The story of the Irish before the conquest. From the mythical period to the invasion under Strongbow

Preface

We are told, in tlie Senchus Mor, that, when Saint Patrick had completed the arrangement of that Digest of the Laws of the Gael of Ireland, his coadjutor, Dubtach, who was a Bard as well as a Brehon, " put a thread of poetry round it." So, the writer of this little Digest of the Irish Historical Story has endeavoured to intertwine, with the trite detail of names and successions already often chronicled, whatever more interesting incidents can be drawn from the ilew sources of heroic and picturesque material laid open to the English reader by the labours of lately-deceased, and of living, Irish scholars. If it be objected that a somewhat too favourable view is taken of a rude age and savage manners, it may with truth be said that any errors of sympathy are more than counterbalanced by the undue contempts of which, for many ages, all native Irish historic and legendary material has been the object. And the writer believes that, in forming an estimate of any national character, it is better to err, if at all, on the side of sympathy and respect.

iv Preface.

The Irish tradition, however rude, is the intellectual food which has nourished in a long series of generations the only literary life that has subsisted amongst them. To the philosophic historian, no less than to the poet and romance-writer, it is a material full of interest. But the principal object to be hoped for in these pages would be achieved, if the work should happily influence refined and candid minds towards a more tolerant and sympathizing view of the mental tastes and acquisitions of several millions of their countrymen.

20 North. Great Georges Street, Duhh'n. December, 1867.

Table Of Contents

CHAPTER L

THE MYTHICAL PERIOD.

PAGE

Chapter II. The Heroic Period

The alternate sovereignty of Kimbay and his brothel's. — Macha's claim to succeed her father. — Her conquests. — Foundation of Emania. — Cova's usurpation. — Story of Lavra Maen and Moria. — Conor MacNessa reigning at Emania. — The Knights of the Red Branch. — The abdication of Fergus MacRoy. — Maev, Queen of Connaught. — Story of the sons of Usnach. — Story of the Tain-ho-Cuailgne.—^The Pillow Conversation of Ailill and Maev.— The " Boy Feats" of Cuchullin.— How he got his name. — How he took arms. — His heroic conduct

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in the Tain-bo. — His courtship of Elmer. — The story of Blanaid. — CuchuUin's combat with his unknown son. — Story of Atharne'. — Story of Mesgedra and Conall Carnach. — Chivalrous traits in both characters. — Death of Conor MacNessa. — Story of the healing of Conall Carnach. — Chivalrous conduct of Bealcu. — Deaths of Conall, Fergus MacRoy, and Maev

CHAPTER m.

THE ATACOTTIC PERIOD.

Reigns of Conari Mor and Ciiffan. — Revolt of the Atacotti [Aitheach Tuatha)y and massacre of the nobles. — Usurpation of Carbri Cat-head. — Resignation of the crown by his son Morann to the exiled legitimate heir. — Restoration of the noble caste in the person of Feredach. — Second expulsion of the nobles,— Second restoration in the person of Tuathal the Acceptable. — Crime of Eochy, King of Leinster, against Tuathal's daughters, leading to the imposition of the Boarian tribute, or Boru of Leinster. — Rise of the Northern and Southern Dynasties. — Con Hundred-Battle and Moh Nuad divide the island. — Lea Con and Lea Moha. — Battle of Moy Lena. — Chivalrous trait of Goll MacMorna. — Ollioll Olum sovereign of Lea Moha. — His descendants

Chapter IV. The Ossianic Period

The dream of Eatach. — Battle of Moy Mucrive. — Lugaid Laga and the three Ferguses. — The Battle of Crinna. — Reign of Cormac MacArt. — Story of Coraaac and Ethni. — The Fianna, or Militia. — Finn MacCumhal. — Story of Dermid and Grania. — The death of Dermid. — Oisin. — The Ossianic Poems. — King Cormac's water-mill. — His retirement at Cletty. — The burial of King Cormac. — Battle of Gavra. — Banishment of the Three CoUas. — Their return, and failure to provoke King Muredach to avenge his father's death. — They destroy Emauia. — Descendants of the three CoUas. — Crime, and disappointed ambition of Mongfinn. — Retrospect. — Pictish

