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Annals of the Four Masters
O'Rourke, Breifne and Ui Briuin Excerpts (1373 to 1609)
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(Four Masters : 800 to 1370 -- 1373 to 1609) --- (Misc. Annals : 445 to 1199 -- 1200 to 1562)
M1373.5 - Barrduv, daughter of O'Rourke, and wife of Mac Tiernan, died.
M1373.7 - Sabia, daughter of Cathal O'Conor, and wife of Flaherty O'Rourke, died.
M1374.10 - Farrell, the son of Flaherty O'Rourke, was slain by Philip (note: a surname is not proved in the Gaelic text, perhaps this should be Philip O'Reilly or Maguire?)
M1374.12 - Melaghlin Roe O'Duigennan, a learned historian, and Mahon An Chinn of the head, the son of Donnell, son of Murtough O'Rourke, fell by each other.
M1376.1 - Teige O'Rourke, Lord of Breifny, a man full of hospitality and munificence, a man of fame and renown, the Bear of Breifny, and Lion of Leth-Chuinn, died. Tiernan, his son, assumed the lordship of Breifny after him.
M1378.5 - Gilchreest O'Rourke, Lord of Breifny, died.
M1378.9 - An incursion was made by Mac Rannall, with his kinsmen and people, by the two Clann-Hughs, and by Farrell O'Rourke, against Cathal Roe Mac Rannall. Cathal assembled at one place his kinsmen and sons-in-law, together with Dermot Mac Dermot, to meet them. They defeated Mac Rannall and Farrell Mac Rannall, a good, rich, and affluent man. Mac Shanly, Mac Gilduff, and many others not enumerated, were killed in that engagement.
M1380.5 - Rory, the son of Cathal, son of Hugh Breifneach O'Conor, set out to attack the O'Rourkes, but was killed by Manus O'Rourke.
M1380.12 - An army was led by the Clann-Murtough and Philip O'Reilly into Breifny- O'Rourke, where they slew Thomas MacDorcy; but O'Rourke overtook them, and drove them forcibly from the territory, leaving behind some of their men and horses.
M1383.24 - Dermot Mac Rannall, Chief of Muintir-Eolais, committed a depredation upon O'Rourke.
M1384.11 - Ualgarg O'Rourke, worthy heir to the lordship of Breifny, was drowned in Lough Gamhna.
M1384.17 - Donnell, the son of Flaherty O'Rourke, died.
M1385.2 - An army was led by O'Rourke and Mac Donough, with their nobles, into Moylurg; and they burned the fortress of Mac Dermot, and also the territory in general. The son of John O'Hara was slain while in pursuit of this army, and his brothers was taken prisoner.
M1385.7 - The men of Breifny and Tirerrill repaired to meet O'Conor Don, and made an incursion against the people of Corcoachlann, where they burned many of their towns, and cut down many fields of corn.
M1386.1 - Aine, daughter of Teige Mac Donough, and wife of Tiernan O'Rourke (Lord of Breifny), the most favoured of the women of Leth Chuinn, died at Tuaim Seancha, on Lough Finvoy, and was interred at Sligo.
M1388.7 - Hostilities arose between O'Rourke and the Clann-Donough.
M1388.10 - A war broke out between O'Rourke and the Mac Donoughs; and Donnell, the son of Murtough O'Conor of Sligo, rose up to assist the Mac Donoughs.
M1389.5 - Owen O'Rourke and the sons of Cathal Oge O'Conor went to Caislen an Uabhair, where they were met by the cavalry of Muintir Healy. These were defeated, and Manus O'Healy and others were there killed. They afterwards plundered Muintir Healy, and killed Murtough O'Healy. After this O'Rourke, Donnell, the son of Murtough O'Conor and the Clann-Donough, made peace with each other. A peace was also concluded between Mac Dermot and the Clann-Donough; and the hostages that had on a former occasion been taken from the Clann-Donough were now restored to them; and Cathal Mac Dermot, who had been in captivity with the Clann-Donough, was set at liberty after the ratification of the peace aforesaid.
M1389.7 - Randal Mac Rourke, Chief of Teallach-Conmasa, died.
(note: This appears to be an unrelated MacRourke family of Moycashel, Co. Westmeath)
M1389.9 - Manus O'Rourke was treacherously taken prisoner by Cormac O'Farrell.
M1390.3 - A great war broke out between O'Rourke and O'Reilly; and the people of Annaly the O'Farrells, the Muintir-Eolais the Mac Rannalls; and the Clann-Murtough O'Conor, at the instigation of Donnell, the son of Murtough, and Tomaltagh Mac Donough, came to join in that war.
M1390.4 - Manus O'Rourke, who had been imprisoned by O'Reilly in the castle of Lough Oughter, made his escape from it, and went to the castle of Lough-an Scuir; but the Clann-Murtough, being informed of this by his betrayers, they slew him as he was coming ashore out of a cot.
M1390.5 - A peace was concluded between O'Rourke and O'Reilly; and O'Reilly received great rewards for banishing and expelling from him the enemies of O'Rourke. Owen O'Rourke and the son of Cathal Reagh were delivered up as hostages for the payment of these considerations.
M1390.6 - The Clann-Murtough and Teallach Dunchadha the Mac Kiernans of Tullyhunco emigrated, in despite of the O'Rourkes, into Fidh-ua-Finnoige, Slieve- Corrain, and Kinel-Luachain. But as soon as O'Rourke, who was at that time in Glenn-Gaibhle, received notice of this, he took his scouts with him to the upper part of Kinel-Luachain, where he made an attack on them, and forced them to fly before him, killing both cattle and people on their route from Beal-atha Doire-Dubhain to the summit of the Breifnian hills.
M1391.1 - O'Rourke (Tiernan), with a small body of troops, repaired to Drumlahan to meet O'Reilly (John). When the Clann-Murtough O'Conor heard of this, they met him, with all their forces, at Bealach-an-Chrionaigh; but O'Rourke, with his small body of troops, defeated them, and made them retreat before him; having slain with his own hand John, the son of Mahon O'Conor, and Donough, son of Hugh an-Cleitigh, exclusive of the number of others whom his forces had slain.
M1392.4 - A great army was conducted by O'Conor Don (with the greater part of the chiefs of Connaught) into Hy-Many, and burned and totally plundered the territory. O'Conor Roe pursued them; and Cathal, the son of Hugh O'Rourke, who was in the rear of O'Conor Don's army, was taken prisoner by O'Conor Roe, and many of his people were slain.
M1395.10 - Cobhlaigh Mor, daughter of Cathal, the son of Donnell O'Conor, King of Connaught, a rich and affluent woman, of good hospitality, died, after the victory of Penance, and was interred in the monastery of Boyle. It was she who was commonly called Port na-d-Tri Namhat; for she was wife of O'Donnell, i.e. Niall, Lord of Tirconnell; of Hugh O'Rourke, Lord of Breifny; and of Cathal, the son of Hugh Breifneach O'Conor, Roydamna of Connaught
M1397.8 - At this time Murtough Bacagh, the son of Donnell, son of Murtough O'Conor, and the Mac Sweenys, were at Fassa Coille, together with the Western O'Hara, and the descendants of Flaherty O'Rourke; and they all set out early in the morning to Bun-Brenoige, opposite Lissadill, to attack the sons of Cathal Oge and O'Donnell. Squadrons of the cavalry of the sons of Cathal Oge advanced towards them the party of Murtough Bacach, on the way to Sligo; but the stream of Bun-Brenoige lay on one side of them, and, luckily and favourably for them, the sea had flowed on the other side, so that they could not be encompassed or surrounded. They afterwards came to a brisk engagement with each other, in which O'Donnell and the sons of Cathal Oge were defeated, and Marcus Mac Donnell, and Dugald his son, John Mac Sheely, and a great many others of their gallowglasses, were slain. Great ravages and depredations were then committed on the sons of Cathal; and they were again banished across the River Erne, in sadness and dejection, precisely on the Great Festival of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
M1398.3 - A great army was led by Niall Oge O'Neill, King of Kinel-Owen and the sons of Henry O'Neill, against O'Donnell, and arrived at Assaroe; and they plundered the monastery of all its riches, and all Tirhugh. A party of O'Donnell's people gave them battle; and Hugh, son of Farrell O'Rourke, was taken prisoner on this occasion. O'Neill returned in safety to Tyrone.
M1398.13 - Finola, daughter of Ualgarg More O'Rourke, and wife of John More O'Hara, died.
M1400.7 - John, son of Philip, son of Gilla-Isa-Roe O'Reilly, Lord of Breifny, the most hospitable and noble of his name, died of a sudden fit, in his bed at Tulach Mongain.
M1400.11 - The sons of Flaherty O'Rourke were banished from Breifny; and they went to Tirconnell, and brought some of the Kinel-Connell with them into Breifny, where they committed great depredations on O'Rourke, and carried away the spoils into Tirconnell.
M1401.9 - A war afterwards broke out between O'Donnell and Brian, the son of Henry O'Neill ; for Brian had led an army into Tirconnell, and had attacked the fortress of O'Donnell, and killed the son of Niall Oge, son of Niall Garv, son of Hugh, son of Donnell Oge O'Donnell, and Melaghlin, son of Flaherty O'Rourke, and many others. On the same day O'Donnell, his sons, and Muintir Duirnin, went in pursuit of Brian, and overtook him as he was driving off a prey taken from O'Gormly (Henry), whom he had slain. A fierce battle was fought between O'Donnell and Brian O'Neill, in which Brian was killed by O'Donnell, and his people were routed, leaving the spoils of Kinel-Moen behind them. Many others were slain along with Brian in this engagement. O'Donnell then returned home safely with his people, with great spoils, after victory and triumph.
M1402.5 - Farrell O'Rourke, heir to the lordship of Breifny, a powerful, energetic, comely, and truly hospitable man, was slain in his own house by the Clann- Caba, and was interred in the monastery of Sligo.
M1403.7 - A war arose between the Breifnians and the Clann-Donogh, in which Tomaltagh Oge, the son of Tomaltagh Mac Dorcy, the last Chief of Kinel- Duachain of that family, and Murtough Oge O'Healy, a wealthy brughaidh cedach, &c., were slain.
M1407.2 - John, the son of Teige O'Rourke, heir to the lordship of Breifny, died in Moylurg, and was interred in Drumlane, in the county of Cavan.
M1407.12 - Hugh Maguire and Manus Eoghanagh Maguire were taken prisoners by Niall O'Donnell and Cathal O'Rourke, and brought before O'Donnell, who liberated Hugh on the guarantees of Owen O'Neill and Maguire.
M1408.8 - Owen O'Rourke and the sons of Donn Magauran went into Tirconnell, to make war against the Breifnians.
M1409.5 - The plundering of Belleck was accomplished by Tiernan O'Rourke against O'Donnell, Cathal O'Rourke, and Owen O'Rourke. O'Donnell and the Kinel- Connell were encamped on one side of the Cataract, and Cathal and Owen on the other; and he carried off the prey from both parties.
M1409.7 - A great army was mustered by Brian, the son of Donnell, son of Murtough O'Conor of Sligo, by Mac Donough of Tirerrill, and by the sons of Tiernan O'Rourke; and they placed provisions and stores in the castle of Roscommon, in despite of the men of Connaught from the mountain upwards, all of whom, both horse and foot, had assembled together to oppose them. On the same night they returned to Airm, and on the next day to their own houses.
M1409.8 - Muintir-Cuirnin committed slaughters on each other, i.e. John and Conla were slain by Dermot, the son of Murtough O'Cuirnin, in the house of O'Duigennan of Baile-Coillte-foghair; and Dermot went afterwards to the house of Conor Crom, the son of Teige O'Rourke, his own lord and foster-brother; but Conor immediately took him prisoner for his evil deed, and delivered him up to the O'Rourkes and the O'Cuirnins; and he was kept in confinement for a fortnight afterwards, when he was killed by the son of John O'Cuirnin.
M1410.5 - Melaghlin, the son of Owen O'Rourke, was slain by the Kinel-Connell.
M1410.6 - The castle of Dun-Cremhthannain was demolished by the men of Carbury and Breifny.
