The Osraighe, a group of a Munster people known as the Érainn, establish a semi-independent state within the territory of Laigin or (Leinster) in the present County Kilkenny c100.

Brigantine presence in Ireland (Tipperary, Waterford, Carlow, Thomond and Ossory) on certainly a second century map by Ptolemy shows the Brigantes there, and excavations on the island of Lambay show Brigantine artefacts dating from the end of the first century AD. This might indicate a settlement of Brigantines fleeing from the final Roman occupation of their tribal territories in England. Locations of Roman garrisons, archaeological explorations have indicated that Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of the weald were established in Kent, Sussex, Middlesex, and Essex in the latter part of the 5th century, as well as East Anglia, Lindsey (now Lincolnshire), Deira or (East Yorkshire) and the Isle of Wight.

The Carvetii were a people and civitas of Roman Britain living in what is now Cumbria and Lancashire in north-west England. They are not mentioned in Ptolemy's Geography or in any other classical text, and are known only from inscriptions found in Penrith and Temple Sowerby in Cumbria. The Parisii (or Quarisii) were a Celtic Iron Age people that lived on the banks of the river Seine (in Latin, Sequana) in Gaul from the middle of the third century B.C. until the Roman era.

Brigantes (Britain)

 

According to the historical scheme proposed by T.F. O'Rahilly the Iverni arrived in Ireland ca. 500 BC, and spoke a P-Celtic language known as Ivernic (Primitive Irish). A descendant group, the Corcu Loígde, gave their name to the modern county and city of Cork. Other proposed Ivernic groups include the Corcu Duibhne of County Kerry, the Déisi of Waterford, the Osraige of the Kingdom of Osraige/Ossory and the Dál nAraidi of Antrim. The Osraighe (including the Ui Duach and the MacGilpatricks) were of the same stock as the Ulaid, being descended from Oengus Osraigh, ancestor of the Dal bhFiatach. St. Canice's in Irishtown has been a Christian site since the sixth century. The round tower dates from around 1100, and is the oldest surviving building in Kilkenny.

The area around Ossory were said to have been anciently occupied, according to some interpretations of Ptolemy's 2nd century map, by tribes referred to as the Brigantes, the Cauci and the Usdiae. Some authors believe the Osraighe tribe(s) may have been pushed into the Kilkenny/Laois or Kildare area by the rise of the Eoghanachta in Munster. The portion between the Noir and Barrow was sometimes excluded from the kingdom of Ossory, and was anciently styled Hy Creoghain Gabhran. The portion between the Noir and Barrow was sometimes excluded from the kingdom of Ossory, and was anciently styled Hy Creoghain Gabhran. Ossory was bordered by the kingdoms or lordships of Ele, Ui Duach, Loigis, Ui Drona, Uí Cheinnselaig, Desi Mumhain, and Eóganachta Caisel. Waterford City

Bishop Kieran of Saighir, of the Corca-laighde by race was the first saint born in Ireland (Leinster.) While any legacy the Érainn left would naturally be expected largely to be found in areas where they once lived and among their descendants, several of the western Ivernian tribes (including the Múscraige and the Osraige) allied themselves with the Eóganachta, among these western Ivernians and the Eóganachta, thus other parts of the Ivernian legacy might be found among descendants of the Eóganachta. The Ivernian Goddess Mór Muman, became the Patroness of the Eóganachta. The Iverni, later Érainn, were an ancient people of Ireland attested in Ptolemy's 2nd century work Geographia.

