2 1-4 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



recorded of Inishark, while there is much doubt and confusion as to whether 

 some supposed mention of Inishbofm refers to the island here noted or to 

 another of this not unusual name. 



The Umail were warlike and fond of the sea. Seaan Mor Ui Dubhagain 

 (O'Dugan), who died in 1372, thus describes them : — 



" Oh Clann Maille of the sea-sent treasure, 



Every land is against thee in this 



Ye inhabit the two Umhalls — " 

 " A good man never there was 



Of the Ui Mhaille, but a mariner. 



The prophets of the weather are ye, 



A tribe of affection and brotherly love." 1 



Giolla Iosa Mac Firbis in 1417 sings of them as " The Clann Mailli, valiant 

 the branch." The State papers of the following century describe them as 

 " Omaylle, strong in galleys and seamen " in 1576, 2 and the galley in their 

 arms with the motto, " Terra marique potens," on the walls of Cliara Abbey, 

 shows that the family boasted of its sea-power. The Abbey was a Carmelite 

 cell dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, and in later days attached to the great 

 Cistercian House of Knockmoy or " De Colle Vietoriae." It was (it is said) 

 built by the O'Mailles, in 1224, according to Ware. A little later, in 1235, 

 the Four Masters and the Annalist of Loch Ce tell how Felini (son of Cathal 

 Crovdearg) O'Conor resolved upon taking with him to O'Donnell all the cows 

 belonging to those who would take his advice in Conmaicnemara, and Conmaicne 

 Cuile with the son of Manus, and Conor Roe, the son of Murtagh Muimhneach, 

 and leaving the whole country desolate to the English . . . The English then 

 sent from Dun Mugdord a numerous army against the son of Roderick which 

 plundered Ecuill and carried great spoils to Drumimni. Domhnall and 

 Muircheartach sons of Muredach Ui Maille were slain by Domhnall son of 

 Magnus son of Muircheartach Ua Chonchobhair (O'Conor) in Cliara, where 

 they were buried — probably in the newly built monastery. 3 Later in the same 

 century in 1273 Domnall Irrus, son of Manus, who was son of Murtagh 

 Muimhneach O'Conor, was expelled from Umallia and Irros. 4 This com- 

 prises all the history at present known earlier than the reign of Elizabeth. 



1 The Topographical Poems of John O'Dubhugain and Giolla na naemh O'Huidhrin (ed. 

 O'Donovan, 1862), p. 65, " Hy Fiachracb," p. 181 ; also Hardiman's ed. of " hlar Connaught," 

 p. 301. 



2 Cal. State Papers Tr. ; also "hlar Connaught," p. 301. 



3 Mr. Hubert T. Knox has collected the scattered notices in his History of Mayo, pp. 86-94, and 

 306. I procured but little material in the Public Kecord Offices ; the Inquisition merely names the 

 place, giving no details of the building or its lands. 



* Annals Four Masters. 



