Gleno, is a well, neatly enclosed with cut stone, now called the Bride-well. Here
formerly stood an hospital dedicated to St. Bride, called " the Spittal House", which
was granted, same time as St. Bridget's Hospital, to Richard Harding, for a like term of
years. In the deed to Harding it is called " parceU antique hereditament", and con-
sisted chiefly of a small plot called ' the Fryar's Garden' ". — (M'Skimin, p. 128.)
White
277
White Abbey In the parish of Carnmoney, about halfway between Carriekfer-
gus and Belfast, is the townland White- Abbey, which takes its name from an abbey,
the ruins of the chapel of which stand in a field a little to the right of the road, and
are marked on the Ord. Survey " White Abbey Euins". — (s. 57.) The place is laid
down under the same name on Norden's and Speed's Maps. The ruin is 38 feet 6 inches
long, 19 feet 9 inches wide at the east end, and 20 feet 2 inches at the west. The
walls are four feet thick, and built in courses. In the east side, about nine feet from
the ground, are three lancet windows, which are much disfigured by the removal of the
dressings, but their dimensions may be estimated as 7 feet 6 inches in height, 1 foot
9 inches in width outside, splayed to 5 feet inside. They are pleasingly represented
in a drawing of White Abbey, pviblished in [Beun's] History of Belfast. — (p. 265.) On
the north and south sides there Avere similar windows at a like elevation. The N. W.
angle is ragged, and looks as if it had been connected with, other buildings. For a con-
siderable space around, and especially in this direction, several foundations and pave-
ments have been from time to time discovered : among them have been found silver
coins of the Edwards, a font, a quern, carved stones, and quantities of human bones.
One of the sculptured stones bore the figure of a shamrock, and another resembling a
corbel head is over the door of an adjacent ice-house. Some antique bronze orna-
ments, including a crucifix, which were found near this spot, are in the possession of
Edmund Getty, Esq., of Belfast. About fifty yards S. W. was a deep draw-well, whicli
was closed in 1836. This abbey was, probably, the Druin-la-croix of Archdall, which
is described as having been founded for Prsemonstrant or White Canons, and as being
a daughter of the abbey of Drieburgh, in Scotland. — (Monast. Hib., pp. 6, 7.)
Y.
ANTRIM.
The following notices of this ancient church occur in the Annals of the Four Masters :
JE. C. 612, "PioncaiM Oencpeib abb "Fintan of Oentreibh, abbot of Bangor,
6enbcaip becc". died".
The Annals of Ulster, at the same date, read Oencpaib, Tigernach, how-
ever, at 613, reads Qenrpuim.
JE. C. 772, "S. piariD o Qoemcpeb abb " S. Flann of Aontrebh, abbot of Bangor,
6enbchuip becc". died".
The An. Ul., at 727, have Oencpib; and Tigernach, at 728, Oencpaib.
JE. C. 822,
278
M. C. 822, '• OpTQin 6enDcaip la ^al- " Bangor plundered by the Danes, and its
laiB, -| copccpab a oepraije, -|
pelcci Com^aiU do cpocao ap
an pspin in a paBpac arhail po
caipnjip Comjall peipin Dia n-
ebaipc —
" 616 piop pip
t)o 6eoin Qipopi^ na pi j,
6epcop mo cnariia ^an cpon
06henDcuip baja 00 Gncpob ".
oratory destroyed, and the reliques of
Comghall scattered from the shrine
which contained them, according as
Comghall himself predicted when he
said:
" It will be true-true,
By permission of the King of kings,
BIy bones shall be removed without defect
From beloved Beimchorto Entrobh".
"Muredhach, son of Cormac, abbot of
Oentraibh, died".
" Cellach, son of Bee, lord of Dalaradia,
was slain in Oentribh by his own
tribe".
" Antrum spoyled by Fermanach".
M.Q. 877, "muipeoac mac Copbmaic
abb Oenqiaib".
M. C. 941, " Ceallac mac 6ece ciccep-
na t)alapai6e do opccain in
Oencpib la a cenel peipin".
jYj. C. 1018, "Oencpub Doapcainoo pe-
paib".
This passage, Avhich is wanting in the Four Masters, but supplied by the
An. Ul., is thus translated in the old English version made for Sir J. Ware.
O Conor renders it " a prsedonibus maritimis".
