Legacy of the Ard-Ri

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Brian Boru: High King of Ireland and Progenitor of the O'Brien Line



Legacy of the Ard-Ri​

December 26, 1066
City of Cork, Munster

As was his custom, Toirrdelbach O'Brien woke in the early hours of the morning and climbed from the warmth of his bed. He took a moment to gaze down at the sleeping form of Gormlaith, his beloved wife, before silently exiting the bedchamber and entering the small room adjoining it. A servant had already set out a basin of hot water, and he washed his face and hands before moving on to the next room and dressing with the assistance of his body servants. Dressed warmly against the winter chill, he left his private quarters behind and walked down the hall to his private study where a meal would already be waiting for him to break his fast.

He entered the room and was immediately bathed in the warmth of the fire blazing in the fireplace, a very pleasant change from the cold hall. He crossed to his desk and sank into the chair, his joints protesting and showing their years. As he uncovered his morning meal and began to eat, his gaze moved to the portrait above the fireplace. It was of his grandfather Brian Bóruma mac Cennétig, Ireland's last Ard-Ri. Toirrdelbach finished his meal and pushed the dish away from him, all the while continuing to stare at the portrait above the mantle. He was a practical man who believed in the here and now, but it was hard not to wonder what could have been. What if his grandfather had not been killed in the aftermath of his great victory at Clontarf? What course would the O'Brien family have taken then? Would he now be High King himself? Toirreldach shook his head and smiled. These were just fantasies. What might have happened mattered not, only what had transpired had any meaning. His father, Tadc, had been unable to hold the throne and had barely managed to hold onto the domains of Munster, one of Ireland's ancient Fifths. This struggle had passed to him from his father when he was only fourteen years old and he had spent the last forty-three years protecting his birthright.

He rose from his chair and moved to stand beneath the portrait of his ancestor. For some reason, he could not help feeling that the great man was staring down at him with disapproval. It was almost as if he could hear the old man admonishing him for not having tried to restore what he had spent his life building- a unified Ireland. Toirreldach had always been content to hold onto Munster, never seriously considering uniting Ireland as his grandfather had done. In his opinion, it had simply been impossible. There were simply too many powerful families on this island, none of which were inclined to bend the knee to any man. Yet, recent developments had made him wonder if it was not time to alter his policies. A power hungry tyrant now ruled in England and Toirreldach knew that it was only a matter of time before he turned his eyes to the smaller island, made easy prey by it's division amongst the various noble families. He knew that for Ireland to remain free it would have to be united. Only by gathering their strength under one banner could the Irish people weather the storm over the horizon.

Turning from the portait, Toirreldach bellowed for a servant to attend him. When the man entered the room, Toirreldach said in a commanding voice, "Send word for my council to assemble immediately."

"At once, my lord.", replied the servant as he bowed deeply and hurried from the room.

Toirreldach knew that he was heading down a dangerous road. It could end with the complete destruction of the O'Brien family or with an O'Brien on the throne of Ireland. With a last glance toward the portrait, he hurried from the room. There was much to do.

 

[coz1]

Great opening. Uniting Ireland should be fun to watch. I'm looking forward to this!

 

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Great opening. Uniting Ireland should be fun to watch. I'm looking forward to this!

Thanks, I hope not to disappoint in the future.

 

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December 26, 1066
City of Cork, Munster

Toirreldach O'Brien watched as the members of his council filed into the council chambers and took their seats after bowing in his direction. He let his eyes drift around the room and settle on each of them in turn. His sixty year old cousin and Marshal, Lorcan O'Brien, was sitting slumped in his chair and appeared to be wearing the same stained tunic as he had the day before. For all that the man looked and acted like a pig, he was a lion on the battlefield and the finest military mind that Munster had seen since their grandfather. He smiled to think that he had been pondering what ifs earlier this morning and here before him was a man who probably asked himself such questions everyday. If his father Murchad had not fallen at Clontarf, Lorcan would be sitting at the head of the table now rather than in the Marshal's chair.

Seated next to the Marshal was Toirreldach's son Tadg, his Head of Internal Affairs and Master of Spies. Of his three children, Tadg was the only one to sit on the council and though he was a headstrong young man who often acted without thought, he had been performing the duties bestowed upon him with great skill and dedication.

