528 [Proc B.N.F.C, 



conflicts with the Macdonnells. In 1575 Shane O'Neill marched 

 from Southern Down to give battle to the Scots of Antrim, 

 who, lighting up the hills above referred to, made signal to the 

 men ot Cantyre for aid to meet the coming conflict. James 

 Macdonnell and his brother Alexander Oge responded. James 

 arrived first, and, landing in Cushendun Bay, was joined by 

 Sorley Boy, who was chased from Red Bay Castle by Shane 

 O'Neill, who had destroyed the castle, of which the ruins still 

 remain overlooking Red Bay. Both forces met on the western 

 side of Knocklayd, in the Vale of Glentow, and a bloody battle 

 ensued. O'Neill fully avenged his recent defeat, and almost 

 completely destroyed the Scots. James Macdonnell and his 

 brother Sorley were taken prisoners. James died in O'Neill's 

 dungeon, but Sorley lived to be avenged. Shane O'Neill, 

 having thrown off his allegiance to the Queen and the 

 authorities of the Pale, resisted for some time the combined 

 forces of the English and Scots. He at length made overtures 

 to the Scots, and an alliance was established, which was 

 formally celebrated by a grand banquet at Cushendun, where, 

 excited by wine, a dispute arose, the result of which was Shane 

 O'Neill was murdered by the Scottish Redshanks, and thus 

 was closed the eventful career of a proud and accomplished 

 Irish chief. 



The botany of such a region must always be interesting to 

 those who care for native plants. It is still too early in the 

 season to judge of the full wealth of the local flora, but some 

 good plants were obtained. The lesser tway blade {Lister a 

 cordata) was, by careful searching, found on the open moor, 

 where also the spike rush (Eleocharis multicaiilis) was met with 

 in abundance. On the return the bladder fern {Cystopteris 

 fragilis) was gathered in plenty by the Cushendall Road. 



The Club's meeting at Lurig was presided over by Mr. John 

 Vinycomb, M.R.I. A. Business matters were discussed, new 

 members elected, and one of the hon. secretaries, who acted as 

 conductor, pointed out the special natural and historic features 

 of the locality and reported the results of recent observations 



