On this day, he held an
important
command, while, in his abilities and valour, the Munster forces felt the utmost confidence.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v4
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. " Edited by Dr. John O'Donovan. Appendix, p. 412, n. (z).
it falls southwardly, into the Shannon, with
a wide estuary,
^'^ It begins with the line
:
—
Uacha-o pn d bpiAin banba.
'" See Alfred Webb's "Compendium of
Irish Biography," p. 34.
33° LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23.
rather tlian submit to the tyranny and oppression of the pirates, or than abandon their lands and country to the invaders. This decision was now
heartily commended, by Mathgamhain; when, he prudently advised, that they should all retire upon Cashel, and combine witli the Eoghanachts of Munster. The great fortress on the rock of Cashel was then, probably, in the possession of its rightful inheritors ; but, in any case, there were vast woods and moun- tain ranges, which could be advantageously used for offensive and defensive purposes,bytheirunitedforces. Thiscounselwasapproved,andaccordingly, a hasty gathering of their clans was effected. Marching into the Eoghanacht country, the warriors of Muscraige,3'9 from Dun na Sciath s^o to Belach Accailli,3" gathered to their standards. Afterwards, Mathgamhain moved to Cashel of the Kings. Wherever the foreigners had settled, they were dis- turbed, their houses were burned, and their property was taken. The year after the death of Donnchadh, son to Ceallachan, King of Cashel, Mathgam- hain halted his troops, and then he encamped them, at Uun Cuirc. 3'''
This sudden uprising of the Munster clans caused Imar, the chief King of Limerick, to array his forces ; and, as Thomond was now denuded of its natural defenders, he summoned the Galls of his nation, as also the Gael, who were his allies, to ravage the Dalcassian territories. This bid fair to becomeawarofutterdesolation,forthosepeoplewhoremainedthere. The Irish chiefs, found to favour ^'^"'hgamhain's expedition, Faelan, son to Cormac, King of the Desi,3'3 Flathri, son to Allamaran, King of Resad, and Sidechad, s. n to Segni, King of Titill,3='t were slain by Imar and by the foreign- ers. Unfortunately, there were other Munster chiefs, ready to league with thecommonenemy;and,foremostamongthosewereMaelmuadh,3^5 sometimes called Molloy, son to Bran, King of Desmumhain, or south Munster, and Donnabhap, or Donovan, son to Cathal, King of the Hy Cairbri. 3=^ These were filled with a narrow provincial jealousy, because of Mathgamhain's ambitious projects and of his growing reputation, which aimed at giving him rule,overthewholesouthofIreland. 3'7 Wherefore,withunitedforces,Imar of Luimneach marched towards Cashel of the Kings, where Mathgamhain and Bryan had taken up their position, with the Dalcassians. Soon as the news reached them, a council of war was speedily summoned. Chiefs and warriors assembled, when Mathgamhain asked what they wished to do. They advised him, to march at their head as far as Cnamchoill,3'* to meet
3'9 An account of the diflferent
will be found, in notes to the Lile of St.
Cera, Virijin, at tlie 5th day of January, in our First Volume of this work.
3" The Dun or Fort of the Shields, now
Dunnaskeagh, a townland in the parish of Rathlynin, barony of CLinwilliam, and County of Tipperary. The fort so called was on the top of a round hill in that town- land, and some remains of it are yet trace- able. See Dr. O'Donovan's ''Annals of the Four Masters," vol. ii. , n. (c), p. 844.
^' This place has not been identified. It must probaljly be souLjht for, at a point of the territory in Muskerry, quite in an oppo- site direction, from Dun-na-Sgiath.
3^ Or. the Fort of Core. It was a bardic
name for Bruree, county of Limerick, and
it was then the seat of O'Donovan. See the
3=3 jn the southern of this part Munster,
territory was situated.
^* It seems difficult, at present, to iden- tify the names of those chiefs, mentioned in the text, with those denominations of their respective territories.
^25 His name is written Maolmua, in
Thomas Moore's "History of Ireland," vol.
ii. , chap, xx. , p. 85.
3=6 Jhe Ui Cairbre Aebhdha, who occu-
pied the present barony of Coshmn, in the county of Limerick, and those plains extending thence, down to the River Shannon.
"
^-1 See Rev. C. B. Gibson's
the County and City of Cork," vol. i. , chap. i. , p. 2.
s^a i\^\^ place was situated, about one mile and a half, eastwards from the town of Tip-
Muskerrys
" Poems of O'Dublia- Its is A'waTM-
Topographical John perary. English pronunciation
gain and Giolla na naomh O'Huidhrin,"
edited by John O'Donovan, LL. D. , n. 676, p. Ixxvi.
hiU, according to Haliday, in his translation
of Dr. Jeoffrey Keating's "History of Ire- land," at p. 139.
History of
April 33. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 331
the army of the foreigners, to ascertain their strength, and, if circumstances favoured them, to engage in battle; but, if the opposing forces were too numer- ous, it was deemed better to make a wood and camp assault on them, at Cnam- choill. 5^» About this time, Cathal, son to Feradacii, a chief of Delbna-m6r,33o arrived to succour them, with one hundred armed men, fully equijiped for battle, and each havmg a large warrior's shield at his side. Their leader was one of most renowned warriors in Ireland, and filled with a generous friend- ship for the Dal Cais. The five Delbhnas 33' were from the race of Lugaidh,33» sontoOengus; and,moreover,whereverasoldieroftheDalcassiansserved, whether under Maelseachlainn, or under Aedh O'Neill, he hastened to answer the summons, and he mustered for the unequal conflict, under the banner of his hereditary prince. When all had assembled, a second council of war was held ; and, as every petty chieftain of every minor tribe, if not every individual clansman, had a voice on the great question of war or of peace, so was a general assembly convoked, to decide the course to be adopted, or the plans for sub- sequent military operations.
