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Whitehaven Coal. First Wigan „ Second Wigan „ Gas „ Scotch „ Best Welsh Malting Coal. „ Scotch Malting „ „ Culm (for Lime burning) Coal. ,, Cardiff (for Smith's use) Coal. All House Coal carefully screened free from slack. Best Irish Butter Salt. Best Table Salt. „ Irish Curing „ Agricultural ,, jo&x m & ft ¥ i >r, HOUSE PAINTER AND CHURCH DECORATOR, Japer Pangtr mxb (©lazier, 9 BATH STREET, CARRICKMACROSS. All Work Completed with Taste and Despatch. HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF MONAGHAN, FROM THE EARLIEST RECORDS TO THE FENIAN MOVEMENT, BY DENIS CAROLAN RUSHE, B.A., F.fl.S.A. (IREL.) DUBLIN : JAMES DUFFY AND CO., Ltd., 15 Wellington Quay. 1895. Co tf)C MOST REVEREND RICHARD OWENS, D.D., LORD BISHOP OF CLOGRER, ftfeig Utile gook is ghbitaiei) By his old Pupil, THE AUTHOR- 2967 V O'NEILL LIBRARY BosTOMfmeaE CONTENTS. ^ PAGE Preface . . . . . . vii Introduction ..... 1 CHAPTER I. Old Monaghan ..... 4 CHAPTER II. The United Irishmen in Monaghan . .24 CHAPTER III. Notes on Irish Names . . . .38 CHAPTER IV. Local Geography and Topography . . 48 CHAPTER V. The "Union" in Monaghan . . .57 CHAPTER VI. The Tithe War in Monaghan . . .75 chapter vii. Secret Societies in the County after the Union 81 CHAPTER VIII. Secret Societies— continued . . .101 CHAPTER IX. Conclusion . . . . . .113 APPENDIX. I. List of M.P.'s of Borough of Monaghan . 115 II. Bishops of Clogher . . . .117 PREFACE. The following pages are a collection of essays and papers, written from time to time by the Author, under the following circumstances : — In the winter of 1891, the Rev. Father George M'Meel, then Administrator of Monaghan, urged on the members of the Monaghan Parish Branch of the Irish National Federation, of which he was President, to get up some literary entertainment with which to conclude the meetings, after the usual social and political business had been disposed of. The chapter, "Old Monaghan, " in this book, was the first step taken at the branch towards carrying out Father M'Meel's suggestion. Most of the other papers were read at intervals before the Branch, and a few of them have already appeared in the People's Advocate and the Weekly Freeman. When many of these pages had been read, the late Most Rev. Dr. Donnelly, Lord Bishop of Clogher, spoke to the writer about the propriety of writing a history of the town of Monaghan. The writer had neither the ability at command Vlll PREFACE. nor time at disposal to enable him to accomplish the work, but he agreed to collect the papers already written, and after adding a few more facts to publish them, and with the permission of the late Bishop, to have dedicated the book to him. But on the 29th December, 1893, God called the eighty-ninth Bishop of Clogher to his eternal reward. The writer cannot pass unnoticed the magnificent career which closed on that day. Dr. Donnelly was born in the next parish to Monaghan (Tydavnet), while the 19th century was yet in its youth, of a respectable and religious Catholic family. He was educated at the old school of Uribleshanny, and then by a local classical teacher. He had a long and brilliant course in Maynooth College, and after his ordination he was in succession curate of Killanny parish, first Professor in St. Macartin's Seminary, after its opening; Professor of the Irish College, Paris ; collector for some years in the United States for the founding of the Catholic University of Ireland ; Parish Priest of Eosslea, and Bishop of Clogher, which latter position he held for twenty-six years. His labours were gigantic, and such as no ordinary man could attempt. The Schools, Convents and Churches throughout his diocese, the Sanctuary of Lough Derg, and the Cathedral PREFACE. IX of St. Macartin, Monaghan — all attest to the energy and assiduity of Dr. Donnelly. He was a man of tremendous industry, and those who knew him best knew that he never idled for a single day. He was a great student, and studied up to his very death. He never began a subject that he did not master before he left it off. Bills or Acts of Parliament, or social or political schemes were never laid out of his hand until he had got such a grasp of their contents as would put their authors to the blush. He was blessed with great abilities, and as a result of his life was a good general scholar, having thorough knowledge of most subjects. His motto was Pro Deo et Patria, and never was a motto so well lived up to by its bearer. In all acts of his life he seemed to have no other object than the glory of his Church and the elevation of his country. He dearly loved both one and the other. He was a great churchman and a true patriot ; and between the lines of every page he wrote, both one and the other may be easily read. It is to be hoped that some one will soon arise who will write his biography ; but no one should touch it who does not fully appreciate his character, and who cannot sympathetically enter into his life struggles. In the Blue Books of Parliament there is a correspondence published X PREFACE. in which he took the principal part in defending the rights of his Catholic people to freedom of education. This controversy was carried on with a bigoted tyrant, and shows the tremendous grasp and ability the late Bishop had of the subject, and how easily he could dispose of a foe to his religion and his people. The income he worked so hard to earn was spent as he made it, on the advancement of charitable, religious, and educational institutions in his diocese, and elsewhere throughout Ireland ; while no really patriotic object ever was known to pass unassisted by his generous subscription. His largest subscriptions bore the stamp of true religious charity — for they were always given privately. His extraordinary sacrifices in the cause of education were revealed to the public by his examination before the Endowed School Commission, where he admitted that he had subsidised St. Macartin's Seminary to the extent of £5,000 ! The greatest work of his life was the erection of St. Macartin's Cathedral at Monaghan. This magnificent structure is not surpassed by any church in Ireland, or probably in England. The symmetry of the whole house and the beauty of its details render it the most complete ecclesiastical building in the countrv. One distinguished personage on visiting it declared PREFACE. XI that the Bishop must have dreamed it or else have been inspired ; while another (a writer) described it as a " dream of beauty." Few are found in a generation who so easily preserve the dignity of a great position, while being possessed of the most sincere and practical humility. During the early seventies, when our late Bishop was engaged in several of the struggles with the bigoted oppressors of his people, a young priest, who had previously been a professor of St. Macartin's College, came as Administrator to Monaghan, and ably assisted Dr. Donnelly with such ability, patriotism, and single-mind edness, as marked him out a " coming man." This gentleman, the Most Bev. Bichard Owens, D.D., has been recently consecrated successor of Dr. Donnelly ; and with Dr. Owens' permission the Author dedicates this work to the present Bishop of Clogher. There is no one to whom the Author would prefer to dedicate this little book, after Dr. Donnelly, than to the present occupant of the See of Clogher, who has been elected by the priests, and chosen by the Pope, to be successor of our dear dead Bishop, the Most Bev. James Donnelly, D.D. Far-Meehul, Monaghan, September, 1894. HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF MONAGHAN INTRODUCTION. Only one book dealing with the History of this County has ever been written, to the Author's know- ledge, that compiled by an Anglo-Irish Landlord, the late Mr. Shirley. It is said, that an old history of Monaghan still exists, written by a Mr. Mitchell, but no one in this neighbourhood appears to possess a copy of it, nor can a copy be found in any library with which the Author is acquainted. There is, however, another book dealing with portion of our recent history, written by an Irish Land Agent, Trench's "Realities of Irish Life." Shirley's is a really great and valuable work, most of the information which it contains having been supplied by Dr. O'Donovan and Professor O'Curry. The Author, who is more of an Englishman than an Irishman, protests loudly his impartiality, and proclaims to his readers the disinterested position he holds in dealing with the history of this County. But Mr. Shirley was possessed of nearly all the bad qualities of our Irish shoneen, and at every opportunity the blackest hostility and vilest partiality makes its appearance throughout the pages of his voluminous book ; and the only impression which any fair-minded man would have, after reading the book is, that the author was filled with hatred of the Irish country and the Irish people. It is very amusing to see his efforts to make pedigrees for our local snobocracy, and to turn the present landlords of the county into gentlemen of ancient families. 2 INTRODUCTION. As to Mr. Trench's book, it was written as a sen- sational speculation, full of all the absurd fictions, which, at the time of its publication, commanded the best price in the English market. The Very Rev. Archdeacon Smollen, now P.P. of Enniskillen, and at the time of the publication of the book, Parish Priest of Donagb- moyne, wrote a number of able letters in the " Dundalk Democrat," completely overturning most of Trench's fallacies, and convicted him of the grossest exaggera- tions ; while the late Isaac Butt wrote and published a trenchant letter which convicted Mr. Trench of un- truthfulness. Both Messrs. Shirley and Trench have written of the Irish people who inhabit the County Monaghan, from the standpoint of the English colonist in Ireland, filled with hatred towards us, while the Author of these pages writes as an Irishman who loves his country and his people. The writer makes no apology for writing of a portion of Ireland as an Irishman, and of declaring his intention of so doing. If he stated otherwise, he would be sail- ing under false colours, and would thereby imitate the mode of proceeding of the majority of anti-Irish writers, both in England and Ireland, who, though never tired of asserting their disinterestedness and impartiality, seldom lose an opportunity of vilifying our country and our people. Most of the information contained in the following pages has been collected from a variety of sources, from books already published, parliamentary blue books, old newspapers, journals, State papers, and county and national records, never before given to the public, and some private correspondence. The Author has abstained from attacking the historical (?) structures set up by Mr. Shirley on weak foundations, or his attempt to create ancestors for the shoneens and snobs of this county, for he considered it no part of his present work. Nor has he the space to deal as fully with Mr. Shirley as he should. INTRODUCTION. 3 A good many omissions and some errors may be found in this Edition, but as the several chapters of it were written at different times in a country town, without access to a library of any importance, and as a large quantity of its contents has never before seen the light, the writer will be excused for his want of perfection in his first attempt in this sphere. Again, the Author performed this work during hours stolen from recreation, from professional engagements, and even from sleep. Still he feels proud and happy at having rescued from obscurity the many historical facts which, in another generation, would have been lost and forgotten, and that for the first time — " Many a deed may wake in praise, That long hath slept in blame." 4 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF MONAGHAN. CHAPTER I. OLD MONAGHAN. It often happens that many persons who are well acquainted with the history of their country have little knowledge of the story of the immediate locality to which they belong, and this is remarkably so in our native town of Monaghan, where few materials are avail- able for the compilement of our local history. And when at a recent meeting of the Monaghan Parish Branch of the Irish National Federation the writer was called upon for a paper to be read before the Branch, he thought the best subject he could treat was one which would give a general idea of our ancient town and its surroundings. The hurried mauner in which these few notes have been jotted down between hours of business will be the writer's excuse for the many blots and omissions which may be found amongst the follow- ing pages. In ancient times, before the " Saxon set his foot" on the sod of our native land, the district of country now occupied by the County of Monaghan, was then called West Oirgial (or Oriel), and the parish now called Monaghan was called Rack Wallace. Near the shore of a small lake from which our barony took its name, Lough Tigh, a certain saint called Maclodius or Malodius founded an Abbey sometime about the 6th century. A small village grew up around its gates called Muinea- chan, which, according to some authorities, means the " Town of the Monks," and according to others a place surrounded by little hills. Very little is recorded of the abbey or village from the 8th to the 15th century, except the election or death of its learned abbots or pious monks, and the plundering of the abbey by the Danes. About 1350 two branches of the M'Mahon family quarrelled, and the Chief of Muineachan, Bryan HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF MONAGHAN. O M'Hugh M'Mahon was expelled from Rath-Tulad, (now called Tullyforth), where the family had lived up to then. The Irish restored the abbey and town after the overthrow of the Danes. In 1417 Lord Furnival, at the head of the English army, crossed the Pale and devastated the whole of Oirgial, burned all the " towns and corn," and killed and wounded a great multitude of people, and carried off all the cattle they could catch. In this raid the town and abbey of Muineachan were again burned. While private quarrels distracted the Irish Chiefs, the old abbey and village of Muineachan appear to have been completely dismantled and deserted. During these troubled times, when war laid in ruins many a home, the M'Mahons, chiefs of Oirgial, for protection and safety, built a small house in the island of the lake of Muineachan, from which the lake and barony took its name of Lough Tigh (the Lake of the house); and in the year 1442, The M'Mahon of Oirgial, whose Christian name was Phelim (the son of Bryan, the son of Ardgal), restored the monastery and placed in it Friars Minor (Franciscans) instead of the Canons Regular of the Order of St. Augustine, who formerly occupied the ancient abbey. For many years an old quarrel lay smouldering between the people of Lough Tigh and the people of Dartrey. In 1496 The M'Mahon, or over lord of all West Oirgial, was the Chief of the clans of Dartrey, and had his castle and principal town near where Rockcorry now stands. His name was Hugh Ogue M'Mahon (the son of Hugh Roe, son of Rorey). In the above year his two sons, Gilla Patrick and Rorey, accompanied by 16 scollogs (farmers), came by night into Muineachan and killed Glushuiagh M'Redmond M'Rory M'Mahon of Lough Tigh in his own house. They took as a hostage a youth named Rossa M'Mahon, son of Manus, son of Hugh Roe. This murder was the cause of a serious war, which kept Oirgial in trouble and sorrow for many years. In those times, and down from the first English 6 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF MONAGHAN. invasion, the result of war was for the conquerors to lay waste the lands of the conquered, to carry off all their portable property, and burn and destroy all they could not carry away. Glushuiagh's brother Bryan and his sons collected their whole clans and marched into Dartrey, and attacked M'Mahon's town and castle, which they took and burned, and carried off some prey, though an equal number were killed on both sides, and the Lough Tigh men had to retreat to their own territory. O'Hanlon of East Oirgial (now Armagh) joined Bryan and made another attack on the Dartrey clans. The battle was fought near the partially restored town of M'Mahon, and the Dartrey men were again routed ; Gilla Phadruig, the murderer of Glushuiagh, was killed, and his father Hugh Ogue (The M'Mahon), fled into Brefney aud per- suaded O'Reilly to espouse his cause, while the rest of the warriors of his clan fled to Farney, where the whole Farney clans rose to their assistance. The English of the Pale, finding now that a great war was raging so near their borders, and seeing an oppor- tunity of getting a foothold in Ulster, at once took sides with the wrongdoers, and sent an army to assist Hugh Ogue, the Farney M'Mahons, and the O'Reillys of Brefney. The clans of Lough Tigh, Trough, Cremorne, and the O'Hanlons were now sorely pressed; one-half of their army were trying to keep the Farney men and the English at bay along the Aughnamullen Hills, while the other half were fighting O'Reilly on the borders of Dartrey. O'Donnell of Tirconnell, who was then the principal chief of Ulster, coming to know of the English crossing the Pale, and dreading the effect of an English settlement in Ulster, marched at the head of a large army to the aid of the Oirgiallians. His first move was to crush O'Reilly on his flank, and then turn and face the English. This he accomplished by leaving the half of the Oirgial- lians where they were in Aughnamullen, and joining the other half and attacking O'Reilly and Hugh Ogue HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF MONAGHAN. 