salmon fishing, worth £30 a year. On this island experience was made how the salmon hath still recourse from the sea to its first offspring; for here, eighteen salmons were marked, with a finn cut of each of them at their going to the sea, and seaventeen of them were taken next season, in the same place, coming back. The sea flows up to Wine Island, on every tide, from each side of Inisnee. On the west side of the river, by the sea shore, stood the abbey of Tombeola of St. Dominick's order. In our own memory, eighteen porcupices h Salmon fishing.—This fishery is now rented at £500 a year. The fish is prepared for exportation, by cutting it in pieces of 2lbs. each, which are hermetically sealed in tin cases. In this state, it is asserted that it will keep fresh for a considerable period, even for some hundreds of years! A late tourist, Mr. Inglis, says that Iar-Connaught is "a country of salmon; every inlet and river is full of them." Wine Island is situated in the river of Ballynahinch. Abbey of Tombeola.-In Irish, Tuaim beola, Tumulus Beolai. This name is supposed to be derived from some "great man," or "giant," named Beola, who formerly ruled over these western regions, and was here interred. But there is no trace at present remaining of any such tomb, or place of interment. We know from history, that several of the Firbolg chieftains, about the commencement of the Christian era, gave names to several places in these western parts. See Mac Firbis's account of those colonists, before referred to, p. 18, note 9. About A. D. IRISH ARCH. SOC. NO. 15. Р 1427, according to De Burgo, in Hib. Dominicana, p. 309, the abbey "of St. Dominick's order" was founded at Tombeola by the O'Flaherties. Of this foundation, John O'Heyn, for whom see Harris's Ware, vol. ii. p. 295, writes as follows: "In eodem Comitatu Galviensi fuit Conventus noster in Baronia de Ballynehensi fundatus, et erectus à Domino O'Flaherty, Dynastâ antiquo istius Baroniæ usque ad Usurpatorem Cromuellum, per quem exutus est totâ Hæreditate sua. Erant ordinariè in isto Conventu, vocato Tombeolomme, Octo Religiosi, sed ab Initio Regni Elizabethæ nullus fuit Incola, et Muros omnes, et ipsam Ecclesiam abstulerunt ad ædificandum Castellum in Vicinia." -Epilogus, p. 37. The castle here alluded to, as having been built of the stones of the ruined abbey of Tombeola, was situate on the small island in the lake of Ballynahinch, afterwards mentioned by our author. For an account of the abbey of Tombeola, see Hib. Dom. ut supra. Its situation is now pointed out by a small building like a chapel, said to have been porcupices that were in pursuit of the salmon fish, were taken near Tombeola. The seale goes up all along to the lake of Balynahinsy, to fish on salmons. This lake, from which the barony is named, hath two islands on it. On the lesser of them is a castle built of the stones of Tombeola Abbey; as also a hallowed monument of St. Fechin; to whom there is a well dedicated at Cara-more, where the river parts with the lake. On the north-west of Balynahinsy, are the twelve high mountaines of Bennabeola*, called by marriners the twelve stakes, being erected by some gentlemen of the country, in order to commemorate the existence of the abbey. The site of the Carmelite friary at Ballynahinch, founded, according to Ware, by the O'Flaherties, in A.D. 1356, is now unknown. It is alluded to by De Burgo, as near Tombeola. See Archdall for this friary, in Monast. p. 276, where he erroneously asserts that the barony of Ballynahinch was called after a village of the name, although no such village ever existed. j A castle. This is the castle alluded to in the last note, as having been built of the stones of Tombeola abbey, on a small island (said to be partly artificial), towards the western side of Ballynahinch lake. It is a small square tower, about thirty feet in length and twenty-five in breadth. The island will be found mentioned again in the historical account of the O'Flaherties, contained in the Appendix hereto, at A. D. 1584 St. Fechin's well, above alluded to, may still be seen. This celebrated saint died the A. D. 664. He was anciently much revered in Iar-Connaught, where his memory is still celebrated; and many holy wells, and other "hallowed" remains of antiquity, yet bear his name. See Bollandus and Colgan, at Jan. 20, for three several lives of St. Fechin; and our author's account of the island of Imay (or Omey), which follows in this treatise, for further particulars of that ancient saint. Mountaines of Bennabeola.—Beanna beola. These remarkable mountains are now known in English by the name of the "Twelve Pins," the latter word being a corruption of bins or bens (beanna), which is still correctly preserved in Scotland, as Ben Lomond, Benevis, &c., and in other parts of Ireland, as Benburb, Binbolbin, &c. They are named from the supposed "giant" Beola, mentioned in the last notei, and certainly tend to give an exalted idea of that personage, whoever he may have been. The name Bindowglass, above stated as that of the highest of the range, is now forgotten, and the name of Binlettery used the first land they discover as they come from the maine. Bindowglass is the highest of them, and, next the lake, is two miles high; and hath standing water on the top of it, wherein they say if any washeth his head, he becomes hoare. At the foot of it, by the lake, was kept the fair of Bonowan' mannor. At Balynahinsy, Owantuidhe and Sraith-Salagh rivers, after they meet in one channell, pay in its place. The mountain next the lake is not, however, the highest of the Pins, for according to the Ordnance Survey, Ben Corr and Ben Bawn exceed it in height by several hundred feet. The standing water mentiond by our author, which maketh the head hoar, is here called a bullaun, ballán, a bowl, and is deposited in a rock, on the top of Binlettery, which identifies it with the Bindowglass of O'Flaherty. Among the wonderful wells in Ireland mentioned by Cambrensis, there was one in Munster which produced the same effect: "Est fons in Momonia cujus aquis si quis abluitur statim canus efficitur." The well at Gabhal Liuin, in Oriel, now Galloon, in Fermanagh, is stated in the "Wonders of Ireland," in the Book of Ballymote, fol. 140, b, a, to have had the same property; but Keating, in the preface to his History, denies the existence of any such fountains in his time, and rather unfairly says, that Cambrensis introduced them to give a colour to his other falsehoods, " Map dażúġad air a bréaguib." Gratianus Lucius, p. 8, argues the case more learnedly, and in the end agrees with Keating. But it is evident from the instances here their given, that such tales were current, and that Cambrensis did not invent them. 1 Fair of Bonowan mannor.