About five miles westward from Cnamhchoill, the army of Imar had been
encamped, and, at a place, where, as seems probable from the name, a large wood of sallow trees grew. 333 An open plain was there, and the unanimous decision of the Irish chiefs and warriors was to march against the foreigners, and to give them battle. The Dalcassian heroes had always claimed the
right of leading the van, when entering an enemy's country,334 and of bring- ing up the rear, when it was necessary to retreat. 335
In the year 968,336 at Sulchoid,337 neartheborder line of Tipperary and Lime- rick counties, the Northmen had taken their post. That place is frequently men- tioned, in subsequent ages, and wars, even so far down as the last campaigns andrevolutions,thathappenedinthiskingdom. Itwasanotedandfavour- able position for the encampment of armies. 338 This the foreigners deemed a suitable field, on which they might win a pitched battle. The Dalcassians were in full force, and they advanced to the attack, with confidence in the courage and capacity of their leaders, Mahon and Bryan. 339 A detachment was sent
5* This is Anglicised, Hazle or Nut Wood. The locality is Clechoill, or Cleighile, in the parish of K)l-shane, and barony of Clan- willi. im. See "Orduame Survey Townland Maps for the County of Tipperary," sheet 67.
^^ Or the Great Delvin, now the barony of Delvin, in the east of the County of West- menth.
1" The Delbhna Territories are distin- guishcd as the Deabhna Mor, and the Dealbhna Beg, or the Little Delvin. The iwe sub-denominations are probably the
"
barony of Clanwilliam, which belongs to the laltercounty. SeeDr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the FourMasters," vol. vi. ,n. (i),p. 2313.
334 The authority of a Poem, attriliuted to
Cormac Mac Cullennan, king and bishop of Cashel, is cited for this statement.
33S See Cogatsh jAeDheL ne 5<sllaib1i. "The War of the Gaedhil with the Gaill," edited by the Rev. James Henthom Todd, cap. xli. , pp. 54, 55.
3)6 According to the Annals of Innisfallen. Mr. O'Curry places this event, in or about theyear 941, but, no doubt, thisantedatesit,
DealbhnaEnthra, and the Dealblina Teann-
maii;he, in Me. ath ; the Deaibhiia Nuadhat,
between the Rivers Suck and Shannon, the
Dealiihiia Cuilefabhar, and the Dealbhna rendered in Lntin Ai/;Vc/kw;, i. e. " The Sal- Feadha of Tir-da-loch, or of the Two Lakes,
in Connau^'ht. See OFlaherty's pars, iii. , cap. Ixxxii. , pp. 386, 387.
3'' Lugaidb Deallihaedh was descended from Cas, ancestor of the Dal Cais of Tho-
low Wood. " At the present day, it is Angli- cised, Solloghod, or "Sallow head. "
mond. See the "
John O'Dubhagain ana Giolla na naomh
OHuidhrin," edited by Dr. O'Donovan, n. 26, p. vii.
3" It is situated, on the confines of Lime- rick and Tipperary counties, and in the
—General "Collectanea de Rebus Hibernicis," vol. , i. ,
Topogmphical
Poems of
the of Cashel. " way
Vallaiicey's
Ogygia,"
»« " lioth It is (4uarded by hei;,'hts im
by over twenty years.
337 In Cormac's Glossory, this word is
sides, within one day's march of Limerick, and in the direct road from Dublin to that town, by
num. iv. , 481.
"
Law of Tanistry Illustrated,"p.
339 it is stated, by Mr. O'Curry, that Bryan was only in his sixteenth year, at this time ;
332 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23.
forward by the foreigners, and, it is said to liave been one of cavalry, wearing corslets. Thisbodyofhorsewasintendedtofavourthepurposeofobservation;
but, it was incautiously exposed to the intuitive and im])etuous assault ofBryan, who advanced at the head of his impatient troops.
On this day, he held an important command, while, in his abilities and valour, the Munster forces felt the utmost confidence. Nothing could exceed the ready and rapid move- ment, which carried with it skill and judgment in the execution and concep- tion. Nor were the Northmen, under the command of Muiris,M° less pre- pared for action ; and soon, their compact ranks were drawn out in array, to oppose the advancing Momonians. The battle commenced about sunrise, while it was fiercely and obstinately contested on both sides. At length, con- fusion followed, when an effective charge decided the fortunes of the battle, in favour of the brave Dal Cais. The fugitive Danes rushed unexpectedly upon the main body of their army, and threw it into complete disorder. Immediately disarray and panic spread through every rank, while Bryan
promptly and vigorously followed up the advantage he had gained. He knew, that the entire force of Mahon was ready to secure a decisive victory. Pouring its eager and steady columns on the enemy, that charge of the com- mander-in-chief proved to be irresistible, against their broken masses. Vainly they resisted, for a time, but no force they possessed was equal to the effort made to retrieve their losses. A chief, named Carrans*' is said to have fallen, by the hand ofBryan, while Cathal, son ofFeradach, signalized his prowess in combat, by slaying one, named Staball. '^^ About mid-day, the Irish were victorious; whentheforeignersbegantheirretreattotheditchesandvalleysand overplains,coveringtheirlineofretreatwithdeadbodies. Soon,theywere utterly routed, with the loss of their chiefs, Treitill, Ruamann, Bernard, Maurice, and Torolb. 3't3 It is said, that fully one-half their number fell, in this action, or in the pursuit, afterwards, and that the slain amounted to thousands of their bravest men. 34+ The conquerors broke their scattered ranks, while the fugitives fell continuously, along their line of retreat. An almost unresisted
slaughter now commenced, and the Norsemen—were utterly routed. This
miserable destruction contin
—ued, until 2,000 345 or 3,000 of the
foreigners, accordingtosomeaccounts layinheapsuponthefield. Atlast,theirwhole remaining army in disorder endeavoured to escape by flight, towards their
stronghold, the city of Limerick.
The Irish followed them, that same evening; and, according to
the barbarous practice of that time, they beheaded great numbers of the slain. Filled with exultation, after their great victory, and still desirous of intercepting their enemies' chances for escape, the pursuit was continued during the whole night, and the Norsemen were not allowed one singlemomentofrest. Theirgreathopeforrefugewastoeffecttheirescape
but, it seems to us, he had, at least, fully or in the city of Limerick ; but, their names attained his majority. there occur, and in this order, Stabball, son ''''ChiefofiheLimerickDanes,according ofSigmall,andEilia, Tretel,Ruamand,or Redmond, Somarlid, or Somarligh, Manus of Luiiimech, Tolbarb, and Infuit, with
to Dr. Sylvester O'Halloran, in his "Gene-
ral History of Ireland," vol. ii. , Book xi. ,
chap, iv. , p. 330.
