The O’Mulligan Families of NW Ireland
INTRODUCTION
In the Milligan/Milliken DNA Project, there are about five different STR haplotypes within four SNP haplogroups that appear to be Irish clades rather than Scottish, and they are: R-M222 with twosubclades, followed by the E1b1b1, I-M223 and J-M267 haplogroups. The history of the principal O’Mulligan and Mulligan septs and families is also explored in more detail and includes references to early Irish genealogical sources and what extant medieval records have been preserved. It aims to cover as many known families, spelt variously as Mulligan, Mullegan, Melligan, Milligan, Mellican, Mulgan, who can trace their ancestry from the Middle Ages. It is acknowledged, though, few families can be chronicled prior to 1700.
The earliest authenticated reference to the surname in Ireland is found in the Annals of Ulster, which records the names of Muirchertach and Eoin (John), very likely his son. In 1207, ‘Muircertach O Milluga[i]n (or O Maelaga[i]n)’ was elected chief lector of the abbey of Daire (Derry) of St. Columcille, after the death of the late lector, Domnall Ua Muiredaigh. A lector was a monk entrusted with the reading of the sacred scriptures in the church or abbey refectory. In 1220, following a dispute over the election of Flann Ua Brolcháin, abbot and successor of St. Columcille, ‘Muirchertach Ua Millugain’ was elected to replace him. It is unclear from the annals why the clergy of Derry were in dispute over the succession of Flann Ua Brolcháin, but it seems the choice of Muirchertach was acceptable to both the clergy of Derry and the chief council of the Cenél Eógain (1) . For the next year or so, Muirchertach held the office of abbot and chief lector, before his right to hold them were challenged by Geoffrey Ua Daighri, herenagh of Derry. The matter was only settled after they appealed to the archbishop of Armagh, who chose Eoin mac in fhir leighinn, son of the lector, which implies the late lector, Muirchertach Ua Millugain, a judgement that settled their difference.
In the Annals of Ulster, Muirchertach’s surname is spelt differently in two manuscripts; MS 1282 in Trinity College Library in Dublin and Rawlinson B 489 in Bodleian Library in Oxford. In the first reference dated 1207, the editor of the second volume of the Annals, B. Mac Carthy has written O Milluga[i]n and in brackets, supplied O Maelaga[i]n from MS 1282. This manuscript was compiled in Co. Fermanagh and was known as the Annals of Senat, having taken its name from the residence of Cathal Mac Manus, who lived at Shanad, now called Belle Isle, an island in Upper Lough Erne (2) . In the second reference dated to 1220, the style ‘hUa Milluga[i]n’ and ‘O Milluga[i]n’ are translated as Ua Millugain and O’Millugain from Rawlinson B 489. This manuscript is believed to be the original compiled in the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries. The copy made by Mac Manus has been dated prior to 1498, when he died at Lough Erne in Co. Fermanagh.
Further south in the Wicklow Mountains at Castle Kevin, sometime between 1257 and 1263, an inquisition was held to inquire into the temporal jurisdiction exercised in the manorial courts of the archbishop of Dublin under the first three English prelates promoted to the see through the influence of the kings of England. John Cumin, the first of them, was ordained in 1181, and succeeded by Henry de London in 1213 and Luke in 1229 (3). The inquisition was held during the time of Fulk de Stanford, bishop of Dublin between 1257 and 1271. Castle Kevin was located in the old medieval diocese of Glendalough, which was united with the diocese of Dublin in 1214. It was originally built by the O’Tooles probably in the twelfth century. Amongst the list of jurors who gave evidence to the inquisition was ‘Molior Omolegane’, whose appearance at the court suggests he had local knowledge of the matters being heard and lived in the bishop’s manor.
The personal name of Molior Omolegane is shared with Maoilire O’Maolagain, chief poet and bard of the O’Reillys of East Breifne, which today covers most of Co. Cavan. In 1293, the celebrated Giolla Iosa Roe O’Reilly succeeded his brother Matthew O’Reilly, as prince of East Breifne. During his reign Maoilire O’Maolagain flourished as Giolla Iosa’s chief poet (4). One of Maoilire’s poems has survived and celebrates the deeds of this chief in the poem entitled “We went on a hosting with Giolla Iosa the valiant”. This poem with others, appears to be the source of John O’Hart’s claim that the O’Mulligan family were hereditary bards to the O’Reillys of Cavan (East Breifne) (5). The chief poet might well have been early associated with a branch of the Conmaicne Rein in Co. Leitrim or Co. Cavan, which is discussed below. The personal name Maelagain appears in the Book of Fenagh, which takes its name from the old Abbey of Fenagh in West Breifne, generally associated with County Leitrim.
Medieval Genealogies of Ireland In Irish Genealogical tradition, several O’Mulligan families have pedigrees attached to them. The oldest are the O’Mulligans in Co. Donegal, who are associated with the Cenél Conaill and Cenél Moain, the latter, a branch of the Cenél Eógain. The ancestor of this cenél, Eógain, is said to be a brother of Conaill, founder of the Cenél Conaill, two reputed sons of the legendry Niall of the Nine Hostages. As a kindred, the O'Mulligans first appear in the Book of Ballymote compiled about 1390, and the Book of Lecan compiled between 1397 and 1418. These Irish Manuscripts contain two types of genealogical material, (a) the branching or downward tracing of kindreds from a common ancestor and (b) pedigrees of prominent secular and clerical figures. In the first, O'Mulligan is written in it earliest form as Ua Maelagain (Ua abbreviated to .h.) and is represented as descending from Moán or Muain son of Muiredhaigh son of Eógain, founder of the Cenél Eógain in Inishowen. In the forumulation of surnames, 'Ua' is generally taken to mean grandson of or descendant of, and in the genealogies, the Ua Maelagain were a branch of the Clann Cathánigh (Keane) of the Cenél Moain.
Medieval Genealogies of Ireland In Irish Genealogical tradition, several O’Mulligan families have pedigrees attached to them. The oldest are the O’Mulligans in Co. Donegal, who are associated with the Cenél Conaill and Cenél Moain, the latter, a branch of the Cenél Eógain. The ancestor of this cenél, Eógain, is said to be a brother of Conaill, founder of the Cenél Conaill, two reputed sons of the legendry Niall of the Nine Hostages. As a kindred, the O'Mulligans first appear in the Book of Ballymote compiled about 1390, and the Book of Lecan compiled between 1397 and 1418. These Irish Manuscripts contain two types of genealogical material, (a) the branching or downward tracing of kindreds from a common ancestor and (b) pedigrees of prominent secular and clerical figures. In the first, O'Mulligan is written in it earliest form as Ua Maelagain (Ua abbreviated to .h.) and is represented as descending from Moán or Muain son of Muiredhaigh son of Eógain, founder of the Cenél Eógain in Inishowen. In the forumulation of surnames, 'Ua' is generally taken to mean grandson of or descendant of, and in the genealogies, the Ua Maelagain were a branch of the Clann Cathánigh (Keane) of the Cenél Moain.
