From him, the
Dalcassians
are said to derive their descent and name.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v4
, chap, iv.
, v.
, vi.
, vii.
, viii.
, pp.
229 to 269.
'See " A New and Impartial History of Ireland, from the earliest accounts to the
Bryan, is from pp. 211 to 255. London, 1866,
present Time," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , xii. , pp. 230 to 267.
8vo. "'
This is intituled, CojAoh JieDheL ne 5«bLdibli, in Irish. The original Irish text has been edited, with a translation and intro- duction, by James Henthorne Todd, D. D. , M. R. I. A. , F. S. A. , &c ,and it was published, by authority of the Master of the Rolls, at London, 1867, 8vo.
"' It has been edited, from three Manu-
scripts, two of which are imperfect. One of these is found in the Book of Leinster, the
other belongs to Trinity College, Dublin. The perfect copy is among the IJurgundian Library Manuscripts of Bruxelles, and it was copied by Michael O'Clery.
'' See his " Ecclesiastical History of Ire- land," vol. iii. , chap, xxi. , sect, xv. , p. 391, chap, xxiii. , sect. vii. to xii. , pp. 414 to 427.
'*
pp. 56 to 211.
'^See vol. i. , No. 17, pp. 133 to 136.
vol.
ii. , chap. °° See his "History of the County of Dub-
'' See " of Histoiy
°' See Introduction, xxv.
Ireland," XX. , xxi. , pp. 82 to 129.
3° See his
"
p.
Biographia Hibernica :
ABio-
lin," pp. 71 to 8i, and his
"
History of Ire-
graphical Dictionary of the Writers of Ire- land," vol. i. , pp. 113 to 121.
3' See "Lives of Illustrious and Distin-
guished Irishmen," vol. i. . Part i. . Second
land, and Annals of Boyle," vol. ii. , pp. 157
to 178.
°' "
°<
Theporiion, referring to Bryan Boroimha,
See History of Ireland, Ancient and
Period, pp. 197 to 214. 3' "
Modern," chap, xiv. , pp. 133 to 152.
" See "Historical Memoir of the
O'Briens," with Notes, Appendix, and a Genealogical Table of their several Branches, compiled from the Irish Annalists, chap, ii. , iii. , pp. 9 to 39. Dublin, i860, 8vo.
'3 In Irish, intituled OiiinAld tochd C(S.
It is edited, with a Translation, Preface and
Notes, by William M. Hennessy, M. R. I. A. ,
in two vols. London, 1871, 8vo.
See CompendiumofIrishBiography," pp, 34 to 36.
isfrom ito1 pp. 3.
3<
According
to hewas Eugene O'Curry,
Tliis extends, from sect, xliii. to cxviii. ,
33 He is said to have ruled that province,
for eighteen years, . iccording to the historic ]iedigree, made out for the Right Hon.
William O'Bryan, Earl of Inchiquin, by Dermod O'Connor, translator of Dr. Jeoffry
" General History of Ireland," and prefixed to his Preface for the latter work. See Duffy's edition, to which reference is
chiefly made, in the present biography.
Keaiing's
April 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 279
sons, 35 and he was remarkable for his regular life. In the year 942, a con- test took place, between Ceallachan, King of Cashel, and Ceineidigh, when the latter was defeated. ^" Many were slain at Magh-duin,3' and Ceineidigh probably perished among the number. 3^ Only four of his sons left issue, viz. , Mathghamhain or Mahon,39 Bryan,4° Donnchuan or Duncan,*' and Ech- tighern. The father of Kennedy was Lorcan,<^ Anglicized Lawrence,*3 son of Lachtna,<4 son of Cathal. ^s son of Corc,<* son of Anluan,*' son of Math- ghamhain or Mahon,4* son of Turlough,« son of Cathal,5o g^jj ^f Aodh or Hugh Caomh,5' son to Conall, prince of Thomond,5^ son of Eochaidh Bal- dearg,53 son to Carthann Fionn,54 son of Bloin or Bloid,55 son of Cais or Cas,5*
son of Conall Eachluath,5? son of Luighdheach or Lughaidh Meann. s' son to Aongus Tireach,59 son of Fearchorb,^ son to Modhchorb,*' son of Cormac
King of Monster, in 954. See " Lectures on the Manuscript Materials of Ancient Irish History," Lect. x. , p. 213. Some of the fol-
lowing dates, in the notes, are based, also, on his calculations.
3S Mac Liag, the chief poet and secretary to Bryan, has written a Poem, in thirty-two stanzas, and which gives an account of twelve sons of Chaste Cinneide. In Irish, it begins with, TDiriiAc ti^AC Chin6iT)ig tcm. See " Transactions of the Ibemo-Celtic Society,
^'SeeUr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
"
Four Masters,
" It means, " the plain of the fort," An-
O'Gloiams, the O'Aingidys, and the O'Maynes. TheSliochtBranfinnofDufferin, in Wexford, are descended from Bran. They took the name of O'Brien subsequently, from their progenitor, and they still retain it.
** He reigned over Tliomond, for three years. By means of the records of the ancient
Irish pedigrees, Eugene O'Curry was enabled to identify his ancient palace of Grianan
Lachtna, in the year 1840.
