The Study Irish History

New Zealand Tablet, Volume L, Issue 36, 13 September 1923, Page 9

The Study Irish History

Civil History duriny the Golden Ayr. "While, through her saints and her teachers, Ireland was winning the pxoud title of the “Island of Saints and Scholars,” the more prosaic civil life of the country moved onwards. Only a few facts stand out prominently before the coming of the Danes. About the middle of the sixth century, because of a quarrel with the Ardri Diarmuid, St. Columba and Reudan of Lorrha publicly cursed Tara, thus dealing a fatal blow to the prospect of a strong central government with Tara as its 'seat. Thirty years later, the Convention of Drumceat passed laws restraining the privileges of the bards. Towards the end of the seventh century Ireland was invaded by the King of Northumbria, lint no permanent conquest followed. In the year 607 the last beis of Tara was held, at which, through the influence of Adaranan, women were forbidden to take part in actual battle. At the same time the Ardri renounced for himself and his successors what was known as the Born tribute. At the close of the eighth century religion and learning flourished and 'peace smiled on the broad rivers and the fair hills of Holy Ireland. But'clouds were gathering and dangers threatening. Oyer the seas, the black strangers and the fair strangers the Dubhgaill and the Finngaill— Denmark and Scandinavia were arming for the fray. These pagan pirates lived by plunder by land and sea, and ere now the east coast of England and Scotland, as well as the islands to the north, had felt their terrible power. Like thieves in the night, they came in their long ships, descending on

peaceful villages where they robbed and raped and destroyed at their will, murdering many- and bringing many others away into captivity. At the end of the eighth century they descended on Ireland, sacking towns, plundering monasteries, desecrating shrines, murdering the monks arid nuns, and bearing away with them the sacred vessels of ' silver and gold. The monasteries of Armagh, Bangor, Kildare, and Clonmacnoise, and many others, were assaulted by these raiders, who usually le(t nothing behind them but bleeding bodies and smoking ruins. r The Danes were favored by internal quarrels among the Irish chiefs, and gradually they obtained a firm footing in the land. In Waterford and Cork they formed settlements, and in Dublin they established a kingdom, under their powerful leader, Turgesius. After his death, about the year 845, their fortunes wavered, but they still clung to their settlements along the sea coast, whence they harrassed the native population. ’ Dublin remained their strongest fortification all through the ninth and into the tenth century.' But, under the Ardri Malachy, the Irish defeated the Dublin Danes in a great battle during which he personally engaged in combat two Danish princes, whom he overcame, taking from one a jewelled collar of gold, and from the other a jewel-hilted sword. This event is commemorated by Moore in the well-known lines: Let Erin remember the days of old, Ere her faithless sons betrayed her, When Malachy wore the collar of gold Which he Aon from the proud invader. Malachy , was a brave and wise ruler, who combined great statesmanlike qualities with patriotism and courage. He was one of the greatest of the Kings of Ireland, but now a greater was to appear in the person of Brian Born. BRIAN BORU. Mahon, son of Kennedy, ruled in Munster about the middle of the tenth century. He was treacherously slain by the retainers of Molloy, son of Brian, Lord of Desmond. Mahon had a young brother Brian, who now took it on himself to avenge the murder of Mahon. Brian mustered the Dalcassian legions and set forth in the war-trail. He smote the Danes of Limerick, who were, allies of the, murderer; then he turned on Donovan who had decoyed Mahon into his power to hand him over to Molloy. The latter now gathered all the Danes of the south about him but Brian fell upon them and crushed them with terrible slaughter, Brian’s son Murrough, killing the murderer of his uncle with his own hand. Henceforth Brian was acknowledged King of Munster. But he was ambitious, and gradually, by valor and by cunning, he got the majority of the native chiefs on his side and actually usurped the crown of the Ardri. Malachy yielded with dignity to the inevitable, and even served under Brian like a true, selfsacrificing patriot. In after years, in spite of his success as a ruler, Brian’s bad example bore bitter fruit for Ireland for it brought the great families to regard the crown as a prize for the craftiest and the strongest. Apart from this fault, Brian Boru -wielded the sceptre with wisdom and dignity, consolidating the nation and bringing to Erin a long period of peace and happiness. He was brave, generous, learned, and provident, and had his heirs not died at the same time as himself, thus providing an occasion for civil strife among claimants of the crown, the probability is that Ireland would have developed rapidly into a powerful and united kingdom. No doubt his vision of the Ireland he would fain make inspired his usurpation of the crown, but it did not justify his displacement of one who was only second to himself as a soldier and a statesman. Brian was a- glorious king in every sense. There have been in all history few nobler ornaments to the throne. So just was his administration and so peaceful the country under it that the bards sing of a beautiful girl, adorned with jewels, walking unmolested within the four seas of Erin during the reign of Brian. THE DANES RALLY. i But though hitherto' defeated, the Danes were still dangerous. Early in the eleventh century they began to organise a mighty army for the conquest of Ireland. Maelmurra, Prince of Leinster, playing the part of traitor to

