Muintir Eolais

Castle John and Jail Island at Lough Scur circa 1791

The Muintir Eolais, also known as the Conmaicne of Maigh Réin, were a tuath of gaelic Ireland. For seven hundred years between the 8th and 16th centuries, they lived and ruled an area roughly conterminous to present-day south County Leitrim. Their territory comprised two baronies named Maigh Nissi and Maigh Rein, equating to todays baronies of Leitrim and Mohill respectfully.[1] The rule of the primary Mag Raghnaill (Reynolds) clan became increasingly fragmented throughout the 16th century. The tuath of the Muintir Eolais collapsed with irish defeat in the nine years war, and the subsequent english domination of Ireland. Today the Muintir Eolais are largely forgotten but their family names still survive.

The rise of Muintir Eolais (c. 900AD)

The nation of Muintir Eolais was founded by Eolais mac Biobhsach who became chieftain of Magh Réin circa 900AD. Little is known about Eolais, but the O'Hart pedigrees show him closely related to the ancestors of Quinn and Farrell of Longford, and Mulvey of Leitrim.[2] Today, at Clonmacnoise monastery exists carved headstone dedicated to Ódhrán Ua hEolais, scribe of Clonmacnois, who died in 994. The inscription translates as 'Pray for Odhrán descendant of Eolas'. Thereafter his people and territory were commonly recorded as the Muintir Eolais (people/descendants of Eolas).[3] The word 'eolas' itself means 'knowledge' in the gaelic language.

Ruling families

The Muintir Eolais are descendents of Eolais mac Biobhsach whose son "Brocan" is ancestor of Shanley, another named "Anbeith" is the ancestor of Mac Garry; and a third named "Maolmuire" was lord of Conmaicne Réin and ancestor of Mag Raghnaill ("Reynolds").[4] The principal Muintir Eolais families were the Mac Raghnaill's, who built castles on the shores of Lough Rynn, at Lough Scur, and Leitrim Village, O'Mulvey sept of Maigh Nissi, O'Moran of AttyRory, Mac Shanley's of Dromod, and the Mac Garry sept.[5][6][7]

Norman Invasion repelled (1245-1247)

Muintir Eolais was briefly occupied during the Norman invasion of Ireland. According to the Irish Annals-"1245: The castle of Ath-an-chip, on the borders of Moy Nisse, was erected by Miles Mac Costello". Moy-Nissi on the eastern side of the Shannon river, was the gaelic name given to the barony of Leitrim. The anglo-normans were known as clann Costello (Irish: Mac Goisdealbh).[8][n 1] About the year 1247, the anglo-normans were defeated by MacRaghnaill forces, and clann Costello was expelled from Muintir Eolais.[9] The entries in the Annals of Lough Ce for 1245 and 1247 seem to show this was a decisive defeat of Mac Costello ("De Angulo" or "Nangle"), and halted Norman claims to the territory of Muintir Eolais (until 1551AD, see below).[10]

Battle of Ath-an-Chip (1270)

In 1270AD the Anglo-Normans were again defeated by the Irish forces of Connacht at the Battle of Áth an Chip. MacNamee states "where Ath an Chip was is not certain; to the present writer the evidence would seem to point to Battle Bridge".[11][12] The battle probably occurred at Drumhierney townland in Muintir Eolais.[n 2] In Irish "Ath-an-chip" means a fording point on a river, and battle-bridge marks a shallow fording point on the Shannon connecting Drumhierney (Leitrim village) with Battlebridge (county Roscommon) townlands.

The fall of Muintir Eolais (1535-1590)

Events of the 16th century combined with the Tudor conquest of Ireland brought an eventual downfall of the Muintir Eolais.

Kildare rebellion (1535)

From 1531 the Mac Raghnaill were aligned with the Kildare camp, the most powerful family in Ireland. They paid an bi-annual rent to Gerald Fitzgerald, 9th Earl of Kildare, and obtained military assurances in exchange. This arrangement benefited both parties. However by 1533, Henry VIII of England had grown distrustful of Kildare as his lord deputy in Ireland, and wanted an Englishman, William Skeffington, as his replacement.[14] In spring 1534, Gerald Fitzgerald was imprisoned in the Tower of London, provoking his son "Silken" Thomas into rebellion. However the revolt was quickly crushed.[15] With the Earldom of Kildare extinguished, the Muintir Eolais lost a critical ally and were left politically and militarily vulnerable.