Book of Ballymote, folio. 44 v a 15
Book of Lecan, folio. 54 v a 38
In the Books of Ballymote and Lecan, the branching of the Cenél Moain is called ‘Minegud sencais Ceniel Moain’, or the explanation of the history of the Cenel Moain, and is divided between the 'Genelach Cenél Moain íochtarach' (Lower) and ‘Genelach Cenél Moain Uachtarach’ (Upper), from whom came a number of other family surnames, some of which are now obsolete. The early branching from is delineated as:
Book of Ballymote (Unpublished Genealogies, folio. 44 v a 15)
‘Minegud sencais Ceniel Moain’ (Explanation of the history of the Cenel Moain)
'Cland Faelan mc. Colman mc. Muan .i. Edalach mc. Faelan, da mc. aige .i. Fianbertach & Tennalach.Is and sin deiligid Cenel Muan uachtarach & Cenel Moan ichtarach .i. Clann Tennalaig in lucht tuas & Clann Fianbertaig in lucthis & is e so a minugud sin .i. Ferrdhalach mc. Tendalaigh.Tri mc. lais .i. Gairmleadhach & Cathanach & Anarg.Ceitri mc. la Gairmleadhach .i. Duinechaidh otaid Ua Duineachaidh & Cridecan otait .h. Cridechan & Luinech otaid .h. Luineigh & Dalbac diata Tellach nDhalbaig .i. .h. Gairmleadhaigh & .h. Tigernaigh & .h. Ceallaig & .h. Cearnachian'.
After naming the three sons of the Ferrdhalach mac Tendalaigh, namely, Gairmleadhach, Cathanach and Anarg, and the kindreds of Gairmleadhach (Gormghaile), Cathanch/Cathanaigh and Anarg are subsequently delinated. They note, that from Cathanaigh, three family surnames stem, namely, the Ua Doraighén, Ua Maolagáin and Ua Oircealluigh or Airceallaigh.
'Cland Cathanaigh mac Ferrdalaig uero .i. .H. Doraighén, .H. Maelagán, .H. oircealaigh'.
Niall .ix. ghiallaig > Eogain > Muiredhaigh > Muain > Colmain > Faelain > Edalaigh > Tendalaigh > Ferrdalach > Cathanigh > Uí Maelagan.
In the book of Lecan, Cathanaigh is given as the father of four sons and not three. It is possible the first is a duplicate for the father of Cathanaigh, though, it will be noted the scribe has inserted a forth name, which is unclear to me in the copy of above.
Book of Lecan (Unpublished Genealogies, folio. 54 v a 38)
Cland Cathánach mac Ferrdálaigh uero .i. mac Ferridaigh .H. Doraigén, .H. Maélacán, .H. oircealaich.
Niall Noi-giallach > Eógan > Muiredach > Muan (or Maien) > Colmán > Faelán > Etalách > Tendálach > Ferrdálach > Cathánach > Uí Maelacáin.
The name of the eponymous ancestor of the Ua Maelagain is not preserved in the downward tracing of the Clann Cathanaigh nor the pedigrees, which are listed below. I have included the Ua Lochlainn (McLaughlin) kings of the Cenél Eógain for the purpose of dating the three descending branches within the Cenél Moain. It will be observed that 'Ferrdalach son of Tendalaig' has been omitted from the Ua Gormghaile (O’Gormley) pedigree, which is shared with the the Ua Maelagain and Ua Luinigh (O’Lonney).
The name of the eponymous ancestor of the Ua Maelagain is not preserved in the downward tracing of the Clann Cathanaigh nor the pedigrees, which are listed below. I have included the Ua Lochlainn (McLaughlin) kings of the Cenél Eógain for the purpose of dating the three descending branches within the Cenél Moain. It will be observed that 'Ferrdalach son of Tendalaig' has been omitted from the Ua Gormghaile (O’Gormley) pedigree, which is shared with the the Ua Maelagain and Ua Luinigh (O’Lonney).
Book of Leinster
Kings of Ailech
Neill .ix. giallaig
m. Eogain
m. Muiredaich
m. Muircherdaich
m. Domnaill, d. 566
m. Aed Allan, d. 612
m. Maeli-fithrich, d. 630
m. Mael-duin, d. 681
m. Fergaile, d. 722
m. Neill Frossach, d. 788
m. Aeda Oirdnide, d. 819
m. Neill Kaillie, d. 846
m. Aeda Findleith, d. 879
m. Domnaill, d. 915
m. Flaind, d. 906
m. Mael ruanaidh, d. 940
m. Mael Sechnaill, d. 997
m. Niall, d. 1061
m. Aed, d. 1083
Book of Ballymote
Genelach Cenel Muan
Neill .ix. ghiallaig
m. Eogain
m. Muiredaigh
m. Muain
m. Colman
m. Faelan
m. Edalaigh
m. Teandalaigh
[m. Ferdalaigh]
m. Gairmleadaigh
m. Dalbaigh
m. Maelmithigh
m. Catmaeil
m. Gairmleadhaigh
m. Mc. Raith
m. Menman
m. Domnaill
m. Concobar
m. Eidalaig (extended by O'Clery)
m. Domnaill
m. Néll
m. Concobair
m. Sitrec
m. Mail seclainn
m. Conchobar
Cenél Moain Uachtarach
Ua Gormghaile (O’Gormley)
Book of Ballymote
Genelach Cenel Muan
[Neill .ix. ghiallaig]
m. Eogan
m. Muiredhach
m. Muan
m. Colman
m. Faelan
m. Edalaigh
m. Fianbertaigh
m. Thnuthgaile
m. Dungaile
m. Gairbeith
m. Muiredhaighm. Flaitbertaighm. Diarmadam. Flaithbertaighm. Muiredachm. Gio’la molaisi (extended)
Cenél Moain Ichturach
Book of Ballymote
Genelach Cenel Muan beos (still)
[m. Niall .ix. ghiallaig]
[m. Eogan]
m. Muiredhach
m. Muieinm. Colmainm. Garbainm. Marcainm. Itgighm. Lengairem. Fiangusam. Codnaighm. Airmedaighm. Maeletuilem. Coscraigm. Airmedaighm. Muiredaighm. Mailpadraighm. Muiredhach
Not extended
Cenél Moain Indso
The pedigrees of the Cenél Moain can by extended further by utilising the genealogical collection of Cú Choigríche O Cléirigh’s (O’Clery), edited by Seámus Pender (6), and the Leacbhar na nGenealach (Great Book of Genealogies) by Dubhaltach Mac Fhirbhisigh (MacFirbis), edited and translated by Nollaig O Muraile. Both works are dated later to the seventeenth century. Interestingly, only MacFirbis mentions the Ua Maolagáin, O'Clery omits them altogether, in fact, he has "Clann Catharnaigh m Ferdalaigh .i. .h. Faelain ocus .h. Oric", which appears to represent two of the four kindreds with names corrupted probably in the process of transmission from one copy to another. MacFirbis seems to follow the book of Ballymote, as he only has three sons traced from Cathanach, the Ua Doraighén, Ua Maolagáin and Ua Aircealluigh (7). However, O'Clery includes additional information under the 'Minegud sencais Ceniel Moain’; he has the Genelach Cenél Indso, Genelach Cenél Moain Ichturach (Lower) and ‘Genelach Cenél Moain Uachtarach’ (Upper), which I have added to the pedigrees above (8). MacFirbis notes, Eidalaig or Éadálach was a brother of Domnaill and in his pedigree, Eidalaig succeed Domnaill. It seems MacFirbis had access to other material, which made both men sons of Concobar mac Domnaill.
