Part I. Topography of Thomond Chapter 3. Burren, or Corcomroe East

Families of O’Loghlen and O’Connor; Islands of Arran formed part of Corcomroe; Historical notices of Corcomroe

The name and the area of this territory are preserved in the modern barony. Its name in Irish is Boireann, which signifies the rocky district, being compounded of Borr, great, and onn, a stone or rock. Its chief inhabitants were called after the introduction of the use of surnames O’Loghlen, from Lochluinn, the chief of the territory A.D. 950 in the reign of Callaghan Cashel. The name Lochluinn does not appear in Irish history till the ninth century, and there is every reason to believe that the Irish borrowed it as well as Manus, Randal, Amlaff, and many other names from the Danes, who had formed intermarriages with many of the native families. Previously to the tenth century Burren had the name of Corcomroe Ninnis, from the tribe who inhabited it, called Modruadh Ninnis. This people split into two families, and divided their lands into two nearly equal parts, which they styled East and West Corcomroe, the former being ruled by O’Loghlen, and the latter by his rival and kinsman O’Connor. There are, however, instances of O’Connor having become chief of both the divisions long after the formation of them and after the establishment of surnames, and vice versa of O’Loghlin having extended his sway over O’Connor and West Corcomroe. In the fourteenth century, however, they became two chiefs wholly separated and independent of each other. ^[1] Their relationship is set forth in the Genealogical Table, which is given at the end of this chapter. It may be remarked that for several centuries the three islands of Arran belonged to Corcomroe. ^[2]

The following historical notices of this people and territory occur in the Annals of the Four Masters:—

“A.M. 4404. Fiacha Folgrach, Sovereign of Ireland, was slain by Olioll, son of Art, in Boirinn.
A.D. 239. The seven battles of Eilbhe (Mount Elva), by Cormac, son of Art, son of Conn of the Hundred Battles, King of Ireland.
A.D. 703. The battle of Corca-mo-druadh was fought this year, in which Ceilichair, the son of Coman, was killed.
A.D. 737. Flann Fearna, Lord of Corca-mo-Dhruadh died.
A.D. 871. Flaithbheartach, the son of Dubhraig, Lord of Corca-mo-ruadh Ninais, died.
A.D. 899. Bruaiteadh, the son of Flaithbheartach, Lord of Corca-mo-ruadh, died.
A.D. 902. Flann, the son of Flaithbheartach, Lord of Corca-mo-ruadh, died.
A.D. 916. Ceat, son of Flaithbheartach, Lord of Corca-mo-ruadh, died.
A.D. 925. Anruathan, son of Maelgorm, assumed the Lordship of Corca-mo-ruadh.
A.D. 934. Anruathan, son of Maelgorm, Lord of Corcomroe, died.
A.D. 983. Lochlaind, Lord of Corcomroe, and Maoilseachlainn, the son of Cosrach, died. ^[3]
A.D. 987. Congal, son of Anrudhan, Lord of Corcomroe, died.
A.D. 1045. Conghalach O’Loghlen, Lord of Corcomroe, died.
A.D. 1055. The Dal Cais, conducted by Murrogh O’Brien, plundered Corcomroe; but they were pursued, deprived of their booty, and many of them killed.
A.D. 1060. Ondadh O’Loghlen, Lord of Corcomroe, died.
A.D. 1088. Corcomroe was thrice plundered this year by Roderic O’Conor. He left scarcely any cattle or people that he did not kill or carry off.
A.D. 1149. Turlogh O’Brien marched with his forces to the neighbourhood of Galway; they plundered the country and demolished the walls of the Dun of Galway. On this occasion Maoileachlainn O’Loghlen, Lord of Corcomroe, was drowned in the river of Galway.
A.D. 1360. Gilla-na-naomh O’Convaigh (Conway), chief professor of music, died.
A.D. 1361. Donogh O’Loghlen, Lord of Corcomroe, died.
A.D. 1364. Gilla-na-naomh O’Davoren, chief brehon of Corcomroe, died.
A.D. 1389. Melaghlen cam O’Loghlen, Lord of Corcomroe, was treacherously slain by his own brother.
A.D. 1396. Irial O’Loghlen, Lord of Corcomroe, was killed by Mac Girr-an-Adhastair (now Nestor), one of his own tribe.
A.D. 1404. Carroll O’Daly, Olav of Corcomroe, died. ^[4]
A.D. 1415. Lord Furnival came to Ireland as Lord Justice. He plundered the property of Farrell, the son of Teige, son of Aengus Roe O’Daly, of Burren.
A.D. 1425. MacGowan of the Stories (na sceal) that is, Thomas, son of Gilla-na-neav MacGowan, Olav to O’Loghlen of Corcomroe, died.
A.D. 1448. O’Loghlen, Lord of Burren, died.
A.D. 1514. Teige, son of Donogh, son of Teige, son of Carroll O’Daly, of Corcomroe, a professor of poetry, who kept a house of general hospitality, died at Finagh Bheara, and was buried in the Abbey of Corcomroe.
A.D. 1562. The son of O’Loghlen, namely, Melaghlin, son of Owney, son of Melaghlin, son of Rury, son of Ana, son of Donogh-an-chuil, son of Ana Bacagh O’Loghlen, was killed in an expedition of the Earl of Thomond against Glin Castle, county of Limerick.
A.D. 1569. The Lord Justice this year went to Limerick, and thence to Thomond. He took the castles of Cluain-Dubhain (Cloondooan, parish of Kilkeedy) and Baile-in-Bheachain (Ballyvaughan), and he afterwards proceeded to Galway.
A.D. 1584. Turlogh, the son of Owney, son of Melaghlin O’Loghlen of Burren, was, in the beginning of the month of March in this year, taken prisoner on Muic-Inish (near Ballyvaughan) by Turlogh, the son of Donald O’Brien, and put to death at Ennis by Captain Brabazon at the ensuing summer sessions.
A.D. 1590. Owney O’Loghlen, the son of Melaghlin, son of Rury, son of Ana, died, and his son Rossa, and his grandson Owney, were contending with each other for his place.”