Brian Boru Millennium Celebration

Funeral of Brian Boru   

After his death at the battle of Clontarf on Good Friday, 1014, Brian Boroimhe, High King of Ireland, was buried ‘on the north side of the great church’ at Armagh.  The Church of Ireland Cathedral of St Patrick, which stands on the site, incorporates a memorial tablet in its north wall.  A service will be held to mark the millennium of the burial of Brian Boroimhe on Sunday 27th April 2014 at 3.15 p.m. In this service, the Cathedral aimed to reflect on the historic tragedy and highlight the significance for the Island of today.

Based on the Anglican liturgy of Choral Evensong, the service will be ecumenical in character, including both commemoration of the burial and prayer for the Ireland of today.  Mark Patrick Hederman, OSB, Abbot of Glenstal, will preach.

A few of the folks who attended the ecumenical service St. Patrick's Cathedral. 

Villagers of Louth and Inniskeen, re-enacted the funeral cortége of Brian Boru as it processed from St. Mochta's Abbey in Louth village along the folk-lored laneways to the fording of the river Fane at the monastic ruins and round tower of St. Daig's at Inniskeen. Some 200 people gathered yesterday the 27th April 2014 in Medieval costume of Gaels and Religious of 1014 A.D., to re-enact Brian Boru's funeral cortége procession from Clontarf to Armagh, a stage of which processed between the Abbey of Louth and the river fording at Inniskeen.

Photograph shows Louth Village schoolchildren on the fairgreen with re-enactors.
[Photo/Shaun O'Bryne]

The Crown of Brian Boru

The new crown.

Brian Boru Millennium Festival

Festival event calendar

2014 marks the millennium anniversary since the death of Ireland’s High King, Brian Ború, who was killed during the Battle of Clontarf on Good Friday 1014. An island wide programme of commemorative events will centre on four key locations with connections to the life of Ireland’s best-known historical medieval figure: Cashel, where Brian was crowned High King of Ireland; Killaloe in County Clare, which was the seat of Brian’s High Kingship of Ireland; Clontarf, where Brian was killed following his victory over the Viking rulers of Dublin at the Battle of Clontarf and the City of Armagh.

     It is in the Ecclesiastical capital of Armagh that Brian Ború was laid to rest, as he wished, and his tomb is located in the Church of Ireland Cathedral. To commemorate the millennium anniversary a series of events, to suit all ages, will take place across Armagh City from Tuesday 22nd April to Sunday 4th May.

 Events include:

Tues 22nd Apr: The Bóroimhe Suite [Concert] (poster states 23^rd April)
Wed 23rd April: The Arrival of Brian Ború [Re-enactment Event]
Thurs 24th April: Viking Longboats [Family Fun]
Sun 27th April: Ecumenical Service of Commemoration [Service]
Thurs 1st & Fri 2nd May: The Waking of Brian Ború [Performance]

The Bóroimhe Suite

 Wed 23rd

Reminder that the Boróimhe Suite Concert - commissioned to celebrate Brian Ború's life and commemorate his death, will take place in Killaloe St. Flannan's Church, The Green on Wed 23rd at 8.30pm. From 8pm some of our local Trad music students will perform. The show will open with a performance of Kincora Call. Tickets from Heaney's, Jimmy Whelan's, McKeogh's or onlinewww.coisnahabhna.ie



Arrival of Brian Boru:

 Wed 23rd

Join us at Navan Fort as re-enactors demonstrate the arrival of Brian Ború’s party in Armagh, hours after his death at the Battle of Clontarf.

‘The Arrival of Brian Ború’ is a historical re-enactment revealing how an advanced party of warriors left Clontarf to make arrangements for the arrival of Brian’s body in Armagh.

Fully armoured and having just returned from battle, meet the warriors who have been sent to Armagh to announce Brian’s death and make arrangements for his twelve day wake and subsequent burial.

