Dugan

© Donal G. Burke 2013

The O Dugan, O Duggan or O Doogan family of east Galway origin, along with a small number of other native Irish families, are believed to have composed an early kin group of people known as the Sodhain, who were settled in east Galway prior to the rise to dominance by about the end of the fifth century of another tribe of Celtic origin, led by their chieftain Maine mór and his father Eochaidh feardaghiall.[i] As such the Duggans or Doogans of east Galway are a separate and distinct family from those of the same name established elsewhere about Ireland, including those of the name O Dubhagan, also anglicised Dugan or Duggan, who were retainers of MagFhiachra in Aidhne in the south-west of that which would later be County Galway.[ii]

The O Dugans of east Galway were traditionally associated with the keeping of history, the historian John O Donovan, writing in the early nineteenth century, referring to them as bards and the ‘hereditary seanchaidhes or historians of Hy Many.’[iii] O Donovan renders the name of this family of Sodhan origin in Irish as Ó Dubhagain and notices that it is distinct from the name O Duibhginn, anglicised Deegin in Leinster.[iv]  From the pronunciation of the modern East Galway place-name ‘Ballydoogan,’ associated with the family, it would appear that the anglicised version of this name was pronounced ‘doogan.’

Maine mór and his descendants appear to have subjugated many of the existing tribes and peoples, including the Sodhain, that inhabited their land and established a petty kingdom, covering much of the later east Galway and named from their progenitor as Uí Maine (later Anglicised Hy Many). The senior-most family descended from this Maine was the O Kellys, from whom the rulers or chieftains of Uí Maine would be drawn.

The origin of the Sodhain is obscured by the incorporation of mythology in their history. The ancestor of the Sodhain, in a reference to them in a fourteenth century poem in praise of an O Madden chieftain, was given as ‘Sodun Sálbhuidhi,’ a descendant of the mythical Conall cearnach.[v] The late fourteenth century Book of Uí Maine relates that Sodun Sálbhuidhi established himself in Connacht when, migrating from Ulster, he was given lands in the east of that kingdom by the legendary Queen Meave.[vi]

The seventeenth century Gaelic antiquary Roderick O Flaherty gives the descent of this family from Fiacha Araidhe, ‘founder of the Dalaradian family and country of Ulster, of the Ridrician family, king of Ulster, to whom the kings of Ulster of the Hirian line and many families are indebted for their origin.’[vii] This Fiacha Araidhe was reputed to have been king of Ulster about the year 236 A.D.[viii] O Flaherty states that Sodan, his son, was the progenitor of the Sodanians, who possessed Sodan Aitch in Fernmoy in Ulster, Sodan in Meath and Sodan in Hymania (Uí Maine or Hy Many) in the county of Galway. The families of the Wards and O Duvegans, great antiquarians and poets, are descended from them.’[ix]

O Clery’s seventeenth century ‘Book of Genealogies’ gives the descent in full of Sodhain salbhuidhe as the son of ‘Fiacha aruidhe mac Aenghusa goibhnenn mic Fergusa gailfine mic Tipraiti mic Bresail mic Feirb mic Mail mic Rochraide mic Catbadh mic Giallchadha mic Gunchadha mic Fionnchadha mic Muiredaigh mic Fiachna finnamhus mic Ireoil glunmair mic Conaill cernaigh.’[x] The historian Fr. P.K. Egan regarded the reference to descent from Conall cearnach as an indication that the Sodhain were therefore of
Cruthnian origin.[xi]

The Cruthin are regarded by some historians as the earliest of several waves of Celtic settlers to arrive in Ireland prior to the arrival of Christianity.[xii] They were believed to have been closely related to the Picts of Scotland and were the dominant people about the sixth century B.C.[xiii] It has been suggested that on their arrival in this region of south east Connacht as an Iron Age people they came to dominate and displace the earlier Neolithic and Bronze Age peoples who inhabited the area.[xiv]

The antiquary H.T Knox and others equated the Sodhain with the ‘Senchineoil,’ (or ‘Seanchineál,’ literally ‘old race’) the pre-Celtic people who lived in the centre of what would later be east Galway prior to their subjection by the Uí Maine.[xv] These early people were said to have lived on a large plain that lay to the west and east of the River Suck, and were identified in an early poem as ‘the Senchineoil of the old plain of Soghan.’[xvi] From this reference it was taken that the Senchineoil and the Sodhain were one and the same.

