"^ He is
probably
the Torberd Roe, enumerated by Duald Mac Firbis.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v4
J.
A.
Worsae's " Account of the
Danes and Norwegians in England, Scot- land and Ireland. " The Norwegians in Ire-
land, sect, i. , pp. 229, 300.
*3 From some History of the Danish In-
vasions, which now nppears to be lost, Dublialtach Mac Firbisiyh gives a detailed account of this quarrel, between the Scan- dinavians themselves, in the "Three Frag- ments " of Irish Annals, edited with a trans-
lationandnotes, by JohnO'Donovan,LL. D. , pp. 114 to 125.
'" Some curious particulars are related, about the Danes, after a first defeat, placing themselves under the protection of St. Patrick,
and of his God, and then being victorious.
afteragreatslaughteroftheNorwegians. A horrible idea of tlie victors' ferocity is given, when we are informed, that their cauldrons were placed ou heaps of Lochlann bodies, and one end of the spits, on which their meat was htmg, had been stuck into some of
the corpses, while cooking their meals. This was witnessed, by the ambassadors of King Maelseachlainn.
'« See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the FourMasters,"vol. i. , pp. 484,485.
"* See Harris' Ware, vol. i. , "Arch-
bishops of Armagh," p. 45.
"'"In the "Three Fragments" of Irish
Annals, he is called -dmLioib Conung, and the editor, Dr. O'Donovan, has the quciy "is Connng an Hibernicized form of the Teu-
t'onic Koenig or Koenuito, King? "
"••' He was a Norwegian,
"9 See an account of him, in Charles
"
Scandinavi. in History of Dub- lin," chap, i. , ii. , pp. 18 to 33.
'5° At the year 854, an extraordinary fact, not noticed in the Annals of Ulster or of the
Four Masters, is related, that many of the IrishforsooktheirChristianbaptism,joined the Lochlanns, plundered Armagh, and ear- ried away all its riches ; but some of them did penance, and came to make satisfaction, See Hid. , pp. 126, 127.
Haliday's
April 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 309
of Meath, a. d. 857. Peace was proclaimed, after King Maelseachlainn had
convoked a great assembly of Irish notables, at Rathhugh, in the county of Westmeath. The monarch of Ireland was obliged to contend with Aedh
Finnliath, son to Niall Caille, who leagued with the foreigners. Thus, our Annals present a dismal succession of struggles, between the islanders and their obstinate enemies. The former were always disunited, and often for that reason suffering disaster. In the year 860 died Maelseachlainn, after a reign of sixteen years,'5> and he was succeeded by Aedh Finnliath, in the sovereignty of Ireland. Meantime, the Saxons in England were harassed greatly by the Northmen. During the reigns of the English King Egbert's succesors, Ethelwulf, Ethelbald, Ethelbert and Ethelbred, with varying for- tunes, invasion succeeded invasion,"but everywhere, tlie pirates spread ruin and conflagration. Various signal victories were obtained over the Saxons, until Alfred the Great was called to the throne in 871. His prudence, abilities and courage reversed their successes to the end of his reign, and his death tookplace,onthe26thofOctober,a. d. 899to901. '5' HissonEdward,who succeeded, obtained more real power over them, and his conquests were more durable.
During Maelseachlainn's reign, while the Scandinavians were repressed in the north of Ireland, those of Dublin invaded Leinster and Munster, which they ravaged, while they searched the very earth-caves for hidden booty. Limerick, Cork and Kerry were desolated by those plunderers. In 860, two noble chiefs of the Lochlanns, came with their forces to Luimnech, and thencewenttoPort-Lairge. TheleaderswerecalledHona,whowasaDruid,'S3 and Tormir Torra ; but, the people of Eoghanacht,'5* and of Aracliach,'55 opposedthem. Thosechiefswereslain,withagreatnumberoftheirforces, and only a few escaped from the people of Munster. 's* In 867, Armagh was again burned, and one thousand of its citizens were slaughtered. '57 About this period, the Danes had landed in England, and had reduced the King- dom of Northumbria, under their sway. '^* Nay more, the Norwegians are said even to have invaded the Mauritani, or Moors, about a. d. 869 ; and, after fighting a bloody engagement with the king of that country, the Loch- lanns gained a signal victory, and carried off a great number of captives to Erinn, where these were known as blue or dark men, owing to tiie peculiar colour of their faces. 'ss It must be allowed, that the White Gentiles fought with the Black Gentiles, about this tinie, and these latter were driven to Alba or Scotland. During this period, the Norwegians under Anilaeibh and Imhar invaded Scotland, laying waste the country of the Picts. They returned to Dublin in 871, with two hundred ships, bringing a great number of captives, Picts, Angles and Britons. '^ Aedh Finliath died 876, and he was succeeded byFlannSionna,thesonofMaelseachlainn,onthethroneofIreland. During his long reign of forty years, this country enjoyed comparative immunity frona
'5' See " GratUnus Lucias, Cambrensis
Eversus," vol. ii. , cap. ix. , pp. 30, 31. Rev. Matthew Kelly's edition.
'5^ See Rev. Dr. Lingard's "History of
England," vol. i. , chap, iil, iv. , pp. 143 to 188.
_
'5J Most probably, this is a term used, be-
cause he died, praying to the gods and
exercising mayic.
's^ These lived, in the great plain surround-
ing Cashel.
'55 This territory is in the east ofLimerick
Annals, this notice is to be found.
's? See James . Stuart's " Historical Me-
moirs of tile City of Armagh," chap, iii. ,
p. 112.
'S^See William F. Skene's Celtic Scot-
County,
'i* In the " Three
O'JJoiiovaii, LL. D. , pp. 158 to 163.
'^ See William F. Skene's " Celtic Scot- land: a History of Ancient Alban," vol. i. ,
Fragments
" of Irish Book
i. , chap, vi. , pp. 323
to
325.
