County Donegal


COARBS AND ERENAGHS IN COUNTY DONEGAL

~ 12 September, 1609 ~





An Inquisition taken at Lifford in County Donegal the twelfth day of September in the year of our Lord God one thousand six hundred and nine, held before the commissioners named in the articles and jurors to directed, amongst other things, to distinguish the ecclesiastical lands from the lands belonging to the crown within the county of Donegal. The following list cover the barony of Kilmacrenan contained twelve parishes. The information contained for each parish is transcribed from the Inquisitionum in Officio Rotulorum Cancellariae Hiberniae, published in two volumes with the following transcripts taken from Vol. 2, Appendix, V Donegal. It is supplemented by the notes of P � Gallachair, who compiled a brief study on the coarbs and erenaghs of Donegal. Only the barony of Kilmacrenan is covered here.


BARONY OF KILMACRENAN

Clondavadog Parish

INQUISITION. And further, the said jurors doe uppon their oathes say and present, that in the baronie of Kilmackenenan, are the severall parishes, ensuinge, viz. the parishe of Clandowaddoge, conteyninge in all, twelve ballibetaghes, whereof there are fower quarters of herenagh land, and that the herenagh thereof is the sept of Mointerhernes, payinge thereout yerelie to the busshop of Raphoe, fortie shillinges, Ir. rent, and out of the buhopp�s thirds of the tiethes there, fortie shillings, Ir. pencion, per annum; and the herenaghes tenantes have foure and twentie gorts, or small parcells of land free to themselves, devided equallie uppon the said fower quarters, whereof everie one of the said tenantes are apporcionablie free as they severallie hold the said gorts; and that in the said parishe are twelve gortes more, lvinge twoe myles from the church named, which are free to the herenagh: and the said jurors alsoe say upon their oathes, that all the said landes were, longe befo,re the tyme of any busshop, given to the saint O�Woddog, and that M�Swyney Fanagh, had auncientlie out of three of the said quarters, fower meathers of butter everie yere yf the land were inhabited; and further they say that in the said parishe is both a parson and a viccar, whoe pay unto the said busshop of Raphoe, eight shillinges, Irish, a peece, proxies, and that the tiethes of the said parishe are all paid in kynde, one third parte to the parson, one other third parte to the viccar, and the other third parte to the herenagh, and they to repaire and mainteyne the parishe church equallie as before; and that there belonge to the said parson and viccar twelve gorts of glebe equallie to be devided betwixt them.

GALLACHAIR. The Mointerhernes (O�Herrins) had four quarters here as erenaghs.


Killygarvin Parish

INQUISITION. And alsoe the parishe of Kilgarvane, conteyninge in temporall landes twoe ballibets and that in the said parishe is a chappell without any glebe belonginge thereunto, save onely one small gort, which hath bene converted to a church-yarde; and they further say that the deane of Raphoe is parson and viccar thereof, in right of his deanrie, and paieth proxies to the busshop of Raphoe for his parsonage as parte of his whole deanry, for which he paieth foure poundes, thirteene shillings and foure pence, Irish, to the busshop, per annum; and that the tiethes here are all paid in kynde, two third parts to the said deane as parson and vicar there, and the other third parte to the bushopp of Raphoe; and that the said bushop is to beare one third parte of the chardge in repairinge and mainteyninge the parish church, and the said deane the oter twoe third parts of the chardge; and that there is one gorte of glebe belonginge to the said viccarrage: and the said jurors further say uppon their oathes, that in the said parishe is one quarter, and a third parte of a quarter called Ramollan, belonginge to the late dissolved abbay of Ramollan.

GALLACHAIR. There appears to have been no erenagh in this parish.


