RAINBOW FARMS    AUSTRALIA                                            

                                                                                                                                                                                     1251 - 1260 AD 

 

1251 AD Teague / Tadhg O Connor, the son of Toole / Tuathal O Connor from the Dal Cuinn Ui Briuin Ai Siol Muireadhaigh / Sil Murray Ui Conchobair Sept was killed by the English Galls in the Connacht Province

     Hugh de Mapleton who was to be the English Anglo Norman Catholic Bishop of Ossory / Co. Kilkenny in the south - west of Southern Leinster until 1260 AD, was to build the Episcopal Palace at Uppercourt, and also continued to construct St. Canice's Cathedral at great cost.

 1252 AD The English Galls invaded the Ulster Province with a great force, and there was now also great infighting occurring between the English in the O Melaghlins / O Loughlins kingdom of Meath / Midhe in the south of Northern Leinster and also in the Munster Province, in their ongoing avarice to gain greater territory individually for themselves and because of this many of the English Galls in Munster were killed. 

      Mac Maurice Fitz Gerald the Anglo Norman Baron who was now the English Earl of Kildare in Southern Leinster constructed a castle near Caeluisce at Belleek and Mag Caba - Dromore? in the Connacht Province, and also founded the Dominican Abbey at Sligo in Co. Sligo in the north - west of Connacht for the Dominican religious order and it would be rebuilt in 1404 AD after a fire was to occur there at that later date was to destroy it, and it was then to be rebuilt again in 1641 AD by Sir Frederick Hamilton the English Undertaker, but It too is now only a ruin. (Maurice Fitz Gerald was to also construct another castle there against the Gaelic Irish Septs throughout that region.)

     The Franciscan friars founded an Abbey at Castlebar in Co. Mayo in the mid - west of the Connacht Province, which was later taken over by the Dominican religious order who are still there, but it is now without a roof.

1253  AD Mac Maurice Fitz Gerald the Anglo - Norman Baron who was the English Earl of Kildare besieged the territory of the Heremonian Dal Cuinn "northern" Ui Niall Cenel nEogain Sept in Tir Eogain / Tyrone in the north of the Ulster Province who were under the leadership of *116.Brian Catha Duin O Niall and many of the invading English Galls were killed during the conflict, and because of this setback the English were to make no further inroads into the territory there at this time and *116.Brian Catha Duinn O Niall the Cenel nEogain King and Irish leader then besieged the English Galls who had previously taken up permanent Estates in Ulster, destroying many of their castles, and burning their settlements, while devastating the countryside there in the areas where they had gained control by force of arms.

    Donnell O Reilly and Caech O Reilly from the Dal Cuinn Ui Briuin Breifne Ui Raghailligh Sept, in Co. Cavan in the kingdom of East Breifne, along with Cathal O Connor from the Dal Cuinn Ui Briuin Ui Conchobair Sept in the Connacht Province, and Gilla O Farrell from the Gaelic Milesian Irian Clan na Rory Ui Fearghail Sept in Co. Longford in Northern Leinster combined their Irish forces and besieged the English Galls in the territory held by them in the Irian kingdom of the Muintir Eolais Sept in who were also in the Connacht Province and Gilla O Farrell was to then leave them at Annaduff, and Cathal O Connor and the O Reilly / Ui Raghailligh Sept continued on to the other Irian kingdom of Conmaicne at Cluain Conmaicne also in Connacht. 117.Aed mac Cathail Crobhdhearg O Connor, the son of 116.Felim mac Cathail Crobhdhearg O Connor who was now the Ui Briuin Ai "unofficial" 61st King of Connacht, then went after the English Galls as far as Cloone and drove them out of the territory there, but Donogh O Reilly and many of the others were to be killed during the attempt.

      116.Felim / Fedelmid mac Cathail Crobhdhearg O Connor, the Heremonian Dal Cuinn Ui Briuin Ai "unofficial" 61st King of Connacht, founded a Dominican friary on the site of the monastery that had previously been constructed there in Co. Roscommon in the east of the Connacht Province by St. Coman in the 8th Century AD, while another monastery was also constructed for the Preaching Friars in Sligo in Co. Sligo in the north - west of the Connacht Province, and another was begun to be constructed at Ath Lethan in the Heberian Cianachta O Hara kingdom of Leyney / Luigne in Co. Sligo. The Heberian Dal gCais O Hogans also founded a Dominican Friary at Athy in Co. Kildare in Southern Leinster.

     Thomas Fitz Maurice Le Gros / Grace was to be the first Norman English Baron in Co. Kerry in the south - west of the Munster Province when he constructed the Ardfert Abbey there to the east of Ardfert for the Franciscan friars, and the ruins are still there to be seen today. 

     The daughter of de Burgho / Burke the Norman English Earl of Ulster who was the wife of the English Norman Baron, Costello / Milidh Mac Goisdealbh, died this year, and was interred in the Boyle monastery in the Connacht Province.

      Allen O Sullivan the Heberian Eoghanacht Catholic Bishop of Cloyne in Co. Kerry in the south - west of the Munster Province, died this year at Lismore, who had been dedicated to St. Cuddy / St. Mochuda who was also from Co. Kerry who had founded Lismore originally, and his kinsmen eventually incorporated the Mac Gilli Cuddy / Mac Giolla Mochuda (Descended from a son of the servant of St. Cuddy) into the O Sullivan name thereby forming another Sept of the O Sullivan family. (See also Mac Elligott.)

