The Following is an exract from a larger compliation showing the terrible sufferings inflicted on Irish Catholics and others during the outbreak of Civil War in 1641 Ireland.

Extracts of a petition of some of the Massacres and Murder’s committed on the Irish in Ireland, since the 3rd of October 1641.

This collection was first published in London in the year 1662. The author’s frequent, candid and public appeals to things openly transacted, and to enemies themselves, then living, and well known, is a strong proof that what he relates is a matter of fact; and there is yet a stronger inducement to think it so, because it has never yet been proved to be otherwise: nor, as far as I have learned, even attempted to be proved.

County Antrim
1641. About the beginning of November, the English and Scotch forces in Knockfergus murdered in one night all the inhabitants of the territory of the Island Magee, to the number of about 3,000 men, women and children; all innocent persons, at a time when none of the catholics of that country were in arms or rebellion. -Note, that this was the first massacre committed in Ireland of either side.
Mr. MacNaghten having built a small fortress, in the mid county, to preserve himself and his followers from outrages; until he understood what the cause of the then rebellion was; as soon as colonel Campbell came near with part of the army, he sent to let him know, that he would come to him with his party, which he did; and they were next day murdered to the number of 80 by sir John Clotworthy, now lord Massareen’s, soldiers.

About the same time, 100 poor women and children were murdered in one night, at a place called Balliaghiun, by direction of the English aud Scotch officers commanding in that county.

County of Derry
1641. Some 300 men, women and children of the Irish, having freely come under the protection of the garrison of London-Derry, were stripped, plundered, and killed by the said garrison.
1644. Mr. Morris MacDaniel, natural son of the late Earl of Antrim, was hanged at Coleraine, by the governour’s orders, notwithstanding he had colonel Michael Jones’s pass.

County of Down
1641. The burgesses and inhabitants of the Town of Newry, meeting the Englisth army on their march to besiege the castle of the said town, were received into protection ; and, after quarter given to the garrison of the said castle, the said inhabitants, and soldiers of the said garrison, to the number of 500 and upwards, men, women and children, were brought on the bridge of Newry, and thrown into the river. and such of them as endeavoured to escape by swimming, were murdered.

County of Donegal
1641. About the 20th of November, sir William Steward commanded the gentry and inhabitants of that county to join with his forces in opposition to the rebels, and accordingly they came to the place appointed, where captain Cunningham, with a party of the said sir Williim’s  regiment under pretence of incorporating with them, fell upon the inhabitants with his armed aoldiers, and killed very many of them; among whom were Owen MacSweeny, Morris O’Farey, and Donagh O’Callan, gentlemen of quality and estates.
About the same time, captain Fleming, and other officers of the said regiment commanding a party, smothered to death 220 women and children, it two caves.
And about the said time als0 the said captain Cunningham murdered about 63 women and children, in the isles of Ross.
1641. The governor of Letterkenny gathered together on a Sunday morning 53 poor people, most of them women and children, and caused them to be thrown of the bridge into the river, and drowned them all.
1641. In November, one Reading murdered the wife and three children of Shane O’Morghy in a place called Ballykenny of Ramaltan, and after her death cut off her breasts with his sword.
1641. 1642. The garrisons of Rapho, Drombo, Lifford, and Castle Raghaen, slaughtered no less than 1,500 of the poor neighbouring inhabitants never in arms ; and three persons were chiefly noted among them for their barbarous cruelty, bv name James Graham, Henry Dungan. and Robert Cunningham, commonoly called the killer of old women.
1641. 1642 About 2,000 poor labourers, women and children, of the barony of Tirbu, were massacred by the garrisons of Ballashany and Donegall ; and lieutenant Thomas Poe, an officer among them, coming under colour of friendship to visit a neighbour that lay sick is his bed, and to whom he owed money, carried a dagger under his cloak, which, whilst he seemed to bow towards the sick man in a friendly manner, asking how he did, he thrust it into his body, and told his wife her husband shall be no longer sick.
1650. In the Month of June, about 3000 Horse and foot of his, majesty’s army being defeated near Letterkenny by the English rebels, adhering to Cromwell, most of the principal officers of the said party taken prisoners in the battle, were killed in cold blood, by order of Sir Charles Coote, late Lord of Mountrath, notwithstanding they had quarter from officers who took them prisoner.

