Ressad
Encyclopedia
Ressad or Ress refers to a now lost city and possibly also to a territory that is still unidentified but believed by scholars to have been somewhere within the borders of modern County Limerick
in western Ireland, in what was once the territory of the kingdom of the Uí Fidgenti
.
The name occurs in only a small number of surviving sources, which for this region of Ireland, of respectable wealth itself, are generally quite poor.
and the Corcu Luigde
, Saint Colmán of Cloyne
cursed the city of Ressad, which brought down its walls.
The Annals of Inisfallen
style Donnubán mac Cathail
, until this time styled King of Uí Fidgenti, instead King of Ressad at his death in 980. He is the only king ever so styled in all the Irish annals
.
The early 12th century saga and political tract Cogad Gáedel re Gallaib names the only other known King of Ressad as the otherwise unknown Flaithrí mac Allamarain, but who is said to belong to the 10th century like Donnubán and may have preceded him. The author of CGG states he was one of the Munster kings slain by Ivar of Limerick
circa 967 before the Battle of Sulcoit
. Notably Donnubán was Ivar's ally, and is said to have been his son-in-law, but none of this is specifically associated with Ressad in the passage.
called Reerasta, where was found the internationally famous Ardagh Chalice
(Hoard) in western County Limerick, is a corruption of Rí Ressad.
County Limerick
It is thought that humans had established themselves in the Lough Gur area of the county as early as 3000 BC, while megalithic remains found at Duntryleague date back further to 3500 BC...
in western Ireland, in what was once the territory of the kingdom of the Uí Fidgenti
Uí Fidgenti
The Uí Fidgenti or Wood-Sprung People were an early kingdom of northern Munster, situated mostly in modern County Limerick, but extending into County Clare and County Tipperary, and possibly even County Kerry and County Cork, at maximum extents, which varied over time...
.
The name occurs in only a small number of surviving sources, which for this region of Ireland, of respectable wealth itself, are generally quite poor.
Colmán of Cloyne
According to the early tale known as Conall CorcConall Corc
Corc mac Luigthig, also called Conall Corc, Corc of Cashel, and Corc mac Láire, is the hero of Irish language tales which form part of the origin legend of the Eóganachta, a group of kindreds which traced their descent from Conall Corc and took their name from his ancestor Éogan Mór. The early...
and the Corcu Luigde
Corcu Loígde
The Corcu Loígde , meaning Gens of the Calf Goddess, also called the Síl Lugdach meic Itha, were a kingdom centered in West County Cork who descended from the proto-historical rulers of Munster, the Dáirine, of whom they were the principal royal sept...
, Saint Colmán of Cloyne
Colmán of Cloyne
Saint Colmán of Cloyne , also Colmán mac Léníne, was a monk, founder and patron of Cluain Uama, now Cloyne, Co. Cork, Ireland, and one of the earliest known Irish poets to write in the vernacular.-Sources:...
cursed the city of Ressad, which brought down its walls.
Kings of Ressad
Only two Kings of Ressad are known from the surviving sources, both probably belonging to the second half of the 10th century.The Annals of Inisfallen
Annals of Inisfallen
The Annals of Inisfallen are a chronicle of the medieval history of Ireland. There are more than 2,500 entries spanning the years between AD 433 and AD 1450, but it is believed to have been written between the 12th and 15th centuries...
style Donnubán mac Cathail
Donnubán mac Cathail
Donnubán , Donndubán , or Donnabán mac Cathail, anglicised Donovan, son of Cahall , was a 10th century ruler of the Irish regional kingdom of Uí Fidgenti, and possibly also of the smaller overkingdom of Uí Chairpre Áebda within that...
, until this time styled King of Uí Fidgenti, instead King of Ressad at his death in 980. He is the only king ever so styled in all the Irish annals
Irish annals
A number of Irish annals were compiled up to and shortly after the end of Gaelic Ireland in the 17th century.Annals were originally a means by which monks determined the yearly chronology of feast days...
.
The early 12th century saga and political tract Cogad Gáedel re Gallaib names the only other known King of Ressad as the otherwise unknown Flaithrí mac Allamarain, but who is said to belong to the 10th century like Donnubán and may have preceded him. The author of CGG states he was one of the Munster kings slain by Ivar of Limerick
Ivar of Limerick
Ivar of Limerick , died 977, was the last Norse king of the city-state of Limerick, and penultimate King of the Foreigners of Munster, reigning during the rise to power of the Dál gCais and the fall of the Eóganachta...
circa 967 before the Battle of Sulcoit
Battle of Sulcoit
The Battle of Sulcoit was an important victory for the rising Dál gCais against their enemies, the Norse of Limerick under Ivar of Limerick. The Dál gCais army was led by Mathgamain mac Cennétig with the possible assistance of his younger brother Brian Bóruma....
. Notably Donnubán was Ivar's ally, and is said to have been his son-in-law, but none of this is specifically associated with Ressad in the passage.
Reerasta Rath
It is possible that the RáthRath
-Things:*Rath, as an alternative spelling of Rat, a German advisory or ruling council, see, e.g., Parlamentarischer Rat*Ráth, Irish ringfort, fortified earthen works* Rath, a plane in the Magic: The Gathering trading card game...
called Reerasta, where was found the internationally famous Ardagh Chalice
Ardagh Chalice
The Ardagh Hoard, best known for the Ardagh Chalice, is a hoard of metalwork from the 8th and 9th centuries, found in 1868 and now in the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin...
(Hoard) in western County Limerick, is a corruption of Rí Ressad.