The Book of St. Caillin of Fenagh

The Book of Fenagh, which takes its name from the old Abbey of Fenagh in Co. Leitrim, contains what is believed to be a rental of the rents, tributes, privileges, rights and immunities of the abbey, founded by St. Caillin in the sixth century. It also consists of a number of poems written in Classical Irish that are said to have been from the lost ‘Old Book of St. Caillin’, which Tomás Ó Canann suggested was probably written during the reign of Domnall Óg Ó Domnaill (1258-1281). This book was copied into a new one written by Muirghis Mac Paidin Ó Maolchonaire in 1516. It contains prose and a number of poems that have a direct bearing on the ruling families of Tir Conaill during eleventh to the thirteenth centuries. Amongst this collection of prose and poems, there are direct references to Cananain and his descendants the Ó Canannáin. Katherine Simms has argued that a number of the poems may originated with the churches of Kilmacrenan, Drumleene and Derry and that they belong to an earlier period than the prophecies concerning the Ui Domnaill chieftains of the mid thirteenth century.

The prophecies of the Ui Domnaill were composed to legitimise amongst others, the tribute due to the monastery of Fenagh by the descendants of Conall Culban, ancestor of the Cenél Conaill, and Eoghan, ancestor of the Cenél Eoghain of the Ui Neill. These claims of tribute are ascribed to St. Caillin himself and he is alleged to have received assurances from Conall and Eoghan. They are of dubious origin and probably reflect the ambitions of later abbots to extend their influence into Tyrconaill.  Particular attention is paid to the Cenél Conaill with one poem attributed to Domnaill son of Aedh (d. 642), king of the Cenél Conaill, who before going into battle against Congal Cáech, king of the Ulaid (Ulster) in 637 at Magh Raith, modern Moira, Co. Down, is said to have given Caillin the tribute he was entitled to receive from the descendants of Conall Culban. This passage mentions the Ó Canannáin, who came to power in the tenth century. They are listed after the Ui Domnaill chiefs of the Clann Dalaigh “the kingly sept”, who came to power under Domnall Mor Ó Domnaill (died 1241), whose son Gofraid with others defeated Niall Ó Canannáin, the last king of the Ó Canannáin, killed in 1250.

I have extracted two portions from the book of Fenagh that contain references to the Ó Canannáin and Cananain, ancestor of the Ó Canannain. The Tribute form the children of Conall Culban:

If it is desired to know how St. Caillin, son of Niata, obtained the tribute to which he is entitled from the children of Conall son of Niall, to wit, from the seven illustrious sons he had, and from their descendants, for ever, [be it known] that it was in proof of those sons, and of their names, this rann was spoken:

Fergus, Aengus, Eochaidh, Enna,

Nathi, Ruamann—who cleft heads—

These were, with enduring fame,

The seven sons of stern Conall Gulban.

These are the descendants of those sons, from whom Caillin is entitled to his tribute, viz., the Clann Dalaigh, the kingly sept, firstly; and the Cinel Boghaine; and Cinel Luigdech; and Cinel Maeldoraidh; and the Ui Canannain, and Mec Gilla-Finnein, and the race of Conall besides.

 

The second portion of prose seems to reflect a time when the power of the Ó Canannain had already declined and the Ó Domnaill of the Clann Dálaigh had gained ascendency over them and the people of Tir Conaill.  Interestingly, the Cenél mBógaine are given seniority over the Cenél Lugdach, the wider kin-group of the Clann Dálaigh, and the Cenél Maeldoraidh seniority over the Ó Canannain, who share a common ancestry with them in Flaithbertaigh (d. 765), great grandson of Domnaill son of Aedh, son of Ainmerich, son of Setna, son of Fergus, son of Conall Culban.  In the Book of Genealogies was penned in 1660 by Cú Choigcríche Ó Cléirigh (O’Clery), whose family were hereditary historians and scribes to the Ó Domnaill, new information is provided about the Mac Gille Finnein, which extents this family well beyond the terminus names of Maol Ruanaidh Ó Maeldoraidh and Flaithbertach Ó Canannain. The insertion of the Mec Gilla-Finnein pedigree is an example of a late fabrication possibly from the thirteenth or perhaps the fourteenth century. The genealogist of the pedigree of the Mac Giolla Fhinnein chiefs of Muintir Pheodachain in County Fermanagh attempted to provide pedigrees alternatively claiming descent from Cenel Conaill and from Mumha.

Genelach .H. Maoil Doraidh

Maol ruanaidh m Muirchertaigh m Oenghusa m Maoil bresail m Mail doraidh (a quo .h. Mail doraidh) m Aenghusae m Murchadha m Mail bresail m Flaithbertaigh m Loingsig (.i. glún re talmain) m Aenghusa m Domnaill m Aedha m Ainmirech m Setna m Ferghusa cennthoda m Conaill ghulban m Neill noghiallaigh.

Genelach Meic Gille Finnein, Toisech Muinntire Feodacháin

Enri crosach m Ragnaill m Uilliam meit m Domnaill m Conchobar m Gille Patraicc m Mic Raith m Gille finnein (a quo mic Giolla finnein) m Maol runaigh m Muircertaigh m Aenghusa m Mael bresail m Mail doraid (o tait .h. Mai doraidh)

Seaan mac Briain dorcha m Lochloinn oig m Lochlainn mhoir m Donnchadha mic Toirrdelbaigh m Enri crossaigh.

Flaitbertach m Loinsigh m Cuileoin m Loinccsicch m Mail foithbil m Canannan (o tait .h. Chanannain) m Flaitbertiagh m Loingsigh m Aenghusa m Domnaill m Aedha m Ainmirech.

If Tomás Ó Canann’s suggestion that the ‘Old Book of St. Caillin’ was written during the reign of Domnall Óg Ó Domnaill between 1258 and 1281, the above lines may well reflect the fortunes of the Ó Canannain after their last known king, Niall Ó Canannain was killed in 1250. Ó Canann makes a very interesting observation about Niall, he says, he was allied with Brian Ó Neill (killed at the battle of Down in 1260) in fighting the combined forces of Gofraid Ó Domnaill and Maurice FitzGerald,  who was a former justiciar of Ireland and descended from one of the most prominent Anglo-Norman family. His observation is based on the only known recorded alliance between the Ó Neills and Ó Canannains, which took place when Rory Ó Canannain, most likely Niall’s father was banished or expelled into the country of Brian Ó Neill, king of the Cenél Eoghain, by Maurice FitzGerald, who then installed Gofraid Ó Domnaill, the elder brother of Domnall Óg, as king of Cenél Conaill in 1248. In the same year, the Cenél Eoghain with Rory Ó Canannain, carried out a hosting into Tir Conaill, perhaps in retaliation against Maurice FitzGerald, and met in battle Gofraid Ó Domnaill and the men of Cenél Conaill. It was during this battle that Rory and many others were slain with him.

