'53 It is said, he was at the head of a third part of the
Eugenian
forces.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v4
, No.
iv.
, part ii.
, p.
545.
many
King
fledawayout
a Neadha-odhbha, principality
of Meath.
Keating's
See ibid.
"" Also called Donal, and a son of Each-
raid, the second wife of Bryan. See ibid.
"" It is said, that Donogh was an only son of Bryan Boroimha, by Gormlaith. See
ibid.
°3 The writer in General Vallancey's
collections states, that it may be inferred, Bryan had four wives, as the Chronicon Sco- torum, at 1009, mentions the death of Dubh- chabla, daughter to Cathal, son to Conor, KingofConnaught. Seeibid. , p. 546.
'°^ Differently indeed are the sons of the great Irish monarch named, in a Northern Chronicle ; but, it is probable, the information, obtained by the writer, had been derived from a doubtful source. Thus, we read : " Duncan was the name of the first of King Brian's sons ; the second was Margad ; the tliird, Takt, whom we call Tann, he was the
" General Histoiy of Ireland," Book ii. ,
p. 496.
'"^
youngest of them ; but the elder sons of King Brian were full grown, and the briskest
—
of men. " George Webbe Dasent's "Story
of; Burnt Njal," vol. ii. , chap, cliii. , p.
323-
'°5See Dermod O'Connor's Keatings
" of History
Book
"* He was the son of King Kylfi, who had
Brian, and
'"' See Dermod O'Connor's
Ireland,"
ii. , p. 495.
His father was Eugene Mor, and his
mother was Muncha, the daughter of Dil da
Chreaga. He was born at Ath Uisioll, on
the River Suir. His father was killed, at the battle of Magh Muchrime, soon after his conception, and his mother died when giving him birth. This is stated in a Poem, attri- butedtoOiliollOlum. Onlyoneofhistwo sons Oilioll Flan Beag left issue.
"^ Descended from Bloid or Blod, son to Cais or Cas, King of Thomond, about the time of St. Patrick.
"° The Mac Namaras' original territory was called Hy-Caisin.
'"
same Cais. The Caisins, the Mac Namaras,
Descended from Caisin, also son of the
the Clanchys, and O'Gradys, of Thomond, descended from t^. i^ tribe.
April 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 401
the Clann Aongiisa Cinnathrach,'" theCineal Baoth,"3 the Cineal Cuallacht,"* the Cineal Failbhe, and the Clan Eachach,"5 with Cellach, son of Dubhgin, the Clan Cuilleain,"' Aleanmain, son to Assiodha, son of Sioda, son to Maol- cluithe, the Cineal Fearmach,"? with Maolmeadha, son of Baodan. "^ Be- sides these, the Desii of Munster,"? the Muintir-Iffernain,"° the Clann Scann- lainn,'" the men of Feara-Maighe,"' of Ciarraighe-Luachra,"3 of Eoghanacht- Locha Lein. '^'t of Corcobaischinn,"5 of Ara,"* of Muscraidh Cuirc,'^? and of Muscraidh-Aodha,"* the Ui Eachach,"9 theUi Liathain,'3o jhe Ui Connall Gab-
hra,'3' the men of Cairbre-Aodhbha,'J" and the men of Eile or Ely ,'33 marched under the standard of Bryan. '34 Because of their propinquity and near rela-
"° The O'Deas descended from Cinnath- rach, son to the same Cais.
"3 This name is now obsolete ; but, that tribe dwelt in the Btentii, now Breintre, a district lying north-east of Sliabh Collain, and comprising sev-en townlands, in the county of Clare.
"• According to the Caithreim Thoirdh- ealbhaigh, their territory comprised the south-eastern part of Inchiquin barony, county of Clare. The Castles of Ballygriffy and Moyvarna were in it.
"^ There was a Cinel-Eachach, also called Corca Each, the race of Eochaidh, son of Eoghan, who were in the present barony of
Loughiiisholin, county of Londonderry. See "Tlie Topographical Poems of John O'Dub- hagain and GioUa na Naomh O'Huidh- rin," edited by John O'Donovan, n. 85, p. xvii.
"' This was one of the Mac Namaras'
tribe-names, and it applied also to their ter-
O'Dubhagain and Giolla na Naomh O'Huidhrin," edited by John O'Donovan,
n. 86, pp. xvii. , xviii. The O'Ciarains, now Kerns, lived here, and it seems to have been in the nonh of Ireland.
"^ Now in the county of Kerry.
"* These lived near the present Lakes of
Killarney.
"' East and West Corobaischinn were
situated in the south western portion of Clare
county.
"* I'he people of Ara were divided from
the Hy-Fidhginte, by the River Samhair, now supposed to be the Morning Star, in Limerick county. They were of Rudrician race.
"^ Now comprised in the barony of Clan- William, county of Tipperary.
''
The territory of the O'Heas, often Anglicised Hayes, and it lay on both sides of the Abhainn Mor, or Blackwater, near its source, in the north-west of Cork county.
"> In General Vallancey's work, they are called the Ive-Eachach, and they are proba- Masters," vol. iii. , n. (f), pp. 498, 499, and bly not different from the Clan Eachach,
ritory, originally known as Hy-Caisin. See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four
vol. v. , n. (p), p. 1600.
"' These were a tribe of Thomond, in-
habiting the present barony of Inchiquin, in the county of Clare. Their cantred com-
the of Rath, • prised parishes Kilnamona,
Killinaboy, Kilvedain, Kilvilly, Dysart, Ruane, Kilnoe, Kilkeedy and Inishcronan, according to the Trinity College Library
Manuscript, classed E 2. 14.
"' See Dermod O'Connor's Keating's
"
"General History of Ireland, Book ii. , pp.
495, 496.
"' These were seated in the eastern extre-
mity of Waterford county, extending from the River Suir to the sea, and from Lismore to Credan Head.
'^ They were a sept of the Dalcassians,
originally seated at Inchiquin and Corofin, in the county of Clare.
"' Or Muintir Scannlain of Ui-Fiachrach, who at an early perio<l sunk under the O'Shaughnesseys and O'Heynes. See their Pedigree in " The Genealogies, Tribes, and
Customs of Hy-Fiachrach," edited by John O'Donovan, pp. 58 to 61, and n. (x).