It has been alternatively suggested, however, that the Senchineoil were the older inhabitants who were in turn displaced from the old plain by the early Celtic Sodhain and the reference may be taken to simply mean that the Senchineoil had originally come from the ‘old plain’ whereupon the Sodhain lived at the time of the rise of the Uí Maine.[xvii]

In either case it is agreed that the Sodhain were established in this area of south eastern Connacht from an early period, were subjugated by the tribe later known as the Uí Maine but maintained their presence there as a separate and distinct tribe under the rule of the descendants of Maine mór. As a kin-group within Uí Maine they retained the right to a separate ‘under-chieftain’ or ‘Uir-rí’ to rule over themselves but under the authority of the greater chieftain of the Uí Maine.[xviii] Each of the families who composed the Sodhain, such as the O Mannions, MacWards, O Scurras or O Scarrys, O Leannain (or O Lennans), O Casain, O Gialla and O Maigin, were said to have been eligible to the chieftaincy of the Sodhain but, of the seven, the O Mannions were the dominant and became associated with that chieftaincy.[xix]

Original territory of the Sodhain

The plain itself was referred to in ancient documents as ‘Magh Senchineoil,’ upon which the patron saint of the Uí Maine, St. Grellan, was reputed to have erected his church at Kilclooney.[xx] Part of the plain and original territory of the Senchineoil would therefore appear to have included part of the later parish of Kilclooney on the west bank of the River Suck (about which the later town of Ballinasloe would develop). From this it would appear that the territory of the Sodhain prior to the arrival of the Uí Maine included this area.

The area immediately to the south of Kilclooney, including part of Kilclooney itself and part of Clontuskert and extending east across the River Suck into part of Creagh, appears to have been inhabited by another early tribe of people, possibly of Cruithin origin, called the Clann Chatraighe or ‘Cattraige of the Suck,’ who were also subjugated by the Uí Maine but who remained on their lands under the Uí Maine into the medieval period.[xxi] The territory of the Sodhain before the arrival of the Uí Maine therefore appears to have been bordered to the south east by the Clann Chatraighe.

The original territory of the Sodhain appears from extracts of early poems to have stretched from about the Suck to the river Clare, north to the River Grange and south along the line of the Raford River to the west and Ballinure River to the east and covering a large area of what would later be central east Galway.[xxii]

The later territory of the Sodhain

Their original territory was restricted in size to accommodate the expanding family group of the new rulers and appear to have been centred some time after the creation of the Uí Maine territory further from the Suck, in a wide area located about the later parish of Ballymacward. The area of the Sodhain would appear to have roughly coincidental with the parishes contained within the Clonfert diocese rectory of Soggan or Sogoun. The historian K. W. Nicholls was of the opinion that this rectory comprised the parishes of Ballymacward, Clonkeenkerrill, Fohenagh, Kilconnell, Kilgerrill and Kilclooney in east Galway.[xxiii] Given the presence of the O Mannions about Menlough in the parish of Killascobe, adjacent to Ballymacward, it is likely that part of that parish may also have been part of the restricted area of the Sodhain.[xxiv]

The ancestral lands of the O Dugans lay principally about the parish of Fohenagh, barony of Kilconnell in east Galway, in close proximity to those others of Sodhan origin, the O Mannions about Menlough and the MacWards about Ballymacward. Within the parish of Fohenagh a number of townlands, such as Cartrondoogan and Ballydoogan, derived their nomenclature from this family. (Another townland, Dundoogan, to the southeast in the nearby parish of Kilgerrill, may also have been connected with this family.) In a topographical poem describing many of the native families of Connacht prior to the thirteenth century, written by a noted Gaelic antiquary of this family, Sean mór O Dugan, the family was described as ‘O Duibhghind as dá baile déag o nDuibhghind’ or ‘O Dugan of the twelve townlands of O Dugan.’[xxv]

In the later medieval and early modern period the family appear to have been established at Ballydoogan. This name translates from the Irish ‘Baile Uí Dhubhagain’ or the ‘settlement or township of O Dugan.’ The Registry of Clonmacnoise relates the reputed origin of the place-name Ballydoogan and that denomination’s association with the O Dugan family.

