O'Rahilly — Irish Poefs, ITisionans, &'e., in English Documents. 101 



principal actors in it lived in the Wexford-Carlow district in the early part 

 of the seventeenth century. Domhnall Gaomhanach, usually known as 

 Domhnall Spaineach, was a prominent figure in the history of East Leinster 

 towards the end of the sixteenth century.' He died on 12 March, 1631, 

 and at his death was seised of Clonraulleu and other lands in Cos. Carlow 

 and Wexford.- His wife Eleanor survived him, and his son and heir was 

 Sir Morgan Cavanagh, who was then of full age and married.^ This 

 Sir Morgan had "married early iu life Eleanor, daughter of the second 

 Viscount Mountgarret, by whom he had sixteen children."'' With his father- 

 in-law. Sir Morgan joined the rebellion of 1641, and was killed in an 

 engagement near New Eoss in March, 1643.' Among Sir Morgan's children 

 was a daughter named Eleanor (who was doubtless so called after her 

 mother and paternal grandmother), as we learn from an unpublished love- 

 song, beginning Do mhiisgail in6 d'dis luighe araoir go samh, which, according 

 to the title prefixed to it in Mss.," was composed by Cearbhall '0 Dalaigh, 

 for Elionoir, daughter of Sir Murchadh Caomhanach. Among Padraigln 

 Haiceud's poems is one addressed in 16.30 to Cearbhall 'Og '0 I>alaigh, 

 who is described as a man of many accomplishments — poet, musician, wooer 

 and so on." A poem by Cearbhall 'Og in reply to this has also been 

 preserved.* A short poem beginning Facia ar gcomhtlirorn 6 chAle^ is in at 

 least one MS.'" entitled " a little love-lay addressed by Cearbhall '0 Dala to 

 his lady-love, Eleanor Cavanagh."" There can be little doubt that the 

 Cearbhall '0 Dalaigh who was in love with Sir Morgan Cavanagh's daughter, 

 and who is traditionally said to have eloped with her, was either the 



1 Cf. D'Arcy M'Gee's "Art Mac Murrogh," 121 ff. 



- Inquisitions, Co. Carlow, no. 41 ; Co. Wexford, no. 84. 



3 Ibid. 



* D'Arcy M'Gee, op. cit., 128. 



"Gilbert's "History of the Irish Confederation," ii, p. 260, and "Contemporary 

 History of Affairs in Ireland from 1641 to 1652," i, p. 62. 



« H. 5. 28, fo. 189b (transcribed ca. 1679) ; H. 4. 26, p. 118 (transcribed in 1701). 

 In the latter the author's name is given as Cearbhall 'Og '() Dala. 



" T. '0 Doanchadha's edition of P. Haiceud's poems, p. 107. 



* Ihid., 108. Cf. also ib., p. 44, where he is called " Cearbhall 'U Dalaigh " (without 

 the 'Og). 



9 Cf. "Danta Gradha," 1916, p. 22. 



"' St. F. vi. 2, p. .371, where the title is Laoi bheag chumuinn 6 Chearbhall '0 Dhala 

 chuim a 'mhiiirnain .i. Eillonoir Chdomhdnaeh. 



" Jlention may also be made of a love-song beginning Im leabaidh araoir do sMleas 

 fein ag teacht, found in many Jiss., and ascribed by them to Cearbhall, or Cearbhall 'Og, 

 O Dalaigh. O'Reilly assigns it to the latter, whom he makes to flourish ca. 1680- In 

 H. 4. 24, p. 127, the author is called Gaarhhall '0 Diila na mban, which reminds one of 

 Diarmaid na mban as a popular name for Diarmaid oDuibhne (Oss. Soc, iii, p. oOh.). 



R.I.A. PROC, VOL. XXXVI, SECT. C. [11] 



