Part III. History of the County of Clare
Chapter 16. Inquisitions relating to county of Clare—Reign of James I

Donald Merigagh MacNamara of Ballinahinch; The Earl of Thomond

Inquisition, taken at Ennis, on the 7^th of May, in the …^th year of James I., before Nicholas Kenny, finds that Donald Merigagh MacNamara, of Ballinahinch, died on the 21^st of April, 1604, being then owner of the undernamed lands:—Coolreaghbeg, Upper Clogher, Cloncullin, Clogherkeile, Ballaghnayne, Ratheneonar, Shanvoyhe, Clonriushe, Manygullin; Ranaghan, of the west part of Ballydonaghan, of Clonmoher, Coolready, and Lisbarreen; finds that he had demised these lands to Bœtius Clancy of Knockfinn, in trust to the use of his wife Honoria Clancy, during her life, and after her death to the heirs male of their body, and in default of such heirs male, to the use of his heirs general; finds that Donogh MacNamara is the son and heir of said Donald Merigagh.

Among these Inquisitions is one which sets forth, at enormous length, the names of the lands granted, by letters patent of the 19^th of January 1622, to the Earl of Thomond. Too much of our space would be occupied by an enumeration of these townlands, and we shall content ourselves with giving some collateral particulars which may be found interesting. The Earl gives to one Donogh, son of Murtagh Sallagh (the dirty), and to his heirs male, for some service rendered to him, two acres of arable land and the grazing of two milch cows. He devises to Hugh Norton the lands of Lifford, Ballyconny, and Cappahard, near Ennis, together with various other denominations, situate in the barony of Ibrickan. He gives, by his Deed of November, 1619, to Teige O’Brien, the advowson and Rectory of O’Gashin; to James Comyn, the castle and lands of Doonbeg; and to Owen, Teige, Loghlen, and Donogh O’Daly, sons of Loghlen Roe O’Daly; to Shane, son of William O’Daly; to Teige, son of Owen O’Daly; and to Eneas, son of Gilladuff; the lands of Finavarra. He gives, by Deed of 6^th May, 1590, to Dermot MacConsidine, the lands of Clongarnan, Cohy, Cloninagh-upper, Kilroe, Cloninagh-lower, Clonwhite, and Carraghcully. By Deed of 9^th June, 1617, he gives to Hugh and William Brigdale, the lands of Cahercallamore, Ballyjane, Ballymacaula, and Athiwellan, in the town of Ennis. In 1618, he gives to James FitzNicholas Bourke of Limerick, the castle, town, and lands of Downaghogan, Clonleskehine, and Skraffoyle. In 1623 he gives to Richard Keating, the lands of Ballinacraggy, Cahermoyle, Garrinphibole, Shanclooney, Caherduff, Maghery, and Knocknaskeha. He gives to Michael White, and to Anastatia, his wife, the castle and lands of Bealacorick, Knappagh, Inishlana, with its water-mill, Ballycloghassy, the Hill of Torses, and Carcaknappoge. He gives to Roland Delahoyde, by Deed of 1623, the castle, town, and lands of Fomerla, alias Fornerdy, Knockprehane, Fyamore and Fyabegg, Classagh, Cahirlogan, and Rathclooney. In 1617, he gives to Robert Taylor, Anne Taylor, and John Taylor, their son, the Abbey of Clare, with two quarters of land, called Carrownakilly and Carrownagannanagh, the lands of Ballybeg, Cahercallabeg, excepting the town of Clare, and a parcel of land adjoining the bridge. He gives to Nicholas Parsons, the island of Inishdadrom. He conveys to Sir Thomas Brown, to Sir John Brereton, to Bœtius Clancy, and to Arthur Stoton, the castle, manor, town, and lands of Dromoland, the Abbey of Ennis, the lands of Dromligett, the town and lands of Queerenquilly, Clooncarne, Kilnanagh, the castle of Bealacorick, and the island of Inishdea, as trustees, to the use of Henry, now Earl of Thomond, and of the Lady Mary his wife, and to their heirs male. The Inquisition further states, that various persons claimed lands included in the Earl’s Patent. The Bishop of Killaloe claimed a great many townlands. MacNamara Finn, of Dangan-i-vigin, claimed Cratloemore, and Kirenboy a sub-denomination of that