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

Annal 1247

1247.1

1247 First of January on Tuesday and the twentieth day of the moon. Seventh year of the Solar Cycle; thirteenth year of the Decemnovennial Cycle; fifth year of the Indiction. MCCXLVII. Common year. F.

1247.2

Tomaltach son of Toirrdelbach son of Maelsechlainn O Conchobair was consecrated bishop of Elphin the Sunday before. Septuagesima at Tuaim.

1247.3

Benedictus Mag Oirechtaig, erenagh of Aghagower, was treacherously slain at the festival of the Cross, the third day of Summer, by the son of Conchobar Ruad son of Muirchertach Muimnech O Conchobair and the son of Magnus mac Muirchertaig Muimnig.

1247.4

Toirrdelbach [O Conchobair] escaped from the castle of Athlone.

1247.5

Milid Mac Gosdelb took Feda Conmaicne and expelled Cathal Mag Ragnaill. He took the crannog of Claenloch and left a garrison of his own men in it.


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1247.6

Cathal and Toirrdelbach, sons of Aed O Conchobair, made a hosting to help Cathal Mag Ragnaill expel Mac Gosdelb from Feda Conmaicne. They captured the crannog and the lake and broke down the castle of Lecc Derg on the Saturday before Pentecost. And Toirrdelbach came to Trinity Island to fetch Clarus Mac Mailin, since the Galls had refused to come out of the castle unless the Archdeacon would escort them westwards across the Shannon to Tumna. So they came away with him, and the Clann Gosdelb were expelled from the whole territory.

1247.7

Muiris Mac Gerailt led out a great army of Galls, first to Sligo and thence to Assaroe, which they reached on the Wednesday after the feast of SS. Peter and Paul, and where Cormac son of Diarmait son of Ruaidri O Conchobair joined himself to Mac Gerailt's followers. O Domnaill mustered the Cenel Conaill and Cenel Eogain to oppose them at Ballyshannon and for a week exactly they did not let Gall or Gael pass the ford. So the invaders took counsel and sent Cormac O Conchobair with a large force of horsemen westwards along the plain and then southwards to the edge of the Mointech. From here he skirted the Mointech eastwards till he reached Ballycooloon on the Erne, and the Cenel Conaill perceived nothing of them till they saw them approaching on their own side of the river. But when the Galls saw the attention of the Cenel Conaill diverted from themselves to the horsemen who were taking them in their rear, they charged across the ford, so that the Cenel Conaill were between the two parties. And this is not all, for Maelsechlainn O Domnaill, king of Cenel Conaill, was killed there, and Gilla Muinelach O Baigill and Mac Somurli, king of Argyle, and all the chief men of Cenel Conaill. Many men of Mac Gerailt's army were drowned in crossing the Find northwards; many also were killed at Termon Magrath in the pursuit after the preys, including William Brit the Sheriff of Connacht and his brother, a young famous knight. But after that they pillaged and plundered the whole territory and departed, leaving Ruaidri O Canannain behind as king of Cenel Conaill for the nonce.

1247.8

A great war was waged by Toirrdelbach son of Aed O Conbhobair and Donnchad son of Anmchad son of Donnchad O Gillapatraic of Ossory against the Galls of Connacht. Toirrdelbach assembled the kings' sons of Connacht and they reached Fid O nDiarmata and Muinter Fathaig, where they killed some people, and passed on to Galway, where they burned the town


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and the castle and where very many people were killed, Donnchad O Gillaptraic of Ossory killing Mac Elgeit, the Seneschal of Connacht. The Galls followed them up and engaged them, and they killed a [further] number of Galls and escaped in spite of them, coming afterwards to Carra. Jordan D'Exeter and the children of Adam [Standon] and the Galls of Carra assembled and moved against Toirrdelbach, but he left the country to them, not being strong enough to oppose them.

1247.9

Burrishoole was burnt by Tadc son of Conchobar Ruad and Tadc son of Tuathal mac Muirchertaig Muimnig. Not only that, but the Galls of Connacht had not experienced for many a long year the like of the war which these princes now waged against them, for they did not forbear to ravage a single tract or territory of the Connacht Galls.

1247.10

Findguala daughter of Ruaidri O Conchobair died in Cong this year.

1247.11

Roscommon and Ardcarne were burnt by the Galls this year.

1247.12

A great fleet was collected by O Dubda and O Baigill to plunder Carbury and the crew of one ship, among whom was Magnus O Baigill, were drowned at Indsi Thuathruis.

1247.13

Conchobar O Muiredaig, Bishop of the Ui Fiachrach Aidne, died at Bristol.

1247.14

Tadc son of Conchobar Ruad burned the great island of Claenloch and twenty-eight Galls were burned there.