__~
1,,
"'\                         N
"..?.. \i
-KI~IN ~
(b/
5 ~ s=t   l
i  Giuliani~~                                                          ~                        -    ~l
fall ~~:                                                             ~  I,iv                                                                                                   d



FORAS FEASA AR EIRINN
Do r~ir
AN ATHAR SEATHRUN CEIITING, OLLAMH RE DIADHACHTA.
THE
HISTORY  OF IRELAND,
BY THE REVYEREND GEOFFREY KEA.TllJG, D..ai0n.
BY TH1E REVEREN.I G(FODRF~            i KEATiG, D.D.
TRANSLATED
FROM THE ORIGINAL GAELIC, AND COPIOUSLY ANNOTATED,
BY JOHN O'MAHONY.
WITH A MAP SHOWING THE LOCATION OF THE ANCIENT CLANS, AND A
TOPOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.
" Non immorito hmc insula Ogygfia, id est, perantiqua a Plutarcho icta ftni-, a profundissinm
enim antnquatis memorit historias suas auspicantur, adoo ut prae illis omais-mnium geatium
antiquitas sit novitas et quoaammodo infantia." —CaDaN, BarrsNxiA.
JAMES B. KIRKER,
(L[ATE  EDWARD  DUNXIGAN   &  BROTH}ER,,
599 BROADWAY, UP-STAIRS.
1866.








0ebicateb
TO THE MEMORY OF
MICHAEL DOHENY,
BY HIS AFFECTIONATE FRIEND,
THE TRANSLATOR.




THE TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE.
It may appear not a little presumptuous in the present writer
to have undertaken a labor of so much importance to ancient
Irish history,,as the translation and annotation of Dr. Keating's
historic work-more especially as his acquaintance with the duties
of authorship is so very slight, that he doubts whether he have
the smallest possible vocation or capacity for making useful and
readable books. I-Ice must also say, that though he had once
taken a mournful pleasure in zealously studying the language
and history of ancient Eri, amid the glens of his native Gaulties,
still the remotest idea of ever seeing his name upon a title-page
never once entered his mind, though many were the vain daydreams in whichh he had indulged whilst dwelling under those
mist-clad hills. Since then he has pursued the study at fitful
intervals, through several changes of scene and condition, but
never with any other object than the gratification of his filial love
towards his father-land. Under these circumstances, some apology is necessary for his present intrusion upon the reading public.
He trusts that the following will be deemed sufficient: -He
knew that in case he refused to edit this work, an American
reprint of the former translation would have been published
nevertheless, and as no one who knew anything of Gaelic literary antiquities seemed about to undertake its correction, thougght
it better that a faithful, though not all-perfect version, should be
edited by him, than that the former unintelligible and useless
production should be again imposed upon Irishmen, under the
popular name of Dr. Keating-a publication that has tended to
bring that author's name into unmerited disrepute, and to injure
the study of Irish history amongst those who cannot read our
ancient documents in the original Gaelic.  Whilst conscious,
then, of his own incompetence to do full justice to his subject,




PIREFACE.                        7
he thought that he would be able to give his exiled countrymen
something more like what. I)r. Keating wrote than what has been
so long before the public under his name; and that, if he failed
in presenting them with a good book, he would, at least, present
them with one that might not be positively mischievous. Shall
he have succeeded even thus far, he will not deem that his time
and labor have been thrown away.
The chief design with which this book has been translated
and annotated, has been to make the author's meaning perfectly understood by the majority of its readers, and to give the
latter some insight into the manners and customs of the ancient
times of which he treats. Should this design be accomplished,
the translator and editor will rest perfectly content with what
he has done. Throughout the work it has also been a desired
object with him, to fix the minds of the disinherited sons of the
Clanna Gaedhail, wherever scattered, upon that green land which
is their ancestral birth-right, so that they may never forg;et that
Ireland is their proper home, and that it is they themselves, not the
land-jobbers who now devour its peopfle and its fiuits, that have
any just claim to possess its soil. Their restoration to such birthright has been the aim of his most longing and fondest ambition,
since first he began seriously to consider tleir present fallen condition, and for that end he will strive until he shall have ceased
to think.  This he would have the object of the ambition of all
true Irishmen.  However successful- and honored either themselves or their clhildren may become, whether in this or in any
other foreign land, he would have thenm consider themnselves but
as sojourners therein. That sacred isle where their forefathers
lie piled many feet deep in hallowed mould, side by side with
the saints who illumined Ireland in the dayvs of her glory, and
with the martyrs who cast a halo round her declining fortune,
should be ever regarded by them as their promised lald, or, as
an. Irish saint of the olden time h'as it:'the land of their resurrection:'
lie would have them always consider themselves whlat a contemporary bard described the expatriated Irishmen of former
times," Deoraidhthe siora gan sgith gan sos
Mianaid a d-tir's a n-duthchas."
In English —
"Always exiled, restless, homeless,
Longing for their fatherland."
Such have been the translator's great objects, and not either
literary fame or pecuniary profit. Had the latter been his object,
he might have attained it long since, in as far as it is attainable
by him, with not half the labor or consumption of time. A new




PREFACE.
literal translation of Keating, with but few notes, might have
ere now commanded as ready a sate as any the present work
will ever have. It could have also been got out with half the
expense, and less than half the mental toil. Neither has his
object been literary fame, for if it had, he would have delayed
the publication for, perhaps, another year, in order both to render
his work more perfect, and to finish off much of the explanatory
matter which is here presented to his readers in a rather crude
and unpolished, though, he trusts, sufficiently plain and intelligible shape. But his engagements with his publisher, and the
patrons of the work, would not allow him any further respite,
and ho has thence been forced to place his book in the hands of
the printer, in a condition that does not quite satisfy himself in
a mere literary point of view. This, however, costs him but
little regret, for of all the descriptions of honest fame, that of a
literary man is, perhaps, the one he least covets, not through
any awant of due appreciation of the high mission of men of
literary genius and talent, who can teach great truths to their
fellows in appropriate language, but because his own ambition
does not tend that way, and, perhaps, because it is the species
of fame that is most beyond his reach. For this reason, were it
possible that another name besides his would have satisfied the
immediate patrons of this book, as well as his own, he would
willingly have relinquished all of praise or of censure that may
be attached to its authorship, to that other man, while he would
have nevertheless labored with equal zeal and assiduity in the
work of its production.
Many persons will no doubt feel disappointed at the style and
manner in which the book has been written and edited. From
the premature praises which some of his friends have bestowed
upon the literary and linguistic attainments of the editor, some
amongst the literary world may have been led to expect more
from his pen than he has had either the time or the ability to
give them. Such persons will certainly find much to condemn
and criticise in the following pages. But upon this point he is
not exceedingly solicitous. The book is not specially designed
to please literary people. It is more designed for the purpose
of conveying, in plain and simple terms, certain information
about the country and usages of their ancestors, to those of the
translator's own race and kindred who have not much time to
devote to the perusal of books, and whose early opportunities
have not enabled them to become critics in the elegancies of a
language which has been forced upon them  by their enemies.
Provided these latter understand him thoroughly, he cares little
for the opinion of the critics.




PREFACE.                        9
There is also another class to whom this translation may not
prove altogether satisfactory-that is, to students of the'Gaelic
language. It will not in every instance serve these for the purpose of a verbcatim  glossary upon Dr. Keating's original text.
Such it undoubtedly shoulcd have been made, were it found possible in every instance to have rendered the full and exact
meaning of all Irish phrases by a word-for-word version into
English. As it is not always possible to do this, and as the
student class forms but a very small portion of those for whose
use the work is intended, it has been preferred, in every instance
where a verbatim version would either obscure the meaning or
destroy the force of the original, to render the idiomatic phrases
ofthe Gaelic by equivalent English ones. An entirely word-forword translation from any one language into another, is scarcely
ever perfectly true to its original. From a language so elliptical
as the Gaelic, into English, which is so opposite to it in this and
in many of its other peculiarities, it is hardly practicable.  For
this reason, it has seemed more desirable to translate the history
so as to make it-easily understood by the general reader, rather
than so as to save the mere student of language from the trouble
of consulting his'dictionary. Should the latter need such a
work, he will find it in that part of 1K'eating's History which has
been already published by Halliday, and in several recent publications, where the word-for-word system has been adhered to,
but where the full meaning and force of the original has not been
always expressed in English of equivalent import.  Such works
are invaluable to the scholar, but often unintelligible to the
general reader. It is chiefly for the latter that the translator
has worked; but in the performance of his task he has striven
to be always as literal as was consistent with clearness, and in
no instance has he either amplified or curtailed the language of
his original, without giving due notice thereof. To the best of
his own ability and comprehension he has made Dr. Keating
speak as if that writer were giving his narration in the English
tongue. lie considers the version here given to be true to his text,
and he trusts that even the Irish student will find it sufficiently
so. Many imperfections may, however, be found therein.  For
some of these the editor's inexperience is possibly to blame:
others have been the result of the haste with which it has been
hurried from his desk to the press, and of the fact that he has
been compelled all through it to write against time-to consult
his various authorities, to correct proofs, and at the same time
arrange new matter for the printers. Thus he has never been
able to see any large portion of his work before him at one
time, soon enough to remedy several of its manifest typographi



10                         PREFACE.
cal and verbal errors.  Thosa that are friendly disposed may
also allolv him  some indulgence from  the fact that, fiom. the
commencement of his w\ork to its close, he has not had the
assistance of anlly one person learned in the Gaelic tongue; so
that, in those instances where hce could not resolve lis croubts
from written or printed authority, he has been compelled to depend entirely upon his own judgmrnent, and upon his memory of
what he had formerly learned either orally or from books.  He
may also find some excuse in the fact that he has not hlad an opportunity of comparing a sufficient number of manuscript copies
of the ]lras Feasa Ar iirin?, and that none of those of which he
has had the use, were much more than one hundr ed years old.
Being isolatedl from  all Irish scholars, alid unassisted even in
the most minor details of his undertaking, he l1as found his
duties much more onerous and perplexing than they could possibly be to a man living in Ireland.
T'he historicnl and topographical notes are drawn from  many
sources.  Copious quotations have bcen made from the Annals
of the Four Alasters, and fiomn the learned commentaries of Dr.
O'Donovan upon those venerable annalists; and:aldso from
several of the other works edited by that accurate and scrupulous
antiquarian. This he has repeatedly acknowledged in the notes,
but should he have anywhere omitted such acknowledgmlent, he
here states that lie has been almost cverywrhere indebted to that
erudite author f)r the locatlon and modern names of the various
places mentioned in this history. Byhim he has also been guided
in' many of the notes inserted, relative to several of the ancient
Irish septs.  Copious quotations have been also made from
O'Flaherty, O'Halloran, Moore and ot.hers.  Wherever matter
deemed explanatory or confirmatory of the text was found in any
published anuthority, it has been freely inserted. Some few of the
philological and etymological notes are original. So are all those
relative to the social and political state of Ireland in past and
present times. Whatever be the value or the good taste of the
translator's remarks upon such subjects, he alone is responsible
therefor.
Should this book fall into the hands of any of the enemies of
the Irish name and race, or into those of certain good folk of the
Irish themselves, who would fain have us forget and forgive the
wrongs perpetrated upon those from whom we have drawn the
source of our existence, and still daily inflicted upon our brethren, they will no doubt say that this is the work of a political
partizan. But, upon that subject, it is hoped, that there can be
no second opinion possible. If it be the mark of a partizan to be
thoroughly Irish in heart and soul; —to love men of Irish name




PREFACE.                        11
and blood more than men of any other; —to abhor the destroyers
of his nation and kinsmen, who are also the desolators of his
own paternal hearth, with a hatred that neither time nor distance can mitigate; —then is this the work of a most undoubted
partizan. And again, if an ardent desire to perpetuate like feelings amongst the men of his nation be the part of a partizan,
then has he edited this book in a spirit of thorough partizansbip.
However, though he does hate the present hostile garrison that
holds his country in thraldom as heartily as if he had lived in
the days of Seaohan O'Neill, he still denies that he has in any
one instance allowed his partialities to cause him to torture
historic fact to bear out his own theories or opinions-neither
has he in any one particular swerved from the truth of history,
as he has understood it. To some well-meaning friends of the
Irish people, and to some good souls of the Irish themselves, he
deems it necessary to say this much -he begs that they will
excuse himn if he shall have curdled the lactine fluid in their
kindly breasts, by any occasional infusion of gall which he may
have press-ed into these pages. From the enemies of the Irish
nation, hle asks no indulgence: he would hims-lf show none to
them. IIe has spoken a few of his real sentiments with regard
to themln and some of their institutions-institutions which he
regards as so many hideous abominations, and which he ardently
hopes to see one day swept from off the face of this earth.
It must not, however, be understood that it is his desire to
stir up any hostile feelings of nation, race or religious belief
amongst his readers by any remarks made either here or elsewhcre throughout these pages. lie is himself actuated by no
such feelings. Nations have been too long made the instruments of the enslavement of their neighbors by cunning tyrants,
who banded them against one another merely because they
chanced to dwell on different sides of some sea, river or mountain, or because they spoke different dialects. He has, it is tlrue,
a strong partiality towards tthe natives of the Irish soil, and his
heart glows with a more kindly heat towards men of ancient
Gaelic names-this is part of his instinct;-but he can also hold
out the free hand of brotherhood to the Frank and the Saxon.
It is only when he becomes an instrument of tyranny that
hostility shouldcl be felt towards any of one's fellgw men. In
Ireland, more especially, the foreign element has become so absorbed in the aboriginal, that it would be as just to think of
avenging the wrongs of the Danaan or the Belgian upon their
Spanish conquerors, as it would be those of the latter upon the
followers of Earl Stroncbow. These have long since merged
into the Gael-so have some of the descendants of the more




12                        PREFACE.
recent conquerors of them all, the Cromwellians and William.
ites of later days. The oppressed natives of Ireland, of whatever
name, creed or blood, represent the ancient rights of its aboriginal inhabitants. Their village tyrants, though some of them
be of Gaelic name and blood, and a few of them even of the
national faith, are now the only foreign enemy. They represent
WVilliam of Orange, Cromwell, Elizabeth, and Strongbow-they
represent also the pirate sons of Miledh, and even now they
" grind the faces of the poor and beat the people to pieces," as
mercilessly as ever did tyrant plunderer of old. They still walk
in the blood-stained track of the robbers who preceded them.
It may be some day theirs to make full though tardy retribution, for those crimes that were perpetrated long ago, as well as
for others of more recent date-for ruthless oppressions still in
course of daily perpetration, as well as for those that have not
been yet begun.
In the early part of this undertaking, it was the editor's intention to have devoted more space to the annotation of the genealogies of the Irish clans than circumstances have allowed him to
do. This he regrets much; for it is a subject of very great interest to men of Irish name and race, and indeed to all readers
of Irish history; for that history is essentially one of tribes,
who were to a great extent independent of one another, and the
fortunes and ramifications of each tribe of them must be considered separately before the whole history of the Irish people can'be well understood. It was, however, found that no comprehensive view of those tribes could be given in a volume of any
moderate size, without suppressing much of the explanatory
matter which had been already printed.  Besides this, no materials could be found here in America, for giving any full information about all the tribes that occupy a prominent place in the
annals of Ireland. For these reasons, it has been thought more
advisable in this publication, to give the genealogies of whatever
Gaelic septs were found in those copies of Keating, which were
accessible to the translator, with but few comments of his own
thereupon, and to add to them as many pedigrees of the more
distinguished branches of each, as he could find in any reliable
record within his reach. Want of room, and want of materials
for their annotation, has also caused the suppression of the genealogies of many of the Anglo-Norman septs —such as the Geraldines, Burkes, Butlers, Barries and others, which are found in
several manuscript copies of our author. These, as well as a
a more full account of those now given, shall be published in
a future edition, should the present one meet with the approbation of the Irishmen living in America.




PREFACE.                       13
Many of the notes written upon the history itself, have also
been suppressed. This will be discovered by the reader as he
gets into the book; for perhaps one-fourth of it had not been
yet printed, when it was discovered that if the annotations were
to be continued as copiously as at first, the work could not be
published in less than two volumes of the present size.  This
also has been a source of regret to the translator, for though
he knows that several of his notes are unnecessary to the better
read of his readers, he is still aware that some, even of the
most trite amongst them, are needful to those by whom he would
more particularly make his subject understood, namely, to those
Irishmen who have had neither time nor means to read many
books.
Amongst the suppressed matter was also a comparative vocabulary of the Greek, Latin, and Gaelic languages, showingthe
several affinities, verbal, derivational, and grammatical, of the
latter with' the two former. This was compiled a few years since
in Paris, at the request of a French savant. But, though it had
been already referred to in the notes, and might possibly give
some useful suggestions to the philologist, it was considered to
be of little interest to popular readers, and for that reason was
made to give place to the Topographical Appendix, wbhich gives
the location of the ancient Irish clans, and in some manner
serves as a guide to the map that is published herewith.
The appendix just referred to has been almost entirely taken
from the notes upon Connellan's edition of the Four Masters.
The map itself is the same as the one already published therewith, the original plate having been purchased fo(r the illustration
of the present translation. Neither the appendix nor the map
are what should have been chosen, had there been sufficient time
and sufficient materials at hand for makino  out others. The appendix is loosely arranged, and not sufficiently accurate in detail. Trhe imap indeed is minute, and generally correct enough
in its location of the various Irish and Anglo-Irish races. It has
indeed been found, in all instances where immediate investigation has been possible, that those several races did at some period of Irish history, occupy the positions in which they are
placed thereon.  But it is, nevertheless, historically deceptive
and incorrect, inasmuch as it represents the Irish nation at no
one period of its existence.  Generally speaking, the septs set
down upon it did not occupy the same relative positions at any
special epoch. It is, however, perhaps as good a map as could
be given, if the object were to represent at one view, the places
possessed by the ancestors of the people forming the vast majority of the present Irish nation, from -the earliest times down




14                       PREFACE.
to the reign of the English queen, Elizabeth. To do accurately
what is there attempted, would have required a series of historic
maps. As such a series is not inimediately available, the present one is given as the best that could be procured under the
circumstances.
The next matter to be alluded to is the method which has
been adopted in spelling many of the Irish personal and local
names. The reader Will find them  here written in a manner
somewhat different from that in which they are usually seen in
books printed in ordinary characters. This has been chiefly
caused by the suppression of the adventitious letter h, iwhereby
the variations which some of the Irish consonants undergo in
the composition and inflection of words, is most frequently expressed in those modern publications which are not in the ancient Irish character. The euphonic rule called Cael re cael agus
lethan re lethanl, which requires that a vowel of the same class
with that which prdcedes a consonant ending any one syllable
of a word, should begin the next succeeding syllable of the
same. The latter rule is perfectly useless to one who does not
understand the euphonic system of the Gaelic language, and it
is not found always observed in our older manuscripts.  In
English it both stretches out the words to an extravagant size,
and gives a wrong notion of the quantity of many of their several syllables. The rule has also little or nothing to (lo with
the radical elements of which the words are composed. The use
of the adventitious hi, after silent or aspirated consonants, has
been considered much more objectionable still.  It has been repeatedly found that the insertion of this parasite character in
positions, where it is not employed in modern European languagres, and where in Irish the change of sound is merely expressed by a dot plAced over the consonant so affected, does but
prevent one, who can only read English, from  any attempt at
the pronunciation of those words in which it is found-or if
such person should make any attempt to pronounce them, the
result is as unlike the real Irish sounds as it is possible to conceive. The reader is disheartened at his attempt, and he soon
forgets a mass of characters that seemn as meaningless to him as
would Chincse symbols. This is, perhaps, one of the chief reasons why modern Irishmen of ordinary education, find so little
pleasure reading the history and antiquities of their country.
It gives one but little pleasure to read about persons and places
whose names one can neither articulate, nor remember. For
this reason those two modern practices have been suppressed in
the following volume, and the names have been therein presented to the reader as nearly as possible in their ancient simplicity
of form.




PREFACE.                      15
Some friends of the translator have suggested to him to write
down those names according to their modern pronunciation, as
has been already done by Halliday, in that part of the Foras
Feasa ar Eirinn translated by him. But he rejected this suggestion, because his compliance therewith would have destroyed
the radical and elementary forms of many of the names, while
it could give no standard of pronunciation universal in its application, for, at the present day, the Irish of different provinces,
and often of different pai ishes, vary very much from each other
in the sounds they give to the same combinations of letters.
He holds also that the component parts of our ancient
names are certain historic and ethnographic ]andmarks of history, which should not be destroyed, as they may one day serve
as important guides to scientific inquirers into the origin of the
races that have colonized Ireland.  They have then been mostly
written in the oldest and simplest form in which they have been
found —a form which is generally that which is most easily articulated by English organs of speech-and all those variations
which are considered by the writer to have been the consequences of more modern dialectic variations, have been mostly
disregarded. It is also the editor's suggestion to the Irishman
who has not learned to read his own language, to pronounce
such names as if they were English, giving their full force to all
the letters. This will be much better than not to pronounce them
at all; and by doing so, one cannot perhaps vary much more
from their true primitive sounds, than do the Irish themselves
in the Gaelic which they now speak. The most usual modern
pronunciation of several of the more important ones, will frequently be found given in italics, either imlmediately after the
names themselves or in the notes. It was, indeed, intended at
first, in order to satisfy all parties, to have added a table at the
end of the book, confronting the ancient with the modern and
more usual' forms, and representing as nearly as possible the
pronunciation of the latter.  But the unexpected size of the
work has caused its suppression, with much other matter.
It will also be seen that the ancient diphthong, ae, and triphthong clei, have been introduced in place of the modern ao and
aoi. The vowel i is also invariably used at the end of words in
place of the now more frequent e. This has been done in order to prevent it from being made silent, as it.usually is in such
situations in English. It is no innovation, for they are used indiscriminately one for the other, in such positions, in our best
manuscripts. The final e has, however, been retained in situations where it is nearly silent in modern Irish, that is, after the
aspirates dh andgh, as in such words as Osraidhe, Rudhraidhe,




16                         PREFACE.
Oirnighe, &c., pronounced, Osree and Rooree, Oarnee, &c.,-the
two former being written, Osraide, Rudraide, suppressing the
silencing h after the letter d: the combination gh has been retained; for at the end of words and syllables it is usually silent as
in English. The same remark applies to dh wherever it is used
therein.
The letter c being always pronounced hard in Irish, has been
replaced by Ic, wherever it occurs before the vowels e or
i, for in such position its primitive sound has been so much
corrupted by the English, that it now assumes the power of s.
Had c been here used in writing such words as cill, cell, Cearnach, Ceth and Cellachan, the English reader would undoubtedlycall them  Sill, Sell, Searnach, Seth and Sellaghan, instead of
Kill, I]ell, iearnach, KIellaghan, and Keth.  This substitution
is, however, scarcely an innovation, for the Irish c and the English ls are but different outward forms of the same letter. It has
been preferred to do this, rather than to change the radical vowel
in such instances.
G also is always sounded hard by the Irish, as in English gird,
get, begging, Gilbert and girl, but never as in the words gem, ginger,
George, and German.  This the reader will please to bear in
mind, for the translator has not felt at liberty to strengthen
its force by the introduction of the vowel u, in such cases, as
is sometimes done in the English and other tongues. In Irish
words, the combination ch always represents a hard guttural
sound, just as the Scotch pronounce it in the word loch, or as
the Irish pronounce gh, in their patois of the language of their
tyrants, in the corrupted form lough.  The rigidity and dryness
of the vocal organs of some persons, may prevent them from mastering this soured. Those that are so unfortunately tongue-tied,
may call the ch of the Irish Ic, if they will; but they should
never give it that hybrid articulation which it has in the words
church, chest, Chichester, such, &c.
Before e or i the letter s is. pronounced by the Irish like the
English sh; and sh sounds like a single h. It may also be here
remarked that no Gaelic word begins with an aspirated or silenced
letter in its primitive form, though the use thereof in its combinational and grammatical inflections is frequent.
Before concluding these preliminary remarks, tne editor begs to
return his thanks thus publicly, to the following gentlemen, who
most kindly and generously lent him the use of their Irish libraries, while engaged at his task.  Foremost amongst them, his
gratitude is due to his friend, William  Desmond O'Brien, Esq.,
Civil Engineer, now residing at 32 Schermerhorn street, Brooklyn, whose library has not only furnished him with a copy of




PREFACE.                        17
Dr. O'Donovan's Translation of the Four Masters, and several rare,
though most necessary, books upon Ireland, but without whose
genial encouragement the work might not possibly have' beer
ever undertaken.
To James Slevin, Esq., of Philadelphia, he is likewise most
thankful. This patriotic gentleman, whom the editor has not
yet had the pleasure of kno wing personally, generously placed
his whole library at his corammanl, upon the first announcement
of his intended publication. To him he has been indebted for
several volumes of the valuable and expensive works published
by the Archaeological and Celtic Societies of Ireland.
To Laurence Verdon, Esq., of New York, his thanks are also
due, for the use of many scarce and valuable works upon Ireland,
which that gentleman has collected together with a patriotic and
most praiseworthy zeal.
The following gentlemen have furnished the editor with valrable copies of the Foras Feasa ar Eirinn, in the original Gaelic.
Michael Sheehan, Esq., now of New York, but formerly of
Kanturk, in the County of Cork, lent him  a very perfect
copy of his author, -to which reference is more fully made in
one of the notes. This, with several other Irish manuscripts,
compiled by his family in former days, have been brought
out by him  to this country as memorials of his household
gods. Tlhis most useful and seasonable aid to his undertaking,
was received through the agency of James Michael Sheehan,
Esq., Balrrister-at-law, also of New York, the son of the abovenamed gentleman. To them both he thus publicly returns his
thanks.
Another fragmentary, but very correct manuscript copy of
the same work, was forwarded to him by John H. Maume, Esq.,
of Hyattsville, Miami Co., Ohio, without any solicitation on
the editor's part. Unfortunately this copy wants many pages,
both in the middle and end, a thing much to be regretted, for
some entries have been found therein which the translator has not
met in any other; especially one with regard to the battle of
Magh Rath. To Mr. Maume he feels very grateful for the ready
zeal with which he forwarded this valuable document.
To Mrs. O'Dwyer, of New York, he likewise feels singularly
grateful for a complete, though more modern copy of the
work-a copy in remarkable accord with Halliday's edition,
as far as that translator went with his publication-and for some
other Irish manuscripts, which were the property of her deceased
husband, James O'Dwyer, Esq., late of this city, but formerly of
Feathard, in the county of Tipperary, Ireland.
2




18                   PREFACE.
Engrossed by the work of translation, in examining original
documents, and in searching the various authorities whence he
has drawn his notes, as well as being pr3ssed as to time, the
editor could not possibly have devoted any adequate attention,
either to the drawing up of a personal memoir of Dr. Keating,
or the collecting of materials therefor. On this account he has
had recourse to his talented friend, Michael'Doheny, Esq., to
whose pen he owes the following eloquent discourse upon the
life and times of that historian. This gentleman he considered
singularly qualified for that task, both from his intimate acquaintance with the county of Tipperary, of which Keating was a
native, and from his close connection with the family from which
the venerable doctor had sprung, The memoir itself he has not
yet had an opportunity of perusing, but from the zeal with which
it was undertaken, the pura patriotism and great talents of his
friend, he feels certain that it will prove an interesting ornament
to the book, as well as a usefiul and faithful introduction to the
person and times of its author. It may thus make some counterpoise to literary readers for whatever there is rough and unfinished in the style of what has been written by the restive and
unpracticed hand of him who has now translated and edited the
FORAS FEASA ARt EIRINN.
JOHN O'MAIHONY.
40 SUMMrr STREET, BROOKLYN,
July the 18th, 1857.




PREFACE.                       19
POSTSCRIPT.
It is to be further observed, that Dr. Keating introduced many
Latin quotations into the body of his work, immediately after
which he has given their translation in the Gaelic, or Irish
tongue. The Latin of these quotations has, in the present ver.
sion, been transferred to the notes, whilst their translation into
English has alone been retained in the text. Of the exactness
with which the Latin of these extracts has been written down by
lKeating's transcribers, there has been no means of ascertaining,
neither has it been possible to point out the particular parts of
the authors quoted, where they are severally to be found. The
works themselves have not been accessible to the translator.
It is to be further observed, that where the modern pronunciation of Irish names is shown, it is usually. given in italics and
in brackets, immediately after the word itself. In one or two
instances it has been forgotten to italicize them, but this the
reader can easily perceive.
J O'ML








MIEl OI R
OF THE
REVEREND GEOFFREY KEATING, D. D.
THE materials for a memoir of Doctor Keating are meag(re and unreliable.
No two of the fragmentary accounts of his life, heretofore published, agree even
in the date of his birth or the place of his education. This seems discreditable
to Ireland. That so distinguished a scholar and eminent a divine has undoubted
claims to a high place in the annals of the country, and a grateful recognition
in the memory and traditions of the people, admits of no question. He has
done eminent service, and yet no one can point to where he was born or where
he lies. Nor is this apparent forgetfulness owing to a want of appreciation in
his own time or afterwards. The ruthless hand of" British civilization," laudably
zealous to eradicate every vestige of " Irish barbarism," and especially the Celtic
tongue, destroyed with diligent haste every relic of national literature it could
clutch. The remainder were, for the most part, hid, where they were inaccessible for generations, or buried, where they never have been, and never will
be, seen. Long before then, the "Statute of Kilkenny," in its wisdom, provided and enacted, that the Irish alphabet was a "' felony," and the teaching
thereof " procmunire."  We are not informed how many, or whether any, incurred the dreaded penalty of " prsemuhire," but this may be owing to the diffi,
culty of findingg " facile judges," and " well affected juries," for the" Statute"
was long before the time when that notorious casuist, Sir John Davies, learned
the true value of these " institutions."  In his day, it may be safely inferred, thtf;
to frame an indictment under the " Statute," would baffle even his ingenuity, for
no one was left who could identify the " felony," or remotely comprehend what,
constituted " prsemunire."  Those who cherished the Irish tongue, takingo with
them whatever literary treasures they possessed, hid themselves in the depths of
the forests, with wolves for their companions, where British civilization went
howling on their track as if they were veritable beasts of prey.
Hence it is that we know so little of Geoffiey Keatinlg,;who was hilnself
compelled to quit the haunts of men and take refuge with'the beasts of the
woods. IHence it is, too, that good men of a later day, unable to'discover the
sources of his information, have rejected his authority. Even Moore discredited
it, mainly on the ground, that its early sources flow in confluence with the fabulous and impossible. This objection is the chief one urged against him; and
yet it lies with greater force against Livy's grand hymn of Roman Story, against
Herodotus, the father of profane history, and against the fountain of Grecian
literature and first source,, of Grecian history, t.he matchless song of Homer,
wherein truth and fable, fact and miracle, wrestle with each other even as men
wrestle with the Gods of Olympus. It may be urged against all history of
ancient origin. The shadows of Romance becoming instinct with tradition colored
the early literature of the middle ages and imparted to it its most attractive
[f]




Iv                   MEMOIR OF DR. KEATING.
charm. Even in our own time, and in this hard republic, the traditions and
superstitions of the red man begin to tinge our historic literature. Perhaps this
topic is unsuited for discussion here. It is introduced to shew that the objection
is untenable. Doctor Keating merely gives as current traditions what modern
criticism  rejects as fabulous; and such traditions, fabulous or not, are indispensable to the true understanding of the character and customs of a people —
and the true delineation of their history.
But the objection is not of so muclh importance in itself as in its tendency
to discredit the historian when he comes to deal with facts, Some of these
facts, seemingly improbable, were disputed with vehement ze-al. But the contradictions have been of late refuted by positive proof. Through the generous
efforts of the Archeological and other kindred societies, Irish manuscripts, of
great age and undisputed authority, have been brou(rht to light which prove incontestably many of the disputed facts in Keating's history. Modern Irish
learning is now so ripe in discernment, that it can distinguish the age of a manuscript by its style, Some, of these mentioned. are cotemporaneous with occurrences deemed fabulous in Keating, and they fully corroborate him. They not
only prove his accuracy, but attest his vast erudition and application; for to
translate, to collate and compare, so as to makle themi a chain of conclusive
evidence, has for a quarter of a century tasked the energies, not of one, but of
several of our most eminent scholars and assiduous workers. If we further
consider their facilities, their leisure, their advantages and opportunities, and the
circumstances which surrounded Keating, our astonishment at his achievement
must be indeed great. Those circumstances, as wiil appear, account for the
confusion that, in many places, characterises his narrative. It is evident such
confusion results from a defect of accurate data. But his sincerity is unimpeachable, and so well established is his authority that in reconciling any slight
difference between the " annalists," John O'Donovan, the most gifted Irish scholar
of our day, or perhaps any other, reconciles them by quoting Doctor Keating.
This is especially so with regard to the annals of the four Masters, which were
concluded in Doctor Keating's time. It is impossible he could have seen them,
and yet nearly all their facts and his are identical, and where they are not, there
are in many instances higher authorities on his side. There is no doubt then,
that when the history of Ireland comes to be written in its fullness, Doctor Keating's authority, where he speaks positively, will be unquestioned.
It is now time we should say what we can of the subject of this memoir personally. Doctor Keating himself traces his lineage to the distinguished family
of that name, whose various branches held high rank and large possessions in
the Counties of Wexford, Kildare, Carlow, Waterford, Tipperary and Cork.
According to the traditions of the family, adopted and, so to say, legalised by
the books of Heraldry in Ireland, the founder of the house, whose original name
is now unknown, was one of the pioneers of the Norman invaders, who kindled
the beacon fire that lit the way of Fitzstephens into Cuan-an-Bhainbh.    The
story goes, that as he lay by his watchfire, a wild boar chancing to prowl
that way, was proceeding to attack him, until frightened by the sparkling of
the fire, when he fled in dismay. The watcher, thus providentially saved, adopted
for his crest a wild boar rampant, rushing through a brake, with the motto,
"fortis et fidelis," and his name became, we are not told how, Keating or
Keting, from the Irish words, " Cead tinne," "first fire."
As early as the year 1179, only ten years after the landing of Fitzstephens, we
find the name " Halis Keting," a subscribing witness to a grant to Dunbrody
Abbey by Herve de Montmorencie. This fact, in the absence of other evidence,
would be sufficiently conclusive, against the assumption that, Keating was a corruption of the Norman name, " Etienne," for no such corruption had taken
place at that early date, nor did the invaders hold familiar intercourse with the
xish.




MEMOIR OF DR. KEATING.
As Dermid Mac Murchad arrived in Ireland, from his exile, a year before
the landing of Fitzstephens, and was accompanied by Welshmen, and as he was
anxiously expecting the arrival of his auxiliaries, nothing would be more natural
than that one of those Welshmen should be employed as a watcher for their
coming, and, on his success, should be rewarded by the perfidious prince himself
with the title and distinction of " Cead tinne."
"Halis Keting " was undoubtedly the founder of the house. I-e received
large grants of land. His principal estate and residence was Baldwinstown, in
Wexford. His descendants, being in connection, if not kindred, with the Geraldines, extended their sway over many counties, and were distinguished for hospitality and courage.  Narraghmore in Kildare, the residence of one of the family,
has remained famous to our own day for its " Cead mile failte," which was
known all over the island.
Kindling the fire, that lit the foeman's way, was by no means a cherished title
to Irish gratitude. But, in process of time, many of the Normans, as was proverbiai of the Geraldines, became nationalized, and in defiance of the " Statute of
Kilkenny " London edicts and other devices of " British civilization," entered into
the honored relations of fosterage and gossipred with the Irish. Nay, sometimes
they went the audacious length of intermarrying, being so rude of taste as to
prefer some "silver tongued' Irish beauty to the haughtiest Norman dame.
Amongr these were the Keatings, who, on many an occasion, proved themselves
formidable opponents to London law and King bishops.
In the reign of Henry VII., James Keatinc, Prior of Kilmainham, stormed
Dublin Castle, and held it for months against the Government. He was afterwards dislodged and attainted, and Parliament, in furtherance of civilization,
enacted and ordained that no person born in Ireland should ever thereafter be
Prior of Kilmainham; a salutary enactment which became a precedent in
practice with the English garrison in Ireland ever since. During the "rebellion " of the great Earl of Desnond, the Keatings of Carlow did such good service in his cause that the whole sept, branch and name, were attainted. How
it fared with the'Iipperary families, with whom the Doctor is more immediately
connected, we have no record of. Possibly that, being under the protection of
Ormond, and holding their estates in his palatinate, they took no part for or
against their kinsman of Desmond.
Geoffrey Keating was born when Gerald of Desmond held regal sway in his
"Kingdoml of Kerry," and opened asylums for monk and priest in his manifold
strongholds, in open defiance of the " Statutes in such case made and provided,"
and in still more daringf defiance of the frowns and menaces of his " well beloved
and gracious mistress."  The date of Keating's birth is fixed by some at 1570
and by some at 1581, and his birthplace at Burgess and Tubrid respectively.
Both places are in the parish of Tubrid, near Clogheen, and not far from nNicholstown or Shanbally, the principal seats of the Keating family in Tipperary. The
exact locality is of' little importance, and the date 1570, may be assumed as
correct, fbr otherwise he would have been but a mere child when sent away
from Ireland, and it would be impossible for him to have acquired a perfect
knowledge of tIhe Irish language. His parents, we are told, were in affluent
circumstances.  But the fact, that their names have not been preserved. leads to
the conclusion that the " reformation " extended its civilising influence to them
and that thev held their' possessions in a quasi incognito.
Geoffrey fKeating was sent to school at a very early age; but his proficiency
at that time, or what were his particular studies, we are without any account of.
As, however,, the Irish and Latin were the languages of the "schools," it is to
be presumed he first mastered the difficulties of his native tongue and became
familiar with its complex construction.- His works, too, considering that he
spent the best years of his youth and manhood abroad, abundantly testify that
the study of Irish engaged his earliest attention. His opportunities for acquiring
~~ ~""      "~"~"                      lli VLYV\IIIV0     IL 0    arrI




Vi                  3MEMOIR OF DR. KEATING.
a thorough knowledge, not only of Irish but of the classics, were, in his part of
the country, numerous and easy of access. The Irish schools yet flourished in
despite of the destructive tendencies of the " reformation."  There was, at that
time, a famous school at Cahir, protected, perhaps, by one of the Ormlonds, who
had his residence there, where, in all likelihood, young Keating spent his early
years. In the absence of any testimony of his progress, let us glance briefly. at
the Irish school, as an institution of the country at that day, and for ages before.
The early literary history of Ireland stands out in proud distinction from that
of any other country in Europe. While the revel of the Goth profaned the Roman
forum, and he stabled his steeds in the Coliseum, the pilgrims of learning, from
every darkened land, found shelter, sustainment, and inexhaustible sources of information, in Ireland. When this noted distinction of hospitality and learning
took its date, we are not precisely informed. B3de, the truest British historian,
does ample justice to the superior claims of Ireland in that regard. Long before
his time, he asserts, such was the fame of the Irish schools, that when a person
of note was missed from Great Britain or the continent, it was concluded, as a
matter of course, that he had " gone to Ireland in search of learning."  This
was long anterior to the discovery of the art of printing, when even a limited
scholarship bespoke a life of toil and assiduous devotion.
Originally, the school was, in Ireland, a state institution. It had wide foundations and an ample inheritance. The teachers were held in high estimation
and ranked next to royalty. In process of time the Church lent its influence
to the advancement of learning. Every monastery was a college, where pupils,
from all lands, received not only a solid education but sumptuous entertainment.
It mattered not whence they came or whither they were bent. The college hall
and college hospitality were open to all comers.
These institutions flourished at the time of the invasion. They attracted the
attention of the most refined of the Normans, and, after a while, commanded their
support. They endowed abbeys and gave large grants for the maintenance of
education. The secular clergy too, were, according to the new system, obliged
to dispense a third of their incomes on purposes of learning. No doubt the
Norman monks and professors perverted their office in many an instance, by
ignoring the Irish tongue and defaming the literature of Ireland. But the
schools flourished; and, when the nobles of the Pale entered into relations of
gossipred and marriage with the natives, the schools once again became nationalised. In the reign of Edward VI., nothing was more common than monasteries
of Engrlish foundation, from which the English tongue was excluded. Hence,
the Norman youths found it indispensable to learn the former language.
On this state of things supervened the "Reformation."  Its natural effect
was, to make the schools more Irish. So also did it affect the lords of the pale,
who remained faithful to the old religion. For the old faith and tongue, at once
proscribed alike, they risked land, liberty and life. But when the abbeys were
confiscated and Queen's bishops usurped the sees, the schools, though at first
stoutly defended, were in many places driven from their ancient seats to find
shelter in the desert. The bold Earl of Desmond long upheld them in their
integrity. Ormond, too, although the inveterate foe of the Geraldine, permitted,
or at least connived at, them in his'palatinate; not as of yore, connected with
monasteries, or as state institutions, but scattered over the country in buildings
erected by individual bounty on the model of the ancient College Hall. These
were numerous in Tipperary when Keating was a boy.
It did not need then, or thereafter, that the student should confine himself to
a school near his home. He may proceed whither he pleased, where the fame
of the teacher, in the science or language he studied, invited him; and he was
sure to be, not only the welcome, but the prized guest of whatever family he
honored by accepting its hospitality. Often, long thereafter, when the pale parliament made and ordained it " treason," was this hospitality religiously ob



MEMOIR OF DR. KEATING.                          Vil
served. The Irish student, in the darkest days, found a home and a school —were
it even in the bowels of the earth-to fit him for a ministry, in the fulfillment of
which he had to brave death on the scaffold. France, Spain, Italy and Germany, either opened and endowed colleges, or allowed them to be founded on
their territories by Irish princes for the Irish ecclesiastical student, wherein his
life was consecrated to a mission of martydom in his native land.
Geoffrey Keating having acquired the necessary information in the Irish
school, was at the age of sixteen (1586) sent to one of these foreign collegeswe are not with any certainty informed which-to complete his studies and be
admitted to the priesthood.
Even through the long and desolating period of persecution, then begun, the
Irish school survived. In manv counties, as late as the end of George III's
reign, there were famous classical schools in which the English tongue was
never heard. And down to our own day, literary hospitality continued unimpaired. The ablest masters. classical and scientific, have taught thousands of
students, who for years were entertained with the most lavish kindness in the
houses of the farmers in the districts around the school, of late a barn or deserted. dwelling of mud wall and thatched roof. In Tipperary, Waterford and
Limerick, it was usual to have two of those "scholars," living for four and
five consecutive years with a family, and treated with extreme courtesy and tenderness. Such was the devotion of this class not only to " scholars," but scholarship, that in the first cycle of this century there was scarcely a farmer of any
competency who did not give one son, and sometimes all his sons, a classical
education, without any reference to their intended professions or pursuits.
But what nor persecution, nor war, nor confiscation, nor the scaffold, had been
able to effect, has been accomplished by the poor law of 1842 and the famine
of 1846-7. The true Irish schools and the honored custom of hospitality attendant on it, under the baneful influence of London law and London pestilence,
have passed away.  Charity has become mercenary, and hospitality warped,
under the pestilent influence of " British protection," now, alas! not only endured
but begged for.
This is, perhaps, digressive; and yet it seems noedful as illustrative of the
system of education in which Keating took his first lessons, and in the spirit of
which, his work is conceived. The perils that beset the school in his time, and
the destruction that afterwards swept over it, sufficiently account for the fact
that so little is known of his early life and studies. Nor can he, his works, or
the circumstances of his time, be thoroughly understood or estimated, without
tracing somewhat in detail the marked events in the progress of" Reformation,"
giving color and vitality to the thoughts and efforts of the era. They were
cotemporaneous with Keating's youth, manhood and acre, and must have stamped
their impress on his feelings and aspirations.  No doubt he was informed of the
more hideous atrocities that darkened the track of 4 reform;" and no doubt they
influenced his generous design to preserve the monuments of Irish learning which
the besom of " reformation" was so busyrin sweeping from the face of the earth.
Let us therefore leave the student to his studies for a time, to follow the march
of "reformation" and " British civilization."
The former owed its birth in England to Henry VIII.  He had been styled
and ordained " defender of the faith," for the Pope, who conferred the distinction, paid no attention to the warning, " put not your faith in princes."  Like.
many another guardian, Henry betrayed his ward and abandonred the faith he
" defended," for a faith that defended his crimes. He was not, however, a fanatic or a bigot. He changed his religion to suit his lusts, with the same indifference with which he would change his dress. His reign, his life, his death,
were one round of licentiousness. He did little in Ireland, save to cause an act
to be passed, " suppressing" the monasteries. But this seemed intended as a
bait to the turbulent lords of the Pale, whom he hoped to conciliate by the pros



Vi11                 MEMOIR OF DR. KEATING.
pect of a division of the abbey lands, as the monasteries flourished even as
though they never were " suppressed."  Theretofore, his ancestors held dominion
in Ireland as a fief of the Pope; and now, as the Pope refused to minister to
his infamies, he resolved to cast off; at the same time, his spiritual authority and
the title which his predecessors, Kings of England, usurped in his name. Accordinrly, his Parliament duly enacted him 1" King of Ireland," upon nine-tenths
of whichl neither King nor Parliament dared to set foot.
There was scarcely anything done towards "reforming" the Irish, in the
reign of Edward VI.  His counsellors confined their operations to " reforming"
the book of Common Prayer, the orthodoxy of which his Parliament duly
enacted. Edlward reigned but a few years, and was, a mere child; and on
Mary's accession the acts affecting  the Catholics were immediately repealed.
Thus, when Elizabeth came to the throne, which event, so auspicious to Ireland,
crowned the glory of the year 1558, there were no pdnal laws on the Irish
Statute book.
Of all the turbulent times through which "Reformation" sped its mission, the
reign of Elizabeth was emphatically the red reign.  It was the reign of rapine,
tears and blood. It trafficked in treason an'd generated the spy. It governed
by subsrnation, fraud and lies. It stimulated "rebellion" for the pleasure
and profit of crushing it in its own blood. It sowed turbulence to reap confiscation. The spirit of Elizabeth was dark and daring. She was equally crafty
and inexorable.  She, at first, affected to conciliate the Pope.  The Pope and
College of Cardinals had promulgated a decree, pronouncingo the marriage of
Henrv and her mother null.  Iter dearest olbject was to procure the reversal
of this terrible judgment, for she knew that in the minds of almost all the sovereigns of Europe at the time, the throne of England was, in her person, occupied by
a bastard. Her overtures to the Pope were earnest ald pressing, but finding that
he rejected them, she resolved to overthrow an authority she could not suborn.
For this project Ireland presented the fairest field, for while eradicating
"poapery" she may be able to carry her conquests over the whole of the island.
Her ambition, capacity and daring were boundless, and were well seconded by
the craft of her counselors. At the same time, her acts were frequently, distinguished by queenly generosity.  She loaded with her bounty the Irish princes
who abdicated their chieftancy and patrimony to take estates and titles at her
hands. She pardoned with grace and distinguished by princely favors those
who hadl defied her power.  In granting titles and estates to an Irish chief, she
impos,3l no condition and suggested no change of religion.  These details she
left to her counselors. If vengeance she entertained, it was for them to execute
it. They were men of no faith and no scruples.  They did the dirtiest work
with a relish. They sent the spy around to suborn the petty chief and sublit
to him the dazzling allurements that awaited his treachery to his rightful prince.
And sure was she to receive himn graciously and bestow on him precious favors
as well as broad dominions, as the medl of his treason. Thus, while treachery
was the life-blood of her power and tle sole means of extending her conquests
in Ireland, she invested it with munificence and a captivating generosity.
Her success in subornation was not equal to her ambition. It halted far in
rear of her impetuous desires. If a degenerate sire took a beggarly earldom at
her hands, many a time did he rigght sorely rue it; for his son or some other
having good title to the'wand of chieftaincy, clutched the sword and truncheon
to assert the privilege of his clan. She therefore determined to try confiscation.
Accordingly, she summoned a Parliament, and Sydney, the very man who two
years previously presided over the Parliament that exultingly  repealed all
previous penal enactments, presided also over this one, that enacted laws far
more penal. Elizabeth's Parliament, held in Christ Church, Dublin, in 1559,
" provided " that the " reformation" should be established in Ireland, six counties of which were at the time governed by the Queen-that he or she who




MEMOIR OF DR. KEATING.                           ix
refused to renounce any "' foreign power," that is the spiritual supremacy of the
Pope, should, for the first offence, forfeit land and goods; for the second, incur
the penalties of" prmemunire;" and, for the third, those of high treason. This
Parliarmcnt was chiefly remarkable for the fact, that it proscribed itself; for
most of the members, being Catholics, had three times, at least, asserted the
spiritual supremacy of the Pope, for which crime, according to their own law,
they should be hanged and quartered. The truth is, no one supposed the law
would be enforced, and there is reason to believe that assurance was given to
that effect.  However this may be, as soon as the policy of subornation began
openly to fail, prosecutions were commenced against priests and priest harborers,
which Gerald of Desmond would not brook in his domain. He would shelter,
save and honor, priest and bishop, at his own good pleasure, so help him God
and his trusty blade. Vicissitudes of a startling nature followed, until we find
Desmond in open revolt for the liberties and religion of the pale. The fortunes
of this war we have not space to relate. Enough to say, that after various suc.
cesses, ruin overtook the champion of Catholicity at last, and the cause he
espoused, set-at least in the South —in blood.
When the banner of Desmond went down, and his head, cut off by vulgar
hands, was staked on London bridge —where it long grinned at Saxon churls
and upstart prelates, who came that way to gaze at the ghastly spectacle-the
Queen's minions and'"undartakers," among whum were parcelled the broad
lands of Desmnond, began to work their wicked will in Ireland on priests and
people. Witches and priests were the special objects of the persecution.  The
former, Coxe informs us, were condemned by " the laws of nature;" but whether
it was by the laws of nature, or man, or beast, the latter were doomed, he does not
condescend to tell. We know, indeed, that the laws of the pale were sound on such
business; for did they not " mlake and provide " that it was high treason " a third
time " to deny the divine authority of Elizabeth as the head of God's church on
earth?  Bunt to wait for the third denial was work too slow in these days, and
so the executioners decided that the first denial was, in " intendment of law," the
third, and thus were enabled to hang, quarter, and disembowel for the first
offence. Patrick O'Hely, bishop of Mlayo, and Cornelius O'Rourke, a priest,
were put to the rack, had their hands and feet broken by hammers, and needles
thrust under their nails, (thoufgh for these more refined tortures the law neglected
to make special provision,) and finally they were hangred and quartered. John
Stephen, miet the same fate, " for that lie said mass for one Teigue MIcTIugh."
The prie:sts of Maunster fled to tho mountains, where they ministered to their
flocks in caverns, and where ruin often overtook then at dead of night and in the
midst of the sacrifice, for British "Chliristianit y" prowled round their watch-firs
and baptised them of the new creed in their own blood. Dermod O'Hurly, of Cashel,
having been consecrated by the Pope on the apostaey of Myler McGrath Of that
see, endeavored to fulfil his functions by secreting himself at the residences of the
chiefs and nobles, who whatever may be their outward professions were true to
the old creed and old cause. While O'Hlurly was sojourning with the baron of
Slane in Meath, he was espied, " recognised," the English books say, by the
chief justices (spies were high functionaries at that time), who swiftly informed
Adam  Loftus, then Chancellor, of the prey he had set for him. The baron
hearing his guest was betrayed, either connived at, or ef'ected, his escape; but
receiving a messazge from the Chancellor to deliver the bishop to him in irons,
such was his terror that he pursued the fugitive, and overtakingc him at Carrick-on-Suir, arrested, and delivered him up with his own hand. And needful it
was for hlim to do so, for otherwise his head would give ghastly warning to all
"priest harborers," from the summit of Dublin Castle. Threats, tortures, and
offers of rewards, were in turn tried on O'Hurly, but tried in vain. After about
a year of imprisonment and torments on the morn of Holy Thursday, ere it was
yet dawn, he was hanged outside the city walls. Terrible retribution for the




X                    MEMOIR OF DR. KEATING.
act of that other archbishop of the same see, Donchad or Donatus, who was
first to recognise the spurious title of Henry II. to the unfortunate Kingdom of
Ireland.
When the current of murder ran the reddest, there pined in the dungeons of
Dublin Castle a kidnapped youth-red Hugh O'Donnell-who longed for the
hill sides of Tirconnell and the head of those clans tliat followed the banner of
his race. There was a Queen's O'Donnell in his stead, who exercised false sway
under a perjured title. But well the young chief knew, that in the first glance
of his eye, the traitor's hold would melt like snow in the glance of the summer
sun. Before he was twenty years of age he made good his escape through a
sewer to the Liffey, thence to the Wicklow mountains, where one of his comrades perished of cold and hardship; and thence, over flood and field, to Dungannon Castle, where red Hugh O'Neil was already meditating vengeance on the
accursed foreigners. Short was the O'Donnell's stay to recruit his wasted
strength. He hied him to Tirconnel, where high festival and rejoicing greeted
the rightful chief, who was at once invested with his wand of chieftaincy. They
who harbored the English and countenanced the " Queen's O'Donnell," soon felt
the edge of his steel, and, in a single campaign, not a traitor was left within the
broad borders of Tirconnell. The Deputy and Council, then so busy in murdering the priests of Munster, did not find it an easy matter to make shire land of
Tirowen and Tirconnell, while the flags of the" Red Hand" and the O'Donnell
waved above them; and many a time did the banner of England go down by
the Blackwater and Lough Swilly. After years of raid and rout and vengeance,
done on disloyal chieftains; after a truce or two, and battles fatal to the
Queen, her forces, greatly augmented'of late, under command of Bagrnall, met
those of Tirowen and Tirconnell, led by their princely chiefs, at Beal-an-athabuidhe, near Portmore. O'Neil had vengeance of his own to wreak that
day, and O'Donnell burned to brand on the Queen's minions the indignity
her jailors' fetters had marked on his youthful limbs. The armies clashed, and
fierce and hot was the encounter. Bagnall fell, his host was utterly routed, and
left some thousands dead on the field. Tirowen and Tirconnell now owned no
stranger lord, and their rightful chieftains held high festival in their ancient
halls, and their rightful clergy ministered, in church and abbey, of the ancient
faith.
On O'Donnell's return home, Hugh of Tirowen marched 7,000 men across the
Pale on a pilgrimage to the Holy Cross in Tipperary. Small fear was there
that any pimping chief justice would. spy the prelates in his train. At the
Holy Cross he met James Fitz Thomas, whom he created the Desmond. The
Ial object of O'Neil's visit was, to inspire the Munster chiefs, who were then
making feeble head in the fastnesses of Muskery, under the lead of O'Neil's
Desmend and McCarty More. But Tirowen needed her good swords to defend
her own borders, and M3nnster was left to its fate and the tender mercies of Sir
George Carew. Sad fate surely, this! for Sir George was of the true stamp of
a British civilizer. When baffled on the field, craft and falsehood did for him
instead. The " Sugan Earl," as he with great unction styles the Desmond,
repeatedly defeated his armies and burned his castles. Having tried all means
to endeavor to persuade the Earl's Irish followers to betray him, he had recourse
to this notable expedient.  When the fortunes of the Earl waned, he was in the
neighborhood of one Dermond O'Connor, who was married to his sister. Carew
addressed a letter to the Earl, in which he congratulated him on his returning
loyalty and besought him, that as a proof of his sincerity, he would bring him
O'Connor, either living or dead. The letter, as it was intended, fell into the
hands of O'Connor, who was so enraged at what he supposed treason, that he
contrived to get thQ Earl into his hands, and kept him in one of his strongholds
in chains. Sir George, indeed, says in his " Pacata Hibernia," that the whole plot
was concocted between him and' O'Connor, through the management of Lady




MEMOIR OF DR. KEATING.                          xi
Margaret, O'Connor's wife. He was afterwards rescued, and O'Connor's castle
of Lyshin was sacked. But the fortunes of Fitz Thomas do not concern the
subject of this memoir.'The Spanrish auxiliaries, so long expected by the northern chiefs, and promised
by the King, were now at last prepared to embark. Unfortunately for Spain
and Ireland, the command of this force was conferred on Don Juan d'Aguila.
The Irish chiefs urged the necessity of secrecy and despatch, and above all insisted upon the landing being effected in the north, where a junction could be
formed too formidable to be attacked, and where the allied armies might become
accustomed to each other and their respective discipline and mode of warfare.
These reasons would seem to leave no choice to the Spanish commander. His
own safety and that of his command, as well as the exigencies of the object in
view, alike demanded it. Yet was' he not alone indifferent to these considerations, but, either through treachery or vanity, or perhaps both combined, he so
conducted his operations that it was thoroughly known, not only to Sir George
Carew, but to the English Council, that his destination was Kinsale. So satisfied were both of his intention, that they concentrated a force of over four thousand men near that town.
All this time the northern chiefs were not informed of D'Aguila's purpose.
They were not even aware that the expedition was prepared. They heard
nothing from or of Don Juan, until he arrived at, and was surrounded in, Kinsale. On his first landing he took possession of Dunbuy, the castle of Kinsale,
and the islands in the Bay, in the name of the King of Spain. To this his operations were confined. He then suddenly shut himself up in the town.
When the news reached the northern princes, although conscious of the
fatality of Don Juan's course and the desperate position in which he was placed,
they'flew at once to his assistance. By unexampled marches in mid-winter, they
made their way south. The President attempted to intercept O'Neil, and sent
a large force to oppose him. A sudden frost enabled O'Neil to traverse the
mountains in the north of Tipperary, and both chiefs arrived together before
Kinsale, in sight of the English camp. An engagement was precipitated by
misdirection or mischance, only the second day after a forced march of near three
hundred miles. It occurred at break of day, and only half the Irish forces were
engaged, when a rout took place in the confusion and darkness. O'Donnell took
no part in the action; and such was his chagrin, and indignation at Don Juan's
conduct and inactivity during the combat, that he took advantage of the presence
of a Spanish brig then in the harbor, to embark for Spain and impeach Don Juan
before the King. He left his brother in command and proceeded on his way,
never alas! to return.
Both armies reached the north in safety, and such was the terror inspired by
the name of O'Neil, that it was left to him to dictate the terms on which he
would accept pardon and a coronet from the English Queen.
D'Aguila at once surrendered not only Kinsale but the other fortifications
which he had received from the Irish chiefs. The castle of Dunbuy had, however, a small garrison of Irishmen who refused to surrender. The desperate
defence made by this little band, and the savage ferocity that marked the sack
of the place, are unexampled in history.
And here ended the liberty of Ireland, her nationhood and her name. But
ere the closing scene, indeed before his coronet was given to O'Neil, Elizabeth
was called to her last account, and James of Scotland had mounted her throne.
Early in James' reign (1610), Geoffrey Keating returned to Ireland. War and
fagots had then given place to facile judges and suborned juries, under the guidance of that renowned casuist, Sir John Davies. By this time Keating was forty
years of age, twenty-three of which were spent in a foreign college, most likely
Salamanca. Other places are mentioned, but the great probability is, that he
studied, and, as it is asserted, taught, at Salamanca; for the intercommunication




3Xl                    MEMOIR  OF DR. KEATING.
with Spain at that time was more frequent than with France. Spain was, in
fact, the principal refuge for the exiled Irish, and his opportunities for preserving
his practical knowledge of his native tongue, were far greater there than elsewhere
out of Ireland. It is probable, too, that he there, from time to time, received
old manuscripts from bards and shannachies, who shared the flight of the O'Donnell or followed him into exile. This would account in some degree for the
general accuracy of his history, for we are told, that in his researches through
Connaught and Ulster, the bards who had stolen to the hills to live with wild
beasts, repulsed him, as owning a strange name and belonging to the race of
the hungry undertakers who then preyed on the green fields of their inheritance.
Although James had in 1607 revived Elizabeth's conformity act, it does not
appear that the Catholics of Munster, at least in that part under the sway
of the Ormonds, suffered any actual persecution. Indeed, so far back as 1602,
Sir George Carew held an assize at Limerick, Cashel and C(lonmell, where he did
vengeance on the restive of these parts whom  he could lay hands on.  But he
found that a great number had fled to the Ormonds, two baronies in North
Tipperary; and meeting the Earl of Ormond at Clonmell, "he did move
him " to go with him into these parts to assize them at his leisure there. But
"' the Earl did entreate him to satisfie himselfe concerning that busines, for he
would undertake it."  He did not undertake it, however, and the great pacificator thus communes in that regard: "which I thinke had beetle immediatelie
performed had not the immature deathe of his most vertuous lady (the lamentable tydings whereof were brought to him at Clonmell, oppressing his aged heart
with immeasurable'sorrow) caused the same for a time to be deferred."
Immediately on Keating's return he was appointed curate to the very reverend Eugene Duhy, in his native parish.  On the first Sunday of his ministry,
as he was proceeding to vest himself, the vicar requested him  to delay mass.
After some time he asked the cause, and was informed it was to accommodate
a wealthy family who had not yet arrived. He refused to sanction this practice,
and proceeded with the sacrifice.  He was glad to learn thereafter, that the
family were of his own kindred, who took good care to be punctual in future.
How long he continued fulfilling the duties of the ministry in Tubrid, we are not
informed.  His fame as a preacher extended far, and numerous and even fashionable audiences gathered to hear him.  The building of the church at Tubrid
engaged his care, and under the circumstances of the time, this labor must have
extended over years.  He also wrote during his mission a theological treatise,
called "Eochair Sgiath anAifrinn," a Key to the Shield of the Mass, a work it is
said of rare merit.  He wrote at the same time, a treatise on practical piety,
called " Tri Bir Ghaoithe anBhais," the Three Winged Shafts of Death.  These
works are not translated, and we have no doubt they would be valuable accessions to the description of literature to which they belong.*
* Besides the works mentioned in the text,   SLAN LE i.-EmRNs' —Farewoell to Irelasd.
Doctor Keating has left a great many lyrical
compositions of considerable merit. They are   Mo bheannacht leat a scribhinn
distinguished above the productions of his time  Go h-inis aoibhinn Ealga;
by simplicity and purity of style. They all   Is truagh! nach leur damh a beanna
breathe of the writer's intense devotion to Ire-  Gidh gnath a d-teanna dearga.
land, her language, her traditions and her history. They are scattered through the miscellaneous   Slan da h-uaisle's d'a h-oireacht,
manuscripts which yet abound in Ireland. One  Slan go ro bheacht d'a cleirchibh,
is selected for publication here; simple, beauti-    Slan da bantrachtaibh caoine
ful and brimfull of tenderness, as an example of    Slan d'a saoithibh le h-eigsibh.
the Doctor's powers and taste in this species of
composition. It is an address to a letter he had   Mo shlan d'a maahaibh mine,
Just written to some friend in Ireland, from his    Slan fa mhile d'a a cltocaibh,
retreat at Salamanca. Here is the poem. It is    Mo chion d'on te ta inte,
headed-                                     Slan da linntlbh a s d'a a lochalbh.




M[EMOIR OF DR KEATING.                                  Xiii
ITa.  not his missionary labors  been  interrupted, the  probability is, that
"Keating's History " never would have been written.  The duties of the priest
would not allow the necessary leisure to the historian. The circumstances that
compelled his flight are variously related.  One version is, that in a sermon
fashionably attended, he so severely reproved a certain vice, that a Mrs. Moklar,
a dashinig beauty, resented it as a personal exposure of her criminal levity.
Burning with rage, she flew to the President, who was one of her admirers, and
invoked at his hands the vengeance of.the " conformity act."  Another version
is, that while he was absent in search of materials for his history, a squire of his
neighborhood seduced the daug nter of a parishioner, whom Keating denounced
unsparingly on his return, and thus incurred the peril of the law.
That which is certain is, he fled. It is equally certain, he was protected from
the blood-hounds of the law.  Fidelity among the Irish people is a virtue often
sorely tested and never found wanting.  This and this alone accounts for the
magnitude of the task he accomplished under circumstances of so much peril.
" British civilization," though it had then made rapid strides, did not reach that
acme of perfection in espionage it has since attained.  The forests were large,
and in many instances inaccessible, and filled with bold outlaws whom nothing
Slan d'a coiltibh fa thorthaibh,              My love to those within her,
Slan fos d'a qorraidhaibh iaseach,           Her lakes and linns and fountains.
Sian d'a mointibh a's d'a bantaibh,
Sian fos d'a rathaibll a's d'a riasgaibh.  IIer wbods with berries drooping,
Her sparkling pools with fishes,
Slan o'm chroidhe d'a cuantaibh,              Ifer moors and moadows greenest,
Slan fos d'a tuarthaibh troma;              To these my teeming wishes.
Soraidhl d'a tulchaibh aonaich*
Slan uaim d'a craobhaibh croma.            My heart's best memories to her
Broad bays and surest harbors,
Gidh gnath a foirne fraochdha                 Her yellow harvest bending
Ann inis naopnhtha neamhochd                tIer songs in blending arbors.*
Siar tar dhromchladhuibh na dileann
Beir a scribinn mo Bheannacht.             Though passionate the people
In the saints' meetest island,
TRANSLATION.                     Athwart the billows rearing
My blessing bear to Ireland.
My blessing with thee, letter,
To beauty-fretted Erinn;                   The "farewell" is published in lHardiman's
Would I could see her highlands          Minstrelsy, vol. 2, with a translation by Mr.
Though crimson dyes oft wearing.         Dalton.
Tha translation here given is literal, or at
Fond blessings to her nobles,             least as nearly so as is compatible with the measAnd priesthood holy, fonder,             ure, rythm, and structure of the original, which
HIcr maidens and her sages               are all preserved. There are in both original
Who o'er her pages ponder.              and translation, the exact same number of lines,
rhymes, feet and syllables, an identity which
Best wishes to her truest,                had for its object to give an idea of the complex
Her blue of bluest mountains,            structure of Irish verse.
* "Tulchaibh aonaich."-The translation of of the bards, who no doubt had a right merry
this line, " Her songs in blending arbors," is a carouse, such as Moore sings ofdeparture from the literalness, if the word be
allowable, otherwise preserved throughout, for   Delicious days of whim and soul
the words mean "Fair meetings." By "fair        When mingling lore and laugh together,
meetings," as used by the poet, we are not to   We leaned the book on pleasure's bowl
understand the crowd of buyers and sellers and  And turned the leaf with folly s feather.
idlers congregated at a fir, but conferences of
the bards, which were usual at stated times, and  It was this description of the Croom meeting
continued nearly to our own time. The trans- which suggested the translation.
later has seen a song of a Munster bard, of the   Thie Maig has tasked the genius and fired the
last century, written to commemorate one of enthusiasm of more than one of the children of
these poetic festivities, held at Croom. in the song. Its scenery has been immortalized by
County of Limerick. The bards met, and sang  Gerald Griffin, the truest, most sensitive and
and feasted under summer foliage, on a wood- tenderest of our later bards, whose pictures of
land slope overlooking the silver Maig; and the its loveliness are as glowing as his imagination
poet does ample justice to the enchanting loveli- and as truthful as his heart.
ness of the spot. He also describes the festivity




X1V                  MEMOIR OF DR. KEATING.
but an armv would dare to encounter. And notwithstanding the devices of
"artful Cecil," the country then lacked that noblest institution of the nineteenth
century, a rural police. In fact, therefore, he might, as is alleged, have written or
completed the history in Aherlow woods, now one of the loveliest mountain valleys
in Ireland. The glen of Aherlow, as the place is called, extends along the northern base of the Galtees, a distance of twelve miles from the village of Bansha to
Galbally. It is sheltered at the north by the low range of the Clan William
mountains. It was theretofore the asylum of " Rebels," who mayhap had thrice
denied the spiritual supremacy of Elizabeth, which, on one occasion, they sorely
rued, for they received a friendly visit from Carew and his retinue of hangmen,
the object and achievement of which he thus describes:
"The president dire4ed his forces into east Clan William, and harassing
the country, killed all mankind that were found therein; thence we came into
Arloghe woods, where we did the like, not leaving behind us man or beast, corne
or cattle."
Aherlow was accessible from the Tubrid side through the gorges of the Galtees, and no doubt a man sentineled as Keating must have been by the fidelity
of his people, might live there for years, not only in safety but comparative
comfort. Nor were its solitude and quiet unsuited to the labor of the historian.
There is no good reason then to question the story that hallows the scene.
The tradition has long survived the wood, and all traces of the hiding place.
The rich sheen of the meadow and the golden hue of the harvest glalden the Glen
of Aherlow now. But those who dwell there, love to recall the gloomy memories of that gloomy time, and by many a fireside is whispered lowly in the olden
tongue the bloody raid of Carew's gallows tree, and then, more loudly and exultingly, the inviolability of Keating's retreat.  This fact has become the
"genius loci " or spirit of the spot, and even though we could dissipate the spell
with which it has invested that lovely vale, where so oft we roamed exulting in
the strife and freedom we had fondly hoped for, we would not touch with disturbing, hand a tradition so characteristic of those mournful times. But there
is no reason to doubt its truth, and we hold that Doctor Keating either wrote
the whole or a great part of the "' Foras feasa ar Erinn," in the woods of Aherlow.
Being unable to fix the date of Keating's separation from his duties or that of
the commencement of his history, or whether he ever again returned to the
ministry, we shall glance briefly at the history of his family from his time
downward.
Early in the reign of Charles I., Sir Edward Everard or Fethard was married to
the daughter of John Keating, of Nicholstown. His brother Richard Keating's
daughter was married to Wall, of Coolnamuck, on the right bank of the Suir, two
miles from Carrick. The sole male representative of these Keatings died at
Annapolis, in Maryland, towards the close of the last century. Cotemporaneous
with them was Michael Keating, of Shanbally, who was married to Lord Dpnboyne's sister. John Keating, his son, was married to Miss Kearney, of Kappagh. He was cotemporaneous with the Doctor and his nearest relative. This
John was called the " baron " and " knight of the fleece."  He had issue Michael,
Maurice and Bryan. Michael married the sister of Lady Ferrand, and left issue
one son, who was Dean of St. Patrick's, Dublin; but whether he left any issue
we cannot say. Maurice married Miss Mandeville of Ballydine, on the left bank
of the Suir, above Coolnamuck. The name of Mandeville is on the muster roll
of William of Norniandy and that of the barons of Rumnymede, and in the
family Ballydine was an inheritance for 600 years.  Whether Maurice Keating has left any male issue, we cannot say. Bryan Keating was married to
Ann, the daughter or grand-daughter of Roger Sheehy, of Dromcoloher.  He
had issue John, Roger, Henry, William and George Sheehy Keating. John
left no issue, Roger only one daughter, the late Mrs. Nixon, of the county of
Meath. Henry married a Miss Singer, sister of the fellow of that name of




MEMOIR OF DR. KEATING.                                 XV
Dublin College.  He joined the army and rose rapidly.  He commanded the
attack on the Isle of Bourbon; and on the news reaching England, was made
major-general.  He was afterwards appointed governor of the Isle of France,
created baronet, and invested with the order of the Bath. He died recent.
ly, and left two sons, James Sheehy Keating, captain in the guards, and Henry
Sheehy Keating, M. P. for Reading.*  This gentleman is unquestionably the
truest representative of the family now  livingr for fame speaks him  fair and
faithful to the kindly and generous attributes of his race. George left one son,
Henry George, who lately lived near Mallow, and if alive is perhaps the only
male representative of the family in Ireland. William, the youngest of these
brothers, fell in a duel.  Bryan Keating's daughters, Ann, Jane, Catharine and
Theodosia, were married-Jane to Mr. Therry, whose eldest son is now judge in
Sidney; Catharine to  iorgan O'Dwyer, of Cullen, whose eldest son is John
Keating O'Dwyer, of Limerick, and Theodosia to Edward Sheehy, of Ballintubber, whose eldest son is Roger Sheehy, of Liskennett, county Limerick.
Robert Keating of Garranlea, claims a relationship with this family, but what
it is, or whether he has any, does not appear.
Thus there seems but doubtful conjecture, that there is, at least in his proper
rank and position, one representative of the male line of the Keatings in Ireland.
The Doctor's History, after all, is their noblest monument.  It is, in truth,
"pe;eIlnius sere."
But what is stranger, the high families that entered into alliance with the
Keatings of old, are nearly extinct.  The Everards held princely sway in their
feudal hold at Fethard, whose walls, yet standing, attest its strength and their
grandeur. The last of this race was the Archbishop of Cashel, who died in 1823.
The Mandevilles are seen no more at Ballydine, and that ancient patrimony has
passed away from the name for ever.t  The last of the Kearnys fell in a duel at
Cashel nearly a century ago, and Coolnamuck lately passed into the hands of
John Sadlier, the suicide. The last of the Dunboynes was Bishop Butler, who
abandoned creed and crozier to take a wife and title.  He is buried in the
old Augustinian Abbey, in Fethard.  His monument is extremely simple, but
extremely beautiful. It is a mournful record of his times, for it testifies that he
repented of his " reformation," and renounced the new creed and title on the bed
of death.
Of Doctor Keating's later life or death, no record remains, except the inscription on the old ruins at Tubrid.  The date, as will be seen, in the  copy
given below, is 1644.  This inscription indicates that Doctor Keating was never
parish priest, for the designation " vicar" is added to the Rev. Mr. Duhy's
name. But we are left to conjecture whether the date is that of the consecra* Henry Sheehy Keating has, since the above   Another branch of the family is represented
was written, been appointed Solicitor General by the Reverend Nicholas Herbert Mandeville,
for England.                              of Balleyna Castle, on the Anner, near Clonmell.
t The first of this family that settled in Ire-   Thomas of Orchardstown, cousin of his nameland, was Sir Philip de Mandeville. He obtained  sake, the disinheritor of Ballydine, also married
large grants of land, extending nearly from Car- to one of the Hacketts, left issue Francis of New
rick to Clonmell, on the left bank of the Suir, Castle, and James, who adopted his mother a
from Henry It. The castle of Ballydine, built name and the arms of her family. He entered
by him, was the residence of the head of the  the East India service and rose to high rank. A
house for over six hundred years. Towards the  large family now inherit his name and fortunes
close of the last century, Thomas Mandeville. in the East. Mary HIackett, the sister of Major
being himself childless, and at variance with his General Hackett and F. Mandeville of New Casbrother James of Yesterland, sold Ballydine to  tle, was married to Thomas, eldest son of the
John Scott, then Solicitor General, and after- above James Mandeville of Yesterland, whose
wards Earl of Cloninell. Tohirn also he disposed  issue were John, the father of James, jun., and
of Orchardstown and Cahirclough, estates held  James H. Mandeville of Ballyqc rkeen., The
in right of his wife, daughter of James Hackett latter is married to Jane, daughter of Daniel
of Chibs Court. His representatives are James  O'Mahony of Kilbenny, by whom he has a large
Hackett Mandeville of Ballyqu!rkeen, and his family.
nephew, also James.




XV-1        ~        MEMOIR OF DR. KEATING.
tion of the church or of the inscription. If the latter, then it may be possible
that Doctor Keating lived, as Mr. O'Donovan is inclined to believe, until 1650.
Otherwise it is undoubted that he was dead in 1644, for beyond all question he
was dead when the inscription was written, although by some incomprehensible
mode of reasoning, the author of the life prefixed to Halliday's translation concludes, that the request to pray for his soul and those of the others, whose bodies
lay buried in the church, was conclusive proof that he was then living.
We are informed that the church was built by " leave of Parliament," and this
"leave" must have been obtained in the early part of Charles I.'s reign; and
assuredly the church must have been finished before 1644, when Cromwell's
generals were desolating the north with sword and flame; and when that desolation surged in blood over the devoted fields of Tipperary, it left the church in
Tubrid, like other churches, a blackened ruin. For a time, between 44 and 46,
Cromwell's banditti were checked by the band of Owen Roe O'Neal. Once again
the flag of the red hand dawned on the gladdened fields of Tirowen and the
flood of the Blackwater. He met Munroe at Benburb, and with a force inferior
in numbers to that general's veterans, utterly routed him. Munroe's retreat
was a flight, and he left nearly four thousand of his " roundheads " dead on the
field. O'Neil was preparing to pursue him, when, fatal order! he received the
Nuncio's commands to repair to Kilkenny. In 1647 or 8, he was marching at
the head of the confederate army in pursuit of Cromwell, then on his way to
Clonmell, when at Tandaragee the bowl of the assassin laid in death this last
hope of Erin. Had Doctor Keating lived in these times, he would leave some
record of the ruin that swept over Munster.
In his preface, he'says that he was then an old man. In the manuscript copy
from which the following translation has been made, and for which the translator is indebted to the kindness of Mr. Michael Sheehan, now of New York, and
late of Kanturk, Co. Cork, Ireland, a postscript is appended, dated 1629. This
date clearly establishes 1570 as that of his birth, which would leave him then
nearly sixty years of age. There is reason to believe, too, that Mr. Sheehan's
manuscript is very old, and is a copy of the original, and was very carefully compared with it. It has been traced to the possession of the Rev'd Mr. O'Keefe,
nearly contemporary with the historian.
In closing( this brief and uncertain memoir, let us be permitted to hope, that
those who may be in possession of authentic records relative to Doctor Keating,
will communicate the same to some person who can use it, so as that they may
fix such facts and dates in reference to the great historian as can be knowh.
We subjoin the Tubrid inscription, most fervently joining in the prayer it
invokes.
NEw YORK, July 4th, 1857.
INSCRIPTION.
Orate pro animabus Rev. Patris Eugenii Duhuy, vicarii de Tubrid, et D.
Doctoris Keating, hujusce sacelli fundatorum necnon et pro omnibus allis tain
sacerdotibus quam laicis, quorum corpora in eodem jacent.
A. D. 1644.
Pray for the souls of the Reverend Father Euoene Duhy, vicar of Tubrid,
and the learned Doctor Keating, the founders of this church; and, also f(tl
those of all others, whether lay or clerical, whose bodies are therein interred.
A. D. 1644.




TIHE "DION-BHROLLACH;"
OR,
PREFACE OF DR. KEATING.1'WHOEVER sets before him  the task of inquiring into and investigating the history and antiquities of any country, ought to adopt
the mode that most clearly explains its true state, and gives the
most correct account of its inhabitants.  And, because I have  undertaken to write and publish a History of Ireland, I deem  myself obliged to complain previously of some of the wrongs and
acts of injustice practiced towards its inhabitants, as well tbwards
the Old Gauls 2 (Anglo-Irish), who have been in possession of the
country for more than four centuries since the English invasion,
as towards the Gaels,3 who have owned it for nearly three thouDr. KEATING styles his prelimi- manners and habits of the Irish, with
nary  discourse  "Dion-bhrollach,"  whom they quickly amalgamated, and
(Deen-vrollagli,) a  compound  term, they became, as the English writers of
meaning, literally, "a guard for the  the day said of them, " ipsis flibernis
breast."  It may be here translated  Hiberniores," i.e., more Irish than the
either " van-uard" or " breast-work."  Irish themselves. A marked distinction
Our author was fond of such compound  was therefore made between them  and
titles.  Thus he styles his history  the ".Nuadh-Ghaill"  (No-ohoill), or
"Foras-Feasa ar Erinn," i.e., "a historic  later invaders.  They  never  called
knoswledmre of Eri," a term  compound-  themselves " Sasanlaigh," or Satons,
ed of _Fo as, history, and Fios, knowl- nor was that hated term  ever applied
edoe.  His cleverest and most care- to them by the natives. They are alfully-written work, which he composed  ways styled either " Brethnmaigh" (Brehin deCfnce of his national religion, he  nigh), i. e., Britons or Gauls, as here.
called the " Eochair-Sciath an Aifrinn,' The term "Gall" or "Gaul" was not given
(Og'lir-   1..'.. 2 Afflri n,) i. e., " The  to them as a generic name, thoug'h the
key-shield of the AMass;" meaning there-  vast majority of them were, in truth,
by, an explanatory defence of the Holy  Gallo-Normans by descent. Th1ey were
Sacrifice.                           so-called, merely, because they were
2 Gauls.-The Irish designated the  " strangers."  Thus we shall see the
earlier  Anglo Norman  and British  Irish calling the Scandinavian  seainvaders  that had settled  amongst rovers, "Finn-Ghaill" and "Dubh" Sen-Ghaill," (Shrnlz-Ghzoill), i. e. " Old  Ghaill,"  (Doo-ghoill), i. e., " Fair and
Ganls" or "stran(ers."  These settlers  Black Strangers," though they, cerwere also called " Strongbownians,"  tainly, were not of the Gallic nation.
from their leader, Richbard de Clare,     Gael.-In  more  ancient Irish
Earl of Pembroke, and Strigul, who  manuscripts, this word is found writhad received the nicknamne of " Strong-  ten "Gaedal," or, with the aspiration,
bow," from  his expertness in archery. " Gaedhal." It is now universally spellThese early colonists soon adopted the  ed " Gaodhal," for the moderns, by a
[17]




Xviii                 DR. KEATING'S PREFACE.
sand years.  For there is no historian that has written upon Ireland, since the event just mentioned, who does not strive to vilify
and calumniate both the Anglo-Irish colonists and the Gaelic
corrupt innovation, always replace the  has thereby misled some really learned
"ae" of the ancients by "ao." Through- and truth-seekinog  writers, both  at
out this work, the form" Gael," shall be  home and on the Continent. Moore
used in translating the word, wherever  quotes him as an authority upon what
it is used in a national or generic sense. he calls the adventitious letters interpoIt has been received into the English  lated by the Irish Bards. The learned
language under this latter form, which  Thierry has been ed by him to suppose
represents pretty nearly its modern  that "Gallus," "Celta," " Gaul," &c.,
pronunciation. The editor rejects the  and' Gaedhal" or" Gael," were but diaform " Gadelian," because it disguises  lectic variations of the same original
the diphthong " ae," which he considers  appellation. As a basis for his assumpan essentially radical element of the  tion, Dr. O'Brien makes the following
word, while it does not at all add to the  assertion, which, after his own etymofacility of its pronunciation in English. logical researches, he must have known
He thinks the name of kindred origin  to be unfounded.  Having remarked
with " Gacetulus," or " Gaetuli," a name  upon that property of the Gaelic tongue,
by which a nation of northern Africa  by which no two or more vowels coming
was designated by the Romans.        together can form distinct syllables, he
This is the true national or generic  goes on to say: "For which reason ous
name of that portion of the great Celtic  bards or versificators, who frequently
family, which inhabits both the Scottish  wanted to stretch out words, by mulhighlands and Ireland. The manner in  tiplying their syllables, according to
which it has been introduced into English  the exigency of their rhymes, devised
has misled many learned inquirers into  the method of throwing in between
comparative etymology, leading them  the two vowels an adventitious consoto fancy that it had some relationship  nant (generally a' d' or' g' aspirated
with the word, " Gallus," or "' Gaul,"  by'h'), in order to stretch and diother than that of most total opposition. vide the two vowels into two different
To add to the errors already broached  syllables. As this consonant was " quite
upon the subject, Dr. O'Brien, in re- foreign to the natural frame of the
marlingr on the letter " a," in his Irish  word, so it entirely corrupted and disDictionary, has devoted a large space to  guised its radical form and structure."
proving that these two most antagonlis-    Now, I deny that our bards did detic words, " Gaedhal" or Gael, and  vise any such method for " stretching
"Gall," or Gaul, were originally de- out their rhymes,' and I challenge exrived from  the same source, and had  amples, from   any  correctly-written
been in the beginning applied to one  manuscript, that will show that the
people. His object in this forced, and, I  letters he would style adventitious do
am sorry to think, wilfully deceitful at- not belong either to the radical framze
tempt, was, apparently, to support some  of the word, or to its regular gramof the wild etymological fantasies of matical infiection. The proof that the
General Vallancey, and antiquarians of letters are not adventitious may easily
his school. Though the Doctor's reasons  be had, by comparing the words in
are beneath criticism, and perfectly  which they occur with their cognate
ridiculous to any one who knows even  terms in other Indo-European dialects;
a little of the Gaelic language, in which  in some one of which the letters, mor.
the words are as hostile to each  tified or silenced in Irish, will ever be
other as friend is to foe, or as black is found fillly sounded. The truth seems
to white, or as any two terms can possi- to be, that these aspirations or silencbly be; still, I am induced to notice  ings of medial and final letters, were
his imposition here, by the fact that he  the peculiar mode of corruption by




DR, KEATING'$ PREFACE.                          xix
natives. WVe have proofs of this in the accounts given by Cambrensis, Spenser, Stanehurst, Hanmner, Camden, Barclay, Morri.
son, Davis, Canrpion  and  all the writers of the New  Gauls
which the  G-aels dissimilated  their  the Ollamhs, Druids and Bards preservtongue from the "Lingua prisca," or  ed their orthography thus unaltered,
primitive  language of the Japetian  notwithstanding the changes which the
tribes of Europe and Asia.  Whether  spoken language underwent from poputhat essential difference and one or two  lar corruption.  This is no place to
other minor ones, was caused by either  cite many examples of the class of
Semitic, Uralian, or Finnish admix.-  words I mean; for such I refer the
ture, is a question that well merits  reader to the erudite work of M. Pictet,
the investigation of the comparative  upon the Analogies of the Sanscrit
philologist.  It would favor our Phe-  with the Celtic tongues.
nician theories, did these peculiarities    Unluckily for Dr. O'Brien's assumpbelong altogether to the Gaelic, but tion, the cogener of the word we spell
they pervade the whole family of the  "Gaedal," but pronounce " Gael," is still
tongues called Celtic.                preserved in a neighboring Indo-EuroTo the candid etymologist, the reten-  pean language. In the Cimbric or Kimtioln of such silent letters, in the written  ric, i. e. the Welsh,the Irish or Gaels, are
and in the poetic language, will not seem  called "Guydhill," with the "dh" as fully
to be innovations. He will rather consid- pronounced as the " th" in the English
er it a proof of the resistance given by the  word "whither."  Now, our Cimbric
Irish ollamhs and bards to hie linrirstic  neighbors were not first taught our
corruptions of the vulgar.  For, if these  name from  books. They must have
ollamhs and bards did innovate, how  heard  our  forefathers, when  first
is it that, isolated, as they undoubtedly  brought into contact with them, call
were, from the learned of the wbrld, themselves Gaedail or Guydhill, soundthey always chanced to hit upon the  ing the radical " d" fully. Otherwise,
proper radical letter that should be  they would not have known that such
inserted in order to make the written  a letter existed in writing.  Their own
word correspond in outward appear-  language is subject to. all the aspiraance with its Greek, Latin, or San- tions and mortifications of letters that
scrit cogener?   Are we to suppose  ours is, but they write their words as
that these ollamhs and bards, whose  pronoun ced,heedless of radicals. Hence,
edlucation was purely local and profes- without abiding too closely to the date
sional, were skilled in the very recent which the bards give as the time, when
science of comparative philology? Are    II Mlledh's sons first heard dread Ocean
-we to believe all that the venerable      Iis music beat on Eri's shores,"
Keating  has transcribed  for us of we must still put back the epoch, when
the royal schoolmaster, Fenius Farsa,  Gael and Cimber met in western Euand of that universal savant, Gaedal, rope, to an extremely remote period,
son of Ethor?   And yet we must that is, to some period when the " d"
either do that, and allow a knowledge  was fully sounded in Gaedal.  That it
of comparative philology to our bards  was not so sounded, when our Scottish
and  shanachies, of which the  most kinsmen of Alba left us, some fourteen
learned amongst modern philologists  hundred years ago, we have living testimnight feel proud, or we must allow that mony.  The Highlander aspirates or
these silent and aspirated letters, which  silences the same letters, in the same
pervade the whole frame-work of the  words, as the Munster-man.  It has
Gaelic tongue, are not adventitious. taken some thousand  years and odd
But, it is much easier to allow that these  centuries, to make a slight diale'tic and
letters were pronounced at the time, euphonic difference between Scotch and
when the words in which they occur  Irish Gaelic. It must have taken anwerefirst committed to writing, and that  other, at least, equal' period to make the




XS                    DR. KEATING'S PREFACE.
(English), who have treated of this country.  So that, when they
speak of the Irish, one would imagine that these men were actuated
wide difference that exists between the, ral signification, and it is now forced as
nevertheless, closely-allied languages of a national name upon the Cimbri, wheWales and Ireland.  This one example  ther they will have it themselves or not.
is, in itself, irrefragable evidence that    The editor here instances a few of
Gaedal is no corruption of Gallus, even  the host of words affected by the same
were our own ollamhs silent on the sub-  deliquescent or meltirg influence to
ject. If the natives of the country, which this radical word " goedal," which
called Gallia by the Latins, were the  was,perhaps, more anciently "Gedalus,"
same as the Gael, their relationship  "Gaetulus," rat-rvaog and ratOvtoq,
must be proved by something better  has been subjected, viz: "Amha" and
founded than the accident by which  "amhain," i. e., a river, pronounced vulGaedal has been corrupted, so as to have  garly ow and owin, but poetically avva
a faint resemblance in sound to Gaul. and avwin; in Latin, "amnis." "AedIn the common Irish this day spoken, bar," i. e., the upper air, vulgarly pro"Gael" means a "kinsman," while  nounneced air, poetically aighar; in Latin,
"Gall" means a "foreigner."  In the  "'aether;" and Greek. AtOsp. "AeimWVelsh and the Armoric Breton, also, hinn," i. e., pleasant;  vulgarly pro"Gall" or " Gal" means foreign. In the  nouncel eeng, poetically eevinn; in
old Angrlo-Saxon, its kindred term   Latin, "amenus." "Bodhar," i. e. deaf,
"WallisC"I   meant, stranger;  hence  vulgarly pronounced bowr, poetically
"Welsh" or " Wallisc"' came to be ap- bo hir; in Welsh, " byddar " and in
plied to the British inhabitants of Cam- English " bother." " Cladhamh," i. e. a
bria. The German form of the word  sword, vulgarly pronounced cloive, poet"Welschl" means foreign also-Italy is ically cl ghv; in Latin, "gladim;"
their "Welschland" or "Foreigners' and in English, "glaive." " Cumhar,"
land."  The word is seen less disgiuised  i. e. foam       wavevulgrly pronounced
i.e. foam or a wavevulgarly pronounced
in the name of the "Walloon" guards, so  coor, poetically cav r; in Latin, " spufamous on the Continent, and in that of ma;" and in Greek xvlL. " eighil,"
the p3ople called "Walli."  But why'
the people called "Walli."  But why  i. e. to watch or guard, vulgarly promultiply examples?                  nounced file, poetically fey!l; Latin,
Finding thus that the word means           
forein in  all the languageswhere l"vioilo." "Gabhar," i. e. a goat, vulgarforeizn in all the languages where  |.
o.0  In.~~         0 ~?ly pronounced gowr poetically gv-ir;
any form of it occurs, the editor holds, Latin per.   Medhon," i e the
until further proof be adduced in sup- mddle,  vulgarly pronounced  me.te,
middle, vulgarly pronounced  mesne,
port of the common opinion, that theedium."
poetically mz(hoan; Latin, "medium;"
ancient Celtic inhabitants of modern           
and Enfglish, "middle."  Oghar, i. e.
France and  of northern Italy-the    77_                       O  
"Gallia" or "Welschland" of ancient pallid vulgarly pronounced our, poet
Rome-did never call themselves Galli ically oghar; Greek,  Xpog. " Saegat all; but that" Gallus" perhaps mean- hal," i. e. an age, life, vulgarly proo in old Latin what Gall means i  nounced sayl, poetically saighal; Latin,
incr in old Latin what " Gall" means in
rr   "'&Sacculum." "Samhail" and "amhail,"
Gaelic, and what the word, though in
more disguised costume, means in every  i. e. like, vulgarly pronounced sowil and
European tongue where it is found, the  owl poetically svwil and iv-wzl; Ltold Itali called their invaders from be- in, "similis;" Greek, aya and Osffoi;
yond the Alps "Galli," because they  and English, "same;" and the suffix,
were " Strangrers;" and that the name        "Uabhan" and "uamhan," i. e.
continued to be applied to the people fear, vulgarly pronounced oon, poeti
to whom it had been most particularly  cally oovan; Greek, bo/3ov. "Umhal,'
given, after it had lost its primitive and  1. e. humble, vulgarly pronounced ool,
more extended meaning.  So of the  poetically ooval; Latin, "humilis."
Anglo-Saxon "Wallisc;" its English  Uadhach, i. e. an udder, vulgarly
form, " Welsh," has lost its more gene. pronounced oogh, poetically oohagh;
in Greek, ovtap.




DA. KEATING'S PREFACE.                         XX1
by the instinct of the beetle;' for it is the nature of this animal, when
it raises its head in the summer, to flutter about without stooping
to the fair flowers of the meadow, or to the blossoms of the garden, though they were all roses and lilies; it bustles hurriedly
round, until it meets writh some loathsome ordure, and it buries
itself therein; so with the above-named writers, they never allude
to the virtues and the good customs of the old Anglo-Irish and
Gaelic nobility, who dwelt in Ireland in their time; they write
not of their piety or of their valor, of what monasteries they
founded-what lands and endowments theyv gave to the Church
-what immunities they granted to the ollamhs,' or learned docIn fine, this list might be extended  side, and the Sanscrit, that had perto a much greater length, did space al- haps ceased to be a vulgar tongue below. Did I quote monosyllabic words, fore Homer composed his Iliad, and
where the final letters are silent or  consequently the purest and most permortified, it might be swelled to from  feet specimen of the ancient Japetiau
six hundred  to  a thousand radical tongue, on the other; with the Greek,
words. It is this peculiar tendency of La-tin, Gothic, Slavic, Cimbro-Celtic or
the Celtic vocal organs to mortify or  Welsh, and the various dialects of our
silence certain letters, that caused the  own Ibero-Celtic, as connecting links begreat number of silent letters found in  tweeh the two extremes, such evidence
the Celto-Latin of France, that is, the  cap be brought in support of the tramodern French-a much less portion  dition of our own bards on the subject,
of which is derived directly from the  as must convince any really learned and
Romans than is generally supposed.    candid philologist of its being founded
The editor has dwelt longer upon  upon reality. By the silent, aspirated
this subject than is usual in a note, but or mortified letters, and certain other
he deems its importance to be an am-  accidents, what I may call the stratipile excuse; for, not only does a good fied history of the Irish tongue, written
deal relating to the filiation of the  upon its very c(ire by Nature's own hand,
Irish and Scottish Gaels depend upon  and its successive stages of formation,
the retention or rejection of the rad-  can be traced up to its primitive parent
ical "d" in this particular case, but or parents in the East, with scarcely
the, perhaps, much more important, less certainty than the history of the
question of the possession of a. knowl-  earth's formation can be traced from
edge of letters by the Irish Druids and  the varied strata that compose its shell.
Bards from the very earliest times, can,    4 The Beetle. This idea is also found
in his opinion, be incontrovertibly  in Lope de Vega, the Spanish dramatist
proved by the existence of those very si- and poet. An ancient Latin naturalist
lent letters, of which he has given exam- has said of this insect, "periit odore
ples, when supported by strict propriety  rosi," i. e., " the odor of the rose
and close analogy with other, often far  kills it."
distant lalngages (such as the San-    5 The Ollamhs (Ollaves), or learnscrit, for instance), with which they  ed doctors, were the members of the
are invariably used. The maintainers  literary and scientific professions. In
of the truth of the ancient tradition, pagan times, they were presided over by
that tells us of the uninterrupted use  the Arch-Druid. They comprised the
of letters amon  our ancestors, should  Druids Brethemhs (Brehtave), i. e. Brerest that much disputed question upon  holns or Judges, the Bards, Historians,
the internal structure of' our ancient  Physicians, and Musicians. Each order
written lang-uaae alone. With the mod-  of these was presided over by an Ardt
ern Irish and Alban Scotch on the one  Ollamh, or chief doctor.




xxii              DR. KEATING'S PREFACE.
tors of Ireland-their bounty to the ecclesiastics and prelates of
the Church —the relief they afforded to orphans and to the poortheir munificence to men of learning, and their hospitality to
strangers: insomuch that it may be said with truth, that they
were not at any time surpassed by any nation of Europe, in
generosity and hospitality, in proportion to the abilities they possessed. Witness the meetings of the learned which they convened
(a custom unheard of amongst the other nations of Europe); so
that such was the force of generosity and liberality amongst the
old Anglo-Irish and Gaels of Ireland, that they were not satisfied with distributing their bounties to those that claimed them
but they also gave public invitations to all persons to come and
partake of their favors, in order to find a wider scope for their
desire of bestowing treasures and presents. And yet nothing
of all this can be found in the English writers of the time; but
they dwell upon the customs of the vulgar, and upon the stories
of ignorant old women, neglecting the illustrious actions of the
nobility and all that relates to the ancient Gaels that inhabited
this island before the invasion of the Anglo-Normans.
Let us see did any nation in Europe oppose the Romans with
more valor than they Add in their defence of Alba or Scotland.
They forced the Britons to build a wall between Britain and Scotland, in order to protect themselves from the incursions of the
Gaels; and, although there was constantly an army of Romans,
amounting to 52,000 foot and 200 horse, kept to defend that
wall, together with 30,000 foot, and 1,300 horse for guarding
the coasts and harbors of the country against the Scots a'nd
Picts, nevertheless, according to the Chronicle of Samuel Daniel,
the Gaels used to pass over the wall and ravage the country
in spite of that large army.  Cormac MacCulinan6 also tells us,
in his Psalter, that, in consequence of the ravages committed
in Britain by the Gaels, and the "Cruithnigh," called also
Picts, the Britons murdered their Roman governors three times,
as a peace-offering to those plunderers.  We can also understand from Geoffry of Monmouth. how great was the strait into
which the Gaels had reduced the Britons in the time of their
King Vortigern, who was forced thereby to take into pay the
Saxon Hengist and his German army.  We also read, in the
Chronicle of Samuel Daniel, that the Romans had built fourteen
fortresses in Britain, in order to resist the Scots and Picts, who
continued to disturb that country, in spite of the Roman power,
from the time of Julius Coesar to that of Valentinian the Third,
6 Cormac, sonof Culinan, Archbishop ster A. D. 902. He was the compiler
of Cashel, was prociaimed king of Mun- of the famous Psalter of Cashel.




DR. KEATING'S PREFACE.                     Xxiii
namely, for a space of 500 years; for it was in the year of our
Lord 447, that the Rolmans deserted their British province.  A
contest arose before that time between Theodosius and Maximus,
which obliged the latter to bring a great body of Britons with
him  to Armorica,7 which is now called Little Britain (Bretagne),
in France; and, he having expelled the former inhabitants, gave
that country to his British soldiers, whose posterity retain it to
the present day.,
There are some authors among the ancients, that make false
statements with respect to the Irish, particularly Strabo,8 who
asserts in his third book, that the Irish live upon human flesh.
MIy answer to this charge is, that Strabo has lied, in thus asserting the Irish to be cannibals. For, nowhere in our ancient records
do we read of any person, that eat human flesh, except Ethni
Uathach,9 daughter of Crimthann. son of Enna Kinnsellach, king
of Leinster, who was nursed in the Desies of Munster, where she
was fed on the flesh of infants, in hopes of her arriving the sooner
at maturity; for it had been prophesied, that the fosterers of this
lady should receive land from  the man, to whom  she should be
married; and she was married to Aengus, son of Nadfraech,
king of Munster, as shall be noticed hereafter in the body of the
history.  The reader must understand, when our Shanachies
would not conceal this shameful fact, so disgraceful to a daughter
of a king of Leinstcr, and wife of a king of Munster, that they
would not fail to expose it in people of inferior rank, if such a
practice ever prevailed in this country; therefore Strabo is false,
in asserting it to be a custom in Ireland to eat human flesh, when
7 Armorica is now called Bretagne.  ions speaking Celtic dialects. But from
It lies on the northwestern coast of  this must be deducted the Basque or
France.  The rural inhabitants still Guipuscoan, which is not now held to be
almost universally, speak a dialect of  Celtic. Bretagne has given many disthe Celtic tongurle, closely akin to the  tinguished men to France, among whom
Welsh or Cimbric. They are a brave, was the celebrated poet, Chateaubriand.
simple people, obstinately attached to    8 Strabo, a geographer, who flourished
their old habits and customs. They  in the days of Augustus and Tiberius.
are moral and devoutly Catholic, and, His geography, written in Greek, to
mostly, fervid royalists. The invasion, which our author here alludes, is much
here referred to, was not one of extermi-  celebrated.
nation, as might be here understood; the    9 Ethni.-In admitting the possible
old Armoricans were the same people  truth of this disgusting and improbable
as themselves, and the exiled Bretons did  story, Dr. Keating shows how rigidly he
but amalgamate with their own kins- interpreted the canon, he quotes a little
folk.  The Bretons are supposed to  below, defining the historian's duties.
represent the ancient Belgm of Gaul. It is, however, most likely, an idle
In 1800 there were said to be some three  slander thrown at the Munster tribes by
millions speaking the Breton language  their enemies, and taken hold of by
In all France and Spain, it was then  some strolling story-teller. Dr. Keating
supposed that there were some ten mill- did not sufficiently remember the fact,




xxiV                 DR. IKEATING'S PREFACE.
we can find but one solitary instance of it in our traditions, and
even that occurred in the days of Paganism.  AMy answer to St.
Jerome,10 who makes the sanhm  assertion, in writing against Jovinian, is, that he must have had his information from  some vender
of lies, and that it should not be credited to the prejudice of the
Irish.  Solinus," in his twenty-first chapter, tells us that there are
no bees in Ireland; and goes on to state, that the male children,
for the first month after birth, receive their food from the point
of a sword.  He also says that the Irish, when they have killed
an enemy, are wont to bathe thlemselves in his blood; but it is
evident'frcm our own history that every word of this is false. Pomponius Mela,'2 speaking of the Irish, in his third  book, calls
them  " a people'3 ignorant of every virtue."  Many other ancient
foreign writers have spoken of Ireland in the same rash, disparaging manner,   on the authority of lying rumors; but, no
credit should be given to their statements, for they were themselves utterly ignorant on the subject; wherefore Camden, when
giving down the testimonies of these men with regard to Ireland,
makes use of the following remark: "We have," says he, " no
witnesses upon these matters, who are worthy of credit."14 It is evident from  the same Camden, that it was false to assert that there
were no bees in Ireland; for in describing this country, he says,
himself, that "such is the quantity of bees, that they are found
not only in hives, but also in the trunks of trees and in holes
in the ground."'"
-We shall now  give a few  of the falsehoods of the English
authors, who have written upon Ireland.  As these men have
followed in the footsteps of Cambrensis,'6 we shall begin by
that critical discrimination, also, was non solum  alvearibus, sed etiam ar.
one of the historian's duties.      borum et terrse cavernis reperi untur.'" St. Jerome, or Hieronymus, a na-   16 Giraldus Cambrensis, I. e. Gerald
tive of Pannonia, was distinguished for the Welshman, or Cambriani.  This
his zeal against heretics. He wrote  first British calumrnniator of the Irish
with great eloquence and elegance of  nation was an Anglo-Norman  ecclesistyle. In the instance here referred to, astic, who came over to Ireland A.D.
he does not seem to have much regrard- 1185, in the train of King John, whose
ed the armory whence he took the wea- tutor he had previously been. He was
pon wherewith he felled his enemy. the brother of Philip de Barri, one of
He died A.D. 420, aged 91.          the earliest of the Anglo-Norman invad" C. Julius Solinus wrote in the 1st ers of Ireland, and founder of the
century. His work is called Polyhistor. Anglo-Irish sept of the Barries. Giral12 Pomponius Melt was a native of dus was the son of a Norman nobleman
Spain. He was the writer of a geog- by a Welshwoman. He wrote many
raphy, and flourished about A. D. 45.   works, but that entitled the Conquest
13 Omnium Virtutum ignari.        and Topography of Ireland is the one
14 Borunm quse commemoramus dig- to which our author alludes.  The
nos fide testes non habemus.        fal~sehoods of Cambrensis have been' Apum  est tanta multitude, ut ably refuted by the Irish antiquary




DR. KEATITG'S PREFACE.                   XXV
bringing his lies home to Cambrensis himself.  This man asserts,
that King Arthur received a tribute from  Ireland, and that the
place where he imposed that tribute was in the city of Leon, in
the year of our Lord 519.  Campion, also, makes the same statement, in the second chapter of the second book of his chronicle,
where he adds, that one Gilla-Jfltrc  was king of Ireland at that
time.  But, notwithstanding that both the author of i.ilychronicon and'Geoffrey of Monmouth, with some other English writers,
make mention of a Gilla-Mara as king of Ireland, yet I challenge
any one of them or their followers to produce a single poem or
passage in the records or traditions of the Irish, in which there
is any mention or account of any person named Gilla-Mara's
having been ever king of this country, unless by that name they
mean AMurkertach or Murtougtlh Mor Mac Erca, who was the
cotemporary of King Arthur, and was very powerful both in
Ireland and Scotland.  This Murkertach sent his six brothers
into Scotland, and one of theim, Fergus Mor Mac Erea, was the
first king of the Scottish race in Alba (Scotland). Then, it was
by the Scots and Picts that-King Arthur himself was killed.
This Fergus, whom  I have just imentioned, was, as I state, the
first king of Alba of'the Scottish race; for though Hector Boethius,17 in his history of Scotland, reckons thirty-nine kings of that
country before him, still not one of these predecessors of his were
of the Scottish nation.  There is also a mistake contained in the
assertion that Fergus, son of l'earchaor, king of Ireland, was the
first Scottish king of Scotland; for, there never was a king of
Ireland named Fearchar, and therefore no son of such Fearchar
could be kinc of Scotland, as Hector  Boethius states.  NTow,
though had it pleased Mlurkertach Mtor to place his brother, Ferguls Mac 2Erca, on the throne of Scotland, still Murkertach is
himself styled " Rex VScotorutm," meaning that he was king of the
Scots, both in Eri and Alba, i. e. Ireland and Scotland. IIence,
it is not to be supposed, that so powerful a monarch should pay
tribute to King Arthur.
Speed'8 says in his Chronicle, that the Irish king was not tributary to King Arthur, but that a friendly leagac of mutual aid
in their wars subsisted between them; so that if one of theml was
oppressed by enemies, it was incumbent on the other to help him
with an allied force: this Speed calls "jus bceli sociclis," i.. an
obligation of alliance in war. Such is the present alliance beDr. Lynch, of Galway, who lived dur- Scottish writer, who wrote the history of
ins the reigns of Charles I. and Charles his country in Latin. He was born at
II., in an able work, written in Latin, Dundee, 1470, and died about 1550.
and styled " Cambrensis Eversus,"i. e.  18 John Speed, an English historian
"Cambrensis overthrown."         and geographer, lived between A.D.
17 Hoctor Boece, or Boathius, was a 1556 and 1629.




XXVi                DR. KEATING'S PREFACE.
tween the King of Spain and the Emperor; for each is bound
to send aid to the other, whenever his necessities require it; yet,
we'are not by this to understand, that the Emperor pays any
tribute t to the King of Spain, or the King of Spain to the Emperor. In like manner, if there existed any similar treaty between King Arthur and Aurkertacl; Mac Erca, King of Ireland,
by which they were bound to assist each other mutually in the
time of danger, it is not thence to be inferred that either was
tributary to the other. The truth of this opinion is more fully
co-nfirmned by what Nubrigensis says, in the twenty-sixth chapter
of the second book of his history: there, in speaking of Ireland,
he says that "HIIbernia'9 (Ireland) never lay under any foreign
sway."  Even Cambrensis himself agrees with this opinion in
his twenty -sixth chapter, where he tells us that "from  the20 beginning Hibernia remained free from the incursions of foreign
nations."  From  these testimonies it is clear, that neither King
Arthur nor any other foreign prince ever possessed the sovereignty
of Ireland, until the English invasion.  It is not to be supposed,
that the Britons could have laid claim  to any authority in this
island, when the Romans themselves never dared to set their
hands upon it: hnd so far was it from Ireland's being subject to
the Romans or to any other stranger, that Camden,2' in his book,
called Britanazzc Camdleni, gives the following testimony: " When
the Romans22 had extended their empire on all sides, many, no
doubt, came over here (to Ireland) from Spain, Gaul, i. e. France
and Britain, in order to escape from  the intolerable yoke of the
Romans."  From this, it may be understood that the Romans not
only never came to Ireland, but, that the people of other countries
found there an asylum, and were protected by the Irish.  The
same Camden says again, in confuting the opinion of those, who
irmagline, that it was likely that the Romans extended their dornination to Ireland: 23, I can scarcely bring my mind to believe,
that this country had, at any time, fallen under the dominion of
the Romans."
Cambrensis says, in his ninth chapter, that it was customary
with Irishmen to take the widows of their deceased brothers in
marriage. He also says, that it was not the custom to pay tithes
in Ireland, before the arrival of Cardinal Papiron. This, howH9 lHibernia nunquam externoe sub- dique propagassent, multi proculdubio
jacuit ditioni.                  ex Hispania, Gallia, Britannia hie se
iO Hibernia ab initio ab omni aliena- receperunt, ut iniquissirno 1Romanorum
rum geentium incursu libera permansit. jugo colla subducerent.'1 William Camden, the celebrated an-'s Ego animumn vix inducere possum,
tiquary, was born in London, A.D. ut hanc regionem in Romanorum po1551. The first edition of his "Brit- testatem ullo concessisse tempore creannia,", appeared in 158G.       dam.
22 Dam suum Romani imperium un



DR. KEATING'S PREFACE.                   xxvii
ever, is false, as will be seen hereafter in the body of the history,
and as I shall soon make appear in this preface.  In treating of
the natural curiosities (wonders) of Ireland, this writer says also,
that there is a well in Munster which makes one gray upon
washing one's hair therein, and that there is another well in
Ulster, which prevents grayness.  Yet there are no such wells
now in Ireland, nor do I think that there were any such in the
country in the days of Cambrensis. He sets down these wonders, but to give a color to his other falsehoods.
Cambrensis says also, in his twenty-second chapter, that when
the nobles of Ireland ratify their alliances, in the presence of a
bishop, they kiss the relies of the saints, and drink of each other's
blood, though, while doing so, they are ready to betray and murder one another. My answer to him here is, that there is no poem
or passage, tradition or old writing, history or annals, that bears
him  out in this malicious statement.  Now, it is a well-known
fact, that the antiquaries were bound, on pain of losing their degree of "Ollamh" or Doctor, not only not to conceal any such
evil custom, if it existed in Ireland in their day, but also to commit it to writing.  Hence, it is manifest that Cambrensis has told
us a wilful lie in this matter.  Again, in his tenth chapter, this
man says, that "the Gaels are an inhospitable race." 4  But in
order to answer this charge, I have only to quote from  the narrative of Stanihurst, who speaks of the hospitality of the Irish in
the following terms: " They25 are truly a most hospitable people,
and you can pay them  no greater respect, nor can you gra!rtQi them
mnore in anything, than in freely and voluntarily f-equentiog their
houses."  From  this statement we may infer, without leave of
Cambrensis, that at their tables at least, they are a generous and
hospitable people.
Cambrensis, elsewhere, says that it was the wife of the king of'Meath, that eloped with Diarmaid na n-Gall1126 (Dermott of the
English); yet this is not true, for, it was the wife of Tighernan
O'ltuairc, king of Brefni, and daughter to Murcadh irac Flainn
son of Maelsechlainn, king of Meath, that made that elopement.
The lady's name was Derborgaill.   He again asserts that the
rivers Suir, Nore, and Barrow rise in the mountain called SlieveBloom; but this is another misstatement; the Barrow, it is true,
takes its rise on the eastern point of Slieve-Bloom, but the Suir
and Nore flow from the side of Slieve Aldiuin,27 called also Slieve
24 Est autem  gens hme inhospita. the Strangers. He was so called from
i. e., " They are an inhospitable people." having brought over the English.
2 Sunt sane homines hospitalimini   2' Sliitbh Aldiiin (Siere Aldiu7e), is
neque illis ulla in re magis gratificare now called Greim an Diabhail (Grime
potes quam vel sponte ac voluntarie  an Deeat) i. e. the Devil's Bit. It was
eorum domus frequentare.          otherwise called Bearnan Eli, or the
20 Dtarmaid na nGall, or Dermod of Gap of Eli.




Xxviii              DR. KEATING'S PREFACE.
13earnan, (the Devil's Bit.llfountain,) in the territory of the Ui-Carin8 (lkerrin).
He also says, in this same work upon Ireland, that the king of
29Kinel-Conaill, that is, the O'Donnell, used to be inaugurated in
the foUllowing inanner:-" All the inhabitants of his territory being assemlbled on a high hill in his domains, a white nnare was
killed and put to boil in a large cauldron, in the middle of a field:
when it was sufficiently boiled, the king used to lap up the broth
with his mouth like a hound or dog and eat the flesh out of his
hand, without using a knife or any other instrument to cut it;
he then divided the rest of the flesh amongst the assembly and
afterwards bathed himself in the broth."  This is plainly an impudent falsehood of Cambrensis, for the annals of Irs eland explicitly
record the tocdle of incaugurating the kiings of ITinel- Conaill.  The
ceremony was performed thus: The king being seated on a hill,
in the midst of the nobility and gentry of' his own territory, one
of the chiefs of his nobles stood before him, bearing in his hand
a straight,  white wand, which he presented to the king, telling
him, at the same time, " to receive the sovereignty of his country
and to preserve equal and impartial justice between all portions
of his dominions."  The reason why the wand was straight and
white was, to put him in mind that he should be unbiased in his
judgments and pure and upright in all his actions.  I wonder
much how Cambrensis could have had the hardihood to invent
such a lie, as that quoted above, and I am  confident, that it was
through pure malice alone, that he set it down in his book.  For
it is a well-known fact, that that tribe has been distinguished for
godliness, piety and religion, and that several of its members who
had taken orders, ended their days in sanctity and devotion.  It
has also produced a great number of Saints, amongst whom were
Saints Columkille,30 Baeithin, Adamnan and many others, too numerotls to mention here. It is also incredible, that the nobles of
Ireland would have allowed the king of Kindl-Conaill to observe
that barbarous custom, which Cambrensis relates, at a time when
the Catholic faith had already flourished amongst them, from the
time of St. Patrick to the English invasion, (about 700 years.)
Ui Carin (ee-carrin) or Ikerrin, Carin was the tribe name of thoe 0'
a district of ancient Eli, but now a  Meachairs.
barony of North Tipperary. It was,    9 Kinkl-Conaill, i. e. Race of Conall
in former times, the tribe-land of the and Tir Conaill, i. e. the land of Conall,
clan of O' Meachair, now written 0'- so called from Conall Gulban, the anMeagher and Maher, in English. This cestor of the O'Donnells, O'Dogherties,
sept as well as the O' Carrolls and the  and their correlative clans, was the another Elians, were descended from Cian  cient name of the county of Donegal.
or Kian, the third son of Olild Olum.   3 For particulars relative to these
" Ui" is the nominative plural of " O " saints, see the body of the hist Pry.
or " Ua," which means descendant. Ui




DR. KEATING'S PREFACE.                     xxiX
And, for that reason also, I again assert, that Cambrensis has
broached here a downright lie, as unwarrantable as it is 3malicious.
Spenser32 says, in his Chronicle, that Egfrid, king of the Northumbrians, and Edgar, king of Britain, exercised a jurisdiction
over Ireland, as we read in the thirty-third page of his history.
But, this assertion cannot be true, for the records of Ireland are
directly against him, and besides, the British writers themselves
confess that the Saxons have left them no old writings or coins,
from which they could obtain a knowledge of the history of those
times that preceded the arrival of the last-mentioned nation; thus
Gildas,33 an ancient British writer, tells us that the old monuments
and coins, and, consequently, the ancient history of the Britons,
had been destroyed by the Romans and Saxons. Samuel Daniel34
agrees with Gild as upon the same point, in the first part of his
Chronicle, so also does Rider, in his Latin Lexicon, when treating of
the word Britannia. The latter writer says, moreover, that Britain has not been called BBritannia from Brutus, for, if it were, the
name should be Brutia or Brutica. And it is more than probable,
if the name were derived from Brutus, that Julius Coesar, Cornelius Tacitus, Diodorus Siculus, Beda35 or some other old writer,
would have mentioned the derivation.  Thus, as the British authors knew  not whence came the name of their own country, it
is no wonder that they should be icnornnt of many things in its
ancient history.  WVe should not, then, be surprised to findl Spenser equally destitute of knowledge upon these same subjects.
But, it is a matter of surprise, that this writer should undertake
to trace the genealogies of some Irish noble families, and take.
9 Dr. Keating is particularly indig- of his upon which our author animadnant that Cambrensis, himself in holy  verts, is one entitled " A View of the
orders, should mali(n a house that had  State of Ireland," which Spenser pregiven so many ornaments to the Catho- sented to Queen Elizabeth.
lie faith, and such valiant champions to    S Gldas was a British or Welsh ecthe Cross, as that of KinOl-Conaill.    clesiastic, who wrote a history of his
33 Spenser. This was the famous nation in Latin, in the first half of the
English poet, who wrote the " Fairie  sixth century.
Queen."  HEe was sent to Ireland in   3' Samuel Daniel was an English
1580, as Secretary to Lord Wilton de poet and historian, born A.D. 15;2. He
Grey. There, he obtained the Castle of was appointed Poet Laureat at the
Kilcoleman, on the Blackwater, in the  death of Spenser.
county of Cork, with 3,000 acres of   3 Bede, usually styled the Venerible
land, as the reward of his services. Bede, was an Anglo-Saxon monk. He
These formed a portion of the estates lived a quiet, studious life, and died at
of the vanquished Earl of Desmond. the monastery of Wearmouth, in A.D.
Spenser enjoyed his share of the spoils  735. IIe wrote several works, amongst
of that ruined nobleman, for a while, which his Anglo-Saxon history is now
in tranquillity; but the war of Tyrone  the most valuable. He is considered
caused him to fly, in haste to London, one of the most respectable of Saxon
where he died in 1598, without having  authorities.
recovered his Irish plunder. The work




XXn                   DR. KEATIN(4S PREFACE.
upon him  to, assert that they are of English extraction.   He
specially points out seven noble surnames of the Gaelic nobility,
as of foreign origin: these are the MlaciMahon's (of Ulster), the
clans of Sweeny, Sheehy, Maacnlmara, Cavanagh, Toole and
Byrne.  He says that the name MacMahon has come either firom
Ursa (Fitz-Urse), or Bear, English surnames; and, as the words
"ursa,"  "bear" and  Mlahon are of the same signification, that,
consequently, it is from the English house of Bear or Ursa (FitzUrse), that the MacMahons of Ulster are derived.  My answer
to this assertion is, that it is just as reasonable, from the etymology
of the word, to conclude that the MacMahons-3 of Thomond, or
the O'Mahonies37 of Carbery, should descend from  the English
Fitz-Urses, Ursas or Bears, as the MacfAahons of Ulster; and,
since the  former do  not draw   their  origin from   any English source, neither do the latter.  But the fact is, the MacMahons38 of Ulster are descended  from  Colla Da Crioch, son of
Th 17e Mac Miahons, in Irish Mac  son of Kian, son of Maelmuadh,who had
Matlhghamhna, (Mahlowna) of Tho- been also king of Desmond and son-inmond, were princes of Corca-Basrinn, law to Brian Boru. It was this Klan
now the baronies of Moyarta and Clon-  that commanded  the Eugenians of
deralaw, in the county of Clare. They  Desmond at Clontarf.  The tribe of
are the elder representatives of Brian  the Ibh Echach, (consisting of the 0'Boromha or Boru, being descended from  M1 ahonys and O'Donoghoos,) branched
Mathghamhain  (ll ohowinr), son  of  off from  their correlatives, the Mac
Miurkertach Mor, King of Ireland, from   Carthies, O' Sullivans, &c., at Cas son
A.D. 1110 to A.D. 1130. AMurkertach  of Core. Core was Kinlg of Munster
was the son of Tordelbach, son of Tadhgr in A.D. 380, and was the rival of Niall
(Tigue), son of Brian the victor of Clon-  of the nine hostages, for the montarf. Diarmaid, the uncle of Mahon, archy.
succeeded his elder brother Murkertach,' The Mac Mahorts of Ulster derive
as chieftain of the Dal-g-Cas tribe, and  their name from a similar personal apas King of Munster, but not as sover- pellation, namely, from Mathgamhain,
eign of Ireland. From that time the  son of Laidgnen, a chieftain of FernO'Briens, who are descended from Diar- magh, who was killed, according to the
maid, held the sovereign power in North  Four Masters, A.D. 1022. These Mac
Munster, and the children of his elder Mlahons were formerly chieftains of the
brother, the monarch Murkertach, had  present county of Monaghan, and someto content themselves with the princi- times kings of Oirghialla and Ulldia.
pality of Corca-Basginn.             The name is often found with the prefix
The O'Miahonies of Carbery were  "O" instead of "Mac' in our ancient ananciently chieftains of the Eugenian  nals. They were amongst the bravest and
tribe, called the "'Ibh Echach Mum- most distinguished of the northern tribes.
han," (Eev-Ahagih Mloon,) and kings of  Our annals speak of their chieftains so
Rathlenn, a district lying along the  frequently, that, what Spencer has said
rivers Bandon and Lee, in the county  of their foreign extraction, is utterly
of Cork, extending from the sea to the  absurd.  Our bards and shanachies
bounds of the county of Kerry. They, never could lose sight of chieftains, so
also, derive their family name, O'Math- distinguished as they were, amongst the
gamhln,  froth a person named Math- princely clans of Colla.
ghamhain or Mahon. This Mahon was    The very usual Irish name, MathKing of Desmond, A.D. 1015. IHe was  ghamhain or Mahowin, from which the




DR. KEATING'S PREFACE.                       Xxxi
Eocaiclh Duiblhn, son of Carbri Lifficar, of the line of Erimhln
or Heremon. Of the second family, the " Clann Suibhnii," (called
Sweenies, or MacSweenies,4~ in English) he says, that they are of
an  English  house, called  Swyne;  but "_Suibh1ti'  (of which
Sweeny is but a recent corruption) and  "Swyne," are totally
distinct words, and, consequently, the MacSweenies cannot be a
branch  of that English family.  They are in reality  descended
from  the O'Neills.  He says, also, that the MfacSheehies41 are of
Anglo-Niormnan extraction; but in this, too, he errs egregiously,
for it is well known they are of the line of Colla U ais, and that
they owe their name to Sithach, pronounced  Shleehlag,'son of
Ecdon, son of Alasdran, son of Domnald or Donald, from  whom
the Clan Donald (i. e., the AlacDonalds) of Ireland and Scotland
take their name.  IHe makes a similar assertion Mith regard to
the  Macnamaras,42 and says, that they are Anglo-Normans, and
above three families, so widely distinct erected a large stone near the Castle
in their genealogies, derive their sur- of Clodagh, with an Irish inscription,
lnanls (which all three mean the same  inviting travellers to repair to  the
thing), is said to be an old Irish term  house of Edmond Mac Sweeny for free
for the animal called a " bear."  The  entertainment.  Some of tlis family
editor, however, has never heard or seen  have taken the conjecture of Spenscr for
it used in that sense, and he, therefore, truth, and have actually chosen to revel
doubts it. The Saxon name "Bear" and  in the smoothly Saxon, but rather porthe Norman one "Fitz Urse," being  cine patronymic of " Swyine."  Others,
similar in sigfnifleation, led Spenser to  with a better taste, modify the name to
make his unfounded imputation of Sax-  Swayne; but all the old and respectable
onism upon the Mac Alahons of Ulster. branches of the sept write the name
40 The iiac Suenies settled early  e"M ac Sweeny," or simply, " Sweenv."
in Tirconnel, and there branched into   4" The iiac Sicehies of Antrim were
three great families, namely: "'i.Mac  also famous as Chieftains of GalloglasSuibni Fanaid," who dwelt at Bath- sess, and obtained possessions in various
mullah Castle, east of Lough Swilly;  parts of Ireland, as sword-lands from the
"Mac Suibhni of Boghanech," now the  powerful toparchs into wholw service
barony of Banah, and "Mac Suibni na  they entered. A branch of them became
1'-uath," or of the Battle-axes, Lord of captains to the Earls of Desmond, in
Tuatha Toraighe (Tooha Toree), a ter-  the Fifteenth century. They formed
ritory near Tory Island, off the north- the body-guard of these powerful nowest point of DI)onegal County. The  blemen.  Several descendants of the
Mace Sweenies were standard- bearers  sept have changed their name to "Joy."
and marshals to the O'Donnells.  They  Siothach  (Shcehbagh),  comes  from
were famous throughout Ireland as  " Sith" (Sheeht), which means "peace"
leaders of those heavy-armed infantry  or "quietness."
so(liers, called Galloglasses. A branch    42  acnamera. The powerfil Dalcasof the family settled in the County of sian sept of "' l ac Conmara," i.e., son of
Cork in the'lThirteenth century, as com-  Cumara, takes its name from a descendmanders of these soldiers, under the Mac  ant of Conall, of the Swift Steeds, who
Carthies of Desmond.  This branch of was King of Munster in the Fourth
the family had castles at Clodagh, century   Their tribe-land was called
near Macroom, and at Castlemore, in  Tricha-kead-ui-casin  (Trlih-lcaid-ee-caParish of Moviddy. They were famous  sheenl), and forms the present barony
for their hospitality, and one of them   of Tullacgh, and part of that of Bun



XXXii                 DR. KEATING'S PREFACE.
that they came from  the family of "Mlortimer," in Nornmandy.
But in  t:his, also, he makes an  mnf7unded assertion, for it is
clearly known that the family of Macnamara (in Irish, Alac-Conmara) takes its  name from   a  progenitor, whose name was'Cumara."   The proper surname, or rather tribe-name, of this
clan is " Sil-Aedha" (/Sheel Ha y), and they are of the descendants of C-asin (Ctshtccn), son of Cas, soti of Conatll of th~e Swift
Steeds, and of the line of Eber.  I-e says, that the following surnames, likewise, are derived from  Great Britain, namely: the
43" Sil Brainn" (Sheel Brin), i. e. the Byrnes, the  " Tuathalaigh"
(Too/kligA), i. e. the Tooles, and the "Caembanaigh" (limcdtvi igh,),
i. e. thle Iavanaghs; but, the evidence he brings forward in support of this conjectnre is entirely fallacious, for he merely strives
to derive these three names from words in the British language.
In the first place, he says, that brin means woody; now, admitting
that the word bri%1 does mean woody, still the name of the " Brannaigh," i. e. the O'Brainns or Byrnes, is not derived from that word
briml, but from a warrior, whose namle was "Brann" or "Brand."
Secondly, he says, that the word tol is the same as Uilly, and that
it is from that word the "Tooles" are called, but Toole merely is an
English corruption of O'Tuathail4 (O'Toohill), which these Tuathalaihgh have had from  one  of their progenitors, a chieftain
name(d " Tuathal " (/'oohclz.)  Thirdly, he tells us, that in British,
Kaevnm  means stlrong, and that it was from  this word Ialaevn,
that the " Kavanaghs"     have had their surname.  Mly answer to
him here is, that, in Irish, the word "Caemhain" (Ifievaoun), means a
person tllt is "Caemh " (Ai'eve), i. e. gentle, or lanmdsome. 45The O'Cavinaghs, however, have taken their name fromDomnald Kaemratty, in the County of Clare. Their inal territory was called Ui Faelain,
tribe-lnam  was" Clann Cullein." Their which comnprised the northern half of
origrin is the same as thl-t of the  the present County of Kildare. Driven
O'I3riens and MaLc MAahons of Thomond, thence by the AngOlo-Normans, they
of whichl lin rlom they were the heredi- fixed themselves in the mountains of
tary gr;ldl-mnarshls. " Cunara" means Wicklow, and continued with their cora "hound," or rather, a "wolf-do(g  of relatives the O'Tooles, to be long the
the sea' t',and metapllorically, a sea-chain- terror of the invaders of their ancestral
pion. The woif-dog was the most homes. The word" Brann" or" Brand,"
noble animal of prey that Ireland pro- whence comes O'Brainn, means "raven"
duced.  Hence, " Cu" came to signify  in Gaelic.
a hero, just as "lion" did in more   440' Tuathail-The O'Tooles were also
southern latitudes.                 anciently seated in Kildare, where their
43Sil Brainn —The O'Brinns, or Byr- territory was called Ui Muiredhaigh
nes, liave their name from Brann Dubh, (Ec Murray). Driven thence by Walter
i. e. "the dark Brann," who was king of de Riddlesford, they settled in Ui Afail,
of Leinster in the seventh century. in the country of Wicklow, the territory
Their origin is the same as that of  in which Glendalo(h is situated. "Tuatthe two septs that follow. Their orig- hal," the name of their immediate an



DR. KEATING'S PREFACE.                  xxxui
hUnach, or Donald Kavanagh, son of Diarmaid na n-Gall, and that
Donald himself received the soubriquet Caenmhanach from his having been educated at Cill-Caemhaiin (Kill-Kiaivauin), or Kaevan's
Church, in the lower part of Leinster.  According to its pedigree,'
this clan is a branch of the O'Kinselaghs.  Moreover, these three
tribes are of Gaelic extraction, according to our ancient history.
They are all three of the posterity of Cathacir Mor (CUaheer M~ore),
king of Ireland.  It is a wonder to me, how Spenser could have
had the presumption to handle subjects of which he was in such
utter ignorance, unless, as he was a poet, he allowed himself a
poet's license, composing fictions, as was usual with him and
other men of his class, inventing unreal tales, and adorning them
with elegant language, in order to amuse and deceive his readers.
Stanihurst46 tells us that Meath was the portion of Ireland that
belonged to SlnIgi,47 son of Dela, son of Loch, but this is not
true; for, according to the " Book of Conquests," Meath contained
in the time of Slhngi, but one canton, or "tuath," in the neighborhood, Uisnech (Ushnagh), and so it continued until the time
of Tuathal, the WVelcome.  And where he asserts that it was
from the above-named Slangi that the town of Slane had its name,
inferring thence that Meath was the portion he obtained from
his brothers, he might with more justice have stated that the
province of Leinster was his share, and that the river Slany,
which flows through the middle of that province to Loch-Garman or -Wexford, was called after him; and he might have said,
also, that it was from him that Dumha-Slangi48 received its name
-this fort is also called Dinn Righ (Deen-]Ree); it is situated on
the western bank of the Barrow, between Carlow and Leighlin.
HIe might have further informed us, that this was his fortified
residence, and that it was thlere that he died.
It is no wonder that Stanihurst was ignorant of these matters,
for he had never seen those Irish records, whence he might hlave
obtained a knowledge of the ancient history of the country. I
cestor, means "lord." It is pronounced, etc., were branches of the Ui Feilmed"Toohal." The OTuathails were among ha.
the most noble of the Leinster septs.  46 Stanihurst was the son of an
Some of this race now write the name An(glo-Irish lawyer of Dublin.  He
Toole, others Toohill, and others again entered as student at Oxford in 1563.
Tuthill.                           Some time after he married, but his
45 The O'Cavanaghs and O'Kinshel- wife having died, he entered holy orders
laghs were called the Ui Feilmedha (Ee in after life. He died in 1579,
Feilmaa). Their territory comprised the   47 Sldin gi was the first king of the
present counties of Carlow and Wex- Fir-Bolgs. He was also, according to
ford. The Mac Davy More, or Mac our annals, the first king of Ireland.
Damore, the Mac Uadog, now Mad-   48 Dumha Sngi, i. e. " The Mound
dock and Vaddock, the O'Murphies, of Slangi."  Pr. Duwze Slangi.




xxxiv                DR. KEATING'S PREFAOE.
am also of opinion, that he did not take much trouble in inquiring after them; for he appears so utterly ignorant of Irish affairs
as to assert, that Ros-Mac-Triuin49 lies in Munster, and that Meath
was one of the five provinces, or "fifths"-an assertion in opposition both to Cambrensis himself, who does not reckon Meath
one of the provinces, and to the " Book of Conquests of Ireland."
In his apportionment of Ireland, he says, that the English possessed the one-half, and that the other was divided between the
Anglo-Irish and the Gaels. Ife also asserts, that the meanest
peasant of the English pale would not condescend to form a
matrimonial alliance with thle noblest Gaelic famifly in ireland;
the words he uses in his Chronicle are these-" The60 mieanest
peasant, that lives in the English province, would not give his
daughter in marriage to the most n oble prince amongst the Irish."
Now, I would ask Stanihurst here, if the peasants of the English pale be more noble, more honorable or more loyal to the
crown than the illustrious Anglo-Norman earls of Ireland, than
the earls of Kildare,51 for instance, who married into the families
of MacCarthy-Reagh,52 O'Neil, and other noble Gaelic septs; or
than the earls of Oymond,53 who are allied to the O'Briens, the
MacGilla-Patricks5 (Fitz-Patricks), and the O'Carrolls;55 or than
the earls of Desmond, who are related to the MacCarthy-Mores;56
or than the earls of -Connaught,57 who are closely connected with
the O'Ruaircs.  I shall not here cite the many viscounts and
barons, who are thus connected with the Gaels; they are each
man of them of, at least, as noble an extraction as any peasant
-9 Ros Mic Triumn was the ancient tensive with the present diocese of that
name of Old Ross, in Wexford.       name.
50 Colonorum omnium ultimus qui in   55 The O'Carrolls, in Irish O'Cerbhail
Anglica provincia habitat, filiam snarn  (O'Kierwill), descended from  the Ibevel nobilissimo Hibernorum principi in rian stock of Kian, son of Olild Olum,
mnatrimonium non daret.             were the chief sept of the ancient prinTh e Earls of KillIe and the Earls cipality of Eli, which comprised the
of Desmond were the chiefs of the noble north of the present county of l'ipperary,
sept of the Geraldines or Fitz-Geralds. and the south of the King and Queeu's
62 jlac Carthy Reah, in Irish, "Mac colunties.
Carthaigh Riabhach"(Mac Caurha Ree-   5Tihe MIsac Carthy More's chief seat
vaag) i. e. Mac Carthyv the Grey. Mac was in Kerry, to which the ancient
Carthy Reagh had his chief residence  kingdom  of Desmond or Des-Mumha
in Carbery. This was one of the gTeat had in later times been reduced. The
septs into which the Clan Carthaigh  kingdom of Desmond, thus reduced, held
split up after the English invasion.  together until the reign of Elizabeth,
53 The Earls of Ormond were chiefs when Mac Carthy More exchanged his
of the Butlers or Le Botilers, one of kingly title for the Earldom of Clan
the most nobly descended amongst the  Carthy.
Anglo-Norman septs of Ireland.        57 1'he Earls of Connaurght. By the
54 The Mac Gilla Patricks, now Fitz  Earls of Connaug,7ht' are here meant the
Patricks, were the ancient princes of Os- De Burgos, or Burkes, Earls of ClaDsory, a district in Kilkenny nearly coex- rickard.




DR. KEATING S PREFACE.                         xxxv
colonist thiat ever dwelt within the English pale. For58 my part
I can see  no reason  why these nobler-an should not contract
marriage alliances with the Gaelic nobility of Ireland, u-nless that,
through  an humble opinion  of their own blood, they did  not
deemn themselves worthy of formning  connection  with so  noble
and so ancient a race.
From  the injustice of the  account which Stanihurst gives of
the  Irish, I think that the man's  testimony should be  rejected
altogether.  Besides this, it was at the instances and suggestion
of other persons,"5  who hated the Irish people, that he nmisrepresented this nation so calumniously. I do likewise. verily believe  that the hatred of everything  Irish was the first nourishinent6~ he  eat, immediately on his arrival in England, and  that
he  kept digesting  it till his return to Ireland, when he  cast it
forth upon his country in his writings. It is instance enough
~8 The venerable Doctor seems to  for killing by famine, as the sword and
have been here actuated by the same  the gibbet can no longer be used indisenthusiastic admiration for antiquity  criminately.  The trade in official caland purity of race, that animated one  umny, likewise, still flourishes, as of old,
of our modern bards, when singing the  in Dublin Castle.  Lies are still the
glories of the noble tribe whence he has most efficacious bullets that can be cast
himself sprung                         against those that would  compel the
"Heroes of history, phantoms of fable,  heirs of the upstart adventurers, that
Charlem-agne's champions and Arthur's Round  usurped the places of our patriarchal
0, but they all a new lustre might borrow,  chieftains, to disgorge the plunder they
From the glory that hangs round the name of have fed on too long, and to restore
their own tribe-lalds to the clans of the
Montmorency, Medina. unheard was your rank, Gael and the Shan-Gaull.  Dr. Keating
6y darkel-eyed Iberian and light-hearted Frank;  is mild with the suborners, though suf
And your ancestors wandered, obscure and un-                               s
known,                            ficiently severe upon the suborned. lie
By the smooth  Guadalquiver and sunny  Was a rigid royalist, this venerable old
Garoun s11e'  
Ere Venlice had wedded the sea, or enrolled  Gaul, and cane of a loyal race.  The
l'he name of a Doge in her proud Book of Gold; IIouse of Stuart, too, now sat upon the
When her glory was all to come on like the mor- English throne, and the Irish Catholics
row,
There were chieftains and kings of the clan of flattered themselves with the delusive
Mac Caurha "-D. F. [cCaerthy.     hope, that their revered old faith -that
69 By other persons are meant the  of St. Patrick  and St. ColumkilleEnglish officials, and the greedy plun- would be restored by the descendants
d.:rers in their train.  Stanihurst, Cam- of the  martyred Mary  of Scotland.
brensis, Spenser, and the still viler herd  There was, then  some reason for our
which  Keating lashes in his preface, author's not wishing to aim his blows at
were the Castle-hacks of their day, then  those who stood too near, what he conemployed to apologize and find lying  sidered, the sacred person of his sorerpretexts for the direct robbery and  eign. We must bear with him for the
murder of the Irish nobility and people, weakness. He belonged to an age differjust as a like herd is actually employed, elt from ours, and to a different school.
now that the Irish nobility is nearly all    " Nourishment. The original is someeither extinct or reduced to poverty, in  what more figurative.  It has it, " was
finding excuses for the indirect robbery  the first breast," or, rather, "nipple he
of the landless nation-for  cheating  sucked," alluding to his " alma mater,"
the poor out of their last penny, and  Oxford.




XXXV1                 DR. KEATING'S PREFACE.
of the hatred he bore to Ireland, to point out the fact that he
blames the English colonists for not having expelled the Gaelic
language from the country, at the time when they had driven
out the people, that' had owned the land before themselves, to
which he adds the 61remark that? "however excellent a language
the Gaelic may be, whosoever acquires a taste for it, acquires at
the same time a taste for the evil habits of those who speak it."
What must we understand from  this, but that this Stanihurst
bore so much malice to the Irish natives, that he was sorry that
the Anglo-Normans, in their conquests from the Gaels, had preferred to act the part of Christians,62 rather than of heathens.
In making this suggestion, Stani- homesteads of the Saxon churls; and,
hurst meant both to signalize the besides, there were no more of them in
proneness of the Anglo-Normans to  his army, than were wanted to guard the
adopt Celtic habits and customs, and to  persons and man the castles of the inafford an excuse for plundering what the  coming nobility. This nobility wanted
newly-imported Saxons called the de- tenants and serfs to till the lands they
generate English, as well as the native had won by the sword, and who could
Irish.                               be found fitter for this duty than the
62 Theline of distinction here attempt- serfs of the Saxon nobility that preceded to be drawn, between the extent of ed it?  It was not, then, William's inguilt in national spoliation and murder terest, or that of his followers, to extirby wholesale, as practised by Christians pate all the vanquished Saxons. He
and  as practised by Heathens, will would thereby, in mercantile phrase,
scarcely stand the test of sound logical destroy the value of his new acquisition.
morality. There can be no doubt but He then spared the vanquished, as far
that William, the Bastard of Norman- as he found it needful for his own and
dy, was as great and as ruthless a mon- his followers' interest-the very reason
ster of crime, as any Hengist or Attila  for which Hengist is said to have excould be. and, though professing Chris- terminated the Celtic Britohs.
tianity, as anti-Christian in his acts as   In Ireland the very same thing ocPontius Pilate or as Herod. The dif- curred, and for a like reason.  The
ference between the conduct of the nom- early Norman settlers (Dr. Keating's
inally Christian, and that of the avow- kinsmen, for whom he here indirectly
edly Pagan conqueror of England. was apologizes), did not find it their interest
not caused by their difference of belief. to exterminate the Gaels. They were,
It sprang from their different necessities. therefore, satisfied with their submisHengist was followed by a whole na- sion. The lovely daughters of the Iberi
tion, with their wives and children. He and the Celtte soon captivated their
had to provide settlements for the serfs, hearts, and the children of those steelas well as for the masters —for the  clad warriors became thoroughly Irish
clowns, as well as for the nobles; and, for in a single century. Had our author
this reason, he had to expel the poor written a few years later, he needed not
man from  his humble homestead, as to have gone up to the pagan Hengist
well as the rich man from his castle and  for a contrast. He would have seen
domain. William, on the other hand, the part of Hengist attempted to be
was followed by a feudal army, mostly  played over again by that soi-disant
unencumbered with children or with  Christian saint, Oliver Cromwell, in
wives. Of that army he had to provide  favor of the canaille of plebeian canters,
but for his nobles, knights, and men-at- whom he was forced to get rid of by
arms. The soldiers of inferior rank  quartering in the homes of the Irish,
were little inclined to settle down in the both people and gentry. Though he,




DR. KEATING S PREFACE.                   Xxxvii
For, whoever conquers a country in a Christian manner, is satisfied with the submission and allegiance of the vanquished inhabitants, and with sending colonists of his own people to dwell
in the land amongst them; but it is the practice of a man, who
subdues a country after the manner of a heathen, to exterminate
the conquered natives, and to send a new race in their stead, to
dwell in the land that has yielded to his force. The man, indeed, that makes a Christian-like conquest, never extirpates the
language of the country he reduces to his sway.   Thus, the
Norman ~William  did not extinguish the Anglo-Saxon tongue,
when he had subdued the Anglo-Saxon nation, for he allowed
the people who spoke the language to remain on their native
soil, and hence it is that the Saxon tongue is spoken by the inhabitants of England to this day.. But ilengist, the Saxon
chieftain, conquered the Britons after a heathen manner, for he
swept themn  from  off the face of the land of their birth, and
planted colonists of his own nation in their places; thus he
completely eradicated the British dialect, by banishing all those
by w-hom it was spoken.  It is a conquest exactly like this latter,
that Stanihurst wished to see perpetrated upon the Irish; for it
is impossible to destroy any language, without extirpating those
whose language it is.  Now, finding how  anxious he was to expel the Gaelic speech, we may well infer that he desired the extermination of the Gaels themselves, and that consequently he
held them in hatred, for which reason, all that he asserts with
regard to Ireland is utterly unworthy of belief.
too, was merciless as Hengist or as numbers of words, both in the old
William, and anti-Christian as Nero or Saxon, and, consequently, in the modern
as Maximin, yet it was not a difference Engrlish, that bear a close resemblance
of religion, that caused his conquest to  to the British and Irish. Many English
differ so much from those made by the words also, supposed to be derived from
Geraldine, the Butler, the De Courcy, the Latin and Norman French, may
or the De Burgo; it was entirely caused  have come from the British. In gramby the different class of soldiers, for matical structure, with the exception
whom he and they had respectively to  of that want of the future tenses of
provide. They had but to provide for verbs, which is the great characterprofessional warriors and for gentlemen  istic of all Teutonic tongues, as well as
-for men, in fine, who did not want to  of the modern English, and of that freecultivate their conquered lands them- dom from that dilapidation of the radical
selves.  Cromwell had to provide for a consonants-the Celtic characteristicruffian mob, swept from the purlieus of which both the old and the new Saxon
the English towns, to whom the owner- enjoy, and totwhich the British is subship of even a small patch of land was ject, it is questionable whether the
a god-send of which, until then, they  other syntactic forms of the old Saxon
had never dared to dream.           have not a nearer resemblance to those
"3 This fact is very much to be qules- of the modern Welsh, than to those of its
tionecd. Any evidence, drawn from the  own English progeny. It is possible,
extinction of the Celtic languagre in Eng- then, that the two peoples may have
land, must be fallacious. There are great amalgamated.




xxxviii                DR. KEATING'S PREFACE;
This Stanihurst likewise finds fault with the district brehons.67
i. e. the judges, and with the physicians'- of Ireland; but, it is a
matter of surprise to me, how he could presume to censure them,
for he was acquainted neither with the men themselves, nor with
the language  in which their scientific works Awere written; for,
he wyas utterly ignorant of Gaelic, in which tongue their treatises
upon the Brehon law  and upon physic were written.   He was,
therefore, incapable of reading these works, whether upon law
or physic, in the original dialect in which they were written,
neither could he understand  thellm, if read to him  by another;
for this reason, I think, when  he abuses these two professions,
that he is exactly in the position of a blind man, who would pretend to give a preference to the color of one piece of cloth beyond
that of another.  Then, as it is impossible for a blind man to form
any  judgment between  the colors of two pieces of cloth, not
being able to see either, so it was also impossible for him  to form
any  opinion  upon  the  two  sciences above mentioned, for he
never understood  the books in which they were written, neither
could he understand the olicamhs or doctors who professed them,
for they spoke only in Gaelic, which was their natural tongue,
and of that he wvas most thoroughly ignorant.
He likewise  censures the harpers69 of'Ireland, of whom  he' Brehon. This word is called in  and of the same blood with the chiefIrish "Breithemh," (brehav;) it makes  tain. The O'Callanans were the most
"Breithemhain," (Brehavuwin and Bre- distinguished medical sept among the
hooin,) whence comes the English form  Desmond clans, and it is remarkable,
" brehon."  Upon this order, to which  that, even to the present day, this sept
whole septs were attached, the reader has never been known to be without
will find fuller information, when our having physicians ameongst its members.
author comes to treat of them'snore es- " 01lamh re leighes" (oflave re ly,:es)
pecially.  The root of " Breithemh " is meant medical doctor, among( the Gaels.
"breth" (breh), i. e. "a judicial sentence,"  The Irish had two kinds of harp,
whence also come "Breithemhna."  bre- one of which they called " clairseh "
hownas,) i.e. "judgment."  Numerous  (clawvrshagh) and the other " ruit'
manuscript compilations of the" - Breith-  (kryth).  The former is supposed to
emhnas " or Brehon Law still exist. The  have been most used for martial strains,
erudite Dr. O'Donovan, and his learned  and for the songs of triumph and of
colleague, Mir. Eugene Curry, are now  joy, the latter for the softer lay of love
said to be preparing a translation of and sadness.  The man who perlormed
these laws, to be published by the Irish  upon the latter instrument was called
ArchTological Society.                 cruitiri " (crytlhieh), whilst the play68 A  physician  is called  "liagh "  er on the clairsech, was called' clair(lecah) in Irish, and the healing art was seoir " (cleaarshore). Oirfidechll (oer-feethence named "leighes" (lyas). There d&ig/), was the general name for a
are many tracts upon the m edical art, musical performer, in Gaelic; his art
still extant in Gaelic manuscript.  Di- was called " oirfides" and " oirfidecht'
ancecht (deeaz-kaight) was the  Irish  (oer-fee-daght); ceol (ke-ole), was the
~lsculapius or god oflphysic.  Each  general name of music.  There were
great tribe had its particular sept of' Ollanmhs r6 ceol," i. e. "Doctors of
physicians,generally of noble extraction, Music," as well as the " Ollamhs re




DR. KEATING S PREFACE.                       xxx1X
asserts, that they know  nothing of music.  But, it is more thaT
probable, that he was himself no judge of any music70 at all.
Certainly, he could be no judge of this our Gaelic music of Eri, for
he knew  nothing of the rules that appertain to it.  One would
think  that this Stanihurst never considered, that Ireland was a
region apart, forming, as it were, a little world in itself, and that
tile nobles and olrci/is, or learned professors, that dwelt in it, of
old, hlad instituted systems of jurisprudence, physic, poetry, a'nd
music, which were peculiar to them.selves, and that these systems
were governed by certain special rules of their own, which have
al]ways continued to be observed in this land; under such circumstances, it was very bad  taste in the man to give utterance
to the rash judgment above cited, and so presumptucusly condemni  the Irish  music.  I wonder much that he had  not read
the nineteenth chapter of Camibrensis, in which he so praises the
music of the Irish-but, perhaps, he wished to  outdo even CamLeighes," above mentioned.  The "01- Wa.les,' divers cnning musicia.:s, who
lamh re Filidhecht" (filleeagfflt) was devised in manner all the instrumental
the;'I)octor of Poetry;"'the Doct or mus/c u ion tie harp and crowth that
of Law was styled " Ollamh re Dli;rhe"  is there use2i7, and made laws of miv,strel(dlee), and the Doctor of Historvy was s!/ o retain the musicians in due acrder.'
ca'led " Oilainh re Senchas."          l'Is   aipears that the famous Welsh
70 Music. In poesy,historyand mtsic,  Ibrtls  xero illJbted for their klnowl
which were closely allied amon.st our an- edge of the harp chiefly to the Irish.
cestors, the most distinguished amongst The Irish in former ages were the most
the professor castes were, in Ulster, the  ralnous htarpers in Europe, and continO'Cleries, the Mlac an Bhairds (vard), or ued ernillelt in the art down to modern
Wards, the MacConways, the O'Gnives, times."  Turlough O'Carrolan, our last
the  O'Slevins,  O'tlusseys,  O)'Don- vera eminent harper and composer, died
nellies, O0VDalies, O'M. Alligans, O'Farrel- in the year 1738. T'here were many
lies an1X O'CCurneens; in Connaught and  oterle eminent bards, harpers and musical
Meath, the cO'Maelonaries,  Mulconries,  omposers in Irela in Irelan in the eighteenth
or Conries, the MacFirbisses, the O'Dui- century, as Corimac Comman,'I'homas
genans, the O'Dugalns, the O'Higgins, O'Connlclan. and his brother William,
and  O'Coffees.  T'he  O'Dunns  and  Roger and IEcehlin O'Kane, Cahir MAacMacIccghs, were the chief bards of Cabe, X; ilcs O'Kelly, Charles Fanning,
Leinster; the NMacG(raths, the O'Di- Edward MIacDermod Roe,  lugh O'Higneens, the  MAaclBruodins or Brodies, gin, Patrick 1err, Patrick Moyne, and
the MaacCurtins, and MiacGowans, and  otlers, all in Ulster and Connaug'ht.sonme of the  O'Keefes, in  Munlster. In Meath and Leinster, Cruise, O'CarThe O'Dalies were found distingluished  roll, Mlurphy and Empson, were disas poets in all parts of Ireland.  "In  tinguished  harpers.  Interesting  aemusic the ancient Irish were highly  counts of the Irish minstrels and bards
celebrated.  It is stated in the Chroni- are given in the works of Walker (Irish
cle of IIanmer, p. 197, that in the latter  bards), B3auford, Mliss Brooke, Ledend of the eleventh  century, about witch, Bunting, Hardiman's Irish MinA. D  1098, Griffith ap Conan, Prince  strelsy, (a work no reading Iris hman
of Wales, who had resided a long time  should be without.-Ed.) Notes to Conin Ireland, brought over with him, to  nellan's Tour MCasters.




xl                   DR. KEATING'S PREFACE.
brensis in misrepresenting and calumniating everything Irish.
For there is nothing for which the latter writer so commends the
Irish people, as for the Gaelic music; in the chapter, just referred to, he sayvs: "In their musical instruments7' alone do I
find any laudable industry amongst this people; in these they
are incomparably skilful, beyond all other nations."
Here follows the description, w~hich he gives in the same
chapter, while praising the Gaelic music.
"Its melody," says he, "is filled up and its harmony is produced by a rapidity so sweet, by so unequal a parity of sound,
and by so discordant a concord." 72  From this testimony alone,
forced from the hostile Cambrensis, we might conclude that it
was grossly untrue of Stanihurst, to assert that there wtas no harmony in the Irish music.  Neither is he to be believed, when he
states, that the Irish musicians were nearly all blind men; for, it
is well known that there were more musicians in Ireland who
had their sight than were blind, at the time when he was writing
his history; so it has been ever since, and so it is at present, as all
our cotemporaries can bear witness.
The reader must remember, that, when writing his history of
Ireland, Stanihurst was laboring under three great defects, that
should forever disentitle him to the respect due to a competent
historian. In the first place, he was too young to have had time
to examine the antiquities of the country, of which he wrote.
Secondly, he was utterly ignorant of the language, in which the
records and ancient traditions of that country and its inhabitants
were preserved; so that it was not possible that he could have
known anything of the former condition of Ireland. The third
defect he labored under, was his sordid ambition; he was inspired
by the hope of obtaining preferment from those who had suborned
him to malign the Irish nation in his writings. His writings on
this subject are also unworthy of credit, from the fact that, afterwards, when he was about becoming a priest, he had himself
promised a recantation of all the malignant falsehoods which he
had written about this country, which recantation is, as I can
learn, now printed and published in Ireland."
Stanihurst tells us -also that the Irish, when engaged in battle,
or in any hostile encounter, used to cry out Pharo, Pharo,74 in a
7" In musicis solum instrumentis comr-   7 From this remark, one might think
mendabilem invenio gentis istius dili- Dr. Keating was not himself in Ireland
gentiam, in quibus prae omni natione when writing his preface. The editor
quam vidimus incomparabiliter est in- does not know, whether the recantation
structa.                          here mentioned has been ever published.
72 Tam suavi velocitate, tam dispari  74 Pharo. The Irish war-cry "farrah,"
paritate, tam discordi concordia, con- may either be the Gaelic equivalent for
sona redditur et completur melodia.    the Saxon "' hurrah," or as Dr. Keating




DR. KEATING'S PREFACE.                      xli
loud voice. This word, which he calls Pharo, he would derive
from  "Pharaoh," the name of the ancient Egyptian kings.  But
the fact is not so; the cry is "Faire O" (Earr'o) and it means beware,
thus telling the other parties to defend themselves, if they can;
just so, the Frenchman says gardez, gardez. which means the same
thing,when he sees his neighbor in danger.
Doctor Hanmer75 hands down in his chronicle that Bartholinus
was the leader -of the Gaels on their arrival in Ireland; by this
Bartholinus, he, of course, means Partholan.  But, according to
the history of Ireland, there were more than seven hundred
years between the coming of Partholan to Ireland and the
invasion  of the  sons  of AIiledh  (i. e. the  Gaels).    For,
Partholan landed inl Ireland about three hundred years after
the Deluge, and it was one thousand and eighty years after the
deluge when the sons of Miledh arrived therein.  In this matter, according to the opinion of Camden, more credence is to be
given to the ancient traditions of Ireland than to any conjecture
of Hanmer.  The learned Camden speaks thus upon the subject: "Ancient76 tradition must be respected in all such matters;"
and truly, if we are to pay respect to any historic tradition on account of its antiquity, then is the history of Ireland worthy of
the most special respect."   On this subject Camden again says, in
his Britannia- Camdeni, when referring to Ireland,77 "This island
was not undeservedly called " Ogygia" or "the most ancient" by
lPlutarch.78 The reason he assigns for this opinion is because
"they"79 (that is the Irish) "deduce their history from  memorials
here suggests, it may have meant "gar- chronicle in Drogheda, in 1571.  It
dez" or' beware."  "Aboo," a word  was addressed to Robert Dudley, Earl
vhich the Editor thinks formed upon  of Leicester.
" buadh " (booa), i. e. "victory," was   76 In his detur sua antiquitste venia.
another war-cry of the Irish, thus the   77 Non immerito hce insula Q0yla,
O'Neill's had their " Lamh derg abu" id est, perantiqua a Plutarcho dicta
(laav darg abco), i. e. Red hand aboo: fuit.
the O'Brien's " Lamh laider (Laudir)   78 A profundissima enim antiqitatis
abu," i. e. Strong hand aboo.       memoria, historias suas auspicantur,
The Anlglo-Irish Normans adopted  adeo ut pre illis omnis omnium gentintm
the cry; abu," with other Celticisms; antiquitas sit novitas ant quodamlmodo
thus the cry of the great Earls of Des- infantia.
mondl was " Crom aboo," from their  73 Plutarch was a natrive of Chaercastle of Crom, in the County of Limer- onea, a city of Beotia, in Greece, and
ick; that of the Earls of Kildare was born of a respectable family.  IIe
"Shant aboo," from their castle of flourished in the reign of the Roman
Shanet; the Ormondsshouted"Butleir- Emperor Trajan, by whom  he was
es-h (Butiayragh) aboo,"and the De made Consul and Governor of IllyrBurgos, or Burkes. of Connaught,," Gall icum. Plutarch was distinguished as
Riabhach (Gaul Reevagh) aboo," i. e. a philosopher, as well as a writer.
tee " Grev Stranger aboo."''he greatest and most esteemed of his
75 Dr. ixleredelth Hanmer wrote his works, are his "Lives of Illustrious




xlii                   DR. KEATINXGS PREFACE.
derived from  the most profound depths of remote antiquity; so
that, compared with that of Ireland, the antiquities of all'other
nations is hut novelty, and their history is but a kind of infancy."
From  this learned authority also, it may be judged how  much
more the ancient records of Ireland are to be relied on than Doctor Hanrner, who never even saw thenm.
The salne author (Hanllcer) again asserts that a king of Lochlainn,80 i. e. Denmark, was the sovereign of Ireland at the time of
the birth  of Christ.  But for such arn assertion he had not the
slightest foundation; for, the ancient  records tell us that Christ
was born  during the reign  of the monarch Crimthann NiadhNair."8  It is somewhat astonishing that a man like Hanmer, an
English Saxon, who had never seen, and who, if he had, could
not comprehend the ancient writings of our country, should pretend to know what king ruled it at the time of the Saviour's birth,
whllen it was out of his power to name even the king that ruled
Great Britain  itself at that epoch.  For, Samuel Daniel, Gildas,
Rider, Nennius,3 and many old British authors, who have written
the history of their country, confess that they possess but very
scattered fiagments of the ancient history of Great Britain, because, say they, the Rornans and the Saxons carried off and destroyed their old traditional writings; thus, there now remains to
them nothing but surmikse  and conjecture, concerning the more
ancient transactions of the Britons.  This gave occasion even to
the learned Camden to remark, that he knewlr not the period, at
which the Picts settled inl North-Britain, and that he did not even
know whence the British island had received the name Britannia:
Men," which are distinguished for the  lie, a tendency to make a nominative
wonderihl skill and impartiality with  of the dative of some feminine nouns,
which lie depicts his heroes. Plutarch  thus,' T'igh," the dative of " Tech," a
died A.D. 140.                        house, is now used as nominative. I-Te
8o Loc/laimn (Lochlin) was the Gaelic  thinks, that it is owing to a like tenname for all those countries called in- dency that Loch'lainn, and also Bretain,
discriminatelv Scahdinavi a, that is, for i. e. Britain, and a few other local apDenmark, Norway, Swveden, and Fin- pelations, differ, in their nominatives,
land, &c.  If the word were pure  from words with which tley agree in
Gaelic, it should mean the " Country  all their other cases.
of Lakles."  The name appears older   8' C?imthmn?  Niadh-NTair, is prothan the Gothic occulation of these  nounced Cr: fianz Neeah-noir.
coulntries, and resemliles those names    Nenulia  was an ancient British
given bh  the Tuatha De Dananns to  writer, who wrote the history of his
the British and adjacent isles. Its no- nation in Latin. I-He lived about the
minative is " Lochiailn" (Lochlin), and  filth century. An old translation of
its genitive Locllann. To correspond  his workl into Irish has been recenily
exactly withllEri" and "Alba" (Ireland  publisl.ed, with the original, by the
and Scotialc) kc., in declension, its Irish Archeological Society. Dr. Keatnominative should be " Lochla."  Bu)t ino, had most probably a copy of this
the editor has observed, in modern Gae- translation by him,




DR. KEATING'S PREFACE.                       xliii
hence he is forced to give us his conjecture like other less learned
writers.  Now,  many of the ancient transactions of his own country being thus uncertain and obscure to so learned a man, it is
little wonder that they should be still more so to lanmcer, who
must consequently have been in still greater ignorance of the
ancient affairs of Ireland; wherefore, his authority is not to be
credited, when he asserts that Ireland was ruled by a king of Denmark at the time of Christ's birth.
He asserts, also, that St. Patriclck,  the Apostle of Ireland, was' For information upon St. Patrick, Lanigan considers it was not established
the reader is referred to the body of till the eleventh or twelfty century. St.
this history, and the notes thereon. I  Patrick's Purgatory became famous as
here transcribe a description of Pat- a place of pilgrimage, and in former
rick's Purgatory and Loch IDerg, where  ages was resorted to by vast numbers
it is situated, from Mr. Owen Connel- of pilgrims, not only from all parts of
la's notes to his translation of the Four Ireland and Britain, but even from the
Masters.'                 continent. It is recorded in Rymer's
" The lake called Lough Derg is situ- Feedera, that in 1358, King Edward
ated in Donegal, on the borders of Fer- III. granted to Malatesta Ungarus, a
managh and Tyrone, in the parish of  Hungarian knight, and to Nicholas de
Templecarne, sometimes Called Termon- Beccario, a nobleman of Ferrara, in
magrath, part of which forms the parish  Italy, a safe conduct through England
of Pettigo, in the diocese of (Clogher. to visit St Patrick's Purgatory;  and
The lake is very large and beautiful, in 1397, King Richard II. granted a
and contains many fine islands. This like conduct to Raymond, Viscount de
lake was anciently called Fionn Loch, Perilleux, knight of Rhodes, with a
that is, the Fair or White Lake; but it train of twenty men and thirty horses.
got the name Loch Dearg, or the Red  The monastery of Termondabeog, at
Lake, from a monster said to have been  Lough Ierg, was subject to the great
slain there by St. Patrick, the blood of  abbey of Armagh, and was dedicated
which tinged the lake of a red color. to SS. Peter and Paul; three great
In the latter end of the fifth cen- festivals were annually held at the
tury, about A.D. 490, St. Dabeoc  abbey, on the ist of Janl-ary, the 24th
Ifoundcd a monastery on an island in  of July, and the 16th of December, in
Lough DI)erg, and it became a priory of honor of the patron and founder, St.
Auonustinian monks. T'he island was Dabeoc, who is buried there.  The
called, in after times, St. Fintan's island, abbey continued to be of great note to
from Fintan Munnu, a celebrated saint the seventeenth century, but in A.D.
in the seventh century, who was of the  1632, by order of the lords justices, Sir
race of the Connallians, of T'irconnell. Adam  Loftus, Viscount of Ely, and
On the island was formed a cave or cell, Richard Royle, Earl of Cork, the abbey
called St. Patrick's Purgatory, which  and other buildings on the island of
became celebrated as a place of penance  Loungh Derg, were demolished, and the
and pilgrimage. Various accounts are  friars expelled, by Sir James Ealfour
given as to the time this place, called  and Sir William  Stuart, who were dclethe Purgatory, was founded.  Some  puted for that purpose. Some ruins of
ascribe its institution to St. Patrick  the old abbey still remain, and it still conhimself, in the fifth  century; while  tinues as a place of pilgrimage, but in
others are of opinion that it was first modern times the place of performing
instituted in the ninth century, about penance has been removed from Saint's
A.D. 850, by a monk named Patrick, Island, to another near it called Statin
one of the priors of the island; but Island. Loungh Ierg, to the present




xliv                    DR. KEATING'S PREFACE.
not the first who planted the Catholic faith in Ireland, and that
it was not he that discovered Patrick's cave in the island, where
his Purgatory is situated; for, he says that it was another Patrick, an abbot, who lived in the year of our Lord 850. But there
is no truth in what he says on the subject, as may be proved
from St. Cxesarius, who lived about six hundred years after Christ,
and, consequently, two centuries and a half before that second
Patrick lived in this country. This holy writer says, in the
thirty-eighth chapter of his twelfth book, entitled Liber Dialogorum?, 8 "Let whomsoever has any doubt of purgatory go to Scotia,
and enter the Purgatory of St. Patrick, and, thenceforth, he will
no  longer question the pains of purgatory."  From  this quotation, it is evident that St. Patrick's Purgatory was not originally
day, is visited by vast numbers of pil- perary. Many of the Irish kings and
grims. The time of performing the pen- princes are recorded to have gone on
ance is from the 1st of June to the 15th  pilgrimages to the abbey fibunded by
of August.  The chieftains of the an- their countryman, St. Columbkille, at
cient Irish, amidst all their fierce feuds Iona, in the Hebrides." The "patrons,"
amongst themselves, and  their san- which are still kept up, in memory of
guinary conflicts of centuries with for- their ancient local saints, by the peaseign foes, were still a religious race, and  antry of certain Irish parishes, are remimbued with a great love of literature; nants of this pious custom of our anand their kings, princes, and chiefs cestors.  They are now, however, but
founded and amply endowed a vast little frequented; for, during the persenumber of ecclesiastical and literary  cution of the Irish church, their celeestablishments, abbeys, colleges, and  bration could no longer be, with safety,
great schools; as those of Armagh, superintended by the people's clergy.
Downpatrick, Bangor, Derry, Donegal, They, thence, became scenes of much
Clogher, Clones, Devenish, Fenlah, disorder, and fell into disuse, having
Boyle, Cong, Mayo, Clonfert, Louth, been, in many instances, discouraged by
Monasterboyce, Mellifont, Slane, Kells, the priesthood. But few attend them
Ardbraccan, Trim, Clonard, Clonmac- now for devotion's sake. In some innois, Rahan, Fore, Kildare, Clonenarh, stances they have even been turned into
Tallaght, Glendalough, Leighlin, Ferns, fairs for the purpose of worldly traffic
Lismore, Cashel, iEolycross, Ross, Ros- by the Mammon-worshippers that now
crea, Iniscathay, Aran of the Saints, own the soil of the Isle of Saints.
and others. Of these famous seats of A modern Irish " patron " can then give
piety and learning amongst the ancient no picture of what these celebrations
Irish, many venerable ruins still remain, were in olden days, when the clergy of
but of many more, even their very ruins the parish presided thereat, and when
have disappeared, destroyed by the hand  the patriarch-chief of the district kept
of time, or the still more destructive  the evil-disposed within the bounds of
violence of fanaticism and war. The  decorum. For some likeness of them,
most celebrated places of pilgrimage in  one must have recourse to those orderly
Ireland were Lough Derg, Armagh, and decorous fetes that are still held in
Downpatrick, and Derry Columbkille,  Catholic countries on the European
in Ulster; Croagh Patrick mountain, continent, on the festival days of the
in Mayo; Aran of the Saints, off the  saints.
coast of Galway; the seven churches    4 Qui de purgatorio dubitat Scotiam
of St. Kiaran, at Clonmacnois, and of  pergat, et amplius de poenis purgatorii
St. Kevin, at Glendalough; Kildare  non dubitabit.
of St. Bridget, and Holycross, in Tip



DR. KEATING'S PREFACE.                      xlV
discovered or invented by the Patrick of whom ITanmer speaks,
but that it was instituted by St. Patrick, the Apostle.  For, how
could the second Patrick possibly have discovered or invented
it, when we find it spoken of by St. Caesarius, two hundred and
fifty years before that second Patrick flourished?  Besides, both
our ancient records and our oral traditions aver that the purgatory was originally instituted by St. Patrick, the Apostle of
Ireland. From these testimonies, it appears clearly that Hianmer
has himself invented the above malignant falsehood, hoping
thereby to lessen the respect which the Irish entertain for the
cave of the Purgatory.
This man makes another unfounded assertion in his twenty-fourth
page, where he states that Finn  5MacComhail was descended'5 Finn MacComhail-This was less au-   "This celebrated warrior, who had
dacious than the unscrupulous attempt, two grand residences in Leinster, one at
made by MacPherson and the Scotch  Almheim, now the hill of Allen, in the
writers of his day, to rob Ireland of this county of Kildare, and the other at
hero. The mind of Ireland then lay so Magh Ell, now Moyelly, in the King's
prostrate, that the arch impdstor never County, was son-in-law of King Corcontemplated the publication of any  mac, and General of his standing army,
original Irish documents, that would  which, as Pinkerton remarks, seems to
make patent his base theft. As nobody'have been in imitation of the Roman
now believes in the imposition, but per- Legions. The words of this critical
sons that do not read books, I shall not writer are worth quoting here:
wast~ space in confuting it here, but refer   "' He seems,' says he,' to have been
the reader to the simple history of that a man of great talents for the age, and
chieftain and his army, found in the fol- of celebrity in arms. His formation of
lowing pages-a history which, notwith- a regular standing army, trained to war,
standing some exaggerations of detail, in which all the Irish accounts agree,
every successive inquiry on the subject, seems to have a rude imitation of the
as well as every ancient document that Roman legion in Britain. The idea,
has been brought to light from time to  though simple enough, shows prudence;
time, has proved to be substantially  for such a force alone could have coped
correct. I here subjoin the following  with the Romans, had they invaded Irequotation from the greatest and most land. But this machine, which surlearned Irish antiquarian of modern, or, prised a rude age, and seems the basis
perhaps, of ancient times: "This is of all Finn's fame, like some other great
the celebrated champion called Fin- schemes, only lived with its author, and
gal by MacPherson, and Fin Ma Cum- expired soon after him.' —nquiry into
hail by the Irish, of whom Mr. Moore  the History of Scotland, vol. ii., p. 77.
has the following remarks in his His-   "The bands of Kerns and Gallotory of Ireland:'It has been the  glasses, supported by the Irish chieffate of this popular hero, after a long tains of later ages, may have been imicourse of traditional renown in his tations of these more primitive Fians,
country, where his name still lives, not who are still so vividly remembered,
only in legends and songs, but yet in the while the Kerns and Galloglasses are
most indelible of scenery connected  nearly forgotten." —Dr. O'Donovan's
with his memory, to have been all at Notes to his Translation of the Annals of
once transferred, by adoption, to another the Four Masters.
country (Scotland), and start under a
new but false shape, in a fresh career of
fame.'




xlvi                   DR. KEATING'S PREFACE.
from the Scandinavians, of Dania or Denmark; but this again is
altogether false, for the Irish annals explicitly tell us, that he is
descended  from  Nundath or Nuadh Nect. king of Leinster, and
of the royal line of Erimon, son of Miledh.  Hle further asserts,
that the person, whom some authors call Gilla-Mara, was son of
the king of Thomond, but it is enough for our purpose, that we
have already confuted this falsehood.  It was through ridicule, I
suppose, that Hanmer gave down the battle of Finn-Traigh or
Ventry,  malevolently insinuating  a traitorous calumny against
our antiquaries, and hoping thereby to persuade his readers, that
the historic records of Ireland are unworthy of credit, as being
all of the same character as the battle of Ventry. Yet, it is well
understood, that our historians never considered the tale called
the " Cacth F inn- Tragha, or the Battle of Ventry, as a true narration,
but they positively held it to be a fabulous romance, or Fenian
tale, which had been composed merely for amusement.  I give
the same reply to everything which he has related concerning
the Fiann.B7   It is untrue of him, also, to say that Siangi, son
of Dela, held the sovereignty of Ireland for thirty years; for, according to our historic accounts, he reigned but one single year.
It is in like manner untrue of him, to assert that the Archbishoptm
of Canterbury exercised a jurisdiction over the clergy of Ireland,
from the time of St. Augustine89 downwards. For, it is also
ef The "Cath Finn-Tragha" (cah- nee), i. e. a Fenian uwarrior, may then
finn-traw), or Battle of Ventry, is a be synonymous with the more common
bombastic and totally ridiculous tale, term  " Fiadhaidhe" (Feeaghuee), the
that is never referred to by any of our Latin  "venator,"  or  the  German
Shanachies. It seems intended for a "jager," and have no relationship at all
sort of nursery tale.               with the word Phoenician.
87 Fiann (Feean). The army, or rath-  68 The reader will find this subject
er, the military order of which Finn  treated of more fully in the sequel.
was the chieftain, was called the " Fiann    bo St. Augustine, or Austin, is the
of Eri." He was styled "Flaith Feinne  Apostle of the English. By English
na Sluagh" (Flah-Fayni ni Sloo), i. e. we  must, however, understand  the
Prince of the Fiann of Hosts. Some Anglo-Saxons, for the Britons were
think the word Fiann  comes from  Christians long before his time. St.
"Phcenician." It possibly may. It is, Augustine flourished about the close of
however, just as likely to come from  the 6th century. He was originallv a
the same origin' with Fiadhach (pr. monk at Rome  Pope Gregory I. sent
Feea,qh/) i. e. a hunt, and to mean an him, with forty of his confraternity, to
order of hunters. Thus the name of a convert the Elnglish. Their exertions
member of that modern German light were crowned with success, and St.
cavalry corps, "Jager." means hunter. Augustine became the first Archbishop
The " Fianna," (pr. Feeanna,) seem to  of Canterbury. He must not be conhave done nothing but hunt and fight. founded with the great writer and
FromsomefthieFeniantalesand poems father of the Church, the African St.
one might imagine that they monopo- Augustine, who lived in the end of the
lized all the game as well as all the fight- 4th and beginning of the 5th centuries
ing of Eri in their day. Feinnidhe (Fay



DR. KEATING' S PI-,EFACE.                xlvii
clearly proved, by Irish history, that the Archbishop of Clanterbury never exercised any such jurisdiction, until the days of
WVillifam  the Conqueror; and, even then, he but exerciseed it
over the clergy of Dublin, Wexford, Cork and Limerick; and it
was the clergy of these dioceses themselves that gave him tha-t
jurisdiction, through affection towards the Normran French, who
were descencled  from  the same Scandinavian, called othierwise
[Norman stock, Aith themselves; they were also promipted to
this act by their enmity towards the Gaelic  race.  I am, however, of opinion, that this jurisdiction was never exercised by
more than three Archbishops of Canterbury, namely, by liodolph,
Lanfranc and Anselm.  Thus, it is a gross misstataemnt, on the
part of l1anmner, to say that the clergy of' Ireland were under the
jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Canterbury from the time of
the monk St. Augustine.  It is also falsely asserte(l bvy hlirn, that
one AMurcadh AacCochlain (Murrogh ALcCoghlain)" was king of
Irelan d in the year of our Lord 1166; for it is certain that Roderick O'Connor was the person in possession of the sovereignty
of Ireland at that timne, which was but four years anterior to tlhe
English invasion.  I-e says, in like manner, that St. Corngalll,~
the abbot of Benchfor or Bangor, in Ulster, or rather in Ulidti.n,
was born in Great Britain; but this is not the truth, foi;, we read
in thlle life of that saint, dthat le was born in Dalr;- dia, in tlle
north of Uli(diatl9 or Uladh, and that he was descended from the
Gaelic tribe called the DIl-Araidhe, fiomin which the territory of
of Dal-Araidhe,or Dalaradia, had received its namle.  The reason
wv;y HIminer Awish;ed to make Com(gall out-  Briton, was because/
that sainlt was the founder of the above-mentioned monastery of
Lanoor ill Ulster, which was tlhe motheir of all thle moinasteries
in E1lrol-e, and because he hhad founded anotlher. monaste,ry, callhei
also  3anlllor. in Britain,  near Westchester.  If ltaurner could
hae rmnade  his readers believe that Corngall was a Briton, he
woul(l either have made the great flme of the monastery of
Banlgor, in Ulster, contribute to the glory of the British, from the
flact of Comgall's being their countryman, or he would have stolen
the illustrious distinction, earned by the Ulidcian Baglor, and given
it altogether to the British monastery that bore(, the same namle.
90 St. Comzgall foundced his monastery sept of Araida,". from Fiacha Araidhe,
of Bennchair, or Bangor, in the present  riag of all Ulster, in A.D. 240.
barony of Ards, and county of Dowin, Muagennis, or MaIc7Engusa, was tlhe
in the vear 554, or, according to some surname of tle chief family of the
entries, 558.                      Dal-Araidhe. According to ODugal,
9' Uladh (Ulla) comprised the pres- the famnilies of O'Gairbhith and O'hent county of I)own, and part of the Anmbhith, now O'Garvey and O':ancounty of Antrim. It was also called nafey or HIanvey, held the chieftaiacy iD
Dal-Araidhe (Daul Arree,) i. e. "the more early times.




xlviii               DR. ~KEATING'S PREFACE.
lIanmer further states, that the saints, Fursa, Faelan and Ultan,
were illegitimate sons of the king of Leinster; but, according
to the history of the Irish saints, they were thile sons of Aedh
Bennan,92 king of Munster.  It is so with all the other lies, which
IIanmer tells in writing of Ireland, but I shall cease to pursue
them any further, for it wrould be too tedious to confute them all.
A writer, named John Barclay, makes use of the following
remarks, in writing upon Ireland: "They,"93 says he, speaking
of the Irish, "erect slight cabins, about the height of a man,
which are used in common by themselves and their cattle."  From
the pains this man takes in describing the huts andcl dwellings of
the humbler rustics, and the more worthless of the rabble, I am
of opinion that he may be not unjustly classed with the vile
beetle, since he stoops in this manner to give a description of the
hovels of poor and wretched creatures, while he takes no trouble
to mention or describe the palace-like and princely mansions of
the earls and other noblemen of Ireland.  I also deemi, that no
credit, as a historian, should be given either to him or to any
other person, who follows his footsteps in the same path.  Hence,
I altogether reject the testimony of Plhineas Morison,94 a person
who has given a -ludicrous description of Ireland; for, notwithstanding his fluent style and his command of the English tongue,
I think that it was not possible for his ready pen to transcribe all
the malignity he would fain express; for this reason, I deem his
calumnies unworthy of any confutation; for the historian, who
professes to give a true account of the inhabitants of any country,
ought to set forth their good qualities, as well as their bad ones.
But Morison has utterly disregarded *this rule, which every historian should observe in his narratives. Prompted as well by
the wickedness and malevolence of his own heart, as by the suggestions and commands of others, who entertained the same evil
dispositions towards Ireland, he has completely overlooked those
good qualities which Irishmen possess.  According to Polydlorus,
ill his first book, styled "De Rerurm Inventoribzs," the following
canons should be rigidly observed in writing any history: First,
" NOT TO DARE TO ASSERT ANYTHING FALSE;" * and, secondly,
2 Aedh Bennan was the founder of   9 Fragiles domos ad altitudinem hornthe Eugenian sept, O'AIuirchertaigh, inis excitant sibi et pecoribus comrnnow spelled as pronounced, O'Moriarty. munes.
Previous to the English invasion, the  Particulars of the hired calumniaO'Moriarties were seated west of Sliabh  tors, Barclay, Morison and Campion,
Luachra, in the present county of Ker- would but fatigue our readers.
ry. This king died, according to the   * Nobody could have abided more
Four Masters, in 613. For particulars closely by this canon than Dr. Keating
of the Saints of this tribe, here men- himself. His great fault lies in havtioned, see the notes upon their names ing adhered too closely and with too
Farther on.                       little discrimination to what he consid




DR. KEATING'S PREFACE.                     XhiX
" NOT TO DARE TO CONCEAL ANY TRUTH," SO that there may be
no suspicion of partiality or enmity attached to the work.  He
says, moreover, that it is incumbent upon a historian to describe
the customs and modes of living, the councils, words and actions
of every class of people inhabiting the country of which he has
undertaken to write, and to describe them  fully, whether they
be good or bad.  Now Morison, in omitting to set forth the good
qualities of the Irish, has flagrantly transgressed the foregoing
historical canons, and, consequently, the work which he has written has no right whatever to  be styled a history.  Whoever
would make a close survey of the rude manners of the lower
classes, and search out their faults, might fill up a volume therewith; for there is no nation in the world without its low rabble.
Witness the churlish mob of Great Britain, the boors of Flanders, the lazy canaille95 of France, the worthless fellows of Spain,
the ignoble vulgar of Italy, and the meaner sort of every other
nation, amongst all of whom many rude and evil customs prevail.
Yet, these nations are not to be indiscriminately condemned for
the partial rudeness of some amongst their inhabitants; and,
whoever attempts to stigmatize them for it, is, in my opinion,
altogether unworthy to be called a historian. This, Morison has
done towards the Irish nation, and it is therefore I deem it
wrong to give him the respect due to a historian. Of Campion,
likewise, I must say the same thing.
96 Camden says, that it is customary in Ireland for the priests
to take up their abode in the'-churches, surrounded by their children and concubines, drinking and feasting therein. My reply
to Camden on this point is, that it was not until after Henry the
ered as sanctioned by ancient authority.    6 This argument was scarcely needPersons, ignorant on the subject, con- ed. Camden did not mean the Cathodetmned Dr. Keating as a fabricator, lie priesthood, who had remained true to
when his book first appeared in an Eng- the Ancient Irish Faith. IIe but meant
lish dress. It is now clearly proved  to signalize the abuses of the priests
that he invented nothing.           of the State religion, which was his
6 Ca; ail!e. In the original this word  own.  Those carnal renegades, who,
is " Fainidbe,'" (Faunvee,) a word which  following in the footsteps of Maelmuiri
the editor thinks intended to represent or Miler Magrath, were then desecra,
the French "Faineant."  The latter ting the holy altars of their sires, and
word does not, however, express the insulting their ashes, and who, by their
doctor's meaning.  Had cur author vices, were disgracing even that new
lived in modern times, he could not religion, founded by the most kingly and
have spoken with such contempt of the most chaste of apostles, to which they
"Fainidhe" of France.  They have fled as to an asylum for all species of
achieved for themselves a fame, be it wanton irregularity. No, Camden, who
for good or ill, more lasting than that is honest enough for an English writer
of the paladins of Charlemagne, the of his day, did  not mean the Irish
knights of Arthur's table, or the fol- priesthood.
lowers of the conquering William.




DR. KEATING'S PREFACE.
Eighth had changed his religion, that the Irish clergy began this
impious custom, and even then, and since then, it has been practiced by those clergymen alone, who followed the dictates of their
own corrupt passions, and rebelled against their lawful superiors.
Camden himself, speaking on the same subject in another place,
bears me out in this answer: "If any,"97 says he, "dedicate
themselves to religion, they govern themselves with a religious
austerity, that is truly wonderful, in watching, praying, and in
mortifying themselves by fasting."  Cambrensis, likewise, has
left us his opinion upon the Irish clergy: speaking of them he
says, " The clergy98 of this country are sufficiently commendable
for the regularity of their lives, and, amongst the other virtues
for which they are conspicuous, their chastity stands eminently
distinguished."  Ilence, it may be inferred, that that evil custorn
which Camden mentions, did not prevail amongst the whole of
the Irish clergy, but only amongst that lustful and reprobate
band, who broke through their vows, and that left the Church in
schismatical disobedience to their ecclesiastical superiors.  Even
Stanihurst agrees with this opinion, in his History of Ireland,
written in the year of our Lord, 1584: " The Irish,'"9 says he,
"' are, for the most part, extremely religious." From these testimonies, it appears clear that the profane practices, noticed by
Camden, were not common in Ireland, and that, as I have just
said, they only prevailed amongst those who had broken through
their vows.
Camden says, again, that no great respect is paid to matrimony
in Ireland, except in the great towns; but this is false, and it is
also a great calumny upon the Gaelic and Anglo-Norman nobility
of Irelaiid, for muost of these dwell in the rural districts.  I must,
however, confess that, in this as in every other country, there are
some persons who are enslaved by their passions, and who arc
unrestrained by their spiritual superiors; still, it is unjust in Camden to condemn and reproach the Irish who dwell in the rural
districts, for a crime that is not common amongst them. For if
orne or two, or even a few individuals amongst them, be prone to
vice, the whole rural population of the country is not to be
defamed upon their account.  And, to those writers who say,
that a matrimonial contract for one year was common in Ireland,
Se qui religioni se consecrant, re- pr lucet virtutes, castitas prxerogativa
ligiosa quadam austeritate se conti- praeeminet.-If historic scandal speak
nent, vigilando, orando et jejuniis se truth, they differed somewhat in this
macerando.-This might have shown respect from some of the Norrnans,
our author that the people's clergy who were sent to reform their abuses
were not alluded to by Camden.    by the help of the sword.
Est antem clerus satis religione   99 Hibernici etiam magna ex parte
commendabilis, et inter varias quibus sunt religionis summe colentes.




DR. KEATING'S PREFACE.                      ii
I answer that it is quite certain that such contracts were never
made, except by profane and irreligious people, who rebelled
against their spiritual guides.  For which reason, this charge
should not be cast as a general infamy upon the whole Irish
nation, when it was only practiced by a few indocile and intractable individuals.
Campion says, in the sixth chapter of the first book of his
history, that the Irish are so credulous that they deem whatever
their superiors tell them to be true, however incredible it may
appear to others. As a proof of this, he relates a very stupid
fatble, which I here repeat:  "There was once," says he, "a certain licentious prelate in Ireland, who was able to impose anything upon his people.  This prelate having but a scanty stock
of ready money, and hoping to receive.a supply from  his flock,
told them that, within a few years past, St. Patrick and St. Peter
had had a quarrel about an Irish Galloglass,'~ whom St. Patrick
wished to introduce into heaven, but that St. Peter, enraged
thereat, struck St. Patrick on the head with the key of Heaven
and fractured his skull. In consequence of this story the prelate
received the contribution that lie required from the people." In
reply to Campion, I must say that, in this place, he appears less
in the character of the historian than of the juggling mountebank, vending ridiculous squibs from off a stage. For, how could
any Irish Christian believe that St. Patrick could get his skull
broker, having died more than a thousand years ago.  Besides,
every one knows that the key of St. Peter means his authority,
and that it is no key of iron. I do not consider any more of
this man's falsehoods worth taking up; he, himself, confesses, in
the epistle prefixed to his work, that he had spent but teni weeks
in writing his history of Ireland.
Jihe following character of the Irish has been given by Master
Good, an English priest, who conducted a school in Limerick, in
the year 1566:  "They are,"'0l says he, "a people of robust
bodies, of great agility, of a brave and exalted mind, of a peuetrating and warlike genius, prodigal of life, patient of labor, cold
and hunger, of amorous propensities, most hospitable to strangers,
constant in love, implacable in enmity, credulous, greedy of fame,
and impatient of reproach or injury."   Stanihurst, also, gives
00 The Galloglrss, in Irish Galloglach,  10 Gens' ac corpore valida, et im(Gaul-oouelagh,) i. e. Foreign mercena- primis ag.ilis animo fortis et elata, inry or soldier, was the heavy-armed foot genio acris et bellicosa, vitae prodiga,
soldier of the Irish, during first centuries laboris et frigoris et inedie patiens, reafter the English invasion. They got neri indulgens, hospitibus perbenigna,
the prefix  Gall, because they were, amore constans, inimicis implacabilis
perhaps, armed and equipped after the credulitate levis, glorim avida, contuNorman fashion.                   melirae et injuriae impatiens.




lii                    DR. KEATING'S PREFACE.
the following testimony in their favor:  " In labor, they are the
most patient race of all mankind, and their spirits are seldom
cast down by any difficulties." 102
Spenser allows that it was from the Irish that the Saxons first
received the alphabet, from  which admission we may infer that
the Saxons had no knowledge at all of letters, until they had
been taught by the Irish.
John Davies"~' condemns their customs, sanctioned by the laws
of the Irish Brehons.  The first is, "that the Tanist"4 should suc-'02 In labore ex omni hominum ge- venerable O'Flaherty:  ".A successor
nere patientissimi, in rerum angusteis was nominated for the prince, in his
raro fracti.                         lifetime, to fill the throne after his de~3fJohn Davies. This is that Sir John  mise. As, suppose his son or brother,
Davies, employed as Attorney-General or mnost respectable relation.  They
and as Speaker of the Irish House of denominated  him  Coi mree,-a word
Commons, in the reign of James the  derived from the finger on which the
First. He wrote a work upon the  ring is worn, which  comes nearest
state of Ireland, to which reference is the middle in situation  and length.
here made. Davies was raised to the  This " Tanist" (or heir apparent) was
Chief Justiceship of England, for his second to the prince in rank and auservices in Ireland, but he died imme- thority; and from this the title of
diately after, in 1626.               Tanistry-law, is derived by Davis and
104, Tanist," in Irish"Tanaiste," (Tau- WVare. Each of the candidates of the
nisht,) was the term applied to the suc- family is called Righ Damhna (Reecessor-elect or heir apparent of a king  downa) or heir presumptive, which is
or chieftain.  The Tanist was elected  royal; that is, a subject, (damhna)
during the lifetime of the chieftain, and  qualified to receive the royal form.
succeeded him  immediately upon his But if he was attached to any liberal
death. The word " tanaiste," means or mechanical art, (i. ce. was candidate
second, in Irish, though some will de- for such,) he was styled  Adhbhar,
rive the word from " tan," or " tanas,"  (Auvar or Owar,) only, which also dew
a country. It has some. resemblance  notes matter; that is, matter disposed
in form, to the Anglo-Saxon  term, to be instructed in the rudiments of
"thane," a lord. Sir John Davies states, such an art." -Notes on Connz-ellan's
in the tracts here referred to, "that Four Masters.
by the law of Tanistry, the chieftains    From these quotations, and, indeed,
of every country and the chief of every  from all that has come down to us on
sept, had no hereditary estate in their the subject, it appears that the Irish
lands, but merely held them for life, and  clans were in themselves species of
the inheritance rested in no man, and  petty republics.  That the chieftain
when the.chieftains died, their sons, or was, in reality, but the elected chief
next heir, did not succeed them, but magistrate, or rather, the public stewtheir Tanists, who were elected, and  ard, during his lifetime, of the lands
who mostly purchased their election  of his whole paternal kindred, who
by the strong hand: when any one of  constituted, in Celtic countries, the
the sept or tribe died, his portion  people. This elective system  of gov(land) was not divided among  his ernment  by  patriarchal  chieftains,
sons, but the chief of the sept made  prevailed amongst all the Celtic race,
a new partition of all the lands be- while the law of hereditary succession,
longing to the sept, and gave every  or primogeniture, prevailed amongst
one a share according to his seniority."  the Teutonic nations. It is but faintly
The following quotation upon this sub- apologized for here, by Dr. Keating,
ject, is from  the  " Ogygia" of the  and has been universally condemned




DR. KEATING'S PREFACE.                        liii
ceed to the chieftaincy, in preference to the son of the late lord
of the land;" the second is, "that partition of the estate between
by all who have written in English  not be blamed for these faults, that
upon the subject, and, of course, by  were universal in the ages when it
those wiseacres, the political econo- flourished.  Did not our tribes inmists. It is questionable, however, if  crease and multiply under it exceedthe preserving of property in the hands ingly, notwithstanding the occasional
of a few, or its transmission to the  lopping off of many a goodly sapling
descendants of its first acquirer, con- from its trunk, by the sword of ambitinue forever to be one of the most tion?  The parent tree but flourished
serious  objects  of all legislation, the more vigorously for these timely
whether the Tanistry and Gavelkind prunings, which, after all, were but the
did not in their day, carry out that fashion of their day in every European
very object, as efficiently, at least, as land. Has the law of primogeniture
the Teutonic law of primogeniture as done as well towards keeping the innow  established  in  Great Britain. stitution called family, together, and
Even when Keating wrote, many of the homestead standing? If the Gaethe direct descendants of Conn of lie  institutions  and  Tanistic  law
the HIundred Battles, and of Eogan  had been allowed to develop themlMor of Ma1gh Lina, of Olild Olum, selves, and then failed in their object,
of Cormac Cas, of Core, and of Niall, as signally as Saxon institutions and
of the Nine Hostages, still held, or the law of primigeniture are likely to
had but recently been robbed of large  do we might then be unreserved ill
portions of the properties acquired by  their condemnation. The Tanistic intheir kingly ancestors, some thousand  stitutions were put down by foreign vioyears before. How many of the direct lence, before they could have become redescent of William of Normandy, of modeled by modern civilization. Then,
the proud Plantagenets, or the des- before we condemn them, we should
potic Tudors, were then numbered  give them credit for what they really
amongst the property owners of Great did do in these rude and bloody ages;
Britain?  How many of the present we should also look round and ask ouraristocracy of England, can find their selves what, with all the advantages of
names inscribed in the "Doomsday  a cizilized agcre, has been done, even
Book?"  How many, in fine, of the  for the "family," by that system which
Cromwellian stock, will another cen- has replaced them-I do not say for
tury of prodigality and debauch, of " the masses," for that is glaring to all.
horse-races and gambling, closed by'~ Gavelkind. According to Coke,
another famine year, leave upon the  this term originated in the phrase gave
rent-roll of Ireland? But the Gaelic  all kinds, but this etymology has all the
race still continues to flourish, impelled, appearance of a pun upon the word.
perhaps, though unconsciously to it- The term  is used in English law, in
self, by the powerful impetus given to  which it is applied to that distribution
it at its first start by those very insti- of the chattel or movable property of
tutions of Tanistry and Gavelkind.  In  an intestate relative, that takes place
Ireland, this race has already swept amongst his nearest of kin. The word
away the peasant colonists, with whoml  is decidedly of Gaelic origin. With our
William  of Orange so thickly dotted  ancestors, it was called "Gabhail Cine,"
its land. It is, even now, fast recon-  (Gavauil Kinni,) from  "Gabhail," a
quering the ownership of its ancestral taki ng or sharing, and Cine, (Kinni,)
fields by the sword of industry, and it afamily or kindred. The Irish Gavelmay retain them longl, if it but shun  kind differed somewhat from the Engthe Saxon institution of primogeni- lish; for with the former the lands
ture.                                were divided as well as the movables,
The institutions of Tanistry should  and they were only divided amongst




liv                    DR. KEATING'S PREFACE.
kinsmen, called  gavelkind"~5  by  the  English, by  which  the
land is equally divided between them;" the thlird custom  is, " the
receiving of an ericl'0 or fine for murder."  In  answer to hlim,
I must observe that there is no country in which the laws and
customs do not vary according to the changes which take place
in the situation of its affairs.  So these three customs107 were not
established by the Brehon law of the land, until the Irish fell
into wars and conflicts in every part of the country, killing,~08
the male kinsmen in the paternal line. consisted of cattle counted by " cumThe females could inherit no lands hals," each "cumhal" (cuval or cool)
amongst the  Gaels.  They received  being three cows. Tftese fines varied
their " Spr&,"' or portion  in cattle, from 3 cows to 300, and sometimes to
goods or money.  According to the  1,000, or more, according to the nature
English gavelkind, everything called  of the crime and the rank of the parties.
chattel is divided between males and    The practice of punishing murder
females indiscriminately. It has been  and other crimes by fine, prevailed, also,
seen by the former note, that this law  among  the Greeks, Romans, Gauls,
regarded not merely children of a de- Germans, Franks, Saxons and Britons.
ceased parent, but all the members of It appears that criminals did not always
the "kin," or tribe, and that constituted  get off on payment of the " eric."  Inin Ireland the people. The present oc- stances are recorded of malefactors
cupiers of the lands of our tribes should  being mutilated, hanged or beheaded
not, then, rest too secure in their occu- for certain heinous crimes, by order of
pation, from the fact that most of the  the Irish chiefs. —Notes to Conlellan's
direct descendants of the last chieftains Four IMasters.
who held these lands are now extinct;   107 Dr. Keating is mistaken in what
or from the fact that English law has  he says here.  These three customs
attainted their blood. They were not, seem to have, at all times, been the
in their own right, landowners.  They  very essence of Celtic polity.
were the mere temporal stewards of their   10"  These killings were not much
kinsmen, and the poorest O'Neill or greater than what was going on in EngO'Donnell, O'Brien or MacCarthy, had  land, France, and throughout Christenas much ownership in the broad lands dom, during the middle ages. They
of Tirone or Tirconnell of Thomonld  were more wholesome by far, and the
or of Desmond, as those renegade chie's clans were even thlriving and multiplythat bartered their kingly titles for ing in spite of them. They would probEnglish coronets. It was not, then, a  ably have wrought their own cure in
few Gaelic landlords that were robbed  good time, had strangers not been sent
by the -English settlers. It was the  to prevent them. Englishmen, who point
wrhole Gaelic nation. And as time,surely, to the feuds, combats and murders that
cannot make sacred the possessions ac- were but too prevalent amongst our
quired by crime, the Gaelic tribe-lands  clans, should recollect the wars between
of Eri shall never want direct heirs, the successors of their own French conwhile the blood of Gaedal, the Green, queror William; the bloody strife beflows in the veins of one man of the in- tween the Empress  Malthilda  and
destructible and fruitful progeny of Stephen de Blois; the contest that exMiledh of Spain-ever longingly anx- isted between Henry the Second and
ious to                               his pious progeny; their wars of the
"Spoil the spoiler as we may,    Roses, during all which, the mass of
And from the robber rend the prey."   their people were puppets in the hands
"XO Eric. Under the Brehon laws, of their French masters; and, lastly,
various crimes were compromised for their revolutionary and religious wars,
by a fine, called "eric."  This mostly  down to a sufficiently recent period. To




DR. KEATING'S PREFACE.                  1v
robbing and despoiling one another.  Then it was that the nobles
and ollamlls of Ireland, considering'the calamities that were approaching, fiom these general dissensions throughout the island,
thought fit to establish the three customs mentioned above.
First, they considered it expedient that the Tanist should succeed to the deceased, in order that every tribe in Ireland might,
a-t all times, have a captain at its head, who was capable both of
leading its warriors to the field, and of protecting the lands and
properties ot its members; for, if the son were put into his father's
place, he might probably happen to be under age, and on that
account, incapable of defending his territory, or tribe-land, from
being destroyed by enemies. Neither was it possible to dispense
with the existence of the second custom in Ireland at that time,
namely, that of Gavelkind, or the division of the land amongst
kinsmen; for otherwise the rent of each country would have been
insufficient to pay the number of soldiers necesssary for its defence; but, when the land was once divided amongst the kinsmen, the man who had the smallest share thereof, was likely to be
as active in the defence of the common inheritance, according to
his capabilities, as the ruling chieftain himself. Again, it was
impossible at that time to avoid establishing file eric, i. e., the
p)unishing of murder by a fine; for, the man who had committed a murder, might find protection in a neighboring territory.
On this account, as the friends of the murdered man could not
cause his slayer to make any expiation or atonement in his own
person, they made his kindred answer for his crime, in order to
punish him through them.  Now, as his relatives were not privy
to the murder, it were unjust t6 shed their blood; but a fine was
laid upon them, and thus the murderer was punished in the persons
of his nearest friends. It was somewhat uncandid in John Davies,
to find fault with the B:ehon laws of Ireland on account of this
regulation, for a similar custom  prevails amoihgst the English
down to the present time.  As to the other two customs, it was
then impossible to dispense with them in Ireland, and, therefore,
the Br6hon legislation of the country is not to be censured on
their account; for, though they are unsuited to Ireland in its
present state, still they were unavoidable at the time when they
were established.
Camden tells us, that the Irish nobility maintained their own
judges, antiquaries, poets and musicians, whom they also endowed
with land for their support, and that the persons of these, as well
as their cattle and patrimonies, were free from all tribute to their
one that will look at the state of an- to have had more than her own share
cient Ireland thus relatively and com- of the general slaughter then going on
paratively, I doubt if she will be found everywhere.




Ivi                   DR. KEATING'S PREFACE.
chieftain.  HIe speaks of them  in the following terms: "These
chieftains have lawyers of their own, whom they call brehons~09 or
109 Brellco s  "1Bardism and Brehon- nifying Celestial Judgments. The most
ism,as well as Druidism,the religious sys- renowned of these Brehons for the justemrn of the Celtic nations, Gauls, Britons tice of his judgments was Moran, son
and Irish, prevailed in Ireland from the  of Cairbre Kenn-Cait, king of Ireland
earliest agoes. After the introduction  in the first century, and he is represented
of Christianity, the Druids or Pagan  in his office of chief judge of the kingpriests became extinct, but the Bards dom, as wearing on his neck a golden
and Brehons continued in the Christian  ornament called IPdhan llorain, or Moas well as in the Pagan times. It ap- ran's collar, which is described in Valpears probable that Brehonism was the lancy's Collectanea, and it was fanciLaw system of the other Celtic nations, fully said to press closely on the neck
and that it prevailed amongst the Gauls of the wearer, and almost choke him,
and Britons, who were Celts, as well if he attempted to pronounce an unjust
as amongst the Irish.  In  Coesar's judgment. The Brehons, like the Bards,
Commentaries it is stated that amongst presided at the inauguration of kings,
the Edui, one of the nations of Gaul, princes, and chiefs, and, as the judges
the title of the chief magistrate or judge  and expounders of the laws, had great
was Vergobretus, and that he was an- power and privileges in the State, and
nually chosen, and had the power of extensive lands were allotted for their
life and death. The term  Brehon, in  own use. Each of the Irish princes
Irish Breitheamh, signifies a judge, and  and chiefs of note had his own Brehons,
O'Brien, in the preface to his Irish Dic- and the office, like that of the Bards,
tionary, showing the analogy between  hereditary in certain families. Amongst
the Irish language and that of the  the chief Brehon families were the folGauls, both  of which were  Celtic lowing:  The MacEgans, hereditary
tongues, considers that the term which  Brehons in Connaught, in Leinster, and
Cesar latinized Vergobretus, was in  in Ormond; the O'Dorans, Brehons to
the Gaulish or Celtic Fer-go-Breith, the MaacMurroghs, kings of Leinster;
signifying the Man of Judgment, or a the MacClancies of Clare, Brehons to
Judge, and it has the same signification  the O'Briens, kings of Thomond, to the.
in the Irish from Fer, a man, go, of or Fitz(reralds, earls of Desmond, and other
with, and Breith, judgment; therefore it great families in Munster. The O'Haappears the Vergobretus was the chief gans of Tullaghoge, in Tyrone, Brehons
Brehon of Gaul. The Brehons were to the O'Neils, princes of Tyrone. The
the judges and professors of the law, O'Breslins of Donegal, Brehons to the
and in ancient times they delivered their O'Donnells, and to the Maguires, lords
judgments, and proclaimed the laws to  of Fermanagh. In the Tracts of Sir
the chiefs and people assembled on the John Davies an interesting account is
hills and raths on public occasions, as given of O'Breslin, the Brehon to Maat the Conventions of Tara, and other guire; Sir John, who was attorneygreat assemblies. In the Dissertations general to king James I., having proof Charles O'Conor, and in O'Reilly's ceeded to various parts of Ulster about
Irish Writers, accounts are given of the year 1607, together with the judges
many famous Brehons and chief judges and chancellor, to  hold  assizes, on
who flourished from  the first to the  coming to Fermanagh they required to
eighth century, as Sen, Moran, Modan, know the tenure by which Maguire held
Conla, Fithil, Fachtna, Sencha, the  his lands, and having sent for the Brethree brothers named Burachans or hon O'Breslin, who was a very feeble
O'Burechans, &c.; these eminent men  old man, he came to the camp, and the
formed and perfected a great code of  judges having demanded his roll, he at
laws, which, from their spirit of equity, first refused to show it, but at length,
were designated Breithe Neimhidh, sig- on the lord chancellor taking an oath




DR. KEATING'S   PREFACE.                    lvii
judges; their own historians, to record their exploits; their physicians, their poets, whom  they style bards; and certain lands are
assigned to each of these, and each of them is of a distinct family
or tribe, viz., the brehons of one tribe and name, the antiquaries
or historians of another, and so of the rest; and these instruct
their children and relations, each in their proper science, and
thus they all have successors continuously in their several professions."  From  these words of Camdeii, it is evident that the
Irish had established a good arrangement for the preservation of
their liberal arts; for collegiate lands were assigned to every tribe
of professors, as a maintenance for those who applied themselves
to the cultivation of science, in order that they might not be
turned away from  its pursuit by poverty.  And, moreover, the
man who was the most eminent in the science cultivated by any
particular tribe, was always the person upon whom the chieftain bestowed the mastership "ollamnacht" (ollownctyat) of the lands ofthat
tribe. IHence, it came to pass, that each member of these tribes strove
to attain to eminence in his art, in hopes of obtaining the position
of chief ollamnh, or professor, before the rest of his tribe. It was,
also, the more easy tQ cultivate science in Ireland, on account of
immunities and protection granted by the chiefs to the lands, persons and properties of its professors.  Thus, notwithstanding the
contentions between the Gaels and Anglo-Normans, neither the
ollamhs nor their pupils were ever dis-turbedl or molested, or at
all impeded in the cultivation of their respective branches. We
read in the Sixth Book of Julius Coesar, that the same privileged
or termonn lands were possessed by those Druids,ilo who went
from  thle west of Europe to teach in Gaul or France-a custom
which, I thinllk, they broullht with them from  Ireland.
I shall pursue the opinions of those Englishmen no longer,
that he would return it safe, the old liberos sive cognates in sua qualibet
Brehon drew the roll out of his bosom, arte erudiunt; et semper successores
and gave. it to the chancellor. The habent quibus singulis sua predia asIrish MIS. was well written, and, having  signata sunt.
been translated for the judges, it was' Termonn lands were certain portions
found to contain an account of the rents of land set apart for religious or scientific
and tributes paid to Maguire, which con- purposes; they enjoyed great immunisisted of cattle, corn, provisions, hogs, ties, and were free from tribute of the
meal,butter,&c.: but Davies says he lost chief. The lands assigned to the biadhthe copy of the roll at Dublin." —Con- tachs, (beetaghfs), or keepers of houses
nellan's Four _M3asters.            of public hospitality, were also styled
1-labent hi magnates sues juridicos, "termon lands;" so were the church
quos Brehones vocant; sues historicos lands. "Termonn" seems to be the
qui res gestas discribunt; medicos, Poe- same word with the Latin " terminus,"
tas, quos Bardos vocant, et citharsedos, a boundary.- The editor cannot say if
et certm et singule familiae; scilicet the word be pure Gaelic, but it is just
Brehlni unius stirpis et nominis, histo- as likely to be so as not, if analogy can
rici alterins, et sic de cseteris, qui sues prove anything.




Iviii               DR. KEATING'S PREFACE.
though there still remain many things written by them, that might
be confuted. The greater part of those who have written malevolently of Ireland, had no foundation for their calumnies, other
than the lying tales of persons who hated the Irish nation, and
who were most ignorant of its history; for, it is evident that the
regular professors of Irish history never cared to give them any
insight on the latter subject; thus, they could not possibly know
anything either of the traditions or ancient state of the country.
Cambrensis, who undertook to give a correct account of everything, appears to have received a medley of fables front some
dunce or blind man, for he has said nothing of the conquest of the
Tuatha-De-Dananns, who possessed Ireland one hundred and ninety-seven years, during which time nine kings of their nation ruled
the island.  WVhere he has set about giving down the conquests,
he mentions that of Kesair (/Kassir) as the first, yet our antiquaries have never considered that as a conquest, though they have
spoken of it in their books.  Ience, I think, that the man had
no other motive in compiling his History of Ireland, than to misrepresent both the natives of Ireland of his own day and their
ancestors.  Besides, he had but a very short time to make his
researches in Irish antiquities, having spent but a year and a half
in the country previous to his return to England.  As his work
was not completed wsithin that tilne, he left it to the care of one
of his companions, named Bertram Verdon.  Therefore, I trust
that every impartial reader, who may peruse my confutations of
Cambrensis and those Englishmen who have followed in his footsteps, will give more credence to my exposition of their falsehoods
than to the idle stories which they have all related. For I am
now advanced"' in years, while many of them were young when
they wrote.  I ]nave seen and can understand our principal historic books in the original tongue, but they have both never seen
them, and if they had, they could not understand them.
It is not through partiality towards any class of people in the
world, nor is it at the instance of any man, in the hope of being
rewarded by him, that I propose writing a tHistory of Irelnd;
but, because I deemed it not right, that so honored a country,
having such noble inhabitants, should be let sink into oblivion,
through the want of a historic account of its ancient affairs. I
do also conceive, that my testimony upon Irish affairs ought to
be the more readily admitted, from the fact that I therein treat
"I For I am ro,v old. Dr. Keating during the period that elapsed between
finished his work in 1629; he died in tEcse dates, and hence it has arisen that
1650. Dr. O'Donovan says, in his notes some copies of his work contain many
to the " tribes and customs of the Fly facts not contained in others. T'his
Fiachrach,' that it is probable that he passage appears to have been written
inserted many passages into his work towards the end of his life.




DR. KEATING'S PREFACE.                        lix
more particularly of the Gaels; and, if any man deem that I give
them  too much credit, let him  not imagine that I do so through
partiality, praising them  more than is just, through love of my
ovn kindred, for I belong, myself, according to my extraction,
to the Old-Gallic"l  or Anglo-Norman race.  I have seen that the
natives of Ireland are maligned by every modern  Englishman
who speaks of the country, notwithstanding the praises which all
historians agree in bestowing upon its soil.  For this reason, being
much grieved at the unfairness those writers have shown towards
Irishmen, have I felt urged to write a history of Ireland myself.
If, then,"3 a true account were given of the natives of Ireland,
they would be found as praiseworthy as any people in Europe,
in these three qualities, namely, in valor, in learning, and in a
steady adherence to the Catholic faith. I shall not here boast
of the great number of our Irish saints,ll4 because every European
112 Old Gallic. For particulars of most distinguished  appellations, the
the Rev. Doctor's extraction, see his reader will find many interesting parlife, prefixed to this work.        ticulars in the course of this history.
"i Our author had good reason to  In Dr Keating's age Ireland had again
feel proud of his country at that time. to feel proud of her saints and martyrs.
Though the strength of the Irish nation  The following holy bishops and priests
was nearly broken down at home, by  were among the many spiritual sons of
an incessant war of more than three  the saints of olden times that had then
centuries, still, the sons of Ireland were but recently cemented the walls of the
rendering her name illustrious through- Irish church with their blood:-Richout Christendom by their deeds in arms, ard Creagh, or O'Mael- Craebhaigh,
and by their heroic persistence in the  (mail crai-vie,) archbishop of Armagh,
cause they deemed the true one. They  and primate of Ireland-Dermod O'were fast falling, it is true-these noble  Hurly, archbishop of Cashel —Edmund
old Gaels and Shan-Gauls-but they  Magauran, or MacGablhran, archbishop
were falling, still striking at their mer- of Armagh and primate of Irelandciless foe, and expending their last Patrick O'llely, bishop of Meathstrength in avenging, as they could not Redmond O'Gallagher, bishop of Derry
prevent, the overthrow of their religion -Cornelius O'Duan, or O Dubhain,
and country. When banished abroad  bishop  of Down and Connor —Rev.
amongst the stranger, the Irishman of  John Travers, M. M. —Rev. Owen Mao
that day was not ashamed of his coun- Eogain, or MacKeon, M. M. —Rev.
try or his race. He did not seek to dis- Cuconnacht or Conuatius O'Ruaircguise the time-hallowed name of his an- Rev. Hugh O'Mulkeran-Rev. John
cestors, that told of " deeds of the days O'Mlahony, S. J.-Rev. Gelatius O'Cul.
of old," by giving it a foreign form, or linan, lord abbot of Boyle —Rev. Derdesecrate it by tacking a Saxon suffix  mod AMacCarthy-Rev. Dominick O'0
to its end. Alas! there are not a few  Callan or Cullen-Rev. Bernard Macthat do so now, and that envy the happy  Moriarty-Rev. Donatus MacCried or
possessors of some Scraggs or Scrubbs, MacReed-Rev. Patrick O'Lochran —
Griggs or Briggs,some Mubbs or Sudds, Rev. Lewis, or Lugraidh, O'Labertaigh
Ketch or Fetch, or some other equal- or O'Laverty —Rev. Connatius, or Corly mellifluous and suggestive appella- connacht, O Keenan —Rev. John Maction.                                Connan-Rev. Bernard O'Carrolan"4 Saints. Of the ancient Irish saints, Rev. Daniel O'Harcan-Rev. Patrick
who gained for our Island one of its O'Dwyer-Rev.         - 0 Dwyer —




1x                     DR. KEATING'S PREFACE.
author confesses, that Ireland produced more saints than any other
country in Europe.  It is also acknowledged, that the empire of
learning prevailed so widely in Ireland, that swarms of learned
men were sent forth therefrom  to France, Italy, Germany, Flanders, England and Scotland, as is clearly shown in the preface of
the book, written in English, which contains the lives of Saints
Patrick, Columb-kille and Bridget. As to the National Records"5
tRev. Donatus O'Luinus or OLooney-   its contents would give the most- interRev. Thomas Fitzgerald.  See O'Stlli- est. However, the patriotic and spirvan's Historic Catholicev Iberniao, Lib. ited publishers have now a cheaper ediii., Cap iv. I refrain from -adding to  tion in press, which, it is to be hoped,
this bright array. I have given enough  will be found in the hands of every
to show that the Isle of Saints did not Irishman who can read, and who loves
forfeit her well-earned title, when the his fatherland.
hour of her trial had come.             An immense number of Irish works
Comparatively few  of the Gaelic  in manuscript still remain extant but
priesthood had been found to follow in  unpublished, in the libraries of Trinity
the footsteps of the apostate Maelmuiri College, Dublin, the Royal Irish AcaMacCraith, (Miler Magrath,) the first demy, the British Museum, the Library
king-made bishop of Cashel, who still of Oxford, and in other public and prilives unenviably in popular fame as vate libraries of England and Ireland.
MaelmuiriMTallaighthe(mrail-wirri mal- The library of the Vatican is said to
libi), or " Miler the Accursed."      contain a vast number; so do the libra"'Records. Of those records many  ries of Spain, France, Germany, &c.
very ancient compilations are still in ex- These manuscripts were carried thither,
istence. Several of them  were pub- formerly, by the exiled nobility and
lished in 1824 by the Rev. Mr. Charles clergy of Ireland. Some say, that the
O'Connor, of Balenegoar, a lineal de- libraries of Denmark contain curious
scendant of the last kingr of Ireland.- and most ancient Irish manuscripts,
His work, in four large and closely- carried off by the Sea Rovers, in the
printed quarto volumes, is called " Re- 9th, 10th and eleventh centuries. This,
rum  Hibermcarum  Scriptores," i e., however, is not yet satisfactorily ascerthe Writers upon Irish affairs.  This tained. The Irish antiquaries of the
great work is written in Latin, and very  present time have little of popular supscarce; it is, therefore, unfortunately, port; and their funds are so limited,
not accessible to general readers. It that they cannot afford such distant
contains various learned original disser- explorations, especially whilst the field
tations and translations of many of the  of their labors continues so very ample
Irish annalists, such as the Four Mas- at home, and the laborers are so few.
ters; the Annals of lnnisfallen; the An-   The handwriting of the oldest manunals of Tighernach, of Ulster, of Boyle, scripts, whose date has stood the test of
&c. The greatest and most accessible  critical examination, has been proved to
compilation of Irish annals is, undoubt- be more than one thousand years old.
edly, that contained in the annals of  No other European nation can produce
the Four Masters, published a few years anything near so old in its vernacular
since by Messrs. Hodges & Smith, of tongue. In these old manuscripts there
Dublin,and literally translated and most are compositions so interlined twith gloslearnedly and judiciously  annotated, saries, which have themselves long ceased
by Mr. John O')onovan. The work is to be intelligible to the vulgar, that no
in seven large quarto volumes. Its  candid antiquary can avoid assigning
high price has hitherto placed it out of the remotest antiquity to the composithe reach of many of those to whom  tions themselves. It is now impossible




DR. KEATING'S PREFACE.                         lxi
of Ireland, we must admit them to be of good authority, because
they were-examined and approved every third year at the Feast
or Convention  of Tara, in  presence of the nobles, clergy and
ollamhs of Ireland.  In  proof of this, the following  original
documents are still to be seen in this country, namely, the
Psalter of Cashel,116 written  by the holy Cormac Mac Culinan,
to fix their exact date, otherwise than  aghty, of Dublin. This work is of modby our own annals, the surest guide, erate price. In its notes it contains nearafter all.  The sceptic who will go  ly all that has been published of the Barfarther for proof, may come near it by  die History of Ireland. From this work
induction. We know the number of  copious' extracts will be found in this
years it has taken to render the com- work.
positions of King Cormac of Cashel,  ", The Psalter of Cashel, an ancient
or the bards and shanachies of the  Irish MS., partly in prose and partly in
age of Brian,unintelligible, and how far  verse, was compiled in the latter end
unintelligible, to the modern Irishman. of the ninth century by the celebrated
We may thus, pretty nearly, determine  Cormac MacCulinan, archbishop of
how long it took to render the compo- Cashel and king of Munster.  The
sitions attributed to Amirghin, King  Psalter of Cashel was compiled from
Cormac MacArt, or Dallan Forgail, the Psalter of Tara, and other ancient
unintelligible to the uneducated Irish- records, and contained the history of
man of the days of King Gormac, son  Ireland from the earliest ages to the
of Culinan, or of Brian of the Trib- tenth century; and to it, according to
utes.                                Dr. Lanigan and others, some additions
Dr. O'Donovon tells us, that some  were made after the death of Cormac,
of the works here cited, are not now  bringing the work down to the eleventh
accessible to the society of which he is century, as in the catalogue of the
the great ornament; but we must archbishops of Armagh, to that period;
hope, however, that they will yet be  and it is stated by O'Halloran, in his
found either on the Continent or in  History of Ireland, that the Psalter of
some private hands.  Some of them  Cashel was also called the Book of
may be in the hands of illiterate per- MIunster, and that h% had in his possons, who do not know even their titles. session a copy of it, continued by some
The vicissitudes of our race have been  anonymous writer down to the reign of
so great, that many of the descendants  Mahon, king of Munster, in the latter
of those that were learned and noble, end of the tenth century; and he also
even so late as Dr. Keating's day, are  says, that the Psalter refers more parnow  sunk very low in the scale of ticularly to the history of Munster, and
woTldly position and education.  In  the kings of the race of Heber.  Keatthe hands of such some valuable manu- ing quotes many passages from  the
scripts do still remain. They cling to  Psalter of Cashel, of which he had a
them as to the household gods of their copy; and Ware mentions it as extant
family-as mystic witnesses of other in his own time, and held in great estiand better days.                     mation, and that he had got collections
I cannot conclude theseremarksupon  from it; Colgan, Dr. O'Connor, and
Irish records, without noticing the val- Bishop Nicolson, also give accounts of
uable translation of that part of the an- this celebrated work; and in O'Reilly's
nals of the Four MIasters,which relates to  Irish writers, at the year 908, he states
the transactions in Ireland since the  that a large folio MS. in Irish, pre~English Invasion, made by Owen Con- served in the library of Cashel, was
nelan,Esq., with valuable annotations by  transcribed from the Psalter of Cashel,
Philip'MacDermott, Esq., which was which was extant in Limerick in the
published in 1846, by Mr. Bryan Ger- year 1712. The original Psalter of




Ixii                  DR. KEATING'S PREFACE.
king of the two provinces of Munster and Archbishop of Cashel;
the " Book of Armaghl,'"'   the Book of Cluain-Aidnech-Fintan, ls
in L, ix; the Saltair na lRaan,11   written by 2Engus C16e  De, or
the Culcdee 120 the Book of Glen-da-loch;121 the Book of Rights,l22
Cashel, lonr supposed to be lost, is which was one of great importance, is
stated to 1)e deposited in the library of  now  unknown. —O'Donovan's Notes to
the British Museum in London, and  the Book of Rights.
copies of it are said to be in the Bod-    "9 Saltair na Rann, translated by
leian Library at Oxford, and in the duke Dr. Lynch' Salterium  Rythmorum,"
of Buckingham's library at Stowe; but i. e. the Metrical Psalter.  "A  copy
it is to be observed that there isimuch  of this, on vellum, is preserved in the
uncertainrty as to those statements; library of Trinity College, Dublin."however, with respect to the contents  Dr. O'Donovan's Notes to the Book of
of the Psalter of Cashel, the greater Rights.
part of it is to be found in the Books`0 " Tlhe Feilire- or Festiology of
of Leacan and Ballymote. —Notes to  Engus Cdld DT), a celebrated writer of
Connellan's translation  of the Four the. eighth century, who was abbot of
Masters.                              Clonenagh, in the diocese of Leighlin,
"i Th}e Book of Armagh. "The Book  and Queen's county, and who was a
of Armagh, a MSS. of the 7th century, native of Dalaradia, in the county of
on vellum, in Irish and Latin, contains  Down, in Ulster; he was a man of
a Life of St. Patrick, and his Confes- great learning, and his work is one of
sion, or a sketch of his Life written by  the most important now extant on the
himself; also a Life of St. Martin of  Lives of the ancient Saints of Ireland,
Tours; a copy of the Gospels, and other but it has never been translated or
matters.  This book is mentioned by  published; there are copies of it in the
St. Bernard, in his Life of St. Malachy, libraries of Trinity College, and of the
archbishop of Armagh; it was a pre- Royal Irish Academy."- Connellan's
cious relic, preserved for ages in a sil- Notes to the Four Masters.
ver shrine, which was lost; and in   12' The Book of Glen-da-loch. A conmodern times it was contained in a  siderable portion of the Book of Glencase of leather, of elegant workman- dalough is preserved in the library of
ship. This venerable book was kept Trinity College, Dublin.
for many centuries in the family of Mac-'2 Thle Book of Rights, called in
Moyre, near Armagh, who were speci- Irish Leabhar-ria g-Ceart, was first writally appointed for its stewardship; but, ten in the fifth century by St. Benin,
about the year 1680, it was taken to  or Benigrnus, the successor of St. PaLlondon by Florence MacMoyre, who  trick, as archbishop of Armagh; but
being in great poverty, sold it for ~5  the work was afterwards enlarged, with
to a Mr. Brownlow, and it is still in  many additions made by other writers
the possession of the Rev. Mr. Brown- to the twelfth century. It gives an
low  of Dublin.  An account of the  account of the Rights, Revenues, and
Book of Armarlh is given by Ware, Tributes, of the monarchs, provincial
Ussher, and Dr. O'Connor, and copious kings and princes. It forms a very
extracts from it have been translated  valuable record of ancient laws and
and published in that learned work, the  regulations in Ireland.  Copies of it
Irish Antiquarian Researches, by Sir are in the libraries of Trinity College,
William Betham' —lb.                  and of the Royal Irish Academy, and
118 Tie Book of Cluain-,Aidnech-Fintan, there was also one in the library of the
i. e. the " Book of Clonenagh," a monas- late Sir William Betham. —Connellan's
tery near Mountrath, in the Queen's Notes to the Four Masters.
county, erected by St. Fintan.  Keat-    This work was published by the Cel4
ing elsewhere calls this the Annals of  tic Society of Dublin, in 1847, with a
Cluain-Eidhnech.   This manuscript, translation and most valuable notes by




DR. KEATING'7S PREFACE.                        lxiii
written by St. Benen or Benignus, son of Sesgnen; the Uidhirl'2
of Kiaran, written  in  Cluain-r-ic-Nois; the Yellow  Book of
Moling;124 and the Black Book of Molaga.  The follow'-ing  works
are contained within the foregoing compilation, namely, the Book
of Conquests;12  the  Book  of the Provinces;`26 the  Book  of
Reigns;    the Book of Epochs;"  the Book of Synchronisms; 12
the Book of Topography;,i0 the Book of Pedigrees'3l of Women;
Dr. O'Donovan. It is one of the most from numerous records, and the works
useful works upon Irish antiquities yet of the bards, &c., and gives an account
published, and gives a clearer insight of all the ancient colonies that peopled
into the civil polity and the internal Ireland and  made conquests in the
relations of the Gaelic tribes with one  country, as the  PaIrtholaiians, INemeanother, than can be gained from any  dians, Fomorians, Firbolg, or Belgians,
modern book published upon the sub- Danans, Milesians and Danes.  This
ject.  It is most valuable, also, from  great work contains vast information
its defining the local position of the  on Irish history and antiquities, and
various tribes, from the 6th to the 10th  there are copies of it in Trinity College
century.                              and other libraries in Dublin, and there
123 The Udtdhir C/iaraein (Ucer-Kee- was also one in the library of Sir Wilrauin) is now called Lebbar na h-Uidhre liam  Betham.-Notes  to Con;,ellan's
(Lavar or Leour nea heerie). A consid- Four.5iMasters.
erable  portion of this MS., in the'. The Lebha-r na g-Coigedh (Leour
handwriting of Maelmuiri' MacCuinn  r a Gogueh,) i. e. the Book of the Fifths,
na mBocht, is now preserved in the  or Provinces, contains the genealogies
library of the Royal Irish Academy.-   of all the Gaelic families and tribes in
O'Donovan.                            each province.
Upon it the following note is made in   I'  Tlhe Book of Reigns, in Irish
the annotations to  Connellan's Four "Reim  IBioghraidhe  (Reaim Reeree),
Masters: "IThe Leabhar na-Huidhre, i. e. the "Royal Series,"' or Catalogue,
still extant, is an ancient Irish MS. writ- was written in the 11th century, by
ten on vellum, transcribed from an old  Gi!la- Caeimhghin (Guilla-Keeveen), or
record in the eleventh century by Maaol- Gilla-s'evin, a celebrated  antiquary
muire, a learned scribe of the abbey of  and bard of the eleventh century.
Clonimacnois.  It is considered a very   128 Leabhar ca n-Aes (Leour na naisse),
valuable work, and contains, amongst i. e., the " Book of the Ages."'
other interesting matters on Irish his-   19'he Book of Synchronisms, i. e.
tory and antiquities, a very curious ac- Lebbar Comh-Airnserechta (Leour Covy
count of the cemeteries and sepulchers of  imsheragh1ta).  T his was written by
the pagan kings of Ireland."          Flann of the Monastery.
124 The Yellow Book of St. Moling   V10 Tie Book J' Tbog'rap7p,   in Irish
and the Black Book'of St. Molaga, are  Leabllar Dinn-Senlchas (Lee~n  Shrannow both unknown. —O'Dorevan.         aglhas), was originally composed in the
0'6 The Book of Conquests, in Irish  6th century, by Arenerin, chfief bard to
Lebhar Gablala (Leour or Lavcr Gay- the monarch Dermod, at Tara; but
aula) is called, also, Tie Book of Ilva- many additions have been made to it
sions. Of it, an account is given in  by later writers.  This celebrated work
O'Reilly's Writers, at A. D. 1632. It gives an account of noted places, as
was chiefly compiled by the O'Cleries Fortresses, Raths, Cities, Plains, Mounof Donegal, in the beginning of the 17th  tains, Lakes, Rivers, &c., and of the
century, at the monastery of Lisgoole, origin of their names, and contains
in Fermanagh, under the patronage of much interesting information on ancient
Bryan Roe Maguire, first baron of En- Irish history and topography.  Copies
niskillen.  This book was compiled  of it are in various lit raries, and a copy




IxWv                 DR. KEATING'S PREFACE.
the Book  of Etymology;"132 tne Uraicepht'33  or Grammar of
IKennfaela, the Learned; the Amral34 or Elegy on St. Colurnb.
kille, written shortly after the saint's death, by Dallan Forgail.
Besides the Chief Books, or Books of the First Class, there are
many historic tales to be seen in Ireland, such as the Battle'3 of the
Plain of Aocruimhi; the Deaths1=6 of the  Heroes, the Battles of
Crina,137  Finncora,l38 -Ros-na-Righl3", Magh-Lena,l~40 Alghl41-Rath,
Magh-Tualaing,142 and a multitude of other historic tales that I
shall not mention here.
The historic records of Ireland must be considered of still
of the original, contained in a vellum,35 Cath Muighle Mucruimhe, (Cah
MS. of the 9th century, was in the li- Miay ljccrivvie), i. e. the Battle of the
brary of the late Sir William Betham.-  Plain of Mucruimhi.  Of this arid the
Notes to Connellan's Four Masters.   other battles and events commemora"' The Book of the Pedigrees of wo- ted in these tales, the reader will find
men, i. e. Lebhar Bain-senchas (Leour the particulars in the following pages.
Banshanag-has).                       I give here.but the pronunciation of
132 The Book of Etymologies, i. e. the titles of the works.
"Coir na n-Anmann."  The most fa-'" Oighedh na g-curadh, (Eeyeh na
mous work extant in the Gaelic tongue  gura), i. e. the Tragic Fate of the
upon etymology, is the Sanasan Chor- Knights.
maic or Cormac's Glossary, origiNally,37 Cath Crinna, or Crionna, (Cahcontained in the book called the Psal-  Creena), i e. the Battle of Crina.
ter of Cashel. It is the work of Cor-'8 Cath Finncoradh, (Fincora), i. e.
mac MacCulinan, the king-bishop of the Battle of Finncoradh.
the two Munsters.                      "39 Catl Ruis na Riogh, (Cah rush na'33 The Uraicepht of Kennfaeladh, ree,) i. e. the Battle of Ros na riogh.
styled " Foghlamtha," (Fowlamha) i. e.   140 Cath Muighe Lena, (Cah Moythe learned.  Kenfaeladh MacOlilla, layna), i.e., "the Battle of Aloyi. e. son of Olioll or Olild, called by the  lena."
Four Masters " a paragon of wisdom,"   141 iagh  Rath (Moy Rauwh), i. e.
died in A. D. 677. He lived at Daire the Battle of Magh Rath.
Lurain, now Derryloran, in the county   142 Maghl Tualang (1l, y Toolang),
of Tirone. The "' Uraicepht na n-Ei- i. e, the Battle of the Plain of Tuages (Urrikepht nanAiquess), i. e. " the  lang.
grammar of the learned," was not com-   Numerous  copies of the species
posed by him. It was first composed  of  semi-historic  compositions  here
by either Forchern or Ferchertni, sages alluded to still exist, in every possible
of pagan times. Kennfaeladh is said  variety  of dialect, from  that now
to have but amended it. Perhaps it spoken, up to the most ancient known.
was revised to suit it to the altered  They were, in fact, the historic roidiom of his day.                    mances of their day; but, though,34 The Elegy Columkille, in Irish  much interwoven with extravagant fic"Amhra Choluim Cilli " (Owra-Collim  tion and often very florid and exaggeraKilli), by the celebrated chief bard  ted in style and language, according to
Dallan Forgail, has recently been pub- our modern ideas, still, recent researches
lished by the Celtic Society with anno- have proved many  of them  to be
tations by Dr. O'Donovan. The com- historically correct in the main facts
moal Irish word " amhran" (owrawn), they record. The correctness on this
a song, is a diminutive of "amhra,"  point, of such of them  as have been
which being itself a derivative form, translated, and critically scrutinized,
must come from  the root "amar " or has been most satisfactorily proved,
" amhar."                            not only by the concurrent testimony




DR. KEATING'S PREFACE.                          LXV
greater authority when we consider that there were formerly
more than three hundred ollamhs of history in this country, whose
sole business it was to preserve the traditions of the nation, and
who were maintained by the noblemen of Ireland for that purof our simple and strictly unadorned  the pyramids by the Boyne and the reannals, but by the exactitude with  mains at Tara, Talti, Cruacha, and at
which they describe local scenery, the  Eman Macha, more than sufficiently
sites of ancient royal residences, forts, bear out the truth of the main facts,
artificial lakes, mounds, tombs of heroes, recorded by those bards of these old
cemeteries, sites of battles, &c., the  races?  Can any Zoilus of history now
remains of which still exist, luckily  rob us of our traditions by unfair and
for our ancient history, that is yet to  one-sided criticisms upon the narrab1 written. The recent Ordnance Sur- tions of our Shanachies, or can any pilvey  of Ireland  has unintentionally  fering MacPherson again attempt to
done us this good. It has summoned  steal our bards and our heroes, and, by
up the shades of the heroes of olden  a literary swindle, attempt to impose
time from the carn and the cromleac, them on the world as the natives of his
from the rath, the cathair and monu- own land?-Some of our documents
mental mound, where'they  so long  have at length been published and
have slept, to bear testimony to the  translated, so that all may see and read
truthfulness of their faithful Shana-  them; and  ancient monuments are
chies. It has established landmarks to  found to be still in existence, that arree
guide future historians in their selec- exactly with the descriptions given of
tions from our written records.       them  in these same documents. Let
When Greek bards tell us of the tomb  the critics and the cavillers, then, read
of Achilles, of Cyclopean Tiryns, or of  and compare facts, and  appeal no
Thebae, of the hundred gates, and her longer to scholastic prejudice and concountless car-borne warriors, we must  jectural suppositions. I would but
surely believe that the hero of the  refer to the "Antiquities of Tara Hill,"
Iliad fought and fell beneath the Tro- written by that most critically severe
jan walls, that neither the Cyclopean  and most learned of antiquarians, Dr.
nor Egyptian cities were creations of  Petrie, and to his " Round Towers," or
exalted fantasy, when we find the se- to the " Battle of Magh Rath," and
pulchral mound ofthatswift-footed chief- the various recent publications of the
tain still rearing its head there, where  Irish Archoeological and Celtic Societhe bards described it, upon the Phry- ties, or to even that one volume of the
gian shore-when we see that time- Ordnance  Survey, published by the
scorning fortress, built by the lightning-  English Government, in order to conforgers, still frowning from its Argolic  vince the most sceptical inquirer, if he
height, and when we find wondrous will only take the trouble to read the
Egypt, of monumental story, still pro- books,-that is, if he be not uncandid
claiming unquestioned her oldenmagni- and  prejudiced as well as sceptical,
ficenee.-W hy then question the truth  and  be neither too unintelligent to
of the Gaelic bards, when they tell us of  form an opinion nor too lazy to learn.
the deeds of Partholan the civilizer,and  The publication of the historic roof his predecessors, the hunters of Kical, mances that still remain to us, would
the short-legged-when they sing of the be of the greatest utility to the Irish
Fomorian rovers, of the warlike Ne- historian, not only from their explainmedians and Belgians, of the mystic  ing and giving reasons for many of the
Danaans, that each in their turn suc- bald facts recorded in the annals, but
ceeded as conquerors of Eri,or of our own  from  the insight they give into the
paternal ancestors, the sons of Miledh  manners and customs of our ancestors.
of Spain?  Do not the monuments at It is from them alone that the future
Tor-Inis and at Ailech-Neid-do not historian of Ireland, in her younger
5




lxvi                DR. KEATING'S PREFACE.
pose; and that the records compiled by them were examined,
and sanctioned periodically by the nobility and clergy.  They
must receive additional credit from their great antiquity, as well
as from the fact that they had never been interrupted or destroyed
by the tyranny of foreigners.  For, although the Scandinavians
continued for a long time to occusion troubles in Ireland, still,
there were so many ollamhs employed in recording its history,
that the principal part of its annals have been saved, though
these Northern pirates carried off a great number of historic
books.  But, the other nations of Europe were not equally
fortunate in this respect, for the Romans, Gauls, Goths, Vandals,
Saxons, Saracens, Moors, and Scandinavians destroyed their
traditional records in their several incursions. But, none of thege
plunderers had ever conquered Ireland, even according to Cambrensis,'43 who tells us that Ireland had been always free from
the incursions of any enemies by whom its history or antiquities
could be destroyed-a thing that was not the case with any other
European nation. For this reason also, do I conceive, that the
traditions of Ireland are more worthy of-credit than those of
any country in.Europe.  Add to this the fact, that it had been
repeatedly arranged, and expurgated, first by St. Patrick, and
then by the holy clergy of the Irish nation.
The reader must, however, observe that I have made some
change in the number of years assigned to the reigns of some of
a few of the pagan kings of Ireland; thus departing from  the
"Reim  Righraidhe" (Raim  Reeree), or "Royal Catalogue," and
several of the poems composed thereon.  lMy reason for this is,
because I do not find them to agree in the number from Adam
to the birth of Christ with any foreign writer whatsoever of authority: and again, because there appears an improbability in the
number of years alotted to some of them; for instance, Siorna,
(Sheerna,) the long-lived, to whom is assigned a reign of anl
hundred and fifty years.  Notwithstanding this, we read in the
old Book of Conquests, that this Siorna was one hundred years
old before he assumed the sovereignty of Ireland, so if I made
him reign one hundred and fifty years more, no one would believe
days, can learn how to portray his phor. The inflated style seems to have
characters in appropriate costume, and been engrossed'by the Sgel Fiannaidpresent them to his readers in lifelike hechta (Sgail Feenceaghta) or prose roineaments. It is also a strange fact con- mance; and even of the latter, the earnected with Gaelic literature, that our lier versions are nearly free from the
writers should have expended nearly all extravaganza that pervaded too many
their genius for hyperbole in these prose of those of more recent date.
tales now spoken of. Their metrical   13 Hibernia ab initio ab omni alien
compositions or " duans," are singularly arum gentium incursu libera permansimple in language and chaste in meta- sit.




DR. KEATING'S PREFACE.                      lxvii
me.  Therefore, I allow him  but twenty-one years, in which I
am borne out by a poem upon his reign; the propriety of this
change must be obvious to the reader. Again, though Cobthach
Cael-Breagh (Cowhagh Kael Braw) is made to reign fifty years,
yet we must allow him but thirty; for, Moriath, the daughter of
Scoriath, king of Corca Duibni, fell in love with Maen, otherwise called Labraidh Loingsech, whilst he was in exile, and she
married him on the death of Cobthach, after which she bor9 him
several children.  Now, if Cobthach had reigned fifty years, this
lady must have been sixty, previous to her bearing children to
ILabraidh Loingsech; as such could not be the fact, it was impossible for Cobthach to have reigned fifty years.
I would in like manner, and for similar reasons, change the
dates of the feigns of some of the other kings that ruled Ireland
before the introduction of the Faith.  Yet, I do not attribute the
discrepancy in dates, that causes me to do this, to any want of
knowledge on the part of the antiquaries; for I think it was more
owing to the ignorance of the transcribers, whose only science was
peninanship.'"  Moreover, since the time that the governments
"44 Penmanship. Of this art, as prac- school, and of which I believe the only
ticed in Ireland during the days of her other specimens are to be found in the
freedom, the earliest authenticated spe- Psalter of St. John's College, Camcimen extant is said to be the Book of bridge, and at St. Gall; the latter,
Kells. It is thus noticed in a recent essay however, being far inferior in execution
upon the Historic literature of Ireland, to those in the' Book of Kells.' The
and the publications of the Archseologi- various readings of this manuscript are
cal Society, published in Dublin in 1851: as important as its ornamental details,
" This venerable and splendid volume is and in it is to be found the celebrated
now preserved among the manuscripts of passage asserting the divinity of the
the University of Dublin."  " Ireland,"  Holy Ghost, which has hitherto been
says a late English writer, " may justly  considered as unique in the Silver Gosbe proud of the' Book of Kells.' This pels, at Vercelli. It occurs in St. John
copy of the Gospels, traditionally as- iii. 5, 6, (fo. 297, v.)  These words
serted to have belonged to St. Columba, were struck out by the Arians, and
is unquestionably the most elaborately ex- Father Simon asserted that there was
ecuted manuscript of early art now in  no Latin manuscript in existence in
exitence, far excelling, in the gigantic  which they were to be found." —Palceosize of the letters in the frontispiece of graphia Sacra Pictoria, by I. O. Westthe Gospel, the excessive minuteness of wood, F.L.S. London, 1845.  This
the ornamental details, the number of learned writer also tells us, that " at a
its decorations, the fineness of the wri- period when the fine arts may be said
ting and the endless variety of initial to have been almost extinct in Italy
capital letters, with which every page and other parts of the Continentis ornamented  the famous Gospels of namely, from the fifth to the end of the
Lindisfarne, in the Cottonian Library. eighth century-a style of art had been
But this manuscript is still more valu- established and cultivated in Ireland,
able on account of the various pictorial absolutely distinct from  that of all
representations of different scenes in  other parts of the civilized world.
the life of our Saviour, delineated in a There is abundant evidence to prove
style totally unlike that of every other that in the sixth and seventh conturies




klviii               DR. KEATING'S PREFACE.
of Ireland fell into the hands of strangers, the Irish have left off
the triennial examination of their historic records, which they
had been more anciently accustomed to make, and the ollamhs
also, have been negligent and careless in the preservation and
correction of the annals, since they lost the " termonn" lands, and
other immunities that they formerly received from  the Gaels for
keeping up their history. Besides, there has been such incessant
dissensions between the Gaels and their foreign invaders, since
then, that the ollamhs'm have been discouraged from periodically
examining and amending the ancient records, as was their
wont.
Should any one wonder at the disagreement between some
historians in the computation"' of the time, from Adam to the
birth of Christ, he will, perhaps, get over his surprise, if he will'but consider that but few European authors are of accord, in
the art of ornamenting manuscripts of noble as his chieftain, and had as full a
the Sacred Scriptures, and especially  right to his portion of the common inof the Gospels, had attained a perfec- heritance. They were not the serfs or
tion in Ireland almost marvellous, and boors of any lord of strange blood,
which in after-ages was adopted and  They obeyed their ruler as the elected
imitated by the Continental Schools representative of their common ancesvisited by the Irish missionaries  Sever- tor. For this purpose did they hunt
al of the finestfac-similes given by Astle down our shanachies, and for this, seek
as Anglo-Saxon, are from Irish manu- to destroyall our written records, and
scripts; and thus  Sylvestre, who has worse than all, for this reason did they
copied them, has fallen into the same er- seek and do still seek to demoralize and
ror; whilst Wardey, Casley, and others, brutalize our noble race. In this latter
appear never to have had a suspicion of they have, in some instances, been
a classic school of art in Ireland.  but too successful. Ignorance, want
This venerable volume is credibly be- and hunger, are feartul brutalizers of
lieved to have been the companion of humanity.  Still, enough of the old
Columba or Colum-Cilli, the Irish saint, nation has remained pure and undefiled,
who first spread the light of the truth  and may yet elevate those to their natuthrough the Pagan district of Scot- ral manhood and to a noble brotherland."                              hood as freemen. It rests with time
4 Oll0amhs. Against no class of her to prove wlhether the base and mercipeople did the English law rage with  less tyrants have succeeded in destroymore violence than against the bards and ing our birth-rights, and whether,
shanachies; and none were hunted down  stranger robbers as they are, they shall
more relentlessly by the bloodhound  continue forever to enjoy in peace the
myrmidons of our tyrants. In fact, it green land, which is our national inwas necessary for the perpetration of heritance, and whether they shall be
their wholesale plunder, and for the im- allowed forever to grind down our brothposition of feudal landlordism, in the ren between the hard millstones of ignoplace of the tribe-ownership of the Gaels, rance and want. Perhaps, after all, so
that the members of the free clans blind are the ways of men, they have
should not be reminded of their ancestral but prepared an instrument for their
rights, by hearing their pedigrees reci- own fearful punishment.
ted by the professional historians.'4 Computulion of Time.       Dr.
They would fain have them forget that, O'Conner has the following observations
as tribes-men, each individual was as upon this subject in his notes to the




DR. KEATING'S PREFACE.                      lxix
their calculations of the same time. As an instance of such disagreement amongst the best of writers, I here give down the
computations of the following distinguished authorities:
Hebrew Authors.          Greek Authors.          Latin Authors.
Baalsedcrhelm,    3518   Metrodorus,      5000   St. Jerome,     3941
The Talmudists,    3784   Eusebius,       5199   St. Augustine,  5351
The New Rabbins, 3760   Theophilus,       5476  Isodorus,        5270
Rabbi Nason,      3740                           Orosius,        5199
Rabbi Moses,      4058                           Beda,           3962
Rabbi Levi,       3786                           Alphonsus,      5984
Josephus,         4192
Since these writers disagree so much in their Chronology from
Adam to the birth of Christ, it is not surprising that there should
be some discrepancies amongst Irish Antiquarians upon the same
point. Yet, I have not met with any computation amongst them
more correct than that of those who reckon 4,052 years from the
Creation to the Incarnation, wherefore, in giving the dates of our
monarchs, in their proper places in the margin of this work, I
intend to follow whatever received authority comes nearest to
this number.
It may seem surprising to some persons that I should quote so
Annals of the Four Masters, in the   The accuracy of ancient dates being
Stowe catalogue, p. 114, No. 2:-  considered apocryphal, we are driven,
"The Europeans had no chronology says Dr. O'Donovan, "to regard the
before the conquest of Darius the catalogue of kings, given by GillaMede, by Cyrus, 58 years before Christ. Caemain and others, as an attempt at
The chronology we now have of more reducing to chronological order the acancient times is technical, and has been cumulated traditions of the poets and
brought to a great degree of accuracy seanachies of Ireland. But that a list
by Pelagius and Usher. Polybius says of Irish monarchs was attempted to be
that Ephorus, a disciple of Isocrates made out, at a very early period, is now
and historian of Cumae, was the first generally admitted by the best antiwho attempted to reduce chronology  quarians. Mr. Pinkerton, who denies
to a regular science, in the time of to the Irish the use of letters before
Philip of Macedon, about 350 years their conversion to Christianity, still
before Christ. The Arundelian mar- admits the antiquity of their list of
bles, which were composed sixty years kings."  "Foreigners," he remarks,
after the death of Alexander, take no "may imagine that it is granting too
notice of Olympiads.  There are no much to the Irish, to allow them lists
fixed epochs in Herodotus or Thucydi- of kings more ancient than those of any
des. Timseus of Sicily, who flourished  other country in modern Europe; but
in the 129th Olympiad, or about the the singularly compact and remote sitmiddle of the 3d century before Christ, nation of teat island, and its freedom
was the first who attempted to estab- from Roman conquest, and from the
lish an era, by comparing the dates of concussions of the fall of the Roman
the Olympiads, Spartan Kings, Arch- empire, may infer this allowance not
ons of Athens and Priestesses of Juno, too much. But all contended for is the
which he adapted to one another, ac- list of kings, so easily preserved by the
cording to the best of his judgment. repetition of bards at high solemnities,
Where he left off, Polybius began."    and some grand events of history; for,




lxI                  DR. KEATING'S PREFACE.
many rannsl47 or stanzas from  the Senchas (or Slanglias, as now
pronounced) in proof of my history; but they must remember
that the authors of our history composed the greater part of their
works in verse.  It was thus, they considered, that it would be
less subject to adulteration or change; thus, they also thought,
would the historic students be better able to commit the recorded
to expect a certain detail and regular to make their progenitors out to have
order in the Pagan history of Ireland  been naked savages. The "Barbari"
were extravagant."                  could not, however, have been savages.
It is highly probable that the earlier No savages could have met the discipIrish annalists and Seanachies had  lined legions of Rome. A regiment of
arranged their chronology after the  the inhabitants of the most enervated
same manner as Timoeus, by compar- of any of the cities of modern Europe,
ing the various genealogical tables, and  would be an overmatch for an army of
the historic "duans."  The translator savages.  Is there any trustworthy
holds that the Irish Sacerdotal and  evidence that any nation of white men
Bardic castes had always possessed  was ever discovered in a totally savage
copies of these rolls and duans in  state? I, of course, do not mean that
written or inscribed characters. Dr. state of savagery that is produced by
O'Donovan has, in his opinion, given  the tyranny of one class of white men
too much to modern scepticism, and to  over another. Such as those victims
that criticism that will allow no civili- of monopoly, the law-made and rumzation to western Europe, but what made savages of England, Scotland,
came from Greece or Rome, when he and Ireland, who are sunk by their
admits the possibility of the Pagan  civilized fellow-Christians, far beneath
Priesthood of Ireland's having only re- any ancient Briton or Gael ever imceived the use of letters in the days agined by poet or by painter. Sunk
of Cormac MacArt.-Were the silent far below the level of the Red Hunter
letters all pronounced in the days of  of the American wilderness, and of
that king?  Unless they were, he does the brave Kaffir, of South Africa.
not know how, unless by divine and  MSore wretched than even Negro or
special inspiration, the Irish system of HIottentot, or than any other specimen
orthography could have been arrang- remaining of the " Prisca gens mortaed since then, without the aid of the  lium."
comparative etymologist.  In truth,   47 Ranns.-In a former note mention
modern science is over vain of its ac- has been made of the great simplicity of
quisitions.  It is scarcely  credible the style of these "ranns," or "duans,"
that the priesthood of any Caucas- as contrasted with the historic roian nation that left the East after they  mances. The word " rann," anciently
had been first made known, could ever " rand," means " stanza," or division.
have entirely lost the use of letters. It comes from  "rainn," divide thou.
The Irish written tongue shows by in- It may have some analogy with the
ternal evidence, that the men who Eng]ish "rant," and, through "rung,"
had the guardianship of its traditions, which translates it when applied to
never did lose  that science.  The  the division or steps of a ladder, with
masses might have been, andl were, no  "stave," which translates its meaning
doubt, ignorant and savage enough, when applied to a poetic stanza. Both
but the priests could scarcely have been  the word "stave" and "rann" may
so. Even the former could not have have orignated from having such stanbeen so degraded and ignorant as they  zas formerly scored on " rungs," or
are to-day, in this age of progression. " staves."  That Irish character called
Modern men of-science, and English- Ogham (owam) seems to have been
men, more especially, are most anxious specially invented for that purpose.




DR. KEATING'S PREFACE.                      lxxi
facts to memory. It was from having been compiled in metrical
stanzas that the title of Salakir na Temtnech., i. e., "Psalter of Temhair" or Tara, was given to that first class record that was preserved in the custody of the Irish monarch's own Chief Ollamh.
for the same reason was the ttle of Saltair Casil, i. e., "Psalter
of Cashel," given to the chronicle of Cormac Mac Cullinan, and
that of "' Saltair na Rann" to the Chronicle of Aengus, the Culdee:
for the word Sailm  means a Psalm, that is, a poem  or verse, so
"Saltair" means a "psaltery," that is, a book containinghmany poems
or verses. Since then the very marrow of the historic transactions of the Irish is preserved in such duansl'8  or poems, I have
deemed it right to rest upon their authority in writing this
History.
Some people are amazed at the fact that it should be possible
for any person to trace his pedigree49 up to Adam.   My answer
to these is, that, for the Gaels, it was not difficult. to do so; because from the time of Gaedal or Gael, their great ancestor, these
Gaels or Gaedalians constantly had their Druids, who were employed in preserving their genealogies and in recording their exploits, during their several migrations, and even until thev arrived
in Ireland; as shall be seen from the following history.  Besides,
they were a nation fond of science, for it was by his science that
Niul, the father of Gaedal obtained all his wealth. Moreover,
the preservation of their genealogies was rendered the more easy,
by their having remained for so long a period in possession of
the same country and by the excellence of those ordinations for
preserving their traditions, which I have already mentioned. The
1 "Duian" (dooan), means a" poem." able to trace its pedigree to the ancesThe poet Burns, and some others, have tor of the Gaelic nation. A tribe could
made the word English. It shall be used not lose its pedigree with impunity.
sometimes in this translation. " Laeidh  There were too many of its kindred
( lay ), is also an old Irish word tribes watching to seize its lands in defor a piece of poety. The English  fault of title, nor could a stranger-tribe
word "lay" translates it exactly; the usurp the pedigree of another older
word is pure Gaelic and is found in our tribe. Too many interests would be
oldest books.                       encroached on by such usurpation, and'49 The reader is referred to the third  it would of course be resisted. The
part for observations upon the Gaelic The female children being excluded
pedigrees. They constitute, probably, from  the inheritance of lands, was
the most authentic portion of our his- another great means of preserving the
tory. The freedom of each tribesman, pedigrees pure from foreign admixture.
and his share in the tribe-land, depend. Dr. Keating is not halppy in his alluing upon his being able to prove his sion to the Saxon pedigree, which he
descent from the common ancestor of - has given.  The Saxon cared little
the tribe, it was not possible that it for long descent. Harold, their last
been could have forgotten or corrupted. king, was of the race of serfs.  No
In the same manner, the freedom of the such thing could by any possibility hapwhole tribe depended upon its being  pen among the Gaels.




lxxii            DR. KEATING'S PREFACE.
following specimen is from a British author, who traces the gene.
alogy of a king of Britain up to Adam. From it, the reader may
perceive that it may be possible for the Gaels to do the same
thing. The name of the author is Asserus, and that of the king
is Aelfred or Alfred.
Aelfred, son of    Cynric, son of     Geada, son of
Aethelwolf, son of  Creoda, son of    Caetwa, son of
Egbert, son of     Cerdic, son of     Beawa, son of
Aethelmund, son of\ Elesa, son of     Sceldwea, son of
Eafa, son of       Gewis, son of      lfIeremod, son of
Eowa, son of       Biond, son of      Itermod, son o
Ingild, son of     Belde, son of      Hathra, son of
Coenred, son of    Woden, son of      Huala, son of
Ceolwald, son of    Frithilwald, son of  Bedwig, son of
Cudam, son of      Frealaf, son of    Japhet, son of
Cuthwin, son of    Frithilwulf, son of  Noah, son of
Ceaulin, son of    Fingodwulf, son of
I think that there is no fair and impartial reader who may
have to examine into the History of Ireland, but will be satisfied
with what I have stated in this prefatory vindication: but if he
be not content with what I have here said, it would, perhaps, be
beyond my abilities to give him satisfaction. I therefore take my
leave of him, and beg of him to excuse me if I have been extravagant in anything that I have said in this book, for if there be
aught that is reprehensible therein, it is not through malice
that I have inserted it, but through want of knowledge.
Your very humble,
And ever faithful friend,
JEOFFREY KEATING.
P.S. The following history is divided into two volumes. The
first of these contains the events that took place in Ireland from
the days of Adam to the arrival of St. Patrick. The second
treats of the events that happened from the arrival of that saint,
down to the invasion of the English-in as far as I have been
able to gain a knowledge of the said events.
In the year of our Lord 1629.




ADDITIONAL NOTES TO PREFACE.
1. " The Culdees. The name Czldee, Lives of Irish Saints, etc., is supposed
in Irish Ceile De (Kaili Dai), is derived  to have been a Culdee. The Culdees
from Ceili, a servant, and De, of God, are mentioned in the Annals of the
and therefore signified a servant of God, Four Masters, and of Ulster, at A.D.,
or holy man.  By the Latin writers 920, in which it is recorded that Godthevy were called Colidei, Culdei, and  frey, king of the Danes of Dublin,
Kelidei, and sometimes Deicolce. The  plundered Armagh, but he spared the
Colidei or Culdees are mentioned by  churches and Colidei. It appears from
Cambrensis and various other ancient Lanigan and other authorities, that the
writers, and by several Scotch Histo- Culdees were not, strictly  speaking,
rians they are mentioned as monks in monks, neither were they members of the
Scotland as early as the fourth and fifth  parochial clergy, but were a description
centuries; but the statements of John  of secular priests called secular canons,
of Fordun, Hector Boetius, and others, -attached to cathedrals or collegiate
are entirely contradicted by the learned  churches, called prebendaries; and alLanigan. Smith, in his Life of St. Co- though bound by rules peculiar to
lumkille, and Jamieson, in his History  themselves, they belonged to the secular
of the Culdees, have maintained that clergy, and ate to be distinguished from
they were Columbian monks, or mem- the canons regular, or communities of
hers of that order instituted by St. Co- monks who sprung up at a much later
lumkille, at Iona, in the Hebrides, and  period, and officiated in the chapters of
also in various parts of Ireland; and  cathedral churches. The Culdees offithey have represented these Culdees as ciated as secular clergymen in the
a very strict and religious order in  cathedrals, sung in the choir, lived in
those early times, from the sixth to the community, and had a superior called
twelfth century; but Lanigan shows prior of the Culdees, who acted as prethat these statements are erroneous, centor, or chief chaunter. The princiand that the Culdees were not mention- pal institution of the Culdees was at
ed by the Venerable Bede, or any other Armagh. According to Usher and
ancient ecclesiastical writer, as Colum- others, there were Culdees in all the
bian monks, nor in the works of Usher chief churches of Ulster, and some of
or Ware, or in the five Lives of Colum- them continued at Armagh down to the
kille published by Colgan. Lanigan  middle of the seventeenth century. The
considers that the Culdees were first in- Culdees had priories and lands in varistituted in Ireland in the eighth or ous parts of Ireland, particular at De.
ninth century. Aongus, surnamed Ceile venish Island, in Fermanagh, and at
De, a celebrated Irish ecclesiastical Clones, in Monaghan, both in the diowriter of the eighth century, author of cese of Clogher; also at Ardbraccan, in
73




1Xxiv                DR. KEATING'S PREFACE.
Meath.  Giraldus Cambrensis gives cathedrals, and as dean and chapter in
an account of the Colidei who lived on  the election of bishops, and that thencean island in a lake in North Munster, forth both orders were joined in that
which island was called by the Irish  right, till A.D. 1272, when it was
Inis-na-mbco, or the Island of the Liv- usurped by the canons regular; and he
ing, from  a tradition that no person  also says, that the Culdees of Brechin
ever died on it;' it was afterwards call- continued for many ages to act as dean
ed Mona Incha, and was situated about and  chapter of that diocese. Acthree miles from Roscrea, in the bog of  cordiLng to Jamieson, the Culdees of St.
Monela, in Tipperary. In the time of  Andrew's elected the bishops of that
Cambrensis, this island was a celebrated  see down to the election of William
place of pilgrimage. Thenca their resi- Wishart, in 1271, when the power was
dence was afterwards removed to Cor- abrogated.  But in those early times it
bally, a place near the lake, where the  appears that the bishops of many sees
Culdees became canons regular of St. in Scotland were of the order of CulAugustine.  Though the Irish Culdees  dees."-Notes to Connellan's Translation
were generally clergymen,yet some pious of the Four Masters.
unmarried laymen joined their communi-   2. The following notices of some of the
ties. There were also Culdees in Bri- best known of the works upon ancient
tain, particularly in the north of Eng- Irish history, to some of which Dr.
land, in the city of York, where they  Keating will be found frequently rehad a great establishment called the  ferring in the course of this work, are
Hospital of St. Leonard, and were seen- here given down for the reader's greater
lar canons of St. Peter's cathedral, as  convenience. They are chiefly extractmentioned in Dugdale's Monasticon. ed from the work last quoted:
They got some grants of lands in A.D,   3. " The Psalter of Tar~a was a record
936, in the reign of Athelstan, and con- of the chief events in Ireland, from the
tinued at York at least down to the  most remote times, compiled by order
time of Pope Adrian IV., who con- of the illustrious king Cormac, in the
firmed them  in their possessions. In  3d century, and from this was chiefly
Wales there were Culdees, as mentioned  composed, in the latter end of the 9th
by Cambrensis, in the Island of Bard- century, by Cormac  Mac  Culinan,
sey, off that coast. In Scotland, the  Archbishop of Cashel, the great work
Culdees were more celebrated than in  called the Psalter of Cashel."
Ireland, had numerous establishments,    This work is supposed to be lost, or
and continued there from the ninth cen- to have been carried off by the Danes.
tury to the Reformation.  Accord-    4. "The Annals of the Foutr Masters
ing to Chalmers, in his Caledonia, the  were compiled chiefly by the celebrated
Culdees of Scotland are not mentioned  O'Clerys of Donegal, and are one of
in history till about the commencement the most important works ever written
of the ninth century, in the year 800 or on Irish history; they comprise the
815, and their first establishment was at Annals of Ireland'from the earliest ages
Dunkeld, under the bishop of that see, to the 17th century."
and they were afterwards placed, about   We have already spoken of the elegant
A.D. 850, at St. Andrew's, where they  edition of these Annals, published by
had  their  chief establishment  for Messrs. Hodges & Smith, and of the
many centuries. It is stated by Bu- faithful translation and erudite notes by
chanan, that Constantine III., King of  Dr. O'Donovan, with which they are
Scotland, who died in 943, spent the  accompanied.
last five years of his life in religious re-   5. "The Book of Kells, considered to
tirement amongst the Culdees of that have been written by St. Columkille, in
city.  Chalmers states, that before the  the 6th century, was preserved  for
introduction of the canons regular at St. many agres at the Columbian monastery
Andrew's, in the twelfth century, the  of Kells, in Meath, and is now in the
Culdees alone acted as secular canons in  library of Trinity College, Dublin. It




DR. KEATING'S PREFACE.                      1xxV
contains a manuscript of the four gos-   8."The O'Duigenans of Kilronan, in
pels, and is illuminated with decorations the county of Roscommon, composed a
of surpassing beauty.'               learned MS. work on Irish history,
This MS. can scarcely be called an  often quoted, and called the Book of the
Irish historical work. Still, from its  O'Duigenans, and also assisted in the
very great antiquity and rare elegance  compilation of the Annals of the Four
of penmanship it deserves to be men- Masters."
tioned here, were it but as a specimen    9."The Book of Hy Maine, generally
of the state of that art in Ireland in the  called the Book of the O'Kellys, was
6th century.                         compiled partly by the O'Dugans, he6."The Book of Leacan, so called from  reditary bards and historians to the
being composed at Leacan, was compiled  O'Kellys, ann4 partly by Faolan Mac an
by the Mlac Firbises, from the twelfth  Gobhan or Smith, a learned historian,
to the fifteenth century, and is one of who is mentioned in O'Reilly's Irish
the greatest and most authentic works Writers at A.D. 1423. This Book of
on Irish history and antiquities. It is Hy Maine is a voluminous MS. on vela very voluminous MS., written on fine lum, containing a vast deal of curious
vellum, and comprises the history of  and interesting information on the his.
Ireland from the earliest ages to the  tory and antiquities of Ireland."
fifteenth century. The original book of    10."The Annals of Boyle. The abbey
Leacan is in the Library of the Royal of Boyle, in Roscommon, a celebrated
Irish Academy."                      Cistercian monastery,was founded in the
7." The Book of Ballymote, so called  twelfth century, and amply endowed by
from having been in the possession of the Mac Dermotts, lords of Moylurg;
the Mac Donoghs, at their. castle of it was long eminent as a seat of learnBallymote in Sligo; or, according to  ing and religion, and its remaining ruins
others, from having been partly com- show its former magnificence. The Anposed at the monastery of Ballymote, nals of Boyle were composed by the
was compiled in the latter end of the  monks of that abbey, and are considerfourteenth century, chiefly by Sol!mh  ed as a most authentic record of the anO'Droma, or' Solomon  O'Drom, and  cient history of Ireland."
Manus O'Duiogenan, learned antiquaries    11."The Leabhar Breac Mac Aodhaand historians. Tomaltagh Mae Do- gain, or Speckled Book of zMac Egan,
nogh, lord of Tirerill and Corran, in  an ancient MS. often quoted by our
Sligo, was the patron of these learned  historians, and containing much curious
men; and the Book of Ballymote re- information, the original of which is in
mained a long time in possession of this the Royal Irish Academy, was comrnfamily, but was purchased from one of  posed by the Mac Egans of IDuniry in
the Mac Donoghs, in the year 1522, by  Galway, learned Brehons and histoIHugh DIuv, son of Hugh Roe, son of rians."
Niall Garv O'Donnell, of Donegal, the    12."The Cronicon Scctorum, an anprice given for the book being one hun- cient work, composed at Clonmacnois,
dred and forty milch cows. The Book  written in Irish, and continued to 1150,
of Ballymote is a large folio MS. on  contains much information on the anvellum; it contains the ancient history  cient history of Ireland."
of Ireland from the earliest period to    13."The Annals of 7i7gher-nach, comrnthe end of the fourteenth century, and  piled in the 11th century by'lighernach,
is considered a very authentic work and  abbot of Clonmacnois, whose death is
of great authority. The original is de- recorded in the Four Masters, and in
posited in the library of the Royal Irish  O'Reilly's Irish Writers, at A.D. 1088;
Academy; and a copy of it, with a full he was one of the most learned men of
account of its contents, was made by the  that age, and his Annals are considered
translator of these Annals as Irish  as one of the most authentic works on
Hlistoriographer, and is deposited in the  ancient Irish history; they contain the
Royal Library at Windsor."-T-b.      history of Ireland, from the reign of




1xxvi                DR. KEATING'S PREFACE.
Kimbaeth, king of Emania, and mon- Clogher. The Annals of Ulster are
arch of Ireland, who flourished about written, partly in Irish, and partly in
350 years before the Christain era, down  Latin, and contain the history of Ireto the death of the author, in the 11th  land from  the first to the sixteenth
century; and, according to O'Reilly, century, and are considered very authey were continued to the 16th century  thentic, giving a concise account of the
by Augustin Mac Gradian, or Mac various events. There are copies of
Craith, a monk of the abbey of All these Annals in several libraries in
Saints, on Lough Ree, in the river England, and in Dublin, and they have
Shannon, and county  of Longford. been published in Latin, from the fifth
O'Reilly says there is a copy of these  to the twelfth century, namely, from
Annals in the library of Trinity Col- A. D. 431, to A. D. 1131, in Dr. O'lege, Dublin. The Annals of Tigher- Conor's Rer. Hib. Scriptores."
nach are partly in Irish and partly in    16."The Books of Ulster and of OirLatin, and have been published in Latin  giall, copies of which are contained in
by Dr. O'Conor, in the Rerum  Hib. the Books of Leacan and Ballymote,
Scriptores."                         give an account of the ancient history
14."The Book of Annals of Bally  of Ulster, its kings, princes, chiefs and
Mac Manus was the celebr*ed work on  clans, and contain much important inIrish history and antiquities, called the  formation."
Annals of Ulster, of which a Latin trans-    17."The Book of Lismore, a large
lation was made by the learned and  ancient Irish  MS. folio, on vellum,
Rev. Dr. Charles O'Conor, and pub- which was accidentally discovered in
lished in his great work, the Rerum  the castle of Lismore, where it still
Hibelrnicarum Scriptores Veteres. The remains, in the library of the Duke of
compiler of these annals was Cathal, Devonshire. It was composed at the
or Charles M1aguire, an eminent eccle- ancient college or monastery of Lissiastic and learned man, who collected  more, and contains much valuable inand compiled those Annals at Senaid  formation on Irish history and antiquiMac Manus, a place situated in the  ties, s lives of SS. Patrick, Bridget,
county of Fermanagh; hence these and tolumkille; accounts of Samhain
Annals have been sometimes called  and Antichrist; the history of David,
AnnalesSenatgnses, or Senatensian An- son of Jesse; also accounts of the batnals, and sometimes the Annals of Bally  ties of Ceallachan, king of Cashel; the
Mac Manus. The Annals of Ulster battles of Crinna, Gawra, &c.* and
contain the history of Ireland from the  likewise the life and conquests of the
first to the latter end of the fifteenth  Emperor Charlemagne; a history of
century, being carried down to the  Lombardy, &c."
time of the Author's death; but some    18."Trhe Book of Glendalough, said
additions were afterwards made to them, by O'Riley to be in the library of
and they were continued to A. D. Trinity College, Dublin, is an ancient
1541, by the learned Roderick O'Cas- work on the history of Leinster."
sidy, archdeacon of Clogher, according    19."The Book of Kilkenny, an ancient
to Ware's Writers."                 work, is often quoted by Colgan, in
15. "The Annals of Ulster were com- his Lives of the Irish Saints."
piled in the fifteenth century, by Cathal   20."The Book of Leinster, which is
or Charles Maguire, a native of Per- contained in the Books of Leacan and
managh, an  eminent and  learned  Ballymote, and a copy of it in the
ecclesiastic, who was dean of Clogher, library of Trinity College, gives the
a canon of Armagh, &c., and whose ancient history of Leinster, and its
death is recorded at the year 1498, in, kings, princes, chiefs, and clans."
the Annals of the Four Masters.   21."The Annals of Innisfallen were
rIhs%  Amms, wz tz (JittS  f te iucsmppHi ky Abgre mxnudas  i Stne abiir
Author, were continued to 1541, by. of Innisfallen, an island in the lakes of
Roderick O'Cassidy, archdeacon of Killarney. Innisfallen was founded by




DR. KEATING'S PREFACE.                    lxxvii
St. Finian in the sixth century, and  Cahreim  Tlzoirdhealbhaigh (Cahraim
became famous as a seat of learning. Horailig), or, a Catalogue of Torlogh's
These annals commence at A. D. 252, Battles, contains, as stated in O'Reil.
and end A; D. 1320.  They relate ley's Irish Writers, at A. D. 1450, an
chiefly to Munster. The original of account of the battles of Torlogh
them is in the Bodleian library at Ox- O'Brien, and of the wars of Thomond,
ford, and copies are in the libraries of from the landing of Henry II. in IreTrinity College, Dublin, the Royal land, to the death of Robert de Clare,
Irish  Academy, and  others.  Dr. A.D. 1318. This work was written by
O'Conor has published them, with a  Rory Mac Craith, in the fifteenth cenLatin  translation, in his  "Rerum  tury, the original of which, on vellum,
Hibernicarum Scriptores."            was lately in the library of Sir William
22. " The Book of Munster is at large Betham."
upon Irish history, but chiefly relating   27."Another sometimes quoted by
to the province whence it has its name. Keating, is the Leabhar Gearr, or
It gives an account of its kings, chiefs, Short Book, an Irish MS. of some note,
and principal clans; its ancient laws, but now, it is feared, lost."
customs, arts, agriculture, etc.  Copies    I shall conclude these notices of Irish
of it are contained in the book of works by the following remarks, taken
Leacan and Ballymote."              from the same mine of Irish historical
23. "The Book of Fermoy,compiled by  information-I mean the notes to Conthe monks of the abbey of Fermoy, nellan's Four Masters.
in the county of Cork, a large work    "There are still existing vast collecon vellum, containing valuable infor- tions of ancient and valuable Irish MSS.
mation, was recently in the possession of in various libraries in Ireland, as those
Wm. Monk Mason, Esq, of Dublin."  of Trinity College, Dublin, and of the
24."The Topographies of O'Dugan  Royal Irish Academy; also in many
and O'Heerin. Seagan O'Dubhagain, private libraries, particularly in that of
or John O'Dugan, died in 1372. He  Sir William Betham. In various librawas the historian of the O'Kellies, ries in England there are great collecchiefs of Hy Maine. Gilla na Naemh  tions of Irish MSS., as in those of the
(Gilla na Nave) Oh-Uidhirin (O'Hee- Bodleian Library at Oxford, of the Britrin), who died in 1420, continued O'- ish Museum, and of Lambeth in London,
Dugan's work. These works, which  and in the library of the Duke of Buckare in verse, may be considered a sort ingham, at Stowe, there is an immense
of Doomsday book of Irish history. and most valuable collection. In the
They were compiled from personal in- libraries on the Continent there are
spection of the various places of which  also collections of Irish MSS., particuthey treat. Large use is made of the larly at Rome, Paris, and Louvain, and
translation of these poems by Mr. in the libraries of Spain and Portugal,
Owen Connellan, as given in his Four and it is said that there were Irish
Masters, in explanation of the maps MSS. in the Royal Library at Copern
attached to this history."           hagen, which were carried off by the
25. "Thie Annals of Connaught is an  Danes from Ireland, in the tenth and
ancient work, compiled by the O'Mael- eleventh centuries, A vast number of
Conairies, historians of that province, Irish MSS. were destroyed, particularly
about the fourteenth century.  Dr. during the wars of Elizabeth and CromDrummond, in his Prize Essay on the  well; Webb, in his Analysis lof the
poems of Ossian, states that Mac Pher- Antiquities of Ireland, says,' it was,
son, the celebrated author of Ossian's till the time of James I., the object of
Poems, on visiting Oxford, was shown  government to discover and destroy all
the above-mentioned Irish MS. as con- remains of the literature of the Irish,
tainingr the Poems of Ossian, a single in order the more fully to eradicate
word of which he was not able to read'' from  their minds every trace of their
26."The Wars of Thomond, styled, ancient independence."




lxxviii              DR. KEATING'S PREFACE.
In the Pagan times, many works of of the Christian era, at the Court of
note are recorded, and, according to  Emania, under Concovar Mac Neasa,
Charles O'Conor, it is stated by Duald  the celebrated king of Ulster. Oisin,
Mac Firbis, the learned antiquary of or Ossian, in the third cehtury, was one
Leacan, that St. Patrick burned no less of the most celebrated of the Irish
than 180 volumes of the Books of the Bards, and many poems attributed to
Druids at Tara. As Tara was in the him are still extant; some of the Ossiearly ages the  seat of the Irish  anic poems have been translated, but
monarchy, there were many of the many remain in manuscript, and it is to
chief Bards consequently connected  be observed, that they are very different
with Meath, and an account of various from Ossian's Poems published by Mac
eminent Bards, who flourished in Meath  Pherson, who claimed the Irish Bard as
and Ulster in the Pagan times, is given  a native of Scotland; but Mac Pherin O'Reilly's Writers. The most cele- son's Ossianic Poems, though containbrated of these were Adhna, Athairne, ing much poetical beauty, are chiefly
Forchern, Ferceirtne, and Neide, all of fictions of his own."
whom flourished about the beginning




FORAS FEASA AR EIRINN;
OR,
HISTORY OF IRELAND.
B OOK I.
PART I.
CHAPTER I.
OF THE DIFFERENT NAMES THAT WVERE GIVEN TO IRELAND
DOWVN HERE.
1. The first name given to Ireland was' Inis-na-ffidbadh"
(Inish-na- Veevah) i. e., The Isle of Woods; and the person that
gave it this name wras a champion of the people of Nin' the son
of Pe1, who was sent by him  to explore Ireland, and who, on his
arrival, found the country one unbroken forest, except Magh-nelta2 (Afoy-nelta) alone.
2. The second name was " Crioch-na-ffuinedach" (Creeatgh-na.
*Pronounced, Forras Fass' ar Air- origin of the various tribes that coloinn. —Eire, anciently, Eiri and Eri, the  nized the west of Europe,that most,if not
Gaelic name of Ireland, is declined in  all of the local names of this declension,
the following manner, viz.: nom. Eire, date from a period previous to the
gen. Eirenn, dat. and abl. Eirinn. In  Scoto-Milesian or Gaelic invasion. The
the older writings the forms are Eri, pure Scoto-Milesian names are mostly
Erend, and Erind. The more modern  composed of short descriptive sentences,
Irish nearly always substitute two" n's"  each component word of which mainfobr the old form "'nd." Mana, the Irish  tains its form unchanged, and preserves
name of the Isle of Man, follows the its full grammatical value;-ex.: Baisame form of declension, viz: gen. le-atha-cliath, i. e., the-town-of-the-fordManann or Alanand, dat. and abl. Man- of-hurdles, in English, Dublin. Those
ainn or Manaind. Mumha, now called  names which make their oblique cases
Munster, Ara, the name of certain is- in "nd" or "nn" seem to be of Pelasgic
lands on the Irish coast, Alba, Scotland, origin.
and several other names of countries' i. e., Ninus, the son of Belus.
and localities, are of similar formation.   2 Magh-n-Elta, i.e., the Plain of the
I here note as a fact worthy of the at- Flocks.-This plain extended  from
tention of scientific inquirers into the Bena-Edar, now the Hill of Howth,




80                 THE HIISTORY OF IRELAND.
vunnayagh) i. e., the Country of the Remote, i. e., the Extreme
Land, from  its being at the end, i. e., fuinedh, or extremity of
the three parts of the world then known.
3. The third name was " Inis-Elga," 3 i. e., the Noble Island. It
was during the time of the Fer-Bo]gs that it was usual to call it
by this name.
4. The fourth name was "Eri" (Airi), which, according to a
certain author, it received from Aeria, an old name of the island
now called Creta or Candia.  He is of this opinion because the
posterity of Gaedal Glas inhabited, that island for some time after
Sru, son of Esru, son of Gaedal, had bee'n banished out of Egypt.
Aere was also one of the names of Egypt, whence the Gaels or
Gaedalians had emigrated. However, it is the common opinion
of our historians, that it received the name from a queen of the
Tuatha-De-Dananns, whose name was Eri. This was Eri, daughter
of Delbaeth, the wife of KeIthor, who was styled AMac Graeni, (i. e.,
son of Grian or the Sun,) and who was king of Ireland when the
sons of Miledh invaded it.
5. The fifth name of Ireland was "Fodla " (Foiac), so called from
Fodla, who was also a queen of the Tuatha-De-Dananns, and
who was the wife of Mac Keact, (i. e., son of the Plough,) whose
real name was Tethor.
6. The sixth name it received was "Banba,"4 from  Banba,
another queen of the Tuatha-De-Dumnanns.  She was the wife of
Mac Coill, whose real name was Ethor.  These three kings of
the Tuatha-De-Dananns held the sovereignty of Ireland  alternately every third year; and the reason why the island is more
frequently called Eri than Fodla or Banba, is because it was the
husband of the woman named Eri that was king of Ireland
during the year in which the sons of Miledh arrived therein.
7. The seventh name is "Inis-Fail."  It was the Tuatha-DeDananns that gave it this name, from  a stone they brought
near Dublin, to Tallaght. The famous mean that the country sometimes called
battle-field of Clontarf formed part of "Eri," and sometimes "Fodla" and "Banl
it.                                ba," was ruled alternately by the aboveInis Elga. This and the foregoing  named three kings, about the time of
can scarcely be considered as having ev- the Milesian invasion.  The Gaelic
er been distinctive proper names of Ire- Shanachies could not, apparently, exland. They must be classed with such plaiinithose antique terms from their
figurative appellations as the "Island of own traditions or language, and instead
Saints," applied to it in the middle of an explanation or etymology, they
ages, and the " Emerald Isle" of the have left us a myth. The probability
present day.                       is that the early colonists of Ireland
Ern, Fodla and Banba were prob- called the island each after the country
ably the real ancient names of Ireland. or nation whence they had emigrated
The story of the three queens has all thereto, as colonists very frequently do.
the appearance of an allegory, and may




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                       81
to Ireland themselves, called Lia Fail,5 otherwise the Stone of
Destiny.  This is the "saxum  fatale," i. e., Stone of Fate, of
which HIector Boethius speaks in his History of Scotland. This
was an enchanted stone; for, whenever the men of Ireland were
assembled at the Great Council of Tara, to elect a king over
them, it used to give forth a loud cry beneath the person whose
right it was to obtain the sovereign power.  But it has emitted
no cry since the time of Concobar; for when Christ was born,
all the falsesidols of the world were struck dumb.  Here follows
a quotation from  the poet Kinseth,6 which proves that Ireland
received the name Inis-Fail from this stone:" From this stone, now beneath my feet
Men have named our Isle of FMl;
And Eri, between both swelling seas,
_Has thence been called the Plain of Fal."
8. The eighth name was "Muich-Inis" 7 (Mooih-Innish), i. e.,
the Isle of Mist or Fog.  This name was given to it by the sons
of Miledh, before they succeeded in making their landing on its
shores. For, when they. had reached the mouth of Inber-Slangi,
which is now called the bay of Loch-Garman (in English, Wexford Bay), the Tuatha-De-l)naanns came against them with their
6 The " Lia Fail" was the stone upon    Notwithstanding the circumstantial
which the kings of Ireland were in- nature of the above account, I think
augurated.  It was placed upon a that the recent researches of Drs.
mound on Tara Hill, where, according  Petrie and O'Donovan have all but
to the opinions of the learned antiqua- proved that the real Lia Fail was
rians, I)rs. Petrie and O'Donovan, it never sent to Scotland at all, and
still remains.  The generally-received  that it still maintains its upright
tradition will, however, have it that position upon its sacred mound, and
Fergus Mac Erca, who was the cousin  thence looks down upon a fallen naof Murkertach, then king of Ireland, tion. The stone in Westminfter, is
brought it with him to Scotland in the probably an imposition.
sixth century, in order to render his in-   G Kinnaeth O Hartigain was a celeauguration as king of the latter coun- brated bard-sage or fil6, who lived in
try more august.                   the tenth century. Several of his poO'Flaherty gives a different version of ems are found in the Book of Invathe story. He says that it was not sent to  sions.
Scotland until the ninth century, when    7 Mlijch-mnis. In Dermod  O'ConAedh Finliath,king of Ireland, sent it to nor's translation, this word is rendered
his father-ill-law, Kenneth Mac Alpin. "I Hog's Isle," which, in Gaelic, would
The latter king is said to have placed it be Muic-Inis (Mlcek-Innish), without
in the Abbey of Scone, where it was pre- aspirating the final " c' of iMuic. Halserved as the inauguration stone of the liday translates it the "Isle of VaScottish kinrs until 1296, when Edward  pors, or Mlists."  I have followed the
I. carried it off to England, as a trophy  latter, because I deem his version the
of his conquest of Scotland. By him  more likely. No name could suit Ireit was pilaccd muder the coronation- land better at certain seasons of the
chair in Westminster Abbey, and there year, than this fanciful one, the "Isle
it still remains.                  of Mists."




82                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Druids and practiced magic enchantments upon them, so that the
invaders could only perceive the island lying before them in the
likeness of a mist or dense fog. Hence they called the land
Muich-Inis.
9. The ninth name was "Scotia."8  It was given to it by the
sons of Miledh in honor of their mother, whose name was Scota,
daughter of Pharaoh Nectonibus; or, they called it Scotia because they were themselves the " Kine Scuit," i. e., the progeny
of Scot, from Scythia.
10. The tenth name was "Hibernia." 9 It was the sons of Miledh
that gave it this name also. Some, however, say that Ireland
received the name Hibernia from a river of Spain, which was
called Iberus (now the Ebro).  Others say that it was so named
from  Eber, son of Miledh; but the holy Cormac Mac Culinain
is of opinion that it received the name from the word "iber," i. e.,
western.
11. The eleventh name is "Juvernia," according to Ptolemy, or
"Juverna," according to Solinus; " Ierna," according to Claudian;
and "Vernia," according to Eustathius.  But I think, myself, that
there is no meaning in the distinctions made by these authors. The
forms they give seem mere variations of the word "Hibernia." As
they knew not whence this word was derived, each of them gave
his own conjecture thereupon, whence proceeded the above
alterations of the name.
12. The twelfth name was "Irin,10 according to Diodorus Siculus.
13. The thirteenth name was "'Irlanda.""   It was so called,
in my opinion, from Ir, son of Miledh, because Ir was the first
8 Scotia. Thiswas the name by which " Iernis," (a name which it is called in
Ireland was most frequently called by the " Argonautics" of Onomacritus, a
later Latin and early Christian writ- Greek poem written five hundred years
ers.  Though the Irish Gaels called before Christ;) and Ierne are merely
themselves Scots in their own tongue, Greek variations of Eri and its oblique
they do not appear ever to have applied cases, Erend and Erind. Iernis, Derany Gaelic form of the name Scotia to haps, exhibits the word in its most anthe land they dwelt in. The same re- cient and perfect form.
mark applies to the Gaels of Scotch   " Irlanda, whence the modern English
Highlands.                        name Ireland, was the name by which
9 Hibernia was its most usual and it was known to the Northmen and
most ancient Latin name. The name the Saxons. The name may possibly
is most likely another form of Iberia, a be derived from Eri, but as the tribe
name of Spanish origin. The Clanna of "Ir," anciently ruled the northEbir or Iberians, being the inhabit- east of Ireland, and came first into
ants of the south of Ireland, must contact with the Gothic nations, it is
have come soonest into contact with probable that Ireland owes the foreign
the Romans, and thence the latter title " Irlanda," to the Irians, of Ulster,
called the country after the name of as it may, perhaps, that of Hibernia
the race they found dwelling in it.    to the Iberians, or tribe of Eber, of' Irin, or more correctly, Iris, with Munster.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                      83
of Miledh's sons who was buried beneath Irish earth.  Hence
they named the country after him.  "Irlanda" is the same as the
"Land of Ir." We give the more credence to this,,because the Book
of Armagh tells that "Ireo" was one of the names of the island.
"Ir eo " means the grave of Ir, i. e., " Uaigh Ir."
14. The fourteenth name was " Ogygia,"'2 according to Plutarch.
"Ogygia " signifies the Very Ancient Isle.  This is a name that is
most applicable to Ireland, because it is a very long time since
it was first inhabited, and because its historians have a perfect
and authentic knowledge of its ancient history, consecutively,
from its earliest times down to the present.
12 Ogygia. Plutarch, in his life of years before Solon, had lorded it ovet
Solon, tells us, that while studying in Lybia as far as Egypt, as well as over
Egypt he was informed by the priests of Greece. Lord Bacon deems the narraSais, of the famousAtlantic Isle. That tion founded on facts; Sir Isaac Newthis island was placed~beyond the pillars ton has taken some pains to elucidate
of Hercules, in the Atlantic ocean, it.-O'Halloran. This was the fabled
and that its inhabitants, nine hundred Atlantis of antiquity.
CEHAPTER II.
OF THE SEVERAL DIVISIONS THAT WERE MADE OF IRELAND.
1. PARTHOLAN divided Ireland into four parts, between his four
sons. The first part he gave to the son whose name was Er; it
comprised all the land from Ailech-Neid,l in the north of Ulster,
to Ath-Cliath (now Dublin) in Leihster. To Orba, his second
son he gave all the country lying between Ath-Cliath and the
Great Islands in Barrymore.  He gave the third division to Ferann; it extended from the Great Island of Barrymore to AthCliath-Medraide,3 near Galway.  He gave the fourth portion to
him whose name was Fergna; it extended from Medraide to
Ailech-Neid.
2. Beothach, Simeon and Britan, three chieftains of the race of
Nemedh, divided Ireland between them into three parts. Beothach took from Tor-Inis4 to the Boyne; Simeon took from the' Ailech or Oileach Neid (pr. El-' Now Great Island, in Cork harbor.
lagh Naid), i. e., the stone fort of Niad,   3 Pronounced Ah-Cleeah-Meiree. It is
lies near Londonderry. It is remar- now called Clarin's Bridge,near Galway.
kable for its Cyclopean fort, the ru-   4 Now Tory-Island.
ins of which still exist. It is now    6 Belach  Conglais (Bellagh  Concalled Grianan or Greenan Ely, i. e., glish), i. e., the road or pass of Conthe palace of Ailech.             glas or Cu-Glas, near Cork.




84                THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Boyne to Belach-Conglais5 near Cork, and Britdn took all from
Belach-Conglais to Tor-Inis, in the north of Connaught.
3. The five sons of Dela son of Loch, divided Ireland between
them into those five parts which are still called the five " Coigi"
or Fifths. This was the most permanent partition of Ireland that
was ever made, as we shall quickly show.  Cambrensis confirms
this division, in the. account which he gives of the country; his
words are: 6"Into five almost equal parts this country was anciently divided; viz. the two provinces of Munster (Thomond
and Desmond) Leinster, Ulster and Connaught."  The five chiefs
of the Fer-Bolgs, who governed these Fifths or provinces, were,
Slangi, Gann, Sengann, Genann and Rudraide. Slangi possessed the province of Leinster, from Drogheda7 to the Meeting of the
Three Waters.8 Gann ruled the province of Eocaidh Abra-Ruadh,9
extending from the Meeting of the Three Waters to Belach-Conglais.  Sengann possessed the province of Curaidh Mac Dari
from Belach-Conglais to Luimnech (now Limerick); Genann held
Connaught, from Limerick to Drobaeis,'0 (Droveesh;) and Rudraide ruled Ulster from Drobaeis to Drogheda.
Though some of our antiquaries mention a tripartite division
of Ireland amongst the three sons of Kermad Milbeol, kings of
the Tuatha-De-Dananns, I do not believe that there was any division of Ireland between them; but I am of opinion that those
princes held the sovereignty alternately for one year, as we mentioned above, when showing the reason why this country is more
frequently called Eri than either Fodla or Banba.
4. It is the opinion of some antiquaries that the following was
the  manner in which Ireland was divided between Eber and
Erimhon: the whole country southward, from  Dublin round to
Galway, with Esker-Riada'l for its internal boundary, belonged
to Eber, and all from that northward belonged to Erimhon.  No
such division, however, took place, as we shall show hereafter,
but the island was apportioned thus: the two provinces of Munster were assigned to Eber; the provinces of Connaught and
Leinster to Erimhon, and the province of Ulladh or Ulster to
Eber, son of Ir, son of Miledh; and a certain number of the nobles that came with them were received by each of these princes
into their respective territories.
6 In quinque enim portiones fere confluence of the rivers Suir, Nore, and
equales antiquitus lnmc regio divisa Barrow, near Waterford.
fuit; videlicet, in Momoniam duplicem,    9 Pronounced Oghee Avra Rua, i. e.
borealem et australem, Lageniam, U1- Eocaidh of the Red Brows.
toniam et Conaciam.                "1 Drobl;aeis, now Bundrowes, in the
7Drorheda-In Irish, Draiched Atha county Leitrem.
(Drohed-aha), i. e., the Bridge of the   " The Eisgir Reada (Eskhkir-Reeda)
Ford.                            or "Bridge of Riada," was the name
In Irish, Cumar-na-tri-n-uiscedh, of a chain of low hills, running from
(Kummar-na-dree-ni8hka),that is, the Dublin to Galway.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                       85
5. Kermna and Sobarki made an equal partition of Ireland
between them,viz.: from Inber Colpa12 near Drogheda, to. Limerick,
in Munster, northward, belonged to Sobarki, who built in his
own portion a fortress called Dun-Sobarki;13 Kermna took the
southern half, and in it he erected a stronghold near the sea, called
Dnun-Kermna,14 which is at this day called Dun-Mic-Patrick, in the
Courcies' country.
6. Ugani Mor divided Ireland into twenty-five parts, among his
twenty-five sons, as we shall mention  hereafter, in -giving the
series of reigns.
7. Conn of the Hundred Battles and Mogh Nuadath (1fIowNooath), divided Ireland equally between them.  All from Galway to Dublin northward, Esldr-Riada being the boundary, was
assigned to Conn, whence it came that the northern part of the
country was called Lelh-Cuinn, or Conn's half, and the southern
Leth-Mogha, or Mogh's half.
Although I have set down these seven divisions in their place,
according to the chronological order of the several conquests, I
shall, however, return to the common division of the country
which has remained since the time of the Fer-Bolgs; because, as
above mentioned, this division made by the five sons of Dela,.son of Loch, continues unchanged to the present day.
These five provinces, or fifths, met at a large stone at Uisnech'5
(Ushnagh) until the arrival of Tuathal the Welcome, in Ireland, who cut off a part from each province and formed AMeath
thereof, which he assigned as mensal land for the monarchs of
Ireland, as we shall make appear when we come to treat of Tuathal's reign.
12 T7e Inber or Estuary of Colpa, called Courcies, from the descendants
now the mouth of the Bovyne.       of the famous Norman knight, John
"3 Pronounced Doon-Sowarki, or So- De Courcy, whose patrimony it became
varki.  This fort was erected on an soon-after the English invasion. The
insulated rock on the coast of Antrim. De Courcies, barons of Kinsale, hold the
It is now called Dunseverick, and lies oldest title in the Anglo-Irish peerthree miles east of the Giants' Cause- age.
way.'                Uisnch, now "Usny" or "Us4 Dun-Keamna was situated near nagh" hill, parish Kildare, barony of
Kinsale, the country round which was 1Rathcourath, co. Wcestmeath.-O'D.




CHAPTER III.
SECTION I. —OF THE SUBDIVISIONS OF THE PROVINCES.
1. Of Midhe (now  Meiath).
I SHALL begin with Meath, and describe its territory first; because, according to the usage of the Gaels, it was the mensal land
of the Irish Sovereigns, and exempt from the laws, governments,
and taxation of every prince in Ireland, except the Sovereign
Prince1 alone. According to our records it contains eighteen
"Tricha-Keads,"2 i. e. cantons or districts, and thirty bailti,3 1. e.
townships, ia each canton, twelve ploughlands4 in each township,
and six-score acres in each ploughland, so that every canton contains 360  ploughlands.   According to this, there are 6,480
ploughlands in all Meath.
It is called Meath,6 or Midhe, because it was from the " meidhe"
or neck of each province, that Tuathal the Welcome, or the Legitimate, took it; or, from  Midhe, son of Bratha, son of Degath, the
Sovereign Prince, i. e. the Ard-Righ  to have been a kind of extensive
(Aard-Ree),i. e. High or Arch King. In  farmers.
Ireland, the term "Righ," the Gaelic    4 Ploughland, in the original " Seisformof"Rech," or "Rex,"longpreserved  rech  Ferainn  (Sheshragh  Arring).
its primitive signification, i. e. ruler. It This is the division of land now genwas applied not alone to the "suzerain" erally known by the name'" baili"
of the nation, but also to the chieftains  (bally) or townland, which, according to
of the ruling tribes. So it was in ancient the fertility of the soil, usually contains
Greece and Italy. The widely-ruling  from 300 to 600 English acres. It is
Agamemnon  was a Grecian "Ard- small in rich soil, and large in poor.
Righ."                               Baili is also the Gaelic name for a town.
2 Tricha-Kead (Trigha-Kaid). Some The apportionment of the Irish soil
translate this word "barony," but to call into these " bailte" (balti) is lost in the
it so is a flagrant anachronism. It remotest antiquity.
comprised thirty Ballybetaghs.         5 The derivation is possible. But the
3 Bailti.  - These werenotthe di- first derivation here given is a mere
visions now known as"townlands."Each  guess, and not a good one. Why not
" baili-biatach" contained several town- derive the name from some word akin
lands. The term was applied to a tract to "medius," anglice, " mid," and, in
of land sufficient to support a "biatach."  Irish, " medon," or " meadhon?"  It is
The biatachs (beetaghs) were a class of  the mid-land of Ireland. The second
men whose duty it was to keep houses etymology is barely possible.
of general hospitality. They seem also
(86]




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                       87
Arch-druid of the sons of Nemedh, by whom the first Sacred Fire6
was kindled in Ireland after the arrival of the Nemedians.  The
sons of Nemedh granted the district round Uisnech to this Archdruid, and from him it received its name. At that time there was
but one district or canton, so called. It continued so until the
time of Tuathal the Welcome, who cut off a portion of each province, and thus extended Meath over eighteen cantons.
These are the boundaries of Meath, as laid down by Tuathal
the Welcome, viz., from the Shannon eastward to Dublin, from
Dublin to the river Rye,7 from the Rye westward to Clonconragh,
thence to French Mills Ford,8 thence to Clonard, thence to TocharCarbri,9 from that to Geshil, to Drumcullin, to the' river Cara,l~
and so to the Shannon northwards, to Loch-Ribh (Lough Pee),
all the islands in which belong to Meath, and all the Shannon as
far as Loch-Bo-Deirg (Lough-Bo-Derg), and from Loch-Bo-Deirg to
Mochil,thence to Athlone, thence to Upper Scariff,to Drumlahan,ll
from  that to Moy, and so onward to Clones, to Loch-da-en, to
Knowth, to Dufferin, to the Pool at the Blind Man's Ford on
Sliabh-Fuaid,1' to Magh Cosnamaigh,13 near Killeavy,14 to SnamhEgnachar5, to Comber (County Down), and'thence to the Liffey,
as the.poet says:
"From Loch-Bo-Deirg to Birra,
From Sena"6 eastward to the sea,
To the comnar' of Cluain-Irard"l
And to the comar of Cluain-Ard."
Of the eighteen districts or cantons in Meath, thirteen are con6 Sacred Fire, i. e. the fire sacred to known to the translator. Its situation is
BWI, one of the gods of the pagan Irish. sufficiently pointed out by the parish of
The Hill of Uisnech was a famous seat Killeavy, in Upper Orior, co. Armagh.
of druidic worship.,4 Killeavy, in Irish, Cill-t-Sleib67 The Rye water falls into the Liffcy Cuillinn, i. e. the church of Slieve-Gulat Leixlip..                      lion, an old church in a parish of same
8 Now, Frankford.               name, in the co. Armagh.-O'D.
9 Tochar-Carbri, i. e. the causeway,5 Perhaps Snamh-Aighnech (Snauvor bog-pass of Carbri, now Ballin- einagh), now Carlingford Loch.
togher. Frankford, Geshill, Drumcul-   " Sena, otherwise Siona, is prolin and Ballintogher are in the King's nounced "Shenna" and "Shinna," and
co.                               is the Irish name of the Shannon. It
0 The Amhain-Cara is probably the makes " Senann " and " Senainn " in its
Little Brosna, flowing from  Lough- oblique cases; hence Shannon, the Engcouragrh, between Frankford and Birr, lish form.
into the Shannon.,7 Comar signifies the junction or
" Drom-Lethan is on the borders of meeting.
Leitrim and Cavan., Cluain-Irard, i. e. Irard or Erard's
a Fuqd's Mountain is situated in the Park or Close, was the old name of
co. Armagh.                       Clonard, on the southern border of' EMagh Cosnamaigh. The name is un- Meath.




88                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
tained within Meath proper, and five within Magh-Breagh or
Bregia, as the poet tells us:
There are thirteen Cantons in Midhe,
Thus all our bards have told us,
And five in fertile Magh-Breagh —1
The-sages well remember it.
The extent of Midhe I shall point out,
And of the beauteous plain of BreaghWe know that it reaches to the sea,
From the Seria of fair fields.
The men of Tebtha20 guard its northern frontier
With those of Carbri,2' of well-won fightsFamed for sagres and for bards,
The men of Brea'gh dwell thence to Casan.
Meath was afterwards divided by Aedh Oirnide, King of
Ireland, between the two sons of Doncadh, son of Domnall, who
had been his predecessor on the Irish throne. Olild and Concobar were their names: to one of them  he gave the western part,
and the eastern to the other. In the latter portion is situated the
royal seat of Temhair or Tara. This divison has remained to their
posterity ever since.
2.
Of the Divisions of Connaught.
The province of Conacht extends from Limerick to Bundrowes.
It contains 900 Baili-Biatachs or townships.  It has thirty cantons or Tricha-Keads, each of which contains thirty townships;
there are twelve ploughlands in each township; and 120 acres
were contained in each ploughland, making 10,800 ploughlands
in all Connaught.
It received the name " Conacht," in English Connaught, from a
trial of magic that took place between two druids of the TuathaDe-Dananns, whose names were Kithnellach and  Conn.  Conn,
by his druidic skill, covered all Connaught with snow, and thence
the name "Connachta" was given to the province, as if "Cuinnshlnechta,"22 (Cuinn-naghta,) otherwise, "Snechta-Cuinn," i. e.
"Conns  Snow."   Or, as others  say, its  inhabitants  were,9 Mag h Breagh, pronounced Moy- a mere pun on the word. "Connacht" is
Bra, extended from  Dublin to Dro- probably derived from some chieftain
gheda, along the sea coast; its extent named ConD,by adding the very common
inland has not been exactly laid down. Gaelic suffix, "acht," to his name. Just'0 Tebtha (Teffa) or Teffia was an cx- as the Kianacht in Ulster was formed
tensive district, comprising the north- from Kian; and in Munster, the Eoganwest of Meath.                    acht from Eogan, &c., all formed in the
21 Carbri —called otherwise Carbri- same manner, as "righact," kingdom,
Gabra (Gaura). It was situated in the from " righ," a king, and a host of simico. Longford.                    lar derivatives.
" Cuinn-Shnechta. This etymology is




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                        89
called "Connachtaigh," from  the words " Cuinn iochta," i. e.
"Conn's posterity," because it was the race of Conn that inhabited the country, namely, the progeny of Eocaidh Muighmeodan,
-who was descended from Conn23 of the Hundred Battles.
Eocaidh Feidlech divided Connaught into three parts, between
three persons: to Fidach, son of Fiach, he gave all the land
from   Fidach24  (Feeagh) to  Limerick; to  Eocaidh  Alat  he
Irrus-Domlnann (now  Erris in Mayo), extending from  Galimh,
(now Galway,) to the river Duff and to -Bundrowes; to Tinni,
son of Curaidli, he gave Magh Sainb,25 and the old districts of
Taeiden as far as Temhair-Brogha-Niadh (Tavir- Vrow-Neeah), and
Cruachain was its royal residence.
3.
Of the divisions of Uladh or Ulster.
The province of Ulster, from  Bundrowes to the mouth of the
Boyne, (frlom  Drohaeis to  Inber Colpa,) contains thirty-five or
thirty-six  cantons; 1,080 townships or Baili-biatachs, making
12,960 ploughlands in the whole province.  It was called Uladh
(Ullah), from  the word Oll-Shaith  (Oll-hah),'2  great  treasure,
thereby  implying  th6  great wealth  of  the territory  in fish
and cattle.  Or, perhaps it was called Uladh froml  Ollamh Fodla;27
the following quotation supports that latter opinion:
" Ollamh Fodla, brave in the fight,
From him all Uladh has its name.
The noble Feis of the tribes at Temhair
By him was first ordained."
There were formerly two royal seats in Ulster, Eman-Macha:8
and Ailech-Neid.
4.
Of the divisions of Laigherm29 orLeinster.
The province of Leinster, from  the Strand of Inber Colpa to
the MAeeting  of the Three Waters, consists of 31 cantons and
930 townships.  There are 11,160 ploughlands in all Leinster.
23 Conn. It was called Connacht long    6 Oll-Shaith. A silly pun on the name.
before the tilme of this monarch.       07 O1lanhb Fodla. r'Ihis is very unlike24 FidachI. This place is unknown to ly. Ollainh Fodla (01lav Fola), i. e. the
the editor. Fidach's portion comprised Ollamh or Sage of Fodla, or Ireland, was
within it the present co. of Clare.  an honorary title given to this prince,
2 I Magh Sainb. This was, perhaps, whose real name was Eocaidh. A dethe plain called otherwise Magh Samh, rivative from Ollamh would assume a
now the parish of Innishmacsaint, in very difftrent form.
the county of Fe-managh. This was the   28 Eman 1Macha. Now Navan Fort,
eastern division, containiLn the plain of near Armagh.
Connau(ght, in which was the royal seat  2D Laig.!v-n (Lyer). It is more probof Cruachain, or Cruacha, now Rathcro- able that these lances, if the resemblance
ghan, near Balenagar.              in sound ba not accidental, were called




90                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
It was called "Laighen," from the broad, blue lances which the
dark-haired Gauls brought with them to Ireland when they
came over with Labraidh30 Loingsech, for Laighen is the same
as "Slegh" (Shleh), i. e. a lance.  These lances, being remarkable
for their broad polished heads, imposed this name on the province, after Cobthach31 Cael-Breaglh had been killed by them at
Dinn-Righ.32  The following quotation records this fact:
"Two thousand and two hundred Gauls,
Brough.t their broad lances from afarFrom these lances, without doubt,
The land of Laighen has its name."
There were two royal seats in Leinster, namely, Dinn-Righ
and Nals-Laighen.33   In these its kings dwelt.
5.
Of the divisions of the Province of 3Eocaidh Abra-ruadh.
The province of Eocaidh Abra-ruadh, from Cork and Limerick to the Meeting of the Three Waters, contains 35 cantons, in
which there are 1,050 townships, making 12,600 ploughlands in
all East Munster. *The kings of this province had two royal
seats, in which' they usually dwelt, namely, Dun-Grott34 and
Dun-Iascaigh.35
6.
Of the division of Coigi- Conrigh, or the Province of Curaidh.
The province of Curaidh, son of Dari, from Belach-Conglais,
near Cork, and from Limerick to the western coast of Ireland,
contains 35 cantons, in which there are 1,050 townships, making
12, 600 ploughlands in all West Munster. The two royal seats of the
kings of this province were Dun-Claria~ and Dun-Eocair-MaigheY.3
from the nation or tribe that introduced   "3 Nas Laighen (Naus Lyen) is now
them.  Laighen, or Lagenia, seems called Naas.
to be one of those old names, given by   34 Dun-Grctt (Doon-Grod) was sit.
their predecessors, for which the Gaelic uated near Galbally, by the northern
bards have coined such awkward ety- base of the Gaulty mountains.
mologies.                            5 Dun-Iascaigh (Dooneesky) occu-, i. e. Labraidh (Lavraz), the mar- pied the site of the present castle of
iner.                              Cahir, county Tipperary.  Dun-Ias91 Cobthach. Pronounced Cqofagh, or caigh may be rendered by " Fishfort."
Cowhagh KJael-bra.                It was situated on an insulated rock in
S2 Dinn-Righ (Deen-ree), i. e. the the river Suir.
"Fort of Kings," is situated in the town-   3 Dun-Clari, or Dun-Glari.  This
land of Ballynockan, about a quarter of was apparently that Dun-Glari which,
a mile south of Leighlin Bridge, to the according to Dr. O'Donovan, in his
west of the Barrow. Nothing remains of notes to Leabar-na-g-ceart, was situthe palace but a moat, measuring 236 ated in the townland of Farrannacaryardsin circumference,on which the king ri(ra, parish of Ballynacourty, barony
of Leinster's royal house evidently stood. of Corcaguiny, county Kerry. There




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                   91
These two divisions of Munster were ruled by two tribes, namely, the posterity of Darini (Darinni), and the posterity of Dergthini
(Derkinni), until the time of Olild Olum of the race of Dergthini,
who, having banished Mac-Con, of the race of Darini, seized
upon both provinces himself, and settled the government of them
upon his own issue, leaving the posterity of his eldest son, Eogan
(Owen) Mor, and that of Cormac Cas, his second, to succeed
alternately to the sovereignty of both provinces of Munster.
The four royal seats, above mentioned, were the places where
the kings who ruled "Munster usually resided, until the reign of
Core, son of Lugaidh. It was in Core's time that Cashel first
became known.  The place that is now called the Rock of
Cashel was then called Sith-Drom38 (Shee-Drom); the same
place  was also  called  Drom-Fidbaide  (Drom-Feevceh), i. e.
" the Woody Ridge," from the numerous woods that surrounded
that hill in the time of Core.  About that time two swine-herds
came to feed their hogs in the woods round the hill, namely,
Kilarn, who was swine-herd to the King of Eli,3 and Durdari,
swine-herd to the king Muscraide-Thire,4~ i. e. Ormond.  When
these herds had remained on the hill about a quarter of a year,
there appeared to them a figure as brilliant as the sun, whose
voice was sweeter than any music they had ever heard, as it was
consecrating the hill, and foretelling the coming of St. Patrick.
When the swine-herds had returned to their homes, they related
what they had seen to their masters, and thus the story soon
reached Core, son of Lugaidh. As soon as this prince had heard
it, he came at once to Sith-Drom and built a royal fort thereon,
which he called Lis-na-Laechraide,41 i. e. " the Fort of heroes."
When he had become king of Munster, he used to receive his
royal "cios," i. e. tribute, upon the rock now called CarrickPatrick, wherefrom, that rock was thence called Caisel or Cashel,
for Caisel and Cios ail4 mean the same thing, "ail" being another
name for carraig, i. e. a rock, " Cios ail" (Kees-al) signifies "the
tribute rock."
7.
Of the sub-divisions of Munster.
When the posterity of Olild Olum got possession of the two
Munsters, they divided them into five parts, which they called
is another fort of the name on the boun-  39 Eli comprised the modern baronies
dary between the townlands of Glen- of Eli-O'Carroll, Kings county, and
brohaun and Glenlara, barony of Cosh- Eliogarthy, or Eli-O'Fogarty  and
lea and county Limerick.        Ikerrin, county Tipperary.
37 Dun-Eochair-Maighe (Doon-Oglhir-  40 Pronounced Mooskree-Heeri, now
Moy), it is now called Bruree (Brugh called the baronies of Upper and LowRiogh). It lies near Groom, in the er Ormond, county Tipperary.
county of Limerick.              41 Pronounced Liss-na-Laeghree.
as i. e. Fairy Hill.         42 This is another etymological pun.