M1410.20 - An army was led by O'Donnell (Turlough) into Briefny-O'Rourke, and plundered and burned the country. The men of Breifny pursued and came up with him; and a battle was fought between both parties, in which the pursuers were defeated; and John, the son of Owen O'Rourke, and many others, were slain; and the Kinel-Connell bore off the prey.
M1411.16 - Donnell, the son of Cathal O'Rourke, died.
M1411.4 - Maelmora, the son of Cuconnaught, son of Gilla-Isa O'Reilly, Lord of Breifny, died.
M1412.4 - Tiernan Oge, the son of Tiernan More O'Rourke, heir to the lordship of Breifny, died, in the sixty-third year of his age, in the month of April.
M1412.12 - Sabia, the daughter of Tiernan O'Rourke, and wife of Edmond, the son of Thomas, son of Cathal O'Farrell, died.
M1412.16 - Mac Brady, Chief of Cuil-Brighdin, Manus Mac Rannall, the son of Loughlin O'Rourke, and Cu-abha Mac Gorman, died.
M1416.12 - A war broke out between the people of Fermanagh and the men of Breifny, concerning the rents of Cathal, the son of Hugh O'Rourke, who at this time sided with the men of Fermanagh; and the people of Hugh Maguire and Cathal O'Rourke were defeated by Teige and Donnell O'Rourke in a conflict, in which Teige, the son of Farrell O'Rourke, and nine others, were slain; and eleven horses were taken from them on that occasion.
M1416.13 - Another incursion was made by Hugh Boy and Teige O'Rourke, and by Mac Cabe, into Muintir-Pheodachain. The people of Fermanagh, dwelling west of Lough Erned, came up with them, as did also Cathal O'Rourke and Owen O'Rourke. The sons of O'Rourke sustained the attacks of the overwhelming numbers that pursued them, until they arrived at the place where they had left their gallowglasses in ambush; both parties then turned upon their pursuers, and slew Donough and John O'Rourke, and the two sons of Melaghlin, the son of Flaherty O'Rourke, together with forty-eight of the men of Fermanagh.
M1416.14 - Donnell, the son of Tiernan More O'Rourke, died of galar breac. The death of this man was a great loss to Gairbthrian Connacht.
M1416.15 - Grainne, daughter of Flaherty O'Rourke, died.
M1418.5 - Owen, the son of Tiernan More O'Rourke, Tanist of Breifny, was drowned shortly after Christmas, as he was going in a boat from Inis-na-d-torc, an island on Lough Finvoy, to visit his father, who was then lying ill of a mortal disease.
M1418.6 - Tiernan More, the son of Ualgarg O'Rourke, Lord of Breifny, the bravest and most puissant man that had come of the Hy-Briuin race, a man who had wrested his principality from his enemies by the strength of his arm, died at an advanced age, about the festival of St. Bridget, and was interred in the monastery of Sligo. Hugh Boy O'Rourke assumed his father's place.
M1418.8 - Richard, the son of Thomas O'Reilly, Lord of East Breifny, was drowned in Loch Silean; and with him were also drowned, his son, Owen O'Reilly,
M1418.11 - Lasarina, the daughter of Cathal, son of Hugh Breifneach O'Conor, and wife of Melaghlin, the son of Flaherty O'Rourke, died.
M1419.5 - Hugh Boy O'Rourke, who was Lord of Breifny for one year and a half; died; and Teige O'Rourke was elected in his place by the O'Rourkes from Slieve-an-ierin West. But Art, son of Teige, son of Ualgarg, was elected in opposition to him from Slieve-an-ierin East, by the O'Reillys, the people of Teallach Donnchadha, and the descendants of Melaghlin Mac Rannall; so that the entire of Gairbhthrian Connacht was thrown into commotion by the contests between them.
M1420.3 - The castle of Bun-Drobhaoisi was commenced by Brian, the son of Donnell, son of Murtough O'Conor; but the Kinel-Connell, with their forces, came to prevent the work. Brian assembled another army to resist them, namely, his own kinsmen, O'Rourke, i.e. Teige, and Mac Donough, with their forces; so that the Kinel-Connell did not dare to proceed eastwards across the Urscatha on that occasion, but remained encamped by the Bay of Assaroe. The sons of O'Donnell, Niall Garv, Donnell, and Naghten, proceeded with a troop of cavalry to the Moy; and the sons of Brian O'Conor set out at the same time with another troop of cavalry to reconnoitre Ballyshannon, so that both parties thus met face to face. The Kinell-Connell charged and routed the Carbury men, and killed John, the son of Brian O'Conor; Hugh Boy Mac Donough; Cathal, son of Dermot, son of Cormac, son of Rory O' Conor; and Owen O'Dowda. Brian O'Conor (on hearing of this ill news) advanced with his troops to Magh-Eni; and on the fifth night afterwards, Owen and Turlough Carragh O'Conor, the sons of Donnell, son of Murtough, crossed the ford of Assaroe with a large body of cavalry, on a nocturnal excursion. The sons of O'Donnell were at this time stationed with a squadron of cavalry at Port-na-Long, at the yonder side of the Cataract, and they had been drinking wine. After Owen had received information of this he made an attack upon them, and killed Donnell, the son of Turlough O'Donnell, heir to the lordship of Tircon-nell, and others not enumerated. Niall O'Donnell went to the harbour, and swam to one of the merchant vessels lying in it. After that victory Brian O'Conor returned home.
M1421.5 - A war arose between the O'Rourkes and the Clann-Donough. O'Rourke mustered and collected a great army to one place; and O'Donnell (Turlough) came with his forces to aid and support him, as did Hugh Maguire and his muster. O'Rourke himself, with his people, and all these his allies, proceeded into Tirerrill, and burned the country, and slew Cathal, the son of Mac Donough, and many others besides, on that occasion.
M1421.6 - Niall O'Donnell and his army, and O'Rourke with his creaghts, went to the harbour of Assaroe; and the Clann-Donough, and Cathal, the son of Rory O'Conor, went in their absence to the fortress of O'Rourke, and burned the town, and pulled down and demolished the castle, and destroyed all that side of the country. The army of the Kinel-Connell were at this time encamped at Ardfearna; and the people of Carbury were under the castle of Bundrowes; and many men and horses were daily killed and wounded in the conflicts between them. Murtough Boy, the son of Cosnamach O'Dowda, O'Maonaigh, and the son of Donough Caemhanach, were slain by the Kinel- Connell on this occasion; and Hugh, son of Murray Roe Mac Loughlin, was drowned in the ford of Ballyshannon. They afterwards concluded a peace.
M1421.7 - A nocturnal attack was made by Cathal O'Rourke and his sons upon Mac Clancy, on Inis Caoin, an island in Lough Melvin; and the guards of the lake, namely, the Mag-Gollaighs, delivered up the boats of the lake to Cathal and his sons. And Mac Clancy Oge was taken prisoner by them; and they took possession of Lough Melvin and its castle. Five of the sons of Mac Clancy, and a great number of the men of Dartry, were slain by them, after which the rest of the sons of Mac Clancy went to Carbury.
M1421.13 - Art, the son of Teige O'Rourke, was made O'Rourke, in opposition to Teige, the son of Tiernan.
M1422.6 - An army was mustered by O'Donnell (Niall), O'Neill, Owen O'Neill, and Mac-I-Neill Boy, with the other chiefs of the northern province. They burned and plundered the entire territory of Carbury as far as Sligo. Owen O'Conor, Turlough Carragh, and O'Rourke, mustered their forces to oppose them at Sligo, and there gave battle to the eastern army, of which seven men fell by the Connacians. From thence they the Ultonians went into Tirerrill, and devastated the entire territory.
M1422.13 - This great army arrived in Carbury, wounded and killed many persons at the castle of Bundrowes, burned and spoiled the country, and then proceeded to Sligo. Here Owen, the son of Donnell, and Turlough Carragh, came up with them, and routed the rere of the army, killed seven of them, and wounded men and horses. The Ultonian army remained in Cuil-irra for that night, and, on the next day, marched into Tireragh to spoil that country. O'Dowda met them and made peace with Niall O'Donnell, and delivered him hostages in behalf of his territory. From thence they went into Tirerrill and Corran, and burned and destroyed the country. The sons of Cormac and the sons of Mulrony (Mac Donough) were at the same time burning the upper part of the territory, and were overtaken by Tomaltagh Oge and the sons of Mac Donough, near Cluain gad, where they gave battle to each other, in which Maurice, the son of Cormac, Dermot, the son of Mulrony Mac Donough, and the son of Donnell, son of Hugh na Gaobhcha, were slain. The Ultonian army remained that night at Caisiol-Locha-deargain ravaging the country. From thence they went to O'Rourke, and took him prisoner; and then they returned home, crossing the Erne.
M1424.4 - A great war broke out between the O'Rourkes after the death of Hugh Boy O'Rourke. Teige, the son of Tiernan O'Rourke, made peace with the O'Reillys, and with Owen, the son of John O'Reilly, whereupon the entire lordship of Breifny was given to Teige. But this was not until after he had made an incursion against Art into Magh-Angaidhe, and burned the town. Art made submission to him after they had been at variance with each other for a period of four years.
M1424.5 - Melaghlin Mac Cabe, Constable of the two Breifnys, and also of Fermanagh and Oriel, died of the plague.
M1425.8 - Gormlaidh, the daughter of Donnell O'Conor, and wife of Tiernan O'Rourke, died after penance.
M1426.6 - Conor Crom, the son of Teige O'Rourke, died.
M1426.14 - Bebinn, the daughter of Tiernan 0'Rourke, lord of Breifny, died
M1427.3 - Donnell, son of Art, son of Gilchreest O'Rourke, died.
M1427.8 - Una, the daughter of Hugh Maguire, and wife of O'Rourke, i.e. Teige, a woman the most distinguished of her time for hospitality, charity, and piety, in Lower North Connaught, died at the end of Lent.
M1429.5 - A war broke out between O'Rourke (Teige) and O'Reilly (Owen). The descendants of Mahon O'Reilly and the English of Meath joined O'Rourke against O'Reilly, and burned O'Reilly's town, whereupon O'Reilly prevailed upon O'Neill to come to his relief; and O'Neill, with the forces of Oriel and Fermanagh, and his own creaghts, marched as far as Achadh-Chille-Moire. Thither they were pursued by O'Rourke, the sons of Mahon O'Reilly, the Baron of Delvin, and Mac Cabe; and O'Neill and his sons and gallowglasses, in conjunction with the forces of Fermanagh, and O'Reilly and his kinsmen, then engaged, and defeated the enemy in the battle of Achadh-Chille-Moire, in which the Baron of Delvin, Mac Cabe, Henry Mac Cabe, Dermot O'Rourke, and many others, were taken prisoners or slain by O'Neill.
M1429.8 - A great number of the men of Breifny were disabled and slain by Muintir-Feodachain, on the hill of Odhra, in Sliabh-da-Chon. They lost no less than forty men, together with Conor, the son of Donnell Mac Sweeny, who had gone on that incursion through folly and youth. Some of the men of Dartry, and others of the people of the Clann-Hugh Maguire, were slain there.
M1429.12 - Matthew, the son of Thomas O'Cuirnin, Ollav of Breifny, and universally learned in history and music, died in his own house.
M1430.9 - Brian, the son of Tiernan Oge O'Rourke, was slain by the sons of Melaghlin Mac Rannall, at Maethail-Mhanchain; and Donough Mac Tiernan was driven into the monastery of Maethail. Donough, however, came out of his own accord, for sake of his people, on Mac Rannall's guarantee, and made peace between them; and eric was given to O'Rourke for the death of Brian.
M1430.10 - Art O'Rourke, heir to the lordship of Breifny, was treacherously slain in his own house, just one week before Easter, by his brother's son, i.e. Manus, the son of Conor O'Rourke.
M1430.12 - William Roe, the son of Loughlin O'Rourke, died.
M1431.17 - Barrduv, the daughter of O'Rourke, a pious and truly hospitable woman, died.
M1431.18 - Aine, the daughter of O'Rourke, and wife of O'Farrell, died.
M1432.4 - A great war arose between O'Neill and O'Donnell; and Henry, the son of O'Neill, went to Sligo for the sons of Donnell, son of Murtough; but O'Donnell and O'Rourke (Teige), with the sons of Hugh Maguire, were on the watch for them, while Henry was in the West. Henry and the Carbury men proceeded to Magh-Ene, and Maguire went for them, taking a fleet with him to Cael-Uisge on the Erne, and he conveyed them in safety to his house.