"
land : a History of Ancient Alban," vol. i. ,
Boole i. , chap, vi. , p. 332. '5» This is related, in the
"
Three Frag- ments" of Irish Annals, collected by Dub- haltach Mac Firbi^igh, and edited by John
310 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23.
foreign aggression ; yet, sometimes from the Norse settlements at Dublin,
Limerick, Lough Foyle, Lough Neagh, and elsewhere, churches were plun-
dered and districts ravaged. '*' By a combined attack of Cearbhall, King of
Leinster, and of Maelfinnia, King of Bregia, the foreigners were expelled
from Dublin, a. d. 900, when they left many of their vessels behind them.
Their leader was Sichfrith, son oflmhar. '*^ During this period, the Northmen
committed extensive depredations, not only in Great Britain, but even on the
Rhine, in France, in Normandy, in Italy, and in other European countries. "*3
In 910, the Northmen took possession of Loch Dachaech,"''' or Port Lairge,
now Waterfordj'^s and, in the year 912, a still greater number of their vessels
arrived in its harbour. '** Great and frequent reinforcements followed them,
in913 sothattheplacebecameoneoftheirstrongestsouthernpositions. '*' ;
Those forces were under the command ofRagnall—grandson to Ivar—and also
under Earl Ottir. In 916, died Flann Sionna, and he was succeeded, in the
sovereignty of Ireland, by Niall Glandubh. '*^ The foreigners, especially in the
south, east and west of Ireland, were very aggressive, during his reign. The Irish gained some victories over the Norwegians and Danes ; but, the mon-
arch of Ireland, leading a large northern force against those in Dublin, lost a battle and his life, at Kilmashogue, near Rathfarnham, September 15th, A. D. 919. Several Irish kings and chiefs perished in this engagement, among the rest Hugh Mac Eochagain, King of Ultonia. '*'
The native Irish continued to maintain their prestige in arms, when they were assailed by their enemies, while the greater part of their country was occupied by a population of fighting men, in vastly superior numbers to their inva- ders;'7° but,theyhadneglectedtheobviousprecautionofestablishingstrong-
holds and of fortifying defensive positions, throughout the more exposed parts of the island. Their ports and harbours for the most part were unfurnished with vessels, except those small craft used for fishing ; nor were their sailors accustomed to the art of naval warfare, as their ships, at that time, had not been constructed for such a purpose. On the contrary, unopposed on their wild and accustomed element, the Northmen were enabled to select the less defensive creeks and coasts, for sudden and secure descent ; while, in case of reverses by land, the line of retreat to their ships was well guarded, and, in any case, it was a ready resource to hoist sail, and to convey a large number ofwarriorsaroundtheIrishshores,fromonepointtoanother. Donnchadh, son to Flann Sionna, succeeded as monarch, and he won a great victory over the Northmen. Gotfrid, or Godfrey, grandson of Imhar, after the death of his brother Ragnall,'? ' took possession of Dublin, and plundered Armagh, with a great part of the north of Ireland, in 921. '7' Soon afterwards appeared
''' An account of such depredations will be found, in the "Three Fragments" of Irish Annals, by Dubhaltach Mac. Firbisigh.
584, 585.
"''See Miss M. F. Cusack's "Popular
History of Ireland," chap, xii. , p. 195.
"'' See Jienliel Re CogA'oh
"'^ See Martin " of Haverty's History
JaIIatoIi, edited by Rev. James Henthorn Todd. In-
Ireland," chap, xiii. , p. 130.
" His-
troduction, p. Ixxxiii.
"i^ An account of these expeditions will be
"
Historie des Expedi- tions des Normands et leur Etablisement en
France," liv. iii. Paris, 1843.
''« The oldest name, according to the
Dinnseanchus.
"^5 There is no record of a Scandinavian
King of Waterford, before A. D. 903. See Charles Haliday's "Scandinavian Kingdom
*» See L'Abbe
Ma-Geoghegan's
found, in Deppiiig's
toire de I'lrlande Ancienne et Moderne,"
tome i. Seconde Partie, chap, v. , p. 400.
'? ° See J. J. A. Worsae's " Account of the
Danes and Norwegians in Engl. ind, Scot- land and Ireland. " The Norwegians in Ire- land. sect, i. , p. 297.
'? ' He was King of the Finngall and
Dubhgall, showing that the Norwegians and Danes were then united, or, at least, allies—,
of Dublin," Book '»
'7= See " Annales
Dr. O'Conor's "Rerum Hibernicarum tores," tomus iv.
21.
See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 580, 581, and pp.
Ultonienses," p. 253. Scrip-
i. ,
chap, ii. , p.
April 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 311
Tamar,'" or Tomar, son of Elgi, who landed at Inis-Sibhtonn, now King's Island, Limerick,'"^ with an immense fleet, while Lorean, son of Conligan, was KingofCashel. ThatinvaderplunderedthegreaterpartofMunster"both churchesandchieftainries. "'75 Duringthetenthcentury,theNorthernadven- turers had numerous ships in Ireland. A fleet appears to have been sent
from Limerick, or rather equipped on Lough Derg, as the intervening rapids on the Shannon could hardly allow an ascent of the river from the for-
mer place. Even so far north as Lough Ree, the Norsemen went. They plundered churches and shrines on the islands, or along the shores, committing
other outrages, also, and with little opposition, they returned safely to Lime- rick. In 925, Edward's eldest son, Athelstan, succeeded as the first monarch
of all England, and he was signally successful, against the Normans and Danes. The Norwegians had colonized the kingdom of Nortlmmbria, and the Britons
of Cumbria were leagued with them, to preserve their national independence, during the reign of Athelstan's brother, King Edmund. After expelling the foreign forces from the northern parts of England, heattacked the Cumbrians,
and having captured two sons of their King Dimmail, these were barbarously deprived of sight, while their country was placed under Malcolm, King of the Scots, on condition that he should become vassal to the King of England,
and unite with Edmund in withstanding the attempts of the sea-kings. In 946, his brother Edred succeeded to the crown, and his efforts to repress the
power of the Norwegians were successful, to the end of his reign, which hap-
pened in 955.
