The Castle in the Speckled Meadow.
BRACKLOON CASTLE
Clonfert, County Galway, Ireland.
CASTLE RESTORATION PROJECT
Historical References to Brackloon and Clonfert.
The ninth year of Aedh.
St. Brenainn, Abbot of Cluain Ferta Brenainn Clonfert, died on the 16th
of May. He died at Eanach Duin, and his body was interred at Cluain Ferta
Brenainn.
Annals of the Four Masters, The Age of Christ, 576.
A hosting was made by the Lord Justice (Lord Deputy Susex) to banish the O'Conors
of Offaly from Meelick; he conveyed great guns to Athlone, and from thence in boats
to Meelick. He afterwards took Meelick and Breac Cluain and slew Donagh son of Colla,
together with others of the warders. The sons of Melaghlin Balve (O'Madden) were banished
from the territory together with the insurgants. The Lord Justice left an English constable
at Meelick i.e. Master Francis - and took hostages from the two O'Maddens viz. from Melaghlin
Modhardha O'Madden and Brazil O'Madden; and thus was the territory of Sil Anchia taken.
Annals of the Four Masters 1557.
The Baronye of Longford wch conteyneth ye country of Syllanchy & Clonvicknoyne by west Sucke X miles longe by iiij miles
broad and is in plowlands after the rate of xxvj Acres to every plowland. Omadin, Owen Omadin, Cogh Omadin and Shane ne
Moye cheifs in the same.
| Ballydonnellan x 2 |
Tvell Odonellan and Gillpatrick Odonellan |
| Breakeloyne |
Owen Omadyn |
| Clare |
Cogh Omadyn |
| Cloynefeigh x 3 |
Omadin |
| Cloynelehaue x 3 |
Conor McHugh Avly oge & Amacha McHugh |
| Cloynigne |
Shane na Moy |
| ffaheioran |
Ohowran |
| Garowally |
Mahe McTully |
| Kilcwayne |
Cogh Omadyn |
| Longford |
Omadyn |
| Lykloystrane |
Melaghlin O'Kelly |
| Lysenffe |
Bishop of Clonfert |
| Lysnasille |
Gyllernew Odonnellan |
| Millike (broken by therles sonnes) |
The Queens Moity |
| Portvmna |
Therle of Clanricard |
Lord Deputy Sir Henry Sidney's list for the Composition of Connacht, 1574.
The Earl of Clanricard hath done good and valiant service with some few companies to relieve the fort at Galway; and other castles near Loughrea; and in the County of Galway; and upon the design killed about three thousand rebels; and in like manner, the Lord president of Connacht hath behaved himself valiantly, and very late hath with his companies killed near Athlone bridge to the number of seven thousand rebels, and relieved several castles wherein the English did inhabit.
William Bladen, May 15th 1642.
The confiscations were organized by the Act of Settlement under an Act of Charles II on 30th November 1660, which confirmed the Protestants holdings as at May 5th 1659. Confirmed by the Irish Parliament on May 8th 1661. The confiscations amounted to 2,500,000 acres, of which 1,000,000 were in Connacht. The adventurers were to get 625,000 acres in each province.
Amongst the settlements were the following:
John Eyre: confirmed holdings in Coolcartan, Ballynadelly, Cloncease, Annaghcorba, Leyre, Cappagh, Bracklone, Killdrane, Clondea, Kinchealy, Killehearagh, Killtalasty and Lisgara, all in the Barony of Longford.
Act of Settlement on 30th November 1660.
In some places, it is fresh and fruitful; in some places dangerous by reason of the many bogs and thick-set woods (though of late, much cleared of both); the air not so clear as in some places, by reason of the vaporous and foggy mists. The soil sufficiently fruitful, were not the inhabitants so wanting, producing an abundance of Cattel, good store of deer and hawks, and plenty of honey. It is the meanest of the four provinces in general. There are 6 counties in Connaught, being Leitrim, Slego, Mayo, Roscommon, Gallway and Thomond or Clare.
The chief places are
1. Tuam, an Archbishops see, 7 miles off the borders of Mayo; once a famous city, but now reduced to a mere village.
2. Gallway or Gallive, Bishops see, Market and Borough. 17 miles South from Tuam, a very strong, neat and rich city, the third (by some, counted the second) in all Ireland. It is built almost round, and in a manner almost tower like, of entire stone. It is situated by the fall of the lake Corbes to the sea; and by a large, safe and delicate harbour called the bay of Gallway, capable of a vast fleet of ships, so well suited for merchandizing that it has been looked upon as the greatest place of trade in all Ireland. It is situated 102 miles west of Dublin.
3. Athenree or Atherith, a borough town 9 miles East of Gallway, enclosed with a wall of great circuit, but slenderly inhabited.
4. Clonefart, a decaying town 5 miles East of Athenree, and 2 miles from the Shannon.
5. Portumny, a small place 8 miles South of Clonefart upon the river Shannon nigh Lough Derg.
William Eacher, Cambridge University, 1691.
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