KINGDOMS IN ANCIENT IRELAND

Fact File

Between the fifth & twelfth centuries there were probably about one hundred and fifty kings in Ireland. The kingdom of Corcomroe would have been quite small - only about six hundred square miles so King Carthen would not have been a very important king. His 'honour price' (his worth in society) would have been twenty-one cows, or twenty-one pieces of silver. A book written in the eighth century mentions that King Carthen of Corcomroe was baptised by St Patrick.

The overall responsibility for law and order in the kingdom rested with the king, though he delegated that authority to his Brehon in all but the most important matters.

Read &Write:

(Chapter Eight)

1. Who baptised King Carthen of Corcomroe?

2. What was the honour price of King Carthen?

3. How many kings were there in ancient Ireland?

4. How big was the kingdom of Corcomroe?

5. Page 84

Why do you think Oisín needed to talk to the king about getting his land back?

Draw…!

Draw a picture of King Carthen.

Try to find a picture in a book of Irish legends of what a king would have looked like in the fifth century.

Explore…!

Find the Burren in a map of County Clare. See if you can find also Miltown Malbay and Mount Callan on the south west of the county. Corcomroe in the fifth century included the Burren and went down to below both of these places in west Clare. How many other places can you find that are mentioned in the Drumshee books.

Imagine a conversation between Oisín and the girl he loves, Aoife. Oisín has to tell her what the king has said and they have to plan for the future. Write down what each says.