No More Learning

General His- tory of Ireland," vol. ii. , Book xi. , chap, vii. ,
eulogistic fragment, supposed to have been written by Mac Liag.
^^ See Joseph Cooper Walker's " Histori- cal Memoirs of the Irish Bards," sect, iv. ,
p. 59.
s' See Cos^voh 5<iet)liel Tie 5AlLAibJi,
ctap- lJ»3t-, pp. 138, 139,
Dr. Sylvester O'Halloran's
p, 255.
5' According to Mac Liag's supposed frag-
ment, relating to Bryan's Life.
5' Accordin to Mac Liag's attributed
fragment.
5S
These are expressions, found in the
374 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23.
Besides the constant revenue, which arose from the two provinces of Mun- ster, and which was paid yearly into his exchequer,5' other large subsidies
were contributed, when Bryan \yas acknowledged as supreme monarch over Ireland. Schools and colleges 59 arose, wherever they were most required ; while those that had been destroyed by the foreigners, or that had fallen into decay, were revived, in several parts of the kingdom. He appointed pro- fessors and masters, to teach wisdom and knowlege. *° In their nurseries of learning, the liberal sciences with the various branches of sacred and of human knowledge were taught ; public hospices and libraries were built for poor stu- dents, and a provision was made for youth of promising hopes, who were unabletosupportthemselves. Bryananimatedtimidmerit,bywell-grounded hopes. *' Thus were the universities and monasteries enriched, while they were governed by regular discipline, which effected the training of persons having excellent abilities in all professions. The Irish schools revived, and the decayed state of learning no longer existed. The professors not only con- cerned tliemselves, by instructing the youth of their own kingdom, but they were also of excellent use, in polishing and enlightening the rude and illiter- ate of neighbouring nations. '"
The offerings of Bryan, at the shrines of various holy places, are recorded. This generosity affords an additional proof of his zeal for the interests of reli- gion, and of that earnest spirit of piety, which specially marked his grand cha- racter. Many great works and repairs were made by him. 's Religious houses and hospitals were endowed or aided by Bryan, who always delighted in the com- panionship of bishops, priests, and monks ; while this conduct procured for him the zealous support of the secular clergy, and from the regular houses the gratitude of their highly influential inmates. During his reign, the exam- ple and exhortations of the Irish clergy wonderfully facilitated the conversion and civilization of the foreigners. ** The monarch delighted to spend a con- siderable portion of his revenues in founding, building, or repairing sanctua- ries, cathedrals and churches ; while his general and generous alms,*5 towards several religious establishments throughout Ireland, filled the minds of all his subjects with admiration for that munificence, which did not subordinate the spiritual needs both of clergy and laity, to even the exigencies of his civil administration. In addition to the church of Cell Dalua,*' he erected dam- iiacs^'! and diiirtheachs^^ throughout Ireland ; besides seven monasteries and various cells. *? Several of these special erections are noticed. The church on Holy Island,? " Lough Derg, is said to have been restored or remodelled,
by Bryan Boroimhe, when monarch of Ireland, in the early part of the eleventh century, It consisted of a nave, measuring thirty feet internally, and having a breadth of twenty-one feet, the chancel being a square of about
*5 Lands, cattle and furniture were in- eluded among these gifts, as we find them re- corded.
'*' Or Killaloe. See Co5at)1i 5<iet)hel lie jAlliibli, chap. Ixxx. , pp. 138, 139.
'? Interpreted to mean, churches built with stone.
5' See Rev. Dr.
" Gene-
Jeoffrey Keating's
ral History of Ireland, Book ii. , p. 486.
Dermod O'Connor's translation.
59 Called
and Filean
Theological by Joseph Cooper Walker.
Colleges,
*" See CogdX)! ! 5<ser>Viet fie 5Al,tAibli,
chap. Ixxx. , pp. 138, 139.
'' "'*
Supposed to be small penitential cells, or private oratories.
*» According to the Life of Bryan Boroimha, attributed to Mac Liag, his secre-
tary.
'" There is a sketch of this scene, by Ben-
jamin Clayton, in "The Irish Penny Maga- '< See Dr. Sylvester O'Halloran's "Gene- zine," vol. i. . No. 36. It is followed, by ral History of Ireland," vol. ii. . Book xi. , John D'Alton's article, with historic and
chap, vii. , p. 255. topogiaphical notices. See pp. 281, 282.
See Joseph Cooper Walker's Histori- cal Memoirs of the Irish Bards," sect. iv. .