The Earl Oiter Dubh landed, with one hundred ships, at Waterford.
The fleets of pirates and Danes began to multiply, and hordes of foreigners spread over Munster. ''^ Among the fleets are enumerated ^^^ those of Oiberd, of Oduinn,'? * of Griffin, '" of Snuatgar,'*" of Lagmann, of Erolf, of Sitriuc,"'' of Buidnin,'^' of Liagrislach, of Toirberdach,''^ of Eoan Barun, of Milid
Buu,'"'* of Suimin. '^s of Suainin,'** and lastly, of Inghen Ruaidh. '^' Everywhere, around the coasts of Erinn, they established ports, and on the land, fortresses were erected. Those furious and ferocious gentiles ravaged lands and houses ; they destroyed churches and monas- tries; they killed kings and chiefs, with their warriors; they inflicted
''' He is said to have been the Scandina-
vian chieftain, Gormo Gamlc, or "the aged. " ''* There is no record of any Scandinavian
King in Limerick, until 940. See Charles
"' He is called Buidin, by Duald Mac Firbis.
"^ He is probably the Torberd Roe, enumerated by Duald Mac Firbis.
''* Mileadh Tua is Duald mentioned, by
Mac Firbis.
'*5 So is he called, by Duald Mac Firbis.
'** Duald Mac he is called By Firbis,
Suairnin.
'*' The Red-haired maiden. She seems
to have been a Northern Amazon, whose turn for piracy was long afterwards emulated, by the celebrated Graine-uile, ol Clare Island, off the Mayo coast. By Duald Mac Firbis, the present heroine is called the Ing- hean Roe. His account of the ships seems to have been largely borrowed from the Co5<st)h 5<seT)het tie Jalbaibh. Yet, he enumerates the following, which can with difficulty be applied to any of the foregoing names,viz. : theshipsofBim,ofSgmann,of
" Scandinavian Un," Book i. , chap, ii. , p. 21.
of Dub- ''5 See Cogioh 5<iex)heL Re SAtt&lbli,
Haliday's
Kingdom
edited Rev. by
Henthom
Todd, chap.
James xxxiii. , pp. 38, 39.
''' In his unpublished treatise, repecting " The Fomorians and Lochlanns,' written, by Duald Mac Firbis, about A. D. 1650, we read, that Erinn was filled, in the tenth cen- tury, with ships and adventurers. These are enumerated.
'" In the Co5-ST>h jAc^heL Tie JdlUvibh, edited by Rev. James Hcnlhorn Todd, chap.
xxxvi. , pp. 40, 41.
'* Called Odvin, by Duald Mac Firbis. '" He is called Grifin, or Grisin, by Duald
MacFirbis.
"•^ He is called Suatgar, by Duald Mac Earbadh, of Bernin, of the Crioslachs, and
Firbis. ofBaruh. SeeJ. J. Wnrsae's"Accountof '•' He is called Sitric, by Duald Mac the Danes and Norwegians in England, Firbis. ScotlandandIreland. " TheNorwegiansin
312
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23.
every kind of outrage and indignity on clerics and laics, on men, women, and children ; they enslaved freemen as well as serfs, imposing heavy tributes and servitude on them ; they carried youths and maidens on board their ships, and treated them as captives. '^^ These injuries and outrages are referred, chiefly to the first half of the tenth century. '^s The Annals of Ireland afford us deplorable proofs of the frequency and horrible nature of tiiose invasions ; and, the foreigners settled at Limerick were not the least active, in deeds of bloodshed and plunder. Among these, Amhlaeibh Ceanncairech '9° was notorious. HeravagedLoughRee,but,in937,Amhlaeibh,sonofGodfrey, and lord of the foreigners, came from Dublin, making him a prisoner,
with several of his foreigners. Then, Aulaf, the son of Godfrey, left Dublin for
With a fleet of six hundred and fifteen sail, he cast anchor in the Humber. Thiswasasignal,fortheassemblingofalargeconfederateforce, consisting of Norwegians, Danes, Irish, Scots and Britons, summoned to his standard. Tiie monarch of England, Athelstan, besides his own forces, pur- chased the aid of several sea-kings, and a desperate battle ensued. The Eng- Hsh were victorious, while five confederate sea-kings, seven jarls, and several thousandmen,fellinthatengagement,onthesideofAulaf. Havingsustained thisgreatreverse,in thebattle fought against King Athelstane andtheSaxons,on the plain ofOthlyn,'? ' by others called Brumby,"'^ the King of Dublin, with his followers, fled to their ships. "93 However, he went back again to Northumber- land, and restored the Danish sway, in 941 ;'? so that England was more or less harassed by the tyrant invaders, until the accession ofCanute, surnamed the Great. The Scandinavian King of Dublin did not long survive his good for- tune, for his death is recorded, at a. d. 942. To stem the tide of those North- men inroads, Donnchadh, monarch of Ireland, and Muircheartach, son to Niall Glandubh, united their forces, and then marched to Ath-cliath. Thence, they advanced to Ath-Truiston, a ford on the river Greece, near Mullagh- niast, in tlie southern part of Kildare County. The Irish army plundered and, devastated all the Danish settlements. The Annals of the Four Masters place these events, at a. d. 936,'95 while those of Ulster have 937, alias 938, as the year for their occurrence.
In the earlier part of the tenth century, were distinguished in Ireland two
potentates, who, although celebrated for prowess and valour, had however only occupied stations, in subordination to the supreme Monarch. These were, in
England.
Ireland, sect. ii. . p. 308.