Reynolds treason (1536)

Charles Reynolds (1497-1535) of Muintir Eolais was a central figure in the rebellion. Dispatched as envoy to Scotland, Charles V of Spain, and Rome, he successfully persuaded the Pope to excommunicate Henry VIII of England Reynolds, before his sudden death in Rome. Reynolds was posthumously attainted for treason in 1536. His grave slab exists in Rome.

O'Rourke incursion (1540)

The Annals of the Four Masters states "1540: the castle of Leitrim was erected by O'Rourke (Brian, the son of Owen) while a great war was waged against him on every side, namely, in Moylurg, Muintir-Eolais, and Breifny-O'Reilly".[16] The Muintir Eolais and their allies, the MacDermot from Moylurgh, violently objected to the land grab, but failed to oust O'Rourke from Leitrim Village in Maigh Nissi ("barony of Leitrim"). O'Rourke used this occupation of Leitrim Village to lobby the English to recognise his claim of Lordship over both Breifny O'Rourke (north Leitrim) and Muintir Eolais (south Leitrim). Though his claim is one origin of the county of Leitrim ("O'Rourke's country"), the Muintir Eolais clearly resented his presence in "Mag Raghnaill country".

English rents (1551)

In 1551, Thomas Nangle the baron of Navan made submissions to the English council of Ireland that Mag Raghnaill was refusing to pay him 100 kine yearly, plus knights fees, due to his ancestors. The Nangle claims were based on a Norman grant dating from 1220-21AD granting a tract comprising all the lands of Conmaicne of Moyrein, now the "barony of Mohill", and part of county Cavan to Philip de Angulo, a Norman adventurer. Mag Raghnaill denied the claims arguing no such duty had been paid from the beginning of time. However both sides compromised and consented to the Council decision to awarded 6 pounds annual duty to the Baron.[10]

Muintir Eolais declaration (1552)

In 1552AD, the Muintir Eolais, comprising the MagRaghnaill, O'Mulvey, O'Moran, MacGarry, MacShanley, O'Beirne, O'Histellan, with the approval of the monasteries of Conmaiche, signed a legally binding document deeding the title of chieftain and protector of Muintir Eolais to Sean ("Shane") Reynolds of Clonduff in County Offaly, on condition he lobby the English on their behalf and protect their ancestral lands. The document shows Muintir Eolais opposition to "any of the O'Rourkes". Intriguingly both "Munterolish" and "county of Leitrim" name their territory.[17]

This is the deed of gift of the two[1] Mac Ranalds; to wit, Cahal,

son of Conachar Mac Ranald, Toraylach and Gerald Magranal, heads and chiefs of their kindred, with the consent of their brethren and followers in Munterolish, to John Magranal, of Claduff, in the King’s county, and to his heirs:—­

Know all men, now and in the time that is yet to come, that we, Cahal, son of Conachar Magranal, of the Hill of Innis Morrin, in the county of Leitrim; Toraylach Magranal, of Drumard, chiefs of our kindred; Ferdorcha Magranal, of Drumsna, and of Lochdaw; Melachlin, son of Hubert Magranal, of Corsparrow; Moroch, son of Teig, of Cloondaa; Ir, son of Donal, of Dulach; Teig, son of William, of Screbach; Toraylach Magranal, of Loch Connow; Owen Magranal, of Loch Scur; Toraylach O’Mulvey, of Loch Crew, chief of his kindred; Teig, son of John, of Acha Cashel; Dermid Magranal, of Cool Cadarna; Cormac Magranal, of Loch Cool da ’Iach; Dermid Magranal, of Mongoarsach; Edmond Magranal, of Mohill; Jeffrey, son of Conachar, of Anagh Kinca; Toraylach Magranal, of Loch Irill; Brian Gruama, the son of Hugh, of Drumlara; Farrell Duff, the son of Hugh, of Corleih; Donacha Grana, son of Giolla Gruama, of Stookisha; Conachar, son of Giolla Gruama, of Duffcarrick; Rurie Og O’Moran, of Ty Rurie; Toraylach O’Beirne, of Mullanmoy; Gerald, son of Moylan Magranal, of Clooncalry; Melachlin, son of Conachar Magranal, of Cloonclyfa; Cahal, son of Dermid Magranal, of Rusc, alias Gort an Yure; Ir, son of Edmond, of Rathbeh; Melachlin Modara Magranal, of the Point; Edmond Mac Shanly, of Drumode Mac Shanly; Moroch, son of Melachlin, of Drumkeely; Dermid, son of the Prior, of Clonee and of Innis Rusc; Moroch Magranal, of Drumherk; Teig O’Histellan, of Drumeen; Teig Roe Magarry, of Towlag;

