The Annals of Nenagh (Translation)

“Annals were kept at Nenagh and such part of these as remain have been made use of by Ware and other authors. The complete text however has never been printed before. It apparently consisted of two portions of which only the latter now survives in Ware's transcript. Where the original manuscript from which Ware took his transcript may now be it is difficult to say. Dr. Flower states that it is not in the British Museum nor apparently in the Rawlinson Mss., but adds that in the list of contents of the Lansdowne Ms. 418 from which the present text is taken, appear the almost illegible entry in pencil against this item "penes Dermitium O'Meara Medicae Doctorem." This would appear to imply that Ware took his transcript from the original Ms. in the possession of Doctor O'Meara. O'Meara himself was educated at Oxford University and will be found amongst Ware's "writers" and was living in 1620.* He was of the family to whom Toomeveara five miles to the west of Nenagh owes its name ; moreover both the last Prior of the Augus tinian foundation of Tyone near Nenagh and the last ' Custos ' of Toomeveara Priory before the suppression, were O'Mearas of this family which stood very high in the estimation of the Earls of Ormond7. Dr. Dermot O'Meara himself was physician to Thomas Dubh the 10th Earl and wrote his epitaph*. It is not therefore difficult to under stand how the Ms. of the Annals of Nenagh should have come into his possession. “

Pg 157-157 - Gleeson, Dermot F. “The Annals of Nenagh.” Analecta Hibernica, no. 12 (1943): 155–64. http://www.jstor.org/stable/25510988.

However the version that Gleeson produces is in Latin only. Now there may be a translated version somewhere but I don't have access to it. 

Thanks however to Google translate it is now relatively easy to translate from Latin to English and so I have gone about translating the Annals of Nenagh into English. 

Ex Annalibus Galfridi o Hogani et aliorum Franciscanorum coenobii Nenaght

From the Annals of Geoffrey O'Hogan and other Franciscans of the Nenagh monastery.

1336

la. Reliquam partem Chronicarum quere in Chronicis Conventus usque ad Annum Domini 1336 quo Anno in mense Junii pax inita inter Moriertach o Brien principem Totomoniae et Brien o Brien

The remaining part of the Chronicles can be found in the Chronicles of the Assembly until the year of our Lord 1336, in which year in the month of June peace was established between Moriertach O Brien, prince of Thomond, and Brien o Brien.

1337

Dominus Jacobus le Botiller comes Ormoniae apud Balligauran  mortuus est ... . kalendis Martii in flore iuventutis.

Lord James le Botiller, Earl of Ormonde, died at Balligauran on the first of March in the bloom of youth.

1338

30 kalendas May Edmundus filius comitis Ultoniae captus est per Dominum Edmundum de Burgo prodiciose et familia eius interfecta et ipsemet praetermodum vilissime submersus est per eundem ut dicitur, et inde magna guerra in Conatia, et multae strages hinc inde S. inter [partem]1 Domini Willielmi de Burgo et prolem Ricardi de Burgo, Brimingham et y Concubar ex altera parte; et terra combusta et devastata tunc multi de familia Domini Edmundi sunt interfecti.

1338. Item magnus exercitus collectus est per O Connochor [et] prolem Ricardi de Burgo et Birmingheam, prosequiti sunt Dominum Edmun dum de Burgo et fugaverunt eum de Conacia et exceperunt obsides totius terrae et diviserunt terram inter se.

On the 3rd of the Kalends of May, Edmund, son of the Earl of Ulster, was captured by Lord Edmund de Burgo treacherously, and his family was killed, and he himself was submerged in the most despicable manner by the same, as it is said, and from there a great war arose in Connacht, and many slaughters occurred on both sides between Lord William de Burgo's faction and the descendants of Richard de Burgo, Birmingham and Concubar on the other side; and the land was burned and devastated, and then many of Lord Edmund's family were killed. In 1338. Also, a great army was gathered by O Connochor and the descendants of Richard de Burgo and Birmingham, they pursued Lord Edmund de Burgo and drove him from Connacht and took hostages from all the land and divided the land among themselves.