          Roger de Pippart / Peppard the Anglo - Norman English Baron this year constructed a castle at Ardee in Co. Louth in the north - east of Northern Leinster, against the Dal Cuinn 3 Colla Septs there, while the Anglo - Norman de Barri / Barrys also built a castle for the same purpose and founded a Franciscan friary in the town of Buttevant in Co. Cork in Southern Munster. (It was to receive its name from the family's War Cry (Boutez en avant  / push forward). Kiltinane Castle was also constructed by the English Galls this year at Fethard in Co. Tipperary in the north - east of the Munster Province, for the same purpose and it is still in existence there today.

1254 AD The Gaelic Milesian Irian Muintir Gilgan / Ui Giollagain who had their territory in Co. Leitrim and Co. Sligo in the Connacht Province combined with the English Galls to kill the sons of Mac Carron / Carroon / Mac Carrghamhna, (who were to be later also known as O Growney / Ua Gramhna), and the Muintir Mael Shinna from the Heremonian Dal Cuinn "southern" Ui Niaill who had their territory in Co. Westmeath in the south - west of Northern Leinster. 

        Donogh O Reilly / Ua Raghailligh from the Dal Cuinn Ui Briuin Breifne kingdom of East Breifne who had their territory in Co. Cavan in the south of the Ulster Province was killed at Cloone by men from the Connacht Province who were under the leadership of Cathal O Connor, and his demise was to cause great internal repercussions amongst the Ui Briuin Septs of Connacht, West Breifne and especially nearby East Breifne. 

      Manus O Gara from the Heberian Cianachta Sept who had their territory in the Connacht Province was killed this year.

       The Nenagh Monastery was founded by the Heberian Dal gCais Ui Bloid Ui Turlogh O Kennedy Chiefs of Ormond / North - East Munster in Co. Tipperary.

        John Fitz Geoffrey the English Justicar in Ireland returned to England, as Henry 111 the English Norman King was now engaged in War with Spain. Henry 111 the fourth Norman English King had granted most of the vast Estates previously held by Richard the third Marshall the Anglo - Norman Baron who held territory in Ireland, Wales, Scotland, the Channel Islands, and Gascony, to his own son, the future Edward 1st, who would become (The Hammer of the Scots) while he retained the English Lordship of Ireland for himself. An English Parliament was set up in Dublin in Co. Dublin in the north - east of Southern Leinster made up of Anglo - Norman Barons and clergy only, with another one for the commoners to voice their grievances, which certainly did not prosper, as the English Galls, due to their continual ongoing greed, now continually fought among themselves, and the Charter land of Ireland was never separated from the Crown of England, but Henry 111's aggressive son, Prince Edward (Edward 1st) was to still interfere in Ireland never the less.   

1255 AD 117.Aed mac Cathail Crobhdhearg O Connor, the son of 116.Felim mac Cathail Crobhdhearg O Connor the Dal Cuinn Ui Briuin Ai "unofficial" 61st King of Connacht, went to Tir nEogain / Tyrone in the Ulster Province and made peace with what was by now the leading Irish Sept the Heremonian Dal Cuinn "northern" Ui Niaill Cenel nEogain, and also with his father, 116.Felim mac Cathail Crobhdhearg O Connor and then returned with men from the Connacht Province who were against his father,who were from the "official" legitimate Sept of his father's brother the Dal Cuinn Ui Briuin Ai Ui Conchobair of *115.Rory O Connor who had been the last and 183rd King of Ireland. 116.Felim mac Cathail Crobhdhearg O Connor now acting as the "unofficial" 61st King of Connacht sent envoys to Henry 111 the English King who were to then return without any success, and Maurice Fitz Gerald the English Norman Baron also went to England to push his own English personal point of view on the situation in Connacht. Florens Mag Flynn / Mac Flainn the Catholic Archbishop of Tuam in the Connacht Province then went to England to see Henry 111 personally and was more successful, returning with the petition granted, but the rapacious English Galls who were never satisfied then decided to raid the territory of the O Flynns / Ui Flainn in Connacht, but 116.Felim mac Cathail Crobhdhearg O Connor and Mac William Burke the other more important English Norman Baron then met at Tochar Mona Conneda where they once again made peace.

       Meanwhile, *116.Brian Catha Duinn O Niall the Dal Cuinn "northern" Ui Niaill Cenel nEogain King in the Ulster Province, attempting to pursue his dream of gaining the overall Kingship of Ireland, to try and drive the English Galls out altogether, attacked  the rebellious Cathal O Reilly and his brother Chu Connacht O Reilly in their Dal Cuinn Ui Briuin Breifne kingdom of East Breifne in Co. Cavan in the south of Ulster 3 times, but still could not get them to submit to fall into line and follow his overlordship.

      Donnell O Kennedy the Heberian Dal gCais Ui Bloid Ui Turlogh Archdeacon of Killaloe in Co. Clare, who had been inaugurated the previous year, died at Limerick in Co. Limerick in the south - west of the  Munster Province and was interred in the Dominican Convent there.