M.C. 1030, "Cenel Gojain do bpipuio "Kindred Owen [the men of Tyrone]
luinji ua Coinjpij pop lap Oen- broke OLongsy his ship in midest of
cpaib". Antrim" — {An. Ul.)
So the old English translation. O Conor renders the passage: " Tironenses
destruunt naves OLongsigii in ipso conspectu Antrimia;". The Four Masters
are silent concerning the occurrence. The lordship of Dalaradia was here-
ditary in the Ua Coinjpij [Lynch] family from 985 do^vnwards.
JE. C. 1096, "F^ci"^ "" ^"'Peccan aip- "Flann OMuregan, superior of Aen-
cinDecQencpuib". truibh, died".
^i:. C. 1 147, " Roppcpe acup Oencpob do " Roscrea and Oentrob were burned",
lopccao".
The name Oencpeib occurs also in the Annotations on the Felire of Aengus
at July 31.
Adjoining the parish of Antrim, on the east, are the two townlands of llathmore
and Rathbeg, the latter of which was formerly one of the sixteen towns of Antrim.
Rathbeg
279
Rathbeg joins Rathmore on tlie north, and the road from Antrim to Park Gate, which
forms the boundary betAveen Donegore and Nilteen, crosses the division of the two
townlands, so that the chief part of Rathbeg is thrown into Donegore, while the bulk
of Rathmore is reckoned into Nilteen.
Rathbeg is famous in the Irish Annals as the place where Dermot Mac Cearblial,
King of Ireland, was slain by Hugh Dubh, King of Dalaradia. The occurrence is thus
recorded in the Annals of Tigernach at the year 565 : —
"(Diapmaic mac Capbaill occifup "Dermot Mac Cearbhall was slain at
epc hippaic-bich a ITIuij 6ine, la liQeb Rath-bich in Moylinne by Hugh Dubh,
nDub mac Suibne Qpaibe pi Ula6". son of Suibhne Araidhe, King of Uladh".
The Four Masters and the Dublin Annals of Inisfallen style the aggressor pi t)al-
napaioe, ' King of Dalaradia'; but they refer to his station at the time he committed
the act, whereas Tigernach designates him by his subsequent title, Avhich he assumed
in 581. Lynch gives a fuller account of the occurrence: " Diermitius filius Kerualli.
Etenim in Banuani cujusdam tedibus apud Rathbeggam de Muighlinne positis con-
stitutus, ubi domum flagrasse persensit, extra portam se proripere conatus, ab Aido
nigro Dalaradise regulo, suo quondam alumno, hasta confossus est". — (Cambrens.
Evers., p. 57.) To the subsequent history of this Aldus, Adamnan refers in the fol-
lowing passage: "Alio in tempore supra memoratus Prtesbyter Findchanus Christi
miles, Aidum cognomento nigrum, regio genere ortum, Cruthinium gente, de Scotia
[Ireland] ad Britanniam sub clericatus habitu secum adduxit, ut in suo apud se monas-
terio per aliquot peregrinaretur annos; qui scilicet Aldus niger valde sanguinarius
homo, et multorum fuerat trucidator; qui et Diermitium filium Cerbuill totius Scotise
Regnatorem Deo auctore ordinatum, interfecerat. Hie itaque idem Aldus post ali-
quantum in peregrinatione transactum tempus, accito Episcopo, quamvis non recte
apud supradictum Findchanum Pra?sbiter ordinatus est. Episcopus autem non ausus
super caput ejus manum imponere, nisi prius idem Findchanus Aidum carnaliter
amans, suam capiti ejus pro confirmatione imponeret dextram Aldus vero Niger,
solummodo nomine Prassbyter, ad sua priora reversus scelera, dolo lancea transfixus,
de prora ratis in aquam lapsus stagneam, disperiit" — (Lib. i. cap. 36, Trias Thaum.,
p. 346.) An ancient catalogue of the Kings of Ulidia states that he was killed "in
nave a Crutheniis" (Rer. Hib. Script., voh ill. p. 176, note 2.) There is no fort
remaining in this townland.
Rathmore, however, was a place of greater celebrity, and the circular entrench-
ment which remains in the part of the townland which lies north of the Antrim and
Park Gate road, and which belongs to the parish of Donegore, indicates its former
importance.
