'"' He then proceeded to ravage the territories of Leinster, and to
indemnify
himself for that tribute, which had been withheld.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v4
?
' Someofthosetributeshadnohigher claims, than what had been afforded, by successful usurpation f° while the manner, in which they had been exacted and enforced, were fruitful causes, for many of those tribal leuds, which are recorded in our Annals.
Among the distinguished heroes of Ireland, in the tenth century, was Maelseachlainn, the son of Domhnall,^' afterwards surnamed Mor. His name
hasbeenotherwiseAnglicised,asMalachy. Intheyear978,^^or979,^3hehad won universal honour, throughout the land, by a splendid victory, obtained
at Tara. The King of the Galls, or foreigners, Aulaf, residing at Dublin,
appears to have called together the forces, established in the Islands north
and west of Scotland, and from Man, to unite with his own soldiers, who
marched under the leadership of his sons, to attack the monarch of Ireland,
attheseatofhispower. HissonRaghnall,LatinizedReginaldus,orRanul-
phus, held chief command, over the foreigners. Conamhaill,^'* son to Gilla-
Arri, the orator of Ath-Cliath, and son to its deputy king, was one of his lead-
ing chiefs, in this expedition. A desperate battle ensued, and both of these
Scandinavian heroes fell, while the forces of Meath and their allies were
commandedbyMaelseachlainn. Afteracontestofmemorablefierceness,
victory declared for the Irish forces. With great slaughter, on both sides,
Maelseachlainn routed the Danes. Several thousand of their forces are stated
to have fallen, in this engagement f^ and, among the rest, Reginald, their chiefcommander. ^* IntheheatofthisengagementfellBraen,sonofMur-
chadh, royal heir of Leinster, Conghalach, son to Flann, lord of Gaileanga, with his son Maelan, Fiachna and Cuduilich, two sons of Dubhlaech, and
lordsofFearaTulach,asalsoLachtnan,lordofMughdhornMaighen. We are not informed, by our annalists, on what side some of the foregoing fought. This battle broke the foreigners' strength and confidence, for a time. After the result was known, Aulaf went across the sea, and he died at I-Coluim- Cille. *7 The great probability is, he had abandoned worldly ambition for re- ligiousretirement. Thatvaliantproofofhiswarlikeability,onthepartofMala-
chy, was the surewayto arrive at power, in Ireland; for,havingattained strength and renown, over the stranger hosts, the Irish people trusted in the valour of a protector, whose sword was best able to carve its way to success, when the foreigners were most formidable in numbers, and in organization. ^* Shortly after that great victory, at Tara, the monarch Domhnall, in 979,^' or 980,9° was removed, by death. He had retired to Armagh,? ' where he piously engaged in penitential exercises, for a long time previous, to prepare well for his approaching dissolution.
in like manner, from different other coun- tries, and petty states, were assessments re- quired : all of which supplies were to be paid in, by those people, at stated times, and at certain seasons of the year. SeeDr. Sylves-
nor of Dublin," who fell in this encounter, according to Rev. Dr. Lanigan. See "Eccle- siastical History of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap, xxiii. , sect, vii. , p. 415.
*5 Some writers have enumerated 5,000.
terO'Halloran's"GeneralHistoryofIrelaiid," See vol. ii. , Book xi. , chap, v. , pp. 238 to 246.
1'
Abbe Ma-Geoghegan's
Ilisloire de
" See Dermod O'Conor's
Keating's
" Ge-
Seconde
^ See Gratianus Lucius' " Cambrensis
Eversus," edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, vol. ii. , cap. ix. , pp. 32, 33.
^^ See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 708, 709.
neral History of Ireland," part ii. , pp. 487
to 492.
*° "
See Rev. James Wills' Lives of Illus-
trious and Uislinguished Irishmen," vol. i. Second Period, p. 201.
« He was not the later monarch, but rather the son of Donnchadh, son to Flann.
8^ According to the Annals of Ulster.
^3 According to Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 708, 709.
«« See Elias
" Histoire de
^ he is the " Perhaps,
the
"
s" According to Roderick O'Flaherty's Ogygia," pars, iii. , cap. xciii. , p. 435.
Irlavra,
gover-
"
I'Irlande, Ancienne et Moderne," tome i.
Partie, chap, vi. , p. 407.
Regnault's I'Irlande," liv. i. , chap, vi. , p. 75.
^ According to Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of tlie Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 708, 709.
April 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 345
He was immediately succeeded, by the brave prince Malachy,— known as Maelseachlainn II. , King of Ireland,—and whose reputa-
tion was so highly extolled, as a consequence of his recent victory. The year of his accession to the sovereignty was 980. 9" While his valour and wisdom were such, as to shed permanent glory on his memory ; yet, his advent was rather late, to redeem that weakness, which a succession offeeblemonarchshadentailedonthesceptreofTara. Acontinuouswar- fare against the Danes was waged by Malachy, after his accession to the throne,whenheissaidtohaveattainedthethirtiethyearofhisage. 93 That
in with of heleda — very year, conjunction Eochaidh,94 King Ulidia, great army
agamst the foreigners of Ath-Cliath; and, marching into the parts of Fingall then the place of greatest strength for the Northmen—he besieged Dublin, for
three
days
and three
This blockade ended in a — nights. capitulation
and
;
the
Dubliners — agreed
to surrender the Irish
twothousand whichtheyheld,andtogivehostagesinreturn,forthefulfil- ment of certain conditions imposed on them. Among the prisoners was Domh- nall Claen, King of South Leinster, with many of the Ui-Neill. All of these captives, that lived in servitude to the Scandinavians, were liberated, without ransom. Theywerepermittedtoreturn,andtoliveintheirrespectivecoun- tries,freefromtributeorexaction,fromth—eShannontothesea. Then,Mael-
hostages
" seachlain issued his famous proclamation Every
:
captives numbering
is in the territory of the foreigners, in servitude and bondage, let him go to his
own territory, in peace and happiness. " Besides, the victors were bought off, by
asubsidy,consistingofvaluablegoodsandjewels. 95 Thatstrenuouswarfare, 'which he prosecuted with almost unvarying success, and which he continued for so many successive years, against the Danes, kept them in a wholesome state of fear, from attempting inroads on any part of liis dominions. The
aspiring spirit of Malachy is manifested, by the activity and vigour of his open- ing career ; while the vitality and strength of his monarchy are proved, by the resources which guided his enterprises. Nor do we consider, that his con-
ducting of public affairs, relating to the whole kingdom of Ireland, deserves those reproaches of indolence and apathy, directed against his character, by depreciators, or by eulogists, of the King ofMunster.