The southeastern part of Ossory was sometimes referred to as Comor na tri uisge, "the district of the three waters." Mayne, or Moyne, a parish, in the barony of Fassadining, county of Kilkenny and province of Leinster, 4 miles (N. W.) from Kilkenny city, on the river Dinan. The living is a rectory, in the diocese of Ossory, partly impropriate in the corporation of Kilkenny, but chiefly forming the corps of the prebend of Mayne and the cathedral of St. Canice, Kilkenny, and in the patronage of the Bishop. In the Roman Catholic divisions the parish forms part of the union or district of Conahy, comprising also parts of the parishes of Kilmacar, Coolcraheen, and Odogh, and three detached town-lands of Burnchurch. Cahir, a parish, in the barony of Upper Ossory, Queen's county, and province of Leinster. It is situated on the road from Durrow to Kilkenny, and forms part of the union of Aughamacart, in the diocese of Ossory, in which the vicarage is included. In the Roman Catholic divisions it is part of the union or district of Durrow in the Irish Midlands.

The countries of Ely O'Carroll from Tipperary and Waterford and Hy Carthin comprised some of the north-western portion of Ossory and the Ciannachta descendants of Cian. The Clan Cian were, as already stated, located in Ormond or the present county of Tipperary; and the heads of the Clan were O'Carroll, princes of Ely.

 

Ancient Septs of Ossory
  • Mac Gilla Pátriac of Ossory
  • Ua Dubhsláine (O'Delany) of Coill Uachtarach (Upper Woods)
  • Ua hÚrachán (O'Horahan) of Uí Fairchelláin (Offerlane)
  • Ua Faeláin (O'Phelan, Whelan) of Magh Lacha (Clarmallagh)
  • Ua Bruaideadha (O'Brody, Brooder, Brother, Broderick) of Ráth Tamhnaige
  • Ua Caellaighe (O'Kealy, O'Kelly) of Dairmag Ua nDuach (Durrow-in-Ossory)
  • Ua Bróithe (O'Brophy) of Mag Sédna
  • Ua Caibhdheanaigh (O'Coveney, Keveny) of Mag Airbh
  • Ua Glóiairn (O'Gloherny, Glory, O'Gloran, Cloran, Glorney) of Callann
  • Ua Donnachadha (Dunphy, O'Donochowe, O'Dunaghy, O'Donoghue, Donohoe, Donagh) of Mag Máil
  • Ua Cearbhaill (O'Carroll, O'Carrowill, MacCarroll) of Mag Cearbhail
  • Ua Braonáin (O'Brennan) of Uí Duach (Idough)
  • Ua Caollaidhe (O'Kealy, O'Coely, Quealy) of Uí Bercháin (Ibercon)
  • Mac Braoin (MacBreen) of Na Clanna
  • Ua Bruadair (O'Broder, Broderick) of Uí nEirc (Iverk)
  • Ua nDeaghaidh (O'Dea) of Uí Dheaghaidh (Ida)

    •  

    The name Osraighe (Irish for Deer People) is said to originate from about this time according to the ancient genealogies. The Osraighe were claimed to be one of a group of Munster people known as the Érainn. Some authors believe the Osraighe tribe(s) may have been pushed into the Kilkenny/Laois area by the rise of the Eoghanachta in Munster. They occupied an intermediate position between Mumu (Munster) and Laigin (Leinster) in the centuries between 500 and 800, and were essentially a buffer between these two great southern provinces.

    With the beginning of reliable Irish history in the fifth century A.D., Magh Agreadh Ros, according to Mac Firbisigh, was ruled over by a royal branch of people known as the Uí Bairrche, that is, the descendants of Bairrche. The Uí Bairrche, who have been shown to have been, like the Osraige, of Érainn origins, notwithstanding their later genealogies which attempted to make them Laigin (of Leinster origin), have been held to be the historical representatives of the Brigantes who were placed in the extreme southeast of Ireland by Ptolemy in his second century Geography. By the outset of the historical period, the Uí Bairrche had already been reduced in status and driven from their homeland in southern County Wexford by the Uí Cheinnselaig (the southern Laigin) and had settled in southeastern County Laois among other places. A branch of them is said to have settled among the Osraige, and it is certainly correct to say that a branch of them ruled over Magh Argeadh Ros at the time of the arrival in Osraige in the latter half of the fifth century A.D. of the invading and usurping Corcu Laigde.

