen e rations . O who first kn w and love d the land which lies round Lough Cutra we know the nothing . Th ey have passed into night and left S no ign .

e ec m e m ofthe e e e e Gr y r u b nt to bs d ad in d s rt plac s, Standing stones on the vacant wine-red moor

‘ the se are all that remain to tell us of the silent ’ e e e men vanish d rac s , of a long succ ssion of and me e e e wo n , whos blood, p rchanc , may flow in living ‘ e who e e e are v ins, but hav l ft no m morial, and ’ e e e e p rish d as though th y had n ever been . Und r the se mysterious ston es may have lain the bones of me n w e e e e e or e hos courag sav d a p opl , whos ambition was realized only at the cost of human suffe ring none the less real that it has b ee n for centuries forgotten . The e e e m e e r ward of th ir fam is this i m morial ston , which re cords nothing beyond the Simple fact that men have live d and die d . Antiquaries may dispute what e ofm en e e e the me mann r th y w r , but argu nt will not e e e e the e v n att mpt to go b yond t chnical terms which , e e e e e e dim e b ing int rpr t d, conjur up for us som pictur e C e of vagu racial haract ristics . Glory of warrior, glory B 2 STORY OF AN I RIS H PROPERTY

’ e e m e ee ; of orator, glory of song th r ust hav b n but they were only

sea Paid with a voice flying by to be lost on an endl ess .

Imagination its elf can do little to bring us into touch wi th such pe ople s or to make us realize that th ey had e e o ne like passions with ourselves . Th r is only point l was e we of hu man contact. This and th irs , and can e e e still see th eir mountains and str ams and lak s, or h ar the moaning of the wind among the trees as it moaned b efore the coming of the Firbolgs . The lake and its islands are rich in beauty of water e e e the e e and woodland and rock . Ov r th m ris Sli v e are a and e u Echtge mountains . Th y gradu l r g lar in ‘ t e e e e the ou lin , and ris to no gr at h ight , but soft evening light upon th em has bee n the inspiration of the e e re c e r m poets . On oth r sid st t h s a count y of arsh e e ese and woodland and field and homest ad. Sinc th e e e e e and m e arly rac s disapp ar d , natur ankind hav combined to change and mod ify physical fe ature s th em e e We fe i h e s lv s . do not know if hu man li ex ste d er before the e verlasting hills w ere th emse lves ground down by the slow and c e rtain proce sses of th e I ce Age ; but long after the epochs which be long to the geologist and th e i n the not to h storia , face of nature has own e d th e e c e e e h pow r of hang . Bogs hav be e n form d by t e r t e - i e e rapid g ow h of p at produc ng moss s , and th y have been drain ed ; forests have disap peared and bee n re planted ; land has aris en from under the surface of th e e lak s . Yet the cou ntry is real ly th e same as whe n the me n e e m are , whos v ry to bs to us a myste ry, dre w he e e e i t br ath of lif , and lov d and s nne d and died ; and I fone of them could revisit th e sce n e s of those long s e , he v uld i lo t y ars st ll know it for his home . The . ' ' i e e woip anc nt po t d z ga n re‘oice in de11ghtful Echtge and in the ke its isl anii la and s. H ISTO RY AN D TRADITION S 3

Th ere is one natural fe ature which give s to the — district a sp ecial distinction and interest an under ' ground nver such as most boys have navigated in th e

- e m o e s day dr a s of childh od . To g ologist it is known 1 s th e e C e e t e a riv r of Gort , but it hang s its nam af r each succ essive re appearance from th e cave rns through e u e which it flows . It ris s in Lough C tra and its cours e e e e is visibl for about two mil s, wh n it disapp ars into

h e P olldua h e t e e . e arth , and flows und rground to g H r e e e e the the and th r it is for a mom nt op n to air, and most re markable and impressive of th es e hole s is ’ - the large one known as the Devil s Punch bowl . P olldu a h e e th e e From g it wand rs , aft r mann r of

e e ee i e to the - ordinary riv rs , for ov r thr m l s south east e e e se e e of Kiltartan, wh r it again ngulfs it lf, r app aring e e e e e e e the e e s v ral tim s b for it r ach s lak of Cool , e e e e e the wh nc , by an u nd rground cours , it pass s into s I ts e e e so far ea. strang cours finds a parall l away as The m ofth e to Yucatan . i agination e district has giv n its reappearanc e s such nam e s as the Ladle and the

e th - T as e . h e e Churn , w ll as Punch bowl cav rn at P olldua h me the e e e e g is in so ways most int r sting of th s , but the wooded banks ofthe Pu nch -bowl (recove ring e e 1 ar now from a d vastating storm in F bruary, 903) e the I n the e e . at by far most b autiful Park Cool , it e e e e e pass s und r what is call d a natural bridg , lik that ’ at i e the God s Br dge in Yorkshire . Th er is nothing in way of an arch ; the e arth mak es a gre at barrier round e th The e and und r which e water forc e s its way . w ight ofearth under which the river finds its darke ned way its e e e e along whol und rground cours , is r markably e ee e e slight, and would hav b n sw pt away by most riv rs while forming th eir valley : this Ce ltic stream has chose n the easie r part and h as m erely pierc ed the

1 ’ f. I rla nd e et C vem es An la isas E . n C a . a Ki ah an g , by A M rtel ; s ' Va lle s Fissures Fra ch ms ami Faults and the G o o ca S e y , , , e l gi l urv y ofI nd rela . F AN 4 STORY O I RI SH PROPE RTY

the o fthe e obstacles that impede it . But ways riv rs nd in this beautiful country are strange a unusual ; not m Ball lee e e e , far away, at y , anoth r riv r of many na s e w mee ting a steep bank, divid s into two portions, hich 180 e ee m form an angle of about d gr s , al ost a straight ffe e e P ollalee n line , and flow in di r nt dir ctions to and n ua e P ollanowee , an unus l bifurcation which has sp cially

e . interested the French geologist, M . Mart l

I I

The first inhabita nts of Ireland to whom history can are e assign a name are th e Formori ans . Th ey suppos d e S o fthe u se of to have b en hort and dark , ignorant me a e e e t ls, and th ir ston w apons and tools fill many m e ee e the shelves in Irish useums . To th m succ d d e e is Firbolgs , a rac of unc rtain origin , and it with the o the of e Firb lgs , in days th ir tribulation , that h tradition connects many of t e name s of o ur story . The e e of e Firbolgs had to yi ld to a succ ssion invad rs , the e e e e e v of whom arli st w r a trib of Scandina ians , the Tuatha- - Danaans e e e i n da , thnologically conn ct d , all the e e e e probability, with Dan s of a lat r day . L g nds of the th fighting, in which e Firbolgs w ere defe ated by the Danaans e e are e e e , und r th ir king Nuad , still pr s rv d , and find what corroboration is now possibl e from relics which tell

old -o ff Of unhappy far things, e And battl s long ago .

e ‘ the end the e e h Ir land in of t nth c ntu ry. T e Migra i the ’ t on of Sons of Umor, the work of the bard MacLI a g, has ee e . MacN ill b n translat d by Mr John e , H ISTO RY AN D TRAD ITION S 5

e - e e ofth e e e e we are Vic Pr sid nt Ga lic L agu , to whom ’ e e fr n t h e ind bt d o information o he subj ect . T e po t s aim e - m e was to account for plac na s, and his work has bee n prese rve d in the fourtee nth c entury B oo/e o B a ll mote The are the e f y . sons of Umor , in po m , a numbe r of Firbolgs who took refuge from th e Danaans in Pictland (afterwards to be known by the Irish nam e of and who re turn e d to Ireland th e e me of Chu lai nn e me in h roic ti s Cu , and b ca vassals

’’ of aI rbr the f al rbre re e o . C N ia Fiar, king Tara C ceive d them owing to the inte rve ntion ofCu Chulainn

ee e e e e me e e m . and thr oth r h ro s , who b ca sur ty for th But the tribute impose d by the king of Tara was so h eavy that the sons of Umor fled from M e ath to e e on the e of Connaught, and s ttl d shor s Galway Bay

'’ aI rbr e and in the Aran Isl es . C e insisted upon th ir e e e e e the e e e r turn , and thr at n d to tak liv s of th ir sur e m e e m e ti s , and ulti at ly, A ngus , son of U or, gav up own son e e of e m ee his Conall , and thr his broth rs , to t e m the ofthe of th ir doo at hands king Tara, wh o spared th e four h ero es . This is the story told by MacLia he e on e e the d escen g, and go s to r lat how dants ofU mor gave th e ir nam es to th e ir new pos MacN eill e e th e sessions . Mr . kindly p rmits us to quot passage

Once they we re settled in the East e e the e Round cl ar surfac d Tara, trib s, CaI rbre Nia Fiar laid h eavily A tribute on them that they endure d not Th ey d eparted from him with their possessions To Aihill and to Me dh

They journeye d westward to the Shining sea. To Dun Aengusa in Aran Cim e was settl e d on Loch Cime Cutru was settle d on Loch Cutra Agar set up h is house in the South Mu irbech Mil was settle d o n . 6 STORY OF AN I RISH PROPE RTY

e Othe r names which are in like mann er associat d drai h with the descendants of Umor are Tulach La g am Connaill the - e (Tulira) and C , burying plac of Con was o ne e Ofthe naiI l, who slain , according to v rsion l e m h Cuchu llain. story, in a p rsonal co bat wit The country round Lough Cutra contains evidence s of the struggle be twee n the Firbolgs and th e Tuatha th e cahirs e are da Danaans in , or ston forts, which e e popularly associated with the Dan es . Th r is no fort i n the district so large as the great Dun Aengus in Aranmore th e Mu achane the island of , but Cahir g , at ban is e e e e e e e e Balla e, an xc ll nt xampl of th s anci nt is e d efences . It situat d in a spot which commands a e e e o the wide prosp ct, xt nding fr m woods of Lough e e the Cutra to thos of Cool , and approach of a distant e nemy would soon b ecome visible to a watchman . There is probably a cave within this huge block of e e e s the C e stout unc m nt d ma onry, ircumfer nce of which 1 h is about 20 yards . T e defeat ofthe Firbolgs is the we e e e e e first fighting of which hav any d finit knowl dg , o the m ofthe e th M alth ugh i agination writ rs of e SS . the the er on which book of Four Mast s is based, has constructed a story of kings and battles be fore th e b rt . e e e th i h of Christ All th s tal s , and e story of the the e e D making of highroads in s cond c ntury A. . , have much the same kind of authority as the early ’ e e e e H istor o S cotla nd or h chapt rs of H ctor Bo c s y f , t e m e the yth which conn cts Brutus with B ritish Isles . e are e l e e Th y not sp cia ly pictur squ , and it is a relie f e the e e th to turn from th m to l g nds of e h eroe s . Th e e gr at name of Finn has a double conne xion with the ’ . Uinche s the Kilmacdu a h district Ford , in parish of g , I S suppo sed to pre serve the name of a Chieftai n whom .

' ' C . O Curr s Man C f y ners and ustoms o Anci ent E ri n I I 12 f , , p . 3. H I STORY AN D TRADITION S 7

i e e Ui nche Th s provok d a fr sh attack , and at this ford I inn e m the e e the was slain by F . Mor ro antic is l g nd of he e The t e . pursuit of lov rs Diarmuid and Grain lady, e was the e ofthe e Grain , daught r High King of Ir land , the eve her e she fled and, on of w dding to Finn , with the she e e - - man lov d, Diarmuid , to Doir da Bhoth , the o fth is the e e wood e two huts . It now wood d vall y e of Chevy Chas . ’ We quote from Lady Gregory s Gods a nd F zghting ’ Men th e of e e story Finn s pursuit, as far as it r lat s, to th e valley of Doire- da- Bhoth ; the rest of th e adve nture s ofDiarmuid and Graine are much too long e e e for purpos s of quotation , and hav no sp cial con

n x i on . e be e with our story Th y will found, admirably ’

in e . told, Lady Gr gory s book

All that were in Teamhai r rose up early in the morning th e m e f m a nd e e of orrow, and th y ound Diar uid Grania w r m em e e ame e wanting fro th , and th r c a scorching j alousy n H e e out his r and a weakne ss o Finn . s nt t ack ers th en the and e em m and on plain, bad th to follow Diar uid Grania. And th ey followed the track as far as the ford on the Sionnan and r m the e e em , Fi and Fianna follow d aft r th , but th e a th they were not able to carry track cross e ford . And Fi nn gave th em his word that unl ess th ey would find the e he em on e track again without d lay, would hang th ach h e side oft ford. e the n ofN eamhuin e th e e m Th n so s w nt up against str a , e a e on e e of t e e and th y found hors ach sid it, and h n th y on the e m es e th e went with str a w tward, and th y found track the e ofthe e o f and going along sid Provinc Connacht, Finn n and th e Fianna o fIreland followed it on. And Fi n said : ‘ I know well wh ere we will find Dia rmuid and Grania now ; ’ - - ar i it is i n Doire da Bhoth they e. Ois n and Osgar and Caoil te and Diorraing were listening when Finn said those And e th e e and it i s h words . Oisin spok to oth rs, what e ‘ : e e i s a e e m be e e said Th r d ng r th y ight th r , and it would

’ ’ i M eri ls o . F e O urr s Manuscr t at a e b a . . C y p , qu t d y Mgr h y, p 9 STO RY OF AN I RI SH PROPE RTY be right for u s to give them som e warning ; and look now

Os ar e e is the m e i s g , wh r Bran hound, for Finn hi s lf no im m and him dearer to h than Diar uid, bid go now with a ’ warning to him . n e him e So Osgar told Bra , and Bran und rstood w ll , and she went to the rear of th e whole troop th e way Finn would her she e on the m not see , and follow d track of Diar uid and

il She me e- - and she h er e Grania t l ca to Doir da Bhoth , put h ad ’

m m and he his ee . into Diar uid s boso , in sl p o ut his ee e h e e Diarmuid start ed up of sl p th n, and awok ‘ ’ and h er : He e i s Grania, said to r Bran, Finn s hound, and ’ she i s come with a warning to tell u s Finn himself i s coming . ‘ ’ ‘ L t u s a e e m e e t k that warning, th n, said Grania, and ak ’ ‘ ’ m ‘ e e . a e your scap I will not t k it, said Diar uid, for if e e i as h e me as I cannot scap F nn, I would soon took now ’

an e i m e . W e n e e e at y oth r t h n Gra ia h ard that, gr at f ar m n he r ca e o . e m em e e saw her Bran w nt away fro th th n, and wh n Oisin ‘ m he : am e e co ing back, said I in dr ad Bran found no Chanc et m we e him me e to g to Diar uid , and should s nd so oth r ’ ‘ ’ . And e e i s Fear hoin he Caoil te s warning look wh r g , said, ’ - e man. was th e Fear hoin e e s rving Now it way with g , v ry shout h e would give would be h eard in th e three n earest

hundreds to him . So they made him give out thre e shouts th e m i m a way Diar uid would h ear h m. And Diar uid h e rd ‘ ’ him he a : e Caoilte s e i -man , and s id to Grania I h ar s rv ng , is Caoilte he i s i s ilt and it with , and it along with Finn Cao e ’ is e e e e as n m e e , and thos Shouts w r s nt a war ing to . Tak ’ ‘ ’ . ke that warning, said Grania I will not ta it, said ‘ m F and the n m Diar uid, for inn Fia na will co e up with us ’ e e we e e th b for l av e wood . And fear and great dread came on e she e him sa Grania wh n h ard y that . As h e e e off for Finn , did not l av following th e track till

he me e- - he e f amhuin ca to Doir da Bhoth , and s nt the sons o N e e th e d w a m to s arch through woo , and th ey sa Di r uid, and th e m e e wo an along with hi m . Th ey came back th en wh r i n was he F n , and asked them we re Diarmuid and Grania ‘ ’ ‘ the ? m i s e e e in wood Diar uid in it, th y said , and th r is me m him w m w so wo an with , but e knew Diar uid, and e

I o STO RY OF AN I RI S H PROPE RTY

’ ‘ e B ra a knowledge ofFinn or hi s peopl . ring G ni with ’ ‘ m e e o w you, said Diar uid, but I will n v r g ith you ; but if ’

ou e e . I am al ive I will follow y b for long And if I do not, ‘ e h er e and he e or h e said, giv Grania to fath r, will do w ll ’ r ill to he . n e the e ofhis With that A gus put Grania und r bord r cloak , h r ut or the n and brought e o unknown to Finn Fia na, and there i s no news told ofthem till th ey came to R os- da fh T a hoileach the H e o t e wo . S , adland S llows as m fe m And to Diar uid, a t r Angus and Grania going fro him he u as as o n , stood p straight a pillar and put his m his ms e h e we of ar our and ar , and aft r that nt to a door

the e e s h e h ad m e h e e . s v n door ad , and ask d who was at it ‘ ’ ‘ e e is no e em to e e e a e e are Th r n y you h r , th y s id, for th r h ere O i sin and Osgar and the best men ofthe sons ofBai scne m o ut n us. e o e along with And co to us now, and no will

‘ ’ ‘ t m or on have he daring to do any har hurt you . I will ’ ‘ out ou sa m see r not go to y , id Diar uid, till I at what doo ’ m e is e we e e ofthe e e Finn hi s lf . H nt th n to anoth r door s v n ‘ il f o a th e was at . Cao te so n o e and ask d who it , R n n, and re st ofthe sons ofR onan a long with him ; and come out ’ ‘ u n w we ve e e s o e . to , and will gi ours lv s for your sak I will ’ ‘ o out s m not not g to you, aid Diar uid, for I will put you ’ ’ e e e - i m e He e und r Finn s ang r for any w ll do ng to ys lf. w nt ‘ on e e and s e wa s e e to anoth r door th n a k d who at it . Th r is son the e the Conan, of Morna, and r st of sons ofMorna him i s e e m e to we are along with ; and it n i s Finn , and you are e deal m e us n he i s and ou ma m a gr at or to tha , y y co e ’ ‘ out one e on and no will dar lay a hand you . I will not ’ ‘ ee a m be e t e ind d, s id Diar uid, for Finn would b t r pl eas ed ’ see the ea ofe e one let me e a to d th v ry of you than to sc pe . He e e e e was w nt th n to anoth r door and ask d who at it . ‘ en m e of own i onn son of uadan A fri d and a co rad your , F , C , ea ofth e of e hi h d Fianna Munst r, and s men along with him we are ofthe one the one ; and country and soil, and ’ we i e e and o ur e a e w ll giv our bodi s liv s for your s k . ‘ ’ ‘ o out to ou a i m no I will not g y , s id D ar uid, for I would t like Finn to have a grudge against you for any good you t ’ did o me . He we nt then to anothe r door and asked who H ISTORY AN D TRADITIONS I t

‘ f ofth F Was . is o son o e e at it It Fi nn, Glor, h ad ianna ofU e hi s men him and me out now lst r, and along with ; co ’ t u e i n e r or a m o s and th re s no o e will dar hu t h r you . ‘ ’ ‘ m ou are I will not go out to you , said Diar uid , for y a e me e a h ou fri nd to , and your fath r long wit y , and I would not like the unfriendliness ofFinn to be put on you for my ’

a e . H e e e e he e s k w nt th n to anoth r door, and ask d who ‘ ’ was e e i s e of e e e at it . Th r no fri nd yours h r , th y said, e e i s e e Aodh e the L e r m Eamhui n for th r h r B ag ittl f o , and Aodh the m Eamhu in Crodha the Fada Long fro , and Caol e e Goineach th e e and th e e Fi rc , and Wound r, Gothan Whit n e e e his e Cuadan the e fi g r d , and Aoif daught r, and Track r m Eamhuin we are e e e fro and unfri ndly p opl to you , and i f om e out u s we e ou at you C to will not spar y all, but will ’ ‘ ’ m e an end of ou i s ak y It is a bad troop in it, said ‘ Diarmuid ; you . ofthe lies and o fthe tracking and of the o ne e and i s e of i s me sho , it not f ar your hands upon , but ’ e m o t b cause I am your ene y I will not go u . H e went then to th e last o fthe seve n doors and asked ‘ ’ ‘ f e was . e d o s who at it No fri n your , th y said, but it is son of m d e men Finn, Cu hal , and four hun r d paid fighting along with him ; and if you will com e out to us we will m ’ ‘ m ’ e e e m of ou . e o u ak op n d arrow y I giv y y word, Finn, ‘ m h r e i he said Diar uid, that t e door you a e at yours lf s t first ’ doo r I will pass out of. e F e h e e his al on Wh n inn h ard that, warn d batt ions pain of a m l sting death not to let Diarmuid past the unknown . e m e he i h e e on the But wh n Diar uid h ard what sa d , ros a e ofhi s e he e e e St v s sp ars and w nt with a v ry high, light l ap fa on r e his e e e e e . b yond Finn and p opl , without th ir knowl dg H e e em e C e Out he look d back at th th n , and all d that had e em and h e hi s e his e gon past th , put shi ld on back and w nt on the e and was e e straight towards w st, it not long b for h e was o u t of and th T e e sight of Finn e Fianna. h n wh n h e s ee an one m him he e did not y co ing after , turn d back to e e he saw and n ou t ofthe and wh r Angus Gra ia going wood,

e on e m - - h l he follow d th ir track till h e ca e to R os da S oi each . H e e e te e e found Angus and Grania th r in a shel r d, w ll e n e fire it th e light d cabi , and a gr at blazing kindle d in , and 12 STORY OF AN I RIS H PROPE RTY

m ee e t em half of a wild boar on spits . Diar uid gr t d h , and u t h e him the life ofGrania all to we nt o of e r with joy b efor . em his e m e n end and Diarmuid told th n ws fro b ginni g to ,

at e e e e ee they e th ir shar that night, and th y w nt to sl p till th e coming of the day and ofthe full light on the morrow . ‘ e e and h e m : am And Angus ros up arly, said to Diar uid I m n ofDu ibhne e e going fro you now, gra dson and I l av this ’ ‘ e he not e e o ne advic with you, said , to go into a tr with fl e e and be n trunk, and you ying b for Finn, not to going i to o fth e e has one not be a cave arth that but door, and to going to an island ofthe sea that h as but one harbour. And ’ ‘ e e a e e h e a in what v r pl c you cook your shar of food, s id, do not e at e e i n e e e e at not it th r ; and what v r plac you it, do li e e and e e e li e down ther ; in what v r plac you down, do not ’ e n h m H e e e em ris up the re o t e orrow. said far w ll to th

e e his . aft r that, and w nt way

The valley of Ch e vy Chas e or Doire - da- Bhoth has its own association with the lege nds ofthe district . From the D erry Bri e n m ou ntains th ere flows into the e of e e Lough Cutra, through vall y Ch vy Chas , the e ofthe riv r two milch cows, still known by its me o fAbain da Loil heach l na g (Owe ndalu agh) . A king o fthe Tuatha- - e e da Danaan conqu rors had a daught r, ’ Echt e e her e cu - e e e g , who marri d fath r s p b ar r, and gav her name to th e m ountains which h e h eld as th e cu p ’ e e f The b ar r s ee . bride brought as part ofh e r dowry

w fed the l e e- - two cows hich in va l y of Doir da Bhoth , e and both produc d many calve s and much m ilk . A cow fed on e e the e m e ach sid of str a , and this un qual i e o ne cow the e e d div sion m ant that had all f rtil lan , th e e e e h e and oth r only a barr n hillsid , and so t e riv r ed e gain its nam .

I I I

e e we the From l g nd pass to traditional history, such as 15 e de the t Th r cor d in Annals of he Four Maste rs . e eneral e the Fia h e g nam of district, Hy c rach Aidhn , is H I STO RY AN D TRAD ITIONS

supposed to be de rived from a fourth ce ntury Princ e ’ Fiachrach the e the O Shau h , anc stor from whom g e m H e one ee n ssys clai ed to be desce nded . was of thr Eoch Mo vone of e e of sons of y y , king Ir land, and broth r ofthe e e e Niall Hostag s, High King of Ir land , whos m h e Fi achrach m e e ar y command ed . hi s lf is giv n by the of e tradition position king of Connaught . Whil e he e e fighting for his broth r, N iall, was tr ach rously the e e of e D ath slain by p opl M unst r, and his two sons , y

Awle e e e e e . and y, r ign d succ ssiv ly ov r Connaught Of D athy the chroniclers record that he was victorious e e e e the in a hundr d and fifty battl s, and th y giv him ’ h onou f h rt o a remarkable death at the foot of t e Alps ; h e e the a e had violat d sanctu ry of a h rmit, and was Da h the he h o i e . t t c r n struck d ad by lightning y, last of ’ 1 C e o f son Eo han e l rs list pagan kings, had a , g Aidhn , so e e e h e ee e e call d b caus had b n nourish d in Aidhn , th b b Eo han e e i B eathra e . by tri s of O g , who inha it d it g e e the Fi achrach Aidhn rul d district of , and from his enona S eachnasach the sons, Conall, Cormac , S , and , ’ ’ ’ O He nes the O Cler s the O Kilkell s the y , y , y , and ’ h h O S aug nessys claimed to be desce nded . The Four Masters speak o f succeeding kings of e e Connaught, and an arly po t sings that

Four kings o fthe province of Connaught e e e of Dw lt in gr at Aidhn , land saints Muireheartach one the e e e e , of p rf ct br d,

Lai hnen e m Caomb. g , Guair , and Col an

Mu ireheartach MacEarc is also known as , a High King e the e e of Ir land , to whom Four Mast rs assign a r ign of

- we e em e e e . t nty fou r y ars , m orabl in ccl siastical history H e ee e the e Loi neu n was succ d d by Colman , fath r of g e e the m and Guair Aidhn , onarch with whom tradition e th e m e ofGortinsi e the e the conn cts na Guair , fi ld of n island of Guaire . King Guaire is o e of the most

Tribes and Customs o H F{ac/track . 2 1 . f y , p 14 STORY OF AN I RIS H PROPE RTY

remarkable figu res in Irish tradition . The re are many — his e one e legends about him not all to cr dit, for of th m e the e the makes him murd r a bishop , rightful h ir to e thron e of Connaught . He was no gr at warrior ; on one occasion he is recorded to have fought and run e The e e his away, living to fight anoth r day . sc n of e e e e e the e 6 0 was gre atest d f at, som wh r about y ar 5 , C Conai l e i s be the e arn , in Aidhn , which said to mod rn lb ant el the ri Ki ec . Ballyconn l , in pa sh of y His vic tori ou s e e Diarmot - o f e e n my, , joint king Ir land , app ars l the the e e . . Cea la h the in story as av ng r of blood St g , i e was son e i bishop slain by Gua r , a of a form r k ng of had e e e e Connaught, who d vot d hims lf to a r ligious e re e he e e his ea lif . But Guai , f aring that might x rt gr t e e m el e influ nc for hi s f or for his family, hir d assassins l la h e the e e . Cea to murder him . St g had sp nt arly y ars of e e th e e e his r ligious lif in Abb y of Clonmacnois , and , his e e Di armot e r on way to av ng him , pray d for victo y b the e . e e as at shrin of St Ciaran , and w nt forth to attl the champion of the Church . Afte r the battl e of Bally . e e the e e conn ll , Guair lost gr at r portion of his kingdom , e m u F and had to cont nt hi se lf with r ling Hy iachrach . he e e and Dia ot T story nds charmingly . Guair rm were e e the Fiachrach e e i t e r concil d , and king of Aidhn xp a d his ee e e e the of foul d d in pray r and p nanc , and in acts h e e He charity without which could not liv . died e e e e was e th honour d and r v r d, and laid to r st in e e of e e th e e ofhi Abb y Clonmacnois , n ar bon s s erst e e em Diarm ot whil n y, . e e Du n u aire e Guair had a castl at g , n ar Kinvara, and c e th e the e a pala on island in riv r at Gort, and with this palace are associate d the tale s of his hospitality wa The to rrior and to bard . most remarkable and intere sting of th e se is th e story ofthe visit to Guaire S eanchan Tor est the ef e e of p , chi po t of Ir land . S ea n was a e ea e e chan accomp ni d by a gr t r tinu , and by e e e e e the numb rs of l ss r po ts , and ev n royal patience HI STORY AND TRADITI O NS

was exh auste d by a visit exte nding over a year and f he u the e e a hal . T king hit pon d vic of asking ‘ ’ eancha e e th e e of the S n to r cit po m Tain Bo , words o ee e t fwhich had b n long forgott n by mor al man . It therefore amounted to a dismissal wh en Guaire spoke 1 thus in the palace hall at Gort

B ear th e cup to S eanchan Torpest ’ Yi eld the bard his poet s meed ’ What we ve h eard was but a fore-taste u Lays more lofty now s ceed .

m e be em e e - Though y stor s pti d w ll nigh, Twin bright cups there yet re main ; Win the m with the raid ofCualigne ;

' us the m Ta z n Chant , bard, fa ous .

han The e e e . S eanc e e d vic was succ ssful d part d, not e i a ffe e m e irr conc l bly o nd d , and pro is d to pay his The i ’ host the complim e nt ofa future visit . In K ng s Threshold e e e e . e , Mr. W . B Y ats has adopt d anoth r l g nd o f e S e anchan the ffe e Guair and , story of an insult o r d the the e e to bard by king, whos gr at lords obj ecte d ’ the e e em to po t s sitting at tabl with th , holding

was the me n e the that it who rul d world , And the me n n si t not who sa g it, who should e e was the m Where th r ost honour.

