History of the Lally Family

THE GAELS AND THE MILESIAN LEGENDS

The Lally family descended from the Gaels, a tribal group of people who spread rapidly through Europe, the British Isles, Ireland, and into Asia Minor during the Iron Age. Armed with iron weapons and riding on horseback, they powerfully spread into much of the then-known world. The Gaels were druids. Their rich culture flourished in Ireland and elsewhere.

As St. Patrick spread Christianity throughout Ireland, the monks carefully recorded the Gaelic history and legends. They were careful to adapt the ancient legends to the Christian ideology. What resulted was a wonderful blend of Biblical, mythological and historical lore to memorialize the Gaelic people.

One of the legends was that of Mil (Mileseus). The Milesian legends tell of the history the Gaelic people, their voyages and struggles to reach Inis Fail-Ireland. The Lebor Gabala Erren (The Book of the Taking of Ireland) begins with a detailed genealogy from Adam and into the Gaelic line. The legend tells of Feinus Farsaid, a chieftain of Scythia. He traveled to Babel to help build the fabled Tower in honor of Nimrod. His son, Nel was born at the tower. Due to their connection with the tower, they are said to have been masters of the various languages of the world. During his absence, his other son, Nenual, was left to rule Scythia.

During the time of Moses, Nel traveled to Egypt. Nel married the Pharaoh's daugher, a beautiful woman named Scota. It is for her that all Scots are named. Their son was named Gaedel Glas, for whom the Gaels are named. After the Pharaoh drowned in the Red Sea, Sru and his son, Eber Scot-descendants of Gaedel Glas- took four ships out of Egypt and returned to Scythia. Sru died when he reached Scythia. Eber Scot took over the Kingship of Scythia (believed to be the present-day Iran).

The legend recounts several generations of warfare between the progeny of Nel and of Nenual. Finally, Agnomain (a descendant of Nel) and his son Lamfhind were driven to the sea. They wandered the seas for seven years. The story tells of Caicher the druid, who instructed the crew to melt wax into their ears to survive the songs of the Sirens.

After an extended time without food or potable water, the ship finally was blown to a great promontory north of the Rhipaean Mountain, where they found a spring with the "taste of wine". The crew feasted and slept for three days and three nights, after which Caicher the druid said, "Rise. We shall not rest until we reach Ireland".

"What place is that Ireland?", asked Lamfhind.

"Further than Scythia it is. It is not ourselves who shall reach it, but our children, at the end of three hundred years from today", replied the druid. The group settled in the Macotic Marshes.

Generations later, Brath came out of the marshes. The Gaels reached Crete, then Sicily and finally Spain. They took Spain by force, and ruled for many years. Breogan, son of Brath built a tower in the city of Braganza, from which Ireland was seen by his son Ith. Ith was the uncle of King Milesius (Mil).

Ith took a fleet to the North of Ireland where they encountered the Tuatha de Danann, who controlled Ireland at the time. A battle ensued in which Ith was killed. His body was taken back to Spain. The progeny of Mil resolved to avenge Ith's death.

Chapter 2

DESCENDANTS OF HEREMON

Heremon and his eldest brother, Heber, jointly ruled as the first Milesian monarchs of Ireland. Their reign began about 1600 B.C. The descendants of Heremon lived in the Northern part of Ireland. After the death of Heber, Heremon ruled Ireland alone for 14 years.

From his line came many of the great kings of Ireland, and other notable figures in Irish history-- far too many to be recounted here. However, the following descendants of Heremon (and ancestors of the Lally family) are given more attention. Included are Heremon's son, Irial Faidh (d. B.C. 1670), the tenth monarch of Ireland and a prophet. Irial Faidh built seven royal palaces. His son, Eithrial (d. B.C. 1650), succeeded his father and wrote a history of the Gaels. Eithrial and his father cleared away much of the ancient forests of Ireland, and advanced the pursuit of agriculture.

Tigernmas (d. BC 1543), the grandson of Eithrial, was the thirteenth king of Ireland. He reigned 77 years. He is alleged to have introduced idol worship to the Gaels in Ireland and was reputed as a great lawgiver. He introduced the system of plaid waving, and the assignment of particular plaids to specific strata of society.(One color for a slave, two colors for a soldier, three for a commanding officer, a gentleman who kept a table for the free entertainment of strangers to have four, five for nobility (chiefs) and for the King, Queen, Royal Family, Druids, historians and learned men, six colors).

Ugaine Mor (d. B.C. 593) 66th Monarch of Ireland. He was the sovereign of all of the islands of Western Europe. He was married to Caesair, the daughter of the King of France. He had 25 children, among whom he divided his territories. Only two sons survived with issue.

Further down in the Genealogy comes Muiredach (Colla da Chrioch) a prominent ancestor of the Lally Family.

After much warfare, the Gaels eventually conquered the Tuatha de Danann. Seven of Mil's nine sons died in battle. Surviving were Heremon and Heber, sons of Mil. Heber Finn, Mil's grandson, son of Ir survived, as did Ith's son, Lugaidh. Of these principals descended the great clans and families of Ireland. The Lally family descended from Heremon, who died in 1683 BC.

Of course, there is no way of discerning where the legend ends and fact begins, but the story of Mil and his people is a fascinating part of our heritage.

Chapter 3

THE THREE COLLAS

Muiredach (Colla da Chrioch), Carioll (Colla Uais), and Meann (Colla Meann)--known collectively as the "Three Collas", were the sons of Eochaidh Dubhlen (Eochy Dubblen), the son of Caibre-Lifeachar (d 284 AD), the 117^th monarch of Ireland. Their mother was Alechia, daughter of the King of Alba (Scotland). Eochy's younger brother, Fiacha Srabhteine succeeded Caibre-Lifeachar to the monarchy of Ireland. The three Collas sought to restore the monarchy to their line, and waged war against Fiacha Srabhteine, defeating him at the Battle of Dubhcomar in A.D. 326. Colla Uais ascended to the throne, only to be deposed by Muredach Tireach, son of Fiacha Srabhteine. The three Collas were banished to Scotland, but through the influence of the King of Alba, and the intervention of the druids, the Collas were pardoned by the Irish King, and were invited back to Ireland.

