Dissecting a Troublesome Fiant from 1591
Posted: Tue, 2024-Jan-02 4:31 pm
I thought I'd post some research here I did earlier this year in case the methods help anyone else searching their surname variants in the timeframe of the Elizabethan Fiants. I spent years trying to verify if my McLains were actually "Mac Giolla Eain", and particularly if they were galloglass. The only hard evidence of MacLeans in Ireland in the period of galloglass is the Ulster Annals of 1486 "two sons of Giolla Eoin, Alan and Ruaidhri, were slain" with Mac Caba and Ui Ruairc in MacRannell's country. Alan and Ruaidhri Mac Giolla Eain were not named as galloglass but probably mercenaries in some capacity, as this was well into the period of Redshank activity, which Clan MacLean sent thousands of. The Breifne MacLeans in the Annals were reflected by a dense population of them in Tullyhunco b., Co. Cavan, with two McClean BigY testers who share a TMRCA c.1250. However the MacLeans in this timeframe were a fledgeling family, and vassals of the MacDonnell. I think it's more likely that a later Maclean influx absorbed a large kin-group in Teallach Dunchadha while billeted by the Ui Ruairc. I also haven't ruled out the possibility there was a "Giolla Eain" of Irish parentage and of some significance that was lost to history. The only hard evidence of Clan MacLean involvement in the mercenary flow does not happen until the 1560s with MacLean's daughter being married to Shane O'Neill which sparked their involvement in the affairs of Ulster. In the dozen or so prospective "MacLeans" in the fiants, most are more likely other surnames (M'Kelane is MacCaolain; McClowne/McClone is likely MacGluain; McGlene is Mag Fhloinn) I learned by talking to a professor that worked on placename studies in Meath that in 16th/17th century english, the "e" at the end of a name didn't elongate the vowel, it just accented it, which is also how Sean became "Shane" erroneously. All of the "likely" Macleans were ruled out except for one "Richard Mcilean" from Nov 1591. Although I was never able to come to a solid conclusion on where he was located, I recently revisited this after determining my McLains were Mac an Leagha and had some interesting realizations.
The fiant itself was extremely troublesome. Only a handful of locations were named, and the footnote contained "Cos Galway and Roscommon" when it was clear it was also Mayo and Westmeath. Separating the patronymics from actual surnames and researching each of them began to break it down.
16 NOV 1591
Pardon to Gerald fitz Tho. Dillon, of Manyn, Rory M’Myle, Philip m’Hobert M’Henry, Tirlagh m’Hugh boy [ ] ne Caple M’Donnel, Owen MacDonnell, Fergananym M’Donell, Keadagh m’Owen M’Donnell, Edmund and Choolae m’Oen M’Donnell, [ ] M’Donnell, Allyn M’Donnell, Rannyll M’Donyll, Nele M’Morough, Donnogh roe Mac Mortagh, Aly mac Edmond ballogh, Rickard M’Morish of the Mornyn, Honner oge ny Cnogher, Edm. M’Adam, Thos. Stangford, Lenagh O’Melaghlin, James roe M’Jurdan, Philip M’Philip, Walter more M’Rorie, Gillaspick M’Edonaltagh, Feragh M’Gillaspick, Molmorie M’Alexander, Phelim m’Conill M’Donell, Goree dufe M’Kahir, Owstian m’Ranyl M’Donnell, Neale boy m’Dowle M’Donell, David m’Thomas MacCostello, Cormock oge M’Henrie, Walter m’Cormok M’Henrie, Ferdorah m’Walter boy, Molmory O Coffie, Edm Morvornagh, Rorie Morvornagh, Wm oge m’Wm duffe Morvornagh, Feragh Morvornagh, Kale O Konylan, Molrony O Konyllan, Dermot M’Gawran, Melaghlyn O Mulridie, Edm. M’Owyny, Rich. O Grady, Moyler m’Rickard O Grady, Moyler Jurdan, Dermot m’Donogh O Grady, Edm. M.Moyler O Grady, Hugh m’Henry oge O Grady, James duff and Jordan m’Henry O Gradie, Rickard duffe M’Ewasseller, Dualtagh grany MacPhillip, Philip McCallogh, Rich. rewagh O Moryly, Con mac Moyleshaghlin O Melaghlin, Melaghlin and Henry m’Manus O Naghten, Tho. M’Moris, Rich. M’Ilean, Connoher O Dalie of Killymymore, Laughlin M’Teige of Bealagad, John M’Edmond of Lishroush, Hugh Mac Brian of the Keeloeges, and Gilleduffe m’Conor more. Security in cos. Galway or Roscommon, with other provisions as in 5532
The fiant as a whole contains names from the "O'Connor Donn Faction" which was a longterm alliance between the Mayo Burkes, O'Connor Donn, O'Kelly, and in later years O'Melaghlin in West Meath who were harrassing the garrison at Athlone. This was one of two main Connnacht factions after the O'Connor civil war in the 14th c.; the other was O'Connor Ruaidh, Clanricarde, and Thomond. Clanricarde and Thomond in later times backed the Dublin government and were supporters/enforcers of the Composition of Connacht.
