Conchobar mac Taidg Mór
Encyclopedia
Conchobar mac Taidg Mór was a King of Connacht from the Uí Briúin
branch of the Connachta
. He was the grandson of Muirgius mac Tommaltaig
(died 815), a previous king. His father Tadg Mór (died 810) had been slain fighting in Muirgius' wars versus the minor tribes of Connacht
. He was of the Síl Muiredaig sept of the Uí Briúin.
The exact dates of his reign are uncertain. According to the Book of Leinster
king list he is given a reign of 27 years which would synchronize to a reign of circa 855 to 882 The death of a co-ruler Mugron mac Máele Cothaid is mentioned in 872.
Connacht was subject to the High King of Ireland
during this period. In 860 the men of Connacht participated in the expedition of the high king Máel Sechnaill mac Máele Ruanaid (died 862) of Clann Cholmáin
against the northern Ui Neill
. They halted at Mag Dumai, near Armagh, where their camp was attacked but they beat this attach off and the expedition ended in a draw. In 863 the new high king Áed Findliath (died 879) of the Cenél nEógain
made an expedition into Connacht to impose his authority.
Conchobar fought as an ally of the high king Áed Findliath against Flann mac Conaing (died 868), King of Brega, and his Viking allies at the Battle of Cell Ua nDaigri in 868. Despite being outnumbered, they won the victory. Conchobar's vassal king, Mannachan, lord of Ui Briuin Na Sinna slew Flann; of which was said:
The Fragmentary Annals of Ireland
record a Norse raid through Connacht on their way to Limerick
in 867 but they were ambushed and defeated by the Connachtmen. In 873 Connacht was attacked by Dúnchad mac Duib-dá-Bairenn (died 888), King of Munster and Cerball mac Dúnlainge
(died 888), king of Osraige.
The heir to Connacht, Abán son of Cinaed was killed with fire by Sochlachán son of Diarmait in 867 and in 872 his apparent co-ruler Mugron mac Máele Cothaid died. Conchobar himself died at an old age according to the annals in 882
Conchobar had married Ailbe, daughter of the high king Máel Sechnaill mac Máele Ruanaid. Conchobar's sons Áed mac Conchobair
(died 888), Tadg mac Conchobair
(died 900) and Cathal mac Conchobair
(died 925) were all Kings of Connacht. Cathal's descendants were known as the Ua Conchobair (modern O'Connor), the descendents of Conchobar. Another son was named Máel Cluiche (died 913).
Uí Briúin
The Uí Briúin were an Irish kin-group. Their eponymous apical ancestor was Brion, son of Eochaid Mugmedon and Mongfind, and an elder half brother of Niall of the Nine Hostages. They formed part of the Connachta, along with the Uí Fiachrach and Uí Ailello, putative descendants of Eochaid Mugmedon's...
branch of the Connachta
Connachta
The Connachta are a group of medieval Irish dynasties who claimed descent from the legendary High King Conn Cétchathach...
. He was the grandson of Muirgius mac Tommaltaig
Muirgius mac Tommaltaig
Muirgius mac Tommaltaig was a King of Connacht from the Uí Briúin branch of the Connachta. He was the great-grandson of Indrechtach mac Muiredaig Muillethan , a previous king. The death of his father Tommaltach mac Murgail is recorded in the annals where he is called king of Mag nAi. Muirgius...
(died 815), a previous king. His father Tadg Mór (died 810) had been slain fighting in Muirgius' wars versus the minor tribes of 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...
. He was of the Síl Muiredaig sept of the Uí Briúin.
The exact dates of his reign are uncertain. According to the Book of Leinster
Book of Leinster
The Book of Leinster , is a medieval Irish manuscript compiled ca. 1160 and now kept in Trinity College, Dublin, under the shelfmark MS H 2.18...
king list he is given a reign of 27 years which would synchronize to a reign of circa 855 to 882 The death of a co-ruler Mugron mac Máele Cothaid is mentioned in 872.
