While his enemies to be encountered lay in the plains before him, those he had kept in check were behind, in the plains of Ossory ; nor could it be safe to advance, while Thomond and Desmond were exposed to a
possible
attack.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v4
Hisimmediateliegeswereinflamedtosogreatadegree,thatthey entered into the views of their king, and resolved to renounce their allegiance toBryan.
Accordingtothecounselagreedto,theydespatchedmessengers toFlaith-Chertach, King of Ailech, and son to Muircheartach O'Neill, exhort- inghimtomakewaruponMaelsechlainnanduponUladli.
Othermessengers were sent to Fearghal Ua Ruairc, King of Brefni, and to Ualgarg Ua Ciardha, King of Cairbre.
Moved by those representations made to them, these potentates agreed to renounce their allegiance to Bryan, 7° and to unite for the purpose of taking the initiative against him, and against his faithful ally, Maelseachlainn.
Aseriesofcombinedattackswasarranged,andthesewere to be directed from different quarters.
The next object of Maolmordha was to confederate with the Danes, and to seek their alliance, so that he might bid the monarch defiance, when ready to appear in the field, and at the head of
his various contingents.
name. See Dermod O'Connor's Keating's ""
'' In his Topographical Poem, O'Huidh- rin alludes to Crioch O'Muighi, another form of Crioch Ua m-Buidlie, lying on the west side of the River Barrow. See Dr. O'Dono- van's teibhdp ii<i ^-Ce&pc, or "Book of Rights," n. (n), pp. 213, 214.
'^ The meaning seems to be "a rough
field producing fresh green grass. " No
correspondingdenominationisnow traceable, ''This may be rendered, " west of the
Liffey" River.
? " See CojatjIi 5<iex)1iel He S^lUaibh,
chap. Ixxxiv.
General Histoiy of Ireland, Second Book, p. 493.
'3 See C05AT)h jAe-ohel He 5Alt&ibh, chap. Ixxxiii. , pp. 144, 145.
'•• It was necessaiy lo carry Cocaran to Kincora, in a litter, according to the received accounts.
'5 See Rev. James Wills' " Lives of Illus-
trious and Distinguished Irishmen," vol. i. , Second Period, p. 208.
^ See CogATih jienheL lie SAllAibVi, chap. Ixxxiii. , pp. 146, 147.
April 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 389
Owing to this combination, a great war soon raged, between the foreigners and the Gaeidhil. It broke out in the year 1012. '' Apparently, the first movements were directed by the restless Flaithbhertach, who led an army into Cinel-Conaill, until he arrived at Magh-Cedne,'' in the southern part of Donegal. Then,hecarriedoffagreatpreyofcows,andreturnedsafetohis house. A second time, the same Flaithbheartach entered Cinel-Conaill, when he advanced to Druim-Claibh, and Tracht-Eothaile. There Niall, son of Gillaphadraig, was slain, and Maelruanaidh Ua Maeldoraidh was defeated. It seems likely, that the latter had been chased out of Tiis own territory of Tyrconnell, and that he had been overtaken, at Tracht-Eothaile. Meantime, Maelseachlainn finding the principality of Tir-Eogain exposed to his attacks, led his forces so far as Magh-da-ghabhal, which was burned. Then, the southern Hy-Niall preyed so far as Tealach-Oog, and having obtained spoils, they returned towards Meath. Again, Flaithbheartach brought his retainers to Ard-Uladh,73intheeastofDowncounty; whileheplunderedallthatcoun- try, taking with him an immense number of cattle, and many prisoners. It is difficult now to distinguish the intricacies of those various conflicts, which were doubtless the results ot counter-policies and diversions of interests, among the leading Irish potentates. Flaithbhertach next marched upon Meath, which, for the most part, he plundered and ravaged. It would seem, that Bryan had sent some of his officers to aid Maelseachlainn, more imme- diately exposed to aggression, until the monarch should be able to create a diversion in his favour. In one of those encounters, which took place, a high steward of the monarch, and who is called Osli,''* son to Dubhcenn,'5 son of Imar, was slain, with many more. '*
Soon, the attention of Maelseachlainn had been directed towards another
quarter. A great depredation was committed, by Ualgharg Ua Ciardha, lord of Cairbre, and by Fearghal, the son of Niall O'Ruairc, vvitli the men of
Teathbha," in Gaileanga. ? * Being at that time intoxicated after drinking, a few good men composing the household of Maelseachlainn overtook them, and,
without considering their own inferiority, imprudently challenged them to fight a battle. This the people of Teathba accepted, and they proved victorious. Several fell in the encounter. Among the slain were found Domhnall. w son
to Donnchadh,^ and grandson of Maelseachlainn ; Dubhtaichligh Ua Mael-
pp. 146, 147.
'' See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the
Four Mailers," vol. ii. , pp. 768, 769.
'" Now Moy, a plain situated between the
Rivers Erne and Diowes.
" Now the Ards, Latinized, Altiludo
'*0r Galeng, also calle'l G. illen. The
name of G. iileanga Mor, or Great Gaileanga, was the principality of O'Leochain. The name is still preserved, in the barony of Mor- Gallion, in the northern part of . Meath county, the configuration of which is shown,
Ullortim. See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals on the fine Map, designed by William of the Four Masters," at A. l). loio rede Larkin, A. D. 1812, for the Grand Jury of the
loii, and loii, recte 1012, with notes, pp. 762 to 767.
'• lie was probably of Scandinavian ori-
gin.
'5 This n. ime may be Anglicized, Black
Head.
''See Cojaoh jAeohel lie JdVUiibh,
chap. Ixxxiv. , pp. 146, 147.