The Irish King urged the Collas to invade Ulster to avenge an old injury to their ancestor, Cormac Mac-Art (the 115^th Monarch of Ireland) by Fergus Dubh-Dheadach. With the backing of the Irish King, the Collas raised a tremendous army. They were successful in defeating that kingdom in the "Battles of the Three Collas", and were rewarded with a great portion of Ireland. From the Three Collas descended many of the noble clans and families in Ulster, Connaught, Meath and Scotland. The Lally Family is descended from Colla da Chrioch, whose name means "Colla of two countries", (i.e. Ireland and Scotland).

One of the more notable descendants of Colla da Chrioch, and an ancestor of the Lallys, is Niall Mor (Niall the Great) or "Niall of the Nine Hostages" (d. 405 A.D.) Niall was a monarch and fierce warrior. His name refers to the hostages taken from nine other kings. He waged war in Scotland, Britain and the Isle of Man. He ventured into Gaul and died on the Loire River, battling Roman legions in 405 A.D. One of the hostages taken during his campaigns into Brittany was a Christian boy named "Succat", who would become St. Patrick.

MAINE MOR

Our ancestors who descended from Colla da Chrioch flourished in Oirghialla (Oriel) a place whose name means "of the golden hostages". The Kingdom was founded in the first part of the 4^th Century AD. The descendants of Colla da Chrioch were so numerous that the Kingdom became overpopulated, and there were quarrels and feuds over the scarce land. The people started to migrate to other parts of Ireland. One of these, the Prince Maine Mor (pronounced Mawny More) set out for the province of Connaught.

A detailed account of the arrival of Maine Mor is related in The Life of St. Grellan. St. Grellan lived during the time of St. Patrick. At that time, the region of was controlled by a race of people known as the Firbolgs. St. Grellan built a church at Cill Cluane. Apparently St. Grellan, St. Patrick and the Catholic Church held great power, as the Firbolgs paid a large tribute to Grellan.

Maine Mor was accompanied by his father, Eochaidh, and his two sons Breasal and Amlaff. His battalions descended on the territory and plundered the country. Amlaff was taken as a hostage. A peace was negotiated between the parties. St. Grellan acted as an intermediary between the parties. Cian, the lord of the Firbolgs, planned a feast to consummate the peace.

Amlaff, as a hostage of the Firbolgs, was part of the bargaining power the Firbolgs held over the Gaels. However, while in captivity, Amlaff managed offend a Firbolg official through a romantic entanglement with his wife. Amlaff was slain, and with him died the Firbolg's leverage against the Gaels. With the Gaels expecting a truce, Cian decided to catch them off guard with a surprise attack.

St. Grellan, from the door of his church, saw a build-up of the Firbolgs' weapons. As he was the guarantee between the two factions, this development put Grellan in a precarious situation. He prayed to God, who caused the Firbolgs to be swallowed into the earth at the bog of Magh Liach. St. Grellan told the Gaels of the Firbolgs' planned treachery. The Hy-Manians prevailed against the Firbolgs in battle.

In the name of St. Patrick, St. Grellan granted the territory to Maine Mor and his people. The Country became known as Hy-Many, and it's people became known as the Hy-Manians. The Hy-Manians paid tribute to St. Grellan, who became the patron saint of the Clanns and Families who descended from Maine Mor, including the Lallys. St. Grellan's crozier, "Bachall Griollain" (the staff of St. Grellan) was given to the Hy-Manians with the territory, and was thenceforth borne in their standard on the battlefield. The principal ruling family of Hy-Many was the O'Kelly family, and also the O'Maddens.

Maine Mor ruled for 50 years. He was succeeded by his surviving son, Breasal. The posterity of Maine Mor greatly enlarged the Kingdom. It eventually covered one third of Connacht.

Chapter 5

MAEN MAGH

Thereafter, the progeny of Maine Mor became entangled in warfare. We are told that that Breasal ruled for 30 years and was "much engaged in war". His son, Fiachra Finn ("Fair Haired") ruled Hy-Many for 17 years and was "a tower in conflict and battle". Fiachra Finn was slain by his youngest brother, Maine Mall ("Maine the Mope"). While Fiachra Finn left five sons, they did not ascend to his kingship, as that title went to Fiachra Finn's brother Connall.

However, the descendants of Fiachra Finn continued to be a power to be reckoned with. His son, Amlaibh (Amlaff-not to be confused with Maine Mor's son, the slain hostage of the Firbolgs) was given chieftanship of the territory of Maen Magh in the Southern part of Hy-Many. Maen Magh was a highly prized territory in the area, as it was fertile plain amidst a predominately rocky and stark land. In the book of Lecan, it is indicated that the descendants of Amlaibh (known alternately as the Clann Amlaibh or Hy-Fiachra Finn) were treated more favorably by the King of Ireland than were the kings of Hy-Many themselves.

At this time, the Irish began using surnames, and the Clann Aimlaibh produced two great families, the O'Neachtains and the O'Maolallaidhs (sometimes spelled O'Maelallaidh). The latter family's name was later anglicized as "Mullally or LALLY". In the Book of Lecan, the chief of Hy-Fiachra Finn was listed as one of the seven sub-chiefs of Hy-Many: "The kings of Maenmagh are Muintir Neachtain and the O'Maelallaidhs. And the King of Erin, strange to say gives a subsidy to the chiefs of Hy Fiachrach Finn more than the king of Hy-Many..."

The Bard, Sean O' Dubhagain, in his Topographical Poems sang

Let us approach Aughty of the valleys
Let us traverse the extensive land
Let us rouse up energy in every villiage
Let us hald in the plain of Maenmagh.
The Kings of Maenmagh, as chiefs
To whom the brown plain is hereditary-
Two who have possessed that side-
Are O'Neachtain and O'Maolalaidh;
Their fight is overpowering in conflicts,
"Theirs is the land as far as Ui-Fiachrach.

Dennis P. O'Mullally speculates that the special treatment given to the chiefs of Maen Magh may have been to palliate them from contesting the kingdom of Hy-Many itself, or of avenging the death of their ancestor, Fiachra Finn. In any event, it seems that the family maintained a high military and political profile.

Chapter 6

THE NORMAN INVASION OF IRELAND.