Confirmed locations given
MANNIN- Aghamore p., Costello b., Co. Mayo
MURNEEN- Kilcolman p., Clanmorris b., Co. Mayo
KILLIMOR (DALY)- Killmordaly p., Kilconnell b., Co. Galway
BELLAGAD- Athleague p., Killian b., Co. Galway
Surnames Present
MacDONNELL- Galloglasses who served the O’Conchobhor Donn faction
DILLON- a sept Westmeath who acquired extensive lands Costello b., Co. Mayo
MacMOYLER- A sept of the MacWilliam Burkes in Kilmaine b., Co. Mayo
MacCOSTELLO- A sept of the MacWilliam Burkes in Costello b., Co. Mayo
MacHENRY, or “Sleught Henry”- A sept of the MacWilliam Burkes in Gallen b., Co. Mayo
MacMORRIS, or “Clanmorris”- A sept of the MacWilliam Burkes in Clanmorris b., Co. Mayo
MacRORY- A sept of the MacWilliam Burkes in Clanmorris b., Co. Mayo
MacJORDAN- A sept of the MacWilliam Burkes in Kilmaine b., Co. Mayo
MacPHILIP or “McPhilbin”- A sept ot the Mac William Burke in Burrishoole b., Co. Mayo
MORVORNAGH or “Gordon”- Scattered in Connacht; more numerous in Costello b., Co. Mayo
O’COFFEY- A sept of the O’Kelly in Longford b., Co. Galway
O’CONNELLAN- A sept of the O’Kelly in East Galway
O’GRADY- Numerous in Connacht, but moreso around Costello b., Co. Mayo
MacDUALTAGH/DONALTAGH- M’Dowany, a sept of O’Kelly in E. Galway
O’MORILLY- From O’Murghaile, found chiefly in Bekan p., Costello b., Co. Mayo
O’DALY- A bardic family, this particular family was settled in Killimor, E. Galway
O’NAGHTON- A sept of the O’Kelly, settled in Athlone b., Co. Roscommon
O’MELAGHLIN- A chiefly sept of West Meath, however the name is numerous in Connacht
O’MULBREEDY- A sept of the O’Kelly who were chiefs of Magh Finn, Athlone barony
MacTEAGUE- A common surname in N. Connacht, also in West Meath
MacMOROUGH- or “Clann Tomaltaigh” in central Roscommon
MacBRIAN- O’BREEN in Athlone. “The Keelogues” may be Drum p., Co. Roscommon
I was intrigued with the amount of MacDonnells in F5614 who had some rare patronymics. I began to cross-reference individuals in F5614 with others in separate fiants with interesting results. Some of the Clanndonnells listed showed that in F5614 were two of the 5 septs of Clandonnell Galloglass who were under the employ of MacWilliam Burke, namely the Mac an Abba (son of the Abbot) sept in Moyla (now Hollymount Demesne) in Kilmaine b. Mayo, and the Magh Uladh sept from southern Kilmaine b.
Phelim m’Marcus M’Donnell of Kealogeleigh, Choolae M’Donnel, galloglasses F5799
Phelim M’Donnell of Mointagh, F4731 (Moyla?)