'^ During the last century, in particular,
and at the beginning of the present one, Irish literati attributed to the Danes, or rather
to the Norwegians, mucli of which, strictly speaking, they could have no valid claim. Not long ago, it was a firm belief among many educated men in Ireland, that there were still families in Denmark, who could not forget the dominion they had fo)merly exercised in Ireland, and who bore a title de- rived from the large estates, which their fpre- fathers there had once conquered and \m%- sessed. It was likewise commonly supposed, that the Danes had carried with them from Ireland a great number of manuscripts, which were said to be preserved in one of the large collections of books in Copenhagen ; as if, forsooth, it had been one of the chief aims of the bold and dangerous expeditions of the ancient Norwegians, at that remote period,
to carry oft scientific treasures, and, above
all, manuscripts written in Irish, and conse- quently, in a language that was for the most
part entirely incompieliensible to them. '''See Coga'oh Jie-ohel Re JdllAibh, edited by Rev. James Henthorn Todd, chap,
xxxvi. , pp. 40 to 43.
"S" Translated Aulaf, of the Scabbed-
head. See Charles Haliday's "Scandinavian
Kingdom of Dublin," Book i. , chap, viii. , p. 69, n. 2.
'»' According to the Anuals of Clonraac- noise.
'5= See the " Anglo-Saxon Chronicle," at
A. D. 937.
"'? See Rev. Dr. Lingard's
"
History of England," vol. i. , chap, iv. , pp. 199 to 201.
"'"'See Miss M. F. Cusack's "Popular
History of Ireland," chap, xiii. , p. 201.
''S See Dr. O'Donovaii's edition, vol. ii. ,
pp. 63410637, and n. (p). Jbid.
"
land," vol. ii. , chap, xix. , pp. 69 to 71.
''' See Thomas Moore's
History oflre-
April 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 313
the North, the famous Muircheartach, son to Niall Glundubh, and Cealla- chan, King of Cashel, who flourished in the southern parts of the Island. To neither, can the meed of true historic fame, or of personal heroism, be accorded ; since, respect for too many of their motives and actions should justly be withdrawn. 'sS Muirchertach distinguished himself, by victories obtained over the foreigners, in the years 921, 926, 932, and 933. He had some differences with Donnchadh, the Monarch of Ireland, whose daughter, Flanna,washisfirstwife; but,thesewereafterwardsadjusted. Hewasmarried a second time to Dubhdara, daughter to Kellach, chief of Ossory, after the death of his former spouse, and which occurred, a. d. 940. In the year 937, '9' the foreigners planned an expedition against Aileath, which was held by Muir- cheartach. He was taken prisoner by them, and carried off to their ships ; but, afterwards, he was providentially redeemed from them. '9^ In 938, he accompanied Donnchadh, the chief Monarch, throughLeinster andMunster,to take their hostages. ''? That very same year, Muircheartach mortally wounded and drowned Niall, son to Fearghal, the heir of Aileach, or of Northern Ire- land. Again, Muircheartach, with the Northerns, made a victorious progress around Ireland,=°° bringing Sitric,'°' lord of Ath-cliath, with him, as a liostage, and also, Lorcan, King of Leinster, and Ceallaclian, King of Cashel. In Con- naught, Conchobhar, son of Tadhg, submitted to him ; and, afterwards, he returnedtoAilech,bringingthehostageswithhim. Hekeptthemthere,for nine months ; and, then, he sent them to Donnchadh, who lived at Teamhair. That brave but unscrupulous prince, who aspired to the sovereignty of Ire- land, was killed,'"^ by Blacar, the son of Godfrey, lord of the foreigners, a. d. 943 ;'°3 and, the year following was the last of Donnchadh's reign, over Ire- land. At this time, likewise, Dublin was destroyed by the Irish.
Ceallachan,=°' King of Cashel, gained a victory over Ceinneidigh, son of Lorcan, at Moydown, or Moyadown. "°5 That very celebrated prince of south Munster, the son of Buadhachain, was renowned for his warlike exploits, in the south of Ireland. At first, his claim was contested by Cinneadaig, father of Bryan Borumha, who came with a numerous retinue, so far as Gleanamhuin, to treat with the chiefs of Munster, for its throne was then vacant. However, the mother of Ceallachan, greatly reputed for her pru- dence and energy of character, made such an eloquent appeal to Cinneadigh, and to the chieftains assembled, that it was resolved, Ceallachan should be accepted and elected. ="' He had been called to the sovereignty of Munster,
about A. D. 920,'°? when he was inaugurated with great state and ceremony,""'
" The Annals of Ulster have it, a. d.
938, alias 939.
'i* See Rev. James Wills' "Lives of Illus-
trious and Distinguished Irishmen," vol. i. . part i. . Second Period, pp. 164, 165.
'" See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 636, 637.
""' These proceedings are set forth in the
Poem of Cormacan Eigeas, written A. D. M. ic Carthys, and O'Keefes. See Dr. 942, and known as the " Circuit of Ireland O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," by Muircheartach Mac Neill, Prince of vol. ii. , n. (j;), p. 631.
Aileach," translated and edited by John ""^ See Dr. JeolTrey Keating's "General O'Donovan, and published among the Tracts History of Ireland," Second Book, pp. 454, relating to Ireland, printed for the Irish 455.
Archaeological Society, vol. i. , Dublin A. D. 1841, 4to.
''Mr. Charles Haliday t—hinks, "more probably the son of Sitric. " "The Scan- dinavian Kingdom of Dublin," Book i. , chap, viii. , p. 72.
"^ Accordingto some accounts, he reigned King of Cashel, only from 934 to 953. See Rev. John Francis Shearman's "Loca Patriciana," No. xii. , p. 361.
""'
See Dr. Sylvester O'Halloran's "Gene- ral History of Ireland," vol. ii,. Book xi. ,
*" At Alh-Fhirdia, now Ardee, in the county of Louth.
"°J See Miss M. F. Cusack's "Popular
History of Ireland," chap, xii. , p. 197.
TM< See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 646 to 655, with notes.
'"' He was ancestor to the O'Callaghans,
314 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23.
by the seventeen tribes of the Eugenians. '°9 His first great battle with the
Danes of Limerick was fought, at Singland ; when, after an obstinate resist-
ance, the enemy was utterly routed, and driven into the city, where numbers
of them were slain.
