AtrulyformidablebodyofNorthmenhadbeenassembledunder
Broder, at Dublin, after Palm Sunday, a.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v4
, son to Kinneth, King of Scot- '3'' This small territory lay northwards of land.
" See part ii.
, p.
547, in Genera
Jliid.
Thomond, it being bounded by Hy-Maine to the east, and by Galway Bay on the west.
Valbncey's "Collectanea de Rebus Hiber-
—called
after Guaire
Aidhne,
fallen that mention,
had a was married to
This
King of Connaught, who died A. D. 662 was co-extensive with the diocese of Kil-
daughter Cian, son to Maolmuadh Mac Brian, King of
territory
—
Bryan Sadhbh, or Sabia, who
Tani^ry Illustrated," part ii. .
No. iv. ,
lies," vol. i. , Book ii. , chap, vi. , p. lOO. '"See Dermod O'Connor's Keating's " General History of Ireland," Book ii. , pp.
495, 496.
'<* The Rev. Paul O'Brien, D. D. , who
nicis," vol. i. , No. iv.
The Annals of Innis
April 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 403
these landed in Ireland. Among them was Donald,'<5 the Mormaer or Great Steward of Marr,'''* and he appears to have been the chief in command over those Scots. Nor could Bryan rely, it is said,'*' on the fidelity of some, who joined him as auxiliaries. The men of Meath came in, and with proffered aid, tothemonarchBryan; but,ifwearetocreditsomeaccounts,therewaslittle real intention of supporting his cause, and especially, if a chance were aflforded to withhold their allegiance. The Meathians were under the conduct of Mael- seachlin, their king; and, his former hostilities with the present monarch of Ireland may have caused some misgivings, as to the course he might take. However, he seems to have been equally an object for the hostility of the Leinster people, as of their Scandinavian auxiliaries, at the period when this campaign opened. Still, some Momonian accounts will have it, that at a critical emergency, he had designed to ruin any reputation for honour or patriotism, he might have previously gained. But, his conduct on tlie field shows, that he remained faithful to his allegiance, and his being elected as the supreme monarch of Ireland a second time, immediately after the death of Bryan, in- dicate, that no suspicion of his traitorous designs had been entertained, by the nation at large. Mealseachlain is said to have boasted, that he and his thousand Meathmcn intended to desert Bryan, on the day of battle. We have good reasons for deeming this to be a calumny, which has hardly sufficient
proof to sustain it.
About the festival of St. Patrick, in spring, the muster of Bryan's army
was effected. '<' He knew those exertions made during the summer and winterof1013,tocombineanoverwhelmingforceofopponents. '" Hethen marched directly towards Leinster, as it has been stated, with 30,000 well- appointedandchosenmen,underhisstandards. '5° Onhisapproach,it seems probable, that Maelmordha, son to Murchadh, son of Finn, and the King of Laighin, with the forces of this province, and of Ui Cennselaigh, hastened for protection to Ath-Cliath. These fugitive foes formed three very great and strong battalions. 'S' The province of Leinster had been denuded of troops, and consequently it had been left uncovered, by Maelmordha,''* who probably judged it wise, to draw all his forces together, for what he sup- posed must have proved a decisive battle. Under the circumstances, it seems to have been a well-calculated stroke of generalship. Meantime, Bryan had sent his son Donchadh, with the new levies of the Dal Cais, and the third battalion of the Munstcrmen, to make a raid upon the Leinster ter- ritories. '53 It is said, he was at the head of a third part of the Eugenian forces. The King of Ailech, Hugh O'Neill, pretended a desire to assist the monarch. But, Bryan had not forgotten a negotiation between himself and Maelseachlainn ; so that having suspicions about his sincerity, the monarch is related to have refused such an offer. '54 It seems a
Ive-Eacach, A. D. 979. They had a son, calleil Mahon, from whom the O'Mahonys of Ive-Eachach descended.
'" He was the son of Eimin, the son of Cannich.
'' . See William F. Skene's "Celtic Scot-
ii. , chap. vi. ; p. 99.
'5° See Dr. Sylvester O'Halloran's "Gene-
ral History of Ireland," vol. ii. , Book xi. , chap, viii. , p. 261.
'5' See CogATjh 54et>heL Tie 5<j,ltAibli,
chap. Ixxxvii. , pp. 150, 151.
'i" He was not in mdelatigable, only
raising new levies, but in labouring to detach
different princes from the interest of their de Rebus Hibemici-," vol. i. . No. iv. A country. See Dr. Sylvester O'Halloran's
land: a of Ancient History
vol.
Alban," Book i. , chap. viii. . p. 387, and n. 4.
i. ,
'" See General Vallanccy'i "Collectanea
Critico-Histoiical Dissertition, &c. , p. 526. "' See Coga-oh 5Aex>VieL fie JiLtaibh,
"General History of Ireland," vol. ii. , Book xi. , chap, viii. , p. 260.
'5' It is said, "his absence was restricted
to three as the it would days, king thought
not be prudent to risk a battle without the
chap. Ixxxvii. , pp. 150, 151.
« See Thomas McGee's " D'Arcy Popu-
lar History of Ireland," &c. , vol. i. . Book
404 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23.
corruption of historic truth,"55 when we are told, that with base treachery to the national cause, information was sent to the King of Leinster, by Mael- seachlainn. 's* so that he might take advantage of the monarch's numerical in- feriority and attack him, with a comparative prospect of success. 'S7 In the absence of its fighting men, the province of Leinster was entirely despoiled. The main army of Bryan appears to have been in advance, plundering Ui Gabhla,'58uiDonnchadha,'"andFine—Gall. '^ ClondalkinandKilmain-
ham—as being settlements
of the
Leinster king and his Northmen auxiliaries were concentrating their forces,
enemy
around or within the walls of Dublin. The Irish monarch, at the head of his army, had now reached Ath-Cliath, and under circumstances extremely criti- cal. Bryan there encamped on the plains, near Dublin, some state at Kil- mainham,'^' and with a smaller army, than he should have had in array ;'*^ because it was found necessary, to order some diversion of his troops. Mean- time, the fleet of Sigurd bore southwards from Kirkwall, and swept the sub- ject coasts of Scotland. It gathered from every firth and loch its galleys and itsfightingmen. TheirrendezvouswastheIsleofMan,whereSuibnehad placed his own forces, under the command of Brodar. "^3 Whether it was the result of Donchadh's inability to come up in time for concentration, or whether it was intended for a strategic movement, inspired by a confidence of victory on the Irish side ; their state of isolation must have been attended with great hiizard to the general issue of that memorable day, at Clontarf, especially when the Irish monarch was engaged, in the presence of such mighty and united confederates.
