The Fomorians and Lochlanns. Pedigrees of MacCabe of Ireland and MacLeod of Scotland

Ulster Archaeological Society

The Fomorians and Lochlanns. Pedigrees of MacCabe of Ireland and MacLeod of ScotlandAuthor(s): John O'DonovanSource: Ulster Journal of Archaeology, First Series, Vol. 9 (1861/1862), pp. 94-105Published by: Ulster Archaeological SocietyStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/20608927 .

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94

wellian landlords, that recent events on the Continent would tenid to so order matters, that lands as

well as cowswould be restored. It aIlso appears byPhillips's letter, that the British colonists in Ulster

were infected with the native disposition for song and satire; for, when the king issued a commis

sion to inquire into their derelictions in the matter of colonizing, they sang ballads deriding it, and

prepared a play, under the title of "M Much to do about Nothing." So powerfiul were the bards in

their action on public opinion, that their power is alluded to in the Act of Parliament of 1634,

referring to hospitality being enforced by the intimidatory " fear of a scandalous rhlyme." Many

instances are preserved of their turn for satire, shown in malicious epigrams, spiteful retorts, and

lampooning songs on the new colonists. Their professed contempt for everything of foreign

origin, and the faculty they possessed of propagating false anecdotes in disparagement of Anglo

Irish families, must have combined to render these peripatetic scandal- mongers peculiarly odious to

the British settlers; and far beyond and above this form of obnoxiousness, was their quality as

political partisans, which they possessed highly and used powerfully. In a future notice of the

Connaught Bards I propose to include some curious accounts of the satiric character of our old

poets.

THE FOMOIRIANS AND LOCHLANNS.

PEDIGREES OF MAcCABE OF IRELAND AND MACLEOD OF SCOTLAND.

Tnis short account of the Fomorians and Lochlanns has been taken from MacFirbis's Genealogical

work, Lord Roden's copy, p. 774 el Seq. Duald MacFirbis, who was the last of the hereditary historians of Iecan, in the county of Sligo, compiled his great genealogical work in the college of

St. Nicholas at Galway, in the year 1650. See fly-Fiachrach, introduction, p. vi., vii., viii.. &C., and Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy, vol. xviii. ie refers to a great number of MSS.,

which he either had then in his possession or had read, and which are now lost or missing. The two

specimens of Danish genealogies given by him, bear out the Scottish tradition that MacLeod of

Arran is of Scandinavian descent. This descent has been latterly doubted by Mr. Skene, in his history of the Highland clans: he is of opinion that the tradition of the Norwegian descent of MacLeod is not very old, and that it is not borne out by any historical authority. However, it is

quite clear that the pedigree of MacLood, as preserved by MaeFirbis, is the only one ever known or

received in Ireland or Scotland; but what weight it will have with Mr. Skene remains to be tried.

We quote his words, as already printed in his Hfighlandere of Scotland, vol. ii,-" There are few of the Highland clans whose Norwegian origin has been more strenuously asserted, or more generally

believed, than that of the MacLeods; and yet, for that origin there is not the vestige of authority.



95

In this matter it is usual to find the Chronicle of Atrn referred to as expressly sanctioning the assertion, and this reference has been again and again repeated; but notwithstanding the confidence with which this Chronicle has been quoted as an authority, it is a sin,aular circumstance that that record is nevertheless destitute of the slightest hint, or even of any passage which could be assumed as a ground for such an idea. Neither does the tradition of Norwegian descent, if such a tradition ever did exist, appear to be very old; for, in a MS. genealogy of the MacLeods, written in the latter part of the sixteenth century, there is not a trace of such a descent; on the contrary, they are deduced from one common ancestor with the Campbells, and were certainly a part of the ancient inhabitants of the earldom of Garmoran." But the existence of the tradition of the Scandinavian descent of this family can now no longer be denied.

It looks rather strange that MacFirbis should mrix up the history of these two piratical races, as the Fomorians flourishlecl so far back in the night of time as A.M. 2764, while the Lochlanns

dlid not make their first descent upon any part of Ireland till the year 794. Some modern writers have expressed their opinion that the Fomorians were Scandinavians, but that their history was ante dated by the Bardic historians. It is very clear, however, that MaeFirbis did not believe that they were the same people, and tlle only reason wh-ich induced him to notice them together is

that lie finds them mentioned as plunderers only. According to the Bardic historians, of whom Keating is a fair exponent, the Fomorians were

pirates of the race of Ham, who sailed from Africa, and fled to the islands of the west of Europe to avoid the descendants of Shem, who, they say, would have enslaved them in consequence of the curse which Noah pronounced against their ancestor Ham.

