Excerpts from the ancient Annals of the Four Masters

The Age of Christ, 123 (123 AD).
The first year of Conn of the Hundred Battles as king over Ireland.
The night of Conn’s birth were discovered five principal roads leading to Teamhair, which were never observed till then. These are their names: Slighe Asail, Slighe Midhluachra, Slighe Cualann, Slighe Mor, Slighe Dala. Slighe Mor is that called Eiscir Riada, i.e. the division line of Ireland into two parts, between Conn and Eoghan Mor.

The Age of Christ, 157.
Conn of the Hundred Battles, after having been thirty five years in the sovereignty of Ireland, was slain by Tibraite Tireach, son of Mal, son of Rochraidhe, King of Ulster, at Tuath Amrois.

The Age of Christ, 165.
Conaire, son of Mogh Lamha, after having been eight years in the sovereignty of Ireland, fell by Neimhidh, son of Sruibhgheann. This Conaire had three sons, Cairbre Musc, from whom the Muscraighe are called; Cairbre Baschaein, from whom are the Baiscnigh, in Corca Baiscinn; and Cairbre Riadal, from whom are the Dal Riada. Saraid, daughter of Conn of the Hundred Battles, was the mother of these sons of Conaire, son of Modh Lamha.

The Age of Christ, 166.
The frst year of the reign of Art, son of Conn of the Hundred Battles.

The Age of Christ, 186.
The twenty first year of Art, son of Conn of the Hundred Battles, in the sovereignty of Ireland.

The Age of Christ, 226.
Fearghus Duibhdeadach, son of Imchadh, was king over Ireland for the space of a year, when he fell in the battle of Crinna, by Cormac, grandson of Conn, by the hand of Lughaidh Lagha. There fell by him also, in the rout across Breagh, his two brothers, Fearghus the Long Haired and Fearghus the Fiery, who was called Fearghus Caisfhiaclach of the Crooked Teeth.
Of them was said:
Upon the one stone at Rathcro
Were slain the three Fearghus’s;
Cormac said this is fine,
His hand did not fail Laighe.

The Age of Christ, 266.
Forty years was Cormac, son of Art, son of Conn, in the sovereignty of Ireland, when he died at Cleiteach, the bone of a salmon sticking in his throat, on account of the siabhradh genii which Maelgenn, the Druid, incited at him, after Cormac had turned against the Druids, on account of his adoration of God in preference to them. Wherefore a devil attacked him, at the instigation of the Druids, and gave him a painful death. It was Cormac who composed Teagusc Na Righ, to preserve manners, morals, and government in the kingdom. He was a famous author in laws, synchronisms, and history, for it was he that established law, rule, and direction for each science, and for each covenant according to propriety; and it is his laws that governed all that adhered to them to the present time.

It was this Cormac, son of Art, also, that collected the Chroniclers of Ireland to Teamhair, and ordered them to write the chronicles of Ireland in one book, which was named the Psalter of Teamhair. In that book were entered the coeval exploits and synchronisms of the kings of Ireland with the kings and emperors of the world, and of the kings of the provinces with the monarchs of Ireland. In it was also written what the monarchs of Ireland were entitled to receive from the provincial kings, and the rents and dues of the provincial kings from their subjects, from the noble to the subaltern. In it also were described the boundaries and meares of Ireland, from shore to shore, from the province to the cantred, from the cantred to the townland, and from the townland to the traighidh of land. These things are celebrated in Leabhar Na nUidhri. They are evident in the Leabhar Dinnsenchusa.

The Age of Christ, 323.
The first year of Colla Uais, son of Eochaidh Doimhlen, as king over Ireland.

The Age of Christ, 326.
The fourth year of Colla Uais, in the sovereignty of Ireland, when Muireadhach Tireach expelled him and his brothers into Alba Scotland with three hundred along with them.

