The Irish standard., 1914-07-25


into the sea, or strewed the sur
rounding shore with their lifeless
bodies? The Castle of Clontarf, it
is commonly supposed, was erected
in the reign of Henry the Second by
the Netterville family. and was or
| iginally commandery of the
Knights Templars. 1t still retains,
from the introduction of Gothic win
dows, semi-ecclesiastical appear
ance, and so far comedies with the
character of that order; and al
though it has suffered considerably
from the effects of modern improve
ments, yet its general character and
the noble and venerable timber that
surrounds it. impress it with the
stamp of "hoar antiquity; and the
recollections associated with its
name and former delineation, make
it an object of peculiar interest to
the Irishman and antiquarian. The
vilalge of Clontarf is situated two
miles from Dublin, on the shores
of the delightful bay. 1t consists
chiefly of long street extending
from the seashore to the castle, and
forming noble vista in front of
that building. At a short distance
was situated "a royal charter
school," opened in 1749 1or the re-
ception of one hundred boys, but
now closed for ever; and the build
ing, which was ornamented with a
fine portico and pillars, tower, Gu
pola, clock, etc.. is now converted
into private dwellings. Near the cas-
tie stands the church, erected on the
site of monastery founded A. D.
$50; a neat. plain. modern struc-
ture; in the cemetery attached are
several enclosed tombs but no an
cient inscriptions. 1t was the year
838 that the Mortimer" first in
vaded this country. They entered
the Liffey with a fleet of sixty sail,
and took possession of Dublin. The
dughgael (the dark strangers") or
Danes, possessed themselves of the
southern parts. and the fion-gael
("white strangers") or Norwegians,
extended themselves northward.
Previous to their invasion this dis
trict was called Bregh, and possessed
by a people denominated the Bregii.
In 800 Flanagan. king of Bregh, was
killed by the Danes. From thence
up to the eleventh century, Fingall
was the scene of continual struggles
between the Danes and the native
Irish. It was reserved for the re-
nowned monarch, Brian Boroin1he,
on the memorial plains of Clontarf,
in 1014, to break their power. This
celebrated conflict, in which Brian
and his son lost their lives, having
been detailed in the 18th number of
our journal. it is unnecessary here
to mention any of the particulars
further than to state that it was oc-
casioned by Maelmurray MacMor-
rogh, son of Murchart. who usurped
the crown of Leinster in the year
999. havin gin 1913, with hte Lagen-
1ans and Danes, entered Meath and
ravaged it. Maelseachun. in retalia-
the Hill of Howth, where he was
met and defeated by Maelmurry, and
Sitric. the Danish king of Dublin.
Brian marched from Munster to his
assistance. and encamped at Kill
mailman. where he remained from
August to Christmas without bring
ing them to battle, and retired again
to Munster, but returned in the fol-
lowing Lent, and passing by Finglass
encamped at Clonturk until Good
Friday, 1014, when the battle took
place on the plains at Clontarf. The
result of this battle did not immedi-
ately extinguish the Danish power
In Ireland; for we find that in 1862,
Maelnambo plundered Fingall, and
burned the country from Dublin to
a place named Abilene. The Danes
of Dublin made opposition, and a
fierce engagement took place outside
the Fortress of Dublin, where many
fell on both sides. Eachmarcash,
son Of Reginald, Lord of the Danes,
fled across the sea, and Maelnambo
assumed the lordship of the Danes.
In 1852 Mortough O'Loughlin plum
dered Fingall. The early celestial
establishments in this district. with
In the more immediate vicinity Of
Dublin, are st. Doolagh's, on the
Malahide road, which is one of the
most ancient churches in Ireland. 1t
was erected by st. Doulach or Du-
lech. an Irishman, son of Amalgad.
It was anciently called Clochar. In
665. the year of the great pestilence
in Ireland. st. Malaga (Molua) had
a church and religious establishment
at a place called Laorn-beachaire, in
Fingall, near Dublin. 1t is conjec-
tured the site was in the now town.
land of Clonturk, and within the
demesne of Drumcondra House, the
residence of William Stewart Hamil-