The fierce wars between the Fomorians and the Nemedians is dwelt upon with particular interest by the Irish writers. The former fortified themselves on Tory Island, off the coast of

Tirconnell, where they built a strong tower, called Tor-Conaing or Conaing's tower. This fortress was stormed and demolished by the Nemedians. The Fomorians, however, having been joined by

fresh supplies of force, came to a general battle with the Nemedians, whom they defeated and

dispersed, so that they left Ireland desolate for a period of two hundred years. The descendants of the dispersed Nemedians afterwards returned to Ireland under the name of Firbolgs; but these were not a full century in possession of the island wheni they were invaded by another kindred

tribe who went under the name of Tuatha De Dananas, a people celebrated for their necromancy,

who, after sojourning for some time in Greece, where they had learned various arts, proceeded from thence to Denmark and Norway, and afterwards to Scotland, where they rested for some years, and

subsequently set sail for Ireland under the command of their chief Nuada. Here landing secretly under cover of a mist which they had raised by magic, they penetrated into the island, and had

reached Slieve-an-ierin before their presence was discovered. The Firbolgs, thus taken by srprise, retreated before them into Connaught, where, at Cong, on the borders of Lough Mask, they fought

VOL. IX. N



96

a sanguinary battle, called the battle of Moyturey-Cong, in which the Firbolgs were signally defeated, and the Tuatha IDe Dananns became sole masters of the country. According to the Annals

of Cloamnenoise, as translated by Magco-,hcgan, "the Firbolgs were overthrown in this battle, and one hundred thousand of them slain, with their king Eochy Mae-Eircke, which was the greatest slaughter that was ever heard of in Ireland at one meeting." From the monuments of the battle

still remaining, it is quite credible that great numbers were slain, but the number mentioned in the document referred to must be a blundor.

It is stated in a romantic account of this battle of Moy-Turey-Cong, as well as in various

accounts of the Tuatha Do Dananns, that Kinig Nuada lost his right hand in the battle, and

that Credne Cerd made a silver hand for him, which was fitted upori him by Dianeecht, the

JEsculapius of the Irisl, from which circumnstance the king was ever after known by the name of Nuada Airy e lamk, i.e. Nuada of the Silver Hand. It is added in other accounts,a that Diancecht

anld Credne constructed the hand moveable in every finger and joint, and that Miach, the son of Diancecht, to excel his father, took off the hand and infused feeling and motion into every joint and nerve of it, as if it were a natural hand. [See Ogygia, part iii., c. 10.]

This Nuada reigned over the Tuatha De Dananns for twenty years, but was killed by Balor,

the general of the Fomorians, in the battle of the Northern Moy-Turey. The site of this battle is

still pointed out in the Parish of Kilmactranny, Barony of Tirerrill, County of Sligo. There are

very curious sepulchral monuments yet to be seen on this battle-field, of which a minute descrip tion has been written by Dr. Petrie, and was read before the lloyal Irish Academy in 1836. The

place has been also lately examined by Dean Graves, president of the Academy, who is to publish

the result of his investigations in the Academy's Proceedings. For the traditions about Balor, see Annals of the Foer Masters, A.M. 3330, pp. 18, 19, also note c under A.D. 1398.

The first descent made by the Scandinavian rovers on the coast of Ireland was in the year

794. They had attacked England a year or two earlier. [See the Annals of Ulster at the year 793,

and the Saxon Chronicle at the years 787 and 793.] The accounts of their having arrived in

Ireland in the first century, and having a great city at Dublin in the time of St. Patrick, are fictions of the Danish and English writers, which have been ably refuted by Ussher and O'Flaherty, though recently quoted as an authority in this Journal by our friend H. F. Hore, Esq.

