O'Donovan writing from Birr has here some general remarks on South and West Offaly.

ORDNANCE SUVEY LETTERRS KING'S COUNTY

[ Letter no. 36 from John O'Donovan ]

Birr,
January 30th 1838.
Dear Sir,

I want any notice that may occur in the Annals to Magh Eille, a place for which I made many a search in the Co. Westmeath, but which I find to be in the King's County in the Parish of Kilmanaghan.

Is Faithche Chiarain to be found either in the Annals or Calendar? It is the name of a townland in that part of the Parish of Kilcumreragh which lies in the King's County and which contains the ruins of a small Church. My memory is very treacherous if this name is not to be found in the Annals of the Four Masters.

Does Mac Firbisse give any pedigree of the family of Mac Uaileachain of Lusmagh and from whom the Townland of Baile Mhic Uaileachain in that territory is called? Two of the name, Daniel and Thomas Coolaghan, Esquires, retain property.

Lanigan states (Vol. III, pp. 24 & 29) that Liath Mor, the Monastery of St. Mochoemog or Pulcherius, "was exactly four miles distant from Bishop Colman's Monastery of Doire Mor" (now Kilcolman).

But he does not tell whether it was north, south, east or west of it. What authority had he for this? Usher or Colgan? Let me have Usher's notice of Liath Mochoemog as soon as possible. No such name is now remembered in Ely O'Carroll. There is a Liath More and Liath Beg in the Parish of Wheery in Delvin Mac Coghlan, but neither of them can possibly be identified with Liath Mocheomo which was certainly situated to the south of the Avon Cor River in the Territory of Ely O'Carroll in ancient Munster. There are many clues to the discovery of this Church, but I think that Usher, who saw it, is the best authority. Is the Church of Leagh in Ely O'Carroll mentioned in the Inquisitions?

It appears from the Annals of the Four Masters that the Castle of Liscloony in the west of the Parish of Tissaran in the Barony of Garrycastle or Territory of Delvin Mac Coghlan, was erected by O'Dalachain. Does Mac Firbisse give a pedigree of this family? They seem to be a branch of the Delvins Eathra. Two or three of the name are mentioned in the Will of Sir John Coghlan made in 1590. Was not Denis Bowes Daly, who succeeded the last Mac Coghlan, descended from this family of O'Dalachain and not from the O'Dalaighs of Corca Ree or Dunsandel?

The Church of Cluain Da Thorc mentioned by the Four Masters at the year 1387 is the Church of Clonyhurk near Portarlington:-

"A.D. 1387. Mauric Maol O'Conor Faly was slain by the single shot of an arrow at the Church of Cluain Da Thorc by one of the O'Kellys of Leghe."

Magheoghegan's Translation of the Annals of Clonmacnoise states that O'Conor was slain in Clanmaliere; hence Clonyhurk was in Clanmaliere as I have already proved.

Is the Castle of Lios Dearg mentioned in the Annals of the Four Masters? It was one of Mac Coghlan's Castles situated in the Parish of Tisaran. The place is now generally called Bellmount.

I now send you the following Name Books:-
Clonyhurk, Ballykean, Clonsast, Ballynakill, Monasteroris, Ballymacwilliam, Castlejordan, Ballyburley, Croghan, Kilclonfert, Killaderry and Ballycommon, one book each and Geshill 2 books, which 13 Parishes were comprised in that part of ancient Ofalia lying in the present King's Co.

I also send the Books of:-
Kilcumreagh, Horseleap, Kilmonaghan and Kilbride, which are comprised in the Barony of Kilcoursey, alias Munter Hagan or Foxe's Country.

Your obedient servant,
John O'Donovan.