DEED 20
RIA 24 G 19 (5): a nineteenth-century copy; original does not survive.
A deed of gift, in reality a case of protection money (£42 stg) charged annually on an extensive tract of Clann Raghnaill land in Muintear Eólais (baronies of Leitrim and Mohill, Co. Leitrim) c. 1582 (the date in this transcription – 1552 – is incorrect). Many of the individuals and locations mentioned are identifiable from the Compossicion Booke of Conought (ed. Freeman, pp 140–51), and from the Elizabethan Fiants, especially §4786. In addition to its historic, legal and linguistic value, this document is particularly rich in placename information: a number of the names remain unidentified and additional identifications will be welcome. (Further Clann Raghnaill references in Deed 19.)
MN 51
TRANSCRIPTION
1. Ac so tabhartas an dá Mhag Ranuill .i. Cathal mac Conchubhair Mheig Ranuill, Toirrdelbach agus Gerald Mhag Ranuill, cenn
2. agus uachtaran a gcineadh maillere i [sic] toil a mbraitreach, agus a luchta leanamhna a Muinteir Eoluis do Sheon Mhag Ranuill
3. ón cCladh Dhubh a cCundae an Rí, agus dá oigridhibh.
4. Bioth a fhios ag an uile dhuine anois agus ansa naimseir ata gan teacht go dtucamurne Cathal
5. mac Conchubhair Mheig Ranuill ó Thulaigh Insi Moruinn a gCundae Liatruma. Toirrdelbach Mhag Ranuill ó Dhruim-
6. -Ard, Cenn a gcineadh. Fear Dorcha Mhag Ranuill ó Dhruim ar Snamh agus Loch Damh. Maoileachlainn mac Huiberd
7. Mheig Ranuill ó Chorspioroige, Murchadh mac Taidhg ó Chlundagha, Íor mac Domhnaill ón Dulach,
8. Tadhg mac Uilliam on Screbach, Toirrdelbach Meig Ranuill ó Loch Conugha, Eoghan Mhag Ranuill ó Loch Scuir,
9. Toirrdelbhach Ó Molmhithe ó Loch Insi an Craoibhe, cenn a chineidh féin. Tadhg mac Seaain ó Eochadh Caisil.
10. Díarmuid Mhag Ranuill ó Chúil Ceterna. Cormac Mhag Ranuill ó Loch Cuil dha Fhíaich. Diarmuid Mhag Ranuill
11. ó Mhongodharsaidh [?], Eomon Mhag Ránuill ó Mhiochoill. Seafraidh mac Concubhair ó Anach Caoince. Toirr-
12. dealbach Mhag Ranuill ó Loch Irill. Brian Gruama mac Aodha ó Dhruim Lara. Feargul Dubh mac Aodha
13. ón gCorrleith. Donchadh Grana mac Giolla Ghruama ó Stúceise. Conchubhar mac Giolla Ghruama ón
14. Dubhcharruig. Ruadhraighe Óg Ó Móráin ó Áit Tighe Ruadere. Toirrdelbach Ó Biorrín ó Mailidh [?] an
15. Tuidhe. Geraild mac Maoilluin Mhag Ranuill ó Chlun Callraidhe. Maoileachlainn mac Conchubhair Mheig Ranuill ó
16. Chluain Cloimhe. Cathal mac Díarmada Mheig Ranuill ó Rusc alias Gart an Iubhair. Ior mac
17. Emuinn ó Rath Raitbhei. Maoilleachlainn Modarra Mhag Ranuill ón Rinn. Emon mac Seanlaoigh ó Dhromod
18. Meic Seanlaoigh. Morchadh mac Maoilleachlainn ó Dhruim Caolain. Diarmuid mac a Phrióra ó Chluain hÍ
