Endurance

by Dermot Somers

  5. Dinnseanchas, the lore of place, was actually responsible. The fact that there was a point on the River Dee with a name that sounded somewhat like Fear Diadh allowed a story to develop around a warrior of that name. Being close to the heartland of the Cuchulainn myth, it was logical that the two would then confront each other.

  6. ‘… co ndechaid dar timthireacht a chuirp agus gorbo lán cach n-áge de dá fhorrindibh.’

  ‘… and it [ga bolga] entered his body through the anus and filled every joint and limb of him with its barbs.’ Táin: transl. Cecile O’Rahilly.

  IV THE HALO & THE SWORD

  6. Warrior and Saint: Caoilte and St Patrick

  1. Further north, the myth of Cuchulainn shows a similar organic development, as different groups build up a composite hero to symbolise their story.

  2. The exaggerated prowess of Caoilte and his comrades contains a core of truth. Small groups of professional warriors, well-equipped, could always hammer large numbers of unskilled soldiers.

  3. That the saint left his mark on Cruachain is also claimed by Tírechán, who described him carrying out baptisms at the Well of Clébach, known today as the popular Patrician shrine of Ogulla.

  4. In the Early Christian era, most churches were built, not of stone, but of wood and thatch. Masonry was dry stone, severely limited in height. The Romans were using cement in Europe, but the Irish were not impressed. The round tower would not be possible, however, until they accepted mortar.

  7. Towards the Annals of the Four Masters:

  The Travels of Michael O’Clery

  1. The exact location of the settlement has long been a source of heated speculation, as if it might somehow retain an essence of the campaign, but the absolute disappearance of any trace is typical of O’Clery himself and of his reluctance to intrude on the physical record

  2. There were reported to be fourteen Catholic churches and eighty priests in Dublin, plus a further three thousand throughout the country. This comes from a Protestant account which complains that the people groaned under the burden of priests. A little earlier, in 1623, the Catholic Archbishop of Dublin estimated eight hundred priests in Ireland. To these he added ‘about two hundred Franciscans, who are especially to be recommended because they never suffered themselves to become extinct in the kingdom.’

  3. Actually, Ussher was an outstanding scholar, taking to a logical conclusion the dating conventions common to historians at the time, based on genealogy and the Old Testament. Although he was anti-Catholic, he worked closely with Gaelic counterparts on antiquarian research.

  4. This was the ancestral home of the O’Tooles, the house Red Hugh O’Donnell reached on his first escape from Dublin (see Chapter 1).

  5. A separate entry for St Patrick is worth quoting.

  (m = mac/son of) Patraicc m Calpuirn m Fodaighe m Oduis m Coirniuil m Liber m Mercuit m Oda m Oricc m Muricc m Oircc m Leo m Maxim m Otraicc m Erise m Peliste m Ferine m Briotáin m Ferghasa leithdercc m Nemhidh m Agnamain – (who goes straight back to Adam.)

  6. The books present were: The Book of Clonmacnoise; The Book of the Island of Saints (Lough Ree); The Book of Seanadh Mic Magnusa in Lough Erne; The Book of Clann Ua Maolchonaire; The Book of Ó Duibhgheanáinn; and The Book of Lecan Mac Firbisigh.

  RECOMMENDED READING

  Allingham & Crawford, Captain Cuellar’s Adventures, London, 1897.

  An Seabhach P. Ó Siochfhradha, Laoithe na Féinne, Dublin, 1941.

  Bartlett, Thomas and Jeffery, Keith (eds.), A Military History of Ireland, Cambridge University Press, 1996.

  Brady, Ciaran, Shane O’Neill, Hist. Assoc. of Ireland, 1996.

  Dasent, GW (transl. & ed.), Saga of Burnt Njal, London, 1861

  de Paor, Liam (ed.), Milestones in Irish History, Mercier Press, 1986.

  Dooley & Roe (transl. & ed.), Tales of the Elders of Ireland, Oxford, 1999.

  Duffy, Seán (ed.), Atlas of Irish History, Gill & Macmillan, 2000.

  Dunlevy, Mairéad, Dress in Ireland: A History, The Collins Press, 1999.

  Flanagan, Laurence, Irish Wrecks of the Spanish Armada, Country House, Dublin, 1995.

  Forey, P & Fitzsimons, C, Biaphlandaí, An Gúm, 1997.

  Gallagher, P&Cruicshank, DW(eds.), God’s Obvious Design, Spanish Armada Papers, Tamesis, London, 1990.

  Hannigan, Ken (ed.) & Nolan, William, Wicklow: History & Society, Geography Publications, 1994.

  Harbison, Peter, Pilgrimage in Ireland, Syracuse University Press, 1995.