M1433.3 - In the meanwhile O'Donnell and Mac Quillin went to the English of Meath, to make a treaty of alliance and friendship with them and the deputy of the King of England. They led a great army to Machaire-Ardamacha, and the English attacked the monastery, but afterwards returned without gaining any strength by that expedition. O'Donnell then proceeded round through Meath, west to Athlone, from thence into Hy-Many, and afterwards across Machaire Chonnacht, to Mac Dermot of Moylurg and O'Rourke (Teige, son of Tiernan). O'Rourke went with him over the River Erne; and O'Neill and Maguire came to Cael Uisge to meet O'Donnell; and they concluded a charitable peace with one another. The English of Machaire Oirghiall entertained Mac Quillin among them, after he had been banished by O'Neill.
M1434.8 - O'Rourke, i.e. Teige, son of Tiernan, died.
M1435.14 - O'Rourke's castle was taken, by Donough Bacagh O'Rourke, from the sons of Teige O'Rourke. Depredations were afterwards committed by the sons of Tiernan O'Rourke upon Donough Bacagh, at Coill-an-anma.
M1435.15 - Loughlin, the son of Teige O'Rourke, was nominated the O'Rourke.
M1436.7 - Manus Roe, the son of Melaghlin, who was son of Flaherty O'Rourke, died.
M1440.13 - O'Rourke, i.e. Loughlin, the son of Teige, was taken prisoner by the sons of Art O'Rourke, who gave him up to Donough Ballagh Magauran and his sons, who gave him up to the sons of Tiernan O'Rourke. A war afterwards broke out between the sons of Tiernan O'Rourke and the sons of Teige O'Rourke, so that they disturbed the territory by the contests between them.
M1440.18 - The son of O'Rourke, i.e. Hugh, the son of Hugh Boy, heir to the lordship of Breifny, was treacherously slain by the son of Dermot-na-nGamhnach O'Rourke, at Druim-da-ethiar, the town of Donough Bacagh O'Rourke.
M1445.12 - Donough Bacagh O'Rourke died; and the people of West Breifny pro- claimed Donough, the son of Tiernan Oge, the O'Rourke, in opposition to Loughlin, the son of Teige O'Rourke.
M1446.3 - O'Donnell marched with a great army into Connaught, to assist his friends; he went first to the territory of O'Rourke, and from thence through Maghnisse, across the Shannon, into Moylurg, through Machaire-Chonnacht, and through Clann-Conway; and Mac William came to Dunamon for him, and conducted him afterwards into Conmaicne Cuile Toladh.
M1446.11 - Felim, the son of John O'Rourke, was slain the midlle of the church of Fenagh by his own kinsmen, namely, the sons of Loughlin O'Rourke.
M1446.12 - The son of Donnell O'Rourke was slain by the sons of Donough, the son of Tiernan O'Rourke.
M1449.1 - Donough, the son of Tiernan Oge, Lord of West Breifny, died, after having laboured a year under pulmonary consumption; and Tiernan, son of Teige O'Rourke, was elected in his place by the people of West Breifny.
M1450.11 - A peace was made by John, the son of Owen O'Reilly, and Donnell Bane O'Reilly, with each other ; and Farrell, the son of Thomas O'Reilly, was deposed of his lordship; and the chieftainship of all Breifny was conferred upon John, the son of Owen; and Farrell received wages from him.
M1452.24 - Hugh, the son of Hugh Oge, son of Hugh, son of Philip na Tuaighe of the Battle-axe Maguire, was slain on the sixth of the Ides of April, in the castle of O'Rourke, i.e. Tiernan, son of Teige, son of Tiernan, by Brian, the son of Donough, son of Hugh Maguire.
M1455.15 - Maine, the son of Melaghlin Mac Cabe, materies of a Constable of the two Breifnies, of Oriel, and Fermanagh, died.
M1457.3 - Philip, the son of Thomas Maguire, and his sons, marched with an army into Breifny O'Rourke; and O'Rourke, before their arrival, sent his cows into the fastnesses of the country. Philip advanced to O'Rourke's town, and burned it, as well as the entire country around it. O'Rourke however came up with Philip; and a battle was fought between them, in which Tiernan, the son of Teige O'Rourke, and the son of Manus Grumach, son of Cathal Bodhar O'Rourke, and many others, were slain by the men of Fermanagh.
M1458.2 - A hosting was made by O'Donnell, Turlough Cairbreach ; and O'Neill, Henry, came to join his muster. They first went to Lower Connaught, and from thence they proceeded into Breifny; and they spoiled and burned that part of the territory lying from the mountain westwards; and they also burned O'Rourk's town, Druim-da-Ethiar Drumahaire. They obtained the hostages of Lower Connaught, who were given into the hands of O'Donnell; after which they returned home.
M1458.4 - O'Rourke, i.e. Loughlin, the son of Teige Liath, Lord of Breifny, died.
M1459.7 - The spoils of Kinel-Duachain were carried off by Brian, the son of Philip, son of Thomas Maguire.
M1459.12 - O'Cuirnin, Manus, Chief Historian to O'Rourke, died.
M1460.11 - Mac Manus of Tir-Tuathail, Rory, the son of Owen Roe Mac Manus, fully worthy to be Lord of that territory, was slain by Con, the son of Niall Garv, son of Turlough-an-Fhiona O'Donnell, and Teige, the son of Teige O'Rourke, while in pursuit of the spoils of the territory. O'Donnell's people carried the spoils with them to Airged-glenn; but, after the killing of Mac Manus, the chiefs of the Clann-Manus deprived them of their preys in that valley.
M1463.9 - Grainne, the daughter of Teige O'Rourke, and wife of Mac Donough, died.
M1464.5 - Donnell O'Rourke; John, son of the Official, son of Murtough Oge O'Farrel; Melaghlin, the son of Brien, son of Murtough Oge O'Farrell, and his wife More, daughter of James O'Kennedy; and wife of Mageoghegan, with her daughter; and Murtough, the son of John O'Duigennan, all died of the same plague.
M1464.17 - Felim, son of Donough, who was son of Tiernan Oge O'Rourke, was taken prisoner by O'Rourke; and Hugh, son of Teige O'Rourke, was taken prisoner by Tiernan Oge, son of Donough, in revenge of him Felim.
M1464.28 - Felim O'Rourke and Hugh were set at liberty on both sides, and a peace was concluded in Breifny.
M1465.7 - Mac Consnava and his son were treacherously slain by O'Rourke and his sons, who then settled in his country.
M1465.8 - Hugh, the son of Teige O'Rourke, died.
M1468.3 - O'Rourke, Tiernan Oge, the son of Teige, worthy Lord of the Hy-Briuin, and of all the race of Aedhe-Finn, died, after having overcome the world and the Devil; and Donnell, the son of Teige O'Rourke, was elected in his place by O'Donnell and his other friends. But the descendants of Tiernan, the son of Tiernan More, son of Ualgarg, unjustly rose up against him Donnell, the son of Tiernan More; and they themselves, and the people of Carbury, and the Clann-Donough, inaugurated Donough Losc, the son of Tiernan More. O'Donnell, when he had heard of this, crossed the Erne with a numerous army, and destroyed Lower Connaught. He seized on great spoils in the east of Tir- Fiachrach of Cuil-Cnamha and Coillte-Luighne, which spoils he afterwards carried home. Mac William Oughter, i.e. Ulick, son of Ulick-an-Fhiona, and O'Conor Don, with the English and Irish forces of both, marched to the relief of Lower Connaught; and they burned the town of O'Rourke. But this was all the good they did; and they returned home without battle or booty.
M1470.10 - An army was led by O'Donnell and O'Rourke to go upon the hill of Cruachan-Ua Cuproin to inaugurate O'Rourke. O'Reilly, the English, and the people of Teallach-Dunchadha the Mac Kernans opposed them at Beal-atha-Chonaill, where Edmond, the son of Hugh O'Reilly, and the son of the Bishop O'Gallagher, were slain, and many men and horses wounded. O'Donnell and his army returned, being prevented from going to Cruachan on this occasion.
M1472.16 - Ualgarg, the son of Cathal Ballagh O'Rourke, was slain by the people of Owen, the son of Loughlin O'Rourke
M1473.16 - Donough, the son of Farrell, son of Owen, son of Tiernan More O'Rourke, was slain by his own tribe.
M1475.12 - A circuitous hosting was made by O'Donnell, i.e. Hugh Roe, the son of Niall Garv, accompanied by Maguire, O'Rourke, and the chiefs of Lower Connaught. They proceeded first to Beal-atha-Chonaill, to rescue Brian, the son of Felim O'Reilly, who was O'Donnell's friend and confederate, and to make peace between O'Rourke and O'Reilly. O'Reilly came to Beal-atha-Chonaill to O'Donnell, who reconciled O'Rourke and O'Reilly with each other, and also Brian, the son of Felim; and Philip O'Reilly was given up to O'Donnell, to be detained and kept by him as a hostage for the observance of this peace, besides such others as he himself wished to demand. After this O'Donnell marched to Fenagh-Moy-Rein, whither Mac Rannall came to him. From thence he went to Annaly, to assist the sons of Irial O'Farrell, who were his friends; and he spoiled and burned Annaly, excepting only that part of it which belonged to the sons of Irial, whom he left in power and might. He afterwards proceeded through Westmeath, and burned the castle-towns of Delvin, and all the circum- jacent country. He remained for one night encamped in Cuircne, in Meath; and the Dillons and Daltons came into his house, and made peace with him.
He then proceeded to Offaly, at the request of O'Conor Faly, who was his relative, i.e. Cahir, the son of Con, son of Calvagh, to take vengeance on the English for his father, Niall Garv. He remained for some time in Offaly, plundering and ravaging Meath on each side of him. He demolished and burned Castle-Carbury and Bally-Meyler; he also burned and plundered the territories of Tir-Briuin and Fertullach, and obtained presents from the inhabitants of Mullingar, as a condition for sparing their town from pillage, the country on all sides of it having been already destroyed. Afterwards, at the instance of Colman O'Melaghlin, he proceeded to Coillte-an-rubha, and commenced spoiling Clann-Colman, i.e. O'Melaghlin's country; he burned the castle of Magh-Tamhnach, and the castle of Magh-Eille.
It was on this occasion that O'Donnell gave O'Melaghlin, with all his muster and forces, the defeat of Garbh-Eisgir. This was otherwise called the defeat of Bealach-na-g-Corr-Ghad, from the gads or withes which the people of the country suspended about the necks of some of the army, in consequence of the narrowness of that passage. It was on the same day that O'Donnell gained the battle of Baile-Locha-Luatha, where the day O'Donnell proceeded with his army to the Shannon. Some of the O'Kellys, who accompanied him on this expedition, collected and brought together all the vessels they found in the neighbourhood, so that in these O'Donnell, with his army, crossed the Shannon into Hy-Many, and there he remained until he rested and recruited himself after his long expedition. He then proceeded through Clanrickard, Conmaicne-Cuile, and Clann-Costello, and marched back again through Machaire-Chonnacht, and from thence to his own country, having received submission, and gained victory and triumph in every place through which he had passed.
M1476.7 - Teige Oge, the son of Teige, son of Tiernan O'Rourke, Tanist of Breifny, died.
M1480.15 - John Mac-Gillafinnen, i.e. the son of Brian, and thirty of the people of Brian, son of Philip Maguire, were slain at Bealach-Ui-Mithidhein, by the sons of O'Rourke, i.e. Tiernan and Brian Roe, the sons of Tiernan, son of Teige, son of Tiernan.
M1482.9 - Murrough, the son of Teige, son of Cathal Oge Mac Rannall, was slain by the descendants of Art O'Rourke.
M1486.12 - The people of Mac Rannall routed the sons of O'Rourke and the descendants of Cathal Roe, at Moin-lesg, where Melaghlin Oge, son of Melaghlin Mac Cabe, a man who for his years bore the greatest name as a leader of gallowglasses in Leath-Chuinn, was slain.
M1486.24 - Owen, son of Loughlin O'Rourke, expectant Lord of Breifny, died.
