Ordnance Survey Letters by John O'Donovan and Eugene Curry, 1839: Part II. Ibrickan, in Irish Ui Bracáin

III. Ibrickan, in Irish Ui Bracáin

This Territory was a part of the country of the Corca Vaskin until towards the end of the 12th Century, when the Leinster family of Mac Gorman settled in it under the auspices of O’Brien. This family flourished a long time in Leinster under the tribe name of Hy-Bairrche, as being descended Daire Barrach, son of Cathaoir Mor, Monarch of Ireland in the Second Century. Their country comprised the Barony of Slieve Margy in the Queen’s County and a part of the level plain around the Town of Carlow.

Map of Ibrickan and Hy Cormaic
Click on the map for larger version

The last notice which occurs of them as Chiefs of this Territory in Leinster is at the year 1142, where it is stated that “Donogh, the son of Hugh Mac Gorman, Lord of Hy-Bairrche, was slain by Gilpatrick, son of Donogh Fitzpatrick (Mac Giolla-Padruig) Lord of Ossory.” It is highly probable that they were driven out by the Lord Walter De Riddlesford, who became master of all this tract about Carlow towards the end of the 12th Century. The first of this family who settled in Munster was Mortogh the son of Donogh Mac Gorman, whose descendants bore the tribe name of Hy-Breacain from their great Lagenian ancestor Breacan or Bracan, the grandson of Daire Barrach. The expulsion of the Mac Gormans from their original Territory and their dispersion into various parts of Ireland are recorded in the following lines by Maoilin Oge Mac Brody:-

From the Country of Hy-Bairrche in the eastern province,
A party of them proceeded into Ulster
And another party into Owney-Cliach
Where they settled at Doire Sen-Liath
They peopled Owney of the lucid border
And then were called Clan-Gorman
The youths of Cearmna, who had migrated westwards
With a Lagenian battalion and cattle.
Out of this country (Owney) they proceed to shun their patrimony
The Territories of Hy-Bairrche and Hy-Buidhe
But found not a settlement (country) like them,
They selected after migrating to the west
Hy-Breacain, a heathy land
A gloomy land, but prosperous after them
Under the select (distinguished) race of fair Brian (the O’Briens).
This tribe of ever living fame have been
During a period of four hundred years
Supporting poets, and feeding the poor
Over this fair-glebed plain of cooling breezes.

In 1165 Feargal O’Molloy, Lord of Feara-Ceall and Kinel-Fiachrach, lamp of the valor and hospitality of the men of Meath, was killed by the Hy-Bracain. Qu? Where were the Hy-Bracain then located?

In 1563 the death of Mac Brody, Ollave of the Hy-Bracain and Hy-Fearmaic is recorded.

Genealach Aile Meag Gormain, as Seanleabar i seilbh Cathal Ui Conchobair.

Domnail

Mac Diarmada

M. Domnaill

M. Coineabha

M. Seaain

M. Daibi

M. Coineaba

M. Coinmeada

M. Domnaill

M. Concobair

M. Coinmeada

M. Murchadh

M. Eigtighearna

M. Sganlain

M. Gormain

M. Muirceartac i.e., an cead duine tainicc do Mumhain do laighnibh do sliocht daire barraigh do reir droinge re Seanchus.

M. Donuchadh Donnchadh Mac Aeda Tigearna Ua mBairrce do tuitim lagiolla P. Mac Donnchadh tigearna Osraide etc., A.Q.M. 1142.

M. Treasaigh

M. Duaich Duibh

M. Gosain

M. Dunagain

M. Gormain, a quo an Fine.

Mac Eachach
Mac Goibdein

Mac Maoilumha

Mac Suibhne

Mac Domnaill

Mac Cormaic

Mac Diarmada

Mac Eacach Guinigh

Mac Aonguss

Mac Earca

Mac Breacain na Brocain, i.e., nabarthar Ui Breacain

Mag Feig

Mac Daire Barraig

Mac Cathaoir Moir

Crioc a niomairce on ttir toir. Do ghab drong diobh a nolltoibh. Is drong oile a nuaithnib cliach. Fan ndoire snaithing seinliath. Do lionsad uaithne an bhuird ghil. Clann Gormain iad an uair sin. Ogbadh cearmna ag siotche siar. Deabhadh is groidhibh Gaillian. As an tirsin le si cloinn cais. Tagaid seo ar seachna a ndutchais. Crioch ó mbairce is O mbuidhe. Mor frit coibche a co os muile. Do thoghsad iar tteacht anall. Ui breacain fraochda an fearann. Fonn dorchadh is deighsean na ndiag. Fa chineal bhfromtha bfinn briain. Ata an dream so is bithbeo bladh. Re ráe ceithre cead bliadhain. Ag rias dámh ag togbail truagh. Os an cc lar bfodban bfionnuar.

Genealach Ui Lochlaind.

Mailechadh

Mac Donchadh

Mac Congalaich

Mac Amlaoib

Mac Mailechadh do marbad ineanach duin i.e., Ri Corcomruad agus Corcobaircind.

Mac Lochlaind do baided sa Gaillim.
Book of Lecan, 131 a.