the Ó fiaich treasures · 2019. 2. 12. · successor to authorize the committee of cumann...

THE Ó FIAICH TREASURESCARDINAL TOMÁS Ó FIAICH MEMORIAL LIBRARY & ARCHIVE

FROM THE COLLECTION OF THE Ó’FIACH LIBRARY

THE Ó FIAICH TREASURESCARDINAL TOMÁS Ó FIAICH MEMORIAL LIBRARY & ARCHIVE


AAbraham Exalted Father

Adam Man of Earth

Addison Son of Adam

Adler Eagle

Adley The Just

Adrian The Dark One

Aedan Born of Fire

Aiken The Oaken

Alan Handsome One

Alastair Defender of Men

Albern Of Noble Valor

Albert Noble, Bright

Albion White or Fair

Alden Wise Guardian

Aldis From the Old House

Aldrich Old Wise Leader

Alexander Great Protector

Alfie Form of Alfred

Alfred Supernaturally Wise

Arnold Strong as an Eagle

Arthur Follower of Thor

Arvel Wept Over

Atwater From the Waterside

Atwood Forest Dweller

Aubrey Ruler of the Elves

Austin Helpful

Avery Elfin Ruler

Axel Man of Peace

Albion White or Fair

Alden Wise Guardian

Aldis From the Old House

Aldrich Old Wise Leader

Alexander Great Protector

Alfie Form of Alfred

Alfred Supernaturally Wise

Arnold Strong as an Eagle

Arthur Follower of Thor

Arvel Wept Over

Atwater From the Waterside

Atwood Forest Dweller

Aubrey Ruler of the Elves

Austin Helpful

BBaird Bard or Minstrel

Baldwin Princely Friend

Barclay Meadow of Birch Trees

Barnaby Prophet

Baron Nobleman

Barrett Bear-Like

Barry Marksman

Bartholomew Warlike

Basil King-like

Benedict Blessed

Benjamin Son of Right Hand

Benton Moor Dweller

Bernard Stern Bear

Bert Bright

Bevis Bowman

Burgess Citizen of a Town

Burton Fortress

Byron Bear

Baird Bard or Minstrel

Baldwin Princely Friend

Barclay Meadow of Birch Trees

Barnaby Prophet

Baron Nobleman

Barrett Bear-Like

Barry Marksman

Bartholomew Warlike

Basil King-like

Benedict Blessed

Benjamin Son of Right Hand

Benton Moor Dweller

Bernard Stern Bear

Bert Bright

Bevis Bowman

Burgess Citizen of a Town

Burton Fortress

Byron Bear

presubscribersDDriscoll Interpreter

Dudley Residence Name

Duncan Dark Skinned Warrior

Durwin Beloved Friend

Dwayne Field or Meadow

Dwight White or Fair

Dylan Faithful, Loyal

Driscoll Interpreter






Dylan Faithful, Loyal Driscoll

Interpreter







Interpreter







Interpreter






Dylan Faithful, Loyal

EEarl Nobleman

Eaton From the Riverside

Ebenezer Rock of Help

Edan Fiery Flame

Edgar Fortunate Spear

Edric Prosperous Ruler

Edmond Guardian of the Riches

Edward Happy Protector

Edwin Valuable Friend

Efrain Guardian of the Mists

Egan Ardent

Egbert Formidably Brilliant

Egerton The Edge

Egil A Sting

Elbert Nobly Brilliant

Eldon Respected

Eldwin Sage Friend

Elijah Highest

Elias Jehovah is God

Elliott Close to God

Ellery Cheerful

Esmond Protective Grace

Ethan Constant, Firm, Strong

Ethen Endurance

Eugene Born of the Yew Tree

Evan Young Warrior

Everett Wild Boar

Ezra The Helper

Elijah Highest

Elias Jehovah is God

Elliott Close to God

Ellery Cheerful

Esmond Protective Grace

Ethan Constant, Firm, Strong

Ethen Endurance

Eugene Born of the Yew Tree

Evan Young Warrior

Everett Wild Boar

Ezra The Helper

CCadman Warrior

Calvert Shepherd

Caldwell Near a Cold Well

Caleb Faithful

Calvin Bald

Carrick Rock

Carl Farmer

Carlton From Carl’s Farm

Carney Warrior

Cadman Warrior

Calvert Shepherd


Caleb Faithful

Calvin Bald

Carrick Rock

Carl Farmer


Carney Warrior

Cadman Warrior

Calvert Shepherd


Caleb Faithful

Calvin Bald

Carrick Rock

Carl Farmer


Carney Warrior Cadman Warrior

Calvert Shepherd


Caleb Faithful

Calvin Bald

Carrick Rock

Carl Farmer


Carney Warrior

FFabian Bean Farmer

Fairfax Fair Haired

Falkner Falcon Trainer

Farley Distant Meadow

Farrell Man of Valor

Felix Prosperous

Fenton From the Flat Lands

Ferdinand Adventurous in Life

Fergal Brave and Couragous

Fergus, Strong and Virile

Ferris Iron Worker

Finbar The Fair

Fitzgerald Son of Gerald

Fleming Originating from Flanders

Fletcher Arrow Maker

Floyd The Hollow

Forbes Prosperous

Forrest Woodsman

Foster Bird Catcher

Fox Cunning

