Notes on the Banon
and other Ancient Irish Families

by the late EDWARD MAGAWLY BANON, ESQ., A.I.M.E.
Compiled by MRS. EDWARD MAGAWLY BANON (AGNES MANNING BANON) 1947
Privately Printed in the U. S. A. by THE PAULIST PRESS NEW YORK, N. Y. 1947
Half Tones by Respass Engraving Co., Jacksonville, Florida

The Banon Family

The reading of family history affords a good opportunity for the study of the law of the survival of the fittest. The meaning of the word fittest, in this sense, is liable to be construed according to the ambitions of the student. Whatever that definition may be it is necessary, that the development of the individual possess qualities which solidifies his advance in such a manner that he does not jeopardize himself and posterity to annihilation, thereby killing the survival of his race. If our ambition is merely for the acquisition of wealth, we are liable to accumulate around us many enemies for usually if one amasses riches others are made poor besides which, we allow our energy to he absorbed in the acquisition of something, which dies with us.

In the ancient authentic records of Ireland, mention is made of the family of O'Bhanain, being chief of their clan and Lord of the territory of Hy-Dechi, prior to the Norman conquest of Ireland in 1171 and mention is made of the family as far back as the eleventh century at which period surnames were first adopted in Ireland. In the Annals of the Four Masters in the year 1128 is noted the death of Ua Banain, Abbot of Roscrea, successor to Cronan. This monastery was in the territory and under the protection of and endowed by the O'Banain. (The above compilation, translated by Owen Connellan.)

In the writings of the genealogist. O'Huidhrin or Heirinn, who died in 1420 and whose words are considered the Doomsday Book of Ireland, mention is made of the Bhanain of Hy-Dechi as follows:

"Hy-Dechi, the fine district of hills,
The extensive land of fair fortresses,
A fruitful country. which they inherit,
Is the estate of the tribe of O'Bannan"

Hy-Dechi the territory of the O'Bannans appears to have been situated in the north of Tipperary and there are still many respectable families of the name. From notes to the translation of the Four Masters (Annals) by Owen Connellan:

"Hy-Dechi, the country of verdant,
A fruitful country which they inherit,
The extensive land of fair fortresses
And great is the clan of the O'Bhanain.''

Note 770: This was Hui-Deci the tribe name of the family of O'Banain, now Banan, originally seated at Leim-Ui-Bhanain, now the Leap Castle, in the Barony of Clonlisk, near Roscrea. William O'Banane was one of the O'Carrolls freeholders in 1576. See Annals of the Four Masters, 1514, 1517, 1576

Note Bladhma, now Slieve Bloom.

From Topographical Poem of Ireland of O'Huidhrin trans. by Dr. J. O'Donovan, Irish Archeol. Soc. Pub. 21 in New York City Pub. Library. Reign of Brian Borumba, 1002.1014, it was during his time surnames were first given and territories were allotted to the surnames and the boundaries of every lordship and cantrel were fixed. Front MacLaig's life of Brian Borumba in note to Top Poem as above:

"Hui-Dechi the good hilly cantrel,
The extensive fair mansioned land,
A Land of fruit strengthened by them,
Is the patrimony of O'Banain."

A.D.1114 Kilbanon or Cill-Baneain, a Church in ruins and Round Tower, near Tuam in Barony of Dunmore Co. Galway, was burned this year.

Note This monastery was built by Saint Baneain, who was baptized by St. Patrick. See Annals of Four Masters and Documents in possession of E. Magawly Banon.

1128 O'Bannan, Bishop of Roscrea and Successor to Cronan, died in this year. Annals of Four Masters.

906 Ceallach O'Banon, successor of Comlighall died. See Annals F. Mas.

1174 Mach Patrick O'Banan, Bishop of Conor and Dal Araidhe (Down), a venerable man, full of sanctity, meekness and purity of heart, died in righteousness, in HY-Columbkill, at a venerable age. See Annals of Four Masters and note for this year, which states there were other families in Ireland of the name of O'Banan, that the name has been anglicized Bannon and Banon but incorrectly Banim by the family of the celebrated writer in Kilkenny.

