The Book of Ballymote: Scholars, Sources and Patrons’

Ruairí Ó hUiginn, Acadamh Ríoga na hÉireann, 5 Feabhra 2015

‘The Book of Ballymote: scholars, sources and patrons’

A PATRON

Tomaltach mac Taidhg m. Mhuirgheasa Mac Donnchadha (r. 1383-97) Clann Mhaoil Ruanaidh Thuas (Mac Diarmada) Clann Mhaoil Ruanaidh Thíos (Mac Donnchadha)

1383 Tomaltach (Mór) Mac Donnchadha succeeds his father, Tadhg, as Lord. 1384 Death of Ruaidhrí Ó Conchubhair. Ó Conchubhair Lordship splits into two branches: Ó Conchubhair Ruadh (supported by Meic Dhiarmada, Clann Mhuircheartaigh, Clann Chathail Óig Uí Chonchubhair (of Sligo), Mac William Burkes and other Síol Muireadhaigh nobles). Ó Conchubhair Donn (supported by Uí Cheallaigh, Clanrickarde Burkes, Domhnall mac Muircheartaigh Ó Conchubhair (of Sligo), Clann Donnchadha). Domhnall mac Muircheartaigh (Sligo) and followers attack Moylurg and destroy Mac Diarmada’s stronghold. 1385 Tomaltach mac Donnchadha, Ó Ruairc and their gallóglaigh attack Moylurg and burn Mac Diarmada’s stronghold. Ó Conchubhair Donn, Clann Donnchadha and Uí Ruairc attack Corcu Achlann (Mac Diarmada). Feidlimidh Ó Conchubhair Ruadh & Conchobhar Mac Diarmada attack Tirerril but are repelled; Mac Diarmada captured & Ó Conchubhair wounded. Clann Donnchadha attack Ceara (Mayo) but are repelled by Clann Chathail Óig (Sligo). 1386 Domhnall mac Muircheartaigh Ó Conchubhair (Sligo) supported by Clann Donnchadha, Ó Dubhda and Muintir Eaghra attack Tirawley (McWilliam Burke). Ó Conchubhair Ruadh with MacWilliam Burke and other Connacht families move against Domhnall mac Muircheartaigh Ó Conchubhair and Clann Donnchadha and the Clanrickarde Burkes, defeating them. 1388 Cormac Mac Donnchadha (Tánaise) makes raid on Moylurg. Ó Connchubhair Ruadh, Clann Chathail Óig (Sligo) and the Meic Diarmada give pursuit. Cormac is killed in ensuing encounter. Ó Conchubhair Ruadh and the Meic Diarmada attack Ó Conchubhair Donn. Clann Donnchadha burn Moylurg (Mac Diarmada) in reprisal. Hostilities between Clann Donnchadha and the Uí Ruairc. Domhnall mac Muircheartaigh Ó Conchubhair (Sligo) sides with Clann Donnchadha. 2

1389 Clann Donnchadha enter peace agreements with the Uí Ruairc and the Mic Dhiarmada. Cathal, son of Aodh Mac Diarmada taken prisoner by Tomaltach Mac Donnchadha 1393 Death of Aodh Mac Diarmada (r. 1368-93). Maol Ruanaidh mac Ferghail Meic Diarmada do ghabhail tigearnais Moighe Luircc tre nert & tre cuidiuccadh Thomaltaigh Meic Donnchaidh ‘Maol Ruanaidh son of Fearghal Mac Diarmada takes the lordship of Moylurg through the might and assistance of Tomaltach Mac Donnchadha’. Sons of Aodh Mac Diarmada launch unsuccessful rebellion against Maol Ruanaidh Mac Diarmada 1397 Tomaltach Mac Donnchadha and Diarmaid Mac Donnchadha (Tánaise) killed while assisting Ó Conchubhair Donn against Ó Conchubhair Ruadh, McWilliam Burke and others. Succeeded by Maol Ruanaidh Mac Donnchadha. Maol Ruanaidh Mac Donnchadha, at the instigation of Ó Domhnaill, gives sureties to Clann Chathail Óig Ó Conchubhair (Sligo) never to attack them again. 1398 Tomás a Búrc (tighearna Gall Connacht), Toirdhealbhach Ruadh Ó Conchubhair (tighearna Gaeidheal Connacht) and others of the Uí Chonnchubhair, Ó hEaghra & Ó Dubhda attack Tirerril cur milledh leo an tir uile eidir fér ocus arbhar, eidir loch ocus cill, ocus duntibh ocus dinngnaibh ocus drobhelaibh rl. ‘and they destroyed all that land, grass and corn, lake and church, homes Ó Conchubhair Ruadh and Mac Diarmada make a plundering raid on Tirerril, but are eventually routed by Maol Ruanaidh Mac Donnchadha.

