In docu- ments of the
fifteenth
century, the parish is styledihatof "St.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v4
, chap, ii.
, p.
45.
"^ See William F. Skene's "Celtic Scot- land : a History of Ancient Alban," vol. i. ,
"
Fornix sive Volta S. Patricii. " See John
T. Gdbert's " of the of Dub- History City
lin," vol. i. , Appendix No. iii. , p. 416.
Book
"'° Some curious illustrations of antiqui-
i. , chap, vii. , p. 345.
April 23-] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 325
died childless. Then Earl Rognwald sent his son Hallad, to govern the Ork- neys; however, he soon got tired of this rule, and resigned it to his
brother . Einar, who, from about the year 893 to about 936, was
regarded as the Jarl. ^? ' His son Thorfinn was called the "Skull-
cleaver," and he married Grelauga, daughter of Dungadr, or Duncan, the Jarl of Caithness, who brought that district, under the dominion of the Norwegian EarlsofOrkney. Still,theKingsofAlbanassertedtherighttosovereignty over it, as one of the dependencies, belonging to their Scottish kingdom. By his wife, Thorfinn had five sons, and three of these were successively Earls over the Orkneys. '^? ^ Havard, the eldest son, came first in order ; but, he was slain,byhiswife. NextfollowedLiotr,thesecondbrother. Hehadanother brother, Skuli, who went to Scotland, and he obtained a right to the earldom ofCaithness,fromtheKingoftheScots. Thisprovokedacontest,however, betweenthebrothers; Skuli,beingsupportedbytheScottishKing,andbya Scottish earl, called Magbiodr, was defeated and slain, in a battle, which gave Caithness to Earl Liotr. Another desperate battle ensued, between himself and the Scots, at Skidamyre, in Caithness, where he was again vic- torious, although he was left mortally wounded, on the field. His only sur- viving brother, Hlodver, next obtained the Earldom, but he died of sickness ; and, he was buried, at Hofn, in Caithness. He left a son Sigurd, who suc- ceeded him, about the year 980, an Earl of great renown, an able and a powerful warrior, who not only maintained Caithness against the Scots, but who was capable of fitting out war expeditions every summer, directed against the Sudrey or Western Islands, or against the shores of Scotland or of Ire-
land. '"
The Isle of Man—said to have derived i—ts name from an ancient mariner-
king from Ireland, called Manahan Mac Lir was at first under tlie dominion of the Scots or Irish,'? * according to Orosius. By Aidan, it was annexed to the kingdom of the Scots; in a. d. 610, it was wrested from their domination, by Edwin, King of Northumbria ; but, in the tenth century, it seems to have fallen under the rule of the Scandinavians,'? 5 and to have become tributary to the King of Norway. ''* Afterwards, the Island appears to have been vested, in the kings or lords of the Isles, who were of Northman descent. '"
During the reign of the great Emperor Charlemagne, the Normans, Danes and Saxons had already invaded the land*,. belonging to that renowned monarch. ''' After his death, their inroads were still more frequent and formidable. Under the leadership of Rollo, or Rolf,'" in the year 911, the Scandinavians effected
"^s See the account in Charles Haliday's
"Scandinavian Kingdom of Dublin," Second Book, chap. i. Dublin and the Isle of Man, pp. 82 to 94.
''' See S. Uaining's "Historical Sketch of the Isle of Man, with an account of the Druidic. il iempjes, Curiosities," &c. , with plates, published i[i 1824, l2nio.
"" See . in interesting account of the Isle
tics there will be found, in Joseph Anderson's "
lately published work, Scotland in Pagan
Times,"Lectureiv. Edinburgh,1803,8vo. "'
°'' See William F. Skene's Celtic Scot- '
land : a History of Ancient Alban, vol. i. ,
Book i. , chap, vii. , pp. 344, 345, and
n. (Jl).
^' See E. William Robertson's "Scotland
under her Early Kings," vol. i. , chap, iv. , p. 82,
"
''J . See the Orkneyinga Saga, and Olaf tionary of England," viSi. id. , pp. 225 to
Collectanea ' de Rebus Al! )anicis," pp. 330 to 333.
Tryg<^Vasonnr Saga. Also,
236.
^* For its history, see Rev. James John- stone's " Chronicle o( Man and of the Isles," in "Antiquitatcs Celto-NormnnicK. " The language of the Island of Man, usually called the . Manks tongue, b a dialect of the ancient Gaelic
"''See L. P. Anquetil's "Histoire de "
"
of Man, in Lewis'
Topographical Die-
France, DeuxiemeRaceditedesCarlovin-
giens, sect. i. , p. 65.
'" In the *' Annnlesde Monte Fernandi,"
edited by Aquila Smith, we have the entry at
"
traverunt,"p. 4. See the IrisUArchaological
A. D. 877 :
Bollo et sui Normanniam pene-
3a6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23
a descent upon the northern coast of France. '"^" A large tract of country was ceded to them, by Charles the Simple, in 912. There they gave name to Normandy, and they succeeded, in eslablisliing a kingdom, where they
were very powerful, in after ages. ^^' Owing to geographical position, they were afterwards known by the name of Nordmans, or Northmen, relatively to the countries they invaded. ^**' In search of further conquests, the Normans proceeded to Spain, =^3 to Italy, '^* and to Sicily. ''^s They spread terror, where- everthey went, owing to their indomitable courage, remorseless ferocity, and insatiablerapacityasinvaders; sothat,itmightbesaid,theywereeverywhere in the ascendant, throughout the northern and western parts of Europe, during the tenth century.