The Norman Conquest brought swift and dramatic consequences to the Ireland, and specifically to the Lally family. The year 1066 AD marked the arrival of William the Conqueror to England. His great-grandson, Henry II brought the Norman conquest to Ireland in 1171. He claimed sovereignty by virtue of a Papal Bull allegedly granted by Pope Adrian IV, himself an Englishman. Henry sent Richard Stongbow to Ireland with two thousand men to make a show of military strength, and to deliver news of the Papal grant. Henry II arrived in the same year, with great pomp and ceremony.

Part of Henry's plan for expanding his royal authority included the destruction of privately owned castles, the confiscation land, and redistribution to his loyal subordinates. Two Norman families, the De Burgos and the Berminghams would figure prominently in the history of the Lally family.

In 1175 Henry II sent William Fitz Adelm de Burgo to Ireland to succeed Strongbow as chief governor of Ireland. De Burgo published the Bull of Pope Alexander III, confirming the Papal grant of Ireland by Adrian IV. In 1179, Henry II granted William large tracts of Connacht. About fifty years later, William's son Richard built a castle at Galway as part of his campaign to take possession of the lands that were granted to his father. The Lallys' territory of Maenmagh was part of the grant to which the de Burgos laid claim. After much warfare with the de Burgos, the O'Maolalaidh Clann were forced out of Maenmagh.

The Berminghams were also Norman invaders who came to Ireland in the 1170's. In the 1230's they took part in the invasion of Connacht, thereby aquiring lands in Galway and Sligo. They acquired lands in Tipperary by marriage in the 1250's. As Connacht was overtaken by its Norman invaders, the Lally family was required to relocate, and to lease its lands from the Berminghams. The Berminghams leased the properties to the O'Maolalaidhs for a nominal price.

After the death of his father at the hand of the de Burgos, John O'Maolalaidh (d. 1480) went to Tuam, in County Galway. Here, he leased eighteen townlands from Lord Bermngham. One of the tracts was the famous Tulach-na-dala ("hill of meeting"), where the head of the Lally Clann resided. The anglicized name is "Tulindaly".

Chapter 7

The Parish of Tuam

After the death of his father at the hand of the de Burgos, John O'Maolalaidh (d. 1480) went to Tuam, in County Galway. Here, he leased eighteen townlands from Lord Bermngham. One of the tracts was the famous Tulach-na-dala ("hill of meeting"), where the head of the Lally Clann resided. The anglicized name is "Tulindaly". A castle was built at Tulindaly, the ruins of which can be found there today. My great-great-great grandparents, Dennis and Bridget Lally, came to America from County Galway, Parish of Tuam. Many Lallys live there to this day.

The Lally family was prominent in the Parish. Two Lallys became the Archbishop of Tuam. Two other Lallys were bishops in adjacent dioceses.

The Lallys were Jacobites, i.e. supporters of the Stewart monarchy. Perhaps as a reward for his loyalty, James I granted a patent to Issac Lally for vast lands in and around Tuam. In 1613 James I granted a charter incorporating the town of Tuam, and appointing Issac its sovereign. James Lally of Tullindaly sat as representative of Tuam in King James II's parliament of 1689. With the defeat of the Jacobites, the Lallys were stripped of their lands.

Chapter 8
The Jacobites-- The "Flight of the Wild Geese"

The Williamite war was waged in Ireland between the Jacobites and the supporters of William of Orange. The war ended with the Treaty of Limerick, signed October 3, 1691. The treaty was divided into two sections, Military and Civil. The Jacobites agreed to a military defeat in return for civil concessions. Under the civil section, those Jacobites who chose to stay in Ireland could keep their property so long as they pledged their allegiance to William III. Irish noblemen were allowed to bear arms. Under the military section, those Irishmen who wished to serve William III were allowed to do so. The Jacobites who wished to continue serving under James II were allowed to leave for France. Some 20,000 men were marched to Cork where they embarked on ships for France. This journey was known as the "Flight of the Wild Geese".

Patrick Sarsfield signed the Treaty on behalf of James II, thinking that the concession would guarantee the rights of the Irish people who remained. However, the Williamite government did not honor the Treaty. Harsh Penal Laws were imposed, stripping the Irish of their lands and persecuting them for their religion. The Penal Laws removed the rights of citizenship from the Irish Catholics.

The Lallys of Tuam were among the "Wild Geese". Thomas Lally had several sons who would later sail for France to serve James II. Their mother was the former Jane Dillon, the sister of Viscount Theobald Dillon.

As stated above, James Lally, son of Thomas and Jane, served as a member of Parliament under James II. He was outlawed and his lands were confiscated, In 1690 James went to France to serve under his cousin, Colonel Arthur Dillon. The Second Battalion of Dillon's Brigade became known as "Lally's Brigade" with James as its Colonel-Commandant. He was killed at Montmelian in 1691.

James' brother, Gerard Lally left Ireland with Patrick Sarsfield pursuant to the Treaty of Limerick. He took his late brother's place in leading the Lally Brigade. Gerard married a French woman, of noble blood, Mlle. Marie Anne de Bressac. Gerard was created a baronet by a patent granted by the Stuart King in exile. Gerard fought with his son, Thomas Arthur Lally, who was to become a remarkable soldier, as will be discussed below. Gerard became a Brigadier General in 1734. He was badly wounded at Etlingen, and was saved from certain death by his son, who threw himself between the enemy and his father. Both father and son were engaged together in many battles with the Dillon Regiment in Flanders, Germany etc, with the sieges of Philipsburgh and Clausen in 1735, being their last together. Gerard died in 1737.

Two other Lally brothers fought for the Stewarts in France, namely Captains William and Mark Lally.

Gerard's son was Thomas Arthur Lally. Comte de Lally, Baron de Tollendal (1702-1766). He entered the French Army in 1721. He fought in the war against Austria in 1734. He fought under Charles Stuart in the battle of Dettingen. He rose to command the Lally Brigade at Fontenoy in 1745. He was made a Brigadier by Louis XV.

Thomas accompanied Charles Edward Stuart (grandson of James II, son of "James III") to Scotland fighting in the battle of Falkirk, a notable success for the Jacobites. He later served in the low countries.