92                  THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
the Five  {Munsters.  The first part, called Thomond,43  extends,
in length, from  Cuchullin's" Leap to the great road or BelachMor in Ossory,4 and, in breadth, from   Sliabh-Ectighe (now
Slieve Aughty) to Sliabh-Eblinni~ (now  the Felim Mountains).
Although all that tract, from Sliev-Aughty to Limerick (i. e. the
county Clare), was anciently part of Connaught, nevertheless,
Lugaidh Menn, son of 1Engus Tirech, son of Fer-Corb, son of
Mlogh,  Corb, son of Cormrac Cas, made sword-land, (i. e. a conquest) of it, and added it to Munster.  This tract was called the
"Rugged Land of Lugaidh," and it was held free from  all rent
or tribute to the kings of Ireland.  The second part, called Ormond,47 extends, in length, from  Gabran (now Gowran, in Kilkenny), to Cnamchoill4- (now Cleghile) near Tipperary; its breadth
is from  Bearnan-Eli (now Barnane on the Devil's Bit Mountain)
to O'Bric's Island (on the coast of Waterford).  The third part
is Middle Munster;4s its extent is from  Sliabh-Eblinni to SliabhCaein (now Slieve-Reagh, county of Limerick).  The fourth division, called Desmond,50 extends from  Sliabh-Caein, southward,
to the sea.  The fifth, called West-Munster,51 extends from  Luachair-Degaidh (now-Slieve-Lougher in Kerry), westward, to the
sea; and  its breadth  is from  Glenn-na-Ruachta  (now  Glenarought) to the Shannon.
The  two  provinces  of Munster or  fMumha  (Mooa), have
received this name from  "Mo,"52 which signifies "greater," be-'" Caisel" is obviously cognate with the joining the barony of Coonalgh, county
Latin " Castellum."  Its diminutive Limerick.
"'Caislean" (Cas.tlawne) is the term now    4 Ormond. TnIrish, "Urmhumha"
used to translate the Gallo-Roman word  (Ur-rooa), i. e. East Munster, as if "Oir"' castel' and Enflish "castle." Caisel is NMumha."
another form of"Cathair," i.e. Castrum.   48 Pronounced Knawhill.
It must not be inferred from this that    9 In Irish, Meodhan-Mhumha, (Mlifeonthe Gaels received these words from the  vooa.)  This tract, extending from the
Latins. All that can be said is that Felim  Mountains  to  Slieve-Reagh,
both had them from a common Indo- took in most of the county of Limerick.
European source.                       o In Irish, "Des-Mhurnha" (Dass.
43 Thomonrd. In Irish "Tuadh-Mhum- ooa, or Dass-vooa), i. e. South-Munster.
ha,"  (Thoovooa.)  It means North        Jr Ir. Iar-Mhumha (Eer-voa).
Mumla, or Munster.' This is another instance of those
"4 In Irish "Leim Concullainn." The silly puns, given as etymologies, upon
mouth of the Shannon was so called.   which I have already commented in
4 Belach-mor-na h-Osraide, i. e. the some of the foregoing notes. If anvGreat Road of Ossory. This, accord- thing, founded upon merely circumstaning to Dr. O'Donovan, was the great tial evidence, could prove, in contradicsouth-western road of Ireland. It ex- tion to the bardic traditions, that the
tended from the southern side of the Nation or Nations, who imposed such
hill of Tara, in the direction of Ossory. names as this and similar ones upon
48 Sliabh-Eblini. Now Sliabh Feidhl- Irish localities, did not speak the Gaelic
midh, or Felim Mountain, situated on dialect, such awkward attempts to exthe borders of the county Tipperary, ad- plain their etymologies, through that




THE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.                         93
cause they are of greater extent than any of the other provinces
of Ireland; for there are thirty-five cantons in each of them,
which is more than there are in any of the others.  For, though
we have reckoned  thirty-six  in  Ulster, yet it contained  but
thirty-three until the kingdom was divided into provinces.
Then it was that Carbri Niafer, kihg of Leinster, gave up three
cantons of his own country to Ulster, namely, from Loch-anChoigidh to the sea, in consideration of receiving the daigghter
of Concobar mac Nessa" in marriage, as shall be told hereafter
in the body of this history.
In all Ireland there are 185 Tricha-Keads or cantons, which
contain in all 5,550 townships, or Baili-Biatachs, in the whole of
which there are again 66,600 ploughlands. The reader must,
however, understand  that the acre, according to the old Gaelic
measurement, was twice or three times as large as that used by
the strangers at the present time.
SECTION II.-OF THE NUMBER OF ARCHBISHOPS AND BISHOPS
IN - IRELAND.
There are four Archbishops in Ireland, viz.: the Archbishop
of Armagh, 1 Primate of all Ireland, the Archbishop of Dublin,
the Archbishop of Cashel, and the Archbishop of Tuam.
The following bishops are under the Primate: the bishop of
tongue, might well do so. The names body colled Scot, into " Scythians," and
of localities, that are of undoulted bringing "Goths" into Spain and Africa
Gaelic origin, are perfectly significant at a time when these latter were, probaat the present day, and it needs but little bly, still located in the central plains
philological knowledge, to enable an of Asia, and possibly, longe before any
Irishman to tell what they mean, for of the Gothic or Germanic races had
they mostly explain themselves, being penetrated into Europe. In all likeli.
nearly all short, descriptive sentences, hood, the G aels called themselves "deas already remarked. Whenever they scendacnts of Scot," in these early times,
assume a more compound  or syn- for the sole reason that made branches
thetic form, their roots are easily seen of the same nation call themselves, and
by taking away the usual affixes or better known in after times, descendanzts
suffixes, by means of which ordinary of Niall, Briaq, or Domncald, and for
Gaelic compounds are formed. If the no other, i. e. O'Neills, O'Briens, or
names, " Midhe," " Uladh," "Mumha," O'Donnells.
"Laighen," and, perhaps," Connacht,"  53 Concobar. Commonly called"Conwere of this latter class, our Seana- nor MacNessa." This famous King of
chies would not have left us such un- Ulster lived about the commencement
satisfactory conjectures thereupon. It of the Christian era.
was, perhaps, such groundless guesses  5T hie Archbisheop of Armagh. The
as these, that threw  an air of ima- See of Armagh, founded by St. Patpossibility over the traditions of the rick in the 5th century, is the prima.
early Gaelic migrations, by turning the tial or metropolitan see of all Ireland.
Cine Scuit, i. e. the descenzdants of some- Its immediate jurisdiction extends over




94                  THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
AMeatli, called by Camden the bishop of Ail-na-MAirenn,"' i. e. Uis.
nech, for Ail-na-Mirenn, i. e. the "boundary stone," is the name
or a large stone at Uinsech, so called from its being the boundary
stone between  the provinces, from  each of which a part had
been taken to form Meath; it was also called the Stone of the
"Fifths" or Provinces; the bishop of Dun - Da-Leth-Glass56  or
the greater part of the county of Ar-  ravaged by the English, in the twelfth
magh, with parts of Louth, i eath, Ti- and thirteenth centuries; and its carone and Londonderry. It has ecclesias- thedral and churches having been finaltical jurisdiction over the sees of Meath, ly demolished by the barbarian soldiers
Ardagh, Kilmore, Clogher, Raphoe, of the English garrison of Athlone, in
Derry, Down, Connor and Dromore.-  the reign of Elizabeth, it has fallen into
Connellan's Four Masters.           utter decay. But its ancient greatness
5 The Bishop of Ail-na-Mirenn-  is amply demonstrated by the magnifithat is, of Meath. " The ecclesiastical cent and venerable ruins of the cadivisions of ancient Meath were as fol- thedral and seven churches, and of a
lows: it  contained  several small castle, together with two beautiful
bishops' sees, namely Clonard, Duleek, round  towers, some splendid stone
Ardbraccan, Trim, Kells, Slane, Dun- crosses, and other antiquities which
shanghlin and Kilskyre, in Eastmeath, still remain. It contains one of the
with Fore, Usnagh and Killere in most ancient and extensive cemeteries
Westmeath.  The diocess of Meath  in Ireland, and was the burial-place of
comprehends almost the whole of the many of the Irish kings and princes, as
counties of Meath and Westmeath, and  the O'Conors, kings of Connaught, of
a large portion of the King's county, whom Torlogh O'Conor, monarch of
with parts of Kildare, Longford, and  Ireland in the twelfth century,together
Cavan, being nearly co-extensive with  with his son Roderick O'Conor, the
the ancient kingdom of Meath." —Ib.  last Milesian monarch of Ireland; were
(' The See of Clonmacnois, in Irish, buried in its cathedral, and also many
Cluan Mac Nois, signifying, according  of the O'Melaghlins, kings of Meath;
to some accounts, " the retreat of the the O'Kellys, princes of Hy Maine;
sons of the noble," either from  the the Mac Dermotts, princes of Moylurg,
great numbers of the sons of the Irish  and several other ancient and noble
nobility who resorted to its college for Irish families.  Clonmacnois, called the
education, or, from many of the Irish  lona of Ireland, is beautifully situated
princes having their burial places in its in a lonely retreat on the banks of the
cemetery. An abbey was founded here Shannon, and though now part of the
in the sixth century, by St. Kiaran the King's county, the diocese originally
Younger, on lands granted by Dermod, formed part of the ancient kingdom of
the son of Carroll, monarch of Ireland, Meath, and was united to the see of
and it became one of the most celebrat- Meath in the latter end of the sixteenth
ed seats of learning and religion in Ire- century. In the abbey of Clonmacnois
land in the early ages. It was formed  was written the celebrated work called
into a bishop's see, and the cathedral the Annals of Tigearnach, by that
was erected in the twelfth century by  learned abbot, in the eleventh century;
the O'Melaghlins, kings of Meath. who  together with the Book of Clonmacnois
conferred most extensive endowments and various other ancient Irish MSS."
of lands on the abbey and see. A city  -Ib. By the English Church, Clonand college were also founded here, and macnois has been united to the see of
the place maintained its literary and Meath; by Catholic Church, it has
religious celebrity for many centuries; been united to that of Ardagh. —Ed,
but having been repeatedly devastated    6  The Bishop of Dun-da-leth-glas
by the Danes, during the ninth, tenth  (Doon-daw-lah-glass), or Down. The
and eleventh centuries, and frequently  see of Down, in Latin Dunum, was




TIE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.                        95
Down; the bishop of Clogher;7 the bishop of Connqr or Cuinniri;58 the bishop of Ardagh;59 the bishop of Raphoe;6  the
bishop of Rathlugh;61 the bishop of Dal-M6ochair;62 the bishop
of Derry.63
founded by St. Cmelann in the fifth cen- quently styled bishops of Oirgialla.
tury. The bishops of Down are also  In the thirteenth century, the greater
styled bi.shops of Ulidia or Uladh. part of Louth was separated from
This diocese comprehends the greater Clogher, and added to Armagh. In
part of the county of Down, with a this diocese lies the abbey of Devinish
small portion of Antrim. The see of Island, in Loch Erne, found by St.
Dromore, founded by St. Colman in the Molaisi, or Laserian, in the sixth censixth century, now forms part of that tury, which was celebrated for many
of Down. At Newry, a great Cister- ages as a seat of learning and religion.
cian abbey W0as founded by Murker- Some of its venerable ruins still retach Mac Lochlainn, (Mac Loughlin), main, and among them  an ancient
king of Ireland, in the twelfth century. round tower in perfect preservation.
A mitred abbot presided over it, who  The seat of the diocese is at Clogher,
held episcopal jurisdiction over the  in the county of Tyrone. This see
lordships of Mourne and Newry. This was founded by St. Macartin, in the
abbey was named, in Irish, that of fifth century. —Ib.
"Iubhar Chinn Traighe" (yoor-keen-    8 The Bishop of Cuinniri (Quintroy), i. e. Of the yew at the head of the nerie), or Connor. The diocese of
strand. The famous abbey of, Bangor, Connor was founded in the fifth cent
in Irish " Bennchoir," founded by the  tury, by St. ]Engus Mac Nissi, who
great St. Comgall or Congal, in the  became its first bishop and abbot. It
sixth century, lay also within the pres- comprehends almost the whole of the
ent diocese of Down. " The cathedral county of Antrim, with small porof Downpatrick was for many centuries tions of Down and Derry. It is comdecorated with beautiful marble statues posed of the following ancient bishopof our three great saints, Patrick, Col- ricks, Cuinpiri, Airthirmuigh (Arhirumkille and Bridget; but in the reign  moy), Cill-ruaidh(Kil?-roo), Cuilraithen
of IHenry VIII.,A. D. 1538,the lord dep- (Cooil-Rahen), now  Coleraine, Rechuty, Leonard Grey, having invaded Ul- rann and Rathsithe (Rau-S'heehie.) —lb.
ster, plundered and burnt the town and   59 "The Diocese of Ardagh,founded by
cathedral of Downpatrick; and he and  St. Mel, in the fifth century, whose
his barbarian soldiers broke and de- bishops were also called bishops of
faced  the statues of SS. Patrick, Conmacni, from a district in Leitrim so
Bridget, and Columkille. Representa- denominated, comprehends, at present,
tions of the statues of the three saints nearly the whole of the county of Longfrom  Messinfrham's Florilegium  are  ford, and some parts of Westmeath,
given in a plate prefixed to the life of Roscommon, Leitrim, Sligo and CaSt. Patrick by Jocelyn, a Cistercian  van."-Ib.
monk of Furness abbey, in Lancashire,   60 Diocese of Raphoe. Founded by St.
written in the twelfth century, trans- Eunan, whom  Lanigan considers to
lated from  the original Latin by Ed- have been the same person as Adammund Swift, and published in Dublin  nan, the celebrated abbot of Iona, in the
at the Hibernia press in the year seventh century, who was a native
1809." —Ib.                         of Tyrconnell. This diocese compre6 The Bishop of Clochar (Clogher). hends the greater part of the county
At present the diocese of Clogher of DonegaT.-Ib.
comprehends the whole of the county  6, Rath Lugrh, otherwise Rathlureof Monaghan, the greater part of See Derry.
Fermanagh, portions of Tyrone and   62 The Bishop of Dal-Mochar. This
Donegal, and a small part of Louth. see has not been identified by the
Its bishops were, in former times, fre- editor.




96                   THlE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Undor the archbishop  of Dublin'4 are the bishop of Glenda.
6' Tie Bishop ofDerry.  A monastery  ney, and sometimes of Tir Brimte, a
was founded in the sixth century, by St. name latin.zed by Ware to Tribaurna.
Columkille, at a place called D)ire  The diocese comprises almost the entire
Calgrich, that is the Oak Wood of  of the county of Cavan, with  tble
Calgach, which St. Adamnanus, abbot greater part of Leitrim, a large portion
of Iona, in the seventh century, in his  of Fermanagh, and a small portion of
Life of St. Columkille, translates RP-  Meath.-Ih.
borftum C,lrch;. It was also called    61 Tie Archbishop of Dublin.  St.
Doir.s Cal im Cille, or the Oak Wood  Livinus is mentioned by Colgan. in his
of St. Colunmkille, anglicised to Derry  Trias Thaumaturgra, as the first bishop
Columkille, and gave its name to the  of IDublin, in the beginning- of the
city and couity of Derry.  This abbey  seventh century; and he states, that
was long famous as a seat oflearning and  having gone on a missioc to preach
religrion, and its abbots were also styled  the Gospel in Flanders, he suffered
bishops.  In t'he twelfth century a reg- martyrdom  there.  In  the eleventh
ular bishop's see was formed at Derry, century, from  A. D. 1038 to 1084,
to which vwas afterwards annexed the  Donatus and Patrick, both Ostmen,
see of Ardsrath, or Rathlure. A. D. or Danes, were bishops of Dublin.
1164, Muiredach Mac Lochlainn, king  These, and some other bishops and
of Ireland, erected a cathedral at Derry,  archbishops  of Dublin  in  the elevwhich, together with the abbey and  enth  and  twelfth  centuries, receivother ecclesiasvical establishments, was ed their consecration from  the archdestroyed by the Etfglish, under Sir bishops of Canterbury, and were in
Henry Docwra, in the reign of Eliza- canonical obedience bound to the mebeth.  2',, diocese of Derry compre- tropolitan  see of England; but in
hends the greater part of the county  A. D. 1162, Laurence O'Toole, the
of Londonderry, with nearly half of  celebrated archbishop of Dublin, was
Tyrone, and a large portion of Done  consecrated by Gelasius, archbishop of
gal, and a very small portion of An- Armagh, and the custom ceased of the
trim.  To Darry has been united the  archbishops of Dublin going for conifancient dioce3e of Ardsratha on the  secration  to  Canterbury.  Gregory,
river Derg, now the parish of Ard- who was consecrated in A. D. 1121,
straw, in  Tyrone, was an  ancient was in A. D. 1152, the first who got
bishop's see founded by St..Engene, in  the title of archbishop of Dublin, from
the sixth  century.  Ardsrath after-  Cardinal John  Paparo, the Pope's
wards got the name of Rathlurig, or legate at the council of Kells, those
Rathlure, from St. Luric or Lurac, to  prolates being until the twelfth century
whom it3 church was dedicated.  The  only styled bishops of Dublin. The see
see of Ardsrath or Rathlure, at an  of Ferns was in the sevellnth and eighth
early period, was transferred to  1ag- centuries the chief see of Leinster;. but
hera, in the county of Derry, and af- during the ninth, tenth, and eleventh
terwvards annexed to  Derry  in  the  centuries, Kildare was made the nmetwelfth century. The bishops of these  tropoiitan see of that provincen;  and
sees3 were styled bishops of Tir Eogain  hence the bishops of Ferns and of Kilor Tyrone, or bishops of Kinel Eogain. dare were in those times styled by the
— lb.                                 Irish writers bishops or archbishops
The following important see, not of Leinster;  but in the twelfth cennamed by Keating, lies within the arch- tury, Dublin was constituted the meiepiscopal province of Armagh. the  tropolitan see of L;inster, and the
ancient see qf Kilmore, founded by  bishops styled archbishops of Dublin,
St. Fcidlimidh  or  Felim, in  the  and sometimes archbishops of Leinster.
sixth century.  The bishops of Kil- And in the beginning of the thirteenth
more were in early times styled Bish- century, A. D. 1214, under Henry de
ops of Brefney, of Hy-Briune Bref- Loundres, archbishop of Dublin, the




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                         97
loch;6 the bishop of Ferns;" the bishop of Ossory;67 the bishop
of Leighlin,68 and the bishop of Kildare.69
ancient see of Glendalough was unit- religion, and its abbots down to the
ed to Dublin; but the archbishops twelfth century were styled bishops.
of Dublin being all English, their At Finglas, near Dublin, a monastery
authority was not acknowledged by  was founded in the sixth century by
the Irish, who had for many centu- St. Cainneach, or Kenny, from whom
ries afterwards their own recognized  Kilkenny derived its name, and the abbishops of Glendalough, and the union  bots of Finglas were to the eleventh
of the two sees was not peaceably and  century styled bishops.  At Swords,
fully established until the latter end of near Dublin, an abbey was founded in
the fifteenth century. From the twelfth  the sixth century by St. Columkille,'to the eighteenth century remarkable  which was long celebrated, and its abcontests and controversies were carried  bots were styled bishops down to the
on between the archbishops or Armagh  twelfth century.  At Lusk, in the
and of Dublin respecting the primacy, county of Dublin, an abbey was foundeach of the archbishops claiming pre- ed in the fifth century by St. Maculind,
cedency; but the claims of Armagh  and he and his successors to the twelfth
to the primacy were finally conceded, century were denominated abbots and
the archbishops of Dublin being styled  bishops of Lusk. All the above-menprimates of Ireland, and the arch- tioned small sees were annexed to the
bishops of Armagh primates of all see of Dublin, in the 12th century.-lb.
Ireland. The ablest arguments on the   15 The see of Glendaloci was founded
subject, demonstrating the superior by St. Caoimgin, or Kevin, in the
authority of Armagh, and its right sixth century. The name in Irish is
to the primacy, are contained in the  Glendaloch, signifying the valley of
Jus Armacanum, published in 1728, a the two lakes, it being situated in a
most learned work, written in Latin by  beautiful valley containing two lakes,
Hugh Mac Mahon, Archbishop of Ar- and surrounded with magnificent mounmagh.  Another remarkable circum- tains in the county of Wicklow. Glenstance connected with the diocese of dalough has been called by Latin
Dublin may be mentioned, namely, that writers Ep.:icopatus Bistagn~iensis or
from the eleventh century to the present the Bishopric of the two Lakes; and
time it contains two cathedrals, those  by Pope Lucius III. it is mentioned as
of St. Patrick and Christ Church, of Episcora.!us Insularum, or the Bishopric
which it is said only another instance  of the Isles. The dtocese of Glendais to be found in any see, namely, at' lough, in  ancient times, comprised
Saragossa, in Spain.  Tiie United li(;- the county of Wicklow, and a great
ceses of Dublinz and Glena/a'ocg' com- part of the county of Dublin. Glenprises the greater part of the county  dalough, in the ancient times, was
of Dublin, together with a great part a  celebrated  seat of learning and
of Wicklow, and parts of Wexford, religion, and contained a large city;
Kildare, and  Queen's county.   It but being repeatedly ravaged by the
contains. within it, the following an- Danes, during the' ninth and tenth
cient sees: At Cltian-Dolclin, now  centuries, and by the English in the
Clondalkin, near Dublin, St. Cronan  thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, it
Muchua in the seventh century found- fell into complete decay; but its fored an abbey, which was of note for mer greatness is sufficiently demonmany centuries, and its abbots were strated by the extensive ruins of a
styled bishops. At T(am/llacht, or Tal- cathedral and seven churches, a round
laght, near Dublin, a monastery was tower, and other interesting antiquifounded about the sixth century, and ties, which still remain.-lb.
St. Maolruan is mentioned as its first  -6 The Bishop of Ferns. The See of
bishop in the eighth century. It was Ferns was founded by St. AMoeg, in the
celebrated as a seat of learning and  latter end of the sixth century. The




98                  THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Under the archbishop of Cashel70 are the bishop of Killaloe;71
nnme Moeg, in Irish Maodhog, is Lat- tury, and who was called St. Kiaran
irzed Maidocus, also Aedanus and  the elder, to distinguish him from KiaAidanus, and anglicized Moeg, or Mai- ran of Clonmacnois, who lived at a
doe, also Aidan or Edan; Giraldus later period. The see of Saiger was
Cambrensis says "Sanctus Aidanus afterwards transferred  to  Achadbo
qui et Hibernice Maidocus dicitur."  (Aghavo,), in the barony of Upper OsThe celebrated St. Moeg, or Aidan, sory, in the Queen's county, where a
was a native of that part of Brefney  celebrated monastery was founded by
now called the county of Cavan, and  St. Canice, in the sixth century. The
founded there the abbey of Dromlane; see of Aghaboe continued to be the
he afterwards went to Britain, and  seat of the diocese of Ossory, to near
studied some time under St. David, the end of the twelfth century, when it
bishop of Menevia, in Wales, and on  was removed to Kilkenny, and called
returning to Ireland, Brandubh, king  the see of Ossory; and the bishops of
of Leinster, granted him the territory  Ossory were in early times styled
about Ferns, where he founded the  bishops  of Saiger, and  sometimes
cathedral and see of Ferns, and died  bishops of Aghavoe. The diocese of
at an advanced age, on the 31st of Jan- Ossory comprehends almost the whole
nary, A. D. 632.  The see of Sletty  of the county of Kilkenny, with the
was the chief see of Leinster, in the fifth barony of Upper Ossory, in the Queen's
and sixth centuries; but in the begin- county; and the parish of Seir-Kiaran,
ning of the seventh century, Ferns was in King's county, being nearly co-exmade the metropolitan see of that prov- tensive with the ancient principality
ince; hence the bishops were styled bish- of Ossory. —Clonenagbh, in the Queen's
ops of Leinster; and Ferns continued to  county, had a celebrated monastery
be the chief see until the beginning of founded in the fifth century by St.
the ninth century,when Kildare was con- Fintan, and its abbots were also styled
stituted the metropolitan see and con- bishops; it was annexed to the see of
tinued so till the twelfth century, when  Leighlin. —b.
Dublin was constituted archiepiscopal   68 The Bisiops of Leighlin.  The
see of Leinster. In the Lives of St. See of Leighlin. A  monastery was
Moeg, quoted by Colgan and Lanigan, founded here in the beginning of the
it is stated that a great synod in Lein- seventh century by St. Gobban, and
ster, the king Brandubh, with the clergy  shortly after, St. Molaise, who was aland people, decreed that the archiepis- so called Laserian, made Leighlin a
copal see of Leinster should be that bishop's see. In A. D. 630, a great
of St. Moeg.  Ferns, called in an- synod of bishops and clergy was held
cient times I' arnea Maodhoig, or Ferns at Leighlin, to regulate the time for the
of Moeg, became a great city, and was celebration of Easter. The abbey of
the chief residence of the kings of  Leighlin became celebrated under St.
Leinster, but fell into decay from its Laserian; and it is stated that at one
repeated ravages by the Danes, in the  time it contained fifteen hundred monks.
tenth and eleventh centuries. The  The Diocese of Leighlin comprises the'diocese of Ferns comprises nearly the whole of the county of Carlow, a conwhole of the county of Wexford, with  siderable part of the Queen's county,
small portions of Wicklow and Queen's with some portions of Kilkenny and
county. —Ilb.                       Wicklow. The Sec of Sletty. A church
6T'I'he Bishop of Ossorl/. The See was founded at a place called Sleibhti,
of Ossory was first founded at Saiger, by St. Fiech or Fiechus,a celebrated disnow the parish of Seir-Kieran, near ciple of St. Patrick, in the fifth century.
Birr, in the King's county; and was Sletty was situated in Hy Kinsellagla,
so called from  Kiaran of Saiger, a near the river Barrow, about a mile
celebrated saint who founded a church  from the present town of Carlow, on
there in the beginning of the fifth cen- the borders of the Queen's county; it




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                         99
the bishop of Limerick;72 the bishop of Innis-Cathaigh,73 i. e. Innisgives name to a parish in that county, or assembly of bishops, clergy, and noand the rains of an ancient church-still bility at Cashel, in which he assigned
remain. St. Fiech made Sletty a bish- over to the see and its bishops that
op's see, and in the fifth and sixth cen- hitherto royal seat of the kings of Munturies it was the chief see of Leinster, ster, which was dedicated to God, St.
but was afterwards annexed to Leigh- Patrick, and St. Ailbe; and, accordlin -lb.                             ing to the same annals, in A. D. 1127,
69 The Bishop of Kldare.  The  Cormac-Mac Carthy erected a chapel
monastery of St. Bridget was the  there, called from him Teampull Chorfirst religious foundation at Kildare, maic or Cormac's chapel, which in the
and the place became celebrated as year 1134 was consecrated at a great
a seat of learning and religion; a  synod of the bishops, clergy and nobilgreat town or city grew up there, ity of Munster, held at Cashel for that
and an episcopal see was founded in purpose. A. D. 1169, Donald O'Brien,
it in the latter end of the fifth cen- king of Thomond, erected a new church
tury, St. Conlaeth being appointed its or cathedral at Cashel, which he amfirst bishop; his successors were styled  ply endowed. There are still remainbishops and abbots of Kildare, and  ing on the rock of Cashel many intersome of them  designated bishops of esting antiquities, as Cormac's chapel;
Leinster.  In the ninth, tenth, and  a round tower and the magnificent ruins
eleventh  centuries, Kildare  became of the ancient cathedral. The Diocese
the metropolitan see of Leinster. Kil- of Cashel comprises the greater part
dare was long celebrated as a seat of the county of Tipperary with small
of learning and sanctity, but in the portions of Limerick and Kilkenny;
ninth and tenth centuries, from the re- and the archiepiscopal see of Cashel
peated devastations of the Danes, the has jurisdiction over the ecclesiastical
place fell to decay; and much more province of Munster.-Ib.
destructive were the wars of later times;' Tie Bishop of Kitlaloe. The See
but the magnificent ruins of the ancient of Killaloe, in Irish Cill-da-Lua, or the
cathedral, with a most beautiful round  church of Lua, got its name from St.
tower, and some fragments of splendid  Lua, or Molua, who founded a church
stone crosses which still remain, amply  there in the sixth century. The name
demonstrate its former greatness. At of Killaloe is latinized Laonia, and it
Kilcullen in Kildare, an abbey was became a bishop's see in the seventh
founded by St. Iserenus, in the fifth  century, the first bishop being  St.
century, and its abbots were styled  Flannan, a disciple of St. Molua, who
bishops down to the twelfth century, was consecrated at Rome by Pope
at which time it was annexed to the John IV., A. D. 639. St. Flannan was
see of Kildare. The Diocese of Kildare the son of Torlogh, king of Munster,
comprises the greater part of the county  who endowed the see with extensive
of Kildare, with a great part of the  lands, and was interred in the catheKing's county, and a considerable por- dral. The abbey and see of Killaloe
tion of the Queen's county. —lb.    were amply endowed by the O'Briens,
70 The Archbishop of Cashel. The kings of Thomond, who erected the
Archbishops of Cashel were styled by  cathedral, in which many of them
the old Irish writers, bishops of Leth  were interred.  The ancient see of
Mogha, and bishops of Munster. Ac- Roscrea, in the county of Tipperary,
cording to some accounts, St. Patrick  was in the twelfth century united to
foAnded the see and held a synod at Killaloe.  The bishops of Killaloe
Cashel, attended by Ailbe of Emly, were sometimes styled bishops of ThoDeclan of Ardmore and other saints. mond.  Birr had a celebrated abbey
A. D. 1101, Murtogh O'Brien, king  founded-by St. Brendan, in the sixth
of Munster, according to the annals century, and its abbots were styled bishof Inisfallen, convened a great synod  ops: it was aanexed to the see of Kil



100                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.,
Cahy; the bishop of Kilfemora;74 the bishop of Emly;75 tile bishop
of Roscrea;76 the bishop of Waterford;77 the bishop of Lismore,tm
laloe. The Diocese of Killaloe com- the fifth century by the celebrated St.
prehends the greater part of the county  Ailbe, who, was called the Patrick of
of Clare, with a large portion of Tip- Munster, and patron of that province.
perary, and parts of Limerick, King's Emly was in ancient times a consideraand Queen's counties, and Galway. lb. ble city, and called " Imlech Iubhair"
72 The See of Limerick was founded in  (imhgh yooir,or yoovir),w hich signifies
the sixth century by St. Munchen, who  Emly of the Yew Trees, and somebecame the first bishop. In the tenth  times Imleach Ailbe, or Emly of St.
and eleventh centuries, several of the  Ailbe. The bishops of Emly were
bishops of Limerick were Danes, a col- sometimes styled bishops of liunster,
ony of that people possessing the city  as it was in early times the metropoliat that period. In the twelfth century  tan see of that province. The see was
a new cathedral was erected by the  united to Cashel in the sixteenth cenO'Briens, kings of Thomond, who am- tury, A. D. 1578. The diocese of Emly
ply endowed the see. The Diocese of  is but small, and comprises parts of the
Limerick comprises the greater part of counties of Tipperary and Limerick.the county of Limerick, with a portion  lb.
of Clare.-lb.                          7 Roscrea, in Tipperary, was an an73 The bishop of Innis-Cathaigh. The  cient bishop's see, founded by St. CroSee of Inniscathy was founded in the nan, in the latter end of the sixth cenfifth century by St. Patrick, and St. tury, and was in early tines annexed to
Senan, bishop and abbot of Inis-Car- Killaloe.-lhb.
thy, is mentioned as his successor.    7 The Bishop of Waterford. The
Inis-Cathy is an island situated near See of Waterford was founded by the
the mouth of the Shannon, and its an- Danes of that city, in the later end of
cient monastery was a celecrated seat the eleventh century; and Malchus, a
of religion in early times, and continu- Dane, who was a Benedictine monk of
ed for many years a great place of pil- Winchester, was appointed its first
grimage. The ancient see comprised  bishop, A. D. 1096, and consecrated by
some adjoining districts in the counties Anselm, archbishop  of Canterbury.
of Limerick and Clare, and was annex- The bishops of Waterford were styled
ed to the see of Limerick in the twelfth  by the old writers, bishops of Port
century. —Ib.                       Lairgi, the ancient name of that city.
74 The Bishop of Kilfenora. The See The patron saint of the diocese is Otof Kilfenora, according to Lanigan, teran, or Odran.-lb.
(vol. ii. p. 197,) was founded by St.  78 The Bishop of Lismore. The See of
Fachna, or St. Fachnan, and the bish- Lismore, in Waterford, was founded in
ops were also styled bishops of Fena- the beginning of the seventh century
bore, and sometimes bishops of Cor- by St. Carthach, who was also called
comroe, all of which  names were MIochuda. The see of Ardmore having
applied to this see. A celebrated Cis- been annexed to Lismore in thetwelfth
tercian monastery was founded and  century, both were annexed to the see
endowed at Corcumroe, in the twelfth  of Waterford in the fourteenth century,
century, by Donal O'Brien, king of A. D. 1363, by Pope Urban V. LisLimerick, and his son Donough Cair- more, from the fame of its university,
breach O'Brien, prince of Thomond. became an extensive city, and had
The Diocese of Kilfenora comprises only  no less than twenty churches. The'the baronies of Burren and Corcomroe, Diocese of Lismore  comprises the
in the county of Clare, being the  greater part of the county of Watersmallest in Ireland. Kilfenora is called  ford, and part of Tipperary; and the
"Kill-Finnabharach" (Kil-innturagh), Diocese of Waterford comprises the city
in Gaelic.-lb.                      of Waterford, with a portion of the'" The See of Emly was founded in  county. —lb.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                        101
the bishop of Cloyne;79 the bishop of Cork;0o the bishop of Ross;t
i. e. Ros-O'Carbri, and the bishop of Ardfert.?
Under the archbishops of Tuam83 are the bishops of Kill-mac
T79 te Bishop of Cloyne. The See of -Innis-fallen, and lakes of Killarney, was
Cloyne was founded in the latter end of in very early times annexed to Ardfert.
the sixth or beginning of the seventh  This united diocese is very large, comrncentury by St. Colman, a disciple of St. prising all Kerry and a small portion of
Finbare of Cork. Cloyne is called, in the county of Cork. The following were
Irish, " Cluain-Uamha," (Clooin Oova,) also distinguished sees in Munster. It is
signifying the retreat of the Cave. not out of place to put them down here.
The Diocese of Cloyne comprises a third  Tir-da-glas, now the parish of Terrypart of the county of Cork. —lb.     glass, in the barony of Lower Ormond,
O Thle B'shop of'Cork. " The see of county of Tipperary, had a celebrated
Cork was founded by St. Barr, called, monastery, founded by St. Columba in
also, Fin-Barr, in the beginning of the  the sixth century, and some of its abbots
7th century.  It comprises the city  were styled bishops. This place was
and a large portion of the county of long eminent as a seat learning and reCorlk." —b.                         ligion, but was destroyed by the Danes
81 Thie Bishop of Ross. " The see of in the tenth century."  The see of ArdRoss was founded in the beginning of more, in Waterford, was founded in the
the 6th century by St. Fachnan (Fagh- fifth century, by St. Declan, who was
ran).  It was anciently called''Ros of the tribe of the Desies, (i. e. O'Faealitri,' i. e. the Plain of Pilgrimage, lans and O'Brics,) and who, having studbut in modern times it is called Ross ied at Rome, became highly distinCarberry. Ross had formerly a college guished for learning and sanctity. Ardand a Benedictine monastery. It was more was united to Lismore in the latcelebrated as a seat of learning, and  ter end of the twelfth century."-Ib.
was attended by students from all parts   83 Tle Archbishop of Tuam. "The
of Ireland, and even from Britain. The see of Tuanm was founded in the begindiocese of Ross is very small. It is co- ning of the sixth century by St. Iarlath,
extensive with the ancient district of or Jarlath. Tuam is mentioned by the
Corca-Luighe  (Luee).  It has been  Irish  writers as Tuaim-da-ghualann.
generally united to the see of Cloyne, The ancient sees of Mayo, Cong, and
but sometimes to that of Cork." d11. Enachdune, were afterwards annexed
(For a few years past the Catholic  to TtVam, and its bishops were often
church of Ross has been governed by  styled bishops of Connaught. The dioits own bishop; the State church is cese of Tuam comprises the greater part
now united to that of Cork.) —ib.  - of the county of Galway, and about one"' The Bishop of Ardfert. The see third of Mayo, with a large portion of
of Ardfert was founded, according to  Roscommon. The suffragan sees under
some accounts, by St. Ert, or Ere, in the archbishopric of Tuam are those of
the latter end of the 5th century, but Achonry, Killala, Elphin, Clonfert,
Dr. Lanigan is of opinion that St. Bren- Kilmacduagh, Kilfenora, and Galway.
dan was its chief founder, in the 6th  — b.
century; to him its cathedral is dedi-  84 The Bishop of Kilmacduagh. The
cated as patron saint of the diocese, See of Kilmacduagh.  A  monastery
which is sometimes called "Ardfert was founded in the present barony of
Brendain," to distinguish from another Kiltartan, county of Galway, in the
see of the same name. It was also  seventh century, by St. Colman, the son
called the arch-diocese of " Iar-mum- of Duach; hence it was called Cill Mic
han," (Eer Moon), or West Munster. Duach, signifying the church of the son
It is now sometimes called the diocess of Duach, which became a bishop's see
of Kerry. Aghadoe, an ancient bish- and gave its name to the diocese. The
op's see, situated round the abbey of bishops of Kilmacduagh in ancient




102                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Duach,aM the bishop of Mayo,` the bishop of Enach-Duin,86 the bishop of KilI-iarthar,87 the bishop of Roscommon,88 the bishop of Clonfert,8" the bishop of Achonry,0 the bishop of Killalla;the bishop
of Kill-Monuach, the bishop of Conainn,'9 the bishop of Elphin."9
times were often styled bishops of Ui ofr learning and religion. The diocese
Fiachra Aidhne, which was the ancient of Clonfert comprises a considerable
name of their episcopal district.-lb.   part of the county of Galway, with
8 The Bishop of Mayo. A monas- part of Roscommon, and a small portery was founded at Mayo in the seventh  tion of the King's county." —b.
century by St. Colman, an Irishman,   90 The Bishop of Achonry, or Achadwho had been bishop of Lindisfarne, in  Conalri.-" The see of Achonry was
Northumberland; but, leaving Eng- founded in the sixth century, by St.
land, returned to his own county and  Finian, bishop of Clonard, in Meath,
founded this monastery, chiefly for the  who placed over it his disciple St.
use of English monks, whom he had  Nathi. The bishops of Achonry were
brought over with him. A college also  styled also bishops of Luigni (Lueeswas founded here, which was lonrg fam- nie), which was the old name of the
ous as a seat of learning; being found- territory in which that see was situated chiefly for the use of the Saxons, it ed. This diocese comprehends a large
was called Magh-eo-na-Saxon (Moyo- portion of the county of Sligo, with a;na Saxon), or Mayo of the Saxons. considerable portion of Mayo."-Ib.
Some say that Alfred, king of North-  * 91 The Bishop of Killalla, Cill A1umberland in the seventh century, had  azdle, or Cill Ellaidh. —" The see of
been educated at Mayo; by other ac- Killalla was founded by St. Patrick in
counts, it would appear that Alfred the the fifth century. Its bishops are someGreat had also been educated there. times styled bishops of' Tir AmahlMayobecame a bishop's see. It was gaidh' (Teer Awlee), or Tirawley, and
annexed to Tuam in the sixteenth cen- sometimes of'Tir Fiachra' or Hy
tury. —Ib.                          Fiachra Muaidhe (Mooee), to distin86 The Bishop of Efach-Duin. En- guish it from Kilmacduach, which was
acb-Duin is now the parish of Anna- also called the see of Hy Fiachra
down, in the county of Galway. St. Aidhni (Eynie). The diocese of KilBreudan died here A. D. 676, and was lalla comprehends a great part of the
buried at Clonfert-Brendain. "Enach- county of Sligo, and some portion of
Duin" means the marsh of the Dun  Sligo." —lb.
(Doon). It is situated on the east bank    These sees have not been identified
of Loch  Corrib, in the barony of by the editor.
Clare.-Ib.                            92 The Bishop of Elphin or EliThe Bishop of Kill-iarthar, i. e. th~e Finn.-." The  see of  Elphin.  A
western church, not identified by the  church was founded at Elphin, in Roseditor.                             common, by St. Patrick, in the fifth'  The  Bishop  of Roscommon. century, who placed over it St. Asicus,
" St. Coman founded an abbey in the  one of his disciples, and made it a
sixth century,which was called from him  bishop's see. The bishops of Elphin in
Ros-Comain. It afterwards became a ancient times are sometimes styled
bishop's see, but was united at an early  bishops of East Connaught. The dioperiod to the see of Elphin." —Ib.   cese of Elphin comprises the greater
89 The Bishop of Clonfert. " The  part of the county of Roscommon. with
see of Clonfert.  A  monastery was considerable portions of the counties
founded at Clonfert, in the present ba- of Sligo and Galway." —Ib.
rony of Longford, county of Galway,   To the above may be added the
by St. Brennan, or St. Brendan, in the modern see of Galway.
sixth century, and it became a bishop's   "The diocese of Galway, which
see, and was long celebrated as a seat comprises the city of Galway and some




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                      103
According to Camden, it was in the year of our Lord 1152
that the four archbishops were appointed in Ireland.
I have enumerated above many bishops that do not now exist,
and for whom there are no sees, they having been abolished or
united under one bishop; thus Lismore and Waterford are under
one bishop, so also are Cork and Cloyne under one bishop, and
many others in like manner.
SECTION IlI.-OF THE SITUATION OF IRELAND.
Ireland is situated thus: Spain lies to the south of it, France
to the south-east, Great Britain to the east, Scotland to the
north-east, and the Atlantic Ocean to the north-west and west.
According to Maginus, in his notes on Ptolemy, its form approaches that of an egg: its breadth is four degrees and a half
of the zodiac or solar circle. The same writer tells us that the
longest day in the most southern part of this country is sixteen
hours and three-quarters, and in the most northern part, the longest day is eighteen hours. The length of Ireland is computed
from Carn-O-Neid to Cloch-an-Stacan, and its breadth from
Inber-Mor to Irrus-Domnan.
The reader must understand that it is not through neglect
that I here omit speaking of the number of counties, cities or
towns in Ireland, but because Camden and the chronicles of later
English have given a full account of them; neither is this a
proper place for speaking of them, until we come to treat of the
invasion of the island by those strangers by whom they were
arranged.
adjoining districts, anciently formed and county of Roscommon, was also
part of the diocese of Enachdune, but a bishop's seat in ancient times. An
was afterwards presided over by an ec- abbey was founded here in the sixth
clesiastic who had episcopal authority, century by St. Beoidh or Beoy, and it
and was elected by the tribes under the became a bishop's see, which was also
title of Warden. The Wardenship was at an early period annexed to the see
instituted in the fifteenth century, in of Elphin. Drumclf, in Sligo, was also
A. D. 1484, by Pope Innocent VIII.; the seat of a bishop. "A monastery was
and the Wardens of Galway continued founded here by St. Columkille, in the
till the year 1831, the first year of the sixth century, and was long famous as
pontificate of Gregory XVI., who a seat of learning and religion. It beabolished the Wardenship and erected same a bishop's see, its abbots having
it into a bishop s see." —b.       received the episcopal dignity." —Ib..rdcarne, in the barony of Boyle,




CHAPTER IV.
OF THE CREATION OF OUR FIRST FATHER, ADAM.
FIRST of all, Adam was created on the sixth day of the world's
age. In the fifteenth year of Adam's age, Cain and his sister
Calmana were born. In the thirtieth year of Adam's age, Abel
and his sister Delbora were born. And when Adam had lived
an hundred and thirty years he begat Seth, according to the
Hebrew computation, as we read in the Polychronicon.
THE GENEALOGY OF NOAH TO ADAM.
Noah was the son of Lamech, son of Mathusalem, son of
Enoch, son of Jareth, son of Malaleel, son of Calnan, son of Enos,
son of Seth, son of Adam.  All those that survived the deluge
were descended from Seth, for the whole race of Cain was
drowned beneath the Flood.  The length of time from Adam to
the Flood was, according to the Hebrews, 1656 years, whereupon
the bard has left us the following distich:
"The first period of pleasing life,
From Adam to the deluge,
Was six years and fifty clearly told
Above six hundred and a thousand."
Another antiquary thus agrees with the same computation:
"Six years and fifty and six hundred, as I count it,
And one thousand, I reckon from Adam to the Flood."
A third records the fact in these terms:
"There were sixteen centuries in full,
Added to fifty years and six
(What I recount I know without error)
From the world's beginning to the flood."
Here follow the ages of all the men from whom Noah sprang,
in the direct line. Adam lived 930 years, Seth 912, Enos 905,
Cainan 910, Malaleel 895, Jareth 962, Enoch 365, Mathusalem
969, Lamech 777, Noah 950.
104]




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                    105
When God saw that the posterity of Seth had transgressed his
will (for he had commanded to make no alliances or marriages
with the race of the impious Cain, and they observed not that
command), he sent the Deluge to drown all mankind, except
Noah and his wife, Cova, and his three sons, Shem, Cham, and
Japhet, and their three wives, Olla, Olliva, and Ollivana, because
Noah had not mixed with the seed.of Cain, and was a righteous
man.
When the Deluge had dried from off the earth, Noah apportioned the three divisions of the world between his three sons, as
the poet says:
"In Asia Shem fixed his seat,
Cham and his children dwelt in Afric,
The noble Japhet and his sons
Were they that dwelt in Europe."
Shem had seven-and-twenty sons, amongst whom were Arphaxad, Ashur and Persius, and from his seed came the Hebrews.
Cham had thirty sons; of them were Cush and Canaan.  Japhet
had sixteen, amongst whom were Gomer and Magog, as the bard
records:
"Thirty sons of famous deeds
Sprang from Cham Mac Noah,
Seven-and-twenty sprang from Shem
And fifteen from Japhet."
Many of the nations of northern Asia are sprung from Japhet,
and from him are descended all the inhabitants of Europe.
The Scythians are of the race of lMagog son of Japhet, and
especially those nations that colonized Ireland after the Flood,
previous to the sons of Miledh, as I shall hereafter show.
CHAPTER V.
OF THE INVASIONS OF IRELAND BEFORE THE FLOOD.1
First Legend.
SOME of our Shenachies say that three daughters of the wicked
Cain were the first that dwelt in Ireland. In testimony of this,
1 The stories of the invasions of Ire- the Pagan traditions of Ireland were
land before the Flood, are, possibly, subjected to expurgation, as we shall see
remnants of Druidic Mythology,adapted hereafter. They may also be pure invento suit their own ideas of Revgaled His- tions of later times. But, as we, at prestory, by our converted antiquaries, when ent, know almost nothing of the amount




106                THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
we have the following "rann," or distich, which occurs in the
poem which begins, "I found in the Psalter of Cashel," &c.
"Three fair daughters of Cain,
With Seth the son of Adam,
Were they that first saw Banba;
I here recount their adventure."
The Book of Drom-Snechtas tells us that Banba was the name
of the first of these women, who took possession of Ireland before
the Flood, and that it is from her the island has received its name
of Banba.  There cameover in all fifty women and three men.
One of these men was named Ladra, and from him Ard-Ladrana
has its name. These people lived forty years in the country,
until a plague came upon them, whereupon they all died in one
week. From that time, Ireland remained without a single human
being to inhabit it, until the Deluge came.
Second Legend.
Others will have it that Ireland was first discovered by three
fishermen, who had been driven thither by a storm, from off the
coast of Spain. Being pleased with the island, these men went
home for their wives, but, on their return to their discovered
land, the Deluge came upon them at Tuath-Inber,4 and they were
all drowned. Their names, as handed down by a poet in the
following rann, were Capa. Laighni (Loinie), and Luasad;
" Capa, Laighni and generous Luasad
Came hither one year before the flood;
Of the Island of Banba of fair women
With hardihood they took possession."
Third Legend.
Another account will have that Kesair (Cassir), daughter of
Bith5 (Bih), a son of Noah, was the person that arrived in Ireof knowledge anciently possessed by the  Ladra or Ladhra (Lara, and Loira),
nations called Celtic, except through  is supposed to be Ardamine, on the
Irish tradition, it would be just as rash east coast of the county of Wexford,
to scout these and similar tales alto- where a curious moat still exists: see
gether, as forgeries of the Christian  O'Dornovan's note, p. 3, Annals of the
bards, as it would be to build any theory Four Masters.
upon them. Until all the documents and   4 Tua:th-Inbher, (Thooih-,,nver,) i. e.
tales that relate to Pagan Ireland be North Harbor. The editor has not
published, and critically annoted, it been able to fix its position.
will be impossible to form any decided   5 Bith, gen. Betha, means life, in
opinion with regard to them.       modern Gaelic.  This name occurs' Drom-Snechta, i. e. Snowy Hill.   several times in our primeval legends.
" Ard-Ladran, i. e. the Height of




THE HISTORY (F IRELAND.                      107
land before the Flood. Upon this event, a poet has sung the
following rann:
" Kesair, daughter of Bith the long-lived,
Fosterling of Saball, son of Ninuall,6
Was the first brave woman that steered
To the Isle of Banba before the Deluge."
If it be desirable to know, what brought her to Ireland, the
following was the reason of her coming: —Bith had sent to Noah
to demand a place in the Ark for himself and his daughter Kesair, in order that they might be saved from the Deluge, but
Noah denied him his request.  Upon this Bith, Ladra, Fintann
and Kesair took counsel together as to the measures they should
adopt; " Take ye my advice," said Kesair, " We shall," said they;
"Then make ye application to an idol7 and forsake the God of
Noah." Upon this, they betook themselves to an idol, who advised them to build a ship, but he could not tell them the time,
at which the Deluge was to come on.  They then fitted out a
ship and put to sea. The persons that went on board were Bith,
Ladra, Fintann, Kesair, Barran  and  Balba, (Balva).  They
were at sea for seven years and a quarter, at the end of which
time they put into harbor at Dun-nam-barc, in the territory of
Corca-Duibni,8 on the fifteenth day of the moon, as the bard
recounts:
"And where they made their landing
Was at Dun-lam-barc,-that female bafidAt Cul-Kesrach9 in the district of Carn,
On the fifteenth, on the day of Satharn.'
Kesair landed in Ireland forty days before the deluge, as the
bard thus sings:
"Twice twenty days before the Flood,
Came Kesair into Eri,
With Fintann, Bith, and Ladra from the sea,
And fifty beauteous damsels."
Ninuall. We shall see this name of the Four Masters. Corca-Duibni is
occurring again, when we come to treat now called Corcaguiny, a barony in the
of the early genealogy of the Gaels.   county of Kerry. Corca-Luighe (Looee)
7 In the original, Laimh-Dhia, pr. comprised the west of the county of
lauiv-'yeea, i. e. a hand-god or god made Cork.
with hands.                            Cul-Chesrdch, i. e. the hill or ridge
8 Dr. O'Donovan thinks that Corcae of Cesair or Kesair. O'Flaherty imagDuibhni is an error of the transcriber ines this to be a Coolcasragh, that lies
for Corca-Lpuighe, and that the place near Knockmea, in the county of Clare.
here meant is Dunamark, in the parish   0o Dia Sathiairn, (Dea Sahirn,) i. e.,
of Kilcomoge, barony of Bantry, and the day of Saturn, is the Irish name of
county of Cork: see note p. 3, Annals Saturday.




103               THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Another bard agrees with the above, in the following rann —
" Kesair came from the East,
Daughter of Bith was she,
With her fifty damsels
And with her three men."
Ard-Ladran is called after Ladra.  He -was the first man that
"died in Ireland, according to those who say that no people dwelt
in Ireland before the Flood, but Kesair and those that came with
her.  Sliabh-Betha12 is called after Bith; and, from Fintann3 is
called  Fert-Fintainn  in  Tipperary, neai- Loch-Deirg-Deirc.J4
From Kesair is called Cam  Kesrach'5 in Connacht.  From Dunnam-barc they proceeded to the.Meeting of the Three Waters,
where the Siuir,16 Feoir,17 and Berba'8 join their streams.  There
they divided the fifty damsels between them. Fintann took Kesair
and seventeen women for his share; Bith took Barran and seventeen more, and Ladra took Balba with sixteen others, and brought
them with him to Ard-Ladran, where he died. Upon this Balba
and her sixteen women returned to Kesair, who informed Bith of
the matter, whereupon Bith came to Fintann, and they again divided the sixteen women in equal portions between them.  Bith
took his own share to Sliabh-Betha and there he shortly died.
Bith's women then came to Fintann, but the latter, however, fled
before them out of Leinster. Upon this Kesair, with the whole
band of the M omen, retired to Cuil-Kesrach, in Connaught, and she
broke her heart through grief for the flight of her husband and the
deaths of her father and brother. This happened but six days
before the Deluge.  As a record of this, the bard has left us the
following rann"And such, when their hour was full;
Were their deaths after their wanderings —
There was but one single week
Thence unto the forty days."
The reader must observe that I do not give down this occupation or invasion by Kesair, as true history, nor do I so give
down either of the other occupations, spoken of above. I have
recounted them here, merely because I found them mentioned in
"Literally "the first dead man of    6 i. e. The Carn of Cesar or Kesair.
Eri."                            The Leabhar Gabhala (Leour Gavaula)
12 Sliabh Betha. It is now called of the O'C(leries. places this upon the
Slieve-Beagh, and lies on the confines banks of the river Boyle.
of Leitrim and Fermanagh.-O'D.7 18 Pronounced Shooir, Feore, and
3 i. e., Fintan's grave. It lies near Berva or Barroo. These rivers are
Loch Derg, an expansion of the Shan- now called the Suir, Nore and Barnon between Killaloo and Portumna.  row. They meet a little below Water-'Now " Lough Derg."            ford.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND,                       109
ancient books; and, moreover, I cannot conceive how our antiquaries could have obtained those accounts of persons that arrived
in Ireland before the Flood, if it were not from those merial demons
who were their fairy followers'9 in Pagan times, or, unless they
had found them engraved20 upon some rocks, that remained after
the Flood had subsided.  For, it is not to be asserted that the Fintann or Fintafi2 who lived after the Flood was the same person that
lived before it, because to say so would be contradictory to the
Scriptures, which tell us that all mankind perished in the Deluge, with the exception of the eight persons who were saved in
the Ark; and among these we know that Fintann was not.  The
evidence, then, of those antiquaries who maintain that Fintann
lived through the Deluge, is false.  These writers say that four
persons remained alive, during that time, at the four opposite
points of the world, namely, Fintann, Feron,"2 Fors23 and An.
d6ida.24  It must, however, be observed, that this opinion is not
entertained by our best historians. For which reason, a certain
author has inserted the following lay in our history, in order to
show that it does not accord with the truth of revealed faith to
say that either Fintann or any of the other three just mentioned,
could have lived after the pouring forth of the Flood:
"The names of the four who practiced justice,
And whom God saved beneath the Flood,
Are Fintann, Feron, Fors, the mild and just,
And AndcSid, son of Ethor.
19 Fairy Followers. In the original in the Leabhar- a-h-Ulidhri, in the libra" Lenanaibh Sidhe." The Lenan Sidhe ry of the Royal Irish Academy, this
(Len'aun Shee) was a species of su- Fintan survived the Deluge, and lived
pernatural being, supposed to be at- till the reign of Dermot, son of Fergus
tached to the ancient Celtic chieftains, Ceirbheoil, having, during this period,
and to other distinguished characters unllergone  various transmigrations;
of Irish story. Many of the Irish war- from which O'Flaherty infers that the
riors were fabled to have had lovers Irish held the doctrine of Metempsyamongst the fair daughters of this aerial chosis." This Fintan is still remembered
race. The modern Benshee, still sup- in the traditions of the country as the
posed to be attached to certain old Irish  Methusalem of Ireland; and it is befamilies of noble origin, is a remnant lieved in Connaught that'he was a saint,
of this wild and poetic superstition. and that he was buried at a locality
The aerial mistress of some warrior, called Kilfintany, in the south of the
long gone beyond her solicitude, con- parish of Kilcommon, barony of Erritinues to renew the dirge of her departed  sand, county of Mayo. Dr. Hanmer aslover, at the approaching deaths of his serts that the fable gave rise to a prodescendants.                        verb common in Ireland in his own
20 This opinion had been first sur- time, "If 1 had lived Fintan's years I
mised by Giraldus Cambrensis.       could say much. "
21 Dr. O'Donovan gives the following   22 23 24 Feron, Fors, Andbid. Of
note upon Fintan, in his translationlof those personages, the editor has found
the Annals of the Four Masters, vol. 1. no further information than is given
"According to a wild legend preserved  above.




110                THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Fors, he set apart in the Eastern clime,
Feron was preserved in the cold North,
Fintann lay safe near the setting sun,
And Andoid in the South.
Though Shanachies count up these,
Yet the sacred Canons hold that none,
But Noah and his sons, with him in the ark,
And the wives of these, got safety for their lives."
Hlence, we are not to infer that either Fintann, or the other
three we have named, lived through the Deluge and after it.
Yet if any historian, in support of these falsehoods, should assert
that Fintann and those others were really drowned in the Deluge, but that God restored him to life again, in order to preserve
the history and the experiences of these ancients, not only to the
time of St. Patrick, but to that of St. Finnrn25 of Magh-Bili,26
I cannot conceive how an event so miraculons could be unknown
to all Europe; for, in the time of Finnen, and often since, numbers of distinguihsed divines and philosophers, and other learned
persons, were continually going to the most famous countries of
Europe to instruct both the clergy and the people, and to teach
in the universities.  It is absurd, then, to suppose that none of
their disciples would have left us any notice or mention of Fintann,
when we have still extant so many of their writings upon other
subjects. Besides, I do not find mention of this Fintann in any
of the Chief Books, whose authority is unrdoubted; hence, f
conclude that the whole story of his surviving the Deluge is but
a romantic fiction.
I do not, however, insist that there might not have existed, at
the time of St. Patrick's coming into Ireland, some very old and
venerable man, who had lived through many centuries before
that time, and that this man gave that apostle an account both
of everything he remembered himself, and of all the traditions
25 Finnen. The name of this saint is holy city, full of wisdom and virtue.
otherwise written Findian, Finnian,Fin- According to the writer of his life, he
nia and Findianus. " He was son of Fin- obtained the name of Finnen the Wise.
tan son of Finloch of the Clanna Rud- He died on the 12th of December, in
raighe (or Irians) of Ulster. He was a A.D. 552, or according to others in
philosopher and an eminent divine, who 563, and was buried in his own church at
first founded the college of Clonard in  Clonard." Thus Dr. O'Donovan states
Meath, near the Boyne,where there were in his Notes on the Four Masters, and
one hundred bishops, and where, with adds that St.Finnen's festival is set down
great care and labor,he instructed many at the 12th of December,,, in the O'Clercelebrated saints, among whom were the ies' Calendar and in the " Feiliri" or
two Kiarans, the two Brendans, the two Festiology of Aengus.
Columbs, viz., Columbkille and Columb    26 Magh-Bili (Moy- Villi,) now MoMac Crimhthainn, Lasserian the son ville. This church stood a short way
of Nadfraech, Canice, MIobheus, Ro- from the head of Strangford Lough,
danus, and many others not here enume- about a mile north-east from Newtown
rated. Htis school was in quality a ards




TIIE IISTORY OF IRELAND                    1
he had received from his ancestors concerning the past ages. I
do think, that there was some such kind of personage in those
times, and that it is he that is called Tuan,27 son of Carell, by
some historic writers, and, according to others, Roanus, i. e.
Caeilti, son of Ronan, who had lived more than three hundred
years, and who related many ancient traditions to St. Patrick.
Now, it is this Caeilti that should properly be styled Roanus or
Ronanus; for we do not find in any book on Irish history, that Fin.
tann was ever called by either of these names. Nevertheless, Cambrensis calls him Roanus, along wiah all the other misrepresentations contained in his lying history.  As this author wrote the
name Roanus in his Chronicle, in place of Ronanus, so every
English writer, wiho has treated of Ireland since his time, has
written Roanus as one of the names of Fintann, in imitation of
Cambrensis.  As these men have had no authority for their false
histories of Ireland, other than Cambrensis, they have looked upon
the man as the guide-bull of their herd, and followed ~lindly in
his track ever since.  It is also more reasonable to consider, that
Caeilti was the person called. Ronanus, because some old authors
enumerate amongst the writings of St. Patrick a work entitled
"_flistor:ia c   ibernice ex Roano sive Ronano," i. e. "A  History of
Ireland from Roanus or Ron'anus."  We know that it is the sirname of the author that is usually prefixed to a work, as is evident
to every person that is in the habit of reading books.
It is not true of Hanmer to assert in his Chronicle, that the
Irish hold these stories of Fintann, whom he also calls Roanus,
in high estimation-those tales which say that this person had
been submerged beneath the Flood, and that he lived after it for
more than two thousand years —that he at length met with St.
Patrick, from whom he received baptism, and to whom he revealed
many ancient events —that he died about one.year after the saint's
arrival, and that he was buried in Loch-Ribh (LoughliRee), in
Ormond, where, he says, there is a church dedicated to him by
his own name; and, he finally asserts, that his name is to be
found amongst those of the Irish saints. But it is evident to us,
that no historian ever spoke of, much less committed to writing,
any such story as what Hanmer recounts; for he confounds the
traditions related of three distinct persons in this narration of his,
namely, of Fintann, called Roanus by Cambrensis; of Caeilti?
27 Tuan was fabled to have been evidently some holy and venerable sage,
once the nephew of Partholan by his and some hold him to have been a saint,
brother Stain, and, having gone through and to have been buried at Tamhlact, a
various metamorphoses,-to have been parish church in thedistrict of Moghdorn
again restored to the human form, in or Mourne, and county of Down, where
the guise of the son of Carell, king of his name was long held in veneration.
Uladh, who lived in the beginning of the   28 Caeilti. This was the foster-son and
fourth century. Tuan, son of Carellwas favorite of the famous Irish warrior,Finn




112                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Mac Ronain, who was baptized by St. Patrick, and who told the
saint many traditions; and of St. Ruadan,29 (now pronounced Ruan,)
to whom  was dedicated the church of Lothra (Lohra), near
Loch-Derg-Derc, or Lough-Derg, and  not near Loch-Ribh, as
HIanmer states. But I shall lose no more time in tracing up the
falsehoods of Hanmer, or of his authorities.  Finally, I am convinced that it was by mistake that Cambrensis wrote the word
Roanus, rather than Ronanus or Ronan; and that thus the word
has remained without correction by his followers down to the
present day.
Mac Comlhal, whom MacPherson calls induce a thinking mind to reject the
Fingal. Some poems exist purporting  more ancient Irish tradition as fabulous
to be dialogues between Caeilti and St. in the main facts it hands down. Our
Patrick, in which are given uany curi- ancient history would, in truth, have a
ous anecdotes of the ancient state of much more suspicious appearance withthe country, its inhabitants and their out them. They are, perhaps, remnants
social habits. Of this character, also, of the early superstitions of the heathen
are the celebrated poems of Oisin or ancestors of the Irish nation, modified
Ossian, the son of Finn, and friend of so as to be less repugnant to the tradi.
Caeilti, so distorted by MacPherson. tions of Christianity.
The battle of Gabra or Gaura, where   29 St. Ruadan, of Lothair (Lohir)
the Fenians were nearly all slain, was or Ruadhan Lothra. This was the St.
fought about A.D. 296, at which time  Ruadhan who laid the fatmous curse
both Oisin and Caeilti must have been  upon Tara in the reign of DIiarmaid,
very old men.-O'D.                   son of Fergus Kerbeol, or Dermod, son
O'Halloran says, in his history, that it of Carroll. After Diarmaid, wbo died
is recorded in the Psalter of Cashel, A.D. 565, there reigned no king at
that the druid Modaruith, lord of the ter. Tara. A bard has recorded the circum.
ritory of Fermaighe Feni, now the baro- stance in a rann, of which the following
nies of Fermoy and Condons, in the  is a translation:county of Corkboasted to Fiacadh Mul-,, From the reign of brown Iiarmaid,
lethan, kinfg of Leth-Mogha, A.D. 260,    Son of Fergus, son of Kerbebl,
that he remembered the reigns of nine-    From Ruadans judgment on his house,.tbee kings of relad the reign ofnin-.   There reigned no king in Tembair."
teen kings of Ireland.
The occurrence of such' exagger-   St. Ruadan was abbot of Lohra, in
ations, as those' here noticed by the the barony of Ormond and county of
honest Dr. Keating, and other similar Tipperary.  From  these and similar
and less poetic ones, with which he tales, some antiquarians have asserted
afterwards, with too rigid and indiscri- that the Druids believed in the Meminate regard for what he found in the tempsychosis, or T'ransmigration  of
writings of the Shanachies, should not Souls.




CHAPTER VI.
SECTION I.-OF THE FIRST COLONIZATION1 OF IRELAND  AFTER
THE DELUGE.
THE first possession taken of Ireland after the Deluge, as given
by some of our antiquarians, and as we read it in the duan or
poem that begins thus, " I found in the Psalter of Cashel," I do
not consider worthy of the name of a colonization, because no
stay was made in the island. The poem recounts the fact as
follows:
" Adna, son of Bith2 the wise,
A warrior sent by Nin MacPeil,'
First came our Eri to explore
And pull4 the grass of Fidli-Inis.
Some of this grass he bore away,
And homeward went to tell his tale.
This was the conquest, full, complete,
Of shortest spell that Eri knew."
This messenger is said to have landed in Ireland about one
hundred and fifty years after the Flood; but as he made no stay
in the country, I do not deem that his expedition ought to be
considered an invasion or occupation. Therefore, I am of opinion
1 The Gaelic word "Gabhail" (ga- the husband of the famous heroine queen
vauil), literally means a taking pos- Semiramis, who succeeded him on the
session of or seizing; hence it comes to  throne, and continued his conquests.
signify a conquest, &c.             The empire founded by Belus flourished
2 Kesair's father was also called for over a thousand years. The pagan
Bith.                               Irish worshipped the sun under the
8 i. e. Ninus, son of Belus. Belus, name of Bdl or Belus. Hence comes
by some supposed to be the same as BRltaini, interpreted Teini Bheil, or
Nimrod, was the founder of the Assy- Bel's fire, the Irish name of the month
rian empire (the first empire known), of May. Belus was also worshipped as
about 2233 years before Christ, and  a god by the Phaenicians, Babylonians,
immediately after the dispersion of  Greeks, &c.
mankind from before Babel, which took    " The custom of pulling a tuft of
place about 114 years after the Deluge. grass, or carrying away a portion of
Ninus extended his empire over the the soil, is still one of the usages obwhole of Western Asia, and, perhaps, served in taking possession of lands
over a great part of Europe. He was and tenements in Ireland.
[113]




114                THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
that the invasion by Partholan, may be more appropriately termed
the first colonization after the Deluge.
SECTION II. —THE INVASION OF PARTHOLAN5 HERE.  A. M. 1978.
Ireland remained desert for three hundred years after the
Flood, when Partholan, son of Sera, son of Sru, son of Esru, son
of Framant, son of Fathacta, son of Magog, son of Japhet, came
and took possession of it, as a bard has handed down:
"After the Flood three hundred years,
(A tale most true I tell you)
All virgin Eri desert lay,
Till came the noble Partholan."
From this reckoning, I think it was in the two-and-twentieth
year before the birth of Abraham, that Partholan arrived in Ireland; that is, in the year of the world 1978, as a bard again tells
us in the following verse:
"There were eight-and-seventy, clearly told,
One thousand and nine hundred years,
From the days of Adam, virtuous and fair,
To the birth of Abraham, our father."
It is impossible that the opinion of those who say, that Partholan landed in Ireland, one thousand years after the Deluge, can be
correct, while they allow that he arrived in the island in the time
of Abraham; and, when we find that Abraham was but the
eighth in descent from Shem, son of Noah, counting Shem  himself amongst the number.  For it is very improbable, that there
should have been no more than seven generations, in more than
a thousand years after the Deluge: hence, I deem the first
opinion truer than the latter. For which reason, we may conclude that the time of Partholan's arrival was about three hundred years after the Deluge.6
We find that Partholan had set out from  Migdonia,7or the
5 The modern Irish pronounce this Partholan's invasion, or 278 years
name Pawrholone.                   after the Flood.
6 Keating, in his chronology, follows   7 Migdonia was a maritime country
the Hebrew computation, which makes of ancient Macedonia, now part of Turbut 1656 years to have elapsed from key in Europe. It is -not easy to tell
the Creation to the Flood. In this he what country is here concealed under
follows the annals of Clonmacnoise, and this Latinized form of Greig Medhonacl
several Irish historical poems. The (Graig Macynagh). It may simply
Annals of the Four Masters, taking  mean" central," or "middle Greece," or
the Deluge to have happened A.M. it may mean "Mseonian Greece." It
2242, make A.M. 2520 the. date of is not now easy even to tell the exact




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                     115
NMiddle of Greece, steering his course through the Mediterranean
Sea;8 that he sailed towards Sicily, and then, having left Spain
upon his right, that he at length reached Ireland.  He had been
two months and a half on sea before he got into port at InberSkleni,9 in the west of Munster, on the fourteenth day of the
month of May, as the bard records:
"On the fourteenth day, on the day of Mars,'0
Their gallant ships they safely moored
In the clear blue waves of our fair land,
In the harbor of Sklni of brightest shields."
The crew, that landed with Partholan in Ireland, was composed
of his wife, Delgnaid, and his three sons, Rudraide, Slangi, and
Laiglinni, with the wivesll of the latter; and these were accompanied by one thousand warriors.  It is so that Nennius relates
the event, and thus we read it in the Psalter of Cashel.
The place where Partholan fixed his dwelling, was at InisSaimer,12 near Erni, a place which was so called from Saimer, the
name of a hound that belonged to Partholan, who killed it in a
fit of jealousy towards his wife Delgnaid, who had been guilty of
an illicit intrigue with one of her own slaves, whose name was
Todga. When Partholan had rebuked her for this evil deed, the
lady, instead of striving to appease him, insisted that her angry
lord deserved more blame himself for the disgraceful act than she
did.'Think you, Partholan," said she, "that one may leave
honey near a woman, or sweet milk near a child, or food near a
generous man, or fleshmeat near a cat, or tools and instruments
near a mechanic, or man and woman in a desert place, and that
they will each keep clear of the other?" Here follow the words
of the lay that records the fact:
" Choice honey near a woman leave; leave sweet milk near a boy;
To generous heart leave food in trust; trust flesh meat to a cat;
Shut up the cunning artisan in shop with store of tools;
Or leave a young pair all alone, and deem you run no risks."
countries, the Gaels vaguely compre- The Tuscans or Etrurians were styled
hended under the term  Greig. Par- "Meaonidae," i.e. Mteonians.
tholan was possibly of the race of those   9 The inver or estuary of Skini, now
early colonizers,whom the West of Asia the bay of Kenmare, al. Inbher Sceine,
sent forth in the heroic ages, and who, (Inver-Scainie).
perhaps, first disseminated letters, and   10 The Day of Mars, in Irish, " Dia
commerce, and agriculture throughout Mairt," is our vernacular name for
southern Europe. The country here Tuesday.
meant was most likely the ancient   11 The wives of Partholan's three
" Mseonia," otherwise " Lydia," in Asia sons here named, were Nerba, Kichba
Minor.                             and Kerbnad, al. Nerbha, Ciochbha
8 In Gaelic, Muir Toirrian, which and Cerbnad.
some translate the "Tvrrhenian" or   12 Inis Saimer, is a small island in the
Tuscan Sea, i. e. Mare Tyrhenum  river Erne, at Ballyshannon.-O'D.




116                THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
WVhen  Partholan heard this impudent retort, he seized her
favorite hound, and dashing it against the ground, he killed it.'This was the first instance of jealousy that happened in Ireland
after the Flood.
Seventeen years after Partholan took possession of Ireland, the
first of his followers died; he was named Feda, the son of Tortan.
It is from him that Magh-Feda13 (MAoy-Fed) has received its name.
The reason why Partholan had migrated to Ireland was, because he previously had slain his own father and mother, hoping
thus to have been able to usurp the government from his brother.
It was in consequence of these parricides, that he had been forced
to fly to Ireland; but God sent a plague upon his posterity in
vengeance thereof, and by it nine thousand of them were killed
in one week at Benn-Edar (the Hill of Howth.)
Some authors reckon another colonization, namely, that made
by Kical,14 son of Nil, son of Garb, son of Uadmor; and his
mother was named Lot Luaimnech, and that they had dwelt in
Ireland for over two hundred years, living by fishing and by
fowling. Upon Partholan's arrival inl the island, these previous
possessors gave. him battle on the plain of Magh-Itha.15 Here
their chieftain Kical fell, and his Fomorians16 were destroyed by
Partholan. Irrus-Domnan17 was the place where Kical and his
followers had landed.  His fleet consisted of six ships, each of
which contained fifty men, and as many women, as the bard
recounts:
" The seventh people, that possessed
The beauteous Eri of high plains,
Came with curt Kical, the short-legged,
To the fair fields o'er Inber Domnan."
18 Magh Fedha or Fea was the name   1G Fomorians. Some say that " Fomof a plain in the barony of Forth and arach" means simply " pirate." Others
county of Carlow.                  will have it, that the Phcenicians were
14 The Annals of the Four Masters the people to whom the term was applied,
call this man Cical Grigencosach, son while others again think that the Fomarof Goll, son of Garbh of the Fomaraigh, aigh came from the regions that afterand they say that he came to Ireland a wards sent forth the people called Norfew years after Partholan. It is, how- mans and Danes. In the latter case, they
ever, more probable that this short- must have been Finns or Laps, who,
legged chief of a people " living by perhaps, were the predecessors of both
fishing andfowling," lived in Ireland  Celts and Teutons in Western Europe,
before Partholan, as Keating and the for in those times, it is not likely that
Lebhar Gabhala tell us.  There are there were any Gothic or Teutonic natraces of such a people-a people of tions in North-western Europe. It is
perhaps Laponic type, in Ireland, and remarkable that the Welsh, Gaelic and
they it was that probably left those stone Breton resemble the Uralian dialects in
implements improperly called " Celts." one or two important points, wherein
1M agh-Itha is the tame of a plain all three differ from their kindred Indoin the barony of Raphoe, along the river European tongues.
Finn, and county of Donegal.-O'D.   17 Now Erris, in west Connaught.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                      117
"Three hundred men that band did number,
That came from the clime of Uadmor,
But short their sway had lasted,
When in one week they were laid low."
Seven lakes burst forth18 in Ireland in the days of Partholan,
namely, Loch-Mesc,l9 in  Connaught, which  overspread MaghLergna; Loch-Con,20 which burst forth over the land three years
after the battle with Kical, and Magh-Cro was the name of the
plain it overwhelmed; Loch-Dechet21 burst forth twelve years
after Partholan's occupation; and one year after that, Slangi,
the fourth chieftain of his people, died, and was buried on SliabhSlangi.22 A year after the latter event, the eruption of LochLaiglinni,23 in the territory of UTi-Mac-Uais, of Brehgh, took place.
Laiglinni was the fifth of the nobles that had come over with
Partholan; and it was when they were digging his grave that the
last named lake sprang forth; hence they called it Laiglinni's
lake, or Loch-Laiglinni. Next year Loch-EctraP4 broke out,
between Sliabh-Modurn25 and Sliabh-Fuaid,26 in Orgiall; after
this Loch-Rudraide27 burst forth, and in it Rudraide, the chieftain
from whom it was called, was drowned; in the same year happened the eruption of Loch-Cuan.28 Partholan, upon arriving in
Ireland, found but three lakes and nine rivers therein.  The
lakes were Loch-Luimnigh,29 in Des-Mumha, or Desmond; LochFoirdemain,30 near Traigh-Li (Tralee), in Munster, and FinlochKera,3' in Irrus-Domnan, in Connaught, of which the bard says:
"Three wide and wondrous lakes,
And nine delightful rivers,
18 Burst forth, " Do Bhrficht," is the   23 Loch Laiglinni is not known. Ui
word used by our ancient chroniclers. Mac Uais Bre'tgh is a district in EastMost modern Irish antiquaries under- meath.-O'D.
stand the phrase to' be a figurative   2 23 26 Loch Ectra. Dr. O'Donomethod of expressing the discovery of van says that there is no remarkable
these lakes, by the exploring colonists. lake between those mountains but
To suppose anything else would lead Loch Mucenamha, near Castleblaney.
one back to those fabled times of classic Sliabh Modurn (3Mourne) lies in the
legend, when, as poets sang, Sicily barony of Cremourne, county Monwas torn from Italy, and some great arahan.  Sliabh  Fuaid, is situated
Atlantis sank beneath the ocean.   near Newtown, Hamilton county, Ar19 Now  Lough Mask, a large and magh.
beautiful lake in the county Mayo.-O'D.   27 Loch Rudraide. The mouth of
20 Loch Con is in the barony of the river Erne, county Donegal, was so
Tirawley and county of Mayo.-O'D.  called.-O'D.
21 Loch Dechet or Techet is now.s Loch  Cuan, now called Strang
Lough Gara, between the counties Ros- ford Lough, county Down -O'D.
common and Sligo. -O'D.              29 30 31 Loch Luimnigh, nowLimerick
22 Sliabh-Slangi was the ancient Harbor, Loch Foirdemain, Tralee bay,
name of Sliabhl L)omhamghairt (Slieve and Finnloch Kera, Lough Carra, in
Dowangart), now Slieve Donard.-O'D. Mayo.-O'D.




118               THITE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Loch-Fordremain, Loch-Luimnigh
And Finnloch, close by Irrus."
The following are tIee nine rivers, namely, the Buas (now the
Bush), between Dal-Araide32 and Dal-Riada,33 or RIuta; the Berba
(now Barrow); the Rurthach, or Lifi (now Liffey), between the
Ui-Neill and the people of Leinster; the Laei (now Lee), in
Munster, running through Muscraide (now Muskerry) to Cork;
the Sligech (Sligo); the Saimer (otherwise  the Erna); the
Muaidh (now Moy), in -Connaught, in the territory of the northern Ui-Fiachrach  (Ee-Feeghragh); the Modurn or Mourne, ill
Tirone, and the Bann between Lee and Eli, as the bard informs
us in the duan, which begins, " Adam, parent source of hosts:"
"The Laei, Buas, Banna, the strong Berba,
The Saimer, Sligech, Modurn, Muaidh,
And Lifi, in Laighen, likewiseThese are the elder rivers."
About four years after the eruption of Murthol,34 Partholan
died, ili the old plain of Magh-n-Elta of Edar, and there he was
burled. The reason why it is called the Old Plain, i. e. Sen-Mlagh,
is because no wood ever grew upon it, and the reason why it is
called Magh-n-Elta, i.e., "the plain of the flocks," (i.e., elta,) is
because that was the place where the fowl of Eri used to come
to bask in the sun.
Partholan died about thirty years after his occupation of Ireland. Some of our antiquarians will have it that event happened
in the year of the world 2628, but I judge from what I have
shown above, that there were only 1986 from the Creai6nn of the
world to the death of Partholan. There are others, again, that
say, that only twenty years intervened between the death of
Partholan and the destruction of his people by the plague; but,
the general opinion is against them; for it says that Ireland
remained desert, but thirty years after that catastrophe, until
Nemedh came to take possession of it: as the poet relates in the
following verse:
"During thirty years, full told
It lay desolate, without warriors brave,
When all its hosts died in one week
In flocks upon Magh-n-Elta."
We are told by the holy Cormac Mac Culinain, that there
32 33 Dal Araidhe (Daul Arree,) was Ma.Isters call this "Murthol Brena," or
co-extensive with. the present county "the Inundation of Brena." Brena apDown, and Dal-Riada with the county pears, it would seem, to have been an
Antrim.                          old name for the present Strangford
" Iurthol. The Annals of the Four Lough




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                       119
were three hundred years from the coming of Partholan to the
destruction of his people, and this account is confirmed by the
bard Eocaidh O'Floina (O'Fiinn), where he says:
"Three hundred years, we know well,
Over those lovely, fertile fields,
Ruled that polished, prudent race,
In Eri, the ancient and the august."
It must also be seen, from all we have said, that those are not
to be believed either, who say that more than five hundred years
intervened between the death of Partholan and the destruction
of his people by the plague; neither are we to suppose, that after
the country's having been inhabited, as they assert, for above
five hundred years, the number of its people could amount to no
more than five thousand men and four thousand women.
The following was the division made of Ireland by the four
sons of Partholan, Er, Orba, Ferann and Fergna, chieftains that
had four namesakes3  amongst the descendants of Aliledh; here,
then, is their division, as recorded by Eocaidh O'Floinn,3   ArdOllamnh re Filidect, or Arch-Poet of Ireland.
" FOUR gallant sons of warlike deeds,
Four princely sons had Partholan,
Who shared between them, uncontrolled
And without grudge, the lands of Eri." 37
35 These namesakes were the four ment.  2d. Inheritance of property.
sons of Eber Finn, son of Miledh, who  3d. Distinct apportionment of land.
ruled Ireland conjointly from A. M. 4th. Seniority or chieftainship, i. e.
2755 to A. M. 2756. The names are, distinction of rank.
apparently, allegorical in  both in-    ~ The celebrated chief-poet, Eocaidh
stances, and refer to the arts and in- O'Floinn, flourished in the 10th censtitutions established in Ireland during  tury.  Many of his compositions reits occupation by the Partholanians and main,  The post of "Ard-ollamh re
Eberians, the memory of which has been Filidecht," (Ard-Ollav-re-filleegTht), i. e.
thus enigmatically and succinctly pre- chief-doctorship of poetry, was one of
served in Druidic rann. I here give the the earliest regrular institutions of the
meanin(rs of these four words, from 0'- Gaels.
Reilly's Irish Dictionary, viz.: 1. "Er" or   37 This division has been before
"Ear," sub. head, adj., great; 2. "Orba," given, and the modern names of the
sub. inheritance, land patrimony; see a!- boundary points shown, viz.: 1st, from
so "Forba" and"Forbadh," id.; 3. "Fe- Ailech or Ellagh, near Derry, on the
rann" or' "Fearann," land, a farm, i. e. a north coast, to Ath-Cliath or Dublin;
d;stinct portion of land. 4. "Fergna,"  2d, from Dublin to Ard-Nemidh, i. e.
chieftainship, seniority, and " Ergna,"  the hill over the Cove of Cork, on
which is thi same word without the dig- Great-Island; 3d, to Medraide, i. e.
amoma, knowledge. The allegory then  Clarin's Bridge, near Galway, and
might mean, that these sons, born to  thence again to Ailech. It is to be rPartholan, in Ireland, were the laws marked that no internal boundaries are
and customs he established amongst laid down.'I'he interior was still apthe hunters and fishers, he found dwell- parently unknown, the Partholanians
ihg iW it,'viz.: 1st. Head, i. e., govern- occupying but the coasts.




120                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Their division was not hard for theseThe isle of Eri, an unbroken forestFew then the dwellers in each lis,'3
Each man well knew his proper share.
Er, the eldest, bright was his happiness,
Pleasant his share, long held in peaceFrom Ailech-Neid, land without deceit,
To the rich Ath-Cliath of Laighen.From Ath-CIiath Laighen, Leaep3  of Ler,
To the tall isle of Ard-Nemidh,
A fair, rich soil was Orba's shareFree from strife-strong was his rule.
From the ford where Nemedh met his death,
To Medraide of wide territories,
A fair and faultless tract,
Was the large domain of Ferann.
Long is the tract from far Medraide
To Ailech-Neid of customs good,
A powerful lordship, of fearless sway,
This.plenteous land fell to Fergna.
On Eri's soil (no tale of falsehood this)
5Were born these champions named.
A noble race of endless fameGentle as warlike were the FOUR."
Here follow  the names of Partholan's husbandmen, Tothact,
Tarba, Tren, Imhas, Cul, Doreha and Damb.40   His four oxen
were Liag, Leg-magh, Imari and Ethrighe.  Beor was the name
of the first person that received people at free hospitality, or
entertainment in Ireland.  Breoga, son of Senboth, was the first
88 Lis or lios, gen. lesa, is the most   40 These names of Partholan's hususual name for those circular earthen  bandmen, &c., tend to confirm one, as
forts, one or two, and sometimes three to the allegorical nature of the names
of which are to be found, or may be of his followers. They are most of
traced in almost every Baili or town- them  ordinary Gaelic words, and exland in Ireland.                     pressive of certain appropriate attri"0 In the original, Leim Lir.'1Ialli- butes, viz.: amongst those husbandmen,
day translates these words, "great the  Tothacht, i. e. "digging;"  Tarbha,
coast."  We cannot find that the i.e., "profit;" Tren, i. e. "strength,"
words could bear that construction. &c. Amongst the oxen are Leg-mkagh,
Besides, Ler's Leap might have been as i. e., "lay the field;" Imari, i. e.
appropriately applied to the mouth of "ridge;" and Ethriglie, i. e. " furrow."
the Liffey, as " Leim Choncullainn" or The names of his three Druids, signify
Cuchullainn's Leap, to that of the kozwledge, information, and inquiry.
Shannon. We shall meet, further on, The names of his merchants, "Bibal"
with a celebrated personage called  and " Bebal," would seem to point to the
Manannan, son of Ler.               East, where he traded.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND                       121
man, that first introduced single combat into Ireland. Samaliliath
was the first to introduce the drinking of ale. Fios, E61las and
Fochmart were Partholan's three druids;41 Mucha, Meran and
Muncenican were his three champions; Bibal and Bebal were his
two merchants: he had ten daughters and ten sons-in-law.
41 Draeidh, (Dhree), is the Gaelic w9rd meant "prophet," "poet," and
form  of the word "Druid."  The "-age," as well as " priest."  Thus, its
pagan priests of the Celtic nations relation to drecht (drayaght), an old
were thus designated. The term  is Irish name for "poesy," would be the
generally derived from some word kin- same exactly as that between irotrnta
dred to the Greek dpvg,and Irish "dair," and 7rotq-qg.  Drecht. seems a con" an oak tree," from their usually per- tracted form of draeidhecht (dreeaght,)
forming their rites in sacred groves of i. e. "t druidism."  This latter derivathat tree. It is, however, more ap- tion we have observed to be the conpropriately derived from  some word jecture of some learned continental
like dpaw "to make;" thus 7rotLT1r,  philologists.   It seems  the  more
a "poet," from 7rotec " to make," for the likely.
CHAPTER VII.
OF THE SECOND COLONIZATION OF IRELAND, I.E., THE CONQUEST
BY THE  SONS OF NEMEDHI, OR THE  NEMEDIAINS, AND  OF
THEIR BATTLES DOWN HERE.
IRELAND remained waste for the space of thirty years after
the extinction' of the race of Partholan, until Nemedh, son of
Agnaman, son of Pamp, son of Tath, son of Sera, son of Sru,
son of Esru, son of Framant, sonl of Fathacta, son of Magog,
son of Japhet came and settled -therein.  It is to be remarked
that all those that formerly invaded Ireland, are of the posterity
of Magog,2 except Kesair alone, if it be indeed true that that
1  artholan and his people died at In fact the old names of the country
"Tamlact Muintiri Partholain," now  and its rivers and mountains, go far to
Tallaght, within three miles of Dublin. disprove the similarity of origin and
It is not very likely that all the language here asserted. The preservaPartholanians could have been destrov- tion of their genealogies was, it is true,
ed. We must rather understand tlhe  an essential institution of the Gaelic polfact here recorded, to mean that the ity —in fact, the man or tribe whosepediplague had so weakened them, that gree was forgotten, lost his or its liberty
their Fomorian or Aboriginal enemies thereby-but the Gaelic Shenachies,
had subdued or banished these early  had no interest in handing down the
civilizers.                         pedigrees of the earlier tribes. We
2 This, though the common opinion  shall even see them hereafter making
of our Shanachies, is most improbable, laws to prevent any such transmission.




122                THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
heroine ever occupied the island. It is at Sru, son of Esru, that
the genealogies of Nemedh and Partholan separate; and at Sera
that the generations of the Fir-Bolgs, Tuatha-De-Dananns and
the sons of Miledh or Milesians diverge from one another. All
these nations spoke the " Scot-Berla" or Scottish tongue.  This
is evident from the fact that when Ith, son of Bre6gan, came to
Ireland, he communicated with the Tuatha-De-D-Danalns in that
tongue, and through it both he and they found out, that they
were each of them of the posterity of Mangog. Some assert, that
Nemedh was descended friom Adla, a son whom Partholan had
left behind him in the East.
The course3 Nemedh took in his voyage to Ireland from Scythia, was through that narrow sea that comes in from the ocean,
which narrow sea is called the "Mare  Euxinum" (i. e. the E~zxine,
now the Blaclc. Sea).4  It is the boundary between the north-west
part of Asia and the north-east part of Europe; the Riphean
(Ural) Mountains are also, according to Pomponius Mela, on the
north-west boundary of Asia, between the sea just mentioned
and the Northern Ocean.  IHe left the Riphean Mountains on
his right, until he got into the North sea, and then he left Europe
on his left, until he reached Ireland.5 The following was the
strength of his fleet and the number of his host, to wit, thirtyfour ships, with a crew of thirty in each ship.  The leaders of
these were Nemedh and his four sons, Starn, Iarbanel the Prophet, Anind and Fergus Leth-derg (Fergus of the Red Side).6
Four lakes burst forth in Ireland in Nemedh's time. These are
Loch-Brenann on7 Magh-Asail, in Ui Niallain; Loch MIunremar,8
* The course here vaguely pointed  of the voyage, however, might have
out, was the one that might have been been performed in boats, up the Volga
taken by tle Cimbri or Kimri, i. e. or the Don. The error of a single word
the Northern Celts, if, as some anti- or a few words, would have caused the
queries suppose, these were descendants mistake. The main facts, as to the traof the Cimmerii of the Palus AMceotis, ditionary account of Nemedlh's migranow the Sea of Asoph. The name of tions, can scarcely be impugned thereby.
the Cimmerii, is still faintly preserved  Dr. Keating was so rigid a respecter
in that of the " Crimea."           of antiquity that he neglected to look
4 The Euxine or Black Sea is here at his map. WVith the exception of
obviously confounded with the Baltic; the sail by the Riphean m6untains, the
that is, the point from which the Neme- description of the migration is exactly
dians first started towards the North, what might be expected. The Scanwith that whence they sailed from  dinavians, and other nations, must
directly for Ireland. The Euxine has hive traced nearly the same route in
no direct communication with the after times.
ocean, but the Baltic has, and agrees    6 Medu, Macha, Yba, and Kera,
fully with this description.        were the wives of these chieftains.6 The Gaelic Bards were certainly  Four Mllasters.
no geographers, or they would not have    7 Loch Brenann, appears to have
made this colony sail over land from the been another name for Loch Cal, now
Cimmerian to the Cimbric Peninsula, Lough Gall, in the barony of West
i. e., from Crimea to Denmark. Part Oneilland, in the county of Armagh,




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                     123
on M agh-sola; and, ten years after the landing of Nemedh, LochDarbrech9 sprang forth, and also Loch Anind, over Magh-Mor, in
Meath; Loch-Anind was thus called, for it burst forth over the
land when they were digging the grave of Anind. It was of
these lakes that the bard sang the following rann:
" Four lakes of waters wide
Burst over the great FodlaLoch-Darbrech, Loch-Brenann, fair
Loch-Munremar, Loch-Anind."x"
The wife of Nemedh died in Ireland; in the twelfth year after
her arrival in the country, and previous to the death of Anind,
son of Nemedh.  Mlacha was this lady's name; and she was the
first that had died since the landing of Nemedh's colony therein.
It is from her that Ard-Macha (i. e. Macha's height, now Armagh)
has its name.
Nemedh built two royal raths (i. e. forts) in Ireland, namely, Rath
Kinneich,l1 in the Ui Niallain, and Rath Kimbaeith,12 in Semni.
It was the four sons of IMadan Munrelar, of the Fomorians,l" that
built Rath Kinneich in one day; their names were Bog, Robog,
Rubni and Rodan.  Nemedh slew  them  the next morning in
Doiri Lighe,14 lest they should take it into their heads to pull
down the rath again, and he buried them where they fell.
Nemedh clearedtwelve plains of wood while in Ireland; here
follow  their names:  Magh-Kera,15 Magh-Nera,l6  Magh-CuliToladh,17 Magh-Luirg,18 in Connaught; Magll-Tochair, in T'yrone;
Lec-Maggh,l9 in Munster; Magh-Bresa,20 in Leinster; Magh-Lugaidh,21 in Ui Tuirtri;2 Magh-Seridh,23 in Tebtha (Teffa); Magihor it may be the Fretum  Brennese, Li," -.     It was very probably in
otherwise Loch Cuan, now Strangford the territory of the Fir Lii, on the
Lake, whose eruption has already been River Bann.-O'D.
recorded.-O'D.                      15 Magh-Kera, i. e. the Plain of
8 Loch Munremar is now called Kera, in the barony of Carra, and
Lough Ramor, near Virginia, in the county of Mayo.-O'D.
county of Cavan. —O'D.              16 Magh-Nera, unknown to editor.
Loch Darbrech-now Lou(gh Derry-   17 Magh-Culi-Toldidh, (lMoyculli-Tovaragh, a large and beautiful lake, near la,) a plain in the barony of KilCastlepollard,county Westmeath. —O'D. maine, and county of Mayo. —O'D.
10 Loch Anind- now Lough Ennell,  1s Magh-Luirg, now  Moylurg, in
near Mullingar.-O'D.              the county of Roscommon.-O'D.
1n Rath Kinneich, or Cinneich, un-   19 Lec-Magh, unknown to editor.
known.-O G'D.                       20 i1Magh-Bresa. The'Four Masters
12 Rath Kimbaeith, the name is now  have it Magh-Brensa. Not known to
obsolete. Mlagh Semhni (lMoy Shevni), editor.
was in the county of Antrim. Rinn   21 Magh-Lugaidh (Moy Looee), i. e.
Semni (Reen Shevni), was the old the Plain of Lugaidh, a district round
name of Island-Maogee.-O'D.       Lough Neagh.-O'D.
is This would show that the Fomo-   22 The Ui Tuirtri, who gave their
rians inhabited the country still.  name to this district, were descended
is Doiri Lighe, i.e. "the oak wood of from  Fiacra Tort, the grandson of




124                THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Semni,24 in Dal-Araide, Antrim; 1,fagh-Murthemni,25 in Brealgh;
and Magh-Alacha,26 in Orghiall.
Nemedh defeated the Fomorians in three battles.  These people were mariners of the race of Chain, who, sailing from Africa,
fled to the islands of the west of Europe, in order to make settlements for themselves therein, and thus avoid the descendants of
Shem; for they feared lest the latter should enslave them, in
consequence of the curse pronounced by Noah against their progenitor, Cham.  In this manner they imagined that, by making
their settlements in far distant lands, they might be allowed to
live in security, remote from the oppression of the children
of Shem. For this reason did they come to Ireland, where they
were routed  by Nemedh in the three battles, as above stated,
namely: in the battle of Sliabh-Bladrna (now Slieve Bloom, in
Leinster); and the battle of Ros-Fraechain,27 in Coin'aught, wherein
fell Gann and Gennan, two Fomorian chieftains; and in the battle of Murbolg, in Dal-Riada, or the Ruta.  In the latter conflict,
Starn, son of Nemedh, fell by the hand of Conaing, son of Faebar,
at Lethed-lact-Moighe (LehCid-lctght-Jlo?y).  A  battle was, also,
fought between them- at Cnanmh-Ros,~ where there was a great
slaughter of the Irish,who were led on by Arthur, a son of Nemedh,
who had been born to him in Ireland, and by Ibcan, son of Starn,
son of Nemedh.
After this Nemedh died of a plague, at the island of ArdNemidh,2  in,Ui Liathain,30 in Munster, which is now  called
Barrymore Island.  With him  there perished two thousand of
his people, men and women.
After the death of Nemedh, his children and people had to
endure great tyranny and oppression in Ireland from the Fomorians, in vengeance for those battles mentioned above, where the
latter had been routed by Nemedh.
King Colla Uais.  The word "ui," "wood of the bones," probably Campronounced "'ee," means "grandsons" ross, county Carlow. —O'D.
or 4 descendants;" it is the nominative   29 " Oilean Arda Nemedh" (Illaunplural of "o," the common prefix of ardea-nevvie),i. e. the Island of Nemedh's
Irish surnames.                   Height, was the old name of Great Is23 MIagr- Seridh, said to be Kenan- land in Cork Harbor, upon which the
nus, now Kells, between the two Tef  town of Cove stands.
fas, in Meath. —O'L).               30  i Liathain, (Ee Leehauin), was
2' See note on Rath Kzmoaeith.  O'Lehan's country.  The Irish Sept
253 1Maglh-1Murthe7ni  (Moy  Mur. from whom the district received its
hevni), was in Louth.             name, are now universally called Lyons.
"6 MhtZ'-Macha, i. e. the " Plain of They are still numQrous round their
Macha," was near Armagh.          ancient tribe-land. Their country was
2' Ros-Fraeclhain, is now called Ros- afterwards called  Barrymore, from
reahan, in the barony of Murresk, and the family of the Norman De Barries,
county of Mayo.-O'D.              who conquered and possessed it in
" Cnamh-Ros (Cnaw Ross), i. e. the after times.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                       125
Conaing, son of Faebar, from whom is called Tor-Conaing,31 off
the northern coast of Ireland, and who kept a fleet and resided at
Tor-Conaing, now Tor-Inis, or Tory Island, with More, the son
of Da1a, exacted the tribute of Ireland  from  the Nemedians.
The amount of this tribute was two-thirds of their children, corn,
and cattle, which had to be presentedl to those two chieftains
every year, on the eve of Samhallm32 (All-hallows), upon the field
of AMag-h-Kedni,33 between Drobaeis (Bundrowes) and Erni.  The
place received the name of Magh-Kedni, from the frequent usage
of paying that tribute thereon.  The Fomorians impos3d  still
another tyrannical exaction on the children of Nemecldh, namely,
three measures34 of crea-m,3 flour and butter, which were to be
sent from  every hearth to lMore and Conaing, at Tor-Inis; and
this tax was levied throughout Ireland by a female steward,
named Liag; in testimony whereof, a bard has spoken this verse'
"The tax they then laid on
Was three well-filled measuresA measure of cream from richest milk,
A measure of the flour of wheat.
The third tax, not great, we deem,
Was a measure of mellow butter."
At length, anger and impatience seized the men of Eri, by reason of that tribute and taxation, and they rose up to give battle
81 Tor-Conaing, or C(onaing's Tower, the famous Druidic fire, whence all the
was situated on Tory Island, off the hearths in Ireland were to be lighted,
north-west coast of Donegal. A long  was kindled at Tlactga, now Athboy,
account of its destruction, is given in in the Munster portion of WMeath. It
the Book of Invasions, i. e. the "Leb- was the custom to extinguish all the
har Gabhala."                       private hearths in the island, on the
32 Samhlain, now pronounced Savwin  night previous. The customs still oband Sowin, is the old Irish name for served on Hallow-Eve are remnants of
the first of November. It is fancifully  the ceremonies anciently practiced in
derived by our bardic etymologists from  honor of the Rest of Samh.
the words" Samh-Shuan " (Sav-hooan)   33 Magh-Kedni lay on. the borders
i. e. the rest of Samh, or the Sun; or of the present counties of Donegal and
from "' Samh-Fuin," (Savvin) i. e. the  FErmanagh, between Lough Erne and
end of Samh; for then the " Samhradh," the sea at Bundrowes. The derivation
(Sowrah and Savrah,) one of two great here hinted at, from  "cedna" the
divisions into which the pagan Irish  same, is extremely forced.
divided their year, ended. This divi-   34 The original has "tri lan, Sluaisde."
sion commenced on the " La Beltaini" " Sluasad" is now universally applied
or May-day. The other division was to the implement called a shovel:
called the Gamhradh (Gavrayh), or Sea- " liach" is the term used in the bardic
son of Gamh. Besides these, the Irish  raun quoted farther on. It means some
year was divided into the four seasons: such flat wooden vessel as that still used
" Erach," Spring; " Samhradh," Sum- by the Irish milkwomen for skimming
mer; "Foghmhar," (Fovar or Foar,) milk and making up butter.
Harvest, -and "Geimhred," (Guireh,)    3 By " cream," chese is most probWinter. Samhain was a famous festi- ably meant.
val amongst the heathen Irish. Then




126                TIHE IIISTORY OF IRELAND.
to the Fomorians. These people were called Fomaracgh,36 because
they were folk that committed "robberies," i. e. foghla, upon the
"sea,"' i. e. muir; hence the term  lEomar-ach means " pirate#' or
" robber of the seas," i. e. "Fo muirib." The clans of Nemedh were
now led on by thiree brave warriors, namely: by Be6thach, son
of Iarbancl the Prophet, son of Nemedh; and by Fergus Lethderg (Redside), son of Nemedh; and by Erglan, son of B3ean,
son of Starn, son of Nemedh, with whom were his two brothers,
lanuntan and Iarthact.   Their numbers amounted to  thirty
thousand on sea and thirty thousand on land; as the bard thus
records:
" Three score thousand, a bright array,
Upon the land and on the water;
Such were the hosts, that left their homes
Of Nemedh's clans, to raze that tower."
They then demolished the tower or fortress upon Tor-Inis, and
there Conaing fell with his children and kindred. However, More,
son of Dela, arrived soon afterwards at Tor-Inis, from Africa, with
a force of sixty ships. Upon this, the clans of Nemedh fought
the Fomorians again upon the same ground. In this second battle,
they nearly all either fell by the hands of each other, or were
drowndd; for they did not perceive the tide coming in upon them,
such was/the intensity of the fight.  More, son of Dl1a, escaped
with a small portion of his people, and with them  he took possession of the island. Of the host of the Nemedians, engaged in
that fight, there escaped but the crew of one ship, containing
thirty waririors, amongst whom were three chieftains of Nemedh's
own blood, namely, Simeon Brec, son of Stain, son of Nemedh;
and Ibath, son of Be6thach, son of Iarbanel the Prophet, son of
Nemrnedh; and Britan Mael, son  of Fergus Leth-derg, son  of
Nemedh.
Upon escaping from that conflict, they formed the resolution
of leaving Ireland, and thus fleeing from  the slavery, to which
the Fomorians had reduced them.  They were seven years preparing for their emigration. Each of the above-named chiefs prepared a separate fleet, and a certain portion, both of the children of
those that had arrived in.Ireland with Nemedh and of his own descendants, embarked on board these fleets under their respective
36 Fomaraigh, or, with all its aspira- shores,from the Dofrefield or Norwegian
tions, " Fomharaigh;" (Fovarih and Alps to Mount Atlas. At the time
Fovarig) is the plural of"Fomarach." It this history now treats of, the race of
is idle to speculate upon the etymology  Cham were lords of powerful empires
of the name. That here given is purely in Egypt and Canaan, while the race
fanciful, and very far-fetched. The peo- of Shem were still but obscure shepple were probably the Aborigines or herds, so that the reason, given a little
earliest inhabitants of Western Europe, before for the wanderings of this people,
and may have occupied the Atlantic cannot be admitted.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                       127
leaders. Othern37 remained after them in Ireland.  Amongst them
were ten warriors, left to rule the remnant of the Nermedians, that
staid behind under the thraldoiln of the Fomorians.  These continued to dwell in the island, until the arrival of the Fer-Bolgs.
Simc6n Brec, son of Starn, son of Nemedh, one of those three
chieftains, proceeded with his followers to Greece,`, that is, to
that part of' it called Thrac, and here again they fell into bondage.  It is from  this Simeon Brec that the Fir-Bolgs are descended, as shall hereafter be showint     The second chieftain went
to the north of Europe,19 namely, Ibath, son of Beothach. However, some of our historians say, that Beotia was the country to
which he went, and that it is from him the Tuatha-de-Dananns are
descended.  The third chieftain, Britan Mael, son of Fergus Lethderg, proceeded to Dobar40 and Iar-Dobar,41 in the north of Alba
(Scotland).  There he dwelt himself, and there likewise dwelt his
posterity after him.  The number of vessels'that these Nemedian chieftains took with them, counting  ships,4a barks,4  curraghs44 and barges,45 Was one thousand and thirty in all.
And Britan Mael and his posterity continued to dwell in Alba,
as we have just mentioned, and there they remained until the
Cruithnigh, or Picty, were sent fiom  Ireland to take possession of
that country in the days of Erimhon.  And the holy Cormac Mac
Culinan tells us, in his Psalter, that it is from  this same Britan
that the island Britannia or Great Britain has received the name
which it bears to the present day: and the records of Ireland
agree with him  in this, according to the duan which begins —
"Adam, parent, source of hosts."
The stainless Britan passed over the sea,
Generous son of Fergus Lethderg,
All the Brethnaigh of victorious fame
From him are, without falsehood, sprung.
Another bard bears out the same fact, where he saysW Wxe see here that this, probably  fusion of the traditions of two distinct
the earliest of the Celtic colonies, did  nations, that might have amalgamated
not become extinguished by the Fomo- in Lochlin or Scandinavia and thence
rians. They occupied a portion of the invaded Ireland.
island to tfemselves, until the arrival   40 41 The localities here meant by Doof their kinsmen the Fer-Bolgs enabled bar and " Iar " or West Dobar, are unthem to triumph over their enemies.   known to the editor.
8 This return to Greece is improba-   3 44 4 The terms here used for the
ble. It means, perhaps, that he went different species of vessels mentioned are
back to some of his Celtic kinsmen, " long," a ship; "bare," a bark; "curnow flowing in successive waves from  rach," a curragh, or wicker canoe covthe East and over-spreading the conti- ered with hides, and " naemhog," (naynent of Northern and Central Europe. vogue,) a diminutive of " naei," or
39 The Aiscrepancyhere to be observ- "naemh," a ship, which I translte
ed is obviously the result of the con- barge.




128                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
"Britan Mael, the son of princes,
Noble the trunk whence he spread;
The son of the Red-sided Chief from Leg-Magrh,
From whom all the Brethnaigh are sprung."
It is more reasonable to believe this than to. suppose that Britain has received its name from  Brutus;4" for, if it were, in all
likelihood, the word would be "Brutania."  Besides, the name
-was still further obscured by the sons of Brutus, as we see by
Geoffley of Monmouth, for, according to him, Loegrus,47 the son
of Brutus, called the part of Great Britain that fell to his own
sharelrLeegria; and Camber, his second son, named his division
of the island, Cambria;'   Albanactus'4   again, the third  son,
called the portion that fell to himself, Albania.
And the remnant of the Nemedians that remained dwelling in
Ireland, after those three chieftains mentioned above, was sorely
oppressed from time to time by the Fomorians, until the return
of the descendants of Simeon Brec, son of Nemedh, from  Greece.
Two hundred and seventeen years elapsed from the arrival of
Nemedh to that of the Fer-Bolgs, as the bard relates:
" Seventeen years had passed, and two hundred,
(In this tale there is no false reckoning.)
From Nemedh's coming from the East
Across the seas, with his tall sons,
Until the sons of Staern arrived
From the dreary, rugged Greig."-(Greece?)50' Some of the old British chroni- Saxons that first applied the term
clers tell us that Britain had its name "Wallisc," or" Welsh " to them, which
from a l'rojan chief named Brutus.  means Strangers, as heretofore shown.
17 48 49 Loegria comprised the eastern Albanactus is clearly a modification of
portion, comprising most of what is now  the Gaelic word " Albanact," i. e. the
called England.  Cambria comprised  country of the Albanachs or natives of
Wales, Cumberland, Northumberland. Alba.
These names are evidently corruptions   "0 The bard could not surely have
of Kimri, Cimbri, Kimmerii, or Cim- meant Greece by this description. It
merii. The Welch still know them- is more applicable to some northern
selves only as" Kimri."  It was the  clime.




CHAPTER VIIL
OF THE CONQUEST BY THE FER-BOLGS.
WHEN the posterity of Simeon Brec had dwelt for some time
in Greece, it was found that their people had multiplied exceedingly.  Then the Greeks (Gr/igh) subjected them  to severe
hardships and bondage, obliging them to dig up mould and to
carry it in sacks (bolgs) of leather, in order to iay it upon rocky
heights, and thus render their soil capable of yielding crops.  In
consequence of this bondage, grief and weariness and a hatred of
the Greeks seized upon them, and they, thereupon, resolved to
leave such hard task-masters.  Then five thousand of them came
together, and they made barks1 of the leathern sacks or bags, in
which they were wont to carry the mould; or, as the Book of
Drom Snecta tells us, they stole the ships of the king of the country.  Then, these descendants of Sime6n Brec returned to Ireland,
about two hundred years after the occupation of the island by
their ancestor Nemedh.
Here follow the names of the chiefs, that led them on their return to Ireland, viz., Slangi, Rudraide, Gann, Genann and Sengann.  These were the five sons of Dela, son of Loch, son of
Tecta, son of Tribuadh, son of Otorb, son of Gostenn, son of Orthect, son of Simeon, son of Erglann, son of Beoan, son of Starn,
son of Nemedh.  And their five wives were Fuad, Edair, Anust,
Cnuca and Libra; the bard thus records their names:
" Of Slangi Fuad was the wife-no lying taleEdair the wife of warlike Gann,
Anust the wife of Sengann of spears,
Cnuca the wife of the bright Genann,
Libra the wife of Rudraide of song."
These five chieftains of the Fer-Bolgs divided Ireland between
them into five parts, as we have heretofore stated, in speaking of'Such barks could not carry them  north of Thrace. Such vessels a; fhe
far. The tradition may possibly have above might have been used in the pasreference to some incident in the migra- sage of the Danube, or some other large
tion of the Belgian tribes, through the river.
rl29]




130                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
the third apportionment made of Ireland; the bard records the
fact thus:
The five chieftains of that host,
Divided Banba into five FifthsGenann, Rudraide, (a bright list,)
Gann, Sengann and Slangi.
It was these five sons of Dela and their followers, that were
called the Fer-Bolgs,2 Fer-Domnans3 and Fer-Galeols.4   They
were called  Fer-Bolgs (i. e. Bag-men), from  the leathern sacks
they used in Greece. The Fer-Domnans were called from the
" depths" or "pits," (i. e. doimhne,) in which they had to dig for
the mould, which the Fer-Bolgs then carried to the rocks, where
they were to lay it. In like manner, the Fer-Galebns were so
called from the javelins, i. e. " gai," with which they were armed,
in order to defend the others while at work.
The reader must understand that this conquest by the five sons
of Dela is reckoned but one conquest, for they all effected their
lanc'ing in Ireland in one week, viz. Slangi on Saturday at InberSlangi; Gann and Sengann on the Tuesday after, at Irrus-Domnan; (in Maya) Genann and Rundraide on the next Friday, at
Tract-Rudraide;6 the people of Slangi were those called Fer-Galeons; the Fer-Bolgs were those commanded by Gann and Sengann; the people of Genann and Rudraide were those designated
2 Fer-Bolg, in the plural Fir Bolg, portions of which people are placed by
i. e. "Men of Bolg."  This people was ancient geographers in Gaul, Britain
evidently a portion of the nation of and Ireland. We find them also called
the Belgse, so renowned for their valor Damnii and, perhaps, Daunii. In Briamongst the ancient inhabitants of tain, their chief seat was Devonshire,
Gaul and Britain, who were of Kim- to which, it is supposed, they left their
ro-Celtic and not of Germanic origin. name, the aspirate "mh" being proBolg is certainly a corruption of Belg, nounced "v " and "w " in Gaelic, viz.,
or vice versa. We meet many analo- " Dovnan" or "Downan."
gous commutations of the vowels "e "   4 Fer-Galeon. The Fir-Galen may
and "' o" in Irish.  Thus the *word possibly have been a portion of the
now universally written "ole," i. e. bad, Galli of the Romans and ra tarot of
is frequently found written" elc" in old the Greeks; or they may have been
manuscripts. The tale that Keating  but a sub-tribe of the Belgae, as is here
here recounts from the Shenachies, was stated. Their name seems derived from
manifestly coined in order to account "Gal," battle. The derivations given
for the forgotton origin of'the national in the text are absurd. A conquering
name. Bolg means also " a bow," " the nation would not perpetuate the membelly," or any " bulging protuberance."  ory of its degradation in the names of
The origin of the name is, in truth, lost its tribes.
in remote antiquity, and can never be    6 Inber-Slanngi.  Inver Slangi, i. e.
more than guessed at.               Wexford harbor, at the mouth of the
3 Fcr-Domnans.  The "Fir-Domh- river Slangi, now Slane.
nan," (Fir-Downan,) i. e. the "Men of   6 Tract-Rudraide.  The strand of
Domnan," or Domna, were, it is equal- Rooree, in Ulster.
ly manifest, a sept of the Damnonii,




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                      131
Fer-Domnans.  Our historians say that Inber-Domnan,7 in the
north-west of Connaught, was the place where the two latter chiefs
landed with a third of the forces, and that the place has been
called Irrus-Domnan from them.  Notwithstanding these distinctions, the five sons of Dela and all their host are commonly called
Fer-Bolgs.  Thirty-six years was the duration of the Fer-Bolg
rule in Ireland.  Before them no person possessed the island that
could be properly called a king of Ireland. Upon this fact some
bard has composed the following verse:
For sixteen years and twice ten,
The Fer-Bolgs ruled one-half8 of Banba,
Then came the conquering Tuatha-De
And seized the whole of Eri.
7 Some say that the Inber-Domnan, the Belgian rule.  These may have
or Damnonian harbor, where the Fer been the Fomorians, and that remnant
Domnans landed, was Arklow, a little to  of the Nemedians that had remained in
the south of Dublin. It was long after  Ireland when their kinsmen had emibefore they gave their name to Irrus grated.  Even of the Partholanians,
Domnan in Connaught, to which the some portion might have still held parts
]Damnonii had been driven from Leinster of the island. From the short duration
by the increasing power of the Gaels.  of their rule, it is clear that the Fer8 One-half. This would make it ap- Bolgs did not constitute the bulk of
pear,'that some other nation or nations the inhabitants, when the Danaans arcontinued powerful in Ireland during rived.
CHAPTER IX.
OF THE FIRST KINGS THAT REIGNED IN  IRELAND DOWN HERE.
SLANGI, son of Dela, son of Loch, was the first monarch of
Ireland: he reigned one year, and died at Dinn-Righ,l otherwise
called Dumha-Slangi.
RUDRAIDE, son of Dbla, reigned two years, until he was killed
at Brugh2 on the Boyne.
GAiN  and GENNAN reigned four years, until they died of the
plague at Fremhuinn,3 in Meath.
1 Dinn-R;gh, i. e. " the hill of kings,"   2 Brugh na Boinne, a place on the
otherwise called Dumha Slangi, i. e. River Boyne, near Stackallan Bridge.
"Slangi's Mound." This was a very   3 Fremhain, now  Frewin, is the
ancient seat of the kings of Leinster. name of a lofty hill arising over the
It is situated, as before shown, on the western shore of Loch Uair, now Lough.
banks of the Barrow, in the townland  Owel, in the parish of Portlemon,
of Ballyknockan, near Leighlin Bridge. County of West Meath.
-O'Donovan.




132                THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
SENGANN reigned in Ireland five years, at the end of which he
was slain bv FIACADH KENFINNAN.
FIACHIAD KENFINNAN son of Starn, son of Rudraide, son of
Dela, held the kingdom of Ireland for five years, until he fell by
the hand of Rinnall, son of Gennan, son of Ddla. In his time,
the men of Ireland were fair-haired. It was thence he had received the surname Kenfinnan, i. e. fair-haired.
RINNALL, son of GENNAN, son of D8la, reigned over Ireland six
years, until he fell by the hand of Obghen, at the battle of
Craebh.4
OBGHEN (or Fidbghen), son of Sengann, son of Dela, reigned
four years, when he fell by the hand of Eocaidh, son of Ere, on
the plain of Murthemni, in Louth.
EocAIDH, son of Erc,son of Rinnall,son of Gennan, held the kingdom of Ireland ten years.  During this king's reign, there was no
wet or tempestuous weather in Ireland, nor was there any unfruitful year. In his time, likewise, all oppression and illegality was
suppressed in the island, and it was then that fixed and distinct
laws5 were first established in this land.  He fell in the battle of
Magh-Turedh, by the hands of the three sons of Nemedh, son of
Badraei, whose names were Kesarb, Luam  and Luachra.  He
was king of the Fer-Bolgs when the Tuatha-De-Dananns invaded
Ireland; and his wife was named Talti, daughter of Magh-Mor,
king of Spain. This lady was buried at a place which has been
ever since called Talti (JIltown in Mleath), from her.
Nuadath Arged-lamh (i. e. lYacdath, the Silver-handed), was now
king  of the Tuatha-De-Danann nation.  Between this prince
and Eocaidh, son of Erc, there was an obstinate battle at MaghTuredh, in which Eocaidh6 and the Fer-Bolgs7 were routed, and
ten8 thousand of the latter were slain, between Magh-Turedh9
4 There are several places of this where he was interred is described as
name in Ireland. It is not easy to tell one of the wonders of Ireland, in the
which is here meant.              Mirabilia Hibernia, in the Book of
According  to  O'Flaherty, the Ballymote. This earn still exists, and,
pentarchical government was fully es- although not high above the level of
tablished during the reign of this king. the strand, it is believed the tide can
lie tells us that Mell, descended from  never cover it.-O'D. Four Masters.
Slangi, ruled Leinster; Sreng, of the   s The annals of Clonmacnoise, say,
race of Sengann, and Orsus, of that of that one hundred thousand of the FerGenann, reigned in Thomond; Kerb, bolgs were slain, "which was the
son of Brian, son of Rudraide, was greatest slaughter that was ever heard
King of Ulster; Slangi Finn, of Con- of in Ireland, at one meeting."  From
naught, and Alla of Desmond.      the monuments of the battle still ex6' According to the Lebhar Gabhala, isting, it is quite evident that great
Eocaidh fled from tAie battle and was numbers were slain.-O'D. lb.
pursued and overtaken on the Strand    9 Magh-Turedh  (Moy Tureh),of Traigh Eothaili (Trah Ohilli), near otherwise called Magh-Turedh Conga,
Ballysadare, in the present county of from its proximity to Cono  The site
Sligo, where he was slain. The earn of the battle is still pointed out in the




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                     133
and the strand  of E6thail.  In this  battle, Nuadath lost his
hand, from which wound he was seven years under cure, and had,
in the end, to get a silver hand'~ fitted on; hence he obtained the
epithet, Arged-lamh, or "Silver-hand." The small remnant of
the Fer-Bolgs that escaped from  that battle, fled" before the
Tuatha-Do-Dananns, so that Aran, Isla, Rachlin, the Hebrides,
and many other islands, were colonized by them. In these they
dwelt until the establishment of the pentarchical government in
Ireland, at which time they were driven out of the Isles by the
Cruthnigh or Picts, whereupon they made application to Carbri
Niadfer, king of Leinster, and firom him they received a tributary
territory. But it came to pass that they could not support the
heavy rent laid upon them in this subject soil, and that they were,
for that reason, forced to apply to Medb and Olild (queen and
king of Connaught), from whom they obtained a free territory.
It is this, that is called the Migration of the Sons of Uadmor, for
Aengus, son of Uadmor, was their king in the East. It is from
this people, also, that the territories in which they dwelt, have'received the following names, viz.: Loch-Kimi,12 from  KIimi
Cethir-Kenn;  Rinn-Tamhain,13 in  Medraide;  Loch-Cathra,'4
Rinn-Bera,"l Moilin,l' Dun-Aengus, in Aran;17 Carn-Conaill, in
the district of Aidni; Magh n-Adair,'8 from Adar, the poet, son
parish of Cong, barony of Kilmaine, St. Patrick's time, we find them still
and county of.Mayo, to the right of numerous in Ireland. It is even likely
the road as you go from Cong to the that the majority of the Irish people
village of Neal. There is a detailed but are to this day, maternally at least,
legendary account of this battle in MS., sprung from the Belgic and Nemedian
in the handwriting of Gilla Riabhach  Celts, and that their language is that
O'Cleri, preserved in the library of the now known as Gaelic.
British Museum. —O'D. Four Masters.   12 Loch-Kimi, otherwise Loch Kim10  "It is stated in theBattle of Magh- bi, now Loch Hacket, in the county
Turedh and other accounts of the Tua- of Galway.
tha-De-Dananns, that  Credni Kerd   13 Rinn-Tamhain liesnear Medraide,
made a silver hand for this Lugaidh, or Clarin's Bridge. It was the name
and that Diankect fitted it upon him, of a peninsula south of Galway.
after which, Miach, son of Diankbct, to'4 Loch Cathra. OFlaherty calls it
excel his father, took off the hand and Loch Kutra, now Loch Cooter, county
infused feeling and motion into every  Galway.
joint and vein of it. In Cormac's  15 16 According to O'Flaherty, RinnGlossary, the name Diankect, is ex- Bera, Moilin, and Carn-Conaill, were
plained Deus Salutis, i. e. Dia na h-ice, in Aidni (Eyni), now the barony of
i.e. the God of healing.-O'D. lb.  Killartan, in the South of Galway.
Dian Kbct, appears to have been the   17 Ara. The Isle of Aran, at the
Esculapius of Irish mythology.     mouth of Galway Bay.
11 The Belgic colony must not be   18 Magh-Adair, otherwise Magh-nconsidered to have been extirpated by Adhair (Moy Nsyer), was the name
this defeat. They were merely subdu- of a plain in the barony Tullagh,
ed, as the Gaels were afterwards by  county Clare. Upon it at the Bils
the Anglo-Normans. They long ruled Maighe n-Adhair, i. e. " Tree of Magh
as Kings in Connaught; and even in Adair," the Kings of Thomond were




134                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
of Uadmor; Margh n-Asal,l9 Afag'h-Aiaein,20 from  Maen, son of
Uadmor, and Loch Uair, from Uar, son of Uadmor. Thus,
we see that forts (duins) and seaboard isles-were owned by them,
until the time when they were driven out by Cuchulainn and
Conall Kernach  and  the  Ulstermen.   Our history does not
mention the building of any raths (i. e. forts), during the occupation of Ireland by the Fer-Bo]gs, neither does it record the
eruption of any lakes or the clearing of any plains from wood.
Some antiquarians say, that the three ancient tribes, not of the
Gaelic stock, who are still in Ireland, ace descended from the
Fer-Bolgs: these are the Gabraide21 (Gawree) of the Suca (now
the River Suck) in Connaught; the Ui Tairsigh,22 in Ui Failgi
(now Offaly), and the Galeons of Leinster.22  Such are the migrations of the Fer-Bolgs so far, according to the learned antiquary,
Tanaide O'Mael-Conari (O'Mulconry or Conry), in his duan which
begins with the following rann:
"The Fir-Bolg dwelt here awhile,
In this great isle of Miledh's sonsFive chieftains of them hither cameTheir names I know full well."
inaugurated  in  after times.  The   21 Gabraide. This Belgic tribe was
phrase is said to mean, the "Plain  otherwise called Gamanradi. Dr. O'Donof Worship."  If so, the poet Ad-air ovan tells us in his Notes to the Tribes
must have had nothing to do with  and Customs of the Ui Fiachrach, that
the naming of it.  It was a famous "The Gamanradhi were a fierce and
seat of Druidic worship.            warlike tribe of the Fer-Bolgs, seated
19 " Magh-Assail. Assal was the an- in Erris'in the first century."
cient name of a district lying round   22 The " Ui Tairsich, are unknown
Cnoc Droma Assail,now Tory-Hill, near to the editor.
Croom, in the county of Limerick."-    23 For the Galians or Fir Galeon of
0. D.                               Leinster, see further on.  The Gali20 Magh-Maein, (Moy Meen), other- ans of the Fer-Bolg race are to be
wise called Maen-magh, is, according to  distinguished from the Galenfa of the
Dr. O'Donovan, the rich plain lying  Milesian stock, who were descended
round Loughrea, in the county of Gal- from a Munster chieftain named Cormac
way.                                Galeng.




CHAPTER X.
THE  CONQUEST1 OF IRELAND  BY  THE  TUATHA-DE-DANANNS,
DOWN  HERE.
THE Tuatha-DS-Dananns are the progeny of the third Chieftain
of the race of Nemedh, who had emigrated from Ireland after the
demolition of the tower of Conaing.  They are then descended
from  Ibaath, son of Be6thach, son of Iarbane1 the Prophet, son
of Nemedh.
According to some antiquarians, Beotia2 (Bothnia?), in the
north of Europe, was the country where they had been reeently
dwelling; but otherswill have it, that they had been sojourning
in the Athenian territory, where the city of Athens (Aithne) is
situated.  Now, the reader must understand, that, as Pomponius
Mela tells us, both Beotia and the city of Athens are situated in
that part of Greece called Achaia. It was there that they had
1 The Four Masters give this event Eri, Alba, Mana Ara, Munmha, &c.,
under A. D., 3303.                  with their peculiar mode of forming
2 This absurd mistake must have their oblique cases in H" nd" or " nn," so
originated in the ignorance of some like those Greek forms "ag," "gt" and
transcriber, in copying a contracted  4 vg," making the genitive in "vi-oS'
manuscript.  The traditions of two  and'"vvo'" seemsto claimfor them a Penations are perhaps confounded in the
nations acure recordhaps onfounded in tDe lasgic origin. Many of the names of the
older Greek colonies, are of this form.
Dananns. TWe have seen part of the   "Danann," in their own name looks
emedian fnaton tah ig o refugone in  like a word of the same class, and may
Lochlin from the oppression of the mean "of Dana." So do the genitives
Fomorians. It is not an improbability  "1retan,"   " Lochlan,"   " Ltighen,"
to suppose, that they there were joined   e. Britain, Scandinavia, L2inster, and
by a Danaan or Greco-Pelasgian tribe,innd
0 ----— 1  " 1Ulladh," which in'old books is found
with whom they amalgamated, and who  to make " Ullinn," in its oblique form.
led them  back to the land whence Why may not the great elasic nathey had been exiled. I see no reason  tihy may not the  great Pelasic na
tion have sent a branch towards the
to doubt the fact, that these Danaans North-west, as well as towards the
North-west, as well as towards the
were Greeks, i. e. " Danai," or to search
South-west, and left the name of Dania
for any outher origin for them  than  or Denmark to the cold Cimbric Cherwhat our traditions hand down, and
their own name corroborsates. That soncse, as a trace of their sojourn therethey were not Plhmenicians, the names in, and as a puzzle to their Gothic successors, and thus bewildered Celtic Shenthey imposed upon the places where  achics also in the endeavor to approxithey dwelt, fully prove to any one who  mate Bothnia and Boeotia.
will fairly examine their structure.
[1s5]




136              THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
learned their magic science (Druidism) and their arts, so that they
had become most expert in every heathen practice.
While they dwelt in this region, it happened that a large fleet
came from Syria to make war upon the people of the Athenian
territory, in consequence of which they were engaged in daily
battles; and the very men of the Athenian party, who had been
slain on the field of battle on one day, were the same that used
to maintain the fight next day for their friends against the Syrians.
This was all effected by the magic arts of the Tuatha-De-Dananns;
for they used to send demons into the bodies of the slain'Athenians, quickening them by means of their heathen lore. However, when the Syrians perceived that the corpses of those, whom
they had slain on the field of battle, stood up to fight them again
on the next day, they entered into council with their own soothsayer (druid). Whereupon, this soothsayer told them,to set a guard
upon the field of slaughter, and to drive a stake of cornel wood
(mountain ash) through the dead body of every one of those that
were wont to revive, to do battle against them; and he told them
also, that those bodies would be immediately turned into worms,
if it were by demons that they had been quickened, but that they
would not become corrupted all at once, if they had been really
revivified. The Syrians, then, cqme to the fight next morning
and obtained a complete victory. Upon this, they drove the
cornel stakes through the bodies of the slain, before mentioned,
and they were converted into worms immediately. After this,
they fell upon the inhabitants, pursuing them with unresisted
slaughter. As to the Tuatha-De-Dananns, when they saw the
natives of the land thus vanquished by the Syrians, they all fled
out of the country, through fear of those invaders. And they
stopped not until they reached the regions of Lochlinn (Scandinavia), where they were welcomed by the inhabitants,3 on account
of their many sciences and arts. The leader in this migration
was Nuadath the Silver-handed, son of Ectach, son of Edarlamh,
of the line of Nemedh. Here, indeed, they even obtained possession of four cities, or at least leave to dwell in them and to instruct
the youth of the country therein. The names of these four cities
are Falias, Gorias, Finias and Murias. The Tuatha-De-Dananns
placed four sages in these, for the purpose of disseminating the
sciences and the various arts, amongst the youth of the nation that
received them. The names of these four sages who taught the
sciences, were the following: Morfios was the name of the man
9 These were undoubtedly Kimric We have seenNemedh sailing originally
or Cimbric Nemedians, (a name which from this land for Alba and Eri, and
seems to be the same with that of the have seen his descendants returning
Nemeti of Belgic Gaul,) and the Fin- thereto, wjlen expelled from Eri by the
nish or Laponic aborigines, perhaps. Fomorians.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                137
who taught in the city called Falias; Erus,in that called Gorias;
Semias taught in Murias, and Arias held his school in Finias.
When they had remained a long time in these cities, they passed
over to the north of Alba (Scotland), where they continued seven
years in Dobar and Iardobar.
This people possessed four, talismans of high power, which they
had brought with them from the above-mentioned cities; namely, a
Stone front Falias, which was called the Lia-Fail, and which possessed the property of roaring under every king of Ireland, upon
his election, which it continued to do until the time of Concobar; as we have heretofore mentioned. It was also called the
Stone of Fate, for it was its destiny, that a man of the Scotic
nation, that is, of the blood of Miledh of Spain, should possess
the sovereignty of that country wherein it should be placed.
Thus we read in Hector Boethius, in his History of Scotland, in
which he says:
5" The race of Scot, a noble tribe,
Unless the prophecy be false,
Have a right to sovereign power
Where they shall find the Lia-Fail."
The Scotic nation was so persuaded that the stone possessed
this power, that Fergus Mor mac Erca, when he had conquered
Alba and had determined to proclaim himself its king, sent an
embassy to his brother Murkertach Mor mac Erca, son of Eocaidh
AMunremar, of the line of Erimhon, then king of Ireland, requesting him to send it to him, in order that he might be saluted king
of Alba sitting thereon. Thus the stone came into his hands, and
he was, in fact, saluted king of Alba thereon. He was the first
man of the race of Scot, that was styled king of Alba; and, though
some of the Picts or Cruthnigh had been called kings of Scotland
before him, yet there was not one of them who was an independent sovereign, having been all successively under tribute to the
kings of Ireland, and especially from the time of Erimhon, son of
Miledh, by whom the Picts were sent from Leinster, to inhabit
Alba or Scotland, down to the reign of this Fergus, as we shall
tell hereafter, in treating of the reign of Erimhon. As to the
stone above mentioned, the Alban Scots kept it carefully for
many successive ages, until it at length fell into the hands of
the English, where it remains to this day, under the throne upon
which the king of England is crowned, having been forcibly
carried off from the Abbey of Scone by king Edward the First.
Now the prediction regarding the stone has been verified in our
6 Ni fallat fatum, Scoti quocunque   Invenient lapidem, regnare tenentur
locatum                       ibidem.




138                THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
own times, in the case of our present king Charles (as it had been
already in that of his father James);. for he is descended from
the Scotic race, through Mani, son of Core, son of Lugaidh of
the line of Eber, son of Miledh.   Thus, a man of the Scotic
blood has been crowned, even king of England upon this stone.6
The second talisman brought by the Tuatha De-Dananns into
Ireland, was the Sword of Lugaidh Lamfada (or Lugaidh of the
long hand).  It was from  Gorias they brought this.  The third
talisman Was the Spear that Lugaidh used in battle.  This they
brought from  the city of Finias.  The fourth talisman was the
Cauldron of the Daghda, brought from the city of Murias. Here
follows a confirmation of the matters we have just narrated, as it
is read in the Lebar Gabala (or Book of Invasions) in this duan.
or poem down here:
THE LAND of talismans, Sacred Dana,7
Was where they learned their science,
And became skilled in wizard lore,
And Druid rites, and Devilscraft.
The fair Iarbanel, a prophet true,
Was sOn.of Nemedh, son of Adnaman —
To this gray hero, mighty in spells
Was born Beothach of wild deeds.
The clans of Beothach, undying in fame,
After much toil and weariness,
Arrived, a large and mighty host,
With crowded ships in Lochlin.
There, four cities of great renown,
They held with sway supreme;
In these, they blandly taught in schools
Each learned art and science fair.
Falias, Gorias the bright,
Finias, Murias of great deeds,
Of these proud cities were the namesTheir fame was like a bursting flood.
Morfios, Erus the tall,
Arias and Semias, the severe,
Were the sages of these cities highTo name them is a pleasing task.
Of Falias, Morfios was the sage,
The generous Erus taught in Gorias,
Semias in Murias, southern city,
While fair-haired Arias taught in Finias.
e See note upon the name " Inis word Danann, in the phrase Tuatha-De.
Fail," where this tradition has been Danann, it is in the genitive case, and
proved doubtful.                   is translated accordingly.
7 It has been here assumed that the




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                        139
They brought four talismans from afar,
These chiefs of Dana's Sacred Tribes,
A sword, a stone, a copper cauldron,
And a spear to strike down warriors tall.
From you Falias came the Lia-Fail,
Which was wont to roar'neath Eri's king;
The sword8 of Lugaidh the Long-handed,
Most precious store was brought from Gorias.
From Finias, far away o'er sea,
They brought the Spear9 of strong Lugaidh;
From Murias, the Daghda's wondrous Cauldron —s
A powerful treasure and an awful.
0 King of Heaven, King of weak mankind,
Protect me, King of the royal spheres!
Thou who hast patience with the hates
And with the littleness of mortal TRIBES."'1
When the Tuatha-De-Danann had remained seven years in the
north of Scotland (or Alba), they passed over to Ireland and
landed in the north of this country on a May Monday.  They
then burned their ships, as the bard relates in the following rann:
"' Each warrior burned his ship,
For he had reached the noble EriIt was a sad sight to view
The smoke of the ships as they burned."
After this, the Tuatha-De-Danann, surrounded themselves with
a magical mist for three days, so that none of the Fer-Bolgs could
perceive them until they had reached Sliabh-an-Iarainn,'l (Slieve
aneerinn.)  Thence they send an embassy to king Eocaidh, son
of Ere, demanding of him either to deliver up the sovereignty of
Ireland to themselves or to give them battle in its stead. Upon this,
the battle of Southern Magh-Turedh (Moy-YThre]h) was fought by
the Fer-Bolgs against the Tuatha-De-Dananns.  The Fer-Bo]gs
were broken in that fight, and ten thousand of them fell therein,
as has been already told. There were thirty years between this
engagement and the battle of North Magh-Turedh,13as the bard
thus observes,9 10 For a more particular account   13," Magh-Turedh. This name is
of these talismans, see appendix.   now applied to a townland in the parish
1 This duan begins and ends with  of Kilmactranpy, barony of Tirerrell
the word " Tuath."  In the first in- and county of Sligo. There are very
stance, it means " country," in the lat- curious monuments still to be seen on
ter, "of tribes."  It is very usual for this battlefield."-O'D.'s Notes to the
Gaelic duans to begin and end with the Four Masters.
same word.                            There was a long tale founded upon
12 Siiabh-an-Irann, i. e. the Iron  this battle, as well as upon that of
Mountain, now Slieve-an-ieren, in the South Magh-Turedh. Balor Bemenn,
the county of Leitrim.              or Balcbeimnech, i. e. of stout b6ows,




i40                THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
"We know, that thirty years had passed,
From the fight at South Magh-Turedh,
To the fight of North Magh-Turedh,
In which fell Balae of the great host."
Some antiquaries say, that the nation, of whom  we are now
treating, were called Tuatha-De-Danann from Brian,'4 Iuchar and
Iucharba, the three sons of Dana, daughter of Delbaeth, son of
Elathan, son of Niadh, son of Indae, son of Allae, son of Tath,
son of Tabarn, son of Enda or Enna, son of Bathach, son of Ibaath,
son of Beathach, son of Jarbandl, son of Nemedh.  These three,
namely, Brian, Iuchar and Iucharba, were so very famous for
their great skill in all Heathen arts, that the whole of the Tuatha
(i. e. Tribes) would have  themselves called  after them.  Here
follows a quotation which  asserts that these three personages
were the three gods (Dee) of Dana.l5  We read it in the dman commencing, "Hearken, ye sages without stain."
"Brian, Iucharba and the great Iuchar,
The three gods of the Sacred Race of Dana,
Fell at Mana,'6 on the resistless sea,
By the hand of Lugaidh, son of Ethlenn."
It is also from  Dana, the mother of these three, that we call
those two hills in Luachair Degaidh in Desmond (Slieve Loughrca
in Iferry), the Paps of Dana.
Other antiquarians will have it that they received the name
Tuatha-De-Danann from  having been divided into three orders
or castes.  The first of these was called the " Tuath:714 it was to
it that the rank of nobility and chieftainship belonged; even to
this day the word "Tuathach," is synonymous with "Lord."
And this is the more credible, from  the fact that BIchoill and
the leader of the Fomorians, was killed  mythological or allegorical, I will offer
therein by a stone thrown at him from  but little comment. Their enigmatical
a sling by the son of his own daughter, meaning was evidently not understood
namely Lugaidh Lamfada. Kethlenn, by the Gaelic bards, who handed them
the wife of Balor, fought with desperate down. To attempt their solution now,
valor, and wounded the Dagrhda, who  while all that relates to this mystic
afterwards became king of the Dananns. people is so very obscure, would lead
Nuadath of the Silver-hand, Ogma, and to a wide and too wild a field of conseveral other Dananns of note, were jecture for the limits of these notes.
killed. In it also fell the heroine Keth- Let the reader form his own judgment
lenn. The battle had been brought thereupon.
about by the intrigues of Bres, son of   15 Dana. I write this name Dana
Elathan, who had been monarch of  in English, for such I conceive to be its
Ireland while Nuadath's hand was un- nominative form.
der cure. He fell himself therein, and   l6 Mana-the Isle of Man.
his fall gave the victory to the Dananns.   17 Tuath means also a "tribe," a
14 Brian,'c. Upon these names and " district," a " country" —the country in
the following, nearly all of which are opposition to the town, &c.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                      141
Danann, two of their heroines or female rulers, were styled the
Ban-Tuathachs,'8 or, in English, the "female chiefs." It is thus
the bard designates them in the following rann"The beloved Bechoill and Danann,
Killed were these two Ban-tuathachsThe evening of their magic came at last
Through the pale demons of the air."
Those of the second caste were called " Dee;" and these-were
their Druids, (i. e. the priests and diviners.) The third caste, called
Danann, was composed of such as were devoted to the arts, fbor
" dan" (daun) and "cerd" (caird) mean the same thing, i. e. art
or handicraft: thus they were named Dananns from their " dans"
or arts.'1
Here follows an enumeration of the most famous and noble
persons of the Tuatha-De-Dananns, viz., Eocaidh the Ollamh,
called The Daghda, Ogma, Alloid, Bres and DIelbaeth, the five
sons of Elathan, son of Niad; and Manannan, son of Alloid, son
of Delbaeth; the six sons of Delbaeth, son of Ogma, namely Fiacadh, Ollamh, Indaei, Brian, Iuchar and Iucharba; Aengus
Aedh, Kermad and Midir, the four sons of the Daghda; Lugaidh,
son of Kian, son of Diankect, son of Esarg, son of Niad, son of
Indaei. Gobnenn, the smith; Credni, the artist; Diankect, the
physician; Luctan. the mason, and Carbri the poet, son of Tura,
son of Turell; Begreo, son of Carbri Cat-kenn, son of Tabarn;
Fiacadh son of Delbaeth, with his son Ollamh; Caicer and Nectan, the two sons of Narnath; Eocaidh Garb, or the Rough, son of
IDuach-Dall; Sidomall the son of Carbri Crom, son of Elemar,
son of Delbaeth; ERI, FODLA20 and BANBA, the three daughters of Fiacadh, son of Delbaeth, son of Ogma, and Ernin daughter
of Edarlamh the mother of these women.  The following are the
names of their three goddesses, viz., Badb,21 Macha and Morighan.22  Bechoil and  Danann were their two  "ban-tuathachs"
18 Ban-tuathach (Bantoohagh), is by sitive  adjective  "Degh," anciently
some understood to mean sorceress. " Dech," and now pronounced Di and
The succeeding rann seems to support Dai. Thus we say " De(rh-Mhuinter,"
this meaning..                     (Di-vuinter), good people, " Deig(h-bhen"
9 The explanations above given of  (DI)i-van), a good or a beautiful woman,
the national nams of this people are Danann is the only part of the sentence
most unsatisfactory. No doubt they  that, in his opinion, is generic, or that
had been divided into three orders or refers to the origin of this people.
castes, but still that does not explain   20 Eri, ffc. From these Ireland is
the name. The editor thinks that the said to have received its three names,
following is the translation of the as above seen.
phrase, viz., "the Good" or "Sacred   21 Badb, or Badhb is pronounced
Tribes of Dana." Thus he takes " De," " Bibe."
the second word in the sentence, to   22 Morrighan (Mar-reen), i. e. the
be a form of the common Irish prepo- great queen.




142                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
(ban-tooAcghls) or chief ladies.  Brighid3  (Bree-yith) was their poetess.  Fe and Men were the ladies or "ban-tuathachs" of their
two king-bards, and from them  Magh-Femen24 in Munster has its
name.  Of them  also was Triathri Tore, from  whom Tretherni
in Munster is called.  Cridinbel, Brunni and Casmael were their
three satvrists.
It was this nation that vanquished the Fomorians in the battle
of North AMagh-Turedh, and that had previously conquered the
Fer-Bolgs, in the battle of South Magh-Turedh.
OF THE KINGS OF THE TUATHA-DE-DANANN.
NUADATH,25 styled Argedlamh26 or the Silver-handed, son of
Ectach, son of Edarlamh, son of Ordan, son of Indaei, son of Allaei, son of Tath, held the sovereignty of Ireland for thirty years,
until he fell in the battle of North Magh-Turedh by the hands of
Elathan, son of Delbaeth, and of Balar, styled of mighty blows,
the grandson of Niad.
BRES,27 son of Elathan, son of Niad, son of Indaei, son of Allaei,
ruled the kingdom of Ireland for seven years.
LUGAIDH, surnamed Lamfada, i. e. the Long-handed, son of
Diankect, son of Esarg Brec, son of Niad, son of Indaei, reigned
as king of Ireland for forty years.  It was this Lugaidh that first
instituted the Assembly or Fair28 of Talti (Aenach Tailtenn), as
23 Brighid, otherwise Brighitt, i. e., the intrigues of Bres with the subject
" arrow of fire," was the Druidic god- Belgians and Fomorians, that led to
dess of poetry.                     the battle of North Magh-Turedh,
24 Magh-Femen, otherwise  Magh- where both himself and his rival lost
Feimhen (Moy Faiven), is now called  their lives. O'Flaherty calls Bres himthe barony of Iffa and Offa East, in the self a Fomorian.
county of Tipperary.  Slievenaman   26 "Arged-lamh," i. e. Silver Hand,
was anciently called Sliabh na mBan  was perhaps originally intendednothing
Feimhen, or the mountain of the women  more than to express his bounteous and
of Femen.' generous spirit. In course of time a
2 Nuadath, the chief of this colony, popular fable was founded thereupon.
is not placed in the book of Invasions   2 Bres is set down before Nuaas the first monarch of the Dananns. dath by all our other Irish authorities
He was incapacitated from sitting on The Four Masters set down his reign
the throne, by the loss of his hand at thus —" The age of the world 3304Magh-Turedh; for at this, as at every  the first year of the reign of Bres, son
period of Irish history, any corporal of Elathan; for the Tuatha-de-Danann
defect was a sufficient cause for exclu- gave him the sovereignty, after they
sion from the monarchy. His cousin gained the battle of Magh-Turedh,
Bres was then the first king of Ireland, while the hand of Nuadath was under
inaugurated on the famous Lia Fail. cure."
When furnished with the artificial hand   28 " This fair, at which various games
of silver, Nuadath claimed the king- were celebrated, continued down to the
dom, and Bres was forced to resign, time of Roderic O'Connor, the last king
after a reign of seven years. It was of Ireland. The remains of a large




THE  HISTORY  OF IRELAND.                      143
an annual commemoration of Talti, daughter of Maghmor, king
of Spain, who had been at first the wife of Eocaidh, son of Ere,
the last king of the Fer-Bo1 gs, but was afterwards married to
Eocaidh Garb, a chieftain of the Tuatha-De-DIananns.  It was by
this lady, that Lugaidh-Lamfada had been fostered and educated
until he became fit to bear arms.  For this reason, Lug(aidh instituted the games of the Fair of Talti, in remembrance and
honor of her name.  These games, which resembled those called
Olympic in Greece, were celebrated for a fortnight before and a
fortnight after Lammas; and it is from  this coimmemoration, so
inaugurated by him, that the calends of August are called Lughnasa (Looncasa), i. e. the "Nasadh" or memorial of Lugaidh; this
is the day on which is now celebrated the feast of St. Peter's
Chains (Aug. lst).  He fell at last by the hand of Mac Coill, at
Caen-drom.9
THE GREAT DAGHDA,30 son of Delbaeth, son of Niad, held the
sovereignty of Ireland for seventy years.  IHe died at Brugh, of
the effects of the wound he had received from  the shaft cast at
him  by  Kethlenn,31 in  the battle  of (North) Magh-Turedh.
Eocaidh Ollathar was his real name.
DELBAETH, son of Ogma 32 the Sun-sage, son of Elatbhan, son of
earthen rath and traces of three arti- at Brugh na Boinne, see Petrie's Round
ficial lakes, and other remains, are still Towers. The monuments ascribed by
to be seen there. To the left of the  the ancient Irish writers to the Tuatharoad as you go from Kells to Donagh- de-Dananns still remain, and are principatrick, there is a hollow called' Lao  pally situated in Meath, near the Boyne,
an Aenaig,' i. e. the hollow of the fair, as at Drogheda, Dowth, Knowth and
where, according to tradition, marriages New Grange. There are other monuwere solemnized in pagan times. Tel- ments of them at Cnoc-Aine and Gnoctown was, until recently, resorted to by  Greine (Knockany and Knockgrany), in
the men of Meath for hurling, wrest- the county of Limerick, and on the
ling and other manly sports."-O'D.'s  Pap Mountains, Da cich Danainne, in
Notes to the Four Masters.         the south-east of the county of Kerry.
29 Kaendrum, i. e. " the fair ridge," or These monuments are of the most re"hill," was an ancient name of the hill mote antiquity, and prove that the
of Usnagh, in Westmeath.            Tuatha-de-Dananns were a real people,
30 Dag hda. Inthe account of the Tu- thou-gh their history is so much wrapped
atha-de-Dananns, preserved in the book  up in fable and obscurity."-O'D.'s
of Leean, it is stated that the Daghda  Notes to the Four IIMasters.
Mor (i. e. the Great Good Fire, so    The Daghda was one of their most
called from his military ardor), was for famous magicians. He might have got
eighty years king of Ireland, and that his title from having been priest of the
he had three sons, Aengus, Aedh and " Great Good Fire," i. e. the Sun.
Kernmad, who were buried with their   3 KXethlenz, the wife of Balor Bac-.
father at Brugh-na-Boinne, where the beimnech the Fomorian, and the grandmound called " Sidh an Brogha" (Shee mother of Lugaidh Lamfada, who slew
tin Vrowa) was raised over them as a Balor in the same battle. Inis Kethmonument. Aengus an Bhrogha was lenn, now Enniskillen, is called after the
considered the presiding fairy of the  heroine. See O'D.'s Notes to the Four
Boyne until recently. For some account Masters, p. 23.
ofthemonuments which ancientlyexisted   32 Ogma Grian-Eiges (Owma Green




144                THE HISTORY  OF  IRELAND.
Delbnleth, son of Niad, was king of Ireland for ten years, at the
end of which he died by the hand of his own son, Fiacadh.
FIACAIH, son of Delbaeth, reigned ten years, and then was
killed by Eogan, at Ard-Brec.
MAC COLL, MAC   KEACT, and MAC GRENI, the three sons of
Kermad Milbe'l"3 or Milb51, son of the Daghda, reigned thirty
years. Som-e antiquarians say, that these kings divided Ireland
into three parts between them, and that each of them ruled his
own share independently. So a certain historic bard tells us, in
the following verse:
"Mac Coell, Mac Keact and Mac Gre'ni,
Those chieftains of proud deeds,
Into three parts divide her soil,
Though countless the hosts of Eri."
Nevertheless, there was no such division of the country between
these kings, but each of them held the sovereignty alternately
for one year, as we have before observed, in speaking of the
names of this island. They were all three killed in the battle of
Talti or Taltenn (now Telltown in lfeath).
The reason why these three sons of Kermad were called Mac34
Coill, Mac Kdacf and Mac Gr6ni, was because Coll (the hazel tree),
Keact (the plough), and Grian (the sun), were the three gods they
adored.  Coll,3 then, was the god of Mac Coill, but Ethor was his
real name, and Banba was his wife.  Mac Kdact, too, Keact36
was his god, Tethor his name, and Fodla his wife.  Mac Ge'6n.i,
lastly, had Grian for his god, K6thor was his name, and Eri his
wife.  The proper name of Manannan,37 likewise, was Orbsen;
Aigess), i.e. "Ogma,learned in the Sun." ed plough, is the usual name for the
This name is mythological. Ogmius constellation Ursa Major.  Cormac's
was the Apollo or God of Eloquence Glossary, also, in explaining the name
of the Gauls. Ogham  (Owam), is Dian Kecht, tells us tlhat "Cecht" or
the name of the Mystic Druid alpha- "( Ceacht" means medicine likewise.-See
bet of the Gaels, of which some say  note 10, p. 133.
that this Ogma was the inventor.      37 This Manannan is a personage
33 Mil-BJeol(Mil-veol,orlilvatil),i.e. famous in Irish legendary mythology.
"Honey Mouth," i. e. "the eloquent He would seem to have presided over
or sweet-voiced.                    the sea and the tempests.  Of him
a" Mac  Coill.  Some understand  O'Flahertymakes the following mention.
"Mac" to mean " priest," in these "The merchant Orbsen was remarkable
titles. It is however far-fetched.  for carrying on a commercial intercourse
a5 Coll was apparently a name for between Ireland and Great Britain. He
the divinity who presided over fruit- was commonly called MAanannan Mac
bearing trees, the Irish Pomona. The Lir, that is, Manannan (Manksman),
word is now applied to the hazel.   from his intercourse with the Isle of
86 Ceacht would seem to mean here the Man; and Mac Lir, (son of Ler), i. e.
divinity presiding over agriculture, i. e. offspring of the sea, because he was an
the Celtic Ceres. Ceachta (Kayghta), expert diver; besides, he understood
is the common Irish name for the  the dangerous parts of harbors; and
plough. Cam-Ceachta, i. e. the crook- from  his prescience of the change of




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                        145
and it is from him that Loch-Orbsen (now Lough- Corrib) is called,
for it was when they were digging his grave that this lake burst
over the land. It was of these people, that the following historic
lay was sung:
"Ethor was lordly-glory gained he-haughty the manColl was his God —03 of bright Daghda-Banba his wife.
Tethor was bold-strong the fight-ruthless smote heFodla his wife-great deeds he wrought-in Keact he believed.
Kethor was comely-beauteous his form-generous was heEri his wife-queen of bounty was she-Grian was his God.
Manannan, from the lake-son of Ler, of the endless expanseOrbsen his name-after a hundred fights-the man found Death."39
According to the Psalter of Cashel, the Tuatha-De-Danann
held the sovereign power in Ireland for two hundred years, less
weather, always avoided tempests. But tary exercises - the Irish Minerva.
he fell in a battle at Moy Cullin (Magh  Badhbh (Boive), the Belona of the
Ullinn), on the banks of the spacious Irish; Abortach, the God of Music;
lake Orbsen, which falls into the bay  Nhed, the God of War, and Nemon his.of Galway by the river Galway, having  wife; Manannan, the God of the Sea;
been run through by Ullinn, grandson  Diancecht, the God of Physic; Brighit,
of Nuad or ATuadath, monarch of Ire- the Goddess of Poets and Smiths, &c."
land, by his son Thady (Tadg). The    It appears, from a very curious and
place of the engagement was called after ancient tract written in the shape of'Jllinn, and the lake (Lough Corrib), a dialogue between St. Patrick and
after Orbsen.                        Caoilti-MacRonain, that there were
88 0 is here to be understood in its very many places where the Tuathaliteral sense; that is, "Grandson."  De-Dananns were then supposed to
This word is otherwise written "ua."  live as sprites or fairies, with corporal
89 The language and style of this or material form, but endued with immystic lay belongs to the most ancient mortality. The inference naturally to
class of Gaelic composition. Its allu- be drawn from these stories is, that the
sions, with the exception of those that Tuatha-D6-Dannans lingered in the
may be contained in the hidden mean- country for many centuries after their
ing of the proper names themselves, subjugation by the Gaeidhil, and that
are sufficiently explained by what went they lived in retired situations, where
before. To pursue them further, would they practiced abstruse arts, which inlead into an endless labyrinth of con. duced the others to regard them as majecture.                            gicians. So late as the third century,
Of this Colony, the learned Dr. O'- AinU, daughter of Eogabal, a lady of
Donovan makes the following judicious this race, was believed to be resident at
remarks: "From the many monuments Cnoc-Aini, in the county of Limerick,
ascribed to this colony by tradition and  where she was ravished by Olild-Olum,
in ancient Irish historical tales, it is king of Munster.
quite evident that they were a real peo-   It looks very strange that our geneple; and from their having been con- alogists trace the pedigree.of no famsidered gods and magicians by the Ga- ily, living for the last thousand years,
eidhil or Scoti, who subdued them, it to any of the kings or chieftains of the
may be inferred that they were skilled  Tuatha-D&-Dananns, while several famin arts which the latter did not under- ilies of the Fir-Bolgic descent are menstand. Amongst these was Danann, tioned as in Hy-Many and other parts
the Mother of the Gods; Buannan, the  of Connaught."-7Votes to Four Mas.
goddess that instructed heroes in mili- ters.
10




146                THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
by three, that is for one hundred and ninety-seven years, in aU.
HIere follows a rann, quoted in proof of this reckoning:
One hundred years and ninety-seven,
This reckoning is most true,
The Tuatha-D&-Danann strongly reigned
Over Eri in supreme sway.
END OF THE FIRST TRACT.




PART II.1
CHAPTER I.
OF THE  TRACING  OF THE  SCOTIC  RACE  TO  ITS FOUNDER,
JAPHET.
To enable us to trace the Scotic race to its root, that is, to
Japhet, we must observe that his two sons, Gomer and Magog,
were the m6st distinguished of his offspring. Moses, in the tenth
chapter of Genesis, where he gives the genealogy of the race of
Japhet, tells us that Gomer had three sons, whose names were
Aschenez, Riphath, and Togarmah; but he does not specially
mention the sons of Magog by their names.  Besides, as it is on
the historians of the tribe of Scot, that it is peculiarly incumbent to
trace the lineage of the princes sprung from Magog, and, particularly those of the race of Fenius Farsa, we shall here set down a
detailed account of the descendants of Magog, according to the
Book of Invasions, which is called (the Book) of Drom-Snecta~,
an authority which existed before the arrival of St. Patrick in
Ireland.
This states that Magog had three sons, namely, Baath, Ibaath,
and Fathacta. From  Baath descended Fenius Farsa, the ancestor
of the Gaelic nation.  From  Ibaath sprang the Amazons,3 Bactri-' Part II. The present division of the tended their empire from Cappadocia,
Foras Feasa, is headed Book 1, Part eastwards, along the Euxine or Black
II, in Halliday's edition, and in one Sea, and thence to the Caspian, and
of three MSS. from which this trans- northwards again to the river Tanais
lation is made. In the other two, which  or Don. Their women were fabled to
are the more ancient and correct, no have monopolized the trade of arms.
such heading is found.              Penthesilia, one of their queens, came
2 Drom-Snecta. This book is un- to assist Priam  at the Trojan war,
known to modern Irish scholars.  It where she was slain by Achilles. The
has possibly been lost, since Keating's Amazons were said to have founded
time. Drom  Snecta, i. e. the Snowy  Smyrna, Ephesus, and several other
Ridge, is now called Drumsnat, co. distinguished cities of Asia Minor.Monaghan, where there was once a Some of the adventures attributed to
monastery, founded by St. Molua.    the ancestors of the Gaels, must have
3 Amazons. The Amazons were a taken place within their territories, or
famous nation of antiquity, who flour- rather, within the territories assigned
ished in Asia Minor (Turkey in Asia), to them by primeval tradition, if they
previous to the Trojan war. They ex- took place anywhere.
[14q)




148                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
ans,4 and Parthians;5 and from Fathacta came Partholan, who was
the first colonizer of Ireland after the Deluge, as well as Nemedh,
son  of Agnaman  or Adnaman, and, consequently, the FerBolgs, and Tuatha-D6-Dananns, as we have mentioned above, in
giving an account of their conquests of the island. Of the race
of this Fathacta, too, came Attila, who subjected Pannonia to his
sway, and who continued long to harass the Roman Empire, and
who laid -waste and depopulated Aquileia, and Tnade many invasions into Germany..From Scythia, too, and of the race of Mlagog, was Zeiiorbes, king of the Iluns,6 who made war upon the
Emperor Justinian.  Hence, too, came the Longobardi7 or Lombards, and the Hungarians and Goths.8  From  Scythia came the
Bactrians. The country of the the Roman empire, came fromthe north
Bactrians lay to the east of Persia. of the Great Wall of China. The
They seem to have been originally of great family of languages, one of which
the same race with the Persians. They  is spoken by the Huns, i. e. the Hunclaimed the great Persian lawgiver, garians of the present day, is styled
Zoroaster, as their first king.  They  Uralian by philologists. If the word
bordered upon that indefinable region  " Scythic " be equally applicable, as a
which the ancients called Scythia.  title implying national descent, to the
Parthians.  This indomitable na- Scots, the Huns, and the two next'tiOni-xe- ts wctve'Yng south-east  of he menfionea nations, it-S mnigfht, itvlhout
Caspian Sea, on the north-western bor- losing much of its distinctive signifiders of Persia proper. They were, in  cancy, be exchanged for that of Adamthe beginning, undoubtedly, the same ite or Noachic.
people as the Persians, of whose name   7 Long obardi. These people, otherParthian is but a dialectic variation. wise called Lombards, were a Germanic
The Parthians were said to be of Scyth- nation of the Saxon race, who in A. D.
ian origin, as in. truth they might, for 568, conquered a settlement in the
their ancestors (as, perhaps, the ances- north-east of Italy. The pure Saxon
tors of all mankind) were originally  type, whence they sprung, may be still
"Scythians," i. e. " Nomads," living in  seen in the north-west of Germany and
tents, as the Arabs and Tartars do the south-eastern shires of England.still. The Teutonic or Germanic na- Fair-haired  Scythians, such as they
tions of Europe are, with considerable must have been, could not have participrobability, supposed to be descended  pated in the blood of the Mongolian
from portions of the Parthian or Per- iHuns since the days of Nimrod, who,
sian people, who had proceeded north- according to Pinkerton, was, it would
wards and westwards on the track of  seem, not 6nly a Scythian and Scot, but
the Celts and Kimri, in search of new  also a Goth.
settlements, or, perhaps, to avoid the   8 GothLs. The Goths or Gothi, who
yoke of their brethren, who began to  are also called Gothones and Gythones,
build themselves towns, and who had  were, like the last-mentioned, a Teuchanged the "Scythic" for a more set- tonic or Germanic nation. They first
tfled mode of living.               appear in history under the name of
6 Huns. The Huns were originally  Getr, a people of European Scythia,
a Tartar race of Mongolian type and dwelling near the borders of Thrace.
origin, speaking a language resembling  A dialect of the Gothic language, as
somewhat those of the Semitic races, spoken in the fourth century, has been
and akin to the tongues spoken by the preserved in the translation of the
Finlanders and Laplanders in the north  Bible made by Ulphilas. styled the
of Europe.  The Huns who invaded  "Liber Argenteus," or Silver Book. If




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                        149
Dauni,9 from whom Daunia, in Italy, which is now called Apulia,
has its name.  The Turks,'~ also, came from  Scythia.  But, in
short, Buchanan, an investigator into the ancient history of the
world, asserts after Epiphanius," that the  Scythians obtained
it be Scythian, it differs from the Scyth- Egypt by the way of Crete, and thence
ian of the Huns, as represented by the northwards through the Euxine, Casmodern Hungarians, and also from the'pian, and the narrow sea by the Riphean
Scythian of the Turks and Tartars, as Mountains, leading into the ocean, which
widely as any one language can.     Dr. Keating so naively repeats to us a
At a period supposed, with good rea- little further on.
son, to be long subsequent to the Celtic  Dauni.  This people settled in
and Cimbric or Kimric occupation of Apulia before the Trojan war, came, as
Northern and Central Europe, a portion  we are told, originally from Illyricum,
of the Gothic nation settled in Scandi- a country lying along the Eastern coast
navia, and gave the name of Gothia to  of the Adriatic Sea or Gulf of Venice.
a province of Sweden, and Gothland to  They were ruled by Daunus, son of
an isle in the Baltic Sea. Still more Pilumnus and Dana,, when the Grecian
recently, in A. D. 452, another portion  hero Diomede came to plant his colony
of the same race conquered Spain, and  amongst them. They were themselves
gave the name of Gotalaunia or Cata- probably of the Pelasgric, that is, of
lonia to one of its provinces. Many  the Greek race. Their ancestors were
of the geographical and historical im- Scythians, of course, for, at this early
possibilities recorded' by our later bards period, European Scythia must have
and Shanachies, of the wanderings and  extended southward as far as the Greadventures of the early colonists of  cian frontier. The modern provinces
Ireland previous to their several arriv- of Croatia, Bosnia, and Slavonia comals in that country; and more especially  prehend the ancient Illyricum. They
of the Gaelic or Scotic colony, are justly are now inhabited by Slavonic tribes;
attributed  to the Latinizing of the tribes of rather recent Scythian origin,
"Gaethlaeimh" or "Gethlaeimh" (Gaih- and differing extremely from all the
lueeve) and " Gaethluidhe" (Gaihluee) Scythians yet mentioned.
of the early pagan bards, by 1" Gothia"  Turks. The Turks of Europe are
and " Gothi." According to the learned  a branch of a nation of Nomadic TarC'Flaherty, in his Ogygia, " Gaeth- tars from the reoion of Asia, north of
laeimh" meant "Gaetulia," a country of the Persians,;y whom  they were
Northern Africa. That it did so, is ev- anciently called Touranians. They are
ident both from the form of the word  men of repulsive aspect, according to
itself and from the descriptions given of European notions, and the majority of
its situation in our old historic duans. them still continue to dwell in tents, and
When the Irish or Scots, after their lead migratory lives —the only points
conversion, came first into close contact in which they can be said to resemble
with continental Europe, they found the those other Scythians already spoken of,
" Gothi" settled in Spain, and without with, perhaps, the exception of the
any other authority than the identity  Huns.
of the two first consonants of their    " Epiphanius, Bishop of Salamis,
name with those of the name of the wrote in the second century. Hisworks
"Gaethluidhe," they might have con- contain some valuable historical frageluded, that those were the people with  ments. The universal dominion spoken
whom their remote ancestors had con- of by him in the passage here referred
tended for the masterdom, both of that to, can only mean that founded by
country and Northern Africa. Hence  Nimrod, or his son Ninus, in Assyria.
came the Gaelic rule in Gothia (Gaeth- Thus we have another family of the
laeimh), during eight generations, and  human race included under the denomitheir impossible voyage thither from  nation of Scythian, and see Scythia erx




150                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
universal dominion shortly after the Flood, and that their
sovereignty existed until after the captivity of Babylon; and
the same authors inform us that other nations received institutions, laws and ordinances, from the Scythians, and that they
were the first people, who rose to dignity and glory after the Deluge.  Johannes Baronius, in the ninth chapter of the second
book of his History of the Manners of all Nations, says that the
Scythians were never subjected by any other power, while Jose..
phus tells us, that the Greeks designated Scythia by the name of
Magogia.  Johannes Nauclerus informs us, that there were many
of the Scythian descent, that performed very glorious exploits.
Herodotus bears testimony to this in his fourth book, where he
mentions, that the Scythians repelled Darius disgracefully from
Scythia. Justin also bears testimony to it, where he proclaims
the greatness of the actions performed by the inhabitants of
Scythia.  These are the words of this author:'"The Scythians
remained always free from all foreign subjugation.  They repelled
Darius, king of Persia, disgracefully from Scythia; they slew Cyrus with his whole army; they destroyed, in like manner, Zophiron, the general of Alexander the Great, with all his forces.
They had heard, indeed, of the Roman power, but never felt it."e
From these words it may be understood that the Scythians retained their great valor and courage to this author's time.'cots-The Gaels, so called from  Scythia.
It is also asserted, in the first book of the Polichronicon, that it
is from this Scythia'3 that the descendants of Gaedal Glas are
tending its bounds southward to the it a Gothic Empire) previous to Nim
banks of the Tigris and Euphrates. rod. Its obvious meaning is, that the
Pinkerton, in his endeavor to prove that mode of life called "Scythism" prehis favorite Gothic race were the earli- vailed over the earth immediately after
est rulers of the world, and the cream  the Deluge. Scythia must then have
of humanity ever since, quotes several comprehended  the whole  inhabited
ancient authorities to prove that the world. Neither Gaels, nor Goths, nor
"Scythic," by which he would have un- Greeks had then distinct existence as
derstood the Gothic empire, lasted from  nations of men; Jew and Gentile were
the Deluge to the building of the Tower alike Scythian, or, if it so be, Gothic.
of Babel. What that Scythic empire   2a Scythae ipsi perpetuo ab alieno
means may be. collected by comparing  imperio aut intacti aut invicti mansethe words of Eusebius, quoted also by  runt; Darium, regem Persarum, turpi ab
him, with the  traditions of Holy  Scythia summoverunt fuga; Cyrum,
Writ.  Eusebius says: ~XvOtaltog cum omni exereitu, trucidarunt; Alex,
a7ro 7'ov 7rvpYOV aXpt -ov /Iara- andri Magni ducem  Zopirona, pari
1KvaCtOv, which he correctly translates, ratione cum copiis universis deleverunt;
"From the Deluge to the building of Romanorum audivere sed non sensere
the Tower of Babel Scythism prevailed."  arma.
But this, surely, does not mean that   13 Scythia.  This extensive region
there was a Scythic (as he would have comprised, within the better known




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                      151
called Scots; and as far as I know, it is not more proper to call the
people of Gallic extraction who are now dwelling in Ireland,
"Goill." i. e. Galli or Gauls, from Gallia or France, whence they
derive their origin, than to name the Gaelic nation Scots from
Scythia, the country whence they had sprung. And this is the
reason why those of the posterity of Fathacta, son of Magog,
who obtained sovereignty in Gothia, Thrace and Achaia, namely,
Partholan, son of Sera, with his- people; Nemedh, son of Agnaman, from whom  the Nemedians have their name; the FerBolgs and the Tuatha-De-Dananns, are all named Scythian Greeks
(Gregaigh Scitia), because Scythia  was the land  from  which
they had first migrated in the beginning; and I likewise think,
that the reason why the posterity of Gaedal, son of Niul, son of
[Fenius Farsa, are more especially called Scots, is because it was
this Fenius Farsa here mentioned, and his' descendants, that obtained the sovereignty of Scythia. Niul was the youngest son of
Fenius, alid did not obtain any portion of his father's territories,
whence he could name himself and his descendants, though Fenius
himself, and his own brothers, had previously got for their shares
periods of ancient.history, all the derive the word Scythian from a root
countries in Europe and Asia, contained  akin to the Greek aedawo, the Engin the modern Russian Empire, includ- lish A" scatter," or the Irish " Sgeith"
ing Poland, and all the region known  (Skeh). If so, it would be equally apas Great Tartary therewith. In addi- plicable to all the tribes scattered from
tion to this, it contained, in Europe, the before Babel. Its being akin to the
centre and North of Germany, and the national name of the " Goths" or the
whole of Scandinavia, and extended, " Gate" is very doubtful, (though they
apparently, from the Atlantic to the certainly were a " Scythic" people), and
Pacific Ocean, and from the Danube, its immediate kindred with that of the
the Black Sea, the borders of Persia, Scots is scarcely less so. The Gaels. do
the Himalaya Mountains and China to not appear to have ever taken any of
the Northern Ocean. In still earlier their names from any country they had
times, it comprised a great part of Asia dwelt in. All their names are ancesMinor.  It was inhabited, or rather tral; and as the names of Scot and
roamed over by numerous and, as before  Scota occur more than once in their
shown, widely distinct races of men. In- genealogy, we may rest satisfied, that it
somuch that the term Scythian must was from some of the persons so decease to have any precise meaning, as in- nominated they took the name, and not
dicative of any peculiar race or breed of from Scythia, a name which, to borrow
human beings.  The Scythian region  a comparison from a learned opponent
was the backwood region of antiquity, of Gaelic tradition, who would make
and was constantly narrowing its limits the Scots out to be Goths not Gaels,
as men settled down in fixed dwellings, seems to have been applied with as
and dropped their -primeval usage of little discrimination by the writers of
dwelling in movable tents.  So that antiquity to all tire nomadic tribes
when we read of Scythian conquests in. of Europe and Central Asia, as the term
ancient times, we can only understand  Indian is applied at the present day at
thereby that some people yet leading a once to the wild red men of America,
pastoral or nomadic mode of life con- and to the polished natives of Hindoquered some others that had already stan.
given up its " Scythic" habits. Some




152               THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
countries, from which both themselves and their respective races
were designated. On this account Niul enjoined his posterity to
name themselves after Scythia, and to keep alive the memory of
their original home, by forever calling themselves Scots; for, they
had received no land as their inheritance, Niul having been left no
other possession by his father but the knowledge of' the sciences
and of the various tongues; for the undivided sovereignty of
Scythia had been left to the eldest son.
GQaedal not the Son of Argus or of Cecrops.
Some Latin authors say that Gaedal was the son either of Argus'4
or of Cecrops,15 who reigned over the Argivi; but that cannot be
true, for St. Augustine tells us that that family began to reign
about the time that Jacob was born, that is, about fbur hundred
and thirty-two years after the Flood; and again, the same author
informs us, that the sovereignty of that family lasted but two
hundred and fifteen years; from which it follows, that the rule
of the Argive line terminated about six hundred and sixty-seven
years after the Deluge. It is impossible, then, that the last-mentioned facts can be true, if we admit that Gaedal was descended
from Argus or Cecrops, for Hector Boetius, in his IIistory of
Scotland, and all the books that treat of the conquests of Ireland, assert that the Gaels were in Egypt, at the time that Moses
ruled the Children of Israel in that land.  The Book of Conquests informs us, moreover, that it was about this time that Scota,
daughter of Pharoah Cingris, bore Gaedal or Gael to Niul, son
of Fenius Farsa, son of Baath, son of Maagog.  The time that
Moses -began to govern the Children of Israel in Egypt, was
about seven hundred and ninety-seven years after the Flood;
and, according to this computation, there were about three hundred and forty-five years from the time of Argus or of Cecrops, until Gacdal was born.  It is, then, impossible, that the latter could
have been the son of either of those kings.  It is also false to
assert, that it was from Greece that Gaedal went into Egypt; and
that the reason why it was said, that it was from Scythia he went
thither, was because, accordinlg to a certain author, it was from
Setinl6 that he had emigrated, and hence they say that Scythia is
the same as "lath na Scech " (eeah na Sicagh), i. e. " the land of
thorns."  But "iath," when it means "land," terminates in "th"
or "dh;" and also, in writing the word Scythia, there is no "c"
14 Argus was the fourth king of Egypt. He led his colony to Attica
A.rgos, a city founded by Inachus, about about 1556 years before the Christian
1856 years before Christ.        era.
1' Cecrops was the founder of the  1' Setin. Itis unknown to the editor
Athenian nation. He was a native of what place is here called by this name.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                      153
in the middle of the word, as would be necessary in a compound
word of the supposed formation; neither does Scythia terminate
in a " dh" or " th."  Hence it is an unfounded conjecture to suppose, that Scythia could mean "the land of thorns," according to
any Gaelic etymology.
It is also a very weak proof of the Gaels having drawn their
origin from Greece, to argue that there exists a resemblance
between the Irish and the Greeks in their manners, customs, and
games, and that they must be, consequently, derived thence;
for every colony that came and occupied Ireland, since the Deluge, had set out from  Greece, except those of the Gaels and
Nemedians.  Partholan had set out from  Migdonia;l7 the FerBolgs from Thrace, and the Tuatha-De-Dananns from Achaia,
near Beotia and the city of Athens. For which reason, though
the Gaels did not observe any of the manners and customs of
the Greeks, on  their arrival in Ireland, still they might have
acquired them  from  such of the Tuatha-De-Dananns and FerBolgs, their predecessors, as yet remained in the country, although
they had never been in Greece themselves, nor their founder
Gaedal, nor  tny of his forefathers.
CHAPTER II.
HERE  FOLLOWS AN  ACCOUNT OF  SOME FACTS RELATIVE  TO
FENIUS FARSA, THE GRANDFATHIER OF GAEDAL.
FENIUS FARSA1 having become king of Scythia, determined
to acquire a perfect knowledge of the various languages that had
sprunc long before his time from the confusion of tongues at the
IT Migdonia,  perhaps  Mmonia, letters into Greece. This is rather a
i. e. "Greig  Medhonach" (Graigue remarkable coincidence with the bardic
Maybnagh)                          account given of our great ancestor' Fenius   Farsa.  Fenius Farsa, Fenius.   The name Fenius itself,
otherwise Farsaidh, was possibly the coupled with the legend attached to it,
same as that Phoenix who, according prove at least the intimate connection
to the fragments attributed toSanchu- of our remote progenitors with the
niathon, was the second of the Phceni- Phoenicians.  The universality of the
cian kings.  Grecian legend tells us, tradition regarding him, and the fact
that Phoenix was the son of Agenor that his descendants, who, as before said,
and the brother of Cadmus, the founder never took any but ancestral names,
of Thebes in Beotia, and also the in- calling both themselves and a dialect of
ventor, or rather the introducer of their language Feinni (Faynni) from




154                THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Tower of Babel, which Nimrod, through pride, had spent forty
years in erecting; for, from the time of Adam until the confusion
of tongues at the Tower, there had been but one universal language known amongst mankind. This language is called GoirTighern (Gor-teeyern), as the bard tells us in the following verse:
"Goir-Tighern,? that tongue was called,
Used by the gifted sons of God,
And by all great Adam's seed,
Ere Nimrod reared his fatal Tower."
This language the Latin writers call the "Lingua Humana,"
i. e. the Human Language. But when Nimrod, with his kindred,
were attempting to erect the Tower, their language was confounded, in order to prevent their finishing the structure which
their pride had prompted them to begin; and the original language, received from Adam, was taken from all that were concerned in building it. It was, however, retained by Heber, the
son of Selah, and by his tribe, and, from him, it has been called
Hebrew.
The principal motive that induced Fenius to go dwell on the
plain Shenaar with his school, was in order that he might there
be constantly in intercourse with those whose native language
was the Hebrew, and thus, that both himself and his school
might obtain a full and perfect knowledge of that tongue. But,
when Fenius had, as we have mentioned, resolved upon becoming a perfect master of those various tongues, he dispatched, at
his own expense, seventy-two persons of learning to the several
countries of the three parts of the world that were then inhabited.
These he commanded to remain abroad seven years, so that each
of them might learn the language of the country in which he
was to reside, during that time.  Upon the return of these men
to Scythia3 at the end of the seven years, Fenius set out with
them to the plain of Shenaar, bringing with him a great number
of the Scythian youth, having left his eldest son, Nenual, to rule
in his stead, as the poet4 relates in the following duan:
him, prove that he was a real person- where on the borders of the Euxine
age, whenever and wherever he did live. Sea. Perhaps between the Caspian,
The epithet "Farsa" or Farsaidh," is and Euxine, in  the neighborhood of
usually rendered by "sage."  It may, Colchis.   There are two adjacent
however, be a form of " Persa" i. e. countries in that region, whose ancient
Persian, or of" Parthian."         names, Iberia and  Albania, bear a
2 Goir-Tighern.  This name means striking resemblance to Hibernia and
the " Word" or " Call of the Lord." Alba, genitive Alban-names of the adIt is compounded of the words " goir," -jacent countries Ireland and Scotlandcall, and "tigherna" (teeyerna), " a but chance does sometimes work out
lord."                             strange coincidences.
s cSythia. The country from which' The poet. The author of the enFenius came, may have lain some- suing lay was Mael-Mhuiri Othna




THE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.                       155
Fenius set out from Scythia
With his great host —
A glorious hero, wise and learned,
Strong, triumphant.
There was but one tongue in the world
When they began itThere were full twelve tongues and thrice twenty
When they were scattered.
A great school of learning formed sage Fenius
For every scienceA divine hero, sage and learned
In all language.
Our Shanachies tell us that sixty years had passed, from the
building of the Tower of Babel to the time when Fenius came
southward with his school, from  Scythia, to the plain of Senaar,
as a poet thus recounts:
"Thrice twenty well-told years had passed,
('Tis thus our sages tell the story),
When Fenius from the north came down,
Since haughty Nimrod reared his tower."
Fenius then founded a school for the various languages on the
plain of Senaar, near a city which the Book of Drom-Snecta
calls Athense,5 as the bard thus tells us;
"On Senar's plain, when the Tower was strown,
The earliest school was held;
There sages taught in every tongueTo Athens thence has science sped."
Hither all the youth of the neighboring countries came to receive instruction in the'various tongues, from him and his professors. The three sages that held the chief direction of this
great school were Fenius Farsa, from Scythia; Gaedal, son of
Eth6r, of the race of Gomer, from Greece; and Caei, the Elocalled otherwise Mael-Muiri of Fathan. wit, " near a city called Athenae." Its
He  died, according  to  the  Four exact words are, "I g-cathair Athenm
Masters, in 884.  In  the  book of iar Sin," i. e. verbatim," In the city of
Invasions he is described as a " truly  Athenae after that."  It is not known
learned and skilful poet," whose works whether there was any ancient city called
are distinguished for loftiness ofthought Athenae in that quarter, but there was
and strength of expression. Three val- one called " Scythopolis," i. e. the
nable historical poems by Mael-Muiri Scythian city —a name that might be
are preserved in the books of Invasions rendered into modern Gaelic by " Ca.
and  Lecan.-Hardiman's Irish Min- thair" or "Baile na Sgot," or Scot.
strelsy.                            bhaile (Balli' na Skot or Scotvalli), i. e.
6 Athence.   The ensuing  "rann," the town of the Scots.  The Greek
which has not been given in Halliday's 7totS, the Latin "villa," and the
edition, does not bear out the construc- Gaelic " baili" or " baile" (badly), are
tion given to it in Keating's prose, to  words derived from a common root.




156               THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
quent (or the Just), from Judea, or Iar, son of Nemha, as others
call him, and as the bard thus relates:
"The names of those three learned sages
To you I quickly can revealGaedal, the son of the worthy Eth6r,
Fenius, and Iar the son of -Nemha."
Another poet records the names of these sages thus:
" Fenius, sage of the flowing tongue,
Gaedal and Caei of truthful words,
Were the three chiefs of this scholar band,
That followed the true paths of the authors."
These three inscribed the alphabets of the three principal languages upon wooden tablets, namely: the Hebrew, the Greek,
and the Latin. Thus we are informed by Kennfaela, the learned
in the Uraicept or Grammar, which he wrote in the days of St.
Columbkille.  The same author says that Nin mac Peil, or Ninus,
son of Belus, son of Nimrod, was monarch of the world at that
time; and h'e further informs us, that it was about this time that
Nial, son of Fenius Farsa, was born; and that Fenius continued
twenty years president of the school, in order that his son might
become perfectly skilled in the various languages. As, according
to some of our historians, it was in the forty-second year of the
reign of Ninus, son of Belus, that this great school was established by Fenius Farsa on the plain of Senaar, I judge that he
continued there for ten years of the reign of Ninus, and ten
years after that king's death, before he returned to Scythia; for,
all historians agree, that he spent twenty years presiding over his
school, previous to his return to his kingdom. I am also of opinion, that it was about two hundred and forty-two years after the
Flood, that this school was founded by Fenius, on the plain of
Senaar; for I find by the computation of Belarmine,s in his Chronicle, that it was in the year of the world 1856, that Ninus, son
of Belus, began his reign, which would leave, according to the
Hebrew computation, which Belarmine followed, sixteen hundred
and fifty-six years from the beginning of the world to the Deluge. To this we must add the forty years of the reign of Ninus,
that had been spent before Fenius began his school; so that,
according to this reckoning, he founded his school two hundred
and forty-two years after the Flood, and spent twenty years in gov6 Belarmine.  Cardinal Belarmine, Catholicity,the "Eochair Sciath an
an eminent champion of the Catholic Arfrinn," must have made him well con.
Church  and archbishop  of Capua, versant with the works of this learned
lived between the years 1542 and 1625. and distinguished prelate.
Dr. Keating's own work in defence of




THE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.                       157
erning it; that is, ten years of the reign of Ninus, and ten afterwards.  Then, at the end of these twenty years, Fenius returned
to Scythia and founded other schools of learning in that country,
and he set Gaedal, son of Ethor, as president over them.
Fenius then commanded Gaedal, son of Eth6r, to regulate and
arrange the Gaelic, or Irish language, into the five dialects,7 in
which we find it at the present day, to wit: the Berla Feni8
(Bairla Faineh), Beirla-na-ffiledh9 (velleh), the Berla Edarsgartha'0
(adarskarha), the Berla Thlebidell (Thaibee), and the Gnath-BerlaU
(Gnakh-vairla), and to name them  all in common from  himself.
Thus it is from  Gaedal, son of Ethor, that our language is called
"Gaeidilg;e3 (Gaylga or Gueelga) in English, Gaelic or Gaedalic,
and not from  Gaedal Glas, the ancestor of the Gaels, as some
imagine.  It was also, through friendship for this Gaedal,l4 son of
Ethdr, that Niul, son of Fenius Farsa, gave the name of Gaedal
to the son he had by Scota, daughter of Pharaoh Cingris; thus
we are informed by the learned Kennfaela in his Uraicept.
*7 Dialects. At this period the Gael- sicians' dialect, according to some auic, as afterwards spoken in Ireland, thorities; others will translate it the
could have had no separate or distinct "Theban dialect."
existence. It is itself, though extremely   12 Gnath Berla means the vulgar or
ancient, but a dialect of the Pelasgic or usual language. It may be translated,
Japethian  tongue of Europe, formed  Common Language. To these, some
thereon bv the admixture of some for- add the " Berlagar na Saer" (Bairlageign element, as shall be seen by the  gar na Sayre), or Dialect of Artisans,
vocabularies, which, if space allow, shall which is still in use amongst some oldbe given at the end %f this work. The  fashioned masons in Ireland. It conarrangement of the Gaelic into dialects tains many old words, bearing a close
must then be understood, merely to refer affinity to the Eastern languages, such
to the introduction of letters amongst as that of "Aes," a man, to the Hebrew
his nation by Fenius, through  the  "Aish."  A vocabulary of it should be
agency of Gaedal, son of Ethbr —that made out, before it becomes altogether
is, by some person whom the Gaels call extinct. " Saer," the Gaelic for "Artiby that name.                        san," and more especially for " mason,"
8 Berla Feni. The Fenian dialect means, also, "freeman."
may be called the sacred language of'3 Gaedilg. The fact here stated is
the Irish. Many tracts written therein  very improbable. The language must
are still in existence.              have had its name from the same source
9 Berla na ffiledh. This might be with the nation that used it.
more appropriately called a style than' Gaedal.  Of the derivations here
a dialect. The phrase means the lan- given for this name, the Gothic and
guage of the poets, i. e. the Files (filleh)  Irish  ones are entirely inadmissible.
or Bard-sages.                       They are, like most of the derivations
10 Berla Edarsgartha.  "Edarsgar- of Irish names recorded by Dr. Keattha" may mean either intermediate or ing, mere puns.  The derivation from
selected. It is a word of recent forma- "Gadol" is possible and natural, if the
tion, compounded of " edar," or " idir," name be of Semitic origin. If, however,
between, and sgartha (sgarha), divided  it be Japethian, the root must be some
or separated,  the  participle of the  word like either "Gaed," "Gaeth," or
verb 1" sg-ar," divide, ic.          " Gth," upon which it could have been
U BMrla Thebide. This was the phv- formed by the simple addition of the




158                 THE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.
It is a disputed question amongst authors whence this word
Gaedal is derived. Buchanan says that it comes from the words
"goethin,"  i. e. "noble," and  "al" i. e. all, and that it thence
means "all noble;" or from  the Hebrew  word  "gad6l," i. e.
great, because Gaedal, son of Ethor who, the first that bore the
name, was great in learning, in wisdom and in the languages.
But our own shannachies tell us, that he was called Gaedal from
the Irish words " gaeith" and " dil," i. e. lover of wisdom; for
"gaeith"  means  " wisdom,"  and  " dii"  means  "loving"  or
"fond;" thus the Greek called a sage philosophos, i. e. a philosopher, or a "lover of wisdom."'5
To return to Fenius, we are not told that he had any more
children than his two sons, Nenual and Niul. So the bard tells
us in the following verse:
"Two sons had Fenius, (the truth I tell),
Nenual and our father Niul;
Niul was born by the eastern Tower,
Nenual in Scythia of bright shields."
When Fenius'l had reigned over Scythia for twenty years, after
his return froni the plain of Shenaar, finding himself near his
regular Celtic suffix " al," just as " Ta- reported to have newly formed the Irish
mal," awhile, is derived from "Tam,"  language, or to have selected it from
time.  "Gaeth" means in Irish the  the languages then just dispersed, in the
wind, a dart, arrow, &c. It may even  school held on the plains of Senaar,
be a synonyme for " Scot," which, also, composed of those sages learned in the
in one of its acceptations, is said to  seventy-two tongues. Therefore it is
mean an arrow.  However, the original called B&rla Tibide, which, according
derivation of the man's name is of no  to some, means the " selected language."
moment, as whatever be its primary.... We are, indeed, advised by the
root, it cannot determine his nation.    mythology of the ancients to infer from
I5 Wisdom.  This is, also, a very  this that Fenius was one of leaders of
common acceptation of the sound ex- families after the confusion of tongues,
pressed by the above characters, i. e. and that the language that fell to his
Gaih or Gueeh.  It must, however, posterity was reduced by him into a
come from some source perfectly dis- literary form...... For, to compose
tinct from those of "Gaeth" (gayh), a language at that time, would but
the wind, which seems cognate with the  serve to increase the confusion and
English "gust," and "ghost," and of intricacy. On this account only is he
"gaeth," otherwise "gai," an arrow, said to have formed one-because he
shaft, javelin, &c.                  eternized it by the gift of letters, and
16 Feaius.   Of this ancient sage, corrected and improved it by grammatiO'Flaherty gives the following account: cal rules. The mythologists, concealing
~' Fenisius, Fcnius Farsaidh, or Phoe- truths beneath the guise of fiction, have
nius, the great grandson of Japhet, by  told~us that men were made by Promehis son, Magog, and the progenitor of theus, and that the enchanting strains
the Irish of the Scottish line, from  of Orpheus and Amphion obliged the
whom they are called Fenii, Fenisii, trees to quit their ancient plantations,
Phoeni, and Fenisiadae, was the first and the rocks themselves, animated by
inventor of the Scottish letters. He is the sound of the lyre, to flock to build




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                        159
death, he bequeathed the sovereignty of Scythia to Nenual, his
eldest son; but to Niul, his youngest son, he left nothing but the
advantages to be derived from his disseminating and teaching the
knowledge which he possessed of the sciences and of the various
languages in the common schools of the kingdom.
CHAPTER III.L
OF THE  TRAVELS OF N-IUL  FROM  SCYTHIA TO EGYPT, AND OF
HIS ADVENTURES THERE TILL HIS DEATH.
WHEN  Niull had spent a long time in teaching the public
schools in Scythia, the fame. of his learning and wisdom  had
gone forth into all countries, insomuch that Pharaoh Cingris,
the walls of Thebes. They tell us of' Niul. This name would seem to
wild beasts divesting themselves of their be the prototype of " Niall," a name
ferocity, and of other monstrous and  that afterwards became so frequent
incredible things, because by their wis- among the descendants of this patridom and eloquence these men had civil- arch, and that is still preserved among
ized and humanized the rude manners his descendants in its genitive form in
of their fellows. Thus Horace says:   the surnames, "O'Neill" and " MaoNeill," and, in their Anglicized forms,
"Sylvestres homines sacer interpresque'- Nelson " and " Neilson," as well as in
Deorum,                         the Christian name Neale. The "UnelCmedibus et victu foedos deterruit li," an ancient tribe of Armoric Gaul,
Orpheus.                        must have derived their name, that is,
Dictus ab hoc lenire tigres, rapidosque " Ui Neill," or descendants of Niall, from
leones:                         an ancestor called by this appellation.
Saxa movere sono testudinis et prece  Ile must, however, have lived ages
blanda                          before Niall of the Nine Hostages, who
Ducere quo vellet."               ruled Ireland from A.D. 380 to A.D.
406, from whom the Irish " Unelli," or
IN ENGLISH.             " Ui Neill," are sprung. The Niul of
Gaelic tradition may refer to that anOrpheus, sacred prophet of the gods, cient king of Thebes, who, according to
From carnage and from horrid meals the Greek, gave his name to the river
A rude and savage race deterred.    Nile, which had been previously called
And hence, we sing, that with his.Egyptus.  We are now, and we shall
lyre's                          be for yet a long while, in the mytholoSoft music bland, he tigers fell  gical ages of the Gaelic, as well as of
And bounding lions gently tamed;   all Human History, with the sole exThat his sweet voice and thrilling  ception of that which has been transnotes                           mitted by Holy Writ.  We must, then,
Moved sluggish rocks to leave their expect to find primeval facts either
beds                            largely interwoven with poetic fiction,
And hear his high commands.       or disguised in mythic language. We




160                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
king of Egypt, induced by the fame of his knowledge, sent to
invite him  to Egypt, in order to get him to instruct the Egyptian
youth in the sciences, and in the various tongues, as the poet tells
us in the following rann:
"The fame had reached King Forond,
With great glory,
Of Niul Mac Fenius, who knew all
The tongues of mankind."
Niul then came to Egypt2 with Pharaoh's messenger, and that
king bestowed upon him  the land called Capaciront,3 or Campus
Cirit, near the Red Sea. He gave him, also, his own daughter,
Scota, in marriage, as Gilla-Kaemhan tells us, in the poem that
begins with the line  "Gaedal Glas, from  whom  the Gaels are
sprung:"
" He then went into Egypt,
And reached the potent Forond,4
And married Scota,5 not scant of beauty,
The lovely child of generous Forond."
should then neither accord them  too  Paschale, the Scythians (that is, a nation
implicit a belief, nor reject them alto- they call by that name, the Hycsos or Shepgether. We are, in truth, in those Ho- herd kings, perhaps), invaded Egypt
meric times, over which the olden poets from their origrial seat, 3,660 years behave thrown a magic veil.  But we fore the Christian era. The settlement
should bear in mind, that the Homeric  of Nial (Neeul) in Egypt, may possibly
bard was esteemed an inspired prophet be connected with that event.
as well as a poet-that he had a sacred    3 Capaciront. This territory is said
character to maintain, and, perhaps, a to have been situated in Lower Egypt,
sacred mission to fulfil. He must, then, near Heliopolis or the City of the Sun,
have taken care to have had real per- now called Matarra.
sonages and real facts for the ground-   4 Forond.  This name is otherwise
work of his lay.  The principles he written " Foronn," for, asbefore stated,
enunciated must have been founded  the "nd" of the ancients is always reupon eternal truth.  The sons of the placed by " nn" in modern Gaelic.
Muses had not yet run wild, and as-   6 Scota. Here we first meet with a
sumed to themselves the license of coin- form of word akin to " Scot," in the
ing persons and things without end. name of this great progenetrix of the
His mental eye must be dim, indeed, " Scotic" nation.  The name is herewho would judge of them  by the  after derived by Keating, from "Scyconcocters of modern fiction. Then, a tha," i. e. a Scythian woman, and he
fair and candid narrator of the early  adds that she was so called from her
adventures of the ancestors of the Gaels, husband's nation. A more natural and
as of all other nations, should, at least, poetic one would be from  " Scoth,"
say with the great Roman historian: (Skoh,) a blossom or flower, like the
" Quae ante conditam condendamve ur- Latin name "Rosa," or the English
bem, poeticis magis decora fabulis quam  "Rose."  The aspiration of the final
incorruptis rerum gestarum monumentis, "t" in " Sgoth," a flower, which causes
ea nec refellere nec affirmare in animo  the word to be pronounced "Sgoh,"
est."                                can scarcely militate against this ety-' Exgypt. According to Justin, Epi- mology; for it is not likely that in the
phanius, Eusebius, and the Chronicon  earlier stages of our language it was




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                      161
When Niul had thus married Scota, he established schools
at Capaciront, and therein disseminated the sciences, and the
various languages, amongst the youth of Egypt.  It was there
that Scota gave birth to Gaedal, son of Niul.
It may, perhaps, appear strange to some people, that Niul,
who was the fifth in descent from Japhet, should have lived in the
time of Moses, when a period of seven hundred and ninety-seven
years had elapsed from the Deluge to the time that Moses took
upon him the leadership of the children of Israel. But my answer to them  is, that it is not incredible that Niul might have
lived some hundred years; for, in those, days, men lived a long
time.  For instance, Eber,* or Heber, son of Salah, the fourth in
descent from Shem, son of Noah, lived four hundred and sixty
ears, and Shem himself, who lived for five hundred years after
his son Arphaxad had been born, as we read in the eleventh
chapter of Genesis: therefore, it is not incredible that Niul
should have lived from  the forty-second year of the reign of
Ninus, son of Belus, to the time of Moses, as we have mentioned;
and it is still less to be wondered at, that Niul should have livqd
up to that time, if we may believe MAarianus Scotus, who says
that it was three hundred and thirty-one years after the Deluge,
when the language of mankind became confounded at Babylon.
Now,.as we have already said that Niul was not born for a considerable time after that confounding of the tongues at Babylon,
we may give credit to what the authors of the history of the Scotic
nation say of the age in which he lived, and believe them as
to the fact of his having been really born cotemporary with
Moses in Egypt.6
But, to return to Niul; it was during the time that this sage
dwelt at Capaciront, near the Red Sea, and after his wife, Scota,
had given birth to Niul, that the children of Israel escaped from
Pharaoh, and marched to the Red Sea, when they pitched their
tents not far from the residence of Niul.  When Niul had lTeen
so aspirated. In words of undoubtedly kind.  But the investigation of such
common etymology, we find, even in subjects can lead to no satisfactory remodern Gaelic, that the radical letters sualts.  The links connecting our anare sometimes aspirated, and sometimes cestor Fenius or Phoenix, (from whom
not-ex. " Sgaeith" (Skueeh), a flock, we are called Feni,) with Noah, may
drove, or band, and " Sgata" (Skotta). either have been lost, or his name may
— lb.                              have represented a fact, not a man.
6 NMiu and Moses cotemporaries. Our Some names also may have been misantiquaries have been sorely puzzled to placed on the genealogical tree. The
reconcile the legrend that makes Niul, Gaels must then rest satisfied, that the
son of Fenius, fhe sixth in descent from  same dark abyss that separates every
Noah, cotemporary with Moses, who other human race, except the chosen
was, according to Sacred History, the seed, from the favored builder of the
sixteenth from the patriarch of man- ark, should separate theirs likewise.
11




162              THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
told that the Israelites were in his neighborhood, he went to meet
and have discourse with them, so that he might learn who they
were. Aaron met him outside the camp, and told him of the
children of Israel's adventures, and of Moses, and of the testifying
miracles wrought by God upon Pharaoh and his host, by reason
of the bondage of the Israelites. Upon this Niul and Aaron
formed a friendship and alliance. Niul asked the Israelite if his
people had enough of food and provisions with them, and at the
same time told him, that all the corn and wealth he possessed himself were at the service of the fugitive, host. The night then
came on, and Aaron returned to Moses, and informed him  of
the offers made to him by Niul. Niul likewise went home to his
own people, and told them all that he had heard concerning the
Children of Israel.
Upon that same night a serpent chanced to bite Gaedal, Niul's
son, while he was swimming, and his life was endangered thereby.
Others will have it that the reptile came out of the desert, and
bit the child in his bed. Niul's household advised him to bring
the boy to Moses, which he does without delay. Moses thereupon prays to God; lays the rod he held in his hand upon the
wound, and it was immediately healed. Moses then foretold that
no venomous creature should have any power in any country the
posterity of that youth should dwell. And this prophecy has
been fulfilled in the isle of Crete, or Candia, where some of his
posterity remain, in which island, as in Ireland, no venomous
serpents can exist; for, although, according to some authors, we
have had some serpents in Ireland before St. Patrick's time, I
am yet of opinion that they were not venomous. I am likewise
inclined to think, that infernal demons are meant by those serpents spoken of in the life of St. Patrick. Some of our historians
tell us, that Moses locked the bracelet (fiesg) he had on his own
arm round the neck of Gaedal, and that such was the reason of
his being styled Gaedal Glas (for " glas"7 is the Ga(oic for a " lock.")
In those days every chieftain wore a " flesg," or bracelet, on his arm,
as a mark" of his dignity as "Kenn Fedna" (Kenn Pbaana), or
head of a sept. Hence, at this day, the head of a tribe is called
in Irish a " flesgach nasal" (Jcasgagh oosal), i. e. a " noble braceletbearer." It is also said, that it was from the poison of the
serpent that adhered to the neck of Gaedal, that he got his
surname of glas (which means also livid or bluish green). In
proof of this, as well as of his having been healed by Moses, the
following verses have been handed down to us by the bards:
7 Glas. Would not "glas" be appli- by "fuscus," swarthy? Even epithets
cable to the complexion of the Gaetu- like this may sometimes guide the eth.
lian or Moor? Could it be translated nologist.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                        163
"The livid Gaedal, could men say
To that bright and comely hero?
The fact whence came his surname Glas,
Few are those that know its story.
" Whilst bathing in the swelling wave,
Was generous Gaedal, son of Niul,
By baleful reptile he was smote,
With wound most difficult of healing.
"The' livid' spot, aye, marked the man,
Though Moses well his wound had healed —
By this some sages understand,
That Gaedal thence was surnamed' Livid.'
" 8No serpent nor vile venomed thing,
Since then can live on Gaelic soilThis blessing that great son of light
To Gaedal, with his bracelet, gave.
" Another heirloom to the youth
Left Moses, that great wonder-workerNo bard nor stranger9 since has found
A cQld repulse from son of Gaedal."
Others again tell us that Gaedal was styled " Glas" from  the
"blue-green " color of his arms and vesture.  In support of this
opinion, a bard has left us the following rann:"To mighty Niul Scota bore,
A son whom nations claim as father.
The man was named, Gaedal the Green,
From his green arms and his vesture."
It is from this Gaedal that all the Gael or Gaedalians are
called; it is thus the bard tells us the fact in the following
rann:
* No serpent. This and the follow- it is also a remarkable fact, even in
ing verse have been omitted by Halli- this material age, when all that is poetic
day, but Dermod O'Connor has given a seems to vanish before " iron wonders,"
version of them. The editor has found  that the serpent is fast fleeing from the
them in two of his manuscript copies, presence of the sons of Gaedal in the
and has deemed it right to give them in  transatlantic wilds.
his text, because they relate to a re-  No bard nor stranger.  No one
markable fact with regard to lower that knows anything of Irish or Scotanimal life in Ireland. Would that it tish history will deny that this heirloom
were equally so with regard to human  was held in the highest veneration by
life  For, though it is corroborated  the Gaels. Exceptions have been seen,
by the other tradition, which says it is true, amongst persons bearing
that                                Gaelic names, but these must be deemed
either mongrels or " tods i' the fauld,"
"A At St. Patrick's command      for they have not the mark of Gaedal
Vipers quitted that land,
Yet he's wanted again in our Island;"    upon them.




164                THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
" Feni,'~ from Fenius they are called —
Not forced the meaningFrom Gaedal Glas, we call them Gaels,
And Scots, from Scota."
Others do, however, assert that Gaedal's mother was called
Scota, because his father Niul was of the Scotic race from
Scythia, where, according to them, it was the custom to call
women after their husbands.'l  You must now understand, that
this woman  was not the same Scota who was the wife of
Galamh, called Miledh of Spain, and who bore him  six sons.
For the mother of Gaedal was the daughter of Pharaoh Cingris
-the same. that. held the Israelites in bondage; but the Pharaoh
whose daughter was married to Miledh, was the fifteenth Pharaoh
after him, and he was styled Pharaoh Nectonibus.
But Niul now  informed Moses, that the anger of Pharaoh
Cingris would be directed against himself for the welcome he
gave to the Children of Israel.  Then Moses said to him, "Come
thou with us, and when we shall have reached the land which
God has promised us, receive thou  a portion thereof; or, if
thou wilt, we shall give up the fleet of Pharaoh into thy hands
to embark thereon, and remain at sea until it be seen how it
shall end between Pharaoh and our host." Niul adopted the
latter counsel.
A thousand armed men were then sent to seize the fleet, and it
was delivered into his hands.  He then embarked thereupon and
thence witnessed the deeds of the ensuing day, to wit, the openinog of the sea before Moses and the Children of Israel and its
closing up after they haa passed, upon'Pharaoh and his host, oby
which the latter were all drowned. They amounted to threescore
thousand foot and fifty thousand horse, as we are informed by'" Feni. In these four lines are con- came originally from the rival of ancient
tained all that can perhaps ever be Rome, when we know that they have
known of the origin of these three taken their name from Carthach, son
names, upon which so much idle dis- of Saerbretach, a Munster prince, who
quisition has been made, and so much was burned in his house by the O'Lonlearning wasted. That the last con- nargans in the tenth century, and that
querors of Ireland before the Normans, previously they were called Eoghanigh
called themselves "Feni," "Gaedhail," or Eugenians, and Dergthini before that
"Scuit," and other names hereafter to again, and then Iberians or Eberians,
be met with, from the personal names' Milesians, Brigantes, Scots, Gaels, and
of their ancestors, can be proved by Feni.  About as well-founded as the
the invariable practice of their descend- derivation above mentioned have been
ants in more recent and better known all the theories broached upon the na,
times.  " Carthaigh," the genitive of tional names of Scot, Gael, and Feni.
" Carthach," is not unlike Carthage.   11 The fact here mentioned of having
Still we are not, on the strength of that women called after their husbands, or
rather close resemblance, to argue that rather after their husband's country, is
the "Clann Carthaigh" or Mac Carthies, at variance with all known history.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                     165
Ectgus O'Cuanain,l2 Arkiinnech (archdeacon), of Roscrea, in the
following verse, taken from the duan that begins thus —" 0, man
that believest not truth:""There, sixty thousand men on foot,
With fifty thousand cavalry,
A storm of the strong Red Sea
Engulphed all right suddenly."
AVe have mentioned above, that it was in the seven hundred
and ninety-seventh year after the Flood that Pharaoh was thus
overwhelmed with his host.
Now, when Niul had seen Pharaoh and his forces thus drowned, he continued to dwell in the country himself.; for he felt no
longer afraid, after the destruction of that king.  There  his
children and progeny grew, until they were fit to bear arms.
Niul died some time after this, and Gaedal, son of Niul, and his
mother, took possession of his territories.
After this, a son was born to Gaedal, in Egypt, and he was
named Esru; and again, in progress of time, a son was born to
Esru, and he calledl him Sru, 13 and they continued to hold the
same territory, and to dwell therein.
As to the Egyptians, another Pharaoh, styled Intur, or An
Tuir, took possession of the sovereignty upon the drowning of
Pharaoh Cingris in the Red Sea. In like manner was every
king that reigned over Egypt called, also, Pharaoh, from the time
ef the above-mentioned Pharaoh Cingris, so drowned, down to
Pharaoh Nectonibus, the fifteenth king after Cingris, who was
called Pharaoh.
12 Etgus O'Cuanain. He was other- have been also likened to the Egyptian
wise called Isaac, and was Bishop of Osiris and Siris. The Nile was called
Eli and Ros-Cr6, now Roscrea. He Siris by the 1Ethiopians. Osiris was
died in A. D. 1161. The name' "O'Cua- an ancient Egyptian king, who, having
nain," is now spelled " Coonan."  reformed his subjects at home, went
13 Esru -Sru.  These names have forth to spread civilization over the
some resenu  ganw't  t5ln ShuriP-ita  Ztsi4. htYi Tms MVfi&  fenUsh,
ones Reu, Serug, and Ashur. They




CHAPTER IV.
OF PHARAOH  INTURIS BANISHMENT OF THE CHILDREN  OF
GAEDAL FROM EGYPT; AND OF THEIR CHIEFS, AND OF THEIR
ADVENTURES THEREAFTER, DOWN HERE.
PHARAOH INTUR1 and the Egyptians, in time, remembered their
old grudge to the descendants of Niul and the family of Gaedal,
namely, their resentment for the friendship the latter had formed
with the Children of Israel. They, then, made war upon the
Gaels, who were thereby compelled to exile themselves from
Egypt. With this account Thomas Walsingham agrees, in the
book called Hypodeigma, where he states that, " When the Egyptians had been drowned in the Red Sea, those of their countrymen who survived, drove out a certain chieftain of the Scythian
nation, who lived among them, that he might Aot assume sovereignty over them. Banished with his tribe he came to Spain,
where he resided many years, and where his posterity grew numerous, and that thence he came at last to Ireland."
Know, reader, that this chieftain was Sru, son of Esru, son of
Gaedal, and not Gaedal himself, notwithstanding the false assertion of Hector Boethius; and also, in contradiction to the modern
English writers, who suppose that it was Gaedal himself, that led
the migration to Spain; for, according to the truth of Irish history, which we should rather trust to in this matter, it is a fact
that it was in Egypt that Scota, daughter of Pharaoh Cingris,
gave birth to Gaedal; and in that land he resided until his death.
Nor, as others assert, was it from Greece that he had come thither,
but from Scythia. And although the author we have just
quoted, does assert that it was to Spain that the Gaelic prince,
mentioned above, had come, yet the fact was not so, for it was to
Scythia that he went; and it was the fifteenth generation from
him, namely, Bratha, son of Degatha, that first reached Spain.
Here follows a quotation from the antiquary, Gilla-Caemhan, in
proof that it was Sru, son of Esru, that was leader in this emigration from the land of Egypt:Pharaoh Intur. The epithet ap- in the manuscript copies. It may refer
plied to this prince is found written to the founder of some of the Pyramids
" an tuir," (an tooir,) i. e. of the Tower,
[166]




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                     167
"Sru, son of Esru, son of Gaedal,
Grandfather of our learned host,'Twas he from home that wended northward
Over the Red Sea's stormy wave.
" Four vessels then contained his household
Upon the Red Sea's stormy wave;
The number in each wooden dwelling
Was four and twenty wedded pairs."
Observe that it was Sru, son of Esru, that was the leader of
this migration, until they had reached the isle of Crete, where he
died.
His son Eber Scot2 then assumed the chieftainship of the
people, until they arrived in Scythia. For that reason, a certain
author says that Eber Scot was the leader of their emigration,
and that it was from this chieftain's surname, " Scot," that the
Gaels or Gaedalians are called the Scotic race.  Some authorities
tells us that the word "Scot " means archer, and that he got the
surname from the fact, that there was no bowma.n superior to him
in his day, and thus, from the word's having been given as a
nickname to this chief, that it continued to be applied to his posterity, who practiced the use of the bow as a common weapon,,
in imitation of their ancestors, until a very late period, that is
within our own memory. But I do not adopt the opinion of this
author, for I find that most antiquarians believe, that the reason
for calling the Gaedalians the Scotic race, is because they had
drawn their origin from Scythia.
The reader must understand that Moses and Gaedal were
cotemporaries, and therefore that Gaedal was fourscore years of
age when Pharoah was drowned, and that the fourth generation
from his birth, namely, Eber Scot, son of Sru, son of Esru,
son of Gaedal, was then in existence, when the children of Gaedal emigrated to Scythia.3
Some historians tell us that there were four hundred and forty
years, from the drowning of Pharaoh in the Red Sea, until the
arrival of the Children of Miledh in Ireland; so a bard relates
in the-following lay:
2 Eber Scot. This is most probably attenuation."  The regular form  is
the ancestor from whom the Scottish "Scoit."
name is derived. The translator thinks  We see our author here puzzled in
that the epithet means "wanderer," endeavoring to reduce into chronologiwhich he deems of the same signification cal order the dim traditions, that tell of
with Scythian. " Scuit "is the nomina- the Fenian sojourn in the land of Egypt.
tive case plural, and the genitive singu- He even contradicts what he has before
lar of Scot, being formed therefrom by told us of Gaedal's being yet but a
what Irish grammarians call " irregular child, when Moses fled out of Egypt.




168               THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
"Forty years above four hundred,
(You know I tell no idle tale,)
There were, since came the tribes of Dana
Across the straits of the great sea,
Till Miledh's sons first heard dread Ocean
His music beat on Eri's shores."
However, according to the computation made in the Book of
Invasions, there were but three hundred years, less by seventeen, from the time that Moses took the command of the Children of Israel in Egypt, until the sons of Miledh invaded Ireland; for Moses assumed his sovereignty over the Children of
Israel, in Egypt, at the end of seven hundred and eighty years
after the Flood; and, according to the time allowed by Irish history to the several occupations of Ireland, it was at the end of
one thousand and eighty years after the Flood, that the sons
of Miledh took possession of this island. The Book of Invasions states, that it was at the end of three hundred years after
the Flood, that Partholan landed in Ireland, and that his posterity held possession of the country for three hundred years
after his time. Then Ireland continued waste for thirty years,
until the race of, Nemedh arrived therein. This people again
ruled the island for two hundred and seventeen years.  After
them the Fer-Bolgs held possession of the land for thirty-six
years; and, lastly, the sway of the Tuatha-De-Dananns lasted
for two hundred years, wanting three. Now, the summing up
of the whole of these periods gives us one thousand and eighty
years, from the Flood to the landing of the sons of Miledh in
Ireland. And if from this calculation there be deducted the
seven hundred and ninety-seven years there were firom the Flood
to the authority which Moses received over the Children of Israel,
it is evident that there was from that time to the arrival of the
children of Miledh in Ireland, but three hundred years, less by
seventeen. Therefore the above-quoted opinion must be false,
when it asserts that it was at the end of four hundred and forty
years after the Children of Israel passed through the Red Sea,
that the sons of Miledh reached Ireland.
Jiigration of the Gaels to Crete, under Sru, son of Eisru.
Some antiquarians assert that the direction taken by Sru, son
of Esru, and his followers, was through the Red Sea, south-eastwards,4 into the ocean, and thence eastwards, leaving Tapra4 South-eastwards. The ancients as- Ptolemy, relates this tradition, without
Berted that Asia was circumnavigable, even hinting at its impracticability.
and Dr. Keating, whose geographical Notwithstanding the form in which the
knowledge does not appear to have tradition has come down to us, it may
much exceeded that of the days of yet refer to Some important fact that




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                        169
bana5 and Asia on their left, and then northwards, leaving Asia
still on their left, until they rounded it at the north;6 thence they
proceeded westward, until they reached the extremity of the Ripbean mountains, in the north-west part of Asia, and got into the narrow sea, that leads southward, separating Europe from Asia, and
they thus arrived at Scythia.  However, this was not the route
that Sru took in his voyage from Egypt to Scythia, with the crews
of his four ships, each containing thirty men, but from the mouth
of the Nile, through the Mediterranean to Crete,7 which is now
called Candia, where he dwelt for some time, and then died.  In
this island he likewise left some of his posterity,8 who remain
there to the present day; and hence it happens, according to our
ancient historians, that no venomous reptile can exist in that
island, just as is the case in our own island.
Mfgration of the Gaels to Scythia under fEber Scot, son of Sru.
From9 Crete they emigrated to Scythia, under the guidance
of Eber Scot.  Now, whosoever may assert that it would be impossible to reach Scythia from Egypt in ship or vessel, should
took place during the time the Fenians southernmost of all the Greek Isles. It
stayed in Egypt-such as to the circum- was famed for its hundred cities, and for
navigation of Africa by the Phoenicians, the laws of Minos. Jupiter was fabled to
the expeditions of Bacchus to the East, have been educated in Crete. It was
or to those of Osiris, Hercules, or Se- also famous for the Corybantes,or priests
sostris. The Gaels have just as much  of Cybele, whose worship was introright to their versions of the exploits of duced from Crete into Phrygia, in Asia
these heroes as other nations-especially  Minor. The connection between Crete
as it is most likely they wended their and Asia Minor was intimate; hence we
way slowly to Ireland by Crete, the meet with a Mount Ida in Crete, and a
Mediterranean Islands, Northern Africa  Mount Ida in the Troade.
and Spain, while the pure Celts and    8 Posterity. The race of Fenius must
Cimbri were proceeding thither over- have colonized many lands during its
land, through European Scythia.     lonag passage from Egypt to Ireland.
Tapraban a. Taprobanl, which is Their traditions during this period
here meant, was the name by which the should consequently belong to many
island of Ceylon was known to the nations besides the Irish; in fact, we
ancients.                           seem  to read the migrations of that
6 At the north. The old maps would  Iberian race, which planted its roots
make it appear, that the Northern Sea- so widely in Italy, Sicily, and Spain, &c.,
board of Asia ran in a north-westerly  and which sent its last and remotest
direction from China to the Baltic Sea. offshoot to our island. No venomous
This would make narrow seas of the serpent exists in Crete.
mouths of the Volga, the Ural or the    The Scythia of Fenius Farsa and
Don. Indeed, the "Narrow Sea, pro- his posterity, to which the wanderer,
ceeding southward," so often spoken of, Eber Scot, migrated, might have been
must mean the Sea of Azof.          in Asia Minor.  It could not have
7 Crete.  Crete, or Creta, is now  lain far from  the borders of that
called Candia. It is one of the largest country.
islands in the Mediterranean. It is the




i70                THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
consider that, according to-the extent of Scythia as it then existed, the Tanais or Don is mentioned as one of the rivers of
Scythia, in the respectable history of Herodotus, who states in
his fourth book, that " the river Tanais divides Asia from Europe,
and it is reckoned as one of the rivers of Scythia."'0
When the Gaels had settled in Scythia, a war broke out, in
time, between them and their kinsmen, the descendants of Nenual,
son of Fenius Farsa.  This warfare, which was for the sovereignty
of the country, continued for seven years, until Agnon, son of
Tath, the fifth in descent from Eber Scot downward, succeeded
in killing his cousin Refloir, son of Rifill, of the house of Nenual,
who was then king of Scythia, as Gilla-Caemhan tells us in the
following verse:
"Refloir and the stainless Agnon
Seven years contended for the throne,
Tiff king Refioir fell with glory
By Agnon's fortune-favored hand."
Expulsion of the Gaels from rScythia-Their W'anderings — caicher's
Prophecy-Sojourn in Gothia.
Now, concerning the children of Refloir: this king had two
sons, named Nenual and Refill. These princes collected an army
against the posterity of Gaedal, to banish them utterly out of the
country. Upon this the Gaels assembled together and left the
Scythian land in a body, passing through the country of the
Seared-breasts,"l who are called Amazons, to the border of the
Caspian Sea. There they took shipping and landed on an island
in the Caspian, where they stayed for, one year. Their leaders
upon this emigration were Agnon and Eber, the two sons of Tath,
"o Tanais flumen dividens Asiam ab miscyra, on the Euxine Sea, at the
Europa, enumeratur inter flumina quse mouth of the Thermodon, now the
apud Scythas sunt.                 Termeh, a famous river of Cappadocia,
1' Seared breasts. It wasfabled that was the capital city of the Amazons.
the Amazons seared or burnt off the From the route here traced, the Scythia
right breast of their female children, in of Eber Scot must have been south of
order that they might be able tothrow  Paphlagonia.  Cilicia, which had rethe javelin with more force.  This ceived its name, according to the Greek
fable is founded upon the resemblance mythologists, from Cilix, the brother
in sound between the word Amazon, of Phcenix (Fenius?), would accord
which is not Greek, and the Greek with the Scythia of the Irish bards.
words "a," without, and ",atac," a breast. Classic mythology tells us that Phoenix,
The process would prevent the desired  Cilix, Cadmus and  Europa (from
effect. Their country, as before shown, whom Europe is called), were the chillay from Cappadocia and the Euxine to dren of Agenor, king of Phonicia,
the Caspian Sea, and, rounding the east- and brother of Belus, who founded the
ern angle of the Euxine, it reached the Assyrian Empire, about 2,000 years
Palus Meotis on the north-west. The- before the Christian era.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                       171
son of Agnaman, son of Beogaman, son of Eber Scot, son of Sru,
son of Esru, son of Gaedal.  Agnon had three sons with'him on
this migration. These were named Ellod, Lamfinn, and Lamglas.'2
Eber, son of Tath, had two sons, namely, Caicher and King.
Agnon died in the Caspian island, just mentioned.
At the end of the year the wanderers left the island.  Upon
this voyage, their host was led by six chieftains. They formed
the crews of three ships. In each ship were threescore persons,
and every third man had a wife with him. They then steered
along the strait leading fiom  the Caspian, westwards,'3 for the
narrow sea that comes in from the Northern Ocean; and when
they had reached that sea, a storm came upon them, by which
they were driven upon an island in the Pontic Sea, called Caronia, A
where they abode for one year and three months. It was in this
island that Eber, son of Tath, and Lamglas died.
They emigrated thence under four chieftains, namely, Ellod,
Lainfinn, King, and Caicher.  They now met Mermaids or Sirens'5
at sea, who began to sing soft music to the sailors as they passed
them, by which means they intended to lull them to sleep, and then
to fall upon and destroy them. Caicher the Druid, found a remedy
for this danger by melting wax1' into the ears of the men, by
which they were prevented from hearing the music of the sorceresses.
" Lamfinn and Lamglas.  These is not on the Pontic Sea, but then the
names signify the " Fair Hand," and mention of the "Muirdiuchoin" (mutrthe "Blue" or "Green Hand."  The yooghin), i. e. mermaids, or sirens,
Irish pronounce them  Lauvinn and soon after, would show that the wanderLauvlass.                           ing clan of Eber Scot sailed from'" The  Strait leading  Westwards. Caronia into the Mediterranean, which
It is idle to speculate upon the route they could not so readily do if that
here traced, as it is evident the later place lay in the Pontic Sea.
narrators of the tradition knew noth-'5 Sirens.  The sirens were fabled
ing of the geographical position of the sea nymphs %of such melodious voices
localities of which they treated. The that all who heard them forgot everylower bend of thQ Wolgra might have thing else in attending to, their enchant.
brought them westwards to within a ing song, and at last died tlrrough
short distance of the Don, by which  want of food. Their Irish name was
they could have got in to the Pontic, muirdhuichoin (mur-yoog,!in). The story
that is, the Euxine Sea, through the of the sirens was so universal during
Narrow Sea, i. e. the Palus Maeotis, or the heroic ages, amongst all peoples,
Sea of Azof.                        that the Irish bards had no need to
14 Caronia.  There  were  several borrow it from the Latins or Greeks.
places in Asia Minor that might be The sirens were said to dwell in a small
assimilated to this name. Caria, or island off Cape Pelorus, in Sicily. This
some Caria colony, was possibly meant, shows the direction in which our Scots,
The boundaries of this country varied  or wanderers, were then steering.
extremely at different times. It was   16 Wax. This story is also told by
also called Phoenia, from a Phcenician  Homer of Ulysses. It was apparentcolony settled there.  Caria is now  ly one of the wonderful yarns of the
called Adinelli. It is true that Caria primitive mariners, and said of all those




172                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Thus they continued their voyage, until they had reached the
point'7 of the Riphean mountains, in the North, where they cast
anchor and landed. It was here that Caicher prophesied to them,
that they should find no fixed settlement to dwell in, until they
had landed in Eri; mentioning, at the same time, that it was not
themselves, but their posterity, that were destined to possess that
land.
From this point they then wandered, until they came to Gothia,
where Lan-finn had a renowned son, who whs named Eber GlunFinn, 8 i. e. Eber of the white-knee.  For thirty years they abode
in Gothia, and there some of their race remain to the present day.
In testimony of this Gilla-Caemain has left us the following
rann:
"The skilful, truthful race of Gaedal
Dwelt thirty'" years in that land,
And some of them abide still yonder,
And there shall dwell'till earth's last doom."
But some others of oir historians are of opinion, that one
hundred and thirty years was the period that the Gaels dwelt in
Gothia, to wit, from  Eber Glun-Finn to Bratha, son of Degatha or
Degh-fatha,2~ son of Ercadh, son of Alloid or Ellod, son of Nuthat made distant voyages.  As the the  absurdities here recounted. To
Phcenicians were the first mariners, it bring the clan of Eber Scot to a land
must have originated with them, and  that could not have been called "Gofrom them  most likely the Gaels re- thia" for ages after, our poets followceived it.                          ing the track of this dabbler in Latin,
17 Ripheart Mountains, in the North. fancied that the Sea of Azof was conThis is evidently in contradiction with  nected with the Northern Ocean, by a
what has gone before. We have seen  Narrow  Sea by the Riphean Mounthem get iito the Narrow Sea, or Sea tains, which existed only in their imagiof Azof, from the east, thence they were nations.
driven by a storm into the Pontic Sea,   18 Eber  Glun-Finn.   This is the
and land in Caronia: we next see them  third time we meet with the name Eber,
in the neighborhood of Sicily, where the amongst the Gaelic chieftains.  Lamsirens were said to be.  As we are finn's own name, also, was probably
never told that they got back again  Eber, for "Lamfinn," i. e. "Fair Hand,"
into the Narrow Sea, their course must was most probably an epithet given for
have been  still southward, and the  the sake of distinction.
point of the Riphean Mountains in the   19 Thirty. " Trichad" (ThreeghAd)
north, if it be not altogether imaginary, thirty may  have- been written  by
can only mean the Northern Pillar of mistake for " tri ched" (three ghayd)
Hercules, or Mount Calpe, now Gib- three hundred, and led to the discrepraltar, which lies opposite Abyla, on ancies discussed in the next paragraph.
theAfricancoast, which was the South-   20 Degh-Futha.  This word means
eru Pillar of Hercules. The translation  " good cause" or " good fate," i. e. prosor version  of the  "Gaethluighe"  perous. With all its aspirations, it is
(Gayhluee) of Gaelic legend into " Go- written  " Degh-fhatha," (Dayaha or
thia," by some bard who had received  Dyaha.)
a smattering of Latin, was the origin of




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                       173
adath, son of Nenual, son of Ebric,21 son of Eber Glun-Finn, who
was born in Gothia, son of Lamfinn, who ifas the first of their
chieftains that came to that country.  Now, as so many generations could not have passed by in thirty years, I am convinced
that the latter opinion is the true one. There are other historians,
again, who assert that the Gaels resided in Gothia for three
hundred years.  But this assertion cannot be true, for we have
seen above, that according to the dates of the several invasions,
there were not three hundred years in full from the drowning of
Pharaoh in the Red Sea, to the landing of the sons of Miledh in
Ireland.  Then the opinion last mentioned cannot be correct; for
the Gaels went through the whole of their wanderings in less
than that time, to wit, from. Egypt to Crete or Candia, from
Crete to Scythia, from Scythia to Gothia, from Gothia to Spain,
from  Spain to Scythia, from  Scythia to Egypt, from  Egypt to
Thrace, from Thrace to Gothia, and from Gothia to Spain, and
finally from Spain to Ireland.
CHAPTER V.
OF THE MIGRATIONS OF THE GAELS FROM GOTHIA TO SPAIN, &C.
BRATIA, son of Degatha or Degh-Fatha, the eighth in descent
from  Eber Glun-Filn, i. e. of the White-Knee, emigrated from
Gothia, near Crete and Sicily,l to Spain, in the South of Europe,
with the crews of fouir ships, as Gilla-Caemhain tells us in the
following verse:
21 Ebric.  The aspirated  form  of Eastern Iberi, through the Pontic Seato
this name is "Ebhric" (Aivric).  It is the quarter of the sirens (Sicily), and
otherwise written, Febhric (Faivric). leaving them in Gaethluighe, under his
It is clearly a derivative from Ebher or  son Eber Glun-Fii, and in that same
Eber (Aiver), a name already become  Gaethluighe, near Crete and Sicily, we
frequent amongst the Clan of Eber the  now find them again, under his ninth deScot.                               scendant, Bratha. Hence it is obvious
1 Gothia near Crete and Sicily. We  that "'Gaetulia," not Gothia, must be
here see the great mistake of having  the country meant, and that our " Clantranslated" Gaethluighe" by" Gothia,"  na Ebir", were all-this time spreading
to which it has but slight resemblance, themselves in Northern  Africa and
even in letters. We have seen Lamfinn  Southern Europe, in the region of the
leading the  Clan of Eber from  the  Western Iberi. The following is the
neighborhood  of the  Caspian and  learned and venerable  O'Flaherty's
Euxine Seas, and the land of the Ama-  opinion on this subject:
zons-in fact, from the very region of the    "Therefore Lamfinn, having left




174                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
6 Degratha's son, our honored Bratha,
His host from Crete to Sicily
Brought in four stout, swift-sailingr vessels,
And thence to Southern Hispany."
It is from  this our Bratha, that Bragantia, in  Portugal, (or
Porl-na- 2- cGal,) where lies the present dukedom of Braganza, has
received its name.
These are the four chiefs that accompanied Bratha in his voyage to Spain, namely, Oghi and Ughi, the two sons of Allod,
son of Nenual, with Mantan and Caicher.  There were fourteen
wedded couples, and six hired soldiers in each ship.  Upon their
landing they gave three defeats to the previous inhabitants of
the country, that is, to the posterity of Tubal, son of Japhet. But
a sudden plague came upon the sons of Allod, so that they all
perished, with the exception of ten..
Breogan, son of Bratha, establishes his sway in Spa'itz-Founds
Brigantium.
However, they soon multiplied  again, and Breogan,2 son of
Bratha, was born.   This was that Breogan who shattered the
power of Spain, in so many fights.  It was he also that founded
or built Brigantia,' near Corunna, and Breogan's Tower in Corunna
itself.
Scythia, and his father having died on  the first inhabitants of Africa, whose
the voyage thence, settled in Gaeth- king, Iarbas, granted Byrsa, the ground
luighe, where a son was born for him, whereon Carthage was built, to Dido."
1namel Ehelr Glun-Fiun, of whom the    2 Breogan.  From this chieftain the
bard has sung:                        Gaels are said to have taken the name
Genar go n-oirdhlere in sin      " Clanna Breogain," latinized " BriganDo Lamhfhinn mhac Aghnomhain,    tes." The name may be otherwise writbhler Gluno-finn, gla an bahrih  ten, "Brbgan," the long  "e" being
Sen-athair folt-chas Fhobhrigh.  commutable with e in the Irish acommutable with e5 in the Irish LanIn Enylish.             guarge. Thus we say "fern (fair) and
In that land gloriously was born.        (      i. e.  ss, idiscrimiTo Lamfinn, son of Agnomhan,     "feo'  (febre),. e. grass, indiserimiThe white-kneed Ebcr of bright sway,   nately. Breobghan (Bre5an) is derived
Tho curly-haired grsadsire of Febric.    either from " brigh" (bree) strelnoth, or
"Some will have this country Gothia, from "bre5," fire, and not from" btrugh"
though it is everywhere called Gaeth- (broo) or "brog" (brugg), a dwelling, as
luighe by our writers. Gothia has not some have supposed, in guessing at the
the smallest resemblance to the word; etymology of the name of the Brigantes.
and to translate it so, inverts the order    3 Brigantia.  Brigantium  was the
of history.  Gothia is an island in the  name by which this city was knowli to
Baltic Sea, of no antiquity.  Galatia is the Romans. To it they added the
not unlike it, in sound, hut that name of title " Flavium" or " Flavian," from
the country of the Asiatic Galli is the family-name of one of their empemuch more modern. *   * *  I am  rors, in order to distinguish it from
really of opinion, that those people, other cities of the Brigantes, one of
whomour writers have called Gaeth- which is now called Bregentz, in the
laighi, are Gaetulians, descended from  Tyrol. The Brigantium founded by Bre



THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                      175
"Many conflicts, many wars
Upon the proud host of Esbain,
Broke BreoSgan of the battle's din,
The builder of Brigantia."
This Breiogan had ten sons, namely, Breoga, Fuad, M/urthemni,
Cuailgni, Cuala, Bladh, Eble6, Nar, Ith and Bili, (Billeh.)  In
memory of these Gilla Caemhan made the following rann:
"Breogan's ten sons, whose fame shall live,
Were Bregha, Fuad, Murthemni,
Cuailgni, Cuala, with Bladh lthe brave,
Eblind and Nar and Ith and Bili."
Galamh,4 who is called "Miledh Esbaini," i. e. the hero of
Spain, in Gaelic, and in Latin, Milesius, was the son of the Bili
here named.  Now, although Bili be the last named of the sons
of Breogan in the list here given, still our ancient authors all
assert that he was the eldest son of this chieftain.
Miledh of Spain, or Milesius, i. e. Galamh, son of Bili, son of
Bre6gan.
When, then, the race of Breogan had increased and multiplied,
and had acquired the masterdom of nearly all Spain, there was
born to Bili, son of Bre6gyan, a renowned son, of most glorious
deeds, and he was then called Galamh; but he has been since
styled Miledh of Spain.  This youth was seized with the desire
of sailing to Scythia, in order to visit his kinsmen and to do
them service, in a fleet well manned with the young men of
Spain.  Having resolved upon this'voyage, he equipped thirty
ships, in each of which he placed its requisite crew of warriors.
He then launched his fleet upon the Mediterranean Sea, and
sailed directly North-east5 by Sicily and Crete, until he arrived
at Scythia. When he had reached the Scythian land, he sent
word to Refloir, son of Neman, who was then king of Scythia,
and who was descended from that Refloir, son of Rifill, whom we
have mentioned heretofore.  When Miledh appeared before the
king, he got a kindly welcome, and in time he was made general
ogan is now called Betanzos. It is situ- derived from" Gal," battle, bravery, &c.,
ated in Galicia, on the Bay of Corunna, by the addition of the suffix " mh"about five leagues south of the latter just as " brethemh" (brMhgv), a judge,
city. It is named Cathair Bhreoghain is formed from " breith" (breh), jutdge(CAhir Vrebwinn), i. e. Breoigan's For- ment.
tress, by some Irish writers.        5 North-east. This route would have
4 Galamh. The name " Ualamh" (Gal- taken him to Phcenicia or Cilicia dilay) may mean the same thing as "Mi- rect.
ledh" (Meeleh), i. e. hero or warrior,




176               THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
of the Scythian army, and he received in marriage a daughter of
the king, whose name was Seng, and who bore him  two sons
named l)onn6 and Arech Februadh.' Now, when Mfilcdh had
dwelt for some time in Scythia, his success against thb tyrants
and robbers of that country was so great, that le became very
much beloved by the inhabitants.  W~hen King Refloir perceived
this, he was seized with fear, lest Miledlh might rise up against
himself, and strive to deprive him of the kingdom of Scythia.
For this reason he plotted the death of Miledh, notwithstanding
the fact of his being his own son-in-law.  But Miledh heard of
the plot, and thereupon seized upon a favorable opportunity, and
put King Refloir to death first.
Hie then called together and assembled his own faithful followers, and put Out to sea with the crews of threescore ships.  And he
steered straight over the Mediterranean Sea, until he reached the
mouths of the Nile.  There he landed, and sent an embassy to
Pharaoh Nectonibt, letting him  know of his arrival; and the
kino- sent ambassadors of his own to meet AMiledh, and to conduct
him to his presence.  And when Miledlh appeared before the king,
he was made welcome to the land, and a territory was granted
to |him and his pbople to dwell thereupon. It is ill record of this
voyage of Miledh, from  Scythia to Egypt, that Gilla-Caemhan
composed the following rann:
" Miledh, the sire of our goodly clans,
Slew King Refloir, the well-befriended.
Then hastily fled he yon hostile land,
And found other fields by the bounteous Nilus."
The reader must here observe, that the two sons which Seng,
daughter of Refloir, had borne to Miledh, namely, Donn and
Arech Februadh, accompanied him in his voyage to Egypt, their
mother having previously died in Scythia.
At this time, there was a, great war between Pharaoh and the
king of Ethiopia.  Pharaoh made Miledh the commander of his
army, when he had estimated his bravery and valor, and sent
him to meet the forces of Ethiopia therewith. There then ensued
many engagements and conflicts, between ilee forces under the
command of Miledh and those of the Ethiopians.  In these he was
so successful that his.fame and renown spread through all naG Donn. This chieftain, the eldest Arech Februadh (Aragh Ftvrooh),
son of Miledh, was otherwise called were afterwards lost off the coast of
Eber Donn, i. e. the Brown Eber, to Ireland. "Febraadh" may mean reddistinguish him from his brother, Eber browed, or it may be a contracted form
Finn, i. e. the Fair Eber, Miledh's eld- of " Eber" or " Febric ruadh," i. e. the
est son by Scota, the Egyptiani prin- red Eber.
cess. Both Donn and his brother,




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                       177
tions, whereupon Pharaoh gave him  one of his own daughters
to wife.  This lady was called Scota, from  being the wife of
Miledh, who was of the Scotic race.  She bore her husband two
sons in Egypt, namely, Eber Finn and Amerghin.
As soon as ever Miledh had landed in Egypt, he sent twelve
of the young men that had accompanied him, to learn the-principal arts of Egypt.  Thus each of them  had become expert in
his own particular profession, by the end of the seven years that
Mliledli resided in the land of tho Pharaohs.
MIiledh  at length remembered him, that the druid Caicher had
prophesied long before, to his ancestor, Lamfilnn, that Ireland
was the land in which it was destined that his posterity should
obtain a lasting sovereignty.  Upon this he fitted out three ships,
supplied them  with crews, and took his leave of Pharaoh.  He
then set sail from the mouth of the Nile, into the Mediterranean,
and landed on an island near Thrace.  It is called Irena,7  and
there it was that Ir, son of Miledh, was born.  Thence he sailed
to an island8 called Gothis, in the strait leading into the northern
ocean.  There he made some stay, and there it was that Scota
bore him  a son, namely, Colpa, styled the Swordsman.  Thence
he set sail into the northern strait which separates Europe from
Asia,  and passed onward, leaving Europe on the left, to the
west, until hie reached Cruthin-tuath,9 i. e. the land of the Cruthnigh or PIicts, which is called Alba.  IIe plundered the coasts
of that country, and thence sailed along the coast of Great Britain, leaiving it on the right, until he reached the mouth of the
river R, n (i. e. the Rhine); thence, sailing westward and south-ard, lie leaves France on his left, and at length lands in Biscay.l0
7 Irena. Samothrace may be the isle arrival of the Cruthnigh in the British
meant. This isle  was peopled by  Isles, during, the reign of the Irish
Pelasgrilans,'Thraciallns, and Phoenicians. king Elrimhon, be correct. " Cruthnech"
It was iiamed f'or its re'igious mysteries. (C)'rdlmaggh) is the nominative singular
Its soil was deemed sacred, and hence of Cruthnigh.-It is to be noted, that
it was an inviolable asylum to all fugi- the termination " igh" ( lt and i<>), when
tives. From this possibly comes the ending a word, applied as a national or
name Irena, which means peace, i. e. family-name, throughout this transla", etp7v1,'" given to it in the text. tion, is to be taken in the plural; that
Miledh may well have put in there in is, if it has no Irish nominative, such as
this, which seems to have been a pi- "0," "Mac," "Ui," " Clann," &c., beratical expedition of his.          fore it; in the latter case it is used in
8Aan aisand. Here, again, we have the genitive singular. The nominative
" Gothias" put for "- Gaethluighe," and singular of all such words ends invariSgageracke for the Straits of Gibraltar. ably in "ach" or "ech" (agh). These
Crutrthin-tuatit. This name is pro- terminations correspond with the "us"
nounced  Chrihi;n-tooahc, and the in- and "i" of the Latins, and the " o"'
habitants of the laend so-called are and "ol" of the Greeks.
styled (CrLthalnigh (Crulniig or Cru.niho).  Biscay. A province in the northThe name is prematurely applied in this west angle of Spain, lying on the Atinstance, if the account given of the lantic Ocean, and bordering on France,
12




178                THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Now, when he had arrived in this land, his kinsmen come to
bid him  welcome, and they tell him  that the Gothi, and several
other foreign nations, were harassing both their country and all
Spain.  Upon hearing this, Miledh summoned his own partisans
throughout Spain, and when they had come together he marched
with them, and with the forces he had brought with him in his
fleet, against the foreigners and the Gothi, and routed them  in
fifty-four battles, and thus drove them  completely out of Spain.
After this, both he and his kinsmen, the sons of Bre6gan, son
of Bratha, held the sovereignty of the greater part of that
country.
Miledh had now thirty-two sons, as the bard informs us, in the
following verse:
"Thirty sons and two
Had Miledh, the white-handed,
Of these there came, we know,
But eight brave sons to Eri."
Twenty-four of these sons had been born to him of concubines,
before he had left Spain for Scythia. The other eight were born
of the two wives, who had been successively married to him.
Seng, daughter of Refloir, king of Scythia, bore two of them  to
him in Scythia, namely, Donn and Arech Februadh, and Scota,
daughter of Pharaoh Nectonibus, bore the other six, namely,
two in Egypt, Eber Finn and Amerghin, Ir on the sea of Thrace,
Colpa of the Sword, in Gotbia, Arannan and Erimhon, in Gallicia.
As the bard has sung in the following lay:
" Those sons of Galamh of bright smile,
Of him called Miledh of Esbain,
Eight victors in a thousand fields,
Say, what land saw those heroes' birth?
from which it is separated by the Py- in, there can be no doubt but that the
renees. It is inhabited by a people Gae!s, Scots and Iberi were all of one
speaking a language peculiar to them- and the same stock. It only remains
selves, that is, completely different from  to prove to what race of men the latter
any tongue in Europe whose forms have people belonged.  This can now be
yet been investigated bycompetent per- done by comparative etyrnology alone.
sons. If these people be the represent- Any person who presumes to proatives of the old Ilberi, the idiom of nounce against the Irish tradition on
the Gaels must certainly have been this subject, without having made a
lost in that of the Celts, who inhabited  scientific comparison of the Basque and
Ireland before them. To any scholar, Gaelic, and without finding out whether
who can understand the Irish language, the Basques are really the Iberi, is here
and can read the old traditional frag- but an ignorant pretender, whatever be
ments of history remaining extant there- his learning on other matters.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                       179
"Red-browed Arech and warlike Donn
WVere born both on Scythian soilIn Egypt's sunny clime were born
The fair-haired Eber and Amerghin.
"And Ir, that brave beyond compeer,
Was born off the Thracian shoreThe swordsman, Colpa, first saw light,
When Miledh camped in Gaethlia's1l glens.
" At Breogan's lofty tower were born
Arann'an and great Erimhon,
The youngest of those faultless braves,
Whose worth has swelled the voice of song."
Now, when the children of Breogan, son of Bratha, had thus
increased, they were of sufficient strength and numbers to cope
with any power inl  Spain.  Not satisfied, however, with the
greatness of their power there, they resolved upon extending
their sway over other lands. They had also another motive for
this.  There was, at that period, a scarcity of food in Spain,
which had lasted for twenty-six years; it was caused by the
great drought of the seasons. They were prompted to it, also,
by the number of conflicts they had to maintain with the Gothi,'2
and the several other foreign nations, with whom they had to
contend for the sovereignty of Spain. They then held council
as to what country they should invade, and as to whom they
should send to reconnoitre it. Upon this, they resolved to choose
Ith, son of Breogan, son of Bratha, who was both a valiant
champion and an intelligent man, well instiucted in the sciences,
to reconnoitre the isle of Eri. The place where they adopted
this counsel was the Tower of Breogan, in Gallicia.  Thus it
happened that they sent Ith to Eri. It was not, as some assert,
that he had seen it, like a white cloud, on a winter's night, from
the top of Breogan's Tower.  There had been an acquaintance
and intercourse, long previous to this, between Eri and Esbain;
for we have seen that Eocaidh, son of Erc, the last king of the
Fer-Bolgs, had married Talti, daughter of Maghmor, king of
Esbain.  They had been, then, in the habit of mutually trading
1n Gaethlia's. The word used in the since. These "Gaethluigh" might be
original old dua n quoted above, is Gaetulian mercenaries of the Phceni"Gaethluighe."  It shows where Mi- cians or Carthagenians.  The latter
ledh was, when he was said to be in nation nearly always carried on its
Gothia.                            wars by mercenaries. Could the Gae12 Gothi. Here, again, we meet the tulian nation be a branch of the Gaels
"Gaethluigh" of the Pagan bards, themselves? "Gaedhalach" (Gaylagh),
transformed into " Gothi." Spain was, Gaelic, differs but very slightly from
no doubt, then subject to the invasion  " Gaethalach" (Gayhalagh), Gaetulian.
of African hordes, as it has been often




180                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
one with the other, and of exchanging their wares and valuablles,
long before Ith, son of Bre6gan, had been born.   Thus the
Esbainigh (or Spaniards) knew Eri, and the Erinnigh knew Esbain, long before Ith, son of Breogan, had come into existence.
Ith, son of Bre'gan, visits Ireland —His death.
Ith then got his ship ready, and manned it with one hundred
and fifty men.  lHe then set sail and landed in the north of Ireland, having cast his anchor in the swampy harbor of MaghItha.13  As soon as he had landed, he sacrific-3d to Neptunus,14
the god of the sea, and the demons gave him evil omens. Then
some of the folk of the country came to meet him, and they accosted him in the " Scot-berla,'5 or Scotic tongue, that is, in the
Gaelic or Irish, and he answered them  in the same language,
telling them that he was of the race of Mlagog, as well as they,
and that the Scotic was his native language as well as theirs.
Our historians infer, from  this passage in the Book of Conquests, that the "Scot-berla," called also the Gaelic, was the native tongue of Nemedh and his people, and consequently of his
descendants, the Fer-Bolgs, and accordingly of the Tuatha-D'Dananns.  This, indeed, is credible, from  what we stated above,
to wit, that it was Gaedal, son of Ethor, that regulated and arranged the Scotic language, at the command of Fenius Farsa;
and that from him, as we have said before, the Scotic tongue is
named Gaeidilgi or Gaelic. Now, this Gaedal had been teaching
his schools in Scythia, before Nemedh had emigrated from  Scythia to Eri, or Ireland,; and, as the "Scot-b6rla" was the general
13 The Swampy hIarbor of Magh-Ith. ences." Whether his kinsmen spoke
There was a place called Slemhna  Celtic or not (for Celtic is here meant by
Maighe n-Itha (Shlerna or Shlewna Scot-B3rlar, he must have known a
Moye n-Iha) near Loch-Febail, now  language then universal in Western
Lough Foyle. Perhaps the mouth of Europe, to have merited the title given
the Finn was so called. The name him in the text. The name EdirsgYl or
means the " Slimes," or, rather, " Slip- Eidirsgeol, whence the O'Driscoll's or
pings of the plain of Ith."         O' h-Eidirsgebils, who were amongst
14 Neptunus. Irish etymologists have the most distinguished of Ith's dederived the name Neptunus from the scendants in the latter times, have
Gaelic words "naemh" (nayv), sacred, taken  their  surname, signifies  inand "tonn," a wave, as if "Naemh- terpreter. It was a name very frethonn" (Nayphonn). The etymology is quent amongst the tribe in ancient
fanciful, but not likely.           times, and may have been originally'a Scot-Berla. It is not necessary to taken in commemoration of Ith's having,
suppose that the Gaels and Tuatha-DI- acted as interpreter between his kinsDananns spoke the same language in men and the Irish. Ith has been called
order to account for Ith's converse with  a Phcenician.  If he was, Edirsgebl
that people. He had been chosen for might bear the construction of" doublethe leader because he was " an intelli- tongued" applied to the Phoenicians
gent man, well instructed in the sci- and Tyrians of old.




TIlE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                      181
language of Scythia, whlen Nemedh migrated thence, our antiquaries infer, that the Sw.otic language was the proper language
of Nemedh and his people on their arrival into Ireland, and
thence of all his posterity.  It was also that of the sons of Miledh,
whose nrative tongue has ever been the " Scot-befrla," from the
time that Niul first left Scythia to the present day.  Ristard Craebachl6 (Richard Creagh), Primate of Ireland, agrees in this opinion,
in the book which he has written on the origin of the Gaelic
tongue and nation.  He speaks thus on the subject: " The Gaelic
tongue has been constantly used in Ireland, from  the arrival of
Nemedh, six hundred and thirty years after the Flood, unto the
present day."'7  From  what we have now said, it will not seem
improbable, that it was in the Scotic tongue that Ith and the
Tuatha-De-Dananus held converse together.
As to Ith, he first asked them  both the name of the country
itself, and who they were that held the sovereignty thereof.
Upon which, the folk,  whom he had met, told him that the kings,
who then held its sovereignty, were the three sons of Kermad
6 R-;stard Craebach. Properly, Ris- able to force him into a denial of his
tard  O'Mael-Chraebhaigh  (O'ilayl- ancestral faith, his heretic enemies,
chrayv e). This distinguished prelate finding no fault in the man, sought to
and Catholic martyr, whose name has trump up a false accusation against
been already mentioned in the notes on him, of which his jailer's daughter was
the preface of this work, was in his to have been the instrument. By this
youth reared to the profession of mer- plan they hoped to take away his life
chant, which was that of his father. under the cover of English law. But
While in a Spanish port, whither he when his young and beautiful accuser
had gone on a mercantile voyage, the was brought into court and placed
ship to which he was attached founder- upon the bench, either struck with the
ed in the harbor, and all its crew per- august appearance of the prelate or
ished with it, except the young O'Mael- frightened at the awful crime they were
Craevie, who escaped the catastrophe  forcing her to commit, she became siby having come ashore to attend the lenced, and refused to utter a word
holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Struck by  against him. When urged to speak by
his preservation, he  renounced  the her wicked suborners, she but bore tesworld, studied for the priesthood, and  timony to the purity and sanctity of
was in due time ordained a member of their victim, and declared that she
that body. Becoming distinguished for would not bear false witness against
his piety, zeal and great literary attain- him, even were she to forfeit her life
ments, he was consecrated Archbishop  for her adherence to truth. His wicked
of Armagoh and Primate of Ireland, as persecutors being thus disappointed,
a man well fitted to console and support and their thirst for Catholic and Irish
his Catholic countrymen under the blood being still unslaked, sent O'Maelgrievous persecution then raging against Craevie back again to his dungeon,
them by order of their merciless foreign  where he soon rendered up his spirit to
tyrant, Elizabeth of England. The holy  him  whose faithful minister he had
prelate soon fell into the hands of the been.-See O'Sullivan's Historiac Cathominions of that ruthless enemy of Ireland  lice Ibernic.
and of Ireland's Church. By them he   "7 Gallica locutio est in usu in Hiberwas sent prisoner to England, where he nia, ab adventu Nemedi, anno 630 a
long languished in chains. Not being  Diluvio, in hunc usque diem.




182             THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Mil-beol, son of the Daghda, who reigned alternately year about,
as we have mentioned heretofore, and that these princes were
then at Ailech-Neid, in the north of Ulster, and also that they
were then in contention about the wealth of their ancestors.
Having heard this, Ith sets forth to meet them, attended by twothirds of the crew that had manned his ship, and when he had
arrived in the presence of the sons of Kermad, from whom he
received a courteous welcome, these princes explain to him the
cause of their dispute. He, upon his part, told them that it was
stress of weather that had forced him to landl, and that he meant
to make no delay, but to sail back immediately to his own home.
Upon this, as the Danaan kings found Ith to be both a learned
and experienced man, they made him their judge in the dispute
that was between them. His decision then was, that the disputed
wealth should be divided into three equal parts, and that each
should receive one of them as his share. He then began to
praise Eri, declaring that it was wrong for them to be at strife
with one another, while their country was so abounding in honey
and in fruit, in fish and in milk, in vegetables and corn, and
while its air was of so happy a temperature between heat and
cold. He added, that if the country were divided into three
parts between them, that it were more than sufficient for the
maintenance of them all. Ith then took his leave of them, and
marched with his hundred warriors towards his ship.
But the sons of Kermad had taken account of the praises
bestowed by Ith upon the clime and soil of Eri; and they, thereupon thought if he should reach his own country,'that he would
bring back with him a numerous host, in order to make a conquest of the isle. They then resolved to dispttch MacCoill in
pursuit of him, with a host of one hundred and fifty men; and
these overtook Ith. Ith thereupon placed himself in the rear of
his people, and thus brought them  to northern Magh-Itha.
Here there was a general conflict between Ith's band of Gaelic
warriors and those of MacCoill. Ith was mortally wounded in
the fight, but his companions bore him to his ship, and he died
at sea, on the voyage homeward, and was buried in Spain, his
corpse having been first exposed to the sons of Milcdh, in order
to incite them to wreak vengeance upon the sons of Kermad for
his death.
It is the opinion of some historians that Drom-Lighen1s was the
place where Ith was slain, and that AMagh-Itha was the place of
his burial; but the foregoing account is the more generally received, and the more likely to be the true one.
" Drom-Lighen. This place is situ- word is pronounced Drum-Leen.
ated in the county of Donegal. The




CHAPTER VII.
OF THE INVASION OF IRELAND BY THE SONS OF MILEDH'OR
MILESIUS, AND OF THE COUNTRY WHENCE THEY HATD COME
THITHER.
HIECTOR BOETHIUS asserts, in the third chapter of his History
of Scotland, that Eber and Erimhon were the sons of Gaedal.
But this cannot be true, for Cormac Mac Culinan tells us, in his
Chronicle, that Gaedal was the cotemporary of Moses. It is asserted in the Book of Conquests, also, that it was at the end of
two hundred and eighty-three years after the drowning of Pharaoh, that the sons of Miledh arrived in Ireland. Therefore
Gacdal could not be the father of Eber and Erimh6n. It is also
seen that Gaedal was not their father, by King Cormac's enumleration of the generations from Galamnh, who is called Miledh Esbaini, or the Hero of Spain.
Here follows the pedigree of Galamh, called Miledh of Spain,
or Milesius, according to the holy King Cormac Mac Culinan'
GALAMIT, son of    FEBRIC GLAS, son of SRu, son of
BILI, son of        EBER GLUN-FINN, ESRU, son of
BREOGAN or BI1EGAN,  son of            GAEDAL G LAS,
son of           LAMIFINN, son11 of    son of
BRATHIIA, son of    AGNON or ADNON, NIUL, son of
DEGAT1HA, son of     son of            FENIUS FARSA,son Of
ARCAD)IH, son of   TATIJ, son of       BAATH, son of
ALLOID, son Of     EOGAMITAN, son of  MAGOG, son of
NUADATH, son of   BEOGAMIHAbN, SOn of JAPHET, son of
NENUAL, son of     EBER SCOT, son of  NOAIH.
The Scotch or Albanian Gaels of the same Origin with the
Gaels of Ireland.
On reading the History.of IIector Boethius, one might suppose
that the Gaels or Gaedalians of Alba (Scotland) are sprung from
some Gaedal different from the Gaedal who was the progenitor
of the Gaels of Eri (Ireland). I, however, rest satisfied with
what John Major, a respectable Scotch author, says upon the
subject, when he tells us that the Gaels of Scotland have descended from the Gaels of Ireland. He speaks in the following
[1831




184                THE IIISTORY OF IRELAND.
manner:  "For this reason I assert, that the Scotch are descended
from the same stock as the Irish, whatever be the source whence
the latter nation has come."''l   ede agrees in this opinion, where
he says, in the first chapter of his Ecclesiastical History of Britain, that " in the course of some time after the Britons and Picts,
Britain received a third race into its Pictish division or portion;
a race that came from Hibernia under the leadership of Rheuda,
and which seized upon a fixed settlement for itself amongst the
Picts, either by friendship or by arms, of which they hold possession to the present time."2  Hence we must understand, according to Bede, that it was from  Ireland that the Scotic nation
emigrated to Alba under their chieftain Rheuda; that its postelity has existed there ever since, and that they arc the people who
are now called Scots.  Humfredus,3 a British, that is a W elsh author, speaks in the following manner upon the same subject:
" They are certain themselves, and so are all others, that they
(the Scots) are the progeny of the Irish, and that they are called
by the same appellation, namely,'Guidhil,' by the people of
our nation,"4 i. e. by the Brethnaigh or Welsh.  Cambrensis says
in the tenth chapter of the third division of the book, which he
wrote describing Ireland, that it was in the time of Niall of the
Nine Hostages, king of Ireland, that the six sons of Muredach,
king of Ulster, went to Scotland, where they acquired power and
supremacy, and that it was about that time that Scotia was first
imposed as a name upon Albau.  He also tells us that it was
from these six sons of the kingr of Ulster, that the "Albanaigh"
or Albanians, are called the Scotic race.  The following are his
words, in speaking of these princes: "And therefore, it is from
them that the Gaels of Scotland have descended, and that they
are specifically called the Scotic race, even unto the present day."5
Thus, according to all we have shown, two things asserted by
Hector Boethius in his History of Scotland, are false: the first
is his supposition that Gaedal was the father of Milcdh; and
the second is his supposition that it BVas from some other Gacdal~
I Dice ergo, a quibuscunque Hiberni ipsi et omnes optime norunt, eodemnque
originem duxerunt, ab eisdem Scoti ori- nomine a nostratibus, silicet " Guidhil,"
genem capiunt.                     appellantur.
2 Procedente autem tempaora Brit-    5 Gens ab his propagata specificato
annia, post Britones et Pictos, Scoto- vocabulo Scotica vocatur in hodiernum.
rum nationem in Pictorum parte rece-    6 From  some other Gaedal. This
pit, qui duce Reuda de Hibernia egressi, question, so long a subject of dispute
vel amicitia, vel ferro, subimet inter eos between the Irish and Scotch, is now
sedes, quas hactenus habent, vindica- set at rest for ever in favor of the Irish
runt.                             tradition. Indeed, during the height
3 Ilumfredus.  Called  otherwise of the discussion, the most learned of
lHumphrey of Gloster.             the Scotch antiquarians saw that they
4 Scotos Hibernorum  prolem, et could not, in the face of history and of




THE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.                        185
besides that hero, who was the ancestor of the sons of Mliledh,
the conquerors of Ireland, that the Gaels of Scotland are descended.
The Gaels did not come to Ireland from  Gallia, i. e. F'rance.
Buchanan,49 a Scotch  author, asserts in his History of Scot.
land, that France wvas the country whence the sons of Mliledh had
existing facts, deny that the Scots of lished, the editor would not deem'it
Ireland and the Scotch Highlanders worth while to notice the slanderous
were the same race. Not being able  and malignant, though sufficientlylearnto draw a line of distinction between the  ed work, in which Pinkerton has entwo divisions of the Scotic nation, deavored to prove the Scot? to be
Pinkerton, and some others, set about Goths, were it not that Moore, who
proving that those  Scots, who were  might have known better, has adopted
the ruling caste in Ireland about the  that' abusive man's opinion, in his
Christian era, and who were so dis- history  of Ireland.  He adopts it,
tinguished throughout Europe during  however, with this rather important
the Middle Ages, for their learning and  difference, namely, he makes out those
piety, as well as the ruling castes in the  Scotic Goths to be a barbarous race,
Scotch HI-ighlands, were  Gcths, not who destroyed a civilization that exGaels. For this assertion, his most isted in Ireland, previous to  their
plausible proofs are the resemblance  arrival therein.  Now, all that is
between the words " Scot" and " Goth," known of Irish History, and all that
and that of both words to the name has been published of the literary re.
" Scythian," which he would monopo- mains of our race, proves that no men
lize for the Gothic race, to the exclu- sprung from  strange conquerors could
sion of all other nomads. Ile endeav- have engrafted themselves upon the
ors to make out his Goths to be the genealogical  tree  of the  " Clanna
types of all that is noble in humanity, Gaedail," even if it would, without hayand the Gaels the types of all that is ing first completely destroyed all Gaelic
vile.  The Scots, forsooth, were a  tradition and Gaaelic law.  There was
Gothic race, who, having conquered  absolutely no place for men of foreign
the Gacls, adopted the language, habits blood amongst that people, and it needs
and customs of their vassals, and even  but very little reflection, after studying
allowed the latter to coin Gaelic pedi- its antiquities, to be convinced, that it
grees for them; thus forgetting the  would have been as difficult for  a
pride which conquering races always strange people to have come into Palcesfeel, in a desire to assimilate themselves tine and called itself the thirteenth
to the vanquished, while the latter were, tribe of Israel, as it would have been
as he tells us, immeasurably their infe- for Goths to have come into Ireland,
riors.'The mere fact, that such a sup- while the Brelon usages were in force,
position is contrary to all that is known  and to have called themselves Gaels.
of human nature, is sufficient to expose  To discuss, then, whether the Scots or
its utter absurdity. When garnished  the Gaels, the Eberians or the Feni
with a sufficient quantity of Greek and  were the nobler or more civilized race,
Latin quotations, such assertions might is about as reasonable as to discuss the
pass current, at a time when there were  question  whether Eri, Hlibernia  or
no Irish documents published by which  Ireland be the nobler and more, fertile
fait and unbiassed men might test the  island. What is said of Scot is said
truth of the guesses made by the viru- of Gael, Brigrantian, Eberian, and Fenian
lent enemies of the Celtic or Gaelic -thev all mean one and the same thing.
race (if the latter be Celtic). As such    7 Buchanan.   George  Buchanan
documents have, since then, been pub- lived between the year 1506, and 1581,




186                  THE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.
come hither, and for this he gives what he considers to be two
reasons. The first of these he deduces from the fact that France
was formerly so populous, that the part of it which was called
Gallia Lugdunensis,8 could of itself furnish three hundred thousand fighting men,9 and that it was therefore likely, that it had
Though he had been patronized by  the Romans took down these names
Queen Mary of Scotland, he joined the from written documents. No modern
party of the traitor Murray, against writer, upon hearing a Celt of modern
his royal mistress.  As a reward for Gaul pronounce the word "Lyons," or
this, he was appointed tutor to king  an Irish Celt pronounce Lugh-Dhun
James the First, by rebel Protector.  (Looyoon), could think of latinizing
Buchanan's history of Scotland, writ- either by Lugdunum.  The district of
ten in,Latin, is styled "Rerum  Scoti- Corca-Luighe (Corca-Looe?), and sevcarum  Historia."   His style rivals  eral other places in Ireland, are called
that of the classic Latin writers in  after persons called Lugaidh, which
elegance. His History has, however, was one of the names most frequent
been  condemned by  critics for the  amongst the Gaels. There was another
legends with which it is interwoven. Lugdunum on the Rhine. It is now
But it is questionable if that be so great called Leyden. It lay in the land of
a fault. A historian is scarcely at lib- Germans. In the land of the Batavi,
erty to reject a legend because he does called a Germanic race,lies also Dunkirk,
not understand its meaning, unless its whose name is said to mean the "Kirk,"
falsehood be manlitst.  Hypercriticism  or church of the" dunes" or downs.
often overshoots its mark, and rejects "Dun Cuirc" (Doon Kyrk), i. e. Corc's
traditions as fabulous altogether, which  dun orfort, would suit as well.  Core
may be but truths clad in the language  is a man's name of frequent occurrence
of hyperbole, and which, upon more  among the Irish Celts. There lay anextended information, may afford most other Lugdunum  in Gascony. It is
useful collateral evidence to the his- now called St. Bertrand.
toric inquirer.                         9 Thiree hundred thousand fighting
8 Gallia Lugdunensis.  The division  men. The immense armies that the
of Gaul, called this name by the Ro- Celtic countries sent forth in former
mains, was that more especially called  times, should in themselves, were there
"Celtica" or " Celtic."  It compre- no other evidence on -the subject, conhended the whole of the centre of mod- fute those English writers who assert
ern France, extending from  Helvetia  the savagery of'the Celtic race. Neither
or Switzerland, which was part of it, Gaul nor Britain could have supported
to Normandy, and from Gallia Belgica  or reared the multitudes of warriors
or Belgium, to the Atlantic ocean. It that both nations opposed to the Roreceived the name " Lugdunensis " from  mans, unless several of the arts of civthe city of Lugdunum, now  Lyons, ilized life, and especially agriculture,
which was its capital.  Lugdunum is were extensively  practiced  amongst
evidently a latinized version of a Gaelic  them. All Western Europe, taking in
compound formed out of the words the British Isles, would not be too
"Luglh" or "Lugaidh," a man's name, large, as a hunting ground, for three
and "dun," a fortress or town, as if, hundred thousand warriors.  But,Eng"Lugh-Dlhun" (Loo-ghoon), i. e. " Dun- lish writers, wantin, to vilify the vicLuirghech"  (Doon-Lueeagh), or Lu- tims of their countrymen, and thus to
ghaidh's town. The correctness with  extenuate the robberies and cruelties
which the Roman writers preserve rad- practiced upon the Irish Celts, will see
ical letters in their Celtic names, should  nothing but savagery in the whole Celgo far to prove, either that the aspira- tic race, forgetting that the greatest
tinga and silencing of those letters was nation of antiquity-their own mistress
not then usual among the Celts, or that and the mistress of the world in the




THE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.                        187
sent forth some such hordes to occupy Ireland, as were the tribes
of the Gaels. My answer to that reason is, that thile author himself knew nothing of the specific time at which the sons of Miledh
arrived in Ireland, and that he was, consequently, perfectly ignorant as to whether France was populous or waste at that epoch.
And even though that country were as populous as he states,
when the sons of Miledh came to Ireland, it does not thence
follow, that we must necessarily understand that France was
the  country  whence  they had  emigrated.   For why  should
France be supposed to have been more populous at that time than
was Spain, the country whence the sons of Miledh really did
come?   Therefore  it is easily  understood, that this reason,
brought forward by Buchanan as a proof that the sons of Miledh originally came from France, is but a very silly one. The other
foolish argument he adduces in support of his conjecture that
France was the country that sent forth the Milesian colony to
Ireland, is drawn from  the fact that some French and Gaelic~1
sciences of jurisprudence and war-  were in after times the ruling race in
trembled, while yet in all its youthful this country, had come direct from
vigor, at the bare mention of the Celtic  Spain. The Iberi, themselves, might
name-forgetting, also, that this great either have been southern Celts, and
nation was itself chiefly composed of  spoken a language akin to that of the
Celtic elements, and that its type was Gauls and Britons, or they might have
Celtic, rather than Saxon.           been a branch of some race speak10 French and Gaelic words.  Dr. ing a dialect of the Italic or Latin. In
Keating uses the term  French, both  neither of these cases would they have
here and on several other occasions, for much altered the structure of the lanGallic,as he also uses the name "France,"  guage spoken by their predecessors;
repeatedly, where " Gaul" or "Gallia"  for even to the Latin of the classic auwould have been the more appropriate  thors, the vast majority of the Gaelic
phrase.  The argument he enters into  words Lear nearly as close a resemabove, is idle. The lInguages of Wales, blance in their written structure, as do
Bretagne, and Ireland, prove that the  those of the modern French, which is
tribes by whom they were originally  said to be the undoubted daughter of
spoken, were of the same race. These the Latin. Then, if these Gaels or
languages are all radically the same, Iberians spoke a Semitic tongue-as we
and there are few native words in any  find they were but nine hundred warone of them, as at present spoken, that riors in all-their speech must have
have not their cognate terms in the oth- been soon lost in that of the previous
ers. All the grand features of their natives. There is also ample evidencegrammatical construction are also ex- closely as the Celtic of the Gaels retremely alike.  This alone should prove  sembles that of the Cimbri-that some
that the same nation originally colo- strange element has caused the essential
nized the three countries. Dr. Keat- differences that exist between the two.
ing, himself, has already brought the  Whether that strange element came
Nemedians, Fer-Bolgs, and Tuatha-D&- from Phcenician, Danlan, or Iberian
Dananns, to Ireland, by the way of  mixture, is not beyond the reach of sciBritain.  These  nations must have entific discovery. To show the simiformed the basis of the Irish people. larity between the Celtic and Latin diAllowing this does not at all militate  alects, a vocabulary is given in the amp
against the fact that the Gaels, who  pendix to this work. It is given'o




183                THIE HISTORY OF IREL.AND.
words are similar, such as "Dris" and "Dun,"7a and some few
others like them, that happen to be the same in the French and
the Gaelic.  My answer to this second argumeant is, that there are
words from every written language in the fourth division of the
Gaelic, which is called the " Brla Thelside" (Bairlc  Thclibee),
and that it has been so ever since the time of Fenius Farsa; and
hence, there are words found in it from  the Spanish, the Italian,
the Greek, the Hebrewv, the Latin, and from  every other chief
tongue, as well as from the French. Therefore, the fact that
there are a few words the same in Gaelic and in French, affords
no proof whatever that the Gaels had come from France.  I am
even of opinion, that these few had been introduced into France
from Ireland.  I am  the more confirmed in this'opinion, because
I find that Julius C(esar says in the sixth book of his Commentaries, that it was from  the British Isles that the Druids usdcl to
come to France, where they became judges or brehons, and received Termon lands, immunities, and honor from the nobles of
that country.  It is also very likely that it was from  Ireland,
more especially, that these Druids were wont to go to France;
particularly, as Ireland was at that time the very fountain-head
of Druidism, anrd consequently the Gaelic was the languagre of
these Druids.  Or, even if they went thither from Anglesca, the
Gaelic was still their native language; for,, it is well klnown that
it was the idiom spoken in that isle.  So Ortellius tells us, who
in speaking of the isle of Anrglesea, says, "they use the Scotic
tongue, or the Gaelic, which is the same."  Accordingly, when
those Druids were giving instructions in Gaul, it is very likely
that the Gallic youth, in their converse with them, picked up
some words of Gaelic which have continued in use ever since in
the French languagce.
Camden says, in the book called "Britannia Camdeni," that
the Druids used to instruct their pupils more by word of mouth
than by writings.  There is another reason, too, why it should not
cause the editor is under the impression   12 French Language.  All through
that the old language of Spain must this argument our author confounds
have closely resembled the latter tongoue; the modern French with the Glllic or
and because he conceives, as he has Celtic of old Gaul. The relation of
heretofore stated, that it represents the the French and Irish is close enough,
most ancient and the purest form of  but it is through the Latin and Cimthe Japetian of Western Europe.    bric that it must be traced. The relaL Dris and Dun. These words are Bre- tion of the Gallic, as represented by
ton, not modern French. "Dris" means the modern Breton with it, is direct,
a brier, and "dun" aw fort. "Dune," nearly all the pure Breton words being
the French name for a "sand-/hill" or found in Irish. In Keatingr's time, no
down, is more likely to be cognate with scientific comparison had yet been made
the Irish word "Dumha" (Diuva or between them.
Dooa), a mound and also a sand-hill.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND,                     189
be' wondered at, that some Gaelic words are to be found incorporated in the French, which is, on account of the great intercourse that existed between the Irish and the French; for the
Book of Invasions tells us, that a daughter of the king of France
was the wife of Iugani Mor, who was "Ard-righ," or Monarch
of Ireland; and it also tells us, that this same Iugani went to'
France in order to impose his yoke upon that country.  Crimthann, son of Fidach, of' the line of Eber, who was also a king of
Ireland, went likewise to France in order to impose his dominion
thereon.  And again, Niall of the Nine iostages, went to make
a conquest of France, where he was slain at the river Lugair
(thle Loire), by Eocaidh, son of Enna Kenselach, as some historians mention.  Dathi, son of Fiachra, also, another monarch of
Ireland, went to subdue France, and was killed by 11ghtning, in
the east of that country, close by the Alps.  Cornelius Tacitus
tells us, also, that there was a frequent intercourse and a trade
between Ireland and France.  Then, according to what we have
just stated, it is no wonder that there should have been a reciprocal borrowing  of words between  the Gaelic and  French
tongues. Therefore, the second conjecture of Buchanan is, also,
most feeble.  A third surmise made by him upon the same subject is likewise founded upon a false assumption, when he says
that the customs and usagest3 of the Irish and French are alike.
Nosv, whoever reads the book, which Johamnles Baronius has
written upon the manners and customs of all nations, will clearly
find therein, that the manners and customs of the Irish and
French are not similar at present, nor were they formerly.
The Gaels did not come to Ireland from  Great Britairl-Friendly
recations of the Britons and Gaels-The Brigantes of Britain a
Gaelic race, that went thither from Ireland.
Some of these modern English, when they write about Ireland,
assert, that it was from  Great Britain that the sons of Miledh
first came hither; and the reason that they give for this opinion
is, the great number of words that are alike in the British
(Welsh) and the Gaelic.  My answer to such an argument is, that
13 Manners and usagfes. The usages himself says of the Welsh, a little furand manners of the Frankish portion ther on, applies with equal force to
of the French nation, are here con- Bretons of France. Our author's misfounded with those of the Gallic. The takes on this subject, show that he
manners and customs of the Bretons in could not have been educated in France,
the north-west, and of the Gallo-Ro- as some have'supposed; for, in that
mans and Gascons in the south of case he would not have made those
France, resemble those of the Irish mistakes.  His authority, Johannes
more than they do those of the Teu- Baronius, spoke of the Franks, not
toni6 nations.  What Dr. Keating the Gauls.




190               THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
the fact they cite affords no proof, at all, that the Gaelic nation
came originally from Britain.  For such similarities there are two
causes.  The first of these causes is the fact, that the Gaelic was
the native language of Britan Mael, son of Fergus of the Red
Side, son of Nemedh, and that it is from him that Britain has its
name, according to Cormac Mac Culinan and to the Book of the
Invasions of Ireland: it was in Britain also that he resided, and
his posterity, likewise, until Erimhon, son of [Miledh, sent the
Cruithnigh, otherwise called Picts, to share Alba with them:
Brutusl4 the son of Sylvius, came in upon them afterwards, if
some of their own chronicles be true: next came the Romans;
then the Saxons and Danes, or Lochlannaigh; and last of all,
William the Conqueror and the French: so that it is no wonder,
after so many tyrannical conquests by foreign races, that the
Scot-Berla, the native tongue of Britan and his progeny, should
have been at length suppressed.  However, the little remnant of
it, that still remains unextinguished and that has not been altered
since the time of Britan, is exactly the same as the Irish or
Gaelic.
The second reason why it is no wonder that many words
should be alike in British and in Irish, although it were not from
Britain that the sons of Miledh came, is because Ireland was the
harbor of refuge, to which the Britons used to flee during the
time of the several oppressions, which they suffered from the
Romans and the Saxons, or from the tyranny of any other nation that weighed heavily upon them. At such times, crowds
of them, with their families and followers, used to retreat to
Ireland, where they received lands from the Irish nobility, during
the time of their sojourn.  While in exile here, their children
must undoubtedly have learned the Gaelic language. There are
still in Ireland many towns and localities, which have received
their names from these exiles; such as, " Graig na m-Brethnach"15
(Graci-nacm-rtnnagh), "Dun na m-Brethnach " (Doon-nam-rannagh), and others.  When these Britons returned home to Britain,
it is possible that they had many Gaelic words in use amongst
them, which they might have afterwards introduced into their
own language. From all we have said, it must, be seen that,
although there be some words alike in the British and Gaelic
tongues, it by no means follows as a necessary consequence
14 Brutus. Some of the old British by some people whose idiom differed
Chroniclers say that Britain was con- from those of both Britons and Gaels.
quered by a Brutus, son of Sylvius,.Both attempts to give a reason for the
who, according to them, was of Trojan name of Britain, are mere guesses.
descent. The probability is, that the   15 Graig na m-Brethnach.  These
name "Britain" or "Bretain," as well names are now corrupted into " Dunas "Eri" and "Alba," was imposed manway" and "Graiguenamanna."'




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                      191
thereof, th:at Britain must be thle country, whence the sons of
Miiledh came to Ireland.
Some may support the opinion, here contradicted, by saying
that the Britons  ed  the Gaels resemble each other in manners
and customs; f6r, as the Gael is prompt in sharing food without
payment, so is the Briton; as the Gael loves antiquaries, poets,
bards,.an.d players on the harp, so does the Briton love those
that practice these same professions; and they resemble each
other in many more of their usages.  But this resemblance is,
however, no proof that the Gaels came from Britain: it' is rather,
as we have said before, a much stronger proof that the Britons
dwelt for some time in Ireland.  HIence, it cannot be understood,
from any of the foregoing reasons, that it was from  Great Britain
that the sons of Miledh came originally to Ireland.
But it can be asserted, with truth, that a portion of the
progeny of Brergan (or Brhegan), went to dwell in Great Britain;
to wit, some of the descendants of the chieftains of the children
of Breogan  (i. e. the Brigantes), that had come, with the sons of
Miledh, into Ireland.  The following are the names of these sons
of Brcdgan, to wit, Breoga, Fuad, Murthemni, Cualgni, Cuala,
Ebleo, Bladh, and' Nar.  It is more especially from the progeny
of these chieftains that, according to Irish historic tradition, the
people called  Brigantes are sprung.   This must be the more
readily received as true, from the fact that Tomasius, in his Latin
Dictionary, says that the Brigantes, that is, the children of
Bre6gan, are an Irish people. 6  Again, Florianus de Campo, a
Spanish author, says, when speaking of the history of Ireland,
that the Brigantes are Spaniards by their origin, and that it was
from Spain they had emigrated both to Ireland and to Britain.
All that we have asserted concerning the intimacy of the.British and Irish, and of Irecand's having a harbor of refuge to
the former nation, will be the  more readily believed, when
Carodoc, a British author, is found stating in his Chronicle, as
well as Abian and many other writers of that people, that num16 Progeny of Brehgan. The fact in Irish, are most probably, like "Eri,"
of this colonvy of Gaels having   settled  " Sena," " Alba," "Mana," and many
in Britain, will account for those Gaelic others of that class, equally inexplinames of localities in Britain, from  cable by. the aid of either tongiue; for
which some English antiquarians argue  so close do these languages resemble
that this nation dwelt in that coun- each other, both in their simple radicals
try before the present British or Welsh and their mode of forming derivatives,
-that is, such names as " Ceitir Guy- that it is not easy to conceive the exdilod," i. e. (the fortress of the Gaels), istence of many such names.  Upon
and some others. Those ancient names  critical examination, by persons well
of rivers, mountains, &c., which the versed in both idioms, such names will
learned LlUyd says are inexplicable in probably be found to be neither Gaelic
Welsh, but which he deems significant nor Welsh.




192              TIHE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
bers of the British princes and nobles were wnont to come to
Ireland, where they were kindly received and entertained, and
where tlhey were granted lands to dwell upon, as we have above
stated.  Dr. Ilanmer makes specific mention of some of them in
his Chronicle.  First, he says, that Edwin, son of Athelfred, banished to Ireland a king of Britain (i. e. Wales), named Kadlwallin, in the year of our Lord 635, and that he was there kindly
reef~ivcd, and that he got reinforcements from the Irish,  whereby
he regained his own kingdoml.  IIe also states that Harold and
ConarJ, two British princes, came from Britain to Ireland in the
year of our Lord 1050, and that they were there affectionately
received afnd protected by the Irish.  Again, he tells us that
Algalr, Earl of Chester, came fleeing from Britain to Ireland, in
the year of our Lord 1054, and that the Irish sent back an army
with hil, whereby he recovered his territory.  Some time after,
in the year of our Lord 1087, another British prince, named
Blethin Ap1 Conan, fled to Ireland, and received hospitable entertainment durirng his sojourn therein.  And it was thus that an
alliance and an intimacy was continually kept up between both
nations.  In iHanmel's Chronicle, also, we read that Arnolph,
EEarl. of I'einbroke, married the daughter of Murkertach O'l3riain,
then kin!g of Ireland, in the year of' our Lord 1101, and that his
second dallghtelwas married to iMagnus, son of IIarold, king of
the Isles. In the time of Henry I., king of England, also, there
was, according to the same author, a Prince of Britain (Wales),
named( Griffin Ap Conan, who wvs in the habit of boasting frequently, that his own mother was an Irish woman, and that his
grandmother was also of that nation, and that he had himself
been born and educated in Ireland.  There was also, in the time
of IIenry II., another Prince of Britain, named Biridus, son of
Goneth, whloso mother was an Irish woman.  There must, therefore, havre been much intercourse and friendship, as well as many
family connections, between the Britons and the G(aels.  Hence
it is not surprising to find such a number of similar words in the
lancguages of these nations, and that their manners and customs
should so closely resemble each other, although the Gaels had
never derived their origin froom Great Britain.
Camdn-en tells us, that the Brigantes (i. e. children of Breogan),
inhabited the following parts of Great Britain, namely, the territory of York, Lancaster, Durham, Westmoreland, and Northumberland.  It is certain that these Bricgantes went thither from
Irelandcl, as we have stated above, notwithstanding the opinion
of C.amden, who asserts that Ireland received its first inhabitants
from Britain.  On such a point, we should give more credit to
the historians of Ireland, upon whom it was obligatory to investigate and transmit to posterity every event that ever happened




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                     193
in this country, than to the mere conjecture of a man like Camdcen, to whom  the  history of Ireland had never communicated
its secrets, and from that history alone could he derive any accurate knowledge of the affairs of Ireland.
Falsehood of (Cctmbrensis in asserting that the sons of Afiledh of
Spain invaded Ireland by the permission of Gurguntius, king of
Britain.
Cambrensis says, that it was by the permission of the king,
who then ruled Great Britain, that the sons of Miledh came to
Ireland from Biscain or Biscay; and he says, also, that they were
towed after him  to the Orcades, and that he thence sent a host
with them to Ireland, that they might inhabit it, upon the condition that both themselves and their posterity should be subject to
him  and  to the king of Great Britain forever; and the name
Camnbrensis gives to this king is Gurguntius,17 son of Pelin.  My
answer to this assertion of Cambrensis is, that it is an evident
falsehood.  For, whoever will read the Chronicle of Stow, will
find, that there were little more than three hundred years from
the reign of that Gurguntius over Great Britair until the invasion of Julius Caesar, in the eighth year of the reign of Cassibelaunus, king of that same country; and in the same author
we read, that there were only about thirty-two years from Julius
Caesar to the birth of Christ; so that, according to the calculation
of Stow, there were not four hundred years in full from the time
of Gurguntius to the birth of Christ.  Now, the holy Cormac,
son of Culinan, and the Book of the Invasions of Ireland, states
that it was about one th6usand three hundred years before the
birth of Christ that the sons of Mliledh arrived in Ireland.  The
Polychronicon agrees with thenm  in this computation, where it
treats of Ireland.  It speaks thus: " there are about one thousand eight hundred years from  the arrival of the Hibernenses
until the death of St. Patrick."'8  This is the same as to say, that
the sons of MAiledh came to Ireland one thousand three hundred
years before the birth of Christ; for, subtract the four hundred
and ninety-two years from the birth of Christ to the death of St.
17 Gurguntius. This homage of the still besotted enough to believe, or
Spanish fieebooters to a British king, Tknavish enough to pretend, that triwas fabricated by Cambrensis, for the umphant crime, murders, robberies,
purpose of giving a forged title of sov- rapes, and such other faits accormplis,
ereignty over Ireland to his masters, can give lawfaul title to one's neighbor's
the Norman robbers. Of such descrip- goods.
tion were the State lies of the Middle  18 Ab adventu Hibernensium, usque
Ages; for, unfortunately for mankind, ad obitum Sancti Patricii, sunt anni
people then thought —nay, many are mille octingenti.
13




194                THE IIISTORY OF IRELAND.
Patrick, from those one thousand eight hundred years, that the
Polychronicon counts, as having intervened between the arrival
of the sons of AMiledh in Ireland and the death of St. Patrick,
and thliere will thus remain, one thousand three hundred and
eight years, from the arrival of the sons of Miledh in Ireland to
the birth of Christ: so that the Polychronicon, the, holy Cormac,
and the Book of Invasions, are in perfect accord withl one another.  And, if we deduct the number of years that Chronicle
of Stow allows, from Gurguntius to the birth of Christ, from the
Chronology of Polychronicon, of Cormac Mac Culinan, anid of
the Books of the Invasions, as it records the time from  the
coming of the sons of Miledh into Ireland to the birth of Christ,
it will clearly appear that the Children of AMiledh were in Ireland
more than nine hundred years before his Gurguntius began to
reign in Great Britain.  From  all this, it is manifest that Cambrensis has written a downright falsehood upon the subject, for
which he had no authority, when he stated in his Chronicle that
it was this Gurguntius that invited the sons of Miledh to the
Orcades, and that sent them thence to Ireland.  For how could
Gurguntius have sent them  thither, when we find, according to
all the authorities we have cited here, that he was born nine
hundred years subsequent to the arrival of the sons of Miledhl
in Ireland.
The  ilans of Breogan resolve to avenge Ith —They are mustered
by the soas of Miedh.'9
When the Sons of AMiledh and the whole posterity of Breogan
had heard of the treachery perpetrated by the sons of Kermad
upon Ith, son of Bre6gan, and upon his companions, and when
they had seen his body, mangled and dead, they resolved to invade Ireland, in order to wreak vengeance upon the sons of
K]ermad, and to wrest that kingdomn from the Tuatha-De-Dananns,
as a punishinent for that foul deed.
Some historians say that it was from  Biscay, that the sons of
Miledh set sail for Ireland, from a place that is called AMiandaca,
near the mouth of the River Verindo.  The reason why they
think so is, because Miledh was king of Biscay2~ after he had been
19 Sons of Miledh. The reader must lect, while the Irish is. It has not, how.
not forget, that the sons of Miledh ever, been proved that there do not exist
(Meelei) were themselves one of the striking  and peculiar resemblances beclans of Breogan, their father having tween the two tongues.  Neither is it
been the grandson of that chief through  proved that the son of M iledh spoke CelBile or Bili, (Billeh,) his eldest son.   tic. The fact, before noticed, that " Gal20 King of Biscay. The chief objec- amh," one of the names of their founder,
tion to this tradition lies in the fact, may mean the same thing as "M iledh,"
that the Biscayan is not a Celtic dia- in Latin, " Miles," would show that the




THE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.                       195
driven by the overwhelming force of foreign invaders, from  the
heart of Spain into that country, which was secure from foreign
attack by its numerous forests and hills and natural strongholds.
kut this is not the common opinion of our own historians, who
tell us, that the AIilesian invaders set out on their expedition from
the Tower of Bre6gan I:d Gallicia.2'  And this latter account I
consider to be the true one.  For we read in the Book of Conquests, that it was at the Tower of Bre6gan,a2 they first formed
the resolution of sending Ith to explore Ireland, and that it was
there that Lug'aidh, the son of Ith, landed when he returned from
Ireland with his father's dead body, to exhibit it to the sons of
[Miledh and to the descendants of Bre6ogan.  For this reason, I
am of opinion that they set sail for Ireland, from that same place,
Mfilcdh having died a short time before. Her husband being thus
dead, Scota came to Ireland with her children, as Spain was then
a bone of contention between the natives and the many foreign
tribes, who had come from the north of Europe to conquer that
country.
But to return to the sons of Miledh, these chieftains mustered
an army for the invasion of Ireland, both to wreak vengeance
upon the sons of Kermad for the murder of Ith, and to seize
upon that kingdom for themselves. Their entire fleet numbered
name of this chieftain of the " Clann  gion.  The Asturias were in afterEbir Scuit" had been translated into  times the stronghold of the Cid, the
two languages. The number of words great hero of Spanish romance.
perfectly synonymous and of distinct   22 The Tower of Breogan is supposed
origin, which are contained in the Irish  to have been situated at the place now
tongue, prove in themselves that it is called Corunna, which is situated about
made up of more than one language. midway between Cape Finisterre and
Original tongues contain but few syn- Cape Ortegal, in Gallicia. There exists
onymes.                             still in this city a lofty tower, whose ori21 Gallicia. This is on every account gin is lost in the mists of remotest antithe more probable tradition. The Gal- quity. Local tradition says,'that it
heci, who formerly inhabited this Span- was built as a pharos or lighthouse by
ish province, are said to have been of the Phoenicians, during their occupaCeltic blood. Keating cites this Irish  tion of Spain.-Could our Milesians
authorities for it, while the former has have fled out of Spain before these
all the air of a guess made by some Phoenicians or their Carthagenian suc-,i, n wFriters. TYe people of the cessors, or could they have been a
Asturias, which lies between Gallicia  Spanish tribe transported to Ireland by
and Biscay, do not speak a. language  either of these people, for the purpose
so widely different from Gaelic. Theirs of protecting their commerce?  The
is called a Latin dialect, though they, fact that all the fragmentary evidence
as well as the natives of Biscay, boast that has reached us, prove the Gaels to
of having never mixed with foreigners. have been inferior in civilization to the
Both Gallicia and the Asturias are Danaans, whom they conquered, milicountries of narrow fertile plains and  tates against the supposition that they
high precipitous mountain ridges, and  were real Phoenicians, for at that time
would afford the Gaels almost as secure the Phoenicians were one of the most
natural strongholds as the Biscayan re- civilized nations of.the earth.




196                 THIE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
thirty ships, in each of which there were thirty warriors,2s without
counting their wives and their attendants. The number of chieftains who held command was forty, as we read in the following
duan, composed by Eocaidh O'Floinn:"Of the chieftains of that fleet, in which24
Came hither Miledh's sea-born. sons,
I can recall the number well,
And name their names, and tell their fates.
"Fuad, Eblind, Brega, Bladh the bland,
Lugaidh,25 Murthemni of the lake,
Bres, Buas, with Buadni's matchless might,
Donn, Eber, Erimh6n and Ir.
"Amirghin, Colpa, without guile,
Eber,26 Arech, Arannhn,
Cuala, Cualgni, the warlike Nar,
Muimni, Luigni, with Laigni.
" Fulman, Mantan, Bili the mild,
Er, Orba, Ferann, Fergend,27
En, Un, Etan, Gosten the bright,
Sdbarki, Sedga, Surghi.
"Palap, son of great Erimh6n,
And Caicher, son of MantanFull ten ana thirty chiefs in all
Came to avenge steed-loving Ith."
Here follow the names of these captains more in full: —Br~ga
or Breoga, son of Bredgan, from whom  Magh-Bregh in Meath
2s Thirty warriors. The multiplica- Breogan here named, with the exception of thil number by 30, the number tion of the sons of Miledh themselves,
of the ships, will give 900 as the whole that of Lugaidh, son of Ith, was the
of the effective force that accompanied  only one that continued to maintain a
the sons'of Miledh in this expedition. distinguished position in Ireland down
Their conquest of the Danaans with so to later times. From him are descendsmall a number is inexplicable, except ed the Corca Luighe, of South Munwe understand that the native Belgoe  ster, of which the O'Driscolls, O'Cowor Ferbolgs, and the Nemedians, had  higs and O'Learies, of the county of
helped them, and had perhaps even  Cork, were the chiefs.  From  him,
called them over against their Danaan  also, descended the Mac Clanchies, of
masters. The fact that we find the  Connaught, but not those of Clare.
Belgian, Crimthann Sciathbl, placed  The latter draw their origin from the
as ruler over Leinster by Erimhon, im- Dalcassian tribe.
mediately after the conquest, goes far   26 Eber, i. e. Eber, the son of Ir, not
to corroborate this supposition.    Eber Finn his uncle.
24 The metrical roll of the Brigantian 27 Fergend, otherwise Fergna, son of
chiefs, of which the above is a transla- Eber Finn. The name Eblind, in the
tion, has not been given in Halliday's first line of the duan, is elsewhere writ.
edition. The translator has found it ten Eblinni and Ebleo. From him the
in two of his manuscript copies.    Felim  Mountains are called Sliabh
" Lugaidh. Of all the posterity of Eblinni, (Sleeve.Eyelinnie.)




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                     197
is named; Cuala, son of Bredgan, from whom Sliabll Cualann is
named; Cualgni, son of Bredgan, from whom  Sliabh Cualgni is
named; Bladh, son of Bredgan, from  whom  Sliabh Bladma is
named; Fuaid, son of Bredgan, fiom  whom  Sliabh Fuaid in
Ulster has its name; Murthemni, son of Bredgan, from whom is
called Magh Murthemni; Lugaidh, son of Ith, who came to
Ireland to avenge the death of his father; and it is from him that
we call the South of Munster Corca Luighi; Ebleo or Eiblinni, son
of Bredgan, from whom Sliabh Eiblinni, in Munster; Buas, Bres,
and Buadni, the three sons of Tighernbard,28 son of Brighe;
Nar, from whom is named Ros Nar on Sliabh Bladma; Sedga,
Fulman, and Mantan; Caicher and Surghi, son of Caicher; Ir,
Orba, Ferann, and Fergna, the four sons of Eber; En, Un, Etan,
Gosten and Sobarki, whose father we do not know; Bili, son of
Brighe, son of Bredgan; the eight sons of Miledh of Spain, namely,
Donn, Arech Februadh, Eber Finn, Amirghin, Ir, Colpa of the
Sword, Erimhon, and Arannmn, the youngest; four sons of
Erimhon, Muimni, Luigni, Laigni, and Palap; and one son of Ir,
namely, Eber. Irial the Prophet, son of this same Erimhon,
here mentioned, was born in Ireland.
Arrival of the Gaels in Ireland —Their victories over the Danaans
Tuatha-iDe-Dananns.
As to the Children of Miledh and their fleet, no account is
given of them, until they got into port at Inber Slangi, which is
called the Bay of Loch Garman at the present time.  Here the
Tuatha-De'-Dananns mustered their host and assembled round
about them; and they threw a magic mist over the heads of their
invaders, so that the island lying before them, seemed tomassume
the shape of a hog's back; and thence some people apply the
term  "iMuic-Inis,"29 that is,'Hog-Island," to Ireland.   The
children of Miledh were then driven away from the shore by the
Druidic spells of the Tuatha-De-Dananns, so that they had to sail
all round Ireland, before they again got into port, at Inber
2S Tigernbard, otherwise Tighern- being usually supplied by a dot or other
bhard (Teeyernvard), meaning "lord- mark placed over the aspirated letter.
bard," i. e. noble bard.          Thence may have sprung this fable,
29 Muic-Inis. This has been trans- either through simplicity, or through
lated " the Isle of Mist" in another a stupid love of the wonderful on the
place. The rather dull fable recounted part of some interpreter of our old
above originated in the identity of the MSS. Nothing is otherwise more naradical letters which compose the Irish tural, than that the Gaels should have
words "muc" (,muck), a hog, and missed the harbor of Wexford in one
" mlch" (mcogh.), a mist or obscurity. of those dense fogs so usual on the
In our old MISS. the'"h " is rarely Irish coast, and have been then driven
used in aspirating consonants, its place all round the islandiby a storm.




198               THE HIISTORY OF IRELAND.
Sklnei, in the west of Munster.  And, when they had landed
here, they marched to Sliabh AMis30 (Slieve JlJsh), and there they
are met by Banba, with her band of female attendants, and with
her Druids. Amirghin31 asks her name. "Banba is my name," replied she, "and fron me is this island called Banba."  Thence they
marched to Sliabh Eiblinni, and there they are met by Fodla;
and Amirghin asks her her name.  "Fodla is my name," replies
she, "and from  me is this land called Fodla."   They march
thence to Uisnech (Ushcnagh) in Mleath, and here again they are
met by Eri; and the poet-sage asks her her name.  "Eri is my
name," replies she, "and firom me is this land called Eri.  In remembrance of these meetings with the three queens of the
Danaans, we find the following verse in the duan, which begins
-" Let us sing the first source of the Gaels:""Banba on Sliabh Mis, with her host
In terror trembledFodla on Sliabh Eblind32 faintedEri, on Uisnech."
The three ladies just mentioned, were the queens of the three
sons of Kermad.  And some of our historians tell us, that Ireland was not possessed by these sons of Kermad in three separate
divisons, but that each man of them, in his turn, possessed the
severeignty of the entire Island, every third year; and that the
name of the queen of him who then ruled it, was more especially
given to the country during the year of his reign. Here follows
a quotation in reference to this alternation of the kingly power
amongst them:
"The regal sway came to each king
In his turn, each third yearEri, Fodla, and Banba bright,
Were these brave warriors' wives."
Then, the sons of Miledh marched on to Temhair, (lTavir or
Tdwir,) which is now called Tara, and here they were met by the
three sons of Kermad, attended by their host of magicians.  The
sons of AMiledh, thereupon, demanded of the sons of Kermad,
either to give them battle for the sovereignty of the land, or to
resign their rights quietly to the m: and the latter answered, that
they would abide by the decision of the invaders' own brother
so Sllabh MAIS is a mountain in the appears that he was also their highbarony of Trouchanacmy and county priest and judge.
of Kerry.                          32 Sliab/h Eblind, i. e. the Felim
31 Amzirg'hin, otherwise Aimhirghin, Mountains, on the borders of the coun.(Avergyin or Avereen,) son of Mliledh, ties of Tipperary and Limerick.
was the chief bard of the invaders. It




TIHE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                  199
Amirghin; and they added, thlat, if he pronounced an unjust
judgment, they would kill him by magic.  Amirghin, then, gave
judgrment against the sons of Miledh, and decided, that they
should return either to the harbor of Skeni,a3 or to that of Slangi,
and that they should set out nine waves"34 or tonns to sea, and if
they could then make a landing, in spite of the Tuatha-D~-Dananns,
that they should possess the sovereign sway of the country.  The
Tuatha-De-Dananns were satisfied with this decision; for they
hoped by means of their Druidic magic, that they could prevent
their enemies from ever again making a landing on the island.
The sons of Miledh then returned to Inber Skeni, where they
got on board their ships, and they sailed out to sea, to the distance of nine waves, as Anmirghin had ordered.
Upon this, when the Druids, of the Tuatha-De-Dananns, saw
them  upon the sea, they raised a destructive tempest by their
magic arts, and thus stirred up a dreadful commotion of the
waters.  And Donn, son of Miledh, exclaimed, that the tempest
had been raised by magic.  "It is so," said Amirghin.  Then
Arannhn, the youngest of Miledh's sons, clomb the mast, but a
sudden squall came on, and the young chief was flung down upon
the deck of the ship, and was thus killed.  After this, the rolling
of the rough tempest separates the vessel, which carried Donn
from  those of his companions, and he is soon drowned, and the
whole crew of his ship with him; they numbered four-and-twenty
warriors, and five chieftains, namely, Bili, son of Brighi, Arech
Februadh,3n Buan, Bres, and Buadni; with them were tiwelve women, and four servants, and eight rowers, and fifty youths in
training.  They were lost at the Sand-hills, which are called
"Donn's House," in the west of AMunster.  It is fiom this Donn,
son of Miledh, who was drowned there, that they are now named
"Tech Dhoinn," (Tagh yoiznn,) i. e. "the Iouse of Donn."  In
remembrance of Donn, and of the nobles who were then drowned
with him, Eocaidh O'Floinn has composed the following rann:
"Donn, with Bili, and Buan, his wife,
Dil and Areeh. son of Miledlh,
Buas, Bres, and Buadni, the renowned
Were drowned at the Bleak Sand-hills."
And of Ir, son of Miledh, also-the ship that bore him was
separated by the storm  from  the rest of the fleet, and it was
33 Inber Slckrni, now Kenmare River. a name for son;e description of measOtherwise Inbher Sgeine (Inver Skcai- ure.
nie). Inber Slangi, i. e. Wexford Bay.  Arecl Febritadh. This champion'4 Nine waves. It is not easy to know  was brother of Donn. They were the
what is meant by nine uwaves. " Tonn " eldest sons of Miledh (JMeelch), having
or " tond," though its most usual ac- been, as we have seen born to him in
ceptation is a wave, may have been also Scythia, by Song, daughter of N eaual.