1256 AD Walter de Burgh / Burke, the son of Richard de Burgh, the English Norman Baron, raised a great army to attack 116.Felim mac Cathail Crobhdhearg O Connor who was now the acting Dal Cuinn Ui Briuin "unofficial" 61st King of Connacht, his son 117.Aed mac Cathail Crobhdhearg O Connor, and also their Irish ally Conor O Rourke, the son of Tiernan O Rourke the Dal Cuinn Ui Briuin Breifne King of West Breifne and this brought on the Battle of Magh Slecht (The Plain of Genuflexions) at Ath Derg involving 20,000 fighting men. The English Galls first marched into Magh Eo / Co. Mayo in the west of the Connacht Province where the territory there was already under their control and from there they went on to Balla, and then onto the Heberian Cianacht O Hara kingdom of Leyney / Luigne situated also in the north - west of Connacht and although it too was also under their control they still ravaged it. On arriving at Achadh Conaire / Achrony they sent messages to the Dal Cuinn Ui Briuin Breifne O Reillys / Ui Raghailligh in their kingdom of East Breifne in Co. Cavan calling on them to meet them at Cros Doire Chaoine at the south end of the Brat  - Shleibhe mountains in Tir Tuathal / Roscommon in Connacht. The O Reillys came to Clachan Murchadha on Sliab - an - Iarainn, but they were then to turn back as by then they had not come across any of the the English Galls along the way and they decided instead to stay at Soltin Gasain. Conor O Rourke, the son of Tiernan O Rourke the King of West Breifne assembled the Gaelic Irish from the 2 kingdoms in Connacht who were under his control, the Dal Cuinn Ui Briuin Breifne of West Breifne from Northern Connacht and the Gaelic Milesian Irian Conmaicne Septs from the kingdom of Conmaicne in the centre of Connacht, and also any of the other Irish Septs that he could bring under his command. This was to also include 117.Aed mac Cathail Crobhdhearg O Connor who were with some of the best men from Connacht and the Chiefs of the Dal Cuinn Ui Briuin Ai Siol Muireadhaigh / Sil Murray and among these were also the Dal Cuinn Ui Briuin Seola O Flahertys, the Gaelic Milesian Irian O Farrells / Ui Fearghail from the nearby kingdom of Annaly in Co. Longford in the north - west of Northern Leinster, the O Flynns / Ui Flainn, the Mac Geraghtys / Mag Oireachtaig, the O Kellys / Ui Cellaig, the Mac Dermots / Mheic Diarmada, the O Flanagans / Ui Flainnachain, the O Haras / Ui Eaghra, the Dal Cuinn Ui Briuin Ai O Connors and the O Teagues / Ui Taidhg. 

     Conor O Rourke, was the Heremonian Dal Cuinn Ui Briuin Breifne King of West Breifne in Co. Leitrim in Northern Connacht and also of the Gaelic Milesian Irian Conmaicne Septs, and among his personal supporters were Cathal O Flaherty / Ua Flaithbertaigh and Murrogh Finn O Farrell / Ua Fearghail, Rory O Flynn / Ui Flainn - of the Wood, Flann Mac Geraghty / Mac Oireachtaig and Donn Og - the Younger Mac Geraghty, and many of the O Kellys, Mac Dermott's 3 sons, Dermot O Flanagan, and Cathal O Hara, the son of Duarcan O Hara / Ui h Eaghra, also the 2 sons of Tiernan O Connor, Giolla na Naimh (Devotee of the Saints) O Teague / Ua Taidhg and many of the other aristocratic warriors from the Connacht Province. They overtook the rebellious Dal Cuinn Ui Briuin East Breifne O Reillys at Soiltean na nGasan and chased them to Alt Tighe Mheic Cuirin where they came up against the new recruits who had recently also joined in with the O Reillys and they turned upon the combined hosts and drove them back 3 times, until the main body then came into the battle, but by then many had been killed, including Dermot O Flanagan, Mac Mooney / Mac Maonaigh and Coicle O Cokely / Ua Coicle. Both of the forces then went to Alt na hEillti and to Doirin Crannachar between Atha na Beithighe, Bel an Bhealaigh, Coill Easa and Coill Airthir upon Sliab an Iarainn where the O Reillys turned firmly against 117.Aed mac Cathail Crobhdhearg O Connor, the son of 116.Felim mac Cathail Crobhdhearg O Connor, and all the men of Connacht who were with him, for all their previous wrongs and oppressions, and the O Reillys from the Dal Cuinn Ui Briuin kingdom of East Breifne clashed violently with all of the men of Connacht, and this ongoing conflict then did not come to a halt until the Dal Cuinn Ui Briuin Breifne O Reillys from the kingdom of East Breifne were eventually well and truly defeated and scattered.

