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Home , Battle of Clontarf, Brian Boru, High King of Ireland

It was only after he had achieved this MAP

honour that he set his eyes on further TRAIL advancement by working towards his final

goal: to become High-king of . As TIPPERARY

opposed to other sites connected with , the royal Munster seat of

kingship survives as a magnificent and

much-visited site. CASHEL (52.5199, -7.8903)

www.cashel.ie CLARE

Tobermurragh Tobermurragh or Murrough’s Well, is situated near the Pier Head in Killaloe. It is here that, according to tradition, Brian’s BRIAN KILLALOE son Murrough was baptised. The well is now enclosed and covered by a red ARMAGH Kincora BALLINA brick building built at the end of the 19th century. St Patrick’s Cathedral The twin towns of Killaloe Ballina sit on KILLALOE, (52.8090, -8.4482) the banks of beautiful Lough Derg and www.killaloeballina.ie/brianboru.html BORÚ As oldest City, Armagh has a there are many fine restaurants, shops distinct historical and cultural legacy. and café’s within their streets. Must see Known as the Ancient Cathedral City, it attractions include St Lua’s Oratory, St. is here where founded his Flannan’s Cathedral, Brian Ború Heritage first church in Ireland in 445ad. Saint Centre, Tobermurragh, Beal Ború and Early Life Patricks Church of Ireland Cathedral is Crag Liath. Killaloe Ballina boasts heritage also the burial place of the great Irish High town designation and their magnificent arched bridge plays a pivotal role in Brian Ború, son of Cinnéide and Bé Bhoinn, was born in 941 at Killaloe. King, Brian Ború, who was buried in the Brian Ború Heritage Centre Cathedral in 1014ad. connecting to County His family belonged to the Uí Toirdealbhaigh – a Dalcassian tribe who had Tipperary. Located beside Killaloe bridge, the settled here hundreds of years earlier at Grianán Lachtna on the slopes of To secure his position as of Instead of taking his seat at Tara or Brian Ború Heritage Centre serves as an Crag Hill. Brian’s father and his grandfather Lorcán were the first of his Ireland, Brian needed to have influence on The Promenade Cashel, Brian Ború ruled over Ireland information centre, tourist office, shop from his palace at Kincora. The site, at and community library. The centre charts family to rise to prominence leading their tribe against the . the province of . It was during this time that Brian pursued an alternate means the top of the hill, had panoramic views the history of the town especially the life of consolidating his control. At the time, Walk back in time along a 3km Battle of of the river and surrounding countryside. of Brian Ború. Admission applies. the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland was Clontarf Heritage Trail on the beautiful The site is now occupied by St. Flannan’s KILLALOE, (52.8075, -8.4403) The Vikings centered on monasteries. Brian recognised seaside promenade at Clontarf, Dublin. Church, St. Lua’s oratory and The Green. www.shannonheritage.com/ DaytimeAttractions/BrianBoruHeritageCentre Armagh as being one of these important No trace of the Palace remains. (52.8069 -8.4444) monasteries and it is documented in the Nestled between the magnificent Saint KILLALOE, Brian’s father Cinnéide died in battle in 951 and Mahon took over www.clarelibrary.ie leadership of the . Brian convinced a reluctant Mahon to ‘Book of Armagh’ that in 1004 Brian left Anne’s Park and Fairview Park, Clontarf has lots to offer the visitor. Once an old B twenty-two ounces of gold on St. Patrick’s F defend their territories against the Vikings and together they drove them alter and declared that Armagh was the fishing village it is now a modern coastal A R

from Cashel and paving the way for Mahon to become King of T

suburb with a host of amenities from T religious capital of Ireland. This was a A

T

Munster in 970. Following Mahon’s murder by rival Munster chiefs, Brian clever move by Brian, as the supremacy businesses, restaurants and cafes to suit L

E

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all tastes and just three miles from Dublin

