Tadhg Ó Cianáin
Encyclopedia
Tadhg Og Ó Cianáin was an Irish
writer.
He was the author of Imeacht na nIarlaí/The Earls' Departure, a diary
of the Flight of the Earls
, kept from September 1607 to November 1608, from Rathmullen, County Donegal
to Rome
. It is the earliest example in Irish of the diary genre. Brady and Cleave made the following assessment:
The miraculous survival of Tadhg's unique manuscript-copy (MS A 21 Ó Cléirigh collection, University College Dublin
). Tadhg in his immediate pre-flight year a resident of Portnelligan, Tynan
, County Armagh
, listed with six other Ó Cianáins as among the follower of Henry Óg Ó Neill in a pardon list 'fiant' of December 1602 (Cú Chonnacht, Seaán mac Conchobhair, Pádraig Óg, Uaithne, Seaán mac Pádraig Mhóir). Tadhg's property—fifteen cows, eight calves, one garron, one hackeny, twenty-five swine, all valued at £22.6s.3d—were forfeited but later returned to his wife at the intervention of the Earl of Thomond
, who was a relative of hers.
Tadhg died in Rome
, apparently late in 1614. He was a brother to Cu Chonnacht Ó Cianáin
.
was a member of a professional Irish learned family who were originally erenagh
s of the parish of Cleenish, Lough Erne
, but who had served for several centuries as historians to Mag Uidir
of Fear Manach (2007, p. 437).
One of the family's most noted productions was Leabhar Adhamh Ó Cianáin
, written in or about the 1340s by Adhamh Ó Cianáin
(died 1373) by and for himself, and out of the book of his teacher, Seán Mór Ó Dubhagáin
(died 1372). The Annals of the Four Masters
cite the deaths of members of the family under the years 1387, 1400, 1405, 1459, 1569, 1483.
Tadhg had at least one sibling, Cu Chonnacht Ó Cianáin
, (died 1615), a rymer or chronicler to Rory Maguire.
; he was one of seven of the surname located in the townland of Portnelligan, Tynan parish, south-west of Armagh
pardoned on 6 December 1602 (2007, p. 20).
Ó Muraíle relates Ó Fiaich's suggestion that "Hugh O Neill had granted them land in Co. Armagh, since it was not the Ó Cianáins' native country. Against that, however, there is a townland called Drumadd, north of Portnelligan and close to Armagh city, whose Irish name is Dromad Uí Cianáin. In addition, it may be noted that one of Co. Armagh's principal surnames in 1659 was O Keenan." (2007, p. 21).
. Thomond claimed to be a relative of Ó Cianáin's wife, possibly via the mysterious Donnchadh mac Mathgamhain Ó Briain who traveled with Rory Ó Donnell, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell. No further information is available on his children, if he had any.
His brother, Cu Chonnacht Ó Cianáin
, was tortured on the rack and hanged in Derry
in July 1615.
, Mícheál Ó Cléirigh
made use of some hagiographical material written by him, since lost. (Walsh, 1996). Ó Muraíle (2007, p. 22) identifies this text as Ionnarba Mochuda a Rathain (The Banishment of St Mochuda from Rahan)—see Mo Chutu of Lismore
. The original manuscript does not appear to have survived.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
writer.
He was the author of Imeacht na nIarlaí/The Earls' Departure, a diary
Diary
A diary is a record with discrete entries arranged by date reporting on what has happened over the course of a day or other period. A personal diary may include a person's experiences, and/or thoughts or feelings, including comment on current events outside the writer's direct experience. Someone...
of the Flight of the Earls
Flight of the Earls
The Flight of the Earls took place on 14 September 1607, when Hugh Ó Neill of Tír Eóghain, Rory Ó Donnell of Tír Chonaill and about ninety followers left Ireland for mainland Europe.-Background to the exile:...
, kept from September 1607 to November 1608, from Rathmullen, County Donegal
County Donegal
County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. It is the earliest example in Irish of the diary genre. Brady and Cleave made the following assessment:
The miraculous survival of Tadhg's unique manuscript-copy (MS A 21 Ó Cléirigh collection, University College Dublin
University College Dublin
University College Dublin ) - formally known as University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's largest, and Ireland's second largest, university, with over 1,300 faculty and 17,000 students...
