the o'maolconaire family: unpublished letters from sir edward conry, bart., to h. f. hore,...

Galway Archaeological & Historical Society

The O'Maolconaire Family: Unpublished Letters from Sir Edward Conry, Bart., to H. F. Hore,Esq., 1864Author(s): Edmund CurtisSource: Journal of the Galway Archaeological and Historical Society, Vol. 19, No. 3/4 (1941),pp. 118-146Published by: Galway Archaeological & Historical SocietyStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/25535212 .

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Il8 GALWAY ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

The O'Maolconaire Family

Unpublished Letters from Sir Edward Conry, Bart., to H. F. Hore, Esq., 1864

Edited by PROF. EDMUND CURTIS, M.A., Litt.D.

NOTES The following letters are copied from a collection which were

formerly in the possession of Dr, Goddard Orpen (author of

Ireland under the Normans, etc.) which on his death in 1932 his son Captain Richards-Orpen handed over to me. They belonged to Mr. Herbert F. Hore, the distinguished antiquary and historian of county Wexford, who kept up a voluminous

correspondence with others interested in Irish antiquities, such as Prendergast, author of The Cromwellian Settlement of Ireland.

The three letters and two genealogical charts were addressed to Hore in 1864 by Sir Edward Conry or Conroy, Bart.*, then

resident in Dorset. Though probably intended for publication in the Journal of the Kilkenny Archaeological Society, they do not appear in its proceedings or any other journal to my

knowledge. Probably the death soon after 1864 of Hore was

the cause, and his heir Captain Philip Hore did nothing with them. They appear, however, well worth preserving for

posterity as being derived from old records and the family traditions of an ancient Irish scholar-sept. The writer, Sir

Edward Conry or Conroy, was son of Sir John, first Baronet of the name, who was son of John Ponsonby Conry (died in

1797) whose father again, John of Elphin (died in 1769) was the compiler of the Memoir from which Sir Edward extensively quotes.

* The spelling varies. Sir Edward generally writes Conry, but Burke's

Peerage and Baronetage always gives Conroy. I use the common form

O'Mulconry as a variant of the Gaelic spelling of the original name O Maelconaire. Probably the surname O Conaire (as in the case of the famous Gaelic writer Padraic) assumed by some of the Irish Conroys today should be Q Maolconaire.



THE O'MAOLCONAIRE FAMILY. 119

The first Baronet was an officer in the Royal Artillery and was given his title in 1837 for long and faithful services to their

Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Kent, parents of

Queen Victoria. His heir was this Edward who wrote the

letters, second Baronet, born in 1809, who succeeded his father on his death in 1854, and inherited property in Bettyfield, co.

Roscommon, Pennant Hall in Montgomery and Arborfield in Berkshire. Sir Edward died in November 1869 and was

succeeded by his only son John, third Baronet, who died in

December, 1900. As he left no son, the baronetcy expired with him. By that time the Irish properties had been sold under various Land Acts as partly described by Sir Edward himself.

So ended the senior stock of the bardic race of the O'Mulconrys, hereditary ollaves and scholars under the Kings of Connacht. Their remarkable history is well illustrated in these letters of Sir Edward, whose great-grandfather

" John Conry of Elphin

"

had kept up the antiquarian tradition of the family. What became of the family records is partly told by Sir Edward, but as to those which he himself still retained and quotes the

tracing would now be a difficult task. The earlier ones which ' John of Elphin' sold to the Rev. Charles O'Connor are

presumably among the Stowe Collection of Gaelic manuscripts which, when the British Government finally bought Lord

Ashburriham's MSS, were handed over in 1883 on permanent loan to the Royal Irish Academy.

In his account of how O'Mulconry's office was to place the

royal rod or wand in O'Connor's hand, we note that Sir Edward

quotes the famous Irish tract which describes the ceremony, but not from the published text and translation of it in the

Journal of the Kilkenny Archceohgical Society for 1853, namely " The Inauguration of Cathal Crobhdhearg O'Conor, King of

Connaught," composed originally by Donnchadh Bacach son

of Tanaidhe O Maolconaire, edited by John O'Daly and John O'Donovan.

The portions of these letters which deal with the

O'Mulconrys and the "

Tuaths of the Shannon "

are parti

cularly interesting and valuable. So is the account of the royal O'Connors, of whom O'Mulconry was from early times

inaugurator on the sacred mound of Cam Fraoich. On the

split of the royal dynasty in 1384 into O'Connor Don and



120 GALWAY ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

O'Connor Roe, O'Mulconry passed with the other "

Tuatha or tribes of the Shannon," the O'Hanlys of Cinel Dobhtha, etc., under the lordship of O'Connor Roe. This lordship, continues Sir Edward, was the eastern half of the Siol Mure

daigh demesne of the kings of Connacht and lay along the western bank of the Shannon. MacDermot of Moylurg was

hereditary marshal and chief vassal to O'Connor. As he

supported O'Connor Roe, he arrogated to himself the right to inaugurate this chief as king of Connacht, and in 1461

MacDermot, according to the Memoir, compelled O'Mulconry to surrender the hereditary right of giving the wand,

" in return

for a consideration," and assumed it to himself and his descend ants.

The chief Ollaveship was however retained by O'Mulconry until

" the last Ollave of Connacht

" was elected in 1519.

After that, the O'Mulconrys remained a mere sept owning a

large area in and about the parish of Clooncraffe in Roscommon

right up to 1650. At the "

Composition of Connaught "

in

1585 they made the usual bargain for their lands as the other chiefs did, their overlord being O'Connor Roe. At that time

(according to The Description of Ireland in 1598, ed. by Edmund Hogan, p. 277) the head of the family was Moylin

O'Mulconry, whose seat was at Tullon. He died in 1637 and was the last real chief.

The pedigree of the O'Connors given by Sir Edward is

worthy of respect as compiled by one so near to the old tradi

tions as his great-grandfather. It has some bearing on the

question whether O'Connor Don or O'Connor Roe was the truer representative of the old royal line. It makes Turloch

Roe (who was set up by MacDermot and divided the Sfol

Muredaigh demesne with his cousin and rival Turloch Oge or

' Donn

' as he is generally called, in 1385)

" rightful king of

Connacht."

This Turloch Oge or Donn submitted to King Richard II on his visit to Ireland in 1395 and was recognised as

" Prince

of the Irish of Connacht." In his letters to the King of England he calls the other Turloch illegitimate i.e. spurius et filius spurii. If this was so it explains why the O'Connor Don branch

continued to boast themselves the lawful and rightful line.

The fact however that the MacDermots who were so powerful




that they may almost be called "

kingmakers "

of the O'Con

nors, supported O'Connor Roe would imply that they regarded this line as the superior one. I discuss this question in my

Richard II in Ireland, and in my History of Medieval Ireland

(2nd ed., pp. 398-9) I give a careful pedigree of the O'Connors

from 1100 to 1500, with a note on the vexed and perhaps insoluble question as to whether O'Connor Roe or O'Connor

Don was the more legitimate line.

[ 1 i Dorchester : Dorset. 4 Nov. '64.

My dear Sir, On my arrival here last Saturday I had the pleasure of

finding your note of the 19 ulto, and am very much obliged for its contents. I also found a note from my Berkshire Resi

dence, informing me that a paquet of Archaeological books

(The Kilkenny) are arrived there, some time since, and I

have to-day ordered them to be sent here, where I shall pro

bably remain for some time. I have no doubt but that they have been sent by the Revd Mr Graves at your kind suggestion, and as soon as I get them I shall write to that gentleman, who

may have written to me respecting my Election, which you

brought under his notice, and as I offered to contribute a

mite to the fund for prosecuting the perpetrators of the

destruction at Clonmacnoise. I am sorry to say that there appears but little sympathy

in England for anything Irish, and the English Archaeologists seem to consider nothing Irish worth their notice. It also

strikes me that there is a great apathy in Ireland, on the

part of the Magnates in fostering and supporting researches

into Irish antiquities and records: It really would seem, that the old Saxon hate still rankled in the upper class of the

present day, in Ireland; for with few exceptions no great families are willing to lend valuable Mss, or afford any infor

mation or help to Compilers. The present aristocracy of

Ireland are generally descendants of the adventurers of Eliza

beth's Reign, or the detestable fanatic soldiers of Cromwell. If you look at that very questionable Irish Peerage, and

exempt the old Norman Barons of the Plantagenet Kings? such as the Kildares, Ormondes, Clanrickards, etc, etc.?you




find none but mushroom Earls, created about the time of the

Union, and not above 5 Lords of Native Irish Descent, such as

Inchiquin, Lismore and two or three others. The old titles of

O'Neil, Tyrconel, Thomond, Clancarthy, held by Irish native

chieftains, are extinct. It is the same in the Baronetage. Their Roll shows but three

or four names of native Blood. I can partially understand the descendants of adventurers

and fanatics caring little to preserve the records and anti

quities of a people whom they robbed and destroyed. For such was the fact.

I think any persons who read the full account of the entire

confiscation of all Ireland by the Parliament in 1653, and the

cruelties of the Cromwellian soldiers must allow Ireland to have been one of the worst treated countries upon Earth.

I rejoice to see warm-hearted and clever men speaking up for Ireland, and doing their unsupported best, to vindicate her

claims of history, etc. She owes much to men like yourself, whose pens proclaim

that she was not always the degraded Country she is now

reduced to.