 

1339

Interfectus est David de Curcy et 2 filii Milonis de Curcy per Car brenses2 et multi nobiles interfecti.

David de Curcy and the two sons of Milon de Curcy were killed by the Carbrenses and many nobles were killed.

1340

In Crastino Sancti Johannis Baptistae rex Angliae commisit navale bellum contra Gallicos et praevaluit.

On the eve of Saint John the Baptist, the king of England waged naval war against the French and prevailed.

1342

9 May combustum est Monasterium de Wothny per proprium ignem. Item Villa Joannis iuxta Nenagh3 in vigilia Sancti Brendani combusta est per Donaldum filium Philippi o Kenedy et 5 interfecti sunt de familia Canonicorum. Theodoricus o Connor princeps 1342. Hibernicorum Conaciae expulsus est per Dominum Edmundum de Burgo de regno suo, et per quosdam Hibernicos scilicet per filiumodonis brefneach et per filium mc Diarmada et regnavit filius praedicti odonis pro eo sed statim post iterum obtinuit regnum praefatus Theodoricus alio eiecto. Item in vigilia Luciae virginis 12 Decembris obiit Dominus . David mcBrien Laonensis episcopus cui successit Magister Thomas o Hogain.

On May 9, the monastery of Wothny was burned down by an accidental fire. Also, the house of John near Nenagh was burned down on the eve of Saint Brendan by Donald, son of Philip O'Kenedy, and 5 members of the Canons family were killed. Theodoric O'Connor was prince in 1342. The lord Edmund de Burgo expelled the Irish from his kingdom, and by some Irish, namely by the son of Odonis Brefneach and by the son of McDiarmada, the son of the aforementioned Odonis reigned in his place, but immediately after, the aforementioned Theodoric regained the kingdom by expelling another. Also, on the eve of Saint Lucy, December 12, Lord David McBrien, bishop of Laon, died, and Master Thomas O'Hogain succeeded him.

1343

Obiit Moriertach o Brien filius Theodorici o Brien princeps Toto  moniae. Nonis Junii sepultus est cum fratribus minoribus de Cluain  ramada cui successit Dionisius germanus eius, et cito post super duxit mcConmara cum sui? complicibus modo scilicet Matheo filio  mcCarty et Kenealarmich4, Brien o Brien et ipsum sibi principem  fecerunt.

Moriertach o Brien, son of Theodoric o Brien, prince of all Munster, died. He was buried on the 5th of June with his younger brothers from Cluain Ramada, to whom his brother Dionisius succeeded, and shortly after he led mcConmara with his accomplices, namely Matheus son of mcCarty and Kenealarmich, making o Brien himself the prince.

1344

Iterum regnavit Dermitius o Brien in Totomoriia expulso Brien o Brien per mcConmara prodiciose. Capitulum provinciate celebratum apud Nenagh in festo Sancti Francisci. Item castrum eaedem (sic) Nenagh obessum per Thomam le Butler et captum 14 Novembris super Walterum Pursell constabularium comitis Desmoni tunc ibidem.

Dermot O'Brien reigned again in Thomond after Brian O'Brien was expelled by the treachery of McConmara. The chapter of the province was celebrated at Nenagh during the feast of Saint Francis. Also, the same castle (thus) Nenagh was besieged by Thomas le Butler and captured on November 14th over Walter Pursell, the constable of the Earl of Desmond then there.

1345

Dominus Joannes o Grada Archiepiscopus Casselensis vir magnae discretionis et industriae 8 Idu? July quievit in pace cui successit Dominus Radulphus o Kealligh de ordine Carmelitarum et hoc de provisione Domini Papae. In festo Joannis Evangelistae mortua est Desideria filia Geraldi fitzMorris magna benefactrix fratrum minorum sepultaque est cum eisdem fratribus in Ardart.

Lord John o Grada, Archbishop of Cassel, a man of great discretion and diligence, rested in peace on the 8th of July, to whom succeeded Lord Ralph o Kealligh of the Carmelite order, and this was by the provision of the Lord Pope. On the feast of John the Evangelist, Desideria, daughter of Gerald fitzMorris, a great benefactor of the Minor Brothers, died and was buried with the same brothers in Ardart.