7 M'Mahon. A couple of successful skirmishes brought the Tirconnellians and the Oirgiallians into the Territory of Brefney, where a short but desperate battle was fought, in which the Brefneians were completely crushed. The usual result followed, and all East Brefney, from Dartrey border to Cavan town, was devastated, and the town itself was taken after a short resistance and razed to the ground. The victorious army, after having got rid of this troublesome foe from their flank, proceeded towards Farney, which they entered south of Bally train ; the English and the Farney men at once faced the Tir- connellians and Oirgiallians, and while the battle raged, the other half of the Oirgiallians, who had been holding the English in check, and who followed them up suddenly, came on the right flank of the foe, and a great victory was gained for Ulster. The English and some of the Farney and Dartrey clans retreated across the Pale. They threw garrisons into all the castles and fortresses of the Pale, to keep the Ulster men at bay, while another English army was collected from Dublin, Meath, and Louth. The Ulster army now grew to great proportions, being joined by most of the minor clans of Farney and Dartrey, in addition to the rest of East and West Oirgial, part of Brefney, and O'Donnell's army from Tirconnell. All the fortresses were forthwith attacked and taken in a wondrous short time, and the Ulster men pressed for- ward and met the English near the town of Louth. The English were drawn up on a hill facing the north-west. The archers w T ere in front, while the centre was a line of light troops, armed with spears and shields, made up of Irish kerns, who resided within the Pale, and the rere was occupied by heavy infantry clad in steel and armed with spears, heavy swords, and battle axes ; on the flanks were the cavalry, armed like the heavy in- fantry. The Irish soon appeared in a long line of kerns or light infantry, each man armed with a couple of spears, and a shean or dagger and shield ; but this array was made up of the small clans of Oriel joined together in 8 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF MONAGHAN. one line ; each clan was headed by its piper. The line was flanked by mounted kerns, while behind marched the solid line of Gallowglass, heavy infantry, armed with spears, battle axes, swords, and sheans, some covered with chain armour, and others merely carrying shields. As the Irish army slowly advanced, the English archers fired on them, and the mounted kerns charged down on the archers and drove them from the field. The English heavy cavalry, which consisted principally of the knights of the Pale, flanked by English light cavalry, charged the mounted kerns, who divided and fled to the left and right of the line, while the English galloped after them. This left the centre clear, and the whole Ulster clans, who had been quietly march- ing forward behind the cavalry, advanced at the charge, the pipers playing, and the clansmen shouting their war cry. So close had they come before they were observed, and so rapidly did they charge, that the English archers had barely time to fire more than a couple of arrows towards them, when they were on top of them. The archers were not good swordsmen, and could not withstand the onslaught of the Ulster kerns, so they were driven pell-mell in on top of the English light armed troops, and broke their line in several places. The Irish followed up these advantages by dashing into these gaps. The English made desperate resistance for a short time, devoting much of their energies to kill the pipers whose music was well known to have greater effect in rousing the "Irish enemy" in battle, than the command of the chiefs. When the effect of this charge was noticed by the English General, he ordered back the cavalry, who on their return were followed by the Irish Gallowglass, flanked by the mounted kerns, and before the English knights had time to rally, they were thrust by the Gallowglass in on top of the English centre, which was then striving to keep in check the Irish clans who had broken through the second English line. Thus the whole army was thrown into confusion, and had to fight at close quarters with HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF MONAGHAN. \) the Irish, who, having their bodies comparatively free, could easily crush beneath them the English soldiers and knights encumbered with steel armour and harness. The English soon broke up and fled, leaving many knights and nobles of the Pale, and freemen from Dublin, Drogheda, and Dundalk dead and wounded on the field behind them. Most of the English fled into the fortifications of Dundalk, while the rest took refuge in the castles in the southern parts of Magher Oriel (Louth). O'Donnell followed the English to Dundalk, and having neither the time nor the means to besiege Dundalk, left suffi- cient force around it to invest it, and turned on the remaining castles and minor fortresses of Magher Oriel. Everything gave way before the victorious Ulster Irish ; the castles and towns were all abandoned at their approach, and the English were driven beyond the Boyne. We are told the saddest words in real life as well as in fiction, are : " What might have been." But they appear saddest when read in Irish history. " What might have been" had Tyrone, Fermanagh, Brefney, Dalriada, and all the rest of Ulster sent assistance to O'Donnell and the Oirgiallians, enabling them to follow up this victory, by storming Dundalk and Drogheda, and crossing the Boyne, and driving the English into Dublin Bay as Brian Boru had the Danes. When O'Donnell saw he had not sufficient forces to permanently occupy Louth, he and the Oirgiallians returned home, carrying with them all the cattle, horses, and moveable effects in the County Louth, and burning and destroying all the towns, castles, houses, and crops, and in fact, everything they were unable to carry, leaving the whole beautiful plain of Magher Oriel from the Boyne to Slieve Gullion one dreary desert, covered with black and smoking ruins, so that our ancestors of old Muineachan had their hills covered with cattle and sheep, fattened on the rich plains of Louth, and their stables filled with the steeds of the knights of the Pale. This terrible devastation of a rich country, and wanton 10 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF MONAGHAN. destruction of private property, is very repugnant to us who live in the end of the 19th century, but we must remember that the people of Magher Oriel had made several raids into West Oirgial, and the lords and knights of the Pale had raided all parts of Ulster they could get at, and everywhere they had set foot in, they laid waste with fire and sword, and doubtless the dams and sires of many of the cattle and horses carried off in this war, had been stolen by the men of the Pale from the Ulster Irish. Poor Hugh Ogue never returned to Dartrey, but died shortly afterwards in Farney in disappointment and grief; rilled with mourning at his own overthrow and sorrow for the many friends whose ruin he brought about. On his death his son Bryan was " made" The M'Mahon by his followers, but was never acknowledged by the majority of the clans of Oirgial. The year after his proclamation he quarrelled with M'Guinness of Iveagh, and started on a raiding expedition with all the followers he could gather for M'Guinness's country. M'Guinness collected his forces, and gave him battle, routed the M'Mahons, and killed the unfortunate Bryan. His descendants and followers settled finally in the upper part of the parish of Magheross, near Ballytrain. Rossa, the son of Manus, who had been carried off from Lough Tigh, was "made" The M'Mahon, immedi- ately on the death of Bryan, and w T as acknowledged by all the clans of Oirgial. The descendants of Redmond continued to hold Lough Tigh, and to protect the town and monastery of Muineachan. The result of this unhappy war was to create an estrangement between Farney and Lough Tigh, which continued for several generations, and sometimes the M'Mahons of Farney were allies of the English of Louth, but were generally at war with them ; and when at war, the English sometimes made raids into Farney, and stole the cattle of the Irish, while the Farney men always returned the compliment with interest. But neither M'Mahon of Farney nor the English of Louth could HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF MONAGHAN. 11 make aDy headway into Lough Tigh, for the hills of Aughnamullen formed a barrier which protected Muinea- chan, and in the glens of Cremorne, the Lough Tigh and Dartrey men defended their property against all foes from the south. In the year 1508 Redmond's son, Redmond Ogue M'Mahon, was guilty of a sacrilegious deed which brought shame on the whole clan of the M'Mahons of Lough Tigh. He had some dispute with Maguire of Fermanagh. Philip (son of Edmond) Maguire of Fermanagh was on a visit with M'Kenna of Trough, and while Maguire and M'Kenna were assisting at Mass in Donagh old church, on St. Patrick's day, the M'Mahons sur- rounded the church and called on M'Kenna to surrender Maguire to him. M'Kenna refused, and M'Mahon set fire to the roof of the church. The priest addressed the congregation and invoked on them the blessing of God and of St. Patrick. Maguire and M'Kenna sallied forth, and after a determined fight, slew Redmond Ogue and many of his followers, and put the rest to flight. With this disgraceful exception, for nearly a century the power of the M'Mahons kept at bay both native traitor and foreign foe, until at last, all our countrymen were overcome, and the monastery of Muineachan was in 1540 plundered and destroyed by the Protestant English soldiers of Henry VIII. Of that terrible day we have little record except that the Guardian and a number of Friars were beheaded, and the monastery turned for a time into a British fortress. Tradition pointed out the graves of the martryed Guardian and monks as near the Holy Well, which was filled in, and covered up many years ago by the building of the Provincial Bank, on the North road. The British rebuilt and remodelled the town, but they do not appear to have enjoyed it long, for the M'Mahons were in full power and occupation of it some years afterwards. During the reign of Queen Elizabeth, about the year 1580, a family quarrel arose among the M'Mahons about the division of the estates of Rossa Buidha M'Mahon, who had died without issue, 12 HISTOKICAL SKETCHES OF MONAGHAN. and his brother Hugh Ruadh M'Mahon, the Tatrist or heir in an unlucky moment called in the English Lord Deputy Fitzwilliam, to settle the dispute. Fitzwilliam, taking advantage of the quarrel, seized on Monaghan, and placed a Sheriff and a garrison in possession of the town and fortress ; and because M'Mahon complained, he was arrested on a false charge, but the jury who tried M'Mahon could not be induced to find an innocent man guilty, and were discharged. Fitzwilliam then hit on a plan which has been imitated in all political trials, even to our own times, viz., of " packing a jury," who performed their work, by finding M'Mahon guilty, and he was publicly executed in the Diamond of Monaghan. This judicial murder following so vile a plot had the effect of sending several of the Ulster Irish into arms against the English, and to join Hugh O'Neill and Hugh O'Donnell, who were then beginning their war against Elizabeth. There is a small picture still extant of the Monastery of Muineachan, drawn in 1590, from which it appears that the site is near where the Convent Schools or Presbytery is now situate. The picture also shows M'Mahon's house on the Island in Lough Tigh (a copy of this picture has been transferred to next page) ; and also shows that the monastery was then restored and in proper repair. The discovery of this picture shakes all our previous opinions as to the site of the monastery, which local tradition pointed out as the southern side of the present Diamond. It is certain that a castle stood there, portions of which were used, up even until about 30 or 40 years ago, as business houses, and as we have the fact recorded in several of our annals, that the monastery was fortified, and that there is no mention made anywhere of the building of the castle, it is pro- bable that during the wars the monastery was converted into a fortress, and that tradition is right in fixing the Diamond as the site. Besides, the distances may not have been very well preserved in the old picture referred to, and no trace has ever been discovered of the Monastic ruins elsewhere in the neighbourhood. HISTOKICAL SKETCHES OF MONAGHAN. 