IIn the south of this Parish is situated
Cuil Ua Sluaisti which is mentioned in the Leabhar Breac as the habitation
of O’Sluaisti, who stole his mules, asses and horses from a Cardinal
sent to Ireland in the time of Donnell Mor O’Brien, King of Munster.
This passage is so amazingly curious that I am tempted to transcribe
a part of it here:-
Hua Annoc, agus Hua Cellchin Cille Moire, agus Hua Sluaisti ó Chúil
Ua Sluaisti, is iad sin ro ghadsat eich, agus múil agus asain
in Chardinail tánic ó Róimh co tír n-Erend
dia forchedul i n-aimsir Dhomhnaill Mhóir h-i Bhriain Ri Muman.
- Leabhar Breac, fol. 41. b.
O’Hanoc and O’Kelchin of Kilmore and O’Sluaisté of
Cuil O’Sluaisti, were they who stole the horses, mules and asses of the
Cardinal who came to Ireland to instruct it, in the time of Donnell More O’Brien,
King of Munster.
The Kilmore here mentioned is certainly the Kilmore in the Parish of
Killokennedy. These families must have been out on a hunting or predatory
excursion when they met the Cardinal’s retinue, about whom they,
in all probability, knew nothing. They seem to have thought, if they
knew the Cardinal, that his mules and horses were as good (lawful) prey
as if they belonged to O’Shaughnessy, and had no scruple of conscience
in taking them by force from his Giomanachs!
The Leabhar Breac adds that this was the cause
of the invasion of Ireland by the English. When the Cardinal returned
home, he represented the Irish as wild men of the woods who stole his
asses, and the Pope was so enraged at their conduct that he made over
the Island of Hibernia, which belonged to him in right of St. Peter to
his cousin, the King of England.
It gives me great pleasure to have
discovered the localities of these illustrious Irishmen, who, by robbing
the Cardinal, entailed more miseries on their country than Brian Boroo
had done before them.
In the southwest extremity of this Parish is situated Moreask (Magh Riasg)
which continued in the possession of the head of the Mac Namaras until
a few years ago when it passed into the possession of Lord Fitz Gerald.
Near the north boundary of the Townland of Corbally in this Parish, are
shewn some traces of the foundation of the Castle of Corbally which
is mentioned
in the College List of the Castles of Thomond as belonging to Shane Mac Mahown.
In the Townland of Muckinish in this Parish is situated the celebrated
Hill of Urchaill or Fuarchoill, which is mentioned in the Wars
of Turlogh at the
year 1318 and in the Annals of the Four Masters at the 1559, as the site of
a dreadful battle between the O’Briens and Geraldines.
The other ancient remains in this Parish are forts and cahers of which
the correct names are set down in the Field Name Books. |
