In this article are letters from both O'Donovan and Thomas O'Conor providing these descriptions for castles and authorities describing such in West Offaly.

ORDNANCE SURVEY LETTERS KING'S COUNTY

[Letter no. 18 from Thomas O'Conor ]

Banagher,
January 10th 1838.

Sir,
Tisarn, the name of a Parish in the Barony of Garrycastle, signifies the House of. S.Saran. The Irish name would be Teach (Tigh) Sarain, Tectum Sancti Sarani. Let the passage relative to Tigh Saran in the Annals be extracted and sent. There is no one reference made to it in any documents we have. Let Colgan and the Calendar be also referred to.

In the centre of Moystown Demesne, and "1750 links west of the River Brosna" (Name Book) Tisaran old Church lies in ruins, and Tobar Saran, Tobar Sarain, Fons S. Sarani, lies "500 links southwest of the stables belonging to Moystown House." (Name Book).

At this well Stations were performed some time back; St. Saran's Festival Day is not remembered. There is a fort lying in Tisarn (Townland) according to the people, on which a castle formerly stood.

In Liscloony Townland there is a castle in ruins. This popularly called castle might have been a mansion house. And in Faddenmore Townland, the foundation of a castle is partly traceable.

Site of Bellmount Castle lies "600" links (Name Book) south of Bellmount House in Bellmount, alias Lisdarrig (Townland). Of the castle there is not a vestige to be seen.

Is there any reference in the Annals to the Castle of Lis-Cluaine?

Is there any reference in them to the Castle of Lisdearg?

Let every document be looked into for Cill-Cluaine and let an extract of what is relative to it be made.

Does Cluain-Gamhna, or any similar name to which Clon-ony is referrable, occur in the Annals? Mageoghegan calls it Clondownie.

Your obedient servant,
T. O'Conor.

ORDNANCE SURVEY LETTERS KING'S COUNTY

[ Letter no. 19 from John O'Donovan ]

Banagher,
January 11th 1838.

Dear Sir,

Yesterday I visited the Parish of Wheery alias Killegally, which Archdall identifies with Kill-Ealga. Does Colgan or do the Four Masters make any mention of Kil-Ealga?

The Parish of Killegally contains the Townland of Kincora, in which stood formerly a celebrated castle, the site of which should be marked on the Map. It is mentioned in the compilation of the Four Masters at the year 1548:-

"A.D. 1548. O'Melaghlin (Teige Roe) brought Edmond A Faili (Fay, I think) and his Leinster forces into Delvin to plunder the territory. On this occasion Edmond A Faili made a prisoner of Melaghlin, the son of Art O'Melaghlin, who had come along with him (Edmond) by order of the King's Council, and sent him to Dublin.

"The Castle of Ceann Coraidh and the Monastery of Gaillinne were taken on this occasion by O'Melaghlin and Edmond. O'Melaghlin returned home sorrowfully without having obtained submission or hostages, and Edmond continued (i.e. his efforts) to conquer Delvin in the King's name."

There is an old graveyard in the Townland of Kincora called Kilreaghan, of which I have no record. Can any reference to it be found in the Calendar or in Colgan? Cill Riachain?

There is an old Church in the Townland of Wheery in this Parish which seems the original Parish Church, but I have no historical reference to it. Can any be found? The name is pronounced by the old people as if it were written Fuidhre or Faoighre.

We go to Clonmacnoise now.

Your obedient servant,
John O'Donovan.