No More Learning

«» The O'Quinns and the O'Nechtanns descend from him.
"' From him, the family of O'Hea is de- rived.
'"The Mac Cochlanns ofDealbhna, or Delvin, in the county of Westmealh, and the O'SculIys, descend from him.
"5 The O'Hurleys and O'Maloneys are his descendants. The descendants of the other sons of Bloid are not now distinguish- able.
'" From Aengus, the younger son, are de- rived the O'Comhraidhe, now called Curry,
bound to check aggression on the freedom of CaAhel, against Leth Cuinn, and to supply numerous forces for the maintenance of that freedom. Theywereboundonlytogivere- cognition to the supreme monarch of Ire- land, even when he did not belong to the
south. See CocAoh Jae'oheL Ue 5<sLbAibh, the War of the Gaedhil with the Gaill, edited by the Rev. James Henthorn Todd, pp. 521057.
'5° See Professor Eugene
O'Curry's
" Lec-
tures on the M. nnuscript Materials of Ancient
Irish History," Lect. x. , pp. 203 to 228.
'5' Or CuchuUain's Leap, as a local tradi- tion has related.
'5' This is a corruption of Leap Head.
'53 Otherwise called Slighe IJala, or the road leading from the south side of Tara Hill, and extending to the territory of Ossory.
'5' Sometimes called Baughty.
'55 The present Keeper Mountains.
286 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23.
of Tipperary. In ancient times, it is thought to have been much more exten- sive,especiallytowardsthesouth. 'ss TheprincipalityofThomondembraced the whole of the present county of Clare ; the parishes of Iniscaltra and Kil- rush, in the county of Galway ; the entire of Ely O'Carroll, in the King's County ; the baronies of Ikerrin, Upper and Lower Ormond, Owney and Arra, and more than the western half of Clanwilliam barony, county of Tip- perary ; the baronies of Owneybeg, Coonagh and Clanwilliam, with the eastern halves of the baronies of Small and Coshlea, in the county of Lime- rick. '5? The southern boundary of this great territory is yet preserved, in that, which forms the diocese of Killaloe. 'ss This ecclesiastical division has
an interesting history and description of its own. '59
At an early period—about the end of the sixth century—a St. Lua,'*° or
Molua,'^' had selected a beautiful site, on the River Shannon, for the erection of
hisreligiousestablishment,withintheancientprincipalityofThomond. The church, or oratory, which he built there, is said to have given name to the con- siderable city, which arose at Killaloe ;'*= and, it is thought to have stood upon an islet, in the River Shannon, where are the ruins of an ecclesiastical pile. '*3 At present, this is called Friar's Island. It lies, about one half mile below Kil- laloe, and about tiiirty-five yards from the land. There a very ancient stone- roofed chapel of very considerable beauty is to be seen. '*'^ This is divided intoanaveandchoir. '^s Itissituated,intheparishofTempleachally,''^in the Barony of Owney and Arra, county of Tipperary. MoUua's oratory, on Friar's Island, is somewhat damaged, yet its main features are easily discern- ible. '*? His disciple, St. Flannan,"'^ succeeded him, and continued to pre- serve there religious institutions then founded, in a high degree of efficiency.
"^ One of Ledwich's foolish derivations of Irish places is to be found, when he tells us, that Cill-le-lua means "the church upon," or "near the water. " He also ignorantly
'5' O'Donovan has written a John
very exhaustive tract, dated Feb. 13th, 1841, "Of the ancient territories ofThomond. "forming
one of the Irish Ordnance Survey Volumes,
preserved in the Royal Irish Academy. He remarks, that St. Molua was " an ideal per- has constructed a large map, with Irish sonage. " See Antiquities of Ireland," p. names of districts and places, to illustrate
his treatise.
"
Annalistic entries are likewise
144-
'3 See Dr. George Petrie's " Ecclesiasti-
appended. '5' See
cal Architecture and Round Towers of Ire-
land," part ii. , sect, iii. , subs. I, p. 281.
'•t There is a small copperplate illustra- tion of this old churcli of Killaloe, and it is represented as being in a tolerably perfect state, in Ledwich's "Antiquities of Ireland,"
p. 147.