In the Irish Annals, the chief line of the Cenél Moain makes its first appearance in 1084, when it was reported ‘Domnaill ua Gailmredaigh was killed by Domnaill ua Lochlainn’, otherwise Mac Lochlainn, king of Ailech and the Cenél Eógain (). He had succeeded Aed ua Mael Sechlainn in 1083, king of Ailech, when Domnaill ua Lochlainn (son of Ardgar mac Lochlainn, who died in 1064), had with the men of Magh Itha (included the Cenél Moain and Clann Conchobair) defeated the men of Fir Manach at Ath Ergail near Clogher in Co. Tyrone in 1080. The reasons for the slaining of Domnaill ua Gailmredaigh are not stated in the annalist’s entry, but his killing may have removed a potential rival to the kingship of the Ailech. It is very likely, the killing of Gilla Croíst ua Luinigh, chief of Cenél Moain in 1090 by Mac Lochlainn was motivated by the same intention, as he also killed Mael Ruanaid ua Cairellán, chief of the Clann Diarmata, another potential kindred to the kingship of Ailech. These events are all dateable and significantly, the killing of the three chiefs provides the first reference to name Cenél Moain and the principal families, the O’Gormleys and O’Lonney, who descend from Gailmredaigh son of Ferrdalaigh mac Tendalaigh, who lived in the late eighth century.
Between 1177 and 1261, the annals record a long series of incidents relating to Derry of both a secular and ecclesiastical nature, a period dominated by Mac Lochlainn kings of Ailech. Under them, Derry had become the ecclesiastical centre of the Cenél Eógain, in much the same way Raphoe become the ecclesiastical centre of the bishops of Cenél Conaill. There is some evidence to suggest the Mac Lochlainn family had been living in Derry or its vicinity from at least Domnaill ua Lochlainn's reign (1083-1121) at the beginning of the twelfth century (). There is good reason to believe that during this period the Cenél Moain had strong ties with the monastic community in Derry, and long before we find the earliest notice of them present there in 1177. In that year, Niall Ua Gailmredhaigh, called ‘king of the men of Magh Itha and the Cenél Enna’ was staying at a cleric’s house in the centre of Derry of Colum Cille, when he was killed by Donnchadh Ua Cairellain and the Clann Diarmada. Donnchadh had set fire to the house and when Niall tried to escape through a door, he was killed. To make retribution and peace with the Community of Derry, Donnchadh gave them a bally-betagh of land in the neighbourhood of Donaghmore Church, and ‘The Gray Son,’ described as the best goblet in Ireland. He also pledged of three score cows and agreed to re-build the cleric’s house and all the chattel burned about Niall. Two years later, peace was made between Donnchadh and all Clann Diarmada with Amhlaoibh son of Menman Ua Gailmredhaigh and the Cenel Moain at the church of Ardstraw in 1179. The following day, when Amhlaoibh was present at Donnchadh’s house to receive additional sureties, he was treacherously killed along with three others of Cenel Moain, namely, Cineath son of Art Ua Bracain, the son of Gilla Croíst, son of Cormac Mac Reodain and Donnchadh’s own foster brother. The following year in 1180, Ragnall Ua Cairellain was killed by the Cenel Moain in the centre of Daire of Colum Cille in reparation for the murder of Amhlaoibh Ua Gailmredhaigh ().
The election of ‘Muircertach Ua Maelagain’ as abbot of Derry (Daire) of St. Columcille in 1220 marks an important ecclesiastical event and raises more questions than answers about his family background and status within the Cenél Eógain, and perhaps more importantly, his possible connection with the Ua Maelagain of the Cenél Moain, whose territory was located south of Derry. The location of the ancient territory of the Cenél Moain has an important bearing on the heritage of the Ua Maelagain and its boundaries are discussed more fully in the late Dr. Brian Deeny's paper entitled 'Ceneal Moain and the O’Gormleys in Eastern Donegal and West Tyrone' ( ). He traces the history of the Cenél Moain and their origins within the territory of Magh Itha in East Donegal and West Tyrone, and in particular the parishes of Donaghmore, Urney and Clonleigh located in the medieval Deanery of Magh Itha, called Mahya in the diocese of Derry, which was part of the territory of the Cenél Eógain. He also expands on several families of the Cenél Moain, such as, the Ua Gormaghaile, Ua Luinigh and Ua Peatáin, but there is little or nothing said about the other families, including the Ua Maelagain. For us, it is enough to simply note that between the earliest references to Ua Maelagain and Muircertach Ua Maelagain' and the next references in the seventeenth century, there is a long gap during which the old territory of the Cenél Moain had passed into the hands of Ó Domhnaill’s chiefs and became part of Tir Conaill, as early as the fifteenth century. Under the Ó Domhnaill, it has been proposed the Cenél Moain and their chiefs, the O’Gormleys were driven out of eastern Donegal and across the river Foyle into the territory of Magh Itha in Tir Eógain by the Ó Domhnaill chiefs.
The Hearth Tax Rolls of 1665 provide the first real glimpse of the population of Co. Donegal and lists the names of many Irish, and English and Scots settlers. There is only one tenant bearing the name O’Mulligan liable to pay the two-shilling tax in the whole of the county, namely, John O’Mulligan, who is listed under the Castlefinn estate in the parish of Donaghmore and barony of Raphoe (). Unlike other parishes in Co. Donegal, the collector omitted to include the townland address for each person liable to pay the hearth tax and gives little more information than the name of the Castlefin estate. The history this property goes back to the Ó Domhnaill chiefs of Tir Conaill, who lost the property after the flight of the earls in 1607. It passed into the hands of Capt Edward Russell of London, who in turn sold the estate to John Kingsmill of Castlefinn.
