VIII. Ui
Caisin or Ogashin
This is the name of the original Territory of the Mac Namaras and their dependents and is only their original tribe name transferred to the country. Its more original name was Magh Adhair, signifying the Plain of Adhar, and appellation which it received from Adhar, the Firbolg, who possessed this plain in the first Century. See my letter on the Parish of Cloney. The exact extent of the original country of this tribe is preserved in the ecclesiastical division called the Deanery of Ogashin, in which the following Parishes are contained according to the Liber Regalis Visitationis.
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 Map of Ui Caisin Click on the map for larger version |
It appears from Magrath’s Wars of Thomond that this was the original Country of the Mac Namaras, but after the year 1318 when the Hy-Bloid were defeated by the descendants of Torlogh O’Brien aided by the Mac Namaras, the latter got possession of nearly the entire of that part of the County of Clare lying to the east of the River Fergus and shortly after this period this tract was divided into two parts between two rival of Chiefs of the Mac Namaras. One of these divisions was called Clann Oirthearach Choileain (east) and its Chief Mac Namara Fionn, and the other Clann Iartharach Choileain and its Chief Mac Namara Reagh. The description of the County of Clare often already referred to as preserved in the Library of Trinity College places the following Parishes and Castles in the County of the Western Mac Namara which was called the Barony of Dangan in the reign of Queen Elizabeth.
“The Barony of Dangan conteyninge West Mac Namara’s Country, and is in ploughlands (plowghlands) after like rate XVIII. Shane Mac Namara Chief in the same.”
PARISHES.
Vicar of Quinhy (hodie Quin)
Vicar of Toymenlogh (Tomfinlough hodie)
Vicar of Kilraghtis (sic hodie)
Vicar of Bonratty (hodie Bunratty)
Vicar of Ffynnagh (hodie Feenagh)
Vicar of Kilkonry (hodie Kilcorny et Hibernicé Kil-Conghe)
Vicar of Kilantynan (hodie Kilfintanan) Vicar of Kilchwayn (hodie Kilquan)
Vicar of Cluny (hodie Cloney)
Vicar of Dury (hodie Dowry et Hibce. Duiré)
Vicar of Temple-Imale (hodie Templemaley) Vicar of Dromlyn (hodie Drumline)
Vicar of Clonloghan (sic hodie)
Vicar of Kilmalyre (hodie Kilmaleery)
Vicar of Killiele (hodie Killeely)
This Territory of the Western Mac Nemara swallowed up all Tradree which is a district of great celebrity which belonged first, according to O’Heerin, to O’Neill, a family of the Hy-Bloid. The name of this Territory is still known in the County, but the natives do not agree about the extent, some saying that Tradree comprises seven Parishes, and others that it contains but two Parishes. All however agree that this Territory lies between the River of Bunratty and the Fergus. But whatever may be the limits assigned to this Territory by Oral tradition, there can be no doubt that its original extent is preserved in that of the ecclesiastical division called the Deanery of Tradree, which comprises the following Parishes, according to the Liber Regalis Visitationis.
