Muredach
MormhaorjSS'* the great Steward of Leamhne, or Lennox, and Domh- nall,595 son of Einihin, son of Cainneach,39* the great Steward of Mair, or Mar, with other brave Albanian Scots, who were descendants from Core, King of Munster, died in the same cause.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v4
Charles O'Conor's 33" That is the captain cf the fleet, who " Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus
slew Brien, add the <\nnatA I,ochA 0^, or
Annals of Lough Ce, edited by William M.
Hennessy, vol. i. , pp. 10, II.
333 Or Broder, son of Osli, and Earl of
Caer Ebroc, and along with him were killed a thousand plundering Danes, both Saxons and Lochlanns. See CogA'oh 5<xe-ohel fte
iv. Annales Ultomenses, p. 305.
344 Another account has it Carlus and
Ciarlus, the two sons of the King of Loch- Ian n.
345 See Rev. Dr. Charles O'Conor's " Re- rum Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus ii. , Annales Inisfalenses, p. 66.
34' Also called Grisin, read Grifin.
perhaps
we should
34' Also called Laghman.
April 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 443
to the Annals of Boyle,353 3,000 foreigners were killed, while with more par- ticularity, the Annals of Innisfallen have 3,012. In some of the Northmen's divisions, not a single warrior was left alive, so implacably did the victors follow up their success. Brodir's men—but probably only those are meant
who participated in the Monarch's murder—were slain to a man.
354
On the side
of the Galls, at least six thousand perished, either by killing or by drowning, as we are told. ? 55 The total loss on the enemy's side, according to one writer, was six hundred and three score hundreds, or six thousand six hundred. 'S* Among these, one thousand warriors, who wore coats of mail, were altogether slain, 35' so that not even one escaped from that field of carnage. Again, fifteen men of the Burners fell in Brian's battle,3s8 and there too fell Halldor, sonofGudmund,thepowerfulandbraveErlingofStraumey. 359 Sitrick,son to Amhlaibh, King of Ath Cliath, was not killed, as happened to all the other foreigners of distinction, because he did not go into the battle, but re-
mained on guard, within the walls of his fortress. 3*° In the Nials-Saga, one of the northern princes is introduced as asking,3*' some time after the battle, what had become of his men ? The answer given to him was couched in these words, that they were all killed.
It is not wonderful, that in this most obstinate engagement, which was waged from sunrise to dusk, the victory was dearly won, owing to the number slain, even on the conqueror's side. The Annals of Iniiislallen,^*" after enumerating among the slain the Monarch Bryan 3*3 and a few of his chiefs, with Maelmorda, King of Leinster, states in general, that many others fell on the Irish side ; while there was a great slaughter of the Leinster Reguli, and of the foreigners, belonging to the western world,3*-» on the other side. 3*5 About this period, and long afterwards, an incorrect geographical notion prevailed, that the Britannic and Irish Islands, as also the Scandinavian countries, had a more westward direction, as shown on several ancient maps. The royal family of Munster were left to mourn the loss of three generations cut down
^"Mornij,h advance 1 o'er heaps of slain
Th. it marked his path upon the
plain ;
In vain Conmaol dared his might,
Or challenged him to single fight ; In vain he raised his sword to hea-
ven
With a en- many mystic sign
of Lough Ci, edited by Willijim M. Hennessy, vol. i. , pp. lo, ii.
's' See Cogaoh Saerjliet Re JatlAibh, chap, cxvii. , pp. 208, 209.
'sr Such is the account given, in the Dub—-
lin copy of the " Annals of Innisfallen. " "
graven. "
—John D'Allon's " Dermid
'5» See "
Nials-. Sajia," cap. civiii,, p. 6os.
35' See " George Webbe Dasent's
Days of Boru," canto xi. , sect, xix. , pp. 379,
380.
J" He was the son of Duilhghin, andboh
of these named were two kings of Port
Lairge.
""Son of Turgeis.
3« ^on of Sunan.
31" Son of Suamin.
55' These were two sons of the Ingen
Ruaidh.
3S» See Cogatjh 5«eT)het Re SAbL^iibh
chap, cxvii. . pp. 206, 207.
353 See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's "Rerum
Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus ii. , An-
^' I his dialogue seems an allusion to that division, clotlied in the coats of mail.
'" The Bodleian copy.
3«3
i,, the <inn4l<v bochaC^, or Annals of Lough Ce, edited l. y William . \1. Hennessy, he is called ihe supreme king of theGaedhel of Erinn, and of the foreigners of Britain, and the Augustus of the « hole north-west of Europe. See vol. i. , pp. 10. 11.
' * Accordint; to the Coga-oh 54eT)hel Re Sitl-aibh, chap, cxvii. , pp. 206, 207, there were killed in that battle, the greater part of the men of valour of the Gaill and of the Gaedhil, belonging to all the west of Europe.
"5 See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's "Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus ii. , p. 54.
nales Huellani, p. 17. " 35* See Genrge Webbe Da. sent's
Story of
Burnt Njal," vol. ii. , chap, clvi. , p. 338.
335 See <\nn<»U(i lx>chA C6, or the Annals
;
or in Erin the
ggg
Ue
5<\ll<iibh,
.
Rev. iJr. O'Conor's
Rerum Hibernicaram
Scriptores," tnmusii. , p. 65.
Story of Burnt Njal," vol. ii. , chap, clvi. , p. 338.
^fc
Co5AT>h JaeDheL chap, cxvii. . pp. 206 to 209.