After the death »** of Eadred, King of England, his nephews, Edwy =^' and Edgar,='^^ sons to Edmund, ruled in succession, and their reigns were tolerablyfreefromNorthmanattemptsuponEngland. Duringthereignsof Edgar's two sons, Edward, the Martyr, ''^^ and Ethelred 1 1. ,^5° internal dissen- sionsanddisordersprevailed. Takingadvantageofthesetroubles,theNorthman armamentsweredirectedagainstEngland. Twonewandpowerfulinvaders appeared, in 994 ; these were Sweyn, King of Denmark, and Olaf, King of Norway. Sweyn, or Swend, had murdered his father, and thus he seized upon the crown of Denmark, after this parricidal act. Twice was he expelled, by Eric, King of Sweden ; but, twice he recovered possession of his kingdom. Olaf, the son of Tryggva, was a celebrated Vi-king pirate, who had repeatedly visited and plundered the coasts of Ireland,=9' of Britain, and of Normandy. Having embraced Cliristianity, he sailed to the Orkneys, and there lie sub- dued and converted the natives. Afterwards, he steered for Norway, where the chiefs of that country had deposed Hacon the Bad; and, then Olaf was unexpectedly hailed as their king, on his arrival. Sweyn and Olaf formed a
confederacy; when, with ninety-four ships, they entered the River Thames, and attacked London, but they were repulsed, with considerable loss. ^9' How-
Society's Tracts relating to Ireland, vol. ii.
"
Book ii. , chap, i. , pp. 171, 172.
280
Yox a very interesting account of this
hero and his exploits, the reader m. iy con-
sult Edward A. Freeman's "History of the
Norman Conquest of England," vol. i. , chap,
its Causes and its Results. " vol. i. , chap, ii,, See Sharon Turner's History of sect. 5, pp. 65 to 68.
iv. , sect. 2, pp. 182 to 202.
^' "
England, from the Norman Conquest, to the Accession of Edward the First," vol. i. ,
chap, i. , p. II. London, 1S14, 4to.
"^' and tlie writers of his Sigebert,
"' His term of rule was from A. D. 975 to
978. See Rev. John Lingard's "History of England," vol. i. , chaji. v. , pp. 231 to 233.
usually called all the nortliern nations of the
Scandian peninsula, by the title Nort- April 23rd, ioi6.
manni. See Bavdrand's " Novum Lexicon
Geographicum," &c. , tomus i. , p. 526.
""^ Mallet gives an account, about a strong force of Scandinavian rovers having
Bohn's edition.
°'-' Their arrival in Italy is assigned to A. D.
"
I016. See Edward Giblion's
the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire," vol. vii. , chap. Ivi. , p. I02. William Smith's edition.
°*s Xhe Normans arrived in 1038.
Sicily,
A. D.
lin,"
vol.
i. , chap,
p. 48.
-*'
In A. D. 955. See JohnSpeed's "History
ofGreat l! ritaine,"Bookvii. ,ch. ap. xl. , p. 385. '*' He reigned, from A. D, 955 to 958. See
Pictorial History of England," vol. i. ,
""^
His reign is computed, from A. D. 958
to 975. See Edward A. Freeman's " His-
tory of the Norman Conquest of F^ngland,
°*° He in the midst of age, nded,
°9' His conversion to Christianity took place, it is thought, after bis visit to Ireland. His Church of St. Olaf, corruptly styled St. TuUock, stood formerly in St. Tullock's
Lane, the lower part of P'ishamble-street, " Northern Antiquities," p. 173, note. Dublin. A portion of the clothes of St. Olaf,
entered . Spain, in September, A. D. 844. See
History of
king and national saint of Norway, and also patron of tiiat church, was kept in the Con- vent of the Holy Trinity, Dulilin.
In docu- ments of the fifteenth century, the parish is styledihatof "St. (Jlave theKing. " Seejohn
disturbances, from A. D. 978, to the time of his death,
T. Gilbert's "
of Dub-
History of tlie Norn)an Conquest of England," vol.
i. , chap, v. , sect. 3. p. 316.