During the month of April, sailing from the Isle of Man, Broder, with his powerful armament, appears to have arrived in Dublin, where he had several daystoorganizehisforces. TheNialsSaga,writtenintheDanishlanguage,but also translated into Latin, while supplying many details, in reference to the ex- pedition fitted out for Ireland, has a curious statement, in relation to the action of the two great leaders, Sigurd, Earl of the Orkneys, and Broder, commander-in-chiefoftheNorthmen. Direfulportentshadbeenwitnessed,
co-operation of these troops. "—Miss Julia Corner's "History of Ireland; from the Earliest Period to the Present Time," p. 31.
London, no date, l2mo.
's< See Dr. Sylvester O'Halloran's "Gene-
ral History of Ireland," vol. ii,. Book xi. , chap, viii. , p. 261.
'5S See the Battle of Clontarf, by John O'Donovan, in "The Dublin Penny Jour- nal," vol. i. , No. 17, p. 134.
'5' John O'Mahony, in his edition of Dr.
JeoflFrey Keating's "History of Ireland," attributes this suspicion to the calumnious as- persions of the Shaimachies of Munster, and he states, that Maoilsheachlainn Mor well merited his title of the Great. He also re- marks, that some writers barbarously trans- lated his name into Malachy, when writing it in English ; others more properly call him Melaghlin. According to another writer his name is formed of the familiar prefix Maol ('z'! ;/^c Mul^, and Seachnall, the name for an ancient disciple of St. Patrick, and
from whom Dunshaughlin, in the county of Meath was called. By usage, the last letters have become transposed. See "The Gaelic
Journal," vol. i. , No. i. , p. 5, note.
'57 This is stated, in the Dublin copy of
the Annals of Innisfallen. See Rev. Dr. Conor's " Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus ii. , pp. 60, 61.
'5* This territory is mentioned in the Annals of the Four Masters, at the year 1072, but nothing has been discovered as yet, to show where the Ui Gabhla were located. See teAbliAyv tia j-Ce^pc, or "The Book of Rights," Dr. O'Donovan's note (h), pp. 252, 253.
's? That portion of Dublin county, through which the River Dodder flows, according to Dr. O'Donovan.
"" The northern part of Dublin county,
were burned while the by Bryan,
"" According to General Vallancey, in his
" Collectanea De Rebus Hibernicis," where
thereisanaccountofBryanBoiroimh. See
vol. i. , No. iv. Critico-Historical Disserta-
tions concerning the Laws of the Ancient
Irish, partii. , pp. 522 to 547.
'<"
See the Battle of Clontarf, by John O'Donovan, in "The Dublin Penny Jour- nal," vol. i. , No. 17, p. 134.
"^ gee Thomas D'Arcy McGee's " Popu- lar History of Ireland," &c. , vol, i. , Book ii. , chap, vi. , p. 99.
^°* One night, a great din passed over Brodir and his men, so that all awoke,
April 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 405
even before the expedition had reached its destination. '^^ Until he pledged peace, Ospak would not tell Brodir. the meaning of these extraordinary signs, and even having procured this promise, he refused to expound them, until
"
When blood rained on you, therefore shall ye shedmanymen'sblood,bothofyourownandothers. But,whenyouhearda great din, then you must have been shown the crack of doom, and you shall all die speedily. But, when weapons fought against you, that must forebode a battle ; but, when ravens pressed you, that marks the devils which you put faith in, and who will drag you all down to the pains of hell. " Then, Brodir was so wroth, that he could answer never a word. At once, going to his men, he caused them to lay his ships in a line across the sound, and to moor them, by bearing their cables on shore, at either end of the line. He meant to slay Ospak and all his men the next
morning. However, the latter chief saw through the plans of Brodir; then, he vowed to embrace the true faith, to seek King Bryan, and to follow him until his death-day. He now resolved to lay his ships in aline, to punt them along the shore with poles, and to cut the cables of Brodir's ships. Soon these began to fall aboard of one another, while the crews were fast asleep. Ospak and his men thus got out of the firth, sailed westwards to Ireland, and wenttoConnaught. There,OspaktoldKingBryanallthathehadlearned. Afterwards, he was baptized, and gave himself over into the king's hands. '*'
Those prodigies and their interpretation were not calculated, however, to extinguish the hopes of the Scandinavian sailors and warriors, during their voyage.
AtrulyformidablebodyofNorthmenhadbeenassembledunder Broder, at Dublin, after Palm Sunday, a. d. ior4;'^* for, on that very day,'*? Earl Sigurd arrived with his vessels and troops, in the Bay of Dublin. '*^ These bands and their confederates became impatient for the fray. A few days only elapsed, until their desires were gratified, with the coming prospect of a great battle, but not with the successful result to them of an ever-memorable vic- tory. Broder was a gentile, who believed in oracular pronouncements, and he was anxious to obtain some answers, that might help him to prognosticate his chances of war in the coming contest. Vet, it seems the reply was so
"
fought onFriday,KingBryanshallfall,victorybeingobtained; but,ifitbefought before that day, all who stand opposed to him shall be slain. " Where-
fore, Broder deemed it wise, not to engage his forces before the Day of Venus. '*9
night fell. Then he said,
equivocal, that he drew a favourable augury from it :
If the battle be
sprung up, and put on their clothes. Along with that came a shower of boiling blood. Then, they covered themselves with their
went on until the day, and another man then
died in every ship. Then, they went to sleep first of all, but when Brodir woke up, draw- ing his breath painfully, he bade them put off in a boat to see Ospak. Taking some
shieUls, but, notwithstanding, many were
scalded. This portent lasted until day, and
a man died on board of every ship. Then, men with him, he found Ospak, and told
they slept during the day ; but, the second night there was a din, and again all sprang
him all that had happened, asking him what those signs boded.