" Al-o called Tcffia, in I. atin, and Angli-
cised Taffa, Teffii, and Teffa-land, by Conall
Mageoghan, in his translation of the "Annals
of Clonmacnoise. " This territory lay, in calls him the royal heir of Temhair.
I,on;;ford and Westmeath counties, the River
Eithne, or Inny, dividing it into two parts, distinguished as north and south.
*"
According to the Four Masters, this
county of Meath. But, it seems probable, that the ancient territory had been of much greater extent, since it took in the moun- tainous district of Sliabh Guaire or Slieve Gorey, now a part of Clonkee barony, county ofCavan. See"TheTopo-^raphicalPoems of John O'Dubhagain and Giolla na Naomh O'Huidhrin," edited by Dr. O'Donovan, n. 21, p. vi.
" According to the CogAoh gaeohel Ue 5<slL4ibh, chap. Ixxxiv. , pp. 148, 149, which
person, thfe son of Maelseachlainn, was slain.
390 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23.
challann,*' lord of Dealbhna-Beag,*' Donnchadh, son to Donnchadh Finn, royal heir of Teamhair; Cearnachan,'3 son to Flann, lord of Luigne,^* Seanan Ua Leochain,'5 lord of Gaileanga, with many others. With his army, Mael- seachlainn afterwards overtook them. The spoils taken were then left behind.
In the struggle which ensued, Ualgharg Ua Ciardha, lord of Cairbre, and Tadhg Ua Cearnachan,^* with many others, perished. *'
With combined forces, those foes to the King of Meath had ventured to
make a fierce incursion into Malachy's province. He repelled that injury, by levying a considerable following, and by an inroad into Leinster. This
—he and he burned the as far as the Hill province ravaged, country, of
Howth ancientlyknownasBenHedar. **TheNorthmenthenheldposses- sion of all that country, immediately adjoining Dublin. While Maelseachlainn
advanced unguardedly, his progress was intercepted, a few miles northwards
fromAth-Cliath, by thecombined forces of the King of Leinster and by the Danes,
who attacked his troops. Not dreaming of a surprise, Sitric and Maelmordha
overtook one of his preying parties, at a place called Draighnen,'? now
Drinan, near Kinsaly, in the county of Dublin. Malachy's force was de-
feated, with a great loss of lives. Among the slain were his son, and many
chiefsofhisprovince. Inthisencounter,besidesFlann,9°sontoMaelseach-
lainn, fell the son of Lorcan,'' son to Echthigern, lord of Cinel-Meachair, and
many other men, numbering in all two hundred, who were slain,9' althougii the Ulster Annals only make this loss of lives one hundred and fifty. Maol-
mordha had already engaged in his confederacy, not alone the Irish, but the foreigners. The Scandinavians of Dublin, and those living abroad, were next invited to unite a vast force, destined to oppose Bryan and Maelseach-
lainn. « But, time was required for the maturing of this expedition. While awaiting their arrival, the King of Leinster collected a body of his provincials, with the Danes, and penetrating into Meath, he reached Termon-Feichin, also called the Fabhar of Fechin. Captives and cattle were seized at this place. 94 The King of Leinster then retreated, destroying the country, and carrying off an immense booty. ss In his distress, ^L-^lachy addressed an ap- peal, to the chief and now recognised monarch of Ireland. He complained,
' Now Anglice, pronounced MulhoIIand, but without the prefix of O'. There were several distinct families of this name, in Ire-
«» In the Co^atjIi 5Ae-o1ieL Tie Saltaibli, chap. Ixxxiv. , pp. 148, 153, we find Alb. i- n. ich, or the Scotchman, substituted,
9" Lorcan himself is named, as haN-ing been killed, in the work just quoted.
9= In commemoration of the defeat at
Draighuen, a quatrain was composed, and it is thus rendered into English :—
"Not well on Monday on the expedi- tion did Meathmen go to overrun ;
The foreigners, it was heard were joyful of the ioumey at the Draieh- nen. "
land. See Rev. William Reeves'
"
Ecclesi-
astical Antiquities of Down, Connor and
Dromore," pp. 37010375.
^' Or Little Delvm, now the barony of
Fore, or Demifore, in the north-west of the county of Me. ith.
*3 He is called Cernach, in the Co5^T)h jAe'ohel ne 5Al. l<sibh, chap. Ixxxiy, pp. 148, 149.
'< Sometimes found written Lijii, or Line.
85 Also called Ua Leuchan.
i
^His death is noiiced, in the Cojd-oh jAeohel ne SAlUibh, /Wi/,,-pp. 148, 149.
93 See Dr. Sylvester O'Halloran's " Gene- *? See Dr. O'Doiiovan's '( Annals of the ral History of Ireland," vol. ii. , Book xi
Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 766 to 769. ^The Rev. James Wills incorrectly inter- prets it, "the mountain ^f Dirds," in his "Lives of Illustrious and Distinguished
chap, viii. , p. 259.
94 See theCogioh rAcDhelUe 5<j,lUibh,
chap. Ixxxv. , pp. 148, 149.
9S See Dr. Sylvester 0'Hallor. -in's " Gene-
Inshmen," vol. i. , part i. , Second Period, ral History of Ireland," vol. ii. , Book xi. ,
206.
P- I
»9 The translated r. inals of Ulster have it spelled Draynan.
chap, viii. , p. 250.
96 See the cb5At)h Jaexihel ne 5^1-
U,bh, chap. Ixxxv. , pp. 148, 149.
