Sketches of Irish History, Antiquities, Religion, Customs, and Manners (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1844. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XIII. The Danes in possession of Dublin, 808--The Fin Gals and Dubh Gals--Division of territories and contentions--Three Norwegian brothers arrive as merchant-men--Roderick, king of Wales, driven from his own country, takes refuge in Ireland--Cessation from warfare--879, civil war between the monarch and the Bishop of Cashel--Cormac's Will--His death--Memorials left by him--Flaherty taken prisoner--His penitence and reformation--Appointed successor to Cormac--Callaghan, king of Munster--Treachery of Sitricus--Capture of Callaghan and Dunchan--Defeat of the Danes and liberation of the king--Mahon and Brian Boiroihme the sons of Kennedy--The light armed Irish infantry called kerns--Their signal-fires--Murkertach's success against the Danes--Destruction of seminaries, &c Reign of Mahon--Dalcassian tribe, headed by Brian Boiroimhe--Victories achieved--Mahon assassinated--Brian succeeds him--His successes excites the jealousy of Malachy II.--Brian invited to Tara, assumes the sovereignty--Prosperous reign of Brian. From Harris's Annals, we find that the Danes were in possession of Dublin in 808. These unwelcome marauders were designated by the Irish Fin Gals, or white strangers, and Dubh Gals, or black strangers. The first were successful in their assaults on the city, in which they raised a strong rath, and from thence they extended their conquests north, and south as far as Bray and the mountains of Wicklow. These parts seem soon after to have been made the headquarters of the Danish settlements in Leinster, and from this circumstance these districts were called Fingal and Dubh-gall--that is to say, the territories of the white foreigners, or Norwegians--and that of the black foreigners. Of the last class, the Dubh-gal, we do not find any notice in h...