Irish History Synopsis of Brian Boruma

Brian son of Cennedigh from his earliest days fought the North men in his country.
for many years he raided and attacked their compounds in Mumhain[Munster} with his band of followers killing them and taking away possessions and burning their forts.
During these early freys some of the Irish tribes fought with the Danes against their own countrymen. Such as Maelmorda King of Leinster with Ua Failge of Offaly under Brogar Ban mac Conoda and Domnall M Fergal king of Fortuatha.
Brians older brother Mathgamhain[ Mahon} made peace with these invading forces subduing the other tribes of Munster under him and held the kingship of Munster during his lifetime.
Brian however, fought 25 battles with the Danes between 956 and the Battle of Cluianna Tarb at the wood of Tomar in 1014. Including the Btl of Cath air Cuan in 956, the Btl of Cill Mona in 976, the Btl of Kilnow in Tipperarry in 977.
One of Brians more significant Btls was Sulchoit in 968. Many Danes were killed and beheaded at this battle.This was noted as a particularly vengeful battle which Brian and his forces won decisively. In the afteermath of this slaughter of the Danes all left were gathered the females were stripped naked gathered in a circle on a hill next the battlefield made to kneel placing their hands on the ground before them and given over to Brians 'horse boys' for 'gna faing 'or a sex circle tranlated into english as meaning circle sex which was allegedly preformed for the good of the souls of the men killed.
As this bloody battle was early in the career of military persuits by the irish army we can suspect this practice was freqeuent in future battles as to the victor go the spoils.
During this period half the province of Munster belonged to Maelmuadh[Molloy] who controled Desmond and the south. A battle of Belach Legtha was conducted in 978 betweenBrian and Molloy in which 1200 weree killed and Desmond fell to the sons of Cennedigh mac Lorcan giving the entire Mumhain province to the control of Mathgamhain as king.
In due time Brian experienced some defeats at the hand s of the Danes which left him and his few reamining followers wood kerns hiding from the maurading Danes with some 20 loyal men.
At this point he was rescued by his brother Mahon and was able again to do battle and bring the house of Kennedy fame and power.
Brian and his brother had an intimate relationsip which is well captured by Mahons blind Bard Mac Liac apparently of the house of Ciartaigh or MaelCertaig which appears to be around the Shannon area of Athlone and Lanesburough.This bard is alleged to have written theWars of the Gaedil and the Gail annd many topicical poems of this Munster family. His grandson, the position of bard being heredity, Cumara mic Liac did write several books one being the History of Brian Boruma and the Antique Battles of Ireland-mostly Munster-.
Cumara had a son called Domnall mac Cumara. Cumara meaning hound of the sea.
This is reputed to be the foundation of the surname MacNamara[ son of the sea] originating with Domnall.That family still being extant in Clare at the seat of Bunratty Castle.
After Leinster submited to the Brian in 984 he held all south Ireland. His brother Mahon was than king of all Munster. the two brothers controlling all of Mog Leith territory When mahon was treacherously killed through O Donovan and Maelmurda, a death from which Brian totally revenged and never recovered from.
Donovan was induced by MaelMuadh m Bran{Molloy] and Imar, Danish king of Limerick, to give over Mathgamhain to them which he did in 976.
The Fidgente under Donovan brought Mahon the King to Cnoc an Relraid n Sliab[ the mountain]
Maelmuadh had previously instructed his people to kill Mahon as soon as he fell into their hands which they did. This death occured 9 years after the Btl of Sulciot.
This lord Molloy was cursed as he ran to hide and he was subsequently killed by Aed m Gebennach of the Deisi Beg having found him blind in an Alder hut at Belach Lecta, his blindness a result of the Clerics curse as also his burial at that site be on the north side of the hill where the sun would never shine on it.
The curse also included the tribes history would be forgotten and the tribe and the posterity would pass away and become extint and unknown.
After Brian had assumed the control of Leth Mog he went on to battle Danes with his force and with Malacy 2[Maelseachlain 2] than king of Ireland.This being in the house of Melaglin of the southern Ua Neill.
They brought Connact to submission in 985; in 989 defeated the Danes at Dublin; in 990 Conquered Thomond of the Obriens. In 992 they again plundered restless Connact and in 996 Tipperary taking hostages from all.
In 1000 after the Battle of Glen Mara Brian applied for kingship of Ireland by telling Malachy than ruler for 18 years that he would fight him or he could render the kingship of Ireland to him peaceably giving Malachy a year and a day to think it over..