     The men of Connacht Province then arose on one side under 117.Aed mac Cathail Crobhdhearg O Connor, the son of 116.Felim mac Cathail Crobhdhearg O Connor, who by now had within him great fury and valour, and they continued on in what turned out to be a terrible bloody battle, and many were then also killed on both sides and among these were Conor O Rourke, the son of Tiernan O Rourke, the King of West Breifne, and Murrogh Finn O Farrell / Ua Fearghail and Aed O Farrell from the kingdom of Annaly / Co.Longford, and Mulrooney / Maolruadh mac Donogh, while many more of them were left severely wounded, with some of these also dying later on, including Murrogh Finn O Farrell of Annaly, while Flann Mac Geraghty / Mac Oireachtaig had also been killed during the battle along with many of the others. In his fury, 116.Felim mac Cathail Crobhdhearg O Connor was determined he would not give up until the O Reillys from the Dal Cuinn Ui Briuin Breifne kingdom of East Breifne were to well and truly give in, and among those that were then killed were Cathal O Reilly who was the Muintir Maol Mordha King of East Breifne and Clann Aedha Finn and his 2 sons also, namely Donnell Ruadh - of Red Complexion O Reilly and Niall O Reilly, and also his own brother, Cu Chonnacht O Reilly along with Cathal Dubh - of Dark Complexion O Reilly's 3 sons, Geoffrey O Reilly, Fergal O Reilly and Donnell O Reilly. while Annadh O Reilly, the son of Donnell O Reilly had also been previously killed by Conor O Rourke, the son of Tiernan O Rourke, and also Niall Dall O Reilly, Tiernan O Brady, and Gilla Michael Mac Taidhly, Donogh O Bibsaigh, and Manus Mac Gilla - Duibh, with over 3 score of their men along with them, and a total of 16 of the aristocratic warriors from the O Reilly Sept.

    The Battle of Magh Slecht had occurred near Ath Dearg (The Red Ford) at Alt na hEillti (The Hill of the Doe) over Bealach na Beithighe (The Road of Birch) in Co. Cavan in Southern Ulster in the O Reilly 's kingdom of East Breifne, (This was the same Plain on which Crom Cruach / Ceann Cruach the Idol of Delphos had been destroyed and buried by St. Patrick in the ground after he struck it down with his staff, the Bachall Iosa - The Staff of Jesus, in the early 5th Century AD). After the battle 116.Felim mac Cathail Crobhdhearg O Connor and his son, 117.Aed mac Cathail Crobhdhearg O Connor and the men from the Connacht Province along with Tiernan O Rourke and his men from his kingdom of West Breifne in Co. Leitrim went to Lorh in Trein and took hostages also from the Fir Breifne / Men of Breifne there, and 116.Felim mac Cathail Crobhdhearg O Connor gave them over to Tiernan O Rourke, and Mac Govern / Mag Samradain and to his son, 117.Aed mac Cathail Crobhdhearg O Connor. Tiernan O Rourke then sent some of his followers to the Muintir Maol Mordha territory as it was believed that the O Reilly Chief's son from the Muintir Raghailligh was raising further warriors from there, and also from the English Galls to besiege the Mac Fachrach Sept. Tiernan O Rourke and O Reilly's son met head on at Farnaght and the O Reillys were scattered once again and another 36 of them were killed, including Auliffe / Amlaib, O Reilly, and Aed O Reilly the son of Cathal O Reilly, then retired defeated to their kingdom of East Breifne. Conor O Rourke, the son of Tiernan O Rourke the King of West Breifne, and many other Kings and Chiefs from the Ui Briuin Breifne Sept went to Fenagh to meet with Donnell O Reilly, and pursued Kelly O Reilly, his son Annadh O Reilly and Gilla O Reilly and many of the other O Reilly supporters.

        The next day they took booty from Cruacha O Cubrain and plundered their territory all the way to Fenagh, and this particular defeat was to be the beginning of the end for the Heremonian Dal Cuinn Ui Briuin Breifne O Reillys as an important independent Gaelic Milesian Irish Sept, but not to be deterred and in desperate circumstances the East Breifne O Reillys sent for further support from the English Galls in the Connacht Province who were under Mac William de Burgh the English Norman Baron and his cohort Costello / Mac Goisdealbh inviting them to destroy Connacht altogether along with the O Rourkes' Ui Briuin kingdom of West Breifne.The English Galls with a great army then moved onto Kesh Corran plundering all of the territory around Corran for a week and the O Reillys from out of their kingdom of East Breifne came to Loch Allen to Port na Cranne, but the English Galls kept clear for fear of 117.Aed mac Cathail Crobhdhearg O Connor who at Cell tSesin Inuachtar Tire had to decide which opposing army, east or west, to take on, and in consultation with Tiernan O Rourke he decided to take on the East Breifne O Reillys. He crossed over the River Shannon to the east bank on foot to Enga, but on arriving they could see that the O Reillys were long gone, and they decided to send some of their warriors after them, while in the meantime the English Galls had returned to the regions that were still under their control, and in the dusk the East Breifne O Reillys found that the English had left them totally to their own devices and they were soon slaughtered, and the next day 117.Aed mac Cathail Crobhdhearg O Connor had all their heads cut off and he took them all back to show his father, 116.Felim mac Cathail Crobhdhearg O Connor who was now the acting "unofficial" 61st King of Connacht at his fort of Dun Ailli west of Slieve Bawn. 

