A HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE FAMILY OF O'DALY. THERE is certainly no family to which the bardic literature of Ireland is more deeply indebted than that of O'Daly. According to O'Flaherty (Ogygia, part III., c. 85,) they are of the race of Maine, son of Niall of the Nine Hostages, and are of the same stock as the Foxes, the Magawleys, the O'Breens and O'Quins of Teathbha or Teffia in Westmeath. In O'Dugan's Topographical Poem the O'Dalys are also set down. as of Teffia in Westmeath and chiefs of Corca-Adam in that territory. Duald Mac Firbis and Peregrine O'Clery have given the descent of the O'Daly's from Fearghal (son of Maelduin of the race of Eoghan, son of Niall of the Nine Hostages), who was lord of Cinel-Eoghain in 718; but Mac Firbis observes, that he does not believe that O'Daly is of this descent, though he transcribes the Genealogy as he found it in a modern compilation; and he refers to the family elsewhere as of the race of Maine, son of Niall, and as of Corca-Adam in Teffia; and this is undoubtedly the true descent. Duald Mac Firbis who seems to have compared various MSS. containing O'Daly's pedigree, gives the line (p. 132.) from Dalach, son of Fachtna, son of Corc, son of Adan or Adhamh, a quo Corca-Adain, or Corca-Adhaimh, as follows: 1. Adan or Adhamh, a quo Corca Adain, or Corca-Adhaimh. 2. Corc. 3. Fachtna. 4. Dalach, a quo O'Dalaigh or O'Daly. 5. Gilla-coimhdheadh. 6. Tadhg. 7. Muireadhach. 8. Dalach. 9. Cuchonnacht na Sgoile of Leckin, near Bunbrusna in Teffia, 11. Aenghus, the common ancestor of all the O'Daly's extant. 12. Muireadhach, 12. Gilla-Isa, 12. Gilla-na-naemh, 12. Tadhg. of Lissadill f. 16. Tadhg, d. 1367. 17. Fearghal, chief 16. Donn. 17. Doighre. 18. Donn. 13. Cearbhall Buidhe d. 1245. 14. Tadhg, chief poet of Connacht. 15. Cuch on nacht. 1 16. Aenghus. 13. Cearbhall Finn, ancestor of O'Daly of Breifne. 14. Cearbhall Breifneach. 15. Conchobhar. 16. Niall. 17. Maelseach- of Breifne, John O'Daly, of 9, Anglesea. street. • Whose relationship to the O'Dalys of Breifne stands thus:Donnell O'Daly of the Breifne sept of this family migrated from Ballinamuck, County of Longford, about A.D. 1730; and settled at From this Genealogical Table it is clear that Cuchonnacht O'Daly, surnamed "na Sgoile" (i. e. of the School), who died at Clonard in the year 1139, was the ancestor of all the O'Dalys of Ireland, who followed the Bardic Profession. In the year 1185, died on his pilgrimage at Clouard, Maelisa O'Daly, lord of Corca-Adaim and Corca-Raoidhe in Westmeath; he was chief poet of Eire and Alba, and a man illustrious for his nobility, poetry, and hospitality." (Four Masters). In the year 1213, we find that Muireadhach or Murray O'Daly, the great grandson of this Cuchonnacht na Sgoile, was seated at Lios-an-Doill, or Lissadill, in the territory of Carbury, in the north of the present County of Sligo, where Ballyhack, County of Wexford, where he got married and had issue, viz. Maurice, who remained at Ballyhack, and Donnell (whom we cannot further trace), settled at Hacketstown, Old Parish, County of Waterford, about 1760. Maurice had issue, four sons; viz. James, John, William, and Edmund. James settled at Knockroe, parish of Kilgobnet, County of Waterford, in the year 1796, and married Mary Veale, by whom he had issue, three sons and six daughters. John settled at Durrow, parish of Modeligo, County of Waterford, in 1797; and married Mary Keon, by whom he had issue, four sons and three daughters. William died unmarried. Edmund (the father of John O'Daly,) settled at Farnane, parish of Modeligo, County of Waterford, in the year 1798; and in 1799, married Bridget Kyley of Kilbryan, same County; by whom he had issue: I. John (of 9, Anglesea-st), born in 1800. II, Maurice, born in 1803. III. Mary, born 1806. IV. James, born in 1808. V. Bridget, born in 1810, VI. Ellen, born in 1819. John married (1st) in 1827, Ellen Shea of Dungourney, County of Cork, (who died in 1849) by whom he had issue : I. Mary, Born in 1828. Died in 1834. V. Mary, Born in 1835. VII. Edmund, Born in 1837. Living. IX. Laurence, Born in 1842. Living. Married (2nd) in 1850, Mary Murphy, alias Griffith, by whom he has issue : Elizabeth, Born in 1851, Living. he resided in the capacity of poet to the chief of that district. The Four Masters have preserved the following auccdote of him, in which the great power of their favourite chieftain, O'Donnell, is conspicuously set forth. "A.D, 1213, Fionn O'Brollaghan, steward to O'Donnell (Donnell Mor), went to Connacht to collect O'Donnell's rent. He first repaired to Carbury of Drumcliff, where with his attendants he visited the house of the poet Muircadhach O'Daly of Lios-an-Doill, and being a churle servant of a hero, he began to abuse the poet very much (although his lord had given him no instructions to do so). The poet becoming enraged at his conduct, seized a sharp axe, and dealt him a blow which killed him on the spot; and then to avoid O'Donnell, he fled into Clanrickard. When O'Donnell received intelligence of this, he collected all his forces, and pursued him to DoireUi-Dhomhnaill (Derrydonnell) in Clanrickard,-a place which was named from him, because he encamped there for a night; and he proceeded to burn and plunder the country, until at last the son of William submitted to him, having previously sent Muireadhach to seek for protection in Thomond. O'Donnell pursued him, and proceeded to plunder and ravage that country also, until Donough Cairbreach O'Brien sent Muireadhach away to the people of Limerick. O'Donnell followed him to the gate of Limerick, and pitching his camp at Moin-Ui-Dhomhnaill (which was named from him), laid siege to the town; and the inhabitants at O'Donnell's command expelled Muireadhach, who found no asylum any where, but was sent from hand to hand until he arrived in Dublin. "O'Donnell then returned home, having first traversed and completed the visitation of all Connacht. He mustered his forces again without much delay in the same year, and marching to Dublin compelled the people of Dublin to expel Muireadhach, who fled into Alba (Scotland); and here he remained until he composed three poems in praise of O'Donnell, imploring peace and forgiveness. The third of these poems is the one beginning, 'Oh! Donnell, kind hand of peace, &c.' He obtained peace for his panegyrics, and O'Donnell afterwards received him into his friendship and gave him lands and possessions as was pleasing to him." Thus far the Historians of Tirconnell. We have never seen any of the poems addressed by O'Daly to O'Donnell on this occasion; but we have a copy of a poem addressed by him when he fled into Clanrickard, to Richard De Burgo, the son of William Fitz-Adelm, stating the cause of his flight, and imploring that great lord's protection. It begins "cread agajb a g-cém?" i. e. "what brings a guest to you from afar? In this poem (of which there is a good copy in a paper MS. in the Library of the Royal Irish Academy), Muireadhach calls himself O'Daly of Meath (O'Dala15 218e), and states that he was wont to frequent the Courts of the English, and to drink wine from the hands of kings and knights, of bishops and abbots; that, not wishing to remain to be trampled under the feet of the Race of Conn, he fled to one, who, with his mail-clad warriors, was able to protect him against the fury of the King of Derry and Assaroe, who had threatened him with his vengeance, though indeed the cause of his enmity was but trifling, for that he (the fugitive) had only killed a plebeian of his people who had the audacity to affront him. beag ar b-fala ris an b-fear, A dé! an adbar an-folad? Trifling is our difference with the man, A shepherd was affronting me; And I killed that clown; O God! is this a cause for enmity? He calls upon the puissant Knight, Richard, the son of William, to respect the order of the poets, who are never treated with harshness by chieftains, and to protect the weak against the strong. He next bestows some verses of panegyric upon him, describes the splendour of his house and its inmates, calls him the Chief of the English, the Lord of Leinster, the King of Connacht, the Proprietor of the Forts of Cruachain, of Tara, of Mac Coise's Wall of Stone, and of Mur-mic-an-Duinn then called Caislean-Ui-Chonaing, and suggests that he might hereafter invite the poets of the five provinces to his house. He then tells Richard the son of William, that whatever deeds of valour any one may have achieved, he cannot be truly renowned without protecting the venerable, or the feeble; and that he now has an opportunity of making himself illustrious by protecting O'Daly of Meath, a poet whose verses demand attention, and who throws himself on his generosity. He concludes by reminding him of his duties as king of the famous province of Connacht. Sce Annals of the Four Masters, Ed. J. O'D., A.D. 1213, pp. 179, 181, note e In 1232, died Gilla-na-naeve O'Daly, a learned poet who had kept a house of hospitality for the poor and rich. Four Masters. |