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1603 AD January 1st: Donnell "Cam" O Sullivan's 1,000 followers had left Ballingeary through the Keimaneigh / Ceim an Fhia (Deer's Pass)in Co. Cork in Southern Munster, which was the natural boundary of the Heberian Eoghanacht O Sullivan's territory and the Ithian O Learys territory, and along the way they were to stop over at Gougane Barra and Eachross at Gorten Killa were they camped beside the church whose ruins are still there to be seen near the River Bunsheelin (Little Cillin). They reached as far as Ballyvourney in the Sullane Valley, which is also in Co. Cork, which was a place of pilgrimage, as it was a healing centre, where above there is the Church of St. Gobnat - Gubenta / Tempaill Ghobnatch who had been a Connacht Princess who had founded a nunnery there at an Bulla (The Bowl) and has curative powers and is also still to be seen there in the hole outside the wall. (She is interred there to the south - west of the church under a circular mound, which has a surface slab with three small rocks on top of that with hollows in them, where the captured water has renowned healing powers for warts and sore eyes. In the parish church at Ballyvourney itself there is the Holy Well also in a garden surrounded by trees and a small wooden 27" figure from the 13th Century AD of her that was previously used for healing also, which was held by the Heberian O Herlihys the Chiefs and Erenaghs of the territory surrounding there. Ballyvourney is now joined to the other little village of Ballymakeery with both being on the Killarney to Macroom road on the River Sullane. Meanwhile the English authorities in Ireland had sent out word that the other Irish Septs must do everything they could to stop the Eoghanacht O Sullivan party from reaching their goal or they would suffer dire consequences.

January 2nd: Donnell "Cam" O Sullivan and his 1,000 survivors from the English Military raids on their territory in Co. Cork were now attacked by Thady Mac Carthy and his men on the way to Millstreet, who he had previously given Spanish gold at Ardea to join in the Irish cause with him, but despite this Thady had gone over, once again, to the English side, so Donnell "Cam" had laid siege to his 14th Century AD castle at Carrigaphooca, (which still exists today overlooking the River Sullane on the road to Macroom), and taken back the gold. Thady Mac Carthy's men kept up the attack from the rear on the O Sullivan group for 4 hours until Donnell "Cam" O Sullivan finally turned his own men around and went after them face to face, killing some of them and they then ran off. The O Sullivan contingent where to finally arrive at Millstreet after two days on the road. January 3rd: Donnell "Cam" O Sullivan and his followers were able to reach the Ford of Bellaghan on the River Allow were they also had to fight their way across, this time against the forces of John Barry with 48 men from the Liscarroll Castle and unfortunately another 4 from the O Sullivan group were to be killed on this occasion. They then continued on through Awbeg to the Ballylhoura Hills and stayed over during the night at Ardpatrick in Co. Limerick in the mid - north - west of the Munster Province near deep caves at Castle Pook. (Later on in the 18th Century AD ancient bones were to be discovered here composed of prehistoric animals, such as Arctic Lemmings, Bison, Rhinoceros, Irish Elk, Lions, and Musk Ox).

Meanwhile Owen Mac Egan the Heremonian Ui Cobhthaigh Dal Cuinn Ui Maine Catholic Bishop of Ross who had stayed behind in Co. Cork hoping for reinforcements from Spain was killed in a battle in Co. Kerry in the south - west of the Munster Province when he was shot dead while 100 of the Irish there were making a charge against the English Military forces, on the north side of the River Bandon. He had decided that there was no other alternative, but to join in with the Irish guerrilla group there who were led by the sons of Sir Owen Mac Carthy who with 400 of his men were surrounded by the English Military forces there under the command of Captain Taafe and his men, who were acting for Sir George Carew, which also now included the Anglo - Irish collaborator, Edmond Fitz Gibbon Fitz Gerald the White Knight. The death of Owen Mac Egan was to be the final straw in Co. Cork for the Irish Septs there, due to his total commitment in defence of the Irish Septs in the Munster Province.