<5 In Dermod O'Connor's Pedigree, he has
no ; but, in the of Rev. Doctor place body
Keating's work, he is called the son of Core. See Part ii. , p. 482.
'' He was King of Munster, for seventeen
years.
*' He was prince of Munster.
" When he lived is uncertain.
"> He was King of Munster for thirty-six
years.
5° He was of Thomond, for seven King
years. He had two sons, Turlough and Ailgenan ; from the latter, the O'Mearas de- scend.
5' Or Hugh the Comely. He is said to have ruled over Thomond, for forty-one years, and over Munster, from a. d. 571, to his death, in a. d. 601. He had two sons, Catha! or Cahal and Congal. From the latter, descend the O'Neills of Clare, and the O'n-Eoghans or Owens.
5' According to Dermod O'Connor's Pedi-
gree.
5' He is said to have been king over Mun-
ster, for twenty-nine years.
5* He was King of Thomond, for forty-
five years, about the year of our Lord 439. 5s He was King of Thomond, for sixteen
for 1820. " Edward
gical Account of Nearly Four Hundred Irish Writers," &c. , vol. i. , Part i. , p. Ixxi. Copies of it are preserved, in the Books of Ballymote and of i. ecain.
O'Keiily's
vol. ii. , pp. 650, 651. glicised, Moydown, or Moyadown, but its
situation has not been identified. See
ibid. ,
n. (e).
^ I have not been able to ascertain the na-
ture of his death.
" From him descend the O'Bolands, the
O'Caseys, the O'Siodhachans, the Mac Inirys,
the O'Connallys, and the O'Tuomys, in the county of Limerick.
* From him descended the O'Briens and the Mac Mahons of Clare.
*' He ha<l five sons, viz. : two bearing the
name of Kennedy, Raigain, Longargan and Ceileachair. From one of the two Kennedys,
the family of O'Connuing, now Gunning, de- scended, and from the other the family of
O'Kennedy. From Riagan, the O'Riogans,
or O'Regans, of Clare and of Limerick, de-
scend. From Longargan, the O'Longergans
derive their origin ; and, from Ceileachair years.
are derived the O'Ceileachairs, or Kelle- hers.
" He was King of Thomond, for six years, circiter, a. d. 910. By O'Huidhrin, he is called Luipc 4n Lochixuinn, or " Lore of the lamp. "
5° He was King of Thomond, for sixteen
years.
" Or Conall of the Swift Steeds. For
thirteen years, he reigned over Munster, circiter, A. t). 366.
5* He was King of Munster, for twenty-
seven and he is said to have first years,
wrested the present county of Clare from the
Fribolgs. His name is pronounced Loo-y Menn.
^ Or, as he is sometimes called, . ^ngus the
*5 He had three sons,
or Ken-
Cinneidigh,
nedy, Cosgrach, and Bran. From Cosgrach, descend the O'Lorcans or Larkins, the
O Sheehans, the O'Cnaimhins, now bowens, the O'Hogans, the O'Flahertys, the
" Chronolo-
28o LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[April 23.
Cas,*» son to the renowned Oilioll 011um,*3 or Olum, who descended from the
royal line of Eibhear or Heber Fionn. *4 Oilioll Ollum^s was son to Modha
Neid,'* son to Dearg,^' son of Deirgthine,*^ son of Eana Munchaoin,*9 son
of Lnigheach More,7° son to Modhafeibhis,'" son to Muireach,'' son of Eochaidh Garbh,73 son to Duach Donn Dalta Deagha,? * son of Cairbre
Cuisgleathan,75 son of Luighaidh Laighne,'* son to Innathmar or lonadhm- har," son of Niadh Seadhamhuin,'^ son of Adamhar,? ^ son of Fearchorb,*" son of Modhchorb,*' son ofCobhthaig Caomh. ^^son ofReachta Righdhearg,^3 son of Lughaidh Laighe,*'* son to Eochaidli,^5 son to Oilioll Fionn,^* son of Art,^7 son of Luighaidh Lamhdhearg,^^ son to Eochaigh Vairceas,^^ son of Luighaidh Jardhoinn,9° son of Eadhna or Enda Dearg,? ' son to Duach Fionn,'^ son to Seadhna Jonaraice,'^ son of Breasrigh,? '* son to Art Imleach,9S
wanderer, or Cinaithreach ; who was King
of Munster, for thirty years, about a. d.
'S He was King of Munster, for twenty- eight years.
'' He was Monarch of Ireland, for five
290.
''° He
reigned
over Munster, for sixteen
the Four Masters have it and ; fifteen,
years.
' He was King of Munster, for twenty-
seven years.
'" He reigned over Munster, for twelve
years, and about the year of our Lord 260.
From him, the Dalcassians are said to derive their descent and name.
'3 He was King of Munster, for twenty- seven years, and he was married to Sadhbh, or Sabia, the daughter of Conn of the Hun- dred Battles, who ruled over Ireland, in the second century of the Christian era.
'• He was the son of Milesius, King of
Spain, who founded the Milesian Colony, in Ireland. A Chronological Irish Poem of
John O'Dugan, with an English translation ters.
a. d. ^^^ been '^ He was of Munster, for 1635, King
Michael
published, by John O'Daly, in 1847. It is in- nine years.
by
Kearney,
twenty-
^3 He was monarch, for twenty years, and he died, A. M. 4556. — Four Masters.
