461, where they add, we must suppose
regarding
the Leinster-
" Cremthantunc men, quibus
observed, if our Irish kings and toparchs ad-
pre-erat.
" Cremthantunc men, quibus
observed, if our Irish kings and toparchs ad-
pre-erat.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v2
^5 A sudden panic seized on the Neill forces.
They immediately
fled. The King of Leinster and his victorious army gave thanks to God and to St. Brigid. To her patronage they mainly attributed the glory of this day. =^ This great victory over the northern forces was the prelude to other famous achievements. Illand is said to have fought thirty battles in Ireland, and eight^7 or nine^'^ in Britain. In all of these conflicts, he proved victo- rious. A belief entertained, regarding his invincible prowess, caused several
was formerly a seat of the kings of Lein- O'Dubhagain and Giolla na naomh O'Hui- ster. See "The Parliamentary GazeUeer dhrin. " Edited by Dr. John O'Donovan,
of Ireland," vol iii. , p. 3.
*' See Abbate D. Giacomo Certani's"La
Santiti Prodigiosa. Vita di S. Brigida Iber- nese," Libro Sesto, pp. 467 to 470.
n. 272, pp. xxxvii. , xxxviii,
^^^ Probably the plain, known as Magh
Breacraighe, comprising the northern part of Moygoish barony, in the county of West- meath, and extending into the county of Longford, See ibid. , n. 273, p. xxxviii.
=5 See Abbate D. Giacomo Certani's " La Santiti Prodigiosa. Vita di S. Brigida Iber- nese," Libro Sesto, pp. 470, 471.
"*
Some of the foregoing incidents are
briefly related in Professor O'Looney's Irish
Life of St. Brigid, pp. 31, 32.
=3 These seem to have been the O'Cuinns
or O'Quins of Munter Gillagan. These
were distributed among the baronies of Ar-
dagh, Moydow, and Shrule, in the county
of Longford. Although dispossessed by p. 551. Tertia Vita S. Brigidse, cap. xc, the O'Farrells in the fifteenth
their posterity are yet numerous in that locality.
p. 539.
=7 According to the Fourth Life.
'^ to the Third Life, ^^coj-ding
See "The Poems of Topographical
John
century,
=*See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," QuartaVita S. Brigidae, lib. ii. , cap. x. , xi. ,
"
If you
February i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS 119
kings to court his alliance with large gifts. During these wars and rumours
of wars, St. Brigid and her nuns, at Kildare, appear not to have been dis- turbed, in the least, so far as the even current of a religious life passed on ; nor do we hear of hostile clamour awakening that repose, so grateful to their holy inmates, around the precincts of her privileged cloisters.
The Borumha Laighean or " Leinster cow-tribute"='9 was a fruitful source of warfare between the sovereigns of Ireland and the men of Leinster, not only before, but during and long after the lifetime of St. Brigid. 3° From this irritating cause, probably originated most of those petty wars, carried on with such frequent and obstinate persistence for so many centuries. s^ The renowned warrior King of Ireland, Tuathal Teachtmhar,32 who is said to have fought no less than 133 battles in the different provinces, reigned thirty years,33 during the close of the first, and he was slain after the commence- ment of the second century,34 a. d. io6,3S He is related to have imposed the degrading and oppressive Borumha, or cow tribute, on the Leinster people. 3^ During the reign of King Cormac,37 son of Art, about a. d. 241, is recorded a great outrage, perpetrated or permitted by Dunlang, son to Enna Niadh, King of Leinster. He appears to have assaulted the royal seat at Tara, and on the western slope of the hill, at Claenfearta,3S where the apartments for females had been erected,39 thirty royal maidens,4o with three hundred women servants, had been massacred. This happened on Saman's day. ^'' To avenge this cowardly and cruel act,^^ King Cormac ex- ecuted, at the same time, twelve of the Leinster chiefs, who were thought or proved to be guilty of it, while he increased the Leinster tribute, which already was so very onerous. Yet, this annual exaction was impolitic, as it
"9 There is a very curious Irish tract, in-
ster, and when the people of that province
had submitted to he exacted "the fol- him,
lowing Fine or Boroimhe, viz. , 600 Cows, 600 Hogs, 600 Sheep, 600 Ounces of Silver, 600 Mantles, and 600 Tun of Iron, Yearly ;
" Borumha on the ori- Laighean,"
tituled,
ginal imposition and final remittance of this impost, preserved in the Book of Lecan. Another copy of it may be found in a vellum
which was
of Trinity College, Dublin. A copy had Kings successively thereafter," MacCur-
classed H, 2, in the manuscript, 18, Library.
the — of 40 paid during Reigns
been prepared for publication by the Irish Archaeological Society, but it has not yet issued from the press.
