The most powerful rulers were Turlough O'Brien, King of Munster 1063 - 1086, and his son Muircertach O'Brien who ruled after his father until his death in 1119. Both were high kings, as the annalists put it, 'with opposition'. The opposition in Turlough's case came mainly from the O'Connors of Connacht and the O'Rourkes of the newly emerging kingdom of Breifne in north Connacht and south Ulster. Muircertach faced the resistance of Ulster kings, particularly the O'Lochlainns of Cenél nEoghain. The last High King was Rory O'Connor, who won complete recognition in 1166.
The name Tadc, Tadg, or Teige, is a not uncommon Irish name, and appears especially to have occurred in the O'Brian family. The youngest son of Brian Boromy, who was present at his death, and according to the Njala Saga, lost his hand by the same blow which cut off the head of his father, was called "Tadg," in the Saga Taškr; and it is not improbable that the Dompuald or Donald, who was sent to Man by Muircertach, himself the grandson of Brian, was a descendant of Tadg, or at least a kinsman of the O'Brians. That the Manxmen should apply to Muircertach for a governor seems to prove that King Magnus must have entrusted him with a kind of plenipotentiary power, or lieutenancy, during his absence, which trust, however, Muircertach must be supposed not to have kept conscientiously...
Donald MacTeige was nephew to Murktaghm O'Brien, being a brother's son. He had already given considerable trouble in his own country, and a desire to get rid of an impracticable kinsman may have had its weight in leading the Irish King to accede to the request of the Manxmen. Olave, the youngest son of Gødred, heir to the Manx throne, was at that time a minor, residing at the English court. This is sufficient to account for the appointment of a regent or guardian, without associating it within a dependency on Norway.]
The Annals of the Four Masters, also called the Annals of Donegal . . . were compiled in the Franciscan monastery of Donegal, by three of the O' Clerys, Michael, Conary, and Cucogry, and by Ferfesa O'Mulconry; who are now commonly known as the Four Masters. The O'Clerys were, for many generations, hereditary ollaves or professors of history to the O'Donnells, princes of Tirconnell, and held free lands, and lived in the castle of Kilbarron and Donegal castle, on the sea-coast northwest of Ballyshannon. Here Michael O'Clery, who had the chief hand in compiling the Annals, was born in 1575.
Going back in time, before the 10th century, takes us to an era where people were usually only referred to by their first names. First names were not duplicated within a village so there was no confusion. The confusion in relation to the spellings, or mis-spellings account for many derivatives of one particular name. The most common surname origins are derived from actual place names. This is particularly relevant to English sur-names. People were given surnames that indicated a specific place name such as London, Ireland, England, Eaton, York or Washington and another type of place surname described an actual residence, location or workplace.
The oldest surname recorded anywhere in Europe can be found in Irish historical records dating back to the yeare 916. According to Friar Woulfe, an authority on the Irish surname, the first recorded fixed surname is O'Clery (Ó Cleirigh) detailing the death of Tigherneach Ua Cleirigh, lord of Aidhne in County Galway.
Patronymics are of , relating to, or derived from the name of one's father or a paternal ancestor and this system of naming people played a part in the meanings and origins of Irish surnames. The term 'Ua', as in the above Irish surname Tigherneach Ua Cleirigh, was an early form of "O" meaning grandson (Tigherneach was therefore the grandson of Cleirigh). The prefix "Mac", meaning son of, was also used, although these names were not always hereditary and could change according to a given name. The oldest Irish surname's were taken from occupations, tribal names and from pre-Christian Gods. Unlike their English counterparts, very few Irish surnames were derived from locations.
The influence of the Christian church from the 10th century then played a role in the origins and meanings of Irish surnames and these have survived the test of time. Irish ones beginning with 'Kil' or 'Gil' derive from the Irish word 'Giolla', meaning follower or devotee. Irish surnames beginning with 'Mul' derive from the Irish word Maol meaning bald (this referred to the tonsure of monks)
M934.5 Cluain-mic-Nois was plundered by the foreigners of Ath-cliath [Vikings from Dublin]; and it was plundered again by Ceallachan Caisil and the men of Munster.
