O'Donovan here surveys the history of Rahan and Roscore.

ORDNANCE SURVEY LETTERS KING'S COUNTY

[ Letter no. 44 from John O'Donovan ]

Roscrea,
February 7th 1838.

Dear Sir,

Please to send us the Name Books of the Barony of Clonlisk as soon as possible and also the County Name Book, as we shall now get finished here in a few days. They have just arrived.

We want the historical references to Roscrea and Inis na Mbeo - Insula Viventium.

They are not within the limits of the King's County, but the references to them may throw light upon the extent of the Territory of Ely O'Carroll.

Clonfertmulloe, for which I have been so long on the lookout, is not in the King's County, but lies in the Queen's County a short distance to this east of this town. This was well known to O'Flaherty, as we learn from the following words in his Ogygia:-

"Saint Molua, a famous disciple of St. Comgall, founded the noble Monastery of Cluanfert in the Queen's County at the foot of the mountain Smoil, which is likewise called Bladma." - Transl. Vol. II, page 303.

It is astonishing how accurate O'Flaherty's knowledge was upon the subject of Irish topography.

Some notices of Rathain.

As Archdall and Lanigan have entirely mistaken the situation of this curious place, I deem it necessary, as a further proof of its real situation, to translate here a most curious notice of it given in the Leabhar Breac or Speckled Book of the Mac Egans. It appears that certain Bards had satirized the Kinel Fiach, i.e., the O'Molloys and Mageoghegans, and that O'Suany, the Coarb of Rathain, undertook to protect them against their rage, but that the Kinel Fiach, whose pedigree was attempted to be stained (impugned) by barefaced forgery, violated the protection of the Coarb and murdered the lampooners; that the matter was referred by the Coarb to the King, who refused pronouncing a decision, but left it to the Coarb himself.

What appears very curious in this account is that although St. Mochuda was entirely banished from Rathain, O'Suany is called his Coarb:- ...

"Oh! Kinel Fiach, this is your lineage,
Fiacha, the son of Fiach, son of Moelbressi."

"This is a quatrane of the satire which was composed by the lampooners, who were murdered while under the protection of O'Suany at Ros Corr. The Kinel Fiach say that they themselves are descended from Fiach, the son of Niall of the Nine hostages, but they are not according to this rann (quatrane) but from Fiach, the son of Moelbressy; et nescio praeterea. It was in consequence of this violation that O'Suany received Ros Corr and had the persons who committed it delivered up to him, viz., one of the O'Suanys of Rathain, etc., Moelbressal, the son of Flann Lena, a plunderer (Banditto). One of this plunderer's acts of violence was to profane the cross of O'Suany and his protector at Fidh Elo together with the Clergy of the artizans. It is for this reason it is called Cros na Cainte. This happened in the reign of Donnell, the son of Murchadh, who proclaimed all the Hy Cailchin for the enormity of the crime and refused to pronounce any decision and the eric to be given in it (for it) but left it to O'Suany's own conscience (cubhas). O'Suany's award was that Ros Corr*, the land on which the crime was committed, should become mortmained to Mochuda and O'Suany+ and that the persons who committed the crimes, viz., Gille Suany, O'Kearney and O'Coinin, should lose their liberty and be never permitted to return to their tribe." - Leabhar Breac, fol. 35 b.

*This is the present Townland of Roscore in the Parish of Rahan near Tullamore.

+ I should not doubt him. The first object was to make some thing by it; the next revenge! Human nature is still the same and will for ever. Oh piety.

Mageoghegan's Annals of Clonmacnois - Raithin Ui Shuanaigh.

A.D.
740. The laws and constitutions of O'Swayne of Rahyne were established by the King and subjects.
744. The rules of O'Swany of Rahin were established in Leigh Coyn in Doal (deal - Con's halfe in deale).
751. Suanus als. Finoyne O'Swanaye of Rahin, died.
1136. Soirvreach O'Kelly, Cowarb of Rahin O'Swanaye, died.
1205. Moyle Kieran O'Kelly of Rahin, died.
1227. Symon Clifford founded and built the Castle of Rahin O'Swanie this year. This man gave an annuity to the Prior of Durrow and Convent.

I think that the old vault standing near the old Church of Rathain is a part of this castle - J.O'D.

These places are in the Counties of Westmeath and Longford.

Rathreabhach, now Rathreagh, a Parish in the Barony of Ardagh and Co. of Longford, adjoining the Co. of Westmeath. The Castle of Reathreagh and the old Church from which the Parish derived its name stand (stood?) in the Demesne of Foxhall.

Rathain Ui Shuannaigh - Annals Four Masters.

A.D. 1141. Donnell, the son of Rory O'Maolmuaidh, Lord of Fearaceall, was killed by Muintir Luainnibh in Rathain Ui Shuainnagh.

1153. Torlogh O'Brien was banished to the north of Ireland by Torlogh O'Conor, who divided Munster in two between Teige O'Brien and Dermot, son of Connor, son of Muireadhach Mac Carthy. Murtogh, the son of Neill Mac Loughlin and the men of the north of Ireland marched with an army to the relief of Torlogh O'Brien and to reinstate him in his Kingdom of Munster, till they had reached to Craibhteine. Torlogh O'Conor collected his forces and marched to Mugh Lice Patraic against the northmen. Teig O'Brien came with his forces to Raithin Ui Shuanaigh to the relief of the Connacians and advanced to Magh Cisi. In the meantime McLoughlin with two chosen bands of his army marched over Ath Maighne, leaving the remainder of his army at Craibhteine and with this small force went to destroy the camp of Teige O'Brien, whom he defeated with a great spoil of kine after plundering a party of the men of Teffia. He went from that to meet the Connacians until he had reached Tseal Kieran. Torlogh O'Conor passed over Athlone to the west. Rory O'Conor with the battalion of West Connaught and the Glaslaith of Siol Muireadhaidh marched to Fordruim; when they were setting up camp there, the heroes of the north poured in on them without notice and killed a great number of the Connacians, together with Giolla Ceallaigh O'Heidhin, Lord of Eidhne and his son Hugh, Brian O'Dowd, Lord of the northern Hy Fiacha, Mortogh, the son of Torlogh, the son of Conor O'Conor, Donnell O'Byrne, Donnell, son of Cathal O'Conor and Sitriug, the son of Mac Dubhgaill. O'Loughlin afterwards came with his forces to Lough Aininn and O'Melaghlin came into his house and left hostages with him, and he (McLoughlin) gave him all Meath from the Shannon to the sea and Offaly and Ui Faelan, etc.

In the County of Kilkenny on the banks of the Nore.
Rathbeothaidh. Nil ad re omnino.

A.M.
3501. Rathbeothaidh on the banks of Eidir (Nore) in Airgeodras, was built by Heremon.
3576. Heremon died at Rathbeothaidh on the Eoir in Argatros.