Bruce's march through Leinster had broken the Norman grip on the plains lying between the Liffey and the Barrow, and these were now assailed by the Irish. On one side the O'Moores, and on the other the Mac Murroughs swept down on the lands from which they had been driven. Similarly, the O'Byrnes and O'Tooles assailed the coast on the other side of the mountains, and took Arklow, Newcastle and Bray. The Lord Deputy was forced to leave Bruce unmolested while he ... Read More

The north had been the headquarters of the invaders, and, consequently, the settlers of " Ulster " had suffered heavily. Some of them, indeed, not taking kindly to the De Burgh supremacy, had sided with the Bruces. Their neighbours on the west of the Bann—the O'Neills—were steadily advancing in power under Domhnall, and his son, Aodh " Reamhar " (Hugh, " the fat ") . The weakness of the settlers now enabled these to cross the Bann, and to aid the old ... Read More