Upon the start of the Seven Years' War, 1756, Thomas Lally was given command of a French expedition to India. The army was not supported or supplied adequately by France. The troops' pay was several months in arrears, and they were badly in need of food and clothing. However, Lally insisted on strict discipline and efficiency, thus gaining the resentment of officers and troops under his command. Lally also made no friends among the native Indians, for whom he had little regard. Consequently, he had resistance from his officers and troops, and no cooperation from the Indians. Mutiny and rebellion plagued the mission. This led to a series of military setbacks and defeats leading up to his defeat at Wandiwash and his capitulation. He was sent as a prisoner of war to England. Meanwhile, Louis XV needed a scapegoat for this embarrassing defeat. As Count Lally was a foreigner with few friends, it was easy to blame him for the failed adventure. Lally returned to France on parole to stand trial for his alleged treachery. After years of imprisonment as his trial was delayed, Lally was found guilty and beheaded. The judgment was later reversed, and Lally's honors were restored to him. His name is inscribed in the Arc de Triomphe.

Count Lally's only surviving son was Trophime Gerard, born in 1751 in Ireland to Felicity Crofton. He was legitimized by his father. He did not know of his father until the day of the Count's execution. Then a student of 15 years, he set out to rehabilitate his father's reputation. He was brought from the Jesuit College in Paris to the chateau of his cousin Countess Mary Dillon. With the assistance of Voltaire and other influential people, he was successful in reversing the judgment against his father. He was granted his father's title of Count Lally. Later, he was created a Marquis, and is known as the Marquis Lally-Tolendal. The Marquis was a famous statesman, orator and philanthropist.

THE HAWKINS GENEALOGY.

The Controversy With Comment

John O'Donovan, in his supplemental notes to The Tribes and Customs of Hy-Many states that no Irish manuscript continues the genealogy of the Lally family past the book of Lecan. However in about 1709 (1777 according to D.P. O'Mullally), William Hawkins, Esq., Ulster King of Arms, and principal herald of all Ireland, collected all of the historical notices he could find of the Lallys and drew up a pedigree for the French branch of the Lally family. O'Donovan finds much of the pedigree to be erroneous, spurious, and even fabricated. However, the latter part of the pedigree is written in the handwriting of Marquis Lally Tolendal himself, and is more accurate.

To make matters more complicated, Dennis P. O'Mullally attempts to rehabilitate Hawkins' pedigree, by answering O'Donovan's criticisms. It is clear that O'Mullally takes O'Donovan's criticisms as an affront to the family, and he answers, at times by taking pot shots at O'Donovan. Hawkins' pedigree is suspect due to its overstatements, lack of documentation, and the interest he has in pleasing his benefactor, the Marquis. O'Donovan's criticisms seem overly harsh in labeling Hawkins as a liar-- instead of validating the authentic portions of the pedigree, he "throws the baby out with the bath water". O'Mullally's, being a very thorough historian, has nowhere near the reputation or credentials of O'Donovan. His attacks against O'Donovan, and his chauvinistic crusade for the family name render his counterattacks insufficient. Below is Hawkins' complete pedigree. The footnotes contain O'Donovan's criticism and O'Mullally's responses.

Extracts from the Genealogy of the most ancient and illustrious House of O'Maollala, afterwards Mullally, or O'Lally, of the Kingdom of Ireland, collected from the old Irish MSS. Books of Pedigrees, as well as from the Records preserved in the Exchequer, Auditor General and Rolls Offices in the said Kingdom. By William Hawkins, Esq., Ulster King of Arms, and principal Herald of all Ireland, under the Seal of his Office, &c.

XIII. Amlaff III., or Amlavus Benadugadoir O'Maollalla ^a, chief of Tulla Hy-Maollalla^b, the thirteenth descendant from Maollalla, flourishing about anno 940 to 970, then the prince of Maonmoye, now Clanricarde^c, who gave his name to his posterity, and was surnamed Usagur ^d, i.e. just and valiant, the motto of the family.
XIV Donel IV. McAmlaff O'Maollalla, chief of Tully Hy-Maollalla, slain in battle in Connaught, 1397 ^e,by Sir Thomas Burke and Sir Walter Bermingham, married a daughter of O'Donnell, and had by her

XV. Melaghlin McDonnell O'Maollalla, chief of Tully Hy Maolalla, slain in battle in Hymaine, by Lord William de Burgo, 1419 ^f; he married Mary, daughter of Teigue O'Dowda, Lord of Tireragh, county of Sligo, who died in 1430; by her he had

XVI. John Mcmelaghlin--happy chief of his name^g,--he died, according to the Annals of Connaught at Tuam, 1480, and married Moore, or Merlin, daughter of Melaughlin O'Bryen of Tire-Brien ^h, by whom he had issue, as under, XVII. His brother was Connor O'Maollalla, Bishop of Clonfert, 1447.

XVII. Dermod O'Maollalla, fortunate chief of his nameⁱ, died at Tully Mullally an. 1517; he married Brigida, daughter of Teigue O'Kelly, Lord of Hymaine, and had issue XVIII. His brother Thomas O'Mullalla, commonly called Lally, was Archbishop of Tuam 1513, deceased 1536.

XVIII. Melachlin McDermott O'Maollalla, submitted himself, vassals and lands, by indented articles of agreement, an. 1541, to Sir Anthony St. Leger, then Lord Deputy, and delivered his eldest son McMelaglin, then twenty-five years old, as a pledge for the performance of the articles; he married Margaret, daughter of Cormac McRoger McDermott, chief of Moylurg, county of Roscommon, by whom he had

XIX. John McMelaghlin O'Maollalla, chief, and styled Baron of Tully Mullally, or Tullenalally, Tallenadally, Tollendally or Tolendal; he was surnamed Giallaoch, i.e. the warlike hostage, because in the siege of Boulogne, an. 1544, he distinguished himself very much with his galloglasses, &c.; he married Shely or Judith, daughter to Hugh O'Madden, chief of his name, and lord of the territory of Silnanmcha, county of Galway, by whom he had XX. His brothers were William O'Lally, Archbishop of Tuam April 1573, commissioner of the Queen Elizabeth for the pacification of Connaught an. 1585, ob. 1595; and John O'Mullally, who, dissatisfied with the submission of his father to the crown of England, and with the supremacy of Henry VIII., went to Rome with his red eagles painted in black ^jon his scutcheon, offered his services, with many companions, to the Pope, and warred for Octave Farnesse.

