Two ancient vellum copies of this work are in existence, one in Leabhar Leacain, (the Book of "Lecan",) which was compiled from various other MSS. by Gilla Isa Mor Mac Firbisigh of Leacan, in the county of Sligo, in the year 1418. This copy begins at folio 119, b, b, and ends with folio 122, b, b. The other copy is preserved in Leabhar Bhaile an Mhuta, (the Book of "Ballymote",) which was compiled by various persons, but chiefly by Solamh O'Droma, from older MSS. about the year 1390, for Tomaltach Mac Donnchadha (Mac Donough) then chief of the territories of Tir Oililla, Corann, Airteach, Tir Thuathail, and Clann Fearmaighe, extending into the counties of Sligo, Roscommon, and Leitrim. This copy begins at folio 109, b, b, and ends at 112, b.

There is also a copy of it which was transcribed on paper by Dubhaltach Mac Firbisigh in the year 1650, in the Library of Lord Roden, and a second paper copy made from the latter, by Mr. E. Curry, in the Library of the Royal Irish Academy.

Corca-Laidhe, the original country of the Dairinne, or O'Driscolls and their correlatives, was originally co-extensive with the diocese of RossCo-extensive with the diocese of Ross. In several instances the ancient Irish dioceses were co-extensive with some great tribe land. Thus, the bishoprick of Cill Mhic Duach (Kilmacduagh) was co-extensive with the territory of the Ui-Fiachrach-Aidhne, and the bishoprick of Eanach Duin (Annadown) was co-extensive with lar-Connacht, the seigniory of the O'Flahertys. (See O'Flaherty's , p. 1,) and the bishoprick of Cill-Finnabhrach (Killfenora) embraced the country of the Corca-Modhruaidh, in North Munster., or Ros-ailithre of which St. Fachtna of this race, who flourished in the sixth century, was the first bishop. But on the encrease of the power and population of the Deirgthine or race of Oilill Olum, the original territory of the Dairinne was much circumscribed. Long before the English Invasion the Ui-Eathach-Mumhan, or O'Mahonys, wrested from them that portion of their territory called Fonn-Iartharach i.e. West land, otherwise Ivahagh, comprising the parishes of Kilmoe, Scoole, Kilcrohane, Durris, Kilmaconoge and Caheragh, in the barony of West Carbery; and after the English Invasion various encroachments were made upon their lands by the English, and by families of the race of Oilill Olum, then recently driven from their original locations by the English invaders. The Barrys encroached on the Eastern side of their principality; the O'Sullivans (Ui Suileabhain); who had been originally seated at Cnoc Raffonn and Cluain-meala, (Clonmel,) in the now county of Tipperary, were driven from thence in the year 1192, when they settled in the mountains of the now counties of Cork and Kerry, and finally wrested from the Dairinne or Corca-Laidhe, that portion of their territory now comprised in the baronies of Beare and Bantry. About the same period the Cairbre Aebhdha, or O'Donovans, O'Collins, &c. who had been seated in the barony of Cois Maighe, (Coshma,) and in the plain on the west side of the river Maigh, (Maigue,) in the now county of Limerick, were driven from thence by the Fitzgeralds, and they settled in the present county of Cork, and wrested from the Corca-Laidhe, a considerable portion of the northern part of their territory. This latter sept transferred their tribe name of Cairbre from the banks of the Maigh to the south of the Bandon, where it is still retained, applied to an extensive territory, now the four baronies of Carbery. The Corca-Laidhe, though circumscribed, were, however, independent of their new invaders, until the year 1232, when Cormac Gott, the third son of Mac Carthaigh Mor, acquired dominion over the entire region, now forming the four baronies of Carbery. This event is briefly noticed in the old copy of the Annals of Innisfallen, preserved in the Bodleian Library, as follows: [...]Irish text omitted, please refer to entry 1232.2 in CELT edition of the Annals of Innisfallen. [BF] A.D. 1232. Domhnall God This event is entered in the Dublin interpolated copy of the Annals of Innisfallen as follows: "A.D. 1233. Domhnall God Cairbreach, mac Domhnaill Mhóir na Curadh, do theacht d'aithríoghadh Uí Mhathghamhna agus Uí Chobhthaigh a g-Coill t-Sealbhuigh. Cath do chur ann do, agus trí mic Uí Mhathghamhna do mharbhadh do, .i. triur mac Donnchadha na h-imirce timchill." "A.D. 1233. Domhnall God Cairbreach, son of Domhnall Mor-na-Curadh, came to depose O Mathghamhna and Cobhthaigh to Coill-t-Sealbhaigh, where he fought a battle, and slew the three sons of O'Mathghamhna, i.e. the three sons of Donnchadh na h-imirce timchill." It is thus noticed, on the authority last quoted in Mons Laine's Pedigree of the Count Mac Carthy: Donall Got-Ogue, Mac-CarthyMôr, 3e fils de Donall-Môr-na-Currad Mac Carthy, souverain de Desmond, eut en apanage la princepaute de Carbery. En 1233 il leva une armée pour detroner Dermod O'Mahony. Trois fils de ce dernier perirent dans cette guerre ainsi qu' ô Coffey de Coillsealvy. Moins heureux dans la guerre qu' il commenç a contre le Fitzgerald, en 1248, Donall fut tué, en 1251, par Jean de Callan, fils de Thomas Fitzgerald. Mac Carthaigh was taken prisoner by his own brother Cormac Mac Carthaigh, but he was set at liberty by him at the end of a quarter; and immediately after this Domhnall went at the instance of Maghnus O'Cobhthaigh and the daughter of O'Muircheartaigh (O'Moriarty) to commit an unneighbourly act against Muircheartach O'Mathghamhna, (O'Mahony,) a thing which he did, for he slew the three sons of O'Mathghamhna, and plundered himself; and, in consequence of this, Domhnall Cairbreach and his race remained in the south from that forth.AI, 1232.².