An expedition into the Dalcasian territory took place, a. d. 976, according to the Annals of Clonmacnoise, or following the chronology of the Four Mas- ters, A. D. 981. 9* Doubtless, what the monarch deemed a political necessity required this display of power ; for, he was jealous, regarding the ability and supposed ambitious designs of his rival in renown, and of his subordinate in station. The monarch of Ireland was every inch a hero ; and yet, he wanted magnanimity to sustain such eminence, and the control of temper, to conceal his personal resentment. A rash and splenetic action showed how impolitic hemightbehave. Hiscalmrecollectionanddignityofmindmusthavecon-
demned, as a truly unworthy and mean proceeding, that predatory expedi- tion, which he conducted. It could only serve, however, to awaken the vigi-
lance and suspicion of Brian, but his feelings might have been more guardedly respected. Passing through Aenaah-Maigh-Adhair,'' the monarch's troops
'' Hence, he was called Donnell of Ard- mach, according to the Annals of Clon- macnoise, which place his death, at a. d. 973.
*" According to Sir James Ware's " Anti- quitates Ilibemica:," cap. xxiv. , p. 113,
»5 See Tigernaci Annales, in Rev. Charles
"
O'Conor's Reriim Hibernicarum Scripto-
res," pp. 261, 262.
^ See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 714, 715, and n. (a),
*' This place has been identified, by Dr.
O'Donovan, with near in Moyre, Tullagh,
and Roderick O'Flaherty s iii. , cap. xciii. , p. 435.
"
" See Thomas Moore's "
of Ire-
History land," vol. ii. , chap. XX. , p 90.
" ' " ~'
the county of Clare. That name signifies,
»• He is called tlie son of
Ardgar.
" the of meeting-place Magh
Adhair.
Ogygia," pars.
one of the Gaeidhil, who
346 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23.
came to an ancient and a venerable tree. It was an object, almost sacred in the memory of the people, for that immemorial usage, whereby the Dalcassian
princes were inaugurated, with all the attendant rites, and under its spreading shades. This was a proud memorial of a high-spirited clan, and it grew at a place called Bile Magii Adhair. 9* Irritated by a swarm of humiliating and woundingassociations,Malachygavewaytoanungovernabletemper; and, impulsively,heorderedthetreeofinaugurationtobecutdown. Thisorder was promptly obeyed. Not alone the venerable tree was left prostrate on the ground ; but, after having been dug from the earth, with its roots, it was dis- gracefully hacked to pieces. This action must have rankled in the breast of the brave king, who had received his honours, with such a laudable pride, on the part of his loyal clansmen, and under its shelter. A hallowed character was given to his resentment, for what was regarded as little less than a sacri- lege. Bryan's suffering spirit was regulated, however, by a patient and a long- sighted comprehension, that the moment had not yet arrived, for the vindi- cation of his interests and of his puissance. The dictates of calculation or ambition mastered the sense of insult, in his firm and capacious judgment; for, hasty, incomplete, and vain, efforts, only argue imbecility of purpose and ofmind. Heknewthetimemightcomeforaction,andhewasobligedto submit, for the present, asjthe supreme monarch of Ireland was over-confident in his power and resources. Therefore was Malachy rendered more proud
and presumptuous, in consequence of this impunity. 99
Having levied a hosting for the purpose, in the following year, the monarch of
Ireland entered part of an inheritance, then under the dominion of theMunster king. Forecast and secrecy enabled the latter, notwithstanding, to forestall the invader. He could not be allowed to pass unresisted, unless absolute humi- liation and injustice were to be borne ; and, the superior ability of Bryan is shown, by the course he adopted. Without being obliged to risk a battle, and only by the mere demonstration of a very imposing force, Bryan compelled the monarch to pause in his meditated career. He obhged the King of Ireland,
also, to confirm, by a binding treaty, those claims, which were originally founded only in usurpation. The Leinster tribute, formerly ceded to Bryan, on this occasion, proved a trophy more honourable to himself, and more mor- tifying to his rival. It was most profitable and permanent, because it gave prestige and material power to the Dalcassian kings. However, the monarch
naturally desired to establish his supremacy beyond question, and he could notacquiesceintheenforceddismembermentofalargeprovince. Hewatched
the sagacious and active administration, while he distrusted the growing
power, of an aspiring nominal subordinate, but, in reality, of an able rival. Matured in Bryan's thought were the various chances, that time and tide
bring to the grasp of men. The monarchy itself, he began to consider, might be the prize reserved for him, awaiting the seasonable opportunity for preferring his claim, and while biding the moment for execution of his
plans. Tothepromptingsofself-interestandofnecessitymayweattributeanalliance,
between the chief monarch, and Gluiniarm,'°° son of Amhlaeibh, when, in the year 982, or 98 3, they obtained a victory over Domhnall Claen, King of South Leinster, and over Imhar of Port-Lairge, where many perished, both by drowning
9' See Rev. Dr. Paul O'Brien's
"
Focaloir
Second Period, pp. 201, 202.
'"The name is rendered "of the iron
knee," and as Dr, O'Donovan supposes, be- cause his legs were cased in iron mail, to protect them Irom the strokes of Irish battle- axes.
Gaoidhilge-Sax-Bheaila, or an Irish English Dictionary," at the word Bile, which means
" a tree. "
99 See Rev. James Wills'
"
trious and Distinguished Irishmen," vol. i.
Lives of lUus-
April 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 347
andbykilling. AmongthevictimswereGilla-Phadraig,andmanyothersofdis- tinction along with hira. While Leinster was spoiled and ravaged, as far as
the sea, Glean-da-Loch was plundered likewise, by the foreigners of Ath- Cliath. As a counter demonstration, the forces of Munster were placed on
a war footing. Gilla-Phadraig, the son of Donnchadh, and that progenitor,
from whom the Giolla-Phadraigs or Fitzpatricks of Ossory derived their
name, had sacrilegiously plundered Leighlin this year, for which act he was ob-
liged to do penance. Against him, Bryan led ahosting,probably to avengesome
real or fancied wrong. Seizing on the chief of Ossory, he was made a prisoner,
while hostages were exacted from the people of that territory. '"' Among the
extorted contributions, due to the King of Munster, are to be classed espe-
cially,thosefromLeinster. Thepeopleofthisprovincewereamongthechief
sufferers, owing to the manner, in which those tributes were levied. The
triennial Boromean Tribute,'" at first imposed by Tuathal, monarch of Ire-
land, on the people of Leinster, had been a fruitful source of periodical and
sanguinary conflicts, between the chief monarch of Erin, and the people of that
province, to the time of Finnachta the Festive, who abolished it, about 680,
owing to the persuasion of St. Moling, '°3 abbot of Tech Moling. However,
as a punishment for the adherence of Leinster to the Danish cause, about the
beginning of the eleventh century, Bryan, the son of Cinneadigh, again revived and levied it. '"'* The Leinster province was stimulated to oppose
the King of Thomond. The chief of the Northmen ofDesies had joined, also,inastrongconfederacy. WiththeseweretheforeignersofCorkandof Waterford, together with the chief of Ossory, all bent on opposing his claim.