    Magh Lacha is also noted by A. P. Smyth in southwest County Laois. The historian Orpen describes the plain of Magh Airgead Ros as the level district about the Noir river. Magh Cearbhall was possibly named for the 9th century king, Cearbhall Mac Dunghall. The plain of Magh Mail is cited to be co-extensive with the present barony of Shillelogher, the liberties of Kilkenny and the districts of Gowran, and possibly represented much of the fertile central plain of Ossory (in the heart of Co. Kilkenny?). The plain of Gabrán (Gowran) is noted in the eastern portion of modern Co. Kilkenny, east of Magh Mail, and marking the pass between the kingdom of Osraighe and the province of Laigin (Leinster). Magh Sédna may have been located in either northwest of modern Co. Kilkenny, or possibly in the south central portion.

    In ancient times the Kingdom of Ossory was divided under Brehon Laws into Magha, a term signifying "plains", of which seven are recorded in early documents, though not all of these are coterminous with the present county boundaries. The names of these, now doubtful of interpretation and no longer in popular usage, included Magh Airgead Rois, northwards from Kilkenny city; Magh Airbh, continuing further north-westwards to the Laois border; Magh Chearbaill, on a broad front from the Noir to the Barrow rivers, now comprising much of the barony of Gowran; Magh Ghabhar Laighean, northwards from the Johnswell Hills into modern Co. Laois (Leix); Magh Lacha (west of Kilkenny city to Callan?); Magh Feimhin, west of Callan to Slievenaman (in modern Co. Tipperary); and Magh Roighne, comprising most of Shillelogher Barony.

    The southeastern part of Ossory was sometimes referred to as Comor na tri uisge, "the district of the three waters." The territory of the Uí Duach comprised much of the north and the north-eastern sections of Ossory. The countries of Ely O'Carroll and Hy Carthin comprised some of the northwestern portion of Ossory. The lands of the southeast were possibly the territories of the Uí Bairrche (Uí Bearchon, aka Ibercon), the Uí Dheaghaidh (O'Dea, aka Ida), and the Uí Crinn (Uí Grine, aka Igrin).

     

     

    About the yeare 571 the people of Osraighe were united with their neighbors to the northwest, the Eile, in a defeat at the battle of Tola, a battle which was apparently won by a chief of the Ulaid (northeast Ireland). Tola is the name of a plain situated between Cluain Fearta Molua (in the parish of Kyle in modern County Laois) and Saighir (Seir Kieran in modern Co. Offaly), in what was probably a key center for Osraighe at the time.

    • For 582/83/84, Fearadhach, son of Duach, Lord of Osraighe, was slain by his own people.
    • For 601, Colman, son of Fearadhach, chief of Osraighe (Ossory), died.
    • For 640, Scannlan Mor, son of Ceannfaeladh, chief of Osraighe (Ossory), died.
    • For 658, Faelan, chief of Osraighe, was slain by the Leinstermen.
    • For 676, Tuaimsnamha, chief of Osraighe (Ossory), was slain by Faelan Seanchostol.
    • For 690, A battle between the Osraighi and the Leinstermen, wherein Faelchar Ua Maelodhra was slain.
    • For 710, Cucerca, chief of Osraighe, died.
    • For 730, The battle of Bealach Ele was fought between Cathal, son of Finguine, King of Munster, and the Leinstermen, where many of the Leinstermen were slain. There fell of the Munstermen here Ceallach, son of Faelchair, chief of Osraighe Ossory, and the two sons of Cormac, son of Rossa, chief of the Deisi, with three thousand along with them.
    • For 735, Forbasach, son of Ailell, Lord of Osraighe (Ossory), was slain.
    • For 846, A defeat was given by Echthighern and the Leinstermen to the Osraighe, at Uachtar Garadha.
    • For 846, A defeat by Dunadhach, son of Dunghaile, and the Osraighe, to the Deisi.
    • For 856, A victory was gained by Cearbhall, lord of Osraighe, and by Imhar, in the territory of Aradh Tire, over the Cenél Fiachach, with the Gall Gaeidhil (the Dano Irish) of Leath Chuinn. Four hundred above six thousand was the number which came with Cearbhall and Imhar.

