There is considerable debate in certain circles as to whether the MacTiernans
named in the Linea Antiqua in descent of Ualarg O Rourke were in fact
MacTiernans or O Rourkes. Some believe all of the MacTiernans were descended
from the MacTiernan of Tellach Dunchadha sept in Cavan County. In the
Linea Antiqua these families are clearly labeled "MacTiernan." And there
are historical sources establishing that at least one MacTiernan sept
was native to that county - and probably not related in any way to the
MacTiernan of Tellach Dunchadha sept of neighboring Cavan County.
The following document names a Clantyernene, who, along with the MacLoughlins
and MacMureas [McMorrices], who as their inheritance, held the 16 quarters
of Ylagh and the lands of Cleanlough in Leitrim County. This description
of a common inheritance can hardly apply to the MacTiernans of Tellach
Dunchadha in Cavan County. There are several other historical sources
which place a MacTiernan sept in Leitrim or at least in Connacht (Cavan
was not a part of Connacht). 1885 State Papers Oct. 3 Dublin The Compostition
Book of the province of Connaught and Thomond. This book contains the
Commission, 15 July 1585. The return of Byngham and the Commissioners,
3 Oct. 1585. The abstract of the composition, which was retuned into
the Court of Chancery in Ireland.
The names of 41 Mc's (Macks) and 26 O's (Oes) who surrendered their
Irish names and customs of inheritance, and received their castles and
lands by patent, to them and their heirs, in English succession. The
Macs are, M'William Eighter, M'Ne Marra Fynn, M'Ne Marra Reoghe, M'Gilly
Reoghe, M'Glaneghee,M'Everhin, M'Hubberte, M'Oughe, M'William Roe, M'Cremon,
M'Walter, M'Huighe, M'Edmonde, M'Gyrraughe, M'Reamon, M'Thomas, M'Vavye,
M'Walter, M'Dermott, M'Padyn, M'Tybbott, M'Phillippen, M'connell, M'Glaughe,
M'Tyernan, M'Keallye, M'Gravell, M'Deirmotte Roe, M'Branan, M'Kehernye,
M'Evillye, M'Costolowe, M'Jordan, M'Murreye, M'Enawe, M'Loughlin M'Granill,
M'Donoghe encorren, M'Donoghe cobea, M''Dermott Gall, and M'Manys. The
Oes are, O'Rourk, O'Connor Sligo, O'Connor Dunne, O'Connor roe, O'Kelly,
O'Flaherty, O'Male, O'Heyne, O'Maddyne, O'Dowdy, O'Harry Bwye, O'Harry
Reoghe, O'Naughtyne, O'Loughlin, O'Guffe, O'Neylan, O'Murrye, O'Mannyn,
O'Cowchanon, O'Byrne, O'Flynne, O'Hanlye, O'Hartye, O'Lorkan, O'Flanegane,
and O'Mulrenyn.
The following pardon List of about 1609 also mentions MacLoughlins
and McTiernans as followers of O Rourke, all of Leitrim County. Patent
Rolls of James I ca. 1609 p. 24 Pat. 1 James I IX.-10. General pardon
to Thadeus otherwise Teige O''Rourke of Leitrim, Esq., chief of his
name, Thadeus otherwise Teige oge O'Rourke, gent. Donnell O'Rourke,
gent. Owen O'Rourke, gent. Shane oge McLoghlin, Teige oge McLoghlin,
Uny McLoghlin, Shane McCaffrie McTernan, Cahire McTernan, Chasrie McTernan,
and Brian oge O'Flannagan, in Leitrim co."
Lastly, the State Paper entry for 1542 describes two MacTiernan septs
in the same document. 1. MacKerwan He will give a hostage to stand to
the arbitration of the Bishop of Meath, the Bishop of Kilmore (Brennensis)
Sir Thomas Cusake, and another to be chosen by O'Rayley, touching all
contentions between himand O'Rayley about the lands called "Talloha,"
Mc'Gauran's lands, and the lands of both the McKerwans. If the said
arbitratiors cannot agree, the final determination shall be made by
the Lord Deputy and Council. His request that O'Rayley should likewise
give an hostage is granted. There is no doubt this is a reference to
the MacTiernans of Tellach Dunchadha in Cavan County. A later clause
in the same document lists a McTernan sept under O Rourke. This is the
same passage that lists a MacCahal rewe or reagh sept under O Rourke.
These genlemen here recited shall be in the peace and conduct of him
and his heirs under the King:- the two McGranels, O'Mulmoy, McGlaugh,
Kenalowhan, Colloflimme, McCahelrewe, O'Birne, McTernan, and McAnnauve.
