THE AGE OF CHRIST, 1252. The Age of Christ, one thousand two hundred fifty-two.
Maelmaedhóg O'Beollain, Coarb of Columbkille, at Drumcliff, a man of great esteem and wealth, the most illustrious for hospitality, and the most honoured and venerated by the English and Irish in his time, died.
The castle of Caol-Uisce was erected by Maurice Fitzgerald, as was also the castle of Moy-Cova.
Conor O'Doherty, Chief of Ardmire in the county of Donegal, tower of the hospitality and feats of arms of the north, died.
Conor Mac Cawell, Chief of Kinel-Farry in Tyrone, and many other territories, and peace-maker of Tirconnell, Tyrone, and Oriel, was slain by the people of Brian O'Neill, while defending his protegees against them, he himself being under the protection of O'Gormly and O'Kane.
Cuconnaught Mac Consnava, Chief of Muintir-Kenny, died.
Gilla-Isa O'Carroll, Chief of Calry of Drumcliffe, died.
Manus Mac Gilduff, Chief of Tullygarvey, died.
The Lord Justice of Ireland came to Armagh with a very numerous army, and proceeded thence to Iveagh, from which he marched back to Cluain-Fiachna. Brian O'Neill and his brother made submission to him, and Rory
Great heat and drought prevailed in this Summer, so that people crossed the beds of the principal rivers of Ireland with dry feet. The reaping of the corn crops of Ireland was going on twenty days before Lammas the 1st of August, and the trees were scorched by the heat of the sun.
New money was ordered by the King of England to be made coined in Ireland, and the money previously in use was discontinued.
Murrough O'Fallon, High Constable of Connaught, was slain in Moy-Rein by the men of Breifny.
Godfrey O'Donnell made a predatory incursion into Tyrone, and took many cows and prisoners, but was overtaken as he was leaving the country by Brian O'Neill, and a fierce battle was fought between them, in which the Kinel-Owen were defeated, and left behind many heads, with a great number of their chieftains i.e. as prisoners.
THE AGE OF CHRIST, 1253. The Age of Christ, one thousand two hundred fifty-three.
Alinn O'Sullivan, Bishop of Lismore, died.
David, the son of Kellagh O'Gillapatrick, Bishop of Clonmacnoise, died and Thomas O'Quin, a friar minor, was consecrated at Rome as his successor.
Gilla-Kelly O'Ruaidhin, Bishop of Hy-Fiachrach Killala, died, and John O'Laidig, a friar of the order of St. Dominic, was elected to succeed him at Killala in Hy-Fiachrach, and the degree of Bishop conferred on him at Tuam, on the second Sunday in Lent.
A monastery for Dominican Friars was founded at Sligo.
Another monastery for the same order of friars was founded at Ath-Leathan in Leyny.
A palace was erected by Tomaltagh O'Conor, Bishop of Elphin, at Killtesin.
Owen O'Heyne, Lord of Hy-Fiachrach Aidhne, died.
The daughter of the Earl of Ulster, wife of Miles Mac Costello, died, and was interred in the Abbey of Boyle.
A great hosting by the English of Ireland, under the command of Mac Maurice (Fitzgerald), and they marched into Tyrone against O'Neill; but, far from obtaining either hostages or pledges from him, they were cut off with very great slaughter on that occasion.
A great war was waged with the English by Brian O'Neill, Chief of Kinel-Owen. He marched to Moy-Cova, the castle of which, with a great number of other castles, he demolished. He also burned Sradbhaile, and desolated Machaire-Uladh.
An incursion was made by Donnell O'Reilly and the Caech Monoculus O'Reilly, Cathal O'Conor, and Gilla-na-naev O'Farrell, into Muintir-Eolais, against Cathal Mac Rannall, and they plundered the entire country. They remained two nights encamped at Tulach-alainn, and stopped the third night at Annaghduff, where Gilla-na-naev separated from the others. The O'Reillys and Cathal O'Conor then marched to Cluain-Conmaicne where they remained
The Franciscan monastery of Ardfert was founded by Fitzmaurice of Kerry.
THE AGE OF CHRIST, 1254. The Age of Christ, one thousand two hundred fifty-four.
Maelfinnen O'Beollain, Coarb of Drumcliff, died.
