Part III. History of the County of Clare
Chapter 19. Rising of the Catholics, 1641; — Siege of Ballyallia Castle

Names of the garrison

Thus abruptly ends the narrative of Maurice Cuffe, but from other sources we learn additional particulars of the siege of Ballyallia castle. ^[5] His account of the siege concludes with the events that happened in June, 1642. At the end of that month, the Irish again beleagured the place, and finally succeeded in starving the English out, on the 17^th of September following. Cuffe’s statement omits the names of many persons who were amongst the besiegers. We here subjoin a list of them:—Boetius Clancy of Creggycurridan, Murrogh O’Brien of Rossroe; Teige O’Brien, son of Sir Daniel of Carrigaholt; Mahone Maoel M‘Mahon of Tuath na Fearnan (Killadysert); Boetius Clancy of Ballydonoghue; John Oge MacNamara of Castletown; Conor, son of Teige Roe MacNamara of Smithstown; Christopher O’Brien of Inchiquin, brother of the Baron of Inchiquin; Teige O’Brien of Caherminane; Mahone Oge MacNamara of Ballynooskny; Mahone Roe MacNamara of Caherduff; Maoelmurra MacSweeney of Kilballyowen; Owen O’Molony of Ballybroghane; Mahone M‘Inerney of Killinasoolagh; Conor, son of Mahone MacNamara, of Clonbrick; Teige, son of Sheeda MacNamara of Monaganagh; Rory, son of Donogh MacNamara of Monanoe; Daniel, son of Teige MacNamara of Ballyvorgal; John, son of Fineen M‘Namara of Kilmurry; Patrick Chockson of Ardskeagh; Daniel Oge O’Hernane of Ennis; Barth. Stritch of Ennis, merchant; Daniel M‘Teige of Lifford, with his two sons Teige and James; Roland Bourke of Ennis, merchant; Teige Fitzpatrick of Ennis, shoemaker; and “divers other gentlemen and freeholders of the county,” ^[6] viz.: Sheeda Cam MacNamara of Glanagross; Turlagh Oge M‘Mahon of Clenagh; Murtagh Clancy of Castlekeale; Donogh M‘Namara of Kilkishen; Mahone, son of Teige M‘Namara of Mooghane; Donogh O’Brien of Ballyhumulta; Donogh, son of Teige M‘Namara of Moyriesk, (Sergeant-Major General of the forces of the county); John M‘Namara of Rathfolane; Bryan M‘Mahon of Ballyvurry; Brian O’Brien of Aughrim; Thos. Clancy of Ballynaclasha; Conor O’Daly of Rath; John M‘Namara of Dromullin; John Oge M‘Namara of Rathlahine; John M‘Namara of Derrymore; Loghlin M‘Inerny of Treanaderry; Melaghlin Oge O’Hehir of Nooan, and Conor, his son; Loghlen Oge O’Hehir of Drumcurreen; Simon Morris of Ballyluddane; Teige Clancy of Cloonanassa; Gorthy O’Mulqueen of Ballymulqueeny; Wm. Costello of Lissofin; Rory M‘Namara of Bunana, and his son Donogh, son of Rory M‘Namara of Gortavalla; Sheeda, son of Teige M‘Namara of Ballintlea; Loghlen Downe Cusack of Snaty; Loghlen Oge MacConna of Ballymaconna; Daniel, son of Shane M‘Namara of Lisheen; Conor Crone O’Dea of Dysert; Hugh M‘Encroe of Skagh M‘Encroe; Murtagh Hogan of Moyhill; Henry Woodfin of Ennis, now a papist; Miler M‘Shane of Poulmore, and Maoelin M‘Brodin of Kilraghtis. ^[7]

In addition to the Cuffes, the defenders of Ballyallia consisted of Protestant settlers who had taken refuge within its walls, and who had fled thither, with their families, from various parts of the county. Their number, including women and children, was about one hundred, and the names of some of them are given in the depositions of Alexander Hill, Mrs. Frances Bridgeman, and Rev. And. Chaplin, as follows: Alexander Hill, mason, who states his losses at £371; Frances Bridgeman, John Vandervorte, Richard Shute, Urias Reade, Wm. Bayley, John Hawkins, Hugh Austin, John Walker, James Ryder, Wm. Tong, Richard Wolfe, John Smith, John Cruice, and Robert Baker. Several of the defenders were killed, of whom the under-named are enumerated: John Walker of Lifford, Abraham Baker of Ballymacahill carpenter; John Burgess of Ennis yeoman; Ambrose Wooster of Ennis millwright; Thos. White of Lifford mason; John Twisden dyer; Robert Hart of Ennis shoemaker; and John Smith of Ballymalley yeoman. ^[8]