'3 See CosAT)! ! jAeoheb Tie jAllAibli,
p. 59.
'" See Dr.
" General History of Ireland," Book ii. , p. 484.
chap. Ixxx. , pp. 138, 139.
Jeoffrey Keating's
April 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 375
fifteen feet. '' A fine window in the southern wall is round-headed, and it has varied semi-cylindrical mouldings, very deeply cut. ? ^ This style seems pecu-
liar to Ireland, about that period, although its prototypes, most probably, may beelsewherediscovered. Theornamentalportionsofthischurcharechiefly
Old Cfaurch on Inis-Caltra, Lower Shannon.
found, in its western doorway, and in its chancel arch ; although only por- tions of the side walls now remain, in the chancel. These walls are of ashlar masonry, and they differ totally in character from those of the nave. '^ Theyareprobablycotemporaneou^withits ornamentalfeatures,oratleast, with some of them. ? '* A portion of the entrance doorway only remains, at present ; it consisted externally of three concentric and receding semi-circular arches, ornamented on thin faces with chevron-moulding, and carved in hol- low lines. The piers of these arches were rectangular, but somewhat rounded at their angles. They form semi-cylindrical shafts, with angular mouldings on each side; on their capitals are well-shaped human faces, carved in low re- lief. The chancel arch is less distinguished for ornament than the doorway,
. ' In the opinion of Dr. Petrie, these mea-
surements seem to l)e those of St. Caimin's
original church, which was erected in the
seventh century, as appeared obvious to him, from the character of the masonry, and from
some features in the nave, which, if remodel-
led, was never wholly destroyed.
'' It is ornamented with an architrave,
very similar in style to that of the doorways, in many of the Round Towers. Another window is there, which appears to be ori- ginal, having a horizontal bead and inclined
sides. In the middle of the west gable, and towards it? summit, there is a small triangu- lar window, formed of three stones. Dr. Petrie gives illustrations of these several win- dows, m his work.
" The present illustration, drawn on the spot, and transferred to the wood, by William
F. Wakeman, has been engraved by Mrs. Millard.
'* Doubts may be entertained, that all of
these features are of cotemporaneous age, or of very ancient erection.
376 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23.
and, on its western face, it was formed of three concentric and recessed arches. It is double-faced, on its eastern or inner side. The arches consist simply of square-edged rib-work ; the ornamental sculpture is confined to the piers, whichareroundedintosemi-columns,adornedwithcapitals. 's Itisdoubtful,
whether the doorway and chancel-arch of this church be of cotemporaneous architecture ; but, there is no reason to suppose, that either of them is later than Bryan's time, when the church is stated to have been restored, or re- built. That monarch's restoration is thought, however, to have been confined tothechancel. '' Amongtheworksheinauguratedorcompletedaresaid to have been no less than thirty-two cloichieachs,'''' or bell-towers, which are supposed to have been indentical with our Irish Round Towers. '* One of these erected at Tomgraney,w in the county of Clare, a. d. 964, was repaired byBryanBoroimha. But,wedonotfindacompleteanddetailedlistofhis various ecclesiastical erections.
The early historians reckon this excellent monarch, among the number
of those heroic and munificent kings, that sat upon the Irish throne. They
always mention him, as the third sovereign, whose conduct and heroic virtues
raised the reputation of the Irish, and made them formidable to their enemies. *"
Bryan supported his royal grandeur, by a splendid court, while he kept a most
sumptuousandhospitabletable,suitedtohisdignity; for,lavishexpenditure
characterized all the great royal establishments of that period. The place of
his residence, according to most writers, was Ceann Coradh, where his retinue
was becoming the majesty of an Irish monarch. *' It is stated, by others, how-
ever, that this monarch pulled down the royal seat of Cean-Coradh, which
was about a mile beyond Killaloe, as it had become ruinous, and that he con-
verted it into kitchens and offices. At a place, some distance from it, he
erected a noble banqueting-house. From the kitchens were two long gal-
leries,*^ or corridors, parallel to each other, and carried across a flat to the
banqueting-house. This place was called Ball-Boromha, or the Habitation
ofBoromha. Fromthis,awoodenbridgewascarriedacrosstheShannon,
for the convenience of his house. The stone one lower down was strongly
fortified,*^ and opposite it were his wine cellars. That place afterwards bore
the name of " the wine store," or " Thither Cloch-na-Fhionne, building. "**
the chief provinces of the Island brought their subsidies and contributions. These were very large, to defray the expenses of his royal court. *' Bryan sup-
's Of these, Dr. Petrie furnishes illustra- tions.
