811 - Dunghal, son of Cuana, lord of Feara
Rois died
812 - Maelduin,
lord of Feara Rois died
- Dunghal,
lord of Ard Cianachta [Ferrard] died.
820 - Cumascach, son of Tuathal,
lord of Ard Cianachta, was slain by Murchadh.
- A
victory was gained over the men of Ard Cianachta, in the battle of Carn Conain,
by Comascach, son of Conghalach, wherein was slain Eodhos, son of Tighearnach,
and many others along with him.
824 -
Spelán son of
Sluagadach, king of Conaille of Muirtheimne, dies.
825
- Maenach, son of Crunnmhael, Prior of Feara Rois, died.
827 - Robhartach, son of
Cathasach, abbot of Cluain-mor-Arda [Clonmore] 'fell asleep'. [AU]
828 - A great slaughter of
porpoises on the coast of Ard Cianachta by the foreigners. [AU]
- The
mortal wounding of Cinaed son of Cumuscach, king of Ard Cianachta [Ferrard],
by the foreigners; and Lann Léire [Dunleer] and Cluain Mór [Clonmore] were
burned by them. [AU]
833 - Danish raid on coast of Co Louth.
MacScanlon, chief of Ballymascanlon repels them.
841 - A fleet of Norsemen on the Boinn, at
Linn Rois. Another fleet of them at Linn Saileach, in Ulster.
Another fleet of them at Linn Duachaill.
845
- Ceallach, son of Maelpadraig, Prior of Feara Rois [to the south of the
river, AU], died.
849 -
Eochaidh, son of
Cearnach, lord of Feara Rois, was slain by the foreigners.
853 - Muireadhach, lord of Ard
Cianachta [Ferrard], died.
868 - Connla, anchorite of Druim
Caradh [Drumcar] of Ard Cianachta died
876 - Aenghus, son of Cinaedh,
lord of Feara Arda died.
877 – Gregory, King of Scotland captured
Dundalk.
886-910 - Constant feud between the tanists
of Connal-Muirthemne and those of Meath.
890 -
Giblechán son
of Mael Brigte, king of the Conaille of Muirtheimne, dies.
891 -
Mael Mórda son
of Gairbíth i.e. king of Conaille of Muirtheimne, was beheaded by Cellach
son of Flannacán.
-
Cumascach, son of Muireadhach, lord of Feara Arda Cianachta, was slain by
the Ulidians.
892 -
Maeleitigh, son of
Fearadhach, lord of Feara Rois, was slain by the foreigners.
893 - A shower of blood was
rained in Ard Cianachta [Ferrard].
909 -
Amalgaid son
of Congalach, heir designate of Brega, and Innéirge son of Mael Teimin, a
religious layman, were beheaded by the Conaille of Muirtheimne.
921 - The
plundering of Feara-Arda [Ferrard] and Lann-Leire [Dunleer], and of Feara-Rois, in this year.
935 - Gairbhith,
son of Maeleitigh, lord of Feara-Rois, was slain [by his kinsmen, AU].
937 -
Cróngilla son
of Cuilennán, king of Conaille of Muirtheimne, died of a sickness.
939 - Visit of Murtough, King of Ireland to
Dundalk.
941 - Muircheartach of the Leather Cloaks,
son of Niall Glundubh, lord of Aileach, the Hector of the west of Europe in
his time, was slain at Ath-Fhirdiadh [Ardee] by Blacaire, son of Godfrey,
lord of the foreigners, on the 26th of March. In lamentation of him was
said:
Vengeance and destruction have descended upon
the race of the Clann-Cuinn for ever,
As Muircheartach does not live; alas, the country of the Gaeidhil
will be always an orphan.
948
- A victory was
gained by Ruaidhri Ua Canannain, in Meath, over Conghalach, son of
Maelmithigh, where fell Conghalach, son of Ceallach, lord of Feara-Rois, and
a number of others along with him.
950[?] - Battle of Dundalk Bay, when
Failbhe Flon, King of Desmond defeated the Danish fleet under Sitric and
rescued Callaghan, King of Munster.
