'°° He is said to have been Bryan's son,
by his second wife Eachraid, the daughter of Carohis, son to Oillil Fionn, King of Ive-
General
warswith
of the land before him, and became a hermit ; but when King Brian went south on a pil- grimage, then he met King Kylfi, and then they were atoned, and King Brian took his son Kerthialfad to him, and loved him more than his own sons.
by his second wife Eachraid, the daughter of Carohis, son to Oillil Fionn, King of Ive-
General
warswith
of the land before him, and became a hermit ; but when King Brian went south on a pil- grimage, then he met King Kylfi, and then they were atoned, and King Brian took his son Kerthialfad to him, and loved him more than his own sons.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v4
At this time, the Danish pirates had possession of Man.
The Manx language resembles more the Erse of Ireland and the Gaelic of Scotland, than the Cymric or lesser Breton.
See
"
Elisee Reclus'
verselle, laTerre et les Hommes, tome iv. He de Man, p. 626.
'3 Probably the Island of Sky, although in the Dublincopy of the Annals of Innisfallen, we find Sgiligia, interpreted Shetland, by
Rev. Dr. O'Conor, in
Renim Hibemica-
Nouvelle Geographic Uni-
" rumScriptores,"tomusii. , p. 61,n. 3.
**
Lewis, by Rev. Dr. O'Conor. /iid. , n. 4.
Otherwise, Leodhasa, interpreted
McGec'S " Book
Cead, as used in the Dublin copy of the
' He is called
'5 See Thomas
D'Arcy
Popular
ii. , ney
Luadar, evidently
Count of the Ork-
History of Ireland," &c. , vol. i. ,
Islands father's name
a mistake for his
chap, vi. , p. 99.
in of the
'°
copy
——
"Annates Inisfalenses. " See Rev. Dr.
the Dublin copy
398 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23.
coasts of Ross and Moray were ravaged by him ; the Hebrides paid him tri- ^
bute;7" in 1006, the Scottish king, Malcolm II. tried, but in vain, to purchase peace for Scotland, by giving his daughter in marriage, as a second wife. Sigurd made a second descent upon Moray in 10 10, but, he was signally de- feated, at Mortlach, and with great slaughter, after a protracted struggle. " This fierce leader was probably only a nominal Ciiristian. ? * Wearied with the dull amenities of repose, around his own shores, when the blast of war
blew from a distance, and probably hoping to share the anticipated division of Irish soil, in favour of foreign auxiliaries ;" this brave Viking spread his sails to
the breeze, and careened long the seas, with his ships and soldier mariners, to the aid of Sigtric, Northman King of Dublin. '* The hundred inhabited isles," which lie between Yell and Man, sent in their contingents to swell the following of the renowned Earl. '*
In 1013, Sweyn invaded England, and he took possession of a considera-
ble portion of that country, having been acknowledged as its king. '' Whether heassistedtheprojectofinvasion,ornot,seemstobeunknown; but,hedied in the following year,*" after a remarkable career. Two barons of the Con Britons,^' or Coir-Bhreathnaicc,** and Corndabbliteoc,*3 of the Britons at Cill Muni,** or St. David's, were invited to this confederacy. From another place, the Coir-na-Liogog foreigners were collected, for the anticipated invasion. ^s After the death of Sweyn, Canute, the son, completed his father's conquests, and he became King of Denmark, of Norway, and of England. Under Canute, the power of Denmark reached its highest position. He was styled
theGreat; but,hewasprobablytoomuchengagedwithotherenterprises,to lend any considerable assistance to that expedition, destined for Ireland. **
O'Conor's " Rerum Hibernicarum Scrip-" tores," tomus ii. , p. 6l.
'» It is stated, that " the Kings of Den- mark and Norway treated with him on equal terms. "—Thomas D'Arcy McGec's "Popu- lar History of Ireland," &c. , vol. i. . Book ii. , chap, vi. , p. 99.
'* See Thomas D'Arcy McGee's "Popular
History of Ireland," vol. i. . Book ii. , chap,
vi. , p. 99.
" See Edward A. Freeman's " History of
the Norman Conquest of England ; lis Causes and Results. " chap, v. , sect. 4, pp.
396, 397-
"" " Sven, k ils avaient laisse prendre, qui
" See Dr.
tory of Scotland," vol. i. , chap, i. , p. 37.
James Taylor's
his man, and proclaim Clirislianity over all the Orkneys. He submitted to these condi-
de I'Angleterre par les Normands, de ses Causes etdeses Suites jusqu' a nos Jours, en Angleterre, en Ecosse, en Irlande et sur le Continent," tome i. , liv. ii. , p. 2l6. Sixieme edition, Paris, 1843, 8vo.
*' From Barru and from the Corrbritons,
" Pictorial His-
'* It is s. iid, that Olaf Tryggveson, the
first Christian ICing of Norway, returning
from a vi-king expedition to the west, came
to the Orkneys, A. D. 997, and seized Earl Augustin Thierry's Histoire de la Conquete Sigurd, as he lay under the Isle of Hoy, in a
single ship. King Olaf offered to ransom the
Earl, if he consented to embrace the true
faith and be baptized, that he should become
tions, and give his son Hundi as a hostage.
"*' "
See Olaf Tryggvesson's Saga," cap. Hi.
'S Flosi, an adventurer, who was on a visit with Sigurd, offered to accompany him on the expedition ; but this, tlie Earl would
not permit, since he had a pilgrimage to fulfil. However, fifteen of his band were
accepted by the Earl, to go on this voyage.
Then Flosi went with Earl Gilli to the
Southern Isles. Thorstein, son to Hall of the
side, Harfn the red, and Erling of Stranmey,
went along with Earl Sigurd. See the "
Saga,"chap,clvi. , p. 333.
Gazetteer of Scotland,"
Imperial vol. ii. , pp. 540, 541-
this in the Latin, " et Wallorum," to which "
'' See "
s n. 3, "Nempe S. DavidisMenevensis. " "RerumHibernica-
" After their conversion, these contained three hundred churches and chapels.
rum Scriptores," tomus ii. , p. 62.
*5 Rev. Dr. O'Conor conjectures this to be
meant for Comubia, as he translates it in
en I'annee 1014, le titre de roi d'Angleterre, mourut dans cette meme annee, assez subite- ment pour qu'il y ait lieu d'attribuer sa mor—t
& un elan d'indignation patriotique. " "
according to another account, aid came.
In the Dublin copy of the Annales
"
Inisfalenses, Rev. Dr. O'Conor translates
he appends, n. 2— Corwallia, juxta margi- nalem notam. " "Rerum Hibernicarum
Scriptores," tomus ii. , p. 62.
'^ The Slanuscript B has the name Corn-
bliteoc.