Ustion m’Ranyll M’Donnell, of the Togher, gent, w several others named in F5798, are of the Mac an Abba sept
Togher is in Robeen p., Kilmaine b., and was one of the many Clandonnell estates retained by this family post-1600. (F4872 Markus mcEnabbe McConell of the Teagher)
Tirlagh m’Hugh boy rel. to Alex’r m’Hugh boy of Moylla F5617 (Mac an Abba sept)? Also in 5617 is Phelim m’Brien boy M’Connell of Mocarha (Magh Uladh sept, which also held Aghalahard)The Mac an Abba sept was seated in Moyla, Togher, and Liskillen.
Hayes-McCoy writes that the Clandonnell septs that settled in Mayo were a result of of John MacDomhnaill of Islay's marriage of a Bissett of the Glens in 1399, however there is ample evidence to show that they were with O'Connor c1360 and may have come to Mayo from there.
Some of the O'Naghtens turn up around Drum parish Co. Roscommon (O'Naghten's Country)
A Shane m’Melaghlin O’Naghten (F5878); rel to Melaghlin O’Naghten? Of Lisdillure, Drum p., Roscommon; Melaghlin m’Manus O’Naghten (F5423) of “Ardkeyvane” (Ardkeenan, Drum p.?) This is confirmed by the 1581 surrender of Manus m’William oge O’Naghten at Ardkeenan (father of Henry and Melaghlin)
Lenagh O’Melaghlin (F3719) noted “gent” near Drumrany, Co. Westmeath; Con m’Moylesheaglin O’Melaghlin is in F6512 with Tirlagh m’Art O’Melaghlin of “Kilnetne, King’s Co.” This is either Kilnahinch, Co. Westmeath or Cloghatanny, Co. Offaly, which is of particular interest as it is in my 18th century "McLain" cluster between Moate and Tullamore; an Andrew McClane of Cloghatanny appears in Petty Sessions records in the 1840s/50s. Cloghatanny was in "The Fox's Country" in the 1560s however it seems the O'Melaghlin, after building a castle at Moyelly, Co. Offaly, encroached on much of the Fox's territory. Fox then submitted to Mageoghegan for protection. This theory seems to be proven by a Con m’James O’Melaghlin (F3344; an earlier relative of Con m'Moyleshaghlin?) in Tinnemuck, Co. Offaly, which was also Fox territory and adjacent to Cloghatanny.
Although I could not narrow down a location, I thought that Richard Maclean could have been associated with one of the two Clanndonnell septs from Mayo, but employed anywhere by the lordships in the "Donn Faction" and left it as a likely possibility.
These past few weeks it started to become apparent to me that "Mac an Leagha" may have been an offshoot of the MacMaoilTuile (clearly not on the Y-line but by some kinship or another), who were physicians first to the O'Connors, said to be present at the 12th c. inauguration of Cathal Crobhdhearg, and the O'Kelly (located in the Ui Maine cenn ait at Lecarrowmactully Co. Galway, likely 13th/14th c.) The Mac an Leagha were first noted as Ollamh to the MacDonnchadh and MacDiarmata in the late 15th c., and I found them in fiants in O'Kelly's Tir Maine cenn ait (14th-16th c) around Lough Croan, Co. Roscommon in 1597. In particular, lands in Taghboy parish that were leased in 1578 from the Dublin govt to Coagh Fallon Esq (Cobhthagh Ui Fallamhain of Milltown, Clann Uadach; so they could have been physicians to Ui Fallamhain and not necessarily Ui Ceallaigh). They may have been later arrivals here, as the predominant given names show an association with those in Moylurg.
Aside from the given name of Melaghlin/Laughlin in Moylurg & Tir Maine, a Nicholas M'Elea was pardoned "of Coolavin" with the MacDermott, and a Nicholas McLea was 1661 vicar of Taghboy/Dysart, residing at Cloonagh House (lands retained by the Ui Fallamhain post-1660).
Either the family in Tir Maine had branched off that in Moylurg, or both of them had a common more ancient ancestry in Machaire Connacht. A Laughlin M'Enlay (Maolsheachlainn Mac an Leagha), chirurgeon, was pardoned at Curraghboy Co. Roscommon which in the 16th c. was an Ui Ceallaigh residence but originally a part of Clann Uadach (Dysart-Cam under Ui Fallamhain). There is some evidence that the Dillons were holding Curraghboy at the time as governors of Connacht.
