An Ocean as vast as the Atlantic has many different characteristics and weather patterns to behold. On one day it could be fine and breezy, the next a full gale blowing and horizontal sheets of rain which seem able to slice right through the skin. Whereas yesterday had been cold and windy, though mostly dry and the wind had been from the east, today was once again bright and sunny, though with a stiff breeze which now came from the south-west. The fishermen were once again down on the strand, mending their nets, and MacRory the elder was eyeing the horizon, thinking to himself that rain was surely on its way. The barometer in the boathouse had stopped working several months back and now the only sure way of forecasting the weather was the seaweed hung up by Mrs. Dunleavy, who had kept the place neat and tidy as long as anyone could remember. The boathouse was exactly sixty three feet from the shore at high tide. At low tide the distance almost doubled, although it was neither high nor low as Mrs. Dunleavy dropped by that day, as was her habit, to refill the tin of biscuits and leave a fresh pint of milk. After that little job she was due at Moireen's Hairdressers at a quarter past one for her monthly appointment. Moireen's was almost halfway up Market Street, opposite the taylor's shop, where her sister Maeve had once worked as a seamstress. That was before she had married a cabinet maker and moved south to Munster.
O'Donovan had spent the morning down by the Lackagh River, surveying the road from the bridge up to the main Strabane road. His new hobnailed boots were giving his feet blisters, and a particularly bad one on the heel of his right foot was starting to hurt. He thought of complaining about his feet but remained silent, thinking only of the coming weekend, when he would go back into Donegal, to the shop he had bought the boots in and would see the beautiful shop-girl again. Each time he thought of her and tried to imagine her face she seemed to change her appearance and it suddenly dawned on him that he couldn't actually picture her face or remember exactly what she looked like anymore.
The surveyors began packing up their gear at a quarter to five and then made their way back towards the strand and O' Donoghue's pub, where the chieftain was already waiting at his table, the pair of pints set up, as per usual.
The following is what O'Donovan wrote a little later that evening, under candlelight:
"Of the children of Maolmhuire, son of Murchadh Og, here now: namely, Conchubhar was his eldest son. It was he who defeated the English and the Scots at Bun Putoige. He himself was slain without the knowledge of his people in that battle, and sixteen men of his followers along with him. In that battle also his brother, Toirrdhealbhach 'Caoch' (Tirlogh the One-eyed) had an eye knocked out by a shot of an arrow. And Eoin and Murchadh were his two other sons. Toirrdhealbhach Caoch was inaugurated in the place of his father, and it was this Toirrdhealbhach and the descendants of Seán O'Domhnaill, and Eoghan son of Donnchadh Mór [MacSweeney na dTuath], who defeated Toirrdhealbhach an Fhíona (Tirlogh of the Wine) O' Domhnaill in the battle of Sliabh Malair. It was they who plundered Seanghleann Choluim Chille in spite of Toirrdhealbhach an Fhíona. Neither Seán's descendants nor Eoghan, son of Donnchadh Mór restored the preys to the termon, and it is said it was there they themselves perished. But thereafter MacSweeney Fanad made an offering of the quarter of Tullynadall to Columcille in restitution for the violation of that termon, and he performed many other great deeds which are not enumerated here.
On one occasion the descendants of Seán O' Domhnaill and MacSweeney set out by sea for Derry, and they left Toirrdhealbhach Ruadh, MacSweeney's son, in camp at Dunkineely as a guard over their creaght. Toirrdhealbhach an Fhíona fell upon the creaght, carrying away great spoils out of it; whereupon Toirrdhealbhach Ruadh and his people set out in pursuit of them. O' Domhnaill tumed to face his pursuers, defeated and routed them, and there captured MacSweeney's son. He was brought in custody to Murbhach, and Toirrdhealbhach an Fhíona greatly extended his power to the east of the mountain [Bearnas Mór] after his capture.
Once, when Toirrdhealbhach an Fhíona and MacSweeney's son were carousing in Murbhach, they chanced to have a dispute, and Toirrdhealbhach Ruadh said that if he himself were at liberty, the other would not be so powerful as he was. Toirrdhealbhach an Fhíona became exceedingly angry thereat, and declared that he would set the prisoner free, that what he had said might be put to the test. He removed his fetters then. And O' Domhnaill's people began to reproach him, for they feared that that which MacSweeney's son had said might become true. But Toirrdhealbhach an Fhíona gave orders to him to set out for his own country, to which Toirrdhealbhach answered that he would not depart without getting the King's dress for himself, and his followers for a body-guard; otherwise that he would go away furtively.
