Aulaf, chief the Danes, had his skull cloven through his iron helmet by Ceal lachan himself, with single blow his battle-axe the chiefs under
Ceallachah
acted with equal valour; O'Sullivan killed single combat, and cut off the head Moran, son the king Denmark; O'Keefe ran his spear through the body Magnus, the Danish standard bearer, and Lochlin, another Danish champion, was slain single combat O’Riordan.
Four Masters - Annals of Ireland
-An account the Danes and Norwegians who conquered Northumbria, and other parts Eng
1036 Reginald mentioned Dublin Sitric, Danish king manus, son Raban, king
his successor, and was slain that city. 1038 Com the Danes Waterford, was slain,
has been given 460 462, invaded England with great fleet and powerful forces Danes and Norwegians, and having slain battle York, Osbert and Ella, the Saxon kings Nor thumbria, together with
Several kings the Northmen Waterford the Irish Annals and by Ware. 893
name Waterford.
are mentioned
Patrick, son
slain.
defeatedwith great slaughter the prince
Ivar, king the Northmen 914 the Northmen landed
Waterford plundered and burned the famous abbey
the Danes
and city
country.
tric and Oittir, are frequently mentioned lords the Northmen
Waterford. 1000, Ivar, the Danish king Water ford, died, and was succeeded his son Reginald, who
1003 erected the strong stone fortress called Reginald's Tower, which still standing, and known the name Ring Tower; Reginald died 1020, and was succeeded his brother Sitric, who 1023 was killed the people Ossory; and
Lismore, marched into Meath, and laid waste the
From the year 915 930, Reginald, son Ivar, Si
land, the ninth century, given
Anglo-Saxons, and the article Cyclopedia. 867 Hingvar
Speed's Annals, and Turner's
Northumberland the Penny Ivar, Hubba, and Halfdan,
and the city was burned by Dermod Mac Maol-na-m Bo, king Leinster, and the same year the Danes Dublin marched Waterford, which they plundered and burned. 1089 the Dames Dublin, Waterford, Wexford, and Wicklow, with their
combined forces, marched attack Cork, but were defeated by the Irish with great slaughter. An account the battles the Danes Cork, Waterford, and Wexford, with the English under Strongbow and his followers, hereafter given.
In Limerick, the Northmen, before stated, settled,
colony under Ivar, brother Sitric, the Danish king
the Heptarchy, according Speed and others, contained the provinces Deira and Bernicia, and comprised the territories which now form the counties Nor
REIGN OF ELIZABETIH. 483 |
Waterford, and Aulaf, another these Norwegian princes, who was brother Ivar and Sitric, settled colony Dublin. The Northmen for more than two hundred years ruled over Limerick,
and many their lords and leaders are mentioned these articles, the accounts the various battles.
the course From about
Limerick, 930, the Danes Limerick, having fleet the Shannon, and plundering the adjoining parts Munster and Connaught, and proceeding far Athlone and Lough Ree Meath, plundering the abbeys and churches, Clonmacnois, Clonfert, &c. , and carrying off great
spoils gold, silver, and precious articles; and Keating mentions
that the Danes Limerick were defeated about this time the people Connaught, and many their forces slaughtered, toge ther with Harold, son Ivar, lord the Danes Limerick.
931, according the Four Masters, chief the Danes
Limerick, who was called Aulaf Cenn Carrach, defeated the chiefs Hy Maine Galway, with great slaughter; and 932
the Danes Limerick devastated Connaught far Moylurg Roscommon; and 934 Aulaf Ceann Carrach again ravaged the country, and came from Lough Erne across Brefney, and far Lough Ree the Shannon, and laid waste the
country Christmas night, and remained for the space seven months spoiling and plundering Magh Aoi Roscommon, and other parts Connaught. 935 Aulaf, the son Godfrey, lord the Danes Dublin, came with his forces Lough Ree, and carried off captive Aulaf Ceann Carrach, and the Danes who were with him, and destroyed their ships. sub sequent part this article an account given various battles fought with the Danes Limerick, Waterford, and Cork, and great victories gained over them the celebrated Ceallachan, king
900 950 Tomar, and other Iarls the Danes are frequently mentioned. From 920 about Keating, O'Halloran, and others, mentionTomar, lord
their own lords and chiefs, sometimescalled 853, before stated, Sitric, Norwe colony Northmen Waterford, and be This place was called the Irish Port Lairge,
called men;
the Annals Ulster the most cruel king the North
was succeeded his son Aulaf, who was Aulaf IV.
934 Clonmacnois was devastated the Danes Dublin,
men incredible strength, says Speed, and who were sons the famous Ragnar Lodbrog, king Denmark, whom account
they became masters Northumbria, the time
immense number the Anglo-Saxons, the country. The ancient kingdom
thumberland, Cumberland, Westmoreland, Yorkshire, Lanca shire, and Durham. Hingvar and Hubba also conquered parts Mercia the present county Nottingham their extensive pos sessions the north England were termed the Danelagh, and Halfdan became their first king, and divided these great territo ries amongst his followers. On the death Halfdan, A. D 883, Godred, or, according others, Gormo, succeeded king, and after him Eric, who about 902 was slain battle by the
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484 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A. D. 1573.
in the harvest of this year to preside over the pro Bacach O’Neill, Codhnach, ruled over Trian vince of Ulster, and went to reside at Carrickfergus Congail and Clannaboy that time, and many
and in Clannaboy. Bryan, the son of Felim depredations and conflicts took place between
Saxon king Edward the Elder. Soon after another invasion of the Northmen took place under Reginald, Sitric, and Niel or Nigel,
the two latter being sons of Hingvar or Ivar ; they defeated the Northumbrians and Scots, and seized the kingdom of Northumbria. Nigel was killed by his brother Sitric, who became very powerful, and married the sister of Athelstan, king of England; and this Sitric also became Danish king of Dublin, and his death is recorded at A. D. 925 in the Four Masters. On the death of Sitric, his son Godefrid or Godfrey succeeded, but was defeated and expelled from Northumbria by Athelstan; this Godfrey became Danish king of Dublin as before mentioned, and on his death A. D. 932, was succeeded by his son Aulaf, as Danish king of Dublin; he is called in the Saga Olafr Raudi, or Aulaf the Red, and stated to have been born in Ireland; he was a warrior of great strength and valour, and married a daughter of Constantine, king of Scotland; he ruled not only over Dublin, but extended his power over the Orkneys, the Hebrides, and Isle of Mann, and was styled king of Ireland and the Isles. Aulaf determined to make an attempt to recover the kingdom of Northumbria, collected all the Danish forces he could in Ireland, and was joined by a great number of Irish kerns as auxiliaries; he sailed from Dublin with all his ships, and having collected many other vessels from the Scottish isles, he entered the Humber in Northumberland with a mighty fleet, consisting of no less than 615 ships, according to Turner and others. Aulaf was joined in Northumbria by all the Danes and Norwegians in England, and by many of the British princes of Wales and Cumbria, and likewise by the Scots under his father in-law, king Constantine. Athelstan, king of England, mustered a powerful army of the Anglo-Saxons, commanded by himself in person, his brother Edmond, and many famous champions. An account of the various celebrated chiefs who fought at Brunan burgh, is given by Turner, and in the Icelandic Saga, and amongst others is mentioned a famous Norwegian warrior named Thorolf, who fought on the side of Athelstan; he was a man of immense strength and gigantic stature, and his spear is thus described in the Saga:-He held in his hand a spear, the iron head of which was two cubits in length (more than three feet), terminated in a four-sided sharp point flattened on both sides; the shank which entered the handle was long and thick, and the shaft, to the length of a cubit above the shank, was of great thickness and covered with iron; the shaft or handle was ten feet long, making the en tire spear about fourteen feet in length, and this formidable wea pon was called Brinthuarar, that the Piercer Coats Mail. Aulaf the day before the battle made the exceeding bold experi ment entering the camp Athelstan, disguised harper, and played before the king the royal tent; he laid plan sur prising the English camp that night, and would have succeeded had not the intention been accidentally discovered soon after his departure, consequence his having been seen, when be yond the precincts the camp, indignantly throwing away the gold had received from king Athelstan, for his musical per formance, and this circumstance having led the discovery, the English were guarded against surprise. Both armies encountered
place called Brunan-Burgh, signifying the Town the Foun tains Northumbria, and fought one the most tremendous bat tles recorded those ages. Milton his History Britain calls
“the bloodiest fight that ever this Island saw. ” After furious and long contested conflict, and the most heroic valour displayed the champions both sides, Aulaf and his allies were length
vanquished with prodigious slaughter, and he fled his ships the Humber with small remnant his forces; five kings and twelve earls are recorded have fallen the side Aulaf, and king Constantine narrowly escaped with his life, and fled with few followers to Scotland. There were at least one hundred thou sand men engaged that battle, and both sides there were not less than fifty thousand slain. There difference chronology
the time this battle; Turner and Thierry place the year 934, but was fought 937, according various other
authorities. This battle mentioned the Annals of Ulster at A. 936, which stated, that terrible, lamentable, and horrible war was fiercely carried between the Saxons and Northmen, which unnumbered thousands the Northmen fell, and king Aulaf with few escaped; and the other side im mensemultitude the Saxons were slain, but king Athelstan gained great victory. There ancient poem the battle Brunanburgh the Saxon chronicle, and version Danish
and Latin, given Johnstone's Celto-Scandinavian Antiquities, from which has been literally translated follows:—
“Athelstan the king,
The giver collars
And his brother Edmond Etheling,
lasting glory won By the edges swords
battle Brunanburgh.
earth the lord, the brave,
“The wall shields they cleaved, And hewed the warriors' banners; As for the sons Edward, them
was natural from their ancestors, Often the field against every foe,
To defend their land, their treasure, and homes.
“Pursuing, they destroyed the Scottish people (the Irish and Scots),
And their fleet ships while the slaughtered fell; The field resounded with the strife warriors, From the rising the sun morning hour,
Till the noble creature hastened her setting, The greatest star rejoicing above the earth,
The candle God, the Eternal Lord.
“There lay many mighty chiefs,
The strong Northmen were cut down, Pierced with darts over their shields,
And the Scots were weary the red battle.
“The race of the Western Saarons chosen bands, laid prostrate
Their hated foes throughout the long day, Nor did the Mercians fear the strife of arms,
“Then was there safety for the warriors Who came with Aulaf across the sea,
And o'er the ocean's bosom sought the land, To mingle their might this fatal conflict.
“On the field battle pierced with wounds,
Fell five kings, commanders heroes,
With seven Aulaf's valiant earls,
And the Scottish seamen, countless number.
“There the dreaded leader of the Northmen Was put flight, and few his followers; The mournful king wept he returned O'er the deep waves with the remnant
“Constantine the North amongst his kinsmen Did not exult the shock battle,
For there his friends and kindred fell, O'erwhelmed the strife of fierce contest.
“There did leave his valiant son,
Mangled with wounds the field slaughter,
Nor could the yellow-haired race, dauntless war, Glory the fortune that day's fight.
his warriors.
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REIGN OF ELIZABETH. 485
Bryan and the earl, until the following festival of O’Brien, was slain by Ulick Burke, the son of St. Patrick. Rickard, son of Ulick of the Heads, aided by
Murrogh, the son of Dermod, son of Murrogh O'Shaughnessey, namely, Dermod Riavach, the
“Neither could Aulaf, the brave in battle, And old in war, or his surviving heroes,
Boast that they who commanded there Had victory won on that fatal field.
“The fierce blows and piercing of weapons,
And the councils of their chiefs they rue by turns, And they long lamented they had dared to contend On the field of war with the sons of Edward.
* The mournful remnant of the Northmen Fled in their ships o'er the sounding sea,
With Aulaf their king in sorrow,
And o'er the deep ocean returned to Dyflin (Dublin).
