The Annals of Clonmacnoise
Ceallachan's raid on Clanmacnoise and the Irish stone high crosses.
The Cross of King Flann, Clonmacnoise (Porter 1931: Fig. 183).
Arthur Kingsley Porter wrote in The Crosses and Culture of Ireland, (Yale Univ. Press: New Haven): "The rise of the art of sculptured stone crosses in precisely this troubled age of the Viking invasions is difficult to explain. It is the more strange that the development of the new art of sculpture corresponds with the decline of illumination. I fancy that the constant pillaging of monasteries by the Danes may have forced the Celts into a form of artistic expression not so easily destroyed by a raiding party. A stone cross is not conveniently either burned or stolen" (1931:105). The Cross of the Scriptures or the Cross of King Flann (left) was erected in the first part of the 10th century in memory of Flann Siana, King of Tara who died in 916 AD. The cross therefore might have been there during the raid by Ceallachan on Clonmacnoise c. 930 AD (or 934 or 935 depending on the annal). Between 832 and 1163 AD Clonmacnoise was plundered by the Vikings 8 times and attacked by its Irish enemies 27 times. The Annals of Clonmacnoise and the Chronicon Scriptorum were made or copied in the Scriptorum of Clonmacnoise. Many of the buildings that are at Clonmacnoise today were built in the centuries after Ceallachan's raid.
Information about the book:
"The Annals of Clonmacnoise, [describes] the earliest period to 1408. The original Irish of these is lost; but we have an English translation by Connell Mac Geoghegan of Lismmoyny in Westmeath, which he completed in 1627. Of this translation many are preserved, of which one is in Trinity College and another in the British Museum" (P.W. Joyce 1903:523).
The Annals of Clonmacnoise made several references to Ceallachan:
"930 [AD].. . . Clonvicenose was preyed by the Danes of Dublin and also it was sacriligiously Robbed,
afterwardes by Ceallaghan, king of Cashell, and his Monstermen [i.e from the province of Munster].. . .
933 [AD].. . . Ceallachan of Cashell with his Mounstermen and Danes harryed and spoyled all [County] Meath
to Clonard.. . . Ceallaghan of Cashell made a great slaughter on those of Ossorie.. . .
934 [AD].. . . Ceallaghan of Cashell and his Mounstermen gave an overthrow to the Desies, and slew of them 2000.. . .Mortaugh mcNeale with the kings forces went to Cashell and there took Ceallaghan (that unruly kinge of Mounster that partaked of Danes) prisoner, and lead him and all hostages of Mounster and the other provinces of Ireland with him, & Delivered them all into the hands of king Donnough mcMelaghlin.
937 [AD].. . . Ceallaghan of Cashell fought Kennedy mcLorcan, (this is Bryan Borowes father) in the plains of
Moydwyne, where there was a great many of Kennedyes side slain.
949 [AD].-Ceallaghan king of Cashell, . . . died."
The Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland by the Four Masters
The Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland by the Four Masters [Annála Ríoghachta
Éireann], Vol. 2, ed. John O'Donovan (Dublin, 1848-51):
Information about the book:
"The Annals of the Four Masters, also called the Annals of Donegal . . . were compiled in the Franciscan monastery of Donegal, by three of the O' Clerys, Michael, Conary, and Cucogry, and by Ferfesa O'Mulconry; who are now commonly known as the Four Masters. The O'Clerys were, for many generations, hereditary ollaves or professors of history to the O'Donnells, princes of Tirconnell, and held free lands, and lived in the castle of Kilbarron, on the sea-coast northwest of Ballyshannon. Here Michael O'Clery, who had the chief hand in compiling the Annals, was born in 1575.. . . The materials for this great work were collected after many years' labour by Brother Michael O'Clery, who brought every important historical Irish manuscript he could find in Ireland to the monastery of Donegal; for he expressed his fears that if the work were not then done the materials might never be brought together again. His fears seemed prophetic; for the great rebellion of 1641 soon followed; all the manuscripts he had used were scattered, and only one or two of them now survive. Even the Four Masters' great compilation was lost for many generations, and was recovered in a manner almost miraculous, and placed in the Royal Irish Academy by Dr. George Petrie. The work was undertaken under the encouragement and patronage of Fergall O'Gara, prince of Coolavion, who paid all the necessary expenses; and the community of Donegal supplied the historians with food and lodging. They began their labours in 1632, and completed the work in 1636" (P. W. Joyce 1903:524-526).