Beginning with the three branches of the race of Heber; namely, the Dalcassians, the Eugenians, and the Clan Cian. In the old kingdom of Eile O'Carroll there were several Christian Saints. The ancient place name Bri Éile, now Croghan Hill in north County Offaly, and Moin Éile, the 'Notorious Red Bog of Ely. (septs of Clan Cian.) Tuadh Mumhan came into prominence as a separate region within the province of Mumhan (Mumu, Mumhain, et al) in conjunction with a rise in power of the Dál gCais. The Eugenians, ruled as kings over Desmond or South Munster, which comprised the whole of the present county Cork, and the greater part of Kerry, together with a portion of Waterford, and a sl part of the south of Tipperary, bordering on Cork; while the Dalcassian kings ruled over Thomond.
M936.9 Ceallachan, King of Caiseal, with the men of Munster, and Macca Cuinn, with the foreigners of Port-Lairge, went into Meath, and seized upon a great prey, and took the spoils and prisoners of Cill-eidhneach and Cill-achaidh; and took their two abbots, namely, Muireadhach Ua Conchobhair, and Coibhdeanach, son of Beargdha; but they left behind Oilill, son of Aenghus, lord of Uí -Fothaidh, and many others, in the hands of Aimhergin, lord of Uí -Failghe. The men of Munster, under Ceallachan, King of Munster, who had the foreigners along with him, plundered the churches of Cluain-eidhneach and Cill-achaidh, and the territory of Meath, as far as Cluain-Iraird.
M936.9 A great slaughter was made of the Osraig by Ceallachan, King of Caiseal.
M939.6 A slaughter was made of the Déisi by Ceallachan and the men of Munster, because they had submitted to Muircheartach, son of Niall; and he slew two thousand of them, together with Ceileachair, son ot Cormac; Maelgorm, son of Gibhleachan; Seghdha, son of Noebelan; Cleireach, son of Sesta, &c. Another battle was gained by the Déisi and the Osraighi p.643 over the King of Caiseal, where many were slain. Muircheartach afterwards assembled the Cinel-Conaill and Cinell-Eoghain, and the people of the North in general, at Oileach, where he selected ten hundred of the chosen heroes, and made a circuit of Ireland, keeping his left hand to the sea, until he arrived at Ath-cliath; and he brought Sitric, lord of Ath-cliath, with him as a hostage. He afterwards proceeded into Leinster, and the Leinstermen began to oppose him but finally agreed to submit to him; and he carried Lorcan, King of Leinster, with him. Hc then went to the men of Munster, who were in readiness on his arrival to give him battle; but they ultimately resolved to give up their king Ceallachan, and a fetter was put upon him by Muircheartach. He afterwards proceeded into Connaught, where Conchobhar, son of Tadhg, came to meet him, but no gyve or lock was put upon him. He then returned to Oileach, carrying these kings with him as hostages; and they were for nine months feasting there; and at the end of that time he sent the hostages to Donnchadh, because it was he that was at Teamhair, and the sovereignty had come to him. Concerning the carrying away of Ceallachan the following quatrain was composed:
- 1] Muircheartach went to the South
- 2] To the beautiful chalk-white Caiseal,
- 3] And he brought with him Ceallachan of troops;
- 4] He did not accept of any other hostage for him.
[940 A.D] Orlaith, daughter of Cennedigh, son of Lorcan, was put to death by Donnchadh [Footnote 1:"Orlaith was the wife of Donnchadh"], son of Flann, King of Erinn, after having intrigued with Aengus, his son. Muircertach, son of Niall, went to Caisel, to exact pledges [Footnote 2: "Pledges; i.e. for his submission to the Monarch of Ireland, against whose supremacy Ceallachan had offended by the devastation of Midhe, or Meath, two years before."] from Ceallachan, King of Caisel, and he brought Ceallachan with him, and delivered him into the hands of Donncha[dh], son of Flann, King of Erinn.. . .