townland, Portdrine, Gortfynn, Garrowganee, Moyhill, Kilfintinan, Kilrackanbeg, Kilfeylim, Dromgranagh, Ballyunkouan, Bearnafunsin, Ballycarroll, Ballycorey, Ballyvicehinna, Shandangan, Ballymacloon, Crynegh, Agherinaghmore, Glanlon, Ballycar, Gilloge, Ballycarroncrona, Ballycannon, Knockalisheen, Glannagross, Grebole, Annaghbegg, Ballycomyne, Ballyvane, Beallaghlaffny, Aldowan, Carrownanillin, Sleight Teige Daly, Ballycasey, Tullyvarroga, Dromguilla, Rinanna, Ballymacknevin, Ballyconneely, Dromoland, Ballygirreen, Carrowmorlatta, Ballyvannavan, Glanmuintermollowna, Gurtmeerie, Danganbrack, Cloomanagh, Knockdurlis, and Coolshamrock. Cuvea MacNamara, of Ardclooney, claimed Rossnacowhy, Knocknaskeha, and Cloonfadda. Mahone, son of Donogh MacNamara, of Kilkishen, claimed Bealaglafine, the castle and lands of Rosmanagher, Bealancullin, Ballyblood, Mohernaguta, and Coolbane. Cuvea Reagh MacNamara, of Clonclogher, laid claim to Agherinamore, Gortcahilroor, Bearncarrigie. Donald O’Grady of Moynoe, claimed the lands of Carrowcoole, Cloghanobron, Drominomora, and Knockmoet. David O’Ruddane of Ballyvergan, claimed Ballyivore, Curraghkilleen, Gortashanvatta, Gortdrislagh, Clooncrossbeg, and Lisponery. Teige, son of Donogh, son of John MacNamara, of Lackamore, claimed that townland as well as the lands of Ballygirreen and Knockenisheen. Donoald, son of Rory MacNamara of Ballyduff, claimed the castle and lands of Kilraghtis and Coolebawn. Owen O’Molony claimed Ballybroghan, Ballycasha, and the castle and lands of Bealaboy. Conor, son of Donogh MacNamara, claimed Carrowbane, Ballycraggy and Maghera. Michael Chamberlain claimed Ballymaley. Owen O’Corry claimed Cappahard. Conor O’Molony of Ballykinnane, claimed, by virtue of a mortgage, the lands of Ballycannon, Gortnaskehie, Gleanagross and Shanakyle. Thomas Arthur of the city of Limerick, claimed Lisballick, Ready, Cloncabbery in Annabeg, (Doonass). John MacNamara of Granahan, claimed that part of Ballykalla which is called Knocknakilla, Ballyenish, Cloonderdalough, and Granahan, otherwise called Bealagaddy. John, son of Teige MacNamara of Cross, claimed Skart (Neskarte), Ballyknock, Ranyellagh, Farrenomarlen, Ballycomyne, and Corcagh-na-ganoge. Rory MacNamara, of Monyneve, claimed Augvallebeg. William Halpin of Kilrush, claimed Kilcarrowly. Conor O’Brien of Ballymulcashil, claimed that townland, as likewise the lands of Kilmore and Curraghkilleen. Donald MacNamara of Carrownever, claimed Ballyrohane, Callan, Ardmolton, and Cloonfadda. Morrogh MacGucarrick of Clonreddan, claimed Doonmore. Nicholas Stritch FitzNicholas of Limerick, claimed Doonbeg, Ballycarrow, and Lismullin, and part of the pool of Cahitragh. Conor, son of Teige MacNamara, of Smithstown in the parish of Dromline, claimed Caherfirogue and Ballycasey. Mahone, son of Conor MacNamara of Ardraskon, claimed Dromore and Cloghlea, in Ballinacraggy. Teige, son of Sheeda MacNamara, of Mona-Granagh, and Donogh Clancy, of Urlin, claimed Beallaghcuheen, Cloonyntin, Cappa-an-Shanvalley, Gortygreaghane, Lycareogh, and Knockballyushen. Shane, son of Daniel O’Lurkan, claimed as his patrimony, Cloonillany, Knocknaraha, and Rathdonald. MacNamara of Ballyboise, claimed Tiyre and Skeopaghenballybloyd. Conor O’Brien, of Derrow, on the 20^th of May, 1624, claimed as his property the castle and lands of Dromline, as well as the lands of Ballycasey and Tullyvaraga. John Rice of the city of Limerick, on the 26^th of June, 1624, laid claim to the lands of Gortcallestalbuoy as his inheritance. John and Teige MacNamara, of Ballintlea, claimed, as theirs of right, the lands of Carrowbane, Carrowbrannir, Tuohroure, Killeen, and Knockearoe. James Morris of Ballyluddane, claimed Erribul and Knockaderreen, in Ballyluddane. Teige MacNamara of Moyrush, claimed Gurtmaska and Cloonfadda. John, son of Daniel MacNamara, of Kilfinaghty, claimed Dromgowly and Moygalla. Teige MacNamara claimed the islands of Inishdea and Inishmore in the Fergus. ^[5]