April 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 391
that his territory had been plundered, and that his sons had been killed. He
earnestly prayed, that the foreigners and the Laighin, with the Breifni, the Cairbri, and the Cinel-Eoghain, should not be allowed to direct all their forces
against himself, without being afforded any succour. '* It is said, that he proceeded in person to the palace at Kincora, or to Ball Boirumhe,'? for that purpose ; and, he represented the danger to which he was exposed, from the hostility of his formidable neighbours. '^ To this application, however,
a refusal was returned, although promises of assistance were probably made. " The King of Meath was thus left to defend his possessions, by such means
as his own narrow resources '°° The supplied.
of that refusal
well be doubted ;'°' but, it is probable, that Bryan could not readily engage, at
the time, to support the depressed state of Malachy.
The defeat of Maelseachlainn was attended with other consequences, as
a triumph thus obtained emboldened the victors to follow up their successes. It soon required a movement on the part of Bryan, to restrain the Leinstermen and Danes. '"' These of Dublin combined with the Irish of Wicklow, and both parties soon assumed a menacing attitude. It was now necessary to check their progress, and Bryan was ready to move his forces, to those points threatened by the confederates. The Ossorians appear to have combined, likewise, against him. Accordingly, the monarch summoned his chiefs, and now led his army towards Leinster. The Irish forces wasted the lands of Ossory,ontheirlineofmarch. DunnchadhMacGiollaPatraic'°3seemsto have been its king, at this time, and hostile to the Ard Righ. The men of Munster and of Connaught were chiefly those engaged on the expedition. ,His army was led by Brian, towards Ath-an-chairthinn,"* and he there en- camped. '°5 He laid siege to the foreigners, as the Annals state, for three months ; but, probably, not at this particular place, as they held no strong- holdsthen,intheinteriorofmidlandErinn. Brian,withtheforcesunderhis command,""encampedatSliabhMairge,"°7todefendMunster. Theposi- tion was admirably chosen as a strategic and commanding post.
While his enemies to be encountered lay in the plains before him, those he had kept in check were behind, in the plains of Ossory ; nor could it be safe to advance, while Thomond and Desmond were exposed to a possible attack. A depre- dation, by Murchadh, eldest son of Brian, in Leinster, is recorded in our Annals; and,thiswasprobablydirectedfromSlieveMargytowardstheeast, while the monarch's forces were still in observation. When the covering army deemed it safe to march from its mountain cantonments, their tents were struck, and the Irish forces moved onwards, in a northerly direction, and towards thechiefstrongholdoftheScandinavians. Activelyengagedinthisexcur- sion,butapart,wasthetrustyandbraveMorough. WhileBryanremained
" See Dr. Sylvester O'Halloran's "Gene- ral History of Ireland," vol. ii. , Book xi. , chap, viii. , p. 260.
a. d. 996, by Donovan, son of Imar, King of Waterford, and by Domhnal, son of Faelan,
** See Thomas Moore's "
prince of the Deisi.
Shearman's " Loca
See Rev. John F.
land," vol. ii. , chap. xxi. , pp. 105, 106. "
p. 365.
'"< Dr. O'Donovan renders Ath-na-
Chairthinn : i. t. , Ford of the Rock, the situation of which is unknown, as he states.
'"S It is Latinized " Vadum Officinoe fer-
'" See John D'Alton's History of the County of Dublin," pp. 604, 605.
'°°
See the Annals of Inisfallen, at A. D.
History
of Ire-
Patriciana,"
No. xii. ,
1013.
'" ""
See Rev. James Wills' "Lives of rarias, in Rev. Dr. Conor's Rerum Hiber- lUustrious and Distinguished Irishmen," nicarum Scriptores," tomus iv. Annales
vol. i. , part i. , Second Period, p. 206.
Ultonienses, p. 302.
"* Or of the to the province, according
Ulster Annals.
"' Now that district, comprised in the
"" See Thomas Moore's "
of Ire-
'"' His father, Gilba Patraic, was slain
History land," vol. ii. , chap, xxi. , p. 106.
prudence
may
392 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23.
in observation, his warlike son was sent to create a diversion, in the heart of the Wicklow mountains. That duty was readily undertaken by Morough,
'°3 and
The foreign settlers inlreland had theprudence, activity, and address, which enabled them to multiply their attacks, and to put in motion the ever-ready and restless turbulence of their neighbours, in whatever direction their own policyrequired. '" Totheirintrigues,wemayprobablyascribemanyofthe localdisturbances,whichaffectedthekingdom. Maelseachlainnhadplanned
an expedition against the foreigners ; but, while he was engaged with the Northmen of Dublin, tlie King of Tyrone invaded the southern Hy-Niall. '"
An army was led by Flaithbheartach, lord of Aileach, to Maighen-Attaed,'" by the son of Ceananuus. Maelseachlainn left the Iiill undisputed to him,
and because, most probably, his muster of force was insufficient, to cope witli the King of Tyrone. No partial effort, or merely predatory descent, how-
ever, could avail the Danes for succeeding, against Bryan's growing power. Their extensively increasing possessions in cities and towns gave great in- fluence to the foreigners. It was necessary for them to adopt, far more ordered and energetic measures, to carry out their ambitious schemes of conquest, and to effect their own security, as they had already suffered so many defeats. The designs of Bryan, and liis vigorous strokes in oft-repeated expeditions, were then better understood, by the foreign colonists, than can be known,"3 at the present time.
CHAPTER VIII.