28o
importance. — (See above, p. 69.) According to Tigernacb it received this name in the
second century : —
A. C. 161, "6pepal muc 6piuin pejnac "Bresal, the son of Brian, reigns in Ea-
(in 6aTnain annip;r;i;c. cuiup con- mania nineteen years : ciijus conjux
iu;c TDop a ben ipi ubbach oia (his spouse) Mor died of grief for his
cumaijh, aquo nommacup T3uic death: from her Rath-mor in Moy-
mop rPuije Cme". linny is named".
In the Life of St. Comgall, however, as cited above at p. 70, the more natural in-
terpretation Atrium magnum is assigned for the name.
Bede relates that in the year of our Lord 684 " Ecgfrid rex Nordanhymbrorum
misso Iliberniam cum exercitu duce Bercto, vastavit misere gentem innoxiam et nationi
Anglorum semper amicissimam; ita ut neecclesiis quidem, autmonasteriis manus par-
ceret hostilis". — (11. E., iv. 26.) Keating follows his citation of the passage with the
additional account: —
"Qrup cujaoop car l^ara-nioipe a "And they gave the battle of Rath-mor,
rrioi^-lme QIC ap TTiapb)xaD Cumupjac in Moy-linne, the place where was slain
plaic Cpuirnioc, -\ oponj mop, do ^'icioi- Cumasgach, chief of the Picts, and a great
Diolaib mapaon pip". number of the Irish along with him".
Ti"-ernach places the battle at 682, and calls the leaders who fell Cathusach, son of
Maclduin, King of the Cruithne, and Ulltan, son of Dicholla. Rathmore was at this
time the seat of the lords of the Dalaradian Picts, whose chief dominion lay in the ter-
ritory along the Six-Mile Water and Larne River.
Rathmore is next mentioned in the Annals on the occasion of its being visited by
the famous Brian Boroimhe. The Annals of Inisfallcn, at the year 987, state: —
" Comcinol pep nGpeno ec ^uUu -\ " An assembling of the Irish, as well
^aeoelu o ra pliab Puair pabep la Strangers as Natives, from the limits of
6pian mac Cennecich co Qpomaca, -| Slieve Fuaid, Avith Brian, son of Kennedy,
CO T^aic moip IDaije line in Ulcaib, Do to Armagh, and Rath-mor of Moyline in
cabaipc j^iall ceniuil Chonaill -] ceniuil Ultonia, to receive hostages of the men of
fcojain''. Tirconnell and Tyrone".
Or, as it is recorded in the Dublin version of the Annals at the year 1004: —
" t)o chuaiD 6piun ap pin 50 'Rair- "Brian set out thence [Armagh] to
ihoip ITIhuije-line 50 cciij jeille Oail- Rath-mor in Moy-line, until he carried
nopaioe leip". away the hostages of Dalaradia with him ".
Again,
28l
Again, the Annals of Connauglit, at 13 15, represent Rathmor as invaded from another
quarter: —
" Gbbapb mac â– Roibepo 6piuip lapla "Edward, son of Robert Bruce, Earl
Capji DO coioeacc t>o cum eipeann ap of Carrick, came to Ireland [disembark-
oipep Ula6 buD ruaio luce ccc, lonj a ing] in the land of Ulster in the north, a
lion 5up combumoip acup gup cpicnaij fleet of 300 ships his number; so that the
aiona m^acup ipgaileeipm uile co coic- heroes of valour and fight of all Ireland,
ceann eoap ^all acup ^aoioil, acup in general, both Gall and Gael, shook and
po aipj^ a ceDoip popjla Ula6, acup po trembled. And he soon plundered the
loipc l^air mop JTIui^^i line -| Oun Deal- best part of Ulster: and he burned Rath-
jan". more of Moylinny and Dundalk ".
In 1347 Edward III. confirmed to Robert Savage the manors of Rathmore, Duntorsy,
Balencan, and Donaghty, Avith their appurtenances in Ulvester. — (Rot. Pat. 2 1 Ed. III.
m. I, Tur. Lond.) A neighbouring townland in the parish of Donegore, called Bally-
savage, preserves this family name.