Seated across from Tadg was his Steward and scion of a minor noble family, Seoan O'Flynn. He was an even tempered man who rarely spoke due to a severe stutter that was often mimicked behind his back by some of the courts more cruel inhabitants. He was, Toirreldach knew, unhappy with his place in the court. He was a military man at heart with no passion for or skill in monetary affairs. Still, he was a loyal man who poured himself into his work and did his duty to the best of his ability.

The last member of the council was Aibinn, Seoan's wife. Though some might have balked at bestowing the duties of Chancellor on a woman, she had been raised and educated at the court and Toirrelbach could not be more satisfied with her performance thus far.

Realizing from the looks being exchanged by his council that he had let his ruminations go on for some time, he cleared his throat and spoke, "The time has come to change course. No longer can Ireland remain divided amongst warring factions. England's new king is a man that I am sure will not be satisfied with what he has stolen. When he is sure that he has subdued native resistance, he will look elsewhere for conquest. It will only be a matter of time before the bastard king seeks to devour our island."

Taking a breath he continued, "Ireland needs an Ard-Ri again. A man who will bring all of Ireland together if it is to survive. It might not be done in my lifetime, but I aim to see an O'Brien on the throne. It was an O'Brien and no other that last made the Lia Fáil call out, and that makes the High Kingship ours by right. The road ahead will be difficult, but we must prevail for the sake of Ireland."

When he finished his council members exchanged startled glances, but remained silent for some time. Surprisingly, the first to speak was his Steward. Casting glances around him he said, "My L..Lord, will all d..d..due res..pect, the tr..easury is nearly e..empty."

Tadg nodded in agreement with the Steward and said, "We have almost no infrastructure to speak of and cannot hope to soon change that without funds that, as the Steward has said, don't exist. I do not see how we can put ourselves into position for such a massive undertaking."

Next, his cousin Lorcan joined in, "From a military standpoint, I cannot be optimistic either. Our forces are small and poorly equipped by the standards of the-"

Toirrdelbach slammed his fist down on the table and shouted, "Do not speak to me of what we cannot do! Your duty to me is to tell me how we will achieve our goals. What must we do to overcome these problems?"

Aibinn spoke up for the first time, "We must first seek allies. Our greatest enemy will be Leinster, as they are richer and their army larger. Our best course may actually be to ally with Leinster, but since that is unlikely we must choose an ally that would give Leinster pause. I suggest Connacht or perhaps one of the Welsh Dukes."

Toirrelbach nodded, "Agreed. I wish you to begin diplomatic overtures at the earliest possible time."

"Yes, my Lord. I can put together a mission and be ready to leave tomorrow.", she replied.

Tadg spoke next, "We are currently working on improving agricultural techniques. Given time we should be able to increase production and therefore export revenue."

"T..This sh..ould also in..in..crease tax rev..enue, my L..Lord.", piped in Seoan.

Lorcan rubbed a hand across his chin and added, "I have heard of some new siege warfare techniques. If we improve ourselves in this area, we may be able to seize enemy strongholds swiftly, even with a small armed force."

Toirreldach nodded, "Excellent. You are all to see to these matters immediately. I will expect continuous reports. You are all dismissed, with the exception of the Marshal."

The council rose and left Toirreldach and the Marshal alone after the necessary bow in his direction. After the door had been closed behind them, Toirreldach turned to the Marshal and said, "I've decided that it is time for my son, Muirdertach, to begin accepting the responsibilities of rule. To that end, I have invested him as Count of Tuadmumu. I would like you to pick a guard and escort him there safely."

"At once, my Lord.", responded the Marshal who stood and bowed slightly before taking his leave.

Left alone, he leaned back in his chair and sighed deeply. He hoped that he had made the right choice in naming Muirdertach Count of Tuadmumu, and therefore heir. He had always favored his youngest son, Donnchad, but Muirdertach was eldest and the last thing Munster needed right now was a power struggle between his sons. Muirdertach was a good man, but too trusting and easily manipulated by those he thought friends. He would have to be watched closely. If he did not develop into a strong ruler, Toirreldach would have no qualms about removing him from the succession in the future. Ireland came first.

 

[coz1]

You do a good job portraying events and personages through the words. Well done.

By the way, is your steward any relation to Bridget? (It's a song - Bridget O'Flynn. )

 

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Excellent start Haardrade. You have a new follower. I shall follow this one keenly.

 

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*Subscribes*

 

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coz1: Thanks. Hmm.. I've never heard that song before, but why not?

Rex Angliae & Fulcrumvale: Thanks, I appreciate the support.