The loss of that part of the Great Book of Lecan, which, according to the author quoted by Duald MaceFirbis, contained the genealogies of the descendants of the Danies in Ireland and Scotland, cannot be supplied from any other authority now known to exist. The two specimens following, which were evidently copied from this manuscript by the writer referredl to, will give the reader a fair idea of the kind of pedigrees they were. All the generations set down appear to be within the true historical period of Irish history, though some of the names have so odd an appearance, that they look like these in the pedigree of Garagantua in Rabelais.

.a Leabhar Gabhala of the O'Clerys.



97

The pedigree of MacLeod of Arran, in Scotland, may be traced with tolerable certainty up to the thirteenth century, through the Scottish records; but we have that of the Dano-Irish MacCabe from no other authority, except that of Duald MacFirbis. The farailyof MacCabe is now widely spread through the midlland counties of Ireland, especially thirough Leitrim, Cavan, Mlonag,han, and Meath, where they are remarkable for their xauithous complexions, their vivacity and vigour. They are evidently

a branch of the MacLeods of Arran, anid would appear to have migrated to Ireland at the same time

with the MacSweenys and MacDounells Galloglach, namely, in the fourteenth century. They were thenceforward leaders of Gallowglasses to the O'Itourkes, O'Reillys, and -MacMahons of Ulster for

many generations, and their chiefs were followed to the tomb by their followers bearing battle-axes over their shoulders; but after the defeat of the Irish at Kinsale, they settled down as tillers of the

soil, and are now very numerous as farmers in the counties already mentioned.

In our own time the Rev. Canon MacCabe, of Francis Street, Dublin, Dr. Wm. MacCabe,

and his nephew, Bernard William MacCabe, Esq., author of the Catholie History of Eng land, and late editor of the Telegraph newspaper, Dublin, have distinguished themselves by their talents, integrity, and high learning, and there are many other individuals of the name in

Ireland who reflect honour on the Danish and Irish races, whose blood they carry in their veins.

The following notices of the MacCabe family occur in the Annals of the Foar Mgsters, at the

several dates here given :

MAcAABJE. A.D. 1358. Hugh MacCabe was slain.

A.fl. 1386. Donough MacCabe was slain by the son of Manus O'Reilly.

A.D. 1392. Donough MacCabe was slain.

A.D. 1413. Mahon MacCabe, Loughlin MacCabe, and a great number of their people were

slain by the English in the hosting of O'Reilly.

A.D. 1416. MacCabe was in the military service of O'Rourke.

A. . 1424. Melaghlin MacCabe, Constable of the two Brefneys, and also of Fermanagh and

Oriel, died of the plague. A.D. 1429. MacCabe, and Henry MacCabe, were taken prisoners by O'Neill, in the battle

of Aghakilmore, in Brefuey. A.. 1483. Ross, Donough, and Brian MacCabe, were slain in the service of MNacRannall.

A.D. 1455. Maine, the son of Melaghlin MacCabe, materies of a Constable of the Gallow

glasses of the two Brefneys of Oriel and Fermanagh, died.

A.D. 1460. Owen Caech MacCabe was slain in the service of O'Reilly.

AtD. 1486. Melaghlin Oge, son of Melaghlin MacCabe, slain at Moin-lesg.

A D. 1495. Brian, son of Sorley MacCabe, died.

-.n. 1500. Gilchreest, son of John Fin MacCabe, was slain by Hugh MacMahon.



98

A.l. 1504. Flalherty, son of Failge, son of Brian MacCabe, was slain by Brian MacCabe.

A.D. 1505. Fergus Tore MacCabe was slain on the side of the sons of Gillapatrick.

A_.D. 1508. Niall, son of Alexanlder MacGabe, and Henry, son of Brian MacCabe, died.

A.D. 1610. Feliin MacCabe, of Brefney, died.

A.D. 1514. Many, son of Mahon MacCabe, was taken prisoner by the Earl of Kildare.

A.D. 1602. 13rian, son of Dowell MacCabe, was taken prisoner by MacSweeny.

MAcLEOD OP ARA [ARRAN].

A.D. 1594. MacLeod, of Ara, carme as a mnessenger to O'Donnell, to iniform himn that the

Scots had arrived at Derry. I.n. 1595. MacLeod, of Ara, landed at Liough Foyle, with six hundred Scots.

EXTRACT FROM THE GENEALOGICAL MS. OF DUALD MAC FIRBIS.