  Jennings, Rev. Brendan, O.F.M., Mícheál Ó Cléirigh and his Associates, Talbot Press, 1936.

  Kelly, Fergus, Early Irish Farming, Dublin Inst. for Advanced Studies, 1997.

  Kinsella, Thomas (transl.), The Táin, Oxford, 1970.

  Lucas, AT, Cattle in Ancient Ireland, Boethius Press, Kilkenny, 1989.

  Leerssen, Joep, Mere Irish and Fíor-Ghael, Cork University Press, 1996.

  Malone, JB, Walking in Wicklow, Helicon, 1964.

  McCarthy, Denis, Dublin Castle, Oifig an tSoláthair, 1997.

  Mitchell, Frank & Ryan, Michael, Reading the Irish Landscape, Town House, 1997.

  Morgan, Hiram, Tyrone’s Rebellion, Gill & Macmillan, 1993.

  Newman, Roger Chatterton, Brian Boru, Anvil Books, 1987.

  Ní Shéaghdha, N (ed.), Agallamh na Seanórach, 3 vols, Dublin, 1942–45.7

  Nicholls, Kenneth, Gaelic and Gaelicised Ireland in the Middle Ages, Gill & Macmillan, 1972.

  Nowlan, Kevin B (ed.), Travel and Transport in Ireland, Gill & Macmillan, 1993.

  Ó Corráin, Donnchadh, Ireland before the Normans, Gill & Macmillan, 1972.

  O’Donovan, John (transl. & ed.), Annals of the Four Masters, Dublin, 1851.

  O’Grady (transl. & ed.), Agallamh na Senórach, Silva Gadelica, London, 1892.

  Ó hÓgáin, Daithí, Myth, Legend and Romance, Prentice Hall Press, 1991.

  O’Rahilly, Cecile (transl. & ed.), Táin Bó Cúalnge, Dublin Inst. for Advanced Studies.

  O’Sullivan, Philip, Historiae Catholicae Iberniae Compendium Byrne, Sealy, etc. Dublin, 1903

  Ó Tuama, Seán, Repossessions, Cork University Press, 1995.

  Smyth, AP, Celtic Leinster, Irish Academic Press, 1982.

  Somerville-Large, Peter, From Bantry to Leitrim, Gollancz, 1974.

  Stafford, Thomas, Pacata Hibernia, Downey & Co., London, 1896.

  Todd, JH (ed.), Cogadh Gaedhel re Gallaibh, London, 1867.

  Walsh, Paul, Rev. (ed.), Beatha Aodha Ruaidh Uí Dhomnhaill, Irish Texts Society, 1948.

  Walsh, Paul, Rev., The Ó Cléirigh Family of Tír Conaill, Dublin, 1938.

  INDEX

  Abbey of Staad, the, 1

  Aghaboe, 1

  Ailill, King, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

  Almhu, see Hill of Allen

  An Chearc, 1

  Annamoe, 1

  Antrim, 1, 2, 3

  Ardee, 1, 2, 3

  Ardpatrick, 1, 2, 3, 4

  Armagh, 1, 2, 3

  Art’s Cross, 1, 2

  Asbawn Brook, 1

  Ashford, 1

  Ath dá Ferta, 1

  Athlone, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

  Aughrim, 1, 2

  Aughty Mountains, 1

  Ballinacor, 1, 2, 3

  Ballinlough, 1

  Ballybahellagh, 1

  Ballyhoura Mountains, 1

  Ballymakellett, 1

  Ballysmuttan Bridge, 1

  Ballyvourney, 1

  Bantry, 1, 2

  Baravore, 1

  Barnesmore Gap, 1

  Beara, 1, 2, 3

  Bearnas Bó Cuailnge, see Windy Gap, the,

  Belach nAne, 1

  Belfast Lough, 1, 2

  Benbulben, 1, 2, 3

  Bend of the Boyne, 1, 2

  Bingham, Sir Richard, 1, 2

  Black Hill, 1

  Black Mountain, 1, 2

  Boru, Brian/Dál Cais, Brian, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

  Boru, Murchadha, 1, 2

  Boyle, 1, 2

  Boyne Valley, 1, 2, 3
/>
  Boyne, River, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