200                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
driven ashore in the west of Munster, and hern Ir was himself
drowned, and he was buried at Skelg Michil,3  (Skelzgiy  Ieeheel,)
as the author last cited, thus relates:
"Amirghin, the poet-sage of our men,
Fell. in the fight at Bili Tenedh,
And Ir was drowned at Skelg of SchoolsWe lost Arannan in the harbor."
Erimhon leaves Ireland on his left, and sails onward, with a
portion of the fleet, until he reaches Inber Colpa, which is now
called Droiched-Atha, (Drohed ctwha or Drogheda.)  This estuary
is called Inber Colpa, because Colpa of the Sword, son of Miledh,
was drowned therein, as he -was landing from the ship, which
carried his brother Erimhon.  Hence it appears clear, that five
of Miledh's sons had perished, before they wrested the sovereignty
of Ireland from the Tuatha-De-Dananns, as the bard also recounts
in the following rann:
"Five of these chiefs were sunk in the wave,
Five of the stalworth sons of Miledh,
In song-loving Eri's capacious bays,
Through Danaan wiles, and Druidic spells."
As to the other portion of the sons of Miledh, namely, Eber
and the crews of his division of the fleet,S they made good their
86 Sgelg, al Sgeilg Michil, i. e. putation of the Septuagint, which sets
Michael's rock, now called the Sgellig  down that catastrophe as having hapIsles, off the coast of Kerry. Skellig  pened A. M. 1656, give A. MI. 3500 as
was called " of Schools," because in  the year of the landing of the Gaels in
the early Christian ages its monastery  Ireland. These annals record the latwas a famous seat of learning.      ter event thus:
87 Tie fleet.  Nennius, a British    "'l'he age of the world 3500. The
writer who flourished about the year fleet of the sons of Miledh came to Ire850, says that the sons of Miledh came land this year to take it from the Tuato Ireland with a fleet of 120 cilli. tha-D-i-Danann."  According to the
Mageoghegan, in his translation of the computation of the Hebrews, followed
annals of Clonmacnoise, says that the by our author, this invasion took place
sons of Miledh arrived in Ireland 1029  in A. M. 2736. This seemingly great
years before the birth of Christ. As discrepancy results chiefly from the difis authority for this he refers to Calogh  ferent systems of chronology adopted
O'More, but he adds, that Philip  by each. The real dififercence between
O'Sullivan says, in his work dedicated  them  in the period from  the Flood
to the King of Spain, that they ar- to the Milesian amounts but to 178
rived in Ireland 1342 years before the years, which is neither very great nor
birth of Christ, which,'up to his (O'Sul- very surprising in the bardic comlivan's) time, 1627, made 2,969 years. putations of such remote times, when
See O'Donovan's Four Masters. The in the comparatively recent but all imFour Masters who adopted the system  portant event of the birth of our Redeemof chronology that makes the Deluge to  er, the vulgar computation is still four
have happened in the year of the world  years behind the real time. " Tous les
2242, while Keating adopted the corn- historiens et critiques ecclksiastiques,




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                        201
landing at Tnber Skeni.  Three days after his landing, he met
Eri, the wife of MacGreni, upon Sliabh Mis.  Here the battle of
Sliabh Mis was fought between him  and the Tuatha-De-Dananns,
and in it fell Fas, the wife of Un, son of Ughi; and from her
the vale by Sliabh AMis is named Glenn Fais,38 (Glen Faush,) as
the bard tells us in the following rann:
"0  vale of Fas, thy name tells truth!
No man can grudge it or gainsayOf Fas, the heroine, it speaks,
Who fell within thy depths, Glenn Fais."
In  that same battle fell Scota, the wife of Miledh; and she
lies buried near the sea, at the north side of that vale; and it is
to record her death, and to point out her grave, that we extract
the two following ranns from the lay we have just now quoted:
" In that fight too, (no hidden tale!)
Queen Scota met her doom and died;
Her beauty and her brightness fled,
She fell, at length, in yonder vale.
" And hence it comes, that towards the north,
Lies Scota's grave30 in yon cool glen,
Beside the mount, close by the waveShe scarcely shunned the ocean's path."
That was the first battle, fought between the sons of Miledh
and the Tuatha-Da-Dananns, as we find recorded in the same
lay:
"The first battle of Miledh's far-famed sons,
When hither they came from the proud Espain,
Was fought at Sliabh Mis-'twas a fearful fight —
It is history now-it is lore for sages."
The two heroines, just mentioned, namely, Scota and Fas, and
[Jar and Ethiar, their two most distinguished Druids, were the
reconnaissent aujourd'hui, que Jesus of the above mistake in its date. We
Christ naquit quatre ans avant l'epoque, should then be careful how we doubt
qui, dans les siecles d'ignorance,fut prise any of those historic events, recorded by
pour le point de depart del'&re chreti- our own Shanachies for some disagreeenne;" i. e. all ecclesiastical historians ment in the dates of any events, when
and critics now acknowledge that Jesus they have otherwise left historic traces
Christ was born four years before the after them upon the national memory.
time which during the ages of igno-   33 Glenn-Fas.  The Four Masters
rance was taken as the starting of the  call this place Glenn Faisi, (Faushi.)
Christian era.-A Delavigne's Manual It is now called Glenofaush, and is situfor Bachelors qf Arts, adopted by the ated in the townland of Knockatee,
University of France. This date has parish  of Ballycaslane, barony  of
been proved by medals and by astrono- Troughanacmy and county of Kerry.
mical calculations. No one will dare -O'D.
to doubt that great event on account    8 Scota's grave.  This heroine's




202                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
most renowned of the Gaelic nation, that fell in that battle.  And,
although three  hundred of themselves were slain, still they
slaughtered  one thousand  of the Tuatha-De-Dananins, whose
vanquished  host was forced  to betake itself to the paths of
the routed.  Eri, the  wife of MAac Grdlni, follows her defeated
forces and she goes to Talti, and tells her tale to the sons of Kermad.
But the sons of Miledh remained upon the field of battle,
burying those of their people that were slain, and, more especially,
those two druids that had fallen in  the conflict, as the bard
tells us:
"'Twas morning when we left Sliabhl MisWe there met slaughter and repulse
From the royal Daghda's sons,
With their stout battle blades.
" By hardihood we gained that fight,
Over those island Elves of BanbaTen hundred champions lay in heaps
At our feet, of the Tribes of Dana.
"Six fifties of our warlike band,
Of our dread army from Espain,
Were slain upon that blood-stained fieldTwo sacred priests fell there likewise.
" Uar and Ethiar of the steedsWell-loved that bold and dauntless pair!
Gray flags now mark their lonely bedsIn their AFenian mounds we laid them."
Now, eight of the chieftains of the Milesian host perished at
sea, by the Druidic enchantinents of the Tuatha-D6-Danannis,
namely, Ir, at Skelg Michil; Aranniin, who fell off the mast,
and Donn, who was drowned, with five other chiefs, at the Sandhills. Eight noble ladies, also, had now fallen; two of these had
been lost with Donn, namely, Buan, the wife of Bili, arcl Dil, the
daughter of Ailedh, who was both the wife and the sister of
Donn; Sk-ni, the wife of Amirghin, was drowned at Inber
Skeni, and it is from  her that the estuary in I(iarraide (IACeree),
which we have just named, has been called; Fial, the wife of
Lugaidh, son of Ith,4~ died through shame, because her husband
grave is still pointed out in the valley being aspirated, it proves that the
of Glenn Scoithin, townland of Cla- name "Sgota" meant, as heretofore
hane, parish of Annaghp in the last- sugrgested, not "Scythian woman," but
named barony and county. S2e O'Dono- was the Gaelic synonyme for Rosa or
vaz's Four Masters.  Glenn Scoithin  Flora, usual names of women.
(Sk&hleen) means the "vale of the little   40 Iial, the wife of Lugaidh, son of
flower."  Scoithin is here obviouslya Ith. Lughaidh Mac Itlha (Looee Maac
diminutive of " Scota," and the  t "'.a) is called " Ced laid h-Er," i. e.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                         203
had seen her naked, as she was coming in from  swimming, and
from  her that estuary has been called Inber Feli4'  ever since;
again, Scota and Fas were slain in the battle of Sliabh Mis; two
others died also, to wit, the wives of Ir and of MAurthcmni, son
of BReogan.  And these are the eight ladies42 and the eight chiefs,
of the host of the Children of Ml~iledh, that were lost, from  their
first arrival in Ireland, until they fought the battle of Talti.
there follow, according to the Book of Conquests, the names
of the seven most noble women that came to Ireland with the
sons of Miiledh; Scota, Tea, Fial, Fas, Libra, Odba and Skeni.
I here subjoin the record, which a bardic historian hbs left us
upon this subject. In it he tells who the husband of each woman was, and who they were, whose husbands were alive at the
time of their arrival in Ireland:
" The seven43 chief ladies that hitherward came,
Most honored by the Son; of Mliledh,
Were Tea and Fial and fair-formed FAs,
Libra and Odba, Scota and Skeni.
" Tea was the spouse of Erimhon of steeds
And Fial was the loved spouse of Lugaidh of lays;
And Fhs was the spouse of stout Un, son of Ughi,
And Skeni the spouse of the bard-sage Amirghin.
"And Fnud's fair spouse was Libra the blooming;
And widows of heroes were Scota and Obda.-44Now these are the ladies, remembered in story,
That hitherward came with the children of Miledh."
"the first or most ancient poet of Feile (Inver Fayiie), the mouth of the
Ireland"  in  an  old  copy  of the river Feal/ or Feal in Kerry.
Book of Invasions, which was lately   42 Eight chiefs.   Colpa  of  the
preserved in the library of the Duke of Sword  has  not been  enumerated
Buckingham at Stow, and which con- amongst these. The number lost must
tains some pieces attributed to him. then have been nine not eight.
One of these is a dirge for his wife   43 Seve  chief ladies.  Dil, i. e.
Fial (Feeal).  In it the bard repre- beloved, and Buan, i. e. constant, the
sents himself as " seated on a cold  wives of Donn and Bili, are left out of
stormy beach, overwhelmed with sor- this enumeration.
row, for a lady had died.  Fial her   44 Odba. Otherwise Odhbha (ova),
name.  A  beauteous flower.  Being  styled here a widow, had been the wile
unveiled, she saw  a warrior on the  of Erimhon, son of Miledh, whom  he
shore. Great and oppressive was her had repudiated in favor of Tea, daughdeath to her husband."  See Hardi- ter of Lugaidh, son of Ith.  " It is
man's Irish 1Minstrel.sy. The language  stated in the Book of Lecan and in the
of the poem, from which the above quo- Lebhar Gabhala (Leour Gavau'a) of
tation was made, is most ancient, even  the O'Cleries, that Erimhon had put
the gloss with which it is interlined, is away Odba, the mother of his elder
no longer intelligible to one who is ac- children, Muimni, Luigni and Laigni.
quainted only with the modern Gaelic. Odba, however, followed her children to
41 Inber _Feli.   Otherwise  Inbher Ireland, and died of grief from being




204                THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
As to the children of Miledh, those of them  that had landed
with Eber and had fought the battle of Sliabh Mis, now marched
on to Erimhon, to Inber Colpa, and, when they had joined their
forces there, they challenged the three sons of Kermad and the
Tuatha-D6-Dananns to  meet them  in a pitched battle.  They
then cam3 to a general engagement at Talti,45 and there the children of Kermad were completely vanquished by the sons of
Miledh; so that Mac Greni fell by the hand of Amirghin, Mac
Coill by that of Eber, and Mac Keact by that of Erimh6n.  And
thus the bard records it:
"The bright Mac Greni was laid low
In Talti, by Amirghin,
Mac Coill by Eber, hand of gold;
Mac KRact fell by Erimlhon."
And their three queens were also killed, namely, Eri, Fodla
and Banba; as the bard tells aus in the rann which here follows:
" Fodla was slain by the boastful Etan,
Banba was slain by the victor Caicher,
Eri; the bounteous, fell by SurghiOf these famed heroines such was the dire doom."
The greater part of the Danann host was slain at that same
time.  And as the forces of the sons of Miledli were pursuing
their rGuted foes towards the North,46 two of their own chieftains
were slain in the chase, namely, Cualgni, son of Brebogan, who
fell at Sliabh Cualgni, and Fuad,47 son of Breogan, who was slain
at Sliabh Fuad.
repudiated by her husband, and was in-  Towards the North. The Danaans
terred at Odba in Meath, where her very probably directed their flight tochildren raised a mound to her memory. wards the stronghold of Ailech Neid,
This name, from which, according to 0'- near Derry.
I)ngan, the district of 0 h-Aedha (0'-  47 CualTgni and Fuad. The CarlingHay) or Hughes in Meath, has its dis- ford Mountains in the county of Louth,
tinctive title, is now obsolete. It would were called Sliabh  Cualgni (Sleeve
be angflicised Ovey." —See O'Donovan's Coolignie). Sliabh Fuad (Sleeve Fooid)
Four Masters.                     lies in the county of Armagh.'5 Talti. Called oftener Tailtenn, now
Teltown in Meath.




CHAPTER VII.
OF THE PARTITION OF IRELAND BETWEEN THE CHILDREN OF
MILEDH.
EBER AND  ERIMHON,1 ARD-RIGIIA.2
A. M. 2736.3  WHEN  they had expelled the Tuatha-De-Danauns, and reduced all Ireland beneath their sway, Eber and
Erimh6n divided the conquered country between them.  According to some of our antiquarians, the following was the division
they then made; namely, the part that lies north of the B6inn
(Boyne), and the stream of Bron, fell to the share of Erimh6n,
and what lies south of that boundary, as far as Tonn Clidna,4
fell to Eber. The poet-sage mentions that partition in the following manner:
" The northern half ('twas a faultless share)
Was the portion of king Erimhon;
Through many a tribe ran its prosperous bounds,
From the stream of Bron5 to the Boinn's fair river.
Eber and Erimhon. These names and Emher assumed the joint soverare spelled  Eibber and  Eireamhbn  eignty of Ireland, and divided Ireland
(Aiver and Airivone) in modern Irish. into two parts between themn."
E]ber is also sometimes spelled Emher    4 Tonn  Clidna, i. e. the wave of
and Eimhear: the  aspirated  labials  Clidna or Cliodhna (CGeena). Tonn
"mh" and "bh," being almost-alike in  Clidna lay in Glaudore  Htarbor, on
sound, one is often found put for the  the Coast of Kerry. It is used here
other in the midcdle and end of words. for the whole of the sea that washes
In the Four Masters this word is most the south coast of Ireland.  Clidna,
usually spelled Emher.   But the old  daughter of Genann, became one of
Latin name "Hibernia" or "Ibernia," as those mythological beings called in Irewell as the more general mode of spell- land " Daeine Sidhe" (Deengh Sheeh) or
ing the name itself, are sufficient evi- " fairy people."   In fairy tales she is
dence that " b" is the proper radical.   usually styled  " Cliodhlna na Cairg6
2 Ard-Righa, i. e. Arch Kingr, " ard- Leithe" (Cleena na carguie lay hie), i. e.
righa"  (aurd-Reegha), is the plural Clidna of the Gray Crag or Rock. Acof" ard-righ" (aurd-Rce).             cording to Hardirnan, Clidna was one
3 The Four Master3 give A. AI. 3501  of the queens of the Munster fairies.
as the year of this joint accession to the  -See Irish ]Ilinstlrelsy.
sovereignty of Ireland, which they thus    5 The Bron.  The editor has not
record   "The age of the world 3501. identified this stream. It lays some
This was the year in which Erimhon  where in the west of Ireland.
[205]




206                 THE IIISTORY OF IRELAND.
"And Eber, the conquering son of Miledh,
Took for his portion the southern half —
His just lot lay from the Boinn's cool stream,
To the Wave of Genann's daughter."
Five of the principal leaders of the host of the children of
/Miledh then went with Erimh6n into his division of the country,
and they received lands from him, upon which they erected
duns (doons), each upon his own portion.  The names of these
five chieftains were Amirghin, Gostenn, Sedga, Sobarki and
Surghi.  HIere follow, also, the names of the royal raths that
were erected by Erimh6n and by his five chieftains; in the first
place, Rath-Bethaigh6 was erected by himself at Argedros,7 on
the banks of the Fc6ir (Nore) in Ossory; Amirghin built Turlach of Inber';lor;8 Sobarki built Dull Sobarki.;9 Dun-Delcgindsil~
Nwas erected by Se(dga, in the district of Cuala; Gostenn erected
Cathair-an-Nairn1 (Cachir-an-nar), and Surghi built Dun-Edair.l2
The following were the five, that went with Eber; namely,
Caicher, Aantan, En, Ughi and Fulman.  These, also, erected
five royal raths.  Firstly, Rath Eo6mhain'3 was erected by Eber in
Laighen-Maghl4 (l/yen-fAfoy); Caicher erected Dun-Inn'5 in the
west of Ireland; AlMantan erected the Cumdach Cairgi iladraidel6
(Coocldgh Ctargui Bloiree); En, son of Oighi, raised the rath of
Ard-Suird,l7 and ]Fulman the rath of Carraig Fedaigh.'8
6 Rath-Bethaigrh. Now Rathbeagh, Sliabh Modhuirn (Slieve Mourne), a
in a parish of the same name, barony of range of heights near Ballybay, county
Galmoy and county of Kilkenny. —O'D. of Monaghan
7 Argedros, otherwise Airgead-ros,   12 Du -Edair was built upon Benn
i. e. the Silver Wood.  A woody dis- Edair, now the Hill of Howth, near
trict, in ancient Ossory, lying along the Dublin.   It was  otherwise  Dunbanks of the Nore, was thus denomi- Chrimhthainn (Dton Criffinn).
nated.-O'D.                           13 Roth  Emmhiain,  called  Rath
Turlac!, oqf Inber Mor.   The U!amhain by the Four Masters.  Dr.
Four Masters call this place " Tochar  O'Donovan conjectures that it is RathInbhir Mhoir" ( T' har Invir yore), i. e. howen in the county of Wexford.
the causeway of Inber Mor. Inber Mor   14 Laighen-lIagh, i. e. Leinster plain.
was the old name of the mouth of the   15 Dun-bin. This is called Dun-ArAvoca or " Abhain Mor" (Ouin More), dinni by the Four Masters; it is now
at Arklow, county of Wicklow.       unknown.-O'D.
o Dun  Soba'?ki.  Dr. O'Donovan   16 Cumdacch Cairgi Bladraide, i. e.
says that this fort, of which notice has the building on the rock of Bladraidhe.
been already  given, was not built The only name like Bladraide is Blyry,
during the reign of Eber and Erimhon, in the barony of Brawney, co. Westfor Sobarki or Sobhairce, (Sowarki,) meath.-OD.
after whom  it was called, did not'1 Ard-Suird.  This hill is situated
flourish for some time afterwards.  about half a mile to the north-west of
lo Dun-Delogindsi, i. e. the Fort of the old church of Donaghmore, near
Delg-Innis.  Delg-Innis was the old the city of Limerick.  The ruins of a
name of Dalkey, island near Dublin.    castle now occupy the site of the rath.11 Cathair-an-Nair.    The  Four O'D.
Masters say that this fort was on   is Carraig Fedaigli. As Un wa.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                       207
Other historians tell us that the following was the partition
made of Ireland by Eber and Erimh6n: the two Munsters were
assigned to Eber, and Leinster and Connaulght'formed the territory of Erirnhbn.  The principality of Ulster was given to Eber,
son of Ir, son of Ailedh, and to some others of the chieftains, that
calne over Awith the children of Miledh; and the territory of
Coica Luighe (Corca Looee), in South Alunster, was given to
Lugaidll,  son of Ith; that is, to the son of their grand-uncle.
This latter account I deem  the more correct, for Rlath Bethaigh
(alth-]Lwthie), -which was the chief residence of Erimh6n, was situated in Leinster, and also because the posterity of Eber originally
(cwelt in Mauneter, while those of Erilmh6n dwelt in Leinster and
Connaughlt, and  the  posterity  of Rudraide, son of Sithrighe
(Shieel/rec), a descendant of Eber, son of Ir, wore the original
possessors of Ulster.  It is from this Rudraide, I have just named,
that the rcal Ultonians are called the " Clanna Iudraide," or
clans of Radraidee,  and thus are denominated, likewise, all those
of their progeny that went into any of the other " fifths" for the
purpose of acquiringr lands or of nicking conquests; such as the
migration of the children of Rudraide into Leinster, that is, the
settlelment of the race of Conall Kehirnach in Laeighis1  (Lueesh);
and the progeny of Fergus Mac Roigh, who settled in Conmacni20
in Connaught, and in Corcomruadh2l  and Kerry,22 in Munster;
and the fatmilly of Dubidir,23 the progeny of Carbri Cluthecar, son
of Cucorb, of the race of Labraidh Loingsech; and the fatmily of
It;lan,24 of the race of Cathaeir Mor, who had migrated from
one of the two chieftains seated in  of the county of Longford, of which
Colnaught, it is conjectured that this the O'Ferralls were chiefs, and a Conis Rahoon, in Irish, Ruath Uin, near the mlacni of MAuinter Eolais, in the south
town of Galway. —O'D.               of Leitrim, whose chieftains were the,9 The race of  C'onall Kearnach. ]Mac Rannalls, now generally written
These were the O'MIordhas (O Morn) Reynolds and Mag'rannell.
or O'lMores and their kindred clans,   21 Corcorruadh, now  Corcomroe in
settled in Leix or Lacighis in the Kings  the county of Clare. The O'Connors
and Queens counties.                Corcomnroe and  the  O'Loghlins  of
20 Conmaceni. These were the descend- Burrin are here meant.
ants of Conmac, son of the famous   22 Kerry.  l'he Ciarraidhe (Keeree),
Ulidian   champion,  Fergus  Aac from whom this ounnty had its name,
Roigh.  "There were three territories are descended from Ciar, another son of
called after septs of this name in Con- Fergus Mac Roigh. Their chief claus
naught, namely, Conimceni Kindl  Dub- were the O'Connors Kerry, and their
haiin, now the barony of Dunrnore in relatives.
the north of Galway; Conmacni Mara,       Thle family of Dubidir, otherwise
now the barony Ballynahinch, in the Dubhir.  Our author refers to the
north-west of the same county; Con-  )'Dwyers, chiefs of Kilnemanagh, in the
macni Culi Toladh, in the south of county of Tipperary.  This clan was
the county of Mayo."-0'Doriavan.    of the race of Erimhon.
O'Flaherty mentions a Conmacni of   24 Tle  am7ily of Rian, i. e. the
Magh Rein in Brefny, in the north  O'Maejl-Riaius or O'Ryans, chieftains




208                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Leinster into Munster.  But it was long after Eber and Erimh6on
had made their partition of Iieland, that these tribes removed
from  their native territories into other parts of Ireland.  It is
well known that it was in the time of _Muredach Tirech, that the
three Collas, with their kinsmen, left Connacht in order to make
conquests, from  the tribes of Uladh, from  whom they then forcibly wrested a large portion of their territory, namely, Modurn,25
Ui Mic Uais,'26 anld Ui Crimthainn;27 and there many of their
posterity still remain; such as Raghnald,28 Earl of Anitrim, descended from  Colla Uais (oosh/), the Maguires, AMac Mahons and
O'HEanlons, with their several branches, descended from  Colla Da
Crioch.  In the days of Cormac, son of Art, also, the Desies,29 a
family of the line of Erimhon, came into Munster, and got lands
therein.  Again, in the reign of Fiacaidcl  Mul-lethan, king of
Munster, Carbri Muse, a gentleman of the line of Erirnh6n,
brought a poem  to Fiacaidh, and received, as a reward for his
verses, all the land that lies from  Slighe Dala (Slee liawlc), i. e.
from nBlach M6r, in Ossory, to Cnoc Alni Cliach,30 as we read in
the book of Armagh.  From  this Carbri Muse it is, that the Ormonds have got the name of MIuscraide5l (mooscree).  It was not
of Uaithne, now  the baronies of county of Waterf)rd, which was styled
Owney Beg, in the county of Limerick, Desi Munmhan (Dahs!li ]Iieon), to disand Owney, in that of Tipperary.    tinguish it from the Desies in Meath,
6 Modurn, now Cremorne in Mona- now called Deece.
ghan.   A  mountainous district in   30 Cnoc Ai Cliachl, now Knockany
Ulidia, also received the name of Mod- in the county of Limerick.
urn (proplerly 2iTugdorn) or nMourne,      3luscraide. There were six districts
from  a tribe of the descendants of called by this name, which have been anMughdorn Dubh, son of Colla, who glicised Muskery. 1. Muscraide Mitani,
emigrated thither in the reign of N;ial or Muscraide Ui Floinn, i. e. the
the Haughty, son of Aedh, son of Mag- /Muskery of O'Flinn, now Miusgrylyn,
nus Mac Marghthamhna, or Mac Mahon. which comprises 15 parishes in  the
-O'D.                               north-west of thecountv of Cork. 2.
2G Ui  1ic Uais, now Moygish, in  Muscraide  Luachra  (Lcog.7ra) the
West Meath.                         ancient name of the district, in which
= Ui C!iNnthainn, otherwise called the Blackwater of Munster has its
Ui Cremhthainn (ce CrejfinZ). The source. 3. Muscraide Tri Maighe, i. e.
barony of Slane, in Meath, was thus of the three  plains, in the present
called, from the " UI" or descendants barony of Barrymore, co. Cork, the
of Crimthann, son of Fiach, son of territory  of O'Donegan. 4 and 5.
Degaidh Duirn, son of Rocadih, son of Muscraide Breoghain and Muscraide
Colla Da Crioch.                    Ui Chuire (i. e. O'Quirk's), now the
2Raghiald,  otherwise  Reginald  barony of Clanwilliam in the southMac Donaldl   According to Irish his- west of the  county  of Tipperary.
tory the Mac Donalds of Scotland, from  6. Muscraide Thiri (tleerie), now the
whom the Mac Donalds of Antrim are baronies of Upper and Lower Ormond,
sprung, are the descendants of Colla in the county last named.  The termiUais.                               nation " raide" or "raidhe" (ree) in
2' Desies, i. e. the O'Faelans and 0'- this and similarly formed names, is patBrics, of the territory now called the ronymic. The attempt of Dr. O'Brien




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                       209
long after this that some of the progeny of Eber, namely, the
descendants of Cormac Galeng, came into Connaught, and from
them  sprung the Galenga32 and the Luighni33 (Loonie), of whom
are the O'Hlaras and O'Garas of the Northern Half.  And so it
was with every other person and lcine28, or kindred, that migrated
from their native territories into other parts of Ireland, and not
by reason of the partition made between Eber and Erimhon.  I
am, consequently, of opinion, that the last-cited account of that
partition is the correct one; for it is not to be supposed, that
Erimhon would have built his first royal rath in the part that
had fallen to Eber's lot, namely, that of Rath Bethaigh, in Argedros. I then deem that he built it in his own portion, and that,
consequently, the territory of Leinster belonged to him, as the
latter tradition tells us.
There came also to Ireland, amongst the followers of the sons
of Miledh, a learned bard-sage or " file" (filleh) named Kir, son
of Kis, and likewise a harper of harmonic tunes, whose name
was Onaei (onee); and Eber said, that these should dwell with
himself, while Erimh6n insisted that they should abide with him;
but they at last arranged  the disputed point by casting lots;
whereupon, the musician fell to the lot of Eber, and the bard to
that of Erimhon.  IIn commemoration of this contest, the following verses are found in the Psalter of Cashel:
"Lots then they fairly cast
For these two men of wondrous science;
The southern chief thus got
The harper skilled in harmony.
" To the northern chieftain fell
The bard of the mighty song;
Hence comes our peerless sway
In the bardic lay and melodious tune.
"Sweet-stringed tunes, rhymes smoothly flowing,
In the north and the south of Eli,
Shall reign for aye, till the day of doom,
As the bards have sung in the Senchas."
to derive the name from "Mus," pleas- great Galenga. In West Meath, near
ant,and"Crioch," adistict, is visionary. the Liffey, lay  fhe Galenga Bega
-See Dr. O'Donovan's Leabhar na g;- (begga),or Lesser Galenga, whose chiefs
Ceart.                              took the name of O'h-Aengusa, now
32 Galenga. The Galenga of Con- IHenessy.   Both  of the  Meathian
nasght,which is now called the barony of Galenga were dispossessed  by Sir
Gallen, in the county of Mayo, with  Iugh de Lacy, shortly after the Engthe exception of Coolcarney, was the lish invasion.-See O'Donovan's Leabhar
territory of O'Gara or O'Gadhra. Mor- na g-Ceart, p. 148.
gallion in Meath, the territory of 0'-   93 Luigni.  The territory of the
Leochain or Loughan, sometimes bar-  O'h-Adhras, or O'Haras, is the present
barized to " Duck," was also called  barony of Leyny, in the county of
from this race. Its present name is a  Sligo.  This district was also comrncorruption of Gallenga Mora, i. e. the  prised under the name Galenga.
14




210                 THE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.
With the sons of Miledh, there had come over likewise four,
and-twenty servile laborers, who, soon after their arrival, cleared
twenty-four plains of wood, and these plains were named after
themselves.   Here follow  their names: Aidni, Ai, Asa], Me'di,
Morba, Midi, Cuib, Cliu, Kera, Rieir, Slan, Leghi, Lifi, Lini, Lighen, Trda, Dula, Adar, Ariu, Desin, Di1a, F6a, Femenn  and
Sera. And the plains they had reclaimed are distinctively
known by the names of these laborers, down to the present day.
Tea, daughter of Lugaidh, son of Ith, who was the wife of Erimhon, caused an edifice to be built for her at Liath-drom  (Leehdrom), which is now called Temhair (Tavwir); and it is from
Tea, daughter of Lugaidh, that that hill got the latter name, to
wit, "Teamhair," i. e. " Miir Tea,"34 (the edifice or wall of Tea.)
Eber and Erimhon had reigned conjointly for one year, when
a dispute arose between them about the ownership of the three
most excellent hills in Ireland, namely, Drom-Clasach,35 in the
territory of Mani; Drom-Bethaigh,36 in Maen-m.agh, and DromFinghin,37 in Munster.  This dispute brought on a battle between
94 M  r Tea.  Such a derivation  Applied either to a woman, hill, bower
would neither be. in accordance with  or house, it would thus be of the same
the genius of the Gaelic'language, nor meaning with the Latin "speciosa,"
with Gaelic usage, which are both ad- derived from " specto," to view, i. e.
verse to such concrete names. Temhair beautiful. It is most likely a Danaan
is evidently a name older than the Mi- name.-If it were compounded of the
lesian colonization, and, if it be not words "Tea" and "Maur," it would
itself a root, it is formed on some such  make "Teamhuiir" (Tavooir) in the
root as "Temh" or "Teamh,' by the genitive case, and not "Teamhrach"
simple addition of the suffix "air" or (Tavragh), like "lasair," gen. "las"ir," just as " Cuingir," a tVam, is de- rach" (lassir gen. lasragh), and cuingir
rived from "Cuing," a yoke, "lasair," a gen. "cuingreach" (cungir gen. cungblaze or flame, from "las," light thou. ragh). The rule, "Derivata patrum
It seems of the same class with " cath- naturam verba sequuntur" applies to the
air," "latllair," " laidir," "socair," and  Gaelic as well as other tongues.
a number of similarly formed words,   35 Drom-Clasach is a long ridge, sitwhose immediate roots are not found in uated in Ui Mani, in Galway, between
Gaelic. According to Dr. O'Donovan, Lough Ree and the River Suck.-O'D.
Temhair was common as a woman's    6'Drom-Bethach was the name of a
name in Ireland, and it was applied to  remarkable ridge of hills, extending
more hills than Temhair in Meath, as across the plain of Maeninagh, near the
Temhair Luachra (Taovir Looghra) in  town of Loughrea, in the county of
Kerry, and Temhair Bhroglha Niadh  Galway.-O'D.
(Tavvir Vrow Neea) in Leinster. He    37 Drom-Finghin. This name, protells us that in Cormac's Glossary, it is nounced Drum  Fineen, i. e. Fineen's
stated that the "temhair" of a house Ridge, is still in use, and applied to a
means a bower, boudoir or balcony, long range of high ground dividing
and that the "temhair " of a country  Decies-within-Drum from Decies-withmeans a hill, commanding a pleasant out-Drum, in the county of Waterford.
prospect. This interpretation tells of It extends from Castle Lyons, in the
a root akin to that of " deaga," a pros- county of Cork, to Ringoguanaggh, on
pect or sight, which is " aco," or the south side of the Bay of Dungar" deaolat," to view, to admire, &c. van.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                       211
Eber and Erimhon, which was fought at Brugh-Bridain,38 in Ui
Failghi, at Tochar-between-the-two-plains, in the district of
Gesill. Eber was vanquished in this battle, and he was slain
himself therein, with  three  of the chiefs of his people.  The
names of the latter were Surghi, Sobarki, and Gostenn.  A  bard
gives us the following account of their contest:
"Tall Eber and brave Erimhbn
Shared Banba's realm without a grudge
For one year, free from war or spoil,
Till fell ambition seized their wives.
"His wife told Eber of the fights,
That if she owned not the smooth hills,
Of Clasach, Bith and fair Finghin,
She'd stay no night in Eri.
"Then Eber fell, that august inan,
By AMiledh's son, brave Erimh6n,
In Gesill's land he got his wound.
At morn, upon Magh-Smerthainn."
The bard Tanaide'9 has also left us the following verses upon
the same event:
" Sages of Banba, land of glory,
Know ye and can ye tell the cause,
Why that great battle dire was driven
By Erimhbn o'er Eber's might?
"I shall myself reveal the cause,
Whence sprang that fratricidal war-'Twas for three solitary hights
That loveliest were in Eri found"Drom-Finghin and Drom-Clasach bright,
And Drom-Bethaidh in ConnachtFor these three.hills —oh, tale of woe!Was done that deed of slaughter."
3 Brugh-Bridain, i. e. the Town of Rosa Falghi, or Rosa of the Rings,
Bridain. The Four Masters call this son of the monarch Cathaeir Mor.
place Bri-damh, i. e. the hill of oxen.    9 The bard Tanaide (Tanee) O'MulIn the description of this battle, it is conry, or Mael-Conari. The clan of the
stated that there were many mounds at O'Mulconries produced two Arch-Olthis place, in which Eber and the other lamhs of Connaught, of this name, viz.
chiefs slain in the battle were interred. Tanaide Mor, Arch-Ollamh, A.D. 1270,
The name of the Tochar or Causeway  and Tanaide, who died Arch-Ollamh in
between the two plains is still preserved  A.D. 1385. The Four Masters record
in that of Ballintogher, i. e. the Town  the death of another distinguished memof the Causeway, in the parish and ber of this bardic family, named Tanabarony of Geshill, in the King's County. ide, son of Maeilin, in 1446. The ediUi Falghi, or Offally, was the territory  tor cannot say which of these bards is
of O'Conor Falghi, descended from  here cited.




212                THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
ERIMHON, ARD-RIGH.
A. M. 2737.4   Erimhon,  having already reigned one year in
copartnership with Eber, now took upon him the full sovereignty
of Irelandl   which he held for fourteen years after his brothers'
death. T'he iatter fell at Argedros, according to some authorities. Thus a bard tells us in the following rann:
"For fourteen years, as I have heard,
King Erimh6n sole monarch reigned,
After the fight at Argedros,
3Where noble Eber slaughtered fell."
But, notwithstanding this, it is the common opinion of historians, and, as I think, the true one, that Eber was slain at the
battle of Gesill, as I have related above, and not at that of Argedros.
It was in Erimh6n's time that the following events took place,
namely: the battle of Cfil-Caichir,41 a year after the death of Eber,
and it was there. that Caicher, a chieftain of Eber's people, was
killed by Amirghin, son of Miledh.  In a year after that, Amirghin himself fell by the hand of Erimhbn, at the battle of BiliTenedh,42 in Cula Breagh. It was in this year that the three
Brosnachs43 of Eli burst forth over the land, and the three Uinsenns44 (uinshens) of Tir-Olilla. Three years after this, Fulman
and Mantan, two chieftains of Eber's party, fell by Erimhon, at
the battle of Bregan,45 ii Fremhain.
Eight lakes burst over the land in the reign  of Erimhon,
namely, Loch Buadaigh,46 Loch Bagha,47 Loch Rein,48 Loch Finn40 Erimh3n's reign commenced, ac- cord, also, the springing forth of nine
cording to the Four Masters, in A. M. rivers called " Righe," in Leinster, dur
3502.                             ing this reign.
41 Cuil-Caichir, unknown.- O'D.    44 Thiree Uinsenns. Tir Olilla is the
42 Bili-Tenedh, or Bile Teinedh (Bil- barony of Tirerrill, in the county ol
leh Tinneh), is said to be the place now  Sligo; but there is no river now called
called Coill an Bhil6 (Coill an villeh), Uinsenn (Unshon) therein.-O'D.
in English, Billywood, in the parish of   "' Bregan in Fremhain. The Four
Movnalty, barony of Lower Kells, and Masters called this, Bregan in Femhen.
county of Meath. —O'D.  Hardiman, The latter is a plain in the south-east
in his Irish Minstrelsy, gives some short of Tipperary. Fremhain, now Frewin,
poetic pieces attributed to Amirghin, is in West Meath.-O'D.
who was slain at this place. Amirghin   46 Loch Buadaigh, i. e. the Lake of
was surnamed Glun-gel, i. e. Fair Knee. the Victor, not known.-O'D.
He was slain in the second year of  47 Loch Bagha, now Lough Baah,
Erimhon's reign.                   near Castle Plunket, in the county of
48 Three Brosmachs. The Four Mas- Roscommon.-O'D.
ters say nine. There are at present   48 Loch Rein. This name is still apbut two rivers known by this name in plied to a small lake in Magh Rein, in
Eli. The others must be tributary  the county of Leitrim.-O'D.
atreams.-O'D. The Four Masters re



THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                      213
Maighe,49 Loch Greni,50 Loch Riach,51 over the plain called MaghMaein, Loch Da-Caech,52 in Leinster, and Loch Laegh,3 in Ulster.
In the third year after this, Un, En, and Etan were slain by
Erimhon, in the battle of Comhari,54 in Meath, and their sepulchral mounds were raised at the same place.  In the same year
the three Sucks55 burst over the land in Connaught.
Some historians tell us that it was Erimhon that divided Ireland into five "fifths," or provinces, amongst some of his chieftains, after the death of his brother Eber.  First, he gave the
" fifth" or province of Leinster, to Crimthann Sciathbel, a nobleman descended from the Fer-bolgs. The province of Munster he
gave to the four sons of Eber, namely, Er, Orba, Ferann, and Fergna.
He gave the province of Connacht to Un, son of Ughi, and to
Etan, two chiefs who had followed him  from  Spain.  In like
manner he left the province of Ulster to Eber, the son of his
brother Ir.
The Cruthnigh or Picts.
It was in the reign of Erimhh6n, also, that the Cruthnigh,5  that
is, the Picti, a host that had emigrated from Thrace, came to
Ireland; and, according to Cormac Mac Culinan, in his Psalter,
the cause of their leaving Thrace, was because Policornus, the
king of Thrace,57 sought to violate a beautiful marriageable damsel, who was the daughter of Gud, the head chieftain of the
Picts, while her nation were at free quarters in his country.
When Gud and his Cruthnigh perceived that the king had an
intention to violate the damsel, they slew him  and then left the
"9 Loc.' Finn-Maighe is now called   55 The three Sucks are the rivers still
Loch Fenvoy and Garadice Lough. It called the Suck and its tributaries, the
is situated on the barony of Carrigallen, Sheffin and the River of Clonbrock, in
and county of Leitrim.-O'D.        the county of Galway.
5o Loch Greni. The Lake of Grian    56 Cruithnigh. Many etymologies
(a woman's name), now Loch Graney, have been given for this name. To the
in the north of the county of Clare.-  editor it seems to be a dialectic variaO'D.                               tion of "Brethnaigh," i. e. Britons.
6' Loch Riach, now Lough Reagh, The Gaels often use the letter "c," or
near the town of Loughrea, in the coun- "g," where the Britons use "p," or
ty of Galway.                      "b." Thus the Gaiels say "cenn" (kenn),
52 Loch Da-Caech, an old name of for the British "pen," a head, and
Waterford H-arbor. —O'D.           " mac" for the British "map" or
3 Loch Laegh, now called Belfast "mab," a son.
Lough.                               6 ThLrace.  It were well that our
I Comhari, called Comhrairi in the author gave the Celtic name of the
Four MAasters, is now called Kilcome- country, which he calls Thracia or
ragh. It lies near the hill of Uisnech, Thrace. The modern name " France"
in the barony of Moycashel, in West is used a little further on for " Gallia,"
Meath.                             by a gross anachronism.




214                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
country. They then passed from land to land, until they reached
France, and there they got military quarters and lands from  the
king of France, upon which they built the city, which is called
Pictavium, from the name of their nation, that is, from the Picts
or Cruthnigh, who founded it.  But, as soon as the king of France
heard the fame of the damsel's beauty, he resolved to make her
his mistress.  When Gud was told of this, he fled, with  all his
people, and set out, with his daughter, for Ireland; but, while
they were at sea, the damsel died, and they then got into port at
Inber Slangi.  Bede agrees with this account of their migration,
but he says that it was in the north of Ireland that they landed.
It is thus that he expresses himself in the first book of his History of the Saxon  Church: "It is said that the  Pictish  race
chanced to come to Ireland, in a few long gallies, over the ocean,
driven by the winds outside all the coast of Great Britain, and
that they landed upon its northern coast, and finding the Scotic
nation settled there before them, they asked for a settlement for
themselves, likewise; but they did not obtain it."58  However, it
was not in the north of Ireland that they landed, but at the end
of Inber Slangi, and in the- Harbor of Wexford, as we have mentioned. Here they were met by Crimthann Sciathbel,59 who was
58 Contigit gentem Pictorum de Scy- sovereignty of Ireland with Erimhon,
thia, ut perhibent, longis navibus non  if he were not its real king, and Erimmultis oceanum  ingressam, circuma- hon and Eber leaders of his foreign
gente flatu ventorum fines omnes Bri- auxiliaries.  Crimthann's race has pertannise Hiberniam pervenisse, ejusque ished, as well as that of the Danaans,
Septentrionales oras intrasse atque in- and no record remains of either but
venta ibi gente Scotorum, sibi quoque what it has pleased their conquerors to
in partibus illis petiisse locum, nec im- hand down. The Danaans, though
petrasse potuisse.                   driven from Tara and  ecath by the
59 Crimthann Sciathbel.  By thus battle of Talti, must have still mainfinding this Firbo]gic chief ruler of one tained their sway at Ailech Neid, near
of the richest parts of Ireland, and in  Derry, as we may infer from some dim
close alliance with the king of the glimpses we shall again get of them in
Gaels, but a few years after the con- that quarter of Ireland. Neither were
quest of Ireland, we may infer that the those more early colonists, the Fomoformer nation was still powerful in the rians, yet extinguished.  They shall
country. In fact, one might judge that again appear in our history. Ireland
the Gaels then, and for ages after, must then have been at this time inmaintained their pre-eminence, as the habited by various tribes of distinct
Norman knights did in more recent origins. The Iberian who had come
times, by setting one portion of the na- slowly by the Mediterranean coasts of
tion against the other.  More than  Afrtica and by Spain, leaving many
1000 years after this time, we shall find  colonies on his way, has met on the exthe Gaels still a minority of the nation, treme verge of the old world the Nemewhen, during what is called the Atta- dian and Belgian, or Fer-bolg, whom
cottic war, they were all but exter- we have traced thither by another route,
minated by the subject races, combined  from nearly the same eastern home.
for a moment under Carbri Cat-Kenn. Neither can go farther, and one must
The Belgian, Crimthann Soiathb6l, at of necessity exterminate the other.
this time very probably divided the




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                     215
the ruler of Leinster, under Erimhon, at that time, arid he formed
an alliance with them.  The chieftains of their fleet were Gud
and his son Cathluan60 (Cclaooan).  And the motive that induced
Crirnthann to form  an alliance with them, was because certain
chiefs of the British nation, who were called the " Tuatha Fidga,"61
were then extending their sway over the Fotharts,62 on both sides
of the mouth of the river SlAngi.  These were a people of whom
each man carried poisoned weapons, so that whatever wound
they inflicted, whether large or small, no remedy could avail the
wounded man, or save him frorn death. Crimthann had heard
that there was a learned Druid amongst the Cruthneans, who was
named Trosdan, that could give him  and his people a remedy
against the poison which the Tuatha Fidga bore upon their weapons; and he asked Trosdan what remedy he should have recourse to against the poisoned weapons of those people we have
named.  "Get milked," said Trosdan, "one hundred and fifty
white and hornless cows, and let their milk be thrown into a pit
in the midst of the field where you have been wont to fight
these people, and then challenge them to meet you in battle upon
that same ground; and let every man of your people that shall receive a wound, bathe himself in the pit, and he shall be healed
from his poisoned wound." Crimthann then did as the Druid
had told him, and he challenged the Tuatha Fidga to meet him in
battle at Ard-lemnacta (Awrd-lewnagzlta), and there he routed
them with dreadful slaughter.  From  this fact it has come, that
that hill has been called the battle of "Ard-lemnacta," (i. e.
New-Milk-Height,) ever since, as the bard has recorded in the following lay:
60 Cathluan. Caledonia, the old La- ever, of much wider extent. There was
tin name of Scotland, is derived by the Fotllart Arbrech, in the north-east
some antiquaries from this chiefs name. of the Kings county; the Fothart
61 Tuat/a FiKdga, otherwise Tuatha Oirthir Lifti, in Wicklow; Fothart
Fiodhgha (Tooha Feeya). These words Osnaidech, or Fotharta Fea, in Carmight be translated " savage tribes," low, now the barony of Forth in that
i. e. " Tuatha " tribes, and " Fiodhga" county; and Fothart an Chairn, in
or "Fidga," wild or savage —an adjec- Wexford. They received their name,
tive formed from "Fiodh" or "Fidh " according  to Irish  tradition, from
(Feeh)-a wood. So the Latins formed Eocaidh Finn Fothart, the brother of
" Silvestris," (whence comes the Eng. Conn of the Hundred Battles. O'Nolan
lish word " savage," through the old.was chief of the Fotharts of Carlow,
French " salvage,") from " sylva," a O'Lorcan or Larkin of the Fotharts of
wood.                             Wexford, which position they main62 Fotharts.  From the description tained until the English invasion. The
given above, it is to be understood that other Fotharts were early extinguished.
the baronies - of Forth and Shelmalier The name is prematurely applied here, if
in Wexford, were the districts where it be derived from the brother of Conn,
the Tuatha Fidga were settling. The but that chief may just as likely have
ancient Fotharta (Foharta) were, how- received his surname from the district.




216                THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
"Ard-lemnact, in yon southern land,
Each learned sage must learn the cause,
Why that height received the name
Now borne by it, since Crimthann reigned.
"Crimthann Sciathb6l caused that name,
That he might save his warriors true,
And heal them from the baleful wounds
Of their most fierce and savage foes.
"Six Cruthneans, whom God had sent,
Had come to him from Thracia's land,
Sol6n, Ulpra, Nectan the famed,
Aengus, Lethan and Throsdan sage.
" To these God granted, by their lore,
To heal the tortured warriors' wounds,
And save them from the poisonous pangs
Of the rude giants' weapons fell.
"A cure the Cruthnean found for them,
That Druid wise, as well he might,
Thrice fifty hornless snow-white cows
Were milked together in one pit.
" And then they joined in desperate fight,
Close by the pit that held the milk;
And there, in battle brave went down,
Those monster pests of Banba's height."
But after this, the Picts, with Gud and his son Cathluan at
their head, proposed to themselves to make a conquest of Leinster. But, when Erimh6n heard thereof, he mustered a numerous
host, and came against them. Upon this, as they saw that they were
not strong enough to meet him in battle, the Cruthneans made a
peace' and a friendly league with him. Erimhon then told them,
that there lay another country to the north-east of Eri, and he
counseled them to go and dwell therein. The Cruthneans then
requested of Erimhon to give them  some marriageable women
fiom  amongst the widows of those warriors, who had been killed
in the expedition from  Spain.  Thus Bede informs us in the first
book of his History of the Saxon Church. And they gave the
Sun and MSoon as their sureties, that the kingly power in Cruthentuath63 (Cruhen-tooah), which is now called Alba, should be held by
the right of the female, rather than by that of the male progeny,
unto the end of life.  Upon this condition Erimhon gave them
three women, to wit, the wife of Bres, the wife of Buas, and the
wife of Buadni.  Cathluan, who was now their head chieftain,
took one of these for his own wife. They then set sail for Cruthen-tuath (i. e. Pict-land), and Cathluan conquered the sovereign
63 Cruthen-tuath, i. e. Pict-land.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                       217
power in that country, and he became the first king of Alba of
the Cruthnean race, as we read in that duan contained in the
Psalter of Cashel, which begins thus: "H Iearken, ye sages of all
Alba."  It makes the following mention of the present subject:
"The conquering Cruthnigh seized that land,
When driven thither from Erenn-magh;64
And ten and sixty far-famed kings
Of these did reign o'er Cruthen-clar.'6
"Of these, Cathluan was the first(I now but briefly name their story,)
The last king of that race, who reigned,
Was the hardy hero Constantin."
However, the druid Trosdan, and the five other Cruthnean
sages mentioned in the lay first quoted, remained in Ireland
after Cathluan, and they there received lands, in the plain of
Breagh (Bred), in Meath, from Erimhon.
In the fourteenth year after the death of Eber, Erimhon died,
at Argedros, on the bank of the Feoir or Nore; and it xwas there,
also, that he was buried.  In the same year, the river, which is
called the Ethniw (Ennie), burst forth over the land, in Ui Neill,)7
and the river called Fregobal68 (Freowl) burst over the land, between Dal Araide and Dal Riada.
MUIMNI, LUIGNI AND LAIGNI, ARD-RIGHA.
A. I{.69 2752.  The three sons of Erimhon succeeded their
father in the sovereignty of Ireland, and held it for three years.
Muimni, Luigni, and Laifgni, were their names; and they reigned
conjointly until the  death  of Muimni, upon  IMagh-Cruachan70
64 Erenn-Magh, i. e. the Irish Plain  falls into Lough iee, south-west of
or Field. The termination magus, so [Ballymahon, in West Meath.
frequent in old Gallic names, as in" Ro-   67 Ui Neill, i. e. the land of the Ui
tomagus," Rouen, as if Roth or Ruadh- Neill, or descendants of Niall of the
mhagh, seems formed from the Gaelic Nine Hostages, of whom the O'Neills
"margh," i.e. a plain. Erenn-magh might of Tyrone were but a sept.
be Latinized, Erinomagus. In forming   68 Fregobal, now the Ravel Water
compound and derivative words, the in the county of Antrim, which flows
Celts silenced or aspirated one of the out of the small lake called Aganameeting consonants, in order to avoid munican, in the parish of Dunaghy,
that harsh grating of discordant ele- flowing through Glenravel, until it
mentary sounds, that is so frequent in joins the Dungonell river. Dal-Araide
northern tongues. The Latins and Greeks extended from Newry to this river;
either threw in a vowel between them  Dal-Riada comprised the remainder of
for a like purpose, or dropped a final "s." Antrim. —O'D.
65 Cruthen-Clar, i. e. the Cruthnean   69 A. M. 3517.-Four Masters.
Plain. Clar means a board, table, or   70 Magh-Cruachanis,possibly,inthe
plain.                              county of Roscommon. Ard Ladrann is
66 Eithnz, now the River Inny, which supposed to be Ardamine, in Wexford.




218                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
(Mioy-Croohan), and until Luigni and Laigni were slain by the
sons of Eber, in the battle of Ard-Ladrann.
ER, ORBA, FERANN AND FERGNA, ARD-RIGHA.
A. M.71 2755. Er, Orba, Ferann and Fergna, the four sons of
Eber, held the sovereignty of Ireland for one single year,72 at the
end of which they were slain by Irial the Prophet,7/ in revenge
for the death of his two brothers.
IRIAL THE PROPHET, ARD-RIGH.
A. M. 2756.  Irial the Prophet, son of' Erimhon, then held
the sovereignty for ten years; for his three elder brothers had
left no offspring after them. Besides this, Irial, upon coming
to the throne, gained glory and supremacy by having slain the
four sons of Eber-Er, Orba, Ferann and Fergna, in vengeance
for his two brothers, whom those kings had slain. Sixteen
plains were cleared of wood in the reign of Iriall, namely: MaghRechet,in Leix;74 MIagh-n-Eli,75 in Leinster; Magh-Comair;76 MaghSeli, in Ui Neill; Magh-Sanais, in Connaught; Magh n-Inis, in
Ulster; Magh-Lungi and Maagh-Mide, in Kianacta; Magh Tect,
in Ui Mac Uais; Magh-Fernmaighe, in Oirghialla; Mlagh-Fothain, in  the  western  districts;  AMagh-Coba, in  Ibh-Echach;
Magh-Cuma, in Ui Neill; Magh-Culi-Feda; Magh-Riada; MaghDairbrech, in the Fotharts of Dairbrech. in Leinster.  Irial the
Prophet, son of Erimh6n, erected seven royal raths,"7 likewise, in
"1 A. M. 3519.-Four Masters.      also in Meath. Magh-Sanais, unknown.
72 One si'ngle year. The Four Mas- Magh-n-lnis, the barony of Lecale,
ters say that these princes reigned  county of  Down. Maghl-Lunogi and
but half a year, A. M. 3519.-Four  Magh-MAide, in Kianacta, that is, in
Mliasters.                         the north-west of Londonderry. The
73 Irial the Prophet, in Irish, Irial Four Masters call the former MaghFaidh (Fauih). " Faidh," is synony- Lughna. Mlagh-Tect, in Ui Mic Uais,
mous with" Vates."                  or Moygoosh, unknown.  Magh-Fern14 Magh-Reciet, in Leix. This plain  maighe, now the barony of Farney in
lay in the present barony of Portna- the county  of Monaghan.  1Maghhinch, adjoining the Great Heath, near Fothain, in Orior, co. Armagh. MaghMaryborough. It is now called the  Coba, in Iveagh, co. Down. AlaghManor of Morett.-O'D.               Cuma, unknown.  _Mgah-Culi Feda,
75 Magolh-n-Eli, in Leinster, now Moy- probably in the district round Lough
elly, a townland in the parish of Kil- Fea, in Farney.  Magh-Riuada, was
managhan, barony of Kilcoursy and situated in the Kings co. l1agLh-DarKings county.  It was famous as the  brech, i. e. the plain of the Oaks, lay
residence of Finn Mac Cumhail, in the near the Hill of Croghan, in the same
3d century.                         county.-O'D.
6 Ma.gh-Comair, probably the plain    7 Seven royal raths.  1. Bath Kimround Cummar near Clonard in Meath. baeith, was the name of one of the forts
Magh-Seli, i. e. the Plain of the Sele, at Eman Maeha.  There was another




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                       219
Ireland, during his reign, namely: Rath Kimbaeith, at Eman,
Rath Crocni, on Magh-Inis; Rath Bachall, in the Latharna; Rath
Conkeda, in  Semni; Rath Mothaigh, in Degh-Carbad; Rath
Buirech, in Slecta; Rath Locait, in Glascarn.  The year after, the
three rivers called the three Finns,7s burst over the land in Ulster.
The year following, Irial gained four battles.  The first of these
was the battle of Ard-Inmaith,79 in Tebtha (Teffa), in which Stirni,
son of Dubh, was slain; the second was the battle of Tenn-Magh,
which Irial fought against the Forharaigh, and in it fell the Fomorian king, whose name was Ectghi Eckenn;8O the third was
the battle of Loch-Maghh,8l in which fell Lugh-Roth, son of MoghFebis;82 the fourth battle was that of Cul-Marta,s83 where the four
sons of Eber were vanquished. It was in remembrance of these
acts, that the duan, which begins with the following verse, was
composed:
"Irial, youngest son of the king
Of the land of Fodla, queen of ringlets,
Reigned at Sliabh Mis, reigned at Macha,84
A victor in four hard-won fights."
In two years afterwards, Irial died at Magh-Muaide,s5 and was
buried at that same place.
ETHRIAL, ARD-RIGIH.
A. M. 2766.86  Ethrial, son of Irial the Prophet, son of Erimhon, held the sovereignty of Ireland for twenty years. In his
fort of the name near Island Magee, Horse-Chief, or the Horse-headed. Eoco. Armagh. 2. Rath Crocni, unknown. caidh,seems derived from "Ech," a horse,
3. Rath Bachall, otherwise Bacain, in  and if so, it corresponds closely with
Larne, co. Armagh. Rath Con-keda, the name Equitius.
perhaps in Island Magee, which was'8 Lochma(h, probably  Loughma,
formerly  called  Rinn  Semni.  5. near Thurles, co. Tipperary.-O'D.
Rath XMothaigh, now Ryemohy, barony   82 Mogh-Febis, otherwise, Mofemis,
of Raphoe, and county of Donegal. 6. a chief of the Fer-Bolgs. —O'D.
Rath Buirech, otherwise Rath Buirg,   83 Cul larta, notknown. The Four
unknown. (Slecta is called Slectmagh  Masters set down this battle as having
by the Four Masters.)  7. RathLocait, been fought in the first year of his
unknown.-O'D.                       reign.  Keating has set it last, through
7d Three Finns.  The Finn, flowing  carelessness.
through Raphoe, co. Donegal, was one   84 Reigned at Sliabh Mis reigned at
of these, the others were, perhaps, its Macha, i. e. ruled the whole of Ireland,
tributaries.                        from north to south.
79 Ard inmaith, otherwise Ard In-  8s3 MNagh Mluaide, perhaps the plain
maeith. The Four Masters call the chief of the River Moy, flowing between
slain in this battle " of Fomrhor," i. e. Mayo and Sligo, but the name was also
of the Fomorian nation. The name applied to a plain near Knoclkmoy, six
Ard Inmaith, as well as the followingr miles south-east of Tuam, which is
one Tenmagh, is obsolete.-O'D.      probably the place meant.-O'D.
80 Ectghi  Eckenn, otherwise Eoch-   86 A. D. 3530.-Four Masters.
aidh Eich-cheann, i. e. Eochaidh, the




220                 TIIE IIISTORY OF IRELAND.
time, seven plains87 were cleared of wood in Ireland, nanlely:
Tenn-Magh, in Connaught: Magh-Lighat and 2Magh-Belaigh, in
Ui Turtri; Magh-Gesilli, in Ui Falghi; Maagh-Octair, in Leinster;
Loch-Magh,  in  Connaught, and  Magh-Rath, in Ibh  Echach.
When this king had spent twenty years as sovereign ruler of
Ireland, he was slain by Conmael, son of Eber, in the battle of
Raeiri,88 in Leinster.
CONMA EL, ARD-RIGH.
A. AM. 2786.89  Conmael, son of Eber Finn, son of Miledh of
Spain, reigned thirty years.  He was the first king90 of the race
of Eber. This Conmael fought five-and-twenty battles"9 against
the progeny of Erimnhon.  Here follow  the names of nine of
these battles: the battle Ucha, the battle of Cnucha, the battle
of Eli, the battle of Sliabh-Betha, the battle of Gesill, where
Palap, son of Erimhon was slain, the battle of Sliabh Modurn,
where Semroth, son of Inboth, fell, the battle of Cleri, the battle
of Loch Lein, in which Beirri fell, and the battle of Aenach Macha,
87 Seven Plains.   1. Tenn-Magh, who aresaid to have immediately sucunknown. 2. MIagh-Lighat, otherwise  ceeded that conqueror on the Irish
Lugadh,unknown. 3. ]lMagh-Belaigh; throne. All the Eberian clans trace
Ui Turtri, was in Antrim, but the name their pedigrees to Conmael; all the
of this plain is now unknown. 4. Magh/- Erimonian to  Irial Faidh, i. e. the
Gesdlli, was situate in the barony of Prophet, through  Ethrikl, the  preGeshill, Kings county. 5. Aagh-Octair ceding monarch.
unknown.  6. Lochmagh, is said by the    9 Five and twenty battles. The names
Four Masters to be in Conalli. 7. of these battles have not been given
Magh-Rath  called  otherwise  Magh  in Halliday's edition. They are found,
Roth, a plain in the county of Down, however,in two MASS. in the translator's
whose position is determined by the vil- possession: viz.  1. Ucha, not known.
lage of Moira.-O'D.                  2. Cnucha, famed in after times for a
Es Raeiri.  This place is now called  battle fought there by Lugaidh Mac
Raeiri Mor, in Iregan, barony of Tin- Con, is probably, Castleknock, on the
nehinch, in the Queens County. —O'D. river Liffey.  3. Eli, in the south
19 A. M. 3550.-Four Masters.      of the Kings co. and north of Tip90 The first king.  Conmael, other- perary.   4. Slabh Betha, on  the
wise  Conmhael (convayI), is styled  borders of Monaghan, and Fermanagh.
the first king of the Eberians, by the  5. Gesill, already located.  In it fell
northern antiquarians of the Erimon- Palap son of Erimhon. 6. Sliabh Modian race, as they do not allow the title  urn, in  Cremorne, co. Down.  7.
of Ard-righa, to his brothers Er, Orba,  Cleri, perhaps Cape Clear, co. Cork,
Ferann, and Fergna, or Fergend. It or Clare Island, co. Mayo.  8. Loch
isprobable, indeed, that these names are Lein, now, Killarney Lakes. This bat.
apocryphal, as before remarked of their tle was fought against the Ernai and
four namesakes, the sons of Partholan. Martinei, Ferbolgic tribes. 9. Aenach
The same may be said of the three sons Macha, i. e. the Fair of Macha, other:
of Erimhon, Muimhni (lMooivnie), Lu- wise Eman Macha, near Armagh.
ighni, (Looinie), and Laighni, (Loinie),




TIlE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.                      221
where Conmael himself was slain by Eber, son of Tighernmas,
of the race of Erimhon.92 And he was buried on the southern
side of Aenach Macha, on the spot which is called Fert Conmaeil
(i. e. Conmael's grave), to this day.93
TIGHERNMAS, ARD-RIGIL
A. M. 2816.94  Tighernmas, son of Follomhan,5 son of Ethrial,
son of Irial the Prophet, son of Erimhon, held the sovereignty
of Ireland for fifty years.  This Tighernmas defeated the posterity of Eber in twenty-seven battles;" such as the battle of Eli,
92 The Four Masters ten us, that to contend for; it can even be traced
the name of another of his battle- in the writings of antiquarians of a
fields was Carnmor, in which fell 01- very recent date.
lach, who was probably Follach, father   is A. M. 3580.-Four Masters.
of Tighernmas, called Follamhan, by.s Follomhan, otherwise Follach.
Keating.                               96 Battles. 1. Eli, otherwise Elli and
93 Conmael was the youngest son of Elni, a district in Antrim, between the
Eber Finn, and had been but a child  rivers Bann and Bush. 2. MIagh Tect,
when his father was slain. IHe was, unknown. In this battle fell Rocorb,
solemnly inaugurated on the Lia Fail, son of Gollan. 3. Lochmagh, i. e. the
according  to  O'Halloran, who  also  plain of the Lake, situation uncertain.
quotes the following panegyric upon  In this fight fell Dagarni, son of Goll,
him, from the Psalter of Cashel: "He son of Gollan. (This and the last-named
it was that killed Ethrial, son of Irial chief were apparently either Fer-Bolgs
the Prophet, with his own hand, in re- or Fomorachs.)  4. Cul-Ard, lies in
venge for his father's blood. He it was Lecale, co. Down. 5. Cul-Fraecharn
that fought forty-five battles against unknown. 6. Ath-Gort, in Semni, lay
the children of Erimhon, that slew  somewhere near Island Magee. 7. Ard
Palap, the last survivor of Erimhon's  Niadh, i. e. the " Hill of the Hero,"
sons, and that won the name of Con- unknown. 8. Carn Feradaigh, probably
mael, or Prince of Chiefs, because he  Seefin, barony of Coshlea, in the south
was superior to all others of his own  of the co. Limerick; in the battle fell
time."  There was much rivalry in  Feradach, son of Rocorb, son of Gollan,
olden time, between the northern and  from whom the Cam is called. 9. Cluain
southern tribes, as to the glory of the  Cuas, i. e. the Field of the Caves, now
kings of their respective houses, who  Cloncoose, barony of Granard, co.
ruled Ireland.  Hence the discrepancy  Longford. 10. Congnaid,, in Tuath
of our authorities as the number of Ebha (Toohaiva), at the foot of Binthis king's battles. We may, however, bulbin, barony of Carbery, co. Sligo.
conclude that he was a real king of 11. Cluain MIuresg, or Mursgi, someIreland, from the fact that the anti- where in Brefni.  12. Cul-Fabair, or
quaries of the Ui Neill, whose interest it Fobair, lay on the east side of Loch
was to contest the right of the Eberians  Corrib, co. Galway. 13. Loch Lughto the Irish throne, and lessen their glory, dach (Lough Loodagh), i. e. Lugaidh's
have never questioned his reign.  In Lake, now  Corrane  Lough, in the
such matters, the unwilling testimony  barony of Iveragh, co. Kerry. 14.
of enemies is more reliable than the  C&I;, now Coole, in the parish of Rathpartial memoirs of friends. The rivalry  beagh, on the Nore, co. Kilkenny. 15.
between the northern and southern  Reabh unknown. The Four Masters
antiquarians continued long after their give the following battles as fought by
patrons had ceased to have a kingdom  this king, which are not named in ouw




222                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
the battle of Afagh-Tect, the battle of Locl-Magh, the battle of
Cul-ard, the battle of Cuil-Fraechain, the battle of Ath-gort, the
battle of Ard-Niadh, the battle of Carn-Feradaigh, the battle of
Cluan Cuas, the battle of Congnaide, the battle of Cluain Murisg,
the battle of Cul-Fabair, and seven battles at Loch Lughdach,
the two battles of Cull at Argedros, the battle of Reabh, where
the greater part of the descendants of Eber were slain by Tighernmas.  Nine lakes97 burst over the land in the time of Tighernmas,
namely: Loch Kie, and Magh-Sulcair was the name of the plain
over which this lake flowed; Loch-n-Allinni, in  Connaught;
Loch in-Iairn; Loch n-Uair; Loch  Saiglenn, and Loch-Gabair,
in Meath and Brehgh; Loch-Febail, in Tir-Eo6gfin (Teerone), and
in this lake was submerged  Febal, son of Lod13n,98 and  MaghFuinnside (3ioy Flineshee), wvas the name of the plain over which
it flowed; Dubh-loch, in Ard-Kianacta; and Loch-Dabail (Loch
_Dowil), in Oirghialla. And then, also, sprang the three black rivers9  of Ireland, namely, the Fubna, the Callan, and the Torann.
This same Tighernmas was the first that discovered gold ore
in Ireland; and Iucadanl~~ was the name of the artist that refined
the gold for him.  It was in the Fotharts,l east of the Liffey,
text, viz.: 1. Comar, not identified. 2. Loch Dabail, was the old name of a
Cnamh-Choill, i. e. the Wood of Bones, Lake near Armagh.-O'D.
in  Connaught, now   Cuil-Cnamha,   9s Febal, son of Lodan, was one of the
(Cool Knaw), in the east of Tirerah, Tuatha-De-Dananns, of whose expulco. Sli(ro.  There are two places of sion from Ailech Neid and the north
this name in Munster. 3. Cul Feda, of Ulster, we have not yet heard.  By
not identified.  4. Eli, not identified, Tir Eogain is here meant Inishowen, in
there are many places of the name. 5. the north of Londonderry.
Berre. Two other battles at Argedros.    9 The three black rivers. The Fubna
Three battles against the Fer-Bolgs  is probably the river now called Una,
and two against the Ernai.-O'Dono-  in Tyrone; the Callan is the River
van's Four Masters.                 Callan, in Armagh; the Torann is
it Nine Lakes.  1. Loch Kj, now  unknown, if it be not the River Touro
Lough Key, near Boyle, co. Roscom- near Youghal.
mon.  2. Loch n-Allinni, now Lough'~ IJucadan. O'Flaherty styles this artAllen, co. Leitrim.  3. Loch n-Iairn, ist Jucadan of Cualanu.  The Four
now Lough Iron, on the western boun- Masters also call him an artist of the
dary of the barony of Corkaree, co. men of Cualann.  According to Dr.
West Meath.  4. Loch  Uair, now  O'Donovan, in his notes to Leabhar na
Lough Owel, near Mullingar, co. West g-Ceart, Cnalann lay in the north of the
Meath.  5. Loch Saiglean, now Lough  present county of Wicklow, adjoining
Sheelin, on the borders of Cavan, Long- the county of Dublin, and was, in latter
ford, and AMeath. 6. Loch Gabair, is  times, coextensive with the modern
now dried up, but its site is still called  half barony of Rathdown.
Loch Gabhair (Lough Gowr), in Irish,' Fotharts. The " Fotharta Oirter
and in English  Lagore.   7. Loch  Lifi" (Foharta irhir Liffy) were also in
Febail, otherwise Loch Febhail, now  Wicklow. The district last described
Loch Foyle, on the north coast of Ire- seems to have formed part of them.
land. 8. Dubh-loch, i. e. " the Black  Gold is still found in Wicklow mounLake; " Ard Cianacta, is now called  tains.
the barony of Ferard, co. Louth. 9.




THE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.                        223
that it was smelted.  It was also in the time of Tigllernmas that
cloths were first died purple and blue and green, in Ireland.  It
was in his time, likewise, that ornaments, fringes and borders,
were first used by the Irish upon their dresses.2  In like jlanner,
it was he that first established it as a custom in Ireland, that there
should be but one color3 in the dress of a slave, two in that of a
peasant, three in that of a soldier or a young nobleman, four in
that of a brughaidh (brooee, i. e. a keeper of a house of public
hospitality), five in that of a district chieftain, and six in that of
a king or queen, and in that of an Ollamh.
Tighernmas,   and three-fourths of the men  of Eri with  him,
died at Magh-Slect,4 on the eve of Samhain (All-iHallows), while
worshipping  Crom  Cruaidh,5 the Arch  Idol of Ireland.  For it
was this Tighernmas that first began to'offer idolatrous worship
to (romn Cruaidh, in Ireland, about one hundred years after the
arrival of the Gaels, just as Zoroaster6 had done in Greece. It is
2 Dresses.   Maageoghegan, in his says, that this idol was the prince of all
translation of the Annals of Clonmac- the idols of Ireland, and that it had its
noise, says that Tighernmas was the first station, previous to the subversion of
who caused standing cups to be made, idolatry, in Moy Sleuct, where the Irish
that refined gold and silver, and pro- kings and nobility used to adore it with
cured his goldsmith to make gold and  the highest veneration,and with peculiar
silver pins, to fasten men's and women's rites and sacrifices. Jocelyn, in his life
garments about their necks, and also  of St. Patrick says, that it was an idol
that he was the first that invented the  embossed with gold and silver, and that
dyeinr of colored (i. e. particolored)  it had ranged on either side of it, twelve
cloths in Ireland.                    brazen statues of less distinction. He
3 Colors.  The Four Masters and  further tells us, that when St. Patrick
O'Flaherty ascribe the establishment of saw this idol from a distance, standing
this latter custom to the next succeed- near the river Gathard, and threatened
ing monarch, Eocaidh Edgothach, or to strike it down with his staff, that it
Eadgadach. O'Halloran says that the  fell towards the West, its face having
latter king merely put in force the law  been turned to Temoria or Tara (i. e.
enacted by his predecessor.           south-east), and that the impression of
4 Mamh  Sleet, otherwise  " Magh  the staff was found on its left side,
Sleacht" (Moy Shllaght) i. e. the Plain  though it had never left the hand of the
of Prostration.  This plain lay in the  man of God. The twelve smaller idols
barony of Tullyhaw, and county of were then buried up to their necks in
Cavan.  Cromi Cruach, the chief idol the earth. In commemoration of this
of the Pagan Irish, stood near a river destruction of idolatry, it is thought
called Gathard, in this plain, and St. that the last Sunday in summer is called
Patrick erected a church near it, called  Domhnach Crom-duibh (Douwnagli CromD)omhnaclh-mor (Downaghmore). Ac- duivty), i. e. the Sunday of the Black
cordingr to the Dinn Senchas, this was  Crom.-See O'Flaherty's Ogygcia.
the principal idol of all the colonies    6 Zoroaster.  Of the age of this phithat settled in Ireland, and they were losopher little is known. He is supwont to offer it the firstlings of animals posed to have been the first teacher of
and other offerings. —See O'Donovan's the doctrines of the Eastern Magi, and
Four Masters.                        is by some said to have been a kingr of
6 Crom  Cruaidh, otherwise Crom  Bactria, where he was renowned as a
Croach and Crom Cruach. O'Flaherty  lawgiver and reformer.  He admitted




224                  THE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.
also from the prostrations? (or sacrifices) which the men of Ireland
were wont to offer thereon to this idol, that the above-mentioned
plain of Magh-Slect, which is in Brefni, has its name.
Some antiquarians tell us, that Ireland remained without a
king8 for ten years after the death of Tighernmas, and that it
was Eocaidh Faebar-glas, son of Conmael, that assumed the sovereignty next after him. But they are not true in this; for the
" Reim  Righraide " or Royal Catalogue, says that Eocaidh Edgothach, of the race of Lugaidh, son of Ith, was the king who succeeded him on the throne.
EOCAIDII9 EDGOTHACH, ARD-RIGH.
A. Mh. 2866.10  Eocaidh Edgothach,ll son ofDari, son of Congal,
son  of Edamhan, son  of Mal, son  of Lugaidh, son of Ith, son
of Breogan, held the sovereignty for four years, until he fell by
the hand of Kermna, son of Ebric.
no visible object of adoration but Fire,'~ A. M. 3664.-Four Masters.
and his system was far removed from.   " Edgothaeh (Aidg6haghl).  He was
the gross idolatry of Greece and Rome. called by this name, say some of our
Numbers of his followers are still found  annals; because he introduced into Irein Persia and India.' Dr. Keating is land the "Il-brecta" (PI-bragita), or law
wrong in bringing him to Greece, and  for distinguishing rank by the various
in coupling his name with idolatry. It colors of persons' garments; while othshows in how vague a sense the word  ers, who attribute that law to Tighern"Greig" (Graig'ue) was understood by  mas, say that he but enforced its pracIrish writers. Fire seems also to have  tice. The word is derived from "Edach"
been the grand object of worship in  (Aidagh), clothes, and "guth" or "goth"
Ireland, as far as can be judged from  (goh), a shade or distinction.  On this
the scanty evidences that remain on that law Mr. Moore has made the following
subject.                              remarks:  "In the reign of Achy
7 Prostrations. The word "Slecht?' is (Eocaidh), a singular law was enacted,
translated " genuflection" by Dr. O'Don- regulating the exact number of colors
ovan.  Some have translated it "slaugh- by which the garments of the different
ter;" but the word, which is still in  ranks of society were to be distinguished.
frequent use, can scarcely bear so strong  These regulations are curious; not only
a construction in Gaelic.             as showing the high station allotted to
W itihout a king. The Four Mas- learning and talent, but as presenting
ters give Tighernmas a reign of seventy- a coincidence rather remarkable with
seven years, and say that after his death  that custom of Patriarchal times, which
there was an interregnum  of seven  made a garment of many colors the apyears, and that Eochaidh Edgothach  propriate dress of kings' daughters and
then succeeded as monarch.            princes. For a long period, indeed,
EocnAIDII. Eochaidh (Oghie),gen. most of the Eastern nations retained
Echach (Aghagh) and some others are  both the practice of dividing the people
~names of such frequent recurrence in  into different casts and professions, and
the list of our monarchs, that it is also, as appears from the regulations of
deemed useful to designate them  by  Giamschid, king of Persia, this custom
numbers in these notes. It means horse- of distinguishing the different classes by
man  or knight; being derived from  appropriate dresses. From the parti"ech " (agh) a steed, plural "Eocha"  colored garments worn by the ancient
(ogha).                               Scots or Irish, is derived the national




THE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.                        225
KER7MNA AND SOBARKI, ARD-RIGHA.
A. M. 2870.12  Kermna and Sobarki, the two sons of Ebric, son
of Eber, son of Ir, son of Miledh, ruled the kingdom of Ireland for
forty years, and these were the first kings of the Ulidians.13 They
made a partition'4 of Ireland between them; and the boundary
line between their shares, ran from  Inber Colpa, near Drogheda,
to Luimnech  Mumhan (Lirnnagh Moon), now Limerick.  North
of this line lay the dominions of Sobarki, and on them  he built
the dun or fortress called Dun Sobarki.  The southern part belonged to Kermna, and on it he built Dun Kermna, which is now
called Dun AMic Phadraig, in  Courcies' country.  Sobarki was
slain by Eocaidh Menn, the son of a Fomorian king, and Kermna15
fell by the sword of Eocaidh Faebar-glas, in the battle of Dun
Kermna.
EOCAIDH FAEBAR-GLAS, ARD-RIGH.
A. M. 2910.16  Eocaidh  Fiebar-glas, son of Conmael, son of
Eber Finn, son of Ailedh of Spain, held the sovereignty of Ireland for twenty years.  Hie was called Eocaidh17 " Faebar-glas"
or Eocaidh  of the  "blue-green  edge," because blue-green  and
sharp-edged were his two javelins.  He vanquished the race of
Erimhon in the following battles,18 namely: the battle of Luafashion of the Plaid, still prevailing    " Ulidians, i. e. the posterity of Ire
among their descendants in Scotland."  son of Miledh, who were the first Gaelic
HIe adds in a note, that "a similar fancy  possessors of Uladh (Ulla) or Ulster.
for parti-colored dresses prevailed in   14 Partition. This partitionhasbeen
Gaul," for which he quotes Diodorus before treated of.
Siculus, who describes the Gauls as'` Kermna. IHe is called " Cermna
wearing garments "flowered with all va- (Karmnla) Finn," i. e. "the Fair," by
rietiesofcolor-yxpw/tat 7rav-rodcavrot~ the F]ur Masters. ";Sobarki," othertrj'vtcaleljziEvov-."  That part of the wise " Sobhairce," is pronounced Sowdress which they called braccme, or arkie and. Sovarkie.
breeches,were so called firom having( been' A. M. 3708.-Four Masters.
plaided; the word "brac" (brec) sini-  17 EoCAID  II. Styled Faebhar-ghlas
fying in Celtic,speckled or parti-colored. (Fair-loss or Faivor-loss). He is called'Ilacitus, also, in describing C(ecina, as Faebhar-dherg (Faivor-yarg), or, of the
dressed in the Gaulish fashion, repre- Red Blade, by the Psalter of Cashel.
sents him with trousers and a plaid   18 Battles. 1. Luacair Degaidh, othmantle-versicolore sago, braccas, te -men  erwise " Luachair Deaghaidh" (Looghir
barbarum indutus. And again he says: Dee or Die), now Slieve Longhra, near
" Thus Jacob made Joseph a coat of  Castleisland, co. Kerry. 2. Fosadh Da
many colors (Gen. xxxvii. 3), and Ta- Ghort (Fossa daew glort), i. e. the Dwellmar (2 Sam. xiii. 18), had a garment ing of the Two (tilled) Fields, unknown.
of many colors, for with such robes 3. Cumar ttri n-uiski (Cummar dree
were the kings' daughters, that were nishki), the AMeeting of the Three Wevirgins, apparelled.                 ters, near Waterford. 4. Tuzeim Dre12 A. MI. 3668.-Four Masters.      gain (Tooinm Dragguin) oi Tuaim Dro.
15




226                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
cair Degaidh, in Munster; the battle of Fosaigh-Da-Gort; the
battle Cumar-tri-n-uiski or the Meeting of the Three Waters; the
battle of Tuaim-Dregain, in Brefni; the battle of Dronm Liathain.
The following plains'9 were cleared of wood by him while he ruled
Ireland, namely: Magh-Smethrach, in Ui Falghi; Magh-Laigni
and Magh-Luirg, in Colnnaught; Magh-Lemna; Magh-Ninair;
Magh-Fubna and Magh-Da-Gabail, in Oirghialla.  This Eocaidh
fell at last by Fiacaidh Labranni, in the battle of Carman.20
FIACAIDH LABRANNI, ARD-RIGH.
A. D. 2930.21  Fiacaidh Labranni,   son of Smirgoll, son of
Enboth, son of Tighernmas, son of Follomhan, son of Irial the
Prophet, son of Erimhon, held the kiugdom of Ireland for
twenty-four years, or for thirty-six,23 as other historians relate.
It was in his reign that the following three rivers24 sprung forth,
namely: the Flesg, the Maing, and the Labrann.  From the latter of these Fiacaidh received his surname, "Labranni," i. e. of
the Labrann.  In his time, also, Loch Erni25 burst over the land,
and the plain which it overwhelmed was called Magh-Ghenainn.
con, now Tomregan, near Ballyconnell, Labhrainni" (Feegha Lavrinnie or Lowon the borders of Cavan and Ferma- rinnie).
nagh. 5. Drom Liathain (Drum  Lee-   23 The Four Masters agree with Dr.
hawin), is probably DromLethan (Drum  Keating in stating that this monarch
Lahan), now Drumlane, co. Cavan.-  reigned but twenty-four years.
O'D.                                  24 Three Rivers. 1. The Flesg, now:9 Plains. 1. Magh-Smethrach (Moy  the Flesk, a river flowing  through
Smarragh), in Offally is unknown. 2. Magunihy, in the south-east of Kerry.
Mag-Laigni (Moy-Lineh); the Four 2. The Maing, now the Maine, flowing
Masters have Magh n-Aidhni (Moy- through Troughanacmy, in the same
Nineh), a district in Galway. 3. Mag!l- county.  3 The Labrann, otherwise
Luirg (Moy-Lurrig), now the plains of Labhrann (Lavrann or Lowran). HalBoyle, co. Roscommon. 4. Magh-Lem- liday translates this, the Larne, but
na (lMoy-Lewna or Levna), a district Dr. O'Donovan thinks that this river
lying eastwards of Clogher, in Tyrone, lay in the same region with the other
along the river Blackwater; it was two, and was that now  called the
otherwise called Closach.  5. Magh- Cashen River, in Kerry.   See Four
Ninair, called also Magh n-Inir, un- Masters.
known. 1. Magh-Fubna, probaly the   29 Loch Frni, now Lough Erne, co.
plain of the river Oona, in Tyrone. Fermanagh. The Annals of the Four
6. Magh da Gabail (Mioy daw Gowal), Masters say that Fiacaidh fought a
in Oirghialla.-O'D.                 battle against the Ernai, (a sept) of
20 Carman, now Wexford.  Hence the Ferbolgs (on the plain) where
comes Loch g-Carman (Lough Garman), Loch Erne (now) is. After the bati. e. the Lake of Carman, or rather Car- tle was gained from  them, the Lake
ma, now Wexford Bay, which Moore, flowed over them, so thlat it was from
in his History of Ireland, would have them the lake is named, i. e. " a lake
to mean the " German lake."         over the Ernai" " (Loch tar Ernai)."
al A. M. 3728.-Four Masters.      -O'D.
22 FIACAIDH I.,otherwise "Fiachaidh




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                       227
It was the son of this monarch, who was called Aengus 011buadach,26 that routed the Cruthnigh (Picts) and the ancient Britons, who dwelt in Alba, in many battles. It was he, likewise,
that first brought Alba under the dominion of the Gaels, although
the latter had claimed a right of tribute from that country, ever
since the days of Erimhon, son of Miledh.  It was about one
hundred and fifty years after the conquest of Ireland by the
children of Miledh, that Alba was brought under the Gaelic
sway and compelled to pay rent to the Irish monarchs, by Aengus Oll-buadach. This Fiacaidh fought four battles27 against the
posterity of Eber, namely, the battle of Fargi, the battle of Gallaidh, the battle of Sliabh Femhenn, and the battle of Bel-Gadan;
in which last he was himself slain by Eocaidh Mumho.
EOCAIDH  MIUMHO, ARD-RIGH.
A. M. 2954.28  Eocaidh Mumho,29 son of Mogh Febis, son of
Eocaidh Faebar-Glas, son of Conmael, son of Eber Finn, son of
Miledh of Spain, reigned over Ireland for twenty-one years, until
he was slain by Aengus Oll-mucaidh, in the battle of Cliach.0~
AENGUS OLL-MUCAIDH, ARD-RIGH.
A. hM. 2975.31 Aengus Oll-mucaidh,32 son of Fiacaidh Labranni,
26 Aengus Oll-buadach.  Oll-bhuad- fionn,"  i. e. the Mountain  of Fair
hach (Ull-vooagh), means all victorious, Women, is a corruption of " Sliabh na
being derived  from  " 011," all and  m-ban Femenn," i. e. the mountain of
"buadh," victory.   The surname is the women Femhenn.  According to
also spelled, " Ol-mhuchach"  (Ul- local tradition, the women  of this
vooghagh), which would mean, all ex- mountain were enchanted beauties, cotinguishing, being a compound of "ol1"  temporary with Finn Xac Cumhail in
with Much (Moogh), which signifies the 3d century. 4. Bel Gadan, now Bulto extinguish. Oll-mhucaidh (Ull Vuc- gadan, in the parish of Kilbreedy Major,
kee), translated " of the Great Swine," near Kilmallock, co. Limerick.-O'D.
another form  of the surnam6, but   28 A. M. 3752.-Four Masters.
which should rather meaneither swinish,   29 EOcAIDH III., otherwise Eochaidh
abounding in swine, or all swinish, is a  Mumha (Oghee MKioo or Nuvo).  This
title very unlikely to be given to a con- is the prince from whom some legends
quering hero, although, as O'Flaherty  derive the Irish name of Munster. It is,
instances, the distinguished  Roman however, more probable that he derived
family of the Porcii, may have taken  his surname from that principality, as
its surname from " porcus," a Switne.  before suggested. If the word "Mumho"
27 Battles. 1. Fargi, unknown. In  were at any time Gaelic, some reason
this battle, fell Mofebis or Mogh Febis, would have been given for its having
son of EocaidhFaebar-glas. 2. Gallaidh, been applied to this King. The most
called also  Gathlach, now probably  probable meaning to assign to his name
Gayly, in the barony of Iraghticonor, and title is "the knight" or" horseman
co. Kerry.  3. Sliabh Femhenn, oth- of Mumho," i. e. of Munster.
erwise Sliabh Feimhen (Sleeve Faivinn    30 Cliach. The districtround Knockor Fewinn),is now called Slieve-na-man, any, co. Limerick, went by this name.
co. Tipperary. The present local name    31 A. M. 3773.-Four Masters.
of this mountain, " Sliabh na n-ban   32 AENGUS I., called " Aengus O0i




228                 THIE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.
of the line of Erimhon, held the sovereignty for eighteen yaris,,
or, according to some authorities, for twenty-one.  He was called
Oil-mucaidh, from  " oll" great, and "muca "33 swine; because he
possessed the largest swine in Ireland in his day.  By him  were
fought the  following  battles,34 namely: the battle of Cleri, the
battle of Sliabh Calgi, where Baskenn fell; the battle of MaghEn-SgTiath, in Connaught; the battle of Glas Fraechain, where
Fraechan the Prophet fell; and he gained fifty battles over the
Cruthnighl and the Fer-Bolgs and the inhabitants of the Orcades.
Three lakes35 burst forth in his reign, namely: Loch Aein-bethi,
in Oirghialla; Loch Salkedain and Loch Gasan, in Magh Luirg.
The following plains36 were reclaimed from  wood in his reign,
mucadha" (Aineesse Ollvulckee), in the  nan, in the Desies of Waterford, against
Four Masters.                        the Ernai; and the battle of Ard83 Maeca. This derivation must have  Achad, (perhaps Ardagh, co. Longford,)
originated with some facetious Munster in which fell Smirgoll, son of Smethra,
Shanachie, who not being able to deny  king of the Fomorians.-O'D.
the power and victories of Aengus,    5 Lakes. 1. Loch Aein-bethi, (Ainr
gave this somewhat ridiculous version  behi,) probably Bellahoe Lough, on
to his title of" all subduing," in order the confines of Meath and Monaghan.
to please his patrons of the line of 2. Loch Salkedan, or Loch Sailech, i. e.
Eber, the enemies and rivals of the  " the Lake of Willows," not identified.
posterity of Aengus.   Dr. Keating  3. Loch Gasan, in the barony of Boyle,
has too readily adopted many such  not identified. We shall soon cease to.
coarse jokes as real derivations. "Dr. hear of these burstings or springing
Keating, indeed," says the learned O'- forth of lales  and rivers, whatever
Flaherty, "was  a man of profound  meaning our Pagan bards and Druids
reading in the antiquities of his country, attached thereto.  It has been before
but he acted like that man amongst said, that the discovery of those lakes
the seasoners of the salad, who threw  might be what is thus recorded; so
all sorts of herbs into it promiscuously  might, in like manner, either the conwithout choice or selection."        quests of the districts in which they lay,
34 Battles.  Cleri, perhaps  Cape or their exposure to view by the clearing
Clear; that of Sliabh Calgi (Sleeve of the plains in their vicinity.  If there
Caiguy), in Corcabaskin, was fought be any foundation for these traditions,
against the Martini, a Belgian tribe, it must be some of these. The Four
It is thought that the mountain of Masters record an eruption of the Sea,
Callain, in Ibrickan, co. Clare, is the  in this reign, between Eba (Magherow),
place here named, asIbrickan formerly  and Ros Ketti (the Rosses), on the
was included in Corcobaskin  (which  coast of Sligo.
probably had its name from the Bascend   "3 Plains. 1. Magh Glenna Dercon,
or Baskenn here named).   Magh En- i. e. the Plain of the Valley of Acorns,
Sgiath (Moy Ainskeeh), i. e. "the unknown.   2. Marl Aensgiath, unplain of the One Shield,"  unknown. known. 3. Magh Culi Cael, a narrow
Glas, otherwise Ros Fraechan, in the  plain situated in the barony of Banagh,
barony of Murresk, in Mayo. Aengus in the west of Donegal.  " Bogani" in
also foulght the battle of Cuirki (not the text should be "1Boganech."  4.
identified) against the Martini; and the  Ael-magh, i. e. the plain of Lime; there
battle of CarnRekeda, (not identified;) are many districts  called Calraidhe
the battle of Cuil Ratha, in South  (Calree), where this plain might be
Munster; the battle of Sliabh g-Cua, situated. 5. Magh Mucromhi, lay in
now Slieve Gua, in the parish of Seski- Galway, immediately to the west of




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                      229
namely: Magh-Glenna Dercon, in Kinel Conaill; Maggh-AeinSgiath, in Leinster; Magh Culi Cael, in Bogani; Ael-MAagh, in
Calrfaide;  AMagh-Mucromhi, in Connaught; Magh-Luacra Degaidh and Maghi-Arcoill, in Ciaraide Luacra.
Aengus Oll-inucaidh was finally slain in the battle of Sliabh
Cua, by Enna, son of Nectan, a Munsterman.  However, some
historians tell us that Enna Argthech was the man that slew him,
in the battle of Carman;37 and this tradition is more likely to be
the true one, according to the duan that begins with the verse,
"Aengus Oll-mucaidh  was slain."   The  Reim  Righraide or
Royal Catalogue, likewise, bears out the latter tradition.
EN NA ARGTHECH, ARD-RIGH.
A. M. 2993.38  Enda39 Argthech, i. e. Enda the Despoiler or
Plunderer, sonl of Eocaidh Mumho, of the line of Eber, held the
sovereignty of Ireland for twenty-seven years.  Ile was the first
that made silver shields40 in Ireland.  IHe had them made at Argedros, and bestowed them upon the Irish chieftains. He fell
by the  sword of. Rothectach, son of AIaen, in the battle of
Raigni.4'?
ROTHECTACH, ARD-RIGH.
A. M. 3020.4a  Rothectach,43 son of Maen, son of Aengus 011mucaidh, of the line of Erimhon, reigned over Ireland for twentyfive years, and then was slain by Sedna, son of Artri, at RathCruachal.44
SEDNA, ARD-RIGH.
A. M. 30455  Sedna,46 son of Artri, son of Ebric, son of Eber,
son of Ir, son of Miiledh of Spain, held the monarchy of Ireland
Athenry. 6. Magh-Luchair egaidh theirnobility. See the Leabhar na g(Moy Looghra Des), lay near Castleisl- Ceart, edited by Dr. O'Donovan.
and, co. Kerry. 7. Magh-Arcoil lay   41 Raigni was a place in Osory,
in Kerry also, but its precise situation  called also Magh Raigni,.whence the
is unknown.                        king of that country was sometimes
87 Carman, now Wexford.  It is called " Righ Raighni,' (Ree Roynie.)
here the Four Masters say that he was -O'D..
slain, and by Enna Argthech. /       42 A. M. 3817.-Four Masters.
38 A. M. 3791. Four Masters.       43 ROTHECTACH I., otherwise Roi39 ENNA I. This name is otherwise theachtach (Rohaghtagh).
spelled " Enda."  His surname is pro-   44 Rath Cruachan, nowRatheroghan
nounced, Arrizgagh.                near Belanagare, in the county of Ros40 Silver Shields. This might mean common.
shields, ornamented or embossed with    4 A. M. 38-13.-Four Masters.
silver. For an account of the various   46 SEDNA I.
presents made by the Irish kings to




230                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
for five years, at the end of which he was slain by his own son,
at Cruachain, upon his return from his marine expedition.47
FIACAIDH FIN-SGOTHACI, ARD-RIGH.
A. M1. 3050.4?  Fiacaidh49 Fin-sgothach, son of Sedna, of the line
of Ir, ruled Ireland for twenty years., Ile was called "Finsgothach," or, of the wine flowers,50 because in his time there
were wine-producing flowers, i. e. " sgotha fina" (sc6ha feena) in
Ireland, which the people used to press into cups. Fiacaidh was
slain by Munemhon, son of Cas Clothach.
MUNEMHON, ARD-RIGH.
A. M. 3070.5'  Munemhon,52 son of Cas Clothach, son of Ferarda, son of Rothectach, son of Ros, son of Glas, son of Nuadath,
son of Eocaidh Faebar-glas, son of Conmael, son of Eber, held
the sovereignty of Ireland for five years.   MIunemhon was the
first, who ordained that collars of gold5  should be worn round
47 Marine Expedition.  Perhaps pi- known in Ireland," forgetting, apparatical expedition, were  the better rently, that this country must have
translation; the original is " dubh- been then " well known" to the Pheniloingeas." (doo-lingess,) i. e. black fleet. cians, and that,that nation of merchants
48 A. M. 3848.-Four M;sters.      would not have forgotten so tempt"9 FIACAIDH II., otherwise Fiachadh  ing a commodity as wine, in their trade
(Feegha).                           with the natives, even supposing the
50 Wine flowers.   Halliday trans- latter to have been  mere savages.
lates the words " Sgotha fiona' by Wine, tpo, is as old, if not older than
" a Mower of grapes," a construction  Noah, and it is not likely that any of
that it can scarcely bear.  There is a his posterity would have so soon fortradition, that a species of beer was gotten its name. To those that think,
formerly extracted from heath flowers, with the editor, that the race of Eber
in Ireland, but the probability is, that Scot had come to Eri, immediately
this reference is made to the invention  from a vine-bearing region, the occurof some drink which was pressed from  rence of the word " fion" or " fin " does
the naturalfruits of the country. Finns- not seem premature. The name, with
gothach, (Feenskohagh,) might be a  but slight variations, is found in the
corruption of Finn- sgothach, and have  Greek, Latin and Hebrew languages,
reference to his " Finnghail"(finneel), whence we may infer that its Phcenior parricide. To lop off. is one of the cian was also not remote from the
meanings of the word"  sgoth."-The Gaelic "fion." It is certain the word
Four Masters tell us, that every plain  was in use before the Gaels left the
in Ireland, abounded in flowers and  common cradle of all mankind.
shamrocks, in the time of Fiacaidh.' A. M. 3868.-Flour Msters.
These flowers, moreover, were found   52 MUNENIION, otherwise Muineamfull of wine, so that the wine was heon, (1iunevone.)   Cas  Clothach,
squeezed into bright vessels. Dr. O'- (Clohag'h,) i. e. Cas the Renowned. The
Donovan says that "'finusgothach," i. e. Four Masters say that Munemhon had
of white flowers, is the more likely  assisted Fiacaidlh I. in killing his father.
reading, and adds, as a reason, the re-   63 Collars of Gold.   Numbers of
mark that "wine was then probably un- such golden collars or " torques," (in




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                       231
their necks by the noblemen of Ireland.  He died of the plague,
at Magh-Aidni.4
ALLDERGOID, ARD-RIGH.
A. M. 3075.55  Alldergoid,5~ son of Munemhon, son of Cas
Clothach, of the line of Eber, held the sovereignty of Ireland
for seven years. It was in the time of Alldergoid that the
Irish noblemen first began to wear rings of gold upon their
hands.  This monarch was slain by Ollamkh Fodla, in the battle
of Ternhair.
OLLAM1H FODLA, ARD-RIGH.
A. M. 3082.57  Ollamh Fodla,58 son of Fiacaidh of the Wineflowers, son of Sedna, son of Artri, son of Ebric, son of Eber,
son  of Ir, son of Miledh, held the sovereignty  of Ireland for
thirty years,59 at the end of which he died within his own walls.
This prince got the name of " Ollamh Fodla" or " Sage of Ireland," because he proved himself to be an " Ollamh" in wisdom
and in intellect, by the laws and regulations which he instituted
in Ireland during his reign. It was he that first established the
Convention of Ternhair or Tara, as the bard thus tells us:
Irish tore), have been discovered in Ire- who, from the strong light of tradition
land. (See Walker on The Dress of the  thrown round him, stands out as a beAncient Iri.sl). They are of most elab- ing of historical substance and truth.
orate workmanship, and if manufac- It would serve to illustrate the nature
tnred at home, betoken a great ad- and extent of the evidence with which
vancement in the art of working metals. the world is sometimes satisfied, to col54 Mlnag-h-Aidni, in the south of the  lect together the various names which
county Galway.                      are received as authentic on the strength
05 A. Al. 3873. Four Masters.     of tradition alone; and few, perhaps,
56 ALJLDERGOID, or Faldergoid. The  could claim a more virtual title to this
Four N'lasters spell this name "Fail- privilege than the great legislator of
deargdoid,'which (if, as some say, it be the ancient Irish, Ollamh Fodhla."
derived from  " fail" a rinog, " dearg"    5 Thirty years. The Four Masters
or "derg," red, and "doid," a hand) give him a reign of forty years; so do
should be pronounced, Faulyargode.    some MS. copies of Keating. The
67 A. AI. 3883.-Four Mlasters.    number in the text is that given by
58 EOCAIDH IV. Ollamh Fodla, the  Halliday, in his verson of our author;
name by which this earliest legislator and the editor, finding him supported
of the Gaels is best known, was but an  by one MIS. and by Dermod O'Conhonorary title.  His real name was nor's translation, has adopted it from
Eocaidh.' Among  the  numerous him, as he wishes to follow that judikings," says Moore in his History of  cious translator upon all dubious points
Ireland, "that in this dim period of Irish  relative to Keating's text. However,
history pass like shadows before our O'Flaherty, O'Halloran, and most otheyes, the Royal Sange Ollamh Podhla er authorities, assign to Ollamh Fodla
(Ollave Fola), is almost the only one a reign of forty years.




232                THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
" Ollamh-Fodla, skilled in the fight,'Twas he that built the Ollamhs' Hall;
This mighty king of happy reign
First instituted Temhair's Feast."
The Convention of Tara60 (or the "Feis Temhrach,") was a
great general assembly, somewhat like a parliament, to which the
nobles and ollamhs of Ireland were wont to repair every third
year, about the time of the feast of Samhain,61 in order to renew
and establish laws and regulations, and to give their sanction to
the annals and historic records of Ireland. At it an especial seat
was assigned to each of the Irish nobility, according to his rank
and title. There was, also, assigned thereat, an especial seat to
each of the chieftains of the bands of warriors who were retained
in the service of the kings and lords of Ireland.
It was likewise a sacred and established usage, that the man
who committed a rape or robbery, or who struck or attempted to
strike another with any hostile weapon at the Convention of
Tara, should inevitably suffer death; and neither the king himself, nor any other person, had the power of pardoning his crime.
And, furthermore, it was the usage of the men, who were to form
this convention, to spend six days previous to its sitting, to wit,
three days before and three days after the Samhain, in feasting
together, and in making peace, and establishing mutual friendly
relations between them.  Eocaidh O'Floinn speaks of the usages
racticed at the Convention of Temhair, in the following historic
ay:
"Each third year Temhair's Feast was held;
There righteous laws and rules were made,
And usage old in force upheld
By Eri's proud and mighty kings.
"King Cathseir,'2 sire of many clans,
Once called high Temhair s noble Feast,
And thither came, well plea.ed thereat,
All Eri's chiefs, at his command.
"Three day's ere Samhain's sacred rites,
And three days after (usage good),
Spent there that proud and daring host
In banqueting and revel gay.
6' The Convention of Tara. The been both a feast and a convention,
term "Feis Temhrach" (Fesh Tavragh), from Dr. Keating's description of it.
is translated " Temorensia Comitia" by   61 Samhai, i. e. All-Hallows; pro.
Dr. Lynch and.by O'Flaherty; but it nounced Sowin or Savwin.
is called " Cena Teamra" in the An-   62 CATHAEIR. This kin(r's name is
nals of Tighernach, and translated, The prematurely introduced. He did not
Feast of Taragh by Mageoghegan (see live for some centuries after OJllamh
O'D.'s Four Masters.) It seems to have Fodla.




THE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.                       233
"Thence theft was driven and murder dire,
During those brief and happy days;
None weapon bared, none treason wrought,
No brawl was raised, nor insult flung.
"The man, who wrought one deed of these,
Was deemed an impious, outlawed wretch;
No gold his forfeit could redeemHlis life was doomed, his head accursed."
FINACTA, ARD-RIGH.
A. M. 2112.e" Finacta,04 son of Ollamh Fodla, son of Fiacaidh
of the Wine-flowers, of the line of Ir, son of Miledh, held the
sovereignty of Ireland for fifteen years.  He was called Finacta5
or "Fin- shnechta" (Feenaghta), i. e. " Snechta Fina" (snaghta
feena) or " snow of wine," from  a shower of wine snow66 that fell
during his reign. Ile died at Magh-Inis.
SLANOLL, ARD-RIGHI.
A. M. 3143.67  Slhinoll, son of Ollamh Fodls, of the line of Ir,
son of Miledh, ruled Ireland for fifteen years.68  IIe  was called
" Slanoll" from thd great health enjoyed by the men of Ireland
during his reign; for "slan" is the same as " healthy," and " oll"
means " great."  It was in the house of Midh-Cuarta (mee-coorta),
at Tembhair, that he met his death; and some say that nobody
knew what disease69 it was that took him off.
GEDIII OLL-GOTHACH, ARD-RIGIH.
A. AM. 3143.17  Gedhi Oll-gothach, son of Ollamh  Fodla, of
63A. M. 3923.-Four Masters.       Four Masters say that this snow black64 -1;LIT I. or FINNACTA I. We are ened the grass.
told by the Four Masters, that Elim    6' A. MI. 3923.-F-2our Masters.
was this Prince's real name. They   68 Ffteenyears. The Four Masters
give him a reign of twenty years, and  say 20, and those of Clanmaonoise 26.
add that he died of the plague in Magh-   0 What Disease. " He was found
Inis, now the barony of Lecale, co. dead, but his body did not change. He
Down. O'Halloran calls him Fionn. was afterwards buried; and after his
e5 FINACTA. Dr. O'Donovan consid. body had been forty years in the grave,
ers this derivation legendary, "because," it was taken up by his son, i. e. Oiiioll
says he,"Filnachta,'"or "Finnshnechta,' (Olild) Mac Slanuill; and the body
was very common as the rime of a had remained without rotting or deman among the ancient Irish, denoting composing during that time. This
niveus, or snow-white. The name is thing was a great wonder and surprise
still preserved in the surname O'Fin- to the men of Ireland."-Four Masters.
neacllta, in English, Finaghty."    His having died in the house of Midh66 Wfiae-sewW. Red snow is not un- Cuarta, seems to argue the tranquillity
frequent in northern latitudes at the and the firm establishment of the dipresent day. This fable may have nasty of Ollamh Fodla on the Irish
originated in the occurrence of some throne.
Euch phenomenon in Ireland.   The   10 A. M. 3960.-Four Masters.




234                 THE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.
the line of Ir, son of Miledh, held the sovereignty of Ireland for
seventeen years.l  Ite was called Gedhi Oll-gothach72 (Gayeh
Oll-gohagh) because the voice, i. e. " guth" (guh) of every man in
Ireland was great or loud, i. e. " oil," during his reign. He fell
by the hand of Fiacaidh, son of Finacta.73
FIACADI, ARD-RIGH.
A. M.  3160.74 Fiacaidh,75 son of Finacta, son of Ollamh Fodla,
of the line of Ir, son of Miledh, held the sovereignty of Ireland
for twenty-four years,"7 and then fell by Berngal, son of* Gdhi.
BERNGAL, ARD-RIGH.
A. M. 3184.77   Berngal, son of Gedhi Oll-gothach, son  of
Ollamh Fodla, of the line of Ir, son of Miledh, ruled Ireland for
twelve years, and then was slain by Olild,78 son of Slanoll.
OLILD, ARD-RIGIL
A. AM. 3196.79 Olild,80 son of Slanoll, son of Ollamh Fodla,
of the line of Ir, son of AMiledh, reigned  over Ireland  sixteen
years, and then was slain by Siorna Saegalach.
SIORNA SAEGALACIt, ARD-RIGCI.
A. M. 3212.81  Siorna, or Sirna the Long-lived,tm son of Dian,
7' Seventeen years.  The Four Mas- by this king, that the earth was first
ters allow him but twelve.           dug in Ireland, that water might be in
72 011-gothach. In the Dinnsenchas wells;" and that "it was difficult for
it is stated that Erimhbn, son of Mliledll, the stalk to sustain its corn during his
was also called Gedhi Oll-gothach, and  reign."  The latter observation is a
for a similar reason; but these ac- figurative mode of expressingthe goodcounts are clearly legendary, because ness of his rule and the prosperity of
the cognomen o1l-gothach was evidently  the country during its continuance.
applied to these monarchs from the        Twgnty-four. The Four Masters
loudness of their own voices, and not say twenty.
from any peculiarity in those of their   77 A. M. 3992.-Four Masters.
subjects.-See O'D.'s Four Masters.     78 Slain by Olild. Olild was aided
73 Son of Finacta. We here see dis- in this civil war hy Siorna, son of Dian,
cord break out in the house of Ollamh  who was thus preparing his own way
Fodla, and pave the way to its down- to the throne.
fall. Fiacaidh was his nephew.         70 A. M. 3004.
74 A. M. 2972.-Four Masters.    So OLTLD I. In the person of this'o FIACAID IIII. He is surnamed  monarch, we see the supremacy wrested
Finn-ailcheas (Einnalkass) by the Four from the race of Ir.  He was tho-sevMasters, which state that it was by  enth king of that line, that had now
him that Dun-culi-Sibrinni. now called uninterruptedly ruled the kingdom of
Cenannas (Kenan us)' KIOells, in East- Ireland, for more than a century.
Meath was built, and that wherever his   81 A. M. 4020.-Four 1Msters.
habitation was placed, Kenannus was   82SIORNA THE LONG-LIVED. Siorna'ts name. They also state " that it was Saeghalach (Shieerna Sayalagh) is called




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                        235
son of Rothectach, son of Maen, son of Aengus Oll-mucaidh,
of the line of Erimhon, assumed the sovereignty  of Ireland,
which he held for twenty-one years.83  He was surnamed " Saegson of Dian, son of Deman, in the Four of transcribers. O'Flaherty refers to
Masters, whence, it is to be inferred  the Book of Lecan to show that he
that Deman may either have been an- lived 150 years."  That record, in part,
other name for Rothectach, or that almost agrees with the ancient poem
Keating has erred in stating this king's cited by Keating, inasmuch as it makes
pedigree.                           him reign but twenty years.-SeeO'Don83 Twenty-one years.  The Annals ovan's Four Master:. That he neither
above named say that his reign lasted  lived nor reigned any very extriaordifor the incredible period of a century and nary number of years, can be proved
a half. Dr.O'Donovan makes the follow- by comparing his pedigree with those
ing remark in his notes on these Annals, of his predecessor and successor. It
upon that extravagant statement: "The will be seen thereby that it exceeds the
great length of this monarch's reign is former by four generations, while it coevidently legendary, or rather a blunder incides exactly with the latter.
1. MILEDEI OF SPAIN.
2 Yber. K.             2 Jr.                   2 Erimhon. K.
3 Conmael. K.          3 Eber.                 3 Irial. K.
4 Eocaidh II. K.       4 Ebric.                4 Ethrial. K.
5 Nuadath.             5 Artri.                5 Follomhan. K.
6 Glas.                6 Sedna I. K.           6 Tighernmas. K.
7 Rosa.                7 Fiacaidh II..     7 Enboth.
8 Ferarda.             8 Ollamh Fodla. K.      8 Smirgoll.
9 Munemhon. K.         9 Slanoll. K.           9 Fiacaidh I. K.
10 Alldergoid. K.      10 Olild. K.            10 Aengus I. fK.
11 Cas.                                        11 Maen.
12 Falbi.                                      12 Rothectach I. K.
13 Roan.                                       13 Dian.
14 Rothectach II. K.                           14 Siorna. K.
The attributing of such an incredible when he had already become remarkage to the presents monarch, may have able for his unusual longevity. It is
resulted from making him the grandson nevertheless clear, that Siorna's accesof Rothectach I., son of Maen, who was sion to the throne and the restoration
slain by Sedna I., the grandfather of of the line of Erimhbn in his person,
Ollamh Fodla, nearly 200 years before. marked an important epoch in Irish
The Four Masters show us that he was primeval history, and that he was a
grandson of Deman through Dian,with- great and powerful monarch.   The
out telling whether Deman was son, Four Masters speak of him in the folgrandson, or great-grandson of Ro- lowing terms:  "It was this Sirna
thectach I. But it is useless to en- that wrested the government of Temdeavor to reconcile such discrepancies hair from the Ulta (Ulstermen), i. e.
in the records of so remote an age; for the race of Ir. It was he that revenged
we are still in the dark ages of Irish  upon them  the death of Rothectach,
mythology. We do not even know the  son of M aen, whom they had slain at
man's real name; for, the one recorded  Cruachain; so that Berngal and Olild
means nearly the same thing with his  (his predecessors) fell by him. It was
cognomen (being derived from " Sir" he that gained over the Ulstermen the
(Sheer), long or eternal), and conse- battle of Arkeltair (one of the names
quently it must have been given to him  of the large rath at Downpatrick);




236                 THIE HIISTORY OF IRELAND.
alach" or the " Long-lived," from  the longevity of the men of
his day.  He fell at Allinn,84 by the hand of Rothectach, son of
Roan, as the bard tells us in the duan which begins with the verse,
"Eri, proud isle of kings," viz:
"Siorna held the reigns of power
For full thrice seven years,
Then fell amidst his slaughtered host
At Allind84 by Rothectach."
ROTHECTACH, ARD-RIGH.
A. M. 3233.85  Rothectach,85 son of Roan, son  of Falbi, son
of Cas Kdd-cangnech, son of Aldergoid, son of Munemhon, son
of Cas Clothach, son of Ferarda, son of Rothectach, son of Ros,
son of Glas, son of Nuadath Degh-lamh, son of Eocaidh Faebarglas, son of Conmael, son of Eber, son of Miledh of Spain, held
the sovereignty of Ireland for seven years, at the end of which
le was burned up by lightning at Dun Sobarki.
ELIM3, ARD-RIGH.
A. M. 3240.87  Elim,88 son of the last king, Rothectach, and of
the line of Eber, held the sovereignty of Ireland but for one
year, for he was slain by Giallcaidh, son of Olild Ol-caein.
the two battles of Sliabh Arbrech (un- and a countless number of the men of
known); the- battle of Kenn-duin, in  Ireland with them."
Assal (near Crogm, co. Limerick); the    Al/IC or A11inn, was the old
battle of Moin Fochnigh, in Ui Falghi nanme of a large rath on the hill now
(Offaly), over the Martini and Ernai; called Knockauilin, near Kilcullen, co.
the battle of Luachair (in Kerry); the Kildare.
battle of Clari (in the co. Limerick);    6 A. A. 4170.-Four Mitsters.
the battle of Samhain (now Knock-   s ROTHECTACH II. It was by this
sowna, not far from Brurce, co. Limer- Rothectach that chariots drawn  by
ick); the battle of Chock Ochair (un- four horses were first used in Ireland. —known). An attack was made by him  Id. Hie was a very good king. —,nupon the Fomorians, in the territory of nals of Clonmacnoise.
Meath. It was by him  was fought   87 A. M. 4177.-Four Masters.
the battle of Moin Trogaide (Mone   88 ELIM IT. He was surnamed 011Trowee), in Kianacta (co. Londonderry), finsnecta (Olfeenaghta), because, acwhen Lugair, son of Lugaidh, of the cording to some, " snow with the taste
race of Eber, had brought a force of  of wine fell during his reign;" others
the Fomorians into Ireland with their say that he was called so because it
kingr, Kesarn by name. Siorna drew  snowed continually that year. Both
the men of Ireland to make battle  are mere guesses of later writers to
against them at Moin Trogaide. As account for the cognomen which means
they were fighting the battle, a plague  "' of the great white snow."-See O'D.
was sent upon them, of which Lugair R: M.
and Kesarn perished, with their people,




THE HIISTORY OF IRELAND.                     237
GIALLCAIDHI  ARD-RIGH.
A. M. 3241s9  Giallcaidh (Gueelghee) son of Olild Ol-caein, son
of Siorna the Long-lived, of the line of Erimhon, reigned over
Ireland for nine years, and then was slain at Magh-MlIuaide90 by
Art Imlech (.Ilcagh).
ART IMLECH, ARD-RIGH.
A. M. 3250.1  Art Imlech,92 son of Elim, son of Rothectach,
son of Roan, son of Falbi, son of Cas Ked-cangnech, son of
Alldergoid, of the line of Eber, assumed the sovereignty of Ireland, and held it for twenty-two years,93 at the end of which he
was slain by Nuadath Finn, of F11.
NUADATH FINN-FAIL, ARD-RIGIH.
A. M. 3272.94  Nuadath Finn-Fail,95 son of Giallcaidh, son of
Olild Ol-caein, son of Siorna Saegalach, of the line of Erimh6n,
ruled Ireland seventy years, or for twenty, according to others.
lie was slain by Bresrigh, son of Art Imlech.
BRESRIGH, ARD-RIGIH.
A. M. 3292."? Bresrigh,97 son of Art Imlech, son of Elim, son
of Rothectach, of the line of Eber, ruled Ireland for nine years.
During that time he vanquished the Fomorians in many battles.
At last he was himself defeated and slain, by Eocaidh Apthach,
at Cam  Conluain.
EOCAIDH'APTHACII, ARD-RIGH.
A. AI. 3301.9  Eocaidh Apthach,` son of Finn, son of Olild,
son of Flann Ruadh, son of Rothlan, son of Martin, son of Sithkind, son of Riaghlan, son of Eocaidll Brec, son of Lugaidh, son
of Ith, son of Breogan, was monarch of Ireland for one year.  He
89 A. M. 4186.-Four licasters.    93 Twenty-two years. Twelve years,
90 Mts-Muqide (WMoy-Mooee); eith- according to the Four Masters.
er the plain of the river Moy, in North   9" A. f. 4199. —'Four MAasters.
Connaught, or one near Knockmoy, co.   96 NUADATUI I.
Galway.                              9 A. M. 4239.-Four Masters.
9' A. Al. 4187.- Four Masters.     7 Bresrigh.   Bresrigh, (Brassree,)
92 ART I.  O'Halloran states that means King Bres. He is called simply
this was a very warlike prince, and Bres, (Brass,) by the Four Masters.
that he built seven large duns, which    9 A. M. 4248. —Four Masters.
he surrounded by ditches filled with    9 EocAIDH V. The annals of Clone
water.                             macnoise state that he was captain of
the late king's guards.




288                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
got the surname, "Apthach," from  the great number of people
that died in Ireland during his reign.  For, during that time a
plague came upon the people of Ireland every month, by which
multitudes of them  were carried  off.  Hence was he called
Eocaidh Apthach, for " apthach" (appagh) is the same as mortal
or dleadly. He was slain by Finn, son of Bratha.
FINN, ARD-RIGH.
A. M. 3302.100  Finn, son of Bratha, son of Labraidh, son of
Carbri, son of Ollamh Fodla,l of the line of Ir, ruled Ireland
twenty years,2 and then was slain by Sedna Innaraigh.
SEDNA INNARAIGH, ARD-RIGi.
A. M. 3322.3  Sedna4 Innaraigh, son of Bresrigh, son of Art
Imlech, of the line of Eber, held the sovereignty of Ireland for
twenty  years.  He was called  Sedna "Innaraigh," or Sedna
"of the wages;" because he was the first king that gave wages
to soldiers in Ireland.  Simeon Brec caused him to be torn limb
from limb.
SIMEON BREC, ARD-RIGIH.
A. M. 3342.5   Simeon Brec,6 son of Aedan Glas, son of Nuadath Finn-Fail, of the line of Erimhon, ruled the Irish nation for
six years, when he was vanquished by Duach Finn, who caused
him to be torn asunder, in order to revenge his father's death.
DUACH FINN, ARD-RIGI.
A. AI. 3348.7   Duach Finn,' son of Sedna Innaraigh, son of
Bresrigh, son of Art Imlech, of the line of Eber, held the sov"o A. MI. 4249.-Four Masters.    bear the latter meaning, Sedna might
Ollamh Fodla. The posterity of have got his cognomen "Innaraigh"
that great lawgiver had now given no  (Innarree), from  his having encourmonarch to Ireland for a century and aged commerce amongst his people.
a half. His accession and that of his The annals of Clonmacnoise say that
predecessor, of the line of Ith, show  "this Sedna was a worthy and a notlhat the rival races of Eber and Erim- ble king, and the first that rewarded
hon had considerably weakened their men with chattel in Ireland."  O'Halstrength in contending for sovereignty. loran states that "he wrote a code of
2 Twenty years. Some say thirty. laws for the military, which was a
The Four Masters say twenty-two.   standard for many succeeding ages."
3 A. M. 4290.-Four Masters.          A. M. 4291.-Four Masters.
4SEDNA II. The phrase " d'amh-     Simeon Brec, i. e. the spotted or
saibh" (d'owssiv)," which is translated, speckled Simeon.
to soldiers in the text, is by some under- 7 A. M. 4297. —Four Masters.
stood, in this case, to mean people in        DUACH I. The Four Masters say
general. If the word "amhas " can-that he reigned ten years.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                     239
ereignty of Ireland for five years, and then fell by Muredach
Bolgrach.
MUREDACH BOLGRACH, ARD-RIGH.
A. M. 3353.9 Muredach Bolgrach,l~ son of Simeon Brec. son
of Aedan Glas, of the line of Erimhon, ruled Ireland for four
years, and then was slain by Enna Derg.
ENNA DERG, ARD-RIGH.
A. M. 3357.11  Enna Derg,'2 son of Duach Finn, son of Sedna
Innaraigh, of the line of Eber, held possession of the sovereignty
of Ireland for twelve years.  He was called Enna Derg (that is,
Enna the Red), from the redness of his complexion, i. e. of his
face. It was in his reign that money was first struck in Ireland,
at Argedros.  He, and great numbers of people besides, died of
the plague at Sliabh Mis.
LUGAIDH ILARDONN, ARD-RIGH.
A. M. 3369.13  Lugaidh Irdonn,14 son of Enna Derg, son of
Duach Finn, of the line of Eber, reigned over Ireland for nine
years.  He was called Lugaidh Iardonn, or Lugaidh the Darkbrown, fiom  the dark-brown color of his hair; for "iar-cdhonn"
(eer-yonn) is the same as "dubh-dhonn" (duv-yonn), i. e. darkbrown.  He was slain by Siorlarnh, at Rath-Clochair.
SIORLAMH, ARD-RIGH.
A. M. 3378.15  Siorlamh, son of Finn, son of Bratha, son of
Labraidh, son of Carbri, son of Ollamh Fodla, of the line of Ir,
son of Miledh of Spain, assumed the sovereignty of Ireland, and
held it for sixteen years.  He was called Siorlamh,16 (sheerlam)
from his extremely long hands, for they reached the ground when
he stood erect.  He was slain by Eocaidh Varkeas (oghee-oorkess).
9 A. M. 4307.-Four Masters.     of this name is Lughaidh  (Looee.)
10 MUREDACH I. This name is now'5 A. M. 4329.-Four Masters.
pronounced Murreeagh. TheFourMas-   6 Long-hands.  The title, Siorlamh,
ters say that Muredach reigned a year would be more applicable in a figuraand a month.                      tive than a material sense. In the lat"1 A. M. 4308. —Four Masters.   ter case, " lamh-fhada" (Lauvadda), or
12 ENNA II. This name is otherwise "Fad-lamhach, (fadlauvagh,) should
spelled Enda, and sometimes Edna, or have been the term used. The story
Eadhna.                           of this monarch's monstrous hands has
S  A. M. 4320.-Four Masters.    all the appearance of being built upon
"LUGaIDH I. The aspirated form  a forced etymology given to his name.




240               THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
EOCAIDH UARKEAS, ARD-RIGH.
A. M. 3394.17 Eocaidhl Uarkeas,'8 son of Lugaidh Iardonn, son
of Enn~i Derg, of the line of Eber, held the sovereignty of Ireland
for twelve years. He was surnamed " Uarkeas," from a sort of
rude wicker boats, (covered with hides,) that he was wont to carry
with him in his fleets; for "ceas" (Icass) is of the same meaning as
canoe, or rather wicker boat.  Now, this prince had spent two
years at sea, whilst an exile from  Ireland, and had been wont,
during that time, to put bands of his followers into these wicker
boats, for the purpose of plundering  the coast.s of whatever
countries he touched upon, and of bringing off the booty therein
to his fleet; and thus, from  these " ceasa" (ca~sa) the surname
Uarkeas was attached to him.  He was slain by Eocaidlh Fiadmuini and Conaing Beg-eglach.
EOCAIDH FIADMUINI AND CONAING BEG-EGLACI, ARD-RIGHA.
A. M. 3406.19  Eocaidh Fiadmuini20 and Conaing Beg-eglach,
the sons of Duach Temnrach, son of Muredach Bolgrach, son of
Simeon Brec, of the line of Erinlhnlon, held the joint sovereignty
of Ireland for five years. The former of these princes was
called Eocaidh Fiadmuini, (Feevonie) i. e., Eocaidh the Hunter,
because he was extremely' addicted to the pursuit and chase of
wild beasts and game, in the wildernesses and forests.  This
Eocaidh fell by Lugaidh, son of Eocaidh Uarkeas.
LUGAIDH LAMH-DERG, ARD-RIGH.
A. M. 3411.21 Lugaidh Lamh-derg2` (Looee Lauv-yarg), son of
Eocaidh Uarkeas, of the line of Eber, held the sovereignty of
Ireland for seven years.  He was called Lamh-derg, or Redhand, because there was a red stain or spot on one of his hands.
This Eocaidh was slain by Conaing Beg-eglach, or Conaing the
Fearless.
CONAING BEG-EGLACHI, ARD-RIGH.
A. M. 3418.23  Conaing Beg-eglach, son of Duach Temrach,
17 A. M. 4344.-Four Masters.   the Vanquisher, whence Dr. O'Donovan
18 EocAIDIVI. The explanation giv- conjectures that this was an alias name
en above for the surname " Uaircheas" for Duach Temrach, or Duach of Tara.
is very questionable.  The word is  21 A. M. 4362.-Four JfMasters.
not.at all formed like a regular comb   2 LUGAIDH II. It is more likely to
pound. It is a derivative form.  suppose that this prince was styled
19 A. M. 4356.-Four Masters.   Red-Hand, from his bloody deeds, than
20 EOCAIDn  VII. The Four Masters for the reason which Dr. Keating has
call this prince and his brother the given.
sons ot Ciongal Cosgarach, i. e. Congal  23 A. M. 4388.-Four Masters.
O~~~~~~~~ A..48.-'orMses




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                     241
the son of Muredach Bolgrach, of the line of Erimh6n, ruled the
kingdom of Ireland for ten years. HIe was styled, " Beg-eglach,"
or the Fearless, because the slightest shade of fear never seized
him in any fight.  He was also a man of great prowess in the
conflict, as the bard has sung in the following rann:
"Conaing, in conflicts of bright blades
W7ho never dreaded mortal man,
Reigned for ten years o'er North and South,4
And then he fell by Art Mac Lugaidh."
ART, ARD-RIGH.
A. M. 3438.25 Art,26 son of Lugaidh Lamh-derg, of the line of
Eber, held the kingdom  of Ireland for six years, and then he
was slain by Duach Laghrach, son of Fiacaidh Tolgrach, and by
Fiacaidh himself.
FIACAIDH TOLGRACIT, ARD-RIGII.
A. M. 343427  Fiacaidh28 Tolgrach, son of Muredach Bolgrach,
son of Simeon Brec, of the line of Erimhdn, possessed the sovereignty of Ireland for seven years, and then he was slain in
Borinn,29 by Olild Finn, son of Art.
OLILD FINN, ARD-RIGH.
A. AM. 3441.30 Olild3l Finn, son of Art, son of Lugaidh
Lamh-derg, son of Eocaidh Uarkeas, of the line of Eber, held
the sovereignty of Ireland for nine years, at the end of which he
fell by Argedmar and by Fiacaidh, and by Duach, son  of
Fiacaidh, in the battle of Odba.Y2   Upon  this; the Munstermen
mustered under Eocaidh, son of Olild Finn,'and under Lugaidh,
son of Eocaidh Fiadmuini, so that they banished Argedmar beyond the sea, for the period of seven years.
EOCAIDH, ARD-RIGII.
A. M. 3450.83  Eocaidh,* son of Olild Finn, son of Art, son
of Lugaidh Lamh-derg, of the line of Eber, held the sovereignty
24 O'er North and South. In the orig-   29 Boirinn-now  called Burrin, a
irial, "for gach leth," i. e. " over each barony in the north of the county of
half." The Four Masters say that he Clare.
reigned twenty years.                 A. M. 4405.-Four Masters.
X A. M. 4389.                     30 OLIrD II. Olild reigned eleven
26 AlRT II.                      years. —Id.
27 A. M. 4395.-Four Msasters.        ObA (rva) lay in Meath.
> FIACAIDII IV. The epithet" Tol-  33 A. M. 4416.-Four Masters.
grach," may mean proud or warlike,  34 EOCAIDu VIII. Ani-Cliach, (Ai. e. "Tolgdha."  The Four Masters nie-Cleeagh,) where Eocaidh was slain,
say that Fiacaidh reigned ten years.   is now called Knockany, in the county




242                THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
of Ireland for seven years. And he did not yield the kingdom
to  Argedmar; but he made a peace with  Duach  Laghrach,
which lasted  until Argedmar returned from  his banishment,
when both  the latter chieftain and Duach Laghrach combined
-their strength against Eocaidh, who fell by their hands, about
that time, at the fair of Ani-Cliach.
ARGEDMAR, ARD-RIGH.
A. M. 3457.?5 Argedmar,86 son of Siorlamh, son of Finn, son
of Bratha, of the race of Ir, son of Miledh, held the kingdom of
Ireland twenty-three years, when he fell by the hands of Duach
Laghrach and of Lugaidh, son of Eocaidh, son of Olild Finn.
DUACH LAGHRACH, ARD-RIGH.
A. M. 3480.87 Duach Laghrach,38 son of Fiacaidh Tolgrach, son
of Muredach Bolgrach, son of Simeon Brec, of the line of Erimhon, assumed the sovereignty of Ireland, and held it for ten years.
He was called Laghrach (Loyragh), i. e. the Vindictive, or the
Quick-avenging,, from  the word "laghra" or "ladhra" (loyra),
which means, speedy vengeance; for he never indulged or pardoned any person, who had committed a deed of injustice; but
made him  render immediate retribution for his crime.  It was
thence that he acquired that surname. He was slain by Lugaidh
Laghdi.
LUGAIDH LAGHDI, ARD-RIGH.
A. M. 3490.39  Lugaidh Laghdi,4 son of Eocaidh, son of Olild
Finn, of the line of Eber, held the sovereignty of Ireland for seven
years, after which hU  was slain by Aedh Ruadh, son of Badarn.
Limerick. The Annals of Clonmac- from Macha's death to the accession of
noise say that Argedmar and Duach Rudraide, A. M. 3792.
came upon him unawares, at the fair,  37 A. M. 4453.-Four Masters
and there slew both him and many of   " DUACH II.
the chieftains of Munster.          39 A. M. 4469.-Four Masters.'5 A. M. 4423.-Faour Masters.     40 LUGAIDH III. With the aspira6 ARGEDMAR. This prince's name tions, this king's name is spelled "Lumeans "abounding in silver," i. e. ghaidh Laighdhe" (Looee Lawec): the
"airgedmhar" (Arg-uedvar). The last surname is otherwise spelled Laeghdha
cited authorities give him a reign of (Layha~, and its most probablemeaning
thirty years. O'Flaherty tells us that is "heroic," derived from "laech," a
Argedmar had five sons: 1. Badarn, hero. Keating, in attributing the story
father of Aedh Ruadh; 2. Diman, of the fawn to this Lugaidh, confounds
father of Dithorba; 3. Fintan, father him with another chief of the same name
of Kimbaeth; 4. Fomor, from whom  and nearly similar surname, who lived
descended Rudraide, progenitor of the about six hundred years after him, that
tribe of Rudraide, and Cas, from whom  is, with Lugaidh Laighdhe, son of Dari
descended almost all the kings of Ulster lDoimhthech (Duivhagh), father of Mac



THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                    243
The "Coir Anmann," or Book of Etymology, says that this
Lugaidh Laghdi was one of the five Lugaidhs who were the sons
of Dari Doimthech.4'  What that book tells us is, that a certain
Druid had prophesied to Dari Doimthech, that he should have a
son, named Lugaidh, to whom  the sovereignty of Ireland was
destined; and that, after this, five sons were born in succession
to Dari, each of whom he named Lugaidh.  When these sons had
grown up, Dari went to the same druid and asked of him which
of his five Lugaidhs was to gain the kingdom of Ireland.  "Go,"
said the druid, "on to-morrow, with thy five sons to Talti, and
there will come a beautiful fawn into the fair, and the whole assemblagcre, and thy sons also, will immediately start upon her
track; and then, whichsoever of thy sons may overtake and kill
that fawn, it is he that shall be monarch of Ireland."  Upon the
morrow, the fawn came into the fair, and the men of Eri and the
sons of Dari set off in chace of her, until they had thus reached
Benn-Edair, where a magic mist was thrown between the men of
Eri and the sons of Dari. The latter continued the chace thence
to Dal-Moscorb42 of Leinster, where Dari overtook the fawn and
killed- her; and it is from  that fawn that he hag been styled
"  Lughaidh Laighdhe" (Looee Lawe), otherwise " Lughaidh Laeghdha'" (Layha), i. e. Lugaidh of the fawn, or "laegh" (layh).
This is that Lugaidh, of whom the following wild fable4 is related.  It is told that, being once hunting in a wilderness, he met
with a certain deformed hag, upon whom there was a magic mask;
that this hag became his mistress, and that she afterwards took
off her magic mask and then appeared to him in the form of a
most beautiful young woman.. By this hag, who became the
mistress of Lugaidh Laghdi, Ireland is allegorically meant, inasmnuch as he at first endured much pain and trouble on her account, but afterwards came into the enjoyment of much pleasure
and happiness. Now, notwithstanding the fact that the "Coir
Anmann" says that a certain Lugaidh Laghdi was the son of
niadh (Mac neeah), and grandfather of Olum, from whom the rival tribe of
Lugaidh, styled Maccon, who was king Dergthini took their title. According
of Ireland, according to Keating, from  to the pedigrees of the Eberian tribes,
A. D. 182 to A. D. 212. The confusion Dergthini, or Corb Olum, was the sixmust have resulted from the extravagant teenth in descent from the present monlove of the Irish bards for alliterative arch.
epithets, or Keating's carelessness.  42 Dal Moscorb-called otherwise Dal
4' Dari Doimtheh was otherwise call- Mescorb and Dal Mesincorb. A sept
ed Dari Sir-chrechtach (Sheer-chragh- along the east of the present county of
tagh), i. e. the incessant plunderer, or Wicklow; was thus denominated.-O'D.
the widely-plundering. From him the   43 For the poem, upon which this
Corca Luighe took the name of Darini, fable is founded, see the Genealogy of
or Dairfhini, i. e. the' fine" or tribe of the Corca Luighe, published in the MisDari. He was cotemporary with Derg- cellany of the Celtic Society for 1849,
thini (Derkinni), otherwise called Corb Appendix A., p. 66.




244                   THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Dari Doimthech, still I do not suppose that it was the same
Lugaidh Laghdi,44 who was king of Ireland, that is mentioned in
that work, and also notwithstanding the I)ruids having prophesied, that Lugaidh.Laghdi, son of Dari Doimthech, should be
king of Ireland.
AEDH  RUADH, ARD-RIGH.
A. M. 3497.45 Aedh Ruadh,46 son of Badarn, son of Argedmar, son of Siorlamh, son of Finn, son of Bratha, of the line of
Ir, son of Miledh, assumed the sovereignty of Ireland, and reigned
for, twenty-one years, at the end of which he was drowned at
Esruadh.47
DITHORBA, ARD-RIGH.
A. M. 3518.48   Dithorba, son  of Deman, son  of Argedmar,
son of Siorlamh, son of Finn, son of Bratha, of the line of Ir, son
of Miledh, assumed the sovereignty, and reigned over Ireland for
4"  The same Lugaidh Laghdi. —In  ternately, with his two successors, for
fact, the poem upon which the fable is periods of seven years each.  They thus
founded expressly states, that Lugaidh  kept the  sovereignty in  their posLaighdhe, or Laeghdha, son of Dari session for 63 years.  Keating, by a
Doimthech, never became king of Ire- strange license, sets them down as hayland.  Neither, according to it, did the  ing reigned; each 21. consecutive years.
enchanted lady become his mistress. Thd Four Masters make Aedh resign
She is therein made to say to him:     the kingdom at the end of seven years,
"I say to thee, 0 mild youth,          "for," say they, " there were injunctions
With me arch-kings cohabit;          upon him to resign it to Dithorba at the
I am that majestic slender damsel,; and on Dithorba, also,
The sovereignty of Alba and Eri.     end o that time; and on Dithorba, also
To thee I have revealed myself to-night;  to resign it to Kimbaeth; and so in
That is all; but with me thou shalt not co- succession to the end of their lives  The
habit;
Thou shalt have a son, honored in him,  reason they made this agreement, was
I-e is the man with whom I shall dwTell.  because they were the sons of three
The name of thy son, the mode is good,  brothers."
Shall be Lugaidh Mor; he shall be a royal son,
For we have been longing much for him,  47 Esruadh, otherwise Es or EasHe shall be a druid, a prophet, and a poet."   Aedha Ruadh (Assayrooa), i. e. the
"The prophecy which Dari told to them  Waterfall of Red Aedh, is now called
Regarding Maccon, the comely, was:'Maccon shall gnin the hill of Breagh (Tara), Assaroe, or the Salmon-leap, a cataract
With Alba and deligttfl E~.'"        on the river Erne, at Ballyshannon.
Genealogy of Corca Lulghe, pp. 75, 76.  As each of Aedh's colleagues had posThis extract, from that ancient poem, sessed the sovereignty twice, for their
proves that Lugaidh of the Fawn was periods of seven years, and as he was
never king of Ireland, and that there  himself in possession of it for the third
was no foundation whatever for making  time when he died, it must appear clear
Lugaidh III. son of Eochaidh VIII., to  that Keating has antedated his death
be the son of Dari Doimthech.          by twenty-eight years.'4 A. M. 4470.-Four Masters.' A. M. 4477.-Four Masters. The
4 AEDU I. This king, A.edh Ruadh  commencement of Dithorba's first sep(Ayh Rooa), or Aedh the Red, ruled al- tennial period.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                      245
twenty-one years, until he fell in Corann, by the three Cuans,
namely, Cuan Mara, Cuan Moighi, and Cuan Slebi.
KIMBAETH, ARD-RIGH,
A. Al. 3539.50  Kimbaeth, son of Finntan, son of Argedmar,
son of Siorlamli, of the race of Ir, son of Miledh, held the sovereignty of Ireland for twenty-one years (or for twenty-eight years,'
according to some others), and then he died of the plague at ArdMiacha.
M ACHA MONG-RUADH, ARD-RIGHAN.52
A. M. 3559.53 Macha Mong-Ruadh (of the red tresses), daughter
of Aedh Ruadh, son of Badarn, son of Argedmar, son of Siorlamh,
of the line of Ir, son of Miledh, then assumed the sovereignty of
Ireland, which she held for seven years, until she was slain by
Rectaidlh Righ-Derg.
It was in her time that Emhain Macha was built.  The following iS the reason why it was called Eman Macha, to wit: there
were then three kings reigning over the Ulta (Ulidians), namely,
Aedh Ruadh, son 6f Badarn, from  whom  Esruadh has been
called; Dithorba, son of Deinan, dwelling at Uisnech, in Meath;
and Kimbaeth, son of Finntan, at Finnabair;54 and it was at the
hoRse of this latter prince that Iugani Mor, son of Eocaidh
Buadach, was reared. These princes reigned in alternate succession, each for the period of seven years, until they had all three
enjoyed the royal power three times. And the first of them that
died was Aedh Ruadh, who left no posterity after him but Macha,
who was his only daughter.  Upon her father's death, Macha
claimed her right to the alternate succession, as his representative,
but Dithorba and his sons replied, that the sovereign power'9 Three Cuans.-These were his three was the only female that ever ruled the
nephews, according to O'Flaherty  It Gaelic nation..The subjects of Queen
was after his banishment into Con- Medb, of C(onnaught, were chiefly Fernaught, by Macha, that he fell by their Bolgs.
hands. Cuan Mara, means Cuan of the   53 A. M. 4540. Four Masters.
Sea; Cuan Slebi, or Sleibhi (Slaivie),'4Finnabacir. There are four places
Cuan of the Mountain; and Cuan  of this name within the confines of
Moighi (!lMoye), Cuan of the Plain. ancient Meath. They are all now called
Corann is in theecounty of Sligo.  Fcnnor, a name derived from the Irish
X A. M. 4484.-Four 1Masters. The 1" Fionnabhair" (Finnooir). 1st. There
commencement of Kimbaeth's first sep- is Fennor on the Boyne, near Slane, in
tennial period.                    Meath.  2d. Fennor, in the parish of
Twenty-eight years. That is count- Ardeath, also in Meath. 3d. Fennor,
ing the seven years he reigned con- in Tebtha or Teffia, in WVestmeath.
jointly with Macha.                4th. Fennor or Fionnabhairna n-inghen
62rd-rilghan, i. e. Arch-queen, pro- (Finnooir-nan-inneen), i. e. of the damnounced iurd-reeyan.  This virago sels, in the parish of Donore, in Meath.




246                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
should never be delivered up by them  into the hands of any
woman.  Upon this, there was a battle fought between them and
Macha, in which Macha bore away the victory from them, and
assumed the sovereignty of Ireland for seven years.  Then Dithorba died, leaving  after him  five sons, whose names were
Baeth, Bedach, Bras, Uallach, and Borbcas; and.these demanded
the kingdom of Ireland for themselves, according to the usage
of their forefathers, but, upon this, AMacha replied, that she would
not yield the sovereignty to them, but that she would give a
battle in its stead. A battle then was fought between them, in
which iMacha was again victorious.  The sons of Dithorba now
fled for safety into dark and lonely forests; and Macha took Kimbaeth as her husband,55 and as commander over her warriors. She
then disguised herself as a leper, by rubbing the dough of rye
over her face, and went, in person, in pursuit of the sons of Dithorba.  These she found in a wild forest in Borenn,66 cooking a
5.As her husband. The Four Masters the adoption of a fixed system of Crosay that Kimbaeth reigned seven years, nology; that is they are uncertain, in
as the husband of Macha. O'Flaherty  date, and uncertain in consecutive artells us that he was the first king that rangement. There is also much uncerdwelt in Emhain Macha, which he built tainty as to how far mythologic legend
most superbly, and which afterwards and Druidic allegory have been blended
became the residence of the Ulidian with plain matter of fact. But ]iese
kings.                              great features of our early history'hat
The building of Emhain forms an  have left indelible impressions upon the
era or fixed point in Irish history. national memory, and even upon the
Thenceforth the dates of the events re- physical appearance of the country, are
corded, the reigns of the kings and their not to be rejected because Tighernach
consecutive order, become less uncer- has qualified them as uncertain. The
tain. Tighernach, who died in the year same phrase might be applied to the
1088, and who is the most accurate of history of Rome, Athens, or any other
the Irish annalists, says that all the  antique nation. The existence of Romumonuments of the Scoti, to the time of lus and Remus, and even the time they
Kimbaedh, are uncertain.  "Omnlia lived, are both very uncertain. It is,
monumenta Scotorum usque Cimbaeth  also, uncertain how far truth is blended
incerta erant."  With this O'Flaherty  with fable in the legends of Rhea Sylvia
agrees, and he has shown in the second  and of Lupa, but no person, except one
part of his Ogygia, that the periods of who is of a frame of mind to doubt of
the Ulster kings, fromn Cimbaeth (Kim- his own existence, will deny that these
baeth) to the destruction of Emania, are represent real historic facts and persons;
supported by accurate records; but he or that, however obscure their legends
confesses that the periods preceding  be in themselves, they represent those
Cimbaeth is not so supported. —O'Don- facts more truly ahdeclearly than can
ovan's Notes'to the Four Masters.   now be done by substituting, in their
Too much stress has been laid upon the stead,any other hypothesis,founded upon
above-cited admission of Tiglhernach, every-day experience. So it is of the
and many would reject the events re- events before Kimbaeth. and of many
corded previous to the building of Em- of those after his time. —Ed.
ania, on the strength thereof. Uncertain    6 Borenn. This forest lay, very probthey certainly are, as the historic events able, in a district called Boreun, in
of every nation had been previous to  Ulidia.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                     247
wild boar.  The sons of Dithorba then asked her the news, and
gave her a portion of the meat.  She upon this told them all that
she had to communicate. After this, one of the brothers, charmed by the brightness of her eyes, followed her into a distant part.
of the forest, and there she left him bound in fetters.  She then
returned to the others, who, thereupon, demanded of her what
had become of their brother.  Macha replied, that he was unwilling to meet them, being ashamed of having been smitten by the
bright glances of a leper.  "He needed it not," said they, "for
we have been all captivated by the beauteous lustre of your eyes."
They then vie, one with the other, in paying court to the seeming leper, and she seems to listen to each of them, and thus she
succeeded in alluring them into solitudes, where she bound them
in fetters, as she had their brother. In this manner she was able
to place them all in bonds, and to bring them tied together57 to
Emrhain Macha, into the presence of the men of Uladh.  She then
asked the chieftains of Uladh what retribution she should exact
from  her captives.  T1hey with one accord declared that she
should have them  put to death.  "Not so," said she, "for that
would be against the law,"5 but let them be made slaves of, and
condemned to build a fortress for me, which shall be forever
henceforth the capital city of this province." Thereupon 5Macha
took out the golden broach which fastened her mantle round her
neck, and with it she measured the site of the rath;5 or fortress,
which the sons of Dithorba were to be compelled to build. Emhain,6~ then the rath was called (as if Eolimhuin), for " eo" (yo) is
a name for a broach or pin, and "Lmuin" (mnwiun) is the same as
"braighe," (brawee) i. e. the neck; or it may be so called' from
Emhain Macha, the wife of Cronn, son of Adnaman,  who was
forced, while in a state of pregnancy, to run against the horses
67 Tied together. O'Flaherty rejects above, though sanctioned by Cormac's
this extravagant legend altogether. His Glossary, is nothing more than one of
words are: " We reject as fabulous the those bardic puns already noticed. All
captivity of the sons of Dithorba, and that can be deduced from it is, that the
that the building of Emania became meaning of the word "Emhain" had
the ransom of their liberty. Kimbaeth  become obsolete, before such a guess
was the first founder of Emania, and had been made.  In Mageoghegan's
was the first who resided there." — translation of the Annals of ClonmacOgygia.                           noise, the following notice of Emhain
5 Ageaizst the law. The Brehon law  occurs: "In  the same (rath) she
did not sanction the putting of crimi- (Macha) and the kings of Ulster, her
nals to death.                    successors kept their palace and place
59 The rath. The name of this rath  of residence for the space of 855 years.
is now corrupted from the Irish " An It was built 450 before the birth of
Eamhain" (an avwin), to Navan Fort. Christ, and was razed for spite of the
It is a very large rath, situated about Clanna Rudraide by the Three Collas,
two miles to the west of Armagh.  sons oi Eocaidh Dublin, who was son
6Emia]zain. The derivation given of Carbri Lificar."




248                THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
of Concobar, king of Ulster, which she outran, and then at the
goal gave birth to a son and a daughter.  She gave her curse to
the people of Ulster, whence it came to pass that they were continually afflictedc with the pains of labor, during nine successive
reigns, namely, from  the time of Concobar to the reign of Mal,
son of Rochraide.
RECTAIDII RIGH-DERG, ARD-RIGH.
A. M. 3566.61  Rectaidh Righ-Derg, son of Lugaidh Laighdi,
son of Eocaidh, son of Olild Finn, son of Art, son of Lugaidh
Lamh-derg, of the line of Eber, held the sovereignty of Ireland for
twenty years.  He was called Rectaidh Righ-derg (lZaghZtai Reeycrg), or Rectaidh of the Red Arm, because his upper arm was
"red;" and it was Iugani Mor that slew him  in revenge for his
foster-mother,  Macha Mong-Ruadh.
IUGANI MOR, ARD-RIGH.
A. M. 3586.?3  Iugani Mor, son of Eocaidh Buadach, son of
Duach Laghrach, of the line of Erimhon, ruled Ireland for forty
years (or for thirty, according to other authorities). IIe was
called Iugani Mtor, or Iugani the Great, because his empire was
great, for he had reduced all the western isles of Europe under
his sway.  He had twenty-five children, twenty-two sons and
three daughters.  When these children had grown up, each of
them had his own distinct retinue of followers.  And when they
were making the free-tour of Ireland, it was their wont that wherever one of them had quartered himself on any particular place,
another should quarter himself there on the next; and thus,
whithersoever they directed their march, they succeeded one
another incessantly, until all the provisions of that district were
consumed by themselves and their followers. When the men of
Eri perceived this, they went to make their complaint to K-ing
61 a. I. 4547.-Four Masters. The and love them as well as their own naline of Ir, i. e. the. race of Carbri, son tural father."
of Ollamh Fodla, had, according to this   According to O'Flaherty, Rectaidh
authority, now ruled Ireland for 77 of the Red Arm invaded Alba, which
years, to the exclusion of the races country he subdued by the aid of Fere
of Eber and Erimnhon, when Rec- and Iboth, his generals. But, he adds
taidh wrested the sovereignty from  that the Fere, who fought under king
Macha.                             Reetaidh, must not be mistakell for
62 Foster-Mother. It was Kimbaeth  Fergus, son of Erc, who did not live
and Macha that had fostered Iugani for many centuries after.  Whoever
Mor. "In those days," Mageoglhean that Ferc was, he obtained no permatells us, " it was the custom to bring up nent dominion in Alba nor did he trans,
noblemen's children in princes' and mit any possessions therein to his poeagreat men's houses, and forever after terity.-See Og'!ygia.
they would call them their fosterers  A. M. 4567.-2Four Masters.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                   249
lugani; and it was mutually agreed with him, that Ireland
should be divided into twenty parts, and that one distinct part
of these should be given to each of his children, and that none
should be permitted to enter upon the portion of the other, as
the bard records in the following rann:
"Of proud and august Iugani
All Banba was the plenteous dwellingIn five-and-twenty even shares
His sons apportioned Eri's lands."
Here follow the names of the children of Iugani, and of the
portion of land that each of them  possessed; and first of the
sons:
1. Cobthach  Cael-Breagh  had  his portion in BreAgh or
Bregia.  2. Cobthach Murthemni, in Mlurthemni (or Louth).
3. Laegari Lore, in Lifi (by the river Liffe).  4. Fulni, in Febh
(Magh Fea, in Carlow).  5. Nar, in Magh Nair.  6. Raighni, in
MIagh Raighni (in Ossory). 7. Narb, in Magh Nairb.  8. Kinga,
in Argedros (on the Nore). 9. Tair, in Magh Tarra. 10. Triath,
in Tretherni.  11. Sen, in Luachair (in Kerry).  12. Bard, in
Cluain-Corca Oicho6 (in Ui Fidgenti).  13. Fergus Gnaei, in the
land of the (Southern) Desies. 14. Orb, in Aidni (on the borders
of Clare and Galway).  15. Maen, in Maen-Magh (in Galway).
16. Sanb, in Magh Aei (in Roscomnmon). 17. Mal,64 in Cliu Mail
(in Coshlea, county of Limerick). 18. Eocaidh, in Seol-magh
(now the barony of Clare, in Galway). 19. Latlhrn, in Latharna
(in Antrim).  20. Marc, in Midhe (or Meath).  21. Laegh, in
Line (in Antrim). 22. Corand,65 in Corann (in Sligo). Here follow the three daughters and their shares: 1. Ailbi, in MaghAilbi (in Kildare).  2. Faifi,6  in Magh-Fernen (Iffa and Offa, in
Tipperary), and 3. Muresg, in hMagh-Murisgi.
And it was according to this division, that rents and duties
were paid to every king that reigned in Ireland, for the space of
three hundred years, namely, from  the time of Iugani to that of
the provincialists or Pentarchs that flourished when Eocaidh Feidlech was king of Ireland; as the bard has sung in the following
rann:
"Three hundred well-marked years had passed,
When five provincial chiefs arose,
Who, scorning his too partial rules,
Between them shared lugani's land."
By Eocaidh Feidlech, the Fifths or provinces of Ireland were
divided amongst the following persons: the province of Leinster,4 Mal, otherwise, Muredach Mal.     Faefi, otherwise called Aeifi.
c4 Corartd, called Carbri in the notes Magh-Femhen is also called Maghto the Four Masters.             Aeifi kMoy EeJie.)




250                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
he gave to Rosa, son of Fergus Fargi; the two provinces of Munster, he gave to Tighernach Tedbennach  and to Degaidh; the
province of Connaght he gave to three persons, namely, to Fidach
son of Fiach, to Eocaidh  Alat and to Tinni son of Curaidh.
Nevertheless, the division made amongst the children of Iugani
held good until all his sons had died out, without posterity, with
the  exception  of  two, namely, Cobthach  Cael-Breagh  and
Laegari Lore, from which two are descended all that now exist
of' the race of Erimhdn.
Iugani Mor was slain by his own brother, namely, by Badbchadh (Boivgha), son of Eocaidh Buadach, in Tellach-an-Cosgair.67  But the fratricide enjoyed the kingdom  of Ireland but
one day and a half, when Laegari Lore slew him in vengeance for
his father.
LAEGARI LORC, ARD-RIGH.
A. M. 3616.68 Laegari69 Lore, son of ITgani Mor, son of Eocaidh
Buadach, son of Duach Laghrach, of the line of Erimhon, reigned
over Ireland for two years. Kesair, daughter to the'king of
France, the wife.of Iugani Mor, was the mother of this king and
of Cobthach Cael-Breagh. He was called Laegari Lore, because
67 Tellach-an-Cosgair.  O'Flaherty  ing of them a solemn oath, by all things
calls the place where lugani was slain  visible and invisible, not to accept of a
Kill-Droicheat on the banks of the  supreme monarch from any other line.
Boyne. The Four Masters record his For the Pentarchal government, this
death at A. M. 4606, "after he had  monarch substituted a division of the
been fully forty years king of Ireland, kingdom into twenty-five districts, or
and of the whole of the west of Europe, dynasties; thus ridding himself of the
as far as the Muir Toirrian (the Tyrr- rivalry of provincial royalty, and at
hian, according to others, the MAediter- the same time widening the basis of
ranian Sea).  It was this Iugani that the monarchial or rather the aristoexacted oaths, by all the elements, cratical power. The abjuration of their
visible and invisible, from the men of right of succession, which had been exIreland in general, that they would  torted from the minor kings, was, as
never contend for the sovereignty of might be expected, revoked on the first
Ireland with his children or his race." opportunity that offered; but the sys"Though the building of the royal pal- tem of government established in place
ace of Emania," says Moore, in his His- of the Pentarchy was continued down
tory of Ireland, "was assumed as a nearly to the commencement of our
technical epoch by chronologers, the era; when, under the monarch Achy
accession of hugrony the Great (Iugani Feidloch (Eocaidh Fedlech), it was reMor) as he was called, proved, in a po- scinded and the ancient form restored."
litical point of view, an era still more By some, Iucani is supposed not to have
remarkable; as, by his influence with  altered the old division of the country,
the assembled States at Tara, he sue- but to have subdivided each "fifth"
ceeded in anulling the Pentarchy; and  into five minor districts.
moreover, prevailed on the four (five)  6s A. M. 4608.-Four  asters.
provincial kings to  surrender their     LAEGARI I., otherwise, Laeghaire
right of succession to his family, exact- (Layerie).




TEE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                  251
the word "lore" means the same thing as "finnghail" (finneel)
i. e. parricide, on account of his having committed a parricide, in
murdering Badbcadh, son of Eocaidh Buadach.  It was thence
that the surname Lore got attached to his name. It was by his
own brother Cobthach Cael-m-Bre~gh that Laegari Lore was
slain at Dinn-righ on the banks of the Berba (now the Barrow).
Cobthach was pining away, through envy of Laegari's being in
possession of the sovereignty of Ireland; and when Laegari had
heard that he was unwell, he came to visit him attended by an
armed guard.  When Cobthach saw him, he said that it was a
sad thing, that his brother should always be so suspicious of him,
as not to come into his presence  unless attended by armed
men. " Nevertheless," said Laegari, "my next visit shall be made
unattended by any such escort.  He, thereupon, bid farewell to
Cobthach. As to Cobthach, he advised with a Druid, Who dwelt
with him, as to how he should contrive to murder his brother.
"What you have to do," said the Druid, "is to feign yourself
dead, and to get into a litter, as if really so. Then let Laegari be
informed thereof, and he will come to see you with few attendants, and upon coming into the place where you lie, he will lean
over your body int lamenting you.  Then stab him in the abdomen with your dirk, and thus he shall be slain by you.  When
Cobthach had accomplished the murder of Laegari, after this
manner, he slew also Olild Ani, his brother's son, and then after
perpetrating these deeds, he recovered his health. IIe also commanded a young child, the son of Olild Ani, to be brought into
his presence, and there he forced him to eat a portion of the heart
of his father and another of that of his grandsire.  I-e also compelled him  to swallow a mouse.  In consequence of the disgust
that seized the child at such usage, he lost his speech altogether;
whereupon Cobthach permitted him to be carried away.70
This child, who was called Maen, then went to Corca Dubni,n
where he dwelt awhile with Scorriath, the king of that country.
Thence he passed to France,72 with nine followers, though some
antiquaries say, that Armenia was the country to which he went.
Hiis followers having told that he was heir to the kingdom of
Ireland, it came to pass through that, that the French king made
70 The Irish annals are silent about represented, would have spared the
the horrible details of the manner in child's life, if ever he had him in his
which Cobthach murdered his brother power.
Laegari Lorc and his nephew Olild, as  7' Corca Dubni, now Corcaguiny, in
well as about his disgustinlg cruelty Kerry.
towards Maen. The story recorded by   72 France is, as usual, nsed in this
Keating must, then, be regarded as the place most incorrectly for Gallia or
invention of some bard hostile to the Gaul. There was yet no country called
Ui Neill race. It is not likely, that so France.
cruel a monster, as Cobthach is here




252              THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
him a captain over his household guards; and he became very
successful in this position; insomuch that his fame and glory
were loudly spoken of in Ireland, and for that reason, many of
the men of Ireland followed hint to France, and remained there
with him for a long time.
CO BTIIACH CAEL BREAGII ARD-RIGH.
A. M. 3618.TM  Cobthach Cael Breagh, son of Iugani Meor, son
of Eocaidh Buadach, of the line of Erimh6n governed the kingdom  of Ireland for thirty years (or for fifty according to some
people). Ile was called Cobthach Cael-Breagh from a severe distemper that preyed upon him through envy of his brother Laegari, who possessed the kingdom before him.  A consumption
had come upon him, so that all his flesh and blood wasted away,
and that he became so lean, that people called him Cobthach, the
slender, or thin, i. e. "cael." Then Magh-Breagh (lfoy Brraa)
was the name of the place where he lay sick. It was thence that
lhe got that name which signifies Cobthach "the lean man of
Brecrgh."  This Cobthach was killed by Labraidh Loiingsech
(Lavraci Leengshaughl), son of Olild Ani, on a Christmas eve at
Dinn-Righ.  Hie slew him in vengeance for his father and his
grandfather. On this deed, a bard has left the following verse:
"With full ranks came the sailor Labraidh
And slew gaunt Cobthach at Dinn-ri gh.74'Twas from his sea-borne Laignian host
That fair Lagenia had her name."
LABRAIDH LOINGSECH, ARD-RIGHI.
A. M. 3648.75  Labraidh Loingsech, son of Olild Ani, son of
Laegari Lore, son of Iugani Mor of the line of Erimhon, reigned
over Ireland for eighteen years,:6 at the end of which he was
slain by Melgi Molbthach (Mld1gui Ifolyagh), son of Cobthach
Cael Brehgh.
The manner in which he was allured to return to Ireland was
this: Morriath, daughter of Scorriath, king of the territory of
Fer More, in West-Munster, had conceived a violent passion for
him, which was inflamed by the greatness of his glory, and by
the fame of his deeds.  This lady equipped the harper Craftini,
73 A. M. 4609.-Four Masters. Cob-  74 DINN-RrGcr. He was slain at this
thach Cael Brehgh reigned fifty years, place in A. M. 4658, with thirty kings
according to the authority just cited. about him.-See Four Masters.
The name is pronounced either Cow-   75 A. M. 4677.-lb.
hagh or Coffagh. It means victori-   " Eighteen years. The Four Masters
ous.                           say nineteen.




TEE IHISTORY OF IRELAND.                      253
an eminent musician, that flourished in Ireland at that time, and
sent him to France after her lover, furnishing him with many
valuable jewels for Maen (i. e. Labraidh) and with an impassioned
lay, wherein she made known to that prince the strength of the
love which she bore him.
When the musician had arrived in France, and had come into
the presence of Maen, he played an enchanting, fairy strain upon
his harp, and to it he sang the love-lay, which Morriath had composed for her hero.  Thereupon, Maen became so delighted at
seeing the musician Craftini, that he exclaimed, that both the lay
and the melody were sweet to his ears. When his companions
and Craftini had heard this, they prayed the king of France to
give him  an auxiliary force, in order that he might recover his
own land.  And that king gave him  a sufficient host, to wit, two
thousand two hundred warriors, and ships to transport them  to
Ireland.  With these they set out upon the sea, and nothing further is told of them, until they get into harbor at Loch-Garman,7
(i. e. Wexford.) Upon landing here, they were told that Cobthach was then at Dinn-righ, attended by a large number of the
Irish nobles.  Having heard this, Maen marched day and night
upon Dinn-righ, w`1ich he took by storm, and put Cobthach and
the nobles, who were in his company, to the sword.78
A  Druid, who was then in that fortress, demanded who had
done that deed of slaughter. " The Mariner," (i. e. an loingsech,)
replied a man without. " Does that mariner speak?" asked the
Druid.  He does, (i. e. labhraidh, le speaks,) replied the other;
and from this circumstance the phrase " labhraidh loingsech," 79
(lavrai, or lowrai leezgshcgh,) which means " the mariner speaks,"
has ever since been attached as a cognomen to hen.  It was by
Moore, guessing at the meaning of and that, after this, King Cobthach
the name Loch Garman, (Wexford,) was invited to a feast by his (grand)
which is properly Loch g-Carman, i. e. nephew, Labraidh, and there was trenachthe Lake of Carma, has translated it the erously burnt, with thirty Irish princes,
harbor of the Germans, thus leading  after a reign of seventeen years.
one to suppose that these auxiliaries of   79 Lbhraidh. We have already met
Labraidh were Germans; but, as from  this word used as a proper name
his ignorance of Irish he could form no amongst the Gaels; and there is, then,
judgment of his own upon the mean- no reason to suppose for it, in this inings of Irish words, this surmise of his stance, the absurd derivation above
must be held to be utterly valueless.   given. It is exactly of the same form-'7 The manner of Cobthach's death is ation with the names "Eoch:lidh " dedifftrently told in the Annals of Clon- rived from " ech," a horse; Fiachaidh
macnoise, translated by Maheoghegan. from  " fiach," a ravren, Lughaidh, and
They relate that Cobtlhach, in the end, several others. If the term be Irish,
made friendship with Labraidh, whom  and come from the root "labbair," i. e.
he had long kept in banishment, and speak thou, it must mean, in its primary
that he granted the province of Loins- sense, the speaker, or the e7oqueint man.
tcr to him and to his heirs forever;




254               THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
this Maen that those broad  blue lances, called  "laighni,"80
(loynie,) were first made in Ireland-" laighni," indeed, means
the same thing as "slegha," (shl1iha,) i. e. spears or lances, furnished with broad blue heads made of iron.  And it is from,
these broad-headed lances, that the people of the principality of
Galian or Galeon, which is now  called Laighen, (Loyen,) or
Leinster, have received the name of Laighnigh, (Loynih,) or Lagenians.
WVhen Labraidh Loingsech had slain Cobthach Cael Breagh,
and had established himself in the full possession of Ireland, he
vent in company with the harper, Craftini, to visit AMorriath, his
lady-love, who had sent this same Craftini after him  to France;
and he married her, and she continued his queen during his
whole lifetime.
The reason why Maen, who is called Labraidh Loingsech,
went to France, was on account of his relationship to the French
king; for, as we have already said, the daughter of a king of
France had been the wife of Iugacni Mor and the mother of his
sons, Laegari Lore and Cobthach Cael Brehgh; and Labraidh
Loingsech was the grandsoi of Laegari Lore; and it wasthrough
this relationship that he came to place himself under the protection of the French monarch. Another reason why he betook
himself to France, rather than to any other country, was because
there existed a special league of amity and friendship between
the Lagenians and the French.  Each of the provinces of Ireland had formed a similar league with some foreign country.
Thus the Ui Neill were allied to the people of Alba, (i. e. the
Scotch;) the Munstermen to the Saxons; the Ulstermen to the
Spaniards; the Connaughtmen to the Britons, (i. e. the Welsh;)
and the Leinstermen to the French.  It is so that Sean (John
Mac Torna 0' Mael-Conari, Chief Professor and Arch-Ollamh of
the History of Ireland tells us, in the following verses:
" Friends like itself each tribe has found,
Thou(gh all our clans one kindred claim;
Thus Niall's race loves Alba's heights,
And Munster holds the Saxon dear.
" And Spain is loved by Uladh's tribes,
Now scattered wide through Eri's lands;
In Britons Connacht finds allies:
To France Lagenia turns for friends."
From  these friendly relations between each of the provinces
80 Laighni.  Laighe, (Loye,) which a diminutive of Slegh, (ShlAh,) is the
seems to be the root of Laighen, is still name of a sharp-edged, spade-like, and
used in parts of Ireland, as the name of rather formidable instrument, used by
the long narrow spade, used in that the Irish peasants in cutting peat or
country. Sleghan, (Shlaan,) obviously turf.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                 255
and the countries just mentioned, there sprang up a certain resemblance of manners severally between them, which had arisenfrom their alliances and mutual affection.
The reader must now be mi-ade aware, that all the true Lagenians, of the race of Erimh6n, are the descendants of this Labraidh Loingsech, with the single exception of the clan of
O'Nuallain, (or O'Nolan,) which is descended from  Cobthach
Cael Breogh.  The following are the principal family names
amongst the Lagenians, to'wit, O'Connor Fal(hi, with the
branches that have sprung therefriom; O'Cavanagh; O'Toohill (or
Toole;) O'Brinn (or Byrne;) Mac Gilla-Patrick or Fitzpatrick;
O'Dunn; O'Dimasaigh (or Denmpsy;) O'Dwyer; O'Ryan; and all
the Septs that trace their origin to any of these names.  The
chief part of the Leinster clans are descended from  Cathaeir
Mor, (C/heer JIorr.)  However, the clan of Mac Gilla-Patrick
does not draw its origin from that king; for the race of Mac
Gilla-Patrick branched off from  the Lagenian stock at Bresal
Brec, son of Fiacaidh Fobric, the fourteenth ancestor from
Cathaeir upwards. This Bresal had two sons, namely, Lugaidlh
Lothfinn and Conla.  The principality of Leinster was divided
between these two; and what lies from  the Barrow eastwards
fell to Lugaidh and to his posterity, and the part that lies westward, from  the Barrow  to Slighe  Dala (Silee Dawcta) fell to
Conla.  Of these sons, and of this division made between, these
chiefs we find the following testimony in the duan which begins
thus, "The blessed story of the saints of Fll:"
"Lugraidh and Conla, generous hearts,
WVere the sons of mighty Bresal Brec;
From Conla of wounds the Osraide came,
And of Laighen, Lugaidh was the sire."
From Lugaidh descended the O'Dwyers also, who had branched
off from the stock of Cathaeir Mor, in the fifth generation before him.  Cathaeir Mor was the son of Feidlimidh Firurglas,
son of Cormac Gelta-gaeth, son of Niacorb, son of Cucorb. Carbi Cluthecar, from whom the O'Dwyers are sprung r, was the son
of Cucorb, the last named of these.  Again, it was from Nathi
son of Crimthann, son of Enna Kennselach, the seventh generation from Cathaeir downwards, that the O'R.yans sprang.
Cobthach Cael Breagh was the other son of Iugani Mor, who
left a progeny after him. From him are descended all the race
of Conn, both those tribes that draw their origin from Fiacaidh
Srabthini and Eocaidh Doimlhn, and every other kindred branch
of the posterity of Conn, as we shall hereafter set down in giving the genealogy of the sons of Miledh.




206               THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
81 It is related of Labraidh Loinsech, that his ears were slhaped
like those of a horse; oni which account every person that cut
his hair was instantly put to death, in order that neither lie nor
anybody else alive should be cognizant of that blemish.  It was
the habit of this king to get his hair cut once every year; that is,
he was wont to get all the hair that had grown below  his ears
clipped off. Lots were cast, in order to determine the person
who should perform this service, because the person upon whon
that fell was put to death.  The lot once fell upon the only son
of an aged widow that dwelt near the king's residence. She, upon
hearing thereof, instantly betook herself to the king's presence,
and besought him not to put her only son to death, as he was
the only child she had.  The king then promised to spare her
son provided he would keep secret whatever he might see, and
would never disclose it to any one until the hour of his death.
After this, when the youth had cut the king's hair, the burden of
that secret so operated upon his mind abnd body, that he had to lie
down on the bed of sickness, and ino medicine could have any
salutary effect on him.    hen he he had been thus wasting away for
a long time, a certain learned Druid came to see him. and told his
mother that the burden of a secret was the cause of her son's discase, and that he could never recover until he had told it to something.  IIe then told the patient, that, though he was bound not
to discover the secret to any human being, he might nevertheless
go to the meeting of four roads, and, when there, turn to his
right and address the first tree he met, and tell his story to it. The
first tree he did meet with was a large willow, and to it he declared
his secret.  Upon this, the disease, brought on by brooding over
his burdensome secret, was immediately dissipatod, and he was
perfectly well on his return to his mother's house.  But it happened soon after, that Craftini broke his harp and had to go to
look for materials for another.  He chanced to hit upon the very
tree to which the widow's son had told his secret, and from it he
made him a harp.  But when this harp was finished and put in
order, and when Craftini commenced to play thereupon, it gave
forth sounds which caused all that heard to think that it utrtered
the words "Dd o fill for Labraidh Lore,"38 which mean, Labraidh
the Ml7ariner has the ears of a horse; and, however often the harp
was played upon, it gave forth the same sounds. Now, when the
81 This story resembles that told of line of obsolete Gaelic does not admit
Midas, an ancient king of Phrygia, of the meaning given to it in the fable
which fable some explain by supposing above related. It means, " Labraidh,
that he kept a number of informers to the murderer, has tuo eirs;" that is, if
report to him  any seditious words the antiquated word "o" mean an ear, in
spoken against him by his subjects.   this instance.
Da o fill for Labraidh Lorc. This




THE IIISTORY  OF IRELAND.                       257
king heard of this, he repented him  of the numbers he had put
to death, in order to conceal his deformity, and he forthwith exposed his ears to his household, and never afterwards concealed
them.   IIowever, I consider this tale about him  in the light of a
romantic fablo, rather than as true history.
M}iELGI MOLBTITACII, ARD-RIGI-.
A. M. 3666.83  Melgi Molbthach,84  son  of Cobthach  Gael
BreL'gh, of the line of Erimh6on, assumed the sovereignty of Ireland,  nd held it for seventeen years, at the end of which he was
slain by Mogh-Corb, son of Cobthach Caemh.
MOGH-CORB, ARD-RIGH.
A. M. 3{373.85 Mogh-Corb,8G  son  of Cobthach Caemh, son of
Recctaidh lligh-derg, son of.Lugaidh Laighdi of the line of Eber,
ruled Ireland for seven years.  IHe was calle'd Mogh-Corb for the
following reason: As his son was one day driving in his chariot,
it chanced to break down, and Mogh-Corb set it in order again.
Fronm having(, done this service fbr his son, whose name was Corb,
he received the namre of Alogh-Corb. IHe fell by Aengus Ollamh.
AENGUS OLLAMh, AR.D-RIGH.
A. M. 3680.87 Aengus88 Ollamh, son of Olild Bracan, son of
Labraicldh Loingsech. of the line of Erimhbn, reigned over Ireland for eighteen  years, and, then fell by the hands of Iarann
Glco-fathach.
IARANN  GLEO-FATHACH  ARD-RIGH.
A. M. $6398.?b  Iarann Gleo-fathach,90 son of Mlelgi-Molbthach,
son of Cobthlach Cael Brejagh, of the line of Erimhi6n, held the
83 A. M. 4678.-IEcitr Ma]-sters.   latter meaning, i. e. CoYb's serva t or
M8' nl3q 1itMlt.ach  (MIelgie MIeol- "slave;" but then ch.arict is one of the
fagh,) i. e. Mlclgi the Praise-worthy or meanings of " Corb," so "Mogh-Corb"
Laudable.  From ti-is Melgi is called  may mean the chctrict-man or chariioteer,
Loch Melgi, now  Lough Melvin, a  as "Fer-Corb," his son's name, most
beautiful lake on'the confines of Fer- probably does also. " Modh" or" Mo,"
managh, Leitfim, and Doncgal.-O'D.  which is pronounced in the same man" A. AI. 4695.-Faou' Maitsters.    ner, means respect, esteemn, Ihonor, mode,
A. M. —M3oagh-Cf rb, otherwise  &c.
Modh-Corb (Mlowv or Mo-Corb). AMogh    T A.M.i. 4702.-Four JMasters.
was not unusual as a proper name    e AENTGUS II.  Styled Ollaimh, i. e.
among, the clans of Ebhr. The deriva- the Sag(e or Doctor.
tion above given for the name is silly   89 A. I. 4720.-Fcur Masters.
and absurd. " Moghh", or " Ao " is  0o Itralnni Gleo-fathach, (Eeran Gleosaid to mean a man, a workcman, and a  faw/h gb,) i. e. Iarann the purely zwise,
slave. Keatinog seems to give it the  or (if "gleo," mean battle, and not
17




258                  THE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.
sovereignty of rreland for seven years.  He was called Iarann
Gleo-fathach, because he was learned and wise.  In  the end he
fell by Fer-Corb.
FER-CORB, ARD-RIGH.
A. M. 3705.91 Fer-Corb, son of Mogh-Corb, son of Cobthach
Caemlb, of the line of Eber, ascended the throne of Ireland and
reigned for eleven years, at the end of which he fell by Connla.
CONNLA CRUAIDH-KELGACH, ARD-RIGH.
A. M. 3716.Y  Connla Cruaidh-kelgach,93 son  of Iarann Gleofathach, of the line of Erimhdn, reigned over Ireland  for four
years, and then died at Ternhair.
OLILD CAS-FIACLACH, ARD-RIGH.
A. M. 3720.9  Olild95 Cas-fiaclach, ri. e. of the Bent Teeth,) son
of Connla Cruaidh-kelgach, of the line of Erimhon, succeeded
to the sovereignty, and reigned over Ireland for twenty-five
years. He fell by Adamar Folt-caein.
ADAMAR, ARD-RIGH.
A. M. 3745.96 Adamar Folt-caein,97 son of Fer-Corb, son of
Mogh-Corb, of the line of Eber, held the sovereignty of Ireland
for five years, and then fell. by Eocaidh Folt-lethan.
EOCAIDH  FOLT-LETHAN, ARD-RIGH.
A. M. 3750.Y  Eocaidh99 Folt-lethan, son of Olild Cas-fiaclach,
son of Connla Cruaidh-kelgach, of  the line of Erimhdn, aspure or clear in this instance) the skilful i. e. Connla, the Comely. The Four
or knowing in the fighrlt. Some write  Masters give Connla a reign of twenty
the name larann-gleo Fathach, which  years.
Dr. O'Donovan translates I'on-fight,   9 A. M. 4758.-Four Masters.
the cautious. This, however, he does     OLILD II.  Cais-fhiaclach is pro.
not sanction, saying that the Leabhar nounced Cash-eeklagh.
Gabhlla and the best copies. of Keat-   96 A. M. 4783.-Four Masters.
indg have Irereo (eereryo) as this king's  97 Folt-caein, or rather Folt-chaein,
name. The editor's MSS. have it as  (folt-keen,)_i. e. of the fine or beautiful
given in the text, to which he sees no  hair.
objection. Halliday calls him Irereo    9 A. M. 4788.-Four Masters.
Fathach, i. e. Irereo the Wise.        99 EocAIDh IX. Folt-lethan, (Folt9 A. MT. 4727.-Four Masters. -     lihiin,) the epithet applied to this king,
92 A. N. 47i38.-Ib.                means the broad, or rather bushy-haired.
93  Cruiaidlh - kelgach,  otherwise  Some call him  "ailt-lethan," i. e. the
Cruaidh- chelg(ach,  (Crooi- kelgagh,)  broad-jointed, which is a more appromeans the hardy and treacherous. He  priate compound.
was also called Connla Caemh, (kaiv,)




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                      259
sumed the sovereignty of Ireland, and held it for eleven years,'~
when he was slain by Fergus Fortamhail.
FERGUS FORTAMHAIL, ARD-RIGH.
A. M. 3761.1 Fergus2 Fortambhail, son of Bresal Breogamhain,
son of Aengus Galini, son of Olild Bracaen, son of Labraidh
Loingsech, assumed the sovereignty of Ireland, and reigned for
twelve years. He was called Fergus Fortamhail, (fortooil or
fortavwil,) i. e. Fergus the Intrepid, because he was a heroic,
strong, and resolute man. I-le was slain by Aengus Tuirmech,
of Temhair, (or Tara.)
AENGUS TUIRAMECH, ARD-RIGH.,
A. M. 3773.3  Aengus Tuirmech,4 son of Eocaidh Folt-lethan,
son  of Olild Cas-fiaclach, held the sovereignty of Ireland for
thirty years, (or for sixty according to others.)  I-le was called
Aengus Tuirmech, i. e. Aengus the Shameful, on account of the
shame he felt at having had a son born to him by his own
daughter, whom he had violated while in a state of intoxication.
That son was Fiacaidh Fer-mara,5  (i. e. Fiacaidh, the Afan of the'0 Eleven years. Seventeen years.-  upon it by some bardic punster, hostile
Four Masters.                      to the line of Erimh6n, and who proba.A. M. 4805.-lb.                bly invented the scandalous and calumFERGUS I. - Fortamhail,  this nious tale, here recited, for the purpose
Prince's surname seems cognate with  of depreciating that line. All the derthe Latin " fortis," and Irish " foirtil." ivations given by our author (on the
He is  elsewhere  called  Fortriun, the authority, it would seem, of Mun(Fortrioon,) i. e. the very powerful, a ster story-tellers) in support of the idle
word derived from " tren" or " triun," fables, with too many of which he has
strong by prefixing the intensitive par- disfigured his narrative, fortunately
tide "for."  The Four Masters give carry their own refutation with them.
him a reign of eleven years.       They are most of them utterly hostile
3 A. M. 4816.-Four Masters.     to the genius of the Gaelic tongue.
4 AENGUS III.  "He was called The verb "tuirmigh," the passive form
Aengus Tuirmheach," say the Annals of which is " turmightear," or " tuirlast cited, " because to him are traced midhtear," is formed regularly from the
(i. e. tuirmidthear) the nobility of the adjective "tuirmheach," in the same
race of Erimhon."  Dr. O'Connor tells manner as "bailigh," gather thou, is
us that the word "tuirmheach" means formed upon "baileach," tidy or colprolific.  O'Flaherty, also, quotes the lected, and innumerable other derivative
following ancient Irish lines in support verbs, which are  similarly formed
of this meaning: lodhon is cuige from adjectives in "ach," and which
turmidhtear Leth Cuinn, Fir Alban, may be formed therefrom ad libitum, as
Dialriada  agus  Dailcfiatach, i. e. every Irish scholar understands.
"' For to him are traced the men of    Fiacaidh Fer-Mara. The Annals
Leth Cuinn, the men of Alba, the Dal- of Clonmacnoise make no allusion to
Riada, and the Dal-Fiatach."  The Fiachaidh Fearmara's, (Feeagha Farmeaning given by Keating to the word marra,) being an incestuous offspring,
"tuirmheach" is obviously one forced but speak of Enos Twyrmeach (i. e.




260                 THE HIS ORY OF IRELAND.
Sea,) because he had been exposed to the mercy of the sea in a
small boat, with many valuable jewels around him, as became
the son of a prince.  He was met by fishermen, who brought
him  ashore and put him to nurse.  Aengus Tuirmech had likewise a legitimate  son, narnel Elnna Aiglnech, and from him  all
the posterity of Conn are descended.  Aengus was slain at Temhair, and hence he is called Aengus Tuirmech, of Temhair.
CONALL COLLAMRACH, ARD-RIGH.
A. M. 3803.6 Conall7 Collamrach, son of Edirsge6l of Temhair, son of Eocaidh Folt-lethan, son of Olild Cas-fiaclach, of the
line of Erimh6n, held the monarchy of Ireland for five years/ at
the end of which he was slain by Niadh Segamhain.
NIADH SEGAMHAIN, ARD-RIGH.
A. M. 3808.8 Nliadh Segamhain,9 son of Adamar Folt-caein,
son of Fer-Corb, son of MIogh-Corb, of the line of Eber, held the
sovereignty of Ireland for seven years. He acquired the name
of Segamhain (or Sedhamhain) from his having possessed greater
wealth than any one else; for " Seghamhain " (Shaavwin) is the
same as " Sech-mhaeinech," (Shagh-vueencgh,) and means " surpassing in wealth:" for during his time the wild does were wont
to come and kindly yield their milk for him, like any common
Aengus Tuirmech) and his two sons as by itself, mean wealthy, as it- is regufollown:                           larly formed from "segh" or "seagh,"
"Enos succeeded, and was a very  (Shaah,) worth, esteem, &c. "Seaghgood king.  ile left two goodly and  dha," (Shaagha,) i. e. estimable, beaunoble slns, Enna Ayneagh (Aighnech) tiful, stately, splendid, or'rich, has much
and Fiag-ha Ferwara.'Ihe most part the same meaning as that given above
of the kings of Ireland descended of his to "seghamhain;" and as "amhain," tho
son Enna, and the kings of Scotland, latter part of the woc'd, is a very comfor the most part, descended of Fiagha, mon suffix in Gaelic, it is silly and far
so as the great houses of both king- fetched to suppose it compounded of
doms derive their pedigrees from them. " sech" or " seach,"' (the Latin 8ecus,}
He was of the sept of Ileremon, and "maeinech," wealthy. The word
(Erimhon,) and  reigned  thirty-two  " segh" means a doe, and aL o a wild ox,
years, (the Four Masters say sixty,) a cow, and even milk; hence, probably,
and then died quietly in. his bed at to fable of the milking of does. As
Taragh."- O'Donovan's Notes to the "dh" and "gh" are pronounced absoFour Masters.                       lutely alike in modern Irish, and are in6 A. M. 4876.-Four Ilasters.     discriminately substituted the one for
7 CONALL I.-Collamrach, or Col- the other, it is not easy to tell the exlamhrach, (Collowragh, or Collavragh). act radical to be used in this and simiThis surname of Conall, is translated  lar instances. The Four Masters reColumnaris, i. e. pillar-like, by O'Fla- cord the story of the does thus: " It
herty.                              was in the time of King Nia Sed8 A. M. 4881.-Four Masters.     hamain, that cows and does were alike
S egamhain, or Seghamhain, would, milked."




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                       261
cow whatsoever.  This had been brought about by the magic
powers of his mother, whose name was Flidais, (Fleeish.)  This
prince fell by Enna Aighnech.
ENNA AIGHNECH, ARD-RIGH.
A. M. 3815.10 Enna Aighnech," son of Aengus Tuirmech, of
Temhbair, son of Eocaidh Folt-lethan, of the line of Erimhon,
ruled the kingdom  of Ireland for twenty-eight years.  HIe got
the name of Enna Aighnech, from his hospitality and his bounties; for "aighnech" (eyenagh) is the same as " ogh," (5) entireor
perfect, and"oineeh"(imnagh) liberal or hospitable.  Thus Enna
Aiglnech means " Enna the All-bounteous;" for he gave away
everything that came into his hands.  He fell by Crimthann Cosgrach.
CRIMTHANN  COSGPRACH, ARD-RIGH.
A. M.  3843.12  Crimthann'3   Cosgrach,  son  of  Feidlimid
Fortriun, son of Fergus Fortamhail, son of Bresal Brec, of the
line of Erinhodn, assumed the sovereignty of Ireland and reigned
seven years.'4  IIe was called Crimtilann Cosorach, (i. e. Crimthann the Vanquisher,) from the many, victories he gained in all
the battles and combats in which he had been engaged, until he
fell by Rudraide.
RUDRAIDE  MOR, ARD-RIGH.
A. M. 3850.1 Rudraide,'  son of Sithrighe, son of Dubh, son
of Foghmror, son of Argedmar, son of Siorlamh, son of Finn, son
of Bratha, son of Labraidh, son of Carbri, son of Ollamh Fodla,
of the line of I1, son of Miledh, reigned over Ireland for thirty
years, (or for seventy" as others relate.) IIe died at Arged-glenn.
1o A. M. 4888.-Four MHsters.      Masters and 3most Irish authorities
1' LEN,  III.-The derivation given  agree with this account. The former
for the epithet Ailghnech looks suspi- tell us, " that, after having been seventy
cious. The Four Mfasters say that, he years in the sovereignty of Ireland, ho
reigned twenty-eight years; the Annals died at Arged-glenn, (i. e. the Silverof Clonmacnoise allow him but ten.    glen, situated in the modern barony
12 A. AM. 4908.-Four MI lsters.   of Farney, county Fermanagh.)  It
13 CRIMITHANN I. The modern and  was by this Rudraide that the following
aspirated form of this name is Criomh- battles were won throughout Ireland:
thann (Criffann). It m:Ans  a fOZ.    The battle of Cuirchl, (in Kerrycur14 Sven y/ars. Four years accord- rihy, county Cork;) the battle of Luaing to the Four Masters.            chair, (in Kerry;) seven battles in
15 A. lM. 4912.-Four Mastes.     Cliu, (Cliu-Mail, a district in Coshlea,
16 RUDRAIDEu I. This kinT's name county Limnerick;) the battle of Glenis spelled Rudhraidhe Mac Sithrighe, amzach, (Glazowwaagh, now Glanworth.
(Rooree Mlac Sheehree,)in modern Irish. county Cork;) the battle  f Sniiabh
17 Seventy. The Annals of the Four Mis, (in Kery;) the battle of Boirimn,




262                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND
INNVADMAR, ARD-RIGH.
A. M. 3880.18 Innadmar, son of Niadh Segamhain, son of
Adamar Folt-caein, of the line of Eber, reigned over Ireland
three years,"9 and then fell by Bresal Bo-dibadh.
BRESAL BO-DIBADH, ARD-RIGI.
A. M. 3883.20  Bresal Bo-dibadh,2' son of Rudraide, son of
Sithrighe, of the line of Ir, son of Miledh, enjoyed the kingdom
of Ireland for eleven years, until he fell by Lugaidh Luaigni.
LUGAIDH LUAIGNI, ARD-RIGH.
A. MI. 3894.22 Lugaidh23 Luaigni, son of Innadmar, son of
Niadh Segamhaim, of the line of Eber, held the sovereignty of
Ireland for five years, until he fell by Congal Claringnech.
CONGAL CLARINGNECH, ARD-RIGH.
A. M. 3899.24   Congalas  Claringnech, son of Rudraide, son
of Sithrighe, soft of Dubh, of the line of Ir, son of Mileclh, ruled
Ireland for fifteen years, and then fell by Duach Dalta Degaidh.
DUACH DALTA DEGAIDH, ARD-RIGIH.
A. M. 3914.26  Duaeh27 Dalta iDegaidh son of Carbii Rosglethan, son of Lugaidh Lurigni, son of Innadmar, son of Niadh
(now Burrin in Clare;) the battle of   22 A. M. 5002.-Four lasters.
Ikn, (in Leitrim;) the battle of Ai,   2 LUGAIDH IV. Lugaidh Luailne
(Magh-Aei is in Roscommon;) the  (Looee Looinie) reigned  for fifteen
battle of Cuil Sellinni, (now Kilcoolev, years.- lb.
in the county and barony of Roscom-   24 A. M. 5017.-Four Masters.
mon;) the two battles of Fortasg,   23 CONGAL I. This kin's surameis
(which is now unknown.") The Clan- otherwise written " Claroineach," i. e.
na Rudraide, (Clanna Rooree,) or clans of the Flat or Broad Faae. " Claringof Rudraide, and the most famous of nech" means, of the Broad or Flat
the Red Branch Knights were descend- Nails. " He did many notable acts
ants of this Rudraide Mor. O'Hallo- of chivalry, as there are volumes of
ran says that he aided Massinissa in his history written of his hardiness and
wars against the Romans.            manhood." - Annals of Clonmacnoise.
18 A. M. 4982.-Four Masters.      Congal was the grandsire of Naeisi,
19 Three uears. He reigned for nine Annli, and Ardan, the three sons of
years, accordin(r to the Four Masters Usnach, whose tragic fate is related
and other authorities.              further on.
20 A. M. 4991.-Four Masters.       26 A. M. 5032.-Four Masters.
21 Bo-dibadh, Bresal or Breasal Bo-   27 DUACIT III.  Surnamed Dalta
dhiobhadh, (Brassns Bo-yeeva,) received  Deghaidh, (Dya or Daa,) i. e. the Foshis name from a murrain or cow-plague terling of Deaidh.
that devastated Ireland during his reign.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                      263
Segamhain, of the line of Eber, held the kingdom  of Ireland for
ten years.  The reason why he was called Duach Dalta Degaidh
was the following: Carbri Losg-lethan had two sons; Duach and
Degaidh were their names. There was a rivalry between them, as
to which of them should be king of Ireland; for they were both
qualified to be candidates for the royalty in mien, person, achievements, and valor.  But Degaidh, who was the youngest of the
two, sought to supplant Duach, his elder.  When Duach had noticed this, he sent a messenger for his brother, and Degaidh
thereupon came to the place where he was; and, as soon as he
bad done so, Duach had him seized, and caused his eyes to be
thrust out.  Hence he got the cognomen of " I)alta Degaidh," or
Blinder of Degaidh.2?   As a record of this deed, some bard has
left us the following verse:
" By treacherous wile was Degaidh lured
To come beneath his brother's roof;
And there that brother, Duach false,
Ungenerously thrust out his eyes."
This Duach fell by the hand of Factna Fathach, son of Cas.
FACTNA FATHACH, ARD-RIGH.
A. AM. 3924.29   Factna Fathach, or Facttna the Wise, son of
Cas, son of Rudraide, son of Sithrighe, son of Dubh, son of
Foghmar, of the line of Ir, son of Miledh, held the sovereignty
for sixteen years, and then fell by Eocaidh Feidlech.
28 Blinder of Degaidh.-" Dalta" ants were called Ernaans, thou(gh quite
can scarcely admit of the forced mean- different fiom the more ancient Ernaans
ing given to it, in this instance, by our of the Fer-Bolg race. These afterauthor. It is the common Irish word wards took the name of Dal-Fiatach in
used to express fosterling or alumnus, Ulster, and a branch of them, that miand it is to be questioned if a single grated to Munster, took the name of
other instance can be shown from Irish  Clanna Degaidh. The latter had been
writings in which it has any reference driven from  Ulster by the'Clanna
to blinding. "O'Flaherty shows, from  Rudraide, while Duach was king of
the Book of Lecan, from O'Duvegan's Ireland, and this king then gave landa
Book, and from Gilla-Caemhan's poem, in MMunster to his foster-father Degaidh,
written in the twelfth century, that son of Sen, son of Olild Aronn, who
Dufch had no brother named Degaidh, was their chief. After Duach's death
but that he was called "Dalta Degraidh," Degaidh was declared king of Monster,
because he was the Alumnus, or Foster  and his posterity divided the sovereignson of Degaidh, son of Sen, of the Ernaans ty of that province for some ages with
of Munster."-See O'Donovan's Notes the Eberians. In those ages the Ebeon the Four Masters.               rians ruled the South and the DegaFiachaidh Fermara, or the Mariner, dians the North of Munster. —See
son of King Aengus Tuirmech, had a  O'Flaherty's Ogygia.
son named Olild Aronn, whose descend-   29A. M. 5042.-Four Masters.




264                 THE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.
EOCAIDH  FEIDLECH, ARD-RIGH.
A. NM. 3940.30 Eocaidh3a Feidlech, son of Finin, son of Finnloga,
son of Roighnen Ruadh, son of Esamhain of Emhain, son of
Blathacta, son of Labraidh Lore, son of Enna Aignech, son of
Aengus Tuirmech, of Tara, of the line of Erimhon, ruled the
kingdom of Ireland for twelve years.  Benia, daughter of Crimthann, was the mother of this Eocaidh Feidlech.  IHe was called
Eocaidh Feidleeh, because he was for a long time addicted to
sighing; for "feidhil," (feil,) signifies "'long," and " ech" (ogh),
means a "sigh."  Thus, feidhlech (feilagh), mleans "long-sighing;'
for a sigh never left his heart since his sons were slain by him in
the battle of )Drom-Criaidh,32 until he died.  These sons, Bres,
Nar, and Lothar, were called the three Finnemhna (Finnevna,
or  ilenewna), from  the word  " amhaen'33 (acvayne), i. e. " not
separate," or "not single;" and by it was meant, that none of
them was born separately, but that they were all three born at
the same time.  Clothfinn, daughter of Eocaidh Uct-lethan l 4 was
the mother of these princes, and, she had borne them at one
birth.
Eocaidh Feidleoh was the first that divided3'and arranged Ireso A. M. 5058.-Four Masters.       the Broad-Chested. O'Flaherty calls
31 EOCAIDI X. Feidlech, Eocaidh's him Artur Uct-lethan.
distinctive appellation, could mean the   3' Was thefirst that divided,'c. Our
Wctcher or the Vigilant. The etymol- author is inexact in the language he
ogy by which it is made to mean con- here employs, and he thereby contrastant sighing', is beneath criticism: the  diets what he has already stated sevetermination " ch" varied to " ech" and  ral times. Hle should have said, that
" ach" in compliance with  an Irish  Eocaidh was the person who r-stored
euphonic rule, is of no more signifi- the pentarchy. O'Flaherty gives the
cance in Irish than " us" is in Latin.   following account, here abridged from
32 Drom Cri lidh (Drumcree), lies in  his Ogygia, of the revolution etflcted
West Meath. O'Flaherty  discredits during the reign of this ding: " Kiig
those who relate that the three Finns'Eocaidh, in the first year of his reign,
waged war against their father.      instituted or rather revived the pen33.mhaen. LThis word is not Irish, tarchy. But we must not suppose that
at least it is not so in the sense above the pentarchy was then instituted for.
stated. Dr. O'Donovan says, in his the first time, because it appears that
annotations  on  the Four Masters, there were five rulers over the five
that this kin,'~ tthree sons, Breas or provinces, from the very beginning of
Bres, Nar and Lothar, were called the the royalty. The Scots continuedi it,
three Finns of Emhaia, i. e. "na Tri some of whom, as the Eberians and
Finn Emhna" (na Three Finn Ewna  Lugadians (the descendants of Lugaidh,
or Evna!. This is natural, and accord- son of Ith), ruled the two Munsters.
ing to the genius of the language. The  These had, it is true, been for some
above ridiculous pun is abhorrent to  time intruded upon by the Ernaans, of
it. They had received the name, pos- the line of Erimhlcn, by whom they
sibly, from having been fostered at Em- were driven into the western recesses
hain Mache.                          of their country; but then, by a vigor" Eocaidh Uct-lethan, i. e. Eocaidh  ous effort, they repossessed themselves




TIIE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                       265
land into provinces, or pentarchates, for he apportioned  Connaught into three parts, between three chieftains,36 namely, Fidach,
son of Fiach,. Eocaidh Alat, and Tinni, son of Curaidh.  To
Fidach he gave the territory of the Fir-na-Craeibi, friom  Fidach
to Luimnech; to Eocaidh Alat he gave Irrus Domnann, from
Galimh to Dubh and Drobacis; and to Tinni, son of Curaidh, he
gave Magh-Samb and the old districts of Taeiden, from  Fidach
to  Tcmhair-3-rogbha-Niadh  (Tl(vwir-Vrow-Neeah), in  Leinster.
The province of Ulster he granted to Fergus, son of Ledi; the
province of Leinster to Rosa, son of Fergus Fargi, and the two
provinces of Munster he bestowed upon Tighernach Tiedbennach
and upon Degaidh.  And thus, during his reign, he had Ireland
under his sole dominion and control, until he died at Temllhair
(Tara).
Some time after this, Eocaidh went into Connaught, and those
three kings of its threq divisions came to meet him.  Of them,
Eocaildh thereupon requested  a site in Connaught whereon to
build himself a royal residence amongst them. Eocaidh Alat and
Fidach replied, that they would give him  no such site, for they
preferred sending him  his rent to Temhair.  But the third  of
these princes, Tinni, son of Curaidh, was willing that Eocaidh
should have a place for his royal residence.  Then Eocaidh gave
his own daughter, Medb (Ifeive or  fcaive), as wife to this chieftain, and they made a friendly league with one another.  The
monarch next asked his Druids where he should build the palace,
and they advised  him to build it at Drom  nla-n-Druadh (Drumof their territories, which they thence- ing, and 5th, the division between Con
forth held uninterruptedly, and with  of the HIundred Battles and Eogan
redoubled power, down to the English  Mor, king of Munster. Three hundred
invasion. The Ultonians maintained  years having now passed since the ditheir full sway down to the destruction  vision by lagani iMor, Eocaidh reof Emania or Emhain, and Irian branch  scinded the form established by that
still longer, having become incorpo- conqueror, and appointed a pentarch
rated with the Erimonian Ernaans. over each province from amongst its
Leinster had been ceded to the Erimno- ruling princes."
nians; after some time Connaught fell   As a period of great disorder and
under their rule, and at length Ulster. bloodshed and confusion continued to
The political divisions of Ireland have devastate Ireland, during, and  long
been various, accordinig to the will and - after Eocaidh's reign, it is fair to conthe power of itsvarious monarchs. How- clude, that he had been forced to reever, they never totally abrogated the store the pentarchy, in order to place a
first five-fold division. In the Scotic check upon the turbulence of the local
dynasty we read of five partitions: 1st, chieftains.
one between Eber and Erimh6n; 2d,   36 Three chieftains.   These three
between Kermna and Sobarki, which  chieftains were Fer-Bolgs or Belgians,
lasted 100 years; 3d, that by Iugani which nation still possessed Connaught.
Mor into twenty-five districts, which  The partition of the province between
lasted 300 years; 4th, that of the pen- them has been already treated of.
tarchs, of whom we are now treat



266                THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
nan-rooah), i. e. The Druids' Hill, which is now called Cruachain.al
The rath was then  commenced by the Gamanraidhe,8 from
Irrus Domnan, and the dike of that fortress of Eocaidh  was
reared up in one day; as the bard thus informs us:
"In one day was-the tribe of Domnann
Forced to build Ip that earthen rampart;
For that stern king of FaM, the festive,
No respite would allow his workers."
They next built a dwelling within it, and Eocaidh granted the
kingdom  of Connaught to Tinni, son of Curaidh, to whom  he
then gave his daughter Medb in marriage.  Shortly afterwards,
Eocaidh Alat was slain by Tinni, who thereupon gave the kingdomn of the Fer-Domnanns to Olild Finn.  Medb bestowed the
command of Rath-Eocaidh upon  Cruacha Croiderg, her own
mother; and it is from  this Cruacha that the fort has received
its present name of Rath-Cruachan (Raw- Urooghctn), as the bard
tells us in the following verse:
"Once Drom na-n1-Druadh, then Tulach-Aidni,
And next Rath-Eocaidh it was called;
Rath-Cruachan last, from Cruacha Croiderg,
Who raised dire wrath throughout the land."
Medb continued long afterwvards to be the wife of Tinni, sonr
of Curaidhi, until he fell at Temhair by the hand of Monudir,
who was also called AMac Keact.  After the death  of Tinni,
Medb held the sovereignty of Connaught for ten years in her
own hands, without allying herself in marriage with any publicly,
though during this time she indulged in private amours, just as
her inclination prompted her. She afterwards took Olild Mor, son
of Rosa Ruadh of Leinster, as her husband, and bore hiln seven
soihs, who were called The Seven Manis.  It was Conall Kehrnach that slew  Olild.tt Cruachain, when he was an old man.
Conall slew him  by a cast of a javelin; and the men of Connaught pursued and killed him  in revenge for the deed.
There was, indeed, a long vwar, and continual hostility between
the people of Connaught and the Ulidians during the time that
37 Cruachai,. We must not under- ist the remains of several earthen
stand, from the building of this iath at forts.
Cruachain, by Eocaidh, that it was in  3' Gamanraidhe. Tho Gamanraidhe or
his time that that locality became dis- Gamauradi, were a fierce and warlike
tinguished as a royal residence. It was Belgian or Fer-Bolg tribe, seated in
celebrated long( before his day. The Erris or Irrus-Domnann, in the northrath of Cruachain, now called Rath west of Connaught. This name is
Croghan, lies near Belanagare, in the pronounced Gowalnree and Ga1ariree.
county of Roscommon, where still ex



THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                  267.Medb reigned over Connaught, and while Concobar was king of
Uladh.  But, in order that the reader may understand the cause
of this enmity that existed between them, I shall set down here
the manner in which the children of Usnach, son of Congal
Claringnech, were slain, in violation of the guaranties and sureties of Fergus Mac Roigh, of Cormac Conlingas, son of ConcoDar and of Dubthach Dael-Uladh. Here follows a brief summary
of the story:
The death of the Sons of'Usnach, down here.39
On a certain day, on which Concobar had gone to partake of
a feast at the house of Feidlimid, son of Dall, his own story-teller,
the wife of his host gave birth to a beautiful daughter while the
festivities were going on. Then Cathbaidh, who was present at
that meeting, prophesied and foreboded for the girl, that great
misfortune and loss was about to befall the province through her
means. When the warriors heard this, they proposed to have
her put to death immediately. "Let no such thing be done,"'
said Concobar, "for I shall take her with me and send her to be
reared, so that she may in time become my own wife." The
druid Cathbaidh then named her Derdri.4~  Concobar shut her
up in a lonely fort, where he placed a tutor and a nurse to rear
her; and there no one in the province dare go near her but her
tutor and her nurse and the spokeswoman of Concobar, who was
named Lebarcam.  Under these regulations she continued until
she had become marriageable, at which period she excelled all
the women of her time in beauty.
It happened once, upon a snowy day, that her tutor had killed
a calf in order to dress it as food for her, and, when its blood had
been spilled upon the snow, that a raven stooped down to drink
of it.  As soon as Ddrdri had noticed this, she said to Lebarcam,
that she would like to have a husband, in whom were combined
the three colors which she then saw before her; that is, having
hair of the color of the raven, cheeks the color of the calf's blood,
and a skin of the color of snow.  "There is such a man.as that,"
said Lebarcam, "and bhis name is Naeisi, son of Usnach, now in
the household of Concobar."  " O then, Lebarcam," said DThrdri,
"I beseech you to send him to speak with me, alone and unobserved."  Lebarcam, thereupon, went and told the matter to
Naeisi, who, when he had heard it, came privately to meet Dbrdri,
39 The sons of Us7ach. Literal trans- volume of the Transactions of the Gaelic
lations of two ancient versions of the Society of Dublin, published in 1808.
tale entitled, The Death of the sons of  40 Derdri, otherwise Deirdre, meaw
Usnach or Uisnech, (called Usnoth by alarm.
Macpherson,) are to be found in the




268              THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
and she declared to him the greatness of her love, and begged of
him to elope with her from Concobar. Naeisi consents thereto,
though much against his will, through fear of Concobar. He
then set out for Alba, accompanied by his two brothers, Andli
and Ardan, and one hundred and fiftv warriors, taking Deirdri
thither with him.  In that country they got maintenance and
quarterage from the king of Alba, until he had got tidings ot
Derdri's beauty, upon which he cleiranded her as a wife for himself. Naeisi and his brothers were seized wit h indignation at this,
and they left Alba, retreating  inlto anl island in the sea with
D6rdri, having previously had many conflicts with the people of
the king.
But, -when it was heard in Uladh, that the sons of Usnach
were in such distress, many of the nobles of the province told
Concobar that it was a sad thing that these warriors should be in
exile on account of a wicked woman, and that hle ought to send
for them and have them brought home. Conecobar consented to
do this, at the re.quest of his nobles, and he gave Fergus Aac
Roigh, and Dubthach Dael-Uladh, and Cormac Conlingas, as
guarantees that he would hlimself act towards them with good
faith. Upon these condli.ions, Fergus AIac Roigh sent Fiacaidh,
his own son, to the sons of  snachll; and this Fiacaidh brought
back with him to Ireland, both them and their band of warriors,
and Ddrdri; and no adventures are related of them until they
had arrived upon the green of Emhain. IUpon that green, Eogan.
son of Durthact, chieftain of Fernmaighe,4' met them with a large
host, which he had brought with him, at the suggestion of Concobar, for the purpose of acting treacherously by them. As soon,
then, as the sons of Usnach had come up, Eogan approached
Naeisi as if to \welcome him, and while seeming to do so, he
thrust his spear through that warrior's body.  When Fiacaidb,
son of Fergus, saw this, he threw himself between Eogan and
Naeisi; but Eogan made a second thrust with his spear and laid
him dead by the side of his fi'iend. After this, Eogan and his
forces threw themselves upon the sons of Usnach and murdered
them, and made a dreadful carnage of their people.
When Fergus and Dubthach had heard of the murder of the
sons of Usnach, in violation 6f their sureties, they marched upon
Ernhain and came to an engagement with the forces of Concobar,
in which Mani, the son of Conecobar, fell, and three hundred of
his warriors with him. They then pillaged and burned Emahain,
and slew Concobar's women. They next mustered their partisans
from  all sides, and, accompanied by Cormac Conlingas, they
marched into Connaught with a host that numbered three thou" Fernmagh, now Farney, in Oirghialla.




TRIE IISTORY OF IRELAND,                      269
sand warriors.  There they were welcomed and received into
pay by Olild and Medb.  When they had reached that territory,
they never rested a single night without sending out parties of
pillagers to ravage and plunder Uladh.  So thley continued, until
they had completely laid waste the territory of Cualgni,a4 a deed
whence sprung many misfortunes and afflictions to both provinces.
It was during this time that Fergus had an illicit intrigue with
Medb, who bore him  three sons at a birth, and their names were
Kiar, and Core, and Conmac, as.the poet tells us in the following
verse:
"The fruitful Medb, in fair Cruachain,
Loved Fergus, who from foe ne'er turned,
And bore him three sons, tall and comely,
Named Kiar, and Core, and Conmac."
It is from this Kiar that the KIiarraide Mumlhan43 (Iereee Jfoo0n)
are called, and of his descendants are the O'Connors Kerry; from
Core are descended the O'Connors Corcomroe;44 and from Colnmac
are named all the Conrnacni that are in Connaucght.  Whoever
will read the poem  vlwhlih Lugair, the bard of Olild, composed,
and which becins with the line, "The Mlans of Fergus, cllans preeminent," will clearly learn the great power and distinction of
these three sons of Medb, in Connaugllht and in Munster — a thing
that is also manifest from the number of districts that have been
named from them in these two provinces.
But to return to Ddrdri, who was the cause of all we have just
narrated: she remained a year with Concobar, after the slaying
of the sons of Usnach; and though trifling it may seem to raise
up her head or smile, still she was never known to do so durino
tliat time.  WVhen  Concobar saw that no amusements or kindness
could have any effect upon her, and that neither wit nor mirlth
could remove the lowness of her spirits, he sent for Eogan, son
of Durthact; and when Eogan had come into his presence, lie
said to D(rdri, that, since he was himself unable to turn her mind
away from sorrow, she mlist now spend some time with Eogan.
42 Cutalgi-in the county of Louth. the Kiarraide Mumlhan. The territory
The famous tale called the "Tain Bo of this tribe extended from tlhe harbor
Cuailgni," i. e. the Cattle Spoil of Cua- of Tralee to the mouth of the Shannon.
ilgni, has been founded upon the plun- From this tribe, whose country is otherderilng of this district.           wise called Kiarraide Luachra, the
* 3 ]iarraide Mumhan, i.e. the descend- modern county of Kerry has its name.
ants of Kiar, i. e. Kiaraide of Munster.   44 Corc!mroe. Besides the O'ConAs before stated, O'Concobhair (O'Con- nors Corcomroe, the O'Lochlins of
cooir or O'CoJncovwir) Kerry, was chief Burren, in the north of Clare, are also
of this tribe. The O'Cahills, O'Dugains descended from Core son of Fergus, and
and O'Conwvays of South Munster, were queen Medb.
also, according to O'Halloran, septs of




270                THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
She was then immediately placed behind Eogan in his chariot.
Concobar went himself to attend them on their way; and, as
they journeyed along, she kept continually casting looks of wild
indignation at Eogan, who was placed before her, and at Concobar,
who followed behind;, for there lived not on the earth two persons that she hated more than she did them both.  When Concobar noticed her looking thus alternately at Eogan and at himself, he said to her, in coarse ironical pleasantry: " Drdri, these
are the glances of a sheep between two rams, that you are casting
at me and at Eogan."  When D/rdri had heard him, she started
up at his words, and jumping suddenly out of the chariot she
dashed her head against a sharp rock that stood on the wayside
before her, so that small fragments were made of her skull, and
her brain immediately flowed out. Such was the origin of the
banishment of Fergus45 Mac Roigh, of Dubthach Dael-Uladh,46
and of Cormac Conlingas; and such the death of Derdri.
As it was in the days of Concobar and of the Heroes, that Medb
reigned in Connaught, and as she lived ten years after the death
of Tinni, son of Curaidh, her first husband, and was afterwards
the wife of Olild Mor for eighty years, and again had been for
eight years a widow after Olild's death, when she was slain by
Forbaide, son of Concobar; I shall narrate here succinctly the
deaths,with a few of the achievements of some of the most famous
of the HIeroes47 that lived in her time.  In the first place, I shall
set down the substance of the adventures, whence came the death
of Concobar, son of Factna Fathach.48
The death of Concobar, kcing of Uladh down here.
As an incitement to warriors to act bravely in the fight, it was
in those days the custom to give a mark of distinction, called the
Badge of Heroes,49 as a token of victory, to him who had proved
himself the most valiant in single combat, and who had van4' Fergus was styled Mac Roigh, i.e. The name Dubhthach (Doohagh or
son of Roig'h (Roe), from his mother. Dtffagh) means, the dark man.
His, father was Rosa Ruadh, son of   47 The Heroes. The " Curaidhthe na
Rudraide Mor, king of Ireland. He  Craeibhe Ruaidhe" (CurritYi na Creehad been elected king of Ulster upon vie Rooee), i. e. the Knights or Heroes
the death of Fergus, son of Ledi; but of the Red Branch, were emphatically
he had scarcely reigned three years,. styled Na Curaidhthe (CurrZih), or,
when he was dethroned by Concobar The Heroes.
Mac Nessa, and expelled into Con-'4s Son of Factna Fathach. Concobar,
naught. His desire to recover his lost or, as liis name is more usually rendered,
kingdom was, then, a stronger motive  Connor, is generally styled Mac Nessa,
for his wars, than his wish to revenge from his mother. His father had been
the murder of the sons of Usnach.  king of Ireland.
46 Dubthach Dael-Uladh, i. e. Dub-   49 The Badge of Heroes. "Mir na
thachthe chafer or beetle of Ulster. g-Curadh" (meer na gurrah), is thus




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                     271
quished his adversary in the; field of valor.  From this custom
there arose a dispute, in Eman, between Conall Kehrnach, Cu.
chulain and Laegari Buadach, as to which of them should have
the Badge of Heroes. Upon this, Conall sent for the brains of a
valiant and mighty champion of Leinster, named Meskedair,
whom lie had himself slain in single combat.  Then, when the
brains of that warrior were exhibited, both Laegari and Cuchulainn gave up their contest with Conall, for they were convinced
that neither of them had ever performed so great a deed of.
prowess or championship.  It was also a custom in those times,
for the warrior who had slain any champion of great renown, to
take out his brains, and having mixed them with lime, to form a
hard round ball thereof, which he was wont to exhibit at conventions and public assemblies, as a trophy of victory in feats of
valor.  Two fools, maintained by Concobar, took notice of the
great estimation in which every one held the ball made of the
brains of AMeskeldair, and thereupon stole it, on the next morning,
from the Crimson Branch.  There were, indeed, three houses in
Emhain, in the time of Concobar, namely, the Warrior's Sorrow,
the Crimson Branch,50 and the Red Branch."5  In the first of
these houses were tlhe wounded; and thence it was called the
Warrior's Sorrow,52 from the sorrow and affliction which the sick
warriors experienced therein from  the anguish of their wounds
and other diseases.  The second house was called the Crimson
Branch, and in it were kept the arms and valuable jewels.  The
brains of Meskedair were also kept there, with other articles of
value.  The third house was called the Red Branch, and it was
in this that Concobar and his warriors were wont to be served.
But, to return to the fools, when they had stolen the brains of
AMeskedair from the Crimson Branch, as I have just said, they
went upon the green of Emhain, and began to toss the brains like
a handball from one to the other, and they were thus engaged
when Keth, son of AMagach, a mighty warrior of the Connaughtmen, and a fierce wolf of evil to the men'of Ulster,53 came up,
and succeeded in coaxing the fools to give him the ball of brains,
translated by Halliday, "' Mir,' liter-  52 The Warrior's Sorrow-in Irish,
allymeans aportion, ordividend." The " Broin-bherg"  (Brone-varg),  from
editor has not been able to ascertain  "bron," sorrow or pain, and "berg," a
what particular thing is meant by it in soldier or champion.
this instance.                       53 A wolf of evil to the men of Ulster
60 Crimson Branch-in Irish," Craebh- -onchu uilc ar Ultachaibh. Keth was
Dherg" (Craiv-ycarg). The word "derg" the brother of Olild Finn, chief of the
signifies bright red, or scarlet.  fierce Gamanraidhe of Irrus Domnann.
5' Red Branch-in Irish, " Craebh  The far-famed Fenian clan of Morna
Ruadh" (Craiv-rooa). Ruadh is a dull- were the descendants of this Fer-Bolg
er and rather browner red. It is the warrior.
term applied to red-haired people.




272               THIE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
which he then brought off into his own country; and afterwards,
whenever he came to do battle against the Ulstermen, he always
carried the brains of Meskedair in his gilrdle, in hopes of bringing some calamity upon Ulaclll; for it had ben prophesied,  that
nMeskedair would be reveng:-l  after his death upon the Ulidians,
and he: supposed that this prediction would be verified by reanls
of the ball of brains.  For this reason did lie carry it always
about him, in hopes of killing some of the Ulster chieftains there-.with.
Keth, then, soon went to plunder Ulster, with a numerous army,
and drove off a large prey of cattle from the men of Rtos;5 but he
was pursued by a great force of the Ulildians.  The men of Connautght fl-ck from the west to the help of Keth, and Conlcobar
comes from the east to stpport the Ulidians.  But whenl IKth
heard that Concobar was in the pursuit, lie sent to the Awomen of
Connaucllt, who were on a hill viewing the contending armies,
and requested of theni to entice Concobar to pay them a visit, as
he knew  lidm  to be a man of gallantry and affability, and was
also aware that the Ulidians would  not'allow their king to take
part in the fight against his Connaughtmen.  Xow, as soon as
Concobar was tdld that the women wished to see him  he proceeded alone from the hill where he was stationed, in order to  1 idit
them; while Keth, on the other side, came privately, and lay in
wait in the midst of them, for the purpose of killing his lunautinous
enemy.  Then whenl Concobar was coming close to the women,
5Keth arose, and placed the brains of NMeskedair in. his sling in
order to Mkill him; but when Concobar saw him, lie retreated into
the midst of his own people.  But as he was entering the wood of
Dori-da-baeth, Keth cast the brains at him  from  his slinlg, and
struck him on the head therewith, so that his skutll was broken
by that east, and the brains of Mecskeldair sank into. his head.
Hlis people th.lon came up to his relief, and resculed himn from KIeth.
rl.e phvscuian Finghin Faithli.ag55 was at once sent for, anld when
he hadl arrived, lihe said that the kingr  would die immediately   if
the boll were taken fiom  his hlead.  Upon this, his friendls exclaimed, "We prefer to have our king disfigured than that lie,
should die."  Finghin then effected his cure, but cautioned him
never to give way either to anger or lust, and to avoid riding on
horseback and all violent exertions; for, if he did not, that tlhe
T te Mlen qf Ros. In Irish, " Fera Machaire Iois (CarrMg Mfagheie Ru6sh),
Rois." The district of the men of Ros now Carricklmacross, are supposed to
in question, lay in the barony of Far- have been comprised within it.
ney, county Monaghan. The parish of    inz hin F'ait/lia, i. c., Finghin
Mlachaire Rois (iLMIagherie Rush), now  the skilful physician. Pronounced FiMaghcross, and the town of Carraig neen F'awleea.




TIHE HISTORY OF IRELAND.             273
repulsive force of his own brain would cast out the ball and that
his death would ensue.
Some of our shannachies tell us that Concobar lived in this
state for seven years, until the Friday on which Christ was crucified. Then, upon his seeing the strange changes in the heavens,
and the darkness of the sun while the moon was full, he demanded of 13acrach, a Leinster Druid that attended him, whence came
these unusual alterations in the appearance of the heavens and
the earth.  "It is Jesus Christ, the Son of God," said the Druid,
"whom the Jews are this day putting to death."  "How sad that
is," said Concobar, "for, if I were now there present, I would
slay all that are around my king, engaged in putting. him to
death." Hle then drew his sword, and having gone into a
neighboring wood, he began to hack and cut the trees, exclaiming that if he were among the Jews, such was the vengeance that
he would wreak upon them. But then, from the violence of the
passion that had seized him, the ball bounded from his head, and
some of his brains followed it, and then he died upon the spot.
Coill Lamhrigh, in the territory of Ros, was the name of that
wood.
When Concobar had thus died, the kingdom of Uladh was
offered to any man who could succeed in carrying the body of
Concobar to Emhain, without resting on the road. Upon this,
one of Concobar's own servants, named Kenn Berraide, came
forward, woho,  oping to gain the kingdom of Ulster thereby,
bravely lifted the body, and carried it as far as Ard Achadh, on
Sliabh Fuaid, but at that place hi~ heart broke, and he died.
From that attempt has arisen the proverbial saying, " I-e aspires
to the kingdom of Kenn Berraide," which is applied to one who
ambitiously aspires to higher dignities than he can ever acquire.
But, although historic authors have handed down the above
account of Concobar, and tell us that he lived in the time of
Christ, yet, in truth, Christ was not born for a long time after
Concobar. The fact of the story is, that Bacrach, a Leinster
Druid, foretold that Christ, the Prophesied One, the Son of God,
would be begotten, take a human body, that he should be put to
death by idols, and that through him should come the redemption
of the human race from the bondage of the tempter. NVhen Concobar had heard this, he was seized with the violent excess of
anger of which we have spoken, through love of Christ; and he
began to cut down the wood of Lamrigh, faneying the trees to be
idols, and thus he died from his violent exertions. If any person
may wonder how Bacrach, or any other druid, who was a Pagan,
could have'foreseen the death of Christ, I would ask of him, why
it should have been more possible for the Sibyls, who were also
Pagans, to have prophesied Christ before his conception, than for
18




274.TIHE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Bacrach, and others like him. HIence, the story is not to be discredited for any such reason.
Of the death-of Keth, Son of Magach,56 down here.
This Keth was a man of prowess.  Hie continued, during his
lifetime, to be the constant enemy and untiring plunderer of the
Ulidians.  He went into Uladh, on a certain day, for the purpose
of wreaking vengeance and plundering, as was his wont, and there
came down a heavy fall of snow. As he was returning with the
heads of three warriors, whom he had slain on his foray, Conall
Kearnach came upon his track, and overtook him  at Ath-Keith.
There they fought, and Keth fell in the combat, whilst Conall
was so sorely wounded that he fainted away from the loss of
blood. Upon this, Bealcu Breffni, a Connaught chamhpion, arrived upon the spot, and found Keth already dead, and Conall at
death's point, and he exclaimed that it was happy tidings to
have two such ravenous wolves, from whom so much ruin had
come upon Ireland, thus lying in that sad plight. "That is true,"
said Conall, "and in vengeance for all the misery I have ever
caused to Connahght, kill me now."  IIe said this, because he
had rather than the sovereignty of Ireland, that some second
warrior should wound him, so that no single champion of Connaught should have the glory of slaying him.  " I will not kill
thee," said Bealcu, "for the state in which thou art is as bad as
death; but I shall take thee with me, and heal thy wounds, and if
thou recover, I shall fight thee in single combat, and shall thus
wreak vengeance upon -thee for all the woes and losses thou hast
ever inflicted upon Connaught." IIe then placed him on a bier,
and brought him to his own house, where he applied remedies to
him until his wounds were healed.
But when Bealcu saw that Conall was recovering, and that
his former strength was returning to him, he was seized with
fear, and prepared three champions, who were his own sons, to
murder him treacherously in his bed at night.  However, Conall
suspected this whispered treason, and, upon the night fixed upon
for its execution, he said to BBalcu that he should exchange beds
with him, or that he would kill him. Upon this Bb6alcu lay
down in the bed of Conall,'though sore against his will, and
there he was forced to stay until the champions, his own sons,
56 Son of Magach.  Hle was thus ceeded Mani, the son of Queen Medb.
called from his mother. Many of the The Connaught Belgians were supposBelgian or Damnonian kings of Con- ed to have descended from Sengann and
naught were sprung from Keth. His Genann, who were kings of Ireland
son, Sanb, sat on the throne of Con- previous to the Danaan and Gaelic
naught for twenty-six years. He suc- invasions.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                    275
came to the bed where Conall usually slept, and killed their own
father in his stead.  When Conall perceived this, he rushed
upon them and slew the whole three; and he beheaded both
them and their father, and brought their heads with him, on the
next day, in triumph to Emhain. It is in praise of this deed that
we find the following handed down by the bards:
"Amongst the feats of Conall Kearnach57
We count the famous Sack of ManaBy his hand fell the three-sired LugaidhBealcu's three sons he slew in Brefni."
Such were the deaths of Keth, son of Magach, and of Bealcu
of Brefni with his three sons. And, although we might extol
several other great deeds of Conall Kehrnach, we must, however,
forego mentioning them at the present time.
The death of Fergus iliac Roigh, down here.
During the exile of Fergus in Connaught, he once happened
to be with Olild and Medb at Magh-Aei, where their royal residence then was; and as they were one day walking on the bank
of the lake that was near their fort, Olild requested of Fergus to
enter the water and swim therein. Fergus complied; but while
he was yet in the lake, Medb took a fancy to go and contend
with him in swimming. Upon seeing her in the waves with
Fergus, Olild was seized with jealousy, and he commanded one
of his kinsmen, named Lugaidh Dall-Egeas, who attended him,
to cast a spear at Fergus, with which he pierced him through the
chest. The wounded Fergus came to land as soon as he had received the blow, and drawing the spear out of his body, he flung
it at Olild, and transfixed a hound that stood at that king's chariot, and he then fell down and died immediately, and they buried
him on the bank of that same lake.
It was this Fergus that killed Fiacna, son of Concobar, and
the champion Gerrghenn, son of Nillaidh,58 and Eogan,59 son of
Durthact, king of Fernmaighe, and many other heroes and war57 Conall Kearnach. This chieftain ies, and their correlative septs, in U1was one of the most famous of the Red- ster, and also of the O'Mordhas (O'MoBranch knights. He was son of Am- ra) or Moores of Leix, in Leinster, and
irghin, son of Cas, son of Factna, son all the clans of that stock. Conall was
of Cathbaidh, son of Kinga, son of cousin to Concobar Mac Nessa, CuchRudraide Mor, King of Ireland. All ulainn, &c. His son Irial Glunmarbethe tribes of the Irian race that have came king of Ulster, after Glasni, son
survived to latter times, trace their or- of Concobar, and the sovereignty of
igin, either to Conall KeArnach or to that province remained long in his famhis cousin, Fergus Mac Roigh. Conall ily.
was the progenitor of the Mac Aen-  68 Nillaidh, otherwise Illadh.
gusas or Magennises, of the O'Dunlev-   5 Eogan, son of Durthact.  This




276                THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
riors, whom we shall not mention here. It was he, also, that car
ried off the great spoils from Ulster, whence came so many wars
and enmities between the peoples of Connaught and Ulster, so
that the exiles, who went fiom Ulster into banishment with Fergus, continued seven, or as some say, ten years in Connaught, during which time they kept constantly destroying and plundering
the Ulidians on account of the murder of the sons of Usnach.
And the Ulstermen, in like manner, wreaked vengeance upon
them and upon the people of Connaught, and made reprisals for
the booty which Fergus had carried off, and for every other evil
inflicted upon them by the exiles and by the Connaught men,
insomuch that the losses and inj uries sustained on both sides were
so numerous that whole volumes have been written upon them,
which would be too long to mention or take notice of at present.
The death of Laegari Buadach,60 i. e. Laegari the Victorious,
down here.
Concobar had a poet named Aedh, son of Anind, who had a
criminal intrigue with  Magain that king's wife.  When  this
was told to Concobar, he condemned the poet to be drowned in
the lake of Laegari,61 and he was accordingly led thither for that
urpose at the command of the king.  When the herdsman of
Laegari saw them approaching the lake with this intent, he went
and told his master that they could find no other place for
drowning the poet in all Ireland but before his door.  When
Laegari heard this, he immediately rushed out and, as he did so,
he dashed his head against the lintel of the door, so that he fractured his skull. Nevertheless he flung himself with fury upon
the king's people, slew them all, and delivered the poet, and then
died upon the spot.
The death of iJVdb of CUuachain,62 down here.
When Olild had been slain by Conall Kearnach, AMedb went
to dwell at Inis-Clothrann, on Inch Ribh, and during her resiman was the murderer of the sons of rath. The traces of many such lakes
Usnach. He, too, was of the Clanna or ponds still remain in Ireland.
Rudraide. His father was son of Falbi,  62 Medb of Cruachain. "Of all the
son of Aengus, son of Rudraide Mor.  children of the monarch Eocaidh Feid0 Laegari Buadach, 6therwise Laegh- lech, by far the most celebrated was
aireBuadhach (LayerieBooagh). "Bua- Meadhbh or Mab, who is still redhach" is an adjective formed from. membered as the queen of the fairies
"Buadh"  (booah), victory.  Laegari of the Irish, and the Queen Mab of
was a most distinguished knight of the Spenser's Faery Queen, in which this
Red-Branch.                       powerful virago, queen and quean of
61 The Lake of Laegari, probably an  Connaught, is diminished to a ludicrous
artificial lake, constructed near his size in her fairy state.-O'Donovan.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                     277
dence there, it was her wont to take a bath every morning in a
spring that lay near the entrance to the island.  WVhen Forbaide,
son of Concobar, had heard this, he came privately to the spring,
and measured with a line the distance thence to the other side
of the lake.  Iie then brought the measure with him into Ulster,
and there he used to thrust two stakes into the ground, and to
each of them he fastened an end of the line.  He then Bed to
lace an apple on the point of one of the stakes and, standing
irnself at the other, he made constant practice of throwing at
the apple on the opposite one until he succeeded in hitting it.
This exercise he practiced continually until he became so dexterous that he never missed a single throw at the apple. Shortly
after this there was a meeting of the people of Ulster and Connaught, on both sides of the Shannon, at Inis-Clothrann.  Forbaide came thither from the east, in the assemblage of the Ulstermen; and one morning, awhile he stayed there, he saw Mledb
bathing, as usual, in the very same spring.  He, thereupon, instantly placed a stone in his sling and, having cast it, he hit her
full on the forehead, and she instantly died, having then enjoyed
the kingdom of Connaught for ninety-eight years.6
So far we have'branched off into digressions about the heroes
who were the cotemporaries of AMedb; but we shall now return
to the monarch Eocaidh Feidlech.  This Eocaidh had three sops
and three daughters.  The sons were Bres, lNar, and Lothar, and
Ethni Uathach, Clothra, and Medb of Cruachain, were the three
daughters,04 as the bard tells us in the following verse:
"Three daughters had king Eocaidh FeidlechLoud swells their fame —
Ethni the Proud, and Medb of Cruachain,
And fair Clothra."
We shall now go back to Concobar, and relate some facts respecting him.  A daughter of Eocaidh Sulbuide, of Connaught,
was his mother, and her narae was Nessa; and it was from her
Ninety-eight years. Mani Aith- roes that flourished some time before, as
remhail (Athrewdil), one of the seven as well as some time after her day.
sons whom Medb had by Olifd Mor,  V' Th'ree daughters. O'Flaherty tells
succeeded her on the throne of Con- us, that he had six daughters, namely:
naught. O'Flaherty discredits the long 3Iumhain, Elie, Medb, Derbri, Clothra,
reign attributed to Medb. In fact he and Ethni. Of these Mumbain and
proves, by comparing the deeds in Ethni were both married to Concobar
which she was concerned with those Mac Nessa, and to him the former bore
that happened during the lives of her a son name Glasni, who succeeded him
cotemporaries, that she could not have as king of Ulster, the latter bore him
lived so long. The poets would seem  Forbaide, the slayer of Medb. Of all
to have caused the extension of her life six strange tales are recounted in the
and reign over so long a period, in or- Irish romances.
der to bring her into contact with he



278                THE HISTORY OT IRELAND.
that he received his surname, (i. e. Concobar or Connor Mac
Nessa).  His father was Factna, styled Fathach or the Wise, son
of Cas, son of Rudraide, of the line of Ir, son of Miledh.  And
when the provincial chiefs demanded that the exact bounds of
each province (or rather pentarchy) should be fixed, Carbri
Niafer king of Leinster, in consideration of getting the daughter
of Cotcobar in marriage, gave up to Ulster all the land that lies
from Temhair (or Tara), and from  Loch-an-Coigi in Breagh to
the sea, a territory that contained three entire cantons or trichakeads of land, as the bard tells us in the following verse:
"When Eri's' fifths' were yielded up,
From sea to sea, to Pentarch sway,
By treaty Concobar then joined
Three cantons wide to Uladh's bounds."
Felim of the Bright Form, was thy name of the daughter by
whose means he acquired this addition of territory; and she
soon after eloped lasciviously with Conall Kearnach from  the
king of Leinster.
With regard to Concobar, he had twenty-one sons, and in a fit
of drunkenness he committed incest with his own mother, who
bore him a son, who was named Cormac Conlingas.  Cormac is
the same as " Corb-mac,"65 i. e. a son begotten incestuously; and
he was so called because Concobar had committed "corba," i. e.
incest, with his own mother. It was in punishment of this crime
that all his sons died without issue, except three, namely: Benna,
from  whom  descended the Benntraide (Bantree); Lamha, from
whom came the Lamhraide (Lauvree); and GCasni, whose descendants were the Glasraide (Glossree). But even of these there is
not at this day a single descendant alive in Ireland.
The Battle of Aenach ifacha,66fought by Concobar and his Kinsmen,
down here.
Concobar, son of Factna the Wise, and his kinsmen, fought the
battle of Aenach Macha, against Daball the iard-smiter, son of
5 Corb-mac. This derivation is not tion w* hunted out for it, either beprobable. The word " Corb," if it en- cause Concobar's incestuous offspring
ter at all into the composition of the chanced to bear it, or that the whole
proper name " Cormac," is most prob- story of the incest was built upon a
ably used in the sense of " chariot," malicious play on the letters of which
which is one of its meanings. " Cor- the name is composed. If " Cormac"
mac" was not then first applied as a have any meaning in Irish, it means
proper name; and if its origin was as " son of the chariot," or " charioteer."
infamous as above stated, it would' not   66 Aenach 3Iacha, i. e. the Fair
have been a name of such frequent oc- Green, or Field of Assembly of Macha,
currence in our annals. We may then at Emhain Macha, near Armagh.
safely conclude that the above deriva



THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                     279
the monarch of Lochlin.  Innumerable was the host of the son of
the king of Lochlin on that occasion, when he had come to make
a conquest of Ireland. He landed in the territory'of Uladh first,
and immediately led his forces to the plain of Macha. The
clans of Rudraide mustered round Concobar, in order to do battle
against those strange pirates.  Then Genann the Bright-cheeked,
son of Cathhadh, addressed his kinsmen and said, "Small is your
host, 0 men of Uladh, and young and beardless warriors are you
all."  "What then shall we do?" exclaimed all.  "Take," said
he, "a quantity of wool, and bind it firmly to your faces, and the
fear and terror of the foreign pirates will be increased thereby,
for they will fancy you to be all hardy and well-proved champions." Those of the Ulidians who were without beards acted
upon the council of Genann, and then they fought the battle, and
vanquished the sea-robbers, and slaughtered their host.  It is
from that battle they are called Ulaidh (Ullee).67
The Death of Uonlaech,"8 son of Guchulainn,down here. 
I-is death was caused by the following occurrence: Cuchulainn
had formerly gone to learn feats of valor from Sgathach (Skahagh), a heroine that dwelt in Alba, and at that time there was a
beautiful damsel in Alba, whose name was Aeifi (Eefte), daughter
of Ardgheim (Awridyaim).  This damsel fell violently in love
with Cuchulainn from his great fame and, having come to visit
him, she became his mistress.   From. this intimacy she soon
proved pregnant.  Cuchulainn then being about to return to Ireland, and having finished his gymnastic education under Sgathach, went to bid farewell to Aeifi, to whom he gave a chain of
gold, which he charged her to keep until his son had arrived at
manhood, and then to send the youth to himself with that same
chain of gold, as a token by which he could recognise him.  According to other accounts, it was a gold ring that he gave her,
and he charged her to send' his son to him to Ireland, as soon as
he became so well grown that his finger could fill it; and he also
laid three sacred inj unctions69 (gesa) upon his son, before he should
67 Ullaidh. An attempt to derive appears that all champions who were
the name Uladh from " Olann" (ullann) admitted to the order of chivalry, either
wool.                            took upon themselves or were subjected
6s Conlaech. An ancient poem upon to these "gesa."  Their exact nature
the  death of Conlaech  has been has not been explained; but it would
translated by Miss Brooks, and pub- appear that, independent of the duties
lished with the original in her Irish obligatory upon the whole order, each
Reliques.                         particular warrior had certain "gesa"
69 Sacred Injunctions.  These were peculiar to himself, by which he was
called in Irish "gesa" (gassa), the bound either to perform or to refrain
plural of " gels" (gtresh), which means fiom certain acts. In the notes to the
a votive injunction or prohibition. It tragic tale of the Children of Usnach,




280                 THE IISTORY OF IRELAND.
come to Ireland.  The first of these was, never to give way to
any champion or hero in the world. The second was, not to tell
his name, through fear, to any warrior living.  The third  was,
never to refuse to fight in single combat against the most powerful
champion upon earth.
In time, the young man having grown up anid increased in
strength, and llaving learned the exercises of war and chivalry
from Sgathach,70 that instructress of champions, set out for Ireland,
to see his father Cuchulainn.  Upcn his arrival, he found Concobar and the chiefs of Uladh met in assembly or convention at
Tract-Esi.  Concobar sent a warrior of his people, named Cunniri, to inquire who he was.  Then, when this messenger had
come into the presence of the youth, he demanded the latter's
name.  "I tell not my name to any single warrior upon the
ridge of the earth,"' says Conlaech. Thereupon, Cunniri returned
to  Concobar, and repeated to him  that insolent reply.  Then
Cuchulainn went to get an account of himself from the stranger;
but he only received the same answer from Conlaech.  A  bloody
combat ther. took place between them, andConlaech was overcoming Cuchulainn, 7 so that, although his hardihood and prowess
had been great in'all his former combats, he was now obliged to
retreat into an adjacent ford, and to call upon Laegh, son of Rian
of Gabra, for his spear, and with it he pierced Conlaeclh through
the body, and thus killed him.
If, 0 reader, I were here to relate the death of Cuchulainn by
we are told that " such vows were in- instructress of champions was no other
violate amnong our heathen ancestors. than Aeifi herself. Dun Sgathach, or
Any warrior who broke them became the fort of Sgathach, was on the Isle
infamous; and the vengeance of heaven  of Sky, which, perhaps, has its name
was dreaded as the immediate conse- from this heroine.
quence of their violation."  This was   71 Cuchulainn. Subaltam, the father
the ancient chivalry of the Irish, upon  of Cuchulainn (Cooghuzllin), was of the
which, perhaps, was grounded the more Erimonian race of the Ernaans of
modern one of the middle ages. Those Ulster. By his mother Detkind, daughwho were initiated into the Order of ter of the Druid Cathbaidh (Cafcth), he
valor, a very ancient one in Ireland, was closely allied to the Clanna itudwere peculiarly bound by these GESA or raide, and through her also he was the
s,)lenzln ijurct on.s. "Gesa nach ffuilin. first cousin of Conell Kearnach. whose
gid fir-laecha,' injunctions not resisted  mother was Fincaemh, daughter of
by true heroes, is a usual expression in  Cathbaidh, and of the three sons of Usour ancient tales; " Cuirim fo ghesaihh  nach, who were the children of her
thu" (Currim fo yassiv hoo); I place sister Ailbi. The annmalist Tighernach
thee under "gesa;" " Is mair(r do chailles calls Cuchulainn F,;rtissim,'s heres Scoto.
a ghesa;" he is, a wretch that loses his rum, i. e. the bravest hero of the Scots,
"gesa;" and numberless other similar and records his death in the second
phrases in our ancient stories and  year of the Christian era. We are
poems show the awe in which these there told that at the age of seven
obligations were held by the old Irish.  he was initiated into the military
70 Sgathach.  Others say that this order; that at seventcen he pursue




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                       281
the sons of Calitin, and that of Ferdiadh,72 son of Daman, by
Cuchulainn, and those of the seven Manies, the sons of Olild and
Medb, and of many other brave champions not here mentioned,
their recital would prove too vast and laborious an undertaking.
But if you wish for a full account thereof, you may consult the
Great Rout on Magh Murthemni, the Deaths of the Knights, the
Cattle Spoil of Cualgni, or the Cattle Spoil of Regamhan, ot the
Red Raid of Conall Kearnach, or the Feast of Emhain, or the
Cattle Spoil of Flidais,73 or other tales74 of this kind, still to be
seen in Ireland, and you will therein find ample mention both of
the above, and of many other knights and heroes besides, and of
their enterprises and adventures.
Nevertheless, I deem that I should not pass over Curigh, son
of Dari, in this history, nor should I omit to recount therein the
cause of his death, for he was a mighty 6hampion  and a cotemporary of Concobar and the HIeroes.  Moran of Afana (the Isle
of Man) was the mother of Curigh, son of Dari, as the bard
informs us in the following rann:
"Moran of Mana, of honor pure,
WVas the child of Ir, son of Uinnside;
The sister of Eocaidh Ecbeol she,
And mother of Curigh, son of Dari."
There were three orders of champions then coexistent in Ireland; and neither before them nor since their time were there
found any of the children of Miledh who were taller, more powerful, hardier, braver or more expert in feats of valor and chivalry
than they; for the Fiann of Leinster was not to be compared
with them.  The first order of these was composed of the heroes
or knights of the Red Branch, under Concobar,  The second was
formed of the Gamanraide (Gowanree) of Irrus Dornnann, under
Olild Finn; and the third was composed of the Clannia Decgaidlh
in West Munster,  under Curigh, son of Dari,
the plunderers of Cuailgni (when he   73 Flidais. This foray was so called
slew  Ferdiidh, son of Daman, the fiom Flidais or Flidhais (F/ees!h), who
bravest of the Gamtnnraidhe of Irrus became the wife of Fergus Mlac Roigh,
Domnan); and that at twenty-seven, he after the death of her first husband,
was slain by Lugaidh, grandson of Car- Olild Dubh (Duv), chief of the Firbri Niafer, at the battle of AMurthemni  Craeibhe, one of the Belgian tribes of
in Louth. Some call his slayer Lugaidh, Connaught.
son of Curig'h Alac Dari, Others say   74 Tales. Several versions of these
that Cuchulainn was slain by the sons tales, which are partly poetical and
of Calitin. His residence was at Dun- partly founded on fact, are still extant,
Delgain, now called Dundalk.       Their publication would be a vast boon
72 Ferdiadh, sor of Daman. This to the students of Irish antiquities. Dr,
redoubted champion fell at Ath-Fhir- Keatingr has drawn from their pages
diaidh (Awwhirdeea), or Ferdiadh's Ford, all the episodes, which he has introduced
now Ardee, in the county of Loathl,    into this part of his history,




282              THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
The death of Carigh, son of Dari, down here.
The following was the adventure whence came the death of
Curigh. The Heroes of the Red Branch, having mustered their
forces, went to ravage Mana, a sea-girt isle not far from Scotland,
where there was a great store of gold and silver with jewels and
many other articles of price, and a beautiful marriageable damsel,
who was the daughter of the lord of that island, and who surpassed all the women of her time in form and in feature, and her
name was Blathnaid (Blranid).  WThen Curigh had heard that
the Heroes were about going upon that expedition, he transformed himself by magic into a false shape, so that he might take
part in the adventure.  But when, under the guise of jugglers,
they were about plundering the island, they judged that there
would be great difficulty in taking the chief fortress, in which
were Blathnaid and all the treasures, both on account of the
strength of its fortifications and the number of the men that
defended them. Then Curigh, who was disguised as a clown, in
a gray garb, said that he would himself take possessionof the fort
for them, if he were only to get his choice of the jewels it contained.
This was promised him by Cuchulainn, and they then attacked the
fortress, with the clown in the gray garb at their head, who stopped
the motion of an enchanted wheel that was placed in the gate of
the rath, and thus let all the others in. They then plundered
it and brought away Blathnaid and all the treasures it contained.
They then returned to Ireland, and arrived at Emhain; and there,
when they were dividing the treasury, the clown of the gray garb
demanded his choice thereof, according to the promise made to
him. "Thou wilt get it," said Cuchulainn. "Then," replied he,
"' Blathnaid is my choice of the treasury."  " Take thy choice of
all the other jewels except Blathnaid," said Cuchulainn. " I will
take no exchange for her," said the clown in the gray garb.
Then Curigh made an attempt to take Blathnaid off; and, surprising her unperceived, he bore her away under an enchanted
(druidic) mask. When Cuchulainn perceived that the girl was
missing, he guessed at once that it was Curigh that had taken
her off, and he forthwith followed upon their track to Munster, so
that he came up with them at Sulchoid" (Sulloghode), where
the champions laid hold of each other; and they contended with
valor and courage, until Cuchulainn was thrown down by
Curigh, who then tied him  neck and heels,76 and left him
73 Sulchoid, now Solloghod or Sallow- " he inflicted on him the fettering of
head, on the borders of the counties of the five smalls, a Gaelic idiom, signifyTipperary and Limerick, not far from ing that he bound his neck, wrists and
the town of Tipperary.        ancles."-Halliday.
76 l'ied him neck and heels. Literallvy




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                       283
there bound as a captive, having first cut off his foe's hair77
with his sword. Having done this, he took Blathnaid with
him  into West-Munster, whil6 Cuchulainn was lying  in  his
bonds.  But Laegh, son of Rian of Gabra, soon came up and
loosed Cuchulainn, after which they both proceeded thence to
the north of Ulster, where they dwelt near the Peaks of Boirchi78
for the space of one year, and they came not into the assembly
of the Mlen of Ulster until Cuchulainn's hair had grown.  Then
at the end of the year, happening to be on the Peaks of Boirchi,
he saw a great flight of black birds coming over the sea from the
north, and when they had arrived at the land, he pursued them,
and by a feat called " taith-bheim79" (1thvaim), killed one of them
with his sling in every territory he passed through, until he had
killed the last black bird of them  at the stream of Bron in West_Munster.  On his return from  the West, he found Blathnaid8~
alone near the Finn-glas, in Kerry, where Curigh8' had a fortified
residence at that time. There a conversation then ensued between
them, in which the damsel told him  that there was not on the
world's face a man that she loved more than him; and she begged of him to come during the ensuing season of Samhain (AllHallows) with an armed host and carry her off by force or by
wile; and, that he might the more easily accomplish this, she said
that she should herself take care that Curigh should, at that time,
have but few warriors or attendants around him. Cuchulainn, promised to come to her at the appointed time, and then took his leave
and proceeded back to Ulster, where he related his adventure to
Concobar.
In the meantime Blathnaid told Curigh that he ought to build
for himself a stone fortressaa that should exceed all the royal res7 Cut qff his hair. lHe did this for   80 Blatlhnaid. This name is derived
the greater humiliation of his adver- from  "Blath" (Blah) a blossom  or
sary. No Irish chieftain could appear flower. It may mean the blooming.
in public without having his hair full  81 Curigh  is said to  mean, the
grown. The Irish wore the hair longr, royal hero or wolf-hound, as if Cuand it was considered disgraceful for a righ (Cooree) Cuchulainn means the
freeman to appear in public with it cut wolf-hound of Uladh or Ulster, as if
short.                              Cu-Ulainn.
7' The Peaks of Boirchi. The Benna   82 A stone fortress. Curigh Mac Dari
Boirchi, or Peaks of Boirchi, are situ- had his fortress upon the top of a high
ated near the source of the river Bann hill, situated between the bays of Casin Ulster.                         tlemain and Tralee, in Kerry.  The'9 Tath-bheim.  In O'Reilly's Irish  ruins of this fortress, which is yet
Dictionary, this word is translated a called Cathair Chonrigh (Cahir Conry)
mortal blow. It seems in this instance  or the stone fortress of Curigh, still
rather to mean a flying shot, or an ob- exist. It was a Cyclopean structure,
lique cast. The word "Tath," the first of circular form, and the immense size
part of the compound, has many mean- of the stones of which it is composed
ings, one of which is said to be slaugh- may have given rise to the story of the
ter, another aside.                 dispersion of the Clanna Degaidh, by




284                THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
idenccs that were in Ireland, and that he might do so by sending
the clans of Degaidh to gather and collect all the upright stones
in the kingdom  for that purpose.  Blathnaid's reason for this
counsel was, in order that the clans of Degaidh might be dispersed
in distant parts of Ireland, far from  Curigh, at the time when
Cuchulainn was to come to carry her off.  When C(uchulainn
then heard that the clans of Degaidh` were dispersed in this manner over Ireland, he set out privately, attended by an armed
band, and we hear no more of him  until he had arrived at a
wood near the residence of Curigh.  When he had taken up his
station therein, he sent her private word of his presence there with
an armed force. The reply she sent to him was, that she would
herself steal the sword of Curigh, and then, as a sign to him, that
she would spill a pail of new milk, which she had in the fort,
into the stream  that flowed from it into the wood where Cuchulainn lay in ambush. In a short time after he had received this
mressage, he perceived the stream becoming white from the milk,
and, thereupon, he led his men straightway to the dwelling, and
they stormed the fort upon Curigh and slew  himself therein,
having found him alone and without arms. They then took off
]31athnaid into' Ulster.  Since that adventure the river has ever
been named, Finn-glas (i. e. the white stream) from its having
been made wvhite by the milk.
But the bard of Curigh, whose name was Ferkertni, followed
Blathnaid into Ulster, in the hope of finding an opportunity of
killing her in revenge for Curigh.  When arrived in there, he
found Concobar and Cuchulainn, and company around them, on
the promontory of Kenn-Bera (Kanz-Barra).   Then, the bard,
seeing Blathnaid standing on the edge of a cliff, came up to her,
and clasping his arms around her, 4e flungg both himself and her
headlong down the precipice with a bound, so that they were
both thus slain.
Curigh, in search of the upright stones, West Munster, down to a late period,
i, e. pillar stones, at Blathnaid's desire. notwithstanding their subjugation by
The promontory of Loophead, on the the Eberian chieftain, Eogan Mor,
opposite shore of the county of Clare, styled Mogh.Nuadath. Of that race
was formerly called " Leinm Chonchu- came the late celebrated chief of the
lainn" or Cuchulainn's Leap, for that Irish people Daniel O'Connell.  The
hero was fabled to have leaped across Degadians were said to be the restorers
the mouth of the Shannon, when on his of military discipline and of the equesway to attack Curigh.              trian order in Munster. The principal
83 Clanrs of D2gaidh. Of the tribe  clans into which they branched, were
of the renowned Curigh Mac Dari, the the O'Falvies, O'Connells and O'Sheas
Degadians or Ernaans of Munster, sev- of Kerry, the O'Flinns and O'Doneeral clans continued to hold a distin- gans of Muskery, the O'Cronacans,
gWished place amongst the septs of O'Crornos, &c.




TIE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                       285
EOCAIDH AREMLI, ARD-RIGH.
A. M. 3952.7  Eocaidh85 Aremh, son of Finn, son of Finnloga,
son of Roighnen Ruadh, son of Esamhan of Emhain, son of
Blathact, son of Labraidh Lorc, of the line of Erimhon held the
sovoeeignty of Ireland for twelve years.  He got the surname
"Aremh"85 because he was the first that dug a grave in Ireland;
for "Aremh" (aurev) is the same as "ar uaimh"  (ar ooiv) that is
plough or dig a grave.  And at last this Eocaidh fell by Sidlmall"
at Fremhain88 (now Frewin), in Tebtha.
EDERSGEL, ARD-RIGH.
A. M. 3964.89 Edersg]l,90 son of Eogan, son of Olild, son of Iar,
son of Degaidh, son of Sin, son of Rosin, son of Trhn, son of Rothren,
son of Ardil, son of Mani, son of Forga, son of Feradach, son of
Olild Eron, son of Fiacaidll Fer-mara, son of Aengus Tuirmech
of Temhair, son of Eocaidh Folt-lethan, of the line of Erinmhon,
held the monarchy of Ireland for six years, when he fell by Nuadath Nect, at Allinn.
NUADATIT NECT, ARD-RIGII.
A. M. 3970.91 Nuadath Nect,92 son of Sedna Sithbach, son of
84 A. nM. 5070.-Four Masters.     king, "was burned by Sighmall, at
5 EOCAID1I XI.                    Fremhain." They assign to him a reign
86 Aremnh.  It may be assumed as of fifteen, while the annals of Clonalmost certain, that " uaimh," a grave, macnoise give him a reign of twentydoes not enter into the composition of five years.  Sidmall or Sighmall, his
any part of this word.  It is, most slayer, dwelt at Sidh-Nennta now Mulprobably,th e sam the same as the modern word  laghshee, near Lanesboroufgh, county
"oircmh" (orrev), a ploughman; that Roscommon.
is, if the first syllable be short and it  8s Fremhain in Tebtha, now Frewin,
be derived from "hr" dig or plough  a lofty hill on the shore of Lough Owel,
thou; if the first syllable be lonr, it in the townland of Watstown, parish
would mean a counting or enumeration, of Porlemon  and county of West(in which sense it is still in use,) and, meath. —O'D.
possibly, a person who cournts or euntme-  A. M. 5085.-Four Masters.
rates. It is surprising that Dr. Keat-    0 ELdirsg-l,  otherwise, Eidersgeol.
ing, or his authorities with the obvious This prince was of the Degadians of
examples of the many Irish derivative  Munster. IHis father had been kingf of
words, formed by the addition of the  that province. Allinn, where he was
suffix " emh" or " amh" (av) to a sim- killed, is now called Knockaulin, near
ple root, should have made so far-fetched  Kilcullen, co. Kildare. According  to
a blunder. As well might he tell us the Annals, just quoted, he reigned five
that "breithemh" a judge, is derived years.
from "breith"' judgment and "uaimh"   91 A. MA. 5090.-Four Masters.
(ooiv) a grave.                       92 NUADATITI II. This king was the
87 Silmall.  The Four Masters say progenitor of the clanm, O'Baeisgni,
that Eocaidh Aremh, who was the who were called the Fianna or Fenians
brother of Eocaidh Feidlech, the last of Leinster and who became so cele



286                 THE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.
Lugaidh Lotfinn, son of Bresal Brec, son of Fiacaidh Fobrec of
the line of Erimhon, held the sovereignty of Ireland for half a
year. He was called Nuadath Nect (i. e. Nuadath the snow-white),
from  the word  "nix,'93 which means snow; for the whiteness of
his skin was likened  to that of snow.  This Nuadath fell by
Conari Mor, son of Edersgel, at the battle of Cliach in Ui Drona.94
CONARI MOR, ARD-RIGH.
A. M. 3970.95  Conari" Mor, son of Edersgel, son of Eogan of
the line of Erimhon, held the sovereignty of Ireland for thirty,
or according to others, for seventy years.
The reader must now understand that the Ernaide~7 tribes of
Munster are of the posterity of this Conari, as are also those of
the Dal-Riada, of Alba; and that it was in the time of Duach
Dalta Degaidh that the Ernaide came into IMunster, whither, according to the Psalter of Cormac, son of Culinan, they had been
driven by the tribe of Rudraide, which had vanquished them  in
brated under his descendant, Finn, son  of the greatness of the peace and conof Curnhal, called Fingal by Macpher- cord.  His reign was not thunderson, and vulgarly known as Finn and  producing or stormy. Little but the
Fioun Mac Cool in Anglo-Irish patois. trees bent from the greatness of their
" Magh Nuadhat" (lMoy Nooath), i. e. fruit."-Id.  It is thus that the Irish
Nuadath's'Plain, now Maynooth, in the  Annalists figuratively express the peace
county of Kildare has taken its name  and plenty of their monarchs' reigns.
from this monarch. His name is corn- Theophilus O'Flanagan in the volume
monly pronounced, Nooa Naght.        of the Transactions of the Gaelic Soci3 Nix, or rather "necht," which may  ety, heretofore cited, has published a
mean the same thing as " sneclta" or fragment of an ode, usually sung at the
"snecht" (Shnaght), i. e. snow.      inauguration  of Irish  kings, which
91 Cliach in Ui Drona, i. e. in the  shows what the ideas of our ancestors
present barony of Idrone, county Car- were upon this subject:
low.                                       Seven true witnesses there are
"After the fall of Nuadha (Nuad-         For monarch's broken faith --
ath), Conari levied a fine upon the Lein-  Falsely trampling upon right,
To drive the Senate from its hall:
ster people for the killing of his father,  To strain vindictively the law:
and they resigned for ever to the seven    Defeats in battle;
kings of Munster, at Cashel, that tract    The failure of minelk;
of Ossory extending from  Gowran to        The blight of fruit;
Grian, as an atonement for the murder      The blight of corn.
These are the seven vivid lights
6I-that king, calling upon the heaven,     That show the perjury of kings.
earth, sea, land, sun and moon to witness their surrender."-See Ogygia.     g Ernaide, otherwise Earnaidhe or
95 A. M. 5091.-Four Masters.       Ernai, and in English, Ernaans. The
9 CONARI I. "It was in the reign of name properly belonged to a tribe of
Conari, that the Boinn annually cast its the Fer-Bolgs.  The Degadians got it,
produce ashore, at Inber Colpa. Great very probably, from having fixed themabundance of nuts were annually found  selves in the Ernaan territory, in West
upon the Boinn (Boyne) and the Buais Munster, where the Eberian king, Du(Bush). The cattle were without keep- ach, seems to have placed his fosterer
ers in Ireland in his reign, on account Degaidh.




TIIE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                       287
eight battles.  They afterward acquired great power in IMunster,
from the time of Duach Dalta Degaidh to that of Mogh Nuadath,
so that, according to the Book of Munster, when the race of
Eber gained the supremacy of that principality for themselves,
they drove the Ernaarns into the extreme trritory of Ui Rathach,98
and the isles of West Munster, and thus they remained until the
time of Mogh Nuadath, by whom  they were finally expelled.
Conari  fell  at  Bruighin-Da-Dherg9   (Breen-daw-yarg), by
Angkoel,~" the Short-Sighted, grandson of Conmac, and by the
sons of Donn Desa, of Leinster.
LUGAIDH  RIABH-N-DERG, ARD-RIGH.
A. MI. 4000.1  Lugaidh Riabh-n-dergr (Reevnarg) son of the
three Finn-Emna (Fi'nnavna or Kinnewnza) sons of Eocaidh Fredlech, son of Finn, son of Finnloan, of the line of Erimhon, reigned
over Ireland  for twenty years,2  or as others say, twenty-six.
Derborgaill, daughter of the king of Lochlin, was this Luoaidh's
wife.   Hie was called Riabh-n-derg  (Recvenarg), i. e. "of the
Red  Circles,"3 from  his having had a red circle round. his neck,
and another round his waist.  For he was the son of the three
Finns4 by their own sister, namely, Clothra, daughter of Eocaidh
9o Ui Rathtach, now [veragh, in Kerry,' A. M. 5166. Conari having reignronounced Ee Rawhagh, and Eevraw- ed seventy years, wasslain in 5161, after
hag/.                              which Ireland remained five years withJ Bruigihin Da Dherg is situated on  out a king.- See Four Masters.
the river Dothair (Dohir) now Dodder,   2 LUGAIDJI V. He reigned twentynear Dublin. Part of the name is still six years.-lb.
preserved in "Bothar-na-Bruighne" (Bo-  Red Circles. What proof is there
harnabreena), i.e. the road of the " Brui- beyond the silly and senseless puns o6
ghin" (Breez), or fort, a place weljl which we have already seen so many,
known on that River. It is otherwise that " Riabh-n-derg," or' "Sriabh-incalled Briughen-da-Blherga (Breen-da- derg," as it is otherwise written, does
varga.)                             mean of the red circles?  The general
100 Anlkel. This Ankel or Aingecel, nature of bardic derivations should
was called king of the Britons, because teach us to be cautious how we accredit
his mother was Bera, daurghter of Ocha, idle or malignant stories, that seem to
prince of the Britons of Man. Dekell have no other foundation than a forced
and Dartad were the names of the other and stupid play upon names and titles,
principals in the slaying of Conari, by  whose meanings have long since grown
whom they had been previously banish- obsolete. If it does mean of red circles
ed for their misdeeds.  They were  (or of streaks, stripes, or streams, as
aided by foreigners in the act. Dur- analogy seems to argue), the most obing Conari's reign, we are told by  vious supposition is, that it had its
O'Flaherty that the kings of the Pen- origin either in some peculiarity in his
tarchates or provinces were Concobar costume,if not in the red streams through.MlacNessa, in Ulster; Carbri Niafer, which, during the interregnum of five
in Leinster; Olild and his queen Modh, years that succeeded the death of Conari
in Connaught; Curigh AMacDari, in  the Great, he must have waded his
North Munster; and Eocaidh Abradh- bloody path to the throne.
ruadh, son of Lucta (of the line of Eber),   4 Son of the three Finns. The imin South.-See Ogygia.               possibility of the first part of this coarse




288                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Feidlech, whom they had violated in a drunken fit.  Thlis fact is
recorded  in  the following  verse, from  which  we learn  that
Clotlhrn, who bore this Lugaidh to her brothers, bore also Crimthann Niadnar, to the same Lugaidh, her son.  The verse runs
as follows:
"'Lugaidh Riabh-n-derg, of faz'- Crimthann
The father was, though yet his broth'er;
And Clothra of the comely form,
To her own son was grandmother."'
It was thought at that time, that the upper part of Lugaidh's
person bore a likeness to Nar; that he resembled Bres, between
the two circles, and that his lower extremities were like those of
and'unnatural fiction confutes itself. to fill up the reigns of some of their
The three Finns of Emhain, were slain, ancient kings, coined idle stories thereas we have seen, at the battle of Drom- upon, to which they often gave a maliCriaidh, during the reign of the grand- cious and calumnious coloring, in order
father of this Lugaidh, that is of Eo- to please the prejudices of their own
caidh Fcidlech, who died, according to  tribes by depreciating those of their
the authorities followed by Keating, enemies.  It is likely that those old
forty-eight and-a-half, but according to  names were as little understood a thousthe Four Masters, ninety and-a-half and years ago as they are now, and that
years before Lugaidh's accession to the  they were mystic and enigfmatical to
throne. T'he probability is, that Eo- the shanachies of that time; as they
caidll, whose grief for the death of his must, perhaps, ever remain to those of
sons, Bres, Nar, and Lothar, called the the present.
Three Finns of Emhain, was notorious,   5 To her own, son was grandmother.
got the name of his grandson, by his O'Flaherty, in his Ogrygia, confutes this
daughter, inserted in the Erimonian  repulsive assertion..Be shows that, in
pedigyree, immediately after those of his order to believe it, we must suppose
three sons, or that he willed that it that King Lugaidh, who, as he proves
should be so; for it is not probable to us had died in the prime of his life,
that Lugaidh, who died in the prime of should have lived on to about; the age
life, sixty-eight years, according to  of eighty, at which advanced period of
some, and one hundred and sixteen ac- his existence a child should have -been,
cording to others, after his grandfather's  born to him by a woman, who should
death, was even born during the latter's have then  considerably passed  her
lifetime.  We shall hereafter see a hundredth year; and, to demonstrate
better authenticated example of a simi- the absurdity and utter impossibility of
lar insertion on the ancestral tree, in  the whole tale, he proves that, in order
the case of the Eberians, where Olild  to maintain it, we must assert that
Flaunl Mor, king of Munster, dying  Crimthann, the son so born, was mature
without issue, adopts his brother, Olild  enough to have engaged in warlike
Flann Beg, as his son, and wills that affairs at the age of two'/ea'rs. The
he should be named as such in the pedi- same learned antiquary fully proves,
gree of his tribe. We may here sur- that Lugaidh Riabh-n-derg could not
mise, that after the destruction or ex- have been born during his grandfather's
purgation of the Pagan records by St. lifetime, and, consequently, that he
Pat-,ick and the early fathers of the  could not have been the son of the three
Irish Church, the bards, having been  Finns, who were slain early in his said
left nothing but bald names and titles grandfather's reign.




THE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.                       289
Lothar.  Lugaidh ended his life by flinging himself upon his
own sword; or he died of grief for his children.6
CONCOBAR ABRADH-RUADH ARD-RIGH.
A. M. 4020.7  Concobar8 Abradh-ruadh, son of Finn the poet,
son of Rosa Ruadh, son of Fergus Fargi, son of Nuadath Nect,
of the line of Erimholn, enjoyed the sovereignty of Ireland for
one year. He was called Concobar Abradh-ruadh (Cor2covar Avraroo), from the red brows that overhung his eyes.  He fell bythe
hand of Crimthann N-iadnar.
CRIMTHANN NIADH-NAIR, ARD-RIGH.
A. M. 4023.9  Crimthann Niadh-Nair, son of Lugaidh Riabhn-derg, of the line of Erimh6n reigned over Ireland for sixteen
years.  HIe was called Niadh-Nair,l~ (.Neea-Nauir), i. e. the abashed hero, because he was ashamed of his birth, having been the
son of his brother, by their common mother.
It was this Crimthann that went on the famous expedition"
6 Children. The Annals of the Four'O Niadh-Nair.  Sufficient evidence
Masters simply say that "he died of has been adduced in the notes upon the
grief;" the Clonmacnoise, that " he died  reign of this king's father, to prove the
of conceit he took of the death of his repulsive legend upon which this derivwife Dervorgil."                     ation is founded to be an idle and im"King Lugtaidh's wives were Crifan- possible, and perhaps a malicious, ficga, of North Britain, and Derborgalla, tion-that is, if the legend be not itself
of Lapland, (Lochlin,) now called Den- built upon forced interpretations of the
mark. Those who write that, being  terms " Riabh-n-derg" and " Niadhstruck with sudden remorse for having  Nair."  In the following extract from
committed incest with his mother, and  Dr. O'Donovan's work, already so often
being wearied with his life, he fell upon  quoted, will be found an explanation
his own sword, have not considered  of this surname, that, thoug-h much
that the son which she was said to have n-Wre poetic, is perhaps much nearer to
borne him was not posthumous, but was the trutlh.
of an age to claim his birthright, a    1 Expedition.  The Leabhar Gabyear after his father's death. Neither hala of the O'Cleries contains a poem
have they considered that Clothra must of seventy-two verses, ascribed to King
have been long past child-bearing, not Crimthann himself, in which he deonly before the end, but long before the  scribes the articles he brought into
beginning of his reign.  The more pro- Ireland on this occasion.  It begins
bable opiznion is, that he pined away,"lia do codh an eaclttra n-hn," i. e.
for the premature death of his wile, " fortunate that I went on the delightDerborgalla." — O'Flaherty's Og'ygia. ful adventure." But no mention is made
For the latter fact, this antiquary cites of the countries into which he went.
the authorities of Giila-Caemlhan, the It is fabled that he was accompanied
Book of Lecan, the Annals of Tigher- on this expedition by his Bainleanntin,
nach, and those of Donegal.          or female sprite, named NAIR, from
A. AM. 5192.-Four M3asters.       whom he was called NIADH NAIRI,
-X CoxCOBARx I.                    (Neca Naari,) i. e. Nair's hero, which
A. M. 5193.-Four Masters.         is far more romantic than that disgust
19




290                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
beyond the sea, and brought home with him several extraordinary and costly treasures, among which were a gilt chariot and
a golden chessboard, inlaid with three hundred transparent gems,
a tunicl2 of various colors, and embroidered with gold. He also
brought off a victorious sword, ornamented with a variety of serpents, beautifully wrought thereon in refined gold; a shield, embossed with pure silver; a spear from whose wound no one could
recover; a sling that never missed the mark; two hounds leashed
together by a silver chain, worth a hundred cumhals,l3 with many
other treasures which we shall not name here.
In the twelfth year'4 of this king's reign was born OUR
SAvIouR, JESUS CHRIST.
Crimthann's death was occasioned by a fall from his horse,
which proved fatal in a short time; and others add, that this
event took place at Dun Crirrthann, near Benn Edar, (now
Howtb), about six weeks after his return from his expedition. t
Extract5 from the Annals of the Kingdom  of Ireland by the Four
Masters.
"The Age of Christ, 10. The first year of the reign of CARBRI KINNCAIT, after he had killed the nobility, except a few
who escaped from the massacre in which the nobles were muring one given by Keating, obviously   14 The Annals of the Four Masters
from some Munster calumniator of the record this event thus: "The first year
race Heremon, -(Erimhon.) The follow- of the Age of CHRIST, and the eighth of
lowing notice of this expedition is the reign of Crimthann Niadhnair."
given in the Annals of Clonmacnoise:  There is thus, relatively to Crimthann's
" It is reported that he was brought reign, a discrepancy of four years beby a fairy lady into her palace, where, tween them  and Dr. Keating. Irish
after great entertainment bestowed  authorities differ considerably as to the
upon him, and after having enjoyed the reign in which the birth of the Saviour
society of one another, she bestowed a took place, some arguing that it took
gilt coach (chariot) with a sum of place in that of Conari Mor, while
money on him, as a love token, and soon  others put it back as far as the reign
after he died. O'Flaherty [See lote of Factna Fatbach.
(Nair) p. 294] says that this Nair was   15 Eztract. Dr. Keating, for som
Crimthann's queen."-O'D.            unexplained reason, has misplaced the
12 A tunic, called otherwise "Cedach  reign of Carbri Kenn-cait, in contraCrimthainn,"' i. e. Crimthann's cloak. diction to all our antiquarians. As he
It is evident that this cloak was cele- has been decidedly mistaken in this, the
brated in Irish romances.-O'D.      editor, before continuinuing the Doctor's
13 Worth a hundred cumhals. Ano- narrative, has deemed it right to insert
ther version of this story says, " which  in his text, the above-given extract,
chain was worth a hundred' cumhals.' " containing the reigns of five kings, so
Cumhal (Caval or Cooal) is translated  that the reader may not be set astray
ancillis, i. e. female servants or slaves, as to the regular order in which the
by Lynch. Other authorities say that Irish kings succeeded one another, dura "cumhal" was of the value of four ing what seems to have been a most
cows.                               critical period in the existence of the




THE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.                       291
dered by the Athacl-Tuatha.16  These are the three nobles who escaped from  them  at that time: Feradach Finn-fectnach, from
whom  are sprung all the race of Conn of the Hundred Battles;
Tibradi Tirech, from whom are the Dal Araide; and Corb
Olum, from whom  are the kings of the Eoganachts, in Munster.
And as to these, it was in their mothers' wombs they escaped.
Baini, daughter of the king of Alba, was the mother of Feradach17
Gaelic nation. The translation here indeed, was the condition of Ireland
given is Dr. O'Donovan's, with some during the time of this Carbri, for the
slight change in the spelling of proper earth did not yield its fruits to the
names, which is made in order to agree  Attacotti after the great murder of the
with the system, with regard to such  nobility of Ireland, so that the corn,
names, which has been hitherto followed  fruits and produce of Ireland, were barin this work.                        ren; for there used to be but one grain
16 Athach- Tuatha,otherwise Aitheach- upon the stalk, one acorn upon the oak,
Tuatha (Ahagrh-Tooaha). " This name and one nut upon the hazel. Fruitless
is usually latinized' Attacotti.' Dr. were her harbors; milkless her cattle;
O'Connor calls them the Giant Race; so that a general famine prevailed dubut Dr. Lynch and others, the Plebeian  ring the five years that Carbri was in
Race. They were the descendants of  the sbvereignty.  Carbri afterwards
the Fer-Bolgs and other colonies, who  died, and the Attacotti offered the sovwere treated as a servile and helot ereignty to Morann, son of Carbri. He
class by the Scoti (or'Gaels). In the was a truly intelligent and learned man,
Leabhar Gabhala (Lavar Gavaula) of and said that he would not accept of
the O'Cleries, a more detailed account it, as it was not kis hereditary right;
of the murder of the Milesian nobility  and, moreover, he said that scarcity
by the Fer-Bolgic plebeians is given, of and famine would not cease until they
which the following is a literal trans- should send for the three legitimate
lation:                             heirs, to the foreign countries, namely,
"'The Attacotti of Ireland obtained  Feradlach Finnfectnach, Corb Olum,
great sway over the nobility, so that the and Tibradi Tirech, and elect Feradach
latter were all cut off except those who  as king, for to him it was due, because
escaped the slaughter in which the no- his father was killed by them in the
bles were exterminated. The Attacotti massacre we have mentioned, whence
afterwards set up Carbri Cat-Kinn, one his mother, Baini, had escaped. This
of their own race, as their king.  These was done at Morann's suggestion; and
are the three nobles that escaped from  it was to invite Feradach to be elected
this massacre, namely, Feradach Finn- king, that Morann sent the celebrated
fectnach, from whom are descended all' Udhacht (ooaght) or Testament. The
the race of Conn of the Hundred Bat, nobles were afterwards sent for, and the
tles; Tibradi Tirech, from whom are Attacotti swore by the Heaven and
the Dal Araide; and Corb Olum, from  Earth,Sun, Moon and all the elements,
whom are the nobles of the race of that they would be obedient to them
Eber Finn. These sons were in their and their descendants, as long as the
mothers' wombs when they escaped  sea should surround Ireland.  They
from the massacre; and each of the  then came to Ireland, and settled each
three queens went respectively over sea. in his hereditary region, namely, TiBaini, daughter of the king of Alba, bradi Tirech in the east of Ulster; Corb
was the mother of Feradach; Cruifi, Olum in the south, over Munster, and
daughter of the kinD of Britain, was Feradach Finnfectnach, at Temhair of
the mother of Corb Olum, who was the kings.' "-O'Donovan.
otherwise called Dergtinni; and Aini,  1' Feradach.  Conn of the Hundred
daughter of the king of Saxony, was Battles, who was the ancestor of most of
the mother of Tibradi Tirech. Evil, the royal tribes of Ulster and Con



292                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Finn-fectnach; Cruifi, daughter of the king of Britain, wvas the
mother of Corb Olum;18 and Aini, daughter of the king of Sax.
ony, was the mother of Tibradi Tirech.l?
"The Age of Christ, 14.  Carbri Catkenn, after having been
five years in the sovereignty of Ireland, died. Evil was the
state of Ireland during his reign; fruitless her corn, for there
used to be but one grain on the stalk; fishless her rivers; milkless her cattle; plentiless her fruit, for there used to be but one
acorn on the oak.
" Son to this Carbri was the very intelligent Morann, who was
usually called Morann Mac Maein.20
"The Age of Christ, 15.  The first year of FERADACH FINNFECTNACH as king, over Ireland. Good was Ireland during his
time. The seasons were right tranquil. The earth brought
forth its fruit; fishful its river-mouths; milkful the kine; heavyheaded the Woods.
" The Age of Christ, 36.  Feradach Finn-fectnach, son of Crimthann Niadhnair, after having  spent twenty-two years in the
sovereignty of Ireland, died at Tenmhair.
"The Age of Christ, 37.  The first year of FIATACH  FINN,21
son of Dari, son of Dluthach, in the sovereignty of Ireland.
naught, was his fourth descendant. The strated to Dr. Keating  his mistake in
royal tribes (the Mac Morrougils, &c.), placing Carbri's usurpation three reigns
of Leinster, are not of his posterity, so later than it really was. "M r. Moore
that their ancestor must have escaped  states in his History of Ireland, that'
the slaughter, as well as the three  the administration of this counseller
chiefs named above.                 succeeded in earning for his king (Fe18 Corb Olum. His fourth descend- radach) the honorable title of'The
ant was Olild Olum, ancestor of all the Just,' and that, under their joint sway,
royal tribes of Munster. Some of the  the whole country enjoyed a lull of
Heremonian Ernaans or Degadians of tranquillity as precious as it was rare;"
West Munster, the O'Falvies, O'Con- but the O'Clery's assert (in the tract
nells, O'Sheas, &c., must have likewise last quoted), that "Feradach proceeded
escaped the massacre of Magh-Bolg, to extirpate the Athach-'Tuatha, or to
for they are not of the race of any of'put them under great rent and servithose here mentioned.               tude, to revenge upon them  the evil
19 TIBRADI TIREcLI reigned over U1- deed they had committed in murdering
ster for thirty years. He was the an- the nobility of Ireland.-O'F.
cestor of the Magennises and their co-   21 FIATACH FINN. The ancestor or
relatives; but other Gaelic septs of the father of this king was apparently not
Irian stock, such as the O'Moores, the involved in the slaughter of Magh-Bolg.
O'Connors Kerry and Corcomroe, &ec., From him was descended the Dal-Fiaare not of his posterity, so that their tach, a warlike tribe seated in the presancestors must have also escaped.    ent county of Down. Mac Donlevy,
20 Morann iMac Maein. This fact who offered such brave to Sir John De
of Morann Mac Maein's having been  Courcy, in the 12th century, was head
the son of Carbri Kenn-cait, and his of the tribe. The editor's copies of
having been the promoter of Ferad- Keating call this king Fiacaidh Finn,
ach's elevation to the throne after his and his descendants Dal Fiacach.
father's death, ought to have demon



THE HIISTORY OF IRELAND.                      293
e"The Age of Christ, 39.  This Fiatach Finn (from  whom are
the Dal Fiatach, in Uladh), after having been three years in the
sovereignty of Ireland, was killed by Fiachaidh Finnfolaidh.
"The age of Christ, 40. The first year of the reign of FIACHAIDHI
FINNFOLAIDH over Ireland.
"The Age of Christ, 56.  Fiachaidh Finnfolaidh, after having
been seventeen years in the sovereignty of Ireland, was killed
by the provincial kings at the instigation of the Athach-Tuatha,
in the.slaughter of i\Iagh-Bolg.22   These  were the  provincial
kings by whom he was killed: Elim, son of Conra, king of Ulster; Sanb, son of Keth Mac Magach, king of Connaught; Forbri, son of Finn, king of Munster, and Eocaidh Ankenn, king
of Leinster.  He left of children but one son only, who was in
the womb of Ethni, da-ughter of'the king of Alba.  Tuathal
was his (the son's) name.
"The Age of Christ, 57.  The first year of the reign of ELIM,
son of Conra.
"The Age of Christ, 76.  Eli-m, son of Conra, after having
been twenty years in the sovereignty of Ireland, was slain in the
battle of Achill,23 by Tuathal Tectmar. God took vengeance on
the Athach-Tuatha for their evil deed,24 during the time that
Elim  was in the sovereignty, namely: Ireland was without corn,
without milk, without fruit, without fish, and without every
other great  advantage, since the  Athach-Tuatha had  killed
Fiachaidh Finnolaidh in the slaughter of Magh-Bolg, till the time
of Tuathal-Tectmlar."
22 Manh  Bolg, i.e. the Belgian Plain, Conall KearilachandFergusMacRoigh
now Moybolgue, a parish in the south- were not involved therein. The close
east of Cavan, extending into Meath.-  alliance, also, in which the Irian, Elim
O'D.                                Mac Connrach, (who was, also, of the
23 Achill or Achilla, the old name of royal stock of Miledh), with the plebethe hill of Skreen, near Tara, in Mleath. ians, shows the partial nature of the
-O'D.                              slaughter committed by the oppressed
24 Evil-Deed. That the slaughter of- races. It is likely, then, that the masthe Saer-Clanna, i. e. free clans or no- sacre, in both the insurrections above
bility of the Gaels, was not so general recounted, was confined to a few of the
as represented verbally in the hyper- chieftains of the more dominant fambolic accounts given of the first insur- ilies of the Milesian tyrants of the Atrection of the plebeians, may be easily  tacotti. —It is, indeed, questionable
seen from the events recorded in our whether the vast majority of the presannals and other records, as having  ent descendants of the Milesians would
taken place soon after.  It is evident now qualify that struggle for freedom
that the ancestors of the Leinster royal on the part of the unfree tribes by the
families, of the Dal-Fiatach of Ulster, name of evil deed.  "Tempora munthe race of Conari Mor or the Ernaans tantur et nos mutamur in illis."  The
of Munster, and several tribes through- times have changed, and we have changed
out Ireland, of the races of the Irians, our minds-or, it were time we had.




294                 THIE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Dr. Keating's History resumed.
FERADACH FINN-FECTNACH, ARD-RIGII.
A. D. 4.27  Feradach Finn-fectnach, son of Crimthann NiadhNair, son of Lugaidh Riabh-n-Derg, of the line of Erimhon,
ruled Ireland for twenty years.  (Nair26   Taethcaech, daughter of
Loich, son of Dari, was the mother of Feradach.)  IHe was called
Feradach  Finn-fectnach  (Finfaghtnagh), Feradach  the  Fair
and Righteous, because justice and truth were upheld in
Ireland during his reign. It was while he was monarch
that MBorann, son of Maen flourished.  This was that impartial brehon  who  possessed the Collar of Aorann.27  It was
the property of this collar, when placed round the neck of a
brehon, about to deliver a false or unjust judgment, that it was
wont to contract tightly round his throat, which it continued to
compress, ever until he should deliver a righteous judgment. It
had a like power in the case of the man who came to bear false
witness, and squeezed his throat until it had forced him' to acknowledge the truth; From this collar has come the old saying,
which  is  used in wishing  that the Collar of Morann  were
placed on the neck of him that comes to give testimony, in order
that he might be forced to declare the truth. And the righteous
Feradach died at Liatrum.
FIACAIDH   FINN, ARD-RIGH.
A. D. 24.2"  Fiacaidh Finn 2(frorn whom the Dal-Fiacach tribe
25 A. D. 15.-Four Aasters.        manric tale about that monarch's
2B Nair.-This important entry rela- " Bainleannan" (Banlannaan) or fairy
tive to the mother of Feradach and mistress, cited in the note upon his forwife of Crumthann, the HIero of Nair, eign expedition. (See note 11, p. 289).
is found in a copy of Keatingr, trans-   27 Collar of MIorann, called in Irish,scribed in 1753 by William O'Siodh- "Idh Mhorainn" (eeh-vorrinn), i. e. the
chain (William O'Sheehan), of Cul-an- Collar or Chain of Morann. " This
Mhota  (Coolanvota), near Kanturk, chain is mentioned in several commencounty of Cork, and approved of by the taries on the Brehon Laws, as one of
celebrated Munster antiquary and bard, the ordeals of the ancient Irish." —O'D.
Eoghan O'Caeimh (Owen O'Keeffe), Feradach appointed Morann as'his
which has been kindly lent to the ed- chief brehon or judge, immediately after
itor by the transcriber's grandson, his own accession to thethrone. Some
James Sheehan, Esq., of New York, say that this just judge was called Mac
barrister-at-law.   It  clearly  shows Maein, from  his mother, in order to
whence king  Crimthann, Feradach's avoid the odium attached to the name
father, had his surname " Niadh-Nair."  of his father, the plebeian usurper CarIt bears out the assertion of O'Flaherty  bri Cat-Kenn, who appears to have
heretofore cited, and confutes the re- been the Cromwell of Celtic Ireland.
pulsive etymology given to Crunmthann's  28 A. D. 37.-Four Masters.
surname by our author, in treating of    - FIAcAIDT V., called otherwise,
that monarch's reign. It also, in some Fiatach (Feetagh). (See extract before
measure, explains the origin of the ro- given.)




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                     295
is sprung), son of Dari, son of Dluthach, son of Desin, son of
Eocaidh, son'of Sin, son of Roisin, of the line of Erimhbn, held
the sovereignty of Ireland for three years, and then fell by
Fiacaidh Finnolaidh.
FIACAIDH  FINNOLAIDH, ARD-RIGH.
A. D. 28.30  Fiacaidh Finnolaidh,3' son of Feradach the Righteous, of the line of Erimhon, held the sovereignty of Ireland
for twenty-seven years.  He received the surname of Finnolaidh,
i. e. the white cows, from the whiteness of the greater part of the
cattle of Ireland during his reign; for "Olaidh" or "folaidh" means
the same thing as cow.  (It was in the time of Fiacaidh Finnolaidh, that the masterdom of the world was enjoyed for two
years by Titus Vespasianus,32 who destroyed the city of Jerusalem, in A. D. 40 (correctly 70), in vengeance for the blood of
Christ. At that time the people of Titus were known to sell
thirty of the Jewish race for one penny, because of the buying
of Jesus by the Jews for thirty pence from Judas). The reader
should be here informed, that according to Stow's Chronicle, there
were some Scots dwelling in Alba in the year of our Lord 27,
that is, when Fiacaidh Finnolaidh was king of Ireland, and before Carbri Riada was yet alive. It was by the plebeian tribes,
or Athach-Tuatha of Ireland, that this Fiacaidh was treacherously murdered.
CARBRI KENN-CAIT, ARD-RIGH.
A. D. 54.33 Carbri Kenn-Cait4  assumed the sovereignty of Ireland.  He was the son of Dubthach, son of Rughri, son of Dithcon Uaridnach, son of Tath Tedmannach, son of Luigni Liathkenn, son of Oris Eclonnach, son of Erndolb, son of Rindal, who
was called the son of the king of Lochlin, and who had come
with Labraidh Loingsech to the fortress of Tuaim-Tennbaeth;5
though others say that he Was of the race of the Fer-Bolgs.  IIe
reigned for five years, and then died of the plague.  lie was
30 A. D. 40.-Four Masters.      merated among the Irish kings by Tig3" FIACAIDH VI. He was but sev- hernach, in his Annals. Neither does he
enteen years in the sovereignty, accord- enumerate as such Fiatach or Fiacaidh
ing to the Four Masters. The name Finn, the predecessor of  Fiacaidh
is pronounced Feegha Finnullee.   Finnolaidh. He makes him but king
3 Titus Vespasianus.  This entry of Embain or Emania, for sixteen
between brackets, is found but in one years, which is thought to be correct,
of the translator's MSS.          though he was more powerful than the
33 A. D. 10.-Four Masters.      actual king of Ireland.
34 CARBRI I. This is the monarch so   35 Tuaim Tennbaeth (Tooim Tanvaih)
unaccountably displaced by Dr. Keat- is another name for the royal Loinster
ing. As being a usurper, he is not enu- fortress of Dinn-righ on the Barrow.




296                THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
called Carbri Kenn-Cait,36 i. e. " cat-head," because his ears were
like those of a cat, as a bard thus tells us:
" The hardy Carbri thus was formed,
Who Eri swayed from south to north,
Cat's ears upon his head he bore,
With cat-like fur those ears were decked."
The following was the manner in which the sovereignty  of
Ireland fell into the hands of Carbri. A  treacherous plot was
formed by the Unfree Tribes37 or Athach-Tuatha (Ahc(gh-Tooha)
of Ireland against the king and nobles of that country.  This
plot thley resolved upon putting into execution by means of a
feast, which was to be prepared by them and given to the king
and the nobles.  Magh-Oro,`3 in Connaught, was the place where
it was to be served. And they were three years getting ready for
that feast, and during that time they laid up one-third of their property and their crops, as a provision thdrefor. Then the Free Tribes
of Ireland came to partake of it, together with their three kings,
namely, Fia caidh  Finnolaidh, king of Ireland, and his wife
Ethni, daughter of the king of Alba; Feig, son of Fidach, the
Short-sighted, kinig of Munster, and his wife was Berta, daughter
of Gortniadh, a king of Britain; and Bresal, son of Ferb, king
of Ulster, and Ani, daughter of a king of Britain, was his wife,
and her father's name was Cannioll. There were three chieftains39
over the Athach-Tuatha, or plebeians, likewise; namely,
Monach, Buadh, and Carbri Cat-Kenn, (or Kenn-cait,) who was
head over them all.
Nine days were spent in the enjoyment of that feast, and then
the plebeians fell to killing the men of the Free Tribes of Eri, all
of whom they slaughtered upon that spot, with the exception of
38 Kenn-Cait. A more natural ety- of Fidach, was not the name of the
mology would be Kenn, i. e. King or father of Corb Olum, and his mother
Khan of the Catti or Attacotti, i. e. was called Cruafi, not Berta.
the Athach-Tuatha.  "Cenn" (kenri)   3 The chieftains of the insurgents
the Gaelic for "head," comes nearer to were, according to O'Flaherty, " Elirn,
the Engolish word "king" than the king of Ulster; Sanb, kinll of ConSaxon "Coning," the root usually naught; Lugaidh Allathach, greatgiven to it.                       grandson of Conari I., and grandfather
as Unfree Tribes, in Irish, "Daer- of Conari II., king of North Munster;
Clanna," sometimes translated plebe- Forbri, son of Finn, of the line of Ith,
ians. The noble or free tribes were king  of south Munster; and Eocalled "Saer-Clanna."              chaidh Ankenn, son of Brandubh Brec,
Mag, A,-Cro, i. e. the bloody field, king of Leinster. He adds that " they
apparently another name for Magh- murdered Fiachaidh at Tenihair, and
Bolg. Keating plainly confounds the not at Magh-Bolg, as they contend
persons and events, that took place who have penned the fabulous story of
in the first insurrection with those that the preservation of Tuathal in his
happened in the second. Feig, son mother's womb."




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                297
the three children, yet unborn, of those three women above-mentiolied, the wives of the three Irish kings. These ladies, then,
escaped to Alba, where they bore three sons, named Tuathal
Tectmar, (Toohal Taghltvar,) Tibradi Tirech, (Tibrcdi Teeragh,) and
Corb Olum.
With respect to Ireland, great famines, with failures of crops
and many misfortunes, came upon the land; and so it remained
ever until the three sons of those three kings, so foully murdered, had grown up and were able to bear arms. Then, when
the men of Ireland had heard that these royal princes were yet
living, they sent ambassadors to communicate with them, and to
ask of them to return and resume the sovereignty of their forefathers; and they bound themselves by the sun and the moon to
render them obedience, and to remain thenceforth ever faithful
to their rule. Upon this the youths returned, and resumed the
inheritance of their sires, and with them its usual happiness came
back to Ireland, Carbri having died of the plague, as before mentioned.
ELIM, ARD-RIGH
A. D. 59.40 Elim,*' son of Connra, son of Rosa Ruadh, son of
Rudraide Mor, son of Sithrighe, son of Dubh, son of Fomhor,
of the line of Ir, son of Miledhi, held the sovereignty of Ireland
for twenty years, when he was slain by Tuathal Tectmar.
TUATHAL TECTMAR, ARD-RIGH.
A. D. 79.42 Tuathal Tectmar,43 son of Fiacaidh Finnolaidh, son
of Feradach Finn-fectnach, son of Crimthann Niadh-Nair, son of
Lugaidh Riabh-n-derg, of the line of Erimhon, heldi the sovereignty of Ireland for thirty years. He received the surname
"Tectmar," (TayCivar,) i. e. the Welcome or the Desired, (from
"techt," (tla/hA,) a coming or arrival, by reason of the great prosperity that had come upon the land of Ireland during his reign.
Fiacaidh Finnolaidh had no other child but Tuathal, of whom
his wife, Ethni, daughter of the king of Alba, had been left
pregnlant at the time when she escaped from the massacre of
Magh-Cro, in Connaught, where the Athach-Tuatha (AhlaghTooha) slaughtered Fiacaidh and the Free Clans of Ireland.
Tuathal, then, was reared and educated in Alba, until he had
reached his twenty-fifth year. Now, during that time, misfortune had spread over Eri; and, as the Athach-Tuatha were suffering many miseries, they entered into counsel with their Druids,
4o A. D. 57.-Four Masters.    43 TiATHAL I. Tectmar, or Teacht" ELIM II.                  mhar, (Tal'titvar), is translated, "the
" A. D. 76.-Four Masters.   Legitimate," by Dr. O'Donovan.




298             THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
in order to find out whence or by what means such evils had
been brought upon the land, and how it might be rescued therefrom. The Druids replied, that all their woes had sprung from
the foul treason which they had themselves perpetrated against
their kings and against their Free Clans. They told them, moreover, that its wonted prosperity would never return to Ireland,
until some man of the race of those kings, whom they had murdered should assume the sovereignty of their country.
It was about this time that the Athach-Tuatha had heard that
Fiacaidh Finnolaidh had left after him a son, who was named
Tuathal Tectmar. Upon this, large numbers of them took counsel together, and came to the resolution of sending embassadors
to Alba, to invite over that prince.
But, during all this time, a remnant of the Free Clans, namely,
the children of Donn DePsach, of Leinster, who were called
Fiacaidh Casin and Finnmall, his brother, with six hundred followers under their command, were continuing, as plunderers, to
lay waste the lands of Ireland, in vengeance for the treason
which the Athach-Tuatha had practised upon their kinsmen.
When Tuathal Tectmar had heard this, both he and his
mother, Ethni, set out for Ireland, attended by a numerous armed
host, he being then twenty-five years old, and they landed at
Irrus Domnan, where they were joined by Fiacaidh Casin and
his band. Thence they marched to Temnhair, (Tara,) where his
party saluted Tuathal, king of Ireland.
Upon this, Elimr, son of Connra, who had been sovereign of
Ireland, by the election of the Athach-Tuatha, from the death
of Carbri Cat-Kenn until that time, came to fight the battle of
Achill against Tuathal. In that engagement, the strength of
Athach-Tuatha was broken, and their king, Elim, was killed, and
the greater part of his army was slaughtered. After this, the Unfree Clans were defeated by Tuatlhal, in twenty-five battles, in each
of the five provinces of Ireland.
When he had thus broken down the power of his enemies by
these defeats, and thereby emancipated the Free Clans of Ireland
from the yoke of the Athach-Tuatha, Tuathal convened the
General Assembly or Feis of Temhair, according to the usage of
his predecessors, who had been wont to summon and bring
together a. general royal convention in the beginning of their
reigns, in order to regulate the laws and usages of the country.
Thither the nobles of the Gaels came to him from every province
of Ireland, and there they elected him as their king; for he had
freed them from the bondage of the Unfree Clans. And they
then swore, by all the elements, to leave the sovereignty of Ireland to him and his children for ever, according to the promise
formerly made to Iugani Mor.




THE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.                       299
It was then, also, that he was granted four portions of land,
from four of the provinces, of which he constituted that territory which is now callede Meath, as the peculiar domain of every
monarch who should, thenceforth, rule Ireland. For, although
the name of Midhe (mee,) or Meath, had been applied to a district near Uisnech ever since the days of the children of Nemedh,
still it was not extended to those districts which were taken from
the provinces, until the reign of Tuathal, by whom they were
incorporated into a separate and distinct territory. Now, when
Tuiathal had united these four portions together, and called them
all by the common name of Meath, he built four chief longphorts,44
i. e. chief residences or capitals, therein, that is, a chief residence
in each particular portion thereof.
TLACTGA:6 was thus built by him upon that portion of Mum44 Longphorts. This word is com- ing lost their general, and many compounded of" long," a house, and "port," petitors arising for the command, disa bank or embankment, i. e. a "port"  persed in a short time. Those that
or embankment for " longa" or houses. were Medes, Persians and Armenians,
The word "long" means both a house sailed over into Africa and took posand a ship, in the Gaelic tongue. It session of those places that lie upon
would appear, that among some of the our sea (the Mediterranean). The Pertribes that colonized northern Africa sians, however, settled near to the
in ancient times, there was one word, ocean; and they made themselves houses
also, which served to designate a house of their ships turned upside down, beand a ship. Taken in connection with  cause there was no timber in the counthe resemblance there is between the try, nor had they an opportunity of imbardic tradition relative to the occu- porting it from Spain, having no compation of Northern  Africa by the merce with that nation, on account of
Clannai Gaedhail, descended from Eber its distance from them by sea, and their
Scot, the coincidence may not be alto- language, which was not understood
gether accidental; nor may it be out there. These, by degrees, mixed with
of place, here, to quote what the Ro- the Getulians by intermarriages, and beman historian, Sallust, has said on the  cause they were continually shifting
subject of these races, on the authority  from place to place (Scots or Scythians?)
of Carthagenian books, said to be those trying the goodness of the soil, they
of the Numidian king, Hiempsal. The  called themselves Numidians (i. e. pasreader will compare it with what has toral wanderers). The houses of the
been heretofore related on the same sub- Numidian peasants, which they call
ject in this history and in the notes Mapalia, are still like the hulls of ships,
thereon:                            of an oblong form, with coverings, rising
"Africa was at first possessed by  in the middle and bending at each end."
the Gaetulians and Lybians, a savage    It is the opinion, and not an un-.and unpolished people, who lived upon  tenable one, of some of our antiquathe flesh of wild beasts, or fed upon the ries, that the tribe of Gaedal formed
herbs of the field like cattle; subject one of the nations that followed the
to no laws, discipline, or government: above-mentioned Hercules of the Spanwithout any fixed habitation; wandcr- iards and Africans. Some will have
ing from place to place, and taking up  him to have been, himself, the man our
their abode wherever night overtook  bards have named the Galamh or the
them.  But when Hercules died in  Miledh of Spain.
Spain, as the Africans think he did, his   4  Tlactga, otherwise, Tlachtgha,
army, made up of divers nations, hav- (Tlaghtga). This ancient seat of the




-300                TIlE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
ha, or Munster, which he had just annexed to his royal domain.
It was there that the Festival of the Fire of Tlactga was ordered
to be held, and it was thither that the druids of Ireland were
wont to repair and to assemble, in solemn meeting, on the eve of
Samhain, for the purpose of malting a sacrifide to all the gods.
It was in that fire at l'lactga, that their sacrifice was burnt; and
it was made obligatory, under pain of punishment, to extinguish
all the fires of Ireland on that eve; and the men of Ireland
were allowed to kindle no other fire but that one; and for each
of the other fires, which were all to be lighted from  it, the king
of Munster was to receive a tax of a sgrebaIl, that is, of three
pence, because the land upon which Tlactga was built belongs
to the portion of Meath which had been taken from  Munster.
UIsNECH ((Ushnagh), the second chief longphort or capital, he
built upon that portion which he had taken from  Connaught.
It was there that the men of Ireland held that great meeting or
fair which was called the Mordhldil (mnr-yauil), or Great Convention of Uisnech. It was the usage to hold this fair in the
month of May, and at it they were wont to exchange their goods
and their wares and their jewels. At it, they were, also, wont
to make a sacrifice to the Arch-God that they adored, whose
name was Bel (bayl).  It was, likewise, their usage to light two
fires to B1l 46 in every district of Ireland  at this season, and
to drive a pair of each kind of cattle that the district contained
between those two fires, as a preservative to guard them  against
Irish Pantheon or Festival of all the was the king of the Irish gods; that
Gods, is now called the Hill of Ward, is, their Jupiter. The sun was what
near Athboy, in the county of Meath. they seem to have adored under his
It is not likely that Tuathal was either name. From the ceremonies observed
the institutor of this feast or the found- with regard to the extingouishing and
er of the temple of Tlactga.  Tlactga re-lighting of the private fires, on the
was, apparently, a celebrated. seat of occasion of this festival, it is probalble
druidic worship, long before his time. that the ancient Irish were Fire-worWe must, then, understand him but to  shippers.  The fires still lighted, in
have repaired its old buildings, ruined  the more Gaelic parts of Ireland, on
or demolished during the Attacottic re- the eve of the 24th of Jmule, may be
bellions, and resuscitated its ceremonies, traced to the ceremony above menfallen into disuse during the period of tioned, as observed with regard to the
disorder that immediately preceded his cattle. When forbidden bv'the church
reign. The assertion of his having to light fires in honor of their idol,
founded it, may have originated in his the Irish transferred the practice fromn
havin.g included it in Meath and taken  BOl's eve, which is the eve of the first
it under his own immediate protection,. of May, or BEltaine, to that of the
from beingr under that of one of the 24th of June. We have heard Uisnech
Munster pentarchs.                  (now Usnagh Hill, in Meath), cele46 BKl, otherwise spelled Beal. From  brated as a druidic seat, in the times
what is here said, it would appear that of the Nemedians and Tuatha-D&Bel (the same who was called Belus by  Dananns; so that no more than its rethe Latins, and Baal by the Hebrews), edification can be claimed for Tuathal




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                 801
all the diseases of that year.  It is from that fire, thus madce in
honor of BeI, that the day, on which the noble feast of the apostles, Philip and James, is held, has been called B.ltaini or BMaltaine (Bayltinnie); for "' Beltaini" is the same as "Bil-teinte" i. e,
" Tein6 Bheil " (Tinnie Vayl) or' Bl's Fire. It was likewise ordained, that the king of Connaught should receive, as a tax, the
horse and the garments of every chieftain that came to that Great
Cofivention; for the ground upon which Uisnech is situated
belongs to that part of Meath which was taken from Connaught.
TALTI47 or TAILTEANN was the name of the third chief longphort or residence constructed by Tuathal Tectmar.  It was
there that the men of Ireland were wont to contract marriage
alliances and strike up friendly relations with one another. Anld
most proper and becoming was the custom, observed at that
meeting, namely, the men were on one side of the place of assembly, apart by themselves, and the women on the other, while
their fathers and mothers were arranging all preliminaries between them  until the agreements and contracts were finally
decided; as the bard relates in the following verse:
"No man cakme nirh those damsels bright,
Nor dame there heard soft sigh of lover;
In ranks apart each sex stood ranged,
Within the hall of sacred Talti."
Although it was Lugaidh Lamfada that first instituted the
Fair of Talti in Ireland, as a solemn commemoration of his own
foster-mother, Talti, daughter of  aghlallmor, king of Spain, wiho
had been the wife of Eocaidh, son of Ere, the last king of the
Fer-Bolgs, (as we have heretofore stated), when the same Lugaidh
buried Talti beneath that mound, and when he convened that
fair, as a solemn rite or memorial in honor of her; in memory
whereof, the name Lughnasa (Loonassca) or " Nasa Lugl-ha" is to
this day given to the first of August, whereon is kept the feast
of St. Peter's Chains; but, although the sacred mound of Talti
had been in existence, and the solemn fair kept up ever since
the days of Lugaidh Lamfada, still Talti was never erected into
a royal residence until the days of Tuatlal Tectmar.  It was the
king of Ulster that received the rent or taxes of this fair; fbor
the ground, whereon Talti stood, formed part of that section of
Ulster which had been annexed to Meatlh.  The following was
the amount of that rent or tax, namely, an ounce of silver from
every couple that got married during thile festival.
TEMHIAIR was his fourth royal capital.  It lies in that quarter
of Meath which was'taken from  Leinster.  We have already
7 Talti, or Tailteann, now called Teltown, in Meath, as before stated.




302                THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
told, that it was at this place that they  were wont to  eel.
ebrate the Feis Temrach (Fesh Tavragh) every third year, having
first made sacrifice to all the gods at Tlactga, as a preparation for
that great convention. It was here, as we have also before said,
that their laws and usages were ordained, and that the annals
and historic records of Ireland were subjected to examination, in
order that the Ard-ollamhs might write down all that had been
sanctioned thereof in the Roll of the Kings, which was called
the Saltair Temrach (i. e. the Psalter of Tara); and, according to
the chief book, just mentioned, neither law nor usage nor historic record was ever held as genuine until it had received such
approval; and nothing, that disagreed with the Roll of Temhair,
could be respected as truth.
I shall not here make special mention of the laws and usages
enacted at the conventions of Temhair.  It would occupy me
too long; for the Law Books of the territorial brehons are filled
up thereof. But, I shall, nevertheless, set down the usage that
was ordained and observed at Temhair with respect to the arrangement of the nobles and the warriors, when they met together
in the Banquet Hall, to partake of the public feast.
It was, then, the prescribed duty of every " Ollamh r6 Senchas"
or Doctor of History, in Ireland, to inscribe in the Roll of Temhair, the names of all such nobles as were lords of territories,
each lord according to his rank and title; and every chieftain of
those bands of warriors who were -maintained at free quarters,48
for the defence and guardianship of the lands of Eri, had his
name, also, in that roll, by the Ard-ollamh.  Of these nobles,
both territorial lords and captains of bands of warriors, each
man was always attended by his own proper shield-bearer. Again,
their banquet-halls were arranged in the following manner, to wit:
they were long, narrow buildings, with tables arranged along both
the opposite side walls of the hall; then, along these side-walls
there was placed a beam, in which were fixed numerous hooks
(one over the seat destined for each of the nobles,) and between
every two of them there was but the breadth of one shield. Up8 Free quarters. These were the hired naght)  or quarterage, upon  them.
soldiery of that day. They were men Hence, " buanaidhe" (bonuee) come to
of the Noble, or Free-tribes, who, find- signify a hired soldier. The word was
ing their own territories too narrow for anglicized " bonnaght" during the Anthem, or being expelled therefrom, eith- glo-Norman wars. The word is, seemer by a more powerful clan or by do- ingly, derived from " buan," i. e. lastmestic revolution, sold their swords to ing or durable, so that even in its etysome chieftain for pay. He, having-no mology it has some analogy (though
money to pay them withal, generally probably accidental) with the Latin
quartered them upon his serfs, that is, "solidarius" i.e. hireling, whence comes
he placed them at "buanacht" (boo- the English word "soldier."