19. agus ó Insi Rusc. Murchadh Mhag Ranuill ó Dhruim hÉirc. Tadhg Ó hIstellain ó Dhruiminn. Tadhg Rúadh
20. Mhagerra ó Thamhlag. Maillere toil bhar mbraithreacha agus bhar luchta leanamhna a Muinteir Eoluis ar mhorán
21. dadhbharaibh ar bhar son féin, agus ar son bhar noigridhibh go braach, do Sheon Mhag Ranuill ón cCladh Dhubh
22. a gCundae an Rí agus dá oighridhibh go brach, da phunt agus da fhiched darged Shacsann, agus an tairged sin
23. dfhaghail agus do thógbail an bhar nduthaigh reimhráite agus an gach duthaigh ina bfoile ceart aguinn a Muinteir
24. Eoluis ma bhion aiteirde no ar suidhugadh, agus sin díoc an da therma sa mbliaghuin mur ata a leth fo Bhealltuine,
25. agus an leth elle fa Shamhuin; agus da dteacmhadh mainneacht do dhenamh gan an tsuim remhráite sin díoc go
26. hiomlán sa nam sin. ase bhar neachta, agus bhar cconnradh re Seón ar bhar son féin, agus ar son bhar noigridhibh
27. re oighridhibh Sheoin a chumas aige féin agus ag a oighridhibh, agus ag na tturnibh ghluaisfios utha [sic] dul an
28. bhar nduthaigh uile a Muintir Eoluis, agus ansa duthe reimhráite agus geall do dhenamh, agus an geall do
29. bhreith leó, agus a chonnmhail no go bhfaghuidh an tsuim .i. da phunta, agus da fhiched maille re rasta ma
30. bhíonn ann ar gcúl ar eacht Seón do bheith na chenn na dhidineor agus na uachtaran oruinn agus dol
31. go Baile Atha Cliath ó am go ham do réithiughadh bhar gcúis leis an ngiuistis agus leis
32. an cComhairle ar bhar gcostus féin taobh amuich don tsuim remhráite sin. noch bermaoid dó
33. ar son a shaothair. agus deacht ar Sheón gan aonduine aguinn do chur as bhar nduthaige ach go
34. niomcramaoid sinn féin go gradhach dósan agus gan ceangal re eonduine do Rúarcachaibh
35. agus mur fhiadhnaisi di so do chuirmuirne bhar lamha agus bhar seladha ar an scribhin so an .5. lá do mhí Desember .1552.
36. Cathal mac Conchubhuir
[p. 2]
37. Do bhi do lathair an chunarthe so agus an uair do criochnaighthe é, agus an uair do cuiredh
38. seala air, agus an uair do seachada e .i. Dia ar ttus. Risderd Ó Uibhgionnáin.
39. Annluain mhic Maoliosa. Toirrdealbach Mac Raghnuill. dha mhac Taidhg Mhic Aoghan.
40 .i. Eoghan agus Uilliam. Ciothruadh mhic Maghnase. Geroid Comharba Feadnacha, Cormac
41. Comarba Cluana. Concubur mac Giolla Suiligh. Maghnus Mac Giollru[aidh]. Eogan Ó Colla.
42. a true Copy. Finit.
43. Two and forty Seals were affixed to the side of this Deed of Gift
NORMALISED TEXT
Ag so tabhartas an dá Mhág Raghnaill .i. Cathal mac Conchubhair Mhéig Raghnaill, Toirdhealbhach agus Gearald Mhág Raghnaill, ceann agus uachtarán a gcineadh, maille re toil a mbráithreach agus a luchta leanamhna i Muintir Eóluis, do Sheón Mhág Raghnaill ón gCladh Dhubh i gCundae an Rí, agus dá oigridhibh.