Besides the name of John O’Mulligan, we also have place-name evidence in the area of Castlefinn, where the name is preserved in the townland of Lisnamulligan, Irish Lios Uí Maelagáin, ‘Mulligan’s fort’. Lios literally means ‘the space about a dwelling-house or houses enclosed by a bank or rampart’ and in place-names, it refers to the dwelling-unit in its entirety ( ). Lisnamulligan belonged to the Kingsmill family and can only with any certainty be traced through title deeds in the Registry of Deeds for Ireland, which commenced in 1708. When the Kingsmill family fell into financial difficulties in 1707, they sold the estate to William Conolly of Dublin and his business partner, Oliver McCausland, merchant of Strabane . After a long and complicated legal process, which included the passing of a private act of parliament, they finally purchased the estate in 1711 for £2000 (or thirteen years’ purchase). In the earliest deeds, Lisnamulligan is spelt as Lissaumulligan (1714), Lissmulligan (1719) and Lismullegan (1748). This raises two questions, could John O’Mulligan have been living in Lisnamulligan in 1665 and did he or one of his ancestors give their name to this townland of Lisnamulligan?
Map 1 Castlefinn and Lisnamulligan
Today, there are about 101 townlands in the civil parish of Donaghmore and some of these preserve the names of the original quarter and sessiagh lands that subdivided the parish in the seventeenth century. In the Civil Survey of 1654, there were seven quarter lands in the manor of Castlefinn, namely, “Balliarroll and Ballinecor one quarter”, and the rest are one quarter each, “Ballibun, Leiebaly Castle, Drumbane, Maghriagh, Croghogerran and Machrishanavaly” . They are listed in the Statistical Census of Ireland dated to 1659 with varying degrees of spellings and other names: “Belliarell and the 6 Sissiochs of Bellmicar, Drumneviss, Bellibune, Drumban, Lebellicastle, Art quarter and Magherireagh”, “4 Sessioghs of Cloghfyn and Magherishanvally two Quarters” . Balliarroll is modern Ballyarrell; Ballinecor or Bellmicar is now Ballynacor; Ballibun is Ballybun; the spelling of Drumbane remains the same; Leiebaly Castle or Lebellicastle appears to be Cashelin; Drumneviss is Drumavaish; Art is likely to be Ard, shortened from Ardnaganngh; Magherireagh is modern Magherareagh; Magherishanvally is Magherashanvally and the 4 Sissiochs of Cloghfin, seem to be the same place known as Croghogerran. In 1748, a survey of the manor of Castlefinn placed Lisnamulligan in the third subdivision of the estate known as Cloghard, the chief townland which is followed by Lisnamullignan, Ballybun and Cashelin, which in a modern map all bound each other. All the townlands of Cloghard, Lisnamulligan, Ballybun and Cashelin are located south of the river Finn and nearby to Dungorman and Dunmurphy, respectively referring to dwellings that were also fortified by those families who originally gave their name to them. The location of these properties south of the river Finn raises another valuable question, could the division of the Cenél Moain into branches defined by Uachtarach (Upper) and íochtarach (Lower) reflect an ancient natural division created by the river Finn?
As already noted, John O’Mulligan and the townland of Lisnamulligan are directly linked to the Castlefinn estate in the civil parish of Donaghmore, previously held by Sir Niall Garbh Ó Domnaill, who lost the property after it was confiscated. He was the kinsman of Aodh Ruadh Ó Domhnaill, known also as ‘Red Hugh O'Donnell of Tyrconnell’. He with his men, joined his father-in-law, Aodh Mór Ó Néill, earl of Tyrone, in a rebellion led by him against Elizabeth I, Queen of England, and her government in Dublin in 1594. The war came to an end after the Siege of Kinsale in 1602, when Ó Domhnaill sailed to Spain and Ó Néill returned to County Tyrone to negotiate a settlement. Rudhraighe Ó Domhnaill or Rory O’Donnell, Red Hugh’s brother had also been at Kinsale, after the battle remained behind and submitted to the crown in December, 1602. With his ‘natural followers’, including, “Shane, Donell and Twohell O’Moylegane”, all received a royal pardon on 26 February, 1603 (). The pardon roll simply notes the names of his followers, there is no given place of residence. What is interesting, the anglicised form O’Moylegane is like the Gaelic Ó Maoilegáin, which is the form or variant used in the Ceart Uí Néill, discussed below. The name Shane is an Anglicised form of the Irish name Seán, which cognates with the name John. It is possible, Shane, Donell and Twohell, or at least one of them or their ancestry may have lived at ‘Mulligan’s fort’.
In 1608, another rebellion erupted and its leader Sir Cathaoir Ó Dochartaigh of Inishowen, was killed in a skirmish against government forces near Letterkenny. The following year on 10 March, 1609, amongst those pardoned for rebellion were “Shane O'Molligan, Donnogh Ballagh O'Molligan and Swine O’Moligan”, whose names are listed in the company of Owen Ó Gallachobhair of CoolemacItrian alias Dromagh in All Saints Parish. Shane Ó Maolagáin was probably the same Shane, who with Donell and Tuathal were pardoned in 1603, and if correct, it seems he was the last native leader of the Ó Maolagáin still holding land on the eve of the plantation of Co. Donegal. In his letter to Robert Cecil, earl of Salisbury, Sir Arthur Chichester wrote on 9 March, 1609, that he had carefully endeavoured to make the best of all the lands confiscated following the rebellion and not withstanding O’Doherty’s rebellion, he had been able to raise ‘between £400 to £500 for pardons of certain persons for whom they made suit, who are men of no note nor substance, and had taken assurance for their future loyalty of each barony in which any of them were born’ . This poignant statement reflects those desperate conditions meted out on Irish freeholders reduced by war and confiscation. With their lands now in the hands of the crown and the terms of tenure subject to feudal obligations, which included suit of court and sworn homage for their future loyalty, many would soon lose their titles, as new grants were re-issued to incoming settlers, and the Irish dispossessed or allotted smaller portions of land.
Map 2 Baronies of Co. Donegal
The Muinter Mulligan of Tullyfern in Fanad
A “Donogh O’Milligane” is listed in the general pardon of over 1000 landholders and tenants in Co. Donegal by James I and is dated from 22 July 1609. The list was probably compiled based on the pardons procured by Sir Arthur Chichester earlier in March of that year (). It would seem Donogh is the same "Donnogh Ballagh O’Molligan" pardoned for his part in the Ó Dochartaigh rebellion in 1608, along with “Shane O’Molligan” and “Swine O’Moligan”. Interestingly, a “Shane O’Moylegan” is listed in the Company of Donell Grome McSweeney on 28 July 1609, when the whole company was pardoned by the king (). Donell McSweeney was the last of the McSweeney of Fanad and represented the senior line of the family, who came from Scotland in fourteenth century and were granted land in Fanad under the Ó Domhnaill kings of Tir Conaill. The connection with Fanad, a peninsula in the north of Co. Donegal, provides a direct link between Shane O’Mulligan and the Muinter Mulligan, who are said to have lived in the parish of Tullyfern at the south end of the peninsula. At an Inquisition taken at Lifford on 12 September, 1609, it was found, the “mointermolligan” paid to the bishop of Raphoe a rent of 4 marks Irish per annum, 32 meathers of butter and 108 meathers of meal, according to the inhabiting of the land, 36 free gorts are equally divided among the tenants, and 12 other free gorts belong to the bishop’s official, for which the herenagh pays to the official the rent of 12 pence per annum and 40 shillings yearly pension to the bishop for the third of his tithes ().