Francis Free

Frank Free Man

Frasier Strawberry

Frederick Peaceful Ruler

Freeman A Freeman

Falkner Falcon Trainer

Farley Distant Meadow

Farrell Man of Valor

Felix Prosperous

Fenton From the Flat Lands

Ferdinand Adventurous in Life

Fergal Brave and Couragous

Fergus, Strong and Virile

Ferris Iron Worker

Finbar The Fair

Fitzgerald Son of Gerald

Fleming Originating from Flanders

Fletcher Arrow Maker

Floyd The Hollow

Forbes Prosperous

Forrest Woodsman

Foster Bird Catcher


Cardinal Tomás Ó Fiaich, Archbishop of Armagh, died 8 May 1990. In his will, dated 30 November 1989, he asked his successor to authorize the committee of Cumann Seanchais Ard Mhacha, the Armagh Diocesan Historical Society, to make suit-

able arrangements for the accommodation and care of his historical

papers and library. Tomás Ó Fiaich was associated with the founding

of the Society, 17 May 1953, and was editor of its journal, Seanchas

Ard Mhacha, 1954-1977. In response to his will a charitable trust was

established by Cardinal Cahal Daly, named ‘The Cardinal Tomás Ó

Fiaich Memorial Library & Archive Trust’. A special committee set up by

Cumann Seanchais Ard Mhacha appointed Fr Fergal Granell, OFM,

Franciscan House of Studies, Killiney, Dublin, and Mr David C. Sheehy,

diocesan archivist, Dublin, to investigate how the cardinal’s books and

papers should be accommodated and form a nucleus for expansion.

They recommended a purpose built library/archive with equal status to

the two distinct professions; it would promote study and research and

specialize in Tomás Ó Fiaich’s interests

in Irish history, especially ecclesiastical history

in Irish culture, especially the Irish language and Irish games

in Irish-European links; and

in Irish-American links

(now extended to Irish abroad generally)

P & B Gregory, Architects, were appointed to plan the new building and

a site in the vicinity of St Patrick’s Cathedral was graciously granted

by Cardinal Daly on behalf of the Archdiocese of Armagh. The new

foundation was to be free and independent and open to the public,

but it would accommodate the Armagh Catholic diocesan archives

and would serve long-term diocesan needs. A diocesan collection,

donations from companies, institutions, and individuals and a most

generous grant from the British Heritage and Lottery Fund enabled the

building to go ahead. Subsequently some financial aid was received

from government in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The

committee was greatly indebted to Mr Séamus O’Hara, Belfast, who

drew up the trust deed and negotiated the grant from the Heritage Lot-

tery Fund.

Fittingly on the Eighth of May, 1999, the ninth anniversary

of Tomás Ó Fiaich’s death, the library/archive was opened by Dr

Marjorie Mowlam, Secretary of State, Belfast, and Dr James McDaid

TD, Dublin, Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation representing

the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern. Both addressed the guests present. Dr

Pa nonsequatat ut pa deliquatum volent etur

Cardinal Tomás Ó Fiaich, 19??

foundations of the library

Mowlam unveiled a plaque recording the official opening of the library/

archive. Mrs Primrose Wilson also unveiled a plaque, recording the as-

sistance given by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Present also were Most Rev. Luciano Stirero, Papal Nuncio to Ireland,

Archbishop Seán Brady, who gave the address of welcome, Arch-

bishop Robin Eames, Dr Samuel Hutchinson, General Secretary of the

Presbyterian Church, the Rev. David Kerr, President of the Methodist

Church, Dean Proinsias Mac Giolla Earnáin, Mr Seámus Mallon, MP,

Deputy First Minister Designate, Mr John Hume, MEP, recipient of

the Nobel Peace Prize, former history student of Cardinal Ó Fiaich,

representatives from Armagh City and District Council, the Southern

Education and Library Board, the Department of Education, sport per-

sonalities and Mrs Deirdre Fee and close relatives of Cardinal Ó Fiaich.