This Rathmore is not to be confou.nded with the Rac-mop TTlhaije-leiTina which
the Four Masters, at ^. Cm, relate was founded byBaine, and which Colgan describes
as " vicus in dioecesi Clocharensi, juxta oppidum Clochariam, olim Celebris arx et sedes
Principum Orgielliaj". — (Acta SS,, p. 3.) The latter is erroneously placed by OBrien
in the county of Antrim (Diet., sub voce.)
Moylinny is sometimes rendered by O Conor campus Lcne^ but incorrectly, as ITiaj
lena was a tract which lay in Fircall, near Tullamore, in the King's County.
GARY.
This barony comprises a territory which is called Cathrigia by the Tripartite Life of
St. Patrick, and which derived its name from the Cathraighe, a sept who once occupied
it, just as Dartry, Kenry, Kerry, Tradry, belong to districts formerly peopled by the
Dartraighe, Caenraighe, Ciarraighe, Tradraighe. The Ordnance Map, indeed, marks
a small fort, Avhich is on the opposite side of the road to Culfeightrin church, as ®af)tr
i^igtlC, ' King's chair'; which, being on the next townland to Cmy Mill, and over Caiy
River, would seem to be intended as the origin of their name: but the word Cairpi^e
does not admit of this derivation ; and, even if it did, it would be objectionable in the
2 O present
282
present case, as the fort is not locally known by that name. In a record of tlie year
1279 ^^^^ territory is called Catherich^ and John Byset is stated to have derived a rent
from it. — (Inq., P. M., 7 Ed. I. No. 28, Tur. Lond.) This barony contains the parishes
of Culfeightrin, Ramoan, Ballintoy, part of Billy, Armoy, and Rathlin.
I. Culfeightrin. — This parish is remarkable for the number of its small burying-
grounds. These are called by the country people Keels (from cill 'a church'), and
are principally employed for the interment of still-born children. The following list
of the ecclesiastical remains in the parish exhibits their names and situation : —
1. Cvlfeightrin. — The old parish church was situate about a mile and a half S. E.
of Ballycastle, in the townland of Churchjield, anciently called Magheratemple, and so
marked on Petty's map. It was 100 feet long, and 21 feet 8 inches broad. The east
gable, which, with the exception of a small portion of the south wall, and the N. E.
angle, is the only part now standing, contains a very elegant window, in the perpen-
dicular style of the close of the fifteenth century. There is no cemetery attached, but
the field which surrounds the ruin is supposed to have been in part a burying-place,
as human remains have been found therein.
2. Bonamargy This abbey is so called, according to Mr. O Donovan, from 6un na
ITIcnp^e, ' the foot of the Margy ', ' now the Gary River', being situated at its opening. —
(Dub. Pen. Jour., vol. i. p. 321.) Archdall, on the authority of Ware, says, "a small
monastery was built here, in the fifteenth century, for the Franciscan friars of the third
order". (INIonast., p. 3.) A MS. list of the Irish Franciscan abbeys, preserved in the
British ]\Iuseum, states that Bunamargy in the Reuta was founded in 1500 by Roory
M= Quillin, lord of the Rente — (No. 4814, Plut. cxx. G., p. 2.) The chapel measures
98 feet by 21. The east window strongly resembles that of old Culfeightrin church.
The large cemetery which surrounds the ruins is the principal burying-ground of the
parish ; and in a vault at the south side are deposited the remains of the first Marquis
of Antrim. Close to the abbey, on the S. W., is Danriney Fort. A MS. on vellum,
with illuminated capitals, containing a translation of Bonaventure's tract "De descensu
Christi ad inferos" in the English of the fifteenth century, and formerly belonging to
the abbey, is now in the possession of Mrs. Ezechiel Boyd of Ballycastle.
3. Drumnakill. — In the townland Bighouse, on Murlough Bay, near the water-edge,
is a high platform of rock, which bears this name. On the top are the foundations of
an old church, measuring 24^ feet by 10 feet 9 inches. From the following notice in
the Terrier it appears to have been a chapel of ease to the mother church: " Capella
lie
283
de Killoan. — The chappell of St. James in Mowllocke near the Fair Foreland [Fair
Head] : it is usurped and concealed by the parson of Kulfeehtrene a long time, and tis
exempted" — (See Ord. Survey, s. 5.)