953 -
Murchadh, son
of Cumasgach, lord of Feara-Rois died
956 - Congalach son of Mael
Mithig, king of Ireland, was killed with his royal household by the
foreigners of Áth Cliath and by the Laigin and Aed son of Aitide, king of
Tebtha, and Matudán son of Aed son of Mael Mithig and Cormac son of Cathalán,
king of Fir Arda. [CS]
985 - The abduction of the shrine of
Patrick, by Maelseachlainn, from Ath-Fhirdiadh to Ath-Sighe, in consequence
of the rebellion of the son of Cairelan. They afterwards made peace; and
Maelseachlainn submitted to the award of [the successor of] Patrick, i e.
the visitation of Meath, both church and state, and a banquet for every fort
from Maelseachlainn himself; besides seven cumhals, and every other demand
in full.
986 - A great wind which laid low many
buildings, including the oratory of Louth.
996 -
A battle was gained over
the Ui-Meith, at Sruthair, by the son of Donnchadh Finn and the Feara-Rois,
wherein the lord of Ui-Meith and many others were slain.
The
Kings of Fir Rois (Mid-Louth)
|
Name |
Date of
Death |
Comment |
|
|
|
|
|
Cú
Bretan son of Congus |
178 [fl.] |
King of
Fir Rois |
|
Dungal
mac Cuana |
811 |
Lord of
Feara Rois |
|
Maelduin |
812 |
Lord of
Feara Rois |
|
Eochaidh
mac Cearnach |
849 |
Slain by
the foreigners |
|
Maeleitigh mac Fearadhach |
892 |
Slain by
the foreigners |
|
Gairbhith mac Maeleitigh |
935 |
Slain
[by his Kinsmen. AU] |
|
Conghalach mac Ceallach |
948 |
Lord of
Feara-Rois |
|
Eochu
son of Cernach |
849 |
King of
Fir Rois, killed by the heathens |
|
Murchadh
mac Cumasgach |
953 |
Lord of
Feara-Rois |
|
Maelmordha [Maol Mochta. AU] |
1028 |
Slain by
the Conaill-Muirtheimhne |
|
Cuchaille Ua Finn |
1073 |
Lord of
Feara-Rois [died in penitence. AU] |
|
Sithfruich mac Mac Sealbhaigh |
1096 |
Slain by
the Mughdhorna Maighen |
|
Ua Finn |
1109 |
Slain by
Murchadh Ua Maeleachlainn, King of Teamhair |
The above list
is based on information extracted from The Annals of the Four Masters
on the CELT web site at
http://www.ucc.ie/celt/index.html and
William M. Hennessy, The Annals of Ulster [AU], Dublin 1887
[Reprinted by De Burca 1998]. I have retained the dating convention of the
Four Masters. I would be happy to receive any additions/corrections
etc. to the above list.
For the genealogy of Gairbhith mac
Maeleitigh, son of Maeleitigh mac Fearadhach, both kings of the Fir Rois,
back to the time of Miles of Spain (Míl
Easpáninne) and from
there back to the time of Adam, click
HERE.
1001 - A hosting by Brian and by
MaelSechlainn accompanied by the men of Ireland, both Munster and Leinster
and Foreigners, as far as Dundalk in Conailli. Aed, son of Domnall,
High-king of Ailech, and Eochaigh, son of Ardghal, king of Ulater, with the
Ulaid and the Kindred of Eogan and of Conall, and the AItgeill (met them)
and did not let them past, so they separated under a truce, without hostage,
without pledge.
1012 -
Brian led an
army into Mag Muirtheimne, and he gave complete immunity to Patrick's
churches on that hosting.
1020 - Gilla Ciaráin son of Oiséne, king of
Mugdorna, was killed by the Fir Rois.
1022 -
Muireadhach Ua Sleibhene Slevin, chief poet of the north of Ireland, was
slain by the Feara-Rois.
1025 - Termonfeckin was
plundered and burnt on Christmas eve by the Hui Crichain.
1028 -
Maelmordha, lord of Feara-Rois, was slain by the Conailli-Muirtheimhne.
1034 -
Gillaseachnaill, son of Gillamochonna, lord of South Breagha, was slain by the
Feara-Rois.
1039 - An army was led by Donnchadh Mac
Gillaphadraig and the Osraighi into Meath; and they burned as far as
Cnoghbha and Droichead-atha [Drogheda].
1044 - Mael Mochta, bishop of Louth died.
- A predatory excursion was made by
Niall, son of Maeleachlainn, lord of Aileach, into Ui-Meith and Cuailgne;
and he carried off twelve hundred cows, and led numbers into captivity, in
revenge of the profanation of Clog-an-Eadhachta.
1052 -
Domhnall, son of Gillachrist, son of Cucuailgne, was slain by the lord of
Feara-Rois.
