O'jRahilly — Irish Poets^ Historians, Sfc, in English Documents. 95 



more or less of certainty be identified as those of poets, etc., who are other- 

 wise known. Were anything lilce a full list available of the literary men of 

 the time, it would doubtless liave been possible to suggest many more 

 identifications than I have done. But even when no such identification may 

 be possible, it is not without interest and value to have on record the names 

 and places of residence of members of the learned families of Ireland just 

 before our native learning was engulfed in the general ruin of the country. 



23. (ff.) " Connor oge Corcran m'^Conchour, of Irris, Ferfeasse Dwgenan^ 

 of Inishkellen, Brian Corcrane, . . . Shane Corcrane, of the same, . . . 

 Hugh Chorcran m'=Melaughlin, of Kilnelyawe, . . . Matthew Lonine, 

 of the Arde, Aghye Hossye, of Baelle lossey, . . . Cherwoy O Hoghssy, of 

 Balyoshye, Owen Macabe, of Inniskellen, Wm. oge Corcrane, of same," 

 18 Jan., 1586 [no. 4810]. (5) " Ogha OHagassa, of Balyogahsa, freeholder, 

 Kithrin, OHogassa, of same, . . . Bernard Hogassa, of Balliogassa, free- 

 holder, Barnard Corcran, of Fearran aniuny, student, John Corcran, 

 student, Wm. Corcran, student, of same,^ . . . Miler Hogasa, of 

 Baliogasa, freeholder," 1591 [no. 5602]. (c) "Eoghy Hoasa, Carovy 

 Hoasy, Coochogerie Hoasy, Melaghlen oge Hoasy, Brien Corcran," 

 28 Feb., 1592 [no. 5716]. {d) " Brian O'Corcran, of Carrick, gentleman, . . . 

 Cirroury O'Hossy, of Ballihosy, Moelaghlin oge O'Hosy," together with 

 five other O'Corcrans (including " Shane " and "William oge"), 7 Deer., 1603 

 (Cal. Pat. Rolls, Ja. I., p. 34b). 



In the above lists we have members of the learned families of Maguire's 

 country (Fermanagh). Brian '0 Corcrdin, whose rrame appears in all four 

 lists, was the author of the prose romance " Eachtra Mhacaoimh an lolair,' 

 and of seven poems preserved in the O'Conor Don's MS. According to these 

 documents he resided in 1586 in Enniskillen ; in 1591 in "Fearran amuny," 

 which is probably the present Farnamullan {Fcavann-cm-mhuilinn) , in the 

 par. of Cleenish (to the south of Enniskillen), of which the '0 Corcrain faniily 

 were hereditary airchinneachs ; and in 1603, at Carrick, near Church Hill, 

 Co. Fermanagh. 



Several members of the family of '0 Heoghusa are also mentioned, 

 including the well-known Uochaidh '0 HedgMisa, whose name appears in all 



• 111 the same Fiaiit are mentioned six other " Corcran " students belonging to 

 other places, and one priest of the name. One is reminded of what Davies wrote in his 

 letter to Salisbury in 1606 : " Albeit Hugh M^Guire that was slain in Munster [in 1600] 

 were indeed a valiant rebel, and the stoutest that ever was of his name, notwithstanding 

 generally the natives of this county are reputed the worst swordsmen of the north, being 

 rather inclined to be scholars or husbandmen than to be kern or men of action, as they 

 term i-ebels in this kingdom." 