'< He was monarc—h, for seven years, and he died, A. M. 4469. Four Masters.
tituIed,"The Kings of the Race of Eibhear," and it notes their descent and reigns, down
to a period, long subsequent to the death of Brian Boroimha. A Preface and Notes are added, by the editor.
'= He had several sons, of whom the fol- lowing three alone left issue, viz. : Eoghan- More, Cormac Cas and Cian. See John
*= He was monarch, for seven years, and
O'Donoghue's
4415.
years. '"Hewas
of
King Munster,
for two
died, A. M. 4328.
' He was — for twelve monarch, years,
and
" Historical Memoir of the
years ; the Four Masters have it eleven, and his death,
O'Briens" i. , 3. chap, p.
"* He was King of Munster, for twenty-
three
'' He was prince of Munster.
<' He was half-king of Munster, for thir-
teen years.
°« He was half-king of Munster, for ten
years.
years.
' He was Prince of Munster.
he died, a. m. 4319. Four Masters.
9' He was monarch, for five years ; the Four Masters have it ten, and his death at
A. M. 4306.
93 Hewas —for and monarch, twenty years,
'' He was King of Munster, for seventeen years.
73 He was
of for
King Munster, thirty-six
years.
'< He was Monarch of
he died, A. M. 4290. Four Masters.
9*Hewas — fornine monarch, years,
died, A. M. 4247. F"our Masters.
andhe
for ten years, and, he died, A. M. 5041. See Dr. O'lJonovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i,, at that date. The same authority is
subsequently quoted.
Ireland,
years
his death, at a. m. 5016.
'' He was monarch of Ireland, for three
years ; the Four Masters have it nine, and
his death, at AM. 4990.
'* He was monarch of Ireland, for seven
years, and he died, a. m. 4887. —Four Mas- ters.
" He was monarch of Ireland, for five years, and he died, a. m. 4787. —Four Mas- ters.
*° He was monarch of Ireland, for eleven years, and he died, a. m. 4737. —Four Mas- ters.
'' He was monarch of Ireland, for seven years, and he died, a. m. 4701. —Four Mas-
he died, a. m. 4422.
*' Hewas monarch, for nine
—Four Masters.
at a. m.
'' He was monarch, for six years, and he
died, A. M. 4394.
** He was monarch, for seven years, and
he died, A. M. 4368.
'' He was monarch, for twelve years, and
he died, A. M. 4356. —Four Masters.
'° He w as mon. irch, for nine years, and he
95 He was monarch, for twenty-two years ; the Four Masters have it twelve years, and
his death, at A. M. 4198.
April 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 281
son to EHm,5^ son of Rotheachta," son of Roane,^^ son to Failbhe,'' son of Cas Cead Chaigneach,'°° son to Failderghoid, or Aildergoid,'°" son of Muinheamhoin,'°' son to Casclothacht,'°3 son to Irereorda,'°« son of Rothea- chta,'°5 son to Glas, son of Nuagatt Deaghlamh, son of Rosa,"°* son to Eoch- aidh Faobharglas,'°7 son of Conniaol,'°^ son of Heber or Eber Fionn,'°9 one of the sons of Milesius,"° the other two being Heremon,"' or Eremon, and Ir. '" Thus, Brian was directly descended from Milesius,"^ the Spanish con- queror and colonizer of Ireland ; and while, on the father's side, he came from the line of Heber,"* on the mother's side, his ancestry seems to have been derived from Heremon, the elder brother. The mother of Bryan was named Beibhionn Cianog, and she was daughter to Archadh,"^ who ruled over a western territory of the Connaught province.
Before the time of Bryan Boroimha, there was no general system of family names in Ireland ; for, every man or woman "* took the name, son or daughter of the father,"? who was son of the grandfather, and this was run backwards, in the order we find laid . down in ancient chronicles,"* as illus- trated in the pedigree of this great monarch, already given. Touching the illustrious subject of our present memoir demands a preliminary statement, which is closely connected with it, and which must be a matter of interest, for the —reader to know. In ancient
>* He was monarcb, only for one year, and he died, a. m. 4177.
"He was monarch, for seven years, and he died, A. M. 4176.
* He was prince of Ireland.
99 He was King of Munster, for twenty- six years.
"" He was King of Munster, for thirty-six
years.
"" He was monarch, for seven years, some
Do^n and of Antrim. Among these, the family of Magenniss is specially noticed. The O'DriscolIs of the south also descend from
Lugaidh, son of Ith, his cousin, as may be seen, in the Genealogy of the Corca Laidhe. See "Miscellany of the Celtic Society, "- edited by Dr. John O'Donovan, pp. i to 183.
"3 It seems strange, that his presence in
have it ten. ters.
He died, a. m. 3882. —Four Mas-
" of Ireland " the sons History ;" although,
the — of various Irish times, genealogies
"9
families especially those of illustrious lineage were traced by our anti-
—
"" He was monarch, for five years, and dubiously to have landed on the Irish
he died, a. m. 3872. —Four Masters.
'°^ He was King of Munster, for thirteen
years.