The following year in 1249, Niall Ó Canannain was installed king of Cenél Conaill, almost certainly with the aid of Ó Neill and the Cenél Eoghain in opposition to Gofraid Ó Domnaill. This may well have been the main reason why in 1250, Maurice FitzGerald lead what is described as a great army or hosting with all the nobles of the Ui Briuin in Connacht against Ó Neill at Tullaghoge in Co. Tyrone. After remaining there three days and gaining little or no spoil and hostages, FitzGerald and the Ui Briuin made their way back to Tir Conaill, where FitzGerald took Niall prisoner whilst under the protection of Giolla an Choimded Ó Cerballan, bishop of Derry. In early medieval times, the diocese of Raphoe included the ecclesiastic centre of Derry, and the land west of the River Foyle and Lough Foyle. It would seem Niall’s seizure of the kingship of Tir Conaill also relied on Giolla an Choimded Ó Cerballan (O’Carolan), also known in Latin as Germanus. He was also known, as the bishop of Rathluraigh, the older Irish name of Maghera in modern County Londonderry, and belonged to a family with strong historical ties with the Cenél Eoghain.  Rathluraigh had been the seat or see of the diocese of Derry, until it was translated to the ecclesiastic centre of Derry by Ó Cerballan in 1254.

The Muintir Chanannáin of Magh Sereth

Alliances between ruling families in Ireland were the norm, as was the case in other parts of the medieval world, and in the Irish Annals it comes of no surprise to learn that the Ó Canannains allied themselves to Brian Ó Neill in opposition to the Ui Domnaill in an otherwise fragile political elite competing for power over the Cenél Conaill.  It formed part of the Northern Uí Neill in the province of Ulster, a polite dominated by the Cenél Eoghain in 1250. The relationship between the Ó Canannain kings and Brian Ó Neill was certainly one of clientship and dependency; it goes back much further and probably lasted for most of the period the Cenél Eoghain was rule by the Mac Lochlainn kings of Ailech. They dominated the kingship of the northern Ui Neill, until their defeat by Brian Ó Neill in league with Maelsechlainn, the eldest son of Domnall Mor Ó Domnail, at the battle of Caimeirge in 1241. The power of the Mac Lochlainns came to an abrupt end and with it, a number of key dependencies collapsed with them, including the Ó Canannain and Ó Maíl Doraid. After the battle of Caimeirge, the Mac Lochlainn kindred for the next 350 years disappear into obscurity, re-emerging in the first decade of the seventeenth century in Inishowen, their original homeland, and in a twist of fortune under the O’Dohertys, a cadet branch of the Cenél Conaill.

Within ten years of the battle of Caimeirge in 1241, the Ó Canannain would follow the Mac Lochlainns into relative obscurity, not in battle against the Ó Neills, but with Gofraid Ó Domnaill, who allied himself with Maurice FitzGerald. Gofraid’s older brother Maelsechlainn had been killed at the battle of Ballyshannon in 1247, fighting against FitzGerald, who had mounted a large-scale English invasion into Tir Conaill with the support of the Connacht men. In his place, FitzGerald gave the kingship of the Cenél Conaill to Rory Ó Canannain, an act that might have served the respective interests of FitzGerald, Ó Neill and Ó Canannain, to the exclusion of the Ui Domnaill. There is no mention of the Ó Neills being directly involved in this arrangement, but since the Cenél Eoghain also sided with the Cenél Conaill, it is not beyond the realms of possibility that it was on this occasion Rory allied himself with Brian Ó Neill to prevent Gofraid succeeding to the kingship, after the death of his elder brother. If the case, it would explain why he took refuge with Ó Neill in 1248 and with his support attempted to regain the kingship in the same year. Whatever the ‘pros’ and ‘cons’, the balance of power had shifted in favour of Ó Neill, creating a dependency against the Ui Domnaill, their arch-rivals competing for sovereignty over the Cenél Conaill sub-kings and the big prize, all the people of Tir Conaill.

In his article the Trí Saorthuatha Mhuinntire Chanannáin, Tomás Ó Canann recognised that invariably the demise of the Mac Lochlainns accelerated the decline of the Ó Canannain dynasty and by the end of the thirteenth century, the political fortunes of the Mac Lochlainn and Ó Canannain had both declined to such an extent that neither dynasty retained the rule over a single tuath. Their original territory was known as the Trí Saorthuatha Mhuinntire Chanannáin, ‘three free territories of the Muintir Chanannáin’, a name that would disappear altogether from the toponym of Donegal place-names. Using the Irish genealogies, literature and annals, Ó Canann identified and located the territory of the Muintir Chanannáin with the Trícha Eas Ruaid, which was inhabited by the Cenél nAeda Eas Ruaid, the direct descendants of Aedh mac Ainmirech (d. 598). Aedh was the father of Domnaill, king of the Cenél Conaill, who took part in the battle of Moira in 637 and is mentioned in a poem in the book of Fenagh ascribed to St. Caillin (see below). Domnaill died at Ard Fothaid, usually identified with a hillfort-type earth work at Glasbolie in the older territory of Tír Aeda. Ó Canann has tentatively suggested that the names of the three Tuatha of Tír Aeda consisted of Mag Seireadh or Sereth, Fionnros and Eas Ruaid. Magh Sereth was the northern tuath and belonged to the Muintir Chanannái: the middle tuath of Eas Ruaid was probably the original southern tuath of the Cenél Aeda, before Fionnros (Magh Ene) was taken at the commencement of the eleventh century by Mael Ruaniad Mór Ua Maíl Doraid from the Cenél Cairpre. It became the third tuath and was occupied by the Muintir Maíl Doraid. Eas Ruaid appears to have been held by the ruling dynasty of the Cenél nAeda Eas Ruaid, the Clann Domnaill (not to be confused with the Ui Domnaill) traced from Domnaill mac Aedh, the progeny of the Muintir Chanannáin and Muintir Maíl Doraid and direct descendant of Conall Gulban. The boundaries of the three tuatha have been roughly traced in the map below to highlight the location of the Ó Canannain on eve of their final demise, shortly before Niall Ó Canannain was killed in 1250.

Map 1 - Southern Donegal (The author acknowledges the legacy of Thomás Ó Canann, who commissioned this map to be included in his “Carraig an Dúnáin: Probable Ua Canannáin Inauguration Site”).

