MCSWEENEY CASTLES IN IRELAND.

(DOE CASTLE)

(The following was taken from 'The Mac Sweeneys' by Fr. David OFM Cap).

MOROSS CASTLE IN FANAD

It is generally accepted that the first permanent settlement of the MacSuibhne clan in Ireland was in Fanad. It happened early in the fourteenth century. Led by one named Murchadh Mear (Mear = Crazy), they manned a fleet of small sailing and rowing boats and crossed the North Channel.

Having sailed along the north coast of Ireland until they neared Fanad Head, they turned south into the long estuary of Lough Swilly, the west bank of which is Fanad. Here they landed.

It had been the custom of the MacSuibhne chiefs, while they were in Scotland, to be inaugurated in Iona by the successor of Saint Colmcille. In Ireland they began to be inaugurated on the crowning stone of Doon Rock, near Kilmacrenan, not far from the native place of Colmcille.

In the year 1516 Ruadhri MacSuibhne built a castle in Rathmullan, on the east coast of Fanad. Nothing of that castle now remains. It was situated between the present road and the sea, on a site still known as Ard an Chaisil.

Ruadhri 's wife, Máire, built in Rathmullan a Carmelite Priory, the ruins of which are still standing. She and Ruadhri brought the Carmelite Friars from Munster. The first prior was a Mac Sweeney from Connacht.

This Máire, we are told, attended Mass at least twice a day: "Three days each week she used to spend on bread and water, with Lenten fast and winter fast, and the Golden Fridays". She died in 1523. Her prayer book is preserved in the library of Trinity College, Dublin.

She had a church built in Donegal and one in Connacht, where she was born (O Máille), daughter of Eoghan O Máille, chief of Umalia, County Mayo.

In 1532, Ruadhri 's son, Turlogh, built a castle on the west coast of Fanad, at Carraig na Féile, situated on a promontory of the Mulroy known as Moross (Magh Ras). Part of the castle is still standing.

KIDNAPPING OF RED HUGH

Towards the end of that century, Rathmullan became the scene of a historic event. In 1587, the Viceroy (Lord Deputy), Sir John Perrot, got ready in Dublin a ship with a good supply of beer and wine. It sailed north and into Lough Swilly, finally anchoring opposite the castle in Rathmullan. The captain gave word that he had wine for sale and invited people on board to sample it.

Among those who came was Red Hugh O'Donnell, not yet fifteen, who was being fostered at Doe Castle by the Mac Sweeneys. Fosterage was very common among leading families in ancient Ireland. It was a gesture of goodwill. The Brehon code entered into great detail on the obligations of foster parents. While on board the ship, Red Hugh was seized and taken to Dublin as a hostage.

FLIGHT OF THE EARLS

Twenty-one years later, Rathmullan was the scene of what came to be known as "The, Flight of the Earls." Hugh O'Neill, on hearing of the death of Red Hugh O'Donnell by poisoning in Spain, and seeing his enemies pressing against him on every side, knew that his cause was lost. A ship was got ready in Brussels to enable him, and those closest to him, to escape from the country, while that was still possible. The ship was brought to Rathmullan by his close friend and fellow soldier, Hugh Maguire of Fermanagh.

O'Neill wept as he left his castle in Dungannon for the last time and headed north to Rathmullan. He was then aged 58.

The ship, flying the French colours, lay at anchor in the bay. Rowing boats, which carried provisions of firewood and water to the ship, were stoned by the Mac Sweeneys, who saw the departure as a betrayal by O'Neill. However, neither then, nor for eight years after, did Hugh abandon the idea of returning with help from the King of Spain. The number of friends and relatives of O'Neill and O'Donnell who boarded the ship totalled more than ninety. At midnight the anchors were raised and the sails unfurled. It was the 14th September, Feast of the Holy Cross.

Under that date the Four Masters commented: "That was a distinguished company for one ship. For true it is that the sea has not borne, nor the wind wafted from Ireland in modern times a party more eminent, illustrious and noble than they were, in point of genealogy, or more distinguished for deeds of renown, feats of arms, and valourous achievements. Woe to the heart that meditated, woe to the mind that planned, woe to the counsel that determined on that project."