444 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23.
in the one day, and upon the same field of battle. s** Besides the aged mon- arch 3*7 himself, Murchad 3** or Morough,3*9 with two of his brothers and his son Tordelbac 370 or Turlogh, fell in this most sanguinary encounter. His nephew ConaingS'' or Conang,37= the son of Donncuann, was slain, likewise, in this battle. Domhnall,373 son to Diarmaid, lord of Corca Bhaiscinn,37< Geibheannach, son to Dubhagan,375 chief of Feara-Maighe,37* Mac Beatha,377 son to Muireadhach,378 Claen the chief of Ciarraighe-Luachra,379 and Sgann- lan3*° or Scannlan, son to Cathal, lord of Eoghanacht-Locha Lein, were killed. Among others are mentioned, Eocha, son to Dunadhach, chief of the Clann-Scannlaine, Niall Ua Cuinn,3^' and Cuduiligh, son to Ceinneidigh,3^2 who were the three aids-de-camp, or companions in arms, 3*3 to the monarch Brian himself. 3^-t These three defenders were slain, with many other nobles. 3'5 Dubhdabhorrenn, son of Domhnall, Loingsech, son of Dunlaing,35* and Mothla,3*7 son to Domhnall, son to Faelan,lordin South Mumhan orMunster,38' Deisi were slain. The powerful Connaught prince, Tadhg Ua Ceallaigh or 0'Kelly,3*9 chief over Hy-Maine,39° as likewise Maelruanaidh na Paidre Ua
Alexander M. Sullivan's "
3^7 Bianus, King of Ireland, with his son Ascuthin, namely King Dulyn, was killed, A. D. 1013, according to the Cambrian Annals. See "Annales Cambriae," edited by the Rev. John Williams ab Ithel, M. A. , p. 22.
3'^ See the Annals of Innisfallen, Bodleian
and Dublin copies, in Rev. Dr. O'Conor's
" Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus
ii. , pp. 54, 63.
3°« This is the more modern spelling of his
name, by Irish historians.
37° See the Annals of Innisfallen, Bod-
leian and Dublin copies.
37' He is called, the royal heir of Mumha,
in OinnAl,* tochA Ce, or Annals of Lough
Ce, edited by William M. Hennessy, vol. i. ,
pp. 12, 13.
37^ The Bodleian copy of the Innisfallen
Annals calls him Chonchang, son of Duind- chuan.
373 He was progenitor of the O'Domhnaiil
or O'Donnell family belonging to East Corca Bhaiscinn. He w. is ancestor of the O'Cearb- haill or O'CarroU family, who were lords or chieftains of Eoghanacht-Locha-Lein, now Killarney. Afterwards, the O'Donohocs, a branch of the Ui-Eathach-Mumhan, dis- possessed them.
374 See the Annals of Innisfallen, Bodleian and Dublin copies.
375 Xhe Druid Meogh Roth is said to have been his ancestor, and he is thought to have descended from Cuanna Mac Cailchine, commonly called Laech Liathmluiine.
37* He is called, Geilihendach Ua Dubha-
gain, King of Fera-Maighe, in the <3itin<sLa tociiA Ce, or Annals of Lough Ce, ediied by William M. Hennessy, vol. i. , pp. 12,
377 He is called Baedan, in the Co54T)h
jAenhel 1le 5«llAibh. According to Dr. O'Donovan, he was the ancestor of O'Conor
Kerry, "though in the pedigrees the only
Mac Beatha to be found is made Mac
son of Conchobhar, but it should clearly be Mac Beatha, son of Muiriadhach Claen, son of Conchobh. ir, the progenitor from whom the O'Connors Kerry derive their hereditary surname. "—" Annals of the Four Mailers," vol. ii. , n. (p), pp. 774, 775. The editor afterwards instances several distinguished descendants of this family.
37* The Bodleian copy of the Annals of Innisfallen calls him Bethad, son of Murcher- tach, only ; while the Dublin copy names liim McBeotaicc mc Muiredh Righ Ciaruidhe Luachra. See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus ii. , pp. 54, 63.
379 He is styled Mac Bethaidh, son of Muiredhach Claen, King of Ciarraighe- Luachra, in Anndl<\ lochA C^, vol. i. , pp. 12, 13.
3^ Thus written, in the -dnnAta locliA C^, ibid.
3"
See
of Ireland," chap, xiii. , p. lOO.
Story
Beatha,
3*'
This chief was ancestor to theO'Quinns
of Muintir-Iffernain, who originally were
seated at Inchiquin and Corofin, in the County of Clare.
3*^ In the translation of the Annals of Clonmacnoise, by Magheoghegan, they are
3*3 Thus they are called, in the Dublin
copy of the Annals of Innisfallen. See Rev. "
" chamber. "
called
three noblemen of the king's bed-
Dr. O'Conor's Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus ii.
3*-' See <XnnAlA tochA C^, vol. i. , 13-
pp.
12,
3«3 See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's "Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores,'' tomus iv. "An- nales Ultonienses,'' p. 305.
3'= See CogATDh jAeoheL Ke jAtLAibh, chap, cxviii. , pp. 208, 209.
3*' He was the first, who was called O'Faelain, l. atinize. l, Nepos Foilani.
3** See OmriAlA tochA Ce, or Annals of
Lough Ce, by William M. Hennessy, vol. i. , pp. 12, 13-
April 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 445
h Eidhin,35' or O'Heyne, lord of Aidline, with many other distinguished leaders, lay dead on tlie field. Among tiiose slain, on tlie Irisii side, the loss
of Dunlang Ua Hartegan was especially lamented. ^s^ According to the pre- vailing tradition, a dreadful slaughter of the Connaughtmen took place in this battle,--93 and especially very few of the O'Kellys or O'Heynes survived it.