Notwithstanding, Bryan's resolute spirit and masterly tactics did not fail him. He came promptly upon the disunited forces of his enemies. He met some of these, at a place, called the Circle of the Sons of Conrad, and he burst upon them, with an overwhelming force. This onset quickly scattered them, and they fell into irretrievable confusion. With prodigious slaughter, he drove them from the field. That league was thus effectively dissipated. Bryan followed up his victory.
'"' He then proceeded to ravage the territories of Leinster, and to indemnify himself for that tribute, which had been withheld. He advanced to Magh Ailbe, or the White Plain, near Leighlin. There, he de- manded from Domhnall Claen, King of South Leinster,and from Tuathal, King of Western Liphi, who came into his house, hostages for their future sub- mission. His progress could not be resisted, and he received their homage; while the conqueror took measures to enforce their submission, returning homewardstheacknowledgedKingofLeathMogha. '°* Assovereignoverthis great principality, the revenues of Bryan became more considerable, than were hisreturns,asKingofMunster. TheLeinstertributetohim,intheformer
""See at a. d. 982, Dr. O'Donovan's to satisfy the monarch's claims.
"Annals of the Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 714, 715, with nn. (c, d).
'"' His feast occurs, at the 17th of June.
'°< It is thought to have been from this circumstance, he obtained tl]e surname of Boroimhe, or, of the Tribute. According Dr. Sylvester O'Halloran and to M'Curtin, Bijroimhe signifies a tribute of cows or of
"" It was fixeil, Ijy Tuathal, to consist of
five thousand ounces of silver, five tliousnnd
cloaks, five thousand fat cows, five thousand
fat hogs, five thousand fat wethers, and five
thousand large vessels of brass or bronze. cattle, as it was usually the case, that sub- Owing to the great number of cows paid in
Bo the Gaedhlic for a emu it is it— being —
sidles were levied in this fashion, from Irish districts.
saidtohavebeennamedBoromean; and, prol)abIy, that species of cattle hatl been most largely received, as a commutation for the want of other assessments, since cows could be more ri-adily procurable, on the fer- tile pastures of Ireland, and be driven away
'"5 See Rev. James Wills' " Lives of lUus-
trious and Distinguished Irishmen," vol. i. Second Period, p. 201.
"* See Coga-oh JacDhel Ue Sattiibh, edited by Rev. James Henthorn Todd, pp. 106 to 109.
348 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23.
capacity, consisted, it is stated, of 300 gold-handled swords, 300 cows with brass yokes, 300 steeds, and 300 purple cloaks. '°'
Devastating inroads on Leinster, Connaught, and Munster, signalized the reign of Maelseachlainn II. over Ireland. '"^ These were continued for several
years ; and, they served to foster the hostility, while weakening the resources, of two great rivals. Various encroachments on established rights had led
to anarchical contests, among the provincial rulers, in different parts of Ire- land ; while the Munster Kings were implicated in such quarrels, regarding the balance of power. As in England, under the Saxon Heptarchy,'"? and in
Italy, during the Middle Ages,"° a narrow and local spirit usurped the large and generous sentiment of national patriotism. Existing customs and family or clan alliances too frequently stimulated divisions, fatal to the peace, pros- perity and honour of the nation, especially when acted upon by selfish and false motives. The struggles for supremacy, between the northern, southern, and western princes, in the kingdom of Ireland, until the arrival of the English,
especially when the princes of Thomond became powerful, dissipated the notion of a stable monarchy, under any single head of the native fami- lies. The power of Irish monarchical institutions had been weakened greatly, duringtheDanishinroads. However,theinvadershadthemultipleformof royalty, in the kingdoms of the north ; for, no less than twelve of these petty kings were in Norway, alone, at one time. '" In Ireland, too, the Ostmen had colonized distinct and detached places, under several independent chiefs, so that it was often difficult for them to act with speed and decision, in concert. "" By position, the Leinster people were necessarily most exposed to the power and influence of the Norwegians and Danes, whose armaments were usually conductedtotheeasternshoresofIreland. Thoseinvaderswereneverslow, to strengthen their posts and settlements, by bringing over reinforcements, to protect themselves against the Irish. Besides, they were enabled, when taking advantage of domestic feuds, to find allies serviceable
for their immeditate purposes. Wherever those invaders met with a powerful enemy, they formed alliances among the tribes, naturally hostile
to some provincial ruler, and they instigated resistance to his supremacy. Sel- dom did they miss an opportunity, to excite discontent and opposition among histributaries. Therecurrenceofthoseopportunitieswasunhappilyfrequent, while the results, indeed, were too fatal and durable, for public and private welfare. Such intrigues and policy formed some of those obstacles, with which the genius and valour of Bryan had to contend. "3
As we have already seen. More is stated to have been mother to Murrough, the eldest son of Bryan ;"•• and, therefore, we may fairly assume, that she was
'°' See Dr. Sylvester O'Halloran's "Gene-
ral History of Ireland," vol. ii. , Book xi. ,
chap, vi. , p. 245.
"* See Gratianus Lucius' " Cambrensis
Eversus," edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, vol. ii. ,
"^ See Rev. James Wills' " Lives of Illus-
trious and Distinguished Irishmen," vol. i. , Second Period, p. 200.
"• See Dr. Sylvester O'Halloran's "Gene-
ral History of Ireland," vol. ii. , Book xi. ,
chap, v. , p. 235.
"5 The royal connexions of Aulaf were
further extended and complicated, by the marriage of his daughter Radnalt with Conghalach, King of Ireland, according to
cap. ix , pp. 32to 35. " '°9 See John Speed's
Historic of Great Britaine," Book vii. The Original Invasions, and Heptarchie of the Saxons, &c. , chap. i.
to xlv. , pp. 281 to 402.
"° See " Historical Class-Book, of the the Book of Leinster. Conghalach was the
Christian Brothers. " Outlines of Modem
His"tory, p. 337.
According to the Herverar Saga. See
son of Maelmithigh, by Ligach, daughter of Flann Sinna, and step-sister of Niall Glun- dubh and Gormflaith. Now Ligach died A. D. 921, according to the Annals of the Four Masters. The Nialls Saga states, that she was first married to Bryan, and then to
Aulaf Cuaran, chap, civ. , p. 590.
Sharon Turner's " Saxons," Book iii. , chap. i.
of the
Anglo- of Ire-
'" See Thomas Moore's •' land," vol. ii. , chap, xix. , p. 77.