‘And they (jurors) further say that in the said baronie (Kilmacrenan) is alsoe the parishe of Tullaghfurny, cont’ in the whole eight ballibetaghes of which there are foure quarters of church land, whereof Mointermollegan is the herenagh, paying thereout yerelye to the busshop fower markes, Irish per annum, and thirtie twoe meathers of butter, and a hundred and eight meathers of meale yerely, according to the inhabiting of the said land; and that there alsoe sixe and thirtie free gorts equallie divided amongest the tenantes; and that there are alsoe twelve other free gorts belonginge to the busshop of Raphoe’s official, for which the said herenagh paieth to the said official, the rent of twelve pence per annum, and fortie shillings yerely penscon to the said busshop for the thirds of his tiethes, and that here is both a parson and a vicar, whoe paie eight shillings le peece proxies to the busshop, per annum; and that the tiethes are all paied in kynde, one third parte to the parson, and another parte to the vicar, and the other third parte to the herenagh; and they mainteyne and repaire the parishe church, equallie, as before, and that there are alsoe eight gort of gleae, whereof foure gorts belonge to the said parson, and thother foure gorts to the vicar’.
The four quarters of church land in Tullyfern may well represent the four quarters described in an Irish document, which Sir Francis Shean found when surveying Tir Conaill, after the flight of the Earls in 1607. The document in the State Papers of Ireland, begins; “this is the number of Tuaths that are in Tirconnell” and then goes on to narrate 13 districts. At no. 10, he notes “The three tuaths that in McSwine Fanad’s country, and four quarters in Fanad” (17). It extends from the sea on the north of the peninsula, southward to the town of Ramelton, and the parish of Tullyfern extends southward from Mulroy Bay in the west of Fanad to Ramelton. In Rawlinson A. 237, a manuscript in the Bodleian Library, Oxford, the four quarters were noted as lying near the parish church of “Tullaghferga” (Tullyfern) and in 1608, four quarters of land was taken to equal the sum of a ballyetagh (18). I have been unable to determine the half quarter land of Aghibegg, in or near the proportion of Boghrill, but I have identified the following place-names (Green) in the parish of Tullyfern:
A “Donogh O’Milligane” is listed in the general pardon of over 1000 landholders and tenants in Co. Donegal by James I and is dated from 22 July 1609. The list was probably compiled based on the pardons procured by Sir Arthur Chichester earlier in March of that year (). It would seem Donogh is the same "Donnogh Ballagh O’Molligan" pardoned for his part in the Ó Dochartaigh rebellion in 1608, along with “Shane O’Molligan” and “Swine O’Moligan”. Interestingly, a “Shane O’Moylegan” is listed in the Company of Donell Grome McSweeney on 28 July 1609, when the whole company was pardoned by the king (). Donell McSweeney was the last of the McSweeney of Fanad and represented the senior line of the family, who came from Scotland in fourteenth century and were granted land in Fanad under the Ó Domhnaill kings of Tir Conaill. The connection with Fanad, a peninsula in the north of Co. Donegal, provides a direct link between Shane O’Mulligan and the Muinter Mulligan, who are said to have lived in the parish of Tullyfern at the south end of the peninsula. At an Inquisition taken at Lifford on 12 September, 1609, it was found, the “mointermolligan” paid to the bishop of Raphoe a rent of 4 marks Irish per annum, 32 meathers of butter and 108 meathers of meal, according to the inhabiting of the land, 36 free gorts are equally divided among the tenants, and 12 other free gorts belong to the bishop’s official, for which the herenagh pays to the official the rent of 12 pence per annum and 40 shillings yearly pension to the bishop for the third of his tithes ().
‘And they (jurors) further say that in the said baronie (Kilmacrenan) is alsoe the parishe of Tullaghfurny, cont’ in the whole eight ballibetaghes of which there are foure quarters of church land, whereof Mointermollegan is the herenagh, paying thereout yerelye to the busshop fower markes, Irish per annum, and thirtie twoe meathers of butter, and a hundred and eight meathers of meale yerely, according to the inhabiting of the said land; and that there alsoe sixe and thirtie free gorts equallie divided amongest the tenantes; and that there are alsoe twelve other free gorts belonginge to the busshop of Raphoe’s official, for which the said herenagh paieth to the said official, the rent of twelve pence per annum, and fortie shillings yerely penscon to the said busshop for the thirds of his tiethes, and that here is both a parson and a vicar, whoe paie eight shillings le peece proxies to the busshop, per annum; and that the tiethes are all paied in kynde, one third parte to the parson, and another parte to the vicar, and the other third parte to the herenagh; and they mainteyne and repaire the parishe church, equallie, as before, and that there are alsoe eight gort of gleae, whereof foure gorts belonge to the said parson, and thother foure gorts to the vicar’.
The four quarters of church land in Tullyfern may well represent the four quarters described in an Irish document, which Sir Francis Shean found when surveying Tir Conaill, after the flight of the Earls in 1607. The document in the State Papers of Ireland, begins; “this is the number of Tuaths that are in Tirconnell” and then goes on to narrate 13 districts. At no. 10, he notes “The three tuaths that in McSwine Fanad’s country, and four quarters in Fanad” (17). It extends from the sea on the north of the peninsula, southward to the town of Ramelton, and the parish of Tullyfern extends southward from Mulroy Bay in the west of Fanad to Ramelton. In Rawlinson A. 237, a manuscript in the Bodleian Library, Oxford, the four quarters were noted as lying near the parish church of “Tullaghferga” (Tullyfern) and in 1608, four quarters of land was taken to equal the sum of a ballyetagh (18). I have been unable to determine the half quarter land of Aghibegg, in or near the proportion of Boghrill, but I have identified the following place-names (Green) in the parish of Tullyfern:
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Map 3 Parishes in Fanad Peninsula
The names of several church lands in Tullyfern are recorded in King James I’s charter confirming all the quarter lands and glebe lands in the diocese of Raphoe, then in their possession, to the Dean of Raphoe, his archdean and all the incumbents of each parish, numbering twenty-five grants of glebe and rectories on 3 February, 1623 (). To William Cunningham, rector or vicar of “Tullaghferna”, the king confirmed the “half quarter of Clantidalla, in or near the proportion of Glanalla; the half quarter of Loughmuckdooy, in or near the proportion of Faunanoghinbeg, and the half quarter of Aghibegg, in or near the proportion of Boghrill, in the precinct or barony of Killinakrenan, with four gorts of ancient glebe”. An analysis of these properties using the Tullyfern Tithe Applotment book (1834) and Griffith’s Valuation (1857) reveals a spread of church lands mainly in the lower half of the parish. Interestingly, reference is made to the four gorts or fields of ancient glebe land. This land was used to support the parish priest, rector or vicar. Only names of three can be identified from Griffith’s Valuation, the townlands of Ballyarr Glebe, Glentidaly Glebe and Loughros Glebe, and two of these are located, respectively, next to the townlands of Ballyarr and Glentidaly, reflecting a subdivision of land.