13 14 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF MONAGHAN. Under the sway of Hugh O'Neill and Hugh O'Donnell, during the reign of Elizabeth, the M'Mahons became less factionist and more National, were united and fought well for Ireland. In fact, an English writer, while abusing them, says they were " the proudest and most barbarous sept among the Irish and do ever soonest repine, and kick, and spurn the English Government." During the war which followed the murder of M'Mahon by the English, Monaghan was besieged and taken, and retaken and taken again. In fact, it stood five or six sieges, during these heroic struggles of the Ulster Irish against the English. It was during one of these sieges that the English army under Norris came from Newry to relieve the town which O'Neill had invested, that the famous battle of Clontibret was fought in June 1595. I will not here attempt to describe that victory of our heroic ancestors. Suffice it to say, that the English were completely defeated, with the loss of some of their best generals, all their artillery, baggage, etc. The town capitulated a few days afterwards, and was held by the Irish until the end of the war in 1603, when the last struggles of O'Neill and O'Donnell ter- minated in a treaty, by which the English possessed themselves of all the garrisons, including Monaghan, out of which they soon afterwards expelled the Irish. The old Irish, who were driven to the hills in the neighbour- hood, appear not to have been content with this robbery, and made attacks on the town at intervals, the result of which was that the town and castle were deserted, and left in ruins by the English,who could not withstand these repeated surprises. About 1608, Sir Edward Blayney got a grant of the place from the Government, and rebuilt one of its forts. When the Lord Deputy visited the town about this time, he found only the fort, and about fifty huts occupied by soldiers, and everything else in ruins. A sum of money was granted by the King to repair the fortress, and in 1611 Sir E. Blayney got a grant of the markets and fairs. In 1613 the town was created a Borough, with a right to send two members to the old HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF MONAGHAN. 15 Irish Parliament. The first members, who were returned on 13th April, 1613, were Thomas Reeves, T.C.D., Dublin ; and Henry Conlie, Gent, of Monaghan. The Corporation of Monaghan, which was then also estab- lished, consisted of a Provost, twelve free Burgesses, and an unlimited number of Freemen ; a Recorder, and some other officers. All these have long since disappeared. There were very few elections during the 17th centuty, as owing to the repeated efforts of our ancestors to gain back our country, the English inhabitants had much more to do than sending members to Parliament. Queen Elizabeth confiscated the whole country, and Cromwell had the pleasure of re-confiscating a great deal of it ; for many of the recipients of Elizabeth's favour never got more than an estate on paper, and knew better than to come to Monaghan to grab land. Most of the M.P's. for Monaghan Borough, in the 17th century, resided in Dublin, and other parts of Ireland outside Monaghan, and probably never saw Monaghan ; but being on the spot where the Parliament met, they, no doubt, considered themselves much safer in getting elected by the filling of an official return, than by going to Monaghan to canvass for votes. The Civil War of 1641 affected Monaghan consider- ably, for one of the first conspirators was The M'Mahon, and when Owen O'Connolly got drunk and informed on the Irish Chiefs in 1641, M'Mahon and Maguire were arrested in Dublin, and brought before the Lords Justices, where they gloried in their plot for the libera- tion of their country. They were brought over prisoners to London, where M'Mahon suffered the most cruel tortures, and was ultimately put on the rack, and when no betrayal could be extorted from him, he was beheaded at Tyburn in 1644 along with Maguire. Thus died this heroic Monaghan man, a martyr for his country. His Christian name was Hugh, after his maternal grandfather, the great Hugh O'Neill. In his youth he joined the Spanish army, in which he rose to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, and was just the 16 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF MONAGHAN. class of man to head the rising, but wholly unqualified as a conspirator. The absurd and lying stories of massacres, got up by the new settlers and land-grabbers in other parts of Ireland at this period, did not affect Monaghan much, for these gentry were in too great a hurry away to manufacture stories, they knowingwell they were robbers, and not wishing to be caught with the stolen goods in their possession, appear to have departed at the first alarm. We find a few of them stating they had been deprived of their cattle, and making a long complaint of wrongs, containing as little truth as the modern claim for malicious injury of a boycotted land-grabber or emer- gency bailiff. When O'Neill took Monaghan, he hanged Lord Blayney's son in retaliation for M'Mahon's execu- tion. The pear tree on which he was hanged was pointed out in the garden where the old castle in the Diamond above mentioned stood, and was cut down about thirty-five years ago, by the man who rebuilt that side of the street. In an old map of the town of a somewhat earlier date than this war (a copy of which is on next page), there were but four streets and the Diamond in almost the same position as it now is, the south side of the latter being occupied by the castle, the gardens and pleasure grounds of which extended as far as the Convent Lake (then Lough Tigh). One street ran down part of Dublin Street, and was then, and for years after called Ballywollen Street, and the East Gate appears to have been about where the Misses Tierney's house is. Another street ran up part of the grounds occupied by Glasslough Street, and the North Gate was about where Mrs. Garrity's house is. The third street ran up where Mill Street now is, and the West Gate was close to Mr. M'Gurk's present house. The fourth street, which was the longest, came out of Mill Street at right angles, ran through where the Protestant church now stands, parallel to the castle and gardens to the Clones gate, where the lower gate of the Convent now is. Mill Street was afterwards further extended, and turning to HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF MONAGHAN. 17 ^Afc4z£^ cf Jooferfe. A. The Kinges Castell. D. The Fish pondes. G. The Gates. B. The Bawne being built all of stone. E. The Towne. H. The Diches. C. The Garden. F. The Market place. I. The Loughes. B 18 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF MONAGHAN. the left along the back of the Market house terminated at the lower part of Park Street. This street was for many years called Clones Street. There was a wall round the town except where the lakes protected it. During the gallant struggle of twelve years which followed 1641, Monaghan was not much exposed to the war. But Monaghan men fought well for Owen Roe O'Neill, and it was the divisions from Truagh and Monaghan whom he sent to intercept Monroe's brother coming from Coleraine to the Blackwater at Benburb. How well they discharged their mission, is seen by the fact that the Coleraine men never reached the Black- water, and the Monaghan men were back in time to take part in that glorious day when the power of England in Ulster was shaken to its very foundation. At the battle of Benburb, and all through the war, the patriotic Bishop of Clogher, Eiver M'Mahon of Monaghan, accompanied the army, and when Owen Roe O'Neill died, he was elected general, being the only man who could unite and keep together all the Irish of Ulster ; but, in 1660 he risked a battle with the English in Co. Donegal, in which fatal fight his army was defeated, and the last hope of the Ulster Irish vanished. Eiver M'Mahon was shortly afterwards taken prisoner and was executed at Enniskillen by an officer whose life he had preserved on a former occasion. M'Mahon was buried in Devenish Island, and no monument or stone was raised to his memory until his successor, our late patriotic Bishop of Clogher, placed a statue to him in the mag- nificent Cathedral of St. Macartan, in Monaghan. It is very hard to trace the descent of the noble house of M'Mahon, for those of them who did not go into exile, were absorbed into the peasantry of our country, and many a humble thatched roof in our county contains under it more noble blood than the whole of the mansions of our present county snobocracy. Some of the M'Mahon's names were changed into other Irish names, as will be explained in a subsequent chapter, and some were Anglicised. The descendants of Glushniagh, who was HISTOKICAL SKETCHES OF MONAGHAN. 19 killed in 1496, came through his son Redmond, who was married twice : first, to the daughter of O'Neill ; and second, to the daughter of the Geraldine of Kildare. By the former he had four sons, viz., Glushniagh Ogue, Bryan, Manus, and Toal ; by the latter, one son, Art Moyle. Glushniagh Ogue was the ancestor of the M'Mahons who always lived about Monaghan, and took part against the English in every war and rebellion that arose in Ulster, while the race lasted. Some went to Spain, some to France, and others to South America, while of those who remained in Ireland, the last of the family died in Monaghan about sixty years ago, and is buried in the old Parish Church graveyard, Latlurcan. He left two sons, one of whom entered the English army, and had risen to the rank of Colonel, when he was sta- tioned in the barrack of Monaghan, about the time of the Crimean war. The other son resided at Castleblayney until his death ; his children emigrated to America. Redmond's second son, Bryan, was grandfather of Hugh Roe, who was put to death by Fitzwilliam. Bryan had another grandson called Ross, who lived at Corfinlough, and is said to have been the great- orand father of Glushniagh M'Mahon of Ballybay. This Glushniagh had a son, Roger, who had two sons named Bernard and John. There is no descendant of Bernard now alive except his daughter, Mrs. Fitzpatrick of Cormeen House, Ballybay. John was a surgeon in the British army, and died leaving issue. Manus and Toal settled in Trough, and the M'Mahons who reside there, are their descendants. The six sons of Art Moyle, viz., Patrick, Rorey, Art- Bwee, Ross, Toal, and Redmond, declined to submit to Elizabeth after the overthrow of O'Neill and O'Donnell, and they settled on the south-eastern slopes of Slieve Beagh, where, amid its fastnesses, thev held their own against all the power of the English Government. From these six men all the M'Mahons of College Lands are descended. Most of the other M'Mahon families went to Spain and France. 20 HISTOEICAL SKETCHES OF MONAGHAN. The M ( Mahons who remained in Ireland assembled a regiment for King James, and fought at the Boyne, Athlone, Limerick, and Aughrim ; the muster roll shows thirteen companies of a total of 650 men, under command of Colonel Art Ogue M'Mahon, Lord Lieu- tenant of Co. Monaghan. He was killed at the siege of Athlone. Bryan M'Mahon and Hugh M'Mahon were the two Deputy Lieutenants, and Members of the " Patriot Parliament" for the County of Monaghan. The Borough sent no representative to that famous assembly. Lord Blayney was the only Peer from this County who sat in the House of Lords under King James, which seat he occupied as Baron of Monaghan. During the reign of King James II., when the Catholics got some fair play, the first act of the Monaghan Catholics was to restore the monastery, and collect into it the Friars who had been carrying on their duties through the country, at the peril of their lives. The Bishop of the Diocese, the Most Rev. Patrick Tyrrell, came out of his hiding and took up his lodgings in the restored monastery. There was great pomp at the cere- mony of reopening of the monastery, and consecrating the buildings, at which the Bishop presided. When William III. had conquered Ireland, Monaghan was re-occupied by the English settlers, and no Irishman or Catholic dare live within its walls. During the penal times God only knows how the Catholics of the country about Monaghan managed to live with the garrison in the town always on the watch for priests and Papists. During those long and dark penal days, the glen now occupied by the Corby Rock Mill, was the spot where Mass was generally celebrated. There were no roads or lanes through it as now, and a man always kept watch towards the town from Killyvane Hill, lest the garrison would surprise and murder the priest and people. This old glen brings to our minds two eras of our history. Its name betokens it to have been the property of the Abbot from Comharba (Coarba), an abbot or successor of a saint, and the Baughog of HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF MONAGHAN. 21 penal days, with the rough or damp ground for a floor, and the cloudy sky for a roof, where our brave ancestors worshipped God, and heard Mass at the risk of their lives. Priest-hunting appears to have been a lucrative occu- pation of the Loyalists in those days. For the infamous Penal Code contained a law, rewarding persons who informed on Catholic Clergy, etc., viz., for discovering on an Archbishop, Bishop, or Vicar-General, £50 ; on Priests, £20 ; and on Catholic Schoolmasters, £10. There are many traditions still extant of priest-hunting during these dark times, on only one of which I will touch here. There was a priest named M'Kenna, who used to look after the spiritual wants of the people of Slieve Beagh, and parts of Truagh. The government officials were constantly on the look-out for him, but always failed to catch him, owing to the careful guardianship of his faithful people. However, information was brought to Monaghan, that on a certain morning before daylight, he was to celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass on a Druidical Stone, in Broughan-Shee-Bragan. A party of soldiers were dispatched early in the night, and having proceeded through the townland of Eshcloughfin, sometime before daydawn, they observed the light of the two candles on the altar. The officer fearing to approach too close to the place where the people assembled, lest some of the scouts who always were on the " look-out" for surprises from soldiers and priest-hunters, would detect him, and that the priest would thereby escape, detached a good marksman and told him to approach within gunshot, cover one of the lights, and to fire when it was darkened by the priest passing before it. This command he executed, and when the priest moved to read the last gospel, fired. The ball passed through the priest's head. The place where he fell can still be seen in Bragan, and is called Lath-na-taggarb. There was a hole in the Druidical Stone, which some modern people say was caused by the bullet. This is manifestly absurd, 22 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF MONAGHAN. for the most modern rifle could not have perforated it in like manner. When labour began to get scarce by the emigration of the Presbyterians in the middle of the eighteenth century, the Catholics were permitted to come to work within the walls of the town, but were required to live outside in a place called the Pound, now the Pound Hill, where they were impounded after the nine o'clock bell rang. The custom of ringing the bell at nine o'clock, p.m., was kept up until recent times in Monaghan, to remind us of our former slavery, and is still practised in Deny, and other northern towns. Henry Blayney, Lord Baron of Monaghan, having sided with King James II. for a while, covered his estate with a mortgage to protect himself from confisca- tion, and the mortgagee of the Monaghan portions of his estate foreclosed, and sold the estate to a Williamite General, named Robert Echlin, who got the borough of Monaghan to return him as its member in 1695. Echlin sold the estate to a man called Cairns, and who was created a baronet (Sir Alexander). Cairns had one son (Sir Henry Cairos), who died without issue, and had one daugher, who married the then Lord Blayney ; and he having died without issue, his widow re-married a man called John Murray. The estates descended to Mrs. Murray, who had five daughters, but no sons. These daughters were married as follows : the eldest to Lord Claremont, who had no male issue, and while the estate was in her hands, she began to build her castle where the Monaghan Tennis Court is now. Before she had proceeded far with the building, she changed it into a farmyard, but died before it was complete. On Lady Claremont's death the estate passed to the second daughter, who was married to General Cunningham. Cunningham, when the estate passed to his wife, got the patronage of the Borough. In 1796 he bargained with Castlereagh for the two votes for the Union of the borough members. The price he received was the creation of the title of Lord Rossmore. There was no HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF MONAGHAN. 