“Then did the two valiant brothers, Athelstan the king, and Etheling, Return to the land of the West Saxons, And left behind the bewailers of battle.
“On the field the black ravens feed,
With pointed beaks on the carcasses of foes, The croaking toad, and hungry eagle,
The kite, and wild wolf of the woods.
“Never had there been in this island
A greater slaughter, or more men destroyed, Before this time by the edges of swords,
As recorded in the books of the old sages ;
“Since the Angles and Saxons came from the East Over the broad waves and conquered the Britons, The mighty artificers of war,
The earls excelling in valour,
Subdued the people and obtained the land. ”
In A. D. 936 after the return of Aulaf, and the remnant of his forces to Dublin, from the battle of Brunanburgh, they again com
menced their depredations, and laid waste Kilcullen in Kildare, and carried off, according to the Four Masters, one thousand cap tives, but soon after Donogh, monarch of Ireland, in conjunction with Murtogh Mac Neill, assembled their forces and attacked the Danes of Dublin, and afterwards spoiled and laid waste all their possessionsfrom Dublin to Ath-Trustan, or the Ford of Trustan,
of Ulster, Downpatrick was devastated by the Danes, which was avenged by God and St. Patrick, as other Foreigners came from beyond the sea, and expelled them, and their commander the
son of Reginald, was soon after slain. In the same year Blacar and the Danes of Dublin plundered Clonmacnois, Kildare, and other churches.
The Battle of Ardee. —The Danes of Dublin, under Blacar their king, fought a great battle with the Irish of Ulster, com manded by Muircheartach Mac Neill, in which, after great slaugh ter on both sides, the Ultonians were defeated, and Muircheartach himself was slain. This battle was fought, according to the Four Masters, in A. D. 941, but according to the Annals of Ulster, A. D. 943, which is considered the correct chronology, and the day of the battle was Sunday the 4th of March. The place men tioned as the scene of this battle, according to the Annals of Ul ster, was Glassliathain near Clan Cain of the men of Ross, now Clonkeen, a few miles north of Ardee, in the county of Louth, towards Carrickmacross, on the borders of Monaghan. Some verses to the following effect from one of the bards, are quoted on the death of Muircheartach, by the Four Masters:
“From hence vengeance and death shall prevail Against the race of Conn for ever,
Since the lamented Murkertach has fallen, The Gael henceforth shall continue orphans. ”
This Murkertach Mac Neill was so called being son of the valiant king Niall Glundubh, who, as already stated, was slain at A. D.
917, in a great battle with the Danes of Dublin. Murkertach or Murtogh Mac Neill, was Righ-Damhna or heir apparent to the
throne of Ireland; he resided at the ancient palace of Aileach in Donegal, and was generally styled prince of Aileach. The heroic Murkertach was distinguished for military abilities, and one of the most renowned warriors Ireland has produced ; he was designated Muircertach-na-goochall-geroicenn, signifying Murtogh of the leathern Cloaks or Jackets, from his having invented a particular kind of leathern coverings for his soldiers, which partly served as armour. He kept up a battalion of those warriors perfectly dis ciplined, and at the head of twelve hundred of them, he, in A. D. 941, set out from his fortress of Aileach, made a circuit of Ireland, and compelled all the provincial kings and princes to do him homage and deliver hostages as Roy-Damna or heir apparent to the throne, being the successor elect of Donogh, the then reigning monarch. During his tour Murkertach marched to Dublin, and took with him as a hostage Sitric, a Danish lord of great note, who is called by the Irish writers Sitric-na-Sead, that Sitric the Wealthy, and was son Sitric, the former Danish king
which was situated on the river Greese near Athy, in Kildare. In
A. D. 937 or 939, the Danes took the fortress of Aileach, the cele
brated residence of the kings of Ulster, and having made Murtogh
Mac Neill prince of Aileach, prisoner, they carried him off to their Dublin. Murkertach proceeded Leinster and took with him
ships on Lough Swilly, but he soon after made his escape from them, to the great joy of the Irish. In the same year the Danes under Aulaf, son of Godfrey, left Dublin, through the miracles of
God and St. Mactalius, who was an ancient bishop of Kilcullen in the sixth century, and was a patron saint of Dublin. In A. D. 938 Blacar, son of Godfrey, and brother of Aulaf, came to Dublin, and was king over the Danes there until A. D. 943, when he was driven from Dublin by his brother Aulaf, who returned from Eng land, but Aulaf dying soon after, was again succeeded by Blacar. In A. D. 937 Ceallachan, king of Cashel, with the menof Munster and Danish auxiliaries from Waterford, plundered Meath and car ried off great spoils and many captives. In A. D. 938 Harold, grandson of Ivar, and son of Sitric, lord of the Danes of Limerick, was defeated and slain in Connaught, by the chiefs of Aidhne in Galway.
ter
hostage Lorcan, king that province; from thence marched Munster, made Ceallachan, king Cashel, prisoner, put fet him, and conveyed him away; proceeding thence Con
Battle of Moy Cisi. -In A. D. 939 the Danes of Dublin were
defeated by the men of Offaley, commanded by Amergin their after our time. He had great genius for war any man
prince, and by the people of Kinel Fiachain Westmeath, in a great
battle at Magh Cisi, in which 1000 of the Foreigners with many of their chiefs were slain. In A. D. 940, according to the Annals
that this island has perhaps ever produced. The endowments his heart were still greater; enemies was the most generous, commanders the most affable. Elevated, bene
naught, Concovar, the son Teige, king
him, and having made his submission
With these captive princes Murkertach
that province, came fetter was put him.
returned Aileach,
and they were for nine months feasting there, and then sent
those hostages the monarch Donogh, who then reigned Tara.
Murkertach, mentioned the previous part this article,
fought many fierce battles with the Danish forces during period more than twenty years, and gained many great victories over
them and designated the Four Masters the “Hector Western Europe. ” The character this renowned warrior, equally distinguished for his valour and patriotism, thus elo
quently drawn the Dissertations Charles O'Conor:—“His character lies entombed the history people hardly inquired
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486 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A. D. 157
son of Dermod, son of William, son of John Buighe, James Mac Maurice carried on war and conflict and it was by the hand of O'Shaughnessey he was with the English this year, until treaty peace slain; Gort was taken from O’Shaughnessey by was ratified between him and the president the
John Burke, in revenge of the death of his brother.
volent, and captivating, he was unhappily taken off at a time when his character put him in possession of a power which probably would have relieved his country from bondage. ” Cormacan Eigeas, or Cormacan the Learned, who was chief poet of the north of Ire land, and the particular friend and follower of Muircertach, and who died A. D. 948, and is mentioned in O’Reilly's Irish Writers, at A. D. 941, composed a poem on the tour of Muircertach, which is preserved in the Leabhar Gabhala, or Book of Invasions of the O'Clerys, an excellent copy of which is in the library of Sir Wil liam Betham, who has kindly lent it to the translator of theseAnnals for the purpose of making extracts. The poem commences thus:
“A Mhuircheartaigh mheic Neill nair, Roghabhais giallu Innsi Fail. ”
“O Murkertach, son of valiant Niall,
Thou hast taken the hostages of Inis Fail. ”
Faolan, king of Leinster, another celebrated champion distin guished in the battles against the Danes, is mentioned at this time
by the Four Masters, and his death recorded at A. D. 940, in some verses quoted from one of the bards, of which the following is a translation :
“Faolan the terrific, dreaded in war,
Whose mighty voice extinguished the din of battle,
The warlike chieftain of Cualan (Wicklow),
The heroic king of Leinster was slain ;
The strong hand of the Heremonians of Erin,
The champion who conquered the Danish battalions,
A light that shonelike the morning star, Was the valiant warrior Faolan. ”
In A. D. 941 (or 943), the day after Murkertach was slain at the battle of Ardee, Armagh was devastated by the Danes under Bla
car, but in the same year Roderick O'Camannan, prince of Tircon nell, gained a victory over the Danes of Longh Foyle, and in this year also Lorcan, the son of Faolan, king of Leinster, was slain by the Northmen after he had laid waste Dublin, and gained a victory over them in the beginning, for which he is greatly celebrated in verses quoted by the Four Masters.
Battle in Dublin. —In A. D. 942 Congalach, who was after wards monarch of Ireland, with Brann, son of Maolmorda, king of Leinster, and Ceallach, son of Faolan, Roydamna of Leinster, led their forces to Dublin, took its houses, its granaries, ships, and fortifications, all of which they burned, and carried off its women, sons, and common people captives; its warriors and soldiers were slain, youths dispersed through the cities and fortresses Ire land; many people were wounded, some them were drowned, others burned made captives, and only small portion escaped few ships, who went Delganny Wicklow, where
appears the Danes had stronghold. There are verses quoted the Four Masters this battle, from which the following pas
two provinces Munster, precisely Spring;
grandson king Niall Glundubh, and was himself afterwards mo narch Ireland; and the first the northern Hy Niall who took the name O'Neill. this year Blacar, king the Danes, was expelled from Dublin, and his brother Aulaf ruled there after him. Ceallachan, King Cashel, the race the Eugenians Desmond, flourished this time, and makes remarkable figure
the history Munster for period
Battle Desies. —In 941, according the Annals In misfallen, the Danes Waterford and their allies were defeated two battles Desies Waterford, and Ferns Wexford, by the
men Munster, under Ceallachan Cashel, and 2000 reigners were slain. 943 the Danes Limerick, encamped Cloch Beathach, Ossory, now Rathbeagh
kenny, plundered Ferns second time.
Battle Roscrea. — About A. D. 942, according Keating and
O'Halloran, was fought great battle with the Danes Roscrea. great annual fair was those times held Roscrea, Ormond Tipperary, which commenced the festival SS. Peter and
Paul, and continued fourteen days; was attended merchants from all parts Ireland, and even from foreign countries. The Danes Limerick, whose chief that time was Tomar, together with those Waterford, and also the Danes Connaught, formed the project attacking and plundering the merchants and people
this fair, and seizing the vast quantities merchandize and treasure collected there. Olfinn, chief the Danes Connaught, was their principal leader, and marched his men secretly possi ble, detached parties, through Galway towards the Shannon,
where embarking their boats they crossed the river great numbers, and were joined the Danish forces Limerick and
Waterford. On their assembling Ormond, alarm was com municated the Irish throughout the entire country, by lighting
fires the hills; and having collected all their forces, and being joined the people the fair, they armed themselves well
possible, and having assailed the Danes with great fury
sides, after fierce and sanguinary conflict the Danish forces were totally defeated, and four thousand them were slain, together
with their general Olfinn, and many other chiefs.
Battle Singland. —About 943, according O'Halloran
and others, the Danish forces Limerick and Waterford were de feated the men Munster, under the command Ceallachan, king Cashel, and about two thousand them slain great battle Saineangal, now Singland, near Limerick.
Aulaf, chief the Danes, had his skull cloven through his iron helmet by Ceal lachan himself, with single blow his battle-axe the chiefs under Ceallachah acted with equal valour; O'Sullivan killed single combat, and cut off the head Moran, son the king Denmark; O'Keefe ran his spear through the body Magnus, the Danish standard bearer, and Lochlin, another Danish champion, was slain single combat O’Riordan. About this period, ac cording Keating, O'Halloran, and others, Ceallachan Cashel defeated the Danes many other battles, and stated on one occasion have presented Cashel O'Keeffe, one his princi pal champions, 100 helmets, 100 swords, 100 shields, and 100 cap tives,
sage
translated
“Dublin the Swords was destroyed,
With many its shield-bearing champions; The men Tomar were made tremble, And vanquished the western world.
The warrior Carman considered
reward for his valour various battles.
both
Kildare.