'« See S. A. Dunham's "History of Den
Hi>tory
ii. ,
of the
City
^^ " . See Edward A. Freeman's
April 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 327
ever, they ravaged all the southern parts of England, until Ethelred agreed with them, to retire from the kingdom, on receiving a sum of sixteen thousand pounds. Olaf engaged, never more to harass his Christian brethren ; and, soon afterwards, he Itft for Norway, where he made strenuous efforts, to con- vert all his subjects to the true faith. Then, Sweyn was compelled to follow him ; but, he regarded Olafs desertion of England, as a breach of faith, and never forgave his former confederate. Sweyn surprised Olaf, at sea, and near the islet of Wollin. This event is attributed, chiefly to the treachery of Sig- vald, a pirate chief of Jomsberg. 'M A superior force attacked him, at this place, and Olaf had not sufficient means, at his disposal, to resist their attack. '? * With the determined resolution of never surrendering to his enemy, Olaf leaped from his ship into the waves, and thus he terminated that unequal contest. 'ss From 994 to 998, different parts of the English coasts were spoiled, by the pirates. During the absence of the Northman fleets, Ethelred attackedtheirsettlementsinCumberland,'^*andintheIsleofMan. Inthe year1000,SneynhadoverrunandconqueredagreatpartofNorway. Meantime, the Northmen were busily engaged, in overrunning the northern parts ot France, while Robert was its king. The invaders returned from Normandy to England, in looi, and, they were again bought off, by a ransom of twenty-four thousand pounds. This only served to increase their cupidity, and to give them a proud consciousnessoftheirascendency. Thefollowingyear,'"acruelandbase expedient was adopted by Ethelred, who orderetl the assassination of all the Northmen in England, on the same day, November 13th ; and, this horrid massacre took place, aggravated by every species of insult and barbarity. However, in 1003, Sweyn returned with a powerful armament, and during four succeeding years, he indulged without molestation, in the pursuit of plunder and vengeance. Wherever the English armies appeared, they were routed with most dreadful slaughter ; villages, towns, and cities, were set on fire, while their inhabitants were tortured and put to death. Finally, Ethelred was driven out of England, and Sweyn ruled there, by force of conquest, until the first week of February, 1014, when his death occurred. ''^
The foreign colonists, in Ireland, were exceedingly aggressive, while their increasing numbers and perfect organization enabled them to exercise acts of
despotic tyranny and injustice, over the comparatively defenceless tribes of the Irish, living near their positions. Reprisals were the natural result, and the natives, in turn, were obliged to league, in defence of their property, their liberty, and their lives. However, Irishmen retained firm possession, even whenmostoppressed,ofthewholelargeandfertilecountryofIreland; while, the foreigners, in the chief cities, and in course of time, became transformed from pirates to merchants, occupying small districts in their immediate neigh- bourhood, but keeping up well-trained armies for defence, and sometimes for aggressive purposes, in the interior of the Island. ''' The Norwegians, who could reach our Island by sea, and who could derive assistance, only from their own countrymen, settled ujion the coasts of England and Scotland, were proportionately few; while, they had to contend with a numerous and war- likepeople,inhabitinganextensiveandadistantcountry. 3°° ConghaUichII. ,
mark, Sweden and Norway," vol. i. , chap. iii. , pp. 234, 235.
'** See -Sharon Turner's "History of the Anglo-baxons," vol. ii. , Book vi. , chap, ix. , p. 311.
taine," Book vii. , chap, xliiii. , p. 393.
'^^ See Sharon I'urner's "History of the
Anglo-Saxons," vol. ii. . Book vi. , chap, ix. ,
p. 312.
=»* See Rev. Dr. Lingard's "History of
»»5 The "Saxon Chronicle," edited by Rev. England," vol. i. , chap, v. , pp. 236 to
J. Ingram, places his death, at the year 1030. See p. 205.
248.
*99 See Haverty's
chap, xiv. , p. 134.
"
History of Ireland,
•^'See John Speed's "History of Bit-
328 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23.
son of Maelmithigh,30' the sovereign of Ireland, obtained a victory over the Dublin Danes, and he seems to have been intent on establishing his supre-
macy, over the Irish provincial kings. An expedition he led to the west of Munster, a. d. 950, caused the death of two sons of Ceinneidigh ; namely, Echthighern and Donnchuan, who were, it is said, not only the elder brothers of Bryan Boroniha, but even of Mahon, they having been killed just ten years, before the beginning of his reign. How- ever, in 955, having marched into Leinster, which he spoiled, Godfrey, lord of the foreigners at Dublin, surprised and slew him, at 'riguiran,3°» with his chiefs, and several of his troops. 3°3 Domhnall, son to Muircheartach,
then possessed the Irish throne ; and, during the twenty-four years of his reign,3°'» several feuds are recorded, not alone between the Northman settlers, and the Irish, but even between the chiefs of Ireland themselves.
The foreigners are said to have estabhshed an iron despotism, all over the
country; but,especiallyinthesouthernpartsofIreland,theirpowerwasfeltto be greatest, and less liable to be contested, by any force the natives were able to collect, in order to check their encroachments. An immense fleet, under direction of Imar, grandson to Imar, chief king of the foreigners, with his three
— Cu-allaidh 3°6 and
sons, Dubhcenn,2°5 Aralt,3°7
came into the mouth o—f the
3°* RiverShannon presumablyaboutthemiddleofthetenthcentury and
the fleet anchored at Inis-Sibtond. The crews landed and encamped there, in the harbour of Limerick. Besides that protection, afforded by their insular
position, and by their vessels, they erected fortifications, at that place. On
it, a portion of the present city of Limerick now stands. A like number of
vessels had never arrived before, in any part of Ireland. This enabled the
foreigners, to make a strong and secure settlement, in that place; and, soon,
they were recognised as scourges, among tlie people of Munster. 3°9 The
Vi-king, who established his chief seat in Limerick, soon overran the sur-
rounding territory, exacting hostages and pledges, from the Irish and foreigners
alike ; while chiefs, superintendents, and tax-gatherers, were set over every
district, to systematize the payment of rents and of tributes. "" Soldiers,
stewards, or bailiffs, were billeted, in most of the native houses ; and, their
rapine, injuries, oppressions and insults, the population were obliged to endure. Besides the royal tribute, individual heads of families were obliged
to pay an ounce of silver or white bronze, called Findruni;3'' or, on penalty of non-compliance, the debtor was liable to have his nose cut off, or compelled to go into slavery. The Scandinavians were armed witii heavy and well- fashioned swords ; they carried well-riveted and long spears ; they wore polished, trusty and well-fitting corslets ; they served under leaders of great
A. Worsae's " Accountof the Danes and Norwegians in England, Scot-
^os \Ve have not the date or notice for this debarkation in our Annals,
309 gee Coga'oTi Jaetjliet Re Jiltaioh, edited by Rev. James Henthorn Todd, pp.
