Commerce East Breifne

map of cavan town 1591 showing market square , o reilly castle on tullymongan hill

despite precarious position between 2 hostile powers, lords of ulster in north , english of pale in south, east breifne emerged affluent kingdom in 15th century. in fact, location major contributing factor prosperity. o reillys had been granted licence trade in pale in 1390, establishment of cavan , expansion market town under eoghan na feosaige increased kingdom s wealth , importance. due hostility between english government , irish lordships, cavan acted intermediary. anglo-irish merchants travel safely cavan trade beyond pale, , irish merchants sell wares such hides, livestock, wool , timber @ market, free of english government trade restrictions.

the growth of cavan marketplace became such problem anglo-irish market towns such trim , athboy english government attempted ban merchants trading in gaelic territories in 1479, fearing markets in orailly s country bring great riches king s enemies, , great poverty king s subjects . concern appears founded, o reillys amassed wealth in 15th , 16th centuries saying life of riley , refers living carefree , spendthrift lifestyle, believed have originated in reference clan. east breifne s identity trading nation attracted merchants on island further reflected genealogy, large numbers of anglo-irish families leinster , irish families more remote areas of ulster, munster , connacht settled within kingdom.

towards end of 16th century town resembled traditional medieval town, central market square , linear streets fifty houses. o reillys enlisted of wealthy macbrady clan develop cavan town. existing documents record o reillys granting macbrady s contracts build windmills, houses , pave streets of town. consequence of region s turbulent politics, town attacked, destroyed , rebuilt multiple times throughout history. 9 years war, devastated not east breifne of ireland, seems have done lasting damage, arthur chichester s 1606 tour of county reports existence of poor town bearing name cavan, seated betwixt many hills .

o reilly s money

o reilly s money

uniquely amongst irish kingdoms, money uncommonly used , bartering primary means of trade, o reilly developed own currency , minted own coinage. currency has been historically called o reilly s money , or reillys , referring coins themselves. east breifne long considered gaelic kingdom own currency , developed centralized economy; however, today known economy of tyrconnell equally (if not more) elaborate. nonetheless, currency of o reillys remains unmatched in ireland in terms of circulation , existing examples.

the coins first minted following introduction of english coins dublin henry iv in 15th century. original east breifnian coins, minted @ cavan, borrowed heavily these in terms of design. result, east breifne became notorious harbouring coiners melt down english coins, made of pure silver, , coat base metal replica coins in said silver. blame explicit destruction of english coins placed on o reillys. 2 acts of parliament in 1447 , 1456 outlawed production , usage of reilly s silver @ time increase[d] 1 day . given vast majority of counterfeit coins uncovered archaeologists found in cavan-meath , cavan-fermanagh border area, o reilly kings condoned practice, , possibly engaged in it. in late 16th century revealed brian o rourke, king of neighboring west breifne, had decades paid unjust rent governor of connaught using counterfeit coins.