In 1166 the Irish Monarch, O’Loughlin, committed a fearful outrage on Dunlevy, Prince of Dalriada.  A peace had been ratified between them, but, from some unknown cause, O’Loughlin suddenly became again the aggressor, and attacked the northern chief, when he was unprepared, put out his eyes, and killed three of his leading officers.  This cruel treachery so provoked the princes who had guaranteed the treaty, that they mustered an army at once and proceeded northwards.  The result was a sanguinary engagement, in which the Cinel-Eoghan were defeated, and the Monarch, O’Loughlin, was slain.  Roderick O’Connor immediately assumed the reins of government, and was inaugurated in Dublin with more pomp than had ever been manifested on such an occasion.  It was the last glittering flicker of the expiring lamp.  Submission was made to him on every side; and had he only possessed the ability or the patriotism to unite the forces under his command, he might well have set all his enemies at defiance.  An assembly of the clergy and chieftains of Ireland was convened in 1167, which is said to have emulated, if it did not rival, the triennial Fes of ancient Tara.  It was but the last gleam of sunlight, which indicates the coming of darkness and gloom.  The traitor already had his plans prepared, and was flying from a country which scorned his meanness, to another country where that meanness was made the tool of political purposes, while the unhappy traitor was probably quite as heartily despised.

[Illustration:  ARDMORE ROUND TOWER.]

FOOTNOTES: 

[229] City.—­Some Irish religious are also said to have lived in amity with Greek monks, who were established at Tours, in France; and it is said that the Irish joined them in the performance of the ecclesiastical offices in their own language.

[230] Connemara.—­Haverty’s History of Ireland, p. 156.  See also an interesting note on this subject in the Chronicum Scotorum.

[231] Martyr.—­Page 887.  The famine in the preceding year is also recorded, as well as the cholic and “lumps,” which prevailed in Leinster, and also spread throughout Ireland.  Donough was married to an English princess, Driella, the daughter of the English Earl Godwin, and sister of Harold, afterwards King of England.  During the rebellion of Godwin and his sons against Edward the Confessor, Harold was obliged to take refuge in Ireland, and remained there “all the winter on the king’s security.”

[232] St. Patrick.—­It is observable all through the Annals, how the name and spiritual authority of St. Patrick is revered.  This expression occurs regularly from the earliest period, wherever the Primate of Ireland is mentioned.

[233] Vengeance.—­See O’Curry, passim, for curious traditions or so-called prophecies about St. John Baptist’s Day.

[234] Aileach.—­The remains of this fortress are still visible near Londonderry, and are called Grianan-Elagh.