'" This name Fearamaighe signifies "men of the plain," but their situation is now un-
known. See "Topographical Poems of John
already mentioned.
''' Their territory was nearly co-extensive
with the present barony of Barrymore, county of Cork.
J" Now the of barony
of Limerick.
Connello, county
'* The territory of Ui Cairbre Aebhdha, of which O'Donovan was chief, comprised
the barony of Coshma, in the county of Limerick, the districts around Bruree and Kilmallock, with the plains along the River Maigue. That Kerry was part ol it appears
highly probable, in the opinion of John O'Donovan.
'33 The people and territory of Eile derive their denomination from Eile, seventh in de- scent from Cian, son to Oilioll Glum. The territory was divided into eight Tuatha, ruled by as many petty chie/s, over whom O'CarroU was head king. Ancient Eile com- prised the present baronies of Clonlisk and Ballybritt, that Ely O'CarroU, now in the King's County ; the diocesan boundaries of KilUloe and Meath diocese being the north line of demarcation. Ikerrin and Elgogarty baronies, in the county of Tipperary, be- longed to it. This territory was all included in ancient Mumhan, and its people were
CI
408 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23.
tionship to the monarch, whose motlier was a princess of Connaught, the chiefs of that province loyally responded to his summons. Thus, the King of Ireland was supported, by the assistance of 1'eige, or Tadhg, the son of Mor- rough 0'Kelly,'35 King of Hy-Maine,'^' and who so greatly distinguished himself, that in after times, he is set down in the family pedigrees, as Tadhg CathaBhriain,orTeigeoftheBattleofBrian. '37 ThisTcigeO'Kelly,withhis chiefs, had raised a strong body of men out of the jwovince of Conacht, and he appeared at the head of them. "3^ Maolruadhna na Paidre O'Heon, or Mulrony O'Heyne, of the Prayer, the prince of Hy-Fiachrach Aidhne,'^' with hisclansmen,wereembodiedfortheoccasion. Flaherty,theKingofWest Connaught, and Connor, son to Maolruana, King of Magh-Lurg, brought their forces. It is said, that Hugh O'Neill made an offer of his troops and iiis service,toattendtheimperialstandard; but,Bryanpolitelydeclinedtheoffer, distrusting his fidelity to the cause. '<° From the north of Ireland, however, came the men of Oirgiall, under the command of their King Carrol, and the men of Fermanach, under their King Mac Guibhir, or Maguire. '*' Among the Leinster chiefs, O'More and O'Nolan are enumerated, as allies of the Irish monarch. '*' Many others of the first quality and interest in their country re- solved to gather what strength they were able. This rising amounted to a considerable number of troojjs ; some were well accustomed to warfare, while others were levied for the first time, to oppose the Leinster king, who con- spired with a foreign power, to bring slavery upon his country. '*' As the re- lationship, interests and policy of Malcolm II. ,'<< King of Scotland, had been involved in the issue of entirely destroying the Scandinavian ascendency, in his own country ; so was it a matter of importance to him, that Br)'an's army should be largely reinforced from Alban. Accordingly, no less than ten Mormaers, or chieftains, led as many bands of Galls or foreign auxiliaries, and
called the Muintir-Cearbhaill. See the Poem macdiiash. See "The Genealogies, Tribes, of O'Huidhrin, in "The Topographical and Customs of Hy-Fiachrach. " edited by Poems ol John O'Duibhigain and Giulla na John O'Donovan. Addenda, B. , p. 373.
with
'3* See General Vallancey's "Collectanea
De Rebus Hibernicis," vol. i. Dissertations
concerning the Laws of the Ancient Irish,
'•"' See Dr. "Gene- SylvesteiO'Halloran's
ral History of Ireland," vol. ii. . Book xi. , chap, viii. , p. 261.
'*' See General Vallancey's "Collectanea De Rebus Ilibernicis," vol. i. The Law of
Naomh O'Huidhrin," pp. 13010 135, notes by the editor, John O'Donovan, 757 to 782, pp. Ixxxiv. to Ixxxvi.
part ii. , No. iv. , pp. 537, 538. p. 528.
3S A. D. '*' SeeThomasD
He died, 960. Arcy
" Popu-
"' This territory adjoined Thomond, and it lay immediately to the north ; its eastern boundary was the River Shannon, from Clon- tuskert, near Lanesborough, to the county of Clare, and from Athlone in a western direc- tion, towards Seefin and Athenry, in the
of See the Map prefixed county Galway.
McGees
lar History of Ireland: from the Earliest Period to the Emancipation of the Catho-
to " The Tribes and Customs of Hy-Many, contributed the valuable Taper, intituled,
commonly called O'Kclly's Country," trans- lated and annotated by John O'Donovan, in
"A Criiico-Historical Dissertation, con- cerning the Ancient Irish Laws, or National Customs, called Gavel-kind and Tanistry, or Senior Government," states, that he had seen
1843,
'37 See ibid. Additional Notes, A, p. 99.
'38 According to an Irish Poem, he had in an old anonymous manuscript, that a
been chief of Hy-Many for thirteen years. daughter of Bryan Boroimha was married to
Malcolm II. , son to Kinneth, King of Scot- '3'' This small territory lay northwards of land. " See part ii. , p. 547, in Genera
Jliid.
Thomond, it being bounded by Hy-Maine to the east, and by Galway Bay on the west.
Valbncey's "Collectanea de Rebus Hiber-
—called
after Guaire
Aidhne,
fallen that mention,
had a was married to
This
King of Connaught, who died A. D. 662 was co-extensive with the diocese of Kil-
daughter Cian, son to Maolmuadh Mac Brian, King of
territory
—
Bryan Sadhbh, or Sabia, who
Tani^ry Illustrated," part ii. .
No. iv. ,
lies," vol. i. , Book ii. , chap, vi. , p. lOO. '"See Dermod O'Connor's Keating's " General History of Ireland," Book ii. , pp.
495, 496.
'<* The Rev. Paul O'Brien, D. D. , who
nicis," vol. i. , No. iv.