A. D. 943, the Danes Lough Neagh were defeated with
dalk, A. D. 944, against the Danish forces under Sitric, who had treachery taken Ceallachan, king Cashel, prisoner Dublin,
having proposed give him his sister marriage. The chiefs the Eugenians Desmond, and the Dalcassians Thomond,
king
Carman,
spears
Bregia great victories. ”
have been Mullaghmast, and Almain, Allen,
Victor that battle was Brann The invincible champion Almain,
And the
They were discomfited with slaughter; Valiant the defence was Congalach,
Leinster the
great slaughter, and their fleet destroyed, Donall O'Neill, the son of Murkertach Mac Neill above-mentioned. This Donal was
from about 930,
rior, and account
ran, and the Annals
the Danes Waterford, Limerick, and Cork, and gained many great victories over them, but his contentions with the other provincial kings frequently fought alliance with the Foreign ers against his countrymen.
Battle the note
Dundalk. --An account has been given 173, Desmond, the battles fought Armagh and Dun
his death his exploits
given Keating, O'Hallo he fought many battles with
Innisfallen
more than twenty years, 954; was famous war
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REIGN OF ELIZABETH. 487
and it happened, through the miracles of God and his brother, John, who had been in imprisonment the intercession of James, that the earl of Desmond, in London for six years previously, were liberated
namely, Gerald, theson of James, son of John, and
having collected the Munster forces, marched to Ulster for the rescue of Ceallachan, who was kept prisoner at Armagh, then in
by permision of the English council, and they ar
was called Probus by the Latin writers, and who wrote Life
St. Patrick, was burned death the Belfry on that occasion, and amongst the relics was the crozier the patron saint (St. Ercus), and bell superior all others. the same year the Danes Dublin, and other parts Ireland, collected immense for
possession of the Danes. The Munster chieftains defeated the
Danish forces with great slaughter, and took from them the city of
Armagh; the Munster chiefs having at the same time fitted out a
great fleet to attack that of the Danes which was stationed at ces, and marched into Meath under Godfrey, the son Sitric, Ivar, Dundalk, having Ceallachan a prisoner on board, a terrific sea
fight took place between then in the bay of Dundalk, in which, after a slaughter of about two thousand men on both sides, the
and other leaders; Roderick O’Canannan, prince Tirconnell, the head the Irish Ulster, and the men Meath, advanced attack them, and both armies having met the festival St. Andrew the Apostle, namely, the 30th November, fought ter
William Betham, and also another copy the possession Mr. Geraghty, the publisher these Annals.
945, Ceallachan king Cashel, and his son Donogh, proceeded Clonfert Galway, and plundered the Danes. A. D. 946 also, according the Annals Innisfallen, Tomar, earl
splendid victory over the Danish forces, was one the heirs pre sumptive the throne Ireland, and the same race the O'Donnells, princes Tirconnell and, according Charles O'Conor, was one the most distinguished men that age for abilities and valour. The place where this battle was fought was situated some part Meath, and supposed some have been near Ardbraccan. 949, the Danes Dublin, under Godfrey, son Sitric, plundered Kells, Donogh Patrick, Ard braccan, Tulain, now Dulane, Disert Ciarain, and Kills. cire Kil skyre, all places near Kells, together with many other churches Meath, but they particularly devastated Kells, and carried off
from thence more than three thousand persons captives, and took besides abundant spoils gold, silver, many relics, and various
the Danes, came Cealltrach, island
Limerick, from which he proceeded Inis the Shannon, the churches which he
Muic-Inis and Clonmacnois, the islands
burned, and also those
Lough Ree, and other parts the Shannon, and proceeded from
thence Meath, which plundered from one end the other. A. D. 950 Godfrey, son Sitric, proceeded with fleet from Waterford, and took hostages from the people Desmond, far Ros-Ailithre, now Rosscarbery, Cork. A. D. 951, accor ding Innisfallen, Godfrey, son Sitric, was slain, together with 500 his forces, Desies, the Dalcassians and Eugenians.
A. D. 953 Clonmacnois was plundered the Danes Limerick, aided by the men of Munster.
Battles Slane and Dublin. —In A. D. 944, according the Four Masters, Clonmacnois, and the churches Meath, with Kil
cullen Kildare, were laid waste the Danes Dublin, and Aulaf Cuaran. 945, Roderick O’Canannan, prince
Tirconnell, with the forces Ulster, marched Meath, where was joined the monarch Congalach, and some Danish auxilia ries, under Aulaf Cuaran, and they fought great battle Slane
against the Danes Dublin, great numbers whom were slain, and
many others drowned the Boyne; the side the Irish fell, the thick battle, Scolaigh O'Aedhagain, lord Dartry;
great plague, Dublin.
On the death Athelstan, king England,
Brunanburgh, the Danish king Dublin, again invaded Eng
land with powerful forces, defeated king Edmond, and recovered the dominion Northumbria; on the death Aulaf, 943,
another Aulaf his cousin, and Reginald his brother, became rulers the Danes Northumbria; Eric and Gormo are mentioned succeeding kings, but 960, Edred, king England, re covered Northumbria from the Danes, which was however again conquered the beginning the eleventh century Sweyn and
li
Danish forces were at length vanquished, and Ceallachan was
berated and led in triumph to Cashel by his valiant countrymen.
Sitric, commander-in-chief of the Danes, and his brothers Tor and
Magnus, with many other chiefs were slain, and many of the
bravest of the Irish chieftains likewise fell in this fierce conflict.
A full and curious account of this expedition for the rescue of
Ceallachan is given in an ancient Irish MS. entitled Toruigheachd
Cheallachain Chaisil, that the Pursuit for the rescue Ceal This celebrated chieftain Roderick O'Canannan, who gained this lachan Cashel, valuable copy which the library Sir
rific battle, which, according the Four Masters, the Danish forces were totally defeated, and six thousand their bravest war riors were slain, with many others inferior note, but towards the end of the conflict the valiant O'Canannan himself was slain the thick battle. Amongst the Danish chiefs fell Ivar, tanist
the Danes, and Godfrey, with the few survivors, fled Dublin.
944, before mentioned, and Blacar, brother Aulaf, again re Garbith, prince Hy Crimthain; and Hugh O'Rourke, the son sumed the government Dublin, but was slain D. 946, above
Tiarnan, prince Brefney. the same year, Dublin was
plundered king Congalach. 946, great battle was
fought Dublin, Congalach, monarch Ireland, with the
forces Meath and Ulster, against the Danes Dublin, com
manded Blacar, son Godfrey their king, which the Danish According the Annals Innisfallen, Godfrey III. was slain
forces were defeated, and 1600 them, together with Blacar
A. D. 951, sians, and
battle Desies with the Eugenians and Dalcas was succeeded his son Aulaf
the Danes. —The Northmen, Danes and Nor
himself, were slain. Some verses, the following effect, battle, are quoted the Four Masters:
this
“On Thursday, Congalach, the leader
At Dublin illustrious was the warrior
He avenged the death the sons noble clans, And with points darts destroyed the Danes. ”
Conversion
wegians Ireland, continued Pagans until this time, worshipped
the same year, the Danes led their forces Druimrath and burned its Dertech, term applied ecclesiastical building,
and 150 it; this place now called Drumrany, where there was celebrated monastery founded century, honour St. Enan.
Westmeath, the sixth
Battle Muinebrocain. —In 948, the Cloicthech, that is, the Belfry, otherwise the Round Tower Slane, which was the time full relics and religious people, was burned the Danes Dublin; Caoinechair, learned lecturer Slane, who
heroes,
idols, and offered sacrifices their gods Odin and Thor, but the time Godfrey III. the Danes Ireland became partly converted
the Christian faith, about A. D. 948 950, according Ware and others; and according the Annals Innisfallen, A. D.
948, the Danes Dublin were converted, and received baptism. According Ware, the monastery the Blessed Virgin Mary
Dublin, afterwards called Mary’s-abbey, was founded this time the Danes for Benedictine monks; the eleventh century, hereafter shown, Christ Church Dublin was founded the Danes, and there were many Danish bishops Dublin, Water
ford, and Limerick.
About 950, according the History Denmark by
Meursius, two famous warriors, Harold and Knut, sons Gormo
other riches and precious articles. this year flux, and famine, prevailed amongst the Danes
941, Aulaf
Canute, kings Denmark. On the death Aulaf IV. , D. 943, was succeeded Danish king Dublin, by his cousin,
Sitric III. , who was slain the great sea fight Dundalk, A. D.
stated, and was succeeded Danish king Dublin God frey III. , son Sitric III. and this Godfrey, according O'Flaherty’s Ogygia, the article Constantine, king Scot land, was grandson Gormo, the Danish king Northumberland.
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488 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A. D. 1573.
rived in the harbour of Dublin. The earl was and Barrow, Waterford, near Cork), and from
afterwards taken and put under arrest in the town, Bealach Conglais Limerick, that did not
and John was permitted to visit the fair plains of
bring under subjection, and place under the con troul of his soldiers and officers in that one month. He proclaimed the clergy and professional men the restoration their privileges, and replaced the
Munster, and see after his patrimony, and that lived of his followers.
those
The president the two provinces
(sir John Perrott), went England
ning the ensuing harvest, after having pacified cording the Pope’s law, had been customary. and subdued the country, and leaving officers, An intestine commotion arose amongst the Dal
the permission the council, about the festival St. Martin following, and without their knowledge
pute arose between Teige, the son Conor, and Teige, the son Murrogh, who were 'till then united aiding Donal, the son Conor, against the sons Donogh, that they separated; and
Munster the begin
ecclesiastical orders their respective places, ac
councillors, and captains his own, rule and cassians, and those on the one side that conten preside over accordance with his own wishes; tion were Donal, the son Conor O’Brien, and the departure the president was lamented the Teige, the son Murrogh O’Brien; and the poor, the widows, the infirm and indigent the other side were the sons Donogh O’Brien, country. The earl Desmond, after that, having namely, the earl and Torlogh; but the earl himself found opportunity, made his escape without was not the country on that occasion. dis
notice, and travelled three nights from Dublin,
accompanied few, until arrived the very
midst the Geraldines; the victorious chief who
had then arrived among them was welcomed, and
although accompanied only few, was not long namely, the sons Donogh O’Brien, against his
after until he had hundreds caused great commotion
his command, and
brother Donal, the son Conor, and Teige, the son Murrogh, and the people Upper Thomond. Teige, the son Conor, after that, revenge his anger Teige, the son Murrogh, collected sol
from the Meeting the Three Waters Bealach Conglais (from the confluence the Suir, Nore
III. , king Denmark, invaded England and Ireland with great forces; they besieged Dublin, and Knut was killed by the cast
dart, but Harold, having taken the city, remained for some time; he afterwards became king Denmark. About A. D. 952, according the Saga, Eric king Norway, great warrior, ra vaged the Orkneys, Hebrides, Isle Mann, and coasts Ireland,
but was slain battle with the English. About A. D. 956, ac cording the Saga, Trygva, king Norway, invaded Scotland and
Ireland, and thus mentioned one the Skalds:
“The warrior who dyed his sword with blood, The breaker strong shields battle;
The valiant king who came his ships,
And fought might with Ireland's heroes. ”
brother Torlogh, the son Donogh. The place where the entire that army met together was
“The prince whose name struck terror
Into the valiant warriors the islands, Emulous glory, and Erin's conquest. ”
He came Dublin, and was married Gyda, sister daughter Aulaf Quaran, Danish prince, and stated that he was converted the Christian faith, and resided long time Ire land. This Aulaf Quaran often mentioned about this period by the Irish writers under the name Aulaf Cuaran, and appears have been chief note, and have been often alliance with the Irish against the Danes Dublin. A. D. 950, the Irish annalists mention great victory gained by the Danes
against the men Albany, Scots, the Britons and Saxons.
the country; the expelled the English
course one month after
forces and hired soldiers who were possession
the fortresses and chief towns of the men of Mun diers and insurgent galloglasses the Geraldines
ter, for that time the president and his Saxons from beyond the Shannon, and took them with possessed Kenry (in Limerick), with castles, him aid the sons Donogh O’Brien, who had Baile na-Martra (Castle Martyr Cork), and along with them great numbers the Butlers, and Castlemaine (in Kerry); those places and their the Mac Sweeneys the country, namely, garrisons were taken the earl, and did not the tribe Donal, the son John Mac Sweeney, leave resident chief any town the country, and also the forces the earl commanded by his
A. D. 951 Clonmacnois was ravaged by the Danes Limerick and Olaf Aulaf, son Trygva, king Norway, also famous war the men Munster, and the same year Aulaf Cuaran laid waste rior, stated the Saga have ravaged the coasts France, Inis Doimhle, and the islands Ulster. A. D. 952, Donal
England, Scotland, and Ireland, and thus described O'Neill, together with the Danes, plundered Bregia. celandic bard
the cause that dissension was through Teige, the son Conor, who went and joined his enemies,
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Teige, the son Conor O’Brien, and Tor
REIGN OF ELIZABETH.
