O'Donovan, based at Roscrea surveys the antiquities of the Dunkerrin district.

ORDNANCE SURVEY LETTERS KING'S COUNTY

[ Letter no. 46 from John O'Donovan ]

Mithidh scur de ar seluibh.

Roscrea,
February 9th 1838.

Dear Sir,

After all my exertions to identify Liath Mochoevoge (or Liath Mor) with the Leagh of the Down Survey, I fear I am wrong, and very wrong. The Festilogy of Aengus places Liath Mor, the establishment of St. Mochoemog or Pulcherius, in the Southern Ely, which is certainly not Ely O'Carroll; and what is still more against me, the Church of Leighmokivoge is still in existence in the Southern Ely to the East of Thurles, and on the borders of Leinster! ...

"Mochoevoge, the son of Beodha, and Cuangus Mac Dall;
These are of Liath Mor in the Southern Ely."

To this it may be opposed that Colgan places Liath Mor in the vicinity of Kinnitty, and the very ancient writer of the Life of Pulcherius states that it was only four miles distant from St. Colman's Church of Doire Mor, which Lanigan identifies with Kilcolman near Birr, and which, it is curious to observe, lies exact four miles northeast of the place called Leagh or the Down Survey. This objection is clear, strong, and striking, but still I think that there is a grand mistake in Colgan's assumptions, but the question cannot be finally settled till we come to examine the localities of the Southern Ely or Ely O'Fogarty in the Co. Tipperary. The following questions must be answered before we can come to any certain decision:-

  1. What was the exact situation and extent of Magh Nairbh, the plain or level district in which Doire Mor, the Head Church or Establishment of St. Colman was situated?
  2. Were there two places in Ely called Liath Mochoemog; one in Ely O'Carroll or North Ely near Kinnitty, and another in Ely O'Fogarty or South Ely near Thurles?
  3. Is there a Church in the Southern Ely called Derrymore, and dedicated to St. Colman?

Is not Magh Nairbh in the Southern Ely?

My present impression is that Kilcolman is not Doire Mor, but merely a Church dedicated to St. Colman; that Liath Mochoemhog is the Church now called Leighmokivoge, and lying near Thurles in the Co. of Tipperary, on the borders of Leinster; and that Doire Mor is a Church lying within four miles of it somewhere in the neighbourhood of Thurles.

I travelled yesterday through the southern angle of the King's Co. which runs into that of Tipperary, but found nothing interesting, nor have I a single historical reference to any of the Churches which I visited, either does tradition preserve anything about them. The old Church of Finglas is level with the ground and nothing remains but a small Churchyard. The Parish received the name of Fionn Ghlaise (Fair Stream) from a little river which passes (flows) by the Churchyard. Is this Church of Fionnglaise in Ely the Northern, mentioned in Colgan, the Calen dar, Leabhar Breac, or any other of the old Books of Ireland to which we have access?

The Down Survey states that this Parish "contaynes the Townslands of Finglis and Laghlin (now Loughaun) on which there stands the walls of a Church and stumpe of a castle."

Is the site of the castle shown on the Plan? The old Church of Cullenwane is nearly destroyed, a small part of one gable only remaining, from which it appears to have been a modern and rude building. I could get no evidence to shew what the original Irish form of this name was , as the Irish language is not spoken in the district. I have no historical reference to this Parish except the following from the Down Survey:-

"At Coollenane in this Parish stands the walls of a Church and a Castle with some Irish cabbins at Branstown (Brownestown)."

From the manner in which the people pronounce the name of this Parish, I would be inclined to suppose it meant Cuilleannbhann (Tan Chuillin Bhain) White Holly, but if Coollenane, the orthography given in the Down Survey, be correct, it would mean Cuil Fhionnain or Cul Leanain. Does any such name occur in any of the old books of Ireland?

I had a fine view of Beann Dubh, Bearnan Eile and Sliabh Oighidh an Righ, from this old Church. Beautiful scenery; but the rain spoiled all the satisfaction derivable from it. I have no historical reference to the Parish of Dunkerrin, but the following from the Down Survey:

"In which (i.e., Townlands) are scituate the castles of Clonegenagh, Classigad, Ballintample, Emmell, and the stumpe of Bohernagh (now Behernagh) castle-like (recte likewise) the Church of Donkerine and many Irish cabbins in several places."

Are the sites of any of these castles marked on the Plan?

The Protestant Church, which is not a very modern one, occupies the site of the old Church of Dunkerrin.

Is this Church of Dunkerrin mentioned in any of our old Irish Authorities? It is not easy to find out its original Irish orthography. Try Dun Ceirin, Dun Cairin, Dun Ceithrin; it is hardly a historical place. Let search be made in the old Books of Ireland for historical references to Litir (Leitir) Lughna, Eiteach, Buirghes na Fearna, Ros Cre. I have not a single notice of any one of them in the Extracts before me, and fear that none are to be had (excepting of Roscrea.)