     Henry 111 the Norman English King sent over the Anglo - Norman Baron, Alan de la Zouche, as his new English Justicar in Ireland, to settle the territorial disputes among his greedy English Norman Barons, who then met also with 117.Aed mac Cathail Crobhdhearg O Connor at Randoon and made peace once again and Alan de la Zouche then informed the Dal Cuinn Ui Briuin AI O Connors that they would not lose any of their territory in the Connacht Province while he remained the English Justicar in Ireland. Fortified by this guaranteed commitment, 117.Aed mac Cathail Crobhdhearg O Connor then plundered  the territory in the Connacht Province now under the control of David Fitz Richard Cuisin / Cussen the English Norman Baron, and seized booty there, to avenge the previous killing of Rory / Thomas O Gara the Heberian Cianacht Chief of Sliab Lugar in Co. Sligo in the north - west of Connacht who Cussen had previously killed, and he also destroyed all of his Norman castles and seized the territory back in Loch Gara, Meanwhile, Mac William de Burgh the English Norman Baron not to be left out of the equation raided Rory O Flaherty in his kingdom in West Connacht plundering Gno Mor and Gno Bec and also seized the territory there at Loch Corrib. 117.Aed mac Cathail Crobhdhearg O Connor then met with Eoan de Verdun / de Bheardun the Anglo - Norman Baron, who had come to Ireland this year, at Ballyleague, and the English Galls who had their Estates at Athlone in Co. Westmeath in nearby Northern Leinster, while Duniry in Co. Galway was burnt on the same day, and with Conor O Rourke, the son of Tiernan O Rourke, who had been his ally till now he went into battle. Unknown to him Conor O Rourke had already made a separate forced peace with the English Galls without 117.Aed mac Cathail Crobhdhearg O Connor's agreement, but on finding out he besieged Conor O Rourke his previous ally, for doing this, but they too eventually made peace also.

1257 AD Conor O Rourke, the son of Tiernan O Rourke, had previously submitted to 116.Felim mac Cathail Crobhdhearg O Connor who was now the acting "unofficial" 61st King of Connacht and they had made peace, and as a meaningful gesture of his sincerity he offered him a portion of his territory in his kingdom of West Breifne in Co. Leitrim in Northern Connacht and a result of this 116.Felim mac Cathail Crobhdhearg O Connor took over his Stone Castle on Cherry Island in Loch Garradice and put in his own garrison there. Conor O Rourke was upset by this intrusive action and decided to burn the castle instead, but allowed the O Connor's garrison to leave the castle unharmed so 117.Aed mac Cathail Crobhdhearg O Connor then decided to install Sitric O Rourke, the son of Ualgarg O Rourke, as the new King of West Breifne in opposition to Conor O Rourke, the son of Tiernan O Rourke. Sitric O Rourke was then to be killed by 118.Donnell O Connor, the son of 117.Aed mac Cathail Crobhdhearg O Connor who was against any form of personal King making or installing puppets. 116.Felim mac Cathail Crobhdhearg O Connor then met with Alan de la Zouche, the English Justicar in Ireland and Mac William de Burgh / Burke, the English Norman Baron, and the main English Galls in the Connacht Province at Athlone in Co. Westmeath in Northern Leinster and they made peace with him once again. To try and stop the ongoing turmoil in Connacht, Henry 111 the Norman King of England then gave 116. Felim mac Cathail  Crobhdhearg  O Connor a charter confirming his right  to the 5 Cantreds in Connacht, and his other son, 117.Aed mac Cathail Crobhdhearg O Connor then besieged the O Rourkes Ui Briuin Breifne kingdom in West Breifne in Co. Leitrim and this resulted in Conor O Rourke, the son of Tiernan O Rourke, the King of West Breifne being killed at Ath na Failme by one of his own men and the followers of Matha O Reilly from the Ui Briuin Breifne Sept of East Breifne in nearby Co. Cavan. 117.Aed mac Cathail Crobhdhearg O Connor then raided Fenagh / Fiodhnacha (The Wooded Place) once again situated on the shores of Loch Fenagh in Co. Leitrim and ran off 100 head of their cattle, and then with his followers besieged Mac Govern / Gowran / Magauran / Mag Shamhrain. and Gilla Patraic Mag Fiachrach was also blinded by Matha O Reilly from the rebellious Ui Briuin Breifne Sept in East Breifne.

     Maurice Fitz Gerald the previous Norman Baron who was the English Justiciar in Ireland, died this year, as did Conn O Reilly, the son of Cathal O Reilly, the Dal Cuinn Ui Bruin Breifne Muintir Mael Morda Chief who had his kingdom in East Breifne in his territory in Co. Cavan in the south of the Ulster Province.

    Goffraidh O Donnell from the Heremonian Dal Cuinn "northern" Ui Niaill Cenel Conaill Sept drove off the English Galls in his territory in Tir Conaill / Tyrconnell / Co. Donegal in the north - west of the Ulster Province, and destroyed the Caeluisce Castle there and killed the English garrison and then carried out further resistance to their constant raids down further into Co. Sligo in the north - west of the Connacht Province and the English Galls then pursued Goffraidh O Donnell to Credran Coluim Cille in the Rosses of Carbury where he not only defeated them, but killed many of them there and burnt their settlement and took much booty from their Estates at Carbury, but as he was wounded in the conflict the men from the Cenel Conaill Sept had to return to Co. Donegal. *116.Brian Catha Duinn O Niall from the Heremonian Dal Cuinn "northern" Ui Niaill Cenel nEogain Sept in Ulster, who was also besieging the English Galls there, now demanded the Irish overall Kingship of Ulster so that he could continue his quest to unite the Tuaths / Family regions in Ulster and eventually revive the overall High Kingship of Ireland to drive the English Galls out of Ireland altogether. Unfortunately Goffraidh O Donnell would not defer to him as to who had the greatest authority now in Ulster, and although he was able to eventually defeat *116.Brian Catha Duinn O Niall in battle over this personal submission, he was to later die from the wounds that he received during that particular conflict. His territory of Tir Conaill / Tyrconnell / Co. Donegal / Dun na Gall (The Fort of the Foreigners) was only saved from outright conquest by the return of his Cenel Conaill kinsman, Donnell Oge - the Younger O Donnell from the Scottish Highlands who brought with him galloglasses / galloglach / mercenaries from the Hebrides who were of mixed Irish Gaelic and Norse blood. In the meantime, Mac Dunlevy / Mac Duinnshleibhe the Heremonian Dal Fiatach King was able to also kill many of the English Galls who were in his territory in the north - east of Ulster.

