New Settlers in Meath

King Henry the Second having granted to Hugh de Lacy,[1] for the service of fifty Knights, the Kingdom of Meath, De Lacy divided that ancient Kingdom amongst his various chiefs, who were commonly denominated De Lacy's barons:

1. Hugh Tyrrell obtained Castleknock, and his descendants were for a long period barons of Castleknock.

2. Gilbert de Angulo (or Nangle) obtained Magherigallen, now the barony of "Morgallion," in Meath.

3. Jocelin, son of Gilbert Nangle, obtained Navan and Ardbraccan. The Nangles were afterwards barons of Navan; and many of them took the Irish name of "MacCostello," and from them the barony of Costello in Mayo derived its name.

4. William de Missett obtained Luin; and his descendants were barons of Lune, near Trim.

5. Adam Feipo or Phepoe obtained Skrine or Skryne, Santreff or Santry, and Clontorth (which means either Clonturk or Clontarf). This family had the title of barons of Skrine, which title afterwards passed to the family of Marward.

6. Gilbert FitzThomas obtained the territories about Kenlis; and his descendants were barons of "Kells."

7. Hugh de Hose obtained Dees or the barony of "Deece," in Meath.

8. Hussey, barons of Galtrim.

9. Richard and Thomas Fleming obtained Crandon and other districts. The Flemings became barons of Slane; and a branch of the family, viscounts of Longford.

10. Adam Dullard or Dollard obtained Dullenevarty.

11. Gilbert de Nugent obtained Delvin; and his descendants were barons of Delvin, and earls of Westmeath.

12. Richard Tuite obtained large grants in Westmeath and Longford; his descendants received the title of barons of Moyashell, in Westmeath.

13. Robert de Lacy received Rathwire in Westmeath, of which his descendants were barons.

14. Jeoffrey de Constantine received Kilbixey, in Westmeath, of which his descendants were barons.

14. (?) William Petit received Castlebreck and Magheritherinan, now the barony of "Magheradernon" in Westmeath. The Petits became barons of Mullingar.

15. Myler Fitzhenry obtained Magherneran, Rathkenin, and Athinorker, now "Ardnorcher."

16. Richard de La chapelle, brother of Gilbert Nugent, obtained "much land."

Notes

[1] Hugh de Lacy: The De Lacys (see the "Lacy" pedigree) came from Normandy with William the Conqueror, and were earls of Lincoln in England. Hugh de Lacy came to Ireland with King Henry the Second, A.D. 1171, and obtained from that monarch a grant of the whole kingdom of Meath, as already mentioned. He was lord palatine of Meath, and many years chief governor of Ireland. He erected numerous castles, particularly in Meath and Westmeath, as those of Trim, Kells, Ardnorcher, Durrow, etc., and endowed some monasteries. He is thus described in Holingshed:—"His eyes were dark and deep-set, his neck short, his stature small, his body hairy, not fleshy, but sinewy, strong and compact; a very good soldier, but rather harsh and hasty." It appears from Hanmer and others, that he was an able and politic man in state affairs, but very ambitious and covetous of wealth and great possessions; he is also represented as a famous horseman. De Lacy's second wife was a daughter of King Roderick O'Connor; and his descendants, the De Lacys, were lords of Meath, and earls of Ulster, and founded many powerful families in Meath, Westmeath, and Louth, and also in Limerick, some of whom were distinguished marshals in the service of Austria and Russia. The castle of Dearmagh or "Durrow," in the King's County, was erected by De Lacy on the site of a famous monastery of St. Columkille, which he had thrown down; and his death was attributed by the uneducated Irish to that circumstance as a judgment from Heaven. The man who killed De Lacy fled to his accomplices in the wood of Clair or "Clara;" but it appears from MacGeoghegan and others, that the Irish attacked and put to the sword the English retinue at the castle of Durrow, and that having got De Lacy's body into their possession, they concealed it nearly ten years, when, A.D. 1195, it was interred with great pomp in the abbey of Bective, in Meath; Mathew O'Heney, Archbishop of Cashel, and John Comyn, Archbishop of Dublin, attending at the ceremony.—CONNELLAN.