Traditions ofGuaire conn e ct him not less with saints the e e attri than with bards , and quality most g n rally but ed to him is the boundless ge n e rosity which made him long for gold and silve r to give to the poor and th e C led to e e the mis to hurch , and which his f ding sionari es who w e re pre aching Christianity to the

of I mma h . e e w e e e e pagans g H r must l av Guair , though w e Shall m ee t him again in Sp eaking ofthe

ofthe . AS we e e w e saints district bid him far w ll , ‘ e em e h e ik e e e cannot but r m b r that is, l ours lv s, such

’ 1 om F on a e l Quoted fr ergus s L y s ofth Western Gae . I 6 STORY OF AN I RI SH PROPE RTY

’ e are e e e e stuff as dr ams mad on , and th r m lt into ‘ him the - e e the air along with cloud capp d tow rs, e the e e e gorge ous palac s , sol mn t mpl s with which h e w e have e ndow ed his capital city of Gort . That

e we sa . e e n eve r liv d, cannot y St rn sci ntific history Y t e eanchan e knows him not . e Guair and S poss ss to - day a life more real than the vast majority of those who have live d our mortal life b etwe en his time and be th e ours . It is no small thing to alive in traditions of all the e e e ml e e g n rations, to giv to ha t and c ll associations with a dim and remote past. Guaire live s with Arthur and Le ar ; Seanchan finds his p ee r in M erlin ; and the palace of Gort is as the towers of

Camelot .

I 8 STORY OF AN I RI S H PROPE RTY

’ In fortune and in fame we re bound e ee By strong r links than st l, e e can be e nor And n ith r saf sound, ’ th e e But in e oth r s w al .

The b est m emorials ofth ese e arly Christian teach ers whose simple faith made Ireland a Christian country are the ruins of church and cell and monaste ry which e e e impart a sacr d significanc to moor and str am , and in th ese th e country round Lough Cutra is singularly rich . m the e e e of Kilmacdua h Fro s v n church s g , famou s e e m the e s e the v n a ong famous monum nt of Ir land , to e o n the the e e e ston s island in lak , which t ll of holy liv s e the the of liv d long ago, district abounds in ruins this ancie nt Civilization . It is natural that such a cou ntry C e e e ofthe men should also h rish traditions and l g nds , ‘ from whom savage Clans and roving barbarians derived ’ th e e e e of b n fits of knowl dge and the blessings religion .

I I

Of the details of the work of the first Irish missionaries we t e e i s e know almost no hing d finit , but it not unlik ly t e r e e the l i hat St. Patrick may hav t av rs d hi ls wh ch look t e has down upon Lough Cutra, al hough Aidhn no e n of sp cial conn exion with th e patron sai t Ireland . Th m e e the . gr at saint of district is St Col an Mac Duagh , whom his early biographe rs record to have come of the e Fiachra e e ea e i e rac of , and to hav b en a n r r lat v of e The e e e King Guair . story of his birth has be n l arn d by Lady Gregory from the people round her beautiful e e her h r hom at Cool , and has bee n preserved by in e B ook o S a ints a nd Wonder e e f s. It had be en proph si d m e hina on e e that his oth r, R gh, would bear a s gr at r t the han sons of Colman , King of Connaught and . h e e e fat r of Guair , and Colman th erefore determin d to deStTO Rhifla h e s o Y g b fore her on was b rn . THE ISLE OF SAINTS 19

And th ey took h er and tied a heavy stone about her neck e her the ee o the e e e ri e and thr w into d p part f riv r, wh r it s s

e e . th e e of the e was insid Cool But by h lp God, ston that put about h er n eck did not sink but went floating upon the e and she me the e a e m wat r, ca to shor and was s v d fro

n . e i s be ee et i drowni g And that ston to s n y , and it hav ng the m ofthe e was ark rop that put around it . And just at that time the re was a blind man had a dream in the north e e e e a ash ee h e was the about a w ll b sid a c rt in tr , and told in dream h e would get his sight if he bathed in the water of me man e m the me that well . And a la had a dr a about sa e he and e e be w ll that would find at Kiltartan, that th r would his m e e e . e set out e e h aling in it for la n ss And th y tog th r, th me man the man his e la carrying that had lost sight, till me the ee e m th e they ca to tr th y had drea ed about . But all e was and e e was of e e fi ld dry, th r no Sign wat r unl ss that e e was beside th e tree th r a bunch of green rushes . And then the lame man saw there was a light Shi ning out from among the rushes ; and wh en they came to them they heard the cr of e e the ee was th e e y a child, and th r by tr littl baby i was fe w a m . e him that a t r ards S nt Col an And th y took up, and th ey said If we had water we would baptize him And e e ofthe e e with that th y pull d up a root rush s, and a w ll sprang up and they baptized him ; and that well i s there to the e e this day. And wat r in springing up splash d upon em the me was e hi s me e the l n th , and la cur d of la n ss, and b i d i man got h s sight .

h ofthe m e the T e story baptis of St . Colman r calls

m e e . so e si ilar l g nd about St Patrick , told b autifully by Aubrey de Vere

H ow can the e e be bab baptiz d , Where font i s none and wate r none ? e the e e e ee Thus w pt nurs on b nd d kn , h h sun And swayed t e infant in t e .

’ The e the a blind pri st took infant s h nd, With that small hand above th e ground ’ He signe d the Cross : at God s command . mmin A fountain rose with bri g bound . C 2 ’ e m m sin In that pure wav , fro Ada s , The blind pri est cleansed the babe with awe Then reverently h e wash ed the re in — w His old unseeing face and sa .

The whole district is rich in m emories ofSt. Colman . e e e i e The holy w ll, cr at d for his baptism , is st ll h ld in

e Aranmore . reverence at Cork r, and far away in , St ’ Colman s Church commemorates his e arly residence in the that ancient home of religion and learning. I n Burren Mountains men point out the cave in which h e ‘ ’ the e e the e e the sought calm r pos , sil nt shad , which English poet of the e ighteenth ce ntury sang as b est ‘ ’ e Th e e e suited for prayer and prais . B urr n rang s , ‘ e the e says Monsignor Fah y, form mountain barri rs which divide Ai dhn e in the south -west from th e rugge d d efiles or mroe e e e e the of C co . Extr m ly d solat at e e the e e e e pr s nt day, Burr n hills had th ir rugg d sid s e e e e e e ff th n cloth d with dens for sts , w ll calculat d to a ord The that conce lment for which h e sought . waving e the the e ash e pin s, lordly oaks , grac ful which crown d the e S e e e e summits and rugg d id s of Burr n , hav long sinc ee cut fe ofthe e e b n away. Only a w haz l cops s of its l e one w va l ys remain . But th ere is no familiar ith its e u e ee defiles the e e rugg d solit d s and d p , at pr s nt day, ’ e that cannot re alize how it was in St . Colman s tim well ’ ’ e b The e e fitt d to e a h e rmit s chose n home . cav is n ar the e e the e e ruin d oratory of Colman , and som of l g nds which give interest to the spot and have been colle cted e W e e by Lady Gr gory may w ell be quote d h e re . b gin by once again borrowing from Lady Gregory

He was e fe hi s me is e e a gr at saint a t rwards, and na in v ry place. Seven years h e was living in Burren in a cl e ft o fth e m a one m e . was ount ins, no in it but himse lf and a ous It m he e the m e e him for co pany k pt ous , and it would awak n when he was asleep and wh en th e time would come for him be m the i s the to inding Hours . And it not known in world what did the dear man get for food through all that TH E ISLE OF SAINTS 2 1

me. And e h e e i s e e e ti that plac liv d in a v ry holy plac , b ing

as i s e ee e e e . N O e it b tw n two bl ss d w lls thund r falls on it,

or e e i s e i s e e e . if th r thund r it v ry littl , and do s no injury And if it i s long since Colman l eft this life and the e he m e i s e he m th e e e et church s had ad , it w ll inds p opl y , and th ere are many get their eyesight at the wells h e e e i s m e h e h as e m me bl ss d , and it any a kindn ss don fro ti me the e e o f e o f e e e was to ti for p opl Aidhn and Burr n . Th r a little lad in Kiltartan one time that a farmer used to be sending out to drive the birds o ffhis crops ; and there came was e h e was e and h e e a day that v ry hot and tir d, dar d not or e e h e was e ofthe me e go in fall asl p, for in dr ad far r b ating

him . And he e m the me pray d to Saint Col an, and saint ca e the n e e e e and call d birds into a bar , and th y all stopp d th r the e o fthe the e e through h at day till littl lad had got a r st, a nd e e me the r m n v r ca near grain o eddled with it at all . There was a boy fell into the blessed well that i s near the e e e Kilmacdua h e he was the s v n church s at g , a littl lad at

me e n e red e and e e e . ti , w ari g a littl p tticoat a littl whit jack t And when som e o fthe peopl e ofthe house went to draw e e e th e e saw him wat r, th y look d down in w ll and standing the e e him out u him to up in wat r, and th y got and bro ght in the fi re he was the e he was , and nothing wors . And said it e e man was m me him th e a littl gr y , that Saint Col an , ca to in e his e hi s and e his e w ll and put hand und r chin, k pt h ad up h over t e water. There was a man going hom e from Kinvara one night f n th e e e and h e t having a bag full o oats o hors . And it f ll

e h e was e . strov to lift it again but could not, for it w ighty e the m e m me e e him Th n saint hi s lf, Saint Col an, ca and h lp d

him on the e . with it, and put it up again for hors e e was e man e Corcomruadh Th r anoth r living up b yond , and he never missed to go to th e bl essed well that i s above h An Oughtmana on the name day of t e Saint . d at last it hi h e And happene d h e was sick in s bed and could not go . Saint Colman came to him to the side of the bed and said :

e m e me and i s m e am me It i s oft n you ca to , now it I ys lf co ’ i s e e e . to you . It about forty y ars ago that happ n d ’ Saint Colman s well beyond Kinvara is a very good well . 22 STORY OF AN I RI SH PROPE RTY

e me e e To p erform around it sev n ti s you should , and to l av h e Th e a button or a tassel or some such thing on t bush . p eopl e ofCool e and ofTyrone used to be going to it at e e e the time o fthe wars, asking saf ty for th ir sons and th ir And e e husbands and th eir brothers . who v r would pray m the me e th ere would be freed fro war, and would co saf home again .

e e e the e After some years in his lon ly h rmitag , d ath of King Colman and th e accession of Guaire are e e e ee e e recorded to hav r mov d any n d for conc alm nt , and Guaire invited the saint to b ecome bishop of W e e e e e e e e Aidhne . quot h r still anoth r l g nd, this tim h ’ e t e . from Monsignor Fah y. It is story of St Colman s call to his episcopal work

Our Saint had spent th e Lent in the usual exercises of e m e e th e e auste rity. And on East r orning, aft r r citing divin ffe the e m e e h e e o fhis offi ce and o ring sacr d yst ri s, inquir d youthful attend ant if he had procured anything special for His e their repast in that great and joyous feast . att ndant replied that he had only procure d a little wild fowl in addition the e e e e l a e e n to h rbs which w r th ir usua f sting far , and b ga to repine at the severity o fa i life which even on SO joyous em m H e con a festival brought th no l egiti ate relaxation . trasted th eir position with that ofthose who had the good ’

e m Guaire s e . The ee fortun of for ing hous hold Saint, s ing ’ e his e i e e was e e with conc rn that att ndant s pat nc nigh xhaust d, mme e the m e e th e co nd d att r to God, and urg d that King of He e e e e e e e av n and Earth , whos s rvants th y w r , could asily ’ e e t e his e n con supply a f ast, and str ng h n att nda t s failing ’ fide nce e e His e e as Gu ai re s , if such w r Divin pl asure . And to e to e e e e m e and of his royal banqu t , which r f r nc was ad , which e e e e e e to e m Chi ftains and r tain rs w r th n about partak , it ight, so e e e e be if it pl as d Provid nc , transfe rred from the palace to the e m a e h r it g . Th e banque t was being set on the royal tabl es at Durus e the was et e can be whil Saint y sp aking . And the re no was m one ofH i s doubt that it a su ptuous , and worthy ’ a e e e o f he e M j sty s charact ristic lov hospitality. T old writ rs THE ISLE OF SAIN TS 23

recount with evident satisfaction th e important additions to the feast which had be e n procured specially for the occasion ’ h me e e the e by t e king s hunts n . B for sitting down to f ast, ‘ th e n e me m e e e ki g xclai d , with unusual i pr ssiv n ss, Oh , would it pl ease d H eaven that this banquet were set before some e e o f e e as u s we m tru s rvants God who r quir it ; for , ight ’ e H e had no e e asily be provided with another. soon r spok n e e e e than the dishes were remov d by invisibl hands . All w r me The m e the m e struck with astonish nt . king, a az d at arv l , mm his m e e ma and su ons ount d guard, that th y y follow, is e e the e the e . h discov r, if possibl , d stination of dish s All re e w i n hot e are m e m e tinu follo hast , and acco pani d by a otl y crowd of wom en and children from th e district through e e me the e e e th which th y pass . M anti , dish s had r ach d e e e m e and e e set the e e Burr n h r itag , w r down in op n spac in which the Saint and his disciple were wont to partake of m h e n me . ee e t e e e me th ir sca ty als On s ing th , discipl xclai d, O e e the e e e "Let u s fath r, b hold r ward of thy pati nc thank ’ e the e us our fully partak of food s nt by good God . Our e e e e e e Saint, how v r, would first know with c rtainty wh nc th y me and i s m e e t the ea was had co , infor d by an ang l hat f st e e e his e the e e s nt in r spons to pray rs, and through b n vole nce m th e h . of t e king M eanti e, e un xpected arrival of His Maj esty with his retinue and followe rs fill ed them with alarm . Th eir astonishment at discovering the oratory and cell was increase d by seeing the . banquet spread b efore the e m his e e holy h r it and att ndant, who, with thankful h arts, ma be me a e e e e and it y assu d, with good pp tit s, w r about to partake ofthe good things thus bountifully provided for them

H e e . our ibll e e he by av n But Saint, with a confid nc in t e ofH e e mm e his e e e prot ction av n, co and d that un xp ct d visitors should not approach till h e and his discipl e should have a e the e so e e m p rtak n of f ast provid ntially provid d for the . nd e e e m e e A h r anoth r arv l occurs. Rid rs and pe destrians e m e Th e m alike are unabl to ov . level li estone l edges bear the e e the as i s to pr s nt day footprints, it piously thought, of m e e e the e e m that otl y gath ring; Colgan, who giv s l g nd, ust e hav thought so . No doubt this singular ph enomenon of the footprints on the rocks must have been in the days of 24 STORY OF AN I RIS H PROPERT Y

the m e em e me e m Colgan, and in still or r ot ti s of A ngus, uch i s our me th e e o r more striking than it in ti . But asc nt the m e i s our me as approach through ountain gorg in ti , in ’ ‘ ’ and e i e e e e Bohi r e Colgan s c ntur s arli r, call d na Ma s ,

e the ofthe D e . e e i . . Road ish s Thus did it pl as God to manife st i n a most striking manner the singular sanctity of the em e m Th e His servant to the king and ass bl d ultitud e. favour which he found with God was thus manifested to the e e hi s m e eff e m e as e world, d spit hu bl orts to hid hi s lf, w ll h ofm n the from the admiration as from t e hostility e . At ’ e e e e e set e the king s ntr ati s, all w r again at lib rty through ’ Saint s prayers ; and they returned to publish throughout the ofthe a the e Aidhne sanctity holy solit ry, and xtraordinary things which it please d H eaven to do through the efficacy of his e pray rs .

I I I

We must not linge r over th ese beautiful traditions of the e e the the e e holi st nam of district, for nam is k pt in reme mbrance also by the ruine d buildings which are h ’ e t e . associat d with Saint . St Colman s Oratory cannot , ee C the of e ind d , laim antiquity its patron , but it r cords the fact that an uninterrupte d tradition has for c enturie s e e on S m e m ass rt d that this pot Col an pray d . M uch ore em e e e e m e e r arkabl , though not mor pictur squ and i pr ssiv , are the great ruins of the Cathe dral Church of

Kilmacdua h . e e the g Alik in Ir land , in Scotland , and of e ri e N orth England , had arly Ch stian missionari s adopte d a monastic syste m : in Scotland and in North e e e e e umbria b caus th ir inspiration cam from Ir land , and in Ire land b ecause such a system suite d a country e e e e e o f without any c ntraliz d gov rnm nt . A numb r monks settle d in a district : th eir abbot was consecrated as he h a bishop , and ruled t e Church in th e land around e his hom . It was in such a simple mann er that St . Colman founde d his church and monaste ry at Kil

macdua h . The e was C e e e g sit hos n , his biograph rs t ll

2 6 STORY OF AN I RIS H PROPERTY

0 historica l refe rence to th e m belongs to the year 95 . ‘ ’ ‘ f . e the e e o The similarity, says Dr Fah y, in archit ctur portions ofthe tower and of the w e stern end of the

i s . we e cath edral striking I n both , hav striking specimens of cyclop ean Irish work : the doorway in th e e e the e e west rn gabl of church , with its massiv lint l and inclining jambs ; the masonry forme d by massive stones e e et fix d without r gard to coursing, and y with joints as ’ e e e the p erf ct as in a Roman wall . Th s indications fix e the e e dat of archit ctur , and our historical information e m Th e of is in k eping with the . original buildings ’

. e e e e e St Colman s tim w r probably mod st nough , and we may be c e rtain that they we re d estroyed in the e e et— Danish invasions, although som ston s may y who an e — e th e e e c t ll r main in e later e rection . Th y w r not e ffe the e the e built in tim to su r, in middl of sixth c ntury, the the Ua e s from traditional raid of Carra broth r , long e e the The e b for Dan es set foot in Ireland . church s of Kinvara are am ong those which are recorded to have 1 ee e the . b n attack d , and spirited lin es in which M r i T . D . Sull van describ es th e Ua Carra outrage may e e e the woe e the e e e s rv to d pict work d by h ath n Dan s , e e e h C wh n th y, in turn , ravag d t e hurch es of Kinvara, e Kilmacd ua h and among th m g .

W e slew the priests that could not flee We e e e and gath r d altar, b nch door, e e me see Mitr s and v st nts fair to , W e heaped them high and hurriedly

W e e em on th e - burn d th blood stained floor.

e the Ua e the Unlik Carra broth rs , Danes found no e e e e e e e plac of r p ntanc , and th r is no record of th ir e the e Yet r building altars th y had thrown down. so large was the influx of a Danish population in these e the the districts of Ir land , that Christian desce ndants of

’ ’ O Curr M u i s an scr t Materia ls . 2 0 y p , p 9 . T H E ISLE OF SAIN TS 2 7 pagan marauders must have been la rgely repres ente d among th e good p eople of Aidhn e who comple ted the e of od Kilmacd ua h the e Hous G at g , in tim of Brian B oroimh W e can e e e the e . gu ss that th ir first car was e e the e e and r ction of Round Tow r, in which pri st e e i e e p ople might take refug . Mons gnor Fah y giv s us

‘ the measurem e nts ofthis remarkably perfe ct spe cime n f 1 10 ee o e . e C a Round Tow r Its h ight is f t, its ircum fe renc e about 56 feet it leans about two feet from the The e w 2 6 e e p erp e ndicular . arch d door ay is f t from the The e e the e e ground . gr at r portion of con had fall n

th e e e - long ago, and tow r was in a s mi ruinous condition — Th e e ofthe wh e n it was re store d in 1878 9. archit ct he B u ilder e . e e t r storation , Mr. A Scott, thus d scrib d in 1 18 the the for January 3 , 79 , accumulations found in inte rior ofthe Round Tower

f e e 1 . The 2 e e was m e o first f t co pos d partly d cay d twigs, and a fe w ofthe fal len cap stones . 2 The ne e e e e e ofca and me . xt 4 f e t w r fill d with ston s p li

e e . rubbish , xclusiv ly h m e m . T e e ee e o e as t o 3 n xt 3 f t, with d co p s d twigs, sa p

e m m m and e e . lay r, ixed with s all hu an oth r bon s m f . The e ee e e h e o 4 n xt 3 f t, with brown arth ix d with as s e hu e m e e m m e e a r ddish , s all p bbl s, s all hu an and oth r bon s, i fth m m e pr ncipally ribs o e hu an fra .

. The e ee 10 e e 5 n xt 9 f t inch s, with brown arth, principally ashes ofa reddish hu e m ixed with a large amount ofsmall

m e and e th e e n m e - e hu an bon s, bon s of low r a i als, oyst r sh lls, o f e a few e e . sods of turf, a littl charco l , and a pi c s brass All the e e e m and as be e bon s w r s all , such could carri d by birds, and were found chiefly close to th e wall all round . 6 Th e m . e unde rneath 6 fe et 2 inch es was pack d with s all Th size d stone s and with ve ry little rubbish . e packing in e was m e but was e th e this cas by no eans accid ntal, don by e m on and ff build rs to for a flooring which to stand sca old,

the e e e e e - for stones used in packing w r cl an, w ath r worn, and

1 o e Fa e . Qu t d by Mgr. h y 28 STO RY OF AN I RI SH PROPE RTY identical with those used in building the inside face wall from ofth e this point to the l evel door . me ofthe e m 6 ee 2 e The dia ter int rior, fro within f t inch s

f he i s m ee ee 2 e o t foundation, fro 5 f t to 5 f t inch s, and is e mme e e th e e m faced with larg unha r d ston s in rud st for , just The e e m e as if it were built against a bank . abov figur s ak 2 8 feet from door-sill to bottom offoundation course both inside and outside .

e e e th e e e th e Furth r xcavations , b low l v l of foundations , have bee n take n to prove th e existe nce ofChristian burial o n the spot at a date prior to the ere ction ofthe e so e of e tow r, and , if this is , it is anoth r indication a lat r Th e e m o e th e e date . ash s and hu an b n s in low r strata ofthe tower are ge n erally explain ed as showing the e e of e th e e e the occurr nc fir s in tow r, r sulting in e e e we d struction ofits inmat s . It is almost c rtain that may refer the Tow e r ofKilmacdu agh to the ninth or the e e e we e ofm of t nth c ntu ry, wh n r ad any invasions the e o r e devasted Dan s Northm n , who all Connaught 8 0 8 The e e e 66. in 3 , and who w r at Kinvara in wast plac es of form er ge nerations w e re largely re store d in the of Boroimh e e the end of days Brian , who liv d in the e e the e t nth c ntury, and probably e xisting ch urch s e ofKilmacd u a h m m and Tow r g dat e fro his ti e . About forty yards from the Round Tow e r stands the e th e e th e e e e of Cath dral , larg st of S v n Church s Kilm acdu a h . Th e e m e e g trans pts, uch lat r in dat than the e o fthe e e the e e of r st bulding , hav giv n it app aranc ee e n t a Gr k cross , but this unusual f ature was o part ofthe e n The h original d sig . oldest portion is t e western e the gabl , and church has been altere d and e nlarge d at ’

e . e er various p riods By M onsignor Fah y s ‘kind p we e mission , quot his d escription Ofthe architectural d etails

Subsequent restorations and extensions gave the church e e e i 1 i s its pr s nt l ngth, which s 97 feet 0 i nches . It very T H E ISLE OF SAI NTS 2 9 probabl e that the earliest enlargement included a portion o f th e e e of the e e e i s the choir and ntir pr s nt chanc l, which 6 e e and m the 2 5 feet inch s in l ngth , unifor with church in is e e m e e breadth . It light d by a window fill d with si pl ston The the trace ry ofthe late Early English period . splay on inside i s wide and regular ; and i ts closely-jointed and well chis elled stones present a surface unbroken and seemingly e u e e m th fresh after the lapse of c nt ri s . A door l ads fro e chance l to a neat but comparatively modern sacristy on the

south sid e . The Chancel i s separated from the Choir by a semicircular i s e a e ee arch, which support d by plain and strong pil st rs 3 f t The m e e ofthe e i s wide . ost striking f atur Chanc l arch the e - e and e - cu t e e e clos ly joint d w ll surfac which it pr s nts . The completion ofChoir and chancel as it stands does not e m e em e e the , probably, b long to a or r ot p riod than close ofthe thirteenth or the beginning of the fourteenth e c ntury . The south transept must have been th e next important the e e th e e e addition to cathedral . It stands n ar r to w st rn e e on the e gabl than to the chancel gable . It op ns nav by

' a ointed i m e e cut me p arch, which s ould d and w ll , but so ha e e e m m e the e what low. This wing s th r for uch or app ar ance of a side Chapel than ofan ordinary transept . It ’ The e i s e probably was Our Lady s Chapel . int rior light d

fi ne the e e - e e e m by a window in gabl , with w ll pr s rv d fla boyant tracery and a smaller but well - proportion e d window in th e

e - f m The m e e o th e . ast rn sid wall, e sa e styl asonry consists of e -s t e e e be n at and care fully e cours s . Its r ction cannot

re fe rred to an earlier period than th e fifteenth century . Its i 2 length s 5 feet and its width 2 2 feet 4 inch es . e e m a nd e m A ston altar, w ll ould ed, showing twist d colu ns the e e e e e n at front angl s, stands th r in fair pr s rvatio , though 1 has ee e e e m and was e it b n us d r c ntly as a to b , thus consid r

e -cut e e e the ably injured . A nic ly ston brack t still occupi s

e on th e ofth Th e e - m e angl right e altar. w ll ould d doorway

’ n on to an O Shau hness am l An i nscriptio the table refers g y f i y, and a e 1 gives a d t 798. 30 STORY OF AN I RIS H PROPE RTY

l e the e e- e o fthe cathedra , situat d in south rn sid wall and clos e was r e e the m e to the west ern gabl , p obably ins rt d at sa e the old e e e r e ed m p riod, and w st rn nt anc Clos with asonry, which remains to the present day. The position of the north transept corresponds with that e e e e i s of of the south rn trans pt . Th r also an arch about me me m m e e e the sa di nsions, but uch or rud ly construct d ; probably it was owing to the defective style of i ts construe was e u m as now e tion that it fill d p with asonry, it is , l aving only a simple Gothic doorway to ope n on the church . This transe pt has the re fore all the app earance o fa chapel ; and ’ ’ f h au hn s e i s te o e o as t e O Sh es . , in fact, of n sp k n g y Chap l

i s so e P ococke his I rish Tour 1 2 . con It call d by in , 75 It ee m e e mem of ema e tains, ind d , any int r sting orials that r rkabl e m e the e t c e though unfortunat fa ily . Opposit n ran , and the e e t the m te e i against trans pt gabl , s ands by far ost in r st ng ‘ ’ m me the me m e t onu nt in Church . It is so ti es call d an al ar

i s - m as e it probably an altar to b , it still b ars upon it, in light e e te e e two e o ne e e i e h and v ry d lica r li f, Shi lds, at ith r S d , wit ’ the m ofthe t e O Shau hness s a e s coat of ar s unfor unat g y , b ron t

f - o . Th e e e e s e e. . is t e e Gort tripl tow r d ca tl , g, s ill trac abl i n the i or e are i both ; two l ons, support rs, also st ll distinctly

e e. e e e e er i s now e e ere trac abl Littl ls , how v , trac abl th ; we the m o fthe m l and , though know that otto fa i y was ‘ Fortis et it is now illegible if it ever ha d been e em inscrib d upon th . m e o mew e an On a plinth, which ust hav st od so hat high r th the e e m e cut- e e t trans pt floor, r sts a Si pl ston proj c ion, which e me e ee 2 e in supports a tabl which asur s 3 f t inch s width, e fe m th f t but proj cts only a w feet fro e line o gable . On his e e e e e e e i on h tabl r st squar bas s about tw lv inch s h gh , whic e m e e an ca i s r st pillars with ould d bas s d Corinthian p tal . The e and me e eet pillars, including bas s capitals, asur 4 f 1 and en e m l e inch , support an tablatur carefully ou d d, and me in 1 e Th ofth e asur g foot 5 inch s in depth . e back altar is

ne re - e e e i on e e i e and do in ca fully Chis ll d ston , show ng ith r S d , e th e ofthe th e e e clos to capitals pillars, rais d shi lds and in THE" ISLE OF SAINTS 3 1 the e e ee the e e e is ee centr , and b tw n shi lds, a larg spac d ply

e e the m m e e , and car fully incis d into asonry. It ight hav b en used a s a place i n which relic- cases could have been safely exhibited . Instead ofth e usual tympanum which one might have expecte d would surmount a structure savouring so much o f th e e e h as e e R naissanc , it a Crucifixion rud ly sculptur d in on i s cut i s a e m e relief. The Slab which it pl ced und r a si pl e and e ee e e e set e cornic , b tw n arab squ figur s within squar

e e the e e m e the e a e . pinnacl s, which r st on xtr iti s of ntabl tur e the e e of th e m Ov r proj cting cornic Crucifixion, si ilar pi nnacles on a narrower space form the crowning finials of h t e structure . m me e e e i s Though this onu nt b ars no inscription, th r a m on the e e e i nscri ural slab adjoining it Epistl sid , b aring an p m e e e e e tion in s all raised l tt rs, now scarc ly l gibl , which probably refers to it

Fecerunt me Ughonus filius Hugonis O Shagnasi d e Cluonyn et uxor ej us Norina Grifa temp ore Di Rogeri Shagh asi militis sue nationi s Capitane sub Carolo rege an o reg 1 6 8° Cris 1 6 Anno Do mini 45.