The re-enactors will be demonstrating daily life in Medieval Ireland with a range of crafts for visitors to enjoy:

Storytelling

Hear tales from the battlefield as the warriors provide you with their own version of events from the Battle of Clontarf.

Scale Model

Find out what Dublin looked like in 1014 with a fascinating scale model of the Battle of Clontarf. The re-enactors will point out key areas in the battlefield and provide an insight into the battle.

Blacksmith

Step back in time and learn this everyday craft of blacksmithing.

Cooking

Learn about the ancient cooking methods with camp fire cooking.

Monier

View the special displays of medieval monier and learn the craft of coin making.

Viking Longboats At Loughgall

24 Apr 2014 | Loughgall Country Park

Enjoy a family fun day out as Viking Longboats are launched onto on the lake at Loughgall Country Park.

Family activities on the day include:

• Rowing and Sailing Sessions
• Viking History Talks
• Warrior Weapon Training
• Mock Battles for Children

Ecumenical Service of Commemoration

27 Apr 2014 | Saint Patrick's Church of Ireland Cathedral

Saint Patrick's Church of Ireland Cathedral, Armagh, Northern Ireland.

After his death at the battle of Clontarf on Good Friday, 1014, Brian Boroimhe, High King of Ireland, was buried ‘on the north side of the great church’ at Armagh. The Church of Ireland Cathedral of St Patrick, which stands on the site, incorporates a memorial tablet in its north wall. A service will be held to mark the millennium of the burial of Brian Boroimhe on Sunday 27th April 2014 at 3.15 p.m.

     Based on the Anglican liturgy of Choral Evensong, the service will be ecumenical in character, including both commemoration of the burial and prayer for the Ireland of today. Mark Patrick Hederman, OSB, Abbot of Glenstal, will preach.

     Given the widespread interest in the commemoration of the Battle of Clontarf, and the limited seating capacity of the Cathedral, admission to the service is likely to be by ticket only.  Application for tickets should be made by Friday 28th March toadmin@armaghpubliclibrary.co.uk, or by post to The Administrator, Armagh Public Library, 43 Abbey Street, ARMAGH, BT61 7DY.  Except in the case of those specifically invited, tickets will be issued on a ‘first come first served’ basis in early April.

     Looking forward to the service, the Dean of Armagh, the Very Revd Gregory Dunstan, said, "The Battle of Clontarf was of European importance. The commemorative programme runs from Killaloe through Cashel and Dublin to Armagh. In this service, the Cathedral aims both to reflect on an historic tragedy and to highlight its significance for the Island of today."

The Waking of Brian Ború

01 May 2014 | Church Of Ireland Cathedral Armagh

The Waking of Brian Ború’ is a community project involving adults and children from the Armagh area. The project stems from a wish to offer local people of all ages in Armagh an opportunity to reflect upon and engage with the one thousand year anniversary of Brian Ború’s death, by creating a community inspired performance on the hill at the Church of Ireland Cathedral in Armagh.

Viking Tented Village

03 May 2014 | The Mall

Viking re-enactors lived the ancient life for a week.

An event not to be missed as over 100 Vikings set up camp in a tented medieval village on The Mall. The Viking village display will include a large-scale living history re-enactment of a Viking settlement featuring cookery displays, crafts, bone and antler carving, a silversmith and blacksmith, skills demonstrations and much more. Visit the tented village and listen to the Viking’s tales, see authentic weapon displays and witness demonstrations.

Living ancient life can only go so far.

One of the creative things that has been created for the festival is the Kincora Call, whose origin is with the Maori native warriors of New Zealand called the Haka. This ritual dance was performed on the battle line to intimidate their opponents.

Youth performers of the Kincora Call talk with Brian Boru actor.

Brian Boru Millennium Festival

Battle of Clontarf 2: Vikings take another beating 

 Over the two day battle re-enactment event over 60,000 came to watch  the 

 500  reenactors at St. Anne's Park.