The Annals of Innis
April 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 403
these landed in Ireland. Among them was Donald,'<5 the Mormaer or Great Steward of Marr,'''* and he appears to have been the chief in command over those Scots. Nor could Bryan rely, it is said,'*' on the fidelity of some, who joined him as auxiliaries. The men of Meath came in, and with proffered aid, tothemonarchBryan; but,ifwearetocreditsomeaccounts,therewaslittle real intention of supporting his cause, and especially, if a chance were aflforded to withhold their allegiance. The Meathians were under the conduct of Mael- seachlin, their king; and, his former hostilities with the present monarch of Ireland may have caused some misgivings, as to the course he might take. However, he seems to have been equally an object for the hostility of the Leinster people, as of their Scandinavian auxiliaries, at the period when this campaign opened. Still, some Momonian accounts will have it, that at a critical emergency, he had designed to ruin any reputation for honour or patriotism, he might have previously gained. But, his conduct on tlie field shows, that he remained faithful to his allegiance, and his being elected as the supreme monarch of Ireland a second time, immediately after the death of Bryan, in- dicate, that no suspicion of his traitorous designs had been entertained, by the nation at large. Mealseachlain is said to have boasted, that he and his thousand Meathmcn intended to desert Bryan, on the day of battle. We have good reasons for deeming this to be a calumny, which has hardly sufficient
proof to sustain it.
About the festival of St. Patrick, in spring, the muster of Bryan's army
was effected. '<' He knew those exertions made during the summer and winterof1013,tocombineanoverwhelmingforceofopponents. '" Hethen marched directly towards Leinster, as it has been stated, with 30,000 well- appointedandchosenmen,underhisstandards. '5° Onhisapproach,it seems probable, that Maelmordha, son to Murchadh, son of Finn, and the King of Laighin, with the forces of this province, and of Ui Cennselaigh, hastened for protection to Ath-Cliath. These fugitive foes formed three very great and strong battalions. 'S' The province of Leinster had been denuded of troops, and consequently it had been left uncovered, by Maelmordha,''* who probably judged it wise, to draw all his forces together, for what he sup- posed must have proved a decisive battle. Under the circumstances, it seems to have been a well-calculated stroke of generalship. Meantime, Bryan had sent his son Donchadh, with the new levies of the Dal Cais, and the third battalion of the Munstcrmen, to make a raid upon the Leinster ter- ritories.
'53 It is said, he was at the head of a third part of the Eugenian forces. The King of Ailech, Hugh O'Neill, pretended a desire to assist the monarch. But, Bryan had not forgotten a negotiation between himself and Maelseachlainn ; so that having suspicions about his sincerity, the monarch is related to have refused such an offer. '54 It seems a
Ive-Eacach, A. D. 979. They had a son, calleil Mahon, from whom the O'Mahonys of Ive-Eachach descended.
'" He was the son of Eimin, the son of Cannich.
'' . See William F. Skene's "Celtic Scot-
ii. , chap. vi. ; p. 99.
'5° See Dr. Sylvester O'Halloran's "Gene-
ral History of Ireland," vol. ii. , Book xi. , chap, viii. , p. 261.
'5' See CogATjh 54et>heL Tie 5<j,ltAibli,
chap. Ixxxvii. , pp. 150, 151.
'i" He was not in mdelatigable, only
raising new levies, but in labouring to detach
different princes from the interest of their de Rebus Hibemici-," vol. i. . No. iv. A country. See Dr. Sylvester O'Halloran's
land: a of Ancient History
vol.
Alban," Book i. , chap. viii. . p. 387, and n. 4.
i. ,
'" See General Vallanccy'i "Collectanea
Critico-Histoiical Dissertition, &c. , p. 526. "' See Coga-oh 5Aex>VieL fie JiLtaibh,
"General History of Ireland," vol. ii. , Book xi. , chap, viii. , p. 260.
'5' It is said, "his absence was restricted
to three as the it would days, king thought
not be prudent to risk a battle without the
chap. Ixxxvii. , pp. 150, 151.
« See Thomas McGee's " D'Arcy Popu-
lar History of Ireland," &c. , vol. i. . Book
404 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23.
corruption of historic truth,"55 when we are told, that with base treachery to the national cause, information was sent to the King of Leinster, by Mael- seachlainn. 's* so that he might take advantage of the monarch's numerical in- feriority and attack him, with a comparative prospect of success. 'S7 In the absence of its fighting men, the province of Leinster was entirely despoiled. The main army of Bryan appears to have been in advance, plundering Ui Gabhla,'58uiDonnchadha,'"andFine—Gall. '^ ClondalkinandKilmain-
ham—as being settlements
of the
Leinster king and his Northmen auxiliaries were concentrating their forces,
enemy
around or within the walls of Dublin. The Irish monarch, at the head of his army, had now reached Ath-Cliath, and under circumstances extremely criti- cal. Bryan there encamped on the plains, near Dublin, some state at Kil- mainham,'^' and with a smaller army, than he should have had in array ;'*^ because it was found necessary, to order some diversion of his troops. Mean- time, the fleet of Sigurd bore southwards from Kirkwall, and swept the sub- ject coasts of Scotland. It gathered from every firth and loch its galleys and itsfightingmen. TheirrendezvouswastheIsleofMan,whereSuibnehad placed his own forces, under the command of Brodar. "^3 Whether it was the result of Donchadh's inability to come up in time for concentration, or whether it was intended for a strategic movement, inspired by a confidence of victory on the Irish side ; their state of isolation must have been attended with great hiizard to the general issue of that memorable day, at Clontarf, especially when the Irish monarch was engaged, in the presence of such mighty and united confederates.
During the month of April, sailing from the Isle of Man, Broder, with his powerful armament, appears to have arrived in Dublin, where he had several daystoorganizehisforces. TheNialsSaga,writtenintheDanishlanguage,but also translated into Latin, while supplying many details, in reference to the ex- pedition fitted out for Ireland, has a curious statement, in relation to the action of the two great leaders, Sigurd, Earl of the Orkneys, and Broder, commander-in-chiefoftheNorthmen. Direfulportentshadbeenwitnessed,
co-operation of these troops. "—Miss Julia Corner's "History of Ireland; from the Earliest Period to the Present Time," p. 31.
London, no date, l2mo.
's< See Dr. Sylvester O'Halloran's "Gene-
ral History of Ireland," vol. ii,. Book xi. , chap, viii. , p. 261.