of the monastery in Armagh would only O O

L led his tribe and avenged his brother’s death. He attacked Scattery Island, F

last as long as Brian remained High King. City Centre. C routing Vikings and killing their leader Ivar. He then turned his attention Therefore, it was in the interest of Armagh to Donovan and Molloy who were responsible for Mahon’s death and – with all its wealth and power – to Clontarf is renowned as the location of they too were killed. Brian now consolidated his position in Munster with support Brian. the famous battle on Good Friday, April Crag Liath, Greenanlaghna & Carrig Aoibheal the marriage of his daughter to Molloy’s son. His inauguration as King of 1014. This was the deciding battle in the St Lua’s Oratory Following the death of Brian in the Battle long career of Ireland’s High King Brian Munster took place at Cashel in 977. The hill of Crag Liath slopes down to the of Clontarf, his body was taken from Boru and was the culmination of a revolt St. Lua’s oratory in the grounds of St. road near Beal Ború. On its south-eastern Clontarf to Armagh, where the clergy of against Brian by the King of Flannan’s Catholic Church originally stood slope lies Greenanlaghna, the remains of Armagh held a wake that lasted twelve and the Vikings of Dublin that started on Inis Lua on the just a fort associated with Brian Ború’s family. days. Following this, Brian’s body was in 1013. Brian and his army (which also south of Killaloe. It is an early example of On the northern slope is a great projecting buried on the north side of the high alter to included Vikings) laid to Dublin a nave-and-chancel church. It was likely rock, 6 metres high known as Carraig Although Brian continued to defend against invading Vikings he allowed which he had previously donated gold. from September to 1013. The to have been built around the 10th or Aoibheal or Aoibheal’s Rock, home to the 0,//(11,80 final confrontation was at the Battle . those Vikings who had settled and established commercial activities to ARMAGH (54.3478 -6.6564) banshee Aoibheal. www.armagh.co.uk of Clontarf on Good Friday, 23rd April KILLALOE, (52.8069, -8.4444) Killaloe, (52.8390, -8.4672) continue to operate. Some Vikings sided with Brian in his battles against 1014. The battle raged from sunrise until www.killaloeballina.ie/churchesandoratories. www.clarelibrary.ie plundering Vikings. evening, resulting in heavy casualties on html both sides. Brian’s army defeated the combined armies of Leinster and Dublin Brian and the High King Malachy at times cooperated in their battles who were reinforced by Vikings from the against the Vikings, but their political rivalry continued. At one stage they Western and Northern Isles and the Isle divided control of the country between them with Malachy reigning in the of Man. Northern half and Brian in the South. But Brian had ambitions to unite the There are varying opinions as to the whole country. In 999 they successfully captured Dublin from the Vikings actual location of the battle and how and Brian strengthened his position by marrying Gormlaith, Sitric’s mother. many died, but the final push of the St Flannan’s Cathedral & Oratory Between then and 1002 Brian demanded Malachy’s abdication. Finally battle took place on the then seafront in Tountinna The Graves of the Leinstermen Malachy, unable to gain support of the northern Uí Neills, abdicated and Clontarf. As the Vikings retreated to their Built in the 13th century, St. Flannan’s longships they were slaughtered by Brian’s Cathedral stands on the west bank of Brian became High King or Ard Rí of a united Ireland. Tountinna is the highest peak of the Arra army or drowned by the incoming tide. the Shannon. The Cathedral is home to Mountain range. On the heathery slopes, Brian’s army won the day, but the aged a number of stone features including a beside the road are the remains of a The tide began to change in 1013 with a revolt against Brian by Leinstermen High King was killed by a fleeing Viking Romanesque Doorway, an Stone pre-historic chamber tomb, known as the aided by Dublin Vikings. Vikings in Munster too were getting more active. CASHEL named Brodar from the , as he thought to date back to 1000AD, a 12th Graves of the Leinstermen. The Graves prayed in his tent after the battle. Brian’s century high cross, an ornately carved consist of a line of small slate slabs. There The spark that led to the may have been a dispute during son Murrough and his grandson Turlough font and a magnificent East Window. is a low earthen mound to the north of Every effort has been made to ensure the a game of chess at Kincora. Vikings from the Isle of Man, Islands also died at Clontarf. An 11th century Romanesque oratory is the chief slab. These slabs are Bronze Age information in this guide is correct, however CLONTARF ( 53.3601, -6.2059) adjacent to the Cathedral. and came to the aid of Sitric at Gormlaith’s request. Cashel, Co. Tipperary is a thriving town and date no later than 1000BC. the Brian Ború & the Battle of Clontarf National with a rich history which is reflected in its [email protected] KILLALOE, (52.8063, -8.4390) TOUNTINNA, (52.8514, -8.3992 www.Clontarf.ie/2014 Steering Group cannot guarantee its accuracy built heritage, including prehistoric raths, www.killaloeballina.ie/churchesandoratories. The battle on Good Friday 1014, where the Dalcassian forces defeated the html and accept no responsibility for any error or mediaeval monasteries, fortified town Vikings, resulted in the deaths of Brian, his son and potential misrepresentation. Some images have been houses and a Georgian Cathedral. provided by Clare County Council, Clare Library, Cashel’s Victorian town centre is a thriving successor Murrough and his grandson. After the battle, the Clare Tourism Forum and Failte Ireland. bodies of Brian and his son were brought to Armagh by its retail zone, with excellent clothes shops, clergy and waked for 12 nights before being buried in a new lively cafes, charming gift shops, pubs oozing with old charm and food retailers 00353 65 6846222 - COUNTY CLARE tomb. offering delicious artisan fare. 00353 1 2225253 - DUBLIN The Rock of Cashel is one of Ireland’s 00353 52 6187075 - TIPPERARY iconic sights, a chapel, abbey and round Beal Ború Lough Derg & River Shannon 0044 28 3752 1800 - ARMAGH tower proudly perched above the town, Brian Ború’s Fort Lough Derg is the largest and one of inspiring admiration from generations of the most beautiful lakes on the River tourists. Brian Ború’s career path from the Overlooking the point where the River Shannon. During his reign Brian Ború kept chieftaincy of a North Munster family, Shannon exits Lough Derg, Beal Ború is a one navy on the lake and a second on the subsequently named O’Briens (Uí Bhriain) beautiful example of a ring fort. Believed . Today you can drive the after him, reached an initial high-point with to have been occupied by the Dal Cais Lough Derg trail which starts and finishes his accession as King of Munster at the (Brian Ború’s family tribe), who controlled in the twin towns of Killaloe/Ballina. ancient royal seat of Cashel. access up the river from Killaloe. KILLALOE, (52.8189, -8.4516) (52.8413, -8.8288) www.killaloeballina.ie/brianboru.html www.clare.ie WWW.BRIAN BORU MILLENNIUM.IE There is no story more intriguing than that of Irelands greatest High King, Brian Ború. His journey commenced in Killaloe, County Clare where he was born in 941, he became King of Munster in ARMAGH 977 and deservedly secured the greatest honour of all in 1002, that of High King of Ireland.