They came, they saw, they eventually established Dublin, Waterford, Wexford, Limerick and Cork – and now the Vikings are back in North Dublin to re-enact the Battle of Clontarf a thousand years later in a re-match.

     Over 60,000 people attended the Easter weekend's first re-enactment of the battle between the Vikings and Irishmen, that featured 500 actor soldiers dressed in Viking and Irish period clothing. 

Viking waits for the signal to attack.

     The largest re-enactments ever staged in Ireland were held in St Anne’s Park close to the original battle site. The next big re-enactment event will be the Battle of Hasting, but its millennial event isn't until 2066.

The two-day Battle of Clontarf Festival included a medieval village with over 80 tents, skills and weapons demonstrations, a mounted display on horses, a Viking longboat, falconry, archery, food, music and events for the children.

     Tania Stewart attended the events with her sons, she said, “I think it’s absolutely brilliant, I was dying to come here because I’m half-Swedish and half-Irish – so I love the whole Celts and Vikings thing.” She was enthralled by the festival.

     Another spectator was Joe O’Neill and his children loved the festival, “They are having a ball- they are all just pirates to Jack, they are not Vikings at all,” Joe laughed. “It is a stunning event. I’m from Clontarf, but I haven’t been down this way in a long time, it’s great.”

Irishmen march under King Brian's banner.

     Re-enactor Russ Scott has taken part in historical battle re-enactments for 27 years across the globe. He said, “I did research on the Battle of Clontarf to put as much into the battle as we could and, with the 500 warriors we have on hand this weekend, we can bring in more realistic elements. Every group is here by invitation and we train to look good and fight well, but we don’t hurt people, although accidents do happen, but not very bad ones!”

     Donabate Community College history teacher Bryan Kelly and his brother, Cormac, took on a for-midable Viking with their hurls. Luckily though, it was only for a photo opportunity.

     "The battle was so good and the MC-ing especially was great," said Bryan. "Everyone seems to have a real in-depth knowledge of this history of the battle and they explained things well."

     The event was a success, said arts officer Ray Yates. "It's been an event where people can relax with their family and where there is lots to do for free, and I think that families really appreciated that," he said.

     The Battle of Clontarf took place on 23 April 1014, between the High-King of Ireland Brian Boru and an alliance of the king of Leinster, the king of Dublin and a Viking contingent from the Isle of Man, Orkney Islands and the isles of western Scotland. The battle is believed to have lasted all day, resulting in the deaths of almost all of the important figures on both sides. The Irish lost around 4,000 warriors, and the Viking side some 6,000. Brian Boru was killed, not in the bloody battle, but by the Manx Viking Leader, Brodir, who stumbled across his tent and slew Boru who had gone to his tent to pray and give thanks to God.

     Also the Battle of Clontarf was a family affair. Máel Sechnaill II of the Uí Néill, was the High-King who abdicated his crown to the king of Munster, Brian Boru in 1002. Máel was also the second husband of Gormflaith, sister of Máel na bo, king of Leinster, but he divorced her. Gormflaith then married Brian Boru, a political marriage to the mother of Sitric “Silkenbeard” Olafsson, king of Dublin, who was Brian's son-in-law having married Brian's daughter Slani. This marriage was hopefully an alliance with Dublin and Leinster. Brian and Gormflaith had a son Donncad (his parentage is debated, possibly the son of Brian's third wife). Gormflaith is also considered the instigator of the Leinster and Dublin kingdoms revolt.

The battle begins.

     The main Irish source of the Battle of Clontarf is the Cogadh Gaedhil re Gallaibh, which was written in the late 12th century and is thought to be a clever piece of O’Brien propaganda, which is okay if one is an O'Brien, but to others it is a tainted historical account. The Battle of Clontarf also features in the dramatic Icelandic text from the 13th century known as Njals Saga or The Story of Burnt Njal.