Murrough O'Melaghlin was slain by the son of the Sinnagh (the Fox) O'Caharny.
Aindiles O'Henery, tower of the valour of the north of Ireland, died.
Pierce Pramister, Lord of Conmaicne, of Dunmore, died.
The Dominican monastery of Ath-leathan Ballylahan, in the county of Mayo was totally destroyed by fire.
Pierce Ristubart, Lord of Sil-Mailruain, and a baron, was slain on Lough Ree, by Murrough O'Melaghlin.
Sitric Mac Shanly was taken prisoner by Felim, the son of Cathal Crovderg, who also caused Sean-Shuileach Mac Shanly to be blinded, for he had been told that they were forming treacherous plots against him.
Donough, son of Donough, who was son of Tomaltagh Mac Dermot, and Auliffe O'Biobhsaigh, were slain by the Connacians, at Cluain-Conmaicne.
Manus O'Gara was unjustly slain by the people of the son of Felim O'Conor.
The King of France returned from Jerusalem, after having concluded a three years' peace between the Christians and the Saracens.
The Green Monastery at Kildare was founded by the Earl of Kildare; and they his family have a superb tomb in the chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary in this monastery.
THE AGE OF CHRIST, 1255. The Age of Christ, one thousand two hundred fifty-five.
Donslevy O'Flynn, Abbot of the Church of SS. Peter and Paul at Armagh, died, and Patrick O'Murray, Prior of the same house, was elected to the abbacy.
Thomas Mac Dermot, Erenagh of Elphin, died; he was parson of Moylurg, Airteach, and Clann-Cuain.
O'Laidig, Erenagh of Annadown, died.
Hugh, son of Felim O'Conor, went to Tyrone, and made peace between his own father and the people of the North of Ireland; and he brought with him from the north all the Connacians who were there in a state of disturbance; he brought them, with their moveables, through the midst of his bitterest enemies, viz. the sons of Roderic O'Conor and the English, who did not dare to molest them.
Mac Carroll assumed the archbishopric of Cashel, in Munster.
Florence Mac Flynn, Archbishop of Tuam, crossed the sea to converse with
Mahon O'Monahan was slain at Buimlinn.
Dermot O'Quin, Auliffe, his son, together with the chiefs of Muintir Gillagan, were slain at Faradhan Moighe Treagha, by Gilla-na-naev O'Farrell, who afterwards pillaged their territory.
A great meeting took place at Tochar Mona Coinneadha between O'Conor Felim and Mac William Burke. A peace was concluded between them, and all his conditions were conceded to Felim.
Juliana, daughter of the Coarb of St. Caillin, and Gilla-na-naev, his brother died.
Ranailt, daughter of O'Farrell, died in a bath.
THE AGE OF CHRIST, 1256.
The age of Christ, one thousand two hundred fifty-six.
Flann Mac Flynn died in Bristol.
The Archbishop of Dublin died.
Gilla-an-Choimhdheadh O'Kinnfaela, Abbot of Annadown, died.
O'Gillaran, Abbot of Trinity Church at Tuam, died.
A party of the O'Reilly family were slain by Hugh, the son of Felim O'Conor, namely, Cathal O'Reilly, Lord of Muintir-Maelmora, and of all the race of Hugh Finn; his two sons, namely, Donnell Roe and Niall; his brother, Cuconnaught; the three sons of Cathal Duff O'Reilly, namely, Godfrey, Farrell, and Donnell; Annadh, son of Donnell O'Reilly, who was slain by Conor Mac
The O'Reillys, however, slew a number of the chiefs of the opposite forces, namely, Dermot O'Flanagan, Flann Mageraghty, Murrough Finn, O'Farrell, and many others besides: their glaslaiths recruits even forced the van of the adverse army to give way three times, but they were at length overpowered by the main body. It was at Sailtean-na-nGasan that the van of that army first came up with the O'Reillys, from which place they pursued them to Ait-Tighe-Mec-Cuirrin, and from thence to the field of the great battle.
A Justiciary arrived in Ireland from the King of England. He and Hugh O'Conor held a conference at Rinn Duin, where a peace was ratified between them, on condition that so long as he should be Justiciary, the territory or lands of O'Conor in Connaught should not be circumscribed.
