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Archive for July 4th, 2008

The Northern Clans’ Battle of Knockavoe and Knochdow

Most of the fighting, however, that took place in the north was not against the foreign element. O’Neills and O’Donnells fought amongst themselves, against each other, and against their neighbours. Wars of succession frequently rent both great families, eventually resulting in the family of Eoghan retaining the headship of the Cineal Eoghain in Conn Mdr and his son, Conn Bacach, and in Aodh Ruadh O’Donnell, and his son, Aodh Dubh O’Donnel, being successively chiefs of the Cineal Chonaill. Both families still maintained their claims to supremacy over all the north.

Those of the O’Neills were opposed in Ulaidh not only by Mac Guinness, but by the O’Neills of the Clann Aodha Buidhe, who fought their kinsmen as fiercely as ever did any of the clans of Ulaidh.

The O’Donnells were at the same time engaged in asserting their traditional rights in  Cairbre and ” Lower Connacht”140) against O’Connor Sligo.   

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Posted on July 4th, 2008 under Gaelic Feudalism. Tags: , , , , , , , , , . Comments: None

All Irish, but Culturally Feudal

The period may, therefore, be roughly described as one of ” unchecked feudalism.” Ireland was a country with no central Government, each territory ruled by its own petty lord or chief. All were Irish, but they were also feudal.

In most cases there was not even the control of a superior great lord. Desmond, Ormonde and Kildare might, to some extent, act as petty Kings ; O’Neill and O’Donnell, O’Brien and Mac Carthy might control their own immediate sub-chiefs ; but the general tendency was in favour of purely local independence.

 As the lords had thrown off the dominion of the King, so the clans had lost much of the old tradition of acknowledged supremacy. The Kings of Aileach, of Tara, of Laighin, and of Caiseal still succeed one another, but their power is only nominal.

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Posted on July 4th, 2008 under Gaelic Feudalism. Tags: , , , , , , , , , . Comments: None

Limited Nature of Warfare and Trading Activity

While the clans were thus fighting ver the claims of opposing chiefs, or over the jealousies of rival families, the Norman lords were just as busily occupied in warfare with each other. On all sides there was turmoil. But the fighting was different from what had gone before or was to come later, for these feuds were not tvars of extermination nor did they aim at the acquisition of territory.

Neithei did they, apparently, affect the general community, but were carried on by the bands of professional fighting men. But, apart from the bloodshed, they must have been a baneful influence making for disorder and demoralisation.

One fact which shows that these constant faction fights were carried on, to a great extent, apart from the ordinary life of the country, is the evidence of the active trade and commerce that prevailed through the island. In all the Irish territories great fairs were periodically held, and were attended by Irish and foreign traders.

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Posted on July 4th, 2008 under Gaelic Feudalism. Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , . Comments: None

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