M1487.18 - Brian Roe, the son of Tiernan, son of Teige, son of Tiernan O'Rourke, Tanist of Breifny, was slain by a dart cast at him by the son of the O'Rourke, i.e. Owen, the son of Felim, son of Donough, son of Tiernan Oge. ln consequence of this death O'Donnell, i.e. Hugh Roe, marched into Breifny, and laid siege to O'Rourke's town, i.e. Caislen-an-Chairthe, which he took, and three of O'Rourke's people were slain; and Brian, son of Cathal, son of Tiernan O'Rourke, was slain by Godfrey, the son of Hugh Gallda O'Donnell, by the shot of a ball. The castle was demolished by O'Donnell; and O'Rourke, i.e. Felim, was banished from his country into Fermanagh; but O'Donnell afterwards permitted O'Rourke to come back into his country, and he made peace among the men of Breifny, and compelled the country to rebuild the castle.
M1487.27 - An army was led by O'Donnell into Breifny O'Rourke. The cause of this hosting was: O'Rourke, i.e. Felim, the son of Donough, son of Tiernan, and his town, had been treacherously taken by his own kinsmen. Upon O'Donnell's arrival in Breifny, he pitched his camp around Caislen-an-Chairthe, and, after a siege of considerable length, finally took it; on which occasion he slew Tiernan Duv, the son of Donough, son of Tiernan Oge. And having reconciled the men of Breifny with one another, O'Donnell left O'Rourke, Felim, in Caislen-an-Chairthe. O'Rourke levied a protection tribute upon the territory of Breifny, to be paid to O'Donnell and his successors.
M1487.28 - Tiernan Oge O'Rourke, Tanist of Breifny, was slain by the sons of Mulrony Mac Rannall and the sons of Rory Mac Dermot, at Ucht-na-n-Eangadh.
M1487.33 - Tiernan Carragh, the son of Tiernan, son of Teige, son of Tiernan O'Rourke; Feradhach, the son of John, son of Turlough Maguire; and Donnell, the son of Don, son of Donnell, son of Art Maguire, were slain in the territory of Muintir-Eolais, by the sons of Rory Mac Dermot and the son of Mac Dermot Roe, and Donnell Bearnach Magauran was also slain on that occasion.
M1487.34 - O'Donnell, i.e. Hugh, proceeded into Moylurg in Autumn. He burned many houses and much corn; and the church of Druim-Conaille was at the same time, without the permission of O'Donnell, burned by Farrell Carragh, the son of Donnell, son of Teige O'Rourke; and as O'Donnell was not able to overtake Farrell Carragh, to avenge that evil doing upon him, he delivered up the grand-son of Tiernan of Buannaid to the clergy of the church, to be detained by them as a pledge for that burning.
M1488.14 - Teige, the son of Melaghlin, son of Tiernan O'Rourke, and Mac Rannall, i.e. Conor, the son of Murrough, of the descendants of Melaghlin, died; and Melaghlin, son of William of the same race, was made Mac Rannall in his place.
M1488.19 0 Melaghlin, the son of Mac Clancy, was slain by the sons of Teige, the son of Cathal, son of Tiernan Oge O'Rourke.
M1488.25 - Owen, the son of O'Rourke, i.e. Felim, the son of Donough, son of Tiernan Oge, son of Tiernan More, was slain during an armistice by another Owen, the son of O'Rourke, i.e. the son of Tiernan, son of Teige, son of Tiernan More.
M1490.33 - The castle of Liathdruim was taken by Hubert, the son of Teige Mac Ran-nall, and the descendants of Tomaltagh Mac Dermot. Cathal, the son of Melaghlin Mac Rannall, was slain in the castle by Hubert, in revenge of his brother. The castle of Liathdruim was afterwards taken by Owen O'Rourke.
M1492.26 - Hubert, son of Mulrony Mac Rannall, heir to the chieftainship of Conmaicne-Rein-na-bh-Fomorach, and sixteen men along with him, were slain and burned in the church of Cill-Trenain, on the banks of the Shannon, by the descendants of Cathal Oge Mac Rannall, and by the Muintir-Carolan.
M1492.27 - A depredation was committed by Owen O'Rourke in the territory of Hy-Briuin-na-Sinna, and he slew the son of O'Beirne (Cathal, the son of Murtough, who was son of Teige, son of Cormac).
M1492.31 - An army was led by O'Donnell, O'Rourke, and Owen O'Rourke, into Muintir-Eolais, in order to compel the sons of Melaghlin to submit to the authority of O'Rourke as their chief lord, which was refused; and the country was destroyed, both its corn and buildings And they styled William, son of Ir, the Mac Rannall, in opposition to Melaghlin, the son of William, who had been for a long time the sole chieftain.
M1493.12 - O'Donnell, i.e. Hugh Roe, and his sons, Con and Hugh, went with a great army to the chiefs of Lower Connaught; he was joined by O'Rourke, i.e. Felim, the son of Donough, son of Tiernan Oge; by Owen, the son of Tiernan, son of Teige, at that time heir to the lordship of Breifny; and by Donnell, the son of Owen O'Conor, Lord of Lower Connaught. And after they had collected their forces to one place, O'Donnell proceeded directly eastward into the pro- vince, until he arrived in Trian-Chongail. From thence he proceeded into Lecale, thence into Iveagh, and thence into Orior; and he ravaged and plun- dered Lecale, and every territory through which he passed that was hostile to him. While he O'Donnell was on this expedition, O'Neill, i.e. Henry Oge, the son of Henry, son of Owen, assembled his forces, and was joined by Mac Mahon, i.e. Hugh Oge, the son of Hugh Roe, son of Rury, and by Magennis, i.e. Hugh, the son of Art, son of Hugh, with all their forces, and a countless host of others besides them. This numerous army of O'Neill overtook O'Donnell at Beanna-Boirche, and encompassed him in the van and the rear; but O'Donnell sustained and withstood this overwhelming force firmly and powerfully, until he led his army in safety through the difficulties of the pass. At length the chiefs of both armies, reaching a level plain, arranged and mar- shalled their forces for an engagement; and a fierce and obstinate conflict, and a furious and dreadful battle, was fought between them, in which they bore in mind all their own enmities and new hatreds to one another. O'Neill and his forces were finally routed. In this battle O'Donnell slew John Roe, the son of Donough Mac Mahon, and many others; and the darkness at the close of the day, and beginning of the night, prevented O'Donnell's forces from following up the pursuit as they wished. They, therefore, pitched their camp for that night at the place where they gained the battle, at Beanna-Boirche, and on the morrow proceeded to their homes, after having gained victory and sway in every territory through which they had passed.
M1495.7 - Con, son of Hugh Roe O'Donnell, and his forces, surrounded the town of Sligo, and continued to besiege it for some time. The descendants of Owen O'Conor mustered a very great force to relieve Sligo, namely, the sons of Rory Mac Dermot, the inhabitants of Tireragh of the Moy, the Clann-Donough, and the inhabitants of Coolavin; and they proceeded in a vast irresistible body towards the town. After Con had received intelligence that these forces were marching towards him, he rose up with his few troops, with Owen O'Rourke, Tanist of Breifny, and the descendants of Donnell Cam, the son of Mac Donough, and marched forth from their tents, vigorously and resolutely, to Bel-an-Droichit, to meet and oppose them; and they came within bow-shot of each other; and it was their wish not to give each other time or pause, but to come to attack each other without delay or respite. And now, when they had their weapons of valour ready for action, O'Donnell came up with them, for he had arrived from Scotland, and having heard at his own fortress of Donegal of the danger his son was in, he had stopped there only one night, and was now come to relieve him. Upon O'Donnell's arrival in the centre of his people, both armies gave each other a fierce and vigorous battle, in which the Lower Con- naught army was defeated by O'Donnell, as was often the case with him to see the backs of his enemies turned towards him. ...
M1496.12 - Tiernan, the son of Coffey, son of Art O'Rourke, was treacherously slain by Farrell, the son of Cathal Ballagh, and the sons of Owny, son of Cathal Ballagh O'Rourke.
M1497.7 - An army was led by O'Donnell (Con) against Mac Dermot of Moylurg, i.e. Teige, the son of Rory Mac Dermot. Only a few of the Connacians joined his army on that occasion, namely, Felim, the son of Manus O'Conor, Lord of Carbury, and Owen O'Rourke, Tanist of Breifny, with their forces. A numerous body of forces was mustered by Mac Dermot, to oppose them at Seaghais the Curlieus, for the two O'Conors came with their tribes and chieftains to join his force and muster. A great part of O'Donnell's army made their way by force to the Bealach-Buidhe of Coirshliabh, under the conduct of Manus O'Conor, Owen O'Rourke, and Niall Garv O'Donnell, on which occasion Cathal O'Rourke and many others were slain in the pass of Bealach-Buidhe. The numerous host of the Sil-Murray rose up in the middle of the army, and de- feated O'Donnell. Felim O'Conor, Lord of Carbury, was taken prisoner there, as were also the two Mac Sweenys, namely, Mac Sweeny Fanad, i.e. Rory, and Mac Sweeny Connaughtagh, i.e. Mac Sweeny Baghaineach, Owen; Donough- na-nordog, the son of O'Donnell; the two sons of Tuathal O'Gallagher; John and Turlough, the two sons of Donnel Mac Sweeny Fanad; John and Donnell Oge, the two sons of Mac Sweeny Baghaineach; Niall and Owen Roe; Gerald, the son of Donnell, son of Felim O'Doherty; and O'Donnell's physician, the son of Owen Ultach. The Cathach of Columbkille was also taken from them; and Magroarty, the keeper of it, was slain. Many others also were slain and taken prisoners in this battle. Owen O'Rourke escaped being killed or taken in this defeat.
M1497.19 - Hugh Boy, the son of O'Rourke (Felim, the son of Donough, son of Tiernan Oge), was slain by the sons of Teige, son of Cathal, son of Tiernan O'Rourke.
M1499.10 - Melaghlin, the son of Murrough, son of Teige Mac Rannall, was taken prisoner by Con Carragh, the son of Teige, son of Tiernan O'Rourke, and John, the son of Tiernan O'Rourke, and conveyed by them to Inis-Ochta, an island on Lough-Mac-Nen. Rury, the son of Turlough Maguire, attacked them on the lake, and slew these two sons of O'Rourke, and brought Mac-an-Chaoich Mac Clancy and his son, and Melaghlin, the son of Murrough, to his house. O'Donnell, i.e. Hugh Roe, afterwards ransomed him; and the castle of Leitrim was given up to O'Donnell again by Melaghlin, son of Murrough Mac Rannall.
M1499.12 - Hugh O'Conor was banished from his country by Mac Dermot, and driven westwards across the Shannon, by consent of the Sil-Murray.
M1500.2 - O'Rourke (Felim, the son of Donough, son of Tiernan), died; and Owen, the son of Tiernan, son of Teige, took his place.
M1500.3 - Teige Oge, the son of Teige, son of Tiernan O'Rourke, died.
M1501.11 - Melaghlin, the son of William Mac Rannall, Chief of Muintir-Eolais, died at an advanced age.
M1507.11 - Hugh, the son of Turlough, son of Philip Maguire, was slain by the son of O'Rourke, Tiernan Oge, the son of Owen.
M1508.11 - Tiernan Oge, the son of Owen O'Rourke (i.e. the O'Rourke), was slain by John, the son of Tiernan Finn O'Rourke.
M1508.30 - The monastery of O'Rourke's town, which is called Carrickpatrick in Connaught, in the diocese of Ardagh, was commenced by O'Rourke (Owen) and his wife, Margaret, the daughter of Conor O'Brien.
M1510.5 - Mac Cabe of Breifny, i.e. Felim, and Mac Loughlin, i.e. Anthony, died.
M1511.2 - Thomas, the son of Andrew Mac Brady, Bishop and Erenagh of the two Breifnys during a period of thirty years; ...gave up his spirit to heaven on the 4th of the Calends of March (or August), which fell on a Tuesday, at Druim-da-ethiar - having gone to Breifny to consecrate a church, in the sixty-seventh year of his age - and was buried in the monastery of Cavan, the day of the week being Friday.
M1511.3 - Cormac Magauran, who was called Bishop in Breifny, died before Christmas.
M1512.16 - Mac Tiernan of Teallach-Dunchadha (William) died.