1319 Celasius O'Banon (Banain) Bishop of Clogher died in this year. See Annals of Four Masters.

1489 O'Heerin in his topographical poem mentions O'Banon as follows:

- "HY-Decki, the country of verdant hills
A fruitful land of strong fortresses
A faithful clan do they command
And great are the sons of the O'Banon."

Note The hills referred to are the foothills of the Slieve Bloom Mountains and the fortresses are those of Leim-Ui-O'Banain now, Leap castle. Hy.Decki, now called the Barony of Ballybrit. See Annals of Four Masters.

1454 Kilcormack was founded by Odo, son of Nellan O'Malloy, who died in 1454, a monastery for White Friars. See Annals of Four Masters.

Note At the time of the suppression of the monasteries in Ireland, the lands and monastery of Kilcormack were granted to Robert Leicester and on the attainder of Thomas Leicester, they were sold to the Hollow Sword Blade Company. The Rectoy was conveyed to Trustees for the endowment of Protestant poor livings. However, a large portion of the estate passed to the family of Magawly, through the marriage with Jane Leicester & Frank Magawly about the year 1689. The said Frank Magawly founded a town on the site of the old monastery and called it after himself, Frankford. For other particulars, see history of the family of Magawly, written by various females of that house, formerly, in the possession of my late Aunt Mary Francis Nugent, relict of the late Gilbert Nugent and on her death, said history went in to the possession of Christopher J. P. Banon of Broughhall Castle and was given by him to Valerio Christopher, Count Magawly Cerati di Calry, Palazzo Canigiane, 22 Via De Barki, Florence, Italy. For a short history of the family of Magawly, see the Clongownian, June 1904, vol. iii and Annals of Four Masters. notes on year 1548, regarding above, 1. Annals of Four Masters. Compiled by Clery and Translated by Dr. J. O. Donovan.

Year
1514 "The same Earl (Kildare) went to Leim-Ui-Bhanain (note q) and what was seldom the case with him, he neither broke down nor took the castle for he was not able to do it any injury."

Note q Leim-Ui-Bhanain, i. e. O'Banon's Leap. This castle bears its name to the present day, among the few who speak Irish in the vicinity but it is now generally called by the translated name of the Leap Castle. It is situated in the Barony of Ballybritt, which is a part of Ely-O'Carroll (now in the Kings County) and nearly midway between Birr, Kinnity and Roscrea. . . . John O'Donovan.

1516 "The castle of O'Carrolls town, i.e., Leim-Ui-Bhanain, (Note w) was taken by the Earl of Kildare (Garrett, the son of Garrett) his father having failed to take it. There was scarcely any castle at that period, better fortified and defended than this, until it was demolished upon its warders."

Note w Leim-Ui-Bhanain, now the castle of the Leap, in Ely-O'Carroll, near Roscrea-See note q, under year 1514. This fine old castle now forms a part of the residence of H. Darcy, Esq. It occupies a high bank, immediately under the hill of Knock and commands a splendid view of the lofty activities of the mountain of Sliabli Bladhma, the ancient bulwark of the O'Carrolls. Ware in his Annals under the year, 1202-page 132 supra. John O'Donovan's Trans. Annals Four Masters.

1557 A hosting was made by the Lord Justice into Fircall, to expel the plunderers from it, for he had heard that they were in the woods of Fircall. He took Theobald O'Molloy and other prisoners and proceeded from thence into Ely, where he took Leim-Ui-Bhanain and it was the goodness of his steed (alone) that enabled O'Conor to escape from him"
1557 "O'Carroll (William Odhar) took the castle of Leim (note k) after having found it unprotected."

Note k Unprotected, literally, "after having found danger on it" by which strange idiom is meant. "by taking advantage of its warders," etc. John O'Donovan. Trans. of Four Masters.
1512 "Many of his party, besides the son of Manus . . . were slain…Donnell, the son of Brian, himself was taken prisoner . . . and nine of his people were drowned at Caradh Muintir Banain (Note r) on the same day."

Note r Caradh Muintir Banain i.e. the weir of the family of O'Banan now, called Ui bhanain, anglice. Carry vanan, in the parish of Derryvullan, about fifty chains to the south of Belle Isle House. See Ordnance map of Fermanagh, Sheet 27.