•'5 The measurements of this church, and
a picturesque drawing of it, by Du Noyer,
Letters containing Information relative to the Antiquities of the County of Clare, collected during the Progress of the Ordnance Survey, in 1 84 1. " The Ancient Territories in Thomond, a Tract compiled
by the late Dr. O'Donovan.
'58 See " Leabhar na g Ceart, or the Book
of Rights," edited by John O'Donovan, n. (w), pp. 260,261.
'59 For some particulars, the reader is re- ferred to the Rev. Philip Dwyer's "Diocese of Killaloe from the Reformation to the close
of the Eighteenth Century," chap. i. Intro- ductory, pp. I to 15.
"o Some have thought, he was St. Lua or Molua, of Clonfert-Molua, whose feast oc- curs, at the 4th of August ; while others suppose, he was the St. Moluanus Leprosus, mentioned in Roderick O'Flaherty's " Ogygia," pars, iii. , chap. Ixxxiii. , p. 389.
"' In a notice of Killaloe, no doubt fol- lowing Ledwich, a modern writer very ab- surdly remarks, " whom sober persons have no hesitatio—n in pronouncing a fictitious
" Gazetteer of personage. " Parliamentary
Ireland," vol, ii. , p. 451.
"
formation relative to the Antiquities of the
are to be found, in
Letters containing In-
County of Tipperary, collected during the Progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1840," vol. ii. A detailed description of this old church, by John O'Donovan, is dated Oct. 13th, 1840, pp. 28 1030.
"* This is shown, on the " Ordnance Sur- vey Townland Maps for the County of Tip-
perary," sheets 19, 25, 31.
"'' See Rev. Philip Dwyer's
"
Killaloe from the Reformation to the close
of the Eighteenth Century," with an Appen- dix, chap. i. Introductory, p. 3.
'^ He is regarded, as the patron of Killa- loe Diocese, and his festival is there observed, on the l8th of December,
Diocese of
April 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 287
He was son to Toirdhealbhach, King of Thomond ; and, it is said, he had been consecrated first bishop of Killaloe, by Pope John IV. , about the year 639. "'9 Thereisaveryinterestingoldstone-roofedchurchthere,immediately to the north of the cathedral, and it is thought to be very probable, that St. Flanan had been the original founder of this curious structure. The nave
alone remains, and in-
it measures
ternally
twenty-nine feet, four inches, in length, by eighteenfeet, in breadth. Some small portions of the chancel exist, and from these, it appears to have been only twelve feet in breadth, nor could it have been of
much greater length. It can hardly be doubted, that this church is as ancient as the time of
BryanBorumha. Avery competent judge '7° has
__. -^^^^^g^^^^=_^
"^"""
'
"""^"^ ^
V%y^
Killaloe Old Charch, Count; of Clare.
building,'? ' with the ex- ception of its orna-
mented door-way, is perfectly identical in
style, with many of the earliest Churches and
Round Towers of Ire-
land. This is called a
Duirtheach, by Mr.
O'Donovan, who mea- sured it on the outside,
to be 36 feet 4 inches, in length, by 25 feet, in
breadth. ''' Thisappears to be the correct ad-
measurement, from the windows, which lighted the apartment, placed above the nave, and within the sloping sides of the roof. The west gable-window has a semi-circular head, while the east gable-window has a triangular or straight-sidedarch. '" Thechancelarchiswhollywithoutornament. Ithas inclined jambs and chamfered imposts. '? * The door-way of this church is ornamented, "'s and there is no good reason to believe, that it is of later date
'•' See Harris' Ware, vol. Killaloe," p. 590.
'• Dr. George Petrie.
i. ,
" of Bishops
found in his admirable work.
'''He gives other details, in "Letters
Conlaining Information relative to the Anti- quities of the County Clare, collected during the Progiess of the Ordnance Survey in 1839," vol. ii. Letter of John O'Donovan, pp. 342, 343.
'" '1 wo clearly-cut wood-ergravings of both windows will be found, in Dr. George Pettie's work.