489
Ard-na-goabog, where the river Fergus (in Clare),
falls into the sea; and they afterwards, to revenge
their animosity on South Thomond, marched
through the east of Hy Cormaic, and through the
borders of Hy Fearmaic (both districts in the south
of Clare). The plundering, and continued cry and portunity escaping with their lives from the wailing of the defenceless, warned the people of field which we are fight. ” That exciting their progress in every place through which they speech delivered by Donal made the desired im passed; they afterwards proceeded by the stone pression his people, and they promised him that road (or causeway) of Currofin, and by the gate of they would make fraternal cause against Inchiquin and Bothar-na-Mac-Righ (the Road of their enemies, and they determined sending the King’s sons), and some of their people took persons
(Kilneboy in Clare), and the violation of the church logh, the son Donogh O’Brien, with their
of the female saint was not an omen of success or forces, remained attentive and watchful beside
victory for the Dalcassians. They afterwards pro
ceeded in a north-western direction through the
wilds of Corcomroe and Burren, and having sent
out predatory parties through the country, they
collected the booty the territory one place
before night, and they then encamped, which how along side them, for the purpose encountering
dear country, and have preyed and plundered our people; moreover, though numerous those are, they are only mixed army composed persons from various quarters, who would quickly
they have marched hither, should they have op
view and reconnoitre the camp that
their camp that night, till day break the following
morning, and the rising the sun they marched forward Slieve-na-Groidheadh, and the left hand Bel-Atha-an-Ghobhann, and the forces the country were the same time marching slowly
ever was not place repose account the crying and wailing women and widows lamenting the loss their plundered properties. When Donal, the son Conor O’Brien, and Teige, the son Murrogh O’Brien, received intelligence that this great force had passed by, they collected
them, and both armies having respectively exhibit their broad-extended banners, they proceeded
the Fearsad (ford) Kill Mainchin (Killnamaheen,
the forces they could muster the moment, the length time they were without engaging with and they encountered Carn-Mic-Tail (probably the other army, for they had marched parallel Carne, the parish Kilcorney, county Clare). direction with each other from Baile-Atha-an-Gob
Those who accompanied them thither were the hann this place. Teige, the son Conor, and
sons Edmond Mac Sheehey, who had come Torlogh O’Brien, proceeded with their forces
three nights previously from beyond the Shannon top the hill Beol-an-Chip, the best position
with select body galloglasses; company
young men the tribe Giolla Duv, the son Conor, son Donogh, son Donal the
and thirties, twos and threes, from that place Beinn-for-Mala. was not the same direction
Victories Mac Sweeny, and also Ulick, the son
Rickard Saxanach, the son Ulick, son Rickard
Burke, who had come the day before visit his
kinsman Teige, the son Murrogh O’Brien.
Having then come unanimous resolution
pursue the forces, Donal, the son ofConor O’Brien, cut them down, and slaughtered them twenties
began excite them act bravely, and thus ad
dressed them: “My brave people, have learned
from sages and historians that not large
army host that victory gained, and the
success battle there are no better authorities; went directly south eastern direction. Both these people have committed too great excesses parties, however, were hotly pursued, and the ca and crimes against us, viz. , attack usin our own valry threw away their baggage from their horses
near Ennistymon, county Clare), exactly
an-Chip. Teige, the son Murrogh, and the forces general, began rebuke Donal O’Brien for
the
appeared them for fighting; the other forces and the people the country were pursuing them up the high rugged slope before them quickly they could possibly go, and before they came within fighting distance the constables Teige and Tor logh became alarmed, terrified, startled, unsteady, wavering, and began give way, and once took
flight; the other party pursued, discomfitted,
that those parties fled, for the horsemen proceeded the right along the sea westward, while the foot
Beol
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490 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A. D. 1574.
quickly as they could, and Torlogh O’Brien, with district Clonmel, called Doire-an-Lair, which
twelve horsemen of his body-guard, made their es
cape by their efforts, and the fleetness of their
horses, and others of his people were wounded and
taken prisoners, amongst whom were Teige, the and the earl Ormond, namely, Thomas, the son son of Conor O’Brien, and his son Torlogh, for
they remained on the hill in expectation that their
people would rally round them; some of the earl’s
own people, who were supposed would get no
quarters, were taken prisoners, and many others
were slain ; clamorous were the crows, birds of march and completely ravage Leth Mogha (Lein prey, fowls of the air, and the wolves of the forest,
over the bodies of brave men, being the result of the slaughter of that day. South Thomond was
the better for a long time after that of they had left prisoners, horses, accoutrements, arms, and ordnance, and also their own cows and cattle
that day.
Maurice O'Clery, namely, the son Giolla Riavach, i. e. the O'Clery, man distinguished
history and general literature, man respect
ster and Munster). They did not halt until they pitched their tents and booths about Derry-an Lair, which they finally took, and guards
were beheaded the lord justice. His people and allies were this time much forsaking the earl Desmond, that he came the resolution
waiting the lord justice, and submit him,
and was compelled surrender him the castles Castlemaine, Dungarvan, and Kenry,
and depredations committed between them were forgiven by both parties.
An amicable treaty peace was concluded be. tween Bryan, the son Felim Bacach O’Neill, and the earl Essex, and Bryan after that gave
invitation feast, and amongst those invited was the lord justice (sir William Fitzwilliam), and the nobles his people, where they enjoyed them
garrisoned with some his own trusty people, guards. When this intelligence reached the
lord justice Ireland, sir William Fitzwilliam,
James, son Pierce Roe, the taking that castle renewed their recent and old animosities
against the sons the earl Desmond, and they
commanded the men Meath and Bregia, the Butlers, and the English settlers general,
and great affluence, died
was buried Fenagh the church of St. Caillin,
Muintir Eoluis, and Moyrein (in Leitrim),
A. D. 1574. Con, the son Calvach, son
Manus O’Don nell, was treacherously taken prisoner by the earl
Essex, the earl’s own camp, and was after selves together mirth and cheerfulness for the wards sent to Dublin. space three days and three nights. At the ter
The earl Desmond continued plunder and mination that time, while drinking and carousing harass his enemies the spring this year, and agreeably together, Bryan, with his brother and defeated Mac Carthy More, namely, Donal, wife, were taken prisoners the earl; and his Donal, son Cormac Ladhrach, and people, without reserve, men, women, sons, and
the son
the son Donal, son
Fingin, namely, Donogh, the son daughters, were put the sword his presence. Fingin, was slain by the earl’s peo Bryan, with his wife and brother, were sent
ple, and his death was the cause lamentation Desmond; they also slew young constable
the chiefs Clan Sweeney, viz. , the Clan Donogh Bacach, the son Maolmurry, son Donogh, son Torlogh, son Owen, son Maolmurry, son Donogh, and many other chiefs besides.
happened that the son the earl Des mond, namely, John, the son James, found
Dublin, where they were cut into quarters, and this was the result of their entertainment. That
monstrous massacre, and detestable and treache rous misdeed, which were perpetrated the lord Clannaboy O'Neill, chief and senior the race Eogan, the son Niall the Nine Hostages, and the greater portion the Gael Ireland,
excepting few, was sufficient cause abomina
tion and disgust the Irish people. "
opportunity taking well fortified castle the The sons the earl Clanrickard, namely,
A. D. 1574.
The O'Neills Clannaboy. —An account the O'Neills,
rone, and the territories possessed them, has been given pp.
21, 441, the notes Ulster, where has been shown that they possessed extensive districts the counties Down and Antrim,
lords Clannaboy, great branch the O'Neills, princes Ty
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REIGN OF ELIZABETH.
A shower of hail stones fell on the Kalends of loathsome diseases and afflicting maladies, namely May in this year, which was so extraordinary and plague, were generated excessive degree uncommon, that there were many persons in Ireland amongst the English and Irish Dublin, Naas who never witnessed such a shower, and there were
William and John, having broken their faith, and was slain
disregarded their affinity towards each other, John the son
Burke engaged in his service a great number which much regretted. of Scots and Irish mercenary soldiers. The earl
of Ormond afterwards obtained protection for him,
and he delivered hostages to the earl as a security
of his allegiance to the queen.
many others whose strong built family residences
were swept away by The corn crops which had been sown three months, half year previous
Many castle between those places was left with out guard, many flock without shepherd, and many bodies, even the nobility, were left unburied, through the effects that distemper.
new lord justice, namely, Henry Sydney, came Ireland the harvest precisely, and
landed first the province Ulster, and found
that time, were left bare without stalk and the same shower left soft blue lumps,
blade, large those
the hail stones that fell, who were struck by them.
the legs
491
Donegal, by Cahir, Tuathal O'Gallagher,
Great heat and extreme drought happened the summer this year, that there was not rain for one hour, either by day night, from May Lammas (August). consequence this drought
contention John, son
Leinster, Ardee, Mullingar, and Athboy.
Teige O'Rourke, was
slain by some the people Brefney, the established peace, union, and friendship between
The son Teige, son
all Ireland one wave war and commotion;
plain Dromahaire.
A. D. 1575.
Roderick, the son Hugh, i. e. the O’Donnell,
the son Manus, son Hugh Duv O’Donnell,
namely, North and South Clannaboy the North comprising the baronies Belfast, Massareen, Antrim, and Upper Toome, the county Antrim; and South Clannaboy containing the baronies Ardes, Castlereagh, Kinealarty, and Lecale, the county
the Tirconnallians and Tyronians, and throughout the province Ulster, was amongst them first landed, and that lord justice expelled Eng land the earl Essex, who had invaded Ulster, and acted treacherously towards Con, the son
After some time, stated the Four Masters, O'Neill invited the earl Essex entertainment, though erroneously
stated by other writers that Essex invited O'Neill. According Curry his History the Civil Wars, and Leland his History
Ireland, after O'Neill and Essex this entertainment had made good cheer together for three days and nights, O'Neill, with his wife and brother, were suddenly seized the earl's order, his friends were slaughtered before his face, nor were the women and
children spared O'Neill himself, with his brother and wife, were sent prisoners Dublin, where they were cut quarters. Le land, his Reign Elizabeth, relates the affair exactly the same manner, and says—“This execution produced universal dis content and horror. ” The earl of Essex unable settle his co lony, soon after went England for fresh forces, and 1576
Down; and many celebrated chiefs have been mentioned the course
the O'Neills Clannaboy these Annals. Bryan O'Neill,
above mentioned the text, lord
the greater part the property
Cox, his Hibernia Anglicana (p. 341), had immense flocks, less
than thirty thousand cows, besides great numbers other cattle, horses, sheep, &c. According Cox, queen Elizabeth 1573, gave grant Walter Devereux, earl Essex, the moiety the
seignories Clannaboy Down and Antrim, with part the Glinns and Routes Antrim, and the queen herself was hold the other
captain-general for seven years, and was plant thousand
English inhabitants his territory.