1536 O'Conor Faly (Brian the son of Cahir) was banished from his country and all his castles were demolished and numbers of his people were slain, during the taking of them, by the English Lord Justice, i.e. Lord Leonard (note p) and this was done through the envy and machinations of Cathol O'Roe O'Conor's own brother.

Note p This should be Lord Leonard Gray.

1. Annals Four Masters.
Year 1475 "It was on this occasion that O'Connell gave O'Melaghlin with all his muster and forces, the defeat of Garbh-Eisgir. (Note N.)

Note N. Of Garbh-Eisgir, now Esher, a remarkable ridge of low sand hills, extending through the parish of Ballyloughloe, in the Barony of Clonlonan. It is stated in the Dublin copy of the Annals of Ulster, that the Clann Colman or Melaghlins and the Calraighe or Magawleys pursued O'Donnell at Gairb-Eisgir and that O'Donnell and Turlough Maguire turned upon the pursuers at the west side of Magawley's town (i.e. Ballylough) where they defeated them and took many of their men prisoners also the son of Magawley.

1475 "It was on the same day that O'Donnell gained the battle of Baile-Locha-Luatha (note o) where the son of Magawley and many others were slain, etc.

note O.Baile-Locha-Luatha, i.e. the town of Lough Luatha, now Ballyloughloe, a small village in the county of Westmeath, about six miles to the east of Athone. It is also the name of a parish, which is otherwise locally called the parish of Calry. This is the first reference to Baile-Locha-luatha, in the Annals of the Four Masters but it is mentioned in Mageoghegan's translation of the Annals of Clonmacnoise as a town of some importance so early as the year 1234, when it appears to have been in the possession of the English of Meath. The passage is as follows, "A. D. 1234, Felym O'Connor, King of Connaught, with his forces came to Meath and burned Balliloghlowaha and Ardinucher with many other towns."

Ballyloughloe was for many centuries the chief residence of Magawley, chief of Calry-an-chala, a territory which comprised all the parish of Ballyloughloe, which is still called Calry-See an Inquisition, taken at Mullingar, on the 14th of April, 1635, and another taken at Athlone on the 11th of May, in the twenty-seventh year of the reign of Charles II in which the lands belonging to different members of this family are enumerated. The editor examined the localities of the parish of Ballyloughloe or district of Clary-an-Chala, in September,.-1937, and found the more remarkable places to be as follows. (Then follows note on Calraighe, anglicised Calry, from Notes on Tribes of Meathin Topographical Poem by O'Duhhagain, etc. This is under Magawly Cerati of Calry.)

And regarding the battle of Cnoc-Ratha-O'Banain (The hill of the burial place of the O'Banons). This burial place was in Hy-Decki, now, the Barony of Ballybrit, Kings County. In the above notes in the Four Masters reference is made to Ballyboy and other interesting local places.

1514 Garrett, Father of the Earl of Kildare went to besiege, Leim-Ui-O'Banain and what was seldom the case with the powerful Lords of the Pale, he neither broke down nor took the Castle, for he was not able to do it any injury. See Annals of Four Masters.

1516 The castle of Leim-Ui-O'banain was taken by the Earl of Kildare; there was scarcely any castle at that period better fortified and defended. Annals 4 M

1537 Birr Castle taken by Lord Leonard Gray.

1538 Broughall Castle taken by Lord Leonard Gray, see Lewis Topographical Dictionary of Ireland.

1548 In the year 1548, Kilcormac was burned and destroyed by the English and O'Carroll. See Mageoghegan's Translation of the Annals of Clonmacnoise edited by Reverend D. Murphy, S.J. The original manuscripts, according to Father Murphy were in the possession of the late Sir Richard Nagle of Jamestown Court, who was the heir of the family of Mageoghegan and kin of the family of Banon.

Jamestown Court on the death of Sir Richard Nagle reverted to the late John Grace, head of the family of that name and after his death as he left no male heirs, the property came into the possession of my first cousin, the present owner, Colonel Gilbert Lavallon Nugent, a direct descendant of Count Nugent formerly of Ballinacor, County Westmeath, being a junior branch of the House of the Earldom of Westmeath.