Your ancient family has belonged to Ireland for 600 years, and like the great races of Desmond, Kildare, De Burgho and

others probably became at times,' Hiberniores Hibernicis,' and

like them shared probably in the destruction in the time of

Cromwell. For the Confederated Catholics of Native Irish and Anglo-Saxon blood, were alike transplanted and despoiled by the Parliament in 1653 when the Irish war was declared ended. The Gentlemen of the Pale also suffered from the

confiscations in 1688. You are very kind in offering to aid

any enquiries I may wish to make. I should like to know more

of the Confiscations in Connaught after 1641, and in the Crom wellian period : and if in the course of your researches you came across any mention of the O'Maolconaire name, and would be so kind as to cause it to be transcribed, I should

be thankful, and willingly pay any scribe, you might employ on the copy. I am very anxious for all information in order to test the correctness of my Gt. Grandfather's compilation from Mss etc. that he had in his possession. He sold a great

portion of his Mss etc to Charles O'Conor, Confessor to the




Marchioness of Buckingham, and Librarian to the Marquis, at Stowe, and merged them into that library, which was dis

persed a few years ago, on the Ruin of the late Duke of Bucking ham, and I heard that most of the valuable Mss were brought

by the present Earl of Ashburnham who does not allow their

examination.

I read up the Bardic subject, when at Arborfield in Berks, on my last visit, to my own house, and found it too lengthy to copy, and containing much matter that would be super fluous for any article. I made note however of the following facts. My Great-Grandfather gives a full pedigree of the

dominant or chief Branch of the O'Maolconaire "

so celebrated

in their Country's annals," and from the time of O'Maolconry who inaugurated Felim O'Conor, as King of Connaught in

1310, and who wrote the account of the ceremonies performed

by him in his capacity of Hereditary OUav of Connaught and

Bard to O'Conor. My Great Grandfather has given some

account of each individual, down to his own time. He was

born 1704 and died 1769, and never left Ireland. His pedigree verifies and confirms those in other collections?such as the "

Linea Antiqua," and O'Farrel pedigrees compiled in Queen Anne's Reign probably from the same sources.

In the Irish Heralds' College, the pedigree of my line of the

family is found in the Funeral Entries of the Nobility and

Gentry of Ireland for the year 1638. This pedigree begins with Conn of the 100 battles, and brings the pedigree, through Nial of the 9 Hostages, to Moylin O'Mulconry chief of the

Sept, and who died in year 1637. This Moylin was a very remarkable person, and lived a long life, and was willing to

submit to English Law and rule, for he saw there was no use

withstanding the English power. The O'Conor Don was ever

faithful to the Queen (Elizabeth) but O'Conor Roe and O'Conor

Sligo (though the latter accepted Knighthood, in manner

similar to O'Conor Don) were always faithless to their pledges when they saw a chance of resisting the English Rule. These three Branches of the O'Conors had entered into Indentures

of Composition with the Lord Deputy Perrott in 1585 to hold

their lands by English tenure, and to conform to English law and customs.

In these "

Indentures of Composition," their sub-feudatories




were comprized, and their estates, as well as those of the

Princely families were subsequently purloined by the Dis coverers and others who easily found Defective titles under the Indentures which it seems were in some cases not even

enrolled, so that the unhappy Proprietors were legally robbed. It is difficult to give you any account of a Bardic Race

without also giving you pedigree and family detail, for all are

blended together. For instance you must have the pedigree before you can see whos who. In some cases, as many as/owr Tornas appear in one generation : all distant cousins : and

perhaps two of them living at same time. Here is a case in

point. Torna who inaugurated Felim O'Conor in 1310, on the sacred hill of Cam Fraoich, (near Tulsk in co. Roscommon)

was not the same Torna who was Ollav of the Siol Murray (tribe-name of the O'Conors of Connaught) and who was elected

as Ollav of Connaught in 1270, and died 1310. Now with the full pedigree before you, you can see the distinct descents, and this is the value of my Great Grandfather's annotated

pedigree. All the others are mere skeleton pedigrees, which however confirm the annotated one, in mere descent.

I have related, that in January 1637 died Moylin O'Maol

conry chief of his name, leaving 5 sons and 4 daughters. In the following year, his eldest son Thorna O'Maolconry, wishing to give proof of his adhesion to English customs, took the unusual step of Recording his father's lineage and Death in the Records of the English Heralds' College in Dublin, himself

being the last descent of course. This pedigree is drawn after the English form and fashion, making primogeniture a main

feature in it, disregarding truth, for although the actual

descent from father to son is correct, yet it was not always a

case of primogenitive, which never was regarded in Ireland :

The chieftainries were elective, and did not descend on a

necessity from Father to Son, but to those of the Dominant

Branch of a Race, who were best qualified to act as Leaders

in war, and as astute chief in time of peace. In fact, the succession was Hereditary in respect of the

Blood, but Elective as to the person, and an Uncle or Cousin

could be elected to the post of Honor, if qualified, before the

Son of the deceased Chief. You knew all this of course, and

\ only now name it, as the same Rule held force in the Bardic




Races, whose Minor families seem to have supplied the OUavs and Bards to their Native Provinces and Kings. The chief

Bards, were elected from all classes, or junior families of the

Sept, as is shown in the case of the O'Maolconaires of Ros common.

. In that Race, The OUav of Connaught very frequently was

in Early times, the chief in descent, but it did not necessarily follow as a rule.

This is a digression from the pedigree recorded by O'Maol

conry in 1638, which duly received the warranty and attes

tation of Thomas Preston, then Ulster King-at-Arms for

Ireland, and who my Gt. Grandfather states, was very inimical to registering any Native Record whatever; and required

good proof before he accepted and recorded the ancient pedi grees of the Seanachies.

Moylin 0'Maolconry= chief of his name died at Kilereagh on 5th January 1637, and was buried with

pomp at Kilirestan, leaving 5 sons and 4 daughters _

Torna 0*Maolconry =

eldest son : recorded his father's line- I

age and death _(

Shane or John 0*Maolconry= fled from Ireland : killed at the passage {

of the Rhine in 1672_j_

Charles Conry Ferfeasa Conry= sold the French estate obtained jure 2nd son

j matris to raise funds for war in Ireland j under James II. Slain at the

Boyne._|

John Conry? of Elphin. He added the two links between himself and Thorna in the

pedigree; a wit and scholar: com

piled the Memoir of his family. Died

_1769_

John Ponsonby=Elizabeth - Dr. Longfield Catherine?Walter Hore of Sea

Conry of Cork, cousin field, son of W. b. 1795 of Lord Longue- Hore of Harpers

ville town, Co. Wexford.

Sir John Conry *=

|

Bt._I Walter Hore

Sir Edw. Conry Bt,




The above rough sketch will show you the descent from

Moylin the last chief of the O'Maolconaires of Connaught. John Conry who compiled the Memoir must have known his

father and grandfather who were the links between himself and Thorna the Recorder of the ancient pedigree in 1638, he had also the deeds, French papers, etc., so that our pedigree is as

well vouched for as any family's in Ireland, and as before-said he had a great mass of the Mss. of his recording progenitors. I will now give you a running summary of this Bardic family

which deduces its descent from Maine 4th Son of Nial of the

9 Hostages, and was located in Teffia (Westmeath), and are

enumerated up to the tenth century among the dynasts of that country. Being of Royal Descent, the family was eligible for the Bardic order so celebrated under all the Princes of the

Milesian Race, and they adopted it. In the eleventh century they, crossing the Shannon into

Connaught, were welcomed by the King of Connaught who

endowed them with an estate for the maintenance of their

dignity, and invested them with the hereditary privilege of

furnishing the OUamhs of the Kingdom, and Bards to the

Royal House of O'Conor. In virtue of their honourable office, the Annals state that it was the right of O'Maolconry to

inaugurate the new King on the sacred hill of Cam Fraoich, to charge him to observe the customs of the country, to deliver

into his hand the white wand, the emblem of sovereignity, to recite his pedigree, and to record the proceedings.

It seems that in the year 1310, when Torna O'Maolconry

inaugurated Felim O'Conor as King of Connaught, only two

chiefs had the privilege of being on the Sacred Mount with

the newly Inaugurated King. These were O'Maolconry who

stood next to the King, and discharged the duties belonging to the ceremony, and O'Conachtan who was the hereditary

Keeper or Guardian of the Sacred Hill, and whose duty it was

to prepare it, on all occasions of the Royal Ceremony. It

would seem, that he received a certain measure of gold, and

rode the King's War Horse back to the Royal Castle which was at no great distance from the Sacred Hill. At this time

it would appear that the Bardic families were considered

among the first Nobility. Their persons and lives held sacred,

and their properties held secure from all ravage and spoliation.




In consequence of these immunities the Bardic Races became rich and prosperous, and flourished in prosperity when all around them was desolation and havoc.

Their first location upon their advent into Connaught was

in the Tir-Briuin na Sinna, one of the three districts, known as "The Tuathas of the Shannon." The O'Monaghans were

in the eleventh century chiefs of the Tir-Briuin na Sinna but became extinct in the thirteenth century, when the O'Birnes became possessed of the greatest portion. The other two

districts were "

Corchachlann "

and "

The Kinel Doff a," and these three districts constituted the [three]

" Tuathas of the

Shannon," along which river they lay, "

the Kinel Doff a "

being a country particularly strong in the natural defences of Bog wood and water. The Mac Brenans were chiefs of

Corchachlan and the O'Hanlys, the most powerful Sept of the 3 Districts, held the

" Kinel Doffa

" for their territory.

The O'Maolconrys inhabited a place in the Tir-Briiiin-na Sinna called

" Cluain-na-h-Oidhche

" anglicised

" Clonakee,"

and this Residence, thro' all vicissitudes of time and of disaster, and of civil war, was the chief residence of the O'Maolconrys until year 1853, when it passed from them under the Encumbered Estates Court Act, a measure nearly as

confiscating as those passed in the time of the forfeitures. The O'Maolconrys increased their territory, and had a large tract of land in Corchachlann, and were in the height of their

prosperity in the sixteenth century. The first mention by the Annalists of the ancient seat of

the O'Maolconrys occurs under the year 1385,?when it is

recorded that Torna, son of Paidin Mor, son of Torna

O'Maolconry, died in his own house, at "Cluain-na-h-Oidhche"

(Clonakea) and was interred at the Church of "

Cluain

Creamhna," now the parish of Clooncraffe in the County of

Roscommon. This parish of Clooncraffe with other lands in

the parishes of Kilirestan ? etc. etc. formed the possessions of

the O'Maolconaires in the sixteenth century. Thus, for upwards of 600 years, the original seat remained in the possession of the

family.