"s See Webbe Dasent's " of George Story
Swords out of their sheaths, leaped
up. .
while axes and spears flew about in the air
Burnt Njal," and in vol. ii. , chap, civ. , pp. 330 to 332.
The weapons pressed them so
and
hanl, that they had to shield themselves.
"
Battle of Clontarfin "The Dublin Penny Journal," vol. i. , No. 17, p. 134.
fought.
Still many were wounded, and, again, a man died out of every ship. This wonder, too, lasted all till day. They slept again the day after ; but, the third night, there was a din ofthesamekind. Then,ravensflewatthem, having apparently Vjeaks and claws of iron. Tho>e ravens pressed them so hard, that they had to keep them off with their swords, and hadtocoverthemselveswiththeirshields. This
'"' See " Nials-Saga,^' cap. clviii. , p. 601.
See John O'Donovan's account of the
"SeeGeorgeWebbeDasent's"
Burnt Njal," &c. , vol. ii. , chap, civi. , p. 333.
'°9 See the Rev. James Johnstone's " An- tiquitates Celto-Scandicae ; sive Series Re-
Story
of
4o6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23
The monarch of Ireland arrived with his army, on the plain, called Magh n-Elda,orMaghn-Elta,'7°inolddocuments. Tliiswasthebeautifullyundu- lating tract of country, lying to the north and north-west of Ath-Cliath, and bearing in the direction of Meath, whence we may suppose Bryan had marched in conjunction with Maelseachlain. From about eighteen to twenty thousandmenaresupposedtohavebeenpresent,underhiscommand. The blockade of Dublin appears to have been renewed. Foraging parties were despatched, through the surrounding country. The foreigners saw the con- flagrations in Fine Gall, '7' and in the district of Edar,'? * which brought ruin onthehomesteadsoftheircountrymen; and,theirdesiresfortakingrevenge, before the monarch could procure the arrival of reinforcements, were now greatly excited. The monarch's head-quarters were on the plain of Ath- Cliath. '73 It seems probable, that the Irisli encampment extended from Ox- mantown Green, '? < quite close to Ath-Cliath,'" and eastwards towards Glas- nevin,'7* Clonturk,'? ' and the crests of the rising grounds, in the direction of theHillofHowth. AmidsttheIrishlines,aportionofthatplain,formerly called Magh-nEalta Edair, "Old plain of the flocks of Edair," lay. This sloped downwards, to that level stripe of shore, afterwards known as Clon- tarf. '7' The wood of Tomar '79 sheltered the Irish position. There can hardly
rum Gestanim inter Nationes Britannicarum Cliath lay on the north side of the Liffey, InsuUuum tt Gentes Septenlrionales," pp. while Dubhlinne was on the southern side, 120, 121. These literary gleanings consist and formed the fortified position of the of extracts taken from Snorro ; from Land-
nama-boc ; from Egilli Scallagrimi-snga ;
from Niala-saga ; from O. Tryggvasonar-
saga ; from Orkneyinga-Saga ; from Hiig- Ath-Cliath, or Dublin, at one time, as a vil-
giar-stikki ; from Knytlmga-saga ; from Spe- culo Regali; and from other sources.
'? » Or the I'l. nin of the Flocks. It
lay
between the Hill of Howth and Tallagh.
See Rev. James Heiithorn Todd's Introduc-
tion to Cogd-oh 5&e-oViel. lie jAtl-Aibli. p.
lage, and again as a city, in the twelfth cen-
tury, it is supposed, altliough closely adjoin-
theseweredistinctlocalities. See
ing, ibid. ,
p. 173, note.
'7' This parish, in the barony of Coolock,
and partially in that of the city of Dublin,
is shown, on the "Ordnance Survey Town- "
landMapsfortheCoun'yofDublin, sheets
14, 18. The village proper is marked, on the latter sheet.
" A townland and p. arish, in the barony of Coolock, marked out, ibui.
In the time of Henry II. , a House of the Knights Templars was here ; but, when these were expelled, a. d. 1313, in the reign of Edward II. , a PreceiUory of Knights Hospitallers occupied their place. . See Sir James Ware "De Hibernia et Antiquitatibus Ejus Disquisitiones," cap. xxvi. , p. 144.
'7' It is thought to have been situated, be- tween Clontarf and Dublin, along the north side of the Liffey. Other forms of tlie name are Tombrar, Tomhar, and Tomrair. It is perhaps the . Scandinavian Thormodr, [Thor's man! , which was a common name in Iceland. In Irel. ind, it seems to have been given to all the Kings of Dublin, who are called "Chieftains of Tomar. " Perhaps
clxxi. , n. 6.
'
in "The Irish Builder," by John S. Sloane,
on Fingall, historic and descriptive, vol. XXV. , No. 5—71, (t seq. Also, vol. xxvi.
'7' Edar —who gave name to Brimeduir,
near Dublin is stated to have been a chief,
who flourished a few centuries before tlie
Christian era. See Roderick O'Flaherty's "
Ogygia," pars. iii. . cap. xliv. . p. 271.
'" The Rev. Dr. Todd supposes, that this was probably the plain between Kiimain- ham and the city; but, the position extend- ing in the direction of the present James's- street does not seem a favourable one for the blockading army, as the situation is con- fined in extent, for the most part low, flanked by the River Liffey, and liable to sudden surprises from the strong and warlike garrison, close at hand, and protected by
strong walls.
't Such is the opinion of Thomas O'Gor-
"
Archa;ological Society, "&c. , vol. v. Fourth Series, No. 40, p. 177.
