Sieges
of Galway
Tairrdelbach mac Ruaidri Ua Conchobair; in 1124 The city of Galway - built as a naval base and military fort where there has been subjected to a number of battles, sacks and sieges. Tthe earliest known building was erected there in 1124.
Richard Mor de Burgh r efounded as a military outpost and town of Galway in 1230. Richard responed to Aedh, vassals and their Norman support, and led an army into Connacht "and desolated a large portion of that country." De Burgh brought with him Felim mac Cathal Crobderg Ua Conchobair whom he intended to make king in place of Aedh. They crossed the Shannon at Athlone and made straight for Gallimhe.The DĂn at Gallimhe was being held and defended by Aedh Ua Flaithbertaig, who still held for Aedh mac Ruaidri (Ua Flaithbertaigh had being exiled into Iar Connacht by Aedh mac Cathal for his rebellion) . De Burgh was just reaching the DĂn (and a highly apprehensive Ua Flaithbertaigh) "when Aed mac Ruaidri came to his help with the Connachtmen, including the sons of Muirchertach O Conchobair." At some point in the fighting Aedh seems to have lost, or ceded possession of, the DĂn, because the Annals of Connacht states that "They were on the western bank of the Galway River and the Galls on the eastern." However, this does not seem to have being a decisive factor for de Burgh; as much as a week passed with "much fighting ... between them every day, and in this condition the Galls remained, obtaining neither pledge nor hostage nor submissions from the Connachtmen." Dissatisified with the inconclusiviness of the conflict, de Burgh cut his losses and left in the direction of Cong "to pursue the cattle and folk which had fled into the mountains and recesses of the countryside and the sea-islands."
Dun Beal Gallimhe can be translated as "fort at the mouth of the Gallimhe river."This building is situated in the heart of the old medieval city between Quay Street to the north, Flood Street to the south, Druid Lane to the east and Quay Lane to the west. It is believed to have being situated on the site of the present Customs House.Danes of Limerick Viking use of the area, at least as a seasonal camp, as the made a number of devastating raids in the area in the 9th and 10th centuries and made some of semi-permanant camp along the river or in Lough Corrib.
O Brian's siege of 1132 Naval-based warfare became something of a regular occurrence in early 12th centuary Ireland.
location of the O' Hallorans where the Annals of Insifallen note raids occuring in years 1100, 1101, 1119, 1124. Followed up from the Annals of Four Masters were the Munstermen upon the Connaughtment of Clan Fergal and Magh Seola. The Ua Mughroin were a sept native to Hy-Many, some distance from Gallimhe which was in any case historicly based in a different territory, Clann Fergal. The Annals of Inisfallennote raids of this nature occurring in 1100, 1101, 1119, and 1124. Perhaps this was what led to Tairrdelbach mac Ruaidri Ua Conchobair to build Dun Beal Gallimhe in 1124. It was located in Clan Fergal, the territory of the O Hallorans but was supervised by Ua Conchobair's vassals, the Ua Flaithbheartaigh, who at this time were still based in their homeland of Maigh Seola.Conchobhair O Brian of Thomond of (modern north Munster) During the summer of 1132 invaded Hy-Many where he "plundered ... Maenmhagh ... [and] carried off many cows." This raid was purely of a plundering nature, yet apparently within a very short space of time, he followed it up with a full-scale assault on O Conchobair's new naval base at Dun Beal Gallimhe.
The Annals of the Four Mastersnoted that "The castle of Bun-Gaillmhe was burned and demolished [by] a fleet of the men of Munster." The Munstermen then followed this up with a devastating raid on both Clan Fergal and Magh Seola, for the same annals note that "A great slaughter was made of the Connaughtmen by the men of Munster, wherein Conchobhar Ua Flaithbheartaigh, lord of West Connaught" was slain. Among the dead were "the two sons of Cathal Ua Mughroin" and Ua Taidhg "an Teaghlaigh".