'"See Dr. George Petrie's work, "The Ec- clesiastical Architecture and Round Towers of Ireland," part ii. , sect, i. , sub-sec. i. , pp. 28110284.
" According to the fragment, thought to be Mac Liag's Life of this Monarch, and which is now preserved among the Manu- scripts of Trinity College, Dublin.
'^ See Dr. George Petrie's " Ecclesiatical Architecture and Round Towers of Ire- land," part ii. , sect, iii. , sub-sect. ^3, pp. 389, 390.
was Cormac, the son of Art, son to Conn, the renowned hero of the Hundred Battles ; while the third was the most illustrious Bryan Boiroimha, King of Ireland,
*'
See Dermod O'Connor's Keating's "General History of Ireland," Bookii. , p. 486.
'' One hundred servants every day were arranged at dinner and supper, in each of these galleries, in order to serve and remove the dishes witli sufficient celerity.
*' This was evident, in the time of Dr. Sylvester O'Halloran.
'''See Dr. Sylvester O'Halloran's "Gene- ? « It is a parish, in the barony of Upper ral History of Ireland," vol. ii. . Book xi. ,
TuUa, and shown on the
"
Ordnance Survey
itself is marked on sheet 28.
^ Of these excellent monarch? , they
esteem the first to have been Conaire, the Great, the son of Eidirsgeoil ; the second
chap, vii. , pp. 256, 257.
'^ An account of these has been particulars
transmitted to us, by a celebrated poet and
antiquary, in a poem beginning with these words: " Boiroimhe balie na Riogh. " This writer expressly relates the constant tribute, both of provisions and of other necessaries.
Townland for the Maps
of Clare," sheets 13, 20, 28, 29, 36, 37. The townland
County
April 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 377
ported hisprincely character, with liberality and magnificence; while he exceeded the munificence and state of most, among those monarchs, wno were his pre- decessorsonthethrone. Thosegreatrevenues,thatwereannuallypaidinto the exchequer of this prince, by the several countries throughout the island, furnished evidence 01 that pomp and grandeur, distinguishing his royal court at Ceann Coradh. The quantity and quality of provisions, that were daily consumed, are scarce credible; yet, are such accounts on record, in Irish docu- ments. *^ Byran laid down injunctions, for regulating the precedence of the kings and chieftains,^' whenever they took places in the public assemblies, con- vened through his summons. ** None of whatever quality, moreover, among the nobility, were permitted to wear arms, in the court of this prince, but the noble tribe of the Dailgais, who formed his household troops. *9
This self-appointed and popularly accepted sovereign was vigilant in con- trolingdisaffection,whenhepossessedsupremepower. Thishewielded,onlyfor maintenance of law and justice. Turbulence was restrained among the native
kings, chiefs and people, by a judicious application of policy, towards concilia- ting public opinion, and by occasional manifestations of material force, to sup-
press every attempt at disturbance. ^" Under the kindly administration of this monarch, the Kingdom of Ireland gradually recovered from the scenes of desolation and havoc, caused by foreign and domestic wars ; while compara-
tive tranquillity and plenty characterized the years of his sovereignty. '" King Brian was sufficiently politic, to select his time for action, and the opportuni- ties for combining his means and power, before he ventured to enforce his
authority. ThusdidhisreignbecomemostprosperousforIreland,andthere
that was paid, not only by the two provinces of Munster, but by the other three provinces of the Island.
** The particulars are specified, in Der- mod O'Connor's Keating's "General His-
tory of Ireland," and in the following order 2,670 beeves, 1,370 hogs, 180 loads or tons
^ On this subject of Irish classes in society and their privileges, see Eugene O'Curry's
"
Manners and Customs of the Ancient Irish,'] edited by W. K. Sullivan, Ph. D. , vol. iii. Appendix ii. , pp. 465 to 522.
"* By having recourse to the poetical com- position mentioned by Keating, the several orders are at large expressed, as that docu- ment states.