See a very interesting series of articles
inhis "OnthesiteoftheBattle artiLle,
See Rev. James Henihorn Todd's edition of C-ogATjh jAenheb He S*^^*'*^^' Introduction, pp.
Ixvii. , 11. 4, and c'xxwii. , n. I.
'"° The accompanying ill—ustration repre- sents two of these mounds thought to be
sepulchral, as they are unquestionably artifi-
man,
ofClontarf," in tlie
Historical and Archaeological Association of Ireland : originally founded as the Kilkenny
it was asa regarded
royal park.
Jovirnal of the Royal
'75 The same writer believes, that Ath-
foreigners. A passage between both places is said to have been formed of hurdles. While
Jocelin, in his Life of St. Patrick, speaks of
'7*
April 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 407
be a doubt, but this outskirt had been a well-cultivated district, at that period, and it had been occupied by tlie Scandinavian colonists, who probably fled for protection within the walls of Dublin, from the neighbourhood of Clontarf.
Here, at the present time, there is a suburban village, stretching along the northern margin on the Bay of Dublin ; while, close beside it are yet remaining several mounds,'^" more or less perfect, and supposed to have been con-
Motmds, near the Village of Clontarf, County of Dublin.
structed over the bodies of those, who fell in the engagement. ''" Several neat dweliinijs arise along that road, which now skirts the bay ; but, the most attractive villas recede, with an unstudied diversity of site, through shaded and
rural to lanes,
'*' Fromthe oc- position
ofa
cupied by Bryan's army, the arrival of numerous ships in the harbour, and bring-
mound, and human bones are said to have been found, beiieith the surface. A nearly
similar description applies to the other mound, shown in the engraving, a short dis- tance towards the rere. Not f. nr removed and within the convent grounds, a still larger and more conspicuous artificial mound is now shaded and surroumled, by t;dl trees.
"'
Itseemsstrange, tliatnoaitempthasbeen
made to carefully examine these monuments,
without destroying them. An opinion has been offered, that on the day of the battle at
Clontarf, these mounds were probably an- cient.
'*' In the year 1824, J. N. Brewer de- scribes numerous smnll wooden buildings, erected by fishermen, for the purpose of dry-
higher ranges
gently sloping plateau.
cial. Those in closest proximity to each other, and to Clontarf, were d awn on tlie spot, December, 1883, by Will am F. Wake- man, who, in company with the Very Rev. Patrick Canon O'Neili, P. P. , and the writer, carefully examined them. The engraving is by Mrs. Millard. The lower portion of that tumulus in the foreground had l. een re- moved on oneside, within the of
memory per- sons yet living, to admit the construction of a temporary hut, now removed. A much fre- quented path winds around the base, and separates the harrow from a small stream of water, running towards the sea, which is near ; and much of the upper part of the mound itself seems 10 have been washed or worn away by the action of rain, or owing to the climbl ng propensities of children and visiors. Small pieces of charcoal are 10 be seen protruding from this evidently artificial
ing tish, and —these were called "the Sheds "
of Clontarf. " Beauties of Ireland," vol. i. , p. 191.
4o8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23.
ing auxiliaries from all directions, was plainly seen ; but, no efforts could be made to prevent the foemen landing, as they had secure access to the other side of the Liffey, where there were no forces to oppose them. '*3
On Holy Thursday, a council of war was held by the Irish monarch, at which the great chiefs of his army assembled. '^-t These were Maelseachlain and his Meathian nobles ; the Munster nobles, and pre-eminently the Dalcas- sians, with Murchadh, Bryan's eldest son, and Conaing, son of Bryan's brother Donnchuan, lord of Ormond ; the Conacians with Tadhg, surnamed
an eich gill, or of the White Horse, son to Conchobhair, King of Connaught. We may be assured, that many other chieftains, not here enumerated, were present at those discussions. The subject of their deliberations is not known ; but, the result appears to have been their determination to risk a general en- gagement, on the following morning. The Irish forces are said to have moved
from Kilmainham to Drumcondra, for the place of encampment. '^s Mael- seachlainnandthemenofMeathwerenotofonemmdwiththerest;'^^ and,
probably, this will serve to explain the Munster calumny, against liira and hisclansmen. '^? Meantime,onthatsameHolyThursday,ano—thercouncilof war was held in —Dublin. At this, it is stated, tliat Kormlod '^' called by the Irish Gormlaith assisted. A certain warrior, riding a dapple-grey horse, bearing a halberd, and in full armour, attended, and he held a long conference with the council. '*' This man was probably an Irish traitor,'9° who is supposed to have urged the Leinster and Scandinavian chiefs, to take advantage of Prince Donnchad's absence, with his forces, and to make an immediate attack on King Bryan's camp. This advice was evidently well received, and it was finally resolved, to have all their disposable battalions drawn out in order of battle,onthesucceedingday. Theeveningbeforeitwasfought,theenemy possibly marched out from Dublin, so as to concentrate their army between Dublin and Clontarf, and in a line along the sea-shore. It so happened, of all Fridays in the year, the day for that great engagement fell on the Friday before Easter ; that awful anniversary, when the altars of the Church are veiled throughout Christendom, and when the dark stone is rolled to the door of the mystic Sepulchre. '? '
'^3
up in arr. iy. " George Webbe Dasent's
Brian came with all his host to the Burg, and on the Friday the host faced out of the Burg,—and both armies were drawn
'^5 See Thomas McGee's " D'Arcy
" Story
of Burnt
Njal," vol. , ii. , chap, clvi. ,
tion of Re CosaTjli jAetjliel/
5&lLAibh, &c. ,
"King
Popu- lar History oflreland," vol. i. ,Book ii. ,chap.
P- 334-
'"* According to some, the night before
the battle of Clontarf, the pirates had spent their pay, and their ships lying at Benn Edair were sought by tliem to return home- wards ; while, dreading the valour of Mur- chadh and of the Dal Cais in general, they
PP- 154. 155-
'*' See General Vallancey's "Collectanea
De Rebus Hibernicis," vol. i. . No.
