194 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



Dundomhnall at Baginbun (when lie threw his prisoners over the cliffs), panic 

 seized on the tribes near Waterford. Maelsechlainn TJa Faolain threw himself 

 into Waterford to help the Danes against the terrible " Strongbow " of 

 Strigul, into whose hands he fell on the capture of the town. Short had been 

 his shrift but for the intercession of King Diarniaid. whom one is pleased to 

 find engaged in any act of humanity. The first absolute reduction of the 

 Desi by the Xormans took place in 1173 : when Eaymund overran their 

 country with great slaughter and plundered Lismore. The spoils were sent 

 down the Blackwater on to Dungarvan, where the Xormans took thirteen 

 boats. After a long wait for favourable winds they sailed for "Waterford. 

 The Danes of Cork, under Gilbert, son of Turgeis, with thirty-five ships, 

 intercepted them, but they were defeated and their leader slain. Diarmaid 

 (MacCarthy), Xing of Cork, arrived at Dungarvan just too late to save the 

 boats. Eaymund attacked, defeated him, added 4000 cattle to his precious 

 spoils, and returned to Waterford victor on land and sea. In about 1179 

 Eobert le Poher settled in the county where his descendants played ever 

 since so conspicuous a part. 



Another Dessian chief rose against the Xornians and destroyed their 

 castle at Lismore, slaying its garrison of sixty or eighty men. His successor, 

 Artcorb, died in 1203, and the tribe made terms with the " Franks," so that 

 three years later their next prince, "Daniel," died at Cork, an avowed 

 supporter of the justiciar, Meyler fitzHenry. In 1297-8, O'Faolan of the 

 Desi slew David "Walsh, Bishop of Waterford. 



In some sort of submission to the English, with whose settlements they 

 were now honeycombed, the Desi held their power, if in diminished pride. 

 Ua Faolain, " Eos OTolan de Dessia ," and another, Eichard 1 mac Hermekan 

 de Dessia, were of sufficient importance to be asked to join the Justiciary with 

 all their forces'- in 1244, for an expedition to Scotland. I do not intend 

 to follow out the fortunes of the Desi ; they may have made or occupied 

 certain cliff- forts and raths, but hardly could have made any after this late 

 date. 



As to the Xorman settlers, we do not touch on their colonies inland from 

 Lismore to Waterford. It is held by some that every Xorman grant of lands 

 in Ireland implies effective occupation ; this, I have shown, is most fallacious 

 in Thomond and parts of Cork, 3 so it may be so elsewhere, but it is equally 



1 Was this name a compliment to " Strongbow .' 



; Cal. Documents relating to Ireland (under dates), vol. i. 



'- Also in Corcalaidhe, for in 1298 " Corkely. in Co. Cork, cannot be extended on 

 account of the Irish " at the time of the death of Thomas fitzMaurice (Cal. Doc. Ir., vol. iv, 

 p. 261). 