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                    803
on these hooks the Shannachie49 hung up the shields of the nobles,
previous to their sitting down to the banquet, at which they all,
both lords and captains, sat, each beneath his own shield. However, the most honored side of the house was occupied by the
territorial lords, whilst the captains of warriors were seated opposite them at the other; the upper end of the hall was the
place of the ollamhs, while its lower end was assigned to the atteandants and the officers in waiting.  It was also prescribed, that
no man should be placed opposite another at the same table, but
that all, both the territorial lords and captains, should sit with
their backs towards the wall beneath their own shields. Again,
they never admitted females into their banquet halls: these had
a hall of their own, in which they were separately served.  It
was, liklewise, the prescribed usage, to clear out the baniquet
hall previous to serving the assembled nobles therein; and no
one was allowed to remain in the building but three, namely, a
shannachie, a " bolsgari " or marshal of the household, and a
trumpeter, the duty of which latter officer it was to summon all
the guests to the banquet hall by the sound of his trump-t-horn.
Iie had to sound his trumpet three times.  At the first blast,
the shield-bearers of the territorial chieftains assembled round the
door of the hall, where the marshld received from them the
shields of their lords, which he then, according to the directions
of the shannachie, hung up, each in its assigned place. The
trumpeter then sounded his trumpet a second time, and the
shield-bearers of the chieftains of the military bands assembled
round the door of the banquet hall, where the marshal received
their lord's shields from  them, also, and hung them up at the
other side of the hall, according to the orders of the shannachie,
and over the table of the warriors. The trumpeter sounded his
trumpet the third tilne, and, thereupon, both the nobles and the
warrior chiefs entered the banquet hall, and there each man sat
down beneath his own shield, and thus were all contests for precedency avoided amongst them.
The Boroimhe (Borivvie),or Boromnha5 Laighen (Borooa Loyen),
i. e. the Leinster Tribute, down here.
It was this Tuathal Tectmar, of whom we are now treating,
that, in vengeance for his two daughters, named Fithir and Da49 Shannachie.  " Senehaidhe," of hair. In that special case it is not miswhich this is an anglicised form, de- applied, but it lacks propriety of cosrived from " sen" (shamn) old, properly tume, and is thence likely to lead to
means historian. Some translate it by false notions.
herald, in describing the duties of that  50 Boromha. This word is mostly
officer at the " Feis " of Tara or Tem- translated cow-tribute, but it was not




304                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
rinni, first imposed the Boromha, as a permanent tax, upon the
men of Leinster.  At this time there reigned in Leinster a king
who was called Eocaidh Ainkenn.5"  This man had married Darinni, daughter of Tuathal Tectmar, and taken her to his residence at Magrh-Lugadh, in Leinster.  But, after some time, he
came to Ternhair, and having informed Tuathal Teetmar thllat
Darinni was dead, he next demanded her sister Fithir, also, as
wife; and Tuathal granted her to him; and he, thereupon, bore
her off to his own dwelling.  But when Fithir saw her sister
alive, she fell dead through shame; whereupon Darinni, having
come to make her lamentations over her betrayed sister, died
herself upon the spot of grief.  It is in record of that event,
that the bard has made the following verse:
" Fitbir and Darinni mild
Were conquering Tuathal's daughters;
Through shame the gentle Fithir diedFor her Darinni died, through sorrow."
WVhen Tuathal heard of the death of these two ladies, he was
seized with violent rage and indignation; and he sent amnbassadors to the nobl6 chieftains of Eri, to complain of the foul and
treacherous act of the king of Leinster.  Upon this, these nobles
sent him  aid in men and arms, in order that the migllt wreak
ample vengeance for the deed.  But then, as Tuathal was about
to plunder and devastate Leinster, the Lagenians, not being able
to meet him in the field, submitted to a fine, which was to be
paid by themselves and their posterity after them, as a retribution for the death of his daughters, both to Tuathal himself and
to every king of his race that should succeed him  on the Irish
throne.  The following was the amount52 of that fine, which the
merely a cow-tribute; and if there be  150 hogs, 150 coverletts or pieces of
no authority for so translating it but  cloth, to cover beds withal; 150 cau!l
the'"sanasain" or etymologies of the  drons, with two passing' great canlIrish bards, of which we have seen so  drons, consisting in breadth and deepmany absurd specimens hitherto, it is  ness five fists, for the king's own brewmost uncertain whether the word' boe,  ing; 150 couples of men and women in
a cow, enter at all into its composi- servitude, to araw water on their baclis
tion. The celebrated monarch, Brian, for the said brewing; together wMith 150
had his surname Boromha or Boroimhe  maids, with the king of Leinster's own
(usually anglicized Boru), from having  daughter, in like bondage and servienforced the payment of the tribute  tude."
now treated of.                       O'Flaherty tells us that Eocaidh
5' Ai2lkenm, commonly spelled Ain-  was beheaded by Tuathal, and his
cheann. His first wife's name is other- brother Ere set by him, as king of
wise spelled Dairfhine.             Leinster in his stead.  They were
~2 The amount. In the Annals of both Damnonian Belgians, or FerClonmacnoise, the amount of the borom- Bolgs.
ha is stated as follows: "150 cows,




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                      305
people of Leinster were bound to pay every second year to the
kings of Ireland, as a punishment for the death of the children
of Tuathal, namely, three-score hundred cows, three-score hundred ounces of silver, three-score hundred mantles, three-score
hundred hogs, three-score huhdred wethers, three-score hundred
brazen cauldrons; and the following, also, is the apportionments
that was made thereof, to wit, one-third to Connaught, one-third
to the Oirghialla, and one-third to the Ui Neill. In the tale
called the Boroimhe Laighen (Borivvie Loyen), we find the following verses in record of these facts:
" Three-score hundred kine they pay,
Kine free from fault;
Three-score hundred ounces pure
Of silver white;
Three-score hundred mantles fine,
Of choicest woof;
Three-score hundred tvell-fed hogs
Of highest price;
Three-score hundred wethers broad,
Of thickest fleece;
Three-score hundred cauldrons bright,
Of copper red.
One-third of these is Connact's due
By usage old;
One-third the bold Oirghialla claim;
One-third Clan Neill."
This, then, was the tribute, which was called the Boroimhe' of
Leinster, and which continued to be exacted during the reigns
of forty kings, from the reign of Tuathal to the time when Finnacta was monarch of that country, as the bard tells us:
"Full forty monarchs' reigns had passed,
When generous Finnacta was king;
They all the boromha had claimed,
Since Tuathal dwelt at Tlactga."
It was the holy saint Moling, that at length procured its final
abolition.. He persuaded Finnacta to promise to forego its exaction until Mondcjy,M by which AMonday he meant the Day of General Judgment, which is called the Monday of Eternity.  The Boromha was sometimes submissively paid by the people of Leinster;
at others, they resisted its exaction. Thence arose many wars and
a Apportionment.  "One third of remainder between the queen of Ter.
of this tribute was paid to the kings of hair and the king of Munster."-O'.
Ulster, until the destruction of Emhain, Flaherty.
when it was transferred to the Oirgh-   " Monday. "According to the anialla by AMuredach, monarch of Ireland;'cient historical romance called the
another third was paid to the kings of Boromha-Laighen, St. Moling obtained
Connaught; Tuathal distributed the its remission while the celebrated Ad20




306                  THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
conflicts between them and the monarch, in which countless multitudes fell on either side.
Tuathal Tectmar was at length slain55 by Mal, the son of Rocraide.
amnan was in Ireland; and, contrary' Vir bonus et sapiens, et scientia scripto the latter's will, who wished that the  turarum nobilissime instructus,' i. e. a
Leinster men should pay to the race of  truly good and wise man, and one most
Tuathal Tectmar, forever. It appears, remarkably learned in the knowledge
however, that Moling's sanctity pre- of the Scriptures."-O'D.'s Notes on the
vailed against the representative of  Four.#asters.
Tuathal and  his  aristocratic  rela-    St. Moling flourished in the sixth
tive, Adamnan, Abbot of Iona; for, century.
by a singular use of the ambiguity of    " Slain.  "Tuathal Tectmar, after
the Irish word i" luan" (which means having been thirty years in the soverMonday, and also the Day of Judg- eignty of Ireland, was killed by Mal,
ment), in his covenant with the mon- son of Rocraide, king of Ulster, in
arch, he abolished this exorbitant trib- Magh-Line.  Kenn-Guba is the name
ute-not till Monday, as the monarch  of the hill on which he was killed, as
understood, but till the Day of Judg-  this quatrain proves.
ment, as the saint intended. "It would
be better," says a writer in the Dublin'Tuathal, for whom there was fair,
b   s    a w r n the pl    Chief of Meath of thousand heroes,
University lagazine, "for the people   Was wounded, that fair chief of Fremhain,
of Leinster to have continued to pay   On the hill-side o'er Glenn-an-Gaann.'ter
the Borumean tribute to this day, than
that their St. Moling should have set    Kenn or Cenn-Guba, i. e. the Hill
an example of clerical special pleading  of Grief, is now called Ballyboley Hill,
and mental reservation, in the equivo- in Kilwaughter Parish, near the place
cation by which he is represented to  where the three baronies, Upper Glenhave procured the release from  that arm, Upper Antrim, and Lower Belimpost."  On this it may be observed, fast meet. Tuathal's monument is still
that if St. Moling was really guilty of  to be seen on this hill, at a place now
this equivocation, his notions were not called Carndoo.-O'D.
of a very lofty pagan character, and    " During the reign of Tuathal, there
not at all in accordance with the doc- were appointed courts for the better
trine of the Gospel and the practice of  regulation of the concerns of tradesthe primitive Christians; but it is to  men and  artificers; an  institution,
be suspected that the equivocation had  which, could we place reliance on the
its origin in the fanciful brain of the  details relating to it, would imply an
author of the historical romance called  advanced state of interior traffic and
the " Boromha Laighen," who displays' merchandise.  One fact, which appears
his own, not'St. Moling's morality, in  pretty certain is, that previously to the
the many strange incidents with which  system now  introduced, none of the
he embellishes the simple events of his- Milesian or dominant caste had condetory.  We may easily believe that scended to occupy themselves in trade;
Adamnan wished that the race of Tu- all mechanical employments and handiathal should remain forever the domi- crafts being left to the descendants of
nant family in Ireland; but were we to  the old conquered tribes; while for the
believe him to have been such a person  issue of the minor branches of the Mias this story represents him  to have  lesians, were reserved the appointments
been, we should at once reject as ficti- in the militia (i. e. fiann) of Erin, and
tious the character of him given by the  the old hereditary offices of antiquaries,
Venerable Bede, who describes him as bards, physicians and judges." — oore.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                       307
MAL, ARD-RIGH.
A. D. 109.56  Mal, son of Rocraide, son of Cathbaidh Finn,
son of Giallcaidh, son of Finncaidh, son of Muredach, son of
Fiacaidh Finnamnas son of Irial Glunmar, son of Conall Kearnach, son of Amirghin, son of Cas Trillsech, son of Cas, son of
Factna, son of Cathbaidh, son of Kinga, son of Rudraide Mor,
(from whom the clans of Rudraide are called), of the line of Ir,
son of MIiledh, held the sovereignty of Ireland for four years,"
when he fell of Feidlimidh Rectmar.
FEIDLIMIDH RECTMAR, ARD-RIGH.
A. D. 113.5   Feidlimidh Rectmar, son of Tuathal Tectmar,
son of Fiacaidh Finnolaidh, of the line of Erimhon, held the
sovereignty of Ireland for nine years.  Baini, daughter of Seal
Balb,59 the wife of Tuathal Tectmar, was the mother of Feidlimidh. He was called Feidlimidh Rectmar,60 or Feidlimidh the
Legal, by reason of the justice of legal decisions passed in Ireland during his reign; for he ordained and enforced during his
own time, a law similar to that which is called in Latin the Lex
Taliontis,6 or Law of Like for Like, which requires that the criminal should be made to atone for his crime by suffering a punishment similar to the injury done to his neighbor, such as a head
for a head, a cow for a cow, a hand for a hand, a leg for a leg,
and so on, for every other injury besides.  From  that law  it
came to pass, that the men of Ireland became reformed in their
habits during the reign of Feidlimidh. At last he died on his
pillow.
CATHAEIR MOR, ARD-RIGH.
A. D. 122.6   Cathaeir Mor, son of Feidlimidh Fir-urglas, son
6 A. D. 107.-Four Masters.        Latin " Pascha;" "clann" and "cland,"
57 Four years. Tighernach does not children, Welsh " plant;" and " cland"
give this Mal as monarch of Ireland, or " clann," to plant, Latin " planto."
but makes the next king immediately   60 Rechtmar, otherwise, Reachtmhar
succeed his father for nine years.  (Raghtvar), is an adjective, formed on
58 A.. Ill.-Four Masters.        "recht" (raght), i. e. law or justice,
69 Scal Balb, i.e. ScAl the Stammerer. Latin rectum. It means legal; though
O'Flaherty calls him king of Finland, some translate it the Lawgiver, in this
whose people the Irish, in early times, instance.
called Fomorians. May not"  Lapland"    " Lex Talionis. The more general
be cognate with "Lochlain," the Irish  opinion is, that Feidlimidh abolished
for all Scandinavia? See how often this cruel and barbarous law, and introthe Gaels use the letter" c" for, the duced the system of atoning for crimes
" p" in other tongues, and vice versa, as by an eraic or fine, in its stead.
"secht," seven, Latin "septem;" "cos,"   6 A. D. 120.-Four Masters.
a foot, Latin " pes;" " (Caisg," Easter,




808               TAiE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
of Cormac Gellta-Gaeth, son of Niadh-Corl, son of Cu-Corb, son
of Concobar Abradh-ruadh, son of Finn the Poet, son of Rosa
Ruadh, son of Fergus Fargi, son of Nuadath Nect, of the line
of Erimhon, held the sovereignty of Ireland for three years.
Cathaeir Mor had thirty sons, as the bard records in the following verse:
",Thirty sons, a goodly clan,
Sprang from Cathaeir of Cualan;
These thrice ten chiefs of warrior mien,
Were strong, broad-branching stocks of heroes."
However, there were twenty of those sons who left no offspring
after them.  These are the names of the sons whose progeny has
survived: Dari Barrach," Bresal Einech-glas, Fergus, Olild,
Crimthann, Rosa Failghi, Eocaidh Temenn, Aengus, and Fiacaidh
Bacheda. Though the latter was the youngest of Cathaeir's sons,
still it was his posterity that most frequently held the sovereign
power in Leinster. O'Tuathail (O'Toole) and O'Brainn (O'Byrne),
are of the race of Fiacaidh Bacheda; and Mac Murcada (Mac
Murrough), is of the race of Bresal Belach, his son; O'Concobair
Falghi (O'Connor Faly), O'Dimasaigh (O'Dempsy), Clann Colgain
(Mac Colgan) and O'Duinn (O'Dunn), draw their origin from
Rosa Failghi (Rosa Faulyee), as we shall set down hereafter,when
tracing the genealogies of the children of Miledh..In the end,
Cathaeir fell by Conn of the Hundred Battles, son of Feidlimidh
Rectmar.64
CONS KED-CATHACH, ARD-RIGH.
A. D. 125.65 Conn RKd-Cathach (Kaid- Cdhagh), son of Feid.
" Dari Barrach.  From Dari, who  that county, where the bard, Maeilin
was the second son of Cathaeir, came  Og Mac Bruaidedha (Brooidee), who
the noble tribe of Ui Bairrchi, the chief- was chief poet of UJi Fermaic and Ui
tain family of which took the name of Brecain, in 1563, has told us that they
o' Gorman or Mac Gorman, after the  had then been supporting poets and
establishment of surnames. They were feeding the poor for the last four hunanciently seated between the Ui Drona  dred years. This family must be disand Ui Muredaigh, near the town of tingulshed from the Mac Gormans of
Carlow. Shortly after the English in- Clonmacnoise, called Mac Cuinn navasion, they were driven out of their m-bocht. —See Notes to Leabhar na goriginal territory by Baron Walter de  Ceart.
Riddlesford, who became master of all   According to the famous Will of
the territoryround Carlow. After this, Cathaeir Mor, as published in the
a party of them proceeded into Ulster, Leabhar na g-Ceart, Cathaeir was slain
and another into Uaithni (Qoney), in  by the Fiann or Militia of Luaigni, in
Tipperary. From the latter place they  the battle of Talti. The Annals of
againm migrated into Thomond, now the  Clonmacnoise say that "king Cathcounty of Clare, and settled amongst aeir's army was overthrown ancdhimself
the Dalcassians, in the territory of Ui slain and buried near the Boyne."
Brecain (now Ibrickan), in the west of  A. D. 123.-Four Masters.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                  309
limidh Rectmar, son of Tuathal Tectmar, of the line of Erimh6n,
held the sovereignty of Ireland for twenty years, until, being
taken unawares, he was treacherously slain, in the district of
Temhair, by the contrivance of Tibradi Tirech, son of Mal, son
of Rochraide, who was then king of Ulster.  Fifty warriors, disguised as women, had been sent by Tibradi,F for the purpose of
assassinating him; and Emhain Macha was the place whence
they set out upon that treacherous design.  Una, daughter of the
king of Lochlin, was the mother of this monarch.
Partition of Ireland between CONS and EOGAN MOR, King of
_ilunster, who was also called MOGH NUADATH.
This was that Conn from whom Mogh Nuadath, having vanquished him in ten battles, wrested the one half of Ireland. Sida,
daughter of Flann, son of Fiacra, one of the Ernaans of Munster,
was the mother of Mogh Nuadath.
The contest between these kings originated in the following
manner: The Ernaans, of the posterity of Fiacaidh Fer-mara
of the race of Erimhon, had gained supremacy in Munster over
the race of Eber Finn; so that three chieftains of that tribe now
held the sovereignty of all Munster between them.  Their names
were Lugaidh Ellathach, Dari Dornmar, and Aengus.  But,
when Mogh Nuadath saw that the supremacy of his native principality had been thus usurped by the race of Erimhon, he proceeded to Leinster, where he had been fostered by Dari Barrach,
son of Cathaeir Mor, and there he procured from  his fosterfather a numerous auxiliary force, wherewith to recover the
kingdom of Munster, which was his birth-right. IIe then began
by marching into Ui Liathain, in the south of Munster, where
that Aengus, above mentioned, had established his sway. Him
Mogh Nuadath vanquished and expelled from  that country, so
that he was forced to betake himself straightway to supplicate
assistance from Conn, who gave him five catha (caha67,~ battalions
or legions), that is, fifteen thousand fighting men. With these
Aengus marched upon the territory of Liathan,68 and there, upon
the height of Ard-Nemidh,69 he was met by Mogh Nuadath, who
routed him a second time with great slaughter of his followers.
0 Tibradi. The Annals of Clon- ing to hold the Convention of Tara;
macnoise inform us, that when this and that he, profiting by their suggesprince had vanquished his enemies, he tion, surprised and murdered the monreigned quietly and prosperously for arch on Tuesday, the 20th of October,
twenty years; but that then his own A. D. 172 (correctly 173).
brothers, Eocaidh Finn and Fiacaidh   07 Catha. The regular Irish Cath
Suighdi, sent a private message to Ti- consisted of 3,000 fighting men.
bradi, king of Ulster, to come and at-  68 Liathan. Barrvmore, co. Cork.
tack him unawares, as he was prepar- 9 lArd-Nemidh, or Nemed's Height,




310                THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
After this victory, Mogh Nuadath expelled from  Munster all
of the Ernaans that refused to do him homage. From these
events, a great war broke out between Conn and the Munster
prince, in which the former was defeated in ten battles,70 such as
the battle of Brosnach, the battle of Samlpait,71 the battle of Grian, 7  the battle of Ath-luain, 3 the battle of Magh-Atha-Crioch,74
where Fiacaidh Righ-fada, sdn of Feidlimidh Rectmar, was slain,
the battle of Asal,75 the battle of Uisnech,76 &c.  This war then
lasted ever until Mogh lNuadath had forced Conn to yield up
one-half of Ireland to himself. All of Ireland that lies south of
Ath-cliath and Galimh (i. e. Dublin and Galway, with the Eskir
Riada for its boundary) was ceded to Mogh; and the name which
that half got was LETH-MOGHA (Ldh-Mowa), i. e. Mogh's Half,
or Leth Eoghain-(Ldh-owin), from Eogan, who was called Mogh
Nuadath.  The northern half was called LETH-CUINN77 (LdhQuinn), from Conn Ked-Cathach.  It is in reference to this partition, that the bard speaks in the following verse:
" Great Eogan, fortune-favored chief,
Soars high as Conn of the Hundred Fights —
These heroes twain, of glory bright,
Between them share green Eri's land."
Another reason, also, is given for Eogan's having succeeded
in wresting the half.of Ireland from Conn. They say that a
great famine, which lasted for seven years, came upon Ireland
during the reign of Conn, and that, long before the time of
scarcity had arrived, one of the druids of Moogh had forewarned
him of the calamity that was impending over the whole nation.
now Great Island, on which is situated  the king of Spain's son, and a great
the Cove of Cork.                  army of Spaniards, picked occasion to
70 Battles. Brosnach, the river Bros- quarrel and fall out with the king, for
na, in Eli.                       the customs and shippings of Dub71 Sampait, unknown.             lin, alleging that there came more
72 Grian, possibly Cnoc-Greni (Knock-  ships of King Conn's side than of his
Greine), i. e. the Hill of the Sun, over side, and that he would have the cusPallasgrean, barony of Coonagh, co. toms in common between them; whereLimerick.                          upon they were incensed mightily
73 Ath-Luain, i. e. the Ford of the  against each other, and met with the
Moon, now called Athlone.         two great armies. at the plains and
74 Magh-Atha-Crioch, unknown to the  Heath of Moylina, in the territory of
editor.                            Fercall, where the armies of Owen
75 Asal, a plain near Croom, County  were defeated and himself and Fregus
Limerick.                          (Fraech)the king of Spain's son, slain,
" Uisnech, in Meath.             and buried in two little hillocks, now
7' Leth-Cuinn and Leth-Mogha. " This to be seen at the said plain, which are,
division of Ireland stood for one year as some say, the tombs of the said
after, until Owen More, aliasMoynodd, Owen and Fregus."-A-nnals of Clon.
being well aided by his brother-in-law, nacnoise.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                     311
Eogan, upon hearing it, determined to make preparation to meet
the approaching season of want; and, for that purpose, he made
use of venison and fish as his principal articles of immediate consumption as food, while he stored up his corn. Besides this, he
expended upon corn all the-rents and tributes that he received.
IIe thus succeeded in filling up his granaries. Then, when the
season of want had come, numbers of the people of Ireland had
come to him from all sides, who submitted themselves to Eogan,
and covenanted to pay him rents and tributes, as a compensation
for their support during the time the famine lasted.  So we read
in the duan begcinning  with the line, "Great Eogan, fortunefavored clief," which speaks as follows:
" Eogan excelled the warlike Conn
Not by the battles he had foughtMore food the daring Eogan owned,
More ships and herds and neighing steeds.
A fearful famine smote the land,
Though luck it brought to glorious Eogan,
And men were known to eat their kind
In awe-struck Eri's dreary dwellings.
And when folk knew the plenteous store
Of corn and meat that chief had hoarded,
They bound themselves in vassal thrall'Neath Eogan's sway for sustenance."
Mogh Nuadath was kinown by four names,78 to wit, Eogan, or
Eoghan Fidh-Fetach (Owen Fee-fa!tagh), Eoghan Mor (Owen.
More), Eoghan Taighlech or' Taidhiech (Owen  Toylagh), and
Mogh or Modh Nuadhat (How Nooath); as the bard tells us in
this verse:'
" By four auspicious names he is knownWe call him Eogan Mor, the bounteous,
And Eogan Fidh-fRtach, far-famed,
Eogan Taiglech and Mogh Nuadath."
Now, if you would learn the cause of each of the surnames
enumerated in the above verse, you may read the Coir Anmann
(Etymology of Names), and you will find them explained
therein.
Bera, daughter of Eber Mor, son of Midna, king of Castile,
was the wife of Eogan Mor; and she bore him a son and two
78 Names. This king of Munster is or "taidlech," is interpreted splendid.
most generally called Mogh Nuadath The exact meaning of " Fid-fetach" the'(said to mean the strong workman), in editor has no means by him of ascerorder to distinguish him from his grand- taining, and he is unwilling to hazard
son, Eoghan Mor, or the Great, son of any guess of his own on the word.
Olild Olum. The epithet`' tai'gil~ch,"1




312                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
daughters.  Olild  Olum  was the name of that son, and Sgothniamh (Skohneeav) and Cainnell were those of the two daughters: here is a quotation from a Shawnnachie in record of that
fact:
"Bera, mighty Eber's child,
Was Olild Olum's mother,
And mother of two damsels fair,
His sisters, Cainnell and Sgothniamh.'"7
And, furthermore, according to some historians, it was by
Conn of the Hundred Battles, who made an attack upon him before dawn, that Eogan Mor was treacherously slain in. his bed,
as they were on the point of engaging each other in battle upon
the plain of AMagh-Lena`' (foy-Lacyna).
This monarch was called Conn  _Kd-Cathach,  Conn of the
Hundred Battles, from the hundreds of battless" which he fought
9 Cainnel and  Sgothniamh. The Leth-Mogha  The latter, now exhaustfirst of these names means torch or light; ed by wounds, soon falls under the
the second is compounded of Sgoth, a sword of the chief of the Fiann, as does
Sower, and Niamh, splendor.         also the Spaniard Fraech. Goll's war80 MNagh Lena lay in the territory  riors, upon this, raised the body of
of Fera-Ceal, in the present Kings Eogan, pierced with wounds, upon
County, which comprised the modern  their shields, and exposed it in triumph
baronies of Fircall, Ballycowan and  to the contending armies. But Goll
Ballyboy. O'Mulloy was its chief. The saw it, and said: "Lay down the body
evening before this battle, Conn ob- of Munster's king, for he died as a
served to his council of war, that Eo- hero should." The defeat and death of
gan's army was superior to his own in  Eogan did not destroy the treaty of
numbers and discipline, consisting of partition made between him and Conn.
27,000 Gaelic warriors, 2,000 Spani- With the single exception of his sucards, and 1,000 other foreigners; and, cessor, the Ithian Mac-niadh, the lineal
therefore, he determined to attack his descendants of this Eberian prince
enemy that very night, or before light reigned uninterruptedly over Leth Monext morning. To this all his chiefs gha for more than a thousand years
agreed, except Goll Mac Morna (Mac- after his fall. We are told that Eopherson's Gaul), the Fer-Bolg chief- gan's children, being minors, the Muntain of the Fiann or militia of Con- ster clans elected Mac-niadh as their
navught, who rose and said: " On the king, and prepared to renew the war;
day that my first arms were put into  but that Conn made a peace with the
my hands, I swore never to attack an  latter chief, confirming the previous
enemy at night, by surprise, or at any  partition, and giving him his daughter
disadvantage. To this day I have re- Sadb in marriage.-See O'Halloran's
ligiously adhered to that promise, and History of lrela**d.
shall not break it now."  The attack   84 Con reigned over Ireland for
was then made without him. The thirty-five years, according to the Four
Iunster men, though surprised, fought Masters, while Keating and others albravely, and Eogan and his Spanish low him but a reign of twenty. This
cousin Fraech dealt death on every discrepancy may be explained on the
side. Conn is losing the fight; but, as supposition that some of our annalists
it is now day, and he calls upon Goll did not consider him as full monarch
with his Fianna to attack the king of until after the death of his rival, Eogan




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                       313
against the pentarchs or provincial kings of Ireland, as the bard
explains in the following verse:
"One hundred fights in Mumha wide
Conn Ked-Cathach the just had fought,
One hundred'gainst the Ulta brave,
And sixty fights'gainst Laighen's sons."
CONARI, ARD-RIGH.
A. D. 145.82 Conari, son of Mogh Lamba, son of Lugaidh
Ellathach, son of Carbri Crom-kenn, son of Dari Dornmar, son
of Carbri Finnbar, son of Conari Mor, son of Edirsg6l of the
line of Erimh6n, held the sovereignty of Ireland for seven years,
when  he fell by  the hand  of Nemedh, son  of Sruib-kenn.
Ethni, daughter of Lugaidh, son of Dari, was the mother of this
monarch.
Of the descendants of this Conari, are the Dal Riada (DauZ
Reeada) of Alba or Scotland, the Basgnigh"3 from  Leim-Conculainn (Laim  Concullin), and the Musgraide (Moosgree), as the
bard says in the following verse:
" The Allban Gaels, of Riada's line,
The Basgnigh bold from Leim Conculainn,
And Musgraide whom reproach ne'er reached,
Are sprung from comeliest Conari (Connerie)."
ART AEINFER, ARD-RIGH.
A. D. b52.84  Art Aeinfer"8 (Eenar), son of Conn Ked-Cathach,
son of l e-idhmidh Rectmar, son of Tuathal Tectrnar, of the line of
l A. D. 158.-Four Masters, Conari them descend. from one of the O'Don.
~L.                                -nells of the KinOl-Conaill, planted in' Basgnigh. This celebrated tribe  Munster during Cromwell's days. The
inhabited the territories now known as great objection to this is, that the race
the baronies of Moyarta and Clonder- of any such northern O'Donnell has
law, in the county of Clare. After the not had time since then to have become
establishment of surnames, the chief so extremely numerous as the O'Don.
families of them took the names of nells now are in those counties.  Dr.
O'Baiskinn and O'Domhnaill or O'Don- O'Brien will have it that the.Q'Donnell. On the increasing power of the nells of Corcobaskin are of the same
Dalcassians. the Clan of Mac Math- stock as the Mac Mahons, they being,
ghamhna (Mac Mahon, descended from  according to him, descended from the
Murkertach Mor O'Briain, king of Ire- eldest son of King Murkertach, Domnall
land) became chiefs of this country, O'Briain, whose eyes had been put out
and reduced the race of king C6nari to  by his unnatural uncle, Diarmaid, succomparative insignificance.-See Notes cessor of Murkertach, as chief of the
to Leabhor na g-Ceart. The O'Donnells Dalcassians, and founder of the family
and Mac Donnells, still so numerous in  of O'Brien. Conari had reigned eight
the counties of Clare, Limerick and years, according to the Four Masters,
Tipperary, are most probably the rep- when he fell by the son of Sruibhgheana
resentatives of this ancient and warlike   84 A. D. 166.-Four Masters.
tribe; though some would fain make    6 Art III.




,314                THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Erimhdn, held the sovereignty of Ireland for thirty years.  His
wife was Medb Lethderg (lMive or JAaive Ldhyarg), daughter of
Conan of Cualann, and from  her is called Rath-Meidbi -(RauhMeivie), close by Temhair. The reason why he wag called Art
Aeinfer (Eenar), i. e. Art the Solitary, was because he was the
only one of his father's sons that survived; for his two brothers,
Conla and Crinna, were slain by Eocaidh Finn, the brother of
Conn.  Conn, indeed, had two brothers, namely, this Eocaidh
Finn, and Fiachaidh Suighdi, and it was by their hands that
those two brothers of Art fell, in testimony of which the. following two verses have been recorded in our history:
"The brothers of the royal Conn
Were Eocaidh Finn and Fiacaidh Suighdi,
Who Conla slew and Crinna brave,
Conn's comely sons, their youthful nephews.
Thence Art abhorred proud Eocaidh Finn,
Remembering well his slaughtered brothers,
And called himself the Lonely Art,
Bereft thus of those kindly princes."
Conn, indeed, had six children in all, namely, Art Aeinfer,
Conla, Crinna, Maein, Saradh and Sadb (Sara and Soive); as is
read in the duan, which begins with this rann down here:
"The names I know of Conn's six children,
Maein, Saradh, Sadb, Sil-Eoluim's mother,
And the heroes fair and bright of feature
Conla, Crinna, with Art the Lonely."
As we have just said, Conla and Crinna were slain by Eocaidh
Finn  and Fiacaidh Suighdi.86  Saradh was married to Conari,
son of Mogh Lamha, to whom she bore the three Carbris,
namely, Carbri Riada, Carbri Basehaein (Boskeen), and Carbri
Musg.  And it was the posterity of Carbri Riada that went to
Alba (Scotland), and it is they that are called the Dal-Riada. For,' EotaidhFinnandFiacaidhSuighdi. terity Fotharta. from Eocaidh's name.
When Art succeeded Conari as mon- Of these the two principal were the
arch of Ireland, he banished his uncle barony Forth, in Carlow, and the barEocaidh Finn Fothart and his sons ony Forth, in Wexford; and some
from Meath, because they had assassi- others (heretofore mentioned). In all
nated his brothers, Connla and Crinna, these his race became extinct or oband had betrayed his father to the scure at an early period, except in the
Ulstermen.  Eocaidh being married  Fortharta  Fea, in  Carlow, where
to Uchdelbha (Ughdelva), the grand- O'Nolan, his descendant, retained condaughter of Cathaeir Mor, proceeded siderable possessions till the seveninto Leinster, and the king of that teenth century.-O'D..Fiacaidh, the
province bestowed upon him  and his other brother of Conn, was the ancestor
sons certain districts called by pos- of the celebrated tribes of the Desies.




THEE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                    315
Eocaidh Munremar, one of the descendants of Carbri Riada, had
two sons, named Erca and Eolcu. From Erca has sprung the
Dal Riada of Alba; the Dal-Riada of Uladh, who are also called
the Rutach,8' and are the progeny of Eolcu.
Sadb (Sadhbh, Soive), her sister, the above-named daughter
of Conn, was married to Mac-niadh, son of Lugaidh, a descendant of Lugaidh son of Ith; and she bore him a son named
ILugaidh, who was also styled Mac-Con.  Then, after the death
of M-ac-Niadh, she was married to Olild Olum, to whom  she
bore nine sons, seven of whom  fell in the battle of Magh
Mocrumhi (Moy Mockrivvie), as Olild Olum himself has told us
in the following verse:
" Mac-Con has slain my seven sons,
How sad my bitter, piercing wail!
Eogan, Dubmercon, and Mogh-Corb,
Lugaiidh, Eocaidh, Dithorba, Tadg I"
Cormac Cas and Kian (Keean) were the names of the two
sons of Olild Olum, that returned from  the battle of Magh
Mocrumhi.
Now, although Olild Olum  had nineteen sons in all, to wit,
nine by Sadb, daughter of Conn, and ten by other women,
nevertheless, none of them left any posterity after them, except
hree, as the bard informs us in the following verse:
" Nix;eteen fleet sons that chieftain had
(The beauteous Olild Olum),
Of them, the clans of three survive,
From whom have sprung our free-born races."88
Children of Sadb, daughter of Conn, were those three who
have left issue. The first of them was Eogan Mor, son of Olild
Olum, who fell in the battle of Magh Mocrumhi, by the hand
of Bdinni Brit, son of the king of Britain. And the son of
Eogan was Fiacaidh Mul-lethan, from  whom  have sprung the
clan of Cartlhach (MacCarthy), the races of Sulliban (O'Sullivan,) of Caemh (O'Keeffe),  and  of  Kellach'n  (O'Callaghan), with  their kindred  branches;  and  Munca, daughter
of Dil, son of Da-Crega the Druid, was the  mother of this
67 Rutafh, i. e. the Route, in Antrim, prince, to have established the supremis said to be a corruption of Dal-Riada. acy of his race upon such solid foundass Free-born races.  Olild-Olum was tions in times of such extreme convulthe founder of the Eberian sway in sion; for his dynasty continued to rule
Munster, and from him sprung all the the south of Ireland, in spite of intesclans that, thenceforth, were able to lay tine and external wars, from his own
claim to its sovereignty. He must time down to the English invasion.
have been both a great and an able




816               THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
chief; and Ath-Isel,"' on the  Siuir, was the place where he
was born; and he was called " Fiacaidh Fer-da-liach" (FIeegha
Fer-daw-leeagh), i. e. Fiacaidh  of the two doleful tales, for
woeful were the two accidents that befel him, namely: the
killing of his father on the field of Mocrumhi, shortly after his
mother had conceived him, and the death of his mother, who
expired immediately after giving him birth. Thence it was that
the name, Fiacaidh Fer-da-liach, continued to be applied to him.
Olild Olumn speaks thus upon this subject, as we read in the
Cath Muighe AMocrumhi (Cih Moye Mocruvie), i. e. the battle of
Magh Mocrumhi:
"Two woes to thee death wroughtAt once came two dire wailsThy sire and mother, both
To thee have caused great dole.
Thy sire and mother both —
Thy greatness in the budThe man was slain in fight,
The dame died in thy birth."
He was also surnamed Maeil-lethan; because, when the time
of his birth had arrived, her father, the druid, had told Munca
that her child should become a king if his birth were delayed
for t'wenty-four hours; but that he should become nothing more
than a druid, if born within that time.  "Then," said Munca,
"in hopes that my child may yet become a king, he shall not
be born for these twenty-four hours, unless he pass through my
side." She then went into a ford upon the river Siuir, that
flowed by her father's dwelling, and there she remained, stationary, seated upon a stone.  And when the auspicious hour had
arrived, she came forth out of the river, gave birth to her son, and
then died immediately upon the spot. It was that son, then,
that was named Fiacaidh Maeil-lethan; and he was so designated because the crown of his head (Mullach) was made broad
(lethan) by the obstruction which his mother ha-d given to his
birth, by remaining sitting in the ford.  Thus, the term " Maeillethan""9 (Mueel-ldhadn), i. e. broad-head, has remained attached
to his name.
The second son of Olild Olum, that left a progeny after him,
was Cormac Cas, from whom have sprung the Dal-g-Cais (Daulgacsh), the Siol-Aedha (Sheel Ayya), that is, the clan of Mac Con4 Ath-Isel, now Athassel, on the ready animadverted upon. As if a
river Suir, still famous for its ruined man could not have a broad or a large
abbey.                          head, without assigning an impossible
90 Maeil-lethan. This.ridiculous story reason therefor.
is on a par with the many others al



THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                      817
mara (Mac Namara), and the Siol-g-Clannchadha  (Sheel Glanghuee) (Mac Clanchy). And it was to this Cormac that Olild
Olurni had left the heirship of Munster, before he learned that
Fiacaidh Maeil-lethan had been born to Eogan Mor; but, when
he had heard of this, the arrangement he made was, to leave the
succession to his kingdom, immediately after his own death, to
Cormac Cas, during that prince's lifetime, decreeing that the
royal power should be possessed by Fiacaidh Macil-lethan next
after the death of Cormac, and that the kingdom should continue to be inherited, for ever, thus alternately, during each
successive reign, by the'descendants of Cormac Cas, and of
Fiacaidh Maeil-lethan.  For some generations the kingdom  of
Munster was inherited according to this arrangement.
The third son- of Olild Olum, who left a progeny after him,
was KIian; and of his posterity are the clans of O'KIerbhail (i. e.
O'Carroll), O'Meachair (i. e. O'Meagher),O'h-Eadhra (i e. eO'Hara),
O'Gadhra (i. e. O'Gara or Guiry) O'Cathasaigh (i. e. O'Casey),
and O'Conchobhair of Kiannacht (i. e. O'Connor of Keenaght in
Ulster.)
Olild Olum, who had a reign of sixty years, is the first king
of the line of Eber, who is named in the Royal Roll (Reim Righraidhe), as having ruled the two provinces or pentarchates of
Munster; for, previous to the banishment of -Mac-Con by Olild,
the sovereignty of Munster was possessed by two races, namely:
the tribe of Darini, of the line of Lugaidh, son of Ith, fromwhich sprang Mac-Con; and the tribe of Dergthini, of the blood
of Eber, of which came Olild Olum.  And, whenever the sovereignty of Munster was possessed by the tribe of Darini, the
brehonship and tanistship was held by the tribe of Derothini;
and, again, when the kingly power was in the hands of the line
of Dergthini, the tanistsbip and brehonship was the right of the
former race.  Thus it continued  until Mac-Con's amnbition9'
soared beyond the brehonship of Olild Olum. For this was he
91 Mac-Con's ambition. In the twenty- Riada, son of Conari II., in revenge
first year of the reign of Art III., " the for his own father. Carblri Musg woundbattle of Kennfebrat (Kenfewrat, now  ed Lugaidh, i. e. Mac-Con, in the thigh,
part of Sliabh Riach, near Kilmallock) so that he was ever afterwards lame."
was fWght by the sons of Olild and the -See Four Masters. After this defeat
three Carbris, i. e. Carbri Muse, Carbri Mac-Con and his party applied for proRiada, and Carbri Bascaein, against tection to the monarch Art, but finding
Dadera the Druid, Nemedh, son of none, he fled from the'lingdon, accomSroib-kenn, and the south of Ireland; panied by Lugaidh TIhga, the brother
where fell Nemedh, son of Sroibkenn, of Olild Olum, who was displeased at
king of the Ernai of Munster, and the friendship that existed between the
Dadera, the Druid of the Darini. Dad- latter and Art Aeinfer, who had causera was slain by Eogan, son of Olild; ed the death of Mogh Nuadath, their
Nemedh, son of Sroib-kenn, by Carbri father.




818                THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
driven out of the country, and forced to spend some time in
exile.  During  his banishment he made himself allies and
friends, so that he was enabled to return to Ireland, accompanied
by Beinni Brit, son of the king of Great Britain, and backed by
a great force of foreigners. With these he challenged Art
Aeinfer, king of Ireland, to a battle, in revenge for his support
of Olild Olum.  Upon this, both parties having mustered their
forces, they prepared to contend in battle upon the plain of
Mocrumhi, whither Art led his entire host, and whither, also,
came the nine sons of Olild Olum, followed by the seven legions
(i. e. caths) of Munster, as auxiliaries to Art, while Mac-Con,
with his foreigners, stood opposed to them in hostile array. The
battle of Magh Mocrumhi was then fought, and, in it, Art and
his forces were completely routed.  There, also, that king himself was slain, by the hand of the stout champion, Lugaidh Laga,
son of Eogan Taighlech and brother of Olild Olum, for that
warrior fought on the side of Mac-Con.  Seven of the sons' of
Olild Olum likewise fell upon that field.
Olild Olum had been first named Aengus.  The cause of his
being called Olild Olum arose fromn the result of a criminal
intercourse which he had with Aini, daughter of Ogamhal; for,
as this damsel lay by Olild's side, his unwilling mistress, she
completely bit off one of his ears from his head, in vengeance
both for the violence to which he had subjected herself, and for
his having slain her father shortly before. Thence he was called
Olild Olum,92 which means, Olild of the Bare Ear; the latter
word being derived from  "o," an ear, and "lom," bare: and the
cause why he was named Olild93 (otherwise spelt, Oilioll)-which
is the same as "oil, oil,': that is, great blemish-was by reason
19 Olum. Dr. O'Connor considers must have bitten off the ear of his
this word to mean the same thing as fourth ancestor, Corb Olum, or Derg" ollamh," i. e. a learned sa(e or doctor. theini, likewise, which, however salaBut Dr. O'Donovan informs us that it cious the tribe may have been, is exis always written' olum" by our anti- ceedingly improbable. This fact must
quaries, and understood to mean of the go far to prove, that the surname
bare ear, thus tacitly admitting the " Olum" was hereditary. Can we be.
truth of the horrible and disgrusting lieve that the misfortune of having an
story told above. The word, however, ear bitten off was so likewise?
with all due deference to Dr. O'Dono-   93 Olild. Whatever ground there be
van, is sometimes written "eolum," for believing that " Olum" means bare
which, coming from " eol," knowledge, ear, there can be none for thinking that
may well mean sage, and Dr. O'Connor this name Olild was applied to the
be right after all. There is also strong  Munster king, as a dishonoring epithet.
presumptive evidence that " Olum," or It was then already grown old as a
"Eolum," whatever it means, was not proper name amongst the Gaels. It
acquired by Olild alone amongst his had been borne by numberless chieftains
family. If the Danaan Aini bit off his and warriors, and by three Irish monear, some other fair Danaan or Belgian archs, and several provincial kings




THE IIISTORY OF IRELAND.                    319
of three great personal blemishes with which he had met, and
which stuck to him  to the day of his death; for he was bare
of an car, he had black teeth, and his breath was foul.  These
blemishes were brought upon him in the following manner:
immediately after losing his ear, as we have just told, through
the vengeance of Aini, he was seized with a violent fit of rage,
and, under its influence, he struck his spear through that damsel's
body into the earth, so that the head of the spear was dashed
against a stone, by which its point was bent.  Olild, thereupon,
took the spear-head between his teeth, in order to straighten its
point, and the poison  that was upon the blade  got thus into
thehi, so that they became black all at once.  Thence there also
arose a foul odor from his breath, that contaminated him  to his
grave; for he had broken the three sacred injunctions (gesa),
that had been attached to that spear. These were, never to
allow its head to touch upon a stone; never to take it between
the teeth; and never to use it in slaying a woman. Thus it
happened, from his having violated these three sacred injunctions, that those three blemishes above mentioned came upon
him, and that, from them, men called him  Oilioll, which is interpreted "oiloilil," or great blemish.94
LUGAIDHI MAC-CON, ARD-RIGH.
A. D. 182.95  Lugaidh,96 that is, Mac-Con, son of Mac-Niadh,
son of Lugaidh, son of Dari, son of Fer-Ulni, son of Edbolg,
son of Dari, son of Sithbolg, of the line of Lugaidh, son of Ith,
son of Breogan, held the sovereignty of Ireland for thirty years.
As we have above stated, Sadb, daughter of Conn of the Hundred Battles, was the mother of Mac-Con.  Lugaidh, who was the
son of Mac-Niadh, was called by the nickname of Mac-Con, for
long ares before Olild Olum was born. remembered as one of the Banshees of
Oilioll is a very modern way of spell- Munster.
inD the word: in the old MSS. it is  94 Great blemish. We have, a little
found written Aileld, Alild, Oileld, before, seen Olild called "Olild Alainn
Olild, Ailell, &c. To suppose that it Olum," i. e. beauteous Olild Olum;
could mean anythinc disgraceful, is which it is not likely that the historic
perfectly absurd. We may, then, set bard would have ventured upon, hadhe
the whole tale down as a lying calumny, been of so offensive a presence, as this
invented to depreciate the race of Eber, tale would make him. The grand obseeing upon what untenable foundations jection to it is that, if he was so deit has been built. The lady Aini, formed, he could scarcely have mainwhom Olild is said to have so cruelly tained himself on the throne amongst a
used, was a Danaan; her father, whom  people so much taken by externals as
Olild had slain, is elsewhere called Eo- the Gaels.
gabal. It is from her that the Hill of  95 A. D. 196.-Four Masters
Knockany, near Bruff, co. Limerick,   9 LUGAIDII VI.
has it name. She is now traditionally




820                 THE nISTORY OF IRELAND.
the following reason: when he was an infant in the house of
his step-father, Olild Olum, the latter chief had a certain hound,
which was named Elair D)erg (Red Eagle),  The infant Lugaidh
happening, once, to creep to this hound upon his hands and
feet, the animal took  him  kindly to its breast; and, thenceforward, it was found impossible to keep him  away from  his
strange nurse.  Hence he got the name of Mac-Con,"7 (i. e. son
of the "n "cu or wolf-hound).
Now, when Alac-Con had, as we have seen, gained great preeminence, after his return from  banishment, and after winning
the battle of AMagh Mocrumhi, where Art Acinfer fell, he made
himself master of all Ireland in the course of one week; and
he enjoyed the sovereignty thereof for thirty years, as we read
in the duan, which commences with the line, "Cnuca's hill,9'
o'er Jifi's stream."  The following are its words:, In one week's time, (no humble glory 1)
Brave Lugaidh conquered Eri's plains:
Subduing both her royal chieftains,
In those seven days he won her throne.
For thirty years, with strength unbroken,
M~lac-Con, thence, held unrivalled sway;
But, then, the curly-headed hero,
Unvanquished still, by treason fell,"
Now, this Mac-Con, of whom we are speaking, was not of the
race of Enna Muncaein, of the line of Eber, although that statement is mrade in  the  duan which commences with the line
"Comely Conari, son-in-law of Conn;" but he was descended of
the line of Lugaidh, son of Ith, son of Breogan.  Miledh of
Spain, son of Bili, (Billeh,) son of Breogan, and Lugaidh, son
Ith, son of Breogan, were cousin-germans.  So that, although
the posterity of Lugaidh Mac Itha are of the Fine Gaedhail,
(Finneh Gayil,) still they are not of the Clanna  Milidh, (Clonna
*7 Mac-Con. "This, however, is clear- Keating has taken no notice of the rely the guess derivation of a posterior inarkable battle that was fought here in
agre  The word Alac-Con would cer- the reign of Conn of the Hundred Battainly denote Jiliats Canis, but it might ties, by that monarch, against his rival
also be figuratively. used to denote son  Eogan Mor. In it Eogan was defeated,
of a hero; and as his father's name and his ally, Cumhal, son of Trenmor,
was Mac-Niadh, that is, son of a hero, chieftain of the Fiann of Leinster and
it might not, perhaps, be considered  father of the celebrated Finn, or Fingal,
over presumptuous in an etymologist of fell therein, by the hand of Goll IMac
the present day, to reject the story  Morna. Eogan had to fly thence to
about the greyhound bitch, and substi- Spain, whence, returning with a powertute a modern conjecture in its place." ftul force, he soon retrieved his lost
-Dr. O'Donovan.                     fortune, and forced Conn to divide
n Cnuca's hill. This is probably the Ireland with him.
place now Castlekuock, near Dublin.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                        321.eeleh,) or children of Miledh, but they are nevertheless their
kinsmen, as a bard thus tells, in speaking of three of the clans
of the children of Ith, in the following rann:
"O' Cobthaigh`9 of the festive horns,
O'h-Edirsgeoil'TM and O' Floinn-Arda,'
Clans whose ancestral tree ne'er fell,
Three clans not of the sons of Miledh."
Here follow the names of the other clans that have sprung
from the stock of Lugaidh, son of Ith; to wit, O'Laegari,2 (now
O'Laery,) and O'Bari3  of Rinn-Muintiri-Bari, in Carbery; Mac
Flannchada,4  (now   Mac Clanchy,) of Dartraide;  O'Cuirnin,5'9 O'Cobthaigh. This clan, the mem-' O'Floinn-Arda.  The castle of Arbers of which now  call themselves dagh, midway between Skibbereen and
Cowhig  and  Coffey, was formerly  Baltimore, was one of this chief's prinseated in the territories at present cipal seats.
known as Barriroe east and west,   2 O'Laegari.  The chieftain of this
in the county of Cork, where the  sept of the descendants of Mac-Con
former splendor of t-he clan is attested  was driven from the seabord of Corca
by the ruins of their feudal castles Luighe about the time of the English
which still exist. Dr. Smith says, in  invasion. After which he settled with
his history of Cork: "Almost on every  his followers in the parish of Inchageeheadland of this barony were castles lagh, or Iveleary, in the barony of
erected by the Irish, seven of which  Muskery.
belong to the sept O'Cowbhig, as Dun-  O3 OBari. This name is now somedeedy, Dunowen, Dunore, Duneen, Dun- times confounded by English-speaking
cowhig,, Dunworley, and Dungoohy. people with that of the Norman Do
The O'Cowhigs seem to have been in  Barry, or Barry. Their territory, still
early times more powerful than their called Muinter-Bhaire (MIunter-vaurie),
kinsmen, the O'Driscolls or O-h-Edirs- lies in the parish of Kilcroghane, county
geoil, and 0'Flynn or O'Floinn-Arda. of Cork.
T''hey lay nearest to the English free-   The O'h-Aeda (O'Hea), O'Dunlaing
booters, were the earliest robbed, and  (O'Dowling), O'Dubhchonna  (O'Dofell soonest into obscurity. The pro- heny), O'Lonain  (sometimes called
genitor, from  whom they took their Lannin, Lenane and Leonard), O'Lainame, was called Cobthach Finn, son  digh  (Liddy), O'Duinin  (Downing),
of Dungalach, the twelfth in descent and several other names still numerous
from  king Lugaidh Mac-Con. The  in the south-west of Munster, are of
word Cobthach means victor.         this race.-See Third Part.'~ O-h-Edirsgeoil. The territory of   4 Mac Flannchada, of  Dartraide.
O'Driscoll, or O-h-Edirsgeoil, who in  The territory of this sept, which must
latter times was the most distinguished  be distinguished from the Dalcassian
chief of the Corca-Luighe, originally  Mac Clanchies, chief-brehons of Thocomprised the entire of the diocese of mond, was comprised within the present
Ross. But when the Eoganacht clans barony of Rossclogher, co. of Leitrim.
of O'Mahony, O'Donovan, O'Cullane, In Irish, the name is properly spelled
or Collins, and O'Sullivan were driven  Mac Fhlannchadha (Mac Lonnilghuee),
into this territory, after the English  as being derived from a chief named
invasion, it was narrowed to the follow- Flanncaidh, the twenty-third descending parishes in the territory of Car- ant from Dari Sir-chrechtach, or Darini.
-berry, viz.: Myross, Glanbarahane, They were  called  Dartraide, from
Tullagh, Creagh, Kilcoe, Aghadown, Doighri Dart, grandfather of this
and Clear Island.                   Flanncaidh.
21




322                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
(now O'Curneen,) and Mac Amhalgaidh,6  (Mc'  Awley,) of Calraide;7 and Mac Allinn8 of Alba, (Scotland.)
This Mlac-Con was the third chieftain of the line of Lugaidh,
son of Ith, that won the kingdom of Ireland.  The first kling of
this race was Eocaidh Edgothach, who, having ruled that country for four years, (from A.M. 2866 to A.M. 2870,) was slain by
Kermna, son of Ebric; the second king was Eocaidh Apthach,
son of Finn, who fell by the hand of Finn, son of Bratha, when
he had reigned but one year, (A.M. 3301 to A.M. 3302); and the
third king was this Mac-Con, of whom we are now treating.  In
testimony of these facts, the following verse has been left on
record:
"Three kings there sprang from tall Mac Itha,
Two Eocaidhs first, then rose proud Lugaidh,
WVho, by his glorious deeds and battles,
Avenged our injured, dear Clan Itha."
It was a poet, named Fercheas, son of Coman, that assassinated
Mac-Con, with a species of javelin, called rincne, at the instigation of Cormac, son of Art, as the king stood with his back
against a pillar-stone at Gort-an-oir, near Derg-rath, in Magh
Femhenn, to the west of Ath-na-Carbad, and while he was there
engaged in distributing silver and gold to the poets and ollarnhs
of Ireland.  When the poet Fercheas, son of Coman, who was
dwelling at Ard-na-Geimlech  (which  is now  called  Cnocach),
heard that MIac-Con was thus occupied, he entered the assembly
with the others of his class, bringing the rincne with him.  Then,
when he had reached the presence of Mac- Con, he thrust his
victim  through the body with his weapon, until it met the pillarstone, against which the prince had leaned his back, and, thereO'Cuirnin.  In latter ages, the ritories known by this name, from
head of this filmily resided at Inis-Mor  having been possessed by branches of
Locha Gil, or Church Island, in Lough  the tribe of the Calraide (Colree),
Gill, barony of Carbury, and county of which had taken its name from Lugaidh
Sligo. The O' Curneens were for many  Cal, son of Dari Sir-Crechtach. In the
centuries hereditary poets to the 0'- genealogy of the Corca-Luighe,there are
Rluaircs, princes of Brefni.        eight territories enumerated of this de6 M7ac Amalgaidh. This is evidently  nomination.
a mistake. The sept here called Mac    8 IMlac-Allinns.  " Certain it is that
Amalgaidh was a branch of the Ui many illustrious houses in North BritFiacrach, whose family name was 0'- ain trace their origin to him (Mac-Con)
Maeilfhina, now O'Mullany, and who  through his son; as the Campbells,
succeeded the Ithian tribe of the Cal- who, to this day, are called in the Erse
raide as possessors of the Calraide of tongue the Clanna Mhic-Cuin, i. e. the
Magh h-Eleag, a district nearly co- posterity of Mac-Con, the Mac Allens,
extensive with the parish of Crosmo- &c."-O'Halloran. " Fothad Conann,
lina, barony of Tirawley, and county of son of King Mac-Con. was the founder
Mayo.                               of the Campbells."-O'Flaherty.'
Calraide. There were several ter



THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                      323
upon, Mac-Con died immediately of the wound.  Gort-an-oir'
(Gortanore), that is, the field of gold, has been the name of that
place ever since; and it has been so called, from the quantity of
gold there distributed by that monarch to'the bards and ollamhs
of Ireland.
The reason why he had come into Munster was, because the
druids had foretold, that he should not remain one half year
more Ard-righ of Ireland, unless he had got possession of Temhair within that time.  For this reason did he come into Munster, in order to solicit help from his brothers'~ (by his mother
Sadb), the sons of Olild Olum. But they remembered their
ancient grudge against him, for having  caused the death  of
lEogan Mor and their other brothers, at the battle of Magh Mocrumhi. IIe was on his return from his fruitless suit, when he
met his death in the manner just'stated.
FERGUS DUBH-DEDACH, ARD-RIGH..A. D. 212.1"  Fergus'2 Dubh-dedach (Dhoo-yaidagh), son of
Finncaidh, son of Ogambhan, son of Fiatach Finn, son of Dari,
son of Dluthach, son'of Dethsin, son of Eocaidh, son of Sin, son
of Rosin, son of Trin, son of Rothren, soi of Arndell, son of
Mani, son of Forga, son of Olild Eronn, son of Fiacaidh Fer-mara,
son of Aengus Tuirmech of Temhair, of the line of. Erimhon,
assumed the sovereignty of Ireland, and held it for one year.
I-Ie was called Fergus Dubh-dedach, that is, Fergus the Blacktoothed, because he was disfigured by two great black teeth.
This Fergus was the man who had come between  Cormac,
son of Art, and the sovereignty of Ireland, when the said Cormac
had been expelled by the Ulta and Connactaigh, though he had
given them his hostages, and had made a feast' for them in the
north of Brehgh (Bred); at which feast an attendant on the king
of Uladh placed a lighted torch beneath the hair of Cormac, by
which it was greatly burned.  Now, the persons who had com9 Gort-an-oir.  This place is still Mogha, while Cian,Olild's youngest son,
pointed out, near the fort of Derg-rath, still reigned over the Elian territories.
in the parish of Derrygrath, about four " Mac-Conn was killed," say the Four
mliles to the north-east of Cahir, county  Masters, " after he had been expelled
Tipperary. Cno6ach is now  called from Temhair, by Cormac, grandson of
Knockagh, and is situated about three  Conn."
miles north-east of the same town. In   11 A. D. 226. Four Masters.
the Leabhar Gabhala, it is called Ard   12 FERGUS II. His father is elseFeirchis, i. e. the Hill of Fercheas.-  where called Imchadh.
O'D.                                13 A feast. By this feast and these
10 His brothers. His kinsmen were hostages, Cormac sought to purchase
perhapsthe better translation. Fiacha the support of the Ulidian tribes, in
]Maeil-lethan, the grandson of Olild, his struggle for the throne.
was, probably, already king of Leth



324                THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
mitted this outrage14 upon Cormac, were the three sons of Finncaidh, son of Ogamhan, son of Fiatach Finn, namely: Ferg-s
Dubh-dedach, Fergus Cas-fiaclach,15 and Fergus Folt-lebar.
Cormac, thereupon, went to solicit aid from Tadg, son of Kian.
son of Olild Olum, who was then very powerful in the Elian
territories.  And the reply that Tadg gave him  was, that he
would give him aid, but that he should get lands in return therefor.  " I shall give thee," said Cormac, " all the land that thou
canst encompass with thy chariot on the day thou wilt have
routed the Ferguses in battle."  "Well, then," said Tadg, "I
anticipate victory for thee, if thou canst but find that redoubted
champion, Lugaidh Laga,l1  my grandfather's brother, and canst
bring him into the field with thee; for it is most probable that
he will himself slay the whole three of the Ferguses.  And
Etharla, near Sliabh  Grod, is the place where that warrior
now is."
Upon hearing this, Cormac set out for Etharla," and there he
found Lugaidh Laga, lying down in his hunting booth. Cormac
then thrust his spear through the booth, and pricked Lugaidh
Laga in the back.  "Who wounds me?" cried the warrior.  "It
is I, Cormac Mac Airt," replied his visitor.  "Thou hast good
cause for wounding me," said Lugaidh, "for it was I killed thy
father, Art Aeinfer."  "Award me an eric for the deed," said
Cormlac.  "Thou wilt get a king's head on the battle-field,"
replied the champion.  "Then,"  said Cormac, "give me the
head of Fergus of the Black Teeth, the king of Uladh, who is
now opposing my accession to the throne of Ireland."  " That
thou wilt get," said Lugaidh.  Upon this the prince returns to
Eli, to Tadg, son of Kian, and they both march, with a numerous
force, to Brugh-mic-an-oighls (Broo-mick-a'n-oe), at Crinna-ChinnCumair, and there the battle of Crinna was fought, between
Cormac and the three Ferguses.
Tadg had another motive for marching against the Ulta, for
it was this Fergus, their king, that slew his father, in the battle
of Samhain.  But Tadog did not allow Cormac to take part in
14 Outrage. By the loss of his hair,'6 Lugaidh Laga. This warrior was
Cormac was prevented from being in- the most redoubted, as well as the most
augurated king of Ireland, as he was fierce and savage champion of his day.
disqualified for that ceremony by being His name is now pronounced Looee
thus personally disfigured. The reader Law.
will remember something similar, in the   17 Etharla, now called Aharlow, a
tale of Cuchullainn and Curigh MDac romantic glen lying north of the GaulDari, already related.            ties, which were anciently called Sliabh
15 Fergus Cas-fiaclach, i. e. Fergus of Grod.
the Crooked Teeth. He was also styled   1s Brugh-mic-an-oigh is the name of
Fergus Bot, or the Fiery; Fergus Folt- a place on the River Boyne, near
lebhar (Folt-leowar), i. e. Fergus of the Stackallan Bridge.
Flowing Hair.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                    325
the action, but he placed him  on a hill, behind the field of
slaughter, accompanied by an attendant or gilla, whilst he himself, aided by Lugaidh Laga, made head against the Ferguses.
And then Fergus Folt-lebar was the first of the brothers that
fell by the hand of the latter warrior, who immediately cut off
his head, and proceeded with it to the hill where Cormac was
remaining.  But when Cormac saw that the armies were about
coming to close quarters, what he did was, to put the clothes of
Deilenn Druth, his gil9a, or attendant, upon himself, and to dress
the attendant in his own; for he was well aware that Lugaidh,
when his warlike ire was roused, and when the battle-rage was
upon him, could be trusted by neither friend nor foe.
When Lugaidh, then bearing in his hand the head he had cut
off, came into the presence of the attendant, disguised as Cormac,
he demanded, if that were the head of Fergus of the Black
Teeth.  "No," said the gilla, " but it is the head of Fergus the
Long-haired, his brother. Hearing this, Lugaidh rushed back
to the fight, and soon cut off the head of Fergus Cas-fiaclach.
With this, also, he came to the hill where the gilla stood disguised as Cormac. " Is this the head of the king of Uladh," said
Lugaidh.  "No," ieplied the gilla, "but it is the head of the
other of his brothers."  Upon hearing this, Lugaidh dashed the
head upon the ground, and returned to the fight a third time,
and brought off thence the head of Fergus of the Black Teeth.
lie then demanded the same question as before of the gilla, who
replied, that it was the head of the king of Uladh. Upon this,
Lugaidh flung the head at him, and striking him therewith upon
the breast, he killed him  upon the spot by the blow.  Immediately after, Lugaidh himself fell into a swoon, by reason of
the quantity of blood which he had lost from his wounds.'"
As to Tadg, son of Kian, he completely vanquished the host
of Uladh, for he routed them  seven times within that one day;
having pursued them  from Ath-Crinna to Glas-an-Era, on the
side of IDrom-Innasglainn," as the bard Flannaghn tells us in the
following rann:
"Tadg Mac Kdin, that gore-stained battle-axe,
Was seven times victor in one day,
And broke the routed ranks of Uladh,
From Crinna's ford to high Ard-Kein."'9 Upon the slaughter of the three  Then Cormae said,'It is well done;
_ usesvthe Four Masters have pre- xHis hand has never failed Laga."'
F erguses, the Four Masters have preserved an incent rnnn,            v which the Rathl-Cro is near Slane, in the county
served an ancient rann, of which th Methe
following is a translation:      of Meath.      ainn,  now  Drum
2o Drum-l,:nasglainn, now Drum", Upon one stone at Rath-Cro  inisklin and Drumiskin, in the present
Were slain the three Ferguses.  county of Louth.




326                THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Tadg then, though he had received three spear-wounds,
mounted his car, and ordered his charioteer to drive him towards Temhair, hoping to encompass its royal walls within the
circuit to be made by his war-steeds within that day.  They
then drove straight upon Ternhair, though Tadg had swooned
several times, from the loss of the blood which continued to flow
froln his wounds.  And when they had thus reached near to
Ath-Cliath, Tadg addressed his charioteer, and said: " Have we
yet taken in Temhair?"  "We have not," said the charioteer:
and Tadg, thereupon, killed him at a blow.
Soon after the slaughter of his charioteer, Cormac, son of Art,
fell in with him, and seeing the three great wounds from which
Tadg was suffering, he commanded his own physician to put a
live chafer into one of them, a grain of barley into another, and
the splinter of a spear-blade into the third, and then to cause
the wounds to heal externally.2'
In consequence of this treatment, the warrior wasted away in
withering disease for a whole year, until Lugaidh Laga went to
Munster in search of the Wise Surgeon, which physician came, at
his request, and brought with him.his three pupils.  When
these heard the -groans of Tadg, upon their arrival at his dun
(fort), the Wise-Surgeon,"2 upon being informed by Tadg about his
first sore, he demanded of the first of his three pupils, and said:
" What is the cause of this sore?"  "' That is a sore caused by
a sharp prickle," said the pupil, "' and the prickle is an awn of
barley."  Next, when he had heard all about the second sore, he
demanded of'his second pupil what was its cause.  " Thi.s is a
sore caused by a live worm," said he, "for a live chafer has
been put into the second wound."  IIe was then told all about
the third sore, and again asked of his third pupil what had
caused it. "This is a sore whose cause is the'point of a weapon,"
21 The extravagant and impossible a territorial reward for that battle that
story here told is evidently a calumny, Cormac gave to Tadg, the Kiannacta,
invented in order to tarnish the glory which are in Magh-Breagh, as is celeof Cormac Mac Airt, who was one of brated in other books."
the greatest and wisest of our pagan   22 Wise-Surgeon. Faithliagh (Fahmonarchs. It may be remarked, that lees) is the term used in the original.
the greater our monarchs and chief- This word is usually translated surgeon;
tains appear to have been, the more but, as it was given as a disti nctive title
were they subject to such calumnies. to this physician, the translator thinks
Thus have Aengus Tuirrmech, Concobar it to be, in this instance, put by misMac Nessa, Crimthan Niadh-nair, Olild take, either fpr " Aith-liagh" (d-h leea),
Olum, and the great Cormac been each, which would mean a veteran or experiin turn, most vilely defamed by the enced physician; or for "faithliagh"
story-tellers of their enemies. The Four (fawleea), a wise physician. O'Hallo.
Masters relate that, "In the army of ran calls him Finghin Faithliagh (Fin.
Cormac came Tadg, son of Kian, and eeln Fawleea).
Lugaidh to that battle; and it was as




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                      327
said the third pupil.  Then the WVise-Surgeon entered the house
where the patient was lying, and proceeded at once to place an
iron plough-share in the fire; and there he left it until he had
made it quite red, saying that he was preparing to operate with
it upon Tadg.  But when the latter saw him  getting ready the
red iron, in order to thrust it through his body, his heart trembled so violently within him, and his terror became so great,
that he forcibly cast out from his several sores the grain of
barley, the chafer, and the splinter of the spear-head.  After this
the Wise-Surgeon performed a radical cure of his wounds, so that
Tadgcl became perfectly healed within a very shbrt time after'
This warrior afterwards won large possessions in Leth-Cuinn;
for Conlna and Cormac Galengach were the sons of Tadg, son of
Kian, son of Olild Olum, and from him have sprung the O'Haras,
O'Garas, O'Caseys (of Bre~gh, in Meath), and the O'Connors
Keenaught (i. e. the O'Connors of Ulster).  The following are
the territories that were possessed by his posterity, namely: the
Galena, both. east and west;23 the Kiannacta,24 both south and
north; and the Luighni, both east and west.
But there were some otlier tribes of the blood of Eber, besides
these, who had woni territories in Leth Cuinn; such as the race
of Cochla'n, son of Lorcan, son of Dathin, son of Tecari, son.of
Tre"n,  son of Sidhe, son of Anbili, son of Beg, son of Aedgan,
son of Delbaeth, son of Cas, son of Conall Ech-luath, son of
Lugaidh  Alenn, son of Aengus Tirech, son of Fer-Corb, son of
Mogh-Corb, son of Cormac Cas, son of Olill Olum.  The territories acquired by these were the  seven  Delbna25 (]Ddllavna),
3 Gallelnga, east and west, i. e. in  already  pointed out; so  have the
fMeath and in Connaught. Before ex- Luighni.
plaine(l.                             The importance of the services ren-'2 Kixannacta, soth. This territory  dered by Tadg to king Cormac, are
extended from the River liffey to near sufficiently attested by the largeness
Drumiskin, in the county of Louth  and fertility of the territory given to
(comprehending the barony of Ferrard, him as a reward for his valor; as is the
or Arda Kianacta, in that county). bravery of his descendants by the numDuleek, in Meath, is mentioned as in it. ber and extent of the territories won
O'Cathasaigh, or O'Casey, of Saithni, by them  in Ulster and Connauight.
in Magh Bre(tgh, was one of its princi- The posterity of Kian did not, howpal chiefs. He was dispossessed shortly  ever, all migrate to these new districts;
after the Enfglish invasion, by Hugo de the chief part of his descendants ruled
Lacy. This tribemustbe distinguished  the Elian territory down to a late
from the O'Cathasai(h, or O'Caseys, of period. There is an ancient historic
Coillti Alabinecha, whose territory lay tale still extant, called the Cath Crinna,
on the borders of the counties of Cork  which minutely describes the battle of
and Limerick, near the town of Mit- Crinna. " Some of its details are le
chelstoun. The Kianacta Breagh did gendary, but it is true as to its main
not include Tara within their bounds. facts."-O'D.
The northern Kianacta, the tribeland   25 Seven Delbna.  1. O'Finnaltain
of O'Connor of Glengiven, has been  was the chief of Delbna Mor, now call




328                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
namely: Delbna-Mor,  Delbna-Beg, Delbna Edthartha, Delbna of
Iarthar-Midhe  (i. e. of the  west of Meath), Delbna of Sith
Nennta, Delbna of Cuil-Fabar, Delbna of Tir-da-loch, in Connaught.
Remember, reader, that it was Lugaidh Laga that slew Fergus
of the Black Teeth, of whose reign we have j ust treated; and
that where he slew him was at the battle of Crinna; and that it
was at the instigation of Cormac Mac Airt that he did the
deed.
CORMAC UL-FADA, ARD-RIGH.
A. D. 213.28  Cormac Ul-fada, son of Art Aeinfer, son of Conn
Ked-cathach, of the line of Erimhbn, assumed the sovereignty
of Ireland, which he held for forty years. lie was styled
Cormac Ul-fada, either on account of his wearing a long beard,2?
i. e. " ulcha fada;" or from the phrase " Ula a bh-fad (Ulla-vad),
which means far or remote from  Uladh; for he had been for tell
years banished from Ulster or Uladh, by the Ulidians, who had
inflicted many evils upon him previous to his accession to the
Irish monarchy.
And the mother of Cormac was named Ectacl,28 daughter of
Olketach the Smith.  Aind it was on the eve of the battle of
Mocrumhi, that he was conceived of Art by the Smith's daughed the barony of Delvin, county West- Adhnaigh (now fyney) was also one
meath; 2. O'Maeil-challainn, or Mul- of the principal septs of the Connaugh
holland, of Delbna Beg, now the barony  Delbna.-See notes to the Leubhar-na-g
of Demi -Fore, in the same county; Ceart.
3. Mac Cochlain, or,Coghlan, of Delbna   27 A. D. 227. Four Masters.
Ethra, or Edthartha (Atharah), now the' Long-beard. This is the least forebarony of Garrycastle, Kings Coun- ed and the most probable explanation
ty; 4. O'Scolaidhe, of Delbna Iarthar of the surname " Ul-fhada" (Ulladda.
Midhe (Eerhar-Mee), otherwise called  The second is silly, and unfounded in
Delbna Tennmhuigh (lenvoye), which fact. O'Flaherty gives one scarcely
lay somewhere in Tebtha or Teffia; better, though one seemingly more in
5. Delbna-Sithe-Nennta (Shteehie Nen- accordance with historic events, i. e.
ta) was probably another name for that he was called " Ul-fhada" because
Delbna Nuadath, which lay between he banished the " Ulta" once or twice
the rivers Suck and Shannon. in the to the Isles of Man and the HIebrides,
barony of Athlone, county Roscom- far (fad) from their native "Uladh."
mon; this sept sunk early under the   28 Ectitch. The Gaels were not the
Ui Miani; 6. O'Fathartaigh (O'Faher- only race of conquerors that claimed
ty) was lord of Delbna Cull Fabair, the right by which Art is said to have
which was situated on the east side of got possession of this damsel, whose
Lough Corrib; 7. Mac Conroi (now  name Echtach (Aightagh), i. c. admirasometimes corrupted to King) was lord  ble, tells of her unusual attractions.
of Delbna of Tir-da-loch (i. e. the land Down to the last century a similar, and
of the two lakes), which lay between  even more barbarous usage, under the
Loch Orbsen (Lough Corrib) and Loch  name of Droit du Seigneur, was mainI urgan (the Bay of Galway). O'h- tained in some of the most polished




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                   329
ter, who was that king's dowered mistress; for, by a custom then
prevailing in Ireland, whenever a king or nobleman had placed
his affect ions upon the daughter a brughaidh (brooee), or biatach
(beeacagh), and wished to make her his concubine or paramour,
he had a perfect right to get possession of her as such, upon his
presenting her with a sufficient dowry or marriage portion. It
was thus that Art had acquired possession of Cormac's mother;
for it was not she that was his married wife, but Medb Lethderg (feive lih-yarg), daughter of Conan of Cualann, after whom
Rath-Meidhbhe (Rawh-Meivie, i. e. Medb's Fort), near Ternhair,
has been called.
Wonderful, indeed, was the vision which was then seen by
Ectach, the mother of Cormac.  She imagined, as she lay
asleep by the side of Art, that her head had been struck off
from  her body, and that there grew  out of her neck a large
and stately tree, whose branches spread over the whole of Eri;
and then, that a sea came and overwhelmed the, tree, and laid it
-prostrate uponl the earth; and afterwards, that another stately
tree sprung out of the roots of the first, but that there blew a
whirlwind from the west, which laid it low.  When the damsel
had seen this visioni, she started from her sleep, and told its
purport to Art.  "It is true," said Art, "that every woman's
head is her husband.  I shall then be taken off froom thee on
to-morrow, in the battle at AMagh AMocrumnhi; and that stately
tree that appeared to spring from thy neck, shall be a son whom
thou shalt bear to me, and who shall rule all Eri as her king;
and the, sea that is to overthrow it, means the bone of fish which
he shall swallow, and by which he shall be strangled.  And the
other stately tree, that seemed to spring from  the roots of the
first, means also a son who shall be born to thy son, and who
shall likewise reign as king of Eri; and that whirlwind from the
west that is to lay it prostrate, betokens a battle that shall be
fought between him  and the Fiann of Eri, andl he shall be
slain therein by the Fiann, but, from that day forth, all good fortune shall depart forever from the Fiann."  And that vision was
fulfilled, both in the case of Cormac and of his son Carbri; for it
was by having made him  swallow the bone of a fish that the
"Siabrada" (AS'heevree or Sheevragha), that is, the demons, strannations of Europe. The facts that the have founded feudalism, or forgotten
offspring of such unions were not deem- by their descendants.
ed illegitimate, and that the noble   The following events are recorded
ravisher was forced by Brehon law to by the Four Masters as having taken
grant a dowry to the injured maiden, place during the reign of Cormac,
were attenuating circumstances that who, if not the very greatest, was one
seem to have been either overlooked by of the greatest monarchs that ever ruled
the chivalrous Teutons, who are said to Ireland.




330               THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
gled Cormac; and Carbri Lificar fell by the Fiann at the battle
of Gabra (Gaura and Gavw'a).
Some historians will have it that Ethni Taebh-fada (Taiv&la),
daughter of Cathaeir Mor, was the wife of Cormac; but that assertion cannot be true, when we are told that she was also the
mother of Carbri Lificar; for there were eighty-eight years from
the death of Cathlaeir Mor to the accession of Cormiac to the
sovereignty of Ireland, namely: the twenty years that Conn had
reigned; the seven years of the reign of Conari, son of Mogh
Lamnrha; the thirty years of Art Aeinfer; and the thirty years
of Mac-Con; with the one year of Fergus Dubh-ddclach, who
immediately preceded the present monarch. But it is the truth
tostate that Ethni Ollamda, daughter of Dunlaing, son of Enna
Niadh (Areea), was the mother of Carbri Lificar, and the wife of
Cormac.
It was she that was the foster-child of Buikedh Brugh, a
wealthy grazier, who dwelt amongst the Leinstermen, and whose
wont it was to keep the cauldron of hospitality constantly on
the fire, for the purpose of entertaining every one of the men of
Ireland that might come to his house. Now this Buikcdh Brugh
was thus circumstanced: he was a man of abundant wealth, for
he had seven herds of cattle, and in each herd of these there
were seven-score of cows.  With these he had large herds of
horses, and of every other description of stock in like manner.
Knowing this, the nobles of Leinster made a practice of coming
to his house, attended by bands of their followers, and at their
departure thence they usually took off with them —one party a
drove of his kine; another a stud of his brood mares, with their
colts; another a troop of his steeds.  In this manner they soon
stripped him of all his wealth, so that at last there remained in
his possession but seven cows and a bull.  With these, he stole
away by night from Dun Buikidh, and betook himself, with his
wife and his foster-child Ethni, to an oak-wood that lay near
Kenannus (Kells), in Meath, at which place Cormacn was wont
to reside at that time.   There Buikedh built him  a hut, in
which he dwelt with his wife and his foster-child; and there
did  Ethni serve and wait upon her nurse, and her fosterA. D. 234. The eighth year of Cor- battle of Sruth (Shrule, co. Louth),
mac, Olild Ollm, son of Mogh Nua- against the Ulstermen; the battle of
dath, king of Munster, died.-A. D. Slighe Cualgni (co. Louth).-A. D.
236. The battle of Granard (in Long- 237. The battle of Ath-Betha (probford), by Cormac, against the Ulster, ably Ballybay, co. Monaoghan); the
men. A battle at Eu, in Magh Aei- battle of Dumha, this year by Corinac.
agtainst Aedh, son of Eocaidh, son of -A. D. 238. A battle at Cuil-tochair
Conall, king of Connaught. A battle thrice, and three battles at Dublladh
at Eth; the battle of Kenn-Dari; the (Dowth, on the Boyne, co. Meath)



THE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.                       831
father, as if she were their maid-servant.  While they were thus
situated, king Cormac chanced to ride out one day alone, for the
purpose of traversing the lands that lay around his town; and,
in the course of his ride, he came upon the beautiful maid Ethni,
whom  he espied milking the seven cows of her foster-father.
And it was thus that she proceeded to perform her task: she
had brought with her two pails, into one of which she milked
the first half-draught from the cows, and then, taking  the second
pail, she milked the second  half-draught therein.   She then
returned to the hut of her foster-father, and having left the milk
within, she brought thence two other pails, and also a horn,
which she held in her hand; with these she betook her to a
stream that ran not far from the hut. and by means of the horn
A. D. 239. The battle of Allamagh  the house from  their first reception.
(probably the plain of the river Ela, The duty of these virgins was to keep
now Allo, co. Cork), and seven bat- constantly alive the fires of Bel, or the
ties at Eibe (now Slieve Ilva, co. Sun, and of Samhain, or the Moon,
Clare).-A. D. 240. The battle at which customs they borrowed from
Magh'iect, and the fleet of Cormac their Phoenician ancestors. Dunlaing,
sailed across Magh Rein (i. e. the plain  son of Endeus, broke into this retreat,
of Rian, i. e. the sea) this year, so that with a number of wretches equally
it was on that occasion he obtained the abandoned, and not being able to viosovereignty of Alba (Scotland). —A. D. late the virgins, basely put them to the
241. These are the battles of Cormac, sword. Besides putting the principal
fought against Munster this year: the perpetrators to death, Cormac obliged
battle  of Berrz; the battle of Loch  their successors to send thirty white
Lein (Killarney); the battle of Luim- cows, with calves of the same' color,
nech (Limerick); the battle of Grian; every year to Temhair, and thirty brass
the battle of Clasach: the battle of collars for these cows, and thirty chains
Muiresg; the battle of Ferta, in which to keep them quiet whilst milking."fell Eocaidh Taebh-fada, son of Olild  O'Hal.]-A. D. 248.  The twentyOlum; the battle of Saimhain, in which  second year of Cormac, a battle, at
fell Kian, son of Olild Olum; and the Fochard Murthemni (now Faughard,
battle of Ard-cam. The massacre of near Dundalk), by Cormac, this year.
the girls at Claein-ferta, at Teemhair, by  The battle of Crinna Fregobail was
Dunlaing, son of Enna Niadh, king of fought by Cormac, against the UlsterLeinster. Thirty royal girls was their men, where fell Aengus Finn, son of
number, and a hundred maids with  Fergus Dubh-d&dach, king of Ulster,
each of them. Twelve princes of the with the slaughter of the Ulstermen
Leinstermen did Cormac put to death  about him.-A. D. 265. Kellach, son
together, in revenge for that massacre, ofr Cormac, and Cormac's law-giver,
together with an exaction of the Bo- were mortally wounded, and the eye of
rumha, with an increase after Tuathal. Cormac himself was destroyed with one
[" In times of Paganism  we find in thrust of a lance. by Aengus GaibhIrelrnd females devoted to celibacy. uaibthech, son of Fiacha Suighdhe,
There was in Tara (Temhair) a royal son of Feidhlimidh the Law-giver.
foundation of this kind, wherein none Cormac afterwards fought and gained
were admitted but virgins of royal seven battles over the Deisi, in reblood. It was called Cluain-Fert, or venge for that deed, and he expelled
the place of retirement until death, as them from their territory, so that they
they never retired from the precincts of are now in Munster.




332                THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
she filled one of the pails with the water which ran near the
bank, and the other with that which ran in the middle of the
stream.  She again returned to the hut with her pails, and soon
came forth a third time, bearing in her hand a sickle, for the
purpose of cutting rushes. As she cut these, she took care to
set every sickle-full of green rushes that were long, on one side,
while she set the short rushes on the other. Now it also happened that Cormac, smitten with love for the maiden, had continued to stand by her while she was performing all of those
offices; and he at length demanded of her, for whom she had
made that careful selection of the milk, the water, and the rushes.
"The person for whom I have made it," said she, "has a right
to still greater kindness from me, if it were in my power to render it." " Of what name is he?" said Cormac. " Buikedh Brugh,"
replied  she.  "Is that Buikedh, the  biatach (beeatcagh)," said
Cormac, " that Leinsterman who is so famous throughout Ireland?"
" It is," replied the maid. " Then thou art his foster:child, Ethni,
daughter of Dunlaing," said the king.  "I am," replied Ethni.
"It has happened well," said Cormac, "for thou shalt be my
only wife."  "The disposal of me does not rest with myself,"
said Ethni, " but with my foster-father."  Upon this, Cormac accompanied her to Buikedh, upon whom he promised to bestow
rich presents, provided he got Ethni as his wife. Buikedh,
thereupon, consented to give the maiden in  marriage to the
king; who, upon his part, granted the "tuath" or district of
Oghrln, with store of cattle, and which lay near Teinhair, to
Buikedh, to possess during his lifetime. And then the marriage
of Cormac was consummated, and she bore him  a distinguished
son, who was named Carbri Lificar.
This Cormac was, indeed, one of the wisest monarchs that
ever possessed Ireland.  Of this fact, let his Tegasg Righ" (T4agTegrasg Righ. Copies of this work, of Ireland to Temhair, and ordered
ascribed to king Cormac, are yet ex- them to write the Chronicles of Ireland
tant in the Book of Leinster and in the in one book, which was named the
Book of Ballymote; and translated ex- Psalter of Temhair. In that book
tracts from it are given in the Dublin were entered the coeval exploits and
Penny Journal, vol. i. pp. 213, 214, 215, synchronisms of the kings of Ireland
and 231, 232. —O'D.               with the kings and emperors of the
O'Flaherty says, that " Cormac's lit- world. and of the kings of the provinces
erary productions, still extant in manu- with the monarchs of Ireland. In it
script, prove him to have been an able was also written what the monarchs of
legislator and antiquarian: his laws, Ireland were entitled to receive from
enacted for the public good, were never the provincial kings, and the rents and
abrogated while the Irish monarchy dues of the provincial kings from their
lasted."                          subjects, from the noble to the subalt"It was this Cormac, son of Art, ern. In it also were described the
also, that collected the Chroniclers boundaries and meares of Ireland, from




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                      333
gas7o Ree), or Book of Precepts for Kings, which was transcribed
by his son, Carbri Lifiear, bear testimony, as well as the many
other praiseworthy institutes, named from  him, that are still to
be found in the books of the Brehon Laws.
Cormac was also one of the kings that kept the most princely
household, and that maintained the largest retinue of attendants,
that ever held the sovereignty of Ireland.  The truth of this
fact may be learned from  the account which the bard-sage of
king Diarmaid, son of Kerbeol, namely, Amirghin, son of Amalgaidh, son of Mael-Ruadna, has given of the Hall of Mi-Cuarta,
built and regulated by king Cormac himself, in the book called
the Dinn-Senchas, written by the said Amirghin.  However, it
was long before the time of Cormac that the Hall of M i-Cuarta
was first founded; for we have seen that Slanoll, king of Ireland,
died within its walls, many ages before the reign of the present
king. This is, then, what must be meant, namely, that it was in
Cormac's time that it was first converted into a banquet hall.
It was three hundred feet in length, and thirty cubits in height,
and, in breadth, it was fifty cubits."  In it there was a flaming
lamp, and it was entered by fourteen doors. It contained one
hundred and fifty beds, besides Cormac's own. One hundred
and fifty warriors stood in the king's presence when he sat down
to the banquet. There were one hundred and fifty cup-bearers
in waiting; and the hall was provided with one hundred and
fifty jewelled cups of silver and gold. Fifty over one thousand
was the number of the entire household. -It was upon the ma.gnificence and goodness of Cormac that the bard composed the
following verse:
"The monarch Art left but one child,
Cormac, the royal sage of Corann:
Rich gifts he dealt with bounteous handA hundred clans have sprung from Cormac."
Ten was the number of Cormac's daughters, and his sons were
three, as the bard tells us:
shore to shore, from the province (cuig- dimensions here given of the Hall of
edh) to the cantred (tuath), from the Mi-Cuarta have been verified by modcantred to the townland (baili), from  ern researches made upon the spot; as
the townland to the traighidh (trawee) have also the much more minute and
of land. These things are celebrated elaborate descriptions of the several
in the Leabhar na h-Uidhri. They are constructions at Temhair given by our
evident in the Leabhar Dinnsenchasa."  antiquaries, bards, and by the writers of
-Four Masters.                    historic romance.-See Petrie's Antiqua
1o It is to be here remarked that the ties of Tara Hill.




334                THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
"Ten daughters the wise Cormac had,
With three most royal sons.
Three plunderers that wasted Clar
Were Dari, Carbri, Kellach."
Dari was slain at Dubh-ros (Doo-russ), on the Boyne, in the
plain of Breagh; and it was Aengus Gaeith-buailtech"3 (Ayneesse
Guee-vooiltctgh) that killed Kellach, as the bard relates in the
following verse:
"Famed Aengus of death-dealing spear
Slew Kellach, son of Cormac;
In Dubh-ros, Dari and Tadg Mae KIin
Fell, near the Boyne, on smooth Magh-Breagh."
In order that the events of this epoch may be the better understood, I shall give down here a short genealogical memoir of
the following persons and tribes:
Settlement of the Fot7hartagh "  and Laeighsigh in Leinster.
You must, in the first place, understand that Feidlimidh Rectmar (king of Ireland) had three sons, namely: Eocaidh Finn,
Fiacaidh Suighdi, and Conn of the Hundred Battles, as has been
heretofore recounted.  Of these, Conn and his posterity abode
at Temhair and possessed the sovereignty of Ireland. Eocaidh
Finn went to dwell in Leinster; and it was in his time that CuCorb, son of Mogh-Corb, was king of that pentarchate.  It was,
also, by this Eocaidh Finn that Laeighsech  (Lueeshagh) Kennmor,33 son (or rather descendant) of Conall Kearnach, had been
fostered and educated.
About the same time the Muimhnigh  (Muivnih or Mueenih)
or Munstermen held great sway in Leinster, so that they were
in possession of the whole of Osraide (Osree) and of Laeighis'4
(Lueesh), as far as Mullach Masden.  But when Cu-Corb saw,1 Gaeith-buailtech, i. e. spear or jave- tain here meant was Lugaidh Laeighlin-striking. He is elsewhere called sech (Looee Lueeshltgh), the son or
Gaibh-Uaibhtbech (Guiv-ooiffagh), i.e. descendant of Laeighsech Cenn-mor
of the terrible spear, which is a much  (Kenn-mor), the grandson (not the son)
more elegant compound.             of Conall Kearnach.'1 Fothtartaigh. The territories pos.   34 Laeighis. The name of this terrisessed by this tribe have been hereto- tory has been anglicized, Leix. It
fore described. O'Nolan and O'Lor- originally comprised the present barocain, now Larkin, are its chief repre- nies of East and West Maryborough,
sentatives.                        Stradbally, and  Cullenagh, in the
33 Laeighsech Kenn-mor, i. e. Laeigh- Queen's county. The chieftain sept of
sech of the Large Head. The chief- the descendants of Lugaidh Laeighsech




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                    335
tile Alunstermen gaining such supremacy in his principality, he
demanded aid, wherewith to expel them  out of Leinster, from
Eocaidcli Finn.  The latter consented to his request, and assembled his partisans from all sides, so that he succeeded in mustering together a numerous army, over which he set his own fosterson, Laeighsoch Kenn-mnor, as general; then, having joined his
forces to those of Cu-Corb. the Leinster king, he mlade head
against the men  of AMunster, Leighsech  Kenn-mor holding
thescommandc of their united armies, as general-in-clief.  Thus
they succeeded in driving the intruders from  Mullach-Masden
(Mullaghmast) to the Berba (Barrow), where they gave them  a
great defeat, at Ath-Truisdin (Awz-trusAdfeen), near Athy, which
is now  called  Ath-ui-Berba  (Awh-eeh-Berva).  Thence they
followed up the pursuit until they routed them  again at Coirteni,"" in MIagh-Riada.  Froml  this place, also, they continued to
pursue their enemies until they had given them  a thirdl great
defeat at Slighe-Dala (Shleie-daiwla), whlich is now called the
B3elach-Mor, or Great Road of Ossory. Thus was the pentarchate
of Leinster relieved by those chiefs from  the bondage of the
_Munstermen.  In reward thereof, Eocaidh Finn got a grant of
the Seven Fotharfa-Laighen  (1'Fohzarta Loyen), or Fotharts of
Leinster, for himself and his posterity for ever. His dalit (fosterson) got a like grant of the Seven Laeighsecha (Leix) for himself and his progeny, as a warlior's fee, for his generalship in
expelling the Munsterrnen from the places just mentioned.  Besides this, the king of Leinster covenanted, both for himself and
for his successors on the throne, that the back of every ox,
and the ham of every swine slaughtered for his and their tables,
should be given as a "curadlh-mir" (crra-meer), or champion's
portion, to the king of Laeighis; and that one of the battle-axe
men of the kingo of Laeighis should be for ever maintained in
the house of the king of Leinster, at this king's own expense, for
the purpose of receiving that fee on the part of his chieftain, the
said king of Laeighis.  It was also one of the privileges of the
latter kirng, to be one of the privy-council, or confidential advisers
of the king of Leinster; and in public conventions lihe occupied
the fourth place next to that kin g's 1person.  It was lhe, also, that
had the right of distributing a11 the presents made by the king
of Leinster to his nobles and ollarmhs; and every present made
to that king himself had first to be placed in the hands of the
lord of Laeighis, for it was through his ministry that all such
took the name of O'Mordha (O'Mora),   S  oirteni. Magh Riada, where this
now O'Moor, from Mordha (i. e. ma- place was situated, was the name of a
jestic), the twenty-eighth in descent plain in Laeighis or Leix.
from Conall Kearnach.-O'D.




336             THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
gifts were to be presented. The king of Leinster was also bound
to retain ill his pay seven of the followers of the king of Laeighis,
who were to be in continual attendance on his person, for the
purpose of putting on his armor, and of accompanying him on
his expeditions.  Upon his part, the king of Laeighis had no
duty to pay, with the exception of seven oxen, which he was
bound to send to the hunting-booth of the king of Leinster; but
he was, nevertheless, bound to maintain seven-score of warriors
at his own expense, for the service of the king of Leinster.  I-fe
had also the priviled ge of leading the van of the Leinster army
when entering a hostile territory; and in battle it was his right
to hold the "bedrnla bhaeghail" (bdrnta vayil), or gap of danger.
In addition to these, the king of Laeighis was further bound
to render aid to the king of the Fotharta, and to rise out with
him in all his public conventions and general musterings.  This
was because Eocaidh Finn, sonl of Feidlimid Rectlnar, that had
fostered Leighscch Kenn-mcr, fromn whom the Laeighsigh (Lueeshilt) are descended.  These usages were constantly maintained
amongst their posterity until the English invasion.
ThIe Settdement of the Desi (Daishie) in ilfunster.
With regard to Fiacaidh Suighdi (Feeaghai ASuee), the other
brother of the monarch Conn, it was near Tenmhair that he had
acquired a territory, namely, the Desi Temrachb3  (Daishie lTctvragh), but he never succeeded in making himself monarch. IHe
had, however, three sons, who were named Rosa, Aengus Gaeibuailtecllh and Eogan. Of these, Aengus G aei-buailtechl surpassed all the warriors of his day in prowess and daring.
At this time, a certain distinguished warrior fell under the
enmity of Cormae Mac Airt, and there was fould no person who
would dare to be his security against the vengeance of the monarch, but Aengus Gaei-buailtech. The king then gave him Aengus, as guarantee for his safety; and Aengus took the nobleman
under his especial protection. But it happened, soon after, that
Kellach, son of Cormac, made that nobleman captive, in violation of the safeguard of Aengus, and put out his eyes, without
even asking leave of the king, his father. WNhenl Aengus heard
thereof, he marched straight to Temhair, attended by a numerous host, and there, by a cast of his dreaded spear, he slew
Kellach, son of Cormac, as he stood behind h]is father in the
palace, and at the same time wounded Cormlac himself in the
eye, so that he was thenceforward trusting to one eye. Cormat,'6 Desi Temrach, i. e. the Desi of Deece, in the county of Meath.
Tara or Temhair, now the barony of




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                     387
upon this, immediately mustered a large army, and drove Aengus and his kinsmen into banishment.
Many, indeed, were the battles which this race of Fiacaidh
Suighdi gave to Cormac, though he succeeded in driving them
into Leinster, where they remained for one year.  Thence they
pr-ceeded into Osraide, and finally they came to Olild Olum,
whose wife, Sadb, daughter of Conn of the Hundred Battle;,
-was a kinswoman of their own.  Olild gave them the territory
which they thenceforward' called the Desi Mumhan"' (Dacishj
lAfoon), or Dcsi of Munster; for the Desi Temrach (Daisiii.Tavw
ragh) had been their native country, previous to their expulsion
thence by Cormac.  Those three sons of Fiacaidh Suighdi then
divia.ed their new territory between them in three parts.
Tilbough some have called this tribe the posterity of Olild
Eronn, and Ernaide, or Ernaans,"8 still they are not of the race
that is so called, for it is the descendants of Conari, son of Mogh
Lsmlla,  that have been named Ernaide.  It was, indeed, Core
Dubinn, son of Carbri Musg, that was the author of bringing the
rale descended from Fiacaidh Suighdi into Munster; but it was
the posterity of the latter, not the former, that were called Desi.
And Aengus, son of Eocaidh Finn, son of Feidlimidh Rectmlar,
was their chieftain on their expedition to Munster, and in partnership with  him  were the three sons of Fiacaidh  Suighdi,
namely: Rosa, Eogan and Aengus Gaei-buailtech.
It happened that about this time Carbri Musg39 had acquired
great power in Munster, and that during his time misfortunes
and failures of crops came upon that principality. Nor, indeed,
was that to be wondered at, for it was through incest that Core
had been borne to him by Dubinn, who was his own sister; for
they were both the children of Conari, son of Mogh Lamha, and
of Saradh, daughter of Conn of the Hundred Battles.  When,
then, the nobles of Munster had taken notice that misfortunes'7 Desi Mumhan. This territory, in mistake above noticed by Keating.
the latter times of Irish independence, The likelihood is, that the Desi got the
comprised the present county of Water- territory now called Waterford from
ford, where its name is still preserved the Iberiafis, for the purpose of finally
in those of the baronies of Decics with- subjugating its more early inhabitants.
in and Decies without Drum.         39 CaTbri Musg. It does not appear}
98 Ermaans. This name, as before from the text, what immediate con.
stated, belonged originally to a Belgian nection the story of Carbri AMusg has
or Danann tribe. It had been usurped, with the Desi. We must not under4
as we have seen, by the descendants of stand, that he was then king of Munthe Gaelic chieftain Olild Erann, of the ster; but that he was, as here repreline of Fiacaidh Fer-mara. Possibly sented, a powerful chieftain, the nume.
a branch of the original Ernaans still rous and extensive territories called
occupied the glens and fastnesses of the Musgraide, or Muskery, from his doComarachs, and may have led to the scendants, bear convincing testimony.
22




888               THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
had fallen upon their country during the rule of Carbri, they
demanded of that chieftain, what it was that had taken its produce and good luck from  their land.  And Cormac answered
them, and said, that it was an incest that he had himself committed with his own sister, namely, with Dubinn, and that she
had borne him two sons, namely, Corc and Cormac.  When the
chiefs of Munster heard this, they demanded to get the sons, in.
order that they might destroy them, by consuming them with fire,
and then cast their ashes into the running stream.  "Let that
be done by you," said Dinach the Druid, "as far as Cormac is
concerned; but let not Core40 be killed by your hands. Let him
be given to me, and I shall take him with me out of Eri." His
request was granted him; and he took the child with him  to
Inis-Baei,41 where he found a vestal named Baei, under whose
protection he placed him.  With her he left him  for a year,
at the end of which he took him to Saradh, daughter of Conn of
the Hundred Battles, who was his grandmother, by both his
parents.
But to return to the Desi.  They demanded of their soothsayers, if it were their destiny to find a place of shelter or of
fixed residence in Munster; and the soothsayers answered them,
and advised them to remain in that land.  And they, moreover,
said that the wife of Enna Kenn-selach, Conaing by name, was
then pregnant, and that the child to be born of her should
be a daughter. That daughter they advised the Desi to demand
in fosterage, telling them to give her full value in presents, in
order to get her from her parents. The daughter was afterwards born, und she was fostered by the Desi, and Ethni Uathach42 (Etlinie Oohagh) was her name.  She was fed upon the
flesh of infants by the Desi, in order that she might the sooner
become marriageable, because a distinguished druid had foretold,
that her fosterers should receive lands from the man whose wife
she should become. And upon arriving at maturity, she was
wedded to Aengus, son of Nadfraech, king of Munster, who, as
a reward for getting her to wife, bestowed upon the Desi, MaghFemhen, that is, the district called the " trian" (treean), or third
~ Corc. This Core became a dis- and ever memorable siege, in 1602, untinguished chieftain in the course of der its brave commandant, Richard,
time, and was the founder of several son of Ross, son of Connla Mageoghesepts of the Eremonian Ernaans. Corca gan.
Dubni, now Coraguiny, in Kerry, has  42 Ethni Uathach. The anachronism
seemingly received its name from him. of this horrible legend is enough to
4' Inis Baei, i. e. the Island of Baei. prove it a fiction. Aengus Mac NadIt is now called Bear Island, being in fraeich, the king of Munster, whose
Bantry Bay. On it was situated, in wife this Ethni is said to have been,
aftertimes, O'Sullivan's castle of Dun- did not reign over Munster for at least
Baei (Dunboy), famed for its glorious two hundred years after the settlement




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                     389
of Cluain-mela (Clooqn-mella), and the Trian-medonach (Trieean.
veonagh), or middle third, after the expulsion of the Osraidigh
(Ossorians) from these territories. Afterwards, both Aengus
and Ethni were slain by the Leinstermen, in the battle of Kellosna, four miles east of Leith-glenn (now Leighlin Bridge). For
the race sprang from  Fiacaidh Suighdi, called also the Desi,
possessed at first but the territory which is known as the Desi
Deskert (Deshkert), or Southern Desi, and which extends from the
River Siuir southwards to the sea, and from  Lis-mor to KIennCriadain (Credan Head).  But when Ethni Uathach was married to Aengus, son of Nadfraech, king of Munster, then it was
that this prince bestowed upon them the Desi Tuaiskert (Too'ishkert), or Northern Desi, which extends from the above-mentioned
River Siuir to Corca-Ethrach  (Core-hadragh), which is called
Machari Caisil (MJfaghera Cashil), or the plain of Cashel.  O'Faelain, who came of that stock, was the king of the northern Desi,
and where he had his dun-phort (or stronghold) was on the bank
of the Siuir, at Inis-Lemnacta43 (Innish-lewnaghta); and that is
the place that is now  called Dun-ui-Faelain (Doon-ee-Aylau.in),
i. e. the dun of O'Faelain.  The posterity of another of the brothers possessed the southern Desi, and it was their chieftain that
was styled O'Bric; and there he had his dun-phort in the south,
by the sea-shore, at the place which is now called Oilean Ui
Bhric (Illawn-ee-vrick), i. e. OGBric's Island." The Desi continued
thus divided into two septs until that of O'Bric became extinct,
and then the chieftainship of the two territories fell to O'Faelain,
whose posterity continued to rule them for a long period afterwards, until the Sil Ebir (Sheel Aivir), or Eberians, deprived
them  of the northern Desi; so that, upon the arrival of the
Anglo-Normans, they held possession but of the southern Desi.
Understand, that it was Aengus Osraidech4 (Aineesse Osreeagh),
with his tribe, that had previously held the lordship of Magh
Femhen,46 called the Northern Desi, and that it was the tribe of
Fiacaidh Suighdi that had expelled him and his followers from
of the Desi in that Fifth. He was the   44 O'Bric's Island lies near Bonmaeighth in descent from Olild Olum, hon, in the county of Waterford.
and the sixth from Fiacaidh Maeil-  45 Aengus Osraidech, that is, Aengus
lethan, in whose reign the race of Fia- the Ossorian.  He is the ancestor
caidh Suighdi fixed in Waterford. The of the Fitz-Patricks, and other corstory is evidently a calumny, invented relatives.
to detract from the glory of the des-  46 Magh Femhen, the barony of Iffa,
cendants of the first Christian king of east co. Tipperary. Cluain-mela, i. e.
Cashel.                          the Field or Park of Honey, now ClonInis Lemnacta, i. e. the Isle of mel, lay therein. Middlethird is also
New-milk. Its exact situation is un- a barony in the same county.
known to the editor, as well as that of
Dun-Ui-Faelain.




840                THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
that territory; and it is from the defeats which were given to
him  at those places, that Cnroc-urlaidec1  (Cnoc-urluee), i. e. the
Hill of Slaughter, and Mullach Aindeonach48 (Mfulagh-ingbnaqh ),
i. e. the Height of Compulsion, in Magh Femhen, have received
the names, which they bear to the present day. Cnoc-urlaide,
indeed, from  the Urlaide, or slaughter of the champions in the
battle; and Mullach-Aindeonach, from the compulsory (Aindebnach) driving forth of the Ossorians.
Cormac's war with FIACAIDit MAEIL-LETHIAN,49 king of Munster —
The sons of that Prince-Hfis death.
It came to pass about this epoch, that Cormac, son of Art,
experienced  a scarcity  of meat and provisions, for he had
expended all his rents, by reason of the multitude of the folk
of his household.. He thereupon consulted the Ard-fedmannach (Ard-feinmanagh), or high-steward of his domestic affairs, as
to the measures to be adopted in order to supply his followers
with sustenance, until the time had come round for again demanding his rents from  the fifths or provinces.  The advice
which his high-steward gave him was, to muster a numerous
army, and to march therewith straight into Munster, for the
purpose of enforcing payment of the rents thence due to the
ng of Ireland.  "For," said he, " these people pay rent to you
but for one Fifth, while there are two Fifths in Munster, out of
each of which a rent is justly due to the Ard-righ of Eri." Upon
the advice Cormac determined to take immediate action; and
forthwith he sent an embassy to Fiacaidh Maeil-lethan (Feecigha
A.ueelldhin),  who was then king of Munster, demanding from
him the rent of the two Fifths. Fiacaidh sent him answer, that
he would pay no more rent to him than had been paid to the
kings, his predecessors.  And, when this reply was brought to
Cormac, he assembled a large army, and marched forward
without halting until he reached Drom-diamhari5~ (deeverrie) which
47 Cnoc-Urlaide. Unknown to the called Forbais Droma-damhgari, i e.
editor.                           the Encampment on Drom-damhgari,
8 Mullach Angeo'nach, now called has been founded upon this expedition.
Mullaghingone, - a townland in the "It looks very strange that neither the
parish of Newchapel, near Clonmel. Four Masters nor Tighernach make
It was otherwise called Indeon na-n- any special mention of Cormac's expeDesi. (Indion-na-Daishi).         dition into Munster. The truth is, the
4 Fiacaidh Maeil-lethan, the posthu- annalists of Leth Chuinn pass over the
imous son of Eogan Mor, son of Olild affairs of Munster very slightly, and
Olum, killed at the battle of NMocrumhi, seem unwilling to acknowledge any trilucceeded his uncle Cormac Cas as king umph of the king of that province over
of Munster.                       the race of Conn of the Hundred Bat50 Drom-diamhari is also called Drom- tles; and this feeling was mutual on the
damhgari. An ancient historic tale, part of the race of Olild Olum." —O'D.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                     341
is now called Cnoc-Loingi (Knocklong, county Limerick,) and
there he pitched a stationary camp; and thither also marched
Fiacaidh Maeil-lethan,5' king of Munster, to meet him front to
front. Now, C(ormac was accompanied on that occasion by certain Alban (Scotch) druids, whom  he set to practice druidic
magic against the king of Munster, so that both men and beasts
were, in danger from  a scarcity of water.  This compelled the
king of Munster to send for Mlogh Ruith,52 the druid, then dwelling in Kiarraide Luachra (Kerry). And, when -this druid had
arrived, the king was compelled to bestow  upon him  two cantreds of land, namely, the territories called at present Condon's
and Roche's countries; then Mogh Ruith, upon receiving this
grant, unlocked the barrier that had been placed before the
waters, and that had withheld them from the host of Munster.
This he effected by hurling into the air a magic javelin, which
he possessed; and, in the place where his shaft fell, there immediately burst forth a springO of pure water, wherewith the men
of Munster were relieved from  the violent thirst that had till
then oppressed them. Forthwith, the king of Munster flung
himself and his refreshed warriors upon Cormac and his host,
and drove the invaders out of his territories, without their having
even withstood him in a battle or having taken off their spoils. He
followed up his pursuit of them into Osraide, where he compelled
Cormac to give him securities and pledges, as guaranties that he
would send hostages to him  from Temhair to Rath Naei, which
is called Cnoc Rathfann54 (Knockratfart), in order to make atonement for every injury that he had inflicted upon Munster in that
invasion.  It is in record of that contract, that some bard has
composed the following verse:
"The good king Fiacaidh Maeil-lethan
Owned fill one-half of this wide land,
61 Fiacaidh Maeil-lethan succeeded his scendants took the names of O'Dubhauncle, Cormac Cas, as king of Munster. gain, O'Dugain or Duggan, and O'CosHe seems to have been fully a match graide, now Coskery, Coskran and
for his rival, Cormac Mac Airt. The Cosgrave.
invasion here spoken of was apparently    3 A spring well, which he is said
undertaken for the purpose of destroy- to have caused to issue from the earth,
ing the compact, made between Eogan is still pointed out near Knocklong,
Mor and Conn of the Hundred Bat- county Limerick.
tles.                                4 Cnoc Rathfann.  The ruins of
X6.ogh Ruith. This druid was de- Fiacaidh's rath still exist on the townIscerdId from Fergus Mac Roigh, and land of Knockraffan, a few miles to the
of the rnme race with the O'Connors, east of Cahir, county of Tipperary. It
Kerry. The territory given to him by was situated on the river Suir, and beFiacaidh, for his services on this occa- came, some time previous to the Engsion, was Fermaighe Feni (Fermoye lish invasion, the chief seat of that
Faini), now the baronies of Fermoy  branch of his descendants that took
and Condons, county Cork. His de- the name of O'Suillibain (O'Sullivan).




*A42               THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
And strong Temhair sent hostages
To Rathfann's fort. the bright Rath Naei."
This Fiacaidh had two sons, namely, Olild Flann Mor and
Olild Flann Beg.55  Of these, Olild Flann Mor died -without
issue, and thence all of the posterity of Fiacaidh Maeil-lethan
that survive, are descended from Olild Flann Beg. It was upon
this circumstance that the bard composed this verse, down here:
"Sons of great Fiacaidh Maeil-lethan
Were Olild Flann MX, childless chief,
And Olild Flann Beg, happy sire,
Whose race now widely rules in Mumha."
Olild Flann Mor being thus without offspring, adopted,56 as
his son, his brother, Olild Flann Beg, to whom  he left his personal wealth and inheritance, on the condition that both himself
and his posterity should place the name of Olild Flann Mor on
the genealogical tree, between that of Fiacaidh Maeil-lethan and
his own. And it is so that it is found given down in the Psalter
of Cashel, and in other ancient books; but we must not understand thereby, that Olild Flann Mor was the father of Olild Flann
Beg; for the reason why the name of Olild Flann Mor was thus
placed after that of Fiacaidh Maeil-lethan on the genealogical
tree, was in order to fulfil that agreement, made between the two
brothers, as we have just related.
It was Connla,57 son of Tadg, son of Kian, son of Olild Olum,
that treacherously murdered Fiacaidh Maeil-lethan at Ath-isel
(Awheeshel), now Athassel, on the river Siuir.  He was impelled
to perpetuate that foul treason by the following motive. Whilst
still a youth, and residing in the house of Cormac Mac Airt, king
of Ireland, for the purpose of learning polite manners and acquiring skill in warlike exercises, he was attacked by some leprous
disease, whereupon Cormac one day told him that it was his destiny to be cured thereof only by bathing himself in the blood of
a king, adding that he should be healed of his disease, as soon as
he had accomplished that deed.  Soon after he had received this
5 Olild Flann Beg eventually succeed- na d-Tri Finn Emna," i. e. Son of the
ed his cousin, Moth Oorb, son of Cor- Three Finns of Emhain, applied to the
mac Cas, as king of the Southern Half Irish monarch, Lugaidh Riabh-n-derg.
of Ireland. It does not appear that his  57 Connla. There is much that is exelder brother was ever more than king, aggerated and improbable in the narraof Desmond.                      tion of Fiacaidh's death. His cousin
6 Adopted. From this it is evident Connla, over whose native territory of
that the custom of adoption was prac- Eli that king claimed sovereignty, had
ticed amongst the Irish Tribes, and possibly other reasons for his treason
what is recorded here may serve to ex- than that here related, apparently from
plain that strange expression, " Mac some historic romance.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                    843
advice, Connla went to visit his cousin, Fiacaidh Maeil-lethan,
then king of Munster. And where this king was then abiding
was at the rath of Rathfann, which is this day called OCnoc.
Rafann, with his foster-mother, whose name was Rathfann.
And when Connia presented himself at that place, he received'a kindly welcome from his royal kinsman. Then, on a certain day soon after his arrival, Fiacaidh went forth along the
banks of the Siuir, attended by a number of his household, and
having Connla by his side, carrying his spear. When they had
thus arrived at Ath-Isel, the king went into the water to swim.
Then did Connla remember the advice of Cormac, and thereupon
he advanced to the edge of the bank, whence, flinging his own
spear at Fiacaidh as he was swimming, he thrust him through in
the water, and thus slew him.  Nevertheless, the king lived to
reach the bank and save the life of Connla, commanding his
household not to kill his treacherous relative and guest. Thus
did Fiacaidh Mlaeil-lethan end his life.
FINN MIAC CUMHAIL and the FIANN58 NA H-ERENN.
We have already'related, on the authority of the Shannachies,
that king Cormac had ten daughters, but of these we shall here
speak of no more than two, namely,. of Grainni,6S who was at first
the wife of Finn, son of Cumhal (Ciivd or Cooal), but who afterwards eloped with Diarmaid O'Duibni (Deermid O'Duivnie or
Dwynee); and of Ailbi (Alvie), daughter of Cormac, who also
became the wife of Finn after the elopement of her sister.
Now, I hold it to be untrue for any person to assert that Finn
and the Fiann (Feeann) never had existence.  For, in testimony
of their having really existed, we have still remaining those
three proofs, whereby, with the single exception of what is recorded in IIoly Writ, the truth of all historic facts are tried.
These are, firstly, common oral tradition, handed down from
father to son; secondly, ancient written documents, and thirdly,
ancient landmarks and monumental remainfs.  We have ever
heard, and are constantly hearing it repeatets  )rz mouth to
68 Fiann. This word is used in a maid and Grainni-this lady was not
collective sense, and must, throughout actually married to Finn. She eloped
this work. be understood as the order with Diarmaid from her marriage feast.
of men called the "FIANN" (Feeann). Diarmaid O'Duibni, styled in ancient
Its plural, "Fianna," means bands or romances, " the dark haired Diarmaid
bodies of the Fiann.  An individual of bright face and white teeth," was
member of the order was styled "Fein- the Paris of the Fiann, without the
nidhe" (Fainyee).                effeminacy of the Trojan prince. By
69 Grainni. According to the Fen- his race, he was of the Ernaide of MIun.
nian romance-" Toraitlhech Dhiarma- ster. He is represented as the most
da's Grainni" (Toreeiight Yeermoda's agile warrior of the Fisn.
Grannyeh), i. e. the Chase after Diar



844                THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
mouth, that Finn and Fiann once had existence; and a~g-in. our
ancient books record their adventures very filly; and we still
have living witnesses of their existence in the ancient names attached to the localities, and the monumental remains, that have
been called after them-such as Suidhe Finn (Suee-F'i-n), i.e.
Finn's Seat or resting place, upon Sliabh-na-m-Ban-bh-Fionn2
(Slieve-na-man-vynn), which was so called from  this hero, Finn
0 Baeisgni;6 and Glenn Garaidh (Glen-garra), i.e. Garaidh's valley, which is called after Garaidh Glun-dubh (qloort-duv), son of
Morna, and which lies in Ui Fathaidh62 (ee Fdhie), and Leba
Diarmoda is Grainni (Labba-yeermodas- Granini), i. e. Diarmaid
and Grainni's Bed, in Ui Fiacrach AidhniO (Ee Feeghraghl ELynie),
which is now called Duithche!ti Sechnasaigh (Dohee-Shaughnasy), or O'Shaughnasy's country; and so likewise of' numbers
of other localities throughout Ireland.
But if any person should say, that a great deal cf what has
been told of the Fiann is incredible, in that I hold him to be perfectlv correct.  But, there was no country in the world in which
men did not write untrue stories, in the days of Paganisri. I
could even point many stories of that kind, such as the Knight
of the Sun and similar ones, that were composed even in the
times of the Faith.  Nevertheless, there is no country in which
some true and credible histories were not written at the same
time.  In like manner, although many fabulous and romantic
tales, such as the Cath Finn-Tragha (MCh-Finn-Troye), or Battle
of Ventry; the Bruighen Caerthann (Brueen Kiairhan), or Fortress of Caerthann; the Imthecta an Ghilla Decair (Imhaght anytila daccker), or the Adventures of the Dissatisfied Clown, and
such like, have been written upon Finn and the Fiann for pas-,o Sliabh-na-m-Ban-bh-Fionn,i,e. the   v1 Ui Fathaidh.  There were two
mountain of the fair women, now Slieve- tribes in Connaught, of this name; one
naman, county Tipperary. The term  situated east of Lough Corrib, in the
"fionn," i. e. fair, now applied to this county of Galway; the other was lomountain, is thought to be a corrup- cated in Ui Mani, in the same cornty.
tion of Femnhenn (Fewenn), the old The name is anglicized O'Fahy. There
name of the territory where it is situ- was also a tribe of this name in the
ated. Finn's seat upon this mountain, barony of Iffa and Offa, county Tipas well as upon the several mountain  perary.
ranges in Ireland and Scotland, where    " Ui Fiacrach Aidni.  The tribeplaces so called are found, probably re- name of the O'Heynes, O'Shaughnesceived its name from the fact of that sies, Mac Kilkellies, and their correla,
chief having been wont to make it his tives. Their territory lay on the borstation, whilst his warriors were making ders of the counties of Galway and
their battue on the lowlands beneath.   Clare.  Those altar-tombs. composed
*1 O'Baeisgni, i. e. descendant of  of immense stones, so frequent in Iroe.
Baeisgni (Bueeshkni), son of the Irish  land, are sometimes popularly but immonarch,Nuadath Nect,from whom the properly called the Beds of Diarmaid
clan of Baeisgni, of which Finn was the and Grainni.
hereditary chieftain, received its name.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                    S45
time's sake, it is nevertheless certain that some. true and credible
histories have been written of them likewise.'
It is, also, proved that their persons were of no extraordinary
size, compared with the men that lived in their.own times, and,
moreover, that they were nothing more than members of a body
of buanadha (boonaglha), or soldiers, maintained by the Irish
kings, for the purpose of guarding their territories, and of'upholding their authority therein.  It is so that captains and sold
diers are at present maintained, by all modern kings, for the
purpose of defending their rule and guarding their countries.
lThe members of the Fiann lived after the following manner.
They were quartered upon the people of Ireland from Samhain
(All Hallows) to Beltani (May), and their duty was to uphold
justice and to put down injustice on the part of the kings and
lords of Ireland, and also to guard the harbors of the country
from the oppression of foreign invaders.  Then, from Beltani to
Samhain, they lived by hunting and the chase, and by performing the duties demanded of them by the kings of Ireland, such
as preventing robberies, exacting fines and tributes, and putting
down public enemies, and every other kind of evil that might
afflict the country.  For performing these duties they received a
certain fixed pay, just as a fixed stipend is at present given by
all the kings in Europe, to the captains and officers that are employed in executing their commands.
However, from Beltani till Samhain, the Fiann had to content
itself with game, the product of its own hunting, as its mainted
nance and pay from the kings of Ireland. That is, its warriors
had the flesh of the wild animals for their food, and the skins for
wages.  During the whole day, from the morning until the night,
they ate but one meal, of which they were wont to partake towards evening.  About noon, it was their custom to send what.
ever game they had killed in the morning, by their attendants,
to some appointed hill, where there should be a convenience of
wood and moorland. There they used to light immense fires,
into which they put a large quantity of round sandstones.
They next dug two pits in the yellow  clay of the moor, and,
having set part of the venison upon spits to be roasted before
" The tales here mentioned, as well Irish students. Until these Tales of
as all the other documents relating to the Fiann, with the Ossianic Poems,
the Fiann which still remain, are now  be given to the public in a translated
in a fair way of being published by form, nothing like a correct picture
the Ossianic Society of Dublin. If the can be drawn of the state of Ireland,
l'ish public, both at home and in Ame- during the days when Finn and his
rica, will only support that Society as warriors flourished-days which may
it deserves, our Fenian literature will be said to constitute the heroic epoch
soon be placed within the reach of of our history.




846              THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
the fire, they bound up the remainder with sugans,*in bundles
of sedge, which they placed to be cooked in one of the pits they
had previously dug   There they set round them  the stones
which had been.heated in the fire, and kept heaping them upon
the bundles of meat, until they had made them seethe freely, and
the meat had become thoroughly cooked. From the greatness
of these fires, it has resulted that their sites are still to be recognized, in many parts of Ireland, by their burnt blackness. It is
they that are commonly called " Fualacta-na-Fiann" (Foolaghtana-veean), that is, the Cooking-places or Kitchens of the Fiann.
As to the warriors of the Fiann, when they were assembled at
the place where their fires had been lighted, they used to gather
round the second of those pits, of which we have spoken above,
and there every man stripped himself to his skin, tied his tunic
round his waist, and then set to dressing his hair and cleansing
his limbs, thus ridding himself of the sweat \and the soil contracted during the day's hunt.  Then they began to supple their
thews and muscles by gentle exercise, loosening them by friction, until they had relieved themselves from all sense of stiffness
and fatigue.  When they had accomplished this, they sat down
and ate their m'eal.  That over, they commenced constructing
their "fiann-bhotha" (feean-v6hi), or hunting booths, and preparing their beds, and so put themselves in train for sleep. Of the
following three materials, then, did each man construct his bed,
namely, of the brushwood of the forest, of moss, and of fresh
rushes. The brushwood was laid next the ground, over it was
laid the moss, and lastly the fresh rushes were spread over all.
It is these three materials that are designated in our old romances
as the "Tri Cuilcedha na-Fiann" (Three quilkagha na veeann),
that is, the Three Beddings of the Fiann.
Campion tells' us in his Chronicle, that Finn, son of Cumehal,
was the same person whom some authors have called Roanus.
But this assertion of his is unfounded in fact; for you must understand that his father was Cumhal, son of TrBnmor, the fourth
in descent from Nuadath Nect, monarch of Ireland, and that his
mother was Muirrinn Mong-caein, that is, M uirrinn of beauteous
hair, daughter of Tadg (Teigue), son of Nuadath, the druid of the
monarch Cathaeir Mor.
Almha6' (Alva), of Leinster, was the native inheritance of
Tadg, son of Nuadath. It was from him that Almha fell into
the possession of Finn, in right of his mother.  It was the king
* Sugans, i. e., ropes made of grass, rushes, straw, &c.
t5 Almha, otherwise Almhain (Alwin). the poem called the "Builli Oisin," i.e.
The site of Finn's fortress, at this place, the Rage of Oisin, occur the following
is now called the Hill of Allen in the verses, descriptive of Finn's dwelling at
county of Kildare. The place is highly Almhia:
celebrated in the Ossianic Poems. In




THE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.                        847
of iLeinster that gave him  Formaeil na bh-Fiann" (Formeel na
veean), where Luimnech Laighen (Lymnagh Loyen) is now situated.
Buchanan, in his History of Alba (Scotland), has called Finn
a giant, teliing us that he was fifteen cubits in height.  But that
statement is untrue; for it is evident from our ancient historic
Dooks, that he was of no extraordinary size beyond the men of
his own time.  It is also evident from  them, that there were men
in the Fi67ann who were more remarkable for their personal prowess, their valor, and for the size of their bodies than he.  The
reason, indeed, why he was made Righ-Feinnedh (Ree-Faineh),
~.,,    of  th     h  a                        *
or king of the   iann, and set over the warriors, was simplv be.
cause his faLther and grandfather"6 had held that position be-fore
hini.  Another reason, also, why he had been made king of the
IF'ia nn, was because he excelled his cotemporaries in intellect and
inl learning, in wisdom  and in subtlety, and in experience and
ha'diihllood in battle-fields.  It was for these qualities that he was
made king  of the Fiann, and not for his personal prowess, or for
the great size or strength of his body.
In ordinary times, the host maintained as a standing army,
under Finn's command, amounted to three " Catha" (chad), styled
the Three " Catha" of the Gnath-Fiann (Gnah-Feeann), or ordiI fteated in the hall of Finn,      the pronunciation of the words, which
Aed at each banquet there I saw     is either                   or Alwi
A thousand rich cups on his board,  is ether Alva or Alwa, Alvn or Aiwin,
Whose rims were bound with purest gold.   and sometimes Allooin. But, unluckily
And twelve great buildings once stood there,  for their imposition, the letter " b " is
The dwellings of those mighty hosts,  never found aspirated in Alba, the
ARuled by Tadg's daughter's warlike son,  name of Scotland. either in the Erse or
At Almha of the noble Fiann.
And constantly there burned twelve fires,    Irish tongues. Thus there is no double
Within each princely house of these,  entendre possible on the subject.
And round each flaming hearth there sat  66 Formaeil na b-Fiann. The transA hundred warriors of the Fiann."   lator has not been able to determine
The fortress of Almha was at length  where this Formaeil lay, which could
destroyed, and its buildings burned, by  have been granted to Finn by the king
Garaidh Mac Morna, chief of the Fiann  of Leinster. There was a Sliabh For.
of Connaught. Its destruction forms maeli, now called Sliabh 0 Floinn, in
the subject of one of Oisin'slays. Some the county of Roscommon. There was
traces of its fortifications still exist another place of the same name in the
upon the hill of Allen.               county Tyrone. But neither of these
The resemblance of this name, Almha  were in Leinster. The place was most
or Almhain, to Alba, the Gaelic name  probably situated upon the Shannon,
of modern Scotland, was laid hold of  the lower part of which was formerly
by Macpherson and his followers, in  called Luimnech.
their surreptitious attempts to rob Ire-'   Hisfather and grandfather. Both
land of Finn and his heroes. It is true  Cumhal and Trenmor (Trainmore) had
that the aspirated forms, mh and bh  been chiefs of the Fiann before F inn.
closely resemble each other in power, It was not, then, that chieftain who inand that Almha or Alm.hain might be stituted the order, as some have ih.
written Albha or Albhain, without caus- agined.
ing any very perceptible difference in




348                THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
nary Fiann.  In each'ecath"6  (cah) of these, there were three
thousaud men.  This was the case when the people of Ireland
were at peace with one another; but whenever hostilities broke
out between any of the iobles of Ireland and the Ard-ri g. or
wnenever it was found necessary to send forces to Ai.a. in order
to support the Dal-Riada6' against the Almhuraigh`' (alvoor'iA),
or foreigners, then  there were usually seven "catha" placed
under the command of Finn-so that he might have at his disposal a force numerous enough to enable him to afford aid to the
a!l-Riada in Alba, and, at the same time, to protect. Ireland
from either foreign or domestic oppression.
Under Finn, the Righ-Feinnedh, there were many chieftains.?
There was the Cath-mhiledh  (cah-veeleh), in command of the
"coath:" the Kenn-fedhna (kenn-faana), over each band of a
hundred men, like the captains of the present day; the "Taeisec..
caegad" (tueesaqgh-caegad), or leader of fifty, and the "Taeisechnaenmhlar" (naynoor), or leader of nine warriors.  This arrangement resembled that practiced, at the same time, amongst t-he
Romans; for, when ten files or ten ranks were made of the.
hundred men, there was a man whom they called the "taeisechnaenmhar," set at the head of each rank.  Hence, when we read.
in the histories of Ireland, or in our old romances, of any warrior
of the Fiann, who is there styled"Fer-comhlainn-ced" (fer cohlinn
caid), that is, a match for a hundred in battle, or of one sty3led a
match for fifty, or for nine, or any other such term, we must not
understand therefrom that such man was, in his own proper person, able to repel the attacks of either one hundred, or of fifty,
or of nine armed men; we must merely understand, that the
Cath, plural catha, is usually trans- stood the Romans, and, perhaps, the
lated battallion.  That term is, how- Teutonic hordes. The presence of the
ever, likely to lead to misconception as Fiann in Scotland must have been freto the effective force of the cath. Le- quent, for their names are scarcely less
gion would have given a better idea of wedded to the Highlands of Alba than
the body of warriors composing it.    to those of Ireland.. 9 Dal-Riada. The first permanent  71 Chieftains,.i. e. officers.  These
colony of the Scots (i. e. Gaels), under officers are somewhat differently styled
Carbri Riada, the son of Conari II, by and arranged by other authorities,
the daughter of Conn of the Hundred  namely, 1st, the Righ Feneidh, in suBattles, had been already, for some preme command; 2d, the Taeisech
time, seated in that part of modern  Catha (Tueeshagh Ca-ha), or commandScotland  now  called  Argyleshire, er of a cath; 3rd, the Fer-comhlann" which, taking the name of its prince- mhile (Fer-cohlann-veeleh), or commandly founder, grew up, in course of time, er of a thousand; 4th, the Fer-comhinto the kingdom of Dalriada; and lann-ehed, or leader of a hundred; 5th,
finally, on the destruction of the Picts the Fer-comhlann-caejgad, or leader of
by Kenneth Mac Alpine, became the fifty; and 6th, the Fer-comhlannkingdom of all Scotland." —Moore.    naenmhar, or leader of nine.
"7 Almhuraigh. By these are under



THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                     849
warrior so styled was, with the band under his immed.iate command, a match for another warrior of like rank, commanding an
equal number of men.
The GESAP2 (gassa), i. e. the sacred injunctions of the Fikmann.
Thnce were four injunctions laid upon every person admiitted
into the order of the Fiann:
The first injunction was, never to receive a portion with a wife,
but to choose her for good manners and virtues:
T'he second was, never to offer violence to any woman:
The third was, never to give a refusal' to any mortal, for anything of which one was possessed:'The fourth was, that no single warrior of them  should e-er
fleG before nine champions..here follow  the CONDITIONS, attached by Finn to the " Gradha
(a?sgqi" (grawa gashkie); or Degrees in Chivalry, which each.
U;wrrior was obliged to receive, previous to his admission into
the Order of the F'iann.
The first condition?3 No man could be admitted into the Fiann,
either at the Mordhail of Uisnech, the Aenach of Talti, or at the
Feis of Tembhair, until both his father and mother, his tribe and
his relatives, had first given guaranties that they should never,
make any charge against any person for his death. This was in
order that the duty of avenging his own blood should rest with
no man, other than himself; and in order that his friends should
have nothing to claim  with respect to him, however great the
evils inflicted upon him.
The second condition.  No man could be admitted into the
Fiann, until he had become a bard, and had mastered the Twelve
Books of Poesy.74
The third condition.75  No man could be admitted into the
72 Gesa. These appear to have been the twelve rules for bardic composithe general vows of chivalry by which tion.
all members of the order were bound.  75 Third Condition. The reason for
In addition to them, each warrior this trial was to make sure, that the
had some particular "geis" (guesh), claimant for admission was competent
or vow, by which he was individually to fill the post of Fer-comhllann-naenbound.'mhar, or officer placed at the head of
73 First Condition.  The object of a file of nine men, in which position he
this condition was designed to over- was expected to ward off, from his filescome those hereditary feuds, which men, the javelins of an equal file of atwere the cause of so much bloodshed tacking enemies. The conditions that
amongst the Gaels, and to substitute follow were designed to insure swiftness
the obligations of discipline for the ties and lightness of foot, steadiness of hand,
of kindred.                       exactitude of personal adjustment, agi74 Twelve Books of Poesy. Perhaps lity and obedience to orders.




350             THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Fiann, until a pit or trench, deep enough to reach to his knees,
had been dug in the earth, and he had been placed therein, armed
with his shield, and holding in his hand a hazel staff, of the
length of a warrior's arm.  Nine warriors, armed with nine
javelins, were then set opposite him, at the distance of nine
ridges; these had to cast their nine weapons at him, all at once,
and then, if he chanced to receive a single wound, in spite of
his shield and staff, he was not admitted into the order.
The fourth condition. No man was admitted into the Fiann,
until-having had his hair previously plaited-he had been made
to run through a thick wood, where, having given him but the
odds of a single tree, placed between him and them, all the men
of the Fiann started off at once in his pursuit, with full intent of
wounding him. In this trial, they gave him but the odds or advantage of one tree, and if they came up to him they wounded
him, and he was refused admission into the Fiann.
The fifth condition. No man was admitted into the Fiann,
whose arms trembled in his hands.
The sixth condition. No man was admitted into the Fiann,
if a single braid of his hair had been loosened out of its plait by
the branches of the trees (as he ran through the wood).
The seventh condition. No man was admitted into the Fiann,
whose footstep had broken a single withered branch in his
course.
The eighth condition. No man was admitted into the Fiann,
unless he could jump over a branch of a tree as high as his forehead, and could stoop under one as low as his knee, through the
agility of his body. 
Tho ninth condition.  No man could be admitted into the?iann, unless he could pluck a thorn out of his heel, with his
hand, without stopping in his course.
The tenth condition. No man could be admitted into tha
order, until he had first sworn fidelity and homage to the Righfeinnedh.
Kiarnait6-C-ormac builds his first mill —The sages, Fithil and
Flaithri.
It happened, while Cormac, son of Art, was sovereign of Ire.
land, that some nobles of Uladh made a plundering Ixpledit"on
along the coasts of Alba, in which they fell in. with Kiarnait
(Keernilt), daughter of the king of the / Cruthnigh (Picts), and
carried her off with them, over the sea, in captivity. But when
Kiarnait. Some Irish antiquaries dation, or Kiarnait could scarcely have
reject the story of this lady altogether. become so celebrated as she is, in Irish
It must, however, have had some foun- song, as a paragon of beauty.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                     351
Cormac heard the fame of the beauty of Kiarnait, he made a
public demand of her from the adventurers of Uladh.  She surpassed all the women of her day in beauty, and for that reason
Cormac loved her exceedingly. But when Ethni Ollamda,
daughter of Dunlaing, who was Cormac's lawful wife, had heard
that Kiarnait was in that king's possession, she determined that
he should not have both herself and his paramour at the same
time. She then forced him to deliver up to her own keeping the
captive Kiarnait, of whom she made a slave, in which condition
she was compelled to grind, with a quern,77 nine pecks, or nine
kedrns78 of corn each day.  Notwithstanding this bondage, Cormac contrived to meet his mistress in secret, and she soon became
pregnant.  When in this condition, she could no longer perform
her appointed task at the quern. She, therefore, went privately
to her lover, and told him of the state in which she was.  Upon
hearing it, Cormac sent to Alba for handicrafts-men, to construct
him  a mill, and they did build him a mill; and thus was Kiar.
nait released from the drudgery to which she had been crodemned by Ethni.  It was upon this subject that the bard composed the following verses:
" Kiarnait, enslaved by Cormac's queen,
One hundred men to feed from quern,
Nine kearns of corn each day should grind;
Too rude a toil for her soft hands!
Then came to her the noble king,
By stealth into her lonely chamber,
And soon the lady fair conceived,
And could no longer work at querning.
Conn's grandson then, with pity smote,
Brought millwrights from beyond the sea.7
Thus great Mac Airt built his first mill,
To save from toil his beauteous slave."
" Quern. The use of this most an- ence, into which was inserted a perpen.
cient implement is scarcely yet obso- dicular handle, whereby the machine
lete in some of the rural districts of was worked. It was usually turned
Ireland. Some eighty or one hundred by two persons, sitting opposite each
years since, its employment was nearly other, and both holding the handle at
universal amongst the agricultural pop- the same time. The quern was usually
ulation of that country. It was a spe- from two to three feet in diameter. Ifs
cies of hand-mill, composed of a shallow, Irish name is bro, gen. bran. Its introcircular trough of stone, with a pivot duction into Ireland dates from the reof hard wood in the centre, upon which motest antiquity.
was poised the miniature mill-stone —  78 Kefrns. This measure is somefitting loosely, but evenly, into the times translated quarter. Some deem
trough.  In the upper stone were that it received its name from its
worked two holes; one, in its centre, squared form, as if "Cetharn" (Kd.
for supplying the quern with corn; and harn) from " Cethair " (Kahir).
another, more towards its circumfer-  79 Millwrights from beyond the sea




852                THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
It was also in the time of Cormac that the sage, Fithil (Fih),
lived.  It was he that was Ard-bretllemh (Ard-brmciv), or chief
brehon to that sovereign.  When Fithii8~ was on the point of
death, he sent for his son, who was called Flaithri (Fi/lhree), and
this Flaitliri, also, was a wise and a learned man. To this son
Fithil gave his blessing, and, at the same time, warned him to
avoid three things most carefully-telling him  that he would
find it to his advantage to abide by his dying advice. These
were: Never to undertake the education or fosterage of a king's
son; Never to entrust any secret, in which there was any danger, to his wife; Never to elevate the son of a serf to a  ligh
position; And never to give his purse, or his treasure, into the
safe-keeping of his sister.
But as soon as Fithil had died, Flaithri determined to test the
wisdom of these three counsels.  In order to make trial of tlhemn,
he first received a son of Cormac MAac Airt as his foster-son, soon
after which he took the child with him into a forest, where he
gave him into the care of one of his own swine-herds, that dwelt
within the depths of the wilderness, and he commanded this herd
to conceal the boy carefully, until he should receive a certain
particular token-from himself. Thence he returned home to his
own dwelling, and when there he counterfeited the appearance
of being oppressed by great anxiety and grief.  Upon this, his
wife demanded the cause of his anxiety, and he answered that
it was no light one.  Then, when she saw that he continued to
be weighed down by sorrow, she began to tease him incessantly,
by obstinately demanding, what it was that caused his trouble of
mind.  He at length consented to reveal the cause of his sorrow
to her, if she would only promise to keep the matter entirely
secret.  UTpon this she solemnly swore to conceal whatever he
might relate to her as his secret.  "Then," said he, "I anmy rendered unhappy by reason of an unfortunate treason that I have
committed, for I have slain my foster-son, the son of the king."
Upon hearing this, his wife screamed loudly and called upon the
It is a disputed question, whether the   "I Fithil and Flaithli.-" lThlese were
Irish were acquainted with the use of successively Cormac's supreme judges;
the mill before the reign of Cormac the former of whom was his instructor
Ul-fada. Its use must, however, have from youth to maturity; and the mruerbeen familiar in South Britain in his ited celebrity of the pupil reflects s
day; for the Romans had been then, fora splendor of fame on the great and reconsiderable time, masters of that coun- spectable capacity of the master. But
try. Cormac may have sent to Britain both Fithil andFlaithri have left monfor mechanics to construct a mill for uments of their own to perpetuate their
him, at the suggestion of his foreign memory, some of which have endured,
paramour, who had seen them in her through many a miserable national vi.
own nation, and thus given origin to the cissitude, to this day."- lTansactiona
lgend above recounted.            of the Gaelic Society.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                353
folk of the house to bind up the parricide, for he had killed the
young prince. Flaithri had, also, previously elevated to a high
position the son of one of his own herdsmen, so that this person
had now become a rich man.  He had likewise, shortly after his
father's death, given a portion of his treasure to be kept for him
by his sister; so that not one of the four things, against which
his father had warned him, might pass wvitlout its trial.
Now, when the herdsman's son found his benefactor in bonds,
there was no one found who was severer against him than he,
because by this he hoped "to receive some of the inheritance of
Flaithri from  the king, who was determined upon his death.
Finding himslEl in this difficulty, the sage sent a message to his
sister, demanding of her to send him whatever treasure he had
entrusted to her, in order that he might therewith male friends
for himself around the person of the king. But when his messenger reached his sister, she denied that she had ever received
any such treasure from him. When this news came to Flaithri
who was now on the point of being led to execution, he demande
to be led before the king, in order that he might communicate to
him  an important secret.  When brought before the king, he
told his sovereign that the young prince was safe and well, telling him, at the same time, to hold himself in bonds until his
foster-son should be brought into his presence. Mess3ngers were
then immediately sent for the child, and when he had come from
the swine-herd, who had had him in safo guardianship, and saw
his foster-father still in bonds, he cried loudly, and kept weeping
ever, until Flaithri was set at liberty.
The king then privately demanded of the sage, why he had
allowed lirnself to be reduced to such an extremity.  "In order
that I migcht test the truth of four counsels given me by my
father," said Flaithri.  "In the first placte, it is not prudent fobr
any person to take upon himself the rearing of a king's son. lest
he may be guilty of any negligence towards his charge. whenco
might result the injury or destruction of the foster-child, and tho
placing of the life or death of the foster-father aaf; the absolute
disposal of the king. Secondly, it is not aceordLng to the laws
of nature that any of the general run of wonren could keep a
dangerous secret; therefore, it is not prudent to entrust any such
secret to one's wife. The third counsel lwhich Lay fa.ther gave
me was, never to elevate to high position and wealth the soa of
a serf, or a person of low degree, for it is the wo:nt of such. persons to be ungrateful for kindnesses they have received,land
moreover, they feel sore that the knowledge of the meanness
whence they had sprung, should be possessed by those that have
elvote.dl them.n  Good, also, was the fourth counsel which mlly fatb. er
gavo me, namely, never to give any treasure into the safe-iee,?inag
23




354               THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
of my sister, for it is the nature of women to make a spoil of
whatever treasures may be given them in trust, by their relatives."
Personal attendants of the Irish sovereigns.
It was ordained, durinc  the reign of Cormac, that it should be
obligatory upon every monarch that might, in future, rule over
Ireland, to keep in constant attendance upon his person, ten officers, who were scarcely ever to leave his presence. These were,
a prince, or chief of noble blood, a brehon, a druid, a physician,
a bard, a historian, a musician and three stewards. The prince
was the companion and champion of the king; the office of the
brehon was to explain the the laws and customs of the country
before tile king; the druid's office was to offer sacrifices, and to
draw omens and auguries, by means of his science and heathen
arts; the physician's duty was to perform cures for the king,
and queen, and the royal household; the bard was maintained
for the purpose of praising, or of satirizing every one, according
to his good or evil deeds; it was the historian's office to record
and preserve the genealogies, history and adventures of the nobles, from  time to time; the musician's office was to play upon
the harp, and to chant poems and songs before the king; and the
three stewards had to wait upon the king, and supply his personal wants, for which purpose they had a numerous train of
cup-bearers, butlers and other servitors, under their orders.
This custom was maintained in force from the days of Cormac,
down to the death of Brian, son of Kenneidi, nor had any change
been made in its arrangement, except that, when the kings of
Ireland had received the Faith of Christ, they substituted, in
Place of the druid, a Christian priest, as a soul's-friend (or spirituial adviser), who duty it was to perform  divine service, and explain the law of God to the king and to his household.  Here
ioiLcws a record, left by a Shannachie, upon this matter:
"'TEN liegemen feal stand round the king,'Mon-gst them nor grudge nor rivalry —
I can recount their duties well,
Both sages, prince and officers.
The presence of each prosperous king,.A. brehon, bard, and lord should grace;:t'or king whose court is shunned by these,
Ni'o rightful Fenian king can be.
A. soul's-friend,"8 to make known God's Word,.A shennchaide to set right all wrong,
i;iul',s-friend, 1. e. an almoner or father-confessor. The Irish term is anal
Chara




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                      355
With minstrel sweet to strike the chord,
All rightful Fenian kingsP' maintain.
A learned leech fills the fourth place,
With skill to heal the body's ills;
Three stewards close the honored band,
Which now I've named to Eri's hosts.
The king who holds not to this law
Shall fill no place on regal roll;
Nor e'er shall dwell in Temhair's halls,
A king maintaining not these TEN."
King Cormac's religion"3-His resignation-Renunciation of Druidism —His Death and Burial.
In consequence of the righteousness of the deeds, judgments,
and laws of Cormac, it resulted that God granted to him the light
of the Faith, seven years before his death. For this reason did
Fenian kings, that is, a king ac- provincial kings from their subjects,
cording to the FEinechas (Fainaghas), from the noble to the subaltern. In it,
1. e. the Constitutional Law of the also, were described the boundaries and
Gaels, which was so called, either from  meares of Ireland, from shore to'shore,
the Brehon Laws having been com- from the province (fifth) to the cantred
posed in the BWrla Feni, or from the  (tuaith), from the cantred to the townword Feni itself, which, as we have land (bail6), and from the townland to
heretofore seen, was the most ancient the traighidh (troyeh) of land. These
tribe-name of the Gaelic or Gaedalic things are evident in the Leabhar na
race.                              h-Uidhre; they are evident in the
"It was Cormac who composed the Leabhar Dinnsenchas (both extant)."
Tegasg-na-Righ, to preserve manners, -Four Masters.
morals and government in the king-    3 Cormac's religion. Mr. Moore, in
dom.  He was a famous author in his History of Ireland, has made:the
laws, synchronisms and history: for it following rather skeptical remaiks up3n
was he that established law, rule and the subject of this royal sage's converdirection for each science, and for each sion to the Christian Faith. Theey are
covenant according to propriety; and here quoted, for the well-merited tribit is his laws that have governed all ute thereafter paid tp his love of justthat adhered to them to the present ice: " That this prince was enlightened
time.                              enough to reject the superstitions of
" It was this Cormac, son of Art, also, the druids, and that, in consequence of
that collected the chroniclers of Ireland his free thinking on such subjects, he
to Temhair, and ordered them to write had that powerful body opposed to him
the chronicles of Ireland in one book, throughout the whole of his reign,
which was named the Psalter of Tem- there can be little doubt;' but whether
hair. In that book were entered the he substituted any purer form of faith,
coeval exploits and synchronisms of for that which he had repudiated, is a
the kings of Ireland, with the kings point not so easily ascertained. A cirand emperors of the world, and of the cumstance recorded of him, however,
kings of the provinces with the mon- shows how vigorously he could repress
archs of Ireland. In it was also writ- intolerance and cruelty, even when diten what the monarchs of Ireland were rected against a body of religionists to
entitled to receive from the provincial whom he was himself opposed. Amongst
kings, and the rents and dues of the the ancient institutions of Tara, was a




SB6.                THE HISTORY OF IRE:LAND.
he refuse to adore gods made with hands, and began, thenceforth,
to pay homage to the True God.  Hence, he is said to have been
the third man that held the Faith in Ireland, previous to the
arrival of Saint Patrick.  The first of these was Concobar Mae
Nesa,'who believed upon hearing of Christ's Passion from  the
druid, Bacrach; the second was Morann Mac Maein; and this
king, Cormac Mac Airt, was the third.
Cormac's ordinary place of abode was at Temhair, after the
usage of the  kings, his predecessors.  IIere he continued to
dwell until, as heretofore told, his eye had been destroyed by
Aengus Gaei-buailtech.  Thenceforward he resided at Achail, in
the I-louse of Cleitech, or at Kenannus.  For it was not deemed
either honorable or auspicious by the nobles of Ireland, that any
king, who had been disfigured by a personal blemish,84 should
dwell at Temhair.  For this reason did Cormnac resign the kingsort of College of Sacred Virgins, whose for he said he would not adore stones,
vocation it appears to have been, like  or trees, but that he would adore him
the Dryads or fortune-tellers among the who made them, and who had power
Gaels, to divine the future, for the in- over all the elements, i. e. the One
dulgen'ce of the superstitious or the Powerful God, who created the Olecredulous. In one of those incursions, menits; in him he would believe. And
of which the territory of the monarch  he was the third person who had bewas so often the object, the place where lieved, in Erin, before the arrival of
those holy Druidesses resided, and which  St. Patrick.  Concobar Mac Neosa,
bore the name of the' Retreat until to whom Altus had told concerning
Death,' vas attacked by the kinf of  the Crucifixion of Christ, was the first;
Leinster, and the whole of the sacred  Morann, son of Carbri Cinncait, (who
inmates, together with their handmaids, was surnamed Mac Maein,) was the
most inhumanly massacred. This bru- second person; and Cormac was the
tal sacrilege the monarch punished by  third; and it is possible that others
putting twelve of the Lagenian chief- followed on their trackc. in this belief."
tains most concerned in it, to death; — Senchas sa Rclec, i. e;, Hiistory of the
and exacting rigorously the Boarian  Cemeteries.
tribute, from  the province to which    8_ A  personal blemish.  " Wher
they belonged."                     Cormac held his court was at Tarn, in
The direct testimony of the ancient imitation of the kings who preceded
historians of Ireland, in relation to Cor- him, until his eye was destroyed by
mac's conversion, is much more author- Engus Gaibhuaiphnech, but he afterity than the mere conjectures of Mr. wards resided at Achail (the liill on
Moore. An ancient tract, in the Leab- which the shrine of St. Colunikille is
kar ma h.-Uidhre, a work compiled in  at:this day), and at Cenannus (Kells),
the twelfth century, which is quoted  and at the house of Cletech; for it was
by Dr. Petrie, (in his Round Towers, not lawful that a king, with a personal
p. 99,) speaks thus upon this subject: blemish, should reside at Tara. In the
"Erin was prosperous during his time, second year after the injurilng of his
and just judgments were distributed  eye, he came by his death at the house
throughout it by him; so that no one of Cletech, the bone of a salmon having
durst attempt to wound a man in Ire- stuck in his throat. And he told his
land daring the short jubilee of seven people not to bury him at Brugh (be.
years; for Cormac had the faith of the cause it was a cemetery of idolators),
one true God, according to the law; for he did not worship the same god as




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                     357
dom to his son, Carbri Lificar, to whom he also gave up the possession of Temhair, retiring himself to the royal houses of Clei.
tech and of Achail, both not far from the royal capital.  It was
in these that he composed his Tegasg Righ, or Regal Institutes,
designed, as already told, for the purpose of teaching kings how
it was right that they should act and comport themselves.  From
the time that Cormac gave up the sovereignty, he never, thence.
forward, worshipped any but the True Heavenly God.
Upon a certain day, while Cormac was residing in the House
of Cleitech, the druids set about the adoration of the Golden Calf
in his presence, and the whole of those there assembled joined in
the same worship, in imitation of their priests. The druid, Maeilghenn, then demanded of Cormac why it -vas that he did not
adore the Golden Calf and their other gods, like every other person.  "I," said Cormac, "will offer no adoration to any stock or
image, shaped by my own mechanic.  It were more rational to
offer adoration to the mechanic himself, for he is more worthy
than the work of his hands."  The druid then excited the Golden
Calf, so that it bounded into their presence.  " last thou seen'
that, Cormac?" saidi Maeilghenn.  "Whatever I may see." replied Cormac, "I will make no adoration to aught, save to the
God of Heaven, of Earth, and of Hell."
Soon after, a meal was prepared for the king, and he began to'
eat of a salmon from the Boinn.  Thereupon the demons of the
air came and attacked him, at the instigation of Maeilghemnn the
Druid,and by them the king was slain?.   Othe:r accounts say that
he was killed by a bone of a salmon, that had stuck in his throat,
and choked him; but he was engaged in eating of that fish when
the demons had attacked him.
When he found the symptoms of death upon hims, he corn-:
manded his relations not to bury his body at Brugh, on the
Boinn, where several of the preceding kings of Ternhair werae
any of those interred at Brugh; but to death thus: " A. D. 266. Forty years
bury him at Ros-na-Righ, with his face was Cormae in the sovereignty of Ireto the east. He afterwards died, and land when he died at Cleitech, the bone
his servants of trust held a council and of a salmon sticking in his throat, on
resolved to bury him at Brugh, the account of the Siablradh (genii) which
place where the kings of Tara, his pre- Maeilghenn, the druid, incited at him,
decessors, were buried. The body of after Cormnac had turned against them,
the king was then thrice raised to be on account of his adoration of the true
carried to Brugh, but the Boyne swelled  God, in preference to them. Whereup thrice so that they could not come; fore a devil attacked him, at the instiso tlat they observed that it was via- gation of the druids, and gave him a
laing the judgment of a prince, to painftil death." —-The trickl by which
break through his testament; and they the druids turned the kings's accidental
after-wards dug his grave at Ros-na- death to their own advantage, needs no
Rig:, as be himself had ordered."-Ib. comment.-Ed.
m The Four Masters record Cormac's




358                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
laid.  And then (when, contrary to his injunctions), the host was
bearing him thither, the demons thrice opposed the progress of
te-e funeral, by raising an immense flood before it, in the river;
for these spirits did not wish to allow his body into an idolatrous
cemetery, by reason of his having believed in the True God.
But the fourth time, the men that carried the body entered with
it into the swollen stream; but there the current of the Boinn
swept off their burden, and bore it along to Ros-na-Righ.  There
the corpse was separated from the fuacd, or bier, and thence the
ford of Ath-fuaid (Awh-fooid), the ford of the bier, on the Boinn,
has had its name. It was retained at that place, and a grave
was made for it, and it was buried at Ros-na-Righ.6
In the course of long ages after this, St. Columkille"7 visited
Ros-na-Righ, and, discovering there the head of King Cormac, he
buried it anew; and the saint remained upon the spot until he
had said thirty masses over it and upon that spot was built a
Christian church, which remains to the present da.;
Ancient Cemeteries of the Irish izings.
Formerly, in  Pagan times there were two "'primh-roiligf"' 
(preeve-relig) or chief cemeteries in Ireland, and  in  themn  the
greater number of the ancient monarchs of Ireland were buried.
These were Brugh on the Boinn, and Roilig-na-righ (rellig-na-ree),
near Cruachainb"* (crooghin). It is evident, from the fact just nar" Rosna-Righ, now Rossnaree, situ-  mainder of the Senchas na Relec is
ated on the river Boyne, near the vil-  here given down, slightly abridged from
lage of Slane, in the county of East  the translation given in the learned
Meath.                              work of Dr. Petrie:-" These were the
"' St. Columkille was a lineal descend-  chief cemeteries of Eri, before the Faith,
ant of the monarch Cormac.          viz: Cruacha, Brugh, Talti, Luachair
8" Two primh-roilig.  In.the Sen-  Ailbi, Aenach Ailbi, Aenach Culi, Aechas na Relec from which extracts have  nach Colmain and Temhair Erann.
already been made, there are eight    Aenach Cruachan. In the first place,
places enumerated, as the chief cemete- it was there the race of Erimhon, i. e.
ries of the Pagan Irish. At these places  the kings of Temhair were used to bury
several of the. monuments, mentioned  until the time of Crimthann, son of
in the ancient records of Ireland, are  Lugaidh Riabh-n-derg  (who was the
still in existence,  Some of them, after  first king of them that were interred al,
remaining unknown, or unnoticed for  Brugh), viz: Cobthach Cael-Bre'agh
ages, have been recently identified from   and Labraidh Loingsech, and Eocaidh
the references made to them in the  Feidlech with his three sons, i. e. Bres,
writings of the Gaelic Shannachies-   Nar and Lothar, and Eocaidh Aremh,
thus affording unquestionable proof of  Lugaidh  Riabh-n-derg, the six daughthe truth of many of the more import-  ters of Eocaidh Feidlech, i. e. Medb,
ant facts related in the, early history of  Clothra, Muresg, Derbri, Mugain, and
this country. For the latter reason, Eli, and Alild Mac Mada with his ecven
and from its giving an explanation of  brothers, i. e. Keth, Anlon, Dol. et
some of the allusions made in the poem  cetera, and aWl the kings down to Crimabove cited by Dr. Keating, the re- thann; these were all buried at Cruaeha.




TIlE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                       359
rated, that Brugh on the Boinn was one of the burial-places of the
kings of Ireland; that Roilig-na-righ, at Cruachain, was also another, is proved from the following lay of Torna.Eiges (Aiguess):
"A king of Fal's fair land rests here,
Dathi the brave, Fiacaidh's son,
0 Cruacha! thou hold'st him concealed
From Gallic and from Gaelic men.
Why was it not at Brugh, that the  church to be afterwards built where he
kings of the race of Cobthach, down to  was interred.
Crimthann, were inte:red?  N ot diffi-    Where Niall was interred was at
cult, because the two provinces, which  Ochain (Ocha), i. e. Och Caine, so called
the race of Erimhb,:  possessed, were  from the sighing and lamentation which
the province of Galeon (Leinster), and  the men of Eri made in bewailing Nithe province of Olneemacht (Con-  all.
naught). In the first place, the pro-    Conari Moe was interred at Magh
vince of Gale6n was occupied by the  Feci, in Bregia (i. e. at Fert Conari) 
race of Labraidh Loingsech, and the  however some say that it was Conari
province of Olnecmacht was the in-  Carpraige that was interred there, and
heritance of the race of Cobthach  not Conari Mor, and that Conari Mor
Cael-Breagh; wherefore it (Connaught)  was the third that was interred at Temwas given to Medb before every other  hair, viz.: Conari and Laegari and....
province. The reason why the govern-    At Talti the kings of Uladh were
ment of this land was given to Medb  used to bury, viz. Ollamh Fodla with
is, because there was none of the race of his descendants,down to Concobar, who
Eocaidh (Feidlech) fit to receive it but  wished that he should be carried to a
herself, for Lugaidh (Riabh-n-derg) was  place between Slea and the sea, with
not fit for action at the time. And, his face to the east, on account of the
therefore, whenever the monarchy of  Faith which he had embraced.
Ireland was enjoyed by any of the race    The nobles of the Tuatha De Danof Cobthach Cael-Brcegh, the province  annrms were used to bury at Brugh (i. e.
of Connaught was his native principal-  the Daghda with his three sons; also
ity. And for this reason they were in-  Lugaidh, and Oe, and Olla-in, a-a  Ogterred at the Aenach (f Cruacha. But  ma, and Etan the Poetess, and Carpre,
they were interred at Brugh from the  the son of Etan), and Crimthann
time of Crimthann Niadh-Nar to the  (Niadh-Nair) followed theln, because
time of Laegari, the son of Niall, ex-  his wife Nar was of the Tuatha Dea,
cept three persons, namely, Art the son  and it was she solicited him that he
Conn, and Cormac the son of Art, and  should adopt Brugh as a burial-place
Niall of the Nine Hostagres.        for himself and his descendants; and
We have already mentioned the  this was the cause that they did not
cause why Cormac was not interred  bury  at Cruacha-(* See note 10, p.
there. The reason why Art was not in-. 289, and nzote 26, p. 295, in refutation
terred there is, because he believed the  of the absurd and calumnious derivatior,
day before the battle of Muccramma  given to the surname Niadh-ASair. —
(Mocrumhi) was fought, and he predict-  ED.)
ed the Faith in Ireland, and he said his    The Lagenians (i. e. Cathaeir and his
own grave would be at Dumha Derg-  race, and the kings who were before
luachra, where  Treoit  (Trevet, in  them) used to bury at Aenach Ailbi,
Meath), is at this day. When his body  The Clan Degadh (i.e. the race of Co.
was afterwards carried eastward to  nari and Erna) at Temhair Erann.
Dumha Derg-luachra, if all the men of The men of Munster, (i.e. the DergEri were drawing it thence, they could  thini) at Aenach Culi and Aenach
not, so that he was interred at that  Colmain and the Connacians at CruaM
place, because there was a Catholic  cha."




860                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND,
Beneath thee rests fierce Dungalach,
Who captives led from eastern lands;
And Tuathal, Conn and Tumaltach
In'glory sleep within thy walls.
Of Eoca-idh Feidlech's three fair sons,
I sing the tombs beneath thy ramparts;
Where Eocaidh Aremh lies full low,
Slain by the hand of Mael the mighty. (i. e. Sidmal.)
King Eocaidh Feidlech lies concealed
Beneath thy mound, and beauteous Derhbi,
With Clothra, dame of high degree,
And Medb, the heroine queen, and Muresg,.
And regal Eri, Fodla, Banba,
Three august ladies, bright and young;
In Cruacha dwell, from mortals hidden,
Those queens of Dana's Sacred Tribes.
Kermad's three sons are laid on Sith-drum:?
Long-handed Lugaidh lies on Liath-drom,
With the sons of Aedh, son of the Daghda,
Near whom lies tall and warlike Midhir.
Beneath thy pillar-stones are laid,
Gaunt Cobthach and great Iugani,
And Badbeha too-all. regal chiefsAnd here lies tall and haughty Olild."
EOCAIDH GUNATH, ARD-RIGH.
A. i). 253.9?  Eocaidh Gnnath,91 son of Fiach, son of Imcaidih. son
of Bresal, son of Siorcaidh, son of Fiacaidh Finn (from whom is
called the Dal-Fiacach), son of Dluthach, son of Rosin, of the
line of Erimhon, held the sovereignty of Ireland  for one single
year, when he fell by Lurna,9  son of Fertri (otherwise by Lugaidh, son of Aengus, son of Fertri).;
CARBRI LIFICAR, ARD-RIGIH.
A.D. 254.~  Carbria Lificar, son of Cormac Ulfada, son of Art
Aeinfer, son of Conn. Ked-cathach; of the line of Erirmhon, held
the sovereignty of Ireland twenty-seven years.  The reason why
0 Sith Drum. Perhaps Sidhe Truim,   92 Lugna, called by some, Lugaidh
an ancient mound near Slane, in Meath. Menn, son of Aengus Finn, his own kinsll
Sith Drum was, also, an old name for man.  O'Flaherty says that Eocaidh
the Rock of Cashel.                 Gunnatlh was grandson of King Ferm A. D. 267. Four Masters.        gus of the Black Teeth.
E" oCAIDs XII.  Tighernach does    " A:. D. 268. Four Mlasters.
not allow this chieftain the title of    9 CARBRI I[. According to the an.
king.                               nals just cited, this monarch reigned




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                            861
he was called Carbri Lificar was, because he had been reared near
the River Lifi (Liffey), of Leinster.  Ethni Ollamda, daughter of
Dunlaing, was his mother.  It was by the hands of Simeon, son
of Kerb, one of the Fothartaigh of Leinster, that he fell, at the
battle of Gabra95 (Gowra).
The following was the  reason why  the  battle  of Gabra was
fought.  Samhair, daughter of Finn, son of Cumhal, was the wife
of Cormac Cas, son of Olild Olum; and she was the mother of
Tinni and Connla.  Through this relationship, Mogh Corb,96 the
but seventeen years. He there is stated    "9 Mogh Corb. This prince was the
to have fought three battles against  principal opponent of the monarch, and
the Munster men in the 4th year of his  not thy Clanna Baeisgni, or Irish Milireign (271), and four in the year fol- tia, as stated by modern popular wrilowing, in defence of the rights of Lein-  ters.  Since Eogan Taidhlech, or Mogh
ster.-" A. D. 276, the 9th year of Car-  Nuadath, grandfather of Cormac Cas,
bri.-Angus Gaibuaibtech (chief of the  had been murdered in his tent by Goll,
Desi) was killed this year by the sons of son of Morna, at the battle of Magh
Carbri, namely, Fiacaidh Sraibtini and  Leana, the king of Munster cherished
Eocaidli Doimlen. A. D. 283, the 16th  the most rancorous hatred against the
year of Carbri.-Finn, grandson of  Clanna Morni, who were a military
Baesgni, fell by Achlech, son of Duibd-  tribe of the Fer-Bolgs of Connaught;
renn, and the sons of the Urgrenn, of the  and in order to be revenged of them,
Luaigni of Temhair, at Ath-Brea upon  they formed an alliance -with tile Clanna
the Boinn, of which it was said:        Baeisgni, another military tribe of the'Finn was killed, it was with darts,*   Scotic or Milesian race, ithe most disWith a lamentable wound;                tinguished chief of whom  was Finn
Achlech, son of Dubdrenn, cut off
The head of the son of MAochtamain.     Mac Cuumhail.  Cormac Cas, king of
Were it not that Cacilti took revenge,  Munster, married Sainhair, daughter
It so.lld have been a victory after all his true  of this warrior, and by her had three
battles:
The three were cut off by him,          sons —Tinni and Ccnnla, cf whom no
Elnlting (ver the head of the royal champion.' "  account is preserved, and Mooh Corb,
-5fo ilra tothr iS.                     the ancestor of the celebrated Brian
1" Gzbra~, otherwise called Gablira  Boru, who inherited ail the valor and
Aicbhlt, from  its contiguity to Achill,     sm  of his ancestor.  After the
now the hill of Skreen, near Tara, ln  death of Finn, Carbri disbanked a:d
Meath. Gabhra, Anglice, Gowra, is  outlawed  the  forces of the  Clanna
now the name of a stream which rises Baeisgni, and retained in his service
in a bog in the townland of Prants- the Clanna Morn only.  The Clanna
town, parish of Skreen, receives a trib-  Baeisni then  repaired to Mnster, to
their relative, Mo(gh Corb, who retainTara Hill, joins the River Skene at              *
Tarn lll, joins the River Skene at..ed them in his service, contrary to tile
Nowthstown, and unites with the Boyne  orders of the monarch. This led to the
at Ardsallalgh.-dL.                     bloody battle of Gabra, in which the
* "The following words were interlined in the  two rival military tribes slaughtered
text: i. e. doa aith isaich ro od       each other almost to ext
1. e. by fishing gaffs lie was wounded. It is stated  each other almost to exterlnation.
in the Dublin copy of the annals of Inisfallen,  In this battle Osgar, son of Oisin (Osthat Finn Mac Cumhailll the celebrated general sian), met the monarch in silngle conof the Irish mrilitia, fell by the hands of Athlach, 
son of Dubdrenn, a treacherous fisherman, who  bat, but he fell; and Carbri, returning
(fired with the love of everlasting notoriety)  from the combat) was met by his own
slew him with his gaff at tRath-BrelBvha, near the                    Fotharta
Boyne, whither he had retired In his old ace to relative, Simeon, one of the Fotharta
the remainder of his life in tranquility.  (who had been expelled into Leinster),
hIS Athlnach, warisoon after beheadedl by Caeitl  who fell upon him  severely wounded,
]Mac Ronain the relative and faithful follower
of Finn." —O'Donovan.                   after the dreadful combat with 0sgar,




362                THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
son of Cormac Cas, aided Oisin (Osheen), son of Finn, his mother's brother, and the tribe of Baeisgni (Bueeslenie) in opposition to
the attacks made upon them by Carbri Lificar and Aedh-Caemh~
(Aih  cliv), son of Garaidh Glun-dubh (Garrai- Gloonduv), chief of
the tribe of Morna. At that time, the tribe of Morna was in possession of the buannacht (that is, they formed the standing army
of Ireland), and had been at enmity with Finn and the tribe of
Baeisgni for full seven years.  For this reason, the faction of
Garaidh Glun-dubh set on Carbri Lificar and the pentarchs of
Ireland to dethrone Mogh Corb, hoping thereby to succeed in
procuring the. banishment of the tribe of Baeisgni.  And thence
came the battle of Gabra.
FATHADH AIRGTHECH AND  FATHADH CAIRPTHECIT, ARD-RIGH.
A.D. 281.98 Fathadh99 Airgthech (Fahdh Arrikagh) and Fathadh
Cairpthech (Carpagh), both sons of Mac-Con, son of Mac-Niadh,
and of the line of Lugaidh, son of Ith, assumed the sovereignty of
Ireland. They reigned conjointly for one year, at the end of
which, Fathadh Cairpthech was slain by Fathadh Airgthech.
And, then, Fathadh Airgthech was himself slain by the Fiann'l at
the battle of Ollarba.1
FIACAIDH SRAIBTINI, ARD-RIGH.
A. D. 282.2  Fiacaidh3 Sraibtini (Feegiha Sraqfinnie), son of Carbri Lificar, son of Cormac Ul-fada, of the line of Erimhon, held
the sovereignty of Ireland for thirty-three years, when he fell by
and dispatched him at a single blow. monarchs of Ireland; evidently because
O'Donovan.                        they regarded them as usurpers. They'7 Aedh Caemh was the last king of were the sons of the monarch, MacConnaught of the race of the Fer-Bolgs. Con, and from their brother, Aengus
Aedh and'Mogh Corb both escaped  Gai-fuilech, i. e. Aengus of the Bloody
from the bloody field of Gabra, but Spear, is' descended the clan of Driscoll
coming to an engagement soon after and its correlatives.
at Spaltrach, in Muskery, Mogh Corb'~o Fiann. From this passage it would
fell by the hand of the king of Con- appear that some of this body still surnauoght. Poetic tradition will have it, vived the battle of Gabra. According
that the warrior Caeilti and the bard to O'Flahlrty, the slayers of Fathadh
Oisin, alone of their kindred survived Airgthech were of the Clanna Baeisgni,
this fight at Gabra, and that they lived and apparently commanded by the
to recount the exploits of their com- warrior, Caeilti, by whose hand this
panions in arms to St. Patrick in after monarch fell.
times. It is the lays attributed to them    I Ollarba. Now the River Lame,
that are called the Ossianic Poems, and in the county of Antrim.
Spon them Macpherson built his fa-   2 A. D. 286. Four Masters.
mous forgery.' FIACAIDnI VII.  This monarch
A. D. 285. Four Masters.       reigned thirty-seven years, according
" Fathadh.  Some of our antiqua- to other accounts.
ries did not count the two Fathadhs as




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                      363
the three Collas, in the battle of Dubh-Comar.4  Aeifi, daughter
of the king of the Gall-Gaedhail5 (Gaul- Gaeil), that is, of the Foreign Gaels, was the wife of Fiacaidh Sraibtini and the mother of
AMuredach Tirech.  And the reason why he was called Fiacaidh
Sraibtini, was because it was at ibtini, was because it was at Dun-Sraibtini, in Connaught,
that he had been fostered.
In order that the meaning of the following events may be the
better understood, we shall set down here, from  the Psalter of
Cashel, both the cause of the battle of Dubh-Comar and a narration of the relationship that existed between the Collas and Fiacaidh Sraibtini.  It is, then, at Carbri Lificar that the Oirghiallaigh, that is, the Clans of the Collas, separate from the clans of
Niall, and fiom  the Connachtaigh (Cornaughtih) or Erimonians
of Connaught.  Now, Fiacaidh Sraibtini, son of Carbri Lfficar,
was the grandfather of Eocaidh Muigh-medon, son of AMuredach
Tirech, son of Fiacaidh Sraibtini.  From  the AMuredach here
mentioned, have sprung the lclans of Niall and the men of Connaught.  Eocaidh Dublein was also son'of Carbri Lificar, and
brother of Fiacaidh Sraibtini. This Eocaidh had three sons,
namely: the three Collas, and from  these are descended the
Ui Athic Uais (ee-vic-Oosh), the Ui Mhic  Crimthainn  (ee-vicCrft~inn), and the Moghdorna (Mowrna.).  The real names of the
three Collas were, Carrell, Muredach and Aedh.  Here follows a.
quotation ifrom an ancient bard in testimony thereof:
" Of the Three Collas have you heard,
Eocaidh's sons of highest fame,
Colla, Menn, C6lla Da-crioch,
And Colla Uais, the Ard-righ?
Their names, all three, I know full wellCarrell and Muredach and Aedh;
By these was slain a mighty king,
On yonder fair, well cultured plain.
Carrell was Colla Uais, the king;
Mluredach, Colla Da-crioch;
And glorious Aedh was Colla Menn.
Mighty were they beyond all braves!"
Du~~i-Comar.  This name signifies equally applicable to any of the Gaelio
f.he "blLck confluence." "(It is quite septs then settled in Alba and the
evident that it was the ancient name of Hebrides.
the confluence of the Blackwater and' Sraibtini. Other authorities assert
the Boyne."-O'D.                   that he received this cognomen from
5 Gall-Gaedhail may mean some por- showers of fire (sraib theini), i. e. thun.
tion of the Clauna Breogain or Bri- der storms, that occurred during his
gantes, of Gaelic origin, settled in Bri- reign.
tain or Gaul; but the name would be




36:             THE  IISTORY OF IRELAND.
Oilech, daughter of the king of Alba, and wife of Eocaidh
Dublein, was the mother of the three Collas. It was these three
Collas that perpetrated the parricide upon Fiacaidh Sraibtini,
whereby the sovereignty of Ireland was lost forever to them and
their posterity. The fbllowing was the occasion of that parricide: whilst Fiacaidh Sraibtini was sovereign of Ireland, he had
a distinguished son, who was called Muredach Tirech; and this
YlMul'cdach was the commander-in-chief of his father's armies, for
the king himself was not allowed to enter the battle-field. Upon a
certain occasion, Muredach had marched into Munster! attended
by an army, whence he brought off hostages and spoils. At
the same time the king, his father, chanced to be at Dubh-Comar,
near Talti, attended by another host; and there he was accompanied
by the three Coilas, the three sons of his brother, who had led
their forces to his aid to that place. Then, when the multitude
heard of the successes that Muredach had obtained in Munster,
they said in con.mmon that he was the presumptive king of Ireland.  " What shall become of us," said the Collas, "if Muredach
become sovereign after Fiacaidh? What we had better do," said
they,'" is to give battle to the old king, and when we have slain
him, with his host, we shall easily overcome his son, whenever
he may arrive."  In the meantime, Fiacaidh was engaged in
conference with a certain druid, named Dubcomar, and this druid
addressed him in the following words: " O king," said he "if
thou vanquish the Collas now, and slay them, no king of thy
posterity shall ever reign over Ireland after thee." "Then,"
said the monarch, "I prefer rather to fall by the Collas myself,
and to have the sovereignty of Ireland descend to my posterity,
than to have them  slain by me, and have the sovereignty of
Ireland descend to their clhildren."  After this, the hosts were
drawn up in battle array, and they charged one another from
each side. But the army of Fiacaidh Sraibtini was routed in
that engagement, and he was slain himself therein, just as the
druid Dubcomar had prophesied to him.
COLLA UAIS, ARD-RIGIE.
A. D. 315.7  Colla Uais, son of Eocaidh Dublein, son of Carbri Lificar, of the line of Erimhon, held the sovereignty of
Ireland for four years; at the end of which, both himself and
his brothers were driven by Muredach Tirech into banishment
to Alba, where they received a military maintenance (buannacht)
from  the Alban king. For Oilech, daughter of Ugari, king of
Alba, was the mother of the three Collas. The reason why Car" A. D. 323. Four Masters.




TIE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                 865
rell was styled Colla Uais, that is, Colla the Noble, was because
of the distinction which he had obtained beyond the other
Collas, for he had held the sovereignty of Ireland, and the others
had not.
MUREDACII TIRECH, ARD-RIGH.
A. D. 319.8  Muredach' Tirech (Jfurreeagh Teeragh), son of
Fiacaidh Sraibtini, of the line of Erimhon, held Ireland for
thirty three years, and then he fell by Caelbadhc, son of Crunn
Badraei. lM~uirreln, daughter of Fiacaidh, king, ot Kin&l-Eogain,
was the wife of Muredach Tirech, and the mother of Eocaidh
Muioh-medon.
As to the Collas, they were banished into Alba by Murcdach
Tirech, as we have related above. Three hundred warriors was
the number of their host. The king of Alba received them with
great respect, and gave them  military maintenance, by reason of
their great valor and hardihood.  They remained with hil-n for
three years; after which they returned to Ireland, in hopes that
Muredach would perpetrate a parricide (finghal) upon them, aud
that the sovereignty might fill to their posterity in consequence
thereof.10  In coming from Alba, they brought over no stronger
escort than a band of nine warriors with each of them.  After
landing, they made no delay until they arrived in the king's
presence at Temhair.  "Have you brought me any news, my
cousins?" said the king.  "'We have no sadder news to tell,
said they, " than the deed which we have ourselves done, namely, the killing of thy father by our hands."  "That is news we
have already known," said the king; ")but it is of no conseqence
to you now, for no vengeance shall be wrelaked upon you therefor, except that the misfortune, which has already pursued you,
shall not leave you."  " This is the replr of g coward," said the
Collas.  "'Be not sorry for it," replied the king.  "You are
welcome."  After this they spent a long time in great friendship
with Muredach, so that they became the commanders of that
king's armies in war.
A. D. 331.  Conquests of the CtoUas in Uladfc -Destruction of
hIIAIN MACHA.
At last the king told them  (the Collas), that it was time for
them to conquer some territory, as an inheritance for their posA. D. 327. Four Mlsters.'0 They h1ad, it is said, been told by
9 MUREDACTI II. According to the a druid, that if they could provoke
last-cited authority, this king reigned their cousin, king Muredach, to slay
but thirty years.               them, the sovereignty of Ireland would
fall to their posterity.




866                THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
terity.  "Of what territory dost thou wish that we should make
sword-land?" said they.  (There were not, in their own time,
any warriors more intrepid than they.)  "March into Ulster,"
said lhe, "for you have good cause of enmity with its people;
for an attendant upon the king of Uladclh once burnt the beard and
hair of Cormac, son of Art, with a torch, in Northern Magh
Brehagh. Whenz Cormac had become king of Ireland, an overwhelming force of the Ulstermen came against him, and having
extorted hostages from him, they banished him into Connaught.
After that a peace was made between Cormac and them, and they
prepared a feast for him at Northern Magh Breagh, and it was
on that occasion that a servant of the king of Ulster burned the
hair of Cormac. Now, that deed is still unavenged."
After this, king Muredach furnished them with a numerous
army, with which the Collas marched into Connaught. There
the men of Connaught joined their standard, with a force consisting of seven catha.  Thence they marched to the Cam  of
Achadh Lcth-derg," in Fernmagh.  From  that hill, they fought
seven battles against the Ulstermen, that is, a battle on each day
during a whole week. Six of these battles were fought by the
Connaughtmen, ahnd the seventh by the Collas.  In it Fergus
Fogha,'2 king of Emhain, was slain, and the Ulstermen were
finally routed. They were then pursued, with great slaughter,
from the Carn of Eocaidh to Glen Righe.'3  From the latter place,
the Collas marched back upon Emhain, which they plundered,
and then burned, so that Emhain has remained since then without
a king to inhabit it.
The Collas next took the following territories from the Ulstermen, namely: Moghdurna,'4 Ui Mic Crimthainn,15 and Ui Mic
Uais.  Colla Menn  took possession of Moghdurna, Colla Da
A chad-leth-derg. This place, situ-   14 Moghdurna,  properly  Crioch
ated in the barony of Farney (Fern- Moghdurna (Creeagh Mowrna), now
magh), co. Monaghan, is not yet iden- the barony of Cremorne, co. Monatified.-O'D.                      ghan.  The O'Hanratties, in Irish,
12 Fergus Fogha, son of Fraechar O'h-Innrechtaigh, of the race of Colla
Fortriun, was the last king of Uladh Menn, were the ancient possessors of
that resided at Emhain.          this territory. In O'Dubhagan's poem,
13 Glenn Righe, that is, the vale of the chief of this territory is called
the Righe, now the Newry river. From  O'Machaiden. In after times, they were
this time, downward, the name Uladh encroached on by the Mac Mahons.
is applied to the circumscribed terri-  15 Ui Mic Crimthainn, that is, the
tory of the Clanna Rudraide, narrowed territory of the descendants of Crimthby this conquest to the counties of ann, son of Fiach, son of Degaidh Durn,
Down and Antrim. "It was originally son of Rochadh, son of Colla Da Crithe name of all Ulster, but after the och. In latter times, it appears that
year 332, it was applied to that por- this name was confined to.the barony
tion of the east of Ulster, bounded on  of Slane, county Meath; but Keating
the west by the Lower Bann and Lough  could scarcely have meant it in that
Neagh, and by Glenn Righe."-O'D. confined sense. From CollaDa-Crioch




THE H1ISTORY OF IRELAND.                      867
Crioch (Daw  Creeagh) of Ui Mic Crimthainn, and Colla UaTs
seized upon Ui Mic Uais.'"
And, as before stated, it was by Caelbach, son of Crunn Badraei, that the monarch Mluredach was slain."l
CAELBACH, ARD-RIGH.
A. D. 352.18  Caelbach, son of Crunn Badraei, son of Eocaidh
Coba, son of Lugaidh, son of iosa, son of Imcaidh, son of Feidlimidh, son of Cas, son of Fiacaidh Araide, son of Aengus Gaib.
nenn, son of Fergus Foglas, son of Tibradi Tirech, son of Bresal,
son of Ferb, son of Mal, son of Rocraide, of the line of Ir,1'
son of Mileddh, held the sovereignty of Ireland for one year.  It
was by Eocaidh Muigh-Ml edon,'"  that he was slain.
EOCAIDH MUIGH-MEDON, ARD-RIC-H.
A. D. 353.1' Eocaidh" Muigh-Medon, son of Muredach Tirech, son of Fiacaidh Sraibtini, of the line of Erimhbn, held the
sovereignty of Ireland for seven years.  Mong-finn, daughter of
Fidach, the wife of Eocaidh Muigh-medon, was the amother of
Brian,23 Fiacaidh or Fiacra,25 Fergus and Olild.  Carthann Caswhose territory it was, are descended that he was the last prince of the royal
the Mac Mahons of Monaghan, the Ma- house of Ir (that is, of the Ulidians),
guires of Fermanagh, the O'Hanlons of that sat upon the Irish throne. After
Orior, the Mac Canns, Mac Manuses, the defeating Muredach,he marched straight
O'Kellies and O'Maddens of Ui Mani, to Temhair, and was there saluted king.
in Galway, and their numerous kindred  However, Tighernach does not count
septs..       him among the Irish monarchs. But
la Ui jilic Uais, now Moygish, in his having been even partially acknowlWest Meath. The descendants of the edged as such has its meaning in our
Colla Uais are the Mac D)onalds of history; it tells of a vigorous effort
Antrim and the Isles of Scotland, with  made by the Irians to recover the terthe Mac Dugalds, Mac Allisters, Mac ritory from which, by Muredach's aid,
Rories and their correlatives, and- also  they had been recently expelled by the
the clans of Mac Sheehie, O'Flynn or three Collas.
O'Lyn of Moylinny, MacAedha or Ma-   20 Muigh-Medon. This surname is
gee of Island Magee, the O'Gnives, generally spelled either MuighmheadO'Kerin, and several others in Ireland. hain or Muighmheodhain, and is pro7 Slain. He was slain by Caelbadh, nounced somewhat like Mooivaan or
son of Crunn, king of Uladh, at Port- Mooveone. Dr. O'Connor has transrigh, over Daball.                  lated it Camporum Cultor, i. e. tiller of
Daball was the old name of the Black- fields; but Dr. O'Donovan says that
water of Ulster. Portrigh is thought this is a mere guess. The derivation
to be the place now called Beuburb.-  recorded by Keating, he very justly
See Four Masters.                  styles a silly legend.
18 A. D. 356. —Four Master..        21 A. D. 353. —Four Masters.,o Of the race of Ir.-Caelbadh, oth-   " EocAIDH XIII.
erwise Caelbach, was of the blood of   2 Brian. From this son sprang the
the Clanna Rudraide. O'Halloran says several clans of the Ui Briain, of Con



868                 TIlE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
tlabh (CULr;attn C(cs-cduv), daughter of the king of Britain, was his
second wife, and by her hIn had Niall of the Nine Hosltag-s.  He
was calCl A Eocaidh AMuigh-medon,        because his head  and breast
resembled those of king cMuredachl Tirech, but his waist or middle
(mcdon) rseomblel that of a slave (mogaidh), whose niame was
Mingadanch.
It v.ws agaLinst this king that the battle of Cruachain-Claenta
was gained by Enna Kennselach,25 king of Leinster; and the1re it
was thalt Kednathech,   the bard-sage (fil6) of Eocaidh  Muighmedon h.appetned to be made prisoner.  But when Eunna came up
to where he was detlined, he demanded of his people, why they
had spared the life of the druid.  " Whilst'I live," said the druid,
" thou sll.lt never gain victories from this hill, where I nowv stand."
Upon  thlis, Enna transfixed   inm  with his spear; and, as the
weap'on passed through the druid's body, a laugh  broke forth
from  Eana.  " IIa! " said the druid, " that ]augh is foul (salach);
and this word -foul (salach) shall be attached as a surname to thy
po terity aLft r thee, forever."  Hence, the descendants of that chief
have been called "''Kinn-salaigh,"'6 that is, foul-heads, ever since.
Enna KIennselach was a very powerful prince in his day, as
may  be understood  from  the lay composed by Dubthach  Ua
Lugair, who wras Ard-Ollamh of History in Ireland, at the time
when St. Patrick came thither to propagate the Faith.
naugnht, nanllt, the O'Connors, kings    According to the sam. authority, it
of Connaaulht in after times, the O'Reil- was durinll this reign, that Lgaidh conlies and O'Rnaircs, of Brefni; the 0'- quered, from the people of Connaught,
Flahertie3, Mac D)ermotts, Mac Don- that district which is now calied the
oughs, alnd their kindred clans.     county of Clare, and  made it the
21' Fiacai'dh, more commonly called  swordcland of his posterity:
Fiachra, was the founder of the pow-   2 Kina-S.:laigh. The absurdity of
erful tribes, known as the Ui Fiachrach, supposing that any powerful tribe
who were long the rivals of the Ui would, of its own accord, assume a sgirBriain for the sovereignty of Con- name affixed to it as a reproach, is
nauogllt.  Their most powerful clans enough to prove that the above cannot
were thle O'Dabhda, nowv  O'Dowd, and  be the meaning of this. But the latter
O'Caemhain, now Keevan, princes of  of its component parts is not " salach"
the Northeril Ui Fiachrach, and the  (sallagh), which does mean foiul or deO'lIeyncs, O'Shanghnessies, O'Cleries, filed; it is " selach" (.s7ellagi), wvhich,
and MAac Kilkellies, and others, lhereaf- whatever be its exact sense in this inter to be mentioned, of the Southern Ui stance, is a word of quite a dif;erent
Fiachrach.                           origin. A  branch of his descendants
Enana Kenn-Sclacch. According to  have taken the name of O'Kinshellagh,
O'Halloran, the Leinster king was pow- from the surname of Enna,. The A:ac
erfully aided in this war by Lugaidh  Mlnrroughs, hingfs of Leinster, the 0'Lamh-derg, who was then king of Leth-  Cavanaghs, O'Murphies, O'NMaeil-Riain
Mogha and chlieftain of the Dal-g-Cais. or O'Ryan, and the O'Dowlinors of LeinlIe tells us,that the cause of the war was ster, with  their several correlative
the exaction of Boromha Laighen by  branches, are sprung from  this prince.
the monarch, which Enna resisted, and, A brother of his was the founder of
with the help of Lugaidh, defeated  the O'Byrnes and 0'Tooles.
Eocaidh in fifteen battles.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                       369
"A  battle fought by Leinstermen," is the first line of the lay;
but of it, I shall here quote but the two following verses, which
shlow the great power exercised by Enna during his own time:
"A fine was paid to Enna
From Mumha, with reluctanceAn ounce of gold from every lis,
Within the coming year.
"A fine was paid to Enna
From Leth-Cuinn, the hospitableA sgreball' from each hearth
In all its fair fortresses."
And, according to the Psalter of Cashel, this Enna routed the
zlans of Conn in thirteen battles.
Eocaidh Muigh-medon died in Temhair.
CRIMTHANN, ARD-RIGH.
A. D. 360.28  Crimthann,29 son of Fidach, son of Dari Kerb,3
son of Olild Flann Beg, son of Fiacaidh Maeil-lethan, son of
Eogan Mor, son of Olild Olum, of the line of'Eber31 Finn, son of
Miledh of Spain, held the sovereignty of Ireland for seventeen
years.   Fideng, daughter of the king  of Connaught, was his
wiie.
It was this Crimthann that gained victories and extended his
sway over Alba, Britain and Gaul, as the shannachie tells us in
the following rann:
"Crimthann, son of Fidach, ruled
The Alban ad the Irish lands:
Beyond the clear blue seas he quelled
The British and the Gallic might."
it was also this Crimthann, that conferred the kingdom of LethTogha, or Munster, upon his own foster-son, namely, upon Conall
Echluathi'2 (i. e. Conall of the Swift Steeds), son of Lugaidh Menn.
27 A sgrebcall-an Irish coin, worth  and 3d, Eocaidh Liathanach, from whom
three pence. Its aspirated form  is sprang the Ui Liathain, consisting of the
"sgrebhall"'(.slcrewzall, or shcrevul.)  OLiathain, now anglicized Lyons, and
8 A. D. 366.-Four Masters.        the O'h-Anamcada.
29 CRIMTHIANN  III.  This  prince   3 Of the linle of Eber. No prince
reigned but thirteen years, according  of this stock had been, now, monarch
to the last-cited authority.',of Ireland during thirty-two reigns.
30 Dari Kerb.  This prince, -who Duach III, styled Dalta Degadh, the
was the second son of Olild Flann Beg, fifteenth progenitor of Crimthann, was
left issue: 1st, Fidach, father of Crimth- the last prince of' the line of Eber that
ann, Mwhose line becanle extinct; 2d, Fia- had been saluted supreme king.  He
caidh Fidghenti, ancestor of the tribe reigned from A. M. 3912 to 3922.
called Ui Fidghenti, comprising the   32 Conall Ech-luath.  "On the decans, O'Donovan, O'Coilleain or Collins, cease of Eocaidh, who, after all, died
O'Kinealy, O' Meehan, AMac Eneiry, &c.; peaceably at Tara, Crimthann, son of
24




870                THIE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
The posterity of Fiacaidh Maeil-lethan, felt offended at this gift,
and they said, that Conall did not act the part of a good kinsman
in accepting it whilst Core, son of Lugaidh, a man every way
qualified to make a good king, was then to be found among the
descendants of Fiacaidh.  The dispute that thence arose  was
left to the arbitration of learned sages, who decided that the
kingship of Munster should, for that time, be possessed, first by
Core, son of Lugaidh, for he was the elder representative of the
race; and after him, that one of the descendants of Cormac Cas
should succeed to the throne of Munster. U pon this, the race
of Fiacaidh Maeil-lethan gave securities and guarantees, upon
their part, that they should allow the possession of the sovereignty of Munster to descend quietly to Conall Ech-luath, after
the death of Core, or to Conall's son, should he himself be no
longer alive. This decision was made in accordance with the
will of Olild Olurn, which ordained that the supreme power
should be possessed alternately by each of these two families of
his descendants, namely, by the progeny of Fiacaidh Mail-lethan
and that of Cormac Cas.  It was upon the above condition that
Conall Ech-luath resigned the kingdom of Munster to Core.
This Core had a son,33 who was named Cas Mac Cuirc, from
whom has descended the clan of O'Donnchadha, or O'Donoghoo
ior, from which again sprang O'Donoghoo of the Glen.  From
him are also sprung the clans of O'Maghthamhna, or O'Mahony
Finn, O'Mahony Roe, O'Mahony of U i-Floinn-Laei, O'Mahony
of Carbery, and O'Mullane.
Conall Ech-luath became, eventually, king of Munster, after
the death of Corc.34  And Crimthann, son of Fidach, gave the
Fidach, son of Dari Kerb, of the race chieftains of the Eoganacht of Magh
of Heber and Engenian line, through Gerghinn, now called Marr, in Sc(,tthe great influence of his cousin, Lu- land, are derived.
gaidh (king of Munster, of the Dalcas-   Through the enmity of his stepmother,
sian line,) was proclaimed monarch;' Daela, Core had been banished by his
and in return for this, on the death of father, and took refuge in Alba, where
Lugaidh, which happened soon after he he married Mong-finn, daughter of Fehad his son Conall Ech-luath (Agh-looah) radach, king of the Picts.  Hence,
appointed king of Leth-Mogha, to the probably, arose the settlement of some
great prejudice of his own family." — of his posterity in that country.
O'Halloran.                         A4 After the death of Core. From the
33 Had a son, ic. His other sons were vagueness with wlich Dr. Keating has
Nadfraech, from whom most of the here expressed himself, some have imsucceeding kings of Desmond sprang; agined that he meant that Core died
Mani Lemna, from whom descended during Crimthann's reign. However,
the ancient Mor-mhaeir, or High Stew- that inference by no means follows
ards of Lennox, in Scotland; and Car- from our author's words.  The fact
bri Luachra, otherwise surnamed Cruth- that the Irish monarch appointed his
nech, or the Pict, from  whom  the friend, Conall (who was a powerful
O'Moriarties, chiefs of the Eoganacht chieftain, as king of Thomond, and
of Loch Lein in Kerry, and the ancient head of the Dal-g-Cais tribe,) as re.




THE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.                       371
hostages of the chiefs of Ireland, Alba, Britain, and Gaul, into
the hands of his foster-son, Conall.  Upon this fact Cormac, son
of Culinan, has composed the following yerses:
"Ech-luath received the Irish rents,3
Whilst Crimthann fought for foreign spoil,s"
And, though he crossed not Mana's wave,
No worthier king could tribute claim.
"What Fidach's son, great Crimthann, brought,
Of captive Gauls from over sea,
IHe gave into the red-glaived hand
Of Conall, famed for fleetest steeds.
"Conall of Fleet Steeds made a tour
Through all the tribes on Crimthann's part —
Opposed at Dun-Liamna,37 that chief
In slaughtered heaps, left his proud foes.
" He owned Fert-Conaill on Magh-Femhenn,
Drom-Cormaic, Ani, and Dun-g-Clair,
Caisel's stronghold, Liamhain's great rath,
Fair Dun-Kermna, Eocair-Maigh."
The death of the mionarch, Crimthann, was caused by Mungfinn, daughter of Fidach, his own sister, who gave him a poisoned drink  at Inis-Dornglas, in hopes that the kingdom  of
gent during his own foreign expedi- friends; and the Gaels did not carry
tions, by no means implies the previous on less agriculture on the east of the
death of the king of Leth-Mogha. Be- sea (channel), than at home in Scotia;
sides, it is opposed to the almost uni- and they erected habitations and regal
versal tradition which represents Core forts there; thence is called Dinn Tradas the rival of the next king, Niall, for uii, i. e. the triple-fossed fort of Crimthe Irish throne.  Conall must have thann Mor Mac Fidaigh, king of Eri,
succeeded Core, some time during the Alba, and as far as the Iccian Sea; and
reign of Niall.                     thence is called Glastimber na-n-Gaed36 All Eri's rent.  That is, he re- hal, i. e. Glastonbury of the Gaels, a
ceived them as Crimthann's representa- large church which is on the brink of
tive. " Before entering upon his foreign  the Iccian Sea, &c. And it was at the
expedition, he appointed Conall, whose time of. this division, also, that Dinn
integrity he could depend on, as regent Map Lethain, in British Cornwall (Breof Ireland."-O'Halloran.            tan Corn), received its name, i. e. Dun
36 Foreign spoil. In Cormac's Glos- mic Liathain; for map, in British, is
sary, under the words Mogh Eime, it is the same as mac (i. e. son). And they
stated that he extended his dominion  continued in this power for a long time
over North Britain and Wales, where  after the arrival of St. Patrick." —See
many places received names from his  p. 340, Battle of Magh Rath, Additional
people.- This passage, of which the fol- Notes.
lowing is a translation, is one of the most   8 Dun Liamna, i. e. the Dun of
curious and important in Irish history: Liamhain (Leeavuin) is situated in the
" At that time, the sway of the Gaels west of the county of Wicklow. It was
was great over the Britons; they divi- one of the residences of the kings of
ded Alba between them  in holdings, Leinster, and is now known as Dunlavand each knew the habitations of his an. The other places enumerated in this




372                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND,
Irelandl would fall to her fvorite son,38 Brian, son of Eocaidh
Muigh-Medon.  Of the venom  of that drink, king Crimthann
soon died, at Sliabh-oidhidh-an-righ29 (Slieev-ee-cca-ree), to the north
of Limerick.  Mung-finn, also, died herelf, immediately, from
the effects of that poisoned cup, for she had swallowed some of
its contents, in order to induce her brother to drink thereof.
NIALL NAEI-GHIALLACH, ARD-RIGH.
A. D. 377.4   Niall4' Naei-Ghiallach  (Neeal Nee-yeeallagh), or
Tiall of the Nine Hostages, son of Eocaidh Muigh-Medon, son
of Muredach Tirech, of the line of Erimhon, held the sovereignty
of Ireland for twenty-seven years.  Carthann Cas-dubh (Carhan
Cas-duv), daughter of the king of Britain, was the mother of
Niall.  His first wife was Inne, daughter of Lugaidh.  She was
the mother of his son, Fiacaidh. His second wife was called
Roighnech (Roenagh), who bore him  seven sons,42 namely, Laeverse were amongst the royal residences bard of Niall, at length interposed; a
of Munster; their locations are else- peace was thence concluded, and Core
where pointed out.                  acknowledged Niall's election, deliver8 Her favorite son. Her parricide ing up his son, Carbri, with others of
had not th6 effect she desired. None his nobles, as hostages. In return, he
of Brian's posterity ever sat upon the received, as presents (or as a fee), from
throne of Ireland, except Rudraide, or the monarch, one thousand steeds, five
Roderick O'Connor, the last of its hundred suits of armor, one hundred
kings, and Tordelbach, or Torlough, and ninety gold rings, and fifty gold
the third last.                     cups. It was the custom of the Irish,
S Sliabh-Oididh-an-Righ, i. e. the that the acknowledged sovereign made
mountain of the king's death. It is presents to his former antagonist."now called the Cratloe, or Glennagross  O'Halloran.
mountain, in the barony of Bunratty,   42 Sevei sons. It appears thatNiail
and county of Clare.                had fourteen sons in all; however, none
40 A. D. 379. —FouLr M1asters.    of them left posterity but the eight'4 NIALL 1. " On the death of Crim- above mentioned: 1. Fiacaidh, his son
thann, several candidates appeared for by Carthann, who was the ancestor of
the succession.  Enna (Kennselach), the septs of Mac Eochagain (Mageoghkitg of Leidster, the better to streng- egan), and O'Maelmhuaidh (O'Mulloy);
then his interest, seized on the palace  2. Laegari, or Laeghaire (Layerie),
of Tara (Ternhair), but soon after evac- from whom came the O'Coindelbhain
uated it. Core, king of Leth Mogha, (O'Kendelan or Quinlan), of Ui Laegsolicited the suffrages of the princes bari; 3. Conall Crimthanni, ancestor
and electors, but was opposed by the of the O'Maeilshechlainn (O'Melaghwhole force of Leth-Cuinn.  These lin); 4. Mani, from whom descended
dreaded the power of the Heberians, Mac Catharnaigh (Mac Caharny), a
who, as kings of Southern Ireland, ac- name now  changed  to Fox, with
knowledged no kind of dependence on  O'Breen and Magawley.  All these
the monarchs, and united, as one man, settled in Meath, and were called the
to support the claims of young Niall, Southern Ui Neill. After the estabwho was accordingly elected.  Core lishment of surnames, they branched out
protested against the election, and ap- into many sub-septs,amongst which were
pealed to the sword. Much blood was those called the Four Tribes of Temhair,
spilt on the occasion. But Torna, the namely, O'Hart, O'Regan, O'Kelly of




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                    373
gari, Enna, Mani, Eogan, two Conalls and Carbri, as the poet
says in the follovwing verse:
"Joyful the heart of Roighnech bright!
She bore Laegari, son of Niall,
Enua and Mani, of great deeds,
Eogan, two Conalls, and Carbri."
ALBA for the first time receives the name of SCOTIA, or SCOTLAND
-Ireland called Scotia Major; Scotland, Scotia fMinor.
The monarch, Niall, proceeded to Alba with a powerful army,
for the purpose of strengthening the Dal-Riada, and of implanting
the Scotic race in that country; for, at this time, they were acquiring supremacy over the Cruthnigh, who are called Picts.
lie was the first person that gave the name of Scotia to Alba, at
the request of the Dal-Riada, and other tribes of the Kine Scuit ( i.e.
the Kindred of Scot). lie did so, however, upon condition that
their country should be called Scotia Minor, or the Lesser Scotland, whilst Ireland should be called Scotia Major, or the Greater
Scotland. It was through a pious esteem for Scota, daughter of
Pharaoh Nectonibun, and wife of Galamhl, who is called Miledh
of Spain, from whom their nation had sprung, that the Dal-Riada
preferred to give the name of Scotia to Alba, rather than that of
Hibernia.
CAMDEN has asserted, in his Britannia, that Scotia Minor was
the name of Alba, and Scotia Major that of Eri.  He also informs
us that it cannot be discovered by any ancient documents, that
the Albanaigh, or inhabitants of Alba, had ever been called
Scots, previous to the reign of the Roman Emperor, Constantine
the Great, (A. D. 299-330.), Moreover, this learned author
speaks of the Erennaigh, or natives of Eri, as Scotorum Atavi,
that is, the Forefathers of the Scots; thus making known to us,
that the Scotic nation, dwelling in Alba, had sprung from  an
Irish stock.  IHe makes use of the following words in treating
of this subject: "The Scoti," says he, "came into Ireland, from
Spain, ill the Fourth Age."43
NENNIUS, a British author, cited by Camden, relates that it
Breagh (not the tribe O'Kelly of Ui terity formerly inhabited Carbury GauMani), and O'Conolly. The four other ra, in county of Sligo; the O'Ronains
sons went into Ulster, where they of that district are his descendants;
gained wide territories; they were: 1. 4. Enna Finn, his youngest son, some of
Eogan, from whom the tribes of Ty- whose posterity dwelt formerly in Tirrone, namely, the O'Neills and their Enna, in Tir-Conaill, and others, as
numerous correlatives; 2. Conall Gul- O'Braenan of KinOl Enna, near the Eill
ban, from whom descend the Kin0l Con- of Uisnech, in Meath.
aill, that is, the clan of O'Donnell and   43 Scoti ex Hispania in Hiberniam
its kindred septs; 3. Carbri, whose pos- quarta setate venerunt.




574                THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
was in the Fourth Age, that the Scots (that is, the Kin6 Scuit),
took possession of Ireland.
The ANNALS OF IRELAND, also, make it perfectly clear that
Alba was the name of the country now called Scotland, down to
the time of Niall of the Nine Hostages, when the Dal-Riada succeeded in getting it called Scotia, a name by which both themselves and their posterity have continued to call it ever since.
It is said to have received the name of Alba, or Albania, from
Albanactus, the third son of Brutus, for it was the portion, which
his father gave to him as an inheritance. According to Geoffrey
of Monmouth, Brutus had three sons, namely, Loegrius, Cambei,
and Albanactus.  Between these he divided the island of Great
Britain.  Loegrius called his division Loegria, from  his own
name; it is this region that is now called Anglia, or England.
From Camber, that region which is now called Bretain (Wales),
received the name of Cambria. From Albanactus, the third
division was called Albania (Scotland).
Niall Invades Loegria-Expedilion  to Armorica-ST. PATRICK
led thence into captivity, A. D. 388.4
From  Alba, Niall marched with a numerous army into Loegria, where he made a stationary encampment; and thence he
sent a fleet to Armorica, which is called Bretagne,45 or French
Britain, for the purpose of plundering that dountry. From this
expedition two hundred nobly-born children were brought captive into Ireland; and amongst those captives was St. Patrick,
then sixteen years old, and his two sisters,4' Darerca and Lupida,
with many others.
Accordingt to the dates given in yet I received no damage; nor was I
Keating, the year of the saint's captiv- affected with slothfulness, for then the
ity should be 386. The above is the' spirit of God was warm within me."
more generally received epoch. When Whilst here he perfected himself in the
brought into Ireland, St. Patrick fell knowledge of the Gaelic tongue, and
to the share of Milcho, a petty chieftain made himself familiar with the habits
of the Dal-Araide, who sent him  to and usages of the people of whom he
feed his hogs upon Sliabh-Mis, now  was destined to become the apostle,
called Slemmish, in the county of An- thus greatly diminishing the difficulties
trim. Here he remained in servitude of his future mission. We are told that
for six years, during which time, as he he escaped from servitude in the seventh
tells us himself in these words, "My  year of his bondage; though some say
constant business was to feed the hogs. that he was then released therefrom in
I was frequent in prayer; the love and accordance with a law, said to have exfear of God more and more inflamed isted in Ireland, which, like a similar
my heart; my faith was enlarged and Mosaic one, ordained that slaves should
my spirit augmented; so that I said a be set at liberty in the seventh year.
hundred prayers by day and almost as  4" Bretagne, called Britanny by the
many by night; I arose before day in English.
the snow, in the frost, in the rain, and   46 His two sisters. Darerca and Lu



THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                    375
The SCOTr of the Early Ages of Christianity.
Numnberless authors bear testimony that Scotia was properly
one of the names of Ireland, and that the people called Scoti or
Scots, were Irish.
JONAS THE ABBOT uses the following words, in his second chapter, in speaking of St. Columkille: " Columbanus," says he,
" who is also called Columba, was born in HIibernia, which is now
inhabited by the nation of the Scoti."47
BEDE, also, in the first chapter of the first book of his History
of the Saxons, tells us that Ireland was the native country of
the Scots; here are his words: "Hibernia is the proper fatherland of the Scoti."48 The same author, in writing about the
saints, makes use of another expression that agrees with that
just quoted: "St. Kilian," says he, "and his two companions
came from Hibernia, the island of the Scoti.""4  From this it is
evident that the Irish were commonly called the Scotic nation
in the time of Bede, who lived about seven hundred years after
Christ.
ORosIus, who lived less than four hundred years after Christ,
corroborates the same fact.  He speaks thus in the second chap
ter of his first book: " Hibernia is inhabited by the nations of
the Scoti."5'  Hence it is clear that this country, which is called
Eri and Hibernia, was commonly denominated Scotia by the
writers of his day.
SERAIUITS, writing about St. Kilian, speaks in the following
manner: " rTfhe holy Kilialn  was of the race of the Scoti."'5
And again he speaks of " Scotia, which is also called IIibernia.""'
CAPG~RAVIUS bears testimony upon the same subject, in the
following words, which he employs in treating of St. Columba:
"For Ilibernia was anciently called Scotia, and from  it sprang
and emigrated the nation of the Scoti which inhabits the part of
Albania that lies nearest to Great Britain, and that has been
since called Scotia from the fact."53
MARIANUS SCOTUS, an Alban (i. e. a Scotch) writer, bears
pita are enumerated amongst the Irish   60  ibernia Scotorum gentibus collsaints. The place of Lupita's servitude tur.
was the plain of Murthemni, in the   5' Beatus Kilianus Scotornm genere
county of Louth.                   62 Scotia que et Hibernia dicitur.
47 Columbanus, qui et Columba die-  a' Hibernia enim antiquitus Scotia
itur, in Hibernia ortus est; earn Sco- dicta est, de qua gens Scotorum Albatorum gens incolit.               niam Britannike majori proximam, qum
4' Hibernia propria Scotorum patria ab eventu modo Sootia dicitur, inhabiest.                              tat, originem duxit et progressum haLt
49 Sanctus Kilianus et duo socii ejus nit.
ab Hibernia Scotorum insula venerunt.




376                THE HISTORY OF IREtfAND.
similar testimony inl writing oil the subject of St. Kilian.  Here
are his words: "Although that part of Britannia which borders
upon Anglia, and stretches towards the north, is at present distinctively called Scotia, nevertheless, the Venerable Bede shows
that Hibernia was formerly known by that name; for he informs
us that the nation of the Picti arrived in Hibernia from Scythia,
and that they found there the nation of the Scoti."54
C-SARIUS, also, who lived less than six hundred years after
Christ, gives us to understand by his words, that Scotia was a
name of Ireland: "Let the man who doubts of Purgatory," says
he, "proceed to Scotia, and there let him enter the Purgatory of
St. Patrick, and thenceforward he will never doubt of the pains
of Purgatory."55  From this writer's words it must be understood
that Scotia was a common name for Ireland at that time; for
there is no place in Alba that is called the Purgatory of St.
Patrick, whilst it is well known that there is a place so named
in Ireland; and it is thence manifest that Ireland is the country
which Coesarius calls Scotia.
SERAPIUS, in certain remarks which he makes in writing about
St. Bonifacius, is in perfect accord with the above-cited writers.
He says that "Hibernia, likewise, claimed Scotia as one of her..
names; but, however, because a certain part of the Scotic nation
emigrated from this same Hiibernia and settled in those parts of
Britannia in which the Picti were then dwelling, and was there
called the nation of the Dalreudini (Dal-Riada), from  the name
of its leader, Rheuda (Carbri-Riada), as the Venerable Bede
relates; and because these Dalreudini afterwards drove the Picti
from their homes, and seized upon the entire northern region to
themselves, and gave to it the ancient name of their own race;
so that thus the nation might remain undivided; in this manner
has the name of Scotia become ambiguous; one, the elder and
proper Scotia, being in Hibernia, whilst the other, the more recent, lies in the northern part of Britannia.T"6 Fromn the words
of this author I draw three conclusions: the first conclusion is,
5' Etiamsi hodie Scotia proprie voca- vindicavit, qua tamen ex Itibernia ista
tur ea Britannine pars, quw ipsi Ang- Scotorum pars qumFdam egressa est, in
lia, continens ad Septentrionalem vergit, caque Britannise era quam Picti jam
olim tamen eo nomine Hiberniam vo- habebant, consederunt; hi quidem prin.
catum fuisse ostendit venerabilis Beda, cipio duce sue Rlheuda Dalreudini dicti
cum ex Scyth'a Pictorum gentem in fuerunt, ut ait venerabilis BeCda; posHitbrniam venisse ait, ibique Scotorum  tea tamen Pictos inde ipsos exegerunt,
geutem;sveni.sse.                et totum illud latus obtinuerunt cique
I; Qui de Purgatorio dubitat, Sco- vetus gentis sume nomen indiderunt;
tiam perga.t, Purgattorium Sancti Pat- ita ut Scotorum gens una fuerit, seal
ricii intret, ot de pcenis Purgatorii am- Scotia duplex facta sit; una vetus et
plius non dubitabit.              propria in Hibernia, recentior altera ia
w Hibernia Scotia sibi nomen etiam  Septentrionali Britanniam parte.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                       377
that the Erennaigh or Irish, were, in strict truth, the real Scoti;
the second is, that the Dal-Riada was the first race, dwelling in
Alba (Scotland), to which the name of Scoti was applied; the
third conclusion is that Eri (Ireland) was the true ancient Scotia,
and, that Alba (Scotland) was the new Scotia, and also that it
was the Kine Scuit, or Tribe of Scot, that first called it Scotia.
BUCHANAN, an Albanach (i. e. Scotch) author, has a passage
that agrees with the above, in the second book of his History
of Scotland.  IIe says that, "All the inhabitants of Hibernia
were originally called Scoti, as Orosius points out; and our own
annals tell us that there was more than one migration of the
Scoti from  Hibernia into Albania.""  Hence it is to be understood that the Dal-Riada was not the only tribe that went from
Ireland to dwell in Alba, but that numerous colonies besides
went to make settlements therein from time to time.
Irish Invasions of Alba or Scotland —-Irish Settlements therein.
AVe read in Irish history that the following persons made expeditions to Alba from time to time, for the purpose of making
the conquest of that land.
First, Aengus Oll-mucach, son of Fiacaidh Labranni, made an
expedition to Alba for the purpose of enforcing the payment of
the head-rent due from the Cruthnigh to the kings of Ireland.
This took place about two hundred and fifty years after the arrival of the children of Aliledh in Ireland.
In like manner, Recta Righ-derg made an expedition to Alba,
long ages afterwards, in order to force the payment of his headrent.
Carbri Riada58 then invaded the north of Alba, with his host,
for the purpose of making conquests therein.  It is the posterity
of this Carbri Riada that Bede has called the Dalreudini, that is,
the Dal-Riada of Alba.
Scoti omnes Hibernise habitatores to Scotland, where, as Bede tells us,
initio vocabantur, ut indicat Orosius; "by force or friendship he procured
nee semel Scotorum ex Hibernia tran- settlements for himself. From this leader
situin in Albaniam  factum  nostri ut Riada," says he, "their postrity are to
annales referunt.                  this day called Dal Reudir.a; dal, in
68 Carbri Riada. Durin  the reign  their languaoe, signifying a part."
of Art (from A. D. 152 to 182) it was, This is certainly the first regular Scotthat the eldest Carbri, son of Conari tish or Irish settlement in Albany;
II, called Riada, or the Long Arm  on not but that numbers of Irish must,
account of his settlements so remote frdm the close atirniity betweenl them
from each other as Kerry and Antrim, and the Picts, have resided there from
or the Route; as it is called, passed over time to time for centuri.e before. This
(settlement.) is a fact upon which all
* Or Lone Reach? Riada is acontractdform  our writers are u.aanunous. —U'Hailo.
of the words Righ-fhada (Ree-adda.)  Ilan.




378                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Mac-Con went to make the conquest of Alba and Britain; and
it was thence that he came to fight the battle of Mocrunihi, where
Art Aenfer, king of Ireland, fell, so that AMac-Con then acquired
the sovereignty of all Ireland himself.
Fathadh Canann,69 son of Maac-Con, went to A.lba at a subsequent period, and conquered an inheritance for himself therein..
It is from  him  that the race of Mac Alind (Allen) and its correlative branches have sprung.
Again, Colla Uais and his brothers proceeded to Alba, and
there acquired large possessions; and from  this Colla Uais are
sprung the Mac Donalds,60 both of Alba and of Eri.
Crimrnthann, son of Fidach, went to make the conquest of Alba
whilst he was monarch of Ireland.
And there, also, settled Ere, son of Eocaidh  Munremar, son
of Aengus Fert,"6 one of the descendants of Carbri Riada.  They
are his descendants62 that are called the tribe Gabran or Kinel
Gabhrain  (KIinnaile  Gowrauin), of Alba, and the Kinel Lodhairn (Loarn), Kinel Comhghaill (Cowill), Kinel Aengusa, and
IKin6l Conchriche (Concreehi) of the Isles.
M' Fathadh Canann.-the founder of time that intervened between the reigns
the Campbells and their correlatives, as of the father of Carbri Riada, Conari lI,
before stated.                      king of Ireland, who was slain about
~ Mac Donalds. According to 0'- A. D. 152, to that of Loarn Mor, son
Flaherty, Somarli or Somhairli (Sow- of Erc, the first Scotic king of Alba,
erlie), the twenty-fifth descendant of who conquered the throne in A. D.
Colla Uais, had two sons, Ranulph and  503. The event alluded to did not ocDubgoall: from the latter came the Mac cur forI more than a century after NiDugalds or Mac Dowells.  Ranulph  all's reign. Keating records it again
begat two sons, Rudraide or Roderic, in its proper place. The above Ere
from whom the Mac Rories of the Heb- was the founder of the Dalriadic kings
rides are sprung; second, Domhnald or of the modern Scotland. O'Flaherty
Donald, from whom the Mac Donalds informs us that this son, Loarn or Lodhave taken their name. From Sithach, hare, with his brothers, Aengus and
son of Eocaidh Donn, one of the sons Fergus, obtained the command of the
of this Domhnald, came the Mac Shee- Dal-Riada, and took possession of the
hies, in Antrirn and in Munster. The country of the Western Picts, A. D.
Mac Donalds, earls of Antrim, are more 502; that their descendants held the
immediately sprung from  Domhnald, royal dignity for the space of seven
son of Aengus, son of the above-named hundred and eighty-three years, from
Domhnald, who was king of the Heb- Loarn down to the reign of Malcolm
rides and of Cantire, in the reign of IV, who was killed in 1285. Four
James III, of Scotland.-See Ogygia. hundred and forty-three years had then
These races are of the royal of Conn  elapsed from the final conquest of the
of the Hundred Battles.             Picts by Keneth I, and two hundred
61 Aewngus Fert.  He is elsewhere and eighty-one from Malcolm II, who
called Aengus Fer. The Irish geneal- was the first that assumed the title of
ogists make him the seventh descendant King of Scotland.
from  Carbri Riada. O'Flaherty con-   62 Descendants.  Those enumerated
jectures that he was his grandson; but above are the four principal tiles
he is decidedly wrong. Ten genera- sprung from the sons of Erc. Their
tions is not too much to allow for the  modern names are unknown. to the
editor.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                       379
Mani Lemna,63 son of Core, son of Lugaidh (of the race of
Olild Olum), emigrated from Ireland to Alba, and acquired himself a territory there, which is still called Magh Lemna64 (Moy
Lewna or Levna).  From  it the  " Mor-mhaer Lemhna" (AIorevayor-Lewna), or Great Steward of Lemhain had his title. It is
he that is now styled the Duke of Lenox. It is also from the
above-named Mani Lemna, or Mani of Lemhain, that the noble
house of Lenox65 has drawn its origin.  From  a brother of Mani
Lemna, who Was named Carbri Cruthnechan,66 or Carbri of the
Picts, came the Eoganact (Owenaght), of Magh Gerghenn (Hloy
Gueryenn), in the same country. But it was after the time of Niall
of the Nine Hostages, that these went to make settlements in Alba.
It was, also, after his time that the six sons of Muredach,* son
of Eogan, son of Niall of the Nine Hostages, emigrated thither.
These were known as the two Loarns, the two Aenguses, and the
two Ferguses. Thus, it may be asserted of all the Gaelic tribes
of Alba, that their nobles have sprung from the Gaels of Ireland.
However, we must consider as of Saxon, and not of Gaelic
origin, those of the inhabitants of Alba that dwell nearest to
England, across the borders of which they had been formerly
driven by William  the Conqueror, and who have continued in
possession of the " Galldacht "' (Gaullaght), or lowlands of that
63 Mani Lemna, i. e. Mani of Lem- was descended Henry Stuart, Lord
hain (Lewin or Lavwin). The river Darnly, the father of James I, of Engnow called the Laune, in Kerry, is so land. —See Ogygia.
denominated in Gaelic. It is possible   G6 Carbri Cruthnechan. From  him
the Mani had his surname from it, and  was descended Canich,the Mor-mhaer of
that the nam6 was then first transported  Marr, ancestor of ancient Earls of Marr,
to Scotland by him. His brother, Car- who fell by the side of Brian, at Clontarf.
bri the Pict, was styled also Carbri Lu-   * This is a mistake. They were the
acra, from having been fostered in the sons of Eocaidh Munremar, son of the
district of Luachair, in Kerry. This Erc last mentioned.  It was the last
renders it likely that both brothers had  and most permanent settlement, and
their surnames from the same locality. took place in A. D. 503.
64 Magh Lemna.  " Levinia, con-   6' Galldacht, i. e. the district of the fortracted into Lennox (as if Lemhnacht), eigners. There had been for some cenis situated near Dumbriton (Dumbar- t tries previous to the above-mentioned
ton), in Scotland, and has taken its event, a population of Teutonic (probaname from the river Levinn (Lemhain), bly Danish) origin already settled in that
which washes it. This river, flowing portion of Scotland which lies between
from Loch Lomond, is called Leavuin, the rivers Tweed and Forth.  The
in the vernacular idiom, and the coun- Gaels called the people dwelling in this
try is called Magh Levna."-Ogygia.  district, Gaill or Gauls, which was their
~5 House of Lennox. Donncadh, general name for all who were not
called also Duncan, Earl of Lennox, Gaels, with the exception of the Britthe last of the family, died, leaving no  ons and, Picts, who are rarely so demale issue, in the reign of Robert II, nominated. At the time of the conof Scotland. One of his daughters quest of England by William and his
married Alan Stuart, a near relative of Gallo-Norman followers, and when Malking Robert, and thus transferred the  colm III. was king of Scotland, this
title to his posterity. From this Alan  Teutonic settlement received a large




380                  THE HIISTORY  OF IRELAND.
country ever since.  Besides these, there are some others that
we shall point out a little further on.  Stow  gives us information upon this subject in the hundred and fifty-third page of his
accession to its numbers from  the im-  tinct populations; the only national
migration of Saxon and Danish refu- division observable in the kingdom  of
gees from  England, who were kindly  Scotland, was that between the men
received by the Scotch monarch.  Au- who spoke the Gaelic language, called
gustin Thierry speaks thus upon the  also the Erse, i. e. Irish, and the desubject, in his History of the Norman  scendants of the  Teutonic colonists,
Conquest: "The multitude of men of  whose idiom was alike intelligible to
all ranks and conditions who, after a  the English, the Danes and the Gerfutile struggle against the invaders, manst This population, the nearest to
expatriated  themselves to  Scotland, England, though called Scottish by the
augmented the previous mass of Ger- English, had much closer affinity with
manic population established between  the latter people (from resemblance of
the Tweed and Forth.  The kings who  language and  community of origin)
succeeded Malcolm were not less gene- than with the Scots of Gaelic race.
rous than he to these refugees; they  The latter, who combined with a somegave them land and offices, and admit-  what savage pride, habits of indepented themn into their state councils, where  dence, derived from their organization
gradually the true Scotic language, the  in separate clans or tribes, had frequent
Gaelic or Erse, was supplanted by the  disputes with the Teutonic population
Anglo-Danish, spoken in the Lowlands  of the southern plains, and even with
of Scotland.  By the same revolution, the kings of Scotland.  The latter althe Scotch kings discarded the patro- most invariably found  the  southern
nymic surname, which recalled to mind  Scots disposed to aid them in their protheir Celtic origin."                  jects against the liberty of the clans,
Having referred to the final subjuga- and thus the instinctive enmity of these
tion of the Picts by Kenneth Mac  two races, the fiuit of diversity of oriAlpin, he says: "The nation of the  gin and language, turned to the profit
Picts lost its name in its incorporation  of royal despotism.  This experience,
with the Scots; but it does not appear more than once highly profitable to the
that the fusion was effected on unequal successors of Kenneth MacAlpin, gave
terms, as would, doubtless, have been  them a great affection for the lowlandthe case had the conquered and the con- ers of Scotland, and generally for men
querors been of different race. The  of.English origin: they preferred these
latter had not to undergo any slavery-  strangers to the men who descended
any political degradation; serfage, the  from  the- same ancestry with themordinary result of conquest in the mid- selves; they favored, to the utmost of
dle ages, was not established in Scot- their ability, the Scots by name, at the
land.  Ere long, there existed north  expense of the Scots by race, and reof the Forth but one people, and it ceived with the utmost cordiality every
early became a fruitless attempt to  emigrant from England."  Further on
seek the traces of the idiom which the  he tells us, that they gave to these forPicts had spoken in the time of their eigners offices and lands taken from the
independence.  At the period of the  Gaels. As a just punishnment for their
Norman invasion of England, there ex- tyrannical encroachments upon the anisted not the slightest vestige of the  cient usages of their Gaelic kinsmen,
division of Scottish Gael* into two dis- the race of the Dal-Riada soon ceased
to occupy the throne of ancient Alba;
* It is to be remarked, that in the above quotation the word Gael is used in the sense of clelt. were a Celtic people. he erroneously applies to
Thierry, being ignorant of the Gaelic tongue, them the name of an Iberie people, who, though
thought it synonymous with Gallis, the name the language they then undoubtedly spoke was a
by which the Celte of Gallia were known. Ilav- dialect of the Celtic tongue, have not yet been
tng very learnedly shown that the Cruthnigh  proved to have been of Celtic origin. —F.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                    881
Annals.  He there tells us that William, king of Alba, was
captured by Henry II, king of England, and then  sent by
the latter to the city of Rouen, in Normandy, as his prisoner.
There he was kept in bondage by his captor until he was forced
to  pay a ransom  of four hundred marks for his liberty.
Then, when returning to his own country, at peace with the
king of England, he took with him to Alba a number of young
English nobles, from whom he had received kindness and friend.
ship during, his captivity.  Upon these and their heirs after
them, he bestowed lands and territories, which are possessed by
many of their posterity to the present day. The following
are the names of some of the families descended from those
that followed him from England upon that occasion, namely:
Balioll, Bruce, Rawley, Mowbray, Sinclair, Hangiford, Ramsey,
Bissey,. Boyce, Montgomery, Walley, Colley, Milley, Frazer,
Graham and Gurley.08  This immigration took place in the year
of our Lord 1174.
Buchanan fully bears out all I heretofore asserted as to the original application of the names, Scot and Scotia.  In the thirtyfourth page of the second book of his History of Scotland, he
says: "Because the'two nations, that is to say, the natives of
Hibernia and the colonists that went forth from  them to dwell
in Albania, were both originally called'by the common name of
Scoti, in order to distinguish the one from  the other, people
began to name the former Hibernian Scoti, and the latter Albanian Scoti."69  From  these words of Buchanan two things must
be understood: the first of these is, that Ireland was the country
whence the Scots emigrated in order to colonize Alba; the next
is, that Scoti, or Scots, was a common appellation of the Irish
people from the beginning.
izroads of the Scots and Picts into Britain.
Previous to returning to Niall of the Nine IIostages, I here
set down, in support of all I have hitherto advanced on the
subject, last treated of, certain facts which have been extracted
from the Chronicle of Stow; for I deem that what I shall hereafter relate of that monarch, on the authority of Irish history,
supplanted by their Norman guests, have been misspelled or mistaken by
the Baliols, Bruces and Stuarts, the Keating's transcribers.
royal line of Kenneth Mac Alpin be-  69 Principio, cum  utrique, id est,
came extinguished or reduced to ob- HIibernixe incoea et coloni eorum in
scurity.                         Albium missi Scoti appellarentur, ut
8 l'The Editor is not sure that all discrimine aliquo alteri ab alteris disthe above names belong to the lowland tingruerentur, initio coepere alteri Scoti
Scotch. He thinks that some of them  Hibernii, alteri Scoti Albani vocari.




382                THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
will appear the more credible by reason of my transcribing
these matters from the work of a foreign chronicler. Here is
what Stow relates:
"A. D. 73.  Mauritius Arviragus, being king of the Britons,
Rughri, or Rogerus, king  of the Picts, a people of Scythian
origin, and accompanied by the Scots, invaded Britain for purpose of conquest, devastating that country with sword and fire.
Whereupon, the above-named Mauritius gave them battle, and
slew Rughri and numbers of his host therein. To those that
survived this battle he gave a territory to inhabit, in the north
of Alba.  They, then, demanded wives'~ of the Britons, but were
70 Wives. 1" The friendship, founded  highlanders had, at the period we are
upon this early connection, was kept now treating of, assumed a still more
alive by continued intercourse between  audacious and formidable character,
the two nations; and though the foot- and, about the middle of the fourth
ing the Irish obtained in the third  century, so destructive had become
century, upon the western coast of their inroads, that it required the presNorth Britain, produced a jealousy  ence of the son of Constantine to make
which sometimes disturbed this small head against, and repel them. Whatcolony, the advantage derived by both  ever differences their relative position,
nations from  such an alliance, kept as rival neighbors, had given rise to,
their fierce and feverish union unbro- were entirely merged in their common
ken. In addition to this, the pride  object of harassing the Britons; whom
that Ireland naturally felt in the task  a native historian describes as tremblof watching over and nursing that ing with fear of a new visitation, while
germ  of future dominion which she still fainting from the dire effects of the
planted in North Britain, her kings tempest which had just swept over
and princes, eternally at war with each  them. To deliver the province from
other, as naturally looked beyond their this scourge, one of the bravest of the
own shores for allies; accordingly, as Roman generals, Theodosius, was now
in the case of the monarch Tuathal, appointed to the military command of
who owed his throne to the aid of Britain; and, after two active camPictish arms, we find the alliance of paigns, during which he had to contend
that people frequently resorted to as a not only with, the Picts and Scots by
means of turning the scale of internal land, but also with their new allies, the
strife. On the other hand, the hardy  Saxon pirates, by sea, he at length suchighlanders of Caledonia, in the con- ceeded in delivering Britain from her
stant warfare they waged against their inveterate invaders. To such daring
southern neighbors, were no less ready  lengths had some of the incursions into
to resort to the assistance of a peo- her territory extended, that, on the
ple fully as restless and pugnacious as arrival of the Roman general, he found
themselves, and whose manners and  the Picts and their allies advanced as
habits, from a long course of connec- far as London and Kent. In all this
tion, were, it is probable, little different warfare, the Scots of Ireland were no
from their own. As some defence against less active than their brethren of A1these two hostile nations, the Romans bany; and it is, therefore, remarkable
had, at different intervals during the that the Roman commander, though
second and third centuries, erected those fitting out a fleet to chastise the Saxons
three great walls or ramparts on the  in the Orcades, should yet have left
northern frontier of their province, Ireland, whose currachs wafted over
whose remains still continue to occupy such hostile swarms to his shores, still
the research and speculation of the an- exempt from invasion. That his fleet
tiquary. But the hostility of these chased, however, some of her vessels




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                    383
refused; they next demanded them of the Irish, who granted
their request." But what Stow recounts as then happening to
Rughri, king of the Picts, is but what really happened long
before his time, to that chieftain of the Picts, who took wives
with him out of Ireland, in the days of Erimhon, as we have
heretofore mentioned; an event that occurred more than one
thousand three hundred years before Mauritius held the sovereignty of Britain.'The same author says that it was in the above-mentioned
year (A. D. 73), that Vespasianus was saluted emperor of Rome,
and that the Monastery of Glastonbury was built.  He also
relates that the Emperor, who was named Aurelianus, lived
about two hundred and seventy years after the birth of Christ;
and that Pelagius, a Briton, first began to disseminate his heresy
ill the year of' our Lord, three hundred and ninety-five.
About this time, the tribes of the Scots and the Picts were
incessantly plundering and devastating Great'Britain; whereupon, the Britons sent an embassy to the Emperor HIonorius,
to demand aid from him; but he did nothing more than send
them a letter, in which he encouraged them to do the best they
could towards aidifig themselves by their own exertions.  The
result of this reply was, that the Britons lay for a long time
subject to the oppression of the Scots and the Picts.  Again
they sent an embassy to Rome, to make their complaint of the
hardships to which those invaders had reduced them. But upon
this occasion the Romans sent to their relief an armed force,
which consisted of a legion of effective men. Aided by this
reinforcement, they met the Picts and Scots in many engagements. But the Romans at length got tired of the warfare, and
told the Britons to build a wall or a dike between them  and
those bad neighbors of theirs, for that they themselves could
not avoid returning to Rome.
Upon this the Britbns, when forsaken by the Romans, constructed a dike or rampart of earth, extending from sea to sea,
between themselves and the Scots and Picts.
But, swhen the latter nations had heard that the Romans had
forsaken their British subjects, they broke through the dike and
flung themselves upon the Britons, plundering and devastating
their country. This forced the Britons to send an embassy to
into their own northern harbors, may poem, describe briefly and picturesquebe concluded from a passage of a poem  ly the signal triumph over the three
of Claudian, which commemorates this hostile  nations  which  Theodosiua
war;                             achieved:
" Nec falso nomine Pictos     "Maducrurunt Saxone fuso
Edomuit, Scotumque vago mucrone secutus   Orcades, incaluit Pictorum sanguine Thule,
Fregit 1Lyperboreag velis audacibus undas."   Scotorum cumulos flevit glacialis Ierne."
The following lines, from the same  -Mloore's History of Ireland.




884             TtIIE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Rome for the third time, begging not to have their enemies
allowed to destroy them in such a terrible manner.  Upon this.
the Ro mans sent another legion to their relief, and by it several
battles were fought against the Scots and Picts, after its arrival
in Britain.  In these engagements, great numbers of the despoilers were slain by the Romans, and the remainder were driven
beyond the bounds of the wall or dike of which I have already
spoken.  The Romans then, having thus relieved their allies,
told the latter that it was of no advantage to themselves to come
to their assistance on any other expedition, and that they should
therefore take counsel, and consider by what measures they
might protect themselves from their enemies for the future. It
was when the Romans had thus given them up, that the Britons
commenced to build that wall of mason-work, which extends
from sea to sea, between Britain and Alba.  According to Bede,
in the sixth chapter of the first book of his History of the
Saxons, it was eight feet in thickness and twelve feet in height.
As soon as the Scots and Picts had heard that the Romans
had now given up all intention of ever again coming to the aid
of their British subjects, they mustered together a numerous
army and marched towards the said wall, and forcing their way
over it, they overran the whole of the land with fire and sword.
They thus compelled the natives of that country to quit their cities
and dwellings, and flee for safety into forests and wildernesses,
where they had no food but the flesh of wild beasts which they
took by hunting. It was then that the remnant of them that
survived wrote piteously to the Roman Consul, named Aetius,
supplicating his assistance, and telling him that they were hemmed in between their enemies; for those of them that took to
the sea, fleeing from the eiieny, were drowned, and those that
turned away from the sea were slain by the enemy. So Bede
informs us, in the thirteenth chapter of the first book of his
HIistory of the Saxons, where he repeats the words of the
Britons, making their complaint to the RIomans of the oppres-.
sions of the Scots and the Picts. The following are the words
he there uses: " The Barbarians drive us upon the sea, the sea
throws us back upon the Barbarians; so that, between them
both, two species of deaths arise before us, for we are either
slaughtered or we are drowned."7' Hence it is to be understood,
that the tyranny exercised by the Scots of Ireland over the
Britons was very great indeed.
Nennius, an old British historian, quoted by Speed in his
Chronicle, relates that this oppression of the Britons by the
(1 Repellunt Barbari ad mare, re- genera funerum oriuhtur, aut jugula
pellit mare ad Barbaros, inter hmec duo'"fi~' aut mergimur.




THE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.                      385
Scots and Picts lasted for forty years. Camden, who agrees
with him, tells us, that " in the four hundredth year after the invasion of Coesar, Britannia was delivered up to the barbarities of
the Scoti and the Picti."'7   The same thing may be learned friom
the words of Bede, in the fourteenth chapter of his above-cited
fourth book, where, in speaking of the Irish, he uses the following terms: " Those audacious iHibernian robbers return to their
homes, determined  to  come back hither again at no distant
time."73 This expression of Bede gives us plainly to understand,
that the Irish were in the frequent habit of making plundering
expeditions into Britain.
As to the Britons, they continued for a long time to be thus
slaughtered and plundered by the Scots and the Picts, after the
Romalns had forsaken them.  But this was not the only misfortune they had to suffer at that period; for the Pelagian74 heresy
was then leading the British people astray.  To meet this evil,
the Britons determined to address themselves to the Gallic clergy
and ask of them  to send prelates and preachers to their country
frolm  Gaul, in order to put down the Pelagian errors. The clergy
of Gaul sat in council thereupon, and came to the resolution of
sending two holy bishops to Britain for the purpose of disseminating the pure faith; these were'Germanus, bishop of Auxerre,
and Lupus,75 bishop of Troyes, who overcame the heretics soon
after their arrival.
72 Anno 50 a Caesaris ingressu Bri- in Wales. There appears little doubt,
tannia Pictorum  immanitate relinqui- however, that this statement -is erropetur.                                 ous, and that the monastery to which
73Revertuntur impudentes grassatores he belonged was that of Bangor, or
Hiberni domium post non longum temp- rather ]3anchor, near Carrickfergus.
us reversuri.                        Two of the most learned, indeed, of all
7 Pelagian heresy. In speaking as the writers respecting the heresy which
to the extent to which Christianity had  bears his name, admit Pelagius, no less
been established in Ireland before St. than his disciple, to have been a native
Patrick's arrival, Moore makes the  of Ireland. A country that could profollowing judicious remarks respectingp duce, before the middle of the fourth
the native country of Pelagius, the  century, two such distinguished men as
founder of this heresy, and upon his Pelagius and Celestius, could hardly
disciple, Celestius: "Though  unfur- have been a novice, at that time, in
nished with any direct evidence as to the  civilization, however far from the rest
religious state of the Irish in their own  of Europe she had hitherto remained."
country, we have a proof of how ear- -History qf Ireland.
ly they began to distinguish themselves   75 Germanus and Lupus.  Shortly
on the continent, as Christian writers after his release from his captivity in
and as scholars, in the persons of Pela- Ireland, St. Patrick placed himself ungins, the eminent heresiarch, and his der the spiritual direction of the first
able disciple, Celestius. That the latter of these prelates (called St. Germain
was a Scot, or native of Ireland, is al- by the French), " a man," says Moore,
most universally admitted; but of Pe- " of distinguished reputation in those
lafius, it is in general asserted that he times, both as a civilian and an ecclesiwas a Briton, and a monk of Bangor, astic. In 429 (shortly previous to his




886                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
A. D. 474.  Although we have shown that a continual war
was waged by the Scots and Picts against the Britons down to
the year of our Lord four hundred and forty-seven, when Vor
tigern76 was king of the latter nation, still it was not until his
reign that God, in vengeance for their evil passions, their pride
and their sins, gave to those Scots and Picts a thorough masterdom over them. Thus were they compelled to invite IIengist
and Horsa to bring over an army of Germans to aid them  against
their victorious enemies. Of these Germans, God made scourges
to punish their crimes, for by them have the Britons been deprived of the full sovereignty of the greater part of their country ever since.
The chronicles of Britain relate, as Stow sets down in the 53d
page of his Annals, printed in London in A. D. 1614, that four
hundred and eighty of the nobles of Britain were treacherously
murdered by these German Saxons, and that Aurelius Anmbrosius, then king of Britain, caused certain stones, which Merlin
brought over from  Sliabh-g-Clari, in Munster, to be reared as
memorials upon the place where these nobles had been slaughtered; and that.it was in that same place that he was himself
interred. Its name, at that time, was Chorea Gigantum; its
present name is Stonehenge,77 and it is situated upon Salisbury
Plain.  The same author tells us that these stones had been originally brought from Africa by the Gaels; and Geoffrey of Monmouth, asserts that no two stones of those, there erected, had
been brought from the same country.  From  this tradition, likemission to Ireland) we find him accom- assistance of these allies, Britain was at
panying St. Germain and'Lupus in their length ielieved from the presence of her
expedition to Britain, for the purpose Scotish and Pictish ravagers. Howof eradicating from that country the ever, the Saxons soon took possession
errors of Pelagianism."             of the whole island to themselves, and
76 Vortigern. The incursions of the either drove the effeminate Britons from
Scots and Picts compelled numbers of  the more fertile portion of the country,
the Romanized Britons to flee for ref- into Cambria, Cornwall, or, as is likeuge to their kinsmen, the natives of ly, reduced many of them to serfdom.
Armorica, since called Gallic Britain  The Saxons next made a private league
or Bretagne, from them. The remain- with the Scots and Picts, and kept
der elected over them a supreme king, possession of their British conquest unwhom historians call Vortigern, though  til they, too, were conquered in their
this was seemingly but his title, being  turn by the French Normans.
a British synonyme of " Mor-tigerna"   " Stonehenge. The statement that
(7ore-teeyerna), great lord, which makes this most remarkable druidic temple
M hor-tigherna (Vore-teerna) in one of was erected at so late a period is, of
its inflections. Some place his election course, erroneous. It must have been
in 445, others in 436. But his abilities erected when Druidism was in its most
were not equal to the difficulties of his flourishing condition, and at least preposition, and he had recourse to the su- vious to the connection of Britain with
ci(lal measure of calling over the Sax- the Romans.
ons to his aid, from Germany. By the




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.               387
wise, we may infer that the Gaels were in the habit of going on
plundering expeditions to Africa, and consequently that they
had extended their sway over other countries  besides Ireland.
If, then, any person be surprised at these matters, or disbelieve
them altogether, let the blame thereof rest with himself for not
having either seen or investigated ancient documents; for men
are often ignorant of truths, because they have made no acquaintance with the writings of the ancients, as Macrobius remarks
in the sixth book of his Saturnalia; he there says that we
are ignorant "of many things which would not bU  concealed
from us, if we would only give ourselves the habit of reading
the works of ancient authors."7
Then, when we state that the Scots and Picts had imposed a
tribute upon the Britons, the reader, if he believe not our words,
may go and read the Chronicle of Camden, and he will there
find the following assertion: " The Britons were made tributary
to the Scots and Picts in the year of our Lord, four hundred and
seventy-six."79 And when we tell that the Picts, in their turn,
were overpowered by the Scots at the time that Kinneidi, son of
Alpin, was King of Alba, about eight hundred and thirty-nine
years after the birth of Christ, let him again read the Chronicle of
Camden and he will find the same fact recorded therein. Again,
when wJ state that no foreign nation ever made the conquest of Ireland, with the exception of those races that succeeded one another
as dwellers upon its soil from age to age, namely, Partholan, the
Children of Nemedh, the Fer-Bolgs, the Tuatha-De'-Dananns, and
the sons of Miledh, it might possibly happen that some person
woukld be found to disbelieve us, were we not able to refer him
to a fact-stated by Gulielmus Neubrigensis, where he speaks of
Ireland, in the twenty-sixth chapter of his second book, he informs us that "Hibernia was never subjected to any foreign
domination."" In like manner, if, in writing about Niall of the
Nine Hostages, we shall state any fact of which the reader has
never heard before, let him learn that we have both traditional
and documentary evidence in support of every assertion that
shall be made by us in relation to him.
The Place of St. Patrick's Nativity.
We read in a life of St. Patrick, which we found written upon
vellum, in an ancient manuscript book, which also contains lives
of St. Mochuda, St. Alban, and other saints, that he was by birth
78 Multa ignoramus qum non later-  79 Britanni facti sunt tributarii Sco.
ent, si veterum lectio nobis esset fa- tis et Pictis, anno 476.
miliaris.                      80 Hibernia nunquam externae sub
jacuit ditioni.," F 




388                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
a Briton. The following are the words of this old book: " Patricius, a Breton,"l was born in the town of Emptor, in the Plain
of the Tabernacles, and was sprung from devout and religious
parents.""' Again, in the same place, our authority has the following statement: " When the Scoti of Hibernia, under their king,
Niall of the Nine Hostages, had, in spite of the Roman Empire,
widely devastated many provinces of Britannia, whilst Gratianus
was emperor, they at first merely subdued the northern region
of that country, but afterwards, having expelled the old inhabitants, the Hibernienses (i. e. Irish), took possession of the land
and dwelt therein themselves."83  We are there told, likewise, that
from this event it came to pass that there were three kingdoms
established in Great Britain, namely, Scotia, Anglia, and Britannia.  The author of this life tells us, also, that it was whilst
Niall was engaged upon this expedition, establishing the DalRiada in Alba, that an Irish fleet arrived at the place where St.
Patrick was dwelling.  The following are the author's words:
"At this time a fleet from Hibernia plundered the country where
the holy Patricius was abiding, and many captives were brought
off thence, according to the wonted practice of the Hibernians;
amongst these was the holy Patricius, and with him his two sisters, Lupida and Darerca.  The holy Patricius was, then led captive into Hibernia, in the sixteenth year of his age, and in the
ninth year of the reign of Niall, king of Hibernia, who ruled
triumphantly for twenty-seven years, and laid waste Britain and
Anglia as far as the sea which lies between Anglia and Gallia."'4
81 Breton. The Latin Brito and the      Machn sb m-bliadhaln dbec
Gaelic Brethnach are thus translated,      An tan do bhreth fo draibh.
in accordance with the general and, In English:
seemingly, better-founded opinion, that   In holy Tours was Patrick born;
the apostle of Ireland was a native of    For thus'tis told in story;
the apostle of Ireland was a native of    Scarce sixteen years his youth had known,
Armorica, now Brittany or Bretagne,   When he was led to slavery.
in France. Probus says, in his life of    The blunder originated in mistaking
this saint: " St. Patrick was a Briton  the Irish words of the above verse here
(i. e. a Breton), of the village of Banave, italicized, viz. i nem Thur, for in Emin the district of Tiburnia, adjacent to tor, or Emptor.
the Western ocean, which village we    82 Patritius, Brito, natus in oppido
find to have been in the province of Emptor in campo tabernaculorum cx
Neutria (Neustria), which the giants    ntibu      i
are said to have formerly inhabited." 3 Cumarenti deotibernia sub religiosis orts.
The town of Em mnieinh      "Ium Scoti de Iibernia sub rege
The town of Emptor, mentioned 1in the suo Niall Naei-ghiallach, diversas proquotation in the text, has perhaps origi- vincias Britannrie contra Romanorum
nated in the ignorance of some trans- imperium multum devastabant, contuncriber or decipherer of the very an- dere incipientes Aquilonalem  Britancient hymn, composed in Irish byhis na plagam, tandem, ejectis veteribus
disciple, St. Fiech, upon the life of St. colonis, ipsi Hibernienses eam occupaPatrick. The first verse of this hymn  verunt et habitaverunt.
is:                                   84 Hoc antem tempore quvedam clas.
Genair Patraic i noem 7 hur,
Asseadh ad fbt hi sgdlaibh;  SiS Hibernica depredavit patriam iil




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                            389
From  these woras iwe must believe that Niall invaded Great Britain, and that he gained great power therein.
I am  also of opinion, that the above-mentioned fleet had been
despatched by Niall to plunder the coasts of Gaul, whilst he
was himself extending his sway over Great Britain; and that
a descent had been made upon that region of the Gallic coast,
then  called  Armorica, but which  is  now  known   as  Little
Britain,'  or Brittany.  The fact that the  mother of St. Patrick
was the sister of St. Martin, who was bishop of Tours, in France,
qut morabatur Divus Patricius, et, con- now called Boulogne, St. Patrick, it
sueto  Hibernorum  more, multi inde  appears, was born.  That it was on the
captivi ducti sunt, inter quos erat Divus  Armorican coast he had been m'ade capPatricius, etatis suae anno decimo sex- tive, in his boyhood, all the writers of
to, et duo ejus sorores Lupida et Darer- his life agree; and as it is allowed, also,
ca: et ductus est Divus Patricius in  by the same authorities, that his family
Hiberniam  captivus anno nono Neill, was resident there at the time, there
regis IHiberniae, qui potentur 27 annos  arose a difficulty as to the cause of their
regnavit, ac Britanniaim  et Angliam   migration thither from the banks of the
usque ad mare, quod est inter Angliam   Clyde, which the fact, apparent from
et Galliam devastabit.                  his own statement, that Armorica was
E5 Moore, who seems to have studied  actually the place of his birth, disposes
and examined,learnedly and impartially,  of satisfactorify.  His family was, as he
the various conflicting testimonies with  informs us, respectable, his father havregard  to  St. Patrick's  birthplace, ing held the office of Decurio or Muniagrees with the opinion expressed by  cipal Senator; though, as it appears,
Dr. Keating, and comes to the conclu-  he afterwards entered holy orders, and
sion that he was a native of Armoric  was a deacon.  From a passage in the
Gaul. —" Respecting  his birthplace,"  letter of the saint to  Coroticus, it is
says he, " there has been much difference  supposed, and not improbably, that his
of opinion-the prevailing notion being  family may have been of Roman orithat he was born at Alcluit, now Dun-  gin; and the opinion that his mother,
barton, in North Britain.  It is only,  Conchessa, was a native of some part
however, by a very forced and false  of Gaul, is concurred in by all the old
construction of some evidence on the  Irish writers."
subject, that any part of Great Britain    The following pedigree of St. Patcan be assigned as the birthplace of  rick, set into Irish verse by Flann, Abthe saint; and his own Confession, a  bot of Monasterboiee, in the 9th cenwork  of  acknowledged genuineness, tury, is given in the Annals of the
proves him to have been a nativeofthe  Four Masters, and various other auold Gallican, or Armoric Britain.* The  thorities:
country anciently known by this name,," Patrick, Abbot of all Eri,
comprised the whole of the north-west       Was son of Calprann, son of Fotaide,
coasts of Gaul; and in the territory        Son of Delss6, the praiseworthy
Son of great Cormac, son of Leibruith,
Son of Ota, son of Orric the good,
* Patrem habui Calpornium diaconum, fillium  Son of Moiric, son of Leo the lucky,
quondam Potiti presbyterl qui fuit in vico Bo-  Son of Maximus,'tis meet to name him,
navem Tabernisa. Villulam Enon prope habuit,  Son of the tall and fair Encretta,
ubi capturam dedi. —Confess.                Son of Pilist, best of men,
[That is, I hadfor my father one Calpornius,  Son of Fereni, the serene,
a deacoon, woho wc formerly the son of Potitus,  Son of Brltan,* that sea-otter
a presbyter, towvo dwelt in the village of DRuna-  From whom the stalwart Britons sprung.
hem Tb 7er1niw. lIe ozowned a small villa ina the  Cochnias was his m'odest mother;
nsei7hborhood, and it was there that I was  Nemthor was his native town;
made captive.] Dr. Lanigan has clearly shown  Of Mumha no small share had he,
that Bonavem Tabernime was in Armoric Gaul,  From sorrow Patrick saved her sons.
being the same town as Boulognoe-sur-mer, in
Picardy.                                 * That is, Britau Mael.




390              THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
or Gaul, both prove the truth of this supposition of mine, and
confirm what is read in the old Irish manuscripts, which contain
lives of St. Patrick written in the Gaelic tongue, for these expressly inform us that Armorica was the country whence St.
Patrick and his two sisters were taken off into captivity. It is
also very likely, as Niall was then engaged in making the conquest of Great Britain, that the latter was the country whence
he despatched his fleet to ravage the coast of Gaul, whence St.
Patrick and those led off in his company into captivity were then
dwelling. Besides the above, we learn from our ancient records,
that Gaul did actually send its hostages to Niall. St. Patrick, I
deem to have been one of these.
Niall's Last Expedition-His Assassination by Eocaidh, King of
Leinster, on the banks of the River Loire.
As to the adventures of Niall, when he had exacted a multitude of hostages fSom the people of Great Britain, he returned
to Ireland, accompanied by a numerous army, composed as
well of British as of Irish warriors. EHe next set about mustering an additional force, and therefore sent word to Alba, to the
chieftain of the Dal-Riada, commanding that prince to prepare
to follow him forthwith, with a large body of men, into Gaul.
He then sailed for that country himself, at the head of a powerful army. There, he was overtaken by the prince of the DalRiada, as he was plundering that portion of the Gallic land that
lies along the river Loire. Now, some time previous to this,
Niall had driven the king of Leinster, namely, Eocaidh, son of
Enna Kenn-selach, as an exile into Alba, where he abode under
the protection of Gabran, son of Domhangort. On the present
occasion, when the chieftain of the Dal-Riada, who was this same
Gabran, followed Niall into Gaul, Eocaidh, the banished king of
Leinster, followed in his host, but yet he never ventured to go into
the presence of the Irish monarch. There, whilst Niall was on
the bank of the above-named river,86 Eocaidh entered a grove
that grew on the side opposite him, and then adjusted an arrow
on his bow, wherewith he made a shot at his royal foe, and pierced
him through the body with his shaft. Niall immediately died
upon the spot from the effects of that wound.
" River. Moore and others are of Keating calls Leor, could not be the
opinion that Niall wasslain near Bou- Loire.
logne-sur-mer. If so, this river, which




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                 391
Causes of the King of Leinster's Vengeance upon Niall-Invasion. Ireland by Aedgan, King of Alba.
The enmity between Niall and Eocaidh arose from  the fact,
that the Leinster prince had made an attempt to usurp the throne"
of Temhair of the Kings, and supplant Niall in the monarchy.
But, when he had seized upon the royal residence, and had held
it for nine days in defiance of Niall, acertain learned druid came
before him and declared, that it was not lawful for him to violate the gess, or sacred restrictions of Ternhair.  "For," said he,
"it is one of its gesa, that no king should take his seat therein,
for the purpose of assuming the monarchy of Ireland, until he
had first received'Nasg Niadh' (nask-neeah) upon his neck."
This was the same as to have said, that, previous to seizing upon
the Irish throne, he should have first received the degree
of Knight of Cliivalry.  For, as the Knight of Chivalry is
styled Jliles Torquatus, that is, warrior of the torque or collar, so
also was the knight or champion styled "Niadh Naisg," which
means the same thing, by the Gaels, when he had duly received
the "nasg," that is -the collar or chain of chivalry to wear upon
his neck.  "tNiadh," indeed, means the same thing as champion, or warrior, and "Nasg" is the same as "slabhra," (slowra,)
which means a chain.  After hearing the druid's warning,
Eocaidh retired from Temhair, and relinquished the royal dignity. Niall then came and took his seat at Temhair, and, having assumed the government of Ireland into his own hands, he
banished Eocaidh to Alba; but, as we have stated already, this
did not occur until many battles had been decided between them.
There was also another cause of enmity between them. For,
when Eocaidh was returning to Leinster from Temnhair, he
visited the house of Laeidkenn, son of Barkidh, tlie druid of
Niall; and, whilst he was staying there, the son of the druid uttered some defamatory reflections upon him. Thereupon Eocaidh
slew him on the spot. The druid, then, went to complain of
the outrage to Niall, and entreated of him to come and wreak.
vengeance upon the Leinstermen for his son's death.  Thus
spurred on by the druid, Niall marched into Leinster with a numerous and imposing force, with the intention of devastating that
province. When they had arrived in Leinster, the druid would
not consent to Niall's receiving from the Leinstermen any gift or
compensation, in cattle or otherwise, until they had first delivered
s7 Usurp thekingdom. Thisattempt the royal candidates, that previously
was made during one of Niall's absen- contended with Niall for the throne
ces on his foreign expeditions. Enna, He had alsoseized upon Temhair.
the father of Eochaid, had been one of




892              THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
up the oody of their prince into the monarch's hands. When
this had been done, the druid caused Eocaidh to be tied to a pillar stone, which is still to be seen to the west of the Slangi,"8 between KIill-Brighdi (I'll-Breedie) and Tulach-O-Feidlin (TllaghO-Feilin), and that stone stands thus: it is both high and broad,
and it is perforated near its summit. Eocaidh was then forced to
stand up with his back placed against this stone, and they bound
him thereto with an iron chain, with which they had girded him
round the waist. The ends of this chain, they made fast by
means of two loops. When the druid had got him into this position, he procured nine warriors, whom he sent to put him to
death. But, when Eocaidh perceived his executioners approaching with intent to slay him, he made a sudden and vigorous effort,
whereby he strained the chain, and broke the bolt wherewith its
ends were fastened. He then rushed upon his assassins, some of
whom he slew, and thus made his escape, so that no more was heard
of him until he had arrived in Alba, where he placed himself under
the safeguard of Gabran, son of Domhangort, as we have above
recorded. And such was the second cause of the hatred which
Eocaidh bore to Niall.
After this, whilst Eocaidh was living in banishment in Alba,
it happened that the wife of Gabran, son of Domnhangort, whose
name was Inghenach (Inneenagh), and his owli wife Feidlin
(Feileen), daughter of Eocaidh, son of Dathi, both became pregnant at the same time, and they were both brought to bed on the
same night. The two women twere then shut up together in the
same house, in which no person was allowed to remain but
themselves. Outside a guard was set upon them by Gabran. As
to the women: the wife of Gabran brought forth a daughter, and
the wife of Eocaidh twin sons. Then, for she had never borne
any children but daughters, Gabran's wife entreated of the wife
of Eocaidh to give her one of the twin sons, and the latter consented thereto. And when the household folk, who were on
guard, had perceived that the children had been born, they demanded of their queen what description of child she had brought
forth; and she made known to them that she had given birth to
a son and a daughter, and that the wife of Eocaidh had given
birth to a son. At this news they were all rejoiced; and a name
was given to that son which the queen had received from the
wife of the Leinster prince, and he was called Aedgan. And a
name was also given to the other son of Eocaidh, and he was
called Brann-dubh, son of Eocaidh. Eocaidh afterwards returned
to Ireland, where he regained his kingdon of Leinster, and
thither he also brought his son Brann-dubh.
8 Slangi. The river Slany, in Wexford. The pillar-stone to which Eocaidh
is said to have been bound exists still. It lies, or lately lay, on the side of
the road, leading from Tulla to Newtown, at a place called Aghade (in Irish,
Ath Fadath), on the western side of the river Slany. Some ten years since
it was thrown down by a person named Leggett in making a road to his mill
and by him removed from the centre to the side of the same road, where it
may possibly be yet found, though no longer in an erect position.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                393
After some considerable time, Gabran, chieftain of the Dalliada, who was also king of Alba, died, and Aedgan succeeded
him as sovereign of that country.  This Aedgan soon'came to
Ireland for the purpose of spoil and pillage, as well as of conquering the country, in right of his being one of the posterity of
C(arbri Riada.  With him  came a large force, composed of
Albans, Saxons, and Britons. Upon landing, he first led his
forces into Leinster, and began to pillage that principality.
But Brann-dubh, son of Eocaidh, was now the king of Leinster,
and to him Aedgan sent an embassy demanding hostages as
securities for the payment of tribute to himself, and threatening, in case of refusal, to lay waste the whole of Leinster. Brann-dubh was in great trouble by reason of this message; but his mother told him  to be of good cheer, for that
she would herself turn Aedgan off his purpose. With this intent, she set out for the camp of the King of Alba, and, when arrived there, she demanded of him why it was that he had come
to ruin Leinster.  "Harg,' said he, "I am not bound to give any
excuse for my actions to thee."  "If I am a hag," replied she,
"thy own mother is a hafg likewise. But I have a secret to communicate to thee."'Upon this, Aedgan retired with her into a
private place, and there she addressed him in these words: " O
Aedgan," said she, " I have told thee that thy mother is a hag,
if I am one. I now tell thee, that I am myself thy mother, and
that Brann-dubh is thy brother. For this reason, send to Alba
for the woman, who is supposed to be thy mother, and she will
acknowledge in my presence that it was I that gave thee birth.
Then, give up this devastation of Leinster, until she and I be
brought face to face." Aedgan then did as she requested; and,
when'the two women were brought together, the Queen of Alba
acknowledged that it was the mother of Branfn-dubh that had
given birth to Aedcran. When that king had heard this, he
bound the women to keep the matter inviolably secret, for fear
that he might himself be compelled by the Dal-Riada to give up
the sovereignty of Alba, should they come to know his true origin.
Brann-dubh was then sent for, and a friendly alliance was struck
between the brothers. After this, Aedgan left the country without committing any more depredations therein.
The Posterity89 of Niall, or the Ui 2eill —Origin of the surname
Naei-ghiallach.
As to the monarch-Niall, of whose reign we have last treated;
numerous, indeed, are the races descended from him at this day
Posterity of Niall. The famous history, were all descended from the
Ui Neill, so often mentioned in Irish eight sons of this Niall, who is ofteD




394                 THE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.
in Ireland, all sprung from those eight sons of his, whom we
have named heretofore. But I shall not enumerate them here,
because I wish to treat of them at some length, in tracing the
genealogy of the Children of Miledh.
The reason why this king was styled Niall Naei-ghiallach, was
because he had received  "naei geill" (nai gaile), that is, nine
hostages, from as many subject kingdoms. Of these, five were
from the Fifths, or five provinces into which Ireland was divided,
and four were from Alba. It was upon this subject that the
bard composed the following lay:
"Son of the high and haughty Eocaidh
Was mighty Niall, the all-glorious,
Who gained the powerful sovereignty
Of Eri and Albania.
"One hostage from each Irish Flifth
He conquered by his victories.
Pledges of homage to his power,
From Alba came four hostages.
"The very hunters of the game
Heard his command in forests wildThrough all those realms the sway was owned
Of'knightly Niall Naei-ghiallach."
DATHI, ARD-RIGII
A. D. 404.9~ Dathi, son of Fiacaidh, or Fiachra, son of Eocaidh
Muigh-medon, son of Muredach Tirech, of the line of Erimhon,
held the sovereignty of Ireland for twenty-three years. Fial
styled the Great. It is to belremarked, and inspired the muse of Claudianin his
that the name of O'Neill, which'one sept praise.'By him,'says thepoet,speakingin
of his posterity afterwards adopted, the person of Britannia,'I was protected
was not derived immediately from him, when the Scot moved all Ireland aigainst
but from one of the descendant;s of his me, and the ocean foamed with his hosson Eogan. "His posterity," says 0'- tile oars.'*  From another of this poFlaherty, " established and perpetuated  et's eulogies, it appears that the fame
the monarchy of Ireland on so perma- of the Roman legion which guarded
nent a basis, that almost all the follow- the frontier against the invading Scots,
ing kings of Ireland were descended  procured for it the distinction of being
from him, besides many noble families one of those summoned to the banner
and illustrious personages. Also, near- of Stilicho, when the Goths threatened
ly three hundred of hit descendants, Rome."
eminent for their learning and the snc-   9" A. D. 405.-Four Masters.
tity of their lives, have been enrolled         * Totam cum Scotus Iernen
in the catalogue of the saints."  Of his   Movit et infesto spumavit remige Thethis."
foreign expeditions, Moore informs us   Thus well translated in the English
that " it was against the incursions of  Camden:
this adventurous monarch, that some of  "When Scots came thundering from the Irish
those successes were achieved by the       shores,
Romans,which threw such lustre around    And the ocean trembled, struck with hostile
the military administration of Stilicho,               -Hidtory of Irelanad.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                       395
(Feeal), daughter of Eocaidh, was his first wife, and from her Cruachain-Feli has had its name.  His second wife was Ethni, daughter of Orach, and she was the mother of Olild Molt. His third
wife was called Ruadh (Rua), daughter of Artigh Uct-lethan,
son of Fer-conga; this was the mother of Fiacaidh Elgach, in
giving birth  to whom  she expired.  Of the line of Dathi are
the races of O'Sechnasaigh (O'Shaughncssy,) O'Dubhda (O'Dowda), and O'h-Edhin (O'Ieyne).  Feredach was his first and real
name. The reason awhy he was called Dathi, was because of
the celerity with which he was wont to put on his armor; for
dathi means the same thing as tapa or quick; therefore did that
surname adhere to him.
And the manner in which IDathi was slain,9' was this; to wit, a' Slain.  The mode  of Dathi's paces from the tower of sods which he
death is told in the following manner had built, and he prayed for king Dain the genealogical memoir of his de- thi that his reign might continue no
scendants, the Ui Fiachrach, compiled longer; and he also prayed that his
in Irish by the celebrated antiquary, monument or tomb might not be reDuald Mac Firbis, and published by markable. The life of Dathi endured
the Irish Archaeological Society,: "Da- no longer than until he had the tower
thi went afterwards with the men of destroyed, when there came a flash of
Eri, across the Muir-n-Icht (i. e. the lightning from  Heaven, which struck
Iccian Sea, between Gaul and Britain), him dead upon the spot. Formenius
towards Leatha, until he reached the then went one thousand pates down the
Alps, to revenge the death of Niall of mountain, and dwelt in another habitathe Nine Hostages. This was the time tion.. Amhalgaidh, the son of
that Formenius, or Parmenius, kinog of Dathi, then assumed the command of
Thrace, took up his residence in the the men of Eri, and he carried the dead
Alps, having fled from his kingdom and  body of his father with him. Dungal,
retired thither, for the love of God, as Flangus, Tuathal, and Tumaltach, were
a pilgrim. lie erected there a circular the four servants of trust who carried
tower of sods and stones, sixty feet in with them the corpse of the king."
height, and he lived in the middle of    "The monument of Dathi, which is
the tower, eleven feet from the light, a small circular mound, with a pillarand he saw not a ray of the sun or stone of red sand-stone, is situated outother light.                        side the enclosure (of Rathcroghan) at
" Dathi came to the tower. He was a short distance to the east, and may
called Dathi, from his expertness at in- be at once identified, from the following
vading and shooting; for if there were notice of it, given by the celebrated
one hundred persons shooting arrows or antiquary, Duald Mac Firbis (in the
javelins at him, he wouldj)e protected  tractjust quoted), in 1666:
against them by the activity of his   "'The body of Dathi was brought
hands in guarding; wherefore the name to Cruachan, and it was interred at
of Dathi clung to him. Feradach was Releg-na-Righ, where the most of the
his name when he went to the East, and kings of the race of Erimhon were
it was on his expedition in the East, buried, and where to this day the Red
that he was called Dathi. When the  Pillar-stone remains as a stone monuking's people saw the tower, they went ment over his grave, near REath Cruto demolish it, and they tore it down  achan, tc this time, 1666.' "-Petrie's
and plundered it. Formenius felt the Round Towers.
wind coming to him, and God raised    Dathi is said to have been the last
him up, in a blaze of fire, one thousand  of the Pagan kings of Ireland. In his




396               THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
flaming thunder bolt, shot from  hleaven, smote him  upon the
head whilst he was making conquests in Gaul. It was near the
mountains called the Alps that he fell by the vengeance of God;
for he had plundered the sanctuary of a holy hermit named
Parmenius, who cursed him therefor.  And when he had been
slain after that manner, his people brought back his body to
Ireland, and there buried it at Cruachain, in Roilig-na-righ.
reign, the king of Munster, or Leth was king of North Munster; and BranMogha, was Nadfraech, son of Core; dubh, son of Eocaidh, son of Enna,
Cas, son of Conall of the Fleet Steeds, was King of Leinster.
END OF TIlE FIRST BOOK.




FORAS FEASA AR EIRINN;'
oR,
HISTORY OF IRELAND.
BO OK II.
PART I.
CHAPTER I.
SANDERSON' has assertea in the first book of his work upon the
Anglican schism, that the Irish, upon their conversion to the
faith, immediately submitted both themselves and their possessions to the government and control of the Roman Pontiff; and
that they had not ever acknowledged any supreme prince, except
the Bishop of Rome, until the sovereignty of their country had
fallen into the hands -of the English. The following are this
author's words: "From  the beginning, immediately after their
reception of the (Christian) religion, the Ilibernians submitted
both themselves and all their possessions to the sway of the Roman Pontiff, and they did never, up to that time'(the English
invasion), acknowledge any supreme sovereign of Hibernia, with
the sihgle exception of the Roman Pontiff."2  But the falsehood of
such an assertion is very evident, for the Psalter of Cashel not only
tells us that Irial, the Prophet, did himself rule Ireland, as its
king, but it also enumerates all the kings of his blood, who succeeded him on the throne, both previous to the planting of the
Faith by St. Patrick, and subsequent to the time of that apostle.
The following are its exact words: "Irial, the prophet, had a
Sanderson. This was Dr. Robert   2 Hibernia initio, statim post religSanderson, Professor of Theology in ionem acceptam, se suaque omnia in
the University of Oxford, and author Pontificis Romani ditlonem dederunt,
of a learned and highly esteemed work nec quemquam alium supremum prineiupon the Protestant Reformation in peml Hibernii ad illud usque tempus.England, styled, De Schismate Angli- praeter unum  Pontificem  Romanum
cana. He was a contemporary of Dr. agnoverunt.
Keating.
sgrl




398                THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
reign of ten years, and fifty-seven kings of his royal blood reigned
over Hibernia, previous to the propacration of the law  of Christ
in that country by Patricius; and, after the time of Patricius,
there were fifty kings of the race of the same Irial."3  This
account is confirmed by the ancient annals of Ireland, by the
Reim Rioora, or Royal Roll, and by all our records. The Polichronicon speaks thus upon the same subject: "From the coming
of the holy Patricius to the time of Feidlimidius, king of Munster,
a space of four hundred years, their reigned thirty-three kings of
Hibernia;  but in the time of Feidlimidius, the Norvecienses
(Norwegians), commanded by Turgesius, seized upon this land."'
From this it must be understood that there were kings over
Ireland subsequently to the time of St. Patrick. Again, the same
authority informs us " That from the time of Turgesius to that of
Rodericus (Rudraide), king of Conacia (Connaught), the last of
its monarchs, there reigned seventeen kings in Htibernia."5 The
above testimonies clearly prove the untruth of the assertion, that
Ireland had no kings of her own previous to the English invasion. In further confirmation of its falsehood, I will cite the
thirty-sixth letter of St. Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury,
which was written by that prelate to Murkertach (Murtough)
O'Briain, king of Ireland. This letter is to be found in Dr.
Usher's collection of the letters of the holy clergy of Ireland and
England.  He addresses it, "To the illustrious Moriardachus,
by the grace of God, King of Hibernia."'  In the same collection
we find a letter from  Lanfranc, also, another Archbishop of
Canterbury, to  Tordelbach  (Turlough)  O'Briain, who  was
King of Ireland in A.D. 1074.   He inscribes it thus: " Lanfranc, a sinner, and  an  unworthy Archbishop of the Holy
Church of Canterbury, sends his benediction, with his service
and prayers, to the magnificent Terdeluacus, King of  Hibernia."' Dr. Usher has also given us a letter from Henry
the First, King of England, to Rodolphus, Archbishop of Canter3 Irial Propheta per decem  annos duce Turgesio, terram bane occupa,
in iibernia  regnavit, et, antequam  runt.
regula Christi per Patricium seminata   6 A  tempore Turgesii usque ad
esset in Hibernia de semine ejusdem re- ultimum monarchum, Rodericum, Congis regnaverunt super Hiberniam quin- acise regem, decem et septem reges in
quazginta septem reges, et, post Patri- Hibernia regnaverunt.
cium  de prole ipsius quinquaginta    6 Moriadacho glorioso gratia Dei,
reges.                             regi Hibernime.
4 Ab adventu Sancti Patricii usque   7 Lanfrancus, peccator, et indignns
ad Feidlimidii, regis Momonike tempora, sancte Dorovernensis ecclesiae episcotriginta tres reges per quadringentos pus, magnifico regi Hiberniae, Tordelannos in Hibernia regnaverunt; tern- vacho benedictionem  cum servitio et
pore autem Feidlimidii Norveciences, orationibus.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                        399
bury, whllich affords still further evidence upon this question.  It
was written in the year of our Lord one thousand one hundred
and twenty-three, at the desire of the King of Ireland, and requests the archbishop to confer degrees upon a certain priest,
named Gregory; and to consecrate him  Archbishop of Dublin.
The following are Henry's words: "The K-ing of Ihibernia has
made known to me, that, by  his writ, and by the citizens of
Dublin, this Gregory has been selected for bishop, and they that
send him  to you to be consecrated; wherefore I request of you
to comply with their petition, and to complete his consecration
without delay."" The above-cited authorities must be decisive
upon the question, and it must be acknowledged, in spite of Dr.
Saunderson, that Ireland was ruled by her native kings9 previous
to the English conquest.
8 Mandavit mihi rex Hibernia per righa, who claimed homage from the
breve suum, et burgenses Iublinim  chieftains of all the tribes of the Gael,
quod elegerunt hunc G-regorium  in  as the elected or accepted representative
episcopum  et eum  tibi mittunt con- of the common ancestor of all the Free
secrandum; undo tibi mando ut, peti- Clans.  These Ard-righa. could not
tionemr eorum  satisfacieus, consecratio- transmit their authority to their chilnem ejus sine dilatione impleas.     dren, and it is but rarely we find in the
9 Kings, ~c. There are two fallacies Irish annals any Irish Ard-Righ, or
contained in that assertion of Dr.Sander- even chieftain of a clan, who was sucson which Dr. Keating combats. The  ceeded by the person who would have
first is, that Ireland had no kings of her been considered his heir, according to
own, previous to her reception of that the rule usually adopted in monarchical
blessing from the ]tnglish; the second is, and aristocratical nations. The most
that the Pope had previously been the powerful and bravest tribe had always
acknowledged lord paramount of the the best chance of having its chieftain
Irish  chieftains.  The latter was a made monarch of the nation; and in
state lie of the English, invented for each particular tribe, and even subthe purpose of justifying the robberies tribe, the best and bravest man of the
and murders perpetrated by Henry II, kin was always the most likely to be
and his followers, who would fain have chosen as the leader of his relatives.
themselves considered as the represent- His (the king's) reign was at an end as
atives of the Pope's temporal authority  soon as he lost the support of the maover this island. For the former, how- jority of the free tribes, of which his
ever, the English divine had some nation was composed. The chieftain
foundation, if we but understand him  was set aside, as soon as his conduct
to apply the word king, or supreme was no longer acceptable to the maprince, in the sense in which it was jority of the warriors of his tribe.
generally understood in his days, and  Thus, both the regal, and chieftain
as it is understood at present. The power, depended upon the popularity
Irish Ard-righ differed much, both in  of their possessors; and the latter
his relation to his subjects, and his'were, in reality, nothing more than
right to the throne, from any public  the tenants at will of their people.
ruler, now called king. He might have  Such a state of things was far differsaid very truly, that the Irish had no  ent from anything which Dr. Sanderkings like Henry VIII, or like his own  son could have considered as monimmediate masters the Stuarts, but archical.
they had patriarchal rulers, called Ard-   " There was, indeed, in Erin, a chief




400                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND,
It is also untrue to assert that the Pope had any special title
of sovereignty over Ireland, more than what he possessed over
France, Spain, or any other Christian country, until the time of
the Irish king Donncadcll' (Donough), the son of Brian of the
Tributes.   This  prince made  a  pilgrimage  to  Rome  about
seventy-seven years  before the  coming  of the  English, and
there, with  the consent of the Irish nobles, he submitted his
kingdolm  to the sovereignty  of the Pope.  The reason assigned
for this act of submission was the continual dissensions and
fratricidal wars" of the Irish  chieftains.  The act of Donncadh
must not, however, be considered as any proof of the veracity of
those writers, who say that the Emperor Constantine made a
grant of the most western island of Europe to the Pope immediately after its inhabitants had received baptism.  If such a grant
were ever made, it could give no legitimate rights of temporal
supremacy to the Sovereign' Pontiff, inasmuch as neither Constantine himself; nor any of his predecessors in the Roman Empire,
had ever acquired any title to Ireland.  Ilow, then, could Constantine, with any appearance  of equity, grant to  the Popo
the sovereignty of a country to which he had no title himself?
Neither did any of his successors at any time possess the right of
making such a grant.
superior to all the rest, who was called the whliole of Ireland; and, secondly,
the Great King (Ard-righ), or King of because, even if he were really the
the Country, and who was chosen by a national Ard-righ, such an act would
general assembly of the chiefs of the have been a violation both of the duties
different provinces;  but this elective  of the office, of which he qlwas butt thet
president of the national confederation, temporary tenant, and of the oath he
swore to the whole nation, the same should have sworn, to maintain inviolate
oath which the chiefs of the tribes the ancient laws and customs of the
swore to their respective tribes-that Gael.
of inviolably observing  {he ancient   "Fratricidal Wars, q'c. The eternal
laws and hereditary customs. More- excuse of the apologist for English
over, the share of the Great King, was greed, and of the assertors of the unfitrather the execution than the decision  ness of those races called Celtic, for
of general affairs, all of which were self-government. These fratricidal wars
regulated in councils held in the air, could, at that time, have aff{orded no
upon a hill, surrounded by a deep ditch. reasonable  excuse for the perjured
Here the laws of the land, and here the treason attributed to Donncadh. Wars
disputes between province and province, equally bloody and fratricidal, then entown, and town, and occasionally be- sanguined almost every plain and valtween man and man, were adjusted, ley in Europe, from the Atlantic Ocean
thouglh sometimes in a verv tumultuous to the Ural Mountains. That chief's
manner."- T/lierry's Norman Conquest. treason must have been the result of
10 Donncadh,'c. If Donncadh did disappointed ambition alone. No anever so aclinowledge himself the tem- thority to commit such an act could
poral vassal of the Pope, his act could have been given him by the chiefs of
be by no means binding on the Irish  the Free Clans of the Gael, for scarcely
nation; in the first place, because he one half of these could be said to have
had never been acknowledged as king by ever acknowledged him as Ard-righ.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                  401
I shall have done with Dr. Saunderson's assertion by stating,
that, even had we no authentic proofs on the subject, it is improbable to suppose that so large a country as Ireland could have
remained without any king or ruler over it but the Pope, from
the time of St. Patrick down to the invasion of Henry the
Second.
LAEGARI, ARD-RIGHI.
A. D. 427.1'2 Laegari,"3 son of Niall Naei-ghiallach, son of
Eocaidh Muioh-Medon, of the line of Erimhoa, succeeded to the
throne.  He reigned thirty years; and his mother's name was
Roighnech.
THE MISSION OF ST. PATRICK.
It was in the fourth year of the reign of this king, that St. Patricle
was sent by the Pope Celestine to propagate the faith in Ireland.
WVhen St. Patrick had been led into slavery, in the ninth year of the
reign of Niall, he was sixteen years old.  He had then before
him the eighteen years that Niall continued to reign, so that he
must have been thirty-four years old when that monarch died.
Add to these the twenty-three years during which Dathi, son of
Fiachra, was king, and we find St. Patrick aged fifty-seven at the
accession of Laegari.  Laegari, again, had reigned four years
before Patrick arrived in Ireland on his mission.  Hence it
appears that he must have been sixty-one years old when he began
his apostolic labors.  This should the more readily be believed
from the fact that the book called Martyrologium Romanum, or
the Roman MaIrtyrology, bears out our computation, for it states
that St. Patrick was one hundred and twenty-two years old when
he died, which is the same as to say that he was sixty-one when
he received his mission to Ireland as bishop, because it is well
proved that he lived sixty-one years more in Ireland, preaching
the faith, after which he died, as I have just stated, in his one
hundred and twenty-second year.
According to Bede, in his Saxon Annals, the Pope, St. Cel
lestinus, had deputed a bishop, named PALLADIUS, to preach to
the Irish, in the year of our Lord four hundred and thirty. He
there says that, "In the year of our Lord four hundred and
thirty, Palladius was sent as their first bishop to the Scots
believing in Christ."14  This event occurred in the first year of
the reign of Laegari, four years before the arrival of St. Patrick.
12 A.D. 429-Four Masters. This  13 LAEGARI II. This king's name is
date appears to be nearer to the found spelled Laeghaire, Laoghaire and
time, even by Keating's own showing, Loeghaire. Its vulgar pronunciation
where he relates, a little below, that sounds somewhat like Layerei.
Palladius came to Ireland in 430, the  14 Anno quadringentesimo, tricessimo
first year of Laegari.




402                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Palladius" had set out attended by twelve clergymen, and landed
with them in the lower part of Leinster, at Inber-Degadh"' (In;rer.
Dea), and there he consecrated three churches," namely: Kiill-Fini,
where he left his books and some relics of Saints Paul and Peter.
The second church was Tech-na-Romanach; the third was the
church  of Domnach-ard.   After  he had  consecrated  these
churches, Nathi, son of Garchu, the lord of the country, came
and expelled him, upon whi6h he set sail for Alba, where he
soon after died.
Four years after Palladius, St. Patrick landed,* accompanied
by twenty-four holy clerks, or by thirty, according to Henricus
Antisiodorensis in his life of St. Germanus. In the one
hundredth and sixty-eighth chapter of his work, we read that
St. Patrick brought thirty bishops with him  to Ireland.  The
3following is the passage: "The holy Patricius," says he, "having accomplished a long voyage from  a distant land, both gladPalladius ad Scotos in Christum creden- nigh, and died thereof."-Four Masters.
tes a Celestino Papa primus mittitur He died at Magh Geirghin, in Scotepiscopus.                          land.
15 Palladius was a deacon of the'6 Inber-Degadh. The mouth of the
Roman Church, and we are informed Vartry River, in the county of Wickthat it was at his suggestion that St. low.
Germain had been sent to reclaim the'7 Churches,'c.  The situation of
Britons, who had fallen into the errors Kill-Fini is not ascertained; Techof Pelagius. Though there had been  na-Romhanach (Tagh-na-JRovaunagh),
some isolated communities of Christi- i. e. the House of the Romans, is supans in Ireland previous to his time, it posed to be the place called Tigroni;
is evident that no hierarchy had been  and Domnach-Ard is thought to be
yet established amongst them, and that the present Dunard, near Redeross.
thence Irish Christians must look upon    * Landed, &c. " Mageoghegan, in
Palladius as their first bishop. The his annals of Clonmacnois, states that
Four Masters record his arrival thus: he landed at Wicklow, where he was
" A. D. 430. The second year of Lae- opposed by the Leinstermen, one of
gari. In this year Pope Celestinus I whom struck one of his companions on
sent Palladius to Ireland to propagate  the mouth with a stone, and knocked
the Faith among the Irish, and he out four of his teeth, for which reason
landed in the country of Leinster with a he was afterwards called Mantanus, or
company of twelve men. Nathi, son of the toothless, and the church of CillGarchu refused to admit him; but, Mantain, now Wicklow, is said to have
however, he baptized a few persons in  taken its name from him. Mr. Moore
Ireland, and three wooden churches thinks that Inber Dea, where the saint
were erected by him,namely: Cell-f hind, landed, was the harbour of Dublin, but
Teach-na-Romhan  and  Domhnach- this opinion is founded on a mistake of
Arta. At Cell-f hin6 he left his books, Evolenorum, for Cuolenorum, by Usher,
and a shrine, with the relics of Paul in Probus' Life of St. Patrick, which
and Peter, and many martyrs besides. the Book of Armagh enables us to corlie left four (persons) in these churches, rect. From the situation of Cualann
namely: Augustinus, Benedictus, Syl- and Ui Garchon, in which Inber Dea
vester and Solinus. Palladius, on his was, it is more than probable that it
returning back to Rome (as he did not was at Bray St. Patrick landed." —
receive respect in Ireland), contracted  O'Donovan.
a disease in the country of the Cruth



THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                       403
dens his friends by his presence, and destines for the harvest of
the Lord, which is ample, while the laborers are few, thirty
bishops, whom he had collected from foreign parts, and whom he
had himself consecrated."'
From this it may be seen, that a number of prelates arrived in
St. Patrick's company, when he came to propagate the Faith in
Ireland.  We also read in our historical records that St. Patrick
brought with him on his mission hither, as many Christians as
he could fnd of the Scotic nation,'9 and that learning was diligently cultivated, and that the Faith and the law were adhered
to in Ireland, down to the arrival of the Northmen, for the space
of four hundred years after the days of that apostle. It is also
certain that money was coined at Ard-AMacha (Armagh) and at
Caisel (Cashel) in these days.
The  aboVe-mentioned  Hfenricus Antisiodorensis informs us,
in his hundred and seventy-fourth chapter, that St. Patrick
made an apportionment of Ireland, and, having estimated the
extent of its territory, the number of its inhabitants, and their
wealth, that he exacted the tenth part of all these for the use of
the Church; namely, a tenth of its inhabitants, a tenth of its
land, and a tenth of its cattle. Of the men he made monks, and'of
the women he made nuns; and for these he built monasteries, and
allotted the tenth of the land and of the cattle for their maintenance. The following are that author's words, in speaking of
the persons who were included in the tithe: "Thereupon, mak18 3enedictus Patricius itinere longo thaldus, bishop and patron of Tarentum,
de regione longinqua peracto, et pre- in Italy, to preach the doctrine of
sentia sua suos exhilarabat, et triginta  Christ. St. Dermot and St. Liberius,
episcopos ex transmarinis partibus con- Irish preachers, are mentioned as havgregatos, et a se consecratos, in Domini ing disseminated the Gospel in various
messem, eo quod esset multa et operarii parts of Europe, previous to the fourth
pauci, destinabat.                  century. To these succeeded St. Albi,
19 Scotic Nation, tc. Though the  or Ailbhe, St. Kiaran, St. Declan and
Faith of Christ was not established  St. Ibar, who were the immediate prein Ireland before St. Patrick's mis- cursors, or rather collaborators of St.
sion, it is evident that the scattered  Patrick, upon the home mission. It
congregations of Scotic Christians in  was not, then, difficult for the latter
that country had furnished some dis- saint to have collected round him  a
ting'uished preachers of the Gospel,both  certain number of pious Scots to aid
for the home and foreign mission, pre- him in the conversion of their own
vious to his time. Without citing the nation. The four saints first mentioned
eloquent and learned heretics Pelagius were educated and ordained in Rome,
and Celestius, already referred to in whence they returned to Ireland about
these notes, we are told that St. Man- A. D. 402. In St. Kiaran's Life we
suetus, an Irishman, the first bishop and find that, when he was on his way
patron of Toul, canonized by Leo XI, homewards from  Rome, he met St.
is said to have been a disciple of St. Patrick, who was then journeying
Peter. In the reign of Conn of the thither, and that the saints of God re.
Hundred Battles, in the second century, joiced.
Ireland sent forth the famous St. Ca



404                THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
ing monks of all the males and holy nuns of the females, he bumlt
numerous monasteries, and assigned the tenth portion of the
lands and of the cattle for their support."20 From these.regulations, established by St. Patrick, it came to pass that in a short
time, there could be scarcely found any corner, desert or remote
spot that was not furll of saints anld holy persons.  Hence it
came to pass that amidst the nations of Christendom, Ireland got
the distinctive title of the ISLAND OF SAINTS.
Nennius, a British author, speaking of St. Patrick, in his
History of Britain, says, that "he founded three hundred and
fifty-five churches, and consecrated an equal number of bishops;
and that of priests he ordained three thousand."2'
In the following verse, the bard-historian exactly agrees with
Nennius as to the number of bishops ordained by our Saint;
"Five and fifty learned bishops
That holy man made consecrate,
With three hundred men of prayer,
On whom he sacred grades conferred."
Let whomsoever may be surprised at this great number of
bishops in Ireland, contemporary with St. Patrick, read what St.
Bernard says, in his life of St. Malachias, as to the practice in
Ireland with regard to its bishops.  He there says that, " The
bishops are changed and multiplied at the will of the metropolitan or archbishop, so that no single diocess is trusting to one, but
almost every church has its own proper bishop."22  After this
statement of St. Bernard, no one can be astonished at the number
of prelates mentioned above, for the Church was then in its
bloom.  The number of bishops there mentioned will appear
less wonderful upon reading our domestic records. In them we
find that every deanery in Ireland was formerly presided over.by a bishop.
St. Patrick founds the Archiepiscopal Sees of Armagh and Cashel.
Our annals certify, moreover, that St. Patrick consecrated two
archbishops in Ireland, namely, an Archbishop of Armagh, as
Primate of Ireland, and an Archbishop of Cashel.  The Primate
of Armagh presided over the whole Irish Church, but his more
especial charge was over the church of Leth Cuinn. The Arch-. Omnes, ergo, mares monachos, pi pro libitu metropolitani; ita ut
frominas sanctas moniales efficiens, nu- unus episcopatus non uno esset contentus,
merosa  monasteria mdificavit, deci- sed singulm pene ecclesi.e, singulos
mamque portionemterrarum ac pecu- haberent episcopos.
dum, eorum sustentationi assignavit.    23 Eogan and Conall. These were
21' Ecclesias, 355 fundavit, episcopos both brothers of the monarch Laegari.
ordinavit eodem numero; presbyteros They were the founders of the famous
autem usque ad tria millia ordinavit.   northern tribes of the Kin6l Eogain' Mutantur et multiplicantur episco- and Kindl Conaill.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                       405
bishop of Cashel had the immediate government of Leth Mogha,
but the Primate had precedence of him. The reason of this arrangement was, because, in St. Patrick's time, the soveregnty of
Ireland was in the possession of the race of Erimhon, Laegari, son
of Niall, being king. Hence both Eogan and Conall23 and the other
nobles of that race, who had received baptism  from  Patrick,21
insisted that he should establish his primatial see in their own
half of Ireland, so that it migrht hold a spiritual supremacy over
the bishops of the other parts of Ireland, just as they themselves
at that time held  the temporal sovereignty.  The race of Eber
succeeded in getting the second principal church established in
Leth Mogha, namely that of Cashel, because they had the sole
right to rule Leth-MA\ogha, under the Irish monarchs, from  the
days of Conn of the Hundred Battles until that time.
Hence it has happened, that, in the ancient annals and records
of Ireland, the Archbishop of Cashel is not only styled the Primate of all Munster, but also the Primate of Leth -Mogha.25
Another assertion  made with respect to these times is that
Imlcch-Iubair26 (Imnlagh Yooir) was thenl the seat of an archbishop.
But from this we can only understand, that the archbishop and
24' "Having preached through all the  terms, under the year 457: "Ardprovinces, and filled the greater part of Macha was founded by St. Patrick, it
the island with Christians and with  having been granted tc him  by Dari,
churches, St. Patrick saw that the fit son of Finncadh, son of Eogan, son
period was arrived for the consolidation  of Niallan.  Twelve men were apof the extensive hierarchy he had thus pointed by him for building the town.
constructed, by the establishment of a  lie ordered them in the first place to
metropolitan  see.  In selecting the  build an archbishop's city there, and a
district of Macha for the seat of the  church for monks, for nuns and for the
primacy, he was influenced, doubtless, other orders in general, for he perceived
by the associations connected with the  that it would be the head and chief of
place, as an ancient royal residence-  all the churches in Ireland."  The Dari
the celebrated palace of Emania (Em- here mentioned was chief of the district
hain Macha) having stood formerly in  called  Crioch-na-n-Oirther, now  the
the neichborlhood of the eminence upon  Oriors. His uncle, Muredach, was the
which Ard-Macha, or Armagh, after- ancestor of the O'Hanlons. He was a
wards rose. The time of the foundation  descendant of Colla Da-Crioch.
of this See has been variously stated;    5 Primate of Leth-Mogha, 4c. Soon
but the opinion of those Wvho place it after S't. Patrick's arrival in Munster,
late in his career, besides being equally  a synod was called at Cashel, at which
borne out by evidence, seems by far King Aengus Mac Nadfraeich presided.
most consonant with reason; as it is At it was decreed that St. Albi should
not probable that he would have set rank as a second Patrick, and patron
about establishing a metropolitan see and Archbishop of Munster, and that
for all Ireland until he had visited the  St. Declan should be called the Patrick
various provinces and ascertained the of the Desi, and their chief bishop.progress of the Gospel in each, and  O'Halloran.
regulated according their ecclesiastical   26 Imlech lubair, i. e. the Holm, or
concerns."-Moore.                   Strath of the Yew, now Emly, on the
The foundation of Armagh is record- borders of Tipperary and Limerick.
ed by the Four Masters in-the following  Ware quotes the Life of St. Declan




406                 TIlE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
his clergy were expelled fromn Cashel, had taken refuge for some
time at Imlech-Iubair, during the violent oppression which the
Northmen for a while exercised over Ireland, when  Maelsech.
lainn, son of Maelruadna, was king of Meath. Niall Calli, king of
Ireland, and Olcubar, son of Kinnaedh, of Munster, and  when
the pirate chieftain Turgesius tyrannized over the country.  For
it was not more likely to have Forannan, the Primate, expelled
from Armagh with his clergy and driven into exile in Munster
by that Norwegian tyrant, than for the Archbishbp of Cashel,
~with his clergy, to have been driven from  his episcopal seat by
the same Turgesius, and forced to fly for safety to Imlach-Iubair,
which was then surrounded by forests, morasses and quagmires,
and to have remained there while the oppression of the foreigners
lasted.
We do not find, then, in the Irish annals that there were any
more than those two Archbishops, above-mentioned, in Ireland,
until the time of Cardinal Johannes Papiron, who came to Ireland in the year of our Lord 1152, accompanied by Gilla-Criost
O'Conari (Gilchrist O'Connery), Bishop of Lismnore, who was the
Pope's legate in Ireland at that time. However, in that year,
a general council of the Irish Church was held  at Kenannus
and the Life of St. Ailbhe (or Albi), to  converted and baptized.  Upon this,
show that Emly was made the seat those  saints, above-named,  visited
Archbishoprick of Munster in the life- Aengus and St. Patrick, and they held
time of St. Patrick, and that Albi was a synod together at Cashel, where they
constituted archbishop.-O'D.        made rules for the government of the
In early times the titles of Bishop of Church. But the holy men had almost
Cashel, of Leth Mogha, of Munster or separated on account of some disputed
of Emly may have been indiscriminately  points. Saints Albi, Kiaran, Declan
applied to the metropolitan of the and Ibar derived their commissions
southern half of Ireland, and thus led to  from the same source as St. Patrick
the seeming contradiction, for which  hmniself, and had preceded him in point
Dr. Keating endeavors to account. It of time. They were, therefore, relucwas so, that the King of Leth-Mogha  tant to yield obedience to his legatine
was, likewise, styled King of Casshel authority.  After some demur, the
or of Munster, indifferently.       three first were induced to submit, but
"St. Patrick having preached the Ibar, with some obstinacy, adhered to
Faith through Leinster, and settled  his opinion, not willing that any but a
bishops therein, entered Munster to- native of Ireland should be acknowledgwards the close of the year 448, for he ed as its patron saint. However, even
had hitherto put off his visitation of that he was at last prevailed upon to submit,
province, aware that.his precursors, out of regard to the great labors of St.
Saints Albi, Declan, Kiaran and Ibar Patrick, and his extraordinary success.
had made good progress in that princi- The diocess of Emly was, in this synod,
pality; and so, indeed, they had, but conferred upon St. Albi; St. Declan
the conversion of Aen(us, its king, was was made bishop of Ardmore (in Waterreserved for St. Patrick. Hearing of ford); St. Kiaran of Saighllir (now Seirkhis arrival in his territories, this king  ieran, in Eiy-O-Carroll,King's County);
went out with joy to meet him, and  and St. Ibar of Beg-Eri (now Begery,
brought him to his royal city, where an island, close to the land, in Wexford
both himself and all his family were Haven)."-kLfe of St. Patrick.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                        407
(Kells), in  lIeath, and at it archbishops were appointed and consecrated for Dublin, and Tuam, and then it was that each of these
archbishops received the pallium, as I shall state hereafter, upon
the authority o f the annals compiled at Chrain-Aidnech.
Conversion of Aengus, son of Nadfraech, King of Jfunster.
In the reign of Laegari, son of Niall, while Patrick was sowing
the Fait  in Ireland, the principality of Munster was ruled by
Aengus, son of Nadfraech. Upon Patrick's entering his dominions
to  preach  therein, this Prince came to Magh-Feinhenn, in the
northern Desi, to welcome the holy man. Thence he brought
him to his royal residence of Caisel (Cashel), situated in that
part of the  Eoganacht territory which is now  called TrianMedonach (Middletherd).  The event is thus related in an old
Latin life of the saint, which has fallen into our hands: " But as
he was entering Momonia, the king of that country, Aengus Mae
Nadfraeich, came to meet him  on the plain of Femhenn, in the
land of Desi, and led him joyfully into his royal city, by name
Caisel, in the region of Eoganacht;27 and there King Aengus believed and was baptized."2  In the same place it is told that Patrick
thrust the pointed end of his staff through the foot of Aengus
upon  that occasion.  The  fact is thus related: "As  Patrick
stood up and was giving his benediction29 to the king in a standing posture, the point of his holy staff was fixed in the royal
foot."  It must be understood fromn this, that it was not through
the foot of Eogan, son of Niall, the King of Ulster, that Patrick
thrust the spear of his pastoral staff, but through that of Aengus,
son of Nadfraech,  King of Munster.  With this account, even
one of the learned antiquaries of Leth Cuin, namely, Tor-na, son
of Muiris O' Mael-Conari (MAlurice O'Mnulconry, or Conry), fully
agrees, in the poem  which begins with the line: " The bishop's
blessing3  on Eber's seed."   The following are his words:
7 Eoganaccit. The several territories that the following are the words used by
possessed by the descendants of Eogan  the figure seen, as Keating has already
Mlor, eldest son of O!ild Olum, were  told us, by the herdsmen Durdari and
called by tliis name. The word is pro- Kilarn, in the reign of Core, son of
nounced owenaght.                    Lugaidll, when, " with a voice sweeter
- Dum vero in AMomoniam proficis- than the angular harp," it blessed the
ceretur, venit obviarn ei rex Momoniae, hill and place; and, predicting the
Aengus Mac Nadfraeich, in campo  arrival of St. Patrick, it said:
Feimin, in terra de Deisse eumque'duxit "Good, good, good, the man who shall rule
gaudens in civitatem  regalem, nornine  Caisel,
aisiol, qe est in regione Eognacht  WWalking rghteously in the name of the Great
Caisiol, qun  est in rie ione Eoganacht,    Father,
ibique credidit rex Aengus et baptizatus  And of the Son of the Virgin,
est.                                  With the grace of the Holy Spirit;
A comely. great, good bishop,
Cumque sanctus Patricius regem   Child of life untojudgment
On.sque,'     Child of life unto judgment,
Btaudo benedixisset, cuspis baculi sancti  He shall tle noble angliceri lring
in pede rei fixar~ e~t ~    With people of each order, of various gradee,
in pede regis fixa est               To serve Christ, the benign."
~ We are told in the Book of Rights,




408                THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
"Through the foot of Aengus- dire the woundThe point of Patrick's staff was thrust:
And the floor was flooded with his bloodThe fact is now no whispered tale."
This Aengus had twenty sons and as many daughters.  Of
these he bestowed twelve of the sons and twelve of the daughters
to God and to Patrick.  Aengus, likewise, ordained that St.
Patrick should receive a capitation tax from  his people, to wit:
a sgrebal, or three pence, from every person that received baptism in Munster.  This tax was paid in the following manner,
namely: five hundred sheep, five hundred pieces of linen, five
hundred pieces of cloth, five hundred balls of iron, to be given
every third year from  the kings of Munster to the comharba
(coarba), or successor, of St. Patrick.  This rent continued to be
paid down to the time of KIing Cormac, son of Culinan.  It is
also found in the Red Book of Mac Aedagain, that this Aengus,
son of Nadfraech, maintained two bishops, ten priests and
seventy-two young clerks, as part of his household, whose business it was to say mass, and to pray to God continually.
St. Patrick in  Connaught. —The sons31 of Brian, son of Eocaidh
HJuigh-medon. — Te Saint gives his blessing to Duach Galach.32
It was while St. Patrick was planting the Faith in Ireland,
and during the reign of Laegari Mac Neill, that the twenty-four
sons of Brian, son of Eocaidh Mtuigh-medon, flourished in Connaught, for they were the contemporaries of the monarch Laegari.  As St. Patrick was proceeding on his mission, blessing
Ireland as he went along, he arrived in their country, and he
went to visit the man of these brothers who was their chief;
Ecchen  was his name.  When  this man saw  the saint approaching, he mounted his horse, and commenced to lash him
with his whip, and commanded his brothers to do the same
" The figure which appeared there was St. Patrick. O'Flaherty tells us, that
Victor, the angel of Patrick, prophesy- even the fierce Ecchen himself eventually
ing his coming, and that the grandeur received the Faith. Most of the ruling
and supremacy of Ireland would be for Scotic septs of Connaught were sprung
ever in that place. Accordingly, the from  the tweuty-four sons of Brian.
town is a metropolis to Patrick, and a Notwithstanding    the unpromising rechief city to the king of Eri; and the ception mentioned above, St. Patrick's
tribute and service of the men of Eri preaching in Connaught was crowned
are always due to the king of that place, with the fullest success.
i. e Caisel, through the blessing of   32 Duach Galach. This youth's dePatrick, son of Alplann."-Leabhar na scendants did eventually become the
g-Ceart.                           royal race of Connaught. From him
a The Sons, ~c.  Of these sons, came the O'Connors, O'Reillies, O'Ruaseveral were afterwards baptized by ires, O'Flaherties, &c.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                       409
thing, telling them to show no leniency to the clerk.  The latter did as he told them, except the youngest, whose name was
Duach Galach. This youth remained afoot, and went to meet
the holy man, whom he welcomed, and to whom he paid respect
and honor. After this, St. Patrick went forward into the chieftain's presence, and demanded of him if he were not Ecchen;
"For if thou  art," said  he, "I deprive both thee  and thy
brothers, who are here with thee, of good fortune and kingly
power, with the exception of that youth who has shown kindness to me, and given me honor, for my Lord's sake.  And. the
youth then said: " If I were either chieftain or king, I would
do the will of Patrick."   "If so,'" said Patrick, "I give thee a
blessing-thou shalt yet be a king thyself, and the kingdom  of
Connaught shall be possessed by thy children after thee."
I have before shown, that Patrick arrived in Ireland in the
four hundred and thirty-first year after the birth of Christ, and
in the fourth year of the reign of Laegari, son of Niall, and that
he spent sixty-one years therein, previous to his death.  By adding together t~hese numbers, it will be seen that he died in the
year of our Lord four hundred and ninety-two.  It was in testimony of this that the shannachie composed the following rann:
"Since Christ was born"3 (the reckoning's clear),
Four hundred years had passed and ninety,
And two years besides, full told,
When died our chief Apostle, Patrick."
3 Since Christ was born, g'c. The under 457.  There is documentary
great age which the ancient rann here evidence to show who the Sen-Phacited, and which nearly all our records traice there mentioned was.  In the
would assign to the Irish apostle, poem of Flann of the Monastery, as
Patrick, or Patricius, son of Calphur- preserved in the Book  of Lecan,
nius, has been disputed by some modern  which records the names of the memantiquarian critics. Mr. Moore con- bers of St. Patrick's household, this
jectures that he died in 465, in the  Sen-Phatraice is called Cend a Shruithi
78th year of his age. However, there  Senorach, i. e. " the Chief of St. Patare no valid grounds for disputing the rick's Seniors."  Then the Feilire, or
age attributed to him by the ancient Festiology, of Aengus Celi De, a most
historic documents of Ireland.  One venerable authority, tells us, that Senhundred and twenty-two years, though  Phatraicc was the tutor of our national
a very uncommon, is by no means' saint. p It is, indeed, not unlikely that
either an improbable or an unexampled  there was more than one person digniduration for human existence. Several fied with the patrician title amongst
examples could be cited, where men the Roman ecclesiastics, of whom the
had lived to about that age, even in  son of Calphurnius was the head, and
modern times. Those historians think  that, thus, the hypercritics were affordthat it is St. Patrick the Apostle's ed a handle for their doubts of the
death that is recorded, as that of Sen- veracity of the Irish annals in recording
Phatraicc (Sh.an-Phaudrig),i. e. Senex the time of the apostle's death. SucPatricius, or Old Patrick, under the  catius, or, as the Irish call it, Succath,
year 454, by some, and by others, was St. Patrick's baptismal name.




410                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
We read in the lives of St. Patrick, that he spent the sixty
one years passed in Ireland in the constant propagation and
preaching of the Gospel, performing miracles, doing good works
and showing the power of God. Of him, a certain author has
said:
"For three score years and one,
(Few are they that will not marvel,)
In Eri, with many works,
Did Patrick live, and preach the Gospel."
And to whomsoever may assert, that this verse is not' found
in the Life of St. Patrick, I make known, that I have read in
venerable historic records, that there were not less than sixtyfour Lives written of our apostle, and that each of them was
written independently of the others. For this reason, it is not
to be wondered at, if, in some of these lives, we meet with miracles, and other facts, which are not to be found in the rest.
Expzirgation`4 of the Pagan Records.
It was while Laegari was king, that Dubthach O'Lugair,35 Fergus
the Poet, and Rosa, son of Tirchim, submitted the  Senchas,
When he was consecrated bishop by St. too, must have now known its importGermanus, lie had  it changed to  ance. This will account for the wise
Magonius; but it was not until the  policy of St. Celestinus in investing
Pope, St. Celestinus III., had selected  the Bishop Ma(onius with so high
him for the Irish apostleship, that lie dignity, preparatory to his mission to
received the title of Patricius, which  the Irish nation.
meant nobleman of the Ronman empire.   3 Expurgation, Ac. " The first object
It had been originally a title of heredit- of their care was to purge the old arary nobility, instituted by Romulus, chives of all that regarded heathen worwhich none could claim but tile mem- ship; it being considered the surest way
bers of certain priviloged families of for the truth of Revelation to abolish all
ancient Rome. During the decline of traces  of the  hitherto  prevailing
the Roman power, the emperors arro- superstition.  On this occasion, we
gated to themselves the right of con- are told, that near two hundred volferring it upon whom they pleased, and umes of our ancient literature were
it became a title of honor, wherewith  condemned, and committed to the
high dignitaries of State were ennobled. flames, to the eternal, I will not say
The popes afterwards acquired the just, regret of posterity."- Transactions
right of conferring the dignity. - As it of the Gaelic Society.
was the highest acd most distinguished    o Dubthach O'Lugair. l:ie was the
title of nobility then known, it was Arch-Poet of Ireland, in his day, and
eagerly sought after by the princes of the first convert made by St. Patrick
those barbarian hordes that were then  upon his arrival at Temhair.  The
dismembering  the Empire  of the apostle's first arrival at the Irish capiCsesars, and it must have, consequently, tal and the conversion of Dubthach are
been also looked upon with respect, thus described by Mr. Moore: " On
and, perhaps, with a certain degree of their arrival at Slane, the saint and his
sacred awe, by the Scotic tribes of companions pitched their tents for the
North Britain and Ireland, for they, night, and as it was the eve of the




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                       411
that is, the Historic Traditioni of the country, to St. Patrick, in order
to have it purified and approved of by that saint.  From  this it
came, that Laegari was induced to call a general convention,36 at
which the kings, clergy and bard-sages of Ireland were assembled
together, for the purpose of rectifying the said national records.
~When this convention had met, its members selected nine of
their number for the duty, to wit: three kings, three bishops
and three ollamhs.  The three kings were, Laegari, son of Niall,
King of Ireland; Dari, King of Ulster; and Core,37 son of Lugaidh, King of Munster; the three bishops were, Patrick, Benen,
and Cairnech; the three ollamhs, or doctors of history were,
Dubthach, Fergus and Rosa, son of Tirchim.  By these nine, the
traditions were purified and set in order.  It is the work which
resulted from their labors, that is now called the SENCHAS MOR,3S
festival of Easter,lighted at nightfall the maintaining an argument against the
paschal fire. It happened that on the most learned of the Druids, in which
same evening, the monarch Laegari and the victory was on his side. It is
the assembled princes were, according  recorded that the only person who,
to custom, celebrating the festival of La upon this occasion, rose to welcome
Bealtinne, and, as it was a law that no him, was the Archpoet, Dubthach, who
fires should be lighted on that night, till became his convert on that very day,
the great pile in the palace of Tara was and devoted thenceforth his poetical
kindled, the paschal fire of St. Patrick, talents to religious subjects alone. The
on being seen from the heights of Tara, monarch himself, too, while listening to
before that of the monarch, excited the the words of the apostle, is said to have
wonder of all assembled. To the angry  exclaimed to his surrounding nobles,
inquiries of Laegari, demanding who'It is better that I should believe than
could have dared to violate thus the die;' and, appalled by the awful delaw, his Magi or Druids are said to have  nouncements of the preacher, to have at
made answer:'THIS FIRE WHICH HAS once professed himself a Christian."NOW BEEN KINDLED BEFORE OUR EYES, As will be hereafter seen, it is doubtful
UNLESS EXTINGUISHED THIS VERY NIGHT, whether Laegari was ever really conWILL NEVER BE EXTINGUISHED THROUGH- verted from idolatry.
OUT ALL TIME.  MOREOVER, IT WILL   3 General Convention, Ac.   The
TOWER ABOVE ALL THE FIRES OF OUR Four Masters record this convention
ANCIENT RITES; AND HE WHO LIGHTS IT, as having been held in A.D. 438, being
WILL ERE LONG SCATTER YOUR KINGDOM.' the 10th year of Laegari's reign, and
Surprised and indignant, the monarch  the 6th of St. Patrick's mission.
instantly  dispatched  messengers to   37 Corc. He could not have been
summon the offender to his presence; one of the number, for he must have
the princes seated themselves in a been dead long previous to this reign.
circle upon the grass to receive him, He was the grandfather of Aengus, the
and on his arrival, one alone among  King  of Munster, converted by St.
them, Herc, the son of Dego, im- Patrick.
pressed with reverence by the stran-   38 Senchas Mor.  There are fragger's appearance, stood up to salute ments, said to be of this work, still
him.  That they heard with com- extant in the manuscript library of
placency, however, his account of the Trinity College, Dublin. Some hold
object of his mission, appears. from  that the work so called was a mixed
his preaching at the palace of Tara, on  compilation of laws and history; but
the following day, in the presence of some of the ablest of modern Irish
the King, and the States-General, and  antiquaries hold that it was a body




412                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
that is, the Great Tradition. The poem commencing with the
words, "Amirghin  Gluin-ghel," that is, "Amirgin the Whitekneed," bears testimony to this event, as may be seen by the
following verses:
" Nine sages framed the Senchas-Mor,
And with stern justice set aside
The falsehood of all Heathen myths,
5When tested by their hallowed lore.
"Patrick; Benen,39 Cairneclh just,
Laegari, son of mighty Niall,
The poet, Fergus, of bright smile,
And Dari, King of Uladh.
" The King of Mumha, without stain,
Core, son of red-handed Lugaidh;,
And Ros Mac Tirchim, skilled in language,
Was there, with wise Dubthach O'Lugair.' These sages failed not in their task;
The truthful Senchas they arranged;
Correcting it with judgment meet,
From age to age since Amirghin."
Then, when the Senchas had been thus purified, the Irish
nobles decreed that it should be given into the charge of the
prelates of the Irish Church. These prelates gave orders to have
it copied out in their principal churches. Some of the old
books so written, or rescripts of them, survive to the present
day, such as the Book of Armagh, the Psalter of Cashel, the
Book of Glendaloch, the 13ook of Ua Congbala, the Book of
Clonmacnois, the Book of Fintaln  rf Cluain Aidnech, the Yellow Book of AMoling, and the Black Book of Molaga.  Thenceforward, in order that no injustice should be done to any of the
of laws solely, and that it was it that named Sescnen, at whose house St.
was otherwise called the Cain Phadraig  Patrick had staid, when journeying
or Patrick's Law; of which it was towards Temhair. for the first time.
said, that no individual Brehon of the  On that occasion, Sescnen and his
Gaels has dared to abrogate anything  whole family were converted; and his
found in it. It is, however, quite as son, a boy, to whom St. Patrick.gave
reasonable to conclude that the work  the name Benignus, became so much
likewise contained historic records, as attached to the saint, that he insisted
Dr. Keating relates.               upon going along with him.  He
39 Benen. This was St. Benen, or afterwards  became a distinguished
Benignus, the original author of the missionary, and was deputed to various
celebrated Book of Rights. He was of parts of Ireland, which St. Patrick
a Munster family, settled in the plain  could not visit in person. He became,
of Brebgh, near Temlhair, and descended in a special manner, the patron of Confrom the famous champion Tadg, son naught.  St. Benen eventually sucof Kian, son of Olild Olum. WVe are ceeded his spiritual father as Archtold that his father was a; nobleman bishop of Armagh.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                413
Irish nobility, the substance of all the records contained in any
of these books was kept in the Psalter of Temhair, as I have
heretofore stated, in treating of King Cormac, son of Art,
andl they were scrutinized and sanctioned at the Feis Temrach,
or general convention of the nation, held at Temhair every
third year.
Heathen Writers of Ancient Ireland.
In Pagan times, our principal historic authors, from time to
time, were Amirghin Glun-ghel, son of Miledh of Spain; Sent the
son of Ughi, Brighitt (Breeyith), an authoress, from whom is
derived the common expression "Briathra Brighdi," (Breehra
Breedie,) that is, the Sayings of Brighitt; Connla Caein-brethach
that is, of mild judgment, a Connaught sage; Senchan, son of
Cul, and Factna, his son; Senchan, son of Olild; Morann, the
son of Maen; Fergus, of Fiannait, in Kiarraide Luachra (Kerry);
Ferkertni, the Poet; Neidi, son of Adna; Athirni Amhnas; Fergus,
the Poet, son of Athirni; Nera, son of Finncoll; Sedanmas, son of
Morann; Feradach the Just, a royal author upon wisdom;
Fithil; Fergus the Poet; Dubthach O'Lugair; and Rosa, son of
Tirchim. It was these three last-mentioned that brought the
Senchas to St. Patrick, and submitted it to be examined and
expurgated by him.
In Pagan times no person could hold the rank of Ollamh-re
senchas, or doctor of history, who had been once discovered to
have falsified a single fact. In like manner, no person could hold
the rank of Breithemh, that is of doctor of law, or judge, who had
once given corrupt judgment. In those times of Paganism,
some of them were under religious prohibitions called GESA.
Whenever Sen, the son of Ughli, delivered a partial judgment,
blisters burst forth over his right cheek, and when his judgment
was just, his cheek remained smooth. Connla of Mild Judgments
never delivered a partial sentence, for he was a just nman, according to the light of nature. Senchan, the son of Cul, never gave
a false judgment, without having fasted three nights before.
Whenever his son, Factna the Wise, gave a false judgment, if
it were in the harvest, the fruit of the district where he rested
that night fell to the earth; but if his judgment Were true, then
the fruit remained on the trees. But if the trees were in blossom when he gave the false judgment, the cows of the district
slung their calves! Morann, the son of Maen, never gave judgment without his Rdih Morcinn, that is, Morann's Collar, round his
neck. I have already stated that this collar used to squeeze
tightly round his throat, when he was about to deliver an unjust decree. Thus it was with many other Pagan authorities.