My Gt. Grandfather gives the boundaries of the Estate, as it existed in the time of

" Moylin O'Maolconry," in the

early part of the seventeenth century, and states that part



128 GALWAY ARCHiEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

of it was a beautiful region, full of Bogge, Woode and water.

There were and still are several small lakes in that district, and the islands upon them served as refuges, when harrassed

by enemies. Indeed, it would seem that the Cromwellian

troops found "

The Tuathas of the Shannon," (especially " The Kinel Doffa," or, O'Hanly's Country) so strong in

natural defences, and their inhabitants so warlike and

indomitable, that Cromwell vented his rage by utterly exempting O'Hanly's country from Protection, and it was

delivered over to fire and sword.

It was at this time, that my ancestor "

John O'Mulconry "

fled to France, where marrying the daughter of an Irish

emigrant by his French wife, he entered the Service of Louis

XIV, and became a distinguished soldier under Marshal

Turenne. He obtained a French estate with his wife, which on his death, at the passage of the Rhine in 1671, passed to

his eldest son "

Charles Conry," who like all the expatriated

gentlemen of the time, clung to the hope of recovering his

Irish property under the Reign of the Stuarts. He did obtain some trifling retribution from Charles II, and finally sold his French estate to raise funds to support the cause of James II. He was slain at the Boyne, and lost all.

His brother Ferfeasa kept quiet, professed himself a

Protestant (his grand-mother having been a French Huguenot) and succeeded to a pittance in Roscommon. He lived to an

old age,* and did not improve his means; and ultimately ruined the family by dividing the rest of the property among his seven sons, whereof six were illegitimate. My Gt. Grand

father, the youngest, was legitimate but took an equal portion with.his Brethren: Ferfeasa Conry, in thus subdividing his

estate, acted in a manner purely Hibernian, as illegitimate children in the old times, were considered in Gavel the same as the legitimate. This only legitimate heir was

" John Conry

"

who compiled the memoir. He held a lucrative situation in Cork given to him by his friend the Lord Lieutenant, and

marrying an heiress, lived very comfortably. He married the daughter and heir of Mr Foulke of Mallow

who objected to the match, on account of the disparity of

* From 1661 to 1746, according to Burke's Peerage.



THE O'MAOLCONAIRE FAMILY. I2g

ages (my Gt. Grandfather being 40 when he married Elizabeth

Foulke). He disinherited his daughter for^ marrying a

Connaughtman, as he entertained towards the native Irish, all the fierce feelings nourished by Cromwell's fanatic soldiers, from whom he was descended. However he allowed the couple ?1000 a year, and promised to leave his large estates to their son (if they had one before his own Death). Most unluckily, the two first issues of the marriage were daughters, Elizabeth and Catherine Conry, who married Dr. Longfield and Capt.

Hore out of the Residence of Lord Shannon, "Castle Martyr," Co. Cork. Lady Shannon, who was a Ponsonby, took the

daughters of her old friend to live with her on the death of

their Mother. John Ponsonby Conry (these ladies' brother) was born after old Mr. Foulke's decease, who left his fortune to Lord Hide (?), and thus the marriage of Miss Foulke brought no lasting advantage to the family. However John Conry, her husband, added to his fragment of the ancestral estate in

Co. of Roscommon and built a Lodge on it, calling it "

Betty field

" in honor of his wife, Elizabeth Foulke. His ancestral

portion with the newly acquired lands, have descended to

me, so that I hold a bit of land that has been in the family for 600 yrs, and it never was out of its hands, in spite of all

vicissitudes of fortune and ruin. I have now briefly brought down the family history from Moylin O'Maolconry who died

in 1637, and whose pedigree was entered in the Irish Heralds

College in 1638. In respect of the Bardic celebrities of my family I fear

I cannot make matters clear to you without the pedigree. But I will try.

Torna O'Maolconry, who inaugurated Felim O'Conor as

King of Connaught in 1310, was my lineal ancestor. He

wrote an account of the proceedings at an Inauguration of an Irish King, and detailed his own duties, as you are aware, on the occasion.

Dr. Ch. O'Conor's monkish latin translation of the Hibemi

corum Rerum Scriptores is this :

" O'Maolconarii erant, jure hereditario, Regum Connaciae Bardi a

" Seculo XI?sine quorum genealogia metrica, in Conventione Regni, " publice recitanda, Regem inaugurare nefas est.

" Hinc plurimi istius Nominis Archi?poetae Connaciae in annalibua '

memorantur.




" Hoc est O'Maolconarii jus : Virgam Regiam dare in ejus manum

" Regi inaugurate); et nefas est alicui Ducum Connaciae esse in ejus " presentia super aggerem sacrum, nisi O'Maolconario, prope Regem, et " O'Connachtano, custodi aggeris sacri. Ejus (i.e. Regis) equus militaris " et vestimenta traduntur Vicario Dachonni cujus est ofneium ire ad "

montem (i.e. arcem Concobari) supra equum citum et uncia auri datur " Connachtano, et ejus officium inequalitates aggeris sacri levigare quando '' inauguratio Regia fit."etc.

The translation is : "

The O'Maolconrys were by hereditary right the Bards of the Kings of Connaught from the eleventh century. It was

unlawful to inaugurate the King without first reciting publicly in the presence of the assembled Septs of the Province his

pedigree (or genealogy) in verse.

This is the privilege of O'Maolconry : To give into the

Inaugurated King's hand the Regal Wand ; and it is unlawful for any other chieftain of Connaught to be in the King's presence upon the Sacred Hill, except O'Maolconry, standing next to the King, and O'Conachty the Custodian of the Sacred

Mount. The King's robes and war horse are there delivered to the Deputy of Dachonni, whose office it is to go upon that

horse to the castle of the O'Conors of Connaught. An ounce

of gold is given to O'Connachty, whose duty it is to smooth the inequalities of the Sacred Mount whenever a Royal

Inauguration occurs." etc. "

The office of smoothing the way, by which any King was about to travel, is one of great antiquity (says John

Conry in his Memoir). The rough and unequal state of public roads rendered this labour even necessary ; but the labour

itself was deemed honourable, and often consigned, as in the case of the O'Conachty, to men of rank. This custom was a

species of Hommage, attached to the movements of Eastern

monarchs. Isaiah (40. 3. 4.) alludes to it. ' Prepare ye the way

of the Lord ; make straight in the Desert a High way for our

God. The crooked places shall be made straight and the rough

places plain." The office of chief Bard to an Irish King was deemed a

post of great honor and dignity and many of its duties were

of a solemn description, and some of the functions of the

Royal Seanachies at the Ceremony of Inauguration were in

late times performed by the Clergy themselves, as we find

stated in the account given of the Inauguration of "

Hugh




O'Neil," Titular King of Ulster, and Earl of Tyrone at the close of Elizabeth's Reign. The Inauguration of an Irish

King or Chief, even as late as the Reign of James I, was

performed in the open air, upon the Sacred Hill appointed for that purpose, and in the presence of the Septs of the Province who were led thither, by their respective chiefs to

witness the ceremony. The poet Spenser, in his history of

Ireland, written in 1597, thus describes one of solemn rites, of which he himself had been an eye-witness.

" Whenever an

Irish King or Chief is to be inaugurated on one of their Hills it is usual to place him on a particular stone, whereon is

imprinted the form of their first chieftain's foot, and there

proffer to him an oath to preserve the Customs of the Country. " There was then a wand delivered to him by the proper

officer, with which in his hand, descending from the stone, he turned himself round, thrice forward, thrice backward."

In an account of the Ceremonies performed at the Initiation of O'Donel Prince of Tyrconel, it is said that, in presenting the new King with the wand, which was perfectly white and

straight the Chief who officiated used this form of words : "

Receive O King, this auspicious badge of your authority, and remember to imitate in your conduct, the whiteness and

straightness of this wand."

My Gt. Grandfather states, that the ceremonies used at

Inaugurations, varied a little in the different kingdoms, and

informs us, that "

It was the hereditary privilege of

O'Maolconry to be alone on the sacred mound of Cam Fraoich, with the newly inaugurated King, whom he presented to the

assembled chieftains of the Province, and recited the royal

genealogy. " He then administered the oath to observe the customs

of Connaught, placed the gift shoe on the King's foot, as a

pledge of hommage and submission on the part of the chieftains, and put into his hand the white wand or sceptre, the emblem of sovereignity, and finally recorded the proceedings."

This privilege was considered highly honourable and the

chief Bard ranked amongst the highest chieftains of the realm'

His person was sacred, and his estates and property enjoyed

immunity from all spoliation and forays. The O'Maolconrys discharged their hereditary and




honourable office at the Inauguration of the O'Conors, down to the year 1461, when it passed to the Mac Dermot of Moylurg a potent chief, who had mainly contributed to set up the

O'Conor Roe, the rightful King of the Whole Province, but

from that time (1385) forward, King only of the other half

of the divided kingdom. " The Tuathas of the Shannon," which contained the

territory of the O'Maolconrys, passed under the rule of the

O'Conor Roe, who took for his portion of the divided kingdom, the Eastern part, lying along the western bank of the Shannon.

The Septs of O'Hanly, O'Birne, Mac Brenan, and O'Maolconry were partisans for the O'Conor Don, but were ultimately compelled by force of arms to submit to The O'Conor Roe.

In the fifteenth century, it became the practice for one

great chief to inaugurate another and the Bardic prestige seems to have somewhat failed. The warlike state of the age, and the maintenance of a King by the swords of his chiefs, induced them to inaugurate those whom they had been instrumental in setting up. Such was the case with the

powerful chief of Moylurg, who was ever the staunch ally of

the O'Conor Roe.