’ The e O Shau hness e e e to was th e e Rog r g y r f rr d Sir Rog r, e ofthe e e e in e e e 1 6 chi f s pt, who r sid d F ddan Castl in 47 . ’ i 1 6 0 H O Donovan gives the date ofh s d eath as 5 . Of ugo ’ O Shau hness of Clon n his e we g y y , and wif Norina Grifa,

o e we n the ~ know n thing furth r. But thi k that adjoining altar tomb must be the monum ent which they claim th e credi t of having e rected . i m l oft There s a uch larger s ab, with an inscription he me e e e i n the th e e e ofthe sa p riod, ins rt d wall on oth r Sid I ts i e the is e e altar . or ginal plac in church , how v r, unknown . It was fou nd detached from the building at th e tim e of e i ts e e the recent restoration, and plac d in pr s nt position 32 STORY OF AN I RISH PROPE RTY

Th e with a vi ew to its preservation. inscription i s as follows Ad majorem Dei gloriam et ’ MDuagh huj us celeberi me Hoc monumentum condi feceru nt ’ R ogeri u s O Shaughnessy et Joanes Reagh filii Cornelii Rogeri Shac diebus quorum animabus p ropiet C s tempore Reverendi admodum a m Vicari generalissimi m m m R o eri e uiti s do ini, do n do ini g q auriti sue natio e m m et m m Ecc qua bonu qua unu . PLS 1 2 . 3 .

th e e e e th e e e the Owing to ill gibl Charact r of l tt rs, and me e e e e i s so what rud latinity, an accurat r nd ring in English e The m a e sufii ci entl e not asy. following y prov y accurat , though it only purports to be a free rende ring ’ e O Shau hness th e o f Rog r g y and John ( Swarthy), sons e e e e m me th e e e Corn lius r ct d this onu nt, to gr at r glory of Mac the e e e of u God and Duagh, c l brat d patron this ch rch, the e me of e e e in lif ti Sir Rog r Shaughn ssy, baron t, and in the m fth - e ti e o e Ve ry Reverend a m Vicar Gen ral . May b me God e rciful to their souls. B ehold how good and pleasant it i s for brethren to dwell ’ e — P e s . . tog th r in unity . cxxxii A fracture in the slab makes any e fforts hopel ess that may be made to discove r the name of the Vicar-Ge ne ral refe rred ’ Th f Shau hness re . e me o e O e a to na Corn lius g y, whos sons ’ Don van hi e e e o s e e e . r f rr d to, is not given by O in p digr ‘ ’ The e e of m as ex e e ofth e n of r p tition do inus , pr ssiv ra k ’ O Shau hness i s e e e th g y, not without pr c d nt in e adulatory i the lat nity of seventeenth century . e h e e e e th e Anoth r slab, found during t r c nt r storations in ofthe e i s e the e- choir cath dral , now plac d in sid wall, and m not far fro those which we have be en examining. Though me in e th on so what jur d, e following inscription it is fairly l egibl e

34 STORY OF AN I RIS H PROPE RTY

e e e can be e e e inscription in rais d l tt rs, which d ciph r d with some little diffi culty

e . . . . Dominus Nost r . Sancta Maria I N RI e Miserere nostri Domine miser re nostri . Fiat m e nos misericordia tua do ine sup r .

H me on H r . e e . . i . Our Lord oly Ma y av rcy me be u s O e m e u s . Le t O , Lord, hav rcy on Thy rcy, Lord, 1 u i s e a e e e upon s . It c rt in that thos rud ly sculptur d slabs ar e e e m e e the e v ry anci nt . Th y ost probably b long d to Old e a e e e m e the o f me re stora cath dr l, but w r r ov d on occasion so m eme e e e e e th e tion or i prov nt, and r v r ntly ins rt d in positions e m e e th e e e e th y now occupy, r ly for purpos of pr s rving em th .

Th e remaining buildings are the ruins of the e es e th e e monast ry . D troy d by Dan s, it was again e e the e ofthe e e u d stroy d in last y ar tw lfth c ntury, d ring the wars b etw ee n differe nt m emb ers of the family of ’ O Co nnor e e e t e and th ir Norman alli s . A gr at bat l rage d ne Kilmacdu a h the e 12 00 the of ar g in y ar , and Annals Lough Ci record how the conte nding forc e s pillage d e e e ei e e and d stroy d, and spar d n th r church nor pri st . Th e monaste ry was re store d in the m iddle o fthe ee e the e ar h thirt nth c ntury, and xisting buildings e t e of f e . e o e we ruins this r storation For a d scription th m , e e the e e again avail ours lv s of kindn ss of Mgr . Fah y

As the present cathedral occupi es the site o fth e original m so th e e e . e m s e r ct d by St Col an, too adjoining ona t ry

f . m As the occupie s the site o that which St Col an found ed . ’ e the O He nes e me i ts local chi fs, y , b ca lay patrons or ’ H erenachs e me m as H e ne s e , it b ca fa iliarly known y abb y ; and it still retains that designation amongst th e Irish e h sp aking p eopl e o ft e district . Even in the seventh century the monastic system con tinu ed to be a distinctive feature o fthe Irish church ; and in

1 P S . i 22 xxx ii . . THE I SLE OF SAI NTS 35 m e as Kilm acdu a h the was e the any cas s, at g , abbot at onc e o fthe m e and the th e e or sup rior onast ry, bishop of t rritory e i s e th e e o fm e dioces . It tru that found rs onastic lif in i ff m e n e e e e e e e . Ir land thos arly ag s adopt d di r nt rul s Colu ba, a nd e and Ailbe and Carthach the e Br ndan, , , and oth rs, had each hi s own rul e ; yet th e dive rsity se em e d to consist only m e e and e e m e a nd in inut d tail, all w r ark d with rigour e W e are no t e sev rity . in a position to stat with authority m m a e e e e hi which of those rules St . Col an y hav s l ct d for s u h n he monks at Kilmacd ag . But I thi k it not unlikely that

m a e e e e hi s e . m e y hav s l ct d that of fri nd St Colu ba, univ rsally h e e accepted in t e north of Ir land at that p riod . ’ H e ne s e i s m e e e th e m e e y Abb y , in so r sp cts, ost int r sting f th m m e Kilmacd ua h o e existing onu nts at g . Though it shows unmistakabl e evid enc e of restoration at diffe rent e we fi nd e e m e e n and m e o f p riods, th r so cyclop a work, so th e m e the finest specim ens of Irish work of ediaeval p riod . But it would be rash to s ay that we can point to any portion ofth e still remaining abbey which could be re fe rred to th e Th th e m . e e n em a tim e o fSt . Col an xisti g r ins consist of m e a e on the e and e e onast ry ch p l north sid , a consid rabl portion o fth e dom estic part ofthe monaste ry connecte d with th e e o fth e e e and e e chanc l chap l at a right angl , xt nding southward . Th e chap el is far the most inte resting portion ofthe m f e . o n e an e onast ry It consists a av d Chanc l . Brash ‘ corre ctly considers most p art ofthe nave a re construction This i s evid e nt from i ts point e d doorway in the north side

and m the e e o fth e e - wall , fro inf rior charact r north sid wall e i s h its lf. It also Obvious that wh en t e pre sent north Side was the o f the e was e wall built, width nav consid rably

- e e e . the e e e e l ss n d Much of old r sid wall , which had d clin d m h e i t e e s be ee th e e . fro p rp ndicular, still to s n on outsid It i s a spl e ndid sp e cim e n o fm ediaeval ceme nted cyclop ean th e e e o f h Work . On south rn sid t e chap e l the re i s anothe r mm e the m e door which co unicat d with onast ry. Th e e e e e the e e e i ntir int r st of chap l c ntr s in ts chancel . Th e chance l arch with its exquisite columns elicite d the ‘ m P ococke ° ad iration of Dr . and Archdall writes : Th e 36 STORY O F AN I RIS H PROPE RTY

r and e m the e a e th e a pilla s arch s, fro ntr nc to altar p rt, and ’

e o the e are e e e e . thos f ast window, finish d in an l gant styl Unfortunate ly the chance l - arch h as disappeared ; but the pie rs and engage d columns ofthe arch remain in a state of e e e e are m the m e e p rf ct pr s rvation, and a ongst ost p rf ct and

the . e e on m e striking in country Th y r st si ply wrought bas s, a nd are surmounte d by capitals enriche d by intricate and

e - of m e e e m e vari d scallop work Ro an squ charact r, arv llous in h m h e i s th e t e inute pe rfection o f its finish . T work all more effective as the mate rial i s a brighte r-coloured limestone

a e- th n that ofthe rest o f the building . Th e doubl light window ofthe central gable i s ofthe same a ttractive mate rial ; and its ornamental d etails are of quite th e sam e ch aracte r as

- are t hose o fthe chanc e l pie rs and pillars . The windows

em - e e e e e narrow and s icircular h ad d , v ry wid ly and r gularly e on the e so the e e Splay d insid , that c ntral dividing pi r e me e e to e a e m ca ital b co s r duc d a d lic t colu n , with rich p , supporting the arch e d mouldings which rest on it from e ith e r e Sid . On e ithe r Side th e re are two corresponding shafts

m e e the e - si ilarly tr at d, supporting d licately wrought torus m e h ouldings which form the chie f features of the doubl arc . m the th e i s n on th me e Fro sills, splay conti ued e sa scal , except tha t the torus-mouldings are Changed into hollows or e m flut d ouldings . On the outside of the gabl e these lance ts are e e e ri m ed and me e 8 ee r c ss d and chly ould , asur f t high e f e o h . and only inch s at sill , and still l ss at spring arc Th e window in seve ral of i ts feature s h as i ts counte rpart at e m e e th e er Clonf rt and Clon acnois , but surpass s both in p fection i ts and the e e fi of finish laborat character o ts work .

Th - e oute r angle of the chance l gabl e has i ts quoins so carved as to form grace ful attache d Shafts resting on carved

- e , and rm e e m e e bas s su ount d by w ll wrought Ro an squ capitals . Such external quoins may also be seen i n som e o f o ur m e e a e as e ~ ~ dia v l church s, at Clonf rt and Teamp ul na hue . e us is Monai n hu Brash t lls that it also found at c . It would appear that this beautiful feature is entirely peculiar to our i m e Ir sh Ro an sque .

. e h e I le an was Brash attribut s t is work to Mauric y , who ‘M r i Kil B shop of macduagh in the latte r half of th e thi rteenth TH E ISLE OF SAINTS 37

One c entury . would naturally assume that the work should be long to the same p eriod as the similar works at Clonfe rt e and oth r places. Ware would ascribe the beautiful work at Clonfert to

A . D . 1 2 66. Bishop John, an Italian, about This, no doubt, corresponds with the e piscopate of Bishop I leyan but ’ O Donovan considers that the work belongs to the eleve nth e c n n t century . Th re a be no doubt that it belo gs to he period he m e m of t ost p rfe ct development ofIrish Ro anesque . e o ffthe e on th e e A doorway op ning chanc l, south sid , e the e m e e m th l ads into sacristy, a vault d apart nt light d fro e

e m e - Off i s n er e ast by a s all lanc t window. this a oth vault d me m e to e ee the e apart nt, but di ly light d, said hav b n tr asury the m a m of onastic est blish ent . e e i s e m the me e Th r a larg roo adjoining this, and in sa lin ,

ma e ee e or e - which y hav b n use d as a ref ctory chapt r room .

i s e b two e - w The i s e e It light d y lanc t indows. vaulting p rf ct ; but the entrance door has bee n recently built up i n solid

‘

ma . n em e and sonry Portio s of an upper story r ain ov r this, th e e me e er e m a e oth r apart nts r f r d to, which y probably hav e e th m b en us d by e com unity as a dormitory. Archdall re fers to a chapel situate d at the south side of i the m e e e eem this w ng of onaste ry. Of this Chap l th r s s to be e e be not the e e littl or no trac in our day, if it d tach d e e o n the e er i e e structur a littl w st n s d , with a rud doorway of e a cyclop an Character in the western gable . ‘ ’ ’ Team uil e a p Muir , Our Lady s Church, st nds a short e e ofthe e and i s f m distanc ast cath dral, nowadays cut offro h e t e eme e th . I e e c t ry by e public highway ts w st rn gabl , now

mu e on the l ofthe . The ch injur d , abuts wa l highway church i s a' sim le me 1 ee e e t an p oblong, asuring 4 f t 7 inch s in l ng h, d

1 e i s e - 9 fe t in width . It lighted by a narrow lanc t window in the e e e and e the e e- : ast rn gabl , anoth r in south rn sid wall z The e e Both are wid ely splayed on the inside . ntranc is

- e the e e and the e e a . n ar w st gabl , in south rn sid w ll It is

- - e e e the e cut . circular h ad d lik windows, and shows w ll joints The e i s me e has e structur probably dia val, but c rtainly no : claims on the venerabl e antiquity of the buildings already e e ref rr d to . 38 STORY OF AN I RI SH PROPE RTY

The Te amp uil Beg Mic Duagh was situate d o n th e south o fth e e i s now cut Off m the western side cath dral , and fro I i e cemetery by the modern e nclosure . ts site s mark d by ’ O Donovan in a m ap o fthe cemete ry prese rved in hi s l ette rs em The e e in the library ofthe Royal I rish Acad y . g n ral outlines ofi ts foundations are the only traces ofthis structure which we can now discove r. Th e Leaba Mi c Duagh as the littl e mortuary Chape l was m was e was e call ed in which St . Col an buri d, situat d about

e the me e m th e e al . tw nty yards, and in sa lin , fro cath dr e e e th e e e are Some large ston s which nclos outlin of a grav , ou r th e em th e e o f e e in day, only r ains of sit this int r sting chape l ; but it i s still known and honoure d as the place in ’

m e . as which St . Colman s re ains were laid to r st It w in existe nce in 1 752 ; and we have a cle ar reference to it from th e en o f P ococke e Kilmacd ua h p Bishop , who visit d g at that m H e e : th e e the is m a ti e . writ s To w st in churchyard a s ll e e e h e sa the was bur ed and c ll, wh r t y y Patron Saint y , that th e body was afte rwards carri e d to Aughrim Th e only oth e r building amongst the extant monuments at Kilm acduagh i s the large square building north of the i s e e e e e . cath dral . It a strong cast llat d r sid nce It consists of e a me on th e - e e e two larg ap rt nts ground l v l, light d only by One of e m narrow loopholes . thos apart ents was vaulted ; the othe r had its floor supporte d by joists ; the uppe r apart me e e e e m e e- i nts w r w ll light d by so doubl light w ndows . It i s e e e e as th e e e e e th e g n rally r gard d anci nt r sid nc of bishop . ’

was . P ococke s h e as This Dr opinion, though adds that it w e th e e m me also call d s inary by so . Most likely it se rved ’ e as the e e th e s both purpos s, in Middl Ag s bi hop s house was also th e school in which aspirants to the e cclesiastical state e e e e e e e th e e w r pr par d for th ir sacr d duti s . On upp r floor

e e i s an e -e m i s th th r ori l, looking north ast, fro which it said e bishop ble ssed the pilgrims who came the re to visit the Shrine

ofthe - e . On the e e of holy found r south w st angl this building, h t e foundations of a small square proj ecti on were expose d on the its e m e m e ma e occasion of r storation so ti ago . It y hav ee m e mm e b n a s all tow r to acco odate a guard . Though th re a re no certain data to which one might appe al for th e pur THE I S LE OF SAI NTS 39

o e the e o fthe e e of et the p s of fixing dat r ction this building, y h m u s The e characte r of t e masonry ay help to guide . outlin ofth e e as e as the e o fi ts m structur , w ll charact r asonry, ’ recalls at once the existing remains ofth e Earl o fUlste r s a e th e m e the C stl at Ardrahan, built probably in iddl of

ee e . e e e be e e thirt nth c ntury It would not, th r for , unr asonabl me ma the m e e to assu that both y belong to sa p riod .

The e e e e e e e monast ry cam to gri f, lik oth r monast ri s , in the the e e e e e last half of sixt nth c ntury, but s rvic s w ere conducte d in the Cathe dral Church at various me the e ofthe e e e h e ti s in cours s v nt e nt c ntury. U ntil e e e e the e the e e of quit r c nt y ars , D ans of Dioc s Kil m acduagh in the Church of Ireland have bee n inducted e e Th e in th ancie nt Cath dral . last occasion was in 18 e e e e 74, wh n Archd acon Daly induct d D an Butson

th ere .

We have spoke n much of St. Colman and the great Kilmacdua h we e church of g , but must not forg t that the n Th e e e the district posse sses other sai ts . l g nd of e Ua Carre contains a re fere nc to a St . Cuman of Fi hra who be e e . U a ac ch Kinvara, may ith r St Colman , f m e o . a cont mporary and kinsman St Col an Mac Duagh ,

- f or . m of ealtra ot e o St Cai in M uis C , half br h r King Fia h ra h n e . Ua c c or Guair B ut n eith er St . Colman

. e e w e to St Caimin sp nt his lif at Kinvara, and pass i Sairna t . ou rne e e e St . or St S y, a maid n of royal d sc nt , ’ Dr maco e e . Sou rne s o o to whom is d dicat d St y Church at , the Ballinderee n e the e e in parish of , n ar ston c ll in which she is be lieve d to have live d . It is now half h h r t e e e e e . ruinous , and holy w ll which b ars nam is dry F ila of e . o e St . Colgan Kilcolgan (broth r of St , who giv s h er name to the Church ofKilfoila) was also ofroyal he e e e . rac . A discipl of St Columba, had follow d his H R O P E R T Y 40 STORY OF AN I RI S P master to the wilds of I ona from th e beloved - island of Aranmore

O n sun the e Ara , of all W st, My h eart is thine ; as sweet to close e e ee as e Our dying y s in th , r st

Wh ere Peter and wh e re Paul repose .

h e of e We read ofSt. Colgan in t biography his gr at e he e e be o ne the mast r, but was not d stin d to of band ofholy men who are honoure d as they who brought n o e the Evange l to Scotla d . St . C lumba s nt him back ’ l an s own e e t t . Co to Ireland to conv r his (S g ) moth r, and He e in this task h e succeeded . built a monast ry at h The Kilcolgan and live d th ere t e rest of his holy life . f e e site o his church and monast ry is unc rtain , but Monsignor Fah ey id entifie s it with a site in the grounds

of e e . ee e e e Tyron (Tir Ow n) I t had b n long us d , in r c nt e for the the e tim s, worship of Church of Ir land, but is now almost ruinous . ‘ ’ e e few Gr at Aidhn , land of Saints, contains not a

. t l . place s c onn e cte d with the ir m emorie s . S . Co man did not end e as Ki lmacd ua h : his lif Bishop of g , but re e e the e e u e tr at d to Burr n woods , and liv d in solit d at

m the e -ofCo rcomroe e e h"- u Ought ama in vall y , wh r b ilt

e s e ee to h ve e a church and a c ll A monast ry s ms a aris n, as at Kilmacduagh , but th e only ruins which now remain

th u . are e e C e . was . howe er thos of h rch s St Colman , v ; e Kilmacdua h and hi s r e the buri d at g , in g av bones of

h R ~ t e ev . . e e e i 18 I t w Most Dr Fr nch w r la d in 52. as e m e and it o e e the f long a plac of pilgri ag , p ss ss d right o ‘ ’ ff the e . e . m a ording sanctuary to distr ss d Pilgri ages, e the and e says Monsignor Fah y, to church holy w ll at Kilmac dua h e to e g continu our own day, but fortunat ly unaccompanie d by the abuses whic h have in many " e e e e e instanc s r nd r d such practic s obj e ctionable . This e i s m ntirel u t ar e . dr b t e e e w ll now al ost, if not y, y, h r ’ e hol ' wells w e the oth r y hich b ars saint s name. Four

TH E O ’S HAUGHN ESSYS

ON the isle ofsaints fell the curse ofa cru el warfare : The Annals of the Four Masters preserve to us scanty records like those of the e arly page s o fth e Anglo — Saxon chronicle records which tell of civil war and o we e ofthe te rrible ravage s of the Dane s . To b th hav e e is ou r already made incide ntal refe r nc , and so slight information that no refe re nce can be oth e r than inci the e 80 e . The e e d ntal Four Mast rs m ntion , in y ar 7 , e e Kilbecant e a gr at battl at Carn Conall , in y, alr ady associated with th e waning glory of King Guaire . It was a fight betw e en the men of Connaught and the me n o fthe trib es of Hy- Fiach rach ; but how and w e e e e e the of e w e h r for Irishm n sh d blood Irishm n , o know not. I t was probably nly o ne of a se ri e s o f the e e e m conflicts , but oth rs hav vanish d from hu an

e e . e th e a e e e knowl dg Wh n curt in is again rais d , th r

are new o n the e . AS e 816 the combatants stag arly as , Dan e s are believe d to have march e d by Kilmacduagh Co rrib the e to Lough , and in gr at invasion under Tur esiu s 8 ff e e . g , in 35, all Connaught su r d We can only

e e the e e for the - too asily pictur sc n , Anglo Saxon Chronicle describe s for u s the similar dee ds o fthe e — th e e the the lun Dan s in England carnag , bu rning, p e th e m e d ring, and anslaying, which recur with a r gu larity that is sicke ning as w ell as monotonous in the a l the e e The e e nna s of ninth and t nth c nturi es . h ath n e e e e e e invad rs spar d n ith r church nor churchyard , n ith r ’ THE O SHAUGHN ESSYS 43

e the e al e the e th e shrin nor altar, and cath dr shar d fat of

e e . we e e e e hom st ad It was, as hav s n , during this p riod the e e of e e e that p opl Ir land , in th ir distr ss and anguish , built th em the great Round Tow ers in which th ey took e e The e : 866 the e r fug . invasions continu d in Dan s e e e e land d at Kilcolgan and plu nd r d Aidhn , probably e Kilmacdua h e e e d stroying g , and p n trating to B agh , e e e the u of e n ar Gort , wh r now stand r ins an anci nt 2 th e e C h urch . Unde r the ye ar 9 0 e Four Mast rs r late Maelmacdua h C e of e b that g , hi ftain Aidhn , was slain y th e e e e can be the e for ign rs . Th r no doubt who ‘ ’ f e e e e the m e o fMaelm acdu a h or ign rs w r , and urd r g

was but the pre lude to a fre sh tale ofbloodshed . I n 928 th e Dan e s are again recorde d to have reache d ‘ ’ Corri b e e of Lough , doubtl ss doing th ir old wont e e Ten e e e e e rapin and slaught r. y ars lat r th y w r e e e the e the Ceanrai h d f at d in land of Aidhn by g , who e e inhabit d what is now Ardrahan , and M onsignor Fah y ide ntifies the sce n e ofth eir de feat with the townland o fRah ee n in th e parish o fArdrahan . It is possible e U a Cle iri h C e of that th ir victor was Flann g , hi ftain ‘ e m the e e e e Aidhn , who Four Mast rs d scrib as royal h ir ’ e to e m e the to all Connaught . I t is impossibl sti at e ffe ofh The e e e ct t e Danish invasions . h ath n maraud rs b e e e m ofth e e i i dou tl ss d stroy d uch anci nt civ lizat on , the the e e ofe m e e i e and art and lit ratur arly ti s p r sh d , m togeth e r with the m en who loved th e m . N u bers of th e e e e e em e Dan s s ttl d in Ir land , brac d Christianity, f and th eir blood soon mingle d with that o th e ir fo es . The e nd of th eir ravage s did not bring peac e to troubled e fo r we the e d of e Aidhn , find again r cor int rnal conflict, e 6 Comhaltan ofthe m e e e as wh n, in 9 4, , son urd r d Ma l h mba macdua e e e the of . Co l g , d f at d King Connaught ’ son e ri and w e tan s was also a gr at war or, , although know little or nothing ofthe district in th e end of the e e w e of as e the t nth c ntury, cannot think it poss ssing h w W e happiness of t e country hich has no history . 44 STORY O F AN I RI S H PROPE RTY must not leave this dark and miserable p eriod without — me ntioning its one bright feature the work ofthe poet w e e e e the e Flann Mac Lonan , hos d ath is r cord d in y ar 8 2 of e f Echt e 9 , and who sang d lightful lo ty g In the great battle o fClontarf in which Brian B roimhe and e the of o fought won and f ll, inhabitants Hy- Fi achrach played th ei r part in d elivering Ireland

‘ Th Fou Ma ters m th e . e r s fro e Danish maraud rs , who ‘ e e the e e e e e the d scrib fi rc , v ng ful , and furious battl , ’ e be me e how lik of which was not to found in that ti , t ll e e e the ofthe s th r f ll, along with most famous monarch ‘ ’ " o f e Tad O Kell the Maine and Ir land, g y, lord of U i , f F h h ’ Th Maelronaidh C e o iac rac e . e , hi ftain Aidhn ’ ’ O Heynes and the O Kellys were now the great e the the e ofthe a e famili s of district, but from dat b ttl

' ofClontarf their po w er b egan to wane ; and tradition re cords that so terrible was ‘ the loss of the p eople of ‘ Connaught in the great victory that very ' few = ofth e ’ ’ " n Th e effe t of O Kellys or O Hey es survived it . c Clontarf upon eleve nth -c entury Ireland must have be en Similar to the effe ct of Flo dde n upon Sixtee nth - c e ntury " ’ e for th e e ofthe e Scotland , and lam nts Flow rs For st must hav e mingled with the Te D eu ms which gave the the e Th e thanks for victory and d liverance . Danish i e ffe e e nvasions brought, aft r much su ring, p ac and unity the e e e e e ~ to England , but p opl of Ir land w r less for tu na The e e ff te . gr at unit d e ort under B rian Boroimhe was succee de d by ye ars ofinte rn ecin e warfare betwee n the royal houses ofMunste r and Connaught; and county. ‘ Clare and county Galway we re once more; and for ener the e e v e we g ations, th atr of ci il war . Onc again , ‘ know little of th e story o fthe conflict : dead the war I i e their ' lor e the se w e ors d ad g y, d ad cau for hich th y

e . W e e 106 e Turlo h di d h ar, in 7 , of a battl at g Art; bet ee Mo seola e e e the e w n y and Kilcornan , wh r f ll Chi f o f f the e Connaught, and o pitiless rav aging in cours

the r W e e 1 1 16 . 1 1 1 of ma ching . h ar, in and 7, of attacks ’ T HE O SHAUGHN ESSYS 45

ehea h the of e and upon Rov g (in parish Clarinbridg ), of b urnings and slaughter on the mountains ofEchtge and ’ Burre n . S ometime s an O Heyne falls in the course o f ’ a n ofth e e em as e 1 1 1 invasion n y s country, wh n, in 7, ‘ the Annals ofUlst er record the death of the king of ’ ’ O Fiachrach the men of e ; and , again, M unst r lay hra h e of waste th e land ofFiac c . I t is but a catalogu e : the e e o fh incid nts bar dry bon s istory , into which not eve n the most daring imagination could breathe the e One of m e e e em breath oflif . fact so int r st r ains to us h e e ofthe e e from t e e c cl siastical r cords p riod . Wh n the i e 1 1 2 e o me the Counc l of K lls , in 5 , r f r d Church in e e e i e e I r land , suppr ssing abus s , and introduc ng a b tt r the e e Kilmacdu a h e e organization , dioc s of g r main d Th e th undisturbe d . e Papal L gate and e Bishops who met in Synod at Ke lls probably re cognize d that the dioc e s e possess e d som e natural unity which it would e e b e unwis e to disturb . And what v r natural bond of union e xisted was confirm e d and strengthe n ed by th eir

decision . I I

Th e - m we e Anglo Nor an invasion , of which shall sp ak e e ffe e e in a lat r chapt r, a ct d Connaught l ss than oth er of e h portions Ir land . T e first app e arance ofthe English i s e th e e 1 1 as e m e attribut d to y ar 77, and, usual, th y ca the i e of e me The as all s Irishm n against oth er Irish n . Four Maste rs re cord a great battle at Kilmacduagh in 1 1 w e e m 99, h r N or an fought agai nst N orman and I rish a m m th man gainst Irish an . Willia de B urgh is e great Norman name m ost Clos ely associate d with the occa e e sion . Having h lp d Cathal Carragh to defe at his rival Clovedearg (the ally ofthe De Lacys and the D e de e e 12 0 o Courcys), William Burgh r turn d in 4 t e o u t m e e carv for hi s lf poss ssions in Connaught , and to take advantage Ofthe disse nsions ofth e fam ily o f ’ O Connor e e the , to which b long d rivals Cathal Carragh 46 STORY O F AN I RI S H PRO PE RTY

ofth R and Cathal Clovedearg (Cathal e ed Hand) . But though h e succ e e de d in wasting the land and destroy