"'" The accompanying illustration, drawn on the spot, by William F. Wakeman, and by him transferred to the wood, has been engraved by Mrs. Millard. As this church has lately been restored, some of the details slightly differ from Dr. George Petrie's ad- mirable delineatioD of the western gable, as
remarked,
that this
288 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23.
than other parts of the building. It is suggested,'? * that St Flannan may have been familiar with the style of the Roman Churches, and that he may have imitated, to some extent, their ornamental features. ''7 Mosses, ferns, and shrubs have inserted their roots between the interstices of the stone roof; but, they add even to the picturesqueness of the structure.
It seems a matter of difficulty to determine that year, when the birth of
Bryantookplace. ''^ WhiletheAnnalsofInisfallen,'wandthoseoftheFour
Masters state, a. d. 925, for his nativity,'*" those of Ulster have a. d. 941,'*'
which Dr. O'Donovan deems more likely to have been the true date. '*'
Whichsoever calculation we accept, it seems evident, this younger son »^3
could not have long remained, under the care of his father, whose death is
found recorded, and without distinctive eulogy, at a. d. 942, when Ceallachan
of Caiseal gained the victory over Ceinneidigh, son of Lorcan, at Maghduin,
or Moydown. How long, or if at all, Beibhionn survived her husband, does
not appear, from any existing record, with which we are acquainted. In the
latter part of the sixth century, a religious establishment had been founded,
at Inis Faithlenn, on Loch Lene, now better known as Inisfallen Island, on
the Lakes of Killarney, in the county of Kerry, by St. Finian Lobhar,'*'i or by
St. Finan Cam j'^s and, here, for centuries afterwards, a monastery and school
appear to have flourished. In the ninth century lived Maelsuthain O'Cearb-
haill,'** chief of the Eoganacht or Eugenian tribes, belonging to the territory
of Loch Lene. It seems probable, that his early education had been received,
at Inisfallen; and, towards the close of his days, after an eventful life, we
find him among the inmates. He was a man of great learning, being regarded
as the chief Saoi, or Doctor, of the western church. It has been supposed,
thatBryanwaseducatedbyhim,ontheIslandofInnisfallenj'^' but,ifthe
subject of our biography received his training there, it seems more probable, that he was rather the school-fellow of Maelsuthain, which would fully account
fortheintimatefriendship,existingbetweenboth,inafterlife. Thedeathof
'^' caused the elevation of his son or Mahon, to Mathghamhain,
Cenedigh
the kingship or chieftaincy of Thomond, about a. d. 951. '*' About a mile,
'7< It measures in height, eight feet, six inches, from the floor, to the vertex of the arch ; and, in breadth, about four feet, six inclies, immediately below the imposts.
'spr. Petriegiveiabeautifulandan enlarged illustration of it, with the capital of the pillar on the north side, presenting a rude imitation of the Ionic scroll, while that on the south side presents two figures of animals resem-
Irish prosperity, as noticed in Rev. Dr.
O'Conor's " Rerum Hibernicarum Scripto-
res," tome ii. , p. 39,
lambs. The architrave exhibits none of the ornaments, which are considered characteristic of Norman architecture.
'^^
See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annalsofthe Four Masters," vol. ii. , n. (0), p. 747.
"3 By Eugene O'Curry, he is called the
bling
'? ' See Dr. George Petrie's Ecclesiasti- cal Architecture and Round Towers of Ire- land," part ii. , sect, iii. , subs. I, pp. 277 to 281.
'" That he had the means for doing so ap-
Lectures on
from Sir James Ware's statement, that
—
name had endowed his church at Killaloe, with many estates, and dying full of years, he was interred in this church, by his son, St.
Flannan.
'' In Richard " Hiber- Ryan's Biographia
nica " his birth is computed to have fallen out in the year 926. See vol. i. , p. 114.
»? 9 See the Dublin Codex, where, by way of encomium, he is called the only defender of
pears
his father Theodoric another
form of the
'*°
See Dr. O'Donovan's edition, vol. ii. ,
pp. 6l6, 617, and n. (t), ibid.
'*' " At DCCCCXL. , al xli. ,
Nati. tas'Briain Annales Ultonienses. " See Rev. Dr. Conor's "Rerum Hibernicarum
"—" Scriptores," tome ii. , p. 264.
mc Cenntig.
