Nulla manus tam liberalis,
Et generalis atque universalis,
Quam Sullivanus.
No hand so liberal,
And so general and universal,
As the O'Sullivan.
|
See some interesting details of their generosity and liberality in History of Muckross, chap. ix., x., xi., xii. O'Heerin records the magnanimous spirit that always characterised this noble family of the O'Sullivans:--
 |
O'Sullivan who loved no oppression,
Over the great Eoghanacht of Munster;
Under Cnock Rafoun he obtained his land,
After gaining battles and conflicts.
|
They were originally the Princes of Cnock Rafoun (Raffan) and Clonnicala (Clonmel), in the Co. Tipperary, but having, been driven from this rich territory by the English in 1192 they sought a home in the mountains of Cork and Kerry. They then wrested the lands of Bearra and Bantry from the O'Driscols and Dunkerron and parts of the lands of Iveragh from the O'Falveys and O'Sheas, in Kerry. The O'Sullivan More was a very powerful chief in Kerry in the time of Elizabeth. Sir William Herbert in his tracts, Calendar State Papers, 1588, p. 538: "The O'Sullivan More is lord of a great country, he is the Earl of Clancar's, Seneschal, and Marshal, married to Florence MacCarthy's sister, and able to make a hundred swords" (to bring a hundred soldiers equipped with swords). . . . "He is chief in this action," -- that is, the marriage of Florence MacCarthy with the Earl of Clancar's daughter. The O'Sullivan More had a princely mansion at Dunkerron, and excerised there a princely hospitality. See a description of the ruins of this castle in the Kilkenny Archæological Society's Journal, March, 1859, vol. p. 291, which also has a very interesting historical account of the family of Dunkerron and Cappanacuss. See also the historical sketch of these O'Sullivans in History of Muckross, chap. vii., viii., ix., x.; and the account of the O'Sullivans Beara, Chap. xi., xii., and xiii.
 |
Aos-Aisde, of the flock abounding plain,
The hero O'Moriarty has obtained
A fine land with green aspect,
O'h-Imhasbain has acquired. (O'Donovan.)
|
This territory extended from Loch-Lein (Killarney) along the river Mang to the sea. They also possessed the parishes of Templenoe and some adjoining districts before the advent of the O Sullivans to Kerry. According to our author they owned all Desmond, and quietly handed it over to their brother chieftains, dispossessed of their lands in the rich plains of Munster. We believe, however, they were forced, like the O'Falveys, the O'Driscols, the O'Carrols, and the O'Connells to give up their ancestral territories to the O'Sullivans, the McCarthys, and the O'Donoghues; and especially to the latter, who were the kings of all Munster, and who had suzerain rights over the whole south of Ireland. The family of the O'Moriartys is mentioned in our old Annals of Innisfallen, at 1067, 1068, 1107, 1140; and at A.D. 1195, we find the following remarkable entry: Mahon, son of Moriarty (Muircheartagh), was slain by a O'Donoghue, who then wrested the country from the Moriartys. This is how the Moriartys "resigned and made over without any disputes or blows the major part of the county of Desmond," as our author very naively puts it, lest his namesakes the O'Sullivans would be accused of usurping the lands of the Moriartys around Kenmare and Bantry.
THE O'SULLIVAN BOURSES.
Our information regarding these two Presidents of the Irish College, Louvain, is from the most authentic sources, as it has been supplied to us by our good friend, the learned Monsignor Mercier, President of the College of St. Thomas, Louvain, who kindly sent us the work of the erudite antiquarian, Monsignor Reusens, on the "Colleges of Louvain." Monsignor Reusens himself has copied all these documents from the originals. If we can command time, we hope to have a personal investigation of these bourses, and to procure the names of all those who studied upon them, from their foundation. In the meantime, could not those who have enjoyed the generosity of these illustrious Kerrymen subscribe for some lasting memorial to them in the cathedral of Killarney, or in the church of Templenoe -- their native parish; I am quite sure the O'Sullivans in Kerry, and those scattered through the world, would willingly join in erecting this memorial. We are very glad we can prove by this sketch of the life of John O'Sullivan written by contemporary authors (Paquot and Bax), that he had a brother, and that his successor, as President of the Irish College, was a son of that brother. This has been denied by the authorities now in possession of the bourses. The account, however, of Louvain must be the most authentic, as it is taken from his baptismal certificate and the documents referring to his office of president. We hope to be able to glean some other valuable information about these bourses and their founders when we go to Louvain and examine these documents at our leisure. We now place before our readers the short sketch of the lives of the founders of the bourses, literally translated from Monsignor Reusen's work, and we add a short account of all the remaining bourses, with their present yearly value.
JOHN O'SULLIVAN, FOUNDER OF FIRST BOURSE.
John Sullivan, of Dunkerron, in Ireland, fifth from the College of "Porco," was a lector in the monastery of Lobby, and afterwards a missionary in Ireland. He was called back from his native country, to Belgium by the Internuncius Apostolic, and by him was appointed president or coadjutor to Peter Damman, President of the Druitian College. After Peter Damman's death John Sullivan was appointed President of the College. He was, however, obliged to resign this office, when another, who was named by the founder, Druitio, offered himself. John Sullivan, in the meantime, returned to his Irish College, where he remained president till at least 1696. He then either resigned in favour of Florence O'Sullivan, who was his brother's son, or he took him for his coadjutor. He died 16th May, 1699, aged sixty-six years. His epitaph in the church of Herent is -- "Collegii Hibernorum Praeses et Benefactor." "John Sullivan, President and Benefactor of the Irish College." Herent is a small hamlet, or farm, with a few houses, near Louvain, which belongs to the bourses of the Irish College. He left 732 florins for bourses. These now realise 9,568 fr. 83 cent. per an. We give again the original documents from the archives of Brussels on these bourses, as a great many families in Kerry are interested in them: -- John Sullivan, in 1699 (the year of his death), granted 732 florins for Irish students in Rhetoric, Philosophy and Theology, for his relations of the second degree, provided they were born in Ireland. The presentation was in two Doctors of Theology, chosen by the Rector in "Strict Faculty." John Fitzgerald enjoyed this in 1780, M. Sullivan in 1782, and Daniel Magrath in 1784.
FLORENCE O'SULLIVAN; FOUNDER OF SECOND BOURSE.
Florence O'Sullivan, an Irishman, and nephew of the last President of the Irish College, was born in 1655, and was sixth (e Lillis) in arts, and afterwards a student in the Irish College. The year 1692, or perhaps, more truly speaking, 1694 -- for then he was Licentiate, and entering the Faculty of Arts, he was one of those deputed by the Faculty to elect a Rector of the University, and President of the Irish College -- he was given as successor to John O'Sullivan, who then governed the Druitian College. In the year 1697, when his uncle John resigned, or when in 1699 he died, Florence was appointed President of the Irish College. In the year 1698 he was created Doctor of Theology. He died unexpectedly, 19th August, 1731, from the effects of wounds he received in a fall on Mount Roseelberg. He is buried in the Church of St. James, in which is his epitaph.
Florence Sullivan, in 1732, granted 1098 florins for students in Philosophy, Theology, Law, and Medicine, a preference to be given his kindred to the third degree, then to the O'Sullivans of Kerry, the MacCarthy's of Kerry, or Datives of Kerry, Cashel, or Ulster. The oldest Doctor in Theology, the President of the College, and the oldest visitor were the Presentors. It is now worth only 973 fr. 05 cents.
ACTUAL STATE OF THE FOUNDATI0N OF THE (LATE) IRISH COLLEGE, LOUVAIN.
A.
Foundations administered by the Provincial Commission of Brabant --
1. Duiegenan, Helen (she granted in 1770, 7,848 florins) -- 17 francs, 50 centimes.
2. Hurley, Thomas (granted in 1697, 3,200 florins) -- 152 fr. 87 c.
3. Kent, John (in 1781, 707 florins for Waterford) -- 1197 fr. 77 c.
4. Magrath, Raymond (granted in 1780, 9,402 florins) -- 42 fr. 50 c.
5. Mauricy (Hugh) Morrissy, (gave 2,373 florins in 1680) -- 548 fr. 64 c.
6. Morgan Colomba (she gave 7,044 florins in 177) -- 0.0.
7. Nottingham, Roger (1,000 florins in 1692) -- 1754 fr. 08 c.
8. O'Brien, Bishop of Cloyne (217 florins in 1796) -- 0.0.
9. Roche, David and Paul (6,008 florins in 1727) -- 2454 fr. 81 c.
10. Sullivan, Florence (1,098 florins in 1732) -- 973 fr. 05 c.
11. Tyrrell, Thomas (4,800 florins in 1771) -- 0.0.
12. Tuohy, Edmund (4,585 florins in 1782) -- 0.0.
13. Pope Urbain VIII., Prosser and Shinkin (8,000 florins) -- 1837 fr. 69 c.
B.
Foundations administered by the Office of the Seminary of Malines --
1. Connolly, Arnold (2,383 florins in 1715) -- 146 fr. 11 c.
2. French, Nicholas, Bishop of Ferns (600 florins in 1683) -- 231 fr. 50 c.
3. Mathew, Eugene, Bishop of Dublin (gave 2,400 florins in 1624) -- 172 fr. 9c.
4. Normel, James (in 1653 gave 933 florins) -- 233 fr. 47 c.
5. Sullivan, John (see his life here) -- 9568 83.
6. Theige, Matthew (in 1652 gave 5,702 florins) -- 1,302 fr. 65 c.
We clearly see here why the bourses of this last list are yet so valuable, and those of the first so profitless: -- the one is in the hands of Ecclesiastics, and the other is in the power of seculars. The bourse of John O'Sullivan would have been also lost were it not that, through the powerful influence of Doctor Moriarty, Earl Granville brought such pressure on the liberal (infidel) government of Belgium of the day, that they were obliged to hand over this bourse to the ecclesiastical authorities in Belgium; and thus this inestimable boon has been secured to all future generations of the O'Sullivans, by this illustrious Bishop, and the practical interference of his secretary, now the Most Rev. Doctor J. Coffey, Bishop of Kerry.
"When the great rising of 1641 took place, the Munster chiefs cast about for the fittest person to plead the cause of their country and religion at the Court of Spain. Their choice fell upon Father Francis O'Su1livan. He accepted the embassy, and was so successful in his suit that he obtained, in a short time, from Philip IV., three thousand pounds in silver and a large supply of muskets and ammunition. These much needed succours were speedily despatched to Ireland, and reached Dungarvan in safety. Having fulfilled his mission, he appears to have returned without delay. He was certainly in Ireland, and Guardian of Ardfert, in 1645.
