The castle of Rossclogher, the picturesque ruins of which are still prominent in the beautiful scenery of Lough Melvin, was built by one of the clan, at a period--precise date not known--anterior to the reign of Henry VIII. In the _Irish Annals_ the name of MacClancy, chief of Dartraigh, appears at A.D. 1241. The territory was held by the family for three hundred years, their property having been finally confiscated after the wars of 1641. The castle lies close to the southern shore of Lough Melvin, considerably to the westward of the island of Inisheher (see Ordnance Map). It is a peculiar structure, being built on an artificial foundation, somewhat similar to the "Hag's Castle" in Lough Mask, and to Cloughoughter Castle in the neighbouring county of Cavan. Here may be noted a striking instance of the accuracy and appropriateness of Irish names of places. When the island of Inisheher (Inis Siar), _i.e._, western island, got its name, the site of Rossclogher Castle had not been laid, for where the castle stands is considerably further west than the last natural island, which, from its name, marks it as the most westerly island of the lough. The Irish name of this family was _MacFhlnncdaha_, the name being variously written in the _State Papers_ as McGlannogh, McGlanthie, etc., while in the Spanish narrative it is _Manglana_. In a map drawn in 1609, the territory is marked "Dartrie MacGlannagh" (which see). The MacClancys were chiefs, subject to O'Rourke, and their territory--a formidable one, by reason of its mountains and fastnesses--comprised the entire of the present barony of Rossclogher. According to local tradition, which survived when O'Donovan visited the district in the summer of 1836[3], the extent of "Dartree MacClancy" was from _Glack_ townland on the east to _Bunduff_ on the west--a distance of about six miles; and from _Mullinaleck_ townland on the north to _Aghanlish_ on the south--a distance of about three miles. The townlands of Rossfriar (Ross-na-mbraher, _i.e._, the Peninsula of the Friars), and that now called Aghanlish, were ancient _termon lands_ appertaining to the church of Rossclogher, the ruins of which stand on the mainland, close to the island castle of our narrative. The romantic and beautiful district over which the MacClancys held sway included _Lough Melvin_, with its islands and the mountain range behind. Within its bounds were two castles--that of Rossclogher and _Dun Carbery_. On the island of _Iniskeen_ was MacClancy's crannog; and here it may be pointed out a frequent error has been made in supposing that the Castle of Rossclogher stood on Iniskeen. The crannog was on that large island which is far to the east of the Castle of Rossclogher. This was merely used in troublous times as a place of security--a sort of treasure-house; but not an ordinary dwelling-place. Besides the buildings already mentioned within the territory, were at least three monasteries--that of Doire-Melle,