This journey took him from tranquil Killaloe on the shores of Lough Derg to the seat of Kings TOUNTINNA in Cashel and on to do battle in Clontarf and finally to his resting place in the ecclesiastical city of Armagh. CRAIG LIATH R660 R639 LOUGH DERG Killaloe, Cashel, Clontarf and Armagh are places of abundant beauty. They offer the ROCK OF CASHEL KINCORA A29 BEAL BORÚ visitor the opportunity to discover the many wonderful sites associated with Brian Ború M50 R105

and in this modern era also offer many fantastic tourist experiences. A3 R494 R505 R691 PROMENADE R493 You are invited to discover these beautiful places. This map shows a selection of R131 St PATRICK’s CATHEDRAL the important sites and buildings associated with Brian Ború. TOBERMURRAGH

ENJOY THE A28 A28 BRIAN BORÚ CENTRE ARMAGH M8 ST FLANNAN’S CATHEDRAL R639 JOURNEY! & ORATORY ST LUA’S ORATORY

A3 R493

N74 TRACE THE FOOTSTEPS OF BRIAN BORÚ IN IRELAND

TOUNTINNA TOUNTINNA CLONTARF CRAIG LIATH CRAIG LIATH R660 R639 R660 R639 LOUGH LOUGH ROCK OF CASHEL DERG DERG KINCORA ROCK OF CASHEL KINCORA A29 BEAL BORÚ M50 R105 A29 BEAL BORÚ M50 R105 A3 R494 R505 R691 PROMENADE A3 R494 R493 R505 R691 PROMENADE R131 R493 St PATRICK’s CATHEDRAL R131 KILLALOE TOBERMURRAGH St PATRICK’s CATHEDRAL TOBERMURRAGH BALLINA A28 A28 BRIAN BORÚ CENTRE M8 ST FLANNAN’S CATHEDRAL R639 & ORATORY ST LUA’S ORATORY

A28 A28 BRIAN BORÚ CENTRE M8 ST FLANNAN’S CATHEDRAL R639 & ORATORY ST LUA’S ORATORY A3 R493 CASHEL TOUNTINNA

N74 CRAIG LIATH R660 R639 A3 R493 LOUGH DERG ROCK OF CASHEL KINCORA A29 BEAL BORÚ M50 R105 N74 A3 R494 R505 R691 PROMENADE R493 R131 St PATRICK’s CATHEDRAL TOBERMURRAGH

A28 A28 BRIAN BORÚ CENTRE M8 ST FLANNAN’S CATHEDRAL R639 & ORATORY ST LUA’S ORATORY

A3 R493

N74

WWW.BRIANBORUMILLENNIUM.IE