Trachtadlh cumair ar araile d' Fhoinorchaibh agus do Loctlannelluibhl, bhc'dar athaidlh imlebiana

ag aidlbnmhilleadlh Ereann. Fior cheana gur chraoibhsgaoilsiom gach eineadh dar ghreamuigh Ere

iar n-urd a n-gabh?l go so; anois luaidheam lucht buaidheartha na Banba-Fomioraigh agus Lochi

lonmaigh-iar d-teaglomuibt saine fa seach, nach saigh suas glun ar gll'ln leo go h-Adtamhn, mar

gabltaid Gaoidhil, Tuatha De1, Fir Bolg, Nemhidh, Partholan, &-e., do 'titigh Ere go h-ordaighthe,

a ngenelaigh da bhaghthar go h-ordaighthe.

Fomoruigh imorro agus Lochlonnuigh, is amhluidh do bhidisidhe re foghlughadh na Fodhla

chuice agus uaithe, ag breth gach a ffdds da lomarthaibh leo, ar mhodt nach ffuairsiod na Seanchaidh a

scanchus mar ch&ch go conitnuidlitheach isin crich. lhairis sin cuirfeam anmanna aroile dobt'

oirdherca dlobh slos ana a sleachtaibh saine.

Fomoraigh tra as iad ceudus do ctuir coinbhliocht ar an chrich in aimsir Nemhidh agus a

chilainne (acht ge thug Partholan cath do Chiogal nGriceencbcsach i Sleamhnuibh Muighe Ithe, mar

as ler ag laphra ar Phartholan f6n, leth. 35.)

As iad Fomoraigh aderther sunn .i. loingsigh an mbara do thigdis do chosnamh noa cmiche, agus

nach fes creud dob' adthbar aca, acht anfhlaitheas do fhurail ar egin ar Erinn.

Gann agus Seangann, da righ Fomoire, Conang, mae Faobhair, agus Mforc mae Deala,

daoine dob' 6irdherea d' Fhomoiribh isin aimsir sin Nemhidh agus a etlainne. Ni fhtghmaoid genelach riamh nad iars na Fomhoiribh ud, uair do diobhuidh uile il Nemhidh co n-a chloinn, mar

do raidhsiom ag toghail tuir Conaing, leth. 38 39, 40.

Mar sin tra gach drong da ttainig do iondradh Erenn amhluidh sin, ni fhaghmaoid gabhlughadh

genealaigh aca dob' iondiirmhe. Ba dioth sin Balar ]Bailc-bemneach, ba h-iard cumhaedtach 4'

Fhomoiribh re linn Tuath De Danann, gomadh ris an mBalar sin toretair Nuada Airgead-lamht

ri Ereann de Thuaith De' Danann, i ecath Muighe Tuireadh na fFomoraeh.

Ge'r mhor ainaeart, agus ge'r mhinic buaidhreadh eachtair-chinel (dd ngairthi Fomoruigh



99

agus Lochlonnuigh) mar sud ar Eriun, ni h-airmheach gur ghreamuighdar imute go hiarmartach; uair

is na h-aimsiribh sin tigdfs Lochlonnuigh, no Danair, no Danmairgigh, go ccobhlaighibh mura mionca do mhilleadh na rioghachta, gor rugsad re sealad a somhaoine fa dheo6igh, gur dhiochuir Brian

Boruimlhe [Maoileehluinn, manu reeentiori] agus aroile d'uaislibh Ereann iad. Tairis sin do ansad iomad da n-iardraighibh dta n-es in Erinn o-shin, mar ata a sleachtaibh sen-leabhar. Mar so a der

sliocht leblhair airidhe :-" Gibe lenab' ail craoibhsgaoileadh agus genelach sleachta Sin-Iomhair na mBreath d'fh&ighail, agus Fioun-Lohliann agus Dubli-Loeblann, agus Cathmuigh na Berbhi, agus

Maaghnuis na Loinge Luaithe, mic righ Loeldonn, do ghebhthar a ffios mar so a Leabhar MOr Leacain

Mic Fhirbhisigh, a-us do chuid thainig in Erinn .i. Clann Pii nan-OilAun, agus Clann Capa, agus

ClaunChuilin, agus AmhlaoibhlPuirtLairge, robhaoi i ceath Chluana-tarbli, Sitrioc mac Gluin-iarainn,

ailus Amhlaoibh Cuaran, ar a ifuil sliocht, agus forgla a ifuil do ehlannuibli ceannaigheadh a mBaile

Atha-eliath ania, as ar slioclit an Aiiihlaoibh Cuar&ain sin ataid, agus ar slioclit Saidhbhe, inghine

B3hriainl Boruimhe, ba bhean do' an tan tugadh Cath Cluana-tarbli.