The Ua Mughroin were a sept native to Hy-Many, some distance from Gallimhe which was in any case historicly based in a different territory, Clann Fergal. Having to travel some distance to be present to fight against the forces from Munster, possibly in a levy raised by Tairrdelbach himself. Ua Taidgh's nickname, An Teaghlaigh, indicates that he was of the household, or indeed the household bodygard, of Tairrdelbach, who would of necessity have only accompanied the High King. Of these three vassal clans, the deaths of the members as well as his own possible presence at the battle, indicates the importance the High King attached to his " dĂn" on the Gallimhe. This is underlined by the fact that it was rebuilt, which can be inferred by a further attack in 1149.
Tairrdelbach/Teaghlaigh, Ua Taidhraised a levy against the forces from Munster and would only accompany the High King as opposing vassals would. The High King Tairrdelbach had interests in Thomond and Connacht; areas confined by putting down rebellions in their kingdoms, chiefly the Ó Neills in Ulster and Meath
High King Tairrdelbach mac Ruaidri Ua Conchobair - In the years immediately prior to 1149, the respective interests of Connacht - still ruled by Ruaidri. Of Thomond was confined to putting down rebellions and civil strife in their kingdoms, as well as maintaining their areas of interest. Ruaidri was frequently at odds with the O Neills in Ulster and Meath, and had a sometime antagonistic relationship with Tighernan O RĂairc, King of Brefine, which was a buffer state carved out of disputed territory between Connacht and Ulster.
O Brian's siege of 1149
Leinster the kingdom whose rejection of tributes had led to Toirdhealbhach O BrĂan's ancestor, Brian Boru's, death in 1014
Toirdhealbhach O Brianon the other hand was pre-occupied with extending his influence into Leinster (the kingdom whose rejection of tributes had led to his ancestor, Brian Boru's, death in 1014), as well as with putting down rebellion in his native Thomond and with ensuring his vassals of Munster, the MacCarthys, knew their place.
Treaty at Terryglass Monastry in 1144 Toirdhealbhach O Brian and the MacCarthys had in fact ratified, possibly to recognise and respect their spheres of influence.However the following yeare Toirdhealbhach was decisivly defeated by O Conchobair and his vassals at Feara Ceall in the Sliabh Bloom; O Brian had been en route to Meath to fight O Ruairc but had being intercepted by O Conchobair. O Brian was forced to return home, "without prey, without hostage, without peace, without truce." This brought O Brian and O Conchobhair into open war; O Brian struck within the same yeare with "an army into Connaught; and they carried off Ua Ceallaigh, i.e. Tadhg, son of Conchobhar, lord of Uí -Maine, and slew Ruaidhri Ua Flaithbheartaigh". The death of Ua Flaithbheartaigh indicates that an attempt may have being made on Gallimhe, but O Brian would have to wait a full four years before he reached this objective.
The 1149 seige of Dun Beal GallimheGallimhewas led by Toirdhealbhach O Brian, then King of Thomond. It was a combined raid of plunder (taking the rich pickings of Maigh Seola) and military strategy (destroying the DĂn).
Magh Ua mBriuin (Maigh Seola)Included in The Ua Mughroin, a sept native to Hy-Many, some distance from Gallimhe which was in any case historicly based in a different territory, Clann Fergal. The destruction of Gallimhe and its fleet was merely one tactic employed by O Brian when kinsmen and vassals would only stay loyal as long as a king could deliver the goods to ensure their loyalty, hence the rich plains were plundered of their goods, food and fine cattle. It also had the additional prize of weaking O Conchobair's prime vassal in the area, Ua Flaithbheartaigh. According to the Four Masters, in 1149 "An army was led by Toirdhealbhach Ua Briain and the men of Munster into Connaught, until they arrived at Magh Ua mBriuin; they carried off a great spoil of cattle, and demolished DĂn-Gaillmhe; and Ua Lochlainn, lord of Corca-Modhruadh, was drowned in the (river) Gaillimh."
Ua Lochlainn was of the Corcu Mo Druad, vassals of O Brian, and strategicly located across Galway Bay. Thus it is possible that that while O Brian led his army by land, Ua Lochlainn sailed across the bay and the two inflicted a sea-and-land seige of Gallimhe; this possibility is obliquely hinted at in the manner of Ua Lochlainn's death.