48, 49.
3'° According to the author of the Ana-
lecta, tliey carried off Irish Manuscripts to
3°° See
J. J.
land and Ireland. "
land, sect, i. , p. 229. 3" See Gratianus
The Norwegians in Ire-
Lucius' " Cambrensis
Eversus," vol. ii. , cap. ix. , pp. 32, 33. Rev.
Dr. Kelly's edition.
"
tates Celto-Norniannicoe. " Antiquitates
Hibernicse, p. 78.
3°3 His death is assigned to A. D. 956, in
and in tlie time of
beth, the King of Denmark wishetl for a learned Irishman to translate them, but that
3°'
See Rev. James Johnstone's
Antiqui-
Denmark,
Queen Eliza-
queen refused liis request. See Dr. Sylvester ""
O'Flaherty's Ogygia," pars iii. , cap. xciii. , p. 435.
3'^* See Thomas Moore's "History of Ire-
land," vol. ii. , chap, xx. , p. 88. 3''S Rendered, Black Head.
3** Rendered, Wild Dog.
3°? Another form of the name Harold.
O'Halloran's Introduction to the Study of the Histoiy and Antiquities of Ireland," part i. , chap, ix. , p. 95,
3" It wasused chieflyin ornamental works, by the artists of ancient Erinn. See Cdch
"
Lena, edited by Eugene (yCurry, Esq. ,
ITlhuiglie leAtia, or
Tlie Battle of Magh
April 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 339
valourandrenown theirwarriorswereknown,likewise,tobeferociousand ;
remorseless. Theyhadagovernorplacedintheterritoryofeverychieftain, an abbot was set over every church, and a guardsman over every village.
These foreign oppressors lived as freebooters among those people, they had enslaved and demoralized. The native chieftains and their clansmen were
jealously watched, lest they might combine to rid themselves of this slavery and oppression. '" Thousands of strong arms, but of irresolute souls, were
ready to avenge a state of slavery, now become intolerable ; but, a champion soon appeared on the scene, whose valiant achievements were destined to free
his countrymen from this thraldom.
The valiant son pf Cenedigh, the subject of our Memoir, had endeavoured,
with surprising spirit and ability, to maintain an unequal contest, against the enemiesofhisraceandnation. But,Mathgamhainwasalmostreducedtoa state of despair ; and, in an interview with his younger brother, he is stated to have counselled submission to the foreign yolk. An old Irish poem 3'3 recounts the places, called Craig Liath,3'4 Brdintir,3'S the Forgus or Fergus River,3'*whereBryanhadalreadywonvictoriesovertheNorthmen; nor,isit probable, that the narrative is purely imaginative, or greatly exaggerated. 3'' From it we glean, that Bryan endeavoured to excite his brother, to emulate the heroic actions of their ancestors, and to have neither peace or truce with the oppressors. A stranger tribe appears to have intervened, and to have procured a sort of armistice, between Mathgamhain and the Northmen ; while, knowing the number and force of their followers, the Dalcassian King deemed it overweening pride and presumption, on the part of Bryan, longer tocontend,afterthelosseshisfollowershadexperienced. Notwithstanding, the choice between death and dishonour was hardly to be contested, in so just a cause ; nor could the Dalcassians submit to injuries and insults, through any fear to await the issue of otiier battles and enterprises.
It now became necessary, to take the advice of the chiefs and people, in
that principality ; so that Mathgamhain and Bryan had them duly convened, for such a purpose. 3'8 j^ fyH assembly of the Dal Cais, when the alternative of war or of submission had been discussed, to their honour be it said, both old
and. young cried out with one voice, that they preferred meeting violence, and even death itself, in defending the freedom of their patrimony and of their race,
M. R. I. A. , with translation and notes, p. 113, n. (w), Dublin, 1855, 8vo.
3" See Cogi-oh Jaeohel Re SitbAibh,
edited by Rev. James Henthorn Todd, chap.
xl. , pp. 48 to 53.
3'' In the shape of a Dial<^c, between
Mathgamhain and Brian. The original Irish, with an English translation will be
found in theCogibh jAeoVielHeSaltaibh, or " The War of the Gaedhil with the Gaill. " Edited, with Tr. mslalion and In- troduction, by James Hemhorn Tcxld, D. D. , M. R. I. A. , &c. , chap, xlvi. , pp. 62 1065.
3'« It maybe Anglicised, "the grey rock. " This seems to h. -ive been the place, fre-
'"s This is probably Brentir of the Fear-
macaigh and Cormacaigh, or the fetid dis- trict of theKinel-Fearmaic and Ui-Cormaic.
It was socalled, owingto its situation, on the frontiers of their tribal territories. At pre- sent, it is locally called bp6incpe, and it
is a district, comprising seven townlands, lying north-east of Sliabh Callain, or Mount Callan, in the western part of Clare County, In Cromwell's time, a family of the OCon- nells were transplanted thither, from the county of Kerry. At present, the property belongs to the Marquis of Thomond. See Dr. O'Donovaii's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. vi. , n. (n), p. 2102.
3"> It rises in the barony of Corcomroe, and runs a devious course, through the enveloped in a m. igical cloud Dunlaing county of Clare, by the town ot Ennis, and
quented by Oeibhinn (now Eevil) the fami- liar sprite of Dal-Cais, who is said to have
O'hArt. -. gain^a chief hero attend int—on Murchadii, Brian Borumha's eMest son to prevent him from joining in the battle of Clontarf. See "Miscellany of the Celtic Society.