Is é in Tomaltach-sa ba righ ar Airteach 7 ar Thir Oilell 7 ar Dha Chorand 7 ar cúig baili Cloinne Fearmhuighe 7 ar Tir Tuathail ag scribhadh in leabairsea ‘For this Tomaltach was king of Airteach, and of Tirerril and of the two Coranns and the five townlands of Glanfarne when this book was being written’ BB f.59 r. Is e in Toirrdelbach Óg sin mac Aedha as Ri Connacht ag scribad na codachsa don leabar a tig Tomaltaig meic Taidg meic Tomaltaig meic Muirghiusa meic Donnchaid meic Tomaltaidh emic Conchobhair meic Diarmata o fuiled Mic Dhiarmada a mBaili in Mhuta ‘for it is this Toirdhealbhach Óg son of Aodh who is King of Connacht while this part of the book is being written in the house of Tomaltach son of Tadhg, s. of Tomaltach, s. of Muirgheas, s. of Donnchadh, s. of Tomaltach, s. of Conchobhar s. of Diarmaid from whom are the Mic Dhiarmada, in Ballymote’ BB f.62 v.

B. SCRIBES/SCHOLARS 1. Robertus Mac Síthigh, Maghnus Ó Duibhgeanáin, Solamh Ó Droma. Domhnall Mac Aodhagáin, Ceapach Ruitín, Co. Tipperary.

2. Findguala ingen Eogain Meic Fingin uxur Feargail Mumnig h. Duibgendan airchideochain Chilli Ronan quieuit ‘Fionnghuala, the daughter of Eoghan Mac Finghin, wife of Fearghal Ó Duibhgeannáin, who was reared in Munster, Archdeacon of Cill Rónáin, died’. AC1347 3

3. Fergal Mumnech h. Dubgennan ollam Conmaicne & Clainni Mailruanaid tis 7 tuas mortuus est. ‘Fergal Ó Duibhgeannáin, who was reared in Munster, the ollamh of the Conmhaicne and of the northern and southern Clann Mhaoil Ruanaidh died’ AC1357

4. Clement Ó Duibhgennáin biocaire Cille Ronáin d'écc. Saccart na Sionnach at- berthí fris.’Clement Ó Duibhgeannáin, Vicar of Kilronan [p.Boyle, Co. Roscommon] died. He used to be called “the priest of the foxes”’ AFM 1357

5. Cú Connacht Ó Duibgennain bicaire Cille Rónain d'ég. ‘Cú Chonnacht Ó Duibhgeannáin, Vicar of Kilronan died’ AFM1362

C SOURCES 1. Leabhar Cuilen (.i. in Leabar Gearr/Libar Gearr Uí Chellaig) Saltair Cormaic i Caisiul Leabhar Duin Da Leathghas Leabhar Oilein Indsi Dúine Leabhar Droma Saileach Cín Dromma Snechta Leabhar Lothra Ruadhan, Libar Glinni Dá Locha 2. Leabhar Muintire Duibhgeandáin ó Seanchuaich Ua nOilealla dá ngoirthear Leabhar Glinde Da Locha ‘The book of the Uí Dhuibhgeannáin from Seanchuach Ua nOilealla (Shancough, Tirerril, Co. Sligo) which is called the Book of Glendalough’ RIA 23 K 32/617, p.230.

3. NLI G2-3 ‘The Ó Cianáin Miscellany’ (1345-73AD?) Leabhar Mór Leacáin (RIA 23 P 2, 535). c.1397-1418? Leabhar Ua Maine (RIA D ii 1, 1225) Late 14th century.

4. Adhamh O Cianain ro sgribh a leabhar a oidi moir .i. Seoan O Dubagan ‘Adhamh Ó Cianáin has written[ this] from the book of his great teacher, i.e. Seaán Ó Dubhagáin’ NL1 G2, f.8r.

5. Seaan Mór Ó Dubhaccáin Saoi sheancadha & ollamh Ó Maine do écc ‘Seaán Mór Ó Dubhagáin, an expert in history and the Ollamh of Uí Mhaine died’ AFM1372

6. Tanaidhe Ua Maol Conaire ard-ollamh Connacht i senchus, & i f-filidhecht d'écc ‘Tanaidhe Ó Maoil Chonaire, chief ollamh of Connacht in history and poetry died’ AFM1385

Map: taken from K.Nicholls, Lordships c.1534, New History of Ireland, Vol iii, pp.2-3