Part III. History of the County of Clare
Chapter 15. Inquisitions relating to County of Clare—Reign of Elizabeth

[Explanation of Inquisitions; Inquisition taken at Ennis, 1585]

In the interval of the first forty years of the seventeenth century, we shall best supply the history of Clare by giving the Inquisitions taken during that time. These Inquiries are thus explained: To enable the English conquerors to levy the Crown rents upon the parties properly liable for payment, they made use of Commissioners, whose business it was to visit the country, from time to time, and with the aid of a jury of natives, to inquire into the changes made by death in the ownership of property. In the form of a short abstract of each, in Latin, these Inquisitions, as they were called, have been preserved, and we give them here as translated from the original rolls in the Irish Record Office, Dublin. The spelling is so incorrect, that it is sometimes impossible to make out the places referred to, as they are known in our time.

1585. Aug. 11^th.—Inquisition, taken at Ennis, before Sir Richard Bingham, Sir Nicholas White, and others, and before the following jury:—William Neylan of Cloghaunynyenth; Edmond MacSweeney of Ballyvraslan, gent.; Cosney MacClancy of Cahermaclancy, gent.; Ollinev (Gillananeave) O’Davoren of Lissylisheen, gent.; Teige MacLysaght of Pouliskaboy; Thady Reddan of Dromnyrhye; Donogh MacGillareagh of ——; Teige MacRory (MacBrody?) of Littermaoelin, gent.; Maoelin MacBrody of the Cungenagh, gent.; Nicholas MacMahon of Kilrush, or Killenshe; Gillabrida MacBrody of Kilkeedy; Daniel O’Shanna of Ballyshanny; Mahone MacNamara of Mooghane; Murtogh Cam MacMahon of Doonagurroge; Mahone MacDonogh MacMahon of Knockalough;—The jury find that Thomond consisted of nine baronies, and that Termon Tulla belongs to the Queen.