414             THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
These gesa prevented them from either corrupting the traditions or the laws.
From what I have now said, it will be seen that the records
of Ireland are as credible as those of any other nation, thus
supported by the writings of ancient Pagan authors, and investigated by the holy clergy and prelates of the Irish Church.
The Feis Temrach held by King Laegari-Palaces of Temhair-.
Arrangement of the Grand Convention.
Laegari, son of Niall, convened this assembly, according to
the,usage of his predecessors, for th3 purpose of reforming the
customs and laws of his kingdom, at the general convention of
the nation.  When the nobles and ollamnhs of Ireland met
together on such occasions, the Ard-Righ, or Sovereign King of
Ireland, dwelt with his household, apart from the rest, in the
Hall of Mi-Cuarta, which was specially reserved as his
royal residence.  Besides this, each of the provincial kings
had a royal residence appropriated to himself, at Temhair. Thus
the King of Munster had the Long-Muimnech (Long-AJueenagh).
Long is synonymous with tech, as the poet shows in the following
saying: " Not more churlish to a multitude is a bad house (tech)
without inmates, than is a thronged mansion (long)." And, hence,
comes the word longphort, a town, i. e. a port, anglice, a fort, or
embankment, on or within which there are houses, i. e. longa.
The King of Leinster occupied the Long Laighnech (LongLoynagh), or Leinster House. The King of Connaught's residence was called the Coisir-Connactach (Coshir-Connaghtagh),
or Connaught Banquet-House. The King of Ulster dwelt in the
Echrais-Ulladh (Aghrish- Ulla), or Ulster House. Besides these,
there were then three other chief buildings, at that time, at
Tembair, namely: the Carcar-na-ngiall (Carklar-nang-eeal), the
Stronghold of the Hostages, where the King of Ireland kept bis
prisoners; the second building was called Relta-na-b-filedh (Railtana-villah), that is, the Star of the Bards. In it the brehons,
ollamhs and bards held their sittings, and here fines and erics
were imposed upon those who violated the laws and customs of
the nation. The third building was the Grianan-na-n-inghen
(Greanawn-nan-inneen), that is the Palace, or House, of the
Ladies. The provincial queens resided in this, each in her own
private apartments, thoug'h within the enclosure of the building.
But when the whole convention met to originate or confirm
laws and rules for the nation, it held its sessions in the Tech-micuarta (Tagh-mee-coorta), which was their hall of public deliberation. In that hall, the members of the convention sat after the




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                               415
following order: the King of Ireland sat upon his throne in the
centre of the assembly, with his face to the west; the King of
Munster sat to the south of him, for the ends of the building
faced east and west; the King of Leinster sat opposite him; the
King of Connaught behind him, and behind the King of Connaught, again, sat the Ollamhs of Ireland.   The King of Ulster
sat at the King's right hand, to the north of him.   A  number of
the real nobility of his own  proper Fifth  sat near each of these
princes. The following rhymes have been composed by a bardhistorian upon the above-mentioned arrangement;
"The  tilnnstermen sit towards the southThis doubtless right no man denies;
The Leinstermen, strong in their might,
Confront the Ard-righ, face to face.
"Behind the king, sit Connacht's men,
Near whom the truthful Ollamhs stay;
There, too, the King of Araide40 sits,
In his own wonted, proper seat.
4King of raide, i c. of Dal-Araide.  nounced by St. Patrick upon Ireland
By this is meant the Kitlg of the pro-  and its inhabitants, is found in the Book
vince Uladh, or Ulidia, as reduced by  of Rights, prefixed to the tract called,
the encroachments of the Oirghiallaigh.  The Privileges of the King of Eri, at
It is remarkable that, instead of the  Temhair:
four provincial kings, mentioned in Dr.
Keating's prose, there are five named in              TRANSLATION
these bardic stanzas; and that, amon st       Tin BLESSING OF GOD' upon you all,
l}r.         *'{Iv Men of Eri, sons, women,
the latter five, no King of Uladh is ment Zeattr ave.no         ban ot  And daughters; prince-blessing,
tioned.  We also find  the King  of            Weal-blessing, blessing of long-life,
Araide, whllo represented the ancient          Health blessing, blessing of excellence,
Eternal-blessing, heaven blessing,
Ulidian Kings, driven out of his pro-        Cloud-blessing, sea-blessing,
per place, and the King of Oirghiall          Fruit-blessing, land-blessing,
*      * ~-1n  *1Crop-blessing, dew-bliessing
seated therein.  This, while it proves        Crop-blessing, desv-blmsisg,
Blessing of elements, blessing of valor,
that the verses were written subsequent      [Blessing of dexterity, blessing of glory,
to the dismemberment of Ulster by the          Blessing of deeds, blessing of honor,
Blessing of happiness be upon you all,
Collas, about A.D. 331, seems also to         Laies, clerics, while I command
argue that it was written previous to         The blessing of te men of Heaven;
the establishment of the  Kingdom             It is my bequest, as it is a PERPETUAL
Ailech, by the Northern Ui Neill, and
the supremacy acquired by the latter                    ORIGINAL.
tribe in  Ulster.   The  arrangement
given down in the prose is, indeed, that    RBENtDACrT De foraibh nili,
given down in the prose is, indfeed, that      Feraibh Erend, macaibh, mnaibh,
which was the usage whilst the Clanna          Sceo inghenaibh, flaitl-bhendacht,
Rudraide, of the line of Ir, flourished as     Slim-bhendacht, bsan-bhendacht,
lords paramount of all Ulster.  The            Sir-bhendacht, bendlacht Nimh6,
Kings of Connaught would seem  to             N6l-bhendacht. bendacht mara,
haveoccupied theleasthonoredplac Mesc-bhendacht, bendacht thire,
have occupied the least honored place         Torsdh-bhendacht, bendacht driichta,
in the States-General, perhaps because        Bendacht daithi, bendacht gailt,
the supremacy of that Fifth was latest        Bendacht gsaiSmidh, bendacht gotha,
Bendacht gnimha, bendacht orddin,
wrested from  the Fer-Bolgs, by the           Bendacht Mni, foraibh uili,
race of Miledh.                               Laechaibh, cleirchibh, coin forcongraldh,
Bendacht fer Nimhe'
The  following  benediction,  pro-          Is ma ebecrt, 5s BnITmbne;Ncaf.




416                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
"The right hand of strong Temhair's Kinrg,
By well-known and unquestioned rule,
Belongs to Oirghiall's favored men,'Mongst them no rival claims a seat."
It was over Laegari, son of Niall, that the people of Leinster
and Crimthann, son of Enna Kennselach, gained the battle of Ath
Dara.4'  The king  was made prisoner at this battle, but his
enemies set him at liberty, upon his giving the Sun, Moon and
Stars of Heaven as guarantees that he would never again demand the Boromha Laighen,42 or Cowv Tribute of Leinst-r, from
them.  lie, however, did not keep his oath.  But in vengeance
for his perjury, he was killed43l by lightning at Grellach-Dabail,
near the Liffey.  Of his death; a poet says:
" Laegrari, son of Niall, fell /
Near Lifi's stream of greenest banks;
God's vengeful elements, provoked,
His doom of death dealt to the king."
The wife of Laegari44  was Agneis, daughter of a chieftain of the
Ui Liathain; and she was the mother of Lugaidh, son of Laegari,
41 Ath-Dacra, i. e.' the Ford of the  naval expedition.  But when he went
Oak. This place was situated on the, a second time, without regard to his
River Berba, or Barrow. The Four oath, with a great army, to demand
Masters record the battle as having  the Borumha Laighen, and had reached
been fought A.D. 457-the year of the  Grellach-Daphill, bythe side of Caissi,
foundation of Armagh, and of the  in  Magh Liphi, between  two  hills
death of Sen-Phatraicce, the chief of St. called Eri and Alba, that he was there
Patrick's Seniors.                   slain by the incensed elements. IHis
42 Boromlha Laighen. According to  body was carried thence to Temhair,
the historical tract which takes its and there interred, with his weapons
title from  this tribute, LLaegari violat- upon him, in the south-east of the
ed his oath in two years and a half external rampart of Rath-Laegari, with
after he had taken it, by making a  his face turned towards the Leinsterforay into Leinster, where he seized a men, as if fighting  them.  Laegari
prey of oxen, at Sidh-Nectain, where  could not believe in the  Christian
thi Boyne has its source; "but as he religion, because he had made a proadvanced to Cais the elements of God  mise to his father Niall that he would
wreaked vengeance upon him, that is, not swerve  from   Pagan customs.
the air forsook him, the sun burned  " For," said that king, " My father
him, and the earth swallowed him."    Niall would never suffer that I should
43 Lenctri Died, tc. There is every  believe, but he commanded me to be
reason to conclude that Laegari died a  buried in the high places at Temhair, as
Pagan.. In his notes upon the Four if in the midst of warriors standing up
Masters, Dr. O'Donovan tells us, on  in battle."
the authority of an ancient historic   4' Laegdri's Wife, gc. The miracle
tract, preserved in the Leablar na,h- introduced in this place, if it was ever
Uidhri, that it had been prophesied to  really wrought, is told, accompanied
him, that he would come by his death  by  such  frivolous and unnecessary
between Eri and Alba (Ireland and  details, that it has all the appearance
Scotland), for which reason he (unlike  of being one of those extravagant fables
his father Niall) never went on any  with which story-tellers have disfigured




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                      417
whom we shall hereafter find on the Irish throne. This lady did
not follow her husband's example, but had received the faith frlom
St. Patrick.  Patrick, on one occasion came to visit her, attended
by his escort of priests.  The queen welcomed them, and got food
prepared for them; whereupon, her son Lugaidh commenced to
eat of it ravenously.  While he was thus engaged, a piece of
meat stuck in his throat, by which he was choked, and he died immediately.  The queen screamed, and threw  her son upon the
protection of Patrick.  The saint then retired to a solitary house,
whither be ordered the child's dead body to be brought to him. He
there made fervent prayer to God, and remained alone with the
body for three days and three nights, without meat or drink. On
the third day, the archangel Michael came to him, in the shape of
a dove, and told him it was the will of God to have his prayer
granted, and the child restored to life.  The dove thSen thrust
its bill into the open mouth of the boy, who lay upon his bac(k,
and plucpked the piece of meat from  his throat.  Then the boy
Luoaidhl recovered immediately, and the dove vanished unperceived.
When the queen heard that her son was alive again, she came
joyfully to Patrick, and knelt at his feet to thank him.  "Princess," said he, "it is not to me thou owest thanks for thy son,
but to the archangel Michael, who has restored him to life." He
then told her the meaning of. his words.  When she had heard
the lives of many of the fathers of the tian missionaries in other lands, St.
Irish Church-seemingly with no other Patrick might have applied the words
object than the amusement of the igno- of the Roman conqueror of the neighrant-vulgar. Though Dr. Keating has boring isle of Britain, Veni, Vidi, Vzci,
transcribed but few of these in his to the moral conquest which heachiev.
history, he has still introduced but tio  ed in Pagan Ireland. The apostle is
many of such childish and incredible  scarcely in his grave, when the country
tales. If it did please the Almighty  which he has converted is already
to suspend the ordinary routine of famed throughout Christendom for the
natural law, in order to facilitate the number of her schools of piety and
labors of these holy men, it is vain for learning; famed for the number of
us to search for the workings of the' zealous missionaries she has sent forth
divine hand in many of the needless to teach the saving truths of the Gos*
and objectless miracles, recorded in pel to the barbarian conquerors of
many of those romantic compositions Europe, and famed, also, for her classic
composed by Irish story-tellers, with no and scientific scholars - pioneers of
higher object than that of many of the that civilization that was destined to
novelists of modern times-pastime. succeed the effete systems of Greece
We need not, indeed, to have recourse and Rome.  Even in St. Patrick's
to fabulous narratives in order to form  lifetime, the I-Iibernian Scot Siedhuil
an estimate of the wonderful fruits of (Shiel), called in Latin Sedulius, among
the labors and preaching of St. Patrick  other writings of merit, was the author
and his disciples. It may be learned  of a Latin poem (the Paschale Opus),
from the almost instantaneous spring- upon the life of Christ, from which the
ing up of the Irish Church. Compared  Catholic Church has selected some of
with the slow progress made by Chris- her most beautiful hymns. —See Moore.
27




418                THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
the manner in which the miracle had been performed, she took
-ppon herself an obligation, to bestow a sheep out of every flock
she owned, and a portion of each of her meals to the God's
poor, every-year she lived, in honor of Michael the Archangel.
She also ipstituted the same practice throughout Ireland, as a
cuLstom amongst all those whom  Patrick had converted to the
Faith.  From this event *arose the custom  of the Michaelmas
sheep and the Mir-Mhichaeil (jfeer. V-eehail), or Michaelmas Portion, which is observed in Ireland down to the present day.
OLILD MOLT, ARD-RIGH.
A.D. 457.45  Olild Molt,46 son of Dathi, of the race of Erimhon,
became king, and ruled Ireland for twenty years.  Ilis wife was
Uctdelb (Ughdelve), daughter of Aengus, King of Munster.  He
was surnamed Molt, because when his mother, Ethni, daughter
of Orach, was pregnant of him, she longed for the flesh of a wether,
(called molt in Irish). For this reason, when he was born, one
of her attendant ladies, named Fial, daughter of Eocaidh, gave
him the surname Molt.  It was in the reign of Olild Molt, that
Amalgaidh,47 son of Fiachra, son of Eocaidh Muigh-medon, King
of Connaught, died, after a reign of twenty years. In it also
died Muredach Munderg,48 soin of Fergus, son of Olild, who had
ruled Ulster for twelve years.  The Assembly of Temhair was
held by King Olild Molt.
Assemblies of Cruachain and Emhain.
There were three great general assemblies of the States, customary in Ireland in former days, namely: the Feis of Temhair,"9 or
Tara, the Feis of Cruachain50 and the Feis of Emhain.
6"A. D. 459. Four Masters.      He was converted by St. Patrick, in
46 OLILD IV. The silly reason given person.
for his surname Molt is veryfar-fetched   48 Muredach Munderg, i: e. the
and unlikely. If the word has had no Red-necked. He was of the Dal Fiaother meaning than its modern one,' tach tribe, and died in 479. He must
wether, the son of Dathi acquired it, not be confounded with Eocaidh Munmost probably, from  some personal remar, i. e. the Short-neclked, grandpeculiarity.  The term  is even yet father of Fergus Mor Mac Eirc and his
sometimes applied, as a nickname, to brothers.
persons of a stout and compact, but'9 Assembly of Temhair. Two assemrather undersized figure. Thus does blies of the States-General are speciHomer compare one of his heroes to " a ally recorded during this reign-one
thick-fleeced ram."               in 463, the other in 465. Olild appears
47 A'malgaidh. His death isrecorded  to have been a wise prince.  His
in the Four Masters, under A. D. 449, predecessor having evidently died an
in the reign of Laegari. From him  unbeliever, he may, perhaps, be conTir-Amhalghaidh, now Tirawley, in sidered the first Christian K'ing of
Mayo, has its name. Amalgaidh was Ireland.
the first Christian King of Connaught.  60 Feis of Cruachain and the Feis of




THE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.                       419
We have heretofore treated of the affairs transacted at the
Feis of Temhair.  The chief business done at the two latter was
the examination of those persons, who exercised mechanical or
laborious crafts in Ireland, such as the smiths, carpenters, or
other handicraftmen. The olla'mhs and nobles, assembled at
tlhose meetings, were wont to elect sixty persons of each craft out
of those that presented themselves on these occasions; after this,
they assigned to each man his own distinct district of Ireland,
wherein to practice his calling; but, even then, it was not lawful for him to practice his craft, in such district, without having
first obtained  the  consent of the Saei-re-ceird  (See-re'-caird),
or Master Mechanic of his own craft, who presided over the
district assigned to hir; and without having been approved
by said Master Mechanic, as fully competent to practice his craft,
because " Bardcraft"5 is similar to Handicraft."
The Lebar Iris calls Olild Molt, the King of the Scots.  It
was during his reign St. Benen, or St. Benignus, the Comhorba
or successor of St. Patrick,52 died.  It was, moreover, in his time
that the Scots and Picts waged war against Ambrosius, King of
Britain. Conall Cremthanni53 died during his reign, as did, likeEmhain. These must not be confound- piler of the Book of Rights, as the
ed with the great national festivals held, following verse of that ancient work
as before seen, at Tlactga, Talti and  testifies:
Uisnech.  The aentaighe (ainthee), or    "Benen-a blessing on the manfairs, held at Emhain and Cruachain      Is he who placed in Caisil's Psalter
must have been respectively the pro-     The rents and senchas of each king,
vincial festivals of Ulster and Con-    That noblest walks the land of Mumha."
naught. They seem improperly intro-    3 Conall Cremthanni, the brother
duced here, in so much as Emhain had  of Laegari, and the ancestor of the
been destroyed centuries before the  royal fa;mily of O'Mael-Sechlain, or
present reign, and the former glory of O'Melaghlin, who bore the tribe name
the line of Ir, son of Miledh, had lon(r of Clann Colmain. Seventeen Irish
passed away.  Connaught, too, was no monarchs descended from this Conall,
longer'held by her ancient Belgic kings. who died in 475. In the year 464, his
She had now become an appanage of brother, Conall Gulban, founder of the
the race of Conn of the Hundred  Kinel-Conaill, had been killed by the
Battles.                            Masraide, an ancient tribe of Belgae,
5 Bardcraft, c'c. In Gaelic," Is inann  or Fer-Bolgs, seated in Magh-Slecht,
dan is ceird"-seemingly an ancient near Bally-Magauran, county Cavan,
legal maxim, which would mean that and in the next year, we are told, that
the members of the bardic and mechani- Eogan, son of Niall, founder of Kin61
cal professions were governed by simi- Eogain, died of grief for his brother
lar' laws.                          Conall, and was buried at Uisci-Caein,
2 Comharba of St. Patrick.  St now Eskaheen, in Inishowen, county
Benen had succeeded St. Patrick as Dbonegal.
Archbishop of Armagh, upon the lat-,, of tears died Eogan, son dl Niall,
ter saint's retirement from  that see    (So loving was his kindly nature,)
in 455. The Gaelic word, Comharba,       For Conall of the hardy deeds,
lie lies fall low at Uisci-caein."
means ecclesiastical successor.  As
before stated, he was the original com- -See Four Masters.




420                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
wise. St. Iarlathi,"4 who was the third Archbishop of Armagh,
after St. Patrick. Simplicius was then the Sovereign Pontiff.
Olild Molt fought the battle of Dumha-Caichir'5 against the
Leinstermen, in which great numbers fell on both sides.  Attacked by Lugaidh, son of his predecessor Laegari, who was assisted by Murkertach Mor Mac Erca, by Fergus Kerbeol, son of
Conall C0remthanni, and by Fiacaidh Lonn, son of Caelbadh, King
of Dal-Araide, Olild was vanquished and slain, at the battle of
Ocha,56 of which the bard says:' By Lugaidh and by Fiachra Lonn
And by the tall Murkertach Mor,
With whom was Fergus, free from faults,
Was slain the generous Olild' Molt."
It was twenty years after this battle of Ocha, that the six sons of
Ere, son of Eocaidh Munremar, passed over to Alba.  They were
named the two Aenguses, the two Loarns and the two Ferguses.
Three hundred and seven years had passed between the time
of Concobar, son of Nesa, and that of Cormac, son of Art; two
hundred and four years from the time of Corinac until the battle
of Ocha was fought; and it was twenty years after that event,
when the sons of Ere migrated to Alba.
Duach Galach,7 the youngest son of Brian, son of Eocaidh
Muigh-medon, was King of Connaught in the time of Olild. He
reigned seven years, until he fell by the sword of Eocaidh
Tirmcarna.
LUGAIDH, ARD-RIGH.
A. D. 477."6 Lugaidh, 5 son of Laegari, son of Niall Naei-ghial-;ach, of the line of Erimhon, now mounted the' throne of Ireland,
M St. Iarlathi.  His name is also  combat, rendered masters of all Irewritten Iarfhlaithe (Eerluhie).  He  land."-Moore. The chiefs who united
did not die until the next reign, in  a(ainst Olild on this occasion were
481.  He must not be confounded  his successor Lugaidh, Murlkertach
with St. Iarlath, of Tuam. St. Patrick  Mac JErca, Fergus Kerbeol, Fiachra,
being still alive, had now seen two of  king of Dal-Araide, and Crimthann,
his successors borne to their graves king of Leinster. " It was of this batbefore himself.                    tle Beg Mac D6 said:
Dumha Caithir, i. e. Caicher's
"' The great fight of Ocha was fought,
Mound. It is sometimes called Dumha    In Thewhch were cut off many legions,
Aichir. Locality unknown.'Gainst Olild Molt, son of Dathi,
"6 Ocha. This place was situated    O'er whom the tribe of Araide triumphed:'."
near Temhair. " The memorable mi- -See Four Masters.
gration of the sons of Ere is marked   57 Duach Galach.  This was the
by Irish annalists as having occurred  youth to whom St. Patrick had given
twenty years after the great battle of  his benediction. It was Duach TepgOcha, in which Olild Molt was slain. umha, not Duach Galach, that fell by
This battle itself, too, forms an epoch  Eocaidh Tirmcarna, several years later.
in Irish history, as the race of the   68 A. D. 479. Four Masters.
Nials, on whom victory then declared,   69 LUGAIDH VI. He reigned twenty.
were, by the fortunes of that day's five years, according to some account&




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                       421
which he held for twenty years. All this time Fraech, son of Fiian.
eaidh, was King of Leinster.  In the reign of Lugaidh was fought
the battle of Kell-Osha,60 in RMagh-Fea, in the county of Carlow,
four miles west of Leighlin.  In it fell Aengus, son of Nadfraech,
King of Munster,"6 after he had reigned thirty-six years; and
with him was slain his wife Ethni Uathach, daughter of Crimthann, son of Enna Kennselach. They were slain by Murkertach
Mor Mac Erca, and'Olild, son of Dunlaing.  It was of this
fight that the poet has said:
" Then died that branch, that spreading tree' of gold,
Praiseworthy Aengus, son of Nadfraech,
By Olild's hand his luck went down,
On fell Kell-Osnadh's sloping field."
After this, Fraech, son of Finnecaidh, was killed at the battle of
Granni,'3 by Eocaidh, son of Carbri.  Felix the Third was then
Pope, that is, in the,tenth year of the reign of Lugaidh, son of
Laegari. About this time, also, was fought the battle of Slem.
hain,4 in Meath, by Carbri, son of -Niall of the Nine Hostages.
St. Mochaei,65 of Aendrom, died, and the battle of Kenn-Albi"0
6o Kell-osna, or Kell-osnadha, is now  baptized him  at Cashel, and, by a
Kelliston, and lies in the barony of singular mistake, put his faith to the
Forth.                             trial by piercing his foot with his
61 King of Munster. According to  crozier." -  O'Donovan.  Numerous,
the old annals of Innisfallen, he was indeed, they are, but wheni will they
one of the five kings of the line of remember that the altars of Cashel lie
Eber, that the southerns claimed as overthrown, that strangers possess the
monarchs of Ireland, after the introduc- fertile fields of'the Eoganachts, and that
tion of Christianity. It is evident, how- gaunt famine, more murderous by
ever, that he was never generally ack- far than the swords of Leth Cuinn,
nowledged as such, though he may  spreads periodical desolation through
have been called so by his own people, the wretched  homesteads of Lethand have had more power in his own  Mogha?-Ed.
half of Ireland than the monarch had    3 Granni. There were two battles
in his. The battle in which he fell fought at this place in the reign of
was fought in 489.                 Lugaidh. In the first, fought in 485,
62 SpreadIng Tree, ~c. " He is the  amongst the Leinstermen themselves,
common ancestor of the septs of MIac  Finncaidh, lord of the Ui Kinnselaigh,
Carthy, O'Callaghan, O'Keeff  and  and father of Fraech, fell. Thesecond,
O Sullivan, now  so  widely  spread  that above-mentioned, was fought in
throughout Ireland,  Enrgland  and  492, against Murkertach Mac Erca.
America, and even on the continent   64 Slemhain. This battle was fought
of Europe, where some of them  in 492. The Carbri, son of Niall, who
bear coronets. If the saplings of the  gained it. was an obstinate Pagan, and
"spreading tree of gold " could now be  an inveterate enemy of St. Patrick.
reckoned in the countries in which. 65 St. Mochaei. He was a disciple of
they have pullulated, it would appear Patrick. He died in 496. Aendrom
that they are vastly numerous, and  is now called Mahee Island-situated
that, as the multiplication of a race is in Strangford Lough.
a blessing, King Aengus has reaped    " Kenn Albi. Probably the name of
the full benefit of the' alma benedictio' some hill in Magh Albi, in the south of
imparted by St. Patrick, when he  Kildare. The battle was fought in 494.




422                  THE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.
was fought in Leinster, by Carbri, the above-mentioned son of
Niall; then, also, was fought the battle of Seghais,67 where IDuach
Terig-umha, King of Connaught, was killed by Murkertach Mor
Mac Erca, as the poet says in this verse:
"The battle of D'Iga, the battle of Mucrumha,
And the battle of Tuaim Druba,
And, with these, the battle of Seghais,
Wherein fell Duach Teng-umha."
It was about this time that the battle of LochmaghI6 was gained
by the Leinstermen over the Ui:Neill, and in it great numbers
were slain on both sides.
Final Settlement of the Dal-Riadic Scots69 in Alba.
A. D. 503.  Shortly  afterwards, Fergus Mor, sop  of Erc,70
with the Dal Riada, emigrated to Alba, and seized upon its
sovereignty.7'
67 Sqghais. The old name of the  would appear that the Scoto-Albanian
Curlieu Hills, near.Boyle, on the con- colonists were, at the present time, opfines of Roscommon and Sligo. " The  pressed by their neighbors the Picts.
cause of the battle was this, viz: Mur- r'The reader must not confound this
kertach was a guarantee between the  Ere, the Dalriadic chief, with Ere, or
king  and  Eocaidli Tirmearna, his  Erca, the mother of Murkertach, the
brother, and Eocaidh was taken pris- next king of Ireland.
oner, against the protection of Murker-   Seized upon its Sovereignty. " The
tach. In proof of which Kennfaeladh  colony planted in those regions by
said:                                Carbri Riada, in the middle of the
"'The battle of Seghats-          third century, though constantly fed
From woman's wrath it sprang;    with supplies from the parent stock
There, rsd gore over lances wead,  (the Dalriadians of Antrim), had run
For Duisech, Duach's daughter I "I
For Dusech, Dachs duhtr"  frequent risks of extirpation from the
— Four Masters.                      superior power of their neighbors and
Duisech was the wife of Murkertach  rivals, the Picts. In the year 503,
Mac Erca, whom she excited to fight  however, the  Dalriadian princes of
this battle against her own father, Ireland, aided by the then all-powerful
because he had imprisoned her foster- influence of the Hy-Nial family, were
father.                              enabled to transplant a new  colony
68 Lochmagh.'The battle was not into North. Britain, which, extending
fought until 500.                    the limits of the former settlement, set
o Settlement of the Dal-Riadic Scots. up, for the first time, a regal authority,
This migration is ingroperly entered  and became, in a single century, suffiAt A. D. 498 in the Four Masters. It ciently powerful to shake off all dedid not occur until the year 5Q3, as Dr. pendence upon  Ireland." -  Moore's
Connor has shown (Proleg. ad Ann., p. History of Ireland.
lxxxvi.) - See Dr. O'Donovan's note    "The Scots were of Irish origin
upon the eve.nt, p. 160 Four Masters.   for, to the great confusion of history,
70 Erc.  le was the son of Eocxidh  the inhabitants of Ireland, those, at
Munremhar, and King of the Dal-Ria- least, of the conquering and predomlda. He had himself made a fresh Irish  nating caste, were called Scots.  A
settlement in Alba in 440; but, it colony of these Irish Scots, distin



THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                        428
Death of ST. PATRICK, the Apostle.
1. Patrick dieclc; in Ireland, A. D. 493, in the fourteenth year
cof Lugaidh's reign, after having lived one hundred and twenty.
two years on this earth, as I have heretofore shown.
guished by the name of Dalriads, or proached, he received the body of
Dalreudini, natives of Ulster, had  Christ from  the hands of the holy
early attempted a settlement on the  bishop, Tassach, in the hundred and
coast of Argyleshire.  They finally  twenty-second year of his age, and
established themselves there under Fer. resigned his spirit to heaven. There
gus, the son of Eric, about the year was a risin( of battle and a cause of
503, and, recruited by colonies from  disselnsion in the province, contending
Ulster, continued to multiply and in- for the body of Patrick, after his death
crease, until they formed a nation, — the Ui Neill and the Oirghialla, atwhich occupied the western side of tempting to bring it to Armagh; the
Scotland,"  &e. -  Sir Walter Scott's  Ulta to keep it with themselves. And
Histocy of Scotlandl.               the Ui Neill and the Oirghialla came
" St. Pctrick's Death. " The age of to a certain water, and the river swelChrist, 492. The fifteenth year of Lu- led against them, so that they were not
gaidh, Patrick, son of (alphronn, son  able to cross it, in consequence of the
of Potaide, Archbishop, First Primate  greatnlss  of the flood.  When the
and Chief Apostle of Ireland, whom  flood subsided, these hosts, i. e. the
Pope Celestine the First had sent to  Ui Neill and the Ulta, united on terms
preach the Gospel, and disseminate  of peace to bring the body of Patrick
religion and piety among the Irish, was  with them. It appeared to each of
the person who separated them  from  them, that each had the body, conveythe worship of idols and spectrcs, who  ing it to their respective territories;
conquered  and destroyed the idols so that God separated them in this
which they had for worshipiug, who  manner, without a fight or battle. The
expelled demons and evil spirits from  body of Patrick was afterwards buried
among them, and brought them from  at )un-da-leth-glas, with great honor
the darkness of sin and vice to the  and veneration. And during the twelve
light of faith and good works, and  nights that the religious seniors were
who guided and conducted their souls watching the body, with psalms and
friom the gates of hell, to the gates hymns, it was not night in Magnoh-inis,
of the kingdom  of heaven.  It was or the neighborhood, as they thought.
lhe that baptized and blessed  the but as if it were the -full undarkencd
llen, Awomen, sons, and  daughters light of dav."-Four Masters.
of Ireland, with their territolies and   The Tassach mentioned in the cxtribes, both fresh waters and sea tract, was the patron saint of Rath
inlets.  It was by him  that many Colptha, now Raholp, near Saul, in the
cells, monasterics and churches were barony of Lecale, and county Down.
fumnded throughout Ireland, seven Saul (in Irish. Sabbal Phadraig, i. e.
hundred  churches was their num- Patrick's Barn,) was the first place
ber.  It was by him  that bishops, where the saint had celebrated the
priests, and clerks of every dignity Divine Sacrifice after his landing in
were ordained, seven hundred bish- Ireland. It was granted to him by the
ops, and three tlhousand priests was chieftain Dicho, his earliest convert,
their number  Ilie worked so many and having been consecrated by his
miracles and wonders, that tile hu- first spiritual triumph, it continued to
man mind is incapable of reemember- be his most favored retreat, unto his
inr or recording the amount of good death.  " No sooner had  the news
which he did upon the earth. When  spread throughout Ireland  that the
the time of St. Patrick's death ap- great apostle was no more, than the




424                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Lugaidh  died soon after.  Ite was killed  by lightning, at
Achadh-Farcha, 2 for having violated the law of St. Patrick.
MUPRKERTACH MOR  LMAC ERCA, ARD-RIGH.
A.D. 497."7  MIurkertach4' Mac Erca, son of Muredach, son'of
Eogan, son of Niall of the Nine Hostages, succeeded  to the
throne, and reigned twenty-four years.  Erca, daughter of Loarn,
or -Lodharn, King of Alba, was his mother.  In  the beginning
of this monarch's reign, St. KiAran Mac an t-Saeir (afcc ani Thieer)
was born.  This saint was of the race of Core, son of Fergus
Mac Roigh, of the line of Ir.  About this time, also, was born
the holy abbot St. Comgall (Cowgal or Cowal), of Bennchor, who
had forty thousand monks under his rule and governn. ent, as we
read in the Red Book of Mlac Aedagain.  This should be the
more readily believed, as we read in a work  of unquestioned
authority, namely: in St. Bernard's Life of Malachias, that one
of the disciples of the abbot St. Cormgall, who had been sent on
the mission from his monastery, had himself founded  one hun-.
dred monasteries.  St. Corngall was of the race of Irial, son of
Conall Kearnach, son of Amirghin, of Clanna Ruclraide, who
were of the line of Ir, son of Miledh.  His descent is thus recorded in a verse of the Naeimh-shenchas`5 (Neev-haninsagha.s):
clergy flocked from  all quarters to  years afterthe death of the last monSabhul, to assist in solemnIzing his arch.    The  probability, however,
obsequies; and as every bishop, or is, that there was none; for Murkerpriest, according as he arrived, felt tach, who was the Hector of the Ui
naturally anxious to join in honoring  Neill, was then too powerful in Irethe dead, by the celebration of the  land to be kept from the throne.  The.
Holy Mysteries, the rites were con- Munster annalists, however, do not adtinued without interruption through  nmit of his immediate accession to the
day and night.  To psalmody and  royalty, but, about this epoch, would
chaunting of hymns the hours of the  place the crown upon the head of
night were all devoted, and so great Eocaidh, son of Aengus, King of Lethwas the pomp and profusion of torches Mogha, in hits place.
kept constantly burning, that, as those   MTURKERTAC11 II. Dr. Keating has
who describe the scene express it, dark- called him elsewhere the brother of Ferness was dispelled, and the whole time * gus Mor, son of Ere, King of the Dalappeared to be one constant day."-  HRiada. He was, however, but the materMoore's ITistory of Ireland.        nal cousin of that conqueror. It is this.
72 Achadh Farcha; i e. the Field of monarch, that is said to have sent the
Lightning; it lay in Meath. Lugaidh  Lia Fail to Scotland; but whoever
had insulted St. Patrick, and for it he  will judge his character by his deeds,
is said to have been thus punished.  must see the extreme improbability of
"Upon the awful Achadh Fareha  supposing that so proud and warlike a
Died Lugaidh, son of Laegari,  champion would have parted with the
Without praise in Heaven or here;
A flash of lightning smote him down."  sacred inauguration-stone of the kings
-Four Masters.                      of his race.
" A. D. 504.  Ib.-  O'Flaherty'" Naeiih-Shenchas, i. e. the Saiint
introduces an interregnum of five history.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                       425
" Comgall of Bennchor, son of Sedna,
Wrhose soul no dread of death dismayed,
From Ulad's lordly race had sprung,
Of the blood of Irial, son of Comhall."
The Emperor Anastasius died about this time; when, also,
(died St. Cainnech,7G  of Achadh-Bo [ahavo]. This saint sprang
from  the blood of Fergus fMac Roigh.  About this time was
born Colum-Killi, or Columkille, 7 son of Fergus Keun-fada, son
of Conall Gulban, son of Niall of the Nine Hostages; and now,
also, died St. Brighitt,73 daughter of Dubhtaech Donn, son of
" St. Cainewch. He did not die until the close of the 5th century, by St.
A. M. 508. From  him Kilkenny (in  Brigid; and so general was the enirish, Cill Chainnigh, i. e. the Church  thusiasm  which her example excited,
or Cell of Cainnech.) has its name. His  that the religious order which  she
principal church was at Achadh Bo  instituted spread its branches through
(Aghabo), and we are told that he  every part of the country. She took
had another at Cill Righmonigh (now  the vail herself at a very early age,
St. Andrews), in Alba.-O'D.         and was followed in this step by seven
77 Columkille.  This )saint was born  or eight maidens, who formed at first
about the year 531.                 her small religious community. The
78 St. Brighilt, or Brighid (Brecyith). pure sancity of the virgin's life, and
St. Bridget, as her name has been com- the miraculous gifts attributed to her,
monly anglicized, one of the most spread her fame more widely every
venerated of the Irish saints, was, as is day, and crowds of young women and
seen by the pedigree above given, de- widows applied for admission into her
cended of the tribe of the Fotharta of institution.  This compelled her to
Leinster. Her death is thus recorded  found some one great establishment,
by the Four Masters: "The age of over which slie should herself preside.
Christ 525, St. Brighit, virgin, Abbess  The people of her native prpvince of
of Cull-dara, died. It was to her that Leinster requested her to fix upon their
Cill-dara was first granted, and by her province as her residence.  To this
it was founded. It was she who never she assented, and a habitation was
turned her attention from the Lord for immediately provided for her, which
one hour, but was constantly meditat- formed the commencement both of her
ing and thinking of him in her heart great monastery, and of the city of
and mind, as is evident iul her own life  Kildare. The name of Kill-dara, or
and in that of St. Brendan, Bishop of Cell of the Oak, was given to this
Cluain-Ferta. She spent her time dili- mansion, from a very high oak tree
gently serving the Lord, performing  that grew near the spot, of which the
wonders and miracles, healing every  trunk still remained in the 12th century,
disease and malady, until she resigned  no one daring to touch it with a knife.
her spirit to heaven, on the first day of The honor of possessing her remains
the month of February, and her body  was contested not only by different
was interred at Dun, in the same tomb  parts of Ireland —the Ulstermen claimwith St. Patrick, with honor and vene- ing( that she was buried in Down, not at
ration."                            Kildare,-while the Picts and British
The institution of female monas- Scots insisted that Abernethy was her
teries, or nunneries, such as, in the  resting place. But in no place was
4th century, were established abroad  she honored with more devotion than
by Melania, and other pious women, in the Western Isles, where most of the
was introduced into Ireland, towards  churches were dedicated to her patron



426                 THE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.
Dremni, son of Bresal, son of Dian, son of Connla, son of Art,
son of Carbri Niadh, son of Cormac, son of Aengus Mor, son of
Eocaidh Finn Fuathairt, son of Feidlimidh Rectmar, son of
Tuathal Tectmar, of the line of Erimhon.  She was then eightyseven years old, according to some accounts; according to others,
seventy.  She was the first abbess of Kill-dara (Kildare).  Her
genealogy is given  down, after the following manner, in  the
bardic senchas:
" Brighitt was daughter of Dubthach Donn,
Son of Dremni, son of Bresal of smooth hair,
Son of Dian, son of Connla, son of Art,
Son of Carbri Niadl, son of Cormac,
Son of Aengus Mor, of high esteem,
Son of Eocaidh Finn, whom Art detested,
Son of wise Feidlimidh the Legal,
The glorious Tuathal Tectmar's son."
It was about this time that the body of St. Antonius, a holy
monk, was miraculously discovered, and brought to Alexandria,
where it was enshrined in the church of St. John the Baptist.
Murkertach fought the following battles in one year, 9 according to what the historic bard tells us in th- following rann:
"The fight of'Kenn-eich, the fight of Almhain,
(Those were great and glorious times)
The pillage of the ~liachs, the fight of Aidni,
And the fight upon Ailbi's blood-red plain."
Shortly after fighting these battles, King Murkertach died,'0 in
age, the most solemn oath of the is- command of St. Cairnech. Having
landers was by her name, and the 1st had her father and kindred, who were
of February, every year, was held as a  of the old tribe of Tara, slain by Mursolemn festival in her honor. The very  kertach in the battle of Cirb, or Ath
name of these islands —Hebrides, as if Sigh, on the Boyne, shehbrew herself
Ey Brides-is said to mean the Isles  in his way, and became his mistress,
of Brigid.-See Moore's History of Ire- for the express purpose of wreaking
land.                                her vengeance upon him with greater
79 In one year. They were fought facility. And the story states, that
in 526, in the 23d year of his reign. she burned the house of Cletty over
Kenn-eich, i..e. the Hill of the Horse, the head of the monarch, who, scorched
is now called Kinneigh, on the borders  by the flames, plunged into a puncheon
of Kildare and Wicklow. The Cliachs  of wine, in which he was suffocated.
were in Idrone, county Carlow. Aidni Hence it was that he was both burned
was in Galway; and Magh Ailbi in  and drowned.-O'Donovan.
Kildare.                               This doom  had, it is said, been
s80 Iarklertach died. He fell a victim  prophecied to him by St. Cairnech, in
to the vengeance of a concubine named  these terms:
Sin (Sheen, i. e. Storm), for whom he,  I am fearful ofthat woman,
had abandoned his lawful queen, but     Round whom shall many tempests ragc,
For him who shall be burned by fire,
whom he afterwards put away, at the     Anddrowned by vine on Cleitech's side.




'THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                        427
the palace of Cleitech. It was about this time that St. Albi, or
Alveus, Abbot of Imlech, (now Emly),"8 died. St. Baeithin,"
Bishop of Luimnech (Limerick), flourished about this time.83
TUATHAL MAEL-GARB, ARD-RIGIH.
A. D. 527.84 Tuathal'5 Mael-garb, son of Cormac Caech, or
the Shortsighted, son of Carbri, son of Niall of the Nine
Hostages, of the line of Erimhon, succeeded to the throne, and
held it for thirteen years.  The reason why  he was surnamed
Mael-garb, i. e.bald and rough,86 was as follows: Immediately after
his birth, his mother, Comacin, daughter of Dall Bronnach, to
fulfil some superstitious ceremony, struck his head against a
stone, as an omen of good luck.  The stone made a hollow
trench upon his head, upon which no hair ever afterwards grew.
In Tuathal's reign died St. Mochta,87 a disciple of St. Patrick,
who is said to have lived, three hundred  years.  In  his reign
was born St. Baeithin,8  a disciple of St. Columkille. Bacithin
and  Columkille  were brothers' sons.  In his reign, also, died
St. Mobi,53 surnamed Berchan of the Prophecies.  He was of the
81 St. Albi of imlech. One of the    85 TUATHAL II. He reigned but 11
fathers of the Irish Church, and chief years, according to some.
patron of Munster. There is some         Bald and Rough.  Mael-garbh
uncertainty as to the time of his death.  (mael-garve) may also mean the rough
It is entered in the Irish annals both  chief, for mael likewise signifies a lord
at the year 526 and 541, but neither  or chief. The derivation above giveh
can be the real date, if.it be true that is very silly.
he had been converted, as is said, so    E St. MIochta, or Moctans, was one
early as A. D. 360. He died on the  of St. Patrick's disciples, and Bishop
12th of December.                    of Lugh-mhagh (Loo-vaa), or Louth.
82 St. Baethin, Bishop of Luimnech. The legends say that he lived for three
He is considered the founder of the  hundred years, but Drs. Lanigan and
bishoprick of Limerick.              Colgan, after careful examination of
83 The accession of the successor of collateral facts. have reduced his age
Murkertach is dated A. D. 527, in one  to 100, or 130 at most.
of the editor's MS. copies. He adopts   58 St. Baeithin.  He was a distinit because it agrees with the common  guished scribe, and became Abbot of
opinion; though it contradicts the  I-Colm Kille, or lona. His principal
text, by making him reign 29 instead  church in Ireland was Tech Baeithin
of 24 years. Of Murkertach the bard  (Tagh Baileen), now Taughboyne, in
Kcnnfaeladh sung:                   the barony of Raphoe, county Donegal.
His festival was kept on the 9th of
Into the rolands of te U rns eillJune, on which day he died, in the
Blood reached the girdles in his battleS,  year 598. He was son of Brenann,
With profit to the sons of Klan.  the uncle of Colum Kille.
Nine times he beareth off nine chariots,
In memory long his fame sha'l live;   St. Mobi. He was called Mobhi,
From Ui Neill he took hostages,  or Mobhai Claraingech (MCovee ClarinAnd hostages from lMumha s plain."
nd hostaes from    ha  plain.  gagh),i. e. Mobi of the Flat Face. Some.-Four Masters.                     prophecies attributed to him, under the
A. D. 528. Id.                    name of Berchan, are still extant. He




428                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
race of Fiacaidlh Bacheda, son of King  Cathaeir Mor.  Comgall,
King of Alba, died about this time.  It was, likewise, in Tuath.
al's reign that the battle of Tortan, in Leinster, was fought,
where Ere, son of Olild Molt, was slain.  From  this Ere come
the Fir Kera."~  About the same time, the battle of Sligech9a
(Shligg7agh) was fought by Fergus and Domnall, sons of Murkertach Mae Erca.  In it was slain Eogan Bhl, who  had  reigned
over Connaught for thirty-five  years.  Odran,92 the Saint of
Leitrech, died.  He was of the race  of Conari,'son  of Mogh
Lamha.  St. Kitiran Mac-an-t-Saeir53 died in his thirty-first year.
was Abbot of Glass Naidhen, now  this battle, and that he ordered his
Glasnevin, on the bank of the Finn- people to bury his body on the south
glaisi, to the north of the river Liffey.  side of the Sligech, in a standing post" In the 8th year of Tuathal, A. D. ure, with a red javelin in his hand, and
535, the Abbey of Doiri-Calgaigh  with his face turned towards Ulster,
(Derry) was founded by the latter  as if figrhtin( with his foes. This havsaint, the place having been granted to  ing been done, the result is said to; have
him by his own tribe, i. e. the race of been, that the Connaunrhtmen routed
Conall Gulban, son of Niall."-Four  the men of Ulster while the body reMasters.                             mained so placed, but the Ulstermen
~9 Fir Kera, i. e. the inhabitants of learnin, the talismanic cause of their
the barony of Carra,-or Cera (Carra),  defeats, disinterred the body of Eogan,
county of Mayo. They are not de- and buried it on the north side of the
scended from  an Ere, son of Olild  Sligech, at Aenach-Locha-Gili, with
Molt, whose racq became extinct in  the face under, and thus regained their.
his grandsons, Olild Inbanda, and Aedh  wonted courage.
Fortamhllil, but from Ere Cul-bhuidhe    92 St. Odran. He did not die until
(Cool-4wee) eldest son'of Fiachra, son  the 2nd of October, 548, in the 1ext
of Kinag Eocaidh Muigh-medon. The  reign.  He is the patron  saint of
three chieftain septs of the Fir-Kera  Leitrech-Odhrain (Lethragh  Orauin),
were:  0' Tighernaigh (Tierney), O' now Latteragrh,in the barony of Lower
Gormrghail, or Gormogr, and O' Muired- Ormond, county Tipperary. Thebname
haigh (O' Murray). —Sze Tribes and  of St. Patrick's charioteer was also
Customs of the Ui Fiachrach.         Odran, and he is venerated as the first
SWigec!, i. e. the river Sligo. This  martyr of the Irish Church, and the
battle was fougrht by the northern Ui only saint of ancient times whose blood
Neill against* Ui Fiachrach, in 537. had been shed, for the Faith's sake, by
"The latter were routed, and Eo(gan  an Irishman.  St. Odran having heard
B1l, their king, was slain; of which it that a chieftain of the Ui Failghi
was said:                            designed to waylay and assassinate the
"' That fight with Fiachra's race, and BBM  Irish apotle, on his way through the
/Was fotight with sharp and vengeful'blades;  King's County, contrived, under the
Spear-goaded groaned the foeman's kine,  pretence of being himself fatigued, to
When that red fight o'er Grinder spread.  induce his master to take the driver's
To the wide waves then Sliiech wafted
The blood of brave men and their bodies;    seat, and so, being mistaken for St.
And borne from Eba were great trophies,  Patrick, he received the murderous
Round that grins head of Bogan M.."  lance in his stead. He is the patron
-Four Masters.                       saint of Disert Odhrain, in Ui Failghi.
But we are told in the life of his   93 St. Kiaran Mac-an-t-Saeir. This
son, St. Keflach, that Eogan lived  saint also died in the next reign. His
three days, or. according to others, a  death is entered in the Four Masters
week, after being mortally wounded in  under the year 548, when he died, on




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                       429
Beoidh was the name of his father, and Darerca9' that of his
mother, as he tells us himself in the following verse:
"Darerca95 my mother was,
No humble serf was she;
Beoidh, the Saer, my sire was named
Of lauded Latharna sprung he."
At this time the head fell off a crippleg9 at the fair, or assembly,
of Talti, because he had sworn falsely by the hand of St. Kiaran.
Some say that he lived amongst the monks for the space of five
years without a head.  Soon after, King TuLathal Mael-garb  vas
killed by Maelmorda, son of Mathar,97 at the instigafion of Diarmaid, son of Fergus Kerbe6l, at Grellach Eithli.
the 9th day of September. He was the  gangrene took him inl the neck; that.
founder of Cluain-mic-Nois, now called  is, St. Kiaran put his hand upon his
Clonmacnoise, otherwise the Seven  neck, so that it cut off his head."
Churches. on the east side of the Shan- This somewhat explains the origin of
non, in the King's County. He must the extravagant legend' above narrated.
be distinguished  from   St. Kiaran  The disease of which Abacuc (possibly
Saighri, the patron of Ossory, who was some notorious perjurer) died, whether
one of St. Patrick's precursors. St. the consequence of his impiety or not,
Kiaran is said to have dwelt but seven  was a perfectly natural one, if we allow
months in Cluain-mic-Nois when he  a little to popular hyperbole.
died.           i97 lt                  Maelmorda, Son of Mathar.  In
9' Darerca. This lady was of the  the Four Masters he is called Maelmor
race of Corc, son of Fergus Mac  Mac Airgeadain, tutor of Diarmaid
Roigh. Darerca was also the name  Mac Kerbeoil. Diarmaidhaving laid'of one of St. Patrick's sisters, or of claim to the Irish throne, had been
one of those religious ladies who have  banished and outlawed by Tuathal,
been, perhaps, figuratively called his who offered a large reward to whomso'
sisters by the Irish shannachies.   ever might bring him his rival's heart.
9" Latharnc. Beoidh has been cal- Diarmaid, upon this, took refuge, in
led a Connaughtman by some writers. the wilds of Artibra, where ClonmacBut that can scarcely be, if the read- nois is now situated, and there he met
ing, Lotharna, in the verse above given, with St. Kiaran, who hal'but lately
be correct. Latharna (Laharna) was come thither, from Inis Aingin, now
the old name of the territory around  Hare's Island, in the Shannon.  While
the present town of Lame, anciently  he was in this place, the saint prayed
Inber Latharna, in the county of An- for the prince's success, and gave him
trim. Beoidh was probaby of Pictish  his benediction. Thereupon, Maelmor,
blood.                              son of Airgeadan, seeing the prince's
96 A Cripple. "Do thuit a chenn  difficulties, besought him to lend him
de bhacach," i. e. his head fell off a  his black horse, for the purpose of
cripple, or halt person, is the phrase  going to Grellach Eilti, where Tuathal
used by Dr. Keating. This person is was about to have a meeting with
called Abacuc by the Four Masters, some of his nobles, and of there slaying
who enter the sin'gular event in these  the monarch, in the midst of his people.
terms, under A. D. 539:'The de- Having procured the horse from the
capitation of Abacuc at the Fair of prince, Maelmor rode }hereon to GrelTalti, through the miracles of God and  lach Eilti, and entered the host of TuatKiaran; that is, a false oath he took  hal bearing a hound's heart on the
upon the hand of Kiaran, so that a point of his blood-stained lance. The




480                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
It was in the reign of Tuathal that Guairi, son of Colman,
became King of Connaught, as the successor of Eogan Bel. At
the time of his accession, it happened  that the eldest son of
Eogan Bi1, who was named Kellach, was a disciple of St. Kiaran,
and on the point of becoming a monk.  But the friends of Eogan
Bel allured this Kellach from the congregation of St. Kiaran, in
order to make him their chieftain, in opposition to Guairi.  But
upon his coming out of the convent, St. Kiaran gave him  his
malediction, and prayed to God that a violent death might overtake him. Then, when the youth had been a sometime outside
the convent, he understood that he had done ill in breaking
through St. Kiaran's rule.  He thereupon returned to his spiritual  superior and made  his submission, promising to remain
at his disposal during his lifetime.  St. Kiaran, upon this, gave
him his blessing, but he said to him that he should, nevertheless,
meet with a violent end. Kellach, then, remained in the congregation of St. Kiaran, until, in course of time, he was made
bishop."   Having reached this dignity in the country, he took
multitude, imagining that it was the  committed the foul deed in a wood that
heart of Diarmaid.that he carried, lay between Loch Conn and Loch Culmade way for him  to the royal pre- linn, in the south of Tirawley. As a
sence.  Arrived there, he made an  reward for their services, these wretches
offer as if to present the heart to the  were granted the whole territory of
king; but instead thereof, he trans- Tirawley by quairi; and there they
fixed the latter with his lance. Tuat- erected themselves the fort of Dun
hal's guards immediately fell upon the  Fin&. The second son of Eogan Bel,
assassin, and cut him down upon the  named Muredach, but who was also
spot; whereon the bard said;        called Cu-Congelt, having come soon
after to visit his brother, and not havThe deed he wrought was wrong;  ing found him, suspected that he had
The mighty Tuathal he has slain,  met with foul play, and after some
Himself falls in that act."     search, discovered his body, mangled
-Four Masters.                      by ravens and wolves, in the hollow of
Grellach Eilti, i. e. the Miry Place  an oak tree.  He then carried the
of the Does, where this deed was per- disfigured remains successively to the
petrated, was at the foot of Sliabh  churches of Turloch and Lis Callain,
Gamh, now Slieve Gamh, in the county  but was refused admittance into either,
of Sligo. Eithli, the word in the text, through fear of Guairi. He at length
is incorrect.                       buried it with due honors at the
98    Bishop, yc. Kellach, or rather  Church of Eiscrecha. Having there
St. Kellach, became bishop of Kilmore  chaunted a short dirge over his broMoy, in Tirawley, but he was compell- ther's grave, in which he vowed vened to resign his bishoprick, and to  geance against his murderers, he asretire as a hermit to Oilen Edgair, in  sembled a band of 300 of his kinsmen
Loch Conn, from fear of Guairi Aidni, and retainers, with whom he set out for
who held him in mortal hatred. While  Ui Mani, where he dwelt for a year.
he was living there in his hermitage, Thence he proceeded to Meath, where
Guairi bribed four of his pupils, Mac  after some time, he married Aeifi,
Deoraidh, Maelcroin, Maeldalua and  daughter of Blathmac, King of Ire.
Maelsenaigh, to murder him, and these land. After some time he returned to




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                       431
part with his younger brother, for whom he strove to gain partizans and friends, in his factious attempts to make himself King
of Connaught.  When Guairi had heard of his proceedings, he
suborned three of Kellach's own trusted people to assassinate
him.  Thus was St. Kiaran's propheoy fulfilled, for he-had foretold that. KIellach should die by violence.
DIARfMAID, ARD-RIGI.
A. D. 534."  Diarmaid, son of Fergus Kerbecl, son of Conall
Cremtlanni, son of Niall of the Nine Hosta(es, of the race of
Erimhon, acquired the kingdom  of  Ireland, and held it for
twenty-two years.1~0 His mother's name was Carbach, daughter
of Mani, a woman of the Leinster people.  In the reign of this
prince, St. Tighernach,1 Bishop of Cluain-Eois, died.  He was
of the race of Dari Barach, son of Cathaeir Mor.  Then, also,
died Olild, son of Muredach, who had been for nine years Kinlg
of Leinster.  Cormac, son of Olild, son of Eocaidh, the son of
Dari Kerb, son Qf Olild Flann Beg, was King of Munster.  In this
time was fought the battle of Cuil Conari,2 in Kera, by Fergus
and Domnald, the' two sons of Murkertach  Mac Erca, where
Olild  Anbfann5 (Anvann) King of Connaught, fell, with  his
brother Aedh Fortamhail.4 In the reign of Diarmaid, there came
a plague upon Ireland.  It was called the Crom  Connaill,5 and
inanly of the saints of Ireland died thereof, among whom was St.
Tirawley, which was his paternal in- after remained. —See,Tribes and Cus.
heritance, and procuring admittance, tomns of the Ui Fiachrach.
by the aid of a swineherd, into the' A. D. 539. Four Mlcasters.
fort of Dun Finl6, disguised himself as'~ Twenty-two years. 20 years.-lb.
a swineherd also, while the murderers' St. Tighernact!. I-He died in 548,
of his brother were engaged in banquet- on the 4th of April.  Cluain Eois
ing. He waited there until his enemies (Clooin Oash) is now called Clones,
were stupified with strong drink; then  situated in the county of AMona(han.
he sent word, by his friend the swine-   2 Cul Conari.  This battle was
herd, to his armed band, which lay  fouglt in Carra, or Cera, co. Mayo,
concealed in the neighborhood,' and  in A.D. 544.
they, rushincg into the fort, slew all the   O/lill Anbfann, i.e. Olild the Weak.
guards, and seized upon the four mur- This chief is surnamed Inbanda by the
derers. The guests, learning who it Foutr Masters, and others. The epithet
was that had thus disturbed them, - Abfannz could have scarcely been
were more pleased than grieved thereat, applicable to any man able to elevate
and finished their revelry in honor of himself to kingship in those days, when
the rightful heir. The assassins were  the strong hand was the only passport
hanged next day, and soon after Cu- to power.
Congelt obtained the hostages of Tir-   4 Aedh Fortamhail, i. e. Aedh the
Fiachrach and Tir-Amalgaidh, and  Valiant.
compelled Guairi to live thenceforth in    6 Cron Conaill. This word is transfrir Fiachrach Aidni, in the south of lated Fava Ictericia (the Yellow Jaunthat province, where his progeny ever dice), by Colgan.-O'D.




432                  THIE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.
Mac Tail,6 of Kill Culinn.  About the same time was fought the
battle of Cuil, or Cuilni, where a great number of the Corcuighe6*
were slain, through the players of St. AMida,7 a pious and noble
lady of the race of Fiacaidh Suighe, son of Feidlimidh  R  ctmar, whom  these people had insulted.
Eoca:idh, son of Connla, son of Caelbadh, son of Crun Badraei,
soIn of Eocaidh Coba, King of Uladh,8 died about this time, having ruled over that principality for nine years.  He was the first
king of the Dal Araide.  Then, likewise, died the prophet St.
B  g Mac De.9  St. Aolua,'~ the son of Sinell, son of Amnirghin,
son of Ernin, son of Duach Galach, son of Brian, son of Eocaidh
Muigh-medon, was born about this time; and  the Bishop of"
Achadh Cuniri, and St. Nesan'2 the Leper, died.  During  the
reign of Diarmaid, the church of Cluain Cluain-fertal3 was founded by St. Brendan, a descendant of Kiar, son of Fergus MAac
Roighl.
St. Mac Tail, called otherwise    8 King of Uladh. From  this king
Eogan, son of Corcran, died on the  were named the Ui Eathach Uladh
11th of June, 548. le is the patron  (Ea-Ahagh-Ulla), dwelling in the pressaint of Cill Cuillinn, now Old Kilcul- ent baronies of' Upper and Lower
len, county Kildare.  In the same year  Iveagh, county Down.  lThey were
died St. Sirnphell the Elder, a descend- MIag'ennisses and their correlatives.
ant of Cathaeir Mor, whose feast was     St. Ber Mac Di.  lie died in 557.
celebrated at Killeigh, in the King's  He is otherwise called Becc, son of
County, on the 26th of March. And  Degaidh.
then, also, died St. Fiutdn, or Finnen,'0 St. M6olua. The first abbot of
or Finllian, of Cluain Eraird, called the  Cluain-ferta MoluanLow Clonfertmulloe,
Tutor of the Saints of Ireland, who  otherwise Kyle, at the foot of Slieve
founded the College of Clonard, or  Bloom, in Upper Ossory, Queen's co.
Cluain Erard, in Meath.  St. Colurn, He was otherwise called Lugaidh Mac
of Inis Keltrach, an islet in Lough  h-Ui Oiche.  -Iis death is recorded at
Derg,  near the villagc of Scariff, co. A. D. 605.
Clare, is, also, recorded as having died    1 The Bishop of,'c.  Here is possiof the Cron Conaill, during the year  bly a mistake- or omission made by
548.                                 Keating's transcribers.  We find that
6. Corcuighe. The name is also read  St. Cathub, son of Fergus, Abbot of
Corcoiclhe, and Corca Oiche.  They  Abhadh Chinn (?) died.on the 6th of
were a sept of the Ui Fidghenti, seated  April, 554.
in the barony of Lower Connello, co.   12 St. Nresan, patron of Mung(ret,
Limerick. O' Macassy was their chief. near Limerick, died on the 25th of
Cuil, or Cuilni, has not been identi- July, 551.
ficd.'3 Cluain Ferta, i. e. the Lawn, or
7 St. Mila. St. Ida, or Ita.  Her  Park of the Grave. It is now called
monastery  was at Cluain Credhail,  Clonfert, and lies in the county of
now Killeedy (Kill Ida), an old parish  Galway.   The Church of Clonfert
church, about five miles south of New  was erected in 553, according to some,
Castle, county Limerick.  She became  in 562, according to others. This St.
the patron saint of the Corcoich6. She  Brendan must not be confounded with
died in 569.  All the churches in  his namesake and friend St. Brendan,
Munster called Kilmeedy are named  of Birra.  The feast of the former was
after this virgin. Her name is also  held on the 16th of May; that of the
spelled Ide, Ite, Mide and Mite.     latter, who was the son of Neman, of




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                       433
Gabran, King of Alba, died about this time, and Grunigi, son
of Maelcu, King of the Cruthnigh,l' fought successfully against
the Albanaigh, and routed them with fearful slaughter. It was
about the same time that Fergus and Domnald, sons of Murker.
tach-Maac Erca, fought a battle at Cuil Dremni,l5 against Diarmaid,
son of Fergus KIerbe6l, where the latter was defeated, and most
of his forces slain, through the prayers of St. Columlkille; for
the king had put to death Curnan, son of Aedh, son of Eocaidh
Tirmcarna, while under the protection of St. Columkille.  God
punished him  therefor, by causing him  to suffer this defeat.
In further venlgeance for his having offended the saint, Diarmaid
was again defeated by Acdh, son of Brenann, King of Tebtha,
at Cuil Uinsenn,l6 in Tebtha, where great numbers of his people
were likewise slain.' Soon after this, Columkille went to Alba to dwell at AeiColuim-Killi,'7 being then forty4three years old.
the race of Corb Olum, was held on' Cuil.Uinsenn, i. e. the corner, or
the 29th of November.               angle, of the ash trees. Its situation
It is said in the Life of St. Brendan, has not been identified. Acedh, son of
that he sailed for seven -years in the  Brenann, was a friend and relative of
Western Ocean, and had arrived at St. Columkille.   This battle was
some land, that, if there be any truth  fought in 556.
in the story, must have been Ame-'7 Aei-Coluim-Killi, otherwise Irica. X                              Coluim-Kille, or Iona.  St. Colum" Cruthniih, fc. The contradiction  kille, who, it would appear, had eximplied here is explained by the fact cited his powerful relatives to fight
that the Gaelic tribe of the Dal-Araide  these battles against the king, is said to
were about this time called Cruthnigh, have incurred the censure of the Irish
for they were maternally descended  Church for having caused so much
from the Picts.                     bloodshed. This led to his mission, or'5 Cuil Dremini. This place is in the  banishment, to the Western Isles,
barony of Carbury, to the north of the  where the glory he acquired by his
town of Sligo. The cause of the battle  energy and perseverance in converting
was this: Cutrnan, son of Aedh, whose  the Picts, and by the purity of his
father was King of Connaught, had  life, soon dispelled arly clouds that
slain a nobleman during the Feis of might have dimmed the lustre of his
Teramhair, held by Diarmaid in the year sanctity in the earlier part of his
554. Knowing tlat, by ancient usarge, career. Besides this, we are not to
his death alone could atone for the  imagine that the saint's hostility to
act, C-urnan fled for sanctuary to St. Diarmaid had its origin altogether in
Columkille;  but Diarmaid  would  personal, or family, or even in official
not allow such a national outrage to  pride. It is likely that Diarmaid, notgo unpunished, and, therefore, forced  withstanding his friendship towards St.
Curnan from the arms of Columkille, Kiaran of Clonmacnoise, had still some
and had him put to death. In revenge  leaning towards the usages of the
for this insult put upon their kinsman, Druidic worship.  The fault, then,
the chiefs of the northern Ui Neill, which caused the exile of the saint,
backed by Aedh Tirmcarna, King of may have had its source as much in
Connaught, the father of Curnan, at- overwrought religious enthusiasm as in
tacked Diarmaid, and routed his forces,/ the personal insult offered to -him in
at Cuil Dremni.                     either his capacity of churchman or
28




434                 THE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.
And it was not long after when the battle of Mioin Mor18 was
gained in Alba, by the northern Clanna Neill, in which seven
petty kings of the Cruthnigh fell by their hands.About this time
died Colman Mor, son of Carbri, son of Dunlaing, who had
reigned as King of Leinster for thirty years.
Guairi Aidni, King of Connaught.
In the seventeenth year of this reign, a recluse named Sinnach
Cro, came to complain to King Diarmaid that Guairi, the son of
Colman, had taken from her the only cow she possessed. Diarmaid, upon this, collected a numerous host, for the purpose of
avenging this taking away of the holy woman's cow, perpetrated
by the King of Connaught.  He then immediately marched to
the Shannon, upon the further bank of which, Guairi had assembled an army to oppose him.  Guairi now deputed St. Cumin
Fada,l9 son of Fiacaidh, to request of Diarmaid not to pass the
river for the space of twenty-four hours.  "That is no such very
great boon for thee to request of me," replied Diarmaid to the
saint.  " Thou mightest obtain a much greater one if thou hadst
of prince of the royal house of Niall. names are supposed to be preserved in
Such, at least, may be gathered from  those of the town of Moneymore, co.
the following translated extract from a  Londonderry, and of Derryloran, the
rhapsody said to have been composed  parish where it is situated. The Cruthby the saint, on the occasion of these  nigh, above-mentioned, were not the
disputes:                           Picts of Alba; they were the Gaelic
Dal-Araide. By some annalists it is
+' Wilt thou not, 0 God, dispel     stated that the battle was fou-ht
This fog that hovereth o'er our people;  stated that the battle was fought
This host which hath of life bereft us;  by  one faction  of  these  Gaelic
This host around the cairns that reigneth.   Cruthnigh, aided by the Ui Neill,
Who plotteth against us, is born of the tempest;                          against another. We have seen, that
But the Son of God is my Druid; refuse me the right of miaternal succession was in
he will not.                               the Picts  thus, many
He will aid me,"&.                 us  aon
chieftains called Picts in our annals
By the "host around the earns," he  may be really of Gaelic origin paterclearly alludes to the Pagan Gods, to  nally.
whom the earns were sacred, and by    1 St. Cumin Fada was a man of
the " fog," to the magic spells practis- great sanctity and of noble race. He
ed in the army of Diarmaid.  The  was of the tribe of the Eoganacht of
king had, however, made his peace  Loch Lein, in Kerry, and son of a king
with the saint, previous to the latter's  of Desmond. He had been educated
mission to the Hebrides, which com- from his infancy by St. Ida, and was
qienced in A.D. 5 57.               afterwards invited to Connaught by
8Moirn Mor. Keating places this  his maternal brother King Guairi, and
locality in Alba, perhaps by a mis- there he was made Bishop of Clonfert.
translation of Adamnan, who says that He died in the year 661, on the 12th
it was in Scotia; but by Scotia that of November.  His name is found
ancient writer always meant Ireland. written Cuimin, Caimin, and also CumThe Four Masters call it Moin-Doire- mian.
Lothair (Mone-Dorrie-Lohir). Both




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                  435
demanded it."  The kings then remained as they were, on either
bank of the river-Diarmaid on the eastern. and Guairi on the
western-until the following morning.  "I marvel, O Guairi,"
said St. Currin, "at the smallness of this host of thine, hero
assembled, and at the greatness of that led against thee by
thine enemy."  "Know, then," said Guairi, "that it is not the
number of warriors that wins battles, but that victory must fall
as God willeth it; and as thou scornest our host, know that it is
not comely forms but hardy hearts that win victories." Next day
the battle was fought; the king with his forces on the one side,
and Guairi, backed by the strength of Connaught and Mdinster,
on the other. However, Guairi and his party lost the day, and
many of the nobles of Connaught and Munster fell, and there
was a great slaughter of their followers.  It was through the
prayers of St. Caimin,20 who is honored at Inis Keltrach, that
Guairi was defeated in this engagement, for that holy man had
fasted for thr6e quarters of a year in order that Guairi might be
routed in battle.  This St. Caimin was of the race of Fiacaidh
Bacheda, son of Cathaeir Mor. Guairi had indeed come to the saint,
and paid him respect and homage, and had bowed himself down
before him.  But Caimin told him, nevertheless, that he could
not escape from being worsted in battle.
After his defeat, Guairi came to a little monastery, where he
found but one solitary female recluse, or nun. The woman,
thereupon, asked him who he was. " I am one of the household
guards of Guairi, son of Colman," replied he.  "I am  grieved,"
said the recluse, " that defeat should have overtaken that king,
for his charity, benevolence and hospitality are greater than
those of any man in Ireland-and that red slaughter should have
fallen upon his people." The nun then went out to a stream that
ran near her dwelling; and seeing a salmon therein, she returned
joyfully to tell Guairi thereof. The king went out forthwith to
the stream, and killed the salmon, and then returned thanks to
God, for his being left trusting to a single salmon that night,
notwithstanding his having often had ten beeves dressed in his
house at a single feast.
On the morrow, Guairi went to meet his people, and asked
their advice as to whether he should again give battle to the King
of Ireland, or do him homage at the spear's point. The resolve
20 St. Camin. He -is possibly that the years 622 and 662. No Irish
saint whose death is recorded under annals that the editor has met with
the year 664, as that of St. Cummin, mention any engagement or meeting
Abbot of Clonmicnoise. Guairi and between these kings. The narration
Diarmaid could not have lived in must, then, be either a pure invention,
the same age. Guairi Aidni flourish- or the names and dates must have been
ed, according to our annals, between falsified.




436               THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
they (Guairi and his people) then took was to go to Diarmaid,
and to offer him homage. The mode of his submission was this:
the point of the king's sword or javelin was placed in his mouth,
betwixt his teeth, while he had himself to remain on his knees.
But while Guairi was thus placed, the king (Diarmaid) said
privately to some of his people, "We shall now find out if it be
through vain ostentation that Guairi performs such acts of extreme generosity;" and he told a certain Druid, who was one of
his own people, to ask something from Guairi, in right of his
science.  But Guairi paid no heed to his request.  A leper was
next sent to ask him  for alms for God's sake, and Guairi gave
the beggar the broach that fastened his mantle, for he had then
no other treasure about him. The leper left him thereupon, but
one of the king's people met him, and deprived him of the gold
broach, which he brought to his mnaster. The beggar returned
to Guairi to complain of this outrage, and Guairi gave him the
golden girdle that he wore round his waist; blt the kilTg's
people took the girdle also from the poor man, who came again
to complain of the outrage to Guairi, who was still holding the
point of the king's sword between his teeth.  But when that
chieftain saw the poor man thus sad and harassed, a stream  of
tears at length burst from  his eyes.  " O Guairi," said the king,
" is it through sorrow at being in my power that thou weepest
thus?"  "I give- my word that it is not," answered Guairi; "but
I am grieved that one of God's poor should have nothing more
to get."  Diarmaid then told him to arise, and said to him, that
he should no longer remain subject to his discretion.  That there
was a God of all the elements above him, to whom he might do
homage, andcl  that such was all that he should ask of him.  They
then made peace, and  )iarmaid invited Guairi to the fair of
Talti,2l where he promised to proclaim him his successor to the
Irish throne, in presence of the men of Ireland. After this,,
Guairi went to the fair of Talti, and provided a bag, or sack,
of silver, for the purpose of making presents to the men of Ireland.  But Diarmaid gave orders to those men of Ireland, that
not one of them should ask a single present f'rom Guairi on the
fair. Two days had thus passed by, when Guairi asked Diar21 The Fair of Talti. Notwithstand- we have seen an instance in the punishing his Christianity, King Diarmaid ment of Curnan, Prince of Connaught.
seems to have been a stern maintainer He held the Feis of Temhair twice
of the ancient institutions of the Gaels, during. his reign; but the Church
now commencing to fall into disrepute, finally triumphed over him, and Temand which, it would appear, were tot- hair saw the nobles and kings of the
tering under the new order of things, Gaels for the last time assembled on
being discountenanced by the Catholic her height in A. D. 554.
clergy. Of his firmness in this respect,




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                      437
maid to send him  a bishop, in order that he might make his'
confession, and receive the Last Unction.  " Why so? "said Diarimaid.  " My death is at hand," said Guairi.  " How canst thou
feel that it is so? " said Diarmaid.  "I understand it," said he,
" from the fact of my seeing the men of Ireland assembled together
on one spot, without a single man of them coming to ask any
bounty friom men."  Upon this, Diarmaid gave full scope to the
bounties of Guairi, who, thereupon, immediately commenced making his gifts to every one that then asked them. And, if the tale
be true, it is said that the hand wherewith he gave to the poor was
longer than the one wherewith he gave to the learned. At that
meeting, Diarmaid ratified his peace with his guest, in presence
of the assembled men of Ireland,22 and the two kings lived in
friendship thenceforward.
It happened  Guairi had a holy  person as brother, whose
name was Mochua;23 and once, when this brother had gone to
make the Lent, at a spring of pure water, near Borenn, five
miles to the southwest of Durlas Guairi, and without any person
22 THE DESERTION OF TEMHAIR, A.D. occasion was preserved, in the name of
554. This important'revolution is distinction given to the monastery,
left unrecorded by Dr. Keating. Mir. which was ever after, in, memory of
Moore, on the authority of our annals, this malediction, called' THE MONASrecords it in these terms:         TERY OF THE CuRsEs OF IRELANI).' --
"In the reign of this monarch, the  This desertion of Temhair must have
ancient Hall, or Court, of Tara, in  gradually led to the disintegration of
which, for so many centuries, the  the Gaelic nation. Its tribes can no
Triennial Councils of the nation had  longer be said -to have had any combeen held, saw for the last time her mon bond of union between them, any
kings and nobles assembled within its Pan-Gaedalon, where they could meet
precincts;. and the cause of the deser- in harmony, and be reminded of their
tion of this long-honored seat of legis- common origin. Patriotism, if it ever
lation shows to what an enormous had existence amongst them, dwindled
height the power of the ecclesiastical down to mere personal or family amorder had then risen. Some fugitive  bition, and henceftrth they were the
criminal, who had fled for sanctuary to  predestined prey of any warlike rovers
the Monastery of St. Ruan (St. Ruadan  that might choose to mix themselves
of Lothair), having  been dragged  up in their intestine quarrels. Thenceforcibly from thence to Tara, and there  forth the Ui Neill, or Ui Briain had
put to death, the holy abbot and his as little sympathy with the Eoganmonks cried aloud against the sacri- achts, or the Dal-c-Gais, as they had
legious violation; and, proceeding in  with the Saxon or the Dane.
solemn procession to the palace, pro-   After this desertion, each monarch
nounced a solemn curse upon its walls. chose the residence most convenient or'From that day,' say the annalists,' no  agreeable to himself. The kings of
king ever sat again at Tara;' and a  the northern Ui Neill generally residpoet, who wrote about that period, ed at Ailech, near Londonderry, and
while mourning evidently over the fall those of the southern first at Dun Torof this seat of grandeur, ventures but geis, near Castlepollard, and at Dun-nato say,'It is not with my will that Sgiath, on the northwest margin of
Teamor is deserted.' A striking me- Lough Ennell, near Mullingar.
morial of the Church's triumph on the    2 Mochvt. St. Mochua was Abbot




438             THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
in his company but a single young clerk, for the purpose of
answering the lMass for him. And both he and his clerk eat but
one meal in the day, until night, and even then they eat but a
small portion of barley bread and water-cresses, and some spring
water with them. When they had passed the Lent in this manner until Easter Sunday, and when Mochua had finished the
celebration of the lMass, on that day, a longing for flesh-meat
seized upon the young clerk, and he told the holy priest Mcchua
that he would go to Durlas, to Guairi, and get his fill thereof.
" Do not," said Mochua.  "Stay with me, while I pray toGod to
send thee meats."  With this, the holy priest fell upon his knees,
and he fervently prayed to God, begging of him to send meat to
the voung clerk. Now, at that very moment they were setting
food upon the table at the house of Guairi; and it came to pass,
through the prayers of Mochua, that the dishes of meat were
snatched out of the hands of the attendants, and taken off the
board of the table, and brought straight away to the wilderness,
where St. Mochua was. Then did Guairi and his household
talke horse and pursue the dishes.  When the viands arrived
before Mochuan, he commenced praying and magnifying the name
of God, and told the young clerk to eat his fill of the meat. He
then looked around, and saw the plain full of horsemen, and he
said, that it was no advantage to him to have got the meat, with
such a hunt after it.  "There is no danger to you therefrom,"
said Mochua, "it is my brother Guairi and his household that
are there; and I pray God not to let one of them pass that spot
until you are satisfied." With that the feet of the horses were
fastened to the ground, so that they could not leave where they
were, until the young clerk was fully satisfied. Then Mochua
prayed to God to set his brother, with his household folk, at
liberty; and they, being loosed, came into Mlochua's presence,
and Guairi fell upon his knees before him, and asked forgiveness of him.  "Fear not, brother," said Mochuan, "but eat thy
meal here."  Guairi and his household then eat their meal, after
which they bid farewell to Mochua.
The fact that the five miles of road between Durlas and the
well where Mochua then was is still called Bothar-na-MAias
(Bohar-na-Meess), that is the Road of Dishes, seems to support
the truth of this tale.
It was in the time of Diarmaid, son of Fergus, King of Ireland, that St. Becan lived. Some historians say, that Eolan
Mor left another son besides Fiacaidh Maeil-lethan, named Diarof Balla, a village in the barony of the patron saint of the Ui  Fiachrach
Clanmorris, county Mayo. He was Aidnli, and founder of the episcopal
called, also, Mac Duach, and became see of Kilmacduagh.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                439
maid, and from this Diarmaid the St. Becan who was honored
at Kill Becain in Muscraide Cuire, was descended. These historians say also that Fiacaidh Maeil-lethan had three sons,
namely: Olild Flann Mor, Olild Flann Beg and Decluath. The
following quotation testifies to the fact:
"From Diarmaid great Saint Becan sprung
(Let us the sons of Fiacaidh trace),
A tribe whose rule wide cantons ownOf them was Decluath, and the Olilds twain."
About this time Bresal, son of Diarmaid, son of Fergus, that
is, the King of Ireland's son, proposed to prepare a feast for his
father at Kennanus, in Meath; but he set no value on anything
that he had got ready for that purpose, as he had not an exceedingly fat piece of beef to set before his father. No such piece of
merit was to be found in his neighborhood, except on a single ox,.
bwned by a woman in'orders, who lived at Kill Elcraide. Bresal
at first civilly and humbly asked this ox from  her, and offered
to give her seven cows and a bull for that one animal. The woman refused, and then Bresal took off the ox without her leave,
and killed it for his father's feast. But when the King of Ireland and his people were in the midst of their enjoyment of the
festivity, the nun came and made her complaint to the monarch
of his son Bresal. When the father had heard her complaint, he
was seized with violent anger, and he declared that he would put
Bresal to death, for outraging the black nun of Kill Elcraide.
He then took Bresal with him to the brink of the river of Loch,
and drownved him there. Immediately after the deed, he was
seized with remorse and grief, and he went to St. Columkille
to bewail his sad fate.
Columkille  invited him to come with himself to Munster,
to the venerable Saint Becan. Columkille and he then set out
together for Kill-Becain,S4 north of Sliabh-Grot. Immediately
upon arriving there, they found the holy man building a fence
round his burial-ground, having histrobe quite wet about him.
As soon as Bccan saw the king, he cried, "To the earth with
thee, parricide."  Upon this, the king fell down upon his knees
upon the ground. Then Columkille spoke, and said, " He has
come to thee to beg for help to remedy the evil deed he has
done, and also to beg of thee to pray to God to restore his son to
life."  Hereupon, Becan prayed fervently to God three times, at
Columklille's request; and thus the king's son, Bresal, was restored to life, through the prayers of the holy Becan, and the
2' Kill Becain. It is now called Kill- of Clanwilliam, county Tipperary.
peacon, and is situated in the barony




440                THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
name of God was magnified, and the fame of St. Becan's holiness
was spread by means of that miracle.
Guairi, son of Colman,'2 the above-mentioned King of Connaught, and contemporary of Diarmaid, happened to be on a
certain occasion in company with St. Cumin Fada _Mac Fi acidh,
and St. Caimin, of Inis-Keltrach, in the church of that islalnd, when
the following conversation took place between them.  St. Caimin
asked the first question, "What is it, O Guairi, that thou wouldst
most wish to possess?"  Guairi replied, "I would have gold and
treasure, for the  purpose of bestowing them; and thou, O
Cumin, what wouldest thou most wish to have?"   " A load of
diseases on my body," said St. Cumin.  "And thou, likewise, O
Caimin, what would be thy desire? "  "A store of books," said
St. Caimin, "for interpreting the truth to the people."  And the
three got their wishes, except that, at the end of his life, St.
Caimin was cursed by St. Mochuda, and all his gifts were taken
from  him, if history has told truth.
Guairi, son of Colman, came to ravage Munster, with three
battalions of the Connaught forces. Dima,'6 son of Roonan, son
of Aengus, was. then King of Cashel.  Their forces met in
Ui-Fidghenti, which is now called the plain of the county of
Limerick.  They fought a battle at Carn-Feradaig, where Guaiin
and his Connaulghtmen were defeated, and an immense numbet
of the latter, with six of their chiefs, were slain.  The cause of
Guairi's invasion was to assert his claim to all the land that lies
between Sliabh Ectuide (Slieve Aughty) and Luimnech, which
had anciently formed part of the lands of Connaught, until
Lugaidh Menn, son of Aengus Tirech, son of Fer-Corb, son of
Mogh-Corb, son of Cormac Cas, son of Olild Olum, having gained
seven battles against the Connaughtmen, in which he slew seven
of their kings, by the mere help of hired soldiers and boys,
had made sword-land of all the country, that lies between Bearna" Son of Colman. According to the of Cam Feradaigh (now called Knockwork of Duald Mac Firbis, upon the any) was not fought by Guairi until
Tribes and Customs of the Ui Fitch- the year 622, when Falbi Flann was
rach, Guairi the Generous, son of Col- King of Cashel, or Leth Mogha, and
man, son of Cobthach, &c., was the Dinia, chief of the Dal-g-Cais tribe,
ancestor of the O'Cleries, O'HeInes was King of Thomend. It is thus
and Mac Kilkellies, but not of their recorded in the Four Masters: "A.D.
kinsmen the O'Shaughnessies, who are 622. The 12th year of Suibni, Kinr of
there stated to be descended from  Ireland. The battle of Carn Feradaigh
Aedh, son of Cobthach, the brother of was gained by Falbi Flann over the
the aforesaid Colman, and to have de- Connaughtmen; wherein were slain
rived their tribe name of Kindl Aeda Conall, chief of the Ui Mani, Maelfrom him.                        dubh, Maelruain, Maelduin, Maelcal26 Dima. Here, again, we see the gaich and Maelbremil, and Guairi was
mistake of makling Guairi the con- routed from the battle-field."
temporary of Diarmaid. The battle




THE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.                        441
na-d-tri-g-carbad,7' at Camrn Feradaigh, to Belach-Lucadi, and from
Ath Boromha to Leim  Concullainn.  In remembrance of this,
Cormac, son of Culinan, composed the following verse:
" It was that Lugaidh, that Red Hand,,
That forced from Gonnaught, as a fine,
What land from Feradach's old camrn
Extends to Luchaid's deed-famed ford."
St. Columkille  and St. Mochuaml,    were contemporaries, and
when St. Aochua, or Mac Duach, as he is otherwise called, was
a hermit in the desert, his whole worldly wealth consisted of a
27 Bearna na d-tri g-Carbad, i. e. among its ruins, testify.   Having
the Passofthb Three Chariots. B1lach  erected there a monastery  and  a
Luchadi, now Lowhid., near the village  church, he next directed his attention
of Tubbereendoney, barony of Inch- to the main object of his great Christian
iquin, county Clare. Ath Boromha, enterprise-that of exploring the wild
i. e. the Ford of the Tribute, is at region beyond the Grampian Hills,
Killaloe, and Leim  Conculainn, or where no missionary before him had
Cuchulainn's Jump, is the promontory  ever yet ventured, and of subduing to
now called Loophead.                 the mild yoke of the Gospel the hardy
28 St. Columlcille and iMochua. It race there entrenched. The territory
is more than doubtful whether those  of the northern Picts then included all
saints were ever contemporaries.     of modern Scotland that lies north of
It is, indeed, to be regretted that Dr. the Grampians, and there the residence
Keating  should have occupied his  of their king, Brude, was then situated,
space with this and others of the fore- somewhere or, the borders of Loch
going silly tales, which he must have  Ness.  Hither the courageous saint
extracted from fabulous romances, as directed his steps, but found the kates
he has had no authority for them  in  of the royal residence closed against
Irish annals. As the Irish reader must him.  However, by one of those
feel anxious to hear,something of the  miracles to which, in tl:at all-believing
mission of St. Columba, or Colum- age, every triumph of the Church is
kille, who was, perhaps, the greatest attributed, Columba is said to have
man that Ireland produced in this age, made the sign of the cross on the gates,
but of whom Keating has given such  upon which they immediately flew open
dim glimpses, the following notices of before him. The king, thereupon, came
that saint's proceedings in Alba and  to meet and rwelcome  him. His conthe Albanian isles are here extracted  version was soon effected, in spite of
in an abridged form from Mr. Moore's the Magi; and in the course of this
History of Ireland: " Having obtained  and other visits of the saint, the whole
from his cousin Conall, then King( of of Pictland became Christian.  His
the Albanian Scots, the small island of apostolical labors were next directed to
MHy, or Iona, which was an appendage  the Hebrides, throughout the whole of
to the new Scottish kingdom, Columba, which the enlightening  effects of his
together with twelve of his disciples, presence was felt. Wherever he went
set sail for that sequestered spot. After churches were erected, religious teachhis landing, one of his first tasks was ers supplied, and holy  communities
to expel some Druids, who had there  formed."   Thus, under the tutelage
established their abode; this secluded  of this great and holy man, did these
island havingr been one of the haunts of remote isles become the seat of learning
this priesthood, as th:c renmainl of their and piety.
temples and monuments, still existing




442               THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
cock, a mouse and a fly. The use of the cock was to get him to
rise betimes at midnight, to his matins.  The use of the mouse
was to prevent him from  sleeping more than five hours, from
daylight until night; and when he should desire to take more
sleep, wearied out by his much praying, with his hands crossed,
and by his many prostrations, the mouse was wont to come and
scratch his ears, so as thus to awaken him. The fly's use was
to walk upon every line he read in his psalter, and when he
might cease chaunting the psalms, to remain upon the line where
he stopped until he returned to it again.  But it happened that
his three treasures soon died, upon which the saint wrote a letter to St. Colunmkille, after the latter had gone to Aei (Iona), in
Alba, in which he complained of the death of these animals.
St. Columkille replied to this letter, and said, "Brother, thou must
not wonder at the deaths of the animals which have left thee,
for trouble exists only where there is wealth." I judge from
this banter of these true saints, that they had no regard for
worldly wealth-not like the folk of the present times.
After this, Diarmaid, son of Fergus Kerbeol, was killed at
Rath Beg,29 in Mlagh Lini, by Aedh Dubh, son of Suibni, and he
was buried at Cunniri.
FERGUS AND DOMNALL, ARD-RIGHA.
A. D. 556."0  Fergus and Domnall,31 both sons of Murkertach
Mor Mac Erca, son of iMuredach, son of Eogan, son of Niall of
the Nine Hostages, of the line of Erimhon, ascended the throne,
and reigned one year.  Duisech, daughter of Duach Tengumha,
King of Connaught, was mother of these princes.  Fergus and
Domnall gained the battle of Gabra Lifi," over the men of Leinster, and four hundred of the latter were slain therein.  Deman,
son of Carell, who had been ten years King of Ulidia, or Uladh,33
9 Rath Berg.  A  townland in the:2 The Battle of Gabra L7fi. This
parish of Donegore, adjoining  the was fought somewhere on the river
parish of Antrim, county Antrim. His Liffey, and is entered at A.D. 559 in the
slayer, Aedh Duff, was king of Dal- Four Masters. The battle of Dumha
Araide. " His head was brought to Achair is also recorded as gained by
Cluain-mic-Nois and buried there, and these princes, in this year, over the
his body was inferred at Cuniri (Con- Leinstermen.
nor)."-Fcur Masters.  He had re-  23 Ulidia. Henceforth Uladh, when
quested before he expired that his head it means the now nurrowed territory of
should be buried at Clonmacnoise, the the Clanna Rudraide, shall be transmonastery of his friend St. Kiaran.    lated by Ulidia.-There are two towno A. D. 558.'culm Masters.    lands named Borenn (the place where
I' FERGUS III., DOMNALL I. They he fell),in the county Down: one in the
reigned three years, according to some parish of Dromara, the other in Clonaccounts.                         allen. He was killed in 565.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                       443
was killed by the boors of Borenn.  Soon after, Fergus and Dom.
hall both died.
EOCAIDH AND BAEDAN, ARD-RIGHA.
A. D. 557."4  Eocaidh,35 son of Domnall, son of MIurkertach
Mor Mac Erca, son of Muredach, son of Niall of the  Nine
Hostages, of the line of Erimhon, ruled Ireland for three years,
in partnership with his uncle Baedan, son of Murkertach.  It
was about this time that Carbri Crom, the son of Crimthann
Sreimh, son of Eocaidh, son of Aengus, son of Nadfraech,
who had been King of Munster for thirty years, died.  It was
this Carbri that fought the battle of Femhenn,"'against Colman
Beg, son of Diarmaid, in which Colman was defeated, and numbers of his followers slain. Carbri received the surname Crom
(crooked), from having been educated at a place called Cromglasi, as the bard tells us in the following rann:
"Erect was he from sole to crown,
And straight of limb was Carbri Crom;
The surname' Crom' to him was given,
For he was reared at Crom-glasi."
Some historians say that it was about this time that St. Brendan
of Birr'a" died; though he is said by a popular tradition to have
lived nine score years, as a bard informs us ill the following
rann: 
" Woe is he who striveth not for bliss!
Woe is he whose life-course runs not bright!
Full four score and one hundred years
This blessed saint on earth did dwell."
After this, the battle of Tola and Fortola" was gained by Fiacaidh, son of Baedan, over the men of Eli and Osraide, and in it
great numbers of the Elians and Ossorians were slain. About
"' A. D. 562.-Four  lasters.     Birr, though an attempt has been
SS EocAIDH XIV., BAEDAN I. They  made to change its ancient name to
reigned for two years according to  Parsonstown. St. Brendan of Birra
others. In their reigon died St. Molasi, died on the 29th of November, 571.
or LIaisren, founderof themonastery. of In the Four Masters, the following
Daimh-inis, i. e. Ox Island, now Deven- strange entry is found with regard to
ish, in Lough Erne. He was son of him, under A. D. 563:"B1renainn of
Nadfraech, and must not be confound- Birra was seen ascending in a chariot
ed with St. Molasi, or Laisren, of into the sky this year."
Leighlin, whose father was named Car-   3 Tola and Fortola. Tola is now
ell.                               called Tulla, and it lies in the parish of
3B Battle of Femhenn, i. e. the plain  Kinnitty, barony of Ballybritt and
of Femhenn, in South Tipperary. This Kings County. This battle was not
battle was fought in 571.          fought until the year 571.
s" Birra. This place is still called




444                 THIE HIISTORY  OF IRELAND.
this time died Conall,'~ son of Corngall, King of the Dal-Riada,
having then reigned over Alba for sixteen  years.  It was this
Conall that granted  the Isle of Aei"~ (Tona), in Alba, to St.
Columkille.   Shortly after, Eocaidh  and Baedan fell by the
hand of Cronnan, son of Tighernach, King of the Kiannachta of
Glenn-Gemhin.4l
ANILRI, ARD-RIGH.
A. D. 560.42  Anmiri, son of Sedna, son of Fergus Kenn-fada,
son of Conall Gulban, son of Niall"3 of the Nine Hostages, of the
line of Erimh6n, held the kingdoni of Ireland  for three years.
Brighitt, daughter of Cobthach, son of Olild, one of the Lagenians
of Ard Ladrann, was his wife, and the mother of Aedh, son of
Aniniri.  He fell by the hand of Fergus, son  of Niall, at the
instigation of Baedan, son of Ninnidh, at Carraig-lemi-an-eich.
BAEDAN,44 ARD-RIGH.
A. D. 563.45  Baedan, son of Ninnidh, son of Fergus Kennfada, son of Conall Gulban, son of Niall of the Nine Hostages,
of the line of Erimh6n, reigned over Ireland for three years.  It
was in the reign of Baedan that St.Brendan of Cluain-ferta46 died.
Aedh, son of Eocaidh  Tirmncarna, King  of Connaught, was
slain during that time, in the battle of Bagha.47  Carbri Crom,
C9 onall, son of  Comngall.  He  fell, seems to be either a mistake of
died in the year 572; or, according  the transcribers or an oversight of
to others, in 573.                   Dr. Keating's.-It would appear, from'4 Aci.  This name is also found  the following verse quoted by the Four
written I and Hi. In Gaelic, it ought Masters, that Anmiri had made a deto be pronounced Ee or liee. It is the structive inroad into Munster, during
island now called Iona or I-colm-kille, his short reign:
one of the Hebrides.
4' Kiannacta  of Glenn  Gemltin.       "Femhenn, lwhile he was king
These were the descendants of. Finn- Was not without her deeds of strife;
These were the descendants of FiDn-       Dark-red to-day her face appears
caidh Uallach, son of Connla, son of      From Anmiri, the son of Sedna"
the redoubted champion Tadg, son of
Kian, son of Olild Olum. They were   44 BAEDAN II.  This king reigned
the ancestors of the O'Connors of but one year, according to the last
Ulster. Their territory is now called  cited annals.
the barony of Keenaught, county Lon-   4a A. D. 567. Four Masters.
donderry.  The O'Connors are still  46 Cluain-ferta.  This St. Brendan
numerous in Glengiven (Glenn Gem- died on the 16th of May, 576, at
bin); which was the ancient name of Aenach-Duin, now Annadown, on the
the Vale of the River Roa, which  east bank of Lough Corrib; but he
flows through the centre of the nor- was buried at Clonfert.
thern Kiannacta.                       47 Bag/ha.  Perhaps Sliabh Bagh42 A. D. 564. Four Masters.       na, or Badbgna, now  Slieve Bawne,
43 Son Gf Niall. He is called son  county Roscommon. This Aedh was
of Nellin, by other authorities. The not slain until 574. Hie fell by the
name given to the place where Anmiri Ui Briuin.




THE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.                        445
King of Munster, died about the same period; and then, also,
died Baedan, son of Carell, King of Ulster; and, also, St. Ruadan,43 of Lothair, a saint descended of the line of Olild Flann
Beg, son of FiacaidhL  Maeil-lethan.  Baedan, King of Ireland,
was slain by the two Cumins, namely: by  Cumin, son of Colman, and Cumin, son of Libren, at Carraig-lemi-an-eich.49
According to Bede, in the fourth chapter of the third book of
his Saxon History, it was in the year of our Lord five hundred
and sixty-five that St. Columkille proceeded to Alba"5 upon his
apostolic mission.
AEDH  MAC ANMIRECH, ARD-RIGH.
A. D. 566." Aedh,"2 son of Anmiri, son of Sedna, son of Fergus
Kenn-fada, son of Conall Gulban, son of Niall of the Nine Hostages, assumed the sovereignty of Ireland, and held it for twentyseven years.
I have before statedlthat Brighitt (Brecyith), daughter of Cobthach, son of Olild, of the royal line of Leinster, was the mother
of this prince.  It was this Aecdh that fought the battle of Bhlach
Dathi,53 where Colmican  Beg, son  of Diarmaid, fell, with five
thousand of his warriors, through prophecies of St. Columkille.
It was, also, in this king's reign St. Senach,"' the holy bishop of
Cluain  Eraird, died.  About this time, also, died Feidlimlidh,'3
son of Tighernach, King of Munster.
48 St. Ruadan. This was the saint   5 A. D. 568. Four Masters.
who had laid the famous malediction    52 AEoDII 1.  In the first year of
upon  Temhair.  HIis monastery, as his reign he slew Fergus, son of Nellin,
above stated, was situated at Lorha, in revenge for his father.
now a village in Lower Ormnond, county    Belacl-Dathi. The place of this
Tipperary, six miles north of Burri- fight is called by others Docte, B6lach,sokean.                              Feda and BWlach-an-fhedha. It is now
49 Carraig;-lemi-an-eich, i. e. the  known as Ballaglhanea, in the parish of
Rock of the Horse's Jump. There are Lurgan, county  Cavan.  It would
many places of this name in Ireland. appear, that St. Columkille's hostility
That here mentioned, may be Leim- to the Southern Ui Neill did not end
an-eich-ruaidh, i. e. the Red Horse's with the life of the monarch Diarrmaid.
Jump, noW/ called Lemnaroy, county        St. Seach. He died in the year
Londonderry.-O'D.  The name of 587, bishop of Cluain-Eraird or Iraird,
the persons by whom  Baedain was now Clonard, in Meath.
slain, is written Comaeini in other    5 Feildliid1h, son of Tighernach.
records.                            HIis death is entered, under the year
"o Proceeded to Alba.  In the An- 586, in the Annals of the Four Masnals of the Four Masters, this event is ters, in these terms:  "Fceidlimidh,
recorded as-having taken place in 557, son of Tighernach, King of Munster,
a little before which, as some will have  died."  Dr. Brien would make him out
it, he had been condemned by a Synod  to have been but king of Desmolnd, or
of the Irish clergy, for having excited  South Munster; " but this," says Dr.
his relatives to'fight the battle of Cuil O'Donovan, " is one of his intentional
Dremni, against King Diarmaid.       falsifications, in order to detract from,




446                THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Great convention of Drorn Keth -Tlzreatened banishment of tha
Bards-Attempt to lay a tribute upon the Dal-Riacda of Alba
- Captivity of Syganlan iMor-St. Columlcille.
It was by Aedh, son of Anmiri, that the Great Convention of
Drora Keth was called together.
At it were assemlbled the most distinguished persons amongst
the nobility and clergy of Ireland.  For summoning this great
convention, Aedh had three principal causes.
TIHE FIRST CAUSE was his resolve to banish the Filedha"5 (Flleea), or Poets, out of Ireland, on account of the greatness of their
numbers, and of the difficulty there was both in governing themselves, and in satisfying their demands; for the train attendant
upon an Ollamnh numbered thirty persons; and that attendant
upon the Anuruith, that is, the person who was next in rank to
the Ollamh inll the Filedhacht (Filleeaght), or Poetic Order, was
fifteen.  So that, about that epoch, nearly one third of the men
of Ireland,58 belonged to the Poetic Order, all of whom were wont
to quarter themselves upon the other inhabitants, from the season
of Samhain to that of Beltaini.  On this account, Aedh considered them to be too heavy a load upon the land of Ireland, and,
therefore, did he propose to expel them from the country. He
had, also, another motive for desiring their expulsion.  It was
for their having had the audacity to demand the gold broach"9
that fastened the royal mantle of Aedh. This was a broach that
each king was wont to leave as an heirloom and precious relic
the ancient importance of the Eogran- far from Newtown Limavaddy, county
achts." Aedh Uargarb, son of Crimth- Londonderry.
ann, the grandfather of this Feidli-   Our Annals are not in accord as to
midh, was the immediate founder of the exact date of the convention.
that Eoganacht sept, which after- The Annals of Clonmacnoise record it,
wards took the nasme which has been under the year 587. The true year
anglicized O'Mahony.  Laeg(ari, son was 590.
of Crimthaun, brother of the said    5 Filedha.  The  plural of Pile
Aedh Uargarb, was the founder of the  (Filleh), i. e. a Member of the Literary
sept now called O'Donoghoo. Feid- or Poetic Order.
limidh is also recorded as King of    Men of Ireland.  By men of
Munster in the Annals of Ulster, Ireland, in the original, Fir Eirenn, we
which record his death under A. D. must understand the men of the Free
589, as follows: Mors'eidlimthe  Clans, or the Sacr Clanna of Ireland.
mic Tig(hernai h regis Mumhan. The     Gold Broach. For a description
death of Feidlimidh, son of Tigher- of the gold broach or delg oir with
nach, King of Manster.            which the ancient nobility of Ireland
5 Drunm-IGth.  The place where  fastened their falling or mantle, the
this convention was held, is now called  reader is referred to Walker on the
Daisy Hill, near the River Roe, not Dress of the Ancient Irish.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                     447
to his successor.  It was, indeed, their impudent demand of the
broach that more immediately excited Aedh to expel them; so
that he had banished them all to the Dal Riada, in Ulster.
They, that is the Filedha, or members of the Poetic Order,
had been previously banished, for their overbearing conduct and
unjust judgments, in the days of Concobar6~ Mac Nesa, Iling of
Ulster.  A t that time, all the Filedha of Ireland were assembled
together in one place, arld at their meeting there were found to
be one thousand Filedha, who were each followed by a band of
attendants.  They were then making up their minds to go settle
in Alba.  But when Concobar heard it, he deputed Cuchulainn
to detain them, and gave them maintenance for seven years with
himself, as the bard thus relates:
"To Uladh wends that thronging host,
To Concobar of crimson glaive;
And Uladh's king, for seven full years,
1Maintained those exiled sons of song."
After that, the Filedha spread themselves anew  throughout
Ireland, and they were not again molested until the time of
Fiacaidh,61 son of Baedan, King of Ulster, nor from the time of
Fiacaidh to that of Maelcaba,62 son of Deman, son of Carell, King
of Ulster; nor from  the time of Maeleaba to that of Aedh, son
of Anmiri.  Three times did the men of Ireland iefuse to maintain the Filedha, and each time of these did the Ulta uphold
them.
At the time of their first banishment, when Concobar gave
them maintenance for seven years, their number, as I have just
said, amounted to one thousand.
At the time of their second exile, when they were supported
for one year by Fiacaidh, son of Baedan, their number was sev'en
hundred, and  at their head was  Eocaidh  Righ-Eiges (ReeAiguess),6' as the bard has said in the following rann:
o0 Concobar.  This king reigned for, what Keating records in this inover Ulster, as we have seen, about stance as two distinct events seems to
the period of the birth of Christ. He have constituted but one,
continued, during his whole reign, the   63 Righ-eiges, i.e. King-Poet. Eomunificent patron of the Bardic Order. caidh  Righ-eiges was buit another
61 Fiacaidh. lie flourished in Uli- name for Dallan Forgaill, who was the
dia, from A.D. 571 to 622, conse- Chief Poet of Ireland in the time of
quently, must have been:the pro- Aedh. He was a disciple of St. Cotector of the Poets upon the present lumkille, and the author of the famous
occasion. He is also called Fiachna.  amira, or hymn, called Amhra Choluim
62 Maelcaba, otherwise Maelcobha, Cille. Two of Dallan's odes are given
was the son of Fiachna, and was King with metrical translations, in HardiL
of Ulidia in 646. Fiacaidh may also man's Irish Minstrelsy.
have had a brother named Maelcaba,




448                 THE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.
"Eocaidh, sage of righteous laws,
To Fiacaidh, Baedan's son, repairs,
And there the King-sage welcome found,
And there his bards found maintenance."
The third time they were exiled, they numbered twelve hundred around Da llan Forgail and Senchan.6'  It was at that time
that they were supported by Maelcaba, King of Ulster, as the
bard has thus told us in the duan from  which  the extracts last
quoted have been made:
"When Mlaelcaba of minstrels reigned,
In yonder Iubar-kiun-tra.,ha,65
Twelve hundred bards then shelter found,
Beside his tall north-eastern Yew.
"To them Maelcaba of the Head66
Gave maintenance for three bright years;
And till Doom's pale Day may the generous chiefs
Of Deman's shapely sons still reign."
THE SECOND CAUSE that he had for calling the convention of
Drom-Keth was his desire to place a tribute upon the Dal-Riada
of Alba," for they had, up to that time, been  subject to pay no
rent to the Kincg of Ireland  with the exception of their having
had to raise an army to assist him  in his wars, both by sea and
by land, and their being subject to pay erics to the Irish Ardrigh, as St. Colman,"s son of Comghellach, has laid down, and as
he tells us himself, in the following rann:
64 Senclann.  He became the suer stood tlat the territory, sought to be
cessor of Dallan as Chief Poet. He  placed under tribute on this occasion,
is otherwise known as Senchan Tor- was that of the Dal-Riada of Antrim,
pest. His dirge over the body of his whoml Aedgan or Aidan, as chieftain
Master, Dallan, has been published in  of the race of Pliada both in Ireland
the work last, mentioned.            and Alba, would set free from  the
63 Iaubnr-!7imnn-traCha, i.e. the Yew  jurisdiction of the Irish  monarch.
Tree at the IHead of the Strand. This  However, it is not likely that such a
is the Gaelic name of the town now  demland would have been then made in
called Newry, county Down.  The  the very height of the Ui Neill supreword Newry is a corruption of " An  macy. It is much more likely that
Inbhar" (An'yewr), i e. the Yew Tree. the disputed point was really*what
With  aspirations, the whole name Keating represents it, and that Aedh
reads Iubhar-chinn-tralgha, and is now  sought to revive the sway exercised by
pronounced somewhat like Yoor-Keen- his ancestor, Niall, over North Britain..7Threwa.                             68 St. Colman.  We are told that
0 Of the  RIead, i.e. the Head of this question had been left to St. Cothe Strand. The o'iginal is naelcabha  lumkille's decision, but that he declined
an Ching; but the editor thinks that the task of arbitration on account of
Ching has been written by mistake for his known friendship towards Aedgan,
Chinn.                              the Dal-Riadic King.  It was then
Mr. Moore seems to have under- committed to St. Colman, a man deep.




THE. HISTORY OF IRELAND.                     449
" A land force they are bound to raise,
A fleet on sea they're bound to launch;
And, by my wise and just decree,
They fines shall pay for kindly blood."
THE THIRD CAUSE of the convention of Drom-Keth, was in
order to depose Sganlan Mor,69 the son of Kennfaelaclh, from the
principality of Osraide, or Ossory, for having refused to pay to
the monarch Aedh, head-rent, and to instal Illann, son of the said
Sganlan, as prince of the Ossorians, in his stead, for he had consented to pay the said head-rent. And such were the three causes
for assembling the great convention of Drom Keth, as the bardsage tells in this verse, down here:
"That Congress had three aims in viewHis crown from Sganlan Mor to wrest;
On Riada's tribes a rent to place;
From Eri's land her bards to drive."
The following are the names of the Kings of the Fifths, and
the Lords of Cantons that came to that convention: Crirmthann
Kerr, king of Leinster; Illann, son of Sganlan, son of Kennfaeladh, king of Osraide; Maelduin, son of' Aedh Bennan, king
of West Munster;  Guairi, son  of Colman,  king  of Clan
Fiachra, North  and  South;  Fiunghin, son  of Aedh  Dubh,
son of Crimthann, king of all Munster; Rarghallach,'  son of
Uada, who was king over the Tuatha Taeidin, and over Brefni
Ui Runire, as far as Cliaban MAoduirn; Kellach, son of Kearnach,
son of Dubh-Dothra, king of Brefni Ui Raghallaigh; Conall
KIenn-bagair, or EKenn-maghair, king of Tir Conaill; Fergal,
ly versed in legal and ecclesiastical another chieftain named Raghallach,
science, who, on the grounds that the  who was son of Cathalan, son of Maelterritory of the Dal-Riada was an Irish  morda, the 11th descendant from Ferprovince, gave his decision against gus, the common ancestor of the
Aedgan. —See Mlloore.               O'Connors, O'Reillies, and O'Ruaircs.
67 Sgrtnlan 0Mor.  This is not tlhe His territory, as here stated, comprised
Sganlan Mor, son of Kennfaeladh, son  the present counties of Roscommon
of FeiTadach, who died kinlg of Osraide and Leitrim.-Cliaban 3Moduirn was
in 642, and is the ancestor of all the probably on the borders of Crioch
septs of the Fitz Patricks. It was a Modurna, now Cremorne, in Monaghan.
cousin-german of his, whose father's Kellach was chieftain of the Ui Briuin
name was also Kennfaeladh, but whose Brefni.  In Guairi, Raghallach, and
grandfather was named Rumann, and  Kellach, we see the representatives of
was the brother of Feradach.        the three great tribes of the descend.
70 Raghallach.  He was an ances- ants of Eocaidh Muigh.medon, who
tor of the O'Connors of Connaught, had partitioned Connaught between
but not of the O'Raghallaigh or them, having supplanted the old BelO'Reillies of Brefni Ui Raghallaigh  gian tribes of the Gamhanraide, the
(Cavan.) They are descended from  Fir Craeibi and the Tuatha Taeiden.
29




450                THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
son of Maelduin, king of Ailech;71 Guairi, son of Congal, king
of Ulidia; the two kings of Oirghiall, namely, Daimhin,72 son
of Aengus, who ruled the country from Clochar Desa73 to Finncairn, upon Sliabh-Fuaid, and Aedh, son of Duach Galach, who
ruled from Finn-cairn on Sliabh-Fuaid to the Boyne.
When St. Columkille, who was then in Alba, heard of the calling together of that General Assembly, and had learned the three
motives for which it was about to be held, he set out from Aei
to Ireland, attended by his congregation of clerics. The number
of these that accompanied him was forty priests, twenty-bishops,
fifty deacons, and thirty clerical students, as the Amhra-Choluimcilli, or Hymn ofiColumkille, relates in the following verse:' Forty priests his host then numbered,
And twenty bishops of high power,
With thirty youths, and fifty deacons,
For chaunting psalms of endless praise."
It is possible that some readers may disbelieve what I am
here about to state, namely, that the bishops of Alba acknowledged the supremacy of the abbots of Aei, in ancient times;
but let them read the the fourth chapter of the fifth book of
Bede's History of the Saxon Church, where he has spoken of the
primatial authority of the Island of Aei over Alba, in the following terms: " It was always the custom of this island to have
a consecrated abbot for its primate, to whose rule all the province, and, by an unusual arrangement, the very bishops themselves are bound to be subject, after the example of its first
teacher, who was not a bishop, but a priest and a monk."74  And
it is evident that Columkille was the first teacher that acquired the primatial authority in Aei, from  what Bede recounts
in the tenth chapter of the eighth book of the same history:'1 Ailech. This was at this time a'3 Clochar Desa.  Now  Clogher,
new principality, founded by the Nor- county Tyrone. Sliabh Fuaid lies in
t~ern Ui Neill, and so called from the Atmagh, as heretofore located. Ulster
ancient stronghold of Ailech, near was, at this time, divided into four
Derry, which they had made their principalities, or rather into five, if we
roval residence.                  would count amongst them the Dal72 -Daimhin. Daimhin Damhairgitt, Riada of Antrim, represented by Aedwhose real name was Carbri, is the gan, King of the Alban Scots.
ancestor of the Mac Mahons of Mona-   74 Habere autem solet (inquit) rec.
ghan. He could not have been at this torem  semper abbatem et presbyter
convention, for he had died in- 560. rum, ejusque juri et omnis provincia et
Indeed, some others of the chiefs, ipsi etiam episcopi (ordine inusitato)
named in the list above given, could debeant esse subjecti, juxta exemplum
not have been at Drom-Keth-they  primi doctoris illius, qui non episcopal
naving either died before it took place, sed presbiter extitit et monachus.
or having lived too long after it.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.               451
"Columba,"75 says he, " was the first teacher of the Catholic Faith
to the Picti, north of the mountains, and the first that built a
monastery in the Island of Hia, which was long held venerable
by the numerous nations of the Scoti and Picti."  From these
words of Bede it must be understood that St. Columkille, or
Columba, was the first teacher that went to propagate the Faith
among the Picti of the north of Scotland, and that, for that
reason, not only the priests and the monks did homage to the
abbots of Aei, but the bishops, also, acknowledged his supremacy,
because it was St. Columkille that had given them the light of
the Faith for the first time. Hence it happened that some bishops accompanied St. Columkille, as his attendants, to the convention of Drom Keth.
St. Columkille came to Ireland with a waxed cloth upon his
eyes, in order he might not see the Irish soil; for when St.
Molasi had banished him to Alba, for a penance, he bound him
never to set his eyes upon the Irish soil, to the day of his death;
and from this it came, that he kept a waxed cloth constantly upon
his eyes while he remained in Ireland, and never removed it
until his return to Alba. It was in remembrance of his having
thus fulfilled the penitential sentence which St. Molasi had laid
upon him, that the latter saint has himself left the following verse:
"Though Colum fiom the east had come,
Ship-wafted hither o'er the sea,
Still nought on Eri's earth he saw,
While at her council he remained."
According to the ancient book called'the Uighir Chiarain, the
reason why St. Molasi had laid upon St. Columkille this
penitential sentence, which had thus compelled him to emigrate
to Alba, was to make the latter do penance for his having been
the cause why three battles had been fought in Ireland; for he
was the instigator of the battles of Cuil-Dremni, Cuil-Feda and
Cuil-Rathain.
The battle of Cuil-Dremni arose out of the following event:
At a Feis of Temhair, held by Diarmaid, son of Fergus Kerbe6l,
King of Ireland, a certain nobleman had been slain by Curnan,
son of Aedh, son of Eocaidh Tirmcarna. This Curnan, Diarmaid put to death, for having killed a nobleman at the said Feis,
in violation of the law and sanctuary thereof. But before he
fell into the king's hands, Curnan had fled to the protection of
the two sons of Murkertach Mac Erca, namely, Fergus and
75 Columba erat primus doctor Fidei quod in Hiae insula, multis din ScotoCatholicse transmontanis ad aquilo- rum Pictorumque populis venerabilis
nem, primusque fundator monasterii mansit.




452               THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Domnaill. These princes placed him under the protection of
St. Columkille.  However, in spite of this protection, Diarmaid
put him to death, for having violated the sacred rights of Temhair.  Thence it happened that St. Columkille mustered the
northern Clanna Neill, in order to avenge the violation of his
protection. Thus was Diarmaid with the Connaughtmen7G routed
at the battle of Cuil-Dremni, and there that king was vanquished,
through the prayers of St. Columnkille.  The Black Book of
Mfolaga gives another reason for thQ battle of Cuil-Dremni;
namely, the partial judgment which had been given by Diarmaid against St. Columkille, when a copy of the Gospel having
been privately copied from a book belonging to St. Fintan,77 the
latter had claimed as his own property the copy which had been
transcribed from his own book.  St. Columkille also laid claim
to the copy, upon the grounds that he had himself transcribed it.
Both parties then selected the king as adjudicator between them;
and Diarmaid thereupon adjudged that, as every calf belonged
to its own proper cow, so did every copy belong to its parent
book.  Such is the second cause assigned for the battle of CuilDremni.,
The reason why St. Columkille had instigated the battle
of Cuil-Rathain78 against the Dal Araide and the Ulta, or Ulidians, was because, when some contention had arisen between
that saint and St. Conigall, those tribes had shown partiality
towards St. Comgall, and severity towards St. Columkille.
St. Columkille hadc instigated the battle of Cuil-Feda against Colman, son of Diarmaid, because he had felt insulted by Cumin,
son of Colman's having killed Baedan, son of Ninnidh, King of
Ireland, at Leim-an-eich, in violation of his own protection.
Now, when St. Columkille arrived in Ireland, from Alba, accompanied by his holy priests, and when he was approaching
the place where the convention was held, the queen, that is the
wife of Aedh, son of Anmiri, told her eldest son, Conall, son of
Aedh, "not to show  the slightest respect either to the coirrchleirech" himself or to his gang."  And when St. Columkille
76 Connaughtmen. This would seem  Manuscript, which is a copy of the
a mistake. The King of Connaught Psalter, was ever after known by the
was against Diarmaid at Cuil-Dremni; name of Cathach. It was preserved
still a portion of the Connaught people for ages in the family of O'Donnell;
might have sided with him. Diar- and has been deposited in the Museum
maid's own clan, the Southern Ui Neill, of the Royal Irish Acad'emy, by Sir
were natives of Meath, not Connaught. Richard O'Donnell, its present owner."
17 St. F intan.  His name is also -O'Donovan.
written Finnen and Finian. "After   78 Cuil-Rathain. Now called Cole
this battle, the Monarch and Saint raine in Ulster.
Columb made peace; and the copy of  79 Coir-chleirech.  This compound
the book, made from  St. Finnen's epithet is a term of contempt applied
Manuscript, was left to him.  This to clergymen, who have been silenced




THE HISTORY  OF I]ELAND.                       453
had been told of this opprobrious language, he said, "With my
full consent that queeii, with her waiting maid, in the shape of
two herons, may contiuually hover around yon ford, beneath
me, until the Day of Doom."  This quotation from  the Amhra
repeats the words of Columnkille;
"' Oh, she may soon a heron be,'
('Twas so the outraged cleric spake,)' In heron shape, her handmaid, too,'Tis meet may share her lady's fate.'"
The reason for transforming the waiting maid into a heron as
well as her mistress was, because it was she, that had been sent
Dy  the  queen  with  the above-mentioned message to  Conall,
wherein he was told " to show no respect to the coirr-chleirech or
to his gang."  Many people will still tell us, that this is the
reason why there are two herons ever since constantly seen on
the ford, near Drom-Keth.
or degraded from their rank. The first the antagonistic characters of Chrispart of the word, which in its primary  tian priest and Irish chieftain. Preform is Cor, means a turn, change, or vious to the battle of Culil Dremni,
twist, &c. But Corr (now Coirr-iasfg), (olumkille is recorded to have said to
which differs scarcely at all from Cor King Diarmaid, "I will go unto my
in pronunciation, means a heron, or brethren, the races of Conall and
(as the Irish peasants improperly call Eogan, and I will give thee battle in
that bird), a crane. The legend re- revenge for this unjust sentence thou
counted by Keating, makes the saint hast given against me, respecting the
play upon the double meaning of the book, and in revenge for the killing of
term used by the queen, as if she had  the son of the King of Connaught,
called him, the heron-clerk or crane- while under my protection."  It is
clerk. It would appear, that previous not, in truth, surprising  that the
to his going to Alba Columkille had haughty spirit, from which such threats
been severely censured (some say esx- emanated, should have called down the
communicated) by the Irish clergy, censure of the fathers of the church;
with St. Molasi at their head, in con- and the meekness with which the Irish
sequence of the bloodshed caused by  prince, when convinced of his error,
him  in the above-mentioned battles. submitted to the sentence of his spiritIt is to that censure the Irish queen is ual superiors, proves the truth and
made to allude upon this occasion. sincerity of the man; and it should
Mr. Moore thinks that though an at- add to rather than derogate from the
tempt might have been made to cx- lustre of the sanctity of his subsequent
communicate  him  previous to  his career. The idol of the most powerleaving Ireland, still, that it was made ful tribe in Ireland, he might have
upon some trivial grounds, and for caused a schism  in the infant Irish
some light and unimportant proceed- church, resisted his sentence for a time,
ings.  Irish history, however, shows were he any mere political ecclesiastic.
that there were serious grounds for But instead of doing so, he leaves his
the " breth aithrighe" (br/h three), or high positioni in his native land, and
penetential sentence pronounced upon  devotes himself to a life of missionary
the future apostle of the Picts, by St. labor, amongst remote and hostile
Mlolasi; and that in the pride of his tribes.
manhood, he had sometimes confounded




454             THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
As to St. Columkille, upon his arrival at the place of assembly,
he found that the household of Conall, son of Aedh, son of Anmiri,
was that which was nearest to himself. And when Conall saw
the clerics approaching, he sent thence nine persons of the rabble
of his household against them; and these flung lumps of clay at
the strangers, so that the holy men were bruised and bespattered
with mud. St. Columkille asked who they were that beat him
and his people so. He was told, in reply, that it was Conall,
son of Aedh, that had urged the rabble to that act. He then
caused thrice nine bells to be rung upon the spot, against Conall,
who forthwith received the saint's malediction, and was deprived
thereby of prosperity, royalty and lordship, prudence, memory
and intellect.  And from those bells tolled against him on
that occasion, he has ever since been called Conall Clogach, or
Conall of the Bells.
St. Columkille then went towards the high place occupied by
Domnall, son of Aedh, and that prince rose up to meet him, and
made him welcome; and, having kissed him on both cheeks, he
placed him in his own seat. For this kindness, St. Columkille
lessed Domnall, and prayed to God that the kingdom of Ireland might fall to his lot; and so it afterwards came to pass, for
Domnall held the sovereignty of Ireland for thirteen years
previous to his death.
St. Columkille, accompanied by Domnall, next proceeded to
the household of the king. The latter was, thereupon, smitten
with fear, by reason of what had happened to the queen, and to
her waiting maid; and when St. Columkille came into his presence, he was received with a welcome. " My welcome consists
in compliance with my demands," said St. Colurnkille.  " Thou
wilt get it," said the king. " Then," said St. Columkilie, " the
compliance I require of thee consists in granting me the three
petitions which I am about to ask of thee, namely: to continue to
maintain the Filedha, whom thou art about to expel from Eri,
and to set Sganlan Mor, the King of Osraide, free from the
bondage in which thou boldest him, and not to insist upon laying a tribute upon the Dal-Riada of Alba." "I do not wish,"
said the king, "to continue to maintain the Filedha, so extreme
is their insolence, and so great are their numbers, for the Ollamh
has an attendant train of thirty followers, and the Anruith has a
train of fifteen; so of the members of the other degrees of that
order downwards, each person has his special number of attendants allotted to him, according to his rank, so that now almost
one third of the men-of Ireland are members of the order." St.
Columkille agreed that it was but right to set aside a great many
of the Filedha, on account of their excessive numbers; but he
told the king that he ought himself to continue to maintain a




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                  455
Fil, as his Ard-ollamh, according to the usage of the kings that
preceded him; and that each pentarch king should also maintain an Ollamh, and each lord of a canton and chief of a district
likewise. This plan was finally adopted, at St. Columkille's
suggestion, and King Aedh gave it his royal sanction. It was
to commemorate the benefit then conferred by St. Columkille
upon the Poetic Order,.that Mael-ruithin coffposed the verse
which follows;
"The bards from banishment were saved,
By holy Colum, of just laws;
Each lordship shall maintain a bard,
For thus it was that Colum said."
The result of the arrangement then made, by Aedh, son of
Anmiri, and St. Columkille was, that each king of Ireland was
bound to maintain his cwn special Ollamnh, and that each pentarch king and district chieftain was bound to maintain one likewise.  Each of the Ollamhs was, by special right, entitled to get
a tract of land from his own lord, free of all rent; and, moreover,
the members of the Poetic Order were entitled to universal freedom and sanctuary from the men of Ireland, in the lands, per-.;ons and worldly goods of each individual )llamh of them.  It
was also then ordained that the said Ollamhs should be granted;ertain distinct public estates in land, where they could give
public instruction, after the manner of a university; such as
was Rath-Kenaid,80 and Masraide on Magh Slecta in Brefili,
where any of the men of Ireland could get free instruction in
the sciences, that is, any one that wished to acquire a knowledge
of history, and of the sciences then known in Ireland.
At that epoch, the Ard-Ollamh of Ireland was Eocaidh Eiges
(Aghee Aeguess), son of Olild, son of Ere. It was he that was
called Dallan Forgail, and he then sent forth certain Ollamhs,
whom  he set over the  Fifths (Principalities) of Ireland;
such as Aedh Eiges (Ayeh Aigues) over the districts of Breagh
and Meath; Urmael Ard-Eiges over the two Munsters; Senchan,
son of Uailfertach, ever the principality of Connaught; Ferferb,
son of Muredach, son of Mongan, as Ard-Ollamh of Ulster.
There was also one Ollamh appointed in every canton, subject
to these Ard-Ollamhs, and they held free lands under the respective chiefs of these districts, and they had the right of
sanctuary therein, as I have said above. The rewards, also,
which each of them was to receive for his poems and songs were
fixed according to law.
S Rath-Kennaid. This place is in situated in the celebrated Magh Slecta
Meath, and is now called Rathkenny. or Magh Sleachta; near BallymagauIts modern Gaelic orthography is Rath ran, county Cavan.
Cheannaigh. Masraide (Masree), was




456                THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
The second request that St. Columkille demanded of Aedh
was to set Sganlan Mor, son of Kenn-faeladh, King of Osraide, at
liberty, and to send him home to his own country.  This request,
was refused by the monarch. " I shall importune thee no further,"
said St. Coluhinkille; "but, if it be the will of God, Sganlan Mor
shall loose the thongs of my shoes to-night at my midnight
devotions."
The third request that St. Columkille demanded was to grant
indulgence to the Dal-Riada,  and not to pass over to Alba on
any plundering expedition against them, for the purpose of forcing them to pay tribute; " For," said he, " it is only lawful to
demand chief-rent from them, and hostings upon land amld upon
sea."  " I will not remit it," said the Iking, " until I shall have
gone to visit them myself."  "Then," replied St. Columrnlille, "I
here declare them for ever free from thy yoke;" and this turned
out-to be the fact.
After this, St. Columlkille,  and his train of clerics, bid farewell
to the monarch and to the members of the convention.
The Book of Glenn-da-loch says that Aedgan,` son of Gabran,
son of Domhangort, King of Alba, had attended this convention,
and that he took leave of the Irish monarch at the same time with
St. Columkillc.  The same book says, that the convention sat
for the space of a year and one month, araninging rights and the
laws of taxes, and cementing friendly relations arongst the men
of Ireland.
As to St. Columkille, when he had finally taken leave of the
assembly, he set out for Dubh-Eglais,"2 in Inis-Eocg-in.  And,
aftervwards, when the night had comle upon the place of the convention, a bright and fiery flame descended upon the guard, that
kept the cell where Aedh held Sganlain Mor in bonds, tied down
by twelve chains of iron.  Thereupon, the guards,were exceedingly frightened, and they immediately gave their faces to the
earth, amazed at tlhe greatness of the light they saw.  And a
bright ray of light came to Sganlan in the cell where he was
lying, and a voice spoke to him from out of the blaze, Iand said,
"Arise, Sganlan,  and cast thy  chains away, and  leave thy
8, Acdgan. "On the death of Conal, writer upon church antiquities, MlarKing' of the British Scots, in the tene,- refers to this inaugnuration of
year 572-3, Aidan, son of Gawrvan, Aidan, by St. Coluhiba, as the most
succeeded to the throne; and it is ancient instance le ihas met wilth, in
mentioned, as a proof of the general the course of his reading, of the beneveneration in which St. Coluamba was diction of kings in Christian times."
held, as well by the sovereigns as by -Moore's History of irelnld.
the clorgy and the people, that lie was    D Dubk-Eelais, i. e. the Black Church.
the person selected   erfornm the cere- St. Columkille's ChurcIh, at Perry, ir
mony of the indt iration, on the here meant. It was otherwise called
accession of the new king.  It is Duibh-regles.
rather remnarkable  tlhat a learned




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                      457
dungeon, and come out, and place thy hand in mine."  Sganlan
then came out, the angel going before him. And the guards
heard them, and askled who vwas there?   "Sganlan," replied the
angel.  " If it were lie," said they, " he would not tell."  And
now, when St. Columkille was at malins, it was Sganlan that
unloosed his shoes, as he passed over the cranr-sctainghil, or railing of the sanctuary.  And when St. Columkille asked who it
was? le was answered: by Sganlan, who told that it was he.
And when the saint questioned the chieftain further, Sganlan
cried out, "Drink," and could utter nothing but " drink, drink,"
so great was his thirst; for they were wont to feed him  with
salted meat in his dungeon, and gave him  no drinkl therewith;
and in remembrance of the frequency of his repeating the same
cry for drink, in answer to St. Columkille, the latter left an impediment in his speech, which  became hereditary amongst the
kings of his race, who ruled Osraide after him.
Then St. Columkille told St. Baeithin to give three drinks to
Sganlan, whereupon Sganlan told him of the miraculous manner
of his escape, as related above.  Then St. Columkille commanded
Sganlan to set out for Osraide.  " I dare not," said the chieftain,
"for I am  afraid of Aedh."   "Thou  needest not fear him,"
said St. Columkille; "take my pastoral staff with thee, for thy
protection, anld leave it with my convent, at Dur-rmhagh,3  in
Osraide."  Upon this, Sganlan set out for Osraide, and while he
lived lie enjoyecld te chieftaincy of his own land, for Aedh did
not dare to give him  any trouble thenceforth, through fear of
St. Columkille.  In gratitude to that saint for having liberated
him, Sganlan, after his return home, fixed  an impost of one
sgrebal, that is, of threepenee, upon each hearth in his principality, from Bladcmas" to the sea, which was to be paid eve'y
_'3 ODw-mhlagL; otherwise, Bar- (ar Dur-mhagh); and devoting himqnhach Ch/clu'm Cilli, i. e. the Oak-field  self to the arrangement of matters
of Colurmkille.  This place is now  connected with the discipline of the
called Iarrow, and lies in the north of church;" and further, "after accomthe King's county. It is improperly pllishing all the objects he had in view
said to be in Osraide or Ossory, for it in visitin.g Ireland, he returned to his
lay in the south of ancient Meath. home in North Britain-to that' lIsle
Its site had been granted St. Colunm- of his heart;' as in some prophetic
kille, by Brendan, King of r'Lebtha, not verses, attributed to him, Iona is called
long after that saint had founded the -and there, assiduous to the last in
Monastery of Doiri-Calgaigh, or Derry, attending to the care of his monasteries
in his nal ive territory. It appears and numerous churches, he remained
that St. Columkille visited Dur-mnhagh  till death closed his active and benein person, durin( his last stay in Ire- ficent course."
land. Mr. Moore says, that during   s6 Bladma.  Slieve Bloom, in the
this sojourn, " Columba visited all the King's county, to which the territory
various religious establishments which  of the southern Ui Neill, or ancient
he had fiounded, passing some time at Meath, also extended.
his favorite Monastery at Dairmagh,




458                 TIHE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
year to the community of St. Columkille, at Dur-mhagh (Dur.,vaa), in Osraide, as we read in the Amhra ColuJm  Cilli, which
repeats the promise made by Sganlan to his deliverer, in the
following verse;
"My kin and tribes to thee shall pay,
Though numberless they were as grass,
A sgrebal from each hearth that lies
From Bladma's summit to the sea."
St. Columkille, moreover, gave his blessing to all the Ossorians,
on condition that they and their chieftains should be obedient to
himself and to his congregation at Dur-mhagh, from time to
time, in paying that impost, which Sganlan Mor then fixed both
upon them  and upon their descendants, as we thus read in the
Amhra;
" My blessing rest on Osraide's sons,
And on her daughters sage and bright;
My blessing on her soil and sea,
For Osraide's king obeys my word."
The baptismal name of this St. Columkille, of whom  we are
speaking, was Crimthann. Axal was the name of his guardian
angel, and Demal was the attendant demon that was wont more
especially to trouble and tempt him, as we thus read in the
Amhra,
" Crimthann 0 Cuinn,15 of purest deeds,
Was Columkille s baptismal name,
Axal his angel guard was called,
And Demal was his demon tempter."
The name Columkille was given to him  from  the following
circumstance: when he was a. boy, under the instruction of St.
Finnen, of Magh-Bili,8  he was wont to be let out into the village
for one day in the week, to play with the boys of his own age.
86 Crimntlann O'Cuinn; pronounced  MIagh - bhili (Moy - ilhi) means, the
somewhat like Crjfann O'Kueeng, i. e. plain of the aged tree; so called, perCrimthann, descendant of Conn. It haps, from some ancient tree venerated
has been remarked, that it formed nib  there in the times of Druidism. St.
inconsiderable part of this saint's per- Finnrn was also the founder of the
sonal advantages, that he was descend- famous college of Clonard, or Cluained fronm this father of many kings.  Irard, where St. Columkille had studis  St. Finrnen of Magh-bili.  St. ed. " Of the different schools where
linnbn was called, of Magh-bili, now  he had studied, the most celebrated was
Moville, near the head of Strangfprd  that of St. Finnian at Clonard. There
Lough, about a mile to the north  had already, in the timeof St. Patrick,
east of Newtown Ards, from a cele- or immediately after, sprung up a
brated church which he founded there. number of ecclesiastical seminaries




THE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.                        459
He had this privilege from his being of royal blood. Then, at his
usual hour for getting out, on the appointed day, the boys of
the canton used to assemble together to meet him; and as they
used to stand waiting for him at the monastery gate, they were
in the habit of crying out, as soon as they saw him approaching,
" Here the Colum Cillis7 (that is, the dove of the cell, or church,)
throughout Ireland; and besides those marking the path that once led to the
of Ailbe, of Ibar, of the poet Fiech at honored shrine of her saint." —Moore's
Sletty, there appears to have been  History of Ireland.
also a school at Armagh, established    The death of St. Columkille is reby the Apostle himself, and entrusted, corded, in the following terms, by the
during his life-time, to the care of his Four Masters of Donegall, the last of
disciple, Benignus. At the period we the hereditary historians of his race, the
have now reached, such institutions royal tribe of Kindl Conaill. " A.D.
had multiplied in every direction. But 592. The 25th year of Aedh. Colum
by far the most distinguished of them  Cille, son of Feidlimidh, apostle of
all, as well for the number as the supe- Alba, head of the piety of the most
rior character of it, was the long re- part of Eri and Alba, died in his own
nowned seminary of St. Finnian of Church, in Hi in Alba, after the 35th
Clonard.  In this school, there are  year of his pilgrimage, on Sunday
said to have been at one time three  night precisely, the 9th day of June.
thousand scholars." — oore.          Seventy-seven years was his whole age,
87 Colum cilli, i. e. the Dove of the  when he resigned his spirit to Heaven;
Church; in Latin, Columba  cella,. as is said in this quatrain:
Colum is the Irish synonyme for Columba.  Cell (kell), otherwise cill (kill),  For three years in dduibh-regles;
was one of the names by which the         Angel like, he left this world,
Irish designated a church. Hence the      After seventy years and seven."'
frequent occurrence of kill, its angli- Dallan Forgaill composed this on the
cized form, in the names of places.  death of Colum Cille:
"The name of this eminent man,
though not so well known throughout   " Like cure of leech without avail,
the Latin Church as that of another    Like marrow sundered from the bone,
Like song of harp without the ceis (kaish,)
Irish saint, Columbanus, with whom      Are we thus severed from our prince."*
he is frequently confounded, holds a
distinguished place among the Roman    Moore records it thus:
and other Martyrologies; and in the    " The description given of his last
British Isles will long be rmembered  moments, by one who received the
with traditional veneration. In Ireland, deails from  an eye-witness, presents a
rich as have been her annals in names picture at once so calm and so vivid,
of saintly renown, for none has she that I shall venture, as nearly as poscontinued to cherish so fond a rever- sible, in' the words of his biographer
ence as for her great Columbkille;  (St. Adamnan), to relate some partiwhile that Isle of the Waves, with  culars of the scene.  Having been
which his name is now  inseparably  farewarned, it is said, in his dreams of
connected, and which through his the time when his death was to take
ministry became the "luminary of the  place, he rose, on the morning of the
Caledonian regions," * has far less rea- day before, and ascending a small emison to boast of her numerous tombs of nence, lifted up his hands and solemnly
kings, than of those heaps of votive blessed the monastery. Returning
pebbles, left by pilgrims on her shore, from thence, he sat down in a hut ad* Irish glossographers are not agreed as to
$ Dr. Johnson.           the meaning of this word.-O'D.




460                THE IHISTORY OF IRELAND.
comes forth to meet us," and of raising up their hands for joy.
When the holy abbot, St. Firnnn, heard that the children had
so named him  Coluhwrr Cll, he understood that God willed that he
should be always called by that name, which had come into
the mouths of those innocent children, and that his baptismal
name of Crimrnthann should be forgotten.
Such changes often happened with the names of holy men.
St. Mochuda is another instance of it.  His baptismal name was
Carthach.  There was St. Caemhan, also, the disciple of Patrick,
whose first name was Mac Neisi; and then' there was St. Patrick
himself, whose baptismal name was SUCCATH, or SUCCATIUS,
and to whom St. Germanus gave the name of MIAGONIUS, when
he confirmed him, and upon whom the Pope, St. Celestinus, conferred, lastly, the name of PATRICIUS, preparatory to his mission
to Ireland, to propagate the Faith therein.
Again, there was St. Finnbar, the patron saint of Cork, whose
baptismal name was Lual.  So it happened to many others of
the shme class.  Hence we cannot be surpri.ed or astonished to
learn that Columkille was not the baptismal name of the saint
of whom. we have been speaking, though it was his usual one,
for the reason mentioned above.
You must also understand, reader, that St. Columkille was really
a thorough Irishman, both by birth and lineage, and that both
his parents were Irish, and tlhat lie was not a Scotchman of Alba,
though some Scotch, that is Albanach, writers would claim him
as their own countryman.  But it is clear that he was altogether
Irish, both by his father and his mother, for we read in the
Naeimh-shenchas Erenn, or the History of the Irish Saints, that
Feidlimidh, son of Fergus Kenln-fada, son of Conall Gulban, son
of the Irish Ard-Righ, Niall of the Nine HIostalges, was his father.
The bard-historian bears th6 following testimony to these facts,
in the duan which begins with the line, "1 The saint-history of
the saints of Inis Fail:"
joining, and there occupied himself in midnight prayer, he hastened to the
copying part of the Psalter, till, hav- church, and was the first to enter it.
ing finished a page with a passage of Throwing himself upon his knees, he
the thirty-third Psalm. he stopped and began to pray-but his strength failed
said,' Let Baithenl write the remain- him;and his brethren, arrivin(r soon
der.' This Baithen, who was one of after, found their beloved master rethe twelve disciples that originally clining before the altar, and on the
accompanied him to Hy, had been point of death. Assembling all around
named by him as his successor. After him, these holy men stood silent and
attending the evenin(r service in the weeping, while the saint, opening his
church, the saint returned to his cell, eyes, with an expression full of cheerfuland, reclining on his bed of stone, de- ness, made a slight movement of his
livered some instructions to his favorite hand, as if to give them his parting
attendant, to be communicated to the benediction, and in that effort breathed
brethren.  When the bell rang for his last."-History of Ireland.




THIE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                    4q1
"Colum  Killi, of the land of Conn,
Was son of Feidlimidh, most noble,
The son of Fergus, fierce in the fight,
Son of bright Conall Gulban, great."
It is also made clear by the Amhra, that St. Columkille was
equally Irish by his mother's side, for it is stated in that hymn,
that Ethni, daughter of Dima, son of Naei, of the line of Carbri
Niafer, King of Leinster, was his mother.  IIere follows the
verse of the Amhra, which records the fact:
"The lady Ethni, nobly born
Of royal Carbri's ancient race,
Mother of Colum, the divine,
Was daughter of Dima, son of Naei."
St. Columkille had mortified his body so much by fasting, praying and prostration, that he became so emaciated by the severity
of religious discipline, that his ribs appeared through his robe
whenever the wind blew upon  irn through the wooden walls of
his cold unplastered hut, as he laid himself down to rest upon the
sand, which formed his only bed, as we are told in the following
verse:
"With spirit pure he slept on sand,
And as he lay on that rude bed,
Beneath his robe his ribs' lean shape
Stood out against the wind's chill blast."
This saint lived to the age of seventy-four yearls, according to
Dallan Forgail, in Amlra Coluim Cilli, a poem  which had been
written by that bard shortly after St. Colunlkille's death;
" Whilst Colum stood on this fair earth,
He quelled his passions by stern toil,
For Hieaven he left this carnal world,
When seven and seventy years he saw."
Forty-three years of that time he spent in Ireland, after which
he lived thirty-four years in Alba, as the same Amlhra informs
us in the following verse:
"Three and forty years of these,'Midst toil and care, he spent in Eri,
And four and thirty full told years,
From Eri driven, he dwelt in Alba."
The following are the names of the places where St. Columkille made his abode, namely: in Aei, or Iona, of Alba; in




412                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Doiri, or Derry, and in Dun-da-leth-glas, or Down, in which last
he was buried, as he himself has told, in the poem where he
declares his love for these three places:
"My spirit's peace in Ia bides,
My heart's affection Doiri holds,
My dust beneath that stone shall rest
Where Brighittl and great Patrick lie."
Whenever St. Columkille was saying mass, or preaching, or
chaunting the psalms, his voice could be heard at the distance
of a mile and a half away, and no evil demon could bear to
listen to its sound, without fleeing before it, as the Amhra tells,
in the following verse:
"The sound of holy Colum's voice
Rose high above his sacred choir,
At fifteen hundred paces heard,
His thrilling tones swelled clear and grand."
There was a priest in Tir Conaill in the days of St. Columkille,
who had built a temple, which he adorned with precious stones,
and placed an altar of crystal therein; and he had set up images
representing the Sun and the AMoon in that temple.  Shortly
afterwards a great swoon came upon that priest, and therein a
demon came and bore him off through the air. But when they
were passing over the place where St. Columkille then was, he
looked up and saw them over his head, and, thereupon, he made
the sign of the blessed cross above him in the air, and the priestimmediately fell down to the earth, at the feet of St. Columkille.
88 Where Brighitt, ~c. —Neither St. his conquest of Ulidia in 1186, has all
Columkille nor St. Brighitt were origi- the appearance of a impious and fraudnally buried in Down. The shrine of  ulent attempt at establishing his new
the latter was in " Kildare's Holy  dominion by practising upon the pious
Fane," and that of the former in his credulity of the vanquished Irish, giv.
own church in Iona. It is said that, ing them  to understand that Providuring the ninth century, both their re- dence, by so honoring his reeking hands,
mains were removed to Down, in order had given special sanction to his ruthless
to avoid the pirate Danes. But, though  and bloody deeds. Hence, considerable
some portion of their relics may have at latitude of meaning must be allowed to
some time been brought to Down, and  the old verse quoted above by Dr. Keatplaced in the tomb of St. Patrick, it is ing, as also to the following oft-repeated
very improbable that their whole re- Latin lines, which are found in Cam.
mains were ever translated thither. The  brensis:
reason given for such transfer is unten-, "In burgo Duno tumulo tumulantur in uno
able; for Down was as much exposed    Brigida, Patritius, at que Columba pius."
to be plundered by the Danes as either
Kildare or Iona. The taking up of Which may be thus translated:
their bodies, and their transfer into  Inthe burgh of Dun, laid In one tomb,
shrines, by Sir John De Courcey, after  Are Brighitt, Patrick and tho pious Oolnamn




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                    463
In remembrance of this rescue from the hands of the demon, and
in gratitude to the saint therefor, the priest dedicated his temple
to Columkille.  IHe then entered the order of Monks, and lived
a holy and pious life thenceforth.89
It was in the reign of Aedh, son of Anmiri, that St. Columkille died.  The reader must understand that this Colum  of
whom I am speaking was Colum, son of Feidlimidh, son of Fergus; for the Red Book of Mac Aedagain, and the Naeimhshenchas Erelin, or History of the Irish Saints, tell us that there
were many holy men and women in Ireland whose names were
alike. For these authorities relate that there were twenty-two saints
in Ireland of the name of Colum, and that St. Columkille was the
first of them, and that it was in memory of the sanctity of St.
Coluinkille that this name was given to each of them. There were
fourteen Irish saints named Brendan, or Brennan, and of these were
St. Brendan of Birra and St. Brendan of Ard-ferta; of the name of
Kiaran, there were twenty-five saints, amongst whom St. Kiaran
of Cluain-mic-Nois, St. Kiaran of Saighir, St. Kiaran of TibraidNaei, and St. Kiaran of Kill-Finnaide, were the most distinguished. There were thirty-two saints called Aedgan; seven
called Barrfinn, and amongst them the holy St. Barrfinn, or
Fihnbarr of Corcach, (Cork.)  This St. Finnbarr was son of
Amirghin, son of Dubh-daimhin, son of Ninnidh, son of Eocaidh,
son of Carbri Ard, son of Brian, son of Eocaidlh MAluigh-medon,
King of Ireland.  There were seventeen holy bishops, and
seven hundred persons in religious orders in the community of
Corcach, under St. Finnbarr. There were fifteen saints of the name
of Brighitt. Of them was St. Brighitt, daughter of the Leinsterman Dubthach, whose fame has extended throughout all Europe.
It is certain that she was descended from Eocaidh Finn Fuathairt,
the brother of the renowned Conn of the Hundred Battles, as
we have shown heretofore, when tracing the genealogy of St.
Brighitt.  Here follow the names of the fourteen other holy
persons, besides St. Brighitt of Kill-dara, who were called by
this name. St. Brighitt, daughter of Dima; St. Brighitt, daughter
of Aianach; St. Brighitt, daughter-of Boman; St. Brighitt, the
daughter of Enna; St. Brighitt, daughter of Colla; St. Brighitt,
daughter of Ectar Ard; St. Brighitt of Inis-Brighdi, or Inisbride; St. Brighitt, daughter of Diamara; St. Brighitt of RathBrighdi, St. Brighitt of Sith Mani, St. Brighitt of Senboth, St.
Brighitt of Fiadnait, St. Brighitt, daughter of Aedh; St. Brighitt,
daughter of Long.
89 This legend of the miraculous res- tell of vigorous efforts on the part of St.
cue of the heathen priest from the fangs Columkille, in the suppression of idolas
of the fiend, though in itself extremely trous worship, not yet entirely extir.
incredible, if taken literally, seems to pated from the land in his day.




464                  THE HISTORY  OF IREL AND.
It was in the reign of Aedh, son of Anmiri, of whose reign we
are treating,, and of Aedgan, son of Gabran, who was then very
old, that the Gaels lost the possession of Manainn.9~ It was in his
reign also that St. Cainnech,.' Bishop of Achadh-Bo, died at the
age of eighty-four years.  This saint was descendet from  Fergus
MAac Roigh.  It was then also that Colman Rimidh foughlt the
battle of Slemhain92 against Doomnall, the son of the monarch
Aedh.  The  battle of Cuil-eacl~3 was also fohrght about that
time by  Fiacaidh, son  of B3aedan, and in it'iIacaldh, son of
Deman, was defeated, and his people were slaughtered.  Sornetime after that, Conall, son of Suibni, gained a victory over the
three Aedhs in one day.   They were Aedh Slanni, Aedh Buide,
King  of  Ui-Mani, and Aedh  Roin, King  of Ui-Failgi.  The
battle took pl:ice at Brnighin-da-Cooadh'9  (Breen-da-cugca), as the
bard has recorded in this rann:
"Too great came that red woe
On all the realmns of Eri!
Aedh Slanni of the brave host
Aedh Rbin and Aedh Buide!"
There were continual hostilities between the two Fincaidhs,"9
of whom  I have spoken a little  higher up, namely, Fiacaidh,
0 Manainn, i. e. the Isle of Mana or Cu, son of Aedh, son of Anmiri, anti
Alan. The1 editor does not find any  Coniall was defeated.  This was the
record of this event elsewhere, in the  man who was called Conall Clogach,
authorities available to him. It must and who had  insulted  St. Colurn.
relate to some temporary conquest of Slemhaia, now  Slewen, is a townAMan by the Britons or Picts, as it is land near Muliingar, county Westnot probable, if the Gaels totally lost meath.
the pos3sesion of RMan at so early a    93 Cuil-cael, i. e., the narrow corner
period, that the Gaelic languagre would  or angle. It lies at I)own or kAntrim.
have survived there down to the pres- The above-mentioned battle was not
ent century. O'Flaherty tells us that fought until 597.
in the year 58:t, Kingr Aidan, (Aedgan,   0' Bruig,,itz2-da-Cogadli.  It is situKing of the Dal Riada), conrtqured  ated in the barony of Kilkenny West,
Man. By Gavls, then, we may undar- and county Westmeath.  The battle
stand the I-Hibernian Gaels, or Irish, here recorded, did not take place for
who might have lost that isle to their six years after the death of Aedh, son
Alban kinsmen.   "Aedgan, son of of Anmiri. It was, in fact, the enGabran, the seventh king of the Dal- gagement where his successors, Aedh
Riada, of Alba, died in 606, at Can- Slanni and  Colman Rimidh, were
tire, aged 78 years."-O'Flaherty.    slain.
91 St. Cainnech, otherwise Canice,   9 Two Eiacaidhs, tr.  The names
the patron saint of Cill-Chainnigh, or of both of these rival chieftains are
Kilkenny, did not die until the next also  written  Fiachna.  They were
reign, on the 11th of October, 598.  cousins, being both descended, one as
93 S!emltain. —This battle was not grandson and the other as great grandfought until the third year of the reign  son, from Muredach Munnderg. king of
of the succeedin, kings. It was fought, Ulidia of the Dal-Fiatach tribe  who
say the Four Masters, against Conall died in A. D. 974.




THE HIISTORY OF IRELAND.                     465
son of Deman, and Fiacaidh, son of Baedan. Through the
prayers of St. Corngall, it happened that the victory oftcnest remained with the son of Baedan.  When the son of Denman reproached the saint with this, the latter asked him whether he
would prefer to live for a certain time and to vanquish  his
enemies, and, then, to go to hell, or to be killed himself and to
go to IHeaven.  To this the son of Dernan replied, that he would
prefer to vanquish his enemies, so that the deeds of slaughter, and
the achievements, performed by him upon them, might become a
subject of common discourse continually among future men, in
their public assemblies, from age to age.  St. Comgall was displeased with the choice he had made. But the other Fiacaidh
preferred Heaven and defeat, and those he got througbh the
prayers of St. Comgall.
Patron Saints of the Gaelic Tribes.
It was usual, indeed, for each great tribe of Gaelic nobles to
have a, particular guardian saint of their own. In testimony of
this fact, I give the following example: thus, St. Caeimghin
(aciveen), of Glenn-da-loch, was the patron of the Tuathalaigh
and Brannaich;9~ St. Maedog of Ferna, of the Kennsel:,igh;9'
St. Moling, of the Cacmnhanaighl;98 St. Fintan of Cluain-Aidnech,
of the Sil Alorda;~` St. Cainnech of Achadh-bo, of the Osraide;'10
St. Sedna, of the Sil Briain of Etharla;l St. Gobnait, of the
hMusgraide Mac Diarmada,2 St. Colman, of the Ui Mac Coilli,3 and
of the rest there was not a territory or tribe in Ireland that had
not its peculiar male or female patron saint, to whom  it was
wont to give more especial honor and respect.  But there were
certain other saints more universally honored than those I have
just mentioned; such as St. Finnen of Magh-Bili, St. Kiaran of
Cluain-mic-Nois, St. Comgall of Bennchor, St. Fingin of Cuinchi,
St. Bacithin of Luimnech, St. Brighitt of KIill-dara, St. Albi of
9 Tutathala.gh and Brannaigh, i. e.   n Sil Briain Etharla, a branch of
the Leinster sapts descended from Tu- the O'Brians, seated as Aharlow, co.
athal and Brann, namely, the O'Tooles Tipperary, were thus designated: proand O'Byrnes. Their patron saint is nounced, Sheel Vr'eein Aharla..
now better known as St. Kevin.       2  Iusg(rraide Mac Diarmada. This
9' KennseaiJgh,Ii i. e. the O'Kenshel- tribe was located in the county of Cork.
laghs, &c. Ferna is now anglicized O'Flyrn, O'Hea, O'Donegan, O'CulFerns.                            lenan, &c., were the chief names adopted
98 Caemhlanqiih, i. e. the O'Cavan- by its septs.
aghs, otherwise Mac Murroughs.      3 Ui liac Coillh. This tribe was
93 Sil Morda (Sheel Mora), i. e. the located in the district around Youghal,
progeny of aIrda, to wit, the O'Moores in the south-east of the county of Cork,
and their kindred clans.          to which district it has left its present' Osraide, i. e. the Mac Gilla-Pat- name of Imokilly. O'Keily, O'Glassin,
ricks and their correlatives.     and O'Bregan, were chiefs of the tribe.
30




466                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Imlech, and St. Patrick; as Aengus Keli De relates in the book
which is called Psaltair na Rann. Here is what he says therein:
" Colum throws his shade o'er the children of Niall-'Tis the shade of no bramble.
Of all tribes of the Ulta, Finnen is the safe-guardThe sage of Magh-bili.
Of the clansmen of Connacht, Kiaran is the warden,
Though not of their kindred.
Comgall saves the sons of his own Dal-Aradi,
The noble, the famous.
The virgin protectress of Laighen, is Brighitt,
The brightest, the purest.
The chieftains and people of M5umha, the fertile,
&re shielded by Albi.
The Arch-Saint of Eri, by clerics surrounded,
Is patron of patrons;
And on Doom's awful Day shall the broad shield of Patrick
O'er all be uplifted."
It was while Aedh, son of Anmiri, was king of Ireland, that
St. Colman of Ela4 died.  Brann-dubh, son of Eocaidh,, son of
Muredach, son of Aengus, son of Feidlimidh, son of Enna Kennselach, was then king of Leinster for one year. It was by him,
and by the Leinstermen, that Aedh, son of Anmiri, was slain at
the battle of the Pass of Dun-bolg.5 It was also said that it was
the Leinstermen themselves that slew Brann-dubh, at the battle
of Cam-cluain; or that it was Saran Saebh-derc, the Airchinnach0
of Senboth-Sini that killed him, as the bard relates in the following verse:
" Saran Saebh-derc,7 a guide indeed,
The Airchinnech of Senboth Sine,
(No false or dark suspicion this,)'Twas he killed Brann-dubh, son of Eocaidh."
St. Colman, of Ela. He was the anglicized Erenagh, and often means the
son of Beogna, and was otherwise, Mace superior of a religious establishment. It
Ui Selli, Abbot of Lann Ela, now Lyn- is, however, more frequently applied, as
ally, in the King's County. He did not in this instance, to the heads of certain
die until the 26th of September, 610, in septs, or families of laymen, to whom
the third year of the reign of Maelcoba. the wardenship and support of certain
6 Dun-bolg. This place is situated churches were entrusted in those early
south of Dunboyke, near Hollywood, co. times. Senboth Sini(Shanboh-Slheenie) is
UWicklow. The monarch had invaded now called Tehipull Senbotha, in EngLeinster for the purpose of avenging his lish, Templeshanbo, at the foot of Mount
son Comusgach, whom the Lagenians Leinster, Co. Wexford.
had slain. For a full and interesting   7 Saran Saebh-derc, i.e., Saran of the
account of this battle, and the cause Evil Eye. Brann Dubh was slain in the
which led to it, the reader is referred to year 601, in the reign of Aedh Uaridthe notes of Dr. O'Donovan upon the nach. The place where Brann Dubh fell
Four Masters.                      is called Damh-Cluain, i. e. Ox-park, by
8 Airchinnech. The word is sometimes other writers.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                       467
AEDH SLANNI AND COLMIAN RIMIDH, ARD-RIGHA.
A. D. 593."  Aedh Slanni, son of Diarmaid, son of Fergus
Kerbeol, of the line of Erimhbn, ascended the throne of Ireland,
and reigned for six years in partnership with Colman Rimidh,
son of AMurkertach Mac Erca.  Mogan, daughter of Cu-carann,
son of Duach, of the Connacians, was the mother of Aedh Slanni;
and Ethni, daughter of Brendan Dall, also of Connacht, was his
wife, and she bore him six sons, namely, Diarmaid, Donncadh,
Maelbresail, Maelodair, Conall, and Olild.  HIe was surnamed
Slanni, because he was born on the banks of the river Slanni,
or Slany.
It was during the joint reign of these sovereigns, that Gregory
the Great, the Pope of Rome, sent St. Augustine, with a number
of holy clergymen, to propagate the Catholic Faith in Britain.
Colman Rimidh fell by the hand of Lochan Dilmann, and Aedh
Slanni fell by that of Conall Guth-binn, son of Suibni.
AEDH UARIDNACH, ARD-RIGH.
A.D. 599.9  Aedh1~ Uaridnach, son of Domnall, son of Muredach, son of Eogan, son of Niall of the Nine Hostages, of the
line of Erimh6n, succeeded to the monarchy, and reigned twentyseven years. His mother was Brighitt, daughter of Orca, son of
Ere, son of Eocaidh.  The reason why he was surnamed Uaridnach, was from his. having been subject to cold pains, which so
afflicted him, that, when the fit came upon him, he would give
the world's treasure to get a moment's relief therefrom. For
Uaridnach (ooreenagh) is the same as " idhna fuara" (eena foora),
that is, cold pains.
In this king's reign the battle of Odbal was fought by Aengus,
8 A.D. 595.-Four Masters. AEDH    By Conall's hand Aedh Slanni fell,
III. Tl'his prince and his colleagrue were    Aedh Slanni himself has slaughtered Suibni."
both slain at the battle of Loch Sem- It was then that Conall also slew Aedh
didhe, now Lough Sewdy, nearly mid- Roin, King of Ui Failghi, and Aedh
way between Athlone and Mullingar. Buide, King of Ui Mani; and in referThis is what Keating has recorded, ence to these deeds were the verses hereunder the preceding reign, as the battle tofore quoted by Keating, composed.
of Bruighin-da-cogadh. The Four Mas-   9 A. D. 601.-Four Masters.
ters quote an ancient verse, of which the'o AEDH IV.  The Four Masters,
following is a translation, in reference O'Flaherty, and O'Halloran, allow this
to that day of blood:              monarch to have reigned but seven
" What is kingship, what is law?  years; while all the copies of Keatipg
What is potent sway o'er chieftains?  accessible to the editor, assign him a
Behold, Colman Rimidh, the king!  reign of twenty-seven.
Lochan Dilmana slew him!
Unwise counsels then prevailed    n Odba. This battle at Odba, in Meath,
Amongst the youths of Tuath Turbi;*  was fought in 607.
* A bardic name for Breagh, in Meath.




468                THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
son of Colman, and in it fell Conall Laeidh-Breagh, son of Aedh
Slanni. The king of Ireland himself, fell in the battle of Da
Ferta."'
MAELCOBA, ARD-RIGIH.
A. D. 626.13 Maelcoba, son of Aedh, son of Anmiri, of the
line of Erimhon, held the sovereignty of Ireland for four years.l'
Craeisech, daughter of Aedh Finn, King of Osraide, was his wife.
He fell by the hand of Suibni Menn, at the battle of Belgadan.'s
SUIBNI MENN, ARD-RIGH.
A. D. 630.1' Suibni Menn, son of Fiacaidh, son of Feradach,
son of Murkertach, son of Muredach, son of Eogan, son of Niall
of the Nine Hostages, of the race of Erimhon, held the sovereignty of Ireland for thirteen years.  It was in the reign of this
monarch that St. Caeimghin,` or Kevin, of Glenn-da-loch, died,
aged six score years; that is, Caeimghin, son of Caemlogha, son
of Caeimfeda, son of Corb, son of Fergus Laeib-derg, son of Fothach, son of Eocaidh Lamh-derg, son of Mesincorb, of the line
of Labraidh Loingsech. It was about this time, also, that Aedli
Bennan, king of Munster, died. And about the same time was
born St. Adamnan, son of Ronan, son of Tinni, son of Aedh, son
of Colum, son of Sedna, son of Fergus Kenn-fada, son of Conall
Gulban, son of Niall of the Nine Hostages.  He became abbot
over Aei-Colum-Killi, in Alba.  Suibni Menn was killed by
Congal Claen,"' son of Sganlan of the Broad Shield.l9
DOMNALL, ARD-RIGH.
A. D. 643.2~  Domnall,'2 son of Aedh, son of Anmiri, of the
line of Erimho6n, held the sovereignty of Ireland for thirteen
n Da Ferta. It is also called Ath Da   " Congal Claen. This chief must be
Ferta, i. e. the Ford of the two Graves. distinguished from  Conall Claen, or
Its situation is not known.        Cael, the next monarch but one. For,3 A. D. 608.-Four Masters.     the slaying of Suibni, he was restored to
"4 Four years. Three years.-Ib.  his ancestral kingdom of Ulidia, by
B" Belgadan. The place where he fell Domnall, the next succeeding monarch.
is also called Sliabh Toadh (Slieve Toa),' Broad Shield; in Gaelic, Sgiathof which name there is a mountain in the lethan (Skeea-li~h~n). In some copies he
barony of Banagh, co. Donegal.    is called Sgiath-sholais (Skeea-hullish),
" A. D. 611.-Four Masters.      i. e. of the Bright Shield.
n St. Caeimghin. He died, according     A. D. 624.-Four Masters.
to the Irish Annals, in 617-618, in the   2 DOMNALL II. He reigned for sixseventh year of Suibni; which shows teen years, namely, from 624 to 629. —
that the date in the text is considerably Id.
in advance of the true time.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                    469
years, as Columkille had prophesied for him.  It was this Domnall that fought the battle of Dun Kethrin,22 against Congal Claen,
where he was himself defeated, and great numbers of his people
slain.  In the reiag  bf this Domnall, died St. Fintann,23 who was
surnamed  Monabas; and  also St. Mochua"; and St. Molasi,25
Bishop of Leithglinn; it was then, also, St. Cronan26 died. In his
reign, also, St. Carthach, who was otherwise called St. Mochuda,
was exiled from Rathain27 to Lismore. St. Mocliuda was of the
line of Kiar, son of Fergus Mac Roigh.
Expulsion of St. Miochuda, otherwise St. Carthach, from Ratlain.Foundation of Lismore.
This saint having gone on a pilgrimage from Kiarraide to Rathain, built a monastery at the latter place, in which he placed a
community of monks to live with him therein. They led so
pious a life in this house, it was said an angel was wont to hold
conversation with every third man of them. Thus the society
of Rathain became distinguished for preeminent holiness, and its
glory and renown increased exceedingly.  On this account, the
holy men of the Ui Neill race met together in a large number,
and they sent a message to St. Mochuda, ordering him to quit
Rathain, and to return to his own country, namely, to Munster.
Mochuda answered the messengers that came with this intimation,
and said that he would never desert Rathain, until he were expelled therefrom  by the hand of a bishop or a king.  WVhen
these words were told to the holy men of the Clan of Niall, they
demanded of Blathmac and Diarmaid Ruadnaidh, the two sons
of Aedh Slanni, who were themselves of the clan of Niall, to go
and expel Mochuda and his monks by force from  their monastery at Rathain. And at the instigation of these people, the two
2 Dun Kethirn is a stone fort, built morris, co. Mayo. His festival was kept
in the Cyclopean style, on the summit on the 30th of March.
of a conspicuous hill in the parish of  25 St. Molasi was otherwise called DoDunboe, in the north of Derry. It is lasi Mac hUa Imdae, and also Laisren.
now called the Giant's Sconce.-O'D. His festival was celebrated on the 18th
This battle was fought in 624.   of April, at Leighlin.
28 St. Fintann. This saint was other-  26 St. Cronan, called Mac Ua Laeghde,
wise called Munna (Monabas), and was Abbot of Cluain-Mic-Nois, died on the
the founder of the monastery of Tech- 18th of July, 637.
Munna, now Taghmon, in Wexford. He   27 Rathain, i. e. the Ferny Land. It
died on the 21st of October, 636. — is now called Rahen, atownland containO'D.                             ing the remains of two ancient churches,
" St. Mochua was a disciple of the and situated in the barony of Ballycelebrated St. Comgall, of Bennchor. cowan, King's County. St. Carthach's
Hie died in 637, Abbot of Balla, now expulsion thence took place in the year
Bal, a village in the barony of Clan- 631.




470             THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
chiefs proceeded to Ra thain, attended by a number of tha
northern clergy. And when St. Mochuda had heard of their
approach, he sent a young nobleman, a Pict, or Cruithnech of
Alba, whose name was Constantine, and who was then a lay
monk in his convent, to ask the chieftain to give him a respite
of one year, before expelling him and his companions from
the monastery of Rathain; and they thereupon gave him the
time he required.'When the year thus granted had expired,
the same chieftains returned, escorted by the same train of
clergymen; and when they had arrived at Rathain the second
time, Blathmac sent a clergyman to St. Mochuda, to beg of him to
leave the monastery. Upon this Mochuda again sent Constantine, his former messenger, to Diarmaid and Blathmac, to entreat
a respite from them for another year. To this they likewise
consented, though much against their will. When the third
year had at length come, the same nobles and clergymen are set
on by the plunderers of the Ui hNeill, to come and finally expel
St. Afochuda from Rathain. And when they had arrived at
Rathain with that intent, they, with one accord, appointed Diarmaid Ruadnaidh.and the Airchinnech of Cluain-Aengusa, with an
armed force under their command, to lead Mochuda prisoner
out of the country. When these had come to the church, the
Airchinnech entered thereinto, but Diarmaid remained without
at the threshold of the door. And when St. Mochuda heard that
Diarmaid was standing outside the door, he went forward to bid
him welcome, and he invited him to enter the church. "I will
not," said Diarmaid. "Is it that thou art come to take me out
of this monastery?" said St. Mochuda. "Yes," said Diarmaid,
"though I do not say that I will do it; for I am sorry to have come
upon that design, by reason of thy great holiness and dignity."
"To God be glory in heaven and upon earth," said St. Mochuda;
"and to thee be power and royalty, and the sovereignty of Ireland; and may good fortune follow thy race after thee. And
now when thou shalt return to thy companions, the young men
who are there will call thee Diarmaid the Ruthful; and they will
fix that epithet upon thee as a mark of reproach. But that title
shall yet become a glory to thee, and to thy progeny after thee."
Upon this Diarmaid returned to the companions he had left.
Blathmac immediately asked him why he had not laid hands
upon AMochuda. "I would not attempt it," replied Diarmaid,
"and I did not intend it."  "That was surely a tender-hearted
act," said Blathmac.  And when the assembled youths had
heard these words, they applied the term used by Blathmac,
namely, " ruadhnaidh"(rooanee),or " ruaidhnech" (rooinayh),which
means ruthful or tender-hearted, as a nickname to Diarmaid, and'




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                     471
thence his descendants have been  styled  Sliocht Dhiarmada
Ruadnaidh28 (Shloght Yeermoda Roonee) ever since.
As to Blathmac, he, with a body of men, went to the monastery, and there seized upon St. AMochuda, drove him  and his
community out of their convent with hostile force.  St. Mochuda
then laid a malediction upon Blathmac, and set -forth with his
community of monks, performing works and miracles on his way,
until he reached the territory of the Desi.  On his arrival there,
the king of the Desi came forth to meet him, and to pay him
deference and honor; and he placed himself, body and soul,
under the Saint's protection.  lie then went with him  to Dun
Sginni, which is now  called Lis-mor,"9 and there St. Mochuda
and his community fixed their abode. He built a church there,
and the place became famous and honored, and thenceforth continued long to be glorious as the seat of piety and of learning.
Such was the expulsion of St. Mochuda from Rathain to Lis-mor.'The Battle of Jagh Rath3'-The Standards and Battle Array of the
Gaels.
It was Domnall, son of Aedh, son of Anmiri, king of Ireland,
that won the battle of MaAgh IRlth, wherein fell Congoal Claen,'
who had been ten years king of Ulidia. And it may be easily
learned from the history that is called the Battle of Magh Rath,
that the military array in which the Gaelic armies were wont to
be drawn up, for the purpose of engaging in the conflict of battle, was exact and well ordered.  For it is there read, that the
whole host was wont to be placed under the command of one
captain-in-chief, and that, under him, each division of his force
28 Sliocht Dhiarmada Ruadnraigh, i. e.,  31 Congal Claen, i. e., Congal the
the posterity of Diarmaid the Merciful Wry-eyed. He is also called Congal
or Charitable.                     Caech, i. e., of the defective sight; for
2 Lis-Mor, i. e., the Great Fort, now he had lost an eye. He was grandson
called Lismore, in the county of Water- of Fiaclhn, or, as Keating calls him,
ford.                             Fiacaidh, son of Baedan, of whose consO Magrh Roth. —This was the name tests with Fiacaidh, son of Deman, we
of a plain in Ulidia, that is, the present have read, under the reign of Aedh, son
county of Down. Its position is still of Anmiri. He sought in this battle,
pointed out by the village of Moira. by means of foreign aid, to recover the
This great and important battle was former supremacy of his family over
fought, according to the accurate an- ancient Uladh. which comprised all
nals of Tighernach, in the year 6374. In Ulster,'from which his ancestors had
it Congal and his Ulidians Were aided been driven into Ulidia ov modern
by a large auxiliary force, composed of Uladh, which comprised little more
Scots of Alba, Picts, Britons, and Sax- than the present county of Down, by
ons, led on by tried chieftains of their the encroachments of the Ui Neill and
respective nations.               the Oirghialla.




472                   THE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.
obeyed its own proper captain; and besides, that every captain
of these bore upon his standard his peculiar device or ensign,"'
so that each distinct body of men could be easily distinguished
from  all others by those shannachies, whose duty it was to attend
upon the nobles when about to contend in battle, and that those
shannachies might thus have a full view of the achievements of
the combatants, so as to be able to give a true account of their
particular deeds of valor.  It was for such purpose that Domnall, son of Aedh, king of Ireland, was attended by his own
shannachie, when he was about to engage in this battle of Magh
Rath.  And when he was marching against Congal, and when
the hosts were in view  of each other, we find Domnzall, whilst
the armies were yet on the opposite banks of a river, making
inquiries of his shannachie about each particular one of the
standards in the host of his enemy, and the device thereupon;
and the  shannachie explained  them  to him, as we read  in the
duan which begins with this line, "Iow  bravely Congal's host
comes on," in which occurs the following verse upon the standard of the king of Uladh himself:
aDevice or Ensign; in Gaelic, Suai- tinguished in battle. Their originals
thentas (soohentas). It is evident from  may be found in the notes to the JBatall the ancient Irish accounts of bat- tie of Magh Rath, from  which also
ties, that the Gaels carried standards to what has just now been said upon this
distinguish them in war, from the very subject has been taken in an abridged
dawn of their history; but it is not form.
certain when they first adopted armorial bearings, though it is probable that    earits of O'Dochartahghe ranks of Conh'hey no.nly used.anner, a~-.* " With might advance the ranks of Conn
they not only used banners, distin-   IDochartacl's clan, to join the fight;
guished by certain colors and badges,    His battle blade of golden cross
at a very early epoch, but also armo-    Upon their chieftain's banner gleams:
at a very early epoch, but also armo-    A lion and bloody eagle stand
rial bearings or escutcheons. However,    On glistening sheet of satin white;no regular heraldic escutcheon for a'Tis hard to check his plundering foray;
The onslaught of his clann is dreadful."
Milesian family has been as yet discov-              of his cla
ered anterior to the reign of Elizabeth. Bearings of 0.Suileabhain (O'Sullivasn) il fti
It is probable that the Irish families           Battle of Caisglisn.
first received the complex coats of arms " I see, borne valiantly over the plain,
they now bear from  Enlannd~;  retain-  The flag of the race of the noble Finghin;
they now bear from Enand; retain-'Tis his spear with a venomous adder en.
ing on the shield, in many instances,    twined,the simple devices which their ancestors   His warriors arc all fery heroes of might."
bore on their standards, such as the  Bearing of O'Locldin, of Blrrin, isn Clare.
Red Hand of O'Neill, the Cat andhost of 
Salmon of 0' Cathain (O'Kane), with               On bright satin seen,
such additions as the king at arms            In the van of his battles
thought proper to introduce after the             To guard in the fray.
thought properointroduceaterteWas an oak old and fruitful,
Anglo-Norman  system  of heraldry.                (A chief its meet ward),
The following are translations of a-              Withnd. eke, ablue bnchor,
cient Irish verses, descriptive of the
manner of devices or bearings by which -See Note H. P. 343, Battle of Mlagh
the Gaelic Septs were wont to be dis- Rath.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                       473
" A yellow lion upon green satin,
The standard of the Craebh-Ruadh,
As borne by noble Concobar,
Is now by Congal borne aloft."
It was, indeed, long before this time, that the Gaels (that is, the
descendants of Gaedal), had adopted the custom of bearing distinctive devices upon their standards, after the example of the
Children of Israel, who had already practised  this usage in
Egypt, whilst Gaedal himself was still living in that land, and
when the children of Israel were marching through the Red Sea,
with Moses for their captain-in-chief.
In the reign of Domnall also, the following saints died,
namely, St. MIochua,34  of the line of Olild, son of Cathaeir Mor,
whose memory was held sacred at Tech Mochua, in Laeighis; St.
Mhoch-da,35 St. Comdan,38 son of Da-Kerda; and St. Cronan,37
Bishop of Caendrom.  And Domnall, son of Aedh, died."
CONALL CLAEN AND  KELLACH, ARD-RIGHA.
A. D. 656.89 Conall Claen40 and Kellach, sons of Maeleaba, son
"S Craebh Ruadh.-Congal was the St. Carthach.  Lis-mor, in  a short
chief representative  of the ancient time, acquired an extraordinary celebClanna Rudraide, of the line of Ollamh rity, and was visited by scholars and
Fodla, and of Ir, son of Miledlh. He holy men from all parts of Ireland, as
was more immediately descended from  well as from England and Wales.
1r;al Glunmar, son of the famous Red   96 St. Comdan. —The death of a ComBranch Knight, Conall Kearnach, and dan Mac Cutheann6 is recorded at the
therefore appropriately bore the stand- year 663.
ard of the Craebh Ruadh, or Red   37 St. Cronan.- St. Cronan Beg,
B3ranch.                            Bishop of Aendrom (not Caendrom),
34 St. Mochua.-The death of St. an island in Strangford Lough, \died on
IMochUa, of Balla, has been recorded a the 7th of January, 642.
little above.  Besides him, Mochua,  38 Dice.-He died at Ard'Fothadh, a
son of Lonan, died in 657, and Mochua, fort on a hill, near Ballymagrorty,
son of Ust, in 668.                 barony of Tir-Aeda, now Tirhugh, and
35 St. fMofchluda. A. D. 636. "The county of Donegal, after a lingering
13th year of Domnall, St. Mochuda, sickness. He was the ancestor of the
Bishop  of Lismor, and Abbot of septs of the Kinil Conaill, that after.
Rathain, died on the 14th of May."- wards took the names of O'Maeldoraidh
Four Masters. It is evident from en- (O'Muldory) and  O'Canannain, and
tries in the annals just quoted, that who, previous to the rise of their kinsthere was a religious establishment at men, the O'Donnells (who are descendLismore previous to the time of St. ed from  Lugaidh, the grand-uncle of
Carthach, or AMochuda; but it was this monarch, and brother of Anmiri,
remodelled and erected into a bishopric king of Ireland), awere the most powerby this saint previous to his death. ful families of Tir-Conaill.
MIaelochtraigh was the name of the   99 A. D. 640. Four Masters.
prince of the Desi, who granted Lismor   40 CONALL II.-The proper surname
and a considerable tract of land lying of this prince is Cael, i. e., the Slender.
along  the river Neimh (Nev), now  It is so that he is designated in the
called the Blackwater, in Munster, to Irish Annals.




474                TIE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
of Aedh, son of Anmiri, of the line of Erimhbn, became kings,
and reigned conjointly for thirteen years.41
In their reign Cuana,4S son of the king of Fermuighe (Fermoy),
who was styled 1iaech Liathmani, that is the Hero of Liathmain,43
died. This Cuanawvas a cotemporary of Guairi,' son of Colman;
and there was a rivalry in.hospitality and liberality.  On this
rivalry, two fools, named Conall and Comdan, composed between
them the following rann:
"Guairi, Colman's son, bestows
XVhatever gift first meets his hand;
What each likes best to each is dealt
By Cuana, Liathmain's generous chief."
In  Conall's reign, also, that Raghallach, son of Uada, who was
twenty-five years king  of Connaught, was killed  by MaelBrighdi, son of AIothlachan, and his slaves.
This Raghallach entertained the most violent hatred and envy
towards the son of his elder brother, lest he might attack him
and deprive him  of the kingdom  of Connaught, but he found no
opportunity of killing his brother's son, so that a withering d'isease came upon him; for he could not eat through hatred of his
nephew. When he lay thus languishing, he sent for his nephew
to come to see him.  But the nephew understood the treachery
of his uncle, and therefore took the precaution to collect ai
armed escort, attended by which he went to visit his relative,
RaglAallach; and, before coming into the presence of the king,;e
told his attendants to keep their swords drawn beneath their
mantles.  But when Raghallach perceived this, he said, " Alas!
4' Thirteen years.-They reigned for ren of MIogh Ruith.  Cuana is gene.
seventeen years, according to other au- rally called the son of Cailchin.
thorities.                           43 Liathmain. —-The place meant here
42 Cuana. —"A. D. 640. Cuana, son is now called Cloch Liathmaini, in Eng.
of Ailcen (Alken), chief of Fera- lish Clourhleefin, a townland in the
Maighe, died."-Four Masters. This parish of Kilgullane and barony of
Cuana was a descendant of the cele- Condons, lying about two miles west
brated Druid and hero, Mogh Ruith, of Mitchelstown, co. Cork.
who had received a grant of the terri-' Cotemporary of Guairi.-Guairi
tory now called Fermoy, in the county Aidni, whom we have seen so unacof Cork, from Fiacaidh Maeil-lethan, countably displaced by Dr. Keating,
king of Munster. Of his race are the under the reign of Diarmaid I., son of
O'Dugans and O'Cosgrans, who were Fergus Kerbeol, did not die for twenthe chiefs of all this territory, until ty-two years after Cuana, his rival in
encroached on, first by the Eogranacht liberality. - The death  of RaZghalsept of O'Keeffe, which, in its turn, was lacllh occurred in 642. He was, as beencroached by the Roches and Con- fore stated, an ancestor of the O'Condons and Flemmings. These last were nors of Connacht, and the immediate
dispossessed by the troopers of Crom- predecessor of Guairi son of Colman.
well, whose descendants still hold pos- He reigned over Connaught for twen'
session of the inheritance of the child- ty-five years.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.               475
the man that is dearest to me on earth, and whom I wish to make
my heir, does not trust me, though I am on the point of death I
When the nephew heard this complaint, his heart smote hirm
sorely, and he came alone to visit his uncle on the morrow.
Thereupon, Raghallach's. men fell upon the incautious nephew,
and slew him on the spot. Raghallach then immediately got up
from his sick bed, and commenced to feast joyfully and free
from care.
After Raghallach had killed his nephew, after the manner just
related, his wife, Muirenn, demanded of her Druid whether any
danger hung over her h husband arising from that act. The Druid
replied, that, as Raghallach had killed his relative, so should
both his and her death soon come from one of their own child.
ren, and he told her, moreover, that it was from the child, then in
her womb that their deaths should come. She immediately told
this to Raghallach, who commanded her to have the child killed
as soon as it should be born. Muirenn soon after gave birth to
a daughter, which she gave to one of her swineherds, with
orders to kill it. But, when the herd saw the infant's face, his
heart softened towards it, and he put it back into the same bag,
and brought it secretly to the door of a religious woman, who
dwelt in his neighborhood, and he left the bag hung upon
one of the arms of a cross that stood near her door. The nun
soon after came to the bag and found the infant therein; and she
loved it exceedingly, and she educated it piously; and there was
not in her time any child in all Ireland more beautiful than her
fosterling. The fame of the child, now grown to maidenhood,
soon reached Raghallach, and he hastily sent a messenger to her
foster-mother to demand to have the girl given up to himself.
The nurse, however, did not consent to his demand, but, nevertheless, her fosterling was torn away from her by violenice. WVhea
Raghallach saw the maiden, his heart lusted violently for her,
and he made her the companion of his bed. His own wife,
Muirenn, got jealous thereupon, and she went to complain to the
king of Ireland of her husband's infidelity. The scandal of that
evil deed soon spread throughout all the land, and the saints of
Ireland were sorrowful by reason thereof. St. Fechin45 of Fobar,
came in person to Raghallach to reprehend him; and many saints
came in his company to aid him in inducing the prince to discontinue his criminal amour. But Raghallach despised their exhortations. Whereupon they fasted against him, and as there
were many other evil-minded persons besides him in the land,
5 St. Fechin.-St. Fechin (FRhin), 664, of the mortality called the Buido
Abbot of Fobar, now Fore, in West- Conaill.
meath, died on the 14th of February,




476                 THE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.
they macte an especial prayer to God, that for the sake of an example, he should not live out the month of May, then next to
come on, and that he should fall by the hands of villains, by
vile instruments, and in a filthy place; and all these things happened to him after the following manner, within the course of
the following month of May.
A  hunted deer, which had been previously wounded, landed
upon an islet where Raghallach lay in wait.  When the deer had
come near him, Raghallach seized his javelin, and made a east
with it at the animal, which he transfixed.  The deer, nevertheless, got off, and Raghallach pursued the game in his boat. When
arrived at a short distance from the lake, the deer was met by
some serfs who- were cutting turf, and these killed him and
divided the carcase between them.  In the meantime Raghallach
came up and threatened them for their division of the deer, and
commanded them  to deliver up the venison to himself.  The
boors determined to lkill him thereupon, and they immediately
fell on him with their spades and other implements, so that he
was slain by their hands, and thus was fulfilled the prophecy of
the  saints.  lIuirenn,6 his wife, had died before him  through
jealousy of her own daughter.
About this time was fought the battle of Carn-Conaill47 by
Diarmaid, the son of Aedh  Slanni, wherein fell Cuan, son of
Amalgaidh, after having reigned over Munster for ten years. In
the same engagement fell Cuan, son of Conall, King of the4  Ui'e Muirenn. It would seem that MRui-   4 Carn Conaill.-This battle was
renn survived her husband, from certain  fought by Dairmaid Ruadnaidh, against
ancient verses quoted by the Four Mas- Guairi, King of Connaught, who was
ters, in reference to the death of Raghal- therein aided by those Munster princes
lach. The following is a translation of mentioned in the text. It was, in all
these verses, and from them it may be likelihood, this Diarmaid. and not Diarjudged that those by whom that chief- maid, son of Fergus Kerbeol, that was
tain was slain was not all of mean con- the vanquisher of Guairi, on the occadition, though possibly they were of the sion heretofore prematurely recorded by
Daer Clfamna or subject tribes;      Keating, where he has transmitted that
strange legend of the manner after which
"1 Baghallach, sondefeated Kin of UConnda, fell
Transfixed from off his milk-white steed.  the defeated King of Connaught made
His fall hath Muirenn well bewailed;  his submission to the victor. Carn ConHis fall hath Cathal well avenged.  aill is     to be the     now clCathal is this day in battle,     aill is supposed to be the place now callThough kings have bound him to a peace-  ed Ballyconnell in the parish of KilbeThough Cathal, this day, has no father,    cantynear Gort, in the ancient territory
ltis father hath been well avenged  of Ui Fiachrach Aidni. The battle was
Estimate his dreadful vengeance,  of Ui Fiachrach Aidni. The battle was
From the story of his onslaughts;  fought in the year 645.
For lie has slain six men and fifty,i.-A large tract in the
And he made sixteen phnmdering forays.
I had my share, as well as any,   county of Limerick. The Ui Fidghenti
In wreaking vengence for RPaghallach;  from whom it had its name are now repAnd my hand now grasps the grey beard
Of Mothlaclian's son, Mael-BrighdL"  resented by the O'Donovans, O'Cullanes
or Collins, &c.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                       477
Fidglhenti, and Talamonach, King of the.Ui Liathain.49  It was
through the prayers of the community of St. Kiaran of Cluainmic-Nois, that 1)iarmaid gained that battle; and consequently,
upon his return from  that fight to Cluain-mic-Nois, he bestowed
upon the church of that place a tract of country as an altar sod.
That district is now called Liath Manchain."0 It was at Cluainmic-nois that Diarmaid willed to have himself buried, when he
should die.
At this time died St. Fursa,5' of the line of Lugaidh Laga, brother of Olild Olum, and St. Mochellog,52 who was honored at Kill
Mochellog.  The latter saint was of the race of Conari, son of
Edirsge6l.  After that, K'ellach, half King of Ireland, fell at
Brugh, on the Boyne, and Conall was killed by Diarmaid, son
of Aedh Slanni.
DIARMAID AND BLATHMAC, ARD-RIGHA.
A.D.53 669. Diarmaid54 Ruadnaidh and Blathmac, sons of Aedh
Slanni, of the line of Erimhbn, reigned conjointly over Ireland
for seven years. It was in their reign that the battle of Pancti
twas fought by Hossa, in which fell the. King of Sagsa, or Saxonland, with thirty of his lords. It was then that St. Ultan'5 died,,' Ui Liathain, that is, the territory   63 A. D. 657. Four Masters.
of the clan of O'Lia:thain, now called    M DIARMAID II. This prince alvl his
Lyons. Talamonach, the name of the brother reigned for eight years.-lb.
chief here mentioned, is also written   55 St. Urltan. He was styled Mae
Talamhuach (Tallownagh).            hUi Concga, and was Abbot of Cluain5o Liath Manchain.-The situation of Iraird. He died 664, of the mortality
this tract is now pointed out by the called the Buide Conaill, i. e. the yellow
ruined church of Liath Manchain, (call- plague. The following saints are reed Lemnanaghan by the English). It corded as having also died of this
lies in the barony of Garrycastle, and  scourge in the same year; St. Fechin,
King's county. TuailnEirc, i. e. Erc's Abbot of Fobar, on the 14th of FebMound, was one of its ancient names. ruary; St. Ronan, son of Berach; St.
Alitar Sod, in Gaelic,fod re altoir, means Aileran the Wise; contemporary with
glebe or church land.               him was St. Manchan of Liath-Man5: St. Fursa.-He preached for some  chain, or Tuaim-Eirc, and St. Cronan,
time in Britain.  Of him, Laurentius, son of Silni. Another St. Ultan, surArchbishop of Canterbury, writes: named Mac Ui Concobair, the first
"; That holy man, Fursaeus, came hither bishop of Ard-Brecain,now Ardbraccan
from Ibernia. He was renowned for his in Meath, whose festival is set down on
preaching and for his knowledge, and 4th of September, on which day he died
was sprung from the noblest race among  in 656. The annotations of Tirechan
the Scoti, but he was much more enno- on the Life of St. Patrick are stated to
bled by the qualities of his mind than  have been taken from the mouth of Ulby his blood." IHe died about the year tanus, first bishop of the Dal C'oncobair
650. His festival was held on the 16th  of Ardbraccan. lie lived to an extreme
of January.                         old age, and it is stated that he educat02 St. Mochellog was the founder of ed and fed with his own hands all the
Cill-Mhochellog (Kill-voghellogue), now  children who were without education in
the town of Killmalloch, county Limer- Ireland. —'D.




478                ITHE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
and also St. Maedog,.6 son of Sedna, son of Ere, son of Feradach
son of Fiacaidh, son of Amalgaid, son of Muredach, son of
Carthann, son of Ere, of the line of Colla Uais, to wit, the saint
who was honored at Ferna.  Then also died the holy St. Cumin
Fada,57 son of Fiacaidh; and Maenach, son of Finghin, King of
Munster.  And Diarmaid and Blathmac both died of the plague
which was called the Buide-Conaill.58
SECHNASACH, ARD-RIGH.
A. D. 676.59 Sechnasach (Shaghnasagh), son of Blathmac, son
of Aedh Slainni, of the line of Erimhon, succeeded his father
and uncle as King of Ireland, and reigned six years.60 In the
reign of this prince the battle of Fert"' was fought between the
Ulidians and the Cruthnigh, where numbers were slain on both
sides. St. Baethin,62 Abbot of Bennchor, died in this reign.
St. Mlaedog. This saint had'died low plague) depopulated the southern
long before this reign, in the year 624. coast of Britain, and extending into
He is now usually called St. Mogue by  Northumberland, ravaged the country
the Ilish peasantry, who sometimes im- far and near, and destroyed a great
properly translate his name by Moses. number of men."  He also states that
His first name was really Aedh,of which  it did no less harm in Ireland, where
Aedhog (Ayogue), as well as Aedhan  many of the nobility and of the lower
(Ayaun), or Aidan, are diminutive ranks of the English nation were, at
forms. Maedog or Maedho, (M..ayogue) that time, either studying theology or
is a name of affection; the pronoun Mo, leading monastic lives, the Scoti supmy, being prefixed Aedog, as has hap- plying them with food and furnishing
pened in the case of many of the names them with books and their teaching
of Irish saints, such as Mochua, Mo- gratis.-O'Donovan.
chida, MolasL, &c. St. Maedog was   "I A. D. 665.-Four Masters.
the founder of the bishoprick of Ferna,   60 Six years. —Five years. —b.
now Ferns, on the river Bann, about   61 The battle of Fert.-" A. D. 665.
five miles north of Enniscorthy, county  The battle of Fersat was fought this
Wexford. His feast is on the 31st of year between the Ulidians and the CinJanuary.                           thin, where Cathasach, son of Laircine
67 St. Cumin Fada.-He was bishop  was slain."-Id.
of Cluain-Ferta Brenaihn or Clonfert,   Fert, as in the text, is clearly a misand died on the 12th of November, take for Fersat. The place meant is
which is his festival, in 661. He was, Belfast, whose present name is a coras before stated, the half-brother (by ruption of Belach Feirsti, i. e. the Pass
his mother) of Guairi, King of Con- of the Fersad, a word which literally
naught; paternally he was of the tribe  means a spindle, but which is also apof the Eoganacht of Loch Lein, in plied figuratively to a sand bank formed
Kerrv.                             in the estuary of a river, where the tide
58 Buide Conaill. —" This plague is checks the current of the fresh water.mentioned by Bede in his Ecclesiastical O'D. The people here called Cruthnigh
History, who writes that in the year were the Dal Araide race.
664, a sudden pestilence (called the yel-  62 Baeithin.-He died in 665.




THE HIiSTORY OF IRELAND.                      479
Sechnasach ended his reign and life by being killed by Dubduin
of the Kinel Carbri.63
KENNFAELADH, ARD-RIGH.
A. D. 682.64  Kenrfaeladh, son of Blathmac, son of Aedh
Slanni, of the line of Erimho6n, succeeded to the throne and.
held it for four years.  In his reign the monastery of Bennchor~G
was burned by foreign marauders, and the persons that composed its religious community were slaughtered.
This pl-ace had its name of Bennchor fiom  the following circumstance: Bresal Brec, a King of Leinster, once made a plundering expedition to Alba, with a numerous force, and brought
thence a large prey of cattle as booty with him  to Ireland; and
when he had landed with his forces he made an encampment
at the place that is now called Bennchor, and there' his people
killed many of the oxen for their food so that the plain was
strewn over with the bencna, that is, with the horns of the cattle,
and hence came the name of Magi h Bennchor or the Plain of
Horns.  Long aft6rwards, when the holy Abbot Comngall had
fiunded a monastery in the same place, he commanded that the
Ibulding should be called from  the place where it was built.
HIence it became known as the Monastery of Bennchor.  Soon
aver the burning of this monastery by these foreign pirates,
Kennfaeladh, King of Ireland, was killed by Finnacta Fleadach,
son of Donncadh, at the battle of Keltair.6~
63 Kindl Carbri. —That is, the race ent institution. It is seen both from the
of Carbri, son of Niall of the Nine  annals of Ulster and those of ClonmaHIostages, seated at this period in the noise, that it was the British monastery
barony of Granard, county Longford, that was burned in the reign of Kennbut whose descendants afterwards set- faeladh: "A. D. 671. The burning of
tied in and gave their name to the pre- Bennchor of the Britons." —Ann.  ilt.
sent barony of Carbury, county Kil- " A. D. 668. Bangor in England was
dare, and also to the barony of Carbury  burned." —Ann. Clon. The Irish moncounty Sligo.                       astery, founded by the great St. Com"It was of Sechnasach this testimony  gall, who died on the 10th of May, in
was given:                         the year 600, was still unprofaned by
" Full of bridles and horsewhips is  the foreign spoilers. The name of BennSechnasach's dwelling-place-  chor is rather frequent in Ireland, and
That spoil-telning, plentifrl  is mostly anglicized Banagher. It is
Fortress of Blathmac's son." 
derived, as Keating states, from beng,
— Four  1Masters.                  signifying a horn, peak, crest, or pinna64 A. D. 670. —Ib.               cle, or rather it is more immediately
65 Bernnc!or.-The place then burned  derived from its adjective bennach by
was not the monastery of Bennchor, or the addition of the suffix ar.
Bangor, in Ulster; but it was Ban-   66 Keltair. —" He was slain in the
gor in North Wales,which, having been  battle of Aircealtair (Arkelter), at
founded by missionaries from the Irish  Tigh Ua Main6 (Tee oo Mani)." —F.
Bennchor, took its name from the par-,M. The scene of this fight is supposed




~430               THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
FINNACTA, ARD-RIGH.
A. D.7 686. — Finnacta68 Fleadach,  son of Donncadh, son of
Aedh Slanni, of the line of Erimhbn, held the sovereignty of Ire.
land for seven years.69  This King had the surname of Fleadach,
that is, the Hospitable, or Festive, or from the number of festivals
and public entertainments that took place in Ireland during his
reign. St. Colman, bishop of Inis-bo-iinni.`' died in ]iis reign, as
did St. Finan,7l who was honored at Arcl-Finain; of the race of
Fiachaidh, Maeil-lethan, was this St. Finnan; and about the same
time St. Arannan also died.  It was Finnacta that defeated the
Leinstermen at the battle of Loch Gabar7  where many of them
fell by his forces. It was in hlis reign that Kennfleladh the Learned'3
died.  And it was then also that Dungal, son of Sganlan, King of
the Cruthnigh or Picts, and Kennfaeldclh, King of the 1Kiannachta
of Glcnn-Geinllhen, were burned by Maelduin, son of Mlaelsitricc,
in Dun-Kethirnn.'M  In this reign also the Britons made an incursion into Ireland according to Bede, in the twenty-sixth chapt
ter of the fourth book of his History.  He there infornms us that.
a chieftain of the forces of the Kingl of the Saxons, named Bertu:
to be pointed out by a place now called  White Cow, situate thereon, it is fables
Attymany, in the parish of Clonkeen  that an enchanted cow, from which i,s
Kerrill, barony of Tiaquin, and county  has its name, is seen periodically to
of Galway.                          emerge.
67 A. D. 674. Four Masters.         7 St. Finan of Ard-Finain. —He is
P FINNACTA II. His name and- sur- the  patron  saint  of Ard-Fhinain
name are pronounced Flinnaghta Flaagh. (Ardeenawin), now the town of ArdfinFinnacta is sometimes spelled Finnsh,- nan, county Tipperary.  The festival
neachta which has almost the same pro- of St. Finan, son of Eranan, is entered
nunciation, and is thus made to signify  in O'Clery's calendar at the 12th of
sncwhite, or rather white snow. But the  February. He died in 674.
editor surmises that such spelling was   " LochL Gabar. —Now Lough Gower,
adopted in order to support an etymolo- or Logore, near  Dunshanghlin, in
gical pun upon the name, and that word  Meath. This battle took place in 675.
is nothing more than a simple derivate  Kennfacladh the Learned.-" A. D.
from Finn, i. e. fair.              677.  Cennfaeladh, son of Oilioll. a
69 S)ven years.- His reign lasted for paragon Of wisdom, died." —Four Mastwenty years according to the annals ters. This sage lived at Derryloran, in
above cited.                        Tyrone, as it is stated in the preface to
70 St. Colman of Inis-'bo-finni. He died the Uraicept na n-Eigeas, which work
on the 8th of August, 674. Inis-bo- he is said to have amendled. —OD.
finni, i. c. the Island of the White Cow    7' Dan Kethirnn.-Now the Giant's
is now known as Bophin Island, and is Sconce, in the parish of Dunboe, county
situated off the west coast of Mayo. Londonderry, as already stated. This
The ruins of St. Colman's church are event happened in 679, in the sixth
still to be seen on this island. From  year of Finnacta's reign, according to
Loch Bo-finui, i. e. the Lake of the the Four Masters.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                       481
landed in Ireland in the year of our Lord, six hundred and
eighty-four, and that they plundered a great portion of the country.  Bede laments that evil deed  in  the following words:
"Bertus devastated an innocent nation, and one that had always
proved most friendly to the English race."'  Against them  was
fought the battle of Rath Morlin Magh Lini,7" where Cumusgach,
King of the Crdthnigh (the Dal Araide), was slain, and a great
number of the Gaels fell with him.  The Britons then also made
an expedition to the Orcades and plundered those islands. Some
of them  landed in the east of Leinster likewise, and having
plundered the properties both of the church and of the laity, they
returned to their homes, when they had committed great depredations and destruction.  St. Adamnan made the following verse
on Finnacta, rwhen that king, had remitted the Boromha" or cowtribute at the request of St. Moling;
" Finnacta, Donncadh's son, remitted,
At Moling's prayer, a mighty tribute;
Thrice fifty hundred kine, with spancels,
And with each cow her calf was given."
Finnacta was killed soon after this by Aedh, the son of Dluthach
and by Conall, the son of Congal, at Grellach Dolaith.'3
75 Bertus vastavit gentem innocentem  occasion, and granted him everything
misere et nationi Aunglorum amicissi- he requested.
mam."  This quotation from the vener-    7 The Boromha remitted.-" That inable Bede refers to the invasion of Magh  iquitous tax upon the people of LeinBreagh by the Saxons, which took  ster, which through forty successive
place in June, 683, according to the reigns had been onesof the sources of
Four Masters, but in 684, according to  national strife, was at length remitted
Bede, in which latter authority it at the urgent request of St. Moling,
is said that Bertus or Berctus was the Archbishop  of Ferns  (Ferna), by
general of Egfrid, King of Northum- the pious King Finnachta for himbria.                               self and his successors for ever."To Rath-mor in Magh Line.-Now  IMoore.
Rathmore, a townland on which there   If there be any truth in the opposiis an ancient rath or earthen fort, in tion of St. Adamnan to the remission
the parish of Doneg'ore and county of of the Boromha, by his relative, King
Antrim. This battle was fought in Finnacta, the above quoted verses must
680, three or four years before the in- be understood in an ironical sense.
vasion of Magh Breagh, by the Saxons.   78 Grellach Dollaith.-This is sup
The foreigners who were there defeat- posed to be the place still called, in
ed were more probably Saxons than  Irish, Grellach, but Girly in English,
Britons. In the year after the inva- which lies two miles south of Kells, in
sion of Magh Breagh, St. Adamnan, Meatl. The battle was fought in the
Abbot of Iona, was sent to England  twentieth year of Finnacta's reign, and
to request a restoration of the captives not in the seventh, as Keating has it.
taken therein. The Northern Saxons  Bresal, the monarch's son, fell with
received him with great honor on the him.




482                THE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.
LOINGSECH, ARD-RIGtH.
A. D. 693.'9 Loingsech, son of Aengus, son of Domnall, son
of Aedh, son of Aurniri, of the line of Erimh6n, ascended the
throne of Ireland and held it for eight years. In this reign St.
Adamnan came from  Alba to Irelands~ to preach.  It was then,.also, that St. Moling8l of Luachair died; and that the plain of
Murthemni was devastatedb2 by the Britons.  During this reign
a great pestilence raged amongst the cattleS3 in Saxon-land and
in lreland. This was followed by a great famine which lasted
for three years, during which time, it is said, that people were
forced to eat one another. It was about this time, also, that St.
Egbert went to preach in Alba.  Muredach Maeil-lethan,8' King
of Connaught, died, whilst Loingsech was monarch.  It was
then, also, that the Ulidians fougrht the battle of Magh-Cullinn8
against the Britons, and in it'great numbers of those marauders
were slaughtered. About this time, likewise, died St. Adamnan,51
Abbot of Aei, or Iona, in his'seventy-seventh year.
_& A. D. 694.-Four Masters.       of Ireland were frozen, and the sea b6'8 St. Adamnan came to Ireland in  tween Ireland and Alba was frozen
697. It appears from Bede that his  so that there was a communication be
principal object in visiting his native tween them on the ice." Florence of
land on this occasion was to preach to  Winchester notices this plague in his
the people about the proper time of annals at the year 685. "A great peskeeping the Easter.                 tilence seized upon Britannia, and laid
b' St. Moling died.-He died in 696, i% waste with wide-spread destruction."
on the 13th of May. He erected a -The Annals of Ulster record a pestichurch at a place then named Ros-broc, lence such as Keating speaks of, as
but now Tigh Moling, i. e. AMoling's  having taken place in 799.
House, in Irish, and in English, St.   8 Muredach Maeil-lethan, i. e. MuMullin's, where his festival was cele- redach of the Broad Head.  He was
brated on the 17th of June.         son of Fergus, son of Raghallach, son
8 The Plain of Muethemni devastat- of Uada. It was from him that the
ed.-" A. D. 695. The second year of Sil Muireadhaigh  (Shleel Murray),
Loingsech. The devastation of Mur- (i. e. Seed of Muredach) consisting
themni by the Britons and the Ulidi- of the O'Connors (of Connaught),
ans.-Four Masters.                  the Mac Dermots, Mac Donoughs,
3 Pestilence amongst the cattle.-This O'Beirnes, O'Flanagans, Magreraghties,
event seems misplaced. A similar pe- O'Finnaghties, took their tribe-name.
tilence is thus recorded by the Four  lie was otherwise called Mluredach of
lMasters to have visited Ireland during  Magh Aei, in Roscommon. He died in
the last reikn. "A. D. 684. The 11th  the year 700, in the seventh year of
year of Finnacta, a mortality upon all Loingsech.
animals in general throughout the    5 The battle of Magh CuilZinn. A
whole world, for the space of four plain near Sliabh Cuillinn, now Slieve
years, so that there escaped not one  Gullion, co. Armagh.
out of the thousand of any kind of   86 Died St. Adamaan, &c.-This celeanimals. There was a great frost in brated man was of same family as St.
this year, so that the rivers and lakes Columkille and St. Baeithin, i. e. of the




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                     483
It was now that the Saracens marched with a large army to
Constantinople, which city they beseiged for three years, after
which period they withdrew their forces without having succeeded in taking it.
The battle of Corann87 was fought by Kellach, son of Raghallach, who had been seven years King of Connaught, against
Loingsech, King of Ireland, and in it the latter was defeated and
slain.
CONGAL KENN-MAGHAIR, ARD-RIGI.
A. D. 701.88  Congal89 Kenn-Maghair, son of Fergus Fanaid,
descended from Conall Gulban, son of Niall of the Nine Hostages, of the line of Erimh6n, became King of Ireland, and
reigned for nine years.  It was this Congal that burned Killdara, destroying both the ecclesiastical buildings and the houses
of the laity.  But this evil deed soon brought a sudden death
upon himself.
FERGAL, ARD-RIGEH.
A. D. 710.9   Fergal, son of Maelduin, son of Maelsitrice, son
of Aedh Uariclnach, of the line of Erimh6n, held the sovereignty of Ireland for seventeen years.1 Cact, the daughter of
Maelcoba, King of Kinel Conaill, was his mother.
About this time a battle was fought by the Dal Riada against
the Britons, at a place called Cloch AMinnirc, where the Britons
were defeated with slaughter. About this time, also, Nectan,
Kinel Conaill. He was son of Ronan,   87 The battle of Corann —Oorann is
son of Tinni, son of Aedh, son of Col- now a barony in Sligo. The three sons
man, son of Sedna, son of Fergus Kenn- of the monarch were slain with their
fada, son of Conall Gulban, son of Niall father in that fight.
of the Nine Hostages. After having   88 A. D. 702. Four Masters.
been twenty-six years Abbot of Iona,   9 CONGAL II.-He was called Kennhe died on the 23d of September, in the maughair, from a place of that name,
year 703, or, according to Tigernach, now anglicized Kinnaweer, situated at
in 704. Of Adamnan's works we have the head of Mulroy Lough, barony of
still remaining, his Life of Collmba, or Kilmacrenan, and county of Donegal.
St. Columkille, written in the purest He reigned but seven years, according
style of Latin then in use; which Pink- to the above cited annals, which say
erton calls the completest piece of bio- nothing of his having burned Kill-dara
graphy that all Europe can boast of  and its churches. But it would seem
during the whole of the Middle Ages; from them that he had gone into Leinsand his Description of the hIoly Places ter, in the year 705, to reenforce the
of Judea, which he presented King Al- lately abolished Boromha, and that he
fred. These have been published; but had obtained his demand from that terthere are other tracts, both in prose ritory.
and verse, written by him in his native   90 A. D. 709.-Four Masters.
tongue, which lie still in manuscript.  9 Seventeen years-Ten years.-Ib.




484               THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
King of Alba, expelled a convent of monks beyond the limits
of his realm for having reprehended him for his evil deeds.It was ill this king's reign that those three showers92 fell, whence
Niall Frasach had his surname. HIe was called Frasach, because
he was born during the frasa or showers, as we'shall relate at the
reign of Niall Frasach himself. Those showers consisted of a shower
of honey at Fothain93 Beg, a shower of silver at Fothain Mlol, and
a shower of blood in Magh-Lighen.  About this time was fought
the battle of Almain94 between Fergal, the monarch of Ireland,
and Murcadh son of Brann, King of Leinster.  Fergal's. forces
amountedto twenty-one thousand men in this engagement, while
but nine thousand followed the Kinc  of Leinster to the field, in
addition to the eight score of chosen champions that formed his
royal body-guard.  lNevertheless, the Mlonarch of Ireland was
routed, and two hundred and sixty-nine of his men ran mad,
and according to some accounts, three thousand two hundred of
them were left dead on the field. Other authorities hand down that
the number -slain amounted to seven thousand.  The reason why
this misforltune came upon the King of ireland was, because as
he was marching to the battle field of Almain with the intention of fighting, some of his people went to plunder a little
church called Killin, and thence they brought away a solitary
cow which they found in possession of the hermit of that church.
Whereupon the hermit cursed the King and his army; and it
was in consequence of his curse that this extraordinary misfortune fell upon them, and that the King himself was slain among
the rest, as we have just told.
FOGARTACH, ARD-RIGH.
A.D. 727.95  Fogartach, son of Niall, son of Ke~arnach Sotal,
son. of Diarmaid, son of Aedh Slanni, son of Anmiri, of tha
92 Three showers.-This singrular and  of Conn brought to this battle, was
perhaps partly enigmatical record, is 21,000; and the number brought by
found entered under the year 716, in  the Leinster men was 9,000. Of tho
the Four Masters, and under 715 in the death of Murcadh was said:
Annals of Clonmacnoise.'Duncasdh, the noble Murcadh's son,
" Fothain is also written Othain. It,   And Aedh Mac Colgain, of red swords,
is now called Fahan, by the English,    Slew Fergal of the valiant fights,
On storied Almain's hard-fought field.'.
and lies near Lough Swilly, county
Donegal.....Seven thousand was the number
94 Almain, now Allen, a celebrated that fell on both sides between them,"
hill in the county of Kildare. —" A.D. -Four Masters.
718. After Fergal, son of Maelduin,  95 "A.D. 719.  Fogartach, son of
had been ten years in the sovereignty  Niall, son of Kearnach Sotal (the
of Ireland, he was slain by Duncadh, Proud) was in the sovereignty of Ireson of Murcadh, and Aedh, son of Col- land this year, until he fell in the
gan, an heir presumptive to the sover- battle of Delgean, by Kinaeth, son of
eignty. The number which the race Irgalach."-Four Masters.




THE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.                       485
line-of Erimh6n, reigned over Ireland for one year.  He was
killed by Kinaeth, son of Irgallach, in the battle of Belgi.56
KINAETII, ARD-RIGH.
A.D. 728."7  Kinaeth, son of Irgallach, son of Conaing Currach, son of Conall, son of Aedh Slanni, of the line of Erimh6n,
ruled Ireland for four years. It was in the reign of this king
that the relies of St. Adamnan were brought from  Alba to Ireland.   After that event, the battle  of Drum-Kiarain9s was
fought by Flathbertach, son of Loingseeh, against Kinaethj son
of Irgallach, where Kinaeth, King of Ireland, fell, and many of
his people were slain around him.
FLATHBERTACH, ARD-RIGH.
A.D. 732.99 Flathbertach, son of Loingsech, son of Aengus,
son of Domnall, son of Aedh, son of Anmiri, of the line of
Erimh6n, held the sovereignty of Ireland for seven years.
AMuirenn, daughter of Kellach, was the mother of this king.
According to Bede, it was in this king's reign that the battle of
D rum-derg was fought inll Alba between Drust and Aengus, two
kings of the Picts. It was in his reign, also, that the battle of
Fochart"T0  was gained in Murthemni by Aedh  Ollan, and the
96 Belgi, or Beilge. The situation  Chomaigh, i. e. the stone of decapitaof this place has not been identified. tion, in the doorway of the church of
Belgi seems to have been written by  Fochart; and Concadh,son of Cuanach,
mistake for )Delgi, or lJelgen.  The chief of Cobha, was slain, and many
name is also written Cenn Delgthen. others along with him. The cause of
(Kenn Delkcenn).                    this battle was the profanation of the
97 A.D. 720. Four Masters.        church of Kill-Conna by Ua Seghain,
D8 D)rum  Kiarain.   " A.D. 722. one of the people ofAedh Roin. Congas,
After Kinaeth, son of Irgalach, had  Comorba of St. Patrick, composed this
been three years in sovereignty over quatrain to incite Aedh Allan to reIreland, he fell in the battle of Drom  venge the profanation of the church;
Corcrain, by Flathbertach. son of Loin- for he was she spiritual adviser of
gsech."-lb. Drum Kiarain, the name Aedh, so that he said:
which Drum Corcrain has been called   i" Say unto the cold Aedh Allan
in the text, is, in some copies, written  That I've been wronged by feeble men,
Drumn Carran. Its situation has not     For Aedh Roin outraged me last night,
been identified.   o       hano         At Kill Cunna of music sweet."
been idfentified.
93 A.D. 723. lb.                    Aedh Allan then collected his forces
100 Fochart, now Fauglhard, county  to Fochart, and he composed these
Louth. The battle of Fochart was verses on his march to the battle:
not fought until the third year of the    " RKill Cunna, church of my soul's friend,
reign of Aedh Ollan, or Allan, the next    For thee this day I march a field;
succeeding monarch. " A.L). 732. The    Aedh Roin shall leave his head with me,
n           n l                 Or I with him shall leave my own."
battle of Fochart was fought by Aedh
Allan and the Clanna Neill of the -See Four Masters.
north  against the Ulidians, where    Kill Cunna is now called Killoony,
Aedh Roin, King of Ulidia, was slain, in the parish of Ballyclog, barony of
and his head was cut off on Cloch-an- Dungannon, county Tyrone.




486                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
clans of Niall against the men of Ulidia. Aedh Roin, King of
Ulidia, was slain in this battle, after a reign of thirty years, and
there, also, fell, Concadh, son of Cuanach. Two years after this
engagement, Flathbertach, son of Loingsech, King of Ireland,
died a penitent at Ard Macha.
AEDIH OLLAN, ARD-RIGII.
A.D. 739.1   Aedh  Ollan,2 son  of  Fergal, son  of  Maelduin, son  of Maelsitricc, of the  race of Erimh6n, obtained
the sovereignty of Ireland, and held it for nine years.   The
mother of this prince was Brighitt, daughter of Orca, son
of Carthann.   In  the  reign  of this Aedh  was fought the
battle of Belach Feli,3 between the Munstermen and  Leinstermen, and many fell therein on both sides, and amongst
them was Kellach, son of Faelcair, King of Osraide. Cathal,
son of Finguini, K-ing of Munster, gained the victory in that
battle. After this, Aengus, son of Fergus, King of the Picts,
routed and slaughtered the Dal Riada of Alba, and plundered
and  devastated  them  exceedingly, so that Dun-da-cregi was
burned by him, and that Dungal and Fcergus,4 the two sons of
Selbach, King of Dal Riada, were led captive, and put in fetters.
About this time there was a meeting between Aedh Ollan,
King of Ireland, and Cathal, son of Finguini, King of Munster,
at Tir-da-leth-glas,5 in Ormond, and there they established the
rule and law and rent of Patrick over Ireland.
Shortly after this, the battle of Ath Senaid,6 that is, the battle,A. D. 730. lb.                  Ballyshannon, county Kildare, four
2 AEDH V.                        miles southwest of Kilcullen Bridge.
9 Belach Feli. This name should be The people of Leinster suffered so
Belach Eli, i. e. the Pass of Eli. " A.D. severely in this fight, and in that of
730. The battle of Belach Eli was Almain, in 718, that the remission of
fought between Cathal, son of Fin- the Boromha could be said to have
guini, King of Munster, and the brought them  but little advantage.
Leinstermen, where many of the latter The whole strength, both of the races
were slain. There fell of the Munster- of Conn and of Catheir Mor, seems to
men here Kellach, son of Felcair, chief have met in hostile array in this battle.
of Osraide, and the two sons of Cor- There, we are told, " that Aedh Allan
mac, son of Rossa, chief of the Desi, met Aedh, son of Colgan, in single
with three thousand along with them. combat, and Aedh, son of Colgan, was
-lb.                                slain by Aedh Allan. The Leinster4 Dungal and Fergus. According  men were slaughtered dreadfully thereto O'Flaherty, the defeat of the Dal in, so that there escaped of them but a
Riada by the Pictish king Aengus small remnant. The following were
happened in the year 736. The Dun- the leaders and chiefs who fell, namely,
gal here mentioned was the twenty- Aedh, son of Colgan, King of Ui
second king of the Alban Gaels.    Kinnselaigh, Brann Beg, son of Mur6 Tir-da-leth-glas, 1now  Terryglass, cadh, the second king who was over
in Lower Ormond.                   the Leinstermen. Fergus, son of MaeA Ath Senaid. It is now known as nach, and Dubdacrioch, tw9 chiefs of




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                        4-87
of Uchba, was fought between Aedh Ollan, King of Ireland,
and Aedh, son of Colgan, King of Leinster. In this battle,
Aedh Ollan was dangerously \wounded, and Aedh, sdn of Colgan,
with  Bran Beg, son of Murcadh, half-king.of Leinster, and
numbers of the chief nobles of Leinster, were slain.   In  all,
nine thousand Leinstermen fell in that fight.  It was after this
that Cathal, son of Finguini,7 King of Munster, died, and likewise Aedh Balb, son of Innrectach, who had been for seven
years King of Connaught.  In this reign, also, died Flann,8 son
of Cronmael, Bishop of Rechrainn.  After this, Aedh Ollan fell
in the battle of Seridh,9 in Meatlh, that is, of Kennanus, or Kells,
by Domnall, son of Murcadh.
DOMNALL, ARD-RIGH.
A.D. 748.0  P)omnall," son of Murcadh, son  of Armedach
Caech, son of Conall Guth-binn, son of Suibni, son of Colman,
son of Diarmaid, son of Fergus Kerbeol, son of Conall Cremthanni, son of Niall of the Nine I-Iostages, of the line of Erimh6n,
held the sovereignty of Ireland for twenty-four'2 years. The
the Fotharta, the son of Ua Kellaigh, rih), and was the name of the plain
son of Trian, Fiangalach Ua Maclea- lying round Kells, in Meath. Aedh
thgin, Conall Ua Athechdai, the four Ollan was famous as a bard as well as
sons of Flann Ua Congaili, Eladach  warrior, if we may judge from  the
Ua Maeluidir. The people of Lreth  manner in some stanzas attributed to
Cuinn were joyous after this victory, him are quoted by the Irish annalists.
for they had wreaked vengeance upon    O A. D. 739. Four Masters.
the men of Leinster. Nine thousand    1' DOMNALL III.
was the number of them that ware   12 Twenty-Four Years. The editor's
slain." This engagement took place in  MS. copies of Keating give this king
the year of Aedh Allan (733).-See a reign of 44 years. O'Connor's transFour Masters.                       lation gives him one of 42. From the
7 Cathal, son of Finguini. He died in  former of these he has here cut off 20
737. Hle is the ancestor of the sept of years. HIe has done so on the following
O' Caeimh, now O'Keeffe, who were grounds; firstly, because to allow a
chieftains of Fermoy, county Cork, reign of such a length to Domnali III,
previous  to  the  English  invasion. would throw several historic events
Cathal was. a warlike and power- subsequently recorded in this history,
ful prince. By the annals of Innis- too far in advance of the real dates, as
fallen, and other Munster records, he is ascertained both from the Irish Annals
mentioned as *full monarch of Ireland. and from  the testimony of foreign
Aedh Balbh, King of Connaught, died  writers; secondly, because he is perin 737, also.                       suaded that the number was originally
8 Flann, son of Cronmael. Flann, written 24 by Keating himself, for the
son of Kellach, son of Cronmael, died  sum of the subsequent dates, prefixed
in 735. It is not certain whether he  in his MS. copies, to the several kings'
was Bishop of Rechrainn, in the east reigns, does not accord with the sum
of Meath, where St. Columkille had  of the number of years during which
established a monastery, or of Rech  each king is stated to have held the
rainn, now Rathlin, or Ragharee Is- sovereignty; and thirdly, because the
land, off the north coast of Antrim.    retrenchment of 20 years from  this
9 Seridh, in Meath. It was other- reign will bring the dates of those of
wise calleds Magh Seridh (Moy Slier- the succeeding  monarchs into suffici




488                  THE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.
mother of Dompall, son of Murcadh, King of Ireland, was Alpin,
daughter of Congal, son of Delbna AMor.  In  the reign of this
King, Colman, bishop of Laesan,13 was slain by the Ui Turtri 14
and Cormac, bishop of Ath Truim,15 died.  It was in  his reign,
also, that a form16 like that of a serpent was to move in the air.
It was then, likewise, that Sechnasetch,l7 son of Colgall, king of
Ui Kinnselaigh, died;  and  St. Suairlech,18 bishop of Fobar,
and Osbran, bishop of Cluain Cremha,'l  died then, also.
After this, the  battle of Belach Cro20 was fought by Crimently close proximity with our several   20 The Battle of Belaci7 Cro. This
other Irish authorities.  It is not un- battle was fought in 751, by the Ui
likely to suppose that some early tran- Mani against the Delbna Nuadath, a
scriber of Keating had mistaken the  tribe of the Dal-g-Cais,which had early
first cypher of 24 for a 4, and thus led  made a settlement between the River
to this confusion. In the Four Mas- Suck and Loch Ribh (Lough Ree),
ters, Domnall, son of Murcadh, is stat- where they had subdued, but not exed to have reigned but 20 years.     pelled the ancient Fer Bolg tribe of
"3 Bishop of Laesan.  Laesan or the Gamhanraide. Both tribes were,
Lessan is the name of a parish at the  in this battle, nearly annihilated by the
foot of Slieve Gallion, in the counties  Ui Mani. A fleet of the L)elbna havof Londonderry aLd Tyrone.  Bishop  ing, been wrecked by a storm  upon
Colman was slain in 743 according  Lough Ree, and numbers of their warto some writers, in 739 according to  riors having perished therein, the Ui
others.                        -     Mani, then seated on the west bank of
4 Ui Turtri. They were, otherwise, the Suck, seized upon that opportunicalled the Tuatha Tort. and were seated  ty in order to exterminate their weakin the county of Antrim, on the east ened foes. The circumstance is reside of the Bann and Lough Neagh. corded by the Four Masters in the
They were descended from  Fiachra  following terms; "The shipwreck of
Tort, son of Colla Uais.             the Delbna Nuadath upon Loch Ribh
13 Bishop of Ath Truim. This bihop  with their lord Diimasach, of which
died in 741. Ath Truim is the Gaelic  was said:
name for Trim in Meath. A bishop-   "' The Gamanradi of Loch libll
rick had been founded here in 432 by    Set sail in thrice nine barlks, and three
St. Patrick, who had received a grant    Of them with life none thence returned,
Except the crew of one lone bark."'
of the place from Feidlimn son of King
Laegrari II.                           The battle of Belacl Cro was gain16 A Form, 4c. The appearance of ed by Crimthann, (chief of the Ui
this phenomenon, then held prodigious, Mani), over the Delbua of Ui Mani,
is recorded in the Annals of Ulster in which was slain Finrr, son of Arb,
under the year 744 in these terms; Lord of Delbna, at Tibra Finn. The
"During the night a horrible and won- Ui Mani were contending with them
derful sign was seen in the stars."  for the cantred between the  nuca (the
17 Sechnasach, Son of Colgan. This  Suck), and the Sinsinn (the Shannon),
chieftain died in 741.               for this was called the cantred of the
1S St. Suairlech.  He died on the  Delbna. Ofthis was said:
21st of March in 745. Fobar, called
also Fobar Fechin,.now Fore in West-    Red pass of parti-colored hosts t
meath..                Woe worth the Delbna's march and thereto I'O Cluain Cremha, i e. the Lawn of    For there fierce Crimthann ruin poured
On Delbna-Nuadh's warlike tribb.
the Wild Garlic, now Clooncraff, near    The King of Delbna, Finn MaC Airb,
Elphin, county Roscommon. Bishop        Was wounded wlith broa-lhealded spearS;
Osbran died in 747.                     UnOf that dread attle be ras chief,'until to fell at Tibra Finn."




THE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.                       489
thann, son of Enna, in which fell Finn, son of Arb, King of the
Delbna; and his people were  there  slaughtered  around him.
From  that action the lake, which is in that place, is called Lochan
B3elaigh Cro;21 and thence also the well that is there, has been
named Tibraid Finn-that is, the Well of Finn.  It was about
this period that Cumasgach,22 King of Ui Failghi, fell by Mlaelduin, son  of Aedh  Bennan, King  of Munster.  Then, also,
Cathasach, son of Olild, King of the Cruthnigh,    was slain at
Rath Betlach by the men of Leinster: and the battle of Belach
Gabrain,24 was gained by the son of Cucherca, and the men of Osraide, over Donngal, son of Lacidgenn, King of Ui Kinnselaigh,
and there Donngal was slain, and numbers of the nobles of
Leinster were slain with him.  About the same time died Muredach, son of Murcadh,25  King of Leinster.  And  after these
events Domnall, son of Murcadh, the first King of Ireland of the
Clann Colmain,"6 died.
NIALL FRASACH, ARD-RIGH.
A. D. 772. 27  Niall Frasach,28 soon of Fergal, the son of Maelduin, son of Maelsitricc, son of Aedh Uaridnach, son of Domnall,
son of Murkertach Mor Mac Erca, son of Muredach, son of Eogan,
son of Niall of the Nine Hostages, of the line of Erimh6n, assumed the sovereignty of Ireland, and held it for four years.
He  was called  Niall Frasach —that is, Niall of the frasa or
showers,"~ from  those three showers which fell in Ireland at the
21 Lochan BelaiLgh Cro, i. e. the Pool   a MIuredach, son of Murcadh. This
or Small Lough of the Bloody Pass. Prince died in 755.
"It may be the lough now  called   26 Clan Colmain. This was the tribe
Loughcrone, near Turrock, in the bar- name of the O'Maelsechlainns  or
ony of Athlone."-O'D.                O'Melaghlins of Meath.  The An2' Cumrasach. He was slain in 752. nals of the Four Masters enter the death
23 Kinq of the Cruthnigh, i. e. King  of D)omnall, under the year 758; those
of the Ulidians, now sometimes called  of Ulster, under 762; those of ClonCruthnig'h.. He was slain in 749, at macnoise, under 759;  but it appears
Rath Bethach, now Rathbeagh, a town- from an eclipse of the sun noticed the
land on the Nore, in the barony of same year, that 763 is the true date. —
Galway, and county Kilkenny.         See O'Donovan's notes to the Four, Mas.
24 Belacd, Gabrain, i. e. the Road of ters.
Gabran, which extended from Gowran    7 A. D. 759.-Four Masters.
towards Cashel. The former place is    2 NIALL II. He reigned seven years.
now called Gowran, a barony in the -O'D.
county of Kilkenny, in which there is   29 Showers.   These  showers  are
also a small town of the same name. mentioned by other records as having
The battle above mentioned, was fought fallen in the first year of his reign, as:
in 756. Another battle was gained at " A. D. 759.  Three showers fell in
Gabran itself, by Anmcaidh, an Osso- Crich Muredhaigh (Creegh Murraye),
rian chieftain, over the Leinstermen in  in Inis Eoghain (Inishowuen), namely, a
754.                                shower of pure silver, a shower of




490                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
time of his birth, of which we have already taken notice; namely, a shower of honey at Fothain Beg, a shower of silver at
Fothain Mor, and a shower of blood at Magh Laighen.  For
fras, indeed, has the same meaning as Cioth (Ii) —to  wit, a
shower.  The mother of this Prince was Athicla, daughter of
Kian, chieftain of Kiannacht.  During this reign died Dubinnrecht,30 son of Cathal, son of Muredach MIaeil-lethan, who had
ruled Connaught for five years.  There was an earthquake in
Ireland during the reign of this monarch; and then, also, there
came a great famine3" upon the land.  Donngal, son of Kellach,a3
King of Osraide, died about that time.  Then also died Cronmael, the holy bishop of Kill-Mor,33 Alpin, King of the Cruthnigh, and Colgna, bishop of Ard Brecain. The battle of Athliag34 was fought between the tribes of Ui Briuin and Ui Mani,
where great numbers fell on both sides.  It was soon after this
that Artgal, son of Cathal,35 went on a pilgrimage to Aci-Coluim-Killi.  Fergus,36 bishop of Doimliag, died.  The battle of
Corann was fought about this time, between the FKinMl-Conaill
and the Sil-Eogain, where Maelduin,37 son of Aedh Ollan, was
the victor, and Domnall, son of Aedh Munderg, was routed from
the field, and many of his people slain.  After this, Niall Frasach died"8 in Aci-Coluim-Killi.
wheat. and a shower of honey, of which  Stones. It is probablyAth-liag Maenit was said:                       again, now Athleague, on the River
" Three showers at Ard Ullinni    Suck. The name is written AchadhFell, through God's love, from HIeaven-   liaag (Agha-leeag), i.e. the Field of
A shower of silver, a shower of wheat,    Stones, in the Four Masters, who reAnd, eke-a shower of honey."
And, eke-a shower of honey."  cord a battle as having been fought
Some bard might have thus, by a there, in which the Ui Mani were
rather extravagant figure, expressed routed by the Ui Briuin in 770, being
either the plenty enjoyed by Ini- the fifth year of Donncadh.
showen, the native territory of Niall,  5. Artgal, son of Cathlal. "A. D.
in the beginning of his reign; or the  777. The 12 year of Donncadh (the
showers of spoil, taken from the terri- next monarch.) Artgal, son of Cathal,
tory of his enemies, which he poured  King of Cornaught, took the pilgrim's
into it.                           staff and went to Hi on his pilgrimage."
90 Dubinnrect, son of Cathal. This -Fcur Masters.
Prince gained a battle at Sruthair,  36 Fergus. The death of this Bishop
now Shrull, in Longford,.in 761. Ie of Doimlaig (now Duleek), did not
died in 767.                        occur until the thirteenth year of the
s, A  Great Famine.  This famine succeeding monarch.
is noticed in the Annals of Clonmac-    7 2klaelduinl. A victory was gained
noise, under the year 769.         byv this Prince over his adversary,
32 Donngal, son of Kellach.  This Domnall, in 781; and another in 782,
chieftain's death is recorded under the at Ircoir, supposed to be a place now
second year of Donncadh.           called Urker, in Antrim. These events
33 Bishop of Kill-otr. Cronmael, took place late in the ensuing reign.
Bishop and Abbot of Kill-Mor Emhiri.  38 N riall Frasach died.-" A. D. 705.
died in 765.                       Niall Frasach was seven years king
o Ath-liag, i. e. the Ford of the over Ireland when he resigned; and he




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                        491
DONNCADH, ARD-RIGH.
A. D. 776.?  Donncadh,40 son of Domnall, son of Murcadh, son
of Diarmaid, son of Armedach Caech, son of Conall Guthbinn,
son of Suibni, son of Colman Mor, son of Diarmaid, son of Fergus Kerbebl, son of Conall Cremthanni, son of Niall of the Nine
Hostages, of the line of Erimhon, held the sovereiglity of Ireland for twenty-seven years; after which, he died"1 within the
walls of his own palace.
ARDH OIRNIGHE, ARD-RIGH.
A. D. 803.42 Aedh Oirnighe,43 son qfNiall Frasach, son of Fergal,
died at I-Coluim-Cille, on his pilgrim- ven."  Dr. O'Donovan tells us that
age, seven years afterwards."-Four Lamh-Chomairt meant a violent thunMasters. The exact year in which Niall derstorm, that caused people to clap
resigned his kingdom was 770. He their hands, through terror. IIowever,
died in 778, a monk, in the Monastery  from the manner in which it is menof Iona.                            tioned in the extract just quoted and
9 A. D. 766.-Four Masters.        elsewhere, it would seem to mean some40 DONNCADH I. Though Dr. Keat- thing more.
ing has recorded none of the events   41 Died, $jc.  The true date of the
that happened during the comparative- death of Donncadh is 797. It was in
ly long reign of Donncadh, still those his reign also that the Lochlannaigh,
that happened within that period oc- or  Scandinavians, generally  called
cupy no small space in the Irish An- Northmen and Danes, really made their
nals; but to introduce any notice of first appearance upon any part of the
them, and many other important per- Irish coast. The exact date of their
sonages and events recorded, as well in first appearance is 795, that being the
this as in several of the preceding and true chronology of the 25th  year of
subsequent reigns, when not alluded to  the reign of Donncadh I., son of Murin the text, would swell these notes be- cadh, when the Irish Annalists record
yond all reasonable bounds. The earth- their earliest descent in the following
quake recorded by our author, under terms:
the last reign, is probably what is re-   "A. D. 790. The 25thl year of Donncorded by the Four Masters, in the  cadh. The burning of Rechrainn by
following terms, under 767, being the the foreigners; and its shrines were
2d year of Donneadh:a "The fair of broken and plundered."-Annals of the
the Clapping of Hands (so called), be- Four Masters.
cause terrific and horrible signs ap-' "A. I. 794. The burning of Rechpeared at that time, which were like rainn by the Gentiles, and the breakunto the signs of the day of Judgment, ing, and plundering of its shrines."namely, great thunder and lightning, Annals qf Ulster.
so that it was insufferable to all to    " A. D. 792. Rachryn was burnt by
hear the one and  see' the other. the Danes.-Annals of Clonmacnoise.
Fear and horror seized the men of   42 A. D. 793.-Four Masters. These
Ireland, so that their religious se- Annalists are here five years behind
niors ordered  them  to make two  the exact time; while the date given
fasts, together with fervent pray- above in the text, is five years in ader, and one meal between them, pre- vance thereof. The true chronology
cisely at Michaelmas.  Hence came is A.D. 795.
the Lamh-Chomairt (Lauve Comirt),  43 AFD  VI. Oirdnide is the correct
which was called the fire from IHea- form of this king's surname.




492                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
son of lfaelduin, of the line of Erimhon, held the sovereignty of
Ireland for twenty-four years.  Donnflaith (Donlah), daughter of
Flathhbertach,  son'of LoingsCch, King of Kin8l Conaill, was the
Mother of Aedh Oirnighe.  He got the surname of Oirnighe
(Ornee), or Dorn-dighe44- (Dornee), from  a habit of sucking his
hands, which he had contracted after he had been weaned from
the breast..First arrival of the LOCHLANNAIGIr or SCANDINAVIANS, who a-re
com mao/nly called NORTHMEN and DANES, A. D. 795 to A; D. 854.45
It was during the reign of Aedh and Oirnighe (Aye Ornee),
in  the  year of our Lord  eight hundred  and  twenty,' that
the  Lochlannaigh (Loughlannih) arrived in Ireland for the first
time.   It was twelve years after that event when the tyrant
Turgesius made his invasion of this country; and, according
to some antiquarians, Olcobar, son of KIinaeth, son of Congal,
son of Mlaelduin, was then lKing of Munster.  However, the
Polychroniconi, in  treating  of Ireland, tells us that it was
whilst Feidiimidh, son of Crimthann, held  the  sovereignty
D Dordighe.  This etymological men in Ireland. A. D. 795 is the real
monstrosity is not Gaelic. Dorn, the date of the burning of the monastery
first part of the compound, is the Gae- of Rechrainn, already mentioned, soon
lic name for a fist or clenched hand; after which (798 or 800) Artri occuthe latter part is the genitive case of pied the throne of Munster, which he
the word deoch, the Gaelic name for a held for eitber eighteen or twenty years,
drink. According to the derivation, according to O'Dubagain's catalogue
above given, Ornig'he, if it is as we of the kings of the line of Eber. 854
are told, another form of Dorndighe, is the real date of the death of Olcushould mean a fist-drinker or a fist- bar, son of Kinaeth, who, as is found
drink, if it could mean anything, com- by the Four Masters, succeeded Feidliing from such elements. But it must midh on the throne of Munster in 845:,
be evident to any one knowing Gaelic, and was slain in 849-the real dates
who understands even a little of the  being 850 and 854, for, as before stated,
etymological system upon which words it has been proved that these truthful
are formed either in that, or any  antiquaries had somehow lost five years
other language, that no such word as of the exact time about this epoch.
either Oirdnidhe (Oardnee), Oirnidhe Olcubar was the immediate successor
or Oirnighe (Oarnee), the several ways of Feidlimidh, who assumed the throne
in which Aedh's surname is spelled, of Munster in 818, and was himself
could result from any amalgamation  the immediate successor of Artri.
of such elements as dorn and deoch.   46 Eight Hundred and Twpnty.-The
Some less monstrous derivation must editor's MASS. are not in accord with
then be sought for Oirnighe.        one another here. One gives the date
X A. D. 795 to A. D. 854. Neither 829, another 835. As all the assertions
these dates, nor this heading are in the in the text could be true with neither
original. The dates are given to pre- of these, for Aedh Oirnighe had been
vent the reader from being confused undoubtedly, then some years dead, the
by the vagueness of Dr. Keating's ac- date 820 has been adopted as the least
count of the first arrival of the North. objectionable;




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                       493
of Munster, that these invaders made their first descent upon
Ireland.  Here is nrwhat it savs; " From  the arrival of St. Patlick
to the time of Feidlimidius, King of Miomonia, thirty-three kings
had reigned in IHibernia during a period of four hundred years,
but in the days of Fedlimidlius, the Norveciences, under the
command of Turgesius, seized upon this land."47  Othlers relate
that it was when Artri, son of Cathal, was in the sovelreignty of
Munster that the Lochlannaigh first began to invade Ireland for
the purpose of plunder. And this assertion is -true, but nevertheless, they did not then talke possession of any part of the
country, though they committed great ravages therein.  True,
also, is what the Polychronicon relates, where it says, that it was
whilst Feidlimidh, son of Crimthanl, was King of Mlunster, that
the, tyrant Turgesius, who reduced Ireland to slavery durilng his
timne, arrived in this land. It is true, also, for those who say,
that the Lochlannaigh arrived in Ireland during the time that
Olcobar was in the sovereignty of Munster; but the people that
then arrived were the Dainfir4 (Dannir), that is, the Danzes from
Dania or Denmark; and it is these people that are called DubhGhenti (Duv-yenti),that is Black Gentiles, and Dubh-Lochlannaigh
in the ancient historic books, in which, likewise, the Finn Lochlannaigh, or natives of Norwegia, are called also Finn-Ghenti
(Finn-yenti), that is, Fair Gentiles. 
Thle reader must here be made aware that the term  Lochlannaigh is not the distinctive name of the men of any particular
tribe or nation upon earth: for Lochlannach (or Lochlonnach),
means the same thing as "Strong Alanl of the Sea;749 because
47 Ab adventu sancti Patricii usqne  ex postfacto, as the latter would be if
ad Feicllimidii regis Momonri tempera, it were offered. He holds that the adtriginta tres regres per quadringentos  jective, lonn, enters into no part of the
annos in Hibernia regnaverunt temrpore  composition of the name in question,
autem  Feidlimidii regis, Nolrvecienses  but that it is formed by the addition
duce Turgesio, terram hane occuparunt. of the termination ach-to Locchlann, the
48 Daiqfir; that is the Fir, i. e. the  genitive case of Locldainn or Lochla,
Men of Dania.  The word is also  just as Erenn-ach, Alban-aclh, liawritten Danair.                    mnann-ach and Brethn-ach (contracted
49 Str-on-g Man of theSea. This ety- from Bretan-ach,) &c., are formed from
mology is plausible. There can be no  the respective genitive cases of Eri,
doubt but that the Lochlannaihl were  Alba, NIana, and EBretazinz, that is, from
" Strong  Men of the- Sea."  By an  Erenn, Alban, Manann, Brelan. In all
equally plausible etymology, Loclhlainn, these cases the letters n and en, are
the name of their native  country, not the final letters of the second radimight be said to be the same as Lakle- cal component part of a composite
land, or, poetically, Sea-land, for the  word,they are merely introduced in conland around the Baltic might not in- sequence of the accidents of grammatiappropriately be called the Land of cal declension to which Eri., Alba, &c.,
either Laklies, or of sea loughs. But belong. It would be absurd to slp
the editor holds, that Keating's deriva- pose the fortuitous collocation' of the
tion of the name is as arbitrary, and as lettes-rennach, banach, mannach, and




494                 THE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.
lonn is the same as laidir, that is, strong, and loch is the same as
fairge (fclrgui), that is, the sea.  A.d  therefore, because  the
tanach, have any distinct meanings in Poll, &c., where the Irish say Crech,
these examples, and it is just as absurd  Cul, &c. Thus it is not improbable to
to suppose that lannach or lonnach,  suppose  the ancient Irish  likewise
whichever it be, has any such in the  transmuted the P in Lap into C, as
word Loc!zlann-ach. The primary root they did that letter in so many other
of the word must be sought in the form  words.  At all events, the root of
Lochla. This form might indeed be Lochlainn is as likely, from analogy, to
derived from the Gaelic root loch, and  be Lap as Loch.
have been figuratively applied to the    Lochlannaigh, then, may be the gennative country of those sons of the  eric name of some people, notwithstand(great) lake, the Northmen of the  ing the authority of Dr. Keating, and
Middle Ages. But we see by Gaelic  that of the Bardicetymologists whom he
traditions, that this region had been  follows, though it may not have been
called  Lochla, or  Lochlainn, long  the true name of that Teutonic race, to
ages before Scandinavia became fa- whom the Gaels applied it in the 8th,
mous for its Sea Kin(s, and, per- 9th and 10th centuries, and to whose
haps, long ages before either they, descendants they still continue to apply
or any of their kindred Gothic or it. The editor does not here pretend
Teutonic  tribes, had  reached  the  to prove that Lochlainn means the
shores of the western ocean. Such be- country of the Laps, or Laplanders.
ing the case, it is not unreasonable to  To do so would require evidence far
suggest that the Gaelic word loch, a more conclusive and direct than any
lake, may have had no relation at all to  now  adduced.  But he does think
the name, and that, perhaps, its real that he has made a suggestion in
root does not even exist in the Gaelic  strict accordance with scientific philtongue.  If so, it might be inferred  ology, that any learned inquirer into
from etymological analogy, that the  the primeval distribution of the variform Lap or Lappe, may possibly be its ous tribes of men over Europe, will
true root, and -that Lochla is but a deem not untenable, and which wants
Gaelic version of the name of the coun- but the support of a few corroboratry of the Laps, or Laplanders, who, tive facts to establish its certainty.  If
the editor thinks, had been the first in- so established, it will fully account for
habitants of that region with whom  the very early occurrence of the name
the Gaels come in contact. It has been  Lochlainn, in Irish  history.  That
shown heretofore (see note 59, p. 307) Lochlannaigh (in the singular number,
that the Gaels frequently used the let- Lochlannach,)  means the  " Strong
ter C in certain words, where other na- lMen of the Sea," he trusts that nobody
tions used the letter P. Thus the Lat- who has considered the desinence of
ins said, 1, Poena a fine; 2, Pes, a  the 5th declension of Irish language,
foot; 3, Plunma, a feather; 4, Pascha, as laid down (pp. 105, 106) in the
the Easter; 5, Pulex, a fly; 6, Planto, Irish  grammar of the  learned Dr.
I plant; 7, lapis, a stone; 8, Sep- O'Donovan, will henceforth maintain.tem, seven; 9, purpur, purple, &c., The etymology of this name has been
where the Gaels said, 1, Cain; 2, Cos; dwelt longer upon than its importance
3, Clumh; 4, Caisc; 5, Cuil; 6, Clan- or interest to the general reader may
daim; 7, lec; 8, secht; 9, corcor. The seem to merit; but the editor, who has
Cumbri or Welsh say, 1, Pen, a head; devoted some time to what may be
2, Pedwar, four;.3, Plant, children; 4, called the anatomical study of lanmap, a son; 5, Prydain, Britain; guage, has thought it not useless to
where the Gaels say, 1, Cenn; 2, Cc- clear away a generally received fallathair; 3, Cland and Clann; 4, Mac, cy, which has, as he thinks, alreadyled
5, Cruithen (as in Cruithen-tuath, Pict more than one learned and scientifio
land,) &c.  The English say Prey, inquirer far away from the truth.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                     495
natives of those countries, that lie in the north of Europe, were
for some time, strong and powerful in Ireland, the Gaels named
them  Lochlalnaigh or Strong AMen of the Sea, by reason of the
great dominion they had acquired over the Gaelic nation, as
shall be explained hereafter on the authority of the book which
is entitled Cogadh Gall re Gaedhalaibh (Caggach Gaull acly Gayoiv), or thle War of the Strangers with the Gaels.
Here follows an abridged summary of that history.
It was whilst Aedh Orinighe was monarch over Ireland, and
whilst Artri, son of Cathal, was king of Munster, that the Gauls,
that is, the Lochlannaigh, landed at Caein-Inis, in Ui RPathacdl,
and with a force composed of the crews of sixty ships, they ravaged the neighboring territories, and plundered and burned Inis
Labranni, and Dar-inis.  But the Eoganacht of Loch Lein gave
them a battle, and slew four hundred and sixteen of the foreigners therein.
Another fleet, which was manned by Finn-Lochlannaigh, that
is, by the men of Norwegia, arrived in Ireland, during the second year after the assumption of the kingdom of Munster by
Feidlimidh, son of Crimthann, and on that occasion they pillaged and burned Inis Emhin, Cluain Uamha, Ros Maeilenn,
and Sgelg Michil.
They arrived with another fleet upon the northern coast of
Ireland, and there plundered Bennchor of Uladh, killed its bishop
and its men of learning, and broke the shrine of St. Comgoall.5A third fleet of the same folk arrived on the coast of Ui Kinnsclaigh, and its crews plundered Tech Munna, Tech Moling, and
Inis Teoc.  They thence marched into Osraide, and were ravagingr that territory, when the Osraidigh engaged them  in a battle,
wherein seven hundred and seven of the Lochlannaigh were slain.
They laid waste and plundered Dun lDerg-muighe, Inis Eoghanail, Desiort, Tibraid and Lis-mor, Kell- Molasi, Glen-da-loch, Cluain
Iraird, Cluain-AMor of St Maedog, Scrin-Coluim-Killi, Daimliag
O,f St. Kiaran, and Slainni and Kella Sali and Cluain Uamha
and Mungarid, and, in fine,.the greater number52 of the churches
of Ireland were plundered and burned by them.
50 Ui Rathach. Now the barony of  men of Connamara, with great slaughIveragh in Kerry. This invasion took  ter.
place in 812. Cobthach, son of Mael-  5' S.hirine of St. Comgrall.  Benndmuin, was the chieftain who commanded  choir was plundered in the year 824.
the Eoganacht of Loch Lein(afterwards The relics of St. Comrngall were shaken
called the O'Moriarties) in this victory  from their shrine by the invaders, but
over the foreigners. The men of Um- they were afterwards collected and
hall, now the Owles in Mayo, defeated  brought to Aentrobh, now the'town of
another body of the invaders within  Antrim.
this same year. The Northmen, how-   52 The greater number, /c. It must
ever, then defeated the Conmacni, or not be understood, that all these




496                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAN-D.
They entered the harbor of Luimnech, with anothe;r fet, and
laid waste and pillaged Corca-Bl3skin and Tradraide,53 and Ui Conaill Gabra;~" but the tribe of Ui Conaill Gabra gave them battle
at Senaid,j and slew great numbers of the Lochlannaigh at the
place.
After  these events Turgesius, the  tyrant, arrived  on  the
northern coast of Ireland, with a large fleet, and he assumed
into liis own hands the sovereignty of all the Lochlannaigh that
were tihen in Ireland.  Ile was thus enabled to ravage the whole
of the north of Ireland, and spread his Northmen over the whole
of Leth  Cuinn.   And they haid fleets5 upon Loch  n-Echach
(Louzghya&7iqh,) and upon Loch Lughnagh, and upon Loch Ribh,
and Ard-Macha57 was plundered by them three times within one
month, and Turgesius made captive the abbot of Ard-Macha,
according to the prlophecy of St. Columkillc, as that saint has told
us himself in the following verse:A fleet shall float upon Loch Ribh,
The heathen then shall be exalted;
Ard-Macha shall its abbot lose,
A tyrant's might shall hold him captive.
The saints of Eri had, indeed, prophesied betimes, that misfortune would. come upon their country, by reason of the pride of
her princes, and of their deeds of violence and injustice.  It was
in fulfilment thereof that the oppression of the Loclllannaigh
came upon them at the time when Artri, son of Cathal"5  was king
over Munster, and Aedh Oirnighe was supreme sovereign of all
Ireland.
And it was with Turgesius the Tyrant, that the Lochlannaigh
came to Ireland again, at the time when Feidlimidh, son of
Crimthann, was king of Mlunster.  It was this Tuicgesius that
churches were burned during the reign   65 Senzaid lay near Glin, in Limerick.
of the present monarch. Dr. Keating     Had fleets. The present names of
has, without regard to chronological the waters, where they had these, are
order, junmbled together the events of  Lough Neagh, Lougoh Ree, and Dunmore than half a century in the above  dalk Bay (Loch Lughma-h.)
catalogue.                            5? Ard-Macha, now Armagh. "A. D.,
53 Tradraide lay in the south west of  830 (true date, 835). Tle first plunClare.                             dering of Ard-Macha.  Ard-Macha
64 Ui Conaill Gabra, now the barony  was plundered thrice in one month by
of Conillo, in the west of Limerick. the foreigners, and it had never been
The sept from whom it was called was plundered by strangers before." —Four
a branch of the Ui Fidghenti, and af- Masters.
ter the establishment of surnames, its   6B Artri, son of Cathal. This king
chief families took the names of  routed an army of the men of LochO'Coileain (Collins), O'Kinnfaelaidh  lainn with great slaughter, near Lobc
(Kinnealy), and Mac Ineirghe (Mac  Lein (now Killarney Lake) in 812.
Eniry).- O'D.




THE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.                          497
expelled tlhe Primate, Forannan,'~ and his clergy, from  Ard-Macha, as we have heretofore stated, and that had fixed himself' in
the primatial seat, up to the time when he was made captive by
M~aeilsechlainn, by whom  he was drowned  in  Loch  Aninn, as
we shall relate hereafter.
It was in the reign of Aedh Oirnighe over Ireland, that Inis
Phatricc,60 and many of the other islands thalt lie between Ireland
and Alba, were plundered by the men of Lochlain.
It was during the same period that the rent of St. Patrick was
fixed  upon thle people of Connaught by Gormgal, son of Dindathach."'   About  the  same  period, Aedh  Oirnighe made  a
partition oj' Meath"2 between' the two sons of Donncadh, son of
Domnall, namely, Concobar and Olild.  Then, also, Aei-ColuimKIi!li,3 in Alba, was burned by the Lochlannaigh; and Leinster
Nwas ravaced twice64 within  the  space of one month  by Aedh
5 Forarezan. He wasArchbishop of    c3 Aei Coluim Killi. The date of
Armah. in 835, when it was taken by  the burning of the monastery of St.
the Northmen. Ie had been translated  Columlkille, in Iona, is 802.  It was
thither from tli Abbacy of Rath-mic-  again plundered in 806, and sixty of
Malais. IHe removed thence to Killdara,  its clergy were then slain.
where he, with all the congregation of   64 Leinster ravaged twice. "A.D.
St. Patricklwas next year made prisoner  799 (correctly 804.)  The 7th year of
by Feidlimidih, king of MAunster, who  Aedh.  The devastation of Leinster
then forced the exiled prelate to do  twice in one year by the Ui Neill, of
him homage.                            which it was said,
GO Iois Phadraig.  " A. D. 7 93, (correctly, 7 93.)  The first year of Aedh    "Again to Laighen Aedh returns
That warrior who no battle shunned,
Oirdaide.   Inis Padraig was burned        Por did the royal plunderer cease
by the foreigners, and they bore away      Until he left that land in dearth.'
the shrine of Dachonnal (St. DachoLi-    A. full muster of the men of Ireland
na,) and they also committed many depredations b2etween Eri and Alba,."_  was again made by him. and he marchur  asts.   Inis Phaai, no   ed to Dun Cuair, on the confines of
Patrick's  Island, lies near Sloerries   et   ad   einster,   white  came
FuMse.    iMeath and  Leinster, whither came
Ptco.    Isbln. d  lisna'kris  Cormac, Comarba of St. Patriclk (i.e.
1 GoermD alnson of Dindatlach.  He  Primate of Ireland,) having the clersucceeded as Archbishop of Arma(rh  gy of Leth-Cuinn along with him. It
in 785.- -(Fomdr IMa.sters.) The An!nals  was not pleasing, to the clergy to go on
of Ulster record that he established  a         ition. They omlained of
the law  of St. Patrick over Con-  their grievance to Aedh, and he said
nau(rht in 798.  TIe is not named  tlhat he would abide by the award of
Pothadh na Canoin6 (the Canonist,) on
amongst the Archbishops of that see
in the catalogues that have been printed.                                   ldecision by which he exempted the
62 Sleatd.   A. D..97,  (correctly  clergy of Ireland for ever from expeeat.  A. D. 797, (correctly  ditions and hostings, when he said:
802.)   Aedh  Oirdnide  went  into
Meath, and divided it between the two      ", The church of God, who lives,
sons of Donncadh, namely, Concobar           Let her rest; waste her not;
and Olild. Olild was slain the year          Let her right aye be apart;
followinr by Concobar, in a battle."-        Let all who are true monks,
bFour ]lltostess.  Tl'hey were the sons of  As their pure conscience tells,
Four Mlastfers. They were the sons of        With zea work for that Churc]L
the last kin.                         With zeal work for that Chlurchthle last king.                              As faithful servants ought.
32




498                 THE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.
Oirnighe,  king of Ireland.   In the year following, there was
great thunder65 and lightning in Ireland, which came on shortly
after the feast of St. Patrick. On this occasion one thousand and
ten people, both men and women, were destroyed between Corcabaskin  and  the sea.   And a  quantity  sufficient to  support
twelve cows of the land of that territory was overwhelmed by
the passing of the sea over it; and Inis Fitba66 split up into three
divisions.  It was about that time that Acdh 0irnighe marched,
attended by a numerous host, to Dun Cuair,67 in Leinster, and
there made a partition of the principality of Leinster between
the two Muredachs, namely, Mluredach, son of Brann, and Muredach, son of Ruadrach.  After this, Inis Muredaigh75 was burned
by the Lochlannaigh.  It was about this time, also, that the
same people committed great slaughter upon the men of Umh'al j;  and it was then that Edirsgeol,7" son of Kellach, bishop of
Glenn-da-loch, died.  After these events, Aedh Oirnighe, King
of Ireland, was slain by Maelcanaigh in the battle of Da-ferta."
CONCOBAR, ARD-RIGH.
A. D. 827.72 Concobar,73 son of Donncadh, son of Domnall], son
of Murcadh, son of Diarmaid, son of Armedach Caech, son of
All soldiers from that out,     68 Inis  Ituredaigh.  Now  InnishBound by no sacred rules,             ow
undith arms may aicred ulthe King,  murry, off the coast of Sligo.  The
Great Aedh, from Niall sprung.  burning of the monastery of this island,
This is the rule of right,    whose ruins still exist, happened in the
It errs on neither side;os  Comain, now   osIn his own calling each       year 807.  Ros Comain, now  RosShall without murmur work."   common, was attacked the same year.
After this, Aedh Oirnide went to    6 The men of Umhall. These people
the king of Leinster, and obtained his had defeated their Norse invaders in
full demand from him.-Four 1Masters. 812, but were themselves routed with
Thus did the sage exempt the clergy  great slaughter in 813, on which ocfr'om military duty.                casion Dunadach, Lord of Umhall, and
6; Great thunders, &c. This is re- Cosgrach, son of Flannabrat, were
corded as having happened also in the  slain. The chief family of the men of
year 804.                           Umhall afterwards took the name of
R66 miis Fit&z.  "According to the  O'Mailli, now O'Malley.  Their tertradition in the country, this is the now  ritory comprised the present baronies
called Inis-cacrach, or Mutton Island, of Murrisk and Burrishole, in Mayo.
lyiDng opposite Kilmurry-Ibrickan, on    Edirsgeol. He died in 812.
the west coast of Clare. The whole of    7' Ath-da-Ferta,i. e., The Ford of the
Ibrickan belonged formerly to Corca  Two Graves, or of the Two Miracles.
Baskin."-'O'D.                      Its situation is unknown to the editor.
67 Dun-Cuair.  " It is now called    In the same year of Aedh's death,
Rath Cuair, in English, Rathcore, a  the shrine of St. Patrick was taken
small village lying in the barony of into Connaught by Archbishop Artri
Moyfcnrath, County Meath, and not son of Concobar.
f:tr from the confines of ancient Lein-   72 A. I). 818.-Four  lasters.
ster with Meath."-Ib. The division    3 CONCOBARIL
above recorded took place in 805.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                       499
Conall Guthbinn, son of Suibni, son of Colman Mor, son of
Diarmaid, son of Fergus Kerbebl, of the line of Erimhon, held
the sovereignty of Ireland for fourteen years.
It was in the reign of this Concobar that Corcach and InisDaimhli"4 were pillaged by the Lochlannaigh.  It was during the
same reign that the Rent of St. Patrick was established over
Munster, by Feidlimidh, son of Crimthann, and by Artri, son
of Concobar,7 and it was also this same Artri that established the
Rent of St. Patrick over Connaught.'"     Then it was that Bennchoir"7 and Dun-da-leth-glas`8 were plundered by the Lochlannaigh, and that Magh-bili was burned, with its oratories.
It was about this time that Muredach, son of Eocaidh,  was
king  of Ulidia.   It was then, also, that the  destruction of
Aenach Taltenn, in which  great numbers fell, was given to the
Galenga,79 by Concobar, son of Donncadh, king of Ireland.  The
Lochlannaigh, also, then gained a great victory over the Leinstermen, at Drum  Connla;80 at which place fell Conaing, son of
Cucongelt, king of the Fotharta, and a great many others were
slain there likewise. Soon after this, Ard-Macha8' was plund7' Inis Daimhli.  Inis Daimhli, re- in 825. The Ulidians, however, fought
corded by the Irish annals as having  the ravagers on Magh-inis, (Lecale in
been burned by foreigners at the same  Down), and defeated them with slaughtime with Corcach, or Cork, in the  ter.
third year of Concobar's reign. Arch-   19 Galenga. These were the inhabit.
dall thinks that this Inis Daimhli was ants of Galenga Mlor, now Morgallon,
the ancient name of Cape Clear Island. in Meath. This event happened in the
Dr. O'Donovan, however, thinks that 8th year of Concobar. In the same year
it was a place now called Inch, in the  took place the destruction of the Aenbarony of Shelmaliere, in Wexford.  ach Colmain, or Fair of Colman, held
75 Artri, Son of Concobar. " A. D. upon the Curragh of Kildare, where
822. The law of Patrick was pro- the royal fair and sports of Leinster
mulgated over Munster, by Feidlimidh, were wont to be held.
son of Crimthann, and by Artri, son   8' Drum  Conla. The 8th year of
of Concobar, Archbishop  of Ard  Concobar.  The destruction of Dun
Macha." —Four Masters. He was the  Laighen, at Druin, by the pagans,
brother of the King of Oirghialla.  where Conaing, son of Cucongelt, lord
76 Connau,1lt.  "' A. D. 824. The  of the Fortuatha, was slain, with many
7th year of Concobar. The law  of others.
Patrick was promulgated through the   81 Ard Macha plundered. This is the
three divisions of Connaught by Artri, first plundering of Armagh, already
son of Concobar, i. e. Bishop of Ard  referred to, and which happened in 832..Macha."-O'D.                       The same year is recorded the plunder77 Bennchoir. It was plundered in  ing of Daimliag (Duleeg), and the
824, when its oratory was broken, and  tribe of the Kiannachta, with all their
the relics of St. Comgall shaken from  churches, by the foreigners. Olild, son
their shrine.                       of Colgan, was taken prisoner by them.
78 Dun-da-leth-glas, now Down. This The plundering of Lughmagh (Louth),
occurred the year after the plundering  and Mucsnamh (now Muknoe), and Ui
of Bennchoir. The plundering orMagh- Meath (in Monaghan), and Druim-micbili took place the same year, that is, h-Ua Blae (in the north of Meath),




500                THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
ered by the Lochlannaigh; and within one month after that,
Lughmagh, and the tribes of the Kiannacta, and Lis-mor,82 with
all their churches, were laid waste by these ravagers.83
Up to this time there had been four chief schools in Ireland,
viz: a school in Ard-Macha, in whic-h there were seven thousand
students-according to an ancient roll which has been discovered
at Oxford; a school in Caisol, (Cctshel); a school in Dun-da-lethglas; and a school in Lis-mor.  Anld besides these many other
colleges had flourished in Ireland up to the present time; but
these were now either interrupted or destroyed.
At length Concobar, son of Donncadh, King of Ireland, died.
NIALL CALLI, ARD-RIGH.
A. D. 839.84  Nialls Calli, son of Aedh Oirnighe, son of Niall
Frasach, of the line of Erimh6n, held the sovereignty of Ireland
for fifteen years.   The following  is the reason wihy he was
called Niall Calli.  One day he happened to arrive on the bank
of the river, which is called Callainn86 or Calli, attended by a
royal and numerous host of cavalry.  Thereupon a gilla belonging to his household went before them  to try if the river were
fordable, and he was drowned therein.  The,king commanded
those who stood near him to go to the relief of the gillc, but he
found no one hardy enough to attempt it.  Upon this he rushed
himself on horseback towards the river, but as he was about to
plunge into the current, the bank broke from beneath him, and
both he and his horse fell headlong into the flood, and he was
then swept away and drowned.  A  prophecy was fulfilled by
this event, because it had been foretold for him, that'he should
meet his death by being drowned in the River Callainn.  And
such is the reason why he has been called 1Niall Calli.
and of other churches by then also. that career of bloodshed and plunder,
Tuathal, son of Feradach, was carried  which has caused Dr. Keating, on the
off by the foreigners, and the shrine of authority of Cambrensis and the PolyAdamnan was taken from Domnach  chronicon, to set him down as tyrant
Maighen (now the church of Moyne, of Ireland, and give him a place among
county Monaghan).-FourMasters.    its monarchs
2 Lis-mor plundered. This seat of   & A.D. 832. Four ]asters.
piety and learning was plundered dur-  85 NIML III. HE reigned but thiring the next year (833), as was the  teen years, according to other accounts.
episcopal church of Rath Lurigh, in  "O'Flaherty places the accession of
the present county of Derry.       this king at 833, which is the true
a It was not until the present reign  year."-O'D.
that the Northmen invaded Ireland    6 Callainn. There were three rivers
on an extensive scale. It was during  of this name. The Callainn, now called
this period, also, that Turgeis (Tur- the King's River, in the county of
gaish), or Turgesius, as his name has Kilkenny, is most probably the one in
been Latinized, must have commenced  which Niall was drowned.




THE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.                      501
It was in the reign of this king, that Diarmaid, son of Torealtach, King of Connaught, died.  It was during it, also, that
the Loehlannaigh.burned Loch Bricrenn,sn against Congalach, son
of Eocaidh, whom they slew upon that occasion.
Niall Calli, King of Ireland, marched into the territory of the
Leinstermen, with a numerous host, for the purpose of appointing, a king over them, namely, Bran, son of Faelan.  After that
Ferna AMor of St. Miaedog, was plundered by the men of Lochlainn, and Mungarid and many others of the churches of Ormond
were then burned by them;S and they plundered Kill-dara,89 in
like manner.
It was about this time that sixty  ships from  the land of
the  Northmen   arrived  upon  the   river  Boinn, and  forty
ships  upon  the river Lifi.   These  fleets devastated  Magh
Lifi, (Jllo-Le?e)),     now  called the  county of Ath-clidth, (AwCleerah,) and  Magh  Breagh  (Ifoy-Breaw),  and  Fine  G.al1l,
(K'nni Gall), pillaging both churches, and duns, and farmsteads.
After this, the Lochlannaigh  gained a victory  at Inber-na-mbare;' over all the Ui Neill,92 from  the Sinainn"9  to the sea, and
there an untold multitude was slaughtered, but the principal
chiefs escaped.94  Inis Keltrach, and Cluain-mic-Nois, and all the
churches of Loch Erni, were next burned by the Lochlannaigh.
8 Loch Bricrinn, now called Lough- of Fingal, county Dublin. The name
brickland, a small town in the county of is prematurely used in this instance, as
Down, situated on a loch of the same  the foreigners had not yet settled definame. It was plundered in the first nitively therein. It then formed part
year of Niall, in which, also, Diarmaid, of the territory called Bre'gh.
king of Connaught, died.              9' Inber na m-barc, i. e. the Harbor
" "The third year of Niall. Ferna, or Estuary of the Barks.' It is probCluain-MAor-MIaedogr, and Drom-h-In(r, able, that it was the name of the
were plundered by the foreigners. The  mouth of the River Rath-Inbhir, near
burning of Mungarid by them, and  Bray."-O'D.
other churches in Ormond by them       2 Ui Neill, i.e. the Southern Ui
also."-Four Moasters.               Njeill or tribes of Meath.
89 Eill-dara. "A. D. 835. The 4th    9 Snaieznm, otherwise Sina, Sena,
year of Niall. Kill-dara was plunder- and Senainn, the Gaelic name of the,ed by the foreigners of Inber Dean  River Shannon.
(now Wicklow), and half the church    9 "A. D. 836. The 5th year of Niall
was burned by them."-Four Mcasters.  Calli. A fleet of sixty ships of NorseThis year also Cluain Mor Macdog, i.e. men on the Boyne. Another fleet of
the Great Lawn of St. Maedog, is re- sixty ships on the River Liffey. These
corded as having been burned by the  two fleets plundered and spoiled Malgh
foreigners on Christmas night. But Liphthi and Magh Breagh, both churthere were two religious establishments  ches and habitations of men, and goodof this name. One of them was situat-  ly tribes, and flocks and herds.  A
ed at a place now called Clonmore, battle was gained over them  by the
on the River Slaney, county Wexford. men of Breaogh, in Mughdorna Breagh,
The other is in the barony of Rath- where six score of the foreigners were
velly, county Carlow.               slain.  A battle was gained by the
9 Fini Gall, i.e. the Nation or Tribe  foreigners at Inber.na-m-barc, over all
of the Foreigners. Now the district the Ui Neill from the Sinainn to the




502                  THE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.
FEIDLIMIDH,'5 SON OF CRIMTHANN, was both King of Mlunster
and Archbishop of Cashel during these times; and this Feidlimidh marched into Leth Cuinn, and plundered it from  Birra to
Temhair, in Brejdgh; and he rested at Ternhair; and Innrectach,
son of Maelduin, was slain at Temhair by his people. And
Feidlimidh, son  of Crimnthann, died when he had reigned over
]M~unster for seven and twenty years. The Leabar Iris gives this
testimony as to his merits: " The most excellent sage and anchoret of the Scoti has gone to rest."96 From this it may be
understood  that Feidlimidh, son of Crimthann, was a learned
and a pious personage in his own day.
Sea, where such slaughter was made as  the time when Turgesmus should have
never before was heard of; however reigned over Ireland, if al all.  For, as
the kings and chieftains, the lords and  shall be shown hereafter, the Norse
toparchs escaped without slaughter or  tyrant was drowned by Maelsechlainn,
mutilation." —Four Masters. This vie- whilst both Feidlimidh and Niall Calli
tory it was, that must have given Tur-  were still alive.
gesius and his Norsemen that sway    9  Optimus et sapiens  anchorita
over Meath and the East of Leinster,  Scotorum quevi't.
that induced some to have set him       Some modern writers are very severe
down as Sovereign of Ireland. We do  upon the character of Feidlimidh, and
not find that Niall Calli, the monarch  no doubt he did deserve censure for
and the head of Northern Ui Neill, his devastations of LethCuinn and Conhad come to the aid of h-is relatives on  naught in endeavouring to assert his
this occasion.                       claim to the Irish Monarchy, as the repF95 Feidlimidh.  Accordingr to the  resentative of the line of Eber.  That
Annals of Innisfallen, he was full mon- he was, nevertheless, a brave and a wise
arch of Ireland, as Cambrensis also  prince, within the limits of his own
states; but the Northern annalists do  principality, may be judged from the
not number him among the monarchs of fact that Mllunsterwas kept comparativeIreland. He was certainly as powerful ly free from the ravages of the Northa potentate as Niall, his Northern con- men during his lifetime. Perhaps, also.
temporary, and, if we are to judge from  like Brian, in a subsequent age, he felt
what the latter annalists relate of him, himself to be alone capable of saving his
as great a devastator as any Norse-  country from the emergency to which
man of them all His being set down by  it was then reduced. The Four Masthe Munster annalists as sole monarch  ters record his death in the following
of Ireland, must have originated in his  laudatory terms: "A. D. 845. The 1st
having exacted the homag-e of Foran-  year of Maelsechlainn, son of Maelnan, the Primate, who was taken pris- ruanaidh, over Ireland, Feidlimidh, son
oner bv him in 835 or 836, at Kildare, of Crimthanu, king of Munster, the best
whither the latter had fled from the  of the Irish in his time, died on the
Northmen; and from the fact that he  18th of August, of his internal wound,
overran Meath, and rested for some  inflicted through the Miraclcs of God
time at the  ancient royal seat of and St. Kiaran.  Of the death of
Temhair.'The latter event is thus re- Feidlimidh was said:
corded under A. D. 339: " Feidlimidh.,
King of Munster, plundered Meath and      TheAlas  O  God, for Feias dlo  nd him I —
Breagh, and he rested at Temhair,         o cause of woe to Irish men!
after having in one day taken the host-   The Son of Claris chief is dead.
& b                     M~~~~~~With evil omen to the Gaeil
ages of Connaught.' —Four Masters.        Did his last hour arrive;
It is to be remarked, that this prince    O'er Saered Ei slaughter spread,
was at the height of his power during     When royal Feidlimidh had died.'"




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                        503
After this, Tighernach, King of Loch Gabar, routed the Lochlannaigh, at Doiri Disirt DlDchonna;97 and it was in that year9'
that Olcobar, Abbot of Imlech Iubair, assumed the sovereignty
of Cashel, and that Malaelsechlainn, King of Mleath, defeated the
Lochlannaigh at Casan Linni,93  in  teath, where  seven hundred
of these invaders were slain.  It was about this time, also, that
Saxolbh, ~~ a chieftain of the men of Lochlainn, was slain by the
]Kiannachta of Glenn  Gemhin, on  which  occasion  a  great
slaughter was made  of his followers, aud  that another red
slaughter was made of those foreigners at Es-ruaidlh.'  It was
after this that Ath-cliath was captured2 by the Lochlannaigh, for
the first time.
About this period, also, was born Cormac, son of Culinnan,
who  afterwards reigned for seven years as King of Munster;
beilg, at the same time,'Arehbislop of Cashel.
A  battle  was now  gained  by the Lochlannaigh  over the
Connaughtmen,3 and in it fell Maelduin, son of Muirgheas. and
numbers of his people toglether with himl.  Brann, son of Faelan, King of Leinster, died -about this same time.  After this,
the Lochlannaigh  came upon Loch n-Echach (Ahaigh), with a
large fleet,4 and thence they plundered the possessions of the
97 Doiri-desirt-Dachonna, i. e. the  Glen Given, county Derry, in the fifth
Oak Wood of St. Dachonna's Desert. year of Niall (836-837).
This place has not been identified. The    1 Es-ruaidh, now  Assaroe, or Salbattle was gained in the second year mon's Leap, on the river Erne. The
of the reign of Alaelsechlainn, being  Norsemen were defeated at this place
two years after the death of the present during the last-mentioned year.
monarch, and four after the drowning    2 Ath-cliath captured.  The Four
of the pirate chief Turgesius. Keat-  Masters record the first taking of Athing has thrown several events into this  cliath, or Dublin, by the foreigners,
reign that occurred itl the subsequent under A. D. 836, the same year that
one, for they could not well lbe inlserted  they defeated the southern Ui Neill,
in the'reign of thirteen years which lhe when they had entered the Boyne and
has inconsiderately assigned to the  Liftey with those large fleets which
tyrant.                             have been already mentioned.
V9 The same year. Olcobar, Abbot    3 A batt'e over the Connaughtrnen.
of Emly, had been already King of This battle was fought during the
Munster for a few years, when the last- sixth year of Niall's reign.  In the
mentioned battle was fought; for 01- same year there was a royal conference
cobar was the immediate successor of between the monarch and Feidlimidh,
Feudlimidh, who had retired to a  King of Munster, at Cluain Conari
monastery a short time previous to his Tomain, a place now called Cloncurry,
death.                              in the north of Kildare. It was in
00 Casxan Linni. A river near I)un- this year, also, that Brann, King of
dalk, county Louth.  It was other- Leinster, died.
wise called Amhain Locha, and is now' 4 A large fleet. "A. D. 838. The
known as Lagan.                     eighlth year of Niall. A marine fleet
~00 Saxolbbh. He was slain and 1his of the foreigners took its station on
followers routed by the Kiannachta of Loch Eathach (Lough Neatgh). The




501                 TIlE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.
laity and the clergy of the north of Ireland; and Corcach and
Fprna were then burned by them  likewise.
Niall Calli at this time marched  with  a numerous army to
plunder and despoil the Fera Kell,5 and the Delbna.Ethra; and
it was then that Murcadh, son of Aedh, King of Connaught,
died.
And, moreover, it was about this time that the Lochlannaigh
built a fortress at Linn Duachaill,6 whence the territory of Tebtha
was devastated by them. In like manner, they built a fortress
at Dubh-linn,' whence they laid waste Leinster,  ilnd Uii Neill,
and all the territories of the laity and the clergy, as far as Sliabh
Bladma. After this, they pillaged Cluain Aidnech, and Clunain
Iraird, and  Cluain-mic-Nois.   And  a  dun  (a fortress) was
erected by Turgesius, the Lochlannach  chieftain, upon Loch
Ribh.  Then Cluain-mic-Nois was pillaged  again, and  Clua'in
Ferta of St. Brendan, and  Tir-da-leth-glas, and  Lothair, and
many other cities.  After these events, Niall Calli, Kingi of Ireland, gave battle to the Lochlannaigh, upon Mlagh Itha, where
numbers of them  were slain.   And, soon  after that, Niall was
drowned in Callainn, as we heave heretofore told.
churches and territories of the north of   It is clear, by the latter part of this
Ireland were burned by them. The  entry, that the rivalry between the
burning of Ferna (Ferns) and Corcach- kings of Leth Mogha and Leth Cuinn
mor (Cork) by the foreigners."-Four  was not interrupted by the influx of
Masters.                             the Northmen; in fact, neither the. Fera Keill, usually written Feara  hereditary territories of Niall (the
Ceall, now  Fircall, in the King's  northern Ui NialIl), nor of Feidlimidh
County. Niall marched against this  had as yet experienced much of the
territory in 839-840.                fury of the invaders, whose principal
6 Linn  DuachaiZl, now Magheralin, attacks were then directed against the
in the County of Down, situated on  central province and the coasts.
the river Lagan, which was anciently    Though the Four Masters state that
called Casan Linni, and Amhain Locha, Niall gained a victory over his rival
as already seen. "A. D. 840. A fortress  on this occasion, still the annals of
was erected by the foreigners at Linn  Innisfallen assert that in 824 (which
Duachaill, out of which the territories  corresponds to the year 840 of the
and churches of Tebtha were plundered. annalists just quoted),. Feidlimidh reAnother fortress was erected by them  ceived the homage of Niall, King of
at Dubh-linn, out of which they plun- Tara, and thenceforth  became. sole
dered Leinster, and the Ui Niall, as monarch of Ireland, to his death.
far as Sliabh Bladma. An army was       Dubh-linn, i. e. the Black  Pool.
led by Feidlimidh to Carman (Wex- The modern name, Dublin, is derived
ford).  Another army was led by  from Dubh-linn (Doobisl, or Durlinn).
Niall to Magh Ochtair (in Kildare), to  The present castle of Dublin stands
meet him.                            upon the site of the ancient Danish
" The crozier of Feid;imidh the Pious  fortress, whose erection is here rWas left behind among the sloe-trees,  corded.
For Niall forced it from his grasp,
I. battle, by the law of swordz" —F. M.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                       505
T7ze tyranny of TURGESIUS, from A. D. 830, to A. D. 843.
Turgcsius, the Norse tyrant, with his armies of the men of
Finn-Lochlaiinn, held  supreme power in Ireland for thirteen
years, after he had previously been the scourge of that country
for seventeen years; for during that length of time had he been
exercising violence and rapine upon  its inhabitants.  T'his he
was enabled to effect by the arrival of a large fleet, which had
arrived from Norwegia to his assistance, and which had come into
port in the north of Ireland.  By this fleet the country was
devastated, and  forced  to  deliver up  hostages.   Anlld  they
stationed it upon Loch n-Echach and Loch Iibh, and furnished
it with crews and  provisions, for the purpose  of committing
depredations, as we have heretofore related, and as St. Columkille had foretold, in the verse that has gone before.  Berchan
of the Prophecy  also had foretold that a tyrant king of the
nation of the Lochlannaigh  should be over Ireland, and that
there should be a Lochlannach  abbot over every church  in
Ireland.  Here follows the verse in which he made that prediction:
"Then heathens shall come over ocean's wide wave,
By whom shall confusion be brought on the Gaeil,
And of their race an abbot shall rule in each church,
And of their race a king over Eri shall reign."
But when  the nobles of Ireland  saw  that Turgesius had
brought confusion upon their country, and that he was assuming
8 This heading is inserted by the.Diarmada (now Castledermot), Birra,
editor. The dates therein given are the  Saighir (Seirkieran) saw their monasthirteen years during which he had  teriespillaged.  OnefleetofthebNorsereigned over Ireland, according to  men floated on the Boyne, another was
Keating, ceunted back from the year of stationed at Linn-Rois, another at Lilln
his death, in the 12th year of the reign  Duaclhaill, another on Linn Sailech
of the last monarch, Niall Calli; for  (now Lough Swilly), in Ulster. In
with his reign the tyranny of Turgesius, A. D. 842 the monastery of Cluain
however far it extended, must have  Ferta, of St. Brendan, was burned by
been nearly contemporaneous. Keat- them. In 843, the foreigners of Dubing's date is not given at the head of lin marched to Cluain-an-Dobair, in
the reign, because it would throw the  the Kinr's County, and burned the
events of the ensuilng reigns too far in  fold of Kill-Achaidh, on which occaadvance of the authentic Irish annals.  sion Nuadath, son of Scigen, suffered
In A. D. 840 (the same year), oc- martyrdom at their hands. Dun Masg,
curred the plundering of the monastery  now called Dunamase, was also then
of Cluain Aidnleclh, now Clonenafgh, in  plundered by them, where Aedh. son of
Leix, and the destruction of the monas- Dubdacrioch, Abbot of Ti r-da-glas and
teries of Kill-achaidh-droma-fota, now  Cluain Aidnech, was taken prisoner,
Killeigh, il Offaly, and of Cluain Iraird. and they carried him'nto Munster,
In A. D. 841, Caemhan, Abbot of where he suffered martyrdom for the
Liln Duachaill, was burned by the  sake of God; id Kethernach, son of
fore'gners.   Cluain-mic-nois,  Disert Cudinasg, Prior of Kill-dara, with




506                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
supreme authority over themselves, and reducing them to thraldom and vassalage, they became inspired with a fortitude of mind,
and a loftiness of spirit, and a hardihood and firmness of purpose that urged them to work in right earnest, and to toil zealously in battle against him  and his plundering hordes.
Here follow some of the defeats9 which the Gaels then gave
to these plunderers, to wit:
Tilhe route which the Dal-g-Cais (Daul Gash) gave them at
Ard Brecain.
The  battle where the  Lochlannach  earl, Saxolbh, and his
army were slaughtered by the Ui Colgain.
The battle which Olcobar, son of Kinaedh, King of Munster,
and Lorcan, son of Kellach, King of Leinster, gained over them
at Sciath Nectainn, where Earl Tomar, the tanist of the King
of Lochlainn, was slain, and  where  twelve hundred of the
warriors of his nation were slain around him.
Besides this, the same Olcobar and the Eoganacht Caisil won
a victory over them  close by Cashel, and five hundred of them
were slain therein.
In the north, the invaders were routed with slaughter, at Esruadh.
The Ui Fidghenti slew three hundred and fifty of them at
Dun Maeili Tuli.
Two hundred of them  fell by the tribe of the KIiannachta.
At Drum  Dachonna, two hundred and forty were slain by
Tighernach, King of Loch Gabar.
And, in like manner, Alaeilsechlainn, son of Maclruamhaidh,
many others, was killed by thenm dur- tion. In A. D. 843, or at farthest in
in, that plundering expedition. Then  844, the star of that robber chief went
it was that Forannan, Primate of Ire- down, as is seen by the following entries
land, was taken prisoner, with his relies which, with a very slight discrepancy
and people, at Cluain Combarba, and  in the date, is confirmed by all the
carried by the pirates to their ships at Irish annals:
Limerick.                             "A. D. 843. A battle was gained
An expedition was likewise made by  over the foreigners by the King, Niall,
Turgesiu;, lord of the foreigners, upon  son of Aedh, in Magh Itha, and a
Lougrh Riibh, and he plundered Con- countless number fell. Tutri:nrs WAS
naught and Meath, and burned Cluain- TAKEN PISONER nBY nXMAELSEC1HLAINN,
mac-nois, with its oratories, and Tir- SON OF I~MABLRUANAIDIt, AND HE WAS
da-glas, Cluain-FWrta, of St. Brendan, AFTERWARDS DROWNED IN LocHR UAIR,
and many others.-See the Aona's of THROUGH THE MIITRACLE OF GOD, AND
the Four Malsters, the Anrna's of Ulster, KIARAN, ANTD THIE SAINTS IN GENERAL."
and the Annals of Clon-mac-nois, from  -Four AMasters.
which these entries are taken, in order  Defeats. These enlgarements have
to brin(r Turgeis, or Turge.sius the  been either already mentioned, or will
Tyrant, as he is called, to the culmli- be found under the reign of Maelhating point of his cafeer of devasta- sechlainn.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                      507
King of Meath,' routed their host at the battle of Glas Linni, in
which fight one thousand seven hundred of the men of Lochlainn
were slain.
But though numerous were the battles and conflicts wherein
the Gaels fought against Turgesius and his Lochlannaigh, still,
by means of the greatness of his fleet, and of the numerous hosts
that it continued to bring over to his aid fromii Norwegia, and
other countries in the north of Europe, it came to pass that he
at length succeeded in vanquishing the Gaelic nation, and reduced it to bondage and serfdom to himself and to his Almuraigh.1'
OF THE THRALDOMI1 OF THE GAEIDIL UNDER THE LOCHLANNAIGH, DOWVN HERE.
HTere follows an abridged account of the slavery of the Gaels
beneath the yoke of the, Lochlannaigh, together with the rent
and tributes placed upon them  by these foreigners, to wit: a
Lochlannach king over every canton in Ireland; and a chieftain over every territory; and an abbot over every church; and.
a steward over every townland; and a soldier or buarnn  over
every homestead.  And the man of the house was not allowed
the disposal of as much as one egg of his own property; and
though a family owned but one'stripper, they were not allowed
on any night, to give its milk to either infant or child, but were
obliged to keep it up for the use of the soldier; and though the
man of the house owned but one in-calf cow, he was forced to
kill the same for the use of his unwelcome guest, and, if he could
not satisfy the latter therewithal, he was compelled to place his
inheritance in pledge for the maintenance of the said soldier.
Besides this, the Lochlannaigh should either get an ounce of gold
each year for every man in Ireland, or they would have the nosel2
10 Almuraigh, i. e. pirates.  The here recounted, as part of a universalplural of almurach (alooragh).    ly established system, must have been
" Thraldom. The account that fol- practised at distinct epochs and at diflows is greatly exaggerated and too ferent places, by, various persons, and
universal in its nature. It is, besides, never over any great extent of the
probably borrowed from  the foreign  country at the same time. The opwriters, who invented the story of the  pression of the Northmen in Ireland,
reign of Turgesius over Ireland, which, consisted in ruthless bloodshed and
as before stated, Keating must have  plunder, with the destruction of the
borrowed from Cambrensis; for the  civilization then existing in the land,
Irish records, which rarely mention  rather than in permanent and legalized
Turgesius by name, though sufficiently  domination.
diffase in recounting the ravages com-    2 Nose. This was called nose-money,
mitted by his countrymen, afford not or nose-gelt, a species of taxation to
the slightest grounds for making him, which the Normans had previously
at any time, exercise an established ty- been accustomed in their own coun.
ranny over Ireland. The oppressions tries.




508              THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
from  off his face. Then no lord or lady of the Irish was al
lowed to wear any mantles or garments, except the cast-off
clothes of the Lochlannaigh. It was not allowed to give instruction in letters, nor to live in religious communities, for, the Lochlannaligh dwelt in the temples, and in the duns; no scholars, no
clerics, no books, no holy relics were left ill church or monastery
through dread of them; neither bard, nor philosopher, nor musician pursued their wonted professions in the land; no daughter
of king, or lord, or chieftain was allowed to wear either silk
dresses or precious ornaments; no *son of king, or of lord, was
allowed to receive instructions in feats of agility, in shooting, or
in any martial exercise. No banquet of feast was allowed to be
enjoyed amongst friends until the Dainfir had first satisfied them
selves thereof.
The result of the heavy oppression of this thraldom of the
Gaels under the Lochlannaigh was, that great weariness thereof
came upon the men of Ireland, and the fexv of the clergy that
survived, had fled for safety to the forests and wildernesses,
where they lived in misery, but passed their time piously and devoutly. And now these same clergy prayed fervently to God to
deliver them from  that tyranny of Turgesius, and, moreover,
they fasted against that tyrant, and they commanded every layman amongst the faithful that'still remained obedient to their
voice to fast against him likewise. And God then heard their
supplications in as far as the delivering up'of Turgesius into the
hands of the Gaels.
Jaelsechlcinn's Daughter —Death of Turgesius-Fxpulsitn of the
Foreigners.
EWhen Turgesius was in the possession of this usurped authority, and whlilst the Gaels were yielding him an involuntary obedience, he had built himself a fortified residence not far firom the
dun lis (doon-liss) of Maelsechlainn, son of Maelruanaidh, King
of Meath. Then, upon a certain day, when he had come to the
dwellingd6f:.o aeilsechlainn, he chanced to see a beautiful marraigeable maiden,h who was the daughter of the Meathian King.
And, as the usurper, though now grown old, was still inveterate
in the indulgence of his lusts, he demanded the maid from  her
father with the intention of making her his mistress. "' AMy lord,"
replied AMaelsechlainn, "I know full well, that thou dost not
mean to take my daughter as thy married wife, but that what
thou desirest is to possess her fot a while as thy mistress. I
therefore beseech thee to make no public demand of me for
mychild, lest she be prevented from getting a husband. But, as




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                509
thy fortress is near this lis,'3 where I live, I shall send the maid.
en privately to thy dwelling, and she shall be accompanied by
fifteen of the most beautiful and most lo6vely women in all Aleat'n,
and I know that when thou hast seen those women, thou wilt
feel neither love nor desire for my own daughter, so much do
they exceed her in beauty."  This plan was pleasing to Turgesius, and between them, they fixed upon a particular night when
the maiden and her attendant train of beautiful women were to
be brought into the fortress of the tyrant.
It so happened that, about this time, there was to be a general
assemblage and public convention around Turgesius at Ath-cliath,
and all that there was then in Ireland of Lochlannachl chieftains
were gathered together thereat, for the purpose of taking counsel'
as to how they nmighljt best guard the country and maintain their
own possession thereof.
Whilst they were staying there, Turgesius communicated the
arrangernment made between himself and Maelsechlainn, to some
of the assembled captains, and he promised women to a certain
number of them, whom  he had asked to accompany him. He
then set out with fifteen of the most venturesome and lascivious
of those lords, and they made neither stop nor stay until they
reached his fortress in Meath.
Alaelsechlainn, during the same time, had privately brought
togetlher fifteen of the most comely youths, without beards, that
could be found in Meath, and caused them  to put on female attire, under which each of them carried a sharp sword in his girdle. Thus, did lie prepare to send these youths instead of women to meet Turgesius, in company with his daughter.  Then,
when the night appointed for sending her to,the tyrant had
come, the maiden sat out with her band of counterfeit women,
an4d when she had come close to the fortress, thus escorted, a private message was sent to Turgesius, acquainting him. that she
had arrived with her female companions, and was ready to go
meet him. Turgesius, tupon receiving this message, commanded
the chieftains, who were in his company, to proceed at once to
their chambers, telling that he would send the women thither to
them, accordingr to his promise. Upon this they made a one
single pile of their arms upon the table, which stood in the hall,
and went each to his own private chamber, and there they waited
until the women should be distributed amongst them. Whilst
this was taking place, Maelsechlainn came uip to his daughter
with an armed host, and there he commanded' some of those
"3 Lzs; i. e., a circular fort, encircled story from Cambrensis, for the Irish
by an carthen dyke and a ditch. Keat- records do not recount it.
iug has also borrowed this romantic




510              THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
youths, who had been disguised as women, to lay firm hold upon
Turogesius and to takle him captive, as soon as ever he might attempt to lay his hand upon the maiden in order to detain her
with himself; the others he commanded to seize upon the arms,
and to fall upon the chieftains that were in the house; and
he promised, moreover, that he would himself dash in with his
host, upion hearino the first cry, in order to aid them in dispatching the Lochlannaigh.
His daughter, thereupon, entered the fortress through a postern, and tarried not until she came to the chamber of Turgesius,
ivho immediately cast a scrutinizing glance upon the lady, and
upon her escort, and none of the latter was pleasing to him except herself; and he thereupon laid his hand upon her, in
order to keep her in his company. But as soon as the youths
saw this, one body of them  seized him with violence, and made
him their captive; while another body seized upon the arms, of
which they immediately made themselves the masters.  Maelsechlainn soon after broke in with his armed host, and together
they fell upon all of the Lochlannaigh they found in the fortress,
and of them they spared neither chief nor serf, with the single
exception of Turgesius himself.  Then, having sacked the fortress, they brought off Turgesius to the dun-lis of Maelsechlainn,  where they held him for a short time in chains.
Now when the rest of the Loehlannaigh throughout Ireland heard
that their principal chiefs had been thus slaughtered, and that the
tyrant, Turgesius, had been captured in Mleath by Maelsechlainn, there fell a great terror and loss of confidence upon them
all, so that those of them that were stationed in the heart of the
country, far awayv from the great seaport towns, stole away by
night, throngi  in gangs towards their ships, with the intention
of escaping out of Ireland: and those that were stationed in the
seaport towns, fled to their ships, to avoid the onslaught of the
Gaels, who were in chase of them.  And, in this manner, were
all the Lochlannaigh driven out of Ireland at that time, with the
exception of a small remnant that remained therein, after their
rout, under subjection to the Gaels.
Turgesius was then drowned  by Mlaelsechlainn, in  Loch
Aninn;14 and from that deed it resulted that the Gaelic nobles,
with one accord, elected him as Ard-righ of Ireland, for it was
he that had freed their country from the bondage of the men of
Lochlainn.
" Loch Aninn. Now Loch Ennell, Loch Owel, also near Mullingar, was
near Mullingar, in the county of West- the lake in which the Prince of Meath
meath. This is a mistake, for the Irish  had drowned the Norse Chief.
authorities state that Loch Uair, now




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                       511
Buchanan relates that GregSoir, King  of Alba, invaded Ireland w'ith a. numerous army in the year of our Lord eight hundred
and seventy-eight,`5 and that he both pillaged the country and slew
[Brian and Concobar, the two guardians of the Irish  king, for
(according to him) the King of Ireland was then in his childhood.
But this assertion cannot possibly be true, fornowhere in the Irish
records do we read, from the time of Slangi, (the first lking of the
Fer-Bolgs,) to the invasion of the English, that any king had ever
reigned in Ireland, who had not arrived at the regal authority
through llthe choice of the people, and the greatness of his actions,
and the might of his arm.   And besides it was the usurper,'Turgesius, that was tyrant over Ireland at that time.
MAELSECIHLAINN, ARD-RIGH.
A. D. 85.l.6 Maelsechlainn,l7 son of Maelruanaidh, son of Domnail, son of Murcadh, son of Diarirnaid, son of Armedach Caech,
son of Conall Guth-binn, son of Suibni,  son of Colman TMor,
son of Diarmnaid, sqn of Fergus Kerbeol, of the line of Erimhon,
held the sovereignty of Ireland for sixteen years.  Arog, daughter of Catlal, son of Fiachra, King of the Fera Kell, was the
mother of this Maellsechlainn.
Now, when the men of Lochlainn had been expelled by Maelsechlainn and the nobles of Ireland, as we have just related;
the Finn-Locllannaigh took counsel together in Norwegin, in order to determine upon some means and some plan by which they
might obtain a foothold in Ireland, in hopes that they might
thus succeed in seizing upon the masterdom  of that country a
second time.  The plan adopted by them on this occasion, was
to equip thlree captains, sprung from the noblest blood of Norwegia, and to send them  with a fleet to Ireland, for the ptrpose
of obtaining the possession of some stations for purposes of trade.
And  withll them,  they accordingly  embarked  many  tempting
15 Eight I lundrcd and Seventy-eight. not easy for a man of mature ace to
Here Keating is thirty-five years or hold that always dangerous, and often
more in advance of the real time, in  little more than nominal title.
consequence' of his having assigned a'G A. ). 8-15.-Fou-r Malsters.
reign of 44 years to Domnall IV., son 7  MAELSECHLAINS I. In Irish this
of Murcaclh, and having given one of  monarch's name is pronounced  laIthirteen to Turgesius, who should not lauthilin, the initial letter of sechlainn
have been at all enumerated amongst being mortified. It is found written
the monarchs.  Buchanan's assertion  MIaeilsheachlainn'in the more modern
is nevertheless untrue; for it was im- Irish writers. In writing English, some
possible, that there could have been an  call him  Melaghlin, which is well
Irishl lking, who was a minor.' The  enough, but others barbarously trance
heirship to the throne was divided  slate his name Malachy.
among so many noble tribes, that it was




512                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
wares, and many valuable jewels, with the desirn. of presenting
them to the men of Ireland, in the hope of thus securing  their
friendship and peace, for they deemned that they might, thus succeed in surreptitiously fixing a grasp upon the Irish soil, and might
then rbe enabled to oppress the Irish people again.  HIre follows
wrhat the Polychronl.con relates upon this subject:  "After the
death of Turgesius, three brotherls, named Anmelanus, C'rriacus,
anld Imorus, coming frorm the eastern parts of Norwegia, landed
on this island with their followers, as if for the purpose of demanding peace, and under the pretext of establislilngl  a trade,
and there, with the consent of the Iliberni, who were'given to
peace, they took possession of some seaboard places, and built'
three cities thereon, to wit, WaVaterfordia, Dublinium, anid'Lymericum, and from  these cities, when their numbers hadt increased,
they frequently insulted, the natives of the land."'"
It may be easily understood froml the words, just quoted, that
it was thlrough the treachery of thes- three captains tlhat the FinnLochlanllaigh from Norwegtia found the means of repeating   their
devastations in Ireland.  And there were two causes for the
second  growth  of their strength  in  this  country; the first
cause was that copious aid in men and shlips kept constantly
arrivingc to them  from Norwegia; the second cause arose from
the hostilities and  rivalries that prevailed amongst the Gaeis
themselves about that time, for by these the strength. of the
Irish nation was very much wastecd.  And, besides, it was the
wont of the rival chieftaing, to give free quarters to warriors of
the Lochlannach race, whom they thus retained in their service.
Thence it resulted that they regained great sway in Irelanid, and
retained it until the time of Brian Boromha, as shlall be explained in the following pages upon the authority of the Irislh Annals.
A.rrivCl of the DUBH-LOCHLANNAIGII" or DANES.
W`hilst tilhe Finn-Lochlannaigh were harassing the  country'8 Post obitum Turgesii, de Norwe- The Fair Strangers, or Finn-Lochllangie partibus, quasi sub pacis intuitu et naigh, wvere the'Norwegians.  The
rmercaturL'exercendie pratextu, tres above-mentioned event is thus recorded
fratrecs, Amelanus, Cyriacus, et Imorus, in the Irish Annals.
cum sua sequela in hane instilam appu-   "A. D. 847. The 3rd year of Maellerunt, et de consensu Hibernorum, otio sechlainn. A fleet of seven score ships
deditorum, tres civitates, viz., Water- of the people of the king of the foreignfordiam, Dublinium et Lymericum con- ers came to contend with the foreignstruxerunt, qui tamen numero succres- ers that were in Ireland before them,
centes contra indigenas frequenter in- so tbat they disturbed the country besultabant.                         tween them 
"9 Arrival of the Dubhi-Loclannaigh,   A.D. 849. TIle Dubh-Ghoill, i. e.
e. ethe Black Scandinavians, or Danes. Dark Strangers, or the Danes, arrived




THE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.                      513
after this fashion, there arrived a large fleet of Dubh-Lochlannaigh at Ath-cliath firom  Dania-that is, from  Denmark; and the
coasts of the country were devastated by them, and great numbers of its inhabitants were slaughtered.  Thereupon the FinnLochlannai(gh mustered their foilces to repel the latest intruders,
and'a battle was fought between both these foreign races at LinnDuachaill, where the Finn Lochlannaigh were put to the rout,
and one thousand of their warriors were slain.  By this victory
the  Dubh-Lochlannaigh  gained  great supremacy  in  Ireland,
Soon after this, Amlaeibh,20 son of the king of Lochlainn, arri ved
in Ireland, for the purpose of assuming the lordship of the
Dubh-Lochlannaigh or Danes, and forced a great number of the
men of Irel.and to pay him  tribute!
It wVas about this that Olcobar, son of Kinaeth, King of Munster,'2 (lied.  Then, also, died Niall, son of Gellan, a man  who
had lived for thirty years without food or drink. And Flathniadh, bishop of Birra, and Corrnac, bishop of Laithrech Briuin,"
died also about this time.
It was about this period that at a Regal Convention of the
men of Ireland  was called together at Rath-Aeda- mic-Bric,2'
at Ath-cliath, and made a great slaugh- prematurely introduced by Kcating
ter of the Finn-Ghoill (Fair Strangers, under the last reign, as is seen by the
or the Norwegians), and plnhdered the  following entries:
fortress of both people and property.   "A. D. 846. A battle was gained
Another depredations by the Dubh  by Maelsechlainn, son of Maolrnanaidh,
Ghoill upon the Finn-Ghoil at Linn  over the Danes, at Forach (near the
Duachaill, where they made a great Hill of Skreen in Meath), where seven
slaughter of the latter.            hundred of them were slain. Another
A.D.  850i   A  fleet of eight score battle was gained by O!cobar, King of
ships of the Finn-Ghoill arrived at Muenster; and by Lorcan, son of KelSnamh  Eignech  (now  Carlingford  lach, King of Leinster, having the
Lough), to give battle to the Dubh- Leinstermen  and Munstermen with
Ghoill, and they fought with each other them, at Sciath  Nechtain, wherein
for three days and three nights; and  Earl Tomrar, tanist of the King, of
the Dubh-Ghoill gained the victory, Lochlainn, and twelve hundred along
and the Finn-Ghoill left their ships to  with him, were slain. A hosting was
their vanquishlers."-See Four Masters. made by Olcobar, to demolish the first
20 Amlaeibhli.  " A. D. 851. Amlae- of Corcach (Cork), against the foribh (Owlave or Ouleeve), Kingr of eigners." —ld.  The plundering of
Lochlainn, came to Ireland, so that all Imlech Iubair, or Enily, by the forthe foreign tribes in Ireland submitted  eigners, took place in the previous
to him; and they exacted rent from  year (845).
the Gaeidhil (tle Irish)."-tb.        2 Laithrechi Briuin. Now Laragh21 Olcobar, King of Munster. This brien, in Kildare.  Cormac, scribe,
death is entered under A. D. 849. The anchorite, and bishop, died in 851.
men of lanster fought successfully  Niall, son of Gialan, died in the same
against the Sea-Kings during the short year. Flaithniadh (Fhah neea), son of
reign of the royal bishop, Olcobar. Congal, died in 851.
The battle which he fought against   23 Rath-Aeda-mic-Bric. Now Raththem at Sciath Nechtain, near Castle- hugh, in the barony of Moycashel,
dermot, in the county of Kildare, was county Westmeath. "A.D. 857. A




514                 TIHE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
around Maelsechlainn, King of Temhair and Ethgna, Comarba
of St. Patrick; and there, Kerball, King of Ossory, made submission to the Comarba of St. Patrick.  It was there, also, that
MaelgTuala, son of Donngal, King of Munster, and Kerball, King
of Osraide,24 made peace with Leth Cuinn.
Soon after this, the Northmen  stoned to death Maelguala,
[King of Munster.25  About the same time Maelsechlailn, King
of Ireland, fought the battle of Drum-da-Maighe,26 where he made
a great slaughter of the Lochlannaigh of Ath-Cliath.  About
the same time died Domnall, son of Alpin, King of the Picts;
and Maelsechlainn, son of Maelruanaidh, King of Ireland, died
himself soon after.
great meeting of the chieftains of Ire- of the two.Plains.  A  remarkable
land, was collected by King Maelsech- Hill in the barony of Coolestown,
lainn to Rath-Aeda-mic-Bric, with  King's county. "A. D. 859. The 15th
Fetbgna (or Ethgna), successor of St. year of Maelsechlainn. The battle of
Patrick, and Suairlech, successor of Drum-da-Maigh was given by MaelseSt. Finnia, to establish peace and con- chlainn to the foreigners of Ath-cliath,
cord between the men of Ireland; and  where many of the foreigners were
here Kerball (Cearball), King of Os- slain by him."-Four Masters. The
raide, gave the award of the succes- other principal victories, gained by the
msors of St. Patrick and St. Finnia to Gaels over the foreigners and their
the King of Ireland, after Kerball had abettors, during this monarch's reign,
been forty nights at Ereros (in Meath), are thus recorded.
and the son of the King of Lochlainn,   A. D 845. The demolition of the
at first along with him, plundering Tsland of Lock Munretnar (now Lough
Meath. And after they had awarded Ramor), against a great crowd of thle
that the King of Osraide should be in sons of death (i. e. malefactors), of the
league with Leth Cuinn, Maelgualai, Luighni and Gkalenga, who were pluundson of Donngal, King of Munster, ering the country at the instigation of
tendered his allegiance.           the foreigners, and  they Xwere de24 Kerball, Kingf of Osraide. This stroyed by hi.ll  A  slaughter was
toparch had recently been the ally of made of the foreigners of Atlh-cliath,
the Danes, and had plundered Leinster at Carn Bnanlrnit, by Kerball, son of
and Meath, in conjunction with Am- Dongall, Lord of Osraide, where twelve
laeibh and Irmhar (Ivar), the Danish hundred of them were slain.
chiefs of Dublin.                     A. D. 846.  Ti-hernach, Lord of
25" IaelgV,'la, Kiln  of Munster. At Loch Gabar, defeated them at Doirrethe instigation of the foreigners, he Disirt Dachonna, where twelve score
had refused to do homage tothe Ard- of them were slain by himn.
righ. But the latter Lad invaded has   A. 1). 84-7. The plundering of Dubhprincipality in 856, when he tarried  linn (now Dublin, and also called Athten nights at Emly, defeated its chiefs cliatlh), by  Maelsechlainn, and by
at Cam Lughdach, and carried off the  Tighernach, Lord of Loch Gabar.
hostages of all Munster.  This was    A. D. 849. Kinaeth, son of Conaing,
the second occasion on which Maelse- Lord  of  Kiannachta-Breagh, was
chlainn had to make Munster acknow- drowned in the Aingi (now the river
ledge his authority by the force of arms. Nanny), by the people of Kingr MaelThe stoning to death of Maelguala sechlainn and Tighernach, Lord of Loch
happened shortly after his return from  Gabor, to revenge upon him the acts
the Royal Convention.               he had committed against both laity
X Drum-da-Maighe, i. e. the Ridge and clergy. (These evils consisted in




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                        515
AEDII FINN-LIATI, ARD-RIGH.
A. D. 870.27  Aedh Finn-liath, 28 son of Niall Frasach, of the
line of Erimhon, held the sovereignty of Ireland for sixteen years.
Gormflaith, daughter of Domnall, son of Donncadh, was the wife
of this King; Maelmuri, daughter of Kinaeth, son of Alpin,2'
King of Alba, was his wife, and it was she that was mother of
Niall Glun-dubh.
The following deeds were done during the reign of this prince:
Concobar, son of Donneadh,30 who was King over the half of Meath,
was slain by Amlaeibh, son of the King of Lochlainn, at Claain
Iraird. After this, the same Amlaeibh proceeded to Foirtrenn in
Alba, and there pillaged the. Picts, from whom he bore off hostages.
It was now that Aedh Finn-liath, King of Ireland, won a great
battle3' over the Lochlannaigh; and thence he bore off the bodithe plundering of the Southern Ui Fergus, chief of the Oirghialla, went to
Neill, from the Shannon to the'Sea, Alba, to strengthen the Dal Riada, at
during the previous year, by the aid of request of Kinaeth, son of Alpin."-.
the foreigners; the demolition of the  See Four Masters.
island fortress of Tighernach, on Loch   30 Concobar, son of Donncadh. He
Gabor; and the burning of the oratories was drowned at Clonard, in 862.
of Treoit (now Trevet), with 220 per- Meath had been overrun by the Danish
sons therein.                       chiefs Amlaeibh, Imhar, and Uailsi,
"A. D. 850. A slaughter was made during the previous year (A. D. 861),
of the foreigners in the east of Breagh, when the ancient pyramidal mounds
and another slaughter was made of of New Grange, Knowth, Dowth. and
them at Rath Aldain (now Rathallon, the Cave of the the Wife of Gobhan,
near Duleck), by the Kiannachta, in  in the Great Mound at Drogheda, had
one month." —lb.                    been broken open and plundered by
27 A. D. 861.-lb. This date is two  them.
years behind the real time, which is  "1 Great Battle.  "A.D. 864. A
A.D. 863.                           complete muster of the men of the
I AEDH VII. He was of the Ki-  North, was made by Aedh Finn-liath,
nel Eogain branch, of the northern  so that he plundered the fortresses of
Ui Neill.                           the foreigners wherever they were, both
29 Kinaeth, son of Alpin. - He is in Kin&l Eogain and Dal Araide, and
called Keneth MacAlpin, or Keneth, he carried oft their cattle and accoutreby the Scotch writers.  He was the  ments, their goods and chattles. And
31th King of the Dal-Riada of Alba. the foreigners came together at Loch"In A.D. 850, being the 12th year of Febail-mic-Lodain (i. e. the Lake of
his reign, he engaged the Picts in a  1Febal, son of Lpdan, now  Lough
battle, renewed seven times in one day, Foyle). After Aedh, King of Ireland,
and at last totally defeated them. had heard that they were gathering on
Marchingr thence to Scone, he put to  the borders of his country, he was not
death Druskin, son of Feradath, the negligent in attending to them, for he
last King of the Picts, after which he marched towards them  with all his
united their kingdom to his own." —  forces; and a battle was fought fierceO'Flaherty. That this conqueror had  ly and spiritedly between them. The
received aid from his Irish kinsmen in victory was gained over the foreigners,
his victories over the Picts, we have  and a slaughter was made of them.
proof in the following entry, which is Their heads were collected to one place
found in the Irish annals, under the  in presence of the King, and twelve
fourth year of the reign of Niall Fras- score heads were reckoned before him,
ach: "A. D. 835. Gofraidh, son of  which was the number slain in that




516                THE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.
less heads of twenty of their chief captains, aftcr having slaught.
ered twelve hundred of their host; and he plundered and sacked
their fortresses, taking away both their cattle and their treasures.
It was not long after that, when the fortress of Amlaeibh, son of
the King of Lochlainn, at Cluain Dalcain, was burned by the son
of Gaeithen,32 and by Maael Kiarain, son of Ronan,"3 by whom
one hundred  chiefs of the foreigners were slain.  It was after
this that Amlaeibh sacked Ard Macha, where ten hundred of the
Gaels were either killed or grievously wounded;34 and whence ho
carried off much property and treasure.
It was during  this time, also, that Kennfaeladh,3' son of
Moch-tigherna, died, having then reigned for thirteen years as
King of Munster; and, after him, Donncadh, son of Dubdaboirenn, held the kingdom of Munster for fourteen years.  Now
also died Conall, bishop of Kill-Sgiri.`3  And then, a battle was
fought between the Picts and the Dubh-Lochlannr g`h, in which
great numbers of the former nation were slain. After that,
Rughri, son of Moirminn,"3  King of Britain, escapecd to Ireland,
fleeing before the Lochlannaigh; and the relies of St. Columkille3"
battle, besides the numbers of them    3 Rughri, son of Mozrminn. "A.D.
that were wounded and carried off by  874. Ruaidhri, son of Mloirmind, King
him in the agonies of death, and who  of Britain (Wales), came to Ireland to
died of their wounds sometime after- shun the Da bh-helnti."-rFour Masters.
wards."-Four Masters.                 38 Relics of St. Columkille. " A. D.
32 Son of Gaeithen. His name was 875. The shrine of Columkille was
Kinneidigh, and he was chieftain of brought to Ireland to avoid the forLaeighis, or Leix, the country of the eigners." —Ib.
O'Moores.  Amlaeibh's fortress, at   A. 1). 861. The killing of the foCluain Dolcain (now Clondalken), was reigners at Ferta-na-grcaerach, by Kerdestroyed by him in 865.  He defeat- ball (King of Osraide), so that 40 heads
ed the Danes again, within the same were left to him, and that, he banished
year, at Dublin,. where lie slew their them from the territory.  (This place
chief, Odolbh Micle.                is now called Fertagh, barony of Gal33 Maelkiaran, son of Ronan. This moy, county Kilkenny.)
chief, one of the most valiant chain-   A.D. 864. A victory was gained
pions of his time, was slain during tbe  over the foreigners of Eochaill (Yougensuing year.  His death is thus re- hal, then a Danish station), by the
corded, under A. D, 67: " Maelkiaran, Desi, and the fortress was destroyed.
son of Ronan, champion of the East of A slaughter was of the foreigners, by
Ireland, and a hero-plunderer of the  the men of the North of Osraide, and
foreigners, was slain."-Four ilasters. by Kinneidigh, son of Gaeithen, at
4 Killed or Wounded.  "Ten hun- Mindroichet (now Monadrehid, near
dred was the number there cut off both  Borris-in-Ossory.)
by wounding and suffocation." —Ib.    A. D. 865. Gnimbeolu, chief of the
This happened in 867.               foreigners of Corcach (Cork), was slain
" Kennfaeladh. He had been abbot by the Desi.
of Emly, and succeeded the unfortu-   A. D. 866. Flann, son of Conaing,
nate' Maelguala on the throne of Ca- Lord of Breagh, collected the men'
shel. ITe died about the year 870.    of Breagh and Leinster, and the fo8 Kill-Sg-iri, now  Killskeery  in  reigners to Kill Ua n-Daighri (keel-oo.
BMeath. The bishop, Conall, died in  noirie), four thousand was the number
865.                                of his forces, against the King Aedh




TIIE 1hISTORY OF IRELAND.                     517
were brought from Alba. into Ireland to preserve them from
the same ravagers.
Cormac, son of Culinan, relates that Lorcan, son of Lactna,
was, at this time, King of Thomond.  He says, likewise, that
the north  side of Cashel, as far as the gates of the palace, belonged to the Dal-g-Cais, whenever the rule of that tribe was
confined to Thomond, or North Munster.  The territory of this
tribe was composed of twelve tricha-ked, or cantons, and comprised all the land that lies from Leim  Conculainn to the Belach
Thor or Great Road of Osraide, and from Sliabh Echtaide (,Slieve
Aughty), to Sliabh Eiblinni (Slieve Eilinni).  It was their right
to march in the van of the host of Munster, when invading a
hostile territory, and to form the rear guard when retreating
before the foe; as Cormac, son of Culinan, has said in the following verse:
" When the foe is invaded, they march in the van;
And the rear is their right on the homeward retreat;'Tis a meed of their prowess in battle's rude shock,
Whose perils ne'er daunted the Children of Cas."
Aedh Finn-laith3" died at Drum  Inasglainn, in the territory of
Conalli; and Tigernach, sonl of Muredach, bishop of Drum Inisglainn, died about the same time.
Finn-liath. Aedh had only one thous- Dongal, suffered martyrdom  from the
and, together with (oncobar, son of foreigners at Disert Diarmoda (CastleTad,?g Mor, King of Connaught. The dermot), in 867; Maelsechlainn, Lord
battle was eagerly and earnestly fought of South Breagh, was slain by them in
between them, and the victory was at 868; in 869 Ailill, or Olild, King of
length gained over the men of Breagh  Leinster, was slain by them; the men
and the Leinstermen and the foreigners; of the Three Plains and the Comainns
and a slaughter was made of them, and  (in the North of Kilkenny), as far as
a great number of the foreigners were Sliabh Bladma, were plundered by the
massacred therein.  Flann, Lord of lords of the foreigners, during the
Breagh, Diarmaid, son of Edersg8ol, snow  at Bridgetmas, in 870; the
Lord of Loch Gabor, and Carlas, son Danes of Ath-cliath plundered Munof Amlaeibh, i. e. son of the Lord of ster in 871; the church of Kill-morthe foreigners, were also slain in that mic-Emhir (now Kilmore, near Arbattle.  There fell on the other side, magh), was plundered by them in 859.
Factna, sonll of Maelduin, Rigrhdamna  Besides these, the Finn-Ghenti and the
(i.e. King elect), of the North, in the Dubh-Ghenti fought against one anheat of the battle. (Kill-Ua-n Daighri other on Loch Cuan, where Alband,
is probably Killaderry, in the county  the chief of the Dnbh-Ghenti or Danes,
of Dublin.)-lb.                    was slain.  In fact, the contentions
The principal depredations recorded between the two nations of invaders,
as committed by the invaders, besides seem  to have now counterbalanced
those alleady recorded, are, the slaying those of the Gaelic tribes, and saved
of Kermad, son of Cathlernach, Lord of the latter from the subjugation that
Corca Baskinn, in 862; Coun, son of might otherwise have resulted from
Kinaedh, Lord of Ui Barchi-tiri (now  their intestine feuds.
Slievemargy, Queen's county), was   3Aedh Finn-liath, died.'The real
slain in 866, while demolishing a for- year of his death is 879. He left two
tress of the invaders; Eodois, son of sons, namely Niall Glun-dubh,, after



618                THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
FLANN SINNA, ARD-RIGH.
A. D. 886.4' Flann Sinna,4' son of Maelsechlainn, son of AMael
ruanaidh, of the line of Erimh6n, held the sovereignty of Ireland
for thirty-eight years.  Lann, daughter of Donngal, son of Fergal, King of Osraide, was the mother of Flann, son of Maelsechlainn.
It was in his reign that the following deeds were (lone, to wit:
the whole of Munster42 was pillaged and despoiled by this king,
and he carried off the hostages from  that principality; it. was in
his reign that Domnall, son of AMurigen,43 was killed by his own
companions, and that Fiachna, son of Anbith, who had been
King of Ulidia for one year, was slain by his own people; and it
was then, also, that Donncadh,41 son of Dubdaboirenn, died. Killdara and Cluain Iraird4' were plundered by the Lochlannaigh
within the same period.  The royal aenach, or fair of Talti,46 was
celebrated by Flann Sinna, son of Maelsechlainn, King of Ireland.  Dublactna reigned  as K'ing of Munster, during seven
years of this reign, at the end of which he died. It was then
that Sitrie, son of Imhar, was slain by a band of the folk of Norwegia; and that Aidith, King of Ulidia, was slain by his own
people.  During the same period, Ard Macha was plundered"
wards monarch of Ireland, from whom     K ill-dara and Cluain Iraird plunthe sept of O'Neill is descended, and  dered. "A. D. 883. The seventh year
derives its name; and Domnall, King  of Flann. Kill-dara was plundered by
of Ailech, from whom descended the the foreigners, who carried off with
Ui Eathach Droma Lighenn, who, them fourteen score persons into capwhen surnames were established, took  tivity to their ships, with the prior,
the name of O'Donghaile, called in  Suibni, son of Dubdaboirenn, besides
English, O'Donnelly. Drum-Inasglain  other valuable property. A. D. 887.
lies near Castle-Bellingham in Louth, The eleventh year of Flann. Kill-dara
and is now known as Drumiskin.-O'D. and Cluain Iraird were plundered by
4, A..D. 877.-Four Masters.      the foreigners."-Four Mlasters. Kill41 Sinnal, i. e. of the Shannon; pro- dara was again plundered in the ninenounced Shinna.                     teenth year of Flann.
42 l'le whole of Manster. In the first   46 The Fair of Ta'ti. This royal asyear of his reign, " Munster was plun- sembly is recorded as having been celedtered from Boromha, (now Belboroo, brated twice during this reign; first by
near Killaloe,) to Corcach, (now Cork,) the monarch himself, in the eleventh
by Flann, son of Maelsechlainn. —FoLr year of his reign. Again, in the eighMasters.                            teenth year of his reign, we read of the
4I Domnnall, son of Murige1 n; he was renewal of the Fair of Connaught, (i.e.
King of Leinster, and was slain in the of Cruachain,) by Tadg, son of Conccfirst year of Flann; Fiachna, son of bar, and the renewal of that of Talti
Anbith,. was not slain till the tenth year by Diarmaid, soap of Kerball. From
of this monarch.                    these entries it would appear that those
"4 Donmncadh, son of Dubdaboirenn, ancient festivals were now falling into
Kingr of Munster, died in the seventh  disuse among the Gaels.
year, and his successor, M aelgnala, in    7  rd M1acha plundered. There are
the fourteenth of the same reign.   two plunderings of this primatial seat




THE HISTORY OF IRELXND.                     519
by the Lochlannaigh of Loch Febail, on which on which occasion they captured Cumasgach, King of Ulidia, and his son, Aedh,
son of Cumasgach.  It was then also that Domnall,"4  son of Cou.
stantine, the King of Alba, died.
Cormac,4' son of Culirnan, Archibishop of Cashel and King of Mumster-Battle of Belach Mughna, dc.
Cormac, son of Culinan, son of Selbach, son of Allgenan, son.
of Eoc:idh, son of Bresal, son of Aengus, son of Nadfracch, son
of Core, son of Lugaidh, son of Olild Flann Beg, son of Fiacaidh
AMaeil-lethan, son of Eogan Mor, son of Olild Olum, assumed
the sovereignty of Munster about this time.  And great was the
prosperity50 of Ireland during( his reign; for the land became filledl
with thle divine grace, and with worldly prosperity, and with
public peace in his days, so that the cattle needed no cowherd,
and the flocks po shepherd, as long as he was king.  The shrines
of the saints were then protected, and many temples and monasteries were built; public schools were established for the purpose of giving instruction in letters, law, and history; many
were the tilled fields, numerous were the bees, and plenteous the
beehives uncler his rule; frequent was fiasting and prayer, and every
other work of piety; many houses of public hospitality were built,
and many books written, at his command. And, moreover, whenever he excreted the performance of any good work from others,
he was wont to set them the example himself by beinc  the first
to practise it, whether it were a deed of alnms, or benevolence, or
prayer, or attending mass, or any other virtuous deed.  It was
the good fortune of Irelatlnd during that epoch, that, whilst he
was reigning over Munster, the country was abandoned by whatrecorded under thc reign of Flann. We was Domnall, or Donald V., the thirtyread that in " the fourteenth year of ninth King of the Dal Riada of Alba,
Flann, Ard Macha was plundered by who died, according to Tighernach, ia
Gluniarainn, (i. e. Iron-knee,) and the A. D. 900.
foreigners of Ath-cliath; and that they    9 Cormac, son of Culinan. He suo.
carried 710 persons into captivity after ceeded Finguine., who was called Kennhavin(g destroyed part of the church, ghegan, on the throne of Munster, ia
and broken the oratory."  A(gain, in the twentieth year of Flann (896).
the seventeenth year of his reign, which Fitluine had been slain by his owa
is that mentioned above, it is recorded tribe after a reign of six years.
that Ard Macha was plundered by the  j~ Prosperity, etc. What is here asforeigners of Loch Febail. or Lough serted of the prosperity of the kingdom
Foyle, and Cumasgach made prisoner, during the reign of Cormac, must be
and his son Art slain.-See Four understood as said only of the part of
Masters.                          it over which he ruled, namely, Mun.
D l)omnall, son of Constantine. This ster.




b20t               THE HISTORY OF IRELAND. 
ever of the Lochlannaigh had previously infested it for the pur
poses of plunder.
Upon a certain occasion, when Corinac was staying at Cashel,
awaiting the coming of Easter, he sent proclamation to the Eoganacht tribes,5' requiring of them to send him thitherfood and
treasures for the celebration of that august festival; but they
gave him  a refusal.  Upon hearing this the Dal g-Calis sent a
large supply of food and treasures to the king, so that he felt
grateful to them. HIe again sent word to the clans of the race
of Eogan, demanding of them to send him jewels and valuables
for the purpose of making presents to strangers, as they had sent
him no food.  But upon this what the mien of the race of Eogan'
did, was to send him the worst arms and goods that they had
then in their possession, and Cormac was very much displeased
thereat.  The Dal-g-Cais heard this also, whereupon they sent to
him  the choicest of their weapons and wearing apparel, their
jewels and treasures and armor, in olrder that he might make
presents thereof.  Thus did Cormac feel again most grateful to
that tribe, as he tells us himself in the following verse:
" May our truest fidelity ever be given
To the brave and generous clansmen of Tal;'5
And for ever may royalty rest with their tribe,
And virtue, and valor, and music, and song."
We read in the Senchas that forty-four kings of the line of
Eogan Mor held the sovereignty of Munster fiom the reign of
Aengus, son of NTadfraech, to that of Mathgamhain," son. of K-enneicli, and that during that time the line of Cormac Cas had given
no king to Munster, with the exception of Lorean, son of Lactna, who, according to O'IDubagain, succeeded Cormac, son of
Culinan, for one year and a half, as King of Munster.  But during that period the Dal g-Cais had acquired the sovereignty of
all the land that lies between Leim Conchulainn, or Loop Head,
in the west of Corca-Baskinn, and Slighe Dala'4 (Slee Daulla), which
51 Eoganacht tribes. As these tribes of Kennedy. The Irish name, when
belonged themselves to the royal blood' written in vulgar clharacters, is spelled
of Munster, they were were free from  alathghlamhain Mac Cinneide, and proall tribute to the King of Cashel. nounced Mahcwuin Mlac Kinnaidie.
Hence the subsidy demanded of them    " Slighe Dala. T'his, which was one
by Cormac, must have been asked as of the five great roads of ancient Irea voluntary gift and not as a tribute. land, ran from the southern side of the
Neither were the Dal g-Cais bound to  Hill of Tara, or Temhair, in the dipay any tribute to Cashel.        rection of Ossory. It was the great
62 Tal. Clan Tail, i. e. the Children south-western road.  The other four
of Tal, was one of the tribe names of great roads were, a western road, called
the Dal-g-Cais.                   the Slighe Asail, which ran from Tara,a Mathgamhain.  This chieftain's towards Loch Owel, near Mullingar;
name has been anglicized Mahon, son the northern road was called the Slighe




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                   621
is called Belach Mtor na h-0sraide, that is, the Great Road of Ossory.  And, moreover, it was this same tribe of Cas that was
wont to bear the brunt of the wars which the Kings of Cashel
waged either against Leinster or Leth Cuinn, as the bard relates
in the following verse:
"'Tis the wont of the men, that from Lugaidh55 have sprung,
In the battles of Mumha to head the array,
And they follow always ill the rear of her host,
When from foemen returning through regions unknown."
When, indeed Cormac, son of Culinan, had spent seven years
in peace and happiness as sovereign of Munster, he was instigated
by some of his nobles, and more especially by Flathbertach, son
of Ininanen, Abbot of Inis Cathaigh,"  a man of the royal blood,
to make a demand of chief-rent from the principality of Leinster,
upon'the pretext that it formed a portion of Leth Moogha.
Thereupon, Cormac convened a general assembly of the men of
Munster; and when his nobles had met together thereat, the
plan which they adopted, was to march into Leinster for the
purpose of levying that chief-rent, in right of the division which
had been formerly made between Mogh Nuadath and Conn of
the Hundred Battles.  Notwithstanding this resolve, it was with
great unwillingness that Cormac proceeded upon this expedition,
for it had been foreshown to him  that he should fall himself
therein; but he consented to go upon it nevertheless.  Previous
to his marching, he made a will, in which he bequeathed certain
legacies, wh-ich were to be given by Munster to some of the principal churches of Ireland, to wit: An ounce of gold and an
ounce of silver, with his accouterments and his steed, to DrumAbradh, which is called Ard Finnain; a chalice of gold, and
a chalice of silver, with a satin vestment, to Lis-mor; a chalice of
gold, and a chalice of silver, with four ounces of gold, and five
ounces of silver, to Cashel; three ounces of gold and a mass-book,
to Imlech Iubair; an ounce of gold and an ounce of silver, to
Glenn-da-loch; his wares dnd clothes, with an ounce of gold and
a satin mantle, to KIill-dara; tx'enty-four ounces of gold and of
silver to Ard-Macha; three ounces of gold to Inis Cathaigh; and
three ounces of gold and a satin vestment, and his own blessing,
to Mungarid.   The will5' itself is contained in the following
verses:
Midluachra (Shlee Meelcoghra); the in the second century. who conquered
Slighe Cualann. ran from Tara towards the territory, now called Clare, from
Dublin and Bray; the Slighe Mor was the Connaughtmen, and added it to
the great western road, which extend- Munster.
ed from Dublin to Galway.- O'D.    L6 Inis Cathaigh, now Innishcathy,
6- Lugaidh; i. e. Lugaidh Menn, son or Scattery Island, in the Shannon.
of Aeigus Tirech, King of Thomond,   6 The Will. The metrical copy of




522                 THE  HISTORY  OF IRELAND.
"'Tis time my testament were made,
For danger's hour approacheth fast;
MIy days shall henceforth be but few,
AMy life has almost reached the goal.
My golden cup of sacrifice,
Wherewith T holy offerings make,
I will to Senan's*" brotherhood,
At Inis C(thaigh's sacred fane.
The bell that calleth me to prayer,
Whilst on the green-robed earti I stay,
Forget not w ith my friend to leave
At Conall's59 shrine, where Forgas flows.
My silken robe of graceful flow,
O'erlaid with.gems and golden braid,
To Ros-cre, Paul and Peter's fane,
And Cronan's~ guardianship I leave.
Myl silver chesshboard of hrirht sheen,
I will to Uladlh's royal chief;
Mly well-wrolght chain of faiultless gold,
To thee, Moclhuda,6~* I bequeath.
Take then my amice and my stole,
And take mny manuple likewisce;
To Lenin's son, who 1 es. at Cluain,
To Colman,GI who has found his bliss.
My psalter of illumined leaves,
Whose light no darlkness e'er can hideTo Caisel I for ever leave
This potent,ift without recal.
And my Nwealtl-, I bequeath to the poor,
An(d my sins to th}e children of curses;
And my dust to the earth, whence it rose,
And my spirit to Him, who has sent it."
Great, indeed, are the  commendations which  king Cornma
has bestowed  upon the community of Mungarid, according to
King Cormac's will, from which the'the founder of the monastery of Inis
editor has made the translation, above  Cathaigh.
given, is found but in one of his MS.    5 Conal!. St. Conall, son of Modon,
copies, and that one is modern and  received the crown of martyrdom  in
somewhat incorrect.  A version of it A. D. 721. The Forgas is now called
has been given in Dermod O'Connor's, the Fergus, a river of Clare.
but it would appear by its omission by    60 Cronan. St. Cronan, the patron
the learned Dr. Lynch, the Latin trans- saint of Ros-cre.
lator of Keating, that it was not given  O' Mleciuda, i. e. St. Carthach, called
in the more correct copies of the Foras  Mochuda, the founder of Lismore.
Feasa. It seems imperfect, inasmuch    61 Colmaco, i. e. St. Colman, son of Leas it does not mention all the legacies  nin, the founder of the church of Clucontained in the prose summary pre- ain Tamba, now called Cloyne, in Ui
viously given.                        Liathain, County Cork.  This saint
Se&nan. St. Senan, or Senanus, was died in A. D. 600.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                      523
what we read in the duan which begins with the line, "A gllilla
cengail ar loinn."  He therein sets down the number of, monks
that were attached to the six temples that stood within the walls of
that great monastery, which was also then called " Cathair Deocain
Nesain," that is, the city of Nesan"' the Deacon.  The following
is the number of its members, to wit: five hundred monkls, who
were men of learning, and whose office it was to preach to the
people; six hundred choristers, who sung in the choirs; and
four- hundred seniors, who were devoted to the meditation of
divine things.
But to return to Cormac, when he was about to march into
the territory  of the Leinstermen, he sent for Lorcan, son of
Lactna, the King of Thomond, whom he received with welcome
upon his arrival at the royal palace of Cashel. Ite then proclaimed to the nobles of the line of Eogan, that it was the right
of Lorcan'6 to assume the kingdom  of Munster after his own
death, for so it had been regulated by the will of Olild Olum,
which ordained that the sovereignty of AMlunster should be possessed alternately by the posterity of Fiacaidh Mlaeil-lethan and
by that of Cormac Cas.  However, the desire of the king was
not fulfilled in this matter.
After this, Cormac, having mustered a large host around himself and around Flathbertach, son of Inmanen, marched into the
territory of the Leinstermen, and demanded of them to give him
hostages and to pay him tribute as King of Munster, upon the
grounds that their country  (Leinster) formed  part of Leth
Mogha.64  Now, when the host of Munster had come together
and was all collected into one camp, previous to marching upon
the intended expedition, it happened that Flathbertach, son of
Inmanen, the abbot of Inis Cathaigh, having mounted upon
6. Nesan. i. e. St. Nesan, called the Field of Lugaidh,which now constitutes
leper, the founder and patron saint of the county of Clare. Their exclusion
the monastery of Mungarid, now called might also have resulted from  the
Mungret, near Limerick, who died, as accidental fact, that Aengns, the first
heretofore stated, in A. D. 551.' Christian king of Munster, happened
63 Lorcan, son of Lactna. He was to be of the race of Eogan Mor. Corthe chief of the line of Cormac Cas, mac sought to put an end to this in.
whose race had now been for some justice by appointing Lorcan his heir.
centuries deprived of their right to the In this, however. he did not succeed,
alternate sovereignty of Munster. Their for Lorcan did not acquire the full
exclusion was not, however, the result sovereignty of Munster until after the
of the weakness of the Dal g-Cais, but death of Flathbertach, the turbulent
it arose from the fact of their being  abbot of Inis Cathaigh.
placed upon the northern frontiers of   64 Leth Mogha, i. e. Mogh's Half of
Munster, where they were engaged in Ireland, as apportioned between Mogh
constant war, either in the defence of Nuadath and Conn of the Hundred
their original territories, or of their Battles.
more recent sword land, the Rugged




M24              THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
horseback, rode through the street of the encampment, and that
whilst he was thus engaged, his horse fell beneath him into a
deep trench. This was esteemed an unlucky omen, and its
cons'quence was that a large portion both of his own people and
of the whole army retired from the expedition, having first proposed the adoption of peaceful measures-so unfavorable a prognostic did they deem the sudden fall of the holy abbot when he
had molunted his steed.
Then ambassadors arrived from the Leinstermen, and from
Kerball, son of Murilghen, charged with proposals of peace to
king Cormac. These proposals were; first, to have one universal
peace maintained throughout Ireland until the following month
of May, for it was then the Fortnight of the Harvest, and for
that en(r to place hostages in the hands of Maenach, son of
Siadal, abbot of Disert Diarmocla,6 who was a holy, pious, learned and wise man; and,. next, to give a large quantity of jewels
and valuables to Cormac himself, and also to Flathbertach, son
of Innianen, as a recompense for having assented to such a peace.
Cornmac was most willing to grant their request; whereuponm he
immediately  proceeded  to acquaint' Flathbertach, that these
ambassadors had come to him from the king of Leinster, demanding peace until the ensuing jnonth of May, and offering,:jewels
and valuables to them both from the people of Leinster, provided
they would return home in peace to their own country. But
when Flathbertach had heard him out, he fell into a violent rage,
and he exclaimed, "Htow easily seen is the weakness of thy
mind, and the littleness of thy intellect and thy spirit!"  And
after this fashion he then addressed much of abusive and contemptuous language to Cormac. The latter replied to him in the
folloviig words, "I know full well what will Be the result of all
this, to wit, a battle shall be fought with the men of Leinster, in
which I shall be slain, and in which it is probable that thou
shalt meet thy death likewise."
Having, uttered these words, Cormac proceeded, sad and de.
jected, to his own tent.  When he hlad taken his seat therein, a
basket of apples was set before him, which he began to share
amongst his attendants, saying, "My dear friends, I shall' never
more share any apples amlongst you, from this hour forth."
"Dear lord," said his folk, "thou hast cast us into sadness and
grief. Why art thou thus wont to prophesy evil fof thyself?"
"Believe what I now say, friends of my heart," said Cormac,
"for though I am wont to distribute apples amongst you with
my own hands, it will belittle wonder if somebody else in my
stead should share them amongst you henceforth."
" Disert Diarmada, now called Castle-dermot, in the county of Kildare.