The surrounding tribes still continued to encroach upon the Corca-Laidhe, until at length they narrowed their territory to the limits of the following parishes, which, according to the of 1615, constitute the rural deanery of Colleymore and Colleybeg, viz.: Myross, Glanbarahane, (now Castlehaven,) Tullagh, Creagh, Kilcoe, Aghadowne and Cleere. In this territory they built the castles of Gleann, Bearchain, or Castlehaven, Lough-Hyne, Ardagh, Baltimore, Dun-na-n-gall, Dun-an-oir in Cape Clear Island, Rincoliskey, and a Castle and Abbey on Sherkine Island. In 1636, the entire of O'Driscoll's country, as well as those of the O'Donovans, O'Mahonys, and several septs of the Mac Carthys paid tribute to MacCarthy Reagh—see Inquisition in Addenda F.Not included in the CELT edition. [BF]

That the ancient Irish should have been careful to preserve their genealogies need not be a matter of surprise, and that these are perfectly authentic may be expected as they were entered in the local books of pedigrees, and preserved in the poems of family or hereditary poets. Those of the lowest rank among a great tribe, traced and retained the whole line of their descent with the same care, which in other nations was peculiar to the rich and great; for it was from his own genealogy each man of the tribe, poor as well as rich, held the charter of his civil state, his right of property in the cantred in which he was born, the soil of which was occupied by one family or clan, and in which no one lawfully possessed any portion of the soil if he was not of the same race with the chief.

This was also the case with the Welsh, as we are informed by Giraldus, in the first chapter of his , and again, more particularly in the seventeenth chapter, where he writes as follows: Generositatem vero et generis nobilitatem prae rebus omnibus magis appetunt. Unde et generosa conjugia plus longe cupiunt quam sumptuosa vel opima. Genealogiam quoque generis sui etiam de populo quilibet observat, et non solum avos, atavos sed usque ad sextam vel septimam et ultra procul generationem memoriter et prompte genus enarrat in hunc modum, Resus filius Gruffini, filii Resi, filii Theodori, filii Aeneae, filii Oeni, filii Hoeli, filii Cadelli, filii Roderici Magni, et sic deinceps. Genus itaque super omnia diligunt, et damna sanguinis atque dedecoris ulciscuntur. Vindicis enim animi sunt et irae cruentae, nec solum novas et recentes verum etiam veteres et antiquas velut instantes vindicare parati. , cap. 17