** In the Dublin copy of the "Annales
Inisfalenses," the Irish version has agus Breathnaicc Cilletiiuitie ; and to this. Rev. Dr. O'Conor append—
April 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 399
Even the Danes of Normandy, then signalized as Northmen, as those of Britain and of the Isles around her coasts, heard the summons to arms with
delight. Then they had embraced Christianity. The pagan kings of Scan- dinavia brought aid to their Christian fellow-countrymen, in Ireland, as they did in Normandy ; for, the origin of race and of language caused relations of alliance and of national fraternity. ^7 However, the Dukes of Normandy had long acknowledged themselves as vassals of the successors to Charlemagne and *^ When the
Denmark, and one who joined the expedi- tion, as a commander, was probably his son.
'^ See Augustin Thierry's "Histoire de la
de la Conquete de I'Anglcterre par les Nor- mands," &c. , tome i.
"The monk Ademar, whose Chronicle was written before 1031, in the opinion of Labbe, states, "ut Hirlandis extinctis ipsi pro ipsis inhabitarent opulentissimam terram quae xii. civitates cum amplissimis Episco-
romanesque language
had the prevailed among
Capet.
Normans, they were called Franks, Romans, or Velsques, by the Scandina- vians. ^9 CarlusandEbric,9°twosonstotheKingofFrance,aresaidtohave been invited to join this expedition ;9' but, we may assume, that these were chiefs of the Normans. '^ They entered into the confederacy, and were
pleased at the prospect of settling in the cities '3 and towns, already opened to commerce, by the men of their race ; while possessions and lands were
thought to be the certain acquisition of those colonists,''* who having triumphed over the natives of Erinn, were, by the irregular laws of warfare then pre- vailing, entitled to those spoils won by their valour.
No less than sixteen thousand Danes, already settled in Dublin, and
in other strongholds of Ireland, together with all the power of Leinster, were gathered under the command of King Maelmordha,95 who either claimed a
suzerainty over them, or whose supremacy seems to have been admitted, for the occasion. The din of preparation was heard on the coasts, and within theislandsoftheBaltic,totheirmoresouthernsettlements. Joyfullydidthe hardy Norsemen receive the decision arrived at by their chiefs. Their na- tural courage, aroused by the message, was responded to with the readiness and excitement of warriors accustomed to bold adventures, whether on sea or land. They were already assured of conquest, owing to the extensive scale on which the expedition had been planned.
When he found a great war pending, with all possible speed, Bryan Boroimha summoned his lieges, and he mustered the forces of Munster and of Connaught, under his standard. These were joined, likewise, by the men ofMidhe,orofMeath,9*tothenumberofonethousandwarriors. Theremote situation of Ireland, which lay so far towards the south and west, in the Atlantic Ocean, and the widely disjjersed colonies of the confederates, were no slight protection from the Northman invasion, while efforts were being
the Latin. See ibid. , p. 62, and n. 4. engraved by Ambroise Tardieu, in the Atlas ""
However, Carl Canuteson, Prince of to illustrate Augustin Thierry's Histoire
Conquete de I'Angleterre par les Normands,
de ses Causes et de ses Suites junqu' a nos
Jours, en Angleterre, en Ecosse, en Irlande
et sur le Continent," tome i. , liv. ii. , p. patibus etunum regem habet, ac propriam
214. ""
linguam sed Latinas literas, quam Sanctus Patricius Romanus ad fidem convertit. "
"The same monk of Epharchius of An- gouleme states, that in their large fleet, the Normans brought their wives and children to settle in Ireland, so assured were they of
See Edward Gibbon's History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. " vol. vii. , chap. Ivi. , p. 102. WiUiam Smith's edition.
"
Conquete de I'Angleterre par les Nor- success.
*> See Augustin Thierry's
Histoire de la
mand=," &c. , tome i. , liv. ii. , p. 215. 5° One account has it Ellric.
» See Coga'oh 5<seDhel He Saltaibh,
chap. IxxviL, pp. 152, 153.
*" See a Map of Normandie, designed and
«' See John O'Donovan, in "The Dublin
Penny Journal," vol. i. , No. 17, p. 134. ''See Charles George Walpole's "Short
History of the Kingdom of Ireland, from the Earliest Times to the Union with Great
400 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23.
made to combine and to collect all the native forces. Morrough,97 the Prince
of Ireland, with his five brothers, Connor,? ^ FIann,99 Teige,"°° Daniel,'"' and Donough,'°^ marched with their illustrious father to Clontarf ; although, they were respectively the sons of different mothers. '°3 Murrough took with him, likewise, his son Turlough, then a mere youth, who was resolved to distin- guish himself in this expedition. '"* To the support of public liberty came the sons of Kennedy, son of Lorcan, whose names were, Dunchuain, Eichiar- uinn, Anluan, Lachtna, Cosgrach, Lorcan Seanachan, Ogan, Maolruadhna, and Aingidh. '°5 The Northern Sagas mention a foster-child of the monarch Bryan, who was full grown, and the bravest of all men, at this time, and who eminentlydistinguishedhimselfduringthiswar. HeiscalledKerthialfad. '°* The sons of Dunchuain, the son of Kennedy, voluntarily offered their services to the King of Ireland ; their names were Lonargan, Ceilliochair, Kennedy, Fiangalach,andJonnrachtach. Eochaidh,sonofJonnrachtachandDubli- gin, son to Eochaidh, and Beolan, appeared, at the head of their friends, rela- tions, and dependents, to fight for the common cause, against the King of Leinster. '°7 The posterity of Fiachadh Muilleathan,'°* or the Eugenian line, with all their dependents, mustered to the monarch's call. These were the ]\Iac Carthy Mor, the O'Sullivan, the O'Bryen, the O'Callaghan, and the O'Keefe,families. TheposterityofCormacCas,ortheDalcassianline,rose in defence of their common country. These were branched out into several families, the Jobh Bloid, or Ui-Bloid,'°9 the Jobh Caisin,"° or Ui-Caisin,'"
Britain," Booki. , chap, iii. , p. 25. London, 1882, 8vo.
9' He was the son of Mor, daughter of
Heidliin, son to Claireach, son of Eadalach, son to Cumu. -gach, King of Ive-fiachrach-
aidhnein Connaiisjht, according to the writer of the ^Critico-Historical Disseriations, con- cerning the Laws of the Ancient Irish, in
" Collect. mea De Rebus
'' He is said to have liecn son of Mor, the first wife of Bryan. See ibid.
95 He is said, likewise, to have been son of
Mor, according to the Leabhar Irse of the
Mulconnerys. Seeibid.