THlE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                   525
Ctlrmiac then gave orders to have a guard placed upon hit
tent., and the pious and learned Maenach, son of Siadal, the successor of St. Comgall, sent for, in order that he might confess'
his sins to that holy man, and make his testament in his presence. HIe then received the body of Christ from Maenach, before
whom he renounced the world, for he was certain that he should
be slain in the impending battle, but he did not wish that his
warriors should know this.  IHe willed that his body should be
brouoht to Cluain Uamba, if it were possible to bring it thither,
but if this could not be done, to have it brought to the cemnetery
of Diarmaid, son of A.edh Roin,6 that is, to Disert Diarmoda,
where he had formerly spent a long time as student; but he
preferred to be buried at Cluain Uamha (Cloyne), with the son
of Lenin.  MaIenacl, however, preferred to have him  buried at
Disert Diarmoda, where there was at that time a convent of
monks of the followers of St. Comgill, for MAaenach himself was
at that time the comarba, or successor, of St. Comngall."7 He-1 was,
as before stated, a man of piety and wisdom, and he had gone
through much annoyance. and labor on that occasion in endeavoring to bring about a peace between the men of Leinster and the
King of Munster.
But, likewise, numbers of the men of MAunster had deserted
from thiat expedition without leave, for they had learned that
Flannil Sinna, son of AMaelsechlainn, monarch of Ireland, was in
tne encampment of Leinster, accompanied by a liumerous force,
both of cavalry and infantry.  It was then that Maenachll, son
of Sidal, said, " Good people of Munster, it were wise on your
part to take the noble hostages, namely, Kerball, King of Leinster, and the son of the king of Osraide, that are offered to you,
and either to keep them  yourselves, or to place them  in the
hands of some devout men until May next."  Thereupon the
whole of the men of Munster replied unanimously, that Flathbertach. son of Inmanen, was the man who had forced them
to invade Leinster.
When this complaint was ended, the  army of Munster
marched eastwards over l-iabh Margi,"s to the Droiched LeithC6 Son of Aedh Rein. Diarmaid bot of Bennchoir, in right of which
was the grandson, not the son, of Aedh dignity he presided over all the meonsRoin, King of Ulidia, who was slain teries that followed the rule of St.
in 732. From Diarmahi, Disert Diar- Comgall.  Maenach, the holy man
mada, i. e. Diarmaid's Desert, has its above mentioned, who was called " the
name. He was an anchorite and a best scribe of all the Irish race," died
distinguished doctor in his day, and in A. D. 919.
died in A. D. 823.'8 Sliabl Margi, now Slievemargy,
67 Comarba of St. Comgall, i. e. ab- in the Queen's county.




526                THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
glinn;i.69  IIere Tibradi, the comnarba of St. Albi,"7 tookl up his
station, accompanied by a numerous array of ecclesiastics, andwith him were left the camp followers and the baggage horses.
Then the men of Munster sounded their trumpets, and gave the
signal for forming into line of battle, and marched onward upon
Malgh Ailbi, where they took up a strong position in front of a
wood, and there awaited the cnemy.
The army of Munster was drawn up in three equal divisions.
Of these, the first was commanded  by  Flathbertach, son of
Inmanen, and Kellach, son of Kerball, King of Osraide. Cormac,
son of Culinan, King of Munster, commanded the second devision,
and Cormac, son of Molta, King of the Desi, was the leader of
the third.  And the warriors were disheartened by reason of the
multitude of their enemies and of the fewness of their own host,
for some authors assert that the army of Leinster was four times
more numerous than that of Munster.
Woeful, indeed, was the tumult and clamor of that battle;"
for there rose the death cry of the men of Munster as they fell,
and the shouting of the Leinstermen, exulting in the slaughter
of tl-leir foes. There were two reasons why the fight went so
suddenly against the  Munstermen.   The first was, because
Keilichar, a relative of Kennghegan,"2 a former king of Munster,
69 Droichet Leithglinni, i. e. the learned in the Scotic tongue. These
Bridge of Leithglen, now called Leigh- were the nobles that fell with him,
lin, in Carlow.                    namely, Fogartach the Wise, son of
70 Comarba of St. Albi, i. e. the sue- Snibni, lord of Kiarraide Cuirche, now
cessor of that saint. The abbot of  called Kerrycurriky, in the county of
Imlech Iubair, now called Emly, in  Cork; Kellach, son of Kerball, lord
t-be county of Limerick., was thus of Osraide; Maelgorm, lord of Kiarstyled.                            raide Luachra, in Kerry; AMaelmorda,' Th/at battle. The battle of Belach  lord of Rathlenn; Olild, son of Eogan,
Mughna, i. e. Mughain's Pass, or abbot of Trian Corcaighe, (i. e. the
Road, which is now called Ballagh- Third of Core) Colman, abbot of Kenn
moon, a place that lies two miles and  Etigh, and the lord of Corca Duibni,
a half north of the present town of and many other nobles besides them,
Kildare, is thus recorded by the Four and six thousand men along with
Masters:                           them."
"A. D. 903. The 27th year of   72 Rennghegan.  His proper name
Flann. The battle of Belach Mughna was Finguini. This king was the imwas fought by Flann, son of Mael- mediate predecessor of Cormac, to
sechlainn, king of Ireland, and by Ker- whom he relinquished Cashel in A. D
ball, son of Murighen, king of Leinster, 896, the year after which he was slain
and by Cathal, son of Concobar, king by his own tribe, namely the Kinel
of Connaught, against Cormac, son of Aengusa, or tie race of Aengus, son
Culennan, king of Caisel. The battle  of Nadfraech, which was afterwards
was gained over Cormac, and he him- known as the Mac Carthies, O'Keeffcs
self was slain, though his loss was and O'Callaghans.  Cormac belonged
mournful,for he was a king, a bishop, an himself to this tribe.
anchorite, a scribe, and profoundly




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                   527
jumped hastily upon his steed, and as soon as he found hirmself
mounted, cried out, "Flee, 0  Free Clans of Munster, flee from
this terrible conflict, and let the ecclesiastics"3 fight it out thenmselves, since they would accept no other condition but that of
battle from  the people of Leinster."  Having thus spoken, he
quitted the field of strife, followed by many of the combatants.
r'The other reason why the men of Munster were routed was
because Kellach, son of Kerball, king of Osraide, when he perceived the carnage that was made amongst his people, jumped
likewise with haste upon his steed, and thence addressed his
host in these words, 4 "Mount your steeds," said he, " and banish
these men, who stand up against you."  But though he used
this language, he did not mean to encourage them to drive off
their enemies by fighting, but he thus let them know that it was
time for themselves to run away. The result of thdse two causes
was that the ianks of the men of Munster were broken, and they
were put to sudden and general rout.  Alas! great indeed was
the carnage that then spread over AIagh n-Ailbi.  Neither layman nor ecclesiastic found quarter therein; both were slaughtered
indiscriminately, and if any man of either class happened to be
spared, he owed his life not to the mercy but to the cupidity of
the vanquishers, covetous of his ransom.
Hereuuon Cormac rushed toward the van of the first division,
but his hlorse fell beneath into a ditch, and he was himself dashed upon the ground.  Some of his people who were running
away from the battle, saw him in this position, and they came at
once to his relief and replaced him upon his steed. It was there
that Cormac met one of his own pupils, a free-born mal named
Aedh, who was distinguished for his proficiency in wisdom, laws,
and history, and in the knowledge of the Latin tongue.  To him
the royal prelate addressed these words: "Dear son, do not follow me; but betake thyself hence, as well thou mayest, and remember that I nad said that I should myself be slain in this battle."
Cormac then rode forward, and full of the blood of horses and of
men was the way before him.  But the slipperiness of that field
of carna'',: soon caused the feet of his horse to glide from under
him, and he reared and fell backwards, crushing his rider be73 Ecclesiastics. O'Halloran assigns Monaster Emhin, or the monastery of
a cause for the expedition of Cormac St. Emhin, near the river Barrow.
into Leinster, which may explain, if The object of the war, according to
not excuse, the great numbers of ecclesi- him, was the restoration of their monastics engaged in this battle. Accord- astic privileges to these monks. It is
inug to him, it was entirely undertaken evident that Cormac was not very
for a religious olject. Kerball, king popular among his own kinsmer, nerof Leirnster, had expelled a convent of haps because of the favor he showed
monks, composed exclusively of Mun- to their rivals, the Dal g-Cais.
stermen, from Ros Glas, called, also,




b28                 THE HISTORY  OF TRELAND.
neath hLim..  The neck and back of Cormac vwere broken in that
fal, andl he died saying, "Into tllhy:ads, O Lord, I cor,-mi.t rnyr
spirit! "  Then, some wicked fo)lk came up and pierced his body
with their javelins and cut off his hcad.74
THanmer states in his chronicle, that it was the Lochlannaigh
that slew Cormaco, together with Kerball, son of AMuriglhen,, king
of Leinster, in the year of our Lord nine hundred and five; but
such is not the flact, for thi3s h)attle was not fought by the Loch-'lannigh,  but b- Flann Sinna, King of Ireland; and Klerball, son
of Murighen, was not slain therein.  Tq'his is evident from  the
historic tale, which is called the Battle of Belach Mughna; where
Cormac, son of Culinnan, fell.
The number of noble ecclesiastics, kings, chiefs and warriors,
slain in tlhis battle, was very great. IKel.lach, son of Kerball, king
of Osraide, and his son, fll in the very beginni ng  of the conflict.
Therein also fell: Fogartach, son of Suibni, k.ing of Kiarraide;T
and Olild, son of Eogan,  a learned nobleman; and Colman, Abbot of KIenn-etigh,7 Ard-ollamh of the Brehons of Ireland; and
numbers of their followers were slauoghtered around them.  The
following noblemen likewise fell therein, namely: Cormac, son
of AMolta. king of the Desi; Dubagan,7   King of Fermaighe;
Kennfhieladhh,' King of Ui Conaill Giabra; Aidin, King of Aidni,80 wvho had been driven an exile into Munster; and Maelmu" Cut off his head. The stone on  They,. togother with the O'Coilleains
which theahead of the royal sag(e of  or Collins, the Mae Enneries, OFlanCashel was cut off, is still pointed out neries, and O'Shcehans, formed the tribe
at Ballagrhmboon. The name of the  of Ui Conaill Gabra, whose ancient
man that beheaded him, has been re- territories lay on the west of Limerick,
corded. It was Fiach Ta Ugfadan, and are now known as the baronies of
of Denlis.                           Upper and Lower Conillo. They were
-' Kerball, son of Murighen. lHe was a branch of the Ui Fid:hlenti, a race
slain, accorcling to an old poem quoted  descended from Eogan Alor, son of O!ild
in the Four Alasters, by a foreigner Olum, and had no relation to thleO'Connamed Iullb, one year and a day after nells of Alagh O'g-Coinchin, now Maethe death of 1his adversary Cormac. He  unihy in Kerry-though some, misled
was the last king of Leinster, who held  by the resemblance in sound between
his residence in tl;e ancient royal seat the English form of Connell and the Ilrish
of Nas, now Naas, in Kildare.        word Conaill, have asserted that the
70 Kiarraide, i. e., of Kiarraide Cuir- O'Connells were once chiefs of the Ui.
chi, now K-errycurriky, in the south of  Consaill Gabra, (Uee Conaill Govra).
Cork.                               But the Irish form of O' Connell is
77 Kenn Etigh. New  Kennity, in  O' Conghail6, which is now pronounced
the Barony of Ballybrit, and Kinrs co. somewhat like O'Coneely, and is der.;irTd
78 Dubaglan.  The ancestor of the from the proper name Congal or ConO'Dubagaips, now ODugans or Dug- ghal, not Conall. r'hey are of the race
gans, once lords of Fermoy.          of Conari, son of Mogh Lamha, and not
e Kennfaeladh. It is probably from  of Olild Olum.
thlis chlief, that 0' Kinealies, in Irish   RO Aidni, i. e. Ui Fiachrach Aidni,
O' Cinnfhaelaidh, have taken their name. in Connaught.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                      629
adlh,81 Madigan, Dubdaboirenn, Conall and Feradach; and also
Aedh, King  of Ui Liathain, and Do mnall, King of Dun Kermna.
The following were the chieftains who won that battle 6ver the
Mliunstermen, namely: Flann Sinna, son of Maelsechlainn, monarch of Ireland; Kerball, son of Murighen, king of Leinster;
Tadg, son of Faelan, king of the Ui Kennselaigh; Terninen, king
of Ui Degadh;82 Kellach and Lorcan, the two kings of the Kineil;83 Inneirghi, son of Dubgilla, king of the Ui Drona;84 Follaimhain, son of Olild, king of the Fotharta Fea;"j Tuathal, son
of Ugari, king of the. Ui Mluredaigh;" Odran, son of Kenneidigh, king of Laeighis; Maelcalann, son of Fergal, king of the
Fortuatha; 7 and Cleirkin, king of the Ui Barchi.68
After this battle, Flann Sinna, monarch of Ireland, marched
with a large and regal host of cavalry into Osraide, in order to
install Di'rmaid,E9 son of Kerball, as king over that territory, after
his brother Kellach, son of Kerbal], who had previously held
that dignity, and who had just fallen in battle, fighting at the
side of Cormac; for he had been the subject of the latter prince,
inasmuch as his territory formed portion of Leth Mogha, of
which Cormac had been sovereign.
When the conflict was over, certain folk came into the presence of Flann Siuna, to whom they had brought the head of Cormac, son of Culinnan; and they addressed that monarch: " Life
and health to thee, O mighty  and victorious king!  We have
81 Maelmuadh; This is probably the  8s Ui Afuredaigh. This tribe then
lord of Rathlenn, who is called Mael- occupied the northern halfof the counmorda by the Four Masters.         ty of Kildare. Their chief sept afterUi Degadh. A tribe of this name, wards took the name of O'Tuathail;
which is otherwise spelled Ui Deaghadh, and they now call themselves Toohills,
(EeDaa), was situated south of Arklow, Tooles, or Tuthills.
in the county of Wicklow.            8; Fortuat ha.  This, according to
63 Kineiln; i. e. of the Tribes. The Dr. O'Donovan, was an alias rrame for
editor does not know what tribes are Ui Mail, (Imaile), a well known terri.
here meant, if it be not the Cindl Cobh- tory lying round Glendaloch,- in thb
thaigh (Kinail Cowhigh), a tribe de- county of Wicklow.
scended from'Cathacir Mor, seated at   83 UiBairchi. Thistribe,descended
Ard Ladrann in Wexford.            from Dari Barach, son of Cathaeir Mor,
84 Ui Drona. They were seated in was at the time of this battle seated in
Idrone, in the county of Carlow. Their the county of Kildare, between the Ui
chief family afterwards took the nalne Drona and Ui Muredaigh; their terriof 0' Riain, now  anglicized Ryan. tory lay east of the River Barrow, in
These are not the 0' Maeilriains of the county of Kildare. Their chief famUathini in Munster, whose name has ily took the name of Mac Gormain, and
been also anglicized Ryan.         eventually migrated to Ibrickan, in the
85 Fotharta Fea. They were seated  county of Clare.
in the present barony of Forth, in Car-  89 Diarmaid. He had, apparently,
low. O0Nualain or 0' Nolan, was after- been expelled from his native country
wards their chief family.          during the reign of his brother.
34




530                THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
brought thee hither the head, of Cormac, king of Munster. Take
it then, and press it baneath thy thighs; for it has been a custom90
amongst the kings that have gone before thee, whenever they
had slain another king in battle, to cut off his head and to press
it beneath their thighs." However, they were disappointed in
their expectations; for the sovereign not only returned them no
thanks for their present, but he condemned them in severe terms
forthe evil deed they had committed.  And he both said, that
it was a sad and cruel act, to have cut off the head of that holy
bishop, and declared that he would never exult over it. He
then took the consecrated head of the pious bishop into his hands
and kissed it, and turned round three times therewith.  After
this, the head was carried with honor to where the body lay,
and to Maenach, son of Siadal, the successor of St. Corngall,
by  whom  both were borne to  Disert' Diarmada, and there
buried with great honor. Some historians will have it, that
Inis Cathaigh is the place whither Cormac's remains had been
carried for sepulture.  What heart would not feel saddened at
that deed, to wit, the death and mutilation of so sacred a personage, who was the wisest of the men of Ireland in his own day;
a learned scholar in the Gaelic and Latin Languages; an archbishop who was filled with devotion, and sincerity and prayer,
and chastity, and godliness; the head of doctrine and true philosophy and good morals, and the Ard-righ of the two pentarchates
of Mfimha?
Flann Sinna, monarch of Ireland, at length returned to \his
home, when he had established Diarmaid, son of Kerball, as
90 A Custom.-The editor has met monarch Flann. One year previously,
with no mention elsewhere, of any A. D. 902, the 26th year of the reign
such atrocious custom as that above of Flann, we are told, that "an army
named. The passage alluding to it has of the men of Munster, was led by Corbeen altogether omitted in Dermot mac, son of Culennan, and by FlathberO'Connor's translation; and the pres- tach, to Magh Lena, (in the king's
ent editor would willingly be spared county). The people of Leth Cuinn
the task of rendering it, did candor al- collected against them, about Flann,
low of his passing it over. If such a son of Maelseehlainnl; and a battle was
custom ever had existence, it might fought between them in which the men
possibly have originated in some hor- of Leth Cuinn were defeated, and
ribly.distorted and heathenish tradition  Maelcraeibi Ua Cathalain, was slain.
of that primitive Eastern custom, in Another army was led by Cormac, and
accordance with which servants were by Flathbertach, against the Ui Neill
wont to swear obedience, by placing  of the south, and against the Contheir hand beneath the thigh of their naughtmen; and they carried away the
master, of which an example is seen in hostages of Connaught in their great
Genesis xxiv. 2.                  fleets on the Shannon; and the islands
The engagement just recorded, was of Loch Ribh were plundered by them."
not the only one where Cormac had -See Fou Masters.
measured his strength with that of the




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                      5~1
king of Osraide, and had made peaoe between that chief and his
kinsmen. The Leinstermen also returned to -their homes, exulting in their victory; and Kerball, son of Murighen, king of
Leinster, next marched towards Kill-dara, whither he had brought
a great number of Munstermen who had become his prisoners,
and amongst these was Flathbertach, son of Inmanen. Flathbertach was then brought into Kill-dara; and there the clergy of
Leinster set about reproving him with great severity, for they
were well aware that it was through his contrivance that so destructive a conflict had been brought about. But, when Kerball, King of Leinster, had died, Flathbertach was released;'and,
in a year after, Muirenn, Ban-comarba91 of St. Brighitt, conveyed
him out of the city and sent a large body of the clergy of Leinster as his escort, with'directions that they should guard him until he should reach Magh n-Airb."  Then, when he had arrived
in Munster, after this manner, he returned to his own monastery
of Inis Cathaigh, where he spent a short time in the practice of
piety and devotion. After some time he came out of his monastery, for the purpose of assuming the sovereignty of Munster, as
the successor of Dublactna, son of Maelguala, who had reigned
over that principality for seven years,93 after the death of Cormac. As king, he continued to rule his territories for twenty
years.
It is so that the facts, above recorded, are related in the ancient book, which is called the Annals of Cluain Aidnech in
Laeighis, which give a full and clear accounit of this battle of
Belach Mughna; and it is so, that they are read in the historic
lay composed by Dallan, the Ollamh of Kerball, king of Leinster,
in which he has given'an abridged summary of the battle itself,
and has stated the number of warriors that fell therein.  But I
shall not quote here any more than the first verse of this lay,
because the noblemen that fell on that field have been already
mentioned by name. The following is the verse:
91 Ban-Comarba, of St. Brighitt, i. e. from the death of Cormac to the accesFemale-successor. This was the title sion of Flathberthach; or, as is not
of the Abbess of Kill-dara.      unlikely, no chieftain was found strong
9 Magh n-Airb.  A  plain in the. enough, during that time, to get himbarony of Crannagh, and county of self inaugurated at Cashel. O'HallorKilkenny.                        an has also fallen into the error of
93 Sevenyears. This is amistake. Dub- placing Dublactna, son of Maelguala,
lactna had died in A. D. 890, and was on the throne ofMunster,when the reigns
succeeded by Finguini, called Kenng- of two of his successors had already
began, who was the immediate prede- passed by. O'Dubagain's Poem, as
cessor of Cormac, son of Culinan. published by O'Daly, makes FlathberEither Lorcan, king of Thomond, must tach the next sovereign after Cormac.
have held the chief power in Munster,




532                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
"Cormac of Femhenn, Fogartach,
Colman and Kellach, of hard conflicts
Were slaughtered, with six thousand more,
In that great fight of Belach Mughna."
Flann Sinna, monarch of Ireland, died eventually at Talti, of
the plague.
The greater part of the long reign  gained by Riagan, son of Dungal, over
of Flann had some respite from the the foreigners of Port Largi, Loch
attacks of the Northmen. Still the  Carman and Tech Moling (i. e. of
anmals.of his reign are but too full of  WVaterford, Wexford and St. Mullins),
the devastating incursions of these  in which 200 heads were left behind.
pirates, and we therein read of some  A. D. 891. A slaughter was made of
victories gained by them over the Irish  the invaders by the Conalli (i. e. the
chiefs, and of frequent plunderings of men of Down), and by Athdeidh, son
those religious establishments, which, of Laighni, in which Amlaeibh, grandall through this long and desperate son of Imhar, and Gluntradna, son of
struggle, the indomitable piety of the  Gluniarann, fell, with 800 of their folGaels seems to have renovated and re- lowers. A. D. 897. The foreigners
paired as fast as.they were destroyed. from Ireland (i. e. the Irish-born), were
The following are the principal advan- expelld from the fortress of Ath-cliath
tages then gained by the invaders, be- (Dublin), by Kerball, son of!Murighen,
sides those already mentioned:      and the Leinstermen, and by Maelfiunia,
A. D. 885. Flann was himself de- son of, Flannagan, and the men of
feated by them before Ath-cliath (i. e. Breagh, when, leaving great numbers
Dublin), where Aedh, King of Con- of their chiefs behind, they escaped
naught and the abbots of Kill-dara half dead across the sea.
and Kill Delga (i. e. Kildalkey, in    Thus did the balance of victory lean
Meath), were slain. Erimhon, king of for some tim6 towards the Gaels: but
Ulidia, was, in the same year, slain by  near the close of this reign, vast reinEloir, son of Iargni, one of the foreign- forcements of the Northmen came to
ers. A. D. 891. Flannagal, son of the aid of their kinsmen in Ireland. In
Kellach, lord of all Breagh, was slain  A. D. 912; a new and great fleet of
at Olbda by the Norsemen.  A. D. the foreigners came into Loch Dacaech
892. Maeletigh, lord of Fera Rois, (WVaterford  Harbor), and placed a
was slain by them. A. D. 895. They  stronghold there. In A. D. 913, Corcwere upon Loch n-Ethach  (Lough  ach, Lis-mor and Achadh-bo were plunNealgh), and they seized upon the  dered by them. Great and frequent
Etach Padraig, i. e. St. Patrick's reinforcements of foreigners arrived in
vestment. A.D. 900. Ailech Frigh- Loch Dacaech, by whom the lay disrenn (the royal seat of the northern  tricts and churches of'Munster were
Ui Neill), was plundered by a foreign  constantly plunderei. In A. D. 914
host. A. D. 908. The contest seems  (the year of Flann's death, according
to have been even carried across the sea, to the Four Masters), Gebennach, lord
we read that "A  victory was then  of Ui Fidghenti. and Anli, son of
gained by the foreigners over the  Cathan, lord of Uaithni Cliach, were
Ulidians in the region of Saxon-land." slain by them. The foreigners of Loch
The following were the chief advan- Dacaech continued to plunder Munster.
tages gained by the Gaels:          -See Four Masters.
A. D. 887. A slaughter was made    The death of Alfred the Great of
of the foreigners by the Ui Amhal- England, is recorded as having h hapgaidh of North Connaught, in which  pened in the 24th year of this reign,
fell Eloir, son of Barith, one of their in the following terms: "A. D 900
chieftains. A. D. 888. A battlewas (correctly 901), Alfred, the king who




THE' HISTORY OF IRELAND.                       533
MIALL GLUN-DUBH, ARD-RIGH.
A. D. 924.9'  Niall Glun-dubh,95 son of Aedh Finn-liath, son
of Niall Calli, son of Aedh Oirnighe, son of Niall Frasachl   of
the line of Erimhon, held the sovereignty  of Ireland for three
years.
The royal fair, or assembly of Talti was renewed by this king.
It was, also, this Niall that marched with a strong force of the
Gaels to give battle to the Lochlannaigh of Loch Da-caech,96 in
Ulster, on which occasion great numbers both  of the natives
and the foreigners were slain.   It was, likewise, during his
reign that the pirate chieftain Imhar routed the Leinstermen in
instituted the laws and ordinances of  in Magh Femhenn (South Tipperary),
the Saxons, and who was the most on the 22nd of August. The. foreigndistinguished for prowess, wisdom and  ers entered that territory on the same
piety of the Saxon kings, died."-Ib.  day. The Irish attacked them the 3rd
A' A. D. 915.-lb.                 hour before noon, so that 1100 men
95 NIALL IV. This is the ancestor were slain between them. But more
from  whom the O'Neills of Tyrone  of the foreigners fell, and they were
take their name.  From  his elder defeated. There fell here, in the heat
brother Domnall, king of Ailech, or of the conflict, the chief of Caraijg
north-western Ulster, came the sept of Brachaide, and Maelfinnen, son of
O Donngali, now called O'Donnelly.   Donnagan, chief of Ui Kearnaigh, Per
96 Loch Dacaech, in Ulster. This is gal, son of Murighen, chief of Ui
a very great mistake. Loch Dacaech  Crimthainn, and others.  Reinforcewas the old name of Waterford HIar- ments set out from the fortress of the
bor, which lay between Leinster and  foreigners to relieve their people. The
Munster. Port Largi, i. e. the Port Gaels returned back to their camp beor Fort of Larac, t.w more modern  fore the arrival of the last host, which
Gaelic name of the city of Waterford, was commanded by Raghnall, king of
was not in all probability given to it the Dubh Goill (Danes), who had an
until after the death of the Northman  army with him. Niall set out against
chieftain Larac, who flourished in A. D. them with a small force, so that God
951.  The name of Waterford was prevented their slaughter through him.
given to it by the Danes or Norsemen, Niall remained encamped against the
who write it Vedrafjord, wich is sup- foreigners for twenty nights after this.
posed to signify " weather bay."-O'D. He then requested of the Leinstermen
"A. D. 915. Sitric, grandson of  to continue the siege. This the latter
Imhar, with his fleet, took up at Kenn- did, until Sitric, grandson of Imliar,
fuait, in the east of Leinster. Ragh- gave them battle at Kenm-fuait, where
nall, grandson of Imhar, with another six hundred were slain around the
fleet, went to the foreigners.      lords of Leinster, together with their
"A slaughter was made of the for- king Ugari, son of Ailell. These are
eigners by the Munstermen. Another the names of some of the chiefs: Maelslaughter was made of them by the morda, lord of Airther Lifi; Mugron,
Eogranachta and the Kiarraighe.    lord of the three Comainns and of
".An army of the Ui Neill of the Laeighis; Tuathal, lord of Ui Feinech.
south and north was led by Niall, king lais, and many other chiefs, with the
of Ireland, to the men of Munster, to  archbishop Maelmaedog, son of Diar.
wage war against the foreigners. He  maid, who was of the Ui Conannla,
pitched his camp at Tobar Gethrach, abbot of Glenn Uisean, a distinguished




534                 TEE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
the battle of Kenn-fuaid,9' wherein six hundred of the latter were
slain, around Maelmorda, son of Murighen, king of the territory
west of the Lifi; around Ugari, son of Olild; around Moghron,.or Odran, son of Kenneidigh, king of the three Comainns and
of Laeighis, and around many other chiefs that I shall not now
name.
It was about this time that Oitir, another chieftain of the
Lochlannaigh, sailed with a numerous host from Loch-da-caech
to Alba, where Cuas,~s son of Aedh, met him in battle, wherein
Oitir fell himself, together with great numbers of his followers.
During the reign of Niall, there arrived in Ireland another
great host of the foreigners, under the conduct of Sitric and the
sons of Imhar. These seized upon the city of Ath-cliath, in spite
of the men of Ireland.. Thereupon, Niall Glun-dubh assembled
the full force of Leth Cuinn, and with which he engaged the
Lochlannaigh in battle at Ath-cliath,99 where he was himself
slain, together with Concobar O' Maelsechlainn, the heir apparent
to the sovereignty of Ireland, and Aedh, son of Eocagan, king
of Ulidia, and Mielmithigh, son of Flannagan, king of Breagh,
and Maelcraeibi O' Dubsinnaigh, king of Oirghiaila, and many
chieftains and warriors of inferior degree.
DONNCADH, ARD-RIGH.
A. D. 927.100~~   Donncadh,'  son  of Flann' Sinna,  son  of
Maelsechlainn, of the line of Erimhon, held the sovereignty of
scribe and anchorite, and an adept in  enumerated, there fell likewise Kellech,
the Latin learning and the Scotic son of  Fogartaeh, lord of South
language."-Four Masters.            Breagh, and Maelcraeibi, son of Doil9 Kenn-fuaid.  Now Confey, near ghen, lord of Ui Tortain.
Leixless, county Kildare. The foreign-' A. D. 918. Four Masters. These
ers at this place plundered Kill-dara  annalists give this prince a reign of 25
soon after the battle just mentioned. years.
Those of Ath-cliath plundered it again    I DONNCADH II. Hie was the first
next year, when they also plundered  that took the surname of O'MaelsechLeithglinn,where Maelpadraig, a priest, lain, being the 0, or grandson of Kingr
pnd Mongan, an anchorite, with many  Maelsechlainn I.
others, were slain.-See Four Masters.    Kenannus, now Kells, was plun9 Cuas. This name is wrongly  dered by the foreigners in the 1st year
spelled. Perhaps it is a mistake for of his reign, and its stone church,
Cuan. According to our annals, Con- or daimh-liag, was razed to the earth.
stantine,son of Aedh, was the name of But soon after the monarch engagthe king of Alba that defeated Oitir ed them in battle at a place -called
and the Northmen of Waterford in  Tigh mic n-Ethach, in the Kiannachta
A. 3. 916.                         of Breagh, wherein a countless num-'  The battle of Ath-cliath.  This ber of them were slain.  " Indeed,"
battle was fought on the,17th of Octo- say the Four Masters, " in this battle
ber, in A. D. 917, at Kill Mosamhog, revenge was had of them. for the
now Kilmashoogue, near Rathfarnham, slaughter of Ath-Cliath, for there fell
co. Dublin. Besides the chiefs here here of the nobles of the Norsemen, as




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                       535
Ireland for twenty years.  Gormflaith, daughter of Flann, son
of Conaing, wag the mother of this Donncadh.
It was while he was monarch of Ireland that the following
event took place; for it was in the beginining' of his reign that
Kellachan, son  of Buadcan, who is called  Cellachan Caisil
(Callaghan  COdshill),  or Kellachan  of Cashel,, assumed  the
sovereignty of Munster, which he held for ten. years. But
before Kellachan had been made king, Kenneidi, son of Lorcan,
came to a convention of the chiefs of Munster, which was held
at Glentarnhain' (Glennowin), and there strove to supplant him
in the royalty.  But, thereupon, the mother of Kellachan went
thither from Cashel, where she was wont to dwell with her
fosterfather, the Comarba of St. Patrick, and when she arrived
at the place of the convention, she besought Kenneidi to remember the compact formerly made between Fiacaidh Maeil-lethaa
and Cormac Cas, by which it was ordained that the royal inherit.
ance of Munster should be alternately possessed by their respective descendants.  In memory of this intervention, the words in
which the lady then addressed him  have been transmitted to us
in the following verse:
" Kenneidi Cas, revere that law,
Which Fiacaidh and Cormac willed,
many as had fallen of the nobles and  would give him a reign of 18, not 10
plebeians of the Gaels in the battle of  years.  During the 14'years that
Ath-cliath. Murkertach, son of Tigher- intervened between his first appearance
nan, heir apparent of Brefni, was and the resignation of Flathbertach,
wounded- in this battle, so that he Munster must have been successively
afterwards died of his' wounds."  The' ruled by Lorcan, son of Conligan, and
annals of Clommacnoise say, " that not by his namesake, Lorcan, son of Lactna.
one half of the Danish army was left That the former was a different person
alive, and that there never was such a from the latter, and of the royal blood
massacre made of them before in Ire- of the Eoganachta, we have evidenec
land."                             in the record of the death of his father,
2 In the beginning. Thiscan scarcely  Conligan,son of Corcran, who was slain
be, if we allow that he reigned but ten  in 898, in revenge for Kennghegan,
years; for we find by the Irish annals i. e. Finguini, king of Munster, who
that in A. D. 920, Flathbertach, son had been "slain by his own tribe."
of Inmanen, resigned the kingdom of The ambitious Flathbertach did not,
Cashel to Lorcan, son of Conligan, and however, die until 944, and he might
went upon a pilgrimage. Kellachan'have resumed the throne.
is first mentioned in Irish records in    3 Glennamhain. It is now  called
the year 934, the 17th year of Donn- Glanworth, and is situated on the
cadh, when he distinguished himself by  river Funcheon, in the barony of Ferpluidering  Cl!uain-mic-Nois.  From  moy, county Cork. It was one of the
that time until his death, in 953, being  royal residences of the Eoganacht printhe 11th year of the reign of Con- ces, and became afterwards the chief
gal, or Congalach, he occupies a prom- seat of that branch of their tribe which
inent place in our annals. This, sup- took the name of O'Caeimh, or as now
posing him to have assumed the king-  spelled, O'Keeffe.
dom of Munster in the former year,




636               THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
By which a king from either sprung,
Should Mumha rule alternately."
The final result of her expostulation was that Kenneicli retired
from the contest, and relinquished the sovereignty to Kellachan.
Some time after this, the Lochlannaigh made Kellacllan their
captive, by a treacherous scheme, but the Sil Eogaln and the Dal
g-Cais soon rescued him by force from their bonds.
The catptivity' and rescue of Kellachan of Ccashel.-lHis victories
over the Lochlannaigh.
When, indeed, Kellachan and the men of MIunster had routed
the Lochlannaigh in many battles, and had driven them  out of
his principality, the plan adopted by Sitric, son of Turgeis, their
principal chieftain, was to propose a matrimonial alliance to the
Munster king, that is, he offered to give Kellachan his own
sister, Bebinn, as his wife, promising at the same time to free
Munster thenceforth from all the attacks and all the demands of
his countrymen.  HIe did this in order that, when Kellachan
went to wed his sister, and trusted himself to his protection, he
might slay both the king himself, and as many of the nobles of
the Gaels as might accompany him. With this treacherous
stratagem he acquainted Donncadh, son of Flann, king of Tenmhair, because that monarch was at enmity with Kellachan, -who
had refused to pay him the chief-rent of Munster. For the latter reason, did Donncadh give his consent that Sitric should put
his treason into execution against Kellachan and his southern
nobles.
Having matured his plans, Sitric sent ambassadors to llunster,
to treat of the proposed alliance. When they had explained
their instructions to the king, his first intention was to take a
large army with him, when going to wed the lady.  "' That is
not the proper course," said Kenneidi, son of Lorcan, " for it is
not proper to leave Munster unguarded; but what thou shouldst
do is to take a strong and sufficient guard with thee, when thou
goest to wed that woman." And this was the counsel that was
then followed.
4The'captivity, 3/c. The account romantic.  The Irish annals tell us
here given of Kellachan's capture and that Kellachan was indeed captured;
rescue has been taken by Keating from  but that it was by Murkertach, son of
an old historic tale called "Toruig- Niall, king of Ailech, not the Northhecht (Cheallachain Caisil " (Toreeaght men. The following is the record they
Callaghautn Carliel), i. e. "The Pursuit give of the fact:
after Kellachan of Cashel."  Moore   "A. D. 939. The 22nd year of
and others have treated it as altogether Donncadh. Murkertach, son of Nial4




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                      537
Now, when Kellachan had set out upon that expedition, and
on the night before he reached Ath-cliath, Mor, daughter of
Aedh, son of Eocaidh, king of the Isle of the Finn:Goill, -who
was also the wife of Sitric, demanded of her husband the reason
why he was about to con-tract this matrimonial connection with
Kellachan, by whom so many of the chiefs and nobles of Loch
lainn had fallen?  "It is not for his good luck that I have proposed it to him," replied Sitric, " but for the purpose of dealing
treacherously by him."  The woman became frightened at these
words, fbr she had long cherished a secret love for Kellaclhan,
whom she had formerly seen at Port-Largi. Prompted by this
feeling, she arose early next morning, and went out privately upon
the road by which KIellachan was expected to be corning'; and, as
soon as she met him, she took him apart and told him of the treacherous deception which Sitric had contrived for his assassination.
When Kellachan had heard this, and thought to turn back, he
found that it was no longer possible for him to do so; for the fields,
with the men of the north and of mit to.him, and he carried off Lorcan,
Breagh, went into the territory of the son of Faelan, their king. He then
Osraide anid the Desi, and he plundered marched to the men of Munster, who
and ravaged the entire country as far were in readiness to give him battle,
as Lis Ruadhrach, (in the county of but they finally agred to give him up
Waterford.) so that they submitted to  their king, Kellachan, upon whom a
him. A fleet was next fitted out by  fetter was placed by Murkertach. He
MIurkertach, and he carried off much  next proceeded into Connaught, where
plunder fiom Insi Gall, i. e. the Isles Concobar, son of Tadg, came to meet
of the Strangeor (now the Hebrides), him, but neither gyve nor fetter was
after gainin  victory and triumph. A  -put upon him. Ile then returned to
slaughter was then made of th, Desi Ailech, carrying these kings with him
by Kellachan, and by the men of Mun- as hostages, and they were for nine
ster, because they had submitted to  months feasting there; and at the end
Murkertach, when two thousand of of that time, he sent the hostaes to
them, together with Kelichar, son of Donncadh, because it was he that was
(formac,,Maelgrorm, son of Giblichan, at Temhair, and the sovereignty had
Seghda, son of Naebelan, and Cleir- fallen to him."-Such is the account
ech, son of Sesta.  Another battle which the northern antiquaries give of
was gained by the Desi and the 0s- Kellachan's captivity. It may possibly
raide over the kincg of Caisel, in which have afforded the groundwork of the
many were slain. Murkertach after- historic tale, of which Keating has
wards assembled the Kinel Conaill given an abridgement, or the latter
and Kinel Eogain, and the people of may have been founded oh some other
the north at Ailech, where he selected  captivity, which the Ui Neill antiten hundred of the chosen heroes, and quaries omitted, on account of its
made a circuit of Ireland, keeping his reflections upon their hero, Murkerleft hand to the sea, until he arrived at tach, and upon the monarch, Donncadh.
Ath-cliath, and thence he brought It is to be remarked, that Cormacan
Sitric, lord of that city, with him as a Eigreas relates that Kellachan was dehostage. He then marched ifito Lein- livered up by his people to Murker.
ster, where the Leinstermen at first tach at his own request.
opposed him, and finally agreed to sub



'538               TIHE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
on either side of the road, were full of ambuscades, composed
of foreign soldiers, who lay in wait for the purpose of capturing
him. As'soon, then, as he attempted to return, those soldiers
rushed upon him from all sides, and slew'some of the noblemen
who were in his company; not, however, until the latter had
slain some of their assailants. But the great bulk of the attacking force bore down upon the king himself, so that he was made
captive together with Donncuan, son of Kenneidi; and then
both were carried into Ath-cliath in chains —whence they were
-sent off to Ard-AMacha, where nine earls of the Lochlannaigh,
with their several bands of warriors, were set to guard them.
As to those of the Munster nobles, who had escaped from that
conflict, they returned immediately to their own country, and
there they explained their adventure to IKenneidi, son of Lorcanr; and thereupon Kenneidi mustered two armies for the purpose of going in pursuit of Kellachan.   These armies consisted
of a force destined to act upon land, and one destined to act upon
sea.  And the captain that was set over the land forces was Donncadh O'Caeimh,6 king of She two territories of Fermoighe; and
then Kenneidi lauded this chieftain, and ennumerated eleven of
his immediate ancestors, who had held the sovereignty of Munster; such as Finguini, who is called Kennghegan; Artri, son
of Cathal; CaCthal, son of Finguini; Finguini, son of Cathal;
Cathal, who is called Cu-gan-mathair; Cathal, son of Aedh
Flann-Cathrach; Carbri Crbm; Crimnthann Srebh; Eocaidh; and
AeDgus, son of Nadfraech.  Kenneidi next added ten hundred
warriors of the Dal g-Cais,' to the army of Donncadh, and over
these lie placed three captains, namely, Cosgarach, Lonnargan,
and Congalach, as we learn from the lay which begins with the
line, "Let twenty hundred northwards march."   Here follows
the verse of that lay, which repeats the words Kenneidi:
Kenneidi, son of Lorcan.  This cadh, grandson of Cacimh (Kuceve.)
prince did not alwavs continue the faith- Hie was the first that bore the name of
ful ally of Kellachan that he is here re- O'Caeimh, and was the founder of the
presented. In A, D. 942, a victory Was sept now called O'Keeffe.  His father
gained over him by the latter at Magh- was Cathal, son of Caemh, (from whom
duin, where many were slain. He was O'Caeimh,) son of Finguini, called
the father o? Brian Boromba, wlhose Kennghegan,and had his chief residence
birth is entered under the year 925 in at Glennamhain, now called Glanworth.
the following terms: "The 8th year of 3000  warriors of the Eoganachta
Donncadh. Brian, son of Kenneidigh, placed themselves under his command
was born this year, that is, 24 years be- on this occasion.
fore (his rival) Maelsechlainn, son of   7 Of the Dal g$Cais, that is, of his
Domnall."-However, the year 941  own immediate sept of the Dal g-Cais.
has been proved to be the true year of For th6 tribe of Cas, like its rival
Brian's birth, as shall hereafter appear. tribe of the Eoganacht, was already
6 Donncadh O'Caeimh, i. e., Donn- divided into several powerful clans.




THlE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                     539
"March thither, Cosgarach of fights,
March thither, gentle Lonnargan,
And Congalach, now leave thy lakeMy brothers three, I bid ye march."
In  addition to  these, Kenneidi sent with  that expedition,
another division of the Dal g-Cais, consisting of five hundred
warriors  of the  Clann Coilein, under their own  immediate
chieftain, Esida, son of Sida.8 Another division of five hundred of the Dal g-Cais was placed under the command of Degaidh, son of Domnall.9  Besides these, a lharge contingent was
furnished by the other Scte' Clanna, or free clans"' of Thlornond.
The other great host was embarked, upon the sea, and  Falbi
Finn, King of Desmond,"l was chosen as its commander.  Then
Donncadh O'Caeimh led the land  forces out of Munster into
Connaught, where he sent out foragers to the Muaidh," and to
Irrus, and to Umhall,l3 for the purpose of bringing in spoils to
the camp of his Munstermen.  But the warriors had not been
long. encamped, waiting for the return of these f6ragers, when
an armed and well-appointed host was seen advancing towards
them in military array; and the number of this host was one
thousand men, and one youthful warrior marched apart fiom
8 Esida,son of Sida. The chiefrep- ble clans who were' not sprung from
resentatives of his clann, are the Mac  Cormac Cas.  These were, then, the
Conmaras, called in English, Macna- Bas(gnigh of' Corca Baskinn, and the
maras. His naxne is pronounced in chiefs of Corcamruadh.  The former
Gaelic Essheeda, son of Slteeda. One of are now represented by the O'Donnells
the meanings of Sida or Sioda, is Silk; of North Munster; the latter, by the
hence many of this clan barbarously  O'Lochlins of Burrin,.and the O'Concalled themselves Silk Macnamara.    nors Corcamruadh. The chief part of
9 Degfaidh, son of Domnall.  His these had joined the fleet under Falbi,
clann was then called the Kinel Fer-   " King of Desmond.  Falbi Finn,
maic.  His descendants afterwards whose name is usually written, Failbhe
called themselves O'Deghadh (O'Daa), (Falvic) Fionn, was king of Corca
in English, O'Dea and Dee, from this Duibni, mnow  Coreaguiny, in Kerry.
Degaidh.  Kenneidi, Esida and De- and not of Desmond or South Munster.
gaidh, represented three of the sons of The dignity of King' of Desmond
Cas, son of Conall of the Fleet Steeds, should have belonged to Donncadh
namely Blod, Caisin, (Casheen) and  O'Caeimh.  From  Falbi, the O'FalAengus Kenn-athrach. Another son of vies, of Corcaguiny, took their name.
Cas, Aengus Kenn-atinn, founded the His kinsmen of Magh O'g Coinchinn,
clann Ifernain, of which O'Cuinn, of and Ui Rathach (now the O'Connells
North Munster, now called O'Quinn, and O'Sheas,) followed in his division,
was the chief sept.  From Delbaeth, and also the Kiarraide, (now O'Conanother son of Cas, came the Dclbna  nors Kerry.)
in Connaught and Meath, of whom the   12 The luaid, now the river Moy,
Mac Cochlans, O'Finnallans, &e. were in Mayo.
the chief septs.'3 irrus and Umhall, now called Erris' Free Clans. That is, those no- and the Owles, in the west of Mayo.




540              THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
the rest, in front of its foremost rank. Then, when this warrior
had arrived near the camp, Donucadh O'Caeimh demanded of
him, "nVWhat marshalled host is that yonder?"  "This host,"
replied the warrior, " consists of a portion of the men of Munster; namely, of the. Galengaigh14 and the Lui;hnigh, descended
from  Tadg, son of Kian, son of Olild Olum; and of the men
of Delbna, descended from Delbaeth,.son of Cas, son of Conall
of the Fleet Steeds. And these have now come hither to join
the strength of their arms to your own, prompted by the fraternal love which they bear you, who are their kinlsmen; and there
are three brave and fortunate chieftains in command of yon
host, namely, Aedh, son of Dualgasach, around whom all the
Galengaigh are arrayed; Diarmaid, son of Finnactach, around
whom  all the Luighnigh march; and Donneadh, son of Malel
domnacn, who commands the men of Delbna."  In memory of
this event, was composed that historic lay, which begins with the
following verse:
" in yonder host march Kian's clans,
With Delbaeth's sons in order ranged;
Your perils they have come to share;
They've come to strike the foe with you."
The force that had here come to join theirs was thus compqsed;
to wit, it consist6d of five hundred men, armed with sword and
shield, and of five hundred bowmen.
Thus reinforced, the army marched onward into Tir Conaill,
and spoils were borne off from that country by the allied hosts.
Thereupon, Murkertach, son of Kennfaeladh, King of KinelConaill, came, and in upbraiding language demanded a restoration of the spoils from Donncadh O'Caeimh. To him Donncadh
replied, that he would return no spoils, except those that might
be left after all his army was satisfied. TJpon this the King of
Kinel Conaill, went away in anger from the host of Munster;
and he sent private word to the sons of Turgeis at-Ard Macha,
informing them that an army was marching thither in pursuit
of Kellachan, in  order to rescue him  from  their -hands.
As to the sons of Turgeis; the nine earls retreated from Ard
Macha, upon receiving this information, taking with them the
force under their command, together with their prisoners, Kellachan and Donncuan.
The Munster forces arrived soon after, at Ard Macha, and
there they slew every Lochlannach upon whom they could lay
u Galengaigh, 4'c. These Eberian tribes, who were settled in Connaught,
have been already described.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                   641
bartds; and when they had heard that Sitric and his' host llad
retreated to Dun Delgain,'" they' marched thither next lay in
pursuit of him. But when Sitric perceived them appr.tching
the town, he retreated to his ships with all his forces, taking
off Kellachan and Donncuan on board with him.  The Munster
host then marched down to the edge of the beach, and came so
near to the ships of their enemies that they conversed with
thos2 on board.
They were not long in this position, when there was seen sailing into the harbor, a fleet which the Munstermen recognized as
the armament of Falbi Finn.  This chief led his ships straightway towards those of the enemy, and immediately attacked in
person the vessel that carried Sitric, Tor and Magnus; and he
jumped on board into the midst of his enemies, holding a sword
in each of his hands.  With the sword which he held in his left,
he cut asunder the ropes wherewith ICellachan was tied up to
the mast, and thus loosed his captive king, set him standing
upon the deck, and placed in his grasp the sword which he had
till then borne in his left hand.  IKellachan cut his way to the
ship of his deliverer, whilst Falbi remained fighting in the midst
of his enemies, until he fell overpowered by numbers, and then
the Lochlannaigh immediately cut off his head.  Upon this Fiangalach, a captain of Falbi's people, took his chieftain's place
in the conflict, and fiercely seizing Sitric round the body, he
flung himself overboard with his foe in his grasp, and both went
to the bottom  together, and were thus drowned.  Segha and
Conall, two other captains, next rushed forward, and clasped
their arms around Tor and Magnus, the two brothers of Sitric,
and each of them  jumped overboard with his adversary, so
that the four were thus drowned. And like bravery was displayed by every other portion of the host of the Gacls; for they
rushed upon the Lochlannaigh with such vehemence, that the
latter were everywhere routed, and brokenand slaughtered, and
thrown into confusion, and of themnthere survived but a small
remnant that escaped by the fleetness of their ships.  The Mlunster warriors then landed, having at their head their king, Kellachan, whom  they had just liberated by their hardihood and
by the strength of their arms.
Having thus vanquished the foreigners, the warriors next determined to attack the king of Kindl Conaill;16 for, as we have'" Dun Delgain; i. e., the Fort of having ever carried his arms so far north
Delgan; it is now called Dundalk.    as Kinel Conaill. In A. D. 937 (two
16 Knld7 Conaill. Some of the expedi- years previous to his being led off hosttions of Kellachan into Leth Cuinn age by Murkertach, son of Niall,) he
are recorded in the Annals of the Four led an army composed of Munstermen
Masters; but they do not mention his and' Northmen into Meath, the church



542                THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
heretofore related, it was he that had given information of their
march, and had advised the Lochlannaigh to take Kellachan to
Dun Deirain.  But that king did not make head against them,
wvhereupon they ravaged his territories, and took much of cattle
and valuables therefrom.  They then sent an embassy to Donncadh, son of Flann, monarch of Ireland, to challenge him to battle; for he had previously given his consent to the capture of
Kellachan at Ath-cliath.  But Donncadh refused to fight them;
and in consequence thereof, they plundered his territories of
Temhair. Thence they marched to Munster, where Kellachan
resumed the sovereignty of his own country. But, as they were
proceeding homewards from Ath-Cliath, Murcadh, son of Flann,
king of Leinster, prepared to give them battle, in vengeance for
the numbers of the Lochlannaigh they had'slain in rescuing
their prince. But when he perceived the fortitude and valor of
the men of Munster, he shrank from the fight and let them pass
through his territories without opposition.
When Kellachan had now returned to his kingdom, he took
into consideration all the oppressions which the Lochlannaigh
had exercised over his people; and he entered into counsel
with his nobles, with the intention of making a vigorous effort
for their expulsion.  He then led his forces against Luimnech,
and there slew five hundred of the'marauders, a'nd forced the remainder to deliver up hostages. After that, he sacked Corcach,
whence he bore off hostages likewise.   He next plundered
Cashel, where he slew three hundred of the same people. Thence,
he marched against Port-Largi, which town was stormed by his
army and given up to pillage. And he gave a great defeat to
Sitric, son of Imhar, of whose followers, five hundred were slain;
but Sitric, himself, escaped to his. ships. Kellachan on his return thence, cam6 to Domnall O'Faelain, king of the Desi, to
whom he gave his own sister, namely, Gormflaith, daughter
of Buadcan to wife. It was not long after, when Kellachan
died.'7
After him Fergraidh, son of Alghenan, son of Donngal, held
es and lay districts of which he plun- their name from Carthach, son of Sderdered as far as C'luain Iraird, and brethach, son of Donncadh. The O'Calthence led off many captives. In 949, laghans take their name, not from him,
we find him again in Leth Cuinn, plun- but from Kellachan, son of Domnall, son
dering Cluain-ferta of St: Brendan, of Murcadh, also son of Donncadh, at
and the Sil Anamcadha, a sept of the whom their lines respectively branch off:
Ui Mani.                            Maelfogartach, son of Flann, of the
Y7 Kellachan died. A. D. 952, is the line of Eogan, was the immediate sucrecorded date of his death. The Mac cessor of Kellachan. He died in 855.
Carthies and O'Callaghans, of Munster, Maelfogartach  (Mailqgartagh,)  was
are descended frQm Doaincadh, son of succeeded by Dubdaboirenn, (Duvdathis prince. The Mac Carthies have vorrenn,) son of Aengus (called son of




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                      543
the sovereignty of Munster for two years, until he was treacherously murdered by his own tribesmen.'8
faZtligctmain, oommonly called Jfahlon, son of Kenneidi, King of
Munster, A. D. 960 to 976.19
Mathgamain (Jhlahowin), son of Kenneidi, assumed the sovereignty of Munster, after the death of Fergraidh.  He held it for
twelve years, his brother, Echtigherna20 (Agh-heerna), son of Kenneidi, being king of Thomond, during the same time. It was
this Maathgamain and his brother, Brian, son of Kenneidi, then a
vouth, that won the battle of Sulchoid"2 over the Lochlamnaigh.
In this engagement fell Tethild the Champion, and Ruadnan and
Bernard and Muiris of Luimnech,22 and Torold, together with
seven thousand of their host, who were slain around them! Mathgamain, Brian and the Dal g-Cais pursued their routed enemies
thence into the very centrenof Luimnech, and slaughtered multiDomnall, in the Four Masters,) an an-   20 Echltigherna. This name is derived
cestor of the O'Donoghoos of Kerry. S from "ech" (agh), a steed, and "tighHe died in 957.                     erna" (teerna), a lord; and it may
18 Fergraidh — This king was slain  mean, " chief of cavalry." Echtigherna,
in 958 or 959, that is in the 5th or 6th  who was king of Thomond, under his
year of the reign of Domnall, son of brother Mahon, was founder of the
Murkertach, monarch of Ireland. He Dalcassian sept of O'h-Echtigherna(O'.
was slain, say some authorities, by Ma- hagh-heerna), the descendants of which
elmuaidh, son of Brann, chief of the now call themselves Ahern, Hearn,
Eogcanacht of Rathlenn, because he had  Hern, or even Herringr. He was also
not made opposition to the monarch the ancestor of the sept of Mac Craith,
Domnall.  Mlaelmuaidh then became now called Magrath, of North Munking of Desmond in his stead.      ster.
"9 Neither the above heading nor   21 Sulchoid. This place lies in the
dates are given in the original. Dr. bordors of the counties of Limerick and
Keating has here committed a great Tipperary; not far from the town of
oversight, in making the reigns of Kel- latter name. It is now called Sulloglachan and his successors Fergraidh  hod, and Sallowhead. It has been aland Mahon, or Mathgamain, over Mun- ready mentioned as the scene of an enster, cotemporaneous with that of Donn- counter between the Red Branch knight,cadh, son of Flann, monarch of Ireland; Cuchulainn, and the Miunster hero Cufor the last ten years of Kellachan's raidh, son of Dari. Mathgamain gainreign, were cotemporaneous with the ed his famous victory of Sulchoid over
reign of Congal, the next succeeding  the Northmen, in A. D. 968. Brian was
monarch after Donncadh. Congal died  about 27 years old at the time of the
the year after Kellachan, while Mael- battle of Sulchoid, having been born
fogartach was king of Cashel. The in A. D. 941, as has been heretofore
last year of the short reign of the latter stated in these notes. But he should
prince, together with the equally short have been very young indeed, were the
ones of Dubdaboirenn and Fergraidh, reign of Mathgamain cotemporary with
passed by within the first 5 years of the that of the monarch Donncadh, in the
monarchy of Domnall, in the 5th or 6th  eighth year of which, he was born.
year of which, Mathgamain must have   22 Luimnech; i. e. the present city of
assumed the sovereignty of.Munster.   Limerick. Mahon had already chas



644                 THE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.
tudes of them  in the streets and in the houses thereof, and they
bore off a largce quantity of gold and silver and of jewels and
valuables froml this city, and tlhey likewise burned and razed its
castles and fortifications.  Soon after this, AMatlhgamain, son of
Kenncidi was betrayed23 by  Donnoban,24 in  the latter's ovn
house, and he was delivered up by his captor to 5Maelmunuaidch, son
of Brann, and to the strangers, in  breach of the safeguard of
Colum, son of Kiaragan, Comarba of St. Barra,,2 in violation ot
the guaraptee of which saint he was thereupon put to death by
the people of the son of Brann  at Lecht Mathgamna"2 (Laghth
Vacozwna) upon MIusiri Alor, in Musgraide.
Sequel of the reign of Dlonncadh.  A. D. 918-942.
It was also in the days of Donncadh, son of Flann Sinna, monarch of Ireland, of whose reign we are treating, that those events
tised the Danish colonists settled here. there, he treacherously seized upon his
In 965 he had twice delivered theirtown  royal guest, Whom he delivered up to
up to pillage; on the latter occasion of  AMaelmuaidli, son of Brann, and Imhar
which, he burned their ships.  Mael- of Limerick, by whose people he was
ruadnaidh, son of Flann, Tanist of Os- slain in the very presence of the clergyraide, was' slain while storming  the  men who had guaranteed his safety.
fortress.-The same year he marched  When Maelmuaidh saw him slain, he
his army to Sciath-an-Eigis, (now the  rode away swiftly, saying to one of
hill of Slkea, south of the river Bandon), those clergymen, " Cure that man if he
whence lie carried away the hostages of  come to thee."  The latter cursed him,
Munster, and expelled the son of Brann, and predicted that he would come to an
(Maelnmuaidh) Lord of IDesmond.-In  evil end.-See a full accolut of this
967 we find him at the head of the Eli, treacherous assassination, pp. 702-703
Desi, and Osraide, and the Northmen  notes to the Four Masters, Wzhich is there
of Wateforrd, marchinr into Lekister translated by Dr. Doncvan from  the
to oppose AMurcadh, son of Finn, kingr of Cogtadh Gall re Gaedhal, i. e. "the
that territory. In the same year, he  War qf the Strangers u.i't/l the Gaels."
spent three nights in the T)anish city   24 Dolnoban. The sept of O'Donof Cork, and carried off the hostages nabhain, now O'Dbnovan, are the deof Desmoid.  In 969 he drove the  scendants of this treacherous chieftain
Northnlen out of their fortress of Lim- of the Ui Fidghenti. The sept of O'
erick.                               Mathgamna, now O'Mahony,has sprung
23 Was betrayed. The chiefs of the  from his accomplice, or perhaps, instiEoganachta, fearin(g lest the sovereign- gator, the ruthless Maelmuaidlh.
ty of Munster should for ever pass    2 Comarba St. Barra, i. e. bishop
away from their house, plotted with the  of Cork, of which St. Barra, or FinnDanes for his destruction. Donnaban, barr was the founder. Bishop Colurn
(Doncvaun) son of Cathal, king of the  maledicted all that were concerned in
ti Fidghenti, whose territory of Ui the'murder of Mathgamain.
Cairbri Aedba lay nearest to Thom-' Lecht Mathlgamna, i. e., MTahon's
ond, invited him  to a banquet at his Heap. It is situated on AMuisiri-nahouse, giviwng Colum, bishop of Cork, mona-moiri, now the hlushera mounand several of the clergy of Desmond, tains near Macroom.
as sureties of his good faith.  Bat




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                        545
occurred, which we are about to record; such as the death of
Kiaran, bishop of Tolen.2'
This Donncadh went once to drive spoils from  Connaught;
but great numbers of his people were slain at Dubthir, 2 near
Ath-luain, and amongst them fell Kinaeth, son of Concobar, king
of Ui Falghi.
It was about this time that Cluain-mic-Nois was again plundered by the Loehlannaihh,     who, on their return thence upon
Loch Ribh, plundered the country along both its shores.  They
also pillaged and devastated En-inis," where they slew twelve
hundred of the Gaels.  After tlmt, twelve hundred of the pirates
were themselves drowned in Loch Rudraide.~0  Then, also, FaeIan, son of Muredaclh,"  king, of Loinster, was captured, together
with his children, by the Lochlannaigh of Ath-Cliath, and Dun
Sobarki32  was plundered by the Lochlannaigh of Loch Cuain,
and Kill-dara, by those of Port Largi.  But soon after, a great
slaughter33 was made of these invaders by the men of Ulster, led
by Aurkertach, son of Niall, on which occasion eight hundred
of the foreigners fell, together with their three chieftains, namely,.
Albdann, Anfer, and Rolt.
It was about this period that the commerceMt of Ireland was so
27 Bis.op of Tolen. Kiaran, bishop  was gained, say our Annalists, at the
of Tolen, or Tuilen, now the parish of bridge of Ath-na-g Crumhther (AwhTullane near Kells, in Meath, died  na-gryffer), on the 28th of December,
A. D. 919.                          924. It would appear that one half of'2 Dubthlir; i. e., the black district the Northmen were slain; for we are
of Ath-luain, situated in the present told that the other half was besieged
barony of Athlonle, county Galway. for a week at Ath Cruithni, a place
T'his expedition was made in A. D. near Newry, until Godfrey, lord of the
928.                                foreigners, came to their relief from Ath29 En-inis, i. e., Bird Island.  The  Cliath.-Killdara was plundered twice
name is now unknown, but is stated to'in this year; once by the pirates of
have been situated in Fotharta-thiri, Port Largi, and again by those of Ath(Foclarta-heeri), now the barony of cliath.
Forth, in Carlow., They were the   31 The flourishing condition of comForeigners of Limerick that made this merce, to which our author here aldestructive incursion in A. D. 920; on  ludes, must have been principally owing
which occasion a scribe, named Abel, to the marts established in the Danish
suffered martyrdom at their hands.  or Norse seaports of Dublin, Water-'O Lolee Rulraide. The mouth of the  ford, Cork, &c., which places the
river Erne, was thus called.  1200  Gaelic chieftains allowed the foreigners
Northmen were drowned there in A. D. to hold, notwithstanding their frequent
922.-See Four Masters.              ravages, for the purpose of carrying on
3L Faelan~, son of Mluredach. He was the external trade of the nation. The
captured with his son Ldrcan, in A. D. Gaels themselves disdained to practice
923.                                commerce.  Arms and letters were
32 Dun Sobarki, now Dunseverick, their only studies; for, previous to the
was plundered in 924, and many were arrival of the men of the North, all
slain therein.                      cdmmercial and industrial pursuits were
8 A greazt slaugihtcr. This victory  left to the Daer Clanna, or subject




546                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
extensive.   Whereupon  a Lochlannach   earl, named  Olfinn,
mustered the full strenlgth of his countrymen, both from Leinster
and Connaught, for the purpose of attacking the fair of lRos
Cre35 held on the festival of Saints Peter and Paul.  But, according t tthe the treatise which Finghin    ac Carthaigh has written
upon Irish affairs from the earliest to the present times, the folk
of the fair marched out against him and engaged him in a battle,
in which four thousand of the foreigners were slain, together
with that earl himself.
Tadg, son of Cathal36 reigned for twenty years as king.of Connaught during these times.  Ituring the same period died Sitric,
son of Imhar,37 king  of both the Finn-Loc'hlannaiglh and the
Dubh-Lochlannaigh.
It was also about this time that a great slaughter was made of
the Lochlannaigh of Loch Oirbsen,38 by the men of Connaught,
and another was mad.e of those of Loch n-Echach, by Conaing,
son of Niall;39 on the latter occasion, one thousand of them were
slain.
After this the invaders came upon Loch Erni,40 whence they
tribes, composed of Fer-Bolgs, Tuatha  He reigned from A. D. 914 to A. D.
De Donann, and other conquered or 954, and was the father of Concobkr,
foreign races. The Danish or Norwe- also king of Connaught from A. D.
gian invaders, had then for a time, 954 to A. D. 972. From the latter,
conferred at least the'benefit of an ex- his descendants took the name of
tended trade, upon the Irish nation- 0' Concobair.  They are now repreif that may be truly called a benefit. sented by the O'Connors Don, and
As we no longer hear much of the an- other races of the name of O'Connor
cient Irish races, who were not Gaels sometimes vulgarly called Connors, who
by paternal descent, it is to be sup- still dwell in Connaught.
posed that they began to amalgamate      Sitric, son of In/Car. Lord of the
freely with the foreigners of the North, Black and Fair Strangers, i. e., both
amongst whom and amongst the sub- Danes and Norwegians, died in 926.
sequent Norman, Wlelch, and English   Si Loch Oirbsen; now Lough Corrib.
settlers, all trace of them was finally  The foreigners here entrenched, were
lost-with, as O'Flaherty tells us, the  slaughtered in A. D. 927.
sing!e exception of the O' Bnachains   39 Conaing, son of Niall. He was the
and G'Layns of Connaught, the de- son of Niall Glun-dubh, the late monscendants of the Belgian kings, of arch of Ireland. He won this victory
which clans, the representative of the in A. D. 931.
former continued lord of a territory in    4 Loch Erni  now  Lough Erne.
Sligo, down to a recent period.     A. D. 922. A fleet of the foreigners
35 Ros CrS. Now called Roscrea, in now came upon this lake, and plunderthe north of Tipperary. Accordingr to  ed its islands; and, having ravaged the
O'Halloran, the battle of Ros Cre country on every side, they remained
was fought in A. D. 942. The Irish  on the lake till the ensuing summer,
had received timely notice of the in- when they left the country. A.D. 931.
tended attack, and had come to the  They again took up their march, and
fair prepared to meet their assailants.  ravaged the country as far as Loch
36 Tadg, son qf Catlhal.  He was Gamhna, (now Loch Gowna, in LongD
otherwise called Tadog an Tuir, (Teig- ford). Ard Macha was plunderedin
ute an Tooir, i. e. Tadg of the Tower,) the same year by Amlaeibh, son of




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                      6547
laid waste the properties both of the laity and the church. Gofraidh, chieftain of the Lochlannaigh of Loch Cuain, plundered
Ard Macha; Amlaeibh, son of Gofraidh, plundered Kill Cuilinn,41 out of which he brought off ten hundred captives.  The
Lochlannaigh next plundered Ailech Neid,m where they captured AMurkertach, son of Niall; but God afterwards rescued him
miraculously, from  their hands.  Soon after this event, Arolt,43
son of Imhar, chieftain of the Lochlannaigh of Luimnech, was
slain by the men of Connaght; and Amlaeibh, son of Gofraidh,
king of both the Finn-Lochhlannaigh and the Dubh-Lochlannaigh,
died: and Lorcan, son of Faclan," was slain by the folk of Norwegia.  According to HIanmer, it was about this time, that tho
prince of Britain,45 came to ravage Ireland; but he was slain by
Godfrey, and the foreigners of Loch  lin, Kellachan of Munster, Faelan
Cuain, (Strangford Lough).  Amla- king of Leinster, and the royal heir of
eibh and his band next plundered U1- Connaught, as his hostages. He ia
stei as far as Macnamha, (Mucknoe), known in Irish history as " Muirchearon the east, and Sliabh Betha, (Slieve tach na g-cochal croicenn"(Murreertagh
Beagh) on the west; " but," say our au- na goglial Creckenn), i. e., Murkertach,
thorities, "they were overtaken by  of the Leather Coats. "Murkertach,son
Murkertach, son of Niall, (Glun-dubh) of Niall Glun-dubh, lord of Ailech, the
who fought and routed them; and they  Hector of the west of Europe, was slain
left with him  two hundred of their at Ath-Firdiah (nowArdee),by Blacari,
heads (cut off), besides prisoners and lord of the foreigners, on the 26th of
spoils."                            March. Ard Macha was plundered by
41 Kill Cuilhnn; now Kilcullen. "A. the foreigners the day after." —Four
D. 936. Amlaeibh, son of Godfrey, Masters.
came to Dublin again, and plundered   43 Arolt. A. D. 938, Arolt, son of
Kill Cuilinn, whence they carried off  Sitric, son of Imbar, lord of the Danes
1,000 prisoners."                   of Limerick, was killed in Connaught,
There was then a challenge of battle by, the Caenraidhe, (Kainree) of Aidni,
between Donncadh, king of Ireland, and  (a tribe then seated in the north of
AMurkertach, son of Niall Glun-dubh, Galway). —Amrlaeibh, son of Gofraidh,
lord of Ailech; but God pacified them; or Godfrey, did not die in this reign.:nd they went with both their forces to   44 Lorcan, son of Faelan. He was slain
lay siege to the foreigners of Ath-cli- in 941, while he was plundering Dubath, (I)ublin), so that they spoiled and  lin, having first defeated and slain many
plundered all that was under the do- of the foreigners who occupied it.
minion of the foreigners, from  Ath-   45 Prince of Britain. This wasprobcliath to Truisten, (a ford on the river ably the man called Aedh Albanach,
Greece, near Mullaghmast).          (i. e., Aedh, the Scotchman) by the
42 Ailech-Neid, i. e., Elagh, near Lon- Irish Annalists. He was slain in A.
donderry. The brave Murkertach was D. 839, by the Ui Falghi, which tribe
captured in 937, and taken to the ships gained two great victories over invadof the pirates, but, say our Shanna- ers in this year, as is thus entered; "A
chies, " God redeemed him."  We find slaughter was made of the foreigners
him next year marcling with the mon- by the Ui Falghi, by Amergin, son of
arch Donncadh, to compel Munster to Kinaedh, who slew 1200 of them at
give up hostages as sureties for submis- Magh-Kisi, (in the north of the King's
sion. The next year after, he made county)."
the grand circuit of Ireland, when he    And again we read, that another
bore off the Danish lord Sitric, of Dub- battle was gained over the foreigners




648                TIE HIIISTORY OF IRELAND.
the Irish in the year of our Lord nine hundred and sixty-six.
It was now also, that Ath-cliath was plundered4" by Congal, son
of Maelmithigh, who slew seven hundred and forty of the
Lochlannaigh therein, and bore off much treasure and valuables.
After these events, Donncadh, son of Flann Sinna, monarch of
Ireland, died.
CONGAL, ARD-RIGIH.
A. D. 947.4'  Congal,4' son of Maelmithigh, son of Flannagan,
son of Kellach, soil of Conaing, son of Congal, son of Aedh Slanni,
son of Diarmaid, son of Fergus Kerbeol, son of Conall Cremthanni, son of Niall of the Nine Hostages, held the sovereignty of
Ireland ten years. Muiri, daughter of Kinaeth, son of Alpin,
king of Alba, was the mother of this Congal.
It was in his reign that the following events took place; for it
was during it that Etimon,4' king of Saxon-land, and Blacari,"0
king of Norway, died.  And it was then, that Congal, son of
Maelmithigh, king of Ireland, gained the battle of AMuini Breogain51 over the Lochlannaigh, of whom he slew therein seven
thousand; but great numbers of the Gaels also were slain in that
engagement.
of Ath-cliath, by the Ui Falghi, where   " A. D. 943.-Four Masters.
there fell 1,000 of them, together with   48 CONGAL III. He is called Con.
Aedh  Albanach, and  many  other galach by the annalists just cited, who
chiefs."-Four Masters.             assign to him a reign of twelve years.
4 Ath clia'th plundered.  The last    49 Etimon, i. e., Edmund.
year of Donncadh's reign was rendered   60 Blasari. This chief was slain in
famous by the destruction of the fort- 946, in a battle that is thus recorded:
ress of Dublin by his successor Congal. " It was in the fourth year of his (ConThe tact is thus recorded: " A. D. gal's) reign, that the battle of Ath-cli942. The destruction of Ath-cliath by  ath was fought by him against Blacari,
the Gaels, that is, by Congal, son of grandson of Imhar, lord of the NorseMaelmitlligh, heir apparent to the men, where Blacari himself was slain,
monarchy of Ireland; Braen, son of together with 1900 men, in revenge for
Maelmorda, king of Leinster, and Kel- Murkertach, son of Niall Glun-dubh,
lach, son of Faelan, heir of Leinster. slain by him some time before.-LeabThe destruction brought upon it was har Gabhala.
this, that is, its houses, divisions, ships,' 1 Aitini Breogain, otherwise Muand all other structures were burned, ini Brocain, i. e., Brocan's Brake. It
its women, boys, and plebians, were was not by Congal that this victory
carried into bondage. Its men were was gained; but by Ruaidri, (Roory),
totally destroyed by killing, drowning, O'Canannain, king of Kinel Conaill,
burning, and capturing, excepting a then contending with him for the sovsmall number, that fled in a few ships ereignty. In the year 949, we are told
to Delg Inis, (now Dalky Island)."- that this chief, having invaded Meath
See Id.                            and Brehgh, and having gained a vicNotwithstanding this, we find that tory over the monarch Congal, whom
the same foreigners were allowed to re- he reduced to great straits, encamped
possess themselves of the same city al- for six months at Muini Brocain, whithmost immediately after.            er the dues of the king of Ireland were




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                        549
Brian, son of Kenneidi, King of Afunster.-A. D. 978-1002."*
It was in the fourth year of the reign of Congal,"2 the present
monarch, that Brian, son of Kenneidi, assumed  the  sovereignty of Munster.  And in the second year after'his assumption thereof, he challenged Maelmuaidh, son of Brann, king
of the Ui Eachach, to meet him  in battle, at Belach Lechta5"
(Bailagh  Laghtca,) in order that lie might wreak vengeance"
sent to him from every quarter. An low, on the road between that town
engagement took place soon after be- and Cork. Others again will have it
tween him and the foreigners, on the that the battle between Brian and
feast of St. Andrew, the Apostle. Maelmuaidh, king of Munster, was
The foreigners were defeated therein; fought at Bearna Derg, now  called
for there fell of them  six thousand  Red Chair, a place situated in the
mighty men, besides boys and camp-fol- parish of Kilflin, on the borders of the
lowers. Ruaidri, heir to the monarchy  counties of Cork and Limerick. It is a
of Ireland, fell, however himself, in the  chasm lying between two hills, and the
heat of that conflict, as did also Imnhar, high road from  Cork to Limerick
Tanist of the foreigners. But God- passes through it. tlhe battle of Befrey, son of Sitric, escaped, with some lach Lechta was fought in the year
others. The exact site of Muini Bre- 978; and thereby Brian conquered the
ogain, is unknown. — Four Masters.    sovereignty of the  two Munsters.'" A. D. 978, &c. —These dates are Maelmuaidh fell in this battle by the
here inserted in order that the reader hand of Murcadh, son of Brian, then
may not be set astray by Dr. Keating's but a youth, who signalized his first
having antedated the reign of this campaign by slaying the murderer of
prince, over:Munster, by more than  his uncle. Having thus avenged his
30 years. Neither his reign, nor that brother and placed himself on the
of his brother Mathgamain were con- throne of Munster, Brian  granted
temporaneous with any part of that peace to the Eoganachta, and even gave
of the monarch Congal. See the An- his daughter Sadb in marriage to Kian,
nals of the Fcur Masters and O'Dono- the son of his rival Maelmuaidh, who
van's notes thereon;  O'Flaherty's succeeded his father as chief of the Ui
0(gygria; Moore's History of irelatnd; Eachach and king of Desmond, which
O'Halloran,, c.                     dignity he held until after the battle
62 The fourth year of Cor gal.  It of Clontarf.
was in the the 22d of Domnall 1V., the   5' Wreak Vengeance, tc.  His first
successor of Congal, and two years after effort was directed against the Danes
the murder of MathgIamain, that Brian  of Limerick, and he slew Imhar their
became King of Munster, by the death  king, with two of his sons.  Donnoof Maelmuaidh, son of Brann, who had  ban, king of the Ui Fidghenti, the beheld the sovereignty of Munster for trayer of Mathgamain, then sent for
two years subsequent to the murder of another of Imhar's sons, whom  he
Brian's brother, Mathgamain. During  caused to be elected king of the Danes
those two yecrs Brian was apparently  of Munster.  As soon as Brian had
engag(red in establishing his sway over heard this, he ravaged the lands of the
Thomond or North Munster.           Ui Fidghenti, seized an immense prey
b3 Belach Lechta. Antiquarians are of their cattle, and slew Donnoban,
not agreed as to the situation of this their king. He also plundered Limerplace. Some assert that it lies at the ick, where he slew Harold, king of the
confluence of the rivers Lee and Sul- Danes, of which people he made a
lane, near Macroom, in the county of slaughter and then returned home,
Cork. Others say that it lay at Cnoc- loaded with immense spoils.
ramhra (Knock-rowra), south of Mal



550                THE IlSTORY OF IRELAND.
for his brother Mathgamain, son  of Kenneidi, who had  been
treacherously murdered by Hfe people of Maelmuaidlh. Mael.
muaidh thereupon  mustered a great army, composed as well
of strangers as of Irish; for he had with him  a body of one
thousand  five hundred of the Lochlannaigh, together with a
large force of the Gaels likewise.  He was nevertheless routed
at Belach  Lechta, by Brian  and the  Dal-g-Cais, by whom  a
countless multitude of his followers were slaughtered: and those
of them that were not killed became the captives of Brian. After
this, Domnall O'Faelain,3 king of the Desi, aided by the Lochlannaigh, proclaimed war against Brian, and the greater part of
Munster was ravaged by him and his foreign allies. However, they
were soon overtaken by Brian, who gave them  battle at Fan
Conrach,5  where the king of the Desi and his foreigners were
completely vanquished.  Brian then pursued their routed host
to Port Largi, where he slew Domnall O'Faelain himself.  Ho
next made captives of the greater part of the inhabita.nts of that
city, which he plundered and then burned.
In eight years after57 Brian  had  assumed  the kingdom  of
Munster, the entire of Leth Miogha was compelled to submit to
him  as' its sovereign.  However, after the death of I)olnall
Claen," king of Leinster, both the Lochlannaigh and the Gaels of
that principality rebelled  against his authority.   Upon this,
Brian called together the full strength of the Mlen of Munster
~6 Domnall O'Faelain. This chief Annals of the Four Masters record the
should rather be styled MfacFaeisn, i.e. death of Domnall, son of Faelan, king
son of Faelan. The surname O'Fae- of the Desi.  The kings of Leinster
lan could scarcely  have been  yet and Osraide, or Ossory, and, the Danes
adopted by the lords of Desi; for Fae- of Limerick, Cork, and Leinster, had
lain, son of Cormac, (apparently the entered into a formidable confederacy
father of this Domnall), from whom the against Brian, the designs of which
O'Faelains of the Desi AMumharh have he defeated by this victory. After the
taken their name, had not been then  battle, Brian invaded Leinster., remany years dead. lie had died king  duced it to obedience, received hostof the Desi in A. D. 964. The.r.nm- ages from  both its kings, who had
bers of the sept that has sprung from  come to his camp in person to tender
Faelan now  call themselves either him their allegiance.
O'Felan, Phelan or Whelan.            57 Eight years after. This was prob56 Fan, Conrach, i.e. the Slope of ably about the time of the battle of
Curaidh. In some of the editor's MSS. Fan- Conrach, when, having received
it is called Ferann Conrach; i.e. the the hostages and the homage of the
land or farm of Curaidh. The Annals of kings of Leinster, he had reduced all
Innisfallen call it Fan Mlic Conrach, i. e. Leth Mogha beneath his sway.
the Slope of the son of Curaidh; its sit-   5 Domnall Claen. Domnall Claen,
uation is unknown to the editor. The son of Lorcan, was king of Leinster
annals, just named, enter the battle of from A. D. 970 to 983. The battle of
this place A. D. 979, which can scarce- Glenn Mama was not fought before
ly be its time; for A. D. 995, is the A. P. 998, the 20th year of Maelsechyear under %which the more accurate lainn as monarch of Ireland.




THE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.                        551
and to attack the men of Leinster and their foreign allies: and
he fought the battle of Glenn Mama"5 against their united forces,
and therein he vanquished them  both, and slew four thousand of
their warriors.
Sequel of /te reign of Congal, A. D. 944 to A. D. 956.60
Congal, son of Maelmithigh, Monarch  of Ireland, afterwards
marched  into Munster, which he pillaged  and  despoiled, and
where he slew  two  of the sons of KIenneidi,61 son of Lorcan;
namely, Echtighern a and Donncuan.
After this, Kenannus, Domnach  Padraig,jt Ard Brecain, Kill
Sgiri, and  many  other'churches besides, wvere plundered  by
Gofraidh, son of Sitric, and the foreigners of Dublin, on which
occasion they made captives of three thousand  persons, whom
they bore off into captivity, together with  much of gold  and
silver, and valuable wares.
59 Glenn 3nama; a valley near Dun- referred to O'Flaherty's Ogygia and
lavan, county Wicklow. The glory of O'Donovan's notes to the Annals of the
this battle should more probably be  Four Masters.
given to Maelsechlainn  II., for it was    6 The Two sons of Kenncidi. The
he that commanded the Irish army  incursion in which they were slain was
upon that occasion, whilst Brian acted  made in A. D. 948, whilst'Kellachan
but as his ally. Some Munster anti- of Cashel was King of Mlunster, and
quaries would usurp all its glory for whilst their father, Kenneidi, was still
their favorite hero, for which purpose, King of Thomond. This entry should
apparently, they antedated it by several in itself have shown to Dr. Keating
years. Dr. Keating was possibly mis- thle absurdity of placing the accession
led by these. Some northerns would, of Brian to the throne of Munster in
on the other hand, exclude Bri;an from  the fourth year of this reign, i. e. seven
his proper share therein. The follow- years before the death of Kellachan,
ing( entry of the engagement is given  and when five other princes, namely,
by the Four Masters:                 Maclfogartach, Dubdaboirenn, FergA;'. D. 998 (or 999,) the 21st year raidh, Mathgamain and Maaelmuaidh
of Maclseclall inn. An army was led  were yet to occupy that position before
by King MIae!sechlailn and by IBrian, him. Brian was then but a child, and
son of Kenneidigh, to Glenn AMama. in addition to the remaining years of
The foreigners of Ath-cliath  came his father's rei(gn, those of the reigns of
thither to attack them, but the latter his elder brothers Lactna and MBathwere routed and slaughtered together gamnain had still to pass by before he
with Aralt, son of Amnlaeiml, and  became king, even of Thomond.
Cuiten, son of Etigen, and other of   62 Domvmach Padraig, 4c. "A. D.
-their chiefs; and many of the foreign- 949.  Kenannus, Domnach Padraig,
ers were cilt off in- -tifs conflict. After Ard Brecain, Tulan, Disert Kiarahn,
it Malelsechlainp and Brian  entered  and Kill-Sgiri, and other churches ('all
Atl-cliath, wherie they remained for a  in East Meath), were plundered by
full week and carried off its gold,silver, Godfrey, son of Sitric, and the forand prisoners. They burned the fort- eigners of Ath-cliath. It was olt of
ress and expelled the lord of the for- a camp, pitched at Kenannus, they
eigners —namely, Sitric, son of Anm- were all plundered. They carried off
aleiinh."                            upwards of 3000 persons into captivity,
60 A. D. 944 to A. D. 956. For the besides gold, silver, raiment, wealth
crrectness of these dates, the teader is and goods of all kinds."-Four Masters.




552                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
About this time died Ethni,"6  daulhtcr  of Fergal, Queen of
Ireland, and wife of Congal, son on IMacmi;highl.  Then, also,
died Maielcoluim, son of Domnall]    King of Alba; Glacitlini,
Bishop of Dun-da-leth-glas, and TIdg, son of Cathal,Vj king of
Connaught.
Soon after these events, Congal, son of Maeilmithirgh, King of
Ireland, was slain at Ard AMacha,6  hy the Leinstermen, and the
Lochlannaigh of Ath-cliath.
DOMNALL, ARD-RIGH.
A. D. 957.  Dom-nal,6' son of Murkertach  of the Leather
Coats, son of Niall Glun-dubh, son of Aedh  Finn-liath, son of
Niall Calli, son of Aedh Oirnighe, son of Nliall Frasacl, of the
line of Erimhon, held the sovereignty of Ireland for ten (correctly
for twenty-four68) years.
6 Ethni died. She died in A. D. following are those who were then
951.                                slain: Congalach himself, Madudan,
6' Mlelcoluim, son of Domnall. He  son of Aedh, son of Maclmithidh, and
is called Malcolm  I. by the Scotch  Cormac, son of Cathalan, lord of Fera
writers. He was assassinated by his Arda, now Ferrard, in Louth, and a
own people in A. D. 953. He was great many others."
the 41st kin0 of the race of the Irish   67 DOMINALL IV. The date in the text
Dal Riada that reigned over Alba, or, chances to be correct with regard to
as it is now called, Scotland.-&e the the accession of this king. He was
Ogygia.                             commonly  called DIornall O'Neill,
65 Tadg, son of Cathal. This prince, being, the 0, i. e., the grandson, of
who is also called Tadg of the Three  Niall Glun-dubh. With him originTowers, died in 956. Gaeithini, Bishop  ated the family name of the O'Neills
of Down, died in the same year.     of Tir Eogain, or Tyrone.
66 Slain at Ard Macha. This is a mis-' Twenty-four years. The learned
take: Congal was slain at a place  O'Flaherty has ascertained, oncomparcalled Tigh Gighrain, situated on the  ing the various Irish annals, that such
river Liffey, and near Dublin. The  was the real length of the reign of
true year of his death is 956, but it is Domnall O'Neill. Either Keating, or
thus recorded by the Four Masters, his transcribers have evidently curtailunder A. D. 954, for these annalists are  ed it by fourteen years in endeavoring
about two years behind the vulgar to make the career of Brian, as King
era at this period:                 of Munster, cotemporaneous with the
"A hosting by Congalach, King of reigns of CongaI, Donlmall and MaelIreland, into Leinster, and after he had  sechlainn. As there is no authority
despoiled Leinster, and held the Fair for such curtailment found in the Irish
of Lifi, (i. e., Aenach Colmain in Magh  annals, which are perfectly clear and
Lifi) for three days, information thereof distinct upon the subject, the editor,
was sent to the Goill of Ath-cliath, in giving the dates of the ensuing
and Amlaeimh, son of Godfrey, lord of reigns, shall be guided by the number
the Goill, laid a battle ambush for the  of years which he has above inserted,
king, and he was taken therein, with  in italics, and shall disregard altogether
his chieftains, at Tigh Gighrain. The  the number (ten) given in the text.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                         553
During the reign of this monarch, Kill-dara was plunderedc'
by Amlaeibh, son of Sitric, and the Lochlannaigh of Ath-cliath.
It iwas now  that the monarch of Ireland, Domnall, son of
Murkertach, marched into  Connaught, which he pillaged  and
despoiled, and whence he brought a large prey, together with
many captives, taken from  Fergal O'Ruairc,TM who was king of
Connaught at that time.
It was, also, about this time that the great temple of Tuaim
Greni was built by Cormac O'Killini, bishop of that see. About
the same time Fergal O'Ruairc, King of Connaught, was slain
by Domnall, son of' Congal, son of Manelmithigh.  It was then,
li'kewise, that Luimnech was plundered" and burned, in spite of
the Lochllannaigh,  by Brian, son of KIenneidi, King of Munster.
After this, 2 Domnall O'Neill marched  into  Leinster with  a
numerous army, and laid  that country  waste from  the river
Berba eastwards to the sea, and he continued encamped therein
for two months, in spite of both the Lochlannaigh and the Leinstermen.
It was now, also, that Maelfinnen,73 son of Uctan, Bishop  of
Kcnannus and comarba of St. Ulltan, died.  Soon  after, Amlaeibh Cuaran and the Lochlannaigh of Leinster plundered Kenannus,'4 whence they carried off a great prey and mlany valuable
articles, and the Ui Neill suffered a terrible and great defeat,'5 in
CO KilX-dna  plunderel. "A. D. 962. victories over Donnoban and MaelKill-dara was plundered by the foreign- muaidh, and in the 22nd year of the
ers, and a great number of seniors and  reign of Domnall O'Neill.
ecclesiastics were tliken prisoners there,' After this. It was several years
but Niall Ua h'Eruilbh  ransomed  before this, namely, in A. ID. 966, that
them  with his own money."-Four Domnall made this invasion of Leinster,
Maste)rs.                            but Keating frequently uses the phrase
These annals tell us that Amlaeibh, " after this" in a very inddinite sense.
son of Sitric, was defeated within the   -'3 Mae7finnen. He died in A. D.
same year, at Inis Tioc, now Ennis- 967.
tiogue, on the Nore. by the men of   7' Kenannus plunlered.   It was.
Osraide. In 979, Kill-dara was again  plundered by Amlaeibh  Cuaran, in
plundered by the foreignlers. On the  A. D. 968, when he carried off a great
latter occasion they captured Domnall prey of cattle, but lost numbers of his
Claen, King of Leinster.            own people. On this occasion, the
0o Fergal 0 Ruairc. A. D. 963 is  foreigners and the Leinstermen defeated
the date of the monarch's invasion of the Ui Neill, that is, the Meathmen,
the territories of this prince. Fergal at Ard Maelcon, now Ardmnulchan, on
gained a victory on the Shannon over the Boyne. Kenannus, or Kells, had
Mlathgamain, Kinf of Munster, in 962. been also plundered during the previHe was slain by Domnall, lord of ous year, by Sitric, son of Anmlacibh,
Breagh, and son of the last monarch, and AMurcadh, son of Finn, King of
in 964. Cormac O'Killine, successor Leinster, but Domnall O'Neill oveqof St. Kiaran, died in the last-mention- took and defeated them.
ed year.                          - 75 The Ui Neill defeated. This was
71 Luimnech plundered.  This oc- in A. D. 969, when the southern Ui
curred in A. ID. 978, previous to Brian's  Neill, or  Clann  Co!main, having




.554                THE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.
which numbers fell on both sides.  About the same time, the
battle of Kill-na-Mona:6 was gained by Domnall, son of Congal,
and the Lochlannaigch of Ath-Cliath, over Domnhall, son of Mlurkertach, King of Ireland, wherein fell Ardgal, son of Madagan,
who had been king of Ulidia for seventeen years, and Donnagan,
son of Maaelmuri, King of Oirghiall, and a great many  other
nobles, together with them.
Very soon after, Becan, Bishop of Oilfinn, and Kinaeth O'hArtagain,:7 Primate of Ard MIacha, died.  It was then, also, that
Ugari, son of Tuathal, King of Leinster, was captured by the
Lochlannaigh of Ath-Cliath.  After this, Inis Cathaigh78 was pillaged, in spite of the Lochlannaigh, by Brian, son of Kenneidi,
King of Munster, who slew five handred of thenil therein, and
who  there captured three of their chieftains, namely, Irmhar,
Amlaeibh and Dubghenn.  It was of this that the bard cornposed the following verse:
"That slaughter made at Inis Catliaigh
Was not unworthy of thy fame,
5Where chieftains of the stranger perished,
Where Imllhar and where Dubgahenn fell."
It was about this time that the battle of Bithlannl9 was gained'
over the Leinstermen  by the Lochliannaigh of Ath-Cliath, and
Ugari,.son of Tuathal, King of Leinster, was slain therein.
Shortly after this, Domnall, son of MIurkertach,. King of Ireland, died8~ at Ard Macha.
leagrued with the foreigners, drove King  Meath, and not of Oilfinn, now Elphin,
Domnaill northwards across SliabhlFu-  in tRoscommon.  The latter died in
aid; but he immediately mustered the  A. D. 971. An account of the works
Kinel Eog.aa and Kinel Conaill against  of Kinaeth O'h-Artapgain, several of
them, so that he plundered all their  which are still extant, will be found in
fortresses, and spoiled the Ui Falghi  O'Reilly's Catalogtue of Ir.is.  Writers.
and Fothartha likewise, and, say our    78 lois Cathaigh. This exploit was
annalists, "he then took revenge for  performed in A. 1). 977, while Brian
their opposition to him, for he erected  was yet but King of Thomond,.and
a camp in every cantred of Meath,  previous to his taking of Luimnech, or
fiom the Sinainu to Belach-duin," now   Limerick.
Castle Kieran, near Kells.'7 Bithlann, now Belan, in the south
K' Ill-na-mona, otherwise Kill-mona,  of Kildare, about four miles from the
and now Killmoon, in the barony of  town of Athy. l'he battle of Bithlann
Skreen, county Meath. This battle  was fought in A. D. 978.
was fought in the same year with that    ~0 Domnaoll died. "A. D. 978 (more
of Belach Lechta, i. e., A. D. 978.  correctly A. D. 979). After Domnail,
7 Kinaceth  O'/i-A rtagain.   Both  son of Murkertach of the Leather
these entries are wron(. Kinaeth O'h-  Cloaks, son of Niall Glun-dubh, had.Artagain was Chief Poet of Ireland,  beel twenty-four years in the severand not Primate of Armagh.  His  eignty of Ireland, he died at Ard
death is entered under A. D. 973.  Macha, after the victory of penance."
Becan was Bishop of Cluain Iraird. in  -Four Masters.




THE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.                        555
MAELSECHLAINN  MOR, ARD-RIGH.
A. D. 980."' Maelsechlainn,82 son of Domnall, son of Donncadh,
son of Flann Sinna, son of, Alaelsechlainn, son of Maaelruadnaidh, of the line of Erimhon, held the sovereignty  of Ireland
for twenty-three years.   Donnflaith,"3 daughter of Murkertach,
son of Niall, was the mother of this monarch.
It was in this reign that Gluniarainn,84 King of Lochlainn, arrived in Ireland.  It was, moreover, during  this reign  that the
following deeds were done;, for it was Maelsechlaina in  person
that won the battle of Temhair, 5 over the sons of Amlaeibh, and
the Loch]annaigh of Ath-cliath.  In this engagement there fell
five thousand of the foreigners, together with  liaghnall, son of
Amlaeibh, the heir-apparent to the sovereignty  of the Lochlannaigllh.
After this success, Maelsechlainn, King of Ireland, accompanied by Eocaidh, son of Ardgal, who was King of Ulidia for
8s A. D. 980 is the year of his acces- minions, by the Northmen of Dublin
sion. —See Ogygia.                   and the isles, he not merely repelled
] MAELSECHLAINN II. He is also  the invasion with spirit, but, turnilng
styled  Maelsechlainn Mor, i. e., the  assailant in his turn, attacked the main
Great, a title he well merited, notwith- body of the enemy's force, consisting
standing the calumnious aspersions of of Danes collected from all parts of
the shannachies of Munster.          Ireland, and continuinlg the conflict
83 Dolnnjladith. This lady, after the  with but little interruption for three
deathofMAaelsechlainn'sfather,l)omnall  days and nights, forced them to submit
O'Maelsechlainn, had been married to  to whatever terms he chose at the
Amlacibh, lord of the foreigners, by -sword's point to dictate.'.' The Four
whom she had Gluniarrann, who was, Masters record it thus: "The battle
thus, the brother of the Irish king'.    of Termhair was gained by Maelsech8 Gl'uiaraln, i. e. Iron Knee. " Te  lainn, son of Domunall, over the foreignwas probably so called fiom having his  ers of Ath-cliatfi and of the islands, and
knees cased in iron mail, against the  over the sons of Amlaeibh in particustroke of the battle axe."-O'D.  In  lar, where many were slain, together
A. D. 982, we find him  aiding his  with Raglnall, son of Amlaeibh, heir
maternal brother. in a victory which  to the sovereignty of the foreigners,
the latter gained over Imhar of Port  Conamhail, son of Gilla-Arri, and the
Largi and Domnall Claen of Lseinster, orator of Ath-cliath, and a dreadful
where many perished, both by drown- slaughter of the foreigners around them.
ing and killing, among whom was Gilla- There also fell in the heat of the battle
Padraig, son of Imhar, and many others  Braen, son of Murcadh, royal heir of
of distinction. —Four l)asters. e    Leinster, CongXalach, son of Flann, lord
8a The battle qf Temhair. This bril-  of the Galenga, and his son, Maelan;
liant victory, second only to that of Fiaclma and Cudalich, sons of DubClontarf, was gained by MIaelsechlainn  laech, lords of Fera Tulach, now Ferin A. 1). 9 79, immediately previous to  tullaolh in West _Meath; and Lactna,
his accession to the throne. " Invaded,"  lord of Mughdorna Maighoen, now Cresays Moore, "in the heart of his do- morne, in Monaghan.




556                 THE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.
twenty-five years, marched against Ath-cliath,E' in order to pillage
and despoil that stronghold of the invaders.  At this place he
remained encamped for three days and three nights; thereupon
all of the Irish nobles, that wery held in captivity by the Lochlannaigh, were delivered from  their bonds, and amongst them
Domnall Claen, King of Leinster, and all the hostages of the Ui
[Neill likewise.  He compelled them, moreover, to acknowledge
his authority, and to give up all their claims for tributes or fines
upon any of his territories, from  the Sinainn to the sea.
It was about this time that Amlaeibh, son of Sitric,"' the head
chieftain of the Lochlannaigoh, was banished out of Ireland, and
forced to dwell an exile at Aei Coluimi Killi, in Alba, whither he
had been driven by the Gaels.
Mnielsechlainn next marched to plunder and despoil the territories of the Dal g-Cais, and he there cut down the great tree of
Magh Adair;s but, 0 reader! this deed did not pass unavenged,
as shall hereafter be made evident.  Glenn-da-loch was also then
88 Marced against Ath-cliath. "A. D. "     TVie great tree of Mlirh Adair.
980. A great army was led by MIael- It was called in Irish " Bil -Maaighe
sechlainn, Kinrg ofIreland.and Eocaidh,  Adhair" (Billeli Moye Ire).  It was
son of Ardgar, King( of Ulidia, against under this tree that the kings of Thothe foreigners of Ath-cliath.  They  mond were inaugurated. MarghAdhar
laid siege to them  for three days and  is now called Moyre, and is situated in
three nights, and carried thence all the  the townland of Toonagh, parish of
hostages of Ireland, among whom was  Cloney, and barony of Upper Tulla, in
Domnall Claen, King of Leinster. Two  the county of Clare. In A. I). 980, " Dal
thousand  was the number of these  g-Cais was plundered by Maelsechhosta(ges, besides jewels, goods and the  lainn, and the Tree of Aenach Maighe
freedom of the Ui Neill from the Sin- Adair was cut after being dug from
ainu to the sea from tribute or taxa- the earth with its roots."-FourMasters.
tion. It was then that lMaelsechlainno  Maelsechlainn gave another defeat to
himself issued his famous proclamation, the Dal g-Cais at Fordroma, where he
in which he said,' Let every one of slew seven hundred of their warriors.
the Gaeidhil who is now in servitude  In A. D. 994, he pillaged Ormond,
and bondage in the territories of the  burned Aenach Tete, now  Nenagh,
strangers return to his own land in  and routed before him Brian and the
gladness and peace.'  This was the  men of Munster. It would appear that
Babylonian captivity of the Irish, until the rival kings had made peace soon
they were released by Maelsechlainn. after this, for in A. D. 997 we find they
It was, indeed, next to the captivity of had joined their forces, " to the joy of
hell."-Four Masters.                the men of Ireland;" when Maelsech87 Amlaeibh, son of Sitrzc.  He was lainn, with the men of Meath, and also
expelled from Dublin, or Ath-cliath, Brian, with those of Munster, marched
after the battle of Temhair, and died  to Ath-cliath, and compelled the fornext year in Iona, " on his pilgrimagre  eigners to deliver up hostages and
after penance and a good life."-Ib. jewels. The Lochlanuaigh soon again
"This is the first instance in the Irish  rebelled, when, having attacked the
annals of a Danish chieftain being a  allied kinds at Glenn Mama, they were
Christian.  Ware thinks the Danes  defeated in the great battle of that
of Dublin embraced the Christian reli- place, which has been prematurely
gion in the year 930."- O'Donovan.   inserted under the reign of Congal I11




THE HISTORY OFP IRELAND,                       557
plundered'9 by the three sons of Kerball, son of Lorcan; but immediately after the whole three were killed on the same night,
by the miracles of St. Caeimghin, who was held in reverence at
that place.
It was about this time that AMor,~ daughter of Donncadh, son
of Kellach, Queen of Ireland, died. Then,'also, died Erard, son
of Coisi,`' Primate of Ireland. Domnach Padraig was plundered92
soon after by the Lochlannaigh of Dublin, and by  MBurkertach
O'Congalaigh; but God wreaked vengeance upon them for the
deed, for death came upon them  before the end of that very
month.
It was now that Alaelsechlainn forcibly carried off a collar or
ring of gold93 from a chieftain of the Northmen, who was called
Tomar;94 from  another of their chieftains, named Carlus,35 he
carried off a sword.
Dethronement of itelsechlainn, A. D. 1002.
At length the nobles of Leth Mogha, and the majority of those
of Connaught, considered that it was Brian, son of Kenneidi,
that bore the labor and trouble of expelling the Lochlannaigh
from the country, whilst Maelsechlainn, who was then King  of
Ireland, was delivering himself up to luxury,' effeminacy and
ease-a course of action that was by no means conducive towards
89 Glenn-da-loch plundered.  This having taken their stronghold, he cartook place in A. D. 982.           ried off the collar or ring of Tomar, and
" Mlor. She died in A. D. 985.    the sword of Carlus.,' Erard Mac Coisi. He was not   o3 Collar of gold. Moore has founded
Primate of Ard Macha, but Chief his ballad, "Let Erin remember the
Poet of Ireland. He died in A. D. 990. days of old," upon this entry.
Keating has already made a similar mis-   94 Tomar. "(There was noTomar
take with regard to Kinaeth O'h-Arta- in Malachy (Maelseclhlainn II.'s) time,
gain, led  astray apparently by the  and the chain or ring referred to was
accidental resemblance there is in sound  certainly preserved at Dublin as an
between the Gaelic word primh-fhaidh  heirloom by the Danish kings of Dub(a chief poet), and primhaidh. (a pri- lin, the descendants of Tomar, or Tommate), which is corrupted Latin-both  rair, the Earl, tanist of the King of
being sounded somewhat like preevawh. Lochlain, who was killed at Sciath
Another chief poet of this name, some  Nechtain, near Castledermot, in the
of whose compositions Atill survive, year 846.'-O'Donovan.
died in 1023.                        35 Carlus. It would appear that the
92 Domnach Padraig plundered. This sword of Carlus was another heirloom.
happened in A. D. 994. The same  Carlus, whose sword was now carried
church hadbeen plundered by the Loch- away by Maelsechlainn, was son of
lannaigh two years previously. It is Amlaff I. (Amlaeibh), King of Dublin,
now called Donagrhpatrick, and lies in  who was killed at Kill Ua n-Daighre,
Meath. It was probably in re-.enge  in A. D. 866.
for this outrage that Maelsechlainn   9O Luxury, tc. " This is all provinagain chastised the Danes of Ath- cial fabrication, for Maelsechlainn had
cliath within that very year, when, the Danes of Dublin, Meath, and




558                THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
ridding the nation of its enemies.  For this reason, Brian took
counsel with the nobles who sided with him, and the measure on
which they determined was to send an embassy to the monarch,
with instructions to inform him that it was not just that any man
should hold the sovereignty of Ireland, except one who would
toil strenuously in banishing the foreign enemies from the land; and
to tell him likewise, thatt it had now become the right of Brian to
assume the sovereign power, inasmuch as the entire labor of their
expulsion had fallen upon him, and, also, inasmuch as it was he
that had delivered the country from the oppressions of the
pirates.  They demanded of him, moreover, to grant a personal
conference to Brian, upon the plain Mlagh-da-caemhog. But to
none of these proposals would Maelsechlainn consent.
Brian then called together a general gathering and muster of
all the nobles of Leth Mogha, both Gaels and Northmena; for all
the Northmen, that dwelt in Leth Mogha, were at that time held
in subjection by Brian.  With these he marched to Temhair9'
of the Kings, and thence he sent another embassy to Maelsechlainn, demanding of that monarch, either to send him hostages
as a token of submission to himself as his sovereign, or else to
meet him  in arms on the battle field.  He left the choice of
either of these conditions to Maelsechlainn. The latter replied to
the embassadors, by saying that if Brian would grant him a respite of one month, in order that he might have time to summon
around him the army of Leth Cuinn, that he would, at the end
of the period, either give battle or send hostages to the King of
Leth Meoglla.  He also desired the embassadors to request of his
rival not to devastate or pillage Meath for that month, because
he would submit, if he could not fight, as soon as he had received
Leinster completely  mastered, until Brian's designs were then baffled, as is
Brian, whose daugrhter was married to  seen by the following entry: "A great
Sitric, Danish king of Dublin, joined  hosting by Brian, son of Kenileidigh,
the Danes against him. Never was with the chiefs and forces of South
there a character so historically ma- Connaught, Osraide, and Leinster, and
ligned, as that of Maelsechlainn II., by with the foreigners of Ath-cliath, to
the Munster fabricators of history; proceed to Temhair. Butthe foreign.
but Mr. Moore, by the aid of authen- ers set out before them with a plundtic Irish annals, has laudably endea- ering party of cavalry into Magh
vored to cldar his character from the  Breagh, where Maelseclilainn opposed
stains with which their prejudices and  them; and a spirited battle was fought
calumnies have attempted to imbue  between them, in which the foreigners
it."-O'Donovan's Notes to the Four were defeated, and only a few of them
Masters.                           escaped.  Brian then proceeded to
97 Marched to Temhair.  The first Ferta Neimhidh in Magh Breagh, but
hostile attempt made by Brianagainst returned thence without battle, withthe monarch, took place the year after out burning. This was the first turnthe great victory, which their united  ing of Brian and the Connaughtmen
arms had achieved at Glenn Mama. against Maelsechlainn." —FourMasters.




TIHE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                     559
answer from Leth Cuinn.  " If that be so," said Brian, " Igrant
him the respite which he requires."
Hereupon the measure determined upon by Maclsechlainn was
to depute Gilla-Comgaill,9' in place of his own Ollamb,"' to Aedh
O'Neill, Kiijg of Ailech, to Eocaidh, son of Ardgal, lKing of
Ulidia, arnd to Cathal O'Concobair, King of Connaugllt, requesting of thcse princes to march Awithout delay, and join him giving
battle to Brian and the Dal g-Cais; and ihe likewise  sent them
word by this ambassador, that he should himself deliver up hostages, and make his submission to Brian, for he was not strong
enough to meet him in battle, unless they would all come with
one accord to defend the free royalty of Temllnhair, which their
race had now held for so long a period; "And, in truth," said
he, "it will be no greater shamefor myself personally to refuse
to fight in'the defense of Tcmhair, than it will be for the whole
race of Niall and for all the host of Leth Cuinn."
Gilla-Comgaill then proceeded on his. embassy, bearing this
message from the monarch to the nobles of the race of Conn.  To
these he made known the object of his mission; but ths following was the reply which he received from Aedh O'Neill: " Whenever," said he, " Temhair lhappened to be possessed by the Kinel
Eogain, they were themselves wont to defend its rights, and
sought no other aid; therefore, let him, who holds it now, stand
up himself and figlt for its freedom  as best he may."  lIe said,
mnoreover, that he would not draw down the hostility of the Dal
g-Cais upon himself by fighting in defense of the sovereignty
of another timan.
Gilla-Comugaill then returned to Mailsechlainn, to whom  he
delivered the answer, which Aedh O'Neill had made to  his
request.  IHaving heard it, the monarch went himself to visit
that prince, whom lie personally besought to come to his aid in
giving battle to Brian and the Dal g-Cais, and he addressed him
98 Gilla-Comrgailh. This was Gilla- who was slain in A.D. 1022; DomComgaill Ua Sleibhin, who died chief nail in A. D. 1168, &c.
Poet of Ireland in A.D. 1031. le   1D In place of his own Ollamh. It
was the ancestor of the sept of O'Slei- would appear from  this. that Gillabhni or O'Sleibhin, now represented  Comgall was not, then, actually the
by the O'Slevins and Slevins of Ulster. monarch's own Ollamh. The reason
Sleibni, the Ibunder of this family, was for selecting him for the mission to
decended from Feidlimidh, fourth son  Aedh O'Neill was probably because
of Eogan, son of Niall of the Nine  it was thought that he would have the
Hostages.  The clan was originally  more influence with the Kinel Eogain,
seated west of Lough Foyle, but from the fact of his being of that race
was in after times driven thence by  himself.  The speech delivered by
the race of Conall Gulban.  There  Gilla Comgall on this occasion is still
were several distinguished poets of this extant in the Irish work called the
name; such as Muredach O'Sleibhin, Cogadh Gall re Gaedhalaibh.
chief Poet of the North of Ireland,




660                TIE HISTORY OF TRELAND.
in these words: " If thou wilt not fight in defence of Temhiair for
my sake, defend it for thine own, and I shall give thee hostages,
as sureties for my leaving thee in the quiet possession thereof;
for I prefer that thou shouldst hold it, rather tlan BIrilan."  Upon
this, Acdh called totgether a general convention of thle tribe of
the Kinel Eogain, and acquainted them both with the personal
visit of' Maelsechlainln, and with the offers made to himself, in case
he should march to aid him in his war with Brian and the Dal
g-Cais.  To him the I(inel Eogain made answer, and unanimously
declared that the promise of MAaelsechlainn was nothling more
than a treacherous lure; " For," said they, " he knows well that
he is himself an older and a more powerful man than thou art,
and  that, consequently, thou couldst not strive to wrest the
sovereignty of Ireland out of his hands during his lifetime; of
this he is satisfied, however desirous he may be at present to get
us and thee to help him in his contest with the Dal g-Cais."
Notwithstanding this general declaration, Aedh requested of his
tribesmen to form a secret council amongst themselves, and there,
both to enter into a serious consideration of the proposals of the
monarch, and to prepare a suitable reply thereto; "In order that,"
said he, "this visit of Maelsechlainn to us may not result in our
haNving let the sovereign power slip through our hands."  The
Kinel Eogain then toolk private counsel together thereupon.
And it was their opinion, that it was lilkely that very many of
them would never return from the war, in case they should now
march against the Dal goCais.  For which reason, they declared,
that it was meet, that they should first acquire an inllh itance for
their children after them.  "Because," saidc they, " it is idle to
expect, that any possessions or any wealth will ever come to
them from  our return to our homes, if we once march against
that tribe, namely, the Dal-g-Cais, whose warriors are the hardiest and the bravest upon all battle-fields.  Their race has never
yet fled before the Lochlannaigh; and it is as certain that it will
not now flee before us."  Upon these grounds, they caine to the
determrinatijn of demanding from Maelsechlainn the one half of
Meatlh,'~ together with the district around Termhair for a posses-'00 One half of Meath. At the first lessen either the wealth or the political
glance, this would seem a much less importance of the Clann Colmain. He
grant, than that of the crown of Ire- knew also that Brian would never
land. It was, however, a much greater; come to settle his Dalcassians in Meath.
for by doing so, Maelsechlainn would  He, therefore, made choice of the safhave destroyed the power and strength  est as well as the most patriotic course
of his tribe, who were then the posses- that could, under such difficulties, be
sors of Meath, and would rob his own  adopted.  Throughout the whole of
kinsmen of their inheritance.  His these proceedings, the conduct of
yielding up of the crown was more a  Maelsechlainn is generous and highpersonal sacrifice; and did not much  minded; that of Aedh O'Neill and the




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                  56I
sion for themselves and their posterity after them, as the reward
of their going with him upon the prcsent expedition.  This resolve was forthwith made known to the monarch, who was
seized with great anger thereat, and forthwith returned home,
excecldingly indignant and dissatisfi6d at the result of his visit.
Upon lis return home, he called around him an assembly of
the Clann Colmain and mnade known to them the reply of Aedh
O'Neill and tile Kinel Eogain; and clwhen his tribesmen had heard
it, lthey canme to the resolution of having Maelsechlainn set out
at once, at his own risk, and visit Brian unconditionally at his camp
at Tembhair, where the latter had now been staying for one
month, dumring which tinme his army had been supported by the
men of [lezath.  Maelsechlainn therefore went to Temnhair, escorted by twelve score of horsemen.  Thus accompanied, he
arrived upon the green of Tembhair, and proceeded at once to the
residence of Brian wvithout either surety or safeguard.  Iie
there acquainted his rival with all 1-is proceedings from  beginnimg to end.  HTe said that he would have given him battle, had
hle been in a position to fight; but, as he was not in such a position, thalt hle had now come to give hostages a-nd to submit.
Wlihen  Brian had heard him, he said, "As thou hast come thus
to my dwelling, without surety or safeguard from  me, I now
grant thee a further respite of one year, during which time I
shall demand neither homage nor hostages at'thy hands.  And
in the miealntime I shall pay a personal visit to those northern
folk, bothl Aedh O'Neill and Eocaidlh, son of Ardgal, king of
Ulidia, in order that I may learn what kind of answer they will
make to me. And then, should they give me battle, thou mayest
help them against me, if -thou wilt."  But here Maelsechlainn
declared, that he would not fight against him  after any such
manner. HIowever, lhe told Brian that he would not advise him to
nmarch northwards just then; and said, that it was now better for
him to return to his own home until another time.  "For," stid
he, "it is enouglh that thou last received my submission, as the
result of thy present expedition."  They finally agreed upon
this, and thle Dal g-Cais were well' pleased thereat, for they had
almost consumed all their provisions for the campaign.  Then,
as he was about to march homewards, Brian presented twelve
score of steedsl to MIaelsechlainn, together with a large quantity
of gold and silver, which was to be distributed amongst his
people.
rest of the race of Conn, unchivalrous,- lord-paramount. For the gifts or stiselfish, and wily.              pends which the superior Irish chief-' Twclve S:ore Steeds. These were tains were wont to give to their feud.
given to Maelseehlainn, as a stipend, atories, see The Book of Rights.
by Brian, who had now become his
36




562                THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Afterwards, when one year had passed by, Brian called together a general muster of the whole force of Leth Mogha, both
Gallic and Gaelic.   There came thither the Lochlannaigh2 of
Ath-cliath, Port-Largi, Loch  Carman, and  Corcach, together
with those that dwelt in Ui Eachach /Aurmhan, Corca Luighe
and Ui Kennselaigh.  With this host, Brian marched to Athluain,3 where the nobles of Connaught gave him  hostages as
pledges of their submission to him as their Ard-righ.  He sent
an embassy thence to Maelsechlainn, requesting of him to send
his hostages thither likewise. Upon receiving this message,
Maelsechlainn came and delivered up his hostages and made his
submission  in person.  Thereupon, Brian  mustered  the full
strength of the men of Munster,-Connaught, Leinster, and Meath,
and therewith marched to Dun Delgain, where he received the
hostages and submission of all Ulidia.
It was thus that Brian Boromha acquired the sovereignty of
Ireland.  He did not acquire it by treason, as some will have it,
but by the bravery and hardihood of his deeds of arms, and by
his chivalrous valor.  For it was not the usage of the Gaels,
that son should succeed to father in the sovereignty of Ireland,
as is evident from whiat has been stated hitherto in this book;
but the sovereign power fell to the share of whatever man was
most distinguished for his personalworth, and for the greatness
of his actions. And therefore did the nobles of Ireland select
Brian Boromha as the sovereign ruler of their country, because
he was the man, who was most distinguished for worth and greatness4 amongst the Irishmen of his own day. And those of the
2 Lochlannaigh. " Since Brian had  hostages." But he did not receive hostconceived the ambitious project of de- ages from either Ulidia or the Northposing Maelsechlainn, he invariably  ern Ui Neill within that year. For,
joined the Danes against him, and this when, having joined his forces to those
is sufficient to prove that the subjuga- of Maelsechlainn, he had marched to
tion of the Danes was not Brian's chief Dun Delgain, or Dundalk, he was there
object. The Munster writers, with a  met by the Ulidians, the Kinel Eogain,
view of exonerating Brian from the  Kinel Conaill, and Oirghialla, under
odium of usurpation, have asserted  Aedh O'Neill and Eocaidh, son of
that, previously to his first attack, he Ardgar, who did not allow him to adhad been solicited by the king and  vance further, but "they separated in
the chieftains of Connaught to depose peace without hostages or booty,
Maelsechlainn and become monarch  spoils or pledges."-See Four Masters.
himself; but no authority for this as-   4 Worth and Greatness.  He was
sertion is found in any of our authentic  certainly the ablest and most successful
Irish Annals."-O'Donovan's Notes to warrior amongst the Irishmen of his
the Four Masters.                 day, and perhaps the most clever states-' Ath-luain; now Athlone. Brian  man, but it is questionable whether in
marched thither in A. D. 1001, "when, greatness of soul and real patriotism
having weakened the southern Ui Neill he was not inferior to Maelsechlainn.
and the Connaughtmen, he took their




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                       563
nobility, who did not willingly consent to his assumption of the
royal dignity, were forced to yield him homage against their
will.
It was after this manner that Maelsechlainn was compelled to
resign the sovereignty of Ireland and to deliver it over to
Brian.
BRIAN BOROMHA,5 ARD-RIGH.
A. D. 1002.  Brian Boromha, son of Kenneidi, son of Lorcan,
son of Lactna, son of Core, son of Anluan, son of Alathgamain,
son of Tordelbach, son  of Cathal, son of Aedh Caemh, son of
Conall, son of Eocaidh Bal-derg, son of Cartharin Finn, son of
Blod, son of Cas, son of Conall of the Fleet Steeds, son of Lugaidh Menn, son of Aengus Tirech, son of Fer-corb, son of
Mogh-corb, son of Cormac Cas, son of Olild Olum, of the line of
Eber,6 held the sovereignty of Ireland for twelve years. Bes Boromha; i. e. of the tribute. paternal ancestor of Brian holding the
According to some authorities, he re- sovereignty of all Ireland. For this
ceived the surname Boromha (Boroo), latter reason, some have styled him a
otherwise written Boroimhe (Borivvie), usurper, and such he would probably
from his having revived the Boromha  be according to modern ideas, and
Laighen, i. e. the Tribute of Leinster, more particularly according to English
which we have seen abolished during  law. But that he was no usurper acthe reign of Finnacta II., A. D. 674- cording to any law of the Gaels, will
694.                                be evident to any one, who will take
6 Of *the line of Eber. No prince  the trouble of examining their instituof this line had been universally ac-. tions: for his descent from the royal
knowledcged as monarch of Ireland since  stock,through a long line of distinguishthe time of Crimthann Mor, son of ed chiefs, was so clear, that his eneFidach. who ruled Ireland from A. D. mies dare not contest it in his day.
366 to A.D. 379. However, the claim  This, and thie support of the majority
of the descendants of the eldest branch  of the Gaelic nation, was the only valid
of the children of Miledh to Irish mon- right to the Irish throne. It is certain
archy had, during that time, been  that Brian had the latter; wherefore,
maintained by several Eberian chief- whatever objection may be urged
tains, such as Core, son of Lugaidh; against the policy or the patriotism of
Aengus, son of Nadfraech; Cathal, son  his deposition of Maelsechlainn, no obof Finguini; Feidlimidh, son of Crim- jection can be urged against the legitithann (styled king of Ireland by some  macy of his right to throne. His proforeign writers); and Cormac, son of vincial rivals, the chiefs of the EoganCulinnan, &c., all of whom, at some  achta, had raised no objection on the
time, either demanded or forced the  grounds of prescriptive right, either to
king of Temhair to give them hostages. his own or to his brother Mathgamain's
It is true, that these were all of the  title to the sovereignty of Munster,
Eoganachta or Engenian branch of the  from which, with the single exception
line of Eber, and that in Brian's pedi- of Lorcan; son of Lactna, the Dalcassigree we have to go back to Duach  an family had been excluded during the
Dalta Degadh, son of Carbri, who was reigns of more than forty provincial
monarch some time previous to the  kings. Neither did the sons of his
Christian era, before we find any direct brother Mathgamain object to his right




564                THlE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
binn, daughter of Arcadh, son of Murcadh, king of mWest Con
naught, was the mother of Brian.  The following was the descent of Bebinn: Kianog, daughter of Kiacaran, one of the
Connaughtmen, bore a son and a daughter to a Leinster chieftain, named  Criachan, through the prayers of the abbot Carell,
and his seven hundred monks, who had joined him in making
supplication to God, whom they besought to grant a progeny to
the above-named married pair, for they had remained barren
for a longo time.  And God heard the prayers of Carell and his
community, and Kianog bore a son and a daughter to her husband Criachan.  The son they called Maelmithidh, and Osna
was the name of the daughter.  This daughter was afterwards
married to Arcadh, son of Murcadh, son of Maenach, king of
the West of Connaught,,'and to him  she bore Bebinn, who was
the mother of Brian Boromnha.
It is from a brother of Eocaidh Bal-derg, son of Carthann Finn,
who has been mentioned above, that the sept of O'h-Ikedha7
(O'Ileelcee), has sprung;  to wit, from  Fergal, son of Carthann
Finfi; for Ikidh, from  whom  the sept has its name, was the
son of Makin, son of Artgal, son of Cuilen, son of Urthal, son
of Drlnngal, son of Acluan, son of Fergal, son  of Carthann
Finn.
It was in the reign of Brian Boromba that the followingevents
took place.  For it was then that Sitric, son of Amlaeilhhi set
out in his fleet on a predatory expedition to Ulster, where he
plundered Kill Clethi8 and Inis Cumsgraigh, whence he brought
off many captives and much treasure.  Soon after this, Naemhan,9 son of Maelkiarain, Chief Artificer of Ireland, died.  Brian
to the chieftaincy of the Dal g-Cais on  has not deemed it right to omit any
the grounds that he was the youngest notice, made in any of his originals, reson of his father Kenneidi.  Brian, lative to any sept of the Gaels.
then, was no usurper; and it is some-   8 Iill-Clethi; now Kilelief in the
what strange that some moderns, im- barony of Lecale, county Down. Inis
bued with English ideas, will brand  Cumnsgraigh-  It is now called Innish
him with an epithet which his cotem- courcey, a peninsula formed by the
porary rivals (who should know the  western branch of Loch Cuan, near
matter best) did not affix to his name. Saul, in the same county. Sitric plunFor the names of the chiefs that in- dered these places in A. D. 1001.
tervened between Olild Olum  and    9 Naemhan. He died in A. D. 1003.
Duach, monarch of Ireland, see the  In this year the Ui Neill of the noath
pedigree of MacCarthaigh, Part II.   had not yet submitted to;3rian. For
O'h-Ilcedha; in English, O'Hickey, our annals tell us that Maelsechlainn
or simply Hickey. This sept was a and he then led an army into North
branch of the (lann Coilein; of which  Connaught, as far as Traigh Eothali,
the Macnamaras were chiefs.  The near Ballysadare, for the purpose of
above entry, which seems rather mis- making the circuit of Ireland, but they
placed here, is not found in all the  were there stopped by the Ui Neill of
copies of Keating.  But the editor the North.  In this year also was




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                       565
soon marched with a numerous army into the territories of the
Kinel Eogain in Ulster.  Hle proceeded thence into Meath, and
staved for one night at Talti.' From  the latter place, he marched
to Ard Aacha, where he remained for a week, and ihere he laid
twnenty ounces of gold upon the altar of the primatial church.
IIe next visited the territories of the Dal Araide,'0 so that he
had now received hostages and pledges of peace from  the entire
principality of Ulidia.  Soon aifter, he led another great army
into'ir Eogain and Tir Conaill, from  which territories he carried away very imany captives as securities for the maintenance
of peace.
It was about this time that Mfaelruanaidh,n1 son of Ardgal,
King of Ulidia, was slain.  Soon  after died Clothua,'2 son of
Aengus, chief poet of Ireland, and, likewise, Cathal,'3 son of Concobar, who had been King of Connaught for twenty years, when
he died at Irrus IDomnan.
After these events, Murcadh, son of Brian, with the men of
Miunster and Leinster; and some of the Ui Nleill of the north,
around Flathbertach, son of AMuredach,14 attended by a band of
warlike youths; made a predatory expedition into the territory
of'the Kinel Luighdechl5 (Kfinnaile Lueeagh), which he despoiled
and devastated.
fought the battle of Craebh Tulcha, of Donmnall, his slayer and successor,
in Antrim, between the Kinel Eogain  was himself slain very soon after, by
and the Ulidians, in which fell Eocaidh, Dubthuni, called Tore, in the middle
son of Ardgal, or Ardgar, king of of 1)un-da-leth-glas, "in violation of
Ulidia, and numbers of his people. the guarantees of the saints of Ireland."
His opponent, Aedh O'Neill, king of By this murder Torc became King of
Ailech, and heir-apparent to the Irish  Ulidia, but Mluredach, son of Madaadan,
monarchy, fell there likewise.      slew bMmi immediately after, in revenge:O Dal Araide.  "A. D. 1004. A  for his falther, "through the miracles
hostingl by Brian, son of Kenneidigh, of God and St. Patrick."  Thus was
with the men of the south of Ireland, the sovereignty of Ulidia seized by
into Kinel Eogain and Ulidia, to de- four princes in one year.
mand hlostages. They marcled through    12 Clcthin. He died in A. D. 1008.
Meath, and remained a night at Talti;    3 Cathal, son of Concobar.  lie was
thence they marched northwards, and  grandson of Tadg of the Tower, and
remained a week at Ard Macha, where  died in A. D. 1009.
Brian left twenty ounces of gold upon'4 Son of Muredach.  The reading
the altar. After that, they went into  should be, son of Murkertach. "A. D.
the territories  of the  Dal-Araide, 1011, Murcadh, son of Brian, with
whence they carried off pledges both  the men of Munster and Leinster, and
of that tribe and the Dal Fiatach." —  the Ui Neill of the south. together with
Four 1Masters. It does not appear by  Flathbertach, son of Murkertach, lord
any authentic annals that Brian had  of Ailech, and the soldiers of the north,
received the submission of the northern  invaded Kinel Luighdech, whence they
IJi Neill upon this occasion.       carried off three hundred persons, and
" Maelruanaidh. He was slain in  a great prey of cattle."-Fcur Masters.
A. D. 1005. He had then reigned'i Kinel Luighdech. This was the
two and a half years. Madadan, son  tribe-name of the section of the Kinel




566                  THE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.
At this time an army was also led by Brian, son of Kenneidi,
to Magh  Corrann, whence  he  led  off Maelruanaidh  O'Mael.
doraidh,l6 King  of Kinel Conaill, in  captivity to Kenn-coradh.
Soon after, the principality  of Leinster was plundered and
burned by Murchadh, son of Brian, as far as Kill Maighnenn,17
and thence to Glenn-da-loch.
It was about this time that the Lochlannaigh arrived in Munster with a great fleet, on which occasion they plundered and
burned Corcach; but God took vengeance upon them  for that
deed, for Amlaeibh, son of Sitric, King of Lochlainn, and Maathgamain, son of Dubgall, son of Amlaeibh, were shortly after
treacherously slain by Cathal, son of Domnnall,l son of I)ubdaboirenn.  After this, the  Lochlannaigh  and the Leinstermen
Conaill that afterwards assumed the' Kill Maighnenn; now Killmainhan,
surnames of O'I)ochartaigh, O'Dom- near Dublin.  Murcadh's invasion of
naill and O'Buighill-in English, O'- Leinster is recorded under the year
Doherty, O'Donnell and O'Boyle. They  1012. It seems to have been made in
took their tribe-name from Lugaidh, consequence of a war which his ally
son of Sedna, son of Fergus Kenn-fada, lMaelsechlahinn, now  King of Meath,
son of Conall Gulban, the common  was then waging against the Leinsterancestor of all the Kinel Conaill. The  men and the Danes, in which he had
first mention of the surname O'Donnell been defeated. Both events are thus
occurs in this year, namely, Maelru-  recorded by the Four Masters: "A. D.
anaidh  O'Domnaill, chief of Kinel 1012. Great forces were led by MaelLuighdech, who was then slain by the  sechlainn into the territory of the formen of Ma(rh Itha.  The territory of eigners, and.he burned their country as
the Kinel Luighdeeh extended from the  far as Ecdar, (now Howth); but Sitric
stream of Dobhar to the river Suillighe,  and Maelmorda overtook one of his
now, anglice. the Swilly, in the present preying parties, and slew two hundred
county of Donegal.                    of them, amongst whom were Flann,
_6 O'Maeldoraidlt.  At this time, Maelsechlainn's son, Lorcan, son11 of
and until after the English invasion, Echtighern, lord of Kinel Meachair,
the family  O'1Maeldoraidh (O'JIMail-  and numbers of others. This was the
dory). and that of O)'Canannain were  defeat of Draighnen" (now Drinan, co.
the ruling races of the whole of the  Dublin). After this, they record the
Kinel Conaill.  The O'Donnells and  plundering of Leinster by Murcadh,
their correlatives were then but chiefs  "whence he carried off great spoils
of the Kinel Luigdech, mentioned in the  and innumerable captives."
last note. Both the former families lost    8 Cathal, son of Domnall.  His
their preeminence on the rise of the O'- father, Domnall, was then king, of the
Donnells in the 11th and 12th centuries.  Ui Eaclach-Mumban, whose territories
The name O'Maeldoraidh is supposed  bordered upon Coreach, or Cork. The
to be extinct, but a branch of the sept O'Donoghoos, or O'Donohoes of Kerry,
still exists under the name of Mac  are descended and derive their name
Gilla-Finnen, sometimes anglicized Gil-  (in Irish O'DonncAladha), from  Donnfinnen, but oftener Leonard.,The line  cadh, brother of this Cathal. Kian,
of Mac Gilla-Finnen has been traced  son of Maelmuaidh, chief of another
down to John Mlac Gilla-Finnen, who  branch of the same sept, was at this
lived about A. D. 1612.  Dr. O'Dono-  time King of Desmond. The abovevan informs us that " the present repre- mentioned burning of Cork took place
sentative of this family, which is one of in A. D. 1012.
the most royal in Ireland, is unklnown."




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                        567
invaded heath, where they plundered Termonn Fechin,19 and
whence they carried off great numbers of captives; but for this,
also, God wreaked speedy vengeance upon them, as is evident
from what we have already related of that destructive invasion,
which Murcadh, son of Brian, made into Leinster, when he destroyed the territories of the Leinstermen and the Lochlannaigh,
after the manner which we have mentioned.
The Benefits conferred upon Ireland by Brian Boromha.
WVith respect to Brian, son of Kenneidi, numerous, indeed,
were the benefits which he conferred upon Ireland, according to
what we read in our historic books.  Here follows a brief summary of some of these benefits:
First of all he built churches, and delivered up his own proper temple to each clergyman, according to his ecclesiastical
rank, and to his right thereto.  IHe next built and organized
public schools for the purpose of giving instruction in letters and
the other sciences.  He likewise gave either books, or the price
of books to those who could not afford to buy them, and who
were dcternmined to devote themselves to the pursuit of literature.
To his lords and territorial princes he granted freedom from
oppression; and he bestowed upon the Gaels all the wealth of
which he had deprived the Lochlannaigh; and he released all
his countrymen from every vestige of foreign slavery.  Besides
this, it was not to his own tribesmen that he gave those territories from which lhe had expelled the foreigners by the power of
his arms, but he restored them to whatever Irish tribe such territory had originally and rightfully belonged.
It was also  Brian  that first instituted  specific surnames2~
amongst the men of Ireland, so that the members of one family
or sept, might be thereby distinguished from those of another.
T9 7'ermon Fechin, i. e., the sacred  true, sprung into existence since the
ground, or the sanctuary of St. Fechin.  days of Brian; but they appear to
It is now Termonl-fecken, in the barony  have grown out of the necessity, or the
of Perrard, county Louth.  The in- fashion of the times rather than any
cursion in which Termon Feclin was pre-arranged plan. Some family names,
plundered took place a short time be- as O'Maelsechlainn,O'Neill, O'Maeldorfore the battle of Clontarf, and in it aidh, ('Canannain, &c., existed before
the foreigners carried off many cap- his time. And many others, such as
tives.                             those of his own descendants, O'Briain,.o Surnames. Theattributing of the  and Mae Mathgtamna, did not come
institution of surnames -to Brian, is into general use until long after;
somewhat hazarded. It is not likely  neither did he himself adopt any surthat they were ever established by any  name but that of MacCenneidigh, i. e.,
regular enactment or decree. Most of son of Kenneidi or Cenneidigh,who was
the Irish family surnames have, it is his own father-a thing that was the




568                 THE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.
1Moreover, it was Brian that built'the temple of Kill-dca-luanh,:'
and the temple of Inis Keltraclb, and that repaired the beifi v of
Tuailn  Greni.22  Manyy bridges, causeways, and great ronls, wvere
constructed by him liksewise.  IHe erected, or reconstructed, numerous duns and insulated  fortresses.23  By him  were, fortifiecl
Cashel of the Kings, and 1K'enn-abradh, Inis Locha Ke, Inis Locha
Goir, Dun Eochair Malighe, Dun Iasg,, Dun Tri Liag, Dunl Grott,
and  Dun Ani Cliach, Inis-an-Glloill-Duibh, Inis Leelha Saighlenn, Ilos-na-righ, Kenn-coradh of the Borornha, and the other
royal fortresses of Munster.
It was in the reignl of Brian, that a lone woman had travelled
from  Tonn Clidna24 in the south of Ireland, to Toraeh. in the
north thereof, bearing in her hand a wand, upon which there
was a ring of gold; and that no man was found hardy cnough
either to rob, or insult her during her journey, so severe was the
justice with which Brian ruled Ireland.   It was on this subject
that the bard composed the following verse:
"From Tor to lovely Clidna's wave,
With rings of gold upon her wand,
Whilst Brian reigned, severe and just,
One womani5n lone through Eri roamed."
Ireland was indeed prosperous, wvealthy and peaceable, during
thie twelve years that this  monarch  reigned;  in  testimony
wvhereof a bard has sung the following verse:
" A raven of the sea was he; his might like whelming flood;
On many-colored Banba's isle, his glory flashed like fire.
Hie banished sadness from his land; he quelled all wrath and guile;
And Eri saw twelve happy years, while conquering Brian reigned."
r:: -e amongst the Irish from the ea.rl- wliich are unlknown, and are elsewhere,i[. time. It was but by degrees that pointed out.
Mac, a son, and O or Ua, a grandson,   24 Tonn Clidlna; i. e., the wave of
lost their primary significations in Irish  Clidna (Cleena), in Glandore I-larbor.
proper names, and came to signify any  Torach, otherwise called Toraidhli llnd
descendant.                          Tor-inis, and now klnown as Tory Isl2! ITll-da-ltuadh; now  Killalo, in  and, lies off the north-west coast of
the county of Clare. The church built Donegal.
here by Brian, exists still. Inis Kel-   25 One woman. Upon Ibis tradition
trach, is an island situated in Lough  3Moore has founded his ballad of " Rich
Derg, in the Shannon.               and rare were the gems she wore."
2 Tuaim  Greni; now Tomgrany,   In Dermod O'Connor's translation,
co. Clare.                          there is here inser-ted s list of the
23 Fortresses. The situations of all various tributes received by Brian from
the fortresses here mentioned, are still his snlbject princes. But the present
known, with the exception of Inis-an- translator has not found it ill any manGoill-Iuibh, i. e., the Isle of the Black  usecript copy of Keating, available to
Stranger, and Inis Locha Saighlenn, him.  He therefore omits it, as he




THE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.                       569
T'he battle of Cluain  Farbh, (Clooin  Tarve), and its immediate
cause.
A. D. 1014.  When Brian had been thus fully established in
the sovereignty, and whilst he was dwelling in peace and happiness at Kenn-coradh,I he requested  of the king  of Leinster,
namely, of Malelmorda,2 son of Murcadb, to send him  threemasts
of excellent timber frotl the forest of Fidh Gaibli.22  These mast
were accordingly felled by the king of Leinster, and lie set out
therewith  for Kenn-coradch,2s where  Brian was then  abiding.
One of these masts he requested the Ui Falghi29 to carry; another
was carried by the Ui Faelain; and the third by the Ui IMuredaigh.
But an. altercation for precedency arose between these tribes, as
they were approaching a morass, that lay in the forest where the
masts had been cut; and thereupon the king of Leinster himself,
put his shoulder to the one, which.was borne by the Ui Faclain,
vlhilst he wore a satin mantle, adorned with a border of golden
tissue and fastened with a silver clasp, wherewith Brian had presented him  a short time previously.  He then exerted. himself
so violently in urging on the mast, that this clasp was  torn off
from  his mantle.  Thus did the king of Leinster arrive, at Kenncoradh; and there he took off his mantle and gave it to his sister
Gorlnflaith,~ (Gormla), who was the wife of Brian, requesting of
her to retix the clasp thereon.  The, queen thereupon took the
mantle ilto her hands, but she immediately flung it into a fire
that burned before her, and commenced forthwith to revile her
brother fo(r remaining the vassal of any man upon earth.  "A
places little'faith in its being genuine.   28 Kenn-Coradh; i. e., the head of
For a correct list of the tributes which  the Weir. It is anglicizcd Kincora.
the kingrs of Munster received, when  It was the name of a hill in the town
monarchs of Ireland, as well as when  of Killaloe, where the Kings of Thoemerely ralers of their own province, he  mend had a palace. It extended from
refers the reader to the Leabhatr ta g- the present Catlholic church to the
Ceart, or Book of Ritghts, and to the  brow of the hill over the bridgle; but
notes thereunto annexed, as edited by  no vestige of it now remains.
the learned Dr. O'Donovan, for the   2D Ui Faclfhi. Afterwards known as
Celtic Societyv.                     O'Connors Faly and their correlatives.
A lazzemf.lnlvl. This prince, although  The Ui Muredaigh were the tribe of
styled  fo7c Mn.lrcadha, i. e., son of Mur- which O'Tuathail or O'Toole was the
cadh, was not the ancestor of the famn-  cllief sept. The Ui Faelain was the
ily of Ma:c Murrough, afterwards kings  tribe to which Maelmoo da hlimself beof Leinstar. But he was the father of  longred. The O'Brainns or O'Byrnes,
Brann, the ancestor from whom the O' were its chieftains in after times.
Byrnes of Leinster, have taken their     Gcrmflaitl. She was laug lter of
surname.!              Murcadh, son of Finn. She lad been
27 Fidtl  Gaibli.  A  famous wood  previously the wife of Am'aeibh, king
along the river Figile, in the parish of  of the Danes of Dublin; and at some
Cloonsast, barony of Coolestown, and  period the wife of Maelsechlainn.
in Kings county.




670             THE HIISTORY OF IRELAND.
thing," said she, " to which thy father never stooped. But now
Brian's son will demand the same vassalage from thine."
Maelmorda stored up this rebuke of the queen in his heart;
and, whilst pondering thereupon the next day, he came to where
Mlurcadh, son of Brian, and Conaing, son of Donncuan, were
playing at chess, (according to some historians it was the Comnarba of St. Caeimghin of Gleun-da-loch, that was playing with
Mlurcadh.) Here the king of Leinster advised the adversary of
Murcadh to make a certain move, whereby he won the game.
Hereupon, Murcadh said: " Thou hadst, likewise, once given a
counsel to the Lochlahnaigh, but its consequence was their total
rout at the battle of Glenn Mama."  "If;" replied Maelmorda,
"I did give them counsel'Which caused their defeat in that conflict, I shall now give them another counsel, whereby in their
turn they shall defeat thee."'I defy thee to do it," said Murcadh. Maelmorda then left the company in wrath; and he went
immediately to his sleeping apartment, whence he could not be
induced to come to the banquet-hall for that night. At dawn
next morning, he set out for his home without bidding farewell
to Brian.
When the monarch had heard that the king of Leinster had
departed after this manner, without bidding farewell to himself,
he sent a page, who was one of his own kinsmen, to request of
the angry chieftain to stay until he should have received his
stipend from  his sovereign.  This youth  came up with
Maelmorda at Kill-da-luadh, on. the east side of the Shannon,
as he was mounting his steed, and to him he at once delivers
the message of Brian. Hereupon, Maelmorda, the king of Leinster, turned angrily upon the youth, and struck him three times
with a wand of yew, which he carried in his hand, so that the
youth's skull was fractured thereby, and he had to be carried back to the residence of Brian. Cogaran was the name of
this youth; and from him have descended the Ui Cogarain of
Munster. Some of the household of Kenn-coradh were now
anxious to pursue the king of Leinster, and not to allow him to
escape until he should have submitted to the will of the monarch. Iowever, Brian declared that no treachery should be
wrought upon a guest of KIenn-coradh. "But," added he, "satisfaction shall, nevertheless, be required of him at his own bedposts."
But Maelmorda, having returned to his own country, forthwith summoned around him the nobles of Leinster. To them he
made known the insult and the reviling words which had been
flung both at himself and his entire principality, in the palace of
Kenn-coradh. Upon'this, they determined to revolt against
Brian, and to resist him with the whole of their own strength




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                       571
and that of the Lochlannaigh.  From  this arose the battle which
was contested at Cluain Tarbh. But there remained no longer
alive in Ireland a sufficient number of the Lochlannaigh to contend with Brian in a pitched battle; for he had only allowed a few
of that nation to hold a mercantile possession of Ath-cliath, Loch
Carman, Port Largi, Corcach, and Luimnech, for the purpose of
keeping up the foreign commerce of the country. Thereibore did
the king of Leinster and those foreigners, who still remained, send
ambassadors to the king of Lochlainn, beseeching hirn to send a
strong force to their aid, in order that they might thus be rendered able to engage Brian in battle at Cluainr Tarbh, upon AMagh
n-Elta.  When this embassy had reached the king of Lochlainn,
he sent his two spns, namely, Carlus Cnutus, and Andreas, together with a force of twelve thousand men,31 to assist the king
of Leinster and the Irish Lochlannaigh in the approaching contest.  When this host had lauded at Ath-cliath, Maelrnorda bid
defiance to Brian, and challenged him to meet him in battle upon
Cluain Tarbh.
To return to Brian, son of Kenneidi, king of Ireland; that
monairch having called together the strength of Alunster and
Connaught, marched therewith to Ath-cliath, in order to give
battle to his enemies on the appointed field.   In  his army
marched the Children of Fiacaidh Maeil-lethan,"3 with all the
branching septs of that stock-a host both numerous and imposing.
"' Tteelve thousand men. There is Eugenians, the ruling race of Desmond,
little reason to suspect that this num- or South Munster. They constituted
ber is exaggerated. " Not only from  the bulk of the second division of BriScotland, the Orkneys and Hebrides, an's army at Clontarf. Their comthe Isle of Man and the isles of Shetland, mander was the monarch's son-in-law,the
did they muster together all the dispos- king of Desmond, namely, Kian, soin of
able strength of their fellow Northmen, Maelmuaidh, son of Brann, (ancestor
but even to Denmark, Norway, and  of the O'Mahonies), who is said by our
other parts of Scandinavia, messengers historians to have" exceeded in stature
were sent to solicit immediate succors; and beauty all other Irishmlen;" with
and such were the accounts circulated  him were Domnall, son of Dubdaboiby them of their prospects of success, renn, chief of the Ui Eachuch, (ancca,that-as a French chronicler of that tor of the O'Donoghoos); Murkerage states-a large fleet full of north- tach, son of Amncadh, chief of the Ui
ern adventurers, were induced by these  Liathain (the 0 Lehans or O'Lyons, and
representations to crowd to the Irish  the O'h-Anmcadhas) Sgannlan, son of
shores, bringing with them their wives Cathal, chief of the Eoganacht of Loch
and children, and hoping to share, as Lein (of this tribe the O'Moriarties and
he adds, in the conquest and enjoyment O'Carrolls of Kerry, were the chief
of a country " which contained twelve  families, the latter were the immediate
cities, most ample bishopricks, and  descendants of Sgannlan); Loingsech,
abundant wealth."-Moore's History of son of Dunlaing, chief of Ui Conaill
Ireland.                            Gabra, (i. e., the O'Kinealies, the
32 The Children of Facaidh Maeil- O'Cuilleans, or Collins, and their corlethan.-These were the Eoganachta or relatives);  Cathal, son  of  Don




572                  TIE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.
Thither marched  the Children  of Cas,33 son  of Conall of tha
Fleet Steeds, namely; the U i Bloid,a  the Ui Casin,3` the clan of
Aengus Kenn-athrach,35 the  Kinel Baeith, the  Kinel Cuallachta, the Kinde  Albi, and  1the Clainn Eachach around Kellach, son
of Dubghen; and  the Clann.  Coilein  around  -Menma,3  son  of
Aedh, son of Enda, son of Esida, son of Sida, son of MaelcluLithi,
and  the Kinel Fermaic, around  Aaelmeda,3s son  of Baedan.
naban, chief of Carbri Aedha, (ances- himself belonged.-SSee the pedigree
tor of the O'Donovans); these were  of O'Briain, Part III.
the chiefs of the Eoganlachta.  In thle,    Ui Caisin.  The  MaIenamaras,
same division marched 3ae Betha, son  called also Sil Aeda, and the AMac Clanof Muiedach, king of Kiarraide Luach-  chies, Brehons of'iTomond. were desra, (ance3tor of tlhe O'Connors Kerry;)  cendcled from this sept.. Caisin was the
Gebinach, son of Dabacan, king of  brother of the Blod, who is mentioned
Fera-Mlaaiglie-Fuilini, now called Formoy,  in the last note.
(ancestor of the O'Dubagains or Dug-      6 Aengus Kenn-Athrach.  He was
gan3); Molta, or Mothia, king of th3  also the brother of Blod, and son of
Desi (ancestor of the O'Felans); Ker-  Cas.  The O'Deas of Kinel Formaic,
ball, son of Acdh, king of the Eli, i. e., are sprung from him; and also the Kithe O'Carrolls and O'HMeaghers antd  nel Baeith, of which the chiefs took the
their correlatives  (K1erball was the  name of O'Maelmeda, which their deprogenitor of the former sept).  The  scendants have probably changed to
irghalllla, likewise, fought in  this  AMulvy; the present irepresentatives of
division: as their own territories lay  the Kiingel Cuct!achta,'re unknown to
farthest iorth of any of the Irish en- the editor, unless by it is meant the
gaged inrlhis battle, they made choice  Muintir Conlochta, also descended from
of fighting by the side of the descenldants  Aengrus Kenn-Athrach, of which the
of Eo%'an M(or, because their land lay  O'Dubhllinns, now possibly translated
farthest south.  They were led by Mac  by Duggan, descended from  the KelUidhir, prince of Fera Manach, now  lach, son of Dubghenn, mentioned in
Ferm:lLagh (ancestor of the Maguires),  the text, were the chliefs.  The Kine!
and Un Kerbaill, kinlg of Oirgialla-  Albi and Kinel Eachach, are unknown
"the two most illustrious Irishmen,"  to the editor; they were, probably,
says the chronicler, "that graced the  branches of the foreting.
field on  that day;  and  therefore,         lemarma.  Ile was the direct aneesworthy," he adds, " of fighting under  tor of the Macauniaras, who had their
the banner of Kian."-lMocore's li story  niame, in Irishl 1Ic Conmarra, from Conof Ireleal.                             mara, son of Domnall, son of Mcnrma.
33 Tie Children of Cas; i. e., the    38 llltelmela.  The Kinbl Fermaic,
Dal g-Cais or Dalcassians.  This was  of wVhich le was the chlirif have been
the tribe of which Brian himself was  already classed amongst the descendthe chief.  Together with the force  ants of Aeng(us Keal-athrach.  It is
which Maelsechlainn  had  led  from   po3sibly.from  him  that the surname
Mleath, it formed the first division of  O'Maeilmeda is derived.
the Irish army.  It was placed under    The catalogue above given by our
the immediate command of Murcadh,  author is very confused; and it would
the eldest son of Brian.               appear, that the several alias nallles of
s4 Ui Bloid.  The territory of this  the race are given therein, as those of
clan lay in the north-east of Clare.  separate tribes.  The great divisions
Blol, son of Cas, from  whom  it was  of the Dal g-Cais then were the Ui
called, was tile common ancestor ot Bloid of which Brian and his immediate
many secpts of the Dal g-Cais. It was relatives were the chiefs; the Ui Caisin,
the sept of the tribe to which Brian  or Clann Coilein, commanded by Men



THiE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.                      573
There went tlither moreover, the children of Kenneidi,=o son of
Lorcan, namely: Annluan Lactna, Cosgarach, Senchan, Ogan,
Mlaelruanaidh and Angidh; and Alurcadlb, son of Brian, witl
his son Tordelbach, and with his five brothers, namely: Tadg,
Donncadh, Domnall, Concobar, and Flann;  and thitther went
likewise, the children of Donncuan, son of Kenneidi, namely:
Loniargan, Keilichar, Kenneidi, Fingalach, and Innractach and
Eocaidh, son of Innract:lch, with Dubchen, son of Eocaidlh, and
Beolan; and all of their kinsfolk and dependents that followed
these chieftains.
Thither marched likewise, a large host of the men of Connaught,40 around Tadg, son of Murcadh O'EKellaigh, king of Ui
Mani; and around AMaelruanaidh na-Paidre"4  0 h-Eidin, king of
Aidni, and besides these, there came a great number of the other
nobles of Connaught through love of their relative, Brian, whose
mother, Bobinn, was a Connatl.lt woman..  In addition to these,
Maelseehlainn,  son of Domnall, iing of Mloeath, marched thither,
leading the entire strength of his kingdom to the aidl of Brian.
Then, when the adverse hosts had arrived thus constituted upon
Magh n-Elta,42 they were drawn up in battle array,43 each host
ma; the Kinel Fermaic, or Clann Aen- lfMunster tribes also, are recorded as
gusa Kernn Athrach, commnandced by  having fought in this division  They
Maelmeda and Kellach; and the Clann  were the men of Corea I3askin, under
Ifernain, or race of Aengus Kenn- its chieftain Domnall, son of Diarmaid,
atinn, hot mentioned by this name, (ancestor of the O'Donnells of Ciare;)
though one of its chiefs, Niall, son of  the people of Musgraidcl   Br6ogain, now
Conn, (the ancestorof O'Quinn), fell at  Clan William, in Tipperary, under
Clontarf, fighlting by the side of Mur- Murlkertach, son of Core (ancestor of
cadh, son of Brian, whose henchman he  the O'Quirks); the men of Ui Cuathen was. The name of Clann Ifer- nach, (now Coonagh, co. of Limerick,)
nain has been preserved in that of O'l- under Aedh, son of Loclhlainn; the men
Ifernain, now generally called HIIeffer- of Musgraide h-Acda, near the source
nan.                                 of the Blackwater, co. Cork, under
3' Children, of Kenneidi, (cc. These  Echtiglerna, son of Donnag'an, (anceswere the members of Brian's immedi- tor of the O Donnagans).
ate family. Many of tlem were found-   41 1Va Paidre; i. e., of the Prayer.
ers of Irish septs, to which they left   42 Mzghh n-Eita. Clontarflay in the
their nfames, such as Senchan, of the O  famous pla;in called by this name.
Shlannahans, of North Munster; Ogan,   43 The battle array,  c. Thle army
of the O'Ilograns; Kenneidi, of the  of the Loehlannaigh and Leinstermen,
O'Kennedies of Ormond; Lonnargan  was also drawn up in three divisions or
of the O'Lonnergans; Kelichar of the  columns. Trhe first of these is describO'Kellellers; Maelruanaidh, of the O' ed as consisting of the Danes of DubMurronies; Beolan, of the O'Bolans; lin, or Ath-cliath, under the command
Innrachtach, of the Mac Innrachtaigh, of Dolat and Conmael; and of a poror Mac Enrights.-See Pedigree  of  tion of their foreign auxiliaries, under
O'Briaoin, Part II.                  the Norwegian princes, Carol and An40 Thle 11cn of Connaught.  They  rud, (Carlus and Andreas); amongst
formed the bulk of the third division  the latter were 1,000 clad from head to
of the Irish army at Cloatarf. Some  foot in iron mail. This division was




574                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
in its respective position.  On the one side stood the king  of
Leinster and the Lochlannaigh; and over this host the two sons
of the king of Lochlainn, namely, Carlus and Andreas, were the
commanders-in-chief.   On the other side stood Brian, and the
nobles of Munster, Connaught and  M[eath; and here Murcadh,
son of Brian, was the commander-in-chief of his father's army.
It is, however, to be observed here, that  lIaelsechlainn would
not allow4l his forces to aid either host in the conflict that ensued.
The battle45 was then poured forth, and both armies strove with
hardihood for the victory.  But at length the Lochlannaigh and
the Laighnigh were completely vanquished; and the two sons
of the king  of Lochlainn were slain, and around them  fell the
captains of the fleet, which they had led to Ireland, together with
six thousand and sixty46 of their immediate followers.  Besides
these, there fell in that slaughter four thousand of the Lochlannaigh, who came from  ath-cliath, and other Irish seaports.  Maelmnorda,47 king of Leinster, was likewise slain therein,; with him
opposed to the first column of the nation- former is represented as advising the
al army under Murcadh and Maelsech- latter to shun the battle; "for Gaeilainn. The second division of the enemy  dil (the Gaels) were only dressed in
consisted of the Irish of Leinster, under satin shirts, while the Danes were in
their king 3Maelmorda, and his sub- one mass of iron:"
chiefs; they were supported by a cath,*
or battalion of the foreigners. This     "Leinteaoha sr6il ar shiol n-Gaeidhil,
division was opposed by the second
column of the Irish, under the com- -O'Doncvan.
mand of Kian, king of Desmond. The    46 Six tlousand and sixty.  "In the
foreign a-xiliaries from the Hebrides,  Chronicle of Ademar, monk of St.
the Orkneys, and the coasts of the  Eparchius of St. Angouleme, it is
Baltic, under the earls Bruadar and  stated that this battle lasted for three
Lodar, formed the third division; with  days; that all the Norsemen were
them were joined a number of Britons  killed; and that crowds of their wofrom Wales and Cornwall, under their men, in despair, threw themselves into
respective chiefs. The third division  the sea; but the Irish accounts agree
of the Irish, under Maelruanaidh; king  that it lasted only from sun-rise to sunof Ui Fiacrach Aidni, and Tadg, king  set on Good Friday."  In the Nialla
of Ui Mani, was oppwosed to these.   Saga, published in Johnston's Ant.
44 Maelschllsnrn woulrd not allozw, tc   Celto-Scand., a Northman prince is inThis assertion is not true, as shall be  troduced as asking, sometime after the
shown further on. Keating has too  battle, what had become of his men,
easily adopted it from  the Munster  and the answer was, that "they were
calumniators of Maelsechlainn.       all killed!a"-lb.
45 The battle. "The Danes were   47 Maelmorda slain. Amongst the
better armed than the Irish, in this  chiefs who fell with him were Dunlabattle; for they had 1,000 men dressed  ing, son of Tuathal, son of Ugari, royal
in armor from head to foot in iron  heir of Leinster, (ancestor of the
mail. In a dialogue between the ban- OTooles); and Brogarban, son of Conshee, Aeibill, or Aeibinn, of Craglea  cobar, tanist of Ui Falghi, (ancestor of
and the hero, Kinaeth O'Hartagain, the  the O' Connors Falghi), "and," say our
* The cath consisted of 3,000 men.  annalists, " a countless slaughter of the




THIIE HIISTORY  OF IRELAND.  575
fell the greater part of his nobles, and three thousand three hundred of the men of Leinster.
On the other side fell AMurcadh,48 son of Brian, heir apparent
to the sovereignty of Ireland, around whom were slain the greater
part of the nobles of Munster and Connaught, together with four
thou.sand of his people.
It happened also, that a body of Lochlannaigh, in fleeing at
randoln from the carnage, came upon the royal pavilion, and recognized Brian therein; upon which, Brodar, who was the captain of this band, attacked and slew the monarch in his tent.49
I-e was, nevertheless, slain himself at the same time, by Brian
and his attendants.
The following are the names of some more of Brian's people,
who were slain in that battle, to wit: Tordelbach, son of Alurcadlh,50 son of Brian; Conaing, son of Donncuan:  son of Kenncidigh; Molta, son of Domnall, son of Faelan, king of the  Desi
ullmhan; and Eocaidh, son  of Dunadach, chieftain  of Clann
Sganlain,  with Niall Ua Cuinn,. and Cuduligh, son of Kenneidigh, these were the three companions of Brian; and Tadg TUa
Kellaigh,51  king of Ui Mani; Maelruanaidh na Paidre 0' h-Eidin,
Leinstermen along with them." Neither  having joined in pursuit of the enemy,
O'MIorda, chief of Laighis,;:or O'Nolan, -and was kneeling, with  hand upchief of Fotharta, fought against Brian  raised and his mind on prayer intent.
on this occasion.                    Taking  advantage of the moment,'48 Mlurcandh.  H-Ie fell by the Danish  Bruadar rushed into the tent, and, after
chief Anrud, whose brother he had just a short struggle, put the aged monarch
slain, and who had sought him out for and a boy, who was in attendance upon
vengeance. " On seeing him approach, him, to death. Then, unable to restrain
the Irish hero rushed forward to meet his triumph, he held up his blade, still
him, and seizilg him firmly with his left  warm from  the royal victim s heart,
hand-the righllt having been enfeebled  and cried oat, "Let it be proclaimed
by the constant use of his weapon-   from ipan to man, that Brian has fallen
shook him fairly out of his coat of mail by the hand of Bruadar." —lb.
and there transfixed him with his sword.    0 T1ordelbach, son of i.lucadh.. " TorThe Norrwegian, however, in dying, delbach, the king's grandchild, then
had his full revenge; for as the con- but fifteen years old, was found drownqueror stooped down over him, he  ed near the fishing weir of Clontarf,
drew forth the knife or dagger, which  with both his hands fast bound in the
hung by Murrough's (Murcadh's),side, hair of a Dane whom he had pursued
and plunged it into his heart."-  into thesea."-Annals of Clonlmrcnoise.
M1oore.                                51 T7tadgt Ua Kellaiglh. He was the
49 Slew the monarch in his tent. " It first that was called Ua Ceoaigh?  or
was in the midst of the rout and car- O'Kelly; from him all the famnilies of
nage of the defeat, that the Danish ad- the (P' Kellies of Ui Maui, or Hly Many
miral Bruadar, having fled for refuge  in G(dlway, are descended.  T'he Ui
with a few followers into a wood, into  Mani, afterwards represented by the
the neighborhood of Brian's tent, per- O'Kellies, the O'Maddens, O'Mulallies
ceived from his lurking place that the  or Tallies and others, suffered dreadmonarch was surrounded with b)t few  fully in this battle. Tadg Mor (Tigue
attendanIts-most of his body guards  lIore), their chief, performed prodigies




b676                 THE HISTORY  OP IRELAND.
king  of Aidni,62  Gebenach,  son  of  Dubag(an, kinr  of Fera
Mlaighlle; MaTc-Bethaigh, son  of Auredaclh Clecln, king of Ciarraide Luachira; Domia ll, son of Dianrmaid, king  of Coica-Baskinn; Sganlan, son of Cathal, king of the Eoganlacht of Loch Loin;
and Domnell, son of Emhin, son of Cannech, Maer-nior of Mtarr,
in  Allna;  and Murcdaclh, Alaer-mor of Lemhlaiin;   alnd  with
these fell mlany  other nobles whose  names are not mentioned
here.
One thousand  and thirty-four, iwas the year of our Lord in
which thel battle of Cluain r''nbill  as fought.  The conflict took
place on the Friday before the'Easter of that year.  Hrcl  follows
a record, left by a bardic ]listoriall in tcstimony of the number
of years thalt blad elapsed from  the birth of Christ to the death of
Brian, son of Kenneidieh:
" Four and thirty years,"? in truth,
Above one thousand then had passed,
Since Christ had conime to heal our woes,
When Brian died on Breghlia's plain."
of valor, and was one of the principal  Flann Beg', son of Fiacaidfh   aeil-lcheroes in thle battle.                 than, son of Eogan Mor, son of Olild
" Kin.'f  A 7iddni.  3Maelruadh-  Olum, king of Mlunster, and common
naidh O'l1-Eidhiin (Ml(J.i7roonie O'Fyne),  ancestor of King 3Brian, and of this
was the first that bore the surname or  D omnall (or Donald), of M.!arr, who
O'h-Eidin.  IJis brother, Miaclhtbaill,  assisted l.m  against the common euewas the iilmediate progenitor of the  nly." —O'Donaorzn.
O'IHevnes, or Hynes, of South Con-' Mler-mnor ofLemhain; i.e., Great
naught.  Ihe Ui U   iac hrach Aidhni,  Steward of Lemhain, (Levvinl, or Lew(es Feeghr,- iT Eyi ne), the tribe which  inn), in Latin Levinia, and in Engllisll,
Maelluan:llailh led to Clonlarf, is now  Lennox. O'Flaherty is of opinion that
represented by the O'Heynes, O'Cler-  the Sttlarts, earls of Lennox, and afteries. 1:aKilkellies, 0',Shaullessies and  lwards kings of Scotland alnd England,
their correlatives.  See Pedligrcee of are maternally descended  fiom  the
O' Schcorsaigh,. Part III.            Gaelic Maer-niors of Lenmhain, and he'1The king of Connlaught is represent-  informs us that in the reign of' obert
ed by MrI. Aoore and som-e modern his-  II., (A. D. 1370-1395), Alan Stuart,
torians as lhaving commanded the Con- a relative of that monarch, miarrying
naughtmnen at Clontarr.  But of this  the heiress of Donncadhi, or Duncan, the
there is 1no histeric cvidence, if we re-  last chief of this family, transferred the
ject some legendary and highly exag-  title of Lennox to his family.-In the
aerated romances. There is nothing in  note last quoted, there is what seems an
our mannas to, show that any other of oversight on the part of its learned
the Connaughtmnen than two tilbes just  author; for O'Flaherty states that the
named, had partaken in that conflict.   Great Stewards of Ma3rr, were deoscend-'3 Mlaer-mor of Marlr.  "le was  ed from  Carbri, called Cruithnech, or
the chief' of the Eoganachta of Magh  the Pict; and the Great Stewards of
Geir-ghinn, or MIarr in modern Scot-  Lennox, from Mani Lemna, his brother.
land, and descended from Mani Lemna   6* Four and thirty; i. ce., in Gaelic,
(the brother of Carbri Luachra, ances-  Ceithre bliaghna trichad.  Tlhe ccpy of
tor of the O'Moriarties, of Kerry,) son  the poem  from  which Reating  ha
of Core, son of Lugaidh, son of Olild  quoted this verse, must have been cor



THE HIISTORY  OF IRELAND.                       577
And his age was eight years above four score at that time: as a
bard has told us in the following verse:
"For four score years and eight
(Rifht truly is their number told),
Had Brian lived in victories,
Before that rough and desperate fight."
And, moreover, Murcadh, son  of Brian, was three score and
three years when he fell in that same battle of Cluain Tarbh.
Tle returnfi oom  the battle-The? Dal g- Cais reject the claims of the.og nze hta.
At length, after wvinning the battle,s  and after the deaths of
Brian and hlurcadh, and very many of the Gaels besides them,
and after the rout of the Lochlannaigh and tlhle Leinstermen,
with the slaughter of the greater part of their forces, the Dal gGais and the tribes of Fiacaillh Mfaeil-lethan marched together in
harmony as far as MIullaech MasdennY.7   But here, the descendrupted. In a copy of the romantic tale  Thence it was borne to Louth, where
called the Battle of Clontarf, now in  the Primate, Maelmuri, awaited the
the clditbrs possession, the verse gives  royal remains, ana had them borne to
the date thus:                       the arclleepiscopal city. The bcdies of
Murcadh and the other chiefs of the
"Ccithr hliaghna dAg, is deimlin,  family were borne thitler at the same
Ag-s mile gen mebliail, &c.'"  time. Brian's body was deposited in
In English:                        the north side of the cathedral, and
4"Fourteen years to a certainty,    those of Murcadh and the others, on
And one thousand without falsehood, &c."   the south. There, for twelve nights,
the religious of the order of St. PatThis has been proved to be the true  rick kept watch over the dead, chauntdate, and is probably the correct read- ing hymns, and offering prayers for the
ing of the verse.  Keating's having  repose of the departed  souls.-See
placed too much reliance upon the one  Mo,?e.
given in the text, has probably helped    57.M5ullachlMasdenn. Now Mullaghto cause him to malte so many mistakes mast in the county of Kildare. IDonnin chronology with re,ard to Brian  cadh, son of Brian, was not at the batand his cotemporaries.               tle, he had been absent, with a portion
A After Uwi;nisng the baftle,  c. On  of the Dal g-Cais, upon a foray into
the day after the battle, all the wound-  Leinster, whence he returned on Holy
ed of the Irish army, were conveyed to  Saturday with immense booty. Having
the camp at Kill Maighenn, now Kil-  formed a junction with his brother Tadg
mainham, by Tadcl, son of Brian, and  (Te.que), and the Eugenian chieftain,
Kian, son of Maelmuaid.  On the fol- Kian, and having sent much offerin(s to
lowing day, the monks of St. Colum, at the Archbishop of Ard Machla, the
Swords, came to bear away the mon- camp at Killmainham was broken up;
arch's body to have it interred in the ca- and the army of Munster commenced
thedral of Ard Macha. From Swords  its first day's march homeward, at the
it was conveyed to the monastery of  end of which the above mentioned seSt. Kiaran at Daimliag, now Duleek. cession took place.
37




678                THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
ants of Fiacaidh Maeil-lethan, formed themselves into a distinct
body and separated from the descendants of Cas.  And then, as
the latter found that they were themselves superior to the Dal g-Cais
in the number of their warriors and followers, they determined
to send an ernbassy58 to demand hostages from Donncadh, son of
Brian, and to explain to him that, inasmuch as they had lately
given hostages to his father Brian, and previously to his father's
brother, Mathgamain, son of KIenneidigh, it was now their right
to possess the sovereignty of Munster, according to the rule of
alternate succession.  To this, Donncadh, son of Brian, replied:
"It was not with your own good will that you ever gave any
hostaoges to father or relative of mine; but it was they themselves,
that compelled both you and the other men of Irelland to pay
them  involuntary homage."  And he added, "that he would
give no hostages, or other pledges of submission either to their
race or to any other; and he said moreover, that he would not
himself, have allowed them to have separated from him even then,
had his host been numerous enough to meet them in battle, until
they should have given pledges of their remaining as submissive
to himself, as they had been to his father."
When this reply was told to the chiefs of Desmond, they arose
in haste, and seizing their arms, they went out to give immediate battle to the 1)al g-Cais.  WVhereupon Donncadh, son of
Brian, commanded his people to place their wounded men within
the rath of Masdenn, and to leave one third of his force, as a
guard upon them; "and then," said he, "let the other two
thirds give their answer to yonder folk upon the battle field I"
He gave these orders, though the Dal g-Cais were then little
more than one thousand strong, whilst their adversaries of Desmbnd, had a force of three thousand  men.  But when the
wounded men had heard the orders of their chieftain, they arose
hastily from their beds, and having put moss upon their wounds
and hurts, they with one accord determined to participate in the
expected battle.
58 To send an embassy, 5fc. It was ity of our ancient historians. "This
Kian, King of Desmond, that sent prince bore a high character for wisthis embassy; and it was his undoubted  dom and bravery.' No one,' says the
right according to tho will of Olild  historian,'seemed more worthy of
Olum, the common ancestor of the  the crown of Munster or monarchy
Eoganachta and the Dal g-Cais. He is of Ireland, than Kian; and had fate so
condemned by many historians for his decreed it in all appearance, Ireland
attempt on this occasion; but what- would not have felt those calamities
ever its immediate policy or consequen- which she has so long endured.' Acces were, there can be no doubt that he cording to Erard Mac Coisi, chief
was every way qualified to fill the post chronicler of the Irish, who died anno,
to which he aspired. IIardiman, in his 1023, Kian wass asgallant and generIrish Minstrelsy, bears the following  ous a prince as the house of Eber ever
testimony to his worth, on the author- produced." —Irish 2Minstrelsy, p. 366.




THE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.                       579
Upon this, when the descendants of Fiacaidh MAaeil-lethan,
had seen the fortitude with which the warriors of the Dal g#Cais
— the wounded as well as the  unwounded-were  preparing
themselves for the conflict, they retired from the field59 without
fighting, and returned to their homes, without having received
any hostages from the rivals of their tribe.
69 Tiey retired from  the field, gic. interested in his success, had followed
Keating has both confounded what their example, Kian was no longer
took place on this occasion with what strong enough to attack the Dalcasoccurred subsequently in the case of  sians. After his return to Rathlenn,
the Ossorians, and has not at all stated  he challenged Domnall to a battle,
the real cause of the retiring of the which was almost immediately fought
Eooanalchta. O'Halloran has given a upon the plains of Magh Guillidhe. In
wrong idea of the immediate pre- this conflict Kian and his two brothers,
liminaries that led to it; and Mr. Cathal and Raghallach, were slain,
Moore has been entirely misled as to  with great numbers of his followers.
the motives that actuated the chieftain  Mathgamain, or Malhon, the son of
who brought it about.  The following  Kian, would then have shared his faquotation, translated from the Cath Clu- ther's fate, had not his maternal uncles,
ana Tarbh, an ancient tale not likely to  D)onncadh and Tadg, speedily led their
flatter the opponents of the sons of Dalcassians to his assistance. Domnall
Brian, may assist the reader in forming  risked another battle against Mahon,
his own judgment thereon. —" When  thus reinforced, but he was totally deDomnall, son of Dubdaboirenn, saw him  feated, and lost his eldest son, Cathal,
thus preparing to force hostages from  therein. After this, Mathgamain was
the sons of Brian, he demanded of Kian, for a short time reinstated in his father's
what advantage would be conferred by  principality.  But within the same
the latter chief upon himself, as the year, the two Dalcassian princes quarreward of his assistance in that attempt. relied amongst themselves, and came to
In reply to this Kian told him that he open hostilities.  Thereupon Domnall
should receive nothing more than the  again attacked their nephew, whom he
possession of his own lordship of Ui killed in a pitched battle. He then led
Eachach, free from tribute. " Then by  the Eoganachta to Limerick, in the bemy word," said Domnall, " I shall risk  ginning of A. D. 1015; but he was
neither hurt nor hardship in winning a there met in battle by the sons of
sovereignty for thee."  "I care little,"  Brian, then temporarily reunited. In
rejoined Kian, " whether my attempt this engagement the men of Desmond
have thy consent or not, for thou shalt were-routed and cut to pieces, and Dombe forced to march out and assist me nall -himself slain.-It is from  the
to the throne."  " Then if we be to  Mathgamain, or'Mahon, just mentionsuffir compulsion," said Domnall, seced- ed, that the Desmond sept of O'Mathing from Kian. When Donncadh, son gamna, in English, O'Mahony, has its
of Brian, had learned that a quarrel be- name. It is to be distinguished from
tween themselves  had  sprung  up  the Dalcassian sept of Mac Mathgamamongst the chiefs of the race Eogan  na, or Mac Mahon, of Corca Baskinn,
Mor, he struck his camp, carried off and also from that of Mac Mahon of
his wounded men, and marched."-Such  Oirghialla.-" A  sad tale was that,"
was the reason why the Engenians did  says Macliag, the chief historian and
not fight. When the half of his own  chiefphysician and biographer of Brian,
sept (for Domnall and he both belonged  in recording his death; " for there was
to the same branch of the race of not in Ireland in his own time, any
Eogan,) had deserted him, and, very  man more distinguished for generosity
likely, several other southern septs, less and nobility than that Kian."




580                THE IIISTORY OF IRELAND.
The Dal g-cdis in Osraide —Repulse of Dlonncadl, son of
Gilla-Pdclraig.
As to the Dal g-Cais, they marched onward from Mullach Masdenu to Ath-Aei60, on the brink of the Berba, where they coinmenced to drink water from that river.'  ut hither Donncadh,
son of Gilla-Padiaig, king of Osraide, had come to attack them,
with a numerous force, composed of Leinstermen and Ossorians,
which he had mustered upon the plain of Clann Kellaigh.06
Thence he had sent out scouts to discover the route by which
the Dal g-Cais were coming, for he. held them  in the greatest
hatred, because Brian had placed his father62 in bondage, and he
had detained him in chains two years, and also because lie had
plundered and devastated all Osraide, and had slain numbers of
its inhabitants. Therefore did the son of Gilla-Padraig store up
hostility towards the Dal g-Cais; and in consequence thereof, he
sent ambassadors to meet them at Ath-Aci, with instructions to
demand hostages from  them  as the condition of his allowing
them. to march through his territories unmolested.  But Donncadb, son of Brian, at once told these ambassadors that he would
deliver up no hostages to their chief.  "Then," said they, " thou
shalt reply to the demand of the son of Gilla-Padraig by a battie."  " And a battle he shall get," said Donncadh; but it is a
sad thing, that I did not meet with a death like that which my
father found, before I suffeired the insult of having hostages demanded from me by the son of Gilla-Padraig."  Hereupon the
-ambassadors expostulated with the angry chieftain of the Dal gCais, requesting him not to feel so very indignant, whilst it was so
evident that his force was not strong enough to give battle to
that led by their own king.  To this Donncadlh thus rejoined:
" Were it ever lawful to punish any ambassadors for the purport of the message they conveyed, I would now have had your
tongues plucked out of your heads for this present insolence.
For, though I had but one solitary camp follower to stand by
me, I should never think of refusing to contend in battle with
the son of Gilla-Padraig and the men of Osraide."
60 Ath-Aei; otherwise, Baile-atha- Ossory, have their name. Re had been
aei. A ford on the river Berba or Bar- captured by Brian in A. D. 982, and
row, where the town of Athy, in the was slain in A. D. 995 by Donnoban,
County of Kildare, now stands.   son of Imhar, Lord of the Danes of
6' The Plain (f C'ann Ke71aigh. Waterford. The latter chief was son
The territory of the Clann Kellaigh of Inghen, daughter of Donnoban
(not the O'Kellies) lay in the north of (from whom the O'Donovans,) the
the present county of Wicklow.- O'D. king of the Ui Fidgllenti, who was
62 His father; i. e., Gilla-Padraig, slain by Brian in A. D. 977, in venthe progenitor from whom the Fitzpa- geance for his brother, Mahon.
tricks, or the Mac Gilla-Patricks of




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                581
Donncadh, then, again gave orders, that one third of his host
should be placed on guard as a protection for the wounded, and
that the other two thirds should meet the expected battle.  But
when the wounded men heard of these orders, they sprang up
in such haste that their wounds and sores burst open; but they
bound them up in moss, and grasping their lances and their
swords, they came thus equipp'ed into the midst of their comrades.
Here they requested of Donncadh, son of Brian, to send some
men to the forest with instructions to bringr thence a number of
strong stakes, which they proposed to have thrust into the
ground, "And to these stakes," said they, " let us be bound with
our arms in our hands, and let our sons and our kinsmen be
stationed by our sides; and let two warriors, who are unwounded, be placed near each one of us wounded, for it is thus that we
will help one another with truer zeal, because shame will not allow the sound manll to leave his position until his wounded and
bound comrade can leave it likewise."  This request was complied with, and the wounded men were stationed after the manner wmhich they had pointed out.  And, indeed, that array in
which the Dal g-Cais were then drawn, was a thing for the mind
to dwell upon in admiration, for it was a great and amazing
wonder.G3
And the men of Leinster and Osraide were seized with fear
and dismay when they saw the astounding courage wherewith
the DIld g-Cais stood up against them. And what they said
was, "It is not of marching off or of running away, or of breaking their'ranlks, or of yielding to panic, that yonder men are
thinking, but of doing their utmost to defend themselves by making a firm, obstinate, and hand to hand fight.  For this reason,
we will not now contend with them in battle, for to them  life
and death are alike indifferent."  Hereupon the son of GillaPadraig spoke and said: "It is cowardly on your part to
speak thus; for you are numerous enough to eat up yonder folk
were they but cooked."  "That is true," replied they, " but it
is equally true, that not one man of them can be slain, until five
or six of us have first fallen by his hands. And' then what advantage will result to us from  dying in their company?"
"Then,"'. said the son of Gilla-Padraig, "as you will not give
them battle, you will at least pursue and harass them on their
homeward march, for they are impeded by the number of their
wounded, and are, consequently, unable to contend with you
in skirmishing."  And this course of action was what was
An Amazing Wonder.  For a tory/of Ire'and. He alludes to it in his
more rationally told account of this al- baflad of  "Remember the glories of
most fabulous array, see Moore's His- Brian the brave."




582                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
adopted; and the army of the Dal g-Cais suffered more losses
from the skirmishes that thence ensued, than it could have done
from  a pitched battle.  From  Ath-Aei, they marched through
want and hardship towards their own country; and at length
there reached home under Donncadh, son of Brian, but eight
hundred and fifty of their number, for they had lost tell men
above seven score, in their skirmishlles with the men of Osraide,"
who had continued to harass them, while they persisted in refusing to stand a pitched battle.
Mcaelsechlainn's Account65 of the Bacttle of Cluain Tarbh.
The following  is the account which  Alaelsechlainn, son of
Domnall, king of Meath, gave of the battle of Cluain Tarbh,
within one month after it had been fought. For when the chiefs
64 Osraide. It does not appear that treachery on the part of this prince,
any of this tribe had been engaged on whom they describe as a true patriot
either side at Clontarf. But it is said  and magnanimous hero.  The Dalcasthat its chief had held aloof upon the sian writer, however, in order to exalt
plain of Claun Kellaigh, determined to  the character of the popular hero,
shape his conduct by the result.    Brian, did not hesitate to blacken,
The only sons of Brian that survived  unjustly, the fame of his injured comthe battle of Clontarf were Tadg  petitor." —Were there, indeed, no other
(Teigue) and Donncadh (Donoicgha), evidence of its falsehood, than the acts
Of the others, Murcadh (Moroiigha). of this chivalrous and generous prince
his eldest son, had fallen there, and  during the whole course of his long
Concobar, Flann and Domnall, though  life, the latter alone should be proof
mentioned  by Keating  as engaged  enough to show that he was incapable
therein, had either died or been slain  of treacherously conspiring with his
previously.  The surviving brothers country's enemies.  Mlr. Moore does
fell out soon after their return to Kenn- ample justice to his conduct.  This
Coradh, and in the same year (A.D). writer, though he has been guided by
1014) fought a desperate battle, in  foreign rather than by Irish ideas and
which victory declared  in favor of customs, in condemning as an usurpaTad(g, and where Ruaidri O'Donnagain, tion, the accession of Brian to the
Lord of Aradh, and many others were throne-an accession that, in truth. difslain. But they were soon after recon- fered in nothing from several preceding
ciled by the mediation of the clergy of accessions,except in his not having killMunster, and reigned in partnership, as ed his predecessor. He informs us that
kings of Leth Mo(rha, until A. D. 1023, " When the mortal wound received by
when Tadg was treacherously murder- Murrough (Murcadh,) the son of Brian,
ed by the men of Eli, at the instigation  in the battle of Clontarf, deprived the.
of his own brother.                 army of its acting leader, the command
lMaelsechlain's Account, 9/c. —This devol-ved upon the patriotic and highaccount is pure fiction.  It was ab- minded AIalachy, (Maelsechlainn) by
stracted by Keating from the historical whom the victory, then all but accomtract called Cath Cluann Tarbh,"which" plished was followed up to its full and
says Dr. O'Donovan, " is a Munster perfect success." —History qf Ireland.
production, full of prejudice agailst   The fact that Maelsechlainn acted as
the dethroned Maelsechlainn, but the a true patriot, and faithful ally on that
northern  annalists acknowledge  no occasion, is amply borne out by the aeo




THE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.                        583
of the Clann Colmain had requested him  to give them  a description of the conflict, he addressed  them  and  said, "That in his
opinion, he had never witnessed any battle like unto that one;
for." said he, "were one of God's angels to come from  heaven
to give a description thereof, it would  appear incredible even
from  him.  During that engagement I stood  aloof with  my
forces and remained a spectator of the contest, but at no greater
distance than the breadth of a single fallow field and its hedge.
And then, as soon as the warriors had come to  close quarters,
and were fighting  breast to breast and hand to  hand, striking
and cutting at one another, like, indeed, unto that from  a crowded flock of white gulls, when the summer tide is making for the
land, wVas the dazzling glare of the bright shields, brandished
above the heads of the combatants.   And even if we felt any
counts of the battle, as handed down to  son  of  Muredach Claen, King of
us in the annals of the Four Masters, Kiarraide Luachra; Domnall, son of
and the annals of Ulster. The follow- Diarmiaid, Lord  of Corea Baskin;
ing is the simple and unadorned entry  Sgannlan, son of Cathal, Lord of Eowhich the compilers of the former have  gantacht Loeha Lein; and Domnall,
made thereof;-"A. D. 1013,(correctly, son of Emhin, son of Cainnech, Great
1014.)  An army was led by Brian, Steward of Marr, in Alba.
son of Kenneidigh, son of Lorcan,    "T'he forces were afterward routed
King of Ireland, and by Maelsechlainn, by  dint of battling, bravery  and
son of Domnall, King of Tembhair. The striking, by Maelsechlainni from  Tulforeigners of the West of Europe as- cainn (the small river now called the
sembled agrainst Brian, and Maelsech- Tolka, which joins the sea at Clontarf;)
lainn, and they took with them ten hun- to Ath-cliath, against the foreigners
dred men with coats of mail. A spirit- and the Leinstermen; and there fell
ed, fierce, violent, vengeful and furious AMaelmorda, son of Murcadh, son of
battle was fought between them, the  Finn, King  of Leiister, &c. —(See
likeness of which was not to be found  list already given) —there were also
in  that time, at Cluain Tarbh, on  slain  Dubgall, son  of Amlaeibh
Friday before Easter precisely.  In  and Gilla-Kiarain, son of Gluaiairn,
this battle were slain Brian, son of  two tanists of the foreigners; SicKenneidigh, monarch of Irelanld, who  frith, son of Lodar, Earl of Inswas the Augustus of all the west of h-Ore, (the Orkneys;) Brodar, chief of
Europe, in the 88th year of his -age; the Danes of Denmark, who was the
3Murcadh, son of Brian, royal heir of  person that slew Brian. The ten hunIreland (Righdamna Erenn) in the 63d  dred in armor were cut to pieces, and
year of his age; Conaing, son of Don- at least 3000 of the foreigners were
cuan, son of Brian's brother; Tordel- slain —Maelmuri, son of Eocaidh, Cobach, son of kIMurcadh, son of Brian; marba of St. Patrick, proceeded to
Mothla (or Molta,) son of Domnall, son  Sord Coluim Killi, (Swords,) with seniof Faelan, Lord of the Desi Mumhan; ors and relics, and they carried thence
Eocaidh, son of Dunadach, i. e., the  the body of Brian, King of Ireland, and
Lord of Clann Sgannlain; Niall Ua  the body of Murcadh, his son, and the
Cuinn; Cuduiligh, son of Kenneidigh, head of Conaing, and the head of Moththe three companions of Brian;'Tadg  la.  Maclmuri, with his clergy, then
Ua Kellaigh, Lord of  i Mani; Mael- wakled the body with great honor and
ruadnaidh na Paidrc-O'h-Eidin, Lord of veneration, and they were interred in a
Aidni; Gebennach, soin of Dubagan, new tomb."
Lord of Fera Maighe; Mac Betha,




584                THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
desire to hllp either party, it was no longer in our power to interfere, because our spears and arms iwere entangled above our
heads by the clotted hair; for the wind of' tlle spring had
borne down upon us clotted locks of hair, torn from the hcads and
beards of heroes, as they cut, and hacked, and slaughltereod one
another with weapons sharp and fleet.  So that fromn this cause
alone, we had much to do in keeping the handles of our spears
and battle-axes clear of each other.  And we then considered that
thoso actually engaged in the fight could not have suffered more,
than the men who had to continue spectators of such a fight,
and keep themselves from running mad."
The reader must here observe that, althougLh Maelsecllainn
and the men of Meath, had marched to the field as part of the
army of Brian, there was nevertheless a treacherous plot betweenl himself and the Lochlan naigh, by reason of which, 1he did
not lead his men into the line of battle with the rest of the
monarch's forces; but what he did was to draw  his followers
aside from the fight, as had been previously arranged with the
strangers.
Neither were the Kinel Eogain nor the Kinel Conaill present
at that engagement; but their absence was caused by no fa-ult
of theirs, for they had proffered to march thither, but Brian had
himself refused their aicl, saying in the greatness of his soul, that
as he had gained all the victories he had ever gained without their
help, so should he gain this one.
MAELSECHLAINN, ARD-RIIGH.
A. D. 1014."6   Maelseclhlainn, son of Donmnall, reslmed the
sovereignty of Ireland after the death of Brian, and reigned for
nine years.  It was during this period that thl  following events
took place:
Maelsechlainn, aided by O'Neill and O'-Maeldoraidh, led a
numerous force against Ath-cliath, which he burned,'; in spite,
of the remnant of the Lochlannaigh, that had  survived  the
A. D. 1014-15. After the deatll resy. Theytllen marclhed( intoUi Kennof his rival, Brian, and having coin- selaigh, and despoiled thle whole territopleted the victory of Clontarf, Madl- ry, carrying off many thoucmand capsechlainn  regained  the  unopposed tives and cattle. IHowever, a party of
possession of the sovereignty of Ire- his  foragers were intCrcep:ted, and
land.                              many of them were s'ain.:Maaisecih-'7 Ath-cliatlh burned. " A. D. 1015. lainn then returned into Leinster, folAn army was led by Maelsechlainn, lowed by O'Neill, O'Maeldolaidhl and
O'Neill and O'Maeldoraidh (the Princes O'Ruairc (Prince of Brefili,) when he
of Kinel Eorain and Kinel Conaill) to carried off the hostnaes of Leinster,
Ath-cliathl; and they burned the fort- and gave that principality to I)onn.
ross, and all the houses outside the fort- cuan, son of Dunlaing. JHIence he pro.




THE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.                        585
slau,hter of their race by Brian, uipon the field of Cluain Tarbh.
Thence he marched against the Ui KIennselaigh, the whole of
who3e counlrtry he pillaged anll burned, of whose people he slewr
great numbers.  After this, the monarch marched into Ulidia,65
whenca he carried off very many hostages.
It was about this time that Donnagan,69 King of Leinster, and
Tadg O'Iiainn,9*' lord of Ui Drona, with several other noble persons, were slain in the middle of Lcithglinn by Donncadll, son
of Gilla-Padrllig.  Maclsechlain,, King of Ireland, then made a
hosting into Osraide, where he slew  Donngal, son of Gilla-Padraig, sonil. of Donncadh, and many other people together with
him, and whence he carried off immense spoil and great numbers
of captives.  It was about this time that Mac-Liaog,, the Archpoet of Ireland, died.
It was this Maelsechlainn, of whose reign we are treating, that
founded the monastery of St. Mary's, at Ath-cliath, about the
year of one thousand and twenty-two."  In the latter part of his
ceeded unto Osraide, whence hle car-    9 O'Riain, now Ryan. This family
ried off innumerable preys and many  is still numerous in Idrone and throughprisoners. —Se Four Masters.          out Leinu-ter, but they are to be dis68 Ulidl.  Mtlaclseclhlainn receivred  tinguished from the O'Maeilriains, or
the hostages of Ulidia in A. D. 1016. O'lIulryans, now O'Ryans, of Owny
"Were any further refutation of the  O'Mulryan, in Tipperary.  Both are
calumny (against this king,) want- of the race of Cathaeir Mor, Kinl  of
ing, we slhould find it in the prompt Ireland, but their pedigrees are differaccording assent of the whole nation, ent. The Ui Drona descend  from
and  to lhis immediate  resumption  Drona, 4th in descent from that King.
of the supreme power, and the instant'Ihe Ui Maeilriain spring from Fergus,
vigor with which, on his accession, son of Eogan Goll, sonlof Nathi, son of
leavingr no respite to thle remnant of  Crimthan, son of Enna Keisnnselach,
the Danish force, lie attacked them in  son of Labraidlh, son of Bresal Belach,
their headl quarters, Dublin, and set- son of Fiacaidh Bacheda, son of Cathting fire to the citadel and the houses aeir Mor.-O'D.
around it, destroyed the greater part   70 acS-Liag.  His name was Murof that city."-l.i1oore.             kertach, son of Cukertach. He was the
69 Dona.rln_. -Iis name was Donn- chief physician and secretary of Brian
cuan, not 1)onnagan.  lie was the  Borormha, of which monarch lie is said
king whom  Maelsechlainn had placed  to have written a life, which, accordover Leinstcr a short time  previ- inll to Dr. O'Donovan, was extant in
ously.'Tl'e murder was perpetrated  MS. in tle last century, thoug~h na
at Leith-glinn, in A. D. 1016. Tadg  copy of it is known to exist at pres.
Ua Riain was slain by the son of Gil- enut. He died in A. D. 101 6. Sea some
la-Padraipg upon the same occasion. extracts from his writiDngs in Hcardi"After they hlad made friendship, and  man's Iris/i M;li.strelsy.
taken a nlutual oath in the beinninr   71 OP.e thousand  and  twenty-two.
of the day."  Alaelsech!lainn invaded  O'Connor's translation has it 1045;
Osraide wiihin the  same year, and  one of the editor's AISS. 1034, and
avengred his murdered vassal by slay- another has the one given above, which
ing Donng'al, the brother of the treach- has been adopted as the least objection,
erons Donncaldh, and  destroyed the  able.
country as related above.




686                  THE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.
life, this monarch had indeeld blecome a good and a pious man."7
When the strength of Loch;llanncaigh  had been broken in the
battle of Cluain Tarbh, and when they no longer held any authority in the country, except the wardenship of some seaport
towns, whence, indeed, they still made occasional plundering
incursions into the interior, though not strong enough to give a
pitched  battle to the Gaels, then did Maelsechlainn, after the
example of Brian7'  begin to reorganize the public schools, and to
build new  churches and to  repair those that had fallen into
decay.  WVe are told, moreover, that he maintained three hundred students in those schools, at his own cost.
It was, also, in the reign of Mi\aelsechlainn that Braen74 son of
Maelmorda, son of Murcadh, who had been king of Leinster for
two years, was treacherously blinded by Sitric, son of Amlaeibh,
at Ath-cliath.  Kenannus,'  of Meath, was now robbed and pil72 A good and pious man. Judging  Patrick, St. Columba and St. Kiaran;
from all that is trustworthy in the re- one of his latest cares being to endow
cords of his own time, Maelsechlainn  a foundation for the support of 300 orwas a good man, not only subsequently  phan children, to be selected out of the
to the death of his rival, but during  principal cities of the island."-History
the whole course of his own career. of Ireland.
I-Te was not alone good, but he stands   73 After the examlple cf Brian. It
forth prominent as the most stainless  was not enough to have robbed Maeland the noblest of ail the Irish laymen  sechlainn of his merits during the lifeof his time. —" In  approaching  the  time of his rival, but the Munster
close of this eminent prince's career."  writers would even deprive him of part
Mr. Moore has truly  observed, "it of the praise due to the meritorious
should not be forgotten, among  his deeds he performed after that hero's
other distinguished merits, that, unlike  death. He was, however, no less disthe greater part of those chieftains, who  tinguished for his pious munificence,
flourished in what may be called the  victories, and attention to the internal
Danish period, he never, in any one in- improvement of his counltry during his
stance, sullied his name by entering into  first reign, than he was after his restoalliance with the spoilers of his country; ration to the throne. In these Brian
and as the opening year of his reign  might rather be said to have imitated
had been rendered memorable by a him.
great victory over the Danes, so, at the    74 Brarn.  -Ie was blinded by the
distance of nearly half a century, his former allies of his father, in A. 1). 1018.
closing hours were cheered by a tri- Blinding' was the usual mode of incapaumph over the same restless, but no  citating a prince from reignling. Braen
longrer formidable foe. In the summer died in consequence of this ill-treatof 1022, being summoned to the field  ment.
by some aggression of the Northmen,   75 Kenanus robbed.  Kenannus, or
he encountered their force at the Yel- Kells, in Meath, was robbed in A. D..
low Ford, a place now called Athboy, 1019, and many persons were slain in
and defeated them with great slaugh- the middle by the church. Maclsechter. Retiring soon after the battle to  lailn was thenl at enmity with  the
a small island 1pon Loch Annin, he  Kinel Eogain of the North, by whom
there ended his life ill penitence and  his two sons, Ardgar and Arden, were
prayer; beinr attended in his dying  slain. The restless plulnderers of Dub.
moments by the three comarbas of St. lin seemed to have seized upon that




THE HIISTORY  OF IRELAND.                         587
laged  by this same Sitric and the Lochlannaigh of Ath-cliath.
On this occasion many persons were slain by these plunderers,
and numbers were carried off into captivity.
Some time after, Sitric, son of AInlaeibh, and the inhabitants
of Ath-cliath, received a great defeat from Ugari, son of Dunlaing,"6 son of Cathal, who was king of Leinster for three years:
a dreadful slaughter  was made of the Lochlannaigh  therein.
But, not long afterwards, Donnslebi, son of Maelmlnorda, burned
the house of Ugari, at Dubh-loch 7 of Lis Culi, and Ugari himself
perished in the flames.  It was also about this time, that Sitric,
son of Imharf5 lord of the Lochliannaigh, of Port Larci, was slain
by  the king  of Osraide.  At length, Maelsechlailnn,  king  of
Ireland, died at Cro-inis,5~ in Loch Anind.
From  the death of this monarch to the invasion of the AngloNornians, I am  of opinion that no king was ever universally
acknowledged as the sovereign ruler of Ireland; for, although
opportunity for making an incursion  He lived but a month after this. Maelinto his dominions. It was but two  secllainn Mior, son of Domniall, son of
years previously that he had defeated  Donncadh, pillar of the dignity and
them  with great slaughter, at Odba; nobility of the Western world, died at
and in 1021 he avenged the agression  Cro-inis, of Loch Anind, after receiving
by ravacgingc their territories.       the body of Christ and his blood, after
S6 Ugai', son  of Dunllainr,   He  being anointed by the l:ands of Amalgained this victory in A. D. 1021, at gaidh, Comiarba of Patrick;  and the
Delgni Mogarog, now called I)elgany, Comarba of Column  Killi, and the
in the barony of Rathdown, County  Comarba of Kiaran, and most of the
Wicklow.                               seniors of Ireland were present at his
D Oubloch;  i. e., the Black Lough  death; and they sung masses, hymns,
Its situation is unknown. The death of psalms and canticleS, for the welfare of
Ugari did not take place for two years  his soul.  Sorrowful to the poor of the
after that of Mae!sechlainn, as is seen by  Lord was the death of Mad's-chlclainn,
the following entry: "A. D. 1024. as is evident from this quatrain:
Donuslebi, Lord of Ui Faelain, took a
house forcibly from  Ugari, king  of   Four hundred forts that king possessed,
Leinster, anld from  i~Maelmorda, son of   In which both flesh and food were given.
Lurcan, Lord of Ui Kenselaigh, aond o   Guests from the elemental king.
Found welcome in each fort of these."-Fou,
fiom his son; and the three were slain    fMasters.
therein." —Fcur AMast-rs.
7 Sitric, son of Imahar. He was slain    8 Cro-inis, i. e., the isle of the house
in A. D. 1022.                         or hut. It is still called Cro-inis in
79 JIcaelsec/lainn died. "A. D. 1022. Irish, but Cormorant Island in ERglish.
The victory of Ath Buidlhe Tlactga  It lies in the north-west part of Lough
(i. ce., the Yellow Ford of Tlactgo, now  Ennell, near Mullingar.  Some fragAthboy, in  Meath,) was gained by  ments of the ruins of a small castle, or
hael.sechlainn, over the foreigners of stone house, are still to be seen on the
Athl-cliath, and numbers were  slain  island.  The fort of Dun-na-Sgiath (i.
therein; of which was said:            e., the Fort of the Shields), the seat of
MaIe'sech!ainn, which consisted of sevllislast red victory was gained,  eral concentric entrenchments, is sitOne evening at the Yel!ow Ford;  nted on the banl  of the laic opposite
And thirty bounding d(ays he saw,
From this until his final huur.  this island.-O'Donovan.




688                  THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
historians  name  certain  chieftains  as Ard-riglla, or supreme
kings, after his time, still I find that none of these reigned without opposition,s' notwithstanding their assumption of the title of
monarchs of the whole kingddom.  rTo this fiact a historic bard
has borne testimony irn the following verse:
"After the happy Maelsechlainn,
Son of Domnall. son of Donncadb,
Each noble king, ruled his own tribe,
But Eri owned no sovereign lord."
DONNCADHI, ARD-RIGH,
Go Fresabra.
A. D. 1023./" Donncadh,b3 son of Brian Boromha, son of Kenneidigll, son of Lorcan, of the line of Eber, held the sovereignty of
the greater part of Irelani, anrd, more especially, that of the
kingdom of Loth Moegha, for fifty years.'   I This is the opinion of
Finghin MacCarthaigh,`" as written in his book on the history of
81 Wi/tout opposittio, i. e, gan fres- fifty years, in all, from the battle of
abhradh " (gcnnfrassowra). Aaelsech- Clontarf to the deposition of Donncadh,
lainn may be justly styled the last full in A. D. 1064. During  that period,
king of Ireland. Thoulgh several pro- Maels-chlainn reigned for nine years;
vincial kings were styled ard-righa by  after which the nominal regency lasted
their own partizans; after his time, and  according to some, for six years. About
are even named as such by foreign  the year A.D. 1053, Donncadh's power,
writers, still it does not appear that even in the southern half of Ireland,
any of them was ever either, regularly  began to sink beneath that of I)iarinstalled as monarch, or accepted as maid, son of Donncadh, styled Mael-nasuch by the majority of the nation. By  mbo, King of Leinster, and the fosterour anti.quarians, the toparch, whose  father and protector of Tordelbach,
power predominated for the time, was son of the murdered Tadclg. Under this
styled, " Righ go fresabhradh " (iee go  power, the fortunes of Donncadh finally
frasscw-a), i.e., king with opposition, sank in A.D. 1063. Donncadh then,
or rather kinFr under protest.         cannot, with the utmost latitude of ex82 A. ). 1023.  In this year, Donn- pression, be considered as having been
cadh, havint procured the assassination  sole king, even of all Leth Mogha, for
of his brother and co-regnant, as already  a longer period than thirty years. At
stated, became sole king of Munster, no time can he be considered as monand he soon after received hostages of arch of all Ireland, for none of the
Osraide, Connaught, Leinster and the  northern tribes had ever submitted to
Danes of Dublin.  At this time, how- his authority.  HIis title to be styled
ever, the power of Flathbertach O'- Ard-righ Freon  is, indeed, much less
Neill was paramount in Meath and  ostensible than that of any of those
Ulstdr; whilst the sages, Corcran the  toparchs, whom  our ancestors have
Cleric, and Cuan O'Lochain, were nQn1- ca!led rig'ha gofresabradh.
inally considered as the regents of Ire-    5 Firg/tin2 MacCarthaigh; otherwise
land.                                  Florence MacCarthy. He lived in the
&S DONNCADH  III.                   fifteenth century, and wrote a history of
" FYfty years. This number is en- Ireland, said to be still extant in mantirely wrong; for there elapsed but uscript.




THE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.                        589
Ireland, and it is also that of some other Irish antiquarians; and
I do myself deem  it more likely to be correct, than that of those
who say that Donncadh held the sovereignty for no longer than
twelve years; for the opinion of Finghia is in accolrdandc   with
the number of years thtt elapsed from  the time of Brian to the
Anglo-Norman  invasion, whilst the other assertion  does not
accord"6 therewvith.
It was during the reicgn of Donncadh thlat Harold Conan,87
Prince of Britain, fled to Ireland, where he found shelter, in the
year of our Lord one thousand and fifty-one.  It was then, likewise, that Miathgamllain O'Riagain,SS  King of Brealgh, captured
Amlaeibh, son of Sitric, Lord of the Lochlannaigh of Ireland,
and forced him to pay a ransom  of two hundredl cows sand sixty
steeds, for his liberty.  It was, moreover, during the reign of
Donncadh, that Flathbertach O'NeillP9 set out upon his pilgrimage to Romb.  After this, Tadg O'Lorcain,9  lking of Ui Kenn
selaigh, died at Glenn-da-loch, where he had been doing penance
About this time, likewvise, died Gormfiaith,l' daughter of DonnDoes 1not accord. The reason of and the Irish hostages both of Leinster
the discrepancy here noticed, was ap- and Loth Cuinn; and sixty ounces of
parently caused by the fact that the  silver as his fetter-ounce (i. e., the
partizans of each  pretender to the  price of his fetters); and eig'hty cows,
throne had styled their chieftain king  for word and supplication; and fiour
of Ireland, from the time of his access- hostages to Ua Riagain, as securities
ion to the rulership of his own tribe or for peace; and the full value cf the life
province.  In our authentic annals, of the third hostage."-Four M'asters.
which acknowledge no monarch after This account is more likely to be near
Maelsechlainn, there is no such confu- the truth than Keating's.-Ed.
sion of dates.                         89 Fl athbe rtac O'Nieill. ie was Lin( of
87 Haroldl Conan.  1haroldr, son of Ailech, from A. D. 1004, to A. D. 1036.
Earl Godwin, and the last of the Saxon  Hie was a distinguished and powerful
kin(gs of England, is here meant.'I he  chieftain in his day,,and migiht be
second witfe of Donncadh wls the sister styled king of the North of Ireland,
of Harold.  The latter fled to Ireland  from the death of lMaelsechlainnil to his
after the rebellion of his father against own. His pilgrimage to Rome took
Edward the Confessor. In this coun- place in A. D. 1030, whence lhe returned
try, says the Saxon Chronlicle, lie re- next year. He is thence styled in the
mained "all the winter on the king's O'Neill pedigreas, An Troslain, i. e., of
security."  Donncadh afterwards sup- the Pilgrim Staff.
plied him with a fleet and a body of   90 TaZIg O'Lorcain.  " A. ). 1037.
armed men, wherewith he made a suc- Tad:g Ua Lorcain, tanist of Ui Kenncessful landing in his own country.   selaigh, was taken prisoner at Kill
Mlathganmain Ua Rilagain; in En-  Cuillinn, (Kilcullen,) by  Donncadh,
glish, Mahon O'Re(ran. "A.D. 1029. son of Gilla-Padraig, and he was afterAmlaeibh, son of Sitric, lord of the fo- wards blinded by the son of AMael-nareigners, was captured by Mathgamain  mbo."-Four Masters.
O'Ria(gain, lord of Breagha, who ex-   9' Gormflaith. "A. D. 1030. Gorm
acted 1,200 cows as his ransom, toge- flaith, daughter of lurcadhll, son of Firn,
ther with 140 British horses, and sixty  mother of Sitric, l incg of the foreigners;
ounces of gold, and the Sword of Carlus, of Donncadh, son of Brian, king ot




690                  THE HIISTORY  OF IRELAND.
cadh, son of Flann, King of Leinster, and mother of Sitric, son
of Amaleibh, Lord  of the Lochlannaigh of Ireland.  She was
also the mother of Donncadh, son of Brian Boromhla.
It was now that Cluain Ferta, of St. Brendani, was plundered
by Art Coilech O'Ruairc,9' King of Brefili; but Donncadh, son of
Brian  Iorolnha, overtook him  on the same day, and made a
drleadful slaugllter of his people, in vengeance of the sacrilege
which they had committed. Soon after this, Cathal, son of Ruaidri,9' King of the west of Connaught, went upon a pilgrimage to
Ard Macha.
In a few years after, Port Largi, was plundered and burned by
Diarmaid, son of Mael-na-mlbo,90 King of Leinster.  It was then,
also, that Cluain-mic-Nois was plundered95 and burned by the
Conrnacni, but God and St. Kiaran wvreaked prompt vengeance
upon them  for that sacrilegious decd, for the greater part of the
people of this tribe, together with their cattle, died soon after of
a plague.
It was about this time that Cartliach, son of Saerbrethach,96
Munster, and of Concobar, son of Mael- that time until his death, he continued
sechlainn, kilng of Tenmhair, died, It to be one of the most warlike and
was this Gornilaith that made the three  powerful of the Irish princes.  During
leaps, of which was said:            part of it, some antiquarians style him
monarch of Ireland.
"Goritlaith made the leaps,` Cluaiz-mic-Nois plundered.  The
Which woman never more shall make;  Conmacni, who plundered this ecclesiasOne at Ath-cliath, one at Temhair,
And one at Caisel of Cups, over all." —Four tical establishment on the present ocfaisters.                        casion, were most probably of the
branch of that tribe that dwelt in
She had been first queen of the Danes, Mlayo and Leitrim. It was done at the.hen of Brian, and lastly of Maelsech- suggestion of O'Ruairc, who was then
lainn. Sle was the sister of Iaelmor- sovereign of Connaught, for we are
da, king of Leinster. Finn, not Flann, told that when " the unknown plague
was her and his grandfather's name.    was sent amongst them, so that the
9: Art Coilech; i. e., Art the Cock. booleys and their cattle were laid waste
Art O'Ruairc, who was king of Con- after the death of all the shepherd peonaught, was slain bythe Kinel Conaill, ple, the clergy of St. Kiaran received
in A. P. 1046. The plundering of an award in atonement therefor, nameCluain Ferta, of St. Brendan, men- ly, the son of O'Ruairc, who was called
tioned above, took place in A. D. 1031. AIac-na-h-oidhche  (mac na heehie, i.e.,
93 Cathal, son of Raidri.  ie went the Son of Night,) and twelve sons of
on his pilgrimage to Ard Macha in  the sub-chiefs, the best of the Conmacni,
A. D. 1037, where he died, in A.D. alongr with him, and a sgreball from
1043.                                every dun." This happened in A. D.
94 Diarmazd, son of Mael-na-mbo. He  1044. It was plundered again in A.
was the first of the immediate ances- D. 1050.
tors of the MacSMurrough, that became    9 Carthach, son of Saerbrethach. This
King of Leinster. Maelmorda, son of is the progenitor from whom the royal
Murcadh, was ancestor of the O'Byrnes. sept of MacCarthaigh (Milac Caurha) of
Port Largi (now Waterford) wasplun- Desmond, now anglicized MacCarty,
dered by him  in A.D. 1037. From  takes its name. This chieftain had de.




THE IIISTORY  OF IRELAND.                        591
king of the Eoganacht of Cashel, was burned, together with
many  other nobles, in  a Louse which was  set on fire by the
grandson of Lonnargan, son of Donncuan.
At ]hat, Doilncadh, son of Brian, was deposed97 from the sovereignty; whereupon he went on a pilgrinlage to Rome.  There
he died, in the monastcry of St. Stephen.
TDe races of Power, Plunlcett, and Fitz-Eustace.
Many  people  assert that the  Paeraigh,7, Plunketaigh  and
feated the united forces of Ormond and  Tordelbach, leading against him  the
Osraide, or Ossory, in A. I). 1043, at united forces of Connaught and Leins7Maeilcaennaigh (a place near the vil- ter, gave Donncadh the final fatal overlage  of Golden), where iMac-Craith  throw, which compelled him to resign
O'Donagain, lord of Aradh, was slain. in favor of his nephew, and retire into a
The Lonnarg'an above mentioned was of foreign monastery to atone for his fratthe Dal g-Cais tribe, and ancestor of the  ricide, amongr his -other sins.  The
O'Lonnargains, who very probably then  cvevnts preceding his resignation are remade their first settlement at Catllair-  corded as follows: "A. D. 1063. A great
duin-iasgach, in Tipperary, which is  army was led by the soil of Mael-nanow called Cahir.                    mrbo, into Munster; and the chiefs of
97 Don1cdZh depesed. I"A. D. 1064. tlhe plain of Munster, came into his
Donncadll, son of Brian, King of Mun- house and left hostages with him. The
ster was deposed; and lie afterwards  son of Brian (Donncadh) and his son
went to Rome, where he died after the  Murcadh of the Short Shield, came to
victory of penance, in the monastery of attack Tordelbach, after the departure
St. Stephen the MIartyr.-Four Mlast rs. of Diarmaid; but Tordelbach defeated
After the assassination of his brother AIureadlh, and slau(rghtered his people.
Tad,, Donmncadh had soon encountered  Diarnmaid again entered Munster,. and
an active and warlike opponent in his  took  its hostages from  the Water
nephew, Tordelbach. This accomplish- southwards, to  St. Brendan's Hill,
ed prince, favorably received by the  (now the Brandon mountains, in Kerry)
Irish chieftains, and affectionately sup- and those hostages he delivered into
ported by his kinsman Diarmaid, King, the hands of Tordelbach, who was his
of Leinster, soon became a formidable  foster-son." —Fcur Masters. This Donnrival to his uncle. Seconded by the  cadh is the king who is stated to have
reluctant tributaries of the Donncadh, carried the crown and regalia of IreTordelbacll gained  several successes land to Rome, and there; with the conover the suborner of his father's mur- sent of the Irish, nobility, to have deder, by which he compelled him to ex- livered beth them  and- the supreme
onerate both Connaught and Leinster sovereignty of his country into  the
from tribute. In A. D. 1058, Donucadh  hands of the Roman Poutifi: But it is
was routed in a battle fought near  evident from all the records of his time,
Siiabh Grod (the Gaulties) by Diar- that lie bad never become possessed of
maid, son of Mael-na-mbo, the friend  any crown or regalia of Ireland, which
and protector of his nephew.  This he could so bestow, and that "at the
chief again invaded Munster, in A. 1). time of his resignation or deposition
1061, and defeated the forces of Donn- his possessions had been reduced withcadh with great slaulghter at Cnamll- in very narrow limits.
coill, near Tipperary.  Next year he    98 Paeraigh,'c.; i. e., the families of
made another invasion of this princi- Power, Plunkett, and  FitzEustace;
pality, when he a second time burned  which names have been hibernicized
Limerick.  But at last Diarmaid and  Paer, or Paor, Pluinceatt, and Eusths.




592                 TI-E  IIISTORY  OF IRELAND.
E.usd:asaigh are descended from  tlhis monllarch.    ut I ]have not
found a silglc lay, or other wri!t,ig, in proof of tl]e descent of
any of tllese r]aces from  Donncadh, son of Brian Borcmban, with
the exception of one Verse that is containecld ill da d(I7tav,  begyilnning fwitl the line, "I shall  confer a fiavor on the sons of rltll,"
which dcua( n hls been composed b1y a man who is a cotcmporary
of our o1wn, namlely, by Miaeilin MacBruaidin.  rl'lcice is also an
oral tradition, repeatec  by manly ignorant persons, wnlich says,
that flfter hlis arrlival in l-ome, Donncadh. had an inlrirgue  with
the daghter of an emperor, tl cn dwelling in that city, aid thlnt
she tore him  a son, who becamle the progenitor of tlhe threo
tribes here mentioned.  Btut thlis tradition  cannot be true, because, wleCn Donacadh set out uponl his pilgrimage, h!e iw  s.a very
old man, inasmuch as le'hcad tLen passed his ci htieth year; for
which rcason it is not at all likely tlhat any empeiolr's daughter
could feel desirous of holding an intrigue with any such veteran
as he.  Besides this, it would have been exceedingly unbecoming for a man, who had gone to RIome as a pilgriml, iin ocider to
do peiinance  for his sins, to have had an amor ous intrigue with
any woman in thle wvorld.  For these reasons I judge thlat Donncadh lad no intrigue with any emperor's daughter, andl that no
son was borne to him in Rome, from whom  the above mentioned
races could have sprung.
The trullt   of my opinion may be lhe more readily estimated
from  lwhlat is read in  the took  of Annals, wllich wV,-s copied
about thrce huncdred  years since, out of the Leabnnr Brec,  or
Specklecd Book  of MIacAedagain.  For it is there sltclted, that,
9 A duan. The duan here referred  scarcely have had at ti:at timne any into  is a metrical genealogy of the terested motive in coining a Ectitious
O'Briens of T'lomiond.  The verse in  relationship beween these ncol;cnmilies
question is introduced but incidentally  alld that of his patroi.s.'VTe have
therein.  The following is a transla- scen that Donncadh was doubly contion                                  neected with foreigncrs. By I is moticor,
" From Ponnealll's branching stock have sprung be was the rotl;er of tie  anti  king
The nob!e tribos of PI'ower and Plunkett;  of I)nblin, and his seccl: cd vife was
Tried,x anIiors from the upland field-.,   riella, daughter of Farl Gcwmn. By
Thence Eprangthe martial race, FlitzEustace.  her le had a son lmcd  elrinal, or
Dr. Keatlig, in densing tle truth of DoI)man, who may possily lavoC mithe assertion contained in this. r-ann, grated to Normandy or 3rittlany, and
has inot adduced the slightest admissa- there founn~dl   thle ablove  ruqcd races.
b!e proof of its falsehood. It were  This is rendered less unlikely from
stranrge, indeed, that such a tradition  JDonncadh's family relaticship  with
should  n.ave got amongst The Dalcassian' the Dublin I)ancs —a pecp!e of the
shannachies, without some foundation; same blood as the Normans. Accordnor does the fact of Dr. Keating's never infr to O'Halloran, Dr. Keating has, in
having  seen any " lay or writing' in  order to refute MIacBruaidin, taken up
support tlereof, prove that such docu- some vulgar tradition that would con.
ments did not then, and may not still vert the'Saxon lady Driella into thl
exist. The bard, MacBruaidin, could  daughter of an emperor.




THE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.                        59&
after performing his pilgrimage to Rom.e, Donncadh entered the
monastery of St. Stepllen, in that city, where he took upon himself the yoke of religion, and where he passed what remained of
his life in tile practice of penitence, up to the day of his death.
We also find tlhe name of Robert le Poer,'00 from- whom the
Paeraigh  and Efustasaigh  are more  immediately sprung, men,
tionedl in the Chronicles of the Strangers, where they record tlle
names of those foreign nobles that came over'to Ireland in the
very  beginning  of the  Anglo-Norman  invasion.   The  salue
authorities tell us, that the Plunketaigh are descended from  the
Lochlannaigh (i. e., the Northinmen or Danes).
TORDELBACH  O'BRIAINr ARD-RIGH,
Go Fresabra.
A. D. 1064.1   Tordelbacl, son of Tadg, son of Brian Bor-,o'Robert le Poer. In Ireland, Ro- as a proof of the humble class from
bert became the founder of the noble  which the mass of the Anglo-Norman
Anglo-Norman sept of Power, or Le  invaders of Ireland had sprung. But
Poer, whose principal settlements lay  his mistaking the very name of that
in the territories of the southern Desi, founder, whom  he calls  Raymond,
now the county of Waterford, where  shows that he had not taken the trouseveral of its members  still rank  ble to examine whether his example
amoungst the highest or the local aristoc- was in point or not. Pcer is, accordracy.  The name is also widely spread  ing to him, the Norman-French for
amonrst the brave  peasantry  and pauvre, i. e., poor. But as well mirght it
wealthy farmers. of that county, as all be said, that King John of England
ancient names usually are.  In  the  was sprung from tlhe dregs of the poreign of Elizabeth, the heiress of the  pulace, because he was surnamed Sanseldest branch of this race married into  terre, or Lack-land. Then, Robert le
the En:llish family of Beresford, to  Poer was not one of the mass, he was
which fhmily she transferred a large  one of the leaders of the invasion, and
portion of its domains. This branch is though possibly poor, as most soldiers
now  represented  by the chivalrous, of fortune are, he was of n:)blc blood;
thonlh  anti-nationlal Marquis of Wa- for, according to the traditions of this
terford-no degenerate representative  family, one of the earliest known of its
of the good and, perhaps, of the evil progenlitors won his knighthood at the
qualities of the knightly spoilers of Crusades. There is also no reason why
olden time.''lhe eldest male brarnches that progenitor might not have been
are represented by the houses of Gur- either the son or the grandson of the
teen and Donisle, or Dunhill.  But abovQ-mentioned Domnan.
other branches, also, still retain the    The other sons of Donncadh who left
ownership of large portions of tlheir offspring, were the Murcadh, of the
ancient conquests.-Several memlbers of Short Shield, a distingruished warrior,
the sept founded by Robert le I'oer, as who was ancestor of several septs of the
if ashamed of any drop of old Irish  O'Briens; and Diarmaid, from whom
blood that might chance to have been  sprang the O'Briain, of Etharla, or
transmitted to them therewith, have bar- Aharla; the Mac Ui Bria.in O'g-Cuabarized their name to Powers. Augus- nach, or Mac O'Briens, of Coonagh;
tin Thierry has, amongst others, rather and, some say the Mac Ui Briain Ara,
unfairly cited  the nom-de-guerre of  or Mac O'Brien, of Ara.
the progenitor of the sept of Power,' A  D. D  107i3 is the date of the year
38




694:                THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
omha, of the line of Eber,2 held the sovereignty of the greater part
of Ireland, but more especially that of Leth Mogha, for twelve
years.  Mor, daughter of Gilla-Brighdi O'AMaelmuaidh,8 king of
the Kinel Fiacadh and the Fera Kell, was the mother of this
Tordelbach. It was in his reign that the following deeds were done.
For it was in it that Concobar, son of Maelsechlainn, king of
Meath,4 was treacherously murdered by the son of his own
brother, namely, -by Murcadh, son of Flann.  It was then also
that the head of this prince was forcibly carried off out of Cluainmic-Nois, on the Friday after Easter Sunday, by Tordelbach
O'Briain, who took it with him  to Kenn-Coraddh; but the same
head was carried northwards again to that monastery, on the next
following Sunday; and this happen6d through the miracles of
God and St. Kiaran.
It was also in this reign, and with the permission of the Irish
king, Tordelbach O'Briain, that William  Rufus,5 King of Saxonland, sent to Ireland for timber to roof the Hall of Canterbury.
This happened in the year of our Lord one thousand and ninetyeight; and it was during the previous year that the first bishop
of Port Largi~ was consecrated.
after the death of Diarmaid, son of like, being derived from tor,a tower, and
Mael-na-mbo, who reigned for nine  delb, or dealbh, a form, or likeness.
years as king of Leth Mogha, after the Persons of this name are now called
deposition of Donneadh. Tordelbach  Terence, which, though wrong, is not
ruled Munster during the same period, so objectionable as Turlough, which
apparently as the vassal of his friend gives neither the vulgar pronunciation'
and kinsman. Diarmaid, having been nor the true etymology. Tordelbach
slain by Concobar O'Maelsechlainn at was the first person called O'Briain,
the battle of Odba, in A. D. 1072, Tor- being the 0, or grandson, of Brian
delbach may thenceforward be con- Boromha.
sidered as king of Leth Mogha and the    3 Gilla-Brighdi O'MIzelmuaidh. The
greater part of Ireland. This Diarmaid  Fera Kell, or Feara Ceall, of which he
had vanquished the Danes of Dublin  was chief, are now represented by the
and Fine Gall (now Fingal) in A. D. O'Molloys, for it is thus that O'Mael1052; and havIng expelled their chief. mhuaidh (Mailvooi, or Mlailooi) has
tains, assumed the lordship of the for- been rendered into English.  Their
eigners of Leinster into his own hands, tribe-land is now called Fircall, and lies
he bestowed it upon his son Murcadh  in the King's County.
(father of Diarmaid, of the English),   4 Concobar, King of Meath. This
who thus became the first lord of the prince was murdered in A. D. 1073.
Danes who was of Irish, or rather of   5 William Rufus. The date given
Gaelic, blood. This Murcadh subdued  for this circumstance is wrong; for
the Isle of Man, whence he brought Tordelbach died in A. D. 1086. It
off tribute. In recording the death of was, also, for roofing the Hall of WestDiarmaid, our annalists style him the minster, not Canterbury, that William
"King of Leinster, Lord of the For- is said to have sent to Ireland for oak
eigners, and of Leth Mogha."       timber.'TORDELBACH I. This prince's name,   6 The first Bishop of Port Largi.
which is also spelled Toirdhealbhach The Danes of Waterford, or Port
(Turraylagh), is said to signify tower- Largi, having now become Christians,




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                      595
It was also about this time that Derborgaill,7 daughter of Tadg
Mac Gilla-Padraig, and wife of Torielbach O'Briain, king of the
greater part of Ireland, died; and soon after her died Tordelbachs
O'Briain himself, having then spent twelve years in the sovereignty of Ireland.
MURKERTACH MOR O'BRIAIN, ARD-RIGH,
Go Fresabra.
A. D., 1086.9   Murkertach,10 son  of Tordelbach, son of
Tadg, son of Brian Boromha, of the line of Eber, held the
sovereignty of the greater part of Ireland, but more especially
that of Leth Mogha, for twenty years. Caillech DA (i.e., the
Nun),'l daughter of O'h-Eidin, was the mother both of this prince
and of Ruaidri O'Concobair.l2  It was during the reign of this
Murkertach that the following events took place.
For it was in the early part of his reign-to wit, in the year
would have a bishop of their own race. monarch of Ireland, until about the
The name of their first bishop was year 1094.
Malchus.'0 MURKERTACH II. A. D. 1094. "For
7 Derborgaill.  This entry is mis- 72iyears after the death of Maelsechplaced. See note 11, on next reign.   lainn," says the learned and judicious
8 Death of Tordelbach.  "A. D. O'Flaherty, "the supreme throne of
1086. Tordelbach O'Briain, King of Ireland was destitute of any monarch;
Ireland, with opposition, after having but in 1094 two monarchs ruled Ire.
suffered from long illness (for he was land-one in the north, and the other
not well since the head of Concobar in the south. Of these, Murkertach,
O'Maelsechlainn had been brought great grandson of Brian, ruled the
from  Cluain-Mic-Nois), died in the south of Ireland for 25 years, and
22d year of his reign, and in the 77th Domnall O'Lochlainn governed the
year of his age, on the Ides of June north for 27.
precisely, after intense penance for his  "1 The Nun. She was apparently thus
sins, and after taking the body of Christ styled from her having taken religious
and his blood." -Four Masters. This orders at Glenn-da-loch, either after the
was 22 years after the resignation of birth of her sons, or the death of her
his uncle Donncadh in A. D. 1064, and husband: That she was not the daugh14 after the death of his ally, Diarmaid, ter of O'h-Eidin is seen by the followKing of Leinster, in A. D. 1072.   ing entry-" A. ID. 1098. Dearbhfor9 A. D. 1086. "On the death of gaill (Dervorgill), daughter of Tadg
Torlough (Tordelbach), the kingdom  Mac Gilla-Padraig, the mother of Murof Munster was equally divided between kertach and Tadg Ua Briain, died at
his three sons-Teigue, Murkertach, Glen-da-locha."-Four Masters. Mor
and Dermot (Diarmaid). But in the was the name of the daughter of O'hcourse of the same year, Teigue having  Eidin. Sadb, daughter of Carthach
died on the bed of his father, Murker- (ancestor of Mac Carthy), is also
tach banished his brother Dermot into named as having been, at some time,
Connaurght, and took sole possession the wife of Tordelbach O'Briain, the
of the throne." —Moore.            father of this Murkertach; and GormThence ensued a long series of hos- flaith, daughter of O'Fogarta, another
tilities, during the continuance of which of his wives, died in A. ID. 1077.
Murkertach cannot be considered as   1 Ruaidri O'Concobair. He was the
full king of Leth Mogha and nominal father of Tordelbach, and grandfather




696                THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
of our Lord one thousand one hundred and one-that he made
a grant of the city of Cashel as a sacred offering to God and St.
Patrick.3It was also during this reign that a general synod of the men
of Ireland, both laymen and ecclesiastics, was convened around
Murkertach O'Briain at Fiadh-mic-Aengusa.l4   Here follows the
number of ecclesiastics that attended at that meeting —to wit,
Maelmuri O'Dunain,15 Archbishop of Munster; Kellach,'6 son of
Aedh, Comarba of St. Patrick, Vicar-General and Primate of all
Ireland; with whom were thirty bishops, three hundred and sixty
priests, abbots, and priors; one hundred and forty deacons; and
many other persons belonging to religious orders, who are not
enumerated here.  At this synod,'l   regulations, laws, and cusof Ruaidri, or Roderick, afterwards sail being, according to him, a fort
nominal monarchs of Ireland. He is near Fiadh-mic-Aenousa. Some, howcalled Ruaidri na Soighe buidhi —i. e., ever, suppose the place of meeting to
Roderick of the Yellow  Greyhound  have been situated in Ui Bresail, now
Bitch. He reigned over Connau1ght Clanbrassil, Co. Armagh.
from A. D. 1076 to 1.092, when he was' Mlaemuri O'Dunain. His death
blinded by Flathbertach Ua Flathber- is recorded as having occurred in A. D.
taigh (Flahertagh O'Fiaherty), Kingl  1117, some years after the Synod of
of West Connaught. He did not die Fiadh-mlc-Aengrusa.  Dr. O'Donovan
until 1118.                        thinks it an error to call him Ardh-3 Cashel granted to God and St. bishop of Munster, for he is found
Patrick. "Among the warmest sup- styled Senior of Leth Cuinn in a conporters of ecclesiastical interests was temporaneous document, a.charter
the monarch Murkertach, who, in the  contained in the Book of Kells. lHe
year 1101, having convoked a great concludes that he was the same as
assembly of the people and clergy, made Idclunan, Bishop of Meath, who flourover, by solemn donation, to the church  ished in the year 1096.  He might,
that seat of the Momonian Kings, the however, have been translated from
city of Cashel, dedicating it to God one see to another.
and St. Patrick.'-Moore.', Kellach, sort of Aedh. His name
"A. D. 1101. A meeting of Leth  is latinized Celsus. His appointment
M-ogha was held at Caisel by Murker- to the See of Armagh, which he held
tach Ua Bi'iain, ivith the chiefs of the until 1129, is thus recorded-" A. D.
laity, and Ua Dunain, noble bishop  1106. Kellach, *son of Aedh, son of
and chief senior, with the chie's of the Maeilisa, was appointed to the succesclergy; and there Murkertach  Ua  sorship of St. Patrick, by the election
Briain made such agrant as no king  of the men of Ireland; and he received
had  ever made before, namely, he his ordination on the day of the Festigranted Caisel of the Kings to religious, val of St. Adamnan (23d Sept.)'without any claim of layman or clergy- Four M.asters. He died at Ardpatrick,
man upon it, but to religious of Ireland  in Munster, on his visitation of that
in general." —Four Masters.         province in 1129, and was buried, ac14 Fiadh mic Aengusa; i. e., the land  cording to his own will, at Lis-mor,
of the son of Aengus. This was the  of St. Mochuda, after an active and
name of a place near the hill of Uisnech, beneficent career.
in Meath. O'D. O Halloran thinks   17 This Synod.  It is otherwise
that the Synod of Rath Bresail was called the Synod of Uisnech (now
but a continuation of this, Rath Bre- Usnagh Hill, in Meath). It was held




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                    597
toms were enacted for the guidance both of the laity and of the
clergy'.  Manelmuri O'Dunain, Archbishop of Munster, died soon
after this event.
It was also in the reign of this Murkertach that another general
council, or synod, was convened in Ireland at Rath Bresail,l8
about the year one thousand one hundred and ten, for so wve
read in the ancient Book of Cluain Aidnech, of St. Fintann, in
Laeighis; in which authority, the principal affairs transacted at
this latter synod ard recorded.  It was Gilla-Esbog, Bishop of
Luimnech, that presided at the council of Rath Bresail, for he
was at that time the.Pope's Apostolical Legate in Ireland.  The
following are the principal arrangements made thereat.
Just as the twelve bishops of the southern part of Saxon-land
were ranged around the see of Canterbury, and the twelve of
the northern part under that of Eborach,'9 so were the prelates
of Ireland similarly grouped at this synod of Rath-Bresail; to
wit, the twelve bishops of Leth Mogha, and the twelve bishops
of Loth Cuinn; and more the two bishops that were in Meath.
It was upon this occasion that the churches of Ireland were given
up, in full possession, to the Irish prelates, who were thenceforth
to hold them for ever, free from the authority or rent of any
temporal lord. It was here, likewise, that certain and distinct
boundaries were laid out for the Irish dioceses, and that a limit
was set to the number of bishops thereof. The following were
the bishops then appointed to preside over the church of Leth
Cuinn —to wit, six over the province of Ulster, amongst whom
was the primate; five over the province of Connaught; and two
over AMeath: these constituted the twelve bishops of Leth Cuinn,
without reckoning the primate as one of their number.  The
episcopal sees of Ulster were these: Ard Macha, the seat of the
Archbishop, who was primate of all the bishops of Ireland; and
Cloclar, Ard-Sratha, Doiri, Cunniri, and Dun-da-leth-glas.  The
sees of Meath were Doimliag and Cluain Iraird; those of Connaught were Tuaim-da-gualann, Cluain Ferta of St. Brendan,
Conga, Kill-alaidh, and Ard-Carna.  The sees of Munster were:
Cashel, the seat of the Archbishop of Leth Mogha, Lis-mor, or
in the year 1111, as is seen by the fol- morals for all, both laity and clergy."
lowing entry: —' A. D.  A  synod -Four Masters. This enumeration is
was convened at Fiadh-mic-Aengusa, more likely to be exact than that given
by the chiefs of Ireland, with Kellach, by Keating.
Comarba of St. Patrick; Maelmuri  18 Rath Bresail. One copy of KeatUa Dunain, noble Senior of Ireland; ing gives the date of this synod 1115;
with 50 bishops, 300 priests, 3000 another in 1098. It was probably a
students; together with Murkertach prorogation of the former synod.
Ua Briain, and the chiefs of Leth   19 Eborach,i.e. York, the Latin name
Mogha, to prescribe rules and good of which is Eboracum.




698             THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Port Largi, Corcach, Rath-maighe-deskirt, Imlech Iubair, and
Kill-da-luadh: these were the seven sees which were decreed to
Munster in that synod. There were five sees allowed to Leinster,
namely, Kill Cainnigh, Leith-glinn, Kill-dara, Glenn-da-loch, and
Ferna, or Loch Carman: these, with the bishopricks of Munster
(not counting that of the Archbishop), constituted the twelve
episcopal sees of Leth Mogha.
The reason why I have not numbered the bishoprick of Athcliath amongst the above is because it was customary with its
bishop to receive his degrees of ordination in Saxon-land, from
the Archbishop of Canterbury.  Upon this fact Ianlmer has
grounded a false statement, in which he says that the Archbishop
of Canterbury had exercised a jurisdiction over the Irish clergy
from the time of the monk St. Augustine to that of the English
invasion. But it is nowhere found that the prelates of Canterbury had ever claimed any authority over any portion of the
clergy of Ireland, except during the prelacies of the Archbishops
Lanfranc, Ranulph, and Anselm; and even then, it was only
over a few of the Irish clergy that they held supremacy, namely,
over the bishops of Ath-cliath, Loch Garman, Port Largi, and
Luimnech-places whose inhabitants were sprung from the remains of the Lochlannaigh, and whose bishops, through a kindly
feeling towards the Normans, who were of the same origin with
themselves, had chosen the Archbishop of Canterbury for their
primate. This fact is clearly proved in the work of Doctor'Usher. Their reason for having done so, was because there
would be no equality in the election if it were left to the voice of
the people to decide between a man of their own nation -and a
man of the Gaelic race, should both be candidates for the episcopal dignity; for, in such a case, the majority of the voices of the
people would be given to the Gael, in preference to any one of
them.
Now, though it is not so stated, I am myself of opinion, that
the number of bishops then decreed to Munster was but six, and
that there were six more given to Leinster, and that the Archbishop of Cashel presided over the whole twelve, as it was customary with the metropolitan of Leth Mogha, after the example
of its temporal princes. This opinion I have already stated
under the reign of Laegari, son of Niall.
I now proceed to point out the extent and boundaries20 of each
diocese, as they were laid down at the said Synod of. Rath Bresail.
THE SEES OF ULSTER.-The diocese of the Archbishop of
Ard Macha extended from  Sliabh Breagh to Cuailli Kiannacta,' Boundaries. The modern names will be found in the preceding notes
of many of the places here mentioned, Several of them are now unknown.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                  599
and from Birra to the Amhain Mor.  The diocese of Clochar,
extended from the Amhain Mor to Gabail-liuin, and from Sliabh
Betha to Sliabh harga.. The diocese of Ard-Sratha extended
from  Sliabh Larga to Carn-glas, and from Loch Craei to Benn
Foibni. The diocese of the bishop of Doiri or Rath-both extended from Es-ruadh to the Srubh Broinn, and from Srubh
Broinn to Carn-glas.  The diocese of the bishop of Cunniri
extended from Benn Foibni to Tor Buirg, and from Port
Murbuilg, to Ollarba, to the harbor of Snamh Aighni, and from
Glenn Righe to Colba n-Germainn.  The limits of the diocese of
the Bishop of Dun-da-leth-glas are not stated in the ancient book.
THE SEES OF MEATH.-The diocese of the bishop of Doimliag extended from  Sliabh Breagha to the Carm  of Dun Cuair,
and from Lochan na-h-Imirki to the sea.  The diocese of Cluain
Iraird extended from  Clochan westwards to the Sinainn, and
from Ur-coillti to Cluain Conari.
THE SEES OF CONNAUGHT.-The  diocese of Cluain Ferta
of St. Brendan extended from the Sinainn to Boirenn, and from
Sliabh Echtighe to the Suca.  Thq diocese of Tuaim-da-gualann
extended from the Suca to Ard Carna, ancfrom Ath-an-termaina
to the Sinainn.  The diocese of Conga extended from Amhain
O-m-Broin in the nortlf to Neirnthin, and from Ath-an-termainn
westwards to the sea.  The diocese of Kill-Alaidh extended from
Neimthin to Es-ruadh, and from  Kill-Ard-bili to Srathan Ferainn. The diocese of Ard-carna, which is also called Ard-acadh,
extended from  Ard-carna to Sliabh-an-iarainn, and from  Keis
Corainn to Ur-coillti.  [However,2' this arrangement was made
but provisionally with regard to Connaught, for we find the following condition appended thereto.]  "This distribution has our
fullest sanction provided it meet with the consent of the clergy
of Connaught.  But, should they not deem  it satisfactory, let
them  make whatever other distribution may seem best to themselves.  Whatever division they may determine shall meet with
our approbation. But there shall, nevertheless, be no more than
five bishops in their province."
THE  SEES OF MUNSTER.-The Arch-diocese of Cashel extended from Sliabh Eiblinni to the river Siuir, and from Cnamh21 However, tc. The words in brack- proceedings,' and the editor has there
ets are inserted by the editor, as from  also supplied a connecting link between
the abruptness with which the succeed- the quotations and what precedes them.
ing passage, (which is evidently a quo- From the proviso attached to the restation from  the Resolutions of the olutions passed with regard to the
Synod,) is introduced, he suspects that Sees of Connaught and Leinster, it is
there is here some omission on the part evident that the majority of the clergy
of Dr. Keating's transcribers. The of those provinces were not present.
omission occurs again in relation to these




600            THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
coill near Tibraid Arann eastwards to Grian Airb and to Cros
Greni. The diocese of Lis-mor, or Port Largi, extended foinm
Port Largi to Miledach on the brink of the River Berba, to
Cumar-na-thri-n-iski, and thence- to Cork; and from the Siuir
southwards to the sea. The diocese of Corcach extended from
Corcach to Cam  Ui Neid, and from the southern Amhain MAlor
to the sea. The diocese of Rath Muighe Deskirt extended firom
Baei Bera to Kenn-MIara, and from the River Fial to the sea.
The diocese of Kill-da-luadh extended fromn the road called
Slighe Iala to Leim  Conculainn, and from  Sliabh Eclltighe
(Slieve Agdhee) to Sliabh-oighedh-an-righ (Slieve-eeyanree), and
thence to Sliabh Caein, or Glenn Caein. The diocese of Luimnech extended from Mael-carn eastwards by Ath-ar-coinni-Lodain and Loch Guir, and the Lathach Mor or the Great Bog; and
westwards from Ani, taking in Ard Padraig, Bclach Fcbradh, and
Tulach Lias towards the south as far as the Fial and Tarbert, including Cuinchi in Thomond and the Crosses on Sliabh-Oighedhan-righ and the Dubh-amhain.  "And," [added the decree of the
council], "' if any person go beyond these limits he will act in
violation of the will of the Deity, and of St. Peter, St. Paul, and
St. Patrick, and the men that have succeeded these saints in the
government of the Church of Christ;" and the temple of St.
Marv in Luimnech was its chief church. The diocese of Imlech
Iubair extended from Cluain Caein to the River Amhain Mor,
and from Cnamh-coill near Tibraid Arann to the River Ella.
THE SEES OF LEINSTEII.-The diocese of Kill Cainnighl extended from Sliabh Bladma to Miledach, and from Grian Airb to Sliabh
Margi. The diocese of Leith-glinn  extended from Sliabh Bladma
to Sliabh Uighe of Leinster, from  Sliabh MAargi to Belach
Carcrach, and from Belach Mughna to Tigh Moling and its termons. The diocese of Kill-dara extended from Ros Finn-glasi
to Nas of Leinster, and from  Nas to the Cum:,r of Cluain
Iraird. The diocese of Glenn-da-loch extended from Granach
to Beg Eri, and from Nas to Rechrainn. The diocese of
Ferna, or Loch Carman extended from Beg Eri to Miledacll
on the west side of the Berbal, and from  Sliabh Uighe
of Leinster southwards to the sea: "And;" [said the council]
"we now pass this decree subject to the approbation of the
clergy. Should the arrangement therein made not seem good to
them, let them adopt another; but there shall nevertheless be
not more than five bishops amongst them." And the benediction
of the Trinity, and of St. Peter, St. Paul, and St. Patrick was
invoked upon each bishop of the twenty-five,"2 here appointed,
that no Easter might ever pass over theln without their consecrating and blessing the sacred oil: "And many other good statT lwenty-five. Counting the primates, the number would be twenty-six.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                       601
utes were decreed at this holy synod which, for the sake of
brevity, are omitted here."23
And the benediction of the Comarba of St. Peter, and of his
legate  Gilla-esbog, bishop  of Luimnech; and the blessing of
Gilla-Kellaigh,2   Comarba of St. Patrick, that is, the Primate of
Ireland; and that of Mael-Isa O'h-Anmiri25 Archbishop of Cashel,
and of all the laymen and clergymen who attended that synod
of Rath Bresail, was pronounced upon all who would carry out
its ordinances, and their malediction was given to all who would
rebel against the same.
It is read in the Chronicle of Hacluith that, whilst lurlkertach
O'Briain held the sovereignty of Ireland, ambassadors were sent
to him  by the people of the Isles,26 requesting him  to depute
some man of the royal blood to rule over their territories during
the minority of Amlaeibh, or Aulang, son of Gofraidh, who was
the person whose right it was to reign over their people. In compliaiice with their request, we are told that Mlurkertach sent them
a nobleman  of his own famnily, named Domnall, son of Tadg
O'Briain, who governed them for three years, at the end of which,
the islanders banished him  back to Ireland, because lie had begun to practice tyranny towards them.
We also read in the same author, that Magnus,2' son of Anmlaeibh, son of Aralt, who was then King of Norwegia, sent a certain cmbassy to Mturkertach O'Priain, commanding the latter
prince to place upon his shoulders the shoes of the said ~Magnus,
which they had brought with them for that purpose: and, when
the embassadors had come into the presence of Murkert:ich, and
had explained their mission to him, he tells us, that the Irish
monarch quietly took those shoes, and did place them upon his
23 Et multa alia bona statuta sunt in date alone proves that it must have
bac sancta synodo,qum hic non scrip- been made during the lifetime of his
simus propter brevitatem.           father, Tordelbach. The prince sent
24 G.ila-Kellaigh.  This name must to govern these is'ands is called, in
be a mistake, or by it we must under- their chronicles, Dofnald,'son of Tade.
stand Kellach, son of Aedh.? AIaagnus. This was the powerful
25 Male!-IsCt O'h-Anmiri died at Lis- Norwegian King Magnus, ruler over
mor of St. Mochuda, in the 88th year Norway, the Hebrides, and the Isle of
of his age, in the year 1135. IHe is Man. The Scandinavian, as well as
styled Bishop of Port Largi and chief the Irish authorities, show that lie ensenior of Ireland in the Irish annals, tertained the project of adding Ireland
but not Archbishop of Cashel, as to his other conquests. The marriage
here.                               of his son Sigurd with the daughter of
26 The people of the Isles. The peo- Murkertach formed part of his plan.
pie of the Isle of Man are meant. The He invaded Ireland in A. D. 1098,
Chronicles of Man state, under the and, having landed at Dublin, was
year 1075, that this application had  there met by a large force of the Irish.
been made to Murkertach O'Briain, However, no battle took place then,
but, as our histories justly remark, the for a peace was concluded, in conso



602                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
shoulders:28 and that, when the nobles in attendance were filled
with indignation at having witnessed his act, and had begun to
rebuke him for what he had done, Murkertach made answer to
them  by saying, "I prefer that this thing should now be done
by me than that Magnus should devastate even one single province of Ireland."
Nevertheless, Magnus, soon after, equipped a large fleet, with
which he made an expedition to Ireland, with the intention of
causing ruin and desolation therein; but, when he had come near
to the Irish shore, such was his eagerness to begin hostilities, that
both himself and his wife immediately left the fleet and made a
landing: and  then, after his landing, the inhabitants of the
country laid an ambuscade for him, in which he fell, together
with the band that had followed him upon that inroad.'T'hereupon, when the forces, which he had left after him on board the
quence of which the Irish king bestow- In A. D. 1101, O'Briain did, indeed,
ed his daughter's hand upon Sigurd, make his famous circuit of Ireland, at
whom his father had made King of the head of the men of Leinster, MunIsles. Notwithstanding this, Mlagnus ster, Meath, Osraide and Connaught,
invaded the country again in the fol- when he plundered the territories of
lowing year, when he was cut off as the Kinel Eogain and Kinel Conaill,
above stated. The chronicler of Man  and destroyed the fortress of Ailech;
states that this invader was buried in  but we do not find that the king of
the church of St. Patrick, in Down.-  these northern tribes ever made subSee Moore.                         mission to his rule.  However, the
2' Placed the shoes upon his shoulders. fortunes of,O'Lochlainn soon after
Our native chroniclers say nothing of recovered this temporary overthrow
this circumstance. O'Halloran denies it and, towards the end of Murkertach's
upon the authority of the Mac Bruaidin  life, he was certainly more powerful
chronicle. He says that" this valuable than the  nominal monarch.  The
record tells us that a Danish prince did  northerns name him amongst the Iriish
send such a message to Murkertach, who monarchs, and assign him a reign of
ordered, in presence of his court, that twenty - seven years cotemporaneous
the ears of the embassadors should be with that of his rival. He survived
cut off, telling them to inform their mas- the latter for two years. His death is
ter that such was his answer to his de- thus recorded. "A. D. 1121. Dommand."  He further tells us that it nail, son of Ardgar, son of Lochlainn,,Was in consequence of this act that the most distinguished of the Irish for
3Magnus invaded Ireland as above re- personal form, family, sense, prowess,
lated.                             prosperity, and happiness-for the beHowever, the chief adversary of this stowing of riches and food-both upon
prince, was not a foreigner; it was the the mighty and the needy-died at
king of Aileclh, Domnall O'Lochlainn, Doiri Coluim Killi (Derry) after havchief of the O'Neills, and founder of the ingr been twenty-seven years in the
sept of O'Lochlainn or Mac Loughlin, sovereignty of Ireland and eight in the
of Ulster. During this whole reign, kingdom of Ailech, in the 73d year of
though, perhaps, the ablest prince that his age, on the night of Wednesday,
claimed to rule over Ireland from the the 5th of the Ides of February,
days of-Brian to the Norman invasion, being the festival of St. Machuarog."Murkertach found a man nearly every  Four Masters.'
way his equal in this northern chieftain.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                        603
fleet, had heard that their chieftain had thus fallen, they set sail
homewards for Norwegia.
This Murkertach O'B3riain, of whom  we have been treating, at
length died29 penitently at Ard gMacha, and was buried at Killda-luadh, after five years' suffering from a languishing disease."
TORDELBACH  MOR O'CONCOBAIR,"1 ARD-RIGH)
Go Fresabra.
A. D. 1119." —Tordelbach Mor,"3 son of Ruaidri O'Concobair,
of the line of Erimhon, held the sovereignty  of Ireland fog
2' Murkertach died. " A. D. 1119, age, in the monastery of Lis-mor. Of
Murkertach Ua Briain, king of Ire- llathghamhain (Mahowi) or Mahon,
land, prop of the glory and magnifi- ancestor of the Mac Mahb'ns, lords of
cence of the West of the world, died, Corca Baskinn, in the south of the,
after the victory of sovereignty and  county of Clare, whose death is repenance, on the festival of St. Mochae- corded by the Four Masters under
mog of Liath, on the 4th of the Ides A. D. 1129, the posterity are now
of March, and was interred in the the sole surviving representatives of
church of KlIT-da-luadh (Killaloe), in  Murkertach Mor O',riain.  Of his
the sixth year of his illness."-Four third son, Kenneidigh, nothing further
Masters.                            than the name is known.
30 A languishing disease. "In the   3'  O'Concobair; usually  spelled
year 1114, he was seized with-an at- O'Conchobhair in modern Irish, in
tack of illness so violent as to incapaci- which it is pronounced O'Connoghooir,
tate him for the time for managing the and often, but very corruptly, O'Crogaffairs of his kingdom; and a chance of hooir. It has been anglicized O'Connor.
succession was thus offered to his am-   32 A. D. 1119.  Tordelbach is not
bitious brother, Dermod (Diarmaid), considered to have become powerful
of whom that prince eagerly took ad- enough to be styled nominal monarch
vantage. In the following year, how- for seventeen years after the death of
ever, an amicable arrangement appears Murkertach Mor, and for fifteen after
to have been entered into by the two  that of Domnall O'Lochlain. Having
brothers; and th', monarch, finding his recorded the death of the latter, O'Flamalady continue, and being desirous of herty tells us that the supreme regal
passing the remainder of his days in se- seat of Ireland lay vacant for fifteen
elusion and devotion, resigned the royal years, and that the true date of Torauthority into Dermod's hand, and took  delbach's accession to the supreme
holy orders in the monastery of Lis- power, was A. D. 1136, whelrce, until
more (Lis-mor)." —Moore.            his death in A.' D. 1156, there elapsed
As shall be seen, Diarmaid succeeded  twenty years.
him not as sovereign of Ireland, but as   33 TORDELBACH I. During the fifteen
king of Munster.  This Diarmaid, years of interregnum that preceded the
younger brother of Murkertach Mor, accession of this prince to supreme
was the founder of the O'Briens, princes power in 1136, his most powerful rival
of Thomond. Murkertach himself left was  Concobar  O'Briain, surnamed
three sons, namely, Domnall Gearr- na g-Catharach (na Gaharagh), i. e.
lamhach, or the short-handed, a distin- of the fortresses, who succeeded his
guished warrior, who Was appointed  father, Diarmaid, on the throne of
lord of the foreigners of Dublin during  Munster, in A. D. 1120. Twice, in
his father's reign; having resigned the course of two successsve _years
this position in 1118, and entered holy  (1132 and 1133), this brave and able
orders, he died, in 1135, at an advanced  prince carried the war into the heart




604                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
twenty years.  It was in his reign that the following deeds were
done.
It was he that erected three great bridges34 in Connaught,'namely, the bridges of Ath-luain  and Ath-crochta, on the Sinainn; and the bridge of Dun Lcogha, 9n the Suca.
This Tordelbacll made a hosting into Munster,32  where he pillaged Casllel and Ard-Finain,  but when he was marclling to pillage the latter place, a body of the Mlunstermen attacked his
armly on the rear and slew Acdh O'h-Eidin, King of Ui Fiacrach
Aidni, Muredach O'Flathbertaigh,6"  King of Iar-Connacht, and
many other nobles who are not enumeratcd here.  After this,
Tordelbach proceeded to Corcach iMumbhan7 whither hle brought
a numerous force, both by sea and land, and there he divided
Munster into two equal parts.  The more southern of these he
of Connaught, and defeated Tordel- thereby indicated his claim to the sovebach upon his own ground. Having  reignty of Ireland.
defeated the king of Leinster and the   35 HcstingintoMunster. A.D.1121.
Danes of Du)blin, he led his forces into  An army was led by Tordelbach'O'ConConnaught a third time, determined to  cobair and the men of Connaught, into
bring the struggle for supremacy to a Desmond, when they plundered the terfinal issue, when the clergy interfered  ritories of' both laymen and ecclesiastto prevent bloodshed, and, under the ics, from Magh Femhinn (South Tippeauspices of the Archbishop of Tuam, rarv) to Traigh-Li (Tralee). Ile also
a peace was concluded between the made another predatory excursion, until
rival princes. This peace was event-  he reached the termon lands of Lis-mor,
ually followed bya great preponderance  and obtained countless cattle spoils;
of power on the side of the king of  but he lost, on that occasion, Muredach
Connaught, who, " availing himself of  O'Flathertaigh, lord of West Conthe hereditary jealousy of the Euge- naught, Aedhl O'h-Eidin, lord of Ui
nians (Eoganachta) respecting their Fiacrach Aidni, Muirgheas O'Lcrcain,
right of alternate succession to the and many others."-Four liMasters.
M.unster throne, separated this gallant    I O'F'athbertaighl; in English, O'tribe from the Dalcassians, and even  Flaherty. The tribe name of the
introduced for a time desertion amongst O'Flaherties was Muinter Murcadlia,
the brave Dal g-Cais themselves."-See and they were, originally, cl)ieftains of
Eolbore.                           Magh Seola, now the barony of Clare,
3 Thiree bridges. "A. D. 1120.-  in the county of Galway. They were
The bridg(r  of Ath-luain, the bridgre of the royal race of Connaught, being
of Ath-croich, on the Sinainn, and the descended from Duach Tenguruha, son
bridge of Dun-Leodha, on the Suca, of Fergus, son of Muredach fael-lethan,
were made by Tordelbach O'Concobar, king cf Connaught, about A. D. 620,
king of Connoughllt. "-Four.Masters. by 12is son Fergus, whilst the O'ConlAth-luain is now known as Athlone; nors, kings of Connaught, are descendAth-croich, or Ath-crochta, lies near ed from a brother of the same Duach
Shannon Harbor; and the bridge of Tengumba.
Dun-Leodha, or Dun-Leogha (Doon-   37 Corcach Munzan;. e., Cork, of
Loe), crossed the river Suck opposite MZunster. "A. D. 1127.'An army
Dnnlo slreet, in the present town of was led by Tordelbach O'Concobair,
Ballirasloc.-O'D.                  by sea and land, until he reached CorThe royal fair of Talti was this each Mor. in Munster; and he drove,
year celebrated by Tordelbach, who  Cormac [Mac Carthaighl, king of Des?'




THE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.                        605
gave to IDonncadh Mac Carthaigh,"3 and  the more northern to
Concobar O'Briain; and from  them  both he carried off thirty
hostages.
It was about this time the Temple of Cormac39 was consecrated
at Cashel, in presence' of a great assemblage of the nobles and the
clergymen of MIunster,who attended thereat.  This took place  in
the year of our Lord one thousand one hundred and thirty-four.
Soon after, Cormac Mac Cartllaigh, King of Munster, was treacherously  murdered4'  by  Concobar  (correctly  by  Tordelbach)
O'Briain, who was his own son-in-law and gossip.  Some time
mond into Lis-mor, and divided Mun- that Kcllach, Comarba of St. Patrick,
ster into three parts, and carried off  had to be a year and one month from
thirty hostages from that country."-  Ard Macha, establishing peace among
Four Mlasters.                       the men of Ireland, and promulgating
Donncadh Mac Carthaiglt..  He  good rules and customs among-st the
was the younger brother of Cormac, clergy."' —See Fcur Masters.
mentioned in the last note. IeC had    3 Tlhe Temple of Cormac.  Some
traitorously joined Tordelbach with a  suppose this temple to be what is now
large body of Eoganachta, ancd was re- called King Cormac's Chapel, on the
warded lbr deserting his chieftain by  Rock of Cashel, while many persons,
the deposition of his brother, who was with, perhaps, equal reason, suppose it
then compelled by the invader to enter to have been som(' other edifice, on
the monastery of Lismore. Donncadh  whose site the present ruined Cathedral
was, however, expelled into Connaught, stands.  l'he erection is thus recorded:
with two thousand of his adherents, "A. D. 1134. A church, which was
almost immediately after.            erected by Cormac, grandson of CartThen Cotmac, by the aid of Con- bach, king of Cashel, was consecrated
cobar O'Briain, resumed the sovereign-  by a synod of the clergy, assembled in
ty of Desmond.  After this, there was one place." —Fcur Mast rs.
a naval engagement between the men   40 Cormac murdered. A great misof Connaught and Munster, in which  take has been here committed, either
the latter were again defeated. Tor- by Keating or his transcribers, in namdclbach had previously made another ing' Concobar O'Briain as the instinaval expedition to Desmond, in A. D. gator of the murder of the pious and
1124, when he seized upon the fleet of  munificent Cormac. lie was slain at
South Munster.  In the same year the instigation of Tordelbach O'Briain,
(1224), we'read of his having put to  the brother of Concobar, as is seen by
death the hlltages of Corinac Mac  the following entry:  "A. D. 1138.
Cnrthaigh, among whom  was that Cormac, son of Muredach, son of Cartprince's son. In A. D. 1126, the king  bach, king of Desmond, bishop of the
of Connaught, having slucceeded in  kings of Ireland for the bestowal of
making his son king of Lcfinster and  jewels and wealth upon the clergy and
Dublin, had again attacked and defeat- the churches, an improver of territories,
ed the king of Desmond, at Slabh-an- was treacherously killed in his own
Caidhligh, in Kerry. On this occa- house by Tordelbach, son of Diarmaid
sion, having  continued encamped in  O'Briain, and by the two sons of O'ConOrmond fiom Lammas to the fiestival. cobair - Kiarraide." — Four Masters.
of St. Brighitt (Breeyithl), he plundered  Some doubt the fact of Cormac's hav]Munster as far as Glenn Maghair, near ing been really a bishop as well as a
Cork, and the south of Osraide. "A  king. He may, nevertheless, have actugreat storm of war," say our annalists, ally entered holy orders when driven
then raged throughout all Ireland, so  into the monastery of Lis-mor in 1127,




606                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
after this, Maelmaedog,'4 called Malachias, who was Archbishop
both of Eri and Alba, died.
Tordelbaclh O'Concobair a second time invaded Munster with
a large army, composed of the strength of Connaught, Leinster,
Meath, Tebtha and O'Ruairc's country.  With this he traversed
Munster in a hostile manner, until he arrived at Glenn Maghair,2
where he was met by Tordelbach O'Briain, King of Munster, and
the son of Concobar O'Briain and the men of Munster.  Three
battalions2l  was the strength of their host.  Thereupon, the battle
of Moin Mor"n was contended between them;45 and the Dal g-Cais
by Torbelbach O'Concobair, and after where Cormac, son of Culinnan, fell, in
the birth of his children. He is the A. D. 903, is thus recorded:,' A. D.
lancestor of all the septs of the Mac 1151. An army was led by TordelCarthies, kings of Desmond.        bach Ua Concobair into Munster, and
" Maelmaedog.  The family name Diarmaid Mac Mtrcadha, king of
of this distinguished ecclesiastic was Leinster, went to join him with the
O'Morgair. He succeeded to the suc- Leinstermen.  They plundered Muncessorship of St. Patrick in A. D. 1132, ster before them, until they reached
and his eminent sanctity and Christian  /loin Mor. The Dal g-Cais, the men
zeal have been rewarded by his canon- of West Munster, and the Sil Briain,
ization under the baptismal name of had set out on a predatory excursion
Malachias. He died in A.ID. 1148, in  into Desmond under Tordelbach Ua
the 54th year of his age, and in the Briain, king of Munster; and, on their
14th year of his primacy, during which return from the south, they fell in with
he had been twice appointed as Legate  the men of Connaught, Leinster, and
of the Pope to the Irish church.   Meath. A battle was then fought, in
42 Glenn iMaghazr; now Glanmire, which the men of Munster were defeatnear Cork. The king of Ireland was ed and slaughtered. Seven thousand
here joined by Diarmaid, son of Cor- was the number of the Munstermen
mac Mac Carthaigh, now king of Des- that fell in this battle of Moin Mor.
mond, and a large portion of the Eoga- According to the Book of Lecan, the
nachta, at whose solicitation he is said  following are the chieftains who were
to have made this invasion of Munster. there slain: Murkertach, son of ConIt would appear that a portion of the. cobar O'Briain, lord of Thomond, the
Dal g-Cais was also in the monarch's second best man of the Dal g-Cais;
army under Tadg Gle O'Briain, a pre- Lugaidh, son of Domnall O'Briain;
tender to the throne of Thomond, who Mac Conmara, lord of Ui Casin; 2
had fled for protection to Connaught.  of the Ui Kennadigh (O'Kennedies);
43 Battalions. The Irish cath (cah) 8 of the Ui Degadh (O'Deas), with
or battalion, consisted of 3,000 men. Flathbertach Ua Degadh; 9 of the Ui
There were then 9,000 of the Dal g- Senchaini (O'Shannahans); 5 of the Ui
Cais engaged in this fight.        Cuinn (O'Quins); 5 of the Ui Grada
44 Moin Mor; i. e., the Large Bog. (O'Gradies), with Aneslis Ua Grada;
There are several places of this name 24 of the Ui Ogain (O'Hogans); 4 of
in Munster, but that where this bat- the Ui Aichir (O'Hehirs or Hares); the
tle was fought would seem  to be grandson  of Eocaidh  O'Loingsigh
Moanmore, in the parish of Emly and  (O'Lynch); 4 of the Li Neill-Buidhe
county of Tiperary.-O'D.            (the O'Neills of Tradraide, in the conn4 The battle fought upon this occa- ty of Clare); and 5 of the Ui Echtigsion in which the Munstermen suffered herna (O'Aherns); with numbers of
the greatest overthrow they had receiv. good men besides them; and there sured since the battle of Belach Mughna, vived but one shattered battalion of




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                         607
and the men of Munster were vanquished therein, and the numbers
of their people that'Were slain went beyond reckoning.  Tordel.
bach (O'Briain) was then exiled to Tir Eogain,4' and Tordelbach
O'Concob)air made a partition of Munster between Tadg O'Briain
and Diarmaid, son of Cormac Mac Carthaigh.
It was very soon after this victory when Tordelbach O'Concobair, King of the greater part of Ireland, died,47 in his sixty-eighth
year, and he was buried beside the great altar of St. Kiaran,
at Cluain-mnic-Nois.
Great, indeed, were the legacies which this prince left to. the
clergy for the repose of his soul, namely, four hundred and forty
ounces of gold, and forty marks of silver, and all the other valuable treasures lie possessed, both cups and precious stones, both
steeds and cattle and robes, chess-boards, bows, quivers, arrows,
equipments, weapons, armor and utensils. And he himself
pointed out the manner in which its particular portion thereof
should be distributed to each church, according to its rank and
order.
It was about this time that Tadg O'Lonnargain,48 Bishop of
Kill-da-luadh, died.
MURKERTACH O'LOCHLAINN,49 ARD-RIGH,
Go Fresabra.
A. D. 1156.~ —Murkertach, son of Niall Mac Lochlainn, of the
the three that had come to that place. Kiaran, having made his will and disOn the side of Connaught were slain, tributed gold, silver, cows, and horses
Tadg, son of Liathach O'Concobair; among the clergy and churches of IreMurkertach Ua Cathalain, chief of land in general."-Fcur Masters.
Clan Fogartaigh; and Maelruanaidh    This prince had been inaugurated
O'Follamhain, chief of Clann Uadach; chieftain of his own tribe, the Sil
4 of the Luighni; and many others. Muredaigh, in A. D. 1106, so that he
Chief sway over Munster was assumed had, at the time of his death, been in
by Tordelbach Ua Concobair, upon  the enjoyment of regal power, either as
this occasion, and Tordelbach Ua Bri- chief of his tribe, king of Connaught,
ain was banished." —See Four Masters. or monarch of the greater part of Ire46 Tir Eogain. Through the rising  land for full half a century. He was
power of Alurkertach O'Lochlainn, the first of the Connaught branch of
prince of this country, the exiled king the line of Erimhon that had received
of Munster was restored to his domin- the title of Ard-righ, or monarch of
ions in 1154.                       Ireland; Eocaidh Muigh-medon, king
47 Tordelbach died. " A. D. 1156.-  of Ireland, A. ID. 358-365, being the
Tordelbach O'Concobair, king of Con- last of his direct ancestors who had
nauglht, Meath, Brefni, and Munster, been saluted sovereign. From Bria,
and of all Ireland with opposition, son of this Eocaidh, Tordelbach O'Conflood of the glory and grandeur of Ire- cobair was the 23rd descendant in the
land, a man full of charity, mercy, hos- male line.-See Pedigree of O'Conndr
pitality, and chivalry, died, after the Roe,Part nIl.
68th year of his age, and was interred   48 Tadg O'Lonnargain; otherwise
at- Cluain-mic-Nois, beside the altar of O'Longargain. He died in A. D. 1161,




608                 THE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.
line of Erimhon,5' held the sovereignty of Leth Cuinn, and of
the greater part of Ir eland, for eighteen. yeazrs;,at the end of wlich,
he was slain by the men of Fernrnagh and the  [Ji Briuin (of
Brefni).
It was in the seventh year of the reign of this man, that an
assemnbly and general council of the Irish church was convened
at Kenaunus,53 of Meatl, in tile year of our Lord one thousand
one hulndred and fifty-two, for tle puLrpose of laying. docwn the
Catholic Faith, and of purifying and correctinlg the customs of
the people; moreover, for the purpose of consecrating four Archbishops, anc3 of presenting each of themn  with a pallium, 5" f)r,
before then, there were but two Archbishops in Ireland, namlely,
the Primn:tA  of Ard Maacha and the Archbishop of Cashel.  GillaCriost O'Conari, Bishop of Lis-mor, head of the monks of Ireland
and Apostolic Legate, together with a cardinal, named Johannes
Papiron,'5  were the superiors appointed by' the Pope to preside
at that council, which was commissioned to make regulations for
the government of the Church of Ireland, and to reform  its discipline, and also to do a thing vwhiclh  Ireland took more to heart
than these, namely, to  distribute the four PaCliha; for Ireland
four years after the monarch in whose  agres from Ui Briain, Conmacni, Meath,
reign he is here improperly entered.    and the half of Munster. On this oc"' O'Lochlailn. The sept descended  casion, O'Concobair accepted tic kingfrom this prince now more generally  dom  of Connaught, and the half of
style themselves Mac Loughlin, and  that of Meath at his hands; the other
are still numerous in Ulster. They  half of Meath O'Lochlainn conferred
are of the same tribe as tlte O'Neills upon Diarmaid O'Malesechlaina (O'of Tyrone, of wvhich sept they are tite  Melaghlin), its ri.htful king.  At the
eldlr branch. They must be distinguish- same time, he confirmnad Diarmaicd Mac
ed from the O'Lochlainns or O'Loagh- Mirecadha as ling of Leinster. Withlins, of Burren, in the county of Clare, in the same year, he again m1et " the
who are of a totally different stock.    men of Ireland, both laity and clergy,
" A. D. 1156. "'lThe firt year of at Ath-na-Dairbrighe (now Dervor, in
Murkertach O'Lochlainn over Ireland." XMeath), where he obtained all their
-Fouer nI:sters.                     hostages.  PMurkertach  O'Loeh!lainn
6' N1MURKE1rTACI III. Keating's ac- was, therefore, monarch of Ireland,
count would throw this king's reign  without opposition." —Fcur 1Ma terS.
several years behind its real time. The    3 Kenannas.  Accerding  to  the
date here given has been ascertained  Four Masters, it was at Droichet-Atha
and received as the correct one by our or Drogheda, that this coulcil was
other historic authorities.-See O'Fla- held. It met, not in the seventh year
herty, O'if.Il1oran, Moore, &c.      of Murkertach O'Lochlainn, but four
62 Eighteen years.  He reigned for years before the death of his predecesonly ten years, but during this brief, sor as nominal monarch of Ireland.
though eventfnl period, he succeeded in    5 Pallium, i. e., the robe of state
having rhimnself acknowledged king of  of an archbishop. its plural is pallia.
Ireland gan fresabradh, i. e., without     0 Jbhannes Papiroz; otherwise Joopposition: for, in the year 1161, Diar- hannes Paparo. This cardinal had arnmaid Mac Mlurcadha, kingr of Leinster, rived in Ireland during, the year before
paid him  homage for his kingdom; that in which was held thesynrd of Kells,
Ruaaidri O'Concobair gave him host- as is seen by the following entry. "A. D




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                       609
thought it enough56 to have one pallium  at Arl Macha and
another at Cashel: it was more especially5' by the churches of
Ard Macha and of Dun-da-leth-glas that it was considered an infringement upon privilege to have palliac granted to any other
sees besides those of Ard Macha and Cashel; for it is thus we
are informed by the ancient record of the church of Cluain Aidnech, in which the substance of what was transacted at this council has been set down.  When, indeed, the members of the council were met in session, they instituted certain laudable customs
and ordinances at the granting of the four pallia. Here follow
the words of the old book of history, which was written at Cluain
Aidnech, of St. Fintann, in Laeighis:'"In. the year of our Lord
one thousand one hundred and fifty-two, from the incarnation of
our Lord Jesus Christ, being a bissextile year, a famous council
was held at Kenannus, in the season of spring, presiding over
which, Johannes, Lord Cardinal and a priest of the blessed St.
Lawrence in Damaso, assisted by twenty-two bishops, five elect,
with very many abbots and priors, on the part ofthe holy apostles,
Peter and Paul, and of the Apostolic Lord, Eugenius, extirpated
and condemned simony and usury by every means, and commanded by apostolic authority that tythes should be paid. HIe presented four pallia to the four Archbishops of Ireland, namely, to
those of Dublin, Tuam, Cashel, and Armagh.  He, moreovei,
ordained the Archbishop of Armagli as primate over the others
as was meet; and then, immediately after the council was dismissed, Cardinal Johannes commenced his voyage on the ninth
of the Kalends of April and went across the seas.  The following were the bishops who assisted at that council,58 namely, Gilla1151. A cardinal of the Comarba of apud Ceanannus celebratum fuit; in
St. Peter, namely, Johannes Papiron, quo presidens dominus Johannes, cardiarrived in Ireland to establish rules halis, presbyter beati Laurentii in Daand good morals, and to correct all maso, inter viginti duos episcopos et
from  their faults. He' remained a quinque electos, et inter tot abbates et
week in the house of the Comarba of priores, ex parte beatorum  Petri et
St. Patrick, cnad imparted his bless- Pauli et domini apostolici Eugenii, suin(." —Four Masters.               moniam et usuras omnibus modis extir5 For Ireland thought it enotugh, &c. pavit et damnavit, et decimas dandas
Oir ba leor le h-Eirinn pallium in Ard  apostolica authoritate prscepit.  QuaMacha aguspallium i g-Caiseal.-Orig- tuor pallia quatuor archiepiscopis Hiinat Gaelic.                        bernei, Dubliniensi, Tuamensi, Caise5' It was more e.specially. Agus go  lensi, et Ardmachano tradidit. Insu.
h-airighthe, is tar sarughadh caglaise per Ardmachanum episcopum in priArda Macha agus Duin-da-leath-glas  matem super alios, prout decuit, ordindo bhiadh acht pallium in Ard Macha avit.  Qti etiam cardinalis Joannes,
agus pallium  i g-Caiseal.-OrigOinal protinus post peractum concilium, iter
Gaelic.                            arripuit et noneo calendas Aprilis transF
68 MCLVII, anno ab incarnatione fretavit. Hi sunt episcopi qui hoc condomini nostri Jesu Christi, bissextili, cilio superfuerunt: —"
unobile concilium  in vernali tempore   The rest of this quotation from the
39




610                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
chriost O'Conari, Bishop of Lis-mor and Legate of the Pope in
Ireland; Gilla-Macliag, Comarba of St. Patrick, and Primate of
Ireland;5  Domnall O'Lonnargain, Archbishop of Munster; Aedh
O'h-Oisin, Archbishop  of Tuaim-da-Gualann;60 Mac-Greni (or
Greri), Bishop of Ath-cliath Duibh-linni;6l Tostius, Bishop of
Port Largi;62 Domnall O'Fogartaigh, Vicar General and Bishop
of Osraide; Finn Mac Gormnain, Bishop of Kill-dara;6 Donngal
book of Cluain Aidnech (now Clone-   63 Finn Mac Gormain.  The editor
nagh near Mountrath, in the Queen's finds the surname of this prelate writCounty), is given in Gaelic as above  ten both Mac Cianain and Mac Tighrendered into English.              ernain. This he deems a mistake of'
69 Gilla-Mac-Liag.  His name has the transcribers, for he finds by the
been latinized Gelasius.  He presided  Four Masters, that Finn Mac Gormain
over the primatial see from  1145 to  died Bishop of Kill Dara or Kildare,
1173, during which time he occupies a in 1160.
distinguished place in the history of   is Torgesius, otherwise Torgeis and
the Irish church.                   Torgelsi. This ecclesiastic, who was
e Aedh O'h-Oissin.  This name is of Danish blood, died bishop of Limernot found in the editor's manuscript ick, in A. D., 1167.
copies of Keating. In Dermod O'Con-    With the exception of the name of
nor's translation, it is given as " Hugh  Archbishop of Connaught above menO'Heyn, Archbishop of Connacht, that tioned, and the surname of the Bishop
is of Tuaim Greni."- But Tuaim Gre- of Kill Dara, the editor has ascertained
ni, now Tomgrany, in Clare, was not from the Irish Annals, that all the
the archiepiscopal see of Connaught, others did really preside over their resit was Tuaim-da-Gualann, now called  pective sees, about the time of the
Tuam, of which Aedh O'h-Oissin, in  synod of Kenannus or Kells.  SeverEnglish, Hugh O'Hessian, died bishop  al of them are here entitled from the
in A. D. 1161.  Aedh O'h-Eidhin  tribes over whose territories their sees
might, it is true, have been either the extended, but the reader may easily aspredecessor of O'h-Oissin as Archbish- certain the names of the seat of their
op of Tuam, or he might have been  episcopal churches, by referring to the
Bishop of Tuaim Greni, but in the lat- map, and to the notes upon the chapter
ter case he could not have been styled  upon the Irish bishops prefixed to this
Archbishop of Connaught. For these history.
reasons the present translator has in-    6 Domnall O'Lonnargain. "A. D.,
serted the name of Aedh O'h-Oissin, in- Domnall Ua Longargain, Archbishop
stead of Hugh O'Heyn, as given by the of Casel, chief senior of Munster, a
translator just named.              paragon of wisdom and charity, died
61 Ath-cliath Duibh-linni, i. e., the  at an advanced age." —Four Masters.
Ford of Hurdles of the Black Pool;   66 Murkertach son of Niall died.it is now called Dublin, a word derived  He was slain in A. D., 1166, at the
from  the latter part of the old Irish  battle of Letir Liuin, fought in the disname of the part of the river Liffey, trict called the Fews in the county of
on which that city was built; that is Armagh.  An army of three battafrom Dubh Linn, in English, the Black  lions, composed of the men of OirghialPool. The real name of its bishop at la, Ui Briuin Brefni, and Ui Conmacthe time of the above-mentioned synod  ni was led thither against him by Donnwas Gregory or Greri, who was appar- cadh O'Kerbaill, King of Oirghialla;
ently an Irish Dane.                and there, say our annalists, " fell Mur62 oIbstiZs, otherwise Tosti, Bishop  kertach Ua Lochlainn, monarch of all
of Port Largi, or Waterford. He was Ireland, chief lamp of valor, chivalry,
also of Danish origin.              hospitality, and prowess of the west of




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                       all
O'Caellaighe, Bishop of Leith-glinn; Gilla-an-CoimdeO'h-Ardmaeil, Bishop of Imlech-Iubair; Gilla-Criosd O' Muidin, Bishop
of Corcach; Maelbrenainn Mac Ronain, Comarba of St. Brendan of Ard-ferta, or Bishopof Kiarraide; Turgesius,64 Bishop of
Luimnech;  Murkertach  O' Maeluidir, Bishop  of Cluain-mio.
Nois; Maeil-Isa  O'Connachtain, Bishop of East Connaught;
Maelruadnaidh  O'Ruaidin,  Bishop  of Luighni;  Mac-Craith
O'Munghroin, Bishop of Conmacni; Ethruadh O'Miadachain,
Bishop of Cluain Iraird; Tuathal O'Connachtaigh, Bishop of
Ui Briuin (Brefini); Muredach O'Cobthaigh, Bishop of Kinel
Eogain; Maelpatrick O'Banain, Bishop of.Dal Araide; and Mael-h
Isa Mac-an-Clerigh-cuir, Bishop of Ulidia."
This synod commenced its session on the day before the Nones
of March, and there the jurisdiction of the archbishops was decreed and laid down after the following manner: The archbishop
of Ard-Macha presided over the  see of Coinniri, Dun-da-lethglas, Lugh-magh, Ard-acadh, Rath-both, Rath Lurigh, Daimhliag, and Doiri.  The Archbishop  of Cashel's jurisdiction  extended over the sees of Kill-da-luadh, Luimnech, Inis Cathaigh,
Kill Finnabrach, Imlech  Iubair, Ros Cre, Port Largi, Lis Mor,
the world in his time; a man who had  gold; and the wife of O'Ruairc, and
never been beaten in battle or conflict daughter of O'Maelsechlainn, gave as
until then, and who had won many much more, with a chalice of gold for
battles."-Four Masters.             the altar of St. Mary, and cloth for
Besides that of Kells or Kenannus,'each of the other nine altars that were
which was really held during the reign  in that church.  Next year a synod
of Tordelbach O'Concobair, there were was held at Bri-mic-Taidg, near Trim,
three synods of the Irish church- held  which was attended by  twenty-five
during the ten years that Murkertach  bishops, and presided over by the
reigned. Of these the first was held at Pope's Legate, the Primate Gilla-Mac.
Droichet Atha, or rather at Mellifont, Liag. It was here that the bishopric
near Droichet Atha, in A. D. 1157, of Derry was established, or as the
which was presided over by Gilla-Mac- Four Masters record it, there was then
liag, Primate and Pope's Legate and at- ordered "a chair like that of every
tended by seventeen bishops, and by the other bishop for the Comarba of Comonarch himself, together with Tigher- lumkille, Flathbertach Ua Brolcain,
nan O'Ruairc, King of Brefnii, O'Ker- and the Arch-abbacy of the churches
baill, King of Oirghialla, and O'h- of Ireland in general.'!  In A. D.
Eocadha, King of Ulidia, and count- 1162, Gilla-Mac-Liag presided over
less numbers of every other degree. It another synod, at which twenty-six
was on this occasion that the church of bishops and'many abbots attended, and
Mellifont was consecrated. After the which was held at Claenadh (Clane)
ceremony, Murkertach presented the in the county of Kildare. Amongst
church with  forty cows, and sixty  other decrees passed on this occasion,
ounces of gold for the health of his it was enacted that no person should
soul; he likewise granted them  the be a professor of theology in any church
townland of Finnabair na-n-Inghen, op- in Ireland, who had not been an alumposite the mouth of the Mattock, in nus or student of the university of Ardthe parish of Donore, county Meath. Macha.
O'Kerbaill gave them sixty ounces of




612                THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Cluain Uamha, Corcach, Ros Alithir, and Ard Ferta. Tile Arch.
bishop of Ath-cliath Duibh-linni presided over the sees of
Glenn-da-loch, Ferna, Osraide, Leith-glinn, and Kill Dara.  The
Archbishop of Tuaim-da-ghualann presided over the sees of
Magh Eo, Kill Alaidh, Ros Comain, Cluan Ferta, Acadh Conari, Cluain-mic-Nois, and  Kill-mic-Duach.   But, however, the
whole of' these sees do not exist at present, for several of them
have been since united under one bishop.
Soon after the completion of this council, died Domnall
O'Lonnargain,"6 who had been archbishop of Munster; and it was
not long after, when Murkertach, son of Niall, who had been
then sovereign ruler over Leth Cuinn, and the greater part of Ireland, died.6"
RUDRAIDE O'CONCOBAIR, ARD-RIGIH,
Go Fresabra.
A. D. 1166.67  Ruaidri (or Rudraide), son of Tordelbach, son of
Ruaidri O'Concobair, of the line of Erimhbn, held the sovereignty
of Connaught and part of Leth Cuinn for eight years.6   Ilie is
also styled monarch of all Ireland in  our chronicles, from  the
fact that ththe kings of Oirghialla, Meath, and Brefni, had acknowledged him  as their sovereign.  Ile was, nevertheless, but
a pretender to the sovereignty (Righ-go-fresabradh), that is, a
a 1166. The editor's MSS. are not were those of his greatest power.  He
in accord as to the date of this king's' was then in the fiftieth year of his age.
accession, one has 1163, while Dermod    RUDRAIDE II.  Some hold that
O'Connor gives it 1168.  The one Ruaidri, or Ruaidhri, the usual form
above given is the true date of the in which this prince's name is found
deatih of his predecessor, immediately  spelled, is a word of different origin
after which, as we read in the Annals from the ancient Gaelic name, Rudof the Four Masters, "An army was raide, or Rudhraidhe (Rooree). The
led by Ruaidri O'Concobair ~to Es- editor does not, however, see any rearuaidh, and he took the hostages of son to deem it any other thair a mere
Kinel Conaill."   He  next led an  variation  of the latter; for, even
army composed of the men of Con- though the supposition that Ruaidhri
naught, Meath and Tebtha, to Ath- is derived from the proper name Rodeeliath, where he was inaugurated king  ric be correct, it is likewise possible
" as honorably as any king of the that Roderic and Rudhraidhe may in
Gaeidhil was ever inaugurated."  He remote antiquity have been composed
next received the hostages of the king of the same elements. Therefore does
of Leinster; and having'afterwards the translator enter him as Rudraido
marched into Munster, where "all the 1I., the first monarch of the name
kings of Leth Meogha came into his being Rudraide Mor, who died monhouse and submitted to him, he di- arch of Ireland, A. M., 4981.
tided Munster into two parts, one of;   " Eight Years. From his accession
which he gave to the Sil Briain, and  to his submission to Henry I1., there
the other to Diarmaid, son of Cormac were but seven years.  He had ruled
Mae Carthaigh."-See Four Masters. over Connaught from his father's death
1166 was then not only the year of his in 1156, and did not die until A. D,
accession, but that and the following  1298.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND;                       619
king, whom very many of thelnobles of Ireland refused to acknowledge as their monarch..
It was while Ruaidri held this questioned sovereignty, that
the wife of Tighernan Caech O'Ruairc, King of Brefni, a lady
whose name was Derborgaill,"C daughter of Murcadh, son of
Flann, King of Meath, sent a private message to Diarmaid Mao
Murcadha, King of Leinster, requesting of him  to come to take
her away from Tighernan, and make her his own wife; and she
instructed her messengers to tell him that her husband was about
proceeding on a pilgrimage to the Cave of St. Patrick's PurgaeDerborgaill. This name is pro- son to suppose that she afterwards renounced Dervorgill, and has been lat- pented of her transgression. In 1157,
inized Dervorgilla.  Her elopement the wife of O'Ruairc is found vying
with Mac Murcadha, did not take place with kings in her munificence to the
in this reign, it occurred fourteen years monastery of Mellifont. In A. D. 1167,
previously, during the reign of Tor- the year after Mac Murcadha's banishdelbach, the father of Ruaidri, and  ment, we find lher "finishing a church
not after the manner stated by Keat- for nuns at Cluain-mic-Nois. To suping, on the authority of the Anglo- pose a renewal of ler criminal intrigue
Norman writers. The following is the with Mac Murcda in any part of the
simple narration of the event as given  present reign, is an absurdity.  Mac
by the Irish authorities. —" A.D. 1152, Murcadha, who was king of Leinster
An army was led by Ua Lochlainn in- as early as A. D. 1135, must have been
to Meath, as far as Rath Kennaigh. then an old man, and she was then cerTordelbach (then monarch) proceeded  tainly an old woman, for she was fortyinto Meath to meet Ua Lochlainn and four at the time of her first elopement.
Diarmaid MacMurcadha, King of Lein- Previous to her marriage with O'ster. On this occasion, Meath was di- Ruairc, an attachment is said to have
vided into two parts; from  Cluain existed between herself and Mac Mur.
Iraird westward, was given to Mur- cadha, which may account in sume
cadh  Ua Maelsechlainn, and East way for her first transgression at a
Meath to his son Mioelsechlainn. From  rather advanced period of life, but
Tighernan Ua Ruairc, whom they had  could scarcely for a second.
defeated, they took Conmacni, and they   70 Banished him out of Ireland. His
burned the town of Bun Cuilinn, (now  own oppressed subjects had apparently
Dangan, in Roscommon,) and gave the as much to do with the banishment of
chieftainship to the son of Gilla-bradi I)iarmaid as either the justice of O'ConO'Ruairc, and their hostages were cobair, or the vengeance of O'Ruairc.
given up to Tordelbach O'Concobair. The following entry is given of that
On this occasion, Derbforgaill, daugh- event: "A. D. 1166. An army comter of Murcadh  Ua Maelsechlainn, and  posed of the men bf Brefni and Meath,
wife of Tighernan O'Ruairc, was car- and of the foreigners of Ath-cliath, and
ried off with her cattle and furniture, the Leinstermen, was led by Tigherby Diarmaid, King oT Leinster, who nan Ua Ruairc into Ui Kennselaigh,
took with her, according to the advice and Diarmaid  Mac Murcadha was
of her brother, Maelsechlain." -'Four banished over sea, and his.castle at
Masters.                           Ferna was demolished. They set up
Deborgaill was next year taken away  as king (in his stead) Murcadh, the
from her lover by the monarch Tordel- grandson of Murcadh,.he giving sevei.
bach, by whom she was delivered up to  teen hostages to Ruaidri O'Concobar,
her kinsfolk in Meath, " with her cat- to be sent to Tir Fiacrach Aidni." —
tie and furniture."  There is every rea- Four Masters.