 

[coz1]

Thought you might like this since you had not heard it (though it is a bit post dated for this work):

Bridget O'Flynn, young lady, was that you sneakin' in?
Now look at the state of your Sunday clothes
Look at your shoes and your new silk hose
Why, you've been doin' the rhumba I suppose

Bridget O'Flynn, say your prayers
You'll need them when your father comes downstairs

Bridget O'Flynn, where have you been?
This is a nice time for you to come in
The boyfriend took you for a ride
And did the car break down
Or maybe you ran out of gas
About ten miles from town
Did you walk home, look at your shoes, ain't it a sin
Faith, your story and your shoes are mighty thin

I'm telling you now just what to do
If you have any friends that own a canoe
Don't go near the water Bridgy darlin'
"Bridget O'Flynn!" "What is It Ma?"
When you go out again you'll not go far
Faith and last night you went far enough
You and your paint and your powder
Puff, just wait until your father does his stuff
Bridget O'Flynn, I'd just like to bet
That you can tell me who owns this cigarette

Bridget O'Flynn, say your prayers
You'll need them when your father comes downstairs

Bridget O'Flynn, where have you been
This is a nice time for you to come in
You went to see the big parade?
The big parade, me eye
Sure no parade could ever take that long in passin' by
Bridget O'Flynn, tell me the truth, thie is your chance
There was nothing wrong, you just went to a dance
Just keep away from the dancin' hall
There's nobody there worth while at all
That's where I met your father, Bridgy darlin'

 

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Thanks for posting that. In an amusing development, Seoan O'Flynn actually had a daughter named Bridget not long after you posted the question about them being related.

 

[stnylan]

A good little start. The problems of poverty (of money, but more especially men) will be with you for a little while yet I imagine.

 

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A good little start. The problems of poverty (of money, but more especially men) will be with you for a little while yet I imagine.

That is unfortunately all too true, and compounded by a very slow accumulation of prestige.

 

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I decided to bring this AAR back from the dead, for better or worse I'm not sure(probably worse). I know the update is kind of dry, but the first 10 years of the game were extremely dull.
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Portrait of Toirreldach O'Brien done many years after his death by an unknown artist


Despite the earnestness and enthusiasm shown by Toirreldach O'Brien for his new endeavor to make Munster the predominant power in Ireland and to claim the title of Ard-Ri for himself, events moved very slowly in Munster. The Fifth was severely hampered by the twin problems of a very small army and an extremely weak economy. Currently, Toirreldach did not even have enough funds in his treasury to support even his small army for any longer than a month in the field.

Added to these difficulties was the danger of attack by their enemies in Leinster. The Ui Mordha family was easily the most powerful on the island, possessing the largest army and, due to their control of the vital trading center of Dublin, a booming economy. Toirreldach knew that if Leinster were to march against him, he could not hope to resist them for long. To that end, he actively pursued an alliance with Ireland's other powerful families or with the one of the Welsh Dukes. The reasoning was that an alliance with another power would make Munster seem a more powerful foe and create a reluctance to attack on the part of the Ui Mordha's in Leinster. Munster's diplomatic overtures quickly paid off in the form of an alliance with the Welsh Dukedom of Deheubarth in early January 1067. Feeling that he was secure from any threat on the part of his rivals on the island, Toirreldach felt free to turn his mind and energies to other pursuits, namely the expansion of the economy.

Peasants at work in the fields

Though the going was almost painfully slow, the economic situation in Munster slowly began to improve under the guidance of Steward Seoan O'Flynn who was assisted in his endeavors by Toirreldach's son, Tadg. Tadg had sent his people both throughout Ireland and abroad to Scotland and England to discover any way to bring the technologically backward Fifth of Munster up to speed with the rest of Europe. These efforts paid off when Tadg's agents returned with information that led to the spread of improved agricultural techniques. As Munster's agricultural output increased, funds poured into the treasury and Steward O'Flynn was able to invest them in the creation of forestries throughout the domain.

By 1076, Toirreldach presided over a much more powerful Munster. The treasury was full and the size of the army had doubled. He now felt that it was time to finally begin imposing his will on the rest of Ireland. He composed a diplomatic missive to the Count of Mide, Conchobar O'Neill, demanding that he become a vassal of Munster. His justification being that the Count's ancestor, Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill, had bent the knee to Toirreldach's grandfather and had, in so doing, given up his claim to Mide. By way of response, Conchobar had the messanger flogged and sent back to Cork. Toirreldach was enraged and raised his banners against Mide on August 1, 1076. The army of Munster was marching to battle outside of it's borders for the first time since Clontarf, sixty-two years previous.

