Book of Ryans - From Heremon Comees...
Kingship of Leinster
2nd Century to 5th Century
*Cathair Mor
|
Rosa Failge
|
*Enna Baiceadha <Fiacha Baiceadha> *
Also seen as:
Fiachu ba Aiccid
|
*Bresal Belach <or Bealach>
|
Enna <or Ennae> Niad-- ---Labraid
| *<or Lathraidh>
Brion Dunlang Dron *Enna Cennelach
<or Ceimselach>
Fedelmid
|
Crimthann
The kingship of Tara, home for the Ard Ri or High King, in the 5th and 6th century alternated between several powerful tribes of the Laigin. According to Laigin legend these two powerful tribes shared the high kingship among them, and the ancient records further showed that several of Riain's ancestors became Ard Ri, or High King of Ireland. The O'Neill tradition challenged this assertion by alleging that this kingship was exclusively under their control, but historical scrolls implied that Cathair Mor, Enna Baiceadha, Breasal and Enna Cennselach all temporarily held this title at some time during their reign as regional kings of Leinster. The first of these great kings was Cathair Mor.
Cathair Mor (Mor meaning great and described as the Great Battle Lord) was a high king of Ireland in the second century, and because of his stature many Leinster clans believed that he was a deity-king. Other reliable sources put his reign in the 4th century, and these archives revealed the Lagin controlled Tara while the northern tribes of the Connacht were still in the process of becoming a military powerhouse. The genealogists also place his reign at 30 years before his defeat at Magh Agha by Con Caedcatach, a northern king. Cathair Mor, grandson of the famed Goal Gooith <Galagacus> who bravely fought Julius Agricola of Britain, succeeded Feidlimdh as Ard Ri. Feidlimdh was a Connachta king whom according to ancient traditions fathered Conn of the Hundred Battles. According to romantic legend Conn's birth was predicted by an otherworld hag, Rothmamh, who said that his son "would become Cathoir Mor's major nemisis, and both powerful kings would continually test each other's resolve to maintain the kingship of Tara."[1] Cathoir also fathered 33 sons, and in a period when polygamy was accepted there was probably nothing really remarkable about this. Niall, king of the Ui Niall's, as an example, was credited with 14 sons. During his reign, he and his many children were engaged in numerous bloody battles trying to maintain control over the kingdom of Leinster and Tara as this journal entry described:
Conn Ceadcathach <or Conn of the Hundred Battles>
fought sixty battles against Cathair Mor alone. [2]
As with many ancient Celtic heroes, Cathoir's life has been 'enhanced'; so that it is dificult to seperate actual events from fanciful stories. In addition to the stories surounding his military successes, he has also been identified with the creation of placenames in Leinster. One namesake occurred while he was celebrating the pagan feast of Tara [3]):
...and when the assembled host was inebriated a warrior called Garman stole the Queen's golden coronet. He was pursued from Tara by Cathaoir's men and, after a long chase, seized at the mouth of the river Slaney and drowned there - hence, we are quite speculatively told, that place was known as Loch Carman (i.e. Wexford)
There are several legends which also surround the children of Cathoir Mor. Among these legends involved his daughter, Eithne, who according to tradition was placed in fosterage with a Lenister noble by the name of Buiched. The brothers of Eithne so played upon Buiched's generosity that he became impoverished, his seven herds of cattle reduced to a mere seven cows and one bull.[4] His poverty would be short-lived, however, because Cormac Mac Art, King of the Connachta, became entranced with her beauty and offered Buiched a significant sum for her hand in marriage. This marriage produced another celebrated Connachta leader, Cairbre Lifeachair, who later became a fierce enemy of the Leinstermen.