County of Monaghan
1641. Captain Townsley governor of Magherneekle, killed four labourers, and a woman, being under protection. Captain Bromwell, Governor of Clunes, meeting upon the road with Marc Charles O’Connolly, a gentleman living under his protection, caused him to be shot to  death. The soldiers of the garrisons of Dundalk and Trim, kiilled no less than 500 innocent persons, women and children, in that country.
1641. 1642. The armies of Monroe and the Lagan, in their several marches through that county, slaughtered about 2,000 poor old men. women aad children.
1652 Colonel Barrow of Cromwell’s army, having taken an island, defended by Lieutenant Colonel Patrick MacMahon for his majesty, after killing the said colonel and his soldiers, put all the women and children to the sword, to the number of 80, among whom a child of six years old, being spared by the soldiers, was killed by order of the said colonel Barrow.

County of Cavan
1642 Marc de la Pool, an English gentleman, having taken lands in that country some years before the war, invited several of his friends to come out of England, and live with him, who were all murdered in their houses by the army, (only the said de la Pool, who was brought into the town of Cavan) and there hanged for no other reason, but their being Roman Catholics, and living among the Irish. Sir Alexander Godren, and  his lady, both Scotch, but Roman Catholics, each of them aove 70 years old, where plundered of their goods, and stripped naked; and all their tenants, servants, and all their sons mudered.
In the same year the English forces in this county drowned 600 men, women and children, in and about Butler’s Bridge, no muders have been committed on any protestants there, although in the pamhplets and dispensations lately printed, several murders are said to have been committed in that place.
County of Mayo
In this county few murders were committed by either tide, though the libel saith (Pamhelets/Dispensations), that about 250 protestants were murdered, whereof at Bellicke 220; whereas not one person was murdered there, which the now lady of Mountrath (Lady Coote) can witness; her ladyship, and sir Robert Hannah, her father, with many others, having retreated thither for security, were all conveyed safe to Manor-Hamilton; and it observable, that the said lady and the rest came to Mr. Owen O’Rorke’s, who kept a garrison at Drumaheir for the Irish, before they came to Manor-Hamilton, whose brother was prisoner with Sir Frederick Hamilton; and the said Mr. O’Rorke, having so many persons of quality in his hands, sent to sir Fredcrick to enlarge his brother, and that he would convey them all safe to him: but Sir Frederick, instead of enlarging his brother, hanged him the next day, which might have might have well provoked the gentJeman to revenge, if he had not more humanity than could be well expected upon such an occasion, and in times of so great confusion; yet he sent them all safe where they desired. There was a murder committed near the Moyn on 27 protestants, which was all (and that too many) that was committed in that country. Buchannan, said to be buried alive, was killed in a private quarrel, and he cut off his adversary’s hand before himself was killed.
County of Galway, and Province of Connaught
1642. Serjeant Redmund Bourke, of the lord of Clanmorris’s foot-company, and two more, were hanged by the then governor of the fort of Galway, the said lord being then of his majesty’s army; for which action no reparation being given to his lordship, he alledged it to be the occasion of his revolt from the lord marquis of clanrickard.
A party of the garrison of the said fort murdered six people in Rinveel. among whom one Geffery Fitz-Thibott, aged about 70 years, and in a burning fever, with his wife, who was old, were murdered in their beds; which action provoked many of the neighbours to stand on their guard against said fort.
1652. Richard Bourke, a colonel in his majesty’s army, had quarter given him by some of colonel Coote’s men, he being taken in a Skirmish between Colonel Grace, and some of Cromwell’s party, and being prisoner for some time, Colonel Henry Ingoldsby caused his head to be cut off.