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origins. — The sons of Umor, and the Firbolgs in the West. — Niall of the Nine Hostages. — His expedition to Alba (Scotland) .... 100

Chapter V. The Patrician Period

Niall's expedition to Armorica. — Captivity of Patriek. — His occupations and thoughts. — His escape. — Niall's expedition on the Loire, and death there. — His descendants, the Northern and Southern Hy-Niall. — King Dathi. — His expedition into Gaul. — Killed by lightning. — His body carried home and interred at Cruachan. — Patrick's return as Apostle of the Irish. — His Easter eve at Slane. — He preaches befoi e King Laery at Tara. — Conversion of Laery's daughters, Ethna and Felimia. — Revision of the Laws, and compilation of the Senchits Mor. — King Laery killed *' by the Wind and Sun." — Patrick overthrows Crom Cruach and his twelve sub-gods. — Baptizes ^ngus, King of Munster. — Dififuses the Gospel throughout Ireland. — Dies at Saul, and is buried at Down Patrick. — The clan system in the early Irish monasteries. — The three orders of the holy men of Ireland. — The burial of Owen Bel, King of Connaught. — Succeeded by Kellach. — Murder of Kellach. — Avenged by his brother Cucongelt. — Final settlement of the Dalriads in Scotland. — Saint Brigid. — Saint Kieran. — Saint Finnian of Clonard. — Saint Finnian of Moville. — Passion for monastic seclusion. — Story of Enda and Saint Fanchea. — Monastic remains of Aran. — Clonmacnoise founded by Saint Kieran. — Murkertach MacErca. — Dermid MacKervil. — Remains at Clonmacnoise. — Saint Kevin. — Glendalough. — Saint Brendan of Clonfert. — His Legend 132

Chapter VI. The Columban Period

Saint Columba. — His noble birth. — A pupil of Saint Finnian. — Companion of Kieran. — Kieran's jealousy rebuked. — Columba's copy of Finnian^s Psalter. — King Dermid's judgment in favour of Finnian's copyright. — Leads to the Battle of Cuildrevne, — The MS. still in existence. — Formerly the battleviii

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standard of the O'Donnells. — The bell of Patrick the battlestandard of the Kinel-Owen. — The crozier of Grellan the battle-standaid of the O'Kellys. — Story of the emigrants of the Clan CoUa and Saint Grellan. — Poem ascribed to Columba, — He goes into exile to I-colm-kill (lona), in penance for his part in the battle of Cuildrevne. — The Columban Rule. — Their time of celebrating Easter. — The existing MSS. ascribed to Columba. — His metrical dialogue with Cormac. — He returns to Ireland to attend the Synod of Drumceat. — Objects of King Aedh in convening that assembly, — The exactions of the Bards. — Story of King Guary and Sancan, and the quest for the Tain. — Columba intercedes for the Bards, and aids the Dalriad king Aidan in establishing his independence. — His death

CHAPTER VH.

THE SCHOLASTIC PERIOD.

Intellectual progress of the Irish between the Convention of Drumceat and the arrival of the Danes. — Comparative paucity of details in the local annals. — Ampler information from continental notices. — Defeat and death of King Aedh at Dunbolg. — His son Maelcova resigns the crown to become a cleric. — Sweeny JMenn Ard-Righ. — Assassinated by Congal Claen at the instigation of Donall. — Dream of King Donall. — His feast at Dun-na-n'geadh. — Rebellion of Congal Claen and battle of Moyrath. — Story of Cuanna, who gives his death wound to Congal Claen. — Donall's favour to the church. — He founds the Abbey of Cong. — St. Fechin's church and mill at Fore. — His ecclesiastic establishment on High Island. — Buidhe Chonnaill, " yellow plague." — Other epidemics. — St. Adamnan visits Ireland. — His account of the Holy Places, from the narrative of the pilgrim-bishop Arculf. — Expedition of Egfrid, King of Northumbria, to ravage the coasts of Leinster. — St. Adamnan visits York and obtains the release of Irish captives. — Story of Kenfalla. — Great schools of learning in Ireland. — Armagh. — Piince Aldfrid's itinerary. — Testimony of the Venerable Bede to the learning and hospitality of the Irish. — Poem of Donatus, Bishop of Fiesole, illustrating the state of Ireland in his day. —

