House of Bradley Family Members - Princely House of Bradley

👑House of Bradley Family Members

👑H.R.H. Prince and General Flann Adag Ó Brolcháin

H.R.H. Prince and General Flann Adag Ó Brolcháin / Bradley. (Most Sovereign Hereditary Prince); A Native of Derry, Ulster, Ireland and Prince of his region. For his heroism as a General with the Austrian Army in the Seven Years' War, by Imperial Letters Patent Dated: 12 March 1764, by Emperor Francis I of the Holy Roman Empire. Emperor Francis I (Francis Stephen; French: François Étienne; German: Franz Stefan; Italian: Francesco Stefano; 8 December 1708 – 18 August 1765) was Holy Roman Emperor, Archduke of Austria, Duke of Lorraine and Bar, and Grand Duke of Tuscany. He became the ruler of the Holy Roman Empire, Austria, and Tuscany through his marriage to Maria Theresa, daughter of Emperor Charles VI. Francis was the last non-Habsburg monarch of the Empire. The couple were the founders of the Habsburg-Lorraine dynasty, and their marriage produced sixteen children. H.R.H. Prince at birth Flann Adag Ó Brolcháin is 4th in Line of Royal descent of the Line of Naill, the High King of Ireland. And also Founders of the Princely House of Bradley by way of the Holy Roman Empire.

H.R.H. Prince and Major Charles Bradley

👑H.R.H. Prince and Major Charles Bradley born Ó Brolcháin

Charles Bradley, one of six who built the first church in Cambria County, Pennsylvania for Rev. ‘Russian Prince’ Demetrius Galitzin. Has was a blacksmith by trade. His last work in Ireland was to shoe a general’s horse of the English army that was bound for colonial service during the American revolutionary war. The following anecdote is given to the writer regarding him; As he finished the shoeing of the general’s horse, he remarked to those present in the shop, “That is the last work I will do in Ireland until I oppose that general in the cause of freedom in the colonies.” Several of his companions accepted his cause, and at once sailed for the states, during their voyage they were pursued by an English ship, which would eventually have captured them were not the impending dangers overcome by the skill and tactics of their valiant captain. When they landed, they joined the revolutionary soldiers and opposed and successfully captured the very general whose horse he shod in Ireland.

History Of Donegal Local History by Seán Beattie

Exciting Find at Inishowen Monastic Site

The monastic site at Carrowmore near Culdaff, with two ancient High Crosses, was surveyed by University of Sunderland this week. Using magnetometry, which is a non-invasive surface mapping procedure, the team searched for soil activity below the surface. A circular enclosure or ditch encompassing the crosses was discovered with a circumference of 125 metres, and a defined entrance. Part of the ditch is above ground on the north side of the site. Several possibilites emerge: 1. The enclosure could be part of an ancient pre-historic fort, and the monastery was situated within this space. The location is a major archaeological site with a stone circle, two megalithic tombs, a souterrain and a double-ringed earthen fort in the vicinity. The fort had a dwelling of which no trace exists. The combined sites, which are within a few square miles of each other, represent some of the richest archaeological treasures in Europe. It is not a coincidence that the Culdaff river, once a rich source of salmon, flows through the landscape. Other minor sites include Queen Maeve’s Cairn, the Crown field, a Mass rock, holy wells and inscribed stones. Steppingstones that linked that linked the two monasteries no longer exist. 2 The enclosure is part of nucleated settlement which continued from earliest times, through the monastic era, the Plantation, the growth of clachans and modern times. 3 It is fair to conclude that there is a connection between the ancient sites and the enclosure. 4. The enclosure or ditch which has been discovered clearly defines for the first time the precise layout of the Sanctuary of the monastery, within which monastic rule was paramount. Monks were not bound by the strict monastic rules once outside. Colmcille insisted on the sacredness of the concept of the Sanctuary particularly in Iona. For example, he punished those who violated it when they killed an animal within the precincts; he broke the knife they used into pieces. 5 The site at Carrowmore is of interest to all families with Inishowen connections because our ancestors travelled from all corners of the peninsula to bury their dead here. For example, according to folklore, funerals coming from Clonmany rested at a designated place at Carndonagh overnight before forming the final procession to Carrowmore. At the monastic site at Fahan, the leading families vied with each other to bury the dead as close as possible to the Cross of St. Mura. 6. The folklore of the sites is no less interesting. One story relates how a monk from Cloncha left his breviary behind at Carrowmore and wished to have it returned. It happened that a crowd of monks was walking in single file back to Cloncha. A request was sent to the monk at the head of the procession to have the breviary returned. There were so many monks that it was possible to pass the prayer book back from one monk to the other until it arrived with its owner. Part of this causeway or path was discovered by turf cutters some years ago 7. The monastery produced monks who became Abbots of Derry. In 850 the Annals of the Four Masters refer to the site as Both-Chonais, the hut of Conas. The abbot was called Ceann-faeladh, a wise man and son of Ultan. St. Ultan’s well and cross can be seen at Falmore. In his Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae, John Colgan describes the site as follows: “Fuit olim magnum et celebre monasterium Dioecesis Derensis . Hodie locus prophenatus est et in vicinia asservantur, apud viros pios multi libri isrius loci St Moelisae” – a great and celebrated monastery and library in the Diocese of Derry. Editors of the Annals of the Four Masters incorrectly referred to the site as Templemoyle. In 887, the lay head of the monastery died; his name was Dubhdabhoireann, which may be translated as Black Devenney or Davern or Doran. As lay head, otherwise known as herenagh, he was in fact the administrator of the monastery and therefore was highly respected. He had certain rights and held up to sixty acres of land owned by the monastery. The family had rights of succession and therefore could be regarded as a type of minor royal family. By 1049, the Deveneny family died out and the Ua hUails were named as herenaghs. In that year, Tuathal Ua hUail died. The name was anglicised as Howell, but it could also be a corruption of McFaul, the family associated with Carraigabraghy Castle in the Isle of Doagh. The interesting fact about this information is that the monastery was fully functioning in the twelfth century. Its reputation was such that two of the herenaghs were documented in the Annals of the Four Masters, published four centuries later. \ The best-known monk from Carrowmore was Mael Iosa O Brolchain, who wrote the famous hymn Deus Meus, Adiuva Me. He was also a scientist, linguist and poet. He died in 1086. He had a son who was a monastic lector and died of plague in 1059. In 1150, Flaithbertach O Brolchain, abbot of Derry, visited Inishowen and received tribute from the people of horses and cattle, together with a ring and battledress from the King of Aileach. A great church builder, he demolished eighty houses in Derry to create a sanctuary for the monastery. In 1164 he started work on the Tempeall Mor, or Great Church in Derry. The importance of the monastic site at Cloncha, a few hundred metres away, can be measured from a letter in the Vatican Library in Rome dated 12 May 1492 in which the Pope intervenes in a dispute over the rights to the fruits of the vicarage. He directed that the fruits of the vicarage should be devolved on the church at Raphoe for the purpose of creating a canonry in the name of David O’Moran, a deacon of Raphoe. By the medieval period the great monastic era was fading, and Rome was asserting its authority over a universal church. Interest has been shown in the discovery by 360 Productions, which filmed DIG WW2 for the BBC and the successful Timewatch series. We must acknowledge the work of Max Adams, Colm O’Brien, Cowan Duff and the team at the NE Centre for Lifelong Learning for their dedication, commitment and professionalism. Their research is part of the Lough Swilly Hinterland Project which aims to uncover the landscapes that are part of the European ecclesiastical superhighway. The Carrowmore site is linked to other Donegal sites, Iona, Lindisfarne and central Europe. Local landowners deserve our sincere thanks for their cooperation. Fr. McGonagle PP, Bocan gave the group access to the tenth century Bell of St. Boden which is in the care of the parish. Faller Jewellers of Derry have recently designed a new range of silverware in the form of crosses based on the six crosses in the peninsula and the Cloncha Gallowglass stone (see earlier post on this subject). For more background information, see the work of Magtochair, William O’Doherty, Brian Bonner, Mabel Colhoun, Brian Lacey and Harry Swan. Back issues of Donegal Annual may be consulted at www.donegalhistory.com which lists the titles of all articles written since 1947, the most recent being by Brian Lacey of the Discovery Programme (see Donegal Annual No. 61, 2009 in Carndonagh library). The research team may be contacted at [email protected]. And why not visit Carrowmore and simply meditate for a short period. Signage remains a problem. Travelling from Moville to Carndonagh, watch out for the sign “Carrow” which points to the site. (It should of course read Carrowmore but someone was in a hurry.) Both RTE News and the Irish Independent (Monday, 3 September 2012) have highlighted this important discovery. Further updates may be found online at the Independent News site. At this time, it is important to note the cooperation of Harry Molloy and Danny Green (Goorey Fort) who act as unpaid caretakers of the monuments.