with the consent of our kinsmen and followers in Munterolish, for many reasons, for ourselves and our heirs, HAVE GIVEN to John Magranal, of Claduff, in the King’s county, and to his heirs for ever, the yearly sum of forty-two pounds, money of England, to be raised and levied upon our aforesaid lands in Munterolish, and upon any other lands claimed by us, or in our occupation, to be paid at two terms in the year, to wit, one half on the first of May, (Beiltin,) and the other half at All Hallowntide, (Samhan;) and in case of any delay occurring as to the full payment of the aforesaid sum at the time specified, then this is our agreement with the said John, for ourselves and our heirs, with John and his heirs, that he and they, or the attorneys sent by them, shall have power to enter into our said country of Munterolish, and into our aforesaid lands, and to levy a distress, (pledge,) and to take the same with them, and to keep it until full payment is made, to wit, of forty-two pounds, and of arrears, if any such should be—­

ON CONDITION, that he, the said John, shall be our protector and chieftain over us; and also that he shall repair from time to time to Dublin, to advocate our cause before the lords justices and council, at our sole charge, over and above the aforesaid sum, which we give him on account of his services; and on condition that the said John shall not put any of us out of our lands; and we promise to behave ourselves most dutifully to him, and not to adhere to any of the O’Rourkes.

In witness whereof we have put our hands and seals to this writing the 5th day of December. 1556. CATHAL MAC CONOCHAR.

There were present at this agreement, when it was ratified, and when it was interchanged, and when the seals were put upon it, to wit, God in the first place; Richard O'Hivganane; Anlan O'Molloy; Toraylach Mac Ranald; the two sons of Teig, the son of Ayan, to wit, Owen and William; Kiruah Mac Manus; Gerald, deacon of Feana; Cormac, deacon of Cloon; Conachar Mac Giolla Sooly; Manus Mac Giolla Roe; Owen O'Colla.

[text [18] and [19]]

Caisleán Seóin (1570)

In 1570, Sean Reynolds of Clonduff built a 'Castle' at Gowly townland peninsula ("castle island") at Lough Scur in county Leitrim.[20][n 3] Castle John was three stories high and surrounded by good rock land. It was residence to Sean "of the heads" Reynolds (d. 1619), Humphrey his son (d. 1661), and lastly James (d. 1729) who abandoned the castle at some point.[n 4]

McDermot attack (1580)

In 1580, Lough-Scur was attacked and taken by McDermot of Moylurg, who was historically a strong ally of the Muintir Eolais. The Annals of Loch Cé state: "1580: Loch-an-scuir was taken by Cathal Dubh, son of Brian Mac Diarmada; and Maelsechlainn, son of Mag Ranaill, was killed there. A depredation was committed by Brian Mac Diarmada upon Mag Ranaill, and burnings besides"[22] The circumstances hint towards a Muintir Eolais inspired revolt against the lordship of Sean Reynolds.

English invasion (1590)

In 1590 "an immense" English army invaded south county Leitrim during the nine years war, which ended in defeat for gaelic Ireland. Thereafter, the tuath ("nation") of Muintir Eolais was extinguished, and the formation of county Leitrim marked the onset of an english occupation lasting over three hundred years.

Reynolds of Lough Scur (1591-1729)

From 1591 and 1729 the Reynolds dynasty of Lough Scur owned large estates in south Leitrim.[23]

A betrayal and massacre

Tradition recalls this Sean Reynolds of Lough Scur invited the other Muintir Eolais chieftains to his castle for a reconciliation meeting before, in cruel betrayal, beheading them all. This alleged massacre would have occurred sometime late 16th century.[n 5]

"Sean of the heads" (d. 1629)

The notoriety of Sean Reynolds of Lough Scur is now legendary. Tradition says he was called Seán Na gCheann ("Sean of the heads") on account of all the men beheaded (or because he was head chieftain).[24] He maintained an army of "two hundred men", and his reputation for jailing rent defaulters, and beheading people for minor offences, was widely feared.[25] Folklore claims Sean was killed by a soldier from Longford avenging his sister's death on Prison Island.[26][27] During the 1641 rebellion his grandson, also named Sean, was captured and held in captivity by the rebels, who probably tortured and executed him as a vengeance.