1557 The castle of Leim-Ui-O'Banain was taken by the Lord Justice and retaken in the same year by William Odhar O'Carroll (page 1551). In this year, much fighting in Fearcall and Delvin, O'Molloy and MacCoghlan, the chiefs of Fearcall and Delvin. Annals Four Masters.

1576 On the 8th of March, 1576, O'Carroll, Prince of Ely made his submission to Queen Elizabeth as appears from the following indenture, enrolled on the record branch of the office of Paymaster of Civil Service;

"This indenture made the 8th day of March, 1576, betwyxth Sir Henry Sidney, Knt. Lorde Deputy of Ireland for and in behalf of the Queen's most excellent Majestie of the one parte and Sir William O'Karroll of Lemyvanan in the County of Elye O'Karroll and now to be made Parcell of the Kings Countie, Owen McGilfoil, Owen O'Karroll, Callogh O'Karroll, Williame O'Banane, Tiege O'Karroll, and others in the said countie freeholders of the other parts.

Witnesseth, that the said Sir William and the rest above named, do covenant, agree and condescend to and with the said Lord Deputy to surrender and give up in the Queen's most honorable courts of Channcerie of Ireland, all such manors, lands, tenements, rents, revenues and all other hereditaments that they and everie of them have within the said countrie of Ely O'Karroll and the said Lord Deputy doe promise and grante that the same shall be by letters patent, given back to the said Sir William and theirs, males of his bodie, lawfullie begotten, etc., etc. (preserved in the Tower of London).

Year
1595 See Sir Willia Russell's Journal. Lord Deputy of Ireland, 1595, preserved in the British Museum. See Brewer's "Beauties of Ireland," Vol. ii, page 152. See Ireland in the 17th Century by M. Hickson.

1620 Ely O'Carroll was planted under James I and Birr granted to Laurence Parsons, brother of Sir William Parsons, Surveyor General of Ireland on the breaking out of the rebellion of 1641.

1642 Birr Castle was besieged by the sept of O'Karroll but was relieved by Sir Charles Coate. The next year it was taken by General Preston representing the Catholics and remained in their hands till taken by Ireton, son of Cromwill. See Lewis Topographical Dictionary.

1688 In this year Birr Castle surrendered to General Grace.

1664 to 1666
Sir William Petty, Knt. ancester of the Marquis of Landsowne aided by 1666 Thomas Taylor, ancester of the Marquis of Hertford were granted 2,800,000 acres of forfeited land. They were surveyors generals of Ireland and this grant was in lieu of payment. See Burke's Peerage, Hist. of Marquis of Landsowne.

1690 In 1690, Birr Castle was besieged by Sarsfield, Lord Galway and the Duke of Berwick, but the siege was raised by Sir John Lanier. See Lewis' Topographical Dictionary of Ireland and "Ireland in the 17th Century" by M. Hickson. See Tribes and Customs of Hy-many, Co. East Galway. See pages 150 and 151 names of men slain in the battle of Cloghan Castle.
For intervening dates consult Burke's Peerages and Landed Gentry of Ireland, under Grace, Nagle, Nugent, Carroll, Magawly, Banon, etc.

1846 Kilcormac, now Frankford. See Miscellany of Irish Society for 1846.

1848 For Frankford see also Lewis Topographical Dictionary of Ireland for Banon.

In 1879, when Edward Banon was 11 years old and was for a time with Cousin Anne Banon in Dublin, the latter would read him fairy stories; Grimms, etc., and bring out a large jar of Canton Ginger, that her brother, who had been serving in the army in China, had brought her, 20 years previously. This crystalized Ginger was expensive on account of being brought out for entertainment of special occasions, "little Edwards visit." It was this brother, Lionel Banon's father, who had retrieved the fortunes that their father had spent, he also sent home from India, a tiger skin, and a box of tea, which was highly prized in those days, when there were no steamer lines. The tiger skin spoiled the tea, and much disappointed Cousin Anne.