'°* He was
coast, 1300 years before the birth of Christ, according to the Bardic Chronology. See vol. i. , chap, v. , p. 79.
monarch, twenty years, hedieH, A. M. 3727. Four Ma-ilcrs.
and
"'
Like the Jews, the Irish took no notice
of Ireland.
"* See " Lectures on Eugene O'Curry's
prince
'°s He was monarch, for twenty-five years,
the Manuscript Materials of Ancient Irish His-
and he died, a. m. 3842—Four Masters. "* He was prince of Ireland.
"^ He was — for
"* He was monarch, for thirty years, and hedied,a. m. 3579.
'°9 He was half-monarch of Ireland, for
tory," Lect. X. , pp. 207 to 213. "5 He was son of Morough.
one
against his brother Eremon, a. m. 3501. Four Masters.
"° He was King of Spain. His sons are
said to have arrived in Ireland, A. M—. 3500,
following the Septuagint calculation. Four Masters.
'" From him, descend the great families of Ulster, Leinster and Connauj^ht, such as the O'Neills, O'Donnells, the Mac Murroughs, O'Conors, &c. He reigned fifteen years, and he died, a. m. 3516.
'" From him descend the ancient races of Uladh or Ulidia, in the present counties of
Ireland is ignored, by Thomas Moore, in his
"
of Milesius are allowed somewhat
of the pedigrees of womep, beyond their de- scent on the father's side.
"'Itis remarkable,thatthissameusage
prevailed among the Jews, as we find every-
killed in a battle, — where illustrations of such in
year, being fought custom, both
the Old and New Testaments.
"' We almost invarial;ly find the king,
chief,;or otlier remarkable personage, traced
back, through ail the generations, to one or other of the four great heads of Irish fami-
lies, viz. : Eremon, Eber, Ir, or Iih, as to the remote ancestor, or at least to some per-
son, whose pedigree was clearly traceable, in the great genealogical treatises.
"' In the i. Book of Esdras, we have a
long enumeration by name, of " the chiefs of
families, and the genealogy of them," &c. , chap. viii.
—
Cobhthach, the O'Donnells, the O'Neills, and other Ulster families, as well as all the Con-
allusion will be made to the great Munster families, and to their descent,
has been publislied by Professor Eugene O'Curry, in his "Lectures on the Manuscript Materials of Ancient Irish History," Lect.
naught
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[April 23.
quaries to some remote parent-stock, from which a distinct tribe name sprang. This included, not alone the direct family descent, but its relation to all the other families of distinction, that came from the same origin, wliich was very generally a remote one. "° The Books of Irish Genealogies and of Pedigrees appear to have been very numerous, in former times ; although several of these records are now lost, yet many still exist, in various Irish Manuscripts, or they are indirectly quoted in the Lives of our Kings, Saints, and Heroes ; so that, in all the great Books of Genealogies, the principal races are traced. However, among those Genealogies, one of the most important, now known to remain, is that of Dubhaltach Mac Firbisigh,'^' or Duald Mac Firbis, who compiled it, in the years, from 1650 to 1666. The pedigrees of our ancestors, in like manner, trace a particular individual, through the various generations backwards, to that distinguished head, who gave rise to the family name. "* Those contain many important items of historical information, which are not entered, in any of our Annals ; while they shed a considerable amount of light, on the former social state of many independent tribes and families. Owingtoerrorsofcalculationandoftranscription,it sometimeshappens, that a link or single generation may be wanting ; but, this it is often possible to supply, from some other authentic document. Every third year, and from times very remote, the provincial and clan records were returnable for examination, at the great Feis or Convention, at Tara. According to the statements of our historians, the most authentic and complete collection of national Records was preserved, for long centuries, at Tara, once the Ard- Righ's residence. After its ancient renown had been obscured, and when that seat had been deserted by the chief monarch, there can hardly be a doubt, but a like care was manifested, in whatever fortress he happened to reside. Those records were liable to be revised, by public authority; and, they had been often collated with similar documents, and corrected, when an error had been discovered. Not only the chief monarch of Erinn, but every provincial King, and territorial Chief, had his own Ollamh or Doctor of Learning, and his Seanchaidh^ or Antiquary, versed well in historical literature, and preserving
"° Thus, from UngaineMor, who flourished Uladh excepted. All the great families of over 500 years before the Incarnation of our Meath and of Ulster trace their pedigrees, to Lord, descended through his elder son one or other of Niall's sons. Later on, fuller
families; while,fromhissecondson
Laeghaire, the chief families ofLeinster are
derived. In the second century of the Chris-
tian era, a great division of families in
Leinster took place ; for, its monarch x. , pp. 215 to 228.
Cathair Mor, divided the province among
his sons, to some one of whom all the later
Leinster families trace their descent. Again,
inthe fourth century, a great division of (ami-
lies and of territories took place in Ulster,
and in Connauglit, between the three sons of
the monarch Eochaidh Muighmheadhoin. at, regarding such a topic.
These were Brian, Fiachra and Niall, after-
wards called Niall of the Nine Hostages.
The two elder sons settled in Connauglit ;
and from them descend the chief families of
that province, north and south, excepting given ; although long before the introduction the O'Kellys, the Mac Ranells, and some of Christianity into Ireland, the ancient
others. The younger son Niall succeeded to the sovereignty.