The Viceroy, Sir Arthur Chichester, took a different view. He was the chief architect of the Plantation of Ulster and the mastermind that engineered the Flight of the Earls. His Attorney General, Sir John Davies, wrote: "We are glad to see the day when the countenance and majesty of the law and civil government hath banished Tyrone from Ireland, which the best army in Europe and the expense of two million sterling pounds did not bring to pass."

Accompanying Hugh was his chaplain, Patrick O'Loughran. Some time later, this man returned to Ireland. In June 1611, he was apprehended. He was hanged in Dublin on the 1st February 1612. He was one of the seventeen Irish martyrs beatified by Pope John Paul11 on September 27, 1992.

DOE CASTLE.

The Doe branch of the clan is descended from Donnchadh Mór son of Donnchadh Óg of Fanad who died in 1340 and was succeeded by Donnchadh Mór who resided at Doe and from then on Doe became the chief residence of the clan ruling over the Trí Tuatha Thoraighe.

No one is quite sure when Doe Castle (Caislean na dTuath) was built or by whom. It is however generally accepted by the experts that its first or very early occupants were Sweeney's (MacSuibhne). It has all the features of a fifteenth century fortress and again the experts agree circa 1425 as the date of its building and it remained in Sweeney possession for the next two hundred years. During that time Doe Castle saw many illustrious chieftains from Eoghan Connachtach (d.1359 in captivity) who succeeded Donnchadh Mór, to Eoghan Óg I (d 1554 slain in battle near Bloody Foreland in a family feud) His son Eoghan Óg II was probably one of the better known chieftains who held the castle 1570 - 1592. He provided refuge to survivors of the Spanish Armada, something most northern chiefs were afraid to do for fear of reprisal by the English. He was the only one to be given special mention in the Annals of the Four Masters. He became foster father to Red Hugh O'Donnell who was entrusted to his care in 1587.

The much maligned Maolmhuire an Bhata Buí was the last of a long line of MacSuibhne chieftains to be publicly inaugurated and a nephew of Eoghan Óg II. He revolted from Red Hugh O'Donnell and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth. He earned his nickname, An Bata Buí (the yellow stick) from the gilt baton symbol of his knighthood. There is no doubt but he was an opportunist who switched sides to his own advantage.

In 1601 he was on the side of Red Hugh O'Donnell and together with the chieftains of Fanad and Banagh was on the long disastrous march to Kinsale which was to mark the beginning of the end of the great Irish Chieftains. From 1600 onwards the castle saw turbulent times and changed hands several times. After the rebellion of 1641 the Sweeneys were back in possession. In 1642 Eoghan Rua O'Neill sailed in Sheephaven Bay with 100 veterans of the Spanish armies and were received at Doe Castle. By 1650 the castle was back in English hands with Robert Conygham, a commander in Cromwell's brutal army in residence. He was slain at Cashelmore, near Ards (Creeslough) by two Arranmore Island men for commanding a force who raided Arranmore Island and murdered a total of 83 women and children.

In 1800 the castle bought by George Vaughan Harte. He carried out extensive work on the towerhouse and added the surrounding enclosure. His initials GVH are still above the entrance on the east side. His coat of arms now replaced by the Sweeney coat of arms. His son John who as a boy of sixteen to part in the battle of Waterloo, succeeded him, and by all accounts was extremely well liked by the local population.

After all those turbulent years of war, famine and weather the castle fell into disrepair at the turn of this century and soon became a derelict ruin, that is until the present Sweeney Clan Association began agitating for its restoration to its former glory. It is the only Sweeney Castle to survive intact and was therefore important to have remedial work carried out immediately to ensure its survival for centuries to come.

RAHAN CASTLE IN BANAGH.

In ancient times, people of Donegal spoke of "west of the mountain" and "east of the mountain." The mountain was the long range that was cut through by Barnesmore (Big Gap) on the Ballybofey-Donegal Town road.

In the thirteenth century the O'Boyles were in control of the territory west of the mountain. This territory consisted of the barony of Banagh in the region of Killybegs and the barony of Boylagh to the north. This latter coincided with what today is called the Rosses. It is bounded on the south by the Gweebarra river and in the north-east by the Gweedore river.

With the coming of the Mac Sweeneys in the fourteenth century, the O'Boyles lost control of Banagh. In that century Murchadh Mear MacSuibhne bequeathed Tir Boghaine (Banagh) to his grandson, Dubhghall. In the fifteenth century there was another incursion of the Mac Sweeneys, this time from north Connacht.