Jliid.
Thomond, it being bounded by Hy-Maine to the east, and by Galway Bay on the west.
Valbncey's "Collectanea de Rebus Hiber-
—called
after Guaire
Aidhne,
fallen that mention,
had a was married to
This
King of Connaught, who died A. D. 662 was co-extensive with the diocese of Kil-
daughter Cian, son to Maolmuadh Mac Brian, King of
territory
—
Bryan Sadhbh, or Sabia, who
Tani^ry Illustrated," part ii. .
No. iv. ,
lies," vol. i. , Book ii. , chap, vi. , p. lOO. '"See Dermod O'Connor's Keating's " General History of Ireland," Book ii. , pp.
495, 496.
'<* The Rev. Paul O'Brien, D. D. , who
nicis," vol. i. , No. iv.
The Annals of Innis
April 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 403
these landed in Ireland. Among them was Donald,'<5 the Mormaer or Great Steward of Marr,'''* and he appears to have been the chief in command over those Scots. Nor could Bryan rely, it is said,'*' on the fidelity of some, who joined him as auxiliaries. The men of Meath came in, and with proffered aid, tothemonarchBryan; but,ifwearetocreditsomeaccounts,therewaslittle real intention of supporting his cause, and especially, if a chance were aflforded to withhold their allegiance. The Meathians were under the conduct of Mael- seachlin, their king; and, his former hostilities with the present monarch of Ireland may have caused some misgivings, as to the course he might take. However, he seems to have been equally an object for the hostility of the Leinster people, as of their Scandinavian auxiliaries, at the period when this campaign opened. Still, some Momonian accounts will have it, that at a critical emergency, he had designed to ruin any reputation for honour or patriotism, he might have previously gained. But, his conduct on tlie field shows, that he remained faithful to his allegiance, and his being elected as the supreme monarch of Ireland a second time, immediately after the death of Bryan, in- dicate, that no suspicion of his traitorous designs had been entertained, by the nation at large. Mealseachlain is said to have boasted, that he and his thousand Meathmcn intended to desert Bryan, on the day of battle. We have good reasons for deeming this to be a calumny, which has hardly sufficient
proof to sustain it.
About the festival of St. Patrick, in spring, the muster of Bryan's army
was effected. '<' He knew those exertions made during the summer and winterof1013,tocombineanoverwhelmingforceofopponents. '" Hethen marched directly towards Leinster, as it has been stated, with 30,000 well- appointedandchosenmen,underhisstandards. '5° Onhisapproach,it seems probable, that Maelmordha, son to Murchadh, son of Finn, and the King of Laighin, with the forces of this province, and of Ui Cennselaigh, hastened for protection to Ath-Cliath. These fugitive foes formed three very great and strong battalions. 'S' The province of Leinster had been denuded of troops, and consequently it had been left uncovered, by Maelmordha,''* who probably judged it wise, to draw all his forces together, for what he sup- posed must have proved a decisive battle. Under the circumstances, it seems to have been a well-calculated stroke of generalship. Meantime, Bryan had sent his son Donchadh, with the new levies of the Dal Cais, and the third battalion of the Munstcrmen, to make a raid upon the Leinster ter- ritories. '53 It is said, he was at the head of a third part of the Eugenian forces. The King of Ailech, Hugh O'Neill, pretended a desire to assist the monarch. But, Bryan had not forgotten a negotiation between himself and Maelseachlainn ; so that having suspicions about his sincerity, the monarch is related to have refused such an offer. '54 It seems a
Ive-Eacach, A. D. 979. They had a son, calleil Mahon, from whom the O'Mahonys of Ive-Eachach descended.
'" He was the son of Eimin, the son of Cannich.
'' . See William F. Skene's "Celtic Scot-
ii. , chap. vi. ; p. 99.
'5° See Dr. Sylvester O'Halloran's "Gene-
ral History of Ireland," vol. ii. , Book xi. , chap, viii. , p. 261.
'5' See CogATjh 54et>heL Tie 5<j,ltAibli,
chap. Ixxxvii. , pp. 150, 151.
'i" He was not in mdelatigable, only
raising new levies, but in labouring to detach
different princes from the interest of their de Rebus Hibemici-," vol. i. . No. iv. A country. See Dr. Sylvester O'Halloran's
land: a of Ancient History
vol.
Alban," Book i. , chap. viii. . p. 387, and n. 4.
i. ,
'" See General Vallanccy'i "Collectanea
Critico-Histoiical Dissertition, &c. , p. 526. "' See Coga-oh 5Aex>VieL fie JiLtaibh,
"General History of Ireland," vol. ii. , Book xi. , chap, viii. , p. 260.
'5' It is said, "his absence was restricted
to three as the it would days, king thought
not be prudent to risk a battle without the
chap. Ixxxvii. , pp. 150, 151.
« See Thomas McGee's " D'Arcy Popu-
lar History of Ireland," &c. , vol. i. . Book
404 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23.
corruption of historic truth,"55 when we are told, that with base treachery to the national cause, information was sent to the King of Leinster, by Mael- seachlainn. 's* so that he might take advantage of the monarch's numerical in- feriority and attack him, with a comparative prospect of success. 'S7 In the absence of its fighting men, the province of Leinster was entirely despoiled. The main army of Bryan appears to have been in advance, plundering Ui Gabhla,'58uiDonnchadha,'"andFine—Gall. '^ ClondalkinandKilmain-
ham—as being settlements
of the
Leinster king and his Northmen auxiliaries were concentrating their forces,
enemy
around or within the walls of Dublin. The Irish monarch, at the head of his army, had now reached Ath-Cliath, and under circumstances extremely criti- cal. Bryan there encamped on the plains, near Dublin, some state at Kil- mainham,'^' and with a smaller army, than he should have had in array ;'*^ because it was found necessary, to order some diversion of his troops. Mean- time, the fleet of Sigurd bore southwards from Kirkwall, and swept the sub- ject coasts of Scotland. It gathered from every firth and loch its galleys and itsfightingmen. TheirrendezvouswastheIsleofMan,whereSuibnehad placed his own forces, under the command of Brodar. "^3 Whether it was the result of Donchadh's inability to come up in time for concentration, or whether it was intended for a strategic movement, inspired by a confidence of victory on the Irish side ; their state of isolation must have been attended with great hiizard to the general issue of that memorable day, at Clontarf, especially when the Irish monarch was engaged, in the presence of such mighty and united confederates.