His demands were granted in full. He departed then, and coming to his father and his own people, he narrated all the proceedings to them from beginning to end. When MacSweeney heard them, through gladness he summoned his whole force and following, and then came towards Murbhach to meet Toirrdhealbhach an Fhíona. And as they approached the house, a certain person came to where O' Domhnaill was, and told him that there was a goodly host coming to him to his house. O' Domhnaill recognised them and said they were the Clann MacSweeney coming to visit himself; and on their coming to him he showed great joy. After they had spent a night in the house they received great presents for undertaking that journey. The presents were: One hundred cows and O' Domhnaill's own raiment. But MacSweeney bestowed them on his own foster-father, Maolmithigh O' Herrill. O' Domhnaill asked of those who brought the presents was MacSweeney grateful, and they answered that they did not observe that he was. After that he bestowed on them six scores of axes of hiannacht hona [that is, axe-men to be maintained] out of Tír Conaill itself, a gift in perpetuity from himself and his posterity after him; the making of a circuit of Tír Conaill once in the year; the spending of three nights in each house in Tír Conaill; 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 Eme to oppose the men of Connacht; two ballybetaghs of Tír Mic Caorthainn which are now called 'the Braid of Fanad'; and to sit by the right side of O'Domhnaill whenever MacSweeney would visit him. Toirrdhealbhach an Fhíona then asked the same messengers was MacSweeney grateful, but they said that they did not observe that he was. He next ordered them to bring a champion hound of his own to MacSweeney, and to ask him was therein the house any thing which he liked or desired. And MacSweeney thanked him much when he saw the hound, but for nothing of all that he had until then received. And he declared there was one thing in the house he would wish to get, namely, that he should have as a foster-son Niall O' Domhnaill who was a youth in the house at that time. O' Domhnaill replied that he would have him, and that he was glad that MacSweeney had asked his son, and that, had he known that he would accept him, that foster-son was the first thing he would have offered him. And thereupon MacSweeney took Niall O' Domhnaill as a loving foster-child.
And it was then that a levy of galloglases was made on Clann MacSweeney, and this is how the levy was made: two galloglases for each quarter of land, and two cows for each galloglas deficient, that is, one cow for the man himself and one for his equipment. And Clann MacSweeney say they are responsible for these as follows, that for each man equipped with a coat of mail and a breastplate, another should have a jack and a helmet; that there should be no forfeit for a helmet deficient except the galloglas's brain [dashed out for want of it]; and no Fine for a missing axe except a shilling, nor for a spear, except a groat, which shilling and groat the Constable [captain] should get, and O' Domhnaill had no claim to make for either. And previous to this arrangement no lord had a claim on them for a rising-out or a hosting, but they might serve whomsoever they wished. It was the Scottish habit [of military service] they had observed until that time, namely, each man according as he was employed.
On a certain day that this Toirrdhealbhach we are speaking of was in his own house his servant offered him dinner. And, having looked about him in all the house, he considered that all those who were in the house were too few, and he said:"May this cheek be not mine own if it move in the absence of an hundred more, on which a beard groweth, moving contemporaneously therewith."
On another occasion he was in Gola Island in Fanad. His cupbearer at that time was Mac Colín, and it was long since ships or traders had come to them. Nevertheless their wines had not diminished, and Mac Sweeney wondered that he had his wine as usual, though there was a scarcity in all the country. And he asked of Mac Coilín:"Where dost thou get as usual this wine which thou givest us?" Mac Coilín did not wish that that question should be asked him, but still he was obliged to answer how he got the wine. And he replied that it was a creature on the island called Plenty that was in the habit of coming to the wine. When MacSweeney heard that, he gave Mac Coilín a blow of his íist, and said: "Thou churl, why hast thou offered us wine from an animal?" Thereupon Mac Coilín became much enraged, and he left MacSweeney and came to O Domhnaill. And he and his descendants after him have remained with Clann Dálaigh from that time until now. These were the standing retinue in the house of Toirrdhealbhach Caoch, namely, one hundred and fifty. And in three portions that retinue of Toirrdhealbhach was, that is fifty in each, besides wives and womenfolk, and no portion of these could claim supremacy or submission of any other portion. Besides these there were the musicians, and the poets, and the inferior servants. A man of great knowledge, very violent, and very generous, was this Toirrdhealbhach, and this is the manner in which he died, after having spent forty-one years in the lordship of his territory. Once he was engaged on that circuit of Tír Conaill which O' Domhnaill had granted to Clann MacSweeney, and he chanced to be in Inbhear Naaile. A great sickness came upon him in that place, and he died thereof. And his body was then brought to Derry to be buried. And that is the story of Toirrdhealbhach Caoch so far."
The Chief then stood up and replaced his cap, turned to leave and then said "If you're here tomorrow I'll tell you the story of Tirlogh Ruad and of the seven victories he won against the English".
The regulars called out as usual.
"Good evening to you, MacSweeney."
"A fine fellow."
"There he goes."
"Top man."
The door closed and the Chief disappeared into the cold night.
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