Danes and Norwegians in England, Scot- land and Ireland. " The Norwegians in Ire-
land, sect, i. , pp. 229, 300.
*3 From some History of the Danish In-
vasions, which now nppears to be lost, Dublialtach Mac Firbisiyh gives a detailed account of this quarrel, between the Scan- dinavians themselves, in the "Three Frag- ments " of Irish Annals, edited with a trans-
lationandnotes, by JohnO'Donovan,LL. D. , pp. 114 to 125.
'" Some curious particulars are related, about the Danes, after a first defeat, placing themselves under the protection of St. Patrick,
and of his God, and then being victorious.
afteragreatslaughteroftheNorwegians. A horrible idea of tlie victors' ferocity is given, when we are informed, that their cauldrons were placed ou heaps of Lochlann bodies, and one end of the spits, on which their meat was htmg, had been stuck into some of
the corpses, while cooking their meals. This was witnessed, by the ambassadors of King Maelseachlainn.
'« See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the FourMasters,"vol. i. , pp. 484,485.
"* See Harris' Ware, vol. i. , "Arch-
bishops of Armagh," p. 45.
"'"In the "Three Fragments" of Irish
Annals, he is called -dmLioib Conung, and the editor, Dr. O'Donovan, has the quciy "is Connng an Hibernicized form of the Teu-
t'onic Koenig or Koenuito, King? "
"••' He was a Norwegian,
"9 See an account of him, in Charles
"
Scandinavi. in History of Dub- lin," chap, i. , ii. , pp. 18 to 33.
'5° At the year 854, an extraordinary fact, not noticed in the Annals of Ulster or of the
Four Masters, is related, that many of the IrishforsooktheirChristianbaptism,joined the Lochlanns, plundered Armagh, and ear- ried away all its riches ; but some of them did penance, and came to make satisfaction, See Hid. , pp. 126, 127.
Haliday's
April 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 309
of Meath, a. d. 857. Peace was proclaimed, after King Maelseachlainn had
convoked a great assembly of Irish notables, at Rathhugh, in the county of Westmeath. The monarch of Ireland was obliged to contend with Aedh
Finnliath, son to Niall Caille, who leagued with the foreigners. Thus, our Annals present a dismal succession of struggles, between the islanders and their obstinate enemies. The former were always disunited, and often for that reason suffering disaster. In the year 860 died Maelseachlainn, after a reign of sixteen years,'5> and he was succeeded by Aedh Finnliath, in the sovereignty of Ireland. Meantime, the Saxons in England were harassed greatly by the Northmen. During the reigns of the English King Egbert's succesors, Ethelwulf, Ethelbald, Ethelbert and Ethelbred, with varying for- tunes, invasion succeeded invasion,"but everywhere, tlie pirates spread ruin and conflagration. Various signal victories were obtained over the Saxons, until Alfred the Great was called to the throne in 871. His prudence, abilities and courage reversed their successes to the end of his reign, and his death tookplace,onthe26thofOctober,a. d. 899to901. '5' HissonEdward,who succeeded, obtained more real power over them, and his conquests were more durable.
During Maelseachlainn's reign, while the Scandinavians were repressed in the north of Ireland, those of Dublin invaded Leinster and Munster, which they ravaged, while they searched the very earth-caves for hidden booty. Limerick, Cork and Kerry were desolated by those plunderers. In 860, two noble chiefs of the Lochlanns, came with their forces to Luimnech, and thencewenttoPort-Lairge. TheleaderswerecalledHona,whowasaDruid,'S3 and Tormir Torra ; but, the people of Eoghanacht,'5* and of Aracliach,'55 opposedthem. Thosechiefswereslain,withagreatnumberoftheirforces, and only a few escaped from the people of Munster. 's* In 867, Armagh was again burned, and one thousand of its citizens were slaughtered. '57 About this period, the Danes had landed in England, and had reduced the King- dom of Northumbria, under their sway. '^* Nay more, the Norwegians are said even to have invaded the Mauritani, or Moors, about a. d. 869 ; and, after fighting a bloody engagement with the king of that country, the Loch- lanns gained a signal victory, and carried off a great number of captives to Erinn, where these were known as blue or dark men, owing to tiie peculiar colour of their faces. 'ss It must be allowed, that the White Gentiles fought with the Black Gentiles, about this tinie, and these latter were driven to Alba or Scotland. During this period, the Norwegians under Anilaeibh and Imhar invaded Scotland, laying waste the country of the Picts. They returned to Dublin in 871, with two hundred ships, bringing a great number of captives, Picts, Angles and Britons. '^ Aedh Finliath died 876, and he was succeeded byFlannSionna,thesonofMaelseachlainn,onthethroneofIreland. During his long reign of forty years, this country enjoyed comparative immunity frona
'5' See " GratUnus Lucias, Cambrensis
Eversus," vol. ii. , cap. ix. , pp. 30, 31. Rev. Matthew Kelly's edition.
'5^ See Rev. Dr. Lingard's "History of
England," vol. i. , chap, iil, iv. , pp. 143 to 188.
_
'5J Most probably, this is a term used, be-
cause he died, praying to the gods and
exercising mayic.
's^ These lived, in the great plain surround-
ing Cashel.
'55 This territory is in the east ofLimerick
Annals, this notice is to be found.
's? See James . Stuart's " Historical Me-
moirs of tile City of Armagh," chap, iii. ,
p. 112.
'S^See William F. Skene's Celtic Scot-
County,
'i* In the " Three
O'JJoiiovaii, LL. D. , pp. 158 to 163.
'^ See William F. Skene's " Celtic Scot- land: a History of Ancient Alban," vol. i. ,
Fragments
" of Irish Book
i. , chap, vi. , pp. 323
to
325.