Cathair Mor's progeny inevitably became the dominant lords of the Leinster plains, and these families produced septs, or family divisions, that remained powerful in southeastern Hibernici well past the Norman invasion. These great families of the Laigin included the Ui Dunlainge, Ui Felmeda, Ui Bairrche, Ui Drona, Ui Ceinnselaigh, and Ui Briuin of Cualu. Each of these families traced their origins to one of Cathoir's children, and the more notable included: from Dunlang, Enna Ceselach's brother, came the peoples of Ui Dunlainge; from Dron whose descendants settled in Idrone producing the Ui Drone; from Fedlimid came the Ui Felmeda; from Brion came the Ui Briuin who settled Cuala; and from Crimthann, descendant of Cathair were the Ui Ceinnselaigh which the Ui Felmeda and the Ui Drone were subordinate. The O'Ryans and O'Mulryans draw their heritage to Crimthann and his descendants.
In Cathair's third year as High King of Tara, and the night before the great battle of Moigh-acha in Meath, he made his last will and testament believing that he would not survive the next day's battle. Cathair Mor's intent was to divide Ireland among his thirty sons; however, Conn of the Hundred Battles crushed him in the great battle of Floigh-Acha, and as Cathair had predicted, died from wounds suffered in battle. This was a fascinating testament because it described the wealth and splendor of the kingdom in those days:
To his beloved son Rose, called Faille, or the Rings, he bequeaths his kingdom of Leinster, to which he adds ten shields richly ornamented, ten swords with gold handles, ten gold cups, and wishes him numerous and warlike posterity, to govern Tara. To his second son Daire-Barach, he bequaths Tuath Laighean <probably Wicklow>; and he wishes him to become a successful hero, and always to rule over the Gilean-glas. He shall also have one hundred and fifty spears ornamented and embossed with gold and silver, fifty swords of exquisite workmanship, and seven military standards. To his third son, Breasal , seven ships of burden, fifty shields, richly ornamented with gold and silver, five swords with gold hilts, and five chariots with harnesses and horses. To these he adds the lands on the banks of the river Amergin, and charges him to watch over the old inhabitants, who will be otherwise troublesome to him. To Cetach, the fourth, he leaves possessions, thinking it a pity to separate him from his brothers, though it were on free lands. To Feargus Luascan, the fifth, he left nothing. To Olioll, the sixth, his backgammon tables and men, saying, that neither the possession of lands or towns would be of any use to him, as he never attended to any study but gaming. To his son Aongus, the seventh, he gave nothing. To Eochaidh Timhin, the eighth, he left his benediction only, wishing his posterity may adhere to their blood; and calls him Treath Fear, or weak man; for he was so imposed on as to give away a tract of land, claimed as a promise in his sleep. To his son Criomthan, the ninth, he leaves fifty brass balls, with brass maces to play with, ten backgammon tables of curious workmanship and two chess tables; and to his youngest son Fiacha <direct O'Mulryan lineage-editor.>, the tenth, called Baiceadh, or the lame, whom he praises for his bravery and spirit, and for the universal love he gained, he leaves the country about Wexford: recommends him to support his brother <probably Rosa who assumed the title King of Leinster>, and bequeaths him besides fifty large vessels made of yew, fifty drinking cups, and fifty pied horses with brass bits. [5]
None of his other male children were mentioned in the will, however, it was noted that 20 of these children had "died without issue", that is died without children, while Cathair Mor was alive. Because of the numerous battles during his reign, and the tales of battles being fought by members of the monarchical families, it was probable that all these sons died during these 60 great battles. Cathair's children produced the major families which would rule Leinster until the Norman invasion:
It was noted that this prince Cathoir had thirty three sons; however, ten provided offspring. From Rossa-Failge, his eldest, proceeded, first, O'Connor Faly, O'Dun, O'Dempsy, O'Regan, O'Colgan, O'Mulchiaran, O'Bearra, O'Harti , O'Cullin, O'Allilan, O'Fin, O'Maine, O'Flaherty, O'Dondon, O'Foranan, O'Henessy, O'Ullachan, O'Dugan, and O'Murrigin. From Daire, his second son, came O'Mooney, 0'Gorman, O'Melan, O'Feall, O'Brenan, O'Mallone, O'Minchan, O'Manning, O'Comain, O'Guban, and O'Follachty. From Crimthan, his children have not been recorded; however, they lived in Leinster. From Breassal-Enachlas, the fourth son, came O'Dicolo, O'Feardig, O'Cuning, O'Eogan, OCruchta, and others. From Eochaidh-Tlmine, came O'Hanragan, O'Birne, and O'Coplig. From Olioll-Cetach, sixth son, came the O'Fallons of Crioch-Cetach, O'Cronan, and O'Cathill. From Fergus-Luscan, descended O'Colman, O'Ena, O'Sining, O'Lallain, O'Duban, O'Nowlan, O'Tily, O'Ciarmac, O'Geran, and O'Cillin. Anothr son, Deremasach, gave rise to the O'Deremasachs, O'Cuanda, and O'Uica. The descendants of Aongus appear with Rosa Failge, as Rosa supported him. From Fiacha, the youngest son, came most of the succeeding kings of Leinster. The chief representatives of this line are the O'Toole's, O'Maolrian's, O'Cinselagh's, O'Dowling's, O'Maoldun <Mullin>, O'Duffy's, O'Murphy's, O'Byrne's, and the MacMurrogh <O'Cavenagh's>.[6]
After the defeat of Cathair Mor, Conn of the Hundred Battles began redefining the legitimate lordships in the southern province. Because his greatest threat came from Leinster, he appointed Criomthan, son of Niachorb, to govern the province of Leinster; and one of his main responsibilities was to "reduce the children of Cathair Mor"[7]. To maintain their legitimate right to rule the men of Leinster, the children of Cathoir formed an alliance to retake the High Kingship away from Conn. One of their first tasks was to force Criomthan back to the North, and furthermore gather their unified forces in preparation to battle the great Conn. This ultimately angered the great Conn who saw this as a challenge to the kingship of Tara.
A great battle occurred which several of the ancient records described as fierce and very bloody. It lasted for many hours, but the superior elements of Conn's forces defeated Leinster and many of the bravest knights of the Laigin were killed. The men of Leinster remained at peace with the North after the battle, and the descendants of Cathair pledged their fealty to Conn by yielding hostages as tribute.
Later when Fiacha Baiceadha, or Fiacha the lame, became King of Leinster, he was approached to avenge the death of his father. One of Fiacha's advisors put it very bluntly " it was Con who killed his father at the battle of Maigh-acha, and at the same time gave himself the epithet Baiceadha." [8] To avenge his father's death and obtain satisfaction for the physical ailment he received in battle, Fiacha provided an army of twenty-five thousand fighting men; and with these forces attacked and defeated the monarch, Conn, in ten different battles. Soon other clans joined this army to unseat Conn from Tara. Because of this unified military alliance, Conn left Tara and escaped to Connaught seeking protection from the armies of Leinster. Fiacha's army pursued Conn to Connaught, and there they forced him to draft a peace agreement between himself and the Kingdom of Leinster.
This peace treaty was barely ratified when Conn pursued more aggressive and violent activities against the South. He also began demanding payment for the Boru tribute that was set by his grandfather Tuathal upon the kingdom of Leinster. According the Irish folk tradition this tribute was levied on the Laginians because Eochaid, son of Eachach, married the daughter of Tuathal Techtmhar; but he pretended that she was dead so he could marry another one of Tuathal's daughters. Tradition went on to say that once both women found out, they 'died of shame' which probably was a fanciful slang for suicide. The death of these two women outraged Tuathal, and he began to pursue Eochaid throughout Leinster until he met and killed him in battle. The Leinstermen, fearing further devastation, promised to pay Tuathal a huge settlement for his loss. This payment, according to ancient legends, would constantly be reintroduced by the Connachta in an attempt to enrich their kingdom. The collection of this tribute was not always successful; and when Conn many years later attempted to levy this fine against Fiacha, Fiacha refused which forced him to battle at Maistean. Here Fiacha procured a complete victory over the North and the armies of Conn; and whereupon, he assumed the Ard Ri title as the High King of Ireland.