The Siege on Knocklong Hill / Forbhais Droma Dámhgháire

In the year 250 AD, midway through his reign as High King of Ireland, Cormac Mac Airt leads his army from the Hill of Tara into Munster to collect extra taxes by force. Cormac is warned by his Druids that his claims are unjust and that his army will be slaughtered. He ignores all advice....

The Journey to Knocklong / An Turas go Cnoc Loinge

Forbhais Droma Dámhgháire describes Cormac's journey southwards, through the centre of Ireland, from the Hill of Tara in Co. Meath to the Hill of Knocklong in Co. Limerick. His army travel 210km in 5 days and 5 nights, arriving on the Hill of Knocklong on the sixth morning of travel. They lose a week due...

Mound of the Hostages, Tara / Duma na nGiall, Teamhair

Cormac and his warriors leave Tara and travel to Clonard. They will set up camp outside Clonard on their first night. Tara is one of the best known sites in the world and its name is evocative of the Celtic past. There are over thirty visible monuments on the Hill of Tara relating to burial and...

Clonard

In Clonard Cormac's Druid, Cith Rua,  meets Fios Mac Athfhis, the Chief Druid of Leinster. Cith Rua, one of Cormac’s old druids, left the camp that night and went towards the southwest until he met a stream. On the other side of the stream he saw Fios Mac Athfhis from Leinster, the chief druid of the area.  ...

Slieve Felim

The third night the army crossed over a stream and made their way into the Slieve Felim (Sliabh Eibhinne) mountains. Keeper Hill 694 m (2,277 ft) is in the Slieve Felim mountain range in North Tipperary. The area of 3,300 hectares is mainly under forest. The Slieve Felim Way is a 30km walking route from...

Claureen

Kilmaine, Clareen to Áth and tSlua/Áth na nIarlann. The second day the army continued the march westwards towards Beagmhá and Kilmaine (Coill Mhéain) and over the southwest of Meath/Mí until they reached Áth and tSlua/Áth na nIarlann. Here they set up camp for the night. Cormac's Druid, Crotha, left the camp and went to meet Fear...

Áth Cuile Feá

After wandering about for a week, they left Formhaol on the slopes of Slieve Felim and set out again, reaching Áth Cúile Feá /Áth Croí/Cúil Fheá Formáile that night, their fourth camp. Áth Cúile Feá is on their route between Slieve Felim and Emly. Ceathach the druid left the camp and met Dubhfhios Mac Dofhis....

Knocklong

The following day Cormac and his army march the short journey from Emly and arrive on the Hill of Knocklong. They set up camp on the hill overlooking the area. Cormac calls Cith Rua to erect his tent. Cith Rua cannot drive the Alder post into the ground on the hill and warns Cormac that the...

Emly

The army left Áth Cúile Feá and continued their march, setting up camp that night in Emly (Druim Meáin Mairtine / Ardchluain na Féne / Mucfhalach Mac Dáire Ceirbe) Cith Mór meets Meadhrán, the Druid of Meán Mairtine/Emly. Cith Mór left the camp and headed southwest where he met Meadhrán, the Druid of Meán Mairtine....

Glenbrohane

Fiacha Moilleathan, King of Munster, and his Munstermen set up camp at Ceann Chláire (Glenbrohane) while Cormac has his camp at Droim Dámhgháire (Knocklong). The village of Glenbrohane lies along the Northern slopes of the Sliabh Riagh Mountain (466.6 metres). Sliabh Riagh - Sliabh Rí - The Hill of the King. The army of Cormac...

The Book of Lismore

The Book of Lismore, containing the written record of the story of "The Siege of Knocklong", was composed around 1480. The Book of Lismore and a crozier were discovered hidden in a secret recess in the walls of Lismore Castle, Co. Waterford by workmen in 1814. They were enclosed in a wooden box in a...

The Druids

Druids are the main force at work in the story, as the Druids on both sides battle for supremacy. Cormac wants to know about his future and what disasters will overcome him. Aonghus predicts a Cattle Disease will occur. Cormac has five Chief Druids. He refuses their counsel. They will curse him in the end...

The Travels of Marco Polo

The Book of Lismore contains an Irish translation of The Travels of Marco Polo. The translation was made from a Latin version by Francesco Piponi of Bologna, in the years 1310 to 1314. Brother Francesco Piponi was forced by his authorities to translate the manuscript into Latin from a "common tongue", probably Tuscan or a...

Knockgraffon

Knockgraffon : Legendary Residence of Fiacha Muillethan and the Kings of Munster Knockgraffon lies three miles to the north of Caher in Co. Tipperary, close to New Inn. There is a man-made mound, 60 or 70 feet high close to the ruins of an English castle. The mound is known as the Motte of Knockgraffon.It...

Bibliography

The Siege of Knocklong has been translated into English by Seán Ó Duinn. Forbhais Droma Dámhgháire, The Siege of Knocklong (Mercier Press. Cork, 1992). Book of Lismore cw.routledge.com/ref/middleages/ireland/lismore.pdf http://www.discoverlismore.com/heritagecentre.shtml The Book of Lismore: An Introduction by Donald Brady June 2007 Available in Waterford Branch Libraries libraryhq@waterfordcoco.ie The Book of Lismore. Facsimile with introduction by R.A.S....