Tullyfern Parish

INQUISITION. And they further say that in the said baronie is alsoe the parishe of Tullaghfurny, contain in the whole eight ballibetaghes has of which there are foure quarters of church land, whereof mointermollegan is the herenagh, payinge thereout yerelye to the busshop fower markes, Irish, per annum and thirtie twoe meathers of butter, and a hundred and eight meathers of meale yerely, according to the inhabitinge of the said land; and that there are alsoe sixe and thirtie free gorts equallie devided amongest the tenantes; and that there are alsoe twelve other free gorts belonginge to the busshop of Raphoe�s officiall, for which the said herenagh paieth to the said officiall, the rent of twelve pence per annum, and fortie shillings yerely penscon to the said busshop for the thirds of his tiethes, and that here is both a parson and a viccar, whoe paie eight shillinges le peece proxies to the busshop, per annum; and that the tiethes are all paied in kynde, one third parte to the parson, another third parte to the viccar, and the other third parte to the herenagh; and they to mainteyne and repaire the parishe church, equallie, as before, and that there are alsoe eight gort of gleabe, whereof foure gorts belonge to the said parson, and the other foure gorts to the vicar.

GALLACHAIR. Mointremollegan (Mulligans) were erenagh sept with four quarters. They were evidently an old Cineal Conaill sept � siol meanmach Maolagan � who ruled their own territory here in the Middle Ages.


Aghnish Parish

INQUISITION. And the said jurors further saie and present, that in the said baronie, is alsoe the parishe of Aghnis, conteyninge in all foure ballibetaghcs, of which there are two quarters of church land whereof Clanmogomell is the herenagh, and paies thereout yerely to the lord busshop of Raphoe the rent of twentie six shillinges, Irish, per annum, sixteene meathers of butter, and threescore and foure meathers of meale, and out of the busshop�s thirdes of his tiethes, there the yerely penscon of twentie six shillinges and eight pence, Irish; and that there is alsoe, both a parson and a viccar, whoe pay foure shillinges a peece, proxies to the said busshop, per annum, and that tie tiethes are alsoe all paid in kynde, the one thirde parte to the parson, another third parte to the viccar, and thother third parte to the herenagh, and they to mainteyne and repaire the parishe church at their equall chardge as before: and that there are alsoe twoe gorts of glebe belonginge to the parson, and twoe other gorts of glebe to the viccar: and the said jurors doe further say, uppon their oathes, that there is in the said parishe of Aghnis, a monasterie and three quarters of land thereunto belonginge, named Killodonell, now in the tenure of capten Bassill Brookes, and that the tiethes and dueties thereof have bene aunticntlie paid to the said herenagh, parson, and viccar of Aghnis.

GALLACHAIR. Two quarters of land were here assigned to the erenagh family of Clanmogennell or Clann Mhic Dh�naill (MacDonnells).


Kilmacrenan Parish

INQUISITION. And further, the said jurors, doe upon their oathes say, that in the said barony is the parishe of Kilmacaenan, conteyninge eight ballibetaghes neere the abbay of Kilmacknenan, unto which parish there is noe herenagh land belonginge, and that in the said parishe is both a parson and a viccar whoe paie unto the busshopp of Raphoe eight shillings, Irish, proxies, paid annum; and that the whole tiethes are paid in kynde, one third parte to the parson, another third parte to the viccar, and thother third parte to the said busshop of Raphoe, and that they are to repaire and mainteyne the parishe church equallie as before; and there are twoe gorts of glebe belonginge to the parson, and two to the viccar; and further, the said jurors doe uppon their oathes say and present, that in the said parishe are two quarters of land, the one called busshop�s court, uppon which the busshop ought to dwell himself, and the other called Portelemagh which hath auncientlie bene inhabited by the sept of Owen sallagh O�Doniil, payinge thereout, yerely to the busshop of Raphoe, the rent of six shillinges and eight pence per annnum; and that in the said parishe alsoe are four more quarters of land belonginge to the said abbay, auncienthe given to the Franciscan friers there, nowe in the possession of Nicholas Weston.