History
History
April 23. ] LIVES'OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 349
thefirstwifeofthegreatKingofMunster. Wedonotfindarecordofher death ; but, other accounts relate to his partner in wedlock, and who bears quite a different name. The celebrated Scandinavian King of Dublin, Aulaf Cuaran, had married Gormflaith,"5 who was daughter to Murchadh,"* son of Finn, King of Leinster. By her he had Sitric"? She then married Bryan Borumha,bywhomshehadDonnchadh. Gormflaithappearsfromherhis- tory, to have been an unprincipled woman, and she could hardly have been an additiontothedomestichappinessofBryan,whorepudiatedher. "^ After-
wards, he married Dubhchobhlaig, daughter to the Kingof Connaught. Gorm- fiiaith married Maelseachlainn, by whom she became the mother of Conchob-
har. "9 Itseemsmorethanprobable,thatthenatureofherrelationshipto the monarch of Ireland, and to the king of Munster, seriously complicated the political strain, which subsequently existed, between the two rival sovereigns. The date for Bryan's marriage to Duvchovlaigh has not trans- pired ; yet, it seems to be referable, not to the earlier years of his life. The Munster monarch had six sons,'^°and these are named Murchadhach, or Mo- rough, Tadhg, or Teige, Donnchadh, orDonogh, Domhnall, or Donnall, Conor, and Flann. Two of these left issue, namely Tadhg,"' the eldest son after Murough, and Donogh. "^ At present, it seems difficult to resolve exactly the order and connexion, relating to the various members of the great Munster sovereign'sdomesticcircle; but,wehaveendeavouredtoplaceaccounts,in that sequence, we deem best calculated to elucidate the succeeding events,
which marked his distinguished career.
CHAPTER IV.
MAELSEACHLAINN ASCENDS THE THRONE OF IRELAND—HIS ACHIEVEMENTS AND THE COUNTER MOVEMENTS OK BRYAN —GROWING POWER OF THE LATTER—HIS RESIDENCE AND MANNER OF LIVING AT KINCORA—WAR DECLARED BETWEEN MALACHY AND BRYAN—PEACE AGAIN ESTABLISHED, WHEN THEIR FORCES WERE UNITED AGAINST THE NORTHMEN—VICTORY OBTAINED AT GLENMAMA—RIVAL AMBITION OF MALACHY AND BRYAN.
The accession of Maelseachlainn, to the throne of Ireland, influenced very materially the march of events. The commencement of his reign has been placed, at a. d. 980, by Tigernach. ' However, the usually short annalistic announcements, even of incidents having an important bearing on the general
""
Murchadh, the father of Gormflaith, died A. D. 928. If she were bom that year and died a. d. 1030, she was then 102 years old. It is not improbable, that she was first married to Bryan, and that divorced by him, she then married Aulaf.
78, 79, and nn. 3 to 7.
""See Eugene O'Curry's "Lectures on
the Manuscript Materials of Ancient Irish History," Lect. x. , p. 211.
.
"' He was father of Turlough, who had two sons Muircheartach, or Mortogh, and "' He is said to have married the daughter Diarmaid, or Dermod. From Tadhg
of Brian Borumha ; the latter monarch sub- sequently marrying Sitric's mother.
descend the great family of the Thomond O'Brians.
""The O'Briens of Cuanach and of Eatheriagh, in the present counties of Lime- rick and Tipperary, descend from him. Do-
nogh, brother to Tadhg or Teige, is said, likewise, to have been ancestor to
the family of Plunkett. See John O'Hart's " Irish Pedigrees : or, the Origin and Stem of the Irish Nation," part iv. , chap, i. , sect. 41, pp. 103, 104.
"' In Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. ii. , at A. D. 1030, there are some Irish verses, which describe the threc marriages of Gormflaith as three leaps or jumps, that a woman should never take. This seems to hint, that the three leaps were not legitimate marriages. These were " a leap at Athcliath, or Dublin," when she married Olaf Cuaran "a at
at Cashel," when she »(nrrz>(/ Brian.
leap Tara," when shemarr/VrfMalachy II. , and "aleap
—
naci," in Rev. Dr. O'Conor's "Rerum
"' See Charles
Kingdom of Dublin," Book i. , chap, ix. , pp.
Hibemicarum tomus Scriptores,"
261.
Halida/s
;
" Scandinavian
Chapter iv.
See "Annales of
Tiger- ii. , p.
350
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23.
history of our country, leaves us very frequently at a loss, to account for various movements, which are recorded. The motives for action are still more concealed. Nor can we feel assured, that the dates and serial occur-
rences, —for
—
cause we know not Maelseachlainn
year 984
special
plundered
found in annalistic entries, are always consecutively placed. In the
what
Connaught, destroyed its islands, killed its chieftains, and reduced Mayo to ashes. In retaliation for these injuries, the Connaughtmen made an incur- sion, so far as Lough-Aininn. They burned Feara-Ceall, and slew its chief. ' The year for these transactions was 985, according to the Annals of Tiger- nach. 3 Asanadditionalmeans,forsustaininghispowerandinterest,Bryan hadequippedalargefleetofvessels,onLoughDerg;< for,itwouldseem,he desired, in this manner, to provide for defending the line of the River Shan- non, and, as appears probable, to use it, likewise, for offensive purposes. The opportunity was soon sought or presented. We may well believe, that a mutual mistrust of each other's intentions, about this period, actuated the monarch of Ireland and himself. Perhaps, those events, we are about im- mediately to narrate, may have influenced the campaign, for which Bryan had been preparing, and which came to an issue, when the favourable moment arrived. During the year 986, the Irish monarch forcibly removed the shrine of Patrick from Ath-Fhirdiadh or Ardee, to Ath-Sighe,5in consequence of the rebellionofthesonofCairelan. Apeacewasafterwardsmade,andtoatone for his desecration of the shrine, Maelseachlainn submitted to that award, pro- nounced by the Archbishop of Armagh. * This is specified, to have been the visitation of Meath, both church and state, and a banquet for every fort from
Maelseachlainn himself, besides even Cumhals,' and every other demand in full. A costly and distant expedition had been organized by Malachy, who
shortly afterwards found it necessary to chastise the aggressions of the Ostmen, so strongly posted on the eastern * and southern boundaries of his territories.
He led an army against the Danes of Dublin, as these were troublesome neighbours,ontheMeathianfrontiers,andintheyear989. Inabattle,fought
againstthoseforeigners,manywereslainbyhim. Afterwards,helaidsiege to the Danish Dun, or fortress of the place, and which occupied the site of the present Castle in Dublin. He continued its investment, for twenty nights, cutting off the besieged from a supply of water, and they had nothing to drink during that period, but the brine. 9 After enduring such extremity, the garri- son surrendered, on condition of paying an ounce of gold for every garden, on each Christmas night, for ever, while he should be king. '°
During this campaign on the eastern side of Leinster, Bryan, within his
own dominion, had ordered the levying of his clansmen; and, with an immense army, he was soon in a condition, to march in another direction. " On the
» See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 716 to 719.
