Cormac Mac Carthaig
Encyclopedia
Origins
Since the 10th-century the kingship of MunsterMunster
Munster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the south 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 administrative and judicial purposes...
had been held by the Dál gCais
Dál gCais
The Dál gCais were a dynastic group of related septs located in north Munster who rose to political prominence in the 10th century AD in Ireland. They claimed descent from Cormac Cas, or Cas mac Conall Echlúath, hence the term "Dál", meaning "portion" or "share" of Cas...
at the expense of the original dynasty, the Eóganachta
Eóganachta
The Eóganachta or Eoghanachta were an Irish dynasty centred around Cashel which dominated southern Ireland from the 6/7th to the 10th centuries, and following that, in a restricted form, the Kingdom of Desmond, and its offshoot Carbery, well into the 16th century...
. In 1983, Henry Alan Jefferies stated:
Since the days of Ceallachán († 954), their fortunes had gone into grave and seemingly endless decline. Not only did they lose the kingship of Munster to Brian Boru, but by the 1070s Brian's descendants had wrested possession of CashelCashel, County TipperaryCashel is a town in South Tipperary in Ireland. Its population was 2936 at the 2006 census. The town gives its name to the ecclesiastical province of Cashel. Additionally, the cathedra of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly was originally in the town prior to the English Reformation....
itself from them. The dispossessed remnant of the Eóghanacht of Cashel migrated westwards and by the reign of Muiredach son of Cárthach, they may have occupied some location in the EmlyEmlyEmly or Emlybeg is a village in South Tipperary, Ireland. It is a civil parish in the historical barony of Clanwilliam. It is also an Ecclesiastical parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly....
-DuhallowDuhallowDuhallow is a barony located in the north-western part of County Cork, Ireland.- Legal context :Baronies were created after the Norman invasion as subdivisions of counties and were used for administration. Baronies continue to be regarded as officially defined units, but they are no longer used...
district. Certainly the early expansion of the Mac Carthys suggests a north-west CorkCounty CorkCounty Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
provenance. Muiredach's death in 1092 was swiftly followed by the murder of his brother and successor at the hands of Ceallachán O'Callaghan. In view of this killing, and his designation as 'O'Callaghan of Cashel' at a time when that district had long been lost to the Eóghanacht, I would suggest that Ceallachán usurped the kingship of the Eóghanacht of Cashel and retained it until his death. It is my contention that his death in 1115 was a Mac Carthy action which opened the way for the rise to power of Tadhg son of Muiredach Mac Carthy.
Not until the early 12th century did members of a sept of the dynasty, the Mac Carthaigh
MacCarthy dynasty
The MacCarthy dynasty was one of Ireland's greatest medieval dynasties. It was and continues to be divided into several great branches. The MacCarthy Reagh, MacCarthy of Muskerry, and MacCarthy of Duhallow dynasties were the three most important of these, after the central or MacCarthy Mór...
clan, be led by the brothers Tadg Mac Carthaig (king of Desmond 1118-1123) and Cormac Mac Carthaigh, sons of Muireadach mac Carthaig (died 1092).
The Treaty of Glanmire
Muirchertach Ua Briain (c. 1050–c. 1119) was both King of Munster and High King of IrelandHigh 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...
. He was of the Dál gCais
Dál gCais
The Dál gCais were a dynastic group of related septs located in north Munster who rose to political prominence in the 10th century AD in Ireland. They claimed descent from Cormac Cas, or Cas mac Conall Echlúath, hence the term "Dál", meaning "portion" or "share" of Cas...
dynasty, and a great-great grandson of Brian Boru
Brian Boru
Brian Bóruma mac Cennétig, , , was an Irish king who ended the domination of the High Kingship of Ireland by the Uí Néill. Building on the achievements of his father, Cennétig mac Lorcain, and especially his elder brother, Mathgamain, Brian first made himself King of Munster, then subjugated...
(c. 937-1014).
Muirchertach became seriously ill in 1114, and his rule suffered as a result. Dissension between him and his brother, Diarmaid, Dux of Cork, was exacerbated by hostilities from other major Irish kingdoms such as Connacht
Connacht
Connacht , 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...
, Aileach and Leinster
Leinster
Leinster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the east of Ireland. It comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Mide, Osraige and Leinster. Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the historic fifths of Leinster and Mide gradually merged, mainly due to the impact of the Pale, which straddled...
. This gave Ua Briain vassals, such as the Mac Carthaigh brothers, the chance to assert their independence.
Tadhg Mac Carthaigh was effective ruler of south-west Munster in 1118 when the sons of Diarmaid Ua Briain
Diarmait Ua Briain
Diarmait Ua Briain was a 11th century Irish king who ruled Munster from 1114 to 1118.One of three sons of Toirdelbach Ua Briain, he was banished from Munster by his brother Muirchertach Ua Briain shortly after the death of their father in 1086. He lived in exile for several years while his brother...
fled from the new king, Brian Ua Briain. In an attempt to subborne Mac Carthaigh, Ua Briain engaged him and his army at Glanmire
Glanmire
Glanmire literally meaning ‘The valley of the small fish; The valley of the ploughed land:' The Still Vale: The Valley of the Young Fish) is a town in County Cork, Ireland with a population of 15,498....
but was defeated; he himself was killed by Turlough mac Diarmaid.