1652. 1653. It was a usual practice with colonel Stubbers, tben governor of Galway, and others commanding in said county, to take the people out of their beds at night, and sell them forslaves to the Indies; and by computation he sold out of said county above 1,000 souls.
Note: Murders committed in the said county of Galway on Protestants
1609. It is confessed, that two protestants were murdered in that county, whereof one was a minister, as the libel(Pamhellets/Dispensations) says; but it is most certain the lord marquis of Clanrickard caused the three men, who murdered one of them, to be hanged in gibbets, in three several places; and by his lordrhip’s orders, sir Roger O’Shaghnesy hanged the two cow-herds wbo murdered the other. Lord Clanmorris having declared against the said fort for hanging his serjeant, as above expressed, took serjeant Rowlright, and two or three more of the soldiers of said fort, pillaging a village near Galway, and hanged Rowlright and the other three.
A babarous murder was committed by one Edward Alta, an irreligious prophane fellow of the county of Mayo, and his accomplices, on some protestants at Shruel, a place meeting Galway on about 50 persons; and the pamphleteer(and libelious Dispensations)  might well remember, that the neighbouring gentry came with all expedition to rescue the said protestants; and that they did rescue the bisbop of Killala (who by the pamphlet seems to have been murdered!) and his wife and children, with most part of the said protestants, and Bryan Kilkenny, a friar, then guardian of the, abby of Ross, near Shruel, was of the first that made haste to that rescue, aud brought the said Bishop’s wife and children, with several others of the said distressed protestants, to his monastery, where they found as much civility as was in the said friar’s power to give them for several nights; until Mr. Burke of Castle-Hackett brought the said bishop, his wife and family, to his own house, where they wanted nothing he could aford them for several weeks: the like being done by several other neigbbouring gentlmen to the rest of the said protestants, until they were sent to places of security by the lord marquis of Clanrickard’s order; yet the said friar hath been these eight years past kept a prisoner for his function or calling, without any crime Laid to his charge, now being above 80 years old. And it is obserable, that in this county of Galway all the war time, several protestant ministers, viz. Dean York, Mr. Corroyn, Mr. Kelly, and other ministers, had their protestant flocks and meetings without interruption, living among the Irish.
County of Roscommon
No murders were committed by an party in this county, only five persons at Ballanafada by one Roger O’Connor; and no murders were committed at Ballaleague during the war, although in the pamphlet (and the dispensations) the contrary is expressed; nor was any such man as William Stewart known in that county, nor to have been murdered there; though the abstract sets forth his being murdered in a most babarous manner as is pretended.
County of Leitrim
1641. It was commonly known to all side, how cruel the governor of Manor-Hamilton (Sir Fred Hamilton) was in that county, how he usually invited gentlmen to dine with him, and hanged them after dinner, and caused their thighs to be broke with hatchets before execution. Also the said governor being in Ulster when the rebellion broke forth, desireth one Mr. Iraght (a gentleman who professed much friendship to him) to do him the favor to guide him in safety to Manor-Hamilton aforesaid, which the gentleman did, and came near one hundred miles with him; but after being friendly treated for some days by the said governor, he was hanged without the least occasion, neither was the gentleman in the rebellion. But was hanged least he should. The libel says three protestants were murdered county; but on due examination it will be found, there was none.

