This aboriginal family, who were anciently Chiefs of Cineal Aodh, held a high position in Connaught, from the reign of Henry VIII., to that of James II., when their possessions were confiscated for adhering to his cause. Owing to the severity of William III. and his successors, not one of the family now possess property in the territory. In a description of the Province of Connaught, dated in the month of January, 1612, it is stated that the O'Heynes were then utterly banished, but that the O'Shaughnessies remayned a rich and hable family.' They are thus alluded to by O'Dugan, as one of

those families who gave Chiefs to the district called Hy-Fiachrach Aidhne, in the 14th century.

"Let us approach Aidhne of steeds,

And their noble Chiefs of hospitality;

Let us trace their Kings, who are not few,

And treat of the host of the free clans.

We treat of Aidhne, a duly uncontrouled,
We leave the Tribes of Connaught;
We have melodiously sung of her nobles,
Let us record the Chiefs of Hy-Fiachra.

To other Chiefs of Kinel-Hugh,
O'Shaughnessy whom I will not shun;
Together with O'Cahil of the learned men ;

Smooth are his fields, and fertile his mountains."

Fourteen of the race of Hy-Fiachrach were Kings of Connaught. Heremon, Monarch of Ireland, was ancestor of Achy, Monarch of Ireland, in a. D. 358, who married Mogfinna, daughter of Fidach, and sixth in descent from Olill Olom, King of Munster, by whom he had four sons:

I. Brian, from whom the Hybriunians in Connaught.

II. Fiachrach, ancestor of the Hyfrachrians, in Connaught.

III. Fergus.

IV. Olill.

King Achy married, secondly, Carinna, the Saxon, and had issue

Niall, the Great King of Ireland in A. D. 379, called Niall of the nine hostages.

Fiachrach, second son of King Achy, by his first wife, was King of Connaught and father of

Dathy, who succeeded his uncle Niall as King of Ireland. This Monarch carried his victorious armies through Britain and France, and helped to cause the fall of the Roman Empire. He was killed by lightning at the foot of the Alps, and his body was brought to Ireland by his troops, and interred in the county of Roscommon, at Relig-na-Rioh, or the burying-place of the Kings of Ireland; and a large red pillar was placed over his grave, which remains to this day. He was killed in A. D. 428, and was the last Pagan King of Ireland. His real name was Feredach, but he was called Dathy, in consequence of his quickness in putting on his armour; and is said by many ancient poetical Irish writers to have been so skilful in handling his arms and defending himself, that, if attacked by a hundred persons at once, all discharging their weapons at him, he could ward off every blow by his dexterity. He married Felia, daughter of Achy, and had issue

*

* Olill Molt, Monarch of Ireland, was son of King Dathi, by his wife Ethnea, daughter of Courach Cas; and Fiachrach Elgad was his son by Rusina, daughter of Artich Uctlethan.

Achy Breac, who was father of

Eoghan Aidhne, so named from being Chief of the territory of Aidhne, called 'the land of saints.' He was reared and educated in this territory by the Oga Bathra tribe, who afterwards elected him their Chieftain. He had issueI. Canall.

II. Cormac.

III. Sedna.

IV. Senach Ceanngamhna.

Conall, the eldest son, was father of

Goibhnenn, Chief of Hy-Fiachrach Aidhne. This warlike Chieftain in A. D. 531, fought the battle of Claonloch, in Cineal Aodh, in which he slew the valiant Maine, son of Cerbhal. He was father of

Cobhthach, who had issue

I. Aodh.

II. Colman.

III. Canall, who was father of Ainmire, father of Duach, who married Rignach, the daughter of Cormac, of the race of Achy Breac, and was father of the celebrated St. Colman, commonly called MacDuach, to distinguish him from others bearing the same Christian-name, patron of Cineal Aodh, and first bishop of Cill Mhic Duach, the church of the son of Duach, now Kilmacduach, in the county Galway.

Colman, the second son of Cobhthach, was father of

Guaire Aidhne, the Hospitable. He was King of Connaught, and from him the town of Gort was called Insi Guara, or the Island of Guara, it being his royal residence. He was father of

Artgoile, who had issue

I. Aodh.

II. Artgoile, father of

Fergal Aidhne, King of Connaught, who died in 694, who was father of
Torpa, father of

Cathmagh, father of

Comuscach, father of

Ceadadhach, father of

Cluireach, father of

Eidhin a quo O'Hynes.

Aodh, the eldest son, was father of

Morrough, father of

Broinleath Dearg, father of

Tobhuigh Brenain, father of

Gabhran, father of

Eaghno, father of

Nochba, father of

Scothmaine, father of
Moltuile, father of

Cais.

Maolciarain.

Ferguli.

Conmidhe.

Donough.

Sheaghnasy, from whom the name O'Shaughnessy is derived.

Guil Buidhe O'Shaughnessy, killed at the battle of Ardee in 1159.

Randall O'Shaughnessy.

Giolla na naomh Crom O'Shaughnessy, Chief of the western half of Cineal Aodh, who died in 1224.

Ruidric.

Giolla na naomh.

William.

Owen, or Eoghan or Achy.

