11th Century spin doctors at Grianan - Our Space 58
Brian Lacey’s superb new book, ‘Cenél nEógain and the Donegal Kingdoms, AD 800-1200’ describes the rise of the Cenél nEógain (the ‘Kindred of Eóghan) who gave their name to Inishowen and Tyrone.
Brian also describes how a poem claimed as written in 942AD was actually composed over a century later. Loosely based on real events, it sought retrospective praise for an ancestor. 11th century spin doctors!
The long poem is "The Circuit of Ireland by Muircheartach Mac Neill, Prince of Aileach" - first translated into English in 1841 by Prof John O’Donovan who had worked on Derry’s 1830s Ordnance Survey.
Muircheartach was King of Aileach and heir to Ireland’s High Kingship. The poem describes how after defeating Dublin Danes, he decided on a power demonstration of his right to be High King. So, in mid-winter, unexpected by opponents, he left Grianan of Aileach with 1,000 soldiers to go around Ireland, ‘keeping his left hand to the sea’, and taking hostages of any chieftains likely to oppose him.
He gave his soldiers leather cloaks to protect them from the wintry weather and so became known as ‘Muircheartach na gCochall Craicinn’ (Muircheartach of the Leather Cloaks).
But 1083 years ago this month, on February 26, 943AD, Muircheartach was killed near Ardee by Dublin Norsemen. He was succeeded as King of Aileach by his son Domnall from whom later kings of the Uí Néill descended - the famous and powerful Ulster O’Neills.
The details of the poem are an interesting subject for another day.
[“Cenél nEógain and the Donegal Kingdoms, AD 800-1200” by Brian Lacey: Four Courts Press].