4. Killowen. — In the townland Dunard, or Cross, as marked on the Ord. Map (s. 5),
or Coolalough, as it is locally called, about thirty-five perches west of Lough- na-Cra-
nagh, are the foundations of this chapel, measuring about 33 feet by 16. Unbaptized
infants have been occasionally interred here. The lake just mentioned covers 24^ acres,
and derives its name from a small circular island artificially formed in the centre of it.
5. RilUjlijenan — In the same townland, S. W. of last, in a part locally called Crua-
chan-Carrach, is a little glen, through which flows a stream, where are the remains of
this rudely built little chapel, measuring 16^ feet by 9 feet 5 inches. The spot is
marked " Burying Place" (Ord. Survey, s. 5.)
6. Tervillin. — In this townland is a spot marked on the Ordnance Map, " Buryino-
Place" — (s. 5.) No interments are remembered to have taken place here.
7. Killi/phadrick In the townland Drumadoon, close by the road, is a circular
space so called, where unbaptized infants are occasionally interred. It is marked
"Burying Place" on the Ordnance Map (s. 9.)
8. Drumnakill. — In the townland of this name (Ord. Survey, s. 9), is a small space,
unenclosed, in a field, where infants have been buried. It is situated in the fork of the
Gary and Glenmakeeran rivers. Near this is a conical hill, with some remains of a
stone enclosure on the top, called DunmakeUer.
9. Killyluke. — This small disused cemetery lies at the S. E. of the parish, in the
townland Duncarbit. — (Ord. Survey, s. 14.)
10 — Longhangorm — At this place, in the townland Greenan, to the south of last,
it is stated that a spot containing graves was discovered after a stratum ol' turf had
been cut away. — (Ord. Survey, s. 14.)
11. Killotcen. — In the townland East-Torr, below the village of Escort. Adults
are still occasionally buried here. Near the point of Torr Head is an old fort called
Dunavarre, and, at some distance above it, Sleacht (leacc) na Barragh, said to be the
grave of the builders. Another fort is called Tigh-na-sadane.
12. Crosscrene — In the townland Ballyteerim, on the hill over Cusheudun Bay.
There are some rude remains of a fort here, and the faint traces of a building, measur-
ing 35 feet by 22._(0rd. Survey, s. 15.) In Nordeivs Map, prefixed to the State
202 Papers,
284
Papers, this townland is called " Balle Teraine", and it is added " Here Shane ONeale
was slayne". — (Vol. ii.) The occurrence alluded to took place in 1567, and the Four
Masters have preserved an account of it. The bay is called by them 6un-abann-t)u me,
' the foot, or mouth, of the river Dun', Avhich is now changed to Cop-abann-Oinne,
having the same meaning. The river Dun rises on the S. W. side of Trostan, and flows
in a direction N. E., giving name to the beautiful valley of Glen-Dun. In the town-
land Cushendun, which is separated from Ballyteerim by only two A'ery narrow town-
lands, originally quarter-lands, is a small mound called Cruik-na-Dhmne, where,
according to local tradition, O Neill and Mac Donnell fought in single combat. This
mound is beside the new church.
13. Killnacrumbagh A short distance north of the last, in the townland Augh-
nasillagh. The little cemetery is now cultivated. — (Ord. Survey, s. 10.)
14. KiUgarve. — A small patch in a Held in the townland Broughindrummin, mea-
suring about 25 by 20 feet. The district in which this lies is called the " Grange of
Layd"; but it seems more properly to belong to Culfeightrin.— (Ord. Survey, s. 14.)
II. Ramoan "Hodievulgo Rath-nioain corrupte appellatur, recthis Eath-moclhain
appellanda" (Colgan, Acta SS., p. 455.) Colgan assigns the year 450 as the date
of the foundation of this church. The festival of St. Ereclacius, its first minister,
he places at March 3rd, on the authority of the ancient calendars. — (Ibid.) The river
Shesk, which joins the Gary river at Bonaniargy, llows from south to north, and
divides this parish from Culfeightrin. The churches and cemeteries in this parish are