In his Aspects of an Early Irish Surname, Tomás Ó Canann largely kept the scope of his research to Co. Donegal, where he provides an excellent overview of the surname and place-names in the seventeenth century. He covered several place-names such as ‘Clenagannan’ (Gleann Ó gCanann), a valley in the Inishowen peninsula and ‘Bally Chanen’ (Baile Uí Chanann) in Ridgeways Survey of Donegal in 1608, the ‘half quarter of Ballicannan’ in the parish of Iniskeel, first mentioned in the  also listed in the Civil Survey of County Donegal in 1654. These appear mainly in the northern part of the county.  He also discusses these and the townlands of Meenychanon, ‘Min Uí Chanann’ in the parish of Kilcar, Cannon Lough in the vicinity of Kilmacrenan and Drumcannon in the parish of Donaghmore in more detail in his article, ‘Notes on some Donegal place-names’. A further five place-names associated with the Muintir Chanannáin in Tír Aeda are detailed in his ‘Carraig an Dúnáin: Probable Ua Canannáin Inauguration Site’: namely, ‘Carraig an Dúnáin’ (Doonan Hill); ‘Eadonochanan’ (Éadan Uí Chanann(áin), ‘hill brow of Chanann(áin)’; ‘Altkananan’ (Alt Canannáin, ‘height of Canannán), ‘Rarowy’ (modern Rarooey Hill) and Ráith Canannáin, all located within the vicinity of the town of Donegal. Ráith Canannáin is the earliest documented location and is found in the Irish Annals. It is known only through a single reference, when Muirchertach Ó Maíl Doraid was slain by the ‘Uí Canannáin at Ráth Canannáin’ (Chronicon Scotorum, 1027); ‘killed by the Uí Chanannáin’ (Ulster Annals, 1029); ‘slain by O’Canannains, at Rath-Canannain’ (Four Masters, 1029); ‘slain by Ó Canannáin at Crot Canannáin’ (Annals of Tigernach, 1029). Crot, meaning, ‘hunch, hump of land, is another word for low-rise hill.

Ráith Canannáin, Alt Canannáin and Éadan Ó Chanannáin

Ráith Canannáin remains unidentified, due in part to the numerous drumlins that typify the terrain of Mag Sereth. Although, no longer extant, Ó Canann suggested this toponym, ‘harkens back to Canannán mac Flaithbertaig, the ninth-century eponymous ancestor of the Ua Canannáin dynasty’ and was located near Carraig an Dúnáin, west of the river Eske. He identified two place-names associated with the dynasty, each which lay close to the Doonan Hill or Rock, namely, ‘Altkananan’ (Alt Canannáin) and ‘Eadonochanan’ (Éadan Ó Chanann(áin). Both appear as single references in Chancery Inquisitions and neither have survived as modern townland names. Chancery Inquisitions were surveys post mortem undertaken before an assize of jurors to establish the tenure and extent of the land, services and rents due on them to the crown, and any other rights the deceased person had in them and importantly, to identify the nearest heir. The second place-name, ‘Eadonochanan’ appears in the 1640 Chancery post mortem of Sir Basil Brooke, who was granted the castle of Donegal in the barony of Tirhugh and certain lands within vicinity, all of which had previously been forfeited from Rory O’Donnell, after he left for Spain in 1607. Under the plantation scheme, as a servitor, Brooke also applied for lands and was allotted a portion of land in the barony of Kilmacrenan in 1611. Servitors were usually soldiers or government officials who had served the Crown in Ireland. He was knighted on 2 February, 1616.

Abstracts of the original crown patents granted to Capt. Basil Brooke can be found in the printed copy of the Calendar of the Patent Rolls of the Reign of James I, which was prepared under the direction of the Irish Record Commission prior to 1830, before it closed (see appendix I). The original patents themselves were destroyed in 1922, when the Public Record Office of Ireland, Dublin, was burned by fire. Brooke received at least four patents: (1) He received Killydonnell Friary, Ramelton, containing three quarters of land; (2) The caste of Donegal and the lands of ‘Claralougheske’ and ‘Carricknegan’; (3) A portion of 1000 acres called Edencarn (1611); (4) Further grants of land and rights to hold a market in town of the Donegal, to appoint 20 burgesses, build houses, a public school and set aside common land, called the burgessfield. The earliest reference to Edencarne is found the king’s patent dated 9 March, 1611, where it was called Cadanecarnan: the ‘C’ should be corrected to ‘E’ to form Eadanecarnan. This place-name can be contrasted with ‘Eadonochanan’, the name recorded in the chancery post mortem taken at Lifford in 1640.  

In 1618, Nicholas Pynner was commissioned to survey the progress or lack of progress made with the plantation scheme in Ulster.  He commenced his survey in 1619 and in his northern circuit, he visited Brooke’s manor Bawn, which took the name of his estate, ‘Edonecarne’. In his report, he described it as “A round bawn of lime and stone, in it a house in building, in which dwells an English gentleman.” The lands granted to Brooke under the plantation scheme, where located in the barony of Kilmacrenan, which had been set apart by the crown for servitors and Irish native landholders. Brooke’s portion of Edonecarne, can be deduced from the Civil Survey of Co. Donegal, which was carried out in 1654 and mentions the lands of ‘Cabrey, Drumore, Cloncarny and Carrig’ in the parish of Conwall (see Appendix I). By then, It was owned by Capt. Basil’s son, Henry Brooke, and his lands were scattered over three parishes with the main subdivisions located in the parishes of Conwall and Kilmacrenan.  It also becomes apparent that the place-name ‘Eadonochanan’ is a copy or phonetic error for Eadanecarnan and Edonecarne, Gaelic Éadan Carnán, meaning ‘hill brow of Carnán’ (small mound/heap of stones) and was probably located in the barony of Kilmacrenan.

Tomás Ó Canann identifies a third place-name, “Edenichananan” (Éadan Uí Chanannáin), described as quarter of the land in the small proportion of Cargy on the estate of John Murray, earl of Annandale, in the modern parish of Inver, east of the river Eidnech. Cargy was one of a number of properties held by John Murray, a Scottish landowner, which he acquired from other landowners in 1618. Under the plantation scheme, each patentee, called an undertaker, received a portion measured out in multiples of 1000 acres (small), 1500 acres (middle) and 2000 acres (large). They were to build a bawn with defence towers, given powers to create a manor with demesne lands, hold a manor court twice yearly, and to settled the remaining area British freeholders and tenants. According to the Irish land measurement, the land was subdivided by Ballibetaghs, Quarters and Ballyboes. Murray was able to obtained all the portions in the baronies of Boylagh and Banagh, original granted to Scottish undertakers with the support of the king, as progress had been slow. The originally portions were granted to the following Scottish undertakers, who nearly all sold or passed on the ownership of their estates to others.  

Barony of Banagh: William Stewart of Mains (Downeconnolly, 1,500 acres); Alexander Dunbar of Egirnes (Kilkerhan, 1000 acres); Sir Patrick McKee of Larg (Cargie, 1000 acres) and Patrick Vaus of Lybrack (Boylaghoutra, 1000 acres).

Barony of Boylagh: Sir Robert McClelland of Bomby (Rosses, 2,000 acres); George Murray of Broughton (Boylagheightra, 1,500 acres); James McCullogh of Drummorell (Mullaghveagh, 1000 acres) and Alexander Cunningham of Powton (Moynaraga, 1000 acres).

After Earl’s death in 1640, an Inquisition post mortem was held at Lifford on 20 April 1642, before a by jury and general survey still survives as a chancery record and it contains a long list of lands that were mainly acquired by Murray in 1618 and the name of his heir, his son Henry Brooke. It is fairly detailed, though, it is not all inclusive with a number of place-names now obsoletely or renamed.  It notes the land of Edenichananan was part of a portion called ‘Cargie’ in the barony of Banagh, which was originally granted Sir Patrick McKee, who sold his portion soon after have receiving his patent to William Stewart of Mains. The first element in the name, Eden, is Anglicised from Éadan, meaning ‘brow’ or ‘end-facing’, and is a reasonably common place-name, especially in the northern part of Ireland. Other examples include: Edenderry, Éadan Doire, ‘Brow of the oakwood’; Edendork, Éadan na dTorc, ‘Brow of the boars’; Edentrillick, Éadan Trilic, ‘Brow of the three stones’, referring to a megalith; Edenmore, Éadan Mór, ‘great hill brow’.

