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The
following passage has been kindly provided by the President of 3-D
Network Company Mr Huibert Arnold.
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BRIAN BORU - THE LAST HIGH KING OF IRELAND
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The line between Irish Legend and Irish
Myth have often been blurred, especially as the retelling of heroic
deeds has been passed on through generations. Brian Boru was no legend
although his life deeds were legendary. He was very much a real man and
was in fact the last great High King of Ireland and perhaps the
greatest military leader the
country has ever known.
Brian Boru was born Brian Mac Cennetig. His mother was sister to the
mother of Conor, the King of Connaught. His brother, Mahon, had become
King of Munster in 951, upon the death of their father, Cennetig.
Together they fought against the invading Norsemen, who had imposed
taxes in Munster. This struggle eventually led to the murder of Mahon
in 975 Mahon by the Ostermen (Norse). Brian avenged his brother's death
by killing the King of the Ostermen of Limerick, King Imar. From this
point onwards Brian held Munster as his own, including the pivotal
trade-centre of
Limerick. He marched into Connaught and Leinster and joined forces with
Mael Sechnaill II in 997.
Together they divided Ireland between them.
The Norse settlers in Dublin
especially ranged against Brian but were defeated at Glen Mama
where the King of Leinster was captured. The King of Dublin, Sitric
Silkenbeard, was soon
defeated too. In 1002 Brian demanded of his comrade Mael Sechnaill that
he recognize him as King of Ireland. Mael agreed, partially because
many of his own people viewed Brian as a hero who had restored Ireland
to greatness after the Viking invasions. The rule of the UiNeill's was
thus
at an end as a non-O'Neill was proclaimed as King. The O'Neill's had
been rulers for over 600 years.
He earned his name as 'Brian of the Tributes' (Brian Boru) by
collecting tributes from the minor rulers of Ireland and used the
monies raised to restore monasteries and libraries that had been
destroyed during the invasions. The Norsemen were not done yet however,
and once more waged war on Brian Boru and his followers at Clontarf in
Dublin in 1014. The King of Connaught, Tadhg O'Conor refused to ally
with Brian against the Ostermen although Ui Fiachrach Aidne and Ui
Maine did join with him. Despite the lack of backing from the men of
Connaught, the Munstermen won the day but lost Brian Boru in the
battle. This battle was a major turning point as it finally subjugated
the Norse presence in Ireland who were henceforth considered
subordinate to the
Kingships of Ireland. Their military threat had been ended and they
retreated to the urban centres of Dublin, Waterford, Limerick, Wexford,
and Cork. They eventually became completely
hibernicized and integrated into Gaelic culture.
After his death and the death of one of his sons, his remaining sons,
Tadg and Donnchad, were
unable to assume the kingship which was assumed by Mael Sechnaill. He
died in 1022 after which
the role of High King of Ireland became more of a position in name
only, rather than that of a
powerful ruler. Perhaps the best that should be said of Brian Boru
therefore, is that he was the last great High King of Ireland.
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