The term herenagh or erenagh is the anglicised form of airchinnech, which originally signified the head or superior of an early Irish ecclesiastical community called a monasterium, translated as monastery. The smaller monasteria were more familial and in early medieval times, the herenagh was usually a cleric, who might or might not proceed to priestly or episcopal orders. After the twelfth century Reform, their estates and lands were transferred to the bishops, and they became primarily the chief tenants of episcopal land. The hereagh still continued to retain their sense of being ‘ecclesiastics’ and were bound by the ancient monastic obligation of providing hospitality to pilgrims, strangers and travellers. The herenagh became a sort of manager or chief of the church land. He was elected by the local coarb or herenagh sept, and if suitable, was then approved in office by the bishop. The herenagh’s duties were to provide from his revenue for the support of the clergy and the maintenance of religious service, churches and chapels in the parish ().
In Search of the Sept O’Mulligan in Co. Donegal
The evidence from the first decade of the seventeenth century clearly points to two pre-1600 clusters of Ua Maelagain in Co. Donegal. The lack of medieval references to the Ua Maelagain makes it virtually impossible now to say with any certainty if Muircertach Ua Maelagain belonged to the Cenél Moain and to add to this dilemma, the name is also found amongst the Cenél Conaill in the district of Fanad in northern part of Co. Donegal. There are two important Medieval sources that mention the 'Sept O’Mulligan' and a third, which refers to the túath or territory they ruled: the late fourteenth century Topographical Poem of Ireland composed by the Irish poet Seán Mór O'Dubhagáin, and late seventeenth century copy of the Ceart Uí Néill (the Rights of O’Neill). In O'Dubhagáin’s poem, they are called in Gaelic the ‘Siol Máolaccan’ and were chiefs of the people of ‘Tir Mac Carthainn’ in the territory of the Cenél Conaill. They are listed under that section headed “Tir Chonaill”, which later formed part of County Donegal. O'Dubhagáin’s poem was compiled sometime before his death in 1372, and covers the names of the principal chiefs and families beginning with the provinces of Meath, followed by Ulster and Connaught. O'Dubhagáin’s poem was translated into English by John O’Donovan and published in 1862. Of the Siol Maolagáin, O'Dubhagáin says ():
The evidence from the first decade of the seventeenth century clearly points to two pre-1600 clusters of Ua Maelagain in Co. Donegal. The lack of medieval references to the Ua Maelagain makes it virtually impossible now to say with any certainty if Muircertach Ua Maelagain belonged to the Cenél Moain and to add to this dilemma, the name is also found amongst the Cenél Conaill in the district of Fanad in northern part of Co. Donegal. There are two important Medieval sources that mention the 'Sept O’Mulligan' and a third, which refers to the túath or territory they ruled: the late fourteenth century Topographical Poem of Ireland composed by the Irish poet Seán Mór O'Dubhagáin, and late seventeenth century copy of the Ceart Uí Néill (the Rights of O’Neill). In O'Dubhagáin’s poem, they are called in Gaelic the ‘Siol Máolaccan’ and were chiefs of the people of ‘Tir Mac Carthainn’ in the territory of the Cenél Conaill. They are listed under that section headed “Tir Chonaill”, which later formed part of County Donegal. O'Dubhagáin’s poem was compiled sometime before his death in 1372, and covers the names of the principal chiefs and families beginning with the provinces of Meath, followed by Ulster and Connaught. O'Dubhagáin’s poem was translated into English by John O’Donovan and published in 1862. Of the Siol Maolagáin, O'Dubhagáin says ():
Tir MacCarthainn of plundering slaughtersBelongs to the high-minded Siol-MaolaganTo put them in our poem it is our judgementThere was a time when we would not repent of it.
The Siol meaning ‘seed’ of Maolagáin appear to have been at the height of their power before the fourteenth century and had a fearless reputation for plundering in Donegal and beyond. The term Siol was usually applied to a people or clan bearing the same surname and living in the same territory, whose chiefs were semi-independent lords holding a túath with its own jurisdiction and polite. By the time O'Dubhagáin was writing, he had doubts about including the Siol Maolagáin, whose military status appears to have been much reduced. O’Donovan suggested Tir MacCarthainn takes its name from ‘Caerthann’, son of Fergus, son of Conaill (who gave his name to Tír Conaill and the Cenél Conaill). He then notes ‘the Abbe MacGeoghegan places this district to the east of Boylagh, but on what authority O’Donovan did not know, as the pedigree of this race is lost’. O’Donovan was mistaken, in his History of Ireland Ancient and Modern, MacGeoghegan makes no mention of Tir MacCarthainn being east of Boylagh, noting only “Tirmaccarthuin, a territory in the county of Tirconnel, the patrimony of the O'Maologains” (). O’Donovan goes on to say ‘neither MacFirbis nor O'Clery was able to supply the chasm in the Books of Lecan and Ballymote’.
In the Ceart Uí Néill, which recites the obligations, tributes and provisions due to the O’Néill kings from the other kings of Ulster, the O’Mulligans are described as the ‘O’Maoilegáin from Magh gCaoroind’. Their chief was one of thirteenth chieftains, taoisigh, who were obliged to provide military service under the O’Donnells, when called to muster the men of Tir Conaill. Coupled with O'Dubhagain’s poem, the Ceart Uí Néill sheds more light on the Siol Maolagáin, who were evidently still regarded in the fourteenth century, as one of the leading septs in Tir Conaill able to muster a band of fighting men from Magh gCaoroind for both the O’Donnells and the O’Neill over-kings. It is worth listing in more detail, the names of the septs and clans subservient to the secular rights claimed by the O’Neill.
A cheart ar Ó nDomhnaill: teacht líon a thionóil ó Tharbh Chinn Casla go hEas Rúaidh, agus gan fheuchain do shochar na do dhoirbheartus dá mbiadh orra. Agus isiad so na taoisigh tig le hUa nDomhnaill .i. O Buighill ó Thír Bhoghuine agus a Tír nAimhir; agus Ó Maolgaoithe as Túaith Í Mhaoilgaoithe; agus Mac Giolla Shamhais as Ros Guill; agus Ó Breisléin as Fánuid; agus Ó Maoilegáin as Magh gCaoroind; agus Muireadhaigh agus Ó Conaill as Tuaith Bladhaigh; agus Ó Toircheart as Clúain Eidéile; agus Mac Dhubháin as Tír Eunna; agus Mag Fhíonnachtaigh a hArd Mhég Fhíonnachtaigh; agus [Ó] Dochartaigh a hArd Miodhair; agus Mág Fherghail a Tír Bhreasail; agus Mag Loinnseacháin as Gleann Fhinne. Agus dá ndeachadh díobhdhadh ar na haicmedhuibh sin an shuaghadh ar na tuathaibh féin, acht trí saorthuatha Mhuinntire Canannán ag Conallchaibh féin ().
