“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.
