Cathal mac Donnubáin
Encyclopedia
Cathal mac Donnubáin is the second known son of Donnubán mac Cathail
, king of Uí Fidgenti
and an ancestor of the medieval and modern O'Donovan family. He may have succeeded his brother Uainide mac Donnubáin as King of Uí Chairpre Áebda (Cairbre Eva) at his death in 982, no ruler(s) being known after that until 1014. However, this is confused by two notices of the death of Cairpre mac Cléirchín in 1013 or 1014, where in one he is styled king of Uí Chairpre and in the other of Uí Fidgenti, leaving it uncertain which Cathal might actually have been if either. Rivalry between the two families is unknown but cannot be ruled out.
in 1014, in the account of the Leabhar Oiris
, which is believed to be based at least in part on contemporary documents. There it is said he fought on the side of Brian Bóruma, High King of Ireland
in the great central division commanded by Cian mac Máelmuaid
, standing against the forces of Leinster
commanded by Máel Mórda mac Murchada
, King of Leinster. He is not listed among the slain there. That he participated in the battle is also an O'Donovan tradition. Cathal's mention in the Leabhar Oiris is the only one found anywhere outside of an O'Donovan pedigree in all surviving sources. Not anywhere in the annals is he mentioned.
What is unknown is how early Cathal was listed in or before the Leabhar Oiris, because what has survived is a later compilation of earlier sources where the spelling has been changed to Early Modern Irish. He is listed as Cathal mac Donnabháin rí Ó g-Cairbre, whereas Cathal mac Donnubáin, rí h-Ua Cairpre would be contemporary.
in ancestry. His maternal grandfather was probably Ivar of Limerick
, the last Norse king of Limerick and an ally of his father. Donnubán himself has also been argued to have had a Norse mother, a daughter of one Amlaíb, rí
Gall Muman or Olaf, king of the Norse of Munster
, possibly referring to Amlaíb Cenncairech
. It was also assumed by John O'Donovan
that Cathal married a Norse woman himself, because his only known issue is Amlaíb ua Donnubáin. A now lost source of uncertain date makes the entirely plausible claim that his son fought at Clontarf under Cian, although this is possibly a mistake for Cathal himself, or both may have.
Cathal's pedigree can be tentatively reconstructed as follows below, assuming he actually existed. If not then it could be the O'Donovan family actually descend from Uainide mac Donnubáin, who is mentioned dying in 982 in the Annals of Inisfallen
. But notably both appear to be namesake
s of earlier generations, at least in the received tradition, and in fact one Uainide mac Cathail appears as a mid-10th century king of Uí Chairpre in the 12th century propaganda tract Caithréim Chellacháin Chaisil
. Donnchadh Ó Corráin
has questioned his historicity but does not doubt he is meant to represent the early O'Donovan kindred. Although Ó Corráin does not say so explicitly this is because no "Uainide mac Cathail" appears in the annals, and thus he could be created out of his own namesakes. The Uí Chairpre are nevertheless mentioned several times in CCC in different roles, probably indicating the family were still of some prominence in the first decades of the 12th century, even if they are noted for nothing during this period in the annals, which are importantly very incomplete, abbreviated and badly lacunose
(suffering from gaps).
Ivar of Waterford
is believed to have been Cathal/Uainide's brother-in-law, married to an unnamed sister of theirs. One of Waterford's very historical sons he named Donndubán, with certainty after their father. It has in the past been popularly claimed that some modern O'Donovans actually descend from this marriage, but this remains unverified.
Donnubán mac Cathail
Donnubán , Donndubán , or Donnabán mac Cathail, anglicised Donovan, son of Cahall , was a 10th century ruler of the Irish regional kingdom of Uí Fidgenti, and possibly also of the smaller overkingdom of Uí Chairpre Áebda within that...