—On the 15th February, A. D. 1610, license" to hold a Wednesday market, and a fair on Whitsun Monday and the day after, at Bonowen," was granted to "Morrogh ne Moyer O'Flaherty of Bonowen, gent.;" to hold the same, among other possessions then granted, for ever.-Rot. Pat. For a further grant of the manor, with an additional fair and market here, to the same individual, see note immediately following. m The rivers above named are now called Abhainn Tuaidhe, Anglicè, Owentuee, and Srath Salach. The name Innish leih dhuine. Inis liar duine, which means, the Island of the grey Man, mentioned above, is at present forgotten. The island alluded to is now called Ins Leacainn, or Shelving Island. It lies in Round-stone Bay, at the south end of the parish of Moyrus. Irrosbeg.-Now corruptly called Urrisbeg, is the name of two townlands in the south-west part of the same parish. Port na Fedoigge.-Port na Feadoige, the Harbour of the grey Plover. their tribute to this lake; and in recompence receive the benefit of its salmons to spawn on them. Upon the common channell of these two rivers, pearles are found in their musles. Westward of Inisnee and Round-stone haven, is Inisleth-dhuine, a small island which leads to Irrosbeg haven, called Portnafedoigge; over which is Irrosbeg hill, the second place discovered by marriners coming from sea, on the top of which is a poole where trouts breed. Three miles from Irrosbeg is the castle and mannor of BonnowanTM in Irrosmore. Westward of the castle is Knock a duin hill, the third land-mark discryed by such as saile from the main. On the entered into with Queen Elizabeth, A. D. 1585, it was provided, that this Donell's two sons, Owen and Morogh, should, "for their better maintenance of living, have, by letters patents, the castle of Bonowne, and the six quarters of land next adjoining the same, as a free demayne." -See this composition in the Appendix. Owen, the elder, was soon after slain, and Morogh, the younger, afterwards called Morogh na Maor (of the stewards) succeeded to the entire territory. On the 25th January, A. D. 1618, King James I., by letters patent, granted to him, east by the name Morogh na Moore O'Flaherty of Bunowen, Esq., the castle of Bunowen, with numerous lands in the barony of Ballinahinch, and thereby created the manor of Bonowen, to contain 1300 acres in demesne; gave a power to create tenures; hold courts leet and baron; a Monday market at Bunowen, and a fair there on St. Lawrence's day and the day following; "with a court of Piepowder, and the usual tolls.". Rot. Pat. 15 Jac. I. P. 4. Morogh na Moyre (for so he himself wrote his name) died A. D. 1626. He was succeeded by his eldest son, Sir Morogh na Mart (see p. 83, note', ante), who died A. D. 1666, in a state of poverty, his vast possessions having been all confiscated by the Crown. On the 15th May, 1678, his principal residence, the castle of Bunowen, and the adjoining lands, were granted to Giles and Edmond Geoghegan, the widow and second son of Art Geoghegan of east side the hill is a harbour for shiping, and the parish church just by, at the hill's foot. There is an old fortress of a down on the top of the hill, which gives name to Balyndown, Balyndown haven, Balyndown parish. St. Flannan", of the noble Tuamonian bloud, consecrated by Pope John the Fourth, Anno 640, first bishiop of Killaloe, is patron of this parish; and therein his festival day kept, the 18th December. On the west side of the hill is a well in memory of the seaven daughters. About two miles hence, is Kennlemy or the cape of Slimhead, the furthest into the sea and most western point in those parts. Here a great whale was cast in, the last day of December, 1650; and another about forty years before. Westward of this point is Olen-lacan, or Duck Island, where there Castletown, in the county of Meath, Esq., in lieu of their forfeited estates in Leinster. See Rot. Pat. 29°. Car. II. 3. p. f. r. 4. In this castle the Mageoghegan family resided, until the early part of the last century, about which time the occupiers of the old Irish castles began to erect more commodious habitations. The then proprietor of Bunowen built a handsome residence near the foot of the hill of Doon, Cnoc a Dúin, mentioned above; and the castle, thus abandoned, speedily went to ruin; but its massive walls remained in tolerable preservation till a few years since, when they were altogether pulled down by the present proprietor, John Augustus O'Neill, Esq., to obtain materials for enlarging the mansion-house of Bunowen. This respectable gentleman is the present head of the Mageoghegans of Ireland. For further particulars of his is branch of that race, see the Additional Notes. "St. Flannan.-Patron of this parish of Ballindoon, baile an Dúin, the townland of the dun or fort. In addition to the notices above given of this saint, see Colgan's Acta SS. p. 154; Ware's Antiq. and Bishops; and Lanigan's Eccl. History, c. xix. §iii. The well of the seven daughters is still to be seen on the west side of the hill of Doon. It is called in Irish, Tobar na seaċt n-ingean, or na seact m-ban-naom; the well of the seven daughters, or the seven female saints. For Kennlemy, or Slime-head, mentioned above, see p. 6, notek, ante. This headland is universally called Ceann Céime (i.e. Leap Head, or the Head of the Leap) by the natives of Iar-Connaught. |