"^ See William F. Skene's "Celtic Scot- land : a History of Ancient Alban," vol. i. ,
"
Fornix sive Volta S. Patricii. " See John
T. Gdbert's " of the of Dub- History City
lin," vol. i. , Appendix No. iii. , p. 416.
Book
"'° Some curious illustrations of antiqui-
i. , chap, vii. , p. 345.
April 23-] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 325
died childless. Then Earl Rognwald sent his son Hallad, to govern the Ork- neys; however, he soon got tired of this rule, and resigned it to his
brother . Einar, who, from about the year 893 to about 936, was
regarded as the Jarl. ^? ' His son Thorfinn was called the "Skull-
cleaver," and he married Grelauga, daughter of Dungadr, or Duncan, the Jarl of Caithness, who brought that district, under the dominion of the Norwegian EarlsofOrkney. Still,theKingsofAlbanassertedtherighttosovereignty over it, as one of the dependencies, belonging to their Scottish kingdom. By his wife, Thorfinn had five sons, and three of these were successively Earls over the Orkneys. '^? ^ Havard, the eldest son, came first in order ; but, he was slain,byhiswife. NextfollowedLiotr,thesecondbrother. Hehadanother brother, Skuli, who went to Scotland, and he obtained a right to the earldom ofCaithness,fromtheKingoftheScots. Thisprovokedacontest,however, betweenthebrothers; Skuli,beingsupportedbytheScottishKing,andbya Scottish earl, called Magbiodr, was defeated and slain, in a battle, which gave Caithness to Earl Liotr. Another desperate battle ensued, between himself and the Scots, at Skidamyre, in Caithness, where he was again vic- torious, although he was left mortally wounded, on the field. His only sur- viving brother, Hlodver, next obtained the Earldom, but he died of sickness ; and, he was buried, at Hofn, in Caithness. He left a son Sigurd, who suc- ceeded him, about the year 980, an Earl of great renown, an able and a powerful warrior, who not only maintained Caithness against the Scots, but who was capable of fitting out war expeditions every summer, directed against the Sudrey or Western Islands, or against the shores of Scotland or of Ire-
land. '"
The Isle of Man—said to have derived i—ts name from an ancient mariner-
king from Ireland, called Manahan Mac Lir was at first under tlie dominion of the Scots or Irish,'? * according to Orosius. By Aidan, it was annexed to the kingdom of the Scots; in a. d. 610, it was wrested from their domination, by Edwin, King of Northumbria ; but, in the tenth century, it seems to have fallen under the rule of the Scandinavians,'? 5 and to have become tributary to the King of Norway. ''* Afterwards, the Island appears to have been vested, in the kings or lords of the Isles, who were of Northman descent. '"
During the reign of the great Emperor Charlemagne, the Normans, Danes and Saxons had already invaded the land*,. belonging to that renowned monarch. ''' After his death, their inroads were still more frequent and formidable. Under the leadership of Rollo, or Rolf,'" in the year 911, the Scandinavians effected
"^s See the account in Charles Haliday's
"Scandinavian Kingdom of Dublin," Second Book, chap. i. Dublin and the Isle of Man, pp. 82 to 94.
''' See S. Uaining's "Historical Sketch of the Isle of Man, with an account of the Druidic. il iempjes, Curiosities," &c. , with plates, published i[i 1824, l2nio.
"" See . in interesting account of the Isle
tics there will be found, in Joseph Anderson's "
lately published work, Scotland in Pagan
Times,"Lectureiv. Edinburgh,1803,8vo. "'
°'' See William F. Skene's Celtic Scot- '
land : a History of Ancient Alban, vol. i. ,
Book i. , chap, vii. , pp. 344, 345, and
n. (Jl).
^' See E. William Robertson's "Scotland
under her Early Kings," vol. i. , chap, iv. , p. 82,
"
''J . See the Orkneyinga Saga, and Olaf tionary of England," viSi. id. , pp. 225 to
Collectanea ' de Rebus Al! )anicis," pp. 330 to 333.
Tryg<^Vasonnr Saga. Also,
236.
^* For its history, see Rev. James John- stone's " Chronicle o( Man and of the Isles," in "Antiquitatcs Celto-NormnnicK. " The language of the Island of Man, usually called the . Manks tongue, b a dialect of the ancient Gaelic
"''See L. P. Anquetil's "Histoire de "
"
of Man, in Lewis'
Topographical Die-
France, DeuxiemeRaceditedesCarlovin-
giens, sect. i. , p. 65.
'" In the *' Annnlesde Monte Fernandi,"
edited by Aquila Smith, we have the entry at
"
traverunt,"p. 4. See the IrisUArchaological
A. D. 877 :
Bollo et sui Normanniam pene-
3a6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23
a descent upon the northern coast of France. '"^" A large tract of country was ceded to them, by Charles the Simple, in 912. There they gave name to Normandy, and they succeeded, in eslablisliing a kingdom, where they
were very powerful, in after ages. ^^' Owing to geographical position, they were afterwards known by the name of Nordmans, or Northmen, relatively to the countries they invaded. ^**' In search of further conquests, the Normans proceeded to Spain, =^3 to Italy, '^* and to Sicily. ''^s They spread terror, where- everthey went, owing to their indomitable courage, remorseless ferocity, and insatiablerapacityasinvaders; sothat,itmightbesaid,theywereeverywhere in the ascendant, throughout the northern and western parts of Europe, during the tenth century.
