After the death of Muirkertagh ” of the Leather Cloaks,” the Norse power in Ireland was considerably strengthened, and in the beginning of the second half of the tenth century it was as full as at any time since Turgesius. Domhnall O Neill* son of Muirkertagh, who became Ard Ri in 956, was mostly engaged in conflict not only with the Southern Ui Neili and Laighin, but even with Connacht, whose King was reviving the claims of the Western Siol Ch.tinn to supreme power. Consequently he was unable to curb the Norse settlers, who, despite their recent conversion, continued to raid the country.

Two great warriors were now, however, coming forward, one in Munster, the other in Meath, whose united efforts were to dispel at last the menace of the Norsemen.

It has been observed that of the two families who were entitled to reign over Munster, the Eoghanacht, or Southern, family had long monopolised the throne. The Dal Chais, however, were now asserting themselves, and in the year 964 their chief Mahon became King ” in Caiseal.” At that time the Norse of Limerick held nearly all the south in subjection. Mahon for a time fought against them vigorously, but at length made peace. But his younger brother, the famous Brian Boroimhe, refused to have any truce with the foreigners and retired to the fastnesses of Slieve Aughty on the Connacht borders where, with a small body of followers, he kept up a relentless guerilla warfare.

Soon the example and the reproaches of Brian induced his brother to renew the conflict. At the head of the Dal Chais and all the clans of Thomond the two brothers crossed the Shannon and were joined by most of the Desmond clans. They quickly swept the Norse out of their scattered settlements, and recovered Caiseal, which had been lost. To meet them, Ivar, King of Limerick, brought together not only the Norsemen of the south, but also—shameful to relate—the two leading Eoghanacht chiefs Molloyf and Donovan.j- In a fierce battle at Sulcoit% (Sologhead) the foreigners were completely routed. The survivors were pursued as far as Limerick and into the town, which was plundered and burnt. Ivar fled to Wales. Molloy and Donovan gave hostages ; the Norse military garrisons were expelled, and the Norse settlers of the South submitted.

For some years Mahon was obeyed by the Irish and Norse of Munster. He fell at last the victim of a base conspiracy. Ivar had returned to Limerick, and again began to play upon the jealousy and ambition of the Eoghanacht chiefs. Molloy hoped to succeed Mahon as King of Caiseal ; Donovan was chief of an extensive territory on the south bank of the Shannon, and had his seat at Bruree, the ancient palace of Oilioll Olum {page 15). Incited by Ivar, Donovan treacherously seized Mahon and handed him over to Molloy, who caused him to be murdered (a.d. 976).

* The first Ard Ri to bear a surname.f Ancestors, respectively, of the O’Mahonys and 0′Donovans.% Near Tipperary.

    But Brian who now became the leader of the Dal Chais, was ” a hero in the place of a hero.” First turning on the Norse, he drove them out of the islands of the Shannon and slew Ivar. Then he attacked and slew Donovan, and banished his clan from their ancient possessions. Next he defeated and slew Molloy, upon whose death he became King of Caiseal (a.d. 978). Marching across the province, he subdued the Danes of Waterford and took hostages from their allies the Deisi. All Munster was now under his control.

    Brian having thus subdued the Norse of the South, another chieftain was now to continue the struggle against those of Dublin. This was Malachy II (m^otf eActAinn) King of Meath. After a decisive victory near Tara in 979 he besieged Dublin, and forced the citizens to pay tribute and to release all their captives. Next year Malachy became Ard Ri on the death of Domhnall O’Neill. In 983 he defeated an alliance of Laighin and the Norse, and in 989 he again laid siege to Dublin and forced the inhabitants to pay greater tributes. A third time in 996 he captured Dublin, and on this occasion he carried off its two most cherished treasures—the ” collar of gold ” of Tomar and the sword of Carlus.

    In the intervals of these conflicts with the Norse, Malachy was also engaged in a struggle with Brian. The latter had taken the chief of Osraidhe prisoner, and forced the King of Laighin to do him homage (a.d. 984). The claim to Leath Mhogha was thus again revived, and with it the rivalry between Tara and Caiseal. An intermittent war took place, Brian ravaging Meath and Connacht,* but on the other hand, suffering at. least three defeats at the hands of Malachy. Eventually the two Kings made peace. The ancient two-fold division was to be definitely recognised, and Malachy and Brian were to be supreme and independent Kings in the northern and southern halves respectively (a.d. 998).

    This arrangement was not at all acquiesced in by the other Irish dynasties. The King of Aileach reselnted this surrender of the claims of the Ui Neill. The King of Cruachan saw the western ” Siol Chuinn” robbed of their southern territories. But the most definite opposition came from Laighin, where the descendants of Cahir Mor were still as determined as ever to maintain their independence. Maolmordha, their King, immediately renewed the alliance with the Norse of Dublin. Brian marched against * Some districts of Cannacht lay in Leath Mhogha. Dublin, and was joined by Malachy. On the slopes of the Wicklow mountains, in the narrow pass of Glenmama (near Dunlavin), the Norse and Leinstermen were completely routed. The victorious armies moved rapidly along the mountain road and entered Dublin, where they took immense plunder.* Here Brian remained some time, while his troops completed the conquest of Laighin.

Glenmama shattered the power of the Irish Norsemen, and its full results were shown 14 years later in the victory of Clontarf.

    Brian now deliberately set about securing the supremacy of the whole island by thrusting aside his ally Malachy. His action in this has been harshly called ” usurpation.” But, whether his motive was personal ambition o: something nobler, the interests of

Ireland called for political unity. Object lessons were being furnished in Europe. There the two sections into which Charlemagne’s Empire had broken were being organised on the basis of nationality—the Frankish states into the Kingdom of the Capets—eventually to become ” France “—and the German peoples into the ” Holy Roman Empire.” In England the Danes had been held back mainly because the Saxons had now but one King to lead them. That country again was threatened with destruction by fresh swarms of Danes, who, provoked by a fearful massacre of their fellow countrymen, swept the Saxons before them. With a Danish conquest of England in sight, the safety of Ireland demanded that all its resources should be united. The Ui Neill, doubtless, had the strongest claims to the leadership of the country. But the Ard Ri had never been willingly acknowledged by Laighin, and Caiseal had long asserted its equality with Tara. Also, the Ui Neill were themselves divided, and even the western ” Siol Chuinn ” in Connacht were falling away from them.

    In pursuit of his object Brian immediately entered into alliances with his recent foes of Leinster and Dublin. He married Gormflaith, sister of Maolmordha and mother of Sitric, King of Dublin. Sitric himself married Brian’s daughter. J O’Connor and O’Heyne, the respective chiefs of the two ” ruling families ” of Connacht, were also won over. With these allies Brian entered Meath, but was at first repulsed. Next year he encamped at Tara and demanded Malachy’s abdication. The Ard Ri appealed for the aid of the other chiefs of Leath Chuinn, but without success. Upon their refusal Malachy gave hostages to Brian who, thereupon, became Ard Ri (a.d. 1002). The Norther Ui Neill refused to submit at first, but eventually Brian, with Malachy in his train, made the ” circuit of Ireland,” took hostages from all the states, and in the ” Book of Armagh ” {page 80) described himself as ” Imperator Scotorum ” (a.d. 1004).

* The constitution of the Irish clans, owners of their own lands, apparently prevented a permanent occupation of the towns which were frequently captured, f The ” Empire ” of European history : destroyed by Napoleon. J Malachy’s second wife was a sister of Sitric.