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eallachan (Callahan, Callaghan, Cellachan, Ceallaghan, Cellachain,Ceallachain) of Cashel (Caisal, Caisil), was the 10th century King of the Irish province of Munster (i.e. the southwestern quarter of Ireland) from whom the family names of Callahan and MacCarthy and their variations (e.g. Callaghan, O'Callahan, O'Callaghan, MacCarthaig, etc.) were derived. This website makes available historical sources and written accounts about his life and legacy including the Irish Medieval Saga of Ceallachan of Cashel, the various Irish Annals, and The Circuit of Ireland. Right: A typical woman's dress in northwestern Europe during the 9th and 10th century. (After a drawing by Eudora Sellner. Published by The School Arts Magazine, 1923, The Davis Press:Worcester MA; color added).

Home Page (i.e. this page) Frequently asked questions (FAQ's) Genealogical Information and the Inauguration Ceremony of Ceallachan c. 940/44 A.D Historical Context Maps and 3D Computer animation Geoffrey Keating's, History of Ireland The Medieval Irish Saga of Ceallachan The Irish Annals The Circuit of Ireland References / Bibliography Links Contact information Gallery of Archaeological Artifacts An Opinion Right: Detail of a woodcut in the Ashmolean Museum described as an "Irish Chieftain," probably drawn in the early 16th century (after McClintock 1950: Figure 18; color added). During the 10th century men wore linen clothing. The saga below describes Irish men wearing "elegant tunics with smooth fringes, . . . and beautiful, finely wrought collars."

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Topics covered in Parts 1, 2, and 3 of the Irish saga Caithrem Ceallachain Caisil, The Victorious Career of Cellachan of Cashel or The Wars Between the Irishmen and the Norsemen in the Middle of the 10th Century. (Note: If you let the page load entirely it will bring you directly to the section in text that you have clicked on.) Since most Callahans probably moved to America in the 1840's during the period of the potato famine, and the saga was not translated into English until 1905 (in Norway), most Americans with a Callahan surname probably are unaware that a medieval Irish saga exists about their 10th century ancestor. PART 1 The list of the kings of Munster before Ceallachan and their causes of death The oppression of the Irish by the Vikings Ceallachan's ancestry Ceallachan prepares to be king by posing as a cleric for a year and a half, secretly reconnoitering the countryside His mother collects arms and retains soldiers Cennedig's (Kennedy's) rivalry for the kingship during the election at Glennamain Ceallachan's mother's speech to the assembly at Glennamain Cennedig and Donnchad leave the assembly mound The inauguration of Ceallachan Ceallachan's call for war and an attack on Limerick Suilleban (Sullivan) addresses the soldiers The Battle of Limerick Ceallachan's combat with Amlaib Suilleban's combat with Morann Donnchad's combat with Magnus Ribordan's combat with Lochlann and the battle inside the town The poem composed about the Battle of Limerick The Battle of Cork The Battle of Sliab Crot The Battle of Thurles Ceallachan's address to Donnchad before the Battle of Cashel and the poem The Battle of Port Lairge (Waterford) Taking hostages and pledges from the Deisi, Ui-Mic-Caille, and Ui Liathain The Battle at Muscraige with the Loch Lein Eoganachts The Battle with Congal in Aes Irrais The Battle of Glenn Corbraigi Donnchuan, son of Cennedig, joins Ceallachan to fight Flannabra, king of Ui Conaill and the poem The Battle of Cromad The celebration in Cashel of the expulsion of the Norsemen from the towns and fortresses Demanding taxes from Ossory and the battles with the Leinstermen PART 2 The Donnchadh, the King of Ireland, agrees to the Viking plot to kill Ceallachan because Ceallachan had not agreed to pay him tribute Ceallachan wants to go with an army to Dublin but is dissuaded and instead goes with 80 men Sitric tells his wife, Mor of the plan and because she is secretly in love with Ceallachan she warns him on the road to Dublin The poem describing the meeting between Mor and Ceallachan Ceallachan and his men are pursued by the Vikings on foot and by horse Several of Ceallachan's men fight rear guard actions against the pursuing Vikings Ceallachan and Donnchadh are captured, and the Vikings exhibit the heads of the slain Irish for identification Ceallachan's poem lamenting the death of the riders of Munster Sitric's ransom demands Ceallachan instructs Aistrechan, son of Ailgisech, what to tell the men of Munster (2 poems) Ceallachan tells Cennedigh to stay and defend Munster Aistrechan returns to Munster and describes the situation Donnchad, the son of Caem, agrees to a rescue expedition and recites Ceallachan's 15 battles The expedition is organized Donnchad is made the leader of the expedition The route of the hosting Muirchertach son of Airnelach, the king of Cenel Conaill, warns the Vikings to move Ceallachan to Dundalk The Battle of Armagh Donnchadh is told that Ceallachan was moved to Dundalk The army goes to Dundalk and Sitric binds Ceallachan and Donnchuan, the son of Cennetig to the mast Donnchadh reproaches Sitric (poem) Ceallachan addresses Donnchadh and sees the approaching Munster fleet (poem) Duinechad, son of Fiangus, arranges the order of battle The Battle at Dundalk Harbor Failbe leaps on to Sitric's ship and cuts Ceallachan loose PART 3 The Battle on the Viking Ships: The Death of Failbe Fiangel laments the death of Failbe (poem) Fiangal pulls Sitric into the sea where they both drown Seghda and Congal attack but the Viking ships are swamped The poem about the battle Conchubar, the king of Ciarraige, kills Ilbrech, son of the king of Lochlann The Baiscne attack the fleet of the Berserks and kill Lenn Turmun of the Berserks Donnchuan, son of Ceinneidigh, is freed from the mast The ships of Munster land and the Vikings leave Ceallachan laments the death of Failbe Donnchadh, the son of Caem's poem about the battle The burial of the nobles in four graves at a church in north Dundalk Donnchadh, the son of Caem's second poem about the battle They burn their ships and those of the Vikings and discuss the route home Ceallachan and Donnchadh urge a route via Dublin They plunder and burn everything on their way between Dundalk and Dublin The plot by the women of Dublin fails The army stays a week in Dublin and Donnchuan. son of Cennedig, takes Bebinn as his wife in Dublin The Munster army meets the army of Leinster on the route home They seek revenge on Muirchertach and Donnchadh, son of Flann Sinna, king of Erin and plundered Tara Ceallachan dies in 952 PAGE SCANS (jpg's) Scans of the book's pages in .jpg format, Introduction, Translation, Notes and Index

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