3^' He is called Carran Laighnech, or
Carran of Leinster ; and, he was proba- bly one of those recreant Irish chiefs, who was in alliance with the invaders.
3*' He is called the son of Sigmall, most probably a Northman chief.
^*i In the Tract on the wars between the Irish and the foreigners, it is not easy to ascertain whether the following were killed, in the battle of Sulcoit, or during the retreat,
twenty iiundred.
3« See Eugene O'Curry's "Lectures on the
Manuscript Materials of Ancient Irish His-
tory," Lect. xix. , p. 403.
^'^ See Maurice Lenihan's "Limerick;
its History and Antiquities, Ecclesiastical, Civil, and Military," chap, i. , pp. 9, 10. An article in "The Imperial Dictionaiy of Uni- versal Biography," at the word BoRU, Brian, has the Danish loss at 3000 upon the field of battle. See vol. ii. , p. 685.
April 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS 333
into their stronghold, on the River Shannon. However, both parties en ered Limerick together, while the work of death did not cease. ^*" The fort there was sacked by the Irish soldiers, so that it afiorded no protection to the foreigners, who were forced even from their own houses. 347 If quarter had
Thomond Bridge and King John's Castle, Limerick.
been sought, by the routed foreigners, it does not appear to have been granted. 34' Prolonged into a hideous and an indiscriminate scene of havoc, bloodflowedplenteously,inthestreetsofthatdoomedcity. Atlast,theDanes'
andeventheirchieffort, — beenburnedtothe
houses, ijaving ground,
theDal-
cassianvengeancehardlysubsided asceneofdesolationextendingfarand
wide. Mahon then collected all the gold, silver, jewels, cloths, stuffs, and
rich spoils of the foreigners, in Limerick ; while, he took away several boys and girls, as captives. As eacli chief and warrior had deserved, according to his
valour and merits, reward was duly apportioned. Leaving behind him only a shapeless mass of smoking ruins, we are told, that the Momonians collected the
helplesscaptives,onthehillsofSaingel,asuburbofLimerick; and,thatthere,
every man capable of bearing arms was massacred, while the remaining survi- vorswerecondemnedtoslavery. '*' Ifthisindiscriminatemassacretookplace.
3** The Annals of Innisfallen, in the Bodleian Codex, at Oxford, have the fore- going, at A. D. 951. The events in thi^ series
mond Bridge. It has been drawn from a
phot'igraph, by William F. Wakcman, and it was engraved by Mrs. Millard.
of the Innisfallen Annals, in
antedated, byfifteen, sixteen, orevenby astill
greater number of years. See Thomas part i. , chap, i. , p. 8.
are
Moore's "History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap. XX. , n. p. 84.
54' The annexed engraving represents a partial view of the city of Limerick, at Tho-
History
general,
J*' See J. Ferrar's " Ecclesiastical, Civil
of Limerick, and Military," &c. ,
3«
See Coga'Dh jAeohet ne JdltAibh, 35° The Dublin Copy of the "Annales Inis-
or the Wars of the Gaedhil with the Gaill,
chap. liii. , pi'. 78 to 81.
334 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23.
the victors brutally tarnished the glory of tlieir previous triumph. However, it is likely, only those guilty of the most flagrant offences were sentenced to death ; since, we find it stated, that Mathgamhain banishetl the chief of the foreigners, Imar of Luimnech, over the sea, as also Anilaibh, son of Amlaibh. It seems, tliat a great number of warriors embarked in tlieir ships, and thus escaped the fury of the Irish ; while, seeking the coasts of Britain, they attempted new conquests, but they were unsuccessful. A king of Britain repulsed those invaders, and Amlaibh was killed, during the progress of this expedition. Another curious picture of the usages then prevailing was that compliment paid to Cathal, who distinguished himself in the battle, as an
auxiliarytoMathgamhain. Thesoldiersofhisarmyheldracesthere,inhis honour ; while, a great line of the captured foreign women was formed, and
placedinacircle,onthehillsofSaingel. Theywerestoopedwiththepalms of their hands on the ground, and the horseboys of the army stood behind them to enforce this order. In such a humiliating position, the foreigners' women were obliged to witness the triumphant sports of their conquerors. 35o
Having thus broken the power of the Northmen, Mathgamhain next marched against their Irish allies. He first attacked the Ui-Enna of Aine,
now Knockany, in the county of Limerick, but there, Cathal, the King- soldierolErin,waskilled. Next,hecapturedMaelmuadh,sonofBran. He signally defeated the foreigners in seven different engagements : at Sen- gualainn, at Leagh, in Tratraighe, and, at Machaire-mor, he gained some of those victories. At the latter place, having plundered Inilecli, and encamped two days there, the foreigners of Waterford and those of Limerick were over- taken, and utterly routed, with great slaughter. 35' The foreign soldiers, who had been billeted on the territory of Munster, were killed, everywhere they were met. Mathgamhain also compelled the submission of Donnabhdn, son to Cathal, King of the Ui Fidhgenti, and obliged him to give hostages, as he required such pledges, from all the other chiefs of Munster.
The Dalcassian race then held an undisputed superiority, especially throughout all the southern districts; and, Mahon firmly established himself on the throne of Munster, over which he ruled without chal- lenge, for about six years. 35» The king and chiefs, as also the bravest warriors of the Northmen, were either slain or banished; the stewards
or bailiffs, and the mercenary soldiers, once billeted on the people, were in turn enslaved. The supremacy, predicted for the Dal Cais, seemed to be theirs ; and, from Oclan to Luimnech, from Cnam-coill to Luachair, the whole country belonged to them, possessing their rightful territory of Caille Corraaic. Meantime, the provincial and unpatriotic jealousy of some, among the leading chiefs of the Eoghanachts, became excited and alarmed, at the growing power of the Dalcassians. Imar had passed a year, in Wales ; but, he returned again with a great fleet, to the western harbour of Luimnech. There, he -attacked Beolan Littill and his son, who probably were Scandina- vians in aUiance with Mahon, and these he killed. He appears, afterwards, to have established himself, in some naval station, on the western harbour of Luimnech, whence, he made incursions on the country surrounding, took many spoils, and fought many battles. His object appears to have been the formation of a confederacy with the Eoghanachts, who were ready to revolt
"
falenses,
has this slaughter of the D. Tties in "Limerick; its History and Antiquities,
Munster, at A. D. 975. See Dr. OConor's Ecclesiastical, Civil and Military," chap, ii. , "
"Reium Hibernicarum Sciiptores, tomus p. io.