'°° He is said to have been Bryan's son,
by his second wife Eachraid, the daughter of Carohis, son to Oillil Fionn, King of Ive-
General
warswith
of the land before him, and became a hermit ; but when King Brian went south on a pil- grimage, then he met King Kylfi, and then they were atoned, and King Brian took his son Kerthialfad to him, and loved him more than his own sons. Such is the account given in the "Story of Burnt Njal," George Webbe Dasent's edition, vol. ii. , chap, cliii. , P- 323-
Vallancey's
Hibernis," vol. i. , No. iv. , part ii. , p. 545.
many
King
fledawayout
a Neadha-odhbha, principality
of Meath.
Keating's
See ibid.
"" Also called Donal, and a son of Each-
raid, the second wife of Bryan. See ibid.
"" It is said, that Donogh was an only son of Bryan Boroimha, by Gormlaith. See
ibid.
°3 The writer in General Vallancey's
collections states, that it may be inferred, Bryan had four wives, as the Chronicon Sco- torum, at 1009, mentions the death of Dubh- chabla, daughter to Cathal, son to Conor, KingofConnaught. Seeibid. , p. 546.
'°^ Differently indeed are the sons of the great Irish monarch named, in a Northern Chronicle ; but, it is probable, the information, obtained by the writer, had been derived from a doubtful source. Thus, we read : " Duncan was the name of the first of King Brian's sons ; the second was Margad ; the tliird, Takt, whom we call Tann, he was the
" General Histoiy of Ireland," Book ii. ,
p. 496.
'"^
youngest of them ; but the elder sons of King Brian were full grown, and the briskest
—
of men. " George Webbe Dasent's "Story
of; Burnt Njal," vol. ii. , chap, cliii. , p.
323-
'°5See Dermod O'Connor's Keatings
" of History
Book
"* He was the son of King Kylfi, who had
Brian, and
'"' See Dermod O'Connor's
Ireland,"
ii. , p. 495.
His father was Eugene Mor, and his
mother was Muncha, the daughter of Dil da
Chreaga. He was born at Ath Uisioll, on
the River Suir. His father was killed, at the battle of Magh Muchrime, soon after his conception, and his mother died when giving him birth. This is stated in a Poem, attri- butedtoOiliollOlum. Onlyoneofhistwo sons Oilioll Flan Beag left issue.
"^ Descended from Bloid or Blod, son to Cais or Cas, King of Thomond, about the time of St. Patrick.
"° The Mac Namaras' original territory was called Hy-Caisin.
'"
same Cais. The Caisins, the Mac Namaras,
Descended from Caisin, also son of the
the Clanchys, and O'Gradys, of Thomond, descended from t^. i^ tribe.
April 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 401
the Clann Aongiisa Cinnathrach,'" theCineal Baoth,"3 the Cineal Cuallacht,"* the Cineal Failbhe, and the Clan Eachach,"5 with Cellach, son of Dubhgin, the Clan Cuilleain,"' Aleanmain, son to Assiodha, son of Sioda, son to Maol- cluithe, the Cineal Fearmach,"? with Maolmeadha, son of Baodan. "^ Be- sides these, the Desii of Munster,"? the Muintir-Iffernain,"° the Clann Scann- lainn,'" the men of Feara-Maighe,"' of Ciarraighe-Luachra,"3 of Eoghanacht- Locha Lein. '^'t of Corcobaischinn,"5 of Ara,"* of Muscraidh Cuirc,'^? and of Muscraidh-Aodha,"* the Ui Eachach,"9 theUi Liathain,'3o jhe Ui Connall Gab-
hra,'3' the men of Cairbre-Aodhbha,'J" and the men of Eile or Ely ,'33 marched under the standard of Bryan. '34 Because of their propinquity and near rela-
"° The O'Deas descended from Cinnath- rach, son to the same Cais.
"3 This name is now obsolete ; but, that tribe dwelt in the Btentii, now Breintre, a district lying north-east of Sliabh Collain, and comprising sev-en townlands, in the county of Clare.
"• According to the Caithreim Thoirdh- ealbhaigh, their territory comprised the south-eastern part of Inchiquin barony, county of Clare. The Castles of Ballygriffy and Moyvarna were in it.
"^ There was a Cinel-Eachach, also called Corca Each, the race of Eochaidh, son of Eoghan, who were in the present barony of
Loughiiisholin, county of Londonderry. See "Tlie Topographical Poems of John O'Dub- hagain and GioUa na Naomh O'Huidh- rin," edited by John O'Donovan, n. 85, p. xvii.
"' This was one of the Mac Namaras'
tribe-names, and it applied also to their ter-
O'Dubhagain and Giolla na Naomh O'Huidhrin," edited by John O'Donovan,
n. 86, pp. xvii. , xviii. The O'Ciarains, now Kerns, lived here, and it seems to have been in the nonh of Ireland.
"^ Now in the county of Kerry.
"* These lived near the present Lakes of
Killarney.
"' East and West Corobaischinn were
situated in the south western portion of Clare
county.
"* I'he people of Ara were divided from
the Hy-Fidhginte, by the River Samhair, now supposed to be the Morning Star, in Limerick county. They were of Rudrician race.
"^ Now comprised in the barony of Clan- William, county of Tipperary.
''
The territory of the O'Heas, often Anglicised Hayes, and it lay on both sides of the Abhainn Mor, or Blackwater, near its source, in the north-west of Cork county.
"> In General Vallancey's work, they are called the Ive-Eachach, and they are proba- Masters," vol. iii. , n. (f), pp. 498, 499, and bly not different from the Clan Eachach,
ritory, originally known as Hy-Caisin. See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four
vol. v. , n. (p), p. 1600.
"' These were a tribe of Thomond, in-
habiting the present barony of Inchiquin, in the county of Clare. Their cantred com-
the of Rath, • prised parishes Kilnamona,
Killinaboy, Kilvedain, Kilvilly, Dysart, Ruane, Kilnoe, Kilkeedy and Inishcronan, according to the Trinity College Library
Manuscript, classed E 2. 14.
"' See Dermod O'Connor's Keating's
"
"General History of Ireland, Book ii. , pp.
495, 496.
"' These were seated in the eastern extre-
mity of Waterford county, extending from the River Suir to the sea, and from Lismore to Credan Head.
'^ They were a sept of the Dalcassians,
originally seated at Inchiquin and Corofin, in the county of Clare.
"' Or Muintir Scannlain of Ui-Fiachrach, who at an early perio<l sunk under the O'Shaughnesseys and O'Heynes. See their Pedigree in " The Genealogies, Tribes, and
Customs of Hy-Fiachrach," edited by John O'Donovan, pp. 58 to 61, and n. (x).
'" This name Fearamaighe signifies "men of the plain," but their situation is now un-
known. See "Topographical Poems of John
already mentioned.
''' Their territory was nearly co-extensive
with the present barony of Barrymore, county of Cork.
J" Now the of barony
of Limerick.
Connello, county
'* The territory of Ui Cairbre Aebhdha, of which O'Donovan was chief, comprised
the barony of Coshma, in the county of Limerick, the districts around Bruree and Kilmallock, with the plains along the River Maigue. That Kerry was part ol it appears
highly probable, in the opinion of John O'Donovan.