3° See Townsend " of Young's History
Ireland," chap, i. , pp. 15, 16.
3' See "Three Fragments, copied from
ancient sources," by Dubhaltach Mac Fir- bisigh. Edited by Dr. O'Donovan, pp. 32 to 35.
tin's "Brief Discourse in Vindication of the
book i. , part i. , chap, vii. , pp. 328 to 360.
3^ The exact position of this site will be
found on the adynirable map, which illus-
'*
Monuments of Tara Hill restored 32 See an account of his reign in LAbbe from Ancient Documents. " See "Trans- Ma-Geoghegan's "Histoire de I'lrlande, actions of the Royal Irish Academy," vol. Ancienne et Moderne," tome i. , part i. , xviii. Antiquities, sec. iii. "On the His-
chap, vi. , pp. 126 to 130.
33 Beginning A. D. 76, according to Dr.
O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 98, 99.
34 See a very interesting; account regarding the imposition of the Leinster cow-tribute, during the reign of this monarch, in O'Ma-
"
hony's Keating's
book i. , part i. , chap, vii,, pp. 297 to 306.
tory and Antiquities of Tara Hill. " By George Petrie, Esq. , R. H. A. , M. R. I. A, p. 152. This most erudite paper was read 24th of April, and 8th and 22nd of May, 1837.
39 In the "Dinnseanchus," where the two
Claenfearts are placed to the west of Rath
Grainne, it is stated, that the virgins were slaughtered in the Southern Claenfeart. See
ibid. ,-p. 142.
4° It has been supposed, these were vestal
History of Ireland,"
35 According to Dr. O'Donovan's "An-
nals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 98 virgins. See ibid. , p. 2l8.
to lOI.
3^ This was done on account of an act of
treachery, perpetrated by a king of Leinster towards the two daughters of the monarch Tuathal. In revenge, he devastated Lein-
4' See /^/^. , p. 151.
4» Cuan O'Lochain, an ancient poet, re-
cords clAoinpe|\CA tiA clAon cAingni, which is Englished "The Claenferts of the
treacherouscovenant. " Seeibid. ^p. 144.
Antiquity of Ireland," part i. , pp. 92, 93. 37 See a very full account of events chro- nicled under this monarch's in O'Ma-
reign
hony's Keating's History of Ireland,"
trates
"
120 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS
[February i.
wasunjust; for,constitutedasIrelandhadthenbeen,notalonedifficulties
were experienced in distributing the assessment, but in collecting it, at stated intervals. Still, the Leinstermen were protected from the depredations of
their southern adversaries, the Munstermen,43 by Cairbre Liffeachair,'** the son of King Cormac. The tanists and people of Leinster do not seem to
have been sufficiently powerful to resist effectively the Ard-righs of the king- dom, until after the introduction of Christianity into Ireland,'»5 when, under the
leadership of the renowned Crimthan Kinsellagh, dynast of South Leinster, and of Illand, the enterprising and valiant dynast of Northern Leinster, the Lagenians began to cope with the last Pagan monarch, Laeghaire. *^ The latter potentate appears to have been tenacious of his prerogatives ; for, during his term of rule, he inflicted a great defeat on the Lagenians, towards the middle of the fifth century. The very year in which it has been sup- posed St. Brigid was born,47 viz. a. d. 456, Leinster is said to have been de- vastated. Other writers place this raid at an earlier period. Such reverse seems to have been retrieved, about a. d. 460, at the battle of Athdara,*^
fought by the Leinstermen, against Laogaire. 49 The place is said to have been in Kildare County. 5° This defeat of the monarch Laoighaire is re- ferred to A. D. 457,5^ 458,5^ 459, 461,53 or 465,54 by other authorities. ss It is said, that Cremthann was leader of the Lagenians. s^ While some accounts refer the death of King Laeghaires? to a. d. 458. 58 other writers place it at A. D. 461, or 462,59 or 464,^° while another annalist has it, so late as 470. ^^ The "Annals of Ulster"' refer to a. d. 464, the first war of Airdacorann, which was carried on by the Lagenians,^^ while the battle of Ard-Coran^3 is
43 See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i,, pp. 118, 119.
^ The events of his reign are set forth in
s^The *' Annales Ultonienses" place the battle of Cath Atha Dara at this year or at A. D. 459. See Dr. O'Conor's " Remm
O'Flaherty's "Ogygia," Pars, iii. , cap. Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus iv. , p. 4.
