Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition
Annála Connacht (Author: [unknown])

Annal 1236

1236.1

1236 First of January on Tuesday and the nineteenth day of the moon, MCCXXXVI. Twenty-fourth year of the Solar Cycle; ninth year of the Indiction. Common year. FE.

1236.2

Maelsechlainn O Maille was killed on Oilen Dacruindi by Donnchad son of Magnus son of Muirchertach Muimnech O Conchobair this year.

1236.3

Fedlim mac Cathail Chrobdeirg was banished by the Justiciar Mac Muiris, his gossip, after Mac William had gone to England. He was warned beforehand and barely managed to escape with a few horsemen. They made great raids on his people and he took refuge with O Domnaill. The castle at Onagh was built at this time as a stronghold against the men of Connacht. The treachery was practised in this way: an


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appointment having been made with intent to entrap him, the Justiciar brought the Galls of Ireland to Afeoran, the place of meeting, and they pursued him from there to Roscommon and from Roscommon to Sligo bridge. And since they could not catch him they raided Tadc O Conchobair captured many noble women and carried them off into captivity and bondage. They then came with their booty to Druim nGrecraige in Moylurg, where the Justiciar himself was waiting for them.

1236.4

The Justiciar and the Galls then departed, leaving Brian son of Toirrdelbach [son of Ruaidri O Conchobair] to guard and rule the land. Brian, with the Justiciar's soldiery, raided and harassed the sons of Aed mac Cathail Chrobdeirg and many others of Fedlim's people; and these in turn raided and harassed the Galls and their enemies among the Gaels; so that the whole countryside was ruined by them alternately.

1236.5

Conchobar son of Aed Muimnech was killed by Magnus son of Muirchertach Muimnech O Conchobair this year.

1236.6

Maelmuire O Lachtnan, Archbishop-elect of Tuaim, went to England and was consecrated by letters from the Successor of Peter and consent of the King of England.

1236.7

Mac William crossed over to Ireland from the King of England, and no man in Ireland knew whether he was bringing peace or strife to Ireland.

1236.8

Now Fedlim mac Cathail Chrobdeirg came back into Connacht at the invitation of some of the Connachtmen, O Cellaig, O Flainn, the sons of Aed mac Cathail Chrobdeirg and the son of Art O Mailsechlainn. The combined force, four large battalions, advanced against Randoon. Like fierce furious forceful foemen they crossed the bawn and the moat of the island, where were all the cows of the territory, and then each captain of a company and each leader of an army made for the cows, and they were driving them off wherever they came upon them. A pitiful act, their lord, their honour and their valour were abandoned for booty and cattle which profited them nought, and they deserted their lord until out of the four battalions which had been under him he had but four single horsemen left, and the High-king's voice was broken in trying to recall and rally them.

1236.9

But Eogain O hEdin, Brian son of Toirrdelbach [O Conchobair], Mac Goisdelb and Conchobair Buide son of


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Toirrdelbach, on seeing them break up and scatter unwisely, inconstantly, incautiously, rose up quickly and lively with a few horsemen and a large body of soldiery and made for the spot where they saw O Conchobair with his few followers. Conchobair Buide son of Toirrdelbach came upon the sons of Aed mac Cathail Chrobdeirg and they approached him lightly and heedlessly, as if they had been a party of his own people, and he was killed thereupon by Ruaidri son of Aed mac Cathail Chrobdeirg.

1236.10

A great number of the army was then slain, both on the ‘island’ and outside of it, in that defeat; and these were all accursed and excommunicate men, excepting only Tadc son of Cormac son of Tomaltach Mac Diarmata.

1236.11

Now when Mac William heard of this defeat inflicted upon all his revolted subjects, he rose up in support of O Conchobair to banish them or tame them. Then Diarmait son of Magnus O Conchobair sought refuge with the son of Muirchertach O Conchobair. Thereupon Mac William came, unforeseen and unperceived, to Tuaim and thence to Mayo, and there was not left a heap of seed-corn in the great church of Mayo nor in the church of the Archangel Michael, but all was removed at once. Three or four score baskets were taken out of those churches and [...]. . . afterwards, though there was not much of that. They then came to Turlagh, which received the like treatment, and great raids were sent against the people of the son of Magnus. The people of Conchobar Ruad and of Turlagh fell in with these raiders and were plundered indiscriminately. Magnus was then obliged to send away such of the followers of the son of Magnus O Conchobair as had resorted to him, or he would have suffered the same visitation as had befallen his brother.

1236.12

Conchobar Ruad went on the morrow to find Mac William and submitted to him and made peace; and such of his cattle as had been reaved were paid for, while the folk of the church, got back such of their cattle as they found alive.

1236.13

The son of Magnus, moreover, submitted to the Galls for the sake of his cattle, or such as was left to him of it, and his folk.

1236.14

Then Mac William went to Balla, where he stayed two nights, and thence to Tuaim, leaving Connacht after this


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[expedition] with no food in church or lay-property, with no peace or settlement, but with every man's hand against his neighbour, except for such rule as the sons of Muirchertach [Muimnech] afforded to the country. At this time the followers of Brian son of Toirrdelbach burned the church of Emlagh against the people of O Flainn, when it was full of women and children and nuns, among whom were three priests; and Termon Keelin was burned by the Justiciar at this time also.

1236.15

Aed O Flaithbertaig, king of West Connacht, died this year, the greatest and most excellent(?) man who ever lived of the men of West Connacht and one who was the greatest supporter of other men and himself depended least upon others.

1236.16

This was a year of wet and storm and war, of hunger and scarcity of food and clothing; armed bands and evil-doers without reverence for church or privilege, being excommunicated by the hands of bishops; the reverend clerics of the Catholic Church in fear and dread every day and night; frequent routs and escapings from Gael and Gall to the churches and churches used as dormitories, this year and for the space of twelve years ever since O Neill's war; Galls and Gaels plundering by turns; no lordship or government, but Connacht lying open for the Galls to ruin whenever they came into it, and its King and eligible princes plundering and violating church and countryside in their wake.

1236.17

Diarmait son of Niall O Ruairc was blinded by Cu Chonnacht O Raigillig.

1236.18

Cathal Riabach son of Gillabroide O Ruairc, king of the Ui Briuin, died.

1236.19

Mac Raith Mac Mailin, priest of Kilmactranny, died.

1236.20

Aed O Gibillain, priest of Kilroddan and eventually a Canon on Trinity Island, died.

1236.21

Fedlim O Conchobair defeated the descendants of Ruaidri and Conchobar son of Cormac Mac Diarmata at Cluain Catha.