The Banon Family

Hui-Deci-This was the tribe name of the family of O'Banain, now Banan, originally seated at Leim-ui-Bhanain, now the Leap Castle, in the barony of Clonlisk, near Roscrea. William O'Banane was one of the O'Carroll's freeholders in 1576. (See Annals of Four Masters, dates 1514, 1516, 1576) and taken from the Topograpphical poems of John O'Dubhagain (see Irish Archeological Society Publ. 21, N. Y. Pub. Lib.) also Giolla Na Naomh O'Huidrin, translated by John O'Donovan. Banan-from Ban-White; see O'Dugan & OHeerin; these are said to be the best authorities on locating the different Irish families prior to the sixteenth century. The topography of ancient Ireland of which an account is given in the introduction to these Annals forms a peculiar feature in this work; it was written about four hundred fifty years ago but is now, for the first time, translated from the original Irish and published in these notes, with copious explanations and additions.

These topographies of O'Dugan and O'Heerin may be considered as a sort of "Doomsday Book" of Irish history, continuing on account of the ranks, titles and territories of the Irish princes, lords and chiefs in the twelfth, thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, thus forming a most important record and affording invaluable information on the ancient families and great landed proprietors. John O'Dubhagain died in 1372, GiollaNa-Naomh O'Huidhrin or O'Heerin died in 1420. (The above is taken from the preface to the Annals of Four Masters compiled by O'Clery and others, 1736 and translated by Owen Conellan, published in 1845.)

Note by Edward Magawly Banon, New York City, 1916:
In the fifth, sixth and seventh centuries, the Goths and Huns and northern hordes of Europe invaded Gaul and Rome and the educated (cleric) intelligent people living there fled to the isolated country of the then existing world, such as Ireland, where they remained, married and bred with the natives, disseminating learning, building schools and writing for almost all these centuries. In the fifth century through St. Patrick, the early kings, chiefs and bards became Christians, King of Tara, the most powerful. Ireland was still the land of Druids, their priests and religion. Histories of these early peoples of Ireland were written per Ossian's Chronicles in mss. as the Book of Kells and the Annals of Clanmacnoise, written by or commenced by scholarly men or clerics and finished by monks. The Annals of the Four Masters was a collection of early annals of all Ireland then in the hands of the different monasteries, and during the time of Queen Elizabeth, in danger of extinction on account of the persecution and burning of the monasteries, etc. This collection of the early works was made possible by the generosity of a Gentleman of Ireland, living at that time, who commissioned O'Clery and others to gather up the different annals and publish them as the "Annals of the Four Masters." They visited all parts of Ireland and collected the songs and chronicles of the bards and the annals of the different monasteries. O'Clery and his companions were monks. In early civilizations-Egypt, Palestine, etc., much of this kind of work was done, the writing being done by scribes and later clerics and then monks.
From the genealogies, tribes and customs of Hy-Fiachrach, commonly called O'Dowda's Country, from the Book of Lecan and genealogical mss. of Duald Mac Firbis in the library of Lord Roden, translated by Dr. John O'Donovan. Dublin, Irish Archeol. Soc. 1844, p. 153, N. Y. Pub. Lib. "O'Banan of Baile Ui Bhanan (Note P. Baile Ui Bhanan-In Giolla Iosa Mor Mac Firbis' poem, it is expressed O'banan o'baili pein, O'Banan of his own town, i.e. of the town named after himself. It is still called Baile Ui Bhanain by the natives who speak Irish very well, and is Anglicised Ballybannon or Ballylanaun. It is situated in the parish of Na Ballyovey not far from the margin of Lough Mask and contains a Roman Catholic Chapel. It is called Ballybanaan or Bald's Map of County Mayo.)
Magilin of Muine (Note Q.-called O'Gillin in the poem, Muine or Carcowmonay is still the name of a hamlet and townland in the parish of Ballyovey or Partry).
Macoglaoichs (Note R.-the meaning is not given in any Irish dictionary but there can be little doubt that it was the same as the Galloglach of later ages).

P. 189 of same poem:

"The country of Partraighe (Darcey & D'Arcy of Meath) of fine hazel trees
'With the yellow knotted spear shaft in the battle."