M934.5 Cluain-mic-Nois was plundered by the foreigners of Ath-cliath [Vikings from Dublin]; and it was plundered again by Ceallachan Caisil and the men of Munster.
M936.9 Ceallachan, King of Caiseal, with the men of Munster, and Macca Cuinn, with the foreigners of Port-Lairge, went into Meath, and seized upon a great prey, and took the spoils and prisoners of Cill-eidhneach and Cill-achaidh; and took their two abbots, namely, Muireadhach Ua Conchobhair, and Coibhdeanach, son of Beargdha; but they left behind Oilill, son of Aenghus, lord of Ui-Fothaidh, and many others, in the hands of Aimhergin, lord of Ui-Failghe. The men of Munster, under Ceallachan, King of Munster, who had the foreigners along with him, plundered the churches of Cluain-eidhneach and Cill-achaidh, and the territory of Meath, as far as Cluain-Iraird.
M936.9 A great slaughter was made of the Osraig by Ceallachan, King of Caiseal.
M939.6 A slaughter was made of the Deisi by Ceallachan and the men of Munster, because they had submitted to Muircheartach, son of Niall; and he slew two thousand of them, together with Ceileachair, son ot Cormac; Maelgorm, son of Gibhleachan; Seghdha, son of Noebelan; Cleireach, son of Sesta, &c. Another battle was gained by the Deisi and the Osraighi p.643 over the King of Caiseal, where many were slain. Muircheartach afterwards assembled the Cinel-Conaill and Cinell-Eoghain, and the people of the North in general, at Oileach, where he selected ten hundred of the chosen heroes, and made a circuit of Ireland, keeping his left hand to the sea, until he arrived at Ath-cliath; and he brought Sitric, lord of Ath-cliath, with him as a hostage. He afterwards proceeded into Leinster, and the Leinstermen began to oppose him but finally agreed to submit to him; and he carried Lorcan, King of Leinster, with him. Hc then went to the men of Munster, who were in readiness on his arrival to give him battle; but they ultimately resolved to give up their king Ceallachan, and a fetter was put upon him by Muircheartach. He afterwards proceeded into Connaught, where Conchobhar, son of Tadhg, came to meet him, but no gyve or lock was put upon him. He then returned to Oileach, carrying these kings with him as
hostages; and they were for nine months feasting there; and at the end of that time he sent the hostages to Donnchadh, because it was he that was at Teamhair, and the sovereignty had come to him. Concerning the carrying away of Ceallachan the following quatrain was composed:
1.1] Muircheartach went to the South,
2] To the beautiful chalk-white Caiseal,
3] And he brought with him Ceallachan of troops;
4] He did not accept of any other hostage for him.
M.942.5 A victory was gained by Ceallachan of Caiseal, over Ceinneidigh, son of Lorcan, at Magh-duin, where many were slain.
M949.9 The spoiling of Sil-Anmchadha, and the plundering of Cluain-fearta-Brenainn, by Ceallachan and the men of Mun-ster. The plundering of Dealbhna-Beathra by the same party; and the Daimh-liag of Gailine was burned by them.
M.951.7 Cluain-mic-Nois was plundered by the men of Munster, and the Danes of Luimneach along with them.
M.952.2 ...Ceallachan, King of Caiseal, died.
Chronicum Scotorum
Chronicum Scotorum, A Chronicle of Irish Affairs from the earliest times to A.D. 1135 with a supplement containing the events from 1141 to 1150. Edited with a translation by William M. Hennessy, M.R.I.A., 1866, London: Longmans Green, Reader, and Dyer. pp. 201,203, 205, 207, 211.