XX. Dermod O'Maollalla, chief, and the second styled Baron of Tully-Mullally, died at the same place 1596, as it appears by an inquisition taken at Athenry an. 1621, in which he is qualified principalis suae nationis. In 1585, Dermot went to Ballinrobe at the head of his vassals as O'Kelly, Bermingham, and others^k, and joined Sir Richard Byngham in his march against the rebel Burgo's in the battle of Ardnary; of 3000 rebels not above seven escaped. He married Mary, daughter of William O'Naghten of Lisnea, county of Roscommon by whom he had XXI.

XXI. Isaac O'Mullally of Tullen Adalla, alias Tullymullalla, the third styled Baron ^lof that country ^m, chief of his name of full age at the time of his father's death, ob. 12 May 1621; he married Mary, daughter of John Moore of Briezes, Esq. by Lady Mary Burke, daughter of Richard Sassonagh, Earl of Clanricarde, sister to Jane, lady to Sir Lucas Dillon of Lough-Glin, knight, second son of Sir Theobald, first Lord Viscount Dillon, by whom he had

XXII. James O'Mullally, or Lally, Esq., chief, and the fourth styled Baron of Tullymullally, by corruption Tullendally, or briefly Tolendal, of full age in 1621; married in 1623 Elizabeth, daughter of Gerald Dillon of Freymore, in the county of Mayo, Esq., brother of Sir Theobald, first Viscount Dillon; he forfeited part of his estate by Cromwell, 1652, and ob. at Tullendally, 5th September, 1676. His brothers Donal and William Lally having followed the King Charles II., were outlawed, and the whole of their estates forfeited, viz., Ranamary and Carownalegy, in the barony of Dunmore, Ballinabanaba and Gorta, Golloglie and Ballydoogane, barony of Kilconnell. William married Frances Butler, and had issue Edmund Lally, who married Eliza Brabazon.

XXIII. Thomas O'Mullally, or Lally, chief, and fifth called Baron of Tully Mullally, or Tolendal, inherited the real estate of his father, tested 7th June 1677, leaves his real estate to his eldest son James Lally, and heir male of his body lawfully begotten, and for want of such heir to Gerard Lally, his second son, and so gradually and perpetually. He married Jane Dillon, sister of Theobold, seventh Lord Viscount Dillon of Costello Gallen, father of Arthur Count Dillon, Lieutenant-General in the French service. She survived her husband, and took to her second, John Burke, Esq. She was adjudged by the trustees of Irish forfeitures in Dublin, an. 1700, to her dowers on the lands of Tolenadally, &c. after the attainder of her eldest son, James Lally, esq. His brother William Lally, Esq., was ancestor to the Lallys of Milltown and of Grange. The present chief of this branch is James Lally of Milltown, Esq., who by his marriage with a daughter of H.Kirwan of Balligady, near Tullenadally, Esq., has a son Thomas Lally, now (1777) sixteen years old.

James had two brothers, Thomas, an old friar, and Patrick, father of two sons.

XXIV. Colonel James Lally, the sixth and last styled Baron of Tolendally, governor and sovereign of the noble corporation of Tuam for the King James II. an. 1687, member of his last parliament, 1689, outlawed in the same year, Colonel in the French service, and commandant of the Lally's battalion in Dillon's Regiment, 1st June, 1690, killed 1691, during the blockade of Montmelian, unmarried. Besides his four brothers he had four sisters married,

First, to Walter, styled Baron Jourdan.
Second, to Nicholas Nangle, styled Baron Costelloe.
Third, to N. O'Gara, Esq.
Fourth, to N. Betagh, Esq.

XXV. His second brother, Sir Gerard Lally, Bart., most distinguished in the army, died Brigadier General, and designed Marechal de Camp. 1737: he married Marie Anne de Bressac, by whom he had XXVI.; his other brothers were, William Lally, captain in Dillon's regiment, killed 1697; Mark Lally, officer in Dillon's regent; and Michael Lally, Brigadier General, ob. at Rouen, 1773.

XXVI. General Thomas Arthur Count Lally of Tolendal, colonel of an Irish regiment of his name, &c. &c.; he married Felicity Crofton, and had by her,

XXVII. Trophime Gerard Compte et Marquis de Lally Tolendal, Peer of France, minister of State, &c. &c.; he marriedElizabeth Charlotte Wedderburn Halkett, having a common grandfather with the late Alexander wedderburn, Peer of Great Britain under the title of Lord Baron Loughborough, Lord High Chancellor of England, and Earl of Rosslynn; by whom he had a single daughter, Elizabeth Felicity Claude de Lally Tolendal, wife to the Count d'Aux, to whom the peerage of his father-in-law shall descend.

Authenticated by signature, dated 29th October 1817.

LALLY TOLENDAL,
"Peer of France, Minister of State"

COMMENTARY

O'Donovan:^aAmlaff Benadugadoir O'Maollalla-- This is evidently the last generation given in the Book of Lecan, and the cognomen Benadugadoir is one fabricated by Hawkins himself.

O'Mullally: Why should Hawkins manufacture a word even though Amlaff III was not "nick-named" as stated? There were plenty of genuine words in Gaelic for him to choose from when he so desired. Had this word been in the Annals of Ireland Dr. John would most certainly have ferreted out its meaning. He has us at a disadvantage for the word is supposed to be seven hundred years old or of 1333 A.D., while "Usugar" was of a thousand years back or of about 940 A.D. The words surely are corrupted. But with the word Benadugadoir some of the letters are not aspirated as they apparently should be."Bain" means "take or "pluck"; "bainhidh" or "banadh" is the old form of the 3rdperson singular indicative... "Doir" placed at the end of the verb means "doer" or "agent", while a derivative of "doer" is "ughdoir" or "ughdar" meaning "authority", and so we have the synthetic Gaelic word "banadhughdoir". This looks difficult in English regalia but in Irish it appears as "banadugdoir" with the aspiration point above the first 'd' and also the 'g'. If we allow for the slight change in spelling coming through the centuries we find the two words to be the same and meaning "the agent or authority who takes" or in short "the Recouperor". While the translation of both the disputed words is our own, we have had them verified by a professor of Gaelic, and if there are still any "Doubting O'Donovans"may they do the same.