3 See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum
Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus ii. , p. jgT
< See CoCd'oVi jAenhet^ He jAllaibVi,
edited by Rev. James Henthorn Todd, pp.
108 109.
5 We find this place, Latinized, "i.
Among the distinguished heroes of Ireland, in the tenth century, was Maelseachlainn, the son of Domhnall,^' afterwards surnamed Mor. His name
hasbeenotherwiseAnglicised,asMalachy. Intheyear978,^^or979,^3hehad won universal honour, throughout the land, by a splendid victory, obtained
at Tara. The King of the Galls, or foreigners, Aulaf, residing at Dublin,
appears to have called together the forces, established in the Islands north
and west of Scotland, and from Man, to unite with his own soldiers, who
marched under the leadership of his sons, to attack the monarch of Ireland,
attheseatofhispower. HissonRaghnall,LatinizedReginaldus,orRanul-
phus, held chief command, over the foreigners. Conamhaill,^'* son to Gilla-
Arri, the orator of Ath-Cliath, and son to its deputy king, was one of his lead-
ing chiefs, in this expedition. A desperate battle ensued, and both of these
Scandinavian heroes fell, while the forces of Meath and their allies were
commandedbyMaelseachlainn. Afteracontestofmemorablefierceness,
victory declared for the Irish forces. With great slaughter, on both sides,
Maelseachlainn routed the Danes. Several thousand of their forces are stated
to have fallen, in this engagement f^ and, among the rest, Reginald, their chiefcommander. ^* IntheheatofthisengagementfellBraen,sonofMur-
chadh, royal heir of Leinster, Conghalach, son to Flann, lord of Gaileanga, with his son Maelan, Fiachna and Cuduilich, two sons of Dubhlaech, and
lordsofFearaTulach,asalsoLachtnan,lordofMughdhornMaighen. We are not informed, by our annalists, on what side some of the foregoing fought. This battle broke the foreigners' strength and confidence, for a time. After the result was known, Aulaf went across the sea, and he died at I-Coluim- Cille. *7 The great probability is, he had abandoned worldly ambition for re- ligiousretirement. Thatvaliantproofofhiswarlikeability,onthepartofMala-
chy, was the surewayto arrive at power, in Ireland; for,havingattained strength and renown, over the stranger hosts, the Irish people trusted in the valour of a protector, whose sword was best able to carve its way to success, when the foreigners were most formidable in numbers, and in organization. ^* Shortly after that great victory, at Tara, the monarch Domhnall, in 979,^' or 980,9° was removed, by death. He had retired to Armagh,? ' where he piously engaged in penitential exercises, for a long time previous, to prepare well for his approaching dissolution.
in like manner, from different other coun- tries, and petty states, were assessments re- quired : all of which supplies were to be paid in, by those people, at stated times, and at certain seasons of the year. SeeDr. Sylves-
nor of Dublin," who fell in this encounter, according to Rev. Dr. Lanigan. See "Eccle- siastical History of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap, xxiii. , sect, vii. , p. 415.
*5 Some writers have enumerated 5,000.
terO'Halloran's"GeneralHistoryofIrelaiid," See vol. ii. , Book xi. , chap, v. , pp. 238 to 246.
1'
Abbe Ma-Geoghegan's
Ilisloire de
" See Dermod O'Conor's
Keating's
" Ge-
Seconde
^ See Gratianus Lucius' " Cambrensis
Eversus," edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, vol. ii. , cap. ix. , pp. 32, 33.
^^ See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 708, 709.
neral History of Ireland," part ii. , pp. 487
to 492.
*° "
See Rev. James Wills' Lives of Illus-
trious and Uislinguished Irishmen," vol. i. Second Period, p. 201.
« He was not the later monarch, but rather the son of Donnchadh, son to Flann.
8^ According to the Annals of Ulster.
^3 According to Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 708, 709.
«« See Elias
" Histoire de
^ he is the " Perhaps,
the
"
s" According to Roderick O'Flaherty's Ogygia," pars, iii. , cap. xciii. , p. 435.
Irlavra,
gover-
"
I'Irlande, Ancienne et Moderne," tome i.
Partie, chap, vi. , p. 407.
Regnault's I'Irlande," liv. i. , chap, vi. , p. 75.
^ According to Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of tlie Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 708, 709.
April 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 345
He was immediately succeeded, by the brave prince Malachy,— known as Maelseachlainn II. , King of Ireland,—and whose reputa-
tion was so highly extolled, as a consequence of his recent victory. The year of his accession to the sovereignty was 980. 9" While his valour and wisdom were such, as to shed permanent glory on his memory ; yet, his advent was rather late, to redeem that weakness, which a succession offeeblemonarchshadentailedonthesceptreofTara. Acontinuouswar- fare against the Danes was waged by Malachy, after his accession to the throne,whenheissaidtohaveattainedthethirtiethyearofhisage. 93 That
in with of heleda — very year, conjunction Eochaidh,94 King Ulidia, great army
agamst the foreigners of Ath-Cliath; and, marching into the parts of Fingall then the place of greatest strength for the Northmen—he besieged Dublin, for
three
days
and three
This blockade ended in a — nights. capitulation
and
;
the
Dubliners — agreed
to surrender the Irish
twothousand whichtheyheld,andtogivehostagesinreturn,forthefulfil- ment of certain conditions imposed on them. Among the prisoners was Domh- nall Claen, King of South Leinster, with many of the Ui-Neill. All of these captives, that lived in servitude to the Scandinavians, were liberated, without ransom. Theywerepermittedtoreturn,andtoliveintheirrespectivecoun- tries,freefromtributeorexaction,fromth—eShannontothesea. Then,Mael-
hostages
" seachlain issued his famous proclamation Every
:
captives numbering
is in the territory of the foreigners, in servitude and bondage, let him go to his
own territory, in peace and happiness. " Besides, the victors were bought off, by
asubsidy,consistingofvaluablegoodsandjewels. 95 Thatstrenuouswarfare, 'which he prosecuted with almost unvarying success, and which he continued for so many successive years, against the Danes, kept them in a wholesome state of fear, from attempting inroads on any part of liis dominions. The
aspiring spirit of Malachy is manifested, by the activity and vigour of his open- ing career ; while the vitality and strength of his monarchy are proved, by the resources which guided his enterprises. Nor do we consider, that his con-
ducting of public affairs, relating to the whole kingdom of Ireland, deserves those reproaches of indolence and apathy, directed against his character, by depreciators, or by eulogists, of the King ofMunster.
