Ireland History

Above : Picture Of Richard “Red Earl” De Burgh

The O Maolachlans in Meath.—In Meath many generations of the O Maolachlans atoned by brave fighting for the fatal dissensions of their family. During all this period one chief after another—still bearing the title of ” King of Tar a “—carried on a continued fight against the De Lacys and their followers, breaking down their castles again and again. Most prominent amongst those chiefs was ” Art na g-Caislean,” or ” Art of the Castles,” ” the greatest warrior of his time against the English,” who died in 1283 after a reign of over 40 years. These efforts prevented the full extension westwards of Norman power, and confined the ” causeway ” to Athlone to dangerously narrow limits. But all their eastern territories were lost to them, and even the western portion of their ancient Kingdom was split in two.* Henceforward, the families of the Southern Ui Neill—O Maolachlan, Mac Geoghegan, Molloy, etc.—appear mostly in association with the neighbouring clans of Laighin.

Separation of the Leinster Clans.—The former Kingdom of Laighin was also divided, the Norman ” wedge ” in the plains separating the clans in the mountains from those in the district around the Bog of Allen and Slieve Blooms. From this open country the Mac Murroughs, O’Byrnes and O’Tooles were driven on one side into the mountainous district on the east, while the O’Connors of Ui Failghe and the O’Moores of Laoighis had to retreat to the difficult country on the west. Domknal Caomhanach, son of Diarmuid Mac Murrough, had been acknowledged as King of Laighin, and the title was continued in his family, who took the name of Mac Murrough Kavanagh. They still maintained their independence in part of their patrimony of Ui Cinnsealaigh, but, cut off from their principal supporting clans, they were shorn of their power.

Posted on May 6th, 2008 under The Settlement Of The Normans. Tags: battle of credran, battle of down, brian o'neill, brian ruadh o'brien, de lacy, domhnall mor o'brien, king of aileach, mac murrough kavanagh, o maolachlans, o'connors. Comments: None