M1514.6 - An army was led by the Earl of Kildare (Garrett Oge, the son of Garrett) into Breifny, and committed great havock in that country on that expedition, i.e. he slew O'Reilly (Hugh, son of Cathal), his brother Philip, a son of Philip, and Garrett, the son of Edmond, son of Thomas O'Reilly; in short, fourteen of the gentlemen and principal chieftains of the O'Reillys, with a great number of their people, were slain. Mac Cabe (Many, the son of Mahon) was, moreover, taken prisoner.
M1519.11 - Ferceirtne O'Cuirnin, a confidential servant of Owen O'Rourke, and head of the literary men of his tribe, and Donnell Glas O'Cuirnin, died.
M1522.12 - Donnell, the son of Donnell O'Rourke, distinguished for his nobleness and great deeds, was slain by the sons of Felim O'Rourke.
M1523.12 - Owen, the son of Felim, son of Donough, son of Tiernan Oge O'Rourke, was drowned in the Lough of Glenn-éda.
M1523.17 - O'Donnell (Hugh Oge, the son of Hugh Roe), after having made peace with O'Neill, assembled the forces within his own territory, and those of his neighbourhood, and made an irruption into Breifny-O'Rourke. Spoils and goods of the country were conveyed by the men of Breifny into the wilds and fastnesses of the country, to guard and protect them against O'Donnell. The sons of O'Rourke, with all the forces which they had with them, were defending the country against O'Donnell. O'Donnell, however, overran the country on this occasion, burned its edifices and corn, and left nothing worth notice in it without burning.
M1526.3 - The son of O'Rourke, i.e. Teige, the son of Owen, was treacherously slain by his own brother's people.
M1527.12 - William, the son of Andrew Magrath, a man of wealth and prosperity, died. Catherine, the daughter of Con, son of Donnell O'Neill, a pious and truly hospitable woman, who had been married to good men, namely, first to O'Reilly, and afterwards to O'Rourke, died, after unction and penance.
M1527.13 - Catherine, the daughter of Con, son of Donnell O'Neill, a pious and truly hospitable woman, who had been married to good men, namely, first to O'Reilly, and afterwards to O'Rourke, died, after unction and penance.
M1528.1 - O'Rourke (Owen), Lord of Breifny, sustaining pillar of the hospitality, prowess, and nobility, of the race of Hugh Finn, died in the habit of St. Francis, after unction and penance.
M1530.9 - An army was led by O'Donnell into the province of Connaught; he first passed through Coillte-Chonchubhair, and from thence proceeded through the Tanist's portion of Moylurg, by the Caradh-Droma-ruisc, across the Shannon, and burned and totally desolated the territory of Muintir-Eolais; some of his people were slain around the castle of Leitrim, among whom were Manus, the son of Ferdoragh Mac Sweeny, and the son of Mac Colin (Turlough Duv). He afterwards proceeded westwards across the Shannon, into Machaire Chonnacht, to the bridge of Ath-Mogha. He destroyed and devastated by fire the territory of Clann-Conway; he also burned Glinsce and Cill-Cruain, the towns castles of Mac David; and he obtained great spoil in these countries. He afterwards burned Ballintober also, and obtained his tribute from O'Conor Roe, namely, six pence on every quarter of land in his territory. After having destroyed Moylurg, he returned home by Bealach-buidhe Ballaghboy, without sustaining any injury. He afterwards went to Breifny, where his army burned the best wooden house in all Ireland, i.e. the house of Mac Consnava on Lough Allen. The whole of Breifny, from the mountain westwards, was destroyed and desolated by them on that expedition.
M1532.4 - Owen, the son of Tiernan, son of Owen O'Rourke, a distinguished gentleman, was slain by O'Mulvey and his kinsmen, in the monastery of Druim-da-Ethiar Dromahaire.
M1532.5 - Turlough, the son of Mac Clancy, was killed by his own two brothers, on the threshold of Mac Clancy's mansion; and Brian O'Rourke destroyed much in Dartry, on account i.e. in revenge of this killing.
M1536.8 - Felim, the son of Felim O'Rourke, died in captivity with Brian, the son of Owen, son of Tiernan O'Rourke.
M1536.12 - At this time war and contentions arose between O'Donnell and all the chieftains of Lower Connaught, with the single exception of Brian, the son of Owen O'Rourke, who did not, on this occasion, join either side.
M1536.14 - An army was led by O'Conor Sligo; Brian, the son of O'Rourke; and by the son of Cathal Oge O'Conor, at the instance of Mac Dermot and the sons of Teige Mac Dermot, against Turlough Roe, the son of Teige Boy, son of Cathal Roe O'Conor. They desolated the Cluainte, as well ecclesiastical as lay possessions. From thence they marched into the Tuathas, where the O'Hanlys gave them pledges and hostages in behalf of their country ; and from thence they passed into Hy-Many, where they spoiled and completely plundered every one who was the friend of O'Conor Roe, save only those whom the son of O'Rourke protected, for it was not to destroy that O'Rourke had gone thither, but to establish a peace between Mac Dermot and his kindred on the one side, and O'Conor Roe and all his allies on the other. These troops took the castle of Turraic, and demolished it. Donough, the son of Edmond O'Kelly, came and surrendered himself as a hostage, lest they should destroy his country. These troops then returned, having accomplished their expedition as was pleasing to them; and they took with them to Sligo those hostages, namely, the son of O'Kelly and the son of O'Hanly; and they also carried with them the variegated door of the castle which they had taken, in order to place it as a door to the castle of Sligo.
M1536.16 - Brian, son of Owen, who was son of Tiernan O'Rourke, was styled the O'Rourke; and he pulled down Caislen-an-chairthe now Castlecar.
M1540.12 - The castle of Leitrim was erected by O'Rourke (Brian, the son of Owen) while a great war was waged against him on every side, namely, in Moylurg, Muintir-Eolais, and Breifny-O'Reilly; and his own son and a party of the men of Breifny were also at war with him. He finished the castle in a short time, and destroyed a great portion of Moylurg on his opponents.
M1540.14 - Teige, the son of Brian, son of Manus Mac Dermot Roe, was drowned in the River Bann, while on an excursion along with O'Rourke.
M1541.8 - The eastern crannog on the Lough of Glenn-Dallain was taken by the sons of Donnell, son of Donnell O'Rourke, from Donough, the son of Donough O'Rourke. In some time after this the sons of Donough O'Rourke, i.e. Donnell and Ferganainm, made an attack upon the crannog, and privately set fire to the town; but that thing being discovered and perceived, they were pursued upon the lake, and overtaken by the sons of Donnell. Ferganainm, the son of Donough, was slain and drowned; and Donnell was taken, and afterwards hanged, by the sons of Donnell, son of Donough O'Rourke.
M1541.12 - Con, the son of Brian, son of Owen O'Rourke, was slain by the Clann-Manus of Tir-Tuathail.
M1542.12 - A hosting by O'Donnell and Calvagh in the summer of this year; and O'Rourke (Brian) and O'Kane (Manus, the son of Donough) joined their muster. After they had assembled together, they agreed to march against Mac Quillin (Rury, the son of Walter), and they did not halt until they arrived at the Bann. Here they divided the army into three portions, in order to cross the fords of the Bann, for they were prevented from using the boats of the river, because Mac Quillin, together with a strong body of English troops, was at the other side, to defend the river against them, and to prevent them from crossing it. The forces of O'Donnell, however, crossed the Bann in despite of them, though, in crossing it, they were in danger of being drowned, and encountered very great peril. Upon landing, they sent forth light scouring and terror-striking parties through the country, namely, one detachment eastwards to Cnoc-Lea, and another up along the Bann, and these seized upon heavy and substantial preys, and many great spoils, in every place through which they passed. But Calbhach O'Donnell, O'Rourke, and O'Kane, and their forces, obtained still greater and more numerous spoils than those seized upon by the other detachments. Each of these detachments encamped separately with their preys and spoils for that night. On the morrow O'Donnell ordered them to knock down, kill, hough, and break the bones of these immense spoils and preys, which they accordingly did; and it would be difficult to enumerate or reckon the number of cattle that were here struck down, besides more which the men of Breifny and the O'Kanes drove off to their own countries alive.
After this Mac Quillin came to O'Donnell, and bestowed upon him great presents, consisting of horses, armour, and other beautiful articles of value, and made peace with him. O'Donnell, with his army, returned home safe and in triumph from that expedition.
M1545.10 - A war broke out between O'Rourke (Brian Ballagh, the son of Owen) and his own brother by the mother's side, namely, Teige, the son of Cathal Oge O'Conor, Lord of Sligo. Great injuries were done on both sides between them; and one of them was the killing of Turlough O'Reilly, the son-in-law of O'Rourke, with the shot of a ball, in the gateway of Sligo, by the son of Cathal Oge.
M1551.4 - Grainne, the daughter of Manus, the son of Hugh, son of Hugh Roe O'Donnell, and wife of O'Rourke (Brian, the son of Owen), died on the 29th of April.
M1552.2 - Teige O'Rourke, Tanist of Breifny, was hanged by his own people. Some assert that Brian O'Rourke, his father's brother, had a part in causing this execution.
M1560.3 - Teige and Owen, the two sons of O'Rourke (Brian Ballagh, the son of Owen), came by untimely deaths. Owen first met his death thus: he was held in captivity by his kinsman, Teige, in the town of Leitrim; and it came to pass that, having got an opportunity of the guard, he slew the person whom Teige had appointed as his keeper, and ascending to the top of the castle, cried out that the castle was in his power, and that the country had no more right to side with Teige than with himself. When a soldier, one of the people of Teige, who was outside, heard this, he laid his cheek on his gun, and took direct aim at Owen, so that the ball entered at his navel, and bereft him of life. Teige the other son was drowned in the autumn of this year, as he was going across a lake to sleep in a low, retired crannog, in Muintir-Eolais. To attack them, if fighting on the same side, would have been as dangerous as to rob the nest of a serpent, to plunder the young of the griffin, or to attack a lion in his den.
M1562.1 - O'Rourke (Brian Ballagh, son of Owen), the senior of Sil-Feargna, and of the race of Aedh Finn, a man whose supporters, fosterers, adherents, and tributaries, extended from Caladh, in the territory of Hy-Many, to the fertile, salmon-full Drowes, the boundary of the far-famed province of Ulster; and from Granard in Teffia to the strand of Eothuile, the Artificer, in Tireragh of the Moy,---who had the best collection of poems, and who, of all his tribe, had bestowed the greatest number of presents for poetical eulogies, died in consequence of a fall; and his son, Hugh Gallda, was installed in his place.
M1564.1 - O'Rourke (Hugh Gallda, son of Brian Ballagh, son of Owen) was maliciously and malignantly slain by his own people, at Leitrim, in Muintir-Eolais; after which the whole country closed round Brian, the son of Brian O'Rourke; and it was rumoured that it was for him this treacherous misdeed was committed, though he had no personal share in perpetrating it. Hugh Boy, the son of Brian, son of Owen O'Rourke, another brother, who was younger than Hugh, but older than Brian, called himself O'Rourke by the influence of O'Neill.
M1566.5 - O'Rourke (Hugh Boy, the son of Brian Ballagh) was slain by the Kinel-Connell, at Baile-an-tochair, in order that the son of the daughter of Manus O'Donnell, namely, Brian, the son of Brian, son of Owen (O'Rourke), might enjoy the lordship of Breifny.
M1574.7 - The son of Teige, son of Teige O'Rourke, was slain by some of the inhabitants of Breifny, on the Green of Dromahaire.
M1576.12 - Great depredations were committed by Brian O'Rourke this year in Annaly.
M1577.1 - Con, the son of Brien, son of Owen O'Rourke, a man young in years, but perfect in hospitality and prowess, died.
M1578.12 - In the spring of this year Leitrim of Muintir-Eolais was taken from O'Rourke by an English captain, one of the people of Nicholas Malby; and O'Rourke (Brian, the son of Brian, son of Owen) demolished Dromahaire. Leitrim was afterwards left to the sons of Teige O'Rourke by the English; but in a short time afterwards the same town was taken by O'Rourke, with the permission of the English, but against the will of the sons of Teige.
M1580.24 - O'Rourke (Brian, the son of Brian, son of Owen) was disobedient to the English in the autumn of this year; and Sir Nicholas Malby mustered an army, and proceeded across the Shannon to oppose him. O'Rourke sent his women and people away over the summit of Sliabh-an-Iarainn, and demolished Leitrim, before the arrival of Sir Nicholas. The castle was rebuilt by Sir Nicholas, who, having placed provisions and warders in it, returned without committing any depredation, or performing any exploit worthy of note. O'Rourke laid siege to the castle, and did not suffer one of the warders to go in or out by the gates; so that Sir Nicholas was obliged to come to their relief, and take them away.
M1580.25 - An incursion was made by O'Rourke, in the month of November, into the district between the Rivers Suck and Shannon; and he burned and plundered the Feadha, and a great part of Hy-Many. He made another incursion into Hy-Many in the month of December, and expeditiously devastated the country; and he slew half a company of the soldiers of the people of Sir Nicholas Malby at Lis-da-lon. On this expedition O'Rourke was assisted by a party of the O'Conors.
M1581.29 - Cathal Oge, the son of Teige, son of Cathal Oge O'Conor; Maelmora, the son of Mulmurry, son of Owen; and Fearganeagla, his kinsman, with a great number of the chief men of the territory, were slain in Lower Connaught by some Scots who happened to be traversing the country, at the instance of Nicholas Malby. And the constable of these Scots was Alexander, the son of Donnell Ballagh, the son of Mac Donnell; and there were no two in Ireland among those that had not attained to their estates, who were more renowned in name, the one as gentleman and the other as a constable, than Cathal Oge and Maelmora. The son of O'Conor Don, i.e. Hugh, the son of Dermot, son of Carbry, was taken prisoner by the Scots on that day; and they refused to give him up to the captain, but proceeded with him to join O'Rourke; and O'Rourke ransomed Hugh from the Scots, so that O'Rourke and Hugh afterwards became confederated on the one side. The Alexander already mentioned left O'Rourke in the autumn of this year, and went to Sir Nicholas Malby, who received him with great welcome; and he was billeted with his followers, about Allhallowtide, throughout Hy-Fiachrach of the Moy. When O'Conor Sligo (Donnell, the son of Teige, son of Cathal Oge) and the people of Sir Nicholas, had received intelligence that they were thus situated, they attacked them while sleeping in their beds and couches, and slew Alexander, and a great number of his people along with him. O'Conor committed this slaughter in just revenge of the death of his brother, Cathal Oge.
M1583.24 - Teige Oge, the son of Teige O'Rourke, died in captivity with i.e. in the custody of O'Rourke, i.e. Brian, the son of Brian, who was son of Owen.
M1585.3 - Gormly, the daughter of O'Rourke, i.e. of Brian, son of Owen, a woman who had spent her life with husbands worthy of her, a prosperous and serene woman, who had never merited blame or censure from the Church or the literati, or any reproach on account of her hospitality or name, died.
M1585.4 - Brian, son of Teige, son of Brian, son of Owen O'Rourke, made an incursion into Dartry Mac Clancy in the very beginning of the month of January, and dispatched marauding squadrons through the fastnesses of Dartry to collect preys; and they obtained great spoils. Mac Clancy, with a numerous body of Scots and Irishmen, pursued and overtook him. Brian proceeded to resist them; and they continued fighting and skirmishing with each other as they moved along, until they came face to face at Beanna-bo, in Breifny. When the men of Breifny and O'Rourke's people heard that Brian had gone to Dartry, they assembled together, to meet him at a certain narrow pass, by which they thought he would come on to them. They perceived him approaching at a slow pace, and with great haughtiness, sustaining the attacks of his enemies; and although they as his own true followers should have succoured him on such an emergency, it was not so that they acted, but they gave their day's support, in battle to his enemies, so that the heroic soldier was attacked on both sides; he was met by shouts before and behind; and he was so surrounded on every side, that he could not move backwards or forwards. In this conflict many men were slain around him; and among the rest was cut off a company of gallowglasses of the Mac Sheehys, who were the surviving remnant and remains of the slaughter of the gallowglasses of the Geraldines, who were along with Brian on that day, and who had gone about from territory to territory, offering themselves for hire, after the extermination of the noblemen by whom they had been employed previously; and they would not have been thus cut off, had they not been attacked by too many hands, and overwhelmed by numbers. The men of Breifny and O'Rourke's people gave protection to Brian in this perilous situation, and carried him off under their protection, to be guarded. On the third day afterwards, however, they came to the resolution of malevolently and maliciously putting him to death, he being under their clemency and their protection. O'Rourke was accused of participating in this unbecoming deed.
M1585.11 - Thither came also the chiefs of the Rough Third of Connaught; namely, O'Rourke (Brian, the son of Brian, son of Owen) ; O'Reilly (John Roe, the son of Hugh Conallagh, son of Maelmora, son of John, son of Cathal), and his uncle, Edmond, son of Maelmora, both of whom were then at strife with each other concerning the lordship of their country; also both the O'Farrells, viz. O'Farrell Bane (William, the son of Donnell, son of Cormac), and O'Farrell Boy (Fachtna, the son of Brian, son of Rory, son of Cathal).
M1588.14 - A great army was mustered by the Lord Justice of Ireland, Sir William Fitzwilliam; Sir Richard Bingham, Governor of the province of Connaught; and Sir Thomas Norris, Governor of the two provinces of Munster; together with the most of the men of Ireland, the people of Ulster excepted, to march against O'Rourke and Mac Sweeny-na-dTuath, who had formed friendship and alliance with some of the Spanish fleet which we have before mentioned. These forces spoiled every thing to which they came in their course, not belonging to the Queen's people, from the Suck to the Drowes, and from the Drowes to the Finn; yet they were not able to overtake or apprehend O'Rourke or Mac Sweeny on this occasion. It was on this expedition that O'Doherty (John Oge, the son of John, son of Felim, son of Conor Carragh), and O'Gallagher ( Sir John, the son of Tuathal Balbh), were taken prisoners. The Lord Justice (then) went to Dublin, and the men of Ireland dispersed for their respective homes.
M1589.3 - Elenora, the daughter of the Earl of Desmond (i.e. of James, the son of John, son of Thomas, son of James, son of Garrett), who had been the wife of O'Rourke, and afterwards of the son of the Earl of Desmond (i.e. of Edward, the son of James, son of Pierce Roe, son of James, son of Edmond), died.
M1590.3 - In the month of March a very great army was mustered by the Governor against O'Rourke. This army was so numerous, that he sent a vast number of his captains and battalions to Sliabh-Cairbre to oppose the inhabitants of Muintir-Eolais; and another party of the chiefs of his army to the west of the Bridge of Sligo, to invade Breifny; and these troops proceeded to burn and devastate, kill and destroy, all before them in the country, until both met together again. By this excursion O'Rourke was banished from his territory; and he received neither shelter nor protection until he arrived in the Tuatha, to Mac Sweeny-na-dTuath (Owen Oge, the son of Owen, son of Owen Oge, son of Owen, son of Donnell); and with him he remained until the expiration of this year; and such of his people as did not go into exile came in and submitted to the Governor. Donnell, the son of Teige, son of Brian O'Rourke, and Hugh Oge, the son of Hugh Gallda, assisted the English in expelling and banishing O'Rourke. The whole territory, both waste and inhabited, was under the power of the Governor until the ensuing Michaelmas, when Tiernan Bane, the son of Brian, son of Owen O'Rourke, and Brian-na-Samhthach, i.e Brian Oge (the son of that O'Rourke who had been expelled), came into the territory. These and the tribes of Breifny, and of Muintir-Eolais, and of the other O'Rourkes who remained in the country, opposed the Governor, and continued spoiling every thing belonging to the English, to which they came, until the end of this year.
M1591.1 - O'Rourke, i.e. Brian-na-Murtha, the son of Brian, son of Owen, was banished, as stated before, into the Tuatha in Tirconnell, where he remained upwards of a year with Mac Sweeny (Owen Oge). After that he passed into Scotland, in hopes of obtaining protection or assistance from the King of Scotland. A party of the Queen's people, however, took him prisoner, and carried him into England and into London, where he remained for some time in prison, i.e. until the ensuing November Term. The law was urged against him, and he was condemned to death. He was afterwards hanged, beheaded, and quartered. The death of this Brian was one of the mournful stories of the Irish, for there had not been for a long time any one of his tribe who excelled him in bounty, in hospitality, in giving rewards for panegyrical poems, in sumptuousness, in numerous troops, in comeliness, in firmness, in maintaining the field of battle to defend his patrimony against foreign adventurers, for all which he was celebrated, until his death on this occasian.
M1593.3 - A warlike dissension arose in the month of May in this year between Sir George Bingham of Ballymote and Brian-na-Samhthach, i.e. Brian Oge, the son of Brian, son of Brian, son of Owen O'Rourke. The cause of this dissension was, that a part of the Queen's rent had not been received out of Breifny on that festival, Brian O'Rourke asserting that all the rents not paid were those demanded for lands that were waste, and that he Bingham ought not to demand rent for waste lands until they should be inhabited. Sir George sent soldiers into Breifny to take a prey in lieu of the rent; and the soldiers seized on O'Rourkes own milch cows. Brian went to demand a restoration of them, but this he did not at all receive. He then returned home, and sent for mercenaries and hireling troops to Tyrone, Tirconnell, and Fermanagh; and after they had come to him, he set out, and he made no delay by day or by night until he arrived at Ballymote. On his arrival in the neighbourhood of the town, he dispersed marauding parties through the two cantreds of the Mac Donoughs, namely, Corann and Tirerrill; and there was not much of that country which he did not plunder on the excursion. He also burned on that day thirteen villages on every side of Ballymote; and he ravaged Ballymote itself more than he did any other town. Their losses were of little account, except the son of Coffey Roe Magauran, on the side of Brian; Gilbert Grayne, a gentleman of Sir George's people, who was slain on the other side. The son of O'Rourke then returned back to his own territory loaded with great preys and spoils. This was done in the first month of summer.
M1593.5 - The Maguire (Hugh, the son of Cuconnaught) and the Brian O'Rourke before mentioned confederated during the summer to war against and plunder the English. Brian, the son of Hugh Oge, son of Hugh, son of John Boy Mac Mahon, from Dartry-Oriel; the sons of Ever Mac Cooley, from Farney; and Richard, son of Ulick Burke, i.e. the son of Deamhon-an-Charrain, were also in insurrection and rebellion against the English. These people of Oriel made an attack upon a company of soldiers who were stationed at Monaghan, and slew the greater part of them; wherefore a proclamation was issued to every town in Ireland, declaring the aforesaid persons and their confederates to be traitors.
M1595.22 - When intelligence of the death of George Bingham, and the taking of Sligo, came to the hearing of those of the province of Connaught who were in insurrection, namely, the Lower Burkes, the Clann-Donnell, the Sil-Conor, the Rourkes, and the Clann-Mulrony, and not these alone, but also those who had been proclaimed, and roving after having been expelled and banished into Ulster and other places, by the Binghams, they came to O'Donnell to Sligo; and each of them went afterwards to his own patrimonial inheritance; and every inhabitant whom the English had established in their lands during the period of their proscription adhered to them as followers from that hour forth. In the course of one month the greater part of the inhabitants of the district, from the western point of Erris and Umhall to the Drowes, had unanimously confederated with O'Donnell; and there were not many castles or fortresses in those places, whether injured or perfect, that were not under his control.
M1596.9 - When this great army was threatening to come to this place, Mac William Burke (Theobald) sent his messengers to O'Donnell, requesting of him to come to his relief. Not negligently did O'Donnell respond to this request, for he had been prepared to proceed into the province of Meave Connaught before the messengers arrived. He sent letters and writings to the Irish of the province of Olnegmacht Connaught, to request of them to meet him at a certain place on the road, leading to the camp of the General, Sir John Norris; and he himself set out on his journey with his army across the Erne and the Sligo, keeping the stream of Sliabh-Gamh on the right, through Leyny and the territory of Gaileanga. The Irish of the province came at the summons to meet him; and, first of all, O'Rourke (Brian Oge, the son of Brian, son of Brian, son of Owen); thither came O'Conor Roe, O'Kelly, Mac Dermot of Moylurg; thither came the two Mac Donoughs, the two O'Haras, and O'Dowda. When these Irish came together at one place, they made no delay until they pitched their camp, confronting Sir John Norris, on the opposite side of the same River Robe.
M1597.16 - O'Donnell, however, had been in want of forces, and had only a small number on the Saturday on which the Lord Justice came into the country with this powerful force; but his people and forces were assembling and flocking to him from every direction, so that the most of them had reached him before the noon of Monday. On this occasion Maguire (Hugh, the son of Cuconnaught, son of Cuconnaught) and O'Rourke (Brian Oge, the son of Brian, son of Brian Ballagh) came to join him, with their forces; and after these chiefs had assembled together, they allowed the Lord Justice and his army neither ease nor rest, for they carried on skirmishing and firing, conflict, assault, and onslaught, on the camp, every day during the three days that they continued battering the castle. O'Donnell's army frequently drove those who were on the outskirts of the Connaught camp into the very centre of it, and those who were in the centre to the outskirts; and they did not permit their horses or other cattle to go forth outside the boundary camp to graze, nor did they permit hay or corn to be carried in to them. The Governor and his army were thus reduced to great distress and extremities; for, though they should wish to depart, they could not approach any common ford on the Erne from Cael-Uisge to Ath-Seanaigh. The chiefs, though numerous were their forces, were much dispirited on finding themselves placed in such peril by their enemies. When, therefore, the Governor, the Earls, and the chiefs in general, had perceived the great danger in which they were, they held a consultation from the beginning of night on Tuesday, to the morning twilight of Wednesday, the 15th of August; and the resolution they finally came to at the day-break was, to advance forward at once from the place where they were at Sith-Aedha to the rough, turbulent, cold-streamed, rocky ford over the brink of Assaroe, called Casan-na-gCuradh, and they advanced to that to them unknown and seldom-crossed trajectus, in troops and squadrons, without being noticed or heard by O'Donnell. In consequence of the strength of the current, and the debility of some of the army and the horses, from having been deprived of food, a countless number of their women, and men of their inferior, unwarlike people, of their steeds and horses, and of other things they had with them, were swept out westwards into the sea by the current of Assaroe. They left their ordnance and their vessels of meat and drink in the power of the Kinel-Connell on this occasion. The chiefs and gentlemen of the army, however, and such of them as were strong, crossed the Erne after great danger and peril. The warders of the castle continued firing on them as rapidly as they were able, and pursued them to the brink of the river, in order to exterminate their enemies; and intelligence of their movements reached O'Donnell and his army. When O'Donnell heard the report of the firing, he immediately rose up with his forces, and, having quickly accoutred themselves in their fighting habiliments, they advanced to the river as speedily as they could. When the Governor's army had cleared the opposite bank of the river they went into order and battle array. They placed their women, their calones, their unarmed people, their wounded men, and such of their horses of burden as they had, between them and the sea. They placed their warriors and fighting men behind them, and on the other side towards the country, for they were certain of receiving an attack by those forces who had pursued them. O'Donnell's people went in pursuit of them across the river without delay; and they were so eager to wreak their vengeance on the army that fled from them that they did not wait to put on their armour or outer garments. They began to surround them and sharpen the conflict against them, and both parties continued shooting and attacking each other from the Erne to Magh-gCedne in Carbury-Drumcliff. At this time there fell a shower of rain in such torrents that the forces on either side could not use or wield their arms, so drenched with wet were their powder-pouches and the apparatus of their fine guns. These showers of rain did more injury to O'Donnell's people than to the Governor's army; for they the former had left their outer garments behind, as we have said before; but not so the others, they wore coverings over their battle dresses.
M1597.17 - The Governor proceeded with his forces to Sligo that night; from thence on the next day to the abbey of Boyle, and on the third day to the district of Athleague. The chiefs of Connaught, then dispersed from their territories and houses, and the Governor went to Athlone.
M1597.20 - O'Donnell was greatly chagrined that the Governor and the Earls should have escaped as they did. There was, however, no attack from either side until the end of Autumn. O'Donnell thought it too long that he had left unattacked the English of Connaught and those Irish who had risen in alliance with them, and who had previously made friendship with himself. Among these was O'Conor Roe (Hugh, the son of Turlough Roe); and he O'Donnell was meditating how he could plunder his territory. This was very difficult for him to do; because the position he occupied was secure and intricate, and he had near him a fastness into which he could send his cattle and other possessions, beyond the reach of his enemies, unless they should come upon him unawares; and O'Rourke had promised him that he would not permit O'Donnell to march towards him without sending him notice. O'Donnell assembled his forces, and proceeding into Connaught, halted south-west of Gleann-Dallain, where he pitched his camp. When he received intelligence that a friendship subsisted between O'Rourke and O'Conor, he deceived O'Rourke by sending messengers to him to invite him, to his camp where he was. O'Rourke promised to go to him on the following day; for he thought that O'Donnell would not leave the camp until he should arrive there; but O'Donnell did not act so; for, after he had sent his messengers to O'Rourke, he left the camp at noon, and, proceeding southwards across the Sligo, never stopped until he arrived at the Curlieu Mountain. Here he made a short stay while his troops were taking some refreshments and resting themselves, because he did not at all wish to pass southwards over the mountain by daylight. When the beginning of night came on them they proceeded southwards over the mountain and across the River Boyle; and before morning they had passed through Magh-Luirg-an-Daghda, and the upper part of Machaire-Chonnacht. Early in the day they sent marauding parties into the wilds and recesses of the country in every direction; and these left not a single head of cattle from Ath-Slisean to Baghna, and they plundered and burned all that lay between these limits. They then returned back with their herds of kine and many other spoils. O'Rourke was ashamed that the country should have been plundered without his knowledge; and the Governor, Sir Conyers Clifford, was not less grieved that a country, which was under his rule and jurisdiction, should have been thus plundered and burned.
M1598.5 - Mac Donough of Tirerrill (Maurice Caech, the son of Teige-an-Triubhis) was slain in Breifny-O'Rourke, as he was carrying off a prey from thence; upon which Conor Oge, son of Melaghlin, from Baile-an-duin, was appointed the Mac Donough.
M1598.13 - O'Rourke (Brian Oge, the son of Brian, son of Brian Ballagh, son of Owen) was angry with O'Donnell (Hugh Roe, the son of Hugh, son of Manus), because of his having plundered O'Conor Roe against his wish, as we have written before; and, moreover, he was not at all on terms of peace with his own brother, i.e. Teige O'Rourke, the son of Brian, son of Brian Ballagh, in consequence of a disagreement about the partition of their territory and land. Wherefore, O'Rourke confederated and formed a league of friendship with the Governor, Sir Conyers Clifford. O'Donnell was not pleased at hearing this news, for the O'Rourkes had from a remote period been the friends of his tribe, and he the present O'Rourke was his own kinsman, and he did not wish to make an incursion against him, or plunder his territory, as he would treat all others in Connaught; but he felt certain that he must needs plunder him unless he should return to the confederacy of the Irish, for he O'Donnell was not at peace with any one who was under the tutelage of the English. For a certain time he privately solicited him to return, and at another time he menaced and threatened to plunder his territory unless he should come back. O'Rourke continued to listen to these messages from the beginning of spring to the May following, at which time he went to Athlone, and delivered up his hostages to the Governor; and they made mutual vows and promises to be faithful to each other; but though the engagement was sincere at the time, it was not long kept.
M1598.15 - After the Governor and O'Rourke had parted from each other in peace and friendship, in May, at the town of Athlone, and when O'Rourke saw that the English and Irish were not at peace with each other, and that the English were not at this time more powerful than the Irish, he was afraid that O'Donnell would plunder his territory; and therefore he came at the first summons of O'Donnell, and did whatever he requested him. This he O'Rourke did by advice of his people, for they felt it safer to have the Governor in opposition, than to be pursued by O'Donnell's vengeance for remaining under the protection of the Governor.
M1598.16 - O'Rourke, after having confirmed his friendship with O'Donnell on this occasion, proceeded with his forces, at the instance of O'Farrell Bane (i.e. Ross, the son of William, son of Donnell), into Meath; and they plundered Mullingar, and the country from Mullingar to Ballymore-Lough Sewdy.
M1598.17 - Another hosting was made by O'Rourke in the first month of autumn; and he did not halt until he arrived at Tyrrell's-Pass, and the Pass of Kilbride in Fertullagh. He seized a prey, and slew some persons at Tyrrell's-Pass, and (then) returned home to his country without wound or danger.
M1599.15 - O'Donnell Hugh: i.e. Roe, the son of Hugh, son of Manus, had resided at Ballymote, in the county of Sligo, from the gaining of the battle of Ath-Buidhe, in the beginning of August, to the festival of St. Bridget in this year. He felt it long to have remained during this time without going into some enemy's territory, but he knew not to what particular place he should go; for he had not left a quarter, limit, wilderness, or recess, in the whole province of Connaught the inhabitants of which he had not plundered, or from which he had not taken pledges and hostages, save Thomond alone wherefore, at the time aforesaid, he ordered an army to be mustered in order to proceed into Thomond. First of all assembled the Kinel-Connel, among whom were Hugh Oge, the son of Hugh Duv, son of Hugh Roe, son of Niall Garv O'Donnell; and Niall Garv, the son of Con, son of Calvagh, son of Manus, son of Hugh Duv; O'Doherty (John Oge, the son of Felim, son of Conor Carragh); O'Boyle (Teige Oge, the son of Teige, son of Turlough, son of Niall); Mac Sweeny Fanad (Donnell, the son of Turlough, son of Mulmurry); and Mac Sweeny Banagh (Donough, the son of Mulmurry Meirgeach, son of Mulmurry, son of Niall): all these with their forces. Into the same rendezvous came Maguire (Hugh, the son of Cuconnaught, son of Cuconnaught, son of Cuconnaught, son of Brian, son of Philip, son of Thomas); the son of O'Rourke (Thomas, the son of Brian, son of Brian Ballagh, son of Owen); and the Mac William, whom O'Donnell himself had some time before nominated, namely, Theobald, son of Walter Kittagh, son of John, son of Oliver.
M1599.17 - As for O'Donnell and his forces, they marched forward to proceed into Thomond, and made no delay until they arrived, without being observed, inside the river in Clanrickard; and in the evening they pitched an extensive camp of armed heroes at Ruaidh-Bheitheach, between Kilcolgan and Ardrahin. Here they remained to consult with each other as to how they should attack the strange territory towards which they had come; and, having eaten some of their provisions, they all went to take a sleep, except the sentinels, before they should undertake their great journey and toil. Thus they remained until midnight, when O'Donnell commanded them to rise up without delay, to march into the neighbouring territory before the day should break upon them. They rose up forthwith, and proceeded straight onwards by each direct road, until, by morning twilight, they arrived in the eastern extremity of Coill-O'bhFlannchadha, in the cantred of Kinel-Fearmaic, in Thomond. Here they formed marauding parties, and sent one of them northwards into Burren, under the command of Teige O'Rourke and Mac Sweeny Banagh; and another party southwards into Baile-Ui-Ogain of Coill-mhor, to Tully-O'Dea, and to the gate of Baile-Ui-Ghriobhtha. Maguire, with a strong body of his forces, went forth towards Inchiquin. O'Donnell himself proceeded, with the flower and main body of the army, through the middle of Coill-O'bhFlannchadha, Bealach-an-Fhiodhfail, and, before mid-day, arrived at Cill-Inghine-Bhaoith, in the upper part of Dal-gCais. Those who had gone to the south returned to the north by Druim-Finnghlaisi and Corofin, and joined O'Donnell at Cill-Inghine-Bhaoith. Thither the spoils of all Kinel-Fearmaic, from Diseart to Glencolumbkille, and to Tulach-Chumann, and from Cluain-Sailchearnaigh to Leim-an-eich, were brought to O'Donnell.
M1599.18 - The son of O'Rourke and Mac Sweeny were not able to return to him on that night with the spoils of Burren; nor was Maguire able to return from the other direction, for they had pitched their camps wherever the night overtook them.
