Historic Ulster, 71 



Thomond, who in the year looi laid claim to the crown. That 

 an ardrigh should come from the South was quite unusual, for, 

 though the monarchy was elective in theory, the northern 

 dynasty had long monopolised it. Some called Brian a usurper, 

 and it can not be denied that his overthrow of the Clan Nial 

 led to anarchy, and ultimately to the English conquest ; but he 

 could not be expected to foresee the future, and he had received 

 insults at the hand of Malachi. The circumstances which 

 attended the fall of the Clan Nial were as follows. King Brian 

 encamped at Tara, and gave Malachi a definite period in which 

 to decide whether he would abdicate or fight for the throne. 

 Malachi decided to fight if Hugh of Aileach, the head of the 

 Clan Nial, would assist him. A bard was the ambassador to 

 Aileach. Malachi had empowered him to offer Hugh the 

 crown if he would lead against Brian, and the King of Aileach 

 was inclined to accept, but could not do so without the approval 

 of the tribal council. This assembly being called together, 

 decided that on account of the danger of an encounter with the 

 unconquered Dalcassian army of Brian, they would claim from 

 Malachi not only the crown of Ireland for Hugh, but half the 

 land of Meath for the Tirowen tribes. Malachi departed in a 

 rage, and by advice of the Meathan tribal assembly made peace 

 with Brian, and was loyal to him till the fatal day of Clontarf. 

 The death of Brian Borou was followed by the second reign of 

 Malachi, and then the country fell into a state of anarchy, 

 which continued till the coming of the English. 



The O'Neills resisted the English for hundreds of years. 

 Brian O'Neill, who fell in 1260, was the last king of the name, 

 and his son Donal of Dungannon was connected with the 

 attempt to place Edward Bruce on the throne of Ireland. We 

 may now refer briefly to the rebellions in Elizabeth's reign of 

 Shane O'Neill and the more worthy and heroic Hugh, victor of 

 the Blackwater. His long-continued struggle in partnership 

 with Hugh Roe O'Donnel against English oppression did not 

 end till he had wrung from the victors an honourable peace on 

 favourable terms ; but the English king, James L, had no 