LAST CAMPAIGN OF BRYAN—CHRONOLOGY AND ACCOUNTS OF IT REMAINING—THE KING OF LEINSTER AND THE DUBLIN OSTMEN SEND EMISSARIES FOR DISTANT REINFORCEMENTS—BRYAN BOROIMHA MUSTERS HIS FORCES—HE MARCHES INTO LEINSTER, AND HE ARRIVES AT DUBLIN—CONCENTRATION OF THE LEINSTER AND SCANDINAVIAN ARMIES—POSITION OF THE MONARCH, ON THE PLAIN OF MAGH-N-ELTA.
Now, the whole power of the North was to be arrayed, for a vast and closing Struggle with the Monarch of Ireland, who found so many of his own country- men desirous to rebel against his authority, and to overturn his rule. This, however, required no ordinary exertion. Accordingly, a great expedition was in course of preparation. It was destined to arouse that energetic
who carried
then a considerable city, belonging to Maelmordha. Then, Leinster was plundered by the Munster chief, so far as Atli-cliath, whither he moved, to effectapreconcertedjunctionwithhisfather. OnMurrough'slineofmarch, he devasted the country from Gleann-da-locha as far as Cill-Maighneann. '°9 During this time, he kept up communications with the main army, commanded by Bryan. The whole invaded province suffered terribly, from the relentless assaults of Murrough, who carried off great spoils and innumerable prisoners, to the green of Ath-Cliath.
plunder, devastation,
slaughter,
so far as
Glendalough,
barony of Slievemargy, Queen's County. Tlie translated Ulster Annals term it Moun- taine Marci.
'" See Charles O'Conor's " Dissertations on the History of Ireland," sect, xviii. , p. 248.
See Walter Harris' " and An- History
'"This means "Attaedh's little
This might be Anglicized Moynalty ; but, the name is apparently obsolete, at pre- sent.
"3 See Rev. Jimcs Wills' " Lives of Illus-
trious and Distinguished Irishmen," vol. i. , part i. , Second Period, p. 206.
'-^
tiquities of the City of Dublin, from the Earliest Accounts," chap, ix. , p. 193.
plain. "
"^ Now Kilmainham. near Dublin.
"See Rev. James Wills' "Lives of Ilhis-
trious and Distinguished Irishmen," vol. i. , part i. , Second Period, p. 206.
April 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 393
effort of national defence, which culminated victoriously for Bryan Boromha, on the field of Clontarf,' where his glorious and heroic career on earth closed.
The dates given for this last celebrated campaign of the Irish Monarch
have been confused and varied, in accounts which have come down to our
times. By some writers, the period has been considerably antedated. Thus, while a missing leaf,' containing probably what relates to the Battle of Clon- tarf, is not published, in Rev. Dr. Charles O'Conor's edition of Tigernach's Annals ;3 the " Annales Inisfalenses," Bodleian copy, place this last war of Bryan,attheyear996. • However,muchmorediffusely,andattheyear1014, does the Dublin copy of these Annals give a very detailed account regarding the celebrated battle of Clontarf,' and differing altogether in text, from the Oxford Codex. The year 1012 is the date, given for this great engagement, in the " Chronicum Scotorum. "* The Four Masters have the year 1013, for that event. ? About the end of the year 1013, or the be- ginning of 1014, has been assigned, likewise, for the opening of Bryan's last campaign. * A Welsh calculation places this date for the battle of Clontarf to 1013 ;9 but, it was really fought on the following year, as all the best authori- ties are now agreed. At a. d. 1014, the "Annales Buelliani" have the battle of Clontarf ;'° and, the English translation follows the original, with some interesting comments to elucidate the account. " This same year, also, the Annals of Loch C6" open with a narrative of that celebrated engagement. '3 The Njals-Saga ' adopts the latter date for the campaign, and battle, with which it concluded. The Annals of Ulster place the event, at 1013, or loi4;'5 and, the corrected chronology of Marianus Scottus, who lived not very long after the time, has it at the latter year. '* All our most reliable modern historical authorities are agreed, on the same date.
Less difficult is it, however, to settle the chronology, than to place, in suitable order and statement, the incidents of this campaign. All those causes which moved the hosts engaged on either side, and which immediately brought on that decisive b. ittle, can hardly be analyzed, at the present
"time. "' According to the Danish writer, Torfaeus,'* Kormlod,"' a woman of
Chapter vin. — " Now a
Barony of Coolock, and defined on the "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps, for the County of Dublin," sheets 15, 18, 19. Clon- tarf Town and sheds are marked, on sheet
; the divisions of its townland, into Eat and West, are shown on sheets 18, 19.
• See Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hibcmica-
rum . Scriptores," tomus ii. Annales Tiger- naci, p. 271.
i \ hiatus is to be found in
leian copy, viz. , from A. D. 1003 to A. D. 1018.
• See ibid. , p. 54.
5 See the Irish text, wi. h the Latin trans- lation, ibiil. , pp. 601070.
Rev. Williams ab John
19
See John D' Alton's History of Ire-
' Edited by William M. Hennessy. pp. 250 to 253.
See
parish,
in the
Ithel, M. A. ,
at
p.
this,
the Bod-
land and Annals of Boyle," vol. ii. , pp. 165
10178.
"The -dnnoil-A tochAC^, or the Annals
of Loch Ce, a Chronicle of Irish Affairs from
A. D. to a. d edited witli transla- 1014 1590.
tion, by'VV'dliamM. Ilennessy, M. R. I. A. M See vol. i. , pp. 2 to 13.
'< See cap. clvii. , clvii. , pp. 599 to 623. '5 See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's "Rerum Hiber-
nicarum Scriptores," tomus iv. , pp. 303 to
306.