    The King of Ossory, Cerball mac Dúnlainge (died 888), called Kjarvalr Írakonungr in the Icelanders' sagas, was king of Osraige in Ireland. The kingdom of Osraige occupied roughly the area of modern County Kilkenny and lay between the larger kingdoms of Munster and Leinster. In 855 he is said to have slaughtered a Viking force under a certain Rodolb. In the aftermath of the battle Cerball was captured by other Vikings, but succeeded in escaping. Shortly afterwards Cerball was found assisting a force of Danes led by a chief named Horm's in their war with the Norwegians. The Danes may well have settled at what is now Waterford. Soon afterward the Munstermen sent to ask Cerball's help against the Norse, and Cerball with the men of Osraige, Horm's Danes and some of the men of Munster inflicted a heavy defeat on the Norse. Soon afterwards his ally Horm was killed raiding in Wales by Rhodri the Great.

    Cerball next appears to have allied himself with two Norse or Norse-Gael "kings", Amlaíb Conung, "son of the king of Lochlann", and Ímar or Ivar the Boneless, called "king of the Norsemen of all Ireland and Britain" at his death in 873. Ímar is sometimes assumed to be the same person as Ivar the Boneless and Amlaíb to be Olaf the White, respectively son and grandson of the legendary Swedish king Ragnar Lodbrok. Olaf engaged in a Western expedition and captured Dublin in Ireland and the Shire of Dublin, over which he became king . He married Aude of Dublin the Wealthy, daughter of Ketil Flatnose, soil of Biorn Buna, a famous man of Norway. Their son was called Thorstein the Red. Olaf the White was killed in battle in Ireland, and Aude of Dublin and Thorstein went then to the Hebrides. Both of Ketil's sons settled finally in Iceland. Sigurd Snake-eye was one of the sons of Ragnar Lodbrok and Kraka. He was considered to be the (great) grand-father of Gorm the Old, King of Denmark. Gorm's ancestry may lie with the Danish rulers in East Anglia. Gorm's great-great-grandson king Sweyn Estridsson.

    These allies were not sufficiently strong to prevent Máel Sechnaill from taking hostages and tribute from Cerball in 858, but Cerball and Ímar campaigned in Leinster that year, and also against the Norse-Gaels in Munster. The following year, together with Amlaíb Conung, they raided Máel Sechnaill's lands in Brega and Mide, but soon afterwards Cerball was compelled to submit again to Máel Sechnaill. In 860 Cerball defeated a force of Norse who were raiding in Osraige, and later in the year he joined Máel Sechnaill on campaign against Áed Finnliath in the north of Ireland. Máel Sechnaill died in 862 to be succeeded by Áed Finnliath, who married his widow, Cerball's sister. Also in 862, Cerball is reported to have defeated a Norwegian fleet under one Rodolb, although it is not clear that this is the same Rodolb who was defeated in 855. In 864 the Fragmentary Annals report that the men of Leinster and their Norse allies raided Osraige in revenge for Cerball's raid, and that Eóganachta of Munster took advantage of this to attack him, so that Cerball raided both his neighbours and caused much destruction. The same year he is said to have attacked the neighbouring Déisi.

    In 870 Áed Finnliath brought a large army to Leinster and Cerball accompanied him. The army of the Osraige was camped apart from Áed's main force, and was attacked by the Leinstermen. Although Cerball drove them off with heavy loss, Cennétig son of Gáethíne, a kinsman of Cerball, was killed in the battle.