C e ofH - Fiachrach he ing the hurch s y , soon found him self comp elle d to face th e last e n emy in the Shape o f not a wasting dise ase . H is d eath did bring p eac e to e for e e e to the the tro ubl d land , it at onc f ll a pr y inva ’ ofthe O Brie ns who 1 20 e th e sions , , in 7, ravag d district

lie Gortinsi u ai re . in which g , Kinvara, and Ardrahan ’ Th e n follow e d quarrels b etw ee n the O Connors and ’ th e O H e ne s e w e e y , quarr ls hich took a fr sh turn wh n ’ e e e the B riens the land was again thr at n d by O , this

e the - me ofthe tim e in allianc with Anglo N ormans . So ’ onnors e th e of e e e O C aid d lord Aidhn , and oth rs join d h e 1 22 t e e . invading forc , which , in 5, march d to Ardrahan The e w e e Four Mast rs, hos r cords (along with those of the Cu stoms offl y- F i achra ch and the A nnals ofClon m a cnoise are the C e e e e ) hi f authoriti s for this whol p riod , ’ ’ e how the O He nes th e e ofthe O D owds t ll y , with h lp ’ the O Flahert s e e and y , gain d a gr at victory at Ardrahan , e e th e fo e o th o th he and scatt r d t e e ast and t e we st . T mm e e S the English co and r, William Grac , was lain in Echt ge Mountains . The name of D e B urgh de mands more than th e m m e e . m D e casual ntion j ust ad Willia Burgh , who be e m Fitz aldhe lm must distinguish d fro William , with h e e e e e e e whom is oft n confus d , r c iv d a larg grant of e lands in Connaught from King John . B yond ravaging the he e e m e country, n v r ad good his claims to th ese e h e e 12 0 he e lands , and wh n di d , in 4, had b e n dis e e Of e the e poss ss d th m by King . His p rsonal caree r e the o f is thus only an incid nt in history Connaught , b u t so n de e e the his , Richard Burgh , rec iv d back lands f m e e me th ro H nry I I I , and b ca e anc e stor ofthe House Clanrickard O f e . Thus was introduc e d into Ireland a name which was to be famous in the history o f the e of o u r im provinc Connaught . Its importance for e e e so e be m diat purpos is not gr at, but it may con ’ TH E O SHAUGHN ESSYS 47 venient to not e h ere the part playe d by the family in the m e eff district . Richard d e B urgh ade a gr at ort to Obtain control o fthe lands which had bee n grante d ’ him he f e e ofi e to , and ollow d his fath r s policy nt r ’ enin nn r H e e v g in the quarre ls ofth e O Co o s . stab lishe d the e in o f N orman pow r various parts Connaught , and in the cours e ofth e se wars th e district was again m ore than onc e ravaged . The story is ve ry c ompli cated e e C e e , and Irish Chi ftain aft r Irish hi ftain alli d ’ m e d e e e th e O H e ne hi s lf with Burgh . Finally, v n y ’ e d e the O Cler s e e castl at Ar rahan was captur d , and y w r f l du a h de i e xp e lle d rom Ki mac g . Richard Burgh d e d 12 ee e son e O e in 43 and was succ d d by his , Walt r, ft n e of e m e im e m call d Earl Ulst r, who , so t s by aintaining ’ friendly relations with the O Connors and som etime s b f e o f m e e e the e of y orc ar s , larg ly incr as d pow r his son e d e the e o f Hous e . His R mond Burk was anc stor th e e m e e e e Mac R d ond B urk s, wh o h ld larg poss ssions Ball cahalan Kilbecant o e B all li in y , y, Ballyc nn ll , and y s ra n Th e of e ma b b y e . ruins th ir castl e y still e s e e n e e e i e e e e at Ballyconn ll , and w r vis bl until s v nty y ars a o B all turin the e e m e g at y , on dg of a s all lak within ’ e of a ston s throw Lough Cutra .

To follow furth er the fortun es ofthis great House W e e would carry us too far from ou r topic . hav now re ach e d th e p e riod wh e n the sp e cial district w ith which ’ we are dealing b e came associate d with the O Shau gh e e m e to e e n ssys , an anci nt fa ily who ros gr atn ss in this ’ ’ e the ofthe O H e nes the O Cler s district aft r fall y and y , an eve nt which was th e result ofth e quarrels and i w e e e W e invas ons to hich we have just r f rr d . must ’ not be suppose d to me an e ith e r that th e O Heyne s we re ’ completely destroye d or that the O Shaugh nessys w ere 48 STORY OF AN I RIS H PROPE RTY

’ th : in any sense n e wcome rs . A branch of e O Heyne e a nd e family flourish d in Roscommon , th ir castle at

re - e ee e D ungo y [Dun Guair ] still k ps guard ov r St . ’ The i Colman s we ll at Kinvara . trad tional ancestry ’ in the family of O Shaughnessy take s us back to the f e o . beginnings our story It is thus giv n by Mr. Blak e e the e to I rish Chi tai ns or Forst r in App ndix his ef , a

Fourte en of th e race of Hy- Fi achrach were Kings o f H eremon of e was e Connaught . , Monarch Ir land , anc stor f e D f o A . . 8 m e o Achy, Monarch Ir land in 35 , who arri d finna e Fid ach - e e m Mog , daught r of , and sixth in d sc nt fro lill m of e w m h e O Olo , King Munst r, by ho had four sons . m m the H bri u nians I . Brian, fro who y in Connaught . h h ofth H frach i Fi ac rac e e r ans . II . , anc stor y , in Connaught

e . I I I . F rgus

Olill . IV . m e e Carinna the King Achy arri d, s condly, , Saxon , and had issue

f A D . the e o e . e Niall, Gr at King Ir land, in 3 79, call d Niall ofth e nine hostages . Fi ach rach e son o f e was , s cond King Achy, by his first wif , King of Connaught and fathe r o f hi Dath ee e s e as o f e . y, who succ d d uncl Niall King Ir land This Monarch carried his victorious armies through Britain e th th m m and e e e e e e . Franc , and h lp d to caus fall of Ro an E pir H e was e the o fth e hi s kill d by lightning at foot Alps, and was e his e e body brought to Ir land by troops, and int rr d in the of mm e -na- or the county Rosco on, at R lig Rioh, burying place ofthe Kings ofIreland ; and a large red pillar was e e m He was e e his . plac d ov r grav , which r ains to this day

e A . D 2 8 was the e . kill d in . 4 , and last Pagan King of Ir land H is e me was Fere d ach h e was e Dath i n r al na , but call d y, consequ ence Of his quickness in putting on his armour ; and i s said by many ancient poetical Irish writers to have b een so i n his m and e e m e skilful handling ar s d f nding hi s lf, that , e e e e n e if attack d by a hundr d p rsons at onc , all dischargi g th ir

50 STO RY OF AN I RI SH PROPE RTY

e Torpa, fath r of athma h t e of C g , fa h r Comuscach e , fath r of Ceadadh ach e of , fath r Cleui reach e of , fath r ’ Bi dbi n a qu a O Hynes . Aodh the e e son was h e of , ld st , fat r Morrou h e of g , fath r Broinleath De e arg, fath r of Tobhui h Brenai n e g , fath r of n e o f Gabhra , fath r Ea hno e of g , fath r ochba e N , fath r Of S cothmaine e of , fath r Moltuile e of , fath r

Cais . M i aolc arain.

Fer uli g .

Conmidhe .

Donough . Shea hnas m om the n me g y, fro wh a de rived . ’ Buidhe s e l e the e dee Guil O haughn ssy, ki l d at battl Of Ar 1 1 in 59. ’s h Randall O haug nessy . ’ Giolla na m h m O Shau hness i ef the na o Cro g y, Ch of

e e Cine al Aodh e 12 2 . w st rn half of , who di d in 4 Ruidric . ll Gi o a na naomh .

William . e Eo han or Ow n, or g Achy. ‘ John Buighe . m was ee e his son Willia , who succ d d by ’ ’ e m O Shau hness mar e e N Sir D r ot g y, who ri d Mor y

Thi s Chie ftain i s called i n the Annals ofthe Fou r Masters ohn Bu i he i s m en one i n m an I s e ne a o es as J g , but ti d y ri h g l gi m Bui he . h s o e er mak es no ffe ence as Owen i s g T i , h w v , di r , he Old I i for t r sh j ohn. ’ TH E O SHAUGHN ESSYS 51

e Pheeach th e e of Bryan, call d Na or gaudy, daught r Bryan ’ ‘ O Bri en son of e e son Torlou h son , T ig , of g , of Bryan, Of ’ Th A nnals o the Four Masters e th e battl e of N enagh . e f stat that this la dy was distinguished for h er p ersonal beauty and ’

e e e e Sh e e 1 6 . De m O Shau hness b n vol nc . di d in 5 9 r ot g y ’ m Bri n ofTh omond U having acco panie d O e , King , and lick

e of - the ofH e e na Can , Clan Rickard, to Court nry VI I I , th y e e e t e te e and the e e surr nd r d h ir rritori s, Lord D puty stat s, e e m e as e be the that th y had no st rling on y, non could had in kingdom ; but that h e lent th em some in harp groats and h e e e e e H en ea says, in a l tt r addr ss d to King ry, sp king Of ’ ‘ ’ ’ O Bri en e re ai reth O Bri en one O Shau hness , That th r p with g , a goodly gentl eman dwelling be tween Th omond and Con ’ ‘ and W e e he e naught, adds, know no suit bath but only to ’ see e his a and be ec . He you and tak l nds, your subj t nry VI I I w e te the in e h e rot af rwards to Council Ir land, stating that had ’ ’ e e O S ha hness t and e em to m e cr at d g a knigh , dir cting th ak ‘ out and e e a a patent for oth rs, of th ir l nds, such as th ey have now in th eir po sse ssion ; and in a note it ’ is state d that O shaughnessy was to have a Bishoprick or me e i his m a D so oth r spir tual dignity, for kins an M lachy onohoo , and th e Bish oprick ofKilm acduagh for his so n William Shaftness the rd e em e 1 e m ece e . On 3 ofD c b r, 543, Sir D r ot r iv d hi s e m H e e e h e pat nt fro nry VI I I , which r cit d, that although hi s e e e e e th e e and pr d c ssors, Kings of England , w r tru se the e e m e et e m t pos ssors of lands th r in na d, y , that Sir D r o and his ancestors poss esse d them unjus tly agai nst th e Crown e : e e e e e he e e the until lat ly b ing truly s nsibl th r of, r linquish d m e and n n e e m e his sa , accordi gly gra t d to Sir D r ot, Chi f of

of h s Sir De m o sa s : Si r De m o the seventh i n d escen fo m t i r t, y r t , t r ’ S each nu s . T s i s a o e h e nco rec as m a be see n y hi lt g t r i r t, it y by th e a o e ed e e w ch i s th e a h en ca ed one a h e was b v p igr , hi ut ti t , th t nt th e te h i n d e scent from She agh nasy . 1 I a e a s th e P a en Ro l - Hen VI I I t a the t pp r by t t l , 33 35 ry , h t King wrote to th e Lord Deputy and P rivy Council ofIreland on 1 s a n : We h a e m ade th e o d ofU e O sso July 9, 533 , t ti g v L r pp r ry, ’ Mc N em arrow e O S haftness D en s G ad and se , , y r y, Wi , Kn hte s and ha ue and w arrau nt e e o o e yg , will, t t by virt th r f, y u ’ s a l m a e ou t n o McN emarrowe O Shaftness and De n s h l k u t , , y ’ Grad se era a en es ofall s ch and s as h no e a e y v l p t t u l t ey w h v . E 2 52 STO RY O F AN I RI S H PRO PE RTY

’ m e and his e m e i n ca ite the e e na , h irs al p , by s rvic of a knight s f the e e h e the m ee, all stat which had in anors, lordships,

& c - I nche orie and e e e lands, of Gort g , s v ral oth r lands, with we e of e e e Ofan e e a proviso, ho v r, forf itur , in cas y conf d racy h e m e o r disturbance against t e Crown . Sir D r ot had issu I R e . Sir og r.

m re er e ve . II . Willia , f r d to abo I I I e m u n me R eava h e e the . D r ot, s r a d g , who cont nd d for

n ofCi neal Aodh of m e e . Chieftai cy , who pr s ntly m e the e 1 60 m e m IV . Joan , arri d, about y ar 5 , Ed ond B r ing h am 1 th e em e of e , s Lord Ath nry, and Pr i r Baron Ir land , by e whom she had issu . ’ e s e e the A nnals o the Sir Rog r O haughn ssy, call d in f ’ F ur Masters Gi olla Duv m e the H O B rie n o , arri d Lady onora ,

a e Morrou h the Thomond . d ught r of g , first Earl of This lady

a ofthe e of e e . e w s Abb ess Abb y Killow n, n ar Ennis Sir Rog r ’ O S hau hne ss d e 1 6 his e i s e e g y i d in 5 9, and d ath thus r cord d t ’s Mas ers e . the A nnals o the F our e . in f O haughn ssy, i Giolla D uv th e son o f e m son l m son of n , D r ot, of Wi lia , Joh B u i he the m of th e and g , supporting ound all English Irish ame hi s e e h e was e e who c to plac , di d ; , though not l arn d in the n n the m e eemed m e man Lati or E glish , ost st and ad ir d by ’ th e ofhi s me H e e e English ti . l ft issu r Ma te . th e A nnals o the Fou s rs e I John , said in f to hav e e e hi s h e was e e his e e m succ d d fat r, but d pos d by uncl D r ot

R eveagh .

. m who m e th e e m O e e II Willia , arri d Sist r ofWillia g Burk f lo hroak le Es e t e C . o g Cast , q , but di d wi hout issu

Far ananim e m e . I II . g , who di d un arri d m m e f in al A e e o C e odh . IV . D r ot, ulti at ly Chi f

V . Joan .

. a e VI Marg r t .

The gen ealogy carries the story beyond the point we ’ e e e Th e h hn hav at pr s nt reach ed . O S aug essys had e Kinelea long h ld lands at , wh ere they fought with ’ e e the O Cahills e me e e th ir kinsm n , , and th ir na fr qu ntly the the Th occurs in annals of thirtee nth century . e ’ most nota ble membe r of the house was Bishop O Shaugh ’ T HE O SHAUGHN ESSYS 53

e the see ofKilmacdua h e n essy, who h ld g , and di d in The e e e e him e e 1 2 2 3 . sp cial int r st which attach s to c ntr s round th e tradition that h e posse sse d the crosie r of m m e e i the f o f St . Col an hi s lf, a holy r l c , pro anation ’ which le d to bloodsh ed in the year ofthe Bishop s m e he e and e of . e d ath . T crosi r girdl St Col an continu d ’ e to be sacre d h eirlooms in the O shaughn ssy family . From th em the crosier passe d into the hands o fthe f and n e e e e c . . B utl rs ( p , says Mo signor Fah y, v n th e n it w as fre qu ently use d as a m eans ofinflu encing th e posse ssors ofgoods fraudule ntly Obtain e d to yield up th Th e e th e ir illicit prop e rty to e own e rs. writ r has had the good fortun e of knowing a very old man [Joh n e e of em e m e e haVe K an Gort], who r b rs his fath r to obtain e d the crosie r from the Cregg family for a like ’ Th e e ec m e ofthe e e col purpose . crosi r b a part P tri e i the m e m ofth e l ct on , and is now in u s u National em e e i e d ffe Acad y . Monsignor Fah y d scr b s it as i ring ‘ h e The me little from the Irish crosiers oft e p riod . sa e ee me th e me e u d elicat filigr orna ntation , sa b autif l e m e are e e m of the e e na ls , th r still, though any j w ls are lost with which the int erl acingbands w e re artis e e e e e the e tically studd d . Littl mor , how v r, than h ad h ’ oft e crosie r remains . The fou rteenth c e ntury repre se nts a gap in ou r ’ e e the the O Shau hness s knowl dg of history of g y , but th ere can be no doubt that th ey w e re e xtending th eir e C e e was influ e nce and th eir posse ssions . Th ir hi f s at on the e e island at Gort , but th y probably had hous s e e e e th e e e P e ls wh r , though xisting castl s of idan and not he Ardimu llivan w ere as yet unbu ilt . It is until t sixtee nth c entu ry that w e are able to find any definite 1 re cord ofth eir posse ssions . On the death of the last f e o f 1 Earl o Ulst r and Lord Connaught, in 533 , his h ten e possessions esch eate d to t e Crown . For y ars

For de tail s about these p osse ssions w e are indebted t o the

esea che s of om as a e s . r r Mr. Th M th w 54 STORY O F AN I RIS H PRO PERTY the landowne rs wh o held of him possessed no legal 1 e V e e authority, and in 543 H nry I I I formally r grant d e e the e tech ni the lands , which had b n during int rval cally posse ssed against the Crown The I rish chi ef ’ tains made a journ ey to H enry s Court to surre nde r e e e e b one of e e th e ir lands, and r c iv th m ack , and th s ’ ‘ e e e e visitors was D rmot O shaughn ssy, a goodly g ntl ’ th e e h e e man , whom king knight d, and to whom issu d the following patent ‘ ’ Grant unde r King s l etter 9th July """V Henry VI I I ’ e m O Shea h n hi s to D r ot g y Knight, Captain of nation, upon hi s m th e ofGortenche or Sub ission of Manors and Lands g y, Dromne ll Dell ncallan Ball hide Mon nean Ard oss an y , y , y , y , g , Ball e n Ke are ll Cloneha h To lone an L ckne aish y gy , pp , g , g , y g Cre e Karr n s T rrela he R athvilled owne Ardm lova n g , y g , y g , , y , ofDroneskenan of e of a third part , a third part Rath , half Fl n i stown Ball hue e e e e s e y g , y , Cowl and B h , pr viou ly h ld by im an i ai m e h d h s ance stors . To hold in t l al e by the se rvic f fone e e. o e . rd x . knights Enroll d Pat Rolls 3 Dee r . x xv ’ Henry VI I I .

e e his e e Sir D rmot h ld lands in p ac until his death , e e e 1 e e fo r which occurr d b for 559, xc pt an o ccasional the e c e attack by a scion of H ous of Clanri ard , about whose depredations h e wrote to the Lord D eputy and the 1 1 Council in 543 and again in 549. His b eautiful ’ wife the e O Brie n , i Lady Mor , survive d him about ten ‘ e y ars , a woman distinguished for her b eauty and he r ’ munifi ’ ce nce . e e e son e Th ir ld st , Sir Rog r O Shaugh e ee e his e n ssy, succ d d fath r and live d on fri e ndly terms t th e e me . 12 1 he e e wi h Gov rn nt On J uly , 559, nt r ‘ tai ned the Lord D eputy so magnifice ntly at Gort that e e e div rs wond r d at it , for such a dinne r or the like Of , ‘ ’ ’ was e e in o it , not s n any I rishman s h use be fore . He h aided t e Gove rnme nt in the suppression of rebellions i n 1 8 ro the h 55 , and th ughout risings in t e we st, ’ e ee e t the O h h und r Qu n Elizab h , S aug nessys see m to e ee a the r 1 hav b n loy l to C own . I n 567 any further ’ TH E O S HAUGHN ESSYS 55

c la im of t he Clanricard e family was barred by Sir ’ e e o Rog r s b c ming a tenant in chief of the Crown . ’ Th e history ofthe O Shaughnessys at this period ‘ is s e 1 8 e e . e tain d by two trag di s In August, 55 , Rog r ’ O Sha henesse Gorti nch e ori e Kinalte Kinalea g of g in [ ], e lanri card e g nt , Captain of his nation in C was pardon d th e e of e m for slaught r his own broth r Willia , for whom Sir D e rmot had aske d H enry VI I I for a bishopric in 1 T . he m e are 544 circu stanc s unknown to us , and ’ l i e e e Wi l am s d ath may have b e n an accid nt . But no s ex l l e th e e e uch p anation is app icabl to s cond trag dy, e the e e e e which follow d d ath of Sir Rog r, an v nt which 1 t occurred about 569. H e had marrie d h e La dy Honora ’ O Bri en h mon e the ofT o d . , daught r of first Earl This lady was a nun and the validity of the marriage was e e e The e of th r for called in question . succ ssion Sir ’ e e e son i e Rog r s ld st , John , was accord ngly disput d by ’ e erm O Shau hness e e his uncl , D ot g y, who had r c ntly e e e m e e Kinelea r nd r d hi s lf notorious by arr sting, in , h e t e m e . Roman Catholic Pri at of Armagh , Dr Cr agh , and handing him over to th e Governm ent of Qu ee n E h m the e e . T e e lizab th Primate had e scap dfro Tow r, and ’ D ermot O shaughn essy had bee n accus ed oftrea chery in betraying him ; but it is o nly fair to say that he merely e out i l th e ofth e e m e carri d fa thfu ly e ord rs Gov rn nt, in e se e h e was l e was e e whos rvic . E izab th much pl as d the a e ofthe e e his by rr st Primat , and inform d captor ‘ th at we will not forge t the same towards you in any ’ The e e re asonable cause to be brought before u s . l tt r w as wri e 1 6 t ee e s e th e tt n in 5 7, and hr y ar lat r occasion e seeme d to D e rm ot to have arise n . He arriv d in I re 1 land in 570 with a letter from Queen Elizabeth.

‘ BY THE QUEEN,

‘ ELI"AB ETH R. e Wher Right trusty and we ll beloved we gret you we ll . ’ r e n e r O Sha nes ofK nall h - O R ealme of o e D by g , Lord y y in t at 56 STORY OF AN I RISH PROPE RTY

the m e e his and e of e Ireland, hath by an s of Lord Mast r Coos n the Erl e of Leiceste r humbly required u s not one ly to geu e him leaue to returne into his country but al so to recomend his him p eti cio n unto yow for some order to be taken with upon ’ the death ofhis brother named Roger O Shaghnes as b e ing next b e ire unto him we be ing duely inforemed ofhis honest nd fhi e e e e e u s e deme aner h e re a o s earn st d sir to S rv , hav f b een co ntent to accompt him to o service and too require yow to have favorable consid eraci on ofhi s sute and as you shall fynd it m ete to place and settle him in the foresaid Contry so th e rathe r to encurrage him to p erseve r in his fidelitie to sh ewe h im as much e favor as may accord with the good government m ontr of the sa e c y.

Give n unde r ou r Signet at or Manor ofOtlands the x x iii rd ofJune 1 570 in the x nth yere R i n ofour e g e . To Or right trusty and wellbeloved S r Henry e Or e ofthe e Sidn y, Knight of Ord r Gart r ’ ur R alme of and Deputy ofo e Ireland .

’ The D eputy d ecid ed in favour ofD ermot O Shaugh ’ e who e e e ee e his e e e n ssy, th r for succ d d to n ph w s prop rty, but he was soon expe lle d from the castle at Gort through ’ a quarrel with the O Bri ens (one of whom h e had slain) the l D e He e e e and with fami y of Burgo . r tain d poss s ofArdimulli van e e the e sion , and it was th r that trag dy

e . He e e met the occurr d and his n ph w, William , at southern approach to Ardimullivan ; the younge r man was the e e e ofhis slain , and ld r di d wounds within half ’ i hau hn an hour. Th s William O S g essy was the younge r b e of e the f roth r J ohn , but was born aft r arrival o a dis ensation e for the e o f e p from Rom marriag his par nts , and th ere fore claim ed to be the lawful successor of his ’ e . e O hau hness fath r Aft r this fatal combat, J ohn S g y a e the e gain claim d family poss ssions , but found a for midable e e e rival in his young st broth r, D rmot, who e C e finally mad good his laim . But the struggle involv d ’ the ffi e family in di culti s for many years , and Dermot s

58 STO RY or AN I RI SH PRO PERTY in leagu e with o ne of the Clanricarde family who had e e e e 1 e bee n disposs ss d by his r lativ s , and in 599 a larg section of the rebel army conducte d a pitile ss campaign E ht in the Burre n and c ge mountains . In 1600 th ey e e m e to ia chrach e m return d onc or Hy F Aidhn , arching by the shore s of Lough Cutra on th eir w ay to the

' I t be e too our Shannon . would wand ring far from subj ect to enter into the ramifications of this rebellion the e and its connexion with G raldin e leagu e . It is e e was incide ntally conn ct d with Gort , for it at Gort that ’ D ermot O Connor took sanctuary while b eing pursu e d th e e e e set fi re the by Burk s, who imm diat ly to church ’ n in which h e took refuge . O Connor was capture d a d be e e the e i e e h ad d , and D puty d sgrac d and dismiss d i e e e e e the . Th obald Burk , who was r spons bl for incid nt Monsignor Fahey is o fopinion that this Church stood the e the o f as th e e on sit to north Gort , known Grov , and m em e e e e or e e hu an r ains w r found th r in a pit cav , som e e fifty years ago . Som months lat r (in 160 1) Redmond ’ e wh o t O Shau hness on the e Burk , , wi h John g y, was sid ’ ofthe e e e the hau h r b ls , again invad d district . John O S g e e e e n ssy was slain , but his fri nd ravag d and plund re d th e Ardimu llivan P e eu all land round and idan , and e e m e e For camp d for som ti n ar Lough Cutra . all this m e be me the e m is ry it would absurd to bla Gov rn e nt . Th e great Irish families w ere divid ed and the ir fe uds w ere ’ e e The bitt r and un nding . incide nt ofJohn O Shaugh ’ n essy s invasion ofth e te rri tory ofhi s clan is charac teri sti c the of pe riod . ’ e m O Shau hness e 1606 e Sir D r ot g y di d in , l aving to his so n e e o f , Sir Rog r, a t rritory about Irish acres . Sir Roge r was probably the build e r of Fidane e e e he eem to Castl , wh r s s have re sided as well as at Ar im d ullivan. His e e Gort and b autiful daught r J ulia, e one o fthe s of s e who marri d Donovan Ca tl Donovan , has thus be e n ce lebrated by an I rish hard of th e period we quote from Monsignor Fah ey ’ THE O SHAUGHN ESSYS 59

‘ ’ ’ m e ofh er se a e e O Shau hness s The pal for b auty d t asp ct, g y da ughte r h as Obtained k e w n of e um e e M ee n ss ithout narrow ess h art, h ility, g n rosity, m fir nes s .

m- ee the ce Dath the - e e A fruitful pal tr of ra of y, kind h art d te of daugh r Rory, Who inhe rits th e attributes of th e sires she sprang from i n n h me of lo ging to indulge t e fla hospitality . The undying characte r ofth e kings before h er she h as not fe e su f r d to pass away, But has re fl ected on the nam e ofGuaire that lasting lustre h m him ’ S e had derive d fro .

S ir Roger suffered in the trouble s of the middle o fthe e e ee e e e e ere s v nt nth c ntury, and th r is xtant an int sting

e e of e Mrs . o l tt r sympathy to his daught r D novan , who was similarly disturb ed

F or ouei n e D au hter Mrs. G les D onoua ne my veri e l g g y ,

a t Cas tledonou ane theise.

A G T R D U H E , ‘ I have rece ived yours of the eighteenth of Ffe bruarie last and as for your troubl es you must be pati ent as well as othe rs and for my parte I taste enough of that fruit ; Go d mend it m a h a i t m th nd e us m e e e . As e a ongst all , s nd a or pp y for partie lately comm ande d to the cuntree of Ki ery who m ay be e e e to e wa e are e m e e xp ct d r turn that y, th y conduct d by y N ph w

r Coussen e . Collone ll m e m (you ) Li ut Willia Bourk , to who I h b f am m have written by t e beare r in your eh al e . I ost Confide nt he will not suffe r any wrong to be don into your

e e e e or e f. if c e u D p nd nts , T nants, yours l And in as you sho ld e e the e me o u ma certifi e me soe m xp ct whol Ar y, y y uch with s ee a a be befi ttin p d and I shall t ke that Course th t shal ge . In th e meane tyme be seeching God to ble ss and keepe you and yours, am I , Y e e loveI n ffather our assur d g , ’

O S HA GHN I SSYE . R .