his country, co-operated with them. Suibne, Earl of Man, and Sigurd of Orkney, also joined the league. At the Isle of Man, a large force of men and ships concentrated rapidly under the command of Brodar, already famous for his victories against the English and the Welsh. They sailed over to Dublin, -where they are further strengthened by the arrival of fourteen hundred armed champions, under Canuteson, Prince of Denmark. Here; too, they were reinforced by the treacherous Maelmurra, although Sitrio of Dublin pretended to stand neutral. Never before did such a powerful army assemble for the conquest of Ireland and never did the chances of victory for invaders seem so rosy. These pirates had swept all before them .hitherto. They were the scourge of Europe, the conquerors of Britain, Normandy, Anglesea, Orkney, and Man, and now they threatened Ireland.

Nobly seconded by Mai achy and by the tributary chiefs, Brian made his preparations for the great struggle, which was to be one of the decisive battles of the world. Through the autumn of the year 1013, and in the early months of the next year, Brian assembled and drilled his forces, at last concentrating them for battle at Kilmainham, near Dublin. Around him, rallying for the cause of Ireland, were the lords of Decies, Inchiquin, Fermoy, Corca-Baiskin, Kinalmeaky, and Kerry—the power of the South; and from Connacht came the armies of Hy-Many , and HyFiachra, flocking to Brian’s standard; Leinster was represented by the O’Moore and the O’Nolans, while from Scotland came with his men, Donald, Steward of Man*. Ulster alone stood back in the crisis, sulking and sullen, they moved not to the defence of Ireland. BEFORE THE BATTLE. Palm Sunday, April IS, 1014, found the Danish forces spread in front of Clontarf, in a vast line from Howth to the mouth of the Liffey. Brian flung his army in front of them, along the shore of Dublin Bay. On the inspiration of the traitor, Maelmurra, who learned that the Dalcassians had been sent south by Brian to raid the territory of the treacherous king, the Danes decided to strike on Good Friday, much against Brian’s wishes. Brian asked in vain for a postponment, but encouraged by one of their pagan oracles who told them that if they fought on Good Friday Brian would fall the Danes refused to listen to him. And so, Good Friday morning, 1014, found the two great armies drawn up in lino of battle on the shores of the Bay of Dublin. The Danish forces, facing north-east, were arranged in three divisions: on the left, the Danes of Dublin and the fourteen hundred armed Norsemen already mentioned; in the centre, the treacherous Leinster armies on the right, the forces from the islands, under Brodar. Brian’s line of battle was also in three divisions : the right wing, weakened by the absence of the Dalcassians, was commanded by Murrough, who had with him his young son, Torlogh, a lad of fifteen years, and also Malachy and his Meath men; the centre was composed of Munster troops, under Kian, son of Molloy, and Donal, son of Dubh Davoren; the left comprised the forces of Connacht, under O’Kelly of Hy-Many, O’Heyne of Hy-Fiachra, Ahna, and Echtigern, of Dalaradia. In all Brian’s army numbered about 20,000 men.

All being ready, the King rode along the lines, with a sword in one hand and a crucifix in the other, exhorting the troops to remember that they had to fight that day for Religion and Country against Paganism and Bondage. Appealing to them to fight bravely “For Faith and Fatherland,” he reminded them that on that day Christ. had died for them, and invoked the blessing of God on' their arms and on their holy cause.

It was Brian’s wish to lead his men into battle, but he was prevailed on by his sons and the united princes to take no part personally on account of his great age. Reluctantly, he gave the signal for the advance and withdrew to his tent, committing the chief command to Murrough. CLONTARF. . “The battle,” says a historian, “then commenced; ‘ a spirited, fierce, violent, • vengeful, and furious battle; the likeness of which was not to be found at that time,’ as the old annalists quaintly describe it. It was a conflict of heroes., The chieftains engaged at every point in single combat; and the greater part of them on both sides fell.