1346

Dominus Radulphus de Ufford Justicarius Hiberniae mortuus est apud Kilmaynam 5 Idus Junii. Item Dominus David o Ferghill* Armach Archiepiscopus Armach in festo Sancti Brendani (Clonfertensis) 16 Mali quievit in pace cui successit Dominus Richardus filius Radulphi Sacrae Theologiae solempnis Doctor.

“Lord Radulphus de Ufford, Justiciar of Ireland, died at Kilmainham on the 5th of the Ides of June. Also, Lord David o Ferghill, Archbishop of Armagh, rested in peace on the feast of Saint Brendan (of Clonfert) on the 16th of May, to whom succeeded Lord Richard, son of Radulphus, a solemn Doctor of Sacred Theology.”

1347

Dominus J. Episcopus Core, quievit in pace. Item Dominus Alanus Hachierane Ardfertensis episcopus quievit in pace cui successit Magister Joannes de Valle. Oliverus de Fraxineto assumpto habitu fratrum minorum 7 Decembris mortuus est et sepultus est in habitu [Fratrum] cum fratribus minoribus [Kilkenniae].

Lord J. Bishop Core has rested in peace. Also, Lord Alan Hachierane, Bishop of Ardfert, has rested in peace, to whom Master John de Valle succeeded. Oliver de Fraxineto, having taken the habit of the Minor Brothers, died on December 7 and was buried in the habit of the Brothers with the Minor Brothers in Kilkenny.

1348

Cito post festum Sancti Joannis Baptistae mortuus est frater odcr o Neil quondam custos de Nenach et lector de Ardmacia. Item in festo Sancti Laurentii Martyris obiit Dominus Malachias mcAda Archiepis copus Tuamensis cui successit mrThomas mcCearwill Archiediaconis Casselensis de provisione Domini papae. Hie Magister Thomas per ecclesiasticos Cassel' Cluoniens' Ardfertiens' diversis cum vicibus fuit Canonice electus. Incipit in Hibernia mortalitas hominum inaudita, primo in Ponte praeterea in Dublin et in vicis circumiacentibus; ita. quod villac multas sine habitatoribus relinquebat

Shortly after the feast of Saint John the Baptist, Brother Odo O'Neil, formerly the custodian of Nenach and lector of Ardmacia, passed away. Also, on the feast of Saint Lawrence the Martyr, Lord Malachias McAda, Archbishop of Tuam, died, to whom Mr. Thomas McCearwill, Archdeacon of Cassel, succeeded by the provision of the Lord Pope. Here Master Thomas was canonically elected in various ecclesiastical positions in Cassel, Cluain, and Ardfert. A previously unheard-of mortality began in Ireland, first in the Bridge area of Dublin and in the surrounding villages; so much so that many towns were left without inhabitants.

1349

20 July conflictus in Midia inter Dominum Walterum de Birmingham . praetunc justiciarium Hiberniae et Hibernicos de Midia in quo conflicta Hibernici terga dederunt et ex ipsis nonnulli nobiles reciderunt inter quos Cornelius, Donatus et Brian de mcCoghlan et Neil iuvenis Synnagh occisi sunt. Item in festo S. Laurentii obiit Frater Robertus o Fynian qui fuit diversis vicibus Gardianus in ordine de cuius procuratione una bona camera in conventu fratrum de Nenagh est constructa. Item mortuus est frater Thadeus mcMahowne lector fratrum minorum de Lymerico modicum ante festum omnium Sanctorum. Item mortuus est frater Willielmus o Mullchacha lector de Nenagh feria 4ta infra octavos S. Ludovicci episcopi et confessoris. Item mortuus est Matheus cecus mcconmara, vir utique in consiliis providus, in moribus honestus, in opibus devotus, ipse namque construxit refectorium et sacristiam fratrum de Cluainramada et ibidem in habitu fratrum sepultus

