Clan Muircheartaigh Uí Conchobhair
Encyclopedia
The 'Clan Muircheartaigh Uí Conchobhair (aka Clan Murtagh O'Connors) were descendants of Irish High-King Toirdelbach Ua Conchobair, via his son, Muircheartach Muimhneach
(d.1210). They have been defined by Katherine Simms as:
prior to the Norman occupation of Connacht by Richard Mór de Burgh. Thereafter they attempted with short periods of success to contest for the title of the rump-Kingdom of Connacht in the King's Cantreds
with their cousins, the descendants of Cathal Crobhdearg Ua Conchobair. From the 1290s their main base of activity was in West Breifne
. After the 1360s their standing was greatly reduced and they returned to County Roscommon
as supporters of the O'Conor Roe, gradually fading into obscurity.
Tairrdelbach, King of Connacht
& Ard Rí na hÉireann
, 1088-1156.
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Ruaidrí
Muirchertach Muimnech Cathal Crobhdearg, 1153-1224,
c.1115-1198 Tainiste
of Connacht Kg. 1202-24.
King of Connacht, d.1210 Ancestor of Ó Conchubhair Ruadh & Ó Conchubhair Donn
& Ard Rí na hÉireann |
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Conor Ruad, d.1245
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Cathal Ruad Maghnus
Kg. Conn. 1280-88; 1293 Kg. Conn 1288-1293
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Conor Ruad Aodh Breifnech Ruaidri
claimant. 1296 Kg. Conn. 1309-10 Kg. Conn. 1315-16
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Aodh Cathal Ruaidri
Kg. Conn. 1342-43 Tainiste Tainiste
d.1350 d.1366 d.1380
Muirchertach Muimhnech Ua Conchobair
Muirchertach Muimhnech Ua Conchobair, Prince of Connacht,fl.1156-1210.Muirchertach was one of over twenty sons sired by King Tairrdelbach of Connacht. His nickname, Muimhnech, indicated that he was fostered in Munster....
(d.1210). They have been defined by Katherine Simms as:
... the earliest, most aristocraticAristocracy (class)The aristocracy are people considered to be in the highest social class in a society which has or once had a political system of Aristocracy. Aristocrats possess hereditary titles granted by a monarch, which once granted them feudal or legal privileges, or deriving, as in Ancient Greece and India,...
and best documented example of increasing nomadism in the northern half of Ireland in the late middle agesLate Middle AgesThe Late Middle Ages was the period of European history generally comprising the 14th to the 16th century . The Late Middle Ages followed the High Middle Ages and preceded the onset of the early modern era ....
. ... In spite of the fact that they were a very numerous branch of the O'Conor family, who supplied five kings to the throne of ConnachtConnachtConnacht , formerly anglicised as Connaught, is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the west of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for...
, they seem to have vanished away in the early fifteenth century, never to be heard of again.
Clan Muircheartaigh Kings of Connacht
- Cathal mac Conchobair Ruadh Ua ConchobairCathal mac Conchobair Ruadh Ua ConchobairCathal mac Conchobair Ruadh Ua Conchobair was King of Connacht in Ireland. He was a member of the Clan Muircheartaigh Uí Conchobhair lineage.-References:* Annals of Ulster at at * Annals of the Four Masters at at * Chronicum Scotorum at at...
, reigned 1280-1288 - Maghnus mac Conchobair Ruadh Ua ConchobairMaghnus mac Conchobair Ruadh Ua ConchobairMaghnus mac Conchobair Ruadh Ua Conchobair was King of Connacht in Ireland. He was a member of the Clan Muircheartaigh Uí Conchobhair lineage.-References:* Annals of Ulster at at * Annals of the Four Masters at at * Chronicum Scotorum at at...
, reigned 1288-1293 - Aodh Breifnech (i.e, of BreifneKingdom of BreifneThe Kingdom of Breifne or Bréifne was the traditional territory for an early Irish tribal group known as the Uí Briúin Bréifne...
), reigned 1309-1310 - Ruaidrí, reigned 1315-1316
- Aodh, reigned 1342-1343, Died 1350
Short history
The family held the lordship of south County MayoCounty Mayo
County Mayo is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the village of Mayo, which is now generally known as Mayo Abbey. Mayo County Council is the local authority for the county. The population of the county is 130,552...
prior to the Norman occupation of Connacht by Richard Mór de Burgh. Thereafter they attempted with short periods of success to contest for the title of the rump-Kingdom of Connacht in the King's Cantreds
County Roscommon
County Roscommon is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the town of Roscommon. Roscommon County Council is the local authority for the county...
with their cousins, the descendants of Cathal Crobhdearg Ua Conchobair. From the 1290s their main base of activity was in West Breifne
Kingdom of Breifne
The Kingdom of Breifne or Bréifne was the traditional territory for an early Irish tribal group known as the Uí Briúin Bréifne...
. After the 1360s their standing was greatly reduced and they returned to County Roscommon
County Roscommon
County Roscommon is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the town of Roscommon. Roscommon County Council is the local authority for the county...
as supporters of the O'Conor Roe, gradually fading into obscurity.
Family tree (simplified)
- Kg. = King of Connacht
Tairrdelbach, King of Connacht
Kings of Connacht
The Kings of Connacht were rulers of the cóiced of Connacht, which lies west of the River Shannon, Ireland. However, the name only became applied to it in the early medieval era, being named after The Connachta.The old name for the province was Cóiced Ol nEchmacht . Ptolemy's map of c. 150 AD...
& Ard Rí na hÉireann
High King of Ireland
The High Kings of Ireland were sometimes historical and sometimes legendary figures who had, or who are claimed to have had, lordship over the whole of Ireland. Medieval and early modern Irish literature portrays an almost unbroken sequence of High Kings, ruling from Tara over a hierarchy of...
, 1088-1156.
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Ruaidrí
Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair
Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair , often anglicised Rory O'Connor, reigned as King of Connacht from 1156 to 1186, and from 1166 to 1198 was the last High King before the Norman invasion of Ireland .Ruaidrí was one of over twenty sons of King...
Muirchertach Muimnech Cathal Crobhdearg, 1153-1224,
c.1115-1198 Tainiste
Tanistry
Tanistry was a Gaelic system for passing on titles and lands. In this system the Tanist was the office of heir-apparent, or second-in-command, among the Gaelic patrilineal dynasties of Ireland, Scotland and Man, to succeed to the chieftainship or to the kingship.-Origins:The Tanist was chosen from...
of Connacht Kg. 1202-24.
King of Connacht, d.1210 Ancestor of Ó Conchubhair Ruadh & Ó Conchubhair Donn
& Ard Rí na hÉireann |
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Conor Ruad, d.1245
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Cathal Ruad Maghnus
Kg. Conn. 1280-88; 1293 Kg. Conn 1288-1293
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Conor Ruad Aodh Breifnech Ruaidri
claimant. 1296 Kg. Conn. 1309-10 Kg. Conn. 1315-16
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Aodh Cathal Ruaidri
Kg. Conn. 1342-43 Tainiste Tainiste
d.1350 d.1366 d.1380