and he himself took possession of the position of Monarch of Ireland, which, according to the usual custom, more properly belonged to the brother of his second wife.

Though so much of Turlough O'Conor's reign was given up to warlike pursuits, there are evidences that the arts of peace were not neglected, and that he was not merely a savage warrior, and his people wild, irreligious, uninstructed boors. No Irish monarch has left more lasting monuments of his munificence to the Church, or attention to the wants of his country, than Turlough O'Conor.

The old cathedral church of Tuam, with its magnificent stone cross, stands to the present day as a testimony of his devotion to the Church. Referring to this cathedral, Petrie says1

"Of the ancient church of Tuam the chancel only remains; but, fortunately, this is sufficient to make us acquainted with its general style of architecture, and to show that it was not only a larger, but a more splendid structure than Cormac's church at Cashel, and not unworthy of the powerful monarch to whom it chiefly owed its erection. This chancel is a square of 26 feet in external measurement, and the walls are 4 feet in thickness. The great feature of this chancel is its triumphal arch, now, erroneously, supposed to be a doorway, which is perhaps the most magnificent specimen of its kind remaining in Ireland. It is composed externally of six semicircular, concentric, and compressed arches, of which the outer is 20 feet 6 inches in width at its base, and 19 feet 5 inches in height; and the inner, 15 feet 8 inches in width, and 16 in height."

An engraving, taken from a photograph, shows the position and condition of this arch at the present dày, and, from it, the reader may be able to judge of the perfection to which workmanship in stone had been carried by the Irish. at this early period.

Outside of this church, and for security attached to it, was the famous stone cross, unique both as regards its immense height and exquisite workmanship. This cross, of which also an engraving is given, was about 30 feet high, and was composed of eight stones, including the base. Three of the stones are missing, but those that remain are all covered with most intricate and beautifully carved lace-work. At Cloonmacnoise, on the Shannon, further specimens of the workmanship of Turlough's reign may still be seen, and the great belfry, or turret, was erected there under his auspices by Gillechrist O'Malone, the abbot, in 1120.

1 Petrie's Ancient Ecclesiastical Architecture of Ireland, pp. 317, 318.

Workmanship in the precious metals also was not backward, and in the smaller reliquary cross, called the "Cross of Cong," which is still preserved in the Royal Irish Academy, and of which we give an engraving, we have a further memorial of King Turlough's reign. "This cross," says Sir William Wilde, "is undoubtedly one of the finest specimens of its age in the western world. In its centre there is a large polished crystal, under which was placed originally the relic sent from Rome to King Turlough O'Conor in 1125, and referred to in the Annals of Innisfallen in that year." Around it is an inscription: "A prayer for Turlough O'Conor, the King of Erin, for whom this shrine was made."

Besides these specimens of ecclesiastical architecture and workmanship, the castles of Galway, Ballinasloe, and Collooney, were erected by King Turlough, as well as the first stone bridges over the Shannon at Athlone, and the Suck at Ballinasloe. In this reign also we have the first account of money having been coined by an Irish prince. Previously, the Danes who had settled in Ireland had established a coinage, but there is no account of the regular establishment of a mint until the time of King Turlough, although it is evident from many records that the precious metals, whether in the shape of coins, or merely as bars, had long been used as a medium of exchange.

Turlough having gained the superiority in Ireland by the force of his own character, and not by hereditary right, left nothing undone to consolidate that authority, and to raise up and benefit his people. "In life and in death," says Gratianus Lucius, "he was not less eminent for his piety than for the government of his kingdom, whether agitated by the troubles of war, or enjoying the rich blessings of peace.'

'The learned author of Cambrensis Eversus, Vol. I., p. 67, states: "This cross Turlough O'Conor ordered to be carried in procession through Ireland, and honoured everywhere with the greatest veneration."

Chronicum Scotorum, p. 325.

Chronicum Scotorum, p. 323: "A.D. 1116, three principal bridges were constructed by Turlough O'Conor in this year, viz., the bridge of Athluain, the bridge of Ath Crôha (Shannon Harbour), and the bridge of Dun Leodha (Ballinasloe)."

⚫ According to the Annals of Ulster, Turlough O'Conor, in the year 1150, erected a mint, and had silver money coined at Cloonmacnoise.

* Gratianus Lucius, chap. ix., p. 59.

CHAPTER V.

RODERIC O'CONOR, MONARCH OF IRELAND,

1156-1186.

N the death of Turlough the Great, his son Roderic succeeded him as King of Connaught; but the sovereignty of all Ireland passed without contention into the hands of Murtough M'Loughlin, the heir of the previous monarch, King of Ailech, and head of the northern Hy-Niall. Although M'Loughlin soon became as powerful as any of his predecessors since the time of Niall of the Nine Hostages, yet Roderic, who did not feel himself at once strong enough to enter into a contest for the sovereignty, entertained hopes of being able, later on, to assume the position occupied by his father.

To accomplish this object, he had recourse to the same tactics as had formerly proved so successful, and at once set about subduing some of the hereditary enemies of his race, and obtaining the recognition of some of the subordinate kings, who were disaffected towards the reigning family of Ulster. With this view, he invaded Munster in 1157, and received hostages from both O'Brien and M'Carthy. He then demanded hostages from the King of Leinster, and shortly after he collected some ships on the river Shannon, and prepared for an attack on the northern kingdom. After several encounters with his sovereign, Roderic found him too powerful, and submitted to his authority, giving hostages in the usual way. At the same time, Dermot M'Murrough, King of Leinster, adopted a similar course, and then, in the words of the annalists, Murtough M'Loughlin "became King of Erin without opposition, and he gave the half of Meath to Dermot O'Melaghlin and the other half to Roderic O'Conor." From this date until his death, M'Loughlin was recognised without dispute as the monarch of Ireland. In the year 1166 he was slain in an insurrection raised by his own

'The account given here, and in subsequent pages, of the proceedings of Roderic O'Conor is taken mainly from the Annals of the Four Masters.