Ixx. , Ixxi. , Ixxii. , pp. 341 to 357.
45 In the following resumi of wars, noted
within the territories of Meath. The most vengeful and inveterate raids were between the Hy-Nialls or Leith Cuinn people, and
53 Ibid.
54 See ** Annales Buelliani," or " Annals of Boyle," p. 2, tomus ii. Dr. O'Conor's "Rerum Hibemicarum Scriptores. "
throughout the subsequent epoch, it is often
difficult to determine the special causes that
gave rise to them. Yet, it will be seen, for
the most part, these battles were fought event at A. d. 459. See W. M. Hennessy's either on the northern parts of Leinster, or
the
Lagenians
orLeinstermen. Itmustbe
entry of this battle, at A. D.
461, where they add, we must suppose regarding the Leinster-
" Cremthantunc men, quibus
observed, if our Irish kings and toparchs ad-
pre-erat. "
57 At Greallach Daiphil, on the side of
vised or — war—unlike some modem accepted
statesmen they were obliged personally to assume the post of danger as commanders- in-chief, when their clansmen were called to the field of slaughter.
4*^ See the events of his
in Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 128 to 145.
47 According to the *' Annals of Inis- fallen. "
4* On the River Barrow. See Haverty's
Cais in
Magh Life, according
to the " Chror
" of History Ireland,
chap, ix. , p. 74.
Liffey.
Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus iv. , p. 4.
reign
chronicled
Four Masters," vol. 4. , pp. 144, 145.
59The "Annals of Ulster" have this event at either year, 461 and 462, while the place is called Greallagh Griaifil, near or beyond the territory of Cassie, in the plain
Ancient and
Modem,"
^The " Annals of Inisfallen" that state,
at A. D. 464, the death of Laogire Mac Neill
49 See Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hibemi- took place at Grallach-da-ball, between
carum Scriptores," tomus ii. "Annales two hills, called Hibemia and Albania.
" Inisfalenses, p. 3.
so See L'Abbe Ma-Geoghegan's "His- toire d'lrlande," tome i. , part ii. , chap, ii. , p. 263,
5» See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 142, 143.
See ibid. , tomus ii. , p. 3.
^' See the "Annals of Boyle," at A. D.
470, p. 3, ibid.
^' See Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hibemi-
camm Scriptores," tomus iv. , p. 5.
^3 This place has not been identified.
55 The "Chronicum Scotorum" has this
edition, pp. 26, 27.
s^The "Ulster Annals" make a third
nicum Scotorum," edited by William M.
Hennessy, pp, 26, 27.
5^ See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the
of the
See Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum
February i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 121
assigned to a. d. 467, by the "Annals of Inisfallen. "^* In the year 464,'^s or 468,^^ the Leinstermen were again in arms, against the supreme monarch. The " Annals of Inisfallen" refer, however, to a. d. 471,^7 that war of Dumai Achir,^^ according to the book of Cuanac, which was carried on against Oilill Molt, King of Ireland. ^9 Illand, the Prince of North Leinster, was victor in this engagement. 7° The boxing-battle of Bri-Ele, supposed to have taken place at the hill of Croghan, in the King's County, does not appear to have been a very formidable encounter. Probably it was only a pugilistic contest, between certain selected champions of Leinster and Meath. The monarch, Oilill Molt, seems to have been present, either as a combatant, or as a spectator. Its occurrence is variably referred to a. d. 468,7^ 473, 475, 471,72 or 481. 73 The Irish poet, Gilda Modud of Ardbraccan, states, that after Oilill-Molt had passed twenty years of a victorious life,74 Lugad the Strong, and the son of Laogaire, slew him by a most lamentable action. 7S This occurred at the battle of Ocha,76 ^^ which allusion has been already made. Underanotherformofname,wemeetwithanaccount,attheyear 477,77 regarding this battle of Uchbad, which was fought against the Lage-
"
the garrulous,'' son to Coel- ban, son of Cruinnius, from Dalaradia. 73 At the year 478,79 or at 483,^° we have an account regarding the murder of Crimthan, son to Enna Censelach,
nians, by Crimthann, or by Fiachra garrulo, or
son to Breasal Belac, King of Leinster.
^*Seeibid. ,tomusii. , p. 3.
