The Danes had now settled quietly in the mercantile towns which they had mainly contributed to form, and expended all their energies on commerce instead of war; but the new generation of Northmen, who had not yet visited Ireland, could not so easily relinquish the old project of conquering it.  About the year 1101, Magnus planned an expedition to effect this purpose.  He arrived in Dublin the following year; a “hosting of the men of Ireland came to oppose him;"[236] but they made peace with him for one year, and Murtough gave his daughter in marriage to his son Sitric, “with many jewels and gifts.”  The year 1103 was distinguished for sanguinary conflicts.  Murdhadh Drun was killed on a predatory excursion in Magh Cobha.  Raghnall Ua h-Ocain,[237] lawgiver of Felach Og, was slain by the men of Magh Itha.  There was a “great war” between the Cinel-Eoghain and the Ulidians; and Murtough O’Brien, with the men of Munster, Leinster, and Ossory, the chiefs of Connaught, and the men of Meath and their kings, proceeded to Magh Cobha (Donaghmore, co.  Down) to relieve the Ulidians.  When the men of Munster “were wearied,” Murtough proceeded to Ard-Macha, and left eight ounces of gold upon the altar, and promised eightscore cows.  The northern Hy-Nials then attacked the camp of the Leinster men, and a spirited battle was fought.  The Cinel-Eoghain and Cinel-Connaill returned victoriously and triumphantly to their forts, with valuable jewels and much wealth, together with the royal tent, the standard, and jewels.

Magnus, King of Lochlann and the Isles, was slain by the Ulidians this year.

It is noticeable that, in the Annals of the Four Masters, obituaries of saints or good men always occupy the first place.  The Annals of this year are of unusual length; but they commence with the obituary of Murchadh O’Flanaghan, Arrchinneach of Ardbo, a paragon of wisdom and instruction, who died on his pilgrimage at Ard-Macha.  A priest of Kildare is also mentioned, and the Tanist-Abbot of Clonmacnois, a prosperous and affluent man.

It would appear that the Irish were sufficiently occupied with domestic wars to prevent their offering assistance elsewhere.  This, however, was not the case.  When Harold returned to England, his brother-in-law, Donough, lent him nine ships; and we find the Irish affording assistance in several other feuds of the Anglo-Saxons of this period.  A deputation of the nobles of Man and other islands visited Dublin, and waited on Murtough O’Brien to solicit a king.  He sent his nephew, Donnell; but he was soon expelled on account of his tyranny.  Another Donnell O’Brien, his cousin, was, at the same time, lord of the Danes in Dublin.  In 1114 Murtough O’Brien was obliged to resign the crown in consequence of ill-health; the Annals say that he became a living skeleton.  His brother, Dermod, took advantage of this circumstance to declare himself King of Munster.  This obliged Murtough to resume the reins of government,