The chief stronghold of the Mac Sweeneys in this area was Rahan Castle, on St. John's Point, near Dunkineely. St. John's Point is a peninsula six miles long and rarely more than half a mile wide. On the west coast are still to be seen some of the remains of Rahan Castle.

Under the year 1524, the Four Masters wrote: "Niall Mór MacSuibhne of Tir Boghaine died, after Unction and Penance, in his own fair castle at Rahan, on the fourteenth of December." Niall was buried within the precincts of the Franciscan church at Ballysaggart on St. John's Point, which his father, Eoghan Mac Sweeney, had built. His grave was marked by a remarkable tombstone, which is now at St. Mary's Church in Killybegs. In shape and design it is somewhat similar to another Mac Sweeney tombstone at Doe Castle.

For the year 1588 the Four Masters record an internecine battle of the Mac Sweeneys of Banagh. It was fought on an island called Doirinis off the west coast, near Ardara.

The last of the name to reign in Banagh was Donnchadh Dubh, who, in 1602, submitted to the English. He got a grant, or rather re-grant under English law of 2,000 acres of his own land. We have seen that the last Mac Sweeney chief of Doe Castle benefited in a similar way under the plantation. Donnchadh Dubh died in 1632.

In the nineteenth century (1844) the stones of the castle at Rahan were used to build in Killybegs the parish church, which was dedicated to St. Mary of the Visitation.

A History Of The Hebrides - The Norse Occupation

Men from the North.

It may be safely assumed from the known character of the pagan Northmen that they made short work of the religious communities they found in the Outer Hebrides. The men who plundered the mother church in Iona, and ruthlessly slaughtered her monks, were not likely to spare the daughter churches wherever they found them. It has been suggested - with a good deal of reason - that the merciless ferocity with which the Norsemen pursued the ecclesiastical establishments of Britain and Ireland was of a retaliatory character. It has been shown that they never interfered with the Christian religion until the persecution by Charlemagne of the pagan Saxons, and the destruction of their temples and idols had aroused within the breasts of Odin’s followers a feeling of implacable hatred towards the Christian name. The “great and good prince” Charlemagne had ordained that the Saxons should choose between Christianity and death – a form of conversion, which, in subsequent years, was imitated by the Northmen themselves in dealing with their pagan countrymen.

In pursuance of this militant spirit, the Royal missionary is stated to have beheaded no less than 4,500 recalcitrant Saxons in one day, perhaps to obtain the favour of Heaven by so meritorious an act. Such was Christianity as exemplified by this pious Emperor of the West, and such was the spirit in which ‘conversions’ were effected in those days. The smoking ruin of many a sacred building; the expiring groans of many a devoted monk; the despairing shrieks of many a violated nun; - these were the prices paid for the summary methods of converting the heathen which Charlemagne, the pillar of Christianity, adopted. And it was not too much to assume that the Outer Hebrides paid a portion of the prices in the destruction of the Columban Churches, and the slaughter of the officiating clergy. But the probable disposal of the native Christians, some to the slave-marts of Norway, and others to a condition of thralldom, which their conquerors no doubt imposed upon them, may have led to the seeds of their religion being planted in new soil. In the process of time, these seeds may have brought forth part of the fruit which so abundantly ripened towards the close of the tenth century.

About the end of the eighth century, the Scandinavians made their first recorded appearance on the coast of Ireland. The Irish Annals indicate that immediately before this event, which marked an epoch of great importance in the history of Ireland, the Northmen had devastated “all the Islands of Britain”. From this we may conclude that the tide of invasion proceeded from the Orkneys along the line of the Hebrides, and perhaps the Isle of Man, until finally it reached the shores of that fertile country which was the goal of the Northmen’s desires. In the year 794, Sci, or Skye, was pillaged and wasted, and it is highly probable that at the same period, stirring events were taking place in the Outer Hebrides. It is almost certain that previous to the eighth century, the ‘Long Island’ was a resort of Vikings, but whether or not before that period any permanent settlement by Scandinavians had been effected can only been conjectured. It is reasonable, however, to suppose that the Northmen who appeared on the Irish coast were bands of piratical adventurers from the Orkneys, and, perhaps, from the Long Island, bent on finding richer booty than those lands afforded.