County of Sligo
Here is none at this time who can give an exact account of the murders committed in this county but one remarkable murder in Creane’s castle in the town of Sligo. The lrish had a party commanded by major Richard Burke. (who after obtaining quarter to march away) to the number of about 200 were murdered, rendering the castle. This sir Audley Mervyne knoweth to be true.

County of Dublin
1641. About the beginning of November* 5 poor men (whereof two were protestants) coming from the market of Dublin, and lying that at Santry, three miles from thence, were murdered in their beds by one captain Smith, and a party of the garrison of Dublin, and their heads brought next day in triumph into the city ; which occasioned Luke Netterville and George King, and others of the neighbours, to write to the lords justices to know the cause of the said murder; whereupon their lordships issued forth a proclaimation, that within five days the gentry should come to Dublin to receive satisfaction, and in the mean while (before the five days expired) old Sir Charles Coote came out with a party, plundered and burnded the town of Clontarffe, distant two miles from Dublin, belonging to the said George King, nominated in the proclaimation, and killed 16 of the townsmen and women, and three sucking infants. Which unexpected breach of the proclaimation (having deterred the gentlemen from waiting of the lords justices) forced many of them to betake themselves to their defence, and others to abandon their houses.
In the same week 56 men, women and children, of the village of Bulloge (being frighted at what was done at Clontarffe) took boats and went to sea, to shun the fury of a party of soldiers come out of Dublin, under the command of colonel Crafford; but being pursued by the soldiers in other boats, were overtaken, and thrown over-board.
One Russell, a Baker in Dublin, coming out of the country in company with Mr. Archbold of Clogram (Cloghran), (who went to take hold of the proclamation of the lords justices) were both hanged and quartered. In March, a party of horse, of the garrison of Donsaghlin murdered seven or eight poor people in protection, tenants of Mr. Dillon of Huntstowne, having quartered in their houses the night before, and receiving such entertainment as the poor people could afford. About the same time a party of the English, quartered ot Mallahyde, hanged a servant of Mr. Robert Boyne’s at the plough, and forced a poor labourer to hang his own brother; and soon after they hanged 15 of the inhabitants of Swords, who never bore arms, in the orchardof Mallahyde; they likewise hanged a woman bemoaning her husband hanged among them. In the same year, after quarter given by lieutenant colonel Gibson to those of the castle of Carrigmain (Castlemines), they were all put to the sword, being
about 350, most of them women and children; and colonel Washington, endeavouring to save a pretty child of seven years old, carried him under his cloak, but the child against his will was killed in his arms, which was the principal motive of him quitting the service.
1642. In April one Nicholas Hart, and 14 labourers, going with corn for the market of Dublin, and having a pass, were all murdered on the road by a party commanded by Lord Lambert. The same day Mr Sarsfield of Lucan sent his groom to guide the lord Gesih, which the fellow having performed, was knocked on the head for his labour. The same day 18 villages in protection, the farthest within six miles of Dublin, were plundered and burned, and to the number of 400 men, women and children, were cruelly massacred. About the same time a party of the garrison of Swords, having brougbt in 5O poor labourers, forced them to dig their own graves, and then killed them. Much about that rime one Bennet, sheriff of the county, killed 16 men and women coming from the market of Dublin. A party under the command of Colonel Crafford murdered 140 women and children in Newcastle and Coolmain, being under protection. Many thousands more of the poor innocent people of the county, shunning the fury of the soldiers, fled into the thickets of firs, which the soldiers would usually set on fire, killing as many as endeavoured to escape, or forced them back again to be burned, and the rest of the inhabitants, for the most part, died of famine.
Note, That no less than 12,000 of the poor inhabitants of that county were cruelly massacred the first year of the war.

County of Kildare
1641. Captain Thomas Hues, having summoned thirty-three contributors to meet him at Hedgestowne, caused them all to be murdered. The said Hues murdered Mrs Eustace, aunt to Sir Robert Talbot, 90 years old, with two gentlewomen that waited on her, after she had entertained him friendly in her house. The soldiers of Clongow’s wood, Rathchoffy, yielding upon quarter, were conveyed to Dublin in the said places murdered. It is well known, that the commons of that country were, for the most part, destroyed and slaughtered by the English, in so much that there were not so many lweft living as could gather the twentieth part of the harvest.

 Lord Inchiquin Murrough O’Brien – alias The Burner

Lord Broghill (Boyle) of Lismore County Waterford was a most barbarious individual whose men under his command committed the most frightful outrages. It should be noted that this man three times changed sides to gain favour in the conflict. His forays into enemy held territories are well documented in the latter stages of the war. But most of the atrocities laid fairly at his door where instigated by himself long before a rebellion took place in that part of the country.)

Sir Charles Coote (The Elder) this man committed many acts of murder, even by the dubious morality of the age was the subject of complaint by even his own men. Age did not restrict this man from vigourously pursuing anyone of the Roman Catholic faith, be they English or Irish.

Sir Charles Coote (The Younger) – cut straight from his fathers cloth, this man far exceeded his fathers capacity for murder and slaughter.

Sir Charles Vavascour

Munro

Michael Jones

Frederick Hamilton

Montgomery

Sir James Butler – Duke and Marquis of Ormonde

Sir Phelim O’Neill

Lord Forbes

Admiral Penn

Oliver Cromwell

Colonel Veneables

Ancient Irish Female Names and There Changes

The Irish names of women have been much metamorphosed, and many of the most curious entirely long rejected.

The following is a list of the most ancient Irish Girls first names, these are compiled and merged from the the following two books.