1 Martii 16 Fedan, 4 , 47 60 STORY OF AN I RIS H PROPE RTY

But the worst did not com e until after the death f e 16 0 . o o fSir Roge r, which took plac in 5 A portrait e e e e e him is prese rv d at Kilk nny Castl , and is r produc d in the pre se nt book by the kind permission ofthe ’

of m e . e son e Marquis Or ond Sir Rog r s , Sir D rmot ’ hau hness e e O S g y, had alr ady tak n part in I rish politics , and had atte nded the Confederation ofthe I rish Catho ’ 2 th e m ofthe lics at Kilk enny in 164 . On procla ation ’ e e O Shau hness e e Commonw alth , Sir D rmot g y r fus d e the new e e e to acknowledg Gov rnm nt, and his castl ’ o fGort was d e stroye d in the course ofCromw ell s su p We e the t pression ofthe Irish reb ellion . quot accoun ofthe incid ent from the m emoirs ofthe ge n eral who — m e 6 1 e . 1 command d Ed und Ludlow I n J un , 5 , Ludlow was on e his way from Galway to Lim rick .

‘ ’ ‘ m e h e m e me I arch d, says, with y hors towards Li rick me Gourtenshe ore e e e m and ca to g , a castl b longing to Sir D r ot ’ O Shortness was e e e f , who th n gon to Galway, but had l t his e m e e o ne m t nants with so souldi rs, and Foliot an English an ‘ mm em the e m m e e to co and th , in castl . At y co ing b for it I mm e em m ffe em e e su on d th to sub it, o ring th , that in cas th y m e e m e e in would dis iss th ir souldi rs, and pro is to live qui tly the e e e the me e e ob di nc of Parlia nt, I would l av no garrison h ff t e e e e e be e em . in plac , nor su r any pr judic to don to th Th ey pretending they had already submitted to Sir Charl es e e e e e the e e Coot , r fus d to d liv r castl to any oth r. Tho I took be e e e et e e em this to only a pr t nc , y to l av th without excuse and to prevent all exceptions I sent to Sir Charl es Coote to e e him let m e the m e e d sir to know how att r stood , and to dir ct em e e the me H e th to d liv r place to . aving received an answ r m e e m e e e em e to y l tt r fro Sir Charl s Coot , I s nt it to th , t lling em e e e e e e e e th , that now I xp ct d th ir Ob di nc ; but inst ad Of e e me e e e e that th y s nt a d fianc , and sound d their bagpip s in contempt ofu s ; to which they were chiefly e ncouraged by o ne ofthe m m me country, who I had sent to bring in to e so e e e e iron bars, Sl dg s, and pickax s, and who und r colour of

' ’ C om a e A horzsm zcal D iscover 2 Mercuri us P oliti cas p r p y , iii. 39 ; , ’ . 1 e and p 93 . [T xt this note are from Profe ssor Fi rth s edition ]

’ TH E O S HAUGHN ESSYS 61

e em the e em e going to f tch th , ran away to n y, and acquaint d m th em with our want ofartillery and instruments to force the . e e e the e m e I gav ord rs to tak up all hors s fro grass, to bridl and e em ti e em the e e saddl th , and to th to t nts of th ir e e e mm n m the r sp ctiv troops, co andi g two troops to ount guard , and to send out scouts to discove r if any en emy were near . Th e e th e m en e e e e and e r st of I dr w into s v ral parti s, assign d the m th e ir particular attacks : eve ry souldie r carri ed a fagot ’ e e him as e e en m e as the e em b for , w ll to d f d hi s lf, to fill up n y s

e e or fi re the e as e e be . tr nch s, to gat s, th r should occasion

‘ On one side ofthe wall th ere was an e arth-work about el eve n The t e ofe e . foot high, wi h a tr nch qual br adth without wall

th e was e e e e . O n the Of court about tw lv foot high, w ll flank d e e the U our oth r sid place was secured by a rive r . pon first the e em e u s e approach n y shot v ry thick upon , and kill d two ofou r men so e e the e e the , which nrag d r st, that th y ran up to e o ne n e the em he at o ff works, and h lping a oth r, to top of th , th e e em w em s o e m e m e n y, follo ing th clos , that by ans of so e e m e u se o f e ot the ladd rs which thos within had ad , th y g into and the m of e e e e court, put to sword ost thos th y found th r , the e em not n y daring to open the gate to re ce ive th eir fri ends . e Of e e e the i nstru Thos ours who had nt r d court, having no m e e the e m e u se o f e nts to forc hous , ad a wood n bar which e and e e e out the o f th y found, with which th y wr st d iron bars e six m the and a strong ston window about foot fro ground, e the e em e ou t of m e e e forc d n y by th ir shot that roo , wh r b ing d entre e the e e e e e . e , th y put to sword thos that w r th r Li u e oli ot his e e e e e e e his t nant F finding cas d sp rat , r solv d to s ll e as e e as h e e our m en lif at d ar a rat could, and charg d , who e e e o r ten m e one and w r nin in nu b r, with a tuck in hand, a stilletto the t e e e n m e so e th e one in o h r, d f ndi g hi s lf w ll with , e s em so the e e e and pr s ing th hard with oth r, that th y all gav ground ; but he closing with one o fthem whom h e had e m e e e wound d, and probably ight hav kill d, gav an opportunity e run him the h e to anoth r to through body, by which wound

e and the e was e e the e . f ll, hous quickly cl ar d of r st Most Of the the e em e e the e our men principal of n i s b ing got into castl , e e m e of the e e so fir d a gr at nu b r fagots at gat s, which burn d th e me the e furiously, that fla took hold of floors and oth r 62 STO RY OF AN I RI S H PROPE RTY

h the te e e ei ve ti mber with in t rough iron gra , which b ing p rc d the e e e fla e by those in castl , th y hung out a whit g, b gging me t we e the fi re e arnestly for rcy, and tha would tak away . m m en to e e e the I commanded y l av shooting , and acquaint d e e e e e m u s t e m besieg d, that if th y xp ct d any favour fro , h y ust e m e e e : e e n throw down th ir ar s, which th y pr s ntly did wh r upo e the fi re be e e e I orde r d to tak n away, and gav a souldi r twenty shillings to fetch out two barrels ofpowde r that was the fi re c e so fie e we near , whi h continu d to burn rc ly that not e e e t k o f could put it out, but w r oblig d to hrow up s ains m the m e e the e atch into cha b rs, by which thos in castl e e e us e e m e e e d sc nd d to , b ing about fourscor in nu b r, b sid s m e We e th me n t the many wo en and childr n . s cured e ill e m e e Of be n xt orning, wh n I call d a council war ; and ing e e the f e me the n of e m pr ss d by O fic rs, that so Of pri cipal th m be e e e s se e ight punish d with d ath for th ir ob tinacy, I con nt d em e m n e as to their d and, provid d it ight ot xte nd to such e the m of ere had be n drawn in by alice othe rs. Those who w ’ en n De m O Shortness r me dis t a ts to Sir r ot , and count y n, I m e e o m e e e em iss d to th ir habitations, up n pro is to b hav th e e e e e e t us m e : e s lv s p ac ably, and to ngag agains no or th e o e m e e r st fth w carri d away with us .

d th e O Accor ing to local tradition , ld Burke Castle at Ballinamantane was destroye d at the same tim e ; its ruins add a picturesqu e feature to the scene ry of the e und rground river. ’ e e e e e 16 O Har Sir D rmot s ms to hav di d in 55, and , if t e was he e is corr ct, it not , but his son , also Sir D rmot, who was re store d to the family poss essions by Acts of

1 1 1 . the e e e e 4 , 5, and 7 Car I I for s ttl m nt of Ir land . He e 16 h di d in 73, without having take n all t e n ecessary e e e e e son e l gal st ps to s cur his prop rty, and his Rog r, in 16 8 e e e 7 , r c iv d a confirmation ofhis po sses sion of Gort i nchi orie es d n g and acr a joining it, at an a nual - e £20 5 . H d . H e e quit r nt of 4 i , or his fath e r, had b e n b e e e e o e o e t a l to r cov r oth r porti ns of th ir pr p r y, and at the same time he had a confirmation of acre s of e the of t - e oth r land in barony Kiltar an, at a quit r nt

64 STO RY OF AN I RIS H PROPE RTY

- r e 3 . m d. ee e of Gortoohar }7 q . , 39 acr s, 7 i Thr quart rs

- D rinc llin 2 6 £2 3 n er a e . the town la d of g, 4 acr s, 9 9M. In

Carrownacross e 2 rs . 1 e e 1 83 . d nd . Glanbrack a y , q 9 acr s, r nt 5

Killo ht 2 rs . 1 1 1 e £ 1 63 . 8d . g y, q , carton, 3 acr s, Cappagh d m e . 6 e e 1 23 . I l . Go rtecarnane or , 3 cart 4 acr s, r nt i In and

Kilofane 2 . 2 00 e £2 03 . d. R athvill doone , qr acr s, sfi In y and

ortvoher 1 6 e Cloon ne 8 e . Sessee 2 G , acr s ; in y , 3 acr s In , 4

f co . e o . e acr s, barony Kiltartan, Galway Total, acr s

a e 1 2 e e . e plant tion, or acr s rood 3 p rch s Stat Total r nt,

- d 20 De m 2 I £2 6 1 3 m . e e e . nrolled 4 . fg Dat d c b r 9 Chas II , 16 8 2 May 7 .

’ e the e e e O Shau h Wh n R volution occurr d , Rog r g em e f the e n essy r ain d aithful to Hous of Stuart, and ’ as a Captain in Lord Clare s Yellow Dragoons h e m ee of e th march ed to t William Orang at e Boyne . Ill h ealth prevente d his taking any actual share in th e he e e Gortinchi ori e o n fighting, and di d at his hom at g ’ 1 0 th e nd o f i m 1 16 . e J uly , 9 At W llia s campaign in e he was e he e Ir land, attaint d, and though hims lf was e the e of e or foe e now b yond r ach fri nd , his poss ssions w ere liable to be seize d as those ofa rebel against the

new e e . e o n Gov rnm nt An inquisition was h ld his lands , e em e 1 6 6 the e on S pt b r 5, 9 , in town of Galway, and th y e w e re adjudge d forf it . William grante d the m first to m e e Gustavus, first Baron H a ilton , and th n , pr s e nting him e e e he with a mor valuabl prop rty, gave the ’ O Shaughnessy estate of Gortinchigorie to Thomas The n Pre nde rgast . gra t was complicate d by the mar ’ ria e the e e e e e O hau h g contract of d c as d own r, Rog r S g ’ e e e O Brien e ofth n ssy, with H l na , daught r e Viscount The Clare . castle and island ofFidane and twelve quarters ofland had been conveye d to trustee s for ’ e e e O Shau hness e Rog r and H l na g y, with remaind r to e e e the e th ir h irs mal , and prop rty was furth e r secured e the e t as a jointur for wif . I n accordance with his e eme Ardimulli n s s ttl nt, although va Castle wa at once ’ e e e the O hau hness s th idan surr nd r d by S g y , e castl e of F e ’ THE O SHAUGHN ESSYS 65

’ e h er e e . s e e e was r tain d by Mrs O haughn ssy, v n aft r ’ e O Kell and sh e s e cond marriag with Captain H ugh y, 1 2 the f d n i e e o Fi a e . d ed th r in 7 9, almost last inhabitant r e e e e we see He rights w r also s cur d , as shall , by a bar e ee the new w e Sir e e gain b tw n o n r, Thomas Pr nd rgast,

h er -in- e e ofBall e an the and son law Th obald Butl r, ygg ,

ofher e e e . h usband only daught r, H l na TH E FAMI LY O F GO RT

THE family which now becam e associate d with th e town of Gort and the estate of Lough Cutra was one of The e of e e the most ancient in Ireland . nam Pr nd rgast carri es us back to the early days ofN orman rule in ne of e e e England . O branch it s ttl d in Northumb rland e w e the e ee of l and B r ickshir , and r cord of its d ds chiva ry the e the e may be found in pag s of Scottish chronicl r , the e ofthe e e e e Fordou n. I n warfar fourt nth and fift nth the e ofthe centuries it is gen erally found on sid Scots, and the family possessions in Northu mb erland w ere forfeited as a p e nalty for Pre nd ergast loyalty to th e e e e e Houses ofBruc and St wart . Anoth r branch h ld e e e e e e the of poss ssions in P mbrok shir , wh r parish e e e e e the e e Pr nd rgast still pr s rv s nam , and it is probabl the e the e e e that family gav nam to, and did not d riv h t e . The it from , locality family tradition is that a Philip de Pre nd ergast accompanie d G erald de Windsor e e e e of e e and o ne into Wal s and r c iv d a grant lands th r , could point to numerous othe r instances of a plac e- name h m e h Th e d e rive d from t e fa ily which poss ssed t e land . e e e e e fourth Viscount Gort, in his g n alogical r s arch s , faile d to trace any connexion betwee n the N orth e rn and the e e e e e e e P mbrok shir Pr nd rgasts, and this fact incr as s ’ the e m e e pr su ption that Pr nd rgast is not , in origin .

' em e - The fi rst P render ast a P brok shire place name . g o fthe Pembrokeshire family who is known to history was e de e e one th e e o f Mauric Pr nd rgast, of pr cursors de e e e Richard Clar , s cond Earl of Pembrok (Strong i n the bow) , invasion of Ireland in the reign of H enry I I . THE FAMI LY o r GORT 67

Th e occasion ofth eir exp edition was an app eal for h elp m m Mu rchadha e ofthe fro Diar it mac , princ Hui Cinn sellai h e o f e e g , who occupi d a tract country xt nding from the rive r Barrow to the Wexford and Wicklow e e Ti hernan s aboard . Diarmit had a quarr l with g ’ O Ru aire ofB reifne e e e the , whos poss ssions includ d m e e of e i m m od rn counti s L itr and Cavan . Diar it had bee n strong e nough to obtain for himself th e position of of e e 1 166 Ti hernan the King L inst r, but in g , with e ofRu adh ri o fC of e h lp onnaught , High King Ir land , e e e him e him m e e d f at d and banish d fro Ir land . H nry I I of e e e e England r fus d to giv him aid , but allow d his e The ie of subj cts to fight under his bann er . all s Diar mit e e e m w r chi fly drawn from South Wales . Pe brok e did not e e at first join his standard , d clining to mov ’ e e e e e e without H nry s sp cial lic nc , v n though Diarmit m e him e e — pro is d his daught r in marriag and what, by e— th e e the Irish law , was not his to giv succ ssi n to e o f e e thron L inste r . B ut Rob rt Fitz Steph e n and e e e o Mauric Fitz G rald land d at Bann w in May, 1 16 e i e de e e 9, and brought with th m Maur c Pr nd rgast, ‘ ’ ’ lu ti m an in h s e e H ol s ed s e . a and hardi , in phras Th ey had b een promised the towns ofthe Ostme n or eme e e o e Nors n who had s ttl d in County Wexf rd . Th ir m the e th e e first triu ph was captur of town of W xford , e e e e e the l e of e e and th nc th y spr ad ov r who L inst r, the e de dividing spoils as th ey w e nt along . Mauric Prendergast is credited by th e author ofth e S ong of D erm ot m e e e with an i portant shar in an arly battl , in McDonchid th e e ssrai he which , Princ of O g or Ossory

Co . e e e e m the e ( Kilk nny), was d f at d by Diar it with h lp ofthe he was th d of e e English , and e l ea e r an xp dition th e e e w m h e d e e e A hadur against sam princ , ho f at d at g e m mm (Fr shford) . Al ost i ediate ly Pre ndergast had a e He quarr l with Diarmit . had probably been absent w e the i of e e h n d vision spoils in W xford took plac , and h e considered his reward insufficient ; and the poet of F 2 68 STORY OF AN I RIS H PROPE RTY

‘ ’ the Song tells us that Diarmit prevented his men from leavi ng the country to visit Pembrokeshire and The th eir own ki ndre d . result of the quarre l was that Mauric e de Pre nde rgast took se rvic e with McDonchid Ossrai he he e e e of g , and is h nc forth known as Mauric ’ d e He e ou t e Ossory. carri d his int ntion of visiting e e e 1 1 0 Wal s , and r turn d in 7 with Strongbow , who had e e h e d efinit ly obtain d t e pe rmission of H nry I I . Th e freebooting expedition in aid of Diarmit now develop e d e e de e e into a political conqu st, in which Mauric Pr nd r e the e of gast took a distinguish d part , and in cours which he was able to give protection to his old frie nd the e h e e n Princ of Ossraig e . Mauric was giv n a gra t the erne eldan th e e Wex of lands of F g , on Slan y in e e e e n e e i ford , but th y w r soon xcha g d for poss ss ons in

e . e de e e e 120 M unst r Mauric Pr nd rgast di d in 5, having b e a e ecome a Knight of St . J ohn of J rus l m and Maste r m the e of the H ospital of Kil ainham . To Soci ty of m h e St . John of J erusale e gav his Pembrokeshire e so e e e the e t e prop rty, and s v r d conn xion of h Pren der ast m w g fa ily ith Wal es . ’ e de e e e the dis Of Mauric Pr nd rgast s childr n , most tin uished was e son e al g a young r , G r d , known in accord ance with Celtic usage as G e rald Fitz Maurice or Mac m de h Morris, who acco panied Richard Burgh in is e e C e e e e e ri xp ditions in onnaught, and r c iv d a larg t r tory the u l s in plain of Mayo (incl ding Ballagh , Corba ly, Cros e Kil coleman me b boyn , and ) which ca to e known as ’ Clanm i orr s e e . , and still b ars that d signation Ge rald s e se was the e the e e chi f at Castl of Bri s , of which som l k f o n ruins sti l exist . Li e not a ew fthe Norman co ’ u erors e e e e th q of Ir land , G rald s d sc ndants , e Mac

‘ e e e e e e th e M orris s, id ntifi d th ms lv s with e Irish C lts, i e the e e e and , l ving b yond English pal , ow ed no all gianc e e of to any sov r ign England unti l Qu ee n Elizabe th . e embe 1 8 e th e In S pt r, 5 5, Sir J ohn P rrot , e Lord D puty

e , e eem e the ch e of Ir land mad an agr nt with . fs of Con TH E FAM I LY O F GORT 69

e MacMorri s of naught by which , among oth rs, Richard ‘ th B reere e e me e or e e , oth rwis surna d Fitz G rald Pr n ’ d er ast ee ofth e ee . Th e g , agr d to hold his lands Qu n e stat es ofth e s e nior branch of the Pre ndergasts in this e e e e e the e part of Ir land pass d, by h ir ss s, to Moor s and th e n to the Lynch es ; and a junior branch is still repre se nt ed in Connaught by the noble family of Oran e e the m e of mor and Brown , through arriag Dominick Brown e to Mary MacMorris or Prendergast about

1563 . The direct mal e line ofthe original Mauric e de Pre n der ast e e e e e son who g d sc nd d through his ld st , Philip , marri ed an h eiress of the D e Quinc ey family and added to his patrimony a considerable amount ofD e Quinc ey e the ei of prop rty in n ghbourhood Enniscorthy , includ

H - Kinsella h D uffren e ee e ing y g and , b tw n F rns and h e the e e t e . Th e e Wicklow hills stat s of main lin pass d, ’ e of e e e like th possessions Philip s young r broth r G rald , e e e the mi e through h ir ss s , into Cogan and Rochford fa li s the ee e e e e e in thirt nth c ntury. Many cad t branch s w r e e e e the m o f e e scatt r d ov r Ir land , and most i portant th s e e d e the of e e e w r un oubt dly lords N wcastl , whos pos sessions lay betw ee n Clonmel and B uttevant and o n the e f m e e e e of bord rs o Li e rick . Th s Pr nd rgasts — N e wcastle desc e nde d from a younge r son ofPhilip Pre ndergast and Maude d e Quinc ey - playe d a very distinguish e d part in Irish history until th e s eve nte e nth e e e ffe e th e e e e c ntury, wh n th y su r d in forf itur s und r m e e . e e e e e e Cro w ll Th y w r , how v r, fortunat nough to e e e e r cov r a consid rable proportion of th ir lands , partly

re - Th e of by grants and partly by purchases . last lord N ewcastl e b efore th e Cromw ellian forfeiture s had a e m e e young r son , Thomas , who arri d Ell n Condon , mem e of m m e l 1 2 a b r a fa ous Irish fa ily, and liv d til 7 5 n he son Croa e e e e e . at , of which had a b n ficial l as His re- e the e the Thomas found d fortun s of family, and his e e the e r e e d sc ndants, of nobl family of Gort, epr s nt in 70 STO RY OF AN I RI SH PRO PE RTY

e th e e e the e e the female lin lords of N wcastl , dir ct mal h line becoming extinct in t e eightee nth c entury. e e Young Thomas Pr nd rgast, born probably about the e e the date of R storation , was giv n a commission m m e e in the ar y by King Ja s I I , in accordanc with the e t he D eclaration of I ndulge nc e . At R volution his Roman Catholicism involve d the revocation o fhis com he e the of e I re mission , and join d army King Jam s in he e m e m e e land . I n this way b ca inti at with a larg m o f e e e nu ber f llow Jacobit s , including a Captain Port r, and this acquaintanc e ship was to prove the turning ’ e the e e o f point in his life . Aft r d f at King Jam es s f e he ee e e for we orc s s ms to hav obtain d a pardon , find him in the b eginning of 1696 staying peac eably in Hampshire as the gu est of a we ll - known Jacobite

the B erle s . th e o f e h e family, y y In month F bruary and his host were hastily summon ed to London by e e e e e the e of Captain Port r, who r v al d to th m d tails th e e of e famous Assassination Plot , familiar to r ad rs ’ H i t r ma e e Macaulay s s o y . Tho s Pr nd rgast had good e e for the reason to hat William of Orang , not only had e own ee i n Revolution spoil d his car r, but it had also e the th e e m volv d ruin of main lin of his fa ily, which again lost its possessions for loyalty to the H ouse of

. e one e e Stuart B ut warfar is thing and murd r anoth r, and Pre ndergast gave the Earl of Portland information the e e e e e about int nd d plot, without, how v r, b traying his h e . e o n e t e e e e fri nds Lat r , wh n conspirators th ms lv s e e e e e e e m e b gan to b tray ach oth r, Pr nd rgast f lt hi s lf ee e e e e e fr to r v al th ir whol couns ls, and his conduct e e e th e has r c iv d approval of most historians . William re warde d him by restoring him to his rank in the army e e e e and attach d him to his own p rson , and Pr nd rgast was able to secure for his fath er and kinsm e n permis sion to re tain such of their lands as had not b een e e e e alr ady grant d away . On his marriage with P n lope e e Liscarlan Cadogan , daught r of H nry Cadogan , of ,

72 STO RY O F AN I RI SH PROPERTY shooting and where I have s ee n wild fallow deer give ’ The e e to the sportsman a nobler target . r nt was fix d th e e e e e at £226, during lif tim of Ell n , widow of Rog r ’ h u hness 00 the e e of e m O S a g y, and £4 for r maind r a t r

- i e oftw e nty one years afte r her death . All t mb r and e e e e e so th e th e saplings w r r s rv d, that bulk of land The must have been good agricultural soil . Com missioners on whose report the Trustee Act was bas e d spoke of this ground as having bee n sold for though worth more than if this statem e nt is e m e e the re corr ct, Sir Tho as may hav commut d nt e 16 agr e d upon in 97 . the the e m In War of Spanish Succ ssion , Sir Tho as e e e e Pr nd rgast took a consid rabl part, commanding ’ th e 22 nd e e of e r gim nt foot, known , from its colon l s e e e nam , as It was sp cially distinguish d the e of e e 1 1 in battl Oud nard (J uly , and at e e e e e e Malplaqu t, wh r its colon l, just mad a brigadi r

e e e . e e e e g n ral , was kill d A p culiar int r st attach s to his de e e m e ath . As was customary in th s ca paigns, Colon l Prendergast obtained leave to return hom e during the e e em e 1 08 h e e wint rs , and in S pt b r, 7 , was r siding in

th o fth l o h - 1 1 London . On e night e t th S eptember he e e e m w e e had a r markabl dr a , hich imp ll d him to make the following e ntry in his pocket- book

e bed m e m B ing in with y wif last night, in this y house in the of e m me Cranmell City London , I dr a t that Ja s , a native me e n e m of Clon ll in Ir la d, and who di d in y service three e e e m e m y ars ago, app ar d in y liv ry, and told e to prepare for e di e d ath , for that I would this day year. ‘ e on the e e Though having no sup rstition subj ct, I not s as mem m thi a curious orandu , if such an event should e me happ n . ‘T P u os. ns nns nc a sr . ‘ e em e 1 1 S pt b r ,

e e e 1 1 1 0 e On S pt mb r , 7 9, G n eral Prendergast fe ll THE FAMI LY OF GORT 73

1 fighting bravely in the thick of the fight at Mal u plaq et . The of fourth Viscount Gort , to whom this portion e e e e our narrative ow s any int r st that it may poss ss, records anoth e r tradition which conn ects the battle of e Malplaquet with Lough Cutra . It is said that Colon l e e o ne the Cloone e ne m e Rup rt Fost r, of fa ily, who (lik probably som e of the N e wcastle Prend e rgasts) was the e e e th e e e fighting, in Jacobit int r st , on Fr nch sid , ’ the e O hau hness e saved lif of William S g y, also a colon l ’ the e e e e O Shau hness in Fr nch s rvic , and son of Rog r g y, the form er own e r ofGortinchigori e . The two are be lieved to have b een united by the ir affe ction for H ester ’

e e e . e O shaughn ssy, sist r of Rog r At a ball giv n in the e Fidane e e e castl of , Fost r had a quarr l with anoth r

e the e e Tobber-in suitor, and l ft danc to fight a du l at

e e e . he e e e e e don y (now call d Tubb r) T n ws r ach d H st r, e e of Her e who di d sudd nly fright . lov r was , in fact, e H er unhurt and had only wound d his rival . sorrow ’ ‘ e ing spirit, says Lord Gort, is said still to flit at tim s ’ over the small lake at Pidane . Sir Thomas Pre ndergast le ft in tail male the bulk e son o e of his prop rty to his Th mas , th n a child of h e e e e e effe . s v n , wit a r maind r to his broth r, J r y It e e e e e for his is int r sting to not that, b sid s providing e e he e 1 e widow, daught rs, and sist rs , l ft £ 4 a y ar to his ‘ ’ e who e 1 2 fath r Old Thomas , , at his d ath in 7 5, was b elieved to be one hundre d and e leve n years of age : he e e e e e e was c rtainly a v ry old man . P n lop , Lady Pr n der ast 2 00 e the g , had an annuity of £ charg d upon Gal w a e e the m em e of she e y stat s , in anag nt which took gr at

e e . o f1 8 e m the t int r st A lawsuit 73 , quot d fro Equi y e e e e e Exch qu r r cords by Viscount Gort, giv s us som e m th h e furth r infor ation about e Loug Cutra prop rty . e e e e Kno ckmow T rlo han Lady Pr nd rgast had l as d , y g ,

The o o f s d eam and i ts ea a on i s o som e a st ry thi r r liz ti t ld, wh t ’ nacc a e i n Bos e s Li e o ol mson i ur t ly, w ll f fj . 74 STORY or AN I RI SH PROPE RTY

