Analysis: Historian Mícheál Ó Cléirigh returned to south Donegal 400 years ago to begin the work to create The Annals of the Four Masters
By Éamon Ó Caoineachán, Mary Immaculate College
400 years ago, historian Mícheál Ó Cléirigh returned to south Donegal to begin the work to create The Annals of the Four Masters in the Convent of Donegal at Bundrowes friary in Magheracar near Bundoran. Discovering that the friary is the historic home of Ó Cléirigh's annals focuses on rediscovering and exploring the primary source historical records.
Bundoran's modern history is as one of Ireland’s premier seaside resorts and well-known surf towns, but its rich Gaelic scholarly history is relatively unknown. However, with the recent historical rediscoveries being highlighted in the Donegal Democrat. Irish history is now being rewritten.
The story of Bundrowes
The four Magh Ene townlands that encompass the coastal district of Bundoran are Bundrowes (Magheracar), Drumacrin, Ardfarna and Rathmore. During the Ulster Plantation, these four townlands are recorded as the Trinity College Lands in 17th century records. Over 400 years later – these four townlands still encompass the coastal district of Bundoran.
In a Trinity College grant from 1855, Bundrowes is specifically recorded as the old name for Magheracar, Bundoran: "Magherycar, otherwise Bundruse." William McCrea’s map (1801) labels both Bundrowes and Magheracar. By the OS 6-inch map (1830s), Bundrowes, which extends from the Drowes River to the old bridge in the heart of Bundoran, is labelled "Magheracar".
From the ancient Ulster earthwork of The Black Pig's Dyke and the O’Donnell’s Gaelic Bundrowes Castle to Mícheál Ó Cléirigh’s Annals at Bundrowes friary – the history of Bundrowes is the history of Bundoran.
Bundoran’s Four Masters DNA
Bundoran possesses a 700-year recorded Ó Cléirigh history. Mícheál Ó Cléirigh’s cousin and fellow compiler of the Annals, Cú Choigcríche's mid 17th century Ó Cléirigh Book of Genealogies records that the O’Donnell’s granted their Bundoran land, "Drumacrin in Magh Ene" to the Ó Cléirighs in c.1348.
The Ó Cléirigh’s heartland of Drumacrin in Bundoran stretches from the western strand on Main Beach through Main Street, East End and out the countryside past the N15 Bypass to one of Bundoran’s rural townlands, Rathmore. Modern scientific evidence reveals that a Y-DNA37 test remarkably matched the Bundoran Ó Cléirighs from Drumacrin and Rathmore with Mícheál’s compiler-cousin’s family, Cú Choigcríche, one of the Four Masters.
Lughaidh Ó Cléirigh: The Chronicler "of Bundoran"
Donegal’s most powerful Ó Cléirigh, Mícheál’s renowned chronicler-cousin and teacher, Lughaidh Ó Cléirigh, Chief Historian and Poet of 'Red' Hugh O’Donnell, lived as a "chronicler" in Bundoran in 1603.An Inquisition record from 1603 notes: "Lughaidh O’Cleirigh of Bundoran, chronicler". The rediscovery of this record illuminates that the Bundoran Ó Cléirigh lands belonged to Lughaidh.
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From RTÉ Archives, a new edition of the Annals of the Four Masters has been published by Edmund Burke of Blackrock, County Dublin, in 1990
While it has long been assumed that Lughaidh’s student, Mícheál, lived and was educated in Kilbarron, there are no historical records of Mícheál in Kilbarron. The only local, historical records of Mícheál, is his compiling in the Bundoran lands at Bundrowes (Magheracar) in Magh Ene (1626-1637). Considering there are no historical records of Mícheál in Kilbarron, it now appears likely that Mícheál’s life and learning as "a chronicler by descent and education" took place with his Ó Cléirigh chronicler-cousin and teacher, Lughaidh by the surf-music in Bundoran.
With Bundoran noted in plantation records from 1606 and 1608 and the Flight of the Earls (1607) causing the Ó Cléirighs to lose land, Mícheál also took flight to continental Europe. The Bundoran Ó Cléirigh lands of his chronicler-cousin and teacher, Lughaidh, became the Trinity College Lands.
Mícheál Ó Cléirigh’s return to Bundoran
Rediscovering the Louvain Papers record of The Convent of Donegal at "Bundrowis" from c.1630 creates the Franciscan bridge between The Guardian of Louvain College, Fr. Hugh Ward and Mícheál Ó Cléirigh at Bundrowes friary in Bundoran.
Mícheál identifies his Franciscan house "at Drowes", his scribal shorthand for its friary townland "Bundrowes". There are only two townlands located on the Donegal side of the Drowes: the Bundoran townlands of Ardfarna and Bundrowes (Magheracar). The Louvain Papers note "Bundrowis" friary with other contemporary Irish friaries that sent money to Louvain. The record clearly establishes that Mícheál’s Four Masters Convent of Donegal at Bundrowes was in Bundoran.
Honouring Mícheál Ó Cléirigh
Located 800 metres, southwest of Bundoran’s Gaelic football field, the Four Masters Bundrowes site is marked on 19th century maps, and archaeological artefacts have been discovered. Stone-carver Brendan McGloin's sculptures of Ó Cléirigh (2002) and his scribes, An Triur Ceann, The Triskele Heads (2002) are artistically at home at Bundoran Library.
400 years on from Mícheál’s return from Louvain to Ireland – the Royal Irish Academy has recently specified the geographical and historical fact that the Annals were created "at Bundrowes friary in the coastal district of Bundoran". The Dictionary of Irish Biography is making revisions and the Irish Franciscans (OFM) are updating their Provincial website. Dr. Bernadette Cunningham has also spotlighted Bundoran in her recent Mayo lecture.
These revisions and updates are vital steps towards recognising and honouring the life and work of Mícheál Ó Cléirigh on the 400-year commemoration of his return to Ireland.
They significantly help to educate the Irish public and inform educational institutions by highlighting the primary source historical records of Mícheál at Bundrowes friary in Bundoran.
While the Mícheál Ó Cléirigh Summer School has considered that Mícheál compiled the Annals in Kilbarron Castle, Donegal Town and County Leitrim, (without providing historical evidence) – they have, unfortunately, omitted the actual, recorded historical evidence and documentary scholarship of Mícheál creating Ireland’s greatest history book, The Annals of the Four Masters, at Bundrowes friary in Bundoran.
The Michael O'Cleirigh Summer School takes place in Rossnowlagh, Co Donegal from May 8th to May 10th
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Éamon Ó Caoineachán is a PhD student at Mary Immaculate College.
The views expressed here are those of the author and do not represent or reflect the views of RTÉ