, king of Uí Fidgenti
Uí Fidgenti
The Uí Fidgenti or Wood-Sprung People were an early kingdom of northern Munster, situated mostly in modern County Limerick, but extending into County Clare and County Tipperary, and possibly even County Kerry and County Cork, at maximum extents, which varied over time...
and an ancestor of the medieval and modern O'Donovan family. He may have succeeded his brother Uainide mac Donnubáin as King of Uí Chairpre Áebda (Cairbre Eva) at his death in 982, no ruler(s) being known after that until 1014. However, this is confused by two notices of the death of Cairpre mac Cléirchín in 1013 or 1014, where in one he is styled king of Uí Chairpre and in the other of Uí Fidgenti, leaving it uncertain which Cathal might actually have been if either. Rivalry between the two families is unknown but cannot be ruled out.
Clontarf
Cathal led the forces and is styled king of the Uí Chairpre in the Battle of ClontarfBattle 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...
in 1014, in the account of the Leabhar Oiris
Leabhar Oiris
-Overview:An Leabhar Oiris was created by one, or more, author or authors, who drew on material in the Irish annals relating to the years 976 to 1028. It is believed to have been written in an Irish monastic scriptorium, after 976 and by 1500.-Manuscript sources:...
, which is believed to be based at least in part on contemporary documents. There it is said he fought on the side of Brian Bóruma, High King of Ireland
High King of Ireland
The High Kings of Ireland were sometimes historical and sometimes legendary figures who had, or who are claimed to have had, lordship over the whole of Ireland. Medieval and early modern Irish literature portrays an almost unbroken sequence of High Kings, ruling from Tara over a hierarchy of...
in the great central division commanded by Cian mac Máelmuaid
Cian mac Máelmuaid
Cian mac Máelmuaid was a son of Máel Muad mac Brain, who was twice King of Munster. Cian's father had been killed by Brian Boru at the Battle of Belach Lechta. He was a member of Uí Echach Muman or Eóganacht Raithlind....
, standing against the forces of Leinster
Leinster
Leinster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the east of Ireland. It comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Mide, Osraige and Leinster. Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the historic fifths of Leinster and Mide gradually merged, mainly due to the impact of the Pale, which straddled...
commanded by Máel Mórda mac Murchada
Máel Mórda mac Murchada
Máel Mórda mac Murchada was King of Leinster.Son of Murchad mac Finn and brother of Gormflaith, he belonged to the Uí Fáeláin sept of the Uí Dúnlainge, whose lands lay around Naas on the middle reaches of the River Liffey, in modern County Kildare.Máel Mórda is best known as the enemy of Brian...
, King of Leinster. He is not listed among the slain there. That he participated in the battle is also an O'Donovan tradition. Cathal's mention in the Leabhar Oiris is the only one found anywhere outside of an O'Donovan pedigree in all surviving sources. Not anywhere in the annals is he mentioned.
What is unknown is how early Cathal was listed in or before the Leabhar Oiris, because what has survived is a later compilation of earlier sources where the spelling has been changed to Early Modern Irish. He is listed as Cathal mac Donnabháin rí Ó g-Cairbre, whereas Cathal mac Donnubáin, rí h-Ua Cairpre would be contemporary.
Family
It is possible that Cathal was as much as three quarters NorseNorsemen
Norsemen is used to refer to the group of people as a whole who spoke what is now called the Old Norse language belonging to the North Germanic branch of Indo-European languages, especially Norwegian, Icelandic, Faroese, Swedish and Danish in their earlier forms.The meaning of Norseman was "people...
in ancestry. His maternal grandfather was probably Ivar of Limerick
Ivar of Limerick
Ivar of Limerick , died 977, was the last Norse king of the city-state of Limerick, and penultimate King of the Foreigners of Munster, reigning during the rise to power of the Dál gCais and the fall of the Eóganachta...