In the year 1461 Mac Dermot arrogated to himself the

right of inaugurating both the O'Conors, and the Memoir

states that he put pressure on O'Maolconry, who for a

consideration, sold the hereditary office, vested in his Bardic clan from the eleventh century. From the year 1461 the

Annalists record no more O'Maolconrys as the inaugurators of

the O'Conors. I now propose to give you a brief transcript from the

pedigree compiled by John Conry in or about 1750 from ancient MSS. in his possession, many of which were written by his

recording race of hereditary Seanachies. I begin with a famous

ancestor who died in 1435 and leave out all descents above

him, merely showing the issue of his two sons?from the

youngest of which my pedigree is deduced in all the ancient

pedigrees, from which the pedigree entered in 1638 in the Irish Herald's College, is taken. That Pedigree is of course

only a skeleton one of mere descent, but I add to it some of

the notes under each descent, written by my Great-Grand




father, who, when drawing the pedigree from the ancient

sources, annotated it with family history.

[See Pedigree No. i herewith].

This extract will show you how we descend from the year

1435 : The descents are given as above in all the pedigrees extant: The pedigree of my Gt. Grandfather agrees with the

public ones, and in addition give an account of each member of the family which makes the Memoir very interesting. "

You will by the above see that he states the last Ollav of

Connaught furnished by the leading line of the family, was

Torna O'Maolconry, who died in 1468 who, he states, sold the

hereditary right of inaugurating the O'Conors of Connaught to Mac Dermot, a powerful chieftain who appears to have put the screw on my ancestor, as my Gt. Grandfather states?

that pressure being put on Torna O'Maolconry, he for a

consideration surrendered his privileges to Mac Dermot, who

ambitious of performing all the duties at the regal inauguration. From this time, the O'Maolconrys (at least, the dominant

branch) seem to have forsaken their hereditary vocation, and left the bardic calling to the inferior branches of the sept.

I will now briefly show you how in a few years after even

the minor branches ceased to supply the OUavs of Connaught ?altho' they still continued down to the eighteenth century

to give poets of great repute : and in the 17th century they gave Maurice and Ferfeasa O'Maolconaire, as two of the

compilers of the Annals of the Four Masters. They had a

very valuable record in their possession, viz. "

The Book of

the O'Maolconaires." Some of their MSS were in John Conry's

possession in 1730 when he sold a large portion. John Ponsonby

Conry says in his Continuation of the Memoir compiled by his father, that Dr. Charles O'Conor^. obtained these MSS, and I believe they were afterwards carried into the Stowe

Library by the Rev. Charles O'Conor who was author of the

Scriptores Hibernicarum Rerum, and confessor to the

Marchioness of Buckingham, as well as Librarian to the Marquis ?but all this I have told you before.

I now proceed to give you, as briefly as I can the descent

of the OUavship from 1468, when Torna O'Maolconaire, my




ancestor in foregoing pedigree, died, and was the last Ollav

of the dominant family.

Torna O 'Maolconry was Ollav of Connaught and Bard to O Conor. Died 1468.

To him succeeded by election, as Ollav Erard O'Maolconry who was Ollav of the Siol Murray (the tribe name

of the O Conors of Connaught) till 1482, when dying he was succeeded

by Leery O 'Maolconry of a minor branch of the family. He was Ollav of

the Siol Murray till year 1487, when dying two O Maolconrys were set up for election.

Donal, son of Fergus O Maolconry, and

Mulmurry, son of Torna O Maolconry. Donal was elected and dying in 1459, another two ceanfinnes

(heads of minor branches of the Sept) were set up in

John, the son of Torna O Maolconry, and

Donagb, son of Airthirne O Maolconry. To these succeeded another member of a minor line in

Maoilin O'Maolconry who was a celebrated bard and in great repute with the Geraldines and other strangers, and dying in 1519 was the last recorded Ollav of Connaught.

The sept, as previously stated, continued however to supply famous bards and seanachies down to 1700, when flourished

Peter O'Maolconry, poet to O'Rody, and whose poetry is

extant.

My Great-Grandfather, in tracing the decadence of the remarkable vocation of the O'Maolconaires observes:

" We

have seen the care and veneration which the old Irish paid to their bardic families whose persons were held sacred, and

their properties exempt from spoliation at the hands of all

enemies, and how owing to these circumstances, the bardic races flourished and grew rich, and were often enabled to offer

refuge and protection to their neigbours in times of war or

disaster."

This state of affairs however endured only till the close of

the fifteenth century of our era, when the power and prestige of the bardic families appear to have received a shock, which

was caused by the altering spirit of the times, and the

destructions of the period. We have seen an instance of an

O'Maolconry (a Bard elect) Gregory by name, who having been

accidently slain by an arrow at the pass of Dunama by an

Anglo-Irish soldier, the latter was punished by Eric or fine of 126 cows, the staple commodity of the country, and which

formed the wealth and stood in the place of money to the

Irish of those days, and even down to very recent ones. This




accidental homicide occurred in the year 1400, but after the

lapse of 100 years we find neither the persons nor properties of the Bards respected.

In the case of the O'Maolconaires, a grandson of Torna

M6r, is found leading his followers to the battle of Knocktow

in Galway, and being there slain himself. Prior to that date, in the year 1489, we read that the estate of this family, formerly

enjoying an immunity from rapine, was overrun by a hostile

chieftain, and a member of the family carried away as a

prisoner. " We read in the Four Masters that a feud existed between

O'Conor Roe and O'Kelly chief of Hy-Many, and that O'Conor Roe carried fire and sword into his enemy's district. The sons of O'Kelly retaliated and marching into the country of

O'Conor Roe, ravaged the estates of his sub-chiefs, and in

the words of the 4 Masters themselves ' did great damage to

O'Maolconry and his kinsmen in retaliation, and Hugh son of

O'Conor Roe and Owen O'Conor were taken prisoners by the sons of O'Kelly, and Duvthatch (sic) O'Maolconry was taken

with them, and imprisoned." It is no wonder, therefore, that after the loss of their

hereditary privilege at the inauguration of an O'Conor and

the altered spirit of the times which placed a bardic chieftain on the same footing as a warlike toparch of those days, the

dominant line of the O'Maolconaire sept turned its attention more to protecting and aggrandizing themselves by the sword

than the arts of peace. * The principle of spend me and defend

me ' was adopted by the Bardic clan in self-defence.

In the year 1489, we also read that the O'Conor Roe, when

re-setting up and inaugurating "

John Mac Brennan" as

chief of his sept (whom in the year 1461, he had expelled into Annally for siding against him with the O'Conor Don)

he compelled him to remit a tribute paid by O'Maolconry for land held by him in Coreachlaim for centuries.

My Great - Grandfather traces the decadence of the

hereditary vocation in his family primarily to the fatal division of Connaught between the rival and cousin families of O'Conor

Don and O'Conor Roe who took at the time (1385) the titles of Don and Roe to distinguish themselves from each other. The great chiefs of the province who supported these O'Conors



I36 GALWAY ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

in their suicidal strife, naturally supported them on the eventful

day of their inaugurations, and in course of time took upon themselves the duties and offices performed hitherto by the

Bards; and then we find Mac Dermot the great partizan of

O'Conor Roe discharging O'Maolconry's hereditary privilege in 1461, having, as my Great-Grandfather says : put pressure

upon him, and paying him for the transfer. I have now endeavoured to show you the rules observed

in the Bardic sept of O'Maolconaire of Roscommon. First, that the chief of the leading branch was at first generally but

not always the bardic chief, and that in the estimation of their

countrymen, in early times, the bardic chief was thought more of, and held in greater repute, than the head of the

family. The deaths and virtues of the Bards are recorded in

the Irish Annals, when no mention whatever is accorded to

the chieftains of septs. It would appear from the Annals of the Four Masters that

the descent of the OUavship of Connaught among the

O'Maolconrys, is almost regularly given, but as the honor

slipped about from one family of the Race to another, the

mention of the names of individuals gives no specific knowledge of actual descent.

Secondly, I have shown by the Record of my family,

(whose pedigree tells who of that line were Bards of their

native province) that the dominant branch forsook their

ancient bardic vocation after the loss of their hereditary office, when they became mere Irish toparchs of the age in which they lived.

Thirdly, that after the year 1468, the post of Ollav of

Connaught was discharged solely by members of the minor

families of the race up to 1519, when the dignity seems to have

expired: This fact, dated by my Great-Grandfather, seems

confirmed by the Four Masters, who name a "

Maolin

O'Maolconry "

as dying in that year, and make no more

mention of Ollavs of Connaught. The three provincial residences of the O'Maolconaire were:

1. "

Cluan-na-hOidhche" (Clonakee) in the "

Cluain

Cremhna" (Clooncruiffe), which parish and other lands were their hereditary estate.

2. Lisfearban, a place near Elphin, which my Great




Grandfather places in Corchachlann, and now I believe

unknown.

3. Tullon where there was a stone house, destroyed by the Cromwellians.

My Great-Grandfather's memoir of the last 8 descendants

of his family is a perfect romance, and some of the vicissitudes

and events of a most interesting character. His own career

was singular and his marriage with Miss Elizabeth Foulke

very interesting to his descendants. His grandson, my father,

passed an eventful life, being very well known. Like all his

race, tho' he had a good fortune, he was profuse, and at his

death in 1854, I ^a^ *? PaY ?5?'00? *or mortgages, etc. He

clung to the fragment of the ancestral land in Roscommon,

although not careful of heirlooms. He entered the army in

Ireland at so early an age, and was subsequently so occupied at courts, that he had no time to think of what is an amuse

ment to an idle man like myself. His mass of papers is very curious, letters from kings, queens, and great personages abound, and his papers would afford an historian of this

century?that is, from the year 1800 to the accession of Queen Victoria?a very valuable repertory of secret matters

pertaining to courts and kings, I should be sorry to do mischief in the lifetime of certain persons, and have merely arranged his papers, and they may turn up in future generations.