     112.Conor na Suidane O Brian the Heberian Dal gCais King of Northern Munster / Thomond now tried desperately to also drive the English Galls out of his territory in the Munster Province, and as a result of his continuing resistance there were to be many battles also fought there between the English Galls and the Dal gCais Septs, and many of the English Galls were also to be killed there and his son, 113.Teague / Tadhg O Brian also carried out many such raids on them, and during these ongoing conflicts the English Galls were to also kill Mahon O Brian, the son of Donnell Conachtach O Brian. 

     St. Mary's monastery in Roscommon in Co. Roscommon in the east of the Connacht Province was consecrated for the Preaching Friars this year.              

      John de Cogan the Anglo - Norman Baron constructed a Franciscan friary this year at Clare Galway in Co. Galway in Southern Connacht.

1258 AD *116.Brian Catha Duinn O Niall the Heremonian Dal Cuinn "northern" Ui Niaill Cenel nEogain King of Tyrone / Tir Eogan in the Lagan Valley of the Ulster Province called a convention to discuss selecting a strong overall Irish leader to combine all of the Irish Septs to carry out his plan of driving the English foreigners out of Ireland once and for all, and all of the other Irish Kings, including 117.Aed mac Cathail Crobhdhearg O Connor, the son of 116.Felim mac Cathail Crobhdhearg O Connor from the Heremonian Dal Cuinn Ui Briuin Ai had by now also come to realise that to bring this about they would have to end their rivalry over the Gaelic Kingship of Ireland and to this end they held the meeting at Cael Uisce (The Narrow Water) near Newry on Loch Erne at Belleek and Castle Calwell. 112.Conor na Suidane O Brian, the Heberian Dal gCais King of Northern Munster / Thomond, due to the constant threat of the English Galls along his particular borders in Northern Munster, was instead to send his son, 113.Teague / Tadhg O Brian to represent him. 112.Conor na Suidane O Brian's and *116.Brian Catha Duinn O Niall's names were put forward to become the new overall Gaelic King of Ireland with *116.Brian Catha Duinn O Niall the most likely prospect, but 113.Teague O Brian would not yield to his nomination as the overall leader. To give greater clarity as to who was the overall leader, they proposed that 117.Aodh mac Cathail Crobhdhearg O Connor's hostages should be given over to *116.Brian Catha Duin, and O Reillys hostages from Kells to Drumcliff to 117.Aodh mac Cathail Crobhdhearg O Connor. (Unfortunately this also meant that there was still to be no Gaelic Milesian High King of Ireland to combine the Irish Septs against the English Galls). In the meantime the English Galls had been made aware that the various Gaelic Kings were away holding their meeting in the north and they had taken the opportunity to attack the Irish Septs in the south of the Munster Province and also crossed over the River Shannon into the west of Thomond in the belief that 112.Conor na Suidane O Brian and his Dalcassian warriors would be out of the way. By remaining there he had been able to halt their attack at Kilbarron near Feakle in the north - east of Co. Clare where many of the English Galls were killed, but the English Galls had never the less already set fire to Ardrahan / Ard Rathain (The Fern Height) and Kilcolgan / Cill Cholgan / St. Colfa's Church in Co. Galway in the Connacht Province nearby, and the villages surrounding there and their crops.

     As Goffraidh O Donnell the Dal Cuinn "northern" Ui Niaill Cenel Conaill King of Tir Conaill / Tyrconnell / Co. Donegal had since died, Donnell Mor O Donnell became the new Cenel Conaill King, and all of the Cenel Conaill Septs gave their allegiance to him under the Brehon Law. Donnell O Rourke, the son of Conor O Rourke, the son of Tiernan O Rourke, who was being held by 116.Felim mac Cathail Crobhdhearg O Connor the Ui Briuin Ai "unofficial" 61st King of Connacht as a hostage was released and was installed as the new Heremonian Dal Cuinn Ui Briuin Breifne King of West Breifne in Co. Leitrim in the Connacht Province in place of his father. 117.Aed mac Cathail Crobhdhearg O Connor and 113.Teague O Brian met with *116.Brian Catha Duinn O Niall at Caeluisce and accepted that he should now be the overall Gaelic King of Ireland, and the hostages taken from the O Reillys of East Breifne Muintir Raghailligh and all of the Ui Briuin Septs from Kells to Drumcliffe were handed over to 117.Aed mac Cathail Crobhdhearg O Connor. Meanwhile, Donnell O Rourke, who was now the Dal Cuinn Ui Briuin Breifne King of West Breifne, killed Mac Raith Mag Tiernan / Mac Thighearnain the Chief of the Tellach Dunchada Sept and because of this the men of West Breifne and of Connacht generally took away his Kingship, while the Tellach Dunchada Sept were also to kill his brother, Cathal O Rourke. They then allotted the Kingship west of Sliabh / an Iarainn, of the Ui Briuin West Breifne to Art O Rourke, the son of Cathal Riabach O Rourke, whose other son, Auliffe / Amlaib O Rourke, was to also die this year. Brian Mac Govern / Gowran / Magauran Mag Shamhrain the O Reilly Ui Briuin East Breifne Chief of Tully Haw in Co. Cavan in Southern Ulster was also killed by the men of Connacht this year.

