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Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, 



magli. It was the Cistercian Abbey of St. Maria de JVTagio, Maige, 

 May, Mayo, or ^^enay. The Aonach Cairbre, 902, of the ''Book of 

 Rights." The abbey was founded by King Torlongh O'Brien, 

 1148-51, who vowed it in a fierce battle with the Danes on its site. 

 It was a daughter of Mellifont. The charter of John, when Earl of 

 Mortain, in 1185, was confirmed by him, as king, in 1200 (C.S.P.I., 

 vol. i., T^o. 136). It granted to the abbey the church sites of Killkillin, 

 Cathircornii, Camus, Grange, Chillconill, Imleach-Dregingi, Cillnarath, 

 Ceallmeccerill, Ifedomair, Ceallseanig, Tulachbraci, Ceailcrumtirlapau, 

 Cealladleach, and other lands, granges, and church sites, out to Darach- 

 muchua ; the abbey site was at Kinelraekin. The abbot had a seat in 

 Parliament. Two fierce battles were fought near it, one in 1369, when 

 Brian " of the battle of jS'enagh," King of Thomond, defeated and 

 captured Garrett, Earl of Desmond, the other in 1579, when Sir 

 N. Malbie defeated John of Desmond, slew the monks, and destroyed 

 the abbey. Numerous records remain dui'ing the thirteenth,^ four- 

 teenth,- and sixteenth centuries ; none of the fifteenth. It was 

 granted to Sir H. Wallop, 1585. ITIampcipaTiaoTias (A.F.M., 1502), 

 or Qonacbeag, " Magio," from the Commoge Biver, not theMaigue, as 

 usually stated. Fabric — The church, chapter-house, and foundations 

 of the cloister and domicile remain, with a small building near 

 the river. It had a fine vaulted chancel 27 feet square, with a 

 lofty three-light window, which, with the roof, collapsed about 1874 ; 

 the tower near the west end having fallen in 1806. The nave was 

 90 feet by 27 feet ; the ritual choir, 54 feet long, once formed a part. 

 The screen wall has a trefoil -headed window, and a low door ; the side 

 arcades are plain, and pointed ; the lights of the clerestory and two 

 west windows are round-headed ; the capitals of the arches of the 

 chancel and transepts are rich, but the side-wings are nearly gone. 

 Descriptions — Eitzgerald, vol. i., p. 327 : his description is erroneous, 

 and shows but little knowledge of church architecture. R. R. Brash, 

 Eccles. Architecture of Ireland," p. 137. R.S.A.I., vol. xix., 

 p. 232, by T. J. Westropp.^ 



^ Black Book of Limerick; Calendars of Documents, &(•., &c. Revue Celtique, 

 vol. vi., p. 83, gives a charter of Donatus Karbveach (O'Brien), Rex Tuadmonei, 

 giving two marks to Magio (witnessed by Bishop Hubert), c. 1220-40, and one of 

 his successor, C. O'Brien, witnessed by T. de Magio. 



2 Fitzgerald, vol. i., p. 404, cites the "Annals of Monasternenagh " for events in 

 1353. I cannot trace this book. 



^ See plan, on Plate XYII., and views, Plate XI. 