During the month of April, sailing from the Isle of Man, Broder, with his powerful armament, appears to have arrived in Dublin, where he had several daystoorganizehisforces. TheNialsSaga,writtenintheDanishlanguage,but also translated into Latin, while supplying many details, in reference to the ex- pedition fitted out for Ireland, has a curious statement, in relation to the action of the two great leaders, Sigurd, Earl of the Orkneys, and Broder, commander-in-chiefoftheNorthmen. Direfulportentshadbeenwitnessed,
co-operation of these troops. "—Miss Julia Corner's "History of Ireland; from the Earliest Period to the Present Time," p. 31.
London, no date, l2mo.
's< See Dr. Sylvester O'Halloran's "Gene-
ral History of Ireland," vol. ii,. Book xi. , chap, viii. , p. 261.
'5S See the Battle of Clontarf, by John O'Donovan, in "The Dublin Penny Jour- nal," vol. i. , No. 17, p. 134.
'5' John O'Mahony, in his edition of Dr.
JeoflFrey Keating's "History of Ireland," attributes this suspicion to the calumnious as- persions of the Shaimachies of Munster, and he states, that Maoilsheachlainn Mor well merited his title of the Great. He also re- marks, that some writers barbarously trans- lated his name into Malachy, when writing it in English ; others more properly call him Melaghlin. According to another writer his name is formed of the familiar prefix Maol ('z'! ;/^c Mul^, and Seachnall, the name for an ancient disciple of St. Patrick, and
from whom Dunshaughlin, in the county of Meath was called. By usage, the last letters have become transposed. See "The Gaelic
Journal," vol. i. , No. i. , p. 5, note.
'57 This is stated, in the Dublin copy of
the Annals of Innisfallen. See Rev. Dr. Conor's " Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus ii. , pp. 60, 61.
'5* This territory is mentioned in the Annals of the Four Masters, at the year 1072, but nothing has been discovered as yet, to show where the Ui Gabhla were located. See teAbliAyv tia j-Ce^pc, or "The Book of Rights," Dr. O'Donovan's note (h), pp. 252, 253.
's? That portion of Dublin county, through which the River Dodder flows, according to Dr. O'Donovan.
"" The northern part of Dublin county,
were burned while the by Bryan,
"" According to General Vallancey, in his
" Collectanea De Rebus Hibernicis," where
thereisanaccountofBryanBoiroimh. See
vol. i. , No. iv. Critico-Historical Disserta-
tions concerning the Laws of the Ancient
Irish, partii. , pp. 522 to 547.
'<"
See the Battle of Clontarf, by John O'Donovan, in "The Dublin Penny Jour- nal," vol. i. , No. 17, p. 134.
"^ gee Thomas D'Arcy McGee's " Popu- lar History of Ireland," &c. , vol, i. , Book ii. , chap, vi. , p. 99.
^°* One night, a great din passed over Brodir and his men, so that all awoke,
April 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 405
even before the expedition had reached its destination. '^^ Until he pledged peace, Ospak would not tell Brodir. the meaning of these extraordinary signs, and even having procured this promise, he refused to expound them, until
"
When blood rained on you, therefore shall ye shedmanymen'sblood,bothofyourownandothers. But,whenyouhearda great din, then you must have been shown the crack of doom, and you shall all die speedily. But, when weapons fought against you, that must forebode a battle ; but, when ravens pressed you, that marks the devils which you put faith in, and who will drag you all down to the pains of hell. " Then, Brodir was so wroth, that he could answer never a word. At once, going to his men, he caused them to lay his ships in a line across the sound, and to moor them, by bearing their cables on shore, at either end of the line. He meant to slay Ospak and all his men the next
morning. However, the latter chief saw through the plans of Brodir; then, he vowed to embrace the true faith, to seek King Bryan, and to follow him until his death-day. He now resolved to lay his ships in aline, to punt them along the shore with poles, and to cut the cables of Brodir's ships. Soon these began to fall aboard of one another, while the crews were fast asleep. Ospak and his men thus got out of the firth, sailed westwards to Ireland, and wenttoConnaught. There,OspaktoldKingBryanallthathehadlearned. Afterwards, he was baptized, and gave himself over into the king's hands. '*'
Those prodigies and their interpretation were not calculated, however, to extinguish the hopes of the Scandinavian sailors and warriors, during their voyage.
AtrulyformidablebodyofNorthmenhadbeenassembledunder Broder, at Dublin, after Palm Sunday, a. d. ior4;'^* for, on that very day,'*? Earl Sigurd arrived with his vessels and troops, in the Bay of Dublin. '*^ These bands and their confederates became impatient for the fray. A few days only elapsed, until their desires were gratified, with the coming prospect of a great battle, but not with the successful result to them of an ever-memorable vic- tory. Broder was a gentile, who believed in oracular pronouncements, and he was anxious to obtain some answers, that might help him to prognosticate his chances of war in the coming contest. Vet, it seems the reply was so
"
fought onFriday,KingBryanshallfall,victorybeingobtained; but,ifitbefought before that day, all who stand opposed to him shall be slain. " Where-
fore, Broder deemed it wise, not to engage his forces before the Day of Venus. '*9
night fell. Then he said,
equivocal, that he drew a favourable augury from it :
If the battle be
sprung up, and put on their clothes. Along with that came a shower of boiling blood. Then, they covered themselves with their
went on until the day, and another man then
died in every ship. Then, they went to sleep first of all, but when Brodir woke up, draw- ing his breath painfully, he bade them put off in a boat to see Ospak. Taking some
shieUls, but, notwithstanding, many were
scalded. This portent lasted until day, and
a man died on board of every ship. Then, men with him, he found Ospak, and told
they slept during the day ; but, the second night there was a din, and again all sprang
him all that had happened, asking him what those signs boded.