This seems to be confounded with
sonofLaoighaire,tooyoungatthetimeof
his father's death to contest the succession,
seems to have obtained the crown by form-
ing a strong confederacy of provincial kings
and See ' ' of toparclis. Haverty's History
Ireland," chap, ix. , p. 75.
77 See the " Annals of Inisfallen. " Dr.
O'Conor's " Rerum Hibemicarum Scrip- tores," tomus ii. , pp. 3, 4.
"
7^ In the
this battle of Ocha is entered, under A. D. 482, and again under A. D. 483, in that old translation, found in the Clarendon MS. , tom. 49. There we read: "482. Bellum Oche, in quo cecidit Ailill Molt manu Lugh mic Laogaire, et Muritrti mic Erca. A
Concobarofilib Nessa usque ad Cormacfilium Artanni208. ACormacusqueadhocbellum 206, «/Cuana scripsit. '' And again : "483. Ju^ulatio Crimthain, mac Enna Censelaich,
^s See Dr. O'Donovan's
"
Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 146, 147. ^According to the "Annals of Ulster," ^ See Dr. O'Conor's ** Rerum Hiberni-
carum Scriptores," tomus ii. , p. 3.
'" In English, Aichir's or Heber's Mount : this place has not been identified. See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Mas-
ters," vol i. , n. (1), p. 146.
^See Dr. O'Conor's "Rerum Hibemi-
"
Annales Ultonienses" p. 5. The " Annals of Ul- ster" have an entry at A. D. 474, and again at A. D. 476, as if the true date for this battle of Duma Achir were a matter of
doubt. See ibid. , p. 6. 7°"TheAnnalsofInisfallen. " Ibid. ,
tomus ii. , p. 3.
7' According to Dr. O'Donovan's " An-
Annals of Ulster," a notice of
carum Scriptores," tomus iv.
nals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. Regis Lagenie, mic Bressail Bealaich, mic
148, 149, and nn. (u, w), ibid. Cathair moir, Et hoc anno the battle [called] "
7=^ The Annals -of Ulster" have it en- Cath Ocha, secundum alios, by Lugad and
tered at each of these three years, as if
there were different authorities for each
statement. See Dr. Charles O'Conor's
••
Rerum Hibemicarum Scriptores," tomus iv. , p. 6.
73 The "Annals of Boyle" enter it at this
date. See ibid. , tomus ii. , p. 3.
7* MacCurtin states, that his reign com-
menced A. D. 453 and ended 473. See " A
Brief Discourse in Vindication of the Anti-
quity of Ireland," part ii. , pp. 155, 156.
75 See Dr. O'Conor's "Rerum Hiber-
nicarum Scriptores," tomus i. Prologo- mina, pars i. , pp. cxlix. , clxvii.
7^ This is supposed to have been fought in Meath, and not iar from Tara. Lughaidh,
by Murtagh mac Erca, and by Fergus Cer- vail, mac (vonnell Crimthain, and by Fi- achra Lon, the King of Dal-Araide. "
79 According to the "Annals of Inisfal- len,"whichhavethisstatement. A. D. 478. The war of Granaird. Finchad, King of Leinster fell. According to some, Meice Eirce was the conqueror, but others state Coirpre was the victor. See Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hibemicarum Scriptores," tomus ii. , p. 4.
^° This is the year assigned by O'FIa-
herty for the accession of Lugad, the son of
Laogaire, to the sovereignty of Ireland. "
See Ogygia," pars iii. , cap. xciii. , p>430* Other accounts differ as to date.
122 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February i.
the following entry. At the year 485, we find a record concerning the first war of Granearad, in which Cairpre Mac Neill—the ninth hostage—was victor. There fell Finchat, the son of Ere, according to some writers, while he was a victor, in the opinion of others. ^' Again, this same first war of Graine is entered a third time, at a. d. 486,^^ in the Ulster Annals. During
said to have slain Echadh. Notwithstanding, the Annals of Inisfallen," while recording such events at 478, still defer, to the year 480, the death of CrimthanCenselach. ^* Heprobablylingeredtwoyears,andasaneffectof his wounds death then ensued. ^s in a. d. 485, the war of Sratha-Conaill waswaged. FiachMacFinchada,KingofLeinster,fellinthisengagement,
^^
Yet, this historical episode is deferred toA. D. 494,bytheannalistTigernach. ^y ThePaganbrotherofKingLea- ghaire, who is called Cairbre, son to Niall of the Nine Hostages, fought and wonthebattleofTailteen,^^inEastMeath,^9againsttheLagenians. Some accounts have this battle at a. d. 491, while other writers enter it, at a. d. 494^° or 495.