The Irish Annals are full of records of the mischief wrought, during the ninth century, by the Scandinavians, who are indifferently styled “Gentiles” and “Galls”, or foreigners. We find a distinction made in the year 850 between these Gentiles and Galls. The Annals of Ulster record “the coming of the Dub-gennti to Athcliath (Dublin) who made great slaughter of the Finn-gallaib.”

And in the following year, according to the same authority, “eight score ships of Find-gentib came to fight against the Dub-gennti at Snamh-aigneach,” when a great battle took place, which lasted for three days and three nights, resulting in the ultimate victory of the Dub-gennti. These opposing bands are usually described as “Dubhghoill” or “Dugalls”, and “Finnghoil” or “Fingalls”: The dark and the fair foreigners. The Norsemen have been identified with the Fingalls, and the Danes with the Dugalls. It is difficult to see on what grounds the distinction has been made. If we assume that “Fingall” really means “fair foreigner,” and “Dugall” “dark foreigner”, we must discover satisfactory reasons for associating the idea of fairness with the Norwegians, and that of darkness with the Danes.

Various explanations have been hazarded to account for the distinction but they are all purely conjectural, and therefore, as proofs, valueless. The suggestion that the Norwegians were a fair race – which we know – and the Danes a dark race –which we do not know – will hardly be accepted. We read of Northmen called “Gorm-glasa” who fought at the battle of Clontarf. If the same argument be appled to them that is sought to be applied to the Fingalls and Dugalls, we must believe that the “Gorm-glasa” were a race whose distinguishing characteristic was the possession of greenish-blue hair, a colour which finds no counterpart these days. Equally unsatisfactory are the suggestions that the distinguishing marks of the Norwegians and Danes lay in the colour of their clothes, their shields, or the sails of their ships. Pinkerton states that Mr.Thorkelin, “a learned native of Iceland”, informed him that the old dress of the Norwegians and especially of the pirates and mariners, was black, as in Iceland. But this statement is in direct opposition to the generally accepted theory, which makes the Danes the black foreigners and the Norwegians the fair followers.

In later Irish history, we find frequent references to the Danes and Norwegians, and Keating writes of the “The Normans” as distinct from both, but gradually all sections of the Scandinavians became merged with the generic name of “Danes”, which probably denoted, in the process of time, any foreigners hailing originally from the north of Europe.

The Seanachies tell us that Somerled defeated “a large army of Lochlans and Fingalls, and cleared the whole west side of Alba from the Lochlans, except the Islands of the Finnlochlans called Innsegall.” But in the Red Book of Clan Ranald, the Lord of the Isles is termed ‘Righ Fiongalll, or King of the Fingalls; a statement which implies the subjugation of the Fingalls to his rule. The term “Lochlainnaigh”, or “Lochlans” (sea-warriors), originally applied to the Scandinavian rovers, appears to have received a wider significance in later years. The Dubgalls figure on several subsequent occasions in the Irish Annals and always as piratical adventurers; now at York, where they defeated the North Saxons, again in Alban, where they slaughtered the Picts, and –later than either event – in Ireland, once more battling with their old enemies, the Fingalls. We read of one Ragnall, or Reginald, who, early in the tenth century was king of the Dugalls; after which, Dubgall and later, Dugall, appear only as the names of persons; and in the tenth century, Fiongall also appears as a personal name.*

The modern names of Dugald, MacDougal, and MacDowell, are probably derived from Dubgall. Similarly, the Lochlans of the past reappear in the modern garb of MacLauchlan in Scotland, and McLoughlin in Ireland. On the whole, it seems probable that the Fingalls and Dugalls were rival tribes of Norsemen who had a standing feud. Their names appear to have been originally derived from the Celtic appellatives of their chiefs.

*In the Annals of Ulster, Dungall (Donngal) and Gormgal appear as personal names as early as the eighth century. The name Donald is probably derived from the former.

(From 'A History of The Hebrides'.)

A HISTORY OF CASTLE SWEEN.

CASTLE SWEEN: ITS STORY

On the east side of Loch Sween, this castle guards the mouth of the Loch, looking past nearby islands and down the Sound of Jura towards Ireland. It is one of the earliest stone castles in western Scotland, having been built towards the end of the 1100s.