Aeidhe ma chroidhe, ceann Bhriain a g-crích ainiúil fá fhuair chriaidh, a chinn Bhriain Sléibhe Sneachta, Éire ad dhíaidh as dileachta. Rugadh go rígh Sacsan soir ceann rígh Gaeidheal le Gallaibh, nach lór do bhreith ghill Ghaeidhil beith a chinn do chommaeidheamh. Fiu do dhíth a n-dearnsat Goill ceann Bhriain do bhreith go Lunnainn; tinn an earr ar a agaid, a cheann a g-cill comhadhaigh. Mairg rug ó Dhún a dhreich m-buig ón bhaile a bh-fuil feart Phádruig, gun rígh Chaisil as crádh linn lámh ré taisibh an Tailgind. A n-adhnaice an Ard Mhacha Ulltaibh as a n-Aelchlacha, a measg chloch ar g-clann Néill-ne och nach ann a eiséirghe! Atá a Lunnainn fá lic ghil ceann do cheannóchdaeis Gaeidhil, m'eallach, gin go g-cluine, a chind, uile ad cheannach dho chuirfinn. Do rad fiche bó bheannach as mo dhuain, fa dheighcheannach, gé madh fiche bó bheann n-óir fá mó agus do bh-fearr m'onóir. Tuccas leam a ló ele fiche bó fa Bhealltaine re taebh innmhais mhóir amuidh an ingnais óir as édaigh. Do fuaras aisgidh do b'fearr beannachtain airdrigh Eireand; cradh a dhuaine nir dhochda; buaine bladh a bheannachta. Do dhoirt cách anoir sa niar fám' chrud ó do chóidh daigh Bhrian do chuaidh 's mo rí ar aein rian as saeir Bhrian an tí da d-tarras. Gan each gan bhoin da m-beimís, ar chrodh nocha cheisfemís, 'sní bhiath í budh tacha óm' thoigh as rí Macha do mharthuin. Uchán ra b'olc re Brian a d-tucthar damh do dhimiadh; ro budh edóigh thiar no thoir m'egcóir as Brian na bheathaigh. Cogadh Gaeidheal re Gallaibh imirt ar ghuin ghall-bhrannuibh; fian ghall do ghuin ar m-branáin, ní fhuil ann ar n-inghabháil. Do bheansat bárr ar n-arbha meitheal uathmhar allmhardha; tig rinn ar n-domhnach go Dún, 'sa connlach inn ag impudh. Go lá an Dúin nír cuireadh cath ar mhuinntir Milidh Teamhrach, mar bhis a n-dán do dhroing dul, nocha froinn ágh na eangnamh. Na tráth féin ní facas linn an bheart do fhóirfeadh Eirinn, mar budh chóir cur an ghaisgidh ar sgur an áigh urmaisdir. Ar áirg, ar loisg do leasaibh, as ar mhuidh do mhóir threasuibh; gach slis múir bhallaidh d'ar bhladh le Gallaibh Dúin do dighladh. Na Goill ó Lunduin ale na pubaill ó Phort Lairge tagaid na m-bróin ghealghlais ghuirm, 'na neanglais óir is iaruinn. Leathtrom ro chuirseat an cath Goill agus Gaeidhil Teamhrach; léinti cael-sróill fa chloinn g-Cuinn, as Goill na n-aenbhróin iaruinn. Fáth ar m-beart bheith a g-coire, mun g-cath ar cheann Maenmhoidhe, da m-beartha ar chách gan an cath! ní ba tráth deabhtha an Domhnach. Cá foinn ágh ná imad ga? do nimh brisdear cath cródha; gur ceangladh do nimh Ó Néill, eangnamh an fhir dob' aighmhéil. Bó bhoicht ní tugadh d'á thoigh, minn shagairt nochar sháraigh, créd ro mhill far' mhuidh an cath? nní fhuil cill ris ar chíntach. Each, 'sa shrian cumhdaigh fá a cheann, d'á d-tíseadh ar fut n-Eireann, tré Inis bh-Fáil go Brian m-breagh gan láimh na srian ro soiseadh. Do imdheochadh bean go Brian ó Shliabh Callainn go Coirrshliabh; Síbhal Gaeidhil as gráin leam ó do chóidh aeinfhear Éireann. Nír sháraigh neimheadh Ó Néill, ní dearna eaglais d'aimhréir; rath Briain do bádhadh do nimh, crábhadh na dhiaidh as doiligh. Laechraidh Leithe Chuinn 'san chath do chomhthuit im cheann d-Teamhrach, mar bheantar a thuir ó thigh, leagthar a dhruil na dheaghaidh. Tuitim righraidhe bh-fear bh-Fáil ní h-airimhthear ó'n én phláidh, onchoin Ghaeidheal ar na n-guin, folchaidh aeinfhear aneasbhaidh. Atá ar laechraidh Leithe Chuinn aithfear im aithfear aguinn, léigean righ a g-cath nír chóir uch do gnim gan a ghabháil. Fágbháil righ Oiligh 'san ár náir do shíl Eoghain eachbhán; feitheamh fallsa d'fhéinn Eamhna léim tarrsa d'a d-tighearna. Tar éis an chatha chneadhuigh, ní gluaisdi ag na Gaeidheluibh; an cuaille Fáil tiar nó toir, amháin 's gan Brian na bheathaigh. An céd chath do chuir Brian, 'na d-torchair ardfhlaith Oirghiall, gur thuit ag Dún an donn geal a bhonn ar g-cúl nir cuireadh. Gur thuit Brian Binne h-Abhaidh a g-cath Dhúin re danaruibh, catha chlann Néill anallain go léir ann do icamair. Ar g-cath ag Craeibh Tolcha truim, ag Dún ro dighladh orainn, torchair Eachaidh san treas toir, bhéas ní dheachaidh gan díghail. Cath Atha Solais sidhe do íscam re h-ainbhfine maidhm Dúini ag diladh ar g-cath ar min madh Muidhe n-Athrach. Cath Rátha both, ro bhris sinn, cath Sléibhi Togha taeibh-fhinn, ro ba lán na h-aibhne d'fhuil ar chlár Maighne san Mumhain. Cath Sleibhe Caein