Rory O'Gara, Lord of Sliabh Lugha in the County Mayo, was slain by David, son of Richard Cuisin. Hugh, the son of Felim O'Conor, plundered the territory of the son of Richard Cuisin, in revenge of O'Gara; he demolished his castle, and killed all the people that were in it, and seized on all the islands of Lough Techet.
Randal Mac Brannan, Lord of Corcachlann, died.
Mac William Burke set out on a predatory expedition against Rory O'Flaherty. He plundered Gno-More and Gno-Beg, and took possession of all Lough Oirbsion Lough Corrib.
Donncahy Mac Shanly died in the Abbey of Boyle.
A great war broke out between Hugh O'Conor and Con O'Rourke i.e. the son of Tiernan, though they had been till then upon amicable terms with each other. O'Rourke afterwards went to the English, and formed a league of peace with them for himself and his people, without the permission so to do by Felim or his son. Hugh O'Conor the son of Felim afterwards, to wit, on the Wednesday before Christmas Day, plundered O'Rourke. They afterwards made peace with each other.
Athlone and Dun-doighre were burned on the one day.
O'Donnell, i.e. Godfrey, marched with an army into Fermanagh, by which he obtained property and hostages. From thence he proceeded to Breifny-O'Rourke, where they gave him his own demand.
THE AGE OF CHRIST, 1257. The Age of Christ, one thousand two hundred fifty-seven.
Mac Robias, Abbot of Clones, died.
Murray, son of Maelbrighde O'Faircheallaigh, Coarb of Maidoc, died.
Maelpatrick Mac Kele, Erenagh of Killala, was slain.
Thomas O'Mulkieran, the most eminent man in Ireland for wisdom, died.
The monastery of the Virgin Mary, at Roscommon, was consecrated by Bishop Tomaltagh O'Conor, for Dominican friars.
Con, son of Tiernan O'Rourke, went into the house of O'Conor and his son, and ratified a treaty of peace with them, and gave them as much of the land of Breifny as they desired to have, together with the fortress of Cloch-inse-na-dtorc, in Lough Finvoy, in which Hugh, son of Felim, placed guards.
Cathal Cairceach, son of Hugh, who was son of Cathal Crovderg, and Hugh, son of Conor, son of Hugh, who was son of Cathal Crovderg, were blinded by Hugh, son of Felim, the son of Cathal Crovderg; and this was done through envy and rancour, and in violation of the guarantees of the laity, clergy, and relics of Connaught.
Con, son of Cathal O'Reilly, Chief of Muintir-Maelmora, died.
Cloch-inse-na-dtorc, in Lough Finvoy, was burned by O'Rourke, those who guarded it being first permitted to come out of it.
Sitric, son of Ualgarg O'Rourke, was elected chief of his tribe, by Hugh O'Conor, in preference to Conor, son of Tiernan O'Rourke, in consequence of which Donnell, son of Conor, killed Sitric.
A conference was held by Felim O'Conor at Athlone, with the Lord Justice of Ireland, with Mac William Burke and the other English chiefs, and they made peace with one another.
A great depredation was committed by Hugh O'Conor on O'Rourke about Easter.
A brave battle was fought by Godfrey O'Donnell, Lord of Tirconnell, in defence of his country, with the Lord Justice of Ireland, Maurice Fitzgerald, and the other English nobles of Connaught, at Creadran-Cille in Ros-cede, in the territory of Carbury, to the north of Sligo. A desperate and furious battle was fought between them: bodies were mangled, heroes were disabled, and the senses were stunned on both sides. The field was vigorously maintained
On the same day Mac Griffin, an illustrious knight, was taken prisoner by O'Donnell's people; and Sligo was afterwards burned and totally plundered by them. Donough, the son of Cormac O'Donnell, was killed in the heat of this battle of Creadran. They (O'Donnell's people) then returned home in consequence of O'Donnell's wounds; but, were it not that his wounds had oppressed him, he would have routed his enemies to the River Moy. Godfrey, on his return, prostrated and demolished the castle which had been erected by the English a short time before, at Cael-uisce, to carry on the war against the Kinel-Connell.
Maurice Fitzgerald, for some time Lord Justice of Ireland, and the destroyer of the Irish, died.
The King of England granted Felim O'Conor a charter to hold the five cantreds of the King.
