April (An T-Aibrean), 2014 Brian Boru 1014
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Volume XXXX, No. 2 • April (An t-Aibrean), 2014 Brian Boru 1014 .........................................................................................................In April, 1014, the Battle of Clontarf route by which raids could be made centralize control, and the Battle of took place. Brian Boru battled Norse and against the provinces of Connacht and Cathair Cuan, allowed some of the Norse Irish armies in north County Dublin, and de- Meath. Both Brian's father and older to remain in their settlement, but they were feated them. Brian then was killed in his tent. brother conducted river-borne raids, in wealthy and now central to trade in the re- That is the non-confusing portion of the which the young Brian would undoubt- gion, with a fleet of great value. Cian, the narrative. The rest of the story makes the edly have participated. This was probably son of his brother Mathgamain's sworn television series, “Game of Thrones,” the root of his appreciation for naval enemy Máel Muad, later became a loyal seemingly a straight-line walk in comparison. forces in his later career. The Hiberno- ally of Brian and served under him in a Norse, or Viking, from the settlement of number of campaigns. The story of Brian Boru of the Limerick influenced Brian, and provided Brian had his eyes set on the High Dalcassians was one of blood, conspiracies, the basis of alliances later in life. alliances, battles, marriages, and family. It Kingship at Tara. The Ui Neills, both was said he drove the Vikings from In 964, Brian's older brother, Mathga- southern and northern, had controlled this Ireland, but that was far from the truth. main, claimed control over the entire seat of power since the days before St. province of Munster by capturing the Patrick arrived in Ireland. Brian turned to Brian was one of the 12 sons of Rock of Cashel, capital of the ancient extending his authority over the neighbor- Cennétig (Kennedy) mac Lorcáin, king of Eóganachta, the hereditary overlords or ing provinces of Leinster to the east and Dál Cais and king of Tuadmumu High Kings of Munster. The Eoganachta’s Connacht to the north. By doing so, he (Thomond), modern County Clare, then a internal strife and attacks by the southern came into conflict with High King Máel sub-kingdom in the north of Munster. Ui Neills and Vikings had left the control Sechnaill mac Domnaill whose power Brian's mother was Bé Binn inion Urchadh, of the south of Ireland up for grabs. How- base was the Province of Meath. For the daughter of Urchadh mac Murchadh, king ever, Mathgamain was never fully recog- next fifteen years, from 982 to 997, Máel of Maigh Seóla in west Connacht. nized and was opposed throughout his Sechnaill repeatedly led armies into Brian was born at Kincora, Killaloe, a career by Máel Muad mac Brain, an Leinster and Munster, while Brian utilized town in the region of Thomond. When he Eoganachta member from the south. The naval forces up the Shannon to attack was born, Ireland had about 500,000 Norse king Ivar of Limerick tried to take Connacht and Meath on either side of the inhabitants in an area the size of Wisconsin. over the kingship, but an alliance between river. Brian suffered setbacks, but devel- Brian's posthumous cognomen "Bóruma" the two Gaelic contenders defeated Ivar, oped into a very keen military strategist. is that the nickname represented Old Irish and the Limerick fortress in 972. Mathga- He coordinated the use of forces on both bóruma "of the cattle tribute", referring to main was captured and killed in 976 by land and water, including on rivers and his capacity as a powerful overlord. Máel Muad, who would now rule as king along Ireland's coast. Brian's naval forces, After their father died, the kingship of of Cashel for two years. which included contingents supplied by Tuadmumu passed to Brian's older Brian took over the Dalcassians, and the Hiberno-Norse cities that he brought brother, Mathgamain, and, when Mathga- first dispatched Ivar in 977, and then Máel under his control, provided both indirect main was killed in 976, Brian replaced Muad at the Battle of Belach Lechta in and direct support for his forces on land. him. Subsequently he became the King of 978. Further battles allowed Brian to continued on page 5 the entire kingdom of Munster. Brian belonged to the Dál gCais or APRIL 3, 2014 • 7 P.M. Dalcassians, a newly styled kin group of MILWAUKEE MONTHLY MEMBERSHIP MEETING ultimately Déisi origin who occupied a territory north of the Shannon Estuary, Irish Cultural and Heritage Center (2133 W. WIsconsin Avenue) which today would incorporate a