ro chuir Niall d'ár g-cosnamh ar chrích n-Oirghiall, ar g-cath a Móin n-gleannúr n-glas ach sa sean Dún toir táras. Cath ro chuirseam uair ele, fa Dhún droma Dairine, ár ag Loch Cuan rem' chuimhne, och monuar! ro ícsaim-ne. Ro ba dímsach ár n-daeine, dár' chuirsim cath Formaeile; och ro ba mór ar mheanma, d'ár clódh cath na Caisbhearna. Ficheall do luirgnibh Laighean 'nar g-ceardcha ro cumhduigheadh, fir chorra ar chláraibh ar sean, do chnámhaibh loma Laighean. Cis Atha Cliath on cath Ghall sluaigheadh na g-cochall g-craiceann braighdi dhúinn a Caisil Chuirc ag caisfhidh Dúin d'á dhíghuilt. Ceallachán rí Caisil Chuirc a n-glas d' ár d-tigh do thabhairt losgadh thoighi Chinn Choradh, groidhe rin gan orchumhall, Conchubhar, mac Taidhg 'nár d-tigh, áirdrí Chonnacht 'na chimidh, bráighdi rígh Gall in ar n-glas; fá rír nacha tall tárras. Cluithe, go bás Briain Banna, creacha, as marbhtha, as madhmanna; échta Gall go guin Í Néill nocha n-fhuil ann acht oilbhéim. As teasgadh compair chroidhe: bás Bhriain Locha Laegháire: nocha ban-bhéim, acht cneadh chinn an fear ó Choirrshléibh cháeinim. Buille dícheannta bh-fear bh-Fáil bás Í Néill Oiligh fhódbháin, cuibhreach Gaeidheal an geal t-seang, agus sgaeileadh fhear n-Eireann. Uaidh rígh Oiligh an fhuilt thigh, a dhaeine da n-deach a aithnidh, do bhraithfinn daeibh an uaidh ann don taeibh budh thuaidh don teampall. Brian Boroimhe, san teampall tuaidh, Brian Ó Néill Oiligh armruaidh, fada siar ó Cuinn Cobha, 'sa bhuinn re Brian m-Boromha. A-ndubhairt Mac Liag Luimnigh re ceann g-Conuing g-cathbhuidhnigh, saeth leam bidhbhadh d'á bhuain de ceann Í Néill inmhaon aeidhe. Trí fic^head deag blidhain bhán mile, ó ghein Chrísd go comhlán gur thuit ar fhiadh n-goirm-úr n-glas Brian a long Dhún dá leath ghlas. Teasda fiche bliadhain bhuan ó chath Caeimh-Eirne chrannruadh bliadhain féin bladh do bhliadhain go dol Í Neill Naei-ghiallaigh. Goirt lem chroidhe Goill glasa os cinn chosgair Mhaghnasa ceann Í Chatháin gan uidh air ar clachan Dhúin da degain Aghaidh do Mhaghnas Mhacha, eidir chollaibh crechtacha; Brian sgan a bheith is an ár ní bheith gan chreich O Catháin. Maghnas fein, Eachmharcach ann, Muircheartach, Donnchadh, Domhnall, Niall O Catháin do chneas ghoin: achán nocha n-éin easbhaidh. Dainimh dar macaibh 'sdár mnáibh marbhadh Mhaghnasa Í Chatháin, nír thréig slat Inbhir Abhaigh mac ná inghean Eoghanaigh. Brég aeibhneas an domhain dhuinn mairg mealltar andiaidh Dhomhnuill; fa trén guth Í Cairre ar chách uch d'ó Néll Caille an conách. Meinic táinic toisg reabhaigh d' fhis Amhlaeibh Í Ghairmleadhaigh; créd fa rach don toigh rem thaeibh, ach as ad ^[f]óil gan Amhlaeibh. Conchubhar Malann, mac Cuinn, caeinid mná is fir a bh-fhaendruim Ó Dubhdirma as ^{[toll 'n-ár d-t]}eagh irna gan conn a chineadh. Do chuaidh le Cian na g-con seang naire as oireachas Eireann; do folchadh uainn ciall as cruth agas Cian a n-uaidh d'fholach. Easbhaidh charad agas chruidh Mac Cana do chloinn Eoghuin Donnsléibhe Ó cneasghloin Cana easbhaidh fhéile as eangnamha. Mairg tháraidh an tuagh nó an ga, rer' thuit Cú Uladh Eamhna; mór an phudhar tú fá thuaigh, A Chú Uladh Í Annluáin! Ni biath lagadh a Leith Chuinn muna marbhthaei Mag Lochlainn ón lósa oighidh Bhriain bhuig doilidh na dhiaidh gan Diarmaid. Mac Néill í Néill anosa do bhí ar dhruim a dhúthchasa bláth ré a bheith na thoradh a bhreith ó chach Conchubhar. Meic righ Connacht Chairn Mheadhbha nir thréigseat a d-tighearna go n-drochair gach damhna glan do sgothaibh calma Cruachan. Mag Tighérnain toir do thuit agus mac ceannchas Cormuic Ua Maeilsheachluinn Midhi amuidh d'fhine gheal Chuinn re Gallaibh. Mac caeimh Eamhna mhoir Mhacha do thuit riú lá an luath chatha, ó Duibh móir fhaeiligh Eamhna coir da daeinibh a dhoimhenma. Uch do brón táinig do'n tír re h-aghaidh éga Í Dhuibhlín Gofraidh ar m-brón res an m-brách sochraidh fá ^[fhleadh] an t-óglach. Seacht laithe as lúgha na mí res an mhaidhm marbhadh Ruaidhri bainne ré bh-fhrais dúin na deaghail gan shúil n-glais Í Ghairmleadhaigh. Ó Néill mór agas a mhac (inmhain omhna ogas óglat) uch ró bá conghlann saer sin Domhnall agas Aedh Oiligh. Ardghal Óiligh fa úir ghloin a n-Díseart Dhoire Chalgaidh láimh re tulaigh fhinn fheartaigh cumhain linn ó Laitheartaigh. Brighid cháigh Chille Dara, mo bhanógh, mo bhanchara, gu d-tí fam chlí na cris te go d-tí dom fhis an t-aeidhe. Aeidhe mo chroidhe ceann Bhriain.

