Fires and Hostages
Six years after the Battle of Clontarf, no single dynasty had permanently transformed Irish politics. Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill of Clann Cholmáin, king of Mide and former rival of Brian Bóruma, was again the leading claimant to the overkingship. The Annals of Tigernach place in 1020 a major hosting by Máel Sechnaill, the Uí Néill, Donnchad mac Briain and Art Ua Ruairc, king of Bréifne, as far as the Shannon. The result, according to that notice, was that the hostages of Connacht were given to Máel Sechnaill.