Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition
Annals of the Four Masters (Author: [unknown])

Annal M727

M727.0

The Age of Christ, 727.

M727.1

The fifth year of Flaithbheartach.

M727.2

A battle was fought between Aedh, son of Fearghal, and the Cinel Conaill, at Magh Itha, where Conaing, son of Congal, son of Fearghus, and many others of the Cinel Eoghain, were slain.

M727.3

Eochaidh, son of Eochaidh, chief of Dal Riada, died.

M727.4

Conall, son of Conchubhar, died.

M727.5

St. Dachonna Bolgan, Anchorite of Ard Macha, died.

M727.6

Aedh, son of Conaing, chief of Irluachair, was slain.

M727.7

There was a cow seen at Deilginis Cualann, having one head and one body as far as her


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shoulders, two bodies from her shoulders hindwards, and two tails; she had six legs, was milked three times each day, and her milk was greater each time. Her milk, and some of the butter made of it, were tasted by many persons.

Annal M728

M728.0

The Age of Christ, 728.

M728.1

The sixth year of Flaithbheartach.

M728.2

A battle was fought in Magh Itha, between the sons of Loingseach, son of Aenghus, and the sons of Fearghal, son of Maelduin, where numbers of the Cinel Eoghain were slain.

M728.3

Flaithbheartach sent for a marine fleet of Dal Riada to Ireland, and on their arrival they made no delay till they arrived in Inis hOinae; and there was a battle fought between Flaithbheartach with his guards and the Cianachta, and others of the Ulidians and the Cinel Eoghain; and a countless number of the Ulidians, Cinel Eoghain, and Cianachta, were cut off, together with Conchubhar, son of Loichene, and Branchu, son of Bran; and a countless number of them was drowned in the Banna, after their having been defeated.

M728.4

Reachtabhra grandson of Cathasach, Lord of Ui Thuirtre, died.

M728.5

Taichleach son of Cenn Faeladh, Lord of Luigne, died.

M728.6

Caintighearna daughter of Ceallach Cualann died.

Annal M729

M729.0

The Age of Christ, 729.

M729.1

After Flaithbheartach, son of Loingseach, son of Aenghus, had been seven years in the sovereignty of Ireland, he died at Ard Macha Armagh, having resigned his kingdom for a monastic life.

M729.2

Suibhne, son of Cronnmael, son of Ronan, Bishop of Ard Macha, died on the 21st of June; he was of the Ui Niallain.

Annal M730

M730.0

The Age of Christ, 730.

M730.1

The first year of Aedh Allan, son of Fearghal, son of Maelduin, over Ireland.

M730.2

St. Mobrigu, of Bealach Fele, died.

M730.3

St. Flann, son of Conaing, Abbot of Cill Mor Dithraibh, was slain.

M730.4

St. Oegheatchair,


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Bishop of Aendruim Nendrum, died.

M730.5

The battle of Bealach Ele was fought between Cathal, son of Finguine, King of Munster, and the Leinstermen, where many of the Leinstermen were slain. There fell of the Munstermen here Ceallach, son of Faelchair, chief of Osraighe Ossory, and the two sons of Cormac, son of Rossa, chief of the Deisi, with three thousand along with them.

M730.6

Cathal, son of Muireadhach, King of Connaught, died.

M730.7

Airechtach, grandson of Dunchadh Muirsce, chief of Ui Fiachrach, died.

Annal M731

M731.0

The Age of Christ, 731.

M731.1

The second year of Aedh Allan.

M731.2

Fianamhail, son of Gertide, Abbot of Cluain Iraird Clonard, died.

M731.3

Crunnmael, son of Colgan, Abbot of Lusca,

M731.4

and Daniel, son of Colman, Abbot of Ard Brecain Ardbraccan, died.

M731.5

Colman, son of Murchu, Abbot of Magh Bile Movilla, died.

M731.6

Maelfothartaigh, son of Maeltuile, one of the Leinstermen,

M731.7

and Bodhbhchadh, son of Conall Gabhra, chief of Cairbre, died.