In one of the Mac an Leagha journals that survive in the Kings Inns archive, Connla Mac an Leagha (ollamh to MacDonnchadh) writes while he was on-circuit "in the house of Eustace in Herbertstown" (Co. Kildare) that he was worried about his foster-son Cormac Mac an Leagha upon hearing about the FitzGerald's incursion into Moylurg. This was proof that these medical kindreds were absorbing other families in Connacht and could be the case with MacMhaoilTuile, who may have had several off-shoots of "Mac an Leagha".
In an interesting twist, two fiants that contain individuals from F5614 also have MacMhaoilTuile surgeons in the same location.
F5799 Numerous MacDonnells "Gent, of the Togher" and "Manus McMultulle, gent, of the Togher"
F6512: "Con m'Moyleshaglin O'Melaghlin of Kilnetne, King's Co" and "Ulloun McMultully, chirurgeon, of the same"
The name Ulloun is actually Iollan, and not only seems to be a rare given-name, but it's a common name among the Mac an Leagha.
"Iolln buidhe mac Maoleachlainn mac Illan Mic-an-Lega Ruadh, died this year, an eminent man in his own art" (Annals of Loch Ce 1531; the senior Iollan seems to have been Iollan "Son of the red-haired physician"; was the red-haired physician a foster son of a MacMaoilTuile?)
"Pardon of Ullen boy M'Elea, surgeon, of Carrickbeg, 1585" (Carrickmacdermott on Loch Ce)
"Pardon of Ollan M'Lea of Bracklin, Co. Mayo, 1591" (Brackloon, Bekan p., Costello b.)
Much of the modern Maclean population in Connacht, rumored to be galloglass, are roughly the same areas where Mac an Leaghas were either living as physicians or held land in hereditary tenure. As there's not a single Maclean galloglass-specific record in existence, I think it's very likely that the Richard mciLean in F5614 could have the first recorded surname-morph of "Mac an Leagha" to "Mac Leagh' an". The name Richard repeated in my family in the 18th c., could there be an association with Ulloun MacMultully?
Definitely an interesting twist. It could be the case that the bulk of "MacLean" surnames in Connacht may have been Mac an Leagha. The medical kindreds seem to be extremely mobile along the Slighe Mor, which may have resulted in this entire population of "MacLean" relative to my own cluster of the name. Something else worth mentioning was that my McLains emerge as glaziers in the early 18th c between Moate/Clara/Tullamore. A craft that required immense travel, as a moderate sized town only needed one glazier with his apprentices. Glazing was type of Smithing, so they were probably rooted in that trade. (There were a Henry & James Lay, blacksmiths of Moate c.1850 which were the most numerous given names in my family at the time in Clara, Co. Offaly; probably a pre-1700 relationship) The only glaziers that appear in this area prior to my ancestors were the MacMoilTuile, particularly a line of Melaghlins which was the predominant Mac an Leagha given-name.
1706 Will of Laughlin Tully, glazier, Cornamagh, Co. Westmeath (near Moydrum/1601 Fiant)
1749 Laughlin Tully, glazier, of Monksland, Athlone (dio. census; adj to Thady McLane of Kilnamanagh)
1760 Will of Laughlen Tully, glazier, of Bealanamulla, Athlone (McCleans here in 1790s)
1824 Melaghlin Tully, painter & glazier, Market Sq., Athlone (Pigot's)
The fiant itself was extremely troublesome. Only a handful of locations were named, and the footnote contained "Cos Galway and Roscommon" when it was clear it was also Mayo and Westmeath. Separating the patronymics from actual surnames and researching each of them began to break it down.