Its plan is that of a quadrangle, with projecting buttresses, an unusual feature in a western highland fortification. The gateway is on the south side, in a ten foot thick section of masonry. There is a well in the north east angle. MacMillan's Tower, of later, 15th century date, is outside the north east angle. The round tower at the north west angle contained a prison at one time.

Its situation would have made it convenient to beach galleys, there being no natural anchorage nearby. The early history and siting of this castle have much to do with the emphasis upon sea power which dominated western Argyll.until Scotland looked to Edinburgh and London for its law and order.

A leader named "Suibhne" (grandson of Hugh the Splendid who died 1047 AD), is credited with building Castle Sween. By the 13th Century, the Clan MacSween lands extended as far as Lochawe in the north and Skipness Castle on Loch Fyne in the South. The family was, however, on the wrong side of the Wars of Independence in the early 1300s. When Robert the Bruce became King of Scotland, he displaced the MacSweens, and granted the Castle to his loyal supporter, Angus (Macdonald) of Islay. The MacSweens made at least one attempt to reclaim their ancient property, as immortalized in a poem found in the Dean of Lismore's Book.* Eventually, with the fall of the MacDonald sea power, the Castle ended up in the hands of the Campbells (1490).

Throughout, the Constables of Castle Sween seem to have continued to be the MacNeills. The last MacNeill to hold this position was Hector Torquil MacNeill, 1st of Taynish. When he died, his wife, Effric McCorquadale, wrote a lament, also to be found in the Dean of Lismore's Book.*

This Hector MacNeill's only lawful descendent was his daughter, Erca. When she married Alexander MacMillan, her dowry consisted 10 farms extending from the Castle to the head of Loch Caolisport to the east. She and her husband lived at the Castle, and it was for them that 'MacMillan's Tower' was built. The Constableship of the Castle thus passed to the MacMillans. This clan retained its prominence in Knapdale into the 1900s. One branch played a central role in the Arichonan Affray of 1848.

During the British Civil War, Castle Sween was attacked and burned in 1644 by Alisdair MacColla and his Clan Donald, during his ravaging of the clan Campbell's Argyll. The Castle has been a ruin ever since.

*DEAN OF LISMORE'S BOOK
This is a compilation of Gaelic poetic work combiled between 1512 and 1526, chiefly by Sir James McGregor, the Dean of Lismore, and his brother Duncan. The original (at the National Library of Scotland) is a small quarto about 7 inches square, and a little over 1 inch in thickness, and bound with a piece of coarse sheepskin. You can now download a copy of the translation made in 1862 by the Rev. Thomas McLauchlan with an introduction by Wm F Skene in 1862 from Google Books!

TRYST OF A FLEET

The second of two medieval poems, (both) originally composed in Gaelic, celebrating the attempt by John MacSween, to retake Castle Sween, in Knapdale, Scotland. The poem brings to life the optimism and bravery of the defeated cause. It's reference to what is reputedly the earliest stone castle on the Scottish mainland illustrates 'the misfortune that outshone all others in the west'. Exactly who built this powerful structure, which overlooks the loch of the same name, before any king of Scots did the same remains a guess. The earliest reference to a 'Norse-Gael' Sween in Gaelic occurs in 1034 and is the best historical candidate for the clan's eponym: 'Suibne son of Cinead [Kenneth], King of the Foreigner-Gaels (Gal-Gaedhil), died. That was the year of King Duncan's accession to the throne, in the time of Thorfinn The Mighty and Macbeth of Moray.

The MacSweens had survived nearly three centuries of turbulent history as the Lords of Knapdale since then, when they launched their expedition in 1310. King Robert had already laid Buchan waste and daunted MacDougall, so that John showed much temerity in accepting a grant from the English king to all the lands his ancestors had enjoyed, provided he could recover them by force. The fleet with which he made his attempt is described exactly as if it belonged to an alliance of Irish Scots and Norsemen in the days before there was a Scottish nation. The poem is filled with the spirit of a bygone age.

"Tryst of a fleet against Castle Sween;

Welcome is the adventure in Ireland;

Horsemen travelling the billows;

Brown ships are being prepared for them.

Of quilted Hauberks is arrayed

The ship's prow in the form of jewels,

of warriors with brown-faced girdles.

They are Norsemen and Nobles."