Bundell Castle in Co. Offaly was originally called Edenderry, the Caislen Edain Daire, and according to the Annals of Connacht, this castle was razed by Lord Furnival, John Talbot, earl of Shrewsbury, at the beginning of the winter of 1416. The Annals of Ulster note that in 1427, the ‘Caislen Edain Daire’ was broken down in this year by the Foreigners (Anglo-Irish). The old name for Shane’s Castle near Randalstown in Co. Antrim, Edenduffcarrick (Éadan Dubh Chairrge), takes its name form ‘the brow of the dark rock’ and is believed to have been built by the Ó Neill about 1345. Henry Ua Neill, king of the Cenél Eoghan, remained two nights at the town of Edan Dubchairrgi with Conn son of Aodh the Tawny in 1470. Both these place-names are associated with strongholds and illustrate how the word Éadan was used in the fifteenth century to describe places built for human habitation and settlement.  

With two place-names containing the element Canannáin, namely, ‘Alt Canannáin’ (near Carraig an Dúnáin) and ‘Éadan Ó Chanannáin’, it is interesting to note they are located in that part of Trícha Eas Ruaid laying between the rivers Eany and Eske. The boundaries of Trícha Eas Ruaid extended from the Assaroe (Esa Ruaid) on the river Erne in the south to the Eany Water, its western boundary, and consisted of the civil parishes of Kilbarron, Drumhome, Donegal, Killymard and the eastern half of Inver. The Eany Water is situated nearby to Clover Hill and northwest of Buncronan.  In two poems found in the book of Fenagh, it is called the “Eidhnech” and is described as ‘not a crooked track’ until it reached Cromchall, ‘the green, loud-sounding Eidhnech’. Ó Canann includes this part in Magh Sereth, stretching from up to at least the river Iascach, and probably all the way to the river Eidhnech and notes, geographically this entire area was a single terrain of fertile lowland. Later, the area between the rivers Eany and Eske would become known as the Críoch Baoigheallach or Ó Baoillaigh’s country. This area is well known by its Irish form as Baoigheallach Uachtarach or ‘upper Boylagh’, plural Baoigheallaigh, and would have originally refers to members of the Ó Baoighill sept.  The Ó Baollaigh (O’Boyles), a branch of the Cenél Conaill, were originally chiefs of the three tuaths in the northwest Tir Conaill, until the MacSweenys took their lands in the fifteenth century. The boundaries of O’Boyle’s country in relation to the other septs and districts of Tirconnell, can be view at the website of the Special Collections of Queen’s University under the title “A Generall Description of Vlster” compiled by Richard Bartlett c.1602-1603.

Late in July, 1609, a party of English commissioners led by Sir John Davies, Attorney General of Ireland, and Sir Josiah Bodley, chief surveyor, set out from Dublin to survey every barony in the six counties intended for plantation. Within each barony the surveyors mapped, by inquisition rather than by mensuration, the division of land known as bailloes, which varied in seize from county to country and even within counties. They also drew on local knowledge ‘often from men who had gathered taxes for the local Irish lord’ to preamble and view the baronies, noting the names of the bailloes as well as other features of the countryside such as streams and mountains.  The individual names of each small land unit were also recorded and barony maps produced, which have survived for Counties Fermanagh, Cavan, Armagh and Tyrone (see Special Collections). Had each map of the baronies of County Donegal survived, they would have provided a rich source of information on these names, their locations and seizes, and shed more light on our understanding of the landscape and place-names of Co. Donegal, on the eve of the plantation. In the State Papers of Ireland, there is an interesting letter written by Davies to Robert Cecil, created earl of Salisbury, from a camp near Lifford on 12 September, which mentions these maps and describes his proceedings in the county of Tyrconnell:

The description or maps of the land are made here as in the former counties. Divers persons have exhibited their pretended titles to lands in this country, whereof some are merchants of the Pale to whom the late fugitive Earl of Tyrconnell had mortgaged great scopes of land for small sums of money; others are natives, who being chiefs of septs, suppose their long continuance of possession under O'Donnell to be a good title now against the Crown. Besides, some of their widows claim jointures and dowers, though, by their own Irish law, no woman may have any estate in land. But all these titles appear to be void or voidable in English law, so that the pretenders are left entirely to His Majesty's grace and bounty. Every title whereupon there shall arise any doubt, shall be drawn into a case, and transmitted over; but because the dead case, if any question shall be made upon it, can make no reply, perhaps it will be needful that someone "of the robe" should come over to give satisfaction in every point. The inquisition taken of the church land here varies but little in substance from their former inquisitions. The bishops have rents and duties out of the Termon lands, but the propriety is found in the Erenaghes and their septs. There are more parcels of land of this nature found in Enishowen than in any other barony, which diminishes not a little value of the Lord Deputy’s portion.

It is implied in this letter that many of those who already held a title deed of some type or claim for land in Tirconnell, like the chiefs of septs who held land by tradition under the O’Donnells, either came in person or by proxy to Davies at Lifford to make their application for land. Interestingly, a copy of the inquisition taken at Lifford on the same day, inquiring into the land and rights of the bishop of Raphoe, has survived and can be viewed on the Appendix V of the Inquisitionum in Officio Rotulorum Cancellariae Hiberniae. Earlier that year, Sir Arthur Chichester, Lord Deputy of Ireland, in a letter to Salisbury remarked that he had endeavoured to do the best of all the escheat lands of O’Neill, O’Donnell and since O’Dougherty’s forfeiture was able to raise between £400 to £500 from the pardons of certain person for whom they had made suit of court, men of no note nor substance, and has taken assurances for their future loyalty of each barony in which any of them were born.  The names of those pardoned in County Donegal are listed in the General Pardons of 9-10 March, 1609.

Map 2 - Civil Parish of Inver

Although, Alt Canannáin and Éadan Ó Canannáin have not survived as modern townlands, they provide some evidence to indicate that as late as the commencement of the plantation period, the legacy of the Ó Canannain name was still remembered in the surrounding landscape.  Less certain, if not almost impossible to confirm, are the circumstances in which they were formed and the historical context that defined them. It is very likely they were landmarks of significance, particularly given the fact, Trícha Eas Ruaid west of the river Eske, was renamed O’Boyle’s country, and at some point, the chiefs of the Ó Baoighill built a castle on the shores of Donegal Bay prior to 1440, when the son of the Ui Domnaill found the Caislén Baile Ui Baoighill (castle of Ballyboyle) unguarded with ‘great spoils in money, apparel and armour. Ballyboyle was the seat of the Ó Baoighill Uachtarach (upper) and Kiltoorish the stronghold of the Ó Baoighill Íochtarach (lower). If Alt Canannáin and Éadan Ó Canannáin are evidence of continuity that may or may not have existed before the Ó Baollaigh replaced the Ó Canannain in western Mag Sereth, it brings us to an important question, did the surname Ó Canannain itself survive into the plantation period?

