1270 First of January on Wednesday and the third day of the moon, A.D. MCCLXX. Second year of, the Solar Cycle; seventeenth year of the Lunar Cycle; thirteenth year of the Indiction. Embolismal year. E.
Sligo was burned by O Domnaill and the Cenel Conaill and the son of Brellach an Chairn O Mailbrenainn was killed on that occasion.
Great war and dissension broke out between O Conchobair and Walter Burke, Earl of Ulster, and neither Gall nor Gael could separate them. The Earl called upon the Justiciar and his Galls and both came with great armies into Connacht, reaching Roscommon the first night and Port na Lece beyond Elphin, where they encamped, the second night. Here the Earl and the chief Irish Galls determined, after taking counsel, to cross the Shannon to Ath Charad Conaill on its eastern bank.
Now Aed O Conchobair, king of Connacht, had assembled a few of his chief followers in Moynishy to oppose the Galls, while the Justiciar with a small force remained on the west bank of the Shannon, watching for them. When the Earl had passed eastwards of Ath Charad Conaill, a few of O Conchobair's men attacked his party in the woods of Conmaicne, killing a small number of them; but they ceased not in their advance and attack till they came to Moynishy, where they halted and encamped for the night.
The Galls then advised the Earl to make peace with O Conchobair and to give Uilliam Oc son of Ricard Mor son of Uilliam the Conqueror into the custody of O Conchobair's people while O Conchobair should be in their own camp arranging the terms of settlement. This was done. And when Uilliam Oc surrendered to O Conchobair he was made prisoner, and Seoan Doilifin and his son were then killed in that same place. But when the Earl heard that treachery had been practised on his brother he marched, early next day, to Ath in Chip; for on these two nights O Conchobair was ranging about them, as a fierce rending mighty lion prowls about his foes and slays them, so that he did not allow them to eat or rest. And Aed O Conchobair moved off that same day.
Now when the Galls had gone to Ath in Chip in the morning, Toirrdelbach O Briain fell upon them there. The Earl himself turned upon him and slew him on the spot, single-handed.
At this moment the men of Connacht fell upon them. Their rearguard was dislodged and their van broken and nine of their noblest knights were killed on that moor, including Richard of the Wood and Seon Butler, and they left a hundred horses on the field, with their saddles and poitrels. Uilliam Oc was then killed in his captivity, after O Briain had been slain by the Earl, and none knew how many besides.
After this O Conchobair razed the castles of Ath Angaile and Sliab Luga and Kilcolman and burnt Roscommon, Randoon and Onagh.
Brian Ruad O Briain revolted against the Galls; he plundered them extensively and captured Clare Castle.
The Earl and the Connacht Galls made great raids in Tirerrill on the people of Aed O Conchobair. David Cusin was killed on this raid.
Tomas O Raigillig was killed by the Galls of Nobber.
The son of Murchad Carrach O Fergail was killed by the Galls.
The coarb of Patrick rested in Christ.
Hunger and great destitution throughout Ireland this year.
Cathal son of An Liathanach (the Grey-haired ?) O Conchobair, Abbot of the Trinity in Loch Key, was born this year.
Lewis, King of France, died this year.
Edward, son of the King of England, went to the Holy Land to fight for it.
It was in this year that the reign of the ollavs Dubshuilech and Dunlang O Mailchonaire came to an end, and Tanaide Mor son of Duinnin son of Nede son of Conaing Buide O Mailchonaire took his seat in the Ollav's Chair of the province of Connacht. In the words [of the poet]: ‘Tanaide the teacher, a learned ollav, son of Duinnin, spent forty famous years on the floor of Liss Lerthaile.’