1036 Reginald mentioned Dublin Sitric, Danish king manus, son Raban, king
his successor, and was slain that city. 1038 Com the Danes Waterford, was slain,
has been given 460 462, invaded England with great fleet and powerful forces Danes and Norwegians, and having slain battle York, Osbert and Ella, the Saxon kings Nor thumbria, together with
Several kings the Northmen Waterford the Irish Annals and by Ware. 893
name Waterford.
are mentioned
Patrick, son
slain.
defeatedwith great slaughter the prince
Ivar, king the Northmen 914 the Northmen landed
Waterford plundered and burned the famous abbey
the Danes
and city
country.
tric and Oittir, are frequently mentioned lords the Northmen
Waterford. 1000, Ivar, the Danish king Water ford, died, and was succeeded his son Reginald, who
1003 erected the strong stone fortress called Reginald's Tower, which still standing, and known the name Ring Tower; Reginald died 1020, and was succeeded his brother Sitric, who 1023 was killed the people Ossory; and
Lismore, marched into Meath, and laid waste the
From the year 915 930, Reginald, son Ivar, Si
land, the ninth century, given
Anglo-Saxons, and the article Cyclopedia. 867 Hingvar
Speed's Annals, and Turner's
Northumberland the Penny Ivar, Hubba, and Halfdan,
and the city was burned by Dermod Mac Maol-na-m Bo, king Leinster, and the same year the Danes Dublin marched Waterford, which they plundered and burned. 1089 the Dames Dublin, Waterford, Wexford, and Wicklow, with their
combined forces, marched attack Cork, but were defeated by the Irish with great slaughter. An account the battles the Danes Cork, Waterford, and Wexford, with the English under Strongbow and his followers, hereafter given.
In Limerick, the Northmen, before stated, settled,
colony under Ivar, brother Sitric, the Danish king
the Heptarchy, according Speed and others, contained the provinces Deira and Bernicia, and comprised the territories which now form the counties Nor
REIGN OF ELIZABETIH. 483 |
Waterford, and Aulaf, another these Norwegian princes, who was brother Ivar and Sitric, settled colony Dublin. The Northmen for more than two hundred years ruled over Limerick,
and many their lords and leaders are mentioned these articles, the accounts the various battles.
the course From about
Limerick, 930, the Danes Limerick, having fleet the Shannon, and plundering the adjoining parts Munster and Connaught, and proceeding far Athlone and Lough Ree Meath, plundering the abbeys and churches, Clonmacnois, Clonfert, &c. , and carrying off great
spoils gold, silver, and precious articles; and Keating mentions
that the Danes Limerick were defeated about this time the people Connaught, and many their forces slaughtered, toge ther with Harold, son Ivar, lord the Danes Limerick.
931, according the Four Masters, chief the Danes
Limerick, who was called Aulaf Cenn Carrach, defeated the chiefs Hy Maine Galway, with great slaughter; and 932
the Danes Limerick devastated Connaught far Moylurg Roscommon; and 934 Aulaf Ceann Carrach again ravaged the country, and came from Lough Erne across Brefney, and far Lough Ree the Shannon, and laid waste the
country Christmas night, and remained for the space seven months spoiling and plundering Magh Aoi Roscommon, and other parts Connaught. 935 Aulaf, the son Godfrey, lord the Danes Dublin, came with his forces Lough Ree, and carried off captive Aulaf Ceann Carrach, and the Danes who were with him, and destroyed their ships. sub sequent part this article an account given various battles fought with the Danes Limerick, Waterford, and Cork, and great victories gained over them the celebrated Ceallachan, king
900 950 Tomar, and other Iarls the Danes are frequently mentioned. From 920 about Keating, O'Halloran, and others, mentionTomar, lord
their own lords and chiefs, sometimescalled 853, before stated, Sitric, Norwe colony Northmen Waterford, and be This place was called the Irish Port Lairge,
called men;
the Annals Ulster the most cruel king the North
was succeeded his son Aulaf, who was Aulaf IV.
934 Clonmacnois was devastated the Danes Dublin,
men incredible strength, says Speed, and who were sons the famous Ragnar Lodbrog, king Denmark, whom account
they became masters Northumbria, the time
immense number the Anglo-Saxons, the country. The ancient kingdom
thumberland, Cumberland, Westmoreland, Yorkshire, Lanca shire, and Durham. Hingvar and Hubba also conquered parts Mercia the present county Nottingham their extensive pos sessions the north England were termed the Danelagh, and Halfdan became their first king, and divided these great territo ries amongst his followers. On the death Halfdan, A. D 883, Godred, or, according others, Gormo, succeeded king, and after him Eric, who about 902 was slain battle by the
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484 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A. D. 1573.
in the harvest of this year to preside over the pro Bacach O’Neill, Codhnach, ruled over Trian vince of Ulster, and went to reside at Carrickfergus Congail and Clannaboy that time, and many
and in Clannaboy. Bryan, the son of Felim depredations and conflicts took place between
Saxon king Edward the Elder. Soon after another invasion of the Northmen took place under Reginald, Sitric, and Niel or Nigel,
the two latter being sons of Hingvar or Ivar ; they defeated the Northumbrians and Scots, and seized the kingdom of Northumbria. Nigel was killed by his brother Sitric, who became very powerful, and married the sister of Athelstan, king of England; and this Sitric also became Danish king of Dublin, and his death is recorded at A. D. 925 in the Four Masters. On the death of Sitric, his son Godefrid or Godfrey succeeded, but was defeated and expelled from Northumbria by Athelstan; this Godfrey became Danish king of Dublin as before mentioned, and on his death A. D. 932, was succeeded by his son Aulaf, as Danish king of Dublin; he is called in the Saga Olafr Raudi, or Aulaf the Red, and stated to have been born in Ireland; he was a warrior of great strength and valour, and married a daughter of Constantine, king of Scotland; he ruled not only over Dublin, but extended his power over the Orkneys, the Hebrides, and Isle of Mann, and was styled king of Ireland and the Isles. Aulaf determined to make an attempt to recover the kingdom of Northumbria, collected all the Danish forces he could in Ireland, and was joined by a great number of Irish kerns as auxiliaries; he sailed from Dublin with all his ships, and having collected many other vessels from the Scottish isles, he entered the Humber in Northumberland with a mighty fleet, consisting of no less than 615 ships, according to Turner and others. Aulaf was joined in Northumbria by all the Danes and Norwegians in England, and by many of the British princes of Wales and Cumbria, and likewise by the Scots under his father in-law, king Constantine. Athelstan, king of England, mustered a powerful army of the Anglo-Saxons, commanded by himself in person, his brother Edmond, and many famous champions. An account of the various celebrated chiefs who fought at Brunan burgh, is given by Turner, and in the Icelandic Saga, and amongst others is mentioned a famous Norwegian warrior named Thorolf, who fought on the side of Athelstan; he was a man of immense strength and gigantic stature, and his spear is thus described in the Saga:-He held in his hand a spear, the iron head of which was two cubits in length (more than three feet), terminated in a four-sided sharp point flattened on both sides; the shank which entered the handle was long and thick, and the shaft, to the length of a cubit above the shank, was of great thickness and covered with iron; the shaft or handle was ten feet long, making the en tire spear about fourteen feet in length, and this formidable wea pon was called Brinthuarar, that the Piercer Coats Mail. Aulaf the day before the battle made the exceeding bold experi ment entering the camp Athelstan, disguised harper, and played before the king the royal tent; he laid plan sur prising the English camp that night, and would have succeeded had not the intention been accidentally discovered soon after his departure, consequence his having been seen, when be yond the precincts the camp, indignantly throwing away the gold had received from king Athelstan, for his musical per formance, and this circumstance having led the discovery, the English were guarded against surprise. Both armies encountered
place called Brunan-Burgh, signifying the Town the Foun tains Northumbria, and fought one the most tremendous bat tles recorded those ages. Milton his History Britain calls
“the bloodiest fight that ever this Island saw. ” After furious and long contested conflict, and the most heroic valour displayed the champions both sides, Aulaf and his allies were length
vanquished with prodigious slaughter, and he fled his ships the Humber with small remnant his forces; five kings and twelve earls are recorded have fallen the side Aulaf, and king Constantine narrowly escaped with his life, and fled with few followers to Scotland. There were at least one hundred thou sand men engaged that battle, and both sides there were not less than fifty thousand slain. There difference chronology
the time this battle; Turner and Thierry place the year 934, but was fought 937, according various other
authorities. This battle mentioned the Annals of Ulster at A. 936, which stated, that terrible, lamentable, and horrible war was fiercely carried between the Saxons and Northmen, which unnumbered thousands the Northmen fell, and king Aulaf with few escaped; and the other side im mensemultitude the Saxons were slain, but king Athelstan gained great victory. There ancient poem the battle Brunanburgh the Saxon chronicle, and version Danish
and Latin, given Johnstone's Celto-Scandinavian Antiquities, from which has been literally translated follows:—
“Athelstan the king,
The giver collars
And his brother Edmond Etheling,
lasting glory won By the edges swords
battle Brunanburgh.
earth the lord, the brave,
“The wall shields they cleaved, And hewed the warriors' banners; As for the sons Edward, them
was natural from their ancestors, Often the field against every foe,
To defend their land, their treasure, and homes.
“Pursuing, they destroyed the Scottish people (the Irish and Scots),
And their fleet ships while the slaughtered fell; The field resounded with the strife warriors, From the rising the sun morning hour,
Till the noble creature hastened her setting, The greatest star rejoicing above the earth,
The candle God, the Eternal Lord.
“There lay many mighty chiefs,
The strong Northmen were cut down, Pierced with darts over their shields,
And the Scots were weary the red battle.
“The race of the Western Saarons chosen bands, laid prostrate
Their hated foes throughout the long day, Nor did the Mercians fear the strife of arms,
“Then was there safety for the warriors Who came with Aulaf across the sea,
And o'er the ocean's bosom sought the land, To mingle their might this fatal conflict.
“On the field battle pierced with wounds,
Fell five kings, commanders heroes,
With seven Aulaf's valiant earls,
And the Scottish seamen, countless number.
“There the dreaded leader of the Northmen Was put flight, and few his followers; The mournful king wept he returned O'er the deep waves with the remnant
“Constantine the North amongst his kinsmen Did not exult the shock battle,
For there his friends and kindred fell, O'erwhelmed the strife of fierce contest.
“There did leave his valiant son,
Mangled with wounds the field slaughter,
Nor could the yellow-haired race, dauntless war, Glory the fortune that day's fight.
his warriors.
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REIGN OF ELIZABETH. 485
Bryan and the earl, until the following festival of O’Brien, was slain by Ulick Burke, the son of St. Patrick. Rickard, son of Ulick of the Heads, aided by
Murrogh, the son of Dermod, son of Murrogh O'Shaughnessey, namely, Dermod Riavach, the
“Neither could Aulaf, the brave in battle, And old in war, or his surviving heroes,
Boast that they who commanded there Had victory won on that fatal field.
“The fierce blows and piercing of weapons,
And the councils of their chiefs they rue by turns, And they long lamented they had dared to contend On the field of war with the sons of Edward.
* The mournful remnant of the Northmen Fled in their ships o'er the sounding sea,
With Aulaf their king in sorrow,
And o'er the deep ocean returned to Dyflin (Dublin).
“Then did the two valiant brothers, Athelstan the king, and Etheling, Return to the land of the West Saxons, And left behind the bewailers of battle.
“On the field the black ravens feed,
With pointed beaks on the carcasses of foes, The croaking toad, and hungry eagle,
The kite, and wild wolf of the woods.
