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 O'BR

In 1073 he made preparations to reduce Ulster to obedience ; but was defeated nearArdee. Better fortune awaited him in 1076, when he invaded Connaught and compelled the submission of Roderic O'Conor. On the 29th October 1084, his son Murtough, with several allies, includ- ing the Danes of Dublin, fought an indeci- sive battle with the opposing Munstermen in Leinster. Four thousand were left dead on the field, including many princes of the O'Brien blood. In 1085 Turlough led a successful incui'sion into Ulster. He died at Kincora next year (1086), aged 76. He was twice married — to Gormlaith, a prin- cess of Ely, and to DervorghaU, daughter of a prince of Ossory, Turlough O'Brien is said to have presented to William Eufus the oak with which the roof of "West- minster Hall is constructed. '** ^^^

O'Brien, Mnrtough, King of Mun- ster, succeeded his father Turlough in 1086. He signalized his accession by ravaging the territories of such of the surrounding chiefs as were obnoxious to him. He de- feated the men of Leinster and the Danes of Dublin at Rathedair, near Howth, in 1087. This victory was counterbalanced next year by the invasion of Thomond. Roderic O'Conor marched into Munster, and took possession of an island in the Shannon, whence Murtough in vain en- deavoured to dislodge him. Murtough was also assailed by Donald MacLoughlin, Prince of Aileach, who with O'Conor, entered Munster, burned Limerick, and laid waste the country as far as Emly, Lough Gur, and Bruree. They then de- molished Kincora, and returned home with hundreds of prisoners both Irish and Danish. In 1089 Murtough made repri- sals in Connaught, but had ultimately to waive his pretensions to the crown of Ireland, and rest satisfied with his posi- tion as a provincial king. A conference was held '.n 1090, and it was agreed by O'Brien and O'Conor to acknowledge O'Melaghlin as monarch ; yet it had hardly separated when war was renewed. In iioi the supremacy of Murtough O'Brien was recognized. It was about this time that he made a grant of the royal residence of Cashel to the Church. A contest between Murtough and Mag- nus, King of Norway, who arrived off the Irish coast with a large fleet, was averted by Murtough giving his daughter, with a large dowry, to Sigfried, son of Magnus. In 11 14 ill-health obliged Mur- tough to resign the sceptre to his brother Diarmaid for a time. Murtough O'Brien died on nth March 11 19. We read that " the character of this prince ranks high,

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O'BE

not only among the chroniclers of his own nation and time, but also among contem- porary writers in England. Malmesbury says that he was held in such respect by the English monarch, Henry I., that that prince frequently availed himself of the wisdom and advice of Murtough. His reign appears, until his powers were sub- dued by disease, as one career of persever- ing energy, unnerved by defeat, and only stimulated by reverses to still greater efforts ." He was buried at Killaloe. "^^

O'Brien, Donald, King of Munster, succeeded to the throne about 1167. On the advent of the Anglo-Normans he turned against Roderic O'Conor, and was amongst the first to pay homage to Henry II. He surrendered Limerick to King Henry, and agreed to render tribute as to his sovereign lord, but took the first occasion to turn against the Anglo-Normans. In 1 174 Earl Strongbow marched south to reassert his authority, but was intercepted at Thurles by forces under Roderic O'Conor and Donald O'Brien, and defeated with great loss. According to the Anyials of Inis- f alien, four knights and 700 of Strongbow's troops were killed, and the Four Masters say : " He returned in sorrow to his house in Waterford, and O'Brien proceeded home in triumph." On his return from victory, Donald blinded and put to death several of his relatives, to prevent the possibility of trouble from their designs upon the crown. He and the other chiefs were capa- ble of sudden rallies and the accomplish- ment of brilliant exploits, but were quite unequal to sustained or combined efforts of any kind. Soon afterwards, Strongbow and Raymond FitzGerald besieged and took Limerick, and Roderic O'Conor mak- ing an incursion about the same time, Donald again submitted to the Anglo- Normans. When FitzGerald hastened to Dublin in 1 177, on receiving the news of Strongbow's death, O'Brien, forgetful of all his engagements, cut down the bridge over the Shannon, and fired the town, stored with supplies of all kinds, declaring that it should no longer be a nest for foreigners. Henry II. shortly afterwards granted Donald's dominions to Philip de Braosa, and in 1 192 two bands of English settlers entered his territory, but were defeated near Killaloe, driven across the Shannon, and again defeated near Thurles. Donald O'Brien died in 1194. =*3

O'Brien, Murtough, King of Mun- ster, succeeded his father in 1194. One of his first acts was to put to death his cousin, Douough, who advanced pretensions to the crown. In 1196, with O'Conor and MacCarthy,he marched upon Cork, obliged