16 NOV 1591
Pardon to Gerald fitz Tho. Dillon, of Manyn, Rory M’Myle, Philip m’Hobert M’Henry, Tirlagh m’Hugh boy [ ] ne Caple M’Donnel, Owen MacDonnell, Fergananym M’Donell, Keadagh m’Owen M’Donnell, Edmund and Choolae m’Oen M’Donnell, [ ] M’Donnell, Allyn M’Donnell, Rannyll M’Donyll, Nele M’Morough, Donnogh roe Mac Mortagh, Aly mac Edmond ballogh, Rickard M’Morish of the Mornyn, Honner oge ny Cnogher, Edm. M’Adam, Thos. Stangford, Lenagh O’Melaghlin, James roe M’Jurdan, Philip M’Philip, Walter more M’Rorie, Gillaspick M’Edonaltagh, Feragh M’Gillaspick, Molmorie M’Alexander, Phelim m’Conill M’Donell, Goree dufe M’Kahir, Owstian m’Ranyl M’Donnell, Neale boy m’Dowle M’Donell, David m’Thomas MacCostello, Cormock oge M’Henrie, Walter m’Cormok M’Henrie, Ferdorah m’Walter boy, Molmory O Coffie, Edm Morvornagh, Rorie Morvornagh, Wm oge m’Wm duffe Morvornagh, Feragh Morvornagh, Kale O Konylan, Molrony O Konyllan, Dermot M’Gawran, Melaghlyn O Mulridie, Edm. M’Owyny, Rich. O Grady, Moyler m’Rickard O Grady, Moyler Jurdan, Dermot m’Donogh O Grady, Edm. M.Moyler O Grady, Hugh m’Henry oge O Grady, James duff and Jordan m’Henry O Gradie, Rickard duffe M’Ewasseller, Dualtagh grany MacPhillip, Philip McCallogh, Rich. rewagh O Moryly, Con mac Moyleshaghlin O Melaghlin, Melaghlin and Henry m’Manus O Naghten, Tho. M’Moris, Rich. M’Ilean, Connoher O Dalie of Killymymore, Laughlin M’Teige of Bealagad, John M’Edmond of Lishroush, Hugh Mac Brian of the Keeloeges, and Gilleduffe m’Conor more. Security in cos. Galway or Roscommon, with other provisions as in 5532
The fiant as a whole contains names from the "O'Connor Donn Faction" which was a longterm alliance between the Mayo Burkes, O'Connor Donn, O'Kelly, and in later years O'Melaghlin in West Meath who were harrassing the garrison at Athlone. This was one of two main Connnacht factions after the O'Connor civil war in the 14th c.; the other was O'Connor Ruaidh, Clanricarde, and Thomond. Clanricarde and Thomond in later times backed the Dublin government and were supporters/enforcers of the Composition of Connacht.
Confirmed locations given
MANNIN- Aghamore p., Costello b., Co. Mayo
MURNEEN- Kilcolman p., Clanmorris b., Co. Mayo
KILLIMOR (DALY)- Killmordaly p., Kilconnell b., Co. Galway
BELLAGAD- Athleague p., Killian b., Co. Galway
Surnames Present
MacDONNELL- Galloglasses who served the O’Conchobhor Donn faction
DILLON- a sept Westmeath who acquired extensive lands Costello b., Co. Mayo
MacMOYLER- A sept of the MacWilliam Burkes in Kilmaine b., Co. Mayo
MacCOSTELLO- A sept of the MacWilliam Burkes in Costello b., Co. Mayo
MacHENRY, or “Sleught Henry”- A sept of the MacWilliam Burkes in Gallen b., Co. Mayo
MacMORRIS, or “Clanmorris”- A sept of the MacWilliam Burkes in Clanmorris b., Co. Mayo
MacRORY- A sept of the MacWilliam Burkes in Clanmorris b., Co. Mayo
MacJORDAN- A sept of the MacWilliam Burkes in Kilmaine b., Co. Mayo
MacPHILIP or “McPhilbin”- A sept ot the Mac William Burke in Burrishoole b., Co. Mayo
MORVORNAGH or “Gordon”- Scattered in Connacht; more numerous in Costello b., Co. Mayo
O’COFFEY- A sept of the O’Kelly in Longford b., Co. Galway
O’CONNELLAN- A sept of the O’Kelly in East Galway
O’GRADY- Numerous in Connacht, but moreso around Costello b., Co. Mayo
MacDUALTAGH/DONALTAGH- M’Dowany, a sept of O’Kelly in E. Galway
O’MORILLY- From O’Murghaile, found chiefly in Bekan p., Costello b., Co. Mayo
O’DALY- A bardic family, this particular family was settled in Killimor, E. Galway
O’NAGHTON- A sept of the O’Kelly, settled in Athlone b., Co. Roscommon
O’MELAGHLIN- A chiefly sept of West Meath, however the name is numerous in Connacht
O’MULBREEDY- A sept of the O’Kelly who were chiefs of Magh Finn, Athlone barony
MacTEAGUE- A common surname in N. Connacht, also in West Meath
MacMOROUGH- or “Clann Tomaltaigh” in central Roscommon
MacBRIAN- O’BREEN in Athlone. “The Keelogues” may be Drum p., Co. Roscommon
I was intrigued with the amount of MacDonnells in F5614 who had some rare patronymics. I began to cross-reference individuals in F5614 with others in separate fiants with interesting results. Some of the Clanndonnells listed showed that in F5614 were two of the 5 septs of Clandonnell Galloglass who were under the employ of MacWilliam Burke, namely the Mac an Abba (son of the Abbot) sept in Moyla (now Hollymount Demesne) in Kilmaine b. Mayo, and the Magh Uladh sept from southern Kilmaine b.