' arrow arifi e the e C g , islands in Lough Cutra, and som

h er e e e 1 18 . othe r lands, to ag nt and anoth r t nant in 7

3 6d. er e e The rent was 5 . p acr of good land ; wast was The ee the e e e e . fr , and islands w r count d as wast e e are 1 8 the e e e int r sting points that, in 73 , t nant pl ad d the e ee that r nt was too high , and that it had b n publicly fixed on this scale in orde r to break down a local com Th e u e h e . e e bination r nt was not r d c d , but was 83 for e e e 2 1 d . e allow d £9 . 7 as comp nsation mon y sp nt e the P ullou h in draining and f ncing wood at g , and in ee e e e e e e planting thr hundr d appl , p ar, and ch rry tr s th me the e in e islands o fLough Cutra . So of appl ee Th e ee e e tr s still survive . prop erty had b n l ft h avily ’ burde n ed by the late baron et s desire to recover family

e e e e e e 1 1 - 1 was e stat s ls wh r , and in 7 4 5 an Act pass d e e e e e to nabl Sir Thomas Pr nd rgast, baron t, an infant , to sell part ofhis estate lying in th e county of Wate r ’ ford for the payment ofhis father s debts and for oth e r e e e e e e purpos s th r in m ntion d Und r this Act, Kilronan w as sold ; portions o f the Tipp erary prop erty had ’ already bee n sold by authority of a Queen s lette r in 1 10 the e e e e he 7 ; and s cond Sir Thomas Pr nd rgast, wh n e ofa e 1 2 ee e the e cam g in 7 3 , succ d d to Galway prop rty, ’ worth in the estimation ofthe dispossess ed O Shaugh e ea The n ssys , a y r . List of Abse ntees of I reland 1 2 e e in 7 9, which d scrib s Sir Thomas Prendergast as ‘ one e e e e I of thos who liv g n rally abroad, and visit re land now and th en for a month or two represents him as e e H e . e e sp nding abroad a y ar was, how v r, e e e em e e 1 the m l ct d m b r for Clonm l in 733 , and , in sa e year was return ed for Chiche ste r to the Parliam ent of e Gr at Britain . He marrie d in 1 740 the o nly daughte r of m e e and P nta las Sir Griffith Willia s , Baron t, of Marl a g e 1 in Wal s , who in 745 succ ee de d to the prop erty of h er e the e e the moth r, h ir ss of Vaughans of P antaglas but e e e e 1 60 the as Sir Thomas Pr nd rgast di d childl ss in 7 , e e e e th e W lsh stat s pass d out of family . He had T HE FAM I LY or GO RT 75 b een Postmaste r- Ge n eral of Ireland and had played e e the a consid rabl part in I rish politics, and was victim ’

me f . He of so of D ean Swi t s lampoons was a Whig, h me e and strongly opposed t e Tith e Agist nt , d ar to ’ ’ e e are e e e e him e e Swift s heart . Th r r f r nc s to in H rv y s Memoir he e e the e of e s and in t l tt rs of Duk B dford , which relate his opposition to a bill for the com ulsor e of e p y r gistration Roman Catholic pri sts, and e e e nd b e ee m e his d sir to put an to a s nt is , jobb ry, and f e e e . e e o corrupt p nsions in Ir land B dford , in spit som ee e e e e e e to the disagr m nts, int nd d to rais Pr nd rgast ee e e e p rag , but just at this mom nt his fatal illn ss e th e e occurred . His poss ssion of e Gort stat s had bee n e ndangere d by a suit brought against him in the ’ ‘ the e interests of the O Shau ghnessys . On sit of th eir ’ ‘ e he e the e old castl , says Lord Gort , had found d n at,

e . e e mod rn town of Gort And b sid s making roads, e e e h e mme e building bridg s , and r cting mills, had co nc d th e e e Rindifin e e the formation of a b autiful s at at , wh r e e e e e Gort riv r, l aving Lough Coot r, runs und r and ov r ground in a most fantastic and picturesqu e fashion a s eat of which some remains of plantations and garde ns ou t the e still point situation ; but which , whe n n arly m e e the : e e e co pl t d , was burnt to ground wh th r int ntion ’

or e e e . ally by accid nt, accounts do not agr ’ i hau hness W lliam O S g y, who had fought at Mal l u t a e e 1 . e e e p q , di d in 744 His young r broth r, Charl s , who e 1 2 1 ee e e di d in 7 , had b n allow d to hold B agh and e e he e e m e som oth r lands , as poss ss d a ortgag over ’

e . e e e e e e th m Th y w r , how v r, includ d in William s grant to e e o n the e e Sir Thomas Pr nd rgast, and d ath of Charl s ’ O Shau h ness the ofthe e g y, guardians s cond baron et paid the mortgage and d e manded th e prope rty and the net i e the e of ma 1 0 profits s nc d ath Sir Tho s in 7 9 . e e e the 1 6 Th ir cont ntion was uph ld in law courts in 73 , and the su m payable to the second baron et was fix e d ’

68 1 3 . d . e O hau hness the e e at £ 7 9 But Jos ph S g y, ld st 76 STORY OF AN I RI S H PROPERTY

e e e e e i son of Charl s, ncourag d , doubtl ss , by oth r dis e e e e e the e possess d own rs , d t rmin d to claim whol pro e the e e e the p rty, on pl a that it was ntail d and that Th e forfeiture was there fore invalid . Whig Govern m 1 2 1 e e e e . nt of 74 pass d an Act ( 5 G org I I , cap confirming the grants mad e by William I I I to Sir m e e e th e e Th o as Pr nd rgast, and incid ntally cutting ntail ’ m e e e e e e b e ad by Sir Thomas s will , a st p r nd r d d sira l the e e ofthe e e by childl ssn ss s cond baron t, who now e m e e not e nd b ca absolut own er . This Act did put an the e f f to litigation . A d cision was given in avour o m e e the e Sir Tho as Pr nd rgast in Court of Common Pl as , e the of e ro and was confirm d by House Lords . L gal p ceedin s e e e e th e e o f g , how v r, did not c as , and H ous Commons passe d a re solution in support ofSir Thomas 1 ’ e e . e s e the Pr nd rgast Finally, Ro buck O haughn ssy, e e e e o fthe m e e su m ofm e r pr s ntativ fa ily, acc pt d a on y m e e 1 e fro Sir Th omas Pr nd rgast about 753 , and gav up , ’ e th e old O hau hness e in r turn , all claim to S g y prop rty ofGo rtinchi ori The n o g e . ew wn ers c o uld thus fee l th emselve s the possessors ofth eir prop e rty without e e e e to the e e e I I I r f r nc forf itur s u nd r William , nor had the repre se ntative s ofthe old own ers any furth er ground m . e new m ic of co plaint But u nfortu nat ly, a co pl ation e ou t th e e ofthe e aros of op ration P nal Laws . A Roman Catholic fath er was forbidde n to make such e of son a bargain , or to giv away any rights his , if that son e e ofthe e e was a m mb r Church of Ir land . Ro buck ’ O Shau hness e 1 son e e g y di d in 754 , and his , Jos ph , join d the o f e Church Ir land . I n 1770 h e revive d the law suit and accus ed his own broth er William ofconspiracy h the e e wit Pr nd rgasts . Eve ntually the case was again appe aled to the Lords and again decide d in favour of the e e e Pr nd rgasts , who poss ssed both a legal and a moral m clai . ’ The the w lawsuit, bargain ith Roebuck O Shaugh

I w as e a t r pe ted i n 1755. THE FAM I LY OF GORT 77

e e e e the e e n ssy, and oth r xp enses had drain d r sourc s the e e he e of s cond baron t, and sold all his r maining e e e He e e e stat s in Tipp rary . di d at his hous in M rrion e i on e e e 2 1 60 e e Squar , D ubl n , S pt mb r 3, 7 , whil a pat nt was actually in process ofpreparation to grant him the ‘ Viscounty of Clonmel which was in anci ent time s deeme d to belong to his ancestors By his will date d 1 6 he e e of e e the J uly, 75 , avail d hims lf his pow r to alt r 2 e his rO ert e e the d signation of p p y, so far as to l av it to son e the e e of a daught r of first baron t, inst ad of to e e his e effe e e a d sc ndant of uncl J r y, as was int nd d by h Th e t e tail male of the original will . first baronet had ee The e e e e be e . thr daught rs who liv d to marri d ld st , e of e e th e i e Juliana Count ss M ath (wif of s xth Earl) , di d

e . The e e e without issu s cond , Elizab th , marri d , first, Sir John Dixon Hamon of Woodhouse in the County e e of Cork , and on his d ath , Charl s Smyth , son of m of m e 16 to 1 2 Thomas S yth , Bishop Li rick from 95 7 5. The e e e e third daught r, Ann , marri d Captain Samu l e h r Hobson . Lady Hamon had no childr n by e first husband ; by her second she left three sons and two daughters . Sir Thomas Prendergast e ntailed the e s e the e son tat s upon John , young st of this family, with e e e e u e r maind r to his fath r, Charl s Smyth , and f rth r ’ e e m son ofthe e r maind r to Tho as H obson , t stator s e e sist r Ann . A condition of inh eritance was the assump ofthe me tion na of Pre ndergast . The Smyths were desc endants ofthe MacGowans o f e e ee in Antrim and Down , but app ar to hav b n English o th rigin. I n e beginning ofthe s evente enth c entu ry we fm e e c find a branch of this a ily s ttl d at Dundrum , o . Down ; th ey w ere conn ecte d with a numbe r of disti n ~ uished e 1612 e of g famili s , and , about , Mary, sist r William m m e e e S yth of Dundru , marri d Archbishop H nry Ussh r, one th e e of th e i of fou nd rs U n versity of Dublin .

’ co n Vis u t Co rt s MS . 2 B an e a e h e h ad e to hi s y rli r will l ft it wife. 78 STORY OF AN I RIS H PRO PERTY

son m Thomas Smyth , of William S yth of Dundrum ,

e e . e e e e and probably a n ph w of Mrs U ssh r, was l ct d e e 16 to a scholarship in Trinity Coll g , Dublin , in 73 , e 16 e e e e became a F llow in 77, and poss ss d, both b for the e e e e e and after R volution , consid rabl ccl siastical H e 1 68 o 1 0 e e . e r 6 preferm nt in Ir land marri d , about 9 9 ,

e e e . 16 2 a daught r of U lyss s Burgh , D an of Emly In 9

- in- e of his father law was mad Bishop Ardagh , and 16 he Smyth succ eed ed him as D ean of Emly . I n 95 e e the e e was appoint d Bishop of Lim rick , through influ nc Tenison h e fled to of Archbishop , with whom had h England during t e crisis of the R evolution . He was e e of e e his an abl and car ful administrator his dioc s , but Tory sympathi es made him to some extent suspected by of 1 1 th the Cromwellian Prote stants Lim erick . I n 7 4 e Duke of Ormonde appointe d him Vi ce ~Chancellor ofthe the of m e U niversity o fDublin . With fall Or ond and ’ the e the e the acc ssion of Hanov rian dynasty , Bishop s e e e an end 1 2 1 he political influ nc cam to , and in 7

e e the o e of e- e ee ir r sign d ffic Vic Chanc llor, f ling that c cumstances now preve nte d him from b eing of mu ch u se the e e o fthe e to Univ rsity . U nlik most politicians tim , ‘ e e h e e e the in Church and Stat alik , n v r sold truth to s erve the hour b u t rem ain ed loyal to his convictions e h e to e e and to his fri nds , and was not afraid int rfer at tim es on be half ofp ers e cute d Roman Catholics . The e o n 1 2 Bishop di d May 4 , 7 5. e son e m His s cond , Charl s S yth , was born about 16 e e m e of m 97, and studi d , lik any oth rs his fa ily, at

e e . 1 2 he l e the Trinity Coll g , Dublin I n 7 4 was ca l d to as m e e o fthe m Bar a mb r M iddle Te ple . On Novem ber 2 1 1 28 he m e e o f , 7 , arri d Elizab th , widow Sir J ohn m e Ha on , and daught r of Ge ne ral Sir Thomas Pre nde r e e e e gast , first baron t , who had b e n l e ft a consid rabl e b he r H the fortun y first h usband . e re pre s e nte d City o f me the m e 1 1 1 6 Li rick in I rish Parlia nt from 73 to 77 . e ff and took an activ part in local a airs, in which his

80 STORY O F AN I RIS H PRO PERTY

’ e the e e e the ofthe O hau h Fidane Castl , r sid nc of last S g e the e e e e as e e n e ssys, and l ft Pr nd rgast stat it r ach d

- - e ee t Tobbe r in don y on its way to Crush n . So that he house occupied by John Pre ndergast at Gort was quite th e w di d away from public high ay, which not (as is no w the case) separate it from the old gardens and plantation ’ n of Rindifin o r the ew on es about Lough Cutra . ’

rattan s e . e e sat In G Parliam nt, M r Pr nd rgast for Carlow and acte d with the Grattan party ; in 1 782 h e o e the e e e e one of became C lon l of Lim rick I nd p nd nts , the first Volunteer corps that was lib eral e nough to ’ the 1 8 admit Roman Catholics into ranks . In 7 5 he succeeded his broth er Thomas in the family estate s and h e e - H th enc eforth bore t e nam of Pre nd rgast Smyth . e succeeded his broth er also in th e representation of the e 1 0 e City of Lim rick , and in 79 was abl to obtain as his e hi s e e e Vereker e son colleagu n ph w, Charl s , s cond of ’ e the his siste r J ulia. On Pitt s r organization of Irish

1 e e - e e M ilitia in 793, John Pr nd rgast Smyth b cam first e the e e e colon l of City of Lim rick Militia r gim nt, and ee e 1 his e ew e Ve reker was succ d d in 797 by n ph , Charl s , whose service s in the re bellion of 1 798 we shall describe the e later. In Union n goti ations which followed the

- e e . e e e r b llion , Mr Pr nd rgast Smyth support d Grattan , ’ o ffe e e and r d a str nuous opposition to Pitt s proposals . e th e was e he e e the Wh n Union carri d , acc pt d situation l m 181 and loyal y supported the Gove rn e nt . I n 0 h e e e ee e as o b cam a p r of Ir land Baron Kiltartan , of G rt, the w in 1816 o f in County of Gal ay, and, , Viscount Gort H e was e th the e . e City of Lim rick unmarri d , and in e e e e m e e e e pat nt of ach titl a r aind r was giv n to his n ph w, th e V r ker He e Right H onourable Charle s e e . di d on 2 18 1 ee e e the ofthe May 3 , 7, and was succ d d , und r will e e ofhis e e th e e s cond baron t, in most stat s by s cond 1 s was e e e the i Vi count Gort , who also h ir g n ral to fam ly th of of Smy Dundrum .

His e e o e H en Vereke r had o ss e . ld r br th r, ry , died With ut i u TH E FAMI LY . OF GORT 8 1

The Ve reker family of , which thus cam e to repres e nt the fm e of e e m w a ili s Pr nd rgast and S yth , as desc ended Verre eker e e Brabant l from J ohn y , a g ntl man of Dutch , e e the Fen the e who cam ov r to country, in ast of Eng e land, and had xhauste d and reclaime d some lands there ’ e the e A . s he wh n Civil War brok out a royalist, lost the e e e his lands in Gr at R b llion , and, with some oth e r e e e ffe e e e h for ign s ttl rs who had su r d in lik mann r, e f m e e o fw he e e or d a troop of hors , hich was li ut nant . H e s erved in Ire land and be came quartermaster of th e m e f Royal ar y th re , a post o the high est importance ’

e . e m e e e at that dat Aft r Cro w ll s victori s in Ir land , Ve re ker ffe e as o n th John again su r d a royalist, but e Restoration ofCharle s I I he was include d among the soldiers who re c eive d comp ensation in the form ofgrants ofhouses and town parks in all Borough towns in I re e h e e e land ; und r this Act gain d som ground in Cork , e 16 h e e e e m and at his d ath , in 75, l ft a consid rabl a ount

o f e . e e e e e prop rty His son H nry, who inh rit d his stat s of e S carteen Shidane Grang , Ballincurrig, and in County m e e o f e e Cork , arri d Mary, daught r anoth r propri tor in e of al County Cork , John Conn ll Barrys Court and B ly ’ The m e e e e Edmund . lady s fa ily w r Tori s, and H nry Ve reker followed the fortun es ofKing Jam es at the e i e the e ofthe fi ht R volution , and was k ll d in cours g 1 0 i i 1 2 m 6 . H s e 6 ing in 9 widow marr d , in 9 , Willia e m e e e em Chartr s of Kil icha l, a strong Williamit , who s s to have succee d ed in prote cting th e prop e rty of his ’ e e Vereker e , wif s first husband . H nry l ft two sons e m e e e e Conn ll, of who we shall sp ak pr s ntly, and H nry, w e e e 1 8 e o f hos daught r J oan marri d , in 73 , John Fr nd B oskell C me e e in ounty Li rick th ir grandson , B njamin

e m e ofth e . Fr nd , arri d a sister first Viscount Gough ’ Connell Ve reker ee e e e , who succ d d to his fath r s prop rty,

This account ofthe origin ofthe family is give n by the fourt h co n Go t s om e h es a on e e d oes not seem to Vis u t r with it ti , but th r be an ason for d s s n the ad on y re i tru ti g tr iti . G 82 STORY O F AN I RIS H PROPE RTY

e e ofMoorstown marri ed Mary, daught r ofAmos Gods ll, , He e County Limerick . purchas d from a company for e e to e e making sword blad s , who add d th ir prop r func the e of e tions a speculation in Irish land , prop rty Lack ll nagandell Kor Roxborough) and Tinneke y in County

th e e e o f . Limeri ck , and built xisting hous Roxborough The property remain e d in the family till afte r th e great e e e e e Irish famin , and part of it was aft rwards r cov r d

- e Vereker e by the third Viscount Gort . Conn ll di d in 1 e e e son e e 733, and was succ d d by his H nry, who marri d e e e e of e Ann , daught r and h ir ss Sir Nicholas Osborn , e of the Knockmoane fifth Baron t, and Ballintaylor e of m family, and granddaught r Thomas S yth , bishop V r k r the . son e e e ofLime rick Th eir , Thomas , was e e e husband of Juliana or J ulia Smyth , ld st daught r

e - e e e of his gr at uncl , Charl s Smyth , and , in spit of e h er he e so ex trava receiving a good fortun with , liv d gantly that h e was forc ed to sell the old family prop erty

e . e e 1 0 n ar Cork This sacrific was insuffici nt, and, in 79 , h e e e son e ee e the and his ld st , H nry, agr d to dis ntail e e th e son e e e the e stat , b coming r sponsibl for d bts and

rec e iving th e prop erty at once . In 1 792 he was killed e e e m in a du l with a n ighbour, and his fath r, Tho as Vereker e the e e , again took poss ssion of stat s, and on e 180 1 e Vereke r his e son his d ath , in , Charl s , s cond , e e e b cam own r of Roxborough . e Vereker e the e Charl s , aft rwards s cond Viscount was 1 68 the a e of ee Gort , born in 7 , and at g thirt n e e e the e m nt r d Royal Navy, s rving as a idshipman in

. . . Alex ander e f H M S , und r Captain Lord Long ord . He e e the e e of 1 82 e the was pr s nt at r li f Gibraltar in 7 , wh n Alex a nder e e e e e b hav d with gr at cr dit . Aft r the p eac e of1 8 h e e e e th e 7 3 nt r d army, and was gazette d to the 1 st e e e on th Royal R gim nt of Foot, th n e Irish Establish

e . 1 8 h e e e o f m nt I n 7 9 marri d Jan , daughter Ralph W estro Att flin pp of y , and widow of William Stain e r of Carnell e y, n ar Ennis, and on his marriage he left the TH E FAM I LY OF GO RT 83

. e e 1 8 e one son army His wif di d in 79 , l aving him with , e the ee e aft rwards third Viscount Gort, and thr daught rs . ' Th e V ek r t e y ar of Mrs . er e s dea h was that of the I rish e e e Vereker e R b llion, in which Colon l play d a distin u ished e the me e e g part as colon l of Li rick City R gim nt . W e e ee on the m the e m hav s n that , for ation of r gi e nt in 1 the e e e 793 , first Viscount Gort b cam colon l . His e e a e Vereker was e e e m n ph w Ch rl s th n gaz tt d ajor, V e e V oodsdown hi n G org Gough of captain , and s so

e e - i e H ugh , aft rwards Fi ld Marshal V scount Gough , b gan e e Th his great care e r as an nsign of thirte n . e lieu

- h e m e e t e . e t nant colon l was H onourabl Ed und H P ry, who l mm e e e e e Vereker a most i diat ly r sign d, and Charl s succ eede d him ; Captain Gough was made major three m e be 1 son e onths lat r (Octo r, 793) and his H ugh li u the f e e the b tenant . B ut utur conqu ror of Punja e e e e e th e was soon transf rr d to a lin r gim nt, and at

outbreak of the re bellion was e ngaged else where . Wh e n Ch arles Vereker became colonel in 1 797 (an offic e in which he was succ eeded by his son th e third he so n the Viscount , and by his fourth Viscount Gort) , e e e e - e e Major Gough b cam li ut nant colon l, and act d in

that capacity during the rebellion . ’ Colonel Vereker s most important se rvice was ren e e e h the e e of i th e d r d in conn xion wit si g Sl go , in e the e e em e cours of abortiv Fr nch att pt upon I r land , b made after the suppression of the re els . I n August 1 8 e e e b e e e 79 a Fr nch adv ntur r, y nam H umb rt, land d l e e at Ki lala with about a thou sand soldi rs , train d and is the disciplined in the Revolutionary wars . It to lasting credit of th ese invade rs that th ey show e d to the Irish Loyalists the most court e ous consideration ;

e ill - fed e e e e e and , w ary and as th y w r , th y fought brav ly e e m m e e e e e against ov rwh l ing nu b rs . Th y had xp ct d be e e e s e to join d by a unit d Irish p a antry, but th y e e e e e e found no nthusiasm for th ir caus , and w r join d 6 e few e . C e 2 by v ry r cruits At astl bar, on August ,

G 2 84 STO RY OF AN I RI S H PROPERTY

e e e e e e e Humbert easily d f at d G n ral Lak , whos army, e eff compose d of Irish militia, mad no ort to stand The e against the charge ofthe Fre nch . n ar approach of Cornwallis with the Royal army re ndere d Castle e for the e o n e e e bar unsaf invad r, and S pt mb r 4 G ene ral H u mb e rt comme nc e d a swift march towards the e e e e Sligo , with doubl int ntion of awaiting r inforc m ents from France and ofgaining I rish re cruits in The e a new district . garrison at Sligo consist d of e e Vereker e militia troops und r Colon l , whom Colon l Gough had succ eede d in the command of the Lime rick

e e e ofthe . r gim nt, which form d part Sligo garrison Vereke r se e ms to have be e n u nde r the i mpre ssion that only an advance guard ofthe Fre nch was approaching the m e the e ‘ 00 m e n town , and , putting hi s lf at h ad of 3 e e h e m a e e e e o n of his old r gim nt, rch d out to m t th m H e a the morning of S epte mb e r 5. had lso with him thirty light dragoons and two curricle guns . Th ey me t

e Coloone fi ve m e m S - m Humb rt at y, il s fro ligo , and ain tained e e the e e e a gallant r sistanc , although Fr nch w r

m e e e . e e e com any tim s th ir numb r Finally, th y w r p elled to abandon th eir two guns ; but H u mbe rt had e e e so m e e Ve reker found th ir r sistanc for idabl that, lik , h e e e the e em m be c e d cid d that n y ust an advan guard , and he gave up his inte ntio n of m arching on Sligo e m l (which r ally lay at his m e rcy) . Fro Co ooney he made his way to Cloon e to combin e with the re bels at bu t he was e e Granard , u nabl to tak all his artille ry with him . At Ballinamuck he found h imself su rrounde d by the e o f e e me armi s Lak and Cornwallis, and , aft r so ’ e e e e e The i . e of h x r sistanc , surr nd r d br vity t e s w eeks ’ campaign in Connaught was largely d ue to Ve reke r s

e e e - the e e e the d f nc of Sligo , for if Fr nch had r ach d m ountains the re sistanc e would c e rtainly have bee n e prolong d . For his se rvic e s in 1 798 Colon el Ve reker was offe re d ee e th a p rag , but owing to e strained relations betw een THE FAM I LY OF GORT 85

e the e e the e he de his uncl and Gov rnm nt at mom nt, clined the e e su honour, which would hav involv d his p the e Ver k porting Union . Colon l e er had represe nted the e e 1 e e city of Lim rick sinc 794 , and , lik his uncl , was ’ o e th a follow er fGrattan . H won e orator s praise for a speech which show ed unsophisticate d feeling and the ’ e of e e the h natural hon sty good s nse . Aft r Union e was returne d for Limerick to th e first Parliament of

e e . 180 Gr at Britain and Ir land I n 3 . Addington , in a e e e e e e e e e militia d bat , mad a p rsonal r f r nc to Colon l ’ Vereker s e Coloone the e e he xploit at y, and in sam y ar was granted the unusual distinction (for a commoner) — ‘ ofbearing support ers to the family arms a lion col lar u h ed chain ed and murally crowned, s pporting t e the e em e 1 8 Royal colours , with inscription , 5 S pt b r, 79 , and a Gre nadier of the Limeri ck City Militia support the e e l m the ing R gim nta colours ; and , as a otto , word From 1807 to 18 10 Colone l Vere ker was he a Lord of t Treasury for Ireland .

‘ ’ me was e the At this ti , it arrang d, says fourth Viscount ‘ the ee e be e Gort, that first Irish p rag which could grant d by the Crown unde r the Act o fUnion should be confe rre d on John e e m em e e Vereker Pr nd rgast S yth with r aind r to Charl s , and the form er thereupon gave up to his future h eir that portion o fthe Prendergast estates that lay around the love ly Lough e e he m e Coot r, which in arlier days had i prov d by planting, e e e e the e e int nding to r ct a hous in Italian styl , on a spot call d , Ve reker e e e e H . e in cons qu nc , Situation ill Colon l wis ly d ecided that a building Gothic in character would be more th e e e and in accord with surrounding sc n ry, that it should a the e e o fth e so as e i ts st nd on opposit sid lough, to look ov r soft surface on the ru gged mountains that he re separate

m e . e h e Connaught fro Munst r To carry out this id a, had h o f e e . t e e th e aid that abl archit ct, M r Nash, and castl and f e m e al l se e em e seat o Lough Coot r, ad ir d by who th , b ar ’ an testimony to th eir skill d taste . Lord Kingston s grand e of I nchi ui n castle of Mitch lstown, and that Lord q at 86 STO RY O F AN I RIS H PROPE RTY

land e e e ne e D romo , w r also d sig d by Nash ; but East Cow s he e e e e e e his Castl e, which r ct d with sp cial car for own

e the e of e i v - residenc in Isl Wight, and around whos y clad m n m m em e e e em e walls a y fa ily ori s now twin , r s bl s Lough Coote r much more than it does e ith er o fth e othe r I rish s e e m e was e e Vereker ca tl s I hav na d, and it visit d by Charl s ’ be fore his final plans were mad e .

Other honours fell to Colon el Vereker before his suc He e cession to the p ee rage . was mad a Privy Coun cillor in Ireland and Governor and Charter-J ustic e of the e he the to the city of Lim rick , and was last hold ancie nt feudal offic e of Governor and Constable of the 810 he e e e me . 1 Castl of Li rick In marri d , s condly, e e e e e Elizab th , daught r of John Pallis r, Esquir , of Com the e ofthe m o f ragh in county of Wat rford , fa ily B ury, 181 h e ee e the Earls of Charleville . In 7 succ d d first V e e e e e e iscount Gort in titl and stat s , xc pt thos in and e e e e e e e e n ar Lim rick, which w r b qu ath d to his broth r V rek r Th e the e e e e ee John e e . story of s v ranc b tw n the Gort family and the e state of Lough Cutra may e be the the e b st told in words of fourth Viscount, whos e e m e e e MS . l arn d and instructiv , co pil d with no l ss skill we h e e t e e . than car , now quot for last tim

It was expecte d that the s econd Viscount Gort would also have inhe rited a large sum in ready money : instead of which it proved that the extravagant bache lor le ft upwards of

e . And h e m e e e e d bt had hi s lf incurr d h avy liabiliti s, the e e ofhis e e a con partly in r ction b autiful castl , p rtly in e e e e e e e e e e hi t st d l ctions, and oth r xp ns s conn ct d with s as m e e e e position a pro in nt political p rsonag in Ir land, and the e ee e e e be e m Hi s e h ir of a p r b li v d to xtre ely rich . d bt had grown up during the suspension of specie paym ents the e s o e e and e l owing to wars with Franc , and , lik pric s r nta s e f o e m e was e . Th e in thos days pap r on y, unduly inflat d ’ e ntire ly unexpe cted position o fhis uncle s affairs threw Lord e e ff and e ee e Gort at onc into s rious di iculty, wh n P l caus d the e m me i n i n 1 8 1 and e r su ption of pay nt gold 9, I rish r nts,

88 STORY OF AN I RI SH PROPE RTY

1 e e the Estates Court . It happ n d that first Viscount e e the Gough , who had just r turn d from victorious campaigns in India which had added the Punjab to th e e e e dominions of the British Crown , d sir d to purchas The e an Irish prop e rty. castl and grounds at Lough Cu tra had attract e d his admiration before his departure h e e e e the e e e for India, and d cid d to purchas d m sn and th e portions ofthe e state now offere d for sale . Lord e e e e e e e e Gort , how v r, still nt rtain d hop s of b ing abl to e e e arrange to buy it in for hims lf, and at his r qu st Lord e e e e Gough instructe d his ag nts not to bid . Th s hop s w ere falsified ; the estate was broke n up into small prope rtie s and the castl e and demesn e w ere purchased f e e the e e o . by R ligious Ord r Lor tto, Dublin Aft r a the e e e e e e e short inte rval s ttl d stat s w r , in accordanc the the Act e e e e with provisions of , lik wis xpos d for

, Th e e . Vicesimu s sale . principal purchas r was Mr of e e e K nox , Stratford Plac , who had long h ld a h avy m ortgage on the property ; but various portions passe d h o f into oth er hands . T e family Sir Thomas Prende r gast thus s evere d the ir conn ex ion with the estate of

- - c e had e Gort inch gori , which th y h ld for more than

e . Th e e e a c ntury and a half district ow s th m much , e e u e e e e for th y had don m ch to d v lop its r sourc s , and th ey had made a gallant effort to fac e a long se ries of e misfortun es . Within a v ry fe w ye ars after the loss ei e e of th r Irish prop rty, fat again smiled upon the e family of Gort , for it turn d out that th ey had m erely e e e xchang d I rish for English poss ssions , an exchange w hich many (doubtle ss e rron eo usly) would rank among the e bl ssings of human life . Te n years afte r the sal e the of Lough Cutra, third Viscount Gort be came by e the e o e e marriag poss ss r of East Cow s Castl , in imita his e ee tion of which I rish hous had b n built, and it e the e the r mains s at of family.