fled. The King of Leinster and his victorious army gave thanks to God and to St. Brigid. To her patronage they mainly attributed the glory of this day. =^ This great victory over the northern forces was the prelude to other famous achievements. Illand is said to have fought thirty battles in Ireland, and eight^7 or nine^'^ in Britain. In all of these conflicts, he proved victo- rious. A belief entertained, regarding his invincible prowess, caused several
was formerly a seat of the kings of Lein- O'Dubhagain and Giolla na naomh O'Hui- ster. See "The Parliamentary GazeUeer dhrin. " Edited by Dr. John O'Donovan,
of Ireland," vol iii. , p. 3.
*' See Abbate D. Giacomo Certani's"La
Santiti Prodigiosa. Vita di S. Brigida Iber- nese," Libro Sesto, pp. 467 to 470.
n. 272, pp. xxxvii. , xxxviii,
^^^ Probably the plain, known as Magh
Breacraighe, comprising the northern part of Moygoish barony, in the county of West- meath, and extending into the county of Longford, See ibid. , n. 273, p. xxxviii.
=5 See Abbate D. Giacomo Certani's " La Santiti Prodigiosa. Vita di S. Brigida Iber- nese," Libro Sesto, pp. 470, 471.
"*
Some of the foregoing incidents are
briefly related in Professor O'Looney's Irish
Life of St. Brigid, pp. 31, 32.
=3 These seem to have been the O'Cuinns
or O'Quins of Munter Gillagan. These
were distributed among the baronies of Ar-
dagh, Moydow, and Shrule, in the county
of Longford. Although dispossessed by p. 551. Tertia Vita S. Brigidse, cap. xc, the O'Farrells in the fifteenth
their posterity are yet numerous in that locality.
p. 539.
=7 According to the Fourth Life.
'^ to the Third Life, ^^coj-ding
See "The Poems of Topographical
John
century,
=*See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," QuartaVita S. Brigidae, lib. ii. , cap. x. , xi. ,
"
If you
February i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS 119
kings to court his alliance with large gifts. During these wars and rumours
of wars, St. Brigid and her nuns, at Kildare, appear not to have been dis- turbed, in the least, so far as the even current of a religious life passed on ; nor do we hear of hostile clamour awakening that repose, so grateful to their holy inmates, around the precincts of her privileged cloisters.
The Borumha Laighean or " Leinster cow-tribute"='9 was a fruitful source of warfare between the sovereigns of Ireland and the men of Leinster, not only before, but during and long after the lifetime of St. Brigid. 3° From this irritating cause, probably originated most of those petty wars, carried on with such frequent and obstinate persistence for so many centuries. s^ The renowned warrior King of Ireland, Tuathal Teachtmhar,32 who is said to have fought no less than 133 battles in the different provinces, reigned thirty years,33 during the close of the first, and he was slain after the commence- ment of the second century,34 a. d. io6,3S He is related to have imposed the degrading and oppressive Borumha, or cow tribute, on the Leinster people. 3^ During the reign of King Cormac,37 son of Art, about a. d. 241, is recorded a great outrage, perpetrated or permitted by Dunlang, son to Enna Niadh, King of Leinster. He appears to have assaulted the royal seat at Tara, and on the western slope of the hill, at Claenfearta,3S where the apartments for females had been erected,39 thirty royal maidens,4o with three hundred women servants, had been massacred. This happened on Saman's day. ^'' To avenge this cowardly and cruel act,^^ King Cormac ex- ecuted, at the same time, twelve of the Leinster chiefs, who were thought or proved to be guilty of it, while he increased the Leinster tribute, which already was so very onerous. Yet, this annual exaction was impolitic, as it
"9 There is a very curious Irish tract, in-
ster, and when the people of that province
had submitted to he exacted "the fol- him,
lowing Fine or Boroimhe, viz. , 600 Cows, 600 Hogs, 600 Sheep, 600 Ounces of Silver, 600 Mantles, and 600 Tun of Iron, Yearly ;
" Borumha on the ori- Laighean,"
tituled,
ginal imposition and final remittance of this impost, preserved in the Book of Lecan. Another copy of it may be found in a vellum
which was
of Trinity College, Dublin. A copy had Kings successively thereafter," MacCur-
classed H, 2, in the manuscript, 18, Library.
the — of 40 paid during Reigns
been prepared for publication by the Irish Archaeological Society, but it has not yet issued from the press.