Dornhnall, mac Emhin, mhic Caindigh, m6'r-mhaor MAlir, do sliliocht Sin-Iomhair esidhe, agus do

chlannaibh I:eoid na h-Ara dh, ag,us thainig do ionnsaighidh Briain Boruimlie, do chosnamh Ereann a n-aghaidh Glall na lbireach, ionnus go ffail slioclit an Amhlaoibh Chuarain sin i r-Baile Atha

Cliath, ag cur i n-ag,haidh Gaoidheal Ereani, &C.

GENEALACII MACLEOTD. Alasdrauin.

MacGiolla Coluim, Mic Tormoid, Mic Ruaidhrig,h,

Mie Nell,

hic Gilla Christ, Mic Tormoid, Mic Consaitin, Mic Locehlainn Leosaigh, Mic Loairn Loingsigh,

ic Duilbh Locha-abroin, Mie Ionduilbh Innsi h-Ore,

Tie Scandlain Sgainde,

Mic Amhlaoibh,

fie Jomhair Cairthe Sgarloide,

Mic Alpin, Mic laoil Coluim Ceann-mhoir,

Mic Comhgaill,



10(

Mic Siograidl, Mic Loairn,

Mic Broin Berbe, Mic Leoid, a ttaid Clanna Leooi, fri Lara, agus as i th4inig a siothlbroghaibli LL

riocht Lara, ionnus go rug triar mae, ar a ffuil sliocht. Mic Artuir,

Mic Balair,

Mic Ferecusa,

Mic Forguill criche na fuardhachta, Mic Naoi, M[ic Tuilbh,

Mic Iolduilbh,

Mic Alexandair, Mlic Neid d quo Ui Ned,

Mio Konuigh mhoir, u rMiter Dun Monaigh, Mic Balbuaidh Innsi Tile, Mic Gioda,

Mic Fomira,

Mic Maghnuis na loinge luaithe, Mic Arailt, Mic Asmaint, Mic Sin-Iomhair Mhoir ia mbreath, 6 fl'tilid Siol Siti-Jomliair in Albain,

agus a n-Erinn, agus a Lochlounuibli.

CLANNA CIIABA.

liuaidhri,

Mac MAgalInusa,

Mic Donnchadha, Mic Enrigh, Mic Gialla-Christ, Mfib Flaitlibheartaigh, Mic Giolla Christ Coirrsleaguigh, Mic Alexandair Arann, Mic Tormoid re n-aburthi Mao Caba,

Mie Constaintin Caoimh Innsi Breatan, Mic Lochlainn, &aC.



101

Sliochlt ele a der Afurm6r Catt, Clann-Orea Clann-Cruiner agus Clann

Tliorcadail in Albaini, Lochlonnaigh iad. A der sliocht son leabhair mar so: Ar sliocht Greguis mae Gomer mic Jafeth ata an Gallia .i. Lochlonnaigh.

TRANSLATION.

A short account of some of the Fomorians b and of the Lochlanns, who were for a long time

infesting Erin. It is true that we have already set forth every race that took possession of Erin, according to the order of their invasions, to the present day. But now we treat of the disturbers of Banbaha-the Fomorians and Lochlannsd --according to the different compilations, whose pedigrees are not carried up generation by generation to Adam, like those of the Gaoidhil,' the Tuatha DN, the Fir-Bolg,g Partholan,ll &c., who inhabited Erin, and whose genealogies i are regularly found.

Now the Fomorians and Lochlaians were wont to infest Erin now and again, carrying off with

then all the spoils that they could, so that the historians were unable to find their consecutive hiistory like that of those wlho were settled in the country. Notwithstanding this, however, we slall set down here the names of some of the more illustrious of them, from different authorities.