O'Donovan:Tulla Hy-Maollalla.-- This is pretended to be the ancient Irish form of the name Tullagh-nadaly, which the French branch of this family civilized to Tolendal; but the original name of this place is Tulach na dala, i.e. hill of the meeting or assembly, and has no connexion whatever with the name of this family, nor was this their original seat, for it is situated in the territory of Conmaicne Duna Moir, and not less than thirty miles to the northern limit of their original territory of Moenmagh. The Lallys or O'Mullallys, were never seated at Tulach na dala, until after the English invasion, and they were never chiefs of that place, but tenants to Bermingham,who himself but a lord of one barony. So much for Hawkins' barefaced fabrication for Count Lally!

O'Mullally: In this instance O'Donovan could scarcely be more unfair for under No. XXI of the Pedigree, Hawkins writes "Tullen Adalla alias Tullymullalla". According to this was not Hawkins honestly trying to correct the mistake which he felt was being made, and which Dr. John charged was created by Hawkins alone? Apparently O'Donovan fired a broadside before he had completed the reading of the pedigree.^b

We know that the original name was Tulach-na-dala of which Tullendalla is a corruption. Hawkins gave under No. XIX forms of Tully Mullally, Tullenalally, Tullenadally or Tolendal. The last two names are known to history while the first and second names merely mean Mullally's or Lally's Hill. Why would it not be dubbed locally as Mullally's or Lally's Hill? In 1938 we encountered no difficulty in enquiring for Lally's Hill from the natives although they did not understand what Tolendal meant for they called it Tullindaly.

Tully Mullally is an equivalent form of Castle Kelly (Kelly's Castle)., now Castlebar; etc.

O'Donovan states that "the original name of the place is Tulach-na-dala, i.e. the hill of meeting or assembly", but the modern form of it is Tulloghnadaly "which the French civilized to Tolendal". (And this from Ireland's greatest Gaelic scholar)...

However, what does it matter about the name? The fact remains that the castle of the O'Mullallys was on the hill mentioned. There is a similar confusion with many families such as the O'Hanlys near-by in Roscommon who were Chiefs of "Cinel Dobhtha" (Dofa) or "Tuaohanly" or "Dooly Hanly".

O'Donovan: c Maonmoy, now Clanrickarde--See p. 70, Note z, where it is shown that Maonmagh was not coextensive with Clanrickard.

O'Mullally: Next, O'Donovan states that Hawkins was wrong in his contention that Maenmagh was co-extensive with Clanrickard but admits that the great Roger O'Flaherty, authority on Galway makes the same error. O'Donovan further admits that he does not know the exact boundaries of Maenmagh but states that Clanrickard was much larger than the latter. However, a map of Hi-Maine.. which Dr. John presents in his book on that place, appears to show Maenmagh much larger than he states it to be. It is difficult to compare the size of Maenmagh before the onslaught of Conor O'Conor in 1180 with the Clanrickard of the Burkes as described in the "Composition of Connacht" in 1585. It is a matter of dispute and O'Donovan may be correct or partly so.

O'Donovan: ^dUsagur.--This cognomen was clearly fabricated by Hawkins, at whose suggestion it was adopted by Count Lally as his Irish motto. Where, it may be fairly asked, is the historical authority to show that Maolalaidh, the progenitor of this family, was called Usagur, and where is the evidence to show that this word would mean "just and valiant?" or that this was the motto of the family while in Ireland?

O'Mullally: The pedigree was not written for the Count but for the Marquis. The "historical authority" was, no doubt, obtained from the Lally family papers to which several references are made from time to time in the history of the Clann. We have already shown under "Coat of Arms" that the word "Usagar" was a corruption of "Oscardha" (pronounced as "uscarra") and means "Just and valiant" as O'Donovan must have well known. Gaelic, though a spoken language was scarcely a written one in 1777. It seems to have concerned the attacker but little if he were out merely or nearly seventy years in his dates.

Would Dr. John have us to believe that the O'Maolalaidhs as Kings of Maenmagh had no motto or battle-cry? How did he know that this was not the motto? And if not, what was the correct one? And did he consider the Marquis Lally, who was the Chief of his Clann and the King's Advocate, to be an imbecile? Did not Dr. John translate the sentence anent the family, namely: "Their fight is overpowering in the conflicts"? He well knew that every clan in Ireland worthy of the name had a battle-cry. That of the O'Maolalaidhs was "Oscardha Abu" and to O'Donovan and his kind we repeat it.

An Act of Parliament (10 Henry 7th or 1491) was passed which interdicted the Irish names or words Crom Aboo (of Fitzgeralds), Butler Aboo (of Butlers) etc. etc (Finlayson).

In the time all war cries and mottoes disappeared through legislation and the breaking up of the clans. (See Fr. Dinneen's dictionary which gives the meaning of "Oscardha" as "heroic or brave". Webster's International records the meaning of "heroic" as "just and valiant, etc.")

O'Donovan:eDonall Mac Amlaff O'Maollalla, slain in 1397-- Where is the authority for this date?

O'Mullally: The Annals of Clonmacnoise, which O'Donovan quoted from freely, stated that there was great dissension in that year as we have already noted, and Miss Martin enlarges upon the statement of Hawkins.

O'Donovan: ^fMelaghlin Mac Donall O'Maollalla, slain in 1419-- This date and event were evidently fabricated. If not, where is the authority? Surely not the Irish Annals!

O'Mullally: What proof did Dr. John have that the date and events were fabricated? None whatever. Would he have us believe that Melaghlin was immortal? An in referring to the Annals of Ireland let us see how much the widely proclaimed scholar knew of the said Annals. [Here he cites supposed inconsistent statements attributed to O'Donovan]

O'Donovan: ^gHappy Chief of his name--Where is the authority for this cognomen?

O'Mullally: Who are these questions addressed to? Surely not to the dead Hawkins, nor yet to the extinct family of the Chiefs in France and at Tuam. Possibly the authority for those endearing terms lay buried in the Lally tomb. Could not Dr. John allow a little for family pride? He did not hesitate to write a sketch pedigree of his own Clann whom he declared had been neglected by the genealogists. (We wonder where he found the authority, for he certainly gave none.) Could not the "fond terms" mentioned above have been used by the immediate families and friends of those two Chiefs without their appearance in the scattered Annals of Ireland? (Thank goodness, John, the terms are not given in Gaelic!) Both Chiefs mentioned were resident at (or near) Tuam and the tradition of that vicinity to this day is that the Lallys became wealthy men of influence, so why not term them "happy and fortunate"? In time the greed of England robbed them of their estate: O'Donovan would rob them of their good name. (We make no reference to a Shakesperian quotation).