"
land : a History of Ancient Alban," vol. i. ,
Boole i. , chap, vi. , p. 332. '5» This is related, in the
"
Three Frag- ments" of Irish Annals, collected by Dub- haltach Mac Firbi^igh, and edited by John
310 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23.
foreign aggression ; yet, sometimes from the Norse settlements at Dublin,
Limerick, Lough Foyle, Lough Neagh, and elsewhere, churches were plun-
dered and districts ravaged. '*' By a combined attack of Cearbhall, King of
Leinster, and of Maelfinnia, King of Bregia, the foreigners were expelled
from Dublin, a. d. 900, when they left many of their vessels behind them.
Their leader was Sichfrith, son oflmhar. '*^ During this period, the Northmen
committed extensive depredations, not only in Great Britain, but even on the
Rhine, in France, in Normandy, in Italy, and in other European countries. "*3
In 910, the Northmen took possession of Loch Dachaech,"''' or Port Lairge,
now Waterfordj'^s and, in the year 912, a still greater number of their vessels
arrived in its harbour. '** Great and frequent reinforcements followed them,
in913 sothattheplacebecameoneoftheirstrongestsouthernpositions. '*' ;
Those forces were under the command ofRagnall—grandson to Ivar—and also
under Earl Ottir. In 916, died Flann Sionna, and he was succeeded, in the
sovereignty of Ireland, by Niall Glandubh. '*^ The foreigners, especially in the
south, east and west of Ireland, were very aggressive, during his reign. The Irish gained some victories over the Norwegians and Danes ; but, the mon-
arch of Ireland, leading a large northern force against those in Dublin, lost a battle and his life, at Kilmashogue, near Rathfarnham, September 15th, A. D. 919. Several Irish kings and chiefs perished in this engagement, among the rest Hugh Mac Eochagain, King of Ultonia. '*'
The native Irish continued to maintain their prestige in arms, when they were assailed by their enemies, while the greater part of their country was occupied by a population of fighting men, in vastly superior numbers to their inva- ders;'7° but,theyhadneglectedtheobviousprecautionofestablishingstrong-
holds and of fortifying defensive positions, throughout the more exposed parts of the island. Their ports and harbours for the most part were unfurnished with vessels, except those small craft used for fishing ; nor were their sailors accustomed to the art of naval warfare, as their ships, at that time, had not been constructed for such a purpose. On the contrary, unopposed on their wild and accustomed element, the Northmen were enabled to select the less defensive creeks and coasts, for sudden and secure descent ; while, in case of reverses by land, the line of retreat to their ships was well guarded, and, in any case, it was a ready resource to hoist sail, and to convey a large number ofwarriorsaroundtheIrishshores,fromonepointtoanother. Donnchadh, son to Flann Sionna, succeeded as monarch, and he won a great victory over the Northmen. Gotfrid, or Godfrey, grandson of Imhar, after the death of his brother Ragnall,'? ' took possession of Dublin, and plundered Armagh, with a great part of the north of Ireland, in 921. '7' Soon afterwards appeared
''' An account of such depredations will be found, in the "Three Fragments" of Irish Annals, by Dubhaltach Mac. Firbisigh.
584, 585.
"''See Miss M. F. Cusack's "Popular
History of Ireland," chap, xii. , p. 195.
"'' See Jienliel Re CogA'oh
"'^ See Martin " of Haverty's History
JaIIatoIi, edited by Rev. James Henthorn Todd. In-
Ireland," chap, xiii. , p. 130.
" His-
troduction, p. Ixxxiii.
"i^ An account of these expeditions will be
"
Historie des Expedi- tions des Normands et leur Etablisement en
France," liv. iii. Paris, 1843.
''« The oldest name, according to the
Dinnseanchus.
"^5 There is no record of a Scandinavian
King of Waterford, before A. D. 903. See Charles Haliday's "Scandinavian Kingdom
*» See L'Abbe
Ma-Geoghegan's
found, in Deppiiig's
toire de I'lrlande Ancienne et Moderne,"
tome i. Seconde Partie, chap, v. , p. 400.
'? ° See J. J. A. Worsae's " Account of the
Danes and Norwegians in Engl. ind, Scot- land and Ireland. " The Norwegians in Ire- land. sect, i. , p. 297.
'? ' He was King of the Finngall and
Dubhgall, showing that the Norwegians and Danes were then united, or, at least, allies—,
of Dublin," Book '»
'7= See " Annales
Dr. O'Conor's "Rerum Hibernicarum tores," tomus iv.
21.
See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 580, 581, and pp.
Ultonienses," p. 253. Scrip-
i. ,
chap, ii. , p.
April 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 311
Tamar,'" or Tomar, son of Elgi, who landed at Inis-Sibhtonn, now King's Island, Limerick,'"^ with an immense fleet, while Lorean, son of Conligan, was KingofCashel. ThatinvaderplunderedthegreaterpartofMunster"both churchesandchieftainries. "'75 Duringthetenthcentury,theNorthernadven- turers had numerous ships in Ireland. A fleet appears to have been sent
from Limerick, or rather equipped on Lough Derg, as the intervening rapids on the Shannon could hardly allow an ascent of the river from the for-
mer place. Even so far north as Lough Ree, the Norsemen went. They plundered churches and shrines on the islands, or along the shores, committing
other outrages, also, and with little opposition, they returned safely to Lime- rick. In 925, Edward's eldest son, Athelstan, succeeded as the first monarch
of all England, and he was signally successful, against the Normans and Danes. The Norwegians had colonized the kingdom of Nortlmmbria, and the Britons
of Cumbria were leagued with them, to preserve their national independence, during the reign of Athelstan's brother, King Edmund. After expelling the foreign forces from the northern parts of England, heattacked the Cumbrians,
and having captured two sons of their King Dimmail, these were barbarously deprived of sight, while their country was placed under Malcolm, King of the Scots, on condition that he should become vassal to the King of England,
and unite with Edmund in withstanding the attempts of the sea-kings. In 946, his brother Edred succeeded to the crown, and his efforts to repress the
power of the Norwegians were successful, to the end of his reign, which hap-
pened in 955.