    [Fragmentary Annals of Ireland, Author: unknown 387] 870 AD In this year Áed son of Niall came into Leinster, perhaps to avenge the warrior we mentioned above, who was killed by the Laigin, or perhaps to levy tribute. He plundered Leinster from Áth Cliath to Gabrán. Then Cerball son of Dúnlang, king of Osraige, and Cennétig son of Gáethíne, king of Loíches, came from the other side of Leinster, and they did as much burning and plundering and killing as they could until they reached Dún m-Bolg, and they camped there (i.e., Cerball and Cennétig). Then the Laigin mustered about their king, that is, about Muiredach son of Bróen, and he was a harsh, triumphant, clever king, for he had been for a long time in exile in Alba, and he was by nature hard and brave; and they decided that they should attack the Loíchsi and Osraige who were in Dún m-Bolg, rather than the king of Ireland who was at Belach Gabráin, and that they should attack the (Principal Ulster) encampment at night. Thus the Laigin went, with their king along with them, hardily and bravely in their battle ranks to Dún m-Bolg, where their enemies were. Rough was their strength; the human condition is strange, for the Laigin trusted in St. Brigit that they would have victory and triumph over the Osraige and Loíchsi.

    However, the Osraige trusted in St. Ciarán of Saigir to bring them victory and triumph over the Laigin. The Laigin were praying fervently to St. Brigit that they might kill their enemies ... Then the Laigin came to the side of the encampment where the son of Gáethíne was. The son of Gáethíne did not evade them, but attacked them harshly and fiercely, as was his custom. Then there was hard and bloody fighting on both sides. For a long time there were heard the cries of men driving each other to distress, and the clamour of the war trumpets; and the earth began to shake so that their horses and pack animals ran mad, and that was a great impediment to the actions of the warriors. Nevertheless, those of the army who were in the clefts of the rocks went after the pack animals and stopped many of them. That tumult was great, and great also was the noise in the air above them. While they were about that, Cerball was instructing his people, for it was the beginning of night, and he said, ‘No matter from what direction the enemies approach you, let none of you move from his battle position; and maintain yourselves firmly against the enemies.’

    Cerball went with a troop to his sister's son, Cennétig, who was in great difficulty among his enemies, and he raised his harsh voice on high and was encouraging his people against the Laigin (and the Laigin heard that), and then his people were supporting him. He Cerball appointed two of his men to guard and protect him. The king of Laigin cast a javelin at them and killed one of those two men, Folachtach, the secnab of Cell Dara. Great was the tumult and commotion between them then, and the Badb raised her head among them, and there was much slaughter among them everywhere. Then the Laigin left the encampment, and they were taking their king with them, and since the king could not hold his army with him, he leaped on his horse and followed after his people. We are sure that it was by a miracle of St. Brigit and Sen-Chiarán that they separated like that, for although noblemen among them were slain, there was no great massacre there. Neither Cerball nor Cennétig allowed his people to pursue the Laigin, through caution. On the next day many of the Laigin who had gone astray were killed. Cerball and Cennétig came in tight, orderly battalions through the midst of their enemies to Gabrán, to the King of Ireland, Áed Findliath (whose wife was Cerball's sister, and mother of Cennétig), and they told the King of Ireland what had happened with them, that is, that their camp had been taken, etc. They had a friendly conversation, and they parted after that. The king of the Laigin gave no good response to the King of Ireland, but he reminded him of what had been done to him, and he gave neither tribute nor hostages.

