Biography

Gadhra Mór was one of three known sons of Dundach, chief of the region extending from Grian

Grian

Grian or Greaney is the name of a river, a lake, and region in the portion of the Sliabh Aughty mountains in County Clare. It formed part of the boundary of the kingdom of Síol Anmchadha....

 to Caradh. The others were Diarmaid (died 998) and Cú Connacht mac Dundach

Cú Connacht mac Dundach

Cú Connacht mac Dundach was King of Síol Anmchadha.He is described as King in the Annals of Innisfallen. He was killed in battle near Lorrha by the Muskerry of County Cork, though other annals state he was killed by either Brian Boru or his son, Murchad. His son, Dundach mac Cú Connacht was lord...

 (died 1006). He became chief of Síol Anmchadha in 1008, and all of Uí Maine after 1014. Tadhg Mór Ua Cellaigh

Tadhg Mór Ua Cellaigh

-Background:Ua Cellaigh was the first King of Uí Maine to bear the surnmae Ua Cellaigh, derived from his grandfather, Ceallach mac Finnachta, who was in turn a sixth-generation descendant of Eoghan Finn, a descendant of the first king, Maine Mór...

 had been the previous chief of Uí Maine but had been killed in the Battle of Clontarf

Battle of Clontarf

The Battle of Clontarf took place on 23 April 1014 between the forces of Brian Boru and the forces led by the King of Leinster, Máel Mórda mac Murchada: composed mainly of his own men, Viking mercenaries from Dublin and the Orkney Islands led by his cousin Sigtrygg, as well as the one rebellious...

, so in the following year Gadhra Mór took possession of the region extending from Grian to Caradh.

In 1023 he attacked and plundered the monastic city of Clonmacnoise

Clonmacnoise

The monastery of Clonmacnoise is situated in County Offaly, Ireland on the River Shannon south of Athlone....

. The Annals of the Four Masters

Annals of the Four Masters

The Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland or the Annals of the Four Masters are a chronicle of medieval Irish history...

 state that he carried off several hundred cows. Four years later he was killed on a predatory excursion in Osraige while accompanying Donnchad mac Briain

Donnchad mac Briain

Donnchadh mac Briain , formerly anglicised as Donough O'Brian, son of Brian Bóruma and Gormflaith ingen Murchada, was King of Munster.-Background:...

, King of Munster. His known issue were Madudan mac Gadhra Mór

Madudan mac Gadhra Mór

Madudan mac Gadhra Mór was the namesake and ancestor of the Ó Madden family.Madudan was the son of Gadhra Mór mac Dundach who fought at the Battle of Clontarf in 1014. The Annals of Ulster describe him as Chief of Síol Anmchadha on the occasion of his death - killed by his brother, Cú Connacht...

 (died 1008) and Cú Connacht mac Gadhra Mór (died ca. 1045).

Family tree

Dundach s. Cobhthach s. Maelduin s. Donngal s. Anmchadh s. Eoghan Buac s. Cormac s. Cairpri s. Feradhach s. Lughaidh s. Dallán mac Breasal

Dallán mac Breasal

-Biography:John O'Donovan remarked that "Conall Cas-ciabhach, i.e. of the curled tresses, was prince of Hy-Maine, twenty-two years, when he was slain...

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Diarmaid (d. 998) Cú Connacht (d. 1006) Gadhra Mór (d. 1027) Dogra (d. 1027)
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Dundach (d. 1032) | |
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Madudan (d. 1008) Cú Connacht (c. ca. 1045)
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Diarmaid (d. 1069) ?
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Madudan Reamhar Ua Madadhan, died 1096. Cú Coirne Ua Madudhan (d. 1158)
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Madudan Mór, fl. 1158. Murchadh Conchobhar Maelsechlainn (fl. 1158-88)
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Murchad (d. 1201)