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122 Stephen Dunford: The Journey of The IrIsh
figures in the country’s history is known to us as Brian Boru.
The youngest of the 12 sons, ten of whom would die in battle, of Cennéde Mac Lorcáin, a
king of the Dal gCais, the Dalcassian Tribe, and king of Thomond, modern day east Clare, Brian was born in 941near Kincora, later his headquarters, a little distance from Killaloe, county Clare. A weir across a river, either for fishing or to divert a mill-stream, is called in Irish cora or coradh [curra]. Brian’s palace at kincora was built on a hill and it is repearedly mentioned in the annals by the name of Ceann-coradh, the head or hill of the weir; from which we may infer that there was a fishing weir across the river Shannon at this point, from early times.
His posthumous cognomen Bórumha, anglicized as Boru, may refer to Baile Bóramha the actual place of his birth, where once stood a fort now commonly called Brian Boru’s Fort, but referred to locally as Béal Boru, and interpreted as the ‘Port of the Cattle Tribute’; other interpretations suggest that the title refers to Brian’s later capacity to exact tributes as an overlord.
Although it is known that he was always a lover of music ‘To music he was much ad- dicted,’ wrote Joseph C. Walker, and while the majority of Brian’s early life is largely un- chronicled, it is recorded that the Dalcassians prospered and grew in importance under the capable guidance of both Brian and his brother Mahon. But, able as they were and de- spite their sound leadership, the brothers were unable to keep the Dalcassians free from the weight and power of Norse ascendancy and it is recorded that Mahon eventually submitted and agreed to pay tribute to the invaders. Brian, however, refusing to follow his brother’s example, led a large band of like-minded Dalcassians and withdrew to the mountain fast- ness of north Munster, from where, living like an outlaw he made incessant attacks upon isolated Norse settlements.
It is told that on one occasion, some months after his own capitulation, Mahon went secretly to remonstrate with Brian for his continuation of what he believed to be a suppos- edly useless campaign. But during the meeting, Brian reproached Mahon for a submission, which he claimed their forefathers would never have made. ‘It is natural for the Dalcassians to die,’ he said, ‘but it is not natural for us to submit to insult or contempt.’ According to the old chronicles, so stung was Mahon by the words of his younger and more daring brother, that he returned home and immediately summoned their clan to a gathering, where it was agreed by all who attended to once more bear arms against the Norsemen. The story goes
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