BRIDGESTairrdelbach were slain, as well as many other Munster
leaders. Dublin remained untouched, for after the
battle young Donnchad led the Munster forces back
home. Almost immediately strife broke out between
the various contigents over the kingship of Munster.
It set the pace for future struggles, which would keep
the kings of that province occupied until the time of
Tairrdelbach ua Briain. In later tradition, Brian and
Murchad became the paragons of good kingship and
bravery. The lists of those who were present at Clontarf
swelled as allies of the Uí Briain wanted to include
their forefathers among those present at the legendary
battle. Brian, Murchad, and Clontarf hence entered
the world of saga-literature and fiction, and ultimately
became part of the “national” struggle of the Irish
against foreign foes.
Achievements
For a brief period, Brian could by right claim to be the
undisputed king of Ireland. Nevertheless, his domina-
tion was based on the usual terms by which an over
king obtained the submission of other kings. Brian did
not found a new institution or create a national mon-
archy of sorts, but he dealt a fatal blow to the kingship
of Tara. Its wane in the tenth century, the fragmentation
of the Uí Néill, and the weakness of the Eóganacht,
paved the way for more vigorous dynasties on their
fringes, such as the Dál Cais of Thomond and Uí
Briúin Bréifne of eastern Connacht. Brian’s rise accel-
erated the process in which new alliances were forged
and the political map of Ireland was reshuffled. Addi-
tionally, it clearly showed that any able king could
dominate large parts of Ireland. But it also underlined
that it remained difficult to establish a lasting ascen-
dancy even in one’s own lifetime. Irish political rela-
tions remained largely personal and temporary, and
Brian’s power mainly rested on security at home,
enlisting allies and former enemies in his campaigns,
and the wearing-down of those who resisted his
ambitions. This went hand in hand with the exploita-
tion of the Norse ports for their economical and mili-
tary resources, a strategical deployment of fleets, and
unceasing campaigning. He exemplifies the develop-
ment of a more “total” form of warfare, which grad-
ually replaced seasonal campaigning and decisive
pitched battles. Brian favored a prudent and careful
approach in his actions. Ironically, the rare occasion
that he engaged in a full-scale battle was to be his
undoing, and it took the Dál Cais more than a gen-
eration to recuperate from their losses. Brian’s career
seems to belie his reputation as the one who estab-
lished law and order in Ireland, so that women could
travel alone without being harassed. There are also
not many indications that he particularly stimulated
learning and scholarship—although sources are slim
on this topic. If anything in this realm, he stimulated the
occupation of ecclesiastical centers in Munster by his
relatives. For example, Brian’s brother Marcán was supe-
rior of Terryglass, Inis Celtra, and Killaloe at his death
in 1010. Brian was also keen to stay on good terms with
Armagh. He recognized its supreme position in Ireland,
and granted immunity to the churches of Patrick in 1012.
It was also to Armagh that the dead king was taken,
where the community of Patrick waked at his body for
twelve nights in his honor. Brian had not been able to
create a lasting overkingship in Ireland, but he estab-
lished the domination of Munster by his descendants and
relatives. The Ó Briain family would continue to rule
Thomond for centuries thereafter.
BART JASKIReferences and Further Reading
MacShamhráin, Ailbhe. “The Battle of Glenn Máma, Dublin
and the High-Kingship of Ireland: A Millennial Commem-
oration.” In Medieval Dublin II, edited by Seán Duffy, 53–64.
Dublin: Four Courts Press, 2001.
Newman, Roger Chatterton. Brian Boru: King of Ireland. Dub-
lin: Anvil Books, 1983.
Ryan, John. “Brian Boruma, King of Ireland.” In North Munster
Studies, edited by Etienne Rynne, 355–374. Limerick:
Thomond Archaeological Society, 1967.
See alsoArmagh, Book of; Armies; Battle of
Clontarf; Clientship; Dál Cais; Gormfhlaith; Kings
and Kingship; Naval Warfare; Máel-Sechnaill;
Muirchertach Mac Liacc; Ua Briain;
Viking IncursionsBRIDGES
There is no evidence for bridges in prehistoric Ireland.
Fords were used as crossings and the earliest structures
appear to have been interrupted causeways, built of
stones and punctuated by gaps enabling the water to
flow through. An example survives at Skeagh on the
river Shannon between counties Leitrim and Roscom-
mon, and it is probable that the causeways (tóchair)
built at Athleague, Athlone, and Dublin in 1001 by
Máel-Sechnaill II were of this form.
The earliest documentary evidence for bridge
building occurs in Cogitosus’s Life of Brigit (c.650),
which makes it clear that it was a prerogative of kings
and the responsibility of the local community. The
oldest known bridge, dendrochronologically dated to
804, spanned the river Shannon at Clonmacnoise. It
was over 500 feet long, 10–12 feet across, and con-
sisted of two parallel rows of oak trunks, set 16–20 feet
apart, hammered into individual base plates of beams