Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition
The Annals of Ulster (Author: [unknown])

Year U1339

U1339.0

Kalends of Jan. on 3rd feria, 21st of the moon, A.D. 1339-42.

U1339.1

The black Gillie Mag Uidhir was drowned on Loch-Eirne in the rere of a foray party.

U1339.2

Great war arose between Toirdelbach O'Conchobuir, king

p.469

of Connacht and Concobur Mac Diarmata, king of Magh-Luirg. Edmond de Burgh and Aedh, son of Feidhlimidh Ua Conchobair and Donnchadh O'Birn rose out with Mac Diarmata. And that O'Birn forced Ua Conchobuir into the church of Oil-finn, on his having gone to take a pledge for a foray committed by the Muinter-Birn on Hubert de Burgh and portion of his gallowglasses were killed under the Constable, namely, under Mac Ruaidhri. Great loss and evil excessive and general war arose through that in all Connacht. And the Clann-Muircertaigh rose out with O'Concobuir in the beginning against Mac Diarmata and they turned again with Mac William and with Mac Diarmata. Treachery was practised on the Clann-William de Burgh, through instigation of O'Conchobuir, whereby Thomas de Burgh was killed in ugly treachery in their own assembly by the Clann-Maurice and Jenkin de Burgh was killed in the same place (or, in the same transaction) by the Clann-Ricaird. Cathal, son of Gilla-Crist, Mac Diarmata, was killed by Fergal Ua Taidhg in the same war. Ferghal, son of Gilla-Crist Mac Cormaic the Fair, was killed in the same war.

U1339.3

A crushing defeat was inflicted by Conchobur Mac Diarmata and by his sons of kings on O'Concobuir near Bel-atha-slissen, whereby the Ford was crossed in a masterly manner past them and Diarmait, son of Brian Ua Ferghail, the best son of a chief of the same age that was in his time of the Conmaicni and the son of Hubert de Burgh, an honourable man without defect and Concobur, son of Donnchadh Ua hEilidhe the Black, were killed there.

U1339.4

John Mag Mathgamna, eminent for generosity and prowess

p.471

was killed with his gallowglasses in the rere of a foray-party by the household force of Aedh, son of Ralph Mag Mathgamna and by the Clann-Ceallaigh, in the pursuit And an equal number were slain as were drowned.

U1339.5

Diarmait the Red, son of Cormac Mac Diarmata junior, died in the habit of a Grey Cistercian monk in the Monastery of the Buill, without leaving reproach to his name respecting hospitality or respecting piety.

U1339.6

Conchobur Mag Eochagain the Red was killed by Foreigners.

U1339.7

Cormac, son of Ruaidhri, son of Domnall Ua Conchobuir, was taken prisoner by Conchobur, son of Tadhg and by Ruaidhri, son of Cathal Ua Conchobuir and Concobur was taken prisoner by Brian, son of Ruaidhri and given into the band of Concobur Mac Diarmata and placed by him in keeping in the Rock of Loch-Ce.

U1339.8

Domnall Ua Dochartaigh, arch-chief of Ard-Midhair—and it is not this alone, for there was little wanting from his having the lordship of Inis-Eogain and the lordship of the Cantred of Tir-hEnna and there was scarcely in Ireland a chief that had more people and a larger horse-host and better spirit and valour, hospitality and bestowal than he—and he died in the centre of his own house and John Ua Dochartaigh took his place.

U1339.9

The Sil-Muiredhaigh, some willingly and some by constraint, disowned the king of Connacht, namely, Toirdelbach, son of Aedh, son of Eogan Ua Concobuir. And these are the chiefest that rose against him: Edmond Mac William de Burgh and Concobur Mac Diarmata, king of Magh-Luirg, with their kinsmen and with their sept. And Aedh, son of Aedh the Brefnian, son of Cathal Ua Conchobair the Red and the muster of the Breifni and the Conmaicni along with them and Aedh, son Feidhlimidh Ua Conchobair, king of Connacht. And he was expelled from the country by those allies. And this is the advice his friends then gave him: to go to the house of Mac Diarmata by night. And the Clann-Muircertaigh

p.473

got tidings thereof and they lay in wait on the roads and on the paths and on the gaps of danger of the fortress. And he came through those in the night, owing to the darkness, with two or three horsemen. And an attack was made on him on the causeway of the fortress and he came safe from them by virtue of his strong hand and he injured Cathal, son of Aedh the Brefnian. And news thereof reached not Mac Diarmata, until he heard the frays and the execration a-doing throughout the fortress. Thus was it with them till the morrow. And on Mac Diarmata receiving tale thereof, be sent trusty persons to him to put him into the Rock. And he was the greater part of a week therein. And the noble persons of the country used to go secretly every day to him. And if it had been done for Mac Diarmata, peace would have been made with him. And, as it was not made, he Mac Diarmata escorted him to the castle of Ros-Comain and left him there.

U1339.10

Simon, son of Concobur, son of Simon Mac Gilla-Arraith, a chief of the chiefs of Luighni, died.

U1339.11

Aedh, son of Aedh Ua Conchobair the Brefnian, took the kingship of Connacht on Monday, namely, the first Monday of Winter.

U1339.12

Conchobur Ua Domnaill, king of Tir-Conaill—and fitting vessel for the arch-kingship of Ireland was he without dispute, for shape and for sense and for intellect, for high-mindedness and for generosity and for pre-eminence, for magnanimity and for great bestowal, for courage and for battle-vigour, for nobility and for gentleness, for humanity and good piety—was killed by Niall Ua Domnaill, namely by the son of his own father, after assaulting his fortress. And his death happened thus: fires and brands were put into the palace. And O'Domnaill came out and fell in the door of his own house, after gaining victory from world and from demon. And orphaned are wisdom and science without a man to

p.475

support or to foster them, after that deed.

U1339.13

Flann O'Domnallain junior; ollam of Connacht, rested in Christ.

U1339.14

Domnall O'Cuindlis, excellent historian and pure-worded exponent ? of the Gaidhilic, was killed by the Ui-Diarmata, shortly before Easter.

U1339.15

A general entertainer, of considerable substance, that was on Loch-Erne, without refusal to powerful or to weak, namely, Matthew Mac Maghnusa; died this year (on the 14th of the Kalends of September Aug. 19).

U1339.16

Thomas Mac Gille-Coisgli, an eminent sage, rested in Christ.

U1339.17

Tadhg Mac Donnchaidh, king of Tir-Oilella, was expelled by Concobur Mac Diarmata, namely by his own lord and by his own kinsman and Fergal, son of Tomaltach Mac Diarmata, took Tir-Oilella after him.