Ireland.  A considerable number of Saxons were now in the country; and it is said that a British king, named Constantine, who had become a monk, was at that time Abbot of Rahen, in the King’s county, and that at Cell-Belaigh there were seven streets[195] of those foreigners.  Gallen, in the King’s county, was called Galin of the Britons, and Mayo was called Mayo of the Saxons, from the number of monasteries therein, founded by members of these nations.

The entries during the long reign of Domhnall contain little save obituaries of abbots and saints.  The first year of the reign of Nial Frassagh is distinguished by a shower of silver, a shower of wheat, and a shower of honey.  The Annals of Clonmacnois say that there was a most severe famine throughout the whole kingdom during the early part of his reign, so much that the king himself had very little to live upon.  Then the king prayed very fervently to God, being in company with seven holy bishops; and he asked that he might die rather than see so many of his faithful subjects perishing, while he was helpless to relieve them.  At the conclusion of his prayer, the “three showers” fell from heaven; and then the king and the seven bishops gave great thanks to the Lord.

But a more terrible calamity than famine was even then impending, and, if we may believe the old chroniclers, not without marvellous prognostications of its approach.  In the year 767 there occurred a most fearful storm of thunder and lightning, with “terrific and horrible signs.”  It would appear that the storm took place while a fair was going on, which obtained the name of the “Fair of the clapping of hands.”  Fear and horror seized the men of Ireland, so that their religious seniors ordered them to make two fasts, together with fervent prayer, and one meal between them, to protect and save them from a pestilence, precisely at Michaelmas.[196]

The first raid of the Danish pirates is recorded thus:  “The age of Christ 790 [recte 795].  The twenty-fifth year of Donnchadh.  The burning of Reachrainn[197] by plunderers; and its shrines were broken and plundered.”  They had already attacked the English coasts, “whilst the pious King Bertric was reigning over its western division.”  Their arrival was sudden and so unexpected, that the king’s officer took them for merchants, paying with his life for the mistake.[198] A Welsh chronicle, known by the name of Brut y Tywysogion, or the Chronicle of the Chieftains, has a corresponding record under the year 790:  “Ten years with fourscore and seven hundred was the age of Christ when the pagans went to Ireland.”  Three MSS. add, “and destroyed Rechren.”  Another chronicle mentions, that the black pagans, who were the first of their nation to land in Ireland, had previously been defeated in Glamorganshire, and after their defeat they had invaded Ireland, and devastated Rechru.