'33 The people and territory of Eile derive their denomination from Eile, seventh in de- scent from Cian, son to Oilioll Glum. The territory was divided into eight Tuatha, ruled by as many petty chie/s, over whom O'CarroU was head king. Ancient Eile com- prised the present baronies of Clonlisk and Ballybritt, that Ely O'CarroU, now in the King's County ; the diocesan boundaries of KilUloe and Meath diocese being the north line of demarcation. Ikerrin and Elgogarty baronies, in the county of Tipperary, be- longed to it. This territory was all included in ancient Mumhan, and its people were
CI
408 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23.
tionship to the monarch, whose motlier was a princess of Connaught, the chiefs of that province loyally responded to his summons. Thus, the King of Ireland was supported, by the assistance of 1'eige, or Tadhg, the son of Mor- rough 0'Kelly,'35 King of Hy-Maine,'^' and who so greatly distinguished himself, that in after times, he is set down in the family pedigrees, as Tadhg CathaBhriain,orTeigeoftheBattleofBrian. '37 ThisTcigeO'Kelly,withhis chiefs, had raised a strong body of men out of the jwovince of Conacht, and he appeared at the head of them. "3^ Maolruadhna na Paidre O'Heon, or Mulrony O'Heyne, of the Prayer, the prince of Hy-Fiachrach Aidhne,'^' with hisclansmen,wereembodiedfortheoccasion. Flaherty,theKingofWest Connaught, and Connor, son to Maolruana, King of Magh-Lurg, brought their forces. It is said, that Hugh O'Neill made an offer of his troops and iiis service,toattendtheimperialstandard; but,Bryanpolitelydeclinedtheoffer, distrusting his fidelity to the cause. '<° From the north of Ireland, however, came the men of Oirgiall, under the command of their King Carrol, and the men of Fermanach, under their King Mac Guibhir, or Maguire. '*' Among the Leinster chiefs, O'More and O'Nolan are enumerated, as allies of the Irish monarch. '*' Many others of the first quality and interest in their country re- solved to gather what strength they were able. This rising amounted to a considerable number of troojjs ; some were well accustomed to warfare, while others were levied for the first time, to oppose the Leinster king, who con- spired with a foreign power, to bring slavery upon his country. '*' As the re- lationship, interests and policy of Malcolm II. ,'<< King of Scotland, had been involved in the issue of entirely destroying the Scandinavian ascendency, in his own country ; so was it a matter of importance to him, that Br)'an's army should be largely reinforced from Alban. Accordingly, no less than ten Mormaers, or chieftains, led as many bands of Galls or foreign auxiliaries, and
called the Muintir-Cearbhaill. See the Poem macdiiash. See "The Genealogies, Tribes, of O'Huidhrin, in "The Topographical and Customs of Hy-Fiachrach. " edited by Poems ol John O'Duibhigain and Giulla na John O'Donovan. Addenda, B. , p. 373.
with
'3* See General Vallancey's "Collectanea
De Rebus Hibernicis," vol. i. Dissertations
concerning the Laws of the Ancient Irish,
'•"' See Dr. "Gene- SylvesteiO'Halloran's
ral History of Ireland," vol. ii. . Book xi. , chap, viii. , p. 261.
'*' See General Vallancey's "Collectanea De Rebus Ilibernicis," vol. i. The Law of
Naomh O'Huidhrin," pp. 13010 135, notes by the editor, John O'Donovan, 757 to 782, pp. Ixxxiv. to Ixxxvi.
part ii. , No. iv. , pp. 537, 538. p. 528.
3S A. D. '*' SeeThomasD
He died, 960. Arcy
" Popu-
"' This territory adjoined Thomond, and it lay immediately to the north ; its eastern boundary was the River Shannon, from Clon- tuskert, near Lanesborough, to the county of Clare, and from Athlone in a western direc- tion, towards Seefin and Athenry, in the
of See the Map prefixed county Galway.
McGees
lar History of Ireland: from the Earliest Period to the Emancipation of the Catho-
to " The Tribes and Customs of Hy-Many, contributed the valuable Taper, intituled,
commonly called O'Kclly's Country," trans- lated and annotated by John O'Donovan, in
"A Criiico-Historical Dissertation, con- cerning the Ancient Irish Laws, or National Customs, called Gavel-kind and Tanistry, or Senior Government," states, that he had seen
1843,
'37 See ibid. Additional Notes, A, p. 99.
'38 According to an Irish Poem, he had in an old anonymous manuscript, that a
been chief of Hy-Many for thirteen years. daughter of Bryan Boroimha was married to
Malcolm II. , son to Kinneth, King of Scot- '3'' This small territory lay northwards of land. " See part ii. , p. 547, in Genera
Jliid.
Thomond, it being bounded by Hy-Maine to the east, and by Galway Bay on the west.
Valbncey's "Collectanea de Rebus Hiber-
—called
after Guaire
Aidhne,
fallen that mention,
had a was married to
This
King of Connaught, who died A. D. 662 was co-extensive with the diocese of Kil-
daughter Cian, son to Maolmuadh Mac Brian, King of
territory
—
Bryan Sadhbh, or Sabia, who
Tani^ry Illustrated," part ii. .
No. iv. ,
lies," vol. i. , Book ii. , chap, vi. , p. lOO. '"See Dermod O'Connor's Keating's " General History of Ireland," Book ii. , pp.
495, 496.
'<* The Rev. Paul O'Brien, D. D. , who
nicis," vol. i. , No. iv.
The Annals of Innis
April 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 403
these landed in Ireland. Among them was Donald,'<5 the Mormaer or Great Steward of Marr,'''* and he appears to have been the chief in command over those Scots. Nor could Bryan rely, it is said,'*' on the fidelity of some, who joined him as auxiliaries. The men of Meath came in, and with proffered aid, tothemonarchBryan; but,ifwearetocreditsomeaccounts,therewaslittle real intention of supporting his cause, and especially, if a chance were aflforded to withhold their allegiance. The Meathians were under the conduct of Mael- seachlin, their king; and, his former hostilities with the present monarch of Ireland may have caused some misgivings, as to the course he might take. However, he seems to have been equally an object for the hostility of the Leinster people, as of their Scandinavian auxiliaries, at the period when this campaign opened. Still, some Momonian accounts will have it, that at a critical emergency, he had designed to ruin any reputation for honour or patriotism, he might have previously gained. But, his conduct on tlie field shows, that he remained faithful to his allegiance, and his being elected as the supreme monarch of Ireland a second time, immediately after the death of Bryan, in- dicate, that no suspicion of his traitorous designs had been entertained, by the nation at large. Mealseachlain is said to have boasted, that he and his thousand Meathmcn intended to desert Bryan, on the day of battle. We have good reasons for deeming this to be a calumny, which has hardly sufficient
proof to sustain it.
