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book
The Tribes and Customs of Hy-Many
by John O’Donovan
John O’Donovan, The Tribes and Customs of Hy-Many, Commonly Called O’Kelly’s Country (Kansas City, Missouri, Irish Genealogical Foundation, Special Edition 1992).
ISBN 0-940134-39-X
First published in 1843.
Cahill, page 63
In chapter called “Customs of Hy-Many”:
Here are the tributaries of the Clan Ceallaigh [now Kelly]: the O’Duibhginns, the O’Geibhennaighs [now Keaveny], the Mac Cathails [now Cahills, but this family must be distinguished from the O’Cathails, which is also anglicized Cahills], the Mac Floinns [Magloin or Glynn], Muinter Murchadhan [may now be Murphy]; and the Clann Aedhagain [Mac Egan] until they became Ollamhs to the arch-chief.
Firbolgs enslaved by race of Maine, page 83-87
The enslaved tribes {*u} of Hy-Many for servitude are these, viz. the Dealbhna from Ath liag {*w}, to where the River Suca (Suck) springs from the well in Sliabh Formaili {*x}. The Cathraigh of the Suca extending from Upper Tuaim Cathraigh {*y} to Porta Fidigi, on both sides of the Suca; also the Corco Moncho {*a} and Dal n-Druithni {*b}, and the men of Magh Sen-chineoil {*c}, until noble tribes were planted in their places after them {*d}; and also Muinter Milcon. And the arch-chiefs of Hy-Many had the power to increase the rents on those tributes ad libitum [whenever they felt like it]. Also the family of the O’Mailfinnains {*f}, on account of their exile. There are also townlands which we have not mentioned of the Firbolgs in those districts who are bound to serve the chiefs, and who are serfs and hereditary followers of the kings of Hy-Maine.
Footnotes
*u The enslaved tribes, &c.—The Rev. Patrick Mac Loughlin translates this to “the unfree states of Imaine.”
*w Ath liag.—This was the ancieng name of the ford on the Shannon, over which the gridge of Lanesborough now stands, and the western or Connaught portion of the village of Lanesborough, still retains the name [now Ballyleague]. There is another Ath liag on the River Suck [now Athleague]…
*x Sliabh Formaili, is now always called Sliabh Ui Fhloinn, i.e. O’Flyn’s mountain, from its situation in Sil Mailruain, O’Flyn’s country. Ot os situated in the parish of Kiltullagh and Kilkeevin, in the barony lately styled Frenchpark, in the county of Roscommon.…
*y Tuaim Cathraigh.—The name of this place is now fornotten…situated in the barony of Clanmacnowen…
*a Corco Moncho.—Perhaps this is the tribe who gave name to the territory of Corca-Mogha, which is still the local appellation of a district comprising the parish of Kilkerrin, in the barony of Killian, in the N. E. of county of Galway.
*b Dal n-Druithni.—The exact location of this tribe cannot now be determined. It is stated in the Irish life of St. Grellan that this tribe paid him no tribute or impost of any description.
*c Magh Sen-chineoil, i.e. the plain of the old tribe._O’Flaherty, in Ogygia, Part III. c. IIm p. 176, speaking of the different places where the Firbolgs settled in the west of Ireland, has the following words in reference to this district…
The Rev. P. O’Loughlin translates Sen-chineoil “old inhabitants,” and the inhabitants were doubtlessly so called because they were old Firbolgic possessors of the district, who where conquered and enslaved to the race of Maine.
*d Until noble tribes, &c.—The Rev. P. Mac Loughlin renders this passage “until free states came in their places.”
*f O’Mailfinnains, would be now called Mulfinnans. These were originally a noble Scotic or Milesian family, who were banished from their own territory, and were obliged to settle in Hy-Many, as serfs to the O’Kelly. The celebrated antiquary Duald Mac Firbis, in his interesting preface to his smaller genealogical work, compiled in 1666, gives us the following account of the six classes of plebeian families in ancient Ireland:—
- The remnant of the Firbolgs and Tuatha De Dananns.
- The descendants of the Scoti or Milesian nobility, who left their own territories, and were obliged to enslave themselves under other tribes.
- Those tribes whose lands were converted into sword-lands, or who were enslaved by enemies.
- Descendants of the Milesian nobility who lost their dignity and lands for their crimes, according to the law.
- Those who are descended from common soldiers and foreigners.
- The descendants of slaves who came with the sons of Milesius into Ireland, and who were never able to get beyond their caste.
“It is true,” he adds, “that there are many of the descendants of these tribes till this very day in Ireland, but their pedigrees are unknown. There are also many families of the purest Milesian blood, whose pedigrees have become unknown in consequence of their having become poor and indigent, and not having been able to support poets or historians to preserve their genealogies and history. Some of them sunk under the English five hundred years ago.”—MS. in the Marquis of Drogheda’s Library.