They took their womenfolk with them, lying about in cushions, of satin and sendal in their ships, so confident were they of the outcome. But needless to say the MacSweens were scattered, and although some remained in Argyll for centuries to come, others carried the name to the Outer Hebrides, where they are found today in particularly large numbers in the Isle of Scalpay. 

(Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia.pg.66)

Tales of the Tinker No.7. The Lords of Fanad, and how they came to be inaugurated at Kilmacrennan.

O'Donovan and his colleague were almost at the end of Market Street, roughly twenty five yards from where the cobblestones ended and the dirt track began when they decided to pack up their gear for another day. The wind, which had been blowing for most of the day, making their task all the more difficult, had died down at last and the late afternoon sun began once more to shine.

Down on the strand the boats were back inside the safety of the harbour wall and McRory the elder and his son were busy landing their catch.

Father MacMahon was among the first to greet them and had, as usual, the pick of the baskets.

He had chosen two of the larger Lemon Sole and a fine looking Halibut with large brown spots.

After paying for them he headed back past the pub and stopped to converse with the younger Miss Keating, who was also on her way down to the strand to buy fish.

O' Donovan entered O'Donoghue's Pub at just past the half hour, finding the musicians already set up in their corner, next to the fireplace, tuning their instruments and arguing over which piece they would start with.

The old Chief entered the pub ten minutes later, just as the musicians began playing 'Lilli Bullero', joining O'Donovan at their usual table.

After taking off his tweed cap and having taken a good draught of the porter into his throat, the Chief began to speak in that quiet, low tone of his, and the following is what O'Donovan was able to remember and write down with his pen, later that evening:

"The children of Toirrdhealbhach Caoch here, namely: Toirrdhealbhach Ruadh, the best offspring of the north of Ireland for generosity and for prowess; and Conchubhar Balbh 'the Stammerer', a noble respected man was he, who won seven victories over the English and the Scots in Trian Congail (these were the seven victories: [1] a famous one at Skirry, [2] one at Dún na Fraoch, [3] one at the Abha Chorcra (Crimson River), [4] one at Clochán Salach, [5] a famous one at Slemish, [6] one in the plain of Sliabh Fhuadh, and [7] one in Lecale against the Savages), and it was in Scotland he spent the greater portion of his life; and Eamonn (these were the three sons of Margaret, daughter of O' Kane); and Donnchadh Garbh 'the Rough,' and Maghnus, and Maolmhuire Og (the three sons of the daughter of Cathal, son of Aodh Breifneach O' Conchubhair); and Eoin Buidhe 'the Yellow', the son of a concubine.

Of the war between Toirrdhealbhach Ruadh and his father's two brothers for the lordship of Fanad here: but we shall not recount their battles and conflicts with one another concerning that lordship, only stating the end of their contention. Toirrdhealbhach by violence assumed the chieftainship in the end. He was the first Mac Suibhne whom O'Domhnaill ever inaugurated. It was the successor of Columcille who used to inaugurate Mac Suibhne in lona as long as they remained in Scotland, but after their coming to Ireland, when they were not at enmity with one another, and they had power, they used to give the task of inauguration to O' Firghil, instead of having it done in lona by Columcille's successor.

A proof of that is this: no Mac Suibhne was ever proclaimed except in Columcille's precinct [that is, Kilmacrenan] , and if any were inaugurated elsewhere, he could not be long in power. And in confirmation thereof, O' Firghil gets five marks for every Mac Suibhne who is proclaimed there. But on this occasion Toirrdhealbhach conceded whatever he asked to O' Domhnaill for his making him chieftain in preference to those kinsmen of his, namely, Eoin and Murchadh, who were senior to himself. That is the reason why cows were exacted of each Mac Suibhne who was inaugurated from that time forward until Maolmhuire Mac Suibhne was installed [1461] . Maolmhuire did not give any cows, for he was strong and powerful, and his own tribe was in submission to him.