John Buighe.*

William, who was succeeded by his son

Sir Dermot O'Shaughnessy,† who married More Ny Bryan, called Na Pheeach or the gaudy, daughter of Bryan O'Brien, son of Teige, son of Torlough, son of Bryan, of the battle of Nenagh.' The Annals of the Four Masters' state, that this lady was distinguished for her personal beauty and benevolence. She died in 1569. Dermot O'Shaughnessy having accompanied O'Brien, King of Thomond, and Ulick na Cane, of Clan-Rickard, to the Court of Henry VIII., they surrendered their territories; and the Lord Deputy states, that they had no sterling money, as none could be had in the kingdom; but that he lent them some in harp groats; and he says, in a letter addressed to King Henry, speaking of O'Brien-'That ther repaireth with O'Brien one O'Shaughness, a goodly gentleman dwelling between Thomond and Connaught,' and adds, 'We know no suite he hathe but only to see you and take his lands, and be your subject.' Henry VIII. wrote afterwards to the Council in Ireland, stating that he had created 'O'Shaghness,' a knight, and directing them to make out a patent for 'O'Shaftness,' and others, of their lands, such as they have now in their possession; and in a note it is stated, that O'Shaughnessy was to have a 'Bishoprick,' or some other spiritual

This Chieftain is called in the 'Annals of the Four Masters,' John Buighe, but is mentioned in many Irish Genealogies as Owen Buighe. This, however, makes no difference, as Owen is the old Irish for John.

↑ Hardiman, in his History of Galway, page 216, Note h, speaking of this Sir Dermot, says:-'Sir Dermot, the seventh in descent from Seachnusy.' This is altogether incorrect, as it may be seen by the above pedigree, which is the authenticated one, that he was the tenth in descent from Sheaghnasy.

It appears by the Patent Roll, 33-35, Henry VIII., that the King wrote to the Lord Deputy and Privy Council of Ireland, on the 9th of July, 1533, stating—“We have made the Lord of Upper Ossory, McNemarrowe, O'Shaftness, Denys Grady, and Wise, Knyghtes, and wall, that by virtue and warraunt thereof, youe shall make out unto McNemarrowe O'Shaftness, and Denys Grady, several patentes of all such lands as they nowe have."

dignity for his kinsman Malachy Donohoo, and the Bishoprick of Kilmacduagh for his son William Shaftness. On the 3rd of December, 1543, Sir Dermot received his patent from Henry VIII.,* which recited, that although he and his predecessors, Kings of England, were the true possessors of the lands therein named, yet, that Sir Dermot and his ancestors possessed them unjustly against the Crown until lately: being truly sensible thereof, he relinquished the same, and accordingly granted to Sir Dermot, Chief of his name, and his heirs male in capite, by the service of a knight's fee, all the estate which he had in the manors, lordships, lands, &c., of Gort-Inchegorie, and several other lands, with a proviso, however, of forfeiture, in case of any confederacy or disturbance against the Crown. Sir Dermot had issuef

I. Sir Roger.

II. William, referred to above.

III. Dermot, surnamed Reavagh, who contended for the Chieftaincy of Cineal Aodh, of whom presently.

IV. Joan married, about the year 1560, Edmond Bermingham, 15th Lord Athenry, and Premier Baron of Ireland, by whom she had issue.

Sir Roger O'Shaughnessy, called in the Annals of the Four Masters,' Giolla Duff, married the Lady Honora O'Brien, daughter of Morrough, the first Earl of Thomond. This lady was Abbess of the Abbey of Killowen, near Ennis. Sir Roger O'Shaughnessy died in 1569, and his death is thus recorded in the Annals of the Four Masters." "O'Shaughnessy, i. e. Giolla Duv, the son of Dermot, son of William, son of John Buighe, the supporting mound of all the English and Irish who came to his place, died; he was, though not learned in the Latin or English, the most esteemed and admired man by the English of his time." He left issue‡

The patent was for the following lands:-All the manors, lordships, towns, and townlands of Gotynchegory, Dromneyll, Dellyncallan, Ballyhide, Monynean, Ardgossam, Ballyegyn, Kapparell, Clonehage, Tollenegan, Lyckenegarishe, Crege, Karrynges, Tirrelagh, Rathvilledowne, Ardmylowan, one-third part of Droneskenan and Rath, the moiety of Flyngeston, Ardvillegoghe, Domlebalehue, Cowle, and Beke.

1

"Hardiman in his History of Galway,' page 216, says: Sir Dermot had two sons, Sir Rory and Dermot.' This statement is erroneous, as it is shown by the above pedigree, that he had three sons and one daughter. That William was his son is beyond all doubt, as it is proved by the documents which passed between his father, Sir Dermot, and Henry VIII., relative to the Bishoprick of Kilmacduach, which O'Shaughnessy was desirous of obtaining for his son William.

Hardiman, in his History of Galway,' page 216, in mentioning Sir Roger O'Shaughnessy's issue says:-"Sir Dermot had two sons, Sir Rory and Dermot; the former was married to the Lady Onora ny Brien, and had two sons, William and Darby. After his death his widow, his brother Dermot, and William, his eldest son, &c., &c." With regard to Sir Dermot having two sons, see note to the issue of the first Sir Dermot O'Shaughnessy. Hardiman was also mistaken in saying, that Sir Rory, by whom he means Sir Roger, had two sons by the Lady Honora O'Brien, as his issue by that lady, as may be seen by the above pedigree, were six children, four sons and two daughters; and he was further wrong in