"» As translated from the original Irish of Keating, t—he following verses testify to this privilege :
"The most illustrious tribe of Dailgais Alone were honoured with the privi-
lege
Of wearing arms when they appear'd
at court. " Dermod O'Connor's
of iron, 325 hogsheads or pipes of red wine,
and 1 50 pipes of other wines of various sorts,
and 500 mantles. These annual tributes, ap- pointed for the use and service of the crown,
were laid by public laws upon the several countries of the Island, and in the following proportion : 800 cows and 800 hogs were
fixed upon the province of Connaught, and appointed to be sent . innually, upon the first
day of November ; 500 cloaks and mantles
and 500 cows « ere to be supplieil from the country of Tyrconnell 60 and 60 —
; hogs,
loads or tons of iron was the yearly tribute of the inhabitants of Tir Eogain j 1 50 cows, and 150 hogs were to be paid by the Clana Rughraidhe, in the province of Ulster ; 160 cows was the contribution of the Oirgial- lachs ; 300 beeves, 300 hogs, and 300 loads or tons of iron, were to be paid by the pro- vinceofLeinster; 60beeves,60hogs,and 60 loads or tons of iron, were provided by the people of Ossory ; 1 50 pipes or hogs- beads of wine was the proportion of the Danes, who inhabited the City of Dublin ; while 365 pipes or hogsheads of red wine was the yearly tribute demanded from the DanesofLimerick. SeetheSecondBook,
pp. 486 to 488.
"General History of Ireland," Second Book, pp. 488,
:
489.
y See Rev. James Wills' "Lives of Illus-
trious and Distinguished Irishmen," vol. ! . , part i. , Second Period, p. 205.
«' In Dr. " General of Keating's History
Ireland,"as translated by Dermod O'Connor,
the — verses indicate this following state
happiness :
" The most renowned Bryen Boiroimhe Governed the isle in peace; and
through his reign
The Irish were a brave and wealthy
people.
And wars and discord ceased. "
of
Keating's
378 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23.
can be little question, that his faculty for administration was excellent,9' while his decrees were universally respected. Restless chiefs were kept in awe, and the ruthless Danes were restrained from those incessant and well- organized raids, arising from the sanctioned practice of robbery on an exten- sive scale ;93 while some native chiefs were ready to combine with the foreigner, because it suited their selfish purposes, and satisfied some ignoble passion or personal rivalry. This most enlightened sovereign did a great deal to strengthen Ireland, by promoting and by cultivating the gentle arts of peace, although the unhappy circumstances of his epoch kept him almost perpetually, intheturmoilsofwar. Asanadministrator,heappliedtotherevisionofestab- lished laws, into which corruptions and abuse had crept f^ while he attended mostsedulously,totheirjustapplicationandexecution. Anadvanceinnational prosperity, even under inveterate social and political disadvantages, must have beengreatlydeveloped; and,undoubtedly,itfollowedthemeans,hesowell andsowiselyadopted. Thosegoodlaws,sanctionedbythemonarch,andevery- where executed with strictness and impartiality,9s had impressed the minds of his people, and had inspired his subjects, with a spirit of honour, integrity and virtue. As an instance of the practical results of good government, it is recorded, that a maiden in the flush of youth, and " beautiful exceedingly,? ^ had travelled alone and on foot, throughout the realm, without either her honour or her treasure being assailed. ^ It is stated, that she set out from Torach,9' in the north of Ireland, carrying a gold-ring on a horse-rod,99 and that she arrived, at a place, called Tonn Cliodhna,'°° which lay at the utmost distance from her point of departure,'"' and in the extremest part of the southern province. This romantic statement is found, in some Irish bardic verses,""^ which have been often quoted. —
The monarch
equalled those of any prince in Europe on objects of solid improvement
9' See Alexander G.
on the History of Ireland, down to A. D. 1534. " Lect. iii. , p. 67.
'3 Wemaywell question the accuracy of
the following account regarding Bryan, and
and that fine so composition,
given in these vague terms
" :
He
extirpated, dispersed, banished, caused to fly, stripped, maimed, ruined, and destroyed the foreigners in every district and in every territory throughout the breadth of all Erinn. He killed also their kings, and their chieftains,
their heroes and brave soldiers, their n)en of renown and valour. He enslaved and reduced to bondage their stewards and their collec- tors, and their swordsmen, their mercena- lies, and comely, large, cleanly yo—uths, and their smooth, youthful girls. " CojA'ch 54et)1iel tie jAlLdibh, chap. Ixxix. , pp. 136 to 139. An Irish Poem is quoted, on the authority of which, apparently, the fore- going statement is based.
"
'>* See Dr. Jeoffrey Keating's General
<>• " Or the
chap, vii. , p. 255.
