Volume 1

Tracts relating to Ireland.

Date:
1841-1843
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Tracts relating to Ireland. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    fetter was put upon him. He then returned home to Aileach, carrying these kings with him as hostages, and they were for nine [recte five] months feasting there. And at the end of that time he sent the hostages to Donnchadh, King of Ireland, because it was he who reigned at Tara, and the kingdom was his. The following quatrain was composed concerning the taking of Callaghan: “ Muircheartach Went to the South, To the beautiful chalk-white strong Cashel, So that he brought with him Callaghan of Troops; He would accept of no other hostage.”® His death in the year 941, corresponding to A. D. 943, is thus recorded in the Annals of the Four Masters: “ Muircheartach of the Leather Cloaks, the son of Mall Glunduhh, Lord of Aileach, the Hector of the West of Europe in his time, was killed at Ath- Fhirdia,*’ by Blacar, the son of Godfrey, Lord of the Danes, on the 26th day of March. It was in lamentation for him that the following lines were composed: “ ‘ Vengeance and want will prevail Against the race of Conn for ever; Alas, since Muircheartach does not live, The Country of the Gael will be always an orphan.’ “ Armagh was plundered by the same Danes after the killing of Muirchear- tach. Mughron composed the following: “ ‘ One, nine hundred, four times ten, Since Christ was born of virgin birth, Are the exact number of years To the death of the great Muircheartach.’”® The corresponding record of the Ulster Annals, upon which some remarks have already been made, is as follows: “ Muircheartach of the Leather Cloaks, the son of Mall, King of Aileach, and Hector of the West, was killed by the Gentiles [Pagan Danes]; i. e. by Blacar, ® Annal. IV. Mag. ad ann. 939. Annal. Vid. OTlaherty.Ogygia, p. 280. Ussher, Pri- Ulton. ad ann. 940 [941]. naord. p. 857. f Now Ardee, in the County of Louth. ® Annal. IV. Mag. ad ann. 941 [943]. C2
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