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“Brilliant Day for a Leamcon Rally”

Brilliant weather enhanced the setting of Leamcon Castle, near Schull, Co. Cork, for the 22 O Mahony Rally
nd
on Sunday, July 20, 1975. About 100 kinsmen, their families and friends from many parts of Ireland, England,
United States of America, and Canada vastly enjoyed the occasion and location.

Leamcon, known as Black Castle, is situated on a small peninsula, five miles south-west of Schull village, and
faces the Atlantic and Ireland’s most southerly lighthouse, Fastnet Rock. The castle was built in about 1450 by
the eighth Lord of Ivagha, Conchobhar Cabach O Mathghamhna, son of Dermod Runtach (The Reliable), for
the second of his four sons, Finghin Caol, from whom is descended the O Mahony Caol, a sept still surviving
in west Cork.

Finghin O Mahony’s grandson, Conchobhar, was head of the O Mahony Caol in 1602 when Leamcon was besieged
by the forces of Carew on their return from the Dunboy siege. Leamcon was the most defensible of the 12 0
Mahony castles in Ivagha, standing on an island headland.

A somewhat arduous mile trek by car and on foot through narrow boreens and across fields led to the castle.
Two local landowners, Mr. Timothy O Regan and Mr. Michael O Mahony of Castlepoint, afforded the organizers
and visitors every assistance in clearing the route and making ready for the rally.

The meeting was opened by Professor Daithi O Mathghamhna of University College, Cork, the outgoing
Cathaoirleach. He welcomed everybody and complemented those who had made the journey from distant
parts. Apologies for their absence, coupled with good wishes, were received from the Most Rev. Dr. Dermot O
Mahony, Auxiliary of Dublin; Rev. Sister Angela Bolster, Cork; Diarmuid O Murchadha, Crosshaven; Very Rev. T. J.
Walsh, Blackrock, Cork; Padraig O Maidin, county librarian; Mr. and Mrs. T. C. O Mahony, Dublin; Mr. Nial Hyde,
Dublin, owner of Leamcon; Miss Noreen O Sullivan, Monkstown; Mr. and Mrs. John Morris, Dunmanus and
London; Brid Ni Mathuna, Schull and Dublin; Senator Eugene T. Mahoney, Nebraska; Vicomte and Vicomtesse
Yves O Mahony, Orleans, France; Mr. E.R. Mahony, Kilchreest, Loughrea; Padraig O Mathuna, Caiseal; Mr. Dan
Mahoney, Parliament House, Sydney; Mr. Tim McCarthy, Dundalk; Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Hennesy, Youghal; Mrs.
Elizabeth Forde, Newbridge; John and David Tynan O Mahony, London; Mrs. Joan Adams, London; Mr. Michael
Walsh, Bantry; Donal and Mary Grant, Kilcrohane.

A minute’s silence was observed as a mark of respect for Mrs. Mary Josephine O Mahony, of Seaforth, Schull,
who had died the previous day. The wife of Florence O Mahony, whose family is much respected in the district,
Mrs. O Mahony (nee Hegarty) had been principal of Lowertown national school for 38 years.

Professor O Mathghamhna then introduced the two speakers, both fellow U.C.C. academics: Kenneth Nicholls,
the historian, and Michael O Ceallachain, the musician. Mr. Nicholls, an authority on medieval Ireland, had
recently discovered a new source of O Mahony genealogy which had gone unnoticed by others. Micheal O
Ceallachain had again demonstrated his support for the cause of the rally by his willingness to speak and,
everybody hoped, sing.

Mr. Nicholls said there was in Trinity College, Dublin, a valuable source of O Mahony genealogy, which, like
most of the late Irish genealogical collections, had lain unnoticed. It was contained in the second portion of the
manuscript H.1.12 (1286) and consisted of an 18th century transcript of a collection of genealogies compiled by
Sean macMuiris Ui Maol Chonaire in 1480. Its account of the families of Mac Carthy and O Mahony contained
unique and detailed information not found in any other genealogical source. (Mr. Nicholl’s paper is published in
the following pages.)

Michael O Ceallachain delighted his audience with a discourse on the songs and music of the land. He instanced
sources in Irish of a number of popular ballads and love songs, and was joined by his listeners in singing,
particularly for “Suil A Ghra,” “Carrigdhoun,” and the “Flower of Finea.”

A vote of thanks to the speakers proposed by Peter Tynan O Mahony, Dublin, was carried with acclamation. Mr.
Tynan O Mahony extended a special welcome to an old and loyal friend of the rally, Mr. Cornelius Daniel Mahoney,

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