Connacht was subject to the 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...
during this period. In 860 the men of Connacht participated in the expedition of the high king Máel Sechnaill mac Máele Ruanaid (died 862) of Clann Cholmáin
Clann Cholmáin
Clann Cholmáin is the name of the dynasty descended from Colmán Mór , son of Diarmait mac Cerbaill. Part of the Southern Uí Néill — they were the kings of Mide — they traced their descent to Niall Noígiallach and his son Conall Cremthainne.Related dynasties descended through Conall...
against the northern Ui Neill
Uí Néill
The Uí Néill are Irish and Scottish dynasties who claim descent from Niall Noigiallach , an historical King of Tara who died about 405....
. They halted at Mag Dumai, near Armagh, where their camp was attacked but they beat this attach off and the expedition ended in a draw. In 863 the new high king Áed Findliath (died 879) of the Cenél nEógain
Cenél nEógain
Cenél nEóġain is the name of the "kindred" or descendants of Eógan mac Néill , son of Niall Noígiallach who founded the kingdom of Tír Eoghain in the 5th century...
made an expedition into Connacht to impose his authority.
Conchobar fought as an ally of the high king Áed Findliath against Flann mac Conaing (died 868), King of Brega, and his Viking allies at the Battle of Cell Ua nDaigri in 868. Despite being outnumbered, they won the victory. Conchobar's vassal king, Mannachan, lord of Ui Briuin Na Sinna slew Flann; of which was said:
"Great the triumph for Mannachan, for the hero of fierce valour, to have the head of the son of Conaing in his hand, to exhibit it before the face of the son of Tadhg."
The Fragmentary Annals of Ireland
Fragmentary Annals of Ireland
The Fragmentary Annals of Ireland are a Middle Irish combination of chronicle from various Irish annals and narrative history. They were compiled in the kingdom of Osraige, probably in the lifetime of Donnchad mac Gilla Pátraic , king of Osraige and of king of Leinster.The Fragmentary Annals were...
record a Norse raid through Connacht on their way to Limerick
Limerick
Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
in 867 but they were ambushed and defeated by the Connachtmen. In 873 Connacht was attacked by Dúnchad mac Duib-dá-Bairenn (died 888), King of Munster and Cerball mac Dúnlainge
Cerball mac Dúnlainge
Cerball mac Dúnlainge was king of Osraige in south-east Ireland. The kingdom of Osraige occupied roughly the area of modern County Kilkenny and lay between the larger provincial kingdoms of Munster and Leinster....
(died 888), king of Osraige.
The heir to Connacht, Abán son of Cinaed was killed with fire by Sochlachán son of Diarmait in 867 and in 872 his apparent co-ruler Mugron mac Máele Cothaid died. Conchobar himself died at an old age according to the annals in 882
Conchobar had married Ailbe, daughter of the high king Máel Sechnaill mac Máele Ruanaid. Conchobar's sons Áed mac Conchobair
Áed mac Conchobair
Áed mac Conchobair was a King of Connacht from the Uí Briúin branch of the Connachta. He was the son of Conchobar mac Taidg Mór , the previous king and was the first of his three sons to rule in succession. He was of the Síl Muiredaig sept of the Uí Briúin. He ruled from 882-888.Áed's reign was...
(died 888), Tadg mac Conchobair
Tadg mac Conchobair
Tadg mac Conchobair was a King of Connacht from the Uí Briúin branch of the Connachta. He was the son of Conchobar mac Taidg Mór , a previous king, the second of his three sons to rule in succession, succeeding his brother Áed mac Conchobair . He was of the Síl Muiredaig sept of the Uí Briúin...
(died 900) and Cathal mac Conchobair
Cathal mac Conchobair
-Family background:Cathal was the third son of Conchobar mac Taidg Mór to rule Connacht, following his older brother Áed mac Conchobair and youngest brother Tadg mac Conchobair. There may have been a fourth brother, Máel Cluiche mac Conchobair, who died in battle in 913.They belonged to the Síl...
(died 925) were all Kings of Connacht. Cathal's descendants were known as the Ua Conchobair (modern O'Connor), the descendents of Conchobar. Another son was named Máel Cluiche (died 913).