244 Prncprdmcis oj the Roi/al Irish Academi/. 



completed his twenty-iiiuth year between Januaiy and October. 1124. Hence 

 he was born between Januaiy and October, lOito. 



The remaining dates may be taken in the order in whieli they are given 

 in the Vita, with tlie exception of a few wiiicli present :-pecial ditfieulty, and 

 which are therefore reserved for future consideration. 



Vita, § G. Malacliy was ordained jiriest when he was about twenty-tive 

 yeare of age. Subsequently he was appointed by C'ellacli as his vicar. These 

 statements are in some <lefriee conlirmed by tlie Annals. Tliey tell us that 

 iu 1 120 Celiacli made a circuit of Munster. In duly or August, 1121, he was 

 in Dublin endeavouring to get possession of tliat see, tlien vacant by the 

 death of Bishop Samuel liAingli.' Thus in lliose two years he was for 

 eon.siderable periods ab.sent from Armagli. In view of the contemplated 

 circuit of Mun.ster he may very well have appointed a vicar in 1120. In 

 that year Malachy completed his twenty-lifth year. 



Vitn, § 'JO f. Three years after the death of Cellach, llalacliy was urged 

 by "the bishoi)s and princes of tlie laml" to begin his contest willi Maurice 

 (Muirclieaitucii) for the .«ee of Armagh, and subsenuently he commenced to 

 perform archiepiscopal functions in tlie province, tliougii not in the city. In 

 harmony with this the Annals date the death of Cellach 1st April, 1129 : and 

 under 1 1-'J2 the Four Masters liave tlie entry " Mael ilaedog Morgair sat 

 in tiie cumurbate of I'ulrick at the request of the clergy of Ireland." 



Vita, § 21 f. Two yeai-s later (live years or more after the death of I'eliach, 

 ii 20) .Maurice was " removed by sudden deatii," and Nigellus (Niall " ijuickly 

 took po.sse.ssion i>f the see." So, acconling to the Four Masters, Muircheartach 

 died on 17th September, ll.']4, und in tiie same year Niall " was appointed to 

 the comarbate of Patrick." St. !5ernard implies tiiat Malachy entered the 

 city, and tells (§ 2.'J) how liis enemies were destroyed by a thunderstorm. 

 Under 11-14 the so-calleil Annals of Tigernach say, " Mael Macdog O Morgair 

 .isceiided the ciiair of Patrick," and proceed to mention that twelve con- 

 spirators were killed by a Hash of liglilniiig. 'i'he Four Masters do not 

 refer to the storm; but after mentioning the appointment of Niall they 

 proceed, "a change of abbot.s t^Ktk place at Armagh, i.e. Mael Maedog Morgair 

 in the place of Niall." The narrative of tlie next few sections of the Vita is 

 not easy to follow; and the order of events is perhaps diflerent from that 

 given in the Annals. Hut there are no deHuite dates. 



Viin, § 31. The contest with Niall lasted less tiian three years. When 

 peace was restored Gelasius was consecrated by Malucliy as his successor. 



' Seo also Umher's fiijUwjf. no. 10 (WorkH, iv, 5.32). .Samuel <) hAingli died 4tli .luly. 

 1121 (Obita of Christ Church ; AnwtU nf Ulaler). 



