JOURN'AL OF THE COUNTY :DONEGAL HISTORICAL SOCIETY Bri1an and Rory, the latter, who d:ied in 1846~ beililg the last of the line. Brian died in 1823, and his memory is honoured in verse by an anonomous poet. It 1s a lament and .contains a :reference to a Slean Ban, who was either his brother or his son. ALL the Glassagh O'Donnalls were tan with fair or reddish hair. They were haughty and proud and, although extremely kind to the country folk, they considered themselves much above them. They had distinct British leanings which were apparently cultivated with a purpose for, in return, they received many privileges. Although Catholics, they were permitted to carry lfirearms. They were reputed to have be1~n members 1of the Grand Jury, but this was not the case. They received, however, many of \he pickings of which that august body had the giving. They lived in grand style which they kept up till tJle end. They were very conservative and would only marry an O'Donnell. This, I might add, is a distinctive feature of all the branches of the O'Donnell Clan. All their daughters were sent abroad to Spain to be educated, and Spanish wine was imported at Killybe~s for the use of the hous2hold. They also maintained a constant correspondence with ~hE' Spanish O'Donnells. They Wf-'Ie the only lay people in those parts that spoke Latin. Rory O'Donnell, on account of his knowledge of Latin, was elected secretary at the Emancipation Meeting that was held in .Stranorlar. Rights They Claimed The Glassagh O'Donnclls claimed many rights upon which they always insisted. One of these was that the local priest could not begin Mass until they were present. It is told that on a cert~in occasion the Fintown priest commenced Mass before they had arrived. They later rode up on tEn 196 horses. Rory immediately strode up the centre of the church and attacked the sagart on the alta.r before the whole congregation for not waiting for them. Not one of those present understood a word of what passed 1between the pa.ir as the argument was conducted entirely in Latin! They always carried the "Slat Ban"-,the hazel rod cut and pared on May morn. This was the symbol of authority and derived from the custom of bestowing such a rod on the newlyelected Chieftain when he was inaugurated as "O'Domhnall" at .the Rock of Doon. There is no doubt that it had a .great influence and they claimed the right to it as being the nearest to the main line of the O'Donnells. There was a time when one of the Glenflnn landlords had difficulties in getting in his rents untH, the Glassagh O'Donnells came to his aid and undertook to collect them for him. The people always recognised the right of an O'Donnell to take tribute and they accordingly paid without demur! It was to Doiminlc Ruadh that Manus came in response to the invitation to seek the hand of Brighid. He was elegantly arrayed for the visit. He wore a sword and rode a powerful steed -- iboth of which he borrowed for the occa-. sion ! He was graciously received by the ,Lord of the Glassagh, who, anxious to ~nd out the merits of his prospective son-in-law, told him that if he wanted to marry his daughter he should sit down and write him a letter in Latin asking for her. Much, I venture to say, to Dominic Ruadh's amazement, Manus, without, hesitation, complied with his host's request, sat down and penned a flowing epistle in classical Latin! Doiminic R.uadh must have been wEll pleased, as the next we hear is that when Manus set out on the return journey to Goal Brigh1d na Glaisighe rode ar culailbh with him as hifl bride. According to the
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