    About 876 Cearbhall joins with the Deisi in a victory over the men of Munster, and later the same yeare wins a victory over the men of South Leinster, likely the Uí Cheinnselaig. By this time Cearbhall had proven himself as an ambitious and successful king. His success was due in large measure to two abilities: firstly, a skill in manipulating rival bands of Vikings by a combination of diplomacy and marriage alliances, and secondly, to his military prowess -- he was able to defeat the Vikings in battle when necessary. It was also advantageous for him to have married a daughter of Máel Sechnaill, the king of Ireland. The Viking presence brought a whole new dimension to Irish waterways, so that the Noir and Barrow rivers in Osraighe, reaching some forty miles into the interior of Ireland, became major arteries of communication. Cearbhall's success was founded on his domination of the river valleys and, during the 870's and 880's, this made him the most powerful king in Leinster. Cearbhall's death notice is posted in the Annals about 888, leaving a void in power which resulted in a power struggle in the area. The yeare before, Cearbhall's eldest son, Cuilen, heir apparent to the lordship of Osraighe, was killed by the Norsemen. Another son, Braenen, is noted to have been killed by the Deisi. The next king of Osraige was his brother Riacáin, but the kingdom lapsed into relative obscurity for many years afterwards, until Cerball's great-great-grandson Donnchad mac Gilla Patraic became king in 1003. It has been suggested that the importance of Cerball in Icelandic writings stems from the popularity of the Fragmentary Annals among the Norse-Gaels of eleventh century Ireland, who passed these accounts on to the Icelanders, who then attached this famous and warlike king to their ancestry. It appears that the supposed descendants of Cerball left for Iceland in the generation before Donnchad mac Gilla Patraic, towards the end of the tenth century. Given the likely date at which the Landnámabók was compiled.

    • For 888, Cerball son of Dungal, king of Osraige, died suddenly.
    • For 891, A slaughter was made of the Eoghanachta at Grian Airbh, by the Osraighi, i.e. by the son of Cearbhall, and the Leinstermen.
    • For 893, An army was led by the Deisi, the foreigners, and Ceallach, son of Cearbhall, over Osraighe, as far as Gabhran, where Maelmordha, son of Maelmhuaidh, and a great number of others along with him, were slain.
    • For 896, A slaughter of the Éoganacht by the Osraige.
    • For 900, Diarmaid, son of Cearbhall, was driven from the kingdom of Osraighe; and Ceallach, son of Cearbhall, was made king in his place.
    • For 900, A battle was gained by Ceallach, son of Cearbhall, and by the Osraighi, over the Eili and the Muscraighi, in which fell one hundred and ten persons, among whom was Techtegan, son of Uamnachan, lord of Eili, and many others of distinction.
    • For 908, A battle was fought between the men of Mumu, the Leth Cuinn, and the Laigin in Mag Ailbi, and Cormac, son of Cuilennan, king of Caisel, was killed there, along with Fogartach, son of Suibne, king of Ciarraige; Cellach, son of Cerball, king of Osraige, among others at the Battle of Belach Mugna.
    • For 928, Diarmait, son of Cerball, king of Osraige, died.
    • For 932, Cuilen, son of Celach, king of Osraige, died.

    Murchertach mac Neill (Mortaugh mcNeale or Murtaugh of the leather coats) obtains the submission of the Osraige of East Munster and ravages the Déisi of Munster: 941 AD. "King Donnough O 'Melaghlyn and Mourtaugh mcNeale went over all Munster and Leinster and took their hostages" [Annals of Clonmacnoise 933; Annals of Ulster 940 AD]

    • For 941, An expedition was made by Muirchertach, and he plundered Mide and Uí Fhailgi, and went into Osraige, obtaining their submission. He ravaged the Deisi, and brought Cellachan, king of Caisel, in submission to Donnchad.
    • For 976, Donnchad, son of Cellach, king of Osraige, died.
    • For 996, Gilla Patriac, son of Donnchad, king of Osraige, died.
    • For 1003, Cellach, son of Diarmait, king of Osraige, was killed.
    • For 1022, Sitriocc, mac Iomhair, tigherna Phuirt Láirge, was slain by the king of Osraighe.

    Donnchadh macGilla Pátraic macDonnchada, a descendant the infamous king Cearbhall macDúngaile, became powerful enough to claim the kingship of the province of Leinster (a "greater part of" southeast Ireland) for a short time during 1030's.

    • For 1039, Donnchad, son of Gill Patraic, overking of Laigin and Osraige, died.

