Sigerson — On Sepulchral Urns, Sfc. 15 



Gleninornan, and arrive at Moorlough. This lake is interesting, both 

 physically and historically. The map of the Ordnance Survey shows 

 that in 1834 it was a lake with two outlets— one current feeding the 

 Glenmornan river, already mentioned, the other supplying the Burn- 

 dennet, a larger stream, which, taking a more northerly sweep, enters 

 the Foyle, a short distance beyond the former. For a considerable 

 time Moorlough has only had one outlet, that supplying the Glen- 

 mornan river. About ten years ago, however, it developed again into 

 a lake with two outlets, by practising a perforation in its gravelly 

 shore. On inspecting this, I saw a considerable runnel disappearing into 

 a subterranean channel ; and, although this was apparently obliquely 

 directed towards a little glen hard by, it could not be ascertained that 

 the lost water came to the surface anywhere in the vicinity. The 

 millowners on the Glenmornan river had this singular outlet banked 

 up ; it lay on the side of the lake opposite to the present outlet. 



From near Moorlough begins a short range of mountains, which 

 bounds Glenmornan along its southern border. The principal moun- 

 tains are, Owenreagh, Evish, Holy Hill, and Knockavoe. The last- 

 named historical height overlooks Strabane, and may be said to sepa- 

 rate that town from the glen in question, which lies almost at its foot, 

 towards the north-east. These things I mention, because I believe 

 that this glen — altogether retired, and unknown to fame — is of histori- 

 cal interest, having been a main passage into the heart of Tyrone, 

 from the north-west. It has become evident to my mind that the so- 

 called Battle of EJaock-a-voe was not fought upon that hill, but at 

 the head of this Glenmornan, in the neighbourhood of Moorlough. 



"We find in the " Annals of the Four Masters," a. d. 1522, the 

 statement that "O'Neill pitched his camp at Cnoc Buidb, at Loch 

 Monann." Dr. O'Donovan, in. a note to this word, adds that this was 

 the name of a lough near the foot of Knockavoe. He also says : — " In 

 a memorandum in the 'Book of Ballymote' (fol. 180, col. a), which 

 memorandum was evidently written immediately after this period, 

 this battle is called TTIai&m loca TTlonann, i. e. the Breach of 

 Lough Monann." 



Now, there is no lough in the immediate neighbourhood of Knock - 

 avoe, that I can discover, except Moorlough ; and this name may be 

 taken as one of those common imperfect translations of Gaedhelic names. 

 Not being aware of any meaning for Monann, the peasant linguist 

 would render it as Loch Mona — the Lough of the Moor. In the name 

 of the valley, Glen Mornan, we have the original word preserved 

 almost unaltered — if, indeed, Mornan be not the correct form of it. 



Considered from a strategist's point of view, this, and not the hill 

 of Knockavoe, was the best place for O'Neill's encampment. O'Donnell 

 had mustered his forces on the left, or Donegal side of the Foyle, at 

 Drumlighean (now Drumleene), a townlancl in the parish of Clon- 

 leagh. This is a short distance north of the twin towns of Lifford and 

 Strabane ; whilst a glance at the Ordnance Map will show that it is al- 

 most opposite to where the Glenmornan river enters the Foyle. O'Don- 