''. See Pertz's "Monumenta Germanic
' See dnniLAnioghachcdeipeanti. An-
nals of the Kingdom of Irelan i, by the Four
Masters, &c. , edited with a translation and
copious notes, by John O'Donovan, LL. D. , "Historic. il Memoirs of the O'Briens. "
vol. ii. , pp. 772 to 781.
' See Walter Harris' "
Medieval Part, chap, iii. , pp. 26 to 37.
and Anti- quities of the City of Dublin," chap, ix. ,
" In his
of the
at
p. 194.
' See " Annales Cambri3e,"edited by the
x. , p. 33.
' Called Gormlaith, by the Irish.
" She is said, to have been the greatest
History
History
22.
'° .
his various contingents.
name. See Dermod O'Connor's Keating's ""
'' In his Topographical Poem, O'Huidh- rin alludes to Crioch O'Muighi, another form of Crioch Ua m-Buidlie, lying on the west side of the River Barrow. See Dr. O'Dono- van's teibhdp ii<i ^-Ce&pc, or "Book of Rights," n. (n), pp. 213, 214.
'^ The meaning seems to be "a rough
field producing fresh green grass. " No
correspondingdenominationisnow traceable, ''This may be rendered, " west of the
Liffey" River.
? " See CojatjIi 5<iex)1iel He S^lUaibh,
chap. Ixxxiv.
General Histoiy of Ireland, Second Book, p. 493.
'3 See C05AT)h jAe-ohel He 5Alt&ibh, chap. Ixxxiii. , pp. 144, 145.
'•• It was necessaiy lo carry Cocaran to Kincora, in a litter, according to the received accounts.
'5 See Rev. James Wills' " Lives of Illus-
trious and Distinguished Irishmen," vol. i. , Second Period, p. 208.
^ See CogATih jienheL lie SAllAibVi, chap. Ixxxiii. , pp. 146, 147.
April 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 389
Owing to this combination, a great war soon raged, between the foreigners and the Gaeidhil. It broke out in the year 1012. '' Apparently, the first movements were directed by the restless Flaithbhertach, who led an army into Cinel-Conaill, until he arrived at Magh-Cedne,'' in the southern part of Donegal. Then,hecarriedoffagreatpreyofcows,andreturnedsafetohis house. A second time, the same Flaithbheartach entered Cinel-Conaill, when he advanced to Druim-Claibh, and Tracht-Eothaile. There Niall, son of Gillaphadraig, was slain, and Maelruanaidh Ua Maeldoraidh was defeated. It seems likely, that the latter had been chased out of Tiis own territory of Tyrconnell, and that he had been overtaken, at Tracht-Eothaile. Meantime, Maelseachlainn finding the principality of Tir-Eogain exposed to his attacks, led his forces so far as Magh-da-ghabhal, which was burned. Then, the southern Hy-Niall preyed so far as Tealach-Oog, and having obtained spoils, they returned towards Meath. Again, Flaithbheartach brought his retainers to Ard-Uladh,73intheeastofDowncounty; whileheplunderedallthatcoun- try, taking with him an immense number of cattle, and many prisoners. It is difficult now to distinguish the intricacies of those various conflicts, which were doubtless the results ot counter-policies and diversions of interests, among the leading Irish potentates. Flaithbhertach next marched upon Meath, which, for the most part, he plundered and ravaged. It would seem, that Bryan had sent some of his officers to aid Maelseachlainn, more imme- diately exposed to aggression, until the monarch should be able to create a diversion in his favour. In one of those encounters, which took place, a high steward of the monarch, and who is called Osli,''* son to Dubhcenn,'5 son of Imar, was slain, with many more. '*
Soon, the attention of Maelseachlainn had been directed towards another
quarter. A great depredation was committed, by Ualgharg Ua Ciardha, lord of Cairbre, and by Fearghal, the son of Niall O'Ruairc, vvitli the men of
Teathbha," in Gaileanga. ? * Being at that time intoxicated after drinking, a few good men composing the household of Maelseachlainn overtook them, and,
without considering their own inferiority, imprudently challenged them to fight a battle. This the people of Teathba accepted, and they proved victorious. Several fell in the encounter. Among the slain were found Domhnall. w son
to Donnchadh,^ and grandson of Maelseachlainn ; Dubhtaichligh Ua Mael-
pp. 146, 147.
'' See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the
Four Mailers," vol. ii. , pp. 768, 769.
'" Now Moy, a plain situated between the
Rivers Erne and Diowes.
" Now the Ards, Latinized, Altiludo
'*0r Galeng, also calle'l G. illen. The
name of G. iileanga Mor, or Great Gaileanga, was the principality of O'Leochain. The name is still preserved, in the barony of Mor- Gallion, in the northern part of . Meath county, the configuration of which is shown,
Ullortim. See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals on the fine Map, designed by William of the Four Masters," at A. l). loio rede Larkin, A. D. 1812, for the Grand Jury of the
loii, and loii, recte 1012, with notes, pp. 762 to 767.
'• lie was probably of Scandinavian ori-
gin.
'5 This n. ime may be Anglicized, Black
Head.
''See Cojaoh jAeohel lie JdVUiibh,
chap. Ixxxiv. , pp. 146, 147.
" Al-o called Tcffia, in I. atin, and Angli-
cised Taffa, Teffii, and Teffa-land, by Conall
Mageoghan, in his translation of the "Annals
of Clonmacnoise. " This territory lay, in calls him the royal heir of Temhair.
I,on;;ford and Westmeath counties, the River
Eithne, or Inny, dividing it into two parts, distinguished as north and south.