614              THE. HISTORY OF IRELAND.
tory,.and that a favorable opportunity for taking her off int6
Leinster would be afforded to him thereby. There had, indeed,
been previously a criminal intrigue between this pair. Therefore,
upon receiving her message, Diarmaid went to meet the woman,
attended by a band of armed horsemen, and when he had arrived,
thus accompanied, at the place where Derborgaill was awaiting
him, he commanded her to be placed forcibly on horseback behind one of his attendants.  Thereupon, the woman deceitfully
cried and screamed aloud, in order to make people think that
she had been carried off by violence. HIaving thus succeeded in
his object, Diarmaid returned home into Leinster.
Then, when Tighernan returned to Brefili, and had learned
that his wife had been carried off by violence, and against her
consent, he went to make a complaint of the outrage both to
Ruaidri O'Concobair, and to his own friends likewise. Thereupon, Ruaidri O'Concobair summoned a muster of the men of
Connaught, Brefni, Oirghialla and Meath, and then marched
attended by a numerous army to lay waste the territories of
Leinster, and thus to avenge the deed which Diarmaid had committed. Now, when Diarmaid had heard that Ruaidri was marching -to devastate his country, he likewise summoned a general assemblage and muster of the nobles of Leinster from all parts of
his principality. But when these had come together into one
place, the answer which they gave to their king was, that they
would not go and stand up in defince of the evil deed which he
had committed; and then a great number of them forsook his
standard, and placed themselves under the protection of Ruaidri, to
whom they complained of the many acts of tyranny and injustice which Diarmaid practiced towards them. By reason of this
desertion, the King of Leinster was not able to meet his adversary in a pitched battle; whereupon the latter commenced laying
waste the lands of those of the Leinstermen that remained faithful to their king, and, having marched to Ferna, he threw down
the palace of Diarmaid, and levelled his dun; after which, lie
banished him out of Ireland altogether.7~
Flight of Mac Murctdha-his interview with Henry I. of England,
-alliance with the Anglo-Norman Lords, and secret return to
Leinster. A.D. 1166-1167.7'.
Diarmaid then proceeded to the second henry, King of Sax.
71 A.D. 1166-67. During the in- Ruaidri, according to our Annals, had
terval that elapsed between the expul- succeeded in establishinlg in his realm,
sion of Diarmaid in the former, and his an unusual degree of peace and suborreturn in the latter of them, years, dination to his authority. As this was




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                        615.
on-land, who was then in France, and when he arrived in this
king's presence, he was received with  a welcome, and with a
very great display of friendship.  And when he had explained
the object of his visit to his host, the latter furnished him  with
kindly letters to bring with him to the land of the Saxons.  In
the last period of comparative peace King of Temhair; Raghnall, son of
combined with national independence, Raghnall, lord of the foreigners. The
which Ireland was to see for ages to  whole of their gathering was 13,000
come, its records are here transcribed  horsemen, of which 6,000 were Conin full from the venerable annalists who  nanughtmen, 4,000 with Ua  Ruairc,
have been so often quoted in thesenotes. 2,000 with Ua Maelsechlainn. 4,000
" The Age of Christ, 1167.  Tor- with Ua Kerbaill and Ua h-Eocadha,
gelsi, bishop of Luimnech, Ua Plan- 2,000 with Donncadh Mac Faelain,
nain, bishop of Cluain Uamha; Kin- (chief of Ui Faelain, in Kildare), 1,000
aeth  0'Kethernaigh, priest of Inis with the Danes of Ath-cliath. At this
Clothrann; Mor, daughter of Dom- meeting they passed many good resolunall O'Concobair-Falghi, Abbess of  tions respecting veneration for church.
Kill Dara; Maelmichael Mac Dothe- es and clerics, and the control of tribes
chain, noble priest, chief sage and pil- and territories, so that women used to
lar of piety of the community of Ard  travel Ireland alone, and a restoration
Macha; and Gillagori Ua Dnbachain, of his prey was given by the Ui Falcomarba of Endi of Ara, died.       ghi to the Comarba of Patrick, at the
-Tordelbach, son of Diarmaid Ua hands of these kings aforesaid.  They'
Briain, King of Munster and of Leth  afterwards separated  in peace  and
Mogha, a man who aimed at the soy- amity without battle or controversy,
ereignty of all Ireland, the best man  or without any one complaining of
that came in his time for bestowing  another at that meeting,'in consejewels and wealth upon the poor and  quence of the prosperousness of the
the indigent of God, died.          kingr who had assembled those chiefMurkertach. son of Ladmann, Lord  tains with their forces at one place.
of Fordruim, pillar of the magnificence    A hosting and mustering of the men
of all the north:cf Ireland, was treach- of Ireland, with their chieftains, was
ously slain by I)onncadh Ua Dubdior- made by Ruaidri Ua Concobair. Thithma, and by all the people of Bredach, er came Diarmaid, son of Cormac (Mac
in the middle of Magh Bili, and two of Carthaigh), lord of Desmond; Murhis sons were slain on the following  kertach Ua Briain, lord of Thomond;
day, and another was blinded.  Conn  Diarmaid Ua Maelsechlainin, king of
Ua Maelmiadailgh, chief of Muinter Meath; Donncadh Ua Kerbaill, lord
Eolais, died.                       of Oirghialla; and all the chieftains of
A great mneeting was convened by  Leinster. They afterwards arrived in
Ruaidri Ua Concobair, and tile chiefs Tir Eogain, and Ua Concobair divided
of Leth Cuinn, both lay and ecclesias- that territory into two parts, that is,
tic, and the chiefs of the foreigners he gave that part of Tir Eogain, north
(Danes) at Atih Buidhe Thlactga, (now  of the Callainn Mountain, to Niall Ua
Athboy, in Meath). To it came the  Lochlainn, for two hostages, namely,
Comarba of Patrick (Gilla-Mac-Liag); Ua Cathain of Craebh, and Mac-anCadla Ua Dubthaigh, Archbishop of Gaill Ua Brain; and that part of the
Connaught;  Lorcan  Ua  Tuathail, tribe-land, south of'the mountain, he
Archbishop of Leinster; Tighernan Ua gave to Aedh Ua Neill for two other
Ruairc. lord of Brefili; Donncadh Ua hostagres, namely, Ua Maelaedha, one of
Kerbaill. lord  of Oirghialla; Mac the Kinel Aengusa, and Ua h-Urthali,
Douuslebi Ua h-Eocadha, King Uli- one of the Ui Turtri, Ua Neill's own
dia; Diarmaid  Ua  Maelsechlainn, foster-brothers.  The men of Ireland




~161                THE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.
these he gave him  permission to enlist every one of the Saxons
who might be willing to go with him to Ireland, and there aid
in recovering the  sovereignty of his own country.   Upon receivingc these, Diarmaid bid farewell to that king, and set out for
the country of the Saxons.  When arrived  there, he caused the
letters of Henry'2 to be publicly read at Brisdol, and at the same
time made a proclamation in which he promised large rewards
to all persons who would aid him in the recovery of his territories.  It was there that he met Richard Fitz-Gilbert,3 Earl of
Strigul, with  whom  he made the following  compact; to wit,.
returned back southwards, over Sliabh  Ua Maelsechlainn, (the wife of Ua
Fuaid, through Tir Eogain and Tir  Ruairc, and the Helen of Irish ro.
Conaill, to meet their sea fleet; and  mance). Fobar Fechini, Ailfinn, and
Ua Concobair escorted the lord of Des- Birra, were burned.  Mureda/h, the
mond, with his forces, southwards, son of Mac Cana, was slain by the sons
through Thomond, as far as Cnoc Ani, of-Ua LQchlainn. A church was erectwith many jewels and riches.        ed at Cluain-mic-Nois in place of the
Diarmaid Mac Murcadha returned  Derthach, by Concobair Ua Kellaigh
with a force of Gauls, and he seized the and the Ui Mani."
kingdom of Ui Kennselaigh (his own    72 Letters of Henry. Henry II. who
tribe).  Another army was led by  was then in Aquitaine, aind too busily
Ruaidri Ua Concobair and Tighernan  occupied both in reducing some of his
Ua Ruairc into Ui Kenuselaigh until continental vassals to obedience, and in
they reached Kill Osnadh. A  battle  maintaining his controversy with St.
was fought between some of the re- Thomas a Becket, to avail himself in
cruits and cavalry of Connaught, and  person of the opportunity offered by
the cavalry of the Ui Kennselaigh, and  Diarmaid's treason, adopted this mode
six  of the Connaughtnien. together of keeping up civil strife in Ireland
with Domnall, son of Tadg, son of Mael- until he should be more at leisure to
ruanaidh, were slain in the first conflict;. turn it to his advantage. His letter
twenty-five of the Ui Kennselaigh, to- was of the following purport: " Henry
gether with the son of the king of Brit- King of England, Duke of Normanain (i.e., of Wales), who was the battle- dy and Aquitaine, and Earl of Anjou,
prop of the island of Britain, who had  to all his liegemen, English, Norman,
come across the sea in the army of Mac Welsh and Scotch, and to all other
Murcadh were slain in the second con- nations under his dominion, sends greetflict by Ua Ruairc. Diarmaid MacMur- ing. As soon as the present letters
cadha, afterwards came to Ua Conco- shall come to your hands, know that
bair; and gave him seven hostages for Dermod, prince of Leinster, has been
ten cantreds of his own native territory, received into the bosom of our grace
and one hundred ounces of gold were and benevolence. Wherefore, whosogiven to Ua Ruairc, as an atonement ever within the ample extent of our
for the wrong done to that prince.  territories, shall be willing  to lend
Derbail, daughter of Donncadh Ua  aid towards the restoration of this
Maelsechlainn, died at Cluain-mic-Nois prince, as our faithful and liege subject,
after the victory of will and confession. let such person know that we do hereUada Ua Conceanainn, who had been  by grant to him, for said purpose, our
at first Lord of Ui Diarmada, and af- license and favor."
terwards in religious orders, died at    Richard Fitz-Gilbert, i.e., Richard
Cluain-mic-Nois.  The church of the son of Gilbert or Gislebert. His real
nuns at Cluain-mic-Nois was finished  name was Richard de Claire, or Clare,
by Derborgaill, daughter of Murcadh  Earl of Pembroke and Strigul, and he




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                       617
Diarmaid p~omised to give his, own daughter, Aeifi, to this earl
as his wife, and with her he promised him  the inheritance of
Leinster after his own death.  The earl bound himself upon his
part, to follow the exiled prince into Ireland, and there to assist
im in reconquering his lost principality.
Having  completed this compact, Diarmaid set out for Britain
(Wales) to visit a prince named Ralph Griffin,-' who then ruled
over that country under the sovereignty of King Henry.   To
him, likewise, Diarmaid explained the object he had in view. At
that time this prince happened to hold in prison a nobleman of
distinguished valor, whose name was Robert Fitz-Stephen, who,
having rebelled against his king, saw no better means of escaping
punishment than engaging to go to the aid of Mac Murcadha in
Ireland. Upon this, when the Bishop of St. David's and Maurice
Fitz-Gecrald had heard that Diarmaid had gone to the prince to
solicit the enlargement of Robert Fitz-Stephen from the prison in
which he lay, they went themselves likewise, to petition for the
liberty of that nobleman, and to beg that he would be allowed
to proceed to Ireland to join the King  of Leinster.  The children
of one mother,75 indeed, were that Bishop, Robert Fitz-Stephen
and Maurice Fitz-Gerald.  By these solicitations the prince was
induced to grant his liberty to Robert, upon the expressed condition that lie should follow Mac Murcadha into  Ireland in the
course of the summer then ensuing.7'   To  Robert,  Diarmaid'
promised to grant Loch Garman and the two cantreds of land
that lay next thereto, as a reward for his agreeing to come to his
assistance.
bore the nickname of Strongbow, a two (or three) sons, and the second of
cognomen which his father had borne them was the brave adventurer, Maurbefore him. He was a man of ruined  ice Fitz-Gerald, now enlisted in the
fortunes, and of a daring, adventurous service of the Irishking. His mother,
and unscrupulous spirit. From  him  Nesta, having been carried off by a
the early Anlco-Norman settlers in Ire- Welsh prince, named Caradoc, became
land have been called Strongbownians. on Gerald's death, the mistress of the
7 Ralph Griffin.  His real name constable Stephen de Marisco, and by
was Rees Ap Gryffyth.  He had de- him had a son, Robert Fitz.Stephen,
tained Fitz-Stephen in prison for three the same who ehgag(ed at this time in
years. It was probably a son of his the Irish wars, in common with his
that is styled son of the King of Bri- half brother, Maurice Fitz-Gerald.
tain (i. e., Wales) in the above given  Like the Earl of Pembroke, they were
extract from the Four Masters,. where hoth fitted by broken fortunes and pohe is stated have fallen fighting for litical difficulties, to embark in any enMac Murcadha.                       terprize, however, desperate, which held
76 Thle children of ono mother. They  forth a prospect of speedy relief and
were the sons of Nesta, the beautiful change. —See Moore's Historyq of Ireland.
mistress of Henry I.  This lady, after   76 The summer then ensUti,.  Fitzseparating from her royal lover, mar- Stephen did not arrive in Ireland until
ried Gerald, Governor of Pembroke, the beginning of the second next sumand Lord of Carew, by whom she had mer, that of A.D. 1169.




618                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Then, having ratified all his covenants with tlhese people,
Diarmaid sailed homeward"' for Ireland, and those that followed
him on his voyage, were but few, though he was' returning to a
land where his enemies abounded, and his friends were scarce.
After his landing, he proceeded secretly to Ferna Mor of St.
Maedog, and placed himself under the protection of the clergy
and brotherhood of that monastery, and there he dwelt in sadness and obscurity for a short time, until the summer had set
in.
First landing of Anglo-Nornmans under Robert Fitz-Stephen, in
the month of Mcay, A. D., 1169.
In due time Robert Fitz-Stephen arrived in Ireland, in fulfilment of his compact with Mac Alurcadha.  The number of the
host under his command was thirty knights, sixty esquires,
and three hundred footmen. And the place where they made
their landing was at Cuan-an-bainbh, 7 (Cooan-an-vonniv), on the
south  coast of Loch Garmnan, at a spot which is called Bag
and  Bun.   This  took  place in  the year of our Lord  one
thousand one hundred and seventy,79 in the seventh year of the
reign of Ruaidri O'Concobair.  Tn the company of Robert FitzStephen, there was also on that expedition, another EKnight of
distinction  who  was  named  Herve  de Monte-Marisco,80 a
nobleman  of the house  of the Earl of Strigul,  whom  the
latter had sent to Ireland before himself, for the purpose of
7 Diarmaid sailed homeward. This sixty men at arms, and three hundred
account, given by Keating of the few- archers. On the day after his arrival,
ness of his followers on his homeward  he was joined by Maurice de Prenderreturn, is exaggerated. Though prob- gast, a gentleman of Wales, who then
ably none of the Norman men-at-arms landed with a force consistingC of ten
then accompanied him, he must have knights and sixty archers.  Previous
been accompanied by a considerable to this, we fead of the arrival of a
body of Welshmen, nnder that son of the fleet of the Flemmings, who "came
King of Britain whose death is record- from  England in the army of Mac
ed by the Four Masters. If he was at Murcadha, to contest the kingdlom of
all constrained to conceal himself at Leinster for him. They were seventy,
Ferna, or Ferns, it could not have been men dressed in coats of mail." —Four
for many weeks, for he made head  Masters.
against the monarch within the very      eventy-1orrectlv: sixty-nine.
year of his return, and was stron(r  80 Herve de Jlonte-Marisso. He is
enough to secure the peaceable pos- also called Hervey of Mount Maurice,
session of part of his former territo- and was the paternal uncle of Strongries by a treaty of peace.         bow, Earl of Pembroke. He is said to'8 Cuan-an-bainbh; i. e., the harbor have been p person in needy circumor creek of- the Sucking Pig.  It is stances, who, without arms or means,
now called Bannow, in the county Wex- had joined in this expedition as the
ford. Fitz-Stephen had with him on emissary of his nephew.
this occasion a force of thirty knights,




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                     619
reconnoitering and forming an estimate of this country.  Then,
when they had arrived at'the above-named place, Robert sent
a message to Diarmaid, thereby informing the latter of hisarrival
in Ireland.  Diarmaid was seized with joy upon receiving the
tidtings thereof, and he marched forth immediately followed by
five hundred warriors to meet his allies.
Having formed a junction with these, both he and his confederates with one accord determined that the first step to be taken
was to attack and gain possession of Loch Garman.81    Thither
they accordingly marched, but, as they were approaching the
town, the burgesses adopted the counsel of making their submission to Diarmaid  forthwith, and of sending four of the
nobles of tbeir town to that prince as hostages, in pledge of their
peaceable demeanor towards him, and of their paying him rent
and fines, and doing him homage as their liege lord. It was
then indeed that Diarmaid fulfilled his promise to Robert FitzStephen, by granting him  the town of Loch Garman, together
with the cantred of land that lay next thereto.  IIe likewise
granted  the two cantreds that lay next to this,j2 to  Herve do
Monte-Marisco, thus completing the engagements which he had
contracted with both these knights in Britain.
Having arranged these matters, Diarmaid next summoned
together a general muster both of his own partizans and of the
strangers, and when they had come into place, the number of
the entire host there assembled was three thousand men in all,
counting both the Gauls and the Gaels. This force he immediately led into Osraide, which he commenced to plunder and devastate therewith; for at this time the Ossorians were ruled by
Donncadh, son of Domnall Remnhar, who had been his inveterate
"8 Loct-Garman; otherwise called by so brave a resistance that he was
Loch g-Carmann, and now known to compelled to withdraw his troops and
the English as the town of Wexford. content himself with burning the ships
This place was then one of the mara- then lying in the harbor. Next day,
time cities, held by the descendants of the robber chieftain caused masses to be
the Lochlannaigh, or Danes. The citi- solemnly said in his camp, and was prezens did not submit as passively as the paring for another assault, when a
above given account would imply. For, peace was made between the citizcns
though they had fled back in disorder, and their enemies, through the medium
when first they had been called out to of two bishops, and the town was
meet their foes-frightened, it is said, at thereupon delivered up to the King of
the armor and discipline of the Nor- Leinster as its liege lord.- See Mioore.
mans, but perhaps also by the num-   82 The two cantreds next to this. These
bers of the Irish force that followed are now comprised within the baronies
Mac  Murcadha-they  immediately of Forth and Bargy, whose present inadopted the resolution of burning their habitants are chiefly descendants of the
suburbs; and when Fitz-Stephen led Flemmings, then planted in the anciet
his men to scale their walls, he was met Fotharta of'the O'Larkins.




620                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
enemy."   But, as he was thus laying waste this territory, its
chieftain, finding himself' unable to  efend it, with the advice of
the nobles of his tribe, adopted the resolve of sending hostages
to  Diarmnaid  and  of submitting  to  pay  him  chief-rent.   It
was thus that Donncadh prevented Diarmaid from  devastating
Osraide.
But now, when the nobles of Ireland had heard84 of the arrival of Diarmaid and the Gauls, and had been informed of the
success of their united forces, they proceeded to take counsel
with Ruaidri O'Concobair, who at that time had taken upon himself the sovereignty of Ireland. And the resolution, which they
then adopted was to place at his disposal an auxiliary army,
collected from all the principalities of Ireland.
A  force  so  composed  was accordingly brought  together,
whereupon Ruaidri marched therewith  into the territory of Ui
Kennselaigh, with the intention of expelling both Diarmaid and
the strangers out of Ireland.  But as soon as the monarch had ipvaded Leinster, Diarmaid and the Gauls and all of the Leinstermen that followed his standard, retreated into certain dark woods
and fastnesses that lay near Ferna Mor of St. Maedog, in order
"% His inveterate enemy. He had been  national independence,from the Norman
one of the first to turn against Diar- mercenaries of the King of Leinster.maid. He had also, during the previ- Amongst the various entries under the
ous year, in a paroxysm of jealousy, or- year 1169, Ruaidri's march into Leindered the eyes of one of the sons of the ster, and the peace he concluded with
King  of Leinster, named Enda, to be Mac Murcadha, is thus cursorily set
put out. This barbarous practice was down by our annalists: "The King of
common in England as well as in Ire- Ireland  afterwards  proceeded  into
land at that time.-" Henry the Second, Leinster; and Tighernan Ua Ruairc,
in his excursion into Wales in 1164, lord of Brefnii, and Diarmaid O'Maelhaving received as hostages the child- sechlaiiin, King of Temrhair, and the
ren of the noblest families of that coun- foreigners of A th-cliath, went to meet
try, gave orders that the eyes of all the  the men of Munster, Leinster and Osmales should oe rooted out, and the raide; and they set nothing by the
ears and noses of the females amputated. Flemmings; and Diarmaid Mac MurIn the reign of Henry IV., it was cadha gave his son as a hostage to
made felony (in England)' to cut out Ruaidri Ua Concobair."-Four Masany person's tongue, or to put out his ters.
eyes; crimes, which,' the act says,   In the previous year, Eri had seen'were very frequent.' "-Moore's Histo- her Aird-righ with his princes, nobles
ry of ldeland. See also, Lingard, Hume, and people assembled for the last
fc.                                 time at the ancient royal fair of Talti,'4 Wthen the nobles of Ireland had  which "was celebrated on this occaheard,'ce. From the fact that Irish  sion by the King of Ireland and the
chieftains had been accustomed to em- men of Leth Cuinn, and their horses
ploy foreign mercenaries in theirdomes- and cavalry were spread out from
tic wars, neither they nor the monarch AMullach Ati (now the Hill of Loyd,
Ruaidri seem to have been conscious, near Kells) to Mullach Taltenn,"
either now, or long after the present (now the summit of Telltown, a space
time, of the danger that threatened their of six miles.)




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                 621
to save himself from the numerous army led by Ruaidri. Hereupon, when Ruaidri perceived that his enemies had no intention
of gi'ing him battle, he sent messengers to Robert Fitz-Stephen,
commanding him to leave the country, on the grounds that heo
had no right to any inheritance therein. But to these messengers Fitz-Stephen replied that he would never forsake the lord
with whom he had come to Ireland.  His messengers returned
in due time to Ruaidri with this answer; and then, when he
found that neither Mac Mfurcadha, nor the Gauls would quit
the coxintry upon any condition, he prepared to fall upon them
with the full force of the large army under his comnand, and
thus to crush and destroy their host. However, when the clergy
of Leinster saw that the country was in danger of being destroyed by this contest, they exerted their utmost influence to
bring about a peace between Ruaidri and Diarmaid. The folb
lowing were the conditions upon which that peace was finally
concluded; to wit, the kingdom of Leinster was to be left to
Diarmaid, as it was his by right of inheritance, upon condition
that he would do homage for the same to Ruaidri as his liege
lord, and submit to his authority, just as all the kings, that had
ruled Leinster before him, had been wont to submit to all the
monarchs of Ireland, who had preceded Ruaidri. Then as a
surety for his observance of the peace thus concluded, Diarmaid
gave one of his own sons, named Art,85 to Ruaidri as his hostage.  Upon his part, Ruaidri promised to give his own sister
in marriage to Diartnaid.  Ufion the completion of these conditions, they separated from  one another in peace. But before
they did so, Diarmaid promised Ruaidri that he would bring
over no more Gauls into Ireland.
Arrival of Jlfaurice Fit- Gerald.
It was not long after the conclusion of this peace, when Maurice Fitz-Gerald arrived in Ireland, both in fulfilment of his own
compact with Mac Mutrcadha, and in order to receive the reward which, during the past harvest, the latter had promised to
bestow upon him, and upon Robert Fitz-Stephen, provided they
would come to Ireland to aid him  in the recovery of his own
territories. The force that followed Maurice upon this occasion,
88 Named Art. According *to the his country to implant his foreign allies
Four Masters, the name of this son in the land, by the subjugation of the
would appear to have been Concobar. Danish feudatories of the kingdom of
After this unfortunate treaty was con- Leinster, as well as the refractory tribes
eluded, Ruaidri drew off his army, ofhis own kindred.
thus allowing the treacherous enemy of




622                THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
consisted of ten knights, thirty esquires, and one hundred foot.
men. And where they made their first landing was at Loch
Garman; and then, no sooner did Mac MIurcadha and  iobert
Fitz-Stephen hear of his arrival, than they came to this place to
welcome him.
It twas now that Mac Mureadlha called to mind all the injuries
that the inhabitants of Ath-cliath had committed towards both
himself and his father before him;8 and for this reason did he
gladly enlist this host in order to lead it thither at -once, and to
sack that city therewith; for he had to leave Robert Fitz-Stephen engaged in building a castle at a place which is now called
Carraigh, and which lies two miles outside Loch Garman.  Accordingly Diarmaid and Maurice Fitz-Gerald, attended by the
the greater part of the Gauls, marched into Fine Gall.87 So that
they plundered and burned up the greater part of that territory.
Hereupon, when the burgesses of Ath-cliatll saw that the country all round their city was plundered and laid waste, they took
counsel together, and the measure upon which they determined
was to send very many objects of value and large presents of gold
and silver to MIae Murcadha, in order to procure a peaceable
settlement of their quarrel with that prince.  And in addition to
these treasures, they likewise sent out hostages to him over the
walls of their city.
lac Mfurcadha. aspires to the sovereignty of Ireland —His letter to
Strongbow-Arrival of Raymond le Gros, A.D. 1170.
When Mlac Murcadha now found that he was succeeding in
all his undertakings,88 he recalled to his mind that the sovereignty of all Ireland had been possessed by several of his own direct ancestors, namely, by Concobar Abradh-ruadh, Cathaeir
86 His father before him. This was lin, and still retains its ancient appellaDonncadh Ua Mael-nia-mbo, King of tion with slight alteration in the anLeinster, who was slain in 1115 by the glicized form, Fingal.
Irish Danes of Dublin, commanded by   e8 Succeeding in all hisundertackings.
their lord, Domnall, son of Murkertach  His success was as yet confined to the
Mor O'Briain.                      talking of Wexford, the submission of
87 Fine Gall, i. e., thetribe, or rath- Ossory and Dublin, and the ackinowler, figuratively, the tribe-land of the edgement of his authority by some of
Gauls or strangers. The first part of the septs of his own tribe-events that,
this name has no relation to Finn or such was the state of isolation in which
Fionn in Finn-Gall, i. e., a fair-haired the interest of the various tribes that
stranger, the Irish name for a Norweg- composed the Gaelic nation then stood
ian. It is fine, pronounced finneh, a with regard' to one another, were of
race, tribe, or kindred. The territory  as little immediate moment to the rest
of the strangers, i. e., the Danes, desig- of the country as if they had taken
nated by this name, lies north of Dub- place in a foreign land.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                     623
Mor,jg Labraidh Loingsech, Laegari Lore and Inuani Mor, and
all the other kings of this line who preceded them  upon the
Irish throne.  Therefore did he say to- himself that no king of
these had ever possessed any greater power to uphold him  in
the sovereignty of Ireland, than what he had then at his
own disposal.  For this reason he took both Maurice Fitz-Gerald
and Robert Fitz-Stephen into a private  place, and there acquainted them with his secret desires upon this subject, and he
asked their advice as to the measures to be taken iln furtherance
thereof These men thereupon answered him with one accord, and
assured him that it would be easy for him to accomplish his object, if he were only willing to send to Saxon-land for more men.
MAac Murcadha then desired them  to send messengers thither
immediately, with instructions to invite over all their kinsmen
and comnpaniofis; and he added that he would give his own
daughter as wife either to Maurice Fitz-Gerald, or to Robert
Fitz-Stephens; but neither of them would consent to take her,
because they remembered that he had previously promised her
to the Earl of Strigul, with the kingdom of Leinster for her
Portion, as the reward of that Earl's aiding him in recovering
the sovereignty of his own country. Both these knights coneluded by advising their ally to write to the said earl at once,
and to request of him to come over to Ireland and fulfill his
promises; "And explain to him," said they, "that thou art
prepared to fulfil thy part of the engagement, in as far as regards
giving him thy daughter in marriage, and with her the kingdom of Leinster after thy own day; and tell him moreover thy
prospects of subjecting the four provinces of Ireland, which
thou dost not yet own, to thy sovereignty and tribute.
Mac _Murcadha accordingly despatched a letter to this effect to
the earl of Strigul.  And when the bearer thereof had reached
him, and when he had read the letter, and had heard of the
great power, which MIac Murcadha, Robert Fitz-Stephen, and
Maurice Fitz-Gerald had acquired in Ireland, he set out immrle80 Cathaeir Mor, ~'c. Mr. Moore as- more admissible, for his claim to the
sumes, in one of the notes to his History sovereignty on the. ground of his desof Ireland, that it was in right of his cent from  Cathaeir Mor, his twentymaternal descent from Murkertach Mor second ancestor, was just as legitimate
O'Briain, that I)iarmaid  then laid in Brehon law. as those of Brian Borclaim to the Irish monarchy. But, had  omha, or of Tordelbach, the father of
he considered the usages of the ancient Ruaidri, the actual king.  Mac MurIrish, he would have understood that a cadha was himself aware of this, and,
claim so founded would not be acknowl. ruthless. destroyer as he was, he may be
eged by a single Ollamh, Brethemh or supposed to have known his countryBard of the G7aels, however plausible men well enough not to have shocked
it might seem to MIac Murcadha's for- their hereditary prejudices by wantonly
eigrn friends. Keating's account is then advancing any other.




624                THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
diately for the place where the King of Saxon-land was then
staying, and there he solicited the permission of that monarch
to go and make a conquest in whatever country he had a mind.
But when the king comprehended the object of his request, he
did not grant him his request in full, neither did he give him a
direct refusal.  The earl, nevertheless, went off with the ambignous consent which he had received, and forthwith set about
equipping himself and his followers for the intended expedition.
Then, as he was not ready to set out immediately upon his voyage in lcrson, he sent off Raymond le Gros,"9 son of William
Fltz-Gerald, the elder brother of Maurice, with a band of armed
followers to go before him into Ireland.
Upon arriving in this country, Raymond effected a landing
at Dun Domnoinn,"' four miles outside of Port Largi, towards
the south.  According to Staniliurst, the number of the people
of this captain was ten knights and three score footmen.  As
soon as landed, they constructed a fortified embankment of
stones and clay in that place.
When the news of the arrival of these Gauls in their neighborhocl, had reached the citizens of Port Largi and Maelsechlinn O'Faelain, King of the Desi, they were seized with hatred
and alarm  at their approach, and they came together to take
counsel as to how they should act upon-the emergency.   The
result of their consultation was, that they resolved to attack the
stranigers in their fortress, and there to slaughter and destroy them.
They then assembled their forces together in one place, and the
number they led against the foe amounted to three thousand
men.  When Raymond saw them  approaching, he sallied out
rashly and unthinkingly to meet and oppose that numerous
host, and to give them battle with the small bannd under his comrmand.  But when he found that he was not strong enough to
~9 Raymond le Grc(s; i. e. Raymond they purposed to await the arrival of
the Big'.  This voung officer, whose Strongbow. The en(ragement between
name was Raymond Fitz-William, but these invaders and the citizens of Wawho bore the cognomen Le Gros, as a terford, aided by O'taelain, is not
personal characteristic, was of the same mentioned by thie Four Masters. It is,
noble race whence sprang so many no doubt, exaggerated  here.  Mr.
others of. the leaders of this Irish ex- Aloore tells us that the Irish had puredition, being the second son of Wil- sued Raymond's force into the fort. and
Fiam Fitz-Gerald, and nephew both to  that it was when thus pressed, that
Maurice Fitz Gerald, and Robert Fitz- Raymond turned round and struck the
Stephen." —Moore.                 foremost of those who were wtthin the
"9 Dun D,,mnainn, now called Down- gates through the body, and then, this
donnell, near Waterford.  Hervey de example having animated his band and
Monte-Marisco, and some other knights dismayed his assailants, he sallied out
joined him soon after his landing, and again at the head of his small folrce, when
here they erected a small fort, where the whole multitude fled in dismay.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                      625
engage his assailants in the field, he began to retreat with his
face to the foe, towards the entrenchment which he had previiously constructed.  However, upon finding his enemies pressing upon his rear, he turned upon his pursuers with hardihood,
and flinging himself upon them, he made an incredible slaughter of that large host of the Gaels, so that, besides what he killed,
he maimed and wvounded92 five hundred of their men in the course
of that one hour.
Arriva        c       e Crel of Richard de Care, Earl of Strigul and Pembro7ce-commonly? called Earl Strongbow, A. D. 1170
On the approach of the feast of St. Bartholemew, the Earl of
Strigul arrived in Ireland in person; and the number of his followers was two hundred Knights, and one thousand Esquires,
archers, and soldiers of every other description.  And the place
where he cast anchor was in the harbor of Port Largi.
When, indeed, the news of the arrival of the Earl of Strigul
had spread  throughout Ireland, Mac Murcadha, attended  by
the  nobles of Leinster, together with Rlobert Fitz-Stephens,
Maurice Fitz-Gerald and R:aymond le Gros came to meet him,
full of joy and hope.  Next day they marched by common consent to attack and capture Port Largi,` and when  they had
come under that city, they set themselves determinately about
taking it by a simultaneous assault.  And then, in addition to
the hardships which they had previously inflicted upon the inhabitants of this city, having taken the walls by storm, they
92 Hl maimed and wounded, ic. Of inhabitants of this city had previously
these, seventy of the principal citizens allowed themselves to be shanlefully
of Port Largi, or Waterford, were beaten by the small band of Raymond,
taken prisoners in the rout. For their and had allowed him to remain for three
ransom large sums of money were of- months unmolested in their neighborfered by their fellow-citizens, who even hood, they now made a. rather vigorous
proffered to surrender their city itself resistance to the more formidable army
to the strangers as the price of their of Strongbow. With the aid of O'Faefriends' liberation. But their fate was lain, prince of the Desi, they twice releft to a council of war, where, by the pulsed their assailants.   At length
persuasion of Herve deMonte-Marisco, Raymond le Gros, perceiving a small
and against the will of Raymond, it house projecting on timber props from
was determined that they should be the east angle of the wall, ordered some
executed, for the purpose of " striking  of his knights to hew down these
terror into the Irish."  They were ac- props, so that the house fell, and with
cordingly borne away to the rocks, and it part of the wall. A breach being
there most cruelly put to death, by first thus opened, the troops poured into the
breaking their limbs, and then casting  city, and there took dreadful revenge
them  headlong  into the  sea.-See for the resistance they had encountered
Moore.                             by a general slaughter of all whom
Po;rt Largi captured. Though the they met.-See Moore.
40




626                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
rushed into the interior, and massacred every person upon whom
they could lay hands.   Nevertheless, at the request of Mac
Murcadha, they spared the Life of Maelsechlainn  O'Faelain,
King of the Desi, whom they had there captured.
Mac Murcadha had on this occasion brought with him his
daughter, who was named Aeifi,94 to meet the earl, and to hin
she was immediately married at this place. And then, as soon
as that alliance was duly ratified by all parties, the earl, having
left a strong garrison in Port Largi,95 immediately led forth his
army against Ath-cliath.
Now, there was not upon earth any man whom the citizens
of Dublin more hated to see approaching them  than  Mac Murcadha, thus attended by those Gauls; and, upon his side, Mac
Murcadha was equally full of hatred and enmity towards them,
for it was they that had slain his father, whom they then buried
insultingly and  ignobly, by placing  him  in  one grave with
a dead dog, as a mark of contempt. Therefore were the folk of
Ath-cliath seized with terror upon the approach of that army of the
Gauls, and of the full strength of Leinster now marching against
them. For this reason they deputed the Archbishop of Ath-cliath,
namely, Lorcan O'Tuathlail,9  as their ambassador to  solicit a
H Aeifi. The Normans called her my of Mac Murcadha, to contest LeinEva.  Mac Murcadha was doubly a ster for him, and to disturb the Gaels
traitor in granting the inheritance of of Ireland in general; and Mac Murthe kingdom of Leinster to the hus- cadha gave his daughter to Earl Strongband of this lady; for he knew that not bow for coming into his army.  He
one of the royal tribes in Leinster, who took Loch Garman, and entered Port
were every man of them legitimately as Largi by force; and they took prisoner
eligible to the chieftancy as himself, Gilla-Mari, the officer of the fortress,
would acknowledge such a title one and Ua Faelain, lord of the Desi, and
hour longer than external force corn- his son, and they killed seven hundred
pelled them. And so we read in the persons there."
subsequent annals of Ireland, of several   95 A strong garrison at Port Larqi.
Kings of Leinster, of the ancient regal Waterford was soon after retaken by
and direct line, some of whom, as the Mac Carthaigh, and the Eoganachta.
brave Art Mac Murcadha O'Caemha- Under this same year, we are told that
naigh, forced involuntary homage to  "a victory was gained by the son of
their regal titles even from the Norman  Cormnac, grandson of Carthach, and
colonists, but we do not find one man, the people  of Desmond, over the
styled King of Leinster by either Eng- knights who were left to guard Port
lish or Irish, of those that sprang from  Largi." —F. 1)1.
Aeifi and Richard de Clare.          96 Lorcan O' Tuathail. He is better
The arrival of Strongbow and tak- known as St. Lawrence O'Toole. " This
ing of Waterford, is thus entered by great and good man," says Mr. Moore,
the Four Masters.  "A. D. 1170. " who was destined to act a distinguishRichard, son of Gilbert, i. e. Earl ed part in the coming crisis of his
Strongbow, came from Saxon-land into  country's fate, possessed qualities both
Ireland with a numerous force, and of mind and heart which would have
many knights and archers, in the ar- rendered him an ornament to any com



THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                    627
peaceful settlement from the earl, and to him the said archbishop
promised large presents and hostages from the folk of the city,
provided he would grant them peace and protection.  However,
whilst tey were arranging the terms upon which they required
peace was to have been ratified, Raymond le G-ros accompariied
by Milo de Cogan, and a number of other young knights, who
were stationed upon the other side of the city, found means of
effecting a breach in its fortifications, through which they made
an entry and, rushing upon the inhabitants, slaughtered every
person upon whom they could lay hands therein. Having
thus gained possession of Ath-cliath,97 they made but a short
stay in that place. However, the earl left Milo de Cogan, and
a certain number of his armed followers to hold possession of
the city as its garrison.
Then Mac Murcadha, cherishing vengeance and hatred towards O'Ruairc, King of B'refni, led the united armies of the
Gauls and Gaels into the country of that prince, and he soon
succeeded in plundering and burning the territories of Brefni,
munity, however advanced in civiliza- tie between them for the space of three
tion, and public virtue."  Speaking of days, until lightning  burned Aththe present taking of Dublin, we read  cliath; for the Danes of that fortress
that, "in the midst of the slaughter had deserted from the Connaughtmen
and massacre, the great and good St. and the people of Leth Cuinn.  A
Lawrence (Lorcan) was seen expos- miracle was now wrought against the
ing  himself to every danger, and  Danes of Ath-cliath, for Mac Murcadeven, at his biographer describes him, ha and the Saxons acted treacherously
dragging from the enemies' hands the towards them, and made a slaughter of
palpitating bodies of the slain, to them in the middle of their own forhave them decently interred.  He also tress, and carried off their cattle and
succeeded at great risk in prevailing  their goods, in consequence of the vioon the new authorities to retain most lation of their word to the men of Ireof the clergy in their situations, and  land.
recovered from  the plunderers the    "An army was led by Mac Murcadha
books and ornaments belonging to the  and his knights into Meath and Brefseveral churches." —Moore.         ni, and they plundered Cluain-Iraird,
97 Ath-cliath taken. The state of dis- and burned Kenannus, Kill Taltenn,
cord and anarchy that ensued after the Dubadh, Slani, Tuilen, Kill Sgiri, and
takling of Dublin, may be estimated by Disert Kiarain; and they afterwards
the following extracts from the entries made a predatory incursion into Tir
of some of the events of the year 1170. Briuin (Brefni), and carried off many
By them may be seen that the powerful prisoners and cows to their camp."
toparchs of Meath, Oirghialla, and   The hostages of Diarmaid Mac MurThomond, had then thrown off their cadha, were put to death by Ruaidri
submission to the Irish monarch. " An  OConcobair, King of Ireland, at Atharmy was led by Ruaidri, King of Ire- Luain; namely, Concobar, son of Diar.
land; O'Ruairc, lord of Brefni; and maid, and Diarmaid's grandson,'the son
O'Kerbaill, lord of Oirghialla, against of Domnall Caemhanach; and Ua
the Leinstermen and their foreign al- O'Caellaighe, the son of his foster.
lies; and there was a challenge of bat- brother.




628               THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
and in gaining great advantages both over O'Ruairc, and every
other Irish chieftain, that he went against.
At length, when Ruaidri O'Concobair, who was king of Connaught and the greater part of Ireland, saw  that Mac XMurcadha had violated the peace which had been made  between
them, he sent ambassadors to that prince to complain of his
breach of the conditions upon which it had been granted,
and to reproach him with having brought over more Gauls
into  Ireland, without his own permission  or advice.  And
when the king's ambassadors had come in the presence of
Mac Murcadha, they addressed him  in these terms: " We now
khow that thou hast not any regard either for thy oaths or for
the safety of thy son, whom thou hast delivered up on thy part
as a hostage for the maintenance of peace.  Trherefore do.es Ruaidri O'Concobair, King of Connaught, declare  to thee that
he will send thee thy son's head, unless thou wilt consent to put
away those foreigners from thee, and that, unless this be done,
he will not then be satisfied with anything less than driving
thee again into exile to Saxon-land."  Afac Murcadha replied to
this message by saying that he would not only not send away
the foreigners at the command of Ruaidri, but that he would
even invite over others besides those already in the country.
He added, moreover, that he never would make peace with any
portion of the Gaelic nation, until he had gained possession of
all Ireland.   His ambassadors then returned to  Ruaidri, to
whom they made known the answer which'they had received
from Mac'Murcadha, whereat he was seized wvith exceeding great
wrath. Besides this, the fame of the valorous deeds of the Gallic invaders had now so spread throughout all the land, that the
men of Irelalid were filled with hatred and dismay at their approach.
Domnall Breaghach and the men of fleet upon the Shannon to plunder
East Meath turned against Ui Ruairc Munster. The Ui MIani made a predaand Ua Concobair, and delivered host- tory incursion into Ormond, in which
ages to Mac Murcadha. The hostages they plundered, and they destroyed the
of East Meath were put to death by Ua wooden bridge of Kill-da-luadh.  A
Ruairc. Mac Murcadha led an army predatory incursion was made by the
into Brefni, where a party of his peo- people of West Connaught into Thople were defeated by the soldiers of Ua mond.
Ruairc; and they afterwards made an   A. predatory incursion was made by
attack upon the camp in which he him- Tighernan Ua Ruaire into Galenga
self was with the Leinstermen, Gauls, and Saithni, (in Meath) whence he carand the men of Meath and Oirghialla ried off many cows. A predatory inabout him, and they slew numbers of cursion was made by the Oirghialla
them, and then left their camp.   (now, apparently, the allies of the King
Domnall Ua Briain and tlie Dal g- of Leinster) into Tir Briuin (O'Ruairc'i
Cais turned against the monarch. Ru- country).-Four Masters.
aidri Ua Concobair brought a great




THE HISTORY OF' IRELAND.                     629
In the meantime accounts from the earl and his followers, had
reached Saxon-land; and when the king of that country had
heard the rumors that were afloat about their proceedings, he
made proclamation that no ship or bark should sail to Ireland from  any of the countries that belonged to himself, and
that there should be no trade or communication kept up with
that country by any of his subjects.  He likewise made proclamation to all those who had gone from Saxon-land into Treland,
to return forthwith to their homes, under the penalty of for
ever losing their properties.  Upon this, when the earl saw that
his people would be compelled to leave him by the proclamation of the king, he proceeded to take counsel with theim as to
what was to be done in the emergency.  Thereupon, the step
that seemed most advisable to themn was, to send Raymond le
Gros to the Kingi of Saxon-land, with instructions to explain to
that monarch that it was with his own consent and approbation
that both the earl himself and all the Gauls, then under his command, had passed over into Ireland for the purpose of aiding
and assisting a man that had promised to pay him  homage and
vassalage, namely, Diarmaid Mac Murcadha, King of Leinster;
and they told him to assure their king, that it was subject to his
will that they wished to hold whatever conquests they had made
in Ireland, as well as all the benefits they had received from
Mac Murcadha.
Raymond then proceeded with this expostulation to the king
of Saxon-land; and Gascony was the place where that king was
then staying; and it was the year in which St. Thomas, Bishop
of Canterbury, was murdered on the fifth day of Christmas,
in the year of our Lord, one thousand one hundred and seventyone.
It was in the course of the following month of MIay, that
Diarmaid Mac Murcadha, King of Leinster, died,93 and he was
buried at Ferna Mor of St. Maedog.
" Diarmaid 3lae  71urcadha died. will, without penance, without the
" A. D. 1171, Diarmaid Mac Murcadha, Body of Christ, without unction., as his
King of Leinster, a man by whom a evil deeds deserved." — Id.  Diarmaid
trembling sod was made of all Ireland, is thus described  by Cambrensis:
after having brought over the Saxons, " This Dermicius was a man of tall
after having done extensive injuries to stature and large frame, warlike and
the Irish, after plundering and burning daring among his nation, and of hoarse
many churches, as Kenannus, Cluain voice, by reason of his frequent and corIraird, &c., died of an unknown dis- tinuous shouting in battle. He desired
ease, for he became putrid while living to be feared rather than to be loved; he
through the miracle of God, Colum- oppressed the noble and elevated the
Kille and Finnen, and the other saints lowly; he was the enemy of his counof Ireland, whose churches he had trymen; he was lated by stranrgers.
burned and profaned; and he died at The hand of all men was against him,
Ferna Mor (Ferns) without making a and his hand was against all."




630                 THE HISTORY O1F IRELAND.
Arrival of Henry II. in Ireland, on the 18th of October, A. D.
1171.
TEE king soon after returned into Saxon-land, and, when
arrived there, he dispatched one of his people, a knight named
HIerve de Monte-Marisco, in company with Raymond le Gros, to
Ireland, with a letter to the earl of Strigul, wherein he commanded him to return into Saxon-land without any delay; and
when these had reached Ireland, and Herv6 delivered his king's
message to the earl, the latter immediately returned to Saxon-land
in his company; and, when arrived there, he came before his sovereign, and promised that he would deliver up Port Largi, Athcliath and the seaport towns of Leinster to him and to his heirs,
forever, provided he would allow the province of Leinster to be
possessed by himself and his posterity.  Then, when a compact
to this effect had been concluded between them, the king set out
for Ireland in the earl's company, attended by a numerous army,
and cast anchor in the harbor of Port Largi, in the year of our
Lord, one thousand one hundred and one. Five hundred knights,
together with a large force of cavalry and infantry, was the
strength of his host."'
At Port Largi the king remained for some time, and thither
came the nobles of the Gauls, who had been previously in IreThe strength of his host. "Henry  Ireland. Many were slaughtered on
II. landed at Crook, in the county of  both sides-as well Saxon knights as
Waterford, on the 18th of October, Danes of Ath-cliath. Asgall, son of
1171. He was accompanied by Strong- Raghnall, fell therein, and Eoan (John),
bow, William Fitz-Aldelm, Humphrey  a Dane from Inis h-Orc (Orkney Isles),
de Bohun, Hugh de Lacy, Robert Fitz- and numbers besides them.
Barnard, and many other lords. His    An army was led by Ruaidri Ua
whole force, which, according to the  Concobair, Tighernan Ua Ruairc, and
most authentic English accounts, was Murcadh Ua Kerbaill to Ath-cliath, to
distributed into 400 ships, consisted of  lay siege to Earl Strongbow and Milo
500 knights and about 4,000 men at de Cogan. There were conflicts and
arms."-O'Donovan.                  skirmishes between them for the space
Previous to the landing of Henry, of a fortnight. After this, O'Concoand subsequent to the death of Diar- bair went against the Leinstermen,
maid, the Irish annals contain the fol- with the cavalry of the men of Brefni
lowing brief entries, relative to the  and Oirghialla, to cut down and burn
events in which the foreign mercenaries  the corn of the Saxons. The earl and
of the Irish traitor were concerned:   Milo de Cogan then entered the camp
"A. D. 1171, Daimliag Kianain  of Leth Cuinn, and slew many of their
(Duleek of St. Kianan) was plundered  commonalty, and carried off their pro.
by the knights of Milo de Cogan, some  visions, armor, and horses.
of whom were slain on the following    A victory was gained by the son cf
day by the Danes of Ath-cliath in re- Cormac Mac Carthaigh  over the
venge of (St.) Kianan.-The battle  Danes of Luimnech, numbers of wh om
of Ath-cliath was fought between Milo  were slain by him; and he burned
de Cogan and Asgall, who had been  their market and half their fortres&
some time before king of the Danes of




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                       631
la~'. together with the burgesses of Loch Garman, to present him
wi,~. their homage, and to do him  honor.  Thither, also, came
Diarnlaid Mac Carthaigh, king of Corcach,'~~ who there made act
of homage and vassalage in his presence.  The king proceeded
to 0(ashel, and thither Domnall O'Briain came to meet him, and
to make act of homage and vassalage similar to that which Mao
Carthaigh had already made.  Upon this, Henry placed a garrison of his own men in Corcach, and Luimnech. After these,
the other nobles of Munster presented him with like acts of
homage and holor. HIe then returned to Port Largi, where
he was met by the king of Osraide, who made his submission
after the example of the other kings.  The king next marched
to the city of Ath-cliath, whither the Gaels of Leinster came to
pay him like acts of homage, and to do him honor.
Now, indeed, when Ruaidri O'Concobair, king of Connaught
and of the greater part of Ireland, had perceived that the majoriAn army was led by Ua Runirc, making their submission to Henry, did
with the men of Brefii Oirghialla, a  not consider that they were thereby
second time, to Ath-cliath, where they  making over to the head of a company
made battle with Milo de Cogan and  of monopolizing land-jobbers the terhis knights, in which battle the men  ritorial property of the several tribes
of Brefni and Oirghialla were defeat- of Saer Clanna, or Free Clans, of which
ed; and Aedh, son of Tighernan Ua  they were but the temporary guardiRuairc, and the grandson of Diarmaid  ans.  They could not transmit any
Ua Cuinn,were slain, with many others. such exclusive property in these lands
A predatory incursion was made by  to their own children, and very probatlhe son of the earl, and he plundered  bly deemed that, in doing homage to
the churches of Magh Laighen, and  Henry, they but yielded to a tempormany of the Ui Faelain.-A predatory  ary emergency in performing an idle
incursion was made by the son of the  ceremony, all consequences' of which
earl, in which he plundered Cl]uain  would pass away, as soon as the imConari, Galinni, and Lathrach Briuin. mediate political pressure should be
The fleet of Connaught upon the  removed. Such subaissions were cusSinainn and upon Loch Deirg-dcire  tomary amongst their own nation-for
from [the season of] Samhain to Bel- example, such was that of Maelsechtani.-A peace was made by Domnall lain. Mor to Brian Boromha-and such
Breaghach with Ua Ruairc, and the  had been the submissions and the hostpeople of East Meath came into his ages delivered from time immemorial
(Ua Ruairc's] house.               by the weaker to the more powerful
The King of England, the second  chieftains. They affected these chiefs
Henry, Duke of Normandy and A.qui- themselves personally, but rarely distaine, and Earl of Andegavia, and  turbed [except in case of thorough
Lord of many other countries, came to  conquest] the free ownership of their
Ireland this year. Two hundred and  kinsmen in the common inheritance of
forty was the number of his ships, and  the lands of their tribes. The event has
he put in at Port Largi."-F. M.    turned out otherwise than these chiefs'IO King of Corcach, i. e., king of  had then expected, and their cowardly
Desmond, of which Corcach or Cork  temporizing has been punished by the
was the most important city. There  almost total conversion of their several
can be no doubt but that Mac Cart- descendants into the class of Helots in
baigh and the other Irish toparchs, in  the land of their inheritance.




832              THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
ty of his provincial kings, both those that paid him rent andc
tributes, as well as those to whom he had himself given wages
and stipends, had placed themselves under the protection of the
king of Saxon-land, he considered in his own mind that he
would be less disgraced, by offering voluntary homage, than by
being forced to submit to it against his will. Thercupon, Henry
sent two of his people to hold an interview with Ruaidri O'Concobair; and the persons so deputed were iHugo de Lacy and
William Fitz-Aldelmn. Ruaidri came to meet these as far as the
baink of the Sinainn, where he made peace ant friendship with
the kinag of Saxon-land, to uhom he there made act of submission and homage. Murcadh, son of Flann, king of Meath, came
likewise, and delivered himself up to IHenry, after the same manner as the others. Thus, there was now no king nor chieftain, nor
lord in Ireland' that did not, at that time, pay homage to the king
of Saxon-land, and acknowledge his supremacy over themselves.
Afterwards, when the winter had come on, the weather became
so80 excessively cold and tempestuous that it was not possible for
any ship or bark to arrive in Ireland from the country of the Saxons with news to its king, until the middle month of the spring
had set in; but then some Saxon ships arrived in Ireland, which
brought that king certain news from his subjects, which he was
by no means glad to hear. The most important news which
they had brought him  was, that the Pope had sent over two
cardinals to Saxon-land, for the purpose of inquiring into the
murder committed upon St. Thomas, Archbishop of Canterbury,
and that, unless the king would come in person and make satisfaction to them for that murder, they threatened to lay an!;lterdiet upon every cduntry in which he might abide. Thorlvn these
were sad tidings for Henry, he soon received others from his son,
which were still sadder. These were, that the eldest of his sons
had taken possession of the crown, in the hope that le could be
able to keep it against his father's consent. An indescribable
gloom came upon King Henry upon hearing these evil tidings.
However, he was more affected by what he had learned regarding the, murder of St. Thomas, than by anything that lie had
heard about either his son or his subjects. For this reason he
called around him the chiefs of his people, for the purpose of explaining his position to them, and of consulting them upon the
daigers that hung over him. The plan adopted at this council,' i'No chiPftain nor lord in Ireland. the scribes of the foreign spoilers, and
7Iis is an exaggeration, and not true, is very probably of the same nature
"x~ct. The chiefs of the northern with the forged title which was made
tribes made no acts of submission to out for Henry, that first of the
Henry. The submission of the monarch Irish landlords through Donncadh
Ruaidri, rests upon the authority of O'Briain.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                      633
was to send a large body of his people before him into his king(lom, and to have himself follow them very soon after. This resolve
was then put into execution; and King Henry remained behind a
little longer, engaged in placing garrisons and wardens of his own
over Ireland: for, when it was time for himself to return to Saxonland, he appointed certain persons to hold p.,ssession 9f the country in his stead.  Thus, he left Hugo de lacy in Meath, with a
force consisting of twenty knights, and he likewise granted this
territory2 as a perpetual fief to Htugo, and his posterity.  Moreover, he leftsthe city of Ath-cliath under the wardenship of Robert
Fitz-Stephen and Maurice Fitz-Gerald, under whose command
he left twentv lknights and their several followers   Loch Garman, also, he left to the care of William  Fitz-Aldelm, Philip de
Hastings, and Philip de Brus, with whom he likewise left twenty
knights.  Port Largi he left in charge to Humphrey de Bohun,
Hugo de Gundeville, and Robert Fitz-Barnard, and under them
he left forty knights.
From this last place, the king sailed for Saxon-land.3 and there,
as soon ias he came into the presence of the cardinals, he offered
to the Pope whatever award he would be pleased to demand,
botlb as an eric for the murder of St. Thomas-though he had
himself had no secret participation4 therein-and as a means of
bringing about a settlement between himself and the king of
France, for Henry was then at war with that monarch.
2 Granted this territory.-That is, he  ing compassed the murder of this great
made his vassal, De Lacy, feudal land- man as well as good and holy prelate.
lord of the tribe-lands of the Clann  Other writers have, however, proved
Colmain and their correlatives. This  less indulgent to his royal memory,
was one of the first consequences of the  and he now stands in history as fully
dastardly homage of the Irish chiefs to  convicted of having instigated the
the invader, and one of the first steps martyrdom of St. Thomas of Cantertowards converting the Saer Clanna  bury, as if that base deed had been
into serfs of feudal lords of foreign  done in his p]~sence, and at his express
race, and, finally, to what is worse than  command.
the serfs of any feudal lord —the r'ack-   The proceedings of King Henry,
rented tenants and cotters of the land- during his seven months' stay in Ireusurers, whom modern civilization and  land, though copiously treated of by
enlightened legislation has introduced  English and foreign writers, have been
into the places of the feudal barons of  passed over in silence by most of our
old.                               native chroniclers.' Under the year
3 The king sailed for Saxonlaond. 1172, they relate that the brave TighHenry set sail from Wexford on East- ernan Ua Ruairc, lord of Brefili, was
er Monday, being the 17th of April, treacherously slain at Tlactga by Hugo
1172, and arrived, on the same day, at de Lacy and Domnall, son of Annadh
Portfinnan, in Wales.              Ua  unaire, one of his own tribe; and
4 No secret participation, &c.  Dr. that he was then beheaded, and carried
Keating, in the superabundance of  ignomoniously to Dublin, where Lis
charity, or of his respect for royalty, head was placed over the town gate,
would exonerate Henry II. from havy- and his body gibbetted, with the feet




634                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
The title under which Henry II, King  of England, claimed the
Sovereignty of Ireland.
IF the reader will here inquire, why it was that Diarmaid Mac
Murcadha, the king of Leinster, had gone to the king of Saxonland, who was then in France, to protest and complain of his
own expulsion out of Ireland, rather than to the king of France
itself, or to any other potentate, he must learn that he did so in
consequence of an act done by Donncadh, son of Brian Boromha,6
upwards, on the north side of the city, battle of Sliabh Grott, under that of
1" a woful spectacle to the Irish."  We  Diarmaid, son of Donncadh Mael-na-mare next told that Domnall Ua Fergail bo, king of Leinster., and that of his
[O'Farrell], chief of Conmacni, was own nephew, Tordelbach. In 1059,
slain, and Anghali [Anallyl plundered, he became the vassal of Aedh O'Conbythe people of the king of Saxon-land, cobair, king of Connaught. In 1053
aid the son of Annadh Ua Ruairc; the hostages of all Munster were dethat the Kinel Eogain were defeated in  livered up to Diarmaid, son of Maelbattle by Flathbertach Ua Maeldor- na-m-bo, who thereby became king of
adh and the Kinel Conaill; that the  Leth Mogha in his stead. At the
Primate, Gilla-Macliag, made  the  time of his final deposition by his
fourth visitation of Connaught; and  nephew, with the consent of Diarmaid,
that a general synod of Ireland, both  king of Leth Mogha, in 1064, he posof the clergy and the chiefs of the  sessed no sovereign rights, even over
laity of Ireland, was held at Tuam, at Munster, which he could transfer to
which Ruadri O'Concobair, monarch  either pope or prince, though we
of Ireland and  Cadla O'Dubthaig  should admit the equity of such trans[O'Duffy], Archbishop of Connaught, fer. It is clear, then, that, not being
presided; that three churches were  sovereign of Ireland, he could never
there consecrated: but we are told  have legally transferred it to another,
nothing of the acts of the king of Sax- even were the elected chief of the kings
on-land himself, though pregnant with  of this country invested with all the
future evil was his presence upon Irish  prerogatives of a feudal sovereign. But,
soil.                               were he actually the chief of the Irish
Donncadh, son of Alian Boromha. kings, he could not, according to Irish
Though this prince's name is inserted  law, transfer such chieftainship to
in the roll of Irish monarchs by some  another; for, as such chief of kings, he
Munster shannachies, we have already  was but the nominee of the association
seen, from  the ancient authorities  of tribes that had chosen him, and thus
quoted in these notes, and even from  even his very children had no more
Keating's own narrative, that he was title to fill that place after him than
never acknowleged monarch of Ireland  any other man of pure Gaelic blood;
during the whole course of his long  Nay, he could not transfer the chieftainlife. Even Dr. O'Brien, the panegyrist ship of his own tribe, the Dal-g-Cais,
of the Dalcassian Kings, does not claim  to a foreigner; nor yet could he that
for him the sovereignty of all Ireland. of the Ui Bloid, his own immediate
The period of his good fbrtune, even as sub-section of that tribe; for there, too,
king of Leth Mogha, had closed some  he was but the temporary representayears before his final dethronement. In  tive of the whole of his kindred, and
A. D. 1058, his power over the south  could legally transmit no special in.
of Ireland began to go down at the  heritance, either of his chieftainship




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                        635
with the consent of the true nobles of Ireland;6 for these, having
been quarreling among one another7 for the masterdom of Ireland
over them, or of the proprietorship of  people up to the present day. That
any portion of the tribe-land, which  the latter has not been so, one need
was the common property of the said  only now visit the wretched homes of
kindred, to any other.              the down-trodden peasantry of Ireland,
6 With the consent of the true nobles the purlieus of her towns and cities,
of Ireland. This assertion is perfectly  and those bastiles for the starving and
absurd. Who were those nobles, who  the helpless, where the surplus multiso deputed a deposed prince to deliver tude-of old so much more honorably
the sovereignty of Ireland to a foreign- cleared off upon the battle field-are
er?  It was, certainly, not his van- to-day as effectually dispatched by
quisher, Diarmaid, son of Mael-na-m- a lingering and ignoble death. That
bo, then at the height of his power, and neither the contrast between the social
striving for the Irish monarchy; it state of Ireland and the rest of Euwas not Aedh of the Broken Spear, rope, nor the personal character of
king of Connaught, to whom Donn- Henry, could then have afforded any
cadh had made his personal submission  palliation of the fraud and robbery
in 1059; neither was it Ardgar Mac  committed on the Irish, the following
Lochlainn, king of Ailech, the head  paragraph from a recent publication
of the Northern Ui Neill, who had  succintly proves, from well established
never submitted, either to Donncadh, facts:-" The disunion among the naor Diarmaid, son of Mae!-na-m-bo, tive princes of Ireland at this era, does
and who was as much king of Ire- not appear to have been more wideland as either of them in the half of  spread than among other European
Ireland, called Leth Cuinn; nor yet nations. Thus, Sismondi tells us, that
can we suppose that his nephew, Tor- about the same period, France was didelbach O'Briain, then king of Mun- vided between three foreign dominaster, would have delegated any such  tions. There was, on the west, an
commission to the instigator of his  English France; on the east, a Gerfather's murder and to his own personal man; and, on the south, a Spanish
enemy. This consent must then be  France.  For instances of domestic
considered as a clumsy addendum  to  dissensions, we have to travel no farthe original fiction, whereby a forged  ther than the family of the first of the
title to the sovereign proprietorship of  Plantagenets, whose son  Geoffroy,
Ireland was made out for the murderer  count of Brittany, when supplicated,
of St. Thomas.                      by the most sacred things, to spare
7 Quarreling amongst themselves. the effusion of blood, and relinquish
There would be some excuse for the  the crime of Absalom, replied —" 11 est
fraudulent robbery of the Irish people, dans la destinie de notre famille que
then commenced, were that nation a  nons ne nous aimions pas l'un l'autre
very flagrant exception to the general C'est li notre heritage, et aucun de
state of things in other European  nous n'y renoncera Jamais" [It is part
countries at that epoch-it might have  of the destiny of our family not to love
been an excuse, were the deputed paci- one another.  That is our birthright,
ficator otherwise either a good man, or and not one of us wrill resign our right
an enlightened legislator, and the de- thereto.]  King Henry II. died cursing
scendants of the robbed of that period  himself and his rebellious children.
might, perhaps, now forget, and even  All the entreaties of the bishops and
be thankful for the wrong then perpe- ecclesiastics, by whom  he was surtrated upon their ancestors, had any  rounded on his death bed, could not
better state of social existence been  induce him to revoke his fearful maleintroduced amongst the mass of thetr dictions. "HIaonte," s'ecriait-l, " hoata




636                 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND,
from the time of Brian to that of Donncadh, had, in the year of
our Lord one thousand and ninety-two, delivered up the possession
of Ireland ito the hands of Urbanus, the second Pope of that
name;s and, from that time, the possession of the authority and
sovereignty  of Ireland was held by the Pope of Rome until
Adrianus, the fourth Pope of that name, had assumed the successorship of St. Peter, in the year of our Lord one thousand
one hundred and fifty-four.  The latter Pope was a Saxon bn
birth, and his baptismal name was Nicholas Breakspealr; an,
according to the chronicle of Stow, it was lie that made.over the
kincgdom  of Ireland to the second Henrvy, King of Saxon-land, in
the first year of the reign of the latter, and in the year of our Lord
one thousand one hundred and fifty-five.  And the same author
informs us that the Pope then made that grant of Ireland to the
KIing of Saxon-land upon the following special conditions, to wit:
that he should re-establish the Faith awhich was prostrate in that
country; that he should reform the habits of its people; that he
should maintain and protect every privilege and all the termonlands which the Irish church then possessed; and that the said
king should pay yearly the Penny of St. Peter to the Pope for
every house that might be in Ireland.
After receiving this grant, Henry II. deputed John, Bishop
of Salisbury, to  Ireland, with the authority  which the Pope
had  bestowed  upon  him.  This bishop  soon landed at Port
Largi; and, when the clergy of Ireland had heard that he had
come to the country with the authorization of the Pope, they
thronged thither to meet him  from  all quarters of the land.
Then, when they were assembled together in one place, the bishop
& un roi vaincu! Mandit soit le jour the Irish crown and regalia to Pope
ou je suis ne, et maudits de Dieu  Urban, or to any other Pope, is equalsoient les fils que je laisse!" ["Slhamo," ly well founded. It does not appear
cried he, " shame to a vanquished king! that any such trappings were attached
Accursed be the day on wlhich I was to the office of Ard-righ, and; if any
born, and acctursad be the sons that I  such ever had existence, they must
leav' after me!"]                  have remained in the possession of
Urbanus, the second Pope of that either the Northern, or the Southern Ui
name.  Urban II. did not become  Neill. Had the chieftains of these tribes
Sovereign Pontiff until the year 1088, relinquished such important insignia to
just twenty-four years after the death  Brian on his accession, our annalists
of Donncadh, son of Brian. He was would surely have mentioned it. as
succeeded in the pontificate by Pas- they did the taking of the collar of Tochal II., in the year 1099. As Pope, mar and the sword of Carlus from the
he was then cotemporary with the  Danes of Dublin. There were then,
early part of the reigns of the able  probably, no regalia to give away,
competitors for the Irish monarchy, unless he had got them manufactured
Murkertach AMor O'Briain and Dom- for the occasion, whilst he was staying
nall O'Lochlainn. The story of the  in Rome.
deposed king of Munster's presenting




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                       637
(this John, already mentioned) read to them  the charter by
which the Pope had granted Ireland to the second Henry and
to his posterity, subject to the several conditions which that
document specified.   Then, when the clergy had  considered
over these conditions, they all not only assented thereto, but
they gave their several written signatures9 to that same John in
testimony thereof. With these, John returned to Saxon-land to his
king, who sent him  off forthwith to the Pope with his news.
Thereupon, the Pope, upon seeing the consent of the Irish clergy,
sent a ring to the second Hnerry as a token of the latter's right to
own Ireland.
Bellarmine agrees with the  account just given, where he
speaks as follows:  "Pope Adrianus the Fourth, an Englishman by his nation, a vise and pious man, granted the island of
Hibernia to Henricus the Second, king of' the Angli, upon the
express condition that he should implant virtue in that island,
and eradicate the vices thereof; that he should preserve inviolate
all its ecclesiastical privileges, and should take care that one denarius were paid to St. Peter every year out of every house therein.
This diploma is extant in the twelfth volume of the Annals of
Cardinal Baronius."1"
Stanihurst confirms the same fact in his Chronicle, where he
relates that Henry the Second had procured from  the Pope,
Adrianus, a bull, in which the clergy and nobility of Ireland
were commanded, under pain of excomnmunication," to  give
4 fi4xed their siqnatures thereto.    " Under pain of rxccnmunication.
This was done at the synod of the  " Some have attempted to cast doubts
Irish clergy, or, rather, of part of the  upon the authenticity of the two bulls
Irish clergy, held at Cashel during the  procured by the artifices and agents
stay of Henry II. in Ireland. As told in  of Henry, but they produce no arguthe text, the story conveys an imputa- ments in support of their view, which
tion upon the Irish clergy, which they  is simply and sufficiently refuted by
did not merit. It is true that many  O'Halloran in his history of Ireland,
of them, as well as of the lay chieftains, when he says,' We have every reason
meanly complied with the requisitions  to think them genuine. They were
of their country's invader, and yielded  published in the lifetime of Alexander
to superior force, at Cashel; but they  by Cambrensis (an ecclesiastic), who,
were not guilty of plotting, beforehand, though in most instances as devoid of
with foreigners, for their nation's ruin. truth and candor as any one that ever'o Adrianus Quartus, Papa, natione  took up the pen, yet would not pre,
Anglus, vir sapiens et pius, Hibernim  sume, on the present occasion, to pubinsulam, Henrico Secundo regi Anglo- lish a bull as Alexander's, if lie were
rum  concessit ea conditione, ut in  not well authorized so to do; and the
eh insula virtutes plantaret et vitia  authenticity of this confirms that of
eradicaret et jura ecclesiastica illibata  the other.' Of the eficbt produced in
servaret et a singulis domibus quotan- aid of the Norman arms by those
nis denariumn sancto Petro pendi cura- bulls, we find the following testimony
ret. Extat diploma Tom. XII. Car- in the well-known letter of O'Niall, in
dinalis Baronii.                   1330, to Pope John, asking his help




638               THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
homage and submission to Henry the Second, king of Saxonland, under the pretext of purifying the faith of their nation, and
of reforming the habits of their people. And he informs us,
moreover, that this bull had been sent into Ireland by IHenry,
and there read in a general convention of the nobles and clergy
of Ireland, which was held at Cashel.
We read, also, in the same author, that Alexander, the third
Pope of that name, had deputed to Ireland a cardinal named
Vivianus," who was commissionied to make known to the Irish
the grant of their coun'try, which both himself and bis predecessor had bestowed upon the king of Saxon-land an'd to his heirs,
subject to the condition that both he and every Pope that came
after him should receive the Penny of St. Peter every year from
every household that existed in Ireland.
The reader can now form an estimate of the reason why Diarmaid Mac Murcadha had gone to France to make his complaint
to the king of Saxon-land rather than to the king of any other
country.
The Irish Defended from  the charge of irreligion, set forth against
them in Pope Adrian's Bull.
I must here express my wonder at one of the covenants"M contained in the above-mentioned papal bull, wherein Adrianus
made a grant of Ireland to the second Henry. The following is
the purport of this covenant, according to Stow's chronicle; to
wit, that it was obligatory upon the said second Henry to reform
and establish the Faith, which had at that time fallen into decay
in Ireland.  I feel astonished thereat, because it is not probable
that the Pope would have inserted any such covenant in his
bull, were it not that some persons had given him to understand
that the religion of that country had then actually become corrupted.  But those persons, whoever they were, that vended any
against the oppression of the English: remarked, that Dr. Keating does not'During the course of so many ages, seem to question either the perfect
our sovereigns preserved the independ- equity of the grant made by Pope
ence of their country; attacked more Adrian to the English king, or that
than once by foreign powers, they  Pope's right to make it. He merely
wanted neither force nor courage to  defends the Irish nation from the
expel the bold invaders; but, that charges made therein, which he attribwhich they dared to do against force, utes to the Pontiffs having been dethey could not against the simple de- ceived-as if the granting of the bull
cree of your predecessors.' "-Invasion  itself, as he represented it (if bull it
of Ireland by the Anglo-Normans, by were), and the use made thereof, were
Gerald Supple.                   not a more irreligious and nefarious'2 Vivianus. He did not arrive in crime than any ever committed by
Ireland until A. D. 1177.        the worst amongst the people against
"' One of the covenants. It is to be whom it had been directed.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.               639
such information to the Pope, had asserted what was false, in
fact; for it is evident that the religion which St. Patrick formerly.introduced into Ireland had never fallen into. decay down to
that time. Of the truth of this, many trustworthy authors, belonging to foreign nations, have borne testimony from age to
age; for, notwithstanding that Bede relates, in his History of the
Saxons, that there had been a schism amongst the Saxon clergy
relative to the celebration of Easter, and that some of the Irish
clergy were once defiled by tile heresy of Pelagins, it is, nevertheless, proved that the majority of the Irish church was free
from both these stains. And then, in as far as regards the condition of the Faith during the period that elapsed from the days
of Brian Boromha to the Anglo-Norman invasion, it is clearly.
manifest that the Christian religion was then full of life and
vigor in Ireland. It was, therefore, not true for those, who had
persuaded the Pope that religion was prostrate in Ireland, at the
time when he granted it to 11enry the Second. In testimony of
the truth of what I have just asserted, I shall here cite the following examples.
In the first place, it is evident that the Faith was then full of
life in this country, from the fact that, previous to the invasion,
numbers of the highest of the Irish nobles were, from time to
time, in the habit of entering some of the principal churches of
Ireland, towards the close of their lives, and of ending their days
therein in penitence and prayer. Amongst these was Flathbertach O'Neill, who is called Flathbertach of the Pilgrim's Staff,
who, having first commenced a course of penitence, went on a
pilgrimacge to Rome, in the year of our Lord one thousand and
thirty; and Donucadh, son of Brian Boromha, went likewise on
a pilgrimage to Rome, and there ended his life penitently in the
monastery of St. Stephen; and Tadg O'Lorcain, king of Ui
Kennselaigh, who closed his life in penitence in the church of
St. Caeimghin, at Glenn-da-loch; and Cathal, son of Ruaidri,
king of West Connaught, who spent the latter years of his life
penitently at Ard Macha; and Murkertach O'Briain, king of
Leth Moegha and of the greater part of Ireland, who spent five
years in penitence at Ard Macha, until finally he died there.
And so it was with a great many others of the true nobility of
Ireland, who died penitently, and like devout Catholics, all
along from the time of Brian down to the Anglo-Norman invasion. Hence,, it is manifest that those persons who persuaded
Pope Adrianus the Fourth that the Catholic Faith was not kept
up in Ireland previous to the landing of Gauls therein, had told
him a direct falsehood.
The socond testimony which I shall cite as a proof that the Faith




,640              THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
was vwell nmaintained inl Ireland before the arrival of tlhe Gavls
therein, is the fact of the number of monasteries that had been,
built therein irllmediately previous to their invasion, and these
monasteries were all erected by thle nobles of tlhe G-els. Inl the
first place, Maelsechlainn, King of Mleath and of all Ireland,
founded the monastery of St. Ml:ary's, in the city of Ath-cliath,
about the year of our Lord one thousand and twenty-two;
Donncadh O'KIerbaill, King of Oirghialla, founded the monastery
of Mellifont, in the county of Louth, at tile suggestion of St.
lMalachias, Bishop of I)Dun-da-leth-ghlas, in the year of our Lord
one thousand one hundred and fcrty-two; St. Malachias, Bishop
of Dun-da-lcth-glos, built the monastery of Iubar-l;im-tragha,
in the county of Down, in the year of our Lord one thousand
one hunc-ced and forty-four; Monaster-na-Buinli4 was founded
in the year one thousand one hundred and sixty-one; Di:)rmaid
Mac M drlcdhn, King of Leintcer, founded Monastcr-an-Bel.igh,
otherwise tle Abbey of Baltinglas, in the year of our Lord one
thousand one hundred and fifty-one; the posterity of Maelsechlainn, King of Meath, founded the monastery of' Bectif, otherwise called De Beatitudine, in MIeath, in the year one' thousand
one hundred and fifty-one; the year of our Lord in which
Monaster-na-Alaighe was founded, in the coiunty of Luirmnech,
was one  tlousand  one  hundred  and  fifty-one; Monaster0-Torna,5  in the county of Kiarraide, was likewise built in
the year one thousand one hundred and fifty-one; the nlonastery
of the HIoly Cross, in the couhty of Tibraid Arann; was founded
by Domnall O'Briain, Kilig of Luimnech, in the year of our
Lord one thousand one hundred and sixty-nine; the year of our
Lord, wahen the monastery of Fera Maighe'      r wras built, in the
county of Corcach, was one thousand one hundred and seventy.
Many otheir temples and monasteries were constructed about
the samo period, but we shall not name them here, for we have
mentioned enough to prove that the Catholic Faith was alive in
Ireland immediately before the arrival of the Gauls.
The thild proof which I shall cite that the faith was. then in a
flourishing condition, is the fact that we read in the ancient annals of Ireland, that three general councils had been organized
in this country'by the prelates and the nobles during the time
that intervened between the reign of Donncadh, son of Brian
Boromha, and the Anglo-Norman invasion, and that in these
councils, the laws and the rights of both the laity and the clergy
of Ireland had been duly examined and sanctioned.
14 Moncater-na-Buile. Now Boyle, dorney, in the county of Kerry.
in the county of Roscommon.       I Fera MIaiqh. Now Fernioy, in
" Monaster-O:Torna. Now Abbey- the county of Cork.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                    641
Of these, the first council was that held in the first year of
tle riig-n of Murkertach, son of Brian, and in the year of our
Lord oine thousand one hundred and five,"' at Fiadh-mic-Aengusa,
where laws and regulations were instituted, and where the state
of religion was amended.  Another general council was held in
the. fifth year~' of the same Murkertach, on which occasion both the
nobles and the ecclesiastics of Ireland assembled at Rath Bresail,
in the year of our Lord one thousand one hundred and ten'  it
was here that the extent of the Irish dioceses was laid down and
their several boundaries pointed out; it was here, likewise, as
we have already stated, that a fixed limit was put to the number
of the Irish bishops.
The third general council held by the clergy and nobility of
Ireland, was that of Kenannus, in Aleath, at which presided Christianus, that is, Gilla-Criost O'Conari, Bishop of Lis AMor, and
Papal Legate in Ireland at that time, together with the Cardinal,
whose namie was Johannes Papiron.  This was the council convened for the purpose of presenting the four pallia, that is, for
instituting four archbishops over Ireland, and also fbr condemning simony and usury; for enforcing the payment of tithes, and
for putting  down robbery, and violence, and lust, and bad
morals, and every other evil thenceforth.
Consequences of the Invasion-The mnissionary labors of the AngloNTXormans.
It is manifest from  the above cited facts, that the Catholio
Faith was still alive amongst the Irish, immediately before the
invasion of their country by the Anglo-Normans; and, whatever may be said of the evil habits of the Gaels previous to the
landing of these foreigners on their shores, it is equally manifest
that there arrived with that invasion, five men amongst its chieftains, who committed more evil deeds, than all the Gaels that had
lived from the days of Brian Boromha to their own —I mean, in
as far as regards the plundering of churches and ecclesiastics, the
commission of base acts of treachery and blood, and the exercise
of outrageous tyranny.  The following are the names of those
five:  The Earl of Strigul (called Strongbow), Robert Fitz1 One hlndred and fize, &c. It was," The fifth year,,. e., perhaps five
hcld in the year 1111, as before shown years after the former, being the 21st
in these notes. Neither this nor the year of said reign, or in 1115-1116,
year mne,.tioned above was the first of when Murkertach partially recovered
the reign of Markertach. This synod  from his illness, anl, having made his
was heid in the 13th year of his reign, brother Diarmaid prisoner, resumel
assaid reign is computed byO'Flaherty. his kingdom for a short time.
41




642                THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Stephen, IHugo de Lacy, John de Courcy anld William  Fitz
Aldelm.  It is easy to learn the truth of what I shall hereafter
state respecting the acts of these men, for they are found in the
chronicle of Stanihurst, and also from the fact that the posterity
of the greater part of them  became extinctlt on account of their
evil acts, and they left no son to possess their inheritance. The
Earl of Strigul, Robert Fitz-Stephen, John de Courcy and some
others of the captains that came over in the beginning of the
Anglo-Norman invasion, but whom  I shall not mention here,
are examples of what I have assorted.
In as fatr as relates to Richard Strongbow, Earl of Strigul, we
find by the chronicle of Stanihurst, that he died in Ath-Cliath,
in the year of our Lord one thousand one hundreAl and seventyseven, that is seven years after his landing in Ireland, having,
up to that time committed numberless plunderings and robberies, both of the clergy and the laity; and that he had no
more offspring by Aeifi, daughter of Diarmaid, than one daughter,
who was named Isabella.  This daughter was in time married to
William Mareschall,2~ to whom she bore five sons and five daughters, but all the sons died one after the other, and no offspring
or inheritors remained after any of them.  The daughters were
married to some of the nobles of Saxon-land, amongst whom, the
estates inherited from the earl were partitioned in the year of
our Lord one thousand two hundred and thirty. It is from these
daughters. that the Mortimers, Bruces and others have sprung.
Nowv, with respect to Hugo'de Lacy,"2 we learn that he had no
sooner received the rulership of Meath, from  IIenry I-I., than he
began to massacre and behead all,of the nobles of the Clann
Colmain,22 ahd of the other septs of that territory whom he could
19 BFcamRe extin.ct. Our author has   20 Villlam   Ilaresclhall, otherwise
been mistaken in this assertion. The de-. William Marshall, Earl of Pembroke,
scendants of Strongbow have, it is true, called Prince of Leinster by sonice Enbecome extinct in the male line, but glish authors, in right of his wife.
of William Fitz-Aldelm, called, also,   21 lHTego de Lacy.-H-Te was for many
William de Burgo, the posterity rivals years Chief Governor of Ireland under
in numbers that of many of the Gaelic  Henry II.-an able and politic man, say
tribes. Hie is the founder of the nu- the English writers, which means a
inerous septs of the name of Burke. successful spoiler.  I-Ie was created
De Courcy's descendmant still holds the  Lord Palatine of Meath by his master,
oldest title in the Anglo-Irish peerage, of which country he was the conqueror
and, though no numerous tribe claim  and the scourge. He is described by
him as ancestor, his name is not yet Cambrensis as a man of dark and deep
extinct amon0 g the Irish people-nor set eyes, small size, repulsive features,
has that of Fitz-Stephen, now usually  short neck and deformed shape, carecalled Stephens. The celebrated rebel, ful. of his private interests, of Gallic
Pierce Og Lacy, of Bruree and Bruff, sobriety, avaricious, ambitious and
whc.flourished in the reign of Elizabeth, lustful.
was the 18th in descent from Hugo.   2' Clann Colmain. - This was the




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                        643
get into his clutches. But, as he was building a fortress at DurMagh (Durrow), of Meath, a young nobleman23 of that country
head branch of the southern Ui Neill, a member of a noble tribe, or family.
i. e., the ruling people of Meath. The The editor has used the words, ncble and
family of O'Melaghlin, in Irish O'Mael- nobleman, to translate the Gaelic, uasal
sechlainn, were its chiefs. This noble and duine nasal, throughout this work,
race, which had twice delivered Ireland  in preference to the term  gentleman,
from the Northmen-first under Mael- which is now applied in a very indefinite
sechlainn I., (from whom  the family and vague sense amongst English-speakname), and again under Maelsechlainn ing peoples. Dermod O'Connor having
11.-and who under the latter king had rendered "' duine uasal og " in this incompleted the final overthrow given to stance by young gertleman, Mr. Moore
the Sea-kings by Brian at Cluain Tarbh, has thereupon taken an opportunity of
was now one of the first to succumb  casting at the venerable Dr. Keating a
under the power of the Anglo-Norman  sneer that is as ungenerous as it is unrobber De Lacy. Maelsechlainn, pre- founded.  That writer states in his
vious to his resignation of the Irish  History of Ireland that " De Lacy met
throne to Brian, had in A. D. 1002, his death by a hand so obscure, that
offered to deliver it to Aedh O'Neill, not even a name remains associated
chief of a kindred tribe, in order with the deed," to which he appends
to preserve it in the race of Niall, the following note  " Several names
but revoked his offer upon Aedh's de- have been assigned to the perpetrator
manding on the part of Kinel Eogain, as of this act, but all differing so much
the price of their aid, the property and from each other, as to show that the
inheritance of a portion of the tribe real name was unknown.  Geoffrey
lands of the Clann Colmain-a very Keating, with that love of dull invendiffirent thing amongst the Irish from  tion which distinguished him, describes
the receiving of homage and hostages. the assassin as a young gentleman in
He preferred to deliver hostages and disguise."
make act of homage to the Dalcassian,   Now, in the first place, the editor,
who did not purpose to encroach upon who has also felt the dulness and senithe inheritance of the southern Ui lity of many of the tales which his
Ne;ll.  Similar act of homage was author has embodied in his work, demade to Henry II. by one of Maelsech- nies that the reverend'doctor has drawn
lainn's successors, as chief of Clann upon his own invention for any one of
Colmain, but with a far different result; them. Keating has stated such tales
for the latter king, not satisfied with  just as he found them, with little judgehomage and hostages, took the right of ment, perhaps, and often to the exclusion
treacherously granting to his minion, of authentic historic matter, but always
De Lacy, the proprietorship of the in perfect candor and good faith. In
lands of Heath, to the disposal of the present instance, as in all others,
wlich the said chieftain had no trans- he has told the fact as he had read it,
ferable or transmissible right, more without, however, naming the meritorithan that possessed by every other ous young man, who avenged the ruin
man of his tribe. Such, it is to be of his kindred upon the tyrant De
inferred, were the submissions made Lacy, and without describing the dashto the stranger by the other chiefs ing and daring manner, in which his
of the clans of this country, and equally  noble deed was accomplished.  Dr.
treacherous was the advantage taken  Keating has been to blame in this;
thereof.                _            for that youth's name ought to be
23 A Young Nobleman. —In the ori- written in letters of light on the page
ginal the term used is, " duine nasal of Irish history, so that Ireland, when
og" (dynnoosal ogue) and there is her bards shall yet "hail her free,"
meant thereby, a young man who was may not forget to raise his pillar stone




64:         THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
approached him  under the semblanc- of a clown, as if for the
purpose of soliciting employment, and thus succeeded in slaying,
lHugoo.  Stanihurst tells us in his chronicle that this hIuoro was
a very lustful as well as a very avaricious man.  He says, also,
that his son Hugo, the younger, aad John de Courcy commenced
to commit numerous acts of plunder, massacre and wrath upon
the people of Meatih ill vengoeance for his death.
and inscribe it with his ogumis, when at whose instigation he had done the
she shall raise a monument to that deed." —-Four Masters.
other more recent youthful hero, whose   "A. D. 1186.  Hugo de Lacy, the
epitaph is yet unwritten, though his profaner and destroyer of the churche3
name and virtues are imprinted upon all and sanctuaries of Ireland, was killed
true Irish hearts.-However, notwith- in revenge of Colum  Killi, while
standing Keating's omission, the name building a castle at Der-maggh.  He
of the youth who struck down that was slain by O'Miadhaigh of T'ebtha."
tyrant in the height of his power is not Annals of Ulster.
lost to memory, nor has his example   "A. D. 1186. Hugo de Lacy went
been entirely lost to Ireland. The bards to Dur-magh of St., Colum  Killi to
and shannachies of Eri might blush for make a castle there, having a countless
shame were his name forgotten. Our number of English with him. For he
annalists tell us that he was called was king of Meath, Brefni and OirghiGilla-gan-inathar O'Miadhaigh (Guilla- alla, and it was to him the tribute of
gonn inna/lar O'Meeai). His surname Connaught was paid. Meath from the
is now anglicized O'Meyey, and accord- Sinainn to the sea was full of his castles
ing to Dr. O'Donovan, is still frequent and English followers. After the comin WVestmeath, and in the parish of pletion of this work by him, he came
Margheross in the county of Monaghan. out to look at the castle, having the
Neither is Mr. Moore warranted in Enlishmen along with him.  There
saying there is any discrepancy as to  came then one youth of the men of
his name amongst Irish authors, as the Meath up to him, having his battle axe
following extracts will prove:-"A. D. concealed, namely, Gilla-gan-inathar
1186. Hugo de Lacy, the profaner and O'Miadhaigh, the foster son of the Sindestroyer of many churches, Lord of nach himself, and he gave him one blow,
the English of AIeath, Brefni and Oirg- so that he cut off his head and lie fell
hialla; he who had  conquered  the both head and body into the ditch of
greater part of Ireland for the English, the castle." —Annals of Kilronan.
and of whose English castles, all Meath,   "Now it is quite clear," says Dr.
from the Sinainn to the sea, was full; O'Donovan, from whose edition of the
after having finished the castle of Der- Four Masters these extracts are taken,
Magh, set out accompanied by three "that Mr. Moore is wrong in charging
Englishmen to view  it. One of the  KIeating with inaccuracy for having
men of Tebtha, a youth named Gilla- written that the murderer (?) of De
gan-inathar O'Miadhaigh, approached  Lacy was a young gentleman in dishim and drawing out an axe, which he guise. He should have remembered
had kept concealed, he, with one blow, that Keating had many documents,
severed his head from his body; and  which he, Mr. Moore, could not undertrunk and head fell into the ditch of stand, and which are probably now
the castle.  This was in revenge of lost. As to calling O'Meyey a gentleColum  Killi.  Gilla-gan-inathar then  man, we must acknowledge that the
fled, and by his fleetness of foot made term  could then be properly enough
his escape from the English and Irish applied to a youth, who had been fosto Coill-an-Clair (i. e. the wood of Kill- tered by an Irish prince of vast terriclare).  He afterwards went to the torial possessions, till he had been deSinnach (the Fox) and to. O'Braein, prived of them by De Lacy."'




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                        645
The same chronicler informs us that William Fitz -Aldelm was
a " deceitful, treacherous, and evil-minded man;" and he sets
forth the insidious and ftlse-hearted manner in which he became
possessed of a manor, that was their rightful estate, from  the
sons of Maurice Fitz-Gerald; and we are further told by the
same chronicler, that he cherished an inveterate envy towards
the same Maurice, and towards his children.  We read, moreover, in the ancient annals of Ireland, that whilst this William
Fitz-Aldelm  was governor of Luimnech, under the king of
Saxon-land, there arose a contest for the sovereignty of Connaught, between two brothers"' of the family of O'Concobair,
The family name O'Miadhaigh is not heart prompted him  to the deed his
a name likely to be given to the de- hand would have failed him, and the
scendant of a clown, for " Miadh " act would either have remained unac(JMeeah), signifies honor or respect; and complished, or would not have been
"Miadhach"  (Meeagil), whence  0'- done half so well.-Ireland, to-day,
Miadhaigh, an honorable or estimable produces too few daeine uaisle oga like
man. We see also by the above quo- Gilla-gan-inathar, she has by far too
tations that O'Miadhaigh was a mem- many genteel young men; wherefore
ber of the noble tribe of Tebtha ( Teffa) are her sons still ruthlessly hecatombed
in Westmeath, a tribe descended from  on mammon's altar by those baser
Maui, son of the Irish monarch, Niall tyrants, who have succeeded the sanof the NTine Hostages, of which O'Cat- guinary De Lacies of Anglo-Norman
barnaigh (O'Caharny) styled the Sin- -times; wherefore doth the genus Haynach, i. e., the Fox, was then chief. warden, and Scully, and Lorton, and
O'Braein (O'Breen), was also chief of Co. abound and flourish; wherefore is
a branch of the same tribe, which was the produce of her green and fertile fields,eated in Breagph-mani, now Brawney consumed by strange land merchants,
in the same county. Keatingl then was who commit ruthless though insidious
not wrong in calling Gilla-gan-inathar havoc upon the wretched remnants of
duine nCasal og —for he was probably as her Free Clans.
noble as his chieftain, the Fox-though   Dur-magh Coluim Killi; i. e. Oakthe brave youth might not indeed be field of St. Columkille, now known as
styled a young, gentleman, if he present- Durrow, where De Lacy was slain, had
ed himself with his battle axe in the mod- been formerly granted to St. Columemrn aristocratic Salons of Europe, and kille by Brendan, Prince of Tebtha,
not, perhaps, even in those of the hour- an ancestor of the Fox, and probably
geoisi —-he certainly would not have of O'Miadhaigh.  In recent times a
been styled such in an English Court of somewhat similar event took place at
law. He was nevertheless as much homo Durrow. Its proprietor, the Earl of
nobilis as Mucius Scaevola, and the deed Norbury was slain by an unknown
which the Gaelic noble wrought, was hand, after having built a castle on the
full as glorious and great as that which site of that erected by De Lacy, and
the young patrician of ancient Rome perhaps, after having outraged  St.
essayed to execute. Had, indeed, that Colurnkille by preventing the families
Irish sapling of Niall's stock-so sure under that saint's patronage from buryof hand and fleet of foot-been either a ing their dead in the ancient cemetery
young gentleman, or a genteel young of TDurrow.
man, as the terms are now understood,  2, Brothers. Cathal Crobh-derg was
he would not have dared to strike down the youngest brother of King Ruaidri
the destroyer of his kinsfolk in the and consequently the grand-uncle of
midst of his lnyrmidons-or, if his Cathal Carrach.




646                THE HIISAORY OF IRELAND.
namely, between Cathal Carrach and Cathal Crobh-derg; and
that John de Courcy took part with Cathal Crobh-derg, while
William  took part with his adversary Cathal Carrach.  The
hostilities between these brothers were fostered and kept alive,
on the one side by John de Courcy, and on the other by William
Fitz-Aldelm, until the whole of their territories had been plun.
dered and devastated between them, and until a great number
of the nobles of Connaught had been beheaded, in consequence
of this intestine quarrel. At length a pitched battle came off
between the two Cathals, each aided by foreign allies-for there
were Gauls fighting on both sides. In this battle, Cathal Carrach and his allies were defeated, and he lost his own life in the
conflict.  After this, William  Fitz-Aldelm  erected a castle at
Milec-Ui-Maldagain,25 in which he left a strong garrison, and then
returned to Luimnech.  Thereupon Cathal Crobh-derg came to
lay siege to this fortress, but the garrison stole out of it by night
and followed William  to Luimnech; and Cathal Crobh-derg
razed the castle of Milec to the ground.  In consequence of this,
William  Fitz-Aldelm mustered an army, with which he invaded
Connaught,  where  he  plundered  and  destroyed  both  the
churches and the territories and the laymen, and made a dreadful
massacre of all the inhabitants that he could find.  For these
atrocities, the clergy of Connaught gave him  their malediction,
as we read in those ancient annals of Ireland, which were written
down about three hundred and thirty years since, in that chief
book of history, which is call'ed the Lebar Brec of AMac Aedgain.
In the same record we read that God miraculously sent down a
foul and incurable disease upon this man, as a punishment for
his evil deeds,26 and that he finally suffered a loathsome death in
consequence thereof.  HIe received neither penance nor extreme
unction, nor was his body laid in any consecrated ground, but
he was buried on a desolate farm.
25 Milec Ui Madagain; i. e. Meelick  The statements of the Irish authors
of O'Madden. It is situated on the may, however, be somewhat overdrawn,
brink of the Shannon, in the south of and Cambrensis, who was his enemy,
county of Galway and barony of Log- may have belied him, as he has belied
ford, anciently called Sil Anmcadha, the Irish. De Burgo was perhaps neithe county of O'Madden.          ther a worse nor a better man than the
26 H;s evil deeds.  William  Fitz- rest of his companions.  lie is said to
Adelm de Burgo is called William the have been descended from  CharleConqueror by the Irish, because he magrne. His death is thus recorded by
subdued the greater part of Connaught. the Four Masters under the vear 1204.
He is the ancestor of all the De Bur- " William Burke plundered Connaught,
gos, or Burkes of Ireland. Ile is rep- both churches and territories, but God
resented as a very bad man, as well and the Saints took vengeance upon
by his countryman Cambrensis as by  him therefor; for he died of a singular
the Irish authorities of his own times. disease, too loathsome to mention."




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.               647
Hostilities broke out, after some time, between John do
Courcy and Ul[go de Lacy the younger. In consequence of
their quarrel, the territories of Ulidia and Meath were plundered
and ltid desolate, whilst numbers of the Ulidians and the mdn
of Meath fell upon either side. This contention finally resulted
in the treacherous capture of De Courcy by Hugo, who, having
made a charge of treason against lis captive, delivered him into
the hands of the people of the king. By the latter he was sent
as prisoner'to Ssaxon-land, where he remained for some time in
captivity. t-owever, the king finally granted him his pardon,
with permission to return to Ireland.  He thereupon set out
upon the sea, with the intention of going back to that country,
but there immediately arose a violent storm, by which he was
driven blackl to ]and. This was the result of fourteen successivo
attempts, each of which ended in his being thrown back upon
Saxon-land by the violence of the wind. At length, as we are
told in the chronicle of Stanihurst, upon making his fifteenth
attempt, he was driven by the storm to the coast of France, in
which country he died soon after.
We Calso read in the chronicle last-lnentioned, that a young
nobleman of the family of the  John de Courcy, who wlras then abiding
in Ireland, had been slain by Hulgo de Lacy thie younger, and
by his brotiher Walter de Lacy, and that, in consequence thereof,
maly quarrels and conflicts hadc't arisen between the friends of
th is young nobleman and those sons of I-Iugo de Lacy. By
these events, King John was forced to march into AMeath with a
large army, composed of Gauls Cand Gaels, for the purpose of
punishing the two sons of De Lacy.  But, when the l:atter heard
that the 1king was approachling, they retreated to Carraig Fergusa,
and, upon his pursuing fthem thitllher, they took shipping and
fled over to France. Here they (iiguised themselves as laborers,'
and wctt to work in the garden of a certain abbey in Normlnandy,
and there they remained for some time in that humiliating and
counterfeited position. However, after some time, they made
their secret known to the abbot, whom they besought to solicit
the king of Saxon-land to grant them his peace and pardon.
T'his the abbot procured for them, and they then returned to
Ireland, -where the kingcy had them restored to their blood and
their estates. Then.King John died, in the year of our Lord
one thousand two hundred andl sixteen.
After this, in the time of the third Hleenry, there arose a great
war between Hugo de Lacy the younger and William MIareschall; so that the whole of ate:lth was destroyed between them,.
and thwat great numbers of the Gaels, some of whom fought on
each side, were slain in their conflicts.




648            THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.
There also arose a great war between Meyler Fitz-Tlenry,'
Geoffrey iMares,s2 and'William  Marcschall; and on each side
multitudes of the men of Ieinster and Munster were destroyed
between them.  1TIanmer informs us that the above-namcd Meyler was maledicted by the Bishop of Ferna, for having robbed
that prelate of a manor which he had owned, and that he eventually  died excommunicated  in  Saxon-land.   Then, as his
children would not restore the property which their father had
acquired by his robbery, the whole five of his sons died, one
after the other, so that no one was left to inherit his. estates.
This 3Meyler had also once made an excursion to Cluain-micNois, attended by a numnerous army, and, having encamped
there for twelve nights, he not only plundered the town of cattle
and food, but he moreover robbed its temple and monastery
likew ise.
When, indeed, the Gaels perceived the robberies and sacrileges
of those men, whom  I have mentioned, they at length thought
of delivering themselves from the oppressions of such tyrants.
For, according to Stanihurst's Chronicle, Lis AMor, with its ternon lands, had been robbed by Herve de Monte-AIarisco and
Raymond le Gros,29 although we are told that the same Ilerve0"
afterwards assumed the habit of a monk, and had built the
monastery of Dun Broithl in the county of Loch Garman, as an
atonement for the crimes he had committed in Ireland, in the
year of our Lord one thousand two hundred and seventy-nine.
In like manner, the Church of Inis Cathaigh, with its termon
lands, was plundered by William Fitz Aldelm.  And again, in
the excess of pride and haughtiness, that had sprung up amiongst
them, these same Gauls had given themselves up to fomlenting
quarrels amongst themselves, and to the wasting and destroying
of the Gaels, who took part in their several contentions.
The Irish essay to combine against their despoilers.-Apology for
the rebellious nature of the Gaels.
The Gaels likewise found out that the new-comers had no in7 Mey7er Fitz-Henry. He was the the Anglo-Normanus, is the ancestor ot'
natural son of King Henry I. of Eng- the Irish family of Grace. lie was thla
land, by Nesta, who was also the mno- son of William Fitz-Gerald, the brother
ther of Maurice Fitz-Gerald. He was of Maurice.
made Lord Justice of Ireland in 1199.'~ Herv. de Mionte-Mllarisco. I-e is
28 Geoffrey illares.  He is called  also called Hervey of Mount-Maurice.
Geoffrey de Marisco and De Mariscis lie was of the race of the French
by English writers. IHe was made Montmorencies. His Irisll descendants
Governor of Ireland in 1216, and Lord  have, it is said, taken the names of
Justice in 1226. The war above men- Montm-norency and Morris.
tioned broke out in 1207.          3' Dtun BroitAt. Now the ruined ab29 Raymond le Gros. This warrior, bey of Duubrody, in the county of
one of the most daring of the chiefs of Wexford.




THE HISTORY OF IRELAND.                       649
tention of either correcting the religious discipline, or of improving the moral habits of the Irish nation.  For these reasons
did they strive to rid themselves of their stranger tyralits. Consequently, a number of the Gaelic nobles came to the residence
of Concobar of Maen-magh,32 who was then  abiding  at Dun
Leogha"3 in Ui Mani, for the purpose of appointing him  their
sovereign.  First of all, there came thither Domnall O'Briain,
King of Luimnech; and Ruaidri Mac Donnslebi, King of Ulidia;
and Domnall Mac Carthaigh, King of Desmond; and Maelsechlainn Beg O'Maelsechlainn, King of Meath; and O'Ruairc,
King of Ui Briuin and Ui Conmacni.  But the measures there
determined upon were never put into execution, whatever they
might have been; for, before they were finally arranged, Concobar, of MIaen-inagh, was accidentally slain.
It is evident, from  the facts which we have just stated, that
the great amount of disobedience and resistance which the Gaels
have since displayed under the rulership of the Anglo-Normans,
has resulted fiomn  the tyranny, and wrong, and disregard of
their own laws, of which their foreign governors were themselves
guilty.  For I do not think that there is any race in Europe
that would obey these laws more than the Irish, if even-handed
justice wvere derlt out to them.  The following is the testimony
which John Davis has borne to their character in tPie last page
of the first book of the work which he wrote upon Ireland:
"There is no nation of people under the sun that doth love
equal and indifferent justice more than the Irish, or will rest
batter satisfied with the execution thereof, althouAh it be against
themselves, so as they may have the protection of the laws when
upon just occasion they require it."
From the testimony of this author, it must be understood that
it is througlh no natural defect in their character"" that the Irish
e2 Conccbar of JMaen-magh.  This Donncadh O'Briain's surrender of the
prince had succeeded to the kingdom  sovereignty of Ireland to the Pope
of Connaught, upon the deposition of Urbanus, whose cotemporary he was
his father 1uadri. Ile was slain by  not, had been an established fact of hismembers of his own tribe, and appar- tory, and that such surrender'was
ently by design.  lie was an able  perfectly legal, equitable and proper in
prince, and the temporary union of the  itself, and also deeming the assignment
Irish chiefs under his sway took place  of that sovereignty to Henry and his
in A. D. 1189.-See extract from the heirs by the Popes, Adrian and AlexFour afflsters quoted at the end.  ander, to have been equally reasonable'
33 Dun Leoglha. This fort was situ- and equitable transactions, has thought
ated at Bailinasloe, in the county of it right to close his historic narrative
Galwaiy.'                          by apologising for the want of gratis' No natural defedt in their character. tilde shown by his countrymen for such
Dr. KKeating, good man that he was, kind and paternal consideration. That
seemingly taking it for granted that he has made out a strong case to justify




650                 THE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.
have so  often  shown  a want of submission  to the laws, but
through the fault of their rulers, who did not administer these
laws amongst them with even-banded justice.
The Irish septs descended from  the Sen- Ghoill,35 or Anglo-Normans.
Bosides those five men whom  we have mentioned  already,
there arrived in Ireland in the beginning of the Anglo-Norman.
invasion, several other chieftains, who did not commit any deeds
the Irish rebellions in the eyes of the  which continued  almost unceasingly
legal and constitutional supporters of  for more than 400 years; and which,
the fait accompli, there can be little  with occasional interruption, has condoubt, for, allowing the said transac-  tinued down to the present day. These
tions to have been perfectly right and  wars have been called reb!llions by the
just in themselves, the provisions of  spoilers and the scribes of the spoilers,
the said grants had been violated  and this word sounded as harshly in the
almost immediately after by the palrties  ears of Dr. Keating as it does in those
to whom they had been made, and  of some good souls of our own times.
the Pope has had just cause to revoke  Thl'llerefore does he excuse and palliate
them any time within the last 600 years. so glaring a national defect. But it
and more. But to those who hold  is to be hoped that that rebellious
with the majority of the Irish people, characteristic, which is now apparently
that those grants were perfectly frau- as inherent in Irish nature as it was in
dulent, unjust and nefarious, no snlch  the days of Concobar O'Concobair of
apology is needed. Apology is rather  M~Iaen-magh, wiil ever remain the prewanted for those of the Irish chiefs  dominant trait of every true Irishman,
who tamely made their submissions to  until the Irish  people, whether of
lenry upon his arrival amongst them. Saxon or Norman or Gaelic or Belgic
All that can be said in favor of the  stock, shall again own the Irish soil;
temporizing of these men is, that they  and until neither money-broker nor
had no conception either of the con- landlord shall have power to spread
struction that would be put upon their desolation and famine and woe throurgh
several acts of homage, or of the dread- her homes and her fields. The Irish
ful national consequences that were  people should never forget that those
about to result therefrom. They might  fertile fields belonged to their own
have considered that their submissions  forerathers, and that those, who now
to the stranger king were of like Imean-  call them theirs, have no more right
ing and import with those which they  thereto than the robber has to the
had been wont to make to one another,  purse of his victim.  Some, it is true,
and which consisted in makintg act of have bought out the robber's titles
homage, and delivering up hostages as  with the fruits of, perhaps, honest indussecurities for the maintenance of their  try; but though men are:also found
several treaties, but which did not con- who buy their prey from the sons of
fer upon the liege-lord any right to the  the highway, it does not thence follow
arbitrary disposal of the landed prop-  that they acquire thereby any just right
erty of whatever tribe the liege-nman  to goods so acquired.
wras then chief. When indeed those   35 The Sen-(Ghoill; i.e. the old Gauls
Irish chieftains found that such right  or strangers.  Maily other noble famito dispose of the common inheritance  lies, besides those here mentioned by
both of themselves and their kindred  Keating, are descended from the Senwas assumed by the enlighteners that  Ghoill. The majority of the leaders
had been sent to them, then did they  were Norman-French, and  most of
commence that endless series of wars  them had sprung from Welsh mothers.




TIHE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.                      651
of base trehchery similar, to those of which the said five had been
guilty.  On the contrary, the chieftains to whom  I now allude,
conferred many benefits upon Ireland, inasmuch as they built
churches  and  monasteries, and performed  many  good  worlks
besides.  Therefore, in reward thereof, has God granted them
the blessing of a numerous progeny, in the many  noble septs
who no v represent them  in Ireland, such as the Fitz Gerald3
and Burkes, the Butlers  and  Barries, the  De  Courcies and
Roches, the Powers and  Graces, the  Prendergasts and Flem.mings, the Purcells and Prestons, the Nugents and Walshes, the
Tobins and Shortalls, the Blanches and Morrisses, the Everards
and Mlandevilles, the Birminghams and Barretts, the HIacketts
A large portion of their followers were          A. D. 1174.
altogether Welshmen-a race of kin-    "The Earl Strongbow led an army
dred  origin, customs and language  to plunder Munster.  King Ruaidri
with the Gaels. This no doubt facil- led another army to defend it against
italed their amalgamation with the  him.  When the strangers had heard
former natives, with whom they freely  of the arrival of Ruaidri in Munster,
intermarried, and their children be- for the purpose of giving them battle,
came, in a century or two, more Irish  they solicited to their assistance the
than the Gaels themselves. Of this  Ostmen of Ath-cliath, and then made
race sprang some of the truest and no- no delay until they reached Durlas
blest Irishmen of her subsequent his-  (Thurles.)  Thither came Domnall Ua
tory, and some of the most rebellious. l3riain and the Dal g-Cais, the bat-T'he editor's copies do not agree in  talion of West Connaught. and the
all the names in the list which is given  great battalion of Sil Mu'redaigh (the
above, and he has inserted one or two  O'Connors), besides numerous other
of them  from  Dermod  O'Connor's  good troops left there by the King
translation of Keating, but of those  Ruaidri. At this place a brave battle
found in'the latter work he has only  was ibught between the ]English and
inserted those, for whose early Norman  the Irish, and in it the English were
origin he has had corroborative au- finally defeated by dint of fighting.
thority. Dr. Keating evidently did  Seventeen hundred of the strangers
not intend to give a complete list of were slain in this engagecment, and
the septs descended from those ancient only a few of them survived with the
colonists. However, those he has omit- Earl, who proceeded in sorrow to his
ted will be found in the explanation of house at Port Largi. Ua Briain rethe map. The families of Plunkett, turned home in triulnph.
Wise, 3etaghll, and even some of those    Magnus Ua Maelsechlainn, lord of
above given, are supposed to be of  East Meath, was han(gbd by the EngScandinavian origin, and anterior to  lish, after they had actedl treacherously
the invasion.                        towards him at Ath-'lruiml (now Trim.)
The editor here transcribes the fol-    Ruaidri Ua Concobair, Kingr oIrelowing extracts from the Annals of the  land, marched an army into Munster;
Four Masters, giving the Irish account he expelled I)omnall  Ua Briain from
of the several transactions between the  Thomond, and much wasted that counGaels and their invaders down to the  try.
death of Ruaidri, the last Ard-righ of           A. D. 1176.
Ireland. By them it may be seen that,    Fobar and Kenannus (now Fore and
outside of certain parts of Leinster and  Kells) were laid waste by the English
Meath, the early invaders occupied the  and the Ui Briuin of Brefni.
position rather of mercenaries than of    Louth was laid waste by the Saxons.
conquerors.                            The English x ere driven from LuirA



652                  TIIE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.
and lMocklers, the Arthurs and WVhites, the Condons and Cant.
wells, the lices and EHowleys, the Stritches and Creaghs, the
Longs and tile Foxes, the Bruces and D'Arcics, the Goolds and
Gal ways, the Terrjies and Skidclies, the Fannings and De Verclons,
the Browlns and Shellocks, the Walls and Cummerfordc, the Dilions and N:igles, the Kentings and Bngots, the Corbets, Stauntons,
Supples, Daltons, Pigots, Savadges, Stapletons, Fitz-Eustaces,
Fitz-Gibbons,  Fitz-AM aurices,  the  lRoleidicc, and  many  other
noble septs of the Sen-Ghoill, descended fi-omn the chieftains of
the Anglo Normans, but which we shall not mention in this place.
nech (now Limerick) by Domnall Ua  and the knights who cama in his army.
Briain, by laying siege to them.     A. castle was there built by them, and
An English castle was in progress  out of it they defeated the Ulidians
of erection at Kenannus.             twiice, and the Kinel Eogain and OirThe English Earl (Strongbow) died  ghialla  once, and  slew  Concobar
in Ath-cliath, of an ulcer which had  O'Carellain, chief of Clan a Diarmoda,
broken out in his foot, through the  Gilla-Malc-Liag O'Dongali (now O'Donmiracles of Saints Brighitt and Colum- nelly) chief of Ferdroma  and D)omnall
kille, and of all the other saints whose  O'Flathbertaigh (now O'Laverty) was
churches had been destroyed by him.  so wounded by arrows, that he died of
He saw, as he thoutght, Saint Brighitt his wounds in the church of St. Paul,
in the act of killing him.           at Ard Macha, after having received
The castle of Slani (Slane) in which  the Body and Blood of Christ, and
was Richard Flemming with his forces, after Extreme Unction and Penance.
and from  which he used to ravage  Mlany other chiefs were there slain beOirghialla, Ui Briuin and MAeath, was  sides these. During the same expediplundered by Maelsechlainn, son of tion De Courcy marched his forces to
Mac Lochlainn, Lord of the Kinel Ui Tuirtri and Fir Li; however, beEogain, with the Kinel Eogain them   fore his arrival, Cu-Midhe Ua Flainn
selves and the men of Oirghialla. They  (Coowee O'Lynn or O'Flynn) had set
killed 500 or more of the English, Ather-Maighe (now Armoy) on fire
besides women, children and horses, Cul Rathain (now Coleraine) and many
and not one individual escaped with  other churches were burned on this exhis life from the castle. Three castles  pedition.
were left desolate in Meath the follow-    Murcadh, son of Ruaidri O'Concoinug day, throu-'h fear of the Kinel Eo- bhair, brought Milo de Cogan and his
gain, namely. the castles of Kenannus, knights with him to Ros Comain, to
Caltruim, and Doiri Phadraig (now  ravage Connaught and to annoy his
Kells, Galtrim and Derrypatrick.)    father, Ruaidri.  The Connaught men
A. D. 1177.              immediately burned Tuaim-da-gualann
Cardinal Vivianus arrived in Ireland.  and other churches to prevent the EngAs syncd of the clergy of Ireland, both  lish from  quartering therein. r'They
of bishops and abbots was convened by  afterwards defeated the English, and
this cardinal on the 1st Sunday in Lent, forcibly drove them out of Connaught,
and,they enactedmany ordinances not and Ruaidri put out the eyes of his son
now'observed.                        in revenge for this expedition.
An army was led by John De Conr-               A. D. 1178.
cy and the knights into Dal Araide and    John de Courcy with his foreigners
to Dun-da-leth-glas; they slew Domnall, repaired to Mathari Conalli (in Louth),
the gratndson of Cathasach, Lord of Dal and  committed  depredations there.
Araide. Dun-da-leth-glas was plunder- They encamped for a night in Glenn
ed and destroyed by John De Courcy  Righe, where Murcadh  O'Kerbaill




TIE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.                        653
(now O'Carroll), Lord of Oirlghialla, ma ah, son of tile Monarch, Ruaidri,
and Cu-Uladh Mac Donslebi (now Mac'/inT Concobar O'Kellaig'h, Lord cf Ui
Donlevy), King of Ulidia, made hostile  Mani. Next year they record a great
attack  upon them, in which  they  battle, in which Flathbertach Ua Maeldrowned and otherwis3 killed 450 of  doraidh, Prince of Kinel Conaill, dethem. 100 of the Gaels, together with  feated the sons of Ruaidri O'Concobair,
Ua h-Anbith (now O'Hanvey) Lord of  and in which there fell 16 of the sons of
Ui Meith-Macha, fell in the heat of the  the principal lords and chiefs of Conbattle.                             naught. "And many others fell, both
De Courcy soon after went to plun- of the nobles and the plebeians. The
der Dal Araide and Ui Tnirtri, and  Kinel Eogain held the Connaughtmen
Cu-Midhe O'Flainn, Lord of Ui Tuirtri in subjection for a long time after this
and Fir Li, gave battle to him and his battle.'"-F. M.
foreirgners, and defeated them  with             A. D. 1182.
great slaughter, through the miracles    "Domnall, son of Aedh O'Lochlainn,
of Saints Patrick, Columkille and  marched with an army to Dun-bo,
Brendan, and John himself, being  where he gave battle to the'English;
severely wounded, escaped with diffi- but the Kinel Eogain were there deculty and fled to Ath-cliath.       feated, and Raghnall Ua Breslein, with
The Constable of the King of Eng-  Gilla-Criosd Ua Cathain and many
land in Ath-cliath and East AMeath  others were slain."  [In this year, acmarched with his forces to Cluain- cording to the Ann:als of Kilronan,
mic-Nois, and plundered all the town  Milo de Cooan was killed by Mac Tiri,
except the churches and the bishop's  Prince of Ui Mac Calli (Imokilly);
houses. God and St. Kiaran wrought and in it died Raymond le Gros and
a manifest miracle against them, for the two sons of Fitz Stephen. No
they were unable to rest or sleep until important event is recorded  under
they had secretly absconded from Cuirr  A. D. 1183.]
Cluana next day.                                A. D. 1184.
A victory was gained by Art Ua    Art O'Maelsechlainn, Lord of West
Maelsechlainn, the men of Ui Falghi Meath, was treacherously slain by
and the English over the people of Diarmaid, son of Tordelbach O'BriDelbna Ethra, Maelsechlainn Beg and  ain, at the instigation of the Enga party of the men of Tebtha; in  lish, whereupon Maelsechlainn Beg
this battle Muredach, son of the Sin-  (O'Maelsechlainn) assumed his place,
nach (i. e. the Fox) was slain.      and in three days afterwards defeated
" Corcach was plundered by the  the same Diarmaid in a conflict wheregrandson of Domnail Mac Carthaigh  in many wcre slain, amongst whom
and the Green (itauls. (Coreeah was  was the so1 of Mathlamnain O0Briaie..
besieged by Milo d (oan Conmd.l Fitz-    A castle wa's eiected b:  the l"'nglish
Stephen. A  party of their people  at Kill Air (in Meath). Another casmade an excursion to Acadh-da-eo  tle was plundered i:y ilaelsechlainn
(Aghadoe), where they remained two  and  Concobar  O'(Cr.obair of' Maneday and two nights, and then returned  MIagh, in which many of the English
to Corcach. After this they marched  were slain. Thirty of the best houses
towards Waterford, but the Gaels of Ard Macha were plundered by the
gathered against them at the hill of English of Meath.
Lis Mor (now Lismore) and killed near-           A. D. 1185.
ly them all. — Annals of Innisfallen.  Philip of Worcester (Lord Justice)
Our Annals are silent as to the pro- remained at Ard Macha with his Engceedings of the invaders during A. D. lishmen during six days, in the middle
1179. They record the death of St. of Lent.
Lawrence, or Lorcan O'Tuathail, under    The son of the king of England,
1180. In the latter year was fought that is, John, son of Henry II.,,came
the battle called the Battle of the Con- to Ireland with a fleet of 60 ships, to
cobars, between Concobar of Maen- assume the government of the king.




654                 THE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.
dom.  I-le took possession of Ath-  Beg, and not one of the English escaped
cliath and Leinster, and erected castles  thence, but all were suffocated or otherat Tibraid Factna (now Tibroughney)  wise killed. They carried away their
and Ard Finain, out of which he  shields, arms, accoutrements, coats of
phlndered Munster; but his people  mail and horses, and slew two knights.
were defeated with great slaughter by    And Drum-cliabh, (now Drumcliff,) in
Domnall O'Briain.  John'then re-  Sli(go, was plundered by the son of Maelturned to England to complain to his seclhlainn O'Ruairc, Lord of Ui Briuin
father of JIugo de Lacy, who was the  and Conmacni, and by the son of Cathal
King's deputy in Ireland on his arrival,  O'Ruairc, accompanied by the Elnglish
and who had prevented the Irish Kings  of Meath. But God and St. Columkille
from sending him (John) either tribute  wroucht a remarkable miracle in this
or hostlages.                        instance, for the son of AIaelsechlainn
A  general war broke out in Con- O'liuaire was killed in Conmacni a
naught, amolng the royal heirs, namely, fortnight aftcrwa;ds, and the eyes of
luaidri O'Coincobair and  his son  the son of Cathal O'Ruairc were put
Ooncobar of AMaen-1Magh; Concobar  out by O'Maeldoraidh, in vengeance
O'Diarmada; Cathal Carrach, son of for St. Columkille; and, also 120 of
Concobar of Maen-Magh; and Cathal the followers of the son of MaelsechCrobh-derg, son of Tordelbach. In  lainn were killed throughout Conmacni,
the contests between thelic  many per- through the miracles of that saint.
sons were slain, after which Ruaidri             A. D. 1188.
and his son made peace with the other    The English of the castle of Magh
chiefs.                              Coba, in Down, and a party of the Ui
The West of Connaught was burned, Eathach (the people of Iveagh) made
as well churches as houses, by Domnall a predatory into Tir Eogain, and came
O'Briain and the English.           to Leim-mic-Neill, where they seized
Cathal Carrach, the son of Concobar  upon some cattle; but Doinnaill O'of Maen-Magh,   son of Euaidri, burned  Lochlainn pursued them with his reKill-da-luadh, as well churches as  tainers, and came up with them  at
houses, and carried off all the jewels  Caban-na-g-crann-ard, where a battle
and riches of the inhabitants. Tho-  was fought between them, and the Engmond was destroyed and plundered by  lish were routed with great slaughter.
Concobar of Maen-Malgh and the Eng- But Domnall, son of Aedh O'Lochlainn,
lish.  The English came as far as Lord of Ailech, and meet heir to the
Ros Comain with the son of Ruaidri, throne of Ireland, by reason of his symwho gave them 3,000 cows as wages.  metry of form, intellect and wisdom,
Diarmaid Mac Carthaigh, Lord of alone received a thrust from an En gtlish
Desmond, was slain by the English of spear, and fell in the heat of the conCorcach.                             flict. His body was carried to Ard
A. D. 1186.              Macha on tlie same day, and there inRuaidri O'Concobair was banished  terred with great honor and solemnity.
into Munster by his own son, Concobar    John de Courcy and the English of
of Maen-cMagh. In the contest between  Ireland made an incursion into Conthem  both, the Connauchtmen were  naught, accompanied by Concobar 0'destroyed. However, byAhe advice'of Diarmada, whereupon  Concobar of
the- Sil-Muredaigh  (Sleeld 1urraye), Maen-magh, King of Connaught, asRuaidri was recalled, qnd a cantred  sembled all the chiefs of his country,
of land was given to him.  [Hugo de  who were joined by Domnail O'Briai
Lacy slain-See extract already quoted.]  and some of the men of Munster. The
A. D. 1187.              English set fire to some of the churches
The castle of Kill Air, which was in  of the country as they passed along,
possession of the Engflish, was burned  but they made no delay until they
and demolished by Concobar O'Conco- reached Es-dara  (now  Ballysadare),
bair of Maenmagh, and Maelsechlainn  with the intention of going into Tir




THE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.                        655
Conaill, for the Connaughtmen would did not' accept any of these, save one
not suffer them to tarry any longer goblet, which his own grandfather,
in their country.  But as soon as lath- Diarmaid O'Briain, had once owned.
bertach O'Maeldoraidh heard of their Ruaidri MacDonslebi, King of Ulidia,
approac"h, lhe mustered the Kinel Con- hadcome into hishouse. MacCarthaigh,
ai'l, and lmarched to Drum-cliabh to  Kingr of Desmond, was in his house,
oppose them.  Upon hearing of this and to him O'Concobair gave a great
movemenlt, the English burned  the stipend, namely, five horses out of every
whole of Es-dara, and retreated. As cantred in Connaught. Maelsecehlaini
they passed by the Coirr-Sliabh (the Beg, King of Tembair, was in his house
Curlew Mountains,) they were set upon likewise, and took away thence a large
by the men of Munster and Connaught, -stipend; and O'PRuairc, King of Brefni,
by whom great numbers of them were had also come into his house, whence
slain.  The survivors escaped  with  he also carried off a large stipend.
difficulty from the country, in which    When Concobar of Miaen-magh had
they had committed no trifling destruc- been slain, the Sil MIuredaigh, (his own
tion upon this occasion.             tribe,) sent messengers to Ruaidri O!'A. D. 1189.              Concooair, the former King of Ireland,
Domnall, son of Murkertach Mac to tell him  of the death of his son,
Lochlainn, was slain by the English of and to offer him tLe kingdom; and as
Dal Araide while he was staying  soon as Ruaidri had reached Magh
amorgst them.                        Naei, lie took the hostages of the Sil
Mac-na-h-oidhch6 (Mac-na-h-oich aa-eeie, i. I:Muredaigh, and all Connaught, for at
e., Son of Night) O'Maelruanaidh, lord  that time the hostages that had been
of Fera Manach, was driven from his delivered up to Concobatr of Maelnlordship, and fled to O'Kerbaill.  Soon  mag('h were then o(1n lis Cloithranl, an
after an English army arrived in that island in Loch RibLh.
country, to whom O'Kerbaill and 0'-   Concobar, grandson  of Diarmaid,
Maelruanaidh (O'Carroll and O'MIul- was slain by Cathal Carrach, son of
rony) gave battle; but O'Kerbaill was Concobar of Maen-magh, in revenge for
defeated therein and O'Maelruanaidh  his father.
killed.                                 Richard I. was crowned King of
Concobar of Maen-magh, the son of England on the 1st of July.
Ruaidri, Kinvg of Connaught, both    Flathbertach O'Maeldoraidh marchEnglish and Irish, was killed by a plb.rty  ed his forces against the men of Conof his own people and tribe; namely, naught, and pitched his camp in Corby Magnus, son of Flann O'Finachta, ran.  All the  Connaughtmen, both
called the Crosach Donn * Aedh, son  English and Irish, came to oppose him.
of Brian of Brefni, son of Tordelbach  However, they were not able to injure
O'Concobair; Murkertach, son of Diar- him, and both parties departed without
maid, son of Cathal, son of Tadg; and  coming to a battle.
Gilla-na-naemh, son of Gilla-Conmain,            A. D. 1190.
son of Mlutedach Ban O'Maelmichil of   A meeting was held at Chrain Ferta
the Tuatla. Alas for the party that of St. Brendan, to conclude a peace
plotted this eonlspiracy against tlhe life  between Cathal of the Red Hand and
of the heir lre.i.-nptive of the throne  Cathal Carrach. All the Sil Mureof IrelandI1   To 1.himn the grctcor part  daig'h came to this meeting, together
of Leth ci.hr~l;a had submitted as ling. with  Concobar AMacDiarmoda,  Co])onmall t        Ki:in, -Kin  of Mulnster, marba of St. Patrick and Arechtach
had gone to his house at Dun Leodha  O'Roduibh; but they were not able to
(Dooa-Lo), wher e  he was entertained  effect a reconciliation on this occasion.
for a week, and to him  O'Concobair               A. D. 1191.
gave sixty cows out of every cantred    Ruaidri O'Concobair set out from
in Connauhllt, and ten articles of price, Connaught, and came to Flathbertach
ornamented with gold; but O'Briain  O'Maeldoraidh, in Tir Conaill, and he




656                  TIHE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.
passedthence into Tir Eogain, to re- Courcy,) was slain by the English.
quest forces from the north of Ireland  Gilbert MacCostello marched with an
to enable him to recover his kingdom  English army, to Es-ruadh. but was
of Connaughlt; but the men of Ulster compelled to return without gaining
refusingr to aid him in procuring lands any advantage by his incursion.  [The,
from the men of Connaught, he repaired  English name of MacCos3tello -was De
to the English of Meath, and these hav- Nangle. He was of En-glish parentage.]
ing also refiused to go with him, he               A. D. 1195.
passed into Munster, whither the Sil   Cathal O'Concobair of the'Red
Mluredaighl sent fur him, and gave him  I-and and MacCostello, with some' of
lands, namely, Tir Fiacrachl and Kinel the English and Irish of Meath, marchliAeda of Ectighe.                      ed into Munster, and arrived at Cashel
A. D. 1192.               and Imlech Iub.ir. Thece they b~urned
The English were defeated at the  four large castles and some sinall ones.
weir of Echaradh (Aughlera), by the  Cathal MlacDiarmada- marched from
Muinter Alacil-t-Sinna, (i. e., the sept Munster into Connaught, and passed
of MacCarron of Meath, called i.n Irish  victoriously through that province until
Mac Cargamna.).                  he reached Loch Alesg and Inis Rodba,
The English of Leinster committed  where lie seized upon all the vessels of
great depredations agaist Domnall Cathal of the Red hald, and brought
O'Briain.  They passed over the p!ain  them  away to  Caislean-na-Caillighe
of Kill-da-luadh until they  reached  (now  -Hags Castle), whence he com.
Magh  Ua Thoirdhelbhaigh (-Moy-O- mcneced to commit great ravages in all
Hurraylig), near the Shannon, where directions, until Cathal of the Red
they were met by the Dal g-Cais, who  Hand came, accompanied by a party
slew great numbers of their host.      of English, and made peace with him.
Donmnall O'Briain defeated and made              A. D. 11-96.
a great slaughter of the English of Os-  AMurkertach, son of Murkertach 0'
raide.                                 Lochlainn, Lord of Kinel Eogain, preA. D. 1193.               sumptive heir to the thronle of Ireland,
Derborgaill, wife of Tighernan 0'- tower of the valor and achievements of
Ruairc, and daughter of Murcadh 0'- Leth Cuinn, destroyer of the cities and
Maelsechlainn, died in the monastery of castles of the  English, founder of
Droiclhed Atha (Mellifont), in the 85th  churches and fair sanctuaries, was slain
year of her age.                       by Donncadh, son of B3los:adh O'CatAedh O'Maelbrenain, (now O'Mul- lain.  His body was carried to Doiri
renin,) chief of Clann Concobair, was  of St. Columkille, and there buried
slain by the English of Ath-cliath.   wvith great honor and respect.
O'Kerbaill  (O'Carroll),  Lord  of      Ruaidri MacDonslebi, with the EngOirghiala, was captured by the Eng-  lishl and the Sons of the chief of Conlish, who tirst put out his eyes and then  naught, marched  against the  Kinel
hanged him.                            Eogain and the Airthertha (the men
A. D. 1194.               of Orior). The latter marched against
Domnall, son of Tordelbach O'Briain, them to the plain of Ard:Maclha, and
King- of Munster, a beaming lamp in  there gave them battle.  MIacDonslebi
peace and war, and the brilliant star of was defeated with great slaughlter, and
the hospitality and valor of the men of twelve of the sons of the chitfs of Con3Munster and of all Leth Mogha, died, naught, with many of an inferior degree,
and Murkertach, his son, assumed his  were slain.
place.                                   Domnal, son of Diarmaid MacCart.
The English landed upon Inis-'O. haigh defeated the Enolish of Limericlk
Fintain, but were forcibly driven out and Munster with dreadful slaughter,
of it.                                 and then drove them out of Limerick.
Cu-Midhe  O'Flainn  (Coowee  0'- lie also defeated them  in two other
Fynn, the hero who had defeated De  battles within this year.




THE HISTORY  OF IRELAND.                       657
Mathg:unaln, (or Mallon,) son of Con- all in heroism, a Cuchulainn in valor,
cobar'pf alen-mag'h, lheir apparent to  a Guairi in hospitality, a MacLughach
the throne of Connaugqlt, was slain by  in feats of arms, died at Ilis Saimer,
D)omnall O'.Morda )and, the men of or.n the second day of February, after
Laeigllhis,  wlho lprescnted him  from  long and patient suffering, in the 30th
bearing off spoil, which he had taken year of' his reign and 59th of his age,
frlcm the 1,Eg;ishl; but O'2Morda was and was interred at Drum Tuama, [now
slain by Cathal Carrach, in rcvenge of Drumhome,] with due honor.
his brother,                           Echmarcachll O'Dochartaigh (O'Do-'A. D. 1197.            herty) immediately assumed the chiefJohn de Courcy and the English of tainship of Kinel Conaill. In a fortUlidia, marchcd with an army to Es- night after, John de Courcy crossed
Craeibi (Ass-Creev,, now Salmon Leap, Tuaim into Tir Eogain with a nnmeon the River Bann), and built the castle rous army. Hence he proceeded to Ard
of Kill Sanctain, and wasted and deso- Stratha (now Ardstraw), and marched
lated the territory of Kiannachta. He round to Doiri of St. Columkille, where
left Rotsel Pitun with a large body of he and his troops remained for five
forces in the castle, out of which they nights. They then set out for Cnoo
set about plundering and ravaging the Nascain, to be conveyed across it; but
churches aild the lands 6f the laity. the Kinel Conaill had come against
Rotsell Pitun thence made a predatory  them, and a battle was fought between
excursion to  the harbor of Doiri them, in which many fell on both sides.
(Derry), and plundered the churches of The Kincl Conaill were much slaughCluain-I, Enach and Der(-bruach; but tered, for 200 of them  were slain,
Flathbertach O'Maeldoralidh, Lord of *amopgst whom  Echmarcach himself,
Kinel Eogain and klinel Conaill, over- and many other nobles. The English
took him with a small party of the then plundered Inis Eogain, whence they
the Northern Ui Neill. A battle was carried off a great number of cows,
founght between them on Traigh Ua  and then returned.
Congbala (now the Strand of Fau-                 A. D. 1198.
ghavale), in which the Einglish and the    RUAIDRI O'CONCOBAIR, KING  OF
son of Ardgal MacLochlainn were  CONNAUGHT AND ALL OF IRELAND, BOTE
slaughtered through the lliracles of TIlE  IRISII AND TIIE ENGLISIT, died
St. Columkille, Canice and Plrecan, among the canons at Conga, after exwhose chlurches they hlad plundered. emplary penance, victorious over the
Flathbertach O'Anleldoraigh, Lord  world and the devil.  His body was
of Kinel Eogain, Kinel Conaill and  conveyed  to  Cluain-mic-Nois, and
OIrghialla, con tender for Terlhair, heir buried at the north side of the altar
to the monarchy of all Ireland, a Con- of the great church.
END OF THE SECOND BOOK.
42




PAIRT III.
GENEALOGY
OF THE BRANCHINGS OF THE CHILDREN OF MILEDH, DOWN HERE.
SOME of our historians maintain that there are in Ireland
twelve tribes of the Saer Clanna, or genuine nobles of the race
of Gaedal; to wit, six tribes in Lcth Mogha, and six others in
Leth Cuinn.  The following are the tribes which they assign to
Leth Mogha, namely, the Dal Eogain (Daul- Owin), Dal Fiacach
(Daul- Veeghagh), Dal Barrinni, Dal Darini, Dal Kein,l and Dal
Cais.  The following are the tribes assigned to Leth Cuinn,
namely, the Dal Cuinn, Dal Kein, Dal Araide, Dal Fiathach, and.
Dal Niadh Cuirb.  However, this is not the arrangement2 which
I shall adopt in tracing up the branchings of the children of
Miledh; but I shall follow  up, successively, the posterity of
each of the three sons of Miledh of Esbain, who left offspring
after them in Ireland; namely, the posterity of Eber, that of
Ir, and that of Erimhon, together with the posterity of Lugaidh,
son of Ith, who was the son of a brother of the father of
Miledh.
The reader must here understand that there are also in Ireland six races of Athach-Tuatha (Ahagh  booha), or Daer-Clanna,
that is of enslaved clans, or plebeians, whose history it is not
proper to trace, notwithstanding the fact, that some of them are
of the Gaelic nation. The first race of these is composed of the
remains of the Fer-Bolgs, and Tuatha De Danann; the second
is composed of persons who had left their own territories, and,
though sprung from Saer Clanna, had subjected themselves to
pay servile rent to the people of another tribe; the third race
consists of a portion of the Saer Clanna, whose territory has
been converted into sword-land, and who have remained in
serfdom therein under the rule of their enemies; the fourth race
consists of a certain portion of the Saer Clanna, who have been
condemned to a servile condition, by reason of their evil deeds,
Dal Kein.-This term is written O'Meaghers, and their correlatives, did
Dal g-Ceide in two of the editor's MS. actually form one of the great tribes
copies. It is also so written in Dermod groups of Leth Mogha, as well as of
O'Connor's translation. The above read- Leth Cuinn, while the name of Dal ging has been adopted on the authority of Ceide, is unknown to the editor.
one MS., because the Dal Kein, or des-   2 The arrangement, etc. —Keating.cendants of Kian, son of Olild Olum, rejects the territorial arrangement, as
comprising the O'Carrolls, of Eli, the leading to confusion, for tribes descended
[6581.




GENEALOGY.                          659
and who have lost their blood and their estates according to law;
the fifth race are the folk that are descended from foreign soldiers, that is, from hired warriors from other lands, who left
progeny after them in Ireland; the sixth race is composed of
the descendants of those slaves that came into Ireland with
the children of Miledh.
But one thing at which many persons are surprised,3 is, how
it could have been possible that no portion of the descendants
of the Daer Clanna or plebeians, who came into Ireland with
the children of Miledh, have survived to the present time.  AMy
answer to these persons is, that Tuathal Tectmar had made a
dreadful massacre of descendants of these plebeians, as soon as
he acquired the sovereignty of Ireland, in vengeance for the
treason which they had previously perpetrated towards the Saer
Clanna, as has been related in the body of this history.  He
then vanquished them in twenty-five battles in each of the provinces of Ireland, and if after him, any remnant of them has still
remained alive in the country, it is not lawful, and moreover,
it not possible, for any historian either to trace their ramifications, or to follow up their pedigrees. Neither can any historian trace the genealogies of any of the other five races, of
which we have spoken; and if any ollamh of history would attempt to trace out their branchings, it is unlawful to give the
respect due to history to anything that he may assert on the
subject.
The reader must now learn that we are about giving down
the principal historic branches of the real nobility of the
Gaels, and in doing so, we shall give precedence to the posterity
of Eber Finn, because that is the senior' branch; but it must be
of the same stock, were sometimes lo- becoming the wives or concubines of the
cated most widelyapart from each other, Gaels. It is also to be supposed that
as the Kiarraide, or O'Connors of Ker- many of them  bedame amalgamated
ry, and the Dal Araide of Down and with the early Danish and English
Antrim, the Milesian Ernaans of Mun- settlers, whose laws of inheritance were
ster, and the Dal Riada, of the North in one particular, less exclusive than
of Ireland, and of Alba.          those of the Irish, and who did not
3 Many are surprised, etc. —Many much regard paternal descent. These
causes conduced to their disappearance. very possibly took English or Danish
The first, and perhaps the greatest, was names, and finally became confounded
the fact that they could have no inheri- with the other serfs of the lords of Nortance in any of the Gaelic tribe-lands, man pale, and the inhabitants of the
the entire right to which was vested in various seaports and principal towns.
the male descendants of the conquering   4 Right of seniority, etc. —Giving precast. The next consists in the fact of cedence to seniority in arranging of priits being unlawful to trace their pedi- mary divisions of the Gaelic nation,
grees, and perhaps another, which is he sets the most distinguished, rather
not very improbable, may have been, than the eldest of its tribes atthe head of
in the greater part of their females each division of these. For instance the




660                      GENEALOGY.
understood that we shall bring into the direct lines certain
branches that occupy the first places therein, not in right of the
seniority of their immediate founder, but in right of tlie great
deeds in which their ancestors excelled those of the seniors by
right of priority of birth.
The following examples will suffice to show how much more
often the sovereignty both of Ireland and its principalities was
possessed by the younger than by the elder branches. For it is,
indeed, evident that there were more monarchs of Ireland of the
line of Erimhon, who was a younger son of Miledh, than of
that of Eber Finn, who was his elder brother; and that there
were more monarchs of Ireland of the posterity of Cobthach
Cael Breagh, who was the younger son of' Iugani Mor, than of
that of his elder brother, Laegari Lore, and that there were
more kings of Ireland, of the race of Niall of the Nine Iostages, who was the youngest son of Eocaidh Muigh-medon, than
of those of his four elder brothers; and, again, that there were
more of the kings of Connaught of the posterity of Duach Galach,
who was the youngest of the children of Brian, son of Eocaidh
Muigh-medon, than that of any of the twenty-three brothers
who were his seniors by birth; and that there were more kings
over Leinster, who were sprung from  Fiacaidh Bacheda, the
youngest son of Cathaeir AMor, than from any of his nine
brothers elder brothers, who left a progeny after them.  Thus
we see, that it was not in right of priority of birth, that men
succeeded to the sovereignty, either of the nation, or of the pentarchates,' but in right of the greatness and glory of their own
acts.  And for this reason we desire to set down the several
branches of relationship, and boughs of consanguinity of each
group, near those of their kindred tribes, and to deduce each
offshoot from its own particular place on each branch.
family of O'Donovan, not MacCarthy, of Cormac Cas, nor O'Neill, of the Ui
represents the eldest branch of the line Neill. This is the peculiarity of nearly
of Eber or Heber, neither is the sept of all the Irish tribes, down to their
O'Briain, the eldest branch of the line smallest sub-septs.




CHAPTER I.
THE GENEALOGY OF THE POSTERITY OF EBER FINN, DOWN
HERE.
We shall commence with the line of Eogan'Mor (Owen More), son of Olild
Olum. This Olild Olum had but three sons who left offspring after them,
namely, Eogan Mor, Cormac Cas, and Kian; and there now survives no more
of the race of Eber Finn than what has sprung from the descendants of these
three.
[NOTE.-K. M. stands for King of Munster; R. H. for Rex Hiberniae, &c.,
or Monarch of all Ireland. The comments in italics are not in the original.
All the rest is. Ed.]
THE PEDIGREE OF MAC CARTHY MORE, HERE.
1. Domnall, the first Earl;*  [He was    now called Duhallow, and also the
created Earl of Clancare, in Irish   kings of Desmond.  The MacClann Carthaigh, in A. D. 1565.       Carthies of Carbery, that is, the
Ed.] son of                          sept of MacCarthaigh Riabhach,
2. Domnall an Drumainn, son of            i. e. MlacCarthy the Grey, called in
3. Cormac Ladhrach, son of                English.M3acCarthy Reagh, and
4. Tadg Liath, son of                     all the branches sprung from it,
B. Domnall an Dana, son of                are descended from  a brother of
6. Tadg Manistrech; [He had this sur-    this Cormac, namely from Domname from having built the Mon-      nall Gott.] son of
astery  of Irriallach, on  Loch  12. Domnall Mor na Curra, son of
Lein, now the Lake of Killarney,] 13. Diarmaid of Kill Baghani; [From
*s6n of                               Diarmaid of Kill Baghani has
7. Domnall;  [This Domnall had a          sprung the sept of the Mac Carthies
brother who was called Diarmaid      called Clann'Iaidg Ruaidh na
Mor Musgraide, i. e. Diarmaid the     Sgarti.] son of
Great of 3Muskery: Eogan, or 14. Cormac ofMagh Tamnaigh. [This
Owen, of Bord Mangi, was also a      Cormac had a brother named
brother of his; as was also Donn-   Tadog, from whom sprang the sept
cadh, from  whom  descend the        of MacAmlaeibh, i. e. the MacAufamilies of Ard  Canachta and        lifes of the ccunty of Cork] son of
Cnoc Ornachta] son of            15. Mluredach;, [He was the first of
8. Cormac, son of.          this line who was called Mac9. Domnall Og, son of                     Carthaigh, being the MAc, or son
10. Domnall Ruadh; [From him des-         of Carthach. In Gaelic the name
cend the Clann Domnaill Ruaidh,      of the latter chief is pronounced
i. e. the Mac Carthies of Clandonill-  Caurhagh, and the familyq name of
Roe; and from  ljis brother Diar-    hisdescendants'MacCaurha. It is
maid of Traigh Li (new  called       now known in English as MacTralee) descends the sept of Mac-    Carthy.-Ed.] son of
Finghin, in Enghlish lacFinnen, 16. CARTHACH; [from  whom  all the
of Kethrinn, in Kerry] son of        Sil Carthaigh, i. e. the offspring of
11. Cormac Finn; [Of the race of          Carthach, have derived their name.]
this Cormac Finn are the Mac-        son of
Carthies of the territory of Ella,
[6611




662                          GENEALOGY.
17. Saerbrethach; [Thi.Saerbrethach       O'Cronin. From Carbri Luachra,
had a brother, named Murcadh,        otherwise Carbri the Pict, son oJ
from  whom sprang the sept of         Corc, father of Nadfraech, have
O'Callaghan, in Irish O'Kellach-     descended the O'Moriarties; and
ain.] son of                         from Enna, son of Nadfraech, have
18. Donncadh, son of                      descended the O'Garvans.]son of
19. Kellachan of Cashel, K. M., son  35. Luogaidh, son of
of                               36. Olild Flann Beg, K. M.;  [This
20. Buadachan, son of                     Olild Flann Beg had a son, named
21. Lactna, son of                        Dari Kerb, from whom  has de*.
22. Artgal, son of                        cended the sept of O'Donovan
23 Snedgus; [This Snedgus had a           and that of O'Coilleain, or Collinrs,
brother, named Fogartach, from       of Carbery; and again this Dari
whose son, Finluini, have sprung     Kerb had a son called Fiacaidh
the Muinter Finguini.]son of         Fidghenti,  from   whom   have
24. Donngal, son of                       sprung the septs O'Miadhachain,
25. Faelgus, son of                       now O'Meehan, O'hAithchir, now
26. Nadfraech, son of                     O'Hehir, and the clan of Mac
27. Colgan, son of                        David in Thomond.] son of
28. Falbi Flann, K. M.; [This Falbi 37. Fiacaidh  Maeil-lethan,  K. M.,
Flann had a brother, named Fing-      son of
hin, from whom has sprung the sept 38. Eogan M or; [From this Eogan or
of O'Sullivan; and the Book of       Owen, all the septs of the Eog(aMunster tells us that Finghin was    nachta or Eugenians of Munster
the elder brother of Falbi Flann,     have been named.]son of
and in testimony thereof a certain  39. Olild Olum, K. M., son of
bard composed thefollowingverse  40. Mogh Nuadath, K. M.; [He is
when Falbi FlInn succeeded to         also styled Logan  lor of Magh
Finghin as sovereign of Munster:     Lena, and Eogan  Taighlech, or
a Dire is our loss, Finghin is gone,   Ouen the Splendid. It was he
And atisel now has cause of woe:     that founded the kingdom of Leth
Sihe feels as if bereft of all,
Though Falbi Flann is now her king."  Mog]ha.] son of
lFalbi ru'ed Munster from A. D. 41. Mogh Niad, son of
622 to 633.]son of               42. Derg, son of
29. Aedh Dubh, son of                43. Dergthini; [He is also called Corb
30. Crimthann, son of                     Olum. lie was one of the three
31. Feidlimidh, son of                    heirs of the royal houses of Ireland
32. Aengus, K. M.; [This Aengus had a     that were saved from the massacre
son. named Eocaidh Finn, from        of the Irish nobility, by the subject.
whom  is descended the sept of       tribes at Magh Cro, about. D. 10.
O'Keeffe: from another son of his,  He was cotenpoizray with Feradach
named Enna, sprang that of 0'-       the Just, monarch of Ireland.] son
Dalaigh, in ELnglish O'Daley, of     of
Munster. Aenguswas the first king  44. Enna Muncaein, son of
of Munster who became Christian. 45. I;o6ch Mor, son of
HIe was slain in A. D. 484.] son of 46. Mogh Febis, son of
33. Nadfraech, K. M., son of         47. Muredach Muchna, son of
34. Core, K. M.; [This Core had a son, 48. Eocaidh Garbh; [He is also styled
named Cas Mac Cuire, from whom        Eocaidh Fer Ani.] son of
have sprung the following septs, 49. Duach Dalta Deg,adh, R. H.; [He
namely, O'Donoghoo More, from        is also styled Duach Donn.] son of
which branched O'Donoghoo of 50. Carbri Losg-let;han, son of
the Glen; and O'Mahony Finn, 51. Lurgaidh Luaighni, son of
O'Mahony Roe, O'Mahony of Ui 52. Innadmar, R. H., son of
Floinn Laei, and  O'Malhony of 53. Niadh Segamhain, R. HI., son of
Carbery; and also O'Mullane, and  54. Adamar Foltcaein, IR. H., son of




GENEALOGY.                              663
55. Fer-Corb, R. H., son of                Gaelic word Gal, i.e., battle, is
56. Mogh Corb, R. H., son of               said to have been. his real name.]
57. Cobthach Caemh, son of                 son of
58. Recta Righ-derg, R H., son of     88. Bili, King inr Spain, son of
59. Lugaidh Laigrhdi, R. H., son of    89. Breogan, King in Spain;  [His
60. Eocaidh, R. H., son of                 name is written in modern  rish,
61. Olild Finn, R. H., son of              Breoghan, andl pronounced Breban.
62. Art, R. H., son of                     From him the Brigantes are said to
63. Lugaidh Lamh-derg, -R. H., son of      take their nalme.  The territory of
64. Eocaidh Uarchcas, R. H., son of        Breagh or Bregia in Ireland was
65. Lugaidh Iar-donn, R. I., son of        called from a branch of his deseand66. Enna Derg, R. H., son of               ants, that adopted the appellation oj
67. Duach Finn, R. H., son of              Clanna Breoghain.  son of
68. Sedna Innaraigh, R. It., son of    90. Bratha; [He wsas the leader of the
69. Bres-righ, R. H., son of               Clanna Gaedhail, or Gaels, that
70. Art Imlech, R.-I H, sort of           emigrated from Gaethlui ghe, which
71. Elim, R. H., son of                   has been called Gothia by Keating,
72. Rothectach, R. H., son of              into -Spain.] soA of
73. Roan Righ-galach, son of          91. Degatha; (King in Gaethtluighe:
74. Falbi II-crothach, son of,his name is also written Degh-fa75. Cas Ked-caingnech, son of              tha.) son of
76. Aldergoid, R. H., son of          92. Arcadh, King in Gaetlduighe, son
77. Munemlon, R. H., son of                of
78. Cas Clothach, son of              93. Allod, King in Gaethluighe, son of
79. Eirereo Ard; lHe is also called  94. Nuadlha, King in Gaethluighe, son
Fe r-Ard, or Fer-Arda.] son of        of
80. Rothectach, son of                95. Ninuall,King in Gaethlse  he,sonof
81. Rosa, or Ross, son of             96. Febric Glas, King in, Gaethitighe;
82. Gins, son of                          (His name is also written Ebric.)
83. Nuadha Degh-lamh;    [Ntudlatt,       son of
pronounced Nooath, isalso aform  97. Adlarnlhon Finn, Ifnag ir Gaethof this name.] son of.tighe. son of
84. Eocaidh Faebar-glas, R. 1. son of 98- Eser Gwil-Finn, King in Caetk.
85  Conmael, R. 11., son of               l.eiSge, soil of'
86. EBER FIWN, R  H.  [His name is 99. tLatit-fino.  (ft was ie that, acusually written. Heber in English     cardiag to our shannac/ties, led
books.   The more moder1n Irish       thle CtClanna Gaedail, from a counwrite it Eibhear, and Eirnltea,       try tlhey Lhae called Sbyttiaa, to
whick they pronounceAiver; the       GaetAluig/le.) son of
more ancient write it Eber and  100. Adnoin, son of
Emer. lie is the founder of the 101. Tath, son of
Eberian, or Ieberian races of Ire- 102. Eogallhan, son of
land.  The surname Finn, sgrni- 103. Beogamhan, son of
fies, Fair.] son of               104. Eber Scot; (ft is he that is said
87. MIJULED  Or ESBAIN; [From  this       to have led the wandering childchief the Iridh are called Clanna    t1en (if Gaedalfrom the island of
Milidh, i.e., the clans of Miledh.    Creta to the &Seythia of Irish ieHis name has been not very happily    gend.  From Eber Scot, are posrendered into Latin and Englist       sibly called the Ctx. SCULT, 0on
by Milesius, and that of his pos-     of the nm7es tby which the Iris/h
terity by Milesii and Milesians.      style tstnselves.) son of
The Irish words MiiEdh h-Esbani, 105. Sru; (The leader of the emig-ramean the Warrior of Spain, i.e.,    tion fiorn Egypt to Creta,) son of
Miles Hisp-niae. Galarob, which 106. Esm'u, son of
seems to be a synonymefor Miledh, 107. GAIDAL GLAS, from whom  the
as it apparently comes from  the      GAEIDUIL (Gaeyil), that is, the
Gaels, have been named, son of




664                          GENEALOGY.
108. Niul, who first settled in Egypt, by the orders of Queen Elizabeth, and
son of                           he was kept confined in the Tower of
109. FENIus FARSAIDH; (From  him  London  until  he  died.  I[Eoan
his pcsterity are called FENI, ac-  O'Caeimh, in Engl.:sh Owen O'Keefe,
cording to the following  ancient was a celebrated Irish sdholar, bard, and
verse:                           scribe of the beginning of the last ce;itury.-ED.]
"FENI, O FENIUS adbertba, —
Brigh gan dochta:
GAEIDHmL, O GAEDIIAL GHLAS gartha;                 II.
SCItlT o ScoTA'.            THE PEDIGREE OF O'SULLIYVAN  MORE,
HiERE.
In English-' 1. Domnall-May God protect him!
Feni from Fenius they are named         soil of
Not forced the meanin(/;     2.
Prom GedaGiaZs ecl2l, te G    Eogan Ruadh; [This Eogan died
Fr'om Gatedtl Gh1as we ctll t/rem Gaels;
And Scots from  ota.") son of'   n Dublin A. D. 1687; and all
Leth Mogha was filled with the
110. Baath; (Neither this nor the suc-   glory and greatness of his beceeding nam}s seem to have been      nevolenee, honor, generosity, and
handed down through the me-          poesy, and his every other noble
dium of the Gaelic tongue. Their     and laudable quality.] son of
forms, with perhaps the excep-  3. Domnall, son of
tion of Naei, i. e. Noah and  4. Eogan, son of
Adamh (Auve) i. e. Adam, are  5. Domnall, son of
foreign to that idiom,.) son, of  6. Eogan, son of
ll. Magog, son ot                      7. Domnall, son of
112. Japhett, son of                   8. Domnall, son of
113. Naei, son of                      9. Domnall na Sgreduighe, son of
114. Lamech, son of                   10. Domnall, son of
115. Mathusalem, son of               11. Ruaidri;  [This Ruaidri had a
116. Enoch, son of                        brother named Mac-CrIith,- from
117. Jared, son of                        whom  is descended the race of,118. Mahaleleel, son of                  Mac-Craith of Kep-na-Coisi-that
119. Cainan, son of                       is, the branch cf the O'Sullivans,
120. Enos, son of                         so cal'd] son of
121. Seth, son of                     12. Dunlainwg, son of
122. ADAMH.                           13. Buadach, son of
14. Bernard, son of:
Comment by Eogan O'Caeimh.        15. Murkertach MIor, son of
16. Dunlaing, son of
* Domnall tlefirst earl.-This Dom- 17. Gilla-Mochuda, from  whom  has
nall (Dortall) had but one'legitimate    sprung the sept of MaeGillacuddy
child, who was named Eibhlin Inghin       and the bmranches therecf, son of
Mhic  Carthaigh  (Eveleen or Ellen  18. Domnall Mor of Carraig FinndaughlteraofM acCarthy). Thisdaughter     maighe, son of
was married to the son of MacCarthy  19. Mac-Craith, son of
Reagh, namely, to  Finghin  (called  20. Btadacn,-son of
Florence by the English), son'of Donn- 21. Cathal, son of
cadh, son of Domnall, son of Finghin, 22. Aedh, son of
son of I)iarmaid an Duna, who came  23. Buadach of Ath-Cro, [being the
into Desmond, and assumed the position    grandson of Sullibav, he was the
and righlts of MaeCarthy More; and it is    first of the O'Sullivans;] son of
from him that the MacCarthy More of 24. Loreari, son of
the present time, A.D. 1724, is sprung, 25. SUmILLBAN, from whom all the Sil
namely, Raghnall (Randall), son of        Suillibhain  (Sheel  Scoillmauin)
Cormac Ruadh.  The, above-named           i. e. the offspring of Suilliban,
Finghin was afterwards taken prisoner     have taken their name, son of




GENEALOGY.                               665
26. Mae!Ura, son of                        not show  whose son this Finghin
27. Echlitigherna, son of                  was. But it is most likely-that he
28. lnurcadhl, son of                      was son of tih'e Domnall marked No.
29. Dubinnrachlt, son of                   1 in the peligree of O'Sullivan
30. Flann Roba, son of                     Bearra; for that would bring the
31. Fiachra an Gaisgi, son of              line of Bearra down to within one
32. Sechnasach, or Sereacch, son of        of that of O'Sullivan lMore.
33. FINGIIIN, K. Mj., sonI of
34. Aedh Dabh. See No. 29, pedigree                    vI.
of MacCarthy More.                   THE PEDIGREE OF MAC GILLICUDDY,
HERE.
III.                   1. Donncadh, son of
THE PEDIGREE OF TIlE RACE OF 3IAC-   2. Concobar, son of
CRAITTI, HIERE.             3. Donncadh, son of
1. Diarmaid, son of                     4. Co(ncobar, son of
2 Eogan, son of                         5. Donncadh, son of
3. ConcobaLr, son of                    6. Concobar, son of
4. Diarmaid, son of                     7. Concobar, son of
5. Buadacl, son of                      8. Gilla-Mochnuda, son of
6. Eogan, son of                        9. Concobar, son of
7. Concobar, son of                    10. Gilla-MIorchuda, son of
8. Domnnall, son of                    11. Dunlaing Mac Gilla Mochuda, zn
9. Mac-Craith; [The branch of the          EnrisL, Mac Gilliculltdy, son of
O'Sallivans called by this name  GIrLA-AocHUDA: the word from which
must not be. confounded with the       this surname is derived; means fol
Dalcas.ian sept of MtacCrath, or       lower of St. Mochuda, otherwise
AMagrath of Thomilod.] son of          called St. Carthach.-See No. 17,
10. Dnullnain O'Sullivan.  See No. 12,     pedigree of O'Sullivan 1More.
Pedigree of O'bSuvlivan More.
VII.
1V.                   THEF PEDIGREE OF THE CLANN LABTIRAI,
THIlE PEDIGREE OF O'SULLIVAN BEARRA,        OR CLAN LAWRENCE, HERE.
11,RE.                1. Concobar, son of
1. l)olinall, son of                  2. Domnall, son of
1. Philip, son of                     3. Donncadh Dubh, son of
3. Eog'an, son of                     4. Donnall, son of
4. lslan, son of                      5. Eogan, son of
5. Domnall, son of                    6. Domnall, son of
6. Diarlmaid an Phudair, son of       7. LABiIRAS, ( 1iis name is pronounced?. Domln rl Cron, son of                  Lowrausseo.  It is tite Iris'S vorsioni
8. Diarmaid, son of                       oftie name Lauwreace.) son of
9. Tadg, son of                      8. Gilla-na-bh-Flann. —See Mo. 13, ped0. A.m!aeibhh, son of                      igree of O'Sullivan Bearre.
L1. Ana, son of    -
12. Philip, son of                                     VIr.
1.3. Gilla-na-b-Flann, son of          THE PEDIGREE OF O'MAHONY. FINN, HERE.
14. Domnail IMor of Carraig  Finn-    Now  this O'Mahony was kinig of
maitlm. —See No. 18, Pedigree of  Rathlenn, now the Hill of Skea on the
O'Sutlivan More.                  River Bandon, by unquestioned right;
and it -was his privileg.e to occupy the
v.                   seat of the king of Cashel, when no
THE PEDICGRE}E  OF O'SULLIVAN I[AEL,  king sat thereon; and he owed no furi. e. MIAC F INGIIIN DUBII, (Mac Fineen  ther duty to the said king of Cashel,
LDujlE,) uIIL:RE.                 liwhen not king himseIf, than to bow
Diarmaid, son of Eogan, son -of FIN- the head in his presence.
GHIN, &c.  (The editor's copy does 1. Concobar, or Con1o'r, son of




666                           GENEALOGY.
2. Domnall, son of                    19. Kian;  [He was King of Desmond,
3. Concobar Finn, son of                  and commanded the Eugenians of
4. Concobar, na' g-Cros, son of           Munster at Clontarf, A. D.   4
6. Concobar Finn, na n-Ech, son of        son of
6. Concobar Cabach, son of           20. Maelmnaidh, K. MA., son of
7. Diarmaid Rantach, son of           21. Brann, son of
8. Finghin; [One of the brothers of 22. Kian, son of
this Fin(,hin was named Domnall; 23. Sbellan, son of
another -was Diarmaid Mor, called 24. Cathniadh, son of
also  Diarmlaid  O-, O'Mahony. 25. Concobar, son of
Of the posterity of Domnall, is the 26. Cucongelt, son of
family of Kill-na-gluairi (Kfilna- 27. Olild Brugha, son of
gloory) in Barrett's Country; and 28. Conna, son of
of the offspring of Diarmaid is the 29. Artgal, son of
race called Meirgeach [i. e. of the 30. Ferdalethi, son of
Standarld] in Desmond, and also  31. Beki, from whom are named the
the sept of C.oncobar Dubh,in        Kiinl m-Beki, (Kinalmeakey,) son
Barry's Country.  By Desmond         of
must be here understood no more 32. Fergus, son of
than the territory of ilac Car- 33. Feidlimedh, K. M., son of
thy M]ore in the West of Cork 34 Tighernach, son of
and Kfrery] son of               35. Aedh Uar-garbh, (From  him the
9. Diarmaid MIor, son of                 Kinel Aedlha of the territory now
10. Donncadh of Rath Dreoain, son of      called Kinalea in the county of Cork
11. Tadg, son of                          are called. From Laegari, brother
12. Diarmaid Mor Eli, [:ie is also sur-   of this Aedh, descendl the O'Donnamed na n-Ech Mais, i. e. of thI     oghoos.] son of
Fine Steeds.]                    36. Crimthann, son of
13. Donncadh na h-Ttnirce Timchill, 37. Eocaidh,from.whom the Ui Eachach
[Ile was king of the Eoganacht       are called, son of
of Ra thlenn on. the arrival of the 38. CAS, the founder of the race, son of
English.  Hls surnalme signifies, 39. Core, K. hM.- See NTo. 34, pedigree
of the changing about, which he      of JlacCarthy iMore.
might have got from  the fact
that, having been fJbr a time ex-                 XT. 
pelled from  his territory and    THE PEDIGREE OF O'MAHONY OF UI
chieftailncy by Cathlal O'Dono-            FLOINN LAEI, HERE.
ghoo, aided by the Elglish, hesuc- 1. Donncadh; son of
ceeded inl recovering them again  2. Concobar an Crochair, son of
wcithl the aid (f his sovereign, 3. Diarmaid, son of.AclCarthy, Kinig of Desmond. 4. Seaghan, or John, son of
lIe was killed fighting against 5. Diarmaid, son of
the English ini, A.D. 1212.] son of 6. Donncadh, son- of
14. Klian, son of                     7. Diarmaid Buiklhe, son of
15. Donncadh Donn, son of            8. Finghin, son of
16. Culmara O'Mahony; [CUumara 0'- 9. TADG AN OIR, son of
alathghalmhla, i. e. grandson of 10. DonnCadh of Rath Dreoain, &c.iUathgh/amain,.prolonlnced  in       See No. 10, pedigree of O'Mahony
Jrish 0'U1'ahowlna, and called in    Finn.
English O'/iahony/, vwas the first
of this linle that bore the jfahmily              x.
name.  Ie tdefeated the )esi in;  THE PEDIGREE OF O'MAHONY OF CAI
A. D. i1n 1072.] son of                       BERY, HERE.
17. Brodcnl, son otf                  1. Mathgamain, or 1Mahon, son.of
18. MIAT.GAMAIN; [Pronouncedd  la- 2. Kian', son of
hozwin, an0  called in Eglish Afa- 3. Maelmuaidh, son of
hon, fi'om whom  the Ui Mathghamlhna are named.] son of




GENEALOGY.                             667
4. Finghin, son of                 10. Malroni; or Maelruainaidh, son of
5. Finghin, son of                 11. Raghnall, son of
6. Diarmaid Spainech, son of       12. Aneslis, son of
7. Tadg Buidhe, son of             13. Amlaeibh O'Donovan.
8. Carbri, son of                  i4. Cathal, who fought at Clontarf,
9. Donncadh Mael, son of                son of
10. Magnus. son of                  15. DONNOBAN, from whom the name
11. Kian, son of                         O'Donnobhain, in English, O'Don12. Aedh, son of                         ovan is derived, son of
13. CONCOBAR, son of                16. Cathal, son of
14. Donncadh na h-Imirce Timchill.-   17. Uainighe, son of
See No. 13, Pedigree of O'Mahony  18. Cathal, spn of
_Finn.                          19. Kennfaeladh, son of
XI.                 20. Dubdaboirenn, son of
PEDIGREE OF O'MAHONY OF CLANN CON- 21. Aedh Roin, son of
NOR, HERE.              22. Eogan, son of
1. Donncadh, son of                  23. Crunmael, son of
2. Concobar, son of                  24. Aedh, son of
3. Finghin Og, son of                25. Aengus, son of
4. Finghin, son of                   26. Lapi, son of
5. Donncadh, son of                  27. Olild K.enn-fada, son of
6. Mathlgamain, or Mahon, son of     28. Kennfaeladh, son of
7. I)onncadh, son of                 29. Ere, son of
8. CONCOBAR, from whom they are cal- 30. Carbri Aedba; [From him Ui Carled Clann Concobair, or in English   bri has its name.  MacEneiry is
Clan  Connor, son of                descended from  his fourth son.]
9. Mathgamain, son of                    son of
10. Kian.-See No. 11, pedigree of  31. Brian, [From  Conall, son of FinO'Mlahony of Carbery.               tait, son of Dari, son of this Brian,
NOTE.-The editor's copies of Keat-     ancestor of O'Collins and O'Kining, contain pedigrees of no other of the  nealy, the territory of TTi Conaill
clans descended from Eoganr Mor than    Gabhra has its name.] son of
those above given. Those that follow, 32. Fiacaidh Fidghenti; [The elder
which show the descent of some impor-    brother of Fiacaidh was Fidach,
tant branches of that stock, are given   father of Crimthann Mor, one of
on the authority of their pedigrees, as  the most illustrious of the monpublished by Dr. O'Donovan in the Bat-   archs of Ireland, who reigned A. D.
tle of Magh Rath.                        366-378. He was the senior representative of all the Milesian
ADDENDA TO CHAPTER I               race; but as he died without issue,
THE PEDIGREE OF O'DONOVAN, REPRESEN-    the eldest representative of Miledh
TATIVE OF THE ELDEST BRANCH OF THE     must now exist somewhere amongst'CHILDREN OF HILEDII.                  the Ui Fidghenti, the widely scat1. Domnall, inaugurated chief of Clan    tered progeny of his second brother
Cahill in 1584, son of              Fiacaidh.] son of
2. Domnall na g-Crolkenn,           33. DARI KERB. [From Eocaidh Liath3. Tadg, son of                          anach, one of the sons of this Dari,
4. Diarmaid, son of                      are descended O'Liathain, in Eng5. Concobar, son of                     lish,O'Lyons, and O h-Anmcadha.]
6. Murcadh, son of                       son of
7. Tadg, son of                     34. Olild Flann Beg, K. M.-See No.
8. Cathal, from whom Clann Cathall,      36, pedigree of MacCarth y More.
or Clan-Cahill is named, son of
9. Crom, driven from  the county of                 II.
Limerick, by the 2d Baron of Oph-      PEDIGREE OF O'KEEFE.
aly, and was slain in 1254. Son of  1. Domnall, who went to France in the




668                           GENEALOGT.
sixt3enth year of his age at the   3. Geffry, son of
head of his father's regiment of   4. Tadgr, son of
foot, sou of                       5. Domnall, son of
2. Domnall Og, slain at Aughrim in   6. Ruaidri, son of
1691, son (of'7. Geffiy, son of
3. Domiall the Heroic, son of          8. DomElall, son of
4. MIa'gnus, son of                    9. Concobar, son of
5. Art, son of                       10. Jeffcy, son of
6. Art, son of                       11. AedS, son of
7. Domnall, son of                   12. Concobar, son of
8. Art, son of                       13. Amlacibh Mor na Cuimsenna, son
9. Manllus, sonl of                       of'10. DonLralll, son of                 14. Aengrus, son of
11. Art, son of                        14. Donlncadh O'Donncadha, in Eng12. Domnall, son of                        lish, O'Donoghoo, the first of the
13. Art, son otf                           name, son of
14. Concobar, son of                  15. Cathal, son of
15. EoLlan Finn, son of               16. IDONNCADH, from  whom  O'Donn16. Maygnus, son of                        cadha is called, son of
17. Fin'uini, son of                  17. Domnall, who held joint command
18. Aedh, son of                           of Eogenians with Kian, son of
19. Fitoguini, son of                      Maehnlmuaidh,at Clontarf,A.D.1014,
20. Domna11, son of                       son of
21. AAdh, son of                      18. Dabdaboirenn, K. M., son of
22. Donncalrh O'Keeffe, the first of the  19. Aengos, son of
name, son of                      20. Flathniadl1, son of
23. Cathal, sDn of                    21. Anblethi, son of
24. CAEMIT, from  whom  ik  named  22. Dunlaing, son of
O'C:oimhl, in English, O'Keeffe,  23. Ealathi, son of
son of                            24. Selbach, son of
25. Finguini, K. M., son of            25. Clarinach, son of
26. Gorman, son of                    26. Carbri Riastrim, son of
27. Artri, K. M., son of               27. Aedh Kisrigh, son of
28. Catlhal, I. MI., son of            28. LAEGARI, son of Of
29. Fingoini, K. MI., son of           29. Crimthann, &c.-See N~o. 36, pedi30. Cu-gan-mathair, K. MI., son of         gree of O'Mahony Finn.
31. Cathal, K. Mi., son of                             IV.
32. Aedh Flann-cathrach, son of       PEDIGREE OF MAC CARTHY EARL OF MUSX33. Ca;rbri Crom, IK. M., son of         ERY, FROMI DERLNIOD O'CONNOR'S TRANS35. Crimthann Srebh. K. M., son of       LATION OF KEATING.
36. EOCAIDII, K. M., died A. D. 523, 1. Robert, Lord Muskery, son of
son of                            2. Donncadh, Earl of Clancarthy, exiled
37. Aengu3, K. MI. —Se No. 32, pedi-       with James II. of England, son of
gree of MacCarthy iMore.          3. Kellachan, or Callagllhan, son of
NOTE.-Previous to the reign of  4. Donncadh, General  in  Munster
Kellachan of Cashel, in which lived        against Cromwell, A. D. 1652,
Donlncadh O' Caeimh, the first that bore   son of
the family name, this line gave more  5. Cormac Og, son of
kings to all Munster, than that of any  6. Cormac; [From him sprang Tadg,
other of the offspring, of Eber.           ancestor of the MacCarthies of
Aglish, and Domnall, ancestor of
III.                      the MacCarthies of Carrignavar.]
PEDIGREE OF O'DONOGHOO, OTHERWISE          son of
SPELLED, O'DONOHOE.          7. Diarmaid, ancestor of the Mac Car1. Geffry of Glenfiesk, son of           thies of InshiraLhell, son of
2. Tadg, son of                      8. Tadg, ancestor of the Mac Carthies




GENEALOGY.                              669
of Cuairt IDrec, and of Cormac, or   were known as Sliocht Doomnaill
Charles Mac Carthy of Ballea,        of Tubrid: of this branch has
Castlemore and Clonghroe, son of     sprung the CoUtnt O'Mahony of
9. Cormac Ladir Og, son of                Spain, formerly Lieutenant Gene10. Cormac Ladir,                         ral in the army of Spainl, and am.
11. Tadg, from whom sprang the Mac        bassador plenipotentiary  of his
Carthies of Drishane, son of          Catholic Maajesty at the court of
12. Cormac, son of                        Vienna.] son of
13. DIARMAID MOR of Musgraide or 10. Concobar, son of
Mauskery, slain by the O'Mahonies  11. Diarmaid, son of
in A. D. 1367, son of            12. Seaghan, or John, son of
14. Cormac. —Sce No. 8, Pedigree of 13. IIARMAID OG; [.le cmigrated into
Mlac Carthy More.                     Kerry in 1355, where he-was made
Seneschall of Desmnond by Mac
v.                       Carthy Mor, king of that country,
PEDIGREE OF THE COUNTS O'MIAIONY          from whom  he received a terriOF FR:ANCE, from  a copy thereof,    tory sufficient to upho!d that office.
lodged in Bibliotheque Royale of      This dignity continued  in  his
Paris in 1788, and still extant.      family until 1565, when Domnall
1. Barthelemy,  Count  O'Mahony,          Mac  Carthy  Mor, having  cxKnight of the Cross of St. Louis      changed his title ofi' king of the
and lMalta, Colonel Commandant        then extremely narrowed domains3
of the regiment of Berwick in the     of Desmond, for that of Earl of
service of France, born in the        Clancare, Finghin O'Mahony was
County of Kcrry in 1748, and af-      by letters patent, created Sheriff
terwards married to Mlle. de Gouy.    of the County of Kenry, in ex[His descendants still exist in       change for his office of Sencschall.]
]France, and are now represented by   son of
the present Count O'Mahony.] son  14. Diarmaid Rantach. —Se e No. 8,
of                                    Pedigree of O'MSahony Finn.
2. AMichael of Cnocan-na-h-Eglaisi, in    NoTE.-T'lhe editor would wish to
Kerry, son of                    have given the pedicgrees of several
3. Eogan,or Eugene, son of            others of the septs spraunl from Eogan
4. Tadg,or Thadeus, non of            Mor, with those above given, such as
5. Domitius, son of                   MacCarthy Re'agh, O'Moriarty, O'Cal6. Domnnall,or Daniel, son of        Jaghan and others, but he has been unable
7. D.ometrius, son of                 to procure authorities from which to
8. Finghin,or Florence, soin of       transcribe them. In a future. edition,
9. TAD o MEIaoEcrE.  [He had a son  more ample details' may be possibly
named Domnall, who settled at given of the septs, both of tlhis and
Tibraid, or TuI'rid, in the County  other tribes, hereafter to be mentioned.
of Cork, where his descendants
CH APTER II.
THE GENEALOGY OF THE RACE OF CORMAC CAS, THE SECOND
SON OF OLILD OLUM, DOWN HERE.
I.                       without leaving any male issue.
PEDIGREE OF O'BRIEN OF THONIOND HERE.     However,his daughter was married
1. Henry, 7th Earl of Thomond, son of     to the son of Brian, namely, to
2. Brian, son of,                         that Henry with whomu we begin
3. Donncadh; [This Donncadh, called       the pedigree.] son of
in English Donough, had two sons, 4. Concobar; [Tad( of Dromore and
namely, Henry and Brian: of these,    Sir Domnall of  Carricahowlig
Henry was the elder, but he died      were sons of this Concobar.] son of




670                            GENEALOGY.
5. Donncadh; [This Donncadh had for          cadh Carbrench, was tne first per
brothers,  )omnall, Murkertach,        son  that was ever styled  THS
Tadg  an  Chomadh and Tordel-           O'BRIEN; and it was also he that
bach O'Brien.] son of                   bestowed the AMonastery of Donn6.  Concobar; [This Concobar had for        cadh  Carbreach, outside Limebrother MLurcadh, who was the first     rick, to God for his soul's welflre;
Earl of Thomond  and first Baron        and the reason why he was called
of lnchiquin.-From   Donncadh,          Donncadh Carbreach, i. e. Donnor Donoglh, second son of the said      cadh of Carbri, was because he
Murcadhl, Sir Lucius and his broth-     had been fostered in Ui Carbri
er, William  Smnith  O'Brien, are       Aedba.) son of
ninth in descent.] son of          17. Domnall AIor, K. I., A. D. 11037. Tordelbach, son of                       1194; [This Donlmall was the last
8. Tadg, son o[; _                          King of Cashel. i. e. of Mllunster,
9. Tordelbachn,on of                       and of Limerick, From blinl have
10. Brian  catian  an Aenaigh, z. e.         sprung the lMinter Consadil, i.e.
Brian of the Battle of Nenagh   (Of     the fclily qf Consadine and MJ1ac
the posterity of this Brian of the      Gilla-Iasachta, now  called LyBattle of Nenagh is the sept of         saght.] son of
O'Briain Cumarach, i. e. O'Brien  18. Tordelbach, K. M.; son of.
of the Cummeragls in the county  19. Diarmaid, K. M.; ['The elder broof Waterford. —t was this Brian             o        Diarnid was Murkerthat won the Battle of Nenagh           tach MTor, MAonarch of Irel(and A.
against the  Earl of Desmnond,         D. 1094-1119, and from him, acnamely, agoainSt Garret, son  of        cording to one of the Ollamhs of
Maurice, son of Thomas, on which        the Dal-g-Cais  themselves, has
occasion he captured that Earl;         sprung the clan of MacMahon  of
and it was from  this victory that      Thomond. Hereis what ie says:
he was called Brian of the Battle    " Clann Thoirdlhelbalgh, na theib troid,
of Nenarrh.)   son of                  Muirchertach AMor is D)ialrnaid;
of  N e a gh.)   son  of.  Barr    crainn     chlech tach     da    g-olaen     fiodhj
11. Mathlgamain of Maen-magh; (This        Muirchertach saer, a seinser.
Mathgamain, or Mahon, had a son 
Clann don ti is olge aco,
named Concobar, from whom  has         Siol m-Briain i n-diaigll Dhiarmaid;
descended the sept of O'Brien of       Fa clann cath-chalma clechtach,
Carraicg O'g-Coinnell, now  called     Clann Ahathghamhna o Mhuirchertach,"
Castleconnell.)  son of                          In English:
12. lMurkertach, son of              -    Tordelbach's sons, who shunned not war,
13  Tordelbach, (Son of this TWere iiarmaid and Murkertach Mor13. Tordelbach, (Son of this TOrdel-   Tall trees to wllom a forest bowed Ibach was Donncadh, who granted    Murkertach was the elder son.
the lordship of Thomored for three
years to the Poor Friars for the    O'Brien, lord of Diarmaid's line:
purpose of aiding them in building    MacMahon's clan, the brave in battle,
r —r-0  -'""b  ^"^' """"1> Claims noble Murkprtach for sire."
the Monastery of Ennis.  He was
afterwards treacherously murdered The above named Diarmaid had another
in A. D. 1311, by Murcadh Maim-,    son named Concobar na g-Cathrach
chin, son of Mathgamain O'Brien,,. e. of the Fortreeses, who is also
in Glenn Caein.) son of                 Slapar-salach i. e. of the Spattered
14. Tadg Caeluisgi; (This Tadg Ca-           Robe.  He was the eldest son of
eluisgi had a brother named Brian       Diarmaid to whom  he succeeded
Ruadh, from whom sprang the O'-         as King of Munster, in which posiBrian of Ara,) son of                   tion he proved himself a warlike
15. Concobar na Siudaini;  (It was           and ableprince. From him sprango
from  having been killed on the         the line of Tadg Gle O'Briain, chiefSiudain that he has been named          tains of Ui Bloid and princes in
Concobar na Siudaini.) son of           Ormond.]  son of
16. Donncadh Carbreach; (This Donn-  20. Tordelbach O'BRIAIN, R. H.; [He




GENEALOGY.                              671
was the first that bore the sur-      1. TZe sept of MacErefry, mention,
name, Ua Briain, or O'Briain, in      ed above, is not of the Dalcassian
English O'Brien, he being, the O      race. It belongs to the Ui Fid.
or Ua, i. e., the grandson, of Brian,  ghenti of Eugenian  origin.  2.
R. H.] son of                         These Dalcassian O'Connellies must
21. Tadg; [From Donncadh, R. H. an         not be confounded with the O'Conelder brother of this Tadgr, have      galaigh or O'Connellies of Leth
sprung the MacO'Brien of Coon-         Cuinn, who are of a diferent stock.
agh and the, MAacO'Brien of Ahar-     Congalach, son qf Kenneidigh1, left
low.] son of                          no issue.-Ed.) son of
22. BRIAN BoROIHA, R. H.; slain at 24. Lorcan, K. M.  (The following
Clontarf A. D. 1014. [Brian had       are the surnames of the  clans
six sons; namely, Murcadh, Tadg,      descended from Lorcan; to wit:
Donncadh,  Domnall, Concobar,         from  Cosgarach, son of Lorcan,
and Flann. Of these we have not       have sprung the Muinter Senacfound that any left issue but the     hain, or O'SLannagrlans; the Muillfollowing two; namely, Tads, from     ter Cuaimhin or M:LcKnevins; the
whom this branch of Thomond de-       Muinter Ogain or O'Hogans, the
rive3 its oricgin; and Donncadh, R.      Muintar Alathtaigh, or O'Halies;
H., from whom descend the Mac         the  Muinter Uallacllhain  or O'O'Briel of Aharlow already men-        Hoolaghans;  Muinter Maelrua
tioned.] son of                        naidh or O'lMu-ronies; the Muinter
23. Kenneidi(h;  (Kenneidigh   had         Glodhairn, Muinter Angedha and
twelve sons; but th3 posterityoof no  Muinter Mami.
more than four of thes33 has surviv-     It is also from this Lorcan that
ed; namely, Brian, Doanrcuan, Ech-     the race of Brian Finn in Dubh-thir
tigherna nd1 Mathgamhain or Ma-       (Duffeer) of Leinster are descelnded.
hon., From Brian descend the Sil        NOTE. —The word " Maeuinter,"
Bhriain (S'zeel Vreein) or O'Briens.  signifies household family, people,
Donncuan had six sons; to wit, two    and  sometimes  posterity,  thus
named Kenneidigh, anld Itiagan,       ".4 2inter Ogain'" mexns the posLonnargan, Kelichar, and Cona-       terity of Ogan, and signSfies the
lach; from  one of those named        samne thing as VU h- Ogain.) son of
Kenneidigsrheas descended the sept 25. Lactna, son of
O'Conaingi, in Englis't,.Gunning;  26. Core, son of
from  the other Kenneidigh has  27. Anluan, son of
descended that of O'Kenneidigh,  28. Mathg(amain, or Me7zon, son of
in English O'Kennedy; from Ria-  29. Tordelbach; (This Tordllbach had
gan have sprung the O'Riagrains       a son ntamed Algenan, from whom
or O'Regans of Munster; from         sprarn the sept of O'Meadhra, in
Lonnargan, the O'Lonnerg'ans; and      Enzlish O'Mara.) son of
from Kelichar, the O'Kelehers.-  30. Catlal. (This Cathal had a brother
From  Mathgamain or Mahon, K.         named Congal, from  whom desM. s)n of Kenneidigh, have de-        cended O'Neill —that is, tie.Munscended the following septs; name-    ster sept of that denomination, but
ly, O'Beolain, O'Sbellain, O'h-Ann-   nol' the great O'Neill of Uister-and
rachain, MacInneirigh, O'Conga-        O'n;-Eoghan:   They  are  both
laigh and O'Tuama, in English, O'     sprung from Niall, the ancestor of
Bolan, O' Spillane, O' S/eehan, O'-   the race of Macnnrachlltaih, in
Hanrahan, MacEneiry,' O'Con-         Enolishl M3ecEarighLt.) sonof
nelly2 of North Menster, and 0'-  31. Aedh Caemh, K. M.; (It was this
Toomy. From  Echtigherna (Ag-         Aedh Caemh, that seized upon
heerna). son of Kenneidigh, the       Cashel in spite of the race of Eosept of Magrath or MacG(rath,         gan Mor. He reigned from A. D.
Brehons of Thorond; and that of       571 to A. D. 601.) son of
O'Ahern or O'Eearn,  sprang.  32. Conall, son of




672                             GENEAL(OGY.
33. Eocaidh f3a!-dcerg; [Tlis Eocaidh        Acnurus Ken!n-atinn  sranga    the
Bal-delrg  hal  a brother namel          Muinter Ifernain and  the Muinter
Ferga!, from  whom  sprang the           Nechtain, in   Englis/i O'.VaughMuilter Ikedhla, i. e., tlhe clan of     tan, but commonly called LNorto:z,
O'IT'ckey-the pIhs'can  Sept of'         and  the  Mtintirt   Artatgain, in
the Dal g-Cal's.  lie had another        Enlish O'iIarlag'an; from Aedh,
brother named Aengrus, from whlom        son of Cas, spranl  th.3 Miatinter
are descended the clans of tho fol-      Aedha, in  Enlrlisths.O'IIay  or
lowing surianes,lnamely,the Muin-        O'Hea  andcl  Hayes, that is, the
ber   Loinsghl'T'uath-Mumhan,           Thomond sept so callel, for there
in En-zl.S'L qO'Lljck, oX Tiomond;    are several fatelies of thie nlame
the Muhiter Uithlnldhe or Uaith-         who belo.,g to d:'stinct tribes; from
nin, sometimes trans atel1 by Geenz,    Delbaeth spranl  MacCochlain, in
and sometimes by Hnme,;a and Han-        English MaecCou-rhlaln, and  the
non;  the  Mlainter Brenain, in          other septs of the tribe of the DelbEnglisht O'Brenan; the MNuinter         na —a tribe w.tic hlLa1 its name from
Seleitnin, pro lo:zc id S'taglitnau-     this Delbaeth.; fromn Lugaildh son of
i n n   rish,  but translatel1 into      Cas spran'g the  [tiitetr )oDobharEnglish. by Sexton; the Muinter          cllon, in Enzlistl, O,  Dvoran; the
Riada, in' Eniglis'.t O'Rezdy; the      Mulilter Kearnai1,h,   in English
Muinter Cormlacain, or Co'ma.ic, in      O'Kearney; th  MLuialter Conraei,
Enoglish,O'Cnormacan and MicCor-         i:z Engli'st Il ItcCo.roy, but somemick; the Mainter Brechra; the           times b&barborizel to King'; the AluMuinter Samradhl.   Tle moderln         inter Aenrusa, imn EavZl/isli O'Hennames of tie two clans last named        easy; the Mluinter Dublhthigh, in
are unknlout to the Editor.] son of      Engli',s O'Du.iir.  Of thle Dal g34. Carthall Finnt, son of                    Cais, or tribe d s eeade'l from  this
33. Blod. (Tlhis BRod h1a  a brother          Cas, amre also supranr MacDemi,
named   Caisia  (Cas'teen)  from         MacAsiolha, Mc an Fhiairclhini,
whoml sprang the Sil Aedha (ShSle        in Engl/s'z M11tcAaerny;  O'lh-AinnAyeh), that is, the clan of Mac-         li, inEn lis.l 0'H.l, andlO'Heafy
Conmara, in EngL's't M3acmnamara,        of tle county of LUmerick. — Of
anl from  this clan branched the         the Daleassia3z spts, t.'ose of ilac
sept of MAa[cFlanehladlam, in Eng-       Bruaidin or l     Ml tBruod:n, and Ml1ac
lish l3iaSClanhty and Claaney, wh.o      Cur tain held higlt rian- ctas hereditary
were the Bre'ton sept of Tiomondl.       bards anld hI storians of th.e tribe.
This Blod had also a son called          From  Ca3 wmre a.tso descended the
Brenann Ban, fr:)m whom descend-         clans  of  O'Slatte y, O'Nanan,
cd the M[uinter UJrthali, in Englisd     O'Liddy and  O'Ctasey, —that is,
O' llrley;them Mainter Maeldolnna,       OCathasaig,'t of t.!le'o'ilti 11nabiin Englis7t 0'.11Oilouny; the Mu-        nec.a, in the soUt' t of( tte aoutnty of
inter Grada, inl Englis" O'Graly;       Limrick, for thtlere  w:.s another
and the Muintcr Caisin, in Eng-          O'Cathasag;it or O'Casey, whlo was
lishl O'Cas.:in,) son of                 of the line of Kianl, son of Olild
36. Cas. from  whom  the Dal g-Cais           Olum, and w.tose territory lay in
(Daulgas't) are  named;  [This          the Kiannabhta Breagha in East
Cas (Cass) had twelve sons, name-       Meath.] son of
lg, Blod, Caisin, Lugaidh, Sedna,  37. Conall Ech-luath, K. M. (" EchAengus Kenn-Athrach, Cormac,             luath," pronounced Agh-looah, sigCarthann,   Kenneich,  Aengus            nifies of the Fleet Steels.  lie was
Kenn-atinn. Aedh, Losgenn and            Kingr  f MIester, A.D. 366.) son of
Delbaeth.  From Blol sprang the  38. Lugaidh Menn, K. M[.  (It was
stock of this branch; from Aenlgus       this Lugaidh Menn that carried off
Kenn-Athraeh  sprang O'Dea of            hostages from all parts of Ireland,
Kinel Fermaic, the Kinel m-Baei          so that they were forcel to promise
and the Kinel g-Cuallachta; from        to pay him tribute.) son of




GENEALOGY.:6a8'19. Acngus Tir ch, IC. M., son of     Dublh, i. c. the Black Clhlel. Concobar
40. Fer-Corb, son of                   Cuanach, Murkertachl, Diarmaid and
41. Mogh-Corb, K. M., son of           Donncadih.  Such was the progeny of
42. (ConI.Ac Ca.s K. M., son of        Mathgamain of Maen-magh, sdn of lMur43. Olild O(un.. M.-See No. 39, kertach, son of Tordelbach, son of Tadg
pledigro7e of AilcCca thy Mlore.   Cacl-uisgi, for so far.
NOTE. - Donnc adih and Concobar,    Concobar, son of Mathgamaiin Machnmarked Nos. 5 anlJ 6 in this pedigree  margh, from  whom  have sprung the
of O'Brien, were the cot emporaries of O'Briens of  Carraig-O-Coinnell and
Domnall, I st E'arl of Clancare, with  Pobal Briain, (now called Castleconnell
whom the pedigree of MacCarthy More  and Pobblebrien in the county cf Limcommences. Th'le prsent one has then  erick), was for eight years The O'Brien
been begun four or five generations  of Thonollnd.  P'obal Briain was porlater than that of I[acCarthy, so that tioned among the eleven sons of Brian
the number 43 of the Dalcassian line, after the following manner.'      *  *
corresponds close y with the number 39  But, to return to those eleven sons of
of the Eafenaclil.-'The numbers prc-  Donncadhl, son of Brian, to whom we
fixed to the se\eral names are given  have broulght down this line, they all
merely to facilitate reference, and by no  dicld without leavingD any posterity but
means intmded( to establish any parallel-  females, with the exception of his lourth
ism in time, which coun'  not be done  son, namely, Mathgamain, son of Donnafter thiat mllanlr, t'   several pedigrecs  cadh,,son of Brian Dubh.  These are
comminence many generations laterl than  the chtlidren of the said AMathgamain;
others.-ED.                            namely, Domnall, Concobar MaLal, Brian
II.                  Dubhll, Tadg, Diarmaid and MathgarIIE GENEALOGY OF O'BRIEN OF CASTLE- main.
CON:r.I., IERE.'lThese are the children of Domnall,
{Iat(hgarnain, or MA-thon, of Maen-  son of I)onncadh, namely, I)onneadh
marogh, son of Mnurlertach!, son of Tor-  and IMurkertach.  Concobar Mael,son
delbach, son of'l'adt  (YIeiour) Ca1e- of Donncadh, had one son, namely, Toruisgi, son of Concobar la Siudani, two  delbach.  Brian Dubh, son of Donasonls had lie, anle'y, Brian of the Bat-  cadh, had one son, namely, Donneadh.
tle of Nenagh,l   fi oli whom descends the  Tadi, son of Donncadll, son of MathgaO'Brien of Thomeownd; and Concobar, main, had a numerous offspring, nameor Connor, from wioln'has sprunl the  ly, Concobar Mael, who went to Spain;
O'Brien of CaLnraiw-O-Coinnell, called  Donmall, Diarmaid, Tordelbach and
CGstleconnell in El rl's'.  The year of Murcadh.
our Lord when the said Conicobar came  TIE PEDIGREE OF TIiE ABOVE-NAEI)D
to  settle at Caz;raig-O-Coinnell was    DONNCADH, SON OF BRIAN DUBII OF
1449.                                    CARRAIG-O-COINNELL, HERE.
lwo sons hadtllis Concobar, namely,  1. Donncadh, Brian, Miurcadh, and
Diarmaid anld BriaL Dabh. Diarmaid          Domnall, sons of
died without issue.                    2. Domnall, son of
Brian Dubh had one son, namely, 3. )onncadh, son of
Donneadh MacBritin Du'bibh.            4. Domnall, son of
This Donncadh had eleven sons, but  5. I)onncadh, son of
they all died withoiut issue, with the  6. Brian Dubl, son of
exception of Mahon or Mathgamain  7. Donncadh, son of
MacDonncadha.                          8. Matlhgamain, son of'IThe children of MahouI n were Donn-  10. Donncadh, son of
cadh and Murkertach.                   11. Brian Dubh, son of
Murkerttch had but one son, namely, 12. CONCOsAn, who was The O'Brian
Tadsi; but DonneLadi1 had a numerous       of Thomond for eight )ears, from
offspring, naamliy, Brian Dubh, Domnall,   A. D. 1406 tb A. 1D. 1 14, when
~*  *  *  *  *  Mathat~lgamain, Tordel-    he resigned the chieftaincy to his
bach, Kenncidigh, called'the Gilla       nephew, Tadg, son of Brian, and
43




674                         GENEALOGY.
who settled at Carraig-O-Connell     derived the surname Mac Conma
in A D. 1449,2 son of                ra or Macnamara, son of
13. MATHGAMAIN of Maen-magh, &c.-   18. Domnall, son of
See No. 11, Pedigree of O'Brien  19. Menma, who fought at Clontarf,
of Thomond.                          A. D. 1014, son of
20. Aedh. son of
NOTE 1. —Here follows a list enume-  21. Enda, son of
rating of the several portions of those  22. Essida, son of
eleven sons, with their several sub-de-  23. Sida a Eich Buidhe, i. e. of th
nominations, which the editor omits,     Yellow Steed, son of
both. on account of the prolixity of the  24. Maelcluthi, son of
list itself, and because he has by him at  25. Coilean, from  whom  the tribe
present no means of discovering their    name, Clann Coilein, is derived
present names and pointing their sev-    son of
eral situations. —ED.                26. Artgal, son of
NOTE 2.-Dr. O'Brian in his Law   27. Dongal, son of
of Tanistry, published in Vallancey's  28. Eogan, son of
Collectanea, thinks that it was Brian,  29. Acluan, son of
the son of Concobar, that settled in  30. Fergal, son of
Castleconnell in this year.-ED.      31. Carthenn, son of
32. CAIsIN, from whom is derived
ADDENDA.                    the tribq-name, Ui Caisin, (Ui
The following Dalcassian pedigrees     Casheen,) son of
are taken from those arranged by Dr.  33. Cas, from  whom  the Dal g-Cais
O'Donovan, and published with the        are called.-See No. 36, Pedigree
Battle of Magh Rath.                     of O'Brien of Thomond.
I.                                  II.
rTB  PEDIGREE OF MACNAMARA, CHIEF    THE PEDIGREE OF O'DEA OF KINEL
UI CAISIN, OR CLANN COILEIN.                  FERMAIC.
1. Cumedha, hanged in A. D. 1587,  1. John, son of
son of                          2. Lochlainn, son of
2. John; [From  Donncadh, brother  3. Concobar, who slew De Clare i;
of this John, descended John Mac-    A. D. 1318, son of
namara Finn, alive in A. D. 1714.  4. Domnall, son of
He was son of Francis, son of  5. Donncadh, son of
John, son of John, son of Tadg,  6. Ruaidri, son of
son of the said Donncadh.] son of  7. Gilla-Padraig, son of
*3. Tadg, who died in A. D. 1571, son of  8. Flathbertach, son of
4. Cumedha, son of                   9. Lochlainn, son of
5. Cumara, son'of                    10. Flathbertach, son of
6. Seaghan, or John, son of         11. Muredach, son of
7. Mac-con, son of                  12. Gilla-Goiri, son of
8. Sida Cam, son of                 13. Aicher'O'Deghadh, the first that
9. Mac-con, son of                       bore the family name, which is
10. Cumedha, son of                      rendered into English by O'Dea
11. Mac-con, son of                      and Dee, son of
12. Lochlainn, son of               14. Donncadh, son of
13. Cumedha Mor, son of              15. DEGATDH, from whom the surname
14. Niall, son of                        is derived, son of
15. Cumara, son of           *       16. Domnall, son of
16. Domnall Mac Conmara; [The first  17. Donn, son of
that bore the family name, which  18. Dubsalach, son of
has been rendered into English by  19. Flanncadh, son of
Mlacnamara.] son of             20. Flann Scribail, son of
17 CUMARA, from  whom  has been  21. Ferkingelt, son of




GENEALOGY.                            675
2, Fermac, from whom is derived the  5. Tadg Mor, son of
tribe-name, Kinel Fermaic, son of  6. Donncadh na Glaki, son of
23 Cu-allta, son of                  7. Ruaidri Buidhe. son of
24. Slebin, son of                   8. Diarmaid, son of
25..Dima, son of                     9. Donncadh Carrach, son of
26. Senach, son of                   10. Murcadh na n-lngnadh, i. e. of
27. Rethi, son of                        the Wonders; [This Murcadh was
28. AENGUS KENN-ATHRACH, son of          carried off from  Corca Baskin,
29. Cas, &c. —See No. 36, Pedigree of    and never afterwards heard of.
O'Brien of Thomond.                 He left after him but one son,
namely, Donncadh Carrach, anIII.                     cestor of the Mac Mahons.] son of
THE PEDIGREE OF O'QUIN OF CLANN   11. Murcadh  Mac  Mathghamhna;
IFERNAIN.                   pronounced Mac Mahowna by the
1. Concobar, son of                      Irish, but called Mac Mahon in
2. Domnall, son of                      the tongue of the stranger, son of
3. Domnall, son of                   12. MATHGAMAIN O'BRIAIN, in Eng4. Thomas, son of                        lish, Mahon O'Brien, son of
5. Domnall, son of                   13. Murkertach Mor O'Briain, King
6. Donncadh, son of                      of Munster and Monarch of Ire7. Gilla-Senain, son of                 land, A. D. 1094-1119, from
8. Donncadh, son of                      whose younger brother Diarmaid
9. Murcadh, son of                       sprang the O'Briens, Kings of
10. Core, the tutor of Murkertach,       Thomond, son of
prince of Thomond, A. D. 1142,  14. Tordelbach O'Briain, monarch of
son of                              Ireland, A. D. 1072-1086.-See
11. Feidlecar O'Cuinn, first of the      No. 20, Pedigree of O'Brien of
name, sofnof                         Thomond.
12. Niall, slain at Clontarf, A. D.    NOTE.-The names in the foregoing
1014, son of                    pedigree of the sept of Mac Mahon, are,
13. CONN, from whom is derived the  with the exception of No. 13, giverl
surname, O'Cuinn, in English,  on the authority of Dermod O'ConO'Quinn, son of                 nor's translation of Keating.  No. 13
14. Donncadh, son of                has been inserted on the authority of
15. Sida, son of                     the verses heretofore quoted in the ped-.
16. Conligan, son of                igree of O'Brien, and of the uncon17. Faelcadh, son of                 tested traditions of the Dalcassian
18. Ifernan, from whom the tribe-name  tribe.-See  Dr. O'Brien's Laws of
of Clann Ifernain, son of        Tanistry, Vol. 1 of Vallancey's Collec19. Core, son of                    tanea, and  O'Halloran's history of
20. Abartach, son of                 Ireland.
21. Uilin or Cuilin, son of                          v.
22. Gemdelach, son of                PEDIGREE OF MACNAMAR4,'OF ROS ROE.
23. Colman, son of                     From  Dermod O'CcOr's transla24. Conall, son of                     tion of Keating.
25. AENGU8 KENN-ATINN, son of       1. Domnall, Donncadh, anid Tadg,
26. Cas, &c.-See No. 36, Pedigree of     whom that translator calls Daniel,
O'Brien of Thomond.                 Donough, and Teigue, sons of
2. Sida (Sheeda) son of
Iv.                  3. Finghin (Finneen,) called Florence,
PEDIGREE OF MAC MAHON, CHIEF OF         son of
CORCA BASKIN, IN THCMOND.       4. Finghin, son of
1. Tadg, son of-                     5. Lochlainn, son of
2. Murcadh, son of                   6. Finghin, son of
B. Tordelbach, son of                7. Sida Cam, &c.-See No. 8, Pedigree
4..Tadg Og, son of                      of Macnamara, already given.




676                          GENEALOGY.
CHAPTER III.
THE GENEALOGY  OF THE POSTERITY OF KIAN, THIRD SON  OF
OLILD  OLUM, DOWN  HERE.
Two sons, indeed, had Tadg, son of Kian (Tigue, son of Keean), namely,
Connla and Cormac Galeng.  Connla, again, had two sons, namely, lincadh,
from whom has sprung O'(Carroll of Eli O'Carroll, and Finnacta, firom whom
descends O'MWagher.  From Cormac Galeng, brother of Connla, came O'Hara
and O'Gara.
NoTE. —The sept of O'Carroll,(in Gaelic, O'Cerbhaill, pronounced O' Carrcoil
and O'Carwill,) lord of Eli, has been confounded with that of O'Carroll, lord of
Oirghialla, which, though of the same name, was of a totally different stock. The
latter sept sank into obscurity soon after the English invasion, and gave way as
chiefs of the Oirghialla, to the kindred clans of Maguire and Mac Mahon. The
O'Carrolls of Eli maintained their position as chieftains down to a mucll more re.
cent period, as did also the clan of O'Meachair (called in English O'Meagher and
Maher), lords of the Ui Cairin, whose tribe-lands are now known as lkerlin, in
North Tipperary. The other clans of the Kiannachta, or descendants of' Kian, are
those of O'Kellaigh and O'Cathasaigh, lords of the Kiannachta of Brea(rh, in
East Meath, or, as they are called by those that speak the foreign idiom, the
O'Kellies and O'Casies. These clans must be distinguished from the O'Kellies
of Ui Mani, and the Dalcassian O'Casies of Coillti Mabinecha, in the barony of
Coshlea and county of Limerick. Of the race of Kian are also the O'Connors
of Keenaught in Ulster.-ElD.
R.               the wife of Mac Ui!liam Uachtar,
PEDIGREE OF O'CARROLL OF ELI, HERE.       namely, with Ulic of the I-leads,
whose son was afterwards created
1. Seaghan, son of                        the first Earl of Clanrickard,which
2. Maelruanaidh; (This Maclruanaidh       Earl was called Rickard Sagshad a brother named Tadg, son         anach.) son of
of Tadg, who dwelt at Baile-an-  8. Maelruanaidh; (This Maelruanaidh
Cnocain.) son of                     had a brother named Donncadh,
3. Tadg; (The brothers of this Tadgr     from whom desc.endthe fmliliesof
were Sir Maelruanaidh, who was       Magh Dremni and Buaile-Brcc.)
The O'Carroll of Uaithni, and        son of
Donncadh.) son of                9. Seaghan;  (This Seaghan had for
4. Uilliam Odhar; (This Uilliam Od-       brQthers, Uilliam, firom  whom
lhar had a brother named Tadg        sprang the family of Cuinni-anCaech, who was The O'Carroll         Cliabhain; Tadg, from. whom are
(1532-1554) and also a lord baron,   descended the families of Calog,
entitled the Baron of Baile-an-       Cltlain O'g-Cionach and Uaithni
bhrodta, and he was the senior       Mor an Belaigh;  Maelruanaidh
of Uilliam Odhar, who succeeded      Og na Tualach; and Ruaidri Carhim as The O'Carroll, until he was   rach, from whom has sprung the
slain in A. D. 1581.) son of         family of Clnain Echail.)  son of
5. Fer-gan-Ainm; The brother of this  10. Maelruanaidh na Fesoigi; (This
Fer-gan-Ainm was Maelruanaidh        Maelruanaidh had a brother namOg, who was the eldest son of        ed Donncadh, from whom sprang
6. Maelruanaidh, son of                   the O'Carrolls of Birra, or Biri.)
7. Seaghan, or John;  (This John          son of
was married to the daughter of 11. Tadg of Gaibhli Maighi Gloisi;
O'Kennedy Finn, so that his son      (This l'adg had for brothers RuaiMaelruanaidh had the same mother     dri Cael, from  whom descended
with Grant, or Grace, who was        the family of Pobal-an-Aenaigh,




GENEALOGY.                              677
who are called Sliocht iRuaidri  O'Carrolls ever did. Murcadh O'Car.
Chaeil,,. e.;/:e pcsterity of Ruaidri  roll was lord of Oirghialla immediately
tlhe Slender, and Donucadlh, firom   previous to the arrival of Henry II.;
whom descended the family of Kill  for we find him leading his tribe in the
Cuimrith.) sonl of                army of King Ruadri O'Connor at
12. Tadg of Callain; (Brother to the  the siege of Dublin. The slaying of
Tadcg of Callain was Seaghan or  Ruadri O'Carroll is recorded in our
John; from  whom  sprang  the  annals, where he is styled Lord of Eli,
Clan Mac Seaghain O'Carroll,  as having happened in A. D. 1174,
who have beenl recently known as  three years atter the departure of
the family of Baile Nuadh (Ballyi-  Henry.  So that Domnall O'Carroll
ioe); and this John was The O'-  had but little time to extend his sway
Cariroll until he was slain by the  over the clans of Colla in Oirghllial!a and
sons of Mathgamain, or Mahon  the clans Kian in Eli during the inO'B ecain, at Lis-buaili-cael. This  tervening period. It being now noto-:ihappened in A. D. 1337.) son of   rious that the territories as well as the
13. Ri;aidri, son of                   origin of north-eastern and the cen1I.  aelalruailaidh; (Brother of this  tral O'Carrolls lay widely apart, it
MRaelruanai.dlh was Domnall, from   were idle to pursue this subject furwhom sprang the Sliocht Dom-  ther.-ED.] son of
naill Baile-Edain, i. e. the pos-  15. Tadg, son of
terity of Domnall of Bail&e-Edain;  16. Finn; [This Finn had a brothe.
and it was he that immediately         named  Donncadh, from  whom
before the conquest was The O'-        came the Sliocht Priora Daighri
Carroll both of Eli and of Oirg-      and the Sliocht Breuchner, who
hialla, and it was he that held Cal-   are called Mic Murcadha, i. e. ths
lan and most of the country around     sons of Murcadh.
it, according to what some of       No'E. —These races are unknown
the old Anglo-Norman clans set  to the editor. The latter are probably
down in  their own chronicles;  some subsept of the O'Carrolls, who
and Giraldus Cambrensis names  were known amongst their own tribe
this Domnall as one of the seven  as the Mac Murroughs,or Murphies.]
most honored and renowned chief-       son of
tains that were in Ireland upon   17. Guill-bhelach, otherwise Goll an
the arrival of Henry the Second        Bhelaigh, slain in A. D. 1205, son
therein. These are the names of        of
the said seven, to wit, Diarmaid  18. Donncadh; [O'Connor, the transMac  Carthy, prince of Cork;          lator of Keating, has appropriDomnall O'Brian, prince of Lime-      ated to this chief the deeds of
rick; Maelsechlainn  O'Faelain,       another Donncadh O'Carroll, or as
prince of the Decies, or Desi, and    he has been heretofore called by
of Waterford; O'Neill in Ulster;      the present editor, O'Kerbaill, the
Domnlall O'Carroll of Eli and         illustrious founder of Mellifont
Oirghialla, and Ruaidri Mor O'-       and chief Oirghialla, who ruled
Connor, who was monarch over          his tribe from A. D. 1133 to A. D.
theml all.                            1168, during which time the death
NOTE.M-Our author has been en-           of a son of Finn, lord of Eli, is
tirely led away by Cambrensis in this      entered, as before stated, under the
statement, in as far as it has caused      year 1163.-ED.] son of
him to confound the chiefs of the to.  19. h{Maclruanaidh, son of
tally distinct tribes, the Eli and the  20. Finn, son of
Oirghialla, whose territories lay widely  21. D)onnall.  [Brother to this Dom.
apart, and which no one chief could        nail was Righ-bardan, of whose
then rule, unless he had made himself      posterity is the race settled at
master of the powerful intervening         Cuil na bh-Fearnog, Craeibhe,
tribes, which no chieftains of either      Cull na g-Crebhar, Ros Cuana




678                          GENEALOGY.
Bail6-na-cloich6 and Sen Rath,                ADDENDA.
and of that race there now snr-                  I.
vives but a few, besides those who   PEDIGREE OF SIR DANIEL O'CARROLL,
nave sprung from  Tadg, son of    in the order given by Dermod O'ConDonncadlih  ann.                   nor, in his " Keatino."
NOTE. —The MS. from which this  1. Daniel and John, sons of
is taken ends here; what follows is  2. Sir Daniel, knight of St. Jago, in
from  Dernod. O'Connor's "English         Spain, son of
Keating."-ED.] son of                3. John, son of
22. Ritghbardan, slain in A. D. 1058,   4. Daniel, son of
son of                           5. Donough, son of
23. Cucoirni O'Carroll, or O'Kerbaill,  6.JKian, son of
son of                           7. Tadg, son of
24. Macnach, son of                  8. Donough, son of
25. KERBALL; [This name is mostly  9. Maelruanaidh, &c. —See No. 8, Pedwritten Cerbhall or Cearbhall, the   igree of O'Carroll of Eli.
letter C being sounded hard.
From  this Kerball, who fought                   II.
at Clontarf in A. D. 1014, the  TIEm  PEDIGREE  of O'GARA, taken
surname O'Cearbhail, in English    from the Epistle Dedicatory, whereO'Carroll, is derived.] son of    in Brother MICHAEL O'CLERY in26. Aedh, son of                       scribes the Annals of the Four Mas27. Dublaer, son of                    ters to FERGAL O'GARA, chief of
28. Cnaimhin, son of                   that sept, A. D. 1634.
29. Maenach, son of                    Havinr referred  to  the munifl30. Sechnasach, son of               cence of O'Gara, who had enabled him
31. Angidh, son of                   and his collaborators to collect mate32. Ultan, son of                    rials for their great work, and  to
33. Maelruanaidh, son of             bring it to a close, that last of Ire34. Altin, son of                    land's Chief-Historians says:-" For
35. Lonann, son of                   every good that will result from this
36. Indach, son of                   book, in giving light to all in general,
37. Fiach, son of                   it is to you that thanks should be
38. Tal, soil of                     given, and there should exist no won39. Meachar, son of                  der or surprise, jealousy or envy at any
40. Amruidh, son of                  good that you do, for you are of the
41. Druidh, son of                   race of Eber, son of AMiledh, from
42. Eli Ri(h-derg, from  whom  the  whom descended thirty of the kings of
tribe-name Eli is derived, son of   Ireland, and sixty-one saints; and to
44. Ere, son of                      Tadg,, son of Kian, son of Olild Olum,
45. Sabarnach, son of                from whom eighteen of these saints are
46. Imgon, frem whose brother Tadg  sprung, you can be traced generation
sprang thesept of O'Meagher, son  by generation.  The descendants of
of                              Tadg  branched  out and inhabited
48. Connla, son of                   various  parts throuThllout Ireland,
49. Tadg. [This Tadg had another  namely, the race of Cermnac Galeng
soin named Cornac Galeng, from  in Luigllni Connacht, from  whom
whom sprang the O'laras and  ye, the Muinter Gadhra (Gara), the
O'Garas, and  also one of the  two Ui h-Eadhra in Connaught, and
septs named O'Flannagan, O'Dul- O'h-Eadhrra (O'Ihara) of the Ruta,
chonta, in English Deluhunt'y, the  O'Carroll of Eli, O'Mecllair in Ui CaiO'0Corcorans of this tribe, and the  rin, trod the Kianachta of Glen-GeimO'Casies of Brehgh.] son of     hin. As a proof of your comiDng from
50. KIAN, the fou1nder of all the tribes this noble blood we have mentioned,
of the Kiannachta, son of       here is your pedigree, 0 Fergal O'
61. Olild Olum, K. M. —See No. 39, Gadhra, thou son of
Pedigree of MIac Cartthy More.




GENEALOGY.                              679
2. Tadg, son of                       26. Finnbarr, son of
3. Olild, son of                      27. Brenann, son of
4. Diarmaid, son of                   28. Nadfraech, son of.5. Eogan, son of                     29. Fiden, son of
6. Diarmaid, son of                   30. Fidchuir, son of
7. Eogan, son of                      31. Art Corb, son of
8. Tomaltach Og, son of               32. Niadh Corb, son of
9. Tomaltach, son of                  33. Lui, from whom the Luighni are
10. Diarmaid, son of                      named, son of
11. Raighni, son of                   34. Tadg, &c.-See No. 49, Pedigree
12. Congalach, son of                     of O'Carroll of Eli.
13. Donnslebi, son of
14. Ruaidri, son of                     NOTE. —Some generations between
15. Donnslebi, son of                 Lui and Cormac Galeng, son of Tadg,
16. Concobar, son of                  have been omitted or skipped over in
17. Ruarc, son of                     this pedigree. It would appear also
18. GADHRA, from whom the Muintei  that some extra names have been inGadhra (the O'Garas) are sur-  troduced by Dermod O'Connor, or some
named, son of                    one else, into the pedigree of O'Carroll,
19. Glethnechan, son of               in order to make out Donncadh, King
20. Saergus, son of                   Oirghialla, one of the ancestors of the
21. Bec, son of                       chiefs of Eli. O'Halloran classes the
22. Flaithius, son of                 septs of MacKeogh, O'Riardon, and
23. Taichleach, son of                O'Corcoran, as of the race of Kian.24. Kennfaeladh, son of               ED.
25. Diarmaid, son of
CHAPTER IV.
THE  GENEALOGY  OF THE POSTERITY  OF IR, SON  OF  MILEDH
OF ESBAIN, DOWN  HERE.
THOSE of the descendants of Ir that left offipring after them were chiefly two,
namely, Conall Kemrnach and Fergus Mac Roigh.
From  Conall Kearnach came Mac Aengusa, anglicised Magennis, and
O'Morda, An,licise: l O'More andl O'iMore, with their correlatives.
From  Fergus sprang the O'Concobhair Kiarraidhe, anglicised O'Connor
Kerry, the O'Concobbair Corcamruadh, anglicised O'Connor Corcomrce, and
O'Fergail, ang'licsed O'iFerrall and O'Farrell, with their correlatives.
I.                  11. Echmiledh, son of
PEDIGREE  OF MAGENNIS, OF UI. EA- 12. Ruaidri, son of
TIIACII ULADH, HERE.         13. Gilla-Coluim, son of
1. Art Ruadh, son of                 14. Dubinnsi, son of
2. Aedh, son of                      15. Aedh Remhbar, son of
3. Domnall Og, son of                16. Flathbertach, son of
4. Domnall Mor, son of                17. Echmiledh, son of
5. Aedh, son of                      18. Aengus Og Magennis, in Irish,
6. Art, son of                            MacAengusa, Thefirst of this sur7. Aedh; [Thie MS. copies begin the       name, son of
series with Donncadh, brother of  19. AENGUS MOR, from whom  is the
this Aedh. The above seven names     name Magennis derived, son of
arefound in Dermod O'Connor's  20. Echmiledll, son of
translation.-ED.] son of         21. Aedh, son of
8. Art na Madhmann, son of           22. Aengus, son of
9. Murkertach, son of                23. Adita, son of
10. Riagan, son of                   24. Laignenn, son of




680                           GENEALOGY.
25. Blathmac, son of                   45. Aeng'us Galbnen, K. U., son of
26. Dominall, son of                   46. Fcrgus Foghlais, or (Galini, son of
27. Concobar. son of                   47. Tibradi Tirech, K. U., A. D. 181,
28. Bresal BTI-derg, son of                 son of
29. FCrgus,3, son of                   48. BrCsal Brec, son of
30. Acdan, son of                      49. Ferb, son of
31. Mong'u3an, son of                  50. Mal, K. U. fur thirty-five years, and
32. Sara'n; [Of the posterity of this      mon1arch of. I     fr;ai br four, son of
is M:ac Cartan.                   51. Rochraidc, son of
NOTE.-According to Dr. O'Dono-  52. Cathbadhl, S:)l of
van, tlh 3Mac Cartans, of Kinel Fagh-  53. Giallcadh, soil of
artai(rh, now Kinelarty, are descendced   54. Dunlcadh, son of
from  Caelbadh, brother of Eocaidli  55. Finncadh, son of
Coba, mzntioned further on.  Tlihe s-  56. MAuredach, son of
ries is evidently defective in this p'ace,  57. Fiacaidh Finnalnnais, son of
for either this is not the Saran, Kinor  58. Irial G lunmai, K. U.; [The brother
of Uladh, an:  ancestor of M'aeninis,       of this Irial wvas L:ei gisecIh Kennwho was cotemporary with  St. Pa-           mor, from  1wh1)li the O'Mioores
trick, or some of the links connecting      of Leix 1av1e spra1:.] son of
him with Cronn Badraei have been lelt  59. Cona'll Kearnahl, Knighlt of the
out by Keatinig or his transcribers.        Red Branchl, son of
The namle Mongan occurs in the pedi-  60. Amirghin, soni of
gre3 of Co:ng)al Claen, King of Uladh,  61. Cas, son of
as that of one of the brothers of his  62. Fiiacaidh or Factta, son of
fatherl, Sg(annlan of the Broad Shield.  63. Capi, son of
The series runs thus: 1, CongTal, slain  64. Ginga.  [Rosa Ruadh, the father
at Magh Rath, A. D. 637; 2, Sgann-          of Fergus Mac Roilgh, was the
lan, brother of Meongan-the latter          brother of ilhis Ging'a.] son of
was slain 626; 3, Fiachna Lurgan, or  65. Rudraide Mor, Monarch of IreFiachna Finn; 4, Baedan; 5, Eo-            land, from  whom the Clanna Rudcaidh, who died in 553; 6, Conn!la;         raide have thoeilr name, soi of
7, Mani; 8, Fothadh; 9, Conllla,  66. Sitlirighe, son of
cotemporary with St. Patrick; 10,  67. Dubh, son of
Caelbadh; 11, Cronn Bachaei.  The  68. Fomhlar, son of
editor's MISS. make Saran son of Cael-  69. Argedmar, Monarch of Ireland,
badh; O'Connor's translation  gives         son of
the names3 marked 33, 34, 35.] soa of  70. Siorlanmh, Monarch  of Ireland,
33. Mani, son of                            son of
34. Fothadh, son of                    71. Finn, Monarch of Ireland, son of
35. Conall, son of                     72. Bratha, soil of
36. Caelbadh, kin(g of Ulidia for fif-  73. Labraidhi, son of
te3n years, antd monarch of Ire-  74. Carbri, son of
land for one, slain A. D. 358, son of  75. OLLAMlI FODLA, Monarch of Ire.
37. Cronn Badraei, king of all Uladh,      land. son of
son of                            76. Fiacaidh Finnsmzothach, Monarch
38. Eocaidh Cobha, from  whom  is           of Ireland, soil of
darived the tribe-name, Ui Eath-  77. Sedna, monarch of Ireland, son of.
hbach Coba, soen of                78. Artri, son of
39. Lruaidl, son of                   79. Ebric, son of
40. Ross, K. U., son of                80. Eber, soil of
41. Imcadh, K. U., son of              81. IR, son of
42. Feidlimidh, K. U., son of          82. Miledh of Esbain, &e. —Se  No.
43. Cas, son of                             87, Pe:ligre3 of AMac Carthy Alor.
44. Fiacaidh  Ataide, K. U., from
whom the Dal Araide, or Dalara-    NOTE.-Of the same descent with
dians, have their name, son of     Magennis were also thle 0'Laver"' 




GENEALOGY.                                  681
O'Garveys; Wards, or Mac-an Blairds,  41. Ebric, son of
the  Mac Gillsa  Riablhaigh  (perhaps  42. Mochdaini, son of
Mac Gilroy,) and several others.           43. Umlaibh, sonl of
44. Mesincon, son of
Ir.                     45. Sabhal or Saul, son of
TrEg  PEDIGREE  OF O'CONNOR  KERRY,  46. AMogh-Art, son of
IIERE.                   47. Oirbsenmiar, or Orb Senmar, son of
1. Cathal Ruadh, who went to France   48. Eocaidh, son of
in ] 692, when the nobles of Ireland   49. Artri, son of
wer e iobrced to flee thither, son c4'   50.' Eochamain, or Aghnamain, son of
2. Cocobia'   Cail, son of                51. Fiadmain, son of
3. Concobar, son of                       52. Delbnaei, son of
4. Doncadld MaeIl; (Instead of Donn-  53. Enna, son of
cadlll Mad,:Ilother  copy  and  54. Lamni, (called son of Ulsach. son
O('C),millor, in hlis translation, trace  of Tamhain by Dermod  O'Contlhe lilie f'l'ln llis brother, Conco-    nor,) son of
har  Fiin,  th'oughll  Concobar 55. Astarnmtin, son of
Biacal,  tto Sealhen an Fhiona, 56. Mogh-Taeth, son of
or Johlil of l the \Vine.) son of    57. Kiar, son of
5. Concollar, son of                     58. Fegus AMac Roih,  K. U.  [He
6. Secg1;1ha,,, son of                         was called Ma;c Roili from  his
7. Conllc)oblr, son of                         motller.] son of
3. Conicol)na, son of                     59. RosA RLUAbnI, son of
9. Concobara, son of                      60. lludaitle, mlonalle of Treland, &c.:1(. MTiarinatl i, soin of                       See Ao.,6 Pecdiyr ee  /M' A1agelL11. Mati,':;aiin, or lMahon, son of            nis.
12. I)i;airlli l Sluagacuh, son of        From  Kiar (7iieer7) s(n of Fergus Mac
13. Coltc(blr'., soil of                      Roigh, t}be Ktiallriell,  i. e. the
14.  a!itlalnii:in,, son of                   race of Kiar, Ilave  their name.
15. Cu'tc, sc(on of                            llence comcs the- inodelrn  term,
lb. ic ic lctlla, (O'Connor, or O'Con-         Kerry. Soil of Fel'gl, soon of Rocol)nli,, wl()o was slain at Clontarf;    sa Rladll l(h w-s Coi c, fi' ot whon
A. D. l 14, son of                        spiang  O'Cuonoi of' (Corcomnroe,
19. MuiedsoIC h, son of                        O'Lochlin  of  i3lrron, anl l  tthe
20. CoNoB.BRI, fi'onl whom  the name           Muainter A,,l'a and Mitintcr Flathis drived, son of                        bertligh of No:'ti'ollis:ter. Flronm
21. Cathal, son of                             Conimac, son of Core, Sang tho
22. Aetlld, son of                             Mac Rannells, o' RLynol-,ll, and
23.  adl'g, son of                             the O'Farrell.,  witll  tlheir  cor24. Ruaidri, son of                            relatives.  Of the race of Ir, son
25. Culuachra, son of                          of MBiledh,,are also the Muinter
26. Diarmiaid, son of                          Maninn, or O' Mannling. tiCe Muin-.27. Concobar, soa of                           ter Eocadh, or M[ac' Keoghs, the
28. Finn, son of                                ]Muinter Kethirn, or Kearns, andi
29. Maesolschlainn, son of                     the Clann Mlic an Bhaird, or Mae
30. Flailn Fearna, son of                      Wards.
31. C(olman, son of                          NOTrE.-The O'Dugan  and O'Cos32. Cobthtlch, son of                     grans of Fera Maighe Feni, and the
33. Recta I3ratlh, son of                  O'Cathails, or O'Calils, of Kerry, are
34. Maeltuili, son of                      of the same stock with the O'Connors
35. Aedh Lolgha, son of                   Kerry.   Of this race ar  al!so  the
36. D)urthlicht,.son of                    O'Lalors of Luatighis, of the saime- race
37. Senasg, son of-                       wilh te O'Miores.  In this territory
38. Recta or Rechtach, son of             there were sevan septs of the descend39. Ferba, son of                         ants of L.eighscch Kenwa-mor, of the
40. Imeadlh, son of                       line of Ir.-ED.




682                         GENEALOGY.
CHAPTER V.
TIHE GENEALOGY  OF THE POSTERITY OF ERIMION, DOWN HERE.
IUGANI MOR is the source whence sprang all that lives of the progeny o,
Erimhon. All the children of-Iugani passed away without leaving any off:
spring with the exception of two, namely Laegari Lore and Cobthach Cael
Brehgh. The race of Erimhon'settled in Lainster is descended from Laegari;
and the race of Erimhon in Leth Cuinn from Cobthach Cael Brehgh.
I.                  23. NIALL GLUN-DUBH, R. H, from
THE PEDIGREE OF O'NEILL, WITH EVERY      whom  the O'Neills have taken
LIMB THAT BRANCHED THEREFROM, UP       their name, son of
TO NIALL, DOWN HERE.               24. Aedh Finn-liath, R. H., son of
1. Seaghan, or John, son of         25. Niall Calli, R. H., son of
2. Aedh, or Hugh, son of             26. Aedh Oirnighe, R. H., son of
3. Ferdorcha, son of                 27. Niall Frasach, R. H.; (From Con4. Conn Bacach, son of                   cobar, the brother of this Niall
5. Henry, son of                         Frasach, sprang O'Cathain, in
6. Eogan; (At this Eogan branches        English, O'Kane.) son of
off the family of Feidlimidh Ruadh  28. Fergal, son of
O'Neill.) son of                29. Maelduin, son of
7. Niall Og, son of                  30. Maelsithrigh, son of
8. Niall Mor, son of                 31. Aedhl Uaridnach, R. H., son of
9. Aedh, son of                      32. Domnall Il-chelgach, IR. H., son of
10. Domnall, son of                  33. Murkertach Mor Mac Erca. R. H.
11. Brian Catha an Duin, i. e. Brian     (This Murkertach had a brother
of the Battle of Down, son of        named Mani, from whom sprang
12. Niall Ruadh, son of                  O'Gormledha, in  English, 0'13. Aedh, called the Macaemh Toin-       Gormley.) son of
les(r, son of                   34. Mluredach, son of
14. Murkertach of Magh Lini, son of   35. Eogan; (This Eogan, or Owen,
15. Tadg Glinni, son of                  had five sons who left posterity
16. Concobar na Fiodbaighe, son of       after them, namely,- Muredach,
17. Domnall, i. e. the Og-damh, son of   Olild, Fergus, Fcidlimidlh   and
18. Aedh Athlamh; (This Aedh Ath-        Eocaidh Binnice. Of the offspring
lamh had a son named Donnslebi,      of Muredach is the stock of this
from whom sprang the sept of Mac     branch, i. e. the.3ac Lochlins,
Suibni Fanaitt, in English, Mac      O'Neills, Mac Sweeneys, O'DonSweeney of Fanaid, and from it       nellies and their correlatives. Of
sprang Mac Suibni na d-Tuadh, i. e.  the posterity of Olild, son of
Mac Sweeney of the Battle Axes,      Eogan, are the Muinter Kellaigh;
and Mac Sweeney Banagh.) son of      of the posterity of Fergus, son of
19. Flathbertach an Trosdain, son of     Eogan, is O'Connor of Magh Itha;
20. M uredach Midach, son of             of the posterity of Feidlimidh, son
21. Domnall O'Neill of Ard Macha,        of Eogan, is O'Duibhdiorma, or
R. H.; (This Domnall had a           O'Dooyirma, and  O'Slevin; of
brother named Aedh, from whom        the posterity of Eocaidh Binnicc,
sprang the Clann Aedha Buidhe,       son of Eogan, are the Kinel Bini. e. the O'Neill of Claneboy.       nic. From this Eogan the names
Domnall was the first of the race    Tir Eogain, or Land of Eogan, in
that was called O'Neill,he being     English, Tyrone, and Kinel Eoggrandson of Niall Glun-dubh.) son    ain, or Tribe of Eogan, are derivof                                   ed. His posterity are also callcd
22. Murkertach na g-Cochall g-Croi-     the Northern Eugenians by some
kenn, i. e. Murkertach of the        writers in foreign tongues.) son of
Leather Cloaks, son of          36. Niall of the Nilne Hostages, R. H,




GENEALOGY.                            683
(Niall of the Nine Hostages had     expression, under the reign of the
eight sons, namely, Laegari, R. H.,  said Lugaidh and Eocaidh FeidEogan, Fiacaidh, Enna, Carbs,       lech.) son of
Mani, Conall Gulban, and Conall  51. Eocaidh Feidlech, R. H., son of
Cremthanni. From Laegari. mo-  52. Finn, son of
narch of Ireland, on St. Patrick's  53. Finnlogha, son of
arrival therein, descends O'Coin-  54. Roighnen Ruadh, son of
delbain, called in English, O'Kin-  55. Esamhain of Emhain, son of
delan and  O'Quinlivan;  from   56. Blathacta, son of
Eogan sprang the stock of this  57. Labraidh, son of
branch; of the posterity of Mani  58. Enna Aighnech, R. H., son of
are the following septs, namely  59. Aengus Tuirmech of Temhair, R.
the  Sinnach, i. e. the  Fox,        H., son of
whose family name was origin-  60. Eocaidh Folt-lethan, R. H., son of
ally  O'Catharnaigh, O'Hagan,  61. Olild Cas-Fiaclach, R. II., son of
O'Ronan, i. e. O'Ronan of the  62. Connla Cruaidh-chelgach, R. H.,
Ui Neill race, but not O'Ronan,      son of
or O'Ronayne of Munster, Mac  63. Iarann Gleo-fathach, R. H., son of
Coinmedha, or Mac Conway, the  64. Melgi Molbthach, R. H., son of
Muintir Slamhain, the O'Duigen-  65. Cobthach Cael-Breagh, son of'
an,. O'Mulconry, O'Breen, the  66. Iugani Mor, R. H.. son of
Muinter Coiblicain, O'Siadail, or  67. Eocaidh Buadach, son of
O'Shiel, O'Cahalan, the SMuinter  68. Duach Laghradle, R. H.. son of
Muirghesa, O'Carghamua, now   69. Fiacaidh'olgrach, R. H., son of
Mac Carron, and Mac Ambhal-  70. Muredach Bolgrach, son of
gaidh, now Mac Awley of Cal-  71. Simeon Brec, R. H., son of
raide; from Conall Gulban sprang  72. Aedgan Glas, son of
O'Donnell, with the septs of that  73. Nuadha Finn Fail, R. H., son of
tribe, as we shall set down here-  74. Giallcaidh, R. H1., son of
after; of the race of Conall Crem-  75. Olild Olcaein, son of
thani sprang O'Maelsechlainn, in  76. Siorna Saeghalach, R. H., son of
English, O'Melaghlin, and the  77. Dian, son of
branches of that stock, Of the  78. Rothectach, R. H., son of
posterity of Carbri and Enna we  79. Maen, son of
know nothing.) son of           80. Aengus Ol-mucaidh, R. H., son of
37. Eocaidh Muigh-medon, R. H., son  81. Fiacaidh Labranni, R. H., son of
of                              82. Smirgoll, son of
38. Muredach Tirech, R. 11., son of  83. Enboth, son of
39. Fiacaidh Srabthini, R. H., son of  84. Tighernmas, R. H., son of
40. Carbri Lificar, R. H., son of    85. Follanlhan, son of
41. Cormac Ul-fada, R, H., son of    86. Ethrial, R. H., son of
42. Art Aeinfer, R. H, son of        87. Irial the Prophet, R. H., son of
43. Conu of the Hundred Battles, R.  88. ERIMHON, R. H., son of
H., son of                      89. Miledh'of Esbain, &c.- See No.
44. Feidlimidh Rectmar, R. H., son of    87, Pedigree of Mac Carth.y More.
45. Tuathal Tectmar, R. H., son of
46. Fiacaidh Finnolaidh, R. H., son of               I.
47. Feradach Finn-fechtnach, R. HI.,  THE PEDIGREE OF O'DONNELL OF KINEL
son of                                     CONAILL, HERE.
48. Crimthann Niadh Nairi, R. H.,  1. Aedh, son of
son of                          2. Ruaidri, son of
49. Lugaidh Riabh-n-derg, R. H., son  3. Aedh, who died in A. D. 1600, and
of                                   whose son, Aedh Ruadh, fled to
50. The three Finns of Emhain, i. e.     Spain, where he died, A. D. 1602
" Mac na d-Tri bll-Finn Emhna.'     son of
-See remarks upon this strange  4. Magnus, son of




O84                          GENEALOGY.
5. Aedh Duabh, son of                              ADDENDA.
6. Aedh Ruadh, son of                                  I.
7. Niall (arblh, son of                  TIIE PEDIGREE OF O'GALLAGHER.
8. Tl'ordelbach an PFhina, son of     1. Aedh OR, who was living in the lat.
9. Niall Garbh, son of                    ter part of the 17th century, and
10. Aedh, son of                          was the senior representative of
11. Domnall 0g, son of                    the race of Conall Gulban, son of
12. Domnall Mor, son of               2. Art, son of
13. Eignechan, son of                 3. Aedh, son of
14. Donncadh, son of                  4. Eogan, son of
15. Domnall, son of                   5. Art, son of\
16. Aedh, son of                      6. EoGgan, son of
17. Tadlg, son of                     7. Edmond, son of
18. Conn, son of                      8. Tuathal, son of
19. Cathbar, soin of                  9. Donncadh, son of
20. Gilla-Criost O'Domnaill, (in Eng-  10. John, son of
lis/h, O'Donnell, t/he first of the. 11. Nichol, son of?ace that bore the faJnily' ianze,  12. Gilla-Coimdh&, son of
and who died'A.D. 103S,) son of  13. Aedh, son of
21. Cathblr, son of                   14. Fergal, son of
22. DOmN-ALL Mo;, progenitor of the  15. Donncadh, son of
O')Donells, whose stzne is gelled  16. Nichol, son of
O'Domnanilt, anzd pronounced  17. Maelruanaidh, son of
- O'Drnill by ths Irish,) son of    18. Aedh, son of
23. Eignechan, son of                 19. Diarmaid, son of
24. Da!ach, (from  whom  the tribe  20. Donmlall, son of
Sil Dalaigh, take their name,)  21. Am1laibh, son.of
son of                           22. Donncadh O Gallllchobhair, in Eng.
25. MAurkcrtach,  (This  Murkertach       lish, O'Gallagher, son of
had two brothers, namely, IMael-  23. AMagnus, son of
duin, from  whom  has descended  24. GaLCOBAR, from whom the name is
O'Boyle, and  Fiianan, correctly      derived, son of
Fiaman. from whom  has sprung  25. Rurcan, son of
O'Doherty.) son of               26. Rnaidri, son of
26. Kennfaeladlh,soln of              27. Donncadh, son of
27. Garbh, son of                     28. Domnall, son of
28. Ronan, son of                     29. Kellach, R. II. from  642 to 654,
29. Lugaidh, ancestor of the Kinel        son of
Luigdech. tihe tribe-name of' this  30. -Maelcoba, R. H. son of
sept of the Kinel Conail, son of  31. Aedh, R. H. son of
30. Fergus; (Brother of Fergus, son of  32. Aniniri, R. H. son of
Sedna, was Anmiri, R. H., father  33. SEDnA, R. Hi. son of
of Aedh, son of Anmiri, R. H1.  34. Fergus Kenn-fatda, &c.  See No.
from  whom  sprang  O'Muldory         32, Pedigree of O'Donnell.
Mac Gilla-Finncn and O'Gallaghor.) son of                                       II.
31. Sedna, son of                         TTIE PEDIGREE OF O'DOI-IERTY.
32. Fergus Kenn-fada, son of          1. Cathaeir, otherwise called Sir Cahir
33. CONALL GULBAN, SOn of                 O'Doherty, slain A. D. 1608, son
34. Niall of the Nine Hostages, R: H.     of
See No. 36, Pedigree of O'Neill  2. Seaghan Ogr, son of
of Kinel Eogain.                 3. Seaghan, son of
4. Feidlimidh, son of
5. Concobar Carrach, son of
6. Brian Dubh, son of
7. Domnall, son of




GENEALOGYo                                 685
8. Concobar an Einigh, son of          lishcd  by Dr. O'Donovan with tho
9. Seaghan, son of                     battle of Ma:gh   ath.'he ioilowing
10. Donmllal, son of                   is firom Derraod O'Connor's translation
11. Aendiles, son of                   of Keating.
12. Concobar, son of
13. i)omnall, sonl of                                   Iv.
14. Ruadri, son of                        THE PEDIGREE OF MIAGFOGHEGAIN.
15. Aewgus, sonl of                   1. Concobar, or C(onnor, alld Counla,
16. Mutkertach, sont of                    sons of
17. I)ial'llnid, son of                2. Calbhach, son of
18. Concobar, son of                   3. Connla, son of
19. Domatll tFinn, son of             4. (onall, son of
20. I)onncadh Donn, son of             5. Nial4, son of
21. Dominall, son of                   6. Rosa, soil of
22. Maifengal, son of                  7. Connla, son of
23. Donncadh O'Dochartaigh or O'Do-  8. Concobar, son of
herty, the first that bore the fami-  9. Laighiech, son of
ly nama, son of                   10. Colnlla, sonl of
24. Maengal, son of                    11. Aedh Bulidhe, son of
25. I)OCIIARTACn, from whom the name  12. Diarmaid, son of
O'Doherty is derived, son of      13. Donncadh, son of
26. Mlaeligal, son of                  14. Murkertach, son of
27. FIMuANr, son of                    15. Congalach, son of
28. Kennlkeiadlh.-See No. 26, Pedi-  16. Congalach, son of
gree of O'Donnell.                17. Murkeertach, son of
18. MurkertaCil, son of
IMI.                  19. Cucahna, son of
PEDIGREE OF O'BOYLE OF BOYLAGH.    20. Anluan, son of
1. Tordelbaclh Ruadh, chiet; son of    21. Congalach, son of
2.'l'adg Og, son of                   22. Donncadhl, son of
3. Tadg. son of                        23. Murcadh, son of
4. Tordelbach, son of                  24. Ama!gach, son of
5. Niall, son of                       25. Flann, son of
6. Tordelbach Og, son of               26. Eocaidh, son of
7.'l'ordelbach Mor, son of            27. Eocaidh, son of
8. Niall Ruadh, son of                 28. Crimthann, son of
9. Menman, son of                      29. Gilla-Callain, son of
10. Concobar, son of                   30. Amnalgach, kion of
11. Kelach, son of                    31. Ruaidri, son of
12. Gilla-Brighdi, son of              32. Iueirgi Mac Eoehagain, or Ma.
13. Aendiles O Baighill, in English,       geoghegan, son of
O'Boyle, son of                   33. EoCIIAGAN, fri'o11 whom the family
14. Garban, son of                         name is derived, son of
15. BAIGUEL, from whom the name is  34. Cosgarach, son of
derived, son of                   35. Amtllgach, son of
16. BRADAGAR, son of                   36. Tuathal, son of
17. MIurkertach, &c.  See No.' 25, 37. FIACAIDrI, SOn of
Pedigree of O'Donnell:            38.  iall of the Nine Hostagres, R. H.
&c.  See No. 36, Pledigree of
NOTE.-The foregoing three pedi-          O'Neill.
grees are arranged from those pub



686                         GENEALOGY.
CHAPTER V.
THE GENEALOGY OF THE POSTERITY OF BRIAN, SON OF EOCAIDHI
MUIGHI-MEDON, DOWN  HERE.
EOCAIDH MUIGH-MEDON had five sons, namely, Brian, Fiacaidlh or Fiachra,
Olild and Fergus, who were the four sons of Mongfinn, daughter of Fidach
and the fifth son was Niall of the Nine Hostages, whose mother was daughter
of the king of Britain.  And although Niall was the youngest of the five, we
have fievertheless given him the precedence in this genealogy, because his worth
and glory were the greatest, and because it was his offspring that gave the
greatest number of kings to Ireland. There are two of the sons of Eocaidh, of
whose posterity we can find no trace; we shall then give down here the pedigrees of those two who left a progeny after them, namely, Brian and Fiacaidh
or Fiachra.
r.                      of the sons of Tordelbach Mor,
THE PEDIGREE OF O'CONNOR ROE, INTO      whose race is extinct.] son of
WHICH WE SIIALL BRING THE WHOLE  16. Ruaidri na Soighe Buidhe, i. e. of
RACE OF BRIAN, SON OF EOCAIDH         the Yellow Hound, K. C., son of
MUIGH-MEDON, HERE.                17. Aedh an Gai Bearnaigh, i. e. of
1. Cathal Og, son of                   the Broken Spear, son of
2. Aedh. son of                    18. Tadg an Eich Ghil, i. e. of the
3. Tordelbach, son of                  White Steed, K. C.; [Tadg, of
4. Tadg Bnidhe, son of                 the White Steed, had a son
5. Cathal Ruadh, son of                named Maelruanaidh, from whom
6. Tadg, son of                        sprang MacDermott of Moylurg,
7. Tordelbach, son of                  and from  MacDermott sprang
8. Aedh, son of                        MacDonough  of Tirerril; and
9. Feidlimidh;  [Brother of  this      MacDermott Roe, from  whom
Feidlimidh was Tordelbach Donn,     sprang the two O'Crowleys in
from  whom  sprang  O'Connor        Munster.] son of
Don.] son of                    18. Cathal, son of
10. Aedh, King of Connaught, A. D. 19. Concobar; [Brother of this Con1309. son of                        cobar was Tadg, from  whom
11. Eogan, K. C., in 1274, son of       the Clann Taidg are descended.]
12. Ruaidri, son of                     son of
13. Aedh, K. C., in 1228.'20. Tadg O'Concobair, the first of the
14. Cathal Crobh-derg, i. e. the Red-   name, K. C.; [It is he that is
handed, K. C., who died in 1224,    called Tadg of the Tower.] son of
son of                          21. Cathal, son of
15. Tordelbach Mor, R. H.; [This 22. CoNcoBAR, K. C., A. D. 879, from
Tordelbach had five sons, who       whom the family name is derived,
have left a posterity; namely, 23. Tadg, son of
Cathal  the   Red-handed, his 24. Muirgheas, K. C.; [Brother to this
youngest son, from whom sprang      Muirgheas was Diarmaid, from
O'Connor Roe  and  O'Connor         wvhom sprang MacOirechtagh, in
Don; Brian  Laighnech, from         English MacGeraghty.] son of
whom  sprang O'Connor Sligo; 25. Tomaltach; [Brother to this ToAedh Dall, from  whom  sprang       maltach  was  Diarmaid, from
O'Gelbuidhe (O'Gilvy); Magnus,     whom sprang MacConcannon and
from whom sprang M'Manus of         O'Fallon.]son of
Tir-Tuathail (Tirooil); and Con- 26. Inrachtach, K. C.; [Of the poste.
cobar na Midhe, ancestor of Clan    rity of this Inrachtach, is O'Beirne
Con-Afni; and Ruaidri, the last     of Connaugrht.]son of
Monarch of Ireland, and the eldest 27. Muredach Maeil-lethan; [Of the




GENEALOGY.                             687
posterity of Cathal, son of this  4. Cathal, spn of
Muredach, are the septs of O'Flan-   5. Aedh, son of
nagan qf Connaught; O'Mulrcnin;   6. Diarmaid, son of
and O'Maelmocheirghe, in English   7. Carbri, son of
O'Mulmohery and Early, of the   8. Eogan Caech, son of
race of Fergus, son of Muredach   9. Feidlimidh Gencach, son of
Mael-lethan, is MacSamnhragain, 10. TORDELBACHI DONN, son of
i. e. Magauran-sometin',s trans-  11. Aedh, &c.  See No. 10, Pedigre
lated into Somers.] son of           of O'Connor Roe.
28. Fergus, son of
29. Raghallach, K. C., son of                          II.
30. Feradach, K. C., son of          TLE PEDIGREE OF O'FLAHERTY, OF WEST
31. Aedh, K. C.; [Of the posterity of             CONNAUGHT.
this Aedh is O'Flyn Lini.] son of  1. Ruaidri Og,, or Roderic, author of
S2. Eocaidh Tirmcarna, K. C., son of     the Ogygia, son of
33. Fergus; [Of the posterity of this  2. Aedh, son of
Fergus, are O'Rnuairc and MacTier-  3. Ruaidri, son of
man; from Fergus likewise sprang   4. Murkertach, son of
O'Reilly, and MacBrady, and Mac-  5. Aedh Og, son of
Cosnamha, now translated Forde;   7. Aedh, son of
another son of Fergus was Duach   8. Gilla-dubh, son of
Teng-umha  (K. C., slain A. D.   9. Brian na Noinsech, son of
530), from whom sprang O'Flah-  10. Domnall na g-Comthach, son of
erty, and MacAedha, now translat-  11. Murkertach an Gbiberi, son of
ed MctIugh, Hughes, and Hayes]. 12. Rnaidri, son of
34. Muredach,Mal, K. C., son of     13. Aedh, son of
35. Eogan Sriabh, K. C., son of'14. Ruaidri of Loch Kimi, son of
36. Duach Galach, K. C., son of      15. Mureclach Mor O'Flathbertaigh,
37. BRIAN, K. C.; [This; Brian had        in English, O'Flaherty, son of
a son named Oirbsen, from whom  16. Maelculaird, son of
sprang O' lalley; he had another  17. FIATHBERTACIH,  from  whem  *fle
son named Erca Derg, from whom       surname is derived, son'f
sprang MacBfranan, MacKeogh, 18. Emhin, son of
and  O'Hanly.  From  him  the  19. Murcadh, son of
O'Connors, O'Ruaircs, O'Reillies, 20. Uromhan, son of
and  their correlatives, took the  21. Maenach, son of
generic name of Ui Briuin or Ui 22. Flathniadh, son of
Briain.] son of                  23. Fiangalach, son of
38. Eocaidh Muigh-medon, R. H., &c. 24. Flan Rodba, son of
See No. 37, Pedigree of O'Neill.   25. Amalgaidh, son of
26. Kennfaeladh, son of
ADDEN\)A.-              27. Colgan, son of
I.                  28. Aedh, son of
THE PEDIGREE OF 0 CONNOR DON.    29. Senach, son of
1. Cathal or Charles, author of the  30. Duach Teng-Umha, K. C., son of
Dissertation on the History of 31. FERGUS, son of
Ireland, born A. D. 1710, son of  32. Muredach Mael-lethan, K. C., &c.
2. Donncadh or Denis, son oi             See No. 27, Pedigree of O'Connor
3. Cathal Og, son of                     Roe.




6S88                          GENEALOGY'CIJAPTER VII.
THE  GEENEALOGY OF THE POSTERITY OF FIACIIPA  SON  OF
EOCAIDH  MUIGH-MEDON,   DTOWNT   HEIZE.'   34. Guairi the itospitable, K. C., son
THE PEDIGREE OF O'SIIAUGHNESSY, UERE.'   of
1. Sir Diarmaid, son of               35. Co'man, son of
2. Rtuaidri, son of                   36. Cobttlacl, son of
3. Diarnmaid, son of                  87. Eogan-Aidni; LF'cm tihe surname
4. Giila-Dubh, son of                     of' this Eorgan, the scutern  U
5. Diarmaid. son of                       Fiachrach uwere called  Ui Fiacch
6. William, son of                       rach Aidhni], son of
7. Seaghan Buidhlc, son of           38. Goibnenn, son of
8. Eogan, son of                      9.  Conall, son of
9. WAilianl, son of                  40. Eogan, son of
10. Gilla-n:-lnaemh, son of            41. Eocaidh Brec [of the posterity of
11. Ruaidri, sonl of                       this Eocaidh Brec are the follow.
12. Gilla-na-naemh, son of                ing septs, namely, O'Muldoon, O'
13. Ragh1nall O'Sechnasaigh, in Eng-       Alaelfhooglmnhair,  O'Ccnmni,  O'
ishi, O'lS.atu,/zmcssy, or O'S/ag/l-  Creghall, O'Len1an, O(Lalilly, and
e.ss!, soil of                        O'Suanaigh] son of
14. Gelbuidhe. sron of                 42. Dathi, R. H. (cf the posterity of
15. SEc;INatsACIT,.from  whom  the 0'-    Dathi is O'I)owda), soi of
Sechnasai;g, i; derived, son of    43. FIACHRA  FOLT-SNATI1ACII, from
16. Doninadh. son of                       whom the Ui Iachrach are called,
17. Cumnlighe, son of                      son of
18. Fergal, son of                     44. Eocaidh Muihl-nedon, R. IT., &c.
19. Maelki:arain, son of                   -See No.'., peligree of O'NAeill.
20. Cas, son of
21. Mar gal, son of                      NOTE.. — The names between Aedh,
22. Macituii, son of                  the ancestor of tie  Kinel Aedlha,
23 Sithmani, son of                    marked 32, and Coblhahll, marked l   6,
2, NoeCllha, or Nobile, son of         have been interpolated, as has been
25. Eg'ila. son of                     s hown by Dr. O'Donlovan, in Lis notes
26. Natse:/na, son of                  to the tribes and custonis of the Ui
27. Gablran, or Garban, son of'Fiaclrach.   Colmnan, the father of
b8. Tobach, or'Toban, son of          Guairi the IHospitable, was lthe brothler
29. Branan, son of                     of Aedh, the ancestor of the Kinel
30. B1lann Leti-derg, son of           Aedha, and Cobthach, son of Goibnenn,
31. MAurcadhi, son of                  was their common fiather. —Sepedigree
32. Aedh, from   whom  the  Kinel of O'Heyne, hereafter amnexed-ED.
Aedha, i. e., the tribe to which
O'Shau:ighnessy belonged, are called            ADDENDA.
son o                                               I.
33. Artgal, [son of this Artgal was  TuE  PEDIGREE  OF OITEYNE, in Irish,
Ardgal, from  whoml  descends 0'-    O'h-Eidhin, cf Ui F;achraclm Aidni.
Ilevne and O'Comlaltan (Coul-    From the Tribes and Customs of the
ton), O'lady, O'Catlhmogha, in    Ui Fiachrach.
En;r4Is',, O'Cofleqy (not the same   1. Eogan, son of
O'CcWhi/g cr CrfqIk  of the west of   2. Aedh Buidhc, son of
Cork), anld Mac IKilkelly., From    3. Aedh Buidhe, chief of U-i FiachMurcadh, son of Aedh, son  of          rach, who died in 1594, son cf
Artgral, are descelnded O'Branain of  4. Eogan Mantach, seo. -
Kinel Aedha and O'Clery,] sen of  5. Edmond, zca of




GENEALOGY.                              689
6. Flann, son of                     5. Diarmaid, son of
7. Concobar, son of                  6. Tadg, son of
8. Brian. son of                     7. Diarmaid of the Three Schools, son
9. Aedh, son of                           of
10. Murkertach, son of                8. Gilla-Riabhach, son of
11. D)onncadh, son of                 9: Gilla-Brighdi, son of
12. Aelh, son of                      10. Cormac, who settled in Tir Con
13. John, son of                           aill, A. D. 1352, son of
14. Eogan, soil of.      11. Diarmaid, son of
15. Gilla-na-nemll, son of:           12. John Sgiarnmhach, son of
16. (Gilla-Kellaigh, soi of           13. Domnall, son of
17. Aedh, son of                      14. Gilla-Isa, son of
18. Concobar, son of                  15. Tadg, son of
19. Flann, son of                     16. Muredach, son of
20. Gilla-na-naenmh, son of           17. Tighernach, son of
21. Cug(aela, son of                  18. Gilla-na-naemh, son of
22. MaelfabaillO'h-Eidhin, in English, 19. Domnall. son of
O'Heyne and Hlynes, whose bro-  20. Eogan, son of
ther, Maelruanaidh, was slain at  21. Braen, son of
Clontarf, A. D. 1014, son of      22. Cugaela, Chief of Ui Fiachrach
23. Flann, son of                          Aidni, died A. D. 1025, son of
24. EDIN, from whom the family name  23. G-illa-Kellaigh, Chief of Ui Fiachis derived, son of                    rach Aidpi, from whom the sept
25. Cleirech, from whom the O'Cleries      Mac Gilla Kellaigh or Killikelly,
/ derive their name, they being des-    has its name, son of
cended from M.aelfabaill, his eldest 24. Conhalton, Chief of Ui F. A., 8Ma
son, son of                           of
26. Kedadach, son of                  25. Maelfabaill, Chief of Ui F. A.,
27. Cumasgach, son of                      who died A. D. 887, son of
28. Cathmogh, son of                  26. CLEIRECI, the progenitor from
29. Torpa, son of                          whom the surname is derived, &c.
30. Fergal Aidni, K. C. son of             -See No. 25,Pedigree of O'Heye.
31. Artgal, son of
32. Guairi A.idni, K. C., son of                       II.
33. COLMAN, K. C., son of             THE PEDIGREE OF O'DOWDA,.OR ORDOWD
34. Cobthach, &c.-See No. 36, Pedi-        OF NORTI-IERN TTI FIACHRACH.
gree of O'Saughnnessy.           1. David, slain A. D. 1690, son of
2. Dathi Og,, son of
II.                  3. James, son of
THE PEDIGREE OF O0CLERY.         4. Dathi, son of
This was once a chief family of Ui 5. Dathi, son of
Fiachrach Aidni. A branch of it af- 6. Tadg Riabhach, chief of his name,
terwards became chief historians of Tir    slain A. D. 1536, son of
Conaill.  Its members obtained pos- 7. Eogan, son of
sessions in various parts of Ireland, 8. Concobar, son of
through their talents as historians and  9. Diarmaid, son of
bards.                                10. Maelruanaidh, son of
1. Cu-coigcrichi, or Peregrine, one of  11. Ruaidri, son of
the compilers of the Annals of the  12. Domnall Cleirech, son of
Four Masters, who died in A. D. 13. Sen Brian, son of
1664, and whose sixth descendent 14. Taithlech Muaidhe, son of
is now living, son of             15. Maelruanaidh, son of
2. Lugaidh, son of                    16. Donncadh Mor, son of
3. Mac-con, son of                    17. Aedh, son of
4. Cu-coigerichi, son of              18. Taithlech, son of
44




690                          GENEALOGY.
19. Aedh, son of                    29. Conmach, son of
20. Murkertach, son of              30. Donncatha, K. C. died A. D. 768.
21. Aedh, son of                         son of
22. Taithlech, son of               31. Cathal, san of
23. Niall, son of                   32. Olild, son of
24. Maelsechlainn, son of           33. Donncadh Murski, son of
25. Maelruanaidh, son of'       34. Tibradi, son of
26. Aedh  O'Dubhda,  in  English, 35. Maeldubh, or Maelduin, son of
O'Dowda, King of North Con- 36. Fiachra Elgach, son of
naught, son of                  37. DATHI, R. H., son of
27. Kellach Mac Dubhda, son of      38. Fiachra Folt-Snathach, from whom
28. DUBTIDA, from whom the surname       all the Ui Fiachrach are called, &c.
is derived, and from whose brother   See No. 42, Pedigree of ShlaughCaemhan sprang O'Caemhain, son      nessy.
of
CHAPTER VIII.
THE GENEALOGY OF THE POSTERITY OF EOCAIDH  DUBLEIN OF
THE LINE OF ERIMHON, DOWN HERE.
EOCAIDH DUBLEIN, son of Carbri Lificar, and brother of Fiacaidh Srabthini, was the father of the Three Collas. From Colla Uais, the eldest brother
of these, came the septs that bear the following surnames; to wit, the clan of
Mac Donald, both in Ireland and in Scotland; the clan of Mac Dugald, or
Mac Dowell; the clan of Mac Sheehy; and the Ui Bresail Macha.
From  Colla Da Crioch, sprang O'Kelly of Ui Mani, Mac Mahon of Oirghialla, Maguire, O'Hanlon, O'Naghtan (sometimes called Norton), and O'Madden.
We shall here give the first place to the clan of Mac Donald.
I.                  12. Raghnall, son of
THE PEDIGREE OF MAC DONALD, I. E., OF  13. Samharli, son of
MAC SAMHARLI, EARL OF ANTRIM.    14. Gilla-Brighdi, son of
1. Raghnall, or Randal, son of      15. Gilla-Adamnain, son of
2. Samarli, called also Surly, son of   16. Solamh, or Solomon, son of
3. Alasdrum, Alister, or Alexander, 17. Medraide, son of
son of                          18. Suibni, son of
4. Eoin Cathanach. son of           19. Niallgus, son of
5. Domnall Ballach, King of the He- 20. Mani, son of
brides, son of                  21. Gofraidh, son of
6. Eoin Mor, son of                 22. Fergus, son of
7. Eoin, son of                     22. Erc, son of
8. Aengus Og, son of                23. Crimthann, son of
9. Aengus, son of'24. Eocaidh, son of
10. DOMNALL O'1; (From this Dom- 25. Eric, son of
nall the name Mac Domnaill, 26. Carthann, son of
in English, Mac Donald, is de- 27. Colla Uais, R. H. son of
rived. This Domnall or Donald  28. EOCAIDH DUIBLEIN, son of
had a brother named Alasdrum, 29. Carbri Lificar, R. H. —See No. 40,
from whom sprang the clan of        Pedigree of O'Neill.
Mac Sheehy, in  Gaelic, Clann
Sithigh, i. e. the descendants of    NOTE 1. —The letter M. iS silent in
Sitbach, son of Echduin, son of  this word, as pronounced by moderns.
Alasdrum, son of Domnall.) son of It is also to be remarked that the double
11. Domnall, son of                 L, and double N of the modern Irish, is




GENEALOGY.                             691
nearly always found written LD and ND    whom has sprung Mac Aedagaiu,
in the more ancient MSS.  That the       or Mac Egan.)  Son of
D was formerly fully pronounced in  26. Fithkellach, son of
such positions, its retention by the  27. Dluthach, son of
Gaels of modern Scotland in such  28. Dicolla; (Fithkellach, son of this
words as Domhnald, Raghnald, Dubh-       Dicolla, was the ancestor of O'Dongald, which the Irish write and pro-     nellan.) son of
nounce Domhnall, Ra'hnall, Dubhgall, 29. Eogan'Finn;  (Brother to this
is rather conclusive proof. —ED.         Eogan Finn, was Eogan Buadach,
NOTE 2.-In this pedigree several      or Buac, from whom  sprang O'generations have been omitted in the     Madden.) son of
editor's copies, between Gofraidh, or  30. Cormac, son of
Godfrey, No. 21, and Eric, son of Car- 31. Carbri Crom, son of
thann, No. 25.-The names in italics  32. Feradach, son of
are supplied from the Ogygia.       33. Crimthann Cael (ancestor of the
Cruffons.) son of
II.                 34. Luffgaidh, son of
THE PEDIGREE OF O' KELLY OF UI MANI, 35. Dallan, son of
HERE.                36. Bresal, son of
1. tKellach of Aughrim, slain A. D. 37. Mani Mor, from whom the Ui Ma1641, son of                        ni or Hy Mani are called, son of
2. tTadg of Aughrim.  (These two 38. Eocaidh Fer-da-ghiall, son of
names are supplied from the pe- 39. Domnall, son of
digree of the O'Kelley, published  40. Imcadh;   (This  Imcadh  had
with the tribes and customs of      brothers, namely, Degaidh Dorn,
the Ui Mani.) son of                from whom Mac Mahon of Monagh3. Ferdorcha, chief of Ui Mani, son of  an sprang, and also O'h-Inrach4. Kellach, son of                      taigh, in English, O'Hanratty;
5. Domnall, son of                      Rocadh, from whom sprang Ma.
6. Aedh na Coilli, son of               guire and Mac Tiernan of Clan
7. Uiliam, son of                       Fergail; and-Fiachra, from whom
8. Maelsechlainn, son of                sprang O'Hanlon and O'Niallain.)
9. Uiliam Buidhe, son of                son of
10. Donncadh Muimnech, son of       42. COLLA DA CRIOCIH, son of
11. Concobar Mor, son of            43. Eocaidh Duiblein, &c.-See No. 29,
12. Donnall Mor, son of                 Pedigree of Mac Donald.
13. Tadg Taltenn, son of
14. Concobar of the Battle, son of               ADDENDA.
15. Diarmaid, son of                                 I.
16. Tadg, son of                    THE PEDIGREE OF MAGUIRE, FROM DERI
17. Concobar, son of                  MOD  O'CONNOR'S  TRANSLATION  OP
18. Concobar, son of                  KEATING.
19. Tadg Mor of the Battle of Brian, 1. Cuconnacht Mor, slain at Augh.
slain at Clontarf, A. D. 1014, son  rim, son of
of                              2. Aedh, son of
20. Murcadh O'Kellaigh, in English, 3. Brian, son of
O'Kelly, who died A. D. 960, son 4. Cuconnacht, son of
of                              5. Cuconnacht, son of
21. Aedh, son of                    6. Cuconnacht, son of
22. KELLACH or Ceallach, from whom  7. Brian, son of
the Ui Kellaigh have their name, 8. Philip, son of
son of                          9. Thomas, son of
23. Finnacta, son of                10. Aedh, son of
24. Olild, son of                   11. Flathbertach, son of
25. Inractach; (This Inractach had a 12. Donn, son of
brother named Cosgarach, from  13. Domnall, son of




692                         GENEALOGY.
14. Gilla-Criost, or Christianus, son of  2. Domnall, son of
15. Donn Mor, son of                3. Seaghan, or John, son of
16. Raghnall Mac Uidhir, in English, 4. Bresal, son of
Maguire, son of                 5. Seaghan, son of
17. UiDuIR, from whom the sept has  6. Murcadh, son of
taken its name, son of          7. Eogan, son of
19. tCairdech, son of               8. Carrach, son of
20. tOirghiallach, son of           9. Murcadh, son of
21. tUidhir, son of                 10. Eogan Mor, son of
22. tCairaech, son of               11. Murcadh, son of
23. tLuan, son of                   12. Eogan, son of
24. tUairghidladh, son of           13. Murcadh, son of
25. tCrimthann, son of              14. Cathal, son of
26. tFeidthech, son of              15. Madudan, son of
27. ROCADH, son of                  16. Diarmaid, son of
28. Colla Da Crioch, &c.-See pedi- 17. Madudan   Remhbar   O'Madudgree of O'Kelly.                    hain, now anglicised O'Madden,
son' of'
NOTE.-The names thus marked (t) 18. Diarmaid, son of
seem to have been altogether corrupted  19. MADUDAN  MOR, the man  from
by Dermod  O'Connor, and several        whom the surname is derived, son
names have been omitted; but no         of
pedigree of this ancient sept is imme- 20. Gadhra Mor, son of
diately accessible to the present editor, 21. Dunadach, son of
whereby he could set it right.      22. Gadra, son of
Uidher, from whom Maruire is call- 23. Loingsech,
ed, was, according to O'Flalherty, son  24. Dunadach, son of
of Serrac, son of Orgiell, son of Uid- 25. Cobthach, son of
hir, son of Kernach, son of Muredach  26. Maelduin, son of
Meidh, son of Imcadh, son of Colla Da  27. Conngalach, son of
Crioch.                             28. Anmcadh, from  whom  the Sil
II.                     Anmcadha are called, son of
TIIE PEDIGREE OF O' MADDEN, OF SIL  29. EOGAN BUAC, son of
ANMCADHA.               30. Cormac, &-. —See No. 30, PediI Anmcadh or Ambrose, chief of          gree of O'Kelly.
his name, who died in 1637, son of
CHAPTER IX.
T'HE GENEALOGY OF THE POSTERITY OF EOCAIDH FINN AND FIACAIDH SUIGIIDI, THE BROTHERS OF CONN OF THE HUNDRED
BATTLES, AND OF FIACAIDH FER-MARA, SON OF AENGUS TUIRMECH OF TEMHAIR, R. H., DOWN HERE.
CONN of the Hundred Battles had two brothers, namely, Eocaidh Finn and
Fiacaidh Suighdi. From Eocaidh Finn sprang O'Nolan, and O'Larkin; and
from Fiacaidh Suighdi sprang O'Felan and O'Bric, of the Desi Mumhan.
Enna Aighnech, monarch of Ireland, had a brother named Fiacaidh Fermara, from whom descended Conari, son of Mooh Lamha, the son-in-law of Conn
of the Hundred Battles; and it was this Conari that was the father of the
three brothers named Carbri, namely, Carbri Riada, Carbri Musg, and Carbri Baschaein; and it is the posterity of these that are called the Ernaigh
Mumhan, er Ernaans of Munster.
From Carbri Riada sprang the race called Dal Riada, to which belong the
----- — ~ —------— r -2




GENEALOGY.                            693
following septs, settled in Alba, namely, the Kinel n-Guain, Mac Adamnain,
Mac Eoghjain, Mac Boithrech, Mac Gilla-Eoin, and indc Gilla-Laghlman.'
From Carbri Musg, are named all the septs of the Musgraide that dwell in
Munster, and of this race is O'Falvy, O'Connell, and O'Shea of Desmond, and
O'Quirk of Mnusraide. From  Carbri Baschaein, Corcobaskin has its name.
but we know nothing of his posterity.2
NOTE 1.-The editor does not know the English forms of these tribe-names
2. The descendants of Carbri Baschaein are, according to our most judicious
antiquarians, the O'Donnells and O'Baskins of the county of Clare.
THE PEDIGREE OF THE DAL RIADA, OF  29. Mogh Lamha, son of
ALBA, HERE.              30. Lugaidh Ellathach, son of
1. Constantine, King of Alba, or Mod-  31. Dari Dorn-Mor, son of
ern Scotland, A. D. 995, son of    32. Carbri Finn-mor, son of
2. Coillen, in 967, son of          33. Conari Mor, R. H. son of
3. Dubh, son,of                    35. Edirsgeol, R. H. son of
4. Kenneidigh, or Kinaeth, son of    36. Eogan, son of
5. Maelcoluim, son of               37. Olild, son of
6. Constantine, son of              38. Iar, son of
7. Kenneidigh or Kinaeth, conqueror  39. Degaidh, son of
of the Picts, son of            40. Sin, son of
8. Alpin, son of                    41. Rosin, son of
9. Eocaidh, son of                  42. Tren, son of
10. Aedgan Finn, son of             43. Rothren, son of
11. Domangort, son of               44. Mani, son of
12. Fergus Mor Mac Eirc, foundel' of  45. Forga, son of
the Kingdom  of Dal Riada, in  46. Feradach, son of
Alba, son of                    47. Oiild Eronn, from whom the Er13. Erc, son of                          naigh were named, son of
14. Eocaidh Munremhar, son of       48. FIACAIDH FER-MARA, son of
165. Aengus Fert, son of            49. Aengus Tuirmech, of Temhair, R.
16. Feidlimidh Aislingthech, son of      H.-See No. 60, Pedigree of
17. Aengas Buidnech, son of              O'Neill.
18. Feidlimidh Roinic, son of
19. Sen-Cormaic, son of                NoTrE. —Keating  has followed the
20. Cruthluath, son of              Scotch genealogists in the names that
21. Fidiergi, otherwise Finncadh, son  connect Fergus, the founder of the Dalof                              Riada of Scotland, with Carbri Ria22. Egar Kerr, son of               da.  According to  O'Flaherty, the
23. Eocaidh Andoid, son of          Irish genealogists say, that Eocaidh,
24. Fiacaidh Cathmael, son of       father of the said Ere or Eric, was son
25. Foirded, son of                 of Aengus Fer, son of Fergus Ulidh,
26. Ere, son of                     son of Eocaidh Fortamhail, son of
27. CARBRI RIADA, son of            Feidlimidh Lamh-doid, son of Kinga,
28. Conar I. H., son of            son of Guairi, son of Finutan.
CIIAPTER X.
THE GENEALOGY  OF THE MEN OF LEINSTER  OF THE  LINE OF
ERIMHON, DOWN  HERE.
COBTHACtH  CAEL-BREAGH, had a brother named Laegari Lorc, from whom
have descended the Leinster tribes of the line of Erimhon. Of these we shall
give precedence to the Caemhanaigh, i. e. the O'Kavanaghs.




694                         GENEALOGY.
I.                  23. Carbri, son of
THE PEDIGREE OF O'KAVANAGH, HERE. 24. Aedh, son of
1. Murcadh, son of                  25. Ruaghalach, son of
2. Donmnall Spainech, son of        26. Oncu. son of
3. Cathaeir Carrach, son of         27. Faelcu, son of
4. Murkertach, son of               28. Faelan, son of
5. Art Ruidhe, son of               29. Silan, son of
6. Domnall, son of                  30. Eo(an Caech, son of
7. Gerald, son of                   31. Nathi;  (From  Fergus, son of
8. Art Og, son of                        Eogan Goll, son of this Nathi des9. Art, King of Leinster, son of         cend the Muinter Maeilriain, i. e.
10. Murkertach; (ThisMurkertachhad       the O'Ryans or  O'Muliyans of
a brother named Art, from whom      Owney in Tipperary.) son of
has descended the Sliocht Diar- 32. Crimthann, K. L. son of
mada Lamh-dirg, i. e., the posterity  33. Enna Kennselach, K. L.;son of
of Diarmaid, the Red Handed; to      (This Enna Kennselach, had a
wit, Murcadh, son of Brian, and     son named Feidlimidh, from whom
the branches of his kindred.) son   sprang O'Murphy and O'Dowling.)
of                              34. Bresal Belach, son of
11. Maurice, son of                 35. Fiacaidh Bacheda.  (Of the pos12. Murkertach, son of                   terity of Fiacaidh Bacheda, are
13. DOMNALL   CAEMHANACH,  from          O'Byrne and O'Toole.) son of
whose surname the Ui Caemha-  36. Cathaeir Mor, R. HI.; (Son of
naigh, in  English, the O'Kava-      this  Cathaeir Mor, was  Rosa
naghs, take their name; (This        Faighi, ancestor  of O'Connor
Domnall had two brothers, namely,    Falghi, and from O'Connor Falghi
Art, put to death by Ruaidri        sprang O'Dunn, O'Dempsey, and
O'Concobar, King of Ireland, in      Mac Colgan.  Another son of
A. D. 1170, who left no posterity,   Cathaeir Mor, was Dari Barrach,
and Enna, who is the ancestor of    from  whom  sprang O'Gorman.)
the O'Kinshellaghs.) son of         son of
14. Diarmaid na n-Gall, i. e. Dermod  37. Ferdlimidh Firurglas, K. L., son of
of the Gaulsor Strangers, King of  38. Cormac Gelta-gaeth, K. L., son of
Leinster, from  A. D. 1135 to  39. Niadh-Corb, K. L. son of
1171; (Brother to this Diarmaid  40. Cu-Corb, K. L.; (Son of this Cuna n-Gall, was Murcadh of the        Corb was Carbri Cluthecar, from
Gaels, or Irish, from whom sprang   whom sprang O'Dwyer, of KilnaMac David Mor, otherwise called     managh.) son of
Mac Damore V.-It was this Mur- 41. Mogh-Corb, K. L. son of
cadh that was elected King of Lein- 42. Concobar Abra-Ruadh, R. H, son
ster upon the expulsion of Diar-     of
maid, A. D. 1166.) son of       43. Finn the Poet, K. L., son of
15. Donncadh, son of                44. Rosa Ruadh. K. L. son of
16. Murcadh, appointed King of the  45. Fergus Fargi, K. L. son of
Danes of Dublin, and from whom  46. Nuadha Nect, R. H.; (This Nuthe  Mtc Murroughs are called,      adha had three sons, namely, Ferson of                              gus Fargi. from whom has sprung
17. Diarmaid, K. L. and called by        the stock of this branch; Baeissomo writers monarch of Ireland,     gni, from whom descended Comson of                               hal, the father of Finn Mac Com18. Donncadh, called Mael na m-Bo,       hail, commonly called Fingal by
K. L., son of                       the Anglo-Scotch; and Gnathallach.
19. Diarmaid, son of                     Bani, daughter of Sgal Balbh,
20. Domnall, son of                      King of Saffsa, was the mother
21. Kellach, son of                      both of Coinhal and of Feidlimidh
22. Kinaeth, son of                      Rectmar, monarch of Ireland.




GENEALOGY.                             695
47. Sedna Sithbac, K. L. son of       10. Seafra Finn, son of
48. Lugaidh Lothfinn, K. L. son of    11. Seafra Bacach, son of
49. Bresal Brec, K. L.; [This Bresal 12. Domnall Mor of Magh Laeighsi,
Brec had a son named Conula,         son of
from whom sprang the kings of  13. Sgannlan Mac Gilla-Patrick, son
Osraide, now called Ossory, as we     of
shall hereafter explain.] son of  14. GILLA-PADRAIG, or Gilla-Patrick,
50. Fiacaidh Fobrec, son of              from whom the surname of the sept
51. Olild Glas, son of                    is derived.
52. Fiacaidh Foglas, son of          15. Donncadh, son of
53. Nuadha Follaumhain, son of        16. Kellach, son of
54. Alloid, son of                    17. Kerball; (This Kerball had a son
55. Art, son of                           named Braen, from whom sprang
56. Mogh Art, son of                      O'Brenan.) son of
57. Cirnimtann, son of                18. Donngal, son of
58. Feidlimidh Fortrain, son of       19. Anmcadh, son of
59.! Fergus Fortainlhail, son of      20. Cukerda, son of
60. Bresal Breogamhain, son of        21. Faelan, son of
61. Aengus Follamhain, son of         22. Cronmael, son of
62. Olild Brachaen, son of            23. Ronan Righ-flaith, son of
63. Labraidlh Loingsech, R. H. son of  24. Colman Mor, son of
64. Olild Ani, son of                 25. Bigni Caech, son of
65. LAEGARI Loac. R. HI. son of       26. Laighnech Faeilech, son of
66. Iugani }Mor, R. H.  See No. 67, 27. Sganlan Mor, son of
Pedigree of O'Neill.            28. Kennfaeladh, son of
29. Roman Duach, son of
II.                  30. Conall, son of
THE PEDIGREE OF FITZ-PATRICK, HERE.  31. Carbri, son of
1. Brian, son of                      32. Nedbuan, son of
2. Tadg, son of                       33. Eocadh Lamh-deit, son of
3. Finghin; (This Finghin had an el-  34. Angridh, son of
der brother, namely, Brian O,g  35. Laegari Bearn-buadach, son of
Lord of Ossory, but he died with-  36. Aengus Osraide; [From this.Aen.
out issue, with the exception of      gus the tribe and tribe-land of Osan only dalughter, who was the        raide (Osree,) in English, Ossory,
grandmother of Lord Duaboyrne.        have their name.] son of
Another brother of his was Dom-  37. Crimthann, son of
nrll, of Gort-na-clethi, and Sea,  38. Erc, son of
fra or Godfrey, of Baile-Amlaeibh.  39. Enna, son of
Margaret Butler, daughter of the  40. Olild, son of
Earl of Ormond, was the mother  41. Lugaidh, son of
of these.  Brothers also to this  42. Labraidh, son of
Finghin were  Tordelbach  and  43. Carthann, son of
Diarmaid, whose mother was the  44. Nuadha, son of
daughter of O'Connor Falghi.  45. CONNLA, son of
Seaghan, or John of Baile-Ui-  46. Bresal Brec, &c.  See No. 49,
Gaeithin, IKellach, and Tadg, who     Pedigree of O'Kavanagh.
dwelt at Coill-Uachtarach, were
the natural brothers of Finghin.)    Of the posterity of Connla, son of
son of                           Bresal Brec, are the following sur4. Brian Og, son of                   names, as we read in the duan which
5. Brian, son of                      begins with the line —" Nas na riogh,
6. Seaghan, son of                    to(ha na d-tulach;" i. e. " Nas of the
7. Fingrhin na Cul-Coilli, son of    kings, the choice of heights" —to wit, the
8. Finghin, son of                   Muinter B3aithin  (Baiheen,) MIuinter
9. Domnall Dubh, son of              Dinnemhla (Dinnoola,) Muinter Osain,




696                         GENEALOGY.
Mtuinter Forannain, Muinter Tuachair, 35. Muirini, son of
Muinter Gulbain, Muinter Linaigh  36. Finncadh, son of
(Leeny,) Muinter Uargusa, Muinter 37. Firrath, son of
Credmochain, Muinter Iradhain, Muin- 38. Firruath Derg, son of
ter Naeidhenain, Muinter Macinechain  39. Firini, son of
Muinter Cobhartha, and many others. 40. Lugaidh, son of
NOTE.-The editor has access to no  41. Armbar, son of
authority whereby he could ascertain  42. CARBRI CLUTHECHAR, son of
the modern names of the last-named  43. Cu-Corb, &c.-See No. 40, Ped,
septs in time for this publication.     gree of O'Kavanagh.
ADDENDA.                                II.
I.                  THE PEDIGREE OF O'CONNOR FALY, FROMQ
THE PEDIGREE OF 0 DWYER, OF KILNA-   DERMOD O'CONNOR'S TRANSLATION O0
MANAGH, FROM DERMOD O'CONNOR'S   KEATING.
TRANSLATION OF KEATING.           1. Donncadh and Maurice, sons of
1. Philip, son of                   2. Coll, son of
2. Anthony, son of                  3. Seaghan or John, son of
3. Diarmaid, sou of                 4. Donncadh, son of
4. Thomas, son of                   5. Seaghan, son of
5. Concobar. or Connor, son of      6. Donncadh, son of
6. Thomas, son of                   7. Seaghan, son of
7. Thomas, son of                   8. Diarmaid, son of
8. Concobar, son of                 9. Kerball or Charles, son of
9. Thomas, son of                   10. Conn, son of
10. Thomas, son of                  11. Calbach, son of'11. Gilla-na-naemh, son of          12. Murcadhl, son of
12. Gilla-na-naemh, son of          13. Murkertach, son of
13. Lochlainn, son of               14. Murkertach, son of
14. Gilla-na-naemh, son of          15. Maclmorda, son of
15. Lorcan, son of                  16. Muikertach, son of
16. Kellach, son of                 17. Donncadh, son of
17. Gilla-na-naemh, son of          18. Conafni, son,of
18. Kellach, son of                 19. Murkertach, son of
19. Lorcan, son of                  20. Congalach, son of
20. Aedih, son of                   21. Connslebi O'Concobair Falghi, or
21. Donncadh O'Duibhir, in English,      O'Connor Faly, son of
0 Dwyer, the first that bore the  22. Brogarban, who was slain at Clonfamily surname, son of              tarf, A. D. 1014, son of
22. Lorcan, son of                  23. CONCOBAR, from whom the surname
23. DUIBISR, or Duibbidhir, from whom   O'Connor, is derived, son of
is derived the name O Duibhidhir 24. Congalach, son of
(O'Duveeir,)anglicized O'Dwyer, 25. Finn, son of
son of                          26. Maelmorda, son of
24. Sbellan, son of                 27. Concobar, son of
25. Suibni, son of                  28. Flapagan, son of
26. Donncadh, son of                29. Kinaeth, son of
27.' Iuadh-flaith, son of           30. Mughrain, son of
28. -Collan son of                  31. Flann Ca Congal, son of
29. Colman, son of                  32. Dimasach, son of
39. Crath, son of                   33. Congalach, son of
31. Ruaidri, son of                 34. Forannan, son of
32. Grellan, son of                 35. Maelmuaidh, son of
33. Lubna, son of                   36. Cathal, son of
34. Lughna, son of                  37. Bruidhe, son of




GENEALOGY.                              697
38. Eogan, son of                         name  Ui Falghi, is  derived,
39. Nathi, son of                         son of
40. ROSA FALGHI, i. e. Rossa of the  41. Cathaeir Mor, &c.-See No. 36
Rig-is....Ton  whom  the tribe-    Pedigree of O'Kavanah.
CHAPTER XI.
THE  PEDIGREE OF THE  POSTERITY  OF LUGAIDH, SON  OF ITHI
DOWN HERE.
THE PEDIGREE OF 0 DRISCOLL, HERE.  38. Degaidh Derg, son of
1. Finghin, called Sir Florence by the 39. Derg Thini, son of
English, son of                 40..Nuadha Airgthech, son of
2. Concobar, son of                  41. Luchthani, son of
3. Concobar, son of                  42. Logh Feidlech, son of
4. Finghin, son of                   43. tErimnhon, son of
5. Mac-Con, son of                   44. tEdamhain, son of
6. Mac-Con, son of                   45. Osa, or Eosamhain, son of
7. Donncadh, son of                  46. Sin, son of
8. Mac-Crath, son of                 47. Mathsin, son of
9. Donncadh Mor, son of              48. Lugaidh, son of
10. Fothad, son of                   49. Edamhain, son of
11. Finn, son of                     50. Mal, son of
12. Mac-Conn, O'h-Edirsgeoil, in Eng- 51. Lugaidh, son of
lish O'Driscoll, son of          52. ITI, son Of
13. Fothad, son of                   53. Breogan, king in Spain, and grand14. EDIRSGEOL, from whom the name is    futher of Miledh, thefounder of the
derived, son of                      Clanna.Milidh,/c.  See No. 89, Pe14. Finn, son of                         digree of Macarthy NMor.
15. Nuadha, son of
16. Donngal, son of                    NOTE. —The names marked thus(t)
17. AMaeltuli, son of                have been inserted from the pedigree of
18. Dungus, son of                   Lucaidh, called Mac-Con, R. H, given
19. Aengus, son of                   in the body of this history.-ED.
20. Folactach, son of                   Of the posterity of Lugaidh, son of
21. Flannan, son of                  Ith, are the following clans, namely,
22. Comdan, son of                   Mfac Flancadha, of Dartraide, i. e. Mac
23. Colman, son of                    Clanchy or Clancy, of Dartry, in the
24. Flannan, son of                  county of Leitrim; O'Cowhig, or Coffey,
25. Brannamh, son of                  O'Curneen, O'Flynn Arda, O'Bari of
26. Edirsgleol, son of                Rinn-Muintir-Bari, O'Leary, of Roscar27. Nathi, son of                     bery, O'Trevor, O'Carnan; and like28. Aengns, son of                    wise the sept of Mac Allen, in Alba i.
29. Mac-Con, 1.~. EI.,                e. modern Scotland, which descenied
30. Mac.-Niadh, K. M.,                from Fathadh Conan, son of the Mae31. Lugaidh. son of                   Con, son of Mac.-Niadh.
32. DIari or'iir- iCer Ulni, son of    NoTE.-Several names appear to have
33. tFer-Ulni, son of                 been left out of this pedigree, in aas
34. tEdbolg, son of                   much as it falls short by several genera35. tDari, son of                    tions, of thle royal lines descended from
36. tSithbolg, son of                 Eber and Erimhon, the companions of
37. Edamrach, or Degaidh Temrach, Lugaidh, son of Ith. The descendants
son of                           of the Clanna Breogain or Irish Brig



698                        GENEALOGY.
antes, are still numerous in the South- upon Corca Luighe, not lon1g since pub.
west of Munster, and North-west of lished by the Celtic Society of Dublin,
Connaught.  For the several family with a translation and annotations by
names, by which they are now known, Dr. O'Donovan.
the reader is referred to the ancient tract
CHAPTER XII.
HERE FOLLOWS AN ENUMERATION OF THE COUNTIES WHICH ARE
IN IRELAND.
IN Mumha' (Moowa) there are six counties, namely, the county of Corcach,
the county of Kiarraide (Keeree), the county of Luimnech, the county of Port
Largi, the county of Tibraid Arann, and the County of the Cross.2  In all six
counties.
In Laighen3 (Loyen) there are eight counties, which are the following seven
that Camden has given down in his work, namely, the county of Kill Cainnigh
the county of Kill Dara, the county of Ketharlach (Caherlagh) the county of
Laeighis (Lueesh),4 the county of the Dangen,5 the county of Loch Garman,
the county of Ath-cliath, (Awh-cleeah,) and the eighth county is the one which
has been recently constituted, namely, that of Kill Mantain.6
In Midhe7 (Mee) there are three counties, namely, the county of Oirther Midhe
(Irrher Mec,) the county of Iarthar Midhe, (Eerher Mee,) and the county of
Long-phort.
In the province of Connacht, there are five countils, namely, the county of
Clar, the county of Gallimh (Galliv), the county of Magh Eo (Aloyoe,) the county of Sligech (Sliggagh,) the county of Liathdrum, a1d the county of Ros Comain.
In Uladh (Ulla) there are ten counties, namely, the county of Lugh-mhagh
(Loovaw), the county of Caban, the county of Fera Manach, the county of
Munechan, the county of Ard Macha, the county of the Dun, the county of
Anntruim, the county of Cuil Rathain,6 the county of Tir Eogain (Teer-owi2,)
and the county of Tit Conaill, or Dun-na-n-Gall.
Mumha; now called Munster.       5 County of the Dangen; i. e of the
2 County of the Cross; i. e. Ormond. Fortress; now the King's County.
~ Laighien; Leinster.             6 Kill Mantain; now Wicklow.
Laighis; now Leix, meaning the    7 Midhe; now Meath.
present Queen's County.              6 Cuil'Rathain; i. e. Colerain, meanthe present county of Derry.
THE END OF THE FORAS FEASA AR EIRINN.




TOPOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.
CHAPTER I.
KINGDOM OF MUMHA, OR MUNSTER.
The  inggqdom of u2nCster, in Irish, MIumha, Mumhan, and Mumlain, is said to derive its
name from Eocaidh Mumho,* who was king of Munster and monarch of Ireland, of the race of
Eber, about eight centuries before the Christian era. Ancient Munster comprised the present
counties of Tipperary, Waterford, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, and part of Kilkenny, to whllich was
added the territory now forming the county of Clare, by Lugaidih.Menn, king of Mullster, of the
race of the Dalcassians, in the latter end of the third century.  Ancient Munster contained
the following sub-divisions, namely, Tuadh Li[ummhan, or North Munster, anglicised Thomuond;
Des ml7re/haen, or South Munster. rendered Desmond; Urmhumia, or Oir lM[umhanr, East
Munster, and anglicised Ormond, and Iur Jbtumahan, or West Munster.
The Eberians, or the Milesians of the race of Eber, possessed Munster; but the descendants
of Ith, son of Breogan, and uncle of Milesius, also possessed in early times a great part of it.
The race of Eber furnished most of its 1kings, many of whom were m-narchs of Ireland. These
Eberians are called by the old annalists Dergtlhini, from one of their kings.
The race of Ith also furnished many kings of Munster, and some monarchs to Ireland. in the
earlier ages. They were called Darini, from one of their kings. The Dergthini and Darini had
frequent contests, before the period of the Christian era, for the sovereignty of Munster, which they
they at length agreed to hold alternately. While the head of one race reigned as kingl, the other
held the office of chief Brehon or judge.
T/ee CZlarna Daeaiddh, another race, settled in Munster a short time before the Christian era.
They were named Degadhs, from Degadh, their chief, and they were also called E;'mutmns, from
Oiild Eronn. a prince of Llster, and grandfather of Degadh. These Degarlians, or Ernans, were
of the race of Erimhon. Being expelled from Ulster by the race of Ir, they went to Munster,
where they were favorably received, and had lands allotted to them by Duach, king of Munster,
of the race of Eber, who was then full monarch of Ireland. The Clanna Degaidh make a remarkable figure in the ancient history of Munster. They had there extensive possessions, and
they were the chief military commanders of Munster, and once nearly masters of the entire
country. Some of them became kings of Munster, and three of them even monarchs of Ireland,
namely, Edirsceol, and his son ~onari; and Conari II., a descendant of Conari I., who was
monarch of Ireland in the beginning of the third century. From Carbri Riada, son of Conari 11.,
descended the Dalriadians, princes of Ulster, who planted a colony in Alba or Stot'and, in the
third century. From them were descended the Scottish kings of the Milesian race, and the
royal house of Stuart. In the second century, the Degadhs becoming so powerful as nearly to
assume the entire sovereignty of Munster, to the exclusion of the race of Eber, they were
attacked and conquered by the celebrated Elgan Mor, or Mogh Nuadath, who expelled them
from Munster, except such families of them as yielded him submlnission. Amongst the chiefs of
the Clanna Degaidh. are mentioned Dari, and his son Curigh Mac Dari, famous warriors in
Munster about the beginnlin of the Christian era.
About the beginning of the Christian era, Eocaidh Abratmh-1Ahmadh, or Eocaidh of the Red
Brows, of the race of Eber, a man of gigantic stature, was king of South MoIunster, and Curigh Mao
Dari was prince of North Munster. Hie was succeeded by Carbri Finn Mor, son of the monarch
Conari. who was also of the Clanna Degadh, as king of Munster. In the second century, amongst
the battles fought by the monarch Tuathal Tectmiar, are mentioned those of Magh Raighni,
and of Clhr or Clare, in which fell Felimrn and Conall, two princes of the Degadhs of Munster.
Eocaidh, the son of Dari, succeeded as king of both Munsters. In the latter end of the second
century, Ea6gean.for, or Mor1h Nutadath, called also Edgfme Tuidlech., or Edgan the Splendid,
of the race of Eber, and'natcrna!ly descended from the Clanna Degadh, was a celebrated
warrior: and having contended for the monarchy of Ireland with Coon of the Hundred Battles,
thev at last divided the island between them; but E]dgan was afterwards defeated and forced
to fly into Spain, where he lived many years in exile, and married Bera, a Spanish princess,
daluglhter to Eber. a Spanish king. and entering into a confederacy with Fraech, the son of Eber,
collected a powerful army, with which they landed in Ireland, to recover the sovereignty from
Conn of the Hundred Battles. and both armies, A  D. 195, fought a tremendous battle on the
plain of Magh Lena, in which Conn was victorious, and Egsan Mor was killed by Goll, the son of.uorna, the celebrated Fenian champion of Col:naught of the Fer-bolg race.
OLmLD )LUM, the son of Eouan Mor by the princess Beran. and son in-law of the monarch
Conn of the Hundred Ba'tles, being married to his daughter Saba. having contended with Luganidh lMac Con, a prince of the race of Ith, for the sovereignty of ~Xullster, defeated him  and
Nemeth, prince of the Ernans. in a great battle at Kenn Febradh, in which Ebrgan, the son of
l0111, slew Dadar the Druid, and Nemeth was slain by Carbri Riada: after this victory, Olild
Olum became king of Munster.
OLILD OLUM had three sons, EVgan, Cormac Cas. and Kian, and by his will he made a reNOTE.-This appendix is chiefly takcln in an abridged form from the description of the Irish
provinces, given in the notes to Connellan's Translation of the Four Masters. It is intended to
serve as a guide to the map.
* It is much more likely that Eocaidh Mumho derived his surname from Mumba.




700                      TOPOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.
galation that the kingdom of Manster should be ruled alternately by one of the posterity ot
E6gan and Corleac Cas.
From  Cornlac Cas, have sprung the Dal 7-C~'ais, anglicised Dalcassians, the various families
of whom were located chiefly in that part of Thomond which lirms the present county of Clare,
and tlhe ruling family of them were the O'Briens, kings of Thomond.
From E-gan, eldest son of Olild Olum, were descended the Eyf/oenachts or Evgeniaezes, who were
styledl kings of Cashel. The Eugenlians possessed Desmond, or South Munster, the present
counties of Cork and Kerry, they held also part of the present county of Tipperary, called the
Eoganacht of Casllel. The head family of the Eugenians were the Mac Carthys, princes of
Desmnond.
From Kian, the third son of Olild Olnm, were descended the Clan Kian, who were located
chiefly in Ormond, and the chief of which families were the O'Carro!s, princes of Ely.
In the latter end of the third century, Lzqaidh.~ene7, king of Munster, of the race of the
Dalcassians, took the territory afterwards called tile county of Clare from  Connaught, and added
it to Thomond. CONALL EClULUATTI, or Conall of the Swift Steeds, son of this Lugaidh Menn,
became king, of Alunster. CAS, the son of Conall, was prince of Thomond, and Carthen Dubh,
the son of Cas, succeeded as prince of the Dalcassians.
DEs-MUMHA.                     O'Rourkes, probably a branch of the O'Rourke,
princes of J'refney; the Mlac Egans were his
THE territory called DEs-MUauRA  [Dasseoa,,'hereditary Brehons, an(l the O'l)alys and 0'or Dass-vura], i.e., South Mlunster, called Des-  Duilins were his hereditary poets and antimnond in Eng.ish, comprised the whole of the  quaries.
county of Cork, and the greater part of Kerry,    2. O'SlUILLIBI.ATN (O'Soolivamuitn), or O'Sulwith portions of the counties of Waterford and  livan. The O'Suilivans held the ancient terriTipperary. In this latter county, the district  tory of Bears, now the baronies of Beare and
called Eanachllt Caisil (Ozeenagy!,tCaslhi)) be-  Bar.try, in the county of Cork, and were thence
longed to Desmond  The principality extended  called O'Sullivan Beara, princes of Beara. Anfrom Brandon lIiils, in Kerry, to the river B'ack-  other branch of the famlhy called O'Sullivan Mor
water, near Lismore, it the county of Water-  were lords of Dunkerron, and possessed the
ford. In later times, when the Fitzgeralds were  barony of Dunkerror, in the county of Kerry,
styled Earls of Desmond, and the Mac Cnrthy  and their chief seat was the castle of Dunkerron,
Mors its Kings, this kingdonm  vas confined to  near the river Kenmare. The O'Sullivwns were
the baronies of Bear and Bantry, some portions  orginally seated at Knockraffan, in Tipperary.
of the south-west of Cork, and that part of  Tlley are of the snine descent as the Mac Carthys
Kerry that lies south of the river Mlang.      of Desmond. They had several strong castles,
The Eugenians ruled as kings over Desmond,  the chief of nwhich were those of Dunboy, Arand the  )alca:ssians over Thomond, and fromnl  lea, and ( arriganass. In the reign of James I.,
each race was alternately elected a king of all,  their extensive possessions were confiscated, in
vwhich mode of government continued frosm the  consequence.of their adherence to the earls of
third to the elev;enth century, when Brian Boi u,  Desmond and Tyrone it the Elizabethan wars,
of the Dalcassian race, became king of AMunster  and the heads of the family retired to Spain,
and monarch of Ireland, and hlis descendants,  where many of them were distinguilhed officers
the O'Briens, were kings of Munster and kings of  in the Spanish service, and had the title of
Thomoind, and the Mac ( arthys, who were then  Counts of Bearhaven.
the head of the Eugenian race, were kings and    3. O'HEDIRSCEOiL, or O'Driscoll, head of the
princes of Desmond.                            Ithian race, was chief or prince of Corcaluighe,
i. MAc CArnTnY   The Mac Carthys of the  otheriwise called Cailbreacha, comprisingancient
twelfth century are thus designated in the topo-  Carbery, an extensive territory in the southgraphical poem of OlIecrin:-                  west of Cork  The O'Driscolls of the twelfth
century are designated in O'lleerin's topographi"Heroes of Munster, from the fortress on the  cal poem:
Shannon,
Are the race of Egan, the son of Olild,     "To the race of Lntgaidh by the shore,
Mac Carthaigh, the maintainer of its tributes,    (I now proceed beyond the bounds),
Is like an incessant stormy wave."             It is not meet to pass the tribe,
I must record tlce warriors' fame.
The Mac Carthys maintained long contests
for their independence with the Fitzgeralds,  "O'Driscoll, head chief of the land
earls of Desmrrond, the Butlers, Earls of Ormond,    Of Corcaltnighe,I now treat of;
and other Anglo-Norman and English settlers,    He seized upon the coasts of G1ri,
and held their titles as princes of Desmond, with    A headland meet for princely lord."
considerable possessions, down to the reign of
Elizabeth. They vere divided into two great
branches, the head of which was lMac Carthy    They had castles at Dunashad and Dunalong,
More, of whom Donal Mle Carthy was created  near Baltimore, the castle of Dunamore on Capeearl of Glencare or Clancare, A. D. 15165, by  clear island, and others.
Queen ERizabetht; the other branch, called Mac    4. O'CAOI.IIT, or O'IKeeffe, is given by O'Heerin
Carthy Reagh, were princes of Carbery. Be-  as chief of Glen Amlain and of Urluachra.
sides the earls of Clancare, the Mac Carthys  Glen Amhain Is now Glanworth, in the barony of
were also created at various periods barons of Fermoy, county of Cork. The O'Keeffes held
Valentin, earls of Clacarthyar, earls of Muskerry,  the territory of Fermuighe Feni, now  the
and earls of AMountcashel.and had several strong  barony of Fermoy, in the county of Cork. which
castles in various parts of Cork and Rerry. Ac-  afterwards was possessed by the Anglo-Norman
cording to W~indele, the Mac Carthy More was  family of Rocie, viscounts of Fermoy, and called
Inaugurated at Lisba,-.?acthir,in Kerry, at  Roche's country. The O'Dugans and O'Coswhich ceremony presided O'Sullivan Mor and  craighs were the more ancient chiefs of Fermoy.
O'Donoghoe Mor; his captains of war were the  They are thus designated by O'Heerin:




TOPOGRAPHICAL APPEND)IX.                                   701
"ChiefofFormoy of well fenced forts,         who became its possessors.  The O'Lehans
Is O'DTgan of Dunmanann-                    took their name from one of their chiefs in
A tribe of Gaels of precious jewels-        the beginning of the eleventh century, named
O'Keeffe is chief of Glen Avon.             Cuilein O'Liatllan, who, in A.D. 1-. 0, Luilt Castle Lehan, now Castlelyons, which vwas tile chief
"O'Keeffe of the brown and handsome brows,   seat of that family. The O'Lehans are thus
Is chief of [Urluachra of the fertile lands,  mentioned by O'Hleerin:
The inheritor of the land of the hospitable,
Which vies in beauty with the fair plains of  "Lord of UTi Liathain, a warrior of fnme,
Meath."                                   Is the hardy leader of the battalions of Munster;
The O'Keeffes were marshals of Desmond and    Of Ui Anmeadha he is rightful chiefprinces of Fermoy. They had several castles,   The host of keen arms, of high nobility."
the chief of which were those of Dromagh and
Dunragil.                                        9. O'FLOINN, or 0 Flynn was chief of Arda and
5. MAO DONXCADHA, or Mac Donogh, was  Ut Bagllamnna, according to O'Ieerin, a territory
chief of Duhalla, now the barony of Duhallov,  in the barony of Carbery, and also of Nluiscrith
in the county of Cork. The Mac Donaghs were  Miotalne, or Mniscrigh Ui Fhloinn, a district in
a branch of the Mac Carthys; they were princes  the barony of Muskery, both in the county of
of D1.hallow, and their chief residence was the  ( ork. The district in Muskery posses~ed l.y tho
magnificent castle of Kanturk                  O'Flynns, according to O'Heerin, extended from
6. O'M.ATIUGsAMsNA (O'i(ho'nan), or O'Ma-  the river Dribseach or I)ripsev, to Ballyvoorhony. The O'lahonys are given by O'Heerin  ney. O'Maelfabhail is another (.hief given by
as chiefs of Ui Eachach, and( also of Kin6l m-  O'tIeerin in tle same territory. The O'Flynns
Bdci; the latter is now the barony of Kinal-  are thus mentioned by O'Heelin:
meaky. in the county of Cork. and U)i Fachach
*Vas in rmodern timnes called Ivaugh, which com-    "O'Flynn Arda of the blooming,woods,
prises the whole peninsula in tile barony of West  A tribe of the purest pedigree;
Carbery, extending from Ballydellob to the bay     Heir to the lordship is each ma.n,
of Dunnlanus. The territory Kinel Aedha also       They are the clan of Ui Baghlamna..was anciently possessed by the O'Mahonys; it
is now called the barony of Kinnalea, in the    "Of the race of Conari of the great forces,
county of Cork. They had also a large territory    Let us speak of the chiefs of Muscrlaide,
in Muskerry, south of the river Lee, in the        A host whom the bright sun salutes
county of Cork, and also another territory called  On the land of the Martineans of Munster."
Tiobrad, in the county of Kerry. They are
thus designated by O'Heerin:                     Ui Baghamna is now the barony of Ibane and
Barryroe, adjoining Carbery.
"Ivahugh  most western part of Banba (Ireland),   10        IAo  AraLAEntn, or Mac Auliffe, given
Is the great estate of O'Mallony-            by O'lleecin as chief of the country from AmA well watered land of fair fortresses-      hain Ella westward beyond Glenn Saileain. This
Extensive are its brown nut producing plains. territory was in the barony of I)ullallow, in the
Of IK-innalmeakly, of pleasant fields        county of Cork, extending westward. from the
nriver Alla to the borders of Limerick  These
All round Bandon, of fair woods,             Mac Auliffes were a branch of tle MAac Carthys,
The warlike chief, in victory supreme,       and possessed the territory called Glen Omra,
Is O'Mahony of the coast of white foam."    in the barony of Duhallow. The last chief of
the faimily was colonel of a regiment in Spain,
and died about the year 1720. Their chief seat
The O'MIahonys had several castles, as those   was Castle Mac Anliffe, near Newin:rl;et. The
of Rosbrin. Ardsntenant, Blackceastle, Ballydes-  Mac Auliffes are thus mentioned by O Ileerin:
mond. I)unbeacon, Dunmanus, Rigmahon, cDunmanus, Ring.,
all a!ong the sea coast
7. O;CsELLACIIA1Ts, or O'Callaghans, giv en by   "Far beyond the beautiful river Ella,
O'leerin  as chiefs of Clar Belr. anl of Kiniel    To the west of Glen Salcain of tall trees,
Aedha. The territory of the O'Callghans was as   A fair land of affluence   ndeniedl;
also called Pobul O'Callaghan, signifying  O'Cal- The tcritory belongs to the noble  ac 
laghan's people, and extended from Mallow west-     lif
ward, on both sides of the Blackwater, in the
barony of Duhallowv, county of Cork, and com-                                y
plrised the present parishes of Clonmleen and  by OHerin, asfollow-s
Eilshannick, an extensive territory contaniing
about fifty thousand acres They are thus men-    It is As E   of the fine level land,
tioned in the poem of O'Heerin: *It is Aes El'a of the fine level land,
tined in the poem of OeeinTo the stately scion of Banba of the ringleted
hair,
"Over Kinnalea of the fertile lands,
nules O'Callaghan of the plain of Beara,     lie is OTedgamna of Dun Durlais."
A land of blue waters ana bright sunshine,                                        efs of
Is that country of the most expanded bay:,    11. O'DoaOrnAcN, or Donneran,  chiefs of
Muiscrith-na-dtri-Mlagh, or Muscr'v of the Three
The O'Callaghans are of theEngentan race, and  Plains, now the half barony of Orrery, in the
of the same branch as the Mac Carthys.         county of Cork. They are thus mentioned by
8. O'LIATnAN, or O'Lelan, by some rendered  O'Dugan:
to Lyne and Lyons, is given by 0 Ieerin chief
oe Ui Liathain, and of Ut Anmchadha. The   "The country of O'Donnegan is certifid,
O'Lehans bad the territory in the county of    The great Muskery of the Three I'r, ins,
Cork. afterwards called the barony of Ba1rry-    It belongs to the host of polished steelmore, from the Anglo-Norman family of Barrys,    A district of charming sunny lands."