""
second son of Kennedy.
See
the Manuscript Materials of Ancient Irish History," Lect. x. , p. 211.
"'* See his Life, given in the previous volume, at the l6th of March,
'*5 His Life may be seen, at the yth of
April.
'" Pronounced Maelsoohan O'Carroll.
'°' See Eugene O'Curry's "Lectures on
the Manuscript Materials of Ancient Irish
History," Lect. iv. , pp. 75, 76.
'TM His death is placed at a. d. 950, in
"Annates Ultonienses. " See Dr. O'Conor's
"
Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores," tome
iv. , p. 270.
'^9 See John O'Donoghue's " Historical
April 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 289
north-west of Killaloe, in the present county of Clare, arose the ancestral re- sidence of this prince, known as Grianan Lachtna,'9° on the south shoulder of the hill of Craig Liath,'? ' and some traces of this ancient fortification yet re- main. '9^ It may have been the case, that this ray-fortress was built by Laclitna, since it was called after him. Probably, it may have been the residence of his descendants, likewise, down to the time of our hero, who seems to have been born either there, or at Borumh,'93 which stood in the neighbourhood of Ceann Coradh, or Kincora, near Killaloe, and where, it is so well known, he chose in after years to fix his chief dwelling-place. How- ever, the erection of this fortress has also been ascribed to himself. ''*
The most careful attention must have been bestowed, by his parents and tutors, on the infancy and childhood of Bryan. H—is dispositions were happily
—
virtues were of a noble and generous quality, while his education was not
moulded ; his piety
of no ascetic cast however
wassolidandsincere his ;
neglected . Liberal studies occupied aconsiderable portion of his youthful career ; and, in all manly exercises, he contended for the palm, among the sons of chief- tains. Literature and politics formed the basis on which his instruction was grounded, but to warlike pursuits he was also addicted. '95 His enterprising geniusandwarlikespiritwereeminentlyconspicuous,eveninearlylife. His ardent temperament, and character for great courage, were emulated by the bravest and most adventurous, among the Dalcassian yoirths of Munster. They admired his activity of body, and his natural intrepidity of soul ; while his morals excited popular reverence, and an universal expectation ofa good, no less than of a glorious, career. The influence of such companionship quickly led to numerous bold and adventurous exploits, in an age, when tur- bulence and disorder often called forth deeds of the most heroic daring.
The Danes were constantly engaged, in harassing the people of Thomond, at this time; while Mahon and Bryan were obliged to defend their principality,
byforceandstratagem. '»* Theforeignersseemtohavemadeseverallodgments, instrongplaces,throughoutThomond. 's' Bryan'sfirstessaysinactualcon- flict were important enough, to induce confidence in his military qualities, and to raise his character, among the clansmen and chiefs of his principality. His
reputation for coolness in danger, for tried valour, and for prudent conduct, quickly prepared and opened the way for exercising command, at first, in a subordinate, but soon, in a higher, capacity. After Mahon had ascended the throne of Munster, his active military career was signalized by a battle, fought at Lake Gur, in which he obtained a signal victory over the Danes of Water-
Memoirs of the O'Briens," cliap. ii. , p. 12. "'" This place probably had its name, from its sonny and souihem aspect, on an elevated site, and because it was the royal residence
of Laciitna, the great grandfather of Bryan. "
County of Clare, collected during the Pro- gress of the Ordnance Survey in 1839," voL
ii. John O'Donovan's Letter, p. 355.
''^ See at the word Borumha, in R—ev. D—r.
sax See Eugene O'Curry's Manners and Bliearla, or an Irish English Uictionaiy. "
Cu-toms of the Ancient Irish," edited by Dr. W. K. Sullivan, vol. iii. , Lect. xx. . p. 24.
>' See ibid. , vol. ii. , Lect. vi. , n. 78, p. 115.
'*" The Grianan Lachtna, so called from the noble prospect it commands, was an ob- long edifice, -urrounded with a fosse and ditch, now much effaced. It is 72 feet long. and 38 broad ; but, although a considerable <juaniity of stones remain in the mound, it is difficult to know the ancient character of
the building. See " Letters containing In- formation relative to the Antiquities of the
''See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 770, 771.