I am very much obliged to you for your kind offer of assis tance and all I can say is if you run up against any mention of O'Maolconrys (altho' I may know it already) I shall be glad to hear of them. You mention a Tully Conry. I know there

was a scribe of that name, but I do not know, at this moment, when he lived or who he was, whether descended from the

O'Conrys of Moycullen in Galway or of the O'Comoys of

Munster, or whether he was a true O'Maolconaire. All these families, on dropping their prefixes in order to

anglicize their names, wrote themselves Conry or some Conroy. Many of them are quite ignorant of their descent, and persons not versed in Irish pedigree make mistakes, and call them

O'Maolconrys which many are not. In a meanly written life of the famous Florence

O'Maolconry, Archbishop of Tuam, who founded by aid of

Philip III of Spain a Franciscan Convent in the Netherlands




(where he is buried) he is said to be a Galwegian and of the

family of the crowners of the Kings of Connaught. He was

not a Galwegian O'Conry, nor did his family ever crown the

O'Conors. There was no such ceremony among the Irish.

Other and eminent historians have confounded "

Cluain

Creamhna," the estate of the O'Maolconrys, with "

Cluain

Coirpthe "

in the Kenel Doff a. They were two very different

places. If it were any use to you, I would send you the distinct lines of descent of these families, who now all call themselves "

Conry." My Gt. Grandfather was very particular on this

point, for it seems in his day, the races were confounded

together. He gives a clear pedigree of the O'Conors of

Connaught, and shows when and how the two branches of Don and Roe first sprang up which I never understood till I read his account. The different families of O'Conor and

O'Connor, like the Conrys of this day, are sometimes

confounded together, whereas they are all different races, all

deducing from Milesius. The O'Conors of Connaught, the

O'Connors of Offaly, the O'Conors of Corcomroe and others, are wholly distinct from each other, so are most races of the same name, in Ireland. The O'Briens are an exception, all the

O'Briens descend from the same stock.

The bardic families have thrown up some distinguished men in these days: Lord Dunsandle, an old friend of mine,

is an O'Daly, a bardic sept of Munster. I, too, hold the Queen's Promise to create my father an Irish Peer, so that the

descendants of the Bards are not quite yet spunged out.

My father is the only head of the family who lived and was

buried out of Ireland.

This is a formidable letter, and if you find any thing in it

which may suit your purpose, the information is at your service. One more fact I must name :

'* Clonakee

" belonged

to my line of the family at the time of the troubles, but it

passed to the other branch by Act. The last Conrys who held

it were always styled." Cromwellians "

i.e. transplanted from

Munster, but my Great-Grandfather who detested their line,

says they are true O'Maolconaires. But these private matters

can have no interest for you. Believe me, very truly yours,

EDWARD CONRY.



THE O MAOLCONAIEE FAMILY. 139

[ II ] Dorchester,

Dorset,

17th November, 1864.

My dear Sir, Since I last sent you my very long letter, it has occurred

to me that you may not have at your elbow a pedigree of

the O'Conors, which clearly shows the correct descent and

the fatal split between the Dons and Roes. I have therefore copied a part of their pedigree from the

Memoir of 1750 and now send it to you. It is a very curious

thing that the Pedigrees in my Gt. Grandfather's Mss. book should vary from that given by Charles O'Conor of Balenagare,

who seems to have made mistakes. In consequence of a dispute between existing branches of the O'Conors 3 or 4 years ago, I was tempted to see what my Gt. Grandfather said on the

point, in which both sides, as you probably know, wrote

panphlets to prove their own view of the case. It was during my convalescence that I found the earlier part of the O'Conor

pedigree, and as it shows really how the sovereignty of Con

naught slipped about in the 13th and 14th centuries, I lend it to you. I believe it to be correct, for I tested it, when I tested

my own pedigree, given by my Great-Grandfather, by references to O'Donovan's ed. of the 4 Masters, and with the exception of an occasional but rare difference in a date of a year or two, I found the pedigree verified by the Annals.

In the case, of my own pedigree, I tested it closely by reference to the Annals of the 4 Masters?and in this way, I took the pedigree in Irish Heralds College recorded by my lineal ancestor in 1638, and compared it with my Gt. Grand

father's and found them the same, except that the one

registered in 1638, gave only the direct line from Conn of the 100 Battles, to Thorna O'Maolconry who recorded it, and

stating each man in the descent was eldest son of the preceding ?now my Gt. Grandfather's pedigree, (taken probably from

the same ancient Mss. as the Herald College's pedigrees) gives several descents of the various branches of the family, and traces his own honestly enough from the 2nd son of the Chief

of the O'Maolconry in 1435. I compared his pedigree with others, and find it confirmed




by them, and by the Linea Aniiqua, which however by no

means gives so different a pedigree as my Gt. Grandfather

does. He had, I believe, either the copy or the original of the Four Masters itself, or one volume of it, in his own possession. His son John Ponsonby Conry states this, in a note in his own handwriting on the old Mss. of 1750.

Having compared the pedigrees and found them to agree,

except in way named, I then made a list from the 4 Masters

of all the 45 O'Maolconrys mentioned therein, and compared the dates of their deaths with those of my ancestors in the

pedigree, and I did not find one mistake. Out of the 45

O'Maolconrys named in the Annals, about 8 were lineal

ancestors of mine, and their obituary notices in the Annals

agree with the notices of same individuals in the pedigree of

1750. In several cases, the notices in my Gt. Grandfather's

book are much fuller, than those in the Annals, which in

general merely record the death of the individual bard. I

have no doubt in my own mind that "

Johnnie Conry "

had

several ancient records in his possession, (he says himself he

had) from which he compiled his own family pedigree in

1750. That was the year, in which he says he finished his

Memoir, in which his wife Elizabeth Foulke assisted, it seems.

From his boyhood "

Johnnie Conry "

was an antiquarian, and

it seems curious that the ancestral taste for antiquities should

appear in several of my family, while others?my father to

wit?had no taste whatever for anything prior to his own time. He used to laugh at me, and say,

" You look back, I look on,'*

and then it was he used joke on the saying?" What has

posterity done for me."

I have seen pedigrees of the O'Conors quite wrong, that is, the Don line claimed to be Kings, when another line actually held the dignity.

Another point is our old territory. The Annals of the

Four Masters state we had 2 well known Residences?Clonakee

and Lisfearban, and state that certain named O'Maolconrys died in their own houses at those places, but they do not

give the 3rd place, a remarkable one in our history, called

Tullon, no very great distance from the modern Strokestown, which demesne and mansion now belong to my personal friend who got it with his wife, heir of Denis Mahon, whp




inherited it, but not the title, from the late Lord Harlland.

The Strokestown estate comprises a good deal of land, which was the property of my lineal ancestors before the Cromwellian

war,?when, as I have told you, my direct ancestor was

ruined and fled to France which was the saving of my line. Had they remained in Ireland, / might now be at the Ley ! as I believe many heads of ancient races are.

I see that Dr. O'Donovan states that there is still an

O'Beirne who has managed to keep a small fragment of his estate known as the Tir-Briuin, one of the 3 Tuathas of the

Shannon. Also that "

The Mac Brennan "

of Corchachlann, the 2nd of the Tuatha, still exists on his hereditary land.

But, I must examine and see if I can, whether they are really

lineally descended from the recognized chieftain in 1600. I have an O'Beirne as a tenant on a farm near Elphine,

which was saved in my line thro' all vicissitudes, and his

father knew all the "

ould gentry." It is also curious that Mr Arthur O'Conor, uncle of the O'Conor Don is also a tenant

of mine for something approaching to 300 acres. But these were not a portion of our old possessions, but obtained about

130 years ago, by John Conry the Compiler. There is a chapter on our name and double prefix

" O

" "

Maol ". How we adopted them, their meaning, etc, also on our locality, and coming into Connaught from Teffia,

Westmeath (only divided by the Shannon River) in the nth

century and the cause of it. If you would like these matters

you shall have them.

I send you some extracts from O'Donovan's 2nd ed. of the 4 Masters, in which you will see he named Clonakee and

Lisfearban as our Residences, under year given ; but in the text of the Annals themselves, you will find these places named, and O'Maolconrys dying at them?vide year, (for ex) 1385, when a Torna O'Maolconry is said to have died in his own house of Clonakee, etc.

I name O'Donovan as a sanction to what I have told you. But, I am writing another volume and that I wish to avoid.

Believe me, Yours very truly,

EDWARD CONRY. Herbert Hore, Esq,




References to mention made to Clonakee etc. in the notes of O'Donovan's Four Masters.

Year 1468. The O'Maolconrys, who were the Hereditary Poets of the Siol

Murray, were seated at Clonakee in the parish of Clooncruffe, in the barony and county of Roscommon.

Year 1488. "

Cluain-na-hOidhche," i.e., "

The Lawn or Meadow of the

Night "?now called "

Clonakee "

in the parish of Clooncruffe in East Co. Roscommon.

This place is still (1837) the property of Gilbert Conry *. the present head of the family. Clonakee demesne which has been in the possession of this family for many centuries contains a great quantity of ancient oak timber, and a fine lake called

" Loc na hOiche."

Year 1489. O'Maolconry. He was chief poet to O'Conor and possessed " Clonakee

" and

" Lisfearban

" in the parish of

" Clooncruffe

" in the

barony and co. of Roscommon, with other lands in the same neighbourhood in right of his profession.

" Gilbert Conry of Clonakee,"

" The Conrys of

Strokestown," and "

Sir John Conry or Conroy/' are the most distinguished men of this race, at present.