*"
According to the Four Masters, this
county of Meath. But, it seems probable, that the ancient territory had been of much greater extent, since it took in the moun- tainous district of Sliabh Guaire or Slieve Gorey, now a part of Clonkee barony, county ofCavan. See"TheTopo-^raphicalPoems of John O'Dubhagain and Giolla na Naomh O'Huidhrin," edited by Dr. O'Donovan, n. 21, p. vi.
" According to the CogAoh gaeohel Ue 5<slL4ibh, chap. Ixxxiv. , pp. 148, 149, which
person, thfe son of Maelseachlainn, was slain.
390 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23.
challann,*' lord of Dealbhna-Beag,*' Donnchadh, son to Donnchadh Finn, royal heir of Teamhair; Cearnachan,'3 son to Flann, lord of Luigne,^* Seanan Ua Leochain,'5 lord of Gaileanga, with many others. With his army, Mael- seachlainn afterwards overtook them. The spoils taken were then left behind.
In the struggle which ensued, Ualgharg Ua Ciardha, lord of Cairbre, and Tadhg Ua Cearnachan,^* with many others, perished. *'
With combined forces, those foes to the King of Meath had ventured to
make a fierce incursion into Malachy's province. He repelled that injury, by levying a considerable following, and by an inroad into Leinster. This
—he and he burned the as far as the Hill province ravaged, country, of
Howth ancientlyknownasBenHedar. **TheNorthmenthenheldposses- sion of all that country, immediately adjoining Dublin. While Maelseachlainn
advanced unguardedly, his progress was intercepted, a few miles northwards
fromAth-Cliath, by thecombined forces of the King of Leinster and by the Danes,
who attacked his troops. Not dreaming of a surprise, Sitric and Maelmordha
overtook one of his preying parties, at a place called Draighnen,'? now
Drinan, near Kinsaly, in the county of Dublin. Malachy's force was de-
feated, with a great loss of lives. Among the slain were his son, and many
chiefsofhisprovince. Inthisencounter,besidesFlann,9°sontoMaelseach-
lainn, fell the son of Lorcan,'' son to Echthigern, lord of Cinel-Meachair, and
many other men, numbering in all two hundred, who were slain,9' althougii the Ulster Annals only make this loss of lives one hundred and fifty. Maol-
mordha had already engaged in his confederacy, not alone the Irish, but the foreigners. The Scandinavians of Dublin, and those living abroad, were next invited to unite a vast force, destined to oppose Bryan and Maelseach-
lainn. « But, time was required for the maturing of this expedition. While awaiting their arrival, the King of Leinster collected a body of his provincials, with the Danes, and penetrating into Meath, he reached Termon-Feichin, also called the Fabhar of Fechin. Captives and cattle were seized at this place. 94 The King of Leinster then retreated, destroying the country, and carrying off an immense booty. ss In his distress, ^L-^lachy addressed an ap- peal, to the chief and now recognised monarch of Ireland. He complained,
' Now Anglice, pronounced MulhoIIand, but without the prefix of O'. There were several distinct families of this name, in Ire-
«» In the Co^atjIi 5Ae-o1ieL Tie Saltaibli, chap. Ixxxiv. , pp. 148, 153, we find Alb. i- n. ich, or the Scotchman, substituted,
9" Lorcan himself is named, as haN-ing been killed, in the work just quoted.
9= In commemoration of the defeat at
Draighuen, a quatrain was composed, and it is thus rendered into English :—
"Not well on Monday on the expedi- tion did Meathmen go to overrun ;
The foreigners, it was heard were joyful of the ioumey at the Draieh- nen. "
land. See Rev. William Reeves'
"
Ecclesi-
astical Antiquities of Down, Connor and
Dromore," pp. 37010375.
^' Or Little Delvm, now the barony of
Fore, or Demifore, in the north-west of the county of Me. ith.
*3 He is called Cernach, in the Co5^T)h jAe'ohel ne 5Al. l<sibh, chap. Ixxxiy, pp. 148, 149.
'< Sometimes found written Lijii, or Line.
85 Also called Ua Leuchan.
i
^His death is noiiced, in the Cojd-oh jAeohel ne SAlUibh, /Wi/,,-pp. 148, 149.
93 See Dr. Sylvester O'Halloran's " Gene- *? See Dr. O'Doiiovan's '( Annals of the ral History of Ireland," vol. ii. , Book xi
Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 766 to 769. ^The Rev. James Wills incorrectly inter- prets it, "the mountain ^f Dirds," in his "Lives of Illustrious and Distinguished
chap, viii. , p. 259.
94 See theCogioh rAcDhelUe 5<j,lUibh,
chap. Ixxxv. , pp. 148, 149.
9S See Dr. Sylvester 0'Hallor. -in's " Gene-
Inshmen," vol. i. , part i. , Second Period, ral History of Ireland," vol. ii. , Book xi. ,
206.
P- I
»9 The translated r. inals of Ulster have it spelled Draynan.
chap, viii. , p. 250.
96 See the cb5At)h Jaexihel ne 5^1-
U,bh, chap. Ixxxv. , pp. 148, 149.
April 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 391
that his territory had been plundered, and that his sons had been killed. He
earnestly prayed, that the foreigners and the Laighin, with the Breifni, the Cairbri, and the Cinel-Eoghain, should not be allowed to direct all their forces
against himself, without being afforded any succour. '* It is said, that he proceeded in person to the palace at Kincora, or to Ball Boirumhe,'? for that purpose ; and, he represented the danger to which he was exposed, from the hostility of his formidable neighbours. '^ To this application, however,
a refusal was returned, although promises of assistance were probably made. " The King of Meath was thus left to defend his possessions, by such means
as his own narrow resources '°° The supplied.
of that refusal
well be doubted ;'°' but, it is probable, that Bryan could not readily engage, at
the time, to support the depressed state of Malachy.