There was a varied gathering of churchmen, historians, representatives

of local historical societies, donors and members of Cumann Sean-

chais Ard Mhacha. The church leaders joined Archbishop Brady in the

blessing prayer.

There was high praise for Mr Paul Mongan and Mr Peadar Murphy of

P & B Gregory Architects, Belfast, who designed the beautiful building,

and for O’Hanlon Brothers, builders. In his speech Mgr Raymond

Murray, chairman of the library/archive management committee, paid a

special tribute to trustee and friend Dr Micheline Kerney Walsh, former

director of the Overseas Archives, who left to the library/archive her

vast collection of French/Irish, Spanish/Irish material. Some years

later, under the presidency of Dr Art Cosgrove, University College,

Dublin, donated the remainder of her collection to the Ó Fiaich Library/

Archive. Mgr Murray thanked among others, Mr Andy Morrow, SELB,

Mr Gerard Lyne, National Library of Ireland, Mr Anthony Malcom-

son, Public Records Office of Northern Ireland, and Professor Mary

McAleese, Pro Vice-Chancellor of Queen’s University, Belfast who

recommended the establishment of the library/archive and gave it

unreserved support. Ms Fiona Trainor provided background music

on the harp and Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin sang the Cardinal’s favourite

song Úr-Chill an Chreagáin. Mr John Hume gave the address at the

dinner celebration. Author and friend of Cumann Seanchais Ard Mh-

acha, Róisín Ní Mheara-Vinard travelled from Austria for the occasion

and, again emphasizing Cardinal Ó Fiaich’s interest in early Irish links

with Europe, Dr Peter Ochsenbein, librarian of the Stiftsbibliothek, St

Gallen, Switzerland, crowned the day with an illustrated talk on the Irish

treasures in the famous St Gallen Library.

Foundation and Opening of the Cardinal Tomás Ó Fiaich Memorial Library & Archive


T he primary emphasis in this collection is on native Irish sports and pastimes, Gaelic games – hurling, shinty, Gaelic football, handball and camogie – and road bowls in particular. The range of hundreds of books available in the library

on these subjects rivals any other library collection.

Among the most valuable items held here are the minute-books

of the Ulster Council of the GAA from 1917 to 1975. These are

important not merely for sporting history, for they also provide

an insight into northern Irish nationalist perspectives through

the early years of partition. Alongside these are minutes of GAA

Central Council meetings and national congresses from as far

back as the 1930s.

Equally, the collection contains many other GAA minute-books

from which precious information on the history of local sport

and society may be gleaned: those of the Armagh County

Board from 1933 to the 2000s; those of the Tyrone County

Board from 1926 onwards; a minute-book of Armagh Harps

club from 1904; various minutes books of the Brian Oges

Gaelic Football and Hurling Club, Cookstown

from 1907 onwards; and miscellaneous

records and items of correspondence

from counties Down, Monaghan and

Cavan over the decades.

The collection of material on Irish sport in the Cardinal Tomás Ó Fiaich Memorial Library and Archive is one of the most impressive and popular aspects of the library’s holdings.

Pa nonsequatat ut pa deliquatum volent etur aborrup tasiminto ius,

optios nulpa conserro doluptam harchic imporeris sunt, quiatur eperae.

Itatias et esti berae doluptat vendae et essum in rersper ibusam, am

aliasitem es eum hilluptate etur molorpori nonsedi id ex ese quam

dellaut que maximin con nonsento velest que prepernat est volland

Another special feature of the CÓFLA Gaelic games collection

is the large archive of old match-programmes, which includes

All-Ireland and Ulster championship final souvenirs right back to

the early 1940s. These are complemented by an extensive set of

Gaelic games periodicals and numerous scanned photographs of

GAA-related material

The focus on road bowls in the CÓFLA collection reflects the

long and unique history of this sport in the surrounding Armagh/

Tyrone area. Among the items of memorabilia relating to this

game to be found in the library are the minute-books of An Ból-

Chumann, Ard Mhacha, from the 1960s and 1970s, and various

books, programmes, photographs and trophies.

On a wider sporting front, there is a wealth of additional material.