The preceding poem is now translated and printed for the first time. The text has been obtained from four copies, the only MSS of it known to the Editor, which are preserved the one in a parchment MS. the property of John Nugent, Esq. of Farranconnell, County of Cavan, and the others in paper MSS. the property respectively of the late O'Conor Don, the Royal Irish Academy, and Mr. Eugene Curry, all copied by very good scribes.

The poem itself, as stated in all the MSS., was composed by Gilla Bhrighde Mac Conmidhe (or Gilbride Mac Namee) who was chief poet of Ulster in his time, and the friend and follower of Brian O'Neill, King of the Irish of the North, and Righdhamhna or heir presumptive to the throne of Ireland. The family of Mac Conmidhe, of which this Gilla-Bhrighde was the head, were hereditary poets to the northern Ui-Neill, and are still very numerous in Ulster. Maelseachlainn Mac Conmidhe (Loughlin Mac Namee) of Draperstown Cross in the County of Derry, was believed to be the head of this family in 1835, when he told the Editor several anecdotes of his ancestors.

Moryson states that the family of O'Neill lived in obscurity till the time of Bruce, 1318, but this is not exactly correct as will appear from the history of the hero of this poem.

Brian O'Neill, the hero of this poem, became King of the Cineal Eoghain, in the year 1241, after having defeated and slain his predecessor, Domhnall Mac Lochlainn, prince of Tir Eoghain, in the battle of Caimeirge. From this period to the year 1248, the Annals are silent about his exploits, although it would appear from this poem that he was not idle. In 1248, he made an expedition into Fermanagh, carrying light currachs from Loch Feabhail (Lough Foyle) across the plain of Magh-Ithe and Tearmann Daibheog, and launched them on Loch Eirne, the islands of which he plundered, and demolished a stone castle which had evidently been erected by the English. In 1252, however, he and his brother submitted and gave hostages to Maurice Fitzgerald, lord Justice of Ireland, who had marched with a numerous force to Cluain-Fiachna (Clonfeacle). In the same year O'Domhnaill (Gofraigh or Godfrey) made a preying excursion into Tir-Eoghain [Tyrone] and seized many cows and prisoners, but O'Neill (Brian) pursued and came up with him near the boundary of Tir-Conaill where a conflict ensued between the two fierce Races of Eoghan and Conall, in which the former were defeated with the loss of many men and prisoners of distinction. This aggression on the part of O'Domhnaill created a dissention between the two Races, which very much weakened the power of the Irish of Ulster. In the year 1257 O'Domhnaill came to a pitched battle with Maurice Fitzgerald, the lord Justice at Creadran-cille in Ros-Cede near Sligo, in which he gained the victory after a desperate conflict; and after having engaged the lord Justice in single combat, in which both were severely wounded; and he followed up his success by driving the Geraldines and all the English from his borders, and demolished a castle which they had erected at Cael-Uisce near Belleek, on Loch Eirne, for securing their conquests in that country. After this brilliant success O'Domhnaill lived but one year during which he was lying on his bed (in an island in Loch Beitheach) suffering from the severe wounds which he had received in the battle of Creadran-cille.

When O'Neill received intelligence of his feeble condition, he collected his forces to invade Tir-Conaill, and sent messengers to O'Domhnaill to demand submission and hostages from the Cineal-Conaill, as now they had no chief capable of leading them to battle. The messengers, on delivering their embassy to O'Domhnaill, and receiving an answer that O'Domhnaill's people would not submit to O'Neill, returned to O'Neill with all possible speed.

O'Domhnaill now ordered the Race of Conall to assemble from all quarters and come to him; and after they had assembled at his summons, he ordered them to construct for him the bier in which his body should be finally carried to the grave, and to carry him in it in the midst of his people. This was accordingly done; and he exhorted his people to exert their bravery, and keep up their spirits, for that he himself, though feeble from his wounds, would once more lead them to victory. The Cineal Conaill then proceeded on their march against O'Neill's forces and met them near the mouth of the river Suileach [the Swilly.] Here a fierce battle was fought between the kindred races, in which the Race of Eoghan were defeated and driven back, leaving behind them many men, horses, and much valuable property. The Cineal Conaill then set out for home, but on their arrival at the village of Congbhail [Conwal] in Gleann Suillighe, O'Domhnaill became very sick, and ordered the bier in which he was carried to be laid down on the street, and here he died the death of a hero, the wounds which he had received in his combat with Maurice Fitzgerald in the battle of Creadran-cille having bled afresh in this battle.

When O'Neill heard of the death of O'Domhnaill he again sent messengers to the Cineal Conaill to demand submission and hostages. Thereupon the Cineal Conaill held a council, to deliberate on what they should do, and whom they would elect as their chief. While they were deliberating on these subjects, Domhnall Og, the son of Domhnall Mor, presented himself at the meeting, having just arrived from Scotland where he was fostered. This noble youth, who was the son of Domhnall by the daughter of Cathal Croibh-dhearg O'Conchobhair (Charles the Redhanded O'Conor,) king of Connacht, was then in his eighteenth year, and was inaugurated at Cill Mic Neanain [Kilmacrenan] by O'Firghil, the Comharba of that Church and the subchiefs of Tir-Conaill. He conferred with O'Neill's emissaries in the Gaelic of Alba, and pronounced the demands of O'Neill as extravagant and exorbitant, and said in Erse that every man should have his own world.

O'Neill's ambition, however, was not lessened by this answer, for he made every effort to become not only sovereign of Ulster but even monarch of Ireland. In the same year he marched with his forces to Cael-Uisce on the borders of Tir-Conaill, where he held a conference with Hugh son of Felim O'Conor, king of Connacht, and Tadhg O'Briain, king of Thomond, and here, according to the Annals of Ulster and Clonmacnoise, the sovereignty of the Irish of Ireland was conferred on Brian O'Neill, and Hugh O'Conor delivered him hostages, and he received also the hostages of the O'Reillys, and of all the Ui-Briuin from Kells to Drumcliff. But a somewhat different account of this conference is given in the , or Wars of Toirdhealbhach O'Briain, and in the Dublin copy of the Annals of Innisfallen, in which it is incorrectly entered under the year 1252. It is stated in these works, that a general convention of the princes and nobility of Ireland assembled at Cael Uisge on the brink of Loch Eirne, in order to elect a supreme king over the Irish, to suppress the tyranny and usurpation of the English. Tadhg, son of Conchobhar na Siudaine O'Briain, repaired thither with most of the nobles of Munster and Connacht, and on his arrival at Cael Uisge, sent northwards across the river one hundred steeds as wages in token of vassalage to O'Neill. O'Neill, enraged at this offer, sent back the horses and two hundred steeds with golden bridles as wages to O'Briain, who refused to accept of them; and the consequence was that the meeting was broken up without choosing an ard-righ, or sole monarch for that time.