An expedition into the Dalcasian territory took place, a. d. 976, according to the Annals of Clonmacnoise, or following the chronology of the Four Mas- ters, A. D. 981. 9* Doubtless, what the monarch deemed a political necessity required this display of power ; for, he was jealous, regarding the ability and supposed ambitious designs of his rival in renown, and of his subordinate in station. The monarch of Ireland was every inch a hero ; and yet, he wanted magnanimity to sustain such eminence, and the control of temper, to conceal his personal resentment. A rash and splenetic action showed how impolitic hemightbehave. Hiscalmrecollectionanddignityofmindmusthavecon-
demned, as a truly unworthy and mean proceeding, that predatory expedi- tion, which he conducted. It could only serve, however, to awaken the vigi-
lance and suspicion of Brian, but his feelings might have been more guardedly respected. Passing through Aenaah-Maigh-Adhair,'' the monarch's troops
'' Hence, he was called Donnell of Ard- mach, according to the Annals of Clon- macnoise, which place his death, at a. d. 973.
*" According to Sir James Ware's " Anti- quitates Ilibemica:," cap. xxiv. , p. 113,
»5 See Tigernaci Annales, in Rev. Charles
"
O'Conor's Reriim Hibernicarum Scripto-
res," pp. 261, 262.
^ See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 714, 715, and n. (a),
*' This place has been identified, by Dr.
O'Donovan, with near in Moyre, Tullagh,
and Roderick O'Flaherty s iii. , cap. xciii. , p. 435.
"
" See Thomas Moore's "
of Ire-
History land," vol. ii. , chap. XX. , p 90.
" ' " ~'
the county of Clare. That name signifies,
»• He is called tlie son of
Ardgar.
" the of meeting-place Magh
Adhair.
Ogygia," pars.
one of the Gaeidhil, who
346 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23.
came to an ancient and a venerable tree. It was an object, almost sacred in the memory of the people, for that immemorial usage, whereby the Dalcassian
princes were inaugurated, with all the attendant rites, and under its spreading shades. This was a proud memorial of a high-spirited clan, and it grew at a place called Bile Magii Adhair. 9* Irritated by a swarm of humiliating and woundingassociations,Malachygavewaytoanungovernabletemper; and, impulsively,heorderedthetreeofinaugurationtobecutdown. Thisorder was promptly obeyed. Not alone the venerable tree was left prostrate on the ground ; but, after having been dug from the earth, with its roots, it was dis- gracefully hacked to pieces. This action must have rankled in the breast of the brave king, who had received his honours, with such a laudable pride, on the part of his loyal clansmen, and under its shelter. A hallowed character was given to his resentment, for what was regarded as little less than a sacri- lege. Bryan's suffering spirit was regulated, however, by a patient and a long- sighted comprehension, that the moment had not yet arrived, for the vindi- cation of his interests and of his puissance. The dictates of calculation or ambition mastered the sense of insult, in his firm and capacious judgment; for, hasty, incomplete, and vain, efforts, only argue imbecility of purpose and ofmind. Heknewthetimemightcomeforaction,andhewasobligedto submit, for the present, asjthe supreme monarch of Ireland was over-confident in his power and resources. Therefore was Malachy rendered more proud
and presumptuous, in consequence of this impunity. 99
Having levied a hosting for the purpose, in the following year, the monarch of
Ireland entered part of an inheritance, then under the dominion of theMunster king. Forecast and secrecy enabled the latter, notwithstanding, to forestall the invader. He could not be allowed to pass unresisted, unless absolute humi- liation and injustice were to be borne ; and, the superior ability of Bryan is shown, by the course he adopted. Without being obliged to risk a battle, and only by the mere demonstration of a very imposing force, Bryan compelled the monarch to pause in his meditated career. He obhged the King of Ireland,
also, to confirm, by a binding treaty, those claims, which were originally founded only in usurpation. The Leinster tribute, formerly ceded to Bryan, on this occasion, proved a trophy more honourable to himself, and more mor- tifying to his rival. It was most profitable and permanent, because it gave prestige and material power to the Dalcassian kings. However, the monarch
naturally desired to establish his supremacy beyond question, and he could notacquiesceintheenforceddismembermentofalargeprovince. Hewatched
the sagacious and active administration, while he distrusted the growing
power, of an aspiring nominal subordinate, but, in reality, of an able rival. Matured in Bryan's thought were the various chances, that time and tide
bring to the grasp of men. The monarchy itself, he began to consider, might be the prize reserved for him, awaiting the seasonable opportunity for preferring his claim, and while biding the moment for execution of his
plans. Tothepromptingsofself-interestandofnecessitymayweattributeanalliance,
between the chief monarch, and Gluiniarm,'°° son of Amhlaeibh, when, in the year 982, or 98 3, they obtained a victory over Domhnall Claen, King of South Leinster, and over Imhar of Port-Lairge, where many perished, both by drowning
9' See Rev. Dr. Paul O'Brien's
"
Focaloir
Second Period, pp. 201, 202.
'"The name is rendered "of the iron
knee," and as Dr, O'Donovan supposes, be- cause his legs were cased in iron mail, to protect them Irom the strokes of Irish battle- axes.
Gaoidhilge-Sax-Bheaila, or an Irish English Dictionary," at the word Bile, which means
" a tree. "
99 See Rev. James Wills'
"
trious and Distinguished Irishmen," vol. i.
Lives of lUus-
April 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 347
andbykilling. AmongthevictimswereGilla-Phadraig,andmanyothersofdis- tinction along with hira. While Leinster was spoiled and ravaged, as far as
the sea, Glean-da-Loch was plundered likewise, by the foreigners of Ath- Cliath. As a counter demonstration, the forces of Munster were placed on
a war footing. Gilla-Phadraig, the son of Donnchadh, and that progenitor,
from whom the Giolla-Phadraigs or Fitzpatricks of Ossory derived their
name, had sacrilegiously plundered Leighlin this year, for which act he was ob-
liged to do penance. Against him, Bryan led ahosting,probably to avengesome
real or fancied wrong. Seizing on the chief of Ossory, he was made a prisoner,
while hostages were exacted from the people of that territory. '"' Among the
extorted contributions, due to the King of Munster, are to be classed espe-
cially,thosefromLeinster. Thepeopleofthisprovincewereamongthechief
sufferers, owing to the manner, in which those tributes were levied. The
triennial Boromean Tribute,'" at first imposed by Tuathal, monarch of Ire-
land, on the people of Leinster, had been a fruitful source of periodical and
sanguinary conflicts, between the chief monarch of Erin, and the people of that
province, to the time of Finnachta the Festive, who abolished it, about 680,
owing to the persuasion of St. Moling, '°3 abbot of Tech Moling. However,
as a punishment for the adherence of Leinster to the Danish cause, about the
beginning of the eleventh century, Bryan, the son of Cinneadigh, again revived and levied it. '"'* The Leinster province was stimulated to oppose
the King of Thomond. The chief of the Northmen ofDesies had joined, also,inastrongconfederacy. WiththeseweretheforeignersofCorkandof Waterford, together with the chief of Ossory, all bent on opposing his claim.