SOURCE IrishCentral.com & Herald.ie. Photos from these sources and Thyes Kavanagh

Women could be found among the warriors on both sides.

Victory for the Irish.

Millennium celebration

Brian mac Cennétig & Ó Briain go bragh!

And so it begins.

Millennium festival remembering King Brian Boru

It has been almost two years since I last posted about the summer Olympics and the story of an O'Brien Olympian. I had background trouble with this post and I was reluctant to do another. Yet the celebration of the death of my progenitor and who's the subject of this blogspot is nearly here. Odd to be celebration the death of somebody, but Brian is considered the only Irish King whoever united the various provincial kingdoms and clans of Ireland under one king, even though it lasted just over two years past a decade. This celebration will come the 23 April 2014, will mark a thousand years since the battle of Clontarf outside of Norse Dublin, and the death of King Brian. In just six weeks begins the festival. To learn more about this unique festival click here http://www.brianborumillennium.ie/ .

This festival year is unique in that many artist of all the genres are creating music, songs, and art concerning King Brian. Such events as:

• Kincora Call (okay not traditional but creative), http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Q7RkAkh1nY
• Killaloe events, http://www.brianboru2014.com/Events.html .
• Irish Tourism board, http://www.irishtourism.com/brianboru .

One such artist is Warren Faye, who painted twelve scenes from the life of Brian, from boy to his death, have been combined into a calendar for 2014, which can be seen in its entirety and a copy purchased at the following http://warrenfaye.com/section/380432_Brian_Boru.html . A few of his paintings are posted below.

As for myself I can't attend this wonderful event and historical moment, but I can post about it here and I shall be there (Emerald Isle) in spirit.

Slainte Mhagh,

Garaidh O Briain

Paintings by Warren Faye

Tadgh protects a wounded Brian in his youth.

In a period of relative peace, Brian and his eldest son Murchadh share a quiet moment on the west coast of Clare. It is 1004 A.D.

The old King Brian hears of Maol Mordha's plans against him, Sigurd, The Great Orkney Earl, has mobilised his armies. Brian the veteran general contemplates his last great battle.

Murchadh the warrior taunts the enemy and tempts his fate at the battle of Clontarf on Good Friday in the year 1014 A.D.

(At London 2012, yesterday 3 August, a 56 year old shot-put record fell held by Parry O'Brien since 1956. On the list of 100 memorial U.S. Olympians, O'Brien was positioned at #48.)

Parry O’Brien, Pioneer in Shot-Putting Technique, Dies at 75

By FRANK LITSKY

Published: April 23, 2007: New York Times

 Correction Appended

Parry O’Brien, who revolutionized shot-putting technique, won three Olympic medals (two gold) and became the first man to reach 59, 60, 61, 62 and 63 feet, died Saturday during a masters swimming race in Santa Clarita, Calif. He was 75 and lived in Rancho Belago, Calif., west of Palm Springs.

O’Brien’s death was announced by his wife, Terri, who said he had a heart attack midway through a 500-yard freestyle race. She said he took up swimming in the 1990s when shot-putting became too painful for his joints.

     When O’Brien’s shot-putting career began, athletes would stand at the rear inside the seven-foot-ring. Then they would hop, turn 90 degrees and propel the 16-pound iron ball.

     At the University of Southern California, O’Brien could not surpass 55 feet. In 1951, after losing to Otis Chandler in the Fresno Relays, he returned home to Santa Monica, Calif.

     At 3 the next morning, by street lights on a vacant lot next door, he experimented with a 180-degree turn.

     The theory, he said later, was that “the longer you are pushing, the farther the shot will go.”

     Now, shot-putters push even longer, spinning like discus throwers before releasing the shot.

     O’Brien’s success with his new style was stunning. In 1954, two days after Roger Bannister was the first to run the mile in less than four minutes, O’Brien became the first to put the shot 60 feet. That came in the middle of a victory streak of 116 meets.