Information about the book:
"The Chronicon Scotorum (Chronicle of the Scots or Irish) down to A.D. 1135. This was compiled about 1650 by the great Irish antiquary Duald Mac Firbis. His autograph copy is in Trinity College, and two other copies are in the Royal Irish Academy" (P.W. Joyce 1903:523).
[935 A.D.] Cluan-muc-Nois [Clonmacnoise] was pillaged from Ath-cliath [Dublin]. Ceallachan Caisil and the men of Mumhain pillaged it again.. . .
[Footnote 7.] Ceallachan Caisil, or Callaghan of Cashel. The letters R. M., for "Rex Momonaie," have been added in the marg. by O'F. . . .
[938 A.D.] The men of Mumhain, and (or, along with) Ceallachan, with the Foreigners, plundered Midhe, and Cluain-eidhnech, and Cill-aichedh, [and] as far as Cluain-Iraird.. . .
[940 A.D.] A slaughter of the Deise was committed by Ceallachan and the men of Mumhain, when 2000 were slain.. . .
[940 A.D] Orlaith, daughter of Cennedigh, son of Lorcan, was put to death by Donnchadh [Footnote 1:"Orlaith was the wife of Donnchadh"], son of Flann, King of Erinn, after having intrigued with Aengus, his son. Muircertach, son of Niall, went to Caisel, to exact pledges [Footnote 2: "Pledges; i.e. for his submission to the Monarch of Ireland, against whose supremacy Ceallachan had offended by the devastation of Midhe, or Meath, two years before."] from Ceallachan, King of Caisel, and he brought Ceallachan with him, and delivered him into the hands of Donncha[dh], son of Flann, King of Erinn.. . .
[943 A.D. Footnote 1: "The correct year is 944 according to O'F."] A battle was gained by Ceallachan Caisil over Cennedigh, son of Lorcan, at Magh-duine, where many fell. Flaithbhertach, son of Imhanan, King of Caisel, quievit.. . . Donnchadh, son of Flann, son of Maelechlainn, King of Erin, after having been 25 years in the sovereignty, moritur. Congalach, son of Maelmithidh, reigns.. . .
[949 A.D.] An expedition by Congalach, son of Maelmithidh, into Mumhain, and he plundered Iar-Mumhain, and killed two sons of Cennedigh, viz., Echtighern and Donnacan.. . .
[950 A.D.] Cennedigh, son of Lorcan, King of Dal-Cais, moritur.. . .
[952 A.D.] Cluain-muc-Nois was plundered by the men of Mumhain, with the Foreigners of Luimnech.. . .
[953 A.D. Footnote 6: "O'F. has prefixed the year 954 as the correct date."] Ceallachan, King of Caisel, moritur.
[Footnote 7: "King of Caisel. 'Rex momoniae,' marg. note, O'F."]
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Annals of Inisfallen
The Annals of Inisfallen (MS. Rawlinson B.503), 1951, edited with translation and indexes by Sean Mac Airt, M.A. Dublin: The Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, years: 941, 951, 954.
Information about the book:
"The Annals of Innisfallen were compiled by some scholars of the monastery of Innisfallen, the ruins of which still stand on the well-known island of that name in the lower Lake of Killarney. They are written in Irish mixed with Latin. In the beginning they give a short history of the world to the time of St. Patrick, after which they treat chiefly of Ireland. Their composition is generally ascribed to the year 1215; but there is good reason to believe that they were commenced two centuries earlier. They were subsequently continued to 1318" (P.W. Joyce 1903:522).
If these annals were commenced around 1015 AD then they are the compilation closest in time to the events described in the 940's.
[941 A.D.] A slaughter of the Deisi by Cellachan, king of Caisel, in which Celechair son of Cormac, king of the Deisi, and four hundred along with him, fell.. . .
[951 A.D.] A foray by Cellachan and by Donnchad, and they plundered Cluain Ferta Brenainn and Cluain Moccu Nois. Death of Cennetig son of Lorcan, royal heir of Caisel.. . .
[954 A.D.] Repose of . . . Cellachan, king of Caisel . . .