'5S See the Battle of Clontarf, by John O'Donovan, in "The Dublin Penny Jour- nal," vol. i. , No. 17, p. 134.
'5' John O'Mahony, in his edition of Dr.
JeoflFrey Keating's "History of Ireland," attributes this suspicion to the calumnious as- persions of the Shaimachies of Munster, and he states, that Maoilsheachlainn Mor well merited his title of the Great. He also re- marks, that some writers barbarously trans- lated his name into Malachy, when writing it in English ; others more properly call him Melaghlin. According to another writer his name is formed of the familiar prefix Maol ('z'! ;/^c Mul^, and Seachnall, the name for an ancient disciple of St. Patrick, and
from whom Dunshaughlin, in the county of Meath was called. By usage, the last letters have become transposed. See "The Gaelic
Journal," vol. i. , No. i. , p. 5, note.
'57 This is stated, in the Dublin copy of
the Annals of Innisfallen. See Rev. Dr. Conor's " Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus ii. , pp. 60, 61.
'5* This territory is mentioned in the Annals of the Four Masters, at the year 1072, but nothing has been discovered as yet, to show where the Ui Gabhla were located. See teAbliAyv tia j-Ce^pc, or "The Book of Rights," Dr. O'Donovan's note (h), pp. 252, 253.
's? That portion of Dublin county, through which the River Dodder flows, according to Dr. O'Donovan.
"" The northern part of Dublin county,
were burned while the by Bryan,
"" According to General Vallancey, in his
" Collectanea De Rebus Hibernicis," where
thereisanaccountofBryanBoiroimh. See
vol. i. , No. iv. Critico-Historical Disserta-
tions concerning the Laws of the Ancient
Irish, partii. , pp. 522 to 547.
'<"
See the Battle of Clontarf, by John O'Donovan, in "The Dublin Penny Jour- nal," vol. i. , No. 17, p. 134.
"^ gee Thomas D'Arcy McGee's " Popu- lar History of Ireland," &c. , vol, i. , Book ii. , chap, vi. , p. 99.
^°* One night, a great din passed over Brodir and his men, so that all awoke,
April 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 405
even before the expedition had reached its destination. '^^ Until he pledged peace, Ospak would not tell Brodir. the meaning of these extraordinary signs, and even having procured this promise, he refused to expound them, until
"
When blood rained on you, therefore shall ye shedmanymen'sblood,bothofyourownandothers. But,whenyouhearda great din, then you must have been shown the crack of doom, and you shall all die speedily. But, when weapons fought against you, that must forebode a battle ; but, when ravens pressed you, that marks the devils which you put faith in, and who will drag you all down to the pains of hell. " Then, Brodir was so wroth, that he could answer never a word. At once, going to his men, he caused them to lay his ships in a line across the sound, and to moor them, by bearing their cables on shore, at either end of the line. He meant to slay Ospak and all his men the next
morning. However, the latter chief saw through the plans of Brodir; then, he vowed to embrace the true faith, to seek King Bryan, and to follow him until his death-day. He now resolved to lay his ships in aline, to punt them along the shore with poles, and to cut the cables of Brodir's ships. Soon these began to fall aboard of one another, while the crews were fast asleep. Ospak and his men thus got out of the firth, sailed westwards to Ireland, and wenttoConnaught. There,OspaktoldKingBryanallthathehadlearned. Afterwards, he was baptized, and gave himself over into the king's hands. '*'
Those prodigies and their interpretation were not calculated, however, to extinguish the hopes of the Scandinavian sailors and warriors, during their voyage. AtrulyformidablebodyofNorthmenhadbeenassembledunder Broder, at Dublin, after Palm Sunday, a. d. ior4;'^* for, on that very day,'*? Earl Sigurd arrived with his vessels and troops, in the Bay of Dublin. '*^ These bands and their confederates became impatient for the fray. A few days only elapsed, until their desires were gratified, with the coming prospect of a great battle, but not with the successful result to them of an ever-memorable vic- tory. Broder was a gentile, who believed in oracular pronouncements, and he was anxious to obtain some answers, that might help him to prognosticate his chances of war in the coming contest. Vet, it seems the reply was so
"
fought onFriday,KingBryanshallfall,victorybeingobtained; but,ifitbefought before that day, all who stand opposed to him shall be slain. " Where-
fore, Broder deemed it wise, not to engage his forces before the Day of Venus. '*9
night fell. Then he said,
equivocal, that he drew a favourable augury from it :
If the battle be
sprung up, and put on their clothes. Along with that came a shower of boiling blood. Then, they covered themselves with their
went on until the day, and another man then
died in every ship. Then, they went to sleep first of all, but when Brodir woke up, draw- ing his breath painfully, he bade them put off in a boat to see Ospak. Taking some
shieUls, but, notwithstanding, many were
scalded. This portent lasted until day, and
a man died on board of every ship. Then, men with him, he found Ospak, and told
they slept during the day ; but, the second night there was a din, and again all sprang
him all that had happened, asking him what those signs boded.
"s See Webbe Dasent's " of George Story
Swords out of their sheaths, leaped
up. .
while axes and spears flew about in the air
Burnt Njal," and in vol. ii. , chap, civ. , pp. 330 to 332.
The weapons pressed them so
and
hanl, that they had to shield themselves.
"
Battle of Clontarfin "The Dublin Penny Journal," vol. i. , No. 17, p. 134.
fought.
Still many were wounded, and, again, a man died out of every ship. This wonder, too, lasted all till day. They slept again the day after ; but, the third night, there was a din ofthesamekind. Then,ravensflewatthem, having apparently Vjeaks and claws of iron. Tho>e ravens pressed them so hard, that they had to keep them off with their swords, and hadtocoverthemselveswiththeirshields. This
'"' See " Nials-Saga,^' cap. clviii. , p. 601.
See John O'Donovan's account of the
"SeeGeorgeWebbeDasent's"
Burnt Njal," &c. , vol. ii. , chap, civi. , p. 333.
'°9 See the Rev. James Johnstone's " An- tiquitates Celto-Scandicae ; sive Series Re-
Story
of
4o6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23
The monarch of Ireland arrived with his army, on the plain, called Magh n-Elda,orMaghn-Elta,'7°inolddocuments.
many
King
fledawayout
a Neadha-odhbha, principality
of Meath.