At one time after that Aodh Buidhe O'Néill sent messengers to Niall O' Domhnaill to announce to him that the English and foreigners were establishing great supremacy over himself and all his country, and to ask him to come and render him assistance. When Niall heard that, he sent information and couriers to his people and all his army to every place in which they were, and after they had gathered into one place, they set out spiritedly and courageously, and united with Aodh Buidhe O' Néill. They together marched against the English. Among the English there was a famous nobleman who was called 'The Knight', and who was the King's Deputy in Ireland. He came with a great hosting of all his supporters, English and Irish, against O' Domhnaill and his people, and they fought a fierce, bloody battle with one another. The English were all defeated there, and the knight himself was slain by O' Domhnaill and Clann Suibhne, and that rout has ever since been called the 'Rout of Branar'. It was then that the knight's mailcoat was captured. The mailcoat is a precious, treasured heirloom with successive generations of Clann Dálaigh (the Donnells), commemorating the victory which was won by themselves and Clann Suibhne.

It was Niall O' Domhnaill and this Mac Suibhne who first made a circuit of Leath Chuinn. They proceeded from Derry, east to Clannaboy, and to Lecale, and lveagh, and Meath. From Meath they moved westward into Offaley and Éile Uí Chearbhaill, and through all Connacht back again to Assaroe. It was this Mac Suibhne who with difficulty rescued the army of Niall O' Domhnaill on the day O' Domhnaill himself was captured by the English and his son Toirrdhealbhach slain. It was he also who, with Diarmaid O' Catháin, gave the defeat of Casán to Niall O' Domhnaill himself, to avenge the banishment of Clann Suibhne na dTuath. That same day Clann Suibhne na dTuath were drowned with the ships in which they put to sea in obedience to the decree of banishment. This also was the Mac Suibhne who was with Nechtain O' Domhnaill when he ate in Gallach the Christmas feast which was prepared for Aodh Buidhe O Néill, in spite of Aodh Buidhe and all his army. This Mac Suibhne and Nechtain O' Domhnaill defeated Enrí, son of Eoghan, O' Néill at the Rosses. These are not all his exploits, for there are many not here enumerated, and we consider it enough to write here a few of his great deeds. He was in the full lordship of his country for thirty-nine years.

Once there were prisoners of this Mac Suibhne we are speaking of in the hands of Enrí, son of Eoghan, O Neill, namely, his son and his own foster-brother. It happened that there were sixty marks of the ransom for them unpaid by Mac Suibhne, and he had gathered together that amount in full. The prisoners were to be forfeited if this ransom were not received for them on a particular day, and on that day Easter chanced to fall. Now a great number of poets came on a visit to Mac Suibhne on his return to the country from the expedition we have mentioned, and the resolution he came to, in spite of his people, was to distribute the ransom among the poets, and to forfeit his prisoners. He made this known to [Enrí] O' Neill, intimating to him that he might do whatever he pleased with the prisoners, for that he himself had bestowed the ransom upon the poets who came to visit him. When [Enrí] O' Neill heard that, he said that he would not be less generous regarding the ransom than Mac Suibhne was, and that he would return his prisoners to Mac Suibhne because he had so expended the money. [Enrí] O' Néill then gave back his prisoners to Mac Suibhne unredeemed, and in that way God wrought a miracle of generosity for Mac Suibhne's sake. For him were compiled these famous poems you have heard of, namely, 'Fanad Sanctuary of Generosity', 'Fanad Nurse of Generosity' and 'Fanad Well of Generosity', and many others which we shall not mention here.

These were the children of Toirrdhealbhach Ruadh, namely, Ruaidhrí, the eldest son, who was Mac Suibhne Fánad; and Toirrdhealbhach (a son of that Toirrdhealbhach was Brian, who inflicted the defeat of Cnoc na Lurgan on Cormac Dall MacCarthy, and a son of that Brian was Maolmuire, who with the Mac Carthys inflicted the defeat of Mainistir na Móna (Moume Abbey) on the Earl of Desmond); and Dubhdara, the third son of the daughter of Diarmaid O' Domhnaill; these children performed many great deeds which we shall not narrate now: and the five sons of Onóra Ní Mháille, namely, Domhnall, Maolmhuire, Eoghan Bacach, Aodh Buidhe, and Murchadh: and Maghnus Caoch, the son of the daughter of Dubhghall Mac Suibhne (he was a reputable, victorious constable all the time he was in Munster): and the two sons of the daughter of O' Néill Buidhe, Eimhear and Anradhán; and the son of the daughter of the erenagh O Sheerin, Ereamhán.

