Part I. Topography of Thomond Chapter 3. Burren, or Corcomroe East

Deed of submission to the Earl of Thomond, executed by the O’Loughlens

A.D. 1580.—About this time great alarm was created in the minds of the native population of Thomond by the success of the measures taken by the English invaders to bring them under subjection. Finding that the authority vested in the Earl of Thomond was likely to prove supreme, the O’Loghlens in 1591 entered into a new treaty with him, by which they renewed their declarations of fealty, in accordance with the terms of a previous compact made with his great grandfather. It is preserved amongst the MSS. of MacCurtin in the Royal Irish Academy, and runs thus:—

“Be it known to all who read this writing that we, Irial, the son of Rossa, and Donogh, the son [of] Bryan, and Lysagh, the son of Mahone of Ballyauliff, the survivors of the posterity of Mealaghlin O’Loghlen of Ballyvaughan, named in the treaty executed between Conor, the great grandfather of this Earl, and our ancestors, have agreed as follows, viz.:—

“To be of ourselves bound to you, O! Donogh O’Brien, according to which we have set our hands to this deed in presence of the witnesses hereto. And this is the agreement, namely, that we ourselves, the posterity of Malachy of Ballyvaughan and of Benroe, and their people and country, are and shall be bound, and our heirs after us, to Conor O’Brien, and his heirs after him. And that it shall not be in the power of any of us or of our descendants, to cause a sod of the country or any of the castles to be mortgaged or sold, except with the consent of the said Conor, or his heirs after him. And that Conor or his heirs after him shall be heirs to the Sliocht Mealachlin. ^[9] And that it shall be obligatory on the Sliocht Maoelaghlen and on their followers, to yield obedience to and submit to the will of Conor O’Brien and his heirs after him. ^[10]

“Furthermore, I, the Earl of Thomond, (Donogh, 4^th Earl), acknowledge upon my honour that I promised that whatever portion of the lands, or whatever castles belonging to the parties hereto, may have been occupied or plundered, should be submitted to the arbitration of Boetius MacClancy, John, son of Tornea O’Maelconary, and Owen O’Daly, such arbitration to be binding on me, the Earl, as to the restitution they are to receive.

“The lands in the possession of Boetius MacClancy are not to be included in this deed.

“In the year of our Lord 1591, the 9^th of June, at Knockfin, we gave our consent and put our hands to this writing, which is in imitation of the old treaty by which the heirs of the parties hereto are bound to each other for ever.

“I, Gella-na-naev oge O’Davoren, wrote this copy.

“Signed (in English), Donogh Thomond.
“Signed (in Irish), Donogh O’Loghlen.
“Signed (in Irish), Irial O’Loghlen.

‘Copia vera; ex orig.; per
“Bot Clancy.
“John Mac Tornea.
“Owen O’Daly. Testes.”

The original document, of which the above is a copy, is stated (A.D. 1604), to have remained with Boetius oge Clancy at Knockfin.