Keating's
See ibid.
"" Also called Donal, and a son of Each-
raid, the second wife of Bryan. See ibid.
"" It is said, that Donogh was an only son of Bryan Boroimha, by Gormlaith. See
ibid.
°3 The writer in General Vallancey's
collections states, that it may be inferred, Bryan had four wives, as the Chronicon Sco- torum, at 1009, mentions the death of Dubh- chabla, daughter to Cathal, son to Conor, KingofConnaught. Seeibid. , p. 546.
'°^ Differently indeed are the sons of the great Irish monarch named, in a Northern Chronicle ; but, it is probable, the information, obtained by the writer, had been derived from a doubtful source. Thus, we read : " Duncan was the name of the first of King Brian's sons ; the second was Margad ; the tliird, Takt, whom we call Tann, he was the
" General Histoiy of Ireland," Book ii. ,
p. 496.
'"^
youngest of them ; but the elder sons of King Brian were full grown, and the briskest
—
of men. " George Webbe Dasent's "Story
of; Burnt Njal," vol. ii. , chap, cliii. , p.
323-
'°5See Dermod O'Connor's Keatings
" of History
Book
"* He was the son of King Kylfi, who had
Brian, and
'"' See Dermod O'Connor's
Ireland,"
ii. , p. 495.
His father was Eugene Mor, and his
mother was Muncha, the daughter of Dil da
Chreaga. He was born at Ath Uisioll, on
the River Suir. His father was killed, at the battle of Magh Muchrime, soon after his conception, and his mother died when giving him birth. This is stated in a Poem, attri- butedtoOiliollOlum. Onlyoneofhistwo sons Oilioll Flan Beag left issue.
"^ Descended from Bloid or Blod, son to Cais or Cas, King of Thomond, about the time of St. Patrick.
"° The Mac Namaras' original territory was called Hy-Caisin.
'"
same Cais. The Caisins, the Mac Namaras,
Descended from Caisin, also son of the
the Clanchys, and O'Gradys, of Thomond, descended from t^. i^ tribe.
April 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 401
the Clann Aongiisa Cinnathrach,'" theCineal Baoth,"3 the Cineal Cuallacht,"* the Cineal Failbhe, and the Clan Eachach,"5 with Cellach, son of Dubhgin, the Clan Cuilleain,"' Aleanmain, son to Assiodha, son of Sioda, son to Maol- cluithe, the Cineal Fearmach,"? with Maolmeadha, son of Baodan. "^ Be- sides these, the Desii of Munster,"? the Muintir-Iffernain,"° the Clann Scann- lainn,'" the men of Feara-Maighe,"' of Ciarraighe-Luachra,"3 of Eoghanacht- Locha Lein. '^'t of Corcobaischinn,"5 of Ara,"* of Muscraidh Cuirc,'^? and of Muscraidh-Aodha,"* the Ui Eachach,"9 theUi Liathain,'3o jhe Ui Connall Gab-
hra,'3' the men of Cairbre-Aodhbha,'J" and the men of Eile or Ely ,'33 marched under the standard of Bryan. '34 Because of their propinquity and near rela-
"° The O'Deas descended from Cinnath- rach, son to the same Cais.
"3 This name is now obsolete ; but, that tribe dwelt in the Btentii, now Breintre, a district lying north-east of Sliabh Collain, and comprising sev-en townlands, in the county of Clare.
"• According to the Caithreim Thoirdh- ealbhaigh, their territory comprised the south-eastern part of Inchiquin barony, county of Clare. The Castles of Ballygriffy and Moyvarna were in it.
"^ There was a Cinel-Eachach, also called Corca Each, the race of Eochaidh, son of Eoghan, who were in the present barony of
Loughiiisholin, county of Londonderry. See "Tlie Topographical Poems of John O'Dub- hagain and GioUa na Naomh O'Huidh- rin," edited by John O'Donovan, n. 85, p. xvii.
"' This was one of the Mac Namaras'
tribe-names, and it applied also to their ter-
O'Dubhagain and Giolla na Naomh O'Huidhrin," edited by John O'Donovan,
n. 86, pp. xvii. , xviii. The O'Ciarains, now Kerns, lived here, and it seems to have been in the nonh of Ireland.
"^ Now in the county of Kerry.
"* These lived near the present Lakes of
Killarney.
"' East and West Corobaischinn were
situated in the south western portion of Clare
county.
"* I'he people of Ara were divided from
the Hy-Fidhginte, by the River Samhair, now supposed to be the Morning Star, in Limerick county. They were of Rudrician race.
"^ Now comprised in the barony of Clan- William, county of Tipperary.
''
The territory of the O'Heas, often Anglicised Hayes, and it lay on both sides of the Abhainn Mor, or Blackwater, near its source, in the north-west of Cork county.
"> In General Vallancey's work, they are called the Ive-Eachach, and they are proba- Masters," vol. iii. , n. (f), pp. 498, 499, and bly not different from the Clan Eachach,
ritory, originally known as Hy-Caisin. See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four
vol. v. , n. (p), p. 1600.
"' These were a tribe of Thomond, in-
habiting the present barony of Inchiquin, in the county of Clare. Their cantred com-
the of Rath, • prised parishes Kilnamona,
Killinaboy, Kilvedain, Kilvilly, Dysart, Ruane, Kilnoe, Kilkeedy and Inishcronan, according to the Trinity College Library
Manuscript, classed E 2. 14.
"' See Dermod O'Connor's Keating's
"
"General History of Ireland, Book ii. , pp.
495, 496.
"' These were seated in the eastern extre-
mity of Waterford county, extending from the River Suir to the sea, and from Lismore to Credan Head.
'^ They were a sept of the Dalcassians,
originally seated at Inchiquin and Corofin, in the county of Clare.
"' Or Muintir Scannlain of Ui-Fiachrach, who at an early perio<l sunk under the O'Shaughnesseys and O'Heynes. See their Pedigree in " The Genealogies, Tribes, and
Customs of Hy-Fiachrach," edited by John O'Donovan, pp. 58 to 61, and n. (x).