It looks very strange that neither Leland nor Moore should have noticed this attempt of the Irish chieftains to unite against the English, for, although the result was insignificant, the attempt had it succeeded would have proved disastrous to the English in Ulster.

The following is the account of the meeting at Cael Uisge given in the :

Do bhí Goill fá'n am so tré lí^(o)nadh i^(o)mad uabhair agus antoile ag fás agus ag fí^(u)chadh i^(o)nnta, ag imirt annfhlaithis agus éagcóra, broide agus buan-argain ar Ghaedhalaibh agus ag buain a bh-fola agus a bh-fearainn dí^(o)bh go foiréigneach ann gach áit dá d-tigeadh leo, agus mar thugadar Gaeidhil sin d'á n-aire, do thógradar iat féin do réidhi^(u)ghadh ó'n ann-bh-flaitheas aini^(o)chtach sin na n-Gall maille re h-aen aird-righ do thogha ós a g-ci^(o)nn d'á n-geillfidís uile; i^(o)nnas go d-tiucfadh leo Eire do chosnamh do'n dul soin amhuil fa dual dóibh. Uime sin do chineadar comhairle um coinne do dhéanamh re chéile ar bhruach na h-Eirne oirear doimhnighe oileanaighe, áit ar thi^(o)nóladar uaisle agus ard-urradha Gaeidheal Eireann ar aen láthair.

Dala Thaidhg taeibhghil Caeil-uisge, deagh-mhac cian-teasdach Conchubhair Uí Bhriain triallas mar aen le h-urmhór uaisle Leithe Mogha agus Connacht d'i^(o)nnsuidhe na dála soin, agus tigid slogha Uladh uile um O'Néill ann. Ba nós anallód gíbe righ tri^(o)cha chéd no cóige do ghlacfadh tabhartas no tuarasdal ó árdfhlaith oile go n-gabhadh mar aen ris an d-tuarastal soin umhla agus oglachás an féin maille re bheith umhal do mar chodhnach, agus um dí^(o)l cí^(o)sa agus chána ris. Iar suidhe 'san g-coimhthi^(o)nól do na h-uaislibh sin do chuir O'Briain céad each tar an sruith ba thuaidh a n-ainm tuarasdail cum Uí Néill; agus mar do chonairc O Néill sin, ro órdaigh go bh-feirg mhóir bh-fuireachair tar an sruith chédna tar ais dá chéad each go n-a sriantaibh bláth-órdha g-cimhis-gléigeala do sholatair sé a g-comhair na dála soin, chum a m-bronta d'fearaibh Eireann do'n dul soin, tré mhéid a chirt agus a chumas ar Eirinn do chosnamh tar aen oile do Ghaedhalaibh, agus fós gur aentuigheadar fir Uladh uile ris, an trath sin. Agus ar fhaicsint na n-each sin go na sriantaibh, d'uasal Thadhg cuiri^(o)s na h-eich céadna ó n-a bh-fuirinn laechra tar an sruith d'fosdadh an tuarasdail d'ais nó d'éigin; Agus an tan do thug O'Néill uaill agus ard-mheanma Uí Bhriain d' á aire, triallas d'á thigh fa dhi^(o)mdha agus táinig do'n easaenta soin gur sgaeileadar fir Eireann as an dáil sin, gan ard-chodnach do thogha ná d'óirdneadh ortha féin, ná fos cine ar chomhairle um Eire do chosnamh re Gallaibh, acht amháin go g-coimhthi^(o)nóladaeis doríse a g-ci^(o)nn athaidh 'na dheadhaigh sin um an g-cúis céadna; gidheadh tángadar a n-urmhór d' én-mhéin áirdthighearnas do ghabháil ortha féin d'uasal Thadhg.

The foreigners, through much pride and haughtiness with which they were filled and inflated, were exerting tyranny, injustice, captivity and constant depredation upon the Gaeidhil and taking their cattle and their lands from them with violence wherever they were able. And when the Gaeidhil perceived this, they wished to free themselves from that cruel tyranny of the foreigners by electing one sovereign over them to whom they should all yield hostages, that they might by this means defend Eire as they were accustomed to do. Wherefore they came to the resolution of holding a conference with each other on the margin of the deep harboured islandful Eirne. Here the nobles and chief lords of the Gaeidhil of Eire assembled together.

With respect to the whitesided Tadhg-Cael-uisge, the goodly and far-famed son of Conchubhar O'Briain, he proceeded with the greater part of Leath-Mhogha and Connacht to that meeting; and all the hosts of Ulster came there with O'Neill. It was a custom formerly that whenever the King [chief] of a Trícha chéd, or of a province, would receive a gift or wages from another great chief, he thereby signified that he became a subject and a vassal to him, as his lord, and that he was to pay him rent and tribute. After these nobles had sat in the assembly O'Briain sent one hundred steeds northwards across the stream in the name of wages to O'Neill; and when O'Neill perceived this he, with great violent anger, ordered to be sent across the same stream two hundred steeds with their gold-ornamented white-bordered bridles, which he had collected for bestowing on the men of Eire at this meeting on account of his right and power beyond any other of the Gaeidhil to contest for Eire, and moreover because all the men of Ulster were obedient to him at that time. When the noble Tadhg saw these steeds with their bridles, he sent the former steeds from their heroes across the stream to retain the subsidy by will or by force.