The Earl Oiter Dubh landed, with one hundred ships, at Waterford.
The fleets of pirates and Danes began to multiply, and hordes of foreigners spread over Munster. ''^ Among the fleets are enumerated ^^^ those of Oiberd, of Oduinn,'? * of Griffin, '" of Snuatgar,'*" of Lagmann, of Erolf, of Sitriuc,"'' of Buidnin,'^' of Liagrislach, of Toirberdach,''^ of Eoan Barun, of Milid
Buu,'"'* of Suimin. '^s of Suainin,'** and lastly, of Inghen Ruaidh. '^' Everywhere, around the coasts of Erinn, they established ports, and on the land, fortresses were erected. Those furious and ferocious gentiles ravaged lands and houses ; they destroyed churches and monas- tries; they killed kings and chiefs, with their warriors; they inflicted
''' He is said to have been the Scandina-
vian chieftain, Gormo Gamlc, or "the aged. " ''* There is no record of any Scandinavian
King in Limerick, until 940. See Charles
"' He is called Buidin, by Duald Mac Firbis.
"^ He is probably the Torberd Roe, enumerated by Duald Mac Firbis.
''* Mileadh Tua is Duald mentioned, by
Mac Firbis.
'*5 So is he called, by Duald Mac Firbis.
'** Duald Mac he is called By Firbis,
Suairnin.
'*' The Red-haired maiden. She seems
to have been a Northern Amazon, whose turn for piracy was long afterwards emulated, by the celebrated Graine-uile, ol Clare Island, off the Mayo coast. By Duald Mac Firbis, the present heroine is called the Ing- hean Roe. His account of the ships seems to have been largely borrowed from the Co5<st)h 5<seT)het tie Jalbaibh. Yet, he enumerates the following, which can with difficulty be applied to any of the foregoing names,viz. : theshipsofBim,ofSgmann,of
" Scandinavian Un," Book i. , chap, ii. , p. 21.
of Dub- ''5 See Cogioh 5<iex)heL Re SAtt&lbli,
Haliday's
Kingdom
edited Rev. by
Henthom
Todd, chap.
James xxxiii. , pp. 38, 39.
''' In his unpublished treatise, repecting " The Fomorians and Lochlanns,' written, by Duald Mac Firbis, about A. D. 1650, we read, that Erinn was filled, in the tenth cen- tury, with ships and adventurers. These are enumerated.
'" In the Co5-ST>h jAc^heL Tie JdlUvibh, edited by Rev. James Hcnlhorn Todd, chap.
xxxvi. , pp. 40, 41.
'* Called Odvin, by Duald Mac Firbis. '" He is called Grifin, or Grisin, by Duald
MacFirbis.
"•^ He is called Suatgar, by Duald Mac Earbadh, of Bernin, of the Crioslachs, and
Firbis. ofBaruh. SeeJ. J. Wnrsae's"Accountof '•' He is called Sitric, by Duald Mac the Danes and Norwegians in England, Firbis. ScotlandandIreland. " TheNorwegiansin
312
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23.
every kind of outrage and indignity on clerics and laics, on men, women, and children ; they enslaved freemen as well as serfs, imposing heavy tributes and servitude on them ; they carried youths and maidens on board their ships, and treated them as captives. '^^ These injuries and outrages are referred, chiefly to the first half of the tenth century. '^s The Annals of Ireland afford us deplorable proofs of the frequency and horrible nature of tiiose invasions ; and, the foreigners settled at Limerick were not the least active, in deeds of bloodshed and plunder. Among these, Amhlaeibh Ceanncairech '9° was notorious. HeravagedLoughRee,but,in937,Amhlaeibh,sonofGodfrey, and lord of the foreigners, came from Dublin, making him a prisoner,
with several of his foreigners. Then, Aulaf, the son of Godfrey, left Dublin for
With a fleet of six hundred and fifteen sail, he cast anchor in the Humber. Thiswasasignal,fortheassemblingofalargeconfederateforce, consisting of Norwegians, Danes, Irish, Scots and Britons, summoned to his standard. Tiie monarch of England, Athelstan, besides his own forces, pur- chased the aid of several sea-kings, and a desperate battle ensued. The Eng- Hsh were victorious, while five confederate sea-kings, seven jarls, and several thousandmen,fellinthatengagement,onthesideofAulaf. Havingsustained thisgreatreverse,in thebattle fought against King Athelstane andtheSaxons,on the plain ofOthlyn,'? ' by others called Brumby,"'^ the King of Dublin, with his followers, fled to their ships. "93 However, he went back again to Northumber- land, and restored the Danish sway, in 941 ;'? so that England was more or less harassed by the tyrant invaders, until the accession ofCanute, surnamed the Great. The Scandinavian King of Dublin did not long survive his good for- tune, for his death is recorded, at a. d. 942. To stem the tide of those North- men inroads, Donnchadh, monarch of Ireland, and Muircheartach, son to Niall Glandubh, united their forces, and then marched to Ath-cliath. Thence, they advanced to Ath-Truiston, a ford on the river Greece, near Mullagh- niast, in tlie southern part of Kildare County. The Irish army plundered and, devastated all the Danish settlements. The Annals of the Four Masters place these events, at a. d. 936,'95 while those of Ulster have 937, alias 938, as the year for their occurrence.
In the earlier part of the tenth century, were distinguished in Ireland two
potentates, who, although celebrated for prowess and valour, had however only occupied stations, in subordination to the supreme Monarch. These were, in
England.
Ireland, sect. ii. . p. 308.
