St. Patrick And The Uí Ailella

[BuckeyeMike]

I have to wonder, all evidence points to the location of Brioin's sons (and possibly him) cir. 430 in Mag Ai. Have you found any reference to Brioin or his sons being in Mag Seola around this same time?

[Webmaster]

Mike,

Just prior to then. The 2 battles between Brión and Fiachróe Foltsnáthach were fought at Damclúain which has been located to the east of Knockma Hill and west of Tuam. Further, Mag Mucrama, the generally named northern extent of Fiachróe Foltsnáthach's original territory of Fir Cráebe (see map at https://genelach.com/special/map-Origin ... _Map.xhtml) was located a little south of Athenry (more southerly than the map indicates, but very close). The actual northern boundary of Fiachróe Foltsnáthach's original territory is given as Áth Cliath Medraige which has strong evidence of being modern Clarinbridge. This same ford was also known as Áth Clíath Medraige, Áth Cliath inda Crích Ciarraige Óic Beithre, and Áth Briúin.

So Brión and his sons are placed very much in Co. Galway, not Co. Roscommon earlier. Nothing excludes them from being in Co. Roscommon, but I am firmly convinced that any location of them there is because Dau Galach was likely seated at Rathcroghan as King of Connacht ~432 AD and it would not be surprising if some or all of his brothers joined him in Mag Aí - completely sidestepping the actual number of Brión's sons.

Also, don't forget, there are 2 primary Uí Briúin lineages: R-A260, the 3 Uí Briúin branches in Mag Seóla until ~750 AD, and R-Y166841 the "erased" lineage, possibly in Mag Aí from ~500 AD. So I am still convinced the early Uí Briúin were centered in Mag Seóla and were ONLY in Mag Aí as a result of having the Kingship of Connacht; and I think Dr. Jessica Cooke's research on Knockma Hill supports that.

THE DEATH OF CRIMTHANN SON OF FIDACH, AND OF THE THREE SONS OF EOCHAID MUIGMEDÔN, BRIAN, AILILL AND FIACHRA.

5. Crimthann was still in the kingship of Erin. Mongfind felt sore that Brian was not king. Then Crimthann went to Alba on a royal progress, for thus used the king of Tara to go on his progress : from Tara into the province of Leinster, and thence to Munster's two provinces : thereafter into the province of Connaught: then into Ulster, and from this into Scotland.

6. Now in his absence Mongfind's sons oppressed and dominated Crimthann's héritage, and divided it into three. On hearing that, Crimthann came westward, and gathered hosts and multitudes out of Connaught to expel his sister's sons from his realm. Then he marched and pitched a camp by the (river) Moy in Connaught. Then a plan was formed by Mongfind, and this is the plan which she found, to collect a banquet for her brother in Inis Dornglais on the Moy of Hûi Amalgada (Tyrawley), and to invite her brother to it as if he were at peace with her sons, and there to administer poison to him in order that Brian might get the kingship.

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10. After that Brian seized the kingship of the province of Connaught. So Fiachra took from Carn Feradaig to Mag Mucrama. Hence there was much contention and jealousy between Brian and Fiachra, so that warfare grew between them. They fight the battle of Damchluain, and Nathi and his father (Fiachra) are routed, and Nathi escapes, but Fiachra is captured and taken to Tara as a prisoner of his brother Niall.

11. From this again grows a great war between Nathi and Brian. Brian's camp was at Damchluain in Hui Briuin Seola near Conmaicne Cuile. Nathi with the clans of Fiachra was in front of him in Aidne. To Brian is brought his wizard, even Drithliu the druid, and he asked him how he and Nathi would part from the warfare. The wizard replied that Nathi would be the victor, and that he would conquer a realm as far as the Alps. Finally hischildren were brought to Brian, and he blessed them, and said that after him Echen, the eldest of them, would be their king. Four and twenty sons had Brian, whereof the poet said :

Brian son of Eochaid Muigmèdôn, good are his children without question, a comely following that was not dark and feeble, twenty-four sons with him.

Then he blessed greatly the youngest, namely Dai Galach, and prophesied to him that the kingship would descend from him.

12 . Nathi with his weapons of battle comes to Brian at a place where there were (but) a few encamped, and a ruthless fight is fought between them. Brian is defeated there in the battle of Damchluain, and is followed from the rout as far as Tulcha Domnaill. Crimthann, son of Enda Cennselach'', kills him, and Enda Emalach, son of Brian, straightway kills Crimthann, and Brian is buried in that place. A long while afterwards Beoaed of Ross Camm- cornes and takes Brian's remains to Ross Camm, and buried them in Ross Camm, so that there today is Brian's grave. Drithliu the druid is killed on the shore of Findloch^ so that Oenach Dritbleiiii takes its name from him.

13. Of those then the shanachie has sung :

Brian seized a featful kingship
over Leth Cuinn loveable, triumphant, etc.

14. Then Niall of the Nine Hostages lets Fiachra out of prison, and bestows upon him the kingship of Connaught, and 'tis he who was after Brian the « smiter of battle » for Niall in levying hostages for Tara. Fiachna, son of Nathi, and Amalgaid, son of Fiachra, himself are brought in hostageship into Niall's power, so that Fiachra died as a hostage in Tara, and from him descend the Hui Fiachrach of Cûil Fabair in Meath.

15. Then Eochaid's sons, namely Ailill and Fiachra, went with an army and a vast multitude to levy tribute and hostages.

[BuckeyeMike]

"Nathi with his weapons of battle comes to Brian at a place where there were (but) a few encamped"
If there were only a few, why isn't this merely a temporary military camp where Brion met Nathi "halfway" to do battle? Dathi likely invaded Magh Seóla, about 30 miles northwest of Aidhne, to Knockma Hill, and Brión could have traveled about 30 miles southwest from
Cruachan Aí to repel him?

[Webmaster]

Mike,

Brian's camp was at Damchluain in Hui Briuin Seola near Conmaicne Cuile. Nathi with the clans of Fiachra was in front of him in Aidne.

There is a fair amount of distance between Mag Seóla and Aidne, so they couldn't exactly be “in front of him”. There is definitely poetical license in that story.

Now in his absence Mongfind's sons oppressed and dominated Crimthann's heritage, and divided it into three.

IDK exactly what Crimthann macc Fidaig's territory was, but IF it was Connacht, the original Teóra Connachta territories (with adjustments to my map so Fir Domnann extended eastwards to Tuam), then

1. Brión had Fir Domnann
2. Fiachróe Foltsnáthach had Fir Cráebe
3. Ailill had Tuatha Taíten, which included Mag Aí

This fits with the territories of their later descendants. We have strong evidence that the Uí Ailella territory went at least as far south as Elphin and the Uí Briúin territory definitely included Mag Seóla and Umall. There were other peoples living in these territories so the Three Connachta would have just been overlords of these large territories with their own specific home bases. Also, since they seized their maternal uncle's territory and split it in three, then the transference of the title Teóra Connachta to Brión, Fiachróe Foltsnáthach, and Ailill is very reasonable with each one becoming the overlord of one of the original Teóra Connachta as listed above.

Rathcroghan was shared among ALL the peoples of Connacht for the kingship. When Brión assumed the kingship of Connacht, it is very likely he was there. But it is unlikely that it was his home base. Mag Seóla is more reasonable. Why else would all of the 3 major Uí Briúin branches be found there as late as the 700s AD? Nothing else makes sense to me.

We are not going to change each other's minds, so unless more info comes to light, let's drop this for now.