      Mac Sorley / Somhairle Mac Donald the direct male line ancestor of the galloglass Mac Donnells in Ireland arrived into Ireland from the Hebrides with a great fleet of ships and landed at Connemara in Co. Galway on the west coast of the Connacht Province and raided a ship that was anchored there and took all of its goods as booty and Jordan de Exeter, the Anglo - Norman English Sheriff in Connacht went after him and eventually caught up with him on an island off the coast, and with his contingent of English Galls attacked him, but they were defeated and the English Galls fled the scene after losing their best men, and Mac Sorley then returned to the Hebrides.

      The English Galls held a meeting with the Gaelic Milesian Chiefs of Ireland at Mulach Laigide where they again concluded another peace, but 116.Felim mac Cathail Crobhdhearg O Connor the acting "unofficial"  61st King of Connacht was not present, and his son, 117.Aed mac Cathail Crobhdhearg O Connor then pulled down the Bishop's palace at Elphin and also at Cell tSesin so that the English Galls could not occupy them again.

      A church was constructed this year at Cranfield in Co. Antrim in the north - east of the Ulster Province, which is now also only a ruin, but there nearby is a Holy Well still in existence today on the northern shore of Loch Neagh.

1259 AD 113.Teague / Tadhg O Brian became the Prince / Tanaiste of Northern Munster / Thomond /  Thuadh Muman who was the son of 112.Conor na Suidane O Brian the Heberian Dal gCais Ui Bloid Ui Turlogh Ui mBriain King of Cashel / Munster, but he was to also die this year.

      117.Aed mac Cathail Crobhdhearg O Connor the Dal Cuinn Ui Briuin Ai Chief in the Connacht Province allotted the previous position of Ui Briuin West Breifne KIng, previously held by the recently deceased Auliffe / Amlaib O Rourke, the son of Art O Rourke, to Art Bec - the Small O Rourke, who was another of Art O Rourke's sons, and he also took another Art O Rourke, who was the son of Cathal Riabach O Rourke as a hostage and he then went up to Derry in Co. Derry in the north - east of the Ulster Province to marry the daughter of Dubgall Mac Sorley Mac Donald / Mac Donnell from the Western Isles of Scotland who was from the Clan Mac Donald originally from the Dal Cuinn 3 Colla Mac Uais Sept descending from *85.Carroll Colla Uais - the Noble who had been the 121st King of Tara / Ireland. Warriors from the Mac Donald / Mac Donnell Sept were to be among the first galloglasses / mercenaries to return to Ireland into Tir Eogain / Tyrone and Co. Antrim in Ulster and 117.Aed mac Cathail Crobhdhearg O Connor was to receive 160 Scottish galloglass / mercenaries as a dowry, To ensure there would be no future sovereignty disputes in West Breifne he later blinded Cathal Mac Kinnawe / Forde / Mac Consnave / Mac Conshnamha the Muintir Cinaeth / Kenneth Chief and also the hostages previously taken from Donnell O Rourke, namely Niall O Rourke, the son of Donogh O Rourke, and Brian O Rourke, the son of Niall O Rourke. He then met with *116.Brian Catha Duinn O Niall the overall Cenel nEogain King who was now "officially" the elected 184th High King of Ireland at Devenish on Loch Erne, and because of this peace was now made between 117.Aed mac Cathal Crobhdhearg O Connor and Donnell O Rourke, who then received the Dal Cuinn Ui Briuin Breifne Kingship of West Breifne back. He then besieged the territory in the kingdom of the Heberian Cianacht O Garas at Sliabh Luga in Co. Sligo in the north - west of Connacht held now by the English Galls there, and Costello / Miled Mac Goisdealbh, the English Norman Baron  who was in control there, died, and he also captured Gillibert Costello who he then released in exchange for 3 of his sons as his hostages for his future good behaviour. He also besieged the Siol Maol Brian and captured Flann Ruadh O Flynn / Ua Flainn the Chief of Muskerylinn / Muiscre Ui Flainn.

     Mary Mac Ellycudd / Ellicott of Galey in Co. Kerry who had territory in Listowel and Tralee provided forces to invade Scotland in the army of Edward 1st the Norman King of England.   