“Never had there been in this island
A greater slaughter, or more men destroyed, Before this time by the edges of swords,
As recorded in the books of the old sages ;
“Since the Angles and Saxons came from the East Over the broad waves and conquered the Britons, The mighty artificers of war,
The earls excelling in valour,
Subdued the people and obtained the land. ”
In A. D. 936 after the return of Aulaf, and the remnant of his forces to Dublin, from the battle of Brunanburgh, they again com
menced their depredations, and laid waste Kilcullen in Kildare, and carried off, according to the Four Masters, one thousand cap tives, but soon after Donogh, monarch of Ireland, in conjunction with Murtogh Mac Neill, assembled their forces and attacked the Danes of Dublin, and afterwards spoiled and laid waste all their possessionsfrom Dublin to Ath-Trustan, or the Ford of Trustan,
of Ulster, Downpatrick was devastated by the Danes, which was avenged by God and St. Patrick, as other Foreigners came from beyond the sea, and expelled them, and their commander the
son of Reginald, was soon after slain. In the same year Blacar and the Danes of Dublin plundered Clonmacnois, Kildare, and other churches.
The Battle of Ardee. —The Danes of Dublin, under Blacar their king, fought a great battle with the Irish of Ulster, com manded by Muircheartach Mac Neill, in which, after great slaugh ter on both sides, the Ultonians were defeated, and Muircheartach himself was slain. This battle was fought, according to the Four Masters, in A. D. 941, but according to the Annals of Ulster, A. D. 943, which is considered the correct chronology, and the day of the battle was Sunday the 4th of March. The place men tioned as the scene of this battle, according to the Annals of Ul ster, was Glassliathain near Clan Cain of the men of Ross, now Clonkeen, a few miles north of Ardee, in the county of Louth, towards Carrickmacross, on the borders of Monaghan. Some verses to the following effect from one of the bards, are quoted on the death of Muircheartach, by the Four Masters:
“From hence vengeance and death shall prevail Against the race of Conn for ever,
Since the lamented Murkertach has fallen, The Gael henceforth shall continue orphans. ”
This Murkertach Mac Neill was so called being son of the valiant king Niall Glundubh, who, as already stated, was slain at A. D.
917, in a great battle with the Danes of Dublin. Murkertach or Murtogh Mac Neill, was Righ-Damhna or heir apparent to the
throne of Ireland; he resided at the ancient palace of Aileach in Donegal, and was generally styled prince of Aileach. The heroic Murkertach was distinguished for military abilities, and one of the most renowned warriors Ireland has produced ; he was designated Muircertach-na-goochall-geroicenn, signifying Murtogh of the leathern Cloaks or Jackets, from his having invented a particular kind of leathern coverings for his soldiers, which partly served as armour. He kept up a battalion of those warriors perfectly dis ciplined, and at the head of twelve hundred of them, he, in A. D. 941, set out from his fortress of Aileach, made a circuit of Ireland, and compelled all the provincial kings and princes to do him homage and deliver hostages as Roy-Damna or heir apparent to the throne, being the successor elect of Donogh, the then reigning monarch. During his tour Murkertach marched to Dublin, and took with him as a hostage Sitric, a Danish lord of great note, who is called by the Irish writers Sitric-na-Sead, that Sitric the Wealthy, and was son Sitric, the former Danish king
which was situated on the river Greese near Athy, in Kildare. In
A. D. 937 or 939, the Danes took the fortress of Aileach, the cele
brated residence of the kings of Ulster, and having made Murtogh
Mac Neill prince of Aileach, prisoner, they carried him off to their Dublin. Murkertach proceeded Leinster and took with him
ships on Lough Swilly, but he soon after made his escape from them, to the great joy of the Irish. In the same year the Danes under Aulaf, son of Godfrey, left Dublin, through the miracles of
God and St. Mactalius, who was an ancient bishop of Kilcullen in the sixth century, and was a patron saint of Dublin. In A. D. 938 Blacar, son of Godfrey, and brother of Aulaf, came to Dublin, and was king over the Danes there until A. D. 943, when he was driven from Dublin by his brother Aulaf, who returned from Eng land, but Aulaf dying soon after, was again succeeded by Blacar. In A. D. 937 Ceallachan, king of Cashel, with the menof Munster and Danish auxiliaries from Waterford, plundered Meath and car ried off great spoils and many captives. In A. D. 938 Harold, grandson of Ivar, and son of Sitric, lord of the Danes of Limerick, was defeated and slain in Connaught, by the chiefs of Aidhne in Galway.
ter
hostage Lorcan, king that province; from thence marched Munster, made Ceallachan, king Cashel, prisoner, put fet him, and conveyed him away; proceeding thence Con
Battle of Moy Cisi. -In A. D. 939 the Danes of Dublin were
defeated by the men of Offaley, commanded by Amergin their after our time. He had great genius for war any man
prince, and by the people of Kinel Fiachain Westmeath, in a great
battle at Magh Cisi, in which 1000 of the Foreigners with many of their chiefs were slain. In A. D. 940, according to the Annals
that this island has perhaps ever produced. The endowments his heart were still greater; enemies was the most generous, commanders the most affable. Elevated, bene
naught, Concovar, the son Teige, king
him, and having made his submission
With these captive princes Murkertach
that province, came fetter was put him.
returned Aileach,
and they were for nine months feasting there, and then sent
those hostages the monarch Donogh, who then reigned Tara.
Murkertach, mentioned the previous part this article,
fought many fierce battles with the Danish forces during period more than twenty years, and gained many great victories over
them and designated the Four Masters the “Hector Western Europe. ” The character this renowned warrior, equally distinguished for his valour and patriotism, thus elo
quently drawn the Dissertations Charles O'Conor:—“His character lies entombed the history people hardly inquired
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486 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A. D. 157
son of Dermod, son of William, son of John Buighe, James Mac Maurice carried on war and conflict and it was by the hand of O'Shaughnessey he was with the English this year, until treaty peace slain; Gort was taken from O’Shaughnessey by was ratified between him and the president the
John Burke, in revenge of the death of his brother.
volent, and captivating, he was unhappily taken off at a time when his character put him in possession of a power which probably would have relieved his country from bondage. ” Cormacan Eigeas, or Cormacan the Learned, who was chief poet of the north of Ire land, and the particular friend and follower of Muircertach, and who died A. D. 948, and is mentioned in O’Reilly's Irish Writers, at A. D. 941, composed a poem on the tour of Muircertach, which is preserved in the Leabhar Gabhala, or Book of Invasions of the O'Clerys, an excellent copy of which is in the library of Sir Wil liam Betham, who has kindly lent it to the translator of theseAnnals for the purpose of making extracts. The poem commences thus:
“A Mhuircheartaigh mheic Neill nair, Roghabhais giallu Innsi Fail. ”
“O Murkertach, son of valiant Niall,
Thou hast taken the hostages of Inis Fail. ”
Faolan, king of Leinster, another celebrated champion distin guished in the battles against the Danes, is mentioned at this time
by the Four Masters, and his death recorded at A. D. 940, in some verses quoted from one of the bards, of which the following is a translation :
“Faolan the terrific, dreaded in war,
Whose mighty voice extinguished the din of battle,
The warlike chieftain of Cualan (Wicklow),
The heroic king of Leinster was slain ;
The strong hand of the Heremonians of Erin,
The champion who conquered the Danish battalions,
A light that shonelike the morning star, Was the valiant warrior Faolan. ”
In A. D. 941 (or 943), the day after Murkertach was slain at the battle of Ardee, Armagh was devastated by the Danes under Bla
car, but in the same year Roderick O'Camannan, prince of Tircon nell, gained a victory over the Danes of Longh Foyle, and in this year also Lorcan, the son of Faolan, king of Leinster, was slain by the Northmen after he had laid waste Dublin, and gained a victory over them in the beginning, for which he is greatly celebrated in verses quoted by the Four Masters.
Battle in Dublin. —In A. D. 942 Congalach, who was after wards monarch of Ireland, with Brann, son of Maolmorda, king of Leinster, and Ceallach, son of Faolan, Roydamna of Leinster, led their forces to Dublin, took its houses, its granaries, ships, and fortifications, all of which they burned, and carried off its women, sons, and common people captives; its warriors and soldiers were slain, youths dispersed through the cities and fortresses Ire land; many people were wounded, some them were drowned, others burned made captives, and only small portion escaped few ships, who went Delganny Wicklow, where
appears the Danes had stronghold. There are verses quoted the Four Masters this battle, from which the following pas
two provinces Munster, precisely Spring;
grandson king Niall Glundubh, and was himself afterwards mo narch Ireland; and the first the northern Hy Niall who took the name O'Neill. this year Blacar, king the Danes, was expelled from Dublin, and his brother Aulaf ruled there after him. Ceallachan, King Cashel, the race the Eugenians Desmond, flourished this time, and makes remarkable figure
the history Munster for period
Battle Desies. —In 941, according the Annals In misfallen, the Danes Waterford and their allies were defeated two battles Desies Waterford, and Ferns Wexford, by the
men Munster, under Ceallachan Cashel, and 2000 reigners were slain. 943 the Danes Limerick, encamped Cloch Beathach, Ossory, now Rathbeagh
kenny, plundered Ferns second time.
Battle Roscrea. — About A. D. 942, according Keating and
O'Halloran, was fought great battle with the Danes Roscrea. great annual fair was those times held Roscrea, Ormond Tipperary, which commenced the festival SS. Peter and
Paul, and continued fourteen days; was attended merchants from all parts Ireland, and even from foreign countries. The Danes Limerick, whose chief that time was Tomar, together with those Waterford, and also the Danes Connaught, formed the project attacking and plundering the merchants and people
this fair, and seizing the vast quantities merchandize and treasure collected there. Olfinn, chief the Danes Connaught, was their principal leader, and marched his men secretly possi ble, detached parties, through Galway towards the Shannon,
where embarking their boats they crossed the river great numbers, and were joined the Danish forces Limerick and
Waterford. On their assembling Ormond, alarm was com municated the Irish throughout the entire country, by lighting
fires the hills; and having collected all their forces, and being joined the people the fair, they armed themselves well
possible, and having assailed the Danes with great fury
sides, after fierce and sanguinary conflict the Danish forces were totally defeated, and four thousand them were slain, together
with their general Olfinn, and many other chiefs.
Battle Singland. —About 943, according O'Halloran
and others, the Danish forces Limerick and Waterford were de feated the men Munster, under the command Ceallachan, king Cashel, and about two thousand them slain great battle Saineangal, now Singland, near Limerick.
Aulaf, chief the Danes, had his skull cloven through his iron helmet by Ceal lachan himself, with single blow his battle-axe the chiefs under Ceallachah acted with equal valour; O'Sullivan killed single combat, and cut off the head Moran, son the king Denmark; O'Keefe ran his spear through the body Magnus, the Danish standard bearer, and Lochlin, another Danish champion, was slain single combat O’Riordan. About this period, ac cording Keating, O'Halloran, and others, Ceallachan Cashel defeated the Danes many other battles, and stated on one occasion have presented Cashel O'Keeffe, one his princi pal champions, 100 helmets, 100 swords, 100 shields, and 100 cap tives,
sage
translated
“Dublin the Swords was destroyed,
With many its shield-bearing champions; The men Tomar were made tremble, And vanquished the western world.
The warrior Carman considered
reward for his valour various battles.
both
Kildare.