"Desolation and blood ushered in the mid-century. The five days' slaughter at Drogheda, the murdered women and children round the great cross in the Bull-ring of Wexford, and worse than all, the calamitous death of Owen Roe O'Neill on his march southwards to cross swords with Cromwell -- these are the harrowing scenes, at which we shudder even now as we read, that chilled the blood and palsied the arm of the Catholic soldiers of Ireland during the closing months of 1649. Leinster and the greater portion of Munster were overrun by the Parliamentarians in the beginning of the new year, and when the Franciscan Chapter met at Kilconnell, on August 17th, 1650, there only remained to the Confederates the seaports of Limerick and Galway, and some of the western counties. Notwithstanding the dangers which beset the way the Fathers assembled in their full number. All the "vocals" were present, that is all who had the right of voting in the elections. The first business was the consideration of the conduct of those who had supported Caron in his opposition to the Nuncio and to the late Provincial. Most of them appeared before the Chapter, and having made complete submission, were, thereupon, absolved from the censures they had incurred, and dismissed to the convents. Father Francis O'Sullivan was then elected Provincial, and Guardians appointed for sixty-two convents in Ireland, and for the four colleges on the Continent which belonged to the Irish province, viz.: For St. Antony's at Louvain, St. Isidore at Rome, the College of Immaculate Conception at Prague, and the newly-acquired convent at Vielum in Poland. As these, under the circumstances of the time, could not be governed from Ireland, the Provincial delegated his powers to the celebrated Father John Colgan, and appointed him Commissary, with full jurisdiction over all our houses beyond the seas.
"Before the Chapter separated it was announced that since September, 1647, one hundred and twenty of the brethern had died, many of them, we may be sure, from ill-treatment and exposure, and that fourteen had suffered martyrdom . . . In 1653, we find him instructing ("erudiens," Lynch writes) the Catholics of Dunkerron and Iveragh. He could, at least, trust the fidelity of his own kith and kin, and here, if anywhere, he was secure. But, no, the merciful Lord had chosen to call his servant. He had fought the good fight, and the crown was ready for the victor.
"In June, a company of Cromwellian troops, under the command of Colonel Nelson, defiled through the mountain passes of West Kerry. Rapine and murder marked their track. The terrified inhabitants fled to the hiding places of the reeks and glens. The Provincial retired to the Atlantic sea-board, and finally took refuge in Scarriff, an island to the north of the Kenmare River, some two or three miles off Darrynane. . . . On the eve of the feast of the Baptist a troop of Nelson's solders landed on the island. Father O'Sullivan had concealed himself in a cave on the shore. They quickly discovered his hiding place, and rushed upon the defenceless priest. Their muskets were raised to fire, but before the shots could take effect, a wretch sprang forward and cut off the upper portion of his skull with one blow of his sword. Thus died the martyr of Christ, on June 23rd, 1653. Many years had he laboured for the Master, and when dangers came, when the wolves overran the vinyard, he laboured still, and flinched not. If he seemed to retreat before the ravening pack, it was in obedience to the Gospel precept, "If they persecute you in one city, flee into another." (Matt. c. x., v. 23.) Like St. Mark, he neither feared to die, nor yet refused to live in the need of his brethren.
"His body was laid at rest in the little graveyard on the eastern side of the island, and for many years the "martyr's grave" was pointed out with reverence. Some time after the events narrated above, Scarriff came into possession of the O'Connells of Darrynane. One of the family removed the upper portion of the skull to their residence, where it was religiously venerated as the relic of a martyr for several generations. Even so late as the time of Maurice O'Connell, the Liberator's uncle, it was brought forward on important occasions when people of the neighbourhood were being sworn, to impart solemnity to the truth."
"Provincials of the Franciscan Order in Ireland. Fran. Tertiary, March, 1898 p. 321. By V.R. Father Lawrence Browne, O.F.M., Cork."
"To all X'pian (Christian) people to whome this p'nt (present) deede of Mortgadge shall come, Joal1 Fitzmorish, als (alias) Sullevane, the relict of Donnell o Sullevane More, Esqr., late deceased; Owen o Sullevane More, Esqr.; Owen McOwen o Sullevane of Ballymcgillynavla, and Donnell o Sullevane of Culemagort, in the County of Kerry, gent, send greeting in our Lord God everlasting; know ye that we the said Joan, Owen o Sullevane, Esqr., etc., for sundry good and valuable considerac'ons and causes us thereunto (sic.) moveing and especially for, and in considerac'on of the just and full sum'e of one hundred pounds ster'. . . . Have given, graunted, mortgadged, bargained, sould, and confirmed . . . unto the said Joan, Owen o Sullevane. . . . All that and those the towne and lands of the plough lands of Cullynagh . . . the town and lands of Stronashyrry, containing one plough land, . . . and a plowland of the two plough lands of Killow, in Toragh . . . to have and to hould unto the said Donogh, his heires, Executors, etc. . . . for ever, etc. . . . Lastly, know ye that wee the s'd Joan, Owen o Sullevane More, etc., etc., doe hereby nominate, depute, and authorise our well-beloved John McTeig oge Cuddy, of Culeanagh, in the said county, gent, our true and lawfull Attourney, etc., etc.
"Signed, sealed, and delivered to the s'd Attourney in p'sence of whose names doe ensue."
There was a long litigation on this Deed of Mortgage between the McGillicudy and the O'Sullivans. A very curious reason is given in a Petition of McGillicudy to Lord Inchiquin, President of Munster, for the miscarriage of the Deed:-- "The distempers of the tymes . . . by means whereof yr pettioner hitherto reaped noe pr'fitt nor benefitt of the lands aforesaid." Inchiquin gave an order for the investigation of the case from Castle Lyons, 12th December, 1648, which was decided in favour of the McGillicudy; but it is absolutely certain this family never obtained possession of those lands. They passed away from the family and name in the confiscations of the Prince of Orange.
At the Supreme Council of Kilkenny the sept was represented by O'Sullivan More of Dunkieran, and Daniel O'Sullivan of Culmagart. This proves that the family of Culmagart were a powerful branch of the sept up to the Cromwellian confiscations.
The lineal descent from McCrah Rua who proceeded Rury Don, as O'Sullivan More, and from whom the Sliocht McCrah are named, is as follows:-- McCrath (or Creagh), Conor, Owen, Buadhach ("Bogg," or "Boetius"), Donogh, Conor, Owen, Dermot, Owen, Dermot. Conor died 7th January, 1639. Owen was killed at Glanmore. -- MSS. in T.C.D.
Michael O'Sullivan of Killarney is the only lineal descendant we know of the Sliocht O'Sullivan McCrah. He and his brothers and cousins of Firies, can claim this proud distinction of tracing their family pedigree to the last of these here mentioned --Conor, who died in 1639.
The following certificate of the Under Sherriff of the County Kerry, of his having put Mrs. Lily Sullevane in possession of the lands here melltioned, shows that a large property remained in the O'Sullivan More family in Iveragh up to 1651.
"A note of O'Sullyvan's Chifferies in the Barony of Ivraigh :--
| Oghlaff a pd and a third part of p'd | xxvis. viid. ster. |
| Dromod 2 p'ds | 2ii. 6s. viiid. ster. |
| Dromod belonging to Dominick Mce Bruige a pd | xxvs. ster. |
| Durie, a p'd | xxvs. ster. |
| Mortagh Mce Owen, out a p'd of Cannig | xix. |
| Donill Mce Broige, a pd | xxviii. ster. |
| Roger Mce Mortagh, out of Cannioge | xiis. viiid. ster. |
| Donill Mce Donough, a p'd | xxviis. ster. |
| The said Donill Mce Donough, of Droniniragh, a p'd | xxvs. ster. |
| Donill Mce Owen of Kilmakierin, a p'd. | xxiis. ster. |
| More out of the said Killmakierin | xxiis. ster. |
| Briaghig, a p'd | xxvs. ster. |
| Caneh, 4 p'l'ds. | |
| Jefferie Mce Richard, out of Agort, a pl'd | xxs. ster. |
| Roger Mce Mortagh | vis. viiid. ster. |
| Killeno Gaha (torn). | |
| Glughanetaunig (torn). | |
| Killnobounie belonginge to Owen Mce Donill Mce Phillip | xxxs. ster. |
| The other Kilnobounie | xxviiis. viiid. ster. |
Being p'nt (present) at the time when possession was delivered unto Mrs. Lily O'Sullyvane by George Barrie, under Sherriffe of th' above Te's and rents belongeinge to O'Sullyvane More, wee whose names ensue
Thomas Broune.
Morish Mce Donough.
John Mce Edmond his + marke.
Donill Mce Swiny his + marke.
Donough Mce Dermody his + marke.
|
|
I doe hereby certifie that by virtue of the Right Honoble the Lo. Deputie's warrant, I have delivered quiet and peaceable possession of the Te's and Chieferents of O'Sullyvane More into Mrs. Lyly O'Sullyvane, wthin the Barronie of Dunkierane, and soe much I thought fitt to signifie under my hand. Datii V die decr. 1651.
| Roseconsan, half a ploughland | xxs. ster. |
| Gortecomagh, 2 plowlands | 4li. ster. |
| Gricnane, halfe a plowllind | xxs. ster. |
| Cappanscosse, two plowlands | iiii li. ster. |
| Cappaghroo, two plowlands | iiii li. ster. |
| Lackeire, two plowlands | iiii li. ster. |
| Durrinefuile, halfe ploughland | xvs. ster. |
| Derrevurro, halfe a ploughland | xvs. ster. |
| Droumloskie, a plowland | xxxs. ster. |
| Letternuil, halfe a ploughland | xvs. ster. |
| Dirinbrade | |
| (Torn. Two entries are here illegible.) | |
| Derrikine, a plowland | xxxs. ster. |
| Gortegoune and Clouncalline | iii li. ster. |
| Ballineliagles, half a plowland | xvs. ster. |
| Macera Mce Teige, of Driminisse, 2 p'lds | iiii li. ster. |
| Drimineiragh, a plowland | xxxs. ster. |
Being p'nt (present) at the time when th' above George Berrie under Sherriffe delivered possession unto th' above Mrs. Lyly Sullyvane of the above Tenements, wee whose names ensueth: -- Edmond Honlaghan. -- Thomas Browne. -- Donough Mce Sermodieglas his + marke. -- John Mce Thomas his + marke. -- Donil Mce Swiney his + marke. -- Morish Hoare his + mark. -- John Mce Edmond his + marke."
("MacGillicudy Papers," pp. 56, 57, 58.)
In 1657 we find in the same Papers the following Commission for Owen O'Sullivan,
son of the above mentioned Lyly O'Sullivan:--
"Charles R. [Autograph.]