Origin of Ballydoogan

The Registry relates that Teig O Kelly and the Bishop of Clonmacnoise met at a place called Dunbeglaitt, where a dispute reputedly arose concerning the extent to which the Bishop was entitled from lands previously bestowed upon the monastic settlement by the O Kellys of Ui Maine. O Dugan, through his knowledge of the history of the previous events, facilitated a resolution and, in return, both O Kelly and the Bishop bestowed the land of ‘Baile an ruan’ to O Dugan, ‘for making knowen unto them the true chronickles and antiquities that did belong unto them to knowe in that behalf, and for the keeping and due recollection of the life and right of St. Kieran (founder of Clonmacnoise) in all partes of Irelande wheresoever it were.’ O Dugan was required, for his part, to repair to Clonmacnoise annually on Good Friday and there record anything bestowed upon that church during the pilgrimage that would take place at that time. According to the Registry of Clonmacnoise ‘it was for such causes O Dubhagain had his land by the order and arbitrement of O Brislean (the name of a family who served at one time as brehons or judges to the Maguire chieftain of Fermanagh) at Dunbeg and from thence it was called Baile-I-Dubhagain, and it was the grant and gift of Tyrmaine unto the comeing of the O Dubhagaine of Culdaire.’[xxvi]

The land of ‘Baile an ruan’ said to have been granted by the Bishop of Clonmacnoise was identified by O Donovan as Ballinruane, a townland to the east near the River Suck, in the nearby parish of Ahascragh.[xxvii] This name survived in the mid nineteenth century as ‘Ballyrooaun’, a place-name within the modern townland of Ervallagh Oughter in that parish.

It is unclear from this tract if it is asserting that the former name of Ballydoogan was Dunbeg. O Donovan was of the view that this was the case but erroneously held the Ballydoogan in question to be that townland located in the parish of Kilmeen, immediately east of Loughrea.[xxviii] It is possible that this Dunbeg may be a reference to the raised mound, known later as ‘Doon fort’ and whereupon a later ‘Doon castle’ would be erected. This raised mound lies within the modern townland of Doon Upper immediately adjacent to the denominations of Ballydoogan and Catrondoogan and may have been associated with either or both at an earlier period. Doon was held in the early seventeenth century by Donogh O Kelly, who was described as ‘of Downe’ at that time.[xxix]

It is uncertain at what date the castle or fortified structure was constructed at Doon Upper, but no fortified castle is recorded in Ballydoogan itself. Within the parish of Fohenagh and in close proximity to Ballydoogan lay two other castles or tower houses, immediately to the north that of Clonbrock, held in the early seventeenth century by Richard Dillon and immediately to the south that of Ballynabanaba, that of William Lally.

O Dugan residence at Lisfineel

Within Ballydoogan itself lay two circular enclosures, known as ‘Gortmore fort’ and, adjacent to the border with Doon Upper, the more sizeable raised enclosure of ‘Lisfineel fort.’ This latter appears to have continued in use and served as the residence of the O Dugans as late as the early seventeenth century, with Donell O Dugan ‘of Lisfenelle’ among the many landholders about Fohenagh and Kilconnell who surrendered their lands to the Crown about 1617 ‘in order to obtain a re-grant thereof according to the King’s letter dated 21^st July, in the thirteenth year of his reign.’[xxx]

It is unclear if this is the same individual as one Donill O Dugain of Ballidugan, issued a general pardon alongside other persons of east Galway in 1603 but on that occasion this individual of the family at least was described as a ‘husbandman,’ a social rank lower than that also used at that time of ‘yeoman,’ which would indicate a ‘strong farmer.’[xxxi] The description may be incorrect or may refer to another of the same name.