A great war between Conor O'Brien and the English of Munster; and the English were slaughtered by him. Teige O'Brien also committed great depredations upon them.
Conor, son of Tiernan O'Rourke, was treacherously slain at Ath-na-failme by Gillabarry O'Lamhduibh, one of his own people, and by the people of Matthew O'Reilly.
Cathal O'Monahan died on the 6th of December.
THE AGE OF CHRIST, 1258. The Age of Christ, one thousand two hundred, fifty-eight.
Abraham O'Conallan, Archbishop of Armagh, received a Pallium from the Court of Rome, in which he said Mass, at Armagh, on the 2nd day of the month of June.
Walter de Salerna, Archbishop of Tuam, and Great Dean of London, died in England, having been elected to those dignities in the preceding year by the King of England.
Tomaltagh O'Conor, Bishop of Elphin, was elected Archbishop of Tuam.
Gilchreest O'Carmacan, Deacon of Elphin, died.
The monk O'Curnin, a pious sage, died.
Matthew, son of Gillaroe O'Rodiv, i.e. the Master Professor, died.
The Bishop's palace at Elphin, and the palace of Kilsesin, were demolished by Hugh O'Conor.
O'Donnell (Godfrey) had now, for the space of a year, after having fought the battle of Creadran, been lying on his death-bed in an island in Loch-Beathach. When O'Neill i.e. Brian obtained intelligence of this, he collected his forces together for the purpose of marching into Tirconnell, and sent messengers to O'Donnell to demand hostages, pledges, and submission, from the Kinel-Connell, as they had no capable chieftain since the disabling of Godfrey. When the messengers delivered their message to O'Donnell, they returned back with all the speed they could exert.
O'Donnell ordered the Kinel-Connell to assemble from all quarters and come to him; and after they had assembled at the summons of their lord, he ordered them, as he was not able to march with them, to make for him the bier wherein his body would finally be borne, and to place him in it, and carry him in the midst of his people. He told them to exert their bravery, as he himself was among them, and not to suffer the might of their enemies to prevail
When O'Neill heard of the death of O'Donnell, he again sent messengers to the Kinel-Connell, to demand hostages and submission from them. Hereupon the Kinel-Connell held a council, to deliberate on what they should do, and as to which of their own (petty) chiefs they would yield submission and obedience, as they had no certain lord since Godfrey died. Whilst they were engaged in such speeches, they saw approaching Donnell Oge, the son of Donnell More O'Donnell, a valiant youth, then eighteen years of age, who had arrived from Scotland, and the Kinel-Conell immediately conferred the chieftainship upon him. This they lawfully did, as he was their own legitimate and worthy lord. When the Kinel-Connell told him of the message which the emissaries of O'Neill had brought them, he deemed it extravagant and exorbitant. It was on this occasion he repeated the celebrated proverb, in the Albanian Gaelic, in which he conferred with the emissaries, namely, ‘That every man should have his own world.’ Similar to the coming of Tuathal Teachtmhar over the sea from Scotland, after the extirpation of the royal race of Ireland by the Attacots, was this coming of Donnell Oge, to consolidate the
The monastery of Claena, in Leinster, in the diocese of Kildare, was founded for Franciscan Friars.
A great host was led by Hugh, son of Felim, and Teige O'Brien, to meet Brian O'Neill, at Cael-Uisce. The aforesaid chieftains, with one accord, conferred the sovereignty over the Irish on Brian O'Neill, after having made peace with each other; for the observance of which agreement the hostages of Hugh O'Conor were delivered up to him, and the hostages of Muintir-Reilly, and of all the Hy-Briuin, from Kells to Drumcliff.
Mac Sorley sailed with a fleet from the Insi Gall Hebrides around
Donnell, son of Conor, the son of Tiernan O'Rourke, who was until now detained in prison for his father, by Felim O'Conor and his son Hugh, was set at liberty by them; and the lordship of Breifny was given to him, in the place of his father.
Magrath Mac Tiernan, Chief of Teallach-Dunchadha, was slain by Donnell, son of Conor O'Rourke. The Connacians, and the men of Breifny in general, upon this took the lordship from Donnell, and the inhabitants of Tealach-Dunchadha slew his brother, Cathal, son of Conor. After this the lordship of Hy-Briuin, from the mountain eastwards, was conferred upon Art, son of Cathal Reagh O'Rourke.
