History Extra

From the Tara Foundation Winter magazine of 2007/2008.

Did you know it was considered lucky for a black cat to cross your path? Cats were valued in early Ireland for the protection they provided against vermin and black cats were powerful symbols in Irish literature and legend. Christian tradition tended to malign cats and they eventually became associated with the devil, black cats being particularly...

Brian Bórime MacCennétig (Brian Ború) was the progenitor of the Ua Bhriain or O'Brien dynasty. He was born in Kincora, now Killaloe, Co. Clare, just across the River Shannon from Ballina, Co. Tipperary.