Prison Island (1605 to 1800's)

On 6 April 1605, Sean and his son Humphrey were appointed gaoler of county Leitrim. They constructed a 'prison' on 'Jail island' (Irish: Oileán an phriosuiin) in Lough Scur. The jail cells were small with holes about six inches in diameter for air.[24] Tradition recalls many people being hanged on the island.[26] Prison Island was abandoned sometime before Carrick on Shannon gaol was built circa 1815 and 1824. The dilapidated and unpreserved prison ruins are barely visible today.

Heritage (1908-present)

Circa 1908, some of Caisleán Seóin collapsed, but the building was repaired by a heritage preservation society.[24] Today, badly dilapidated ruins of "Castle Sean" remain in existence, but are not preserved as heritage site.[28]

After southern Ireland regained independence in 1922, the english county administrative structure was retained. The Muintir Eolais remained largely forgotten. In 1980 Leitrim County Council approved a design of Arms for County Leitrim that included the lion of O'Rourke (north Leitrim, and Carrigallen baronies), but excluded the Muintir Eolais (Mohill, and Leitrim baronies).[29]

The townland of Corryolus (Irish: Coraidh Eolais, "Weir of Eolus"), lying on the junction of the Shannon and Boyle river's, directly north of Carrick on Shannon, obtained its name from "Eolus" from whom the 'Muintir Eolais' are directly descended.[30][31] In the remote mountainous Cuilcagh-Anierin uplands, the oligotrophic lake named "Lough Munter Eolas" marks a borderline between west Cavan and south Leitrim.[32][33]

A well established traditional fiddle group, trained by a Fr. Quinn since 1966, adopted the name "Ceolus" preserving his name,[n 6] and they play music garnered from local manuscripts going back almost two hundred years.[35]

The fictional land of "Clan Eolais" populated by "Eolaisans" and Sylphs, appears in the "Solas2" role playing game.[36]

See also

References and notes

Notes

  1. ↑ "In the year 1172, Henry II. granted to ... Gilbert de Angulo or Nangle, Magherigallen, now the barony of Morgallion, in Meath. Jocelin, son of Gilbert Nangle, obtained Navan and Ardbraccan .. Many of the Nangles took the Irish name of Mac Costello, and from them the barony of Costello in Mayo derived its name".
  2. ↑ Drumhierney translates from the Irish: Droim Thiarnaigh roughly meaning the "ridge of the Lord or Master".[13]. See also Tierney.
  3. ↑ The suggestion by Grose Castle Sean was erected by O’Rourke,[21] is unfounded.
  4. ↑ James's son, George Nugent Reynolds Senior was shot and killed by Robert Keon on the morning of October 16, 1786. Keon was tried and executed in 1788 for his murder.
  5. ↑ A massacre circa 1580 would help explain the unprecedented attack on Reynolds by McDermot of Moylurg. However the Irish Annals has no record of this massacre.
  6. ↑ "A contraction of the Irish words “Ceol” meaning “music” and “Muintir Eoluis”, which means “the people descended from Eolus”, the first Conmhaicne chief of the area of South Leitrim. The band was christened Ceolus on January 31st, 1990."[34]