'^ During the last century, in particular,
and at the beginning of the present one, Irish literati attributed to the Danes, or rather
to the Norwegians, mucli of which, strictly speaking, they could have no valid claim. Not long ago, it was a firm belief among many educated men in Ireland, that there were still families in Denmark, who could not forget the dominion they had fo)merly exercised in Ireland, and who bore a title de- rived from the large estates, which their fpre- fathers there had once conquered and \m%- sessed. It was likewise commonly supposed, that the Danes had carried with them from Ireland a great number of manuscripts, which were said to be preserved in one of the large collections of books in Copenhagen ; as if, forsooth, it had been one of the chief aims of the bold and dangerous expeditions of the ancient Norwegians, at that remote period,
to carry oft scientific treasures, and, above
all, manuscripts written in Irish, and conse- quently, in a language that was for the most
part entirely incompieliensible to them. '''See Coga'oh Jie-ohel Re JdllAibh, edited by Rev. James Henthorn Todd, chap,
xxxvi. , pp. 40 to 43.
"S" Translated Aulaf, of the Scabbed-
head. See Charles Haliday's "Scandinavian
Kingdom of Dublin," Book i. , chap, viii. , p. 69, n. 2.
'»' According to the Anuals of Clonraac- noise.
'5= See the " Anglo-Saxon Chronicle," at
A. D. 937.
"'? See Rev. Dr. Lingard's
"
History of England," vol. i. , chap, iv. , pp. 199 to 201.
"'"'See Miss M. F. Cusack's "Popular
History of Ireland," chap, xiii. , p. 201.
''S See Dr. O'Donovaii's edition, vol. ii. ,
pp. 63410637, and n. (p). Jbid.
"
land," vol. ii. , chap, xix. , pp. 69 to 71.
''' See Thomas Moore's
History oflre-
April 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 313
the North, the famous Muircheartach, son to Niall Glundubh, and Cealla- chan, King of Cashel, who flourished in the southern parts of the Island. To neither, can the meed of true historic fame, or of personal heroism, be accorded ; since, respect for too many of their motives and actions should justly be withdrawn. 'sS Muirchertach distinguished himself, by victories obtained over the foreigners, in the years 921, 926, 932, and 933. He had some differences with Donnchadh, the Monarch of Ireland, whose daughter, Flanna,washisfirstwife; but,thesewereafterwardsadjusted. Hewasmarried a second time to Dubhdara, daughter to Kellach, chief of Ossory, after the death of his former spouse, and which occurred, a. d. 940. In the year 937, '9' the foreigners planned an expedition against Aileath, which was held by Muir- cheartach. He was taken prisoner by them, and carried off to their ships ; but, afterwards, he was providentially redeemed from them. '9^ In 938, he accompanied Donnchadh, the chief Monarch, throughLeinster andMunster,to take their hostages. ''? That very same year, Muircheartach mortally wounded and drowned Niall, son to Fearghal, the heir of Aileach, or of Northern Ire- land. Again, Muircheartach, with the Northerns, made a victorious progress around Ireland,=°° bringing Sitric,'°' lord of Ath-cliath, with him, as a liostage, and also, Lorcan, King of Leinster, and Ceallaclian, King of Cashel. In Con- naught, Conchobhar, son of Tadhg, submitted to him ; and, afterwards, he returnedtoAilech,bringingthehostageswithhim. Hekeptthemthere,for nine months ; and, then, he sent them to Donnchadh, who lived at Teamhair. That brave but unscrupulous prince, who aspired to the sovereignty of Ire- land, was killed,'"^ by Blacar, the son of Godfrey, lord of the foreigners, a. d. 943 ;'°3 and, the year following was the last of Donnchadh's reign, over Ire- land. At this time, likewise, Dublin was destroyed by the Irish.
Ceallachan,=°' King of Cashel, gained a victory over Ceinneidigh, son of Lorcan, at Moydown, or Moyadown. "°5 That very celebrated prince of south Munster, the son of Buadhachain, was renowned for his warlike exploits, in the south of Ireland. At first, his claim was contested by Cinneadaig, father of Bryan Borumha, who came with a numerous retinue, so far as Gleanamhuin, to treat with the chiefs of Munster, for its throne was then vacant. However, the mother of Ceallachan, greatly reputed for her pru- dence and energy of character, made such an eloquent appeal to Cinneadigh, and to the chieftains assembled, that it was resolved, Ceallachan should be accepted and elected. ="' He had been called to the sovereignty of Munster,
about A. D. 920,'°? when he was inaugurated with great state and ceremony,""'
" The Annals of Ulster have it, a. d.
938, alias 939.
'i* See Rev. James Wills' "Lives of Illus-
trious and Distinguished Irishmen," vol. i. . part i. . Second Period, pp. 164, 165.
'" See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 636, 637.
""' These proceedings are set forth in the
Poem of Cormacan Eigeas, written A. D. M. ic Carthys, and O'Keefes. See Dr. 942, and known as the " Circuit of Ireland O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," by Muircheartach Mac Neill, Prince of vol. ii. , n. (j;), p. 631.
Aileach," translated and edited by John ""^ See Dr. JeolTrey Keating's "General O'Donovan, and published among the Tracts History of Ireland," Second Book, pp. 454, relating to Ireland, printed for the Irish 455.
Archaeological Society, vol. i. , Dublin A. D. 1841, 4to.
''Mr. Charles Haliday t—hinks, "more probably the son of Sitric. " "The Scan- dinavian Kingdom of Dublin," Book i. , chap, viii. , p. 72.
"^ Accordingto some accounts, he reigned King of Cashel, only from 934 to 953. See Rev. John Francis Shearman's "Loca Patriciana," No. xii. , p. 361.
""'
See Dr. Sylvester O'Halloran's "Gene- ral History of Ireland," vol. ii,. Book xi. ,
*" At Alh-Fhirdia, now Ardee, in the county of Louth.
"°J See Miss M. F. Cusack's "Popular
History of Ireland," chap, xii. , p. 197.
TM< See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 646 to 655, with notes.
'"' He was ancestor to the O'Callaghans,
314 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23.
by the seventeen tribes of the Eugenians. '°9 His first great battle with the
Danes of Limerick was fought, at Singland ; when, after an obstinate resist-
ance, the enemy was utterly routed, and driven into the city, where numbers
of them were slain.