Annal M732

M732.0

The Age of Christ, 732.

M732.1

The third year of Aedh Allan.

M732.2

Ronan, Abbot of Ceann Garadh in Scotland;

M732.3

Conamhail Ua Loichene, Abbot of Cluain Mic Nois, of the sept of Cianachta Breagh;

M732.4

and Graiphnidh, Abbot of Imleach Fia, died.

M732.5

Failbhe, son of Guaire, successor of Maelrubha, was drowned, and the crew of his ship along with him; they were twenty two in number.

M732.6

Fiangalach, son of Murchadh, chief of Ui Mail, died.

M732.7

A battle was fought between two parties of the race of Aedh Slaine, wherein Cathal, son of Aedh was slain, on the east side of Lic Ailbhe, by Conaing, son of Amhalgaidh.


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M732.8

Muirgheas, son of Fearghus Forcraidh, was slain.

M732.9

Aenghus, son of Ailell, Lord of Ard Cianachta, died.

M732.10

The battle of Fochart, in Magh Muirtheimhne was fought by Aedh Allan and the Clanna Neill of the North, against the Ulidians, where Aedh Roin, King of Ulidia, was slain; and his head was cut off on Cloch An Chommaigh, in the doorway of the church of Fochard; and Conchadh, son of Cuanach, chief of Cobha, was also slain, and many others along with him. The cause of this battle was the profanation of Cill Cunna by Ua Seghain, one of the peaple of Aedh Roin, of which Aedh Roin himself said: ‘I will not take its Conn from Tairr,’ for Ceall Cunna and Ceall Tairre are side by side. Congus, successor of Patrick, composed this quatrain, to incite Aedh Allan to revenge the profanation of the church, for he was the spiritual adviser of Aedh, so that he said:

    1. Say unto the cold Aedh Allan,
      that I have been oppressed by a feeble army;
      Aedh Roin insulted me last night
      at Cill Cunna of the sweet music.

Aedh Allan collected his forces to Fochard, and Aedh Allan composed these verses on his march to the battle:

    1. For Cill Cunna, the church of my confessor,
      I take this day a journey on the road;
      Aedh Roin shall leave his head with me,
      or I shall leave mine with him.

Of the same battle was said:

    1. The slaughter of the Ulidians with Aedh Roin
      was made by Aedh Allan, King of Ireland;
      For their coigny at Cill Cunna
      he placed soles to necks.

Annal M733

M733.0

The Age of Christ, 733.

M733.1

The fourth year of Aedh.

M733.2

St. Tola, son of Dunchadh, bishop, a worthy soldier of Christ, died.

M733.3

Breasal, son of Aedh Roin, King of Ulidia, was slain at Dun Celtchair.


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M733.4

Aedh Allan, King of Ireland, assembled the forces of Leath Chuinn, to proceed into Leinster; and he arrived at Ath Seanaith. The Leinstermen collected the greatest number they were able, to defend his right against him. A fierce battle was fought between them. The king, Aedh Allan himself; went into the battle, and the chieftains of the North along with him. The chieftains of Leinster came with their kings into the battle; and bloodily and heroically was the battle fought between them both. Heroes were slaughtered, and bodies were mutilated. Aedh Allan, and Aedh, son of Colgan, King of Leinster, met each other in single combat; and Aedh, son of Colgan, was slain by Aedh Allan. The Leinstermen were killed, slaughtered, cut off, and dreadfully exterminated, in this battle, so that there escaped of them but a small remnant, and a few fugitives. The following were the leaders and chieftains of the Leinstermen who fell, namely: Aedh, son of Colgan, King of Ui Ceinnsealaigh; Bran Beg, son of Murchadh, the second king who was over the Leinstermen; Fearghus, son of Maenach, and Dubhdacrich, two lords of Fotharta; the son of Ua Ceallaigh; the son of Trian; Fiangalach Ua Maeleaithgin; Conall Ua Aithechdai; the four sons of Flann Ua Conghaile; Eladhach Ua Maeluidhir; and many others, whom it would be tedious to enumerate. The people of Leath Chuinn were joyous after this victory, for they had wreaked