Year 1385. Cluain Coirpthe, now Kilbarry (?), near the Shannon, in the

parish of Termonbarry in co. Roscommon. This church is to be distin

guished from "

Cluain Creamha "

or Clooncruffe, wherein is Clonakee, the seat of O'Maolconry. Archdale and after him all the topographical

writers, have made a mistake in asserting that "

Cluain Coirpthe "

is the " Church of Clooncruffe." The former was a monastery founded by St.

Bearach in the latter end of 6th century, and situated near the Shannon in the Tuath called Kinel Doffa or O'Hanley's Country. Cluain Creamha

or "

Clooncraffe," the estate of the O'Maolconrys from the 11th century to the year 1852, when it passed from the Conrys under

*' The Encumbered

Estate Act Court," was dedicated to St. Finnen. Archdale's statement involves a double error, for Cluain Coirpthe is not the present parish of

Clooncraffe, nor is "

Clooncraffe "

in the barony of Athlone. "

Cluain

Coirpthe "

is described by the old writers, as in the Desert or Wilderness of the Kinel Doffa, and on the brink of the Shannon. The situation of St.

Bearach's great monastery, in O'Hanly's country the Kinel Doffa, is still well known to the natives of that territory, who point out its ruins in the townland of Kilbarry near the brink of the Shannon, and about 2

miles to the N of the small village of Termonbarry, in the district of the Kinel Doffa, or O'Hanly's country in East co. Roscommon ; vide p. 784.

MEM. OF EDWARD CONRY. " Cluain Creamha

" is now the parish of Clooncraffe in the barony and co.

Roscommon. The Irish name signifies "

The Plain of the Wild Garlic." " Cluahvna-hOidhche" now

" Clonakee

" a markedly fine demesne with

magnificent oak trees and large lake the property of the O'Maolconrys since eleventh century to 1853, when all were destroyed and sold under the Encumbered Estate Courts Act.

" Cluain-na-hOidhche

" signifies "

The lawn or meadow of the Night." The parish of Clooncraffe, upwards of 5,000 acres of good land, bog and water,

formed about half the possessions of the O'Maolconrys in 1600.

[ III ] Dorchester, Dorset.

Nov. 22nd, 1864.

My dear Sir, I received your note of the 19th inst. yesterday, and am



GALWAY ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. I43

happy to find that you found the paper on the separation of the O'Conor Houses, suitable and interesting. I am afraid the long detail of my family matter must have bored you, but I sent it to elucidate the descent of the Hereditary Ollav

ships of Connaught, and to show you that, that office did not descend from father to son, but glided about, more Hibemico,

among the families of the Sept. You had previously told me you had so fortunately found

John Auban de Borris' book giving account of the Inaugural Ceremony in Carinthia. The late O'Conor Don never named this valuable book to me. He often visited my father at

Arborfield Hall in Berks, and we often spoke of the ancient connection of the families. I think you were singularly fortunate to discover it. I believe the Kings of Hungary (now merged in the Austrian throne) are still bound to be

inaugurated on a Sacred Hill. I read in the travels of C. B.

Elliot, M.A., F.R.S., in the 3 great Empires of Austria, Russia and Turkey in year 1835 (p. 29, Vol. I) that he states the

following : "

On the bank of the River (Danube at Presburg) just opposite the

bridge is a little mound, furnished with a double flight of steps. It seems as if made for a band of musicians, but it is designated by the high-sounding title

* Koenigsberg

' or

' King's Mountain/ and ancient usage requires

that every King of Hungary, after his Coronation, shall ascend this Hillock, on which he swears to maintain the Constitution inviolate."

Whether the Emperors of Austria who now wear the '

Iron Crown' comply with this ancient custom, I know not.

So late as the Reign of Charles I it is stated in [blank] that the

Royal Genealogy was recited, a practice descending from the

first Colonists of the Highlands in the [blank] century, who were Irish. I write here (on a visit) without books so can

make no references, but as I shall I trust be at Arborfield in

about 10 days, where my books and papers chiefly are, I shall

be better able to respond to any question you may ask me.

I have had a note dated 5th Nov. forwarded to me here, from Mr Graves, saying he forwarded some time ago the

Kilkenny Archaeological Journal, by which I conclude I am

elected a member. I have today written to him, and told him

that as I am moving about, I have not sent for the Books he

forwarded but hope to see them in Berks in about 10 days or so. I have asked him what the annuary (you mention)




means, and seek the information you tell me he will gladly afford me. Do I correctly read your note when I understand

that if I subscribe to some fund towards the printing of the

Annuary, you desire to see published any information I send

you ? All I should fear is it is not interesting enough to please,

and might seem like vain-gloriousness. However, if I am also correct in understanding that you

would write and annotate the article I should be re-assured.

I leave the matter in your hands, and all I can say is, that any information I can supply, it will be my duty and pleasure to

afford to further your very kind and handsome offer. The best way would be for you to ask what you wish to know, otherwise I might send you what you did not require.

Of course, if you thought of doing this, I should willingly pay the expenses you allude to, if you really thought the

subject worthy your celebrated pen. Tho' an Irishman, I am

really a shy one, and shrink from all notice, but if the Bardic

subject would interest, my information is at your service

Charles O'Conor of Belanagare in his "

Memoirs of the O'Conor

family "

a suppressed book, at the time, has more than one

error in it. He states (I believe) that Mac Dermot of Moylurg

inaugurated O'Conor (Felim, who was soon after slain at

Athenry, 1316) and put the white wand into his hands. Now we have Torna O'Maolconry's own account of that particular ceremony and not a word of Mac Dermot?for he states

that He alone and O'Conachty the guardian of the Sacred

Hill, stood close to the King on the Mount, and that he

(O'Maolconaire) gave the white wand into the King's hand. Could the learned Ch. O'Conor have confounded the Felim

O'Conor of 1461 with the Felim of 1310 ? In 1461, my Gt. Grandfather states that Mac Dermot,

who from the split in the O'Conor family in 1385 was always the supporter of the O'Conor Roe, and who did inaugurate him when first set up (for O'Maolconry was faithful to O'Conor

Don) performed the inaugural ceremonies in 1461, O'Maolconry having sold his right on that occasion and never resumed it.

I can understand my ancestor being better up in the

history of his own family, than Charles O'Conor was likely to be. My Great-Grandfather's pedigree of the O'Conors




differs very much from that given by Charles O'Conor of

Belanagare, which is curious. It would seem O'Conor of

Belanagare was rather anxious to aggrandize the O'Conors, for he makes the Don line supply many more Kings than

they really did. You ask me if my earlier ancestors had their residence on

a hill. Of their location in Meath (i.e. Teffia) my Memoir,

says nil. But of their location in Connaught, my Great-Grand father is very clear. Clonakee and Lisfearban, the two most

ancient Residences of the Race, named by him were on flat

ground, Clonakee in particular. I see Dr. O'Donovan in a note to the Annals of the 4 Masters (2nd ed.) speaking of Lisfearban,

says the site is now unknown. In the Memoir of my Gt. Grand,

father states it was "

near Elphin," close to which I have still a fee simple of about [blank] acres, which have been in our hands time out of mind, and was the portion given to my Gt. Grand

father by his father Ferfeasa Conry, who divided the residue of his estate among his 7 sons, alike. My Great-Grandfather

being the only legitimate son. Adjoining this bit of land are

about 300 acres now occupied by Mr Arthur O'Conor, uncle of the present O'Conor Don. This last-named farm was granted to John Conry of Elphin some time in middle of last century under a lease for ever, on a renewal fine, under the See of

Tuam. An Act of Parliament some 20 years ago or more

enabled my father to buy up the renewal fine so that, it is now a freehold, and (I believe) acquires the ancient inheritance

which was the reason John Conry obtained it in or about 1740. If my health was better, I would even now go over to

Ireland, where I have good quarters offered me at Strokestown

House in Roscommon by my kind friend Pakenham Mahon, but I am a victim to chronic bronchitis which brought me to

death's door in i860, and left me ailing ever since. I was

coming over last summer but was forbid by my physician. If I live, I shall certainly get over next summer, for I have business in Ireland, to which country I have always clung.

My son, I am happy to say, tho* born in England, evinces a

great feeling for the ould country. He is descended by his mother's line from Sir Lawrence Parsons, brother of the

notorious Sir William Parsons, Lord Justice in 1641, a cele

brated but wicked man, who put an enormous landed estate




together out of the forfeitures ; for his descendants dissipated it and the line became extinct in 17? on the death of the

2nd Earl of Rosse of that line. I remain, my dear Sir,

Very truly yours, EDWARD CONRY.

In your note of the 19th ultimo you name Tully O'Mulconry who writes himself "Chronicler", and that on one of his writings is a seal of a Lion Rampant, etc.

I have an indistinct recollection that the Arms of the

Munster O'Conrys had a Lion in their shield. The real O'Maolconaire of Roscommon always had on a

field azure an open Book, edged gilt, or : with the Irish motto

[blank]. From the time of John Conry slain at the passage of the

Rhine 1671-2, our line has ever borne?

Azure: The open book?or: a chief. A seal of Charles Conry, slain at the Boyne and son of above

John Conry, was given by my Great-Grandfather with his

signet ring and silver snuff box to his dear friend, the Speaker

Ponsonby, in whose family they remained till the late Bishop of Deny (Ponsonby) was entrusted to bring them to England and give them to my father, on the death, I think, of the

Bishop's mother, who had always preserved these Relics. The Bishop was robbed on the passage and lost the ring and

seal, but as it happened he was using the snuff box, that reached

my father safely, and is the same as painted in the portrait of my Great-Grandfather, which was painted for the speaker Ponsonby, and hung at Bishopscourt, co. Kildare, till that

place was sold by Lord Ponsonby to Lord Clonmel some years

ago. It then was brought to my father by the Honourable

Frederic Ponsonby. The seal was a great loss. It was of silver :

the arms as I have given them, with two ancient Bards as

supporters; since which time the Heads of my family have

always carried the same supporters. They were first granted or assumed in France in John Conry's time, who was killed in 1671. All these trifles go to show cause of things, and are

therefore to be noted.