Muredach MormhaorjSS'* the great Steward of Leamhne, or Lennox, and Domh- nall,595 son of Einihin, son of Cainneach,39* the great Steward of Mair, or Mar, with other brave Albanian Scots, who were descendants from Core, King of Munster, died in the same cause. 397 Together with the foregoing, the almost incredible number of sixteen hundred of the Irish nobles is said to have fallen at Clontarf;39' but, certainly the proportion of chiefs to their clansmenwasovertheaveragecountedonmostotherbattle-fields. 399 Eleven thousand of the Irish were slain, according to Hannier;*'=° but, this doubt- less is a gross e. xaggeraiion, and probably, about half that number fell.
That this was a real and great victory for the Irish forces is attested, not alone by all our Irish annalists,*"' but even in the Northern chronicles and sagas. In both Irish and Danish versions, the Northmen are represented as flying for refuge, and in all directions, from the field of combat. Thus, not only the general unanimity of Irish chroniclers, but even the Scandinavian accounts'*^ of this sanguinary battle—long after famous throughout Europe—
^ The Bod'eaincopy of the Annals of Innis- fallen calU him, ThaJ^ hua Cellakh ui hiia Maine. The <)innal,<i toch^C^, name him, Tadhg, son of Murchadh Ua Ceallaigh, King of Ui Maine. See vol. i. , pp. 12, 13.
"" A curious tr. idition of the Hy-Many O'Kellys stales that after the fall of Teige Mor, in the battle of Cloniarf, a certain animal like a dog issued from the sea, to pro- tect his body from the Danes. This animal remained on guard, until the Hy-Many car- ried away the corpse of their chief. Ever since, the strange animal has been painted on the crest of the O'Kellys of Hy-Many. See the "Tribes and Customs of Hy-Many," edited by John O'Donovan. Additional Notes, A, p. 99.
"' This IS interpreted, Mulroney O'Heyne of the Prayer. The progenitor of this family, Eidhin, brother to Maelfabhill, gave name to the O'Heynes, now rendered into Hynes.
» A soldier of Morhe, called Douling of Hertakane, is said to have fought best, on the field of Clontarf, according to the Book of Howth. It adds: "After Mag Morliowe he was the first that stale in Ireland. "— "Calendar of the Carew Manuscripts," edited by J. S. Brewer, M. A. , and William Bullen, Esq. , p. 26.
»' See CogA-oh JieDhet ne jAtlAibh, chap, ci. , cvi. , pp. 176, 177, 184, 185.
O'Flaherty's "Ogygia," pars, iii. , cap. Ixxxi. , p. 384.
"5 He was descended from Maine Leamh-
na, the brother of Cairbre Luachra, who was
ancestor of the O'Murchartys or O'Moriartys
of Kerry, See ibid. , p. 382.
"' Called Cainnech Mor, in 4lrin4La
LochxiC^, vol. i. , pp. 12, 13.
'"The former alliance of the Albans and
I'olychroni- con," Ranulphi Higden Monachi Cestren sis ; together with the English Translation ofJohn Trevisa and of an unknown writer of the fifteenth century. Eilited by Churchill Babington, B. L). , &c. , vol. i. , lib. i. , cap. xxxvii. , pp. 382 to 395. London, 1865,
SaIUmMi,
The chieftain, who fell at Clontarf, was the first person ever called O'Heidhin.
chap, cxviii. , pp. 208 to 21 1.
3" The Anndt* Locha C^, after enumera-
ting, by name, many of the foregoing names of Irish chiefs, adds, "etalii multi nobiles. "
—Vol. i. ,pp. 12, 13.
*»See "Chronicle of Ireland," p. 184. "See those accounts, contained in the Annal-iof Innisfallen, under the year 1014, as also, in the Annals of Ulster and of the Four Masters.
40J . < This event happened in the Orkneys, that Hareck thought ne saw Earl Sigurd, and some men with him. Then Hareck took his horse and rode to meet the Earl. Men saw that they met and rode under a brae, but they were never seen again, and not a scrap was ever found of Hareck.
" Earl Gilli in the Southern Isles dreamed that a man came to him and said his name was Hostfinn, and told him he was come from Ireland.
" The Earl thought he asked him for —tid-
ings thence, and then he sang this song:
" I have been where warriors
High in Erin sang the sword. Boss to boss met many bucklers, Steel rung sharp on rattling helm ; I call tell of all their struggle ; Sigurd fell in flight of speai-s ;
Brian fell, but kept his kingdom Ere he lost on« drop of blood. "
"< See Roderick
wrestled,
the Hibernians is treated of, in "
et seq. 8vo.
^ See Tie CoSATih jAeohel
446 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23.
are sufficient to remove any supposition of victory having been obtained by the Northmen. *°3 Those dreadful portents, rehited by them, assure us of the calamities they endured, with their disastrous defeat/"^ The misfortunes of the fated field have lelt their impress on those traditions, the reflex of wild and weird superstitions, which regard the Northman's belief in magic practices, and preternatural agency, as depicted for us, by many of their old chroni- clers/"' In the Norse tongue, this account is yet to be found, and Thormo- dus Torfaeus,''"' has drawn it from a remote source ; as also in Bartholinus,''"' the same statement has been preserved. We are told, that at Suinefell in Ice- land, blood came on the priest's stole on Good Fridaj', so that he had to put it off. •°' Not the least distinguished was Sigurd, Jarl of Orkney, who fell in the battle of Clontarf, while bravely commanding his division,^°9 and his
death is said to have been accompanied by certain wild visions. The Fatal Sisters appeared on the field at Clontarf and were busied among the heaps of slain. <'° Tiiese were seen weaving the web of destiny, for those destined to fallintliatengagement. OnthisGoodFriday,Uarrud,orDaurrud,anative of Caithness, saw at a distance a number of persons on horseback,4" riding full speed towards a hill, which they seemed to enter. *'^ Others say, they went into a bower, with a window slit in it. *"' These were the Valkyriar, or female divinities, who were the servants of Odin or Woden. Their name signifies Chusers of the slain. They were mounted on swift horses, with drawn swords in their hands ; while, in the throng of battle, they selected such as were destined for slaughter, and conducted them to Valhalla.