The defeat of Maelseachlainn was attended with other consequences, as
a triumph thus obtained emboldened the victors to follow up their successes. It soon required a movement on the part of Bryan, to restrain the Leinstermen and Danes. '"' These of Dublin combined with the Irish of Wicklow, and both parties soon assumed a menacing attitude. It was now necessary to check their progress, and Bryan was ready to move his forces, to those points threatened by the confederates. The Ossorians appear to have combined, likewise, against him. Accordingly, the monarch summoned his chiefs, and now led his army towards Leinster. The Irish forces wasted the lands of Ossory,ontheirlineofmarch. DunnchadhMacGiollaPatraic'°3seemsto have been its king, at this time, and hostile to the Ard Righ. The men of Munster and of Connaught were chiefly those engaged on the expedition. ,His army was led by Brian, towards Ath-an-chairthinn,"* and he there en- camped. '°5 He laid siege to the foreigners, as the Annals state, for three months ; but, probably, not at this particular place, as they held no strong- holdsthen,intheinteriorofmidlandErinn. Brian,withtheforcesunderhis command,""encampedatSliabhMairge,"°7todefendMunster. Theposi- tion was admirably chosen as a strategic and commanding post.
While his enemies to be encountered lay in the plains before him, those he had kept in check were behind, in the plains of Ossory ; nor could it be safe to advance, while Thomond and Desmond were exposed to a possible attack. A depre- dation, by Murchadh, eldest son of Brian, in Leinster, is recorded in our Annals; and,thiswasprobablydirectedfromSlieveMargytowardstheeast, while the monarch's forces were still in observation. When the covering army deemed it safe to march from its mountain cantonments, their tents were struck, and the Irish forces moved onwards, in a northerly direction, and towards thechiefstrongholdoftheScandinavians. Activelyengagedinthisexcur- sion,butapart,wasthetrustyandbraveMorough. WhileBryanremained
" See Dr. Sylvester O'Halloran's "Gene- ral History of Ireland," vol. ii. , Book xi. , chap, viii. , p. 260.
a. d. 996, by Donovan, son of Imar, King of Waterford, and by Domhnal, son of Faelan,
** See Thomas Moore's "
prince of the Deisi.
Shearman's " Loca
See Rev. John F.
land," vol. ii. , chap. xxi. , pp. 105, 106. "
p. 365.
'"< Dr. O'Donovan renders Ath-na-
Chairthinn : i. t. , Ford of the Rock, the situation of which is unknown, as he states.
'"S It is Latinized " Vadum Officinoe fer-
'" See John D'Alton's History of the County of Dublin," pp. 604, 605.
'°°
See the Annals of Inisfallen, at A. D.
History
of Ire-
Patriciana,"
No. xii. ,
1013.
'" ""
See Rev. James Wills' "Lives of rarias, in Rev. Dr. Conor's Rerum Hiber- lUustrious and Distinguished Irishmen," nicarum Scriptores," tomus iv. Annales
vol. i. , part i. , Second Period, p. 206.
Ultonienses, p. 302.
"* Or of the to the province, according
Ulster Annals.
"' Now that district, comprised in the
"" See Thomas Moore's "
of Ire-
'"' His father, Gilba Patraic, was slain
History land," vol. ii. , chap, xxi. , p. 106.
prudence
may
392 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23.
in observation, his warlike son was sent to create a diversion, in the heart of the Wicklow mountains. That duty was readily undertaken by Morough,
'°3 and
The foreign settlers inlreland had theprudence, activity, and address, which enabled them to multiply their attacks, and to put in motion the ever-ready and restless turbulence of their neighbours, in whatever direction their own policyrequired. '" Totheirintrigues,wemayprobablyascribemanyofthe localdisturbances,whichaffectedthekingdom. Maelseachlainnhadplanned
an expedition against the foreigners ; but, while he was engaged with the Northmen of Dublin, tlie King of Tyrone invaded the southern Hy-Niall. '"
An army was led by Flaithbheartach, lord of Aileach, to Maighen-Attaed,'" by the son of Ceananuus. Maelseachlainn left the Iiill undisputed to him,
and because, most probably, his muster of force was insufficient, to cope witli the King of Tyrone. No partial effort, or merely predatory descent, how-
ever, could avail the Danes for succeeding, against Bryan's growing power. Their extensively increasing possessions in cities and towns gave great in- fluence to the foreigners. It was necessary for them to adopt, far more ordered and energetic measures, to carry out their ambitious schemes of conquest, and to effect their own security, as they had already suffered so many defeats. The designs of Bryan, and liis vigorous strokes in oft-repeated expeditions, were then better understood, by the foreign colonists, than can be known,"3 at the present time.
CHAPTER VIII.
LAST CAMPAIGN OF BRYAN—CHRONOLOGY AND ACCOUNTS OF IT REMAINING—THE KING OF LEINSTER AND THE DUBLIN OSTMEN SEND EMISSARIES FOR DISTANT REINFORCEMENTS—BRYAN BOROIMHA MUSTERS HIS FORCES—HE MARCHES INTO LEINSTER, AND HE ARRIVES AT DUBLIN—CONCENTRATION OF THE LEINSTER AND SCANDINAVIAN ARMIES—POSITION OF THE MONARCH, ON THE PLAIN OF MAGH-N-ELTA.