GALLACHAIR. In this parish �there is noe herenagh land belonging�, according to the jurors of 1609. The bishop lived in the quarter of the land at Court (originally Bishop�s Court) and on another quarter of bishop�s land, in Portleen, the sept of Owen Salach O�Donnell �auncientlie inhabited�. But we are not told if they were erenaghs or not.


AGHNAHUNCHIN PARISH

INQUISITION. And alsoe the said jurors doe further say, upon their oathes that in the said barony is alsoe the parishe of Agehonchin, conteyninge, in toto, seaven quarters, (whereof one quarter is mensal land in the tenure of Mointercally whoe paith to the bishop thirteen shillinges and foure pence, and thirtie twoe meathers of meale per annum, and out of the busshop�s thirds of the tithes there, thirteene shillinges and foure pence per annuml, and they alsoe say that the busshop of Raphoe is both parson and vicar in this parish, and that the busshop�s proxies there, is foure shillinges irish the peece, from the parson and the vicar, and that in right thereof he receaveth and taketh upp twoe third partes of the tithes in kynde, the other third parte being paid to Mointercally aforesaid, and that the busshop is to beare twoe third partes of the chardge ln repairing and maynteininge the parish church, and Mointetrcally the other third parte; and that the said busshop is to mainteyne a curate there, unto whom there is belonginge one gorte of glebe.

GALLACHAIR. Mointercally (Kellys) with one quarter of land were erenaghs here.


CONWALL PARISH

INQUISITION. And that in the said barony also, is this parish of Conwale, conteyninge in all, eleven ballihetaghes, whereof foure quarters are herenagh land, inhabited by foure several tennantes, payinge thereout, yearly unto the lord busshop of Raphoe, fiftie shillinges per annum: and alsoe payinge unto the said busshop out of three of the said quarters, twenty foure meathers of butter, and fowerscore an sixteen meathers of meale per annum, over and besides the rent aforesaid; and that the fourth quarter named O�Boninnee is free from all duties payinge to the said busshop six shillinges and eight pence rent, per annum, and they also say, that the sept which holdeth the said quarter free, is the sept of Cormock boy O�Gallochor, and that the sept of Muntereis are the herenaghes of one of the foure quarters, called Tullaghyear, and pay to the said busshop of Raphoe, for his thirds of the tithes, fortie shillings pencion per annum; and that there is also within the said parish, one half quarter of land more, called Killaugheg, which is free land, the tennantes whereof are the Munterhassidies, payinge the rent of six shillings and eight pence Irish, per annum, to the busshop of Raphoe, without any other impositions; and also the said jurors, say upon their oathes, that there is alsoe a chappell called Tolloughooglasse within the said parish, and twelve gortes or acres offree land to the said chapel belonginge, out of which there is paid yearly to the O�Freelies some rent unknowen to the said jurors, which is the corbe of Killmacrenan; and further, the said jurors doe, uppon their oathes, say and present, that out of the said four quarters of church land in the said parish, O�Donnell had, tyme out of mynd, eighteen meathers of butter, and eighteen meathers of meale, cosheringe; and they alsoe say, uppon their oathes, that in the said parish is a parson and vicar, and that the tithes are paid in kynd, one third parte to the parson, another third parte to the vicar, and the other third part to the said herenagh; and they, to repair and maynteyne the parish church equallie att their chardge, as before; and that to the said parson and vicar three gortes of glebe, equallie to be divided betwixt them.

GALLACHAIR. Four quarters of land here were held by four separate erenagh families: Sliocht Chormac Bui O�Gallagher, Muntereis (probably Muintir Aonghusa or McGuinness), Munterhassidies (Cassidys) and O�Friel, the Coarb of Kilmacrenan.