"
ii. , p. 45-
35" In the year 969, the foreigners of Lime-
rick were driven from Inis-Sibtond, by the son of Ceinneadigh. See Maurice Lenihan's
f See A. G. Richey's
Lectures on the
History of Ireland, down to a. d. 1534. " Lecture iii. , p. 66.
April 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 335
against Mahon's rule. 3S3 In concert with Ivor, the former King of Limerick, two chiefs had treacherously resolved to deprive Malion of life; for, it seems, thatasecondtime,thelatterhadburnedLimerick. Toaccomplishtheirobject, the king of the Northmen held communication, with two of the southern chief-
tains ; and, in the year 976, they planned a base plot, which fatally succeeded. Donovan,354 son of Cathal, King of Ui-Fidhgeinte,355 and Maeimua, or Molloy, son of Bran, Kingof Desmond,356desired to weaken the growing power of the Dalcassians, feeling envious of their chieftain's fame; but, perhaps, more to avenge some real or fancied wrongs, or under the exasperation of some slight or insult. It it said, Molloy was the chief instigator of this deed, while Ivor contrived a most perfidious and cowardly scheme. He suggested, that Donovan should invite Mahon to his house, at Bruree,3S7 where a grand ban- quet had been prepared. Likely enough, the Thomond king had some mis-
givings, regarding the loyalty of his host, when accepting this invitation. According to the unsocial and unknightly practice of the period, he required
sacredguaranteesforhissafety; and,thesewerereadilyplighted,onbehalf of Columb Mac Kieragan, Bishop of Cork, 35^ with some of the Munster clergy, who had no reason to suspect any violation of hospitality. Mahon frankly and generously thought, he might trust to the honour of his former foes, and he was slow to suspect the wiles of such infamous assassins. Maolmua was a person, aspiring and presumptuous in character, while he was treacherous in disposi- tion. He had once ventured to brave Mahon's authority, and, as a result, he suffered the reward of his temerity. That chief had now planned a scheme
for revenge. He sent an urgent message, which was expressive of a strong desire, to confer with Mahon. 359 There must have been some important
understanding, giving weight and interest to this request, for it was complied withbyMahon. Hisfrankandgenerousnaturewaspeculiarlyopentosuch
a demand. Suspecting no guile, he summoned a few attendants, and then turned his course for an interview, towards the distant habitation of the chief. The people of the Comharba of Barri, and the people of Maeimua, came to
*' See Dr. Sylvester O'Halloran's "Gene- ral History of Ireland," vol. ii. , Bookxi. , chap. iv. , p. 233,
'** This chief was head of the family of
O'Donovan ; but, his race was afterwards
driven from their original settlements, in the
elevenih century, by the Fitzgeralds, Burkes, and O'Bnans. They effected a settlement,
about that time, at Cairbre, in the county of Cork, where they lived under their chief Amhiaoibh O'Donnobhain.
a portion of Waterford county, and a small
part of Tipperary county, called the Eoga- nacht Cashel, bordering on Cork county. It is said to have extended from Brandon Moun-
tain, in the barony of Corkayuincy, county of Kerry, to the River Blackwater, near Lis- more,inWaterfordcounty. Inlattertimes, under the Fitzgeralds, Earls of Desmond, that territory was confined to the baronies of Bear and Bantry, with some other portions, in the south-east of Cork county, together with that part of Kerry county, soutli of the River Mang. For a very interesting descrip- tion of its divisions, the reader is referre<l to "The Annals of Ireland,'' translated from
^^5 The tribe so called, at this period, pos-
sessed that [>ortion of the county of Lime-
rick, lying to the west of the River Maigh,
now spelled Maigue, besides the baruny of
Coshma, in the same county. See Dr. John the original Irish of the Four Masters. By O'Donovan's Ledbhan n* 5-Ce4H\c, or
"The Book of Riglits,'' p. 67, n. (g).
35' Mae mua is the name generally given to this treacherous prince, by our Irish
Owen Connellan, Esq. , with annotations by Philip Mac Dermott, Esq. , M. D. , and the Translator, pp. 170 to 183, n. I.
^57 ^iee Rev. C. B. Gibson's
writers. See Imperial Dictionary of the County and City of Cork," vol. i,.
"
Universal Biography," vol. ii. , p. 685. chap, i. , p. 2.
The
territory,
called Desmond, was known
^^s gee O " Historical John Donoghue's
"
Memoir of the O'Briens, chap, ii. , p. 12.
"
359 Xhe Dublin copy of the Annales
Iiiisfalenses," at A. D. 976, gives some in- teresting particulars of this transaction. See Dr. O'Conor's "Rerum Hibernicarum Scrip- tores," tomus ii. , pp. 45, 46.
to the Irish, as Deas Mumhan, or South
Munster. According to Smiih, in his
Histories of the Counties of Cork and of
Kerry, this large territory formerly com-
prised the whole of the | 'resent Cork county. and the greater part of Kerry county, as also
"
History of
336 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23.
meet Mahon, so far as Croc-an-Rebhraidli, on Sliabh Caein ; while, the Com- harba of Barri and Maehmia himself were at Raithin radr, in Fir Muigi.
Already, the place designed for the King of Thoniond's death liad been marked out, and he was hurried on, to an unfrequented hollow, among the mountains. 3^ It was probably late, when Mahon arrived at this lonesome region, among woods and mountains. There, an ambuscade awaited him and his small fol! owing,3«' They were quickly surrounded, by a strong party, and captured. Mahon found himself a helpless captive, and in the hands of his implacable enemy. He bore the GospelofBarrionhisbreast,asaprotection; but,whenhesawthetreacherous sword aimed at his life, he threw the Book he carried towards the people of Columb Mac Kieragan, so that it should not be stained with his blood. The Gospel fell into the breast of a priest, in their company.