1073 -
Domhnall, son
of Ualgharg, chief of Ui-Duibhinnreacht; and Cuchaille Ua Finn, lord of
Feara-Rois, died.
1075 - A hosting of the Meathmen,
Connaughtmen, the foreigners, the Leinstermen, the Osraighi, and the
Munstermen, was made by Toirdhealbhach Ua Briain; and they marched to
Ath-Fhirdia [Ardee], to demand hostages from the Oirghialla and the Ulidians.
The chiefs of the province came to oppose them, and when they were face to
face, a battle was fought at Ard-Monann between the Airghialla and
Muircheartach Ua Briain, i.e. the royal heir of Munster, where Muircheartach
and his forces were defeated, and a bloody slaughter made of his people; and
his chiefs returned to their houses without hostage or pledge on that
occasion.
1084 - An army was led by Donnsleibhe, King
of Ulidia, to Droicheatata [Drogheda], and gave wages to Donnchadh, the son
of the Caileach Ua Ruairc. A predatory excursion was made in his
Donnsleibhe's absence into Ulidia, by Domhnall Ua Lochlainn, whence he
carried off prisoners and a great spoil of cattle.
1084 - A great pestilence in this year,
which killed a fourth of the men of Ireland. It began in the south, and
spread throughout the four quarters of Ireland. This is the causa causans of
the pestilence, to wit, demons that came out of the northern isles of the
world, to wit, three battalions, and in each battalion there were thirty and
ten hundred and two thousand, as Oengus Oc, the son of Dagda, related to
Gilla Lugan, wjo used to haunt the fairy-mound every year at Halloween. And
he himself beheld at Maistiu one battalion of them which was destroying
Leinster..... For there was a sword of fire out of the gullet of each of
them, and every one of them was as high as the clouds of heaven. So that is
the cause of the pestilence.
1096 -
Sithfruich, son of Mac Sealbhaigh, lord of Feara-Rois, was slain by the
Mughdhorna Maighen.
1097 -
An expedition
was made by Muirchertach ua Briain and by Leth Mogha to Mag
Muirtheimhne. An expedition was made by Domnall ua Lochlainn also
with the north of Ireland to Fid Conaill to give them battle, and Domnall,
successor of Patrick, restrained them in a semblance of peace.

Mellifont - founded by Donagh O'Carrol for the Cistercian Order in 1142
1100 - A
great army was led by the Leinstermen till they arrived at Sliabh Fuaid; and
they burned Airghialla, Ui-Meith, and Fir-Rois.
1104 - Murtagh O'Brien devastated Louth and
Cuolad O'Condelan ruler of "Traighbaile" (Dundalk) thrown from his horse and
killed.
1109 - A
predatory excursion was made by Murchadh Ua Maeleachlainn, King of Teamhair,
on which he plundered the Feara-Rois, and slew Ua Finn, lord of Feara-Rois,
in violation of the Staff of Jesus and the successor of Patrick; but God
took vengeance of him for this.
1111 - Louth and Kells were burnt.
1113 - An
army was brought by Muirchertach ua Briain and Leth Moga, both laity and
clergy, to Grenóc. Domnall grandson of Lochlainn, however, with the nobles
of the north of Ireland, went to Cluain Caín of the Fir Rois, and they were
confronting one another for a month until Cellach, successor of Patrick,
with the Staff of Jesus, made a year's peace between them.
1130 -
The Ulaidh and the men of Fearnmhagh [went] beyond Athlone into the territory of
Fir Rois, and Tighearnán Ó Ruairc with the Craobh Fearnmhuighe met them at Muine
Uachtair Imrimhe, where they fought a battle, in which the Ulaidh were defeated,
and Raghnall Ó hEochadha, king of Ulaidh, Cú Midhe Ó Críochain, king of
Fearnmhagh and Oirghialla, Aodh, his son, and Donn Sléibhe Ó hOireachtaigh, king
of Uí Mhéith, were killed, with slaughter of the Ulaidh, [the men of] Fearnmhagh,
and the Uí Mhéith.
1142 – Donogh O'Carrol, prince of Oriel,
erected an abbey [at Mellifont] for monks of the Cistercian Order.
1152 - A synod was convened by the Bishops
of Ireland and the cardinal of S. Peter's successor at Drogheda; and there
they ordained certain regulations. Then he (the Cardinal) left a pallium for
each province of Erin, to wit, a pallium in Armagh, and a pallium in Dublin,
and another in Connaught, and (a fourth) in Munster.