9° See Ferd. Warner's "
land,"vol. i. , BookX.
the death of the Rev. Edmond Kavanagh,"
in "Journal of the Kilkenny and South-east
of Ireland Archjeological Society. " New Series, vol. i. , part i. , p. 127.
9' The poet Moore has made that tradition
History
of Ire-
'">" These are to be in Dr. found,
Jeoffrey
much of—
his revenues said to have
expended public
Richey's
Melodies,"
dramatic and inspiring, is set to a charming, well-known air :—
" Rich and rare were the gems she wore,
And a bright gold ring on her wand she bore ;
But oh ! her beauty was far beyond Her sparkling gems, or snow-white
wand. "
^ Now Tory Island, off the coast of Done- gal. See Cogax^h Jae-ohet He S^LlAibh, chap. Ixxx. , pp. 138, 139.
» These circumstances are commemorated, in an ancient Irish poem.
geniensis, cliap. xi. , p. 77.
" Lectures
and they have been translated into English the basis of his celebrated lyric, in the Irish verse, by Dermoi O'Connor. They have
"
wave of Cliona," off Cape Clear. " See "Irish Folk Lore," by La-
'»'
For some legendary notices of the
Bannshee Cliodhna, the reader is referred to
of Ireland," Book Der- Dr. O'Donovan's " on
History
mod O'Connor's translation.
95 See Dr. Sylvester O'Halloran's " Gene-
ral History of Ireland," vol. ii. . Book xi. ,
ii. , p. 485. John paper, Elegy
Keating's "General History of Ireland,
'
April 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
379
and of permanent utility, proportioned to his resources. '—°3
Duns were erected or repaired, in good strategic positions
which became obvious—as the foreigners had used their own Irish strongholds, for purposes both of attack and of defence. He fortified the fastnesses and
islands, as also the royal forts of Cashel, of Cean Feabradh,'"'* of Inis Locha Cea,'°5 of Inis Locha Guir, or Gair,'°* of Dun Eochair Maighe,'°7 of Dun Jasg,""* of Dun Trillaig,'°9 of Dun Gcrott,"° of Dun Cliach,'" of Insi an Gaill Duibh,"^ of Inis Locha Saighlean,"3 of Rosna Riogh,"'* of Ceann Coradh,"' ofBoirumha,andofalltheroyalforts,intheprovinceofMunster. "* Dun Crot and Rosach "' are added to these, in another account ;"^ but, they hardly differ from other forms of names already given, while most of the places havebeenidentified. "' Besidesthesefortificationsfordefence,themonarch kept a standing army of his brave Dalcassians. These were well equipped and ready for all emergencies of state ; besides, they were troops of tried fidelity. Money appropriated to public uses was justly applied,"" although
it was generously expended, also, in giving hospitable entertainments and banquets, which were a chief means for attaching to the monarch subordinate kings and chiefs of the realm. He lived chastely, and therefore he was reverenced, by his domestics and subjects. The marriage ceremony was con- firmed by Brj'an, according to an account, furnished in the fragmentary eulogy "' of this monarch ; and, by that remark, we are probably to under- stand, that he procured nuptials to be observed and solemnized, with greater reverence. He desired, that the canons of the Church should be observed, and that their religious rules should guide the clergy. His own devotions were faithfully observed. His judgments were universally approved, because he loved to defend the rights of all classes. Enjoying a great reputation
everywhere
for valour and
prowess, during
those
years
"• he over reigned
even been rendered into French verse, by M. Lally Tolendal :—
"Unevieige, unissant aux dons de la nature
De lor et de rubis I'eclat et la va- leur,
A la clart^ da jour on dans la nuit obscure
D'une met jusqu'4 I'autie allait sans protecteur,
Ne perdait rien de sa parure. Ne risquait rien pour sa pudeur. "
—Feller's " Dictionnaire Historique. "
'"3 See Dr. Sylvester O'Halloran's "Gene-
Black Foreigners. " It is stated, in the Dub- lin copy of the Annals of Innisfallen, at the year 1016, that this was the name of an island in the Shannon, but it has not been yet identified. It was probably another name for the King's Island, limerick.
"3 The Island of Loch Saiglenn. Its situation was unknown to Dr. O'Donovan.
"* Identical with Rosnaree Ford, on the River Boyne, where, it is said, the Monarch of Ireland, Cormac Mac Art, lies interred. See Sir William R. Wilde's " Beauties of the Boyne, and its Tributary, the Blackwater," chap, viii. , pp. 187, 188.