When O'Neill perceived the pride and high-mindedness of O'Briain he returned home in sorrow; and the result of that dissension was that the men of Eire dispersed from the meeting without selecting or appointing any supreme King over them, or even agreeing upon a resolution about defending Eire against the foreigners, except that they would in some time after meet again for the same purpose. But the greater number of them consented that Tadhg O'Briain should assume the chief lordship over them.

In 1259 Brian O'Neill and Felim O'Conchobar held a conference at Daimh-inis [Devenish] in Loch Eirne, to deliberate upon the best means of checking the encreasing power of the English in Ireland. But in the mean time treachery was at work in Ulster: Aedh Buidhe O'Neill, the next aspirant to the chieftainship of the Cineal-Eoghain, conspired with the young O'Domhnaill to weaken the power of Brian, and they plundered Tir-Eoghain and obtained hostages from some of the Oirghialla.

In the next year Aedh O'Conchobar (Hugh O'Conor) King of Connacht, marched into Ulster with the elite of his chieftains and forces to assist Brian O'Neill to crush his English and Irish enemies, and came to an engagement with them on the Sunday within the Octave of Ascension day. In this battle Brian O'Neill was certainly not joined by all the chieftains of Ulster for it appears from the names of the slain that he had not any forces from Ulidia or Tir-conaill, and it is also clear that the people of Fearmanach and Oirghialla, with the exception of O'h-Anluain, had deserted him. This is also quite clear from several notices in the annals, and particularly from one under the year 1261, which states, that after the battle of Dun (Down) O'Domhnaill made a predatory incursion into Tir-Eoghain, and plundered and burned the greater part of it.

The following notice of the battle of Dun-da-leath-ghlas is given in the Annals of Ulster.The following paragraph is omitted. Please refer to the CELT edition of The Annals of Ulster, volume 2 (file T100001B), entry U1260.1

It is thus noticed in the : A. D. 1260. Hugh O'Connor went to the North to assist Bryan O'Neale against the English, with a great company of Connoughtmen, where the said Bryan with the forces of Tyreowen and Hugh O'Connor with their accomplices went to give battle to the English, in which battle Bryan O'Neale, named the King of the Irish of Ireland, was killed, with these ensuing of the Irish nobility, vizt. Donnell O'Kearney; Dermott Maglaughlyn; Magnus O'Cahan; Kyan O'Hinnerge; Donnsleyve Macanna; Hugh O'Cahan; Mortagh O'Cahan; Connor O'Duffdirma and Hugh his son; Awley O'Garmley; Cowuly O'Hanlon; and fifteen of the chiefest of the family of the O'Kahans.

