The River Suck-Hind tochailt—One Event in the Very Active Kingship of Toirrdelbach Ó Conchobair, King of Connacht and High-King of Ireland, 1119–1156

Abstract

THE CAREER OF TOIRRDELBACH Ó CONCHOBAIR, King of Connacht and High-King of Ireland, served as a high-water mark in terms of the authority and aspirations visible among pre-Norman Gaelic rulers. We will investigate one episode in his career, the AD 1139 commissioning of a major action of communal labour in western Ireland. This will confirm the course of this earthwork, understand its functions, and use this endeavour as a case study in examining the ambitions of this remarkable king, and the influences which shaped his decisions. This 12th - century tochailt (Ir digging) is made up of physical elements, some natural and some manmade. The natural course of the Suck flows southwards from west Roscommon towards Ballinasloe to join the Shannon at Raghrabeg, south-west of Shannonbridge. The Hind flows eastwards from south of Rocksavage House to Lough Ree on the Shannon. Between the headwaters of the Hind at Rocksavage and the Suck at Castlestrange Bridge, north of Athleague, a distance of 13.5 km, are the Ballinturly and Correal turloughs. It is the three lengths of works linking the turloughs to each other and to the two rivers that constitute the tochailt. This use of water formed a barrier between modern south Roscommon and mid-Roscommon, protecting and regulating access into and out of the traditional territory of the Gaelic Uí Chonchobair kings of Connacht to the north of this boundary throughout the later medieval period and beyond.