1.) Rev. Patrick Woulfe, Sloinnte Gaedheal is Gall: Irish names and surnames (1923) pages 52-54

2.) The Topographical poems of John O’Dubhagain and Giolla Naomh O’Huidhrin (1862) pages 59-62 this list is also based on the First names listed in the Ban-Seanchas or “History of Remarkable Women” – Ancient Yellow Book of Lecan Folio 193.
Popular Irish names circa 1930
1. Aine – Hannah
2. Brigid – Bridie no longer popular
3. Finola – Nuala
4. Grainne – Grace
5. Lassarina now obsolete
6. Meadhbh – Meave
7. More now Obsolete
8. Sidhbh – Sive
9. Sorcha – Sorca
10. Una  no longer popular

Popular Irish Names Presently not in any particular order:

Ciarra, Aoibhe, Aoife, Tara, Niamh, Mollie, Orla, Sorca, Aine, Nessa, Megan, Brona

List of Ancient Irish Girls First Names: Irish – English

A
Abigail, Abaigeal, Abaigh, Gobnait – Abbie, Abbey, Abby
Afric, Africa – Aifric, Aphria
Agatha – Agata
Aghna – Ina
Aignéis – Agnes also Úna and Mór
Aibhlín, Eibhlín – Aileen, Eveleen, Evelyn
Albhin – Alvin – Alphin.
Alastriona – Alastriona, Alexandra
Ailis, Ailís, Eilís, Eilíse – Alice
Ailidh, Alaidh – Alley
Áine, Ánna, Anna – Anna, Anne, Hannah
Aingeal – Angela, Angel
Ailse – Elsha
Allsún – Allison
Ailbhe, Ollbhe – Alvy, Elva
Allma
Aimilíona – Amelina
Aisling, Aislinn – Esther
Annscás, Stéise – Anastasia
Annábla, Náible, Iribéal, Sibéal – Annabel
Annabella – Arabella, Bella
Aoibheann, Aoibhne – Eavan, Aevin, Ameona
Aoife, Eva
Aobhnait – Ena, Enat, Eny
Athracht – Attracta
Aithche – Atty

B
Baibín, Báb, Bairbre, Báirbre – Bab, Babe, Barbara, Barbary
Bríghid, Bríghide, Bríghdín – Breeda, Bride, Bridget, Brigid, Beesy. Biddy, Bidina, Bidelia, Birdie, Dillie, Delia, Dina
Bardubh – Black Haired
Bebhail, Bevill – woman of prosperity.
Bébhinn – Vivian, Benvin
Bean Mhumhan, Bean Mhidhe – Benvon, Benvy
Bláthnaid – Florence
Bláth – Fionnghuala – Flora
Blinne, Bluinse – Blanche
Brigh, Brí – Bree

C
Cacht – Cat
Cáit – Kate
Caitlín – Kathleen
Caitríona, Cathraoine, Caitrín  – Catherine, Kitty
Cáitín, Tríona, Traoine – Katie
Caiti – Katty, Kitty
Caoimhe – Keavy
Caoilfhionn – Keelin
Ceanngorm – Fair haired
Cearra – Ciarra -  Kiara.
Ciannait – Keena, Keenat, Kinnat
Cochrand – Corrand – Corra
Cobhfhaila – Covla – Victory.
Coca.
Corcar, Red
Creidh – Crea
Cristíona – Christina

 
D
Dabhnait, Damhnait – Devnet, latinized Dymphna, Downat, Downa
Dearbhail – Derval
Derbhforgaill – Derforla, the true oath, latinized Dervilia.
Dianimh and Dinimh.
Dechter
Deirdre, alarm.
Doireann – Dorothy, Dolly, Dorren
Dubhchobhlaith, Duv-Covla, black victory.
Dubhessa – Duvessa
Duinsech – Dunsha
Dunfhlaith – Dunlah
 
E
Éadaoin – Edwina
Earnait – Ernet
Eibhlín – Eileen, Ellen, Helen, Ellie, Lena
Eilíonóir, Eileanóra, Léan – Eleanor, Eleanora
Eithne – Inny, Enya, Ethna, Etney
Elbrigh – Elvery
Eimher, Emer – Emerina
Eilís, Eilíse, Iseabal, Isebéal, Sibéal – Elizibeth, Eliza, Bessie, Betsy, Betty
Eimíle – Emily
Eri – Erry
Eistir – Esther
Essa
Euginia
Eva – Aoife
 
