The father of Kennedy was Lorcan,<^
Anglicized
Lawrence,*3 son of Lachtna,<4 son of Cathal.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v4
ii.
, Lect.
vi.
, p.
11$.
» This single small leaf, in the handwri- ting of Duald Mac Firbiss, was found by Eugene O'Curry, and laid in between two folios of the Leabhar Buidhe Lecain (H. 2. l6, T. C. IJ. ) It seems to have been written, before the year 1650, and to have been the last leaf of some semi-religious life of the great warrior. It is something more in the nature of a sermon on his life and death, than a historical biography ; yet, this is an inference pronounced dubious, by Eugene O'Curry, who thinks the fragment was not written by Mac Liag, although it is an old
nisedthen,asaweil-knownandveritable
narrative, worthy of finding place in that
collection.
'
It consists of only 14 pages, and these were written in 1 7 10, by John Mac Solly, acelebratedIrishscribe, anativeofStack- alien, near Slane, in the county of Meath. It is now in the Royal Irish Academy's Library, and in the original collection, it bears the class-mark, 13. 5.
» Edward O'Reilly describes the Manu- script, in which it is contained, as A Book of Chronology and Annals on the wars and bat- tles of Ireland, while he ascribes its composi- tion to Mac Liag ; but, Eugene O'Curry, who examined it, believes there is sufficient internal evidence to show, that it was written long after Mac Liag's death. See "Lec- tures on the Manuscript Materials of Ancient
piece of composition. See <? iV/. , p. 117. "
3 See Edward O'Reilly's
Chronological Account of nearly Four Hundred Irish wri-
ters," p. Ixxi.
< A much soiled and ancient copy
—
but Irish
History," Lect. vi. , p. 116.
— found
imperfect was by Eugene O'Curry,
about 1840, who cleaned and copied it. Afterwards, a perfect copy in the handwri- ting of Michael O'Clery was found, among the Irish MSS. , in the Burgundian Library. This was borrowed in 1852, when Mr. O'Curry made a fair transcript of it, for Trinity College Library.
" 5SeeEugeneO'Curry's Lecturesonthe
Manuscript Materials of Ancient Irish His- tory," Lect. xi. , pp. 232, 233.
"" There are two
paper copies of it, in the
"
' This is to be inferred, from a fragment the first folio only—remaining in the Book of Leinster, compiled between the years
Manners and Cus- Ii20and
1 150. It must have been
'
several historical
By Rev. Dr. James Henthorn Todd. —
Royal Irish Academy's Lilirary. ""
SeeEugeneO'Curry's Lecturesonthe
Manuscript Materials of Ancient Irish His-
tory," Lect. xi. , pp. 237, 238.
" Various Irish copies of his work are yet
preserved in manuscript. The translation into English, by Derniod O'Connor, has already gone through various editions. What relates to Bryan Boroimhe will be found, in Duffy's edition of Dermod O'Connor's
278 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23
Dr. Thomas Leland,'4 Dr. Sylvester O'Halloran. 'S M. M'Dermot,'* Rev. Dr. "
The Dublin Penny Journal,"'* Thomas Moore,'9john D'Alton,"
Lanigan,'?
Martin Haverty,'' John O'Donogliue," the " Annals of Loch Cd,"'3a Chroni- cle of Irish Affairs from a. d. 1014 to a. d. i59o,='| the Chronicon Scotorum. 'S The well known Tract,'* now published, and known as the War of the Gaed- hil with the Gaill, or the Invasion of Ireland by tlie Danes and other Norse- men,^? contains the most full and complete account of the career of Bryan Boroimha that we possess. '* The autlior was either an eye-witness of the battle of Clontarf, or he compiled his narrative of it, from the testimony of
eye-witnesses. He was certainly a strong partisan of King Bryan. °9 In our published works on Irish biography, as the subject deserves it, there are spe-
cial notices of this distinguished monarch, more or less complete. Thus, Richard Ryan,3o the Rev. James Wills,3' and Alfred Webb,3' have illus-
We need scarcely observe, our Irish chroniclers and bards
trated his life.
have numerous references to the career of this great hero.
The illustrious subject of our memoir, for ever immortalized as " Bryan
the Brave," was a younger son to Ceinneidigh, or Kennedy, who reigned as King over Munster,33 in the tenth century. 34 He had a numerous family of
Keating's "General History of Ireland," Part ii. , pp. 466 to 505.
'3 See "Histoire de I'lrlande, Ancienne et Moderne," tome i. , Seconde Partie, chap, v. , vi. , pp. 405 to 412.
°s This is a Chronicle of Irish Affairs from
the earliest times to A. D. 1 135; with a sup-
plement, containing the events from 1 141 to 1150, edited with an Introduction, Transla-
tion and Notes, by William M. Hennessy,
'•• See tlie "
of Ireland from the
M. R. I. A. The to portion referring
History
Invasion of Henry II. , with a preliminary
Discourse on the Ancient State of that
Kingdom," vol. i. . Preliminary Discourse, pp. xlix. to Ii.
