Ciaran’s Peculier [sic] Blog

My good friend Patrick Clark of New York has told me about a pardon he has found on the Patent Rols of James I dated February 1604/5, granted to Philip Mc Shane McCale ORelie of Ralaghan. Along with him were pardoned 54 of the name O’Clery. I am in agreement with Pat, and the late Tom Barron, that this points strongly towards the O’Clerys having been employed as kern or mercenaries, no doubt by Pilib dubh O Raghallaigh (died 1596). as they were operating in the Clankee area which had been assigned to Pilib as part of Perrot’s Composition of 1585.