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Emerald Archives presents Ireland’s story one reference year at
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article explores the evidence, people, places and developments
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Archives Under Construction: 2,826 Years Shared — In Progress: 1308 CE — Available Archives: 25
14th Century Ireland CE
Coill an Chlocháin
Archived: 24 October 2026
In 1309, Áed mac Éogain Ó Conchobair, king of Connacht, was killed at Coill an Chlocháin by Áed Brefnech, triggering wider conflict among rival dynasties and allies. Elite casualties included legal scholar Gilla na Naem Mac Aodhagáin, illustrating the political importance of learned service. Competing claimants sought submissions, tribute, royal jewels and military support, while raids damaged grain and monasteries served strategic roles. Elsewhere, violence involved Leinster magnates and Thomond rivals; Cathal Ó Conchobair became bishop of Elphin. Roger Mortimer and Joan de Geneville assumed Meath's lordship, while Dublin received murage for bridge-tower repairs, revealing Ireland's interconnected local politics clearly.
Sligo Castle and Aed Brefnech
Archived: 24 October 2026
In 1310, Ireland remained politically fragmented despite Edward II’s lordship. At Kilkenny Parliament, John Wogan, Richard de Burgh and church leaders addressed disorder, revealing reliance on powerful magnates. In Connacht, Aed Brefnech Ó Conchobair’s destructive campaign against Mac Diarmata included killings, capture and burning; his allies then sacked Buninna Castle. Aed was subsequently murdered by mercenaries, allegedly bribed by William de Burgh, whose soldiers imposed oppressive quartering. Feidlim Ó Conchobair emerged as king of Connacht. Richard rebuilt Sligo Castle, asserting contested authority. The year also saw scholar Tanaide Ó Maelchonaire’s death, wine landing in Magh Cétné, and violence across Ireland.
Bunratty’s Captured Earl
Archived: 24 October 2026
In 1311, conflict at Bunratty in Thomond brought rival Uí Bhriain branches, Richard de Clare, William Liath de Burgh and forces from Connacht and Meath into shifting alliances. Although de Clare’s side suffered heavier losses, it captured de Burgh and northern nobles, briefly altering regional power. Thomond endured further killings, including King Donnchad Ó Briain’s murder, contested succession, hostage agreements and later fighting. Raids also struck the Dublin marches, exposing weak governmental control. Church appointments in Dublin and Armagh revealed competing royal, papal and local interests. Deaths, raids and scarcity heightened insecurity, foreshadowing vulnerabilities later exploited during the Bruce invasion.
Mac Áeda’s Tuam Translation
Archived: 24 October 2026
In 1312, ecclesiastical and governmental transitions highlighted tensions within Ireland’s lordship. William de Bermingham’s death created a vacancy at Tuam, where Máel Sechlain Mac Áeda, formerly bishop of Elphin, was formally translated on 19 December, strengthening Gaelic representation in a major metropolitan see. Religious life continued through developments at Boyle and episcopal deaths in Connacht. In Louth, a de Verdon rising defeated royal forces near Ardee, exposing fragile crown authority. Edmund Butler replaced John Wogan as keeper in August and administered Dublin while campaigning in Wicklow. These institutional changes preceded, but did not initiate, the crises of 1315 and afterwards.
Butler’s Dublin Knighthoods
Archived: 24 October 2026
In 1313, Thomond faced a contested O’Brien succession after Diarmait Cléirech Ó Briain died and was buried in the Franciscan habit at Ennis. Donnchad Ó Briain asserted his claim through destructive campaigns in Uaithne and Ara, while Muirchertach Ó Briain entered from Connacht, defeated his rivals and ravaged the Limerick district. Their conflict ended in a territorial partition, though warfare resumed in 1314. Regional struggles involved O’Brien factions, Mac Conmaras and Anglo-Irish magnates, notably Richard de Clare and the de Burghs. In Dublin, acting justiciar Edmund Butler held a feast and knighted thirty men, asserting royal authority amid political instability.