Proof of continuity that the surname did survive in the plantation period and beyond, can be found in the Hearth Tax Rolls of 1665, which lists the name of James O’Cannan, a subtenant of Edward Griffith of Bonnyglen, 13 years afterward Alt Canannáin and Éadan Ó Canannáin are first mentioned.

Edward Griffith of Boneglen

William Griffith

Donnagh m'Gettigan

Bryan o'Keany

Owen o'Giver

Dermond o'Murry

James o'Cannan

Hugh o'Boyle

With James O’Cannan, two further names could be added, Donell and Connor O Cannan, whose names are preserved in the Fiant and Pardon Rolls. Donell and Connor were pardoned with Rory Ó Domnaill of Tirconnell, Teige Óg Ó Baollaigh, chief of the Ó Baollaigh and some 543 persons, including the Rory’s immediate family on 26 February, 1603. Most, if not all, may have been with him at the battle of Kinsale on 24 December, 1601, and followed him into Connacht, after his brother Hugh Roe Ó Domnaill left for Spain. Donell and Connor immediately follow a group of McCollins in a list of names (open link to source) beginning with Phelim McCollin, who are known to have come from the parish of Inver. Phelim McCollin of Doorin, gent, a townland in this parish was one of 25 jurors, which included ‘Teige Óg Ó Baollaigh of Boylagh’ and ‘Farroll Mc Tirlogh oge of Cargoe’. They were called to answer questions in relation to the ‘meares and bounds of the territory of Tirconnell, and the lands anciently belonging to the lord thereof, and to distinguish the same from the lands of O’Doghertie, O’Connor Sligo, and the other chieftains of those parts’ on 26 November, 1603

The modern townland of Drummacacullen near Mountcharles takes its name from the McCollin family, also spelt McCullen, and was one of the quarter lands included in the small portion of Cargie granted to Sir Patrick McKee on 24 July, 1610 (see appendix II). In 1632, Owen McCollin and Bryan McCollin were listed as two tenants in Cargie, and respectively, Owen sublet the seven Ballyboes of the quarter of Dromroe and Bryan half of the 1/5 quarter of Bonnyglen, called Bally Mc. Caule and Corduffe. In the 1642 Chancery post mortem of the late John Murray, earl of Annandale, Bonnyglen, meaning ‘End of the Glen’ is listed as alternative name for Drummacacullen, meaning ‘MacCullen’s ridge’. The latter is not mentioned as a place-name in either the Civil Survey of 1654 or the Hearth Tax of 1665, suggesting Bonnyglen rather than Drummacacullen was the preferred name on both sides of the Eany Water.  It can be deduced from the 1642 chancery record that “Drum Mt. Cullyn (Drummacacullen) alias Bonnyglan” was located to the west of the Eany Water and “Bonnyglann” (Bonnyglen), “Cranye” (Cranny), “Dromdoe” (Drumduff) and Edenichananan on the east of the river. If this assessment of the place-name evidence is correct, Ó Canannáin’s hill brow lay somewhere within the vicinity of these townlands near to Bonnyglen.

In appendix II, I have extracted and copied as far as possible, those relating to the portion or manor of Cargie, where the modern townlands of Drummacacullen and Boneyglen are located near Mountcharles.  I have also created a map that can be used to compare the place-names found in the General Survey of 1642 (see section [1] below). It is not within the scope of this short article to consider the toponymics of each place-name, many of which bear features typical of the local terrain and family names, e.g., Connor, McCahil, McCollin and Munterneese.

Finally, there is a compelling case in favour of ‘Donell and Connor Ó Cannan’ coming from the parish of Inver and being neighbours of the McCollins in 1603. In addition, there is every chance one of them may have been the father or perhaps grandfather of James O Cannan. It adds to the list of circumstance evidence that combines the presents of human habitation and continuity associated with the ‘hill brow’ of Ó Canannáin. The word Éadan, seems to share a geographical feature shared with Croit, a similar word used to describe a low-rise hill or hillock. It is a matter of interest as to whether these two words may hold a clue to the location of Ráith Canannáin and if they can ultimately identify its location in the landscape and terrain around Mountcharles or Alt Canannáin near near Carraig an Dúnáin. Future archaeological excavations and genetic discoveries, especially Ancient DNA might well provide another avenue to help understand the history the Ó Canannáin in the Boneyglen and Mountcharles districts of south Donegal.  

APPENDIX I - ‘Eadonochanan’

Transcripts of the earliest patents and chancery writs made to Capt. Basil Brooke and notes take from George Hill’s Historical Account of the Plantation of Ulster and other sources.  

State Papers of Ireland

1610: The possessions of the religious house of Kiladonnell, containing three quarters, passed by His Majesty in fee farm, and assigned to Captain Basill Brookes, whose estate is good in law for ought appearing unto us.

Calendar of the State Papers relating to Ireland, Reign of James I 1608-1610 (London, 1874), p. 573.

[1] Transcript of Patent Roll 8, Pt. 2, XXIX—50, James I, 16 November 8th [1610]

Grant from the King to captain Basil Brooke. Donegal. Co’. The castle of Donnegal, with the whole site, &c. the fishings, all customs and duties used and due to the said castle, and 100a of land, parcel of the qr of Claragheske near Donnagall, extending from the castle next along by the river which comes from Lougheske, and so near the said castle walls, into the sea—Total rent, 11 Ir.—To hold for 21 years, if he should so long live, for a fine of 11 Ir.—16 Nov. 8th.

[Calendar of the Patent Rolls of the Chancery of Ireland, James I, (Dublin, 1800), p. 182, col. A, no. XXIX - 50]

[2] Transcript of Patent Roll 8, Pt. 2, XXIX—14, James I, 5 March 8th [1610-11]

Grant from the King to Basill Brooke, esq. Donegal Co’. In Kilmacrenan Bar. Cadanecarnan, 1 qr; Chinaghane, l qr; Clononarnoge, 1 qr; five-sixteenth parts of Cabry qr; Dromore, 1 qr; Clonecarny, 1 ½ qr; Carrig, 1 qr; half the qr of Callessedner and of Clonecoose; in all 1000a; with the water, fishings, and Weirs of Loughviaigh, belonging to the premises, which are hereby created the manor of Brooke, with 300a in demesne, and a court baron.—Total rent, 8I Eng—To hold for ever, as of the castle of Dublin, in common soccage, subject to the conditions of the plantation of Ulster.- 5 Mar. 8th.