Now, the whole power of the North was to be arrayed, for a vast and closing Struggle with the Monarch of Ireland, who found so many of his own country- men desirous to rebel against his authority, and to overturn his rule. This, however, required no ordinary exertion. Accordingly, a great expedition was in course of preparation. It was destined to arouse that energetic
who carried
then a considerable city, belonging to Maelmordha. Then, Leinster was plundered by the Munster chief, so far as Atli-cliath, whither he moved, to effectapreconcertedjunctionwithhisfather. OnMurrough'slineofmarch, he devasted the country from Gleann-da-locha as far as Cill-Maighneann. '°9 During this time, he kept up communications with the main army, commanded by Bryan. The whole invaded province suffered terribly, from the relentless assaults of Murrough, who carried off great spoils and innumerable prisoners, to the green of Ath-Cliath.
plunder, devastation,
slaughter,
so far as
Glendalough,
barony of Slievemargy, Queen's County. Tlie translated Ulster Annals term it Moun- taine Marci.
'" See Charles O'Conor's " Dissertations on the History of Ireland," sect, xviii. , p. 248.
See Walter Harris' " and An- History
'"This means "Attaedh's little
This might be Anglicized Moynalty ; but, the name is apparently obsolete, at pre- sent.
"3 See Rev. Jimcs Wills' " Lives of Illus-
trious and Distinguished Irishmen," vol. i. , part i. , Second Period, p. 206.
'-^
tiquities of the City of Dublin, from the Earliest Accounts," chap, ix. , p. 193.
plain. "
"^ Now Kilmainham. near Dublin.
"See Rev. James Wills' "Lives of Ilhis-
trious and Distinguished Irishmen," vol. i. , part i. , Second Period, p. 206.
April 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 393
effort of national defence, which culminated victoriously for Bryan Boromha, on the field of Clontarf,' where his glorious and heroic career on earth closed.
The dates given for this last celebrated campaign of the Irish Monarch
have been confused and varied, in accounts which have come down to our
times. By some writers, the period has been considerably antedated. Thus, while a missing leaf,' containing probably what relates to the Battle of Clon- tarf, is not published, in Rev. Dr. Charles O'Conor's edition of Tigernach's Annals ;3 the " Annales Inisfalenses," Bodleian copy, place this last war of Bryan,attheyear996. • However,muchmorediffusely,andattheyear1014, does the Dublin copy of these Annals give a very detailed account regarding the celebrated battle of Clontarf,' and differing altogether in text, from the Oxford Codex. The year 1012 is the date, given for this great engagement, in the " Chronicum Scotorum. "* The Four Masters have the year 1013, for that event. ? About the end of the year 1013, or the be- ginning of 1014, has been assigned, likewise, for the opening of Bryan's last campaign. * A Welsh calculation places this date for the battle of Clontarf to 1013 ;9 but, it was really fought on the following year, as all the best authori- ties are now agreed. At a. d. 1014, the "Annales Buelliani" have the battle of Clontarf ;'° and, the English translation follows the original, with some interesting comments to elucidate the account. " This same year, also, the Annals of Loch C6" open with a narrative of that celebrated engagement. '3 The Njals-Saga ' adopts the latter date for the campaign, and battle, with which it concluded. The Annals of Ulster place the event, at 1013, or loi4;'5 and, the corrected chronology of Marianus Scottus, who lived not very long after the time, has it at the latter year. '* All our most reliable modern historical authorities are agreed, on the same date.
Less difficult is it, however, to settle the chronology, than to place, in suitable order and statement, the incidents of this campaign. All those causes which moved the hosts engaged on either side, and which immediately brought on that decisive b. ittle, can hardly be analyzed, at the present
"time. "' According to the Danish writer, Torfaeus,'* Kormlod,"' a woman of
Chapter vin. — " Now a
Barony of Coolock, and defined on the "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps, for the County of Dublin," sheets 15, 18, 19. Clon- tarf Town and sheds are marked, on sheet
; the divisions of its townland, into Eat and West, are shown on sheets 18, 19.
• See Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hibcmica-
rum . Scriptores," tomus ii. Annales Tiger- naci, p. 271.
i \ hiatus is to be found in
leian copy, viz. , from A. D. 1003 to A. D. 1018.
• See ibid. , p. 54.
5 See the Irish text, wi. h the Latin trans- lation, ibiil. , pp. 601070.
Rev. Williams ab John
19
See John D' Alton's History of Ire-
' Edited by William M. Hennessy. pp. 250 to 253.
See
parish,
in the
Ithel, M. A. ,
at
p.
this,
the Bod-
land and Annals of Boyle," vol. ii. , pp. 165
10178.
"The -dnnoil-A tochAC^, or the Annals
of Loch Ce, a Chronicle of Irish Affairs from
A. D. to a. d edited witli transla- 1014 1590.
tion, by'VV'dliamM. Ilennessy, M. R. I. A. M See vol. i. , pp. 2 to 13.
'< See cap. clvii. , clvii. , pp. 599 to 623. '5 See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's "Rerum Hiber-
nicarum Scriptores," tomus iv. , pp. 303 to
306.
''. See Pertz's "Monumenta Germanic
' See dnniLAnioghachcdeipeanti. An-
nals of the Kingdom of Irelan i, by the Four
Masters, &c. , edited with a translation and
copious notes, by John O'Donovan, LL. D. , "Historic. il Memoirs of the O'Briens. "
vol. ii. , pp. 772 to 781.
' See Walter Harris' "
Medieval Part, chap, iii. , pp. 26 to 37.
and Anti- quities of the City of Dublin," chap, ix. ,
" In his
of the
at
p. 194.
' See " Annales Cambri3e,"edited by the
x. , p. 33.
' Called Gormlaith, by the Irish.
" She is said, to have been the greatest
History
History
22.
'° .