January 4th: Donnell "Cam" O Sullivan and his ever decreasing followers were by now constantly under attack and up until now they had travelled mainly through mountain country, but they now faced the formidable task of crossing the great open area of the Limerick Plain to the north - west, (which is the richest pasture land in Ireland), to be able to reach the safety of the Slieve Felim Mountains. After leaving Ardpatrick they set out endeavouring to reach Loch Gur through the thickly wooded Glen of Aherlow, which was still in existence then, but is now long gone. Meanwhile on the same day Sir Charles Wilmot on behalf of Elizabeth 1st was still executing all of the Irish and Anglo - Irish who had tried to defend the cattle / creaght belonging to Donnell "Cam" O Sullivan of Beare," while at the same time they also continued on with the devastation of the Southern Munster towns of Kerry, Desmond, Beare, Bantry and Carbery. (He was the one who had also previously sent off English Militia troops under Lord John Barry to personally capture Donnell "Cam" O Sullivan). Despite the constant harassment the remaining members of the O Sullivan party was still able to reach Templederry to the north - east and cross over the River Nenagh, camping at Latteragh on the sixth day near St. Odhan's church. (Named for a priest who had died there in 584 A.D, after being sent there by St. Ciaran of Saigher were he had 300 monks in attendance). Nearby there also was the 13th Century AD Anglo - Norman de Marisco castle, which is still in existence overlooking the ruined church, (which is also still there), where they set up their camp although the English Military forces continued to fire on them all through the night. (Also there is St. Odhan's Holy Well where many remarkable cures have also been recorded over the Centuries).

Edmond Fitz Gibbon Fitz Gerald the last White Knight who had submitted and betrayed his cousin, James Fitz Gerald the 16th Sugan Earl of Desmond was now campaigning with Captain Taafe near Bandon for the English cause along with his mercenaries from their stronghold at Hospital and were attacking any of the Irish Septs in the surrounding district including Donnell "Cam" O Sullivan and his followers who still had 25 miles to go to reach the Slieve Felim Mountains. The ensuing battle between them on this particular occasion was to last for 8 hours, and was to be the worst they were to encounter so far. They then came upon the village of Emly / Imblech in Co. Tipperary in the north - east of the Munster Province. ( The Cathedral there had previously been taken over after the confiscation of the Catholic Church Institutions by Henry V111, but it is now long gone as it would be demolished in the 19th Century AD when the Catholic parish priest there was to try and buy it back after the disestablishment of the Episcopalian Church of England - Ireland in 1869 AD). 3 mile further on they came to the town of Ballyneety, were Patrick Sarsfield the Irish commander was to also later on in 1690 AD blow up William of Orange's siege train), while the Galtees and Slieve Felim Mountains still lay ahead. Donohill / Dun Eochaille (The Fort of the Yew Wood) 30' high, which was guarded by the Heremonian Ui Laoghaire Ui Lughaidh Cu Corb O Dwyers led onto any real chance of keeping out of sight in the shadows of the Slieve Felim Mountains, and Donnell "Cam" O Sullivan decided to attack it to try and obtain further supplies and was successful. (The motte is still there today to be seen but the fort itself is long gone). Despite their success on this occasion, further on the O Dwyers, along with their kinsman the O Ryans, also tried to block their way into their territory of Annacarty, but they were able to drive them off, and continue onto Hollyford on the River Mulsteen where they arrived at Upperchurch, which was still in Co. Tipperary where he spilt his men up to search for further provisions for the group. This was where O Malley from the Irian Sept in Co. Limerick along with another 20 of his men were also killed and although the Anglo - Irishman, Thomas Burke was captured he managed to escape. (They also camped at Rath Ui Bheara in Co. Tipperary in the north - east of Munster were there is a ring fort).