Paul O'Brien's "Focaloir Gaoidhilge
'93 See Richard Ryan's Hibernica," vol. i. , p. 114.
"
tory
ii. .
Biographia '9«See Dr. O'Halloran's "General His-
of
vol.
Book
Ireland," pp. 229, 230.
xi. , chap, iv. ,
'»' See CogAish 5det)hel- We jAllAibh. The War of the Gaedhil with the Gaill, edited by Rev. James Henthorn Todd, pp. 58, 59.
'»* According to the Dublin Copy. See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hibemicarum Scriptores," tome ii. , p. 43.
T
290 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23.
ford, in the year 961, according to the Inisfallen Annals. 's' In this engage- ment, he was assisted by Donnchadli, the son of Ceallachan, King of Cashel.
Here a grtat slaughter of the enemy took place. Ahhough not expressly mentioned, it is supposed, that Bryan may have been present, in a subor- dinate position, and that a practical school for ripening his military talents had been afforded in this action, as in other contests. '^' The Irish chroniclers have several remarkable entries, to illustrate the heroism of Mahon's career
andreign. Hisunquietlifewasexercisedinwar,andsignalizedbyfrequenten- terprisesandadventures. ^°° Inthese,hisbrotherBryanperhapstookanactive part, and his renown was on the increase, since his wise counsels determined important issues, not less than his manly valour. Nor was there any ground for supposing, that divergence of policy or of interest ever disunited those affectionatebrothers. Thebrilliantresultsofcontinuousvictories,andhostages of rival native chiefs being secured by Mahon, placed those Dalcassian chiefs high among the most eminent names, furnished by their country and period.
Bryan is said to have been in his thirty-fourth year,^°' when his eldest
brother Mahon =^°" ascended the throne ofMunster, and assumed the
respon-
sibilities of a position, which required the exercise both of valour and of judg-
ment. AgainsttheDanes,especially,headvisedaconstantwarfare;while
through the woods, deserts, and forests, of North Munster, he led to action
the young champions of Dal Cais. In his younger brother, fidelity to Mahon's fortunes was united, with a zeal and bravery capable of achieving the noblest actions. He and his companions in arms set up rude huts, in- stead of encampments, and they lurked in the caves of Ui Blait. ^°3 From Lough Derg to the Fergus River, and Irom Siabh Echti or Baughty to Tra- traighe,^'''^ they wasted the country, wherever the foreigners had formed a settle- ment. These had formed a fortifying bank around Tratraighe, to make a strong garrison of the place ; so that, they might thence issue, to subject all North MunsterandUi-Conaill. NumerousweretheattacksofBryanandofhishardy followers on them, while the foreigners were frequently surprised and slain, in twos, and in threes, and in fives, and in scores, and in hundreds, although with great loss to the victors, whom war and hardships had greatly diminished. ^°5 The plains, the forests, the valleys, glens and mountain passes, throughout Munster, had been infested by numerous marauders, under lawless and un- scrupulous leaders. These hostile plundering parties had ever a pretext for their misdeeds and acts of violence. Their appearance spread fear and alarm wherever they came ; while security among those peacefully inclined and in- vadedcouldonlybeobtained,bybraveanddeterminedresistance. Against these disturbers of his territorial lands and rights, Bryan's bands of brave Dal- cassians, trained to deeds of hardihood, under his leadership, had been sufficiently well exercised, in the use of arms, and they were skilled in the warfare of that age. The different raids and local quarrels are not always found, in the obscure history of that period. Hence, it affords no satisfactory
'"=*
means, for tracing the opening warlike actions of Bryan.
'» See Tliomas Moore's
"
History of Ire-
Catalogue. See p. 25, line 18.
-"^ In the Brussels Slanuscript, this name
is rendered O m bloi-o.
TM4 Not identified. Probably, it was some
portion of shore on the Lower Shannon.
="s j^ee Co^A-oh 5iiet)hel, lie 5<sLLdiT)li. The Wars ol the Gaedliil with the Gaill, edited by Rev. James Henthorn Todd, pp. 60 to 63.
land," vol. ii. , cap. xx. , p. 83.
