Gerald Barry, better known as "Giraldus Cambrensis," _i.e._ Gerald the Welshman (Cambria, one of the old names of Wales).
Long ages of darkness and storm: _i.e._ of wars and troubles.
Scribe, a writer: a person who made it the chief business of his life to copy books.
Devoted, given up to earnestly, attached.
Magnifying glass, a glass that makes things seen through it seem large.
St. Kieran, or more properly Ciaran, lived in the sixth century.
Clonmacnoise on the Shannon, below Athlone, containing the ruins of what was once a great monastery and college, founded by St. Kieran.
Watch and ward: ward means guard: he stood sentinel.
Stud, a number of horses all kept in one place.
Conan Mail, or Conan the bald: the Fena were always making fun of him, for he was big, fat, gluttonous, a great boast, a great coward, and had an evil tongue.
Took counsel, they advised with one another to know what was best to be done.
Pillar-stone, a tall stone standing up, such as we often see in Ireland.
Chase, to ornament with thin coatings of metal on the surface.
Wizard champion, a champion having something of the nature of a wizard or enchanter.
Circlet, a long thin plate often worn around the head and forehead.
Determination, a firm resolution to conquer.
Trophy, a prize taken from an enemy in battle.
Uninhabited, having no people living in it.
Enlightenment, knowledge, learning, instruction.
Civilise, to refine, to educate, to bring people to live in a decent and proper way.
Venerable, old and greatly loved and respected.
His relative the king of that part of Scotland: the royal families of Ireland and Scotland were related to each other (see pp. 5 and 6), and Columkille was related to both.
Hospice, the part of a monastery set apart for the entertainment of travellers.
Heptarchy means seven kingdoms: for at this time England was divided into seven parts with a king over each.
Foster-son. When a man reared up and educated among his family a boy belonging to another family, he was the foster-father, and the boy was his foster-son.
Unfettered of any, not under any other province.
Redundance, more than enough, great plenty.
Historians recording truth: to record truth is the chief merit of a historian.
Bulwark, a safeguard: "Ireland's bulwark," because Tara was in Meath.