ua lochlainn was of the corcu mo druad, vassals of o brian, and strategically located across galway bay. thus it is possible that while o brian led his army by land, ua lochlainn sailed across the bay and the two inflicted a sea-and-land siege of gallimhe; this possibility is obliquely hinted at in the manner of ua lochlainn's death. it may even be that, contending for the lordship of galway bay - from which plundering raids could be made into clan fergal, maigh seola, meadraige and uí fiachrach aidhne - o brian may have been letting ua lochlainn unleash himself against a prime adversary.