Again, yours very truly, E. CONRY,



Torna M6r O'Maolconry= chief of the O'Maolconaifes. Styled

" Mdr

" from his great

stature and the prosperity enjoyed by his Sept during his chieftaincy. He died 1435, at his own house at Qonakee,

leaving 2 sons.

Maoilin O 'Maolconry ?*

mentioned in 4 Masters under year 1441. He was the celebrated Bard of the Siol Murray (*.*. the O'Conors of Connaught) who was placed first of all his name and before all others at the great Banquet given in 1433 by Margaret wife of The O'Connor of Offaly, to 2700 learned men. His death is recorded in Four Masters as occurring in year 1441, and himself stated to have been Maoilin, son of Torna, son of Padir O'Maolconry, which agrees with the pedigrees.

From him descend the Conrys of Clonakee

Torna O'Maolconry named in 4 Masters, was ollav of the Siol Murray and the last recorded ollav of the senior line of the Sept. The ollav ships was henceforth discharged by Ceanfinnes, i.e, Heads* of minor families of the name until year 1519 when the last ollav of Connaught was elected. This Torna sold to

Mac Dermot, chief of Moylurg, the hereditary office so long vested in the O'Maolconry Sept. From the year 1461 no

O'Maolconry inaugurated an O'Conor of Connaught. He died 1468 when a member of an inferior family named

Erard O'Maoksory was elected ollav of Connaught.

Maoilin O'Maolconry Torna Oge O'Maolconry Heir, merely styled in the 4 Masters 2nd son. The O'Maolconry succeede "

O Maolconry "

as Chief. He died at his brother Maoilin as Chief of tl Clonakee 1488 and was succeeded by Sept. Died 1532, and, as recorded h

his brother, as Chief of the Sept. the 4 Masters, at that year was suo =

by Conor O'Maolconry (a cousin <

| the Tuilon branch) who, as state Issue existing but landless was elected

" The O'Maolconry

" j

his place.

Issue extinct



PEDIGREE NO. 1 PEPIGREIt No. 2.

0'MULCONRY THE OlCONNOR KINGS

Connaught Shane Roe O'Maolconry

2nd son?not being a Bard is not mentioned in the Annals. He seems to have succeeded his fattier in the possession of a tower or fort at Turl< Tullon and was ancestor of the

King of Connaug Conrys of Tullon, now rep. by Sir ob. U5<

Edw. Conry, Bt.

(1) Roderic O'Conor (2) Cathal Crovederj King of his ancestral Pro- O'Conor

i vince of Con taught and or Cathal of the Red Ha \ Monarch of Ire land, on the succeeded his brother

fi.na. !??. n?uani?w.? arrival of the English in King of Connaught Donal Roe O'Maolconry n69 under strongbow. * was present with some of the Sept at Surrendered th t Throne of [the battle of] Knocktow where he Ireland to ] tenry II.

was slain in 1504. ?

Maurice Turlough Hugh ! (4) K of Connaught 1228, i on death of his cousin Hugh

, _ ' ^ ^ - - . son of Cathal: Banished in

rtconry -Conor 0*ftfeolconry 1230. succeeded by his ^ TT^ ? TlTt. ?,*?iS?ed ^^HS^ <* **> Felim. son of C&thal. ^nef of the Torna Oge, ni 1532. as Chief of the i

recorded by Sept. a*nd (fed the next year follow- Extinct ar was succ. ing, as also stated in the Four

[a cousin of Masters. -j-j-1-j

Jieoniv*"*^ "

Roderic Tir lough Teige Conor I *"""*** "" drowned ou. 1266 eyes put out ob. 1244 ob

? , ? and hanged

i_i_ 1 il i i (7) Owen p'Conor (9) Teigue Rory



PEDIGREE ""] nGS OF showing the split between the

COUSIN AND RIVAL BRANCHES OF THE O'CONOR DON AND O'CONOR ROE

(Extracted from Memoir compiled by

John Conrv, my Great-Grandfather, 1

prior to the year 1750) I

Turlough O'Conor of Connaught and Monarch of Ireland

ob. 1156, leaving 4 Sons

_T _

Crovederg Lulgneach O'Conor Murtough-Muimhneach tutor from whom descend The O'Conor

he Red Hand O'Conor, Sligo. This Une This was a potent Branch 3 brother as supplied the Sir Charles of the O'Conors in 13th and

bnnaught O'Conor SBgo of Elizabeth's 14th centuries and it sup - reign plied the 11th and 12th and

14th Kings of Connaught, and 17th

(3) Hugh (5) Felim 1228, Succeeded his father as K. Succeeded his cousin Hugh

lugh of Connaught. d. 1228 son of Roderic 1230. Went d in to English King Henry III

his to complain that the treaty thai. made by Henry II was not

kept. ob. 1265

_ _7_

tor Hugh Cathal Cathal- (6) Hugh (10) Hugh 244 o6.1249 Curruch dall succ. his father Muinach

eyes put out *= in 1265 succ. Teigue _ 1257 I ob. 1274 son of Tur

1 I lough, son of

Rory Hugh Hugh, son of



mentioned in 4 Masters under year 1441. He was the celebrated Bard of the Siol Murray {i.e. the O'Conors of Connaught) who was placed first of all his name and before all others at the great Banquet given in 1433 by Margaret

wife of The O'Connor of Offaly, to 2700 learned men. His death is recorded in Four Masters as occurring in year 1441, and himself stated to have been Maoilin, son of Torna, son of Padir O'Maolconry, which agrees with the pedigrees.

From him descend the Conrys of Clonakee

Torna O'Maolconry named in 4 Masters, was ollav of the Siol Murray and the last recorded ollav of the senior line of the Sept. The ollav ships was henceforth discharged by Ceanfinnes, i.e, Heads* of minor families of the name until year 1519 when the last ollav of Connaught was elected. This Torna sold to

Mac Dermot, chief of Moylurg, the hereditary office so long vested in the O'Maolconry Sept. From the year 1461 no

O'Maolconry inaugurated an O'Conor of Connaught. He died 1468 when a member of an inferior family named

Erard O'Maoksnry was elected ollav of Connaught.

Maoilin O'Maolconry Torna Oge O'Maolconry Heir, merely styled in the 4 Masters 2nd son. The O'Maolconry succeedc "

O Maolconry "

as Chief. He died at his brother Maoilin as Chief of tl Clonakee 1488 and was succeeded by Sept. Died 1532, and, as recorded h

his brother, as Chief of the Sept. the 4 Masters, at that year was suo =

by Conor O'Maolconry (a cousin <

| the Tuilon branch) who, as state Issue existing but landless was elected

" The O'Maolconry

" j

his place.

Issue extinct

Maolmurry O'Maolconry Chief of the Sept

_7

Moylin O'Maolconry Chief of his Sept: was included in O'Conor Roe's Inden tures of Composition made with Sir John Perrot. He was sometimes called Moylin of the Lakes, from there being so

many on his estate : He was the last real Chief and died at Kilereagh on 5th Jan. 1637 and was buried with pomp at Killirestan, where there was a small castle of which not one

stone now remains. He left 5 sons and 4 daughters.

7_

Torna O'Maolconry= eldest son : recorded his father's lineage from Conn of the 100 Battles, and his death in the Irish Heralds College?

writing his name "

Conry "

to show his willingness to drop the native prefix.

Shane or John O'Maolconry ?*

Ruined in the Cromwellian War, fled to France in 1657. Married the daughter of an Irish emigrant by his French wife, whose estate become John Conry's jure uxoris. He was slain at the Passage of the Rhine 1671 (1672 in former

pedigrees).

a?J"^ r sold the French estate to 2nd aon (dfctd 1 raise funds for King James Protestant mr hi II. Slain at the Boyne 1690 Huguenot fanffly,

which more km* innuptus werei|||

John Conry? of Elphin. The compiler of the Memoir. Died 1769 I

Elisabeth Conry Catherine Conry ? m. Dr. Longheld, cousin of Viscount m. Captain Walter Hore of Seaield Longueville son of Walter Hm ?f Hamf iA?m



2nd son?not being a Bard is not mentioned in the 'Annals. He seems to have succeeded his father in the possession of a tower or fort at Turl< Tullon and was ancestor of the

King of Connaug Conrys of Tullon, now rep. by Sir ob. 115<

Edw. Conry, Bt.

(1) Roderic O'Conor (2) Cathal Crovederj King of his ancestral Pro- O'Conor

i vince of Con taught and or Cathal of the Red Ha \ Monarch of Ireland, on the succeeded his brother

?L . ~ ~.?? . arrival of the English in King of Connaught Donal Roe O'Maolconry neo under strongbow. - was present with some of the Sept at Surrendered th t Throne of [the battle of] Knocktow where he Ireland to : tenry II.

was slain in 1504. *

_L_

Maurice Turlough Hugh ! (4) K of Connaught 1228, i on death of his cousin Hugh ' ** ^ m? . son of Cathal: Banished in

?lconry Conor O Maolconry 1230. Succeeded by his ry succeeded of TuHon. Succeeded his kinsman, cousin Felim, son of Cathal. :hief of the Torna Oge, in 1532, as Chief of the 'i recorded by Sept, and died the next year follow-

Extinct ar was succ. ing, as also stated in the Four [a cousin of Masters.

