residence
of the kings of Ulster, which stood in its vicinity, or, as is more probable
from its characteristic situation, Ard-macha, signifying 'the high place or
field.' Armagh is the head of the primacy of all Ireland, and is indebted for
its origin, and ecclesiastical pre-eminence, to St. Patrick, by whom it was
built, in 445. He also founded, near his own mansion, the monastery of St. Peter
and St. Paul, for Canons Regular of the order of St. Augustine, which was rebuilt
by Imar O'Hoedegan, and was the most distinguished of the religious establishments
which existed here, having materially contributed to the early importance of
the place. This institution received numerous grants of endowment from the native
kings, the last of whom, Roderick O'Connor, made a grant to its professors,
in 1169; insomuch that its landed possessions became very extensive, as appears
from an inquisition taken on its suppression. Attached to it was a school or
college, which long continued one of the most celebrated seminaries in Europe,
and from which many learned men, not only of the Irish nation, but from all
parts of Christendom, were despatched to diffuse knowledge throughout Europe.
It is said that 7000 students were congregated in it, in the pursuit of learning,
at one period; and the annals of Ulster relate that, at a synod held by
Gelasius at Claonadh, in 1162, it was decreed that no person should lecture
publicly on theology, except such as had studied at Armagh. The city was destroyed
by accidental conflagrations in the year 670, 687, and 770, and also sustained
considerable injury in the last mentioned year by lightning. In subsequent
periods it suffered severely and repeatedly from the Danes, a band of whom having,
landed at Newry, in 830, penetrated into the interior, and having stormed Armagh
established their headquarters in it for one month, and on being driven out,
plundered and reduced it to ashes In 836, Trellises or Thorgis, a Danish chieftain,
equally celebrated for his courage and ferocity, after having laid waste Connaught
and a great part of Meath and Leinster, turned his arms against Ulster, which
he devastated as far as Lough Neagh, and then advancing against Armagh, took
it with little difficulty. His first act, after securing possession of the place,
was the expulsion of' the Bishop Farina, with all the students of the college,and
the whole body of the religious, of whom the bishop and clergy sought refuge
in Cashel. The numerous atrocities perpetrated by the invaders at length excited
a combined effort against them. Nail the Third collected a large army, and after
having defeated the Danes in a pitched battle in Tyrconnel, advanced upon Armagh,
where, after a second successful engagement, and while preparing to force his
victorious way into the city, the main position of the enemy in these parts,
he was drowned in the river Callan in an attempt to save the life of one of
his followers. Malachy, his successor, obtained possession of the city,
in which a public assembly of the princes and chieftains of Ireland was held,
in 849, to devise the means of driving their ferocious enemies out of the island.
In their first efforts the Danes suffered several defeats ; but, having concentrated
their forces, and being supported by a reinforcement of their countrymen, they
again marched against Armagh, and took and plundered it about the year 852.
The subsequent annals of Armagh, to the commencement of the Ninth century, are
little more than a reiteration of invasions and conquests by the Danes, and
of successful but brief insurrections of the natives, in all of which this devoted
city became in turn the prize of each contending army, and suffered all the
horrors of savage warfare. In 1004, the celebrated Brian Boru entered
Armagh, where he presented at the great altar of the church a collar of gold
weighing 120 ounces; and after his death at the battle of Clontarf, in 1014,
his remains were deposited here, according to his dying request, with those
of his son Murchard who fell in the same battle.