23 issue of this marriage, and on the death of Lady Rossmore, the third daughter having died unmarried, the estate would have descended to the fourth daughter, who was wife of a gentleman called Jones, who had one son, but both mother and son pre-deceased Lady Rossmore, so it descended to the fifth daughter, wife of a Mr. Westenra. Westenra belonged to a wealthy family of Dublin shop- keepers and tradesmen, from whom the present owners of the estate are descended. The first Westenra who represented the borough of Monaghan in Parliament, was about 1775 when he "kept the seat warm" for one of his wife's relations, " Fortescue." The title of Ross- more died with Cunningham's widow, but was re-estab- lished at the beginning of the present century. In the last Parliament that sat in Dublin, 1799, Henry Westenra and William Fortescue represented the borough of Monaghan. In Sir Jonah Barrington's " Black List," which contains the corrupt gang of traitors to their country, the names of Henry Westenra and William Fortescue appear as giving that treasonable vote which destroyed the nationality of their country, and wiped out of history our native town of Monaghan, for the old Borough was disfranchised by the Act of Union. At the end of old songs and ballads it was the custom to conclude with a moral, but what necessity is therefor me to add a moral here ; for such can be traced in every line of the history of our town, as well as of our own country. Faction, family quarrels, and drink have opened the gates for our enemies, and that the last betrayal was made by two of that mongrel breed, who, though nominally Irishmen, hate their country and their people, and bear not one noble or patriotic sentiment in their hearts. I must now conclude by hoping that lessons of the past may become our beacons of the future, and that if we do not gain much, we have lost nothing by learning the lesson of old Monaghan. 24 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF MONAGHAN. CHAPTER II. THE UNITED IRISHMEN IN MONAGHAN. In the preceding Chapter, the writer abstained from any reference to the United Irishmen's Society, and the stirring events at the close of the last century, as he considered the subject should be dealt with separately. For some years before the formation of the United Irishmen's Society, there had been considerable disturb- ance in the county, caused by party fights, originating in secret societies. The Protestants had different organizations, the principal of which was the " Peep-o'- Day-Boys," while the Catholics were dependent on the " Defenders." Many of the breaches of the law com- mitted by the Defenders were brought to light, and the members of the society imprisoned and hanged; while owing to the spirit in which the law was administered, hardly any of the Protestants were brought to justice. On one occasion, we find a Protestant body of men being brought to trial for raids for arms on houses of the country people. These men called themselves the "Ashfield Association," and resided near Cootehill. In their energy to maintain " law and order" they broke into several houses at night, looking for arms, but, in an evil moment for themselves, they raided in the houses of some Protestants on the same business, and for this offence they were forthwith arrested. The great effort of the United Irish Leaders was to unite all parties and to form one grand society of Irish- men, and this they succeeded very well in doing, under the circumstances, as far as the County Monaghan was concerned. The Presbyterians and Catholics of this county, especially those who resided in and near Glass- lough and Newbliss, joined and bound themselves together for the liberation of their country in the United Irishmen's organisation. The first intimation HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF MONAGHAN. 25 the Government appear to have got that people's minds were running beyond mere party or faction fights, was in 1794, when one James Duffy got excited in Castle- blayney, and shouted success to the French Revolution, and cursed the Duke of York, and the King's army. At each assizes held at that period in Monaghan, n ambers of young men were brought up charged with raiding for arms at night ; and in 1796, one James Moan, of Monaghan, was tried, convicted, and sentenced to be put in the pillory in the Diamond of Monaghan, for tendering an unlawful oath of secrecy to one William Gillespie, which oath is believed to have been the United Irishmen's oath. The pillory was a wooden frame attached to the steps of the old cross in the Diamond, and the criminal stood erect, fastened with his head through a hole in the upper boards of the frame. The people around used to throw dirt, eggs, etc., at the unfortunate prisoner's head. However, when political prisoners were put in at this period, at first they were received with silent respect, and this James Moan would have been similarly, received had not a man called Battersby, who resided in the Diamond, and who had some old quarrel with Moan, supplied eggs and other missiles to some childen, and induced them to pelt Moan. At the Summer assizes of 1796, William Armstrong and John Monaghan, of Clones, were indicted for tendering the United Irishmen's oath to Robert Gregg, stating that it was a brotherhood that all might join. From this on the brotherhood of the United Irishmen spread rapidly in the County Monaghan, and no amount of Government persecution seemed to check it. The principal leader of this portion of the County Monaghan was Mr. Burke Rice, of Leitrim, in the parish of Tyholland, a member of that family which, both before and since, has furnished so many patriots willing to strive, struggle, and suffer for their country. The United Irish Societies in the County Monaghan appear to have been formed into a Revolutionary Society about 1795-6, and the old inferior societies, consisting of about 26 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF MONAGHAN. thirty-five members each, divided themselves into sub- ordinate societies of twelve members each ; the secretary of each twelve members was appointed a non-com- missioned officer. Each five societies formed a company of 60 men, and the delegate of these five societies was appointed captain of the company. The delegate of ten of these companies was appointed colonel of the battalion, which was thus composed of 600 men. The colonels of the battalions in each county sent in the names of the three persons to the Executive Directory of the union, one of whom was appointed adjutant general of the county. Thus each county had its division, and each province its army ; and atone time there were in Ireland 500,000 members of the society. The whole County of Monaghan was well organised, and all were anxious to propagate the society, bat in this a good deal of indiscretion was exhibited; lor every assizes numbers of men were charged with tendering the United Irish- men's oath to others, who would inform on them, which ended in a trial at the following assizes, and sometimes not even there. In reading over the record of those days, one is almost led to believe he is reading of the present day, so similar are the names of places and people ; but, alas ! how changed are the politics of the degenerate offspring of some of the United Irishmen. At the Monaghan assizes in 1797, Thomas Armstrong, of Loughans, County Tyrone, William Armstrong, of Bloomfield (the house lately occupied by Very Rev. D. Canon O'Connor, P.P., of Errigal Truagh), and John Delop, of Grange, were tried for swearing in Thomas Hanna, of Killydonnelly, a United Irishman in Cussee. Thomas Armstrong was also tried for swearing in Samuel Longmore and Samuel Mitchell in Ballinode, while Thomas Armstrong, David Hanna, Edward M'Carney, and another Samuel Longmore were tried for a like offence. The trial broke down, owing to Thomas Hanna and Samuel Longmore not swearing against the prisoners what the Government expected they would swear, so they were all acquitted. But Hanna HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF MONAGHAN. 27 and Longmore were returned for trial for perjury. On the person of Thomas Armstrong, who was arrested at Samuel Mitchell's house in Ballinode, were found the following documents: "The Declarations, Resolutions, and Constitutions of the Society of United Irishmen ;" a written paper containing the following oath : " I, A. B., do solemnly swear that I will be ready to turn out in a short notice to support my former obligation, that is, an equal representation of all the people of Ireland in Parliament ;" and a printed book called, " A Treatise concerning the Lord's Supper." The certificate of membership given to the United Irishmen by the secre- tary was of the most primitive kind. On 13th April, 1797, at the trial of George Johnston, Clincor (Cloncaw), Hugh Meighan of Glasslough, and William Woods, Mullajordan, for tendering the oath to Bernard M'Keown at Glasslough, one William Murphy, an informer, gave evidence against Johnston, and produced the certificate given him by Johnston, when he was sworn in. The following is a copy : " I do certify that William Murphy has been duly elected, and having taken the test provided in the constitution, has paid. J. G., Secretary." The J. G. were Johnston's initals transposed. Johnston was sentenced to be hanged at Glasslough. The Monaghan Militia was called up, and as the Government began to find out the spread of the United Irishmen amongst the Militia Corps through the country, they were all removed to different districts, and the Monaghans were sent to the neighbourhood of Belfast, and were replaced in Monaghan by the Clare Militia, and in Carrickmacross by the Armagh Militia. These regiments were not long quartered here until the Monaghan men began to induce them to become United Irishmen. Owen Treanor, of Carrickmacross, was tried and acquitted for tendering the United Irishmen's oath to one of the Armagh Militia in Carrickmacross. One militiaman named Richard Thornton informed on Thomas Hastings for tendering the oath to him, and Thomas Hastings was tried twice — first time, a split jury, and second time 28 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF MONAGHAN. in September 1798, when he was convicted, and sen- tenced to three years' imprisonment, three times in the pillory, and publicly whipped through the streets of Monaghan. In the pillory he was received with all the honours of a patriot by our townsmen, and he suffered his corporal punishment like a man. The mode of whipping prisoners in those days was by tying the victim to the back of a cart in front of the old Court-house in the Diamond (the houses now occupied by Messrs. Crawford and Co., and Mr. Jenkins). The horse then walked down Ballywollen Street (now Dublin Street), and over the Pound Hill to a small suburb where St. Macartan's Cathedral now is, while the unfortunate prisoner's back was torn with the lash. One of the most remarkable incidents of the period is, that while one of the United Irishmen was undergoing this terrible torture, he never cried or murmured a complaint, though his torn flesh and blood spattered about the streets. Almost the entire male population of Glasslough, of all creeds, were enrolled in the society for the libera- tion of their country. It was an important town at the time, for between it and the neighbouring village of Tullyree (now no more) there was a full regiment of COO United Irishmen. The Government officials appear to have been in a terrible fix, for no informers of im- portance could be got in the country, and the only men brought to trial were those who would make a mistake, and tender the oath to some despicable traitor to his country. The name of Mr. Burke Rice appears to have been sent forward by the Monaghan colonels for the appointment of adjutant-general for the county, and some informer in Dublin or Belfast acquainted the Government, and the English Secretary, Pelham, issued a warrant for his arrest, and he was forthwith lodged in Monaghan gaol without a trial. The United Irishmen then adopted throughout the county the dangerous method of making midnight raids for arms on the houses of those who were not members of the society. The few weapons they got were not worth the risks they ran by HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF MONAGHAN. 29- giving opportunities for wholesale charges to be made against the country people, and the danger of leaders being recognised by those in the houses they visited. From all parts of the country men were tried at each assizes for raiding for arm?. It was for one of these unfortunate raids that Mr. Charles Johnston, the colonel of the United Irishmen of Glasslough, was arrested with fifty others, on the information of a man whose house was alleged to have been visited, named Alexander Byers, called by the country people "Weepy" Byers, of Drumgarroo, brother-in-law of William Murphy who swore against George Johnston. In October, 1797, they were tried, and some were convicted. Charles Johnston, Francis Carbery, of Glasslough ; Patrick M'Kenna and William M'Kenna, of Doaghies ; William Patterson, of Glasslough; and John Hughes, of Sillis, were all sentenced to be hanged. Both Francis Carbery and John Hughes were martyred for their country, and were executed at Glasslough on Saturday, the 16th October, 1797. Hughes had a funeral a mile long ; every man at it wore a red cross on his breast. The two M'Kennas and Patterson were detained for some time, but when it was found that they could be of no use to the Govern- ment, even though they turned traitors, which they refused to do, and some influential persons having interested themselves on their behalf, they were dis- charged. Poor Johnston was kept in prison for some months, where every effort was used to induce him to betray his countrymen, but all in vain. Ultimately, he was brought for execution to Glasslough, and even at the foot of the gallows he was offered life, liberty, and reward, if he would only inform on his comrades, but he again stoutly refused. As a last resource his mother was brought to him, and she was asked to try to induce him to become an informer. She boldly replied that though the sacrifice was great, she would never ask her darling son to stain his name. The execution was carried out, and thus died a hero of whom any nation might well be proud. 