van, iv. 1242) of Clogher. He collected a fine library of manuscripts, and compiled the history variously known as ‘Leabhar airisin bhaile mec Maghnusa’ (Annala Rioghachta Eireann, 1498), as ‘The Historical Book of Ballymacmanus,’ as ‘Annales Senatenses’ (Harris's edition of Ware, p. 90), and as ‘Annals of Ulster’ (ed. Hennessy, Rolls Ser. 1887). This valuable work, which owes its latest title to the fact that it gives the fullest account of the affairs of Ulster, begins with the reign of Feradach, A.D. 60, and extends to the commencement of 1498. Like the book afterwards composed by the O'Clerys, and commonly known as ‘The Annals of the Four Masters,’ it is written in the form of an annual register, giving a summary of the events of each year, with characters of some of the more important men who had died. The author gave minute attention to chronology, and with his aid the errors of other Irish historical writers may often be corrected. Two vellum manuscript copies are extant: Rawlinson 489 in the Bodleian, and H. 1. 8 in the library of Trinity College, Dublin, where there is also a transcript of this manuscript made by E. O'Curry in 1841. The part from 431 to 1056 was published with translation and notes by W. M. Hennessy in 1887, under the direction of the Royal Irish Academy, but without any mention of the codex used for the edition. Further volumes of this edition are to appear, edited by the Rev. B. MacCarthy. Continuations of these annals to 1604 are also extant. Cathal is stated by Paul Harris [q. v.] to have written additions to the ‘Felire’ of Oengus, and annotations to the ‘Register of Clogher.’ He was famous for his hospitality no less than for learning, and Rory O'Cassidy, who was the first continuator of his annals, and who knew him, says ‘he was a precious stone, and a bright gem, and a shining star, and a treasury of knowledge, and a fruitful branch of the Canon law, and a fountain of charity and meekness and mildness, and a dove in cleanness of heart and chastity, and the person to whom the learned and the pilgrims and the poor of Ireland were most thankful—one full of grace and knowledge in every science to the time of his death, in law, divinity, physic, and philosophy, and in Irish attainments.’ He died of small-pox at Ballymacmanus, co. Fermanagh, 23 March 1498, at the age of fifty-nine.
[Annala Rioghachta Eireann, ed. J. O'Donovan, vols. iii. iv.; Sir J. Ware's Writers of Ireland, Dublin, 1704; E. O'Curry's Lectures on the Manuscript Materials of Ancient Irish History, p. 83, App. xlii.; E. O'Reilly in Transactions of Iberno-Celtic Society, 1820.]
MAGUIRE, CONNOR or CORNELIUS, second Baron of Enniskillen (1616–1645), born in co. Fermanagh, was son of Sir Bryan who was created a peer on account of his own and his father's loyal adherence to the English crown when resisting those chiefs of Fermanagh who supported Tyrone. His mother was an O'Neill. He is said to have been partly educated at Magdalen College, Oxford, but did not matriculate in the university. He succeeded to the peerage in 1634, and attended the parliament which met in Dublin on 10 March 1639-40. Carte says he was a dissipated young man, who had impaired what was still a very considerable estate, though only a small part of the territory over which his ancestors held sway. Being in Dublin during the session in February 1640-1, he gave ear to the suggestions of Roger More [q. v.], who had conceived the idea of raising catholic Ireland while the English government was busy with Scotland. Having first sworn him to secrecy, the tempter reminded Maguire that he was 'overwhelmed in debt,' that rebellion alone gave him a chance of regaining his ancestral estates, and that there was no other chance of maintaining their religion against the oppression intended by the English parliament. Being married to a lady of the Pale, Maguire was valued as much for his influence among her connections as for his own importance in Ulster. In August 1641 he first heard of the plan for seizing Dublin Castle; but it was settled to do nothing till close upon winter, for then help from England would be long delayed. Discontented officers of Strafford's army furnished ready tools. It was vaguely supposed that Richelieu would help the Irish, but the chief hope of the conspirators rested on Colonel Owen Roe O'Neill, who served the king of Spain in the Low Countries. The rising was fixed for 23 Oct., but the folly of Hugh MacMahon [q. v.] disclosed the plot on the night of the 22nd. Roger More escaped, but Maguire, who throughout was rather a dupe than a leader, was captured, with MacMahon and Colonel Reade (afterwards Sir John and gentleman of the bedchamber), who had served the king in Scotland. The two latter were racked, but Maguire admitted all the material facts without torture on 26 March 1642, and made a fuller voluntary statement some six months later. In June Maguire, MacMahon, and Reade were removed to the Tower of London, and treated there with great rigour. Eleven months later they were transferred 'to the noisome' prison of Newgate, and there kept close prisoners, without any maintenance, having not one penny to buy themselves food;' but they were not allowed quite to starve. In October