     From 1953 to 1959, he broke the world record 17 times, starting with 59 feet ¾ inch and raising it to 63-4. He won 17 American titles in the shot-put and one in the discus.

     In the Olympics, he won gold medals in 1952 and 1956 and a silver medal in 1960. In 1964, after he carried the American flag in the opening ceremony, he finished fourth.

     In 1959, he won the Sullivan Award as the United States’ outstanding amateur athlete. He was elected to the United States Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1974 and the United States Olympic Hall of Fame in 1984.

He took 150 practice puts a day and said, “I don’t quit until my hands bleed, and that’s the God’s truth.” He studied physics, aerodynamics, religions and yoga, anything he thought might help him put the shot farther.

     William Parry O’Brien Jr. was born Jan. 19, 1932, in Santa Monica. As a pudgy high school freshman, he sustained an injury in a football scrimmage, ending his career. But he grew to 6-3 and 240 pounds and became one of the best shot-putters ever.

     In 1966, after retiring from competition, he worked in commercial banking, real estate and civil engineering.

     In addition to his wife, he is survived by two daughters, Shauna, of Corona, Calif., and Erin, of Pacific Palisades, Calif.; two stepsons, Erik Skorge of Seattle and Norman Skorge of Honolulu; and seven grandchildren.

Correction: April 26, 2007

An obituary on Monday about Parry O’Brien, the shot-putting champion, misstated the year he last broke the world record, and the distance. It was 1959, not 1966, and the record distance was 63 feet 4 inches, not 63-3.

Magh Adhair : Dál gCais Inauguration site

By Garaidh Eóghan Ó Briain

     Throughout the Emerald Isle one can find sites that were once sacred to the various clans of the Gaels to this day. These sites were where the various tribes would gather for assemblies or inauguration of a king or chief.

     These sites were different than those of continental Europe for they were all held outside instead of in buildings, chapels, or cathedrals. Most of these gathering sites were usually had some type of mound that had a view of the surrounding area such as the Mount of Cashel in Munster where the kings of Munster Province were inaugurated.  Others such as where the chiefs of the Ó Dowd where held at Carn inghine Bhriain , was on a cairn-mound of an ancestral chief. Some inaugurations took place under a sacred tree, or standing on a sacred stone. Some stones had a carved footprint, or a stone chair as at Leac-na-Righ where The Ó Neill was inaugurated.

     The sacred gathering place for the Dál gCais of Thomond was at the ancient cairn mound called Magh Adhair (phonetically Moy Eir), a well preserved place of ancient ceremonial rites. Legend mentions Adhar son of Huamor and brother of Aengus of Dun Aengus in Aran, whose tribe came into Ireland in the first century. Here Adhar is said to have been buried. [1]  

     The mound stands in a small plain, in a natural amphitheatre, formed by a low crag called 'the Beetle's Crag' or Cragnakeeroge, beside the strangely named 'Hell Bridge' and 'Hell River', where not too far away is a singular standing stone about 6’ 4” tall, and some 3’ wide. There are traces of a semi-circular fence, between which and the mound lies a large block of conglomerate of dull purple, with red and pink pebbles of porphyry and quartz; two basins are ground in it. [2]

Magh Adhair is a rising mound, once with a large tree.

Magh Adhair on road that leads from Quin to Tulla.

     To tamper with an inauguration or assembly site was a great insult, pure sacrilege. At least three such events are recorded to have happened at Magh Adhair.  The first insult was committed by  the High-King, Flann Sionna in 877, when he marched into Thomond 'to the green of Magh Adhair and played chess to insult the Dál gCais, at the very place of inauguration.'  So offensive was this act that the surrounding inhabitants and the local chiefs were on him before he'd even finished his game. They were too polite to kill him though, and in a Celtic fashion just stole his best bard. [3]
      Another insult to the Dál gCais especially directed at the new Munster Province king Brian Boru: [4]

•           A.D. 981. - Maelseachlainn, the son of Domhnall plundered Dál gCais and prostrated the Bilé (tree in Gaelic) of Magh Adhair, having dug it with its roots out of the ground.

