68 [Proc. B.N.F.C., 



control of the destinies of Ireland. This worked down to 941. 

 The Northmen had now become Christians, or at least all were 

 prime-signed, and it is recorded of Olaf Cuaran that after a defeat 

 at Dublin he went to Iona, where he died about 220. In the 

 meantime the Irish chieftains had been asserting themselves again. 

 In 941 Brian Boru was born. He was a younger brother of 

 Mahoon, chief of the Dalcassians, of North Munster, a tribe of the 

 O'Neill race, who occupied a prominent place in history. Brian 

 and Mahoon warred against the Northmen. Mahoon made terms 

 with the Northmen of Limerick, but Brian, refusing to submit, 

 took to the hills, woods, and fastnesses, and led a career similar 

 to that of Alfred the Great. At one time his following was 

 reduced to fifteen men, but in time his fame became voiced 

 abroad, and his band swelled. In 968 he overcame the Northmen 

 of Limerick and Munster, who were aided by the Irish against 

 their own countrymen at the Battle of Sulcheit, in Tipperary, and 

 all Munster submitted to him. He then built a fleet, and overcame 

 Maalmurragh, King of Leinster, and the Danes of Dublin, at the 

 Battle of Glanama, in 996. Four years later he took the ardship 

 from Malachy, the King of Meath, and invaded Ulster. At the 

 time of Brian's invasion Hugh O'Neill and the Kinel Owen were 

 waging war against the Ultonians, and Brian broke in upon them 

 at Crow Hill, near denary, and took hostages from both parties. 

 He afterwards made the famous circuit of Ireland to collect 

 hostages and establish himself, and then, to divert attention from 

 internal affairs, he organised a maritime expedition, and plundered 

 Scotland and England. Maalmurragh, King of Leinster, had a 

 sister, Gormfiaith, who successively married Olaf Cuaran, King of 

 Dublin ; Malachy II., King of Tara ; and finally Brian. Brian 

 after a time repudiated Gormfiaith, and her brother Maalmurragh, 

 having received insult when bringing tribute to Brian, went into 

 rebellion, but was overthrown by Malachy II. when invading 

 Meath. He then sought the aid of the Danes of Dublin under 

 Sitric, son of Gormfiaith and Olaf Cuaran. Sitric, instigated by 