👑Prince-Bishop Flahertach O' Brolchain and the Origins of the Diocesan System

The Diocesan system which exists in Ireland today was established following the Synod of Rathbreasil in 1111. It was consolidated at the Synod of Kells in 1152, and the Synod of Cashel in 1172. These Synods were held to bring the Celtic Church into line with the Continental mainstream from which it had drifted considerably. Hitherto, there had not been dioceses and parishes as we now know them. The Celtic Church was structured around the many monasteries with their abbots as the head of the community. The bishops who ordained the clergy lived within the monasteries and were subject to the abbots. By 1100, the abbots of the monasteries had become powerful landlords, and the spiritual life of the monasteries was in decline. Reform was necessary. In the north-west, St. Eugene founded the "Diocese" of Ardstraw about 540. This survived until about 1150 when Bishop Maurice O' Coffey transferred the See to his native Rath Luairg, Maghera. Maghera in turn survived until about 1280 when the See was transferred to Derry. Though Maghera was the site of the See from c1150 to c1280, nevertheless, Derry during this period had an abbey which had originated in Columba's time. In 1164, the Teampaill Mor, or Large Church, was built to replace Columba's abbey. This abbey had bishops and was a very important institution. By the twelfth century, bishops were emerging from the monasteries, and they were beginning to acquire jurisdiction over territory which usually coincided with the old tuaths, the ancient kingdoms. A very important figure at this time was Flahertach O' Brolchain, who, it can be claimed, was the first Bishop of Derry, even though the See was still at Maghera. He was Abbot of Derry, and became bishop in 1158, shortly after Maurice O' Coffey became bishop. His family had supplied many eminent ecclesiastics for the Abbey of Derry. They were sometimes known as O'Brollaghan, or Bradley in English, and they were a distinguished noble family. O' Brolchain was a very powerful character, whose influence was widely felt throughout Ireland. The Four Masters relate the circumstances of Flahertach O' Brolchain's election as bishop as follows, "An assembly was held by the Irish clergy at Brigh-mac-Taidhg in the territory of Hy-Laoghaire (in County Meath) at which were present, twenty-five bishops, together with the apostolic legate, for the purpose of establishing ecclesiastical discipline and the improvement of morals. In this assembly the clergy of Ireland and the coarb of St. Patrick (Archbishop of Armagh), decreed by common consent that a bishop's chair (cathaoir easpoicc), and the supreme superintendence of all the abbeys in Ireland, (that is, of the Columban Order), should be given to the coarb of St. Columbkille, Flahertach O' Brolchain. The bishops of Connaught set out on their way to this Synod, but they were robbed and beaten, and two of their people were killed by the solders of Dermot O' Melaghlin, King of Meath at the wooden bridge at Clonmacnoise, after they had passed through the town; then they returned home." Flahertach O' Brolchain owed his preferment to Gelasius, or Gilla-mac-Liag, who was a leading figure in the 12th century reformation of the Celtic Church. It was largely due to him that the presesnt diocesan system was created, and that the Church at last emerged from the monasteries. The first (2) Two Bradley Bishops in Ireland.

The last (2) Two Bishops in the Bradley Family in Derry, Ireland.

O' Brolchain a learned family which produced Princely Scholars and Ecclesiastics up to the 18th century. He was educated at the monastery of Both Chonais. This line left Ireland for America and to fight against the English in the American Revolutionary War. That line was Prince Flann Adag O'Brolchain's son Prince Charles and 3 more of his son's. The Bishop of Derry is an episcopal title which takes its name after the monastic settlement originally founded at Daire Calgach and later known as Daire Colm Cille, Anglicised as Derry. In the Roman Catholic Church, it remains a separate title, but in the Church of Ireland it has been united with another bishopric. History At the Synod of Ráth Breasail in 1111 Ireland was divided up into ecclesiastical dioceses based on territorial units. One of these was for the Cenel Conaill who could have its Episcopal see either at Raphoe or Derry. At the Synod of Kells in 1152 however Derry and the Inishowen peninsula were moved from the diocese of the Cenel Conaill to that of the Cenel Eogain who controlled both areas. Derry was a Columban establishment founded by Columba who was a prince of the Cenel Conaill. It opposed many of the church reforms as well as being made part of the diocese of the Cenel Eogain. As a compromise the foundation of Derry was essentially made a diocese of its own within that of the Cenel Eogain and its comarb styled as the bishop of Derry.[1] In regard to the diocese of the Cenel Eogain, its see was at Rathlowry (Maghera), with the diocese in Latin became known as Rathlurensis and its bishop as Episcopis Rathlurensis. In 1246 its bishop, Germanus O'Carolan, obtained sanction from Pope Innocent IV to have the see transferred to Derry due to the remoteness of Rathlowry. By this stage the Columban foundation at Derry had become extinct and was replaced by the Augustinian Order.[1] From 1254 the diocese became known as Derry and the bishop of the Cenel Eogain was styled as the bishop of Derry.[2] Following the Reformation, there are parallel apostolic successions. In the Church of Ireland, Derry continued a separate see until 1834 when it amalgamated with Raphoe and became the united bishopric of Derry and Raphoe.

Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Ua Brolcháin, Flaithbertach (d. 1175) Prince-Bishop Flahertach O' Brolchain and the Origins of the Diocesan System.

Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Ua Brolcháin, Flaithbertach (d. 1175) David E. Thornton https://doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/20472 Published in print: 23 September 2004 Published online: 23 September 2004 Ua Brolcháin, Flaithbertach (d. 1175), abbot of Derry and head of Columban churches in Ireland, was an important exponent of ecclesiastical reform in twelfth-century Ireland. The Uí Brolcháinwere of the Cenél nEógain of the northern Uí Néillthigh Flaithbertach's precise genealogical affiliation is not certain. Occasional reference to him as mac in epscuip hUí Bhrolcháin (that is, 'Son of the Bishop Ua Brolcháin') suggests he was perhaps son of Máel Coluim ua Brolcháin (d. 1122), or of Máel Brigte Ua Brolcháin (d. 1139), both styled 'bishop of Armagh' in the annals. Yes succeeded as abbot of Derry and Coarb, or successor, of Colum Cille on the death of Máel Ísu Ua Branáin in 1150 and probably had the support of Gilla Meic Liac, reformist archbishop of Armagh and Himself ex-abbot of Derry, as well as that of Muirchertach Mac Lochlainn, king of Cenél nEógain. Indeed, his success was very much linked to the patronage of Mac Lochlainn, and Ua Brolcháin'sgenealogical connection with the Cenél nEógain (traditional supporters of Derry) was doubtless important in this regard. The title Coarb of Colum Cille had previously been bestowed on the abbots of Kells, not Derry, so clearly Ua Brolcháin's succession marked an important moment.From the start Flaithbertach Ua Brolcháin was active in asserting his jurisdiction as Coarb, initially in the north of Ireland where Mac Lochlainn's influence extended. In 1150 he made a circuit (Cuairt) of Cenél nEógain, receiving tribute from Mac Lochlainn. This was followed in the next year by a circuit of Síl Cathasaig (in what is now Co.. Antrim), receiving tribute for its ruler Cú Ulad Ua Lainn, and in 1153 of Dál Cairpre and Uí Eachach Ulad (in modern co. Down), with tribute from the ruler Ua Duinn Sléibe. By 1157 Mac Lochlainn limit achieved the status 'king of Ireland', and Ua Brolcháin's situation was duly enhanced. Thus, in the very next year, at the Synod of Breemount, Meath, presided over by Gilla Meic Liac and the papal legate Gilla Críst Ua Connairche, he was recognized as head of all Columban churches in Ireland and given 'a chair', that is, status equivalent to a bishop. This was evidently an attempt by Gilla Meic Liac to make the relationship of the Coarb of Colum Cille to his churches analogous to that of a bishop to his diocese. In 1161 at an assembly of clerics and laymen at Dervor, Meath, Mac Lochlainnconfirmed Ua Brolcháin's jurisdiction over the Columban churches in Meath and Leinster (said thus to be free from exaction of secular 2 / 2 dues); and in the same year he made a circuit of Osraige, thus confirming his jurisdiction in southern Ireland. In 1164, Ua Brolcháin was invited by Somarlaide (Sumerled) Mac Gillai Adomnáin, king of Argyll and the Isles, to become abbot of Iona. Since such a move would have disrupted the new organization being established in Ireland, it was opposed by Gilla Meic Liac and Mac Lochlainn and was never realized.Flaithbertach Ua Brolcháin was also noted for extensive architectural work at Derry, in collaboration with his patron Mac Lochlainn. As early as 1155, the door of Derry church was made at his behest, but the main work was done between 1162 and 1164. In 1162 over eighty houses at Derry were demolished to enable the construction of an enclosing wall around the main ecclesiastical site. In 1163 a lime-kiln (tene-aeil), measuring 60 feet square, was constructed in the space of twenty days. Finally, in 1164 the great church (tempull mór), measuring 90 feet in length, was built in just forty days by Ua Brolcháin and Mac Lochlainn. It seems that some of this work may have been in vain, for Derry suffered serious burning in 1166, ironically the same year that Mac Lochlainn was Slain. Ua Brolcháin sought to have his secular patron interred at Derry, but was overruled, since it was traditional for the Cenél nEógain kings to be buried at Armagh. Little is heard of Flaithbertach Ua Brolcháinafter this point and he himself died in 1175, in the Dubreicles or 'dark church' at Derry, following an unknown illness. Sources W. M. Hennessy and B. MacCarthy, eds., Annals of Ulster, otherwise, annals of Senat, 4 vols. (1887–1901), vol. 2M. Herbert, Iona, Kells, and Derry: the history and hagiography of the monastic familia of Columba (1988) A. Gwynn, The Irish church in the eleventh and twelfth centuries, ed. G. O'Brien (1992)