substan- TTT tial part of County Clare and then formed the core of the new kingdom of Thomond. Barbeque Sandwiches served at 6:30 The River Shannon served as an easy Please bring a side dish or dessert to pass. 44th Annual T Milwaukee Calendar of Events T Easter Rising Mass For More Information visit http://shamrockclubwis.com April 20, 2014 APRIL Cáisc.................................. Shona Daoibh-Happy Easter to All 3 Shamrock Club Monthly Meeting; ICHC; 7 pm The 44th Annual Easter Rising Mass 4 Conference of Celtic Women; First Friday Lecture; Music of Ceol Cairde; will take place at the Irish Cultural and ICHC, 2133 W. Wisconsin Ave; 5:30 pm Heritage Center of Wisconsin, 2133 West 4 ICHC Ceili; Music by Frogwater; ICHC, 2133 W. Wisconsin Ave; 7.30 pm Wisconsin Avenue, on Sunday, April 20, 7 Irish Genealogical Society of Wisconsin Meeting; Irish Cultural & Heritage 2014. Center; Reach Out Ireland; 7 pm 8 Celtic Women International Book Club; Buried in a Bog? by Sheila Connolly; The Mass will start at 9:30 a.m. The Hostess: Rosemary Baumann; ICHC; 1 pm Shamrock Club Color Guard Pipes and 11 Iarla O'Lionard; Present Music Now; Turner Hall; 7 pm Drums will again be a part of the Mass. Father Terry Brennan, S.J., will be the 22 Celtic Fiddle Festival; Shank Hall, 1434 North Farwell; 8 pm celebrant. We will have readings in Irish 26 Monthly set dance; Irish Cultural and Heritage Center, 2133 W. Wisconsin and English. Ave; Kilfenora Plain Set; 7:30 pm The Mass honors the 1916 Easter MAY Monday Rising in Dublin that led to the 1 Shamrock Club Monthly Meeting and Annual Elections; ICHC; 6:30 pm Irish Revolution. In 1970, Kit Nash 2 ICHC Ceili; Music by athas; ICHC, 2133 W. Wisconsin Ave; 7:30 pm brought the idea of commemorating the 3 Wisconsin Spring Feis; Wisconsin Center, 400 W. Wisconsin Ave.; 8:30 am Easter Week Rising of 1916 forward to the 4 Celtic Spirit Feis; Wisconsin Center, 400 W. Wisconsin Ave.; 8:30 am Shamrock Club Board. His father had been a member of the Irish Republican 4 Stu Larsen; Shank Hall, 1434 North Farwell; 8 pm Army that rose up against the British 24 Monthly set dance; Irish Cultural and Heritage Center, 2133 W. Wisconsin forces stationed in Dublin. Kit suggested Ave; Roscahill Set; 7:30 pm that an Easter Sunday Mass be celebrated to honor those who rose and were killed JUNE or captured, in order to bring forward an 5 Shamrock Club Monthly Meeting; ICHC; 7 pm independent Irish State. 6 ICHC Ceili; Music by Cream City Ceili; ICHC, 2133 W.Wisconsin Ave; 7:30 pm Attendance at the Mass has grown since 20 Paddygrass; Starry Nights; Sharon Lynne Wilson Center; Gerlach Outdoor 1970, from about 30 people to a top of 250. Theater, 19805 West Capitol Drive, Brookfield The average attendance is about 220 a year. 28 Monthly set dance; Irish Cultural and Heritage Center, 2133 W. Wisconsin Ave; music TBA; Moy Cullen Set; 7:30 pm The Mass is not intended as being the ON GOING … Set dancing at the following: Set dancing Wednesdays, 7 PM at primary Easter Mass for people. The Shamrock Club offers the Mass as an O’Donoghue’s T Craobh Curtin Conradh na Gaeilge meeting at O'Donoghue's Pub, 7 PM, last Tuesday each month T Irish Emigration Library in ICHC open every honoring of those brave Irishmen and Wednesday 12–6 PM T Irish Sing-a-long, Irish Fest Center, First Sundays, (through Irishwomen who came forward Easter May) 7 PM T Irish Fest Sing-a-long: O'Donoghue's Pub, Second and fourth Week of 1916. It is a Mass of Commemo- Sundays, 7-9 PM T Irish Music Sessions at the following: T Session - O’Donoghue’s, ration and Reconciliation. The Mass will Sundays 7 PM; Thursdays @ Paddy’s 7 PM; and The Pub in Oconomowoc, 7:30 PM T also fulfill a person's Easter duty. Thursdays: Barry Dodd; County Clare Inn; 10 PM T Fridays: áthas and Myserk; County -Brian Witt Clare Inn; 6 PM T Sundays: áthas; Brocach Milwaukee T 2 Milwaukee Brennan. Brian Witt is coordinating the Mass and Veronica Ceszynski will be host- President’s Message ing the breakfast. See information in this months Reflections. Sunshine Report Hello Everyone, .................................. At the April general membership meet- For those who joined us on March ing we will continue to take nominations ..................................Good news is that John and Mary 15th, Parade Day, I hope you had a fabu- from the floor for the elections to be held Fisher’s son was married on March 8, lous time. We started off with the solemn in May. Please take this opportunity to 2013 in Ireland. mass to honor St. Patrick. Thanks to nominate a member or possible consider Two granddaughters of Julie Smith par- Chuck McLaughlin who organized the to run for a position on the board.