The Age of Christ, 327.
At the end of this year the three Collas came to Ireland; and there lived not of their forces but thrice nine persons only. They then went to Muireadhach, having been instructed by a druid. And they scolded at him, and expressed evil words, that he might kill them, and that it might be on him the curse of the finghal should alight. As he did not oppose them, they tarried with him, and were faithful to him.

The Age of Christ, 357.
After Caelbhadh, son of Crunn Badhrai, had been one year in the sovereignty of Ireland, he was slain by Eochaidh Muighmheadhoin.

Eirc, son of Eochaidh Muinreamhar, died.

The Age of Christ, 493.
The fifteenth year of Lughaidh.

Patrick, son of Calphurn, son of Potaide, archbishop, first primate, and chief apostle of Ireland, whom Pope Celestine the First had sent to preach the Gospel and disseminate religion and piety among the Irish, was the person who separated them from the worship of idols and spectres, who conquered and destroyed the idols which they had for worshipping; who had expelled demons and evil spirits from among them, and brought them from the darkness of sin and vice to the light of faith and good works, and who guided and conducted their souls from the gates of hell (to which they were going), to the gates of the kingdom of heaven. It was he that baptized and blessed the men, women, sons and daughters of Ireland, with their territories and tribes, both fresh waters and sea inlets. It was by him that many cells, monasteries, and churches were erected throughout Ireland; seven hundred churches was their number. It was by him that bishops, priests, and persons of every dignity were ordained; seven hundred bishops, and three thousand priests was their number. He worked so many miracles and wonders, that the human mind is incapable of remembering or recording the amount of good which he did upon earth. When the time of St. Patrick’s death approached, he received the Body of Christ from the hands of the holy Bishop Tassach, in the 122nd year of his age, and resigned his spirit to heaven.

There was a rising of battle, and a cause of dissension in the province contending for the body of Patrick after his death. The Ui Neill and the Oirghialla attempting to bring it to Armagh; the Ulta to keep it with themselves. And the Ui Neill and the Oirghialla came to a certain water, and the river swelled against them so that they were not able to cross it in consequence of the greatness of the flood. When the flood had subsided these hosts united on terms of peace, i.e. the Ui Neill and the Ulta, to bring the body of Patrick with them. It appeared to each of them that each had the body conveying it to their respective territories, so that God separated them in this manner, without a fight or battle. The body of Patrick was afterwards interred at Dun Da Lethglas with great honour and veneration; and during the twelve nights that the religious seniors were watching the body with psalms and hymns, it was not night in Magh Inis or the neighbouring lands, as they thought, but as if it were the full undarkened light of day. Of the year of Patrick’s death was said:
Since Christ was born, a correct enumeration,
Four hundred and fair ninety,
Three years add to these,
Till the death of Patrick, chief Apostle.

The Age of Christ, 498.
The twentieth year of Lughaidh.
Fearghus Mor, son of Erc, son of Eochaidh Muinreamhair, with his brothers, went to Alba (Scotland).

The Age of Christ 528
Or here, the falling asleep of Brigit according to the Book of the Monks.

The Age of Christ 580
The expedition to Innsi Orc (Orkney Islands?) by Aedan son of Gabran.

The Age of Christ 582
The battle of Manu, in which Aedan son of Gabran son of Domangart was victor.

The Age of Christ 606
Death of Aedan son of Gabran son of Domangart , king of Albu (Alba or Scotland), and the slaying of the sons of Baetan i.e. son of Cairell.

The Age of Christ 629
Or, the battle of Fid Eain, in which fell the grandsons of Aedan son of Gabran and Failbe.

Death of Echaid Buide son of Aedan, king of the Picts. Thus I have found in the Book of Cuanu.

The Age of Christ 642
Death of Domnall son of Aed, king of Ireland, at the end of January. Afterwards Domnall Brec was slain at the end of the year, in December, in the battle of Srath Caruin, by Hoan, king of the Britons. He reigned 15 years.

The Age of Christ 650
Death of Cathusach son of Domnall Brec.

The Age of Christ 673
The killing of Domangart son of Domnall Brec, king of Dal Riata.