'" This name Fearamaighe signifies "men of the plain," but their situation is now un-
known. See "Topographical Poems of John
already mentioned.
''' Their territory was nearly co-extensive
with the present barony of Barrymore, county of Cork.
J" Now the of barony
of Limerick.
Connello, county
'* The territory of Ui Cairbre Aebhdha, of which O'Donovan was chief, comprised
the barony of Coshma, in the county of Limerick, the districts around Bruree and Kilmallock, with the plains along the River Maigue. That Kerry was part ol it appears
highly probable, in the opinion of John O'Donovan.
'33 The people and territory of Eile derive their denomination from Eile, seventh in de- scent from Cian, son to Oilioll Glum. The territory was divided into eight Tuatha, ruled by as many petty chie/s, over whom O'CarroU was head king. Ancient Eile com- prised the present baronies of Clonlisk and Ballybritt, that Ely O'CarroU, now in the King's County ; the diocesan boundaries of KilUloe and Meath diocese being the north line of demarcation. Ikerrin and Elgogarty baronies, in the county of Tipperary, be- longed to it. This territory was all included in ancient Mumhan, and its people were
CI
408 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23.
tionship to the monarch, whose motlier was a princess of Connaught, the chiefs of that province loyally responded to his summons. Thus, the King of Ireland was supported, by the assistance of 1'eige, or Tadhg, the son of Mor- rough 0'Kelly,'35 King of Hy-Maine,'^' and who so greatly distinguished himself, that in after times, he is set down in the family pedigrees, as Tadhg CathaBhriain,orTeigeoftheBattleofBrian. '37 ThisTcigeO'Kelly,withhis chiefs, had raised a strong body of men out of the jwovince of Conacht, and he appeared at the head of them. "3^ Maolruadhna na Paidre O'Heon, or Mulrony O'Heyne, of the Prayer, the prince of Hy-Fiachrach Aidhne,'^' with hisclansmen,wereembodiedfortheoccasion. Flaherty,theKingofWest Connaught, and Connor, son to Maolruana, King of Magh-Lurg, brought their forces. It is said, that Hugh O'Neill made an offer of his troops and iiis service,toattendtheimperialstandard; but,Bryanpolitelydeclinedtheoffer, distrusting his fidelity to the cause. '<° From the north of Ireland, however, came the men of Oirgiall, under the command of their King Carrol, and the men of Fermanach, under their King Mac Guibhir, or Maguire. '*' Among the Leinster chiefs, O'More and O'Nolan are enumerated, as allies of the Irish monarch. '*' Many others of the first quality and interest in their country re- solved to gather what strength they were able. This rising amounted to a considerable number of troojjs ; some were well accustomed to warfare, while others were levied for the first time, to oppose the Leinster king, who con- spired with a foreign power, to bring slavery upon his country. '*' As the re- lationship, interests and policy of Malcolm II. ,'<< King of Scotland, had been involved in the issue of entirely destroying the Scandinavian ascendency, in his own country ; so was it a matter of importance to him, that Br)'an's army should be largely reinforced from Alban. Accordingly, no less than ten Mormaers, or chieftains, led as many bands of Galls or foreign auxiliaries, and
called the Muintir-Cearbhaill. See the Poem macdiiash. See "The Genealogies, Tribes, of O'Huidhrin, in "The Topographical and Customs of Hy-Fiachrach. " edited by Poems ol John O'Duibhigain and Giulla na John O'Donovan. Addenda, B. , p. 373.
with
'3* See General Vallancey's "Collectanea
De Rebus Hibernicis," vol. i. Dissertations
concerning the Laws of the Ancient Irish,
'•"' See Dr. "Gene- SylvesteiO'Halloran's
ral History of Ireland," vol. ii. . Book xi. , chap, viii. , p. 261.
'*' See General Vallancey's "Collectanea De Rebus Ilibernicis," vol. i. The Law of
Naomh O'Huidhrin," pp. 13010 135, notes by the editor, John O'Donovan, 757 to 782, pp. Ixxxiv. to Ixxxvi.
part ii. , No. iv. , pp. 537, 538. p. 528.
3S A. D. '*' SeeThomasD
He died, 960. Arcy
" Popu-
"' This territory adjoined Thomond, and it lay immediately to the north ; its eastern boundary was the River Shannon, from Clon- tuskert, near Lanesborough, to the county of Clare, and from Athlone in a western direc- tion, towards Seefin and Athenry, in the
of See the Map prefixed county Galway.
McGees
lar History of Ireland: from the Earliest Period to the Emancipation of the Catho-
to " The Tribes and Customs of Hy-Many, contributed the valuable Taper, intituled,
commonly called O'Kclly's Country," trans- lated and annotated by John O'Donovan, in
"A Criiico-Historical Dissertation, con- cerning the Ancient Irish Laws, or National Customs, called Gavel-kind and Tanistry, or Senior Government," states, that he had seen
1843,
'37 See ibid. Additional Notes, A, p. 99.
'38 According to an Irish Poem, he had in an old anonymous manuscript, that a
been chief of Hy-Many for thirteen years. daughter of Bryan Boroimha was married to
Malcolm II. , son to Kinneth, King of Scot- '3'' This small territory lay northwards of land. " See part ii. , p. 547, in Genera
Jliid.
Thomond, it being bounded by Hy-Maine to the east, and by Galway Bay on the west.
Valbncey's "Collectanea de Rebus Hiber-
—called
after Guaire
Aidhne,
fallen that mention,
had a was married to
This
King of Connaught, who died A. D. 662 was co-extensive with the diocese of Kil-
daughter Cian, son to Maolmuadh Mac Brian, King of
territory
—
Bryan Sadhbh, or Sabia, who
Tani^ry Illustrated," part ii. .
No. iv. ,
lies," vol. i. , Book ii. , chap, vi. , p. lOO. '"See Dermod O'Connor's Keating's " General History of Ireland," Book ii. , pp.
495, 496.
'<* The Rev. Paul O'Brien, D. D. , who
nicis," vol. i. , No. iv.
