Part I. Topography of Thomond Chapter 4. Ui Caisin

Notices of the MacNamaras in the Annals of the Four Masters

The following notices of the territories of Ui Caisin and Clan Culein occur in the Annals of the Four Masters and in the Annals of Innisfallen. We also copy all the references made in these Annals to the inhabitants of the district.

A.D. 1014. Meanma, the son of the Lord of Ui Caisin, died. (He was the son of Aodh, and grandfather of Cumara, from whom the family name of Mac Con Mara or MacNamara is derived.)
A.D. 1018. MacCatharnaigh, son of Aodh, one of the Ui Caisin, made an attack on Donogh, the son of Brian Boroimhe, and gave him a blow of a sword on the head, and cut off his right hand.
A.D. 1099. The son of Cumara, who was the son of Donald, lord of Ui Caisin, died.
A.D. 1135. Cumara, son of Cumara, son of Donald, lord of Ui Caisin, fell in a battle with the men of Thomond.
A.D. 1142. Donogh O’Connor, lord of Ciaraigh Luachra, was killed by Cumara beg, lord of Ui Caisin.
A.D. 1170. Lorcan O’Ahern was killed by the sons of MacNamara and the Ui Caisin.
A.D. 1300. The O’Gradys, assisted by the O’Deas, give their support to Donald, son of MacCon, in his endeavour to get a part of Ui Caisin from his relative, Donogh, son of Cuvea. They plundered the country and defeated him in a bloody battle, in which most of his followers were slain, including Hugh, son of Cuvea; Conor and Mahone, sons of Maloney; Maoelsaghlen, son of Sheeda; O’Halloran, and Conor, son of Conduv O’Healy. ^[7]
A.D. 1309. Donogh, son of Cuvea More MacNamara, ruler of Ui Caisin, was treacherously killed by his own people, and by Donald O’Grady, chief of Cinel Dongaile. His brother, Loghlen Laidir, was elected chief in his stead.
A.D. 1311. Sheeda MacNamara died.
A.D. 1312. A few of the tribe of O’Coiléan going to prey upon Ui Floinn, one of them was killed.
A.D. 1328. In a contest against Brien Bane O’Brien, the son of Cumana MacNamara, was slain.
A.D. 1334. A great army both of English and Irish was led by the Connaughtmen into Munster against the MacNamaras. They burned a church in which were one hundred and eighty persons and two priests, none of whom escaped.
A.D. 1357. Donogh MacNamara, the best son of a chieftain in Leth Mogha, in his time was slain by the O’Briens.
A.D. 1369. The MacNamaras, under the command of Brien Catha an Eanaigh O’Brien, obtained a signal victory over the English and captured Limerick. Sheeda Cam MacNamara, son of Loghlen Laidir, and of the daughter of O’Dwyer was placed as warden of the town. The English rose upon him and treacherously slew him.
A.D. 1370. Joanna Cam (the crooked), daughter of MacCarthy and wife of MacNamara, of Quin died. ^[8]
A.D. 1377. The Burkes of Galway invaded Clan Culein. The MacNamaras, under the leadership of Hugh (son of the daughter of O’Daly of Corcomroe), opposed and routed them. Theobald, son of Ulick, head of the kernes, the three sons of O’Heyne, and many others of the Clan Ricard were slain. ^[9]
A.D. 1378. Teige, the son of Loghlen MacNamara, was slain by Hugh, son of the daughter of O’Daly.
A.D. 1378. Mahone, the son of John MacNamara, died.
A.D. 1380. Cumara Gearr (the short), i.e., the MacNamara, was treacherously slain by his own kinsmen.
A.D. 1381. Philip O’Kennedy, lord of Ormond, and his wife, Ainé, the daughter of MacNamara, died.
A.D. 1407. MacNamara, chief of Clan Culein, died.
A.D. 1428. MacNamara, chief of Clan Culein, a charitable and truly hospitable man, who had repressed robbery and established peace in his territory, died.
A.D. 1432. Melaghin Maineach MacNamara, chief of Clan Culein, died.
A.D. 1433. Maccon Ceanmore (of the big head) MacNamara, chief of Clan Culein, died.
A.D. 1486. Cumara MacNamara was exultingly (go haith-easach), slain by the sons of Donogh MacNamara.
A.D. 1486. Raghnailt, daughter of John MacNamara and wife of Turlogh O’Brien, lord of Ormond, died.
A.D. 1487. Hugh, the son of Philip Roe MacNamara, a brave and warlike man, died.
A.D. 1490. Finola, the daughter of Rory MacNamara, and wife of Turlogh, the son of Murrogh O’Brien, died.
A.D. 1492. Cuvea, the son of John MacNamara, died.
A.D. 1498. Slainé, the daughter of Sheeda Cam MacNamara, and wife of MacWilliam, i.e., Ulick of Clanricard, died.
A.D. 1542. Maccon, son of Cuvea, son of Donogh, son of Rory, son of Maccon Ceanmore, was unbecomingly slain by his kinsman, Maccon, son of Rory, son of Maccon, son of Rory, son of Maccon Ceanmore.
A.D. 1570. John MacNamara, son of Sheeda, son of Maccon, son of Sheeda, son of Teige, son of Loghlen, lord of East Clan Culein, died. He was a noble and majestic man, and the favourite of women and damsels by reason of his gaiety and pleasantry. Donald Reigh, the son of Cuvea, son of Donogh, succeeded.
A.D. 1571. MacNamara, i.e., Teige, son of Cuvea, son of Cumara, son of John, died, and his son John took his place.
A.D. 1578. Sheeda, son of Maccon, son of Sheeda, son of Maccon, Tanist of East Clan Culein, was slain on Slieve-Eachtao, while in pursuit of a party of the kernes of Clanrickard who were carrying off plunder.
A.D. 1584. Donogh, the son of MacNamara, of West Clan Culein, died. He was the son of Teige, son of Cuvea, son of Cumara, son of John. Of all the Clan Culein he was the most redoubtable to his enemies on the field of battle. He was succeeded by his brother John.
A.D. 1585. An ordinance was enacted at a session held at the monastery of Ennis, by which it was ordained that the chief of every sept should be stript of his titles and tributes except John MacNamara, lord of West Clan Culein, who refused to subscribe his signature to these regulations.
A.D. 1587. Cuvea, son of the above-named John, died.
A.D. 1588. Teige, son of Donald Reigh, son of Cuvea, son of Dongoh [Donogh], son of Rory, lord of West Clan Culein, was hanged at Galway.
A.D. 1592. Donald Reigh, son of Cuvea, son of Donogh, son of Rory, son of Maccon Ceanmore, called the MacNamar Reigh, lord of West Clan Culein, died on the 23^rd of February of this year. He was a sumptuous, festive, bounteous and humane man.