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. " Edited by Dr. John O'Donovan. Appendix, p. 412, n. (z).
it falls southwardly, into the Shannon, with
a wide estuary,
^'^ It begins with the line
:
—
Uacha-o pn d bpiAin banba.
'" See Alfred Webb's "Compendium of
Irish Biography," p. 34.
33° LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23.
rather tlian submit to the tyranny and oppression of the pirates, or than abandon their lands and country to the invaders. This decision was now
heartily commended, by Mathgamhain; when, he prudently advised, that they should all retire upon Cashel, and combine witli the Eoghanachts of Munster. The great fortress on the rock of Cashel was then, probably, in the possession of its rightful inheritors ; but, in any case, there were vast woods and moun- tain ranges, which could be advantageously used for offensive and defensive purposes,bytheirunitedforces. Thiscounselwasapproved,andaccordingly, a hasty gathering of their clans was effected. Marching into the Eoghanacht country, the warriors of Muscraige,3'9 from Dun na Sciath s^o to Belach Accailli,3" gathered to their standards. Afterwards, Mathgamhain moved to Cashel of the Kings. Wherever the foreigners had settled, they were dis- turbed, their houses were burned, and their property was taken. The year after the death of Donnchadh, son to Ceallachan, King of Cashel, Mathgam- hain halted his troops, and then he encamped them, at Uun Cuirc. 3'''
This sudden uprising of the Munster clans caused Imar, the chief King of Limerick, to array his forces ; and, as Thomond was now denuded of its natural defenders, he summoned the Galls of his nation, as also the Gael, who were his allies, to ravage the Dalcassian territories. This bid fair to becomeawarofutterdesolation,forthosepeoplewhoremainedthere. The Irish chiefs, found to favour ^'^"'hgamhain's expedition, Faelan, son to Cormac, King of the Desi,3'3 Flathri, son to Allamaran, King of Resad, and Sidechad, s. n to Segni, King of Titill,3='t were slain by Imar and by the foreign- ers. Unfortunately, there were other Munster chiefs, ready to league with thecommonenemy;and,foremostamongthosewereMaelmuadh,3^5 sometimes called Molloy, son to Bran, King of Desmumhain, or south Munster, and Donnabhap, or Donovan, son to Cathal, King of the Hy Cairbri. 3=^ These were filled with a narrow provincial jealousy, because of Mathgamhain's ambitious projects and of his growing reputation, which aimed at giving him rule,overthewholesouthofIreland. 3'7 Wherefore,withunitedforces,Imar of Luimneach marched towards Cashel of the Kings, where Mathgamhain and Bryan had taken up their position, with the Dalcassians. Soon as the news reached them, a council of war was speedily summoned. Chiefs and warriors assembled, when Mathgamhain asked what they wished to do. They advised him, to march at their head as far as Cnamchoill,3'* to meet
3'9 An account of the diflferent
will be found, in notes to the Lile of St.
Cera, Virijin, at tlie 5th day of January, in our First Volume of this work.
3" The Dun or Fort of the Shields, now
Dunnaskeagh, a townland in the parish of Rathlynin, barony of CLinwilliam, and County of Tipperary. The fort so called was on the top of a round hill in that town- land, and some remains of it are yet trace- able. See Dr. O'Donovan's ''Annals of the Four Masters," vol. ii. , n. (c), p. 844.
^' This place has not been identified. It must probaljly be souLjht for, at a point of the territory in Muskerry, quite in an oppo- site direction, from Dun-na-Sgiath.
3^ Or. the Fort of Core. It was a bardic
name for Bruree, county of Limerick, and
it was then the seat of O'Donovan. See the
3=3 jn the southern of this part Munster,
territory was situated.
^* It seems difficult, at present, to iden- tify the names of those chiefs, mentioned in the text, with those denominations of their respective territories.
^25 His name is written Maolmua, in
Thomas Moore's "History of Ireland," vol.
ii. , chap, xx. , p. 85.
3=6 Jhe Ui Cairbre Aebhdha, who occu-
pied the present barony of Coshmn, in the county of Limerick, and those plains extending thence, down to the River Shannon.
"
^-1 See Rev. C. B. Gibson's
the County and City of Cork," vol. i. , chap. i. , p. 2.
s^a i\^\^ place was situated, about one mile and a half, eastwards from the town of Tip-
Muskerrys
" Poems of O'Dublia- Its is A'waTM-
Topographical John perary. English pronunciation
gain and Giolla na naomh O'Huidhrin,"
edited by John O'Donovan, LL. D. , n. 676, p. Ixxvi.
hiU, according to Haliday, in his translation
of Dr. Jeoffrey Keating's "History of Ire- land," at p. 139.
History of
April 33. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 331
the army of the foreigners, to ascertain their strength, and, if circumstances favoured them, to engage in battle; but, if the opposing forces were too numer- ous, it was deemed better to make a wood and camp assault on them, at Cnam- choill. 5^» About this time, Cathal, son to Feradacii, a chief of Delbna-m6r,33o arrived to succour them, with one hundred armed men, fully equijiped for battle, and each havmg a large warrior's shield at his side. Their leader was one of most renowned warriors in Ireland, and filled with a generous friend- ship for the Dal Cais. The five Delbhnas 33' were from the race of Lugaidh,33» sontoOengus; and,moreover,whereverasoldieroftheDalcassiansserved, whether under Maelseachlainn, or under Aedh O'Neill, he hastened to answer the summons, and he mustered for the unequal conflict, under the banner of his hereditary prince. When all had assembled, a second council of war was held ; and, as every petty chieftain of every minor tribe, if not every individual clansman, had a voice on the great question of war or of peace, so was a general assembly convoked, to decide the course to be adopted, or the plans for sub- sequent military operations.