A. D. 943, the Danes Lough Neagh were defeated with
dalk, A. D. 944, against the Danish forces under Sitric, who had treachery taken Ceallachan, king Cashel, prisoner Dublin,
having proposed give him his sister marriage. The chiefs the Eugenians Desmond, and the Dalcassians Thomond,
king
Carman,
spears
Bregia great victories. ”
have been Mullaghmast, and Almain, Allen,
Victor that battle was Brann The invincible champion Almain,
And the
They were discomfited with slaughter; Valiant the defence was Congalach,
Leinster the
great slaughter, and their fleet destroyed, Donall O'Neill, the son of Murkertach Mac Neill above-mentioned. This Donal was
from about 930,
rior, and account
ran, and the Annals
the Danes Waterford, Limerick, and Cork, and gained many great victories over them, but his contentions with the other provincial kings frequently fought alliance with the Foreign ers against his countrymen.
Battle the note
Dundalk. --An account has been given 173, Desmond, the battles fought Armagh and Dun
his death his exploits
given Keating, O'Hallo he fought many battles with
Innisfallen
more than twenty years, 954; was famous war
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REIGN OF ELIZABETH. 487
and it happened, through the miracles of God and his brother, John, who had been in imprisonment the intercession of James, that the earl of Desmond, in London for six years previously, were liberated
namely, Gerald, theson of James, son of John, and
having collected the Munster forces, marched to Ulster for the rescue of Ceallachan, who was kept prisoner at Armagh, then in
by permision of the English council, and they ar
was called Probus by the Latin writers, and who wrote Life
St. Patrick, was burned death the Belfry on that occasion, and amongst the relics was the crozier the patron saint (St. Ercus), and bell superior all others. the same year the Danes Dublin, and other parts Ireland, collected immense for
possession of the Danes. The Munster chieftains defeated the
Danish forces with great slaughter, and took from them the city of
Armagh; the Munster chiefs having at the same time fitted out a
great fleet to attack that of the Danes which was stationed at ces, and marched into Meath under Godfrey, the son Sitric, Ivar, Dundalk, having Ceallachan a prisoner on board, a terrific sea
fight took place between then in the bay of Dundalk, in which, after a slaughter of about two thousand men on both sides, the
and other leaders; Roderick O’Canannan, prince Tirconnell, the head the Irish Ulster, and the men Meath, advanced attack them, and both armies having met the festival St. Andrew the Apostle, namely, the 30th November, fought ter
William Betham, and also another copy the possession Mr. Geraghty, the publisher these Annals.
945, Ceallachan king Cashel, and his son Donogh, proceeded Clonfert Galway, and plundered the Danes. A. D. 946 also, according the Annals Innisfallen, Tomar, earl
splendid victory over the Danish forces, was one the heirs pre sumptive the throne Ireland, and the same race the O'Donnells, princes Tirconnell and, according Charles O'Conor, was one the most distinguished men that age for abilities and valour. The place where this battle was fought was situated some part Meath, and supposed some have been near Ardbraccan. 949, the Danes Dublin, under Godfrey, son Sitric, plundered Kells, Donogh Patrick, Ard braccan, Tulain, now Dulane, Disert Ciarain, and Kills. cire Kil skyre, all places near Kells, together with many other churches Meath, but they particularly devastated Kells, and carried off
from thence more than three thousand persons captives, and took besides abundant spoils gold, silver, many relics, and various
the Danes, came Cealltrach, island
Limerick, from which he proceeded Inis the Shannon, the churches which he
Muic-Inis and Clonmacnois, the islands
burned, and also those
Lough Ree, and other parts the Shannon, and proceeded from
thence Meath, which plundered from one end the other. A. D. 950 Godfrey, son Sitric, proceeded with fleet from Waterford, and took hostages from the people Desmond, far Ros-Ailithre, now Rosscarbery, Cork. A. D. 951, accor ding Innisfallen, Godfrey, son Sitric, was slain, together with 500 his forces, Desies, the Dalcassians and Eugenians.
A. D. 953 Clonmacnois was plundered the Danes Limerick, aided by the men of Munster.
Battles Slane and Dublin. —In A. D. 944, according the Four Masters, Clonmacnois, and the churches Meath, with Kil
cullen Kildare, were laid waste the Danes Dublin, and Aulaf Cuaran. 945, Roderick O’Canannan, prince
Tirconnell, with the forces Ulster, marched Meath, where was joined the monarch Congalach, and some Danish auxilia ries, under Aulaf Cuaran, and they fought great battle Slane
against the Danes Dublin, great numbers whom were slain, and
many others drowned the Boyne; the side the Irish fell, the thick battle, Scolaigh O'Aedhagain, lord Dartry;
great plague, Dublin.
On the death Athelstan, king England,
Brunanburgh, the Danish king Dublin, again invaded Eng
land with powerful forces, defeated king Edmond, and recovered the dominion Northumbria; on the death Aulaf, 943,
another Aulaf his cousin, and Reginald his brother, became rulers the Danes Northumbria; Eric and Gormo are mentioned succeeding kings, but 960, Edred, king England, re covered Northumbria from the Danes, which was however again conquered the beginning the eleventh century Sweyn and
li
Danish forces were at length vanquished, and Ceallachan was
berated and led in triumph to Cashel by his valiant countrymen.
Sitric, commander-in-chief of the Danes, and his brothers Tor and
Magnus, with many other chiefs were slain, and many of the
bravest of the Irish chieftains likewise fell in this fierce conflict.
A full and curious account of this expedition for the rescue of
Ceallachan is given in an ancient Irish MS. entitled Toruigheachd
Cheallachain Chaisil, that the Pursuit for the rescue Ceal This celebrated chieftain Roderick O'Canannan, who gained this lachan Cashel, valuable copy which the library Sir
rific battle, which, according the Four Masters, the Danish forces were totally defeated, and six thousand their bravest war riors were slain, with many others inferior note, but towards the end of the conflict the valiant O'Canannan himself was slain the thick battle. Amongst the Danish chiefs fell Ivar, tanist
the Danes, and Godfrey, with the few survivors, fled Dublin.
944, before mentioned, and Blacar, brother Aulaf, again re Garbith, prince Hy Crimthain; and Hugh O'Rourke, the son sumed the government Dublin, but was slain D. 946, above
Tiarnan, prince Brefney. the same year, Dublin was
plundered king Congalach. 946, great battle was
fought Dublin, Congalach, monarch Ireland, with the
forces Meath and Ulster, against the Danes Dublin, com
manded Blacar, son Godfrey their king, which the Danish According the Annals Innisfallen, Godfrey III. was slain
forces were defeated, and 1600 them, together with Blacar
A. D. 951, sians, and
battle Desies with the Eugenians and Dalcas was succeeded his son Aulaf
the Danes. —The Northmen, Danes and Nor
himself, were slain. Some verses, the following effect, battle, are quoted the Four Masters:
this
“On Thursday, Congalach, the leader
At Dublin illustrious was the warrior
He avenged the death the sons noble clans, And with points darts destroyed the Danes. ”
Conversion
wegians Ireland, continued Pagans until this time, worshipped
the same year, the Danes led their forces Druimrath and burned its Dertech, term applied ecclesiastical building,
and 150 it; this place now called Drumrany, where there was celebrated monastery founded century, honour St. Enan.
Westmeath, the sixth
Battle Muinebrocain. —In 948, the Cloicthech, that is, the Belfry, otherwise the Round Tower Slane, which was the time full relics and religious people, was burned the Danes Dublin; Caoinechair, learned lecturer Slane, who
heroes,
idols, and offered sacrifices their gods Odin and Thor, but the time Godfrey III. the Danes Ireland became partly converted
the Christian faith, about A. D. 948 950, according Ware and others; and according the Annals Innisfallen, A. D.
948, the Danes Dublin were converted, and received baptism. According Ware, the monastery the Blessed Virgin Mary
Dublin, afterwards called Mary’s-abbey, was founded this time the Danes for Benedictine monks; the eleventh century, hereafter shown, Christ Church Dublin was founded the Danes, and there were many Danish bishops Dublin, Water
ford, and Limerick.
About 950, according the History Denmark by
Meursius, two famous warriors, Harold and Knut, sons Gormo
other riches and precious articles. this year flux, and famine, prevailed amongst the Danes
941, Aulaf
Canute, kings Denmark. On the death Aulaf IV. , D. 943, was succeeded Danish king Dublin, by his cousin,
Sitric III. , who was slain the great sea fight Dundalk, A. D.
stated, and was succeeded Danish king Dublin God frey III. , son Sitric III. and this Godfrey, according O'Flaherty’s Ogygia, the article Constantine, king Scot land, was grandson Gormo, the Danish king Northumberland.
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488 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A. D. 1573.
rived in the harbour of Dublin. The earl was and Barrow, Waterford, near Cork), and from
afterwards taken and put under arrest in the town, Bealach Conglais Limerick, that did not
and John was permitted to visit the fair plains of
bring under subjection, and place under the con troul of his soldiers and officers in that one month. He proclaimed the clergy and professional men the restoration their privileges, and replaced the
Munster, and see after his patrimony, and that lived of his followers.
those
The president the two provinces
(sir John Perrott), went England
ning the ensuing harvest, after having pacified cording the Pope’s law, had been customary. and subdued the country, and leaving officers, An intestine commotion arose amongst the Dal
the permission the council, about the festival St. Martin following, and without their knowledge
pute arose between Teige, the son Conor, and Teige, the son Murrogh, who were 'till then united aiding Donal, the son Conor, against the sons Donogh, that they separated; and
Munster the begin
ecclesiastical orders their respective places, ac
councillors, and captains his own, rule and cassians, and those on the one side that conten preside over accordance with his own wishes; tion were Donal, the son Conor O’Brien, and the departure the president was lamented the Teige, the son Murrogh O’Brien; and the poor, the widows, the infirm and indigent the other side were the sons Donogh O’Brien, country. The earl Desmond, after that, having namely, the earl and Torlogh; but the earl himself found opportunity, made his escape without was not the country on that occasion. dis
notice, and travelled three nights from Dublin,
accompanied few, until arrived the very
midst the Geraldines; the victorious chief who
had then arrived among them was welcomed, and
although accompanied only few, was not long namely, the sons Donogh O’Brien, against his
after until he had hundreds caused great commotion
his command, and
brother Donal, the son Conor, and Teige, the son Murrogh, and the people Upper Thomond. Teige, the son Conor, after that, revenge his anger Teige, the son Murrogh, collected sol
from the Meeting the Three Waters Bealach Conglais (from the confluence the Suir, Nore
III. , king Denmark, invaded England and Ireland with great forces; they besieged Dublin, and Knut was killed by the cast
dart, but Harold, having taken the city, remained for some time; he afterwards became king Denmark. About A. D. 952, according the Saga, Eric king Norway, great warrior, ra vaged the Orkneys, Hebrides, Isle Mann, and coasts Ireland,
but was slain battle with the English. About A. D. 956, ac cording the Saga, Trygva, king Norway, invaded Scotland and
Ireland, and thus mentioned one the Skalds:
“The warrior who dyed his sword with blood, The breaker strong shields battle;
The valiant king who came his ships,
And fought might with Ireland's heroes. ”
brother Torlogh, the son Donogh. The place where the entire that army met together was
“The prince whose name struck terror
Into the valiant warriors the islands, Emulous glory, and Erin's conquest. ”
He came Dublin, and was married Gyda, sister daughter Aulaf Quaran, Danish prince, and stated that he was converted the Christian faith, and resided long time Ire land. This Aulaf Quaran often mentioned about this period by the Irish writers under the name Aulaf Cuaran, and appears have been chief note, and have been often alliance with the Irish against the Danes Dublin. A. D. 950, the Irish annalists mention great victory gained by the Danes
against the men Albany, Scots, the Britons and Saxons.
the country; the expelled the English
course one month after
forces and hired soldiers who were possession
the fortresses and chief towns of the men of Mun diers and insurgent galloglasses the Geraldines
ter, for that time the president and his Saxons from beyond the Shannon, and took them with possessed Kenry (in Limerick), with castles, him aid the sons Donogh O’Brien, who had Baile na-Martra (Castle Martyr Cork), and along with them great numbers the Butlers, and Castlemaine (in Kerry); those places and their the Mac Sweeneys the country, namely, garrisons were taken the earl, and did not the tribe Donal, the son John Mac Sweeney, leave resident chief any town the country, and also the forces the earl commanded by his
A. D. 951 Clonmacnois was ravaged by the Danes Limerick and Olaf Aulaf, son Trygva, king Norway, also famous war the men Munster, and the same year Aulaf Cuaran laid waste rior, stated the Saga have ravaged the coasts France, Inis Doimhle, and the islands Ulster. A. D. 952, Donal
England, Scotland, and Ireland, and thus described O'Neill, together with the Danes, plundered Bregia. celandic bard
the cause that dissension was through Teige, the son Conor, who went and joined his enemies,
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Teige, the son Conor O’Brien, and Tor
REIGN OF ELIZABETH.