the following : —
1. Ramoan. — Parish church occupies the ancient site. — See p. 79.
2. Killeena. — In the townland Drumeeny, in Glenshesk, a little west of the river
which bounds the parish, is a gentle eminence, on which are the remains of an ancient
chapel, 28 feet 9 inches long, and 15 feet wide, in the clear. Walls 10 feet high, and
3 feet thick. There seems to have been a narrow window in the east gable, as also in
the north wall, near the altar end, and in the south Avail. The font, together with
the dressed sandstone quoins, Avas carried away to a field at some distance. About
three perches south Avas a burying-ground, locally called Killeena, Avhich Avas long
disused, and is now under cultivation. On the S. E. is a long cave, running north-
AA'ards, in the wall of Avhich, according to the report of the tenant of the land, are " two
stones, one with a crucifix carved on it, and the other with a cross". About twelve
perches north are several large pillar stones lying prostrate. This church is very
probably
285
probably the "Ecclesia de Druim-Indicli", which the Tripartite Life of St. Patrick
states to have been founded by him in the region of Cathrigia, and to have been placed
under the care of St. Enan. — (Pt. ii. c. 130, Trias Thaum., p. 146, coL 2.) This saint
seems to have been the person who is styled in the Calendar of Marian Gorman ' Ena-
nus egregius, diuturnge quietis, et Muadani filius"; and from whose father the parish
church derived the name Eat/i-Muadain, ' Arx Muadani'. — (Trias Thaum., p. 182,
col. 2 ; Acta SS., p. 747.) The festival of St. Euan was observed on the 25th March,
under which day the name is noticed by Colgan. The chapel above described is vul-
garly called Gobbiri's Heir Castle. So it is termed in the Parochial Survey (vol. ii.
p. 506) ; and even on the Ordnance — both Townland and Index — Maps, it bears the
same name. — (sheet 9.) The first two words are evidently a corruption of Goban Saer
(^oban paop, ' Goban the Artificer'), the title of the celebrated architect to whose
skill the traditions of the country ascribe the erection of so many churches and round
towers, and of wliom an interesting account is given by Mr. Petrie in his late incom-
parable work (Round ToAvers, pp. 343, 380); but the term Castle is a complete per-
version, as every feature of the spot is indicative of an ecclesiastical character.
The Four Masters, at the year 8 1 8, record a meeting of the Northern and Southern
Hy Niall, at a place called Opuim-inbech, which O Conor renders CoUis-equi : but
this was situated in a plain, and appears to have been far south of the place under con-
sideration.
3. It is stated that small burying-grounds for infants existed in the townlands
Ballydurnian, Ballyveely, Drumavoley, and Killrobert, but their places are not now
distinguishable, being under cultivation. In Ardagh there is a spot called Friary^
whither it is reported the brethren of Bonamargy retired upon the dissolution of that
house. Here also is shewn the earn of a Mac Quillin.
III. Ballintoy. — 6aile an ruaio, 'town of the north'. Previously to 1745 this
parish formed part of Billy. Besides the parish church there are the following eccle-
siastical remains: —
\ . Templastragh Ceampull ^upcpac, ' Church of Lassara', locally pronounced
Templelassaragh. About half a mile east of Dunseverick are a townland and village
of this name. Here, between the road and the shore, are the ruins of an old church,
measuring 46 by 18 feet 10 inches: the walls built of the articulated columnar stones
of the causeway. Attached to this ruin is a small graA^eyard. About twelve perches
north, and close to the shore, is another and apparently more ancient cemetery, very
near the middle of which are the faint traces of the foundations of a small quadrilateral
buildino;.
286
buildinn^. This is probably the spot referred to in the following passage of the Tri-
l^artite Life: " Sua; benedictionis intuitu promuererit — quod tria hajc loca Deo conse-
crata, Rathairthir, Sean-Domnach in Magach, et Sen-domnach jitxta Dun-Sobkairche
ab hoste nunquam diruantur" — (Pt. iii. cap. lOO, Trias Thaum., \). 146, coL 2.)
The local tradition concerning the name Templelastragh is that it means ' the
flaming church', because a light was seen over the spot, pointing out the present
site instead of the other cemetery, where a church had been several times commenced,
but as often overturned at night. The legend probably originated in Lassora, the
name of the patron saint, which signifies 'a ilame'.
2. Kilmahamogue. — In this townland, which lies at the S. E. edge of the parish, was
formerly a burial-ground, in which human bones and pieces of coffins have been found.
The site is now occupied by a farm-house. The name may be interpreted the ' church
of Mochoemog' — a saint called in Latin Pulcherius, and whose festival was kept on
the 13th of March.