Topics covered in Parts 1, 2, and 3 of the Irish saga Caithrem Ceallachain Caisil, The Victorious Career of Cellachan of Cashel or The Wars Between the Irishmen and the Norsemen in the Middle of the 10th Century. Since most Callahans probably moved to America in the 1840's during the period of the potato famine, and the saga was not translated into English until 1905 (in Norway), most Americans with a Callahan surname probably are unaware that a medieval Irish saga exists about their 10th century ancestor.

PART 1

1. The list of the kings of Munster before Ceallachan and their causes of death

2. The oppression of the Irish by the Vikings

3. Ceallachan's ancestry

4. Ceallachan prepares to be king by posing as a cleric for a year and a half, secretly reconnoitering the countryside

5. His mother collects arms and retains soldiers

6. Cennedig's (Kennedy's) rivalry for the kingship during the election at Glennamain

7. Ceallachan's mother's speech to the assembly at Glennamain

8. Cennedig and Donnchad leave the assembly mound

9. The inauguration of Ceallachan

10. Ceallachan's call for war and an attack on Limerick

11. Suilleban (Sullivan) addresses the soldiers

12. The Battle of Limerick

13. Ceallachan's combat with Amlaib

14. Suilleban's combat with Morann

15. Donnchad's combat with Magnus

16. Ribordan's combat with Lochlann and the battle inside the town

17. The poem composed about the Battle of Limerick

18. The Battle of Cork

19. The Battle of Sliab Crot

20. The Battle of Thurles

21. Ceallachan's address to Donnchad before the Battle of Cashel and the poem

22. The Battle of Port Lairge (Waterford)

23. Taking hostages and pledges from the Deisi, Ui-Mic-Caille, and Ui Liathain

24. The Battle at Muscraige with the Loch Lein Eoganachts

25. The Battle with Congal in Aes Irrais

26. The Battle of Glenn Corbraigi

27. Donnchuan, son of Cennedig, joins Ceallachan to fight Flannabra, king of Ui Conaill and the poem

28. The Battle of Cromad

29. The celebration in Cashel of the expulsion of the Norsemen from the towns and fortresses

30. Demanding taxes from Ossory and the battles with the Leinstermen

PART 2

1. The Donnchadh, the King of Ireland, agrees to the Viking plot to kill Ceallachan because Ceallachan had not agreed to pay him tribute

2. Ceallachan wants to go with an army to Dublin but is dissuaded and instead goes with 80 men

3. Sitric tells his wife, Mor of the plan and because she is secretly in love with Ceallachan she warns him on the road to Dublin

4. The poem describing the meeting between Mor and Ceallachan

5. Ceallachan and his men are pursued by the Vikings on foot and by horse

6. Several of Ceallachan's men fight rear guard actions against the pursuing Vikings

7. Ceallachan and Donnchadh are captured, and the Vikings exhibit the heads of the slain Irish for identification

8. Ceallachan's poem lamenting the death of the riders of Munster

9. Sitric's ransom demands

10. Ceallachan instructs Aistrechan, son of Ailgisech, what to tell the men of Munster (2 poems)

11. Ceallachan tells Cennedigh to stay and defend Munster

12. Aistrechan returns to Munster and describes the situation

13. Donnchad, the son of Caem, agrees to a rescue expedition and recites Ceallachan's 15 battles

14. The expedition is organized

15. Donnchad is made the leader of the expedition

16. The route of the hosting

17. Muirchertach son of Airnelach, the king of Cenel Conaill, warns the Vikings to move Ceallachan to Dundalk

18. The Battle of Armagh

19. Donnchadh is told that Ceallachan was moved to Dundalk

20. The army goes to Dundalk and Sitric binds Ceallachan and Donnchuan, the son of Cennetig to the mast

21. Donnchadh reproaches Sitric (poem)

22. Ceallachan addresses Donnchadh and sees the approaching Munster fleet (poem)

23. Duinechad, son of Fiangus, arranges the order of battle

24. The Battle at Dundalk Harbor

25. Failbe leaps on to Sitric's ship and cuts Ceallachan loose

PART 3

1. The Battle on the Viking Ships: The Death of Failbe

2. Fiangel laments the death of Failbe (poem)

3. Fiangal pulls Sitric into the sea where they both drown

4. Seghda and Congal attack but the Viking ships are swamped

5. The poem about the battle

6. Conchubar, the king of Ciarraige, kills Ilbrech, son of the king of Lochlann

7. The Baiscne attack the fleet of the Berserks and kill Lenn Turmun of the Berserks

8. Donnchuan, son of Ceinneidigh, is freed from the mast

9. The ships of Munster land and the Vikings leave

10. Ceallachan laments the death of Failbe

11. Donnchadh, the son of Caem's poem about the battle

12. The burial of the nobles in four graves at a church in north Dundalk

13. Donnchadh, the son of Caem's second poem about the battle

14. They burn their ships and those of the Vikings and discuss the route home

15. Ceallachan and Donnchadh urge a route via Dublin

16. They plunder and burn everything on their way between Dundalk and Dublin

17. The plot by the women of Dublin fails

18. The army stays a week in Dublin and Donnchuan. son of Cennedig, takes Bebinn as his wife in Dublin

19. The Munster army meets the army of Leinster on the route home

20. They seek revenge on Muirchertach and Donnchadh, son of Flann Sinna, king of Erin and plundered Tara

21. Ceallachan dies in 952

GO TO THE SAGA

There is also a good Wikipedia article "Cellachán Caisil"