After the death »** of Eadred, King of England, his nephews, Edwy =^' and Edgar,='^^ sons to Edmund, ruled in succession, and their reigns were tolerablyfreefromNorthmanattemptsuponEngland. Duringthereignsof Edgar's two sons, Edward, the Martyr, ''^^ and Ethelred 1 1. ,^5° internal dissen- sionsanddisordersprevailed. Takingadvantageofthesetroubles,theNorthman armamentsweredirectedagainstEngland. Twonewandpowerfulinvaders appeared, in 994 ; these were Sweyn, King of Denmark, and Olaf, King of Norway. Sweyn, or Swend, had murdered his father, and thus he seized upon the crown of Denmark, after this parricidal act. Twice was he expelled, by Eric, King of Sweden ; but, twice he recovered possession of his kingdom. Olaf, the son of Tryggva, was a celebrated Vi-king pirate, who had repeatedly visited and plundered the coasts of Ireland,=9' of Britain, and of Normandy. Having embraced Cliristianity, he sailed to the Orkneys, and there lie sub- dued and converted the natives. Afterwards, he steered for Norway, where the chiefs of that country had deposed Hacon the Bad; and, then Olaf was unexpectedly hailed as their king, on his arrival. Sweyn and Olaf formed a
confederacy; when, with ninety-four ships, they entered the River Thames, and attacked London, but they were repulsed, with considerable loss. ^9' How-
Society's Tracts relating to Ireland, vol. ii.
"
Book ii. , chap, i. , pp. 171, 172.
280
Yox a very interesting account of this
hero and his exploits, the reader m. iy con-
sult Edward A. Freeman's "History of the
Norman Conquest of England," vol. i. , chap,
its Causes and its Results. " vol. i. , chap, ii,, See Sharon Turner's History of sect. 5, pp. 65 to 68.
iv. , sect. 2, pp. 182 to 202.
^' "
England, from the Norman Conquest, to the Accession of Edward the First," vol. i. ,
chap, i. , p. II. London, 1S14, 4to.
"^' and tlie writers of his Sigebert,
"' His term of rule was from A. D. 975 to
978. See Rev. John Lingard's "History of England," vol. i. , chaji. v. , pp. 231 to 233.
usually called all the nortliern nations of the
Scandian peninsula, by the title Nort- April 23rd, ioi6.
manni. See Bavdrand's " Novum Lexicon
Geographicum," &c. , tomus i. , p. 526.
""^ Mallet gives an account, about a strong force of Scandinavian rovers having
Bohn's edition.
°'-' Their arrival in Italy is assigned to A. D.
"
I016. See Edward Giblion's
the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire," vol. vii. , chap. Ivi. , p. I02. William Smith's edition.
°*s Xhe Normans arrived in 1038.
Sicily,
A. D.
lin,"
vol.
i. , chap,
p. 48.
-*'
In A. D. 955. See JohnSpeed's "History
ofGreat l! ritaine,"Bookvii. ,ch. ap. xl. , p. 385. '*' He reigned, from A. D, 955 to 958. See
Pictorial History of England," vol. i. ,
""^
His reign is computed, from A. D. 958
to 975. See Edward A. Freeman's " His-
tory of the Norman Conquest of F^ngland,
°*° He in the midst of age, nded,
°9' His conversion to Christianity took place, it is thought, after bis visit to Ireland. His Church of St. Olaf, corruptly styled St. TuUock, stood formerly in St. Tullock's
Lane, the lower part of P'ishamble-street, " Northern Antiquities," p. 173, note. Dublin. A portion of the clothes of St. Olaf,
entered . Spain, in September, A. D. 844. See
History of
king and national saint of Norway, and also patron of tiiat church, was kept in the Con- vent of the Holy Trinity, Dulilin.
In docu- ments of the fifteenth century, the parish is styledihatof "St. (Jlave theKing. " Seejohn
disturbances, from A. D. 978, to the time of his death,
T. Gilbert's "
of Dub-
History of tlie Norn)an Conquest of England," vol.
i. , chap, v. , sect. 3. p. 316.