News of the defeat roused Muirchertach from his retirement, regaining the kingship of Munster and led a large army south, accompanied by his allies, the kings of Connacht
Connacht
Connacht , 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...
, Mide
Kingdom of Mide
Mide , spelt Midhe in modern Irish and anglicised as Meath, was a medieval kingdom in Ireland for over 1,000 years. Its name means "middle", denoting the fact that lay in the middle of Ireland....
, and Breifine
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...
. However, the most powerful of the kings, Tairrdelbach Ua Conchobair (1088–1156) found it expedient for his own purposes to keep Munster divided, so he made "an enduring treaty" with Tadgh, formally recognising him as the first King of Desmond, while the sons of Diarmaid Ua Briain were given Thomond
Thomond
Thomond The region of Ireland associated with the name Thomond is County Clare, County Limerick and north County Tipperary; effectively most of north Munster. The name is used by a variety of establishments and organisations located in , or associated with the region...
.
With Munster divided into two separate kingdoms, Toirdelbach became the only contender for High King of Ireland
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...
, a position he held with opposition till his death in 1156. When Tadgh rebelled, Toirdelbach invaded and ravaged Desmond in 1121, 1122 and 1123. At the end of the latter year Tadgh became seriously ill; before his death he resigned the kingship and Cormac took his place.
Cormac, King of Desmond
Early in 1124 Ua Conchobair brought the fleet of ConnachtConnacht
Connacht , 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...
down to Munster to assert his dominion over Thomond and Desmond. However, an unexpected attack from Mide and 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...
forced his attention away. Cormac took the opportunity to make an alliance with the kings of Laghin
Leinster
Leinster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the east of Ireland. It comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Mide, Osraige and Leinster. Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the historic fifths of Leinster and Mide gradually merged, mainly due to the impact of the Pale, which straddled...
, Mide and Breifne, making ready to invade Connacht.
They were met at the bridge of Átha Luain over the Shannon
River Shannon
The River Shannon is the longest river in Ireland at . It divides the west of Ireland from the east and south . County Clare, being west of the Shannon but part of the province of Munster, is the major exception...
only to find Ua Conchobhair already there with a massive army. Because Mac Carthaigh was the apparent leader of the revolt, Ua Conchobhair promptly executed the hostages of Desmond, which included Mael Sechlainn Mac Carthaigh, Cormac's son. Realiseing that Ua Conchobair could only be defeated at the cost of huge casualties, Cormac "returned home mournfully."
In 1125 Mac Carthaigh seized the city of Limerick
Limerick
Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
from Ua Briain, an act which was seen as symbolicly assuming the kingship of all Munster. It was also an affront to Ua Conchobair, now fully recognised as Ard Rí
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...
. The following year the Ard Rí attacked and decisively defeated Mac Carthaigh at his military encampment in Osraige
Kingdom of Osraige
The Kingdom of Osraighe , anglicized as Ossory, was an ancient kingdom of Ireland. It formed the easternmost part of the kingdom and province of Munster until the middle of the 9th century, after which it attached itself to Leinster...
. This resulted in Cormac's deposition in 1127, been replaced by his brother Donnchadh.
Donnchadh submitted to Ua Conchobair after the siege of Cork city on Saint Brigid's Day 1127, along with O'Mahony, O'Donoghue, O'Keef, O'Bric, O Conchobhair Ciarraige.
Cormac was tonsured, took Holy Orders
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
, and retired to the monastery of Lismore
Lismore, County Waterford
Lismore is a town in County Waterford, Ireland. It is located where the N72 road crosses the River Blackwater.-History:It was founded by Saint Mochuda, also known as Saint Carthage. In the 7th century, Lismore was the site of the well-known Lismore Abbey. It is also home to Lismore Castle, the...
.
Caithréim Cheallachán Chaisil
Caithréim Chellacháin ChaisilCaithréim Chellacháin Chaisil
Caithréim Chellacháin ChaisilDonnchadh Ó Corráin writes that this title "was first given it by Eugene O'Curry in his transcript of the text. It has no title in the earliest copy, that in the Book of Lismore...
was a work of literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
commissioned by Cormac between 1128 and 1131.
External links
- http://mccarthy.montana.com/Articles/EarlyYears.html
- http://mccarthy.montana.com/Articles/CashelToCarbery.html
- Miscellaneous Irish Annals (A.D. 1114-1437)
- here)
- http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/j/o/n/Brian-Jones/FILE/0059page.html
- http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/T100013.html
- http://www.offalyhistory.com/attachments/2_ohasvol2%2804%29.pdf