The library holds bound minute-books of the Youth and Sports

Council for Northern Ireland for 1962-65 (its inaugural triennial

period) and 1968-71, which are not available in any other public

archive. From these records one may obtain information of great

significance on the first statutory body on the island of Ireland

that was appointed specifically to deal with matters of sport and

recreation, right across the sporting spectrum.

The ever-expanding CÓFLA collection further comprises a large

number of books on sports such as athletics, association football,

cricket, rugby union, golf, motor-racing, boxing, horse-racing and

show-jumping.

Pa nonsequatat ut pa deliquatum

Pa nonsequatat ut pa deliquatum

irish sport


In the early twentieth century the Ulster Council and county boards were usually struggling to make ends meet, and generally they could not afford to purchase fitting trophies for their competitions. Instead they relied on generous benefactors to provide their trophies. One of

the earliest and most outstanding examples of this is the McKillop Cup.

William McKillop was born in Scotland, but his father was from Co. An-

trim. He was elected as Nationalist MP for North Sligo in 1900. In 1906

he switched constituencies to run in South Armagh. Upon becoming a

candidate in Armagh, he offered this trophy to the county board of the

GAA. He was duly elected unopposed. The presentation of this cup is

his only known connection to the GAA – although back in 1887 he had

been on the committee that set up Glasgow Celtic FC soccer club – but

even so it was not an unusual action on his part. Various MPs donated

trophies for sport, such as J. B. Lonsdale, a Unionist Member for Mid

Armagh, who gave patronage to local soccer around the same time.

The cup is made of solid silver, weighs over 82 ounces, and as de-

scribed at the time, is beautifully chased in Gaelic chasing, in high relief,

with finely proportioned handles, in the form of a winged Hebes’. It is sur-

mounted with the finely modelled figure of a Gaelic footballer with ball in

hands, standing on a playing pitch clad in shamrocks. On one side of the

cup is depicted a view of an old Irish round tower, with an Irish wolfhound

lying on watch and guard at base, and a sunset in the background. An

ancient Celtic cross and ruined monastery are also blended with the

scene. The cup stands two feet in height and is mounted on an ebony

plinth with silver shields for the winners’ names.

County Championships & Patronage

The McKillop Cup was originally presented to the winners of the county

Gaelic football league, and the first team to win it was Crossmaglen Red

Hands. In 1931 it was reallocated to the county senior football champion-

ship, for which it remained the prize until 1995, when it was replaced with

the Gerry Fegan Cup. Alongside it in the Ó Fiaich Library collection is

the MacOscar Cup. This rose-bowl-shaped trophy which was presented

in 1930 by the county chairman, Rev. H. MacOscar, for junior football

clubs in Ard Mhacha.

There are several other notable old Gaelic games trophies too. The

Owen Roe O Neill Challenge Cup was presented by Anthony Lucy, M.A.

– a London resident who had lived at Carrowcolman, Eglish, as a boy –

to the Presentation Brothers, Dungannon, for competition among local

schools in 1913. There are also several trophies belonging to the Ulster

Council. These include the original Dr McKenna Cup (1925), and the Dr

Lagan Cup (which was the prize for the northern section of the National

Football League from 1943 until the 1960s). [Medals?] There is also a

replica of the Sigerson Cup for inter-varsity football, which was originally

presented in 1911 by Dr George Sigerson, a professor and native of

Holyhill, near Strabane.

COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIPS & PATRONAGE

McKillop Cup

MacOscar Cup

OR O Neill Cup

Sigerson Cup

FROM THE COLLECTION OF THE Ó’FIACH LIBRARYFROM THE COLLECTION OF THE Ó’FIACH LIBRARY

Until the second half of the nineteenth century Italy did not exist as a separate political entity Before that the territory was made up of a number of independent states, e.g. the Kingdom of Sardinia and Piedmont, Parma

Tuscany, as well as the papal States, while part of the north was

occupied by Austria.

In 1859 the army of Piedmont assisted by French forces and

Italian nationalists defeated the Austrians, and by the end of

the year a number of the other independent states joined the

movement for unification. The Papal States were now facing

forcible incorporation into the new kingdom, their position

not being helped by the decision of one of the provinces,

Romagna, to vote in favour of a provisional government under

the Piedmontese king, Victor Emanuel. A variety of tactics was

employed against the Papal States.- a vicious propaganda

campaign, encouragement of desertion among the papal soldiers

and of internal rebellion. An attempt was also made to do a deal

with the Pius IX. However, he considered it a solemn duty to

maintain the authority of the Holy See over this territory, and he

decided to appeal to the Catholic world for support.