'« See S. A. Dunham's "History of Den
Hi>tory
ii. ,
of the
City
^^ " . See Edward A. Freeman's
April 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 327
ever, they ravaged all the southern parts of England, until Ethelred agreed with them, to retire from the kingdom, on receiving a sum of sixteen thousand pounds. Olaf engaged, never more to harass his Christian brethren ; and, soon afterwards, he Itft for Norway, where he made strenuous efforts, to con- vert all his subjects to the true faith. Then, Sweyn was compelled to follow him ; but, he regarded Olafs desertion of England, as a breach of faith, and never forgave his former confederate. Sweyn surprised Olaf, at sea, and near the islet of Wollin. This event is attributed, chiefly to the treachery of Sig- vald, a pirate chief of Jomsberg. 'M A superior force attacked him, at this place, and Olaf had not sufficient means, at his disposal, to resist their attack. '? * With the determined resolution of never surrendering to his enemy, Olaf leaped from his ship into the waves, and thus he terminated that unequal contest. 'ss From 994 to 998, different parts of the English coasts were spoiled, by the pirates. During the absence of the Northman fleets, Ethelred attackedtheirsettlementsinCumberland,'^*andintheIsleofMan. Inthe year1000,SneynhadoverrunandconqueredagreatpartofNorway. Meantime, the Northmen were busily engaged, in overrunning the northern parts ot France, while Robert was its king. The invaders returned from Normandy to England, in looi, and, they were again bought off, by a ransom of twenty-four thousand pounds. This only served to increase their cupidity, and to give them a proud consciousnessoftheirascendency. Thefollowingyear,'"acruelandbase expedient was adopted by Ethelred, who orderetl the assassination of all the Northmen in England, on the same day, November 13th ; and, this horrid massacre took place, aggravated by every species of insult and barbarity. However, in 1003, Sweyn returned with a powerful armament, and during four succeeding years, he indulged without molestation, in the pursuit of plunder and vengeance. Wherever the English armies appeared, they were routed with most dreadful slaughter ; villages, towns, and cities, were set on fire, while their inhabitants were tortured and put to death. Finally, Ethelred was driven out of England, and Sweyn ruled there, by force of conquest, until the first week of February, 1014, when his death occurred. ''^
The foreign colonists, in Ireland, were exceedingly aggressive, while their increasing numbers and perfect organization enabled them to exercise acts of
despotic tyranny and injustice, over the comparatively defenceless tribes of the Irish, living near their positions. Reprisals were the natural result, and the natives, in turn, were obliged to league, in defence of their property, their liberty, and their lives. However, Irishmen retained firm possession, even whenmostoppressed,ofthewholelargeandfertilecountryofIreland; while, the foreigners, in the chief cities, and in course of time, became transformed from pirates to merchants, occupying small districts in their immediate neigh- bourhood, but keeping up well-trained armies for defence, and sometimes for aggressive purposes, in the interior of the Island. ''' The Norwegians, who could reach our Island by sea, and who could derive assistance, only from their own countrymen, settled ujion the coasts of England and Scotland, were proportionately few; while, they had to contend with a numerous and war- likepeople,inhabitinganextensiveandadistantcountry. 3°° ConghaUichII. ,
mark, Sweden and Norway," vol. i. , chap. iii. , pp. 234, 235.
'** See -Sharon Turner's "History of the Anglo-baxons," vol. ii. , Book vi. , chap, ix. , p. 311.
taine," Book vii. , chap, xliiii. , p. 393.
'^^ See Sharon I'urner's "History of the
Anglo-Saxons," vol. ii. . Book vi. , chap, ix. ,
p. 312.
=»* See Rev. Dr. Lingard's "History of
»»5 The "Saxon Chronicle," edited by Rev. England," vol. i. , chap, v. , pp. 236 to
J. Ingram, places his death, at the year 1030. See p. 205.
248.
*99 See Haverty's
chap, xiv. , p. 134.
"
History of Ireland,
•^'See John Speed's "History of Bit-
328 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23.
son of Maelmithigh,30' the sovereign of Ireland, obtained a victory over the Dublin Danes, and he seems to have been intent on establishing his supre-
macy, over the Irish provincial kings. An expedition he led to the west of Munster, a. d. 950, caused the death of two sons of Ceinneidigh ; namely, Echthighern and Donnchuan, who were, it is said, not only the elder brothers of Bryan Boroniha, but even of Mahon, they having been killed just ten years, before the beginning of his reign. How- ever, in 955, having marched into Leinster, which he spoiled, Godfrey, lord of the foreigners at Dublin, surprised and slew him, at 'riguiran,3°» with his chiefs, and several of his troops. 3°3 Domhnall, son to Muircheartach,
then possessed the Irish throne ; and, during the twenty-four years of his reign,3°'» several feuds are recorded, not alone between the Northman settlers, and the Irish, but even between the chiefs of Ireland themselves.
The foreigners are said to have estabhshed an iron despotism, all over the
country; but,especiallyinthesouthernpartsofIreland,theirpowerwasfeltto be greatest, and less liable to be contested, by any force the natives were able to collect, in order to check their encroachments. An immense fleet, under direction of Imar, grandson to Imar, chief king of the foreigners, with his three
— Cu-allaidh 3°6 and
sons, Dubhcenn,2°5 Aralt,3°7
came into the mouth o—f the
3°* RiverShannon presumablyaboutthemiddleofthetenthcentury and
the fleet anchored at Inis-Sibtond. The crews landed and encamped there, in the harbour of Limerick. Besides that protection, afforded by their insular
position, and by their vessels, they erected fortifications, at that place. On
it, a portion of the present city of Limerick now stands. A like number of
vessels had never arrived before, in any part of Ireland. This enabled the
foreigners, to make a strong and secure settlement, in that place; and, soon,
they were recognised as scourges, among tlie people of Munster. 3°9 The
Vi-king, who established his chief seat in Limerick, soon overran the sur-
rounding territory, exacting hostages and pledges, from the Irish and foreigners
alike ; while chiefs, superintendents, and tax-gatherers, were set over every
district, to systematize the payment of rents and of tributes. "" Soldiers,
stewards, or bailiffs, were billeted, in most of the native houses ; and, their
rapine, injuries, oppressions and insults, the population were obliged to endure. Besides the royal tribute, individual heads of families were obliged
to pay an ounce of silver or white bronze, called Findruni;3'' or, on penalty of non-compliance, the debtor was liable to have his nose cut off, or compelled to go into slavery. The Scandinavians were armed witii heavy and well- fashioned swords ; they carried well-riveted and long spears ; they wore polished, trusty and well-fitting corslets ; they served under leaders of great
A. Worsae's " Accountof the Danes and Norwegians in England, Scot-
^os \Ve have not the date or notice for this debarkation in our Annals,
309 gee Coga'oTi Jaetjliet Re Jiltaioh, edited by Rev. James Henthorn Todd, pp.