). Tadhg in his immediate pre-flight year a resident of Portnelligan, Tynan
Tynan
Tynan is a village and townland in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It lies within the civil parish of Tynan and barony of Tiranny.- History :Tynan won the status as the most well preserved rural Irish village in 1993...
, County Armagh
County Armagh
-History:Ancient Armagh was the territory of the Ulaid before the fourth century AD. It was ruled by the Red Branch, whose capital was Emain Macha near Armagh. The site, and subsequently the city, were named after the goddess Macha...
, listed with six other Ó Cianáins as among the follower of Henry Óg Ó Neill in a pardon list 'fiant' of December 1602 (Cú Chonnacht, Seaán mac Conchobhair, Pádraig Óg, Uaithne, Seaán mac Pádraig Mhóir). Tadhg's property—fifteen cows, eight calves, one garron, one hackeny, twenty-five swine, all valued at £22.6s.3d—were forfeited but later returned to his wife at the intervention of the Earl of Thomond
Earl of Thomond
"Earl of Thomond" was a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created twice for the family of Ó Briain. The O'Brien dynasty were an ancient Irish sept native to north Munster....
, who was a relative of hers.
Tadhg died in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, apparently late in 1614. He was a brother to Cu Chonnacht Ó Cianáin
Cu Chonnacht Ó Cianáin
Cú Chonnacht Ó Cianáin, d. 1615, was a rymer or chronicler to Rory Maguire.He was apparently the first man racked in Ireland, the instrument being used most severely upon him during an interrogation into a bungled insurrection in early summer 1615...
.
Origins
Ó CianáinÓ Cianáin
Ó Cianáin was the name of a Gaelic-Irish Brehon family. They were originally erenaghs of the parish of Cleenish, Lough Erne, but who had served for several centuries as historians to Mag Uidir of Fear Manach ....
was a member of a professional Irish learned family who were originally erenagh
Erenagh
The medieval Irish office of Erenagh was responsible for receiving parish revenue from tithes and rents, building and maintaining church property and overseeing the termon lands that generated parish income. Thus he had a prebendary role...
s of the parish of Cleenish, Lough Erne
Lough Erne
Lough Erne, sometimes Loch Erne , is the name of two connected lakes in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. The lakes are widened sections of the River Erne. The river begins by flowing north, and then curves west into the Atlantic. The southern lake is further up the river and so is named Upper...
, but who had served for several centuries as historians to Mag Uidir
Maguire (surname)
Maguire is an Irish surname from the Gaelic Mag Uidhir, which is 'son of Odhar,' the eleventh in descent from Colla-da-chrich, great-grandson of Cormac mac Airt, monarch of Ireland about the middle of the third century. Maguire is a three Syllable word....
of Fear Manach (2007, p. 437).
One of the family's most noted productions was Leabhar Adhamh Ó Cianáin
Leabhar Adhamh Ó Cianáin
Leabhar Adhamh Ó Cianáin or The Book of Adhamh Ó Cianáin, now G 2-3 NLI , is a book written in or about the 1340s by Adhamh Ó Cianáin by and for himself, and out of the book of his teacher, Seán Mór Ó Dubhagáin....
, written in or about the 1340s by Adhamh Ó Cianáin
Adhamh Ó Cianáin
Adhamh Ó Cianáin was an Irish historian and genealogist.Described in his obituary as "a learned historian" and "a canon" of Lisgoole, "having secured victory of deamon and world"....
(died 1373) by and for himself, and out of the book of his teacher, Seán Mór Ó Dubhagáin
Seán Mór Ó Dubhagáin
Seán Mór Ó Dubhagáin was an Irish Gaelic poet.-Background:Ó Dubhagáinn was among the first notable members of the bardic family Baile Uí Dhubhagáin , near Loughrea, County Galway...
(died 1372). The Annals of the Four Masters
Annals of the Four Masters
The Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland or the Annals of the Four Masters are a chronicle of medieval Irish history...
cite the deaths of members of the family under the years 1387, 1400, 1405, 1459, 1569, 1483.