O'Brian Magauran, Chief of Tealach Eachdhach, was slain by the Connacians.
Auliffe, son of Art O'Rourke, Lord of Breifny, from the mountain westwards, died.
Thomas O'Beirne died.
Ardgal O'Conor, son of the Coarb of Coman, died.
A great war broke out between the English and Conor O'Brien, during which were burned Ardrahen, Kilcolgan, and many street-towns, and much corn.
A conference took place between the English of Ireland and the Irish, in the absence of Felim O'Conor, and a peace was concluded between them.
THE AGE OF CHRIST, 1259. The Age of Christ, one thousand two hundred fifty-nine.
Cormac O'Luimlin, Bishop of Clonfert-Brendan, and the most illustrious man in Ireland for wisdom, died, a holy senior, of great age.
Tomaltagh, son of Turlough, who was son of Melaghlin O'Conor, returned from Rome, after having been consecrated Archbishop of Tuam at the Pope's court, bringing with him a pallium and great benefits for the Church.
Gillacam Mac Gillakieran, a man eminent in literature and poetry, died.
Hugh O'Conor gave the place seat of Auliffe, son of Art, to Art Beg, son of Art O'Rourke, and made a prisoner of Art, son of Cathal Reagh, after he had removed Auliffe from his residence.
Hugh O'Conor went to Derry-Columbkille, to espouse the daughter of Dugald Mac Sorley Mac Donnell.
Cathal Mac Consnamha, Chief of Muintir-Kenny in the county of Leitrim, was blinded by Hugh O'Conor; the hostages of Donnell O'Rourke, namely, Niall, son of Donough, and Brian, son of Niall O'Rourke, and all the other hostages of the Hy-Briuin, were also blinded by him.
Hugh O'Conor and Brian O'Neill held a conference at Devenish, in Lough Erne.
Hugh O'Conor made peace with Donnell O'Rourke, and afterwards gave him the lordship of Breifny.
Taichleach Mac Dermot died.
Miles Mac Costello died.
Hugh O'Conor made a prisoner of Gilbert Mac Costello, and ravaged all Sliabh-Lugha. Gilbert delivered up his own three sons prisoners in the place of himself, upon which Hugh O'Conor liberated him.
Teige O'Brien, Roydamna heir presumptive of Munster, died.
Siry O'Boyle was slain by his own tribe.
O'Donnell (Donnell Oge) assembled a very numerous army, and marched into Tyrone. Hugh Boy O'Neill came with another army to meet him, and all the country was burned by them. They went from thence into Oriel, and hostages were given up to them in every place through which they passed, until their return.
Felim O'Tuathail, Lord of Sil-Muireadhaigh Omurethi, died.
THE AGE OF CHRIST, 1260. The Age of Christ, one thousand two hundred sixty.
Kenny O'Beirne, Prior of Kilmore, died.
Mael-Finnen O'Meehin died.
The dignity of bishop was conferred, by the Coarb of St. Patrick, upon Melaghlin O'Conor, at Dundalk.
The battle of Druim-dearg, near Dun-da-leath-ghlas Downpatrick was fought by Brien O'Neill and Hugh O'Conor, against the English of the North of Ireland. In this battle many of the Irish chieftains were slain, viz. Brian
An army was led by Mac William Burke against Felim O'Conor, and he plundered the country before him, until he reached Roscommon. He dared not, however, pass down beyond this, because Felim and his son Hugh na nGall were near him in the Tuathas, and the cows of Connaught were behind them in the wilderness; so that they came to a resolution, on both sides, to make peace with each other. Accordingly they did so, and then Mac William returned home.
An army was led by Mac Maurice into Thomond, to attack Conor O'Brien. O'Brien, attended by the chiefs of his people, met him at Coill-Bearain; and the English were defeated at once, with the loss of David Prendergast, a most puissant knight; the Failgeach; the parson of Ardrahin, Thomas Barrott; and others not mentioned.
Manus, the son of Hugh Mageraghty, was slain by Donnell O'Flahiff.