M.942.5 A victory was gained by Ceallachan of Caiseal, over Ceinneidigh, son of Lorcan, at Magh-duin, where many were slain.
[943 A.D. Footnote 1: "The correct yeare is 944 according to O'F."] A battle was gained by Ceallachan Caisil over Cennedigh, son of Lorcan, at Magh-duine, where many fell. Flaithbhertach, son of Imhanan, King of Caisel, quievit.. . . Donnchadh, son of Flann, son of Maelechlainn, King of Erin, after having been 25 years in the sovereignty, moritur. Congalach, son of Maelmithidh, reigns.. . .
[949 A.D.] An expedition by Congalach, son of Maelmithidh, into Mumhain, and he plundered Iar-Mumhain, and killed two sons of Cennedigh, viz., Echtighern and Donnacan
[950 A.D.] Cennedigh, son of Lorcan, King of Dal-Cais, moritur
M.951.7 Cluain-mic-Nois was plundered by the men of Munster, and the Danes of Luimneach along with them
[952 A.D.] Cluain-muc-Nois was plundered by the men of Mumhain, with the Foreigners of Luimnech.. . .
Periodically an Irish dynasty or king did achieve hegemonic high-kingship, first the northern Uí Neill of Ulster (from Malachy I, 846-862, to Malachy II, 980-1002 and 1014- 1022), then upstart kings of Munster (Brian Boru, 1002-1014, Turlock O Brien 1064-1086, Muircertach O Brien 1086-1119), of Connacht (Turlock O Connor 1121-1156, Rory O Connor 1166-2286), or of Ulster (Muircertach Mac Lochlainn 1156-1166). Some of the eleventh- and twelfth-century high kings achieved hege- mony over the Norse cities raided, took hostages, imposed tribute (Malachy II and Brian Boru and Muircertach Mac Lochlainn on Dublin) or actually reigned from them (Turlock O Brien from Limerick) or named their kings (Turlock and Muircertach O Brien, and Turlock O Connor, for Dublin). One could defend the proposition that there was an Ulster core around 1000, a Munster core around 1100, a fast-moving unstable core in the 12th century (prior to the Norman invasions which attached Irish to Central civilization).
Fondata est obbatia Sanctae Mariae Cystercii.
About the capture of Antioch, and the apparition of the comet, is taken from the Chronicle of Melrose. The rest, however, including the definition of a comet, is original. The battle here spoken of between the inhabitants of Man seems rather to have been the effect of an attempt on the part of the native Manxmen to shake off the yoke of the Norwegians, than a fighting between northern or southern islanders from the names of the opposite chiefs, Earl Other or Ottar, and Macmaras; the former being a Norwegian one, the latter a Celtic. The word "Aquilonares" ought perhaps to be translated, not "the inhabitants of North-Man," but the "Northmen."
Aquilonares must mean the Manx of the North. Robertson considers them to be the original clans connected with the Northmen of Dublin and the Isles, whilst the Southerns he considers to be the descendants of the Islesmen who had contributed to the success of Godred Crovan. The South was the seate of the civil and ecclesiastical government, and he thinks that the distinctions between North and South was preserved by Gødred's descendants through motives of policy, in order to maintain their own ascendancy, by holding the balance between the two races.