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Testimony of Eric of Auxerre. — Sweeny of Clonmacnoise assists at the foundation of Oxford. — His bell in the Museum of the Royal Irish Academy. — Irish " wisdom sellers " at the court of Charlemagne. — School of Lismore. — St. Carthagh. — School of Bangor. — St. Columbanus. — His foundations in Burgundy and Italy. — His letters. — Pre-eminence of Ireland as the seat of scholastic education, even after the Danish inroads. — Testimony of the author of the life of Sulgen. — Opinion of Camden 202

Chapter VIII. The Danish Period

Invasions of the Northmen. — Rise of the Southern Hy-Niall. — Generous devotion and death of King Niall Caille. — Story of Turgesius. — Tp'anny of the Danes.' — Their foundation of the seaport towns, and progress in commerce. — Norse influence on the local nomenclature. — Intermarriages between the Northmen and Irish. — St. Olaf. — Norse cruelties in the propagation of the faith contrasted with the mild course of the gospel in Ireland. — Ancient tumuli on the Boyne rifled by the Danes. — King Malachy I. desires to make a pilgrimage to Rome. — King Aedh Finnliath. — King Flann of the Shannon. — Story of his daughter Gormley. — Connac MacCulinan, King-archbishop of Cashel. — His church on the Rock of Cashel. — His Glossary. — His Psalter. — ^Rivalry between the Eugenian and Dalcassian Septs of Munster. — State of Munster. — Cormac instigated to war with Leinster by the Abbot Flaherty. — Makes his will. — Battle of Ballaghmoone and death of Cormac. — Honourable conduct of King Flann. — Penance of Flaherty. — Afterwards King of Cashel. — Succeeded by Lorcan, father of Kennedy, father of Brian Boru. — Kennedy admits the claiA of alternate succession, according to the will of Ollioll Olum, and yields the throne of Cashel to Callaghan. — Stratagem of the Danish chieftain Sitric. — Callaghan taken prisoner. — Kennedy marches the Munster troops to his rescue. — Gallant conduct of Falvy Finn. — Death of King Flann, — Niall " Black-knee," — ^Donogh. — Murkertach Pell- Cloak. — His circuit of Ireland.

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— Callaghan's second imprisonment. — Donall O'Neill, son of Murkertach, Prince of Aileach, becomes Ard-Righ. — Surnames introduced. — The great Sept of O'Neill descendants of Donall . ,

Chapter IX. The Dalcassian Period

Reign of Malachy II. — Defeats the Danes at Tara, and at Dublin. — His proclamation. — Rivalry with Brian Boru. — Rise of the Dalcassian tribe under the leadership of the sons of Kennedy. — Struggles of Mahon and Brian with the Danes. — Intemew of these princes. — Assembly of the Dal-Gais. — Battle of Sulcoit. — Sack of Limerick. — Song of triumph for Mahon. — His murder. — Brian avenges his death. — Rules Munster from Kincora. — Battle of Glenmama. — Alliances of Brian. — Aspires to the sovereignty. — Malachy deserted by the Northern princes. — Submits to Brian. — Generous conduct of the rivals. — Administrative genius of Brian. — His magnificence. — MaelmuiTa, King of Leinster, insulted at Kincora. — Conspires with the Danes. — Battle of Clontarf. — Brian's army. — Chivalrous conduct of the deposed King Jilalachy. — ^Muster of the Northmen at Clontarf. — Brian's address to his army. — Encounter between Plait and Domnall. — Interview between Murrogh, son of Brian, and Dunlang O'Hartigan. — Conflict of Murrogh and Anrud. — Death of Murrogli. — His son Turlogh drowned. — King Brian in his tent. — Is killed by Brodai-