👑Saint and Prince-Bishop Máel Ísu Ua Brolcháin

Saint and Prince-Bishop Máel Ísu Ua Brolcháin, January 16 This saint is both a poet and a scholar, who died in 1086AD. Biography A member of a high-class ecclesiastical family in what is now County Donegal, "genealogical sources give his father as Máel Brigte and his three brothers as Áed, Diarmait, and Muirecan. Besides holding a number of benefices and wielding considerable political influence, he was the author of the poem To an Elderly Virgin. He died as a member of the religious community of Armagh in 1086, recorded as being the chief sage of Ireland. Members of his lineage served as Prince-Bishops of Derry. He and his descendants were of the Royasl race of Irish Kings and descend from Niall of the Nine Hostages. Poet and scholar of the Clann Brolcháin / Bradley, a learned family which produced Princely Scholars and Ecclesiastics up to the 18th century. He was educated at the monastery of Both Chonais. This line left Ireland for America and to fight against the English in the American Revolutionary War. That line was Prince Flann Adag O'Brolchain's son Prince Charles and 3 more of his son's.

Saint Máel Ísu Ua Brolcháin, Feast Day is January 16 This saint is both a poet and a scholar, who died in 1086. I knew the name of Máel Ísu Ua Brolcháin in connection with a hymn in Latin and Irish Deus meus, adiuva me which I am pleased to say still features in Irish hymnals today. I have posted a translation of it here. I did not know, however, that its author also featured on the Irish calendars of the saints, so I am delighted to bring a short essay on Saint Máel Ísu's life and works from a latter-day daughter of the Ua Brolcháin clan, Muireann Ní Bhrolcháin: Máel Ísu Ua Brolcháin (d.1086) Máel Ísu Ua Brolcháin was a religious poet from Donegal who was a member of the Armagh community. His death in Lismore is mentioned in the Annals of Innisfallen in 1086. He is recognized as one of the primary poets of his age, and there is a full-page account of his life and family in the 16th-century Acta Sanctorum by Colgan. He was educated in the monastery of Both Chonais, Gleenely, beside the present-day Culdaff, Co. Donegal. His death is mentioned in all major annals, but the Annals of the Four Masters give a longer notice than others: The senior scholar of Ireland, learned in wisdom, in piety and in poetry of both languages. So great was his erudition and scholarship that he himself wrote books and compositions of wisdom and intellect. His spirit ascended into heaven on the 16th of January, as is said: On the sixteenth of January/on the night of fair Fursa's feast,/Máel Ísu Ua Brolcháin perished/Oh! Who lives to whom this was not a great distress. His Work The manuscript sources attribute eight poems to Máel Ísu. Scholars mention him as the possible author of four further compositions. Fr. F. Mac Donncha suggested that he may also be the author of the Passions and Homilies because he was well educated with a deep knowledge of the scriptures and of Latin and had access to an extensive library. The content of his poems reflect the concerns of his age, the secularization of the church and the budding reform. He composed devotional, personal prayers as well as didactic poems that reflect the beliefs and teaching of the Céilí Dé (Culdees) in preaching restraint, fasting, continence and study as a way of life. He prays directly to the Trinity, to St Michael, and to God himself, using his poetry as a vehicle for religious teaching and for personal prayer. Some of the poetry may be directed at his students. Dia hAine ní longu says: 'You eat/as for me, I shall fast,/on account of fire which water does not extinguish/and cold which heat does not quench.' He may have moved to Lismore in search of the reforming spirit that was absent in the secular world of Armagh. The lorica, A choim diu, nom chomet, seeks protection from the eight deadly sins for eight parts of the body: eyes, ears, tongue, heart, stomach, male organ, hands and feet. The sins associated with each are outlined, for example: 'Protect my ears so that I do not listen to scandal, so that I do not listen to the foolishness of the evil world' and he continues: 'Do not allow me to fall into the principal sins of the eminent, reputed eight, Christ come to me, to hunt them, to defeat them.' In this he follows the teachings of the Penitentials as he does in his longest poem Ocht n-eric na nDualach that treats the eight vices. Some five or six stanzas are given over to each vice and to its cure, for example: 'Greed- what it does is/to force miserliness upon you:/ a craving for all things,/pillage, plunder and robbery,/The sole cure is contempt for the dark world,/being in continual poverty/without acquiring wealth. Muireann Ní Brolcháin, Máel Ísu Ua Brolcháin (d.1086), in S.Duffy, ed., Medieval Ireland: An Encyclopedia (CRC Press, 2005), 307-308. Canon O'Hanlon also has an entry for this great poet-saint. He tells us of a County Donegal parish which claimed Ua Brolcháin as its patron: 'The patron saint of the parish of Cloncha, in Inishowen, was always regarded as being the present Maelisa Ua Brolchain. In this parish, there stood an ancient monastery, known as Temple Moyle, or Tapal Moule. An old graveyard, surrounded by a stone wall, with an iron gate entrance, is found at this place. We find recorded in the Martyrologies of Marianus O'Gorman and of Donegal, at the 16th day of January, Maelisa Ua Brolchain. On the seventeenth of the calends of February, he resigned his spirit to heaven, as stated in this quatrain: " On the Seventeenth of the calends of February, The night of fair Fursa's festival, Died Maelisa Ua Brolchain, But, however, not of a heavy severe fit." This account seems to convey, that he ended life by a process of natural decline, and that he expired without much suffering. It is likely he attained an advanced age. The Annals of Clonmacnoise, at A.D. 1084, have recorded his death. The year 1086 was that of his decease, according to the Annals of Ulster and of the Four Masters. ' I am left with a picture of a saint who was very much a representative of the old penitential traditions of the Irish church and of its love of learning and scholarship. Yet he lived at a time of change, the Great Schism between east and west occurred in his lifetime and the church reforms he sought would come a century after his death. But Saint Máel Ísu Ua Brolcháin has not been forgotten. Apart from the survival of his hymn Deus Meus, adiuva me, now sung in modern Irish and Latin, a number of his poems have been translated by twentieth-century scholars and I will post a selection of these in the future. Content Copyright © Omnium Sanctorum Hiberniae 2012-2015. All rights reserved.