'See " A New and Impartial History of Ireland, from the earliest accounts to the
Bryan, is from pp. 211 to 255. London, 1866,
present Time," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , xii. , pp. 230 to 267.
8vo. "'
This is intituled, CojAoh JieDheL ne 5«bLdibli, in Irish. The original Irish text has been edited, with a translation and intro- duction, by James Henthorne Todd, D. D. , M. R. I. A. , F. S. A. , &c ,and it was published, by authority of the Master of the Rolls, at London, 1867, 8vo.
"' It has been edited, from three Manu-
scripts, two of which are imperfect. One of these is found in the Book of Leinster, the
other belongs to Trinity College, Dublin. The perfect copy is among the IJurgundian Library Manuscripts of Bruxelles, and it was copied by Michael O'Clery.
'' See his " Ecclesiastical History of Ire- land," vol. iii. , chap, xxi. , sect, xv. , p. 391, chap, xxiii. , sect. vii. to xii. , pp. 414 to 427.
'*
pp. 56 to 211.
'^See vol. i. , No. 17, pp. 133 to 136.
vol.
ii. , chap. °° See his "History of the County of Dub-
'' See " of Histoiy
°' See Introduction, xxv.
Ireland," XX. , xxi. , pp. 82 to 129.
3° See his
"
p.
Biographia Hibernica :
ABio-
lin," pp. 71 to 8i, and his
"
History of Ire-
graphical Dictionary of the Writers of Ire- land," vol. i. , pp. 113 to 121.
3' See "Lives of Illustrious and Distin-
guished Irishmen," vol. i. . Part i. . Second
land, and Annals of Boyle," vol. ii. , pp. 157
to 178.
°' "
°<
Theporiion, referring to Bryan Boroimha,
See History of Ireland, Ancient and
Period, pp. 197 to 214. 3' "
Modern," chap, xiv. , pp. 133 to 152.
" See "Historical Memoir of the
O'Briens," with Notes, Appendix, and a Genealogical Table of their several Branches, compiled from the Irish Annalists, chap, ii. , iii. , pp. 9 to 39. Dublin, i860, 8vo.
'3 In Irish, intituled OiiinAld tochd C(S.
It is edited, with a Translation, Preface and
Notes, by William M. Hennessy, M. R. I. A. ,
in two vols. London, 1871, 8vo.
See CompendiumofIrishBiography," pp, 34 to 36.
isfrom ito1 pp. 3.
3<
According
to hewas Eugene O'Curry,
Tliis extends, from sect, xliii. to cxviii. ,
33 He is said to have ruled that province,
for eighteen years, . iccording to the historic ]iedigree, made out for the Right Hon.
William O'Bryan, Earl of Inchiquin, by Dermod O'Connor, translator of Dr. Jeoffry
" General History of Ireland," and prefixed to his Preface for the latter work. See Duffy's edition, to which reference is
chiefly made, in the present biography.
Keaiing's
April 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 279
sons, 35 and he was remarkable for his regular life. In the year 942, a con- test took place, between Ceallachan, King of Cashel, and Ceineidigh, when the latter was defeated. ^" Many were slain at Magh-duin,3' and Ceineidigh probably perished among the number. 3^ Only four of his sons left issue, viz. , Mathghamhain or Mahon,39 Bryan,4° Donnchuan or Duncan,*' and Ech- tighern. The father of Kennedy was Lorcan,<^ Anglicized Lawrence,*3 son of Lachtna,<4 son of Cathal. ^s son of Corc,<* son of Anluan,*' son of Math- ghamhain or Mahon,4* son of Turlough,« son of Cathal,5o g^jj ^f Aodh or Hugh Caomh,5' son to Conall, prince of Thomond,5^ son of Eochaidh Bal- dearg,53 son to Carthann Fionn,54 son of Bloin or Bloid,55 son of Cais or Cas,5*
son of Conall Eachluath,5? son of Luighdheach or Lughaidh Meann. s' son to Aongus Tireach,59 son of Fearchorb,^ son to Modhchorb,*' son of Cormac
King of Monster, in 954. See " Lectures on the Manuscript Materials of Ancient Irish History," Lect. x. , p. 213. Some of the fol-
lowing dates, in the notes, are based, also, on his calculations.
3S Mac Liag, the chief poet and secretary to Bryan, has written a Poem, in thirty-two stanzas, and which gives an account of twelve sons of Chaste Cinneide. In Irish, it begins with, TDiriiAc ti^AC Chin6iT)ig tcm. See " Transactions of the Ibemo-Celtic Society,
^'SeeUr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
"
Four Masters,
" It means, " the plain of the fort," An-
O'Gloiams, the O'Aingidys, and the O'Maynes. TheSliochtBranfinnofDufferin, in Wexford, are descended from Bran. They took the name of O'Brien subsequently, from their progenitor, and they still retain it.
** He reigned over Tliomond, for three years. By means of the records of the ancient
Irish pedigrees, Eugene O'Curry was enabled to identify his ancient palace of Grianan
Lachtna, in the year 1840.
<5 In Dermod O'Connor's Pedigree, he has
no ; but, in the of Rev. Doctor place body
Keating's work, he is called the son of Core. See Part ii. , p. 482.