About the festival of St. Patrick, in spring, the muster of Bryan's army
was effected. '<' He knew those exertions made during the summer and winterof1013,tocombineanoverwhelmingforceofopponents. '" Hethen marched directly towards Leinster, as it has been stated, with 30,000 well- appointedandchosenmen,underhisstandards.
"
Elisee Reclus'
verselle, laTerre et les Hommes, tome iv. He de Man, p. 626.
'3 Probably the Island of Sky, although in the Dublincopy of the Annals of Innisfallen, we find Sgiligia, interpreted Shetland, by
Rev. Dr. O'Conor, in
Renim Hibemica-
Nouvelle Geographic Uni-
" rumScriptores,"tomusii. , p. 61,n. 3.
**
Lewis, by Rev. Dr. O'Conor. /iid. , n. 4.
Otherwise, Leodhasa, interpreted
McGec'S " Book
Cead, as used in the Dublin copy of the
' He is called
'5 See Thomas
D'Arcy
Popular
ii. , ney
Luadar, evidently
Count of the Ork-
History of Ireland," &c. , vol. i. ,
Islands father's name
a mistake for his
chap, vi. , p. 99.
in of the
'°
copy
——
"Annates Inisfalenses. " See Rev. Dr.
the Dublin copy
398 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23.
coasts of Ross and Moray were ravaged by him ; the Hebrides paid him tri- ^
bute;7" in 1006, the Scottish king, Malcolm II. tried, but in vain, to purchase peace for Scotland, by giving his daughter in marriage, as a second wife. Sigurd made a second descent upon Moray in 10 10, but, he was signally de- feated, at Mortlach, and with great slaughter, after a protracted struggle. " This fierce leader was probably only a nominal Ciiristian. ? * Wearied with the dull amenities of repose, around his own shores, when the blast of war
blew from a distance, and probably hoping to share the anticipated division of Irish soil, in favour of foreign auxiliaries ;" this brave Viking spread his sails to
the breeze, and careened long the seas, with his ships and soldier mariners, to the aid of Sigtric, Northman King of Dublin. '* The hundred inhabited isles," which lie between Yell and Man, sent in their contingents to swell the following of the renowned Earl. '*
In 1013, Sweyn invaded England, and he took possession of a considera-
ble portion of that country, having been acknowledged as its king. '' Whether heassistedtheprojectofinvasion,ornot,seemstobeunknown; but,hedied in the following year,*" after a remarkable career. Two barons of the Con Britons,^' or Coir-Bhreathnaicc,** and Corndabbliteoc,*3 of the Britons at Cill Muni,** or St. David's, were invited to this confederacy. From another place, the Coir-na-Liogog foreigners were collected, for the anticipated invasion. ^s After the death of Sweyn, Canute, the son, completed his father's conquests, and he became King of Denmark, of Norway, and of England. Under Canute, the power of Denmark reached its highest position. He was styled
theGreat; but,hewasprobablytoomuchengagedwithotherenterprises,to lend any considerable assistance to that expedition, destined for Ireland. **
O'Conor's " Rerum Hibernicarum Scrip-" tores," tomus ii. , p. 6l.
'» It is stated, that " the Kings of Den- mark and Norway treated with him on equal terms. "—Thomas D'Arcy McGec's "Popu- lar History of Ireland," &c. , vol. i. . Book ii. , chap, vi. , p. 99.
'* See Thomas D'Arcy McGee's "Popular
History of Ireland," vol. i. . Book ii. , chap,
vi. , p. 99.
" See Edward A. Freeman's " History of
the Norman Conquest of England ; lis Causes and Results. " chap, v. , sect. 4, pp.
396, 397-
"" " Sven, k ils avaient laisse prendre, qui
" See Dr.
tory of Scotland," vol. i. , chap, i. , p. 37.
James Taylor's
his man, and proclaim Clirislianity over all the Orkneys. He submitted to these condi-
de I'Angleterre par les Normands, de ses Causes etdeses Suites jusqu' a nos Jours, en Angleterre, en Ecosse, en Irlande et sur le Continent," tome i. , liv. ii. , p. 2l6. Sixieme edition, Paris, 1843, 8vo.
*' From Barru and from the Corrbritons,
" Pictorial His-
'* It is s. iid, that Olaf Tryggveson, the
first Christian ICing of Norway, returning
from a vi-king expedition to the west, came
to the Orkneys, A. D. 997, and seized Earl Augustin Thierry's Histoire de la Conquete Sigurd, as he lay under the Isle of Hoy, in a
single ship. King Olaf offered to ransom the
Earl, if he consented to embrace the true
faith and be baptized, that he should become
tions, and give his son Hundi as a hostage.
"*' "
See Olaf Tryggvesson's Saga," cap. Hi.
'S Flosi, an adventurer, who was on a visit with Sigurd, offered to accompany him on the expedition ; but this, tlie Earl would
not permit, since he had a pilgrimage to fulfil. However, fifteen of his band were
accepted by the Earl, to go on this voyage.
Then Flosi went with Earl Gilli to the
Southern Isles. Thorstein, son to Hall of the
side, Harfn the red, and Erling of Stranmey,
went along with Earl Sigurd. See the "
Saga,"chap,clvi. , p. 333.
Gazetteer of Scotland,"
Imperial vol. ii. , pp. 540, 541-
this in the Latin, " et Wallorum," to which "
'' See "
s n. 3, "Nempe S. DavidisMenevensis. " "RerumHibernica-
" After their conversion, these contained three hundred churches and chapels.
rum Scriptores," tomus ii. , p. 62.
*5 Rev. Dr. O'Conor conjectures this to be
meant for Comubia, as he translates it in
en I'annee 1014, le titre de roi d'Angleterre, mourut dans cette meme annee, assez subite- ment pour qu'il y ait lieu d'attribuer sa mor—t
& un elan d'indignation patriotique. " "
according to another account, aid came.
In the Dublin copy of the Annales
"
Inisfalenses, Rev. Dr. O'Conor translates
he appends, n. 2— Corwallia, juxta margi- nalem notam. " "Rerum Hibernicarum
Scriptores," tomus ii. , p. 62.
'^ The Slanuscript B has the name Corn-
bliteoc.
** In the Dublin copy of the "Annales
Inisfalenses," the Irish version has agus Breathnaicc Cilletiiuitie ; and to this. Rev. Dr. O'Conor append—
April 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 399
Even the Danes of Normandy, then signalized as Northmen, as those of Britain and of the Isles around her coasts, heard the summons to arms with
delight. Then they had embraced Christianity. The pagan kings of Scan- dinavia brought aid to their Christian fellow-countrymen, in Ireland, as they did in Normandy ; for, the origin of race and of language caused relations of alliance and of national fraternity. ^7 However, the Dukes of Normandy had long acknowledged themselves as vassals of the successors to Charlemagne and *^ When the
Denmark, and one who joined the expedi- tion, as a commander, was probably his son.