The Fomorians were they who first waged war with the country, in the time of Nemhidh and

h Fomorians.?Keating states, in bis History of Ireland, that these pirates were denominated Fomoraigh, and that the name signifies "powerful at sea" [Haliday's edition, p. 181]. The Giants' Causeway, in the County of Antrim, was

anciently called from them Clodidn-na bhFomarach. [See O'Brien's Irish Dictionary, voce Fomor?ch] .

c Banba.?This was one of the ancient names for Ireland, and was given to it from Banba, one of the Tuatha De

D?uiann queens, who ruled at the arrival oi the Milesian

colony [Keating, Haliday's edit-, p. 117]. <i Lochlanns.?This is the name by which the Scandi

navians were known to the ancient Irish, and they still con

tinue to indicate the Danes by the same appellation. The

Irish writers call the Danes " Dubh-Lochionnaigh" to

distinguish them from the Norwegians, whom they called "

Fionn-Lochlonnaigh." [See O'Brien's Dictionary, vocc

Lochlonnach]. e The Gaoidhil, i.e., the Gaels, Scoti, or Milesians, whose

pedigrees are regularly carried up to Adam by the Bardic

Irish historians. Our author believed in the authenticity of these lines of pedigree as firmly as the Jews believed

in that of the twelve tribes of Israel. f TuatJm De, i.e., the Tuatha De Dananns, the colony

who preceded the Milesians in their occupation of Ireland. s The Mr Bolg.?These people preceded the Tnatha De

Danarms, but they remained powerful in Connaught down

to the fifth century, h Partholan.?He is said to bave arrived in Ireland three

hundred years after the Deluge. The traditions connected with his name are still vividly remembered at Glenade, in the north of the County of Leitrim and at Ballyshannon, where he is said to have lived on Inis Samhaoir, in the

river Erne, close by the cataract of Assaroe. * Wfiose genealogies.?The pedigrees of these colonies

are traced up to Adam by the Bardic genealogists ; but where they found them, or how they have been preserved, has not been yet satisfactorily explained. Giraldus Cam

brensis, who wrote in the twelfth century, found no diffi

culty in believing these accounts handed down by the

Bardic Irish historians. Even of the events which hap pened in Ireland before the flood, he appears to have

entertained no great doubts. " Sed forte in aiiqu? materia

inscripta, lap?dea scilicet, seu latiritia (sicut do arte

m?sica legitur ante diluvium) inventa istorum memoria,

ftierat res?rvala."



102

his children, (but they were even earlier, for Partholan gave battle to Ciogal Griecenn-cosachb, in

Sleamhna of Magh Itha, as may be seen in our account of Partholan, in page 35). The Fomorians

here mentioned were sea-pirates, who used to come to contest the country, for no other reason but to exercise tyranny by violence upon Erin. Gann and Seangann, two kings of the Fomorians,

Conang, son of Faebhar, and More, son of Deala, were the most illustrious persons of the Fomorians, in the time of Neinhidh k and his children. We do not find any genealogy before or after these

Fomorians; for they were all annihilated by Nemhidh and his children, as we have mentioned at the Demolition of Conang's Tower,' pages 38, 39, 40. This is also the case with respect to every people who came thus to plunder Erin, we do not find any ramification of them wortliy of notice. Among these was Balar - of the Mighty Blows, who was a very powerful man of the Fomorians, in the time of the Tuatha De Dananns; and by this Jalar was slain Nuada of the Silver-Hand,

King of the Tuatha Be Bananns of Erin, in the battle of Magh-Tuiredh of the Fomorians.n Though great was the oppression, and though frequent the disturbances of extern tribes, called

Fomorians and Lochlanns, upon Erin, in this manner, it is not recorded that they obtained permanent settlements in it. In those times [the eighth and ninth centuriesl the Lochlanns, Danes, or Denmark

men,used to come frequently with great fleets to plunder the kingdom, so that they finally obtained its tributes for a time [and continued in this power] until they were expelled byfBrianBorumbab [changed by a later hand to Maoilechlainn] and others of the nobles of Erin. Nothlwithstanding this, muany of

i dogal Grigen-chosach?See a notice of this very ancient

personage of Irish Bardic history in the Annals of the

Four Masters, a.m. 2530. Sleamhna Muighe Ithe, where

Partholan defeated him, was the ancient name of a district, near Lough S willy, in the Barony of Raphoe, and County of Donegal.

k Ne7nhidh.--The arrival of Nemhidh with his " fower son3

into Ireland out of Greece," is synchronized in the Annals

of Clonmacnoise with the latter end of the reign of Altades, monarch of Assyria. O'Flaherty fixes it in a.m. 2029.