489
Ard-na-goabog, where the river Fergus (in Clare),
falls into the sea; and they afterwards, to revenge
their animosity on South Thomond, marched
through the east of Hy Cormaic, and through the
borders of Hy Fearmaic (both districts in the south
of Clare). The plundering, and continued cry and portunity escaping with their lives from the wailing of the defenceless, warned the people of field which we are fight. ” That exciting their progress in every place through which they speech delivered by Donal made the desired im passed; they afterwards proceeded by the stone pression his people, and they promised him that road (or causeway) of Currofin, and by the gate of they would make fraternal cause against Inchiquin and Bothar-na-Mac-Righ (the Road of their enemies, and they determined sending the King’s sons), and some of their people took persons
(Kilneboy in Clare), and the violation of the church logh, the son Donogh O’Brien, with their
of the female saint was not an omen of success or forces, remained attentive and watchful beside
victory for the Dalcassians. They afterwards pro
ceeded in a north-western direction through the
wilds of Corcomroe and Burren, and having sent
out predatory parties through the country, they
collected the booty the territory one place
before night, and they then encamped, which how along side them, for the purpose encountering
dear country, and have preyed and plundered our people; moreover, though numerous those are, they are only mixed army composed persons from various quarters, who would quickly
they have marched hither, should they have op
view and reconnoitre the camp that
their camp that night, till day break the following
morning, and the rising the sun they marched forward Slieve-na-Groidheadh, and the left hand Bel-Atha-an-Ghobhann, and the forces the country were the same time marching slowly
ever was not place repose account the crying and wailing women and widows lamenting the loss their plundered properties. When Donal, the son Conor O’Brien, and Teige, the son Murrogh O’Brien, received intelligence that this great force had passed by, they collected
them, and both armies having respectively exhibit their broad-extended banners, they proceeded
the Fearsad (ford) Kill Mainchin (Killnamaheen,
the forces they could muster the moment, the length time they were without engaging with and they encountered Carn-Mic-Tail (probably the other army, for they had marched parallel Carne, the parish Kilcorney, county Clare). direction with each other from Baile-Atha-an-Gob
Those who accompanied them thither were the hann this place. Teige, the son Conor, and
sons Edmond Mac Sheehey, who had come Torlogh O’Brien, proceeded with their forces
three nights previously from beyond the Shannon top the hill Beol-an-Chip, the best position
with select body galloglasses; company
young men the tribe Giolla Duv, the son Conor, son Donogh, son Donal the
and thirties, twos and threes, from that place Beinn-for-Mala. was not the same direction
Victories Mac Sweeny, and also Ulick, the son
Rickard Saxanach, the son Ulick, son Rickard
Burke, who had come the day before visit his
kinsman Teige, the son Murrogh O’Brien.
Having then come unanimous resolution
pursue the forces, Donal, the son ofConor O’Brien, cut them down, and slaughtered them twenties
began excite them act bravely, and thus ad
dressed them: “My brave people, have learned
from sages and historians that not large
army host that victory gained, and the
success battle there are no better authorities; went directly south eastern direction. Both these people have committed too great excesses parties, however, were hotly pursued, and the ca and crimes against us, viz. , attack usin our own valry threw away their baggage from their horses
near Ennistymon, county Clare), exactly
an-Chip. Teige, the son Murrogh, and the forces general, began rebuke Donal O’Brien for
the
appeared them for fighting; the other forces and the people the country were pursuing them up the high rugged slope before them quickly they could possibly go, and before they came within fighting distance the constables Teige and Tor logh became alarmed, terrified, startled, unsteady, wavering, and began give way, and once took
flight; the other party pursued, discomfitted,
that those parties fled, for the horsemen proceeded the right along the sea westward, while the foot
Beol
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490 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A. D. 1574.
quickly as they could, and Torlogh O’Brien, with district Clonmel, called Doire-an-Lair, which
twelve horsemen of his body-guard, made their es
cape by their efforts, and the fleetness of their
horses, and others of his people were wounded and
taken prisoners, amongst whom were Teige, the and the earl Ormond, namely, Thomas, the son son of Conor O’Brien, and his son Torlogh, for
they remained on the hill in expectation that their
people would rally round them; some of the earl’s
own people, who were supposed would get no
quarters, were taken prisoners, and many others
were slain ; clamorous were the crows, birds of march and completely ravage Leth Mogha (Lein prey, fowls of the air, and the wolves of the forest,
over the bodies of brave men, being the result of the slaughter of that day. South Thomond was
the better for a long time after that of they had left prisoners, horses, accoutrements, arms, and ordnance, and also their own cows and cattle
that day.
Maurice O'Clery, namely, the son Giolla Riavach, i. e. the O'Clery, man distinguished
history and general literature, man respect
ster and Munster). They did not halt until they pitched their tents and booths about Derry-an Lair, which they finally took, and guards
were beheaded the lord justice. His people and allies were this time much forsaking the earl Desmond, that he came the resolution
waiting the lord justice, and submit him,
and was compelled surrender him the castles Castlemaine, Dungarvan, and Kenry,
and depredations committed between them were forgiven by both parties.
An amicable treaty peace was concluded be. tween Bryan, the son Felim Bacach O’Neill, and the earl Essex, and Bryan after that gave
invitation feast, and amongst those invited was the lord justice (sir William Fitzwilliam), and the nobles his people, where they enjoyed them
garrisoned with some his own trusty people, guards. When this intelligence reached the
lord justice Ireland, sir William Fitzwilliam,
James, son Pierce Roe, the taking that castle renewed their recent and old animosities
against the sons the earl Desmond, and they
commanded the men Meath and Bregia, the Butlers, and the English settlers general,
and great affluence, died
was buried Fenagh the church of St. Caillin,
Muintir Eoluis, and Moyrein (in Leitrim),
A. D. 1574. Con, the son Calvach, son
Manus O’Don nell, was treacherously taken prisoner by the earl
Essex, the earl’s own camp, and was after selves together mirth and cheerfulness for the wards sent to Dublin. space three days and three nights. At the ter
The earl Desmond continued plunder and mination that time, while drinking and carousing harass his enemies the spring this year, and agreeably together, Bryan, with his brother and defeated Mac Carthy More, namely, Donal, wife, were taken prisoners the earl; and his Donal, son Cormac Ladhrach, and people, without reserve, men, women, sons, and
the son
the son Donal, son
Fingin, namely, Donogh, the son daughters, were put the sword his presence. Fingin, was slain by the earl’s peo Bryan, with his wife and brother, were sent
ple, and his death was the cause lamentation Desmond; they also slew young constable
the chiefs Clan Sweeney, viz. , the Clan Donogh Bacach, the son Maolmurry, son Donogh, son Torlogh, son Owen, son Maolmurry, son Donogh, and many other chiefs besides.
happened that the son the earl Des mond, namely, John, the son James, found
Dublin, where they were cut into quarters, and this was the result of their entertainment. That
monstrous massacre, and detestable and treache rous misdeed, which were perpetrated the lord Clannaboy O'Neill, chief and senior the race Eogan, the son Niall the Nine Hostages, and the greater portion the Gael Ireland,
excepting few, was sufficient cause abomina
tion and disgust the Irish people. "
opportunity taking well fortified castle the The sons the earl Clanrickard, namely,
A. D. 1574.
The O'Neills Clannaboy. —An account the O'Neills,
rone, and the territories possessed them, has been given pp.
21, 441, the notes Ulster, where has been shown that they possessed extensive districts the counties Down and Antrim,
lords Clannaboy, great branch the O'Neills, princes Ty
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REIGN OF ELIZABETH.
A shower of hail stones fell on the Kalends of loathsome diseases and afflicting maladies, namely May in this year, which was so extraordinary and plague, were generated excessive degree uncommon, that there were many persons in Ireland amongst the English and Irish Dublin, Naas who never witnessed such a shower, and there were
William and John, having broken their faith, and was slain
disregarded their affinity towards each other, John the son
Burke engaged in his service a great number which much regretted. of Scots and Irish mercenary soldiers. The earl
of Ormond afterwards obtained protection for him,
and he delivered hostages to the earl as a security
of his allegiance to the queen.
many others whose strong built family residences
were swept away by The corn crops which had been sown three months, half year previous
Many castle between those places was left with out guard, many flock without shepherd, and many bodies, even the nobility, were left unburied, through the effects that distemper.
new lord justice, namely, Henry Sydney, came Ireland the harvest precisely, and
landed first the province Ulster, and found
that time, were left bare without stalk and the same shower left soft blue lumps,
blade, large those
the hail stones that fell, who were struck by them.
the legs
491
Donegal, by Cahir, Tuathal O'Gallagher,
Great heat and extreme drought happened the summer this year, that there was not rain for one hour, either by day night, from May Lammas (August). consequence this drought
contention John, son
Leinster, Ardee, Mullingar, and Athboy.
Teige O'Rourke, was
slain by some the people Brefney, the established peace, union, and friendship between
The son Teige, son
all Ireland one wave war and commotion;
plain Dromahaire.
A. D. 1575.
Roderick, the son Hugh, i. e. the O’Donnell,
the son Manus, son Hugh Duv O’Donnell,
namely, North and South Clannaboy the North comprising the baronies Belfast, Massareen, Antrim, and Upper Toome, the county Antrim; and South Clannaboy containing the baronies Ardes, Castlereagh, Kinealarty, and Lecale, the county
the Tirconnallians and Tyronians, and throughout the province Ulster, was amongst them first landed, and that lord justice expelled Eng land the earl Essex, who had invaded Ulster, and acted treacherously towards Con, the son
After some time, stated the Four Masters, O'Neill invited the earl Essex entertainment, though erroneously
stated by other writers that Essex invited O'Neill. According Curry his History the Civil Wars, and Leland his History
Ireland, after O'Neill and Essex this entertainment had made good cheer together for three days and nights, O'Neill, with his wife and brother, were suddenly seized the earl's order, his friends were slaughtered before his face, nor were the women and
children spared O'Neill himself, with his brother and wife, were sent prisoners Dublin, where they were cut quarters. Le land, his Reign Elizabeth, relates the affair exactly the same manner, and says—“This execution produced universal dis content and horror. ” The earl of Essex unable settle his co lony, soon after went England for fresh forces, and 1576
Down; and many celebrated chiefs have been mentioned the course
the O'Neills Clannaboy these Annals. Bryan O'Neill,
above mentioned the text, lord
the greater part the property
Cox, his Hibernia Anglicana (p. 341), had immense flocks, less
than thirty thousand cows, besides great numbers other cattle, horses, sheep, &c. According Cox, queen Elizabeth 1573, gave grant Walter Devereux, earl Essex, the moiety the
seignories Clannaboy Down and Antrim, with part the Glinns and Routes Antrim, and the queen herself was hold the other
captain-general for seven years, and was plant thousand
English inhabitants his territory.