Malachy applied to Aed O Neill king of Ailec and the north for assistance from the north which Aed denied him saying he would not risk his life or the lives of his people for any man or land other than his own.A counsel of the tribes and chiefs of the north upheld this decision and consequently Malachy Ua Melaglin of the souther Ua Neill yeilded the high kingship of Ireland to Brian peacefull in 1002 after having held that post for 18 years.
Brian as king made peace with all including the Danes of Dublin. He encouraged scholarship, built roads, upheld justice construced many churches and generally became a just ruler throughout ireland which he truely united all provences under his control.
Brians forces were sent home to their lands wives and children and Ireland enjoyed 12 years of siocanna agus rathunas [ peace and properity].
Brian post 2
During this time of kingship Brians son the princes Murchad and Donnchad resided at the palace as princes. With others of the house one being Maelmordha son o f Murchadh king of Leinster and brother of Gormfliath mother of Brians son Donnchad.
One day while a chess game going on between the 2 princes Maelmordha instructed Murchad his nefew of a move which lost him the game. Murchad m Brian taunted the uncle angrily reminding him of his hiding in a Yew tree at the battle of Glenmama to whihc Murchad had plucked him ot and taken him to Brian who had made him King of Leinster, and of his giving advise to the Danes against Brian.
This lead Maelmorda to leave Braians palace next morning in anger at this insult.
Brian sent a messenger Conaran, to bring Maelmurda back.this messenger caught up to him at the plank bridge of Cell da Lua [Killaloe] but Maelmorda struck the servant from his horse breaking his head. He had to be carried back to Cen Coradh.
As Maelmorda passed through Laigen he recounted the insult to all and they elected to turn against Brian.
Sending messages to the north to Flaithbertach m Muirchertach O Neill at Ailech, To O Rourc of Brefne and to Ua Garg O Ciardha of Cairbri all of whom joined Maelmordo against Brian.
Plundering by these chiefs began. Maelsechlainn [Malachy 2] subdued these rebel provincial chiefs and killed many others.
Than Maelsechlainn plundered the Danes but he was overtaken by Maelmorda M Murchad of Laigen and Sitric M Amhlaib at Benn Edair. Many of the party were killed including ECHTIGENN King of Cind Mechair with 200 of his men.
This victory emboldened the Danes who plundered Meith taking captives and cattle.
Maelchechlainn therepon complained to Brian at Cenn Coradh to stay the foriegners and their Irish allies Cenel Eogain, Laigen, Brefne and Cairbre.
Brian responded by plundering Ossraighe and Leinster with his son Murchadh burning the whole country.
Murchad arrived at Cill maig nenn at Ath Cliath where Brian, his father, joined him,
Blockading Dublin from Cian's harvest festival through Christmas.
At this time Brians provisions wre exausted and he was forced to lift the seige no battle being given by Dane or Laigen.
In spring at St Patricks festival a second expidition was made to Ath Cliath.
The Danes therefore called together a great host to resist Brian including Brodar,Earl of Amlaib son of the king of Lochlainn and north Saxon which is North England.
These Danes united with the Laigen against Brian along with Orchney, Kyntire and other north Scot islands.
Some French brigades under sons of the French king.
All assembled in fleet of ships to attack Brians host.
All these foriegns assembled along with the three battallions of Laigen.
Brian post 2
During this time of kingship Brians son the princes Murchad and Donnchad resided at the palace as princes. With others of the house one being Maelmordha son o f Murchadh king of Leinster and brother of Gormfliath mother of Brians son Donnchad.
One day while a chess game going on between the 2 princes Maelmordha instructed Murchad his nefew of a move which lost him the game. Murchad m Brian taunted the uncle angrily reminding him of his hiding in a Yew tree at the battle of Glenmama to whihc Murchad had plucked him ot and taken him to Brian who had made him King of Leinster, and of his giving advise to the Danes against Brian.
This lead Maelmorda to leave Braians palace next morning in anger at this insult.
Brian sent a messenger Conaran, to bring Maelmurda back.this messenger caught up to him at the plank bridge of Cell da Lua [Killaloe] but Maelmorda struck the servant from his horse breaking his head. He had to be carried back to Cen Coradh.
As Maelmorda passed through Laigen he recounted the insult to all and they elected to turn against Brian.
Sending messages to the north to Flaithbertach m Muirchertach O Neill at Ailech, To O Rourc of Brefne and to Ua Garg O Ciardha of Cairbri all of whom joined Maelmordo against Brian.
