330 



Proceedings of the Eoyal Irish Academy. 



and Aine, westward ; southward to Bealacli Feabhrat, and Tullach 

 (on the southern border); westward to Feil and Tairbeart; then 

 (having surrounded the TJi Fidgeinte and TJi Chonaill) the line crossed 

 the confluence of the Shannon and Fergus, and ran (by the Latoon 

 River) to Cuinclie, to Quin, in Clare, to the cross on Sliabh Uidhe an 

 Eiogh (Glennagross, above Limerick), and to the Dubh Abhainn, or 

 Elackwater, in Clare. This covered the district of Tradraighe, or 

 Tradree, the mensal land of the Dalcassian Princes, and Ui Aimrid, 

 but, as their power lay in both Sees, this was not then felt as a danger. 



In later times the clergy dared the ban, which the jirelates in 1116 

 laid on those removing the landmarks, by the absorption by Killaloe of 

 the parishes in Clare. In 1302, though the Norman power held 

 Tradree, the limits of Limerick bishoprick had fallen back to the Six- 

 milebridge Hiver. After the fall of the de Clares at Dysert O'Dea, in 

 1318, Limerick could only make a disregarded claim to Kilfiiitinan, 

 and Kilfinaghty, with the Cratloe Hills, near the city. It, however, 

 held Killeely and Kilrush, and claimed Kilquane, and, perhaps, 

 Kiltinanlea ; the two first still belong to the Diocese and City of 

 Limerick. Tully lease was assigned to Cork between 1201-1291, 

 perhaps in 1206, when the borders of Limerick and Cork Counties 

 were ascertained;^ Kilmurrily and Scattery (Iniscatha) were, how- 

 ever, retained rather precariously; and Killaloe either retained or 

 recovered Kilnagariff and Stradbally, or Castleconnell, though it lost 

 Donaghmore. Kilfintinan was recovered by Limerick, and continued 

 to be held down at least to 1805.- 



The diocese, accordingly, differed from the older Irish Sees by 

 being constructed by chance on purely artificial lines. ^ It straggled 

 from its cathedral, which lay close to the north-east corner, south- 

 ward for twenty miles, and westward for twice the distance. 



This absurdity was increased by the union of the Sees of Ardfert 



1 See "King John's Letter" that year, C.S.P.I., vol. i. 289, as to whether 

 Kilmallock lies in Limerick or Cork. The counties were only gradually established. 

 John de Lexington was Sheriff of Munster, 1234 ; Hugh de Barry was Sheriff of 

 Limerick in same year ; Philip de Inteberg was Sheriff of Munster, 124:4. Of other 

 early Sheriffs of Limerick we find— John de Muchegros, 1260-1266; Oliver 

 le Gras and Nic de Botevyleyn, 1274—1277 5 John Tangeley, 1276 ; Pobert Bagot, 

 1280; Walter Uncle, 1281-1284; James Keating, 1287; Henry le Waleis, 1290. 



- We find the Vicarage of Kilfintenan treated as under the Bishop of Limerick 

 in a terrier of 1805, P. P.O. I., No. 39. 



If we compare the Deaneries in the Bishopricks of Killaloe, Emly, and Limerick, 

 we find the first two (typical Irish sees) name the deaneries after tribal district* 

 (Corcovaskin, Omullod, Grene, &c.); the last, after castles and walled towns. 