"5 It is also call Cathair-Cinn-Coradh, or the stone fort of Kincora.
"' See Dr. " General JeoflTrey Keating's
ral of History
vol.
Book
Ireland," chap, vii. , pp. 256.
ii. ,
xi. ,
'"* Sometimes called Cenn Abrat.
History of Ireland," translated by Dermod O'Connor, Second Book, p. 485.
'°5AlsocalledLochCend. Dr. O'Dono-
van is doubtful, if this be Lough Cre, near Roscrea.
"^ Now Lough Gur, county of Lime- rick.
"^ Now Bruree, county of Limerick. "* Now Cahir.
'°' Now Duntryleague.
"" Dungrod, in Aherlow Glen, in the
county of Tipperary.
" Called, likewise, Dun Cliath, on the top
of Knockany Hill.
"' The signification is " the Island of the
"'Alsocalled"RosachoftheKings. "
"' See Co5AT)h JaeDhet He jAlUiVibh, chap. Ixxx. , pp. 140, 141.
"» See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. ii. , n. (w), p. 770.
'TM See Dr. Sylvester O'Halloran's " Gene-
ral History of Ireland," vol. ii. . Book xi. , chap, vii. , p. 255.
'"" That attributed to his secretary Mac
Liag.
" According to an Irish poet, named
Gilla Mududa O'Cassidy, Abbot of Ardbrec- can, fifteen years are assigned him, in the
Fortresses and
the necessity for
38o LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23.
Erinn, Bryan was powerful, and also secured in the affections of liis subjects, while they held him in great honour. "3 He laid out good roads in different directions throughout the island ; while these served to promote ready access, between various posts and stations, before almost inaccessible. He con- structed bridges over deep waters and rivers, that had previously been impassable ; and thus, the facilities for travel and commerce were materially improved. Those public works made him very popular, among his sub- jects. "* He hanged or put to death robbers and thieves, who were the plun- derers of Erinn. The instigators of war, of murder, and of trespass, were finedandimprisoned. "' Favouritesandsycophantswerebanished,fromthe court of Bryan. Such was his sense of inflexible justice, that he would not suffer the meanest of his subjects to be oppressed or injured, by any of the nobles, even although these were his own relatives. "*
The closing years of Bryan's life, however, were clouded with some domes- tic bereavements. The monarch's wife, Duvchovlaigh, who was daughter to the King of Connaught, died a,d. 1008;"' while, the void she occasioned in Bryan's home was soon widened, by the removal of other prized friends and relations. This wife is called Dubhchabhla, in the Annals of Ulster, which place her death, at this same year. "* Under the date of 1009,"? in the Annals of the Four Masters,'3° we find the death of Maelsuthain O'Cearb- liaill recorded, with a high encomium, and after he had led a good life. This year, also, Byran is said to have conducted an army to Cleanloch,'3i orClonen- loch, a region of the mountain Fuath,'3" where he received the hostages of the northern half of Ireland. '33 In a. d. ioio, the monarch's own brother, Marcan, head of the clergy of Munster, departed this life. '3« His exact posi- tion in the Irish Church, we have not been able to ascertain.
While those events were transpiring, the columns of Bryan's army were ready tomoveinthedirectionofDublin. ThedivisionofhissonMurroughhad already preceded him. '35 Afti r some time had been spent on his march, the monarch reached Kilmainham, which lay a little distance west from DubUn. He encamped there, and remained for some months ;'3' his object being pro- bably to favour the enterprise of Murrough, by preventing the Leinstermen or Ostmen from sending any forces to oppose him. The monarch found no army in Leinster able to withstand his progress ;'37 and, now he attempted to besiege Dublin. His army drew lines about the stronghold, but they seem to have made no progress in its capture, and they found it difficult to obtain
monarchy, although Dr. Keating, and most of our Irish historians, only give him twelve. His stanzas are preserved, in the " Book of Lecan," fol. 312a. , and in the "Leabhar Gabhala," or Book of Conquests, p. 233. Both of those Manuscripts are preserved, in the Royal Irish Academy.
''3 See CogA'oVi JierjheL T\e 5<iLtAibh, chap. Ixxx. , pp. 140, 141.
"< See Dermod O Connor's Keating's "GeneralHistory of Ireland, "Second Book,
p. 485.
"5 See CosAt)! ! jAexihel Re jAltAibli,
chap. Ixxix. , pp. 136, 137.