  Bran, 1

  Bríd, see St Brigit

  Brighid, see St Brigit

  Brodir, 1

  Brosna, River, 1

  Brown bull of Cooley, see Donn Cuailnge

  Bundrowes, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

  Burke, Richard, 1, 2

  Burke, Thomas, 1, 2

  Cairn of Fraech, see Carnfree

  Caoilte, see mac Rónáin,

  Caoilte

  Caol, 1

  Carlingford, 1, 2, 3

  Carlow, 1

  Carnawaddy, 1

  Carnfree/Cairn of

  Fraech/Selc, 1

  Carrabane, 1

  Carrickfergus, 1

  Carriganass Castle, 1

  Cashel, 1, 2, 3

  Castle, the, 1

  Castlekevin, 1, 2

  Cave of the Cats, see Uaimh na gCat

  Ceanannas, see Kells

  Céim an Fhia, see Keimaneigh

  Cenél Conaill, 1

  Cenél Eoghain, 1

  Clann Mhic Aodhagáin, see The Mac Egans

  Clare, 1, 2, 3, 4

  Clonmel, 1

  Clontarf, 1, 2, 3

  Connacht, 1

  Cooley Mountains, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

  Cooley, 1, 2

  Cork, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

  Crédhe, 1

  Crích Rois, 1

  Crossakeel, see Iraird Cuillenn

  Crossmaglen, 1

  Cruickshank, 1, 2

  Cuchulainn, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

  Cuil Silinne, see Kilcooley

  Cruachain, see Rathcroghan

  Curlew Mountains, 1, 2, 3

  Dál Cais, 1, 2, 3

  Dál Cais, Brian, see Boru, Brian

  Dál Cais, Lorcan, 1

  Dál nAraidhe, 1

  de Aranda, Martin, 1

  de Cuéllar, Don Francisco, 1, 2, 3, 4

  de Leyva, Captain, 1, 2

  Dee, River, 1

  Derry, 1, 2

  Derrynafulla/Doire na fola, 1

  Dodder, River, 1

  Doire na fola, see Derrynafulla

  Donegal, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17

  Donn Cuailnge/brown bull of Cooley, 1, 2

  Donohill, 1

  Doolargy, 1

  Doon of Drumsna, 1, 2

  Drogheda, 1, 2, 3

  Dromahair, 1, 2

  Drumcliff, 1, 2

  Drumgoff, 1

  Dubhchoire/the Black Cauldron, 1

  Dublin Castle, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

  Dublin, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

  Dunboy, 1

  Dundalk Bay, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

  Dundalk, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

  Durrow, 1

  Dursey, Dermot of, 1, 2, 3, 4

  Eachros, 1

  Emain Macha, 1, 2

  Enniskerry, 1, 2

  Eoghanacht, the, 1, 2

  Eustace, Edward, see Fitzeustace, Edward

  Fane, River, 1, 2

  Ferdia, 1, 2

  Fergus, see Fergus mac Róich

  Fermoy, 1

  Fews, the, 1

  Fianna, the, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

  Finea, 1

  Finn Bán, 1

  Finnabair Cuailnge, 1

  Finnbennach, 1, 2

  Fitzeustace, Edward/Eustace, Edward, 1

  Fitzwilliam, William, Sir, 1, 2, 3

  Five Great Roads, 1, 2

  Fleming, Fr Patrick, 1, 2

  Flurry, River, 1

  Gáireach, see Garhy

  Gallagher, 1, 2

  Galway, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

  Gap of the North, 1, 2

  Garhy/Gáireach, 1

  Glenade Lough, 1

  Glenade, 1, 2

  Glendalough, 1, 2, 3, 4

  Glengarriff, 1, 2, 3

  Glenmalure, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

  Glenn Gat/Valley of the Osiers, 1

  Glenreemore, 1, 2

  Glinsk, 1

  Golden Vale, the, 1

  Gormfhlaith, 1

  Gort na gCapall, 1

  Gort, 1

  Gougane Barra, 1

  Gráinne, 1

  Granabeg, 1

  Granard, 1, 2, 3

  Grange, 1

  Guaire Goll, 1

  Hag’s Mountain, see Sliabh na Caillí

  Hill of Allen/Almhu, 1, 2, 3

  Hill of Tara, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

  Hill of Usnagh, 1

  Hollyford, 1

  Iníon Dubh, 1, 2, 3

  Iraird Cuillenn/Crossakeel, 1, 2

  Jenkinstown, 1

  Jennings, Fr Brendan, 1, 2, 3, 4

  Kavanagh, Art, 1, 2

  Keating, Geoffrey/Seathrún Céitinn, 1, 2

  Keimaneigh, Pass of/Céim an Fhia, 1, 2, 3, 4

  Kells/Ceanannas, 1

  Kerry, 1, 2

  Keshcorran, 1

  Kilcooley/Cuil Silinne, 1

  Kildare, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

  Killaloe, 1, 2, 3

  Killybegs, 1

  Kilmeady Castle, 1

  Kincora, 1, 2, 3

  King’s River, the, 1, 2

  Kinsale, 1, 2, 3, 4

  Knockpatrick, 1

  Knockvicar, 1, 2

  Leitrim, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

  Liffey, River, 1, 2, 3, 4

  Limerick, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

  Lissachiggle/Lios an tSeagail, 1