GARTAN PARISH

INQUISITION. And the said jurors, doe say, upon their oathes, that in the said barony is also the parish of Gartan, conteyninge in all twoe ballibetaghes, of which there are foure quarters of termon land, (whereof O�Nahan is both herenagh and corbe,) whoe paid unto the busshop of Raphoe, yearly out of the said land, seaven shillinges rent per annum, and out of the busshop�s third parte of the tiethes there seven shillings, Irish, per annum, and that here is both a parson and a viccar whoe pay foure shillings lrish, a peece, proxies per annum; and that the tithes are aid in kynde, one third parte to the parson, one third parte to the viccar, and another third parte to the herenagh, and they to repaire and maintayne the parishe church at their owne chardges equallie as before; and they alsoe, say that there are six gorts of glebe, whereof twoe gorts belonge to the parson, twoe other gorts to the viccar, and the twoe other gorts to the said O�Nahan, whoe carrieth Collumkillies read stoane; and that the said busshop did, after the death of O'Nahan, institute another in that place.

GALLACHAIR. O�Hahan (Nawn) is both coarb and erenagh here and holds four quarters. He has two further gorts because he �carrieth Collumkillie�s read stone�. This was the miraculous red stone mentioned in Betha Colaim Chille by Manus O�Donnell (ed. A. O�Kelleher & Scheopperle) pp. 38-9.


CLONAHORKY PARISH

INQUISITION. And the said jurors, doe further say, that in the said barony, is the parishe of Clandaholka, conteyninge in all nyne ballibetaghes, whereof there is one quarter of herenagh land enjoyed by the herenagh O�Mulgeegh, whoe paies thereout unto the said busshop of Raphoe, thirteen shillings and four pence, Irish, per annum; and out of the busshop�s thirds of the tiethes there, thirtie three shillings and four pence, Irish pencion; and the said jurors further say, that there is in the said parishe one third part of a quarter, called Marfaugh, belonginge to the said busshop of Raphoe, out of which is paid to the said busshop of Raphoe, foure shillinges rent, per annum; and auncientlie inhabited by the sept of O�Boiies; and the said jurors also say, that the Mc. Swynes had aunciently paid unto them out of the said quarter of Marfugh, foure madders of butter, and eight meathers of meale, cosheringe, whereof in the tyme of the nowe lord busshop of Raphoe nothing hath bene paid, and that within the said parishe, about three myles from the church, there is a chappell ruinated with seaven gorts of free land thereuto belonginge, called Clonveg, and that the tenants thereof paid to the parson of Clondahalka, twoe shillinges and four pence, per annum; and they also say, that in the said parishe is both a parson and viccar whoe pay eight shillinges, Irish, proxies to the busshop; and that the thithes are all paid in kynde, one third parte to the parson, another parte to the viccar, and the other third parte to the herenagh; and they to repaire and mainteyne the parishe church att their equal chardges as before, and that to the said parson and vicar belonge foure gorts of glebe, to be equallie devided; and further, the said jurors, say that there are also twoe quarters of land belonginge to the late abbay of BallymcSwyne Odoe, beside Doe castle, the tiethes and casualties, whereof are devided betweene the said parishe of Clondahalka, and the parishe Kilm�crenan.

GALLACHAIR: One quarter of land is held here by the erenagh, O�Mulgeegh, probably Magee. This was an old Cineal Chonaill surname, for Muintear Mhaoil Ghaoithe were an important ruling sept in medieval Tir Chonaill.


MEEVAGH PARISH

INQUISITION. And that in the said barony is alsoe the parishe of Mevaugh, conteyninge five ballibetaghs, whereof there is one quarter of church land enjoyed by the sept of the O�Nolans, as auntient herenaghes of that place, paying to the said busshop of Raphoe, thirteen shillinges and four pence Irish, per annum, and also paying out of the busshop�s thirds of the tiethes, twentie shillings, Irish, pencion per annum; and that in the said parishe is both a parson and a vicar, whoe paie three shillinges, Irish, a peece, proxies to the said busshop of Raphoe, and that tiethes are paid in kynde, one third parte to the parson, another third parte to the viccar, and the other third parte to the herenagh, and they to repair and maintayne the parishe church equallie as before, and that to the said parson and viccar belonge twoe gorts of glebe land to be equallie divided; and they alsoe say, that in the said parishe are sixe gorts of free land called Kinelargie, the proprietors whereof paid yerely to the officiall of Raphoe twoe shillings per annum, an there is alsoe one chappell,with half a quarter of land thereunto belonging called Druin, which properlie belonged to the Franciscan ffriers of Killmacrenan, and paid auntiently to the said ffriars, thirteen shillings per annum, out of which half quarter of land the Mc. Swines challenged foure meathers of butter and eight meathers of meale, coshering.