Bíoth a fhios ag an uile dhuine, anois agus ansan aimsir atá gan teacht, go dtugamar-ne –
Cathal mac Conchubhair Mhéig Raghnaill ó Thulaigh Insi Moruinn i gCundae Liatroma; Toirdhealbach Mhág Raghnaill ó Dhruim Ard, ceann a gcineadh; Fear Dorcha Mhág Raghnaill ó Dhruim ar Snámh agus Loch Damh; Maoileachlainn mac Huibeard Mhéig Raghnaill ó Chorr Spioróige; Murchadh mac Taidhg ó Chluain Dagha; Íor mac Domhnaill ón Dúlach; Tadhg mac Uilliam on Screabach; Toirdhealbhach Mág Raghnaill ó Loch Conugha; Eóghan Mhág Raghnaill ó Loch Scuir; Toirdhealbhach Ó Maoilmhithigh ó Loch Insi na Craoibhe, ceann a chinidh féin; Tadhg mac Seaáin ó Achadh Caisil; Diarmaid Mhág Raghnaill ó Chúil Cheithearna; Cormac Mhág Raghnaill ó Loch Cúil dhá Fhiaich; Diarmaid Mhág Raghnaill ó Mhongodharsaidh [?]; Éamann Mhág Raghnaill ó Mhiochoill; Seafraidh mac Conchubhair ó Eanach Caointe; Toirdhealbhach Mhág Raghnaill ó Loch Irill; Brian Gruama mac Aodha ó Dhruim Lára; Fearghal Dubh mac Aodha ón gCorr Léith; Donnchadh Gránna mac Giolla Ghruama ó Stúceise; Conchubhar mac Giolla Ghruama ón Dubhcharraig; Ruadhraighe Óg Ó Móráin ó Áit Tighe Ruaidhrí; Toirdhealbach Ó Birrín ó Mhalaidh [?] an Tuighe; Gearald mac Maoilluin Mhéig Raghnaill ó Chluain Chalraighe; Maoileachlainn mac Conchubhair Mhéig Raghnaill ó Chluain Cloimhe; Cathal mac Diarmada Mhéig Raghnaill ó Rúsc alias Gart an Iubhair; Íor mac Éamoinn ó Rath Raithbhei; Maoileachlainn Modhardha Mhág Raghnaill ón Rinn; Éamonn Mac Seanlaoich ó Dhromod Meic Seanlaoich; Murchadh mac Maoilleachlainn ó Dhruim Caoláin; Diarmaid mac an Phrióra ó Chluain hÍ agus ó Insi Rúsc; Murchadh Mhág Raghnaill ó Dhruim hEirc; Tadhg Ó hIstealláin ó Dhruimín; Tadhg Rúadh Mhág Gearra ó Thamhlag; maille re toil ar mbráithreacha agus ar luchta leanamhna i Muintir Eóluis ar mhórán d’adhbharaibh ar ar son féin, agus ar son ar n-oigridhibh go brách –
do Sheón Mhág Raghnaill ón gCladh Dhubh i gCundae an Rí agus dá oighridhibh go brách, dá phunt agus dá fhichead d’airgead Shacsann.
Agus an t-airgead sin d’fhagháil agus do thógbháil inar ndúthaigh reamhráite, agus in gach dúthaigh ina bhfoile ceart againn i Muintir Eóluis má bhíonn áitrithe nó ar suidhiughadh, agus sin d’íoc an dá théarma sa mbliadhain, mar atá a leath fo Bhealtaine, agus an leath eile fa Shamhain.
Agus dá dteagmhadh mainneacht do dhéanamh gan an tsuim reamhráite sin d’íoc go hiomlán san am sin, is é ar n-eachta agus ar gconnradh re Seón, ar ar son féin agus ar son ar n-oighridhibh re oighridhibh Sheóin, a chumas aige féin agus ag a oighridhibh, agus ag na turnaibh ghluaisfios uatha, dul inar ndúthaigh uile i Muintir Eóluis, agus ansa dúithe reamhráite, agus geall do dhéanamh agus an geall do bhreith leó, agus a chonnmháil nó go bhfaghaid an tsuim .i. dá phunta agus dá fhichead, maille re [re]rásta má bhíonn ann ar gcúl, ar eacht Seón do bheith ’na cheann, ’na dhídineóir, agus ’na uachtarán oruinn, agus dol go Baile Átha Cliath ó am go ham do réithiughadh ar gcúis leis an nGiúistis agus leis an gComhairle ar ar gcostas féin, taobh amuigh den tsuim reamhráite sin, noch bhéarmaoid dó ar son a shaothair.
Agus d’eacht ar Sheón gan aonduine aguinn do chur as ar ndúthaighe, ach go n-iomchramaoid sinn féin go grádhach dósan, agus gan ceangal re éanduine do Ruarcachaibh.
Agus mar fhiadhnaisi di so do chuireamuir-ne ar lámha agus ar séaladha ar an scríbhinn so an .5. lá do mhí December .1552 [recte 1582 KN].
Cathal mac Conchubhuir
Do bhí do láthair an chunnartha so agus an uair do críochnaighe[adh] é, agus an uair do cuireadh séala air, agus an uair do seachada[dh] é .i. Dia ar dtús; Risdeard Ó Uibhgionnáin; Annluain Mac Maolíosa; Toirdhealbhach Mág Raghnuill; dhá mhac Taidhg Mheic Aodhagáin .i. Eóghan agus Uilliam; Ciothruadh Mhac Maghnasa; Gearóid, Comharba Feadhnacha; Cormac, Comharba Cluana; Conchubhur Mac Giolla Súiligh; Maghnus Mac Giollru[aidh]; Eóghan Ó Colla.