'^ See Augustin Thierry's "Histoire de la
de la Conquete de I'Anglcterre par les Nor- mands," &c. , tome i.
"The monk Ademar, whose Chronicle was written before 1031, in the opinion of Labbe, states, "ut Hirlandis extinctis ipsi pro ipsis inhabitarent opulentissimam terram quae xii. civitates cum amplissimis Episco-
romanesque language
had the prevailed among
Capet.
Normans, they were called Franks, Romans, or Velsques, by the Scandina- vians. ^9 CarlusandEbric,9°twosonstotheKingofFrance,aresaidtohave been invited to join this expedition ;9' but, we may assume, that these were chiefs of the Normans. '^ They entered into the confederacy, and were
pleased at the prospect of settling in the cities '3 and towns, already opened to commerce, by the men of their race ; while possessions and lands were
thought to be the certain acquisition of those colonists,''* who having triumphed over the natives of Erinn, were, by the irregular laws of warfare then pre- vailing, entitled to those spoils won by their valour.
No less than sixteen thousand Danes, already settled in Dublin, and
in other strongholds of Ireland, together with all the power of Leinster, were gathered under the command of King Maelmordha,95 who either claimed a
suzerainty over them, or whose supremacy seems to have been admitted, for the occasion. The din of preparation was heard on the coasts, and within theislandsoftheBaltic,totheirmoresouthernsettlements. Joyfullydidthe hardy Norsemen receive the decision arrived at by their chiefs. Their na- tural courage, aroused by the message, was responded to with the readiness and excitement of warriors accustomed to bold adventures, whether on sea or land. They were already assured of conquest, owing to the extensive scale on which the expedition had been planned.
When he found a great war pending, with all possible speed, Bryan Boroimha summoned his lieges, and he mustered the forces of Munster and of Connaught, under his standard. These were joined, likewise, by the men ofMidhe,orofMeath,9*tothenumberofonethousandwarriors. Theremote situation of Ireland, which lay so far towards the south and west, in the Atlantic Ocean, and the widely disjjersed colonies of the confederates, were no slight protection from the Northman invasion, while efforts were being
the Latin. See ibid. , p. 62, and n. 4. engraved by Ambroise Tardieu, in the Atlas ""
However, Carl Canuteson, Prince of to illustrate Augustin Thierry's Histoire
Conquete de I'Angleterre par les Normands,
de ses Causes et de ses Suites junqu' a nos
Jours, en Angleterre, en Ecosse, en Irlande
et sur le Continent," tome i. , liv. ii. , p. patibus etunum regem habet, ac propriam
214. ""
linguam sed Latinas literas, quam Sanctus Patricius Romanus ad fidem convertit. "
"The same monk of Epharchius of An- gouleme states, that in their large fleet, the Normans brought their wives and children to settle in Ireland, so assured were they of
See Edward Gibbon's History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. " vol. vii. , chap. Ivi. , p. 102. WiUiam Smith's edition.
"
Conquete de I'Angleterre par les Nor- success.
*> See Augustin Thierry's
Histoire de la
mand=," &c. , tome i. , liv. ii. , p. 215. 5° One account has it Ellric.
» See Coga'oh 5<seDhel He Saltaibh,
chap. IxxviL, pp. 152, 153.
*" See a Map of Normandie, designed and
«' See John O'Donovan, in "The Dublin
Penny Journal," vol. i. , No. 17, p. 134. ''See Charles George Walpole's "Short
History of the Kingdom of Ireland, from the Earliest Times to the Union with Great
400 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23.
made to combine and to collect all the native forces. Morrough,97 the Prince
of Ireland, with his five brothers, Connor,? ^ FIann,99 Teige,"°° Daniel,'"' and Donough,'°^ marched with their illustrious father to Clontarf ; although, they were respectively the sons of different mothers. '°3 Murrough took with him, likewise, his son Turlough, then a mere youth, who was resolved to distin- guish himself in this expedition. '"* To the support of public liberty came the sons of Kennedy, son of Lorcan, whose names were, Dunchuain, Eichiar- uinn, Anluan, Lachtna, Cosgrach, Lorcan Seanachan, Ogan, Maolruadhna, and Aingidh. '°5 The Northern Sagas mention a foster-child of the monarch Bryan, who was full grown, and the bravest of all men, at this time, and who eminentlydistinguishedhimselfduringthiswar. HeiscalledKerthialfad. '°* The sons of Dunchuain, the son of Kennedy, voluntarily offered their services to the King of Ireland ; their names were Lonargan, Ceilliochair, Kennedy, Fiangalach,andJonnrachtach. Eochaidh,sonofJonnrachtachandDubli- gin, son to Eochaidh, and Beolan, appeared, at the head of their friends, rela- tions, and dependents, to fight for the common cause, against the King of Leinster. '°7 The posterity of Fiachadh Muilleathan,'°* or the Eugenian line, with all their dependents, mustered to the monarch's call. These were the ]\Iac Carthy Mor, the O'Sullivan, the O'Bryen, the O'Callaghan, and the O'Keefe,families. TheposterityofCormacCas,ortheDalcassianline,rose in defence of their common country. These were branched out into several families, the Jobh Bloid, or Ui-Bloid,'°9 the Jobh Caisin,"° or Ui-Caisin,'"
Britain," Booki. , chap, iii. , p. 25. London, 1882, 8vo.
9' He was the son of Mor, daughter of
Heidliin, son to Claireach, son of Eadalach, son to Cumu. -gach, King of Ive-fiachrach-
aidhnein Connaiisjht, according to the writer of the ^Critico-Historical Disseriations, con- cerning the Laws of the Ancient Irish, in
" Collect. mea De Rebus
'' He is said to have liecn son of Mor, the first wife of Bryan. See ibid.
95 He is said, likewise, to have been son of
Mor, according to the Leabhar Irse of the
Mulconnerys. Seeibid.
'°° He is said to have been Bryan's son,
by his second wife Eachraid, the daughter of Carohis, son to Oillil Fionn, King of Ive-
General
warswith
of the land before him, and became a hermit ; but when King Brian went south on a pil- grimage, then he met King Kylfi, and then they were atoned, and King Brian took his son Kerthialfad to him, and loved him more than his own sons. Such is the account given in the "Story of Burnt Njal," George Webbe Dasent's edition, vol. ii. , chap, cliii. , P- 323-
Vallancey's
Hibernis," vol. i. , No. iv. , part ii. , p. 545.
many
King
fledawayout
a Neadha-odhbha, principality
of Meath.
Keating's
See ibid.
"" Also called Donal, and a son of Each-
raid, the second wife of Bryan. See ibid.