p.335

their vengeance and their animosity upon the Leinstermen. Nine thousand was the number of them that was slain, as is said in these verses:
    1. From the battle of Uchbhadh the great,
      in which a havoc of the Fir Feini i.e. the farmers was made,
      There is not known on the fair sandy soil
      the posterity of any Leinsterman in Ireland.
    2. Nine thousand there fell
      in the battle of Uchbhadh with vehemence,
      Of the army of Leinster, sharp wounding,
      great the carnage of the Fir Feini.

Aedh Allan cecinit:

    1. The Aedh in the clay,
      the king in the churchyard,
      The beloved pure dove,
      with Ciaran at Cluain!

Samhthann cecinit before the battle:

    1. If the two Aedhs meet,
      it will be very difficult to separate them,
      To me it will be grevious
      if Aedh son of Colgan fall by Aedh, son of Fearghal.

M733.5

Faelan, son of Bran, King of Leinster, died, after a well spent life.

M733.6

Cearnach, son of Foghartach, son of Niall, son of Cearnach Sotal, son of Diarmaid, son of Aedh Slaine, was slain.

M733.7

Fearghus, son of Creamhthann, was slain.

M733.8

A hosting was made by Cathal, son of Finguine, into Leinster; and he obtained hostages from Bran Breac, son of Murchadh, and carried off much property.

Annal M734

M734.0

The Age of Christ, 734.

M734.1

The fifth year of Aedh.

M734.2

St. Samhthann, virgin, of Cluain Bronaigh, in Teabhtha, died on the 19th of December. It was of her Aedh Allan gave this testimony:


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    1. Samhthann for enlightening various sinners,
      a servant who observed stern chastity,
      In the northern plain of fertile Meath,
      great suffering did Samhthann endure;
    2. She undertook a thing that was not easy,
      fasting for the kingdom above;
      She lived on scanty food;
      hard were her girdles;
    3. She struggled in venomous conflicts;
      pure was her heart amid the wicked;
      To the bosom of the Lord, with a pure death,
      Samhthann passed from her sufferings.

M734.3

Flann, son of Ceallach, son of Crunnmael, Bishop of Reachrainn, died.

M734.4

Cuanna Ua Bessain, scribe of Treoit, died.

M734.5

Fearghus Glut, chief of Cobha, died.It appeared to him that wicked and destructive people used to cast spits, in which they put charms, in his face, which was the cause of his death.

M734.6

Ailill, son of Tuathal, Lord of Ui Crimhthainn, died.

Annal M735

M735.0

The Age of Christ, 735.

M735.1

The sixth year of Aedh.

M735.2

St. Bran, of Lann Eala Lynally, died.

M735.3

Maincheine, of Tuaim Greine, died.

M735.4

Flann Feabhla, Abbot of Gort Conaigh, in Mughdhorn Maighen Cremorne, died.

M735.5

Ceallach, son of Sechdi, one of the Conmaicne, Abbot of Cluain Mic Nois, died.

M735.6

Dubhdabhoireann, Abbot of Fobhar Fore, died.

M735.7

Forbasach, son of Ailell, Lord of Osraighe Ossory, was slain.

Annal M736

M736.0

The Age of Christ, 736.

M736.1

The seventh year of Aedh.

M736.2

Connla, Lord of Teabhtha, died.

M736.3

Amhalgaidh, son of Cathasach, chief of Conaille, died.

M736.4

Murchadh, son of Fearghal, son of Maelduin, was slain.

M736.5

The battle of Carn Fearadhaigh,


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in which Torcan Tinereidh, was slain.

M736.6

Fuireachtach, Airchinneach of Inis Caeil, and Flann Aighle, Bishop of Eachdhruim, died.