48, 49.
3'° According to the author of the Ana-
lecta, tliey carried off Irish Manuscripts to
3°° See
J. J.
land and Ireland. "
land, sect, i. , p. 229. 3" See Gratianus
The Norwegians in Ire-
Lucius' " Cambrensis
Eversus," vol. ii. , cap. ix. , pp. 32, 33. Rev.
Dr. Kelly's edition.
"
tates Celto-Norniannicoe. " Antiquitates
Hibernicse, p. 78.
3°3 His death is assigned to A. D. 956, in
and in tlie time of
beth, the King of Denmark wishetl for a learned Irishman to translate them, but that
3°'
See Rev. James Johnstone's
Antiqui-
Denmark,
Queen Eliza-
queen refused liis request. See Dr. Sylvester ""
O'Flaherty's Ogygia," pars iii. , cap. xciii. , p. 435.
3'^* See Thomas Moore's "History of Ire-
land," vol. ii. , chap, xx. , p. 88. 3''S Rendered, Black Head.
3** Rendered, Wild Dog.
3°? Another form of the name Harold.
O'Halloran's Introduction to the Study of the Histoiy and Antiquities of Ireland," part i. , chap, ix. , p. 95,
3" It wasused chieflyin ornamental works, by the artists of ancient Erinn. See Cdch
"
Lena, edited by Eugene (yCurry, Esq. ,
ITlhuiglie leAtia, or
Tlie Battle of Magh
April 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 339
valourandrenown theirwarriorswereknown,likewise,tobeferociousand ;
remorseless. Theyhadagovernorplacedintheterritoryofeverychieftain, an abbot was set over every church, and a guardsman over every village.
These foreign oppressors lived as freebooters among those people, they had enslaved and demoralized. The native chieftains and their clansmen were
jealously watched, lest they might combine to rid themselves of this slavery and oppression. '" Thousands of strong arms, but of irresolute souls, were
ready to avenge a state of slavery, now become intolerable ; but, a champion soon appeared on the scene, whose valiant achievements were destined to free
his countrymen from this thraldom.
The valiant son pf Cenedigh, the subject of our Memoir, had endeavoured,
with surprising spirit and ability, to maintain an unequal contest, against the enemiesofhisraceandnation. But,Mathgamhainwasalmostreducedtoa state of despair ; and, in an interview with his younger brother, he is stated to have counselled submission to the foreign yolk. An old Irish poem 3'3 recounts the places, called Craig Liath,3'4 Brdintir,3'S the Forgus or Fergus River,3'*whereBryanhadalreadywonvictoriesovertheNorthmen; nor,isit probable, that the narrative is purely imaginative, or greatly exaggerated. 3'' From it we glean, that Bryan endeavoured to excite his brother, to emulate the heroic actions of their ancestors, and to have neither peace or truce with the oppressors. A stranger tribe appears to have intervened, and to have procured a sort of armistice, between Mathgamhain and the Northmen ; while, knowing the number and force of their followers, the Dalcassian King deemed it overweening pride and presumption, on the part of Bryan, longer tocontend,afterthelosseshisfollowershadexperienced. Notwithstanding, the choice between death and dishonour was hardly to be contested, in so just a cause ; nor could the Dalcassians submit to injuries and insults, through any fear to await the issue of otiier battles and enterprises.
It now became necessary, to take the advice of the chiefs and people, in
that principality ; so that Mathgamhain and Bryan had them duly convened, for such a purpose. 3'8 j^ fyH assembly of the Dal Cais, when the alternative of war or of submission had been discussed, to their honour be it said, both old
and. young cried out with one voice, that they preferred meeting violence, and even death itself, in defending the freedom of their patrimony and of their race,
M. R. I. A. , with translation and notes, p. 113, n. (w), Dublin, 1855, 8vo.
3" See Cogi-oh Jaeohel Re SitbAibh,
edited by Rev. James Henthorn Todd, chap.
xl. , pp. 48 to 53.
3'' In the shape of a Dial<^c, between
Mathgamhain and Brian. The original Irish, with an English translation will be
found in theCogibh jAeoVielHeSaltaibh, or " The War of the Gaedhil with the Gaill. " Edited, with Tr. mslalion and In- troduction, by James Hemhorn Tcxld, D. D. , M. R. I. A. , &c. , chap, xlvi. , pp. 62 1065.
3'« It maybe Anglicised, "the grey rock. " This seems to h. -ive been the place, fre-
'"s This is probably Brentir of the Fear-
macaigh and Cormacaigh, or the fetid dis- trict of theKinel-Fearmaic and Ui-Cormaic.
It was socalled, owingto its situation, on the frontiers of their tribal territories. At pre- sent, it is locally called bp6incpe, and it
is a district, comprising seven townlands, lying north-east of Sliabh Callain, or Mount Callan, in the western part of Clare County, In Cromwell's time, a family of the OCon- nells were transplanted thither, from the county of Kerry. At present, the property belongs to the Marquis of Thomond. See Dr. O'Donovaii's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. vi. , n. (n), p. 2102.
3"> It rises in the barony of Corcomroe, and runs a devious course, through the enveloped in a m. igical cloud Dunlaing county of Clare, by the town ot Ennis, and
quented by Oeibhinn (now Eevil) the fami- liar sprite of Dal-Cais, who is said to have
O'hArt. -. gain^a chief hero attend int—on Murchadii, Brian Borumha's eMest son to prevent him from joining in the battle of Clontarf. See "Miscellany of the Celtic Society.