Corcu Mo Druad vassal of O Brian. O Brian may have being letting Ua Lochlainn unleash himself against a prime adversary. It may even be that, contending for the lordship of Galway Bay - from which plundering raids could be made into Clan Fergal, Maigh Seola, Meadraige and Uí Fiachrach Aidhne. The vassals' indicator between Munster and Connaught.
Muricheartach, the son of O Brian who deposed him in 1151 and was subsequently captured "by treachery" by "Tadhg son of Diarmaid O Brian and Diarmaid SĂgach O Conchobhair" and delivered to his father. Tadhg mac Diarmaid O Brian rose against O Brian in rebellion, with the result that "Toirdhealbhach son of RuaidhrĂ O Conchobhair came with him to defend the kingship of Munster for him."
De Burgh's siege of 1230
Cathal Crobderg Ua Conchobair had owed his position as King of Connacht to King John, and the support of the latter's vassals in Ireland. In addition, he was able to obtain recognition of his son, Aedh mac Cathal Crobdearg Ua Conchobair as his heir. In the yeare after Cathal's death in 1224, Aedh had to face a rebellion by Donn Oge Mageraghty of Síl Muirdeag, Aedh Ua Flaithbertaigh of Maigh Seola and an invasion by Ó Neill of Tir Eoghain from Ulster.
Aedh mac Cathal Crobdearg Ua Conchobairthe son of Cathal Crobderg Ua Conchobair most in favor of King John in support of Ireland's vassals.With the help of his Norman allies, eventually able to suppress the rebellion, though "there was not a church or territory in Connaught at that time that had not been plundered and desolated." The war was made worse by "An oppressive ady raged in the province of Connaught at this time: it was a heavy burning sickness, which left the large towns desolate, without a single survivor."
Turlough mac Ruaidri O Conchobair King of Connacht in opposition to Aedh mac Cathal Crobdearg Ua Conchobair was crowned by Oneill and Aedh's rebellious vassals. Turlough was supported by only a few vassals such as MacDermott of Moylourg and O Flynn of the Cuirc remaining loyal.
Normans of Leinster Aedh's allies whom invaded south Connacht "and slew all the people that they caught, and burned their dwellings and villages."At Aedh's fury by no command the Normans "were themselves excited by envy and rapacity, as soon as they had heard what good things the Lord Justice and his English followers had obtained in Connaught at that time." It was a sign of things to come. The Normans in 1228 murdered Aedh mac Cathal and chose Aedh the chiefs of Connacht
1230 Aedh and his vassals turned on the Normans, vowing "they would never own a lord who should bring them to make submission to the Galls. They made then great raids on the Galls, Aed son of Ruaidri and the men of West Connacht plundering the young son of William and Adam Duff, while Donn Oc and the sons of Magnus with the new levies of Síl Murray plundered Mac Gosdelb and Tir Maine as far as Athlone." It was in response to this that Richard Mor de Burgh led an army into Connacht "and desolated a large portion of that country." De Burgh brought with him Felim mac Cathal Crobderg Ua Conchobair whom he intended to make king in place of Aedh. They crossed the Shannon at Athlone and made straight for Gallimhe.
The DĂn at Gallimhe was being held and defended by Aedh Ua Flaithbertaig, who still held for Aedh mac Ruaidri (Ua Flaithbertaigh had being exiled into Iar Connacht by Aedh mac Cathal for his rebellion) .
Apparently de Burgh was just reaching the DĂn (and a highly apprehensive Ua Flaithbertaigh) "when Aed mac Ruaidri came to his help with the Connachtmen, including the sons of Muirchertach O Conchobair." At some point in the fighting Aedh seems to have lost, or ceded possession of, the DĂn, because the Annals of Connacht states that "They were on the western bank of the Galway River and the Galls on the eastern." However, this does not seem to have being a decisive factor for de Burgh; as much as a week passed with "much fighting ... between them every day, and in this condition the Galls remained, obtaining neither pledge nor hostage nor submissions from the Connachtmen." Dissatisified with the inconclusiviness of the conflict, de Burgh cut his losses and left in the direction of Cong "to pursue the cattle and folk which had fled into the mountains and recesses of the countryside and the sea-islands."
But as subsequent events would show, the strategic position of Dun Beal Gallimhe had made an impression upon de Burgh, and he would be back.