M1599.19 - O'Donnell remained that night encamped at Cill-Inghine-Bhaoith, and left it before noon on the following day; and he then proceeded to Kilfenora, in the cantred of Corcomroe. From thence he dispatched marauding parties southwards to Eidneach, to Brentir of the Fearmacaigh, to Cormacaigh, to the gate of Inis-Dimain,to Cill-Easbuig-Lonain,and to Baile-Phaidin, who returned to him to Kilfenora, in an easterly direction, loaded with spoils and booty. O'Donnell remained here until the following day, when his troops came up with him from every quarter in which they had been dispersed. The son of O'Rourke and Mac Sweeny Banagh came up with the spoils of Burren; and Maguire came up from another direction with much booty. When O'Donnell saw the surrounding hills covered and darkened with the herds and numerous cattle of the territories through which his troops had passed, he proceeded on his way homewards, over the chain of rugged-topped mountains of Burren; and, passing by Nuachongbhail, Turlach, the monastery of Corcomroe, and Carcair-na-gCleireach, arrived at Rubha, in the west of Hy-Fiachrach-Aidhne, where he stopped for the night. On the morrow he passed through the upper part of Clanrickard, and by the gate of Athenry. His adventures from this forward are not related, until he arrived at Ballymote, except that he was met by Mac William and Niall Garv O'Donnell at the frontiers of Hy-Many, with many preys, and spoils, and booty, which they had carried off from Mac William's country.
M1599.41 - O'Rourke was at this time in a separate camp on the eastern side of Coirrshliabh. He had promised O'Donnell that he would be ready to attack the English like the rest, whenever it would be necessary; and when he heard the sound of the trumpets and tabors, and the loud and earth-shaking reports of the mighty firing, he rose up from his camp with his heroes, who put on their arms; and they made no delay, till they arrived at the place where O'Donnell's people were engaged in the conflict. They proceeded, like the others, to cut down champions with their swords, and fire on them with their guns, arrows, and javelins, until the soldiers left behind many heads and weapons. The governor, Sir Conyers Clifford, was slain, together with a countless number of English and Irish about him. He was left feebly stretched on the mountain, mortally wounded in the commencement of the conflict. It was not known to the soldiers who first wounded him (nothing was known about his death, except only that it was a ball that passed through him), and the soldiers did not recognise him, until O'Rourke at last came up to the place where he was, and recognised that it was the Governor that was there. He ordered him to be beheaded, which being done, his body was left a mutilated trunk. The death of the person here slain was much lamented. It was grievous that he came to this tragic end. The Irish of the province of Meave Connaught were not pleased at his death; for he had been a bestower of jewels and riches upon them; and he had never told them a falsehood. The Governor passed not in one direction from this battle; for his body was conveyed to be interred in the Island of the Blessed Trinity in Lough Key, in the barony of Moylurg, in the county of Roscommon, and his head was carried to Cul-Maoile, in the barony of Tirerrill, in the county of Sligo.
M1600.40 - As for O'Donnell, when he perceived that they were not in the habit of going outside their encampments, through fear and dread, he made no account of them, and assembled his forces, to proceed into the south of Connaught, to plunder the countries that lay on both sides of Sliabh-Echtge, and especially Thomond. He had good reason for this, indeed, for it was these Earls, namely, the Earl of Clanrickard and the Earl of Thomond, who had requested the Lord Justice and the Council to send over this great army, to keep him in his own territory, away from them, for they deemed it too often that he had gone into their territories. Having adopted this resolution, he left O'Doherty, chieftain of Inishowen, i.e. John Oge, the son of John, son of Felim O'Doherty, to watch the foreigners, that they might not come to plunder his territory. He also left Niall Garv O'Donnell, and some of his army, encamped against them on the west side, between them and the cantred of Enda, son of Niall. He then mustered his forces, to proceed westwards across the River Erne. He took with him on this hosting, in the first place, all those who were under his jurisdiction in Ulster; and the Connacians, from the River Suck to the Drowes, and from the west of Tirawly to Breifny O'Reilly, were expecting and awaiting his arrival at Ballymote, whither they were gone at his summons. Among the Connaughtmen who awaited him there were O'Rourke (Brian Oge, the son of Brian, son of Brian Ballagh, son of Owen); O'Conor Sligo (Donough, the son of Cathal Oge, son of Teige, son of Cathal Oge), together with the people of the districts which lie from Coirrshliabh northwards to the sea; O'Conor Roe (Hugh, the son of Turlough Roe, son of Teige Boy, son of Cathal Roe), with all his muster; Mac Dermot of Moylurg, i.e. Conor, son of Teige, son of Owen, son of Teige, with his people; and Mac William Burke, i.e. Theobald, the son of Walter Kittagh, son of John, son of Oliver, with his muster.
M1600.45 - O'Donnell sent a large party of his warriors and soldiers with the preys and people aforesaid, to clear the way for them; and he advised O'Rourke and his people, and the other Connaughtmen in general, to return home. O'Donnell retained five hundred heroes of his choice soldiers, and sixty horsemen, of his own faithful people. They remained in the camp in which they had been the night before until after mid-day. They then proceeded through the province in a south-easterly direction, and arrived, by the twilight of the following morning, at Loughrea. This was the chief residence of the Earl of Clanrickard. They sent out marauding parties in every direction to plunder the country; and these collected all the cattle and herds in their neighbourhood in every direction, and brought them to one place. They came with their preys eastwards across the province, and on Sunday pitched their camp with them near the borders of the province, to the south of the Suck, where they remained until Monday morning. On this day (Monday) they proceeded across Athleague, and through the plain of Nai, son of Allgubha i.e. Machaire-Chonnacht, and in the evening arrived at Seaghais, where they encamped northwards of the river for that night. On the next day they crossed Coirrshliabh-na-Seaghsa, and proceeded through the territory of Corran to Ballymote. The forces then dispersed for their homes with spoils and riches.
M1601.2 - ... Thus they remained for four or five days, during which time some persons not illustrious were slain between them, until Teige, the son of Brian-na-Murtha, son of Brian Ballagh, son of Owen O'Rourke, arrived with bold companies of sharp-armed soldiers to assist Redmond Burke. When these two parties combined overtook the Earl, he left the camp in which he was, and proceeded through the passes into Clanrickard. The others pursued him to Loughrea; and, the Earl and his people escaping from them on this occasion, they traversed, plundered, and burned the country from Leitrim to Ard-Maeldubhain and as far as the gate of Feadán, in the west of Kinelea. At this time they lost a Munster lord of a territory, i.e. MacDonough, i.e. Donough, the son of Cormac Oge, son of Cormac. What brought him on this expedition was this, he had been carried off as a hostage by O'Neill in the spring of the preceding year, and had remained in Ulster until having regained his liberty he set out with those sons of John Burke, and so fell in this war of the Clann-William.
M1601.37 - When O'Neill, O'Donnell, and the Irish of Leath-Chuinn in general, heard the news of the arrival of this Spanish fleet (at Kinsale), the resolution they came to, ..., was, that each lord of a territory among them should leave a guard and protection over his territory and fair land, and proceed, without dallying or delaying, to aid and assist the Spaniards, who had come at their call and instance; ...
M1601.38 - O'Donnell was the first who prepared to go on this expedition. Having left guards over his creaghts and all his people in the county of Sligo, he set out from Ballymote in the very beginning of winter. The following were some of the chiefs who were along with him: O'Rourke ( Brian Oge, the son of Brian); the sons of John Burke; Mac Dermot of Moylurg; the sept of O'Conor Roe; O'Kelly; and the chiefs who had been banished from Munster, ...
M1602.20 - Another hosting of the English and Irish was made by Niall O'Donnell to Breifny O'Rourke; and he carried off a countless number of kine.
M1602.23 - Rury O'Donnell, the son of Hugh, son of Manus, was he to whom O'Donnell had, on the night before his departure, left the government of his people and lands, and everything which was hereditary to him, until he should return back again; and he had commanded O'Neill and Rury to be friendly to each other, as themselves both had been. They promised him this thing.
M1602.32 - Sir Oliver Lambert came in the summer to Sligo with a numerous army of English and Irish, and there encamped against Rury O'Donnell, who was to the south of them, and against the inhabitants of Lower Connaught in general, to try whether they could seize on any of their property. Caffar, the son of Hugh Duv O'Donnell, went and ratified his peace and friendship with Sir Oliver. The place at which Caffar had his residence and fortress at this time was Dun-Aille, to the west of Sligo; and Sir Oliver and Caffar prepared to go with their forces into Fermanagh, in search of preys and spoils.
As soon as Rury O'Donnell heard of this expedition, it grieved him that his allies and friends should be plundered, without coming to their relief, if he could; and he repaired to O'Rourke (Brian Oge), to request of him to join his forces, that they might engage the English at a pass where he expected to get an advantage of them. He also requested him to assist him in the war until O'Donnell should return to relieve the Irish, and to give him one of his strong, impregnable castles, as a resting-place for his wounded, disabled, feeble, and sick people; and, moreover, that he would allow his people to remove with their property and cattle into his territory. O'Rourke refused the son of O'Donnell everything he requested of him, and the other was grieved and insulted at his refusal; but, seeing that he was not strong enough to cope with the English, he remained to protect his own people.
M1602.34 - Sir Oliver was informed of the proceedings of Rury O'Donnell, and how he had requested of O'Rourke to join him, to obstruct him Sir Oliver in the expedition which we have before mentioned, and his animosity against him grew greater on account of it; and he, therefore, sent for additional forces to Athlone, to wreak his vengeance upon Rury. As soon as Rury heard that the English of Athlone were approaching him from the south side, and the English of Sligo from the other side, he collected his property, his cattle, flocks, and herds, and moved with them across Coirrshliabh-na-Seaghsa into Moylurg, from thence across the Shannon into Muintir-Eolais, and to Sliabh-an-Iarainn, in Conmaicne-Rein; so that the English seized no portion of them; and the English of Athlone returned to their homes without gaining any victory on that occasion, The people of the son of O'Donnell then returned back again with their cattle to the places from which they had set out, namely, to Corran, Leyny, and Tireragh.
M1603.1 - O'Neill (Hugh, the son of Ferdorcha) and most of the Irish of Leath-Chuinn, except O'Rourke, came in under peace; for a proclamation for a general peace, and a restoration of his blood and territory to every one that wished for it, had been issued by His Majesty King James, after he had been appointed in the place of the Queen as King over England, France, and Ireland.
M1603.4 - The people of Rury O'Donnell repaired to Tirconnell with all their property, cattle, and various effects, in the first month of spring. But Rury himself, with his gathering and muster of Irish and English, with Captain Guest, went (before his people had removed from the west) to revenge and get satisfaction of O'Rourke (Brian Oge), for the insult and dishonour he had some time before offered him (as he had in contemplation some time before); so that they plundered and ravaged Breifny, both its crops and corn, and all the cattle they could seize upon, for the greater part of them had been driven into the wilds and recesses of the territory. A few persons were slain between them, among whom were Owen, the son of Ferdorcha O'Gallagher, and Turlough, the son of Mac Loughlin, who fell by each other on that occasion. A party of the English were left in garrison at Dromahaire, for the purpose of plundering the country around them. O'Rourke was thenceforward obliged to remain with a few troops in the woods or precipitous valleys, or on the islands in the lakes of his territory.
M1604.1 - O'Rourke (Brian Oge, the son of Brian-na-Murtha, son of Brian Ballagh, son of Owen) died at Galway on the 28th of January, and was buried in the monastery of Ross-Iriala, with the Franciscan Friars. The death of the person who departed here was a great loss, for he was the supporting pillar and the battle-prop of the race of Aedh-Finn, the tower of battle for prowess, the star of the valour and chivalry of the Hy-Briuin; a brave and protecting man, who had not suffered Breifny to be molested in his time; a sedate and heroic man, kind to friends, fierce to foes; and the most illustrious that had come for some time of his family for clemency, hospitality, nobleness, firmness, and steadiness.
M1605.2 - O'Rourke (Teige, son of Brian, son of Brian, son of Owen), Lord of Breifny, a man who had experienced many hardships and difficulties while defending his patrimony against his brother, Brian Oge; a man who was not expected to die on his bed, but by the spear or sword; a man who had fought many difficult battles, and encountered many dangers, while struggling for his patrimony and the dignity of his father, until God at length permitted him to obtain the lordship, died, and was interred with due honour in the Franciscan Monastery at Carrickpatrick.
M1609.2 - Brian-na-Samhthach, son of Art, son of Brian-na-mucheirghe O'Rourke, was slain by the English.
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History of O'Ruaric as contained in the Annals of the Four Masters