Phelim m’Marcus M’Donnell of Kealogeleigh, Choolae M’Donnel, galloglasses F5799
Phelim M’Donnell of Mointagh, F4731 (Moyla?)
Ustion m’Ranyll M’Donnell, of the Togher, gent, w several others named in F5798, are of the Mac an Abba sept
Togher is in Robeen p., Kilmaine b., and was one of the many Clandonnell estates retained by this family post-1600. (F4872 Markus mcEnabbe McConell of the Teagher)
Tirlagh m’Hugh boy rel. to Alex’r m’Hugh boy of Moylla F5617 (Mac an Abba sept)? Also in 5617 is Phelim m’Brien boy M’Connell of Mocarha (Magh Uladh sept, which also held Aghalahard)The Mac an Abba sept was seated in Moyla, Togher, and Liskillen.
Hayes-McCoy writes that the Clandonnell septs that settled in Mayo were a result of of John MacDomhnaill of Islay's marriage of a Bissett of the Glens in 1399, however there is ample evidence to show that they were with O'Connor c1360 and may have come to Mayo from there.
Some of the O'Naghtens turn up around Drum parish Co. Roscommon (O'Naghten's Country)
A Shane m’Melaghlin O’Naghten (F5878); rel to Melaghlin O’Naghten? Of Lisdillure, Drum p., Roscommon; Melaghlin m’Manus O’Naghten (F5423) of “Ardkeyvane” (Ardkeenan, Drum p.?) This is confirmed by the 1581 surrender of Manus m’William oge O’Naghten at Ardkeenan (father of Henry and Melaghlin)
Lenagh O’Melaghlin (F3719) noted “gent” near Drumrany, Co. Westmeath; Con m’Moylesheaglin O’Melaghlin is in F6512 with Tirlagh m’Art O’Melaghlin of “Kilnetne, King’s Co.” This is either Kilnahinch, Co. Westmeath or Cloghatanny, Co. Offaly, which is of particular interest as it is in my 18th century "McLain" cluster between Moate and Tullamore; an Andrew McClane of Cloghatanny appears in Petty Sessions records in the 1840s/50s. Cloghatanny was in "The Fox's Country" in the 1560s however it seems the O'Melaghlin, after building a castle at Moyelly, Co. Offaly, encroached on much of the Fox's territory. Fox then submitted to Mageoghegan for protection. This theory seems to be proven by a Con m’James O’Melaghlin (F3344; an earlier relative of Con m'Moyleshaghlin?) in Tinnemuck, Co. Offaly, which was also Fox territory and adjacent to Cloghatanny.
Although I could not narrow down a location, I thought that Richard Maclean could have been associated with one of the two Clanndonnell septs from Mayo, but employed anywhere by the lordships in the "Donn Faction" and left it as a likely possibility.
These past few weeks it started to become apparent to me that "Mac an Leagha" may have been an offshoot of the MacMaoilTuile (clearly not on the Y-line but by some kinship or another), who were physicians first to the O'Connors, said to be present at the 12th c. inauguration of Cathal Crobhdhearg, and the O'Kelly (located in the Ui Maine cenn ait at Lecarrowmactully Co. Galway, likely 13th/14th c.) The Mac an Leagha were first noted as Ollamh to the MacDonnchadh and MacDiarmata in the late 15th c., and I found them in fiants in O'Kelly's Tir Maine cenn ait (14th-16th c) around Lough Croan, Co. Roscommon in 1597. In particular, lands in Taghboy parish that were leased in 1578 from the Dublin govt to Coagh Fallon Esq (Cobhthagh Ui Fallamhain of Milltown, Clann Uadach; so they could have been physicians to Ui Fallamhain and not necessarily Ui Ceallaigh). They may have been later arrivals here, as the predominant given names show an association with those in Moylurg.