Plundering by these chiefs began. Maelsechlainn [Malachy 2] subdued these rebel provincial chiefs and killed many others.
Than Maelsechlainn plundered the Danes but he was overtaken by Maelmorda M Murchad of Laigen and Sitric M Amhlaib at Benn Edair. Many of the party were killed including ECHTIGENN King of Cind Mechair with 200 of his men.
This victory emboldened the Danes who plundered Meith taking captives and cattle.
Maelchechlainn therepon complained to Brian at Cenn Coradh to stay the foriegners and their Irish allies Cenel Eogain, Laigen, Brefne and Cairbre.
Brian responded by plundering Ossraighe and Leinster with his son Murchadh burning the whole country.
Murchad arrived at Cill maig nenn at Ath Cliath where Brian, his father, joined him,
Blockading Dublin from Cian's harvest festival through Christmas.
At this time Brians provisions wre exausted and he was forced to lift the seige no battle being given by Dane or Laigen.
In spring at St Patricks festival a second expidition was made to Ath Cliath.
The Danes therefore called together a great host to resist Brian including Brodar,Earl of Amlaib son of the king of Lochlainn and north Saxon which is North England.
These Danes united with the Laigen against Brian along with Orchney, Kyntire and other north Scot islands.
Some French brigades under sons of the French king.
All assembled in fleet of ships to attack Brians host.
All these foriegns assembled along with the three battallions of Laigen.
Brian had with him Connact, Mumna, Midhe who were not particularly loyal.
Sixty battalions were arrayed against him.
Briian's forces were armed with spears tipped in poison with hazel handles, darts with nails to be cast, white shirts, colored tunics, sheilds, helmets on chiefs and knights, Lochlainn axes to cut the Danish mail and straight swords of steel.
The battle was fought after much preparation on both sides on the plain north of the Liffe in sight of the Danish fort at the south on the friday before Easter 1014 from sunrise till evening and from high tide to high tide.
Murchad enraged by battle fever fought to the death with his son Torrdelback also killed with him.Brian who was than 73 or 83 years of age remained in his tent under a guard which broke to observe the rout of the Danes and the Laigin running to the sea leaving Brian exposed for a short while.
During this lapse Brodar son of the king of Lochlainn on his way to the sea stumbled upon the tent recognising Brian at prayer as the king and cut of his head.
Brian at the same time dealing a mortal blow to Brodar cutting of his legs.Both diying there.
As the battle ended the field of Cuain Tarb[Honey meadow of the bull] was strewn with thousands of dead. 12,000 of the Danes and Laigen. 1,600 Nobles of Erinn and thousands of Brians troops.
To the strewn field Donnchad son of Brian came with meat of 28 Oxen of the Danes all of which he killed in the green to feed the survivors of Dal Cais.
This was done on Easter Sunday night.
The next day Easter monday the Dal Cais with Donnchad went to the battle field and buried their dead as they lay, making sledges for the wounded and taking the nobles with them to their own territory churches for burial all over Erinn.
This truely was the Gettsburg of Erinn.
Brian and the son Murchad as directed by Brian the king of Munster and all Ireland was carried to Armagh where they were given over to Amalgaid, Bishop of Armagh and Corrib of St Patrick in 1014 for eulogy and burial at Ard Macha.
The troop of Desmond under Cian m Maelmuadh along with Domnall m Dubhcha Boireen rebeled against Donnchad demanding the kingship of Mumhain. But Donnchad's men rallied to him the wounded stuffing their wounds with moss so they might fight alongside their chief.The Deas Mumhain could not countanance this and withdrew from the Dal Cais.
Ossriage again attempted to overthrow Donnchad and his retreating troop of wounded and dead but again Dal Cais propped themselves to pieces of wood at their backs to give battle.
Ossraige withdrw seeing their bravery.
150 men were lost and buried along the way. All but the nobles who were carried to the native lands and heriditary churches.
Malachy 2 [Maelsechlainn 2] re-assumed the throne of Erinn and remained in power till his death in 1022 for the south Ua Neill When that post was again given in orderly succession to the Leith Cuin O Neill represented by Corcran Claireach [cloister founder] and Con O Lochlainn who rulled jointly.
Nothing is known of them.


*Maelmuadh= Molloy of Desmond
Murchad= son of Brian [Mur means wall cad means what of}

MaelMorda= Gormfliath's brother mother of Brians son Donncahad and son of the king of Leinster


From the War of the Gaedil and the Gail MS Brussels by MacLiac, translated by James Todd, published by Her Majesty's Stationary Office 1867

JudiDonnelly
Copyright Aug 1 2007