Moylurg
Encyclopedia
Magh Luirg or Magh Luirg an Dagda, Anglicised as Moylurg, was the name of a kingdom located in the north-east of Connacht
, the western province of Ireland
, from c.956-1585. The Kings of Moylurg
were a branch of the Síl Muiredaig, who were themselves of the Uí Briúin Ai who descended from The Connachta.
Moylurg is, in Irish, Magh Luirg an Dagda, the plain of the tracks of the Dagda. The Dagda
was an ancient Irish deity.
The kingdom's first king, Maelruanaidh Mor mac Tadg
, was a son of Tadg mac Cathal (King of Connacht
925-956) and brother to Conchobar mac Tadg
, who succeeded as king in 967. Maelruanaidh
is said to have made a deal of some nature where, in return for abandoing any claim to the provincial kingship, he would be given Moylurg. His dynasty were known as the Clan Mulrooney (later known as Clan MacDermot), cousins to O'Connor, who was then High King of Ireland. This royal connection was exploited to oust the existing cheiftans of Moylurg, the MacReevys (Irish: Mac Riabhaigh, later anglicized spelling McGreevy).
There are very few clues as to the exact point in time when the MacRiabhaighs (MacReevys/McGreevys) were dispossessed of their ancestral lands by the McDermots or to a controversy which precipitated the action. Modern sources are not much help. Clearly the dispossession occurred earlier then was speculated by Sir Cecil King-Harmon in 1958 (c. 1400) or the Roscommon Herald in 1959 (c. 1300). The statement on the McGreevy Stone in Ardcarne Cemetery (erected in the 20th century, c. 1930) that the MacRiabhaighs (MacReevys/McGreevys) were "kings of Moylurgh . . . until 1255" may be the most reliable, and also is consistent with the statement by the Irish genealogical authority Edward MacLysaght ("More Irish Families") that the McGreevys were "lords of Moylurg . . . until the 13th century, when they were subdued by, and become tributary to the McDermots".
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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...
, the western province of Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, from c.956-1585. The Kings of Moylurg
Kings of Moylurg
The Kings of Magh Luirg or Moylurg were a branch of the Síol Muireadaigh, and a kindred family to the Ua Conchobair Kings of Connacht. Their ancestor, Maelruanaidh Mor mac Tadg, was a brother to Conchobar mac Tadg, King of Connacht 967-973, ancestor of the O Connor family of Connacht...
were a branch of the Síl Muiredaig, who were themselves of the Uí Briúin Ai who descended from The Connachta.
Moylurg is, in Irish, Magh Luirg an Dagda, the plain of the tracks of the Dagda. The Dagda
The Dagda
The Dagda is an important god of Irish mythology. The Dagda is a father-figure and a protector of the tribe. In some texts his father is Elatha, in others his mother is Ethniu. Other texts say that his mother is Danu; while others yet place him as the father of Danu, perhaps due to her...
was an ancient Irish deity.
The kingdom's first king, Maelruanaidh Mor mac Tadg
Maelruanaidh Mor mac Tadg
Maelruanaidh Mor mac Tadg, first King of Moylurg, and ancestor to all subsequent Kings of Moylurg. He is usually assumed to have lived in or about the year 956....
, was a son of Tadg mac Cathal (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...
925-956) and brother to Conchobar mac Tadg
Conchobar mac Tadg
Conchobar mac Tadg, King of Connacht 967–973; progenitor of the O Connor family of Connacht. His grandchildren and great-grandchildren were the first to be known by that surname.Brother of Máel Ruanaid Mór mac Tadg, ancestor of the Kings of Moylurg....
, who succeeded as king in 967. Maelruanaidh
is said to have made a deal of some nature where, in return for abandoing any claim to the provincial kingship, he would be given Moylurg. His dynasty were known as the Clan Mulrooney (later known as Clan MacDermot), cousins to O'Connor, who was then High King of Ireland. This royal connection was exploited to oust the existing cheiftans of Moylurg, the MacReevys (Irish: Mac Riabhaigh, later anglicized spelling McGreevy).
There are very few clues as to the exact point in time when the MacRiabhaighs (MacReevys/McGreevys) were dispossessed of their ancestral lands by the McDermots or to a controversy which precipitated the action. Modern sources are not much help. Clearly the dispossession occurred earlier then was speculated by Sir Cecil King-Harmon in 1958 (c. 1400) or the Roscommon Herald in 1959 (c. 1300). The statement on the McGreevy Stone in Ardcarne Cemetery (erected in the 20th century, c. 1930) that the MacRiabhaighs (MacReevys/McGreevys) were "kings of Moylurgh . . . until 1255" may be the most reliable, and also is consistent with the statement by the Irish genealogical authority Edward MacLysaght ("More Irish Families") that the McGreevys were "lords of Moylurg . . . until the 13th century, when they were subdued by, and become tributary to the McDermots".
Annalistic references
From the Annals of the Four MastersAnnals 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...
:
- M932.2. The foreigners of Luimneach plundered Connaught as far as Magh-Luirg to the north, and as far as Badhbhghna to the east.