ðɪ ˈænəlz ʌvðə fˈoːɹ mˈæstɚz ʌv ˈaɪɚlənd tˈɛlz ˌʌs ðæt ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd tˈuːhˈʌndɹɪd θˈɜːtiːn hiː wʌz lˈɪvɪŋ ɪn kˈɛɹbɚ dɹˈɑːm klˈaɪəb, nˈaʊ kˈaʊnti slˈiːɡoʊ æz ðɪ ˈɑːlæm hˈaɪ pˈoʊɪt ʌv kˈɪŋ dˈɑːmhnɔːl ˌoʊɐkjˈuːt dˈɑːmhneɪl dˈaɪd wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd tˈuːhˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹɾi wˈʌn ʌvðɪ oʊdˈɑːnəl dˈaɪnɐsti.
The Annals of the Four Masters of Ireland tells us that in 1213 he was living in Cairbre Drom Cliabh, now County Sligo as the ollamh (high poet) of King Domhnall Ó Domhnaill (died 1241) of the O'Donnell dynasty.