Aside from the given name of Melaghlin/Laughlin in Moylurg & Tir Maine, a Nicholas M'Elea was pardoned "of Coolavin" with the MacDermott, and a Nicholas McLea was 1661 vicar of Taghboy/Dysart, residing at Cloonagh House (lands retained by the Ui Fallamhain post-1660).
Either the family in Tir Maine had branched off that in Moylurg, or both of them had a common more ancient ancestry in Machaire Connacht. A Laughlin M'Enlay (Maolsheachlainn Mac an Leagha), chirurgeon, was pardoned at Curraghboy Co. Roscommon which in the 16th c. was an Ui Ceallaigh residence but originally a part of Clann Uadach (Dysart-Cam under Ui Fallamhain). There is some evidence that the Dillons were holding Curraghboy at the time as governors of Connacht.
In one of the Mac an Leagha journals that survive in the Kings Inns archive, Connla Mac an Leagha (ollamh to MacDonnchadh) writes while he was on-circuit "in the house of Eustace in Herbertstown" (Co. Kildare) that he was worried about his foster-son Cormac Mac an Leagha upon hearing about the FitzGerald's incursion into Moylurg. This was proof that these medical kindreds were absorbing other families in Connacht and could be the case with MacMhaoilTuile, who may have had several off-shoots of "Mac an Leagha".
In an interesting twist, two fiants that contain individuals from F5614 also have MacMhaoilTuile surgeons in the same location.
F5799 Numerous MacDonnells "Gent, of the Togher" and "Manus McMultulle, gent, of the Togher"
F6512: "Con m'Moyleshaglin O'Melaghlin of Kilnetne, King's Co" and "Ulloun McMultully, chirurgeon, of the same"
The name Ulloun is actually Iollan, and not only seems to be a rare given-name, but it's a common name among the Mac an Leagha.
"Iolln buidhe mac Maoleachlainn mac Illan Mic-an-Lega Ruadh, died this year, an eminent man in his own art" (Annals of Loch Ce 1531; the senior Iollan seems to have been Iollan "Son of the red-haired physician"; was the red-haired physician a foster son of a MacMaoilTuile?)
"Pardon of Ullen boy M'Elea, surgeon, of Carrickbeg, 1585" (Carrickmacdermott on Loch Ce)
"Pardon of Ollan M'Lea of Bracklin, Co. Mayo, 1591" (Brackloon, Bekan p., Costello b.)
Much of the modern Maclean population in Connacht, rumored to be galloglass, are roughly the same areas where Mac an Leaghas were either living as physicians or held land in hereditary tenure. As there's not a single Maclean galloglass-specific record in existence, I think it's very likely that the Richard mciLean in F5614 could have the first recorded surname-morph of "Mac an Leagha" to "Mac Leagh' an". The name Richard repeated in my family in the 18th c., could there be an association with Ulloun MacMultully?
Definitely an interesting twist. It could be the case that the bulk of "MacLean" surnames in Connacht may have been Mac an Leagha. The medical kindreds seem to be extremely mobile along the Slighe Mor, which may have resulted in this entire population of "MacLean" relative to my own cluster of the name. Something else worth mentioning was that my McLains emerge as glaziers in the early 18th c between Moate/Clara/Tullamore. A craft that required immense travel, as a moderate sized town only needed one glazier with his apprentices. Glazing was type of Smithing, so they were probably rooted in that trade. (There were a Henry & James Lay, blacksmiths of Moate c.1850 which were the most numerous given names in my family at the time in Clara, Co. Offaly; probably a pre-1700 relationship) The only glaziers that appear in this area prior to my ancestors were the MacMoilTuile, particularly a line of Melaghlins which was the predominant Mac an Leagha given-name.
1706 Will of Laughlin Tully, glazier, Cornamagh, Co. Westmeath (near Moydrum/1601 Fiant)
1749 Laughlin Tully, glazier, of Monksland, Athlone (dio. census; adj to Thady McLane of Kilnamanagh)
1760 Will of Laughlen Tully, glazier, of Bealanamulla, Athlone (McCleans here in 1790s)
1824 Melaghlin Tully, painter & glazier, Market Sq., Athlone (Pigot's)