1 Conang's Tower.?This fortress is said to have stood on

Tor-mar, at the eastern extremity of Tory Island, off the

north coast of the County of Donegal, but so completely did the people of NemMdh demolish it that no trace of it is

now visible. m Balar.?This Balar, who lived on Tory Island, and is still

most vividly remembered in Irish legends, as having an

eye with which he turned men into stones, was killed in

the battle of North Moy-Turey, near Lough Arrow, in the

County of Sligo, by his daughter's son, Lughaidh Lamh

fhada |_Lewy of the longhands]. Kethlenn, the wife of

this Balar, is said to have fought with desperation in the

battle, and to have wounded the Dagda (afterwards king of

the Tuatha De Dananns) with a sling. n Magh-tuiredh of the Fjmoriam.?See O'Flaherty's

Ogygia, p. 176. The venerable Charles O'Conor, of Bela

nagare, who lived in the neighbourhood of this place for

some time, has written the following notice of it :? " The Fomorians invited back the Belgians to their

assistance, and their conjunction produced the second

battle of Moy-Turey, near the Lake of Arrow, but distant

from the former Moyturey about fifty miles, and, by way of

distinction, called Moy-Turey of the Fomorians.i This

place, surrounded by high hills, great rocks, and narrow

defiles, was pitched upon probably by the weaker side ; but which made the attack is not recorded.?Dissertations on

the History of Ireland, p. 147. Dublin, 1753. o Brian Boruimhe.?The name Maoileachlainn is written

over this in a band more modern than that of MacFirbi?. Brian dethroned Maoileachluinn and became sole mo

narch of Ireland in 1002, and was killed at the battle of Clontarf in 1014, when Maoileachluinn, or Malachy IL, re sumed his ancient dignity, and lived till the year 1022, in

which year, nine months before his death, he defeated the

Danes of Dublin and Meath, at Athboy, in Meath.



1X3

their descendants remained after them in Erin, from that timne till this, as is set forth in lally old books. A certain old book has the following notice:-" Whoever wishes to find tlhe ramifications and genealogies of Old Ivor of the SJdgments,1 and of the Fionn-Loehlanns,"

and Dubh-Lochlanns; and of Cathmogh-xna-l3erbhi,/ and of Maghnus of the Swift [sailing] Ship,t son of the King of Lochlann, he will find a foill account of them in the Book of Lecanu

of JacFirbisse, as well as of some others who came into Erin, viz.: -the Claan-PiiV of the Islands, and the Clann-Caba, and the Clann-Cuilin,g and of Amhlaoibh' of Port-Lairge, who was at the battle of Cluain-tarbh, of Sitrioc, son of Gluniarainn,' and of Amhlaoibh Cuaran,' of whom there are now descendants; and the greater part of the descendants of the merchants of

Ath-cliath [Dublin] at this day, are of the race of this Amhlaoibh COnaranl, and of Sadhblh,

daughter b of Brian Boruimhe, who was his wife at the time that the battle of Cluain-tarbh

[Clontarf] was fought. Domhnall, son of Emhin," son of Cainnech, Great Steward of Marr, was of the race of Old

Ivor, and he was of the Clann-Leoid of Arran,5 and he came to assist Brian to defend Erin against

the mail-clad Lochlanns, so that the race of this Amhlaoibh Cuaran are at Ath-cliath, opposing the

Gaoidhil of Erin; &e.

*> Old Ivor of tlie Judgments.?He was Imhar, ancestor of the Danes of Dublin, mentioned in the Annals of the Four

Masters, at the years 856, 857, 861, and 871. i Fionn-Lochlanns, i.e., the Fair Lochlanns. These were

the Norwegians. x Dubh-Lochlanns, i.e., the Black Lochlanns, the name by

which the Irish writers called the Danes. a

Cathmogh na Berbhe.?This character is not mentioned in the Irish Annals.

f Magknus of the Stdft Ship.?He was probably Magnus,

son of Harold, mentioned in the Annals of the Four Masters. at the year 972. Magnus, King of Lochlann and the

Islands, mentioned at the year 1101, 1102, 1103, does not

appear to have left any descendants in Ireland. u Large Booh ofLecan.?TMs is evidently the manuscript

Book of Lecan, now in the Library of the Royal Irish

Academy; but it contains none of these pedigrees at

present, and from the second-hand manner in which it is

referred to by our author, it would appear that either lie

had not seen the MS., or that it wanted them in his time

also. v The Clann I?i of the Islands.?Unknown to the Editor.