The armies of Mide and Munster clashed near the town of Kells on August 24, 1076.

 

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August 24, 1076
Kells, County Mide

Stylized depiction of the Battle of Kells from the 19th century

The armies of Munster and Mide met one another on a field near the town of Kells on August 24, 1076. Toirreldach O'Brien had brought with him just under 2,000 of Munster's finest warriors. The forces of Mide, under Conchobar O'Neill, numbered just over 700.

Apart from outnumbering his foe, Toirreldach had brought another major advantage to the battlefield: heavily armed mounted horsemen known as knights. Toirreldach and his Marshal, Lorcan O'Brien, had noted with interest the success that the Norman knights had achieved over their Saxon adversaries in England, and had endeavored to re-model Munster's armed forces after them, though on a much smaller scale. Toirreldach brought into his personal service the finest members of Munster's warrior class. Each of the 250 men he selected received the title of knight and lands to control as a personal demesne. In return, these men would be professional warriors in Toirreldach's service, ready to wield their swords whenever and wherever he asked.

Young warriors being sworn into the service of Munster

At 11:00 a.m., the advance was sounded and Munster's forces advanced toward the shield wall of the men of Mide. Munster's infantry smashed against this wall and a brutal, close quarters melee ensued. Despite their superior numbers, Munster's infantry was driven back again and again as their charges broke against the shield wall. After three hours and four failed attacks, Toirreldach ordered his Marshal to send in the heavy cavalry.

The horsemen rode toward the exhausted and battered force across from them in a an inverted "V" or wedge formation. They were covered in mail and carried weapons ranging from axes to swords. As they approached the shield wall, the easy trot of their battle mounts was increased to a full gallop and they crashed into the shield wall with tremendous force. Munster's knights breached the wall and were quickly in and among the men from Mide, slashing and hacking down at the infantrymen around them.

Munster's knights breaching the line at the Battle of Kells as depicted by an eyewitness

The instant that he saw the cavalrymen break the enemy line, Lorcan O'Brien ordered all reserves to join the battle and a rout was soon on. Conchobar O'Neill fled the field as his men dropped their weapons and ran for their lives with Munster's cavalry in pursuit and mercilessly cutting them down as they fled. The battle was over and though he had lost nearly 200 men, Toirrelbach had inflicted over 500 casualties on his enemy and destroyed their ability to mount any kind of effective resistance in the future.

The very next day, Toirreldach O'Brien led his men on a forced march to lay siege to Conchobar O'Neill's stronghold. After a month-long siege, Conchobar O'Neill surrendered to Toirreldach O'Brien. He was forced to give up all rights and claims to the land of Mide and surrender the full contents of his treasury. Stripped of his ancient titles and penniless, Conchobar O'Neill went north to his relatives, the O'Neills of Ulster, where he would live in obscurity until his death.

Toirreldach O'Brien had seized control of County Mide, and had, in so doing, taken one half of the ancient Fifth of Meath. The owner of the other half, the Ui Mordhas of Leinster, saw this as a direct challenge and relations quickly became tense between the two powerful factions. With the future of Ireland at stake, Munster and Leinster began to prepare for the struggle ahead.

 

[stnylan]

It seems that Ireland is beginning a descent into war, that will end with one side being declared King.

 

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It seems that Ireland is beginning a descent into war, that will end with one side being declared King.

Things certainly do get a little heated over the next few years.

 

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Following the capture of Mide, Toirreldach O'Brien consolidated his family's position in the county by installing his son, Donnchad, as count. Though the move was intended only to set up the O'Briens as rulers of Mide, it had the potential to cause a great deal of division within Munster. It had been long known among Munster's courtiers that Donnchad was Toirreldach's favorite, and his eldest son, Muirdertach, viewed his brother's rise to prominence with some alarm. Though he was still officially heir to his father's domains, Muirdertach knew that his position could change at a moments whim and set about seeking support from his father's court.

With a successful conquest under his belt, Toirreldach turned his attention back to the economy. The strongest economy on the island belonged to Leinster due to their control of the prominent port city of Dublin. Trading vessels from all over Europe docked there and gold poured into the coffers of the rulers of Leinster. Though his ultimate goal would of course be to have Dublin for himself, Toirreldach knew that he was not yet strong enough to challenge Leinster. Instead, he would develop the harbor in his own capital city of Cork in hopes of it one day rivaling the one in Dublin.