His claim on O Domhnaill: that he come with full muster from Tarbh Chinn Casla to Eas Ruaidh, without consideration of the advantage or disadvantage to themselves. And these are the Chieftains who come with O Domhnaill (O’Donnell), namely, O Buighill (O’Boyle) from Tir Boghuine and Tir Ainmire, and O Maolgaoithe from Tuath Ui Maolghaoithe, and Mac Giolla Shamhais from Ros Guill, and O Breislin from Fanad, and O Maolagáin from Magh Caorainn, and O Muireadhaigh and O Conaill from Tuath Bladhaigh, and O Toircheart from Cluain Eideile, and Mac Dubhain (O’Devany) from Tir Eanna, and Mac Fhionnachtaigh (McGinty) from Ard Mag Fhionnachtaigh, and O Dochartaigh from Ard Miodhair, and Mac Fherghail from Tir Breasail, and Mac Loinnseachain from Gleann Fhinne. And should (any of) those families cease to be, the hosting to be on the territories themselves, but the three free territories of Muinntir Canannain are reserved for the O Domhnaills themselves.
The sole extant copy of the Ceart Uí Néill survives in the Leabhar Cloinne Aodha Buidhe (hereafter, the Leabhar) complied by the scribe Ruairí Ó hUiginn of Sligo in 1680. It is believed to have been based on an earlier recension dated by Éamon Ó Doibhlin to the sixteenth century (). He suggested the original recension is not likely to go back further than the coming of the Ó Néill to undisputed power after the battle of Cameirghe in 1241, when the Ó Néills emerge as the victors over the Mac Lochlainn. For the next three hundred years, the Ó Néills successively ruled the northern Uí Néill. An earlier date is favoured by Tomás Ó Canann, when the original Tir Conaill recension of the Ceart Uí Néill may have been compiled during the reign of Muirchertach Mac Lochlainn (1145-66) (). He goes further by suggesting the original recension was headed by Mac Lochlainn’s claim on the Ua Canannáin kings and this was edited by a later redactor in favour of the Ó Domhnaill by the Ó Néill. However, the redactor omitted to delete all reference to the Trí Saorthuatha Mhuinntire Canannáin, the homeland of the Ua Canannáin, who dominated the kingship of the Cenél Conaill until 1250, when the Ó Domhnaill gained the kingship, which they held until 1607.
We know O'Dubhagáin’s poem was composed sometime before his death in 1372, and if the Ceart Uí Néill was indeed an earlier compilation from the twelfth century, the Siol Maolagáin emerge as a secular sept also owing military service to the Mac Lochlainn. Invariably then, we must ask the question, where was the territory of Tir MacCarthainn and how can the genealogy of the Cenél Moain be reconciled with its chiefs, if at all? Neither O'Dubhagáin’s poem nor the Ceart Uí Néill supply enough information to establish a specific location for Tir MacCarthainn or Magh Caorainn in Co. Donegal. Furthermore, by the time the plantation surveyors had arrived to compile their maps, it had completely disappeared as a recognisable name and territory in Tir Conaill. However, it is mentioned in the Leabhar, the Book of the Mac Sweeneys , which was translated by Paul Walsh into English. According to the Leabhar, it was Toirdhealbach (anglicised to Turlough) na Fhiona Ó Domhnáill, king of Tir Conaill (reigned from 1380), and Turlough son of Maelmuire Mac Sweeney of Fanad, who were the first of the gallowglasses to record a type of contract or agreement that gifted certain benefits to the Clann Suibhne in return for Ó Domhnáill’s right to levy them as gallowglass, gall óglaigh meaning foreign warriors (). Turlough son of Maelmuire was the first Mac Sweeney chief of Fanad whose name appears in the Annals and died in 1399 or 1400. Its agreement narrates:
“O Domhnaill bestowed on the Mac Sweeneys six scores of axes of buannacht bona out of Tir Chonaill itself, a gift in perpetuity from himself and his posterity after him; [for] the making of a circuit of Tir Chonaill once in the year; the spending of three nights in each house in Tir Chonaill; the fishing of the Erne every Friday between Patrick's Day and the Feast of the Cross in Harvest, if they should happen to be encamped by the Erne to oppose the men of Connacht; two ballybetaghs of Tir Mic Caorthainn which are now called Bráighid Fánad ‘the Braid of Fanad’; and to sit by the right side of O Domnhaill whenever Mac Suibhne would visit him."
Before the MacSweeney lords from Argylshire in Scotland established a permanent settlement in Fanad, the peninsula had been the sub kingdom of the Ó Breslan chiefs, also a Cenél Conail sept. In 1263, Donn Ó Breslan, chief of Fanad was killed by Domnall Ó Domhnáill, overking of Tir Conaill, in the court of the bishop of Raphoe. Two years earlier, sixteen of the most distinguished clergy of the Cenél Conaill had been killed in Derry of St. Columcille by Conor O’Neill and the Cenél Eógain. Whatever triggered this slaughter, Donn O’Breslan took swift retaliation and killed Ó Néill. Why Ó Breslan was killed by Ó Domhnáill at the bishop’s court is not elaborated, but it may have had something to do with a dispute between him and Ferleighin Ó Domhnáill, called Lector O’Donnell (). After O’Breslan’s death, the Ó Breslans lost control of Fanad, and next, we find Ferleighin Ó Domhnáill, chief of Fanad. His son, Cormac was killed at the battle of Desertcreat in Co. Tyrone in 1278. He had another son called Menman, whose sons, Donogh and Hugh were killed in 1303, during an internal feud over the kingship of the Cenél Conaill fought between Turlough and Hugh Ó Domhnáill, two sons of the late Domnall Ó Domhnáill, also killed in 1278. To be continued.
In the Ceart Uí Néill, which recites the obligations, tributes and provisions due to the O’Néill kings from the other kings of Ulster, the O’Mulligans are described as the ‘O’Maoilegáin from Magh gCaoroind’. Their chief was one of thirteenth chieftains, taoisigh, who were obliged to provide military service under the O’Donnells, when called to muster the men of Tir Conaill. Coupled with O'Dubhagain’s poem, the Ceart Uí Néill sheds more light on the Siol Maolagáin, who were evidently still regarded in the fourteenth century, as one of the leading septs in Tir Conaill able to muster a band of fighting men from Magh gCaoroind for both the O’Donnells and the O’Neill over-kings. It is worth listing in more detail, the names of the septs and clans subservient to the secular rights claimed by the O’Neill.