The Annals of Innis
April 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 403
these landed in Ireland. Among them was Donald,'<5 the Mormaer or Great Steward of Marr,'''* and he appears to have been the chief in command over those Scots. Nor could Bryan rely, it is said,'*' on the fidelity of some, who joined him as auxiliaries. The men of Meath came in, and with proffered aid, tothemonarchBryan; but,ifwearetocreditsomeaccounts,therewaslittle real intention of supporting his cause, and especially, if a chance were aflforded to withhold their allegiance. The Meathians were under the conduct of Mael- seachlin, their king; and, his former hostilities with the present monarch of Ireland may have caused some misgivings, as to the course he might take. However, he seems to have been equally an object for the hostility of the Leinster people, as of their Scandinavian auxiliaries, at the period when this campaign opened. Still, some Momonian accounts will have it, that at a critical emergency, he had designed to ruin any reputation for honour or patriotism, he might have previously gained. But, his conduct on tlie field shows, that he remained faithful to his allegiance, and his being elected as the supreme monarch of Ireland a second time, immediately after the death of Bryan, in- dicate, that no suspicion of his traitorous designs had been entertained, by the nation at large. Mealseachlain is said to have boasted, that he and his thousand Meathmcn intended to desert Bryan, on the day of battle. We have good reasons for deeming this to be a calumny, which has hardly sufficient
proof to sustain it.
About the festival of St. Patrick, in spring, the muster of Bryan's army
was effected. '<' He knew those exertions made during the summer and winterof1013,tocombineanoverwhelmingforceofopponents. '" Hethen marched directly towards Leinster, as it has been stated, with 30,000 well- appointedandchosenmen,underhisstandards. '5° Onhisapproach,it seems probable, that Maelmordha, son to Murchadh, son of Finn, and the King of Laighin, with the forces of this province, and of Ui Cennselaigh, hastened for protection to Ath-Cliath. These fugitive foes formed three very great and strong battalions. 'S' The province of Leinster had been denuded of troops, and consequently it had been left uncovered, by Maelmordha,''* who probably judged it wise, to draw all his forces together, for what he sup- posed must have proved a decisive battle. Under the circumstances, it seems to have been a well-calculated stroke of generalship. Meantime, Bryan had sent his son Donchadh, with the new levies of the Dal Cais, and the third battalion of the Munstcrmen, to make a raid upon the Leinster ter- ritories.
'53 It is said, he was at the head of a third part of the Eugenian forces. The King of Ailech, Hugh O'Neill, pretended a desire to assist the monarch. But, Bryan had not forgotten a negotiation between himself and Maelseachlainn ; so that having suspicions about his sincerity, the monarch is related to have refused such an offer. '54 It seems a
Ive-Eacach, A. D. 979. They had a son, calleil Mahon, from whom the O'Mahonys of Ive-Eachach descended.
'" He was the son of Eimin, the son of Cannich.
'' . See William F. Skene's "Celtic Scot-
ii. , chap. vi. ; p. 99.
'5° See Dr. Sylvester O'Halloran's "Gene-
ral History of Ireland," vol. ii. , Book xi. , chap, viii. , p. 261.
'5' See CogATjh 54et>heL Tie 5<j,ltAibli,
chap. Ixxxvii. , pp. 150, 151.
'i" He was not in mdelatigable, only
raising new levies, but in labouring to detach
different princes from the interest of their de Rebus Hibemici-," vol. i. . No. iv. A country. See Dr. Sylvester O'Halloran's
land: a of Ancient History
vol.
Alban," Book i. , chap. viii. . p. 387, and n. 4.
i. ,
'" See General Vallanccy'i "Collectanea
Critico-Histoiical Dissertition, &c. , p. 526. "' See Coga-oh 5Aex>VieL fie JiLtaibh,
"General History of Ireland," vol. ii. , Book xi. , chap, viii. , p. 260.
'5' It is said, "his absence was restricted
to three as the it would days, king thought
not be prudent to risk a battle without the
chap. Ixxxvii. , pp. 150, 151.
« See Thomas McGee's " D'Arcy Popu-
lar History of Ireland," &c. , vol. i. . Book
404 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23.
corruption of historic truth,"55 when we are told, that with base treachery to the national cause, information was sent to the King of Leinster, by Mael- seachlainn. 's* so that he might take advantage of the monarch's numerical in- feriority and attack him, with a comparative prospect of success. 'S7 In the absence of its fighting men, the province of Leinster was entirely despoiled. The main army of Bryan appears to have been in advance, plundering Ui Gabhla,'58uiDonnchadha,'"andFine—Gall. '^ ClondalkinandKilmain-
ham—as being settlements
of the
Leinster king and his Northmen auxiliaries were concentrating their forces,
enemy
around or within the walls of Dublin. The Irish monarch, at the head of his army, had now reached Ath-Cliath, and under circumstances extremely criti- cal. Bryan there encamped on the plains, near Dublin, some state at Kil- mainham,'^' and with a smaller army, than he should have had in array ;'*^ because it was found necessary, to order some diversion of his troops. Mean- time, the fleet of Sigurd bore southwards from Kirkwall, and swept the sub- ject coasts of Scotland. It gathered from every firth and loch its galleys and itsfightingmen. TheirrendezvouswastheIsleofMan,whereSuibnehad placed his own forces, under the command of Brodar. "^3 Whether it was the result of Donchadh's inability to come up in time for concentration, or whether it was intended for a strategic movement, inspired by a confidence of victory on the Irish side ; their state of isolation must have been attended with great hiizard to the general issue of that memorable day, at Clontarf, especially when the Irish monarch was engaged, in the presence of such mighty and united confederates.
During the month of April, sailing from the Isle of Man, Broder, with his powerful armament, appears to have arrived in Dublin, where he had several daystoorganizehisforces. TheNialsSaga,writtenintheDanishlanguage,but also translated into Latin, while supplying many details, in reference to the ex- pedition fitted out for Ireland, has a curious statement, in relation to the action of the two great leaders, Sigurd, Earl of the Orkneys, and Broder, commander-in-chiefoftheNorthmen. Direfulportentshadbeenwitnessed,
co-operation of these troops. "—Miss Julia Corner's "History of Ireland; from the Earliest Period to the Present Time," p. 31.
London, no date, l2mo.
's< See Dr. Sylvester O'Halloran's "Gene-
ral History of Ireland," vol. ii,. Book xi. , chap, viii. , p. 261.