O'Banan of his own town (Note H. or as the Scotch say, of that ilk, i.e., of the town, seat or townland called after himself, viz. Baile-Ui- Bhanain, now Ballybanaun, a townland in the parish of Ballyovey or Partry to the west of Lough Mask, the maps, however, differ as to situation and extent. Mr. James O'Flaherty of Galway, who is intimately acquainted with the district of Partry, has thus described its situation to a number of queries proposed by the Editor. "Ballybanane is a townland on the side of the mountain of Partry and is nearly in an angular position, which leaves it west of the mountain lake and due west of Lough Mask which it borders. There is a chapel in this townlahd." See also ordnance map of County Mayo, sheets 108, 109, and Bald's map of the same county. It is probable that Ballybanaun was originally a Ballybetagh or large Irish townland containing about 480 Irish acres and that it comprised several of the present adjoining denominations. "O'Banan, a brughaide who merited not reproach ……"

Carn Fiacha, a ruin of Carn Castle, and on the Jamestown Estate. When a boy, Edward remembers his Aunt Mary Nugent telling Christy Dalton, nicknamed the Baronet by the other servants: "Christy, are the cattle over at Carn?" April, 1917.
Translation to the Annals of the Four Masters, Connellan:
1514 A. D. "The Earl of Kildare (Gerald Fitzgerald) gained great sway with his forces, for he overran the province of Ulster as far as Carrickfergus, and Munster, as far as the palace of MacCarthy. The same Earl marched to Leim-Ui-Bhanain (the castle of Lemanaghan in the Barony of Garrycastle, King's County, which belonged to the O'Carrolls, see A. D. 1516) but did not succeed in either destroying or taking the castle."

Notes to Connellan's translation to the Annals of tile Four Masters, O'Dubhaigain, or O'Dugan, top. poem, says of the O'Fallons:

"The O'Fallons, who marched with every force
Were chiefs of Clan Uadach of wine banquets,
Men who let not their spears decay
Of those are the freeborn clans."

O'Fallanihain, or O'Fallons, chief of Clan Uadach, a district in the barony of Athlone, County of Roscommon, comprising the parishes of Cam and Dysart, had a castle at Milltown.
The O'Fallons were originally chiefs in Westmeath near Athlone. Several chiefs of the O'Fallons are mentioned in the course of the Annals.

Hy in Irish means or of from, pronounced Ive.
Clinel means tribe, pronounced Kinel.
Tuatha means district.
Mael means servant

Tuatha, that is, districts, co. Roscommon, through which Sleive Bagh na or Slieve Baun, extends from north to south parallel with the Shannon (page 35 Conellan's trans. Annals Four Masters).

Daniel Molloy, Esq., of Clonbela near Birr, in King's County is traditionally considered the present senior representative of the family.

O'Banain or Bannan, chief of Hy Dechi, is thus mentioned by OHeerin:

"Hy Dechi, thc fine disirtct of hills
The extensive lands of fair fortresses
A fruitful country which they inherit,
Is the estate of the tribe of OBannan."

Hy Dechi, the territory of the O'Bannans, appears to have been situated in the north of Tipperary and there are still many respectable families of the name.

O'Maolmuaidh or O'Molloy, Prince of Fear Ceall, is thus described by O'Dugan:

"The Prince of Fear Ceall of the ancient swords
Is O'Molloy of the freeborn name;
Full power was granted to him
And he held his own country uncontrolled."

The extensive territory held by the O'Molloys comprised the present baronies of Eglish or Fearcall, Ballycowan and Ballyboy in the King's County and formed originally a part of the Kingdom of Meath. The O'Molloys were of the ancient race of the southern Hy-Nialls or Clan Coleman, the ancient kings of Meath and as princes of Fearcall were very powerful and many chiefs of them are mentioned in the Annals and when reduced to the subjection of English rule in the reign of Elizabeth they had conferred on them under the crown, the office of royal standard bearer of Leinster, which they held for a long time, the greater part of their estates were confiscated after the Cromwellian and Williamite wars, but there are still many respectable families of the name in the King's County and also in Roscommon, of whom copious accounts may be found in the learned Dalton's Annals of Boyle (Trans. by Connellin).

O'Macilmhuaidh, Lord of Feara-Ceall or O'Molloys of Fercal, Lords of Meath.
(Note 24):

"King of Feara-Ceall of ancient swords
O'Maolmhuaidh, noble the surname,
Every sword was tried by him
He has a division to himself alone.