👑Suibne Menn High King of Ireland

Suibne Menn (or Suibne mac Fiachnai, "Suibne the Stammerer, son of Fiachnae"; died AD 628) was an Irish king of the O'Neill who is counted as a High King of Ireland.

Suibne belonged to the junior branch of the Cenél nEógain kindred of the northern Uí Néill, the Cenél Feredaig, named for his grandfather Feredach, a great-grandson of Niall of the Nine Hostages. The kingship of Cenél nEógain had been dominated by the Cenél maic Ercae, descendants of Feradach's brother Muirchertach mac Ercae. Neither Suibne's father Fiachnae, nor his grandfather, had been kings of Cenél nEógain. Áed Uaridnach of the Cenél maic Ercae died in 612, and the kingship of the Uí Néill passed to the rival northern Cenél Conaill in the person of Máel Coba mac Áedo. Máel Coba was killed by Suibne in 615, apparently in the midlands of Ireland, whereupon Suibne took power. It is suggested that Suibne Menn's control of the kingship rested on an alliance with another minor Uí Néill kindred, the southern Clann Cholmáin. According to the Irish annals, Óengus, head of Clann Cholmáin, was High King at his death in 621, so that Suibne may have granted Óengus the kingship before assuming it himself. In 628 Máel Coba's brother Domnall attacked Suibne but was defeated and fled. Suibne, however, was killed later that year by the king of Ulster, Congal Cáech, who installed himself as High King. Charles-Edwards supposes that this surprising outcome was achieved "perhaps by some form of surprise attack". Although the Cenél nEógain did not again hold the High Kingship until the 8th century, his descendants, and not the rival Cenél maic Ercae, held the kingship of Cenél nEógain until the death of his great-grandson Fland mac Máele Tuile c. 700.

👑Suibne Menn High King of Ireland

Suibne Menn (or Suibne mac Fiachnai, "Suibne the Stammerer, son of Fiachnae"; died AD 628) was an Irish king of the O'Neill who is counted as a High King of Ireland.

Suibne Menn Contributed by Mac Shamhráin, Ailbhe Suibne Menn (d. 628), son of Fiachnae and king of Tara, belonged to Cenél Feradaig, a lineage of Cenél nÉogain, in turn a dynasty of the Uí Néill. The origins of his lineage are rather obscure; according to the genealogists, his grandfather Feradach was a brother of Muirchertach/Mac Ercae (qv), who, although he is represented in later sources as king of Tara, seems to have been a compound figure. His father Fiachnae achieved no great distinction; but Suibne, and subsequently his brother Ernáine, reigned as kings. Later folk tradition sought to explain Suibne's achievement by relating it to latent ambition on the part of his father, or to pressure from his wife. She is named in the ‘Banshenchas’ (lore of women) as Rónait, daughter of Dúngalach king of Uí Thuirtri, but it is not stated that she was the mother of his sons, Crundmáel and Cenn-fáelad. The evidence indicates that Suibne's advancement was achieved in two stages; it seems that he had strong qualities of leadership, although his sobriquet Menn (dumb) suggests that he may have had a speech impediment. Firstly, after the death (612) of Áed Uaridnach (qv), he secured dominance over Cenél nÉogain. Then, three years later, he moved against the reigning Uí Néill overking, Máel-Cobo of Cenél Conaill, a son of Áed (qv) son of Ainmere (qv). He apparently had support from the Luigne, and perhaps also from some of the Cruithni dynasties through his marriage to Rónait. In 615 Suibne slew his rival in battle at Sliab Truim (Bessy Bell Mountain, near Newtownstewart, Co. Tyrone) and laid claim to the kingship of Tara. His success in this regard is acknowledged by his inclusion in the regnal list ‘Baile Chuinn’. He continued, however, to face opposition from Cenél Conaill. In 628 he defeated the emerging Domnall (qv) son of Áed of Cenél Conaill at Both (probably in the parish of Boho, Co. Fermanagh) and put him to flight. Shortly afterwards Suibne was himself slain in battle at Tráig Bréne (at Strangford Lough, Co. Down) by the Dál nAraide overking of Ulaid, Congal Clóen (qv), whose dynasty was also in contention for the kingship of Tara. In the decades after Suibne's death, several members of his lineage ruled Cenél nÉogain. In 630 his brother Ernáine (d. 636) seized power when he slew the leading representative of Cenél Muirchertaig, Máel-fithrich son of Áed Uaridnach, in the battle of Leitheirbe. His son Crundmáel, who defeated the Cruithni in 656, was likewise prominent at regional level. But in 700 three of Suibne's line (Flann son of Cenn-fáelad, Anrothán son of Crundmáel, and the latter's nephew Flann) all died within a short time, whereupon the political importance of the lineage declined. The line retained its Princely title and later became Prince-priests, and prince-bishops of the Catholic Church. They also, founded a sept of the family in Scotland. Sources AU; Ann. Tig.; AFM; Bk Leinster, i, 95; O'Brien, Corpus genial. Hib., 125, 180; M. C. Dobbs, ‘The Ban-Shenchus’, Rev. Celt., xlviii (1931), 184; Keating, Forus feasa, ii, 63–4; Mac Niocaill, Ire. before vikings, 90, 95, 96; Byrne, Ir. kings, 112; NHI, ix, 127; Ó hÓgáin, Myth, 396; A. Mac Shamhráin & P. Byrne, ‘Prosopography I: kings named in Baile Chuinn Chétchathaig and the Airgíalla charter poem’, E. Bhreathnach (ed.), The kingship and landscape of Tara (2005), 159–224; ODNB Publishing information DOI: https://doi.org/10.3318/dib.008374.v1 Originally published October 2009 as part of the Dictionary of Irish Biography Last revised October 2009.

👑History of the Bradley Family

👑Clan O'Brolchain / Bradley They were the Prince-Bishops of the Cinel Feradhaich of the Cinel Eoghan.

The following annal entries appear to describe the origin of the Mac an t-Saoir surname in Ireland and Macintyre's of Scotland. 1029 A.D. or the O'Brolchain's Annals of Ulster Mael Brigde H. Brolchan prim-shaer Erenn, mortui sunt. Maelbrigte Ua Brolchain, chief artificer of Ireland, died. 1097 A.D. Annals of Ulster Maol Brighde mac An t-Saoir Uí Brolcháin saoi & epscop Chille Dara, & chóiccidh Laighen, d’écc. Mael-Brighte, son of the wright Ua Brolcain, eminent bishop of Cell-dara and of the Fifth of Leinster, rested after most excellent penance. Note that in 1029 Mael Brigde O Brolchain is simply called the "prime shaer" or "wright" of Ireland. He is not called Mac an t-Saoir or 'son of the wright.' The O Brolchan family were noted masons or builders in Ireland, hence the description of this Mael Brigde as the "prime wright of Ireland." Many have noted the fact that St. Ciaran of Clonmacnoise in Ireland was the first to be called Mac an t-Saoir, or a 'son of the wright'; and therefore, attempt to connect St. Ciaran with the Mac an t-Saoir surname. The above annal entries should make it clear that although the usage is identical (both men were called 'sons of wrights'), there can be no real connection between them. In 1097, another Mael Brigde O Brolchain died, called a sage and the Bishop of Kildare. The annal entry describes him as "Mac an t-Saoir Ui Brolchain" or "son of the wright O Brolchain," the wright here referring to the previous Mael Brigde, the prime wright of Ireland, who died in 1029. This would appear to be the first instance of the Mac an t-Saoir surname in Ireland. Both Reeves and Black (see the entries below) regard this as a surname. A later Mac an t-Saoir, Michael, the Official of Armagh and later Bishop of Clogher in Tryone, 1268-1288. 1268 A.D. Annals of Ulster Michael Mac-an-tshair, Official of Ard-Macha, was consecrated bishop in Clochar by the archbishop of Ard-Macha on the morrow of the Nativity of Blessed Mary [Sept 8). 1288 A.D. Annals of Ulster Michael Mac-in-tshair, bishop of Clochar, died. There were known connections between the O Brolchains of Ireland and Iona. See the annal entries for 1164 and 1202. According to Reeves, this last entry describes an abbot of Iona, DONALDUS OBROLOHAN, whose inscrption appears on the capital of the tower column, DONALDUS OBROLOHAN FECIT HOC OPUS [Donal O Brolchain made this work]. Black (Surnames of Scotland) appears to regard the family in Scotland as Irish in origin. The O Brolchain surname is on record in Scotland as early as 1549 in Islay, where Sir John Obrolchan held the rectory of Saint John the Evangelist. And in 1677 an Archilbald McBrolchin was a tenant in Iona. In 1778, a Lauchlan duy McBrolachan was a merchant in Campbeltown. It appears the Mac an t-Saoirs, and Brodie's of Ireland and family Brabazon both in Ireland and Scotland were therefore kinsmen of the O Brolchains; and there were O Brolchains settled in the isles of Scotland from a very early date, probably dating from the era of the above Donaldus Obrolohan who inscribed his name on the church tower of Iona. Could the Irish Mac an t-Saoirs, perhaps in company with their O Brolchain kinsmen, have settled in Scotland as well? The history of the Macintyre's of Scotland is about as misty as can be. All they seem to know for sure is that they sailed to their present homelands from an island to the west accompanied by a mysterious white cow and a prophecy about settling where the cow rested. The white cow symbolism occurs frequently in Celtic mythology and is probably impossible to trace with certainty. But it is at least interesting to note that St. Bridgit of Ireland was associated with a white cow; that she built a nunnery at Kildare and is most strongly associated with that area; and that the second O Brolchain Mac an t-Saoir referred to above, was Bishop of Kildare. In addition, each of the two O Brolchains were named Mael Bridghe, a name which signifies a "servant of St. Bridgit." Were both of these men, one of them probably the first Mac an t-Saoir of Ireland, members of a cult of St. Bridgit? In short, I wonder if the Scottish Mac an t-Saoirs could have been Irish Mac an t-Saoirs, who sailed to their present homeland from Iona (or Ireland) around 1200 A.D. or a little later, perhaps settling first in Iona. The O Brolchains were from the Barony of Clogher in Tyrone, but later removed to Derry, in the Inishowen Peninsula of County Donegal, adjacent to Derry County, probably because of their connections with the church of Columcille at Derry. There were many and varied connections between the Irish of this part of Ireland and the families of Scotland. Donal oge O'Donnell, the King of Tirconnell (Donegal) married first a MacSweeney and secondly a MacDonald; and he later imported MacSweeney gallowglasses from the isles of Scotland. Hugh MacDonald, in his history of the MacDonalds, mentions a marriage between Angus oge MacDonald and a daughter of O Cahane. As part of her retinue, she brought with her to Scotland a number of men from the O Cahane territory in Derry and the Inishowen Peninsula (O Dohertys). The Book of Clanranald has the following description of this retinue: "Aonghus Og, son of Aonghus Mor, son of Domhnall, son of Ragnall, son of Somerled, the noble and renowned high chief of Innsigall. He married the daughter of Cuinnbhuighe O'Cathan. She was the mother of Eoin, son of Aonghus, and it is with her came the unusual retinue from Erinn, viz., four-and-twenty sons of clan families, from whom sprang four-and-twenty families in Alban." Hugh MacDonald's text gives the names of some of these Irish families said to have settled in Scotland under the MacDonalds in the time of Angus oge: "[Angus oge] married Margaret, daughter of Guy O'Kaine in Ireland. She was the mother of Brian Balloch O'Neill, of whom descended the O'Neals of both the Clan Buys. The portion or tocher he had by her was seven score men out of every surname under O'Kain, viz.: the Munroes, so called, because they came from the Innermost Roe-water in the county of Derry, their names being formerly O'Millans, the Roses of Killraack, the Fairns, Dingwalls, Glasses, Beatons, so now called, but improperly, that being a French name, whereas they are Irish, of the tribe of O'Neals, and took the name first from following the name of Beda. Our highland shenakies say that Balfour Blebo, and these Beatons that came from France, went formerly from Ireland, but for this they have no grounds to go upon. The Macphersons, who are not the same with the Macphersons of Badenoch, but are of the O'Docharties in Ireland; the Butikes in Butikes in Caithness, of whom is the Laird of Tolingail, and many other surnames, which, for brevity, we pass over, many of whom had no succession." Going the other way, from Scotland to Ireland, we find the MacAlins, (i.e., Campbells from Clan Ailin), gallowglasses to the O Dochartaighs of Inishowen in Donegal, and probably the MacDebits (MacDavid) as well, although both of these families are spuriously claimed to be branches of the O Dochartaighs in a dubious passage in O'Clery's Book of Genealogies. Most prominently we find the MacSweeneys holding massive territories in Donegal under the O'Donnell Kings; and the MacDonalds were well-known gallowglasses to the O'Neills in neighboring Tyrone. Annals of Ulster 1164 Select members of the Commmunity of Ia (Iona in Scotland, namely, the arch-priest, Agustin and the lector (that is, Dubsidhe) and the Eremite, Mac Gilla-duib and the Head of the CeliDe, namely, Mac Forcellaigh and select members of the Community of Ia besides came on behalf of the successor of colum-cille, namely, Flaithbertach Ua Brolchain's acceptance of the abbacy of Ia, by advice of Somharlidh and of the Men of Airthir-Gaedhel and of Insi-Gall; but the successor of Patrick and the king of Ireland, that is, Ua Lochlainn and the nobles of Cenel-Eogain, prevented him. Annals of Ulster 1202 Domnall Ua Brolchain prior [of Iona], eminent senior selected for intelligence, for form, for appearance, for disposition, for gentleness, for magnanimity, for benevolence, for piety, for wisdom, entered the way of all flesh, after great suffering and most excellent penance, on the 5th of the Kalends of May [Apr. 27]. The O Brolchain Family Notes from Reeves "Life of St. Columba," by Adamnan XLVII - Flaithbertach Coarb 1150-1175. [Introduction, p. clxxx] Surnamed Ua Brolchain. They were the Prince-Bishops of the Cinel Feradhaich of the Cinel Eoghan. The family of Ua Brolchain were descended from Suibhne Meann, who was king of Ireland in 615, and belonged to the Cinel Feradhaich, a clan so called from Feradhach, grandfather of that Suibhne Meann, and fourth in descent from the Princes of Eoghan, the founder of the Cinel-Eoghain Kingly race. The Cinel Feradhiach Clan of Princes are now territorially represented by the barony of Clogher, in the south of the county of Tryone. The first of the O'Brolchan family who is mentioned in the Annals was Maelbrighde Ua Brolchan, styled prim saer Erren ["chief mason of Ireland"- Od Vers], whose obit is entered in the ann. Ult. at 1029. >From him probably the masonic art of the family was derived, which was cultivated by Flaherty, and practiced by Donnell, with such success. The next was Maeliosa, the lector whose obit is entered above at 1086. He spent a part of his early life at Both-chonais in Inishowen, in the neighborhood of which some of his writings were preserved in Colgan's time; and afterwards he founded a church seemingly at Lismore, called the derteac Maeiliosa, "Oratory of Maeliosa," which was burned in 1116. He died on the 16th of January, justly celebrated for his learning (Colgan, Acta SS. p. 108). His son, Aedh, succeeded him in the calling of professor, and died in 1095. Two years afterwards a son of Maelbrighde, surnamed Mac-an-tsaeir, who was bishop of Kildare, died. Maelcolaim Ua Brolchain, bishop of Armagh, died in 1122; and Maelbrighde Ua Brolchain, also bishop of Armagh, died, Jan. 29, 1139. The latter was probably father of the coarb Flaithbertach, whom the Annals of Ulster, aqt 1164, called Flaithbertach mac in epsuic hUi Brolcain, "Flaithbertach, son of the bishp Ua Brolchan," a lineage by no means in accordance with the delicacy of the Four Masters, and which, when copying the entry, they divest of its objectional character, in simply calling him Flaithbertach Ua Brolchain. Domhnall Ua Brolchain was prior of Derry and died Apr. 27, 1202. His name is inscribed on one of the capitals in the cathedral of Hy, in the form Donaldus Obrolcan (vid. 1202, App. III). Finn Ua Brolchan was steward of O'Donnell in 1213; and Flann Ua Brolchain was coarb of Columcille in 1219. In 1548 died Sir John Obrolchan, rector of Kildalton, in Islay (Orig. Paroch. vol. ii. p 269). The name was afterwards written O'Brollaghan, and is now corrupted, in Ulster, to Bradley. Through the influence of Gilla-mac-Liag of Gelasius, the abbot of Armagh, who had himself been previously abbot of Derry (an. 1137) , Flaithbertach Ua Brolchain was raised to the dignity of bishop in 1158, as is thus recorded by the Four Masters: "A Synod of the clergy of Ireland was convened at Bri-mic-Taidhg, in Meath, where there were present 25 bishops, with the Legate of the coarb of Peter, to ordain rules and good morals. It was on this occasion that the clergy of Ireland, with the coarb of Patrick, ordered a chair, like every other bishop's, for the coarb of Columcille, Flaithbertach Ua Brolchain, and the arch-abbacy of the churches of Ireland in general." He was a zealous advancer of the welfare of Derry, and during his incumbency many important additions were made to its ecclesiastical buildings; to precure funds for which, the abbot had, during the years 1150, 1151, 1153, 1161, visited, and obtained contributions from various territories in Ulster and Ossory. After a long life spent in the enregetic discharge of his duties, he died in 1175, at which year his obit is thus recorded by the Four Masters: "Flaithbertach Ua Brolchain, coarb of Columcille, a tower of wisdom and hospitality, a man on whom, on account of his goodness and wisdom, the clergy of Ireland had bestowed a bishop's chair, and to whom the abbacy of Hy (comhorbus Uae) had been offered (an. 1164), died in righteousness, after exemplary sickness, in the Duibhregles of Columcille; and Gilla-mac-Liag Ua Branain was appointed to his place in the abbacy." Donal O Brolchain [1202] "The unusual record on the capital of the tower column, DONALDUS OBROLOHAN FECIT HOC OPUS, and the coincidence of that record with the obit of Domhnall Ua Brolchain in the annals of Ulster at 1203, and of the Four Masters at 1202, the same name in its Irish form, are sufficient, if not to satisfy the mind, at least to afford material for reasonable conjecture, as to the builder." Surnames of Scotland Black O'Brolachain Flaitbheartach Ua Brolchain was offered the abbacy of Colum-cille in Iowa in 1164 (AFM, s.a.) but declined it. Domhnall Ua Brolchain, prior of Derry, perhaps a relative of Flaithbheartach, became abbot of Iona and was builder of the Bell Tower there, or at least of the lower part of it. He died in 1203 (AU.). The mutilated inscription in Lombardic letters on the southeast pier of the cathedral reads: "Donaldus O'Brolchan fecit hoc opus." Abbot Donald came of a famous family of masons of whom the earliest recorded is Maelbrighde Ua Brolchan, styled prim saer Erann, i.e. 'chief mason of Ireland.' (Adamnan, VC, p. 405). He died in 1029 (A.U. s.a.) The rectory of S. John the Evangelist at Kildaltane, Islay, was vacant in 1549 by the decease of Sir John Obrolchan (OPS, II, p. 269). Archibald McBrolachin was one of the tenants in Iona, 1677, and Lauchlan duy McBrolachan appears as merchant in Campbeltown, 1778 (Argyll). The name has been Englished Bradley and Brodie (Brody), although these names have no connection with it either in root or meaning. Other O Brolchain entries in the Annals 1086 Maelisa Ua Brolchain, learned senior of Ireland, a paragon of wisdom and piety, as well as in poetry and both languages. His wisdom and learning were so great, that he himself wrote books replete with genius and intellect. He resigned his spirit to heaven on the seventh of the Calends of February, as is stated in this quatrain: 1.1] On the seventeenth of the Calends of February 2] The night of fair Fursa's festival, 3] Died Maelisa Ua Brolchain, 4] But, however, not of a heavy severe fit. 1095 There was a great pestilence over all Europe in general in this year, and some say that the fourth part of the men of Ireland died of the malady. The following were some of the distinguished persons, ecclesiastical and lay, who died of it: Donnghus, Bishop of Ath-cliath; Ua Manchain, i.e. thc Brehon judge, successor of Caeimhghin; Mac Maras Ua Caemhain, successor of Oenna, of the tribe of Dealbhna-Beag; Cairbre, i.e. the Bishop Ua Ceithearnaigh, successor of Maedhog; Ua Rinnanaigh, lector of Leithghlinn; Eochaidh Ua Coisi, Vice-abbot of Achadh-bo; Scannlan Ua Cnaimhsighe, anmchara of Lismore; Buadhach Ua Cearruidhir, priest of Cill-Dalua; Dubhshlatach Ua Muireadhaigh; Aedh, son of Maelisa Ua Brolchain, a chief lector; and Augustin Ua Cuinn, chief Brehon judge of Leinster. 1097 Flannagan Ruadh Ua Dubhthaigh, successor of Comman, and lector of Tuaim-da-ghualann; Maelan Ua Cuinn, airchinneach of Eaglais-Beag at Cluain-mic-Nois; Maelbrighde Mac-an-tsaeir Ua Brolchain, a learned doctor, and Bishop of Cill-dara and of Leinster, died. 1122 Maelcoluim Ua Brolchain, Bishop of Ard-Macha, died at the Disert of Doire, after the victory of forbearance and penance. 1139 Maelbrighde Ua Brolchain, Bishop of Ard-Macha, head of the piety of the north of Ireland, a paragon of wisdom, meekness, and mildness, after good penance, on the 29th of January. 1150 The visitation of Cinel-Eoghain was made by the successor of Colum-Cille, Flaithbheartach Ua Brolchain; and he obtained a horse from every chieftain, a cow from every two biatachs, a cow from every three freeholders, and a cow from every four villains, and twenty cows from the king himself; a gold ring of five ounces, his horse, and his battle-dress, from Muircheartach, son of Niall Ua Lochlainn, King of Ireland. 1155 Annals of Ulster The door of the church of Daire was made by the successor of Colum-cille, namely, by Flaitbertach Ua Brolchain. 1158 A synod of the clergy of Ireland was convened at Bri-mic-Taidhg, in Laeghaire, where there were present twenty-five bishops, with the legate of the successor of Peter, to ordain rules and good morals. It was on this occasion the clergy of Ireland, with the successor of Patrick, ordered a chair, like every other bishop, for the successor of Colum-Cille, Flaithbheartach Ua Brolchain, and the arch-abbacy of the churches of Ireland in general. The bishops of Connaught who were going to this synod were plundered and beaten, and two of their people killed, at Cuirr-Cluana, after they had left Cluain, by the soldiers of Diarmaid Ua Maeleachlainn, King of Meath, and they returned to their houses. 1161 Another army was led by Muircheartach Ua Lochlainn into Meath, to attend a meeting of the men of Ireland, both laity and clergy, at Ath-na-Dairbhrighe; and he obtained all their hostages. It was on this occasion the churches of Colum-Cille in Meath and Leinster were freed by the successor of Colum-Cille, Flaithbheartach Ua Brolchain; and their tributes and jurisdiction were given him, for they had been previously enslaved. 1162 A separation of the houses from the church of Doire was caused by the successor of Colum-Cille, Flaithbheartach Ua Brolchain, and by Muircheartach Ua Lochlainn, King of Ireland; and they removed eighty houses, or more, from the place where they were; and Caiseal-an-urlair was erected by the successor of Colum-Cille, who pronounced a curse against any one that should come over it. 1163 A lime-kiln, measuring seventy feet every way, was made by the successor of Colum-Cille, Flaithbheartach Ua Brolchain, and the clergy of Colum-Cille, in the space of twenty days. Annals of Ulser A lime-kiln,wherein are sixty feet on every side, was made by the successor of Colum-Cille, that is, by Flaithbertach, son of the bishop Ua Brolchain and by the Community of Colum-Cille in the space of twenty days. 1164 The great church of Doire, which is eighty feet long, was erected by the successor of Colum-Cille, Flaithbheartach Ua Brolchain, by the clergy of Colum-Cille, and Muircheartach Ua Lochlainn, King of Ireland; and they completed its erection in the space of forty days. Annals of Ulster 1164 Select members of the Commmunity of Ia (Iona in Scotland, namely, the arch-priest, Agustin and the lector (that is, Dubsidhe) and the Eremite, Mac Gilla-duib and the Head of the CeliDe, namely, Mac Forcellaigh and select members of the Community of Ia besides came on behalf of the successor of colum-cille, namely, Flaithbertach Ua Brolchain's acceptance of the abbacy of Ia, by advice of Somharlidh and of the Men of Airthir-Gaedhel and of Insi-Gall; but the successor of Patrick and the king of Ireland, that is, Ua Lochlainn and the nobles of Cenel-Eogain, prevented him. 1175 Flaherty O'Brollaghan, successor of St. Columbkille, a tower of wisdom and hospitality, a man to whom, on account of his goodness and wisdom, the clergy of Ireland had presented a bishop's chair, and to whom the presidency of Hy Iona had been offered, died in righteousness, after exemplary sickness, in the Duibhregles of Columbkille; and Gilla Mac Liag O'Branan was appointed in his place in the abbacy. Note: this is the death of the same Flaithbertaigh Ua Brolchan mentioned in previous entries 1202 Donnell O'Brollaghan, a prior, a noble senior, a sage illustrious for his intelligence, personal form, and comeliness, and for his mildness, magnanimity, piety, and wisdom, after having spent a good life, died in the twenty-seventh of April. Annals of Ulster 1202 Domnall Ua Brolchain prior [of Iona], eminent senior selected for intelligence, for form, for appearnace, for disposition, for gentleness, for magnanimity, for benevolence, for piety, for wisdom, entered the way of all flesh, after great suffereing and most excellent penance, on the 5th of the Kalends of May [Apr. 27]. 1213 Finn O'Brollaghan, steward of O'Donnell (Donnell More) went to Connaught to collect O'Donnell's tribute. He first went to Carbury of Drumcliff; where, with his attendants, he visited the house of the poet Murray O'Daly of Lissadill; and, being a plebeian representative of a hero, he began to wrangle with the poet very much (although his lord had given him no instructions to do so). The poet, being enraged at his conduct, seized a very sharp axe, and dealt him a blow which killed him on the spot, and then, to avoid O'Donnell, he fled into Clanrickard. When O'Donnell received intelligence of this, he collected a large body of his forces, and pursued him to Derrydonnell in Clanrickard,---a place which was named from him, because he encamped there for a night;---and he proceeded to plunder and burn the country, until at last MacWilliam submitted to him, having previously sent Murray to seek for refuge in Thomond. O'Donnell pursued him, and proceeded to plunder and ravage that country also, until Donough Cairbreach O'Brien sent Murray away to the people of Limerick. O'Donnell followed him to the gate of Limerick, and, pitching his camp at Monydonnell (which is named from him), laid siege to that town; upon which the people of Limerick, at O'Donnell's command, expelled Murray, who found no asylum anywhere, but was sent from hand to hand, until he arrived in Dublin. 1219 Fonaghtan O'Bronan, Coarb of St. Columbkille, died; and Flann O'Brollaghan was appointed in his place. O'Clery's Book of Genealogies (col. d) Genelach Cheneil Feradaigh Beus .i. Muinter Brolchain 609. Maoil iosa m Mael brighde m Duib insi m Mael patraicc m Doiligein m brolchain (o ttat muinter Brolchain) m Elgine m Diochon m Floinn find m Maili tuile m Crunnmhaeil m Suibne mend m Fiachna m Feradaigh m Muiredaigh m Eoghain m Neill. 607. Maol brighde, dino, athair Diermada ocus Aedha et Muiregein et Maoil isa an cleiricc. Translation 609. Maoil Iosa son of Mael brighde son of Duff of the island son of Mael Patrick son of Doiligein son of Brochain (from whom the people of Brolchan) son of Elgin son of Diochon son of Flann find son of Maile Tuile son of Crunmael son of Suibhne mend son of Fiachna son of Feradaigh son of Muirdaigh son of Owen son of Neill [of the Nine Hostages]. 607. Maol Brighde, futhermore, was the father of Dermot and Hugh and Muiregein and Maoil Iosa [d. 1086] the cleric.