  Long Woman’s Grave, the, 1

  Longford, 1, 2

  Lough Crew, 1

  Lough Croan, 1

  Lough Ennell, 1, 2, 3

  Lough Foyle, 1

  Lough Graney, 1

  Lough Melvin, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

  Lough Owel, 1

  Lough Ree, 1, 2

  Lough Sheelin, 1

  Lough Swilly, 1, 2

  Louvain, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

  Mac Carthy, Thady, 1

  Mac Carthys, the, 1, 2, 3

  Mac Clancy, Tadhg, 1, 2, 3

  mac Cumhail, Fionn, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

  Mac Davitts, the, 1

  Mac Donnell, Sorley Boy, 1, 2, 3

  Mac Egan, Cairbre, 1

  Mac Egan, Donogh, 1, 2

  Mac Egan, Flann, 1, 2, 3

  Mac Egans, the/Clann Mhic Aodhagáin, 1

  mac Róich, Fergus, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

  mac Rónáin, Caoilte, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

  Mac Sweeney Doe, 1, 2

  Mac Sweeney Fanad, Donal Gorm, 1, 2

  Mac Sweeney, Fanad, 1, 2

  Máel Sechnaill, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

  Maeve, see Medb, queen

  Magh Adhair, 1

  Magh nAí 1

  Malby, Captain Henry, 1, 2

  Manorhamilton, 1, 2

  Mathgamhain, 1, 2

  Mayo, 1, 2, 3

  Meath/Midhe, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

  Medb, Queen/Maeve 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14

  Méthe nEuin, 1

  Méthe Tog, 1

  Midhe, see Meath

  Military Road, 1

  Millstreet, 1

  Monasterboice, 1, 2

  Morrígan, the/MórRíoghain, 1

  Mournes, the, 1, 2, 3

  Mullaghcleevaun, 1

  Mullingar, 1

  Multyfarnham, 1

  Muskerry, 1, 2

  Newgrange, 1, 2, 3

  Newry, 1, 2

  O’Byrne, Fiach Mac Hugh, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

  O’Byrnes, the, 1

  Ó Catháin/el Ocán, 1

  Ó Cléirigh, Cúchoigcríche, 1, 2, 3

  Ó Cléirigh, Lughaidh, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

  Ó Cléirigh, Mícheál, see

  O’Clery, Micheal

  O’Clery, Bernardinus, 1, 2

  O’Clery, Micheal/O’Cléirigh, Mícheál, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

  O’Conor Kerry, 1, 2, 3, 4

  O’Donnell, Red Hugh, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16

  O’Donnells, the, 1, 2

  Ó Duibhgheanáinn, Cúchoigcríche, 1, 2, 3
>
  O’Gallagher, 1, 2

  O’Gara, Fergal, 1

  O’Malleys, the, 1

  Ó Maolchonaire, Fearfeasa, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

  Ó Maolchonaire, Tuileagna, 1

  O’Neill, Art, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

  O’Neill, Henry, 1, 2

  O’Neill, Hugh, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

  O’Rourke of Breifne, Brian, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

  O’Sullivan, Donal Cam/O’Sullivan Beare, Donal Cam, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

  O’Sullivan, Philip/O’Sullivan Beare, Philip, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15

  O’Toole, Phelim, 1, 2

  O’Toole, Róis 1

  Ochaine, see Trumpet Hill

  Offaly, 1

  Oisín, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

  Perrott, 1

  Poddle, River, 1, 2

  Poll na Circe, 1

  Pool of Fiacc, Rosnaree, 1

  Port Láirge, see Waterford

  Rathcroghan/Cruachain, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

  Rathmullan, 1, 2, 3

  Ravensdale, 1

  Redwood, 1, 2

  Ros na Fingaile, see

  Roscommon

  Rosclogher Castle, 1, 2

  Rosclogher, 1, 2, 3

  Roscommon, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

  Roscrea, 1

  Roundwood, 1

  Seathrún Ceitrinn, see

  Keating, Geoffrey

  Selc, see Carnfree

  Shannon, River, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14

  Shehy Mountains, 1, 2

  Singland Hill, 1

  Sitric, 1, 2

  Slemain Midi, 1

  Slí Assail, 1

  Slí Chualann, 1

  Slí Dhála, 1, 2

  Slí Mhidluachra, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

  Slí Mhór, 1

  Sliabh na Caillí/Hag’s Mountain, 1

  Sliabh Ruadh, 1, 2

  Slieve Felim, 1, 2

  Slievestucan, 1

  Sligo, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

  Solohead, 1

  Sorrel Hill, 1

  St Brigit/Brighid /Bríd 1, 2

  St Colmcille, 1, 2, 3

  St Patrick, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

  Streedagh Strand, 1, 2, 3, 4