Drumlane and Bannockburn
Archived: 24 October 2026
In 1314, Ireland experienced instability across Gaelic lordships and the English administration rather than a single national turning point. Ruaidhrí Ó Conchobair defeated the O’Reillys at Drumlane, while killings within leading families, including Matha Mac Tigernáin’s murder by his foster-son, exposed contested authority. Bishop Matha Mac Duibne died, and Niall Ó Néill, heir to Cenél nÉogain, was lost. Theobald de Verdon governed the lordship as Edward II sought Irish money and soldiers for war. Robert Bruce’s victory at Bannockburn altered Irish Sea strategy, encouraging later ambitions without causing Edward Bruce’s 1315 invasion. Famine was not attested in Ireland during 1314.
The Larne Landing
Archived: 24 October 2026
In May 1315 Edward Bruce, brother of Robert Bruce, landed near Larne with a Scottish army, exploiting divisions among Irish rulers, Anglo-Irish magnates and officials. Supported by some Ulster Gaelic lords, he claimed Irish kingship, captured Carrickfergus town and besieged its castle. His forces devastated settlements and supplies, defeated Richard de Burgh at Connor, and advanced into Meath, where opposition faltered amid local rivalries. The invasion also intensified Connacht dynastic conflict. Neither Ireland nor Ulster was unified behind Bruce: Dublin, Trim and Carrickfergus castle remained hostile. Warfare, crop destruction, requisitioning and weather worsened the Great Famine, causing hardship and disorder.
Feidlim’s Athenry Army
Archived: 24 October 2026
In 1316, Ireland endured Scottish invasion, provincial conflict, destructive warfare and famine. Edward Bruce, supported by Ulster allies, claimed kingship but controlled chiefly the former earldom of Ulster; his Leinster raid exposed divisions among Anglo-Irish magnates without establishing rule. In Connacht, Feidlim Ó Conchobair defeated rival Ruaidrí, built a broad coalition and attacked Anglo-Irish lordships. On 10 August, William de Burgh and the Berminghams crushed Feidlim’s army outside Athenry, killing Feidlim and leaders, and destabilising Connacht anew. Meanwhile, famine compounded military devastation. Carrickfergus surrendered to Bruce in September, yet no power secured Ireland: regional rivalries, hunger and contested lordship persisted.
Dublin’s Scorched Suburbs
Archived: 24 October 2026
In 1317, at the height of the Bruce invasion, Robert Bruce joined his brother Edward in Ireland and marched through Meath towards Dublin. Fearing siege, Dublin’s citizens burnt western suburbs, demolished the Liffey bridge and religious buildings for defensive stone, and detained the earl of Ulster. The Bruces bypassed the fortified city, campaigned unsuccessfully in Munster, and retreated north; Robert departed in May. Famine, worsened by military requisitioning, afflicted Ireland amid warfare, dynastic struggles and castle destruction. Connacht changed kings, while learned legal culture suffered a loss. Irish leaders’ Remonstrance to Pope John XXII sought support, but Edward’s kingship endured.
Faughart and Dysert
Archived: 24 October 2026
In 1318, defeats at Dysert O’Dea and Faughart reshaped Ireland without bringing peace. Richard de Clare’s death ended his family’s attempt to dominate Thomond, enabling Gaelic rulers to regain regional control. Edward Bruce’s death near Dundalk ended the Scottish-backed invasion, though it exposed weaknesses within English lordship. Warfare intensified the Great Famine’s effects: requisitioning, ruined crops, disease, disrupted trade and severe weather produced acute hardship. Political alliances crossed Gaelic, settler and Scottish communities, reflecting local interests rather than national divisions. Connacht remained unstable amid dynastic conflict. Alexander de Bicknor arrived as Dublin’s archbishop and justiciar, inheriting a weakened, impoverished lordship.