"" It is said, that Donogh was an only son of Bryan Boroimha, by Gormlaith. See
ibid.
°3 The writer in General Vallancey's
collections states, that it may be inferred, Bryan had four wives, as the Chronicon Sco- torum, at 1009, mentions the death of Dubh- chabla, daughter to Cathal, son to Conor, KingofConnaught. Seeibid. , p. 546.
'°^ Differently indeed are the sons of the great Irish monarch named, in a Northern Chronicle ; but, it is probable, the information, obtained by the writer, had been derived from a doubtful source. Thus, we read : " Duncan was the name of the first of King Brian's sons ; the second was Margad ; the tliird, Takt, whom we call Tann, he was the
" General Histoiy of Ireland," Book ii. ,
p. 496.
'"^
youngest of them ; but the elder sons of King Brian were full grown, and the briskest
—
of men. " George Webbe Dasent's "Story
of; Burnt Njal," vol. ii. , chap, cliii. , p.
323-
'°5See Dermod O'Connor's Keatings
" of History
Book
"* He was the son of King Kylfi, who had
Brian, and
'"' See Dermod O'Connor's
Ireland,"
ii. , p. 495.
His father was Eugene Mor, and his
mother was Muncha, the daughter of Dil da
Chreaga. He was born at Ath Uisioll, on
the River Suir. His father was killed, at the battle of Magh Muchrime, soon after his conception, and his mother died when giving him birth. This is stated in a Poem, attri- butedtoOiliollOlum. Onlyoneofhistwo sons Oilioll Flan Beag left issue.
"^ Descended from Bloid or Blod, son to Cais or Cas, King of Thomond, about the time of St. Patrick.
"° The Mac Namaras' original territory was called Hy-Caisin.
'"
same Cais. The Caisins, the Mac Namaras,
Descended from Caisin, also son of the
the Clanchys, and O'Gradys, of Thomond, descended from t^. i^ tribe.
April 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 401
the Clann Aongiisa Cinnathrach,'" theCineal Baoth,"3 the Cineal Cuallacht,"* the Cineal Failbhe, and the Clan Eachach,"5 with Cellach, son of Dubhgin, the Clan Cuilleain,"' Aleanmain, son to Assiodha, son of Sioda, son to Maol- cluithe, the Cineal Fearmach,"? with Maolmeadha, son of Baodan. "^ Be- sides these, the Desii of Munster,"? the Muintir-Iffernain,"° the Clann Scann- lainn,'" the men of Feara-Maighe,"' of Ciarraighe-Luachra,"3 of Eoghanacht- Locha Lein. '^'t of Corcobaischinn,"5 of Ara,"* of Muscraidh Cuirc,'^? and of Muscraidh-Aodha,"* the Ui Eachach,"9 theUi Liathain,'3o jhe Ui Connall Gab-
hra,'3' the men of Cairbre-Aodhbha,'J" and the men of Eile or Ely ,'33 marched under the standard of Bryan. '34 Because of their propinquity and near rela-
"° The O'Deas descended from Cinnath- rach, son to the same Cais.
"3 This name is now obsolete ; but, that tribe dwelt in the Btentii, now Breintre, a district lying north-east of Sliabh Collain, and comprising sev-en townlands, in the county of Clare.
"• According to the Caithreim Thoirdh- ealbhaigh, their territory comprised the south-eastern part of Inchiquin barony, county of Clare. The Castles of Ballygriffy and Moyvarna were in it.
"^ There was a Cinel-Eachach, also called Corca Each, the race of Eochaidh, son of Eoghan, who were in the present barony of
Loughiiisholin, county of Londonderry. See "Tlie Topographical Poems of John O'Dub- hagain and GioUa na Naomh O'Huidh- rin," edited by John O'Donovan, n. 85, p. xvii.
"' This was one of the Mac Namaras'
tribe-names, and it applied also to their ter-
O'Dubhagain and Giolla na Naomh O'Huidhrin," edited by John O'Donovan,
n. 86, pp. xvii. , xviii. The O'Ciarains, now Kerns, lived here, and it seems to have been in the nonh of Ireland.
"^ Now in the county of Kerry.
"* These lived near the present Lakes of
Killarney.
"' East and West Corobaischinn were
situated in the south western portion of Clare
county.
"* I'he people of Ara were divided from
the Hy-Fidhginte, by the River Samhair, now supposed to be the Morning Star, in Limerick county. They were of Rudrician race.
"^ Now comprised in the barony of Clan- William, county of Tipperary.
''
The territory of the O'Heas, often Anglicised Hayes, and it lay on both sides of the Abhainn Mor, or Blackwater, near its source, in the north-west of Cork county.
"> In General Vallancey's work, they are called the Ive-Eachach, and they are proba- Masters," vol. iii. , n. (f), pp. 498, 499, and bly not different from the Clan Eachach,
ritory, originally known as Hy-Caisin. See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four
vol. v. , n. (p), p. 1600.
"' These were a tribe of Thomond, in-
habiting the present barony of Inchiquin, in the county of Clare. Their cantred com-
the of Rath, • prised parishes Kilnamona,
Killinaboy, Kilvedain, Kilvilly, Dysart, Ruane, Kilnoe, Kilkeedy and Inishcronan, according to the Trinity College Library
Manuscript, classed E 2. 14.
"' See Dermod O'Connor's Keating's
"
"General History of Ireland, Book ii. , pp.
495, 496.
"' These were seated in the eastern extre-
mity of Waterford county, extending from the River Suir to the sea, and from Lismore to Credan Head.
'^ They were a sept of the Dalcassians,
originally seated at Inchiquin and Corofin, in the county of Clare.
"' Or Muintir Scannlain of Ui-Fiachrach, who at an early perio<l sunk under the O'Shaughnesseys and O'Heynes. See their Pedigree in " The Genealogies, Tribes, and
Customs of Hy-Fiachrach," edited by John O'Donovan, pp. 58 to 61, and n. (x).
'" This name Fearamaighe signifies "men of the plain," but their situation is now un-
known. See "Topographical Poems of John
already mentioned.
''' Their territory was nearly co-extensive
with the present barony of Barrymore, county of Cork.
J" Now the of barony
of Limerick.
Connello, county
'* The territory of Ui Cairbre Aebhdha, of which O'Donovan was chief, comprised
the barony of Coshma, in the county of Limerick, the districts around Bruree and Kilmallock, with the plains along the River Maigue. That Kerry was part ol it appears
highly probable, in the opinion of John O'Donovan.