1. Tomfinlogh (sic hodie)
2. Killanasulagh (Killonasoolagh)
3. Kilmaleery (sic hodie)
4. Kilcorney (sic hodie)
5. Clonloghan (sic hodie)
6. Dromlayne (hodie Drumline - Dromline)
7. Ffyneagh (hodie Feenagh)
8. Bonratty (hodie Bunratty)
9. Killoyne (?)
10. Inishadrom (hodie Inis dá Dhrom, an island in the mouth of the Fergus).
The Country of Mac Namara Finn (Reagh) otherwise called the Eastern (Western) Mac Namara contained the following Parishes and Castles, according to the document above mentioned. “The Barony of Tullaghnenaspull conteyneth Mac Nemarie’s (alias Mortimer’s!) Country by East and is ploughlands (plowelands) after the rate of VI (XX) (i.e., six score) acres to every ploweland XXVIII. The Baron of Inshiquin and Donel Reogh Mac Nemara, Chief in the same.” PARISHES. |
 Map of Tradraighe Click on the map for larger version |
| Castles | Gentlemen |
| Tullaghe | Donell Reaghe |
| Toymegreene (Tomgraney) | Edmond O’Grady |
| Muyno (Moynoe) | Edmond O’Grady |
| Ffertan (sic hodie) | Donogh & Rory Mac Namara |
| Garougharagh (hodie Garrooragh) | Donogh & Rory Mac Namara |
| Ffyeklenearly (Feakle) | Donell Reogh Mac Nemara |
| Iland Cahir (over Loughderg) | Rory Mac Nemara’s sons |
| Killalowe (sic hodie) | Donogh Mac Nemara |
| O’Brien’s Bridge (sic hodie) | O’Brien’s Bridge (sic hodie) |
| Castle Loghe (in Lough Derg) | The Baron of Inshiquin |
| Dunasse (sic hodie) | Shane na Geyttagh |
| Cullistecke (Coolistyke) | Donnell Roe |
| Neadennury (?) | Teige Oge Mc Conmea |
| Glanomra (Glenoamra) | Tirilagh Mc Donell Roe |
| Short Castle | Donel Reogh |
| Glanoradone | Tirilagh O’Brien |
| Moyneageanagh | Shida Mac Rory |
| Moymtallone (Mountholland) | Shane Mac Nemara’s son |
| Tyreowanyn (Tirowanin hodie) | Donell Reogh |
| Enaghowleyne (Enaghoflyne) | Shane Mac Mahown |
| Beallakullen (Ballycullen hodie) | Shane Mc Donell |
| Ballyarilly | Brian Mc Donell Roe |
| Ballymilleyne (Milltown) | Comea Mc Mahown |
| Castle Callogh | Th’ Erle of Thomond |
| Ahereynagh | Donogh Mc Conogher |
| Rosroe (sic) | Ffynnin Mac Laghlin |
| Ballymolgashill | Tege Oultagh |
| Quaronenvyre | Comey Mac Shane Rey |
| Cullan | Comey Mac Shane Rey |
| Kelkissin | Rory Mac Mahown |
| Lysofine | Rory Mac Mahown |
| Lysmeighan | Rory Mac Mahown |
| Ffomarla | Tirilogh O’Brien |
| Tyriedaghe | Tirilogh O’Brien |
| Caeppagh | Shane Mac Nemara |
| Skeriff | Edmond O’Grady |
| Trugh | Edmond O’Grady |
| Beallagha | Rory Moell Mc Ffynnin |
From these lists it appears that the entire of the Baronies
of Upper and Lower Tullagh and Upper and Lower Bunratty were
included in the Countries of two Mac Namaras in the reign of
Queen Elizabeth.
The following notices of the Territories of Hy-Caisin, and Clann Choileain occur in the Annals of the Four Masters:- A.D. 1014. Meanma, the son of the Lord of Hy-Caisin, died.” (He
was the son of Aodh and grandfather of Cumara from whom the
family name of Mac Cu Mara or Mac Namara is derived). |
 Click on the map for larger version |
A.D. 1584. The son of Mac Namara of West Clann Coilen died, viz., Donogh, son of Teige, son of Cumey, son of Cumara, son of John. Of all the Clann Choilen he was the most redoubtable to his enemies in the field of battle.
A.D. 1585. An Ordinance was enacted at a Session held in the Monastery of Ennis this year by which the Head or Chief of every Sept was stripped of his title and tributes, except John Mac Namara, Lord of the western part of the Territory of Clann Choileain, who did not subscribe his signature to this Ordinance.
A.D. 1587. The son of Mac Namara of the western Clann Choilen, died, viz., Cumey, son of John, son of Teige, son of Cumey, son of Cumara, son of John.
A.D. 1588. Mac Namara, Lord of the western (sic) part of Clann Choilen viz., Teige, son of Donnell Reagh, son of Cumey, son of Donogh, son of Rory, was hanged at Galway.
A.D. 1592. Mac Namara Reagh, Lord of the western (eastern) part of Clann Choilen (viz., Donnell Reagh, the son of Cumey, son of Donogh, son of Rory, son of Mac Con Kanmore) died on the 23rd of February. He was a sumptuous, festive, bounteous and humane man.
Before the Mac Namaras had driven out the Hy-Bloid their own Territory comprised only that Tract which is called Hy-Caisin, of which we have given the exact extent already, and the remaining part of the eastern half of the County was divided into several Territories among petty Chieftains of the tribe of Blod. These Territories [are listed in the following chapters].