Query the family of Pye ?

w Clann-Caba, i.e., the MacCabes of Brefney.

x Clann-Cuilin.?This clan is now unknown. The

O'Coileans of Munster, and the O'Cuiluins of Leinster, are

Gaels. y Amhlaoibh of PortJairge, i.e. Amlaff of Waterford.?His

race is now unknown. z Sitric, son of Glun-iarainn.?His race is now unknown.

a Amhlaoibh Guaran.?He is mentioned in the Annals of the Four Masters, at the years 933, 944, 946, 951, and 968.

His race is now unknown. h Sadhbh, daughter of Brian Borumha.?The race of this

royal pair is now unknown. c Domhnall sou of Emhin.?He was of Danish descent by

the mother's side only. By the father's side he descended

from Maine Leamhna, son of Core, son of Lughaidh, son

of Oilioll Flannbeg, son of Fiacha Muilletban, King of

Munster, son of Eoghan Mor, son of Oilioll Olum. See

Oyygia, part iii., c. 81, p. 384 ; also Annals of the Four

Masterg, a.D. 1013, note c. d Clann-Lcoid of Arann, i.e., the MacLeods of Arran

Island in Scotland. Domhnall, son of Emhin, was of this

elan by his maternal descent only.

VOr.. t x. 0



104

GENEALOGY OF MAC LEOl.)

Alexander, Son of Gilla Coluim, Son of Tormod, Son of Ruaidlhrigh, Soil of Niall,

Son of Gillaehrist, Son of Tormod, (now anglicized N-oranali.) Son of Constantine, Son of Lochlainn Leosach,

Son of Loarn, the Navigator,

Son of Dolbh of Loch Abroin, Son of Indolbh of Innsi h-Ore,

Son of Scandlan Sgoinde, Son of Amhlaoibh. Son of Iomhar of Cairthe Sgarloide, Son of Ailpin, Son of Mael-Choluiim Ceann-inhor, Son of Comhgall, Son of Siograidh, Son of Loarn,

Son of Bron Berbe, Son of Leod, from whom [descend] the Clann-Lcoid, by Lara, and she came from the

fairy palaces in the shape of a lara, so that she bore threo sons, of whom there

are descendants.

Son of Arthur, Son of Balar, Son of Fergust Son of Forgall, of the territory of Fuardhacht, Son of Nae,

Son of Dolbh, Son of Ildolbh,

Son of Alexander, Son of Ned, from whom [descend] the ITy-Neid,

Son of Monach-M6r, from whom I)un Monaigh is called,

Son of TIalbuaidh, of InnisB Tile.



106

Son of Gioda, Son of Fomhra, Son of Maghnus of the swift ship, Son of Aralt, Son of Asmant, Son of Ben-lomhar Mor [old Ivor the Great] of the Judgments, from whom are

descended the Siol-Sin-iomhair Lrace of old Ivor] in Albain and in Erin and in Lochlann.

THE (L'.ANN-UIIABA. Ruaidhri, Son of Maghnus,

Son of Doiinchadh,

Son of Henry, Son of Gilchrist, Son of Flaherty Son of Gilchrist Coirr-sgeaghach, Son of Alexander of Arran, Son of Tormod, who was called MacCaba, Son of Constantine Caomh of Innis Breatan, Son of Lochlann, &c.

"Another authority states that the great steward of Catt [Caithness], the Clann-Orea, the Clann Cruinner, and the Clann-Thorcadail in Albain, are Locllhanns [Scandinavians]. The Uelocht of an old book states thus:-" Of the race of Grceus, son of Gomer, son of Japhet, are the Galls, i.e. the Lochlanns."

JOHN O'DoNOVAN.

Clann - Orca, Clann - Cruitnn7er, Clann - Torcadail.-These Scottish clans are unknown to the Editor.



Documents

The Fomorians and Lochlanns. Pedigrees of MacCabe of Ireland and MacLeod of Scotland