The Irish standard., 1888-02-04

cassians marched to within about five
miles of Sulcoit, and next morning at
sunrise formed in battle array, seeing
/ which the Danes advanced to meet
them in the open. A furious battle
then commenced, no quarter being
given on either side; it ragged till mid
day and resulted in decisive and ruin.
Gus defeat of the Danes, for they were
driven from the battlefield, whence
They fed to the ditcht and the vallies
a d the solitudes of that great sweet
howery plain.n and were pursued till
next morning by the victorious Irish
even as far as the fortress of Limerick,
a distance OF twenty miles.
/ In the dreadful confusion Of the re
treat and pursuit the gates of Limerick
were flung open to both victors and
yanquished. the Danes being slaugh-
tered by the Irish in the streets and in
the houses. aud thus this importan ut for
tress reverted to its rightful owners. 1t
is recorded that the prisoners were col
lected on the hillocks Of SaingeI, now
Singland, Oh the south bank of the
Shannon, and part of the city of Lin
erick, where everyone that was fit for
war was killed, and everyone that was
fit for slavery was enslaved. Such was
the common practice in these barbar-
Gus times. This great battle, which
took place in the year 968, completely
shattered the power Of the Danes in
Munster, the survivors OF whom now
entrenched themselves in Scattery
Island, in the Shannon.
Mahon, now undispu ted monarch of
Munster, followed up the victory of
SuIcoit by breaking up the isolated set
Elements of the Danes through the
South, and Compelling the wavering
irish chiefs to give him hostages But
the willy Danes. unable TO meet him op-
emily, now resolved on other mean to
rid themselves of MIN. After about six
years Ivar aud his son organized con
spiracy for his assassination in which
they were basely joined, through mo-
tiyes of jealousy, by two powerful Nun.
ster chiefs-Donovan, lord OF Hy Car
berry, and Molloy, lord OF Desmond,
both of whom now publicly renounced
their allegiance to Mahon. About the
year 976 Mah0n was induced on some
pretext or other to visit Donovan at his
house at Bruree, county Limerick, hav-
ing previously received the guarantee
of the local clergy that he would not be
injured Notwithstanding this solemn
guarantee, given at his instance, Don
oyan sent on Mahon under escort to
meet Molloy, according to prear
ranged plan, at the place selected for
the murder. Molloy watched the as
sassination from a distance and waited
till he saw the flashing of the sword
in the hands of the murderer and Ma
hon fall under the blow, upon which he
mounted his horse and precipitately
fled the scene. 1t should he mentioned
that the ecclesiastics in guaranteeing
Mahon's safety acted in perfectly g Cd
faith throughout, having been deceived
by Donovan and Molloy.
The Danes gained nothing by the
murder Of Mahon, for his brother Brian,
a much more resolute and dangerous
foe, now succeeded to the throne. He
at once commenced campaign against
them, and Ivar and his soa were both
killed on Scattery Island, within year
after the murder. Next year he at
tackled and defeated an army under
Donovan and the surviving son of
Ivar. both of whom were killed in the
Of his brothers murder
ers there now remained but Molloy to
be dealt with. Brian sent him a per
challenge Ey special envoy to
meet him at the scene OF the murder,
adding that it it was not accepted
within fortnight the Dalcassians, led
BY himself, would attack him III his
own stronghold. This brought on the
oattle OF Belach Lecnta, in hich Mol
oy and 1900 of his troops were killed,
snd the murder of Mahon 6nally av-
snged On the very spot where it was
commit ed.
Malachy H., who had been king OF
Ireland for eighteen years, hearing of
8rian's victorious progress, became
alarmed, and after a conference Of
ccted treaty with him by which the
Of Ireland was diylded be-
;ween them, equally. Shortly after
800 or 1000 A. D.-the
IRISH of Leinster revolted and ioiued
The Danes of Dublin in war against
Brian, who, collecting his forces,
northwards to besiege Dublin.
)n his way he encamped at a place
called Glen Mama, or the Glen of the
Zap, near Dunlavin, in county Wick
ow, and thirty.two miles southwest of
Dublin. Here he was Joined by Ma
achy at the head of his troops. Mean
while the Danes, who had marched
from Dublin to intercept him, were ap-
Dunlavin, where they in
ended to encamp. Their way lay