'' He was King of Munster, for seventeen
years.
*' He was prince of Munster.
" When he lived is uncertain.
"> He was King of Munster for thirty-six
years.
5° He was of Thomond, for seven King
years. He had two sons, Turlough and Ailgenan ; from the latter, the O'Mearas de- scend.
5' Or Hugh the Comely. He is said to have ruled over Thomond, for forty-one years, and over Munster, from a. d. 571, to his death, in a. d. 601. He had two sons, Catha! or Cahal and Congal. From the latter, descend the O'Neills of Clare, and the O'n-Eoghans or Owens.
5' According to Dermod O'Connor's Pedi-
gree.
5' He is said to have been king over Mun-
ster, for twenty-nine years.
5* He was King of Thomond, for forty-
five years, about the year of our Lord 439. 5s He was King of Thomond, for sixteen
for 1820. " Edward
gical Account of Nearly Four Hundred Irish Writers," &c. , vol. i. , Part i. , p. Ixxi. Copies of it are preserved, in the Books of Ballymote and of i. ecain.
O'Keiily's
vol. ii. , pp. 650, 651. glicised, Moydown, or Moyadown, but its
situation has not been identified. See
ibid. ,
n. (e).
^ I have not been able to ascertain the na-
ture of his death.
" From him descend the O'Bolands, the
O'Caseys, the O'Siodhachans, the Mac Inirys,
the O'Connallys, and the O'Tuomys, in the county of Limerick.
* From him descended the O'Briens and the Mac Mahons of Clare.
*' He ha<l five sons, viz. : two bearing the
name of Kennedy, Raigain, Longargan and Ceileachair. From one of the two Kennedys,
the family of O'Connuing, now Gunning, de- scended, and from the other the family of
O'Kennedy. From Riagan, the O'Riogans,
or O'Regans, of Clare and of Limerick, de-
scend. From Longargan, the O'Longergans
derive their origin ; and, from Ceileachair years.
are derived the O'Ceileachairs, or Kelle- hers.
" He was King of Thomond, for six years, circiter, a. d. 910. By O'Huidhrin, he is called Luipc 4n Lochixuinn, or " Lore of the lamp. "
5° He was King of Thomond, for sixteen
years.
" Or Conall of the Swift Steeds. For
thirteen years, he reigned over Munster, circiter, A. t). 366.
5* He was King of Munster, for twenty-
seven and he is said to have first years,
wrested the present county of Clare from the
Fribolgs. His name is pronounced Loo-y Menn.
^ Or, as he is sometimes called, . ^ngus the
*5 He had three sons,
or Ken-
Cinneidigh,
nedy, Cosgrach, and Bran. From Cosgrach, descend the O'Lorcans or Larkins, the
O Sheehans, the O'Cnaimhins, now bowens, the O'Hogans, the O'Flahertys, the
" Chronolo-
28o LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[April 23.
Cas,*» son to the renowned Oilioll 011um,*3 or Olum, who descended from the
royal line of Eibhear or Heber Fionn. *4 Oilioll Ollum^s was son to Modha
Neid,'* son to Dearg,^' son of Deirgthine,*^ son of Eana Munchaoin,*9 son
of Lnigheach More,7° son to Modhafeibhis,'" son to Muireach,'' son of Eochaidh Garbh,73 son to Duach Donn Dalta Deagha,? * son of Cairbre
Cuisgleathan,75 son of Luighaidh Laighne,'* son to Innathmar or lonadhm- har," son of Niadh Seadhamhuin,'^ son of Adamhar,? ^ son of Fearchorb,*" son of Modhchorb,*' son ofCobhthaig Caomh. ^^son ofReachta Righdhearg,^3 son of Lughaidh Laighe,*'* son to Eochaidli,^5 son to Oilioll Fionn,^* son of Art,^7 son of Luighaidh Lamhdhearg,^^ son to Eochaigh Vairceas,^^ son of Luighaidh Jardhoinn,9° son of Eadhna or Enda Dearg,? ' son to Duach Fionn,'^ son to Seadhna Jonaraice,'^ son of Breasrigh,? '* son to Art Imleach,9S
wanderer, or Cinaithreach ; who was King
of Munster, for thirty years, about a. d.
'S He was King of Munster, for twenty- eight years.
'' He was Monarch of Ireland, for five
290.
''° He
reigned
over Munster, for sixteen
the Four Masters have it and ; fifteen,
years.
' He was King of Munster, for twenty-
seven years.
'" He reigned over Munster, for twelve
years, and about the year of our Lord 260.
From him, the Dalcassians are said to derive their descent and name.
'3 He was King of Munster, for twenty- seven years, and he was married to Sadhbh, or Sabia, the daughter of Conn of the Hun- dred Battles, who ruled over Ireland, in the second century of the Christian era.
'• He was the son of Milesius, King of
Spain, who founded the Milesian Colony, in Ireland. A Chronological Irish Poem of
John O'Dugan, with an English translation ters.
a. d. ^^^ been '^ He was of Munster, for 1635, King
Michael
published, by John O'Daly, in 1847. It is in- nine years.
by
Kearney,
twenty-
^3 He was monarch, for twenty years, and he died, A. M. 4556. — Four Masters.
