O’Briens and Mac Loughlins
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Above : Picture Of Pope Gregory VII
After Clontarf, and the death of Brian, the title of Ard Ri was tacitly restored to Malachy. With the aid of O’Neill of the Cineal Eoghain and O’Maldory of the Cineal Chonaill, he was powerful enough to complete the conquest of the Danes of Dublin, and of the clans of Leinster. He finally retired to a retreat at Cro Inis in Lough Ennel, where he died (a.d. 1022).
Upon his retirement, Ireland, according to some annalists, was governed ” as a free state ” by ” Corcran the Cleric,” and Cuan O’Lochain, ” Chief Poet of Eire ” until the death of the latter (a.d. 1024). We are not told, however, by whom they were appointed, the nature of their authority, or by whom it was recognised.
Even on the return journey from Clontarf, the old rivalry between Eoghanacht and Dal Chais had broken out. Dissensions between two rival Eoghanacht chiefs prevented them from pressing a united claim. The following year, however, it was put forward by one of the rivals, who had defeated and slain his antagonist. In a battle at Limerick, Tadhg and Donough, two sons of Brian, defeated their opponents, and the ” O’Briens ” became rulers of all Munster. A quarrel between the brothers ended with the death of Tadhg, who was slain at the instigation of his brother—1023.
Now undisputed master of the south, Donough O’Brien claimed the succession to Brian’s supremacy. Osraidhe and Laighin were forced to give him hostages, and the chiefs of Meath acknowledged him. In Connacht he took hostages from the O’Rourke of Breifne, and from O’Connor. His authority was recognised by all except the northern chiefs, and for forty years he was the most powerful monarch in Ireland. But Turlough, the son of the murdered Tadhg, had been fostered by the King of Laighin, who fought strenuously on his behalf, and eventually Donough was defeated by his nephew and his powerful foster-father, a.d. 1063. Surrendering his Kingdom to Turlough, he went on a pilgrimage to Rome* where he died 1064. Diarmuid
The King of Laighin who had thus placed his foster-son on the throne of Munster was Diarmuid ” Mac Maoil na m-B6.” He was of the Ui Cinnsealaigh or South Leinster branch, and had been placed upon the throne of Laighin instead of Bran, the son of Maolmordha. Although married to the daughter of Donough O’Brien, he gave his support to his own foster-son, Tadhg O’Brien. From his time dates the new friendship between the Kings of Laighin and the O’Briens, which lasted till the time of Diarmuid’s descendant, Diarmuid Mac Murrough. When Donough O’Brien was defeated, Dermott became the most powerful King in Ireland, although it is not clear that he put forward any definite claim to the title of Ard Ri. His most determined opponent was Conor O Maoilachlan,\ son of Malachy II and King of Meath. The representative of the Ui Neill, no matter how weak, could never submit to the domination of Leinster ” of the Tribute.” Eventually, Diarmuid was defeated and slain by O Maolachlan at iUirh or Navan (1072).
The reign of Diarmuid had merely suspended the designs of the O’Briens. Immediately upon his death, Turlough took hostages from Meath and Connacht, while Leinster and the Norse of Dublin also submitted to him. In attempting to subdue the North, however, he was defeated at Ardee by Aedh Mac Loughlin(1075). Until he died (1086), Turlough was engaged in wars to maintain his supremacy over Leinster, Meath and Connacht, but he made no further attempt against the Ui Neill influence in the north. Turlough was addressed as ” illustrious King of Ireland ” by Pope Gregory VII, and by Lanfranc, the Norman Archbishop of Cantenbury.
Turlough was duly succeeded as King of Caiseal by his son Muirkertagh. In his reign the inevitable contest between Dal Chais and Ui Neill reached its climax. The Meath branch of the latter was powerless, and the fight devolved upon the northern branch. Of these, the Cineal Eoghain were the leaders, but hitherto they had been occupied in contests with the rival Cineal Chonaill, and in imposing their supremacy on Ulaidh and Oirghialla. Domhnall Mac Loughlin was now King of Cineal Eoghain, and determined to revive the claims of the posterity of Niall to the supremacy of all Ireland. The struggle which ensued between him and Murtough O’Brien lasted for nearly thirty years. It began with an attack by Mac Loughlin, who having compelled O’Connor of Connacht to assist him, invaded Munster, destroyed the royal palace of Kincora, burned Limerick, and carried off many captives (1088). An attempt by O’Brien in the following year was repulsed by O’Connor and O’Maoilachlan of Meath, and he was then forced to meet Mac Loughlin, O’Connor, O’Maoilachlan, and other chiefs in conference, when all acknowledged the King of Aileach as Ard Ri (1090). Indecisive Result.—O’Brien’s submission, however, was insincere, and frequent aggressions on his part were only saved from bloodshed by the interposition of the Archbishop of Armagh. Eventually gaining the help of Laighin, Meath, and Connacht, Muirkertagh marched through the country to the extreme north, and destroyed the fort of Aileach in revenge for the destruction of Kincora, every soldier in his army carrying away a stone of the stronghold in his provision sack (1101). Soon afterwards, however, O’Brien was completely defeated by Mac Loughlin near Armagh (1103). ®n three occasions after this, the last being 1113, Celsus, Archbishop of Armagh, prevented actual conflict between the hostile armies. Next year O’Brien retired to a monastery, where he died a.d. 1119, and two years afterwards his rival died, also in a monastery. The first phase of the struggle for leadership, that between the O’Briens and Mac Loughlins, ends without a decision.
* Some say that Donough presented his father’s crown to the Pope, and that afterwards, Pope Adrian sent it to Henry II of England, but the story is doubtful.
+ 0 tTlAOltf eACUMnn. The name of’the representatives of the Southern Ui Neill (often spelt ” 0 Melaghlin “) should be carefully distinguished from that of the leaders of the Northern Ui Neill—the Mac Loughlins (iTUc tocUMnn).