Parish of Rath (d)

An angle forty feet high and bits of the two sides of a castle remain in the Townland of Crag Mothar. This Castle is set down in the paper mentioned in former letters, preserved in MS. Lib. Trinity College Dublin Class E. 2 14,. under the name of the Castle of Dromenglasse, and inhabited by Teige Mac Morogh (O’Brien). That the Castle now called Creg Mothar is that mentioned in the above paper, I shall quote to prove from O’Donnell's route as given in the Annals of the Four Masters:-

Anno. 1599. O’Donnell arrived by break of day in the eastern extremity of Kenel-Fearmaic in Thomond. Here they formed marauding parties and sent one party northwards into Burren under the command of Teige O’Rourke and Mac Sweeney Baghaineach and another party southwards to Ballyogan in Coillmor, who advanced to Tully O’Dea and to the gate of Baile Ui Ghriobhtha.

Maguire went forth in another direction with a strong body of his forces. O’Donnell proceeded with the flower of the army through the middle of Coill O’Flanchadha to Bealach-an-Fhiodhfail and before noon arrived at Cill-Inghine-Baoith in the Upper part of Dal gCais. Those who had gone to the south (i.e., to Baile-Ui-Ghraibhtha) returned to the north by Drumfinglass and Corofin, and joined O’Donnell at Cill-Inghine-Baoith.

Now, there is no other road by which they could have gone from Ballygriffy to Corofin but that which passes from the former by Moghowna old Castle between Clontowhill and Cahir Mac Gormain on to Disert through Dromfinglas and in to Corofin. See Petty’s Map.

There is an angle and part of the north and east sides of a castle in the Townland of Rath called after the Townland name, and said in the paper already mentioned MS. T. C. D. Class E.2 14., to be inhabited or owned by Muriertagh Garagh (O’Brien).

This castle is situated a few perches to the south west of the Church, on the brink of a handsome lake which is noted for supernatural horse races, boats, ships, ricks of turf, hay stacks (cocks), etc.