CITY OF LONDONDERRY. 
1162. “Cathusach, the son of Comaltan, reader of divinity in Derry-Columbkille, died. He 
was a distinguished sage.” 
1175. The Annals of the Four Masters at this year record the death of the celebrated Flaher- 
tach O’Brolchain, for whom the bishopric of Derry was instituted, viz. : — 
“Flahertach O’Brolchain, coarb of Columbkille, tower of wisdom and hospitality, to whom, 
for his wisdom and great virtues, the clergy of Ireland had given a bishop’s chair [see], and 
offered the superintendence of the monastery of Iona, after having borne the pains of a long 
infirmity with patience, died most piously in the monastery of Derry. Gelasius O’Branain 
succeeded him in the government of the monastery.” 
Colgan says of the family of O’Brolchain, which supplied so many eminent ecclesiastics to 
the abbey of Derry—that they were of ancient nobility, and formerly of distinguished name, but 
now nearly extinct. They are still, however, one of the most numerous families in the neighbour¬ 
hood of Derry, and, though they call themselves O’Brollaghan in speaking Irish, they generally’ 
adopt the name of Bradley in English. The Irish provincial allusion to their fallen state—“ He is 
a gentleman of the Brollaghans”—commonly applied to persons poor and proud, has probably influ¬ 
enced them in this change of their name to that of an English family. 
1180. “ Macrath O’Doighre [Deery], erenach of Derry, died.” This family was also very 
noble. They still exist, and are called Deery. 
1185. “ Maoliosa O’Muireadhaich [Murry], lecturer of divinity at Derry-columbkille, died 
at a venerable old age.” 
1189. “ Maolcainnigh O’Fearcomais, professor of divinity at Deny, was drowned between 
Aird [Ardmagilligan], and Inishowen.” 
1195. “ Conor MacFachtna died in the church of Derry.” 
1198. “The abbot, Gilla-Mac-Liag, or GelasiusO’Branan, resigned the abbacy, and Gilcreest 
O’Cearnaich was elected abbot by the consent of the clergy. He was afterwards advanced 
to the see of Connor, and died in 1210.” 
1202. “Moyle Finnan M‘Colman was elected arch-prior, but died the same year, and, on 
the 27th of April following-, O’Brolchain, the prior and great senior, died. He was in high 
estimation for his many virtues and extensive learning.”—( Archdall.) 
O’Brolchain appears to have been succeeded in the abbacy by Amhalgaidh [Awley] O’Ferrall, 
who was abbot in 1203, as appears from the list given by the annalists of the clergy assembled 
in that year to pass over into Iona. Ainmire O’Coffey was also a distinguished ecclesiastic of 
Derry at this time. 
1206. “ Donnell O’Muireadhaich [Murry], chief professor of divinity at Derry, died.” 
1213. “ Ainmire O’Coffey [the successor of Amhalgaidh O’Ferrall], abbot of the church of 
Derry, a clergyman of noble birth, and distinguished for his piety, meekness, charity, and every 
other good quality, died.” 
1215. “ Donogh O’Duibhdhiorma, chief of Breadach, near Derry, died in the church of Duv- 
Regles.” 
1218. “ Maoiliosa O’Doighre [O’Deery], erenach of Derry, died on the 8th of December, after 
having been erenach of Derry for 40 years, and having done all the good in his power both for 
church and state.” 
1219. “ Fanactan O’Broin, abbot of Derry, died, and Flan O’Brolchain was elevated to his 
place.” 
1229. “ The canon, Gerard O’Cahane, esteemed the most learned of the whole order, died.” 
1233. “ Geoffry O’Doighre, erenach of this abbey, died.” 
1397. “Reginald O’Hegarty resigned the abbacy, and Odo [Hugh] Mac Gillibride 
O’Dogherty was chosen in his place.”— Ware, MS. note. 
1475. “ Donogh, the son of Hugh M'Sweeny, prior of Derry, died.” 
1531. “ Cuconnaght O’Fraghill was abbot, for Sir Odo O’Donnell, lord of Tirconnell, being 
prevented by sickness from personally renewing his oath of allegiance, did appoint the said abbot 
and Richard O'Grayhan, ofTredagh [Drogheda], to perform his bounden fidelity to the king, 
which they accordingly did on the 5th of May this year, before the lord deputy Skeffington, at 
Tredagh.’’—( Archdall, from Ware.) 
Bishops. 
Flahertach O’Brolchain, elected 1158; died 1175. 
“ A sufficient notice of Flahertach O’Brolchain, the first bisbop of Derry, has heen already 
given among the abbots in the preceding section. His successor, according to Ware and Harris, 
was Muireadhach [Murry] O’Cobthaich [Coffey], whose death is thus recorded in the Annals pf 
the Four Masters. 
“ 1173. Muireadhach O'Coffey, bishop of Derry and Raphoe, a son of purity, a precious stone, 