Building a large commercial part takes a great deal of time and money, and Toirreldach knew that he would have to start small as Munster was far from a financial powerhouse. To that end, he constructed fishing wharfs in the harbor. He would use the sea's bounty to fill his treasury. Over the next several years, the fishing industry in Cork boomed and Munster began to see a considerable profit. Though Dublin remained the prominent trading center in Ireland, Cork was well on it's own way to challenging it for supremacy.

Drawing of the kind of trading vessels that plied the waters of Northwestern Europe in the late 11th century.

By the year 1080, Toirreldach O'Brien possessed the second largest army in Ireland and a treasury that was finally more than able to support it. Being as he was a man who would not let such resources go to waste, he turned his eyes once again upon his rivals for control of the island and prepared his forces for another war. As he gathered his forces near his stronghold in Cork, Toirreldach received dire news. A messenger had come from Wales with news that his ally, the Duke of Deheubarth, needed his aid in a war with his former vassal, the Count Cadwgan Meriadoc of Glamorgan. The alliance that he had intended only to secure his safety on the island, had instead drawn Toirreldach into a foreign war. As he sailed with his army for Wales, full of enthusiasm and confidence, Toirreldach could little imagine the hardships ahead.

 

[stnylan]

I liked the line about the treasury finally being able to support the army. Just not for long I' wager

 

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stynlan: A good bet, I'm afraid.
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By the time Toirreldach O'Brien arrived with his army of 3,000 in the Welsh county of Dyfed in February of 1080, the war was going badly for his ally, Duke Maredudd ap Seisyll of Deheubarth. He had been soundly defeated by Count Cadwgan Meriadoc's forces and had been forced to pull back within his castle, the siege of which was well under way by the time Munster's forces disembarked.

Toirreldach immediately led his men on a forced march to lift the siege and destroy the army of the upstart count. For his part, Count Meriadoc left a small force to continue the siege of Duke Maredudd's stronghold and marched to meet the Irishmen with a force of 1800 men. The two armies met on the morning of February 25.

Meriadoc positioned his forces on a low ridge overlooking the roadway that Toirreldach had to use in order to reach his beleaguered ally. If the Irishmen wanted to pass, they would have to fight the Welshmen on terms of their choosing. As Toirreldach arranged his forces to do battle with the enemy, he did so with a serious handicap. During the voyage from Cork to Dyfed, his cousin and trusted Marshal, Lorcan O'Brien, had passed away. Toirreldach, a man never accused of possessing any military skill, would be completely on his own in battle for the first time. His strategy for the coming battle would be simple. He intended to send his forces straight at the center of the Welsh line and overwhelm it with his superior numbers.

The Battle of Dyfed

The battle commenced with a line of Irish archers approaching the Welsh position to soften it up in preparation for the infantry assault. Their counterparts on the ridge above, far more skilled and with the advantage of high ground, exacted a heavy toll on the lightly armored Irishmen below. So devastating was the fire from the ridge above that Toirreldach ordered his archers to fall back after firing only two volleys. After his archers had scrambled to safety, Toirreldach ordered his infantry to charge the ridge and drive the enemy from their positions.

The long line of infantry advanced, the tri-crown banner of Munster fluttering above them. As soon as they came within range, the Welsh bowmen loosed volley after volley into their ranks, causing great loss of life. By the time they reached the Welsh line, the Irishmen were badly shaken and only engaged the Welsh infantry briefly before pulling back. Desperate now, Toirreldach employed the tactic that had won the day at the Battle of Kells four years earlier: he sent in his knights.

The charge was a disaster. At Kells, Munster's heavy cavalry had charged across flat, open ground against a lightly armed foe. Here, they charged uphill right into the teeth of a line of Welsh pikemen. The Welsh line held and nearly half of Munster's knights fell before beating a panicked retreat away from the wall of death on the ridge. As the horsemen fled, Meriadoc personally led his men in a counter charge. The Irish force below, unnerved by the sight of the heavy horse fleeing in panic, broke as the Welsh charge slammed into their ranks. Toirreldach's personal bodyguard forced him from the field as his army turned into a frightened, disorganized mob and fled the battlefield.