    Shortly after this point, about 1041, we find a notice in the Annals of the Four Masters that Muircheartach mac Gilla Pátraic, a brother of the aforementioned Donnchadh, and a lord of half Osraighe, was slain by the Uí Caelluidhe (the O'Kealys of Magh Lacha). In Upper Ossory, in what is now part of County Laois, the Uí Caollaidhe (the O'Kealys) were able to exert an independent rule over both their own territory and that of the Ua hUrachan (the O'Horahans of Uí Foircheallain) and the Ua Dubhslaine (O'Delany's of Coill Uachtarach).

    • For 1042, Murchad, son of Dunlang, king of Laigin, and Domnall, son of Aed, king of Uí Barichi, fell by Gilla Patraic, son of Donnchad, king of Osraige, and Mac Riath, son of Donnchad, king of Eoganacht.
    • For 1043, The defeat of Mael Caennaig on the edge of the Suir was inflicted by Carthach, son of Saerbrethach, tighernae Eoghanachta, on the Osraige and the Airmumu (Ormond); and h-Echtighern ua Donnocain, king of Ara (Aradh), was left dead there.

    O'Duinechair and O'Dinan, chiefs of Éoganacht Uaithne Ageamar [Owney Agamar]. This territory comprised part of the counties of Tipperary and Limerick, now the baronies of Owney and Owneybeg. Prior to the anglo-norman invasion, the territory in the barony of Owney and Arra was known as Eoghanacht Aradh or Aradh Cliach, where the O'Cuillens (O'Cullens) were noted as chiefs. The Uí Bhrian, a Dalcassian sept, were lords of Owney and Arra, the territory they acquired from the O'Donegans about 1300.

    Finn O'Caellaide is mentioned as a lord of Ossory on his death notice in 1098, and he is cited as marrying a grand-daughter of Gilla Pátraic macDonnchada (d. 996). After the death of Giolla Pháttraicc Ruadh, a king of Ossory, in 1103, it appears that a junior branch of the Mac Giolla Phádraigs were able to lay claim to the southern-most part of Osraige (South Waterford), aka Deascairt Osraighe under Cerball macDomnaill, while the main branch appear to have maintained their hold in the large middle portion of the kingdom (possibly the northern two-thirds of modern County Kilkenny).

    About 1103 the annals cite a slaughter of the Osraige and the death of Gilla Pátraic Ruad, and the royal family of Osraige also. It would appear the kingdom of Ossory was divided into at least three spheres of influence about this time, the O'Caellaide (O'Kealys) of Upper Osraighe, the Mac Giolla Phádraigs of central Osraighe, and the cousins of Mac Giolla Phádraig in Deascairt Osraighe.

    U1103.5 A great war between the Cenél Eógain and the Ulaid, and Muirchertach ua Briain came with the men of Mumu and Laigin and Osraige and with the nobles of Connacht and the men of Mide with their kings to Mag Coba to assist the Ulaid. They all went to the plain of Ard Macha, i.e. to Cell na Conraire, and were a week beleaguering Ard Macha; Domnall ua Lochlainn with the north of Ireland was for that time in Uí Bresail Macha facing them. Since the men of Mumu were weary, Muirchertach went to Aenach Macha and to Emain and round to Ard Macha, and left eight ounces of gold on the altar and promised eight score cows, and returned again to Magh Coba, i.e. not having obtained what he sought, and left the province of Laigin there and some of the men of Mumu. He himself went on a raid into Dál Araide, and left there dead Donnchad son of Tairdelbach (Toirdhealbhach) and the son of Ua Conchobuir, king of Ciarraige, and ua Beoáin and other nobles.