About five miles westward from Cnamhchoill, the army of Imar had been
encamped, and, at a place, where, as seems probable from the name, a large wood of sallow trees grew. 333 An open plain was there, and the unanimous decision of the Irish chiefs and warriors was to march against the foreigners, and to give them battle. The Dalcassian heroes had always claimed the
right of leading the van, when entering an enemy's country,334 and of bring- ing up the rear, when it was necessary to retreat. 335
In the year 968,336 at Sulchoid,337 neartheborder line of Tipperary and Lime- rick counties, the Northmen had taken their post. That place is frequently men- tioned, in subsequent ages, and wars, even so far down as the last campaigns andrevolutions,thathappenedinthiskingdom. Itwasanotedandfavour- able position for the encampment of armies. 338 This the foreigners deemed a suitable field, on which they might win a pitched battle. The Dalcassians were in full force, and they advanced to the attack, with confidence in the courage and capacity of their leaders, Mahon and Bryan. 339 A detachment was sent
5* This is Anglicised, Hazle or Nut Wood. The locality is Clechoill, or Cleighile, in the parish of K)l-shane, and barony of Clan- willi. im. See "Orduame Survey Townland Maps for the County of Tipperary," sheet 67.
^^ Or the Great Delvin, now the barony of Delvin, in the east of the County of West- menth.
1" The Delbhna Territories are distin- guishcd as the Deabhna Mor, and the Dealbhna Beg, or the Little Delvin. The iwe sub-denominations are probably the
"
barony of Clanwilliam, which belongs to the laltercounty. SeeDr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the FourMasters," vol. vi. ,n. (i),p. 2313.
334 The authority of a Poem, attriliuted to
Cormac Mac Cullennan, king and bishop of Cashel, is cited for this statement.
33S See Cogatsh jAeDheL ne 5<sllaib1i. "The War of the Gaedhil with the Gaill," edited by the Rev. James Henthom Todd, cap. xli. , pp. 54, 55.
3)6 According to the Annals of Innisfallen. Mr. O'Curry places this event, in or about theyear 941, but, no doubt, thisantedatesit,
DealbhnaEnthra, and the Dealblina Teann-
maii;he, in Me. ath ; the Deaibhiia Nuadhat,
between the Rivers Suck and Shannon, the
Dealiihiia Cuilefabhar, and the Dealbhna rendered in Lntin Ai/;Vc/kw;, i. e. " The Sal- Feadha of Tir-da-loch, or of the Two Lakes,
in Connau^'ht. See OFlaherty's pars, iii. , cap. Ixxxii. , pp. 386, 387.
3'' Lugaidb Deallihaedh was descended from Cas, ancestor of the Dal Cais of Tho-
low Wood. " At the present day, it is Angli- cised, Solloghod, or "Sallow head. "
mond. See the "
John O'Dubhagain ana Giolla na naomh
OHuidhrin," edited by Dr. O'Donovan, n. 26, p. vii.
3" It is situated, on the confines of Lime- rick and Tipperary counties, and in the
—General "Collectanea de Rebus Hibernicis," vol. , i. ,
Topogmphical
Poems of
the of Cashel. " way
Vallaiicey's
Ogygia,"
»« " lioth It is (4uarded by hei;,'hts im
by over twenty years.
337 In Cormac's Glossory, this word is
sides, within one day's march of Limerick, and in the direct road from Dublin to that town, by
num. iv. , 481.
"
Law of Tanistry Illustrated,"p.
339 it is stated, by Mr. O'Curry, that Bryan was only in his sixteenth year, at this time ;
332 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23.
forward by the foreigners, and, it is said to liave been one of cavalry, wearing corslets. Thisbodyofhorsewasintendedtofavourthepurposeofobservation;
but, it was incautiously exposed to the intuitive and im])etuous assault ofBryan, who advanced at the head of his impatient troops.
On this day, he held an important command, while, in his abilities and valour, the Munster forces felt the utmost confidence. Nothing could exceed the ready and rapid move- ment, which carried with it skill and judgment in the execution and concep- tion. Nor were the Northmen, under the command of Muiris,M° less pre- pared for action ; and soon, their compact ranks were drawn out in array, to oppose the advancing Momonians. The battle commenced about sunrise, while it was fiercely and obstinately contested on both sides. At length, con- fusion followed, when an effective charge decided the fortunes of the battle, in favour of the brave Dal Cais. The fugitive Danes rushed unexpectedly upon the main body of their army, and threw it into complete disorder. Immediately disarray and panic spread through every rank, while Bryan
promptly and vigorously followed up the advantage he had gained. He knew, that the entire force of Mahon was ready to secure a decisive victory. Pouring its eager and steady columns on the enemy, that charge of the com- mander-in-chief proved to be irresistible, against their broken masses. Vainly they resisted, for a time, but no force they possessed was equal to the effort made to retrieve their losses. A chief, named Carrans*' is said to have fallen, by the hand ofBryan, while Cathal, son ofFeradach, signalized his prowess in combat, by slaying one, named Staball. '^^ About mid-day, the Irish were victorious; whentheforeignersbegantheirretreattotheditchesandvalleysand overplains,coveringtheirlineofretreatwithdeadbodies. Soon,theywere utterly routed, with the loss of their chiefs, Treitill, Ruamann, Bernard, Maurice, and Torolb. 3't3 It is said, that fully one-half their number fell, in this action, or in the pursuit, afterwards, and that the slain amounted to thousands of their bravest men. 34+ The conquerors broke their scattered ranks, while the fugitives fell continuously, along their line of retreat. An almost unresisted
slaughter now commenced, and the Norsemen—were utterly routed. This
miserable destruction contin
—ued, until 2,000 345 or 3,000 of the
foreigners, accordingtosomeaccounts layinheapsuponthefield. Atlast,theirwhole remaining army in disorder endeavoured to escape by flight, towards their
stronghold, the city of Limerick.
The Irish followed them, that same evening; and, according to
the barbarous practice of that time, they beheaded great numbers of the slain. Filled with exultation, after their great victory, and still desirous of intercepting their enemies' chances for escape, the pursuit was continued during the whole night, and the Norsemen were not allowed one singlemomentofrest. Theirgreathopeforrefugewastoeffecttheirescape
but, it seems to us, he had, at least, fully or in the city of Limerick ; but, their names attained his majority. there occur, and in this order, Stabball, son ''''ChiefofiheLimerickDanes,according ofSigmall,andEilia, Tretel,Ruamand,or Redmond, Somarlid, or Somarligh, Manus of Luiiimech, Tolbarb, and Infuit, with
to Dr. Sylvester O'Halloran, in his "Gene-
ral History of Ireland," vol. ii. , Book xi. ,
chap, iv. , p. 330.