Fearfeasa Ó Cáinte cecinit. Leo féin chuirid Clann Ítha fada atá rún ro-dhítha, ina g-croidhibh ceann a g-ceann, fá cheann oiris na h-Éireann. Ní le slicht Éibhir na Ír, chuirthear leo re linn éisídh cuaine rígh, is trom tinól, ná le síl oll Eireamhóin. Ní bh-fuil d'ádhbhar acu sin fa chosg sídh, fa chur cogaidh, acht d'agra ceirt Clann Lughaidh le bárr neirt a n-ollamhuin. Atá an chóir ag Cloinn Ít^ha, imdha ádhbhar éisítha, fá chrích chuan-abhaidh Chobthaigh fuaradar ó allmhorchaibh. Mór g-comha nár chomha beag, mór n-éacht g-curadh do chaillsead, fá'n d-tír bháin, gealtolchaigh, ghlain, ag eachtrannchaibh chláir Chrimhthainn.. Mór magh sgoithsheamrach sgiamhdha, mór d-treabh álainn fhír-niamhdha, ó shlicht Ítha a g-chathaibh cnicht gur bh'fhachuin fhích a n-éisdicht. Gan eirghe a g-combaidh cogadh d'éis gach uilc dá bh-fuaradhar dream ród na g-cnofhídhbhadh g-cruinn, ró íngnadh fad a bh-fulaing. Dochaide buaidh do breith dóibh, ní bárr ainmhian, ní h-éagcóir, tug do'n droing-ghéir reannaigh glain, boing fá chéimeannaibh cogaidh. A n-guais féin, faithcheas a bh-fonn, tug dóibh, gídh fada a bh-fulang, gan labhairt sítha re seal adhairt fícha na bh-féinneadh. Maith fuaradar fuil Ítha cur trod, adhnadh éisítha, fa chomhthuidh iatha na n-Art, fiacha orthaibh a furtacht. Slicht Ítha fhuilngeas dochar dóibh as córa cathúghadh fá'n d-tír chuirr shaeirealaigh sheing do Ghaeidhealaibh fhuinn Fhéilim. Ni fhúil díbh sein, Dia do cheart, neach dán h-oirchisi an oighreacht, saeradh a beann, coimhdhe a cruídh iná an t-oighre as feárr orthuibh. Mac Uí Eidirsgeoil, ucht seang, dóas córa d'fhearaibh Eireann, cathúghadh 'ma a g-cath, an eang chathamhail chogthach. Conchobhar, croidhe leomhain, ó's dó as cóir, caitheochaidh, fá'n g-crích úir theadmhannaigh the, re sean-Ghallaibh bhruich Boinne. Eagal dóibh, Dia do phúdhar, a chineadh is Conchubhar, d'á n-díthughadh, ní dáil tím, fa chlár fíchamhail Fhéilim. Coiseonaid clanna Lúghaich ar chathaibh ar conghalaibh, Corca Laighe na learg n-glan, ceád as daeire do dhéanamh. Ní córa dóibh, Dia do chin, troid um Corcaigh, nó um Chaisil iná cur deabhtha budh dheacht fá mhagh d-Teaftha is fá'n d-Tuaisceart. Nó um Nár Laighean na learg d-te, no um Ath-Cliath na g-cuan síthe, no um thuathaibh Baei leath ar leath, no um Cruachain Aí, no um Oileach. Da n-dearntai ceart ronna riú, slicht Ítha dhoirteas donn-chrú, dóibh do seich féarmhagh na bh-finn, do bhreith Earlamh na h-Éirinn. As amhlaidh fuaradar so, clann Lúghaich mhóir mhic Ítha, ceart ar ro Bhoinn bhrataigh Bhreagh, d'onóir tar macaibh Mileadh. Do bhárr a dhúnaidh bodhéin, do chí Íth an airm rínn-ghéir, tar an ro-mhuir soiléir sáimh, samhuil oiléin o'n Easpáin. Ith mac Bile, mic Breogain, gluaisidh sé a fín ainbhfeonaigh, cuire sithe d'f^hiannaibh uile, d'iarraidh na críche ad chonnairc. Nír bhean lochadh as a luing, go ráinic gan ro mhearbhuill, soigheadh ghér tochradh teann, go port-sáil oiris Éireann. Gluaistear leis ar d-teacht a d-tír, dirim laech nar lucht fhairbhrigh, fa teann coinne a g-ceann troda, a g-ceann cloinne Cearmoda. Fa roinn Éireann an fheoir bhuidh, do bhí 'gun g-cloinn sin Chearmuid, fích na bh-foclaibh leath ar leath, ag teacht do Íth go h-Oileach. Fáiltighid na rígha roimhe, nochtaidh fáth a n-oirbhire, nír cheilligh crích a ronna, gur réidhigh Íth eadtorra. Ceileabhrais dóibh 'na dhiaigh sin, beireas imchomharc uathaibh, a tuaidhean ga mo phúdhair, do smuaineadh leo a leanmhain. Measdar leo ar sgaeileadh a sgél, gur ghuair dóibh é do'n oílen; misde a g-clann crích a g-cogair: ar Ith ann gur fhealladair. Ar Mhuigh Ítha an fhachuin bhuig, marbhthar é le cloinn Cearmuid gér chathréimeach 'sa ghleo a ghuin do b'aithmhéileach leo a leanmhuin. Beirid muintir mic Bile, ar éigin ó'n anbhfine, teidhm as ar éirigh olc cháich, corp an fhéinnidh do'n Easpáin. Gluaiseas Lúghaidh na lann sean, is a bhráithre meic Mileadh, ina g-caeir shluaigh shéanta, do bhuain a éarca d'f^hir Éireann. As d-teacht a d-tír, gá teo broid, iar marbhadh chloinne Chearmoid, nír fír-lagaigh fích na bh-fear gur dhíghladar Íth d'oigheadh. 'Na éiric sin do fhán an fonn, aco ó Thuathaibh De Danonn, de tá slicht Itha an ghéag gheal, ar thríchadh céd d'a chóigeadh. Mar sin as iad do bh-feárr ceart nó go d-tángais re d-treiseacht fa ghort fhinnacrach na bh-finn le h-olc imarcach Eirinn. Eiric Ítha ar iath séin Ír, na maitheadh mac Eibhilín, ó gach fhir nír fholáir deit, do chin d'f^hágháil do'n éiric. Má tá nách leanfaídhe libh, an éiric si ar fhuil Mhilidh, má's díl duit' san tí torchair, ná leig í le h-allmhorchaibh. A Ua Ítha, meic Bile! mar éiric ó'n ainbhfine do ghaibhthear duit ceann a g-ceann, a g-cuid d'f^hódfhoithribh Éireann. Imdhá éiric nách ísin, agad, a oighre Fhinghin, gan séana ar garbh amhsaibh Gall méala an t-ainghar so d'f^hulang. Mór fhuil do léigsead fá lár, mór g-curadh fár cóir to-chrádh do ortadar sonn re seal fá fhonn ghort-abaidh Ghaeildhéal. Doirt-si fuil na folaibh, a láimh catha, a Chonchobhair, ná gaibh earca ara son soin acht gona eachta na n-aghaidh. Smuain ar anbhreathaibh fhian Gall; tuig mar bhís cealg na gainmann rún fuilngeach ní déanta dhe, cuimhnigh a n-éachta aidhbhle. Da n-gnáththuigheam a guidhe, an Ógh do bhí a m-bhochtuine, a h-Oighre dá n-éara mé do geana oirne uaisle. ^leo. Méinn ríghnaidhe gan rún truim, Eibhilín inghen Domhnuill, ní fhaghthar neach dimdhach dhi, dá m-beith ag innlach uirri. Lucht imdheargtha aighthe ban, um na h-airgeadhaibh iarrthar bláth toghtha na g-craebh g-ciníl budh saer orra Eibhilín. Slat do choillibh crú Shuibhne, dés d'úir mhuighe Modhuirne, planda toraidh gan chlaen cheirt craebh thoruidh an tuaisceirt. Lór do thogha druim ar dhruim a cosg fhoghla, a fuath leath-truim dreach réidh ó'n froistighe fídh a méinn fhoisdini, a h-aignid.