"s See Webbe Dasent's " of George Story
Swords out of their sheaths, leaped
up. .
while axes and spears flew about in the air
Burnt Njal," and in vol. ii. , chap, civ. , pp. 330 to 332.
The weapons pressed them so
and
hanl, that they had to shield themselves.
"
Battle of Clontarfin "The Dublin Penny Journal," vol. i. , No. 17, p. 134.
fought.
Still many were wounded, and, again, a man died out of every ship. This wonder, too, lasted all till day. They slept again the day after ; but, the third night, there was a din ofthesamekind. Then,ravensflewatthem, having apparently Vjeaks and claws of iron. Tho>e ravens pressed them so hard, that they had to keep them off with their swords, and hadtocoverthemselveswiththeirshields. This
'"' See " Nials-Saga,^' cap. clviii. , p. 601.
See John O'Donovan's account of the
"SeeGeorgeWebbeDasent's"
Burnt Njal," &c. , vol. ii. , chap, civi. , p. 333.
'°9 See the Rev. James Johnstone's " An- tiquitates Celto-Scandicae ; sive Series Re-
Story
of
4o6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23
The monarch of Ireland arrived with his army, on the plain, called Magh n-Elda,orMaghn-Elta,'7°inolddocuments. Tliiswasthebeautifullyundu- lating tract of country, lying to the north and north-west of Ath-Cliath, and bearing in the direction of Meath, whence we may suppose Bryan had marched in conjunction with Maelseachlain. From about eighteen to twenty thousandmenaresupposedtohavebeenpresent,underhiscommand. The blockade of Dublin appears to have been renewed. Foraging parties were despatched, through the surrounding country. The foreigners saw the con- flagrations in Fine Gall, '7' and in the district of Edar,'? * which brought ruin onthehomesteadsoftheircountrymen; and,theirdesiresfortakingrevenge, before the monarch could procure the arrival of reinforcements, were now greatly excited. The monarch's head-quarters were on the plain of Ath- Cliath. '73 It seems probable, that the Irisli encampment extended from Ox- mantown Green, '? < quite close to Ath-Cliath,'" and eastwards towards Glas- nevin,'7* Clonturk,'? ' and the crests of the rising grounds, in the direction of theHillofHowth. AmidsttheIrishlines,aportionofthatplain,formerly called Magh-nEalta Edair, "Old plain of the flocks of Edair," lay. This sloped downwards, to that level stripe of shore, afterwards known as Clon- tarf. '7' The wood of Tomar '79 sheltered the Irish position. There can hardly
rum Gestanim inter Nationes Britannicarum Cliath lay on the north side of the Liffey, InsuUuum tt Gentes Septenlrionales," pp. while Dubhlinne was on the southern side, 120, 121. These literary gleanings consist and formed the fortified position of the of extracts taken from Snorro ; from Land-
nama-boc ; from Egilli Scallagrimi-snga ;
from Niala-saga ; from O. Tryggvasonar-
saga ; from Orkneyinga-Saga ; from Hiig- Ath-Cliath, or Dublin, at one time, as a vil-
giar-stikki ; from Knytlmga-saga ; from Spe- culo Regali; and from other sources.
'? » Or the I'l. nin of the Flocks. It
lay
between the Hill of Howth and Tallagh.
See Rev. James Heiithorn Todd's Introduc-
tion to Cogd-oh 5&e-oViel. lie jAtl-Aibli. p.
lage, and again as a city, in the twelfth cen-
tury, it is supposed, altliough closely adjoin-
theseweredistinctlocalities. See
ing, ibid. ,
p. 173, note.
'7' This parish, in the barony of Coolock,
and partially in that of the city of Dublin,
is shown, on the "Ordnance Survey Town- "
landMapsfortheCoun'yofDublin, sheets
14, 18. The village proper is marked, on the latter sheet.
" A townland and p. arish, in the barony of Coolock, marked out, ibui.
In the time of Henry II. , a House of the Knights Templars was here ; but, when these were expelled, a. d. 1313, in the reign of Edward II. , a PreceiUory of Knights Hospitallers occupied their place. . See Sir James Ware "De Hibernia et Antiquitatibus Ejus Disquisitiones," cap. xxvi. , p. 144.
'7' It is thought to have been situated, be- tween Clontarf and Dublin, along the north side of the Liffey. Other forms of tlie name are Tombrar, Tomhar, and Tomrair. It is perhaps the . Scandinavian Thormodr, [Thor's man! , which was a common name in Iceland. In Irel. ind, it seems to have been given to all the Kings of Dublin, who are called "Chieftains of Tomar. " Perhaps
clxxi. , n. 6.
'
in "The Irish Builder," by John S. Sloane,
on Fingall, historic and descriptive, vol. XXV. , No. 5—71, (t seq. Also, vol. xxvi.
'7' Edar —who gave name to Brimeduir,
near Dublin is stated to have been a chief,
who flourished a few centuries before tlie
Christian era. See Roderick O'Flaherty's "
Ogygia," pars. iii. . cap. xliv. . p. 271.
'" The Rev. Dr. Todd supposes, that this was probably the plain between Kiimain- ham and the city; but, the position extend- ing in the direction of the present James's- street does not seem a favourable one for the blockading army, as the situation is con- fined in extent, for the most part low, flanked by the River Liffey, and liable to sudden surprises from the strong and warlike garrison, close at hand, and protected by
strong walls.
't Such is the opinion of Thomas O'Gor-
"
Archa;ological Society, "&c. , vol. v. Fourth Series, No. 40, p. 177.