"Charles, by the grace of God, King of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c. To our trusty and wellbeloved Owen O Sullyvane, Ensign, Greeting. Know you that We, reposing trust and confidence in yo'r diligence, fidelitie, and experience in military affairs, Doe hereby constitute and appoint you to be Enseigne of one Company of foote, where of Colonel Gilbert Talebott is Captaine, in the Regiment of our most dear and entirely beloved brother, Henry Duke of [Gloster], whereof Tibault, Lord Viscount Taf', is Colonel. . . .
"Given at our Court of Bruges in Flanders, this eleventh day of January 1657, in
the eight year of our Reigne. By his Mat. command. ("McGillicuddy Papers," p. 59.)
"Edw. Walker."
In 1661, Viscount Tauffe certified that the above Owen O'Sullivan always served "With all integritie, care, diligent (sic.) and obedience, and also demeaning himself as did become a valiant and worthy officer." (11 Jan., 1661, p. 60.)
In 1665, the McGillicudy's Certificate was confirmed under the Act of Settlement for 2000 acres, Irish, or 3239 acres, 2 poles, 17 roods, English, in the Barony of Dunkerron, at a yearly rent to his Majesty of £30, 7s. 5d.
On 25th January, 1666, McGillicudy gets an order from Ormond to allow ten firearms in his house for its defence, at Carrubeg, and three cases of pistols for travelling arms.
He also got a license to visit London with his son, Denis, 13th February, 1673.
"And Patrick Trant maketh oath that Col. Donogh MacDonogh MacGillicudy and Denis MacGillicudy, his Son, hath necessary occasion to come to the Cities of London and Westminster, to follow their business.
"28 die Jan'ry, Mo. Brampton. (Idem, pp. 79, 98.) P. Trant."
"At the Court of Claims, Daniel O'Sullevane More, claimed and was allowed a fee
by descent from Daniel O'Sullivan, his grandfather, in Tomies at Killarney, forfeited
by Sir Nicholas Browne."
The last of this branch of the O'Sullivans of the Tomies, Donal O'Sullivan More,
died in 1762. His great-grandson, Dr. O'Sullivan of Rathmore, owns yet a small
remnant of the Tomies property. The rest was bought by the Herbert family. The
Liberator had a very heated correspondence with the Herbert of the day on the sale of
that property. See Last Colonel of the Irish Brigade, vol. II. p. 268, and History of Muckross Abbey, chap. xxv. In his letter of November 19, 1839, the Liberator says: -- "If a Catholic purchased an estate, paying the price, any Protestant could by law take
awav the estate from the Catholic, and leave him at the total loss of both the estate
and his purchase money. . . To illustrate the mischief of that law, I stated what I
had repeatedly heard from my uncle, the late Mr. Maurice O'Connell, of Derrynane, it
was precisely this -- that when the estate of "Tomies on the Lake" was offered for sale
he agreed to purchase it, and had the purchase-money ready; and that thereupon the
ancestor of the present Mr. Herbert sent him a communication to this effect, that if he
(my uncle) became a purchaser, he (Mr. Herbert) would immediately file a bill of
discovery (that was a technical name of the mode of legal plunder) against my uncle,
and deprive him of the estate. So that my uncle would have, in that case, lost his
money and his land." -- Idem., p. 261.
In the Court of Claims, Sheely Sullivane, widow and executrix, of Donald Sullivane
More, and Desmond Sullivane, their son and heir, claimed interests in Cork lands,
forfeited by the Earl of Clancarty. Their reason for so doing was, that their lands of
Dunkerron were usurped by Henry, Lord Shelbourne, "who got a patent for lands of
the O'Sullivan More, in 1696, his widow, Mary, receiving jointure of part thereof."
Teigue Sullevane sought a freehold near Killarney, forfeited by Sir Nicholas Browne,
but his petition was not granted. William Sullevane claimed, and was allowed a
freehold in Kerry lands, forfeited by Sir Valentine Browne, and Daniel Sullevane and
Henrietta, his wife, for themselves and their children, petitioned (but were dismist) for
freehold, and remainder in the counties of Wicklow, Kildare, and Kilkenny -- the
confiscations of Sir Edward Scott.
In 1642, Owen O'Sullivan married Mary, daughter of Colonel Owen McSweeney,
by whom he had a son Philip, attainted like himself by the Cromwellians. He was afterwards a Major in King James' army, and was killed in a duel in France. He had been
married to Joanna, daughter of Daniel McCarthy, of Killowen, by a daughter of
McCarthy Reagh, of Carbery. His wife's sister afterwards married Dermod, eldest
son of O'Sullivan More, Lord of Dunkerron. The son of this Dermot O'Sullivan More
was in 1745 the companion of Prince Charles Edward, on the occasion of his expedition
into Scotland, and the partner of his trials and misfortunes in that country.
A son of Philip, mentioned above, the Major in King James' army, and born in 1692,
passed to America in 1723, and settled in Mayne. He married Margery Browne, and
had five sons (1) Benjamin, lost at sea; (2) Daniel, from privations in prison during
the American War; (3) John, who was born in 1740, was a member of the first
Congress of America in 1774, at Philadelphia. In the Spring of 1776, he succeeded
General Thomas, as Commander of the American Army in Canada. He was Governor
of New Hampshire in 1786, 1787 and 1789, and was appointed Judge of the Federal
Court by Washington, which office he held to his death, in 1796, at the age of 105 years. The 4th son was named James, and the 5th Eben, an officer in the American
Army. The "Life and Times of James" has been written by his grandson, Thomas
A. Amory, of Boston. This James died Governor of Massachussets in the year 1818.
(Dalton, vol. i., p. 269, and History of Muckross Abbey, chap. xiii.)
Fundatio R. D. Florentii Sullivane S, Th. Dotoris Reg., isignis Eccl. Coll. S. Jacobi, Lov. Can. et Decani, et Collegii Pastoralis Hyberniae Præsidis, Obiit 1731.
Tenor Testamenti:--
In nomine Domini, Amen. Ego Forentius Sullivane Presbyter, Sacrae Theologæ Doctor Regius, insignis Ecclesiae Collegiatæ Sancti Jacobi Canonicus et Decanus, &c. Sciens mortem esse certam, horam autem illius incertam et nolens intestatus mori, declaro mcam ultimam voluntatem contineri sequentibus articlulis, revocans cum in finem omnia Testamenta ante hac a me condita.
Imprimis, animam commendo Omnipotenti Deo per Passionem ac Merita Redemptoris ac Salvatoris Nostri Jesu Christi per Patrocinium ac Merita Intemerata Christi Matris Beatæ Mariæ Virginis et Sanctorum Omnium. Corpus meum si Lovanii vita Fungar sepeliri volo in Ecclesia Collegiata Sancti Jacobi sine pompa ad discretionem meorum Executorum. Solutis Debitis meis Residuum Bonorum mihi a largitore Deo Optimo Maximo Concessorum impendi volo in Piam Fundationem in Universitate Lovaniensi ad quam præferentiam habebunt mei consanguinei usque ad tertium consanguinitatis inclusive, quo extincto, præferentiam habebunt oriundi ex Familia Sullivane in Comitatu Kirriensi, post hos oriundi ex familia MacCarti in eodem Comitatu, post hos Kirrienses, post Kirrienses Casselenses et deinde Ultonienses, et omnes (exceptis consanguineis usque ad quartum gradum inclusive, qui studere poterunt juri vel medicinae et Philosophiae), tenebunter ad Statum Ecclesiasticum, et ad Missionem Hyberniæ, et esse promoti ante medium in Artibus.
Libros meos et supellectilem volo vendi in augmentationem Fundationis.
Volo ut ex mea Fundatione solvantur annue quatuor floreni qui serviunt pro missa anniversaria pro requie animae meæ quotannis legenda in Collegio Hybernico ex quibus Celebrans habebit octo Stuferos, Reliquum destribuetur inter Studiosos Collegii præsentes in Missa, Comprehenso etiam Celebrante et Famulo.
Famul meo moderno nomine Debatti Lego viginti et unum Florenos Semel, et unum Librum judicio Executorum. Totidem lego ancillæ.
This was authenticated by the Registrar of Deeds and Testaments, in the office of the "General Archives" of Belgium. The Most Reverend Doctor Coffey, Bishop of Kerry, has the authenticated copy of this will. The original is to be found in the "Archives Generales du Royaume De la Belgique," No. 2,148, D'Linventaire provisoire de fonds de l'ancienne Université de Louvaine, fo. 219vo.
In 1605, at the Royal instance, a similar surrender and regrant was made of the lands of O'Sullivan More, and giving him in lieu of the Headship of his Sept the title of Baron. Rolls. Temp. Jac. I. in Canc. Hib.
He had afterwards and enlarged grant of various castles, lands, fisheries, duties, markets, courts, tolls, and chief rents, as formerly granted to his father, "Sir" Owen O'Sullivan (the rents having been payable to the Earl of Desmond), to hold same to him, the said Owen, in tail male; remainder to the right heirs of the said "Sir" Owen.
In 1613, Daniel O'Sullivan and Stephen Rice, of Ballinraddel, represented the County of Kerry.
In this year, 1613, Sir Thomas Roper, had a grant of parcels of the estates of Teigue McDaniel O'Swellivan, and of Owen McDonnell, McDonough O'Swellivan, late of Cahirdonellmore, both slain in rebellion.
In 1632, The Lord President of Munster addressed the following letter to the Lord Justices on the precautions to be taken against the Algerian Pirates, who infested the coasts of the Bay of Kenmare.-- "Mr. Daniel Sullivan has a house of reasonable strength at Berehaven, and takes upon him to defend it and Ballygobbin; he promised to erect five beacons upon the Dorseys, and four upon the great island. I have directed O'Sullivan More, who lives on the river of Kenmare, to take warning from the beacon erected on the promontory over the Dorseys, and by one of his own, to assemble his tenants and servants at his strong and defensible castle; but, I think this caution needless, as the inhabitants on both sides of that river are but few, till as far up as Glaneraught, where the pirates dare not venture."
Of these outlawed in 1691, were:-- MacDonnell Soolivan of Letton, and Florence Sullivan of Modden, in the County Kerry.
We are sorry we cannot find anything authentic of the life and works of the celebrated Kerry Poet, Owen Rua O'Sullivan. He is buried in Muckross Abbey, in the tomb of the O'Sullivans, Mentobgies, at the head of McCarthy More's (now The O'Donoghue's) vault. We give a few words from one of his last songs, which can be named his hymn of repentance, for a life, we dread, neither exemplary nor Christian:--
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| TRANSLATED BY WALSH: |
My soul ! how grief's arrow
Hath fixed in my marrow !
O'er that cold coffin narrow,
I'll weep evermore.
By the hand of my father !
This moment I'd rather
From the grave thee to gather,
Than gold's yellow store.
All feasts I'll give o'er ;
I'm stricken and frore--
O ! grave of Kilmather,
Be my roof-tree and floor.
