In this the 20th Ordanence Survey Letter (here written from Banagher in Januaruy 1838) O'Donovan provides miscellaneous remarks on the murder of Hugh de Lacy; on the derivation of the surname Gallagoly and looks for the Name Books for Ely O'Carroll.

ORDNANCE SURVEY LETTERS KING'S COUNTY

[ Letter no.20 from John O'Donovan ]

Banagher,
January 14th 1838.

Dear Sir,

I expressed a doubt in a former letter as to the accuracy of the translation of the Annals of Inishfallen by Peter Connell, O'Flanigan and O'Reilly. The passage relative to the death of Hugh de Lacy betrays the grossest ignorance of Irish history. ...

It stands in the original, thus (MS. Trin. Col).:-

"1186. Hugo De Lacy tiagharna comhachtach na Midhe do mharbhadh a bhfeall le Galloglach, agus e ag denamh caislean a nDarmhaigh Coluim Cille."

Which, when correctly translated "will exhibit this sense."

"1186. Hugo De Lacy, the powerful Lord of Meath, was treacherously killed by a 'galloglass' while erecting a castle at Durrow-Columbkille."

Mo ghroidhin iad! The poor Summachawns thought that Galloglach meant an Englishman. Spencer says a good deal about the Galloglachs of Ireland and inclines to think that they were not the aboriginal Irish soldiers, but introduced by the early English, whence he thinks the name Gall-oglach or English (foreign) youth was derived. ("The Irishrye call husse Gaules"). In this he may be right or he may be wrong, but whatever be the derivation of the term Gall-oglach* it is certain that it was applied to a kind of soldiers (among the Irish) who were armed with battle axes etc. (See Spencer on Kerns and Gallowglasses).

*The family name Gallogly, which prevails so much in Fermanagh, is derived from this word. The people so called were originally Mac Donnell's Galloglach.

Does old Charles O'Conor avoid this error in his translation of the Annals of Inishfallen? Mr. Curry will know at once the MS. I allude to. It is in the handwriting of Mr. Brannon, who was for many years employed as a scribe by Charles O'Conor at Bealach Coille, and who is now a very old man (a classical teacher) living in the Town of Galway.

I have asked for many Extracts which have not been sent me, viz., the account given in Nomenclat. Hib., of the Territories of Dealbhna (Delvin) Eathra (Beathra) Feara-Ceall (Fercal, Fircal) and Ely O'Carroll, Spencer's reference to the Hill of Croghan and other things which I now forget.

We are now coming to a close here and want the Books of Ely O'Carroll as soon as possible.

What is the original Irish of the following passage:-

"A.D. 899 Coirpre Crom, Bishop of Clonmacnoise, died. It was he that struck the spirit of Maolseachlin, the son of Maolruana, on the head!" - Annals Four Masters.

Is there any reference to Tobar Finghin at Clonmacnoise in the Four Masters? There is certainly in Tigernach.

Your obedient servant,
John O'Donovan.