The Annals of the Four Masters, also known as The Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland by the Four Masters, is a chronicle of medieval Irish history. The Chronicles are said to have been started in 550 AD covering the period of time from 2242 AM to 1616 AD.The Annals are mainly a compilation of earlier annals, although there is some original work. They were compiled between 1632 and 1636 in the Franciscan monastery in Donegal. The entries for the 12th century and before are courced from medieval monastic annals. The later entries come from the records of the Irish aristocracy, such as the Annals of Ulster, while the 17th century entries are based on personal recollection and observation. Below are the references from the Annals of Ireland to the O'Higgins covering the period 1414 to 1510 AD.
M1414.9
John Stanley, the Deputy of the King of
England, arrived in Ireland, a man who gave neither mercy nor protection to
clergy, laity, or men of science, but subjected as many of them as he came upon
to cold, hardship, and famine. It was he who plundered Niall, the son of Hugh
O'Higgin, at Uisneach, in Meath. Henry Dalton, however, plundered James Tuite
and the King's people, and gave the O'Higgins out of the preys then acquired
a cow for each and every cow taken from them, and afterwards escorted them to
Connaught. The O'Higgins, with Niall, then satirized John Stanley, who lived
after this satire but five weeks, for he died of the virulence of the lampoons.
This was the second poetical miracle performed by this Niall O'Higgin, the first
being the discomfiture of the Clann-Conway the night they plundered Niall at
Cladann; and the second, the death of John Stanley.
M1419.8
Ferceart, the son of Higgin, son of
Gilla-na-naev O'Higgin, the Kennfinè of the race of Gilla-na-naev O'Higgin,
died.
M1425.10
Rory Roe O'Higgin, a learned poet, died.
M1435.18
O'Donnellan, Cormac, son of Melaghlin ;
O'Higgin, Donnell Bacagh; and Carbry O'Cuirnin, died.
M1438.10
The son of Mac Clancy, Henry Ballagh, was
slain by a party of the inhabitants of Fermanagh, at the town of Brian O'Higgin,
in Magh-Ene.
M1441.15
O'Higgin, Mahon Roe, a learned poet, died.
M1448.12
Teige Oge, the son of Teige, son of
Gilla-Colaim O'Higgin, chief Preceptor of the Poets of Ireland and Scotland,
died, after penance, at Cill-Connla, and was interred in the monastery of
Ath-leathan.
M1450.14
O'Higgin, i.e. Tuathal, chief preceptor of
the poets of Ireland, died of a sudden illness.
M1461.8
Aengus Magrath, a learned poet, Niall
O'Higgin, and Niall, son of Farrell Oge O'Higgin, died.
M1464.20
Loughlin, son of Feirceirtne O'Higgin, died.
M1472.18
Gilla-Glas, the son of O'Higgin, died in the
autumn of this year.
M1473.23
O'Higgin, i.e. Gilla-na-naev, son of Rory
More, died.
M1475.17
Cormac O'Cuirnin, Preceptor of the learned of
Ireland, and Gilla-na-naev, the son of Melaghlin O'Higgin, died.
M1485.21
Gilla-Patrick O'Higgin, the son of Brian, son
of Melaghlin, a man who had kept a general house of hospitality for the mighty
and the indigent, died.
M1487.24
John, the son of Conor Mac Egan, Ollav of
Clanrickard, and Hugh, the son of Brian, son of Farrel Roe O'Higgin, died.
M1488.45
Mulmurry, the son of Teige Oge O'Higgin,
Chief Preceptor of Ireland in Poetry, and Mac Ward of Oriel, died.
M1490.16
O'Higgin, i.e. John, the son of Farrell Oge,
Chief Poet of Ireland, died.
M1501.15
Donnell O'Higgin, Chief Preceptor to the
schools of Ireland in poetry, died, after his return from the pilgrimage of St.
James.
M1505.13
Carbry, the son of Brian O'Higgin, Professor
of Poetry, died in Westmeath; and Brian Oge, the son of Brian, son of Donnell
Cam O'Higgin, died.
M1510.6
O'Fialan (Farrell), a distinguished Professor
of Poetry, and Owen, the son of Brian O'Higgan, Chief Preceptor of all
Ireland, died.
Pro Patria