Curiosity led Daurrud to follow them. 4'4 Looking through an opening in the rocks, or bower, he saw twelve gigantic female figures. They were em- ployed about a loom /'s and, as they wove, they sung a decadful song. If we
"
Those two, Flosi and the Earl, talked much of this dream. A week nfter, Hrafn the Red came thitfier, and told them all the tidings of Brian's battle, the fall of the King and of Earl Sigurd, and iJrodir and all the Vikings.
"What," said p-losi, "hast thou to tell me of my men? " " They all fell there,'' says Hrafn, but thy biutlier-in-law Thor- stein took peace from Kerthialliid, and is now with him. ''—George Webbe Dasent's "Story of Burnt Njal," vol. ii. , chap, clvi. .
PP- 342, 343-
"'^ See "
Nials-Saga," cap. clviii. , pp.
620 to 023.
404 "At Thvattwater, the priest thought
he saw on Good a of the Friday long deep
tione incunditateque" plenum, maxima lec- toris aiiimum vohiptate facile perfinidens. " Auctore Olao Magno Gotho Aichiepiscopo Vpsalensi Suetiae et Golhise Primate, lib. hi. , cap. x. De fatalibus sororibus et Nymphis, pp. no, in. Romse, m. d. l. v. , fol.
*<* In"The Oreadc. s,"published atHafniae, A. I). 1679, fol. , a wail over the defeat of the Islemen rs heard,
<°' See Lil). iii. , cap. i. , p. 6l7,"4to.
sea hard by the altar, and then he saw many awful sights, and—it was long ere he could sing the prayers. " George Webbe Dasent's "Story of Burnt Njal," vol. ii. , chap, clvi. , p. 342.
and Pre-historic Annals of Scotland," Part
iv. , chap, vi. , p. 589.
405 See " Historia de Gentibvs Septen- trionalibvs, earvmqve diversis s. atibvs, con- ditionibvs, moribvs, ritibvs, svper^titionibv. s,
folk riding together.
*'" See " Potms " of Thomas Gray, vol. i. ,
Ode viii. , p. 78.
''3 See George Webbe Dasent's " Story
of Burnt Njal,'^ vol. ii. ,'chap. clvi. , p. 338. "'See the "Nials-Saga," or "Vita
disciplinis, exerchiis, regimine, victu, l,eilis, structuris, insirumentis ac mineris metalli- cis ei rebus mirabilibus, necnon universis pene aiiimalibus in Septentrioiie degentibus, eorumque natura Opvs vt varivm, plvrimar- vmqve rcrum congniiione refertvm, atque cvni exemplis exiernis, tum expre^sis rerum internarura picturis illustratum, ita delecta-
Nialis,'cap. clviii. PugnaBrianiana.
-"s" Men's heads were the weights, but men's entrails were the warp ana weft, a sword was the . shuttle, and the reels were
•">* " See George Webbe Dasent's
Story of Burnt Njal,' vol. 'ii. ,'chap. clvi. , p. 342.
*°' A noble Ode, borrowed from a Norse
has been the Poet comjiosed, by
original,
Gray, and this commemoration of Sigurd's fate is contained in "The Fatal Sisters. "
*"• See Daniel
"'
Wilson's Arcliasology
*"
( ine account there were twelve [has it,
— Webbe
arrows. " George Dasent's "Stoiy
of Burnt Njal, vol. ii. , chap, clvi. , p. 338.
April 33. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 447
are to believe the authority of the Sagas,*'' their song is still preserved, in the originalNorsetongueandmeasure. •'' Daurrudheardtheweirdstrainstheysang, andhelearntthembyheart. *"* WhentheFatalSistershadfinishedtheirweb, theytoreitintotwelvepieces. Eachtookherportion: sixgallopedtothenorth, and as many to the south. •"9 Their song has been translated into Latin,*'" in the Nials-Saga,*'" with notes illustrating it. Later still, that Norse song has been metrically rendered, by one of the masters of English verse ;*" how-
Iron sleet of arrowy shower Hurtles in the darkened air.
Glittering lances are the loom, Where the dusky warp we strain,
Weaving many a soldier's doom, Orkney's woe, and Randver's bane.
See thegriesly texture grow ! ('Tis of human entrails made).
And the weights, that play below,
"' The original of this, according to
: Thomas Gray, begins —
"" Vitt er orpit fyrir valfalli," &c.
"
The Latin version begins
" Late diffanditur. "
This account is drawn, we are told Ex
:
Orcadibus Thormond Torfaei.
*' The foUowin;:, according to another
version, is the opening verse : "Vitt er erpinn
—
Each a
gasping
warrior's head.
Fyrit valfalli Riss reidi sky Rienir blodi
Nu er fyr geirum Grar uppkominn Vefr verpiodar Perer vinur fulla, Raudum vefti Randversk bla. "
Burnt we have translated into Njal,"
" Shafts for shuttles, dipt in gore.
Shoot the trembling cords along. Sword, that once a monarch bore, Keep the tissue close and strong.
" Mista, black terrific maid,
Sangrida and Hilda, see, Joy the wayward work to aid : 'Tis the woof of victory,
"Eretheruddysunbeset.
Pikes must shiver, javelins sing. Blade with clattering buckler meet
Hauberk crash and helmet rmg.
—Rev.
Johnstone's " Celto-Scandic*,' p. 124.