30 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF MONAGHAN. Warrants for acts in connection with the United Irishmen's Society were also issued for the following men, from the neighbourhood of Glasslough, some of whom were kept in prison for long periods, others were tried and acquitted, and many escaped 8 : — Neil M'Quaid and Pat M'Kenna, Aughaloughan ; Terence M'Kenna, Henry M'Quaid, Doaghies ; Robert Riddell, John Heatly, and William Davidson, of Ballynaman ; Pat Bradley, Clonhirk ; James O'JSTeil, of Tullydur ; Daniel M'Aleer and William Maxwell, Tullyhamagan ; Owen Smollen, of Leek ; Arthur O'Hare and Samuel Waddell, of Aghaboy ; Hugh Boylan, of Donagh ; James Crosby, Tulledin ; Arthur M'Quaid, John M'Quaid, William Bell, and James Anderson, Coolcollid; Pat M'Quaid, James Duffy, J. Simpson, James Moyna, James M'Kenna, and Samuel M'Kenna, of Lowart ; George Preston, Creighans ; Pat M'Kenna, Pat M'Court, Hugh Quinn, Thomas, Edward, and Patrick O'Hanlon, of Killyboley; Pat Donnelly and John Bradley, of Clonlick ; Pat Treanor, Thomas Duffy, and Thomas Fields, of Stramore ; together with thirty or forty others from the towns of Glasslough and Tullyree. One night when the Clontibret United Irishmen were at drill near where St. Mary's church now stands, one of the leaders suggested that they should " lift" the arms of the Yeomen in the neighbourhood. With this intention they proceeded to the house of one Boyd, in Kilcrow, where shots were exchanged ; and Alexander Stewart, Boyd's brother-in-law, was shot, and the arms success- fully carried off. Several men in the neighbourhood were 'arrested, but nothing could be proved against them, until one of their number turned informer, with the result that James Devlin, of Corkaskeagh, was tried and hanged in Monaghan on the 24th March, 1798. Most of the others escaped. Almost a similar incident took place in Tydavnet, early in 1798, when the arms of the Feomen were "lifted" by the United Irishmen of Slieve Beagh. The arms of one Thomas Brigs, of Itereera, were taken, and he swore informations, and had a lot of HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF MONAGHAN. 31 his neighbours arrested. None of the prisoners would inform, so the trial broke down, and the prisoners were acquitted. The following are the names of those charged : — Bernard and Denis M'Cluskey, Drumscor ; Pat and Jas. Lappin, of same place ; George and Michael M'Cusker, of Knocknalun; Owen M'Elroy, of Aughna- meena ; and Pat Sherry, of Feebagh. At the same assizes some Aghabog men, Andrew Smith, James Sullivan, James Finlay, and Pat M'Phillips, were tried and acquitted for swearing in United Irishmen at Drum, while Pat Duffy, of Annagoes, was tried for unlawful assembly at Newbliss. Pat Prendergast, of Lacklevera, was tried for inducing Samuel King to go to a meeting of United Irishmen at James Glenhorn's, stating that a worthy man from Belfast would be there that night. Several batches of men from Aughnamullen were tried at each assizes. Seven men, named Patrick Clerkin. Francis O'Brien, Francis M'Elroy, Giles M'Lave ' or Hand, Patrick Quilch or Hand, William Connolly, and Felix Duffy, were tried for taking arms from Thomas Woods, of Drumconean, and were acquitted, while Stephen Sherlock and Felix Duffy were also acquitted for raiding for arms in Lisnadarragh. Pat O'Brien and John Duffy were tried for collecting money for seditious purposes ; and Michael Coyle, of Mahon, was tried for using seditious words. From Tullycorbet, Richard Mooney and Pat M'Ardle were tried for attempting to swear in United Irishmen, and were acquitted, while John Knox and James M'Girr (short) were tried and acquitted for similar offences. The nearest approach to a rising was made by the United Irishmen of Tyholland and of the old town of Castleshane. A large quantity of arms and ammunition was being conveyed under an armed escort of soldiers from Charlemont Fort. The people got intimation of it, and arranged to attack and strive to carry off the arms and ammunition. The plot was cleverly conceived and secretly arranged, but the man selected to lead the carrying out of it, one Matthew Williamson, a hatter 32 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF MONAGHAN. from Groves, did not come to the scene of the intended action, and consequently, the men were not properly- posted, and many of the men finding this, returned to their homes in disgust, but the more determined re- mained, and one of the Rices of Tyholland stepped into the gap, and led the " forlorn hope." The attack was made on the convoy at the old road through Killaniel, with considerable pluck, but without any apparent plan, A short but determined struggle was made. Some soldiers were wounded, and several of the United Irish- men were wounded, and some few killed. The gallant leader, James Rice, of Leitrim, was crippled for life from the effects of gunshot wounds received in the legs during the fight. It is sad to think what might have been the result had Williamson kept his appointment. With the arms and ammunition so captured in their hands, the United Irishmen of Monaghan might have kindled "a living blaze" in their county, which would have shone as bright as Wexford through all Irish history. The parish and town of Monaghan were rather slow at first to organise, but once it was started it progressed rapidly. Perhaps it was thought better to have caution. The first members sworn in were principally Presby- terians, and the Colonel was Mr. Wm. Wright, of Dublin Street. There were only two Catholic officers, one was Mr. John Duffy (father of Sir Charles Gavan Duffy), but who Jhe other was, I have been unable to ascertain. Drill meetings took place by night, in different fields around Monaghan, but seldom in the same place as on the preceding night. The captain of one of the com- panies in the country part of the parish, was Mr. Michael Hughes, of Aughnaseda, uncle of Mr. James Hughes, the present patriotic proprietor of Milltown Mills. " An oath was passed against him," and also against James Hughes, senior (father of our present worthy neighbour), and against George Smyth, of Coolmain, and James Smyth, of Tirfinnog, by one M'Connell, of Lisdrum- doagh, for raiding for arms. They were arrested on a HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF MONAGHAN. 33 warrant, issued by Dacre Hamilton, brought to trial, and Michael Hughes was sentenced to long imprisonment, from which he escaped during his incarceration in Duncannon fort, just before the prisoners were bartered to the King of Prussia. In every county the Government had some strong supporter amongst the traitor Irishmen, whose hatred of his fellow- countrymen far exceeded that of any Englishman, and such a person was always the best instrument against the people. The principal mainstay of the Government in Monaghan was Dacre Hamilton of Cornacassa. His vile character has been so ably dealt with by other writers, that I will not venture to describe it here. It was through his instrumentality most of the United Irishmen were arrested, before him they were brought prisoners, and by him, in his capacity as a magistrate, they were sent for trial ; and he, being such a willing tool, was the individual selected to fill the office of High Sheriff of this county, in 1798. He was commander of the Monaghan Yeomen, and was one morning astonished to hear from the Government in Dublin, that the whole Yeomanry of the county were more or less impregnated with United Irish ideas, and that many were members of the society. At parade the following day, he called on them to abandon the society, and threatened the usual pains and penalties, but all were mute. He then sent for some of the men he thought he could most rely on, and interrogated them, but they pleaded ignorance. At the subsequent meetings of the United Irishmen they laughed at bow- much he was astray in his inquiries. He then hit on a plan of sending a spy to join the body, and convey the information to him. Here the United Irishmen made a grave mistake in admitting any new members into the society when they found Hamilton so anxious about them. The first or second meeting the spy attended, when the members were going out, a chandler named Francis Fleming, threw a potato and hit Mr. Wright on the back of the head, and a short altercation c 34 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF MONAGHAN. took place between Mr. Wright and those near him. The following day at the parade of the Yeomen, Hamil- ton again stated that there were United Irishmen amongst them, and called on them to come forward and renounce their connection with the society. All were as usual silent, and Hamilton, to the astonishment of the members, called out, " Frank Fleming, who hit Billy Wright in the back of the head with a potato V Fleming was greatly surprised, and boldly stated it was he, but added, that he might be found amongst fools, but never amongst traitors. This incident had the effect of dissolving the society amongst the Yeomen, and at their last meeting, their leader stated they would not meet again until the " word" came from head-quarters in Belfast. Mr. John Hamill, of Rooskey Mills (grand- uncle of Mr. Robert Hamill, of Rooskey), was the leading United Irishman in the barony of Dartree, and suc- ceeded in bringing many of his fellow-countrymen into the society, and it was discovered, to the horror and astonishment of the Government, and Mr. Kerr, the captain, that he had sworn in the whole troop of New- bliss Yeomanry Cavalry. One Thomas Bowes turned informer on him, and he escaped from the country, after an exciting chase through a bog, where he suc- ceeded in throwing two officers who were sent to arrest him, into a bog hole. Amongst the Monaghan Militia in the camp at Blaris Moor, the United Irish Society was discovered to have made great progress, and four of them were tried by Court-martial and sentenced to be shot, in the hope of either deterring the others, or of inducing the prisoners to inform. They were Daniel Gillen, Owen M'Kenna, Dheariugh ; William M'Kenna, Dheariugh ; and Peter M'Carren. Every effort was made to induce them to betray their comrades. Life and liberty were offered to them, but all to no purpose. The father of the two M'Kennas, who kept a public house at Dhea- riugh's Bridge, on the Blackwater, travelled from Trough to Belfast to witness the trial, and was asked to HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF MONAGHAN. 35 advise his sons to inform and save their lives, to which request he replied, "I can bear to see my sons die, but not to live traitors and slaves in the land of their birth." The old man stood by like a hero, while his sons and their two comrades were executed on Blaris Moor. Lord Edward Fitzgerald, when speaking of the scene after- wards, stated, " Were I M'Kenna I would not barter the sterling virtue of his noble soul for all the tinselled honours which the highest hand of power could confer." All writers agree in saying that the execution of these men, without any resistance being made, was the greatest blow the national party received. It was the first offer of the army to the people. The people failed to embrace it, and the link which bound them together was broken. Had the leaders the courage then to strike, the army would have been united with the people, in a great struggle for their country's freedom. But this grand opportunity was lost, and the very men who were willing to fight for their country at Blaris Moor in 1797, fought fiercely and bitterly against it at Antrim, in 1798. Martial Law was put in force in 1798 and a fierce and licentious soldiery were let loose on the country. Dacre Hamilton raided by day and night on the houses of the farmers. What the people suffered then will never be known, for no records were kept of the Court- martials. Many a poor traveller was cut down at night on the road by the cavalry. The lash tore through the flesh of many an honest Irishman, and many an innocent man was hanged by the supporters of law and order. All the while the people waited for the word ; that word that never came. It is very hard to trace the subsequent career of any of those who suffered or escaped in those times. Mr. Michael Hughes returned to his home some years after his escape from prison, and after the rebellion. Mr. John Hamill, after many adventures, escaped from Derry to America, and no word ever came from him. Mr. Burke Rice and Mr. James Rice returned home also, and died in their native parish. 36 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF MONAGHAN. When looking up some old journals of the subsequent years, I find the following lines on the death of a relative of mine in 1809, who was leader of the United Irish- men in Carrickmacross : — The Patriot's Grave. On Doohatty's rude rock sat the genius of Erin, When Sol rose to bid bleak October adieu, His cheering beam yellow'd the osier and fern, But scattered oak leaves hid the shamrock from view ; Awhile she reclined on her arm in sorrow, And many a tear to her harp string she gave; Then, raising her sad eyes endeavoured to borrow One view of her patriot seeking a grave. Bewailed as a child, as a friend, as a brother, She saw his sad reliques slow moving along, While the hirelings of sorrow felt real grief smother, And changed into tears the wild notes of their song. She summoned old Carolan, favourite bard, Attentive you heard the commands which she gave, Bear the Shamrock and laurel to yon lone church-yard, And leave them and these lines on the Patriot's grave. " Beneath this cold flag are placed the remains of Mr. Edward Carolan, jun., who, though born in Carrick- macross, lived and died a citizen of the world. He had, indeed, many virtues, yet he loved his country, and those who should be good judges declared it was a fault. Through life his friendship continued to all who loved Ireland, and his hatred to none (except those who be- trayed her). Th'e poor offered prayers for his soul, and the orphans were grieved for his loss. The religion he professed was edified by his last moments, in which he forgave the prosecution of these old men, who would never pardon one act of his youth. For him the proud ermine had then less terrors than the fleece of the lamb. But he lingered, and he died, and he wanted a grave, HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF MONAGHAN. 37 and the bosom of that country which he loved received him." The whole organisation in the county died out without another blow being struck for Ireland. It is related that some Monaghan men made their way to the County Down where they took part in the battles of Saintfield and Ballinahinch. After the capture of the Hoche in Lough S willy, Wolfe Tone and his French comrades were conveyed prisoners through the County Monaghan. They were quartered in Aughnacloy church about 15th October, 1798, and next day proceeded down an old road, 7*** through Grange, through Donagh, Faulkland, Knock- bwee, Castleshane, Clontibret, Castleblayney, etc. It is hard to tell why some effort had not been made to lo 1 • rescue Tone. He must either have been unknown to the people, or because they were without leaders, all of whom were then in prison or in exile. Some wise people now-a-days may talk lightly of the methods adopted for liberty by our ancestors then, but if such persons were in the same position as they were how would they act ? While on the other hand, many point to '98 men and boast of their being ready to take the hillside. Of course these fireside hillsiders can talk very safely, as they are quite certain never to be on the hillside except in pursuit of their ordinary peaceful avocations. It must be owned to the credit of our county that none of the leaders or men of position in the society turned traitors, and that the informers, who were few, were confined to the lowest grades ; and that, though jury packing was as ripe then as it is now, the Government found difficulty to obtain convictions, and the large majority of political prisoners were acquitted at every assizes. Those who were convicted either by the ordi- nary law or by court-martial met their fate bravely and died real martyrs to their country's cause. Large numbers fled from the neighbourhood. Some escaped abroad, leaving behind them a ruined country and a 38 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF MONAGHAN. lost cause, many of whom died broken-hearted and never returned, and their bones lie in far-off lands, while " The dust of some is Irish earth, Among their own they rest, And the same land that gave them birth Has caught them to her breast ; And we will pray that from their clay Full many a race may start, Of true men, like you men, To act as brave a part." CHAPTER III. NOTES ON IRISH NAMES. The nomenclature of the people and localities in Ireland has undergone many changes. Partly from ignorance, and partly from want of national spirit, many names have become corrupted, and many Anglicised. The loss of our national language has been the worst enemy of our national names. When Dr. O'Donovan made his famous tour through the country, correcting on his way the spelling of the names of most of the parishes and townlands, he wrote a number of important letters concerning each county. These notes remain in MS. in the Royal Irish Academy — those on County Derry being alone printed. They furnished to succeeding archaeologists and historians some material to work up the interesting subject of the topography of our country. But in dealing with our surnames we have no guide, and must depend on such information as can be obtained from Irish-speaking people, and from a careful examination of our annals. We should begin with a search for the names of the HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF MONAGHAN. 