Note 24-Feara-Ceall, i.e., Viri cellarum seu ppotius ecclesiarum, This name was long preserved in Fircal, a barony in the King's County, now known as Eglish, but there is ample evidence to prove that Feara-Ceall comprised not only this, but the baronies of Ballycowan and Ballyboy in the same county. See Leabhar na-g Ceart, p. 180. The present chief is known to the editor. The head of the O'Maolmhuaidhe, anglice O'Malloys, in 1585, was Connell, son of Cahir, whose grandson was chief in 1677. See Annals Four Master A. D. 1585, p. 1838, trans. by Dr. John ODonovan, and his notes of O'Dubdhagain's, top, poem on Ireland.
Mac Amhalgaidh, MacAuley or Magawley, is given by ODugan as chief of Calraidhe-an-Chala, and thus designated:

'The fair MacAuley rules over
The entire of the ports of Calry."

The territory called Calry comprised the present parish of Ballyloughloe, in the barony of Clonlanan in Westmeath and the ports alluded to in the above passage were those of the Shannon to which this parish extends and according to MacGeoghegan, the MacAuleys, Lords of Calry were also possessed of part of the barony of Kilcoursey, in the King's County and they were chiefs of note in former times and the present head of this ancient family is the Count Magawley of Temora, near Frankford in the King's County.
Annals Four Masters, trans. by Connellan.

"The fair Mag Amhalghadha all
Over the marshes of Calraighe."

Note 46, on tribes of Meath.
Calraighe, anglicised Calry
This note has been written under Magawly-Cerati de Calry.
Top. poem of O'Dubhagain trans. by Dr. John O'Donovan.

Mag-Eochagain, chieftain of Cinel-Fianhach or Mageoghegan, as follows:

"We give first place to the manly sept,
The illustrious clann-Eochagain,
Host of the girdles, comely their complexion."

Notes to Annals of the Four Masters, etc.

Mac Amhalgeadh. Mac Auly Magawley is given by O'Dugan as Chief of Colraidhe an Chala arid others designated.

"The fair MacAuley rules over the extent of the port of Calry." The territory called Calry comprised the present parish of Ballylough in the Barony of Clonlonan, in West Meath, and the parts alluded to in the above passage were those of the manor to which the parish extends, also possessed part of the barony of Kilcoursy in Kings Co.

They were chiefs of note in former times and the present head of this ancient family is the Count Magawly of Frankford.

Map in Four Masters was made by Philip McDermott, M.D., arid mostly from the ancient topographies of O'Dugan and O'Harin and from Ortellius, who died 1598.

Note: See also map of Ortellius, published by Charles O'Connor of Belenagale, year 1770, showing Irish land owners James I.
An account of the map of Ortellius is given in the introduction of the second volume of Shaw Mason's Statistical Survey of Ireland.
Maps with the state papers of the reign of Henry VIII published 1834, compiled 1515 to 1567.

See Dr. Keating's History of Ireland, translated by Dormond O'Connor in 1738 and republished with plates and armorial designs of Princes and chiefs, in Dublin by Christie and Duffy, also translated by William……of Dublin in 1811.
This map is a copy of the map in the Four Masters which was written about the beginning of the Seventeenth Century; it shows who held property in Ireland at that time. See "Four Masters."

The following notes are from the Four Masters:

In O'Hurin's topographical poem which was written in the 15th Century, O'Bannon, O'Bannain or O'Banon. Chief of the Dechi is mentioned as Chief of Hy Dechi, which is situated in the South part of the country now known as Kings Co. and the North part of Tipperary. See paper 2.

The Annals of the Four Masters, by Michael O'Clery and others. R.C.S. See map in this book. All this book is in English. Map very interesting, not the same as the seven volumes of John ODonovan.

See (Annals of Ireland) Lemevon (Leap).

Ua, grandson, descendant: plural Ui, dative or abl. Uibh. This word, which is evidently cognate with the Greek uios, filius, appears in the names of Irish tribes more frequently than any of the preceding terms, as Ui-Neill, descendants of Niall of the Nine Hostages, Monarch of Ireland in the beginning of the Fifth Century. Ui-Ui-Briuin, i.e., des. of Brian, ete.-From notes to top. poem, above.

