History
The great cairns and other monuments in the country between Ballinchalla and Cross show it to have been of significance in prehistoric times. Around the time of St. Patrick in the 4th century AD, the tribe known as Conmaicne of Cuil Toladh occupied the baronies of Ross and Kilmaine. The chief of the Cuil Toladh Clan was called O'Talcharain. This tribe did not appear to any significant degree in annals and legends of the time. The country around Kilmaine is distinguished by important Iron Age forts, which mark it as the residence of the local chiefs, if not of principal kings. Some of the major Iron Age/medieval fortresses in the area include Lisnatreanduff in Ballymartin which has three deep ditches, whose sides were once faced with stone. A strong stone wall surrounded the space inside the inner ditch. Similar walls were on the top of the inner sides of the other ditches, and a smaller wall was on the outer edge of the outer ditch. Four entrances, dividing the defences into quadrants, gave access by ground of the natural level. It was probably the greatest fort in Mayo of the earth and stone type, and must have been an impressive building in its time. Rausakeera (Rath Essa Caerach), near Kilmaine, is an earthen fort with a slight ditch and a souterrain inside. This use suggests that it was the inauguration place of former chieftains, adopted by the Bourkes.
When baronies were formed after the time of the Anglo Norman settlements (12th century), it was intended that Kilmaine should consist of the lands of MacWilliam, Sleight Walter, Clan Jonyn, Clan Meyler, and Sleight vic Tibbot and there were many tussles over land divisions in the area. By the 16th century, in the time of Queen Elizabeth 1, Sir Henry Sidney mentions seven lineages, or families, as coming from Mayo. Their relationships held together very much as a clan, having a '° MacDonnell" as chief, and they had great influence in the country. At the close of the sixteenth century they were described as 'only country gentlemen', no longer the leaders of Gallowglass mercenary soldiers. Their principal settlements were in Kilmaine, Carra, Burrishoole, and Tirawley, under the Bourkes, those in Clanmorris, Costello and Gallen being insignificant.
Read more about this topic: Kilmaine
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