clan is still represented by the central family of the old stock under the new name. This is illustrated by the table attached to this section, which should be carefully noted.

The tradition of kinship between the newer families of the old clans did not disappear. On the contrary it survived the political changes, and in later years supplied the clue, on the one hand, to the groupings and alliances, and on the other hand, to the lack of full co-operation, between the clans of Ireland. It is also of present-day interest to know the states and clans from which the various families were derived, for the names they then adopted are still the most numerous surnames in Ireland.

Brian's Example.-In this changing political system, the example of Brian's "usurpation " and rule had a great effect. On the one hand he had destroyed that tradition which for over 500 years had recognised the head of the Uí Neill as the chief ruler or Ard Rí in Ireland. On the other hand, he had shown the necessity for an active and undivided headship of the whole country. His energy and capacity in war and peace had made the position of Ard Rí a real one with power and duties. It was no longer to be an empty honour, acknowledged by only part of the island, but an over-lordship whose authority would prevail over all the clans. It was now something that brought power, something worth striving for-and Brian had shown that it was open to all who were willing to strive for it. What Charlemagne had once done in Europe, what Alfred had done for the Saxons, Kenneth in Scotland, and what Canute was to do for the Norse, Brian had proved could be done for Ireland. He had established the principle of political unity for the Gael at least as effectively as Otho had done for the German and Capet for the Frank. In all these nations there took place a struggle to reduce that principle to actual fact. In Germany the emperors had to fight against internal rivals in France it took centuries to conquer and absorb powerful neighbours; in Ireland rival claimants fought for supreme power. This struggle for political unity was, in fact, briefer in Ireland than in those countries.

The Struggle for Unity: "Kings with Opposition."-Two powerful influences were accordingly at work to unify the nation. One was the principle, now generally recognised, that the Irish nation, already one in culture, must also be one politically under a single head. The other was the disruption of the old divisions, which made it possible for an ambitious chief to conquer piecemeal where he might have failed against a more compact organisation. The example of Brian aroused the ambition of those who had hitherto been little more than nominal Kings of their federated clans, and taught them to aspire to be effective Kings of all

Ireland. The history of the " Kings with opposition " (Ri co-Freasabra) -as the principal competitors in the struggle are named-is the history of the efforts made by various aspirants to consolidate the sections of the old Kingdoms into one centralised monarchy. In these efforts they were aided by the tendency towards disruption. As each family in turn gained the ascendancy, it partitioned the territories of its opponents between the rival families. Their antagonists were shorn of their supremacy as "provincial" Kings, reduced to being rulers over their immediate patrimonies only, and deprived of all authority over the other clans. The most conspicuous exponent of this policy was Turlough O'Connor, who was determined that the omission of Brian was not to be repeated (page 77). Finally, with the flight of Diarmuid Mac Murrough, the last "provincial" King disappears from Ireland.

Four States Unimportant.-Of the seven independent states which are mentioned in " Leadar na g-Ceart," the representatives of only three made a serious contest for the supremacy. Of the others, two- Oirghialla and Ulaidh-were, as we have already seen, weakened by the spread of the Cineal Eoghain (page 72), and were completely dominated by their vigorous neighbour. In Meath, the posterity of Malachy II were so torn by fierce dissensions that the Kings of Tara figure only incidentally in this period. In Laighin, there was a keen rivalry between the northern and southern groups of the descendants of Cahir Mór. The former had been in the ascendant for many generations until Maolmórdha fell at Clontarf. After that battle they were superseded by the southern family or Uí Cinnsealaigh. The latter never won the support of their rivals, yet were able to supply one competitor for the headship of Ireland in Diarmuid Mac Maoil na m-Bó, and another conspicuous personage in Diarmuid Mac Murrough. Except these two, however, the struggle was confined to the representatives of the other three dynasties.