O'Donovan:Melaghlin O'Bryen of Tire-Brien--An apocryphal, but the fabricator must have had in view Melaghlin O'Beirne, of Tir-Briuin na Sinna!

O'Mullally: Here is where we pin O'Donovan on his own assertions if we have not already done so. Dr. John brands Hawkins as a liar but he fails to give the proof of his assertion...Father Woulfe in writing of the O'Beirnes (O'Byrnes) of County Down, states that there is much confusion as to whether the name was derived from O'Birn or O'Broin. However, we know that the O'Broins of Wicklow took the latter name of O'Beirne or O'Byrne. (Father Keating refers to them as O'Broin or O'Brain). So, too, did the Chiefs of Lough Gealgossa who were also adjacent to those of Tir-Briuin. There is a dearth of data on our friends, the O'Beirnes of Ballinrobe, though we once knew them as well. So we see that the names were interchangeable on translation into English and a certain amount of confusion exists with the following names as given by O'Hart: O'Briain (O'Brien, O'Brian, O'Bryen), and O'Braoin (O'Breen, O'Brien, O'Brown), and O'Broin (O'Bruin, O'Birn, O'Byrne)--and these terms were often transposed.h

John O'Hart gives the name of this family in Tir Briuin (on the border of Corca Mogha) as O'Broin or Burns (from O'Birn or O'Beirne) clearly showing the metathesis or transposition of the letters, which we also find in the names of O'Cruitin of Ulster becoming O'Curtain, and O'Broith (or Brit) of Leinster becoming O'Berth. It is merely the "slipping forward" of the letter "r" for euphony.

We must remember that Hawkins wrote the pedigree at the period when Irish names were going through the throes of transition into English, when there was a great variance in spelling, but we feel that he was explicit enough on this point that even O'Donovan in spite of all his bias understood the names quite well. In our list of family names of Hi-Maine we have treated this transition quite fully...

We believe it quite possible that John O'Maollalla may have married Merlin O'Brain or O'Bruin or O'Beirne or O'Byrne but that the officials in Dublin Castle were lax in their duty and hence Dr. John was unable to locate the record...

O'Donovan: ⁱDermot O'Maolalla, fortunate chief of his name-- Where is the authority for the cognomen?

O'Mullally: See note g above.

O'Donovan: ^jRed Eagles painted in black on his scutcheon. -- A pure fabrication. The man was a mere farmer, and tenant to the Lord Bermingham, and not able to bring ten men well-armed to the field.

O'Mullally: What a distortion of the truth! It is a well-known fact that the rank and file of Ireland never accepted Henry VIII's Church Supremacy. It would not be surprising if many young men of spirit did leave the country. However, Hawkins does not say that John O'Maollally equipped an army as O'Donovan would have us believe. Sir William merely stated that John had many companions and possibly he (Hawkins) infers that John was the leader of the group but he does not say as much.

As the Pope was at war with neighboring princes at that time, he no doubt would gladly equip any new recruits. We know that thirteen hundred Irishmen went to the assistance of the Pope in 1870, and thousands more would have gone on the same venture had they not been prevented by the alien government of England for doing so. Possibly the Vatican Archives will yet support the claims of the O'Maollalla family and incidentally Hawkins.

His statement that Lally "was a mere farmer and tenant" is a rank misrepresentation as shown from the Inquisition of Athenry in 1617 which Dr. John published along with the Pedigree, and which we placed before the same. This showed the family to have large holdings in two baronies and that they were not tenants in the ordinary sense of the term, as they could not be evicted from the land and their rent which was nominal, was only one cent or a half penny per acre, (i.e. five shillings per quarter).

As to placing men in the field, do we not find them later raising the Dillon Regiment and taking it to France and leading their Irish legions there? Did Dr. John forget so soon what those "mere farmers" did? The Lally Brigade? The Lally Regiment? Etc.

O'Donovan: ^kHis vassals, as O'Kelly, Bermingham, and others.-- What a perversion of history is here! Lally of Tullaghnadaly, who held a few quarters of land under the Lord Bermingham, having O'Kelly, Bermingham, and OTHERS, as his vassals! The Heralds of Hawkins' time bore a low character for veracity, and were guilty of barefaced fabrications. Their character is thus given by Blackstone in his Commentaries, Book III., e.7:-- "The marshalling of coat-armour, which was formerly the pride and study of all the best families in the kingdom, is now greatly disregarded: and has fallen into the hands of certain officers and attendants upon this court [of chivalry] called heralds, who consider it only as a matter of lucre, and not of justice, whereby such falsity and confusion have crept into their records (which ought to be the standing evidence of families, descents, and coat-armour), that though formerly some credit has been paid to their testimony, now even their common seal would not be received as evidence in any court of justice in the kingdom."

O'Mullally: We must remember that when O'Donovan speaks of "the Heralds of Hawkin's time" he is referring to a period around 1709, which is before Sir William Hawkins was born. Sir William was the Herald of Ireland from 1765 to 1787. But this error on O'Donovan's part of about seventy years was a mere trifle to him. It is most unfair to brand all Heralds in this manner. Sir John Bernard Burke, author of "Burke's Peerage", etc. was a great and honorable authority of O'Donovan's day but no one was safe from Dr. John's attacks, neither the living nor the dead. He even placed a terrible stigma on the family of Oliver Goldsmith and in such language!

In regard to the passage about Dermod O'Maollalla going to Ballinrobe we feel that there is a copyist's error here and that it should read, as we noted in the pedigree, "Dermod went to Ballinrobe at the head of his vassals and (meaning and with) O'Kellys and Berminghams and others." Miss Martyn with the original "Extracts" before her took this meaning as given by us though she wrote the article on the family in her own words. At any rate, Sir William Hawkins could never think that the Marquis Lally would be credulous enough to believe that the O'Kellys, Kings of Hi-Maine, were vassals to the O'Maolalaidhs in 1585, nor that the overlords of the latter, namely the Berminghams, could be at the same time their tenants...