On July 20, a conflict occurred in Meath between Lord Walter of Birmingham, the pretender to the justiciary of Ireland, and the Irish of Meath, in which the Irish gave ground and some nobles among them were killed, including Cornelius, Donatus, and Brian McCoghlan, and young Neil Synnagh. Also, on the feast of St. Lawrence, Brother Robert O'Fynian, who had been guardian at various times in the order, died, under whose administration a good chamber was built in the convent of the brothers at Nenagh. Additionally, Brother Thaddeus McMahowne, a lector of the Franciscan brothers from Limerick, died shortly before the feast of All Saints. Furthermore, Brother William O'Mullchacha, a lector from Nenagh, died on the fourth feria within the octave of St. Louis, bishop and confessor. Lastly, Matthew the blind McConmara, a man indeed prudent in counsel, honest in character, and devoted in resources, who built the refectory and sacristy for the brothers of Cluainramada, was buried there in the habit of the brothers.

1350

Mortuus est in principio estatis Theodoricus filius Donati ybrien et sepultus cum fratribus minoribus apud

“Theodoric, son of Donatus Ybrien, died at the beginning of the summer and was buried with the minor brothers.”

1352

26 July mortuus est Dominus Thomas de Cantwell miles, ordinis fratrum minorum magnus benefactor, et maxime conventus eiusdem ordinis de Nenach, et ibidem sepultus est.

28 January mortuus est Dublinie frater Geraldus Lagles, in Hibernia, fratrum minorum magister

On July 26, Lord Thomas de Cantwell, a knight and great benefactor of the Order of Friars Minor, died, and he was buried there in Nenach.

On January 28, Brother Gerald Lagles, master of the Friars Minor, died in Dublin, Ireland.

1353

14 Aprilis mortua est Gormlaygh filia Idomiiail uxor quondam Donaldi Ineal principis Ultoniae, et mater odonis o Neal etiam principis Ultoniae, et sepulta cum fratribus de Ardmacha.

Mortuus est Dominus Mauritius de Rupeforti Episcopus Limerici vir bonae vitae et conversationis honestae. Feria 3 infra octavos S. Francisci mortuus est frater Rodericus o Mulruonig quondam custos de Nenagh ac lector solempnis in diversis sui ordinis conventibus

On April 14, Gormlaygh, daughter of Idomiiail, wife of the late Donald Ineal, prince of Ulster, and mother of O'Donel, also prince of Ulster, was buried with her brothers at Armagh.

Lord Maurice de Rupeforti, Bishop of Limerick, a man of good life and honest conduct, has died. On the third day of the octave of St. Francis, Brother Roderick o Mulruonig, formerly the custodian of Nenagh and solemn lector in various convents of his order, passed away.

1354

In vigilia vigilie omnium Sanctorum mortuus est Dominus Thomas o Hogain episcopus Laonensis et 5 die apud fratres minores de Nenagh Laon' 1354 traditus sepulturae cui successit magister Thomas o Cormacain. Item cito [in] festo natalis domini mortuus est Lismor' epi

On the vigil of All Saints, Lord Thomas O'Hogain, Bishop of Laon, died and was buried on the 5th day among the Minor Brothers of Nenagh, Laon, in 1354, to whom Master Thomas O'Cormacain succeeded. Also, shortly on the feast of the Nativity, he died in Lismore.

1355

In Conversione Sancti Pauli mortuus est Dominus Mauritius filius Thomae comes Desmoniae et protunc Justiciarius Hiberniae vir utique in consiliis providus, in donis liberalis et moribus honestus.

In the Conversion of Saint Paul, Lord Maurice, son of Thomas, Earl of Desmond, and then Justiciar of Ireland, a man indeed prudent in counsel, generous in gifts, and honorable in character, passed away.

1357

15 Aprilis mortuus est Dominus Thomas Rucuby Justiciarius Hiberniae.

On April 15th, Lord Thomas Rucuby, Justice of Ireland, passed away.

1358

Dominus Mauricius comes Desmoniae filius Domini Mauricii Anno aetatis suae 22 in tranritu suo, usque Angliam, submersus est iuxta Walliam.