In Austria there was an enthusiastic response from some nobles

of Irish origin, among them General Count Nugent and Count

Charles O’Donnell. Nugent won the approval of the Emperor

to recruit and train a battalion. O’Donnell, for his part, after an

interview with the Pope and the Cardinal Secretary of State, was

sent to Ireland to establish a military corps for the service of the

Holy See. He travelled through the country making arrangements

for recruiting, his efforts being greatly assisted by A. M. Sullivan,

editor of the influential newspaper “The Nation” and J. F. Maguire,

founder of the “Cork Examiner”, and when he left Ireland plans

were well advanced for the formation of the Papal Battalion of

Saint Patrick.

The idea of defending the Pope and the Holy See was obviously

have been a powerful motivating factor in persuading Irish men

to join, while memories of the achievements of Irish brigades in

the service of foreign armies in previous centuries would also

have been an inspiration. As recruitment was in progress an

official statement from Dublin Castle appeared in the newspapers

reminding the public that entering the service of foreign armies

was illegal, with the result that the recruits had to travel as

emigrants.

The recruits numbered over one thousand and came from all

classes of society. They included labourers, farmers, students,

shop assistants and doctors as well as old soldiers who had

fought in other campaigns and members of the RIC. Among them

were a few Irish speakers from Kerry.

The man who was given command of this force was Myles O’Reilly,

author of this letter. He was born in Dublin in 1825, educated in

England and awarded an LLD degree in Rome, where he became

acquainted with members of the Catholic hierarchy. On his return

to Ireland he took over the family estate in County Louth where

he was a very successful farmer. He was also a brilliant lawyer,

travelled widely and was keenly interested in educational matters,

but declined an offer from Newman of a chair in the recently

established recently established university. The invitation from

Pius IX to take charge of the Irish battalion was a difficult on for

him as he had only recently been married. However, his loyalty to

the Church was the deciding factor in his decision.

defending the papal states

The volunteers arrived in Italy by different routes in the spring

of 1860 and were quartered in different places in the Papal

States. Conditions were far from ideal – the accommodation

was unsatisfactory, food apart from being unfamiliar was of poor

quality, and pay was very low. Military discipline was new to

many of them and some were unable to accept the conditions

and returned home. There were a few incidents of misbehaviour,

which the hostile anti-papal press exaggerated to blacken not

only the reputation of the Irish but also the whole papal army.

Other problems which had to be faced were the short time

required for training and the quality of the weapons, some of

which were out-of-date.

War was declared on September 11th , but because of the

superiority of the Piedmontese army, not only in numbers, but also

in military skills and experience, the outcome was inevitable. The

Irish were involved in four different engagements – at Perugia,

Castelfidardo, Ancona and Spoleto. Everywhere the Irish fought

with great courage, which was favourably commented upon, even

by their opponent, and in some cases expressed disappointment

when their officers decided that surrender was necessary.

O’Reilly himself was based in Spoleto. He had units from six

different nationalities under his command, and had hoped to

have with him the other Irish who had been stationed at the other

locations but this did not prove to be possible. Spoleto is a walled

city built on the side of a steep hill. One of its features is the

Rocca or citadel built in the fourteenth century; it is a very large

oblong building with six square towers surrounded by massive

walls. This would be the focal point of the defence of the town.

The attack took place on 17th September, the Piedmontese-

Sardinian army being confident that the city could be taken in

two hours. Early in the morning O’Reilly was asked to surrender,

but he refused to do so, saying that he held the city for Pius

IX. Firing began shortly after eight o’clock, and, apart from a

brief ceasefire around eleven o’clock continued until eight in the

evening. At this stage with his ammunition almost exhausted,

the men worn out and several breaches in the walls, O’Reilly

decided to surrender. A representative of the Pope met the Italian

general to seek terms. These were granted and proved to be

very generous, the general speaking very highly of the bravery of

the Irish. As the garrison, now prisoners-of-war, left, the officers

were allowed to carry their swords.

The Irish made their way to Genoa where they were imprisoned

for a short time. After their release they travelled by steamer and

by rail to Le Havre. From here they sailed to Cork, where they

arrived on November 3rd to an enthusiastic welcome.

O’Reilly also was warmly received when he returned to Ireland.

He was elected liberal MP for Longford in 1862. In parliament

he looked after Catholic interests and gave particular attention

to education. He resigned from parliament in 1879 when he

was offered the post of assistant commissioner for intermediate

education in Ireland. He died on February 6th 1880.