O'Donovan: ^lThe third styled Baron. -- This is a most shameless fabrication, for the inquisition of 1617, above given in full, this Isaac Lally, who is called of Tullaghnadalle, is called simply, Gent., and described as a tenant under the Lord Bermingham. He never was a Baron under the crown of England, and though the head of his name, holding only a few quarters of land under Lord Bermingham, he was a mere farmer, and could hardly be considered an Irish chieftain. Shame upon such fabricators!

O'Mullally: Just whom did Dr. John refer to in his final sentence? Surely, his conscience was not bothering him!.

In offsetting his denunciation we have ample proof that Melaghlin O'Maollalla at the time of signing of the agreement with Sir Anthony Ledger in the year 1541 (even O'Donovan did not dispute it) delivered his son John MacMelaghlin as a pledge to guarantee his performance of said agreement... Considering the policy adopted in Ireland in the above year and suggested by Cardinal Wolsey to Henry VIII before his death in 1530 "that instead of annihilating the Gaels they should be received as subjects and confirmed in their lands", (See Matthew J. Byrne's translation of "Irish war of defense" by Archbishop Peter Lombard), is it not quite probable that this same John might have been granted the title of Baron, possibly as much out of policy as out of courtesy, while he was being held as a hostage, probably at the Royal Court in London? Or he might have been granted the title for his gallant services at the siege of Boulonge which Miss Martyn refers to in a convincing manner. Anyway, he is the first referred to with this title.

Lord Herbert of Cherburg in his "History of King Henry VIII" (1649) states that Henry took thirty thousand men to Calais "and divers brave Lords, Knights, Gentlemen and others, not a few Welsh and Irish filling up the numbers." Then after describing in a clear and vivid account the taking of Bologne, he continues "And now finding the Season to be advanced and little else to be done our King-- after he had knighted certain Persons of Worth -- prepared to be gone--"

Sir Bernard Burke, already referred to in our defense, states in his "Extinct Peerages" that some Barons were appointed by parliamentary writ" and some by "military summons" only.

We know that the said John MacMelaghlin flourished in the reigns of Henry VIII and those of his three children, namely Edward VI, Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth and history states that King Henry gave the same recognition to the Irish chiefs as to the territorial nobles, and that they were appointed to sit in the Irish Parliament with the English lords, and it appears from Miss Martyn's article that Melaghlin O'Maollalla, the father of John, was a member of that body. And further, we read in many histories that Sir John Perrott (alleged natural son of Henry VIII, and if so, a half- brother of Queen Elizabeth) "appointed a commission in Connacht in 1585 whose purpose was to transform the tribe chiefs into noble or territorial lords holding directly of the Crown. This policy gave satisfaction until upset by Stafford in 1635." (Glynn's History of Ireland, page 235).

At any rate, it seems that the Marquis would know whether his forebears were Barons or not, and surely Thomas Lally, Sr., who died aged 76 in 1837 would know whether his grandfather was the son of a Baron or not. Family tradition dies hard in Ireland. Further, why did Count Lally accept the title of Baron of Tolendal if it were not a resurrection of the old title? He refused other Irish titles. We do not consider it an honor to receive a title from England, but all said, we feel that John MacMelaghlin received his title where Dr. John received his commission, namely, from the British Crown. As further proof of this, we find John's brother, William, much favored by Elizabeth and even the servant of Her Grace.

It is quite possible that John's title of Baron was granted in France in 1544 and never patented or else the record is buried under the debris of the Anglo-Irish records in the London archives. (Possibly the Lallys were Sugan or "Straw" Barons like others in Ireland with disputed titles of Baron, Lord and Earl).

However, O'Donovan's statement that Isaac Lally was a mere farmer and tenant under Lord Bermingham is as false as it is misleading. All chiefs had their allotment of land, even before the coming of the English, but they could scarcely be classed as farmers, and we have already shown from O'Donovan's record that they (Lallys) were merely nominal tenants and had placed themselves under the protection of Bermingham to prevent molestation from the Anglo-Irish. We have further stated that King Cathal (of the Red Hand) of Connacht as early as 1206 was forced to pay a nominal rent to King John of England for his lands, though not even O'Donovan would deny that Cathal was King of Connacht, yet he was careful not to mention such a fact when impugning the name of Hawkins and of Lally. (Tradition claims the Lallys to have been more powerful than the Berminghams).

O'Donovan: ^mBaron of that country-- Tullaghnadaly, in Irish, Tulach na dala, i.e. hill of meeting, is the name of a hill and small townland, and it is a most absurd falsification to call it a "country".

O'Mullally: Again O'Donovan enmeshes himself by his own contradictions, so we shall allow him to hang himself. Again, we recall O'Donovan's charge No. 11 for now we must consider No. 11 and No. 12 together. He draws attention to the Inquisition of Athenry to prove his point. We also draw attention to it to disprove his contention. This said Inquisition placed conveniently before the pedigree shows that Isaac, the Chief, had several other places besides the townland of Tullindaly, while Isaac's sons, William and Donal, had several named lands and some of them at least were townlands (some names we cannot identify) in the Barony of Dunmore, while William (who happens to be the progenitor of our branch of the family and of most of the O'Mullallys, but not of the Lallys) owned the townland of Ballinabanaba in the barony of Killconnell, and this latter point Dr. John knew well. In his notes in another part of the same book ("Tribes of Hy-Many") he states that the townland of Ballinabanaba which had formerly belonged to the O'Lonergains was in the possession of William Lally at the taking of the Inquisition of Athenry in 1617. Here Dr. John is fairly trapped in his prejudiced attack. Nor is that all. O'Donovan disregarded the Inquisition of Athenry in 1621, so that he could belittle the Clann and more easily discredit them, little thinking how he was discrediting himself. In the latter Inquisition, Dermod O'Maollalla, he who "went to Balinarobe at the head of his vassals" and who died in 1596, is qualified by the English authorities as "principalis suae nationis". Latin authorities translate this as "Chief of his own Nation or Country". "Miss Martyn claims it to have meant originally "Chief of his Clann". Other Gaelic authorities claim it to have meant in English of that time, "Captain or Chief of his clan or territory or country" which destroys O'Donovan's last contention that Isaac could scarcely be called Chief for Dermod was Isaac's father. Moreover, we know, and so did O'Donovan, that the clan lands were often termed "countries" as Joyce's Country", O'Naghtens' Country," etc. So why not "Lallys' Country"?..