[202] _Carlow_.--The site of the battle is still shown there, and even the stone on which the soldier decapitated Cormac. Cormac's death is thus described in a MS. in the Burgundian Library: "The hind feet of his horse slipped on the slippery road in the track of that blood; the horse fell backwards, and broke his [Cormac's] back and his neck in twain; and he said, when falling, _In manus tuas commendo spiritum meum_, and he gives up his spirit; and the impious sons of malediction come and thrust spears into his body, and sever his head from his body." Keating gives a curious account of this battle, from an ancient tract not known at present.
[203] _Amlaff_.--Dr. Todd identifies Amlaff with Olaf Huita (the white), of Scandinavian history, who was usually styled King of Dublin, and was the leader of the Northmen in Ireland for many years. See "Introduction" to the _Wars of the Gaedhil_, p. 69.
[204] _Cenn-Fuait_.--Fuat Head. The site has not been accurately identified.
[205] _Magh-Neill, i.e.,_ the Plain of Nial, a bardic name for Ireland.--Four Masters, vol. ii. p. 595.
[206] _Ath-Truisten_.--From Dublin to a ford on the river Green, near Mullaghmast, co. Kildare.
[207] _Muircheartach_.--This prince obtained the soubriquet of Muircheartach of the Leathern Cloaks. The origin of this appellation has not been precisely ascertained.
The Battle of Dundalk--The Danes supposed to be Christianized--Brian Boroimhé and his Brother Mahoun--The Dalcassians fight the Danes--Mahoun is assassinated--Brian revenges his Brother's Murder--Malachy's Exploits against the Danes--Malachy and Brian form a Treaty and fight the Danes--Malachy wins "the Collar of Gold"--Brian's "Happy Family" at Kincora--He usurps the Supreme Power, and becomes Monarch of Ireland--Remote Causes of the Battle of Clontarf--Gormflaith is "grim" with Brian--Blockade of Dublin--The Danes prepare for a Fierce Conflict--Brian prepares also--The Battle of Clontarf--Disposition of the Forces--Brian's Death--Defeat of the Danes.
Many of the sea-coast towns were now in possession of the Danes. They had founded Limerick, and, indeed, Wexford and Waterford almost owe them the debt of parentage. Obviously, the ports were their grand securities--a ready refuge if driven by native valour to embark in their fleets; convenient head-quarters when marauding expeditions to England or Scotland were in preparation. But the Danes never obtained the same power in Ireland as in the sister country. The domestic dissensions of the men of Erinn, ruinous as they were to the nation, gave it at least the advantage of having a brave and resolute body of men always in arms, and ready to face the foe at a moment's notice, when no selfish policy interfered. In 937 Athelstane gained his famous victory over the Danes at Brunanbriegh in Northumberland, and came triumphantly to reclaim the dagger[208] which he had left at the shrine of St. John of Beverley. After his death, in 941, Amlaff returned to Northumberland, and once more restored the Danish sway. From this time, until the accession of the Danish King Canute, England was more or less under the dominion of these ruthless tyrants.[209]