•           A.D. 1051. - The Tree (Bilé) of Magh Adhair was prostrated by Hugh O’Conor. (Hoping for a similar result for another O’Brien king.)

     An inauguration ceremony took place at Magh Adhair around 1200 which was (it seems) documented: The cairn or mound had a palisade, with a gate, guarded by three chiefs; a fourth alone ascended the cairn with Cathal Craoibhdhearg and gave him the white rod. The other chiefs and the comharbs (stewards) stood below, holding the Prince's arms, clothes and horse. He faced the north, and on stepping down from the inauguration stone on the mound, turned round thrice (to view all that he ruled), as is still the custom in County Clare on seeing a new moon. He then descended from the mound and was helped to robe and remount.

Layout of Magh Adhair.

     The work called the Caithreim Thoirdhealbhaigh or Wars of Torlogh (Thomond king Turlogh O’Brien), has the following references to Magh Adhair (Moy-Eyre): 

•      A.D. 1242. After Donogh Cairbeach O’Brien had exchanged this mortal life for the happiness of angels with the victory of Unction and Penance, a chieftain of (from) every tribe, a leader of every people, and a commander from every sept assembled around his son Conor at Moy-Eyre to inaugurate him King in the place of his good father. It was the noble pillar of numerous hosts Sioda (Sheedy Mac Namara) who first proclaimed him (Chief or King of his people) and the rest of the Chiefs expressed their consent immediately after.

•          A.D. 1267. After the death of Conor, the broad eyed Brien Roe, his puissant stately son, summoned all the nobles of his people from every quarter to Moy-Eyre to ordain (i.e., inaugurate) him King over the tribes in the place of his father. When they had met together, the cheerful sharp-eyed Sheedy (Mac Namara) proclaimed aloud his regal title, and none of the other Chiefs opposed him.

•           A.D. 1277. After the execution of Brian Roe, De Clare sent messengers to Turlogh to communicate to him that he would make peace with him for giving up (i.e., if he would cease from) his hostilities and dreadful incursions; and as a confirmation of the peace, the messengers told him how the King, Brian Roe, his mortal enemy, had been hanged. But without regarding De Clare’s deceitful treaty the expeditious Torlogh, crowned with conquest, proceeded with all his numerous forces to Moy-Eyre where he was inaugurated supreme King of North Munster by Sheedy Mac Namara in the year of our Lord 1277, and the numerous hosts of North Munster rejoiced at seeing the true branch in chief command over them.

•           A.D. 1311. His chiefs assembled around Dermot, the son of Donogh, who was son of Brian Roe O’Brien at Moy-Eyre to invest him with the chieftainship, and the tower-like hero was solemnly inaugurated. It was Loughlin, the son of Cumee, who first installed him and the states (tribes) unanimously consented. As the Bard of Dermot said on the occasion: 

Coronation Stone of Munster on Mount Cashel.

      Let us give the title of King, 

Stone & St. Patrick's Cross mounted on top moved inside.

(     Which will be of much fame
To the land which has chosen him)
To the valorous griffin (i.e., warrior)
The son of the fair-formed Donogh
Of the sealed secrets
Generous heir of generous Blood (Blód)  
The puissant Dermot of fortresses.
He is kind to the Church,
He is head over all,
The heart (centre) of the territories,
A tree under blossom.
Dermot of Dun Mor
The mild, lively, fierce,
Received the hostages
Through his wisdom and sword
His gracious smile and pomp (pride)
He exhibits with grace
And since he has commenced his career 
His fame has spread afar
Momonia of Bards
Is his principality
Proclaim we him King
 

           Of his tribes with great joy. .D. 1311. Murtagh O’Brien, the son of Turlogh, was inaugurated at Magh-Adhair by Loughlin Mac Namara, in opposition to Dermot O’Brien.