Ireland was mapped by several cartographers before the seventeenth

century and the product of their combined efforts varied in scale, skill

and accuracy. A number of maps appeared in the second half of the

sixteenth century and in the early part of the seventeenth, most notably

that by Baptista Boazio c.1599. The accuracy of the detail contained in

these maps was much better for the southern and eastern coasts than

for Connaught and Ulster. This was due in a large part to the hostile

nature of these territories and the general absence of a serious attempt

to chart the western and northern coastlines.

As the Nine Years War reached a conclusion and English forces exercised

greater control over the lands of the defeated Irish chieftainships these

previously uncharted territories opened up to new mapmakers.

John Speed began work not as a mapmaker by as a tailor in London.

He became interested in history and cartography and became highly

regarded in this field by the 1590s. In 1612 he had a volume of maps

published under the title of Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine. It is

possible that as James I was by this time not only king of England Wales

and Scotland but also regarded as conqueror of Ireland that Speed

decided to include the latter in his atlas as a gesture of recognition.

As with many of the previous maps of the country there is little evidence

to suggest that Speed spent much if any time in Ireland. He readily

admitted employing the work of previous cartographers in his own draft.

Speed does, however, on occasion employ scaled drawings of his own

which by implication tells us that he had some level of familiarity with a

number of settlements. It does not appear that this knowledge stretched

into the interior of the country. On the western seaboard he repeats an

error common on Tudor maps of Ireland in that neither Galway nor Mayo

are given their true westernly extent. The north western coast, however,

is much more accurate that previous surveys probably due to the post

war surveys in Donegal and the fact that the coastline had recently been

charted from the sea.

Among the interesting features of Speed’s map of Ulster is the inclusion

of the sites at Tullaghogue as ye stone where O’Neill is chosen and

Owen Maugh (Emain Mhacha) The ancient seat of the kings of Ulster.

Both of these site were of historical rather than contemporary importance

the latter having been destroyed by the English after the defeat of O’Neill

at Kinsale in 1601. This is probably the first map specifically drawn to

show the extent of the province of Ulster which Speed took to include

ten counties including Louth.

Map of Ireland c.1610

Maps by John Speed


Ireland was mapped by several cartographers before the seventeenth

century and the product of their combined efforts varied in scale, skill

and accuracy. A number of maps appeared in the second half of the

sixteenth century and in the early part of the seventeenth, most notably

that by Baptista Boazio c.1599. The accuracy of the detail contained in

these maps was much better for the southern and eastern coasts than

for Connaught and Ulster. This was due in a large part to the hostile

nature of these territories and the general absence of a serious attempt

to chart the western and northern coastlines.

As the Nine Years War reached a conclusion and English forces

exercised greater control over the lands of the defeated Irish

chieftainships these previously uncharted territories opened up to new

mapmakers.

John Speed began work not as a mapmaker by as a tailor in London.

He became interested in history and cartography and became highly

regarded in this field by the 1590s. In 1612 he had a volume of maps

published under the title of Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine. It is

possible that as James I was by this time not only king of England Wales

and Scotland but also regarded as conqueror of Ireland that Speed

decided to include the latter in his atlas as a gesture of recognition.

As with many of the previous maps of the country there is little

evidence to suggest that Speed spent much if any time in Ireland.

He readily admitted employing the work of previous cartographers

in his own draft. Speed does, however, on occasion employ scaled

drawings of his own which by implication tells us that he had some

level of familiarity with a number of settlements. It does not appear

that this knowledge stretched into the interior of the country. On the

western seaboard he repeats an error common on Tudor maps of

Ireland in that neither Galway nor Mayo are given their true westernly

extent. The north western coast, however, is much more accurate that

previous surveys probably due to the post war surveys in Donegal

and the fact that the coastline had recently been charted from the sea.

Among the interesting features of Speed’s map of Ulster is the

inclusion of the sites at Tullaghogue as ye stone where O’Neill

is chosen and Owen Maugh (Emain Mhacha) The ancient seat of

the kings of Ulster. Both of these site were of historical rather than

contemporary importance the latter having been destroyed by the

English after the defeat of O’Neill at Kinsale in 1601. This is probably

the first map specifically drawn to show the extent of the province of

Ulster which Speed took to include ten counties including Louth.

Map of Ulster c.1610

Maps by John Speed

the Ó fiaich treasures · 2019. 2. 12. · successor to authorize the committee of cumann...

Documents