306 



Annals of Ulster record a remarkable fall of snow, which is confirmed 

 by the Chronicon Saxon,* and Florentius Wigorniensis adds, as an 

 additional proof of its severe continuance, that almost all the bridges 

 of England were shattered by the frost. 



About this time Turlough O'Conor,-!* the prince of Connaught, 

 taking advantage of the dissensions of the rival kings, began to make 

 encroachments upon each, and on the death of Mortough in 1119, 

 and of Donald in 1121, he appears to have acquired the dominions of 

 both, and an acknowledgment of his title as supreme king of Ireland 

 by the great majority of the nation. 



In 1133 the Danes despoiled Ardbraccan, and carried away many 

 prisoners. :|: In 1134, according to Torfaeus and Saxo Grammaticus, 

 one Harold, born in Ireland, committed great devastations in Norway. § 

 In 1135 Kells was despoiled by the Danes, and subsequently in 1143, 

 1144, 1150, 1156, and 1170.|| In 1148, according to the Welsh his- 

 torians, Cadwallader, in the dissensions that prevailed in Wales, 

 brought over succours from Ireland to establish his cause. In 1149 

 the Danes plundered Duleek,l| and again in 1169 and 1171. In 1156 

 Kells was burned, " cum templis et ajdificiis."** In 1159 a fresh party 



of Danes are said to have come over to the gleaning of Irish plunder. -f-f* 

 11 



* •" Hoc anno adeo rigebat hyems nivibus et pruinis, ut nuUus qui tunc vixit durioris 

 unquam hyemis meminerit. Hinc autem facta est magna, pecorum lues." 



f The family of the O'Conors, that can almost vie in antiquity with the O'Neills, and 

 that rose on their ruins from the provincial government of Connaught to the sovereignty of Ire- 

 land, can boast a yet prouder distinction, in having called forth recognitions of such their title 

 from a long line of English kings subsequent to the invasion of Henry the Second. But any 

 further illustration of so historic a sept vpould be incompatible with the compass of this Essay. 



} Archdall's Mon. Hib. 



§ " Haraldus Hybernicarum partium oriundus, florentissimum Norvagise statum veluti 

 fulmen aliquod ac tempestas concussit." — Saxo Gram. Hist. Dan. lib. 13. 



II Trias Thaum. p. 633. ** Trias Thaum. p. 508. 



ff See post, section 6 of this Period. 