'5S See the Battle of Clontarf, by John O'Donovan, in "The Dublin Penny Jour- nal," vol. i. , No. 17, p. 134.
'5' John O'Mahony, in his edition of Dr.
JeoflFrey Keating's "History of Ireland," attributes this suspicion to the calumnious as- persions of the Shaimachies of Munster, and he states, that Maoilsheachlainn Mor well merited his title of the Great. He also re- marks, that some writers barbarously trans- lated his name into Malachy, when writing it in English ; others more properly call him Melaghlin. According to another writer his name is formed of the familiar prefix Maol ('z'! ;/^c Mul^, and Seachnall, the name for an ancient disciple of St. Patrick, and
from whom Dunshaughlin, in the county of Meath was called. By usage, the last letters have become transposed. See "The Gaelic
Journal," vol. i. , No. i. , p. 5, note.
'57 This is stated, in the Dublin copy of
the Annals of Innisfallen. See Rev. Dr. Conor's " Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus ii. , pp. 60, 61.
'5* This territory is mentioned in the Annals of the Four Masters, at the year 1072, but nothing has been discovered as yet, to show where the Ui Gabhla were located. See teAbliAyv tia j-Ce^pc, or "The Book of Rights," Dr. O'Donovan's note (h), pp. 252, 253.
's? That portion of Dublin county, through which the River Dodder flows, according to Dr. O'Donovan.
"" The northern part of Dublin county,
were burned while the by Bryan,
"" According to General Vallancey, in his
" Collectanea De Rebus Hibernicis," where
thereisanaccountofBryanBoiroimh. See
vol. i. , No. iv. Critico-Historical Disserta-
tions concerning the Laws of the Ancient
Irish, partii. , pp. 522 to 547.
'<"
See the Battle of Clontarf, by John O'Donovan, in "The Dublin Penny Jour- nal," vol. i. , No. 17, p. 134.
"^ gee Thomas D'Arcy McGee's " Popu- lar History of Ireland," &c. , vol, i. , Book ii. , chap, vi. , p. 99.
^°* One night, a great din passed over Brodir and his men, so that all awoke,
April 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 405
even before the expedition had reached its destination. '^^ Until he pledged peace, Ospak would not tell Brodir. the meaning of these extraordinary signs, and even having procured this promise, he refused to expound them, until
"
When blood rained on you, therefore shall ye shedmanymen'sblood,bothofyourownandothers. But,whenyouhearda great din, then you must have been shown the crack of doom, and you shall all die speedily. But, when weapons fought against you, that must forebode a battle ; but, when ravens pressed you, that marks the devils which you put faith in, and who will drag you all down to the pains of hell. " Then, Brodir was so wroth, that he could answer never a word. At once, going to his men, he caused them to lay his ships in a line across the sound, and to moor them, by bearing their cables on shore, at either end of the line. He meant to slay Ospak and all his men the next
morning. However, the latter chief saw through the plans of Brodir; then, he vowed to embrace the true faith, to seek King Bryan, and to follow him until his death-day. He now resolved to lay his ships in aline, to punt them along the shore with poles, and to cut the cables of Brodir's ships. Soon these began to fall aboard of one another, while the crews were fast asleep. Ospak and his men thus got out of the firth, sailed westwards to Ireland, and wenttoConnaught. There,OspaktoldKingBryanallthathehadlearned. Afterwards, he was baptized, and gave himself over into the king's hands. '*'
Those prodigies and their interpretation were not calculated, however, to extinguish the hopes of the Scandinavian sailors and warriors, during their voyage. AtrulyformidablebodyofNorthmenhadbeenassembledunder Broder, at Dublin, after Palm Sunday, a. d. ior4;'^* for, on that very day,'*? Earl Sigurd arrived with his vessels and troops, in the Bay of Dublin. '*^ These bands and their confederates became impatient for the fray. A few days only elapsed, until their desires were gratified, with the coming prospect of a great battle, but not with the successful result to them of an ever-memorable vic- tory. Broder was a gentile, who believed in oracular pronouncements, and he was anxious to obtain some answers, that might help him to prognosticate his chances of war in the coming contest. Vet, it seems the reply was so
"
fought onFriday,KingBryanshallfall,victorybeingobtained; but,ifitbefought before that day, all who stand opposed to him shall be slain. " Where-
fore, Broder deemed it wise, not to engage his forces before the Day of Venus. '*9
night fell. Then he said,
equivocal, that he drew a favourable augury from it :
If the battle be
sprung up, and put on their clothes. Along with that came a shower of boiling blood. Then, they covered themselves with their
went on until the day, and another man then
died in every ship. Then, they went to sleep first of all, but when Brodir woke up, draw- ing his breath painfully, he bade them put off in a boat to see Ospak. Taking some
shieUls, but, notwithstanding, many were
scalded. This portent lasted until day, and
a man died on board of every ship. Then, men with him, he found Ospak, and told
they slept during the day ; but, the second night there was a din, and again all sprang
him all that had happened, asking him what those signs boded.
"s See Webbe Dasent's " of George Story
Swords out of their sheaths, leaped
up. .
while axes and spears flew about in the air
Burnt Njal," and in vol. ii. , chap, civ. , pp. 330 to 332.
The weapons pressed them so
and
hanl, that they had to shield themselves.
"
Battle of Clontarfin "The Dublin Penny Journal," vol. i. , No. 17, p. 134.
fought.
Still many were wounded, and, again, a man died out of every ship. This wonder, too, lasted all till day. They slept again the day after ; but, the third night, there was a din ofthesamekind. Then,ravensflewatthem, having apparently Vjeaks and claws of iron. Tho>e ravens pressed them so hard, that they had to keep them off with their swords, and hadtocoverthemselveswiththeirshields. This
'"' See " Nials-Saga,^' cap. clviii. , p. 601.
See John O'Donovan's account of the
"SeeGeorgeWebbeDasent's"
Burnt Njal," &c. , vol. ii. , chap, civi. , p. 333.
'°9 See the Rev. James Johnstone's " An- tiquitates Celto-Scandicae ; sive Series Re-
Story
of
4o6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23
The monarch of Ireland arrived with his army, on the plain, called Magh n-Elda,orMaghn-Elta,'7°inolddocuments.