3^' He is called Carran Laighnech, or
Carran of Leinster ; and, he was proba- bly one of those recreant Irish chiefs, who was in alliance with the invaders.
3*' He is called the son of Sigmall, most probably a Northman chief.
^*i In the Tract on the wars between the Irish and the foreigners, it is not easy to ascertain whether the following were killed, in the battle of Sulcoit, or during the retreat,
twenty iiundred.
3« See Eugene O'Curry's "Lectures on the
Manuscript Materials of Ancient Irish His-
tory," Lect. xix. , p. 403.
^'^ See Maurice Lenihan's "Limerick;
its History and Antiquities, Ecclesiastical, Civil, and Military," chap, i. , pp. 9, 10. An article in "The Imperial Dictionaiy of Uni- versal Biography," at the word BoRU, Brian, has the Danish loss at 3000 upon the field of battle. See vol. ii. , p. 685.
April 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS 333
into their stronghold, on the River Shannon. However, both parties en ered Limerick together, while the work of death did not cease. ^*" The fort there was sacked by the Irish soldiers, so that it afiorded no protection to the foreigners, who were forced even from their own houses. 347 If quarter had
Thomond Bridge and King John's Castle, Limerick.
been sought, by the routed foreigners, it does not appear to have been granted. 34' Prolonged into a hideous and an indiscriminate scene of havoc, bloodflowedplenteously,inthestreetsofthatdoomedcity. Atlast,theDanes'
andeventheirchieffort, — beenburnedtothe
houses, ijaving ground,
theDal-
cassianvengeancehardlysubsided asceneofdesolationextendingfarand
wide. Mahon then collected all the gold, silver, jewels, cloths, stuffs, and
rich spoils of the foreigners, in Limerick ; while, he took away several boys and girls, as captives. As eacli chief and warrior had deserved, according to his
valour and merits, reward was duly apportioned. Leaving behind him only a shapeless mass of smoking ruins, we are told, that the Momonians collected the
helplesscaptives,onthehillsofSaingel,asuburbofLimerick; and,thatthere,
every man capable of bearing arms was massacred, while the remaining survi- vorswerecondemnedtoslavery. '*' Ifthisindiscriminatemassacretookplace.
3** The Annals of Innisfallen, in the Bodleian Codex, at Oxford, have the fore- going, at A. D. 951. The events in thi^ series
mond Bridge. It has been drawn from a
phot'igraph, by William F. Wakcman, and it was engraved by Mrs. Millard.
of the Innisfallen Annals, in
antedated, byfifteen, sixteen, orevenby astill
greater number of years. See Thomas part i. , chap, i. , p. 8.
are
Moore's "History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap. XX. , n. p. 84.
54' The annexed engraving represents a partial view of the city of Limerick, at Tho-
History
general,
J*' See J. Ferrar's " Ecclesiastical, Civil
of Limerick, and Military," &c. ,
3«
See Coga'Dh jAeohet ne JdltAibh, 35° The Dublin Copy of the "Annales Inis-
or the Wars of the Gaedhil with the Gaill,
chap. liii. , pi'. 78 to 81.
334 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23.
the victors brutally tarnished the glory of tlieir previous triumph. However, it is likely, only those guilty of the most flagrant offences were sentenced to death ; since, we find it stated, that Mathgamhain banishetl the chief of the foreigners, Imar of Luimnech, over the sea, as also Anilaibh, son of Amlaibh. It seems, tliat a great number of warriors embarked in tlieir ships, and thus escaped the fury of the Irish ; while, seeking the coasts of Britain, they attempted new conquests, but they were unsuccessful. A king of Britain repulsed those invaders, and Amlaibh was killed, during the progress of this expedition. Another curious picture of the usages then prevailing was that compliment paid to Cathal, who distinguished himself in the battle, as an
auxiliarytoMathgamhain. Thesoldiersofhisarmyheldracesthere,inhis honour ; while, a great line of the captured foreign women was formed, and
placedinacircle,onthehillsofSaingel. Theywerestoopedwiththepalms of their hands on the ground, and the horseboys of the army stood behind them to enforce this order. In such a humiliating position, the foreigners' women were obliged to witness the triumphant sports of their conquerors. 35o
Having thus broken the power of the Northmen, Mathgamhain next marched against their Irish allies. He first attacked the Ui-Enna of Aine,
now Knockany, in the county of Limerick, but there, Cathal, the King- soldierolErin,waskilled. Next,hecapturedMaelmuadh,sonofBran. He signally defeated the foreigners in seven different engagements : at Sen- gualainn, at Leagh, in Tratraighe, and, at Machaire-mor, he gained some of those victories. At the latter place, having plundered Inilecli, and encamped two days there, the foreigners of Waterford and those of Limerick were over- taken, and utterly routed, with great slaughter. 35' The foreign soldiers, who had been billeted on the territory of Munster, were killed, everywhere they were met. Mathgamhain also compelled the submission of Donnabhdn, son to Cathal, King of the Ui Fidhgenti, and obliged him to give hostages, as he required such pledges, from all the other chiefs of Munster.
The Dalcassian race then held an undisputed superiority, especially throughout all the southern districts; and, Mahon firmly established himself on the throne of Munster, over which he ruled without chal- lenge, for about six years. 35» The king and chiefs, as also the bravest warriors of the Northmen, were either slain or banished; the stewards
or bailiffs, and the mercenary soldiers, once billeted on the people, were in turn enslaved. The supremacy, predicted for the Dal Cais, seemed to be theirs ; and, from Oclan to Luimnech, from Cnam-coill to Luachair, the whole country belonged to them, possessing their rightful territory of Caille Corraaic. Meantime, the provincial and unpatriotic jealousy of some, among the leading chiefs of the Eoghanachts, became excited and alarmed, at the growing power of the Dalcassians. Imar had passed a year, in Wales ; but, he returned again with a great fleet, to the western harbour of Luimnech. There, he -attacked Beolan Littill and his son, who probably were Scandina- vians in aUiance with Mahon, and these he killed. He appears, afterwards, to have established himself, in some naval station, on the western harbour of Luimnech, whence, he made incursions on the country surrounding, took many spoils, and fought many battles. His object appears to have been the formation of a confederacy with the Eoghanachts, who were ready to revolt
"
falenses,
has this slaughter of the D. Tties in "Limerick; its History and Antiquities,
Munster, at A. D. 975. See Dr. OConor's Ecclesiastical, Civil and Military," chap, ii. , "
"Reium Hibernicarum Sciiptores, tomus p. io.