The Three Competitors.-Mac Loughlins, O'Briens. O'Connors.— Between three dynasties-those of Aileach, Caiseal and Cruachan-lay, therefore, the contest for the sovereignty of all Ireland. In Aileach we have seen that the Cineal Eoghain had become predominant, and had already laid the foundations of that power in the north, which was eventually to lead to the province of "Ulster." Their only rivals. were the kindred Cineal Chonaill. Their chief families now were those of Mac Loughlin and O'Neill. Of these the former held the leadership at this time, and upon them devolved the duty of maintaining the great traditions of the Uí Neill. Against those old traditions, however, were *The "O'Neills," named after Niall Glúndubh, were but one family of the Cineal Eoghain branch of the "Úí Neill," who were all descended from Niall Naoi n-Giallach.

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now put forward the newer claims of Caiseal established by Brian. But these claims were based upon traditions as old as those of the Uí Neill, going back to the ancient rivalry between Conn and Eoghan (page 15). They were upheld by Brian's own family, who took from him the name O'Brien. When the two great representatives of north and south were exhausted by their rivalry, a new competitor appeared from the west. There the western branch of the Siol Chuinn had ruled for centuries as Kings of Cruachan. Their ancestry was as old as that of either of the others-if the Uí Neill came from Conn through Niall, they also came from Conn through Niall's brothers. Besides, they had the advantage of a consolidated Kingdom under the O'Connors.

Under which one of three great dynasties was Ireland to be united? Nearly equal both in claims and in strength, force of arms alone could decide between them.

Three Phases of the Struggle.-Between those three families, therefore, the struggle lay. Mac Maoil na m-Bó is the only exception -and is but a casual interlude in the real contest. It was a struggle of families rather than of individuals, and should be so studied. It falls into three distinct phases: the first is between the O'Briens and the Mac Loughlins; the second, between the O'Briens and the O'Connors; the third, between the O'Connors and the Mac Loughlins.

THE CLANS AND THE NEW FAMILIES

Table showing the new family names adopted in the tenth and eleventh centuries by various new clans comprised in the older political clan or tribe."

The table includes only clans which figure in later history. The names of clans which at various times were recognised as "leading clans," and which, therefore, carried on the tradition of the old ruling clans," are printed in italics: such of them as competed for the High Kingship are printed in CAPITALS.

The principal clans or septs formed out of the "ruling clans" or 'tribes," as well as some of those from other "tribes," are set out under each of the old states. These, however, comprise in all but a very small number of the total clans.

Until the Gaelic system was broken up in the seventeenth century the clans continued to group themselves on the old "tribal” traditions and recognised the leadership of the old "tribal" leaders :

(CRUACHAN)

UI BRIUIN-O'CONNOR, Mac Dermott, etc. (Siol Murray): O'Rourke,
O'Reilly, O'Flaherty, etc.

UI FIACHRA-O'Dowd, O'Heyne, O'Shaughnessy, etc.
Other Tribes-O'Kelly (Ui Maine), etc., etc.

(TARA)

UI NEILL O'Maolachlan, Mac Geoghegan, O'Molloy (Feara Ceall) O'Kearney or Fox (Teabhtha), etc.

Other Tribes-O'Farrell (Anghaile), etc., etc.

(AILEACH)

CINEAL EOGHAIN-MAC LOUGHLIN, O'Neill, O'Kane, etc.
CINEAL CHONAILL-O'Maldory, O'Donnell, Cannon, O'Doherty,
O'Gallagher, etc.

Other Tribes-O'Connor (Cianachta), etc., etc.

(OIRGHIALLA)

CLANNA COLLA-O'Carroll, O'Hanlon (Uí Niallain), MacMahon, Maguire, etc.

Other Tribes-O'Hegney (Feara Manach), etc., etc.

(ULAIDH)

CLANNA RUDHRAIDHE-Dunlevy, Mac Guinness, Mac Cartan, etc. Other Tribes-Flynn, Mac Donnell (Dal Riada): Gilmore or

O'Morna, etc.