See a very interesting series of articles
inhis "OnthesiteoftheBattle artiLle,
See Rev. James Henihorn Todd's edition of C-ogATjh jAenheb He S*^^*'*^^' Introduction, pp.
Ixvii. , 11. 4, and c'xxwii. , n. I.
'"° The accompanying ill—ustration repre- sents two of these mounds thought to be
sepulchral, as they are unquestionably artifi-
man,
ofClontarf," in tlie
Historical and Archaeological Association of Ireland : originally founded as the Kilkenny
it was asa regarded
royal park.
Jovirnal of the Royal
'75 The same writer believes, that Ath-
foreigners. A passage between both places is said to have been formed of hurdles. While
Jocelin, in his Life of St. Patrick, speaks of
'7*
April 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 407
be a doubt, but this outskirt had been a well-cultivated district, at that period, and it had been occupied by tlie Scandinavian colonists, who probably fled for protection within the walls of Dublin, from the neighbourhood of Clontarf.
Here, at the present time, there is a suburban village, stretching along the northern margin on the Bay of Dublin ; while, close beside it are yet remaining several mounds,'^" more or less perfect, and supposed to have been con-
Motmds, near the Village of Clontarf, County of Dublin.
structed over the bodies of those, who fell in the engagement. ''" Several neat dweliinijs arise along that road, which now skirts the bay ; but, the most attractive villas recede, with an unstudied diversity of site, through shaded and
rural to lanes,
'*' Fromthe oc- position
ofa
cupied by Bryan's army, the arrival of numerous ships in the harbour, and bring-
mound, and human bones are said to have been found, beiieith the surface. A nearly
similar description applies to the other mound, shown in the engraving, a short dis- tance towards the rere. Not f. nr removed and within the convent grounds, a still larger and more conspicuous artificial mound is now shaded and surroumled, by t;dl trees.
"'
Itseemsstrange, tliatnoaitempthasbeen
made to carefully examine these monuments,
without destroying them. An opinion has been offered, that on the day of the battle at
Clontarf, these mounds were probably an- cient.
'*' In the year 1824, J. N. Brewer de- scribes numerous smnll wooden buildings, erected by fishermen, for the purpose of dry-
higher ranges
gently sloping plateau.
cial. Those in closest proximity to each other, and to Clontarf, were d awn on tlie spot, December, 1883, by Will am F. Wake- man, who, in company with the Very Rev. Patrick Canon O'Neili, P. P. , and the writer, carefully examined them. The engraving is by Mrs. Millard. The lower portion of that tumulus in the foreground had l. een re- moved on oneside, within the of
memory per- sons yet living, to admit the construction of a temporary hut, now removed. A much fre- quented path winds around the base, and separates the harrow from a small stream of water, running towards the sea, which is near ; and much of the upper part of the mound itself seems 10 have been washed or worn away by the action of rain, or owing to the climbl ng propensities of children and visiors. Small pieces of charcoal are 10 be seen protruding from this evidently artificial
ing tish, and —these were called "the Sheds "
of Clontarf. " Beauties of Ireland," vol. i. , p. 191.
4o8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23.
ing auxiliaries from all directions, was plainly seen ; but, no efforts could be made to prevent the foemen landing, as they had secure access to the other side of the Liffey, where there were no forces to oppose them. '*3
On Holy Thursday, a council of war was held by the Irish monarch, at which the great chiefs of his army assembled. '^-t These were Maelseachlain and his Meathian nobles ; the Munster nobles, and pre-eminently the Dalcas- sians, with Murchadh, Bryan's eldest son, and Conaing, son of Bryan's brother Donnchuan, lord of Ormond ; the Conacians with Tadhg, surnamed
an eich gill, or of the White Horse, son to Conchobhair, King of Connaught. We may be assured, that many other chieftains, not here enumerated, were present at those discussions. The subject of their deliberations is not known ; but, the result appears to have been their determination to risk a general en- gagement, on the following morning. The Irish forces are said to have moved
from Kilmainham to Drumcondra, for the place of encampment. '^s Mael- seachlainnandthemenofMeathwerenotofonemmdwiththerest;'^^ and,
probably, this will serve to explain the Munster calumny, against liira and hisclansmen. '^? Meantime,onthatsameHolyThursday,ano—thercouncilof war was held in —Dublin. At this, it is stated, tliat Kormlod '^' called by the Irish Gormlaith assisted. A certain warrior, riding a dapple-grey horse, bearing a halberd, and in full armour, attended, and he held a long conference with the council. '*' This man was probably an Irish traitor,'9° who is supposed to have urged the Leinster and Scandinavian chiefs, to take advantage of Prince Donnchad's absence, with his forces, and to make an immediate attack on King Bryan's camp. This advice was evidently well received, and it was finally resolved, to have all their disposable battalions drawn out in order of battle,onthesucceedingday. Theeveningbeforeitwasfought,theenemy possibly marched out from Dublin, so as to concentrate their army between Dublin and Clontarf, and in a line along the sea-shore. It so happened, of all Fridays in the year, the day for that great engagement fell on the Friday before Easter ; that awful anniversary, when the altars of the Church are veiled throughout Christendom, and when the dark stone is rolled to the door of the mystic Sepulchre. '? '
'^3
up in arr. iy. " George Webbe Dasent's
Brian came with all his host to the Burg, and on the Friday the host faced out of the Burg,—and both armies were drawn
'^5 See Thomas McGee's " D'Arcy
" Story
of Burnt
Njal," vol. , ii. , chap, clvi. ,
tion of Re CosaTjli jAetjliel/
5&lLAibh, &c. ,
"King
Popu- lar History oflreland," vol. i. ,Book ii. ,chap.
P- 334-
'"* According to some, the night before
the battle of Clontarf, the pirates had spent their pay, and their ships lying at Benn Edair were sought by tliem to return home- wards ; while, dreading the valour of Mur- chadh and of the Dal Cais in general, they
PP- 154. 155-
'*' See General Vallancey's "Collectanea
De Rebus Hibernicis," vol. i. . No.