WHO RESOURCED AND BUILT IONA “CATHEDRAL OF THE ISLES”?

Fifth Part - Ian Ross Macdonnell, Australia. Ear of Ross and Lord of the Isles, John Macdonald, son of Alexander

Fifth Part - Ian Ross Macdonnell, Australia. Ear of Ross and Lord of the Isles, John Macdonald, son of Alexander, instead of just economically restoring the existing dilapidated Abbey church, significantly enlarged and enhanced it over c.1450 to 1476 (his first forfeiture). He used his ever-increasing treasury and resources which were greatly boosted from 1426 by additional revenue from Ross and Skye. John did this with the clear ambition of raising its status to the dignity of the Macdonald Cathedral of the Isles. John Macdonald’s re-building enterprise employed Donald Ó Brolcháin of the Lordship’s long serving hereditary chief masons, church-wrights, clerics and personal secretaries from the distinguished Derry family of abbots/bishops, past Coarbs of the St Columba Familia and Chief Lectors, Prime Artificers of Ireland. The Prince Ó Brolcháin's had been associated with Iona since the eponymous Donald’s father, Reginald mac Somerled founded the abbey, the first Prior being Domnall Ua Brolcháin d.1203, and continued right throughout the Lordship. Somerled tried to refund Iona Abbey in 1164 and have Flaibhertach Ó Brolcháin, first Bishop of Derry, take the Abbacy - but failed on both counts. Another Ó Brolcháin was the personal secretary to Chief Alexander Macdonald, and one was the master mason, Donald Ó Brolcháin, who rebuilt the cathedral and lastly to the Ó Brolcháin master graveslab carver who left Iona and went to the mainland c.1500 after the Lordship collapsed in 1493. The Ó Brolcháin Iona church wrights (master masons) and chief artificers were employed by successive Macdonald chiefs, not the Iona Abbot. These fear-ciuird (artificers, craftsman) of the aes dana, learned men, ‘people of the gifts’, enjoyed high professional, secular status and held hereditary offices to the Macdonald Lords of the Isles, not to the Iona Abbots. John, son of Alexander, was assisted by his cousin, Bishop Angus (II) Macdonald "son of a bishop of Royal stock" ,1 grandson of Donald of Harlaw and the exemplary reforming Abbot, Dominic MacKenzie from Wester Ross, kin of Chief Alexander Macdonald’s mother, Mariota, Countess of Ross. In the 1430’s Alexander was at peace with King James I, he was recognized by James as the Earl of Ross and became the Scotland’s Chief Legal Officer, Justiciar of Scotia. Alexander had his center of power in Ross at Dingwall and Inverness but his son John, of course later forfeiting Ross, was centered back in the Isles. It's worth reiterating that the first Macdonald Bishop, Angus, relocated his Seat, The Isles' Cathedra (throne), to the Iona Abbey Church in c.1433 2, functioning probably as a form of the common ‘Benedictine monastic cathedral chapter’ (not the proposed chapter of secular canons).3 Historically, there was no distinction between the monastic cathedral chapters, monastic orders, headed by a prior (all Benedictine) and those of the secular canons headed by a dean, in their relation to the bishop or diocese. They can be "numbered", in which case they are provided with a fixed prebend (appropriated benefice from parish revenue), or "unnumbered", in which case the bishop indicates the number of canons according to the income. Over a period of time there is the exceptional convergence of a Macdonald patronised abbey (through patrilineal descent from founder) with Macdonald sponsored abbots, one a Clan Donald MacAlister and with two Bishops Macdonald and a kindred Maclean Bishop, John, 1st cousin, once removed of Chief Alexander. The King of Scots had the right to present the bishop candidate to the Archbishop of Nidaros, Norway, but note that the "House of Macdonald" as of John, son of Donald, was considered a "Royal race" with considerable influence. This convergence presents the opportunity to at least use a portion of Iona abbey's income (relatively wealthy in context of the west 4) and episcopal/diocese and 'communa' funds revenue specifically for the shared cause of both needing a new church and chapter house (Iona's derelict and Snizort's untenable. For example, rents and tithes from the majority of parishes in the Diocese of the Isles that were not endowed to Iona abbey (albeit hard to collect). Also, the larger and grander decorated church/cathedral and the only in situ corporeal (body-part) relic/reliquary of St Columba, which were entirely the product of and acquired by the Macdonalds, would then have renewed a more regular pilgrim visitation with increased donations (not just on isolated special feast days and one-off indulgences). Stepping back a little in time, with the abbey's finances starting to come back under control: - Donald of Harlaw acquired and gifted to the Abbey c.1412-21 the priceless “Hand of St Columba” - a rarity and the only corporeal relic of St Columba repatriated from its five centuries of safekeeping in Derry, Ireland - a prestigious, sacred “Hebridean Holy Grail”. Donald and his artists enshrined it in a ‘charismatic’ gold and silver reliquary of ‘dazzling, wondrous beauty’. This event, of momentous religious significance and high political status, was achieved after a 25 year long partnership with his 2nd cousin, the Iona Cloistral Prior and lead reforming Abbot John MacAlaxandair (MacAlister) from a senior line of Clan Donald – descended from Chief Alaxandair Og, k.1299 ("undoubtedly in the light of primogeniture they were the senior family of the line of Somerled” 5 ). The utmost importance of Saints relics and their reliquaries in this period cannot be over emphasised. “Church relics play a crucial role in understanding the symbolic meaning of the place of worship in medieval Christianity; for they were the foundation of both the physical and the institutional church." When was it first used? Almost surely on the Feast Day (death-translation) of St Columba, 9 June, 1412-20. Imagine the huge crowd consisting of the large retinue of the Lord of The Isles, Donald of Harlaw, the emotional pilgrims especially attracted that year (even without dispensations), the vassal Clan Chiefs with their lesser retinues, the church hierarchy of the Isles, Argyll and wider and the gathered locals, with scores of galleys beached and extra camps all around the Abbey's boundary – even in St Oran’s graveyard (the custom). What a glorious sensation it would have been when the abbot (almost certainly John MacAlister) first came through the rood screen past all the choir monks singing Colmcille Feast Day chants. Holding the shining hand aloft, blessing the congregation and then in procession to those gathered outside with embellished gestures of the “hand of St Columba” – a surreal blessing. What splendid satisfaction Donald would have had! RAISING OF IONA CATHEDRAL: 1433. Some historians point out 6 that there are no records (discoverable) for cathedral chapter activity 7 at Iona for the Diocese of the Isles between 1433 and 1493 (final forfeiture) and surmise that the bishop's seat did not actually move to Iona before 1499, when the abbacy and the bishopric were combined 'in commendam'. But neither are there such records which specify Snizort in this 60 year period, or after 1499 for Iona, so this argument is flawed. To fully explain why I say the bishop and therefore the diocese's seat, did move to Iona c.1433 would take a whole booklet but here are some main dot points ● Snizort was a neglected, unpopular and unsuitable site for the Diocese's Seat ● it was outside the Lordship of the Isles' territory at that time ● the Diocese was subject to Nidaros/Trondheim, Norway and moving the bishop's seat, Cathedra, to Iona had centralising political benefits ● why bother asking for 12 prepends to resource the chapter at Iona if it hadn't moved? ● Sir Donald Munro, Archdeacon, or "High Dean of the Isles" (2nd to bishop) from 1549, was the Vicar of Snizort in 1526 and his maternal grandfather, Farquhar MacLean, was Bishop of the Isles from 1529 to 1544. Donald, with local and contemporary knowledge, notes in 1549 that Iona was the “Cathedral Kirk of the Bischoppis of the Iles” during the Lordship before forfeiture in 1493 ● Bishops by long tradition had the right of being buried in their cathedral (elsewise their palace) and Angus (I) Macdonald, d.1441, was "provided the most precious blessing" by being buried “with his crosier and Episcopal habit, south side of the great choir which he selected for himself" 8 of the Cathedral of Iona Abbey (his uncontested burial location). A "great choir" designates cathedral status. The only church having a great choir in the Isles was Iona. Snizort had neither transepts nor aisles - no "great choir". It is of the utmost importance to appreciate this: - "The transfer of Iona Abbey in commendam to the Bishop of the Isles" in 1498/9, was not about raising the dignity of the Iona church to cathedral status, as usually declared. There is nothing in any wording to contradict that Iona was already the bishop’s seat, the Cathedral of the Isles. The petition was for the ”erection of the abbacy of Colmkyll in the bischoppis sete of the Ilis”. And no prepends, resources for canons of a cathedral chapter were requested in 1498/9 (or afterwards and one didn't appear to operate). "In canon law, 'in commendam' was a form of transferring an ecclesiastical benefice (usually during a vacancy) in trust to the custody of a patron". The practice was open to serious abuse. It had become a regular form of corruption to strip assets from abbeys leading up to and after the Reformation. This transfer’s principal objective was a power grab of the functions, responsibilities and therefore resources of the abbot to the bishop, that is the commondator, regardless of whether Iona was already the Diocese's Seat or not. It was a corporate raid or hostile takeover if you like. Commondators were regularly feuing (transferring – siphoning off) abbey lands to family members. Pensions were granted from revenues of the bishopric and the recipients were family members. Favoured bishops began to receive multiple benefices, accepting them like absentee landlords, increasing their personal possessions to the detriment of the Church. Often these commendatory abbots were laymen, vassals of the kings, or others who were authorized to draw the revenues and manage the temporal affairs of the monasteries in reward for military services, like the Earls of Argyll as liegemen of the Stewart Kings. So, who was instrumental in this Iona Abbey transfer in commendam in 1498/99? It was none other than Archibald, 2nd Earl of Argyll, the petitioner, supported by his enabler, 9 King James IV and his son, James Stewart (Duke of Ross)10 the new Archbishop of St Andrews from 1497, which was now the Metropolitan See, controlling the Isles' Diocese! And who was the first Iona Abbey Commondator? It was Eóin Caimbeul I (son of 1st Earl of Argyll) - and then others were, Eóin Caimbeul II and then Eóin Caimbeul III and also four more Campbell “property managers” (and four Macleans) who all, over the next century, rapaciously regarded Iona Abbey’s resources, Clan Donald’s endowments and generous benefactions over 300 years, as their hereditary “family propriety interest”! They had all entered Clan Donald's “monastery rather by reason of succession than from devotion”. To credit the 1st and 2nd Earls of Argyll with raising the dignity(?) of the abbey church to Cathedral status is a both a monumental travesty and dishonour to Clan Donald's legacy of medieval Iona Abbey and Cathedral. 1 Stewart Royalty - marriage of John, Lord of the Isles, to Margaret Stewart in c.1350. "Clerics and Clansmen" - seen. 5 below. 2 In a papal petition of 1433, he requested permission to move his cathedral from Snizort to ‘some honest place within the diocese’. Calendar of Scottish Supplications to Rome Volume IV 1433-1447, p 25. ed. A.I. Dunlop and D. MacLauchlan. 1983. "The criticism of a lack of honesty may therefore reflect political considerations, rather than poor religious practices" - Bishop's Careers, Becoming a Bishop in the Middle Ages. 3 Dobson, Barrie; "The English Monastic Cathedrals in the Fifteenth Century"; Transactions of the Royal Historical Society, Vol. 1 (1991), pp. 151-172. 4 The Lordship of Isles territory included two bishoprics (Sodor/Isles and Argyll), four monastic houses (Iona Abbey and Nunnery, Saddell, Oransay) and approx. 64 parish churches of which the Lords had patronage of 41. Sarah Thomas; “Bishops, priests' monks and their patrons: the Lords of the Isles and the Church”. 5 6 Revs. Angus Macdonald; "THE CLAN DONALD - VOL 1", p.89. 1896. Iain G. MacDonald; 'Clerics and Clansmen: The Diocese of Argyll Between the Twelfth and Sixteenth Centuries'; 2013. Sarah E Thomas, University of Hull. ' From cathedral of the Isles to obscurity – the archaeology and history of Skeabost Island, Snizort'. 7 A corporation of canons which had a role in the administration of a cathedral (dignitaries: Dean, Precentor, Chancellor, Treasurer) and were the bishop's Consilium. The chapter was hardly functioning with many vacancies on Snizort and probably was similar at Iona. 8 Niall MacMhuirich (hereditary poets to Macdonald). 'The Red Book of Clanranald - The Macdonald History'. Early 17th Century. In 'Reliquiae Celticae VOL II', 1894. 9 D. E. R. Watt. 'The Heads of Religious Houses in Scotland from 12th to 16th Centuries'; 2001. pp: 203-4. 10 King James V used the church as a source of income and for appointments for his illegitimate children and favorites.