39 different clansmen who inhabited Ireland in the early years of the English invasion, and from whom most of the present inhabitants are descended, and therefrom start with our researches. It is surprising in how very few instances the original clan name has survived amongst the people, who most undoubtedly trace their origin to a particular clan. Within the Pale, where clansmen and Normans inter- married, it is not surprising to find whole districts without an Irish name. When, however, the same thing is met with in places where the English never got a permanent footing it is more to be wondered at. There are only two explanations : one, that the districts changed their populations ; the other, that the populations changed their names. The latter will, in most cases, be found to be the true explanation. Within the Pale, though many Englishmen settled, still the betagh, or small farmer, from whom the middle classes were in time recruited, remained Celtic, while the settlers, who consti- tuted the bulk of the middle class, were absorbed either into the upper or lower classes, or died out. There is nothing remarkable in the history of the rest of Ireland which would account for so great a change. In Ulster the original clan name " M'Mahon" has suffered most, though the disappearance of the name is of more recent date than is the case with most of the other Ulster clansmen. It seems as if the struggle to keep the old name only led to a more complete change when the change did come. We find, in fact, that long after the settlement of their territory (West Oirgial, or Monaghan) by the strangers, nearly all the people were called by the old name. Now, however, a small pro- portion of the present inhabitants of the County Monaghan can establish their connection with the Clan M'Mahon. In any district where many persons of the same name live, the inhabitants, for distinction sake, add an additional name to those already in existence. In Celtic Ireland, where the tendency is to adopt patronymics, most of 40 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF MONAGHAN. these distinctions are made by the addition of the paternal Christian name. When, therefore, three out of every five people in these districts bore the names of the old clans, every man when spoken of was called only by his own name and his father's Christian name, and while Irish was still spoken by the people, the prefix " Mac" or "O" was added. In penal times, and while the people were illiterate, the original name fell into disuse, and after a generation or two it was forgotten altogether. In this way we have many of the M'Ardles (sons of Ardle, or Ardgal, M'Mahon, O'Neill, or O'Donnell etc.) ; M'lvers (sons of Eaver, Iver, or Hebher; M'Mahon, O'Reilly, O'Neill, O'Donovan, etc.) ; O'Connor (descen- dants of Connor M'Mahon, O'Neill, or O'Donnell, etc.) ; O'Brien (descendants of Bryan M'Mahon, Maguire, O'Neill or O'Donnell, etc.) ; M'Dermott (sons of Dermott M'Mahon); M'Shane (sons of Shan or John O'Neill); M'Donnell or O'Donnell (sons or descendants of Dhonal M'Mahon, O'Neill, or O'Reilly) ; M'Rory (sons of Rory O'Cahan, M'Kenna, etc.) ; O'Connelly (sons of Connell O'Hanlon, O'Neill, etc.); M'Toal (sons of Toal orToghill M'Mahon); Ross (son of Ross M'Mahon, M'Donnell, etc.) Several M'Mahons changed their names to Hughes, Owens, and Donaghy, etc. The transition being M'Aodh M'Mahon, Anglicised into M'Hugh — the M'Mahon at the end and the "Mac" before Hughes being dropped ; while M'Oine M'Mahon was Anglicised into M'Owen and M'Mahon, and "Mac" before Owen dropped; M'Donough M'Mahon was Anglicised into Donaghy. There is a tendency in Ulster to add "s" or "y" to names which was very manifest in these instances. I am far from saying that all those who bear these names are descendants of M'Mahons, O'Neills, O'Donnells, or other leading Ulster septs, for there were clans bearing some of these names in Monaghan and the north, e.g. — M'Ardle, O'Connolly, and M'Donnell, and there were many patriotic Irishmen of some of these names from other parts of Ireland, who came to Ulster for protec- HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF MONAGHAN. 41 tion during troubled times, when this district was com- paratively free, while a few others may have settled more recently, but these latter are the exception. According to a recent Government return, it appears that of the births registered in the Co. Monaghan in 1890, represent the following names and numbers: Duffy, 38 ; Connolly, 36 ; M'Mahon, 33 ; M'Kenna, 32 ; Hughes, 25; Murphy, 24; M'Cabe, 22; Martin, 19; Smith, 19 ; Kelly, 18 ; Quinn, 18 ; Maguire, 17 ; Murray, 17 ; Woods, 14. Next to the patronymic we find used a matronymic, by which the mother's maiden name was used, e.g. — M'Bride, O'Dhowna. Again we find some distinction from the appearance, such as Roe or M'Enroe (Ruadh — red), M'Colreavey (Colreavey — gray), etc. ; and some from the occupation, Smythe (from Gowan, a smith), and Ward (from M'Bard, or M'Ward, the Bard), etc. In the barony of Trough, Co. Monaghan, we have seen the same thing happen to the M'Kennas, M'Elmeels, and O'Treanors, bat luckily for the prevalence of these names, the people became educated before they quite forgot the older name, and the addition only remained a distinctive mark, and changed with each generation according to the Christian name of the bearer's father. In a few instances in Trough the original names appear to have been lost. Some names in their Anglicised form bear strong resemblance to Scottish names, similarly Anglicised ; for Scotland suffers from North-Britonism, as Ireland does from West-Britonism. As examples of these we have M'Callum, Scottish, and M'Cumbhel (M'Cowal), Irish, Anglicised into Campbell ; M'Kay, Scottish, and M'Coey, Irish, Anglicised into Mackey ; M'Murray, Scottish, and O'Muireadhaigh (O'Murray), Irish, Angli- cised into Murray. The most disastrous change and most degrading to ourselves, and to our country, is the Anglicising of our surnames. Centuries ago the English " proclaimed" by law our Irish names, and our fathers then held fast to the old Celtic forms, but to their sons' 42 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF MONAGHAN. disgrace, be it said, we are losing fast the national dis- tinction indicated by the ancient surnames bequeathed to us. The M'Mahons, who crossed the Pale, and settled in Louth and Meath, became Matthews, Mahon being supposed to be the Irish of Matthew. Of the other changes some merely dropped the " Mac" or " 0" which was prefixed to every Irish name, such as Connolly, Conlan, Donnelly, Marron, Mullan, Mulligan, Kelly, Gormly, Corley, Brady, Boyle, Brien, HanloD, and Dermott. Some have made a change which is supposed to be a translation of the surname, but which in most cases is nothing of the kind, but merely some fanciful change, e.g. :— M'Bory to Rogers M'Gowan to Smith M'Gilly to Cox M'Girr to Short M'Ashanagh to Fox M'Quillan to Holly M'Atilla to Flood O'Cunneen to Eabitt M'Aree to King M'Quirk to Oats M'Geehan to Wynne M'Shane to Johnson O'Banane to White M'Loone to Monday M'Cullogh to Boar M'Eneaney to Bird M'Crann to Wrenn M'Brenaghy to Judge M'Adarragh to Oaks M'Corrig to Bocks M'Glashan to Green M'Uisk to Watters M'Kiltogh to Small M'Alivery to Winter M'Corra to Weir O'Duffy to Black M'Lave to Hand M'Scollogh to Farmer M'Bannan to White O" Some have changed from an Irish name to another more easily pronounced by English-speaking people, e.g. — Soraghan to Sullivan ; M'Sweeney and Sweeny, to M'Aweeny and Weeny ; Muckle-breed to M'Bride ; M'Cadden or Muckeedan to Cadden; M'Daide to M'Devitt or Davitt ; Cunnier to Connor ; Bryan to Crossan; O'Hara to O'Harran; M'Gill-Meehul to M'Elmeel, and M'Cormilla to Gormly. But by far the HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF MONAGHAN. 43 greater number have been Anglicised without any ap- parent reason for the change. Among these we find: — MAlinden to Lundy or Linden M'Killian to M' Allen, AIHsod, etc. M'Allister to M'Lester, Allister, and Lister M'Gill-Bride to M 'Bride and Brides M'Caffery to Beatty M'Carrell to Mackarell M'Carthy to Fortune M'Cawell or ) . n , „ M to Whitehead M'Canavan j O'Helan to Whelan M'Lenaghan to Lennard M'Manus to Mayneor Mains M'Quaid to Wade M'Sharry to Foley or Sherry M'Taghlin to Heuston M'Tague to Montague O'Foohey to Rush O'Malmona to Moss O'Muldowna ] to Downey or V or M'Gill Downa I Dawney O'Molloy to Slowey or Sloy O'Muracha to Murphy O'Neill to Nelson O'Hay to Hayes O'Cussave to Patterson M'Polin to Poland 44 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF MONAGHAN. M'Gilfoil to Powell O'Dreenan } " „,, O'Shearhoon to Penders or M'Skean ) to ihornfcon Prendergast M'Moghan to Vaughan M'Quillau to Holly or M'Avinchy to Vincent Goodwin O'Mournane to Warren O'Creagh and ) to Pea or M'Gilligan to White O'Raw j Wray Quilkan to Wilkinson M'Gronan ) M'llhone to Wood O'Ronaghan J to -Reynolds O'Parrican or ) to Fitz- M'Giltinane ) «, MacGillPatrick ) patrick O'Shanaghan / to tenannon M'Guagey to Hackett M Astoker to Stafford M'Bachal to Crozier O'Summachan to Summerly M'Enery to Henry and Summers Trin Lavery to Armstrong O'Claveen to Swords M'Beggan to Little O'Gormly to Grimes and O'Muldoon to M'Dowell Graham M'Quillan to Goodwin and M'Williams Within the Pale, and in parts of Munster, many of the betaghs took up the name of the first English lords, e.g., Fitzgeralds, Barrys, etc. Thoughts such as these naturally suggest the possibility of the restoration of our national nomenclature. Of course there are many obstacles — first, a great many people who now bear names which were Anglicised by their ancestors, and who would wish to have their old names restored, find themselves so much tied down to their English forms, in the number and variety of important places in which they have them written, that it is almost hopeless to think of trying. The best means to adopt is for the rising generation to add the Irish form between the Christian and surnames, e.g., two brothers, Patrick Smyth and John Smyth, might write their names Patrick M'Gowan Smith and John M'Gowan Smith; Bernard Rogers and James Rogers might write Bernard M'Rory Rogers and James M'Rory Rogers. By this means the English form might perhaps be dropped as the next generation grew to manhood. The registration of a marriage or a birth with both names would enable HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF MONAGHAN. 45 a name to be traced. The second great obstacle is ignorance, or rather, that sort of ignorance which is described by a " little learning," and which induces its victims to Anglicise their names because they think the Irish form is not respectable. To such people as these real national education has come too late, and the ouly hope in their cases is that the next generation may be better educated. The last and greatest obstacle is snobbery. This vice is rapidly decaying, but while it nourished it degraded our country more than Coercion Acts. The Irish snobs, a rapidly diminishing class, were never contented unless when imitating some Bodagh amongst the local landocracy, and never happy unless in the company of planters or the descendants of English settlers. Many a good old name and many an historic record was sacrificed to these contemptible pre- tensions. Honest Bryan M'Gowan's son should become Mr. Bernardo Smythe ; Fardoraugha M'Coey becomes Ferdinand Mackay ; Mogue M'Aree becomes Moses King ; while Bridget or Bridheen Murphy becomes Bedelia Morphy, and Sheelagh O'Lavery becomes Betty Armstrong. The only consolation we have is that Irish folks with these absurd names seldom make their mark or reach any distinction in the world. In vain do we scan the lists of eminent Irishmen or Irishwomen for Alfred, Ernest, Albert, Frederick, Alfonso, and Amelia, Maud, Victoria, etc. The explanation is simple enough. The parents who are capable of rendering their children ridiculous by having them christened by new-fangled names have very little of the stuff that men and women are made of to transmit to their children, while at the , same time they are incapable of bringing them up to fight their way in the nineteenth century. At the risk of departing a little out of my course I shall wind up this paper with the changes in Irish Christian names to which English equivalents have been given : — 46 HISTOKICAL SKETCHES OF MONAGHAN. Bryan ( to Bernard and i or Brandubh ( Bernardo Concobhar to Connor Torlough to Terence Dermot, \ Diarmid, I to Jeremiah and i Darby ) Shamus to James ( Owen Eoin to < and ( Eugene Aodh to Hugh Conn to Constantine Eachy to Archy _, , , ( Ferdinand Fardorough 1 Qr t0 ( Frederick Eaver to Heber Cathal \ Cathaoir L charles Canal, or ( Cormac ) {Shibby Betty Elizabeth T Tdy° r } t0Tim ° thy Fionnghula to Penelope Muirteach to Mortimer Ardle to Arnold Donough to Denis The derivations of some of the old Irish Christian names are very interesting. Aodh (pronounced Ee), signifies fire; Aongus (pronounced Angus), derived from Aon, excellent, and gws, strength ; Ardgal (pro- nounced Ardle), from ard, exalted, and gal, valour ; Shane to John Aimon } to Edward or [> and Eamon J Edmond t 8 g u h e 6eSh '} toM0 - ( Felix Phelim to < and ( Philip Art to Arthur [ Cornelius Niall to < and ( Neal Finian to Florence Manus to Manasses ( Roderick Eory to < or ( Roger Davoc to David ( Bridget Brideen to < and ( Bedelia Daunagh to Dympna {Susan or Johanna Feber to Phoebe /-% i_ f to Winnefred or •< Una ( Anne Ailbhin ( to Ellen or < or Eileen ( Eleanor Maev to Matilda HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF MONAGHAN. 