1288 First of January on Thursday and the twenty-first day of the moon, A.D. MCCLXXXVIII. Twentieth year of the Solar
Cathal son of Tadc son of Cathal Mac Diarmata assumed the kingship of Moylurg this year.
Magnus O Conchobair came, with such of the men of Connacht, Ui Briuin and Conmaicne as he could get to join him, to seize the kingship of Connacht for himself and to depose his brother, Cathal son of Conchobar Ruad. They reached Bellaslishen, where Cathal and his followers were, and the two armies gave battle to each other. Here Cathal was captured and his men routed; he was deposed and a great part of Connacht was plundered on that occasion. Magnus then seized the kingship and ousted his elder brother, who had held it for seven and a half years, as the poet says: ‘The son of kingly Conchobar Ruad was king of Connacht north and south; seven years and half a year was the reign of Cathal in Cruachu.’
Donnchad Riabach son of Magnus mac Muirchertaig Muimnig rested.
Toirrdelbach son of Eogan O Conchobair, with Maelsechlainn O Flannacain, captured a house from Magnus O Conchobair this same winter in Ros Mor, and this was done on the advice of Fiachra O Flainn. Magnus himself was wounded there; Ragnall Mag Ragnaill, chieftain of the Muinter Eolais, was killed by a single arrow-shot; Niall Gelbuide O Conchobair was wounded; some of their men were killed and a part of their good horses was taken from them.
Magnus O Conchobair went on a hosting in Sil Murray after he was cured and took hostages of them all.
The Red Earl—that is Richard, son of Walter Earl of Ulster, son of Richard Mor son of William ‘Congcur’ or ‘of the conquest’—marched into Connacht as far as Roscommon against Magnus son of Conchobar Ruad, who was king of Connacht at that time, Fitz Gerald and the King's men. These all assembled to oppose him and challenged him to advance beyond that point. So the Earl determined to retire from the country and disband his army.
Stephen, Archbishop of Tuaim and Justiciar of Ireland, rested.
Uilliam Mac Feorais was elected to the archbishopric of Tuaim.