Primary references

  1. ↑ A very basic history of Mohill and South Leitrim
  2. ↑ O'Hart 1876, pp. 135-136.
  3. ↑ A very basic history of Mohill and South Leitrim
  4. ↑ O'Hart 1876, pp. 136.
  5. ↑ Petrie 1872, pp. 61.
  6. ↑ O'Daly, Mangan, O'Donovan, O'Daly 1852, pp. 35.
  7. ↑ Hardiman 1831, pp. 46.
  8. ↑ Connellan 1846, pp. 64.
  9. ↑ Connellan 1846, pp. 65.
  10. 1 2 Knox 1903, p. 183.
  11. ↑ loganim, pp. 110012, Archival records.
  12. ↑ MacNamee 1954, pp. 206.
  13. ↑ loganim, pp. 29352.
  14. ↑ Ellis 1976, p. 809.
  15. ↑ Manning 2010, p. 22.
  16. ↑ AFM.
  17. ↑ Smith 1829, p. 275.
  18. ↑ "Translation of an Irish Deed of Gift" by Horace Smith (poet) 1829.
  19. ↑ "Politics of 16th Century South Leitrim - the Muintir Eolais Declaration of 1552AD", Leitrim Guardian 2017
  20. ↑ The society 1906, pp. 144.
  21. ↑ Grose 1795, pp. 91.
  22. ↑ Hennessy 2008, pp. LC1580.12.
  23. ↑ O'Laughlin 2002, pp. 233.
  24. 1 2 3 Whelan 1938, pp. 385.
  25. ↑ Whelan 1938, pp. 384.
  26. 1 2 Rowley 1937, pp. 268.
  27. ↑ An Clochar, Cara Droma Ruisc 1938, pp. 321.
  28. ↑ National Monuments Service 2009, pp. 1.
  29. ↑ Hartemink 1996.
  30. ↑ Placenames database of Ireland.
  31. ↑ Joyce 1913, pp. 268.
  32. ↑ Ó Duígeannáin 1934, pp. 134.
  33. ↑ Templan 2010, pp. 14.
  34. ↑ Ward 2016, pp. 12.
  35. ↑ Ward 2016, pp. 1.
  36. ↑ Solas: Luminis Mortuorum.

Secondary references

  • Placenames database of Ireland. "Coraidh Eolais".
  • Connellan, Owen (1846). Philip MacDermott, ed. The Annals of Ireland, translated from the original Irish of the four masters. O'Clery, Michael, 1575-1643 (electronic resource, Free eBook from the Internet Archive ed.). Dublin: B Geraghty, s. Anglesea street.
  • logainm. "Droim Thiarnaigh ("Drumhierney")".
  • Grose, Francis (1795). The antiquities of Ireland (PDF). Vol. 2. Printed for S. Hooper.
  • O'Laughlin, Michael C. (2002). Contributor: Irish Genealogical Foundation (US), ed. The Book of Irish Families, Great & Small. Volume 1 of Families of Ireland Series (illustrated, digital ed.). Irish Roots Cafe. ISBN 0940134098.
  • Whelan, Thomas (1938). "Local ruins" (Online ed.). Rossy, Co. Leitrim: Duchas. pp. 384–5.
  • Solas: Luminis Mortuorum. "Eolais".
  • Templan, Paul (2010). "Irish Hill and Mountain Names" (PDF). mountainviews.ie. p. 14.
  • Ward, Conor (2016). "Scordatura in the Irish Traditional Fiddle Music of Longford and South Leitrim" (PDF): 12.
  • Joyce, P. W. (Patrick Weston) (1913). Irish names of places (PDF). v.3. Dublin : Phoenix.
  • Petrie, George (1872). Christian Inscriptions in the Irish Language. Volume 1. Royal historical and archaeological association of Ireland, University Press. p. 61, f131.
  • Hardiman, James (1831). "Irish Minstrelsy, Or Bardic Remains of Ireland". Robins. pp. xlvi (46).
  • O'Hart, John (1876). "Irish pedigrees : or, The origin and stem of the Irish nation" (PDF). Dublin : M. H. Gill. pp. 135–136.
  • Hennessy, William M. (2008). "Annals of Lough Ce" (Electronic edition compiled by the CELT Team (2002)(2008) ed.). CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts: a project of University College Cork College Road, Cork, Ireland—http://www.ucc.ie/celt. pp. LC1137.10.
  • T. H., Knox (1903). "Occupation of Connaught by the Anglo-Normans after A.D. 1237 (Continued)". Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, 1903. JSTOR 25507290. (subscription required)
  • logainm. "Droim Thiarnaigh ("Drumhierney")".
  • MacNamee, James Joseph (1954). History of the Diocese of Ardagh. Dublin: Browne and Nolan.
  • Manning, Conleth (2010), "The grave-slab of Charles Reynolds in Rome", The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, 140: 22–27, JSTOR 24395863
  • Ellis, Stephen G. (1976), "The Kildare Rebellion and the early Henrican reformation" (PDF), ARAN (Access to Research at NUI Galway), The Historical Journal, 19, 4 , p. 825, retrieved 2 September 2016
  • Hartemink, Ralf. "Leitrim (county) - Coat of arms".
  • MacLochlainn, Noel (2017). "Politics of 16th Century South Leitrim - the Muintir Eolais Declaration of 1552AD". Leitrim Guardian 2018.
  • Smith, Horatio (1829). "Translation of an Irish Deed of Gift". The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction: Volume 13, No. 367. p. 275.
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