47 Art, from Art, noble ; Bryan, from Bri, strength, and an, very great; Brandwbh signifies black raven; Gathal, from Gath, a battle, and all, great ; Cathaoir, from Cath, a battle, and or, slaughter ; Cormac signifies son of the chariot, a charioteer, from Gorb, a chariot, and Mac, sl son ; Gonn, from On (genitive con), a hound ; Gonall signifies friendship ; Conchobhar (Con- coo-var), from Con, a warrior, and Cobhair, aid ; Domioch (Donough), Bonn, brown ; Gu, a hound ; Dairmaid, or Dermott, from Did, a god ; Armaid, of arms ; Eochiaidh, Eochy, from Each or Eoch, a steed ; Eogan (Eoin) signifies a youthful warrior ; Feidhlim (Phelim) signifies great hospitality or great goodness ; Muircheartach (Murthagh), from Muir, the sea, and Eadhach, a protector, e. g., an admiral ; Niall, from Niadh, a champion or mailed knight, and all, noble. In female names we find JBebinn, from Be, a woman, and Binn, melodious ; Barrdubh, from Barr, the hair, and Dubli (duv), black; Feithfailge, a honey-suckle of ringlets ; Fionnghuala, from Fionn, white, and Guala, shoulders; Bredeen, a brilliant dart ; and Eileen, apple mouthed. There are some who think that nationality consists in hatred of our country's enemies, while others con- sider they have discharged their duty to their native land by toasting the prosperity of Ireland and hurrahing for the green flag. However, we must remember that for centuries our enemies have used every effort to destroy Ireland's national characteristics. In modern times the so-called National system of education, which destroyed our native language, has, under cover of the lessons which its earlier school books contained, sapped at the root of everything Irish. There is much more to be done for Ireland after trie restoration of our native Legislature than mere material advancement. There is hardly a national characteristic which has not been attacked in some way. The old Irish dress was suppressed by law centuries ago ; so also was the mode of wearing our beards and hair. Our 48 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF MONAGHAN. native music first, and afterwards our national songs, all suffered. Our national language is melting away, and with it are going our old songs, stories, and folk- lore, to be replaced by English music hall ditties, trashy novels, and "Ally Sloper" literature. Before it is too late let us make an effort to retain or revive our Irish names — some of the very few remnants left to Irishmen of older Ireland. Irishmen, the world over, should get together every scrap of evidence that might throw light on their ancient story, in order that we who are the heirs of that story may " recast for the future the greatness of the past." CHAPTER IV. LOCAL GEOGRAPHY AND TOPOGRAPHY. Our daily avocations often bring us through adjoining townlands and parishes, the names of which are com- pletely unintelligible to most of us, and over roads and lanes, about the origin of which we know little or nothing. Now our object in this paper is to show that there is a good deal of interesting local history to be obtained from a knowledge of the meaning of these names ; while at the same time, giving some curious information about the origin of the roads and lanes of our native parish; and though the subjects are not so interesting as those treated in former papers, still there are many things to interest us in glancing over the map of our native parish. In previous Chapters I have treated of the names of our town and county, and made occasional allusion to old roads ; in this I will treat of the topography of our neighbouring townlands and parishes, and examine more minutely into our highways and byways. First let us take the Ballyboes or townlands around HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF MONAGHAN. 49 our town. Mullaghmonaghan either means Monaghan's hill, or The Hill of " Muineachan." Rooskey, which means a marsh or morass, has probably lost some other syllables which would make the name more intelligible. Tir- keenan, Keenan's land ; who this Keenan was or when he lived is a complete mystery to us. Aghananimy, the Field of the Butter, from Acad, a field, and ime, butter. Annahagh, the kiln of the marsh, from Annagh, a marsh, and hagh, a kiln. Bellanagall, the mouth of the ford of the strangers, Belatha, the mouth of the ford, and n-gall, the foreigners. Carrickanoran, the rock of the cold spring, from Carraic, a rock, Fuarain, cold spring. Castleshane, John's Castle. Coolmain, Middle Corner, Cool, a corner, and meadain, middle. Coolshannagh, the fox cover, seanae, foxes. Corlat, the round hill of the monument, Cor, a hill, and Leact, a monument. Cor- nacassagh, the round hill of the keshes or little bridges ; Corness, the round hill of the cataract; Cornamunady, the round hill of the long shrubbery ; Drumbear, the ridge of the shaving ; Drumhirk, the ridge of the boar, Tore, a bore ; Dunsinair, Sinar's earthen fort ; Feragh, grassy ; Gallanagh, white marsh ; Killygowan, the smith's wood; Killy vane, the white church or woods ; Kilnacloy, the wood of the stone, or the stone church ; Knockna- turley, the hill of the dried-up lough (i.e., the Winter lough). Latlurcan, Lorcan's or Laurence's Monument. Legnacreeve, the Hollow of the Bush. In a hollow in an old bush in this townland was an altar on which Mass used to be celebrated during the penal times. In 1705 the parish priest, Rev. James Duffy, resided there. He was ordained by Dr. Tyrrell, Bishop of Clogher, in the reign of King James II. Liseraw, the fort of the fort ; Mullaghadun, the hill of the fort; Dun, a fortified fort, or fortified kingly residence ; Mullaghmat, the withered summit ; Rakeeragh, the fort of the sheep ; Ramanny, the fort of the monks ; Rackwallace, the Rath or fort of the sons of Malus ; Sheetrim, fairy hill; Tandragee, the hill of the winds ; Ban and Brack, white and D 50 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF MONAGHAN. spotted are added to distinguish the two townlands of that name. Tamlat, a plague burial ground ; Tiravray, the land of judgment ; Tully, a hill ; Tullyard, the high hill; Tullyhirm, the dry hill; and Tully leer, Lir's hill; Uribalkirk, the hen's tail ; Scarnageeragh, the shallow ford of the sheep ; Glasslough, the Green Lake ; Bally- bay, the ford mouth of the birch. The names of some of these places are explained by the appearance of the land ; others are derived from lakes, and marshes, and woods, drained, reclaimed, or cut down centuries ago, while others take their names from long-forgotten people and stories. In the names of the parishes, there is much more to guide us. Tydavnet, Teigh-Damnad — St. Dympna's House, called in Irish, Downa, Downey, Davna, and Davnet. She was abbess of an old monastery, which she founded near the old graveyard of Tydavnet, where a little church was built and dedicated to her. She had to fly from the rage of her infidel and incestuous father, who pursued her through Cavan, Leitrim, and Mayo to the sea, over which she fled to Gheel, in Bel- gium, where she founded another convent, but was discovered and martyred by her father. The late Most Rev. Dr. Donnelly got her appointed Patroness of this diocese by the present Pope. There is a statue to her outside the south Transept of St. Macartan's Cathedral, Monaghan, and a stained glass window commemorating events in her Jife, in St. Benedict Joseph Labre's Chapel, in the Cathedral, erected by the Very Rev. Canon O'Connor. Her Shrine at Gheel is much venerated, and visited by those suffering from mental diseases. Her Crozier or Bach all is preserved in the Royal Irish Academy. It was called the Bahall Dhownagh, and was used for swearing people on when disputes arose in commercial transactions. Errigle Trough — Trough means a cantred or district, and Errigle, a small church. St. Mallin was the founder. Donagh — The full name is Domnach-Maighe-da- HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF MONAGHAN. 01 Chlaione, the church of the plain of the two slopes. This church was founded by St, Patrick himself. Almost every place St. Patrick founded a church has Domnach (Donagh), which means Sunday, connected with its name, because St. Patrick founded these churches on the Sabbath. Tyhallen, Teach-Talaio, St. Killen's House—St. Killen was consecrated Bishop, and placed in Tyhallen by St. Patrick. Kilmore or Kilmoreacdhan, Cil-mor-Adhain— The church of St. Aedhan Mac Angus, who died in the year 534. Drumsnatt, Druain — Snechtha, the hill of the snow. The people of this district wanted a church, and they went to St. Teirnagh (Tierney) to Clones, to consult him as to the site. He told them to return, and pray that God would show them a place to build a church, at the same time ordaining St. Molua Mac Oche (M'Greough) their priest. After having prayed for some days, they discovered, on arising one morning, that the top of Drumsnatt was covered with snow, though all the sur- rounding fields were green, the time being midsummer. Now they took this so unusual occurrence as a sign from heaven, and forthwith proceeded, under St. Molua's directions, to build their church on the spot.* It is a remarkable fact that this is the only ancient graveyard in this neighbourhood on which the Protes- tants did not lay hold. Though the old church has long since disappeared — not a stone upon a stone of it has been left — still the graveyard has always remained in the possession of the Catholic people of Drumsnatt and the surrounding parishes. Tullycorbet, Tulach-Carpaith — The hill of the chariot, so called from St. Patrick's chariot having broken down here. * An attempt was made a few years ago to assert some private ownership in the graveyard of Drumsnatt, but it was successfully resisted by Rev. Thomas Duffy, then C.C. of the parish. Both he and the writer have a very special interest in the incident. 52 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF MONAGHAN. Clones, Cluain-Eois, Eos's meadow. — Eos was a pagan chief. Here St. Tighernach founded the great abbey of Ss. Peter and Paul, and in it he died on 4th April, 548. In this abbey was preserved the great relic known as"the Donagh," Domnach-Airgid, a case of precious metals which con- tained, in addition to many relics, a Latin copy of the Gospels in Irish characters, which once belonged to St. Patrick himself. According to some authorities, St. Patrick brought this book from the Pope, and presented it to St. Macartan on his consecration to the See of Clogher; while, according to other authorities, it was dictated by St. Patrick to St. Macartan, in whose handwriting the book is said to be. It is probable, if the front page could be found, it would contain St. Patrick's imprimatur in his own handwriting. The Abbey of Clones flourished until its lands, pro- perty, and buildings were stolen by the soldiers and favourites of Queen Elizabeth. Clontibret, Cluain-Tobraid. — The meadow of the spring. The church and parish were founded by St. Macolmag or Col man. The next branch of this subject takes me to the roads leading to and from our native town. Nothing is so hard as to form an accurate idea of the map of this district at any fixed date, for the roads passing through our county were being constantly altered, changed, widened, narrowed, or closed, so as to render it almost hopeless to follow the course of any of the older roads. The first road we find any definite trace of, was the old military road from Deny to Dublin. There is reason to believe it was made about the time of Elizabeth on the site of an older trade road from Tara to Derry- Columbkill. This old road entered the county over a ford of the Blackwater — called in olden times the Avon- more Great River, because it was the largest river in the district through which it passed — near Aughnacloy between Tully and Aughaderry, where the river is still fordable, passed close to where the "old road" now runs through Moy and Mullnacross, until it reached Errigle old HISTOKICAL SKETCHES OF MONAGHAN. 53 church ; it continued on to Monaghan. The present old road often runs in the exact place, but in most places it has been slightly diverted to avoid hills, etc. However, it is almost identical with the road past Lamb's lake through Coolshannagh, past the Barrack into the town. It left the town at James Martin's entry, over the Pound Hill, Gallows Hill, through Tirkeenan, to the north of Aughaninimy Lough, past the old parish chapel, through Ballynagaul, Drumhirk, Corness (where it is now crossed by the Castleblayney road), and passed over Carrick- anoran hill, into Tullycorbet. It is cut again by the broad road (to Ballybay), passes near Tullycorbet church, over the hills, until it descends from Drumroosk into the parish of Cloatibret. It is crossed by the Great Northern Railway half-way between Castleblayney and Ballybay, and near the same place by the broad road and the old road between the same two towns. It runs close to the east wall of All Saints' Church, and proceeds straight southward near Lough Eagish into Carrickma- cross. When the coaches began to run, it was found that these old roads were most inconvenient, both as to the hills and the narrowness, and alterations were made in many roads, and new pieces were added here and there. About the middle of the last century the mail coach from Dublin to Derry was changed to the road which ran from Castleblayney to Aughnacloy, almost over the same road that runs now from Blayney to Castleshane, through the main street of the old town of Castleshane, which ran from where the castle now stands, down to where the roads from Blayney and Rackwallace now meet for Monaghan, then to the right of the present road, near Knockbwee fair green, between Cam and Lis- carney, passed the "Hand and Pen " over the Black water at Faulkland, over the hill behind Faulkland ; is crossed by the Great Northern Railway near Billis National School, through the east side of Donagh, through Grange, until it crossed the Blackwater at Mullnahornbridge, between Mullinure (Grange) and Tully. The people of 54 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF MONAGHAN. Monaghan who wanted to go to Dublin had to meet the coach at Castleshane. The road to Castleshane ran through Latlurcan, behind Corlat, to the north of the present road, where it is still used as a lane, until it entered the street of Castleshane. Thus the old town of Castleshane became one of considerable importance. The people of Monaghan got a coach for themselves. It passed through Ballybay, passed Te Tappa Mills, through Dunraymond until it met the old Co. Cavan road, passed Liseraw, Knockaturley, Uriblekirk, Shee- trim, through Drumbear, over Far-Meehul bridge, which is still to be seen near the writer's residence, over Tully hill, and into the town between the Convent and the Lake. A good deal of business was done between Aughnacloy and Monaghan ; so the old road was im- proved and altered in several places, and Moy bridge built. It was about that time the traffic was turned into the village of Scarnageeragh, now Emyvale. The only road to the parish of Tydavnet passed from the town close to where it is now, until it leaves it near the Manse along the lane at the foot of Mrs. Deighan's fields, through Cornacassa demesne. There is a little bridge still standing some distance to the north of the County road between Gallinagh and Lisbristlen. There was no road past the end of High Street, but a footpath from Milltown, which was then only a small corn mill, and a few houses approached from the town from the end of Glasslough Street. The road to Clones went along the Pound, through Mullamatt, and over the hills close to the present road; parts of it are identical near Smithboro' ; the road to Glasslough began at Bally albany, where it turned to the east off the Aughnacloy road, and went by the back of St. Macartan's Seminary. This road still exists and is a good road the whole way to Glasslough at present. The way to Armagh was an old road through Knockbvvee to Middletown ; it left Monaghan to the east from the Pound Hill down Annahagh Lane, and along what is still called the old Armagh road. HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF MONAGHAN. 