'5 See " General History of Ireland from the earliest Accounts to the close of the twelfth century, collected from the most authentic Records," vol. ii. , Book xi. , 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.
» This single small leaf, in the handwri- ting of Duald Mac Firbiss, was found by Eugene O'Curry, and laid in between two folios of the Leabhar Buidhe Lecain (H. 2. l6, T. C. IJ. ) It seems to have been written, before the year 1650, and to have been the last leaf of some semi-religious life of the great warrior. It is something more in the nature of a sermon on his life and death, than a historical biography ; yet, this is an inference pronounced dubious, by Eugene O'Curry, who thinks the fragment was not written by Mac Liag, although it is an old
nisedthen,asaweil-knownandveritable
narrative, worthy of finding place in that
collection.
'
It consists of only 14 pages, and these were written in 1 7 10, by John Mac Solly, acelebratedIrishscribe, anativeofStack- alien, near Slane, in the county of Meath. It is now in the Royal Irish Academy's Library, and in the original collection, it bears the class-mark, 13. 5.
» Edward O'Reilly describes the Manu- script, in which it is contained, as A Book of Chronology and Annals on the wars and bat- tles of Ireland, while he ascribes its composi- tion to Mac Liag ; but, Eugene O'Curry, who examined it, believes there is sufficient internal evidence to show, that it was written long after Mac Liag's death. See "Lec- tures on the Manuscript Materials of Ancient
piece of composition. See <? iV/. , p. 117. "
3 See Edward O'Reilly's
Chronological Account of nearly Four Hundred Irish wri-
ters," p. Ixxi.
< A much soiled and ancient copy
—
but Irish
History," Lect. vi. , p. 116.
— found
imperfect was by Eugene O'Curry,
about 1840, who cleaned and copied it. Afterwards, a perfect copy in the handwri- ting of Michael O'Clery was found, among the Irish MSS. , in the Burgundian Library. This was borrowed in 1852, when Mr. O'Curry made a fair transcript of it, for Trinity College Library.
" 5SeeEugeneO'Curry's Lecturesonthe
Manuscript Materials of Ancient Irish His- tory," Lect. xi. , pp. 232, 233.
"" There are two
paper copies of it, in the
"
' This is to be inferred, from a fragment the first folio only—remaining in the Book of Leinster, compiled between the years
Manners and Cus- Ii20and
1 150. It must have been
'
several historical
By Rev. Dr. James Henthorn Todd. —
Royal Irish Academy's Lilirary. ""
SeeEugeneO'Curry's Lecturesonthe
Manuscript Materials of Ancient Irish His-
tory," Lect. xi. , pp. 237, 238.
" Various Irish copies of his work are yet
preserved in manuscript. The translation into English, by Derniod O'Connor, has already gone through various editions. What relates to Bryan Boroimhe will be found, in Duffy's edition of Dermod O'Connor's
278 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23
Dr. Thomas Leland,'4 Dr. Sylvester O'Halloran. 'S M. M'Dermot,'* Rev. Dr. "
The Dublin Penny Journal,"'* Thomas Moore,'9john D'Alton,"
Lanigan,'?
Martin Haverty,'' John O'Donogliue," the " Annals of Loch Cd,"'3a Chroni- cle of Irish Affairs from a. d. 1014 to a. d. i59o,='| the Chronicon Scotorum. 'S The well known Tract,'* now published, and known as the War of the Gaed- hil with the Gaill, or the Invasion of Ireland by tlie Danes and other Norse- men,^? contains the most full and complete account of the career of Bryan Boroimha that we possess. '* The autlior was either an eye-witness of the battle of Clontarf, or he compiled his narrative of it, from the testimony of
eye-witnesses. He was certainly a strong partisan of King Bryan. °9 In our published works on Irish biography, as the subject deserves it, there are spe-
cial notices of this distinguished monarch, more or less complete. Thus, Richard Ryan,3o the Rev. James Wills,3' and Alfred Webb,3' have illus-
We need scarcely observe, our Irish chroniclers and bards
trated his life.
have numerous references to the career of this great hero.
The illustrious subject of our memoir, for ever immortalized as " Bryan
the Brave," was a younger son to Ceinneidigh, or Kennedy, who reigned as King over Munster,33 in the tenth century. 34 He had a numerous family of
Keating's "General History of Ireland," Part ii. , pp. 466 to 505.
'3 See "Histoire de I'lrlande, Ancienne et Moderne," tome i. , Seconde Partie, chap, v. , vi. , pp. 405 to 412.
°s This is a Chronicle of Irish Affairs from
the earliest times to A. D. 1 135; with a sup-
plement, containing the events from 1 141 to 1150, edited with an Introduction, Transla-
tion and Notes, by William M. Hennessy,
'•• See tlie "
of Ireland from the
M. R. I. A. The to portion referring
History
Invasion of Henry II. , with a preliminary
Discourse on the Ancient State of that
Kingdom," vol. i. . Preliminary Discourse, pp. xlix. to Ii.
'5 See " General History of Ireland from the earliest Accounts to the close of the twelfth century, collected from the most authentic Records," vol. ii. , Book xi. , 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.