James
«'« In George Webbe Dasent's "Story of
tnglish "TheWoofofWar. " Seevol. ii. , chap,
" thecrimsonwebof (Weave
dvi. , pp. 338 to 341.
slew Brien, add the <\nnatA I,ochA 0^, or
Annals of Lough Ce, edited by William M.
Hennessy, vol. i. , pp. 10, II.
333 Or Broder, son of Osli, and Earl of
Caer Ebroc, and along with him were killed a thousand plundering Danes, both Saxons and Lochlanns. See CogA'oh 5<xe-ohel fte
iv. Annales Ultomenses, p. 305.
344 Another account has it Carlus and
Ciarlus, the two sons of the King of Loch- Ian n.
345 See Rev. Dr. Charles O'Conor's " Re- rum Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus ii. , Annales Inisfalenses, p. 66.
34' Also called Grisin, read Grifin.
perhaps
we should
34' Also called Laghman.
April 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 443
to the Annals of Boyle,353 3,000 foreigners were killed, while with more par- ticularity, the Annals of Innisfallen have 3,012. In some of the Northmen's divisions, not a single warrior was left alive, so implacably did the victors follow up their success. Brodir's men—but probably only those are meant
who participated in the Monarch's murder—were slain to a man.
354
On the side
of the Galls, at least six thousand perished, either by killing or by drowning, as we are told. ? 55 The total loss on the enemy's side, according to one writer, was six hundred and three score hundreds, or six thousand six hundred. 'S* Among these, one thousand warriors, who wore coats of mail, were altogether slain, 35' so that not even one escaped from that field of carnage. Again, fifteen men of the Burners fell in Brian's battle,3s8 and there too fell Halldor, sonofGudmund,thepowerfulandbraveErlingofStraumey. 359 Sitrick,son to Amhlaibh, King of Ath Cliath, was not killed, as happened to all the other foreigners of distinction, because he did not go into the battle, but re-
mained on guard, within the walls of his fortress. 3*° In the Nials-Saga, one of the northern princes is introduced as asking,3*' some time after the battle, what had become of his men ? The answer given to him was couched in these words, that they were all killed.
It is not wonderful, that in this most obstinate engagement, which was waged from sunrise to dusk, the victory was dearly won, owing to the number slain, even on the conqueror's side. The Annals of Iniiislallen,^*" after enumerating among the slain the Monarch Bryan 3*3 and a few of his chiefs, with Maelmorda, King of Leinster, states in general, that many others fell on the Irish side ; while there was a great slaughter of the Leinster Reguli, and of the foreigners, belonging to the western world,3*-» on the other side. 3*5 About this period, and long afterwards, an incorrect geographical notion prevailed, that the Britannic and Irish Islands, as also the Scandinavian countries, had a more westward direction, as shown on several ancient maps. The royal family of Munster were left to mourn the loss of three generations cut down
^"Mornij,h advance 1 o'er heaps of slain
Th. it marked his path upon the
plain ;
In vain Conmaol dared his might,
Or challenged him to single fight ; In vain he raised his sword to hea-
ven
With a en- many mystic sign
of Lough Ci, edited by Willijim M. Hennessy, vol. i. , pp. lo, ii.
's' See Cogaoh Saerjliet Re JatlAibh, chap, cxvii. , pp. 208, 209.
'sr Such is the account given, in the Dub—-
lin copy of the " Annals of Innisfallen. " "
graven. "
—John D'Allon's " Dermid
'5» See "
Nials-. Sajia," cap. civiii,, p. 6os.
35' See " George Webbe Dasent's
Days of Boru," canto xi. , sect, xix. , pp. 379,
380.
J" He was the son of Duilhghin, andboh
of these named were two kings of Port
Lairge.
""Son of Turgeis.
3« ^on of Sunan.
31" Son of Suamin.
55' These were two sons of the Ingen
Ruaidh.
3S» See Cogatjh 5«eT)het Re SAbL^iibh
chap, cxvii. . pp. 206, 207.
353 See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's "Rerum
Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus ii. , An-
^' I his dialogue seems an allusion to that division, clotlied in the coats of mail.
'" The Bodleian copy.
3«3
i,, the <inn4l<v bochaC^, or Annals of Lough Ce, edited l. y William . \1. Hennessy, he is called ihe supreme king of theGaedhel of Erinn, and of the foreigners of Britain, and the Augustus of the « hole north-west of Europe. See vol. i. , pp. 10. 11.
' * Accordint; to the Coga-oh 54eT)hel Re Sitl-aibh, chap, cxvii. , pp. 206, 207, there were killed in that battle, the greater part of the men of valour of the Gaill and of the Gaedhil, belonging to all the west of Europe.
"5 See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's "Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus ii. , p. 54.
nales Huellani, p. 17. " 35* See Genrge Webbe Da. sent's
Story of
Burnt Njal," vol. ii. , chap, clvi. , p. 338.
335 See <\nn<»U(i lx>chA C6, or the Annals
;
or in Erin the
ggg
Ue
5<\ll<iibh,
.
Rev. iJr. O'Conor's
Rerum Hibernicaram
Scriptores," tnmusii. , p. 65.
Story of Burnt Njal," vol. ii. , chap, clvi. , p. 338.
^fc
Co5AT>h JaeDheL chap, cxvii. . pp. 206 to 209.
