870 Dub dá Thuile, abbot of Liath Mo-Chaemóc, died.
870 Máel Odor, bishop and-anchorite, abbot of Dam Inis, rested.
870 Cumsud, abbot of Dísert Ciaráin Belaig Dúin, bishop and scribe, rested.
870 Comgán Fota, abbot of Tamlachta, rested.
870 Cobhthach son of Muiredach, abbot of Cell Dara, scholar and doctor, died, of whom was said:
- Cobthach of the hospitable Currach,
eligible to be king of watery Liffey,
alas for the great son of Muiredach,
it was grievous for the fair grandson of Cellach.
- Chief of the scholars of Leinster,
a perfect, skillful, renowned sage,
swift star of the calm Rye Water,
the successor of Conlaith, Cobthach.
870 Móengal, bishop of Cell Dara, rested.
870 In this year Áed son of Niall came into Leinster, perhaps to avenge the warrior we mentioned above, who was killed by the Laigin, or perhaps to levy tribute. He plundered Leinster from Áth Cliath to Gabrán. Then Cerball son of Dúnlang, king of Osraige, and Cennétig son of Gáethíne, king of Loíches, came from the other side of Leinster, and they did as much burning and plundering and killing as they could until they reached Dún m-Bolg, and they camped there (i.e., Cerball and Cennétig).
Then the Laigin mustered about their king, that is, about Muiredach son of Bróen, and he was a harsh, triumphant, clever king, for he had been for a long time in exile in Alba, and he was by nature hard and brave; and they decided that they should attack the Loíchsi and Osraige who were in Dún m-Bolg, rather than the king of Ireland who was at Belach Gabráin, and that they should attack the encampment at night. Thus the Laigin went, with their king along with them, hardily and bravely in their battle ranks to Dún m-Bolg, where their enemies were. Rough was their strength; the human condition is strange, for the Laigin trusted in St. Brigit that they would have victory and triumph over the Osraige and Loíchsi. However, the Osraige trusted in St. Ciarán of Saigir to bring them victory and triumph over the Laigin. The Laigin were praying fervently to St. Brigit that they might kill their enemies ...
Then the Laigin came to the side of the encampment where the son of Gáethíne was. The son of Gáethíne did not evade them, but attacked them harshly and fiercely, as was his custom. Then there was hard and bloody fighting on both sides. For a long time there were heard the cries of men driving each other to distress, and the clamour of the war trumpets; and the earth began to shake so that their horses and pack animals ran mad, and that was a great impediment to the actions of the warriors. Nevertheless, those of the army who were in the clefts of the rocks went after the pack animals and stopped many of them. That tumult was great, and great also was the noise in the air above them. While they were about that, Cerball was instructing his people, for it was the beginning of night,
Cerball went with a troop to his sister's son, Cennétig, who was in great difficulty among his enemies, and he raised his harsh voice on high and was encouraging his people against the Laigin (and the Laigin heard that), and then his people were supporting him. He Cerball appointed two of his men to guard and protect him. The king of Laigin cast a javelin at them and killed one of those two men, Folachtach, the secnab of Cell Dara. Great was the tumult and commotion between them then, and the Badb raised her head among them, and there was much slaughter among them everywhere. Then the Laigin left the encampment, and they were taking their king with them, and since the king could not hold his army with him, he leaped on his horse and followed after his people. We are sure that it was by a miracle of St. Brigit and Sen-Chiarán that they separated like that, for although noblemen among them were slain, there was no great massacre there. Neither Cerball nor Cennétig allowed his people to pursue the Laigin, through caution. On the next day many of the Laigin who had gone astray were killed.
Cerball and Cennétig came in tight, orderly battalions through the midst of their enemies to Gabrán, to the King of Ireland, Áed Findliath (whose wife was Cerball's sister, and mother of Cennétig), and they told the King of Ireland what had happened with them, that is, that their camp had been taken, etc. They had a friendly conversation, and they parted after that.
The king of the Laigin gave no good response to the King of Ireland, but he reminded him of what had been done to him, and he gave neither tribute nor hostages.
870 In this year the Norwegian kings besieged Srath Cluada in Britain, camping against them for four months; finally, having subdued the people inside by hunger and thirst—the well that they had inside having dried up in a remarkable way—they attacked them. First they took all the goods that were inside. A great host was taken out into captivity. [Dubháltach Firbisigh wrote this, in 1643.] thus wrote the first transcriber.
871 Kl. Móengal, abbot of Bennchor, rested.
871 Dubthach, abbot of Cell Achaid, bishop and scribe and anchorite, rested.
871 Ailill, bishop and abbot of Fobar, rested.
871 Cú Rúi, abbot of Inis Clothrann, learned in the history of Ireland, died.
871 Amlaib and Imar came back from Alba to Áth Cliath, bringing many British and Scottish and Saxon prisoners with them. They numbered two hundred ships.
871 The destruction of Dún Sobairche, which had never been accomplished before.
871 Ailill son of Dúnlang, king of the Laigin, was killed by the Northmen.
871 Máel Muad son of Fínnachta, king of Airther Life, died.
871 Flaithem son of Fáelchar was drowned by the community of Lethglenn.
871 A raid on Connacht by Cerball and Dúnchad, in which Buachail son of Dúnadach was killed.
871 Then Munster was raided by Cerball across Luachair westwards.
Amlaib went from Ireland to Norway to fight the Norwegians and help his father, Gofraid, for the Norwegians were warring against him, his father having sent for him. Since it would be lengthy to tell the cause of their war, and since it has so little relevance to us, although we have knowledge of it, we forego writing it, for our task is to write about whatever concerns Ireland, and not even all of that; for the Irish suffer evils not only from the Norwegians, but they also suffer many evils from themselves.