"
ii. , p. 45-
35" In the year 969, the foreigners of Lime-
rick were driven from Inis-Sibtond, by the son of Ceinneadigh. See Maurice Lenihan's
f See A. G. Richey's
Lectures on the
History of Ireland, down to a. d. 1534. " Lecture iii. , p. 66.
April 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 335
against Mahon's rule. 3S3 In concert with Ivor, the former King of Limerick, two chiefs had treacherously resolved to deprive Malion of life; for, it seems, thatasecondtime,thelatterhadburnedLimerick. Toaccomplishtheirobject, the king of the Northmen held communication, with two of the southern chief-
tains ; and, in the year 976, they planned a base plot, which fatally succeeded. Donovan,354 son of Cathal, King of Ui-Fidhgeinte,355 and Maeimua, or Molloy, son of Bran, Kingof Desmond,356desired to weaken the growing power of the Dalcassians, feeling envious of their chieftain's fame; but, perhaps, more to avenge some real or fancied wrongs, or under the exasperation of some slight or insult. It it said, Molloy was the chief instigator of this deed, while Ivor contrived a most perfidious and cowardly scheme. He suggested, that Donovan should invite Mahon to his house, at Bruree,3S7 where a grand ban- quet had been prepared. Likely enough, the Thomond king had some mis-
givings, regarding the loyalty of his host, when accepting this invitation. According to the unsocial and unknightly practice of the period, he required
sacredguaranteesforhissafety; and,thesewerereadilyplighted,onbehalf of Columb Mac Kieragan, Bishop of Cork, 35^ with some of the Munster clergy, who had no reason to suspect any violation of hospitality. Mahon frankly and generously thought, he might trust to the honour of his former foes, and he was slow to suspect the wiles of such infamous assassins. Maolmua was a person, aspiring and presumptuous in character, while he was treacherous in disposi- tion. He had once ventured to brave Mahon's authority, and, as a result, he suffered the reward of his temerity. That chief had now planned a scheme
for revenge. He sent an urgent message, which was expressive of a strong desire, to confer with Mahon. 359 There must have been some important
understanding, giving weight and interest to this request, for it was complied withbyMahon. Hisfrankandgenerousnaturewaspeculiarlyopentosuch
a demand. Suspecting no guile, he summoned a few attendants, and then turned his course for an interview, towards the distant habitation of the chief. The people of the Comharba of Barri, and the people of Maeimua, came to
*' See Dr. Sylvester O'Halloran's "Gene- ral History of Ireland," vol. ii. , Bookxi. , chap. iv. , p. 233,
'** This chief was head of the family of
O'Donovan ; but, his race was afterwards
driven from their original settlements, in the
elevenih century, by the Fitzgeralds, Burkes, and O'Bnans. They effected a settlement,
about that time, at Cairbre, in the county of Cork, where they lived under their chief Amhiaoibh O'Donnobhain.
a portion of Waterford county, and a small
part of Tipperary county, called the Eoga- nacht Cashel, bordering on Cork county. It is said to have extended from Brandon Moun-
tain, in the barony of Corkayuincy, county of Kerry, to the River Blackwater, near Lis- more,inWaterfordcounty. Inlattertimes, under the Fitzgeralds, Earls of Desmond, that territory was confined to the baronies of Bear and Bantry, with some other portions, in the south-east of Cork county, together with that part of Kerry county, soutli of the River Mang. For a very interesting descrip- tion of its divisions, the reader is referre<l to "The Annals of Ireland,'' translated from
^^5 The tribe so called, at this period, pos-
sessed that [>ortion of the county of Lime-
rick, lying to the west of the River Maigh,
now spelled Maigue, besides the baruny of
Coshma, in the same county. See Dr. John the original Irish of the Four Masters. By O'Donovan's Ledbhan n* 5-Ce4H\c, or
"The Book of Riglits,'' p. 67, n. (g).
35' Mae mua is the name generally given to this treacherous prince, by our Irish
Owen Connellan, Esq. , with annotations by Philip Mac Dermott, Esq. , M. D. , and the Translator, pp. 170 to 183, n. I.
^57 ^iee Rev. C. B. Gibson's
writers. See Imperial Dictionary of the County and City of Cork," vol. i,.
"
Universal Biography," vol. ii. , p. 685. chap, i. , p. 2.
The
territory,
called Desmond, was known
^^s gee O " Historical John Donoghue's
"
Memoir of the O'Briens, chap, ii. , p. 12.
"
359 Xhe Dublin copy of the Annales
Iiiisfalenses," at A. D. 976, gives some in- teresting particulars of this transaction. See Dr. O'Conor's "Rerum Hibernicarum Scrip- tores," tomus ii. , pp. 45, 46.
to the Irish, as Deas Mumhan, or South
Munster. According to Smiih, in his
Histories of the Counties of Cork and of
Kerry, this large territory formerly com-
prised the whole of the | 'resent Cork county. and the greater part of Kerry county, as also
"
History of
336 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23.
meet Mahon, so far as Croc-an-Rebhraidli, on Sliabh Caein ; while, the Com- harba of Barri and Maehmia himself were at Raithin radr, in Fir Muigi.
Already, the place designed for the King of Thoniond's death liad been marked out, and he was hurried on, to an unfrequented hollow, among the mountains. 3^ It was probably late, when Mahon arrived at this lonesome region, among woods and mountains. There, an ambuscade awaited him and his small fol! owing,3«' They were quickly surrounded, by a strong party, and captured. Mahon found himself a helpless captive, and in the hands of his implacable enemy. He bore the GospelofBarrionhisbreast,asaprotection; but,whenhesawthetreacherous sword aimed at his life, he threw the Book he carried towards the people of Columb Mac Kieragan, so that it should not be stained with his blood. The Gospel fell into the breast of a priest, in their company.