1168 - Donat, King of Uriel, founder of
Mellifont Abbey, departed this life.
1175 - S. Colomb cille's Durrow, the whole
of Meath, from Athlone to Drogheda, was laid waste by the foreigners.
1176 – Louth was devastated by the English.
1178 - John De Courcy defeated near Newry
but defeats the O'Hanlon army near the Fane river.
1180 - Bertram De Verdon granted lands in
Louth. Founded a friary called St. Leonard's.
1181 - Mulmurry O'Dunan, Abbot of
Cnoc-na-Seangan [Louth], died.
1184 - John de Courcy granted the ferry of Carlingford to the Abbey of
Downpatrick.
1185 - Hugh De Lacy granted Ballymascanlon
to the Cistercians of Mellifont.
1193 – Derforghaill, wife of Tiarnan
O'Rourke, and daughter of Murchadh O'Maoilseachlainn [King of Meath], died
in the monastery of Droicheat Atha [Drogheda], in the 85th year
of her age.
1194 - The relics of St. Malachy, Bishop of
Clareval, were brought into Ireland, and received with great honour, in the
monastery of Mellifont, and the other Monasteries of the Cistercians.
The
Kings of Ard-Cianachta (South Louth)
|
Name |
Date of Death |
Comment |
|
|
|
|
|
Dubhdainbher |
686 |
Killed at the battle of Imleach
Phich |
|
Aenghus, son of Ailell |
732 |
|
|
Muireadhach, son of Aenghus |
774 |
Slain |
|
Ceallach, son of Cormac |
781 |
|
|
Dunghal |
812 |
|
|
Cumascach, son of Tuathal |
820 |
Slain by Murchadh |
|
Cinaed son of Cumuscach |
828 |
Mortally wounded by the foreigners |
|
Muireadhach |
853 |
|
|
Aenghus, son of Cinaedh |
876 |
|
|
Cumascach, son of Muireadhach |
891 |
Slain by the Ulidians |
|
Cormac, son of Cathalan |
954 |
Slain |
The above list
is based on information extracted from The Annals of the Four Masters
on the CELT web site at
http://www.ucc.ie/celt/index.html and
William M. Hennessy, The Annals of Ulster [AU], Dublin 1887
[Reprinted by De Burca 1998].
The people of Ard-Cianachta were
known as the Feara Arda Cianachta (from where the name of the barony of
Ferrard is derived). The territory of Ard-Cianachta comprised the present
barony of Ferrard and part of the north-east barony of Ardee.
1210 - King John visited Dundalk.
- The castle called King John's was erected in
Carlingford.
1213 – Hugh O'Neill defeated the English
with dreadful slaughter, and on the same day burned Carlingford, sparing
neither persons not property.
1216 – Nicholas De Verdon regained his
confiscated lands and castles in Dundalk and Clonmore.
1219 -
Congalach Ua
Cainn, candle of championship and liberality of the North of Ireland, royal
chief of Magh Lughad and Sil-Cathusaigh, was killed by the Foreigners on the
same day as Ua Flainn.
1220 - Dundalk made a royal borough.
1221 - Battle of Dundalk, O'Neill and De
Lacy defeat English; The son of Hugo de Lacy came to Ireland, contrary to
the command of the King of England, and having joined Hugh O'Neill against
the English, they first proceeded to Colerain, and dismantled the castle,
and from thence marched to Meath and Leinster, and reduced the country on
that Expedition. The Anglo-Irish collected twenty-four battalions at
Dundalk, but Hugh O'Neill and de Lacy collected four large battalions and
marched against the English, who submitted to O'Neill on his own terms.
1230 - Rosia or Rohesia De Verdon succeeded
Nicholas.
1234 - Commencement of the building of
Drogheda town walls.
1242 – A great chapter was held by the
primate of Armagh, and by the abbots of the canons of Ireland, at Lughmadh
[Louth], on which occasion were exhibited the relics which St. Moctheus
[first bishop to the see of Louth] had brought from Rome.
1247 - Death of Rosia. Her son founded the
Grey Friary in Dundalk.
1253 – Bryan O'Neill, prince of Tyrone,
waged war against the English, and, having gone to Moy Coba [Downpatrick],
demolished its castle and many others, burned Stranbhaile [Dundalk], and
cleared (from the English) the entire