Loughlin, son of Auliffe, the son of Art O'Rourke, and Tiernan his brother, were slain by Hugh O'Conor, after they had been delivered up to him by Donnell, son of Niall, the son of Congalagh O'Rourke.
Donnell, son of Conor, son of Tiernan O'Rourke, was treacherously slain by the inhabitants of Tealach-Dunchadha Tullyhunco; and Murtough, his brother, was afterwards slain by Hugh O'Conor. Art Beg, son of Art O'Rourke, was also slain by Hugh O'Conor.
Teige Duff, son of Niall, the son of Congalagh, was slain by Melaghlin, son of Auliffe, who was son of Art O'Rourke.
A great depredation was committed by Hugh O'Conor in Tuath-ratha; on which occasion Conor Mac Branan, Chief of Corc-Achlann, Murtough O'Maeny, the son of Brian O'Fallon, and many others, were slain.
A depredation was committed by Mac Maurice on O'Donnell. A party of O'Donnell's men overtook them (i.e. the plunderers) at Beannan Breacmhoighe, and burned and killed some of them.
A great depredation was committed on Fitzmaurice by O'Donnell, who plundered the whole of Carbury.
The garrison of Conor O'Kelly was burned by the people of Hugh O'Conor.
Sitric Mac Shanly was slain at Athlone by Donncahy Mageraghty and Tomaltagh Mageraghty.
A predatory incursion was made by O'Donnell, against the kinel-Owen, after the battle of Down; and the greater part of Kinel-Owen was plundered and burned by him on that occasion.
Abraham O'Conallan, Coarb of St. Patrick (Archbishop of Armagh), died.
THE AGE OF CHRIST, 1261. The Age of Christ, one thousand two hundred sixty-one.
Maelpatrick O'Scannal, Bishop of Raphoe, was elected to the Archbishopric of Armagh.
Sixteen of the most distinguished of the clergy of Kinel-Connell were killed at Derry by Conor O'Neill and the Kinel-Owen, together with Conor O'Firgil. Conor O'Neill was slain immediately afterwards by Donn O'Breslen, Chief of Fanad, through the miracles of God and St. Columbkille.
Hugh, son of Melaghlin O'Conor, was slain by Mulfaville O'Heyne.
Cathal O'Hara was slain by the English, by the procurement of Mac Feorais Bermingham; and five of the people of Leyny were also killed in the Great Church of Easdara Ballysadare.
A great war was waged, and many injuries were inflicted, by Fineen Mac Carthy, son of Donnell Mac Carthy, and his brothers, on the English.
A great army was marched by the Clann-Gerald Geraldines into Desmond, to attack Mac Carthy, i.e. Fineen. Mac Carthy attacked and defeated them; and in this contest were slain eight barons and five knights, besides others of
Fineen Mac Carthy was afterwards killed by the English, and the lordship of Desmond was assumed by his brother, the Aithcleireach Mac Carthy.
Art, son of Cathal Reagh O'Rourke, made his escape from the custody of Hugh O'Conor; and the nobles of Breifny and Conmaicne gave him the lordship of Breifny.
Donnell O'Hara committed a depredation upon the Clann-Feorais Berminghams, in revenge for their having slain Cathal O'Hara, and desecrated the church of St. Feichinn: he also killed Sefin Mac Feorais, who while being killed had upon his head the bell which he had taken from the church of Ballysadare.
Brian Roe O'Brien burned and demolished Caislein ui Chonaing Castle Connell, and killed all that were in it.
The Fortress of Hugh O'Conor (at Snamh-in-redaigh) was burned by the men of Breifny.
Cluain Suilionn, i.e. the Fortress of Felim O'Conor, was burned.
Turlough Oge, son of Hugh O'Conor, was given in fosterage to Art O'Rourke.
A great depredation was committed by Hugh O'Conor in Breifny; and he advanced to Drumlahan, where a part of his army was defeated, and many of the less distinguished of them were slain.
Hugh Boy O'Neill was banished, and Niall Culanagh was elected in his place.
Niall O'Gormly, Chief of Kinel-Moen, died.
A great victory was gained by O'Donnell over Niall Culanagh O'Neill in a battle, in which many of the chiefs of Kinel-Owen, under the conduct of Mac Cawell, Chief of Kinel-Farry, and many other chiefs not mentioned here, were killed or taken prisoners.