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OWEN:--
My dearest Murrough, I am glad to find
So much content and pleasure in your mind.
But, I, poor Owen, grieve, lament and moan,
You see, I'm packing up and must be gone.
My bended shoulders with my burden bow,
and I can hardly drive this limping cow,
Not long ago, which gave me cause to fret,
A sea-hog at the Skallogs (Skelligs) broke my net.
The sea did not up to Rhincarrah flow,
Mangerton's top was black and wanted snow,
With mournful song, lamenting, the Bantee
Fortold the ruin of my house and me.
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Like our poor evicted tenants of the present day, he looks around to know where he can find a home for himself and family; and here we see the only means of subsistence open to our forefathers, who had lost all for their love of faith and fatherland in the last century.
OWEN:--
But I must quit my dear Iv'ragh and roam
The world about to find another home.
To Paris go with satchel cramm'd with books,*
With empty pockets and hungry looks.
Or else to Dublin to Tim Sullivan,†
To be a drawer or a waiting-man.
Or else, perhaps, some favourable chance,
By box and dice my fortune may advance.
At the groom porters could I find a friend,
That would, poor Owen, kindly recommend.
But shall this foreign Captain force from me
My house and land, my river and fishery?
Was it for him, I those improvements made?
Must his long sword turn out my lab'ring spade?
Adieu, my dear abode.
I shall no more with Brogan Boan‡ Scribiugh climb
Steep Mullaghbert,** enthroned on top sublime,
Head of my clan, determine every case,
To make my vassals live at home in peace,
To teach them justice, a much cheaper way,
Keep them from lawyer's fees, and courts delay.
Thrice happy you, who live at your ease,
Have nought to do, but see your cattle graze.
Speak Latin to the stranger passing by,
And on a shambrog bank reclining lye.
Or on the grassy sod "cut points" to play
Backgammon†† and delude the livelong day.
When night comes on to pleasing resting go,
Lull'd by the soft cronan or sweet speck show.
When Kircha Shula strains her warbling throat,
In timeful hum and sleeps upon the note.
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Then Murrough invites Owen to enjoy his hospitality for the night, and gives us an insight into the life led by our forefathers, who had lost all for their Faith:
MURROUGH:--
But stay, dear Owen, cosher here this night;
Behold the rooks have now begun their flight,
And to their nests in winged troops repair,
They fly in haste, and shew that night is near.
The sheep and lambkins all around us bleat;
The sun's just down, to travel is too late.
Slacaan and Scallops shall upon my board,
Fit entertainment for a Kerry Lord.
In egg-shells then we'll take our parting cup,
Lye down on rushes with the sun yet up.
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* "'Tis a Kerry shift to go to Paris when reduced." It was the America of that day. In Brittany, however, in 1605, the Irish emigrant was treated as a vagabond, and hunted and deported at the public expense. -- Eccl. Record, Ap. 1897, p. 317.
† A Kerry man who keeps the London Tavern (Dublin). Notes to Ed. 1719.
‡ Brogan Boan, a big brog or shoe, with scalloped heel, which no one but a gentleman was allowed to wear.
** Mullaghbert, "Hill of Reference," where the head of the Clan sitting every Sunday and Holiday decided all controversies, literally-- "Bare spot of arbitration," that is "a big stone on which to sit in judgment." (Notes from the original copy printed by James Carson, Coghill's Court, Dame Street, opposite to the Castle Market, 1719; and by E. Jones, Clarendon Street, Dublin, 1739.)
†† Backgammon-- Kerrymen in those days were so fond of cards that they had them always about them. In a MS. of T.C. I, 3, p. II, we find that, "The inhabitants of the County (Kerry), I mean those of them that are downright Irish, are remarkable beyond the other parts of Ireland for gaiming, speaking of Latin, and inclination to philosophy and disputes therein. When they can get no one to game with them you shall find them alone with a booke of Aristotle's, or some of his Commentator's Logick which they read very diligently, till they are able to pour out nonsensical words a whole day about universalia, a parte rei, ens, rationes, and such like stuff. When they have sown their summer corn in the spring, many families will take a vagary of going into Spain, and there spend the summer in begging and wandering up and down among the northern side of that kingdom. Those that are loath to be called the inferior sort, are generally very litigious, and they will go to law about the least trifle, and this is the reason (or perhaps the consequence) of this county's abounding more than ordinary with men that are (as they term it) 'towards the law.'"
In a house attached to Dunkerron Castle was a chimney-piece with a carved inscription which shows the unfailing love of the family for the Mother of God: "Maria Deo Gratias. This work was made 11th April, 1596, by Owen O'Sullivan and Sily [Giles] Nig [h] Donogh MacCarthy Reagh."
There are also some graceful figures supposed to be the likenesses of O'Sullivan More and his lady, in Irish costume. The lady is dressed very modestly in a long close-fitting gown, which covers her feet, but her head-dress is something "stunning."-- Kilkenny Journal, Mar. 1859, p. 201. See note 30.
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The following is an "Errata" note from a later piece of this article:
"Mr. Bigger, M.R.I.A., and Editor of the Ulster Journal of Archæology, has very kindly let us know that the inscription and coat of arms on the stone in the ruins of Dunkerron Castle, given (here), is at present over an old well, and not in the ruins, as it was in the middle of this century."
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"One Eugenius O'Sullivan More is said to have been created by Queen Elizabeth Lord Baron of Bunvawer about the beginnin of her reign, but, though his issue lawfully begotton do continue to this day they will not assume the title." Extract from MSS. account of Kerry in T.C.D. He was most probably this Owen O'Sullivan More of the time of Aileen McCarthy's marriage with Florence McCarthy, mentioned by Sir William Herbert, Calendar State Papers, 1588, p. 538.
We give here the will of this Owen's son, who was called Donal O'Sullivan More. It is a very edifying document and a model of the good sentiments which ought to animate a husband and father of family when preparing his last dispositions for his wife and children. Here we do not see the husband leaving his wife -- who ought to be the dearest object to him on earth -- to the tender mercies of his heirs; nor his daughters in the power of their brother. Nothing can be more cruel or more unjust than the conduct of some husbands towards their good and devoted wives at this final moment, especially when these partners of their lives have solely lived for the happiness and health of those cold-hearted, ungrateful men. This is an unpardonable crime before God and man, and hence we are delighted to see this good O'Sullivan More safeguarding his noble lady in such sort that she cannot be injured by son or relative, or deprived of her just rights while she lives. We would say to the men of money and means who read this, "Go and do likewise": otherwise you will have to render a terrible account to the just Judge, who will mete out to you as you have measured to that one, who by divine and human law, ought to be the nearest and dearest to you on earth.
WILL OF DONAL O'SULLIVAN MORE
Dated 14th Nov. 1632.
In Dei no', i'e, Amen. In the name of God, Amen.
I Daniel O'Sullivans, also O'Sullivan More, of Dunkieran in the County of Kerry, Esq., being att this Instante of p[e]rfect witt and memorie, sickley in body, haveing God before mine Eyes, and being sure that death is certaine and the houre thereof uncertaine, do hereby make my last will and Testament, in Manner and forme as hereafter followeth: ffirst, I commend my Soule to the Hollie Trinitie and all the Scts [Saints] in Heaven. My body to be interred and buried in the Abbey of Irrelagh [Mukross Abbey], in my predecesrors' tombe. Secundarily, I appointe and constitute Owen O'Sullivane, my eldest sonne, to be my true and lawfull heir, to whome I leave all my rents, lands, and Living within the Comit' [county] of Kiery. Thirdly, I leave to my wife Juan [Johanna] Fitz Morish, Cuillinyhe, contayning two plowlands, Ardentuirke contayning one ploughland, Kuilenagh, one plowland, Clueagh one plowland, Rossdoghin one plowland, with all their app'tenances whatsoever, and alsoe I bequeath and leave to my said wife certaine glinds and pastures, vidt;-- Gleanmicky, Sronohiry, Cluon, the one-half of Bohishal, all w'ch lands shall stand to the use and behoofe of my said wife, for tearme of her natural life. And I doe also give full power, and authoritie, to my said wife, to ingadg and mortgage some three ploughlands of the premisses, as shee shall think fitt, for three hundred pounds [i.e., about £3,000 of our money] and this to bestowe, and give to any of her sonne, as to her shall seeme meet. Fourthly, I leave and bequeath unto my daughter Syly for her maintenance and towards her p[re]ferment three hundred pounds ster', besides what chattle and mony shee hath in hands herself. To my daughter Ellen, tow'rds her p[re]ferment I leave one hundred and seventie pounds, besides what the country will affoord her. And to Mary, my youngest daughter, the some of one hundred and thirty pounds ster', and what the country will affoord her." (This was a very large sum, for all the Freeholders were obliged to give a certain amount on the marriage of each of the daughters, as we see in MacCarthy More's revenue.) "And untill these severall sumes be paied to them by my heire, each of them is to have according to . . an hundred yearly for theire Maintenance. Provided that the said daughters shall be directed by my sonne and heire, my wife and my deerest friends concerning theire prefermt, and marriage, otherwise to allow them noe portion. Fifthly my said wife is to have and enjoy all the chattle and Corne that I am possest of att this instante. Lastly after the expirac'on of William ny hinsey [Hennessy's] his lease, past to Edmond McHue, of the two plowlands of Ardkintuirke and Cladagh, I leave here, by my last Will and Testam't, to the said Edmond, a lease of seven yeares, paiing thereout yearly neine points.
DANIEL O'SULLIVAN MORE.
Being p[rese]nte when th[e] above will and testament was made, besides Ors. [others] wee whose names doe followe:--
John ffyeld [Field].
Dermod Leynne,
Melaghlen O'Leyne,
Patricke Truante [Trant].
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McGillicuddy Papers, pp. 17 and 18.
When family differences arose-- as they usually do when the son is left guardian and executor for his sisters-- the case was left to arbitration. How well would it be for families if they would observe the following wise arrangement in such cases:-- "This Indenture witnesseth that the said Owen (O'Sullivan More), Joane (his mother), Siles (or Syly), Ellen and Mary (sisters), to avoyde all unnatural strife, suite, or contention w'ch heretofore did arise, or hereafter might arise between them, have respectivelie, with their mutual assent and consent, referred and submitted themselves and do by these p'nts (presents) reffer and submit themselves to the order, award, doome and judmt (jugement) of James Knowde, Esq. (he was one of the officers of Sir James Roper, Baron of Bantry, and Constable of Castlemaine), Donell Fearys (Ferris), Esq., Edmond Hussey, Gent., Donel O'Sullevane, Gent, and Dermot Leyne, Gent . .
Signed, sealed and delivered in ye (the) presence of us--
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Mor. Moore
Donell O'Sullivane
Owen O'Sullivane, fz der
Edmond M'Swyny
Char. Sughrue.
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Owen Sulivane
More.
d.
exd.
Ja. Knowde. |
The award, as could be expected, was entirely in favour of the mother and sisters. See McGillicuddy Papers, pp 30, 31. The referees, however strictly enforce the wish of the testator as regards the daughters' marriage. "And we doe further order and decree that the said three sisters, nor any, nor neither of them (sic) shall espouse themselves, or be married without the consent and good-likeing of us, the arbitrators, or some fower, three, or towe of us (yf soe many of use shall survive at such tymes of espousall marriage-- Or if not then to have the consent of towe (two) of her nearest kindred by or the mother's syde of the house and lineage of Lixnawe." This seems to us an admirable injunction, especially where there was a question of young Princesses, who knew not how to read or write. But even if they did, and knew all the "isms" or ologies of the "Blue stocking," or "New woman" of our day, it is worthy of the mind of a Hussey-- who, we believe, suggested this injunction-- to preserve those young ladies from themselves and the glamour of their name and fortune.
The last of this branch of the O'Sullivans More died at Tomies, according to Sir Ross O'Connell, who is assuredly the best authority on this matter, in 1762, and was buried in Muckross
Abbey. The story Sir Ross relates about the destruction of so many MSS. is painful in the extreme to an antiquarian. See Last Col. of the Irish Brighade., vol I, p. 53.
The following is a very authentic account of the famous outlaw of Glenflesk, who was an O'Sullivan of the Kenmare or Cappanacus branch.
OWEN O'SULLIVAN OF THE ROBBERS' DEN.
High on the face of the precipitous cliffs, near the lake of Foiladaowne, is shown to this day 
(Owen's bed), a cave, bearing signs in its recess of having been once enlarged and fitted up for a habitation. A few beech, holly, and hazel trees shade the entrance, and the floor is covered with heath and fern. Owen's fire-place, table, and stool are pointed out in the projection and recess of the rock. The cave is open at two sides, one eastward, overlooks a cliff of fearful depth, the other commanding a narrow ledge, against which the outlaw placed a ladder when he desired to descend or ascend from his hiding place. The O'Reardons who were relatives of the outlaw, and who were also "Tories," near Macroom, were induced by Col. Hedges to betray O'Sullivan's hiding-place and to aid in arresting him. The "Tory" of Glenflesk was invited to spend a night with the Reardons in the year 1710, in Ballyvourney. While O'Sullivan was sitting unarmed by their fireside, in the evening, his treacherous hosts fell upon him, but as Col. Hedges says in his letter to the Castle: "Owen struggled hard and would give no quarter, and put Davy (O'Reardon) hard to it, giving him four slight wounds, but Dan Reardon came to his assistance and knocked Owen down with a pike, and Reilly, the other Rapp, shot him with a brace of ball and then they cut off his head." Thus ended one of the last of the O'Sullivan chieftains of Kilgarvan and Kenmare. Reardon was ever after called 
or "Reardon of the head." The most painful phase of this foul murder is that at the very time Reardon committed the crime, the outlaw's father was returning from Dublin with an unconditional and free pardon for his son: hence the murderer did not receive "the wages of his iniquity." See Kerry Records, p. 132, and History of Muckross Abbey, chap. viii.
FATHER THADDEUS O'SULLIVAN.
Father Thaddeus O'Sullivan was a gifted religious of the monastery of Kilcrea, in Cork. His powers as a preacher won him fame in all parts of Ireland. He followed the Irish troops of the Earl of Desmond, and his eloquent exhortations not only kept alive the Faith in the souls of those who heard him, but prevented many a bloody deed in those disastrous times. The toil, however, and hardships he had to endure in this war broke down his constitution in a short time, and brought on a premature death. The soldiers, who loved him tenderly, would fain convey his corpse to the Monastery of Kilcrea. This, however, was a dangerous undertaking; for at that time all Munster was in the hands of the English troops, and no one, under pain of death, dared to appear abroad in daylight. At length some soldiers who were thoroughly acquainted with the bye-paths placed the corpse upon a horse, and set out after nightfall for the monastery; but losing their way in the darkness, they were about to retrace their steps when one of the party said: "Let us leave the horse to himself, and he will certainly carry the corpse to the monastery." Adopting this suggestion they followed the horse all that night, and next morning they found themselves within the precincts of the monastery, where the remains of Father O'Sullivan were interred in the cloister, at the door of the chapter-room, December, 1597. He was the bosom friend of Dr. Craghe, Bishop of Cork, who consulted him on all matters of importance, and was guided by his counsels. A letter from Cecil to Carew about this illustrious Bishop of Cork, and Confessor of the Faith, is assuredly one of the most infamous productions in the correspondence of that wicked and bloodthirsty statesman. Cecil plainly asks Carew, in this letter, to make use of the Baron of Cahir, a Catholic, to deliver up this good Bishop to the tender mercies of Elizabeth; and he assures him that this diabolical act will make the Baron of Cahir very pleasing to the Queen; as nothing could please her better than that some of the principal knaves of name be hanged. We could scarcely imagine such inhuman depravity on the part of Cecil and Elizabeth, if we had not this Carew State Paper, in Cecil's own handwriting to prove it:
CECIL TO CAREW, 1600.
"You cannot please the Queen better than that some of the principal knaves of name be hanged. It is said that Cahir can deliver Dr. Craghe when he list: It wear well tryed to impress yt upon him, not as the doer, but underhand; for he can doe yt [it] with a wett finger, and it will make him verre consyllable," that is, pleasing to Elizabeth (see Life of Dr. Creagh Renehan, p. 9; O'Reilly, p. 116, and Analecta by Dr. Moran, p. xlvi. and 393, seq.).
This Thaddeus O'Sullivan is very probably the same whom we find at A.D. 1592, in the Calendar State Papers, where he is called Sir Teige O'Swyllevan. "There is one Sir Teige Owyllevan, and earnest preacher of Popery, preaching from house to house in Waterford, Clonmel, Fethard, and in the country about the towns."
At the year 1587, of the Calendar State Papers, p. 363, there is a very valuable note on the division of lands among the O'Sullivans of Beara and Bantry:-- "The proper inheritance of land belonging to the O'Sullivans is 15 teen quarters, every quarter containing three plough lands. The one half whereof was, by ancient custom, allotted to the O'Sullivan, lord of the country for the time being. The other half to be divided and distributed among the worthiest and the best of the name, as cousins and kinsmen to the lord, as a portion to live upon, viz.:-- To the tanist the best part of the said one half, which is two quarters, every quarter containing three plough lands; to the second eldest next the tanist, which is Donel O'Sullivan [the celebrated Donal Cam], the plaintiff there is allotted of the said one half six plough lands, and so the rest to be divided among the other kinsmen. But it is to be understanded that this order was in some times altered, and so ought to be according [to] the custom of the country, that is according [to] diminution or increase of the said name of the Sullivans; which alteration should be when the name should augment, then every one's portion were diminished to give living to the new comer; and if the name were dimished, then the portion of the deceased to be divided among the out-living. But the lord's portion, which is the first half, did never alter, but continues still to O'Sullivan for the time being. The lord hath also four quarters of land belonging to his manor of Foyd, and this, with half the 15 teen quarters aforesaid, is all the land the lord hath in this own possession howbeit he is chief lord of all the country. There are 20 quarters more in the country which is the lord's too, but they be allotted to other cousins and kinsmen, as their shares of old ancient custom to live upon, paying his rents to the lord, which is but little worth now-a-days, as the issues descended of Fyngu Duff O'Sullivan, the issues descended of the son of Lawrence O'Sullivan, the issues descended of Dwling O'Sullivan, the issues descending of the son of McBwogy [Boethuis] O'Sullivan, the issues descended of the son of Donnell O'Sullivan, the issues descended of the son of Teig O'Sullivan, and such like, and every one of them hath his share thereof, paying his rent to the lord for the time being, and at the lord's pleasure he may take the lands out of their hands, if they had not paid the rent, which in old time was the cessing of his men of war, as gallowglasses, kerne, horsemen, and such like, besides to pay all his charges whensoever he would come out of his country to any town or city, to sessions, terms, service of his prince, and such like, etc.
There is also belonging to O'Sullivan two principal castles, as his chief manors or dwelling, in Beare and Bantry. In Beare, the chief manor of Dunoye, alias Bearehaven Castle, of which he carrieth his name of O'Sullivan Beare. In Bantry, the manor of Foyd, and another castle, builded by Sir Owen's own father, called Carrigin Assygi, the which three remaineth in the possession of the said Sir Owen. There is also a fourth castle, called Ardea, which is the manor or house allotted for the tanist for the time being, and is now in the possession of Philip O'Sullivan [father of Don Philip, the historian], tanist and brother to Sir Owen; but there was never seen a castle allotted to any other of the name.
The standing rent due to O'Sullivan out or upon his country is but £40, and that itself was never allotted to the lady for the time being towards her idle expenses [pin-money], so, as the country being no good farm land, but all valleys, cragged rocks and hills, can yield not great commodity, and, therefore, the O'Sullivan for the time being liveth only by the sea, and the commodity thereof as his fishing, his wrecks and such like, etc. And for the fishing it is a thing uncertain, for some years, if fishing do fall upon the coast, then Dunboye is worth much; if fishing fail it cannot yield profit.
For the ships and boats, the rents of them is but as the lord, and they can agree, according as the fishing do continue all the season of the year, or fail, as sometimes it doth fail within a month, etc. [Does not this look like a correspondence of yesterday, to a Cork paper from Bantry Bay?]
The reason wherefore there is no reservation of rents upon those that hold the said land is because they were to pay everything the lord lacked from time to time, as debts, building of a house or castle, or marrying his daughter, or to supply the wants of his house, and such like, etc. June 8, 1587."
At No. 10 of this Note there is an abstract of Sir Owen O'Sullivan's proofs affirming the succession of tanist, and the tanist's portion in Beare and Bantry (p. 6). June 8, 1587.
No. 11.-- Petition of Donel O'Sullivan to the Lord Treasurer against the practices of his uncle, Sir Owen O'Sullivan, to detain his lands (p. 1). See also Nos. 12 and 13, and above all the interesting papers at p. 1.
No. 13 (i.)-- Collection of depositions touching the seizin of Donnel O'Sullivan's ancestors of Dunboy, and the rest, in the life of their uncles, claiming by Irish custom (p. 1).
No. 13 (ii.)-- Collection of such witnesses as Sir Owen produced touching the possession of persons in the collateral line (p. 1). See also No. 14 for the amount allowed Donal O'Sullivan for his maintenance, "and a device to bring the land to inheritance by descent" (p. 1).
No. 15.-- Plot of O'Sullivan's country of Bearehaven, and the part adjoining, with a view of Beare Castle, alias Dunboy.
DON PHILIP O'SULLIVAN BEARA.
We give the following translation of the beautiful Latin poem of Philip O'Sullivan on the sufferings of his family for their faith and their country. We have omitted the first part, as it contains nothing historically interesting to our readers. This translation, which is a very good version of the poem, gives the author's sentiments in fairly flowing verse. We do not know the author. It was evidently printed fifty years ago or more, if we are to judge from the paper and type then used in Kerry. Perhaps one of our readers has heard the name of the translator.
Philip O'Sullivan is one of the noblest characters we find in Irish history, and, the one who has done more, as a layman, to illustrate the history of Catholic Ireland and her sufferings for the Faith, than any other Irishman at home or abroad during the 17th century-- of course, we except the Four Masters and the Franciscans of the College of St. Antony, Louvain, as well as Der Burgo's learned work. Philip's father, Dermod O'Sullivan, was the brother of the celebrated Donal Cam, and his companion in his wars and retreat to the North, as we have already related in the History of the Fall of Dunboy. See History of Muckross Abbey, chap. xi. 1, 2, 3, and chap. xii. xiii. etc. His mother was daughter of Donal MacSweeny. Her three brothers, Eugene, Edmund and Maurice MacSweeny, together with Dermod O'Sullivan, father of our author, were the first who rose at the call of the chivalrous FitzMaurice, Lord of Lixnaw, in 1569. Again, when FitzMaurice landed in Ireland from Spain in 1579, the MacSweenys and Dermod O'Sullivan enrolled themselves under John FitzGerald, brother to the Earl of Desmond, and shared all the dangers of the contest to its close. Giollaisa and Bernard MacSweeny were siezed and executed. Their brother, Rory, fled with the wreck of the Desmond army to the Chieftains of North Connaught.
Joanna MacSweeny gave birth to seventeen children, of whom thirteen died before the fall of Dunboy; the other four were involved in the fate of Dermod, their father, as already related. Don Philip and several other noble youths were sent to Spain with the son and heir of Donal Cam, Prince of Beara. They sailed from Castlehaven in February, 1602, about 10 months after Red Hugh O'Donnell had sailed from the same port. They landed at Corunna, and were kindly received by the Marquis De Caracena, who placed Don Philip under the care of an Irish Priest, Rev. Patrick Sinnot, evidently a Wexford man, who took charge of his education. Don Philip was very probably born in Dursey Island, where his father built a castle, and found a refuge after the wreck of the Desmond army. He describes himself a boy in 1602.
In this poem, Philip O'Sullivan paints in painful, but most pathetic words, the ruin of all his family, on account of their love of Faith and Fatherland. But his sentiments are so full of piety and submission to the Divine Will, that they read like the words of a Father of the Church, or a St. Laurence in his martyrdom, rather than the expressions of a young sailor who is roughing it, in the hard life of a marine of those days. He wrote besides the Historiæ Catholicæ Hiberniæ Compendium, the "Lives of St. Kyran of Laiger, St. Alban, St. Aille, St. Declan, and St. Mochudda." None of these have been published, except the translation of an Irish life of St. Mochudda, which he gave to "Bollandus"; nor could Colgan find where the MSS. were deposited. He wrote also an answer to Usher's fierce attack on his history, but we are obliged to say that this was unworthy of him, if we can judge by the summary given in Doctor Kelly's learned, "Preface" to the Historiæ Cath. Comp. (Maynooth Ed.), from which we have taken this notice. The date or place of his death is unknown. Smith, in his History of Cork, says he died a Franciscan monk of Kilcrea, but there seems no foundation for this assertion.
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POEM OF PHILIP O'SULLIVAN BEARA
Of ancient stem from many a royal line,
Offspring of Dermot, noble Prince of Beare,
His mother of that well-known Geraldine,
Ellinor, fair daughter of the great Kildare;
Alone, or with other cities renowned in war,
Our father triumphed both on sea and shore.
Of many a well-contested field of fame,
Where blood flowed free to loose the tyrant's hold;
With many a garland Dermot wreathed his name,
In council wise, in action prompt and bold;
His country's cause with Desmond long sustained,
Nor left his own great chief while life remained.
The shores of Shannon gazed with pleased content
As on he hastened down its stream to fight;
Its hills rejoicing, all their echoes lent,
When twice seven vessels yielded to his might;
Scaling the walls of Youghal, its troops recoil,
He stormed the city, but refused the spoil.
The smiling fields where Connaught's heroes fought
In times of yore, in later days of fame,
Beheld his triumphs, and too dearly bought
The blue Lough Foyle; where, to his country's shame,
The sons of Nial their precious birthright sold
To tampering hirelings for land and gold.
All that he did for praise I need not tell,
Much is recorded on the historic page.
Whatever his to do, he did it well,
From early manhood to extreme old age.
His hundred years on earth in honour close,
And wearied nature sought its last repose.
When those we love to their last sleep are borne,
Their memory compels the frequent tear;
Mine the sad lot my parents both to mourn,
Brothers by every tie of friendship dear,
Through time's long corridors the plaintive tone
Of man's bereavement mingles with my own.
The clash of arms, the fervour in his blood
My brother Daniel charmed from learned pursuits.
He joined the fleet, which towering o'er the flood,
The mastery in storm and war disputes,
Swept through the billowy seas with sails wide spread,
Crushing the hostile squadrons 'neath its tread.
In battle with the Turks, as fortune turned,
A bolt like that from heaven its errand sped,
His spotless spirit to his God returned--
His lifeless form the ocean monsters fed.
The mould of manners, and of war the guide,
In youth's first bloom, in all its fragrance died.
Not Hector's self was more robust in form,
No peril his intrepid breast could daunt;
He scaled the lofty deck, or led the storm,
Glad to achieve, but all too proud to vaunt.
If those who die for duty never die,
As Plautus tells us, he still lives on high.
Ah! woe was mine, to lose him, yet before
Time to my anguish some slight respite gave,
My sister Helena sought her native shore
Her husband, but to find a watery grave.
Gentle in speech, of noble trait, devout,
With her life had some promise, none without.
The walled Corunna on Gallicia's shore
Received his* bones that pious hands inter,
But who for Christ his sacred armour wore,
Bursts like his Master from the sepulchre.
Earth may resume the body it has given--
His memory lives on earth, his soul in heaven.
When you died, too, my mother, life, what pain!
You, too, were of the noblest, hero-born,
Donald's ten brothers, valiant sons of Sweyne, †
Marshalled our clans and lead the hope forlorn;
Donald and Margaret of Desmond's line,
You loved and mourned your parents as I mine.
We laid her gently by our father's side,
The worthy wife of one both great and good,
Wedlock's own glory, manhood's noblest pride,
The choicest crown of virtuous womanhood.
With them we buried all we knew of home,
Earth's joys, or doubly blest the joy to come.
Parents and brothers all beneath the sod,
My sister Leonora still lives on;
She early gave her blameless youth to God,
Heaven's saintly rest by pious office won;
Alone survivors of a happy host,
Our chiefest luxury to lament the lost.
But what can it profit to sigh or mourne?
Tears cannot those we loved again recall;
Inexorable Death assigns one bourne,
For kings in purple, for the humblest thrall.
Our transitory life glides fast away.
No power avails its ceaseless course to stay.
Then since its years flit by on rapid wing,
Old men and youth yield to the doom ordained.
That its approach no needless terror bring,
Let us, to meet it, by our faith sustained,
Remember that its mystic realms are shared
By those that entered it not unprepared.
Perhaps this lay the memories may save
From dark oblivion what we cherished here;
But they well knew the hand that took and gave,
'Midst trials chastened, both with love and fear;
May we not trust that through His merits they,
In glory clad, have joined His bright array?
What though our earthly bodies may decay
Amidst the ocean, or beneath the clod,
Each soul reclaiming will find its kindred clay
Regenerate in presence of its God:
He who from nothing made may well restore
Giving His children life for evermore.
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* His father, Dermod O'Sullivan, who lived to the age of a hundred years, and was buried in the Franciscan Monastery of Corunna, in Gallicia.
† McSweeney, his mother's name.
Near the head of the estuary in the bay of Kenmare (Hibernice Ceaun Mara), in the county of Kerry, stands all that remains of this once important fortalice. Dunkerron Castle, a massive vaulted structure of the Tudor time, is on the site, as its name implies, of an ancient dun or fortress, constructed before the introduction of castles into Ireland. In its present state it is a broken down but picturesque ruin, close by the shore within a small demesne, and surrounded by young plantations. The southern side has almost disappeared, and has carried with it a part of the eastern and western walls. The great archway, instead of being placed in the upper part of the building as is usual, formed a basement compartment, at about one-third of the whole elevation from the ground. The greater part of this vault has been destroyed, and only a mere fragment remains.
At a short distance from its south-east angle stands the high-pitched end wall or gable of a more recent mansion, belonging to the transition period, after the time of the first James. It retains it capacious fire-places and mantel-pieces, but no other feature worthy of notice. No doubt tradition and legend have been associated with its story, and reminiscences of its past days may still survive in the folk-lore of the neighbouring peasantry, for its ancient lords were of a stirring and daring race, who limited not their operations to the adjoining plains and mountains; their galleys traversed in search of adventure, glory, or traffic on the open seas which lay around, frequently visiting the ports of the Saxon and the Gall, or these farther to the south, remembered as the original home of their distant forefathers, as we see in the "Historia Catholica" of Philip O'Sullivan Beara.
The Cappanacus O'Sullivan had his castle a few miles to the west of Dunkerron. His stronghold was a narrow peel house or castlet, most unpretentious in its architectural features. This ruin still braves the storms of the bay within the demesne of Dromore, near where the Kerry Blackwater joins the bay of Kenmare, after emerging from one of the most picturesque scenes to the south of Killarney at Blackwater Bridge. The O'Sullivan of Cappanacus, in default of male issue to the O'Sullivan More, succeeded to his inheritance as next in seniority.
Other septs of power and consideration were the O'Sullivans of Ardea, at the Iveratha side of the estuary, and the MacFinneen Duff, whose descendent in the female line, Mrs. Peter MacSweeny, only recently removed from the shore of Glenmore Lake, in the vicinity of that chieftains's home (Windle).
O'Sullivan, Dunkerron.
The shield of arms-- The blazoning is totally different from that in use by the O'Sullivans for the last two centuries-- which is, according to the heralds, Per pale, vert and ar.; on the first, a buck pass., ppr.; on the second, a boar pass., per pale, sa and ppr.; on a chief or two lions ramp. combatant, gu., supporting with the four paws a sword entwined with a serpent; crest, on a ducal coronet a bird ppr.
Motto, "Lambh Foistenach an Machar."
In Harris's Ware their war-cry is given as "Fustina-stelly-abo."
"To me the Dunkerron shield and its charges have a very arkite expression, and seem quite a mythological composition. The latter appears, more or less, connected with the legendary lore of the family. Differing so entirely from all the recognised rules of heraldry in the sixteenth century, we may presume that in the blazoning the artist must have taken his instructions from the hereditary Bolsuire or Leanachuidhe, full traditional recollections of the race, who used "emblems and devices which had previously existed beyond the memory of man."
In the chief or upper part of the field occurs the Murgheim Muirgheilt, Murruach, Merrow, or Mermaid, which may be explained by that legend of an O'Sullivan who woed and won, but only immediately to lose, one of those fabled sea nymphs, as we are informed in Crofton Croker's metrical version of the "Lord of Dunkerron."-- Kilkenny Journal, March, 1859.
," means to burn a house and its effects), from the dreadful conflagrations caused by him during the Cromwellian wars. He was grandson of the Baron of Inchiquin, who perished in the Erne in 1597, fighting on the side of Elizabeth, along with his relative the great Earl of Thomond, against Red Hugh O'Donnell. He thus from his earliest childhood learned the fatal tradition of his family, by sustaining the enemies of his Faith and country. He was perhaps, the ablest commander on the royalist side, or of any of the military leaders then in Ireland. He changed sides as often as it suited his ambition or personal interests, now a Royalist, again a Cromwellian, then a Confederate, and finally a Royalist. He was like Cromwell, always successful during his short, Machiavelian career, and seems to have outlived his early wicked and cruel propensities. He was converted to the Catholic church, the church of his fathers, fourteen years before his death, which happened 9 September, 1674, at the early age of fifty-six years. His biographer in the Memoir of the O'Briens, p. 305, says:-- "Inchiquin's Protestantism, like that of many others in later times, was more of a political than a religious character." One thing is certain he made the greatest sacrifice of his life to hold fast to his faith during these last forteen years. His great ambition through life was to be President of Munster. "Nor could anything," says Borlase (p. 178), "have barred him of it since His Majesty's happy return, wherein his servants had the fruit of their fidelity, but his change of religion, which equally prejudiced the Lord Dillon in the Presidency of Connaught, truly observable in them both." He also had his children brought up Catholics, and thus incurred the anger of his wife who separated from him on this account. He was created Earl of Inchiquin and had a grant of £8000 from Charles II. His body was interred in Limerick in the Cathedral of St. Mary's. His memory lives in the horror and execration of the Catholics of Ireland for his inhuman atrocity at the seige of Cashel. "For, having shaken the walls with the power of his guns and not being able to effect a breach, he had recourse to the horrible expedient of piling up a great quantity of turf against the outward wall, and to this he applied fire, by which the religious and other people who were crowded inside were absolutely baked to death" (Lenihan's Limerick, p.161). Upwards of thirty priests and friars fell victims to his refined cruelty on this occasion (Idem). The Marquisate and Earldom became extinct on the death of James, third Marquis, 3 July, 1855. The barony vests in Sir Lucuis O'Brien of Dromoland, as descendant of Donogh, third son of Morrogh, Tanist of Thomond. The will of Inchiquin, bearing date 11 Sep., proved 14th Nov. 1674, directed that his body should be interred in the Cathedral of Limerick, and a decent monument erected to his memory. The other provisions are very singular, and show his matter-of-fact mind to the last: "Whereas there is a debt of above £200 due to me from Lord Viscount Dillon and his son by bond and judgement, I bequeath the same to Patrick Nihil of Limerick, gent., for him to pay and satisfy thereout to my servant, Philip Roche FitzDavid, £50, which I owe him. To William Comery, £100, which I owe him, £20 to the Franciscan Friars in Ennis, Co. Clare; £20 to Richard Assin, and the remainder to be disposed of by him according to the directions of the said Philip Roche, as well for the performance of the usual duties of the Roman Catholic clergy, as also for other pious uses, as I have already instructed the said Philip" (this was evidently for masses, which were then an illegal bequest, as they are yet in England). Inchiquin after his death brought utter ruin on hundreds of his fellow Catholics by giving the thirty-three larges volumes of "lying" Depositions from 1641 to 1654, to Pereigh or Perry, secretary to his father-in-law, S. Leger, President of Munster. Perry appears to have handed them over to Sir Philip Percival. We have called them lying Depositions for the author who has published several of them assures us they have been thus named by "all Catholic historians and by some English Protestant writers during the last two centuries, as untrustworthy exaggerations, bearing internal evidence of their worthlessness, or else as deliberate wholesale perjuries, devised to bring about the confiscation of the lands of innocent men." (Ireland in the 17th Century, p. 121). Warner, a clergyman of the Established Church of Ireland, says:-- "In these books, besides the examinations taken by the Royal Commissioners, there are several copies of others said to have been taken before them, which are therefore of no authority, and there are many taken ten years afterwards before Justices of the Peace appointed by the Commissioners of the English Parliament . . . I took a great deal of pains and spent a great deal of time in examining these books, and I am sorry to say they have been made the foundation of much more clamour and resentment than can be warrented by truth and reason." And in another place he adds: "They are contained in two and thirty large volumes and deposited in the College Library of Dublin, besides one that contains the examinations that were taken by Archdeacon Bysse, for the province of Munster, which Borlase, among his other falsehoods, says, was smothered with great artifice." "Reid," says the author of these two volumes of Depositions, "differs wholly from Warner," and she cites Reid at p. 327 of his History of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. Sir John Gilbert quoting this passage from Reid says, "Had Doctor Reid examined the whole collection, as has been done for the purposes of this report, he would have found that Warner's statement was in the main correct. Innumerable instances occur, in which not only the words, duly sworn and examined have been struck out, but also many passages, in some entire pages, have been so dealt with. Of this, a notable example is furnished by the volume for the county Waterford in which few pages can be found that are not thus cancelled." Of Warner, the author cited above says in one place, "that he was a clergyman of the Established Church in Ireland, who wrote towards the close of the last century a rather dry, but on the whole a rather fair and candid history of his country" (p. 122). But in another place she says, "Warner tells us he took much pain and spent much time in examining them" (these Depositions) "and never was time and pains more wasted." And thus she finishes up on both Sir John Gilbert and Warner:-- "The strangest, the most incomprehensible thing, however, is that Mr. Gilbert, F.S.A., accredited with such talents for research" (for he was with the unanimous approval of all the learned men of Europe, pensioned and knighted) "by the the Government and the public, sitting down to make an exhaustive search into these documents for the purpose of an official report, should have accepted and done his best to make the world accept the gross mistakes of Warner for truth."
Here it is a question of fact between Sir John Gilbert and this author. It is well known that the late learned and eloquent Lord Emly spoke of Sir John Gilbert when he said: "Ireland had now scholars whose reputation in Archæology was European, and, to such of them as had made the Anglo-Irish muniments their special study, should be committed the superintendence of all Government record publications connected with that country."-- Speech in the House of Commons, 16th July, 1863. Mr. C.D. Hardy, Deputy Keeper of the Public Records, and Mr. J.S. Brewer, of the Rolls Department, London, says of his letters, Record Revelations-- "In fact, we don't remember to have seen, in England or in Ireland, any work of the same nature in which so much critical knowledge of this kind has been displayed, or which indicates a greater familiarity with archæological studies."-- Record Revelations, p. III. pp. 6 & 7. On the other side we have this author, who is so dogmatic in her condemnation of Sir John Gilbert, and of every one who disagrees with her bigotry or prejudices. As to the doubt raised by this author about Inchiquin's religion at his death-- "it is said he died a Catholic," vol. 1, p. 125-- it is settled by his last will, given above.
This petition was also signed by the following Burgesses and Catholic inhabitants of the cathedral town of Ardfarty and of Trallye: - George Rise (Rice), Burgess; Robert McAndrew, Burgess; Gerald Coursy, Burgess; Mark Rice, Burgess; Patrick McEllistryme, alias McEllistrime, Burgess; Robert Rice, Burgess; Thadeus McReyxy, Burgess; Thomas Conye (Coyne), Burgess; John O'Connor, junior, Burgess; Edmund Goulde, merchant; Murrough O'Connor, of Tralee, gentleman; Donat O'Leyne, Burgess; Gerrott Oge Brennagh (Brennan?) Burgess.
This petition from "Nos. infrascripti, Nobiles, Cives, et Oppidani Diocesis, Artfartensis et Achadoe in comitatu, Kyeriensi, in Hybernia, etc.," is vouched as genuine by the certificate of Patrick Raleigh (Patritius Ralens), Warden of Youghal, and Prothonotary Apostolic, who signed with a handsome seal. - "Wadding MSS." Brady, vol. ii., pp. 56, 57.
We give here the genealogy of Owen O'Sullivan More, in the time of Carew, written by this celebrated Governor of Munster, in his own handwriting: -
"Owen O'Sullivan Mor m(arried)d Shylie Mac Donogh MacCarthy Reogh, and had Shylie, md (married to) Thomas O'Kunagher, and Donel O'Sullivan More, who md, first, Honora Fitzgibbon, dau of the White Knight, by whom he had no children; he had, secondly, Joan, dau of the Lord of Lixnawe. The brothers of Owen, husband of Shylie, were (1) Desmond, tanist to his brother, md dau of McCarthy Reogh; (2) Buogh, md dau of O'Donovan; (3) Conogher, md Honora, dau of the Knight of the Valley; (4) Donell, md daughter of Dermot O'Leyne, and widow of the McGillicudy." Sir George gives the O'Sullivan's forces in his time as: O'Sullivan Beare, 30 companies; Owen O'Sullivan's sons in Bantry, 80; MacFineen Duffe, 30, in Beare and Glanarough; Clan Lawra, 30, in Beare and Bantry. The Coubrey (3), 40 in Beare; O'Sullivan More, 160, in Dunkerron; MacGillicudde, 100, in Dunkerron; MacCrohan, 40, in Iveraghe. In the "Egerton MSS.," p. 616, we find that "The O'Sullivans were a much more considerable sept than the O'Donoghues, and possessed as large, or nearly as large, a portion of Lough Lene and Lough Barnasnaugh (Lower and Upper Lakes of Killarney), as a Donoghue and did not forfeit till 1641. In the "Annals of Innisfallen" we read that the castles of Cappanacushy, Dunkerron, and Ardtully were built by Carew, and Killorglin, Molahiffe, and Castlemayne by Maurice FitzGerald. - "Annals of Innisfallen," A.D. 1329, copy in R.I.A.
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O'Sullivan-Beara |
The coat of arms given at p. 262 differs from this, which was used by the O'Sullivans More during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. It was first published by Dermod O'Connor in the folio magnificent edition of his "History of Ireland by Keating," Creake, London, 1723. We are indebted to the Rev. Morgan O'Flaherty for our edition of this splendid work, which is one of the most perfect copies extant as regards the text and plates. The blazoning, as given at p. 275, from the king-at-arms, is thus versified by one of the family:
A robin red-breast perched upon a crown;
Two lions rampant, with a dreadful frown;
A stately stag and a grisly boar do stand.
Beneath, a nervous, unconquered hand,
That grasps a sword, around whose blade
A shining, sparkling evet is displayed.
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This is usually assigned to the O'Sullivan Beara's "arms," as we see in the "Last Colonel of the Irish Brigade" (vol i., p. 132). O'Connor, however, who lived and wrote in the beginning of the eighteenth century, could not have made such a mistake, as several members of the old family of O'Sullivan More lived in Kerry in his time, and assuredly made use of this blazon, and no other.
(This is the coat of arms referenced above & below as being on p. 262.)
The following explanation of the coat of arms at p. 262 will, we are assured, interest our readers. It will, at the same time, show why there is such a difference in both blazonries. This learned dissertation is taken from the "Killkenny Journal," March, 1859: - "The Mermaid. It is almost unnecessary to say that belief in these beings has been universal in all ages. Hesiod speaks of syrens in the early periods of Greece, and Erick Pontoppidam describes the Mar Gyga of Scandinavia. The Berugh is a prominent character in the folklore of Imokilly, according to Mr. Hackett. His mermaid is endowed with the gift of prophecy, and so is the mermaid of Resenius mentioned in the 'Border Minstrelsy.' Indeed, the belief has not died out in the present day, as we had a recent instance of the capture of a so-called mermaid in the newspapers. That the O'Sullivans, a maritime tribe for the last six centuries, believed in their existence may be fully credited, and the tradition regarding the love passage of one of their house may be received as an event of sufficient mark to be preserved or recorded amongst the achievements grouped in the armorial escutcheon.
"The extended open hand is assuredly characteristic of the 'Nulla manus tam liberalis,' etc., of which this ancient sept boasted, and of which they preserved a memorial in their motto: 'Lamh Foistenach.' - See p. 124, n.g.
"Of the boar, the only one of these symbols preserved in modern heraldic charges, we have no indication in 'tale, romance, or lay.' It was very probably some lingering remnant of that old porcine worship noted by Mr. Hackett in his paper published in these 'Transactions,' akin to the superstition of the Hindoo Boar, Varaha.
"The fish, it may be suspected, also belongs to the same class of mythic beings; the piast is still, as of old, believed to haunt our lakes and rivers - a vestige assuredly of that serpent worship which we find in full vigour at this day in China. We have lately seen going the rounds of the Press the following newspaper paragraph on this subject: - "The intendent of Ningpo sends a deputy in the dry season of every year to sacrifice to the dragon, and to pray for rain. Besides this official service in time of drought, farming people often come at the same time, and, in order to move heaven to relieve the parched land, some even immolate themselves by drowning in the pool frequented by the dragon.' Many of our Irish saints had to contend with this form of paganism. Mochua of Balla overcame a horrid monster (Bellua) which infested one of the Connaught lakes. Saints Senanus and Kevin struggled successfully with the piasts or dragons of Scattery and Glendalough. Unlike as the piast on the escutcheon is to a lizard, Mr. Du Noyer conjectures upon it that it might indicate a joint coat of arms, a blending of the bearings of the two great families of O'Sullivan and MacCarthys, allied, as has been shown, more than once. But the MacCarthys had not assumed the lizard at this date, if we can believe that the arms in the chancel a Mucross Abbey belong to them.
"The galley, of course, refers to the maritime pursuits of this seaboard sept. 'In allusion to the galley,' says Crofton Croker, 'it may be mentioned that a favourite name of the O'Sullivans is Morty or Murty (correctly written Murcheartach), which literally means expert at sea or an old navigator.'
"These arms not being in accordance with the Anglo-Irish blazoning, it becomes a question whether they belong to any recognised system peculiar to the native race. If this were so, the Dunkerron sculptures would possess a peculiar interest, as heraldic bearings of that description are particularly rare.
"O'Halloran tells us that at Tara the esquires of the nobility presented themselves at the door of the grand hall (Moidhchuarta) and gave in the shields and ensigns of their different masters to the deputies of the great marshal of the crown, and by direction of the king-at-arms they were ranged according to the quality of the different owners. Dermod O'Connor, the translator of Keating, had, several years before O'Halloran wrote, published a statement somewhat similar, an interpolation on the text of the author. But neither in the poem of Eochaidh O'Flinn, descriptive of this great banqueting hall, nor in that of Keneth O'Hartigan, who was contemporary with O'Flinn in the tenth century, and to whom Dr. Petrie refers as the sole authority from which writers have drawn their accounts of the magnificence of Tara, is there the slightest reference to armorial insignia. But we have in Keating, and it is to be found in every copy of the original manuscript of that writer which I have seen, although his translator, O'Connor, has altogether omitted, a passage, since published by Dr. O'Donovan, informing us that the clans carried with them into battle distinctive military ensigns of various colours and textures. These were as necessary, certainly, to them, as rallying points as their characteristic warcries or shouts. The evidence of this fact is drawn from the ancient account of the battle of Magh Rath, fought in A.D. 637 between Domhnall, King of Ireland, and Cougal Claen, King of Uladh. Here we find the contending armies marshalled under designs of different colours, each king having his own standard (Meirge), 'great symbol of plunder, floating from its staff,' and charged with emblematic devices. Such was the banner of Congal, the King of Ulster,
A yellow lion on green satin
The insignia of the Cruath ruath,
Such as the noble Conchobhar bore.
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"Keating, referring to this statement, derives the practice of distinguishing by banners, which prevailed in the earliest time, from the example of the Israelites in the exodus from Egypt, when each of the twelve tribes bore its blazoned standard, as the Tribe of Reuben the Mandragora, etc. Indeed, we are expressly told in Numbers, ii., 2, that the Israelites carried with them standards 'with the ensigns of their fathers' house' upon them.
"But although the clans were so distinguished, we have no evidence of armorial bearings or escutcheons in the sense of modern heraldy. O'Flaherty, in 'Ogygia,' citing Batholemeus Cassaneus, describes the insignia of Ireland as a golden ring enthroned in majesty, holding a lily on a black field, but no date is given. Dr. O'Donovan gives positive testimony against their use by any Milesian Irish family before the reign of Elizabeth, and avers that the Irish families 'first obtained the complex coat of arms which they now bear from England, retaining on the shield, in many instances, those simple badges which their ancestors had on their standards, such as the red hand of O'Neill, the cat and salmon of O'Cathain, or O'Dane, etc., etc., with such additions as the king-at-arms thought proper to introduce in order to complete the escutcheon after the Anglo-Norman system of heraldy, according to the rank of the family for whom the coat was manufactured.' Elsewhere (p. 350) the learned doctors says: 'The armorial bearings of the old Irish families, as preserved in their tombs since the reign of Henry VII., if carefully collected, would throw much light on the kind of badges they had borne on their standards previously to their adoption of the Anglo-Norman system of heraldry.'
"In these opinions of this justly esteemed scholar and antiquary I fully concur. The few shields of arms belonging to the Milesian race which I have seen and examined at Inis Cailtre, Roscommon, Mucross, and elsewhere, are all blazoned in this Anglo-Irish style, and evidently belong to recent age. Indeed it is highly probable that before the entire submission of the native Irish, temp. Elizabeth, those proud chiefs, who had so long fought to maintain their independence, refused to accept or to imitate the herald's art as organised in the English school." - "Kilkenny Archæological Journal," March, 1859.
Weld shows his ignorance of the history of the families of Kerry when he wrote: "The O'Sullivan More, or head of the eldest branch of the family, according to their genealogy lately printed in London, is an English baronet. The O was dropped some time before the family settled in England." - "Weld's Killarney," p. 282. Owen O'Sullivan was Lord of Dunkerron, or the O'Sullivan More, to the end of the seventeenth century. Donel, his son, succeeded him. This Donel lost all his property in the Orange confiscations, except the few townlands at the Toomies forfeited by Lord Kenmare, which remained in the family up to 1762. Sir Ross O'Connell says, in the "Last Colonel of the Irish Brigade," p. 52, vol. i.: "The last O'Sullivan Mor died at Tomies in 1762. He left an illegitimate son, whose grandson is a fisherman at Killarney. This grandson told me that when a boy, some thirty years ago, he went to see his grandfather lying dead at Tomies. He saw in the room of the dead man a great pile of old papers, maybe three feet high, mostly written on skins in Latin and Irish, and, faith, I was in dread they might fall into the hands of the Mahonys or some other new people in the country, and they might get more of the O'Sullivan estates, so I burned them all myself." Thus so many precious old family records have been destroyed, which would be now worth their own weight in gold to the antiquarian or genealogist. The genealogy, as we find it in the O'Sullivan More's pedigree since the Cromwellian confiscations, is the following: -
Owen, m. to d. of Sir Edward Fitzgerald, of Ballymaley
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Donal, d. about 1699
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Rory (Oro-Ramhar, Rory the fat) m. to Juliana, d. of Philip O'Sullivan, Beare
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Donald, died 16 Ap., 1754. Buried in Muckross Abbey. M. to Hester O'Sullivan, who d. 17 Jan., 1798.
This was the direct branch of the O'Sullivan More; for we see in the "Book of Claims" this was all that was allowed them from their vast possessions from the Cromwellian confiscators: "No. 1289, Daniel O'Sullivan More claimed and estate in fee on two plough lands of Toomies by descent from Daniel O'Sullivan, his grandfather. Forfeiting proprietor Nicholas Browne, alias Lord Kenmare." If there be any legitimate descendents of Timothy O'Sullivan, of Lisbane, near Cahirciveen, they have a right to be called the O'Sullivan More of Cappanacus, for they alone of the Cappanacus branch in Kerry can trace their genealogy, without any break in the chain in the male line, to the days of the ante-Cromwellian wars thus: -
Eugene or Owen, father of
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Teige or Timothy
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Donel or Daniel, father of
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(4) Dermod or Darby (last occupant of Cappanacus)
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(5) Eugene or Owen
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(6) John
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(7) Patrick (Lisbane, Cahirciveen)
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(8) Timothy (Lisbane, Cahirciveen)
This would make over 300 years, allowing only 40 years to each generation, which is a very low average for the peasantry, especially for the eldest son.
Eugene, or Owen, Sullivan lived in the time of Cromwell, for his son, John, was born in 1633, as already given at p. 128 of this "History," so that the descendants of this Timothy Sullivan are the legitimate owners of the burses of Louvain. They and the descendants of the