Westropp — Ancient Castles of the Count?/ of Limerick. 69 



All this work, however, represents but little improvement in English 

 affairs. King Edward's heart was set on his French wars. Cre9y 

 spread his fame over Europe, but a victory in Tradree might have 

 re-established his power in western Ireland on a permanent basis. By 

 the time of Poitiers the only power to be reckoned with in Limerick 

 was evidently the Earl of Desmond. A new force was, however, at 

 work. If the Exchequer Inquisition, 'No. 2, is reliable as to past 

 history, the O'Briens built CarrigogunnelP castle two centuries before 

 its date, i.e. in 1336. This squares well with the buildings and the 

 weakness of the English power at that time. The O'Briens had now a 

 way into the heart of Limerick, and cut off the waterways to the 

 city and to A dare and Groom, as the de Clares had secured the heart 

 of Thomond in 1275. The history is, however, very obscure, and 

 the later chiefs deduced their descent from Brian Duff, son of Prince 

 Teige Glenore O'Brien, who died in 1426. There seems some belief 

 that the MacN'amaras once held it ; perhaps this preceded the settle- 

 ment of Brian Duff. 



No other great blow fell for a generation. Then a disaster more 

 alarming, though less permanent in its effects, than the battle of 

 Dysert overtook the Geraldines and the city itself. Garrett, Earl of 

 Desmond, gave shelter in 1369 to an exiled prince of Thomond; 

 Brian, the nephew of the latter, followed his uncle and reached 

 Monasteranenagh, where Desmond, probably without his full levy, 

 met him. O'Brien was victor in a fierce battle, dragged Desmond 

 from the shelter of the neighbouring abbey, and appeared before 

 Limerick, which, in fear or by treachery, opened its gates to the 

 victors and was plundered, even to its churches. The castle evidently 

 held out, but Sioda MacNamara was left " Governor of the city." 

 AVhen O'Brien had left, the English took heart and rose against the 

 Irish, whom they expelled, killing Sioda, and, with the aid of Sir 

 "William de Wyndsore, compelled the MacNamaras to restore the 

 books and plate of the cathedral. The fortifications of the city were 

 repaired in 1376, and *'Tom Corr," Balbeyne, built a castle in the 

 middle of the Irish town and called it after his name, dying in 1402. 



entire, a copy is now in possession of the Protestant Bishop of Limerick, and 

 was made about 1619. 



^ Carraic ui chonaing (or "conning" in one copy), Annals of Inisfallen, 1209- 

 1226, Carrig Gunning, 1590, map. A similar change takes place in the name 

 Castro I Coning, now Castleconnell. In 1535, Parry in a letter to Cromwell 

 mentions " the Castell named Carygoguyllen," C.S.P.I., p. 285 ; and we even get 

 the form " Carraco Cainnell" in the following year. 