Notwithstanding, Bryan's resolute spirit and masterly tactics did not fail him. He came promptly upon the disunited forces of his enemies. He met some of these, at a place, called the Circle of the Sons of Conrad, and he burst upon them, with an overwhelming force. This onset quickly scattered them, and they fell into irretrievable confusion. With prodigious slaughter, he drove them from the field. That league was thus effectively dissipated. Bryan followed up his victory.
'"' He then proceeded to ravage the territories of Leinster, and to indemnify himself for that tribute, which had been withheld. He advanced to Magh Ailbe, or the White Plain, near Leighlin. There, he de- manded from Domhnall Claen, King of South Leinster,and from Tuathal, King of Western Liphi, who came into his house, hostages for their future sub- mission. His progress could not be resisted, and he received their homage; while the conqueror took measures to enforce their submission, returning homewardstheacknowledgedKingofLeathMogha. '°* Assovereignoverthis great principality, the revenues of Bryan became more considerable, than were hisreturns,asKingofMunster. TheLeinstertributetohim,intheformer
""See at a. d. 982, Dr. O'Donovan's to satisfy the monarch's claims.
"Annals of the Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 714, 715, with nn. (c, d).
'"' His feast occurs, at the 17th of June.
'°< It is thought to have been from this circumstance, he obtained tl]e surname of Boroimhe, or, of the Tribute. According Dr. Sylvester O'Halloran and to M'Curtin, Bijroimhe signifies a tribute of cows or of
"" It was fixeil, Ijy Tuathal, to consist of
five thousand ounces of silver, five tliousnnd
cloaks, five thousand fat cows, five thousand
fat hogs, five thousand fat wethers, and five
thousand large vessels of brass or bronze. cattle, as it was usually the case, that sub- Owing to the great number of cows paid in
Bo the Gaedhlic for a emu it is it— being —
sidles were levied in this fashion, from Irish districts.
saidtohavebeennamedBoromean; and, prol)abIy, that species of cattle hatl been most largely received, as a commutation for the want of other assessments, since cows could be more ri-adily procurable, on the fer- tile pastures of Ireland, and be driven away
'"5 See Rev. James Wills' " Lives of lUus-
trious and Distinguished Irishmen," vol. i. Second Period, p. 201.
"* See Coga-oh JacDhel Ue Sattiibh, edited by Rev. James Henthorn Todd, pp. 106 to 109.
348 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23.
capacity, consisted, it is stated, of 300 gold-handled swords, 300 cows with brass yokes, 300 steeds, and 300 purple cloaks. '°'
Devastating inroads on Leinster, Connaught, and Munster, signalized the reign of Maelseachlainn II. over Ireland. '"^ These were continued for several
years ; and, they served to foster the hostility, while weakening the resources, of two great rivals. Various encroachments on established rights had led
to anarchical contests, among the provincial rulers, in different parts of Ire- land ; while the Munster Kings were implicated in such quarrels, regarding the balance of power. As in England, under the Saxon Heptarchy,'"? and in
Italy, during the Middle Ages,"° a narrow and local spirit usurped the large and generous sentiment of national patriotism. Existing customs and family or clan alliances too frequently stimulated divisions, fatal to the peace, pros- perity and honour of the nation, especially when acted upon by selfish and false motives. The struggles for supremacy, between the northern, southern, and western princes, in the kingdom of Ireland, until the arrival of the English,
especially when the princes of Thomond became powerful, dissipated the notion of a stable monarchy, under any single head of the native fami- lies. The power of Irish monarchical institutions had been weakened greatly, duringtheDanishinroads. However,theinvadershadthemultipleformof royalty, in the kingdoms of the north ; for, no less than twelve of these petty kings were in Norway, alone, at one time. '" In Ireland, too, the Ostmen had colonized distinct and detached places, under several independent chiefs, so that it was often difficult for them to act with speed and decision, in concert. "" By position, the Leinster people were necessarily most exposed to the power and influence of the Norwegians and Danes, whose armaments were usually conductedtotheeasternshoresofIreland. Thoseinvaderswereneverslow, to strengthen their posts and settlements, by bringing over reinforcements, to protect themselves against the Irish. Besides, they were enabled, when taking advantage of domestic feuds, to find allies serviceable
for their immeditate purposes. Wherever those invaders met with a powerful enemy, they formed alliances among the tribes, naturally hostile
to some provincial ruler, and they instigated resistance to his supremacy. Sel- dom did they miss an opportunity, to excite discontent and opposition among histributaries. Therecurrenceofthoseopportunitieswasunhappilyfrequent, while the results, indeed, were too fatal and durable, for public and private welfare. Such intrigues and policy formed some of those obstacles, with which the genius and valour of Bryan had to contend. "3
As we have already seen. More is stated to have been mother to Murrough, the eldest son of Bryan ;"•• and, therefore, we may fairly assume, that she was
'°' See Dr. Sylvester O'Halloran's "Gene-
ral History of Ireland," vol. ii. , Book xi. ,
chap, vi. , p. 245.
"* See Gratianus Lucius' " Cambrensis
Eversus," edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, vol. ii. ,
"^ See Rev. James Wills' " Lives of Illus-
trious and Distinguished Irishmen," vol. i. , Second Period, p. 200.
"• See Dr. Sylvester O'Halloran's "Gene-
ral History of Ireland," vol. ii. , Book xi. ,
chap, v. , p. 235.
"5 The royal connexions of Aulaf were
further extended and complicated, by the marriage of his daughter Radnalt with Conghalach, King of Ireland, according to
cap. ix , pp. 32to 35. " '°9 See John Speed's
Historic of Great Britaine," Book vii. The Original Invasions, and Heptarchie of the Saxons, &c. , chap. i.
to xlv. , pp. 281 to 402.
"° See " Historical Class-Book, of the the Book of Leinster. Conghalach was the
Christian Brothers. " Outlines of Modem
His"tory, p. 337.
According to the Herverar Saga. See
son of Maelmithigh, by Ligach, daughter of Flann Sinna, and step-sister of Niall Glun- dubh and Gormflaith. Now Ligach died A. D. 921, according to the Annals of the Four Masters. The Nialls Saga states, that she was first married to Bryan, and then to
Aulaf Cuaran, chap, civ. , p. 590.
Sharon Turner's " Saxons," Book iii. , chap. i.
of the
Anglo- of Ire-
'" See Thomas Moore's •' land," vol. ii. , chap, xix. , p. 77.