January 6th: Donnell "Cam" O Sullivan with what now remained of his original 1,000 followers made their way down onto the Shannon Plain with the sound of shot still ringing out at them from the castle nearby, but the Slieve Felim Mountains now behind them, and the Devil's Bit, Kilduff and Borrisnoe lie ahead. They soon came upon Toomyvarra. (This was were St. Donnan had founded his monastery in the 7th Century AD in which the Heberian Dal gCais Ui Bloid Ui Turlough O Meara's had been buried in the 15th Century AD and where an Augustine Priory had been built). They crossed over Knockshegowna a 700' high hill that was traditionally the home of the Irish fairies, but where there is now a large illuminated cross on it shining out every Sunday. (According to legend Una the fairy Queen who lived here was the guardian of the O Carroll Sept the Heberian Cianacht Kings of Ely.) Leaving the hill they came down onto flat country once again surrounded by Loch Derg, and 5 mile further out from the River Shannon they came to Lackeen where they set up camp and where the Heberian Dal gCais Ui Bloid Ui Turlough O Kennedys also had their Lackeen Castle, which is now only a ruin. At this time it was still the O Kennedy's chief seat after being originally driven out of Co. Clare in the early 14th Century AD by the Mac Namaras who had been acting as the Lord Marshalls for the Ui mBriain, and where they were to rule the territory there in Ormond along with their kinsmen the Dal gCais O Mearas and the Ui Maine Mac Egans in 11 castles from Lorrha to the River Shannon. They had remained independent here in Ormond until they had acknowledged the overlordship of the Anglo - Norman Butlers in 1553 AD who were the English appointed Earls of Ormonde. The O Sullivan party were able to bypass these castles and set up their camp beside the ancient Lorrha church, which was also still in Co. Tipperary. (It is still there as another example of a totally ruined ancient Catholic Institution where St. Patrick himself had been a visitor, and in the 6th Century AD St. Ruadan had built his monastery here, who was so revered that at one time after he died it also contained his head in a silver shrine, his holy bell and the Stowe Missal). (The Stowe Missal had been originally at the Abbey at Terryglass / Tir Dha Ghlas (The Land of Two Streams), which was also in Co. Tipperary, until it was destroyed by raiders from Co. Galway in 1164 AD and it was then removed to the monastery at Lorrha four mile out of Lackeen where it was then hidden in the wall of the castle there at Lackeen to be discovered later on in 1735 AD). Moving on from Lorrha towards the River Shannon Donnell "Cam" O Sullivan and his remaining followers came upon Ballymacegan, were the Ui Maine Mac Egans from Lackeen, whose territory was actually at Kiltaroe / Redwood where they had built their castle in 1580 AD, had gone over to the English side the previous year. Later on their particular castle was to be used as a centre for historic learning and it was to be there that Michael O Clery one of the "4 Masters" who wrote "The Annals of Ulster " was to be educated.

Soon the remaining survivors of the O Sullivan group arrived at their major obstacle, the River Shannon, where all of the boats and ferrymen were missing, as they too had been warned also not to assist the O Sullivans by Donough Mac Egan from the Redwood Castle who was now operating as the English Sheriff for the area. For protection they now had to hide out in the Wood of Brosnia, which was in the loop of the River Brosnia and the River Shannon, and his uncle, Dermot O Sullivan suggested they kill the remaining horses to provide provisions for the group and also make boats out of the horse hides to endeavour to cross the Shannon. He made one up himself that was 26' long and the O Malleys made up the other one, which was much smaller at the Polnageapall, and although many of the others in the remaining group consumed the flesh of the horses for sustenance Donnell "Cam" O Sullivan, Dermot O Sullivan and Dermot O Hoolahan / Ua hUallachain would not eat it.

+On to 1603 AD - 2

Situated on the western bank of the Hunter River, midway between Muswellbrook and Denman the doorway to the Heart of Australia's "Horse Capital" in the Hunter Valley in New South Wales., Australia.

John & Sue Markham

RAINBOW FARMS 603 Roxburgh Road., Muswellbrook., 2333.

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