Toirreldach left 700 dead behind him as he retreated toward Glamorgan with his broken army. Meriadoc, having come out of the battle with only about 100 casualties, turned his force around and continued the siege of Castle Dyfed, confident that he had seen the last of Toirreldach O'Brien. In this, he would find to his woe, he was very much mistaken.

 

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After his humiliating defeat at the hands of Cadwgan Meriadoc, Toirreldach retreated to the Welsh county of Glamorgan. Once there, he set about reforming his demoralized army and planning how best to pursue the campaign. His most immediate concern was keeping his army in supply. During the unceremonious flight from the battlefield in Dyfed, most of the supplies he had brought from Ireland had been left behind and what his men had managed to take away with them would not last long. Of all the problems facing Toirreldach O'Brien, however, he actually found this one the easiest to solve. Was he not in the middle of an enemy province, and a prosperous one at that? With his army now living off the fat of Count Cadwgan's land, he could turn his full attention to how to defeat his enemy.

Toirreldach O'Brien was a skilled diplomat and administrator, but a poor battlefield commander and no one knew this better than he did. He sent a fast ship back home to Munster with orders that his sons raise their hosts and join him in Wales.

Munster's Army during the crossing to Glamorgan


Once they arrived in early April, Toirreldach merged their forces with his own and placed his youngest son, Donnchad O'Brien, in command of the combined forces, seemingly oblivious to the effect that this decision had on his oldest son, Muirdertach. Now reinforced and with a more capable commander at the helm, Munster forces marched back into Dyfed and engaged the forces of Glamorgan once again on the morning of April 14, 1080.

The Welsh force that Count Cadwgan Meriadoc faced the Irishmen with was a far cry from the one that he had brought to the first battle. He, unlike his Irish counterpart, had no reinforcements to call upon and his forces had shrunk over the course of the siege of Dyfed, both due to battle with the castle's defenders and to the greatest enemy of medieval armies: disease. An outbreak of dysentery had swept through his camp and his army was weakened both in numbers and spirit.

Donnchad O'Brien began the battle by dividing his cavalry into two separate forces and sending them to nip at each of the enemy's flanks,while his bowmen skirmished with their counterparts at the center of the line. As the cavalry attacks on his flanks increased in intensity, Cadwgan began to send his highly trained pikemen to reinforce them, leaving poorly equipped conscripts to hold the center. When Donnchad saw the feared Welsh pikemen moving off, he unleashed his infantry on the Welsh center. The line peasant conscripts, lacking any real training and possessing little in the way of arms and armor, was shattered by the Irish charge which was led by Donnchad O'Brien personally. Once through the Welsh center, the Irish infantry turned toward the flanks and began to squeeze Cadwgan's forces between themselves and the cavalry. Seeing that defeat was inevitable, Cadwgan sounded the retreat and escaped with what remained of his army. After moving to defeat the small force still laying siege to Dyfed Castle, Donnchad marched his army back to Glamorgan where he again defeated Cadwgan Meriadoc on May 20, and began to lay siege to his castle.

The siege of Glamorgan


Eight days into the siege, devastating news would reach Toirreldach from Cork. His beloved wife, Gormlaith, had fallen ill and passed away. Wracked with grief, Toirreldach immediately set sail for home to see to his wife's funeral, leaving the siege in the hands of his son, Donnchad. After the funeral, a distraught Toirreldach retreated into his private rooms and left the care of his domains to the only one of his sons not in Wales, Tadg O'Brien.

In October of 1080, Glamorgan fell to the forces of Munster. No sooner had the stronghold been captured, however, than events outside their control would turn the Irish celebration sour. The Duke of Deheubarth had signed a peace treaty with Cadwgan Meriadoc freeing him from vassalage and recognizing his independent rule over the counties Glamorgan and Gwent. In effect, the efforts of Munster had been for nothing! When the news reached the still grieving Toirreldach in Cork, he immediately flew into a rage. He considered it the ultimate betrayal. He had lost nearly fifteen hundred troops during the campaign and fallen into serious debt in the attempt to put down Cadwgan's rebellion. Worse, he had missed the last days of Gormlaith's life. While he could replace the lost gold and troops, he would never get that lost time back and he would never forgive Duke Maredudd ap Seisyll for making all that he had lost mean nothing.

The Welsh campaign has to be looked at as a complete failure for Munster. Tremendous losses had been suffered in both manpower and finances to no gain. In the end, the only thing that the war with Glamorgan achieved was the complete derailment of Toirreldach's plan to bring Ireland under his control. It would be years before Munster was in any position to continue the unification effort.