Tadhg had at least one sibling, Cu Chonnacht Ó Cianáin
Cu Chonnacht Ó Cianáin
Cú Chonnacht Ó Cianáin, d. 1615, was a rymer or chronicler to Rory Maguire.He was apparently the first man racked in Ireland, the instrument being used most severely upon him during an interrogation into a bungled insurrection in early summer 1615...
, (died 1615), a rymer or chronicler to Rory Maguire.
In the service of Ó Néill
Ó Cianáin appears to have entered the service of Ó Néill during the course of the Nine Years' War (Ireland)Nine Years' War (Ireland)
The Nine Years' War or Tyrone's Rebellion took place in Ireland from 1594 to 1603. It was fought between the forces of Gaelic Irish chieftains Hugh O'Neill of Tír Eoghain, Hugh Roe O'Donnell of Tír Chonaill and their allies, against English rule in Ireland. The war was fought in all parts of the...
; he was one of seven of the surname located in the townland of Portnelligan, Tynan parish, south-west of Armagh
Armagh
Armagh is a large settlement in Northern Ireland, and the county town of County Armagh. It is a site of historical importance for both Celtic paganism and Christianity and is the seat, for both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland, of the Archbishop of Armagh...
pardoned on 6 December 1602 (2007, p. 20).
Ó Muraíle relates Ó Fiaich's suggestion that "Hugh O Neill had granted them land in Co. Armagh, since it was not the Ó Cianáins' native country. Against that, however, there is a townland called Drumadd, north of Portnelligan and close to Armagh city, whose Irish name is Dromad Uí Cianáin. In addition, it may be noted that one of Co. Armagh's principal surnames in 1659 was O Keenan." (2007, p. 21).
Extracts
- Thursday 7 September 1607 - '
- Friday 14 September 1607 - '
- Tuesday 2 October 1607 - '
- Thursday 4 October 1607 - '
Relatives in Ireland
In the aftermath of the departure, Ó Cianáin's property, valued at £22 6 shillings 2 pence, was seized, but later returned to his wife at the behest of Donogh O'Brien, 4th Earl of ThomondDonogh O'Brien, 4th Earl of Thomond
Donogh O'Brien, 4th Earl of Thomond and Baron of Ibrickan was an Irish nobleman and soldier noted for his loyalty to the English Crown...
. Thomond claimed to be a relative of Ó Cianáin's wife, possibly via the mysterious Donnchadh mac Mathgamhain Ó Briain who traveled with Rory Ó Donnell, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell. No further information is available on his children, if he had any.
His brother, Cu Chonnacht Ó Cianáin
Cu Chonnacht Ó Cianáin
Cú Chonnacht Ó Cianáin, d. 1615, was a rymer or chronicler to Rory Maguire.He was apparently the first man racked in Ireland, the instrument being used most severely upon him during an interrogation into a bungled insurrection in early summer 1615...
, was tortured on the rack and hanged in Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
in July 1615.
Other works
On 28 March 1627, while collecting materials for what would become the Annals of the Four MastersAnnals of the Four Masters
The Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland or the Annals of the Four Masters are a chronicle of medieval Irish history...
, Mícheál Ó Cléirigh
Mícheál Ó Cléirigh
Mícheál Ó Cléirigh , sometimes known as Michael O'Clery, was an Irish chronicler, scribe and antiquary and chief author of the Annals of the Four Masters, assisted by Cú Choigcríche Ó Cléirigh, Fearfeasa Ó Maol Chonaire, and Peregrinus Ó Duibhgeannain.-Background and early life:Grandson of Tuathal...
made use of some hagiographical material written by him, since lost. (Walsh, 1996). Ó Muraíle (2007, p. 22) identifies this text as Ionnarba Mochuda a Rathain (The Banishment of St Mochuda from Rahan)—see Mo Chutu of Lismore
Mo Chutu of Lismore
Saint Mo Chutu mac Fínaill , also known as Carthach or Carthach the Younger and in Latin as Carthagus, was abbot of Rahan , Co. Offaly, and subsequently, founder and first abbot of Lismore , Co. Waterford...
. The original manuscript does not appear to have survived.