3° See Townsend " of Young's History
Ireland," chap, i. , pp. 15, 16.
3' See "Three Fragments, copied from
ancient sources," by Dubhaltach Mac Fir- bisigh. Edited by Dr. O'Donovan, pp. 32 to 35.
tin's "Brief Discourse in Vindication of the
book i. , part i. , chap, vii. , pp. 328 to 360.
3^ The exact position of this site will be
found on the adynirable map, which illus-
'*
Monuments of Tara Hill restored 32 See an account of his reign in LAbbe from Ancient Documents. " See "Trans- Ma-Geoghegan's "Histoire de I'lrlande, actions of the Royal Irish Academy," vol. Ancienne et Moderne," tome i. , part i. , xviii. Antiquities, sec. iii. "On the His-
chap, vi. , pp. 126 to 130.
33 Beginning A. D. 76, according to Dr.
O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 98, 99.
34 See a very interesting; account regarding the imposition of the Leinster cow-tribute, during the reign of this monarch, in O'Ma-
"
hony's Keating's
book i. , part i. , chap, vii,, pp. 297 to 306.
tory and Antiquities of Tara Hill. " By George Petrie, Esq. , R. H. A. , M. R. I. A, p. 152. This most erudite paper was read 24th of April, and 8th and 22nd of May, 1837.
39 In the "Dinnseanchus," where the two
Claenfearts are placed to the west of Rath
Grainne, it is stated, that the virgins were slaughtered in the Southern Claenfeart. See
ibid. ,-p. 142.
4° It has been supposed, these were vestal
History of Ireland,"
35 According to Dr. O'Donovan's "An-
nals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 98 virgins. See ibid. , p. 2l8.
to lOI.
3^ This was done on account of an act of
treachery, perpetrated by a king of Leinster towards the two daughters of the monarch Tuathal. In revenge, he devastated Lein-
4' See /^/^. , p. 151.
4» Cuan O'Lochain, an ancient poet, re-
cords clAoinpe|\CA tiA clAon cAingni, which is Englished "The Claenferts of the
treacherouscovenant. " Seeibid. ^p. 144.
Antiquity of Ireland," part i. , pp. 92, 93. 37 See a very full account of events chro- nicled under this monarch's in O'Ma-
reign
hony's Keating's History of Ireland,"
trates
"
120 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS
[February i.
wasunjust; for,constitutedasIrelandhadthenbeen,notalonedifficulties
were experienced in distributing the assessment, but in collecting it, at stated intervals. Still, the Leinstermen were protected from the depredations of
their southern adversaries, the Munstermen,43 by Cairbre Liffeachair,'** the son of King Cormac. The tanists and people of Leinster do not seem to
have been sufficiently powerful to resist effectively the Ard-righs of the king- dom, until after the introduction of Christianity into Ireland,'»5 when, under the
leadership of the renowned Crimthan Kinsellagh, dynast of South Leinster, and of Illand, the enterprising and valiant dynast of Northern Leinster, the Lagenians began to cope with the last Pagan monarch, Laeghaire. *^ The latter potentate appears to have been tenacious of his prerogatives ; for, during his term of rule, he inflicted a great defeat on the Lagenians, towards the middle of the fifth century. The very year in which it has been sup- posed St. Brigid was born,47 viz. a. d. 456, Leinster is said to have been de- vastated. Other writers place this raid at an earlier period. Such reverse seems to have been retrieved, about a. d. 460, at the battle of Athdara,*^
fought by the Leinstermen, against Laogaire. 49 The place is said to have been in Kildare County. 5° This defeat of the monarch Laoighaire is re- ferred to A. D. 457,5^ 458,5^ 459, 461,53 or 465,54 by other authorities. ss It is said, that Cremthann was leader of the Lagenians. s^ While some accounts refer the death of King Laeghaires? to a. d. 458. 58 other writers place it at A. D. 461, or 462,59 or 464,^° while another annalist has it, so late as 470. ^^ The "Annals of Ulster"' refer to a. d. 464, the first war of Airdacorann, which was carried on by the Lagenians,^^ while the battle of Ard-Coran^3 is
43 See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i,, pp. 118, 119.
^ The events of his reign are set forth in
s^The *' Annales Ultonienses" place the battle of Cath Atha Dara at this year or at A. D. 459. See Dr. O'Conor's " Remm
O'Flaherty's "Ogygia," Pars, iii. , cap. Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus iv. , p. 4.