A true Copy. Finit.
TRANSLATION
Here is the gift of the two Mág Raghnaills (that is, Cathal mac Conchubhair Mhéig Raghnuill, Toirdhealbhach and Gearald Mhág Ranuill) head and guardian of their families, with the consent of their kinsmen and followers in Muintear Eólais, to Seón Mág Raghnaill from An Cladh Dubh in King’s County and to his heirs.
Let all know, now and henceforth, that we [names and addresses lines 4-20] with the consent of our kinsmen and our followers in Muintear Eolais, for many reasons, on our own behalf and that of our heirs forever, have given to Seón Mág Raghnaill from An Cladh Dubh in King’s County, and to his heirs forever, forty-two pounds of English silver.
And that money is to be taken and levied in our aforementioned landholding[s], and in every holding to which we have a right in Muintear Eólais, whether it be occupied or utilized; and that to be paid at the two terms of the year, that is, half of it at Bealtaine and the other half at Samhain.
And should default be made in payment of the full sum at that time, our obligations and our agreement with Seón, on our own behalf and that of our heirs with Seón’s heirs, [are that] he himself and his heirs, and the attorneys who shall proceed from them, shall have power to enter all our holding[s] in Muintear Eólais, and in the aforesaid land, and to establish a pledge, and carry the pledge away with them, and to keep it until he recovers the sum i.e. forty-two pounds, with arrears if they exist, on condition of Seón being our chieftain, protector and guardian, and he going to Dublin from time to time to resolve our cause with the [Chief] Justice and the Council, at our own expense – additional to the sum already mentioned – which we will give him for his work.
And Seón is bound not to eject any of us from our lands, as long as we bear ourselves affectionately towards him and not combine with any person of the Í Ruairc.
And in witness whereof we have set our hands and seals on this document, the 5th day of December, 1552 [recte 1582 KN].
Cathal mac Conchubhuir
Present at this agreement and when it was finished and when it was sealed and when it was delivered: God in the first place; Risdeard Ó Uibhgionnáin; Annluain Mac Maolíosa; Toirdhealbach Mág Raghnuill; the two sons of Tadhg Mac Aodhagán .i. Eóghan and Uilliam; Ciothruadh Mhac Maghnasa; Gearóid, the comharb of Fiodhnach; Cormac, the comharb of Cluain; Conchubhur Mac Giolla Súiligh; Maghnus Mac Giollru[aidh]; Eóghan Ó Colla.
NOTES
For those placenames in this document that have been identified to date, see the Index of Placenames.
1. tabhartas In this instance, a gift of freehold.
1. an dá Mhág Raghnaill Lines 4-6 make clear that Cathal and Toirdhealbhach are the two in question. According to ‘Linea Antiqua’, Gearald was bother of Toirdhealbhach.
2. uachtaran (also line 30) Used elsewhere (KN) for the position of Guardian in a Franciscan house.
3. an Cladh Dubh There are two places named Clyduff in Offaly: 1. bar. Phillipstown Lower, par. Kilclonfert; 2. bar. Clonisk, par. Dunkerrin. That in Kilclonfert is the place in question here.
4–5. Cathal mac Conchubhair Mheig Ranuill ó Thulaigh Insi Moruinn a gCundae Liatruma ‘Cahall mc Connor Carragh Magranill of Inshemurreene otherwise called Magranill of Moynish chiefe of his name’ Compossicion Booke, 141 and 147; ‘Kalle M’Granill of Incemorren’ Fiants Eliz. 4786.
5–6. Toirrdelbach Mhag Ranuill ó Dhruim Ard ‘Torelagh mc Molaghlin oge Magranill of Dromarde otherwise called Magranill of Clonmologhmo, Chiefe of his name’ Compossicion Booke, 141 and 147. ‘Tirlaghe M’Granide, of Dromardde, Gerald M’Granide, of same’ Fiants Eliz. 4786.
