m the northern Hy-Nials. His
principal opponents were the Mac Loughlins of Aileach, and the
O'Melaghlins of Meath. In 1079 O'Brien invaded the territory of Roderic
O'Connor, King of Connaught, expelled him from his kingdom, and
plundered it as far as Croagh Patrick. Next year he led an army to
Dublin, and received the submission of the men of Meath, appointing his
son Murtough lord of the Danes of Dublin. The Annals of the Four Masters
give a curious account of O'Brien's death. They say that the head of
Connor O'Melaghlin, King of Meath, was taken from the church of
Clonmacnois, and brought to Thomond, by his order. When the king took
the head in his hand, a mouse ran out of it, and the shock was so great
that "he fell ill of a sore disease by the miracles (intervention) of
St. Ciaran." This happened on the night of Good Friday. The day of the
resurrection (Easter Sunday) the head was restored, with two rings of
gold as a peace-offering. But Turlough never recovered from the effects
of his fright, and lingered on in bad health until the year 1086, when
he died. He is called the "modest Turlough" in the Annals, for what
special reason does not appear. It is also recorded that he performed
"intense penance for his sins"--a grace which the kings and princes of
Ireland seem often to have needed, and, if we may believe the Annals,
always to have obtained.

A period of anarchy ensued, during which several princes contended for
royal honours. This compliment was finally awarded to Mac Loughlin, King
of Aileach, and a temporary peace ensued. Its continuance was brief. In
1095 there was a pestilence all over Europe, "and some say that the
fourth part of the men of Ireland died of the malady." A long list is
given of its victims, lay and ecclesiastical. Several severe winters are
recorded as having preceded this fatal event; probably they were its
remote cause. In the year 1096, the festival of St. John Baptist fell on
Friday. This event caused general consternation, in consequence of some
old prophecy. A resolution "of the clergy of Ireland, with the successor
of St. Patrick[232] at their head," enjoined a general abstinence from
Wednesday to Sunday every month, with other penitential observances; and
"the men of Ireland were saved for that time from the fire of
vengeance."[233]

But the most important event of the period was the contention between
the northern and southern Hy-Nials. Murtough was planning, with great
military