-i-j-j-j ^Lv^*^

"" Roderic Tir lough Teige Conor I """""f "* drowned ol. 1266 eyes put out ob. 1244 ob

? , ? and hanged I_ I _

f|

I nor (9) Telgue Rory son of slain 127* of the 1274

(13) Hugh succ. Manus son of Murtog

Muimneach O'Conor, Br ther of Roderic last supren

monarch of Ireland. S 1309. Succ. by Roderic sc

of Cathal son of Conor R< '* son of Mortough-Muim

nach O'Conor

_._L_ 1 (15) Pel tan (16) Turlough

Inaugurated by O'Maolconry Succ. brother Felim 131 1310. Slain batle Athenry Deposed 1343: and Hug 1316. Succ. >y brother son of Hugh

- Breifhac

Turlough O'Conor of the Murtougl ? i Muimneach Branch sue

| j Slain 1345

(18) Hugh |_ elected Tanist (18. K.) to his kins- | < man Hugh, son of Hugh Breimach Hugh

O'Conor of the Murtough-Muim- was set up as I neach line in 1$42. Succ. him as on deposition <

K. of Conn. 1356. ob. 1368. succ. father: but w< -p-r?r . by cousin Roderic set aside by h

Ferfeasa Conry ** kinsman Hugh sc

^.lJ1^yglgr--.d?wn .*? ? F"S?1J2Sf .et up by Ma^Demot against cousin Murtough line

^feto ̂ ^?^7 J^i?,^ Tirlouglfoge and compiled him to i ^P^te^H,6^^^^^6 ?*? ^^ofCo^nt

in ,

?\?-1 T Teige or Thady O'Conor Roe

i 2nd O'Conor Roe. Inaugurated by Mac Dermot. d. 1464.

' i J<*? I-^Miaonb-y Conry The Pedigree of O'Conor from Roderic, last suprem ^ SeaieM, only *m,obiti. 1797 monarch of Ireland, to the split in the sovereignty <



prior to the year 1750) I

Turlough O'Conor of Connaught and Monarch of Ireland

ob. 1156, leaving 4 Sons

_T _

Crovederg Lulgneach O'Conor Murtough-Muimhneach onor from whom descend The O'Conor he Red Hand O'Conor, Sligo. This Une This was a potent Branch 3 brother as supplied the Sir Charles of the O'Conors in 13th and

bnnaught O'Conor SBgo of Elizabeth's 14th centuries and it sup - reign plied the 11th and 12th and

14th Kings of Connaught, and 17th

(3) Hugh (5) Felim 1228, Succeeded his father as K. Succeeded his cousin Hugh

lugh of Connaught. d. 1228 son of Roderic 1230. Went d in to English King Henry III

his to complain that the treaty thai. made by Henry II was not

kept. ob. 1265

_ _7_

tor Hugh Cathal Cathal- (6) Hugh (10) Hugh 244 o6.1249 Curruch dall succ. his father Muinach

eyes put out = in 1265 succ. Teigue _ 1257 I ob. 1274 son of Tur I I lough, son of

Rory Hugh Hugh, son of slain 1278 succeeded cousin Owen, son of Roderic. Cathal of the

Reigned 14 days. Slain 1274. Succ. by Red Hand Teigue son of Turlough, son of Hugh, son

of Cathal of the Red Hand.

Hugh Donogh= n of Murtogh 'Conor, Bro last supreme

Ireland. SI. * Roderic son *rf Conor Roe

ough-Muime mor

"[ j Roderic rlough Cathal was inaugurated K. of Con Felim 1316. naught on death of Felim

: and Hugh at Athenry in 1316 ; was a - Breifhach directly deposed when Tir

9 Murtough- lough, brother of Felim, (ranch succ. was elected K. and inaugu

1345 rated by O'Maolconry in 1317

Hugh (19) Roderic et up as K. Succeeded his cousin Hugh in 1368. Was 19th K. of Con eposition of naught from Roderic last Monarch of Ireland in 1171 when r: but was he surrendered to Henry II. This Roderic K. of Connaught side by his died 1368 and was the last K. of all Connaught which was ian Hugh son soon after divided between his nephew Tirlogh Oge O'Conor,

gh Breifhach who took title of O'Conor

Don?and his cousin Tirlogh Roe tor of the O'Conor |the 1st O'Conor Roe tough line

7_

(20) Tirlogh Oge O'Conor rightful K. of Conn. Did hommage in Dublin to R. II and thereby still more disgusted the Connaught chiefs.

He was obliged to div. Connaught with his cousin Turlough Roe. Was 1st O'Conor Don.

ist supreme difference of opinion as to descent lately raised by 2 lines /ereignty of of the O'Conors.



ruiereagn on otn Jan. 1037 and was buried with pomp at Killirestan, where there was a small castle of which not one

stone now remains. He left 5 sons and 4 daughters.

Torna O'Maolconry= eldest son : recorded his father's lineage from Conn of the 100 Battles, and his death in the Irish Heralds College?

writing his name "

Conry "

to show his willingness to drop the native prefix.

Shane or John O'Maolconry? Ruined in the Cromwellian War, fled to France in 1657. Married the daughter of an Irish emigrant by his French wife, whose estate become John Cowry's jure uxoris. He was slain at the Passage of the Rhine 1671 (1672 in former

pedigrees).

cwJ^ r sold the French estate to 2nd aon (died 1 raise funds for King James Protestant 0? hi II. Slain at the Boyne 1690 Huguenot faimjty,

which more fmir innuptus weie u)|

John Conry ?

of Elphin. The compiler of the Memoir. Died 1769 I

Elisabeth Conry Catherine Conry j m. Dr. Longfield, cousin of Viscount m. Captain Walter Hore of Seafeld Longueville son of Walter Hore of HarperstOwn

Wexford T

!



1309. Succ by Roderic sc of Cathal son of Conor R< -> son of Mortough-Muim

nach O'Conor

_._L_ 1 (15) Felon (16) Turlough

Inaugurated by O'Maolconry Succ. brother Felim 131 1310. Slain batle Athenry Deposed 1343: and Hug 1316. Succ. >y brother son of Hugh

- Breifnac

Turlough O'Conor of the Murtougl as i Muimneach Branch suo

| j Slain 1345

(18) Hugh |_ " elected Tanist (18. K.) to his kins- | v man Hugh, son of Hugh Breimach Hugh

O'Conor of the Murtough-Muim- was set up as I neach line in 1$42. Succ. him as on deposition < K. of Conn. 1356. ob. 1368. succ. father: but w<

-:-r?s- . by cousin Roderic set aside by h ' ? ._^_.. _ ? kinsman Hugh sc Ferfeasa Conry i

0j Hugh Breifnac 5* l*& iZf^-JS? !?

have been educated as a Tirlough Roe O'Conor O'Conor of tl

^t^?ni? ?o?y? orawn from a French noble set up by Mac Dermot against cousin Murtough line *"* hrW'yat^[. pwlasaed it to have his estate

Tirlough Oge and compelled him to = mon *feSf bLdl^r1**1?*0 7 "**> ** whom 6 div. the Sovereignty ofConaght in I were intimate. His only kg. aon was

1385. j^ 1st OXonor Roe -

_l__I T Teige or Thady O'Conor Roe

; 2nd O'Conor Roe. Inaugurated by Mac Dermot. d. 1464.

_?jj?-_ ' i John Ponaonby Conry The Pedigree of O'Conor from Roderic, last suprem of Seajcld, only son, obiit. 1797 monarch of Ireland, to the split in the sovereignty < arperstewn, a*

Connaught in 1385 will show Mr. Hore clearly not onl i | how the Throne of Connaught slipped about among th Sir John Conry, 1st Bars. ? cousin families of the O'Conors, but it will also sho* _| him, exactly when and how the titles of Don and Re

| | were assumed. The O'Conors Sligo, who became ver Sir ?dw. Conry, 2nd Bart. ? powerful as a warlike Sept in the 16th century, and wei

i vivens I always hostile U> Queen Elizabeth, assumed the title < | I Sligo in 1536. Their descent can be extracted from J oh

i-;-l Conry's book, if Mr. Hore wishes for it. John Conry jfrft^ Cowry only aon b? 1845 pedigree of the O'Conors is fuller and more complete tha ^^^** y *

any in the possession of that family, and sets at rest som



r Roderic son yi Conor Roe

ough-Muime mor

_

"\ j Roderic rlough Cathal was inaugurated K. of Con Felim 1316. naught on death of Felim

: and Hugh at Athenry in 1316 ; was ti - Breifhach directly deposed when Tir

9 Murtough- lough, brother of Felim, (ranch succ. was elected K. and inaugu

1345 rated by O'Maolconry in 1317

Hugh (19) Roderic et up as K. Succeeded his cousin Hugh in 1368. Was 19th K. of Con eposition of naught from Roderic last Monarch of Ireland in 1171 when :: but was he surrendered to Henry II. This Roderic K. of Connaught side by his died 1368 and was the last K. of all Connaught which was ian Hugh son soon after divided between his nephew Thiogh Oge O'Conor,

gh Breifhach who took title of O'Conir Don?and his cousin Tirlogh Roe tor of the O'Conor (the 1st O'Conor Roe tough line

7_

(20) Tirlogh Oge O'Conor rightful K. of Conn. Did hommage in Dublin to R. II and thereby still more disgusted the Connaught chiefs. He was obliged to div. Connaught with his cousin Turlough

Roe. Was 1st O'Conor Don.

ist supreme difference of opinion as to descent lately raised by 2 lines vereignty of of the O'Conors. :ly not only This pedigree is curious as it shows how the Kingship : among the of Connaught passed about, and if Mr. Hore will observe 1 also show the numerals in ( ) brackets his eye will at once follow on and Roe the Kings as they succeeded. Four, i.e., 11, 12, 14, 17 iecame very of the Connaught Kings are not named, as I have not room

y, and were to give the descent of Murtough-Muimhneach, 4th Brother the title of of Roderic whom the English found Monarch of Ireland

i from John in 1169. ohn Conry's The pedigree of the O'Conors will also show when the rnplete than O'Maolconrys ceased to discharge their hereditary office at rest some of Inaugurate* to the new Kings of O'Conor blood.



the o'maolconaire family: unpublished letters from sir edward conry, bart., to h. f. hore,...

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