13 



was resident at Portnelligan, but he soon after removed to the Tyrone 

 part of his estate, and instead of the Castle of Kinard, he chose as 

 his abode a structure which was erected on a small artificial island 

 in the lake or swamp of Drummorey, which was situate on the low 

 ground. When Sir Cahir O'Dogherty, after the death of Sir Henry 

 Oge, in 1606, invaded the territory, we are told that he made his 

 way across the lake of Drummorey in boats and rafts to the island 

 that was therein, and plundered the fortress that was on it. Dur- 

 ing the Tyrone wars it was found by experience that an enclosure 

 of water afforded greater security against a sudden attack than one 

 of stone ; and, consequently, the native chief preferred the confine- 

 ment and discomfort of a little island 1o the ample proportions of 

 a building on the mainland. These islands were generally artifi- 

 cial, being formed by piling and stockade, filled in with clay and 

 stones, and were known by the name of Crannogs. Such struc- 

 tures have been more or less in use from the earliest times ; but in 

 the latter half of the sixteenth century they became, in the unre- 

 duced part of Ulster, the almost universal refuge of the refractory 

 chieftains. In 1609, Robert Hovenden was resident at Kinard, 

 and in 16 13 his wife, who, by her first husband, was mother of Sir 

 Phelim O'Neill, obtained as her jointure a grant of Drummorey, Kin- 

 ard, and other lands, which were created into the manor of Kinard, 

 with liberty of park. Here, also, Sir Phelim, when he became of 

 age, took up his abode, and laid his plans for the rebellion of 1641. 

 But when, in the progress of insurrection, this county was swept by 

 the enemy's troops, he betook himself to this insular dwelling, as 

 affording greater security than a fortress which was accessible on 

 foot. Even this failed in its desired end, for on Sunday following 

 the 14th of July, 1642, the English forces from Armagh " burnt 

 Drum-orraigh, the court of Sir Phelim, and all his place." This re- 

 verse, however, did not wean him from his island, for in the month 

 of December, 1650, it was on the Island of Drummurragh that he 

 won over the Baron of Strabane at the eleventh hour to join him 

 in the rebellion ; and two years after, when he was hunted down, 

 after the rebellion was over, it was on an island, probably this, 

 though it is not named, he was discovered, and dragged to justice 