[Calendar of the Patent Rolls of the Chancery of Ireland , James I, (Dublin, 1800), p. 195, col. a, no. XXIV - 14]

[3] Transcript of Patent Roll 9, Pt. 3, XXV-7 James I, 18 March 9th [1611-12]

Grant from the King to Basil Brooke, esq. Donegal Co’. In Tirehugh Bar. 7/8 of the qr of Carrignegane, next to Clarelougheske qr; 5/8 of the qr of Clarelougheske otherwise Claragheske; total, 200a.— Rent, 13s 4d Eng—To hold a thursday market and a fair on the feast day of St Peter, and the day after, yearly at Donegal; with courts of pie-powder; power to appoint a clerk of the market, &c. rent, 6s  8d.— No person to sell goods by retail within 3 miles of the castle of Donegal, unless they were planted there by the said Basil, or were inhabitants of the said town of Donegal, on forfeiture of the said goods; he to set apart a convenient place for the site of the said town to be built; for the market place, and for the church and church-yard; the said borough to consist of 20 burgesses, besides cottagers and other inferior inhabitants, 'to be accommodated with houses and lands within four years; 30a to be appointed for the common, to be called the burgess-field, with 2a more, viz. half an acre for the building of a public school, and 1 ½ for the exercise of the scholars—To hold for ever, as of the castle of Dublin, in common soccage, subject to the conditions of the plantation of Ulster.—18 Mar. 9th.

[Calendar of the Patent Rolls of the Chancery of Ireland, James I, (Dublin, 1800), p. 219, col. B, no. XXV]

George Hill’s abstract of Grant to Basill Brooke (226), Esq. Cadanecarnan, Chinaghane, and Clononarnoge, one quarter each; 5/16 of Cabry quarter; Dromore, one quarter; Clonecarny, one and ½ quarter Carrig, one quarter; half the quarter of Collessedner and of Clonecoose; in all, 1,000 acres, with the water, fishing, and weirs of Loughveagh belonging to the premises, which are hereby created the manor of Brooke, with 300 acres in demesne, and a court baron. Rent, 8/ English. To hold forever, as of the castle of Dublin, in common socage, and subject to the conditions of the plantation of Ulster.  5 March, 8th [1610-11].

[Rev. George Hill: An Historical Account of the Plantation in Ulster at the commencement of the Seventeenth Century 1608-1620 (Belfast, 1877), p. 523]

Incorporation of the Town of Donegal

October 20, 1612: Letter by The Lord Deputy to the Attorney-General.

Order to draw forth a fiant of incorporation of the town of Donegall, by the name of Provost and Burgesses of Donegal]. —Dublin, 20 October 1612.

List appended: —Charles Brooke, Captain Bazile Brooke, Maximilian Canon, Henry Everest (?), John Hill, Thomas Mortimer, Richard Draper, Richard Brooke, Thomas Symundes, Laurence Layeton, William Humon (?), Macum [Malcolm] Read, Thomas Bridges.

[With note by Sir A. Chichester: "In all the warrants sett downe the name agreed on in England for the chiefe magistrate."]

Note: Pp. 2. Orig. Signed at beginning. Endd.: "Donegall incorp."

[Calendar of State Papers relating to Ireland, James I, 1611-1614 (London, 1877), Vol. 14, p. 295, no. 547).

There is a second copy of this letter dated 20 October, 1612, entitled Donegall Corporation with variations “Bazell Brooke” is the name person.

[Calendar of State Papers relating to Ireland, James I, 1611-1614 (London, 1877), Vol. 14, p. 295, no. 548).

Capt. Josiah Bodley’s Survey of 1613

Kilmackrenan Servitors

1000 – “95. On Captain Brookes his proportion there is standing a stone bawn of sufficient strength, somewhat decayed, wherein he purposeth to erect a house of 50 feet long and 18 wide, having ready at the place 140 pieces of timber for the frame of the house.

[Report on the Manuscripts of Reginald Rawdon Hastings, Esq.: Historical Manuscripts Commission (London, 1947), p. 172]

Capt. Nicholas Pynnar’s Survey of 1618-19

CV 1,000 Acres

(104.) Sir Bazill Brooke, 1,000 acres, called Edonecarne. A round bawn of lime and stone, in it a house in building, in which dwells an English gentleman.

Note: (203) Edonecarne. The owner of this proportion is styled simply Basil Brookes, late of Donegall, in an inquisition held at Lifford in April, 1640. He died on the 25th of July, 1633, and was succeeded in the estate by his son Henry, who was of age, and married, at the time of his father's death. Inquisitions of Ulster, Donegal, (29) Car. I

[Rev. George Hill: An Historical Account of the Plantation in Ulster at the commencement of the Seventeenth Century 1608-1620 (Belfast, 1877), p. 523]

Chancery - Inquisition Post Mortem

[4] Transcript of Chancery Post Mortem 14 April 1640

Lifford 16 April 1640

Basill Brookes nuper (lately) of Donegal, defunct (deceased), seised, ut de feodum (fief), de castra sive (or) fort’ de Donegal predictus, cum omnibus (with all) gardinus, pomar’ & curtilagium eidem spectans, acres de 7 ½ balliboes de quarter land of Clarraclogheasske alias Claracheaske, acres 7 balliboes of quarter land of Carricknegan, with pertinents, laying adjacent to quarter of Clarraclogheake, in barony of Tirehugh, & co. said, valenta for an’ in omnibus exit’ ultra repris’ 17s 6d. de villata, hamlet’ & parcel terrae sequens, viz Eadonochanan 1 quarter’, Clonavarnagh 1 quarte’, 5/16 qarter’ vocat’ Calbree, Dromore 1 quarter’, Clonkarny 1 /1/2 quarter’, Carricke 1 quarter’, ½ quarter’ vocat’ Challedisme, & ½ quarter’ Cloncoose, cum pertins. Prefatus (aforesaid) Basill Brookes seis’ etiam suit, ut de foedum, de 1 liber’ mercat’ infra vil’ de Donegall, quolibet died jovis singul’ septiman’, tenend’ imperpetuum; ac de 1 fer’ in vel apud vil’ pred’ in fest’ sanci Perti apostola, annuatim tenendum imperpetuum, anacum curia ped’ pulverisat’ ibim tenendum, cum omnibus (with all) exitus ad hujusomd’, mercat’, fer’ & curia spectans. Prefatus Basill Brookes, 25 July 1633, fecit ultra voluntatis suam, in scriptum, cum quadam schedul’ eidem annex’, cujusquidem voluntatis tenor sequitur in original. Prefatus Basill Brookes obiit in mensis (month) July 1633. – Henry Brookes arma, filio ejus & heres (heir), plenius etatim fuit tempore mortis patris is predictus (aforesaid), & maritatum: premissa tenantr de Re.

[Inquisitionum in Officio Rotulorum Cancellariae Hiberniae, Vol. 2, Appendix, V Donegal, 29 Charles I]

Civil Survey of Co. Donegal 1654

Parish of Dromhome in the barony of Tirhugh

Proprietor: - Capt. Henry Brooke, English protestant

Denomination of Land: - “One quarter of land and seaven ballibose called The Quarter of Logheaske Seaven ballibose of Carranegunn”. Three hundred acres. Rent, 1I. 6s. 8d.