Lord Maurice, the son of Lord Maurice of Desmond, at the age of 22, drowned in his passage to England near Wales.

1359

Mortua est Contissa Kildare, quae construxit apud fratres Minores Kildare, capellam pulchram ubi sepulta est circa primum Aprilis, et multa alia opera construxit haec eadem Domina cum praedictis fratribus.

In Crastino Purificationis B. Virginis mortuus est Dominus Richardus o Lochlain episcopus Finnaborensis.

Lady Kildare has passed away, who built a beautiful chapel at the Minor Brothers in Kildare, where she was buried around the first of April, and she constructed many other works with the aforementioned brothers.

On the eve of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin, Lord Richard of Lochlain, Bishop of Finnabore, passed away.

1361

In festo Sancti Petri quod dicitur ad vincula Capitulum provinciate fratrum minorum erat celebratum in Galvia. In crastino Exaltationis Sancte Crucis intravit Hiberniam Dominus Leonellus comes Ultoniae filius Regis Angliae applicuit prope Dublin. In festo Edmundi Regis et martyris mortuus est frater Radulphus o Keallaigh ordinis Carmelitarum Archiepicopus Casselensis. In festo Perpetuae et Felicitatis mortuus est frater Thomas o Huolachain lector, juvenis et valens de ordine minorum apud Ardert in Kerigia.

At the feast of Saint Peter, known as the Chains, the chapter of the province of the Minor Brothers was celebrated in Gaul. The next day, on the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Lord Leonellus, the Earl of Ulster and son of the King of England, landed near Dublin. On the feast of King Edmund and martyr, Brother Radulphus O'Keallaigh of the Carmelite order, Archbishop of Cassel, passed away. On the feast of Perpetua and Felicity, Brother Thomas O'Huolachain, a lector, young and strong from the order of Minor Brothers, died at Ardert in Kerry.

1362

Item submersus est Dominus Georgius de Rupe Archiepiscopus Casselensi

Also submerged is Lord George of the Rock, Archbishop of Cassel.

1364

Item in vigilia [vigiliae] conversionis Sancti Pauli mortuus est Dermitius o Brien in Conacia prope Ardrachin princeps quondam Totomoniae et sepultus cum minoribus apud Inis. Item apud Senguolan8 die Mercurii proxima ante festum purificationis Beate Virginis, Dominus Lismorensis episcopus, ex parte Domini Papae,  presentibus Dominis Thoma Laonens', Stephano Limericens', Johanne Ardfert', Thoma Cathagens', episcopis, inquisivit per plures fide dignos testes ad hoc specialiter vocatos, si.

Iniscathygh fuerit sedes Episcopatus, et si habuerit diocesim distinctam, et si fuerint ibi episcopi et de Nominibus episcoporum.

Also in the vigil of the conversion of Saint Paul, Dermitius o Brien died in Conacia near Ardrachin, a former prince of Totomonia, and was buried with the minors at Inis. Also at Senguolan on the Wednesday before the feast of the purification of the Blessed Virgin, the Lord Bishop of Lismore, on behalf of the Lord Pope, with the presence of Lords Thomas of Laon, Stephen of Limerick, John of Ardfert, Thomas of Cathagen, bishops, inquired through several trustworthy witnesses specially called for this purpose, whether Iniscathygh was the seat of the bishopric, and whether it had a distinct diocese, and whether there were bishops there and the names of the bishops.

1365

Isto anno in estate translatus est Dominus Thomas mcCarwill de Archiepiscopatu Tuamense et factus est Archiepiscopus Casselensis. Eodem anno Dominus Johannes o Grada venit de curia Archiepiscopus Tuamensi

This year in the summer, Lord Thomas McCarwill was transferred from the Archdiocese of Tuam and became the Archbishop of Cassel. In the same year, Lord John O'Grada came from the court of the Archbishop of Tuam.

1367

In sabbato proximo ante Dominica de [Pascha]f mortuus est Radulphus filius et haeres Domini Jacobi comitis Ermoniae.

