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Updated: June 4, 2025


Of these heads of new houses, by far the ablest and most famous was Melaghlin, who dwelt near Mullingar, and lorded it over western Meath; a name with which we shall become better acquainted presently.

Of these heads of new houses, by far the ablest and most famous was Melaghlin, who dwelt near Mullingar, and lorded it over western Meath; a name with which we shall become better acquainted presently.

It does not clearly appear that Melaghlin was one of those who actively resisted the prerogatives of this monarch, though others of the Southern Hy-Nial did at first reject his authority, and were severely punished for their insubordination, the year after his assumption of power. Sixty of the ships entered the Boyne; the other sixty the Liffey.

This was Melaghlin, better known afterwards as Malachy II., son of Donald, son of King Donogh, and, therefore, great-grandson to his namesake, Malachy I. He had lately attained to the command of his tribe and he resolved to earn the honours which were in store for him, as successor to the sovereignty. Malachy, with his allies, gave them battle near Tara, and achieved a complete victory.

An ancient quatrain, quoted by Geoffrey Keating, is thus literally translated: "After the happy Melaghlin Son of Donald, son of Donogh, Each noble king ruled his own tribe But Erin owned no sovereign Lord." The annals of the eleventh and twelfth centuries curiously illustrate the workings of this "anarchical constitution" to employ a phrase first applied to the Germanic Confederation.

Ten years afterwards Godfrey O'Donnell, the successor of Melaghlin, avenged the defeat at Ballyshannon, in the sanguinary battle of Credran, near Sligo, where engaging Fitzgerald in single combat, he gave him his death-stroke. From wounds received at Credran, Godfrey himself, after lingering twelve months in great suffering, died.

We hear of no battle in Meath or elsewhere against him immediately preceding the event; nor, is it likely that a secondary Prince, as Melaghlin then was, could have hazarded an engagement with the powerful master of Lough Ree.

An ancient quatrain, quoted by Geoffrey Keating, is thus literally translated: "After the happy Melaghlin Son of Donald, son of Donogh, Each noble king ruled his own tribe But Erin owned no sovereign Lord." The annals of the eleventh and twelfth centuries curiously illustrate the workings of this "anarchical constitution" to employ a phrase first applied to the Germanic Confederation.

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