     Notices of the inaugurations are numerous in various annals from 1275 to 1311, and occur sporadically from 877 onwards. Other and less famous gatherings were at Creganenagh (‘Fair or Assembly Crag’ on the bare hill over Termon in the Burren, and at a field in Caherminaun near Kilfenora. The latter probably gave the name Ballykinvarga, (Baile-cinn-mharghaidh in 1380), i.e. ‘head of the market,’ to the adjacent townland, and may have been connected with the remarkable ring wall, girt with a wide abattis of pillar stones, not far distant. Some forgotten assembly is commemorated at Eanty (‘Fairs’ or ‘gatherings’) in the east of Burren. [5]

     A long succession of Kings of Thomond were inaugurated at Magh Adhair down to the reign of Queen Elizabeth, and 'Iraghts'  (gatherings or assemblies) of considerable local importance were held, down to 1838 just before the great famine, and were remembered even about 1890.

Following is the ceremony described in the ancient annals for the installation of a chief or king.[6]

1.      Be of the blood of the original acquirer of the territory; free from all personal defects or deformities. Of the age able to lead the clan into battle.
2.           Majority of the sub-chiefs and freeholders must declare in his favor.
3.          Inauguration must be celebrated at a designated place in the clan territory appointed for this purpose; the Brehons and Bards must attend and explain duties of a chief to his clan and give the oath to uphold the rights of the clan duly taken. [Some inauguration sites were on hills; under certain tree; at a certain Cairn or rath; a footmarked stone/rock; or a stone seat.]
4.         Upon taking the oath of chief, the new chief must put aside his weapons, and a straight white wand must be handed to him as a sceptre and emblem of a symbol of authority, and also an emblem of what his conduct and judicial decisions should be--straight and without stain, thus indicating to his subjects that as long as they are obedient to him he requires no other weapon to command them.
5.          After the Chief receives the wand, the principal sub-chief must tie the chiefs brogues, or sandals, on his feet in token of obedience, and throw another over his head in token of good luck and prosperity.



Known inauguration places.

6.      Lastly, the proper official must call aloud his surname, which must be repeated in turn by the sub-chiefs and freeholders, after which the Chieftain must turn round thrice forwards and thrice backwards in honor of the Holy Trinity, so as to view his people and territory; which being done, he became the legitimate Chief of his name. Then one of the sub-chiefs appointed for this purpose pronounced in a loud voice his surname--the surname only, without the Christian name--which was afterwards pronounced aloud by each of the clergy, one after another, according to dignity, and then by the sub-chiefs. He was then the lawful chief; and ever after, when spoken to, he was addressed "Obrien” &c.; and when spoken of in English, he was designated "The O’Brien" &c., a custom existing to this day.[At this same time a “tanist” (Gaelic - meaning second) was chosen, who must be of the derbhfine (true family) of the chiefly line. The tanist could be a son of the chief, or a cousin. The tanist was the chosen person to succeed the chief upon his death. In actual practice this rarely was peaceful. Usually any rebellious rival, be it brother or cousin, was not put to death but blinded, making him ineligible to be chosen as tanist or chief/king because of deformity.] [7]

 ENDNOTES 
1  Book of Lecan; TJ Westropp's 1916 'Antiquities of Limerick and its neighbourhood.'
2  
3
4   Annals of the Four Masters.
5  http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/folklore/folklore_survey/chapter13.htm.
6  Lord Walter Fitzgerald, “The Ancient Territories Out Of Which The Present County Kildare Was Formed, And Their Septs,” Journal of the County Kildare Archæological Society, Volume I, #3 (1893), p. 161. (FHL-BRITISH 941.85 H25j)]
7P. W. Joyce, A SMALLER SOCIAL HISTORY OF ANCIENT IRELAND, 1906; http://www.libraryireland.com/SocialHistoryAncientIreland/Contents.php.