TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE LORD O'HAGAN, Ford Chancellor of Ireland, AND TO HIS SISTER MARY, FOUNDRESS AND ABBESS OF SAINT CLARE'S CONVENT, THIS VOLUME IS AFFECTIONATELY AND RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED BY The Author. CROMLECH AT DUNMORE, WATERFORD, ROUND TOWER OF DYSART, NEAR CROOM, LIMERICK, CARRICKFERGUS, IETERVIEW BETWEEN MACMURROUGH AND THE OFFICERS OF RICHARD II., 367 GOLD EAR-RING, Found at Castlerea, Co. ROSCOMMON, 422 CASTLE MONEA, Co. FERMANAGH, 470 ANCIENT DRINKING VESSEL OR METHER, . TABLE AND CHAIR USED AT THE CONFEDERATION OF Kilkenny, PARLIAMENT HOUSE, KILKENNY, 480 481 486 THOMAS FLEMYNG'S TOMB, COLLEGIATE CHURCH, YOUGHAL, 497 --- TUBRID CHURCHYARD BURIAL-PLACE OF THE HISTORIAN KEATING, 532 INSCRIPTION IN HONOUR OF KEATING, 533 "DANES' PIPES," FROM THE COLLECTION OF THE R.I.A., 541 IRISH PEASANT OF ABOUT THE. FIFTEENTH CENTURY, 552 CASTLE CAULFIELD, CO. TYRONE, 553 SCENE OF THE BATTLE OF THE BOYNE, THE CASTLE OF TRIM, THE TREATY STONE, LIMERICK, SITE OF THE BATTLE OF AUGHRIM, GRATTAN DEMANDING IRISH INDEPENDENCE, GOSDSMITH'S MILL AT AUBURN, BANTRY BAY-SCENE OF THE LANDING OF THE FRENCH, LYNCH'S HOUSE, Galway, O'CONNELL REFUSING TO TAKE THE OATH, MAP SHOWING THE LOCALITIES OF THE PRINCIPAL OLD IRISH FAMILIES. EDUCATIONAL MAP AND STATISTICAL MAP. 554 560 572 573 590 592 610 611 634 635 646 654 PREFACE TO THE FIFTH EDITION. DEMAND for a Fifth Edition of the "Illustrated History of Ireland," within three years. from the date of the publication of other Editions, consisting of 11,000 copies, is a matter of no little gratification to the writer, both personally and relatively. It is a triumphant proof that Irishmen are not indifferent to Irish his tory-a fault of which they have been too frequently accused; and as many of the clergy have been most earnest and generous in their efforts to promote the circulation of the work, it is gratifying to be able to adduce this fact also in reply to the imputations, even lately cast upon the ecclesiastics of Ireland, of deficiency in cultivated tastes, and of utter neglect of literature. Nor, as a Catholic and a religious, can I fail to express my respectful gratitude and thankfulness for the warm approbation which the work has received from so many distinguished prelates. A few of these approbations will be found at the commencement of the volume-it was impossible to find space for all. It may be, however, well to observe, that several of the English Catholic bishops have not been less kind and earnest in their commendations, though I have not asked their permission to publish their communications. Some extracts are given from the reviews, which also are necessarily condensed and limited; and, as the Most Rev. Dr. Derry has observed, the press has been most favorable in its criticisms. It certainly is not a little strange that Ireland, which |