In 1618 Donnell O Dugan (incorrectly transcribed as ‘O Dongan’) ‘of Lisfinelly’ was confirmed in possession of half of the quarter of Ballydugan, half of the cartron of Lishageran, half of the cartron of Lisfyniely and the cartron of Tuomore in the barony of Kilconnell.[xxxii]

Succeeding generations of the family maintained the position as custodians of the history and genealogies of the wider territory, with Seaan mór Ó Dubhagain or John mór ‘the great’ O Dugan, described as ‘saoi sheanchadha agus ollamh Uí Maine’ ‘a learned historian and ollamh of Hy Many’ at his death in 1372, ‘after a victory of Extreme Unction and penance’ at Rinndown in Roscommon ‘among the monks of St. John the Baptist.’ An accomplished poet, O Dugan attained sufficient eminence in his life’s work to be regarded as an ‘ollamh,’ the highest level achievable in the field of learning among the Irish.

The Gaelic manuscript known as the Book of Uí Maine, containing the genealogies of the principal families of the territory, its history and more, was known in the seventeenth century as ‘the Book of O Dubhagain’ to other scholars. The book itself was being compiled about 1393 while Murchertach O Kelly, Bishop of Clonfert from 1378 to 1393 was being advanced to the position of Archbishop of Tuam. It is unclear the exact connection with the O Dugans to the manuscript, as it now only survives in fragmentary form. While two of the ten or more scribes who were involved in the work are known, neither was an O Dugan, but family members may have been involved as scribes of those parts now missing, or, as also suggested by the historian N. Ó Muraíle, the book may once have contained a large amount of the work of Seaan mór Ó Dubhagain. [xxxiii]

Another of the name, one Manus son of John O Dugan, given by the seventeenth century Galway historian Roderick O Flaherty, as having died in 1395, was described as ‘insignis antiquarius.’[xxxiv]

The Irish annals record the death in 1440 of Seaan son of Corbmaic Ó Dubhagain, whom they describe as ‘seanchaidh’ or historian. It has been suggested that, as the death of an O Dugan was mentioned under that year in relation to the Book of Uí Maine, this Seaan mac Corbmaic was of this family and connected with that manuscript. The seventeenth century scholar Dr. John Lynch suggested that it was from a connection with this Seaan Ó Dubhagain that the Book of Uí Maine was once called ‘the Book of O Dubhagain.’ [xxxv]

The senior-most member of the name in the early to mid seventeenth century appears to have been Teige O Doogane, the only significant landed proprietor of his name given in County Galway about the late 1630s, holding a half quarter of Ballydoogane in the parish of Fohenagh.[xxxvi] His lands were described at that time as diversely mixed with good pasture and arable land and about a fourth part heath pasture. Another half quarter of Ballydoogan was held at that time by William Lally, his section being taken together with another denomination called ‘Gortegolloglye’ (‘the field of the Galloglass or mercenary’) as comprising one full quarter.[xxxvii]

The Cromwellian period

The O Doogans lost possession of their all or part of lands in this area as a result of the Cromwellian confiscations and transplantations in the mid seventeenth century. The lands of Teige O Doogane of Ballydoogan were confiscated in part or in full by the Cromwellian authorities and in 1656 he was decreed seventy-three profitable Irish acres in the nearby parish of Ahascragh.[xxxviii]

Following the turmoil of that period and the restoration of the monarchy in the person of King Charles II in 1660, an Act of Settlement was passed in Parliament, in an attempt to address the complaints of those whose lands had been taken or divided by the Cromwellians and to placate those who had acquired lands at that time. Many Roman Catholics who held lands prior to the Cromwellian period were not restored to their original estates, as there were insufficient lands to placate the old and the new landholders, but one hundred and ten profitable Irish acres in Ballydoogan were decreed to be restored to Dennis Doogan under the Act of Settlement.[xxxix] There is no record of a Doogan being confirmed lands under the Act of Settlement in the parish of Ahascragh and it is unclear if Teige O Doogan retained this land.

The learned tradition of the family was maintained to a degree, at least into the following century, with one Teige O Duggan, described as ‘an eminent antiquary’ providing a pedigree of the O Donnellan family of Uí Maine about 1750 for one Denis Magennis.[xl]