The impetuosity of the Irish was irresistible, and their battle-axes did fearful execution, every man of the ten hundred mailed warriors of Norway having been made to bite the dust, and it was against them, we are told, that the Dalcassians had been obliged to contend single-handed. The heroic Morrough performed prodigies of valor throughout the day. Ranks of men fell before him and* hewing his way to the Danish standard, he cut down two successive bearers of it with his battle-axe. Two. Danish leaders, Carolus and Conmael, enraged at this success* rushed on him together, but both fell in rapid succession by his sword. Twice, Morrough and some of his chiefs retired to slake their thirst and cool their hands, swollen from the violent use of the sword; and the Danes observing the vigor with which they returned to the conflict, succeeded, by a desperate effort, in cutting off the brook which had refreshed them. Thus the battle raged from an early hour in the morning innumerable deeds of valor being performed on both sides, and victory appearing still doubtful, until the third or fourth hour in the afternoon* when a fresh and desperate effort was made by the Irish, and the Danes, now almost destitute of leaders, began to waver and give way at every point. Just at this moment the Norwegian prince, Anrud, encountered Morrough, who was unable to raise his arms from fatigue, but with the left hand he seized Anrud and hurled him to the earth, and with the other placed the point of his sword on the breast of the prostrate Northman, and leaning on it plunged it through his body. While stooping, however, for this purpose, Anrud contrived to inflict on him a mortal wound with a dagger, and Morrough fell in the arms of victory. According to other accounts, Morrough*was in the act of stooping to relieve an enemy when he received from him his death wound. This disaster" had not the effect of turning the fortune of the day, for the Danes and their allies were in a state of utter disorder, and along their whole lino had commenced to fly towards the city or to their ships. They plunged into the Tolka at a time, wo may conclude, when the river was swollen with the tide, so that groat numbers were drowned. The, body of young Turlogh was found after the battle at the weir of Clontarf,’ with his hands entangled in the hair of a Dane whom he had grappled with in the pursuit. “But the chief tragedy of the day remains to be related. Brodar, the pirate admiral, wdiO commanded ill the point of the Danish lines remotest from the city, seeing the rout general, was making his way through some thickets with only a few attendants, when he came upon the tent of Brian Boruraha, left at that moment without his guards. The fierce Norseman rushed in and found the aged monarch at prayer before the crucifix, which he had that morning held up to the view of his troops, and attended only by his page. Yet, Brian had time to seize his arms, and died sword in hand. The Irish accounts say that the king killed Brodar, and was only overcome by numbers; but the Danish version in the Niala Saga is moio probable, and in this Brodar is represented as holding up his reeking sword, and crying ; ‘ Let it be proclaimed from man to man that Brian has been slain by Brodar.’ j-t is added, on the same authority, that the ferocious pirate was then hemmed in by Brian’s returned guards and captured alive, and that he was hung from a tree, and continued to rage like a beast of prey until all his entrails were torn outthe Irish soldiers thus taking savage vengeance for the death of their king, who but for their own neglect would have been safe.”* 8 AFTER CLONTARF. Thus, at Clontarf, was the power of the Danes broken for ever in Ireland. For some time after they clung to some seaport towns, but there was no further attempt at conquest. But it was also a day of disaster for Ireland. Not only was Brian killed, but also his 'son, the brave Murroiigh, and his grandson, the young hero Torlogh, lost their lives in the conflict; thus three generations of the Ardri’s family being killed on the same eventful day, a circumstance that in after years was fraught with sad consequences for the country. For eight years after Brian’s death Ireland remained united. Malachy was recalled to the throne and -ruled with great ability ; and prudence, until finding his end approaching, he retired to the solitude * Haverty. ; ", ■ ' *'

of an island in Lough Ennel, where he made ready to meet his Judge, in prayer, and penance. With him, in a last blaze of sunshine, Ireland’s glory set for a long, long time. For the. next century and a half the island- was torn by bloody conflicts among native princes, several claimants for the crown desolating the land in their strife for sovereignty. No Ardri was able to reign as Brian and Malachy had done. The unity was destroyed and there as no national authority. And, so, after her glorious epoch of peace and honor, after the splendors of her Golden Age, after her magnificent victory over the all-conquering Danes, poor Ireland entered on a period of turmoil and decadence which left her a prey to the next band of raiders who game to her shoresthe Normans, whose coming belongs to the next period of Irish History , wdiich we shall invite our young readers to study. >