Ixx. , Ixxi. , Ixxii. , pp. 341 to 357.
45 In the following resumi of wars, noted
within the territories of Meath. The most vengeful and inveterate raids were between the Hy-Nialls or Leith Cuinn people, and
53 Ibid.
54 See ** Annales Buelliani," or " Annals of Boyle," p. 2, tomus ii. Dr. O'Conor's "Rerum Hibemicarum Scriptores. "
throughout the subsequent epoch, it is often
difficult to determine the special causes that
gave rise to them. Yet, it will be seen, for
the most part, these battles were fought event at A. d. 459. See W. M. Hennessy's either on the northern parts of Leinster, or
the
Lagenians
orLeinstermen. Itmustbe
entry of this battle, at A. D.
461, where they add, we must suppose regarding the Leinster-
" Cremthantunc men, quibus
observed, if our Irish kings and toparchs ad-
pre-erat. "
57 At Greallach Daiphil, on the side of
vised or — war—unlike some modem accepted
statesmen they were obliged personally to assume the post of danger as commanders- in-chief, when their clansmen were called to the field of slaughter.
4*^ See the events of his
in Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 128 to 145.
47 According to the *' Annals of Inis- fallen. "
4* On the River Barrow. See Haverty's
Cais in
Magh Life, according
to the " Chror
" of History Ireland,
chap, ix. , p. 74.
Liffey.
Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus iv. , p. 4.
reign
chronicled
Four Masters," vol. 4. , pp. 144, 145.
59The "Annals of Ulster" have this event at either year, 461 and 462, while the place is called Greallagh Griaifil, near or beyond the territory of Cassie, in the plain
Ancient and
Modem,"
^The " Annals of Inisfallen" that state,
at A. D. 464, the death of Laogire Mac Neill
49 See Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hibemi- took place at Grallach-da-ball, between
carum Scriptores," tomus ii. "Annales two hills, called Hibemia and Albania.
" Inisfalenses, p. 3.
so See L'Abbe Ma-Geoghegan's "His- toire d'lrlande," tome i. , part ii. , chap, ii. , p. 263,
5» See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 142, 143.
See ibid. , tomus ii. , p. 3.
^' See the "Annals of Boyle," at A. D.
470, p. 3, ibid.
^' See Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hibemi-
camm Scriptores," tomus iv. , p. 5.
^3 This place has not been identified.
55 The "Chronicum Scotorum" has this
edition, pp. 26, 27.
s^The "Ulster Annals" make a third
nicum Scotorum," edited by William M.
Hennessy, pp, 26, 27.
5^ See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the
of the
See Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum
February i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 121
assigned to a. d. 467, by the "Annals of Inisfallen. "^* In the year 464,'^s or 468,^^ the Leinstermen were again in arms, against the supreme monarch. The " Annals of Inisfallen" refer, however, to a. d. 471,^7 that war of Dumai Achir,^^ according to the book of Cuanac, which was carried on against Oilill Molt, King of Ireland. ^9 Illand, the Prince of North Leinster, was victor in this engagement. 7° The boxing-battle of Bri-Ele, supposed to have taken place at the hill of Croghan, in the King's County, does not appear to have been a very formidable encounter. Probably it was only a pugilistic contest, between certain selected champions of Leinster and Meath. The monarch, Oilill Molt, seems to have been present, either as a combatant, or as a spectator. Its occurrence is variably referred to a. d. 468,7^ 473, 475, 471,72 or 481. 73 The Irish poet, Gilda Modud of Ardbraccan, states, that after Oilill-Molt had passed twenty years of a victorious life,74 Lugad the Strong, and the son of Laogaire, slew him by a most lamentable action. 7S This occurred at the battle of Ocha,76 ^^ which allusion has been already made. Underanotherformofname,wemeetwithanaccount,attheyear 477,77 regarding this battle of Uchbad, which was fought against the Lage-
"
the garrulous,'' son to Coel- ban, son of Cruinnius, from Dalaradia. 73 At the year 478,79 or at 483,^° we have an account regarding the murder of Crimthan, son to Enna Censelach,
nians, by Crimthann, or by Fiachra garrulo, or
son to Breasal Belac, King of Leinster.
^*Seeibid. ,tomusii. , p. 3.
This seems to be confounded with
sonofLaoighaire,tooyoungatthetimeof
his father's death to contest the succession,
seems to have obtained the crown by form-
ing a strong confederacy of provincial kings
and See ' ' of toparclis. Haverty's History
Ireland," chap, ix. , p. 75.