444 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23.
in the one day, and upon the same field of battle. s** Besides the aged mon- arch 3*7 himself, Murchad 3** or Morough,3*9 with two of his brothers and his son Tordelbac 370 or Turlogh, fell in this most sanguinary encounter. His nephew ConaingS'' or Conang,37= the son of Donncuann, was slain, likewise, in this battle. Domhnall,373 son to Diarmaid, lord of Corca Bhaiscinn,37< Geibheannach, son to Dubhagan,375 chief of Feara-Maighe,37* Mac Beatha,377 son to Muireadhach,378 Claen the chief of Ciarraighe-Luachra,379 and Sgann- lan3*° or Scannlan, son to Cathal, lord of Eoghanacht-Locha Lein, were killed. Among others are mentioned, Eocha, son to Dunadhach, chief of the Clann-Scannlaine, Niall Ua Cuinn,3^' and Cuduiligh, son to Ceinneidigh,3^2 who were the three aids-de-camp, or companions in arms, 3*3 to the monarch Brian himself. 3^-t These three defenders were slain, with many other nobles. 3'5 Dubhdabhorrenn, son of Domhnall, Loingsech, son of Dunlaing,35* and Mothla,3*7 son to Domhnall, son to Faelan,lordin South Mumhan orMunster,38' Deisi were slain. The powerful Connaught prince, Tadhg Ua Ceallaigh or 0'Kelly,3*9 chief over Hy-Maine,39° as likewise Maelruanaidh na Paidre Ua
Alexander M. Sullivan's "
3^7 Bianus, King of Ireland, with his son Ascuthin, namely King Dulyn, was killed, A. D. 1013, according to the Cambrian Annals. See "Annales Cambriae," edited by the Rev. John Williams ab Ithel, M. A. , p. 22.
3'^ See the Annals of Innisfallen, Bodleian
and Dublin copies, in Rev. Dr. O'Conor's
" Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus
ii. , pp. 54, 63.
3°« This is the more modern spelling of his
name, by Irish historians.
37° See the Annals of Innisfallen, Bod-
leian and Dublin copies.
37' He is called, the royal heir of Mumha,
in OinnAl,* tochA Ce, or Annals of Lough
Ce, edited by William M. Hennessy, vol. i. ,
pp. 12, 13.
37^ The Bodleian copy of the Innisfallen
Annals calls him Chonchang, son of Duind- chuan.
373 He was progenitor of the O'Domhnaiil
or O'Donnell family belonging to East Corca Bhaiscinn. He w. is ancestor of the O'Cearb- haill or O'CarroU family, who were lords or chieftains of Eoghanacht-Locha-Lein, now Killarney. Afterwards, the O'Donohocs, a branch of the Ui-Eathach-Mumhan, dis- possessed them.
374 See the Annals of Innisfallen, Bodleian and Dublin copies.
375 Xhe Druid Meogh Roth is said to have been his ancestor, and he is thought to have descended from Cuanna Mac Cailchine, commonly called Laech Liathmluiine.
37* He is called, Geilihendach Ua Dubha-
gain, King of Fera-Maighe, in the <3itin<sLa tociiA Ce, or Annals of Lough Ce, ediied by William M. Hennessy, vol. i. , pp. 12,
377 He is called Baedan, in the Co54T)h
jAenhel 1le 5«llAibh. According to Dr. O'Donovan, he was the ancestor of O'Conor
Kerry, "though in the pedigrees the only
Mac Beatha to be found is made Mac
son of Conchobhar, but it should clearly be Mac Beatha, son of Muiriadhach Claen, son of Conchobh. ir, the progenitor from whom the O'Connors Kerry derive their hereditary surname. "—" Annals of the Four Mailers," vol. ii. , n. (p), pp. 774, 775. The editor afterwards instances several distinguished descendants of this family.
37* The Bodleian copy of the Annals of Innisfallen calls him Bethad, son of Murcher- tach, only ; while the Dublin copy names liim McBeotaicc mc Muiredh Righ Ciaruidhe Luachra. See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus ii. , pp. 54, 63.
379 He is styled Mac Bethaidh, son of Muiredhach Claen, King of Ciarraighe- Luachra, in Anndl<\ lochA C^, vol. i. , pp. 12, 13.
3^ Thus written, in the -dnnAta locliA C^, ibid.
3"
See
of Ireland," chap, xiii. , p. lOO.
Story
Beatha,
3*'
This chief was ancestor to theO'Quinns
of Muintir-Iffernain, who originally were
seated at Inchiquin and Corofin, in the County of Clare.
3*^ In the translation of the Annals of Clonmacnoise, by Magheoghegan, they are
3*3 Thus they are called, in the Dublin
copy of the Annals of Innisfallen. See Rev. "
" chamber. "
called
three noblemen of the king's bed-
Dr. O'Conor's Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus ii.
3*-' See <XnnAlA tochA C^, vol. i. , 13-
pp.
12,
3«3 See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's "Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores,'' tomus iv. "An- nales Ultonienses,'' p. 305.
3'= See CogATDh jAeoheL Ke jAtLAibh, chap, cxviii. , pp. 208, 209.
3*' He was the first, who was called O'Faelain, l. atinize. l, Nepos Foilani.
3** See OmriAlA tochA Ce, or Annals of
Lough Ce, by William M. Hennessy, vol. i. , pp. 12, 13-
April 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 445
h Eidhin,35' or O'Heyne, lord of Aidline, with many other distinguished leaders, lay dead on tlie field. Among tiiose slain, on tlie Irisii side, the loss
of Dunlang Ua Hartegan was especially lamented. ^s^ According to the pre- vailing tradition, a dreadful slaughter of the Connaughtmen took place in this battle,--93 and especially very few of the O'Kellys or O'Heynes survived it.
Muredach MormhaorjSS'* the great Steward of Leamhne, or Lennox, and Domh- nall,595 son of Einihin, son of Cainneach,39* the great Steward of Mair, or Mar, with other brave Albanian Scots, who were descendants from Core, King of Munster, died in the same cause. 397 Together with the foregoing, the almost incredible number of sixteen hundred of the Irish nobles is said to have fallen at Clontarf;39' but, certainly the proportion of chiefs to their clansmenwasovertheaveragecountedonmostotherbattle-fields. 399 Eleven thousand of the Irish were slain, according to Hannier;*'=° but, this doubt- less is a gross e. xaggeraiion, and probably, about half that number fell.