Surveyor’s note: “Theise Lands above menconed are bounded westward with ye sea and from thence southward up the river of Easke unto Logh Easke and from thence southward up a river called Townawooly Eastward to a place called Kedue from thence south a litle river wch runeth to ye Mountaine of Mino Brock which leadeth to ye topp of a Mountaine called Barnsneelin then downe that Mountaine southwest to a logh called Loghclogher and from thence to a hill called ffinbanogh which boundeth them southward from the Colledge land called Tully and from thence to carnanbeighey and so through a bogg to a place called Ballanodogg belonging to the Colledge and from thence a small gutter suthward through a bogg to Easkin bogg and from thence to Lizard Easkin and thence westward to a little gutter which Joyneth uppon a Quartr of Colledge Land and boundeth us southwest and soe into a litle river which runeth betweene two hills and boundeth them from the six ballibose of Maghere begg and from thence westward into ye sea which sea compassethf them Eastward till wee com to ye river of Easke where wee began our bounds”.

Parish of Conwall in the barony of Kilmacrenan

Proprietor: - Henry Brooke, Esqr., English protestant

Denomination of Land: - “Drumcaveny alias Cuiltog, one halfe Quarter Cabrey one halfe qrter being in all one Quarter of land”. ‘One hundred and thirty-four acres’. Rent, 1I. 0s. 0d.

Denomination of Land: - “Drumore one Quarter Cloncarny one Quarter Carrick one Quarter Tryentagh one Qrter In all fower Quarters”. Five hundred and thirty-six acres. Rent, 42I. 5s. 0d.

Surveyor’s note: (1) “The sd quarter belonging to Henry Brooke Esqr. is bounded on the East wth dwglass River, South wth Templedwglass, West wth Cuiltog and north wth the River of Lennan”. (2) “The above said fower quarters of Land belonging to Henry Brook Esqr. are bounded on the East wth Gotten Sowth and West wth the River of Lennan”.

Parish of Kilmacrenan

Proprietor: - Henry Brooke, Esqr., English protestant

Denomination of Land: - “Cunaghan als Castlgay one Qrter”. One hundred and twenty acres. Rent, 10/. 5s. 0d.

Parish of Aghneish in the barony of Kilmacrenan

Proprietor: - Henry Brooke, Esqr., English protestant

Denomination of Land: - “Killidonnell one quarter Carrigaalte one quarter Killcreen halfe quarter two qrters and a halfe”. “Two hundred & nyntie Ackers”. Rent, 35/. 0s. 0d.

[Simington, Robert C.: Civil Survey A.D. 1654-1656 (Dublin, 1937), Vol. III, p. 60, 88, 89, 97 & 98]

APPENDIX II - ‘Edenichananan’

Lands Grant to Scottish Undertakers in the Parish of Inver

Background: - Original Patent granted by King James I to Sir Patrick McKee of Larg, knight, Scottish Undertaker from Kirkcudbrightshire, Galloway. Took possession in September, 1610, and alienated the property to William Stewart of Maines, brother of the Earl of Garlies. Sold again to Patrick Stewart of Raneall, another brother of the Earl. In 1616, purchased by Sir Robert Gordon of Lochinver, who then sold it on to John Murray, earl of Annadale, who was in possession of Cragie by 1618.

Grant to Sir Patrick MacKee of Laerg, Knt. The small Proportion of Cargie (Cragie) covering 1000 acres in the barony of Boylagh and Bannagh.  

Contained: - Tawintallon one quarter, Cragie one quarter, Drommaccullen one quarter, Cashelloegery one quarter, 3/8 quarter land of Tedollicke lying next to said quarter of Cashelleogery, Runnell one quarter and 1/5 quarter; Dromroe, 2/3 quarters of Dromconner lying next to the quarter land of Drommaccullen, 17/32 part quarter of Dromore, lying next to quarter of Tawintallon, estimated to contain 1000 acres. From this grant are expected 15/32 parts of the quarter of Dromore, containing 60 acres. The premises are created the manor of Cargie, with 300 acres in demesne, and a court baron. Rent, £5 6s 8d. English. To hold forever, as of the castle of Dublin, in common socage. 24 July, 8th [1610].  

Pynnar’s Survey of 1618-19

LXXVII 1,000 Acres

Sir Patrick McKee was first Pataentee. John Murrey, Esq., hath 1,000 acres, called Cragie. Upon this Proporton there is Bawne of Clay and Stone rough cast with Lime, being 60 feet square, and 12 feet high, and built upon a rock. I find divers planted on this land, but there not one Freeholder, and they who are upon the Land have no Estates, but Mynnets, being in 23 Families, and are able to make 40 Men, all of British Birth; but these do dwell dispersedly in the Countrey.

Addition Note by George Hill: In the Countrey: - The condition of affairs on this estate were found to be more unsatisfactory than what generally existed throughout the wide lands granted to the Earl of Annandall. The 23 British settlers in the proportion of Cargie were scattered about and had no leases, but only 'mynnets,' or minutes, meaning letters from the earl or his agents, promising them freeholds or leases, as the case might be. The following are the names of the leading Irish on the estate: — "Owen McDegany, and others, meere Irish, hold the 1/2 quarter of Munternize, from Thomas McCollagh, deceased, assignee unto the said earle, and paieth per an. 61. sterling; which said quarter lyeth in the small proportion of Cargie. Owen McCollyn, a meere Irishman, held seven balliboes of the quarter of Dromie, in the aforesaid proportion, from Alexander Murry, assignee unto the saide earle; and same paies per an. £3 sterlinge. Owen O'Harraghy, a meere Irishman, holds one half of 1/5 of the quarter of Dromchower, called Dromachillane, from Edward Griffin, assignee to the said late earle, and paies per an. 20s. sterlinge. Bryan MeCollyn, a meere Irishman, held one half of 1/5 of the quarter of Bonyglen, called BallymacCaule and Corduffe, from John McKeye, assignee to the said earle, and paies per an. 30s. sterlinge.".

[Rev. George Hill: An Historical Account of the Plantation in Ulster at the commencement of the Seventeenth Century 1608-1620 (Belfast, 1877), pp. 297, 502]

Lifford, 25 May, 8th Year [1632]

Harbertt Maxwell, agent to the earle of Annandall, did demise the great portion of the Rosses, in the barony of Boylagh and Bannagh, in the co. of Donegal, until Capt. Tho’ Dutton, esq., who did let amongst others,

“Neale O’Mighan held 2 balliboes of the quarter of Killmacreddan and Dromeany, from Andrew Nesbit, since the date of the aforesaid letters pattents, untill may last, which said Andrew was assignee unto the said earle, and said 2 balliboes lyeth in the proportion of Dowanalie”.

‘Owen Mc. Degany and others, meere Irish, hold the ½ quarter of Munternize from Tho’ Mc. Collagh deceased, assignee unto the said earle, as aforesaid, and payeth, per annum, £6. sterling, which said ½ quarter lyeth in the small proportion of Cargie’.

‘Owen Mc. Collyn, a meere Irishman, held 7 balliboes of the quarter of Dromie, in the aforesaid proportion, from Allex Morrey, assignee unto the said earl, as aforesaid, and same pays, per annum, £3 Stirling’.