, the last Norse king of Limerick and an ally of his father. Donnubán himself has also been argued to have had a Norse mother, a daughter of one Amlaíb, rí
Rí
Rí, or very commonly ríg , is an ancient Gaelic word meaning "King". It is used in historical texts referring to the Irish and Scottish kings and those of similar rank. While the modern Irish word is exactly the same, in modern Scottish it is Rìgh, apparently derived from the genitive. The word...
Gall Muman or Olaf, king of the Norse of Munster
Munster
Munster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the south 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 administrative and judicial purposes...
, possibly referring to Amlaíb Cenncairech
Amlaíb Cenncairech
Amlaíb Cenncairech was a Norse ruler and presumably King of Limerick notable for his military activities in Ireland in the 930s, especially in the province of Connacht and apparently even in Ulster and Leinster...
. It was also assumed by John O'Donovan
John O'Donovan (scholar)
John O'Donovan , from Atateemore, in the parish of Kilcolumb, County Kilkenny, and educated at Hunt's Academy, Waterford, was an Irish language scholar from Ireland.-Life:...
that Cathal married a Norse woman himself, because his only known issue is Amlaíb ua Donnubáin. A now lost source of uncertain date makes the entirely plausible claim that his son fought at Clontarf under Cian, although this is possibly a mistake for Cathal himself, or both may have.
Cathal's pedigree can be tentatively reconstructed as follows below, assuming he actually existed. If not then it could be the O'Donovan family actually descend from Uainide mac Donnubáin, who is mentioned dying in 982 in the Annals of Inisfallen
Annals of Inisfallen
The Annals of Inisfallen are a chronicle of the medieval history of Ireland. There are more than 2,500 entries spanning the years between AD 433 and AD 1450, but it is believed to have been written between the 12th and 15th centuries...
. But notably both appear to be namesake
Namesake
Namesake is a term used to characterize a person, place, thing, quality, action, state, or idea that has the same, or a similar, name to another....
s of earlier generations, at least in the received tradition, and in fact one Uainide mac Cathail appears as a mid-10th century king of Uí Chairpre in the 12th century propaganda tract Caithréim Chellacháin Chaisil
Caithréim Chellacháin Chaisil
Caithréim Chellacháin ChaisilDonnchadh Ó Corráin writes that this title "was first given it by Eugene O'Curry in his transcript of the text. It has no title in the earliest copy, that in the Book of Lismore...
. Donnchadh Ó Corráin
Donnchadh Ó Corráin
Donnchadh Ó Corráin is an Irish historian and Professor Emeritus of Medieval History at University College Cork. He is an early Irish and mediaeval historian and has published on the Viking Wars, Ireland in the pre-Hiberno-Norman period and the origin of Irish language names.-Works:Ó Corráin's...
has questioned his historicity but does not doubt he is meant to represent the early O'Donovan kindred. Although Ó Corráin does not say so explicitly this is because no "Uainide mac Cathail" appears in the annals, and thus he could be created out of his own namesakes. The Uí Chairpre are nevertheless mentioned several times in CCC in different roles, probably indicating the family were still of some prominence in the first decades of the 12th century, even if they are noted for nothing during this period in the annals, which are importantly very incomplete, abbreviated and badly lacunose
Lacuna (manuscripts)
A lacunaPlural lacunae. From Latin lacūna , diminutive form of lacus . is a gap in a manuscript, inscription, text, painting, or a musical work...
(suffering from gaps).
Ivar of Waterford
Ivar of Waterford
Ivar of Waterford was the Norse king of Waterford from at least 969 until his death in the year 1000, and also reigned as King of Dublin, possibly from 989 to 993, and certainly again for less than a year between 994 and 995, returning after his expulsion from the city in 993 by Sigtrygg...
is believed to have been Cathal/Uainide's brother-in-law, married to an unnamed sister of theirs. One of Waterford's very historical sons he named Donndubán, with certainty after their father. It has in the past been popularly claimed that some modern O'Donovans actually descend from this marriage, but this remains unverified.