702                     TOPOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.
O'Cullenan is given by O'Brien as a chief in   19. O'LAEOGAIRT, or O'Leary, chiefs of U1
same territory.  The O'Cullenans were cele- Laoghaire or Iveleary, were of tle Lugadian or
brated as hereditary physicians of Munster:   Ithian race, and possessed in ancient times the
12. O'Hirc.mi.buE.x, chief of Tuath Saxon, is city of Iloscarbery and its environs. Iveleary,
thus mentioned by O'lleerin:                  or O Leary s country, lay in Muskerry, in the
county of Cork, between Macroom  and Incha" Tuath Saxon of the fair pleasant plain,     geela, where they had several castles, as those of
To O'Hinmanen I proclaim,                   Carrigafooky, Carrignaneelagh, Carrignacurra,
A country of harbors abounding in affluence,  Dundarterk and Drumcurragh.
Belongs to the hardy sept of Clan Conari."    2'). The O'HIES were chiefs of Pobble O'Hea,
in Carbery.
183. O'MAELBLEOGtIAIDII Of the race of Core,   21. The O'DONOVANS, of whom  an account
chief of Muiscrith Treithiine, is thus mentioned shall be given in the chapter on Thomond, likeby O'lHeerin:                                 wise settled in Cork, and were chiefs of Clan
Cathail, an extensive district in West Carbery,
"Muscraide of Trethirni, mighty men,         where they had their chief residence at Castle
Rightful'y belongs to the race of Core;     Donovan.
O'AIae'bVeoghain is powerful over the land,   22. O'BECI is given by O'Heerin as a chief of
Ite possesses the country of smooth plains."   Beantraidhe, now the barony of Bantry, county
of Cork, and is thus designated:
14. O'Brescnu.lT, or O'Brezan,O'Glaisin, O'Mictire and O'Caalidh, or O'Keiley, likewise O'Cia-   " O'Beci, chief of the fair land,
ran, are given by O'Heerin, O'Brien, and O'Ilal-  Rules over Bantry of delightful bloom;
loran, as chiefs of Ui Mac Calli, or I Maccuile,  Heroes, whose noble actions I certify,
now the barony of Imnokilly, cc:nuty of Cork.     They are of the race of Fergus of Ulster."
O'Bregan and O Glaisin are thus mentioned by
O'lleerin:                                      23. The O'CAsEys were chiefs of Coillte Mabineclla, a territory near Mitchelstown, in the
"A valiant clan, warlike in pursuit,         county of Cork.
Ruled mnokilly of the hospitable banquets;    24. The O'HEALYS or O'Helys were chiefs of
Two tribes possessed the smooth plains-     Domhnach Mor O'llealy, or Pobble O'Hllealy, a
O:Bregan and the fair O'Glasin."            large parish in the barony of Muskerry, county
of Cork.
15. O'CurRccm or O'Curry, of Clan Torna, chief  25. The O'HERLIHYS or O'Iurleys were chiefs
of Ciarrlaidhe Cuirchi, now the barony of Kerri- of a district in the barony of Muskerry.O'Heerin
currehy, in the county of Cork, is thus men- states they were hereditary wardens of the
tioned by O'lleerin:                         church of St. Gobnalt of Ballyvoorny, and were
possessors for many ages of the large parish of
"Kelrricurrihy of the fair coast,            that name
that name
That counllty belongs to Clan Torna;         26. Tlie O'NUNANs were chiefs of Tullaleis
O'Curry obtained the ferltile land;        and Castle:issen, now the parish of Tullilease, in
In its green aspect it is like the plains of the barony of Duhallow, county of Cork, in
Meath."                                 which they were hereditary wardens of St. Bren16. O'ConBTIArcnr, anglicised O'Cowhi,, O'Co- dan's church.
whys and O'Colfey of Fuinn Clidna, were cliefs   27. The O'DALYS had the parish of Kileroof Triocha Medhlna, now the barony of West hane, in the barony of West Carbery, county of.Barryroe, in the county of Cork. The O'Cow- Cork, and were bards to the Mac Carthys, O'Mahigs were in ancient times powerful chiefs, and honys, Carews, and other great families.
had seven castles along the coast in the barony   2S. The MAC EGANs were Brehons,in the counof Ibawne anl Barryroe. They are thus men- ties of Cork and Kerry, under the Mac Carthys,
tioned by O'Heerin *                          kings of Desmond. The AMac Egans were also
hereditary Brehons or judges of Ormond.
"Lord of the county of Triocha Medna,'9. The MAC SWEENEYS were military comIs O'Cowhig of the white-stoned shore;      manders under the Mac Carthys, princes of DesTihe land of Clidna is the plain of O'Cowhig,   moond, who, ill the thirteenth century, brought a
In the sea fights they are valiant foes."   body of them from Tirconnell or Donegal. The
Mac Sweeneys had the parish of Kilmurry, in
17T. O FIcIrLLna, or O'Fihellys, a name angli- the barony of Muskerry, county of Cork, and
cised to Field, are also given by O'Brien as chiefs their chief castle at Clodagh, near Macroom, and
in West Barryroe.                             had also Castlemore, in the parish of Movidy.
18. O'BARI is given by O'lTeerin as chief of   30. The MAC SHEEHIES were a warlike clan,
Muintir Bari, and by O'IHalloran as chief of brought from Connaught in the fifteenth century
Aron. In O'Brien's Dictionary the O'Baris are by the Fitzgeralds, earls of Desmond, who apstated to possess a territory and foreland called pointed them  their body guards. They were
Muintir Bari, part of ancient Carbery, in tile afterwards numerous in the counties of Cork
county of Cork. This name has been anglicised and Limerick.
-to Barry, and is often confounded with the Nor-   81. The O'KEARNEYS were a clan near Kinmnan De Barries; they were of the Ithian or sale, in the county of Cork, where they are
Lugadian race, and decended from Fathadh Arg- placed on the Map of Ortelius, and are menthech, a king of Munster in the third century  tioned by O'Heerin as chiefs of Ui Floinn.
according to O'Heerin, by whom they are thus   32. The O'RIORDANs   were a clan of note in
designated:                                   Muskerry, in the county of Cork, and distinguished military chiefs in ancient times.
"Muintir Bari of the fair fortress             83. The O'CROWLEYS were chiefs of KilshalThey are of the race of Fathaidi Airgthech;  low, west of Bandon, in the county of Cork, but
O'Bari rules over the land of waves,        originally came from Connaught.
Which is not surpassed by the smooth plains   34. The O'MURPHIYS, originally from Wexford,
of Mana."                            were a numerous clan in Muskerry.




TOPOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.                                     703
85. The O'AnERns, O'RocAYNEs, and  0' as a chief of Clan Shalvey, and mentioned as
HEYNES, were also old and respectable families follows: *
in the county of Cork.
" Clan Selbaide of the limpid streams,
IAR-MUMaA.                     Recorded as a well known land,
Belongs to O'Domnaill of the powerful hand,
86, The O'Coscos1naIR, or O'Conors, kings of   Who took possession of the brown nut plain."
Kerry, are thus mentioned by O'Heerin in his
topographical poem:                             89. O'CTITAILL, or O'Calhill.  A branch of
the Kiarraide took this name from Cathal, one
"Let us leave the warlike race of Conart,    of its chiefs. The race is of the same blood as
Princes of Erna of golden shields,          the O'Connors Kerry. The name is still numerWe come to oar friends the race of Ferguns,   ous in the counties of Kerry and Cork.
They are entitled to command our attention.   40. The O'CARROLLS, prinoes of Loch Lein, are
mentioned by O'lleerin, and also in the Annals
" The king of Kiarraide over the clans of Kiar, of Inisfallen, in the eleventh and twelfth cenO'Conor rules the land by right,            turies.
(hief of the plain of fertile fields,         41. O'FALmrTI, or O'Falvey, given by O'Heerin
From the sea shore to the Shadnon of clear as chief of Corca Duibhne, and of the territory
streams."                               from the Mang, westward to Fiontraigh or Ventry. Corca Datihhne, is now the barony of CorThey took their name from  Conchobhar or caguiney, in the county of Kerry.  The O'FalConor, one of their ancient chiefs.  The O'Con- vevs were powerful chiefs, and in ancient times
ors Kerrv were very powerful as kings and held the rank of hereditary admirals of Desprinces of Kerry.  In the thirteenth century, mond.
the Fitzmaurices, earls of Kerry, got much of   42. O'SEADHA, or O'Shea, is also given as a
the possessions of the O'Conors, whose ancient chief of Ibh Ratha or Iveragh.
principality was diminished to the territory call-   43. O'CONGITAILL, or O'Connell, is given by
ed Oireacht Ui Chonchobbair, signifying the in- O'Heerin, as Chief of 1iagels 0 q-CGoiechinmn, now
heritance of O'Conor, now forming the barony the barony of Magonihy, in Kerry.  The three
of Iragliticonor. The O'Conors Kerry had sev- last mentioned chiefs are stated by O'Heerin, in
eral strong castles, the chief of which was that his topography, to be of the race of Clan Conari,
of Carrigafoyle, at the small island of Carri, that is. the descendants of Conari II., monarch of
near the mouth of the Shannon, but after the Ireland, in the beginning of the third century,
Elizabethian and Cromwellian wars most of who was of the race of the Clanna Degadh, of
their estates were confiscated.               Munster. They are thus designated by O'Hee37. O'DosNcHIAD11X. or O'Donoghoes. given by rin:
O'lleerin as chiefs of Lough Lein, and also of
Clan Selbhuidhe, and thus designated in his  "After the battalions of Clar Broni,
topography, together with the O'Carroll.:       Let us treat of the clans of Conari,
Fair Fenian heroes from Tulach-an-Trir (an
"O'Donozhoe of Longh Lein                         ancient name of Tara,)
And of the Flesg, who is full powerful,     Rulers in Munster of the smooth streams.
Rules over the Clan Selbaide,
They are men of happiness in Munster."    "' Three chiefs who possessed the lands,
Of Corca Dublni of the fine forces,
"O'Donoghoe of Lomugh Lein-                  O'lF alvev the warrior, and O'Shea,
HIe is prince of that Eoganacht;            The strengthening bond of the eastern parts.
O'Carroll is there our kinsman,
Of pure and noble origin."                " O'Connell of sharp swords
Rules over the shady fortress of Magonihy,
The O'Donoghoes were of the Eugenian race   Like a stately tree in hazel woods,
of Ibli Echach, tilhe other great sept of which   Is the Munster leader of the cavalry forces.
tribe took the name W,'Mahony; and orilinally
settled in that part of Desmond, now the county  "From Mang, westward, is the estate,
of Cork, where they possessed a large territory,   Possessed by O'Falvey as far as Ventry;
extending from Iniskean to the borders of Ban-   Without dispute an extensive land,
try, and from thence northward to Ballyvurnv   Was obtained by O'Shea, chief of Iveragh."
and Masroom, comprising the district called
Iveleary, (which is part of Carberv,) and also a   44. O'LAEGnATN, O'Leyne, or Lane, chief of
great portion of Muskerrv: but in the twelfth Ui Ferba; and O'Duibhduin, chief of Ui Flancentury. the O'Donoghoes were expelled from  nain, districts in the county of Kerry, are thus
Cork by the Mac Carthys and O'Mahonys, and mentioned by O'IIeerin:settled in Kerry, where they became proprietors
of all the country about Loch Lein and Killar-  " O'Laeghain. a warrior of fame,
ney.  The O'Donoghoes continued powerful   We found him over Ui Ferba;
chiefs down to the reign of Elizabeth, when, in   O'Cathnendaigh obtained the land,
consequence of having joined the earls of Tyrone   Firmly settled under the high hills of Cualan.
and Desmond, most of their estates were confiscated. The O'Donoghoes were divided into  "UTi Flannain an extensive land,
two great branches, namely, those of Loch Lein,   A verdant country of delightful streams,
and those of G!enflesk, the latter called O'Dono-   O'Duivdin over this fertile soil,
ghoe More  The O'Donochoes, lords of Loch   Rules as its chief and protecting lord."
Lein, had their chief castle at Ross Island, on
one of the lakes of Killarney, the romantic ruins
of which still remain.                          * These must not be confounded with the
38. O'D)oMrIsNaLL, or O'Donnell, of the same great O'Domhnaills or O'Donnells of Tirconnell.
race as the O'Donoghoes, is given by O'Heerin — ED.




.04                      TOPOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.
45. The O'NtDis and CLAN CONeARI are given  county of Kerry, on the 11th November, 15s8;
chiefs of Alltraighe, or of C!ar Ciarraidhe, that his head was cut off and sent to Eng!and by
is, the plain of Kerry, and thus mentioned by  Thomas Butler, earl of Ormond. as a present to
O'Heerin:                                     the queen, who caused it to be fixed on London
bridge.
"The men of Altraighe maintain,                Tile other principal Norman families of the
Two chiefs of the plain of Kerry:           county of Cork were the Cogans, Carews, ConA clan of the most active in pitch of battle.    dons, or Cantons, de Courcys, Itarrys, Barnwalls,
Their chiefs are O'.\ edi and Clan Conari.'"  Barretts, Roches, Mac Gibbons, or Fitzgibbons,
a branch of the Fitzgeralds; the Fllcymmings,
46. O'DUNODAIDII, or O'Dunady,chiefofSlieve  Sarsfields, Nagles, Alartells, RuNssels. Pigotts,
Luachra, that is, the district about the moaln- Prendergasts, Morgans, Cotters, Murroghs, Suptains of Slieveloglher, on the borders of Limerick  ples, Stackpoles, 5 bites, liodnetts, ients, &c.
and Kerry, is thus mentioned by O'IIeerin:D
]'Danish ~familie.
"The plain of Luachra, a productive country,    The Coppingers, Gou!ds, Gallways, Skiddys,
Belongs to the liberal O'lDinady,'   and Terrys, who are considered to be of Danish
A tribe of hard fighting battles,           descent, were in former times very numerous and
A district of fair vell-w atered lands."    powerful fi&hilies in Cork, and a vast number of
them were lord mayors of that city, from t.he
47. O'MrrcHeARTTAIsosr, or O'Moriarty, and fourteenth to the seventeenth centlury.
O'Hinnlasbhain, chiefs of Aes Asdi of Orlar ial-   The DE COUIvCYS were barons of Kinsale,
taigh, are thus mentioned by Oe'Hcrin:        and some of the family took the I-ish name of
Mac Patrick, being descendants of one of the
" Aes Asdi of the plain of flocks.           earls named Patrick.
Which the chief of O'Moriarty obtained;          The DE BARRs, Anglo-Normans, became
A fair countrv of blooming aspect,          earls of Barrymore, and gave name to the baro.
W~hicllh was possessed by O'IIilnnesvan."   nies of Barrymore and Earryroe; some of them
took the name of Mac David.
The O'Aforiartvs had the parish of Templenoe.      The RocsEs. The Anglo-Norman   mily
and some adljoining districts in the barony of of de la Rupe or Roche became viscounts of
and somerron.                                 Fermoy, and their territory was called lioche's
48. The MAC GILLTICUDDYS, a branch of the country.
O'Sullivans. were chiefs of a territory in the     The SARSFIELDT  Anglo-Normans, setted
barony of Dunkerron. and from them the moun- in Cork, and also in Limerick. The Sarafields
tains called Mac Gillicuddy's Rcteeks got their of Limerick were created viscounts of Kilmalrname.                                        lock, the first who got the title being Sir Domi49. The MlAac  ELTaGOTTS were an ancient nick Sarsfield, chief justice of the co;moon pleas,
family in Kerry, from whom the parish of Bal- in thereign of James I. Patuick SarsfieCd, of the
Iymacelligott, in the barony of Truglienackmy,  sane family, was created earl of Lucan by James
got its name.'IL., under whomn he was celebrated as a com50. The MAC FINrrNENs, a branch of the Mac- mander of the Irish forces.
Carthys. or accordine to others, of the O'Sulli-   The BARRsETTS gave name to the barony of
vans; the AMac C-cha:,s; the OScanlans; and Barretts;-theCoNDoxss, a brave Norman sept,
O'llarneys, w^ere also clans of note in Kerry..who were amongst the last to yield to Cromwell,
to the barony of Condons.
Anglo-Korman families in, Desmond.             The DE,B RNWALLS, Anglo-Normans, were
1. The FITvzGEar.DS, descended from the An- styled lords of Bearhaven, and once hlad large p, sgio-Norman chief. Maurice Fitzgerald, tvho got sessions in thatd istrict, but were expelled-    y the
large plossessions in Corlk and Kerrvy, and whose'Sullivans, and having settled in Dublin and
posterity were created earls of Desmonud in the  lealth, founded several rlent families. ris the
reign of Edward I1I. Another branch of thle Barnwavlls, barons of Trimblesttos-n and Turvey,
Fitzgeralds, also descended from Maulrice Fitz- and viscounts Kingsland.
gerald. became earls of Kildare. The earls of      The IlouNETTs. Some of the family of
Deesnond became one of the most powterful Itodnett took the Irish name of Mac Sherry, and
families in Munster, and several of them were  their chief residence was at Court Mlac aherry;
lords deputies of Ireland in the fourteenth and from the Magners, Castle Malnner get its name.
fifteenth centuries. Gerald Fitzgerald, sixteenth  The NAGLES had extensive possescions, and
earl of Desmond, was one of the greatest subjects from them  the Nagles molntains derive their
in Europe. and held the rank of a Piince Pala- name; of this family was Sir IRichard Nagle,
tine, with the authority of a provincial king: he attorney-general to James II.
had many strong castles, and his vast possessions   A nglo-NAorman favniil a in RYei-r.
extended 1,50 miles over the counties of Cork,   10. The FITZrAArr{IcEs, earls of Ierry, deKerry,v Litrelick. and Waterford, comprising scended from  ARaymond le Gros.  Raymond
nearlv six hndlel tllousand acres of profitable having formed an alliance with Dermod Mao
land, independent of immense tracts of waste Cartlly, king of Desmond. got large grants of
lands, not surveyed, so that his entire property  landlsin Kerry, in the territory called Lixnaw,
amounted to nearly one million of acres. He which, from bling possessed bl his son Maurice,
had an immense number of vassals, and could got the name of Clannalrice. From  Maurice
raise at a call a force of two thousand foot and  were discended the Fitzmaurices. earls of Kerry.
six hundred horse. and had besides, in lis reti- The other principal English families were the
nue of his own kindred, five hundred gentlemen  Browns, Stacks, Godfreys, Rices, &c.
of the Fitzgeralds. The earl of Desmond having resisted the Reformation in the reign of                      obilitfy.
Elizabeth, and waoged war against the English   The following have been the titled families in
government, his forces after long contests were the county of Cork: The De Courcys, barons or
defeated, and he himself was slain by one Kelly, rinsale and Ringrone: the Fitzgeralds, earls of
an Irish soldier, in a glen near Castle Island, in Desmond, barons of Decies, and seneschals ot




TOPOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.                                         7 05
Imokilly. The Carews, marquises of Cork. The    2. O'DEsAnaDrr, or O'Dea, cllhef of Trlocha
MIac  Cslrthys, earls of Cla:tcare, earls of Clan- Uachltarach, called also Kinel Fermaic and Disert
carthy, ca is of Muskerly, andl ear:ls of Mount- Ui Dhegha, or Dysart O Dea, now the parish of
casllel.''lle Brrys, baroLs of O!ethan, viscounts I)ysart, barony of Inchiquin, county of Clare.
of BLutteCalt, alnd earls of BArrymore.  The The O'Deas are thus mentioned by O'lieerin:
Roches, barons of COatlelough, and viscounts of
Itcermoy                                             " With due respect we give the lead
In Kerry, the folwlowing have been the noble         To the higih lands of Trioeha Uachtar,
f-tniiies Since te reign of l;king Jolli. Tlhe F'itz-  O'Dea is the inheritor of the country,
Lnaurices, b trons of Lixnaw and O'Dorney, vis-         Of the brown nut producing plains'
counts of Clansniaurice and earls of Kerry; the
Fizfregraids, knights of Kerry; tie Brownls, earls   The O'Deas had several castles in this terriof Keunnua'e, and viscounts ofi C.st'eross.      tory, of wvllich some ruins still remain.
TUATH MIUIH1 1OR TuIOJIOm )D.             3. O Cuir, or  O'Quin, chief of  Muintir
Ifernain, a territory about Curofin in the county
Truo.mOND under it3 ancient kings, extended  of CGlare. IUi Ifernain, was the name of the
from tile Isles of Arran, oil the coast of Galway  tribe who possessed the territory over. whlich
to Siiablsh  iblinni, now  the Fe!inminountains,'Quin wars chief. They are thus mentioned
in the county  of Tipperary, and thence to  by O'lleerin:
Knock-rny, in the county of Limeric'k; and fiuon
Loophllead;t the mouth of the Slhannion, to         " O'Quin of the honest heart,
Oesory, on the bords rs of Tipperary, Kilkenny,        Is chief of the bountiful Ui Ifernain,
aniI the Qe:en's county, thus colslpri.ing tie          Whose land is fruitful and fair,
county of Clare, and the greater part of tLhosC         Around Curofin of the banquets."
of Linerick, and T'lipperary.  But ii!ater timles,
Thomnond was conlrned to the present county   4. O'FLAITIret, or O'Flattery, and O'Cathaill,
of Clare.                                        or O'Calil, cliieis of Finn-coradh.  They are
1. T1IE  O' B-mEs, KINGS OF T ONM6DD. -The thus designated by O'tteerin:
sept of O'lirien, or O'B rian, took its lamlno  from
its ancstor brian B  or ba. From  thell time of  " O'Flathri who commands our prai'e,
this monarch, it hail beeomne not only the ruling    Possesses the land of Evinchora,
family of DI)nieassianu, but of the whlloe race of   Thle country of O'Cahil to the east andt west
Eber. At the tisne of the Eng-'lilh invasion,   Is the smooth plain of the fields of yews."
the  brave Domnanll O'Briain, one of its incntbers,
was sovercign of Cssllel, of which he was last;5. O'MAOILMEDA, chief of Kinel m-Baith, or
king.  The O'Bri0ns Icaiintainled a lonr and Brentire, now Brentry, near Callan lill, in the
fierce contest for their independence, with the counity of Clare.  They are thus mentioned by
Anglo-Neormana.   Thev  succeeded in nmaintain- O'lteerin:
ini  their power as kings of Thlomond and
Linerick, until tile year 15[ I, when Murcadlh  "Kinel Baith a numerous tribe,
()O'Brien renounced the titles of O'Briain, and    The noble chiefs of i rentiri,
KZing of Thomond, for the English style of Ea1rl   O'iculmesa of the brigllt fair plalns,
of Thalmond.  ThM  O Briens are still a very    Possessed the woods about delightftl Elnigh."
ntumerou.s r.nie, though  scattered throughout
Mn:ster. anl I Lit s r,and other parts of Ireland.    6. O'TIAITIcuIeR, or O'Hehirs, chiefs of Hy
NoTZ. —Uilike  mii)3t other Irish races, this sept Flanchadha and IHy Corinac, districts in the
still possesses, amon-g  its memnbers, one man, barony of Islands, county of Clare.  They are
withi  whvin none, either of the clan of B:ian B13- thus designated by O'lIeerin:
romha, the tribe of Cas, thlie line of Eber, or of the
whole nation sprlling from  Milesli of Esbain,' Of the race of Eogan of Oirir Clisch
can dispute the first place. Other tribes are,   Are the Ui Cormale of the fair plain,
it is t[ue, stiil repre;ented by nomninal chiefs,   To O'llehir belongs the fertile country,
who usulrp thie ancicnt elective titles of their    A lord from whom great nobles sprung.
sel ts-ittles whiccl could only  be conferredl,
eitiher by tile voice of tlie miajority of their tribes,      Chiefs cwho are powerful in each house
or by thi head-chlieftain of their kindred —and    Are of tile noble clans of O'llehir,
some do oeen coin new qua-,i-trish tit'es for   They rule over Ui Flanchaofhospitable man.
therisclves, never heard of in the days when            sions,
the Gtels dflnriihed   They dub  themselves    They are noble and well armed Fenian warT,le O'-or T'lhe  1'cc —mierely because they           riors."
chlince to retain, or acquire some portion of the
ancient inheritanlce of their klindred; but they    7. O'DIrrcnnIcNN. or O'Duigin, chief of Muinnever think of askin- the consent of tile me;n- tir Conlochtaidh, a district in the parish of Tombers of such kindred to the assumption, and  graney, in the barony of Tullaglh, county of
they never at all consider vwhether they are  Clare, is thus mentioned by O'-leerin:
themnselves the best men of their several races.
The Ui Briain, however, are now represented         "O'Duigin of fair and ruddy face
by no such self-createdl chiefs. W.ITLIAM STII'II     Rules over cormely Muinter Conlochta,
O'BPmrcs, needs not the assumption of the ancient     A chlief who gained his possessions'title of his fanmily, he needs not set forth his     By force of spears in battle.'
clear and unquestioned descent from its founder,
Brian Borociha, for the chieftain's wand is his,   8. O'GRXDA, or O'Grady, chief of Kinel Donbecause he is pre-eminent amongst his tribe  ghluile, a large territory comprising the present
for his personal wortlh, ctnd fi)r his devotion to  barony of Lowser Tullah, in the county of Clarae
the cause of old Ireland —because he is the first The O'Gradys are thus designated by O'I-eerin,
of his tribe in truth, honor, chivalry, and all and several chiefs of them are mentioned in our
that ennobles the hero, the patriot, and the  annals.
ma. — ED.




706                     TOPOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.
" O'Grada took the entire lands             15. O'MAELMACABA, or O'Mackessy, chief of
Of the profitable Kinel Dongali,         Corca Oiche; and O'Berga, chief of Tuath Rossa,
His swords vellow-hafied are keen,       districts in the county of Limerick, are thus
Strong are the blows of his forces in battle." mentioned by O'Heerin:
9. MAc CONMARA, or Mac Namara. The Mac   " Corca Oichi of pleasant woods,
Namaras have taken their name from  one of    Land of white mantles and clear streams,
their ancient chiefs in the tenth century named  Land of great fertility,
Cumara, a descendant of Conall Echluath, or    Is governed by O'Maelmacasa,
Conall of the Swift Steeds, who was king of    O'Berga of fair country held,
Munster in the fourth century. The word Cu-    The districts of Ui Rossa, a rich portion."
mara makes, in the genitive, Conmara, and
signifies a warrior of the sea. The Mac Nama-   16. O'MAELCITALLOIN, now Mulho!land, a chief
ras were chiefs of Tricha Ced Ui Caisin, which in Caenraidhe, now the barony of Kenry, county
territory is now the barony of Tullagh, in the of Limerick, is thus mentioned by O Hieerin:
county of Clare; it contained also part of the
barony of Bunratty. The Mac Namaras are also    "The Fenian chief of Kenry of fair lands,
sometimes styled chiefs of Clan Cuileain, which  Is O'Mulcallen of the numerous tribe."
was the tribe name of his family. The Mac Namaras are thus designated by OHlleerin:        17. O'CLEIRHCINN and O'FLANNABrIIA, o r O'
Flannery, chiefs of Dal Carbri Aedhbha, a ter"A princely chief of well fought battles   ritory in the barony of Kenry, in the co nty of
Is Mac Namara firom Magh Adair,          Limerick, thus mentioned by O'Ileerin:
A land of riches is his country,
It is the territory of Clan Caisin."      "The portion of th,, delightful Dal Carbri Eva,
Pri, ces of Cashel of white standards,
The Mac Namaras held the office of hereditary   Lasting is his prosperity to the co ntry,
marshals of Thomond, where they had numer-   The brave an.l high chief 0 Cleircinn."
ous castles.
10. O'CONCITBIIrAIR, or ()'Conor, chief of Tri-   18. O'DONNOBRAIN, or O'Donovan, is given
ocha Ced Fer n-Arda and of Corcamruadh, the by O'Brien at the word ( airbre, as chief of
ancient name of the baiony of Corcomroe, in the Cairbre Aodhbha, now the barony of Kenry,
county of Clare, anciently called Crioch Cuirc, ]n the county of Limerick, which was the anor the territory of Core, which name it got from  cient territory of 0 Donovan. O'Cleirchin, and
Core, prince of the race of Ir from Ulster, who O'Flannery; O'Donovan is thus designated by
settled there in the first century. The O'Conors O'Heerin:
are thus designated by O'Heerin:
" Heirdom of O'Donoran of Dun Cuirc,
" The territory of Fer Ard~a of go a,          Is this district, the land of his fortune,
Corcomroe of the hosts of flashing battalions,   To him without tribute belongs Maghmoill,
O'Conor obtained the land,                   And the level plains down to Shannon."
The heights from delightful Conagh."
The O'Donovans had their chief castle at Bruree.
11. O'LocnHLAINs, or O'Loughlin, chief of   19. O'CIARMAIC, anglicised O'Kirwick  and
Boirenn now the barony of Burren, county of Kirby, chief of Eoganacht Ani, called by O'HalClare, sometimes called Eastern Corcomroe; loran, Ani Cliach now the parish of Knockaney,
they are thus mentioned by O'Heerin:         in the barony of Small County, county of Limerick. The O'Kerwicks are thus mentioned by
"Warlike O'Lochlin, leader of hosts,         O'Heerin
Rules o'er the fertile plains of Burren,
The lands of Core he holds by right,        " Of Eoganacht Ani of wealthy lands,
A country of cattle and abundant wealth."    O'Kirwick is the mainstay of the territory,
A country inhabited by the most noble tribes,
They held their rank as lords of Burren down   They are Ui Enda, Ani and Auluim."
to the reign of Elizabeth. These O'Conors and
O'Loghlins were of the same descent.           20. O'5MAELDrIN, or O'Muldoon, is also given as
12. MAc INEIRIDsI1E, or Mac Eneiry, chief of a chief in Eoganacht Ani, and thus mentioned by
Corca Muikedha, also called Conaill Uachtarach, O'Heerin:,or the barony of Upper Conello, in the county of
Limerick.                                     "The race of O'Maelduin from Dun Cais,
Over Eoganacht Ani in order rules"Mac Eneiry, hero of precious gems,          Ol
Rul Mac neiry, hero of precious gems,      A numerous tribe from o'er the waves,
Rules Corca Muikeda of the mounds;         These armed Fenians from Aughrim."
A noble Fenian who doth flourish,
As doth fair bloom on apple tree.'          21. O'CINNFAELAIDTI, now O'Kinealy, chief of
18. O'BmITUAIDsE, a chief in Ui Conaill Gab- Eoganacht Grian Gabhra, a district comprising
bra, now the baronies of Upper and Lower Con- parts of the baronies of Coshma and Small
ello, in the county of Limerick, is thus men- county, in Limerick, and thus mentioned by
tioned by O'Heelin:                          O'lleerin:
O" O Billry, bestower of cattle,           "The Eoganacht of fertile Grian Gaura,
Was chief of fertile Conall Gaura,         A land producing sweetest apples,
Bounteous men of the fair plains,          A crown of female households in fame,
Rich lands of teeming crops."              Belongs to O'Kinfaela of red arms.
14. O'CUILLEIN, now O'Cullane and Collins;   22. O'CoNuINoG, a name anglicised to GunO'MIAuACsIAIN, or O'MEEI{AN; and O'SHEEHAN, ning, was chief of Criodh Saingil and Aes Greni,
were chiefs in the baronies of Conello, county of which territories are now  comprised in tho
Limerick.                                    barony of Small county, in Limerick. Crioch




TOPOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.                                   707
Saingil is called Single Land, and situated near  " O'Dicholla's possessions by inheritance,
Limerick. The O'Conuings are thus mentioned   Are in Corcomroe of the intrepid battalions,
by O'iUeerin:                                 Also O'Macleithigh of the hospitable,
Who maintained his hereditary rights."
"Aes Greni of the finest plains,
Was owned by O'Cuning of Crioch Saingil,    80. O'DROIGHNEAIN, O'DRENNAN, or Drinan,
He cheerfully held the beauteous Grian,   chief of Slieve Else Finn and of Kinel Sedna, a
From the noble race of Eogan."            district on the borders of Clare and Galway, is
thus mentioned by (,'Heerin:
23. O'CAELAIDIT, O'CADnLA, or O'Keely; and
O'Maille, or O'Malley, are given as chiefs of Tu-  "The lands about the fair Slieve Else,
ath Luimnighe, or the district about Limerick.   Are possessed by the Clan Sedna of melodious
24. O'CEADFADHA is given as chief of Triocna-   bards,
Cead-an Chalaidh, called Cala Luimne, that is,   A tribe who firmly support their clans;
the port or ferry of Limerick.                Chief of their territory is O'Drennan."
25. O'HAoDIIA, O'HEA, or Hayes, chief of
Musgraidlie Luachra, a territory lying between   31. O'NEILL or O'Nihell, chief of Clan DelKilmallock and Ardpatrick, in the barony of buidhe and ofTradraidhe. adistrict in the barony
Coshlea. in the county of Limerick, is thus de- of Inchiquin, county of Clare, is thus mentioned
signated by O'Heerin:                       by O'Heerin:
" O'Hea, the bestower of cattle,            "The land of Clan Dalvy of the poets
Has held the wide Musgraide Luachra,        Was ruled by O'Neill. chief of Finnluarach,
The tribe of the fair land of melodious song,    The forces of Tradree came to his fortress,
Dwelt along the great salmon stream."       The descendant of the yellow-haired chiefs."
26. MAC DOMHNAILL, or Muinter Domhnaill,  82. The O'CREAGHSE, many of whom were valand O'Baiskind, chiefs of Triocha Cead Corca iant chiefs, and gained several victories over the
Baiskind, which, according to O'Halloran, is now  Danes. and on one occasion, having worn green
the barony of Moyarta, in the county of Clare. boughs in their helmets, they from this circumO'Maolcorcra is given as chief of Ui Brecain, stance got the name O'Craoibh, which signifies,
now the barony of Ibrackan. In the poem two of the branches, which name was anglicised to
Corca Baiskins are mentioned, one of which was Creagh.  Of tisis family was Richard Creagh,
the barony of Clonderlaw. Mac Donnell's dis- Roman Catholic Archbishop of Armagh, who
trict was called Darach: he was also called O'- died A. D. 1585, an eminent writer on ecclesiasDonnell. These chiefs are thus designated by tical history, and the lives of the Irish saints. \
O'HIeerin:                                    83. O'DoBHsARcHoN or O'Davoran, chief of
Muintir Lidheagha, or the O'Liddys, the tribe
"Two cantreds we record,                    name of this clan.
The two delightful Corca Baiskins,
The Mac Donnells were its inheritors,      "The O'Davorans of wise and learned men,
The host who have shared the country.        Chiefs of O'Liddy of whom I treat,
They belonged to the clans of Sinnell,
"Another chief of this land of music,         And are the maintainers of nobility."
Noble is the origin of his descent,
Was O'Baiskinn's stately tree,              34; The O'MOLONEYs were chiefs of CuilteA tribe that marched with force.           nan, now the parish of Kiltonanlea, in the barony
in the barony of Tully, county of Clare.
"The lord of Ibrackan of silken garments,     35. The O'KEARNEYS, chiefs of Abhuin Ui
A chief who musters mighty forces,         Chearnaidh, or O'Kearney's river, a district
Is O'MIaelcorcra of wide fame,             about Six-Mile-Bridge, in the baronies of Tul a
Whose land extends from both the bays.     and Bunratty, county of Clare.
86. The O'CAsEYs given as chiefs of Rath"The two territories of the entire Fochla,  conan, in the barony of Pubblebrien, county of
Are possessed by the valiant race of Conari,   Limerick.
Along the land of Braen-magh'tis true,      37. The O'DINNAIIANS or O'Dinans, chiefs of
Its lawftul defender is O'Keely-           Uaithne,now the barony of Owneybeg, in LimeWe leave the race of Conari of Battles,    rick.
The princes of Erna of the golden shields."  38. The O'HALLINANs   and MAC SHEEHYS,
chiefs of Ballyhallinan, in the barony of Pubble27. MAC MATHGHAMHNA, or Mac Mahon. The  brien, county of Limerick.
Mac Mahons succeeded the above chiefs as lords   89. The O'HALLORANS, chiefs of Faith ui-Halof Corca Baskinn; and possessed the baronies lurain, a district between Tulla and Clare, in
of Moyarta and Clonderlaw, in the county of the county of Clare.
Clare, down to the reign of Elizabeth. The   40. The MAC GIOLLA IOSACHTA, a name anMac Mahons are a branch of the O'Briens, the glicised to Lysaght, are placed on the map of
posterity of Brian Boru, and therefore, of quite Ortelius, about Ennistymon.
a different descent from the Mac Mahons, fords   41.' he MAC CONSIDINEs, are placed in the
of Monaghan, who are of the race of Clan Colla. barony of Ibrackan.
42. The O'DALYS, in the barony of Burren.
28. O'GOc AtN, or O'Gorman, was chief of   48. The MAc GILLEREAGES, in the barony of
Tullichrin, fa territory comprising parts of the Clonderlaw.
baronies of Moyarta and Ibrackan, in the county   44. The MAC CLANCYS, in the barony of Tulla
of Clare.                                     45. The MAC BRUODINS, ill the barony of
Inchiquin, all in the county of Clare.
29 O'DICHOLLA and O'Maeleithigh, are given   The following families are also placed on the
as chiefs of Corcomroe, in the county of Clare, map, in the county of Limerick: the Mac Arthurs,
and thus mentioned by O'Heerin:              in the barony of Pubblebrien; the O'Scanlans, in




708                      TOPOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.
the barony of Pubblebrien; and the O'Mornys, sionSand rank in the county of Waterford, and
in the barony of Lower Conello                 their territory was tlransferred to the Le Poers,
In the year 1180i, king Henry II. granted the and other Anglo-Norman sett'ers, but there still
kingdom  of Limerick to Herbert Fitzherbert, survive several families of tile 0 Felans, or Pihebut he having resigned his claims, it vas granted  lans, in the counties of Waterford, Tipperary,
by king John to William and Philip de Braosa. Kilkenny and Queen's county.
In the latter end of the twelfth, and beginning   2. O BRIos was tile other head chief of Desies,
of the thirteenth century, the Anglo Normans and of the same descent as O'Felan. The O'Brics
penetrated into Thomond, and formed some set- were styled chiefs or lores of South Desi, an
tlements about Limerick, under Wi;li.m  de extensive territory in the southern part of WaBraosa and William de Burgo; and in the thir- terford, but in early times were expelled from
teenth century, king Henry  IIi. gave a gant of that county by the Eugenians of Deslond. The
the whole kingdom of Thomond, or O'Bi;ier's  territory of tile O'Brics was also called Iath
country j, to Thomas de Clare, son of the earl of O'Nechach. Tlhe O'Felans and O'Brics are thus
Gloucester; and tile Fitzgeralds, Barkes, and designated by OIIcerin:
other Anglo-Norman families, also got large; ossions in Limerick and Clare. The O'Briens, and    "Twvo gentle chiefs whose names I tell,
other chiefs, maintained for centuries finrce con-  Rule the Desi, I affirm it,
tests with the Anglo-Norman and English set-       O'Bric the exactor of tributes,
tiers, in defence of their national independence.  With him the wise and fair O'Felan.
The following were the chief famiiies of AngloNormans, and early English settlers, in the    "In Moylacha of the fertile slopes,
counties of Limerick and Clare. Tile de Burgos     Rules OFcelan for the benefit of his tribe,
or Barkes, Fitzgeralds, Fitzgibbons, a branrei of  Great is the allotted territory
the  Fitzgeralds, tile  r e Clares, De Lacies,     Of which O Felan holds possession.
Browns, ~Barretts, Roches, Russels, Sarjfields,
Stritches, Purcells, &c.                          "Ui Neachach the delightfui lies
In tile southi of woody Inis Fail,
OIR MUMnHA AND TIIE DESI..                 O Brice's fiir lot a!ong the waves,
OnoroND, in Irish Oir fremsmha~n, Ocr aiesa,     From Lee Logha to Liathdrum."
or U-m'~runf a, [Orrooa, or Orwrtrz,] silnlfy
ing East Munste:, was one of the large divisions   8. O'BRra~.  The O'Briens, a branch of the
of ancient Munster.  Ancient Ormond estended   O'Briens of Thomond, had extensive possessions
from Gabhrau, now Gow-ran, in the county of rlong the Crmmnreragh iountains, comprising
Kilkenny, and westward to Gnamirehoill, or the valleys between Dungarvan and the river
Cleath-choill, [:.azwhill, or Clta/gillj] near the Suir.
town of Tipperary, and from Bearn~in Eli, now    4. O'CROTTIs.   The O'Crottles, a branch of
Barnanelly, rt parish in the county of Tipperary  tlie OBriens. plinces of Tllomond, possessed the
in  hicel is situaterd tire Devil's Bit Mlountain, country about Lismore, and there are still many
and from tre soiuatetvard to Dv ilean-Bi-tahricn, families of the name in the county of Waterand from thence southward   to Oilean-ui-Bhric, ford.
[ll2awn-ee- Fe,]or 0 Brics Island, near Bonmal-  5. Tre MAC CGAIsr. or Magraths, are old
heon, on the coast of Waterford, thus comprising
the greater _part of Tipperary, with parts of the and respectable families in the county of Waterfoird.  There are several other ancient Irish
counties of Kilkenny and Waterford. The name families such as OSheas, ORonaynes, OHelys,
of Ormond is still retained in tihe two baronies   mlles such as O'Sheas, O'lonaynes,  O'Helys,
of Orrnomrd, in Tipperary.                     O  a'Cllagllans, O'Coghlans,   O'Mearas, &c., in the
TIE DPEsr, was an ancient territory comprising  coUrty of Waterford.
the greater part of Waterford, with apart ofr, the fo                     ing  ae been the
chiefs and clrrns of note.  Olleerin  thus desTipperary, and got its name from the tribe of l
the Desi. The Desians becoming numerous and t             e  n co encing his t
powerful in Munster, Aengus, king of Mulnster that territory:
in tlhe fifth century, conferred on thlem additional lands, and annexed to tleir territory Magis  " "We shall tell of our visit to Cashel of kings,
I  And to the race of Core.who practise no evil
Fernhen, which extended north of the river Suir,   And to the race of  or  o practise no evil
as far as Corca Ethrach, comprising the country    We shall unfold th hstory of thr trbs,
called Macharl Casil, or the Plain of Cashel, and  ndall unfold the hstory of their trlbes,
districts abourt C!onmel, forming the present         of treir sages and of tieir people.
barony of Middlethird, with p)art of Offa, in Tip-  "Let us hencefortr record each hero.
perary. The territory comprised in this grant
of king Aengus was distinguished by tie name
of Desi Tuaiskert, or North D)esi, and the old       parts;
fterritory  in Waterford, wvas called  Desi Dole-   A country of fruitful woods, the chief fortress:
territory, in Waterford, was called Desi  Deiskert, or South Desi. The n.ame of Desi is still   We are wvell acquainted with their history.
retained in the two baronies of Decies, in the
county of Waterfqrd, Tire two principal fami-  "Let us give the lead to tire chief territory,
lies of the Desi were the O'Felans, princes of   To iashel of the smooth and level plair,
Desi, and the O'Brics, chiefs in Desi.           It is known by the name Caorc Ets bach,
And boldly over districts march its battalions.
Iri.sm  Chi.efs anrd Clanes qf Ormon -l and Desi.
The fr)llowing is an account of the chiefs and  "There dwelleth the loid of the land,
clans of Ormond and Desi, and the territories    At Cashel of the brown-nut plains,
possessed by each in ancient and modern times,   In comfort and joy holds he his saway,
collected from various works. In Deei the fol-   A protector to the country of Cashel."
lowing were tile chiefs and clans:
1. O'FAELIN, or O'Felan.  The O'Felans   1. O'DoNcurADrA, or O'Donoghoe, was chief
were princes of Desi.  Malachy O'Felan was of Eoganacht of Cashel, and some of them were
prince of Desi at the period of the Anglo-Nor- styled kings of Cashel.  These O'Donoghoes
man invasion. Soon after they lost their posses- were of the Eugenian race, and the same as the




TOPOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.                                     709
Mac Carthys, kings of- esmond. They are thus    " Over Ui Cearnaigh of valiant hosts,
designated by O'lleerin:                          Rules O'Echtijern of the land of tribes,
A j(oyful country is that of the upright man;
"The Eoganacht of Caqhel is the plain of Kian,   As far as the hospitable port of the Shannon.'
Ua Dorncadha is its line.l, inheritor.
Its name in other times was Femen;            6. O'SENCHAIIN or O'Shanahan, by some renIt extends to the border of the brown nut derel to Shannon. by others erroneously angliplain."                                 cised Fox. The O'Shanahans were chiefs of a
territory called Fealdha Ui itongali, (Faa ee RonThe ancient kings of Cashel, or Munster, of neelie), or the Woods of Ui Rongali, comprising
the Eagenian race, were inaugurated on the the country about Eibhline, or Slieve Felim.
Lock of Cashel.                               The OShanahans are thus mentioned by O'Hee2. O'KIERBIAIL, or O'Carroll, prince of Eli, riu:
who was the head of the Clan Kian race, as the
Mac Carthys were of the Eugenians, and the    The forest of Ui Rongali of the level plain,
O'Briens of the Dalcarslans.'the territory of   Is possessed by the hospitable O'Shanahan,
Ely, in Irish Eli, got its name firom Eli, one of   The entire country about Eslinne
its kings in the lifth century, and from being   To the smooth plain of Maenmagh."
possessed by the O'Carrolls, was called Ely O'
Carroll.  It comprised the present barony of   7. O'DUBInRAI, or O'Doorie, of Doon Branni
Lower Ormond, in the county of Tipperary, and Tuath Congali is thus mentioned by O'Heewith the barony of C' olisk and part of Bally- rin:
brit, in the Kii g's county, extending to Slieve  " Tie Clan Dubhraic of Dun Brainni,
Bloom'Mountains, on the borders of the Queen's   Are chiefs of the country of Ui Congalei;
countv. The O'Carrols are thus designated by   Their fortresscs lie round the beauteous BoO'lIeerin, wsho states that they ruled over eight   ruma,
suborldinate chiefI:                           A tribe remarkable for their golden tresses."
"Lords to whom great men submit,               8 O'D              O'DrsUIR, or ODwyer, is
Are the O'Carrolls of tile plain of Birr;   given by O'tIeerin as chief of Ui Amhrith, or
Princes of Ei as far as tall Slieve Bloom,  Aimrit, and thus designated:
The most hospitable land in Erin.
" Ui Aimltit, the land of hospitality,
" Eight districts and eight chiefs are ruled     Is inerit,  the land of hospitality,
Is inherited by the tribe O'Dwyer;
By tile prince of Eli, land of herds;           Above all others they own the country,
Valialnt in enforcing their tributes,           They are the pillars each battle ford."
Are tile troops of thle yellow-ringleted hair."
The O'Dwyers were a branch of the HeremoThe O'Carrolls had their chief castle at Birr, nians of Leinster, and chiefs of notes in ancient
in the King's county. As princes and lords of times; they possessed an extensive territory in
Eli, they were very powerful from the twelfth  the present barony of Kilnamanagh, county of
to the sixteenth century.                     Tipperary, and there are still several respectable
I                                  families of the name in that county. Soime of
3. O'CNrNEIDIsE, O'Kenneidigh, orO'Kennedy. the O'Dwyers wvere commanders in the Irish
The O'Kennedys are given by O'lleerin as chiefs brigade in the  service of France.  General
of Glenn Oilmra  Thev were of the Dalcassian O'Dwyer is mentioned by Mac Geoghegan as
race, and possessed the barony of Upper Or- governor of Belgrade, and there was an admiral
moend, in the connty of Tipperary. They were O'Dwyer in the Russian service.
very powertul chiefs, and held their rank from    9. O'DEASIIA, or O'Iea, and O'Iolilla, are
the twelfth to the sixteenth century.  The given by O'Heerin as chiefs of Sliabh Ardach,
O'Kennedys are thus mentioned by O'Heerin:   now the barony of Slieveardagh, in Tipperary,
and thus mentioned in the topographical poem:
" O'Kenneidilh, the reddener of spears,
Rules over the smooth and wide Glen Omra,      "Slieve Ardagh of the fair lands
Iis tribe possesses the brown plains gained     O'Dea inherits as his estate,
by valor;                                     A band of that tribe from the head of the
lIe has obtained his land without opposition."      plain,
And also O'Holilla from Binn Bracain."
4. O'ToIRDnELsnAIDIT, or, as it is written in
the Books of Leacon and Ballyinote, O'Urthaile,   10. O'CARTIAIDIT, or O'Carthy, chief of Mulanglicised to O'Hurley. The O'lturleys are of scridh Iarthar Feimin, is thus mentionf by
the D;alcassian race: this tribe -was also desi-  O'tleerin:
nated Clann Tail, a term which wvas applied to
the Dalcassians. The O'Hurleys are thus men-    "The portion of O'Carthy by right
tioned by O'tleerin:                              Is AMuscry-Iarhar-Feimin,
Rath-na-m-Brandubh is now its name,
"O'Hurlcy of the tribe of Tail,                  A name well known to fame.
Near dwells Killaloe of St. Flannan;
Delightful are its woods and productive its   This territory, was situmated near Emly, in Tipplains,                                 perary.
And from thence westwaard to the Shannon."   11. O'MEAP.AIDaJE, or O'rMeara, chief of Ui Fathaidb, Ui Niaill, and Ui Eochaidh Finn. The
Of the O'lTurleys of Limerick was Dermod  O'Mlearas had an extensive territory in the baO'Hurley, a celebrated archbishop of Cashel, in rony of Upper Ormond. county of Tipperary,
the reign of Elizabeth.                       and the name of their chief residence, Tuaim-ui5. O'ECrtTIGElrN, O'Ahern or HIearne, chief Meara, is still retained in the town of Toomaof Ui Cearnaidh. is thus mentioned by O'llee- vara, in that district. They are thus designated
iin:                                          by O'Heerin:




710                      TOPOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.
O'Mcara, a goodly prince,                 Owney and Arra, as mentioned in the foregoing
The chief of Ui Fahy, hold wide lands,     verse.
And Ui Niaill of the race of Eogan the Fair,    17. O'DONNGALAIDNr, or O'Donnelly, and O'Are all the heroes whom I enumerate."      Fuirig, probably O'Furrey, are also given by
O'Heerin as chiefs in Muiscrith Tire, and thus
12 O'MEACHAIR, or O'Meagher, by some ren- designated:
dered Maher, chief of Crich-ui-Cairin, (KOreehee-Kcarrin), i. e. O'Carin's territory, is thus  "Over Muscry Tire of hospitality,
mentioned by O'lieerin:                        Rule two of the most noble chiefs,
O'Dongally and also O'Fuirig,
"Powerfully have they peopled their land,     They are of Ormond of the smooth fertile
The O Meaghers of the land of Ui Carin,          plain."
The tribe who dwell at Bearnan Eli,
It is right to extol their faime."           18 O'SUILLIBIIAIN, or O'Sullivan, is given by
O'Heerin as chief of Eoganacht Mor of Cnoo
The O'Meaghers were formerly powerful chiefs, Raffan, and thus designated:
and had the territory row forming the barony of
Ikerrin in the county of Tipperary    " O'Sullivan, who delights not in violence,
13. OFLANAGAIN, or O'Flanagans, chiefs of   Rules over the great Eoganacht of Munster;
IUachtar Tire, (Ooghtar Ileerie, and of Kinel   Around Knocklraffan lie obtained his lands,
Arga, arbe.thus mentioned by O'Heerin:         After the victory of conflicts and battles."
"O'Flanagain holds the country                 These O'Sullivans afterwards migrated to
Of Uachtar Tire, a rich and fertile land,  Beara, in the county of Cork, and of them  an
Which always yields the choicest produce-   account has been given in the note on Desmond.
The plain is clad with a matchless verdant   19. O'FOGARTAIGH, or O'Fogartv, is given by
mantle.                                O'Ieerin as chief of Eli Deiskert, or south Ely,
and thus designated:
" O'Flanagain of the mighty hand,
Is chief of the entire of Kinel Arga,       "South Ely of well established tributeslie is of the race of Tadg, the son of Klian the   Its clans are of the race of Eocaidh BaldergSage,                                    A country of affluence, abounding in hazel
Of the noble hospitable stock of Olild."         woods,
It is the land which O'Fogarty obtained."
It appears that there were two chiefs of these
O'Flanagans, one of Kinel Arga, a district in Eli   The O'Fogartys were chiefs of Eile ui FhogarO'Carrofl. in the King's county, and the other of taigh, [4yly Ogtrty,] now the barony of ElioUachtar Tire, or the upper country, in the baro- garty, in Tipperary, and had their chief seats
ny of Iffa and Offa, on the borders of Tipperary about Thurles; it was called South Ely to disand Wat rford                                tinguish it from North Ely, or Ely O'Carroll.
14  O'BREISLEIN, or O'Breslan, chief of Ui   20. O'CuILLEIN, O'Cullen, or Collins, chief of
Athaidh Eli, is thus mentioned by OlHeerin:    Eoganacht Aradh; and O'Caeillidhe, or O'Keely,
chief of Aelmuighe, are thus mentioned by O'
"Ui Athaidh. of Eli, as far as the shore,  Heerin:
It was obtained by the force of battle,   " OCullen who has gained good fame,
Its fierce chief and brave in conflict,    Rules over the hospitable Eoganacht of Ara;
Is O'Breslen of the well-proportioned limbs."   Over the land of the fair Aelmaah,
Rules the powerful and hospitable O'Keely."
This territory appears to have been a part of
Ely O'Carroll, situated near the Shannon. These    The districts of these chiefs appear to have
O'Breslans were probably a branch of the O'Bres- been in the barony of Owney and Arra, in Tiplans of Donegal                              perary.
15. O'CEIN, or O'Kean, chief of Hy Fodhlladha,   21. O'DUINECIIAIR, a name anglicised to O'
a district supposed to be on the borders of Tip- Dinnahane  and O'Dinan, and Dannaher, is
perary and Waterford, is thus mentioned by O'- given by O'Heerin as chief of Eoganacht Uaithue
Heerin:                                      Agamar, and thus designated:
" Ui Foladha it is our duty to record,     "  aithni Agamar, green are its hills,
We treat of its blooming forest,           The Eoganacht of the land of Cathbadh;
QKean from Machuin Meadaidh.               Delightful are the borders of the extensive
s fame shall spread over tribes."            plain,
The hereditary right of the clan of Dinna16. O'DONNAGAIN, or O'Donnegan, is given by      hane."
O'Heerin as high prince of Aradh, and thus designated:                                       This territory comprised part of the counties
of Tipperary and Lirnerick, now the baronies of
"The high prince of Ara, who rules over its Owney and Owneybeg.
tribes,                                  22. The O'RYANS, or O'Mulrainas of Tipperary,
Is O'Donnagain of the hospitable countenance  afterwards possessed Owney in Tipperary, and
The country yields plenty of produce,      Owneyhurg in Limerick, and are placed there
To the prince of Ara in great abundance."    on the Map of Ortelius. These O'Ryans were a
clan of note.
23. O'MERODtlA, or O'WlERGAIN, chief of EogaThe O'Donnegans were of the race of the   23 OMERos uAorotstm ANt chiefof oganacht Ros Argid, is thus mentioned by O'tIeorin:
Clanna Deagadh, or Ernans of Ulster, and, ac.
cording to the Annals of Inisfallen. were princes    "To O'Mergain belongs the land
of Muscraide Thiri, now Lower Orinond, in Tip-   Of the fair Eoganacht of Ros Argid,
perary, or, according to O'Halloran, they had    A lord in peace and a vulture in war,
Aradh Cliach, in Tipperary, now the barony of    Resides near the great Carn Mughan'i




TOPOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.                                     711
24. M&A  CEoco, or Mac Kengh, chief of Uai-   31. O'HAEDIIAOAIN, or O'tIogan, chief of
Chne Tire, is thus mentioned by O'Heerin:     Crioch Cein, is thus mentioned by O'feerin:
"Over Uaithni Tire of rich produce,           "O'Hogan of Crioch Klan,
Rules Mac Keogh as his chosen place,          Rules over Clan Inmanein of the fair land,
The O'Lynches, men of lands,                  A district which enriches each field,
D w ell in that wood (opposite the foreigners."  With honey-dew on all its blossoms."
This territory was situated in ancient Owney,   The O'I-Iogans are placed on the map of Ortel.
which comprised the present baronies of Owney  litus about Lower Orrond, in Tipperary.
and Arra, in Tipperary, and Owneybeg, in Lirn-   37. MAc GILLA-PHOILL, (i. e. follower of St.
crick.                                        Paul,) or Mac Gilfoyle, chief of Clan Conliagan,
25. The O'LoiNoSIGII, or O'Lynches, a tribe is thus men ioned by O'Heerin:
mentioned in the foregoing verse, as dwelling
here opposite the foreigners, which means that  "A ehief for whom the nut trees produce fair
they were in the neighborhood of the Danes,         fruit,
tvho possessed Limerick.                        Rules over Clan Quinlivan o& immense wealth,
26. O'IFEs-NAN, or O'Heffernain, and O'Cath-   The scion of Birra of the warlike tribe,
alain, probably O'Callan, were chiefs of Uaithne   Is Mac Gilla-Phoill of fair fortune."
Cliach, and are thus mentioned by O'Heerin:
The Mac Gilfoy4es appear to have been located
"Uathlni Clinch of the fair bright sun      on the borders of Tipperary, and the King's
Is an estate to the O'lIceffernans,       county.
A clear plain by the site of each hill,    83. The O'QurINLIVAN,  some of whom have
Mildly O'Callan enjoyed th.e land."       changed the name to Qainlan, are numerous in
Tipperary and Limerick.
This territory was situated in the barony of  38. O BANAN., or O'Bannan, chief of Ui De-hi,
Owney and Arra, county of Tipperary, and these is thus mentioned by O'Heerin:
O'Heffernans were a branch of the O'Heffernans
of Clare..  "Ui Dechi, the fine distriet.of hills,
27. Mac LONG.tIIAIN, probably Long, or Lon-     Thie extensive land of fair fortresses,
gan, chief of Crota Cliach, and of Ui Cuanach,    A fruitful country which they inherit,
is thus mentioned by O'llecrin:                   Is the estate of the tribe of O'Bannan."
" A territory was obtained about Crota Cliach,   Ui Dechi, the territory of the O'Bannans, ap-'By Mac Longahtan the gr.ay-haired chief;    pears to have been situated in the north of TipIle is lord there of the,ai:l of hosts,   perary, and there are still many families of the
Ui Coonagh of the fair fertile lands."      name.
t                                    835. O'AcLOIT, (O'1IalChi, perhaps O'Ilally,)
This territory was situated partly in the bar — chief of Tuatha Faralt, is thus mentioned by
ny of Owney and Arra, in Tipperary. anld partly  O'lleerin:
In the barony of Coonagh, county of Limerick.
The O'Dwyers, of whom an account hai been  TTuitla  Farart of the clear O  ohds,
given as chiefs of Kilnarnanagh, in Tipperary,    T-at is the telritory of Oh-Alcdi;
were also located on the same territory as   A plain of fair f)rtre-ses and a numerous trib.
O'Longachan, and are mentioned in the poem as   Like the lands of the shallow rivers of Tatti.
follows:                                        36. *O'CATITAIL, or O'Calil, chief of Corec
" Of the samne tribe who own this land,       Tine, is thus mentioned by O'Hleerin:
Are the O'Dwyers of the white teeth,a Tn the bloomng s proftable,
The plaini of the seventh division and fine        uc T   the bloom        profitale,
fortress                                    About Drurnsalech of )lue streams,
Is justly possessed by that free tribe."        O'Cahill above all others obtained
An inheritance at Aclhaidh Iubhair."
23. The O'LONAOGN3ns were the ancient chiefs   The district of the O'Cahills appears to have
and proprietors of Cah1ir, and the adjoining dis- been situateon the borers of Tierar  and
tricts in T'ipperary, till the fourteenth centlry, Kilkenny, and the name is still numerous in
when they were dispossesse l by the   utlers, Killenny and Carlow.
earls of Ormond. Tie O'Lonargans were n n-. ini  ODIsNARTAIoS  (O'Dnerty,  and
cient times, a powerful cdIn, and three of them  O'AIMRITI1  O'llamery,) ale mentioned as clans
are mentioned in Ware. in the twelfth and thir- by Olleerin, and appear to have been located
teenth centuries, as Archbishops of' Cashel,  on the borders of Tipperary and Kilenny
29.'T'he Mac-t-~BrFNa, a blranch of the 0'   86. O'SPrmAIN, or O'Spillan. chief of Ui LuighPriens of Thomneond. descended from Brian Roe deach, is thus mentioned by OHeerin:
O'Brien king of Thomond, had large possessions inl thle barony of Owvney and Arra. in Tip-  "The clief o' Ui Luighdeach, (ee Lusedaglh)
perary. and in the barony of Coonagh. county of     of slender spears,
imerick. They were stled Mae-l-Briens, lords   Is O'Spilian of the bright spurs;
of Arra and Coonagh, and several of them are   Mighty is the march of the warriorsbattaions,
mentioned in tile colurse osf these Anna's.     Increasing as they proceed along the plains of
8}). MAC CORcc.atN. or Mac Corcoran, chief of     Macha"
Clan Ruainni. is thus mentioned by O'lteerin:
The territory of the O'Spillans appears to have
" Clan Rnainni of the flowery avenues,        been situated on the borders of Tipperary and
A delilhtfu! fair land of small streams:    Kilkenny.
Mac Corcoran from the populous country,
From  the borders inhabited by far-haired    *There was another family named O'Cahill,
beroes."                                located in Kerry, and one also in Connaught.




712                       TOPOGRAPIHICAL APPEN2DIX.
-9. The,tMAC El AN3, in the barony of Arra,   6. Tho B3rTLtns  The anccstors of the But.
were hereditariy Brehons of Orinond; and the  1er; cane fromn Norm:in       y to lEn!:and, with
O'Cullenans, or Mae Calllenan, were herod tary  Wiiii:un the Cnq;leror,: {1" H.,t exsie),ivC posphysicians, and many of thmn very learnod men  ses3sion; in No -ok, Saffol,;!and L:lncalster.
in Ormonid   The O'Ianraghias, OLaniir:l3, Their origilfl nnme was Fitz- oaittr, fiom W      Valand Magrath, were also clans of note in Tippe- ter', one of their anlcestors, and T'isobzll  Fitzrary; and the O'Iloneens, (in Irish O'-,6rLLUi4- Walter c.;le to Ireland lwitlh kin- lenry E.,
yiL,) who anrlicised the name to Green, were an1! got large grants of land.s, +and llal thle osji(. 
numerous in Tipperary and Clare.                 of chief Butler of Irelmind conferred on himn, the
duty attached to which was to attenI at the corAnglo-Norman at! Etaglis..,fltnilis in. T;D- on ition of the kings of Erngland,  and present
p3rcary ald  lcate.jbrd.             thern with tlle first cup of wine; fironi the office
1. The POwER3, or LE  POEg:S. A. D  117T. of the Butlership of Ireland they took the nrime
King Hlenry II. gave a grant of Desi, or the of Butlel.  The Butlels becale very nu!ero:us
entire county of Waterford, together with th  and  powerful in Irellnl, andl acqlired very excity, to hberrt La Poor, who itsa, hi3s in rihal. tensive possessions in Tipperary, Killkenny, WaTeLe, to Roberreat variou pwho     3 his  rornshal. terforld, Wicllow, Carlow, Queen's coiunty, Dubthirteenth to the seventeenth century, creozted lhe reign of le, with, Liinei., Tippeilry was foxed
barons of Donisle andl of Carrahrnsore, viscounts into the Co CLt!! Palntine of Ol')esl d, under thei
of Decies, and earls of Tyrone   Thle Le Pooas Butlers.  The' Butlers thus beco:nin-l. so powerbecame very numerous in the county of Water- ful, different bralnces of thecll forished niony
ford.  They have now changed ttle name to of the most dtinguished flnilies in Irelontl
Power.  They poss3csed the gre.ter part of the;ruid a great numhei of thenl, fioun tIle thlilteenth
baronies of Decies aind Uppe:third, and their to the e.ihteenth century' he'd the offces of
territory was called Power's country; there are lordjtices,   lords cputirc, and tilord lietenmany f'mrnilies of the name in the counties of lor rJandsti ne differ  e nt branches eptiof them
Waterford and Kilkenny.
2  The Fia L, earle of Deemond, offurnished numerous noble tanilies, being created
2  The FITZGERNLD3, earls of Desmonl, of            t.            n 
whom an account has been given in the section  at varimis porit;lso elrls, marquises. andl dukes
on Desmond, had extensive posee3Si(ois and nu- of Orin nd, earls of Ossory, earls of Carrick, earls
menrose castles in the county of Laterl'ord, in 1ti   of Kilkenny, earls of Gowran, earls of Glengall,
and e:arIs ol Arran;  viscounts  of Clonrnore, of
baronies of Coshmore and Coshbride, and hlad  Ikerrii, orf hurlesr  of Mointilrrett,  and of G
also the title of barons of Dcns.      5           eIkerrin, of rhurles, of Mounv-,tgrrett, anl of Gal
also the title of barons of Decies. 
S. in the reign of Henry VI, A. D. 1417,      moy; and berrons of Cahir, of Clounhls-rennan, of
8. In the rein of Ienry V[,   D  14, t   Tullyophe'i;l, of Arklow, of Aughr'ii, of Kells,
celebrated warrior, Sir John Talbot, Earl of and of Dunboyne,
Shrewsbury, lord  lieutenant of Ireland, got
grants in Waterford, together with the castle                       Nobility.
and  ind of Dungarvan, and the title of earl of   The fol!owving  ha.ve been the noble fami'ies in
Waterford, and viscount of Dungarvan.            Tipperary and'Vaterfordl fro  the reigl of King
4. The chief families of English descent settled  John to the present tine: —f  IlYVeM;t  rd, the
in Wat.erford and Tipperary, were the following: Le Poers,,nowv Powers, i barons of Donis!e and
The  Aylvwards, Anthonys, Butlers, Browns, of Crralghmore, viscounts of 1)('ics, alld earls
Brunnocks, Barrons, Buirkes, Conmerfords, D' cf Tyrone.  The Fit.tzgeralds, barons of Decies
Altons, Ducketts, Everards, Fitzzgralds. Greens, and earls of D)cononf;  thoe Talbots. earls of
Grants, Itacketts, Hales, Jacksons, Kentings,  Shrewsbury in LEngand. and earls of Waterford.Mairdevilles, AMocklers, Ngents,. Powers, Pre:l- and Wcxforrd in Ireland: the O'Briens, earls of
dergists, Itoches, licees, Sherlocks, Strons;, To- Clare in the reign of James II., i:(- also the title
bins, Walls, Walshes, Wadd(ings, Wyses, Whites, of viscounts of Lismnroe  the O'C:llaghlans are
&c  Tile early English f:rnilies principally pos- viscounts of Lis-nore in Waterford, but residents
sesserl the territor., called friom them  Gal-tir, in Tipperary.  In, Tipu)pes(lr?/,   the Butlers, of
signifyiins the country of the foreigners, now the  whom an account has been given ibove were
baronv of Gaultiere.                             carls, marqnises, and dukes of Ormnond, and
5. Tlle WALSIHES, called by the Irish Bran- also had the f)lowving titles in Tipperary: earls,
nahs, or Brethnachs signifying  Britons or of Carricek, earls of G!ongall, viscountsofTlhuries,
Welshnmen, as they originally came firom Wales, viscounts of Ikerrin, and barons of Cahir. The
are still very numerous, and many families of Mac Carthys were formerly earls of Mountthem in the counties of U aterford and Kilkenny. cashel.
CHAPTER II.
THE KINGDOM OF LAIGHEN, NOW CALLED LEINSTER.
Tlrn ancient kingdom of Leonster comprised the present counties of Wexford, Wicklow, Carlow
and Queen's county, the greater part of Kilkenny, King's county, and Kildare, and t:ht  part oi
Dublin, south of the river Liffey   Parts of Kilkenny, bordering on Tipperary, an(d the southern
parts of thIe King's county, be!ongeal to ancient Mtunster, anrd some of the northern part of the,
King's county belonged to the province of,lath.  The above-nzmed territories continued to
be the limits of Leinster down to the rei{n of Elizbeth, but in after times the old kingdoin of
Meath was added to Leinster, and also the oounty of Louthl, which was part of the ancient king.
dom of Ulster.
Leinster was ancientlv called Go.-ten or Coifi Gall tn, and got its name, as statedl in O'Conor's
Dissertations, and in Keating, by its being possessed by the tribe of the Firbolgs, called Fir.
Gallen, signifying Spear-men, bat it afterw:uvars got the natno of Laiyg'wea  from the ciranistance
related by Dr. Keating, under the reign of Labraidh Loingsech.




TOPOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.                                           713
Cuazr,'sticaae, or Ceior& Cialan,, that is the country Cualan, was the designation of the
ancient territory now forming the county of Wicklowv, and its name was derived from Cuala,
son of Breogan, one of tho commanders of the Milesian colony from  Spain, who took posssesion
of this country, called after him Sliabh Cualan, or the mountain of Cuala, now Delgalny.
The Mac MuRnoousnor sept of MacMlurcadha,  have been a name applied to their territory,
gave kings to Leinster for some time previous  and is still retained in the Glen of Imnalie, in
to the English invasion. They maintained their  Wicklow, where they had their chief residence;
Independence, and held the title of kings of Lein-  and they also had castles at Carnew, Castlekevin,
ster, with large possessions in \extiord and Car- Castledermot and other places.  They  took
low, down to the relin of Elizabeth, and waged  their name from Tuathal, one of their princes
war with the Engishi for many centuries. Art in the tenth century, and being one of tle head
Mac Miurrough O'Cavenlgh, farmons for his con-  flamilies of Leinster, of tile samle race as the: ac
tests with the English forcei, under king Rlichard  Murroghs, they were eligible to be kings of that
II., in A. D. 13 9, was one of the most celebrated  province. The celebrated St. Lawrence O'Toole,
chiefs; Donal O'Cavena-hl, surnamed Spainah,   archbishop of Dublin at the time of the.English
or the Splmli:rd, was a failos leager in Leinster, invasion, wvas son of Murtogh O'Toole, prince of
hi the wavrs against Elizabeth. Tile ancient kings Ui M urelaigh. They maintained their rank, and
of Lihlster had royal residences, at Dinnrigh, held large possessions down to the Elizabethan
near the river Barrow, between Carlow and  and Cromwellian wars, when their estates were
Leighlin. and at the Nsaas in Kildare.  In after  confiscated.  Sir Charles O'Toole, an officer in
tines thevy had castles in the citv of Ferns, whllich  king James's army, is said to havo been the
was their capita!, and at Old-l;oss, in WexfIrd, person wlro killed the Duke Schomberg   at the
and at lBallyinoon, in  Cariow.      The  Mae  battle of timhe Boyne.  Several of them  were
ZMurrogrhs were inaug urated as kings of Leinster,  distisnguisledl officers in the Itish B1rigades in
at a place called Cnloc-Ln-Boha, attended by  the service of France and Spain. Tihe O'Tooles
O'No an, the'king's inarshal, chief of  ortll, in  are still nulmerous in the counties of \i iclklow,
Catrlow, by  OD)oran, the  chief  Brehon  of Dublin and Kildai'e.
Leinster, and by Mac Keogh, his chief bard.   3. O'BRAIxN, O't roin, or O'Byrne, is thus menThe Mac iluirroghlis are thus designated in the  tioned by OIIeerin:
topographies of O'Dugan and O'le-Ierin:
"Anorller exalted noble tibe,
"' Let us nowN proceed to Lcinster,               Are the O'Byrnes, a clan fierce in pursuit."
A vide land of rich warriors,
A widle land of rich warriors,                    The O'Bvrnes took their name from  Brunn, one
Of lastina filme are the mansions of the heroes,
Where lie the tombs of the valorous Gael.         of tlleir- chiefs in the tenth centry  Tllhey pos
ses-ed an extensive territory in the county oa
Wiiclo0w, called 1ly Briuin Cta'an, ccmsprising
"From the east I shall now recount                the greater part of the barony of Ballliacor,
The nob!e chiets of the province in duc order,   awhsich was called O'Byrne's country, anl:also
A scion from awhorn no unkindness we'll receive, the Ranelagh; lience they were styled lords of
With Mac MAurroghl we take our abode.            slanelaih, and had their chief castle at Ballinacor.
The O'Tooles and O'Byrnes, at the head of the
" We give the lead from the chiefs of the Gacl    Wicklow  clans, for a period of three hInndred
To the princes of the eans of Cathaeir;          years. maintained an incessant warftsre waith the
Let us menition respectively  in  the eastern  English, whom they defeated in numerous fierce
country,                                    engagements.  The O'Bvrnes are still numerous
Each chief of them over his own territory.        in Wicl-low, Dublin, Kildare, and many other
parts o Ireland.
"The highll kin. of Naas. the tree of Brogha,       4. O'CEALLAIGII, or O'Kelly. and O'Taidlg, or
The Lord of Leinster is Mac M lrrogh,             O'Teige, are gi-en by O'Ileerin as chiefs of Ui
The province lie holds in his possession,        Mlaile, and of Ui Teigh, and are thus Imentioned:
The Fenian hero charters all its lands."
" O'Teige obtained a productive country,
The O'Cavenarghs in modern times became             Imnaile, a land which is free from glooum;
the representatives of the Mac Murroghs, kings        O'Kellv obtained UiTeigh eastward
of Leinsterl.  They held a territory called Ui       By purchase for his Valiant clan."
Cavenalh, now  the barony of Idrone East, in
CarlhOw.                                         This ancient family of O'Teige have anglicised
2. O'TUATIIAIL or O'Toole, chief of the Ui Mur- tile name to Tighe, and the O'Kellys here meneaslaigh, is thus mentioned by O'Heerin:         tionedl awere of the same race as the Mac Msnrro(hs, O'Tooles,  O'Byrnes, and other families
"O'Toole of the fortress famous for mead,       called Cahirians, or Leinster Iteremnonians, and
Is chief of thi valilnt tribe of Ui Murray,    are therefore of a different descent frons the
As far as Almain of melodious music,          O'Kellies, princes of tly Malni in Galwauy.  The
Of veridant, grassy, fertile plains."         0 Kellies were chiefs in Csioch Ctralai, a name
which  was applied to the northern  part of
lti  uTlrray, or Ui lMnreda.igh, was an extensive MWicklow, and cr.mprised the baronies of Iathterritory in the western part of Wicklow, corn.. down, Neawcastle, and Arkilow.
prisinx the greater part of the present baronies   5. MAC GILLA-MOCIIOTMOG  is given by O'.
of Taibotsto;wn anl Shilelagh, in that county; ITeerin, as a chief of Cualan, and thus menand it appeans firom the I:oem tlat the power o(f tioned:
the O'Tool(s extendled  as far as Almain, now
the hi l of Allen, in the county of Kildare, Stius " A lord whose lands are rich and vcrdant,
containing  a -reat portion of the baronies of   Is the gentle MIac Gilla-Mocholmog,
Naas, Kilcielen, Klikea and Mnoone, and Connell,   Free and powerful warnrirs in tleir avoodgS
In that coultv.  The O'Tooles were in later   They rule over the mild men of Cualan."
times styled princes of Imnalie, which appears to




71~:                     TOPOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.
The chief called Mac Gilla-Mocholmog, is men- The territory of this chief being mentioned as
tioned in the contests of the Anglo-Normans, in the extreme southern land, must have been
under Strongbow  and his followers, with the in the barony of Shelburne, in Wexford.
Danes of Dublin.                               12. O'LORcAIN, or Larkin, chief of Fothart, is
6. O'CosoGRAID1, O'Cosgry, or O'Cosgrave, and thus mentioned by O'Heerin:
O'Fiachraidh, other chiefs in Cualan, are thus
mentioned by O'leerin and O'Dugan:           " The Fenian heroes of Forth of the Carn,
The fair rising ground of strength and beauty,
" Other princely chiefs also obtained this land,  A hero whose deeds are minh in  beauy
A hero whose deeds are mighty ill spears,
The nut-producing country of the plain of Cualan   He is the affluent chief OLarkin"
O'Cosgrave of the numerous clan,
Rules over saffron-clad conquering warriors  The territory possessed by this chief, is now the
barony of Forth, in the county of Wexford, and
Is The prince of tUTi Einechlais in the east,  Carn, where he had his fortress, is the head land,
Is O'Fiac~ly of the extensive lands,         called Carnsore point.
The subduer of the foreigners resides here,    13. O' HARTGoILE, O'Hartley, chief of Crioch
I mean O Cosgrave on the plain of Cualan."   na-g-Cinel, is tkus mentioned by O'Heerin;
7.L O ~GArnITc, or O'Gahan, and O Dunlaing,    s "Criochnaginel, a delightful district
O'Dowling, are given by O'Heerin as chiefs of       the land of the   ile soil
Siol Elaigh and the Lagan, and thus mentioned:   A country the fairest under the sun
" The race of Elaigh, the tribe of steeds,
To protect which is proper for O'Gahan,    His district lay near that of O'Larkin.
Chief of the clan, powerful in friendship,
O'Dunlaing was the warrior of the Lagan."    14. O'RIAIN, or O'Ryan, lord of Ui Drona, is
The territory of these chiefs called Siol Elaigh, thus mentioned by OHeerin
Is now the barony of Shilelagh, in the south of "Hereditary to O'Ryan is a fair district,
Wicklow.                                      A territory, extensive is the land,
8. O'MIURCIIHA DA, or O'Murphy, chief of Crioch   Ui Drona of peaceful pleasures
O'Felim or Ui Feidhlime, is thus mentioned by    Is more meet for him than foreign land."
O'Heerin:
The territory of Ui Drona comprised the pres.
"' An  extensive and profitable lordship     ent baronies of Idrone, in the county of Carlow.
Was obtained by O'Murphy of smooth and fair The O'Ryans were powerful chiefs, and styled
plains,                                  princes of Ui Drona. These O'Ryans are not the
The country of Ui Felimy the chief received,   same tribe as those of Tipperary.  They are still
An inheritance handed down from his ancestors." numerous in Carlow.
15. O'NUALLAIN, O'NOLAN, or O'Nowlan,
The O'Murphys were one of the Cahirian chief of Fotharta Fedha, is thus mentioaed by
families of Leinster, a branch of the same race O'Ileerin:
as the Mac Murroghs. kings of that province.
The territory of Ui Felimy, which they pos-        O'Nolan, afaultless hero,
sessed, extended along the sea coast, and was      The hospitable chief of Fothart."
commonly called the Murrowes, and comprised
the barony of Ballaghskeen, in the connty of  The territory of Fotharta, possessed by the O'Wexford. The O'Murphys were powerfulchiefs Nolans, is now the barony of Forth, in the
In ancient times, and at the present day the county of Carlow; they were marshals of Leinname is one of the most numerous in Ireland; ster and presided at the inauguration of the Mao
and found in all the counties of Leinster, and Murroghs. The name is still numerous in the
in various parts of Munster, Connaught, and counties of Carlow and Wexford.
Ulster.                                        16. The O'KINSELLAGHS, O'Cahills, O'Doyles,
9. O'GAr,IrDIr or O'Garvey, another chief in O'Bolgers, and Mac Coskleys were numerous
Ui Felimy, is thus mentioned by O'Heerin:    and powerful clans, and had large possessions in
"In Ily Felirnmy. a delightful district,     the counties of Carlow and Wexford. The O'Fair are the lands possessed by the O'Garveys,  Briens, or Mac Briens, and O'Moores, were also
Fenian heroes of the hill unite in the tribe,  respectable families in Wexford. The O'Dorans
Each man of whom  is free from  grief and held the office of hereditary Brehons of Leinster,
sorrow."                               and had extensive possessions under the ancient
kings.
10. O'CosGRaIDOr, or O'Cosgrave, chief of Bean-  The chief Anglo-Normans -who ca-ne over
traidhe, is thus mentioned by O'Heerin:      with Strongbow, and got large grants of lands in
Wexford, were Maurice Fitzgerald, ancestor of
"From the Barrow eastward to the Slaney,     the earls of Kildare and Desmond; I-ervey de
Is the country possessed by the Clan Cosgrave, Monte Marisco, and Robert Fitzstephen. Tho
The host of Bantry of ringletted hair,       other old English families who settled in WexA noble tribe with hawk like sparkling eyes."  ford were, the Carews, Talbots, Devereuxes,
Staffords, Sinnotts, Suttons, Keatings, Powers,
The territory possessed by the O'Cosgrave, is now Walshes, Fitzharrises, Fitzhlenrys, Derenzys,
the barony of Bantry, in the county of Wexford. Mastersons, Butlers, Browns, RPedmonds, Es11. O'D)IBItGIN, probably O'Dugan, another monds, Hores, Harveys, Hayes, Hughes, Codds,
chief is thus mentioned by O'Heerin:         Commerfords, Lamberts, Morzans. Furlongs.
Lord of the   I          Tile chief old English families who settled
" Lorf of the extreme southern land,       in Carlow.were the following: the Butlers,
Which is worthy of being recorded,         Browns, Bagnals, Csrews, Eustaces, Rochforts,
O'Dugan is its rightful inheritor,         Blackneyvs, Doynes, &c.
Over the host from the dark pool of the fair  In Wicklow, Maurice Fitzgerald and his deshrubs"                                scendants in the reigns of Henry II. and King




TOPOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.                                    715
John, got extensive grants of lands about Ark- the renowned hero, Conal Kearnach, or Conal
low; and Walter de Riddlesford, who had the the Victorious, chief of the Red Branch Knights
title of baron of Bray, got from King John a of Ulster, both armies fought two terrific battles
grant of the lands of Imaile, in V, icklow, and of about A D. 90, one at At/htroda:n, now Athy, in
Castledermot in Kildare, both of which belonged  Kildare, and the other at Cu6nthiZgi, or Jfagh
to the ancient principality of O'Toole.'The Riada, now the plain or heath of Maryboro, in
other chief English families of Wicklow were the Queens county, in which, after many thouthe Butlers, Talbots, Eustaces, and ilowards.   sands had been slain on each side, the men of
Leinster were victorious, having routed the
Nobility.                 Munster troops from the hill of MAlstenn across
the river Berba, now the Barrow, and pursued
The following have been the ancient titled the remnant of their forces as far as Sliabh Dala
families in Wexford, Wicklow, and Carlow:    mountain, or Belach Mor, near Borris in Ossory,
In Wexford, the De Montchenseys and De on the borders of Tipperary and Queen'e County.
Valences, lords of Wexford; the Talbots, earls Cucorb being thus reinstated in his kingdom of
of Shrewsbury in England, and earls of Water- Leinster, chiefly through the valor of his general,
ford and Wexford in Ireland; the Butlers, visa- Lugaidh Laeighis, in gratitude confer ed on hin
counts Mountgarret; the Ke.atings, barons of an extensive territory, to which lihe gave the
Kilmananan; the Esmonds, barons of Linmbrick *name of Laeighis, or the seven districts of Laeithe  Care       Esmonds, barons Care of L imbrick; ghis, a name anglicised to Leise or Leix, and
In Carlow.   the De Bigods, Mowbrays,  and still retained in the name of Abbevleix. This
Hlowards, dukes of Norfolk, were lords of Car- territory was possessed by Lughaitlh Laeighis
low; the Butlers, barons of Tullyophelim, and and his posterity, who were princes of Leix.
viscounts of Tullow; the Carews, barons Idrone;
the O'Cavenaghs, barons of Balian.             The following were the Irish chiefs and clans
In Wicklow the Howards, earls of 55 icklow; of Ossory, Offa!ey, and Leix.
the Butlers, barons of Arklow; the Eustaces,   1. MAc GILLA-PADRAIG or Mac Gipatrick. anviscounts of Baltinglass.                    glicised to Fitzpatrick, is thus designated in the
topographies of O'lleerin and O'Dugan, in which
OSRAIDE, UI FALGOHI AND LAEIGHIS.     his territory of Ossory is thus mentioned by 0H-eerin:
OssoRv, in Irish Qsraidhe, comprised almost
the whole of the present county of Kilkenny,  "We journey across the Berba of ancient
with a small part of the south of Tipperary, and   streams,
also that portion of the Queen's County now    After treating of the heroes of Leinster,
called the barony of Upper Ossory; and the   To the level plain, the land of my heart,
name of this ancient principality is still retained    To the noble hosts of Ossory.
in the diocese of Ossory. Ancient Ossory extended from the river Nore to the Suir, and was  "To Mac Gilpatrick of the fine fortress,
sometimes subject to the kings of Leinster, but   The land of Ossory is by law ordained,
mostly to the kings of Munster. Conari Meor,   From Bladhmna, southward to the sea;
or Conary the Great, monarch ot Ireland at the   Brave are his battalions in the battles."
commencement of the Christian era, having
made war on the people of Leinster, to punish   Donal Mao Gillpatrick, prince of Ossory in the
them  for having killed his father, Edirsceol, twelfth century. carried on various contests with
monarch of Ireland, imposed on them a tribute  Dermod Mac Murlrogh, king of Leitlster, and his
called Eric Edirsgeoil, separated Ossory from  English allies under Strongbow and others, who
Leinster, and having added it to Munster, gave had invaded and ravished his territory  It is
it to a prince of his own race, named Aengus, stated in Maurice Regan's account of these
and freed it from all dues to the kings of Mun- affairs, that the prince of Ossory had a force of
ster, except the honor of composing their body  five thousand men, and fought many fierce batguards.                                      ties with the English and their Irish allies. In
OFFALEY, or Ophalev, in Irish Ui Falghi, de- early times, the Mac Gillpatricks ruled over the
rived its nanme from Rossa Falghi, or Rossa of entire of the county of Kilkenny, and part of
the Rings, king of Leinster, son of Cathaeir Menor, Queens county; but in after times, were dismonarch of Ireland towards tile end of the second possessed of the greater part of their possessions
century. The extensive territory of Ui Falghi, by the Butlers and other English settlers in Kilpossessed by the posterity of Rossa Falghi. corn- kenny, and were confined to the barony of Upper
prised almost the whole of the present Kings Ossory, in'the Queens county. The Fitzpatricks
county, with some adjoining parts of Kildare and are still found in the Queens county, but are
Queens county; and afterwards under the 0'- much more numerous in the counties of Cavan
Connors, who were the head family of the de- and Leitrim, to which they were driven at an
seendants of Rossa Falghi, and styled princes of early period by the English.
Offaley, the territory of Offaley comprised the   2. O'CEARBIIAILL, or O'Carroll, and O'Donchapresent baronies of Warrenstown and Cooles- dha or O'Donoghoe, are given by O'Dugan and
town, and the greater part of Philipstown, and  O'Heerin as ancient chiefs Or princes in Ossory,
part of Geashill, in the Kings county, with the  and thus designated:
barony of Tinnehinch, in Queens county. and
those of East and West Offaley, in Kildare, in  "' O'Carroll of the reddened spears,
which the ancient name of this principality is   O'Donochoe of the generous aspect,
still retained.                                Sleigh Liag of the productive land;
LE.IX -In the latter end of the first century,   They are two princes in the same country.
the people of Munster made war on Cucorb, king
of Loinster, and conquered that province as far  "Near to the Barrow of productive borders,
as the hill of Mafstenn, now Mullaghmast, in the   Is the chief of the territory you have heard
county of Kildare; but Cucorh having appointed     recorded,
as commander in chief of his forces, Lugaidh   The mmn who is elected ove"' Moy Mail,
Laeighis, a famous warrior, who was grandson to   Is O'Donoghoe of the fair Gowran."




71G                       TOPOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.
The territory possessed by O'Carroll and 0'-  escaped in safety. Ills son, Owen O'Moore,
fonoghloe applears to have been tle barony of generally ca'led Owney Mac Rory (O'Ioore, was
Gowran and Slogh Iiag, which is probably the  a famous commander in the wars against Elizabarony ol Shi.lelohller, bolll in Kiilkeny. These  beth, and defeate.d the Engis}sh in rcmacy engageO'Carrolls were lprobably a branch of t!:e O Car- ments, in one of which, in the year 1a9, he cut
rolls, princes of Ely; and the O Donoghoes, prob-  off a great number of the troops under the Earl
ably a branch of the O'Donoghoes, irinces of of ]Essex, in a defile on thlcir progress through
CaRitwl; an account of both th.se farmilies have  Leinster, at a pace calledrfrom that circumcslance
been givenl in the section on Ormond           Beaktnca Cleitigh, signifying the Pu'ss l''lhutnes,
8. O'CoxNciouuIR, or O Conor, prince of Ui from  the grceat quantity of plumes left there
Falghi or Off:aler, and his territory, are thus. de- which -were worn by lhe Engrlish knights who
signated by Ol)ugan aied OIIecrin:             were slain. Another of Oweni O'Moore's daring
exploits is recor(led, namely, that at a parley
"Let us westward proceed to Ui Falghi,         held wit  himr in the year 16 0, near Killenny,
To whom brave }heroes make submission,       by Sir George Carew, president of AMunster, the
Of their laws I make mention,                earl of Thomlnond, and Thomas Butler, earl of
Of their convention I make remembrance."    Ormond, O'loore boldly took thes earl of Orneond prisoner, and detained him from tLe l(th
"The lord of Ii Fa'ghi, a land of mirth,       of April to the 12th of June, lwhen he literated
Not unknowvn to the poets,                   hinm, on receiving for his ransom three thounand
Is O'Conor the mainstay of the f-lir plain,  pounds. R(oger O'Moore, lilis deccendant, a ran
Who rules at the green mound of Cruachan."  of extraordiinary abilities and bravery, is cele
brated in irish history as the chief leader who
The O Colnors wmere the lhead. chliefs of thle  organized the great insurrection of 1641.
Cahirian ra.e, thle descendants of RPossa Falghi    5. OI)IMASAIGii, or ODenpsey, orl of Clann
cldeast soen  f Ctlair ier, n onarch of t~ I~reland,   Maeilugllra, or Cianmaliere, is thus mentioned
and were consequently a branch of the Itere-  by O'lleerin, with an introduction to the other
monians of Leinster, and of a differenlt descent chiefs of Ollaley
from the O'Conors, klinfs of Connauzht; they
make a remarkable fig-ure in 1ish history
fomake a reonarliah  fiiC~s re ion llisil lstoly   "The clans of the country of extensive plains,
duriu  their conitests with thle Enghislih fr orre    Let us now proceed to treat of their chieftains,
than three hundred years, whose forces they          t hosts ale nore wealthy than they,
tha   theehue redyerswhoe oros se               Over the terlitory   of Offtiev of fair lants 
defeated in numerous battles; they generally
fought in conjunction with the MAac Gcogleegans, powerful antd valiant chiefs in 1West-  N"Clanmaliere above all tribes,
meath. The O'Conors lhad their clief fortress at    Nob!e is tle soerce of their pedigree,
Dancan, nolw  called Plhilipstown, in Kin s    The smotlh plains of the land they have decounty, and several castles in other parts of thfat  fended,
county and in Kildare: they mleaintained their   Tieecountryistheinheritanceof  DempSey."
indcpendlenc andL large possessions down to the
ndr penenc an  large possessions down to theEli eh.  The territory of Clanmaliere possessed by the
reign of ElizaLeth.
4. OZ'.UoanwA or O~'lonie, prince of Lacighis  O'Dempscys contained parts of thie baronies of
or/Leix, anid his territory, are thus designated  Geashil anal Pllipitstown, in tihe Kin's colnty,
by O Ileerin:                                 nwith part of Portneleinch, in Quecn's coa;nty, and
part of Offaley, in IRildare, including Monastere"After Ti Faglli of the ancient lands          van acd the adjoining district. The ODempWe advance to Leix of Leinster;             seys Nwere a branch of the Cahirian ralce, of the
Its brown-haired heroes in wealth abound,    samc descent as Ihe ()Corolrs Faly, and were
On their history for some time we dwell.     Irinces and lords of Cannmaliere, ald Offalcy.
In the twelfth century they contended with the
English forces under Strongabow, earl of Pem"The great district of Leix of keen swords,    broke, who, in the year 1173, together with his
It is of Lei. of Riada, I now treat;         son-in-law Robert De Quincy, or de Quincy, co'nAnd O'Mioore the fighter of battles,         stable andl standard-bearer of Leinster. marched
Of the one-colored golden shield."           a powerful force into Kildare and Offaley; but
being opposed by the Irish clans, commanded
The O'Moores, princes of Leix, were of by the O'Dempseys, chiefs of Clanucaliere, the
the Irian  race, or Clanna rIory  of Ulster, English were defeated with great slnughter; and
They held the hiigh rank of mnarshals and trea- amongst the slain was de Quincy, the stanuardsurers of Leinster. They had their chieffortress  bearer; the affair is thlcs mentioned by Maurice
at Dunaunase, a fewv miles from  Maryboro, Regean, in Hnarris';  Hibernica: "From  thence
erected on a rock situated on a hill; it was a  the-earl!Strongbow) went to Kiildare, making
place of almost imnpregnable strength, of which  manyl incursions into Offaley. upon O'Dempsey,
some massive ruins still remain. I'ory O'loore, lord of that country, who refused to come unto
a celebrated chieftain in the reills of Queen  him. and to deliver hostages; the earl, to subMary and Elizabeth, defeated the English forces due him, made a jonrney in person upon him;
in many engagements, and recovered the terri- Offaley was burned and harassed, the whole
tory of Leix. possessed by his ancestors, which  prey of the cocuntry taken, and the army retired
he held till lais death. in 1578, when he was towards Kildare; in the retreat, the earl, with a
killed in a conflict with Fitzl)atrick, baron of thousand men, marched in the vanguard, and
Ossory, who head joined the English. Amongst the rear was commalded by Robert de Quincy;
the heroic actions of Rory O'Moore, it is men- in the pass, lwhen the vanguard was passed, O'tioned that on one occasion, having been be- Dempsey gave upon the rear, at which charge
trayed and surprised at night at his residence in  Robert de Quincy, with many others, were
the woods, by Robert Hartpole, at tha head of slain, and the banner of Leilster lost: and for
two hundred of the English, the va'iant O'Moore  his death, as well by thle earl as by the whole
alone performed the amazing exploit of cutting  army, great lamentation was made."  T'he O'bis way through their ranks with his sword, and  Dempsoys had their chief castle at Geashill, in




TOPOGPRAPHICCAL APPENDIX.                                       717
the Kings county, and many others in that  "The prince of Fercall of the ancient swords
county, also in tlhe barony of Offaley in Kildare,    Is 0 Mulloy of the free-born name;
and one at Ballybrittas, in the bar'ony of Portne-    Full power had fallen to hiln,
hinch, in the Queens county. The O'Dernpseys    He held his country uncontroled."
were dleprivedl of rmost of their possebsions after
the Elizabethian wars.                             The extensive territory possessed by the 0'6. O'DuixN, O'Dunn, or O'Dunne, chief of Mulloys comprised the present baronies ofEglish
Ui Itiagain, is thus mentioned by O'lieerin:     or Fearcall, Ballycovwan, and Ballyboy in the
Kings county, and formed oliginaly a part of
"Over Ui Riagain of the mighty victories,       thu ancient kingdom   of HMeath. Thile 0 Mulloys
Are active warriors whb conquer in battle,     were of the race of the southern Ui Nialls or
O'i)unn is chief of the conquering troops,     Clan Colman.
The mainstay of the battling spe:rs."            12. The O'CARRoLLs, princes of Ely O'Carroll, possessed the barony of Lower Ormond,
The territory of Ui   iagain, possessed by the  in Tipperary, and those of Clonlisk and BallyO Dunns, nowv forms the barony of Tinnehinch, britt, in the Kings county, and had their chief
in tile Queens county.                           castle at Birr.
7. O'tI[AGtIN  or O'Regan was, it appears,   13. Mac COCIsLAIN or Mac Coghlan, prince of
the ancient chief of Ui Riagain, and gave its  Delbhna Ethra, alld O'Miaellugllach, probably
name to that territory, which is still retained in  O'IMulledy, chief of the Brogha, are thlus menthe p:rish of Oregan or Rosenallis, in tlhe barony  tioned by O'Dl)ugan:
of Tinnehinch.  Of the ancient clan of tile O'Regans was Maurice Regan, secretary to Der-  "Mac Coghlan is the valorous mainstay,
moal Mac Murrough, king of Leinster, and who    And prince of dclightful Delvin Allla,
wrote an account of the Anglo-Norman invasion    The chief of the Brogha of great prosperity,
nnder Strongbowv and his followers, which is   Is O'Mulledy of tie brilliant achievements."
pub'ishued in H-arris's llibernica.  Sir Teigue O'Regan was a distinguished officer in the army of   The territory of the Mac Coghsnlns, lords of
King  James the Second.                          Delvin Ahllra, comprised the present barony of
8. O'B(coIIRAn.eiN, probably O'Broghans, are  Garrycastle, in tlse Kings county. They were
given by O'I)agan as chiefs on tien samne terri-  of the race of the Da!cassians.
tory a; O'Dunn and O'Denipsey, and thus men-    Brogha, the district of the O'Mutlledys, abovetioned:                                          mentioned, appears to have adjoined Mac CoghIan's territory, and was probably part of the
"The O'Brogans dwell in their towns,             barony of Garrycastle, in Kings county, and of
Tile Clarr Kenny and Clafl Conor,              Clon!onan, in Westmneath. as there were in
Their lands are well known  to support         former times many families of note of the
O'Dnnn and O'Dempsey."                         O'Mlulledvs in Westmeath.
14. O'SINNAIGII, lordl of Teffla. O'Dugan, in his
9. O'IIEostusA or O'Hennesey, chief of Clar topography, gives O'Catharnaighl as head prince
Colgan, and O' t:mmhirgin,chiefofTuath Geisille, of Teflia, whom  lhe thus designates,
are thus mentioned by O'Dugan and O'lleerin:
" High prince of Teffia, who obtained renown,
" Of the chiefs of the fair fertile plain         Is O'Caharney of the battling arms."
Are 0 IIennesey and O'Ilamhirgin;
Stronsg voiced are their troops, and great their This name was rendered O'Keurney, and the
fame,                                     ancient chiefs possessed an extensive territory
And msagnanimous are the Clan Marchadhan."  in Teffia, or Westincath, and tllere are still
many families of the O'Kearneys'n iMeath and
"Another chief who is known to us,              Westmea! h; the chif branch tool tf e name of
O'l-ennesey who rules over Clar Colgan;        Sinuach O'Calharnaighl, and the wn,!s  Sinsach
His lan(sls are fair beyond those of the Fenians  signifying a fox, the family name becarse Fox,
of Fal,.                                   and thie head chief was generally dlesignated a(
IIe ciosely adjoins the borders of Croghan.    Siennach, or t sl Fox;.  They were of the race of
the southern Ui Neill, and tiheir territory was
" The fair district of Geashill is possessed    called Muintir Tadhglin, and complrisecd an exBy a chief on the borders of Leinster;         tensive district in Ttcfia, containing' parts of the
Iis rapid progress is a march of power.       baronies of Ratheonrath and Clonlonfsn, in WestThe name of this chief is O'lasr hirgin."     meauth, with part of the barony of Kilcourev, in
Kings county.
Another O'Hennosey is mentioned by O'Dnogan    15. R tc A.iIsAT.GoXIDc, Mac Auley, or Macawas chief of Galinga Beg, now the parish of Gal- ley, is rlven by O'Dugan, as chief of CalraidheIoen, in the barony of Garrycastle.              an-Cha!a, and thus desiglmted:
10. O'MA OLCiIEIn, probably O'lilliken, or O'Mulligan, some of whom have chlanzed the name, "The fair Mac Auley rules over
to Molyneaux, chief of Tuath Damhuigh, is                The entire of the ports of Calry."
thus rrlentioned by O'IIeerin, and the district
possessed by iim appears to have adjoined that The territory called Calry, comprises the present
of O'llennesey:                                  parish of B:tllyloughloe, in the baronyus  of Clanloran, in Westmeath; and the ports. alllsded to
"Over Tuat.h Damhuigh of the fair fortress      in the sbove passage, were those of the Shannon,
Is O'Maltlchein of the happy heart;           to which  this parishl  extends; according to
Deligihsful is the smooth district of the plain,  Mac Geoghegan, the Mac Ansleys, lords of Calry,
Its borders resemble the fairy land."          also possessed part of the barony of Kilcoursey,
in the Kings county.
11. O'M1AoIr.trLnxAD, or O'MIllloy, prince of   16. O'GorminN, O'Gorman, or Mac Gormas,
F&ar Ceall, is thus designated by O'Dugan:       is given by O'Dugan and O'lteerin, as chief of
Crioch O'Bairce, and thus designated by them;




718                      TOPOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.
"The tribe of Eocaidh, of exalted fame,        21. O'LE&.THLABHAIR, O'Lawlors, or O'Lalors,
Rule over the clans of Ui Faelain,         took their name from Leathlabhor, prince of
Mac Gorman, of great valor,                Dalaradia, or Ulidia, now the county of Down,
Rules over the fair Ui Barchi.             in the tenth century, who was their ancestor,
and they are therefore of the Irian race, or Clanna
The country of Ui Barchi, of the fair fortress, Rory of Ulster, and of the same descent as the
Of the meodlious race of Dari Barach,      O'Moores, princes of Leix. The O'Lawlors had
O'Gorman took possession of the lands,     in ancient times extensive possessions in Leix,
A chief who actively rushed to battle."    in the barony of Stradbally, Queens county.
22. O'DunIILANI, or O'Delany, chief of TuathThe territory of the O'Gormans is now called  an-Toraidh, is thus mentioned by O'Ileerin:
the barony of Slievemargue, in the Queens
county; some of them settled in the county of  "H Iigh chief of the productive territory,
Clare, where they held large possessions. An    From the delightful Coill Oughteragh,
account of these has been given with the clans of   Is O'Delany, the man of hospitality,
Thomond.                                       Fromthe mountain of the most delightfulbay."
17. O'DuIBs, or O'Duff, chief of Ui Crimthain, is thus mentioned by O'Heerin:        The O'Delaneys were a clan of note in the
barony of Upper Ossory, Queens county, and
"About Dun Masc of the smoothest plains,     also in Kilkenny.
O'Dnff rules over Ui Crimthain,
Chief of the country of great produce,       23. O'BTAENAIN. or O'Brennan, chief of Ui
A land which yields the finest fruits."     )uach, is thus mentioned by O'Heerin:
The district of Ui Crimthain, about Dun Maes,'" Iduagh of Ossory, of the fertile land,
or Dunamase, comprised the greater part of the    Thile fair wid(e plain of the Nore,
two baronies of Maryboro', in the Queens county.. Throtughout this plain rules most active,
18. Mac Fhiodhblhuidhe, Mac Aodhbuidhe, or   Its rightful chief O'Bre;inan."
Mac Evoys, chiefs of Tuath-Fiodhhhuidhe, in the
Queens county, are thus mentioned by O'lIeerin: The territory of the O'Brennans, chiefs of Iduagh,
now forms the barony of Fassadining, in Kil" The ancient country of Fighbuigh, of the fair kenny, where the name is still numerous.
lands,                                     24. MAc BRAOTN, or Mac Breen, and O'Broith,
Is a good lordship for a chieftain,        or O'Bree, chief of Magh Seadna, are thus menThe Clan Mac Evoy are its inheritors,      tioned by O Heerin:
The yellow-haired host of hospitality."
"Mac Breen, of the land of the fortress,
The territory of the Mac Evoys appears to have   Rules over the clans whom I remember,
been situated in the barony of Stradbally, in the   A fair, nut-producing country,
Queens county. The Mac Evoys were of the   O'Bree is chief of the fiee Moy Sedna."
Clan Colla, of Ulster; and they also possessed a
territory in Teffia, called Ui Mac Uais, now the    25. O'CATBITDEANATCH, O'Coveney, or O'Kevbarony of Moygoish, in Westmeath. Some of  enys, chiefs of Magh Airbh and Clar Coill, are
them have now changed the name to Mac Veagh. thus mentioned by O'Heerin:
19. O'CEALLATIGT, or O'Kellys, chiefs of Magh  " Over Moy Arve let us now record
Druchtain and of Gailine, are thus mentioned by    O'Keveney, of the woody plain,
O'Heerin:                                      Head of each conference was the fair counsellor,
" Over Moy Druchtain, of the fairy fortress,   Who resides at Coill O'Cathosaigh."
Rules O'Kelly over the plain of the salmon;
The smooth aspect of the level country     The plain of Magh Airbh comprised the present
Is like the fruitful land of promise.      barony of Cranagh, in Kilkenny.
26. O:GLOTAIRN, O'Gloran, or Maec Gloran,
" Galine, of the pleasant rivers,            chief of Callainn, is thus mentioned by O'Heerin:
Is O'Kelly's undisputed right,
Powerful is the tribe in hunting,           " O'Gloran, the flourishing scion,
Over the sunny lands of Galine."             Obtained a territory in a delightful country,
A smooth land about charming Callan,
These territories of the O'Kellys appear to have    He inherits a country without reproach."
been situated in the baronies of Stradbally and
Ballyadams, in the Queens county, along the  The name of this territory is still retained in the
Barrow, as alluded to in the above passages in  parish of Callan, barony of Kells, county of
the poem, where the districts are mentioned as Kilkenny.
the plain of the salmon, and of the pleasant   27. O'CAELLAIDIE, or O'Keeley, chief of Ui
rivers.                                      Bearchon, is thus mentioned by O'Heerin:
20. O'CAOLLAIDTE, O'Keeley, or O'Keily, chief
of Crioch O'Muighe, is thus mentioned by  "Ibercon, of the yellow mantles,
O'Heerin:                                      Chief of the country is O'Keeley,
The plain of the host of great wealth,
"The country of Omoy, of the fair plains,      The land of the Barrow of limpid streams."
Alone the Barrow of the flowing streams
To O'Keeley is the pleasant land,          This territory was Ibercon, an ancient barony,
A chief who always ruled in peace."        as stated by Seward, now joined to that of Ida,
in the county of Kilkenny; and there is a
This district, situated along the Barrow, is now  parish called Rosbercon, in the barony of Ida.
probably, the parish of Tullowmoy, in the barony    28. O'BRUADAIR, 0 Broder, or O'Brody, chief
of Ballyadams, Queens county.    I           of Ui n-Eirc, is thus mentioned by O'Heerin;




TOPOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.                                    719
"Lord of Iverk, of the swift steeds,        spectable families in Kilkenny, and other parts
Is the friendly O'Broder, like a stately tree;  of Ireland, are said to be of Irish descent, though
A sandy country, from the heavy floods,    supposed by some to be of Eng!ish origin, as many
A land as delightful as Moenmoy."          of the ancient clans of the O'Maeltui.i, and of the
Mac Thclighs, or Mac Tullys, changed the name
This territory is now the barony of Iverk, in the to Flood, thus translating the name from the
county of Kilkenny.                          Irish Tuile, which signifies a Flood
28. The O'SIIEAS, who changed the name to   32. The MAC Coscars, or Cosgraves, ancient
Shee, were numerous in former times, in the clans in Wicklow and Queens county, changed
county of Kilkenny, and were some of the  their name to Lestrange  The O'Mlooneys are
O'Sheas, chiefs of note in Munster, of whom an  placed in the Queens county on the map of
account has been given in the sections on Tho- Ortelius; and the O Dowlings and O'Niochals,
mond and Desmrond.                           or O Nicholls, are mentioned by some writers as
29. The ORYAN-s and O'FELANs, ancient fami- clans in Queens county.  Thile O'Beehans, or
lits of note in Carlow, Tipperary, and Water- O'Behans, were a clan in the Kings and Queens
ford, of whom accounts have been given in the  counties.
section on Ormond, Desies, and Ui Kinsellaigh,   The following are the chief races of N.orman
were also numerous and respectable in Kilkenny. descent settled in Ossory, Leix and Offaley. The
80. The TiGIIES, of whom there are some re- Fitzgeralds, earls of Kildare; and tile Butlers,
spectable families in Kilkenny and other parts earls of Ormond; the Graces, barons of Courtsof Leinster, are said to be of the ancient Irish  town; the Walshes, Cantwells, Shortalls, Powers,
clan of the O Teiges, who were chiefs in Wick- Purcells, Morises, Stapletons, Daltons,l awlesses,
low and Wexford, and of whom an account has Digbies, Husseys, and Fitszilnons.  Some of the
been given in the notes on Ui Kinsellaigh and  latter look the Irish title of Mlac  idire, anglicized
Cualan.                                      Mac Ruddery, i.e., Son of the Knight.
31. The FLooDS, of whom there are many ren
CHAPTER III..
THE KINGDOM OF MEATH AND BREGIA, WITH MAGH LIFFI.
TIIE plain of Meath which included the greater parts of the present counties of Meath and
Dublin. was known by the name of 3~fag  Breagh, signifying either tlie Magnificent Plain, or, as
mentioned by the Latin writers under the name of oBreqfia — the Rev. Dr. O'Connor has translated it on the authority of ancient tradition, Campus Briganztium., or the Plain of the Brigantes,
from being possessed by the Brigantes, who were called by the Irish Clsanaa Breoguin. Part
of the territory of Bregia obtained the name of Finzqal from  the Danes, or Norwegians, who
planted a colony there in the tenth centuiy, along the coast between Dublin and Drogheda,
and who were called by the Irish Fine Gall, signifying, the Race or Tribe of Foreigners; hence
the name Fingall. The plain of Bregia extended from Dublin to Drogheda, and thence to Kells,
and contained the districts about Tara, Trim, Navan, Athboy, Dunboyne, &c. Another great
division of ancient Meath was called Tebther, or Teffia, which comprised the present county
of Westmeath, with parts of Longford and the Kings county.
Meath was for many ages the seat of the Irish monarchy; and from the kings of Meath were
generally elected the monarchs of Ireland  From the earliest period to the fifth century, the
monarchs of Ireland were occasionally elected from the descendants of each of the three sons
of Milesius, namely, from the races of Eber, Erimhon, and Ir; but from the fifth to the
eleventh century, during a period of six hundred years, the Ui Neill, of the race of Erimhon, held
exclusive possession of the Irish monarchy, until A. D. 1002, when Brian Bosomha, king of
Mounster, of the race of Eber, dethroned Maelsechlainn, or Malachy the Second, and became
monarch of Ireland.
Tile Ui Neill took their name from  their immediate cpestor, Niall of the Nine Hlostages,
who was monarch of Ireland from A. D. 8T9 to A. D. 406. They were divided into two great
families, denominated the northern and southern Ui Neill. One branch of the northern consisted of the O'Neills,who were descended from Enogan, one of the sons of Niall of the Hostages,
and were princes of Tyrone, and often kings of Ulster and monarchs of Ireland: the other
branch consisted of the O'Donnells, princes of Tyrconnell, and some of whom were also monarchs
of Ireland. They descended from Conall Gulban, another son of the monarch Niall.
The southern Ui Neill were descended from four other sons of Nial], but chiefly from his son
Conali Crimthanni, many of whose descendants were kings of Meath and monarchs of Ireland.
This family took the name of Clan Colmain, from Colman Mor, son of Diarmaid, son of Crimthain,
monarch of Ireland from A. I). 554 to A. D. 565. The descendants of the Clan Colman, kings
of Meath, tookthe name of O'Maelsechlain,or O'Melaghlin.
The chiefs and clans of the kingdom of Meath, were lords of Bregia, long before the Angloand the territories they possessed in the twelfth  Norman invasion; they were of a different
century, are given in O'Dugan's Topography as race from the O'Kellys of Ui Mani, being a
follows: to which are added various clans not, branch of the southern Ui Neill, and descended
mentioned by O'Dugan, but whose names are  from Aedh Slani, monarch of Ireland.
collected from other sources.                  5. O'CONGALAIDrI, now O'Conolly, whom 0'1. O MIELAGHLINS, kings of Meath.          Dugan describes as one of the four princes of Tars.
2. O'H-AmRT, or O'llart.                     6. O'RuAIDnnRI, or O'Rory, now  anglicised to
8. O'RIAGAIN, or O'Regan.                  Rogers, lord of Finn Fochla. in Bregia.
4. O'CELLAAIGH, or O'Kelly. The O'Kellys   T. O'FALLAMHAIN, or O'Fallon, lord of Crioch




720                         TOPOGRAPIIICAL APPENDI`C.
na-g-Cedaclh, so called from  i0111 Cedach, son of  )Delvin  Befr or Litt'o Delvin, adjo!ning the
Catleair t'Loi, killg  of Lcinster, and mona:rch   barony of Delvin.
of Ire'Tlnd in tile  nd  eentnry.'Irle cotintry )f    I't,ts or  b#/cia, formed a great portion of
the O Falloni  was near Athllone, in the co)unty  ancient lingdlon o Me1atlh.  Teilil b catlle the
of WVestneati, but they were afterwarIs    driven  territory of \lalni, one0 ot the sons of, Niall of tile
across tLte Shll:nnon into l'ooscomm on.           Nine lloetages, and (lf lls t(lsealndtns.  It cornS. 0 GOINDELBIc AIN, or O'Kendellan, or 0'   preillenled  h-e greiter parl of the  prcsent county
Connetlln, p: iice of Ui Laehlari, or Lve-l,eary,  of Wejtneath, wVith nearly tile wlile of Anally
an ex:enqive territory in the present counties  or the coauitv of Longl"t rd.   It was diviided
of Mathli aill Westineath, and wa; possessed by  into north and south Tleffi.  N-ortlh LToeia, or
the -le;cendants of Liegari, who wh  a a ilonarch  Cairbre Gablra, was that portioan of Anally
of Ih'cland at the time of St. Patrick.  Til   abo:it Granard, which obtainld its n"ame from
ptrish of C  jet!twn -KendellhL in    estmneath,  Camrbri, one of the sons of Nia'l of tie Ni ne iostashows one part of this ancient territory, and tile  ges and lii d(lescendanis. who wele its possesso)s.
townlandot  Kendellan's-town near Nalman shows  South Teffia corn)riked tl,; reintililln' portion
anotther ipart of it.                              in Annally and Westineatll.   O D'.g:ln, in the
9. O'Br.ILes, or OBreen, chief of Luighini,  continua:titn of his Topography of  lnoath, enunow thle pa:lish of Leney, in the barony of  nlera:tes the dliterent chlliei  an  tllhr territories
Corcareo, \\estmeath.                              in Teifia.  The principal chiiefsof're'la, accord10. O0liazNceusA  or O'Iennesy, chief of Ui  ilng  to him, were the t ollowilg:
Mac-Uais, now thle barony of Moygoisli, in West-    1. O'C.ATHIA. NAtGII, or O'Ke:mrney.
meath. Tile Clan Mlac Uais, or 1M:mc Evoys,    2. 0 CuiN-;, or O'Qutln.
sometines catled l Mac Veaghls, of the race of Clan    3. 0 COIsFIAoCLA, low O'Convally.
Cella, were the original chiefs of this territory.   4. O'L.aCIITNAIN, or OLoa-glhnan, by some
11. O lt.oDIuA, supplsed to be IIugh!es or  an-gi'ised to Lftus.
O'llea, chief of O.ba (probably Olra or Oddor,    5. O' litrmxE.GoAlr, or O'Mlurrigan.  Tile 0'in the barony of Skrine, near Tara.)               Quinns welre clhiefs of Muinlter Giolgain, and
12. O D)uli rtmi, or O Duaap, chief of Cnodba,  haI ttheir chief castle in Ratlieline, in Linll'ford.
now Knos tlh, near Slane.                            6. 0'Fi Xl,NNGAN,T,    or O Fianna:ila, elief of
13. O IIA.MiRITI, or O'llanvey, chief of Fer-  Comn:ar, which O'Dl)uan places beside O  lBaein's
bili, now the baroily of tarbill in Westmeanth   colnmtriy
11. O'C LTIi xsxeG or OC Casey, chief of Saithni,    7. O BrAETN, or O'Breen, of Breahlmani, now
now  Son:al in WetVcineath.                        the barony of Brawney in Westmmluatlm.
15. 0 L'ctIt,      or O'Loughan, chief  of         8. MAC CON.AIDInA, or Mae Clxonway of MuinGalenga, now  tl:e parish  of Galen, in tle  tir Lao!again..
barony of Garrycrstle, Kinrs county.                  9..IA.o  AonDIr, Aodha or Mace Ilugh, of
16. O'Ds-CADnIIm, or O Donoohoe, chief of  Muninlir Tlanmain.
Tellach Mloahara lin, probably now  Tullanmore,    1I). MAc'rAID, or Mac Teige (by some angliin the Kings eonnty.                               cisel to Tiigllc, by others to Mon:tagu:, ), of 5Muin17. O'ilt:iRnRDIIarX, or O'Tlanrahan, chief of  tir Sirthlaehlain.
Corcarai(dhlte, now  tile barony of Gorcaree, in    11. M14.  AmtiALtoAIDIT, or Mai Gawley, u:hief
Westineath.                                        of Calraillie or Calrigila, a territory on thte bor18. O)'MAOLmuAtsDII, or O'Mluloy, prince of  drs of Westmneath anl the  Kingrs county.
Ferecall, cmnprisin, the  present baronies of  Mac Geolgheg an states that this territory comB:!lycoowen, Ballyboy, and Elglish1 or Felcall.  prisel the barony of Kilcourcy, in thle Kings
19. O'DUtrtILAInDE, or O'l)ooley. chief of  con ty.
Fertnllacll, the present barony of Fertullagh,    12. MAc  GAlRGonaM.m, or Mac Carron, of
in Westme'ath.                                     M.aintir Maoi!sionna.
20 OFIONNALLAoIT, or O'Finnellan, of the           1.3.'()0'D.LItI, or O0Daley, of Corce  Adrace of Eber, and tribe of thle Dalcassians, lord  lhaionli, or Coreaduin. On tlle nlap o' Orteie!ius,
of Delbhnt.l Mor, now the barony of Delvin, in   by 0 Conor, O Daley is given as in. or co:l.ituoas
Westencith.                                       to, the barony of Clonlollan, in Wcstlmee:th.'21. 0 Mo.tTUDII.ac Ic, or 0'Miulledy, chief of.  14. O'SCOLAnDTIDm, or O Scully, of Deibna LartBrog,,l, l)art of the now baronies of Delvin and  lha:r,or West Delvin.
F'arbill.                                             15. O'CormnArDE, anglicised to Carrv, of Ut
2'. M1cO C)CULAN, or AIac Cofhslan, of the  Mac Uafn, the present barony of Meoygoish in
Dalc7,esians, lord of Dealblina-Eatilra, now the  WVestnelath
barony ot' Garrycastle, in tile Kings coun!ty.        15 O'[l.,ODnrA, or O'tlinl, or O'IIea, of Tir'23. O TocrT l, or O Toler, cil-ift' of Qilircne,  Teabtha Shoir, or East Teflia.
now the barony of Kiilkenny West, in West-    16i. O'CEARBIIAILL, or O'Carroll, of Tara.
mcath.                                               17. ODUNNrss, O'Doyne or O')Dunn, of the'24. slIo EOS oAGAINT, or Mac G-eoghegan,  districts of Tara.
prince of Kenel Fiachailh, now  the barony of    13. Mac GCIOLT,A-SeSxemIo INNi, or O'ShanghMhIoycashel. with parts of Rathconrath ani For-  lin, of Deisceart Bieagh, now tile pairish of
tulanlih. The Me Geoghegans swere one of the  Dysert in Westmeath.
principal branchmes of the southern UIi Neill,    19. O'RoNAIN of Carbri Gaura, or northern
and were called Klinel Fiachn, from  PIiacaidih,  Teffia.
one of thle sons of Niall of the Ninee  ostages.    2,. O'}IA.onerrs., or O'Hlennesey, of Galenga
25. ilAtc ltuAic,  or Mac Rourke, chief of  Beg, now  the parish of Galle1, in the King s
Acemi Etnla, descended from  End:i, son of Nia!l  coulnty
of the liostases.  This clan was located in ti-.    Tile following chiefs and clans in lMonth and
district in which is situated the Hill of Uisneach,  Westmeath have not been given bv O'Dugan
in tile hbarony of Rathconrath in Westmneath.      O'Siairql,  anglicised to Fox and Shunny of
21t. O'C.0IRBE, or O'Carberry, chief of Tuath  tile southern Ui Niall, lord of Mn.lintir TadhBinn.                                              gain, an extensive territory in Teffia, containing
27. O'HIEoc.ADInA, or O'Heoghy, chief of  parts of the baronies ofof Rathc,)nratll and ClonKinel-Aengulsa.                                    lonan in Westmeath. with part of tile barony
28. O'MAIELCOLAIN, now Mulholland, chief of  of Kilcourcy, in the King's county. They were




TOPOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.                                      721
the same as O'Catharnaigh. The head of this fam- and another branch visconnts of Tara. The
ily was distinguished by tile title of The Fox.   Barnwalls, barons of Trimblestown, and visTile O'MALONES, a branch of the O Conors, counts Kingsland. The Nettervilles, barons of
kings of C'onnaught, who had large possessions  Dowth. Tile Bellews, barons of DIuleek  Thao
in the barony of "Brawney, in Westmeath.  In  Darcys of Platten, some of whom were barons
f)rmner times these chiefs had the title of barons  of Novoan. The Cusacks, barons of Clonmullen,
of Clan-Malone, alnd afterwards obtained that of The Fitz-Eustaces, barons of Portlester.
barons Sunderlin, of Lake Sunderlin, in West-'I'The following were also families of note in
mcath.                                         Meath: The de Bathes, of Athcarn.  The
The O'FAoANs, a numerous clan, in Meath  L)owdalls of Athlumney. The Flemings of
and West Meath, of which there wvere manny  Stahotlmock. The Betaghs of Mqynaity, of
respectable falnilies, the head of which h.id the  Danish descent. The Cruises of Cruisetown
title of Baron of Feltrim in Fingal. The bollow- and Cruise-l'tath, &c. The Drakes of Drak-rath.
ing a!so were clans'of note!n \V'esmeatll, viz,, Thle Corballys. The Everards. The Cheovers,
the O Coffeys, and O'lligiins.  In Meath, O'- some of whom had the title of barons of iMount
Lingseachs, or O'Lynches,  O'.lurphys, and O'- Leinster. The Dardises. The Delaloids. T'he'Murra:ys, tihe'Brogans, and'. thers. The chiefs  Caddelle.  Tie Scurlocks or Sherlocks.
and cians of ancient MNeath were, with few ex-   In Westlneuth the following great famiiies of
ceptions, of the race of the southern Ui Niall. English descent were located, togetlier with
There are notw but few families of any note, those already enumerated. Time Dillohs, who
descendants of the ancient chiefs of Meath;    soime say, were originally descended from  a
In the year 117-2 Henry It., granted to IIugh  branch of the southern  tTi Neill; their ande Lacy, for the service of fifty knights, the  cestor, a chieftain nalmed Dillune or Delion, in'whole kingdonl of Meath, of which that chief- tile 7t century, went to France, and being a
tain was mlnade Lord 1Palatine, with as fall amid  famouls warrior, became Duke of Aquitaine.
ample powers as Mtlrcadll O'Melagih!in, then  One of his descendants came to Irelandl  with
Kin- of Moeath.   Do L.cy  divided MIeath  king John, and got large grants of lanl in Westam:)nt his various chiefs, who were coin- mleath and Anally; his descend:nts were lords
mnonly denomrnilted De Lacy's barons. llntgh  of Drumrany, in the. barony of Kilkenny West,
Tyrrell obtained Castleknock; and his dcseen- and having founded many great ftlnilies in
dants were for a long period barons of Castle- Meath and Connaught, became Earls of Rosknock. Gilbertde Angulo, or Nangle, olt:tined  common, viscounts D)illon in Mayo, barons of
Mnhiserigailen, now the barony of Morgallion,  Clonbro.k, and barons of Kilkenny \Vest, and
in Meatll. Joce'in, son of Gilbert Nangle, ob- several of them were counts and generals in
tained Navan andl Ardbraccan. The Nangles the French anld Austrian service. The Daltons
were afterwards barons of Navan. Many of tihe  and Delarneres obtained large possessions in
Naunles took the Irish name of Mac Costello, Westmeath and Anally. Tie chicef seat of the
and fiomnthem the barony of Costel!o in Mayo  Daltons was at MIont Dalton, in the barony of
derived its name. Williamr de dMissett obtained  I atlhconratl, of which they were lords, an!d som0
Lain; and his descendants were barons of of them  were distinguished in the service of
Lune near Trim.                                foreign states, and counts of the Hlo!y  onman
Adam Feipo or Pheiepoe obtained Skrine, San- Empire. The Deases in Meath and Westneath.
treif, or Santry, and Ciontorth, (eithler Clonturk    Iltrg/b Li,i', signifying the Plain of the Liffey,
or Clontar:.) This family ilhl  the title of was the name applied in ancient tirnmes to thq
barons of Skrine, which title afterwards passed  Ilains on both sides of the river Liffey, compris.
to the ftamily ot:Marward  Gilbert Fitz-Thomas ing a great part of the present county of Kl1.
obtainedl tie territories about Kenlis; and his da%,'e on both sides of the river Liffey, including
descendants were barons of Kells. Ihugh de the Carragh of Kidare, which was called CuirHlose, orl-[nssey, obtained Dees. or the barony of eafch Life: and also parts of Dublin along the
Deeoc in Mcatli. The Hlusscys were made barons Liffey.
of Galtrim. Richard and Tho`ma3 Fleminv4 ob-   The O'5Melaghlins, kings of Meath, and their
tained Crandon:nd other districts. The Fleln- co-relatives, having ruled over tile districts
ings became barons of Slane, and a branch of north of the river Liffy, the followving  particuthe famnily viscounts of Langfo)rd. Adam DnIl- lars both of themr an.d of some other of the tribes
lard or Doilard obtained Dtullennevarty. Gil- of the Southern Ui  Neill, whllose names have been
bert de Nugent obtained Delvin, anti his already given in the preceding portion of this
descendants were barons of Delvin, and Earls chapter, are here given at the head of the e'ans
of Westmeath. Richard Tuite received la'ge  of Ma-g'h Lift, as they are found arrantged in
grants in  Westmeath  and  Longirord.  Tile tihe work from which this appendix is, with a
Tuites received the tintle of barons of'Moyashell, a few exceptions, an extract.-Ed.
in Westmeatih. Robert do Lacv received Rath     1 O'M5aM'iRsIrrEILAIN, O'Maoileachlain, or O'wire in Westmueath, of which his descenlants Melagrlilin.  The O Melaghlins were thie head
were barons. Jeofrey de.Constantine received  family of the southern Ui Niall race, called Clan
Kibixey in Westmeath, of which his descend-  Colmnan, and took their name from Maeilsechants were barons.  William   Petit received  lainn.orMal!achy I., king of Meatlh and monarch
Castlebreck  and Magheritherinan, now  the  of Ireland in the ninth century; they were for
barony of Magheradermnon in Westmeath. The  many centuries kings of Meath, and several of
Petits received the title of barons of Mullingar. tlhern were monarchs of Ireland. Many of them
Miyler Fitz-tlenry obtained Iaghlerneran, Ruth- were also kings of Tara, princes of Bregia, and
kenin  and  Athlinorker, now  Ardnorcher. lords of Clan Colmnan; thle territory called C7_la
Richard doe Lachapelle, brother to  Gilbert C(ltlmart was sitmuated in ancient Teffia, and comNu.gent, obtained much lanl.                   prised the middle and southern parts of the
Tihe following great families, either of English  present county of Westmeath. The O'Melaghor Norman descent, settled in'Meath in early  lins, as kings of Meath. had their chief residence
times. The I'lunketts, a farmily of Danish  at Dien-nraS-Seiath, or the Fortress of t'ie Shields,
descent, became Earb of Fingal, and branches situated on the banks of Lough Ainlmin, now
of them  barons of Dunsanev, andt Earls of Loulgh Ennell, near Mhlliingar. MurcadhO'MelLouth. The Prestons, viscounts Gormanstown, aghlin  was king of Meath at the time of the




722                       TOPOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.
Anglo-Norman invasion; his kingdom was trans-  " O'Carey rules over Carbery of bards,
ferred to Hlugh de Lacy by a grant from Henry    He is of the tribe of Niall of the Nine Hostages.
II., and he was the last independent king of   There are none but themselves there,
Meath; but the O'Melaghlins, for many cen-   Of the clans of Niall over Leinster.'
turies afterwards, amidst incessant and fierce
contests with the English settlers, maintained    6. O'MuRncAIN, chief of Fidhgaibhle, is thus
their position and considerable possessions in  mentioned by O'Heerin:
Westmeath. with their titles of kings and princes
tprinces   O'er Liffey's plain of the fertile slopes,
of Meath and lords of Clan Colman, down to the
reign of Elizabeth. Many distinguished chiefs   O'Murcan, chief, rules green Fidhgabhla."
of the O'Melaghlins are mentioned from  the
tenth to the sixteenth century. Some chiefs of 7.  OBP.ACAIN, or Bracken, were chiefs in
them  are mentioned during the Cromwellian  Moy Liffey. The O'Murcains and O'Brackens
and Williamite wars, but after those periods all appear to have possessed the districts along the
their estates were confiscated, and in modern  Liffey, near Dublin.
times scarcely any of the O'Melaghlins are toe 8h  OCELLAIDII, or O'Kelly, chief of Tuath
found. It is however said that the name has Legle, is thus mentioned by Olteerin:
been changed to Mac Loghlin It is remiarkable, that of the five royal Milesian families, all  "Delightful the land, its fame has spread,
of whom were eligible to the monarchy, none    quatls Leahe of the shining slopes;
have become so utterly decayed as the O'Mel-   OKelly of Leghe, from the eastern strand,
aghlins, for the others, namely, the O'Neills,   Is chief of the pleasant country of yews."
kings of Ulster; the O'Conors, kings of Connaght, and the O'Briens, kings of Munster i These O'Kellys possessed a territory near the
many high families still exist, and the Mac Mur- riser Barrow, parts of the baronies of West Narroghs, kings of Leinster, are represented by the  ragi and Kilkea, in the county of Eildare; and
O.aivenlaghs.                                 they were sometimes called Mae Kellys; had
2. MAc EOcrAOAIN,  or Mac Geoghegan, chief their chief residence and castle at Rathascul, or
of Kinel Fiacadh, is thus mentioned by o'- the Moat of Ascul, near Athy, and they also had
Dugan:                                        the district about Naas.
9. O'GELBROIN, chief of Clar Life, is thus men"Precedence be given to the heoroic clan,     tioned by O'ieerin:
The noble tribe Mac Geoghegan;
The nob~e tribe IMaac Geoghega~tn;           "The plain of Liffey of Black Ships,
Host of the pleasant verdant lands,
That rule o'er the warlike Kinel Fiacadh."    A verdant country of the finest produce,
Westward of Tara, the house of Conn,
The Mac Geoghegans took their names from    O'Gelbroin is the chief of the fair land."
Eochagan, one of their ancient chiefs, and were
a branch of the southern Ui Neill. The terri- From the description of this territory of Clar
tory of IKinel Fiacha comprised the barony of Liffi, or the Plain of the Liffey, westward of
oTara, it appears to have been situated on the
Moyeashel, with parts of Movasslel, Ratheon-        t au 
rath, and Fertullagh, and the districts about iul- plains of the Liffey, on the borders of Dublin
lingar, in Westmeath. The Msac Geoghegans  and Iil(aire.
were princes of Kinel Fiacha, and of them there    0 O'FIAcnx, or OFiachry, chief of ii Tnewere many andi valiant chiefs, who defeated the  chrsis at Almhliun, and O'Haodha, O'Hsgh, or
English forces in several battles. Richard Sac  O'ilea, chief of Ui Deagbaidh, are mentioned as
Geoghegan, a distinguished commander in the  follows by Olleerin:
war against Elizabeth, was particularly cele-  " Over the entire of Ui Tneachrnis
brated for his defence of the castle of Dunboy,   Iusled O'Fiachry, chief of Allen;
in the county of Cork. The Mac Geolhegans    O'Hugh over Ui Degadh of learned men,
held their rank, and considerable possessions, in    To whom tribes bow in submission."
Westmeath, down to the Cromwellian wars and
revolutions, after which their estates were con- These territories were situated in Kildare.
fiscated.                                       11. O'MUIRTIEs, or O'Muiridhe, probably 0'3. O'TIArT or O'Hart, O'Riagain or O'lPegan, Murray, chief of Kinel Flathemhlin,and O'FinO'Ceallaigh or O'Kelly, and O'Conghalaigh, or tighern, chief of Ui Mealla, are thus designated
O'Connoly-the Four Tribes of Tara are thus  by O'Ieerin:
mentioned by O'Dugan:
"O'Muirry of great eloquence,
"The princes of Tara I here record,           Is chief of fair Kinel Flahaven;
The royal O'Hart and likewise O'llegan,     Over Ui Mella of the fast sailing ships,
The host who purchased the harbors,        FIirmly settled is the chief O'Fintierney."
Were the O'Kellies and the O'Connollies."
The territories of those chiefs were situated in
These tribes of Tara were also styled princes Kildare..0 Fintierney's district appears to have
of Bregia, and appear to have possessed the ter- adjoined it, and was probably in West Ophaley,
ritories about Tara in Meath, and also parts of near the Barrow, from the mention made of
the present county of Dublin.                 ships in the poem.
4. O'RUAsDIIRI. or O'Rory, a name anglicised    12. The O'CuLLFNs are said to have possessed
to Rogers, is mentioned by O'Dugan as prince of a territory called Coill Culluin, or the Woods of
Finnfochla, and thus designated:              Cullen, on the borders of Kildare and Wicklow,
which now forms the barony of Kilcullen in Kil"Of the men of Bregia an experienced chief   dare.
Is O'Rory, prince of Finnfochla."           13. The O'COLGANS were ancient chiefs in
]Kildare, and there are still many families of the
5. O'CIAunDTA, O'Cary, or O'RKeary, chief of name in that county. The Mac Donnels were
Calrbri O'Ciardlia, is thus mentioned by 0'- also numerous in'Iildare.
Dugan and O'Heerin:                             14.'O'DUBnTHAIII,, or O'Duffey. —The O'Duffys were one of the Leinster clans of the




TOPOGRAPHICAI, APPENDIX.                                    723
Cahirlan race, and of the same descent as the  lers, Barrys, Barrets, Berminglams, Bretts, Bel.:iac Murro-rhs, kings of Leinster, and the 0'- lews, Blakes, Brabazons, Finglases, Sweetmans,
Too1es and O Byrnes, chiefs of Wicklow.       liollywoods, Howths, Husseys, Dowdalls, Dil15. The FAGANS, sonie of whom have been  Ions, Seagraves, Sarstields, Stanihurts, Ltwlesses,
eailed 0 l, agans and Mac Fagans, are considered  Cadells, Drakes, Graces, Pahners, Eustaces,
by some to be of Irish origin, but according to  Browns, Nangles, Tuites, Trants, Luttr lls, Deothers they were of Englisl  or Danish descent, lahoydes, Ushers, Grattans.
and the name is still numerous in the counties   I-' tf.e C(o'uty of Kilduare, the following have
of Meath, Westmeath, and Dublin.              been the chief families of Anglo-Norman and
16. The O'',ItULLESS are one of the Leinster  English descent; Earl Strongbow, having beclans, and were numerous in Meath, Dublin, and  come heir to the kingdom of Leinster, as son-inKildare.                                      law of D)ermod Mac Murrogh, king of Leinster,
17. MIc GILLA-MrOCIIOLMOo end O'Dunchadha  whose daughter Eva he had married, gave grants
or O'Dono,,hoe, are mentioned in O'Dugan as of various parts of Leinster to his followers.
lords or princes of Fine Ga.ll. that i:, of Fingall Amongst other grants, Strongbow gave in Kilnear Dublin; and it may be observed that there  dare to Maurice Fitzgerald; Naas, Offelan,.which
was another Mac Gilla-mocholmog, lord of a  had been O'Kelly's country; to Myler Fitzhenry
territory on the borders of Wicklow, and men- hle gave Carberry; to Robert de Bermingham,
tioned in the note on Cualan.                 Olffley, part of O'Conor's country; to Adam and
18. O'MUltRCoIERTAxmI, or O'Murtogh, chief of Richard de Hereford, a large territory about
the tribe or territory of O Maine; and O'Liodarn, Leixlip, and the district De Salts Salteonis, or
chief of Kinel Eochain, are mentioned in 0'- the Salmon Leap, from  which the barony of
Dugan as chiefs over the Britons or Welsh, and  Salt derived its name; and to Robert Fitz
apipear to have been located near Dublin.     Richard he gave the barony of Narragh. The
19. MAI  MUREoAIN, prince of East Liffey, is family of de Riddlesford, in the reign of king
mentioned in our annals in some battles with  John, got the district of Castledermot, which
the Danes in the tenth century.               was part of the territory of O'Toole, prince of
Inr the Courenty and  City oq Deblin the fol- Imaile, in Wicklow, and Richard de St. Michael
lowing h-sve been the principal families of got from King John the district of Rheban, near
Anglo-Norman descent: The Talbots, Tyrrells, Athy, part of O'Moore's country, and from the
ilunketts, Presrons, Barnwalls, St. Lawrences, jt. Michaels, lofds of Rheban and Woodstock, in
Cruises, Casacks, Cogans, Whites, Walshes, Kildare, with Dunamase in the Queens county,
Walls, Warrens, Wogans, Woodlocks, l)arcys, passed to the Fitzgeralds, barons of Offaley, in
Nettervilles, Marwards, Phlleoes, Fitzwilliams, the year 1424, by the marriage of Thomas FitzFitzsimons, Flemmings, Archbolds, Archers, gerald with Dorothea, daughter of Anthony 0'Aliens, Aylmers, Balrs, Bagots, De Bathes, But- Moore, prince of Leix.
CIHAPTER IV.
THE KINGDOM OF ULADH, OR ULSTER.
The Kitngdom of Ulster —The name in Irish is Uladh, pronounced Ulla, and latinised Ultonla
the people were called Ultaicrh, in Latin Ultonii, and Ulotniensses, anglicised Ultosiians. This
ancient kingdom  comprised the counties of Louth, Monaghan, Armagh, Down, Antrim, Tyrone,
Derry, Done'gal, and Fermanagh, and the old territoriAs of Orgiall, Dalaradia, Uiidia, Dalriada,
Tir Eogtin, Tirconnell, and Fermanagh; the county of Cavan, which was part of Brefney, belonged
to (,onnaught, but was afterwards added to Ulster, and the county of Louth, which was part of
ancient Ulster was added to Leinster.
TIm EOGAIN.                   Eogain. or the country of Owen, afterwards anglicised into Tiroen, or Tyrone. In conseThis territory comprised the present counties quence of the conquest of this country by
of Tyrone and Derry, with a large portion of Eogan, when it was taken from  the old posDonegal, between Lough Foyle and Lough  sessors of the race of Ir, or Clanna Rory, its
Swilloy, n:unely-, the peninsula of Inisowen, sovereignty was transferred to the  race of
and tShe greater part of the barony of Raphoe. Erimhon. From the circumstance of its being
In this territory, on a high hill or mountain, possessed by the descendants of Eogan, called
called Grianan, on the eastern shore of Lough  Cinel Eogain, or Kinel Owen, the territory also
Swilly, south of Inch Island, was situated the obtained the name of Kinel Owen. According
celebrated fortress called the Grianane of Ail- to the Books of Leacan and Ballymote, and
each, from  Gricanan. a palace or royal tesi- other authorities, this territory was divided bedence, and Ailech or Oileaech, which signifies tween the ten sons of Eogan, whose descenda stone fortress.  It. was also called Ailech  ants [ave names to the variousdistricts.  In the
Veid, having derived its name, according to  chapter on the kingdom of Meath, it has been
O'Flaherty, from Neid, one of the Tuatha-de- stated that the Ui Neill, or the descendants ofthe
Danann princes. This fortress was for many  monarch Niall of the Nine Hostages, were dividages the seat of the aricient kings of Ulster. It ed into two greatbranches, namely, the Southern
was built in a circular form of great stones and Northern. The southern Ui Neill were
without cement, and was of immense strength, kings of Meath, and many of them  monarchs
in that style denominated Cyclopean architec- of Ireland. The northern Ui Neill, of which
ture, and some of its extensive ruins remain to  there were two great branches, namely, the race
this day.                                     of Eogan, princes of Tyrone, and the race of
Tir Eogain obtained its name from Eogan, Conall, princes of Tirconnell, also furnished
or Owen, son of Niall of the Niine Hostages, many monarchs of Ireland; but the descendwho conquered this territory in the beginning  ants of Eogsan were the most celebrated of all
of the fifth century, and hence its name, Tlj the Milesian clans; of them a great many were




724                       TOPOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.
kings of Ulster, and si.teen were monarchs of DUAN.trDn;     14. O'HAICHnnrArJ.L, or Hanill.  15.
Ireland. The race fI E:gan took tlhe name f O'HETITGaIN or O'Etigan, chiefs of three disti'icts
O'Neill in the tenth century, from Niall Glun- called  Teallach  Cathalain, Teallach  Duibh.
dubli, who was killed in a grelt battle with tlhe ailbe, and Teallach Braenain. 16. O'MIAELFOT.
Danies, near Dublin, A. 1). 917.  Tlhe  elder JIARTAIGH, and O'h-Eodliasa, or O'llassey, chiefs
branch of the O'Neill took the name of O'Loch- of Kinel Tighearnaigh.  17. O'CUANAICH, or
lainn, and Mac Loughllin, romn Locll:ainn. one O'Cooney. 1S. OB3AOT1GR\LAICH, chief of Clan
of their ancient chiefs. Tile O Neils aftcr- Fergus. 19. O'MluRsCAsIA, or O'MIurrogh, and
wards recovered the supremacy, and m:tde a O'Meallain, chiefs of 8iol Aodhla-Eanaigh,   20.
distinguished Iigure in Irish history, down to MIAc FiAClRAnGH, chief of Kinel Feradaigh in
the seventeenth century, as princes of Tyrone, the south of Ty'one. 21. O'IIAIRNIN, O'MaELand kins of Ulster. T're O'Neills had their FABIIAIML, and the CL.AN CA'IIIN.OIIL, chiefs of
chief seat at Dnlgannon, and were ilnaularated Kinel Firadhaidh, in the north of Tyrone. Th's
as princes of Tyione, at Tullhlghoge paicCe, beo- name was sometimes changed to RMac Campbell,
tween Grange and Donaglhenry, ia the pl ariAh of and Mac Caghwell, and also to Caulfield. T'he
Desertereigllt, barony of Dungannon, wvlere a  lacCathmaoils were a powerful clan, in Tyrone,
rude seat of large stones served them as a cor- and many of them in Monagbhan, Louth, and Ar-,
onation chair.                                magh. 22. The clans of IMAOLGEIMRDH and of
The chiefs and clans of Tir Eogain, and the MAOLPADRAIG, who possessed the two districts of
territories possessed by each in the tweifth cen-  Kinel   Fireclhaidhl, in the east of Tyrone.
tury, are collected from O Dugan as follows:-  23. MrINTsr: TAIrTuILroI, of Ui Laoghaire, of
O'Dugan commences with  the territory of Lough Lir, a name ang'icised to Mac Tully.
Ailecc   qof the Kings. of which hle gives-  24. O'IAsNnTsR, chlief of Ui Seaain  25. O'Cri1. O'NEILL and MAC LocnLAINN as prilces or oHfAIN, chlief of Ily Fiacllra, a territory which
kings.                                         comprised the parish of Ardistraw, and some
2. O'CATHAIN, or O'Kane, who was of the race adjoining districts in Tyrone, and is mentioned
of Eogan. or a branchl of the O'Neills. and who in the Annals at A.D. 1200. 26. O'QuiNas, chief of
was the chief of Cianacht of Glenna Gebhin, or Moy Lugad, and of Siol Cathusaigh. Moylugad,
Keenagzht of Glengiven. The ( Kanes were according to the Books of Leacan and Ballyalso ciiefs of the CJreeve, now the barony of mote,:lay in Keenaught of Glengliven, county
Colerain.  In after. times this powerful clan  of Derry.'27. The O'CEARBSIIALLAIDS. O'Cearbpossessed the greater part of tile county of hallains, or O'Carolans. a name sometimes angliDerry. which was called O'Kane's country. cised to Carleton, chiefs of Clan l)iarmada, now
3. O'CONOOBAIR or the O'Conors. who were the parish of Clandermod,, or Glendermrnod, in
chiefs of Cianachta before the O Kanes, and were Derry. 28. The O'BRoLCnAINS, or O'Brolchans,
descendants of Cian, son of Olild Olum, king of a name sometimes changed to Bradly. These
Munster: hence their territory obtained the were a numerous clan hear Derry, but originame of Cianachta, a name still preserved in nally of the Kinel Feradaigh, in the south of
the barony of Keenaught, county of Derry.     Tyrone, and were a branch of the Klinel Owen.
4. O DuBIDnneIORA or O'Dooyiorma, some- 29. Mac BLOSoAIDII, or tile Mac Closkeys, a nutimes anglicised O'Dermott or Mac Dermott, but merous clan in tile parish of Dungiven, and
a distinct clan from Mac Derrnott, prince of Moy- some adjoining parts: they were a branch of
lurg in Connaught. The O'Dooyiormas were  the O'Kanes.  0O. The O'DEVLIss, chiefs of
chiefs of Bredach, a territory which lay along Muintir Devil, near Lough Neagh, on  the
the western banks of Lough Foyle, and corn- bordersof Derryand Tyrone. 38. The O LooNprised the parishes of Upper and Lower Moville, Eys, chiefs of Muinter Loney, a district known
in the barony of Inisowen. The name of this as the Monter Loney Mountains in Tyrone.
district is still preserved in the small river 82. O CONNELLAN, chief of Grioch Tullach, in
Bredaz. which falls into Lough Foyle.          Tyrone, a nanme which has been by some
5. O'GOP.MLEDAIDII, or O'Gorm!ey, chief of changed to Conolly. 82. O'DOSGIIAILE,or O DonKinel Moain. or Moen, now the blarony of Rap- nellys chiefs in Tyrone, at Ballydonnelly, and
hoe. county of Donegal. This district derived  other parts. 34. O'Nena, or O'NEsYs. or Alac
its name from  Moan, one of the descendants Nenys, a name which has been anglicised to
of Eogan.                                      Bird. These possessed the territory of Kinel
lagh  Itha, or Moy Ith, and Kinel Ends  Naena, in Tyrone, bordering on Monaghan. Of
were two  districts adjoining Kinel Moain, this family was Count O'Neny, of Brussels, in
partly in the barony of Raphoe, and partly in  the Austrian service, under the empress Maria
the barony of Tirkeeran in Derry. Acco (ling  Theresa. 35. O'FL.AIERTY, or O'Laverty, lord of
to O'Dllugan, the following were the chiefs of  Kinel Owen.  36 The O'MuIRYS, given  in
Moy Ith. namely, 1. O'BAoTGHILL, or O'Boyle; O Conor's Map of Ortelius, as a clan in Derry.
2. O'MAOLB.REASIAL; O'CUINN, or O'Quinn;  87. The MAc  SHANES, a name anglicised to
O'CIONAETIIA, or O'Kenny. 3. O'BRUADAIr., or Johlnson, who were a clan in Tyrone. 87. The
O'Brody;  4. O'MAoILFABnlAXILE;  OlItOAIN, O'Mulligans, angliclsed to Molineux. who were
chiefs of Carruic Brachuighe, still traceable by  also a clan in ill Tyrone. 38. The O'GNsIns,
the name Carricbrack, in the barony of Inisowen.  O'Gnives, or O'Gneeves, hereditary bards to
5. O'l1AGAIN, or O'Hagan. chief of Tulachog, or the O'Neills. This name has been anglicised
Tullaghoge, in  the  parish of Desertcreight, to Agnew.
barony  of Dungannon, county of Tyrone.   Tho O'Neills, as already stated, maintained
6. Osr)UNAGAIN, or O'Donegan. 7. MAO MUP- their indepedence down to the end of the sixRADII, or Mac Murrough.  8. O'FIRGHTL, or teenth century, as princes of Tylone; and in
O'Freel. 9. MAc RUAIDHIr, or Rogers, chiefs the reigns of ltenry VIII. and Elizabeth, bore
of Tealach Ainbith, and of Muinter Birn, dis- the titles of carls of Tyrone, and barons of
tricts in the baronies of Dungannon and Stra- Dungannon   The last celebrated chiefs of the
bane. 10. O'CEALLAIDI, or O'Kelly, chief of name were IHugh O'Neill, the great earl of
Kinel Eachaidh, or Cores Eachaidh, probably  Tyrone, famaus as the commander of the northCorkaghee, barony of Dungannon.  il. O'TIo- ern Irish in their wars with Elizabeth; and
IIrARNAIDS. or O'Tierney; 12. O'CIARAIN, or Owen Roe O'Neill, the general of the Irish of
Q'Kieran, chiefs of Fearnmulgh. 13. O'DuIsi- Tilster, in 1641, and the Cromwellian wars




TOPOGRAPHICAL ~APPENDIX.                                     725
Eeveral of the O'Neills have been distinguished  present baronies of Boylagh and Bannagh:Crioeb
in tile military service of Spain, France, and  Baeighilleach, or tile country of the O'Boyles,
Austria.                                       gave name to the barony of Boylagh, Tir Beg.
hane  was the barony of Banagh.
T'i  CONAILL.                    8. O'MIAEILMAGIINA, or O'Mulvany, chief of
Magh Seireadh; Magh Seircadh may probably
This territory  comprised  the remaining  be traced in a townland called Massarcy.
portion of the county of Donegal not, con-    4. O'11AEDIIA  or O'Hlugh, chief of Esruadh,
tained in Tir Eogain. the boundary betweent  now Ballyslhannon, in the barony of Tir Hugh.
both being Loughl Swilly; but in the twelfth    5. O'TAIrcEIIT, chief of Clann  Nechtain,
century tile  O Muldorrys  and  0 Donnel's,  Clann Snedgali.
princes of Tir Connell, became masters of    6. MAc DYUBIIAIN, or Mac Duvanys, chiefs
the entire of Donegal, thus making Lough  of Kinel Nenna or IKinel Enda. This district
Fovle and Fin the boundaries between T'ir  lay in Iiiisowen.
Coulnoll aInd Tir Eogain. This territory got    7. Mac LoiNGSEACmIAIN,   or Mac Lynchys,
its name froim Conall GUlban, who took posses-  chiefs of Gleann Binne, or Gleann-m-Binne,
ion of it in the beginning of the fifth century.  and O BrPESLEN, cliief of Fanaid, on the western
lie was brother to Eogan, who conquered Tir  shore of Lough Sw-illy.
Eogain, and son of the monarch N iall of the Nine    8. O'DOCsIAs:TAIGH, or O'Dogherty, chief of
Ihostages, alnd froIn himin the territory obtained  Ard Midhair. The O'Doghertys were a powerthe nsame of Tir Conaill, or the country of  ful sept, a branch of the O'Donnells, and became
Conall. and  his posterity were  designated  chiefs of Inisowen. The O'Doghertys maintainKinel Cornaill, or tile race of Conall, a name  ed their rank as chiefs of Inisoswen down to the
vil ih was also applied to the territory.     reign of James I., when Sir Cahir O Dogherty
Tile race of Conall Gulban, who possessed  wa:s killed itn a contest with the Engli. h.
Tir Concell, are celebrated in Irish history, and,    9 M.Ac GILLASAMsZI AIS, chief of 1ios Guill,
according to O'laiherty and others, furnished  now Klosrgull, in the barony of Kilmakrenan.
ten of the monarchs of Ire'and. In the tenth    10. OCeAtnNACHIAIN, or O'Kernghalln.
century a branch of the Kinel Connell, or de-    11. O'DALACIOAIN, or O'Dullaghan, chiefs of
scendlants of Conall Gulban, took the name of  the Tuath Bladhladh.
O'(anannain, many of whom  were celebrated    12. O'MAEL.GAIN, or O'Mulligan, chief of
chiefs, particularly lRnuaidri O'Canannain, who  Tir Mac Caerthanin.
was distinguished for his great va!or and abili-   13. O'DoNNAGAIN, and MacGaiblin, chiefs of
ties. Another branch of the race of Conall  Tir Breasail.
Gulban  took  the  name O'Maeldoraidll, or    14. O'MAOLGAOTHE, chief of Muintir MaoilO Muldorry, and became princes of Tir Connell.  gaoithe. Soime of tils name have been angliIn the Anlnals of the Four Masters in thlle 10th,  cised to Mac Ghee, and others to Wynn.
illth and 12th centuries, accouints are given of    15. And MAC TIGCIERNala, or Mac Ternan.
many contests between the O'Canannains and  chief of Clan Fearghuile.
O Maeldoraidhs, those rival chiefs of the same    16. MAC SUIBNI or the Mac Sweenvs, a
race, as contending for the sovereignty of T'ir  branch  of  the  O'Neills which  settled  in
Connell.                                       Donegal, and formed  three  great families,
The OT)osrELI.s, in the 2th centnry, became  namely, Mac: Sweeny of Fanaid, whose extenprinces of'-fir Connell, and were of tile same  sive trritory lay wet of Lough Swvilley, and
race as the O'Canannains and O'Aluldorrys.  whose castle was at Rathmullin; Mac Sweeny
Their tribe-namle, at an early period, was Clan  Boghasmach, or of Tir Boghatni, now the barony
Da!aiht from  Dalach. one of their chiefs.  of blanagh, whvlo had his castle at Rathain, and
They aro called in -O'Dugan's poem, "Cletn2ta  in which  territory was situated  Rechrlain
Dalaig/h na nL-donn s(iath," that is, of the  Muintiri Birn, now Ratlllin- O'Beirne Islands;
brown shields. They afterwards took the name  and?Mac Sweeny Na d-Tuath, signifying Mao
O'Domhnaill, or Donnell, from  Domnall, one  Sweeny of the Battle-axes. Ills districts were
of their ancient chiefs.  The O'Donnells of also called Tunlha Toraighe, or thie districts of
P]oneg;l, from the 12th to the enid of the 16th  Tory Island. This Alac Sweeny's possessions
century, make  a very  distinguished  figure  lay in the  barony of KIilnakrenan.  Thllese
In  Irish history, as princes of Tirconnel.  chiefs were called Mac Sweeny Na d-Tnagh,
The l:st celebrated chief of the name was  signifying Mlac Sweeny of the Battle-axes, a
Red Iugh O'Donnell, lo:tg famous as one of  title said to be derived from their being stanthe clief commanders of tile nor;hern Irish,  dard bearers and marshals to the O'Donnells,
in their wars with E;izabeth-  Tory ODonnell,  and chiefs of Galloglasses. A branch of these
the last chief of the race, was created earl of:liae Sweenys, who were distinguishled military
Tyrconnlell, hut died in exile on the Continent,  leaders, settled in Miunster in the county Cork,
and his estates were confiscated in the reirn of in thle thirteenth century, and became comJames I. Many of the ODonnells have been  manders under the Mlac Carthys, princes of
celebrated g-:nerals in the service of Spain,  Desmond.
France, and Austria. The O'Donnels were in-    17. O'GALcnonAIn, or O'Gallagher, derived
augurateild as princes of Tirconnell on the Rock  from Gallehobhair, a warrinr, in the baronies
of Doulne. at Kilmnacrenan, and had their chief  of lBaphoe and Trihugh; they had a castle at
castle at Done-al.                             Ballyshannon. and also possessed thle castle of
The following clans and chiefs in Tir Conaill  Lifford. and were commanders of O Donnells
in the tvelfth century, are given by O'Dugan  cavatl-y.
under the head of Kinel Cornsaill:               18. O'FUiRANAIN is given by O'Dnuan in tis
1. Oa"AOLDOR.AIDI,OO' CA-NA2-N^AIN, and C16nn  poem as chief of Fiend Ruts,'which probably
Dalaigh were the principal chiefs. The Clan  was the Rosses in the barony of Boylagh.
Dalaigh was the tribename of the O'Donnells   19. O'DoxoNG.n, or  O'Donnelly, chief of
as before stated.                             Fer Dromas. a district in Ilnishowen.
2. OB oIGHTiruL or O'Boyles, were chiefs of    20. O'LAtIIDIn is mentioned as chief of Kinel
Clann: Chinnfaeladh, of Tir Ainmireach, and of  Moain. a district in the barony of Rapooe.
Tir Baghani, which territories comprised the    21. O'CLarxnoIa or O'Clerys, celebrated as the




726                        TOPOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.
hereditary historians to the O'Donnells, and the  tian era. Sliath Cuailgni, now Slieve Gullion
learned authors of the Annals of the Four  mountain, in Armagh, acquired its name from
Masters, and many other valuable works on  him. Louth was in ancient times also called
Irish history and antiquities. They had large  Machairi Chonaill. or the Plain of Conail, trom
possessions in the barony of Tirhugh, and resi- Conall Kearnach, the. renowned warrior,who was
ded in their castle at Kilbarron, the ruins of  chief of the led Branch knights of Ulster, about
which still remain situated on a rock on. the  the commencement of the ChristiLan era, and
shore of the Atlantic, near Ballyshannon.        whose descendants originally possessed this ter22. MAc AN BI.&sa D, or the MacWards,were a  ritory.
clan in Donegal, and many of them  bards to    The descendants of Conall Kearnach, were
the O Donnells, and were very learned men.    the Magennises, lords of Iveash, in Dalalradia, or
county of Down, the O'Moras, or O'lIMoores,
OIRGnIALLA.                     princes of Le:.;. in Kildare and Queen's county,
and others. Amongst the other chief (;.ns who
The  ancient kin(dom, or principality  of possessed Louth, were the Mac Canns, Mac CarOirghiall, comprised  an extensive territory  tans, O'Kellys, O'Moores, O Callaghans, O'Carin  Ulster, and was called by Latin writers, raghiars, Mac Colmans, AMac Campbelis, Mao
Orgalliut, and E'pgallia; and by the English  Ardel's, Mac  Kennys, O'Devins,  O'Markys,
Oriel, and  U,'iel. In the beginning of the  O:Branagans, Mac-Scanlons, and others.
fourth century, three warlike princes, called    In the reign of king John, A.D. 1210, Louth
the three Collhs, sons of Eocaidlh Doimlein, son  was formed into a county, and acquired its name
of Ca.lrbre Lifechllar, monarch of Ireland, of the  from the town of Louth, in Irish, Lagh Jfllagh.
race of Erimhlon, made a conquest of a great part In the Inquisitions the county is called Lovidia.
of Ulster, which they wrested from the old pos- The chiet' Anglo-Norman  or British families
sessors, princes of the race of Ir, called the  settled in Louth, were the De Lacys, De Verdons,
Clanna Rory, or tudericians. The three Collas  De Gernons, De Pepards, De Flelnmings, barons
in the great battle of Aclialetlderg, in Fear-  of Slane; the Bellews of Barmeath, who had formuigh, in Dalaradia, on the borders of Down  merly the title of barons of D)uleek; the De
and Antrim, A. D. 332, defeated the forces of  Berminghams, earls of Louth, a title afterwards
Fergus, king of Ulster, who was slain; and the  possessed by the Piunklts, a great faonlily of
victors burned to the ground Ernhain Macha, or Danish descent; the Taalies, earls of CarlingEmania, (near the present city of Arinagh,) the  ford; the Balls, Brahazons, Darcys, Dowdals,
famous i)alace of the Ultonian' kings, which had  Clintons, and the Dromgools, of Danish descent.
stood for six centuries, and had been long cele-    The posterity of the three Collas, called Clan
brated by the Irish bards. The place where this  Cella, foundel( many powerful clans and noble
battle was founht is called a'so Carn Achy Leth-  families in Ulster, andl other parts of Ireland.
Derg. and is now known as the parish of Aglia- From  Colln Uass were descended  the Mace
derg, in the barony of Iveagh, county of Down, Donalds, earls of Antrin, in Ireland, and lcrds of
where there still remains a hune Carn of loose  the Isles, in Scotland; also, the Mac RIorys, a great
stones, near Loughbrickland.  Tihe sovereignty  clan in the liebrides, and also many falmilies of
of Ulster thus passed from  the race of Ir, to the  that name in Ultter, now anglicised to Rogers.
race of Eiirimhon.  The names of the three    Fromn Colla Da Chrioch, were descended the
chiefs were Colla Uais, or Colla the noble, Colla  MAC MAIIO.s, princes of Monaghan, lords of
Menu, or Colla the fiamous, and Colla-da-Chrich,  Ferney, and barons of Damitrec, at Conagligh. where
or Colla of the two territories. Cella Uais be-  they had their chief seat. The Mac Mahons
came monarch of Ireland, A. D. 327, and died  were sometimes styled princes of Orgill. It
A. D. 332. The territory conquered by the three  may be observed thait several of the Mac Mahons,
Collas. comprised the present counties of Loulth,  in former times. chan-ged the name to Mathews.
Monaghan, anld Armagh, and obtained the name    The otller cltef c'ans of Monaghan were the
of Oirgfhialla, from the circumstance of the Col!as  MAC KCExss,   chiefs of Trulagh; iho Masc CABE:s;
having stipulated with the monarch of Ireland,  the MAc NrNEYS, anlicizedl to- Bird; the MAO
for themselves and their pos'erity, that if any  AnRDFLtS,lIMA  CAsIaDYS, O'DUFFEr S, O'ConYs,
chiefs of the Clan Cella shoald be at any time dlc-  O'COSGIAS, MAC  CUSmKErs, or Mac Oscars,
manded as hostages, if shlac/led, their fetters  changed to Cos-raves, who possessed, according
should be gold; thus, from the Irish o,'. gold, or  to O'Dugan,  a territorv called Fearra rItsis, which
gfiall, a hiostare, came the nanme oqg.'aZiaZ.  comprised the district ahbout Carriekmacrons. in
The term Orie!, or Uriel, was in eenlera! confined  Ml naoghan, with the parish of Cionkf., adljoinby the English to the prceent county of Louth, Ing. in the county of Losltli, the     Yi.ANYS, of
which, in former times, was part of Ulster: that  Dartree; the MAAc GI,LA-NIMCIImi,  i,lhanged to
province extending to the Boyne, at D1 ogheda.  Mitchell; the MAic DVONELLS; the O'Co'NELYS,
O'CAReOLL was the name of the ruling sept of and others.
Oirgllialla for some time previous to:hle English'  This part of Orgiall was overrun by tlhe forces
invasion. Thev continued kings down to the  of J; hn de Con)ev, in the reign of k'ng John,
12th century, whllen they werf: dispossessed by  but the Mac Mlihons maintained their national
the Angro-Normnans, under John  (le Conrcy.  indepen-lence to the. reirn of Elizabe'h, when
Donncacll  O'Carroll, prinice of Ora'lalla, the last  Monaghan was formed i!lto a county, so called
celebrated head o' this. race, founded the great from  its chief town Muineachan, that is, the
Abbey of Mellifont, in Louth, in the 12th cen-  Town of Monks.
turv. The territory of Louth is mn:,tiored in    From sn    lla-da-C'rio*h were also descended
the' earliest timies under the ntlmes of Jcfa7l  the AMl.co Gurires, lor(ls of Fermanagh, and baifurthemnni, or the  Plain of MaTrthemlli, so  rorm of Ennis;ilen; the O'FLAsAaANo S of Fercalled fiom Muarthemni, soil of Breozan. uncle  managh; the O'llXsLoNs, clhiefs of Ui Meithof Milesins. who possessed it. Part of the ter  Tiri. now the barony of Orior, in Armagh,l who
ritorv of L)uth and Armagh was caleod Cai'gni,  he'd  the office of hereditary regal standardfrom CuaiTrsni. another son of Br!eonan. who, as- bearers of Ulster; the MAC C.ANA, or Mac CannS,
cording to our old Ann!lists, vwas killedt there in  of Clan Bresail, in Armnagh: the O'KsLYs,
a battle between the Milesians and the Tuatho   prince of UI Mani, is the counties of Galway
De-Dananns, about 1030 years before the Chris- and Boscommon, and the O'MADAGANS. or




TOPOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.                                           727
O'YMaddens, chiefs of Siol Anmchadlha, or Sil- of Ui Laogbhaire, or Lough Lir, a district which
anchia, now the b arony of Longford, in the  lay in the barony of Lurg, near Lough Erne,
county of Galwsay.                                 towards Tyrone.
Colla Melat's lposteritv possessed the territory    8. MAc DUILGEN.
of Modhulrn, that is, the districts about the moun-   4. O'FLANNAGAIN, or O'Flanagan, chief of
tains of Mourne.                                   Tuath Ratha, a territory whichl extended from
That part of Oirghialla, afterwards forming the  Belirore to Belleek, and from Loulgh  Melvin to
county of Armagll,'was possessed, as already  Lough Erne, comprising the present barony of
stated, partly by the O'Panlons and Mac Canns, MIalieraboy.  It contained the anciant districts
and partly by the O' Neills, O'Larkins, O'Duv- of farthar Mailhe and Malgh Niadh, and its name
anys, and O'Garveys, of ttle Clanna Itory, who  is still retained by the mountain Turn.
posse-. seed the Craibh lRuadh, or territory of the    5. MAC GILLA-FiSEINN, or Mac Gillfinnen, chief
amnous Red  31ranch knights of Ulster; O'tlan- of Muintir Peodachain of the Port. Tllisterriratty s, of Ui-MIeith Mach:i; O'Donegans of Brea- tory, on the borders of Fermana igh and Donegal,
sb! Mcalia, a nd otherl'-                          is still traceable in the name of Pettiroe; and
Ti e native chiefs held their independence  he was styled lord of Lough Erne.
down to the leign of Elizabeth, when Armuagh    6. MIAC GILLA-IICHIIL, chief of Clan Cohigail and
was formed into a county, A.D. 1506, by tle  O'Ceanfoda.  Clan Congail lay in Tir M},naeh.
lord deputy, Sir John Perlott.                     Tirkennedy bWrony  is probably  Tir O'CeanFe,'a Jloiecah, an ancient territory of about fhoda.  The name Mac Gilla-Michil, hlas been
the same extent as the preent county of Fer- anglicized) Miitchell.
mnanag-h.  It fornied part of the ancient princi-   7. O'!IAotLRANA, or O'Mulrooncy, and 0'pa!ity oe Oirghialla.                             ELini-h, or O'Heignih,   robably OtIeaney,
Ir; the tenth, e'eventh, and twelfth centuries, who were chiefs of Mitintir Maolruanaidh, and
t-.sh ilead cief of this territory -was O'Dublilara  of Maoitll Lei:'r Monach.
Th-e O'DuBIIDARAS were probably of the sarne    8. MAC DO.nIIStNAILL. or Mac Donnell, chief of
race as the Mac Guires, who afterwards becanme  Clann CealitgiIh, now the barony of Clankelly.
primnes of Ierniantagh. The latter name in Irisi    9. The MAC MATANIUTES, formerly a nulmllerous
Is MA(c Uide /li.,  solmetirnes written Mlityuibhbi', clan, chiefly in Tirkennedy. who had thae conrhis'h is pronounced Mac Ivir, and has been  tri ofl I e shilpping on Lough Erne, and held the
trani,;tated M'ac   thire at d Magi're. The Mac office of hereditary chief managers of the fisherGuine3 took this  usnae from   Uid/l'i, one of Ls, under AMac Guire.
their ancient cllhiefs; and tLley are of t.he race of   I41. The MAc  CAssIDYS, who -were hereditary
Clas  C(oll,, of tile salte descent as the Mac phiysicians to the Mac Gnires, and many of the
Mallooa, lords of IMoinagtan; the O'Itanions, nzame also learnel ecclesiastics and historians,
chiefs of Orier. in Armllagh; the OKells, lords aimongst whllom may be mentioned Rotolrick -M ao
of  i    sM-ni. int G walay and Roscommon.  In  Cssiidy, archdeacon ofiloghler, who partly comO'l)uinn'sTopogral)lly of the twselftlh century, piled tite Annals of Ulster.
Mac IJidhir, or Ma4e Gunire, is given as chief ot   11. The O'CIrOCI.tNS,, or O'Creehans, a numeFearl  Monlacth, or Fermannagh, and designated  rous clan in Fermanagh, many of whom have
In terms which may be thus translated:             cnagedl thle name to Creighton.
12. The MIAGr sAT-s, Who held some posses"Mac Gairc, the chiefof hosts,                sions at Termon ]Magrath, where ttiey had a
iRulls the migllty inet of Manneb,          castle in the parish of Templecarne.
At hlome manifiicent in precents,
The noblest chief in hospitality."                     DALARADIA AND ULIDIA.
The MAcURnEs wvere inangiglrateld as princes    The name  Ula-Ch was applied to the whole
of Ferltranaghl  on the summnit of G;tilcari. a  provin.ce of Ulster, butt in after times was
magnificent mountain near Snwan!inbtr. on tlie  confined to a large territory comprising the
borders o.? Clvan antd Fermanaght, and somne-  present'oonnty  of Down and part of Antlim,
tirnet   alsC, at a plice called Sc aih Gbhlra, now  ant1 was latinised  Ulcidia.  This territory al'so
Lisaaskea.  They possessed the enaire of Fer- obtained the nane of Dal Aratiho. The tword
ulsl-at-h. whlich was aale(ii.tzc.Ceti'es coa;,tc'?/,  Deal signifies a part or portion, an.l also a. —
and tmaintminedi their independetnc e as l(rds of scendants. or a tribe, and hence I)al-Araidhie
FIertannzAil,  icown tao the reign of James I., signifies the descendants or tribe of Arailhe,
when their country wtvas cnfiscated, like other as being descendedl from  Fiacaidh Araidihe,
parts of Ulster.  Several chiefs of thle lac king of Ulster in the thlird centcirs, of the
Guirer  are tmeationed disnrt-g the Cromwsellian  rac  of Itr, or Clan Rory, called Rialericians,
and Wil!iaanite wars,'anfd mnmy of thlent were  whose posterity possessed this terlitory, whoso
afterswards (tiestngu.ishe-d     officers inl the Irish  name was latinised  Dalaradia.  It comprised
13Bigade, in  srtalnce, an. also in the Austrian  the present conlnty of Dowvn, with a'reat part
service.  Th!e Aac Guires prodleed several of Antrim, extending from  Newry, Carlingford
eminient anld  learned eccle-iastics; amongst Bay, and the Msourn  mountains, to Slieve Mis
whom  mitay has mentioncel C:athal, or Charles mountain, in the barony of Antrimn; thus conM'iac Guire. ar-hdeaclon of C!ogzher, in the fif- tai,ing, in the south anti south e;tt pa:rts of Anteenthl cent!,rv, thle aithor of the celebrated  trim. the dihtricts alohg the slhores of Lough
Annals of TUlster.  Thle Mac Guires are still Neag(h and Belfast Loigh, Carriclkfe'gits, and
nunmerons, particularly in tie counties of Fer- the pentinsula of Island Magee, to Lamrne, and
managh a.nd Cavan.                                 thence In a line westwsard to the river Bann.
The follos-in-g {iiefs and clans of Fernmnaht, The remaining portion of the county Antrim
and the territories they possessed in the twvelfth  obtained tile nsae of Dal Riada.  It has been
century, hlive been collected fron  O'Dugan's  erroneously stated by some wvriters that the
Topography:                                        boundary  between  Dal-Araidhe and Dalriada
1 O    oMtt.T  iN,or O'Mnldloon. chlief of Main- mas3 the river Bnais. or Bush, in the baron.y of
ter Maeldnin and Fera Luirg. This territory is  Dtntluce. co:inty of Antrim.
[row kntown as ithe barony of L!lrg.                 Thie chliefs  nd clans of Dalaradia or U1lidit,
2. MrLc'Tcia TATuaLi;ia, or Mac Tullys, chiefs  and the territories which they possessed in the




728                        TOPOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.
twelfth century, as collected from  O'Dugnn's  the Clann.a  ory, and were descended from  the
Topography. are asfollows: The tJ,aobh Eal adh, fiamous warrior (osall Kearainch.  They were
or the portion of the Ziedbrancsih   nii'lzts of mostly epellcd by tlie Engfiilh into l)onegal,
Ulster, a large territory, which comprised tile  firom -whence areat niil;ers'of theml ermigrated
central parts of the present coulty of Dow-n, to the county ofLeitrim,  and they are, still very
with some ad1joininyg palrts of Armagh, is given  nmlerous il I:ossinver, as well as ill the county
by 0 Dugan an  the head territory of Ul.'dh.  oftav':n. DalBtuinine w sasadistrictin Dalaradlia'The principal chiefs of the Craobh lnlndh were:  cot giecn by O'Dugan,  but occurring in the
1. ODiuANNSLEBu, called by the Annalists Mac Annals, and  derived  its name, accoiding to
Dunnsebi, as kingil  of Uladll, which name has O'Flaherty, fiom Il3inni, son of Fel'gus Mac Roy.
beei anglicised O'Dunlevy or Mac l)lnlevy. It was situated on the boi ders of 1)Dcn and An2. O'lloZruIADIIA. anglicised to O'Ileogihy, or triml, and contained  tle parish of   runmboe, in
Iloey,a branch of the Mac Dunslevy.                I)own, iith  those of Li )llmn,  laghi(agaal,
8. O0ItAIDI)TII.                                 Mlaghle:  rask, Glnavy, Atghalee, anld Aghiagal4. O'EocnAcGsAIN.                                len, in Antirm.
5. O'LABII.sADIIA.                                 In thle fourteenth century, Aedh Buidoe 0'6. O'LETIILOBUIIA.                              Neill, prlince of Tyrone, with his forc.es, crossed
7. O'LuINGsIGn, or Lynch.                        the Bann, and took possession of tile northern
8. O'aITORAN.                                    part of Da'araldi, lwhich, frcil  its being pos9. 0'MIaTlnGIAnIcINA.                            sessed by Ihis posterity, wlo n were called (/lt27b
10. 0 GAIRBnTin, or O'Garvey.                   AMod/at BeidiheC. was asglicised to c(,'lne;iy or
11. O'A1IN.ITI. or O'tIanvey, were chiefs of C6rsils7elo?,.  It extendedl from  Carrickfergus
Ji Eachacll Coba. now the barony of Iveugh.    IBa, andl the river Lagan, wecstwvrd to Loltgh
12. IMAc AENGUsA, or MAlagennis,  chief of Neiagi.   ansd containedl, accordinr to Dibos;rdiec
Clan Aodha, or Clan IHIgh, the tribe name of and oth;er autlorities, the balonies ort Belfast,
the tf.nily. Tle Magennisesiad thebi'ronies of M\assareele, Antrim,,nd Upper Toome, in lho
Iveagh and Lecale, and part of' Mourne, and  c-,urtyv of Antrinm. This territory we.vs called
were lords of Iveagh, Newry, anl Mloonne. Nortlh ClaRetiov, lo distinrguishl it frolii  South
They were descended from tlie fairous swiarlor Clalnchoy, swhicci mwas in the conisty of Down. A
Cona!l Kearnach,and wre the head of the Clanna part of iNorth Clsneboy a'so obtaineld lhe name
Rory of Ulster.                                    of Bliau ('airayh's country fosTn  having been
183. MlAc ARTAIN, or Mac Cartan.cchiefof Iinel aiee fin frs  thie O'Neills by a chief of the Mae
Fagartaighi, now  the baronies of Kinelarty tlnd  Dona!ds. ii-ho mwas calledl Brian Cairragh.
Duflfer in.                                          Sotis Cla.eloy, a territory whllich derived its
14. O'DuInu ENAnr  n, or O'Divany, chief of namre fios  the salme Aodh Bsidhl ON ii, comnKinel Amalgaidh, or Amhalgaidh Ui Morna, or p!i ed lh se ar onies of Ards. Ctlist!erci. E inelalry,
IUi Mughroin, now Clanawicy, in tilhe county of and  Lecn!e, and extended, according  to Mi`cDown.                                              Geoahergan. froom  tlhe Bay of PDundumnl to the
15. MAo DUILECnAIeN, or O'DnibbleaceIain, Bas of Cai rri;S;firgtus, or Belfast J.osgh.
chief of Clan Bresail Mac DPileahain, near    in A. D. 1177,  John de Cosricy, wi'h   his
Kinelarty, in the barony of CastlereaFgh.          forees. overran a a' eat fr t of Olrinti and U lidia.
16. O'COLTAr.AIN, or Coulter, chief Dal Coirb, or Da'nas dia. and for a peCiodI of twventyv  -ears
in the barony of Castlereagh.                      ecalrried oln an incessant w.srfare'witll the native
17. O'FIoiS-s, or O'Flynn. and O'Domhnal-  chiefs.  lie fixed his head quarters at Doimnlain. orO'Donnellan, chiefs of Ui Tuirtre. The  pltrick.  After De Conrlcr had been drivein out
territory of Ui Tuirtre lay along the noirtlhern  of Ireland by his great rivals. the de Lcv.s. lolds
shores of Louglh Neigh and the river Bann, and  of Mea h. th'e latter obtained posseesion ot' Ulidia,
extendedto S ieve Mis, cocmprising the l:aronies and were created earls of Uilster. Tlie De Burof Toome  r.di  Antrimn. in tile county of Antrimn, gos next becilme earls of Ulster. and possessors
and was afterwards known as northern Cl'anaboy. of 1Uihdia. whichl title and possessions afterwards
18. OITErec, or Ere, chief of Ui Fisechrach  passed  0. thle AMortimers. earls of March. in EngFinn, in the barony of Massarpene.                 land.  Thile chief Anglo-Norman aundh English
19. O'CIoDAIsN. or O'Credan, chiefof  aehaire settlers in Ulidia, under De Couarcy and his sueMleadthaidh, now the parish of 3Magheramisk, in  cessors, were t(le Audleys, rissetts. Cpellanils,
the barony of Mfassarecne.                         Fiilzsimons. Chamberlains. Bagsnlls, ilalatells,
20. O'llAEDtrA, or O'Hugh, chief of Fearn  Jordansl. Mandeviiles,' Riddles. Itlssells, Smiths,
mhoighe, or Fernmov, in the county of Down, S-alantons, Logans, Sasadges, W-ilshes, asnd
on the borders of Antrim, and in the barony of Whites.  The Fitzgeralds, earls of Kildare, obLower Ivengh.                                      tained Lecale in tl;e reign of Queen Mary. The
21. OG'CAEMrIAIN, or O'Keevan, chief of?Magh  Blackwoods, barons of Dufferin.
Linti, imow Moy Liuny, a district in the barony of
Antrim.                                                               DAL RIADA.
22. OMHACnOsIDE, chief of Mughdorn, or
Monine.                                              This ancient territory comprised all the re28. O'LACuINsA, or O'Loughnin, chief of Mod- maining psortion of thile county of Antrim, not
barn Beag, or Little Mourne.                       comprised in Dalaradia, with a small part of the
24. Th'lle M     GEes of Is'andmagee.            present county of Derry.  Dal  Riada  was
25. The MIAc G'ILLmORES, a warlike -clan, who named from  Carbhri Rialds, son of Conari, monpossessed the districts of IlieGreat Arlds.        arch of Ireland in the' third century.  Some
26. The MAO lORnS, or nRogers, chiefs of Kill-  Irish chiefs from Ulster, descendants of Carbri
warlin.                                            Pilads, f(ounded a colony in Alba, afterwards
27. The O'KELs.sY of Clanbrasil Mac Coolechan  called Scotland, and after having conquered tho
In the county of Down.                             Picts of that country. became tile founders of a
28. Thle MAC WARDS.                              kinrdom also called Dal Rtada. From thle chiefs
29. The MAc GorAUm3s., or Mac Gowans. also  of the Dalriadiansa were  descended the ancient
given by some writers as O'Gabhans or O'Gow-  Scottisl-l kings, and also the house of Stuart.
~ans, a name which hlas been anglicised to Smith.   DPsl Riadla was divided into tw'o larle districts:
These were a powerful clan of the race of Ir, or lat. The Glynns, so cal ed f'romn its consisting oa




TOPOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.                                          729
teveral large glens, extended from Olderfleet or sion of theGlynns. After many long and fierce
Larne, to the vicinity of;Ballycastle, along the  battles with the Mlac Quillans, the Mac Donalds
sea shore, and contained the barony of Glenarin, tnade themselves masters of the country, and disand part -f Carey.  2 d. The R'outes, called lRe-  possessed the Mac Quilians. Dubourdieu, in hs
uta, or RIta, which comprehended the baronies  Survey of Antrim, says: " A lineal descendant
of Dunluce andl Kilconway.                       of the chief Mac Quiilan lives on tile road beThe chief clans ina Dalriada were the O'Kanes, tween Belfast and Carrickfergus, near the siliver
above mentioned.                                 stream, and probably enjoys more happiness as
1. The MAC UsIDncLTx, or Mac Quit!ans, who  a respectable farmer, than his ancestor did as a
held the territory of the Routes, and had their prince in those turbulent timles."  The Mao
chief seat at Dunluce.                           Donalds were created earls of Antrim,,a dignity
2. The Mlac DON.LDS, having invaded the ter-  which they still enjoy.
ritorics of kAntrim and Derry, where they after-   3. The O'llARAs, a branch of the great family
wards madle settlements.  In the reign of Eliza- of O'IIara in Sligo, have a'so been long settled in
beth. Somi1arli Buidlie Mac Donald, called by  Antrimn.  Several families of the O Neills havo
English writers Soriey Boy, a chief from the lie- been also in Antrim from an early period. The
brides, (deS3 scended1 fromin the ancieut Irish of the  other clans in this territory were the O'Siadhaits,
race of Clan Col'a, as given in the note on  or O'Shie!s, the O Quinns, O'FurrieS, Ma3C Ails
Oirgialla,)ccame with his forces and took posses- ters;'Mac Gees, &c.
CHAPTERP V.
THE KINGDOM OF CONNACHT.
Taru name in Irislh is Conacht, pronounced Conagllt, and latinised Canacia; the people were
ca.lled Utcna. itoai,, / in Latin C6onacii, and   onuoch/teLnseq, Conacians.  This ancient kingdom
compriscel  the present counties of Galway, Miayo, Sligo, Ilosconlmon, Leitrim, and Cavan, with
the northern part of Longford, bordering on Leitrim  and Cavan; in ancient times, at different
periods, the territory of Ciare in Thomond, formed part of Connaught, but was ultimately added
to Munster, and the county of Cavan was added in the reign of Elizabeth, to Ulster.
UI  FIACIRACH MUIDIIE.               blies of the people were held, and where Amalgaidli himse'f nwas buried.  It is supposed
Uri FPi i:thr  or Ui Fiachrscbr,  was a name  thas this earn was on the hill of Mullaghcarn,
applicd to tle territories possessed by the race  near the town of Killala   At Carn  Amalof Fiathr;a, one of the suns of Eocaidh Muighl-  gaidh tile chiefs of the O'Dowd-ls were inauruedon. of the race of Erimhon. Fiachra was for  guruted as princes of Ui Fiacllr, tllough aoeome timre lKing, of Connaught.  le'was a cele-  cordingr to some accounts the O Dowds  0Vere
brated warrior, lnd cornmander-in ci ef of tihe  soinetimes inaugurated oin the hill of Ardnarea
Irish f)rces under his brother Niall of the Nine  near PBllina. Brian, king of Conlnaught, anesitostages. According to the Book of Ballymnote,  tor of the Ui BriAdti"e  e, and Niall of tile Nine
folio 1i.5, on ills return hlome victorious front a  lTostages, ancestor of Ui leill. were brothers
great battle which he had fought with the men  of Fihllra, son of Eocaidh Mlilh-medon;          and
of Munster, A. D. 432. he died of his wounds at  hence tliese three brothers were progenitors
a place calloed M;c-Uais in Meath, where lie  of tlle klin s and head chliefs of Meath, Ulster
lwas buried with great honors, and where a  andlConnaulght. Tile territ-ories possessess  ll y tho
mnontimnent was crectcl to his memory with an  race of Fiaclira were counties of li-o andl Mayo,
Insctiptioms in Ogiam lcharacters, oia wich oC-  with a great portion of Galway. Thle territory
casion fifty prisoners taken in the battle, were,  of Ui Fiacllra in Galway, or southern Ui Fitachaccording  to the Pagan  customs, sacrifice:     ratch, was called- Ui  Fiachrael Ai idlni, firom
arounld  hi; tomb. The place called Ui Mae  Eog-a' Aildhni, sdn of Eocai:lYh  B'ec, son of
Uais, is now the barony of Moygoilhi in Wcst-  Dathi, monarch of Ireland   The posterity of
meath.  Daclhi, son of Fiachra, was kini  of  El'.)ln Aidhii. tile chief of whaom  were the
Connaught, and monarch of Ireland; lie was  O  dleynes, O'Clerys, and OShaugllnessys, posone of the most celebrated  of the  Irish  sessed this territory, which was co-extensive
monarchs, and carried his victorious arms to  with the Diocese of Kilmcuednaai;    and an
Gaul, where lie was killed by lighitnitng at the  account of its chiefs and clans will be fotiun
foot of the Alps, A. D. 429.  lls body -nas  under  Ui  Fiachrach   Aidni.   hlle chiefs
brought to Ireland, and buried in Ro: i -na-  of North, Ui Fiachrach in Sligo and Mayo wero
Righ, the ancient cemetery of the Iri;i kin-,  thle O'Dowsds; &c. Accordinz to O'Dugan and
at Cruachan, near Elphin. Dathi was the list  Mac Firbis, fo)urteen of the race of Ui Fiah!ra
Pagan mnonarch of Ireland. Olild Molt, son of' were kings of Connasullt, some of who0m  itad
Dathi. was also king of Connaught and muon-  their residence in Aidlini, in G(talway; others
arch of Ireland, in the fifth csntury. Anmil-  at Coera, now the barony of ClTrra, in Mavo;
gaidh another son of Fiacllra, was also kiing of  aad some on the plain of Muald!le, or the Moy
Connanghlit, and from hin, the territory of I'ir  ill S!i).
Amna'gai:ih1, or Tirawley, in Mayo, obtained its    Thle Clans of Ui Fiachra are thus tlesignated
name. Dathli the monarch, hadl  a son callole  by O'Dugan:Fiachra Elgach, whose posterity gave name to
the territory of Ui Fiachrach Illlaidlhe or Iiy'" Binn sluagh nam-borb cliathach."
Fiachra oftthe NM:y, also called Tir Fiaclrach,    " Tile music-16ving hosts of fierce engageand afterwards Tirerllh barony, in the coun-           ments."
ty of Slitto.  This Fiachra hadl  a son ca'led
Ama'ga.ilh who raised a carn  of great stones,    O'DuInnDs, a name  sometimes anglicised
called Care Ama!gaidh, where great assem-  O'Dowda, but more frequently O'Dowd, and




730                       TOPOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.
by some O'Dowde, by others O'Dooda and 0'- lord of Moy O'Gara, of Coolavin, an& also
)oody, was the head chief of North Ui Fiach- Sliabth Lugta, which latter district extended
rach. TheirlerritoTy comprised nearly the whole  into a part of the barony of Costello in Mayc.
of the present county of Sligo, with the greater Tile O'Garas derived their descent from Tiege,
part of Mayo. The name Debhda, is derived  son of Kian, son of Olild Osiun, being  exfrom  Dubh, dark or block. The O'Dowds are  aetly of the same stock as the O'liaras. They
descended from Fiachra Elgach, son of Dathi,  took  their name from  Gadhra,  one of their
and tools their name fromn  )ubdha, one of ancient chiefs.  They  retained  considerable
their ancient chiefs. The O'Dowds had large pos- rank and possessions in tlce county of Sligo
sessions in the county of Sligo until the Crom- down to the seventeenth century; arid one of
wellian wars, when their estates were confls- them, Fcrgal O'Gara. lordl of Moy O Gara, and
cated. They were inaugl rated as princes of Coolavin. is justly celebrated as a great patron.
Ui Fiachrach or North Connaught at Carn  of learned men, particularly of the O'Clerys
Amalgaidlh, near Killa'a. They appear from  and other authors of die Annals of the Four
history to have been a valiant race; and many   Iasters.
of them, even dovn to modern times, were   8. O'CVIARNNAciiA INand O'HI.athmharavii, given
remarkable for their strength  and stature; by O'Duan      r aschiefs in the territory of Liecey.
indeed, it may be observed that most of tie   9. O'MIrIREDnAIIeT, or 0 Murray, chief of
clans of Sligo and Mayo firnished many-men  Ceara, now the barony of C;trra, in -Mayo. The
of great size and strength.                     O MAurrays were a race of Ui Fiacltrach, and
The following chiefs and clans of Ui Fiach- were a'so chiefs of thle Lagan, a district in the
rach and of the territories they possessed in  northern part of the barony of Tyrawley in
the twelfth century in the present counties Mayo.
of Sligo and Mayo, lhave been coliected from    10. O'T0mrnnEa uIGIX, or O'Tierney, a chief in
O'Dugan and other authorities:                   Carra.
1. 0 MAOLCT.UICIHE, or O'Muleclohy, chief of   11. O'Goreson is 3also given as a chief in Carra.
Cairbre. now the barony of Carbury, county of   12. OM'.NILLEOr   r O'Maliey, chief of Uinhal,
Sligo. Carburv derived its name from Carbri. which  O'Dugan states was divided into two
son of Niall of the Itostages. This name has been  territories. T'Ile nare lhas been rec(lered someanglicised to Stone, and there are still cmany of times into Unalicc and Ui Maiia. This territory
the family in Carbury.                           comprised the present baronies of Mallrrisk and
2. MAdc DImcRiADA, or ATac Dermott, chief of Burrishioole ic tihe county of.Mayo. Tle O'MalTir Oiliolla, now the barony of Tirerill, in Sligo, leys are of the Ui Briuiic race, descended fromn
which derived its name from Oilioll, one of the Brian, king of Connaught in tile filth century,
sons of Eocaidh Muiigh-medlon, monarch of Ire- who was also tile progenitor of thle O'Connors,
land. The Mace Derilotts were also princes of kings of Connauilht, of the Ollo-irkes, O'leil.
MIoylurg, a large terrttory in the county of Ros- leys, MIac Dermotts and otll:r chiefs, as excommon.  They afterwards became ciliefs of plained in the note onil Brefiey. They are thus
Coolavin, as successors to the O'Garas, lords of designated by O'Dugan:
Coolavin.
8. MAc DooscraIArr, t.llat is, Mae Donogh, a " A  -ood man yet there never was,
branch of the Mac Dermotts, afterwards chiefs    Of tile O'Malleys, who hwas not a mariner,
of Tirerill and of Coran, now  the barony of   Of every weather they are prIopllets,
Coran in Sliyo.                                    A tribe of brotherly affection and of friend4. O'DoscnATIIAGIrr, is given as a cllief by         ship."
O'Dugan in Coran, and is also mentioned in the
poem of Giolla Ioss More Mac Filbis,. in which    12. O'TAT.cn RAIAc, chief of Conmaiene Cuile,
he is sty'ed O'Dcunchada, of the "learned men,"  now the ba:rony of Kilmain, co inty of Mayo.
and it is stated that his territory extended as far    13. O'CAITIINIADI, chief of Iorrus, now the
far as the beauteous stream  of the salmons. by  barocny of Erris, ic  Mayo; the  cacne was anwhich was meant the river ofl Ba!ysadare. This glicised to O'Cahenvy: but few of the family
name has been anglicised O'Donagh or 0'- exist at the present day.
Dona-lhv.                                          14. O'CEALtLACIII:, orO'Ca!1afchan.. The O'
5. O'DonBarAEN, or O'Devlin, is given as  Callagllans were chiefs in Erris butofa different
another chief in Corran.                         race froml the O'Callalghans of AIunster.
6. O'II.ADIIima, or O'Hara, chief of Luighni,   13. O'C.kxoic.IcN, a name anclicised to O'
now  the barony of Lieney, in the county of Keevan and O'Ccavanagh, a senior branch cl
Sligo; but Lieney anciently comprised part tile O'l)owd family, and ciiefs of somne districti
of the baronies of Costelio and Gallen in  on the borders of Sligo and ATa-o. in tihe ba.
Mavo.  The O'lla-as were descended  from   ronics of Tirerach, Colrran, and Costello.
Corinae Galeng, son of Tiege, son of Klan, son    16. O'GAnsmIITIENCclIAIN, or O'Gavagan, and
of O'ild Olum, king of IMcunster.in thle third  O'IMaoilfiiona or O'Mlulleeney, chiefe o.e Calraicentury, of the face of Eber, and therefore of ghe  of Moy lIeleog, a distri.t cin which was comthe same stock as the Eberians of Munaster.  pr sed the prose t palisllh of Crossmolina, in the
The O'IIaras took their name from Eadhra, lord  barony of Tyrawley, in Mayo.
of Lieney in  the tenth century.  From  the    17. O'GOI'I.LLAIGIr, )or O'Gorn!cey, and
twelfth to the seventeenth century they held  0 Dcorch idhe, a name ang'i ised to Dorchy,
their rank as lords of Liccey, and lcad large pos- and by otllers to Darcy. Thlese were chiefs
Bessionns to.the period of the Croimwellian wars. of Partrailche or Patl.ry, an ancient territory in
The O'Ilaras are thus designated by O'Dugan:  thic Partry mountains in Mayo   The present
paridh  of Ballyoves, also called tile parish
1" The lords of,ienev. of high farme:       of Partry, shows thle situation of this anThe men of Liency, of warlike swords."      cient territory. The O'Dorceys vwere a distingruished clain, but many fanilies of them  in
~. O'GAsTcTT.A, or O Ga-ra, given by O'Dccgan  l\Mayo andl Galwsav, ih:vi1g anglicised thie name
as a chief of Lienev. but in after times lordi- of to Darcey or D'Arev, htnve been erroneously
Cuil O bh-Flnn, now  the barony of Coo!avin  supposedi to be some of the I) A rcys of Meatlb
in the county of Sligo, anld sonmetimes styl3ed  of English descent.




TOPOGRAPI-IICAL APPENDIX.                                       731
18. O'LACHITNAIN, or O Loughnan, by some mentioned. The name of UTi Briins Breifni, or
anglicised to Lof'tus. Tile 0 Loughnans were  Ui Briune Brefney, from its being possessed by
chiefs of a territory called the Two Bacs, now  the race of Ui Briiu.  The Ui Briain race dethe parish of BaEs, situated between Lough Con  rived their name from being the descendants of
and the river Moy in Mayo.                      Brian, king cf Connaught, in the lfqurth cen19. O'MAOLFOGII.AM  R  and O'Maolbrennuin, tury, son of Eoclhaidh Aluihrl-medon.  Brian,
chiefs of Ui Eachach Muaidhe, a district extend- above-mentioned, had tweiny-iour sons, whose
ing along the western banks of the Moy, be- posterity possessed the greater part of Contween Ballino and Kiilala  This name, 0 Mlaol- naughlt, and were called the Ui Briuin race.
brennuin, has been anglicised to Mulrennin, and Of this race were the O'Conors, kings of Conthe name O'Maolfoghmair has been by some naught; the O'Ronrkes; O'Reillys; Mac Derrendered into Milford.                          motts; Mac Dbnolls.; O Flaherlys; OMdialleys;
2.'l'he O'MoaNGANS, or O'(fangans, chiefs of Mac Oiraglltys;  O'F'allons;   O'Flynns; 0 MaBreach Magh, a district in tihe parish of Kil- lones; Mac Gaurans;  Mac Titevnans, or Mac
more Moy, in Sligo.                              Kcrnans; Mac Bradys, and son:e (ther clans.
21. O'CONUNIALL&.lT, or O'Connellan, chief of From  Fiachra, brother of Brian, king of ConBun-i-Counniallan, now Bunnycosnnellan, a dis- naught, were descended the race of li Fiaechra,
trict in. the barony of Gallen, county of Mayo, of whlom  werte  tihe   O'Dowds, O licynes,
and also of Cloonconnellan, in the barony of O'Saughnesseys, and other clans in Co(nnaught.
Kiinain   This clan is a branch of the south- From  Niall of the Nine Ieoxtages, another of
ern Ui Neill. descended from  Laegari, monarc'h  Brian's brothers, were descended, as mentioned
of Ireland in the fifth century, antd are of the in the notes on Meath, Tir E(-gain and l ir Consame family as tie O'Coindea'lbhains or O'Ken- aill; the O'NMelagl!ins,  kIings cif Meath;  tihe'
dellans, princes of Ui Laechaire in Mleath, but O'Neills, kings of jlster, and lprinces of Tyrone;
long settled in the counties of Mayo, Sligo, the  O'Donnells, princes of  Tirconnell, and
ant Roscomrmon.                                 some other cliefs of lUlster: thlis these three
22. O'CEInIx, or O'Keerin, chief of Ciarraighbe great branches, descended from F ocaich MeuighLoch-na-naireadh, an ancient territory in the  medloD, were the chllie  rulers of the kingdoms
barony of Costello, county of Mayo, comprising of Aleah, Ulster, and Connaught.
the parishes of Aghainore, Bekan,and Knock.      The O'RoucREs and O'REtLlEs derived their
There are various other clans, many of thern  descent from Aedac  F.1irw, or Ilugh the Fair,
still numerous, in tile countias of Mayo and  king of Counaught, who died in the beginning
Sligo, as the O'Bannans, O'Brogans, AMac Coal- of the seventh century, A. 1). 611, and was
bains, O Beans or Whites, O'Beolans, O'Beirnes, buried at Fenagh.  This Aedh Finn was a desO'Flattelleys, O'Creans, O'Careys, O'Conach- cendant of Bri iTn, iing of Connt gtl:t; and from
tains or O'Conaghtys of Cabiach, in  Tire- hili tile O'lourkes and O'l:ieltys were called
ragh, O'Flannelleys, O'Coolagh-ns, O Burns  CGann Aedha Finn, that is, the posterity of
O'lIunlies, O'tuada or O'Fuada. and O"'apa,e  lugh tile Fair. The Ltuar'ch(As,~. O'Rluaircs,
-a name angicised to Siwift,-O'Loingsys or O'Ruarcs, or O'Rourkes, tcok their riname ftom
OeLynches, O Maoltnoicheirghe, anglici-sed to  one of tiheir ancient chiefs, I'arc, wllo was
Earley, O'Iulrooneys or looneys, O'lorans, prince of Brefney in the tenth century.   Iany
O'luldoons, O'I eehans, O Caffreys, O'Finne- celebrated chiefs of tilhe Ol',oulrkles olte  congains, O'Morriseys, Mac Geraghtys, O'Spi!!ans. tended with the O'Conors f;r the seve eigrnty
Thle O'Donnells and  Mac Sweeneys from  of Connaught; and in the tent  cenlltury, one
Donegal, who settled in many parts of Sligo  of theim, naimely, Fergal O' ourke,,ecaine
and Mayo, particularly when thie O'Donnells, kIing of Connaught, and reigned lfrom  A. D. 960,
princes of Tirconnell, extended their power to A.D. 96. 96.  lewn he was kiiled in a battle with
into Silgo. Many families of the O'Donnells  the mten of Meath. The O Rol:kes had the
and Alac Sweeneys were settled in Sligo and  title of- kings of Brefsni and ('onill: li. alnd in
Mayo.                                            latter times that of princes of West Brcfney,
The O'CoNoRS SLIGO.  A  branch  of the  that is, of time county of Leitrimn, the O l)eillys
O'Conors of Rioscommnon, descendants of the  becomingt  princes of East Brefncy, or the
kings of Connaught, settled in Sligo, and be- county of Cavan. Ancient Brefiney vas, in Ihe
came very powerful in the sixteenth century. 10th century. divided into two plrincipalities,
The hea.l of the family was designated the  the O'Rourkes, as Irinces of Wcstd Lre-iey, being
O'Conor Sligo, and appears to havc extended  the principal cliefs, and tile O' eiilys, as prinhis power over the greater  part  of that ces of East Brefisey, possessing the territory of
country.                                        the present county of Cavan. O'Rourke's counThe MAc FInrISES, called Clan  Fitrbiszeig, try was called B:.efey e'steourl'-e, anrd O'Reilly's
were a branch dtsecended from  the same stock  countryB,'feley O0Reili/  O'rP/.  O iurke  ancient
as thie' 0)owds, Irinces of Ui Fiachra. Their principatity comprised the presetit county of
original territory was Magh Briton in Tyraw- Leitrim, with the present barony of Tullaghagh,
ley; they afterwardls settled in Rosserk, be- and partof Tullalhonoho,  in tile counityof caan,
tween Balin:  and Killala, and lastly at Leucan,, the river at Ballyconnell being tihe boundary
in the tparish of KIillass, barony of Tireragh, between  B'efney  O'Rourke   and  Brefney
east of the r.er Moy, where thley had estates O'R ielly.  Brefney O' rlorke  ras separated
an(l a castle, the ruins of which  still renmain. from  F crranafgh or Mac Guire's country, by
Tihe Mac Firbises held the office of Oll0amhl, Lough Melvin, Lough Mac Nean, and Cuilcagh
that is, of historiographlers andl poets, of Ui mountain. It appears also that a small portion
Fiachra, and at one time of all Connaught.      of the barony of Carbery, in the county of
Sligo, belonged to Brefney O'Rourke.  ConUI BnIuiN BREFNI.                  macni, also called Conmacni of MIoy Rein, of
viwhich the O'Rourkes were also lords, was an
This ancient territorry comprises the present ancient territory which derived its name from
counties of Cavan and Leitrim, and was part of Conmac, one of the sons of Mleva, the celebrated
thle Kingdonm of Connaughlt down to tile reign of qtleen of Connaught, at the beginning of the
Elizabeth, when it was added to the province of Christian era; it comprised the southern part of
Ulster, and formed into the two counties just Leitrim, namely the baronies of Carrigallen,




732                       TOPOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX
Lietrirn, n.n   Mohbill, with a portion of the  O'Neill eight hundred foot. and two ljundred
norti-ern p-:ttof Anally, or county of Longfo,rd, horse. Tle 0 Leillys maintalined their indeextending nearly to Granard. It is recorded  pendence down to the reign of James I., and posthat thile *) ltourkes were iunatltgnuratd a3 prin-  sessod great property anti influeonce even until
ces of Bref ic.y at a p:ace called'rltuac/at t   thte Cromwel:iau wars, after which their estates
O'Ci4.'-ii.u, supposed to  be croaghan, near were contiscated.  Maolmora O R eilly, comKille-haanl ha. as it is stated that the O'leiilys monly called Miles the Slasher, was a celebrated
and the peo)!e of'llyllhunco nmet 0 Ioiutrke s chief,'distinguisfhed  ior his great strength and
party at iB!lyconnel!, to oppose the inangura-  undaunted valor: he fought many battles in
tio)n. Tirlv 0 Itolrkes lhad their cllie? cast!es at Cavan and other placas during tle Cromrwellian
Dromahll i:e, Leitrinl, Gloncorick or Carrick- war, and fought at the battle of Benburb, under
allen, a.d( Castle  C:ir, near  Mtinorllhanilton.  Owen iloe O'Nei.l. The O'Reillys were elected
Tthey in:ilt:line;l their independence. as princes and inatugurated in early times as princes and
of West Iretclcy, (down to the reign of James I., tanists of Brefney, on the Hlill of Seeroitoenan
and hli.l conlsile:'able possessions  even unltil the  or Shantoiann, a large hill between Cavan and
Cro:wcwollian wars, when their estates were con- Ball1yhaise, on the summit of which may still
fiscate-l.                                       be seen tlhe remains of a Druidical temple, conThle O'l.rtLLYS, as above stated, were descend- sisling of several huge stones standing upright.
ed from the sa!no anlcestor as the O'Rourkes, In after times tile O' Reillys were inaugurated
namelt  Aedf,U    Ftinn, or 11ugh tile Failr, king of on the lHii of Tlllylmrongan, above the town
Connauglat, ii the beginning of tile seventh  of Cavan.  The 0 Rteilys had castles at Tullycentury.  They took the name O Raighilligh mongan, Ba':lynacargy, Tullyvin, Lisgannon,
or O'claghlanaigh, pronounced O'.foilli.:'t, apdl Belturbet, Ballyconnell, Cloughoulghter, Kilnow  rendered   O'Reilly, from   Raghallach, more Lismnore, and Camett, near Crossdoney;
one of their celebrated chiefs, in thile tenth  at Tona li, anid iallinrinke, near Louglh Sheelin;
centurv.  The 0 Roi:lvs also took the tribe  at Kilnacrott, Longhranomr,     and  Atullagh;  at
nanme of.Muinter IMaolrlordha, or the people of'Tonraec, now Bailebh-rough, and at MIutf, near
Masemodllla, from  MAaellnorda, another of Kinoscourt, the rlins of some of which castles
their clera-tced cliefs. This name  iAfelmor- still remain.  The )O'Reillys are stil extremely
da, or Nil:tmora, latinised  Milesils and  an- numerous, bein  estimated at about 2,:,0' 0 perglicise l XMiles, was a favorite narne  with the sons of the name in the county of Cavan.
O'heilys, and was borne by many of their    Tile cllies and clans of Brefney, ant the terrichiefs.              *                           tories they possessed in the twvelfch century,
The principality of Brefney O' eilly com- are, accordilg to O'Dnuan, as follows:
prused origi;:ally the greater part of the present   1 ()'ltu.Lntc, or O'Rourke, who is designated
county of Cavr:a, tile bound.ry betweein it and  by O'Dugan Ard,:,igh B,-efit 7e oas buas s,?aclat,
Brefncy O` Iot rke being, as already stated, the  that is, chief king of Brefney of lastimnz  sway,
river at B:llyconnell, and being separated from  and to owhomn, hle states, the rents or tributes of
Ferman:agh, or Mac Guire s country, by the  Connaught were paid.
B3allycon'e-ll mountains. It appears also that   2. O'RloI.ALt AImir, or O'Reilly, chiefof Muinonce the 0  sleillys extended their territory and  ter Maoi11inordha, designated asauthority into tile borders of the English Pale,
as far as KIilnainlllhan wood, to tile Black Watet     "'  ead chief of fierce conflicts.
near IKells, and to Crossakleele and Oldcastle in        O'Reilly of the red arms or shields."
Meatht, froon thence as fair as Granard in Lbng
ford, and to parts of Westmeath. In the year   3. MbIa TIGIERNAIs,O r the Mac Tiernans, also
13:3' and 1 t15, it is stated that Thomas, son of  rendered Mac Kiern'n. and by some anglicised
Mahiin (. Reilly. lord df Clan lalion. and prince  to M asterton who were chiefs of' cliuch D)unof Blrefney destroyed eigthteen castles of the  chada, signif ing thie tribe or territory of Don
English iil the Pale, and overran  the country  oih, so ca!led friom  one of their chiefs, a name
frelon  I)roghlleda  to  Dublin.  This Thomas  wlhicth has been made Tullaghonoho, now the
O'Reiliv erected a caqtle at Balling Lough. in  barony of T'll yhunco, in the county of'Cavan.
Weesttneatil.  The O' Reillys, exercising an inde- Mac Tiernan is designated as " tile true defender
pendeiit sovereignty, as princes of Brefney. of valiant chiet fs."  The Mac Kiernans are still
coined their ownn  noney, as appears by a very numerous in the counties of Cavin and
Pa.li:menet lteldl  a  Tirn, A.D. 1447, in the  Leitrinlm, nid several of their chiefs are mentionreign of Ilenry VI., by Sir John Talbot, earl of  ed in the course of our annals.
Shrewesbury, lord lieutenant; and bv another   4. MAC' S.MIrrADIIAIN. designated 1" a bond of
Parliame;lt hleld at Naas, A. D. 1457. 1by the strength," whio  as chiief of Tellach Eachach, or
lord deputy, v.''Thomas Fitgerald, Earl of Kildare, Eochaidli. which signifies of the tribe or terriin w!ich Acts were passed prohibitinz the cir- tory of Eoctidlh, so called from  orie of their
cllations of the Irish coinage, cal!ed O'Reilly s clliefs, and now  the barony  of Tullaglagh,
mn-nr-w/, in the English Palc. From, t the thir-  county of Cavan. This name is now ocenerally
teenth to the sixteenth century  nany valiant matde Mac Ganran, and by some angl'icised, or
chiefs of the O'Reillys are mentioned, wlho rather  translatedl, Soners, from   the  word
fought several battles  ithl the EnlTish forces  Seanmlr'rdhi, owhich signifies summler. The Mae
of tile Pale. over whom  they  gained inanoy  Ganurans in modern times are very nurmerousin
victories. The O'Reillys, loc:;ted on the hor- the counties of Cavan and Lcitrim.
ders of 3Meath, l ere obliged to mlaintain an    5 MAcC CoNsNAnIIi,  chief of Clan Cionnaith,
Incesant warfare  to defendl the frontiers of or Clan Kenny  now  known as the Muintir
Ulster  against  the  Enolish   of  the  Pale, Kenny nmountains, and adjoining districts, near
who  madle  constant  incursions  into  the Loulgh Allen. in the parish of Innismagrath,
northern territories. Camden, writing in the  county of L-itrim   This namne has been anglireign of E'izabeth, says that the O' teillys were cised to Ford, and there are several of the clan
fanmons for cavalry; and Fynes Morrison, in his still in those districts.
account of the'wars of Iuigh  O'Neill, earl of    6. MAIc CAoXDIImtN, chiefofClanFearmialghe,
Tyrone, a:t!inst Elizabeth, states  that tile a district south of Dartry, and in the present
O Reillys of Brenny brought to the standard of barony of Dromnallaire, county of Leitrim.  This




TOPOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.                                      733
name has been anglicised Cogan or Coggan. too numerous to be here nmentioned; and in
O'Brien, in his dictionary, at the word Eagan, modern timnes there are families o)f the name of
states that the Mac Egans were chiefs of Clan- Smith in many part.s of Irel:and, supposed of
fearamuighe in Brefney; hence Mae Cagadhain  English descent, who omay trace their descent
and Mac Eagain may probably have been the from the Mlilesian Ala Gowvans
same clau.                                       16. l.Mc G;Lr..nDunlr, or Maca Gilld:lff. Tn our
T.  IAC DARCtHAIDrI, which O'Brian writes  annals, at the year 182, Manus Mac Giolladuib~t
Mac Dorchuighe, chief of Kinel Luachain, a is mentioned as chief of Teallacll G:irbheith,
district in the barony of Mohill, county of Leit- now the barony of Tullygarvey, in the county
rim, which may probably be traced in the name  of Cavan.
of the townland of Laheen. This name has   1T. ML.c TAICuI.Atnl, or Mac Tilly. The Mano
been by some anglicised to Darcy.              Tuilys were chiefs of a district co;nprlijing the
8. MAc FLANNSIIADIIA, of the race of Ith, a greater part of the parish of Drung, in the
name rendered into Mae Clancy, who was3 chief barony of Tullygarvey.
of Dl)artraidhe, or Dartry, an ancient territory    18. IAC CABnEs, a clan originally from Monagco-extensive with the present barony of Ross- hlan. but settled foir many centuries, in the
clogher, in Leitrizn.                          county of Cavan, where they are very nutoe.
9. O'FINs  and O'CsnIBIIAILL, or O'Carroll,  rous, particularly in the baronieos ofTultygarvey
who were chiefs of Calraighe, a district adjoining  and Clankee. The Mac Cabes were- a warlike
Dartry, in the present barony of Drolnalhaire   an, and are frequently mentioned in the Book
county of Leitrim, and which appears to have  of Cavan as commanders of battle axe men
comprehended an adjoining port-ion of Sligo, under the O'reillys, in their wars with the Engnear the present parisll of Calry, in that county. lish of the Pale
This districtcompriscd the parishes of Druim-   19. The O'SIIERnDANS, an antient clan in the
lease and Kil!Argy in Leit;Im, with part of the  county of Cavan, and still numnero;s, particuparish of Calry in Sligo.                      larly in the barony of Clannmahon   O' tills can
10 )Ac ALAotLrtosA,clieflofflaglh Breacraigllhe, were several persons distinguisllet    in the litera district os the borders of Leitrim and Long- ary world for the mIost brillianlt biliiuis, as the
ford.                                          Rev. Dr. Thomas Sheridan, presidlent of the
t11.. Mc  FIroNnrAIR, or Finnevar, chief of great school of Cavan, the friend and favorite
Muinter Greadain, or Gearadhain, a district in  comrpanion of Dean Swift, and (listing:ished lbr
the soulthern part of Leitrim.                 his great wit and talents; Thomas Snheridan,
12. M.AC IRGAIINAILL, or Mac Rannall, a name his son, a celebrated actor, and athl;llr of an
angliciseid to Reynolds, were chiefs of Muin- English  Dictionary  andl  ot.her wvorks, and
ter Eoluis.   This territory was sometimes Ilichard Brinsley Sheridan, the son. of Thomas,
called Clonmacni of Moyrein, and comprised  well known for his splendid genius, and one of
almost the whole of the present baronies of the most eminent men of his aig-e as anl olator,
Leitrimn, Molill and Carrygallen, in the county  dramatist and lpoet. Many other nmembcers of
of Leilimn, withl aportion of the north of Long- this fatnily have also been highly disti:gaished
ford. They were of the race of Ir, or Clanna  tn the literary world
Rory, and of the same stock as the O'Ferrals,   20. The O'CoRYvs, or O'Currys. givefi in the
princes of Anally, or Longford.  They had  Map of Ortc!llius as a clan in Caran, in the
castles at Rinn, Leitrim and Lough Scur.       barony of Tullygarvey.  They were located
18. O'MAOILtM[AnIAIGOI, or O'Mulvey, chief of about the place afterwards called Cootchill. Of
Magh Neise, or Nisi, a district which lay along  this family was James Curry, M.D., the colethe Sl-:ennon in the west of Leitrim, near Car- brated writer on the civil wars of Irelaed.
rick-on-Shannon.                                 21. The O'CSLEEYS, Or l!arkes, a branch of the
14. MAc Br.,DAIGI, or Mac Brady. The Mac OClerys of Connaught and Donegal. alnd of the
Bradys, somnetimes called O'Bradys, are given  same stock as the celebrated authors of the
by AMic Geogllegan as a branch of tl:e O'Carrolls, Annals of the Four Masters, numerous in thoe
chiefs of Calry, a territory in Leitrim, in the county of Cavan, particularly in the laronies of
barony of 1)romahaire, as already exp'ained in  Tullygarvey and C'aankee.
the preceding part of this article; and they are,   22. The O'I)ALYS and O'.iulligan%, clans in
in fact, oftenl called O'Carrols at tlhe present the coulty of Cavan, who were hereditary bards
day, particularly by persons speaking in Iriqh, to the O'Reillys.
who desilnate them  Caroollaghs.  Tile Mae   23. The FITzrAPTRcKs, anlnmerous clan in the
Bradyvs are extremely nutmerous in the county  county of Cavan, chiefly located in the baronies
of Cavan, particularly in the barony of Longh- of Tullyhunco  and Loughltee.   They  were
tee.  Baron Thomas Brady, a distinguished  originally of the Fitzpatricks of O(sory, but
field marshal for many yearls in the Austrian  have been settled for a long period in the county
service, anld who died at Vienna in 1827, was a of Cavan.
native of the county of Cavan.                   24. The FITZSITONs, a numerous clae: in the
15. The MAc GOnInAINS, Mac-an-Ghiobhains, county of Cavan, chiefly in the bsarony of C':stle.
or O'Gobhains, a name which has been anglicis- raalln, hvllo canme originally fromt til t English
ed to Smith, are very numerous in thet county  Pale, being of Anglo-Norman  desceent, but
of Cavan, particularly in the parishes of Lavey, have been long located in the county of Cavan.
Laragl-lh and Kilinkere  The Mac Gowans are   25. The O'FArtrELLYS, a numerouls clman, paralso very numerouls in Rossinver, in the county  ticularly in the parish of Mulagll, coanty of
of Leitrimn, as explained in the section on Dala- Cavan.
radia, or county of Down  The Mac Gowans   2;i. Several other clans settled in considerable
are of the race of Ir, or Clanna Rory. Bany of numbers in various parts of thei county of
the ntnme hlave proved their distinguished  Cavan, as the O'Alurrays, Mac Donmnells, 0'descent, being remarkable for great strength  Conaghtys,O'Connells, Iac lManuses.O'Lynches,
and bravery, and having been chiefs of gallow- Mac Gilligans, O'Fys, Mlac Gaffnys, Mac
glasses under the O'Reillys. The Mac Govwans IIughs, O Dolans. O'Droms, &;c.
were originall a clan in Dalaradla, or the county   2T. Several clans in the countv of Leitrirn
of Dowin, and in early times produced many  not mentioned by O'Dugan, as tlee Mac Gloins
eminent ecclesiastics, learned men and poets, of RIossinver, the Mac Ferguses, hereditary




734                     TOPOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.
erenachs  of the churches of Rossinver, and  parts of Connaught. The ancient kings of Con
whose name has been angiicised to Ferguson,  naugllt were inaugurated at Cruachan, nesa
the O'Cuirnins, an ancient clanu in the barony of  Elpllin, but it appears from  our annals that
Droinahaire, and many of whom were celebrated  in after times the O'Conors were inaugurated as
- bards and historians, the Mac  Kennys, or  kings of Connaught at the Hill of Camr Fraeieh,
Keaneys; the Mac Cartans, O'Murrays and  near Tulsk, in  loscommon.  The O'Conors
O'Meehans, are also numerous in the county  held their rank as kings of Connaught down to
of Leitrim.                                   the reign of Elizabeth in the 16th century. In
the Memoirs of Charles O'Conor of Belengar, it
SIL MUREDAIOGH.                 is stated, that in the latter end of the fourteenth
century, the two head chiefs of the O'Conors,
namely, Torlogli Roe, and Torlogh Donn, hayv
This territory was so called from the descend-  ing contended for the lordship of Siol Murray,
ants of lMuredach Mael-lethan, a king of Con-  agreed to divide the territory between them.
naughlt in the latter end of the seventh century,  The families descended from  Torlogh Donn
who died A. D. 7T0, who was spring  from  the  called themselves O'Coiors c)c;, or the Brown,
above-named Brian, son of Eocaidh Muigh-me-  and the descendants of Torlogh EIoe called
don, king of'Connauglht. They became the chief  themselves O'Conllore Plioe, or the Red. Another
branch of the Ui Briuin race, and possessed the  branah of the O'Connors got great possessions
greater part of Connaught, but were chiefly  in tile county of Sligo, and were styled the 0'
located  in  the territory now forming  the  Conors Sligo.
county of Roscommton, and  hence tile term      The O'Connors are thus designated in the
Siol Murray was applied to that territory.    topographical poem of O')ugan, written in the
The O'CossoPs  of Connaught were the head  fourteenth century:
chiefs of Sil:luredaigh,and took their name from
Conchobhar, or Condr, who was king of Con-  " The kings of the hosts that refuse nought
na-ughlt in the tenth century.  The name Ua    Are at great Cruachan of the fair grassy plains,
Conchobhair, pronounced Concoovar, is derived    Which lrefuse not abundant fruits
from C( or Conm, which figuratively signifies a    To the tribe of Clan Conor.
warrior, and Coblmair aid; hence it signifies a
helping warrior. Teige, king of Connaught, in  "The undisputed patrimony of this race,
the beginning of the eleventh century, who    WVas Siol Murray of broad raths.
died A. I). luS:, and was called Tadhg an eic/l  A warlike tribe defended
ghiil, or Teige of the White Steed, was the first    The illustrious kings of Cruachan."
who took the nalne of O'Conor, from Concovar,
or Conor. his grandfather, king of Connaught.    The 0 Conors at the present day are very
Between the fourth and eiglhth centuries four-  numerous.
teen of the race of Ui Fiachrach   were kings    The following chiefs and clans in Roscommon
of Connaught, as stated in the section on  and Galway, the territories possessed by them
North Connamght, and two or three of the  in the twelfth century, have been collected as
O'Rourkes were kings of Connaught in the  follows from O'Dugan's Topography, and other
tenth century.  With these exceptions, the  sources:
ancestors of the O'Conors of the race of Ui   MAc DrARMADA or Mac Dermott. The Mao
Briuin and Siol Murray, and the O'Conors  Dermotts derive lheir descent from  the same
themselves, held the sovereignty of Connaught  ancestor as the O'Conors, kings of Connaught,
from the 5th to the 15th century, for a period  namely, from Teige of the White Steed, king of
of more than 1u060 years, and two of them   Connaught in the 11th century, and therefore
became monarchs of Ireland in the 12th century,  are a branch of the O'Conors. This Teige had
namely, Tordelbach, and his son, Ruaidri 0'-  a son named Maelruanaidh, the progenitor of
Conor, who was the last Milesian monarch of  the Mac Dermotts, hence their tribe name was
Ireland.  Torlegh O'Conor, called Tordelbach  Clan Maolruanaidh, or Clan Mulrooney. DiarMor, or Torlogh the Great, was many years  maid, grandson of Mulrooney, was the head of
king of Connaught, and afterwards monarch of the clan in the 12th century, and died A. D.
Ireland for twenty years, from A. D. 1136 to  1165, and from him they took tne name of Mae
1156. JPuaidri or Roderick O'Conor, his son, Dermott. The Mac Dermotts had the title of
was the last Milesiin monarch of Ireland, and  princes of lMoylurg. Tir Oilill, Tir Tuathail, Airafter having reigned eighteen years, abdicated  teach and Clan Cuain.
the throne A. D. 1184, in consequence of the    Moylurg, called Magh Luirg an Daghda, in
English invasion, and retired to the monastery  O'Dugan, signifies the Plain of the Track of
of Cong, in Mayo, where, after a religions seclu-  Daghda, and got its name from Daghda, one of
sion of thirteen years, he died, on Sunday the  the Tuath De Danann kings. This territory com27th of November, A. D. 1181, in the 82nd year  prised the Plains of Boyle, in the county of
of his age; and was buried in the same sepulchre  RIoscommon, consisting of some of the finest
with his father, in the cathedral of Clonmacnois.  lands in Ireland, and famous for their fertility
According to Dr. O'Conor, king Torlogh O'Conor  and beauty. Tir Oilill is now the barony of
was thrice married. His first wife was Taltenia,  Tirrerill in Sligo. Airteach, a district in Rosdaughter of Murtogh O'Melaghlin, king of Meath;  common, near Lough Gara, on the borders of
hls second was Dervorgilla, daughter of Donald  Sllgo and Mayo. Clan Cuain was a district in
O'Melaghlin, prince of Meath, and his third was  the north of the barony of Carra, county of
Duvcola, daughter of Mulrooney Mac Dermott,  Mayo. TirTuathail was a districtin the barony
prince of Afoylurg. By his last wife he had  of Boyle, bordering on Leitrim and Sligo, toa son, Catihal Crobhderg O'Conoc, the famous  wards Lough Allen; thus Mac Dermott's terriking of Connaught so often mentioned in the  tories comprised the present barony of Boyle,
Irish Annals.  The O'Conors, kings of Con-  in the county of Roscommon, together with
naught, had royal residencies at Cruachan, near  Tirerrill in Sligo, and Clan Cuain in Mayo, at
Elphin, and at Cluan Fraeich, near Tulsk, in  Castlebar, which comprised the present parishes
Roscommon: also at Dunmore, in Galway, and  of Islandeady, Turlough, and Breaffy.
at Cong in Mayo, and many castles in various    The Mac Dermotts had their chief fortress at




TOPOGRAPHIICAL APPENDIX.                                     735.
the Rock of Lough Kecy, on an island in Lough  Anghrim, Garbally, Gallrhk, Monivea, MoyKey, near Boyie, a(ld they held the high and  loutli, Mullaghimore and Aglhrale, now Castlehonorable office of hereditary lmarshals of  uon- Keny, in the county of Gal way, and at Athlone,
naught, the duties attached to which were to  Aihieaguo, C(urbeg, Gly and Skryne, in the
raise and regulate the miitlary olrees, and to pre- county of Roscomlnion. The clhies of the 0 -
pare them  for battle as comnmandcs:-in-ciief, Ke lys were inaugurated at Ciontuskert, about
also to proeide at thle inauguration of the 0'  tlive miles from  Eyrecourt, in the ecunty of
Conors as kings of oonlnaught, and to proc aim  Galway and held their rank as princes of Ut
their election. They held their rank as lords of MIain to the reign of Elizabeth
Moylurg, down to the reign of,izabedti, and    2. MlAC OIRE.CIIrAGII, or Mac Oiraghty, a
coni(lerable )povscseions down to the period of name ang!icised Mac Geraghty, or Geraghty,
the Cromwehi:lts wars, when their estates were  descended friom the same stock as the O'Conors,
confiscated; but it is a singular fact that, of all kings of Connaught.
the Milesian chliefs, the Mae; Dermotts alone
have retained thimr title of prince, as thBe  lote  "Mac Oiraghty of the Steeds was the ruling.Dermortt is to this day recognized as prince of   chief,
Coolavin, in the county of Sligo, holding a   Of Mauintir 1oduiv of rightful lawspart of the hereditary possessions of his ianlces-   A fearless warrior as he ranged the woods."
tors. There are severtal famlnies of tie Nlac
I)erinotts in Connaught at the present day.
The sMac Ionogho, olf whlom  1n acLCtoalnt halias   Mac Oiraghty, chief of Clan Tomaltaigh. The
beeti givets in ti  sectien on orti conan3git, districts of Clan Tomnaltaigh  and  Mulintir
been given in tlio section on Jqorth Connauglit,
werea brl.Ic  Oti the Mac DerlInotts, and lorls ltoduiv, were situated in thile barony of Rosof Tirerrill and Corran in Sligo. It may be  common, county of Itosconmon.  When deobservedl that OL)utgan givres thle foiloiving  a  pried of their territories, some of the clan
the ancient chliefs oft Ioylur, before tle tine  settled in Mayo and Sligo, and are to this day
of the Mitlc Dermotte. ~He designates them tlus: the chief possessors of the islanid of Inis Murray,
off the coast'of Siigo, their h'aving, it is said,
" The anQient chief of Moylutrg of abundance,   given name to the island firom their former title
Mac  Esoach (or. Mac Keotgh), -Mac Macn the  as head chiefs of Siol Murray, and are still
Great                                      governed by a chief of the tribe  As a remarkan  iah h (or Maavy), of ef-  ble circumlstance  connected with the Mao;ientd Ma ab    h (or Ma  Revy), of eorcs."  Oiraglitys who reside at Croagh Patrick in
en  fre. AND UI F h*  AhMayo, an antique bell is kept by them, and is
tra(titionally stated to have been one of those
used by St. Patrick.
1. O'CELtLAIGI, or O'Kelly.  The name O'-    3 O FINNACrrA, or OFeenaghtys, chiefs of
Cellaigh is derived froim one of their ancestors, Clan Conmaih and Clan Marcladha, districts
cealll, a celebrated chief in the ninth century. in the two half baronies of Ballymoe, in the
The Oaac,   celebr a branchi  ofin the nint  entury  counties of Roscommon and Galway.  Two
Thof Oill lys are a bnchd of the satle descent as distinct chiefs of the O'Feenaghtys are given by
of Orgiall in Ulster, and of the same descent as
the MIgagires, lords  of Fecrmanagh, the Mlac  O Degan, one of Clan ZMurrogh, and the other
Mahons, lords of   onacan, the Olanons, of Clan Conway; the former being designated
Mahons, lords of Monatha n, the O'Hlanlons,                                     E
chiefs of  irior in Arali, and some oler  O'Feenaghty hief  of Cian Murrol, of the Chatpions."
clans, of whom  an account has been given in  OFeenaghty, chiefs of Clan Conway, tid their
the note oln O)q-,7imlla.  In the 4til celntuIry  castle at Dunamnon, near the river Suck, in the
alrani.1or, or Mani tlhe Great, a chief of the  countv of l]oscomnmon.
Clan Colla, having collected his forces in Ora-   4. O'FALLAMIInAIN, or O'Fallons, chiefs of
Clan Ua'lach, a district in the barony of Athhialla, on the borders of the present counties of
Tyrone, Mona-;an and Artnagli, marchled to  lone, in the county of Roscominmon, comprising
Connauglit, andl having conquerel a colony of the parishes of Cam  and Dysart, and had a
the Firholf3, who possessed the territory called  castle at Miiltown. The OFalloms  were origin~lay hSei *Oheeil, expallced the Firbo!b, and  ally chiefs in Westmeath near Athlone.  By
to that territory, which was possessed by hli pos- Dan they are designated in terms which
terity, he gave the name Ui Mani, which has may be thus translated:
been labinis;cl to  // ~Ialnia  and IIILILiaL..
This extensive territory comprised a great part   Were chiefs of Clan Uadach of wine banquets,
of South Connsaught, in the l present county of
Galway, and was afterwards extended becyoil    Of those are the freeborn clns."
the river Suck to the Shannon, in the south of
Roscommnon.  and comprised the baronies of
Ballymoo, Tinquin, Killian and Kilconnel, with   5. O'BmRN, or O'Beirnes, chiefs of MMnra 0'.
part of Cnminmacnoon in Galway, and the barony  Mannachain, otherwise called Tir Briuin-naof Athlone in Rloscomnmon. The O'Kellys were  Sionna, or Tir Bri-ne of the Shannon. This
princes of Ui Mauni. Ily Mania is thus describ- territory lay along the Shannon, in the barony
ed by O'Dugan:                                 of Ballintobber, in Roscommon, comprising the
parishes of Kilmore of the Shannon, Cloonaff,
A great division of Connaught is that plain,   Aughrim  and Kilumod, extending nearly to
Of Ui Mani of vast assernblies.              Elpbin.
Elxtending from the Shannon of fairy streams   It is to be observed that these O'Beirnes are
To Cnoc MNeadh of the great kingrs."         of a different race from the O'Byrnes of NWicklow.
6. O'MAsNNAcnAIN, or O'Monnaghan, was also
The O'Kellys held the office of high treasur- a chief on the same territory as O'Beirne.
ers of Connaught, and the Mac Dermotts that of   7. O'HANIME. mrn, or O'lanleys, chiefs of Kinel
marshals. Tadhg or Teige O'Kelly, was one of Dobhltha, a large (district iii the barony of Ballinthe commanders under Brian Boroimhe at the  tobber, county of loscommon, along the Shanbattle of Clontarf. The O'Kellys had castles at non.




736                       TOPOGRAPIIICAL APPENDIX.
8..MA  BRANAAc, or AMac Breennan, some- Corca Mogha, a district whichl comprcedl the
tites madle (O)l1rennan, and O'Maeln-ikil, or pali-l of Kilkeeran,  in the barony of Klil;ian,
O'Mulvii;ll, sometimles anliicised to Mll:viile  coulnty of G:llway. O'B3oin,.ngliciscd to Burns,
and Mhitchell.  The M.aB rennans and O'Mulvi  was chief of Lough Gealgosa, a.distlict adjoining
hils were chiefs of C()rca Ach!ianl, a  large  Corca Algilha.
district adjoining Kinel-Doblitla, in the tarony    17. O I'ALc IIaRat   chief of Connmacln  Cuile,
of  eoscotmmon. This district formed part of a di trict in the baronv of C:re, county of Galthe Tuatha in which was situated the Slieve  way.
flau n A Iounl'tai n.                              18. O'CA.DrI A, or O'Cawlcy, chief of Con9. O'FLA.SNNAAIN, or O'Flannagans, chiefs  macni Ma:;a, now the barony of 1:i.iynahinch,
of C:an Calthil, a territory in the barony of in the county of Galway.
Roscoimmon, north of El)r!in.  O'Ma,,lmnor ha,   19. Mlic CoxNomr, or MIae Canroy, chief of
O'Carthllidh, or O'Carthv, and  O'tMughroin, Gnlo IMor, and O'llaidhniill, chief olf Gno Beag,
were also subordinate hllifs of Clan Catliail.    districts which lay along the west:ern banks of
LouI11 Corrib, between that lakeoI a1nd tile bay
" Four actlie chieftains                      of Galway, in lhe barony of MIoycullen, county
Iluled over the Clan Cathail.                of Galway. O'Dugan says:
1(ins en who har\e not been dispraised
Are these four whom we enumerate.                 "Mac Conroy possesses in peace
Gno Mor of the numerous harbors."'
" O'F'anagain, chief of the territory,
O'Mutlitor-a whomr  I praise;                 20. MXIA  AnEDIA, or Marc IrIglh, called also
Withl cheerfulness they were still supported  IIughes, chief of Clan Cosgraidh, a district on
By the blithe O'Carthy and O'Muroin."        the eastern side of Lough Cori ib thus designatby O Dugan:
10. O'MAOLBRENXAIN, a name anglicised to
O'M11iienan, were cli'efs of C'an Conclhol;hair,   "The race of Mac Aedha on the eastern side
er Clan Conor, a district In the barony of lies-    Of the extensive plain of Clun  Co:gry,
cornmrn, near Cruachan; they are thus desig-        An active hlost fro;n the pla:in of Mledha,
nated ty ODugan:                                    Mild and hospitable are their tribes."
"' O''tmlbrenan of renown,                        21. O'Fr.LATIrn  TAAIGr, or O'Flalierty, aname
Was chief of'T!an Oonor of the fertile plains,   derived from Fuait:j, a chief or hero, and bea(rTheir imen above all others I record,          tlLch, of deeds; liezle it may signifv a clicf of
They are of the tribe of Clan Cathall."        r noble deeds.  They are styled  by O'D)ulgan
chiefs of MAuintir i utrchadha, now  the Ibarony
11. O CATITm.LAIN, chief of Clan Fogartaighl. ofClare, county of Galway. Ii the 1lli celtury
O'Mannaigl, or O'\Meeneys, sometimes. m:ile  tlhey were expelled from tlhi; terl'itory v by the
O?'1Mooneys, wecre chiefs of Cla   i Murthuile. English, anld having settled on the othler side of
Clan Fognrtaigh and C!an MIurthlile were dis- Lough Corrib, got extensive possessions there
triets in Ballintobber, county of RIoscommon. in the barony of Mooycullen, anir wvere thence
O'Catlalaiu and O'Mooney are thus mentioned  styled lords of Iar Conacliht, or West Con!naught.
In 0 Dugan:                                      Thlle  had the cllief nav al comrtand aboult Lough
Corrib, on the ismands of  lhicel they Ihad castles.
" O'Cathalain is the chartered chief          They are tllus designated by O Dg11an:
Of Clan Fogarty of the grassy plains,
And powverlfl tire his conqueringr forces;'Clan IMurcadlla of tile fortress of hospitality
Chief of Clan lurthuile is O'Mooney.,,        Was governed by the C ian F1lalerty of svords,
Who from the shout of ba:te wouldl not flee;
12. O'CONCEANAIN, or O'Concannon, chief of   To them  belongs the regulation of the fair
Ui Diarmtada. a district on the borders of I'os      ports.
common and Galway, in the baronies of Atllono
and BIalllymoe  T1he O'Concannons are thus    22. O'HIDIIINr, or OI'tlene, sometlmes ang'i
mentioned in O'Duean:                            cised to Ilynes. O'Heyne'was styled prince of
Ui Fischra Aidlhni,  so called as being of the
" The UIi Iinarmada of protectingf men,       race of UT Fiachra.  Tho  territorv  of Ui
Their heroes are kinsmen to kings.           Fiacihra Aidlni, a so cal'ed South Ui Fi.cphra,
Governor of the territory                    was co-extenisive with the diocese of Kii':macIs O'Concanain, its undisputed chief."       duagh, and comprised tle borony of' Kiltartan,
and parts of the baronies of   lnklel;in and
18. MA   MTPrcrrmADnA, or Mac MurrohZ, Loughrea, in the county of Galway. Thle O'sometimes angliclesed to Mac Morrow, a chief IIeynes were descended from  Guairi Aidline, a
of C!n Tomaltaigh,'.a Roscommon, of which  king of (onnaught in the seventhl century, who
Mac Oiranhty was also chief.                     is celebrated by all the ancient anna1iss for his
14. G'FLOINNX, or O'Flynn, chief of Siol Maol-  hospitnaity to all classes, ald clhariy to the poor;
rualn, a large district in the barony of Ballin-  hene, it )passed into a proverb, in speal;ing of
tobber, county of ROSecoTnmon, in whiich lay  an hospitable person, that lie waas  as generous
Slieve Uti l~hhinon, or O'Flynn s Mountain, andl  as Guaire;" and the poets in their fiurative
which comprised the paris;es of Kilikeevan and  language stated that his right hand had become
K ltutl!agh. and also part of the parish of Bally-  much longer than his left in consequence of
nakill, in the baronv of Ballymoe, county of' being constantly extended in glving charity.
Galway. O'Maolmuaidh, or O'Mulloy, is also  The O'lTevnes took their name from  Eidhiln,
given as a chief over Clan Taidhg, or Clan Teige, one of' their cliefs in the tenth century, and
in the same district.                            Maolruanaidli O'llevne, prince of Ui Finahra,
15. OC'1tTIIt.AtN, chiefs of Coill Fothaidh, a  was a commander under Brian Boronlta at the
distlice' on the borders of Roscommon and  battle of Clontarf, and itlmay be remtarked that
Ma.yo.                                           Brian Bordmha was married to Meor, the dautgh1B. O'SGArTEmGIL, or Mac Sgathgil, chief of ter of Flann, father of Maolruanaidh O'leyno.




TOPOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.                                    737
28S. O'SECHNASAIGH, or O'Shaughnessey, of lies are given by O'Dugan as the two chiefs of
the same descent as O'Heyne, and chief of Kinel Maen Magh, or Moenmoy, a territory which,
Aedha, sometimes called Kinel Aedha-na-h- according to O'Flaherty, got its name from
Echtge, that is Kinel Hugh of Echty, a mount- Maen, one of the sons of Ugani. This territory
ainous district on the borders of Galway and was an extensive plain, comprising a great part
Clare. Kinel Hugh was a large district in the ofthe present baronies of Loughrea and Leitrim,
barony of Kiltartan, county of Galway. 0-' in the county of Galway. The OlNaghtansand
Cathail, or O'Cahal, of the race of Ui Fiachra, O'Mulallys are branches of the Clan Colla, and
was also a chief of Kinel Hugh.              are thus designated by O'Dugan:
24. MAC GILLA-CELLAIGH, or Mac Gilkelly,
Sometimes made Killikelly, also of the race of    "The chiefs of Moenmoy the champions,
Pi Fiachra, and another chief of Aidhne.          Whose estate is the fertile plain.'25. O'CLEIRIGIH, or O'Clery, a name some-      Two who defend that district
times anglicised to Clarke, likewise of the race  Are O'Naghten and O'Mulally,
of Ui Fiachra, and chiefs in Aidhnc, and some-    Their warfare is heavy in battles,
times styled chiefs of Ui Fiachra Finn. They      The land is theirs asfar as Ui Fiachra."
took the name from Cleirach, one of their celebrated chiefs in the tenth century.  Many of   The O'Mulallys, when dispossessed of their
these O'Clerys were highly distinguished in ancient territories, settled at Tullach-na-Dala,
literature, and a branch of them having settled near Tuam, where they had a castle. The head
in Donegal became bards and historians to the of the family having removed to France, a
O'D)onnells, princes of Tyrconnell, and were the descendant of his became celebrated as an o ator
authors of the Annals of the Four Masters. and statesman at the lime of the Frelnch RevoOther branchlles of the O'Clerys settled in Bref- lution, and was known by the name Count
ney O'Reilly, or the county of Cavan.        Lally Tollendal, taking his title from his ancient
26. O'DUIHGILLA, chief ofKinelCinngambna, territory in Ireland. Several of the O'Lallys
Mac Fiachra, chief of Oga Beathra, O't'athain, were celebrated commanders in  the  Irish
chief of Kinel Sedna, and O'Maghna, chief of Brigade in France, and one of them was created
(Cenridlhe, ail chiefs in Aidline. Tie chiefs of Marquis de Lally Tollendal, and a peer of
Aidhne are thus designated by O'Dugan:       France, by Napoleon.
31. O'CoNAILL, or O'Connell. The O'Con" Let us approach Aidbni of Steeds,         nells and Mae Mac Egans were marshals of the
And his nob!eichiefs of hospitality,       forces to the O'Kellys, princes of Ui Mani, and
And let us trace their kings who are not few, of the same descent as the O'Kellys.
And treat of the host of the free clans.    82. MAC AEDIIAGAIN, anglicised Mac Egans,
were chiefs of Clan I)iarmada, a district in the
"The noble clan of Mac Gilkelly,            barony of Leitrim, county Galway, ard had a
The O'Ievynes of the sleek and slender steeds, castle at Dun Doighre, now Duniry. The Mac
Whose defence and pride is the strength of Egans were celebrated as Brehons in Connnaght
their arms.                             and in Ormond, and many of them  were emlAre of the race of Guairi the Fair;-      neant literary men. They are thus mentioned
Good and hospitable is the chief,          by O'Dugan:
O'Clery sprang of the same race.
Clery sprang of the same race.  Precedence for his valor and fame
9" Two other chiefs of Kinalea,                 Be given to Mac Egan the noble.
O'Shaulhncsaey whom I wrill not shlan,        Record him for the activity of his warriors,
Togeher with O'Cahill of learned men,         Of his prosperity and great renown."
Smooth are his fields and fertile his moun-. MAFnnegans
+ *.; 38. Mac GrL A-FIxNAGaAN, or O'Finncgans,
a name sometimes rendered Finnucane, and
27. O'MADAGAIN, or O'Madadhain, anglicised O Cionaoith;, or 0 Kenny, chiefs of Clan LaitholmO'Madden, chief of Siol AnsmclZmldha'.  a name hain, called also Muintir Cionaith, a district in
latinised to Silanchia, and which got its-name the barony of Moysarnon, county of lcscoamfrom Anmchadh, one of their ancient chiefs. mon. They are thus mentioned by ODugan:
This territory comprised the present barony of   "Mac Gilla —innegan the mild,
Longford, in the county of Galway, and the      And the valiant Clan Kenny,
parish of Lusmagh. on the other sidle of the    Two tribes who are fair so he seen
Shannon, in the King's County. The O'Mad-       Rule over the brave Clan Flahavan."
dens are a branch of the Clan Colla, and of the
same descent as the O'Kellys, princes of Ui   34. O'DOM1hNALLAIN, or O'Donnellans, chiefs
Mani. and took their name from Madudan More, of Clan Breaaail, a district in the harony ot
one of their ancient chiefs. There are several Leitrim, county of Galway. The O'Donnellans
families of the name still in Connaught.     are thus mentioned by O'Dugan:
28. O'HUrLLACIIAIN, or O'Hoolaghan, sometimes anglicised O'C'onlashan and Mac Conlag-   "Noble the blood and achievements -
han, and also giver by O'Dugan, as chiefs of Siol  Of the O Donnellans of handsome figure,
Aninchadha. O'IIoolaghan is thus designated     RuShing to the battle like a torrent,
by O'Dugan:                                     Such are the yellow-haired Clan Breasall."
"A noble chiefof lasting fame                 There are still many families of the O DonRulps over the plain of the race of Anmcha,  nellans in Connaught.
A valiant rough-fettering warrior,           35. O'DocIAanlrIA, or O'Donohoeb, chief of
Of keen-edged weapons is O'HIoolaghan."    Clan Cormaic, a district in Moenmoy, in Gal-.
way, which has already been defined.
29. O'MAELALADII, or O'Mulally, sometimes   368. 0 DunrITmoIssn, or O'Deighan. chief of
made Lally.                                  the twelve Ballys, or Townlands, of O'Dulibhg
8(). O'NEACnTAXN, or O'Naalgten, sometimes hind, a district near Loughrsa, in the county of:
made Norton. The'O'Naghtens and O'Mulal- Galway




738                      TOPOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.
8T. O'DocoMtLAxS, chief of Eidhnigh, and 0'-.  4T. The O'Btuaxs, a branch of the O'l3riens
Grbhrain, or O'Gauran, chief of Dal Druithne. of Thomrnond, in the county of Clare, and lords
districts about Loughrea.                     of the Isles of Arran, off the coast of Galway,
83  O'MI.xoILusxBIiDE, or O'Mulbrides, or Mac which they held from the thirteenth to a lato
Brides, chiefs of Magh Finn and of Bredach, a period in the sixteenth century, and, as captains
large district in the barony of Athlone, county  of the sea coast, kept a large inaritime force.
of loscomumon, east of the river Suck.          48. MAc CNALMIItN, or lVac Nevin, according
89. O' iMAINNIN, or O&Mannin, or O'AIannings, to the book of Leacan, chiefs of a district called
chiefs of Sodhan, a  large territory in the barony  Crannog Mac Cnaimhin, or Cranluagh Mac
of Tiaquin, which was made into six divisions, Nevin, in the parish of Tynagh, barony of
called the six Sodhan3  The O'.Mannins had  Leitrim, and county of Galway.  There are
their chief residence at the castle of Clogher, still some f-imilies of the Mac Nevins in the
barony of Tiaquin, county of Galway, and. county of Galway.
afterwards at Menlough, in the parish of Killas-   49. NIAc EicnIAIDII, or Mae Keogh, a branch
cobe, in the same barony. The other chiefs of the O'Kellys, chiefs of Omlanach, now Onagh,
given by O'Dugan on the six Sodhans were in the parish of Taghmllaconnell, in the barony
Miac-an-lihaird; or Mac Wards; O'Sguarra, or of Athlone, county of Rloscommon.  l'There ar'
O'Scurrys; OGLennan, or O'Lennans; O'C:tsain, still many ftrliiies of the Mac Keoghs, or
or O'Ca;hins; O'Gialla, or O'Giallain, rendered  Keoghs, in Connauglht.
O'Gec!a:ans and Gillays, and O'Maigins, O'Migins,   50. MIac GrLLADUT1H, or Mac Gildufse, someor O'Malgins. The chiefs of Sodhan are thus times rendered Kilduffs, chiefs in ('aadlh, along'
mentioned by O'Dugan:                         with the O'Leahys, in the barony of Killconnell,
county of Galway.'Tha six Sodhans let us not shun,             51. The O'LORCAINS, or O'Larkins; the 0'Their chiefs are not to be forgotten;     Gebenaighs, or O'Gcvennys; the O'AireachBrave are their predatory hosts,          tains, ang icised to llarrington; the O'Fahys, or
To whom  belonged the spear-armed Sod- O'Fays;  O'Laidins, or O'In:mes, and tile 0'hans."                                Horans, all clans in Ui Mani, in the county of
Galway.           j
40. O'CATrATL, or O'Cahill; O'Mnghroin, or   52. ()'COBnTIIAIGU, or O'Coffeys, a branch of
O'Moran;  O'lMIaolruanaidh, or O'Mulrooney, the O'Kellys, princes of Ui Malni. Thts OCofwere the three chliefs of Crumthan, an extensive  faVys possessed a large district in the barony of
territory sometimes called Cruffon, comprising  Clonmocnoon, county of Gailwvy, and had their
the barony of Kiilian, and part'of Ballynoe, in  principal residence at a place caile(l'l'um Caththe counut of Galway. These chiefs are thus raigh. There are several ifami.ies of the name
desicgatedl by O'Dugan:                       in the counties of Galway andl I'osci,,nmeon.
53. The MIac MANUSES, Mac (Keons, O'Com' O'Cahlill and O'Murain the active,         mins, and O'Ronans, clans in Rosconmmon.
O'Mulrooney of the splendid banquets,         Shortly after the Eng ish inva.ion, William
Like trees which shelter the fertile land,  de Burgo, and other Anglo-Norman leaders, led
Are the chiefs of Crumthan of the woody their forces into Cunnaught, and! at'er fierce
plains."                                 contests with the O'Conrors and other chiefs,
got possession of a considerable portion of the
41. O'LAEDO, or O'Laedhaigh, anglicised to  country. From Rlichard, or Rickard de Burge,
O'Leahy. chiefs of Caladh, a large district in the a great part of the county of Galway got the
barony of Kilconnell, county of Galway. They  name of Clanrickard, which comprisetl, accordare tliV mentioned by O'Dugan:               inm to Ware, the baronies of Clare, Dankellin,
Loughaea, Kiltartan, Athenry  and Leitrim.
" The brave O'Leahys I must mention,       The de Burgos became in time the Inost power(Chiefs of the broad lands of Caladh,     ful farnily in Connaulght, and were its chief
Men who won and hold the sway             governors tinder the kings of England. They
Of Caladli by Shannon of clear streams.',   were styled Lords of Connaunht, and also became Earls o,_Ulster; but on tile death of Wil42. O'TI.ve:TY, chief in the barony of Ath- liam de BurgoEarl of Ulster, in the thirteenth
enry, and c)unty of Galway.                  century, and the marriage of his dtaughter,
48. The O'DaLYs, a branch of the O'Donnells Elizabeth, to Lionel, Duke of Clarence, son of
of Donefgal, princes of Tirconnell, whose tribe King Edlward ItI., his titles passed into the
naame was Clan Dalaigh. The O'Dalys, it ap- royal family of England, by whom they are still
pears, settled in Connaught as early as the held.  In the beginning  of the fourteenth
twe'fth century, and accounts of many of them, century, the heads of the two principal branches
very eminent as poets and learned men in Con- of the Burkes took the Irish name of Mac
naught and in Munster. Several of them were William, and adopted the Irish l:lnguage and
distinguished ecclesiastics.  The O'Dalys had customs. Sir William, or Ulick Burke, the
large possessions in the counties of Galway and progenitor of the Earls of Clanrickard, had great
lRoscommon.                                   possessions in Galway and Roecommon, and
44. The O'tIALaLOe.es, given in OFlaherty's took the name Mac William  Eighter, and Sir
Ogygia (vol ii. p. 296), as chiefs of Clan Fer- Edmund Burke, called Albanach, took the
gaMl, a large district on the east side of the name Mac William Oughter, had large possesriver of Galway, near Lough Corrib. From  sions in Mayo, and was ancestor of the Earls of
these was descended O'Halloran the historian.  Mayo.
45. The O'CALLANANS and O'Canavans, men.   In the twelfth and thirteenth centuries sevetioned by O'Flaherty as hereditary physicians ral English and Welsh families settled in the
ia Galway.                                    town of Galway. and other parts of the courity,
46. The O'DunrsTHaAnes, or O'Duffeys, fami- the principal of whom were the Athys, BerIfes of note in Galway and Roscommon, and minghiams. Blake,, Bodikins, Brownes, Blundels,
many of them learned men and eminent ecclesi- Deanes, Dillons, Darcys, Frenches, Joyces, KirAstics, several of them having been archbishops wans, Lynches, Lawlesses., Morrisses, Martius,
of Tuam, and bishops in Elphin.               Whites, &c. It is to be observed that the 0'



TOPOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.                                    739
Loinsighs, who are also called Lynch in Eng- Feorais, or Peorais, signifying the son of Pierce,
lish, are also an Irish clan. The O'IKerovans from one of their chiefs; the Fitzsimons of the
are also an Irish clan, and the name has been  King's County, to Mac Ruddery, signifying the
anglicised to Kirwan. The Mac Dorchys, or son of the Knight, from Ridir6, a knight; the
O'Dorchys, were chiefs in Partry. in the county  Peers of Kilkenny and Waterford, to Mao
of Mayo, and also in Galway, and many of them  Shere; the Butlers, to Mac Pierce; the Fitzanglicised the name to D'Arcy, and were con- geralds to Mac Thomas and Mac Maurace; the
sidered to be of English descent. The Martins de Courcys of Cork, to Mac Patrick; the Barrys
of Galway were considered by O'Brien, Val- of Cork, to Mac Adam, and many others in like
lancey and others, to be of Firbolg origin, de- manner. Many of the Milesian Irish, on the
scended from the old race of the Fir Doinnians, other hand, anglicised their names, of which
so frequently mentioned in the old annalists numerous instances have been given in the
under the namine of Mairtinigh, anglicised Mar- course of this topdgraphical appendix, and many
tineans. The Joyces, or de Jorses, came from  of them  have so translated and twisted their
Wales to Galway in the reign of Edward I., and  surnames, that itis extremely difficult to deterhaving formed alliances with the O'Flahertys, mine whether those families are of Irish or
ahiefs of West Connaught, got large possessions English descent. In the reigns of the Henrys
in Connemarra, in the barony of Ross, and  and Edwards many penal acts of parliament
towards the borders of Mayo, a large territory, were passed, compelling the ancient Irish to
whicll is still called Joyces, Country, where adopt English surnames, and the English lanthey are very numerous to the present day, guage, dress, manners and customs, and, no
many of them remarkable for immense  doubt, many of the Milesian Irish took English
strength of body and gigantic stature.      surnames in those times, to protect their lives
and properties, as otherwise they forfeited their
"OREIGN RACES THAT TOOK GAELIO SURNAMES. goods, and were liable to be punished as Irish
enemies. In modern times, many of the old
Many of the Danish settlers are considered to  Irish families omit the 0 and Mac in their
have taken Irish surnames, and prefixed Mac to  surnames, an absurd practice, as such names
their names. as did many of the Anglo-Norman  lose much of their euphonious sound by the
and Engllsh families in early times; but it does omission, and are neither English nor Irish;
not appear that any of those settlers adopted the  and it may be observed that none of the
prefix 0, as that was confined chiefly to the  Scotch Macs omit that national designation, or
Milesian families of the highest rank. The fol- metamorphose their names as the Irish have
lowing Anglo-Norman or English  families done. Without O  and Mae, the Irish have'no
adopted Irish Surnames: The de Burgos, or names, according to the old verse:
Burkes. of Connaught, took the name of Mac
William, and some of them that of M:c Philip; "Per 0, atque Mae, veros cognoscis Hibernos
the de Angulos, or Nangles, of Meath and Mayo,   His duobus demptis, nullus Hibernus adest."
changed the name to Mae Costello; the de
Exeters of Mayo to Mac Jordan; the Barretts       "By Mac and 0, you'll always know,
of Mayo, to Mac Wattin; the Stauntons of Mayo,       True Irishmen, they say;
to Mac Aveelev, in Irish Mac-an-Mhilidh, signi-    But if they lack both O and Mac,
tying the Son of the Knight;'the de Berming         No Irishmen are they."
hams of Connaught and other places, to Mao
Ar na chrIchnughadh i g-cathair Brucluinne, laimh re hEborach Nuadh, le Seaghan, mac Dhomhnaill, mhic Tbomdis
Oig na bh-Foradh Ui Mhaghthamhna, & Choill Bheithne, laimh
re  Sliabh-Grott ris  a  raidhter  an  Ghaillte  Mhor aniu, ar  an
t-ochtmhadh la deg de mhi Iuil, is an m-bliadhain d'aeis an
Tigherna 1857.




INDEX.
Aboo, the war-cry, Preface xL ta               Athach Tnatha,.                       291
Adamar,.  258  Ath Boromha, (at Killaloe,)..    441
Adanlnan. Saint,..468, 482  Ath Seinaid, battle of,... 486 sn
Aedgan,.  39-  Ath-liag, battle of,...    490
Aedh 1'uadh,.    244  Ath-luain, (now Athlone,)..  562
BMacAnmirech,... 445,453  Attendants of Irish Sovereigns,.    354
"Slanni,.   46
Uaridnach,                          467  Baedan,...            444, 444
"  Ollan,...               486  Baethin, Saint,....427, 478
Oirnighe,.        489  Banba,... 80, 141, 198
"  Filn-liath,...  515  Beothach,..                  83
Albanach,                         541 I7  Benn-Edar, (now Hill of Howth,)          116
4  O'Neil,.  559  Benen. Saint,... 411,412 as, 419
"  Caemh,..  862 n  Berngal,                                                       234
Aedhs, the toree,.                  464  Bealcu-Brefni,..           274
Aengus, Oll-Buadach,  -..  221 s  Becan, Saint,..           438, 554
oll-Mucaidh,     -      -  22T, 228 n  Bede, the Ven:erable, Preface xxix. n.    875
Ollamh,..  257  Belach-Lucadi, (now Lowhid, Co. Clare,)  441
#   Tuirmech,                         253   Belach-Feli, battle of,..           486
"   (driven from Muster by Eogan            Belach Dathi, battle of,. 445 and sf
Mor,.              309  Belach Mughna, battle of,.           526
MacNadfraech, (baptized by St.         Belach-Cro, battle of,... 488 
Patrick,)..    40, 421 n  Bertus,                                     480
Aeifi, (Eva,)..         27, 626 ib  Bennchor, (now Bangor,)..        49 
Aei, (Iona,) the Island of,.    441, 44 n  Bladh,...                 191
Agneis,..                      416  Blathnaid,...            282, 284
Ailech-neid,... 83, 547  Bladma, (now Slieve Bloom, Kings Co.,)  457
Airchinnach,.....  466  Blathmac,.               469
Aileran, Saint,..    47 n  Blethin ap Conan,.                  192
Alba, (Scotland,)..  83  Birra, (now Birr,) battle of,.      448
Irish invasion of,..               Boromha, Boroimhe,(Anglice Boru,) 3083,481 t&
Albanactus,....    128, 371       "    Brian, (see Brian Boroimhe.)
Alldergoid, (killed by Ollamh Fodla,).    231     "    Laigheu,...  416
Almha, or Almhain, (Finn's fortress,). 346 i  Borenn,.. 437
Alfred, King, pedigree of, Preface, lxxii      Bishops of Ireland, list of,...94 n
Amelanus, the Danish chief,.           512  Bratha,.   -.           179
Amirghin,....    177, 19   Braen,                                  586
Anselm, Saint..                       398  Brann-Dubh,. 92, 4686
Andli, (see Usnach.)                           Brendan, tor Brainnen,) Saint,        432, 4143
Anmiri...  444  Breogan,...  177, 179, 191
Archbishops of Ireland, list of,.        93  Breogan, tower of,..                195
Arech Februadh,...      18  Brehons, Preface xxxviii. n, lxi. s.
Ard Righa,                            204 -  Bresigh,...                  23T
Ard-lemnacta. battle of,.         216  Brescal Brec,                              256
Ardan, (see Usnach.)                                   Bo-dibadh,.. 262
Ard-Nemidh, (now  Great Island, Cork              "   Son of Diarmaid,.                 489
harbor,).. ~           83, 119, 389 n  Brian Boromha, or Boroimhe, 549, 158, 563, 575
Ard-Macha, (now Armagh,) 123, 496, 499, 516, 5158  Britain,....          83
Armagh, the Book of,..           412' Mael,                           12, 190
Art imlech,.    -..      237  Britain, invasion of, by the Scots and
"the Second,.241                                Picts,..  8381' Aeinfer, (the Solitary,) son of Conn        Brighitt, Saint,.         425, 444, 468
of the Hundred Battles,..    21   Bruighin-da-Cogadh, battle of.       464
Argedmar,..' ~.  242  Brigantes,...  191
Armorica. Preface xxiii. ~.                    Bruh,...            56 n
Arthur, King, Preface xxv.                     Buchanan, (quoted,)...  877
Assaroe,.  214 n  Buikedh Brugh,                            830
Ath-cliath, (now Diublin,) 83, 8i10, 5r,3, 534, 548,
556, 534, 627 as
Ath-cliath Medraide. (now Clarin's bridge,     Cambrensis, Preface xxiv. a1, (quoted,) dinear Galway,) W.                         A 3 an  vision of Ireland,..         84
Ath Buidhe Tlactga, (Yellow Ford,) battle      Camden, (quoted,) Preface xxvi., xli.
of,-...581    Cambria,                                                           128,74
04~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~18 8?4




INDEX.                                      741
Caelbach,....       867  Congal Kenn Maghair,.          483
Caemhlan, Saint,                        460        i the third,. 548
Caeln, nis,....      495  Comgall,Saint,..                 424
Cainnech,.....  464  Comdan, Saint,.... 478
Caiin, Saint,....  44, 410  Computation of time, errors in, Preface, lxviii
Cannice, Saint, (see Cainnech,)               Colman, Saint,                       448, 465
Cainnell,..  812                  "   imidh,...     467
Carn Conaill, battle of...     476       " Beg,.... 443
Carbri Cat-Kenn,..  292  Cogaran,..                     570
Liticar,           8..      360  Columkille, Saint,.      425, 439, 441 t, 451
"  Crom,.                      44S                                     458 n, 516
Cath Finn i'ragha, (battle of Ventry,)        Craebh-Ruadh, (Red Branch,) see Clanna
Preface xlvi.                                 Rudraide.
Cathluan,...               215  Cronan, Saint,.. 478
Cathabir Mor, 255, 808, list of his sons      Crom Cruach, the first pagan idol,.  223 n
Cathach, tsee St. Fintan.)                    Crom-Connaill,....    481
Carthalch, ancestor of Mac Carthaigh of       Crimthann Sciathbell,..        214is
I)esmond,...       590 n      "      the Vanquisher,..   261
Carthach, Saint,..    459, 478      " l   Niadh Nair,                    289
Carn-Ferauaig, (now Knockany,) battle             "      O'Cuinn, see Columkille and 458
of,..               440  Crinna, battle of,.                824
Casan Linni, (now the Lagan,) battle of,  503  Cruithnigh, (Picts,)..   177 n, 190, 218
Caisel, (now Cashel,)...  91        invasion of the, into Britain,.    381
Caeilti Preface, iii.                         Cruifi,                                  292
Cuesar, (quoted,)...     376  Cruachain, (now Rath Crogan, Co. RosCemeteries of the Irish kings,.  858       common,)..            266 n
Cimbri,.....   122 n       "   Assembly of,...    418
Cluan Ferta, (now Clonfert,).   432 and n  Cuana,Laech Liathmani,..      474 
Clanna Degaidh,...   263 n  Cuan Mara,....  245 r
l" Rldraide,... 263 n, 478    "Moighi,
Clidna, (Glandore,)...  205 n    "Slebhi,.              -
Clochar Desa, (now Clogher,).     450    Cuala,                                   191
Clonard, College of,...  458 n  Cualgni,.... 191, 204
Claain-Mac-Nois, (Clonmacnois,) 94, 504, 590 n  Cuchulainn,..                279, 282
"; 64       the book of,.        412  Cumin Fada, Saint,.. 434, 440, 478 
Clontarf, battle of,.. 569 and 582 n  Cumin, or Comaeini,...       445
Coirr-chleirech,...      452 n  Cuil-cael, battle of,...    464
Coigi,.....      84           Dremni, battle of,               451
Corulac Cas, ancestor of the clans O'Brien,       "   Rathain, (now Coleraine,) battle of, 452
Mac Namara, and Mac Clanchy, &c.    816       "   Feda, battle of,..    452
"   Mac Art,..     326, 350, 355  Curigh,....        282
"  UI-Fada,               328, 829 i, 340  Curnan,...              451
"  Mac Culinain, Prefacexxi n, 519, 524  Cumasgach,....    481, 489
527'  Conlingas,...   267, 278  Daball,.....    278'  Mac Carthy...    605  Dal-Araidhe,..                118, 565
Corb Olum,...       292  Dal Riada,... 118, 814, 84 in
Conaing,.              g               125       "   Settlement of the, in Alba,.    422
Bieg Eglach,.. 240  Dal-g-Cais, (Dalcassians,).    572 and n, 580
Collas, the three.. 36, 366  Dal-Fiatach, clan of...  268 
Concobar, (Connor,) 26T, 272, 277, 447, 493, 515  Dana,.                             140
"   Abradh 1Ruadh,. 289  Daniel, Samuel, (quoted,) Preface xxix.
Corcach, (Cork, burned by the Danes.    504  Dari Barach,....  808 n
Corca Duibni, (now Corcaguiny,Co. Kerry,) 251 n    " Dornmar,..               309
Core, ancestor of the O'Connors Corcom-       Dallan Forgail, the king poet,.. 448, 455
roe, and O'Lochlins, of Burren, Co.       Darini, the tribe of,...        817
Clare,... 269, 333, 370  Dathi,..                   189, 894
Corca-Luighe..      186, 244 n  Derborgaill, Preface xxviii.; her elopeConrac,.....     269       ment,....       614
Conlaech,..                 279  Dela,.....     84
Conari Mor, ancestor of the Ernaans of        Derdri,                             267, 270
Munster,.               286 n  Dergthini, the tribe of...    81T
"  ancestor of the Gaels of Alba,. 313  Degaidh, clans of, (the Degadians,) whence
Conn of the Hundred Battles, 291, 308;            sprung Daniel O'Connell,.     284 is
his partition of Ireland,. 309  Delbna, the seven,...  827
Connacht, (Connaught,) division of.     88  Deman, king of Uladh,...  442
Conall, king of the Dal-Riada,.. 444  Desies, the tribe of,.14 i, 336
"  Clogach, of the Bells,.     454  Diarmaid, king of Ireland,.              44
son of Suibni,.. 464       "    the Ruthful,.      469, 476 n
Crcmthani,...   420 n       "    Mac Murcadha, flight of to Henry
"  Collamrach,... 260       II.,.                                614
"Kearnach,.     274  Disert Diarmada, now Castle Dermott, Co.
" of the Swift Steeds.            869 n       Kerry,...       524, 529
Coumael, first king of the race of Eber,  220 n  Domnall,.    442, 468, 471, 487, 552, 602 is
Coanla,                         255, 814, 342  Donagarn, king of Leinster,..   585 
" Cruaidh-Kelgach,..       258  Donncadh,. 400, 491, 584 n, 591 and a
Congal Claringnech,..          262  Domnach Padraig, now  Donagh Pat" COlaen,...   468,471      rick,.... 551,657




742                                       INDEX.
Donn,...         178  Fathadh Cairpthecb,                        86
Dromn-Keth. convention o.. 443, 449  Falbi Finn,                          b3..      9 and is
Drom-Soechta; the Book of,          106, 147 is  Ferann,...                   83
Drum Kiarain, battle of,.      485  Fer-Bolgs,.    27, 129
Drum-da-Maighe, in Kings Co, battle of; 514              the chiefs of the,. 127, 129
Druids,...    121 n  Fer Galeon,...              130
Duach Finn,...  23         )omnnans,...    130
"   Laghrach,..      242   "  More,                                  258
" Dalta Degidh,                  262, 263 i  Ferna,'now Ferns, burned by the Danes,  514
Tenumha,..            442  Fergal,.                                  433
Dubh-Eglais, (the Black Church,).  456  Fert, now Belfast, battle of,        478 and is
Dubh-linn, (Dublin,).                   504  Fergraidh,                               541. 
Dubh-Lochlannaigh, (the Danes,)    512 and n  Fergus Dubh dedach,..           323
Dubthach OLugair,..           410          Cas-iaclach,                       323
Dael- -ladh,.. 268            Folt-lebar,..    823
Dumha Achair, the battles of,.         442 n     "   the Third,...        4-2
Dun-ds-leth-sins, now Down,.  462 t, 499           the Poet,..           410
Dun-bolg, battle of,.                  465     "   Fortamhail,.                     259
Dun Kethian, battle of,..         469     "   Mor Mac Erca, first king of ScotDun Delgain,now Dundalk, battle of,       541          land, Preface xxv.
Dur-mhlagh, now Darrow, Kings Co.,   459 s        "   Mac Roigh,                      267, 275
Fer-da-liach, or Maeil-lethan, ancesEber Scot,...        167         tor of the Ma2 Carthy, O'Sullivan, O'Eber,..     4, 183, 204,201 n, and 212     Keeffe, and O'Callaghan,     815, 3840, 57t
Eber Finn,.  177  Feradach Finn-Fectnach,..   291, 294
Ebleo,...                               191  Fechin, Saint,...    475, 477 *
Ectach,..    828 and i  Femhen, battle of,.                                 443
Echtigherna,.                          54:3  Feidlimlidh Rectmar, the Legal            30T
Edirsgeol.....  28   Fenlus Farsa,                  147, 153, 180, 18.
Elim OlIlinnecta,                         2:36  Feis Temraclh,..                 414
Son of Conra,                    293, 297  Feidlimid,..  415, 502 and a
Emhain Macha, now Navan Fort, Co. Ar-          Feidlin,.                               332
magli,            245, 216 s 309  Fiann, the order of, Preface, xlvi.        843'      "   wife of Cronn,.           Fiail,.               201 
Assembly of,..  419  Fiatach Finn,..      292
Enna Argthech, the Despoiler,.     229  Fiachaidh Labranni,                        227
"Derg, money first struck off in his             "    Finn Sgothach, ofthe Wine Flowreign,....      229               ers,...       230
A Aigh.ch,                            261      "     Fobric,....   255
Eochaidh-Abra Ruadh, province of.         90       "     Fin-alcheas,                  234.2
"    OYlainn, his account of the sons          "    To!grach,..          241
of Miledh,.          196 and n,     "     Fer-mar,...      259
Edgothaeh,..      224      "    Finnfolaidh,.     293, 295
Faebar-Glas,.                225       "     Finn,.                     294
"    Mumho, (Munster,)                227       "     Snighldi,.                 814
"    Apthagh,..         237      "      son of Baedan,.       443
Uarkeas,.                   241)      "     the Seventh,;..   82
Fiadmuini, the IHunter,            249  Fiadh-mic-Aengusa, Synod of,         596 and
the EiYhthl,                    241  Filedha, (Poets,)..              446 454
F Polt-lethan,..  258 and n  Fi'edhacht, (the Poetic order,) see Filedhia.'    Feillech (the Pentarchy restor-       Finghin  Mac  Carthaigh,  (Florence  Mac
ed,.       264and i, 285 ni      Carthy,)                              5883
Arenh,...      285 n  Finn Mac Cumrhail, (Fingal of Maclher-. Ainkenn,                            804      son.) Preface xlv...   111 s, 8343
U    Finn,..                814         son of Bratha..            233
son of Domnall,                 443          Lochlannaigh, (Norwegians,)      512 is
"    king of Ulidia,...  559  Finacta, son of Ollamh Fodla,.             233
"    Guath,..             86   Finnacta Fleadach,.             4.0
Muigh-medon,                      867  Finnbar, Saint,                        460, 4,3
"    king of Leinster,.      830  Finnabair, now Fenor,.                245 s.
Eogan, chieftain of Fernmaighe, (Fer.-          Finnan, Saint,  -                         480
rnoy),... 268, 270  Fintan, or Finnen, Sainit,   110 n, 452, 439 & i
"    Mor,                               309         the Book of,                        412
Eoganachta, (Eugenians,)          495, 520,571  Fitzpatrick, (MacGillaPatrick,)       255, 580
Er,.....    3  Fitz Eustace, race of,.                  591
Eri,.                   80, 141 198  Flann Sinna,.,.       518, 532 i
Eric, Preface, liv.                            Flathbertach,.        4S5. 520
Erimhon, (Heremon,) 84, 188, 200, 205, 207 i,  Fochart, battle of,.45 is
212.217  Fodla,...                    80,1 41
Ernnans, tribe of the,.  286 n, 37    Fomorlans,.     116, 124, 142
Ethiar the Druid,..       201  Foras Feasa ar Eirinn,                    79 
Ethrial, son of Irial,..   219 and i  Forbaide,..       273
Etharla, now Aherlow,..       324  Fortola, battle of,..   44/
Ethni Ollamda,.                     830, 851  Fogartach,..               44
"  Uasthach, Preface xxiit.,  88  and i.  Foranan,                                 497.5
"  mother ofSt. Colaumklle,          461  Four Mastets. Their account of transacFaetna Fathach,..   263       tions between the Gaels and their
Fathadh Airgthech,..    862       invaders, to Roderic O'Connor's reign 651




INDEX.                                          743
Free Clans of Thomond, (see Saer Clanna.)         Ir,.              
Fremhain. now Frewin, Co. Westmeath,   285  Irin, or Iris, 
Fruad.....        191, 2,4  Irial, the Prophet, the raths he built, his
Fursa, Saint,.               477       battles, &c..     218, 36?
Irreligion of the Irish disproved,.      638
Gabra, the battle of,...    861  Itl,...           18
"   Lift, battle of,.                442  Iugani Mor,..    85,169
Ga:;thlia,..    176                 Division of Ireland by,          248
Gaethluigb,                               179 n   Inbar-Kinn-tragha, now Newry,         443 and i.
Gaeidilgi tGaelic) origin of,..    190
"    five dialects of,                  157  Japhet,-the Scotic race traced to him,. 147
Gacdal, Preficc xviii. s, 150,158, 162,180,184 s  Johannes Baronius,. quoted,).             189
Gaelic, (see Gacidilgi.)                          Jonas thie Abbot, (quoted,). 875
Gacdil, (thle CGae!s ~     150,167, 107, 173, 507  Juvernia,...      82
Galamh,  see Miledh.)
Gallia Lugdenis,.. 18   Kadlwallin,....  192
Galimb, (alwayv,).                      810  Kellachi, 6aint,..   430 
Galloglass, Preface is. t.                        Kellachan of.Cashel,                    533, 543
Gamanraidhe. a tribe of Fer-bolgs, 266 and s   Kenanuis, now Kells,.551, 5 -8, 538
Gavelkind1 Prefece liv. s.                        Kein-Coradh (Kincora), council of,   560, 6t9
Gedhi 03-gotlihach,                         234  Kennedi..,                               534, 53
Gesa, (Vows of Chivalry,).    3   and so  Kenn Berraide,                                273
Giallcaidh,....        2       enfieadh,.            156, 479, 518
Gildas, (quoted,) Preface xxix.                   Kenn-selach, Enna,..  863 and a
Gilla-Comgaill,.        559   Kennlighegza,.                         2, 623 
"  Pdraig ~....            5803 s   Kenn-fuaid, battle of,                   ~.  184
"Mars falsely named King of Ire-              Kerinmad Mil-beol, three sons of,            18:
land,  Preface xxv.                           Kernna,....      85, 225
Glen-da-loch, the Book of, 456, see Preface lxiii.  Kerball,....      31
Glenmiahainii, i now Glanworth, co. Cork,)        Keth,...   278
Convention o.f,                        535  Kevin, Saint,                                461
Glen Fais, (omw Glenofaush, co. Kerry,)   291  Kiarnitt,...350' Mama, battle of,.                   551  Ki:u, ancestor of the O'Connors Kerry,    269
Gort-an oir, (now Curtannre, co.Tipperary.) 323  Kiaran, Saint,                      4:4, 429, 462
Gothi,...   179    Klan, ancestor of the O'Keagher, O'laia,,
Good, Master, (quoted,)  Prefaceli.                   &c.,...      817, 5.
Gradha Gaisgi,-L  degrees of chivalry,) 343 and s  Kiannachta of Glengiven,             441 n; 508
Grellae-Doitl,  bttle of,                   431  Kikal,or Cical,.  116
Griffin ap Conan,                           192  Kill-Becaln. now Killpeacon, co. Tipperary, 449
Gud,....     215  Killdara, (Kildare,).     48, 51 s, 51
Gurguntius, King of Britain,                193  Kill Cuilifin, (Kilcullen,).    547 n
o    0  ~i~Kill-da-luath, (Killaloe,)                                568
Ilanmcr, Dr. his false statements, Preface xlvi.  Kill Maighncn, (Killmainham,)    ~        366s
IHall of Mi Cuarta,                   8J3 and s  Kinel, arbri,                             4790 
Ilarpars, Order of, Preface xxxviii. s                   Eogain,.56
Harold, King of England,.      589    "   Ferinmaic,                           572 
Hengist, the Saxon Chief, Preface xxxvi.                 Conaill,. 5,5
lIeber, see Eber.                                 Kinaeth,..  485
HIeremon, see Erimhon.,, O'lartigain,..  81,554
]liberria,.... 82  Kind Scult, (see Alba.)
Htumphrey   of Gloucester, (quotled:)       1S5
inugo do Lacy,                            644 so  Labraidh Loingsech,              25  253, 256
Iymn of Columkille,                447, 450, 458  Laegari Lore, the Parricide,. 250
the Victorious,                ~   76
Iarann Glce-fathach,                 257 and s  son of Niall,..      401, 416
larlatlil, Saint,      ~  ~                 420  Lagenians,                                   2~
Ibath,                                      1 ~  ~'  121  Lpnfranc, Archbishop of Canterbury, (quotImhar,                                      53        od,)..9
Inber Slangi, now Wexford  Bay.   81, 133, 197  Laighen, (Leinster,) division of,              89
" Skeni, now Kenmare River,    115, 193  Lawrence O'Toole, Saint,.  626
Inis-Fail,                 ~..            80  LeimConchuillain, now Loophead,      441, 520
Sainier,.   115  Leim  Duaclill, defeat of the Norwegians at, 518
((Phadraigf,.05..1
"  ~~~Phadraig,.497 s  Le Poer, Robert,                                        503 
"Fitha,...                         493  Leth Mogha,.   405, 523 
Mureodaigh,.  493  Lia Fail,... 81 s,, 187
"  Cathaigi, Pillage of,                 554  Liath Manchain,...   477
~"]Elga,.  ~.   ~..          80  Liathain, now Barrymore, Co. Cork,           809
Innis Clothraun,                             276  Lis-mor Lismore, Co. Waterford,         471,  500
Lreland, Invasions of, before the Flood, 105 &      Lochlainn, Denmark, Preface xii..,, Colonizations of,..  113.121  Loctiannsigh   Scandinavians, or Danes,)
First Kings of,               131 and s                    first arrival of            492, Conquest of, by the Tuatha-de-!,                         their defeats by the Gaels, 506, 510
Danaans                          135  Loeblannach,.                      498
"    Five Dialects of the Language of,  157  Loch n-Echach, (Lough Neagh,)  496, 5C1, 505
Heathen writers of,                  4134
Arrival of Henry the Second in,   630  Loch n Lughmagh, (Dundalk Bay,)   496, 500
IIeury's title to,.            634      "  Ilibh, (Lough  ee,).    496, 50




744                                         LNDEX.
Loch Bricrenn, now Loughbrickland,          501  Moin Mor, battle,.      606
Oirbsen, now Lough Corrib,         145, 546  Morison, Philneas, calumnies of, Preface, xlviii
Garman (Wexford,) see Inber Slan-            Moling, Saint,.506
gi and...    619n is         the yellow book of, 412, see Pre" Eri Lough Erne),...   546                face, lxiii.
Loch da-caech, battle of,..    53 i   Molaga, the black book of, 412, see Pre" Gabar, battle of...  479                 face, lxiii.
Loegrius,                                   128  Molasi, Saint,                        443 i, 469
Lorcan O'Tuathail, (see'Lawrence O'Toole.)        Morna, the tribe of,                        862
Lugaidhl Iardonn,...  239  Morann, the collar of,...  296
Lam-derg,...      210  Muic Inis,..                  197 n
Laghdi,.242  i Muimni, son of Erimhon,...  21
"    Lotlifinn,...      255  Muini Breogan, battle of,..      545
LJuaigni,...  262  Muirenn,....  475
lliabh-n-Derg,..      2S7  Mullach Masdenn, now Mullaghmast,            571
Lamfada,.                          801  Munster,....      91, 518
" Ellathach...      809  Munemilon, who instituted "The Collar
Mac Conn,...  819   of Gold,"....  230
Lag..,                              824  Murthemni,...                   191
the Fourth,.  421  Muredach Bolgrach,...  239
Luigni and Laigni, sons of Erimhon,         217       "      Tirech,..             865
Luimunech, now Limerick,.     543, 553       "     Maeil-lethan,..        482 i
Murchadh,... 565,575
Macnamaras, preface, xxxi. in..                   Markertach,..            474, 547
Mao Murrogh,.                           26           "       O'Lochlainn,..      607
Giila Padraig, (see Fitzpatrick.)             Music, Professors of, Preface, xx. xix.
Coill,....      182
"   on,...          319  National Records-Book of Rights, Book
"  Clanehy,...   821 is    of Armagh, &c., Preface ix and is.
"Awly,....           23  Nar,....                 190
"  Alinn of Alba,...      822  Nemnedh,.                          121, 124, 181
"  Carthy,..54:2  Niall of the Nine Hostages, 189, 372, 9,393, 89
"  Mahons, Preface, xxx. n;                      "Frasach (of the showers),..484, 4S9
S weenies,  "                                   "Calli,..                   500, 504
S heehies,                                      " Glundubh (ancestor of tJ]e O'Neils
Macha Mong IRunadh, (the Red Tresses,)   245            of Tyrone),..     583
Maeilghenn the Druid,.                      35. 87    "Seven sons of,.... 872
Maen, (see Labraidh Loingsech,)             251  Niadh Segamlin.          260 i
Maehnorda,...       429 is, 569  iNiul (son of Fenins Farsa),. 159 i
Maeh'b,..                   448, 468  Noah, genealogy of,...    104
Macdog, or Mogue, Saint, founder of the          Nuadath Finn-Fall,.                          237
bishoprick of Ferns,..  478       "    Nect (from   whom  Maynooth
Maelsechlainn, (vulgo Malachy,)  503, 508, 511             took its name),..          285 n
514  Nubrigensis (quoted), Preface xxvi.
Maelsechlainn the Second,    555, 557, 581, 588                                          2
Maelgnala,.... 5!4 O'Byrne (O'Brinn), Preface xxxii.   205, 308
Maelmacdog,....    606   O'Bari,                                 2. 321 Is
Magh-Lena, battle of,..  312 and     O'Briain, Murtough,...           398
Alibi,                                 526       "    Turlough,..    898
"   Guillidhe, battle of,                T. 579   "    Murkertach Mor,                595, 608
Itha,               "11, 180                          Donncadh (his treaty with Pope
"  Sleet, (the'Plain of Prostration,)   223 s                Urban 11.                      634
"  Bolg, now Moybolgne, cos. Meath and         O'Cavanagh, Preface xxxii.,.   255, 368 i
Clvan,..          293 n.  O'Carroll,....      1T, 521 i
"   Turedl, blattles of,..139  O'Casey,..     817, 327
Fesnen, now Iffa and Offa East,        142  O'Callaghan,.          542 i
"Adair, the tree of                      3G2  0 Conobair.  See Todelbach, and  udri.
" Bill, now Moville,.   110, 458, 499  0 Connor Falghi,..            2 5, 308
" P{ath, battle of,...  471        "     of Keenaght,...    31
(lulinn.battle of,...           OConnel,....      528 
Magonius, see St. Patrick.)                       O'Cowie, or Coffee.                     321
Magnus, (Danish chief,)..               Cullan, (Collins,).      821i, 528 
Mal,.                                   307 n   O'Curneen,....    221
Malachy, (see' Maslsechlainnl.)                  Ocha, battle of,...        420
Manainn, (Isle of Man,).               464     O'Dempney,. 255, 808
Manchan, Saint,.   477 is  O'Donnell,....      813 
Mains, the Seven, (see Medb.)                    O'Donovan,..  821 
Medb,..       265, 269, 277  O'Donoghoo,..        870, 446 I, 571 is
Mlida, Saint,...   432    O'Dea,.                                               539 i
Midhe, (Meath,) divisions of,.    86 and    O'I)owling,..                    86. n3
]kiledh Esbaini,.                 175, 183, 194  O'Dunn,.. 255, 808
branchings of his children,.658  01)wyer,                                   255, 808
Milesins,,see Miledh.)                          O'Driscoll,...   180 i), 321 i
Mochua, Saint,.                     469, 473  Odran, Saint,....       428
Mochuda, Saint, (see Carthach.)                  Odba, battle of,...      467
Mochellog, Saint, founder of Kilmallock,   477  O'Fahy,...     844 **
Mogh-Corb,                         257,   361 i   OFlaherty,                               604 i
l Nuadath, (see Eogan Mor.)                    O'Flahneryes,.                           528 




INDEX.                                          745
O'Flinn,..                   821  Rudraide Mor, ancestor of the Red Branch
O'Gara,..          817, 82        Knights, (for account of Ais battles8
Ogygia, Preface, xli. s....    83 n        see note),.  261
O'Hara,...    817, 327  Rudralde the Second, O'ConcoLar,.  612
O'Heynes,....   344,  Ruadan, Saint,.                            112 ts
Oisin, (Osslan)..               862 n
O'Keefte,.       29 s, 536  Sadb,.....            815
O'Kinshellagh,...   868 n, 584  Saer Clanna (free clans) of Thomondq    589 9
Olcobar,...       508 n, 513  Saint Patrick, (see Patrick.)
Olfinn..   546  Saltair Temrach, (tPsalter of Tara,)  802, 855 a
Ollamh Fodla,.                             231  Saran Saebh-derc,..  466
Olild, (supremacy wrested from the race           Saradh, mother of the three Carbris,.      814
of Ir,)....          284  Scot Berla (Scotic tongue),.    122, 180
"    Finn,....      241  Scota,...           160, 177, 201
" Ani,.   251  Scots, the,                              150,875
Cas Fiaclach, (bent teeth,)         238      "   inroad of into Britain,.      880
Mor,..                    266, 269  Scythia,....       150 
Olum,,.  812, 315 s, 818  Sechnasach,...      478
Molt,...   41   Sedna,...  289
Flann Beg,                              842         Innaraigh of the Wages,.      288
O'Leary, (0Laegari,)                        821  Sees, Episcopal,                             59?
O'Lyous, (O'Liathasin or O'Lehan, see Ui          Senach, Saint,...                   445
Liathian,)                                   Senchas Mor,.   11
O'Mahony,.    821 s, 870, 446 I, 571 n   Sen-Ghoill, or Anglo-Normans, septs dle-411
O'Mleagher,....       817       cended from them,..   650 and nis
O'Mullane,...   870  Sganlan Mor,..449 n. 455
O'Murphy,...      868    Shannachie,...        803 
O'Neill, ksee Aedh,)                              Simeon Brec,...  127 888
O'Nolan,..   255, 314 i   Sinnach Cro,..          434
O'Rcily, of Brefni,.                   449 I  Sinainn (river Shannon',..      501
O'Ryan,.     2551 868, 529 I,. 585, it  Siorna the Long-lived,..   284 235 s
OURUsire, of Brefol,                 584, 59J  Siorlamh,...89
O'Sheehan,...       294 i, 523   Sitric the Dane,                        584 564
O'Slevin,...         559 n   Skelg Michel, now Skellig' Isles, Kerry,     200
O'Shaughnessy,...      844 n   Skothniamh,....      812
Osraide,,Ossory,)..      449,457  Slanoll,.... 233 
O'Toole, Preface xFxii... 255, 529 9    Slangi, Preface, xxxiii.
S!emhlain, battle of,,  464
"Pai~ndins~        ~Sliabh Mis, battle of,..      201
Palladous....                 402 n   Sliabh Feinhenn, (Slieve-na-man,)   227 s, 844
Pancti, battle of...            447  Slighe Dala,.... 520 n
Partlolan,                          83 114, 120  Sligech, battle of,..    428 
Patrick, Saint                     3 874, 887, 460  Sobarki, son of Ebric,.           85, 225
lessionof,..o                   401  Solinus, (quoted,) Preface, xxix.
Death of,..            423  Spencer, (quoted,) Preface, xxix.
Purgatory of, Preface xliii S, Sru,.  16: ent of,.                   499  Stanihurst, his ignorance of Ireiand PrePatron Saints, of the Gaelic tribes,.   465 I       face, xxxiii.
Penmbroke, Earl of, (Strongbow,) Arrival         Strongbow, (see Pembroke.)
in Ireland,         n          192, 616, 625  Soccath, (see St. Patrick.)
Physicians, ancient, P;reface, xxxviii. 6e,      Sulchoid, battle of,...          54
Picts, (see Cruithnigh,)
Plunkett, race of,...      591  Tadg, (TeigRue,)                        32. 83, 54
Polychronicon,..               8    Talaenonach, king of Ui ]iathain, now
Power, race of,.                           591       Lyons,..  477
Primlh-roileg, (see Cemeteries,)                 Talismans of the Tuatha de Danarns,          137
Psalter of Tara, (see Saltair Temrach.)          Talti, battle of,...  204
palace of,..             801
Raghallach, king of Connaught,.            474        fair of,...   485 n, 518
Rlth Aeda-rmic Brie, (now  Rathhugh)             Tanist, Preface,'iV. s.:
convention of..        513  Tegasg  Righ, (bok of precepts for kings.) 882 s
"    Beg.                 442  Temhair, (Tars,) convention of, called by
Bresail, synod of..               597       Ollamh Fordia,                          281
"    Kenaid, new Rathkenny,.   455  Temhair, battle of,..555 n
Rathain, monastery of.. 469              palaces of,..      414
Raymond le Gros, arrival of, in Ireland,   622             Laegari's convention at,.   414
Rent of St. Patrick, (see Patrick,)                   "    Assembly of,.      418
Reimn Riogra, (Royal Roll,)..      898  Termon lands, Preface, lviL. n.
Rectaidhl Righ-Derg,..   248  Tethor,...                     80
Ristard Craebach (Richard. Creagb, Pri-          Tactga, now Ward Hill, co. MIeath. 299 
mate of Ireland),.181 n  Tola, now Tulla, battle of,..      443
Ronan, Saint, IlI.,..          477n   Tomar,.....  557
Ros Cre, now Roscrea, battle of,. 546  Toon  Clidna,..                    568
Ros-na Righ, now Rossnar, on the Boyne, 85?  Tordelbach Mor O'Concobair,.                 603
leosa,...  410  Tibradi Tirech,. 292,1809
Rothectach,...   -.      229  Tighernach,                      bOO
the Second, (four horsdelariots        Tighernmas, (distinctions'of dress) estabfirst used in his reign,).          236       lished,....228 a




746                                     rIDEX.
Tir Oonafll, (wee Kinel CodnalL)              Usnach, the sons of,...   6
Tuatha-de-Dananns,       80, 127, 185,140, 197  Uisnech, now Usnagh Hill, Meath,    85, 306
"   "   " kings of the,.  142  Ui Barchi,.                           529 vs
"  Fidgi,                      215       Bloid,....     72 
Tathal,.... 85, 29, 303   " Caisin,..... 572 
"   MaeI-garb,...      427   " Drona —Se O'RJyan.'Tuaim Greni,..        553   " Fidghenti, now O'Donovans and O'CulTurgesius,...   492, 505 n 508     lanes, &c.,..       8C9 n, 476 *
", Kennselaigh,                         584
Uar the Druid,...      201   " Liathain, now Lyons, co. Cork,  124, 369 i,
Ua Congbala, the book of,.           412      477 s
Ugani Mor, (see Iugani Mor.)                  " Muredaigh-See O' Toole.
Uladh (Ulster), division oft.      88   " Rathach (Iveragh) Kerry, landingof the
origin of the name, 279 n, 442    Dans ate..                8.
U1, Saint,....          477   n
T~B  EN D.




VORKS P UBLISHED A ND FOR SBAL. BY J'AMES A. KIRKES
WORKS BY JOHN SAVAGEl.
DVA: A  GoBLIN  ROiMANCE, in Five Parts, a handsome 12mo.
"' Eva' is a work of the imagination, illustrated out of resources which seem  ever fertile, displaying very varied powers in grasping the poetically picturesque in natural scenery, a deep appreciation of the beauties which lend the most dainty as well as the most vivid charms to physical
nature, and an insighlt into the subtle chords which vibrate in the human soul, at once tender and
pa:issionate, ecstatic and moody, heroic and despondent. It is strikingly original, and ftll of episodes
ft' remnarkable quaintness, power, and beauty: some bordering on the brink of wildness, as in a
Walpniiglis revel; soome bearing you aloft with the fairies on the wings of the poet's imagination,
and others again soothing and stimulating the heart with reflections of a more tender and Christian
nature.
": We have often henrd of the departure or abduction of somp fair maid or youth into the fairy
realms. All tave a memory of some such mysterious catastrophe. But John Savage unfolds to us
the details. He has been with the elves; has ventured at his peril into Fairy-land, and comes
back to tell us the ways and wonders of the aerial kingdom.  lie shows us how the most loving
hearts are sundered by the machinations of the elves; how the fairies waylay the best intentions
of love and duty, and thus meddling in human affairs, leave broken hearts to wonder at and deplore
the falsity of the fair. He also shows us that no matter what may be the temptations through
which man is made to mourn, or the triumphs of those elfin or fairy ideas which thwart our best
designs, we have a certain counsellor and friend, an abiding comfort in the teachings of the Cross.
*     *      *      It is entirely unique, and we do not remember any thing like it in our literature. Tile test of this poem is that it improves on a second and a third reading, and we have no
fear but that it will steadily win a large circle of intellectual adnirers."- 77e Ir/ish People.
SYBIL: A Tragedy in Five Acts.  A neat and elegantly bound 12mo.. As an acting drama it has points of effect which will keep it upon the stage when the actress
for whom it was written shall walk the boards no more. The part of Sybil is a study, for it is
the umost natural unnatural character that we can recall in the range of the drama. As to its performance, we never saw Miss Avonia Jones in any other part approach to the tragic power she displayed in this."-N-ew Orleans Daily Crescent.
"Grand as Matilda Heron undoubtedly is in Camille, in Sybil she quite eclipsed that character. The author has surrounded her with every variety of tender passion, revenge, and remorse,
and eacth aspect of these varied feelings was rendered by Miss Heron in a manner not artistic, but
life-like."    *   *      *   -NVeo York Eapress.
" Sybil affordsk Mrs. Emma Waller an opportunity to display her dramatic powers in a remarkable degree. This character, as drawn by John Savage, is one of the most attractive of modern
stage heroines."-Cincin. Commercial.
"A tragedy which ranks with the immortal works of the best writers for the stage. There is
nothing in the plays of Shakspeare more beautiful and affecting than the scene in which Sybil asks
an oath for the destruction of heh seducer, and her lover kneels by her side, and looks to heaven
and takes the terrible oath."-Louisville Courier.
"Fronm the commenmpment to the close the effects are legitimate and owe but little to dramatic artieces.          *  *       On the whole, Mr. Savage exercise, a wise discretion-in
confining himself to effects of which he was sure, and which, as the result pr.,ved, were amply sufficient for snccess."-'ew Yo -rk HIerald.
"Penlned by a Imaster-hand.'"-N. Y. Sunday Times and Noat's 3fessenger.
"These scenes have that genuine force and heart-truth in tihem which,proclaim Mr. Savage to
be no ordinary dr'amatist, and the mad scene is finely conceived and worked out with great en.
ergy." —Jeltbourne (Australia) Examiner.
"The genius of the author rises in grandeur with the stirring incidents of the scenes that rap.
idly succeed each other, from the commencement of the third act to the close of this thrilling
drainma of domestic life."-San Francisco National.
" Replete with elegant (diction, exquisite pathos, and soul-ennobling thoughts and expressiona..-.Saoramento Sstaida: d.




WORX3 PUBLISHED AXD FOR SALE BY JTAMES B. KIRKEB.
The National Quarterly Review, September, 1S65, contains a lengthy criticism of Sybil: in
the course of which the reviewer, after taking exception to the first act, says-" But no sooner
does he commence the second act than he proceeds to prove, without any effort, that he is capable
of awakening very different emotions.  His thoughts flow rapidly, yet so vigorously and happily
are they expressed that they make a deep and lasting impression.    *   *      *    There is
true poetry in them.    *     *      *    The following is a very fine passage (Act III., Scene
11I.); we remember nothing of the kind so replete with the spirit of cold, calculating vengeance,
and yet so pathetic, save a somewhat similar scene in Otway's' Venice Preserved.' We do injua
tice to the author by only giving a fragment."
" An excellent acting play, and well adapted for reading. The interest of the story is well sus
tained, the situations effective, and the closing scenes thrilling and dramatic. The language is choice
and scholarly, and, as will be observed in the extracts, it ji marked by many pa.ssages of grest
beauty, tenderness, and pathos." — Home Journal.
FAITH AND FANCY. Second edition; tinted paper, 12mo.
" He makes a successful appeal to the love of nature and the love of country, and kindles synmpathy with his expression of manly and generous sentiment." —. Y. Tribune.
"The' Washington' is the grandest and most exhaustive poem yet devoted to the Father of
his Country."-N. Y. C'oueer.
" There is one poem, that, above all the rest, possesses a charm for us-that for its imerits alone
should insure immortality to the name of its author, and which we give in full, because it is intensely, entirely, and truthfully Irish in sentiment and inspiration. It is'Shane's Ileadl,' published
many years since in the Citizen. There is a peculiar power and pathos observable in all the Irish
poetry of this character, as all will remark who read such examples as the' Lament for O'Sullivan
Beare,' the'Lament for Patrick Earsfield,' and Davis's beautiful'Lament for Owen Roe O'Neil.
All the best features of these are to be found in' Shane's tead,' while in dramatic power and
faithful portrayal of the stormiest gusts of humllan passion-grief, despair, hate, and desire for revenge-it transcends them all."-I-rish American.
" le has that eager abundance of expression, that rich affluence of language, that passionate
swelling of thought, determined to find melodious utterance, which, in union, make the poet."-.
Phila. Press.
"' THER  DEAD YEAR,' is the truest specimen of the peculiar kind of writing it represents that
we remember. Nothing could be more complete, more chaste, or more thoughtful-full of rich
and reflective, yet simple illustration-than this charming reverie of winter. We regard it as better than similar pieces of Longfellow and Tennyson-more natural, le.s eccentric-as full of mean,
ing as feeling. The longest poem in the volume is a dramatic dialogue,'Dreaming by Moonlight.'
It is a fantasie, abounding in the fairy-like imagination, the picturesque phrase, and the houmebound impulse of John Savage." —Nashville Republica7n Banner.
"There is ranging through this entire work a subtle vein of thought, which admits no careless
reading, and well repays careful perusal. The writer has thoughts, and those, not like the migration of souls, the re-embodied spirits of other men; but, rather, like those unearthed gems which,
since creation's morn, now first behold the light, he gives you the true revelation of his own
heart researches-the faithful narration of his own discoveries-and then leaves it fiankly there
for you to say if they are truly gold, or worthless, shining dust.  Fearless integrity of thought
marks every page, and refuses to steal or wear in any shape the robes of other men-boldly daring
to meet all eyes in but the fabrics wrought from his own looms. It is very pleasant to peruse the
pages of such a writer-reflective, observant, and holding fancy with a strict rein-who does his
best, as if on oath, to give his readers an exact rendering of his thought, his whole thought, and
nothing but his thought, and would not fail of being foremost in the field where Icd the standard,
bearing as its motto his own defining, that
"'True poetry is truthful thought made plain,
Deep love of Nature, Man, and God.'"
-iV'ew Orleans Times.
The Dublin Nation, concluding a three column review, says: "Mr. Savage's writings show
that he has preferred to be the author of a few pieces, with his own thinking in tllem, rather than
give to the public a mass of common thoughts and common phrases julbled in.to rhyme. Ilis' Faith and Fancy' will find favor with all admirers of genuine poetry."
" Into the lyrics contained in this volume the author hss put his heart and soul, and made
them  instinct with vehement life.  Many of them have already become claasical."-Ir'ishman
(Dublin).




WORKS PUBLISHED AND FOR SALE BY JAMES,B KIRKXR.'98 AND'48: the modem  Revolutionary History and Literature of Ireland.
Third edition.
"We welcome his history of the modern politics and literature of Ireland as the fulfilment of
a long-felt need; it enables us to understand a thousand things which seemed before incomprehen-:sible enigmas."-U. S. Democratic Review.             i
"It is impossible, in a mere paragraph, to give any correct notion of the variety of material in
-history, biography, literature, and society, which is contained in this single volume."-Charlestom
GCourier.
LIFE AND PYUBLIC SERVICES OF ANDREW  JOINSoN, Seventeenth President of
the United States, including his State Papers, Speeches, and Addresses, with
accurate portrait on steel by Ritchel, and other illustrations.  Crown 8vo.
"The most complete record of the public life of President Johnson which has thus far been
given to the public, is presented in this able and instructive volume. Mr. Savage has made diligent use of the copious materials at his command, weaving them together in a narrative remarkable for its clearness of statement and its graceful and vigorous flow of language.  *   *   *  In
addition to the main subject of the work, Mr. Savage has given incidental notices of many of the
prominent statesmen of the day, evincing great discrimination of judgment and skill in composi-.ticn." —_New York Tribune.
"It is the first real justice the President has received, and will render his policy and person
genuine service."-.Nashville Banner.
HISTORY OF IRELAND: From  its earliest King to its last Chief.  By THOMAS
MOORE, Esq., author of "The Irish Melodies."  2 vols., 8vo.
" The History of Ireland is, in our opinion, by far the best written of all Moore's prose works."
— Dublin Revsiew.'THE LIFE OF HEN-lRY THE EIGHTH: and History of the Schism of England.
Translated from the French of M. AUDIN, author of the lives of Calvin and
Luther, by EDWARD G. KIRWAN BRORONE.
ABRIDG-MENT  OF THE  HISTORY  OF ENGLAND.  By JOHN  LINGARD, D.D.,
with continuation from  1688 to the Reign of Victoria.  By JAMES BURKE,
Esq., A. B., with marginal notes and questions adapted to the use of
schools, by M. KERNEY, A. M.'.IUM:PH OF THE CATHOLIC  CHURCH IN  THE EARLY AGES.  By AMBROsB
MANAHAN, D.D.
TIIE LIFE, TIMES, AND CORRESPONDE;NCE OF THE RIGHT REV. DR. DoYLF
BISHOP OF KILDARE AND LEIGHLIN.  By WVM. JOHN FITZPATRICK, J. P.,
author of " The Life, Times, and Contemporaries of Lord Cloncurry," etc.
2 vols., 8vlo.
lrmISHr  ELOQUENCcE: The Speeches of the Celebrated Irish Orators, Phillips,
Currtan, and Grattan, to which is added the powerful appeal of Robert
Emmet at the close of his Trial for High Treason.  8vo, cloth, $1.50.
TIlE BALLADS OF IRELAN'D: Collected by EDWARD HAYES; being collections
from several Irish poets. 12meo, cloth, $1.50. Contains poems by Moore,
Davis, Callanan, Griffin, Clarence  Mangan, Samuel Ferguson, Ed. Walsh,
C. G. Duffy, D. F. McCarthy, J. Frazer, "Speranza" (Lady Wilde), Mary
Eva Kelly, "Mary" of the.7ation, and many others.




WORiS PUBLISHED AND FOR BALE BY JoAMES B. KIRKER.
THE STErrT BALLADS, POPULAR POETRY, AND HOUSEHOLD SONGS OF IRNW
LAND.  18mo; cloth, 75c.; paper, 50c.  The latest collection made in.
Ireland, containing poems by Mangan, M. Doheny, Joseph Byrenan, R. D.
Williams, John Savage, Charles J. Kirkham, John Keegan, W. Allingham,
D)r. Sigerson, T. Irwin, Aubury De Vere, and some thirty other popular~
writers.
FATHER MATHEW: A Biography, by JOHN FRANCIS MAGU1RE, M. P., authorof " Rome: Its Rulers and its Institutions."
ROME: Its Churches, its Charities, and its Schools. By Rev. WVm. -I. NELIGAN,
LL. D., M. A., T. C. D.
A CATECHISM OF THE HISTORY OF IRELAND, ANCIENT AND MIODERN.  By,
W1M. J. O'NEI,L -DAUNT, author of " Saints and Sinners."
THE RISE AND FALL OF THE IRISH NATION. By Sir JoNAH BARRINGTON..
12mo, cloth, $1.50.
THE GREeN-Book: Or Gleanings Irom the WVriting-Desk of a Literary Agitastor. By JOHN CORNELIUS O'CALLAGHAN. l2mo, cloth.
DUBLIN REVIEW. A few complete sets of this valuable quarterly. Scarce.
WESTFERN MISSIONS AND MISSIONARIES: A series of Letters by Rev. P. J_
DE S.MET, S. J., author of " Indian Sketches," " Oregon Missions," etc.
GERALTD GRIFFIN'S COMPLETE WORKS. 10 vols., 12nmo, cloth, $1.20 per vol.
WITLIAM, CARI.ETON'S WORKS: Willy Reilly, Black Baronet, Evil Eye, Art
Maguire, etc.
BANIM'S W ORKS: Boyno Water, Peep O' Day, Crohoore of the Billhook,
C roppy, etc.
LADY MORGAN'S WORKS: Florence Macarthy, Wild Irish Girl, etc.
MRs. SADLrER'S WVORKS: Red Hand of Ulster, Hermit of the Rock, Con,
O'Regan, B3ssy Conway, New Lights, etc., etc.
SI.NMI)DY CMAGUIIE; or, Tricks uponII Travellers: a Tale of the North of Ire —
land.  ly PAUr PEPPER:RASS, Esq. 12mo, cloth, 75c.
ITHE (CHOSS AN'D THIE SHAM1ROCK; or, How to Defend the Faith.  12mo.",
cloth, 75c.
THE PROPHET OF TimE RUINED ABBEY; or, a Glance at the Future of Ire.
land. By the author of " The Cross and the Shamrock." 12mo, cloth, 754







gw~~~~~~~~~i a]C' g    /Aw0.;                            t0000.:;1!6
Ci.g.,  -, i S.L..X.1. -. -, \iwi
(g~'$                                    /~  C9,4; 
B~~~~#    A;   Ii;'"0it @'''$'.s; i                              \    -t       ti:'  t:4.s0}   
/11z 0     t2  tO'-dji''';   4"<X~t't  4s~s'.;' 
)        K/CVC     C~~p
-t ~    ~     -f~~A                     I~: tJ
/4j 
-Cit ~  ~         "




~:'.~-.t -_' "':.~,::".'-'',,,.:,~'..,.'        -,,::...,-i 4%      /i
004I':..';
cZ'.:'tff                      L.'.4:..-hR,.
PP.,~,_~,-::*.:-.'_/:..wl  -- /.:.:,..,.II I;.-  ~.  -.,:  it.
4 ":'      "           /- $4'A.''..,'':':..." -'...?'..;'.'- a-;.-'t...'/ /-.'t i     5 "'..'   - f
1.1,'/.:..:..,:.::..,:...'....:f                         14  /         9    7 i                  0.P,.<:.'.''. -.,/ -.'.> ~.  "   t   / >,'>  "'. " -'l X.-'::"  7-.   0'p':  i'    -         -'';'i.-  -    ":                    "''.
0 w~S-0:.4.-....0V S:....:......k~:?
~~j~o.-'.'-.' ~                                          /:jj u,   t\r-.. 3.  }:..:'.,-'..
-' —. -::          -.''-'...'.u::     Y."..............:,.,.,~~'    L'....:,:-..'..'~:~,~',,~'1.?':~:.'''~:.?-::   -    -      -  -~. -  ",........,,......~..8..,:':"' ~~..... I..-.~:~........,:..:...:...:.,......... ~.,.,.:.: