Mahon mac Turlough Mantach Ó Briain
Encyclopedia
Mahon mac Turlough Mantach Ó Briain, Chief of the Name of the Clan Teige Ó Briain of Aran
, died 1565.
. They were descended from Tadhg Ó Briain, great-grandson of Brian Boru
(c.937
-1014), from whom they took their clan name. The Ó Briain Kings of Thomond had exercised rule of the three Aran Islands
since before the Anglo-Irish
settled in Connacht
in the 1230s, and, in return for protection of their shipping to and from the town, The Tribes of Galway paid them an annual tribute of twelve tuns of wine "in consideration of their protection and expenses in guarding the bay and harbour of Galway against pirates and coast plunderers."
His full pedigree
named him as the son of Turlough Mantach (the toothless) son of Donough, son of Donell, son of Turlough Meith (the fat).
points out that royal charter
of 1545 determined that "Exemption from tolls for all ships entering this way made Galway, now at the peak of its prosperity, virtually a free port
. The Clann Thaidhg O'Briens of Aran were no longer such important allies." This seems to have been a root cause of the dispute that led to Mahon's death. The Annals of the Four Masters
record that in the year 1565:
became Chief of Iar Connacht
, and began to assert his rule over the islands.
wrote that:
Aran
- Places :* The Aran Islands across the mouth of Galway Bay, Ireland or the largest island in that group** The Irish Earls of Arran take their title from the Aran Islands* Aran Fawddwy, a mountain in north Wales* Aran , in France...
, died 1565.
Family background
Ó Briain was the senior member of the Mac Taidhg, or Clann Taidhg Ó Briain, of Inishmore in Galway BayGalway Bay
Galway Bay is a large bay on the west coast of Ireland, between County Galway in the province of Connacht to the north and the Burren in County Clare in the province of Munster to the south. Galway city is located on the northeast side of the bay. It is about long and from to in breadth...
. They were descended from Tadhg Ó Briain, 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
937
Year 937 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Battle of Brunanburh: King Athelstan of England defeats the Viking king of Dublin, the Scots, and Strathclyde....
-1014), from whom they took their clan name. The Ó Briain Kings of Thomond had exercised rule of the three Aran Islands
Aran Islands
The Aran Islands or The Arans are a group of three islands located at the mouth of Galway Bay, on the west coast of Ireland. They constitute the barony of Aran in County Galway, Ireland...
since before the Anglo-Irish
Anglo-Irish
Anglo-Irish was a term used primarily in the 19th and early 20th centuries to identify a privileged social class in Ireland, whose members were the descendants and successors of the Protestant Ascendancy, mostly belonging to the Church of Ireland, which was the established church of Ireland until...
settled in 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...
in the 1230s, and, in return for protection of their shipping to and from the town, The Tribes of Galway paid them an annual tribute of twelve tuns of wine "in consideration of their protection and expenses in guarding the bay and harbour of Galway against pirates and coast plunderers."
His full pedigree
Pedigree chart
A pedigree chart is a diagram that shows the occurrence and appearance or phenotypes of a particular gene or organism and its ancestors from one generation to the next, most commonly humans, show dogs, and race horses....
named him as the son of Turlough Mantach (the toothless) son of Donough, son of Donell, son of Turlough Meith (the fat).
The Charter of 1545
Tim RobinsonTim Robinson
Tim Robinson is an English former cricketer, and current cricket umpire, who played in 29 Tests and 26 ODIs for England from 1984 to 1989....
points out that royal charter
Royal Charter
A royal charter is a formal document issued by a monarch as letters patent, granting a right or power to an individual or a body corporate. They were, and are still, used to establish significant organizations such as cities or universities. Charters should be distinguished from warrants and...
of 1545 determined that "Exemption from tolls for all ships entering this way made Galway, now at the peak of its prosperity, virtually a free port
Free port
A free port or free zone , sometimes also called a bonded area is a port, port area or other area with relaxed jurisdiction with respect to the country of location...
. The Clann Thaidhg O'Briens of Aran were no longer such important allies." This seems to have been a root cause of the dispute that led to Mahon's death. 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...
record that in the year 1565:
"Mahon, the son of Turlough Mantach ... was treacherously slain in his own town of Aircín, in Aran, by his own associates and relations. When the chief men of Galway heard of this, they set out to revenge this misdeed upon the treacherous perpetrators, so that they compelled them to fly from their houses; and they the fugitives went into a boat, and put to sea; and where they landed was in the harbour of Ross, in West Corca-Bhaiscinn. Donnell, the son of Conor O'Brien, having heard of this, he hastened to meet them with all the speed that he could exert; and he made prisoners of the greater number of them, and carried them in close fetters to Magh Glae, in the upper part of CorcomroeCorcomroeCorcomroe is the anglicised form of the tuath of Corco Modhruadh in the north of County Clare on the west coast of Ireland. It is also the name of the obsolete barony which covers the south-western half of this tuath...
, in order that their sorrow and anguish might be the greater for being in view of the place where they had perpetrated the crime; he hanged some of them, and burned others, according as their evil practices deserved.
Aftermath
Mahon's death presaged the end of the clan's power on the island. Factional warfare broke out among the Clan Teige, and they are said to have slaughtered each other almost to a man in battle near Port Mhuirbhigh on the island, at a place later called Fearann na gCeann, "the (land) quarter of the heads", from the number of skulls still found in its soil. Within a few years, Murrough na dTuadh Ó FlaithbheartaighMurrough na dTuadh Ó Flaithbheartaigh
-Ancestry:Great-great-great-grandson of Brian na Noinseach, son of Donall na Comthach Ó Flaithbheartaigh . Appointed Chief of the Name by Elizabeth I. Included in the 1585 Composition of Connacht....
became Chief of Iar Connacht
Iar Connacht
Iar Chonnachta , was a region covering all of County Galway west of the river Corrib and Lough Corrib; Maigh Seola; and part of the barony of Ross in County Mayo.-Description:The area of Co...
, and began to assert his rule over the islands.
Battle of Port Mhuirbhigh
In 1987, Tim RobinsonTim Robinson
Tim Robinson is an English former cricketer, and current cricket umpire, who played in 29 Tests and 26 ODIs for England from 1984 to 1989....
wrote that:
"Murchadh and the main body of his followers are said to have landed at Port Mhuirbhigh and driven the O'Briens eastwards, while a smaller party came ashore near Mainistir of Cill Rónáin and attacked them in the rear. The O'Briens were routed and fled to the rocks above Cill Éinne where all but one of them, who escaped by boat or hid in a cave, were slaughtered. Their corpses were buried by the shore half a mile east of Aircín; the place is called Poll na Marbh, the hole of the dead, and bones are still turned up there."
See also
- Diarmaid Mór Ó Briain of Tromra, fl. 13th/14th century
- Murrough mac Toirdelbach Ó BriainMurrough mac Toirdelbach Ó BriainMurrough mac Toirdelbach Ó Briain, Chief of the Name, the Clan Tiege of Aran, fl. 1575 - 1588.-Family background:Ó Briain was the senior member of the Mac Teige, or Clan Teige Ó Briain, of Inishmore, in Galway Bay. They were descended from Teige Ó Briain, great-grandson of Brian Boru, from whom...
, Chief of the Name, fl. 1575-1588 - Alonzo BoscoAlonzo BoscoDon Alonzo Bosco was a 16th century Barbary corsair or Spanish pirate who, according to folk tradition on Inishbofin, Galway, settled on the island in the 16th century and built a castle where a Cromwellian-era ruined castle now stands. From there, he raided the mainland and passing ships.He became...
of Omey IslandOmey IslandOmey Island is a tidal island situated near Claddaghduff on the western edge of Connemara in County Galway, Ireland. From the mainland the island is inconspicuous and almost hidden. It is possible to drive or walk across a large sandy strand to the island by following the arrowed signs...
, pirate, fl. mid-16th century - Gráinne Ní Mháille, pirate, c. 1530-c.1603
- William Óge MartynWilliam Oge Martyn-Early life:Also known as William Óge Martyn fitz Thomas, was a son of Thomas Óge Martyn and Evelina Lynch of Galway. Bailiff of Galway in 1566 to 1567, he was kidnapped by the Earl of Thomond in January 1570 but was free in time to participate at the battle of Shrule in April of the same year...
, High SheriffHigh SheriffA high sheriff is, or was, a law enforcement officer in the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States.In England and Wales, the office is unpaid and partly ceremonial, appointed by the Crown through a warrant from the Privy Council. In Cornwall, the High Sheriff is appointed by the Duke of...
and Mayor of GalwayMayor of GalwayThe office of Mayor of Galway is an honorific title used by the of Galway City Council. The Council has jurisdiction throughout its administrative area which is the city of Galway – the largest city in the province of Connacht, in the Republic of Ireland. The office was originally established by a...
, fl. 1566-1592
External links
- http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/T100005E/