'33 The people and territory of Eile derive their denomination from Eile, seventh in de- scent from Cian, son to Oilioll Glum. The territory was divided into eight Tuatha, ruled by as many petty chie/s, over whom O'CarroU was head king. Ancient Eile com- prised the present baronies of Clonlisk and Ballybritt, that Ely O'CarroU, now in the King's County ; the diocesan boundaries of KilUloe and Meath diocese being the north line of demarcation. Ikerrin and Elgogarty baronies, in the county of Tipperary, be- longed to it. This territory was all included in ancient Mumhan, and its people were
CI
408 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23.
tionship to the monarch, whose motlier was a princess of Connaught, the chiefs of that province loyally responded to his summons. Thus, the King of Ireland was supported, by the assistance of 1'eige, or Tadhg, the son of Mor- rough 0'Kelly,'35 King of Hy-Maine,'^' and who so greatly distinguished himself, that in after times, he is set down in the family pedigrees, as Tadhg CathaBhriain,orTeigeoftheBattleofBrian. '37 ThisTcigeO'Kelly,withhis chiefs, had raised a strong body of men out of the jwovince of Conacht, and he appeared at the head of them. "3^ Maolruadhna na Paidre O'Heon, or Mulrony O'Heyne, of the Prayer, the prince of Hy-Fiachrach Aidhne,'^' with hisclansmen,wereembodiedfortheoccasion. Flaherty,theKingofWest Connaught, and Connor, son to Maolruana, King of Magh-Lurg, brought their forces. It is said, that Hugh O'Neill made an offer of his troops and iiis service,toattendtheimperialstandard; but,Bryanpolitelydeclinedtheoffer, distrusting his fidelity to the cause. '<° From the north of Ireland, however, came the men of Oirgiall, under the command of their King Carrol, and the men of Fermanach, under their King Mac Guibhir, or Maguire. '*' Among the Leinster chiefs, O'More and O'Nolan are enumerated, as allies of the Irish monarch. '*' Many others of the first quality and interest in their country re- solved to gather what strength they were able. This rising amounted to a considerable number of troojjs ; some were well accustomed to warfare, while others were levied for the first time, to oppose the Leinster king, who con- spired with a foreign power, to bring slavery upon his country. '*' As the re- lationship, interests and policy of Malcolm II. ,'<< King of Scotland, had been involved in the issue of entirely destroying the Scandinavian ascendency, in his own country ; so was it a matter of importance to him, that Br)'an's army should be largely reinforced from Alban. Accordingly, no less than ten Mormaers, or chieftains, led as many bands of Galls or foreign auxiliaries, and
called the Muintir-Cearbhaill. See the Poem macdiiash. See "The Genealogies, Tribes, of O'Huidhrin, in "The Topographical and Customs of Hy-Fiachrach. " edited by Poems ol John O'Duibhigain and Giulla na John O'Donovan. Addenda, B. , p. 373.
with
'3* See General Vallancey's "Collectanea
De Rebus Hibernicis," vol. i. Dissertations
concerning the Laws of the Ancient Irish,
'•"' See Dr. "Gene- SylvesteiO'Halloran's
ral History of Ireland," vol. ii. . Book xi. , chap, viii. , p. 261.
'*' See General Vallancey's "Collectanea De Rebus Ilibernicis," vol. i. The Law of
Naomh O'Huidhrin," pp. 13010 135, notes by the editor, John O'Donovan, 757 to 782, pp. Ixxxiv. to Ixxxvi.
part ii. , No. iv. , pp. 537, 538. p. 528.
3S A. D. '*' SeeThomasD
He died, 960. Arcy
" Popu-
"' This territory adjoined Thomond, and it lay immediately to the north ; its eastern boundary was the River Shannon, from Clon- tuskert, near Lanesborough, to the county of Clare, and from Athlone in a western direc- tion, towards Seefin and Athenry, in the
of See the Map prefixed county Galway.
McGees
lar History of Ireland: from the Earliest Period to the Emancipation of the Catho-
to " The Tribes and Customs of Hy-Many, contributed the valuable Taper, intituled,
commonly called O'Kclly's Country," trans- lated and annotated by John O'Donovan, in
"A Criiico-Historical Dissertation, con- cerning the Ancient Irish Laws, or National Customs, called Gavel-kind and Tanistry, or Senior Government," states, that he had seen
1843,
'37 See ibid. Additional Notes, A, p. 99.
'38 According to an Irish Poem, he had in an old anonymous manuscript, that a
been chief of Hy-Many for thirteen years. daughter of Bryan Boroimha was married to
Malcolm II. , son to Kinneth, King of Scot- '3'' This small territory lay northwards of land. " See part ii. , p. 547, in Genera
Jliid.
Thomond, it being bounded by Hy-Maine to the east, and by Galway Bay on the west.
Valbncey's "Collectanea de Rebus Hiber-
—called
after Guaire
Aidhne,
fallen that mention,
had a was married to
This
King of Connaught, who died A. D. 662 was co-extensive with the diocese of Kil-
daughter Cian, son to Maolmuadh Mac Brian, King of
territory
—
Bryan Sadhbh, or Sabia, who
Tani^ry Illustrated," part ii. .
No. iv. ,
lies," vol. i. , Book ii. , chap, vi. , p. lOO. '"See Dermod O'Connor's Keating's " General History of Ireland," Book ii. , pp.
495, 496.
'<* The Rev. Paul O'Brien, D. D. , who
nicis," vol. i. , No. iv.
The Annals of Innis
April 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 403
these landed in Ireland. Among them was Donald,'<5 the Mormaer or Great Steward of Marr,'''* and he appears to have been the chief in command over those Scots. Nor could Bryan rely, it is said,'*' on the fidelity of some, who joined him as auxiliaries. The men of Meath came in, and with proffered aid, tothemonarchBryan; but,ifwearetocreditsomeaccounts,therewaslittle real intention of supporting his cause, and especially, if a chance were aflforded to withhold their allegiance. The Meathians were under the conduct of Mael- seachlin, their king; and, his former hostilities with the present monarch of Ireland may have caused some misgivings, as to the course he might take. However, he seems to have been equally an object for the hostility of the Leinster people, as of their Scandinavian auxiliaries, at the period when this campaign opened. Still, some Momonian accounts will have it, that at a critical emergency, he had designed to ruin any reputation for honour or patriotism, he might have previously gained. But, his conduct on tlie field shows, that he remained faithful to his allegiance, and his being elected as the supreme monarch of Ireland a second time, immediately after the death of Bryan, in- dicate, that no suspicion of his traitorous designs had been entertained, by the nation at large. Mealseachlain is said to have boasted, that he and his thousand Meathmcn intended to desert Bryan, on the day of battle. We have good reasons for deeming this to be a calumny, which has hardly sufficient
proof to sustain it.
About the festival of St. Patrick, in spring, the muster of Bryan's army
was effected. '<' He knew those exertions made during the summer and winterof1013,tocombineanoverwhelmingforceofopponents. '" Hethen marched directly towards Leinster, as it has been stated, with 30,000 well- appointedandchosenmen,underhisstandards.
