Confiscations

Following the suppression of any further resistance came the confiscations. “The 1641 rebellion and the subsequent years of warfare were a disaster for the Gaelic Irish nobility of County Donegal. Every single Catholic in the county who owned land in 1641 had their estates confiscated…including the large estate of Turlough O’Boyle”[McGettigan, 2010, p.47].

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But by the time of the Civil Survey of 1654, under the heading of “Forfeited Lands within the Barrony of KillmcCrenan.” we find Turlough has forfeited extensive lands in the parish of ‘Conehorka’ (Clondehorky)  namely the townlands of Aughellettiff, Aultcrum als Airds, Clownimass, Ballimor, Duore, Killdoragh, Carrownemadie, Crinishmeare, Killmcillow, Gortenlecke, Cluenmore, and Cashillbryard. It appears that these are the lands he was granted nearly 50 years before.

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It is noted that “The above said three quarters and a halfe of Land called Clunimass &c. held by Torlagh Roe O'Boyle, Esqr. Irish Papist, yet claimed by ffrancis Stanton, son to John Stanton deceased English Protestant, wch Land was Mortgaged unto the sd John Stanton by the sd Torlagh O'Boyle for one hundred and eighty pounds sterling”. In addition, Turlough’s holding of Fawenmore in the parish of Ray is also claimed by Francis Stanton.

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A few years’ later, Petty’s census lists “Torlagh Ô Boyle, Gent(leman)” of Loghrass (probably Loughros in Boylagh) as a ‘Tituladoe’ which suggests he claims ownership of the property he occupies there and has moved back to his former lands. Also listed is “Teage Ô Boyle, Gent(leman)” of Mase (now Maas). This is possibly Turlough’s brother, and Loughros and Maas are not far from each other.

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The disruption following the 1641 rebellion and the break-up of traditional territories caused extensive movements of people. Some O’Boyles along with other Gaelic families from Tír Connaill travelled by sea to Co Mayo, led by Colonel Rory O’Donnell, grandson of Niall Garbh O’Donnell and settled in the vicinity of Ballycroy in the Barony of Erris, where there is still a cluster of O’Boyles. Others are reported to have migrated east to Antrim where they obtained leases on MacDonnell lands.

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But most stayed where they were, now leasing or renting land from the new landlords rather than holding the land under the terms and demands of the traditional chief. A survey conducted in 1659 to identify landholders for dispossession lists over two thousand names in Donegal. Excluding the O’Doherty barony of Inishowen, where the O’Boyles never had a presence, theirs is the second most frequent name, behind O’Galloghers. They were still heavily concentrated in their traditional homeland in the barony of Boylagh & Banagh, where O’Boyles comprise over 11% of the names.

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In the Hearth Roll tax listings of 1666 for the Baronies of Boylagh and Banagh, some twenty O’Boyles are listed as owning one hearth[1]: It’s likely that the “Mr Torlagh o'Boyle of Lochrus” is Turlough Roe, as a number of the fortified houses associated with him and his forebears are situated around Loughros More and Loughros Beg bays.

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The Williamite Wars

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With the 1662 Act of Settlement, Catholics were removed from all positions of political and commercial importance in Ireland. Large numbers of new settlers continued to arrive in Ulster and the position of the Irish Catholics as landowners continued to deteriorate.

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A generation later, there was a brief renewal of hope for the Gaelic Irish with the accession of the catholic King James II. James restored some Catholic rights, and we find that a “Tyrlagh Oge O’Boyle” was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Co. Donegal in 1688. But James’ reign was short and ineffectual, and he was overthrown by his protestant son-in-law William of Orange.  His defeat at the Battle of the Boyne by William of Orange ushered in the final and total annihilation of the Gaelic world.

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There is little evidence that any O’Boyle played a significant role in the events of the Williamite Wars; They do not appear in the list of officers of King James’ army, nor in any of the accounts of the 'Wild Geese', the exodus of Irish officers and gentry to the armies of France, Spain and other European powers.

With the loss of their land and status, perhaps they no longer had the wherewithal to maintain themselves as gentlemen and take their place as leaders of their people.

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[1] A hearth implies a larger, probably stone-built house. Most common people lived in rough thatched cabins with an open fire which did not have a hearth, and so were not liable for the tax and thus not recorded. Those listed thus were persons of status and some wealth, probably with some freehold interest in the land they occupied.