6. Fear Dorcha Mhag Ranuill ó Dhruim ar Snamh agus Loch Damh ‘Fardoroghe M’Granill, of Baghnekargy’ Fiants Eliz. 4786.
6–7. Maoileachlainn mac Huiberd Mheig Ranuill ó Chorspioroige ‘Melaughlen M’Granill, of Dromhirn’ Fiants Eliz. 4786 (= Drunhierney, par. Kiltoghert?)
7. Murchadh mac Taidhg ó Chlundagha ‘Morough M’Granill of Garrynatarpan’ Fiants Eliz. 4786.Chlundagha Unidentified.
Íor mac Domhnaill ón Dulach ‘Ire M’Donill, of Doweloughe’ Fiants Eliz. 4786.
8. Toirrdelbach Meig Ranuill ó Loch Conugha ‘Tirlagh mirgighe M’Granill, of Loughecomowy’ Fiants Eliz. 4786.
Eoghan Mhag Ranuill ó Loch Scuir ‘One M’Granill, of Loughescurry’ Fiants Eliz. 4786.
9. Toirrdelbhach Ó Molmhithe ó Loch Insi an Craoibhe, cenn a chineidh féin ‘Tirlagh O Molhuie, of Bughincecrevy’ Fiants Eliz. 4786.
Tadhg mac Seaain ó Eochadh Caisil ‘Teige O Moluhye, of Aughe Casshill’ Fiants Eliz. 4786.
11. Mhiochoill Perhaps a spelling (or misspelling where ao > io ) for Maothail; cf. 'Carbrico Magranaill priori de Machyl' (Gearóid Mac Niocaill, 'Meabhrán dlí ó Mhuintir Eolais 1467-1513', Galvia 4 (1957) 25-6: 26).
12. Loch Irill unidentified, but cf. ‘Ferrall balligh M’Loughlin, of Loughkirrill’ Fiants Eliz. 4786; cf also Kilmakerrill, par. Clooncare, bar. Dromahaire)
14. Ó Biorrín Ó Birrín (Woulfe, Sloinnte: a variant of Ó Bioráin (Byrne, Byran, Barnes, Burns), Ó Bearáin (Barron, Barrington)); cf. 'Teige O Birne, of Degan' Fiants Eliz. 4786.
17. Maoilleachlainn Modarra Mhag Ranuill ón Rinn ‘Melaughlen mottery M’Granill, of same [Castleramy]’ Fiants Eliz. 4786.
Emon mac Seanlaoig 'Edm. M'Shanly, of Dirrewoully' Fiants Eliz. 4786.
19. Ó hIstellain A variant of Ó hEisleanáin (cf. Canice Mooney, 'The Franciscan Friary of Jamestown', Ardagh & Clonmacnoise Antiquarian Society Journal 2/11 (1946) 1–25: 7; O’Rahilly, Gadelica, 159 [ DÓC])
18–19. Diarmuid mac a Phrióra ó Chluain hÍ agus ó Insi Rusc ‘Diermod M’Granill, of Incerowskie’ Fiants Eliz. 4786. Son of the Prior of Mohill [KN].
19–20. Tadhg Rúadh Mhagerra A variant [HM] of Mac an Gheairr/Ghirr (formerly common in Sligo and Leitrim: Woulfe, Sloinnte).
20. bhar appears here and passim as a spelling for 1pl ár. O’Rahilly, Irish dialects, 217, talks of confusion ‘from the seventeenth century’ (in the other direction), where ar is used for bhar.
23. bfoile An interesting case of the survival of the Old-Irish relative form, if the transcription is accurate.
24. aiteirde MN emends to áitighthe, but form seems rather to represent metathesis of áitrithe, presumably a past participle of ad-treba.
ar suidhiughadh reflected in midlands Hiberno-English ‘set’ (= ‘let, rented’).
27. tturnibh cf. tornaeirri 'attorney' D11.36
29–30. re rasta apparently, with haplography, for re rerásta (English (ar)re(a)rage), a variant of riaráiste (D17.8).
31. réithiughadh vn of réidhighidh Usually with –dh– but one example of –th– in DIL (rethigestair)
38. Ó Uibhgionnáin A mistranscription of Ó Duibhgionnáin?
40. Geroid Comharba Feadnacha cf. ‘Gerald O Roddechan, of Fynaugh’ Fiants Eliz. 4786
40–41 Cormac comharba Cluana Presumably Clonard is meant here?