Some of h t e d e tail s h e re give n are take n from the p amphl et or sal e ca alo e l s e on h s oc c t gu pub i h d t i asion. T HE FAM I LY OF GORT 89

It is impossible to trac e the history ofthe prop erty h e Vi cesimus during t e brie f int e rval wh n Mr. Knox h eld the land and the castle e xisted as a conve nt scho ol . Th e Order to which it belonged desired to conce ntrate e e e e e e e th ir n rgi s at th ir Hous n ar Dublin , which had bee e fi re e i n n injur d by a , and th n Viscount Gough was form e d that the owne rs would be glad to find a pur 8 h he e . 1 e e t e . chas r In 54 call d upon Sup rior, Mrs Ball , her e eme e to at Lough Cutra, and found xtr ly d sirous e the e th sell . Lord Gough plac d final d cision in e hands o f e -in- e the e e his daught r law , aft rwards s cond Viscount ss sh e effe Gough , and , finding that it was his wish to ct e e the e a purchas , pronounc d final word , and n gotiations e e e e e e the e not w r at onc nt r d upon for purchas , only ofthe e e e e as the Castl and d m sn , but also of much of e b e e state as could e conv ni ntly re covered . TH E FAM I LY OF GO U GH

TH E ee so e family of Gough , which has b n clos ly e the e 18 is e associat d with district sinc 54 , ultimat ly e the e e of C ltic blood, for nam is originally W lsh , but the branch ofthe family to which the first Viscount

Gough belonged had long been settle d in Wiltshire . the e th e e e e About middl of e r ign of Jam s I , thr e e e broth rs, Rob rt , Francis , and Hugh Gough , mad e e e the their way from England to Ireland . Th y w r of e of sons H ugh Gough , R ctor All Cannings , Wilt e shir , and grandsons of J ohn Gough of Stratford , in the m e ee e e e the sa county. All thr w r graduat s of

e e e e e . Univ rsity of Oxford , and all alik w r in holy ord rs Th eir fath er was also a m embe r ofthat U nive rsity ; h e e e e e e 1 60 app ars as a cl rk of Magdal n Coll g in 5 , he was e e e e e o f and R ctor of Littl Ch v r ll , and Vicar ’ e e e e e e Bishop s Cannings, b for b ing pr s nt d to All 1 H e of e e Cannings in 593 . e marri d a lady D vonshir e ff ff du e e birth , J an Cli ord of Cli ord Hall , and in cours fi ve of th eir sons w ere matriculate d in the U niversity . The e e e broth rs, as was not unusual in thos days , w nt e the e e e up to Oxford in coupl s ; two ld st, Rob rt and e e e l e e 160 e e ee William , nt r d Bal iol Coll g in 3 , ag d nin t n e e ee e e e t n e te e and s v nt n r sp ctiv ly ; e y ars la r, anoth r e e e e e pair, Francis, ag d ighteen , and Edward , ag d s v n ee e e m e t n , b cam mbers of St . Edmund Hall ; and finally, e e e e e th y w r follow d by Hugh , who matriculat d from N e w e Coll ge in 1617 . The family include d at least two

92 STORY OF AN I RIS H PRO PE RTY

.

Woodsdown co . e the Gough of , Lim rick , to which em e e e e e e t subj ect of this m oir b long d , tak th ir d sc n m of e his fro Francis Gough , Bishop Lim rick , or from e e e m can broth r H ugh ; a p rsist nt fa ily tradition , which e the m e ofthe e e e e be trac d back to iddl ight nth c ntu ry, e e e ofWoodsdo wn was ass rts that G org Gough , who h b 1 1 e e e e m t e . orn in 75 , was s v nth in d sc nt fro Bishop the e em e to The Goughs had , in int rval , r ain d faithful e e e e e Ir land , and had int rmarri d with famili s who, lik

i n 1 682 and d e i n 168 . F om H Go th e fi s , i d 4 r this ugh ugh r t sco n w as n es i o na e scen e and h e w as the Vi u t u qu t bly d d d , , if C hance o o f162 6 e n th e am ace i ts o n not to the ll r , th f ily tr s rigi i e B ut s Bishop but to h s broth r. it eems probable that th e t estato r of1682 and the C ance o of1626 are i n ac ffe e n e so ns h ll r f t di r t p r , ’ for acco n to Co ton s Fasti 1 i n 1662 H G o C ance o , rdi g t ( ) ugh ugh , h ll r of m e c e one to be e c sed a ofhi s d u i es on th e Li ri k , p titi d x u p rt t ’ ro nd of ea a e and nfi m and 2 i n 16 0 hi s o ffi ce w as g u gr t g i r ity , ( ) 7 a I i s not e a s c an o ffi ce w as a a e e v cated . t lik ly th t u h v c ted xc pt ea h and the ac a th e es a o of1682 e a e his fe by d t , f t th t t t t r l v s wi sole executrix seem s to sugge st that h e w as a younge r man an th C an o h o 1 e ce w o w as e ld i n 662 . The am th h ll r, v ry f ily ’ ad on i s a H Go the B s o s o e e i n 16 0 tr iti th t ugh ugh , i h p br th r, di d 7 at th e a e ofs e e n - one a e old a e for h ose d a s and g v ty ( v ry g t y ), that t he Hugh Gough w ho died i n 1684 w as hi s nephew and s cce sso a son ofthe B s o T s a on i s s o e u r, i h p . hi tr diti upp rt d by a statem e nt m ad e by the Ul ster Ki ng ofArm s i n 1816 to th e ' e ffe c a ne e ofthe B s o s o e s R obe and H t th t ith r i h p br th r , rt ugh ,

ef an ss e . I w e acce th e e e e a e the esce n l t y i u f pt vi w h r st t d, d t o fthe family i s as follows

F anc s Go B s o of me c r i ugh, i h p Li ri k. I H Go Recto ofRa eale and C ance o of ugh ugh , r thk , h ll r

ime C e d . c a al d 16 . L ri k th r , 84

Geo Go R ec o ofRa a e e e . rg ugh , t r thk l I H Go ofKilfinnin ugh ugh , g.

H Go ofG ugh ugh arrane .

Geo e Go ofW ood sd ow n rg ugh , .

eo e ou h ofW - G G ood sd ow n fa e ofF M. sco n Go . rg g , , th r Vi u t ugh THE FAM I LY OF GO UG H 93

e e e e e e e th ms lv s , w r of English birth , but r sid nt in — h fB alli as e the e t e e o c e co . I r land Mill rs y, Clar , and

e o f e e . e . e e Wall rs Castl Wall r, co Tipp rary G org

W oodsdow n 1 1 - 18 6 m e Gough of ( 75 3 ) arri d, in J anuary, 1 e the e of m 775, L titia Bunbury, daught r Tho as B un

b ofLisneva h e co . w e ury g and M oyl , Carlo , and th ir de sc e ndants add e d new and gre ater glories to the traditional distinction which th e name of Gough had acquire d in the s eve nteenth c e ntury. G e orge Gough hims elf had won military laurels in ‘ ’ - the m e m e e e . He e e orabl nin ty ight first app ars , nin ‘ e e e m e e y ars b for his arriag , as Corn t to that Troop , w e e the of th e h r of Earl Ancrum is Captain , in fourth e e o f e H e e e R gim nt Hors was , in this r sp ct, follow ing an e xample set by his fath er (who had bee n e 1 6 e 1 62 appoint d, in 75 , Corn t, and , in 7 , Captain in a he em e troop ofM ilitia Dragoons) . How long r ain d under Ancru m is not cle ar ; he makes his n ext app ear anc e o n th e stage of history at the outbreak of the 1 e he troubles in Ireland in 793 . I n April of that y ar 2 - w as made D eputy Gove rnor of the city of Limerick . A month late r the D eputy- Gove rnor was made Captain in an infantry Re gime nt of Militia ; shortly e he was m e aft rwards pro ot d to a Majority, and, in

1 h e e me e e e e - e the 797, b ca Br v t Li ut nant Colon l of m e e e the e Li erick R egiment . H h ld this offic at dat the e e 1 8 e com of r b llion of 79 , and in J uly of that y ar m anded m i e own in a s all action , of wh ch a r cord in his h e e of handwriting as bee n pre s erv d . A forc about ’ 4000 reb els had gath ere d in King s County and w ere laying waste the country in the n eighbourhood of

Th e Com m ss on i s a e s 0 1 68 and i s s ned i i d t d Augu t 3 , 7 , ig by

Ge orge I I I and Lo rd Shelbu rne . Th e family h ad been c ontinuously re side nt near Lim e ri ck ; e d f me c w s confe e d i n 1 on H u h . the e om o a 26 e . g fr Li ri k rr 7 g Gou ofGa ane th e and a e ofthe Geo e Gou of om gh rr , gr f th r rg gh wh

w e are Speaking. 94 STO RY OF AN I RI S H PRO PE RTY

e 00 Edenderry . Colon l Gough , with 4 of his own

e e -five Lim e rick r gim nt, thirty dragoons , and thirty met e com yeome n (cavalry) , th m at J ohnstown , and

letel e e e e e e e . p y d f at d th m , capturing th ir l ad rs His n e small force lost two me kill d and nin e wounde d . the e His own horse was hit through n ck , and a shot w ent through both th e cocks of his hat . His conduct rec eive d the e nthusiastic approbation of one of his mm e be his e co anding offic rs , and it may said that succ ss ’ free d King s County from the insurgents .

‘ ’ ‘ h e was the e me e e e This, says, s cond ti I sav d Ed nd rry m e e as m e e ot fro b ing burn d , , but that day onth b for , I g an e e e e e e was e e xpr ss s nt ov r to Phillips Town, wh r I quart r d mm n e the e e e m had and co a d d Garrison, that a larg R b l Ar y ’ e e Harberton s H e was En tak n poss ssion of Lord ous , and m is m mme e e e m ca ped o n h D e esne . I i diat ly Ord r d out y n o fthe me m e out e e divisio Li rick, arch d , and b for Daylight, e H arbertons e e e Arriv d at Lord , shot and d stroy d all th ir n e e em ofthe H e m adva c d Guard , drov th out ous , and fro e m e 1 of em e e th ir ca p, kill d 4 th , and took all th ir Stor s , e e e e e which I n xt day cart d into Ed nd rry, and shar d to

m e e ee e e . all y littl party, nin t n Stockings a pi c This victory

i e . the e n [ . succ ss at Joh stown in July] saved Edend erry ’

e me e e . march d e a s cond ti b ing burn d I back n xt day, with the e the as as e bl ssing of all inhabitants, who will long [ ] th y e emem an his al G ao n liv r be r Col . Gough d g lant arry Boys e m e or m e e e set of a brav r or or loyal, a or d vot d fellows ’ e ffi e to th ir o c rs neve r carri ed Firelocks .

W e have already see n th e part tak en by Colon el ’ e e the Colo o ne e e he Gough s r gim nt in action at y, wh r w H e . e e e e e e e was ound d r c iv d a m dal for his s rvic s , and wh e n the Lime rick regiment was disbanded afte r the e e m e 180 1 th e P ac of A i ns in , it was on lawn at W oodsdow n that the city w elcome d back the warriors m e wh o had aintain d its honour. The family of Colonel Ge orge Gough consisted o f

96 STORY OF AN I RIS H PROPE RTY

two e . The e e e e four sons and daught rs ld st, G org , ’ follow e d his father s footste ps in the Lime rick City he e e e 1 H e M ilitia, in which r c iv d a majority in 797 . afte rwards joine d the regular forc es and s e rved in Egypt and in the Pe ninsular War as a captain in the

H 1 . m 28th . e e 18 Foot di d in 4 Tho as Bunbury Gough , the e e e e e the e s cond broth r, nt r d Church , and attain d Th e m e o f the of e e . dignity D an of D rry na his son , m e G ene ral Sir J ohn Bloo fi ld Gough , is familiar in e son b Indian military history ; anoth r , Thomas B un ury,

e the of e e - e ros to rank Li ut nant Colon l , and was kille d in the attack on the Re dan in 1855 ; and the m e the e e ee artial fam of family has , in mod rn tim s, b n ’ worthily maintain ed by several ofthe D ean s grand e the m are childr n , among whom ost conspicuous e e e e e G neral Sir Charl s Gough and his broth r, G n ral e e e e e th e Sir Hugh Gough , who r c iv d tog th r Victoria Cross for valour displaye d in the Indian M utiny ; whil e still more re c e nt campaigns in South Africa and in Somaliland have prove d that a later ge ne ration is no t The son n eglectful of its family traditions . third of Colon e l G e orge Gough of W o odsdown was Major the 68th e e e e William Gough , of R gim nt, who s rv d the e was e in P ninsula and in Canada , and who drown d off e e 822 h 1 . t e Kinsal H ad in H ugh Gough , first wa th n h s e so . t e e Viscount, fourth Of two daught rs , th - e e e e e e . e ld r, J an , marri d Li ut Colon l Lloyd , who was l e e 181 th e e e ki l d at Bayonn in 3 , and you ng r, Elizab th , m e ofB oske ll o me e e c . . marri d B nja in Fr nd, , Li rick He r so n e e e e , aft rwards Colon l Fr nd , was , lik his cousin

. the ff e Sir J B . Gough , on sta of his u ncl during his m he e . e t e I ndian ca paigns Mrs . Fr nd was favourit sist r

‘ the e i eld - a the e nd o f e of futur F Marsh l, and to th ir long live s th ey e nte rtain ed for e ach oth er the most affec ti o nat e regard . THE FAM I LY OF GOU GH 97

I I

the m Hugh , first Viscount Gough , through whom fa ily e w became conn ect d ith Lough Cutra, was born at Hi e e d wn e e 1 . s Woo sdo on N ov mb r 3, 779 arli st ’ e i e e appointment was in his fath r s m litia corps, wh nc

h e m mme i e th e . e e pass d, al ost i d at ly, to H on Rob rt ’ he e e e Ward s corps , in which was gaz tt d nsign on h m 1 . e e e August 7, 794 Two months lat r was pro ot d l e e the 1 1 th e me e to a i ut nancy in 9 Foot, a r gi nt rais d e e he t u nd r Colon l Rochford , and was adjutant of his he a e f e 1 h e e me t o ee . r gi nt at g fift n On J un 3 , 795, e e e the 1 1 th the was gaz tt d , by transf r from 9 Foot, to z u d Battalion ofth e 78th Highlanders or Ross- shire

Buffs (now known as the se cond S eaforth Highlanders) . I n this regime nt he took part in the campaign in South f 1 e em e Ofthe e e he A rica in 795, and in D c b r sam y ar ‘ t e e the e e ob ain d a transf r to r gim nt, which is most — gene rally associated with his name the famous 87th ’

or e e e me . He e Foot, Princ of Wal s s I rish R gi nt join d h new e me the e e e e is r gi nt in W st I ndi s, and was pr s nt the e of e 180 he at captur Surinam . In Jun , 3 , was pro e e e e e mot d to a captaincy, and mad sup rint nding offic r of the Army of D efenc e for the counties ofOx ford and

. e 180 he e e Bucks In Octob r, 4, was appoint d Brigad the e e e e e Major to troops s rving at Gu rns y, wh r his e me was e r gi nt station ed . He took an activ part in e the 2 nd l r cruiting and training Batta ion , which was e e 180 —6 e 1806 h e rais d in Ir land in 5 , and in Octob r, , e e the new b t i m e e r turn d with at al on to Ply outh . H r , 180 ma e e in J uly, 7, Major Gough rri d Miss Franc s Maria

e e e e R . e e e e A. St ph ns , whos fath r, G n ral Edward St ph ns, , was m e e ee in garrison at Ply outh , and, about s v nt n e e em e he e m months lat r (D c b r, sail d , in com and

e e the e u . the of his r gim nt , for P nins la I n course of th e war the e the 8 th el in P ninsula, 7 and its colon won H 98 STORY OF AN I RIS H P ROPERTY

a reputation which made them the most popular regi

he e e . Th e m ent oft day, alik in England and in Ir land 87th took a distinguishe d part in the campaign o f e e the e of Talavera it h lp d to gain battl Barrosa, and , i n e the m e b the e e fact, contribut d ost s rious low to n my n e e i the 8th e me o that m morabl day, rout ng R gi nt and m m e e e . e e a capturing its agl G n ral Gr ha , who co mand d e the e e the e e at Barrosa, wrot to abs nt colon l of r gim nt, Sir John Doyle

e mme Your regiment has covered itselfwith glory. R co nd

and i ts mm L - e it co ander [ t Col . Gough] to th ir illustrious the e e e m be e patron, Princ R g nt ; too uch cannot don for ’ ri the 8 th h e th e e o f it . At Ta fa, 7 kept t e br ach in cours th e most exciting and romantic of the sieges in the Peninsular ’ and was th th - e war, it e valour of e Garry Ow n boys that e th fthe th e 8 th e n. the e e o sav d tow In lat r y ars war, 7 had e e e e e e e l ss opportunity for ind p nd nt action , but th y s rv d with the a of distinction atVittoria, capturing b ton Marshal Jourdain, and the e e e e e was e at Niv ll , wh r Colon l Gough wound d in ‘ the and e e the e e as a thigh, wh r old corps b hav d usu l ’ e Nothing could withstand the Pri nce s Own . Old Colvill " ’ e 8 th 8 th e h e m . cri d out, Royal 7 , glorious 7 and w ll ight

His wound preve nted Colonel Gough from se rving in th e last months of the Pe ninsular War or at Waterloo . 181 the z u d the 8 th e In 7 Battalion of 7 was disband d , and in 1819 Sir Hugh Gough (h e had b ee n knighted in 18 15) was gazetted full colon el of th e 22 nd or e e e me 182 1 the e e e Ch shir R gi nt . I n r gim nt was s nt e e the e to Ir land to d al with Whit boys, and Sir H ugh Gough carri ed out this difficult task with discretion the 2 2 nd e and with success . His command of cam to e nd 1826 e e e h e em an in , and for l ve n y ars r ain ed e m 1 e without mploy ent . In 830 he was gazett d major e e 18 1 he e but e e g n ral , and in 3 was mad a th s honours brought no more substantial re cognition of his

. ri e e e e e R athronan claims Du ng th s y ars h resid d at ,

100 STORY OF AN I RIS H PROPERTY the public intere st to unite the civil and the military e e e e e the commands . In a nobl l tt r, aft rwards r ad to e ee House of Commons by Sir Rob rt P l, Sir Hugh h a Gough waived his claim upon t e office . On his arriv l at Calcutta he was offered the post of Commande r-in he e e e e the e Chief in India, and at onc nt r d upon duti s th of e office . the During his te nure of command in India, Sir e ee Hugh Gough conduct d thr important campaigns, e six e e suc p ersonally command d in gr at battl s , and ceeded in subj ecting to British rul e the M ahrattas of

Gwalior and the Sikhs ofthe Punjab . His military policy has often b ee n misrepre se nted and misunder e e e e stood, and it is only within v ry r c nt y ars that anything like justic e has been don e to his reputation a e e s a wis e as well as a brave soldier. Of th s con troversi es we e e e e e e i s hav spok n ls wh r , and this not the e fi e place to discuss th m . It is suf ci nt to say that, 18 the e a in 43, Sir Hugh Gough won battl of M ha ra ore 18 - 6 the e Moodkee eroz eshah jp ; in 45 , battl s of , F , 18 the e Chillianwalla and Sobraon ; and, in 49, battl s of and Th Guj erat . e guiding rule of his military policy was to prevent the prolongation of a campaign into the e e e e e he e e hot w ath r, and in v ry instanc achi v d he Mahara f his obj ect . T jpore campaign laste d a ew the e ee the days , first Sikh War about nin w ks , and conquest of the Punjab occupied less than four months ; and if the casualti e s at Ferozeshah and at Chillian ~ l e e e e e e e wa la w r h avy, it is not l ss c rtain that numb rl ss live s w ere saved by confining ope rations to the winter the e the a t th e months , and conqu st of M hrat as and Sikhs was complete d with comparatively little loss of

e . e e i lif Long and car ful pr parat on , follow ed by swift e e the e was the e c mov m nts in fi ld , ge neral charact risti

his - of campaigns . Like most commanders inc hiefin he was India, hampere d by the political considera

o s h fl e e e - h L r ti n w ich in u nc gov rnors ge neral . Bot o d TH E FAM I LY OF GOUGH 101

Hardinge and Lord Dalhousie had reason to regret e e e that th y did not soon r adopt his vi ws, and if his rep eated appeals to remove the magazine from so e e e ee e e the dang rous a plac as D lhi had b n att nd d to, task of the British forces during the Mutiny would e ee e hav b n much easi r . ’ The favourite charge against Lord Gough s gene ral The e of ship is ofreckl essness . sourc this impression m ay be trac ed partly to the h eroic p ersonal courage

the a e -in- e e of Comm nd r Chi f, and partly to his invariabl e e ee e e e e rul that, onc an action had b n comm nc d , th r e of Th e must be no sugg stion withdrawal . saying e e commonly attribut d to him , and always quot d in his ‘ e e e e e e be Irish brogu , I n v r was bat , and I n v r will ’

e e e e e . bat , r pr s nts an unvarying principl of action It was e h e e e e e e e e always wis , h ld , to p rs v r , at what v r m e e e ff the e em the i m diat cost, rath r than to a ord n y e e e o He e e satisfaction of v n a t mp rary withdrawal . n v r entered upon an action without thoroughly appreciating the he e e he e e risk had und rtak n , and nev r doubt d e e e e e en that his r sourc s w r suffici nt to accomplish his d . His f e e e e own lo ty courag , and his r fusal to admit v n th e e or e e e the possibility of disast r d f at, inspir d army e e his to great dee ds . His magn tic p rsonality and e m e e ee the nthusias w r worth , it has b n said, addition of e v his o he e e e anoth r di ision to tro ps, and succ d d in communicating to the m en his own appreciation of e he e e e he the joy of battl . T passionat w lcom s which rec eived on the evening of Chillianwalla and on the morning of Guj erat left an indelible impression upon all who witn essed th em . Th ere are numerous pi eces of evidence of this mag ‘ ’ e . e e as e n etic pow r With such a l ad r Sir Hugh , wrot ‘ e Colonel Mountain , from China, I should hav no h esitation in marching anywh ere through th e country e a so as we l be with a small forc of inf ntry, long cou d ’ ’ i e u i r prov sion d . In congrat lat ng Lo d Gough s son 102 STORY OF AN I RISH PROPE RTY

' ‘ ee e : upon his father s p rag , Sir Harry Smith said I He e e only obeye d his orde rs . stripp d hims lf of troops He e e e to plac e th em under my command . n v r funk d him the wh e n evil rumours got abroad . For I won ’ The e e e battle of Aliwal . surviving offic rs who w r ’ attach e d to the chiefs person b ear emphatic witne ss the e e to this, but f ling was common to all ranks , e e e e e e Europ ean and native . Th r is an int r sting l tt r e e o fthe e e ee from a s rg ant B ngal Artill ry, who had b n ei ee e the e e reading, ght n months aft r battl of Guj rat was e on . e e some newspap r attacks Lord Gough Th r , ‘ ’ h e n e e e says, no da g r, no matt r how gr at, nor any e e e e e e m be e und rtaking, how v r d sp rat it ight , but th y the e e e e him ee ( troops) would hav att mpt d it und r ind d , e he e e e e e wh n was pr s nt , th y look d upon succ ss as ’ h e . e t e c rtain Wh n Sir Patrick Grant was in India, at

the he e me e - in- time of Mutiny, wrot ho to his fath r law an account of an incide nt which occurred to an offic e r who took part in the siege ofD elhi H e was always assailed (by the Goorkhas) with the sam e question " " Wh e n is th e Lord Sahib coming ? and h e always " e e He e us d to answ r, is coming v ry soon now . But " o ne e day it occurr d to him to ask , What Lord Sahib do you m ean wh e n th ere was an instantan eous shout " in e be — r ply, Lord Gough Sahib to sure ifh e comes h e e e one will win victory imm diat ly, and no but him h " can take that place . Why is e not sent for ? e e e Support d by such a confid nc as this, a man may dare and do much that might oth erwise be justly e ri e e e e d sc b d as r ckl ss , and wh n Lord Gough estimate d the e m th e e e him forc s at his com and , and task b for , h ‘ ’ e e e e e . e e e this was an l m nt could not ignor I b li v , ‘ ’ he a e e r s id , that my confid nc in my a my saved India . e e e For his gr at and illustrious s rvic s in India, in the the e el th e which , in words of Duk of W lington , ‘ commander-in- chie f himse lf afforded the brighte st ex ’ e. the e e th e ampl of high st qualiti s of e British soldi r ,

104 STORY OF AN I RISH PROPERTY

th e e his his uniform as colonel of Blu s, and holding in

fi - T e e ri ght hand the baton of a eld marshal . h bronz from which the statue was cast consisted offiftee n tons of gun - m etal from cannon captured by Lord Gough e e in China and in India, and giv n , for this purpos , by m The e e e the the Gove rn ent . statu was unv il d by

e o f e - e e seventh Duk Marlborough , th n Lord Li ut nant o The -f e of e f Ireland . thirty irst anniv rsary Guj rat e u e e e the e (F br ary was s l ct d for purpos , and eulogies to the memory of Lord Gough were paid by the - e e e e e Lord Li ut nant and by G n ral Sir John M ich l , h The c commanding t e force s in Irela nd . losing words ’ of Sir John Mich el s speech should be placed on record here

Honoured I have been (he said) by the temporary d eposit m m m of e e in y hands of this e orial glory . I now surr nd r h f ’ t e e o e . ee me it to saf guard Ir land s sons K p it, Irish n, as m e s e as an everlasting me ento ofyour glory. Tr a ur it e e as th e e ofone was a sacr d d posit. Glory in it statu who one e e e e e an honour to your country, whos whol lif , wh th r or m was one e ee e civil ilitary, continu d car r of kindn ss, e o f e of e m e honour, hon sty purpos , nobility h art, co bin d with th e e al th e m e i m pur st loy ty, and ost nthusiast c patriotis . He was e his m H e w lov d and honoure d by country en . as ar ex cellence ou r e e sa ns ea r et sans re roche p Irish ch vali r, p p , he was e m and, to wind up all , h art and soul an Irish an .

the ee the e e w e From car r of gr at Irish soldi r, pass to the property which he acquired as one of the rewards

- of his life work .