F
Fainche, Proinnséar – Fanny, Frances
Fiabhnait – Feena, Fina, Feenat
Faoiltigheanna – Whiltierna
Fionnghuala, Bláth – Flora, Finola
Fedilmi – the ever good
Finbil – White blossom
Findelbh – Fair blossom
Finnabhor – of the fair lids
Flanna – the red cheeked
 
G

Gelges
Gemlorg
Gnathat – gnat
Gormfhlaith – Gormley
Gráinne – Grace, Gertrude, Gertie
Gobnait – Abina, Abaigh, Debby, Deborah, Gobinet, Gobnet, Gubby, Webby, Webbie
 
H
Hilde – Hilda, Hildy

I
íde – Ida, Ita
Ireabal, Iribéal

L
Labaoire – Louisa, Lucy
Lann – Lanny – Sword
Lassair – Flame
Lasairfhíona – Lassarinna
Lerthan
Líle, Lil – Lelia, Lilly, Lily
Lithan
Ligach – Pearl
Luanmhaisi – Luannessa – Beautiful Moon child
Luighreach – Lucy

M
Máda, Meadhbh – Maud
Máible – Mabel/Meave
Máighdlín, Madailéin – Madeline, Mandy
Mairsil, Mairsele – Marcella
Máirghréad, Muirghéad, Maighréad – Margaret, Maggie
Máille, Máirín, Mallandh, Máilti, Máilse – Molly
Máiréad, Máraodh, Muiréad, Muráid – Margaret
Máire, Muire*, Mór – Mary, Maria, More, Moira
Marta, Mór – Martha, More
Maitilde – Matilda
Maiti – Matty
Meadhbh, Merdhbhín, Máda, Nábla, Máille, Máible – Meave, Mabel, Margery, Madge, Maud, Mabbina
Maolmaiden – morning child
Mída – Meeda
Mona, Muadhnait – Mona
Mongfinn – Mongfinn
Moncha – Monica – Moya
Móre – More, Martha
Móirín, Máirín – Moreen, Maureen, May
Murgheal – Murel, Murgella
Muireann, Muirainn, Muirrinn – Marion, Morrin, Muirenn
 
N
Nábla, Náible – Nabla, Mable/Maeve
Neans, Nainseadh – Nancy, Nan, Nance
Neasa – Nessa
Neill, Neilli, Eibhlín – Nell, Nellie
Nest – Nes
Niamh – effulgence – bright and holy spirit
Nóra, Onóra, Nora, Norah, Nanno,
Nóirín, Siobhán – Nonie
Nuala, Fionnghuala – Nuala, Nabby, Penny, Penolope

O
Oilbhe – Olive
Orfhlaith – Orla – Golden One
Ornat, Odharnait – Orna
P
Pal, Pailr, Paili – Poll, Polly
Peig, Peigí – Peggy, Peg
Proinnséar, Fainche – Fanny, Francis
 
R
Rathnait – Renny
Reailta – Realta
Ríoghnach – Regina
Richeal – Rachael
Róis, Róise, Róisín – Rose, Rosheen
Ronath – Rona
 
S
Sadhbh, Saidhbhín – Sabia, Sabina, Sophy, Sophia
Sadhbh – Sive, Sally
Saraidh – Sarah, Sally
Selbhlaith – Selvala
Séarlait – Charlotte
Seósaimhthín, Siobáin – Josephine
Siún, Siobhán, Siubhbán, Sósandh, Sósanna – Susan, Susanna, Joan, Joanna,
Síle – Sheila, Sheela, Selia, Sorcha, Sibby, Jude, Judy, Judith, Julia, July
Sisile – Cecelia, Cecily, Celia
Sinéad, Sineaid, Sine – Jane, Jannet, Jenny, Sheana
Sláine – Slany
Sorcha – Sarah
Sibéal – Sybil
 
T
Temhaira – Tara
Talilath – Tallia
Tilde – Tilda
Tindi – Tinndy – shy
Treasa, Treise, Toiréasa – Teresa, Tessie, Tracy
Traoine, Triona – Trina
Tuathfhlaith – Tuala
 
U
Uailsi – Ullcee – Proud/Gentl
Ulladh – Ulla
Uchdelbha – Ucdevla
Unchí – Uncy
Uná – Una, Unity, Uny, Winny, Winnie, Winifred
Ursula – Ursula