1260 AD In a combined effort of solidarity, 117.Aed mac Cathail Crobhdhearg O Connor went to join *116.Brian Catha Duinn O Niall the Cenel nEogain 184th King of Ireland in the north of the Ulster Province, taking many of his main warriors from the Connacht Province with him, and combining their forces they marched into Co. Down to besiege the English Galls who were set up there in the east of Ulster but unfortunately they were to be defeated by the forces of John de Courcy the English Norman Baron there and his English Galls under Stephen the English Earl of Salisbury in the Battle of Druim Derg / Drumderg near Downpatrick / Dundeaglan. *116.Brian Catha Duinn O Niall who was at this time the last real hope of Ireland was among those many who were killed in this particular conflict, including members of the secondary Sept of the Cenel nEogain O Canes / Kanes / Ui Cathain, Cormac  Mac Dermot / Mac Diarmada, Cathal O Connor. Cathal Mac Dermot, Aed Finn and Teague O Gara, the son of Cian O Gara. *116.Brian Catha Duinn O Niall had been initially the Heremonian Dal Cuinn "northern" Ui Niaill Cenel nEogain King of Tir Eogain / Tyrone since 1238 AD who had been married to Gill the sister of Ewan Mac Dougal the Heremonian Dal Cuinn "northern" Ui Niaill Scottii King of Argyll (The Land of the Gael) in the Scottish Highlands. *116.Brian Catha Duinn O Niall had been a son of 115,Niall Ruadh O Niall who had died in 1223 AD, who was another of the sons of 114.Aedh - the Lazy Limbed Youth O Niaill who had died in 1177 AD after reviving the fortunes of the O Nialls in the Ulster Province in opposition to their Cenel nEogain kinsmen the Mac Loughlins / Mheic Lochlainns. John de Courcy cut off *116.Brian Catha Duinn O Niall's head and sent it over to England, and with *116.Brian Catha Duinn O Niall now gone there was once again no overall Irish leader to pull it all together in Ireland and the race for the "survival of the fittest" was once again on the table and 117.Donnell O Niall, his son, was now the Tanaiste / heir apparent of Ireland. *116.Brian Catha Duin O Niaill was to be later succeeded in Ulster by 114.Aodh Buidhe - of the Yellow Hair O Niall, the son of 113.Donnell Oge O Niall, the son of 112.Aodh Dubh O Niall, and he was to become the direct male line ancestor of the O Neills of Clannaboy / Clann na Buidhe in the north - east of Ulster.

     117.Aed mac Cathail Crobhdhearg O Connor killed Lochlann O Rourke and his brother, Tiernan O Rourke, who were 2 of the sons of Auliffe / Amlaib O Rourke who had been the son of Art O Rourke, after they were handed over to him by Donnell O Rourke, the son of Niall O Rourke. In the meantime another Donnell O Rourke, the son of Conor O Rourke, the son of Tiernan O Rourke, who had been reinstated as the Dal Cuinn Ui Briuin Breifne King of West Breifne was killed by the Tellach Dunchada Sept, while his brother, Murtogh O Rourke was also killed by 117.Aed mac Cathail Crobhdhearg O Connor, who also killed Art Bec - the Small O Rourke, another of the sons of Art O Rourke, who had been deposed, to reinstate the recently deceased Donnell O Rourke as the King of West Breifne. Teague Dubh - of Dark Complexion O Rourke, the son of Niall O Rourke, was then also killed by Maelsechlainn O Rourke, another of the sons of Auliffe O Rourke. 117.Aed mac Cathail Crobhdhearg O Connor also raided Toora this year were he also killed many of the Chiefs there and his men also burnt the stronghold of Conor O Kelly from the Dal Cuinn Colla Da Crioch Ui Maine in the south - east of Connacht.

   Mac William de Burgh / Burke the English Norman Baron, led a force of English Galls against 116.Felim mac Cathail Crobhdhearg O Connor the acting 61st King of Connacht into his territory in Co. Roscommon in the Connacht Province, and also raided Cruffon there, plundering the Clann Aeducain who were an important Heremonian Dal Cuinn Colla Da Crioch Ui Maine Brehon Sept of the Mac Egans / Mheic Aodhagain who had their territory at Cruffon near Killyan, Galway and Ballymoe in Co. Galway and Co. Roscommon in Southern Connacht. The Mac Egans were then to migrate from there into nearby Co. Tipperary in the north - east of the Munster Province in the Heberian Dal gCais Ui Bloid Ui Turlogh O Kennedy / Ui Cennetig kingdom of Ormond / Aur Mumu / North Eastern Munster. The English Galls then besieged the territory in Tir Maine of the kingdom of the O Kellys the Dal Cuinn Colla Da Crioch Ui Maine Kings in Connacht, and also sacked Roscommon and the crops there, but then for some reason suddenly stopped their pillaging in Connacht and once again made peace and went away.

    Mac Maurice Fitz Gerald / Murias Mac Murias Mac Gerailt, the son of the second English appointed Baron of Offaly raided Thomond / Northern Munster with a great army where he came up against 112.Conor na Suidane O Brian who met his assault head on at Kilbarron where his Heberian Dalcassian aristocratic warriors were able to attack them on all sides there in the woods. Mac Maurice Fitz Gerald also decided to carry out a raid on Donnell Mor O Donnell the Dal Cuinn "northern" Ui Niaill Cenel Conaill King in the north - west of the Ulster Province where he was also accompanied by some of O Donnell's men, and they went to Bennan Brechmaige killing and burning as they traversed the region.  In retaliation, Donnell Mor O Donnell then raided the territory held by Mac Maurice Fitz Gerald plundering the whole of that region that was now under his control at Carbury in the Connacht Province.      

     De Vesci the Anglo - Norman Baron constructed Lea Castle in Co. Laois in the mid - west of Southern Leinster, against the Gaelic Irish Septs there, which was to be later on taken over by the Anglo - Norman Fitz Geralds.

              Home Page                                                                         Return to Celtic Heritage                                                           On to 1261 - 1270 AD