They are evidently to be differentiated from the MacKerwans of Tellach
Dunchadha in Cavan.
Woulfe mentions a MacTiernan sept in Co. Roscommon, said to be descended
from the O'Connors. Might this not instead be the MacTiernan of Corry
line of the Linea Antiqua, whose territory, according to our experts,
was in Roscommon County?
Woulfe (Sloinnte Gaedheal is Gall)
Mac Tigearnain - (1) a branch of the O'Connors in co. Roscommon, who
are descended from Tigearnan, grandson of Turlogh Mor O'Connor, King
of Ireland. (2) of a Breifney family, of the same stock as the O'Rourkes,
who were formerly chiefs of Tellach Dhunchadha, now the barony of Tullyhunco,
in the west of Co. Cavan (3) of a Fermanagh family, of the same stock
as the Maguires, who were formerly chiefs of Clann Fearghaile.
If this is the case, then the MacTiernans of Leitrim were probably
the line labeled MacTiernan Naban in the Linea Antiqua; and it was these
MacTiernans who shared a common inheritance with the MacLoughlins and
MacMurrays of Ylagh and Cleanlough in Leitrim County.
MacTiernan of Fermanagh (O Clery)
Genelach Meg Tigernain Cloinde Ferghail MacTiernan (related to
the Maguires of Fermanagh) 1669. Flaithbertach m Toirrdelbaigh m
Ferghail m Lochlainn m Donnchada m Lochlainn m Donnchada m Lochlain
m Cernaigh m Tigernain m Mailruanaidh (o tait muinter Mael ruanaidh)
m Maele duin m Ferghail m Cearnaigh m Lughain m Iorghalaigh m Eignigh
m Corbmaic m Fergusa m Aedha m Corpmaic m Cairpre an daim argit m Eachach
m Cremthainn m Feig m Dedaidh dhuirn m Rochadhae m Colla fo crith.
Baronies of Leitrim, Mohill and Carrigallan, Baronies of Drumaheir
and Roscloger, McTiernan 26, McLoghlen 32, McMorrey 30, Gloghlen 5...
1591 State Papers: "The chief ordinary forces and strength of men to
serve O'Rourke in his wars are, the McLoughlins, the McMorrices, and
the Clantyernene. These had sixteen quarters of land amoungst them as
their inheritance, called Ylaugh, and the lands of Cleanlough. These
had never bonnaught of O'Rourke but only their shares of preys and spoils
that were taken."
The Census of 1659 lists a townland called Clunlogher in the parish
of Killargand & Clunelagher. This implies a close relation among the
MacLoughlins, the MacMurrays and the Clantyernenes, i.e, a common and
close descent. This would probably rule out both the clainne Tigearnain
na Corradh and the Meg Tigernain Teallaigh Dunchadha, neither of whom
were closely related to the other families named in the document. O
Farrell calls the Clainne Tigearnain na Buannaidh "MacTernan Naban"
in the Linea Antiqua. Is "Naban" a corrupt anglicisation of "Na Buannaidh?"
The O Clery genealogies terminate in this line with the grandsons of
Tigearnain O Rourke 'of the river Buannaidh.' This Tigearnan O Rourke
appears to be the man named in the annal entry of 1487. We have two
slightly different translations of the text: the son of Mac Tighearnain
and the grandson of Tigearnain from AU and FM respectively.
In the Annal entry of 1487, according to the O'Donovan translation,
the grandson of Tiernan na Buannaidh was taken hostage. This is presumably
the Tigernan in the pedigree above. But this Tigernan would have lived
around 1300 A.D., and his grandsons no later than 1370 A.D. This annal
entry in 1481 therefore cannot be describing the Tigernan in the above
pedigree. In other words, no grandson of this Tigernan could possibly
have been alive in 1481. Therefore this passage probably should be translated
as in the Book of Ulster, i.e., Mac Tighearnain, a surname (Mac Mic
Tighearnain).
No other members of this line are named in the Annals; and even if
they were they would be untraceable in O Clery since his line terminates
in the grandsons of Tigearnan. The line is also untraced in O Farrell
past the same point. So we have a total blank until late in the 16th
century, when a clantyernene are named as sharing a common inheritance
with the MacLoughlins and the MacMurrays in Leitrim (probably the barony
of Dumaheir).
According to the O Clery genealogies, the Clainne Tigearnain na Buannaidhe,
the MacLoughlins and the MacMurrays were all descended from Amlaibh
O Rourke, the son of Art son of Domhnall, which is of course the exact
type of close descent (inheritance) described in the 1591 State Papers
entry.