Feidhlimidh Mág Samhradháin

Feidhlimidh Mág Samhradháin, the Second, (anglicised Felim or Phelim McGovern) d. 20 January 1622, was chief of the McGovern Clan and Baron or Lord of Tullyhaw barony, County Cavan from before 1611 until his death on 20 January 1622.

His ancestry was Feidhlimidh son of Brian son of Tomás (died 1532) son of Maghnus (died 1497) son of Tomás Óg (died 1494) son of Tomás na Feasoige (died 1458) son of Fearghal (died 1393) son of Tomás (died 1343) son of Brian ‘Breaghach’ Mág Samhradháin (died 1298). He was the third eldest son and had two brothers who preceded him as chiefs of the clan, Tomas Óg Mág Samhradháin and Brian Óg Mág Samhradháin, together with a third brother Emonn of Lissanover.

Feidhlimidh first comes to notice on 19 January 1586 when Queen Elizabeth I of England granted a pardon to Phelim m'Brien m'Thomas Magawran, of Colleaghe, for fighting against the Queen's forces.

On 30 April 1605 King James VI and I granted a further pardon to him as Phelim McGaran of Tolaghagh, for fighting against the King's forces.

Feidhlimidh’s castle was in the townland of Coologe, now in the parish of Templeport, County Cavan. An earthen ringfort now on the shore of Coologe Lough is probably the site of the castle. Poem 1 by Giolla Pádraig mac Naimhin in the Book of Magauran describes what the castle looked like about 1290 A.D. It is described as a strong compact stout castle with interior walls of white hazel-wood which were covered with satin and tapestries. Along the wall were weapon racks with blued-iron spears, javelins and bridles. The door of the castle was ribbed in gold. The palisade outside was bright with berries. In the feast-hall were poets, musicians with harps, a hundred warriors and hounds held by gold-linked chains. The guests drank wine from gem-encrusted gold goblets. The castle was burned on 3 May 1298 in an attack by the clan Muircheartaigh Uí Conchobhair (O’Connor). The Annals of Connacht for 1298 state- Brian Bregach Mag Samradain, chieftain of Tullyhaw, the most generous and valorous man of his time, was killed by Aed Brefnech O Conchobair and the Clan Murtagh in his own house at Coologe on the third day of summer. Sometime about 1400 the chief’s castle moved to Ballymagauran townland and Coologe Castle was given to the Tánaiste of the clan, which office Feidhlimidh held in 1586. Tánaiste was the Irish word for the heir of the chief (taoiseach), under the Gaelic system of tanistry.

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