That this was a real and great victory for the Irish forces is attested, not alone by all our Irish annalists,*"' but even in the Northern chronicles and sagas. In both Irish and Danish versions, the Northmen are represented as flying for refuge, and in all directions, from the field of combat. Thus, not only the general unanimity of Irish chroniclers, but even the Scandinavian accounts'*^ of this sanguinary battle—long after famous throughout Europe—
^ The Bod'eaincopy of the Annals of Innis- fallen calU him, ThaJ^ hua Cellakh ui hiia Maine. The <)innal,<i toch^C^, name him, Tadhg, son of Murchadh Ua Ceallaigh, King of Ui Maine. See vol. i. , pp. 12, 13.
"" A curious tr. idition of the Hy-Many O'Kellys stales that after the fall of Teige Mor, in the battle of Cloniarf, a certain animal like a dog issued from the sea, to pro- tect his body from the Danes. This animal remained on guard, until the Hy-Many car- ried away the corpse of their chief. Ever since, the strange animal has been painted on the crest of the O'Kellys of Hy-Many. See the "Tribes and Customs of Hy-Many," edited by John O'Donovan. Additional Notes, A, p. 99.
"' This IS interpreted, Mulroney O'Heyne of the Prayer. The progenitor of this family, Eidhin, brother to Maelfabhill, gave name to the O'Heynes, now rendered into Hynes.
» A soldier of Morhe, called Douling of Hertakane, is said to have fought best, on the field of Clontarf, according to the Book of Howth. It adds: "After Mag Morliowe he was the first that stale in Ireland. "— "Calendar of the Carew Manuscripts," edited by J. S. Brewer, M. A. , and William Bullen, Esq. , p. 26.
»' See CogA-oh JieDhet ne jAtlAibh, chap, ci. , cvi. , pp. 176, 177, 184, 185.
O'Flaherty's "Ogygia," pars, iii. , cap. Ixxxi. , p. 384.
"5 He was descended from Maine Leamh-
na, the brother of Cairbre Luachra, who was
ancestor of the O'Murchartys or O'Moriartys
of Kerry, See ibid. , p. 382.
"' Called Cainnech Mor, in 4lrin4La
LochxiC^, vol. i. , pp. 12, 13.
'"The former alliance of the Albans and
I'olychroni- con," Ranulphi Higden Monachi Cestren sis ; together with the English Translation ofJohn Trevisa and of an unknown writer of the fifteenth century. Eilited by Churchill Babington, B. L). , &c. , vol. i. , lib. i. , cap. xxxvii. , pp. 382 to 395. London, 1865,
SaIUmMi,
The chieftain, who fell at Clontarf, was the first person ever called O'Heidhin.
chap, cxviii. , pp. 208 to 21 1.
3" The Anndt* Locha C^, after enumera-
ting, by name, many of the foregoing names of Irish chiefs, adds, "etalii multi nobiles. "
—Vol. i. ,pp. 12, 13.
*»See "Chronicle of Ireland," p. 184. "See those accounts, contained in the Annal-iof Innisfallen, under the year 1014, as also, in the Annals of Ulster and of the Four Masters.
40J . < This event happened in the Orkneys, that Hareck thought ne saw Earl Sigurd, and some men with him. Then Hareck took his horse and rode to meet the Earl. Men saw that they met and rode under a brae, but they were never seen again, and not a scrap was ever found of Hareck.
" Earl Gilli in the Southern Isles dreamed that a man came to him and said his name was Hostfinn, and told him he was come from Ireland.
" The Earl thought he asked him for —tid-
ings thence, and then he sang this song:
" I have been where warriors
High in Erin sang the sword. Boss to boss met many bucklers, Steel rung sharp on rattling helm ; I call tell of all their struggle ; Sigurd fell in flight of speai-s ;
Brian fell, but kept his kingdom Ere he lost on« drop of blood. "
"< See Roderick
wrestled,
the Hibernians is treated of, in "
et seq. 8vo.
^ See Tie CoSATih jAeohel
446 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23.
are sufficient to remove any supposition of victory having been obtained by the Northmen. *°3 Those dreadful portents, rehited by them, assure us of the calamities they endured, with their disastrous defeat/"^ The misfortunes of the fated field have lelt their impress on those traditions, the reflex of wild and weird superstitions, which regard the Northman's belief in magic practices, and preternatural agency, as depicted for us, by many of their old chroni- clers/"' In the Norse tongue, this account is yet to be found, and Thormo- dus Torfaeus,''"' has drawn it from a remote source ; as also in Bartholinus,''"' the same statement has been preserved. We are told, that at Suinefell in Ice- land, blood came on the priest's stole on Good Fridaj', so that he had to put it off. •°' Not the least distinguished was Sigurd, Jarl of Orkney, who fell in the battle of Clontarf, while bravely commanding his division,^°9 and his
death is said to have been accompanied by certain wild visions. The Fatal Sisters appeared on the field at Clontarf and were busied among the heaps of slain. <'° Tiiese were seen weaving the web of destiny, for those destined to fallintliatengagement. OnthisGoodFriday,Uarrud,orDaurrud,anative of Caithness, saw at a distance a number of persons on horseback,4" riding full speed towards a hill, which they seemed to enter. *'^ Others say, they went into a bower, with a window slit in it. *"' These were the Valkyriar, or female divinities, who were the servants of Odin or Woden. Their name signifies Chusers of the slain. They were mounted on swift horses, with drawn swords in their hands ; while, in the throng of battle, they selected such as were destined for slaughter, and conducted them to Valhalla.