Tradition seems to have been derived from what is told in the Saga of the grandfather of Magnus, King Harold, that on the eve of his sailing for England in 1066, he had the shrine of St. Olaf opened, cut the nails and the hair of the Saint, and having re-closed and locked the shrine threw the key into the sea; it is expressly added that the shrine was not opened for the next 180 years, so that it is impossible that King Magnus could have done it. The real motive why Magnus issued forth on this expedition was evidently, as the Saga tells, to secure his power in the Orkneys and the Western Islands. We learn farther, from Ordericus Vitalis, as we have seen, that Muircertach had broken the treaty; and the troubles in the Isle of Man just mentioned might in themselves alone have afforded sufficient reason for Magnus to revisit that part of his dominions. Moreover, we learn from Fordun, in 1097, Eadgar, the third son of King Malcolm and St. Margaret, appeared in Scotland with an English army, and made fierce war upon Donald Bane, the protegë of King Magnus, who had reascended the throne in 1095, after the fall of Duncan, and this war, which ended with the captivity of Donald, was not brought to an issue, when Magnus arrived in Scotland in 1098; it is therefore very probable that Donald Bane had implored the aid of Magnus, and was the chief inducement for the latter to go. The fleet of King Magnus is stated by Ordericus to have contained sixty ships, while our Saga gives the number of 160. This is to he explained in this way, that the total number of ships collected in Nor way was 160, but that the effective force, with which he arrived at Man, and Anglesey, consisted only of sixty.
So it therefore must also have been the case with the fleet of King Magnus, that shortly after his arrival in the West the leišangr part returned, while the main force, being sixty sail strong, remained. The Saga gives us the names of several barons who accompanied the king; we learn, even, that he brought with him his son Sigurd, then only eight years of age, in order to appoint him his lieutenant in those parts. The Chronicle is right in saying that King Magnus subdued the Orkneys, as we learn from the Saga that at his arrival he took the reigning earls, Paul and Erlend, prisoners, and sent them to Norway, whence they did not return, while he carried with him the sons of Erlend, Magnus (afterwards Saint Magnus), and Erling
In the Saga, Magnus is said next to have attacked and ravaged Lewis, when the inhabitants were either massacred or put to flight, no doubt in retaliation of what was done to Ingemund; even Uist, Skye, Tirce, and Mull, underwent the same treatment. Iona, however, was left unhurt, because of its sanctity, and the Saga tells, that the king opened " the little church of Columkill" (now St. Oran's Chapel), and was about to enter, but stopped on the threshold, locked the door, and forbade anybody to enter it afterwards.
From Iona he went to Isla, and from there to Cantire, ravaging as well the coasts of Ireland as those of Scotland; perhaps it was at this period that he sent the Irish princess back to her father. Ordericus says that he found the coasts of Ireland too well defended to effect any great achievements; the annals of Ulster say even that three Norwegian ships were taken by the Ultonians, and the men killed. The three Collas, who formed the territory of Oriel, deprived the Ultonians of that portion of their kingdom extending from Gleann Righ, and Loch n-Eatach, westwards. Oriel, or Oirghialla, anciently extended from this Glenree to Lough Erne, and comprised the counties of Louth, Armagh, Monaghan, and in later ages the whole of the County of Fermanagh. The general opinion was that the territory of Oirghiall, or Oriel, comprised the present counties of Louth, Armagh and Monaghan, named by Ptolemy as the territories of the Vinderiiā and Voluntii and that Uladh or Ulidia, the circumscribed territory of the Clanna Rury, was, when formed into the Coleraine shire-ground, styled the County of Down, from Down, its principal town.
This seems to imply that the place named Sandvaš (vadum arenosum), where the battle was fought between the inhabitants of Man themselves, was situated in the neighbourhood of Holm Peel. That Magnus, as it is stated here, should have chosen Man for his own future residence, is impossible, and only an exaggeration; he destined it probably to be the residence of his son and vassal King Sigurd, and not for himself. What, however, is said about the fortresses erected by Magnus seems to be true; firstly, because these fortresses still bore his name when this part of the Chronicle was composed, viz., about 1260. This fortress was chiefly of wood, a kind of blockhouse; as even those in Man seem to have been, as it is expressly stated that the Galwegians were pressed to cut wood and carry timber for their construction.