77 See the " Annals of Inisfallen. " Dr.
O'Conor's " Rerum Hibemicarum Scrip- tores," tomus ii. , pp. 3, 4.
"
7^ In the
this battle of Ocha is entered, under A. D. 482, and again under A. D. 483, in that old translation, found in the Clarendon MS. , tom. 49. There we read: "482. Bellum Oche, in quo cecidit Ailill Molt manu Lugh mic Laogaire, et Muritrti mic Erca. A
Concobarofilib Nessa usque ad Cormacfilium Artanni208. ACormacusqueadhocbellum 206, «/Cuana scripsit. '' And again : "483. Ju^ulatio Crimthain, mac Enna Censelaich,
^s See Dr. O'Donovan's
"
Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 146, 147. ^According to the "Annals of Ulster," ^ See Dr. O'Conor's ** Rerum Hiberni-
carum Scriptores," tomus ii. , p. 3.
'" In English, Aichir's or Heber's Mount : this place has not been identified. See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Mas-
ters," vol i. , n. (1), p. 146.
^See Dr. O'Conor's "Rerum Hibemi-
"
Annales Ultonienses" p. 5. The " Annals of Ul- ster" have an entry at A. D. 474, and again at A. D. 476, as if the true date for this battle of Duma Achir were a matter of
doubt. See ibid. , p. 6. 7°"TheAnnalsofInisfallen. " Ibid. ,
tomus ii. , p. 3.
7' According to Dr. O'Donovan's " An-
Annals of Ulster," a notice of
carum Scriptores," tomus iv.
nals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. Regis Lagenie, mic Bressail Bealaich, mic
148, 149, and nn. (u, w), ibid. Cathair moir, Et hoc anno the battle [called] "
7=^ The Annals -of Ulster" have it en- Cath Ocha, secundum alios, by Lugad and
tered at each of these three years, as if
there were different authorities for each
statement. See Dr. Charles O'Conor's
••
Rerum Hibemicarum Scriptores," tomus iv. , p. 6.
73 The "Annals of Boyle" enter it at this
date. See ibid. , tomus ii. , p. 3.
7* MacCurtin states, that his reign com-
menced A. D. 453 and ended 473. See " A
Brief Discourse in Vindication of the Anti-
quity of Ireland," part ii. , pp. 155, 156.
75 See Dr. O'Conor's "Rerum Hiber-
nicarum Scriptores," tomus i. Prologo- mina, pars i. , pp. cxlix. , clxvii.
7^ This is supposed to have been fought in Meath, and not iar from Tara. Lughaidh,
by Murtagh mac Erca, and by Fergus Cer- vail, mac (vonnell Crimthain, and by Fi- achra Lon, the King of Dal-Araide. "
79 According to the "Annals of Inisfal- len,"whichhavethisstatement. A. D. 478. The war of Granaird. Finchad, King of Leinster fell. According to some, Meice Eirce was the conqueror, but others state Coirpre was the victor. See Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hibemicarum Scriptores," tomus ii. , p. 4.
^° This is the year assigned by O'FIa-
herty for the accession of Lugad, the son of
Laogaire, to the sovereignty of Ireland. "
See Ogygia," pars iii. , cap. xciii. , p>430* Other accounts differ as to date.
122 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February i.
the following entry. At the year 485, we find a record concerning the first war of Granearad, in which Cairpre Mac Neill—the ninth hostage—was victor. There fell Finchat, the son of Ere, according to some writers, while he was a victor, in the opinion of others. ^' Again, this same first war of Graine is entered a third time, at a. d. 486,^^ in the Ulster Annals. During
said to have slain Echadh. Notwithstanding, the Annals of Inisfallen," while recording such events at 478, still defer, to the year 480, the death of CrimthanCenselach. ^* Heprobablylingeredtwoyears,andasaneffectof his wounds death then ensued. ^s in a. d. 485, the war of Sratha-Conaill waswaged. FiachMacFinchada,KingofLeinster,fellinthisengagement,
^^
Yet, this historical episode is deferred toA. D. 494,bytheannalistTigernach. ^y ThePaganbrotherofKingLea- ghaire, who is called Cairbre, son to Niall of the Nine Hostages, fought and wonthebattleofTailteen,^^inEastMeath,^9againsttheLagenians. Some accounts have this battle at a. d. 491, while other writers enter it, at a. d. 494^° or 495.