On the Saturday before Easter Sunday, Radulphus, son and heir of Lord Jacob, Count of Ermonia, passed away.

1369

Mortuus est apud Clonmell frater Thadeuso Breassill lector solemnis in diversis locis frater itaque multum literatus et sufficiens fuit et vic[an?s] totius proviriciae qui obiit 4 die ante festum Sancti Michaelis

Brother Thadeus Breassill, a solemn reader, died in Clonmell; he was a learned and sufficient brother in various places and a vicar of the entire province who passed away four days before the feast of Saint Michael.

1371

In festo Apostolorum Philippi et Jacobi mortuus est Matheus o Brien princeps Totomoniae et sepultus cum minoribus apud Inis.

Apud Limericum 19 die septembris mortuus est Joannes o Grada Archiepiscopus Tuamensis, et ibidem sepultus est. Tuam 8 February mortuus est magister Thomas Ikearwill Archiepiscopus Cassel.hic alias fuit Archiepiscopus Tuamensi?, et Papa transtulit ipsum ad Archiepiscopatum Casselensem. Fuit vir magnae suffisientiae et litteraturae. Sepultus est in ecclesia Sancti Patricii Casseliae. Quae sequuntur manu recentiori fuerunt descripta.

At the feast of the Apostles Philip and James, Mathew O'Brien, the prince of Totomonia, died and was buried with the minors at Inis. John O'Grada, Archbishop of Tuam, died in Limerick on September 19 and was buried there. Master Thomas Ikearwill, Archbishop of Cassel, died in Tuam on February 8; he was previously the Archbishop of Tuam, and the Pope transferred him to the Archdiocese of Cassel. He was a man of great sufficiency and learning. He was buried in the Church of St. Patrick in Cassel.

 

The following were described in a more recent hand.

1496

mense Augusti Geraldus comes Kildariae Justiciarius Hiberniae congregavit magnum exercitum ad civitatem Limeric' ad pugnandum contra Schibren10 sed non multum obtinuit, nisi tantum castrum Finin m?nemar de Feybach11; set cum illo exercitu castrum Ballinite et castrum de Coniger o Konagh12confregit; sed quid plura dicam, magis excedebant expensae et labores quam prae valebant conquest

In the month of August, Gerald, the Earl of Kildare, the Justiciar of Ireland, gathered a large army at the city of Limerick to fight against the Schibren, but achieved little, except for the castle of Finin, which he captured from Feybach; however, with that army, he broke the castle of Ballinite and the castle of Coniger or Konagh; but what more can I say, the expenses and labors exceeded what they were able to achieve.

1429

Die Lunae proxima ante festum Brigidae Willelmus Burc dominus de Clanricard mortuus est et sepultus est in Monasterio fratrum de Athnarig

On the Monday before the feast of Brigid, William Burke, lord of Clanricarde, died and was buried in the monastery of the brothers at Athnarig.

1500

Mortuus est Dominus Willelmus Barry suae nationis Capitaneus prodiciose et turpiter per quemdam fratrem suum Davidum de Barry qui quidem Willelmus erat strenuus in specie, largus in donis, facundus .... in actibus militaribus fortis, in universa morum honest ate praeclarus.

Lord William Barry, captain of his nation, died treacherously and shamefully by a certain brother of his, David Barry, who indeed was vigorous in appearance, generous in gifts, eloquent... strong in military actions, and renowned for his overall moral integrity.

1513

Mortuus est Brien ballach o Brien in castro quod vocatur Estrein18, et lapsus fuit a summitate castri usque ad infima et sepultus est cum fratribus minoribus de Naenach.

Brien Ballach O'Brien died in the castle called Estrein, and he fell from the top of the castle to the bottom and was buried with his younger brothers from Naenach.

1528

Donaldus iuvenis o Brien filius mcIbrien arra probatissimus miles, in donis largus, interfectus est felonice per Thomam filium Joannis de Geraldinis in festo omnium Sanctorum.

Donald O'Brien, the young son of McIbrien, a most renowned soldier, was feloniously killed by Thomas, son of John, of the Geraldines, during the feast of All Saints.