Dr. John O'Donovan, historian and translator, in his translation on the Annals, states that the hills referred to are the foothills on the western slope of the Slieve Bloom Mountains, and that one of the fortresees was the Castle of Leim-Ui-Bhanain, now the Leap Castle, which was the great stronghold of the Principality of Ely, built to defend this Pass. The Castle is of very ancient origin, the legend of its name and erection is as follows:

Two brothers of the name of O'Banain who were contesting the chieftainship of the territory, went to the rock on which the Castle was built and decided that whichever of them survived after leaping to the ground below, should erect a strongholdand become a chief of the territory. One of the two was killed by the leap. The site of the Castle was evidently chosen to guard the river ford and the pass of the Slieve Bloom Mountains against invasion into Ely. It was one of the ancient strongholds of the Principality of Ely, situated in the Parish of Aghaucon, in the Barony of Ballybritt, Kings County, about five miles southeast of Birr. Its former name of Leim-Ui-Bhanian, denoted the "Leap of O'Banan" and it is still known as the "Leap" in the district. The Castle was built in the tenth century during the Danish occupation.

The structure resembles the Danish form of defense, being of pyramidal shape and built in the rubble masonry of that period with pre-Norman arches and small loop-holes for the discharge of arrows and javelins. The walls vary from fifteen to twenty-five feet in width. There are several stone stairways in the thickness of the walls and parts of them are brightly polished from constant use. The Keep is of the oldest construction and it forms the hall of the present edifice. The wings, one at each side, were built at the end of the sixteenth or beginning of the seventeenth century. That on the northwest connects what is known as the "Priest's House" with the main building. This dwelling is of fourteenth century masonry and was used as the chief residence of the family in time of peace. In the top of the Keep is what is known as "Bloody Chapel," having been desecrated by one Teighe O'Carroll who murdered his brother before the Altar. It was formerly covered with a stone roof but this gave way last century. A curious old stone fastening remains, that formerly received the bar of the door. Off the Chapel is the Oubliette, formerly supplied with a spring death trap. Not so very long ago a cart took three cart loads of bones from it and buried them in consecrated ground. Bits of several old watches were found among the remains. Large dungeons are situated below the Keep and there are many bricked-up passages and secret chambers. One of the former is said to lead to a neighboring rath. The guild-room on the southeast is hewn out of the rock. Numerous bones have been found in a field near the river. A great many have been found in different parts of the building. A village once surrounded the Castle but only the ruins of houses now remain."-From Castles in Ireland, by Adams.

Authorities: Donovan, "Annals of tile Four Masters"; Cooke, "History of Birr"; Cooke, "Picture of Parsonstown"; J. Brewer, "Beauties of Ireland"; "Parliamentary Gazetteer"; Lord Walter Fitzgerald, "Kilkea Castle"; Kildare,"Archaeological Society's Journal.

(From The Weekly Irish Times, Saturday, April 24, 1937.)

In the Parish of Aghacon-"The Field of the Hound" which is situated partly in the Barony of Clonlisk, but chiefly in the Barony of Ballybritt in Offaly, formerly King's County, within the ancient principality of the O'Carrolls, stands the historic stronghold known as Leap Castle. This fine old structure, now the seat of the Darby family, was according to the author of the "Territory of Ely O'Carroll" built by the O'Carrolls in the twelfth century very soon after the coming of the Anglo-Normans into Ireland, and reconstructed at different periods afterward.
Legend or tradition, however, is responsible for the opinion of other chroniclers, that the foundation of the castle is of earlier date, and the story of the origin of its peculiar name, if legend and tradition are to be credited, lends support to this view.

It is related that two brothers O'Banan came one day to the rock on which the castle is built and decided that whichever of them survived, should erect a stronghold upon the rock. One of the two was killed in the leap, the other erected the castle which in the course of time became known as "Leim-Ui-Bhanain," O'Banan's Leap, and afterward, Leap Castle.

The O'Banans ruled as sub-chiefs to the O'Carrolls of Ely over an extensive portion of the present Barony of Ballybritt. This ancient Milesian family is referred to by the fifteenth century poet, O'Uidhrin (who died in 1420) in the following lines:

"Hi Dechi, the goodly country of the hills
The extensive, white mansioned land,
A fertile country adhered to by them,
The hereditary estate of O'Banan."

And an O'Banan, "the O'Banan" is found recorded in the sixteenth century as a freeholder of Aghancon.

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