[Excerpts from "The Social State of the Southern and Eastern Counties 
of Ireland in the Sixteenth Century", ed. by Herbert Hore & James Graves, 1870]
[Excerpted 17 Sep 2007, Mark Murphy]

p. 24
In the year 1552 a petition was presented to the Lord Deputy by Robert
Roche, of Atramont, Lord of Rochesland, setting forth that his ancestors 
had been possessed of a house and three ploughlands in the parish of
Rathalvey, in Farrengynellagh, or barony of Sue, and complaining that
Moriertagh leigh O'Morrowe, and others, had entered thereon with force,
and kept those lands "contrary to right and conscience. ([O'Morrowe]
probably the chief of the clan O'Morchoe, now MURPHY, which inhabited
the county north of, and bordering on, Roche's and Synott's lands, and
still called "the Murrows."  Murtogh O'Morghowe had a charter, 1 Edw. IV.,
to entitle him and his issue to use English law in all things.  His clan,
however, kept their ancient customs, and we find their chiefs retaining
armed soldiers down to the sixteenth century.  Donnel More, of
Tubberlumnagh, was "the O'Morchua" in the middle of that century.
-(Funeral Entries, Ulster's Office, 1634.)  The other principal residences
of the clan were Oulartleigh, Jamestown, Ballinroan and Ballindarragh,
all in the county of Wexford.

p. 25
...bearing date in Edward the Third's days...it was proved that the two
ploughlands and a half in Rathalvey had been "the rightful inheritance
of William Fitz-Eustace and Gydoo Roche, whose heir the said Robert did
affirm himself to be."  It was also "manifestly proved by honest witnesses
that his father, John Roche, retained during his life the yearly rents of
money, sheep, butter, and other things of the tenants and dwellers in
Rathalvey; and that whenever any goods were taken from the tenants of
the said town by the Inglishe Pale of the county of Wexford, being in
wars with the Morrowes, the said John Roche caused the same to be restored.
And that the said lands had been always free from O'Morrowe's galloglasses,
and other charges. And that the said John died seized of the same."
(That is, free from having the galloglasses, or armed soldiers hired by
O'Morchoe as police, and for the defence of his country, quartered upon
his tenants;...