CHRISTIAN ANTIQUITIES. 
ticed, and with which it has in consequence been latterly confounded. In what manner this 
name was originally so transferred; whether given by its founder in remembrance of the more 
illustrious regal residence, or as more probable, merely bestowed in consequence of its situation 
within the district still called Aileach, it is fruitless now to conjecture, and is a question now of 
little moment. This castle is situated on the verge of the parish, in the townland of Elaghmore, 
on a gentle but commanding eminence, 248 feet above the level of the sea, (sheet 13;) and is 
about 2 miles distant from the more ancient fortress. Neither the date of its erection, nor 
the name of its founder are preserved in the Irish annals, but tradition assigns the erection of it, 
as well as the neighbouring castles of Burt and Inch, to the O'Doghertys ; and their exact simi¬ 
larity in form and style shews them to be of the same age, and designed for a cbrnmon object_ 
which was obviously the defence of the peninsula of Inishowen. 
From an examination of the castles of Burt and Inch, which are still in a tolerably perfect 
state, we find that each consisted of a lofty square keep, with semicircular towers projecting 
from two of the angles, and strengthened by an outward ballium ; and of these castles, that of 
Burt was, according to 0 Sullevan, and the inquisitions, O’Dogherty’s chief fortress of Inish¬ 
owen. Of Aileach, a portion of one of the semicircular towers only now remains, the chief 
portion having been used as building materials in the adjacent village. The form and style of 
these castles indicate their erection in the 1.5th century, and history furnishes a strong though in¬ 
direct evidence of their origin in that age. It is certain that the peninsula of Inishowen was 
anciently, as its name indicates, and has been historically shown, the original territory of the 
Kinel Owen, and that after the 0 Neills, the chief family of this race had forced their way by con¬ 
quest into the more southern territories called after them Tir Eoghain, or Tirone. This original 
district formed a portion of the territory of the O'Gormly’s, chiefs of the KenelMoen a branch 
of the same stock. After the fall of the monarchy in the 12th century, however, the increasing 
power of the Kinel Connell enabled them, after much contention, to add this district to their an¬ 
cient possessions, and place the 0 Doghertys, a distinguished family of that race, over it as tri- 
outaiy chiefs. And though we have no very exact account of the circumstances connected with its 
occupation by this family, the Irish annals afford such evidences as are sufficient to show that it 
must have been about the commencement of the 15th century: for it is at this period that we 
find them foi the first time add the title of Lord of Inishowen, to that of their more ancient patri¬ 
mony. This will appear from the following extracts from the annals of the Four Masters. 
1342. Donnell, O'Dogherty, chief of Ardmiodhair and the cantred of Tir Enda, a 
man abounding in hospitality and valour, died. 
1359. John O’Dogherty, chief of Ardmiodhair, was killed at Ballyshanny, (Bally- 
shannon.) J 
1407. Owen O’Dogherty, heir to the chieftainship of Ardmiodhair, died. 
1413. Conor O Dogherty, chief of Ardmiodhair, and Lord or Inishowen, a man full 
of generosity and general hospitality to the poor and the needy, died. 
This is the first notice which occurs in these annals, of the O’Doghertys as Lords of 
J 1 ) 1 ® 1anc ^ henceforward, they appear to have held it as tributary lords, sometimes under 
O Neill, but usually under 0 Donnell, till it was confiscated in the 17th century. 
It appears certain, therefore, that the castles of Aileach, Burt, and Inch, were not erected 
pievious to the 15th century, nor is it likely that they were built at a more recent period, as 
they weie then indispensably necessary to the security of the territory, the possession of 
which was contested fiercely and with great loss of life, by O’Neill and O’Donnell, the rival 
chiefs of the great races of Kinel Owen and Kinel Connell, till the commencement of the 
following century, when O'Neill was obliged to make a formal surrender of his right to it. 
According to the Four Masters, in 1512, O'Neill was forced to obtain peace from O’Donnell, by 
a formal renunciation “ of every claim which had been disputed between their ancestors, of 
the lents ol the territories of Kinel Moen, Inishowen, and all Fermanagh;” and in 1514 
after mutual preparations for another combat, O'Neill was induced a second time to surrender 
his claims to these territories, on which occasion the annalists state, u he gave new charters , 
(capcctca nuao) to O’Donnell, together with a confirmation ot the old ones of Kinel Moen, 
lmshowew , and Fermanagh,” During these contests, as we learn from Irish MSS., as well 
as Sir 11 . Dockwra s “ Narration,” the 0 Dogherty was obliged to pay chief rent to the party 
uppermost. The rent exacted by O’Neill was sixty milch cows each May day. That paid to the 
O Donnell was sixty beeves and sixty milch cows each May day ; and they were bound to 
send sixty horsemen and 120 foot soldiers to the field, and entertain his Bonnaghts or hired 
auxiliaries, be they ever so numerous, for the space of nine nights. The Eric or mulct, paid 
u-r terr i t01 7 for killing a man, was 168 cows. In the time of Red Hugh O'Donnell, the 
chiel rent for Inishowen was increased to sixty beeves three times a year, or 180 annually — 
[Original Irish MS .) 
During the existence of the monarchy, as appears from the book of rights, Inishowen 
ranked among the iiwefree territories, but its chiefs were obliged to wait on the king in all 
public assemblies, and also to aid him with his forces in time of war. The gifts which the 
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