A cheart ar Ó nDomhnaill: teacht líon a thionóil ó Tharbh Chinn Casla go hEas Rúaidh, agus gan fheuchain do shochar na do dhoirbheartus dá mbiadh orra. Agus isiad so na taoisigh tig le hUa nDomhnaill .i. O Buighill ó Thír Bhoghuine agus a Tír nAimhir; agus Ó Maolgaoithe as Túaith Í Mhaoilgaoithe; agus Mac Giolla Shamhais as Ros Guill; agus Ó Breisléin as Fánuid; agus Ó Maoilegáin as Magh gCaoroind; agus Muireadhaigh agus Ó Conaill as Tuaith Bladhaigh; agus Ó Toircheart as Clúain Eidéile; agus Mac Dhubháin as Tír Eunna; agus Mag Fhíonnachtaigh a hArd Mhég Fhíonnachtaigh; agus [Ó] Dochartaigh a hArd Miodhair; agus Mág Fherghail a Tír Bhreasail; agus Mag Loinnseacháin as Gleann Fhinne. Agus dá ndeachadh díobhdhadh ar na haicmedhuibh sin an shuaghadh ar na tuathaibh féin, acht trí saorthuatha Mhuinntire Canannán ag Conallchaibh féin ().
His claim on O Domhnaill: that he come with full muster from Tarbh Chinn Casla to Eas Ruaidh, without consideration of the advantage or disadvantage to themselves. And these are the Chieftains who come with O Domhnaill (O’Donnell), namely, O Buighill (O’Boyle) from Tir Boghuine and Tir Ainmire, and O Maolgaoithe from Tuath Ui Maolghaoithe, and Mac Giolla Shamhais from Ros Guill, and O Breislin from Fanad, and O Maolagáin from Magh Caorainn, and O Muireadhaigh and O Conaill from Tuath Bladhaigh, and O Toircheart from Cluain Eideile, and Mac Dubhain (O’Devany) from Tir Eanna, and Mac Fhionnachtaigh (McGinty) from Ard Mag Fhionnachtaigh, and O Dochartaigh from Ard Miodhair, and Mac Fherghail from Tir Breasail, and Mac Loinnseachain from Gleann Fhinne. And should (any of) those families cease to be, the hosting to be on the territories themselves, but the three free territories of Muinntir Canannain are reserved for the O Domhnaills themselves.
The sole extant copy of the Ceart Uí Néill survives in the Leabhar Cloinne Aodha Buidhe (hereafter, the Leabhar) complied by the scribe Ruairí Ó hUiginn of Sligo in 1680. It is believed to have been based on an earlier recension dated by Éamon Ó Doibhlin to the sixteenth century (). He suggested the original recension is not likely to go back further than the coming of the Ó Néill to undisputed power after the battle of Cameirghe in 1241, when the Ó Néills emerge as the victors over the Mac Lochlainn. For the next three hundred years, the Ó Néills successively ruled the northern Uí Néill. An earlier date is favoured by Tomás Ó Canann, when the original Tir Conaill recension of the Ceart Uí Néill may have been compiled during the reign of Muirchertach Mac Lochlainn (1145-66) (). He goes further by suggesting the original recension was headed by Mac Lochlainn’s claim on the Ua Canannáin kings and this was edited by a later redactor in favour of the Ó Domhnaill by the Ó Néill. However, the redactor omitted to delete all reference to the Trí Saorthuatha Mhuinntire Canannáin, the homeland of the Ua Canannáin, who dominated the kingship of the Cenél Conaill until 1250, when the Ó Domhnaill gained the kingship, which they held until 1607.
We know O'Dubhagáin’s poem was composed sometime before his death in 1372, and if the Ceart Uí Néill was indeed an earlier compilation from the twelfth century, the Siol Maolagáin emerge as a secular sept also owing military service to the Mac Lochlainn. Invariably then, we must ask the question, where was the territory of Tir MacCarthainn and how can the genealogy of the Cenél Moain be reconciled with its chiefs, if at all? Neither O'Dubhagáin’s poem nor the Ceart Uí Néill supply enough information to establish a specific location for Tir MacCarthainn or Magh Caorainn in Co. Donegal. Furthermore, by the time the plantation surveyors had arrived to compile their maps, it had completely disappeared as a recognisable name and territory in Tir Conaill. However, it is mentioned in the Leabhar, the Book of the Mac Sweeneys , which was translated by Paul Walsh into English. According to the Leabhar, it was Toirdhealbach (anglicised to Turlough) na Fhiona Ó Domhnáill, king of Tir Conaill (reigned from 1380), and Turlough son of Maelmuire Mac Sweeney of Fanad, who were the first of the gallowglasses to record a type of contract or agreement that gifted certain benefits to the Clann Suibhne in return for Ó Domhnáill’s right to levy them as gallowglass, gall óglaigh meaning foreign warriors (). Turlough son of Maelmuire was the first Mac Sweeney chief of Fanad whose name appears in the Annals and died in 1399 or 1400. Its agreement narrates:
“O Domhnaill bestowed on the Mac Sweeneys six scores of axes of buannacht bona out of Tir Chonaill itself, a gift in perpetuity from himself and his posterity after him; [for] the making of a circuit of Tir Chonaill once in the year; the spending of three nights in each house in Tir Chonaill; the fishing of the Erne every Friday between Patrick's Day and the Feast of the Cross in Harvest, if they should happen to be encamped by the Erne to oppose the men of Connacht; two ballybetaghs of Tir Mic Caorthainn which are now called Bráighid Fánad ‘the Braid of Fanad’; and to sit by the right side of O Domnhaill whenever Mac Suibhne would visit him."
Before the MacSweeney lords from Argylshire in Scotland established a permanent settlement in Fanad, the peninsula had been the sub kingdom of the Ó Breslan chiefs, also a Cenél Conail sept. In 1263, Donn Ó Breslan, chief of Fanad was killed by Domnall Ó Domhnáill, overking of Tir Conaill, in the court of the bishop of Raphoe. Two years earlier, sixteen of the most distinguished clergy of the Cenél Conaill had been killed in Derry of St. Columcille by Conor O’Neill and the Cenél Eógain. Whatever triggered this slaughter, Donn O’Breslan took swift retaliation and killed Ó Néill. Why Ó Breslan was killed by Ó Domhnáill at the bishop’s court is not elaborated, but it may have had something to do with a dispute between him and Ferleighin Ó Domhnáill, called Lector O’Donnell (). After O’Breslan’s death, the Ó Breslans lost control of Fanad, and next, we find Ferleighin Ó Domhnáill, chief of Fanad. His son, Cormac was killed at the battle of Desertcreat in Co. Tyrone in 1278. He had another son called Menman, whose sons, Donogh and Hugh were killed in 1303, during an internal feud over the kingship of the Cenél Conaill fought between Turlough and Hugh Ó Domhnáill, two sons of the late Domnall Ó Domhnáill, also killed in 1278. To be continued.