^
"° In the 957, he plundere^l Cluain- ye. ir
mic-Nois. See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the ! -'our Masters,'' vol. ii. , ])p. 676, 677.
="' This, however, must be estimated, ac- cording to the data of our Annahsts, which
are often conflicting.
"^ Tliere is a Poem, by St. Patrick's Com-
harba, on Mahon, the son of Cenneide, yet preserved in the Royal Irish Academy ; it is classed 23 G. 22, in the Betham Manuscripts'
==* " See Rev. James Wills'
Lives of Illus-
trious and Distinguished Irishmen," vol. i. , part i. Second Period, p. 198.
April 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 291
Reprisals followed, as the only known means for repressing disorders. The
earliest campaigning event of importance is recorded, as having taken place,
probably in obedience to some dynastic necessity, which obliged the king, his
attendant chiefs, and their troops, to wage a local war, from which neither
honour nor permanent advantage could be derived. In the year 961,°°' or
962,'°^ Feargal O'Ruarc was King of Connaught, and he is styled the
Nebuchadonosor of the Irish, having wrought innumerable evils, according
to an old Chronicle. ^^s That year, he obtained a great victory at Catinseeii
over the Momonians, and the Dalcassian territory was ravaged afterwards, by
him. "° This great victory was obtained at Catinchi,^" an island on the
River Shannon, between Clonfert and Clonmacnoise, according to Dr.
O'Donovan. "" It seems probable, that this invasion gave rise to an injured
feeling, which led to a speedy reprisal. About the year 963,^3 Feargal or
Farreli O'Ruairc held sway, over the province of Connaught. An expedition
had been planned, in which Bryan served, under the stantiard of his brother
Mahon. The purpose for whicii this expedition had been organized was to
invade the adjoining province of Connaught, while the plunder of people living there was quite reconcilable with the customs of the time, and the ethics
ofIrishwarfare,ifsuchraidsshouldbedignifiedwiththename. Thisexpe- dition seems to have been attended with the success anticipated, in its earliest
stages. It was planned, with a secrecy, which left little time for preparation to the Connacians, when the forces of Munster marched over their borders,
and created a panic. The party of King Mahon, having advanced to those
districts, bordering on Lough Ree,'"^ had swept together tlie spoils of a con- siderable territory, on the Connaught side of the River Shannon. He had
gonesofarasAthleague. "3 Soon,however,theConnacianstookuparms.
To secure their booty was an object of special importance, but of no easy attainment,fortheMomonians. Nodoubt,theroadswereintricateandin bad repair, so that a herd of cattle could not be driven with readiness, when a retrograde movement was desirable. The rapid retreat of the Munster forces commenced, as Feargal O'Ruarc, with a large body of vengeful Conna- cians,cameinsight. Aneffortwasmadetointerceptthelineofmarch,and to drive the Mummonians before the superior force. Mahon was obliged to beat a confused and a hasty retreat. The River Fairglin obstructed his advance. Encumbered with their spoils, the Munstermen felt embarrassed in their position. They were by no means prepared, for the vigorous onset of their adversaries. However, here they stood at bay, and engaged their pursuers. "' Immediately, O'Ruarc attacked with great impetuosity, and it required but an ordinary exercise of courage, to ensure the discomfiture of the Munster army. Both Mahon and his brother Bryan endeavoured to animate their men, but in vain ; for, defeat was a consequence, no valour or skill could arrest, so unfavourable were the conditions, under which Mahon's clansmencontended. Inthisbattle,itisstated,thatMahonwasobligedto
"^ Accordingto the " Annals of the Four Masters. "
"^ According to the Dublin copy of the Inbfallen Annals.
"'According
rum," a M. inu-icript in the Library of Trinity College, Dublin.
'" See " Annah of tlie Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 682, 683, and n. (o), ibid.
"^ Thisisthetruedate, aklioughtheAnnals of Clonmacnoise have it 957.
"< See Tliomas Moore's " of Ire- History
land," vol. ii. , chap, xx. , p. 83.
"5 The Dublin copy of the Inisfallen An-
to the " Chronicon Scoto-
"" tiec Rev. Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum nals renders it (i. e. Vadum lapidum). See
Hibernicaruin Scriptores," tome ii.