I I I

Th e estate whi ch now passed into the possession of th e Viscount Gough consi sted of the castl e and

c he fa f e e for ea h s S a e cas om whi h ith t s rv d 75 y rs , t i t tu , t fr cannon aken oo s nde hi s comm an and an t by Tr p u r d , gr ted by ar i am en for the ose a d P l t purp , w s erected by his Friends an TH E FAM I LY OF GOUGH 105

e grounds of Lough Cutra , som townlands of Gort , Glenbrack Kinincha the including , , and Lavally parks and properties of Ri ndifin and Ru ssau n ; a more re c ent demesne known as Prosp ect ; and th e following town lands

1 Cloonnahaha Caherbrian Cloghnakeava Cregboy Kilbeacanty Laughil e D err callan B agh y (N orth and South , Carrowgariff and D errycallan Common) Laughtyshaughnessy Ti raloughan Tullybrattan Pollagh Bu nnasrah Killafeen Ballyboy Killeen Cregmahon

These estates do not form an ideal geographical the e ofthe e be e unity, but if circumstanc s purchas tak n the e be into account , g ographical distribution may , on the e e e e The a e whol , r gard d as fortunat . c stl of Lough e e the en e ofh Th e e Cutra li s n ar c tr t e prop erty. surfac ofthe e e e e e Lough is about ight squar mil s in xt nt, and — constitutes a separate townland by its elf the townland th e e Th e e ee e e e of lak of Lough Cutra . castl had b n r ct d e a Th ee on a sit which w s e ntirely wild . e situation had b n e e e on the e e chos n with gr at car , and a mound ast sid of th e lak e still b ears the name of Situation Hill to commemorate the fact that it was for some time a rival The site for a residence in the Italian style . spot actu ally chose n i s near the south - w estern corn er of the e the e e the e com lak , and hous , running parall l to wat r, mands a magnific e nt view across the lake to the moun e e e the e e tains b yond . Mr. Nash had d sign d t rrac , one the fe e the e which is of most striking atur s of hous , and the Gort fami ly had paid great atte ntion to the

For meanin of l ace- names se e en i g p App d x. 106 STORY OF AN I RIS H PROPE RTY

ee e e u e planting of tr s, achi ving most succ ssf l r sults , and had made the de er park and two long approach es

known as the Gort and Limerick ave nues . But wh e n Viscount Gough entered into possession much still e to be e e ofthe e remain d don , and som pr vious work had already been undon e - by the sale oftimber while e e The the community of Loretto w er in poss ssion . first viscount turn ed a morass into the American garden o n the - e of the e e e the south w st castl , and nlarg d e e e th e hous , r nd ring it more suitable for accommoda ofthe e e e e tion family and s rvants, by xt nsiv additions

- on the e the e . e south w st, including clock tow r Wh n the e e e e e the iel building op rations w r compl t , F d the e 18 8 e e Marshal and Lady Gough , in y ar 5 , d cid d that th ey were too old to undertake the task ofarrang the e e e I e ing stablishm ent . On th ir r turn from ndia th y had at first intended to occupy th eir old house at Rath ’ 18 1 e e ronan , but, in 5 , they settled down at St . H l n s ,

e e the . e e Boot rstown , and th ir son , Captain Hon G org e the e e e o Gough , aft rwards s cond viscount, r mov d fr m he e e e retir Corrimony , which had r nted for a y ar (aft r the e e e ing from Gr nadi r Guards), and liv d at Rath

. 18 he em e ronan I n May, 59, r ov d to Lough Cutra ,

th - which e Field Marshal handed over to him . For the remainder of his life the first viscount re side d at ’

. e e he St H l n s , but paid visits to Lough Cutra, and ’ o ne of the bedrooms is known as Lord Gough s room e e son be e e It is, how v r, to his , whom it will conv ni nt to describe as the se cond viscount (though he did not ee e the e e succ d till that Lough Cutra Castl , and stat e e e e the as a whol , ow s most . Und r his car furnishing

e e e e ou t . e and d corating w r carri d by Mr Crac , a dis ’ tin u ished the e are d ue the g artist of p riod, to whom e d corations ofthe new Hous e o fLords at Westminster. The e e e s cond viscount was a most l arn d botanist, and e e e e m took gr at int r st in oth r scie ntific studies , any of which he was able to turn to account in the adornment

TH E FAM ILY OF GOUGH 107

e of Lough Cutra and in the management of his estat s . On this last subj ect we shall speak later : meanwhile

we are concern ed with the treatment ofthe grounds . The e e ee the e e the e slop s and walk b tw n t rrac and lak , and the sunk garde n on the north - east side of the e e e e e of e castl , w r construct d in spit many difficulti s e arising from the nature of the ground . A gr at storm e e the e ee on the e e d stroy d larg tr s n ar st island , known as e the e e the Appl Island, and happy id a occurr d to e s econd Viscountess of laying it out as a garde n . Whil this operation was in progress many relics offorme r

e e - e occupation were found . A larg numb r of gun m tal e the of e e coins, b longing to Irish visit Jam s I I , indicat d that the island had be e n used as a plac e of refuge and concealment in the wars which follow ed the Revolution of16 The e e to the 89. ruins of a church or c ll point d early days of Irish Christianity ; and a number of ston e implements survive as traces ofpre historic civiliza~

r - Th e e e tion and p e Christian days . oth r islands hav ee e e w e e e e e b n l ft undisturb d, as hav alr ady d scrib d e e e The e th m in an arlier chapt r . hous and grounds e e e e e the r main much as th y w r finally plann d by , e e e m e s cond viscount, xc pt for an i portant addition mad

1 00 the who ee e 18 . in 9 by third viscount, succ d d in 95 ’ fe the e of e e he e the e A t r sal St . H l n s add d larg wing i the e are e e the conta ning M us um , in which coll ct d ’ treasures which commemorate the Fi eld- Marshal s ser e r the e vic s to his count y in P ninsula, in China, and in

- India . The Tudor roses carved on the chimn ey piece ofthe M use um are reproductions of the beautiful carvings in the uppermost room of Ardimullivan e Castl . the e e e we e e two Of oth r prop rti s which hav nam d , — possess a spe cial interest the e state s of Rindifin and R u s s au n. We have already seen that Sir Thomas e e the e e e e e Pr nd rgast, s cond baron t, cr at d a b autiful Rindifin e park at , and built a house which he intend d 108 STORY OF AN I RI SH PROPERTY

e The e was to be the family s at . hous unfortunately e fi re e e e he destroy d by , and was n v r r built for t of the e occupation family, but a small r house was th e e e let e erected and plac was ultimat ly for many y ars . e has ee e e This hous also b n pull d down , but a larg e on the e 18 6 the cottag was built sit about 9 , and

~ grounds remain to beautify the vicinity ofGort . Rus of e e e e e saun is som what unc rtain dat , and its d finit e e the e ee e history do s not go b yond nin t nth c ntury , e in the e arly part of which the demesn e was cr ated . The house was long occupied by Captain Thomas f e e the 6th e e Lahif , who had s rv d in 3 r gim nt of Foot the 1 th e e and in 7 Lanc rs, and with Sir Ralph Ab r m e e e e the cro by in Egypt, and who d vot d half his lif tim to h e e improve ment and embellishm ent of t e plac e . Th r ’ is a tradition that a member of the O Shaughnessy e e Ru ssau n e was family r sid d at , and that his prop rty 1 e the e the e ee t e purchas d , in b ginning of ight n h c ntury, lira M rt nn Tu . . e a by Mr Oliv r y , of Captain Thomas ’ Lahiffs inte rest in Ru ssaun passed by inh eritance M rs . o f m e to John Lloyd Bagot, B ally o and Bally Ball tu ri n e Russau n 188 . turin , who h ld till 5 y is a

e h - e e e prop rty at t e north east e nd of th e lak . It n v r ’ e e the O hau hness s was one th e b long d to S g y , but of e the Mac Redmond e poss ssions of Burk s , who built e e the e e a small castl on it. Aft r r volution it pass d the the e into hands of family of Kirwan , an anci nt e e e Galway trib , and th enc , by marriag , to that of Bagot, h e . ne t e of Ballymo O of Kirwan family, Richard Kirwan (1 733 was a distinguish ed che mist ; his me l e the e r he has na sti l liv s in history of ch mist y , and the credit of introducing into Ireland the study of the e e e sci nc of min ralogy. Some historical interest atta ch es to othe r properties me e in ist—to ea w its n e e ntion d our l B gh , ith a ci nt ruin d

M 1 - y . Fahey, pp . 43 8 .

AR DI MULLI VAN CASTLE THE FAM I LY OF G OUGH 199

th e e e Lau ht shau hness church on riv rsid , and to g y g y, ’ wh ere th ere existe d a numb er ofO Shaughnessy famil ies wh o had quarrelled with th eir chief and lived under the prote ction ofthe Forste rs ofCloon ee n . The parish of B eagh is also associated with a famous character in ‘ ’ e e e e Irish history, Sir Toby Butl r, who h lp d to n go ti ate the e of e i e Tr aty Lim rick , and who long l v d in 1 local tradition as

A thirsty old soul ’ fath m d As ere cracke d a bottle or o a bowl .

e e e e e e Sir Th obald (Toby) Butl r marri d H l na, daught r ’ of e s e we e ee Sir Rog r O haughn ssy, and was , as hav s n , responsible for the destruction of the timber at Gorta th carnaun in th e e arly part of e eighteenth c entury . H e purchased the woods for and sold the trees e e e The e e e e at sixp nc ach . r al valu is suppos d to hav b een abo ut according to the report already quoted . Gortacarnaun e e , which still includ s a b autiful wood , e the was not obtain d by first Viscount Gough , but was e e e e e the e r cov r d , at a lat r p riod , by s cond viscount, as w ere also the propert ies of Ardimullivan and e e e e e h Cloon e n . A sp cial int r st naturally attach s to t e ’ a e ofArdimullivan was one the O Shau h c stl . It of g e e e e the e its e e i s w n ssy r sid nc s ; dat of r ction unkno n , was the ee e but it probably built in sixt nth c ntury, and e e e e e e e has r c iv d lat r additions . It n v r was a larg or e e the ee r" v ry important structur , and only k p now the e l m mains, out r wa ls and fortifications having ostly The e Ardimullivan disappeared . part play d by in I rish one W e e l d history i s a very slight . hav a rea y spoke n the e e ma b of trag dy with which it is associat d , but it y e Th t inte resting to recall it h ere . e cas le was claim ed by ’ e s e as e e D rmot O haughn ssy, known D rmot R agh , or

bli n enn l o - D u P ourna v l. . 1 2 . y j , i , pp 4 3 1 10 STORY OF AN I RIS H PRO PE RTY

’ e e O hau hn ss S e . the Swarthy, and by his n ph w, John g y e e e e Popular sympathy was ntir ly with John , b caus D ermot the Swarthy was suppose d to have had a e u e shar in giving p Archbishop Cr agh of Armagh , who had (about 1570) e scap ed from the Tower of

e e he was e . 1 e London , wh r a prison r I n 579 uncl and e e met w e e e the e n ph w , ith hostil forc s, n ar south gat e e e of Ardimullivan. I n a p rsonal ncount r J ohn ’ hau h ess e he e e O S g n y was kill d , but had giv n D rmot m W e t e e a ortal ound , and both br a h d th ir last within e of e e e the spac half an hour. Th r is no r cord of any habitation in Ardimullivan after the fall of th e ’ O Shau hness s e e e g y , and it f ll into a d plorabl condition , e e was e e the wh nc it r scu d by third Viscount Gough ,

who 1 00 e e e . , in 9 , r pair d it and put it in good ord r imull van e Fidane or iddaun Ard i has a sister castl at F , six e the e the mil s distant , which is, by p rmission of d h e the o e . e e e e t e wn r, Mr Blaqui r , und r charg of Com e e e e mission rs of Public Works for Ir land , who r pair d 1 0 be e e e e it thoroughly in 9 3 . Fiddaun , it will r m mb r d, ’ was the residence ofthe widow of Roger O Shaugh e who e e e e e e n ssy, , by a s cond marriag , b cam H l na ’

O Kell e 1 2 . con y, and who di d at Fiddaun in 7 9 For a siderable e e her e e as e p riod aft r d ath , and c rtainly lat as 1 61 iddaun e th e 7 , F r mained in e poss ssion of an ’ e e O Kelly. Fiddaun is in some ways more int r sting than Ardimullivan the courtyard is exceptionally e e Ardimullivan larg , whil that at is unusually small , h and t e fortifications are comparatively we ll prese rved . Both castles are ordinary fortified houses of th e six te enth e ofthe e so e c ntu ry, typ common in Ir land, and similar to the Border k eeps which abound in the south of Scotland . The e e ee or Clon n e stat of Cloon n , y , was for som me e e as Ashfield the e ti g n rally known , but older nam has ee e e now b n r stor d . It belonged to the portion of ’ the O Shaughnessy prop erty which was not recovered

1 12 STORY OF AN I RIS H PROPERTY

The most important figure in the recent history of the Lough Cutra prop erty is unqu estionably that of e e e e the e G org , s cond Viscount Gough , who mad castl e e e e e e e his hom , and to whos wis car and g n rous manag e th e e the are e e m nt prop rty, and district, ind bt d for The was their present prosp erity. first viscount a e e e e led e soldi r, whos lov for Ir land him to purchas e e e e Irish land , and to inv st his fortun in Irish s curiti s ; son e e e e e was his was a country g ntl man , whos int r st divided b etwee n the managem ent ofhis Irish prop erty th of e e e e e and e study natural sci nc , in s v ral branch s ofwhich (esp ecially botany and palaeontology) h e was e e a distinguished authority. His incom was not larg the e the e in proportion to d mands upon it, and r mark able re sults which h e achieved in the improvem ent of th e e are e not e e Lough Cutra prop rty a tribut , m r ly to e e u se of e e e e e a g n rous w alth , but v n mor to an abl The e e the and devoted administration . manag m nt of e state was his life-work : he put his whole fortune th e e the e into prop rty, and it was first charg upon his e Th e e the e tim . actual paym nts for labour upon e stat his e e e e su m during lif tim amount to a v ry larg , and we e ee the e of he hav s n how , with h lp Lady Gough , exp ended both care and money upon the castl e and its e e con surroundings, and his pow rs of inv ntion and struction have made the plac e one of the most beautiful S e pots in a b autiful land . Nor is it o nly the castle and grounds of Lough e e e e Cutra that p rp tuat his me mory . Like the squir ‘ ’ of Locksley Hall he strove

e me e e men to h lp his ho li r broth r , e e the the e th S rv d poor, and built cottag , raise d e school, i e th fen and dra n d e . THE FAM I LY OF GOU GH 1 13

Those who are most familiar with Irish ninetee nth century history will best understand what the condition of the property must have been wh e n he took up e e e the e e e e r sid nc in castl , and family l tt rs , still xtant, describe the pove rty ofthe district and indicate the r esolution with w hich h e set to work to restore the e ofthe e population to comfort . In pursuanc syst m which at that date was deemed most ben eficial to an he e e in Irish country district, provid d , at any p rsonal e e e e em e e e conv ni nc , r gular ploym nt, and us ful mploy e ee e u ee the e m nt, to all who n d d it, th s fr ing poor r

p eople from depende nce and casual charity. By a system of deep drainage for som e miles from Tully brattan Lau ht shau hness Bu nnasrah (through g y g y, , and Cre mahon h e led the e e the g ) , sup rabundant wat r from ’ farmers fields into a swallow hole which he discovered at the village of Shanaglish ; and many an acre has ee e eb e e e e b n th r y r claim d from wast , nsuring pros ri The e m e e t e e wet e . p y v n in s asons hom far , form rly ’ Gort s e e scien Lord park , was gradually r claim d and tifi cally cultivated so as to s e rve as a model and en

ur eme h a m The ' wind- e e co ag nt to t e f r ers . sw pt r gion e e e re gradually, but st adily, chang d its asp ct, many sco s of acres offorests and belts oftrees b eing added to those already planted by the Gort family as a step to th re - ff e e a or station of Ireland . A frugal husbandry and incessant application effected improvem ents which ee e e e far e e he e e e s m d to d not a larg r purs than v r own d , e e e h e de and num rous car fully built cottag s , which ‘ ed de e light in constructing, provi d comfort for th ir h 1 e . the e 866 inmat s From schools, which built in , the e e e e of e of e at arn st r qu st a d putation small farm rs, increasingly eager for e ducation in proportion as he e e e e e e m e 800 00 rais d th ir ind p nd nc , so boys and 7 e e e e girls hav gon forth , a larg numb r of whom have risen to responsible posts in the s e rvic e of ‘the

" M = landi Th e r and Mrs. C llon King . e teach rs ( . and 1 14 STORY OF AN I RI S H PROPERTY

Miss Littl e) having enjoyed the now exceptional advantage of training in the great college of Tyron e e e e e e e e Hous , thr w th ms lv s into th ir duti s with ardour e e the e e and d votion , and hav had happin ss to find th ir e e 200 labou rs appreciat d and succ ssful . About pupils r the the e are e a e now on school roll ; numb rs incr asing , l The and the ave rage atte ndance is exce l ent . school e e e 188 are e e e rooms w r doubl d in 9, and about to r c iv

furth er extension . The circumstanc es in which the estate passed into the Gough family e nhance th e distinction of this record h The f o ft e work of the second viscount . mis ortunes of its own ers and of its te nants in the end of the s econd e the e ee e e e quart r of nin t nth c ntury had , in spit of brav lla eff e e e e and ga nt orts , l ft many unfortunat l gaci s , and to these was added the furth er misfortune that it passed into the hands of th e first Viscount Gough aft er many delays and injured by a sad di sm emberm ent . The reunion of the various portions and the recovery of such historic e e as ee e Ri ndifin e ntiti s Cloon n , Russan , , and Prosp ct were accomplished only at great cost and after much h trouble . T e secret of his succ ess was close personal e 18 0 he e con" sup rvision , and, in fact , until 9 , hims lf ducte d th e manage m e nt of the home farm and the — e e . e ere hi s o e e e his stat His wid r int sts l v of sci nc , e e e e e the he int r st in railway d v lopm nt, and part took — in public affairs in Dublin as well as in Galway pre ve nted this devotion to Lough Cutra from narrowing his sympathies or unduly limiting the application of his

e . was tal nts But it for Lough Cutra that he lived . It would not be proper to speak h ere of the livi ng the e t e e The or of probl ms hat r main for s ttlement . hope of those who love Ireland must always li e in the e ee cr ation of a f ling of unity among all Irishm en . e e are r e e for l e Th r no st ang rs in Ir land, a l who liv e e e e th r b com I rish . Two centuries have pass ed since the last occasion on which any new settlement was

‘ 1 16 STO RY OF AN I RI SH P ROPE RTY

e e the e in the great Stuart quarr l, losing, lik K iths of e th e m e t e Ab erdeenshir , and Drum onds of P r hshir , and o e e e many anoth er Sc ttish and English g ntl man , th ir h e was possessions for th eir loyalty to t e White Ros . It e an ofthe ee no uncommon fat , in y thr kingdoms, and e e met e I rish , English , and Scottish xil s and mourn d The e e e ee in foreign lands . quarr l was no quarr l b tw n England and Ireland ; but a great di3 pute which ran through all the lands which owned allegiance to the

e . was Crown of Ir land, England, and Scotland Sad as the e of e e e e i s e e fat all such xil s, th r , at l ast, som thing be the e e for which to thankful, now that disput its lf and the sufferings of the de feated party have rec eded th he e two hundred years into e distanc e . T m mory and ’ the inh eritance of the O Shaughnessys have been pre e e the e e the e e s rv d ; m mory is still fr sh , and inh ritanc i on f e e s e e . o still and undivid d Two th ir castl s , Fid Ardimu llivan e ee e e e e e daun and , hav b n r stor d by r v r nt

are e e e . subse hands, and piously pr s rv d from ruin N o e e e e e e e qu nt propri tor has v r liv d in th m , and th y ’ e a hn hav no traditions except those ofthe O Sh ug essys . Their faithful dependants were left undisturbed by their

e e e e . succ ssors, and th ir d sc ndants remain to this day e i e ee the re Not victions, but introduct ons, hav b n p e or ee th h pond rating, ind d e exclusive feature of t e eme the manag nt of Lough Cutra, and school population has so greatly increased during the last forty years we e ee new b that, as hav s n, a school has had to e e h e e . T e e e the built and twic nlarg d Pr nd rgasts, in e e days of th ir prosp rity, proved th e mselves worthy of the h e ritage which had com e to them by the accidents of the o f e e political turmoil , and in days th ir adv rsity, e e e e e wh n famin walk d by noonday, th ir d votion was e the e e e e be non l ss g nuin that it prov d to unsuccessful . the the Both Gort family and Gough family have, the e during last c ntury and a half, devoted th eir whole

e, e e e o e th e e e car and all th ir r sourc s, t incr asing w lfar . TH E FAM I LY O F GO U GH 1 17

’ fthe h hn e e o O S aug essy state s . Prend rgast and Gough prope rties e lse wh ere in Ireland have b een sold in orde r s e to e e e to av or d v lop Lough Cutra, and no sacrific o f me e ee e i e ti or mon y has b n grudg d in its nt rest . are the of e In such ways wrongs history right d , and e e so are the e d its rough plac s mad smooth , and r cor s of a trou bled past conve rted into living forces which m for ake peace and goodwill . AP P EN D I"I

PLACE- NAM ES

FOR information regarding the following nam es we are

H . i e e . . nd bt d to Mr J . Lloyd t arnaun th e e ofth e r Gor ec e o . , fi ld h ap carn Glenbrack e e e e , sp ckl d gl n or vall y. inin h th e ofth a K c a e e m . , h ad isl nd or hol al or Lavally, h f town half townland . i R ind fin the the e . , point of littl cauldron h h f Cloonna aha t e o th e . , lawn kiln l naca a the h C o h v e t e m . g , ston of long oss or grass ’ i n K lbe cant . Be at s . y, St g Church

R u ssau n e . , und rwood

- e . B agh , birch land ff e Carrowgarri , rough quart r. ’ ' h hau n O au hn s m Lau t s h ess Sh ess e . g y g y, g y Monu nt

Tull brattan the ofth e . y , hillock Britons

Bunnasrah the m o fth e o r m . , botto straths hol s

e . Ballyboy, y llow town (or townland) ’ ’ M an Cre mahon O ah s . g , rock or crag ’ i n B r f Cah erbr a o e . , rian s cathair circular ston ort

Cre bo e . g y, y llow crag or rock ’ lli an Maoldubh r Ardimu v an s o e . , hills h ights The anglicize d forms are of som e inte re st ’ Ardame lavan e 3 e e . , by Surv yor Sk tch Map ’

mili . Ardna vane R v. O ha hn e S u ess . . , Michl g y, P P A il e dam evan . e r e . , Mr John B ll, Barony Constabl d lav Ar amee an e . , Engrav d County Map

Ard emu llevane e . , Print d Townland List ’

i H V e k . Ard m li on. . e r er s e e ee van . e , F P R nt L dg r ’

Ard emil n ort e Slat r. eva G s . o , Lord Ag nt, Mr i e lrnwood . Laugh l, De rr callan the the l e me y , oakwood of cal ows (riv r adows Ti ralou h h h an t e n t e or m . g , la d of pool s all lough ’ K ee . Afiin s illaf n, St Church . e e m u . Kill n , s all ch rch idd m ane r o . F , a s all b o k

1 20 STO RY O F AN I RISH PROPE RTY

" "the e e e e Hark hark cri s incr as , ach horn sounds a bass

i e e i s e . Away to ch vy chas , poor R ynard in vi w the e e h e e All around sunny lak s Lough Coutr now tak s, hi But they without mistake s footsteps do pursue .

’ Vereker s the e grounds, Punchbowl, th y surround ; e the hi s ee Poor Reynard dr ads hound and doubles car r . Th h e e a e th e e e land do s fors k and swings across lak , i m e e e But to h s great istak th Blaze rs still k eep n ar .

But wh en h e reach ed the shore ten thousand shouts and more m e the e of With accla ation bor tal his downfall, On Ballyturi n hill h e fre ely made his will m With cunning art and skill to compliment th e all .

Those Blaz e rs we can trace from the gre at M ilesian race Whose birth without disgrace ou r poe t can extol — Blake s and Burkes you know Young Kirwan also Great Pe rsse ofRoxborough wh ere Pe ers do ofte n call ;

e e are Yelvertons l Th r and Bradys, Dil ons, Darcys, Dalys, e m e e Donnellans k e e Butl rs, La b rts, M ill rs and , li wis u ents e e e R athbu rns N g , K llys , Fr nch s, , and — Hamiltons and Lynche s all whe re Reynard died .

l o i s e e ofCastl ebo Our County Ga way j y P rss y, ’ m e h c t e r e . e e Who orna nts y on ach St St ph n s day, e e e l to ffth e m a e Whos foxhounds n v r fai snu orning g l , e i But truly th y tra l and that without de la y.

His ee e m re e e eve the e st ds b yond co pa w r n r in r ar,

e e e is e . Both ship and spur could spar , whil R ynard in vi w ’ ’ e e s ou r e the l So h r to all fri nds, and Blazers next we l sing ’ e me i s the our e e e Whil ti on wing pl asur w ll pursu e. APPEN DI" I I I

THE DI STRICT AT TH E ACCESSIO N OF QUEEN VICTORIA

’ TH E following details from Lewis s Topographical D icti ona ry ofI reland (1 837) are worth placing on record h ere :

G t . m e w e of e or A ark t to n in parish s Kiltartan , B agh and

ilm ac u h . K d a 1 m . m 8 m . m g , 7 I fro Galway, 9 I . fro Dublin,

6 e . e . e e with inhabitants in 5 3 hous s, i n at ston buildings . Has e m 1 806 e e 1 8 6 e larg flour ill built in , nlarg d in 3 , prop rty f o . a can m e e s er n m . J M ngan, ak barr l of flour p a nu

e e e e 1 8 1 . e e 1 8 1 m Court hous r ct d 5 Brid w ll built in 4, too s all , to be rebuilt . B arracks have long existed ; lately e e e ffi e H 8 f e e e . xp nd d on hous s for o c rs and stor s old o fic rs, 88 m n 1 1 6 e Kilmac u h e . d a , hors s Church (Parish Church of g )

1 0 e ee e e e e e . built in 74 with wood n st pl , sit giv n by Pr nd rgast Present church built in 1 8 1 0 (because church at Kilmacduagh was m o of s ruinous) by a loan of fro B ard First Fruit , repaired by a loan from that Board in 1 82 8 Board gave £300 and lent £500 in 1 8 12 towards erection ofDeane ry

H e e . m e i 1 82 ous (4% acr s) Ro an Catholic Chap l bu lt in 5, cost h as a painting of th e Holy Trinity given by e il m Lord Gort . L . C . Castl original bu ding fro designs by ki s e has a . e Gurtnamac n Na h . Lak 7 Isl nds Riv r ( ) runs ’ e the e e e e und r ground at Ladl , r app ars at Punchbowl, th n ‘ ’ e e e m H e e at Blackwat r, th n at B ggar an s ol th n at Churn 1 0 ee me e e e m e f t in dia t r, lastly r app ars fro und r an arch, m e i co s out at K nvara . ’ B e h or S t . n s h s has ag A ne as inhabitant . Parish e are e H e statu te acres besides bog . S ats Cr gg ous

e Ball aa an . e Ashfi eld (F. Butl r, g g (W Butl r,

Mc e i e e . L o d ell (D . N v n, Castl Lodg (C p ,

e e Mrs . Lo dell Tall m ount . e Riv r Vi w ( p ) ; y (J Butl r,

Rh difin . e e e Mrs . n Prosp ct ( Nolan) ; y (E Blaqui r ,

e H e H . ee e Ros Park ugo, Ros ill (A K l y, 122 STORY OF AN I RIS H PROPERTY

n 1 2 e 2 0 e Large Fairs o July and S pt . at villag of

£ d. e 2 1 8 1 3 . 6 e Tobberi ndony. Tith s Irish Chap l about to

M Es . 6 H e e e e . c e e be e rect d on sit giv n by D N vin, q dg n 0 Fidane e Schools i Parish (34 children) . Castl in good e prese rvation . Castl town ditto . P Ball l is offi ne K iltart an ari sh . At y ee a quarry black — B ll m u nta m e . e e . e a ne arbl S ats Cool (R Gr gory, y ’ H a Ball l m H Es . a ee . O ar ee (E . Lo bard unt, q ) R h n (J ) ; y

e . Castl (P Carrig, h Ki l a cdua . e m g Inhabitants . Monast ry built by

m 62 0 e e Guair of . St . Col an about , ndow d by , King Connaught drect e 8 1 e e 128 Bishop N e di d 4 . Bishop Mauric (di d 3) erected monastry for Augustinian canons (granted to Earl

1 60 e e e e . of Clanrickard) . In 7 Dioc s unit d with Clonf rt Some remains ofmonaste ry built on site ofAbbey founded W oft e m e N . he e by St . Col an xist to . Cath dral on a n ck of 2 e e em of the land between loughs . Th s r ains consist the of i s the Church, to south which Sacristy, and adjoining it an arched room ; to the south of these the Chapel and

e e . the N . 2 ee m the i s old R f ctory To , f t fro church, an wall

e e e e e . (part of plac for p nanc ), and n ar it a holy w ll In a lake in Parish called Lough De ehan an oaken house was e e 1 8 discov r d in 7 4. Kil a r K l h e o i v ecant P ari n . b ac nty y s . Inhabita ts e — e e e of ff L sbrian S ats Russan, r sid nc Captain Lahi ; y

. e Ball turi n H (J Burk , y (M ina oward, Cloon

e . e 1 8 (unoccupi d) Chap l built 37 . National School built ’

1 8 6 f . H ra E e e o O a s . 3 on stat J , q