The Age of Christ 684
Death of Cu Choluim.

The Age of Christ 686
Talorgg, son of Acithaen, and Domnall Brec son of Eochu, died.

The Age of Christ 689
Death of Cathusach, grandson of Domnall Brec.

The Age of Christ 697
Eochu grandson of Domnall was killed.

The Age of Christ 711
An encounter of Britons and the Dal Riata at Lorg Ecclet, in which the Britons were defeated.

The Age of Christ 717
An encounter between the Dal Riata and Britons at the rock called Minuirc, and the Britons were defeated.

The Age of Christ 727
The encounter of Irros Foichnae between Selbach and the ‘family’ of Echaid, grandson of Domnall, in which some of the Airgialla (ancient Armagh, land of the Collas) fell.

The Age of Christ 739
Death of Aed, son of Garban.

The Age of Christ 778
Niall Frosach son of Fergal in I Choluim Chille, and Niall son of Conall Grant, king of southern Brega, and Tuathal son of Cremthann, king of Cuala, and Flannabra, king of Ui Mail, and .Aed Finn son of Echaid, king of Dal Riata – all died.

The Age of Christ 781
Senchan, abbot of Imlech Ibair, and Orach, abbot of Les Mor; the abbot of Inis Daimle, and Saergal grandson of Edairngne, abbot of Cluain Ferta Mo-Lua, and Dub Innrecht son of Fergus, abbot of Ferna, and Ailngnad, bishop of Ard Brecain, and Maenach grandson of Maenach, abbot of Lann Leire, and Fechtach, abbot of Fobar, and Colgu son of Cellach, king of Ui Chremthainn, and Ailbran son of Lugaid, abbot of Cluain Dolcain, Nuadu grandson of Bolcan, abbot of Tuaim da Olann, Dungal son of Flaithnia, king of Ui Mail, the learned Saergal grandson of Cathal, and .Fergus son of Eochu, king of Dal Riata.- all died.

The Age of Christ 794
Devastation of all the islands of Britain by heathens.

A slaughter was made of the foreigners by Cobhthach, son of Maelduin, lord of Loch Lein.Cosgrach, son of Niallghus, lord of Garbhros, and Cearnach, son of Flaithnia, lord of Mughdhorna Breagh, died.

Torbach, son of Gorman, scribe, lector, and Abbot of Ard Macha, died. He was of the Cinel Torbaigh, i e. the Ui Ceallaigh Breagh; and of these was Conn na mbocht, who was at Cluain Mic Nois, who was called Conn na mbocht from the number of paupers which he always supported.

The Age of Christ 1034
Suibne son of Cinaed (Kenneth II), king of the Gallgaedil (Galloway, Scotland), died.

The Age of Christ 1041.
The events indeed are numerous, killings and deaths and raids and battles. No one can relate them all, but a few of the many are given so that the age in which the various people lived may be known through them.

The Age of Christ 1164
Select members of the Community of Ia, namely, the arch-priest, Augustin and the lector (that is, Dubsidhe) and the Eremite, Mac Gilla-duib and the Head of the Celi-De, namely, Mac Forcellaigh and select members of the Community of Ia besides came on behalf of the successor of Colum-cille, namely, Flaithbertach Ua Brolchain’s acceptance of the abbacy of Ia, by advice of Somharlidh and of the Men of Airthir-Gaedhel and of Insi-Gall; (“Somerled” and the men of the Eastern Gael & outer islands) but the successor of Patrick and the king of Ireland, that is, Ua Lochlainn and the nobles of Cenel-Eogain prevented him.

The Age of Christ 1164
Gilla-Patraic Ua Mael-Mena died.

The Age of Christ 1164
Somharlidh Mac Gilla-Adhamhnain and his son were killed and slaughter of the Men of Airthir-Gaedhel and of Cenn-tire (head lands) and of the men of Insi-Gall (outer islands) and of the Foreigners of Ath-cliath (the crossing) [took place] around him .