55 Thus were the roads when the Irish Parliament in 1777 ordered a survey, and from the completion of that survey up to within a few years of the Union, improve- ments were being made year by year, which rendered the transit of the mail coach easier. Amongst the princi- pal changes was the widening of the old Armagh road, and its being brought into the town where it now runs ; alterations of the Aughnacloy road, and the road between Castleblayney and Castleshane. For a few years before the Union the great scheme for making new roads was suspended ; but in 1806, by order of the Postmaster-General, the schemes were put to work. The first road started was to Clones, to accommodate the mail coach which ran from Enniskillen to Belfast. Portions were begun through Mullaghadun,Mullacroghery, Knockconean, and Tullygraham. In 1813-14 it was extended to Tullybryan and Brandrum. In 1822 the part from Brandrum to Skeagh was completed, and in 1825 it was brought through Carrowbarrow, whence the old road had been so much improved some years before as not to require a new one. The next road made was the new road to Aughnacloy in 1806. It was made through Dernagrew, Coolkill, Mullabrack, Legacurry, and Drumcam, in 1811 ; through Coolshannagh in to- wards the town, then through Mullmurphy, Killnadreen, Dernagrew, Coolkill, Tirnaneil, Enagh, and Mullabrack, forty-four feet wide. In 1811 an old road was widened, and new portions of the road made from Scarnageeragh to Aughnacloy, and in 1812 it was brought to Dheariugh's bridge. It 1805 a new road was begun to Glasslough by widening an old lane through Drumrutagh and Tully- hirm. It was continued in 1809 near Scroggy's Bridge. Some time between 181 1 and 1820 the road was joined to the Aughnacloy road where it joins it now. In 1820-21 it was extended to the Silver Stream, through Cavan- reagh, Croghey, Corbeg, Cavally, and Tyravera ; but it was not until 1834 that it was fully finished into Glass- lough. The new road to Armagh and Middletown began in 56 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF MONAGHAN. 1809 by branching off the old road at Cavanreagh, through Tullynure, Tullylush and Tehallan Glebe. It was con- tinued in 1815 through Kildoagh, Killaneil, Leitrim, Killeiff and Tamlat. Soon after it was joined to the new Glasslough road, and got its finishing touch in 1825. In 1810, when a good portion of the new Aughnacloy road had been made, it was thought advisable to make a good coach road from Monaghan to Castleblayney, and to transfer the Dublin and Derry mail to it, and the broad road was begun through Killyvane, Tamlat, Rakeeragh, Dunaldron, Carrickanoran, Beagb, Crosses, Greaghglass, Ardagby, Lisleitrim, Rack Wallace, etc. In 1812 the road was made up the Glen and along from the Mall. In 1813 it was altered to its present position in Tamlat, Dunaldron, Carrickanoran and Greaghglass ; and in 1814 it was altered to its present position in Ardaghy, Killyvane, Lisleitrim, etc. In 1813 the road over the hill was begun through Mullaghaduu ; and in 1813 went through Mullaghmore Crosses and Drumghost, past Raconnell until it came in on the old Tydavnet road. In 1814 the present Newbliss road was made through Tullygraham, Gortakeehan, Killycushil to back gate of the park, then along the old road to Killeevan, over an old bridge through Clonavarn, Drumaclan, Carnlough,Crumlin,etc. In 1823 the road toBallvbay was made from the new Castleblayney road through Corvoy, Cordoolough, Leggacurry, Mullan, Drummar and Corfad; and in 1824 through Drumcar and Braddocks. All these roads brought a considerable traffic through Monaghan, and in 1826 it was found that Glasslough Street was then too narrow, so a Methodist preaching house and an old school were knocked down in Mill Street, be- tween Mr. M'Gurk's corner and Mr. Hanna's corner, and the road made which is now called North Street. It joined the public walks behind where the Railway Station now is, but never was continued. The coach ran only for a short time this way. The old houses which partially blocked Glasslough Street have long since gone. In 1823 the road was made to Rosslea HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF MONAGHAN. 57 by connecting the Clones road with another road at Annyerley. In 1827 the present road was made to Castleshane through Killagnearly, Ballinagall, Moyles, Listrahegney, etc., until it entered the street of the old town of Castleshane. In 1828 the road to Scotstown was improved, and in 1832, '34, and '35 it was further improved, and the road to Enniskillen was considerably improved, and a great deal of a new road added through the long hollow., In 1830 — '32 the Clogher road was made. The last of these leading roads finished was to Keady, which began in 1832, and was not concluded until 1838. The Ulster Canal came in 1832. These roads brought a considerable amount of busi- ness, and some wealth and prosperity to Monaghan. But in the Fifties the railway came, and it has been drawing off all our industries, prosperity, wealth, and even our very people to such an extent as to make a true Irishman sigh for the days of the old slow coach. CHAPTER V. THE " After the failure of the United Irishmen in '98, the spirit of Nationality seems to have slept in our country, and during this sleep the Agitation for the Union began. Several addresses were issued in our county, pointing out the advantages of a Union with England. Every blandishment that could be thought of was urged on every class, in every county in Ireland, and Monaghan among the rest. But to the credit of our Protestant fellow-countrymen they almost unanimously went on the side of Ireland against the Union. The borough of Monaghan had already been sold by General Cunning- 58 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF MONAGHAN. ham to Castlereagh for the title of Rossmore, and its two members, Westenra and Fortescue, voted away their country's freedom amid the most contemptible gang that ever disgraced a nation. In every division these hireliDg traitors walked at the tail of Castlereagh. As it was known their votes had already been bought and paid for, no notice was taken of them either in or out of the county. But as to the county members, Charles P. Leslie and Richard Dawson, much interest was attached. They were both independent gentlemen, and faithfully represented their constituents. Mr. Leslie, like many of his family, was a silent member, but Mr. Dawson was witty and eloquent, and both in Parliament and out of it, spoke out like a true Irishman against the UnioD. In January 1799 several debates took place on the Union in the Irish House of Commons ; two divisions on 22nd and 24th of that month were gone through, in both of which the Government of Castlereagh was defeated, and in both divisions the members for the County of Monaghan voted against Castlereagh. A great meeting of the freeholders, all Protestant, of the Co. Monaghan, called and presided over by the High Sheriff, Mr.Hawkshaw, was held in Monaghan, on Monday, 28th January. Several hundreds of freeholders from all parts of the county attended, and an address to the two county members, thanking them for defending the liberty and legislative independence of the country in the House of Commons was carried amid great enthusiasm, with but thirty-three dissentients. The real leaders of the Irish Catholics had been all "banished or slain" in 1798, though a pair of Dublin Catholics, named Bellew and Lynch, took upon them- selves the leadership of their co-Religion ists, and negotiated with Castlereagh for the Union. But some Catholics in Dublin had the courage to hold a meeting, and voice the sentiments of their Catholic fellow-country- men. At this meeting, an almost unknown young man made a rather remarkable speech, condemnatory of the proposed Union. This young man was afterwards des- HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF MONAGHAN. 59 tined to lead the Irish race, and to leave marks on the character of his country which long years and the march of learning have failed to eradicate, and to write indelibly on the pages of Irish history his name — Daniel O'Connell. The Catholics of Monaghan had no leader ; the failure of '98 had crushed the manhood out of the whole genera- tion. We were not then, nor have we since, been cursed with a 'Cawtholic snobocracy, to form a body sufficiently strong to have any sort of representative voice either for or against the Union. So the voice of the Catholics of Monaghan for or against the Union was not heard. The Protestant voters of Monaghan remained true to Ireland, as did also our county members. During one of the debates on the Union, the following interesting speech was made by Mr. Dawson. It was delivered on a motion made by Lord Corry against the Union, and the strong points in it were made in defence of the Right Hon. John Foster, the Speaker of the Irish House of Commons, who fought hard against the Union. The " Noble Lord" referred to is Castlereagh. " Sir — I rise for the purpose of defending the country gentlemen of Ireland. I cannot sit quietly in my seat and hear that body of men, of whom I am proud to call myself one, treated with such illiberality and contempt ! Out of the House, or in the House, or somewhere or other — I dreamt in my sleep, or, possibly, I fancied in my cups — but sure I am, Mr. Speaker, that body of men who support the country and who support the throne, called a cabal, a faction, and charged with entertaining French principles ! Sure I am, that I have heard it said that they have enlisted themselves under leaders they cannot raise to their level, though they may sink to theirs. Such an assertion, Sir, is illiberal, unfounded, and untrue, and it comes doubly ungracious, proceeding from the quarter which it does. It should be recollected that 60 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF MONAGHAN. last year, when domestic rebellion and foreign invasion threatened the existence of the country and the consti- tution, we, the country gentlemen, rallied round the Government — round the noble lord, himself — and that we saved the State. What have we done, Sir, when the State has been a second time endangered, by worse than foreign invasion, or open and armed rebellion — by the folly, wickedness, and treachery of the British Minister ? What did we then, Sir ? We, a second time, saved the State — we rallied around the lawful and established Government of the country — we rallied to some purpose — we rallied with effect — we rallied, Sir, and brought back to Parliament the confidence of the people — (a loud cry of Hear! hear! which lasted a considerable time). We have been loaded with the pretty, polite, well-bred, and temperate epithets of dupes and gulls, and that we are connected with men who want to make instruments of us — we defy the voice of such opprobrium and obloquy — let it return from whence it came, and rest there — it attaches not to us : and, thank Heaven, the noble lord cannot accuse us of being connected with him, or of being his instruments ! Sir, I will, regardless of peevish and illiberal accusation, support the motion before the House : a motion which is calculated to heal the bleeding wounds inflicted on this country by the administration of the noble lord, and that of his master, Mr. Pitt. I say, Sir, I will support it if for no other reason than to give you an opportunity of vindicating yourself from the illiberal and insulting attacks made on you in the British Commons — (an enthusiastic cry of Hear ! hear ! which even many voices at the Treasury side involuntarily joined). And, Sir, this motion could not decently be resisted if orders had been received here from the other side of the water to muzzle you — (a long laugh) — that you may be pelted with impunity by the English Minister and his myrmidons like a cock on a Shrove Tuesday — (another loud laugh). But, Sir, I'll back with my life the Irish blood — the Union cow-feather is up — the Minister is already becoming a blinker — and HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF MONAGHAN. 61 I have no doubt we shall soon make him wheel out of the ring." Towards the close of the speech, the House was in such a roar of laughter, that it was impossible to collect what was said with such precision as to do it sufficient justice. The Union was carried by corruption and fraud. All the evil prophecies then made have been more than fulfilled, our country has decayed slowly but surely. Wealth and industry have gone long ago, population is rapidly following. The vicissitudes of places of worship in Monaghan are as interesting as any other branch of our history. For some time after the Penal Laws had been relaxed sufficiently to enable the Catholics to assemble for worship, they continued to use the Corby Rock Glen for hearing Mass; then they had a Baughog, or roofed Altar erected at the back of some ' Lone' bushes, a little further south, in the townland of Tamlat — the county road to Castleblayney now covers the exact spot. A few years after they built their first modest thatched chapel in Drumhirk. About 1780, the towns-people built a chapel at the back of the house, now occupied by James M'Fadden, Junior; and about 1790 the chapel in Drumhirk was destroyed, and the portion of the old Catholic Parish Church nearest the road was built. The town Catholics, who then began to increase in numbers and wealth, got better premises, and moved the Chapel up to the rere of the Diamond, just behind A. Brennan's. This incensed the more bigoted Pro- testants, who used every effort to get the Chapel removed back to Dublin Street or the Shambles. Dacre Hamilton was appealed to, and some well-to-do Catholics began to negotiate with him. The terms were, that they were to give up the Chapel in the Diamond, and he was to give them a lease of the plot of ground where the Provincial Bank now stands. When this became known, the bigots became greatly 62 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF MONAGHAN. enraged at rinding matters, from their view, only made worse, and they used every inducement to get Hamilton to break his contract with the Catholics, which he declined to do. They found that as old age was approaching, his bigotry decreased, while his cupidity increased, so they tried to frighten him by telling him he would not get his rent. This shook him at first. However, he said some of those Catholics who were negotiating with him, were well off; but when it was impressed on him that they were only trustees, his avarice and bigotry arose again, and he broke off the bargain. Soon after, pressure was brought to bear on the Catholics, and they surrendered the Chapel, the proximity of which to the Diamond offended the bigots of that day, on receiving an exten- sion of the graveyard at the Parish Church. Shortly afterwards, in 1824, the late Mr. Peter M'Entee gave a lease of a bouse in Park Street, then Clones Street, and the town Chapel was built. The foundation of the magnificent Cathedral of St. Macartan was laid on 21st June, 1861. Its completion and dedication are of so recent a date that I will not dwell on them here, except to state that the building has been described by one eminent authority, as a "dream of beauty," while an eminent Ecclesiastic stated that the dedication was the greatest ecclesiastical event that ever occurred in Ireland. The Protestant Episcopalians had no place of wor- ship in the town for many years. After the conquest of Ulster by Elizabeth's forces, the old parish Church of Rackwallace was restored. And in the reign of James the First a residence was built for the rector on the Church lands adjoining the churchyard. In times of peace the rector resided here, but when any trouble arose, he availed of the opportunity to leave the locality and draw his salary elsewhere. During the war beginning 1641, the Church was retaken by the Catholics, but they were driven out of it at the end of the war. A short time prior to this, the Protestants of the town used a room in the Castle for prayers. About the beginning of the HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF MONAGHAN. 63 ST. MACARTAN'S CATHEDRAL, MONAGHAN. 64 HISTOKICAL SKETCHES OF MONAGHAN. 18th century a Church was built in