‘Owen O’Harraghy, a meere Irishman, holds ½ of 1/5 of the quarter of Dromohower called Dromachillane, from Edw’ Griffin, assignee to said late earl, as aforesaid, and pays, per annum, £20 Stirling’.

Bryan Mc. Collyn, a meere Irish man, held ½ of 1/5 of the quarter of Bonyglyn called Bally Mc. Caule and Corduffe, from John Mc. Keys, assignee unto the said earl, as aforesaid, and same pays, per annum, £30 Stirling.

[Inquisitionum in Officio Rotulorum Cancellariae Hiberniae, Vol. 2, Appendix, V Donegal, 16 & 17 Charles I]

General Survey of 1642

Dated 20 April 1642 at Lifford, General Survey of the lands of the late John Murray, Earl of Annandale, who died seized in the manor of Rosses in Co. Donegal, and a great proportion of the Rosses lying in the barony of Boylagh and Banagh.

The following list of place-names has been extracted and beginning with land of Tamhnach an tSalainn, meaning the Field of Salt, which is now the modern town of Mountcharles.

[1] And of the land of Tawnytallan, Dromdristine, Drommokolagh, Kedyfformille, Donan, Lecrum, Dromhawla, Cavan, Cargey alias Craggie, Duren, Monterneese (Munterneese), Koughan, Seandrom alias Shannogh, Creagg, Dromsinagh, Dromnary, Dromnaelogh, Dromore, Tullynaryrye, Drum Mt. Cullyn (Drummacacullen) alias Bonnyglan, Bonnyglann (Bonnyglen), Cranye (Cranny), Dromdoe (Drumduff), Edenichananan, Drumnacullye (Drumnakilly), Ballymaccaell (Ballymacahil), Corrodoe (Carraduffy), Dromatymagher, Meenebradan (Meenybradden), Tamure, Tullagh o’ Diven, Drumnetumper (Drumatumpher), Mentyeorra, Cashellvogery (Casheloogary) alias Cashellogorr, Dromcorwron, Ard-Icasselly, Dromboghlike, Dromnakillye, Cullnaseangan, Cassellegorry, Magherycashell, Dromleightfynne (Drumlaghtafin) alias Drumfynne (Drumfin), Gortnaglagine, Mynleardan, Croreagh, Knocknamonagh, 5/8 part land of Tedollick, lying next to quarter of Cashellvogery alias Cashellogery, alias Cashellogorry; villa of Cronullen and Tawnaghgorme (Tawnygorm), and 1/5 quarter land of Raneall alias Ranell; land of Donmore, Miligan, Tullyfobull, Drumgornan, Syrrone, Dromroe (Drumrone), Tullygoose (Tullyvoos), Tullyhagan (Tullinlagan), Tullygoles, Ranell, Drumcoe alias Dromcowe (Drumcoe), Dromcrisine, Mydownoyne, Dromberrine, Dromgarmen (Drumgorman), Lyosnesoly, Dromcasan, Gortnawcarne alias Gortfadda, Domheg, Mase; and 2/5 of Dromconner (Dromconor), lying next to villa of de Cashellvogery alias Cashellogorry;

[2] And of the villa, villata, hamlet and land of Drumconnon (Dromconnor), Drumbeigh (Drumbeagh), Dromacollyn (Drummacacullen), Drumberryn (Drumbaran), Ballybrollaghan, Knockfrasse, Dromard (Drumard), Benwayne, Tullytroslan, Mynecreaghan, 17/32 part land of Drommore (Dromore, southwest of Mountcharles), lying next to quarter of Tawnytallon (Tantallon); land of Sessiagh, Dromgrean, Dromnary, Dromnahoe, Dromhoma, Clanskyagh and Dromloske, with pertinents in said precinct; of total other proportions of land for said supvision vocate (called) “the small proportion of Boylaghoughtra alias Boylaghwoughtragh”, lying next in said precinct de Boylagh and Bannagh.

[Inquisitionum in Officio Rotulorum Cancellariae Hiberniae, Vol. 2, Appendix, V Donegal, 30 Charles I, col. d, line 9-36]

General Survey of 1643

June 9 [1643]: King James was in life time lawfully sesised in his demesne as of fee, in right of the crown, of all that proportion of land, by general survey of the lands in the Co. Donegal lately taken, called the great proportion of the Rosses, lying in the precinct of the barony of Boylagh and Banagh, which recites a number of properties, including the acreage and subdivision, and amongst others, ‘of all and singular the lands, tenements, and hereditaments, in or within the several townes, villages, hamletts, quarters, balliboes and parcells of land following, that is to saye, 1 quarter of land called Tawnytallon, 1 quarter called Cargie, 1 quarter called Drommaceullyn, 1 quarter called Cashellvogerye, 5/8 of the quarter of Teedolicke, next to the quarter of Cashelvngerye, 1 parcell called Rankall 1 1/5 quarter, 1 quarter called Dromroe, 2/5 of the quarter of Dromconnor, lying next the quarter of Drummaecullyn aforesaid, and 17/32 parts of the quarter called Domore, lyinge next to the quarter of Tawnytallan, all which doe contayne, in the whole, 1000 acres.

[Inquisitionum in Officio Rotulorum Cancellariae Hiberniae, Vol. 2, Appendix, V Donegal, 32 Charles I, col. d, line 36-55]  

Civil Survey of the parish of Inver in 1654

The parish consisted of the “Ten quartrs and a halfe called Townitallan, Cragg, Raniell, Drumchoe, Bunglen, Lettrmore, Drumconner, Drumboerty, Caselogerry, KillmcRedon, and the halfe quartr of Drumrany” amounting to one thousand three hundred and twelve acres (1312 acres). It was held by James, earl of Annandale, a Scottish protestant. Thomas, Lord Ffolliott, English Protestant holds one bailliboe called Granshogh, 12 acres, “bounded Eastward with the Brooke of Killomard, one ye south west and north with a quarter of land Townetallen belonging to ye Earle of Anandall”.

[Simington, Robert C.: Civil Survey A.D. 1654-1656 (Dublin, 1937), Vol. III, p. 73]

Statistical Census of Ireland c.1659

The parish consisted of the following townlands and tituladoes: Qr of [ blank ] by Andrew Nesbit & James Nisbit gent (tituladoes); Drumranny; Killingrodann ½ Qr Andrew Nisbit gent; Monyallagher Bellboe; Castlegory Qr; Inver halfe Qr, Francis Harris, gent (tituladoe); Bonyglan Qr; Lettermore Qr; Drumconnor Qr; Tamnitullen Qr, William Cunynghame & George Cunynghame, gent (tituladoes); Drumbegg Balliboe, Charles Murray, gent (tituladoe); Dromcoe Qr; Craigdarum Qr; Rancle Qr; Disert Belliboe; Drumlerty Qr; Drumlest Belliboe.   

[Pender, Séamus: A Census of Ireland, Circa 1659 (Dublin, 1939), pp. 45-46]

The Ua Canannáin, Book of Fenagh and Irish Annals