'< He was monarc—h, for seven years, and he died, A. M. 4469. Four Masters.
tituIed,"The Kings of the Race of Eibhear," and it notes their descent and reigns, down
to a period, long subsequent to the death of Brian Boroimha. A Preface and Notes are added, by the editor.
'= He had several sons, of whom the fol- lowing three alone left issue, viz. : Eoghan- More, Cormac Cas and Cian. See John
*= He was monarch, for seven years, and
O'Donoghue's
4415.
years. '"Hewas
of
King Munster,
for two
died, A. M. 4328.
' He was — for twelve monarch, years,
and
" Historical Memoir of the
years ; the Four Masters have it eleven, and his death,
O'Briens" i. , 3. chap, p.
"* He was King of Munster, for twenty-
three
'' He was prince of Munster.
<' He was half-king of Munster, for thir-
teen years.
°« He was half-king of Munster, for ten
years.
years.
' He was Prince of Munster.
he died, a. m. 4319. Four Masters.
9' He was monarch, for five years ; the Four Masters have it ten, and his death at
A. M. 4306.
93 Hewas —for and monarch, twenty years,
'' He was King of Munster, for seventeen years.
73 He was
of for
King Munster, thirty-six
years.
'< He was Monarch of
he died, A. M. 4290. Four Masters.
9*Hewas — fornine monarch, years,
died, A. M. 4247. F"our Masters.
andhe
for ten years, and, he died, A. M. 5041. See Dr. O'lJonovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i,, at that date. The same authority is
subsequently quoted.
Ireland,
years
his death, at a. m. 5016.
'' He was monarch of Ireland, for three
years ; the Four Masters have it nine, and
his death, at AM. 4990.
'* He was monarch of Ireland, for seven
years, and he died, a. m. 4887. —Four Mas- ters.
" He was monarch of Ireland, for five years, and he died, a. m. 4787. —Four Mas- ters.
*° He was monarch of Ireland, for eleven years, and he died, a. m. 4737. —Four Mas- ters.
'' He was monarch of Ireland, for seven years, and he died, a. m. 4701. —Four Mas-
he died, a. m. 4422.
*' Hewas monarch, for nine
—Four Masters.
at a. m.
'' He was monarch, for six years, and he
died, A. M. 4394.
** He was monarch, for seven years, and
he died, A. M. 4368.
'' He was monarch, for twelve years, and
he died, A. M. 4356. —Four Masters.
'° He w as mon. irch, for nine years, and he
95 He was monarch, for twenty-two years ; the Four Masters have it twelve years, and
his death, at A. M. 4198.
April 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 281
son to EHm,5^ son of Rotheachta," son of Roane,^^ son to Failbhe,'' son of Cas Cead Chaigneach,'°° son to Failderghoid, or Aildergoid,'°" son of Muinheamhoin,'°' son to Casclothacht,'°3 son to Irereorda,'°« son of Rothea- chta,'°5 son to Glas, son of Nuagatt Deaghlamh, son of Rosa,"°* son to Eoch- aidh Faobharglas,'°7 son of Conniaol,'°^ son of Heber or Eber Fionn,'°9 one of the sons of Milesius,"° the other two being Heremon,"' or Eremon, and Ir. '" Thus, Brian was directly descended from Milesius,"^ the Spanish con- queror and colonizer of Ireland ; and while, on the father's side, he came from the line of Heber,"* on the mother's side, his ancestry seems to have been derived from Heremon, the elder brother. The mother of Bryan was named Beibhionn Cianog, and she was daughter to Archadh,"^ who ruled over a western territory of the Connaught province.
Before the time of Bryan Boroimha, there was no general system of family names in Ireland ; for, every man or woman "* took the name, son or daughter of the father,"? who was son of the grandfather, and this was run backwards, in the order we find laid . down in ancient chronicles,"* as illus- trated in the pedigree of this great monarch, already given. Touching the illustrious subject of our present memoir demands a preliminary statement, which is closely connected with it, and which must be a matter of interest, for the —reader to know. In ancient
>* He was monarcb, only for one year, and he died, a. m. 4177.
"He was monarch, for seven years, and he died, A. M. 4176.
* He was prince of Ireland.
99 He was King of Munster, for twenty- six years.
"" He was King of Munster, for thirty-six
years.
"" He was monarch, for seven years, some
Do^n and of Antrim. Among these, the family of Magenniss is specially noticed. The O'DriscolIs of the south also descend from
Lugaidh, son of Ith, his cousin, as may be seen, in the Genealogy of the Corca Laidhe. See "Miscellany of the Celtic Society, "- edited by Dr. John O'Donovan, pp. i to 183.
"3 It seems strange, that his presence in
have it ten. ters.
He died, a. m. 3882. —Four Mas-
" of Ireland " the sons History ;" although,
the — of various Irish times, genealogies
"9
families especially those of illustrious lineage were traced by our anti-
—
"" He was monarch, for five years, and dubiously to have landed on the Irish
he died, a. m. 3872. —Four Masters.
'°^ He was King of Munster, for thirteen
years.
'°* He was
coast, 1300 years before the birth of Christ, according to the Bardic Chronology. See vol. i. , chap, v. , p. 79.
monarch, twenty years, hedieH, A. M. 3727. Four Ma-ilcrs.
and
"'
Like the Jews, the Irish took no notice
of Ireland.
"* See " Lectures on Eugene O'Curry's
prince
'°s He was monarch, for twenty-five years,
the Manuscript Materials of Ancient Irish His-
and he died, a. m. 3842—Four Masters. "* He was prince of Ireland.
"^ He was — for
"* He was monarch, for thirty years, and hedied,a. m. 3579.
'°9 He was half-monarch of Ireland, for
tory," Lect. X. , pp. 207 to 213. "5 He was son of Morough.
one
against his brother Eremon, a. m. 3501. Four Masters.
"° He was King of Spain. His sons are
said to have arrived in Ireland, A. M—. 3500,
following the Septuagint calculation. Four Masters.
'" From him, descend the great families of Ulster, Leinster and Connauj^ht, such as the O'Neills, O'Donnells, the Mac Murroughs, O'Conors, &c. He reigned fifteen years, and he died, a. m. 3516.
'" From him descend the ancient races of Uladh or Ulidia, in the present counties of
Ireland is ignored, by Thomas Moore, in his
"
of Milesius are allowed somewhat
of the pedigrees of womep, beyond their de- scent on the father's side.
"'Itis remarkable,thatthissameusage
prevailed among the Jews, as we find every-
killed in a battle, — where illustrations of such in
year, being fought custom, both
the Old and New Testaments.
"' We almost invarial;ly find the king,
chief,;or otlier remarkable personage, traced
back, through ail the generations, to one or other of the four great heads of Irish fami-
lies, viz. : Eremon, Eber, Ir, or Iih, as to the remote ancestor, or at least to some per-
son, whose pedigree was clearly traceable, in the great genealogical treatises.
"' In the i. Book of Esdras, we have a
long enumeration by name, of " the chiefs of
families, and the genealogy of them," &c. , chap. viii.
—
Cobhthach, the O'Donnells, the O'Neills, and other Ulster families, as well as all the Con-
allusion will be made to the great Munster families, and to their descent,
has been publislied by Professor Eugene O'Curry, in his "Lectures on the Manuscript Materials of Ancient Irish History," Lect.
naught
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[April 23.
quaries to some remote parent-stock, from which a distinct tribe name sprang. This included, not alone the direct family descent, but its relation to all the other families of distinction, that came from the same origin, wliich was very generally a remote one. "° The Books of Irish Genealogies and of Pedigrees appear to have been very numerous, in former times ; although several of these records are now lost, yet many still exist, in various Irish Manuscripts, or they are indirectly quoted in the Lives of our Kings, Saints, and Heroes ; so that, in all the great Books of Genealogies, the principal races are traced. However, among those Genealogies, one of the most important, now known to remain, is that of Dubhaltach Mac Firbisigh,'^' or Duald Mac Firbis, who compiled it, in the years, from 1650 to 1666. The pedigrees of our ancestors, in like manner, trace a particular individual, through the various generations backwards, to that distinguished head, who gave rise to the family name. "* Those contain many important items of historical information, which are not entered, in any of our Annals ; while they shed a considerable amount of light, on the former social state of many independent tribes and families. Owingtoerrorsofcalculationandoftranscription,it sometimeshappens, that a link or single generation may be wanting ; but, this it is often possible to supply, from some other authentic document. Every third year, and from times very remote, the provincial and clan records were returnable for examination, at the great Feis or Convention, at Tara. According to the statements of our historians, the most authentic and complete collection of national Records was preserved, for long centuries, at Tara, once the Ard- Righ's residence. After its ancient renown had been obscured, and when that seat had been deserted by the chief monarch, there can hardly be a doubt, but a like care was manifested, in whatever fortress he happened to reside. Those records were liable to be revised, by public authority; and, they had been often collated with similar documents, and corrected, when an error had been discovered. Not only the chief monarch of Erinn, but every provincial King, and territorial Chief, had his own Ollamh or Doctor of Learning, and his Seanchaidh^ or Antiquary, versed well in historical literature, and preserving
"° Thus, from UngaineMor, who flourished Uladh excepted. All the great families of over 500 years before the Incarnation of our Meath and of Ulster trace their pedigrees, to Lord, descended through his elder son one or other of Niall's sons. Later on, fuller
families; while,fromhissecondson
Laeghaire, the chief families ofLeinster are
derived. In the second century of the Chris-
tian era, a great division of families in
Leinster took place ; for, its monarch x. , pp. 215 to 228.
Cathair Mor, divided the province among
his sons, to some one of whom all the later
Leinster families trace their descent. Again,
inthe fourth century, a great division of (ami-
lies and of territories took place in Ulster,
and in Connauglit, between the three sons of
the monarch Eochaidh Muighmheadhoin. at, regarding such a topic.
These were Brian, Fiachra and Niall, after-
wards called Niall of the Nine Hostages.
The two elder sons settled in Connauglit ;
and from them descend the chief families of
that province, north and south, excepting given ; although long before the introduction the O'Kellys, the Mac Ranells, and some of Christianity into Ireland, the ancient
others. The younger son Niall succeeded to the sovereignty.