History
History
April 23. ] LIVES'OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 349
thefirstwifeofthegreatKingofMunster. Wedonotfindarecordofher death ; but, other accounts relate to his partner in wedlock, and who bears quite a different name. The celebrated Scandinavian King of Dublin, Aulaf Cuaran, had married Gormflaith,"5 who was daughter to Murchadh,"* son of Finn, King of Leinster. By her he had Sitric"? She then married Bryan Borumha,bywhomshehadDonnchadh. Gormflaithappearsfromherhis- tory, to have been an unprincipled woman, and she could hardly have been an additiontothedomestichappinessofBryan,whorepudiatedher. "^ After-
wards, he married Dubhchobhlaig, daughter to the Kingof Connaught. Gorm- fiiaith married Maelseachlainn, by whom she became the mother of Conchob-
har. "9 Itseemsmorethanprobable,thatthenatureofherrelationshipto the monarch of Ireland, and to the king of Munster, seriously complicated the political strain, which subsequently existed, between the two rival sovereigns. The date for Bryan's marriage to Duvchovlaigh has not trans- pired ; yet, it seems to be referable, not to the earlier years of his life. The Munster monarch had six sons,'^°and these are named Murchadhach, or Mo- rough, Tadhg, or Teige, Donnchadh, orDonogh, Domhnall, or Donnall, Conor, and Flann. Two of these left issue, namely Tadhg,"' the eldest son after Murough, and Donogh. "^ At present, it seems difficult to resolve exactly the order and connexion, relating to the various members of the great Munster sovereign'sdomesticcircle; but,wehaveendeavouredtoplaceaccounts,in that sequence, we deem best calculated to elucidate the succeeding events,
which marked his distinguished career.
CHAPTER IV.
MAELSEACHLAINN ASCENDS THE THRONE OF IRELAND—HIS ACHIEVEMENTS AND THE COUNTER MOVEMENTS OK BRYAN —GROWING POWER OF THE LATTER—HIS RESIDENCE AND MANNER OF LIVING AT KINCORA—WAR DECLARED BETWEEN MALACHY AND BRYAN—PEACE AGAIN ESTABLISHED, WHEN THEIR FORCES WERE UNITED AGAINST THE NORTHMEN—VICTORY OBTAINED AT GLENMAMA—RIVAL AMBITION OF MALACHY AND BRYAN.
The accession of Maelseachlainn, to the throne of Ireland, influenced very materially the march of events. The commencement of his reign has been placed, at a. d. 980, by Tigernach. ' However, the usually short annalistic announcements, even of incidents having an important bearing on the general
""
Murchadh, the father of Gormflaith, died A. D. 928. If she were bom that year and died a. d. 1030, she was then 102 years old. It is not improbable, that she was first married to Bryan, and that divorced by him, she then married Aulaf.
78, 79, and nn. 3 to 7.
""See Eugene O'Curry's "Lectures on
the Manuscript Materials of Ancient Irish History," Lect. x. , p. 211.
.
"' He was father of Turlough, who had two sons Muircheartach, or Mortogh, and "' He is said to have married the daughter Diarmaid, or Dermod. From Tadhg
of Brian Borumha ; the latter monarch sub- sequently marrying Sitric's mother.
descend the great family of the Thomond O'Brians.
""The O'Briens of Cuanach and of Eatheriagh, in the present counties of Lime- rick and Tipperary, descend from him. Do-
nogh, brother to Tadhg or Teige, is said, likewise, to have been ancestor to
the family of Plunkett. See John O'Hart's " Irish Pedigrees : or, the Origin and Stem of the Irish Nation," part iv. , chap, i. , sect. 41, pp. 103, 104.
"' In Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. ii. , at A. D. 1030, there are some Irish verses, which describe the threc marriages of Gormflaith as three leaps or jumps, that a woman should never take. This seems to hint, that the three leaps were not legitimate marriages. These were " a leap at Athcliath, or Dublin," when she married Olaf Cuaran "a at
at Cashel," when she »(nrrz>(/ Brian.
leap Tara," when shemarr/VrfMalachy II. , and "aleap
—
naci," in Rev. Dr. O'Conor's "Rerum
"' See Charles
Kingdom of Dublin," Book i. , chap, ix. , pp.
Hibemicarum tomus Scriptores,"
261.
Halida/s
;
" Scandinavian
Chapter iv.
See "Annales of
Tiger- ii. , p.
350
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23.
history of our country, leaves us very frequently at a loss, to account for various movements, which are recorded. The motives for action are still more concealed. Nor can we feel assured, that the dates and serial occur-
rences, —for
—
cause we know not Maelseachlainn
year 984
special
plundered
found in annalistic entries, are always consecutively placed. In the
what
Connaught, destroyed its islands, killed its chieftains, and reduced Mayo to ashes. In retaliation for these injuries, the Connaughtmen made an incur- sion, so far as Lough-Aininn. They burned Feara-Ceall, and slew its chief. ' The year for these transactions was 985, according to the Annals of Tiger- nach. 3 Asanadditionalmeans,forsustaininghispowerandinterest,Bryan hadequippedalargefleetofvessels,onLoughDerg;< for,itwouldseem,he desired, in this manner, to provide for defending the line of the River Shan- non, and, as appears probable, to use it, likewise, for offensive purposes. The opportunity was soon sought or presented. We may well believe, that a mutual mistrust of each other's intentions, about this period, actuated the monarch of Ireland and himself. Perhaps, those events, we are about im- mediately to narrate, may have influenced the campaign, for which Bryan had been preparing, and which came to an issue, when the favourable moment arrived. During the year 986, the Irish monarch forcibly removed the shrine of Patrick from Ath-Fhirdiadh or Ardee, to Ath-Sighe,5in consequence of the rebellionofthesonofCairelan. Apeacewasafterwardsmade,andtoatone for his desecration of the shrine, Maelseachlainn submitted to that award, pro- nounced by the Archbishop of Armagh. * This is specified, to have been the visitation of Meath, both church and state, and a banquet for every fort from
Maelseachlainn himself, besides even Cumhals,' and every other demand in full. A costly and distant expedition had been organized by Malachy, who
shortly afterwards found it necessary to chastise the aggressions of the Ostmen, so strongly posted on the eastern * and southern boundaries of his territories.
He led an army against the Danes of Dublin, as these were troublesome neighbours,ontheMeathianfrontiers,andintheyear989. Inabattle,fought
againstthoseforeigners,manywereslainbyhim. Afterwards,helaidsiege to the Danish Dun, or fortress of the place, and which occupied the site of the present Castle in Dublin. He continued its investment, for twenty nights, cutting off the besieged from a supply of water, and they had nothing to drink during that period, but the brine. 9 After enduring such extremity, the garri- son surrendered, on condition of paying an ounce of gold for every garden, on each Christmas night, for ever, while he should be king. '°
During this campaign on the eastern side of Leinster, Bryan, within his
own dominion, had ordered the levying of his clansmen; and, with an immense army, he was soon in a condition, to march in another direction. " On the
» See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 716 to 719.
3 See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum
Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus ii. , p. jgT
< See CoCd'oVi jAenhet^ He jAllaibVi,
edited by Rev. James Henthorn Todd, pp.
108 109.
5 We find this place, Latinized, "i.