Curiosity led Daurrud to follow them. 4'4 Looking through an opening in the rocks, or bower, he saw twelve gigantic female figures. They were em- ployed about a loom /'s and, as they wove, they sung a decadful song. If we
"
Those two, Flosi and the Earl, talked much of this dream. A week nfter, Hrafn the Red came thitfier, and told them all the tidings of Brian's battle, the fall of the King and of Earl Sigurd, and iJrodir and all the Vikings.
"What," said p-losi, "hast thou to tell me of my men? " " They all fell there,'' says Hrafn, but thy biutlier-in-law Thor- stein took peace from Kerthialliid, and is now with him. ''—George Webbe Dasent's "Story of Burnt Njal," vol. ii. , chap, clvi. .
PP- 342, 343-
"'^ See "
Nials-Saga," cap. clviii. , pp.
620 to 023.
404 "At Thvattwater, the priest thought
he saw on Good a of the Friday long deep
tione incunditateque" plenum, maxima lec- toris aiiimum vohiptate facile perfinidens. " Auctore Olao Magno Gotho Aichiepiscopo Vpsalensi Suetiae et Golhise Primate, lib. hi. , cap. x. De fatalibus sororibus et Nymphis, pp. no, in. Romse, m. d. l. v. , fol.
*<* In"The Oreadc. s,"published atHafniae, A. I). 1679, fol. , a wail over the defeat of the Islemen rs heard,
<°' See Lil). iii. , cap. i. , p. 6l7,"4to.
sea hard by the altar, and then he saw many awful sights, and—it was long ere he could sing the prayers. " George Webbe Dasent's "Story of Burnt Njal," vol. ii. , chap, clvi. , p. 342.
and Pre-historic Annals of Scotland," Part
iv. , chap, vi. , p. 589.
405 See " Historia de Gentibvs Septen- trionalibvs, earvmqve diversis s. atibvs, con- ditionibvs, moribvs, ritibvs, svper^titionibv. s,
folk riding together.
*'" See " Potms " of Thomas Gray, vol. i. ,
Ode viii. , p. 78.
''3 See George Webbe Dasent's " Story
of Burnt Njal,'^ vol. ii. ,'chap. clvi. , p. 338. "'See the "Nials-Saga," or "Vita
disciplinis, exerchiis, regimine, victu, l,eilis, structuris, insirumentis ac mineris metalli- cis ei rebus mirabilibus, necnon universis pene aiiimalibus in Septentrioiie degentibus, eorumque natura Opvs vt varivm, plvrimar- vmqve rcrum congniiione refertvm, atque cvni exemplis exiernis, tum expre^sis rerum internarura picturis illustratum, ita delecta-
Nialis,'cap. clviii. PugnaBrianiana.
-"s" Men's heads were the weights, but men's entrails were the warp ana weft, a sword was the . shuttle, and the reels were
•">* " See George Webbe Dasent's
Story of Burnt Njal,' vol. 'ii. ,'chap. clvi. , p. 342.
*°' A noble Ode, borrowed from a Norse
has been the Poet comjiosed, by
original,
Gray, and this commemoration of Sigurd's fate is contained in "The Fatal Sisters. "
*"• See Daniel
"'
Wilson's Arcliasology
*"
( ine account there were twelve [has it,
— Webbe
arrows. " George Dasent's "Stoiy
of Burnt Njal, vol. ii. , chap, clvi. , p. 338.
April 33. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 447
are to believe the authority of the Sagas,*'' their song is still preserved, in the originalNorsetongueandmeasure. •'' Daurrudheardtheweirdstrainstheysang, andhelearntthembyheart. *"* WhentheFatalSistershadfinishedtheirweb, theytoreitintotwelvepieces. Eachtookherportion: sixgallopedtothenorth, and as many to the south. •"9 Their song has been translated into Latin,*'" in the Nials-Saga,*'" with notes illustrating it. Later still, that Norse song has been metrically rendered, by one of the masters of English verse ;*" how-
Iron sleet of arrowy shower Hurtles in the darkened air.
Glittering lances are the loom, Where the dusky warp we strain,
Weaving many a soldier's doom, Orkney's woe, and Randver's bane.
See thegriesly texture grow ! ('Tis of human entrails made).
And the weights, that play below,
"' The original of this, according to
: Thomas Gray, begins —
"" Vitt er orpit fyrir valfalli," &c.
"
The Latin version begins
" Late diffanditur. "
This account is drawn, we are told Ex
:
Orcadibus Thormond Torfaei.
*' The foUowin;:, according to another
version, is the opening verse : "Vitt er erpinn
—
Each a
gasping
warrior's head.
Fyrit valfalli Riss reidi sky Rienir blodi
Nu er fyr geirum Grar uppkominn Vefr verpiodar Perer vinur fulla, Raudum vefti Randversk bla. "
Burnt we have translated into Njal,"
" Shafts for shuttles, dipt in gore.
Shoot the trembling cords along. Sword, that once a monarch bore, Keep the tissue close and strong.
" Mista, black terrific maid,
Sangrida and Hilda, see, Joy the wayward work to aid : 'Tis the woof of victory,
"Eretheruddysunbeset.
Pikes must shiver, javelins sing. Blade with clattering buckler meet
Hauberk crash and helmet rmg.
—Rev.
Johnstone's " Celto-Scandic*,' p. 124.
James
«'« In George Webbe Dasent's "Story of
tnglish "TheWoofofWar. " Seevol. ii. , chap,
" thecrimsonwebof (Weave
dvi. , pp. 338 to 341.