    In O'Brien's Dictionary the MacMahons and MacDonnells are given as branches of the Thomond O'Briens, the posterity of Brian Boru. A branch of these Thomond MacDonnells settled in Connacht. The chief families of this tribe of the Dal gCais otherwise known as the Dalcassians, were the great clan of Thomond, or North Munster in Co. Clare. The MacDonnells (Mac Domnaill) descend from Domhnall, son of Murtagh Mor O’Brien, High-King of Ireland, who died in 1119. Another son of Murtagh Mor O'Brien was Mahon of the Uí Chremthainn (MacMathghamhna) or Cenel Moain of Mag Ith. They were also the Airghialla federation of Clan Cian. It was Brian Boru who raised his clan, the Uí Toirdealbhaigh originally from Connacht and the O’Briens of Ara, in northwest Tipperary in the baronies of Upper and Lower Ormond. The Deisi of Tara were driven from Waterford city, a Norse foundation and it became Ormond.

    Domnall ua Lochlainn went with the north of Ireland into Mag Coba to attack the Laigin; the Laigin, however, and the Osraige and the men of Mumu and the foreigners met them just as they were, and give battle, i.e. on Wednesday the Nones 5th of August, the twenty-ninth of the moon, on the day after coming to Ard Macha. Leth Moga, however, was defeated, and slaughter inflicted on them: i.e., slaughter on the Laigin, including Muirchertach son of Gilla Mocholmóc and the two grandsons of Lorcan and Muirchertach grandson of Gorman, and others; a slaughter of the Uí Cheinnselaigh, including the two sons of Mael Morda, and ua Riain, king of Uí Drona, and others; a slaughter of the Osraige, including Gilla Pátraic Ruad, king of Osraige, and the royal family of Osraige also; a slaughter of the foreigners of Áth Cliath, including Torstain son of Eric and Pol son of Amaind and Beollan Armunn and others; a slaughter of the men of Mumu including the two ua Bric, two heirs designate of the Déisi; and ua Failbe, heir designate of Corco Duibne, and a tributary-king of the Laigin, i.e. Ua Muiredaigh; the king of Ciarraige, with his son; and many others whom for the sake of concision we have passed over. The Cenél Eógain with the north of Ireland returned home with great slaughter and many valuables, including the royal tent and a camlinne and many other valuables.

    U1103.6 Magnus, king of Lochlann, was killed on a raid in Ulaid.

    U1103.7 Cathalán son of Senán was killed by the Cairpre.

    In the 9th century King Cerball MacDunglainge's ability to trade or negotiate with or defeat the invading Vikings, as required, made him the most powerful king in Leinster, and Kilkenny became a major power centre in southeast Ireland. Kilkenny maintained its position after the 1169 Norman invasion of Ireland, led by Richard Fitzgilbert De Clare, or Strongbow who had retained control of the port towns of Dublin, Wexford and Waterford. Strongbow's successor, William Marshall, built a new port, New Ross, 20 miles away on the River Barrow and developed Kilkenny as one of his regional trade capitals. Although the first earthwork and wood castle built by the Normans at Kilkenny was burnt down by Donal Mor O'Brien, King of Limerick, (the MacDonnells') in 1173, Marshall began work on the present Kikenny Castle in 1207, and it became the focus of the new Hightown or Englishtown.

    The Osraige gave rise to the medieval dynasty of Ossory, the MacGilpatricks or Fitzpatricks (Mac Giolla Phadraig), and to their collateral kinsmen the Ui Duach or O’Brennans (O Braonain). The MacGilpatricks descend from Giolla Phadraig, son of Donnchadh, lord of Ossory in the tenth century. They originally ruled over all Kilkenney and part of Leix as well, but after the Anglo-Norman invasion their territory was greatly encroached upon by the Butlers and others, and afterwards they held a greatly reduced territory in the very north of County Kilkenny, alongside their kinsmen the O’Brennans.

    The Statutes of Kilkenny (1366) got their name from the then Irish Parliament in Kilkenny. The statutes contained nineteen clauses, their general provision being to reduce the influence of the Irish on the Normans. They prohibited intermarriage as well the customs and language of the Irish, which were considered to have had an adverse effect on the Norman settlers. The statutes also attempted to outlaw Brehon Laws. Kilkenny was the capital of Confederate Ireland between 1642 and 1649, until it surrendered during the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland.