bouring island which was formerly called Inis-iarthuir [but] at present Ardoilen." To this Colgan adds as a note (12). "This, from being a noble monastery, was made a parish church of the diocese of Tuam, in which St. Fechin is held in great veneration, as the patron of the church and the island; from which also we have received the Irish Book of the life of St. Fechin, of which we have made mention above in the notes to the former life of St. Fechin, N. 1." Gaurius, the king mentioned in this extract, was the generous and hospitable Guaire king of Connaught, who died, according to the annals of Tigernach, in A.D. 663. From the foregoing narrative it appears that Omey was one of the last retreats of Paganism in Ireland. In A. D. 1017, the Four Masters record the death of Fergus, vicar of Iomaith (Omey). Upwards of three centuries ago, a branch of the ancient family of O'Toole of Leinster settled in Omey, under the protection of the western O'Flaherties. "The O'Tooles of Conmaicne-mara" (Conamara). On 12th Sept. 1540, the Lord Deputy of Ireland wrote to King Henry VIII. that the peace with "the Otholeys (the O'Tooles of Leinster) endeth upon Monday nexte; and yt it is thought good by us all here, that if they will not com to suche condition of peace as shalbe thought by Your Magesties Counsell to be to your honour and suertie, that we shall, with all diligence, procede to their utter banishment, whiche is more to be don with peyne then with any grete power. For theos same Otholes be men inhabyting the montynes, wher they neyther sowe corne, neyther yet have inhabytation, but only the woodes and marreyses, and yet do more harme to your English Pale, then the moost parte of all Irelande."-State Papers, Lond. 1834, vol. iii. p. 239. See also p. 266, for a subsequent communication to the king respecting O'Toole, wherein he is told that "this Thirrologh is but a wretched person, and a man of no grete power, neyther having house to put his hedd in, nor yet money in his purse to buy hym a garment, yet may he well make two or three hundred men. Assuring your Hieghnes that he hath doon more hurte to your English Pale then any man in Irlande.” On this occasion, Tirlogh and his brother Art oge petitioned the King for grants of the territory of Fercullen, and the manor of Castle-Kevin, in the present county of Wicklow, for which see the same State Papers, p. 270; and, for the King's letter directing patents to be passed to them, see same, p. 279. The curious conditions on which these patents were granted, have been omitted in the published State Papers alluded to; but they will be found enrolled on the Patent Roll, 32, 33 Hen. VIII. Rolls Office, Dublin. Anterior to this period, a branch of these "O'Tooles of Leinster" emigrated to the west of Ireland, and settled in the island of Omey in Iar-Connaught, where their descendants still remain, note ", ante, p. 117, but mostly reduced to a state of poverty. In the Office of Arms, Dublin, I find the following "Pedigree of the O'Tooles of Conmaicnemara in West Connaught." "Tuathal (Toole) O'Toole. Dunchain O'Toole. Dermod Sugach O'Toole. Dermod Oge O'Toole. Awley O'Toole. Hugh O'Toole. Toole O'Toole. Felim O'Toole. Theobald O'Toole. Edmond O'Toole, of Conmaicne-mara." 66 In A. D. 1586, the last-named Theobald (Tibbott) O'Toole, who is described as a supporter of the poor, and keeper of a house of hospitality" (i. e. a Biatagh), was hanged by a party of Sir Richard Bingham's soldiers, who were sent on a predatory excursion to Iar-Connaught.-Four Masters. The present O'Tooles of Conamara are reduced to poverty; and are utterly ignorant of their origin. name. In Irish baile mic Conpoi, the townland of Mac Conroi. This Conroi was the first chief of the territory of Gnomore, in Iar-Connaught. See Additional Note S, p. 253. Many centuries after his time, some of his descendants emigrated westward towards the coast, and settled in this district of Ballymac Conroy, to which they gave After the introduction of the English tongue into Iar-Connaught, the name of the clan Mhic Conroi was anglicised "Mac Conry," "M'Enry," and finally, but improperly, "King," as if the original name was Mac an Righ, i. e. son of the King. The district of Ballymac Conroy was also anglicised "Kingstown ;" and thus the ancient name was wholly obliterated. The following instrument appears to have been entered into before these latter changes were made: "This Indenture made the twelfthe of Aprille Anno Domini 1615, betwine Morroghe ne Moyer O'Flaherty of Bonnowen in the county of Gallwey, esq' one thone partie, and Knohor (Connor) mo Conry of Balle m៰Conry in thaforesaid county also gentl. one thother partie: witnessethe that I the said Morroghe ne moyer O'Flaherty have demissed unto the said Knohor m៰Conry his heires, executors and assignes, for ever, all that the haulfe cartrone of Eigherpoete set. lyinge and beinge in Balle m៰Conry within the barrony of Ballenehensse, in length and breathe as it dothe extend, together with all turffes, meadowes, pastures, mountaynes, watters, ffyshings and all other thappurtenances thereinto belonginge: To have and to hold to the said Knohor IRISH ARCH. SOC. NO. 15. 20 moConry m Conry his heires, executors and assignes' sole and proper use and occuppacion for ever; yealdinge and paying by the feast of all sts: yearly, the just some of six shillings and eight pence sterling, together with fower pence ster. to the said Moroghe and his heires, collectors or sargents: And also yealdinge the king's rents and all other contributions together with O'Flaherty is rent, if any should grow, over and besides thaforesaid some of six shillings and eight pence ster. and I the said Morroghe ne Moyer O'Flaherty mine heires, executores and assignes, the said Knoher m°Conry his heires, executores and assignes, in the possession, use and occupation of the same, shall save, warrant, acquite and defend against all manner of personne and personnes whatsoever. In withness whereofe wee have hereinto interchangeably sett our haunds and sealls, the day and year first above wrytten. Morrogh MF. ne Moyer O'Flaherty. Present wee whose names insueth: TE. O'FFLAHERTIe.-Donnelle oGE M'CONRY, is marke. -EDMOND M'Donnell m ̊Conry.-RICHARD LYNCHE.”—Orig. The last-named witness was a Galway lawyer, by whom legal instruments were prepared for the natives of Iar-Connaught at this period. These instruments were sometimes written in Irish, often in Latin, but generally in English, although it was then almost an unknown tongue in the district. Those in English usually contain certificates of having been read and explained in Irish to the contracting parties. The following testamentary disposition by one of the Clan M'Enry, has been transcribed by the Editor from the original, preserved with other curious documents in the diocesan Registry of Tuam :— "Jesus, Maria. "The last will and Testament of Bryan Me Enry, made the 13th of Ffebruary in the yeare of our Lord God 1691, in the presence of Patrick Martin, Ed. M Bryan, Murragh Mc Bryan, &c. First, I bequeathe my soule to God Almighty, and my body to be interred in the church of Kill. 2. I bequeath a good in-calfe cow and calfe of a yeare old next May to my sister Sicily. 3. I bequeath a heffer of a yeare old last May to my Unkle Murrogh, and a mare to my father, and a sheep to Mary ban Mc Enry. 4. I order a cowe of two yeare old last May to be given to M' Pat. Martin, and three sheep to be given to my wife. 5. Edmond M Moyler owes me seaven shillings, and John Mc Myler two shillings, which I order to be given to the three priests. 6. M'. Pat' Martin owes me nine shillings, Bryan M Enry owes me twelve shillings, John Shoy five shillings and ten pence, Owen Mc Dermott, Teige Mc Dermott and Donnell Moghan owes me five shillings. 7. I owe William Skerrett ten shillings, Edward Martin one shilling, Anstas Martin three shillings, and John Kelly three shillings, which is to be paid out of the above debt, as Pat'. Martin shall think fitt."—Orig. "Castle of Down." See page 113. The castle of Down or Doon, in Irish Carlean an Dúna, was situate on a high rugged rock on the mainland, N. E. of the island of Omey. Its site is now occupied by the ruins of an old house, but the outer walls of the original building, four feet thick, are still traceable. Opposite the castle, on the south side of the inlet of the ocean called Streamstown Bay, stood the chapel of Kill, said to have been erected about 250 years ago, by one Dubhdara Mac Conroi; who, according to tradition, was put to death by the O'Flaherty who then resided in Doon castle. The chapel and castle may be seen marked on Larkin's large map of the county of Galway. In this vicinity lived the bard Mac Sweeny (mentioned ante, p. 112, note ') who has celebrated the castle of Doon, in a curious poem in his native language, entitled “Abrán an Phúca," the song of the Púca or Goblin, a hairy sprite somewhat akin to the well-known Brownie of Scotland, but more mischievous. This production I am induced to insert here as a specimen of modern Irish versification. It is popular among the natives of Iar-Connaught, and is generally sung to music. Is é iomráỏ na g-cailleaċ is na seandaoíne críonna, a It is generally believed that the Púca has survived the deluge. He is supposed to be particularly busy on All-Hallow-eve; and many persons avoid 'S going out on that night, for fear of encountering this formidable phantom of the imagination. To reason with them on the subject is useless. 'S go m-bíonn sé 'na ċar is 'na mada 'san oíċċe, A cómarsanaiz dílise tugaíd daṁ congnam, Act seólfad-sa síos é go bun ċnuic an dúna, Fágfaió mé ann sin é go g-cairtear ráiże an zeiṁɲe, No teideaó sé 'na ceannfort air maigistríó bruíġne, Síogaid para Cpuaċain nó Finnbeapa Meabad, No a faire sean caislean air aisdrean nó fuaidread, |