It was pitch black outside the pub by the time the old Chief left the place that evening, with most of the regulars well drunk and in full song. O'Donovan was as drunk as he'd been on his very first visit to the place and it was remarkable how he was able to make out his own handwriting the following morning, when he re-read what he'd written under candlelight the previous evening. He marvelled at the old Chieftain's capacity for holding his drink and promised himself he would only drink one or two pints the next time they met.

"The Assembled Fleet" By 'Blind' Arthur McGurkich

The assembled fleet at Castle Sween,
Pleasant tidings in Innisfail
Of all the riders of the waves,
A finer ship no man e'er owned.
Tall men did manage the ship,
Men, I think, to urge their way;
No hand without a champion,
A slashing, vigorous, noble band.
With coats of black all were supplied,
In this bark, noble their race,
Bands with their brown, broad belts,
Danes and nobles were they all.

Chieftains with ivory and gold
The crew on board this brown-sailed ship,
Each with a sheaf of warriors' spears,
Shields on their hooks hung round the sides.
Wide-spread wings, speckled sails,
Bearing purple, all of gems;
A long, handsom, gentle band,
Stood along the stout-made spars.

The blue sea at the swift ship's prow,
The ship laden when the tide is full;
Wattled baskets full of swords,
With shields all brought on board the bark.

Fair women, too, were in the ship,
Modest, Their beds were placed on high,
Spotted cusions were provided,
Couches for the nobles' wives.
Spotted coverings of fine linen,
This was the covering of the ship;
Handsome, easy, as she rocked,
Purple linen round each mast.

No hardened hands, no tightened belt,
Nor roughened by their usual toil;
Heroes were there, nor did they labour,
Bands of men of sweetest lips.
We heard not of so many nobles,
Of our isle from labour free;
From Erin princely champions,
A troup with soft and ruddy hair.

Not ship of all did she count swifter,
None has there been nor will be,
No sigh, no sorrow, and no grief,
Nor is there any end of all.

No ship of ships she counted swift,
Full of princely men she is,
Scattering gold among the bards
, While round the ship resounds the sea.

Many the men of sword and spear.
Many men quick in fight to mix;
Down by the sea the fighting men
Above, the gentle women were.

Who is he provides this fleet,
At Castle Sween of many hills?
A vigorous man who fears no blast,
His masts up raised, seeking his right.

JOHN M'SWEEN sail thou the ship,
On the ocean's fierce-topped back;
Raise aloft the vessel's masts,
Let thy bark now test the sea.

A leading wind then for them rose,
At Kyle Aca* as rose the tide;
The speckled sails were roundly bellied,
as John ran swiftly for the land.

We entered the cheerful anchorage
in the bay of fruitful Knapdale;
The noble hero, lordly, shapely,
Comely, masted, swift, victorious,
He was then near Albin's walls,
Helpful, welcoming his men.

Fair was then the youthful hero,
Abundant dew distilling round,
Favourable at Slieve Mun's streams,
To MAC SWEEN, him of Slieve Mis.

Speakers then come near to ask,
They deal as with him of the sharpest eye.
Branches are laid beneath their knees,
To welcome those of valour great.

Their safety in each harbour nook
Suffers from the welcome they give John.
The men of Albin's isles then come
With welcome from the narrow sea.
The men who sweetest are that sing,
Tenfold welcomes to him bring.

For a while there was a conflict,
Between them and our men of song;
They come at last to know full well,
How fair the hill from whence came John.

Then did we fight at Castle Sween,
Just as a slender, furious hawk,
We set us down around that rock,
Every limb endowed with strength.

We pierced the bodies of our foes,
Just as a serpent fiercely wounds;
Our thin-bladed, well-edged swords,
The foreigners' bodies fiercely hacked.

We raised the cry of great MAC SWEEN,
Amidst the rolling of the sea;
True it is that roll won't help,
Broad-backed, long although it be,
Their javelins have no power to pierce
The shields which our brown coats protect.

Rathlin of the sharp rocks, hears
The music of our ringing swords.
The thin-bladed sword, in Europe best,
A spear that swift obeys the wish,
What shield on earth can it resist?

Fierce and fearless Erin's sons.
JOHN MAC SWEEN of stratagems
With his thin, powerful, cutting sword,
He whose shield is spotted brown,
A blind man found him brave and wise.

(From the "Dean of Lismore's Book"
page 151)

Tales of the Tinker No.6. The story of Tirlogh 'Caoch' and the House of MacSweeney Fanad.

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.