GALLACHAIR: One quarter of churchland here was held by the erenagh, O�Nolan.


RAYE PARISH

INQUISITION. And the said jurors further say, uppon their oathes, that in the barony is alsoe the parishe of Raimontredony, conteyninge in all twoe ballibetaghes, whereof one quarter is church land enjoyed by Clanmckilbridey as auncient herenagh of that place, out of which he paid to the busshop of Raphoe thirteen shillinges and foure pence per annum, and that out of the busshop�s thirds of the tiethes there, he the said herenagh alsoe paid to the said busshop sixe shillinges and eight pence Ir. per annum: and that in the said parishe is both a parson and vicar who paie to the said busshop of Raphoe foure shillinges le peece proxies, and that the tiethes of the said parishe are alsoe paid in kynde, one third parte to the parson, another third parte to the viccar, and the other third parte to the herenagh, and they are to repaire and mainteyne the parishe church att their equall chardges as before, and that there are foure foure gorts of glebe land belongingly to the parson and viccar.

GALLACHAIR: Clanmckilbridey (Clann Mhic Ghiolla Bhr�de or MacBrides) were erenaghs here with one quarter of church land. �Notes and Queries� show this family were an O�Doherty offshoot.


TULLAGHABEGLEY PARISH

INQUISITION. And the said jurors further say, that in the said barony is alsoe the parishe of Tulloghbegely, conteyninge in all three ballibetaghes, whereof one quarter is church land enjoyed by Clanmckiltreddy as auncient herenagh of that place, payinge thereont yerely to the said busshop of Raphoe thirteene shillings and foure pence Ir. rent per annum, and out of the bushop's thirds of the tiethes there thirteene shillinges and foure pence Ir. pencion per annum and there is alsoe both a parson and viccar whoe paid foure shillinges proxies le peece per annum unto the said busshop of Raphoe, and that the tiethes of the said parishe are paid in kynde, one third part to the parson, another third parte to the viccar, and the other third parte to the herenagh and they to mainteyne and repaire the parishe church at their chardge equallie as before, and that there are foure gorts of glebe land belonginge to the said parson and viccar.

GALLACHAIR: The Mac Giolla Bhr�de family also provided erenaghs here to one quarter.


TORRY ISLAND

INQUISITION. And the said jurors further say, that in the said baronie is the island of Torro, conteyninge twoe quarters of termon land, (whereof O�Rohertye is both herenagh and corbe) payinge thereout to the said busshop of Raphoe seven shillinges lr. per annum, and alsoe for everie balliboe inhabited fortie tercian madders of maulte and thirtie yards of brackan cloath of their owne makinge soe thin as beinge laid uppon the grounde the grasse might appeare through the same, and that the said O�Rohertie beinge deade, the busshop is to institute one of his sept in that place; and they alsoe say, that in the parish of Torra is both a parson and viccar, and that the said viccar hath one free gorte of glebe, and paieth to the busshop twoe shillings proxies, but for the proxies paid to the parson the said jurors refer themselves to the busshop�s register; and further, they say that the tiethes of this parishe are paid in kynde, one third parte to the parson, another third parte to the viccar, an the byshop�s third parte to the herenagh, out of which third parte the said herenagh paieth to the said busshop sixe shillinges and eight pence, pencion; and that the said parson, viccar and herenagh are to beare the chardge of repairing and mainteyninge the parish churche, as before.

GALLACHAIR. O�Rohertye (O�Roarty) is coarb and erenagh here with two quarters of land.







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