Maelsechlainn mac Tadhg Ó Cellaigh
Encyclopedia
Maelsechlainn mac Tadhg Ó Cellaigh, King of Uí Maine, Chief of the Name,leading participant in the Battle of Knockdoe
, fl. 1499-1511.
, who died in 1476.
. In 1503, the then lord, Ulick Fionn Burke "gave a very great overthrow to O'Kelly and a party of the people of Conmaicne-Cuile, where the greater part of the gallowglasses of both the Clann-Donnell and Clann-Sweeny were slain around their constables, and where Walter, the son of John Burke, a distinguished captain, was also slain."
To add to the antagonism, Burke was living in open adultery
with Ó Cellaigh's wife.
According to the Annals of the Four Masters
, this resulted in a battle at Beal Ath na nGarbhan:
Immediately after this, Burke seized and demolished three of Ó Cellaigh at Garbh Dhoire, Monivea
and Gallagh:
, Ó Cellaigh fought on the side of Gerald FitzGerald, 8th Earl of Kildare
, Lord Deputy of Ireland
. As many as ten thousand are believed to have participated, with fully five thousand killed, mainly on the side of Clandricarde and Toirdhealbhach Donn Ó Briain. It was one of the bloodiest battle ever fought in Ireland
.
Ó Cellaigh accompanied FitzGerald and lifted Burke's occupation of Galway
and Athenry
.
Battle of Knockdoe
The Battle of Knockdoe was a conflict between the Hiberno-Norman de Burghs and Anglo-Norman Fitzgeralds, along with their respective Irish allies. On the 19th of August 1504, the Parish of Lackagh was the site of what appears to have been an unusually bloody conflict, arising from a dispute...
, fl. 1499-1511.
Family background
Maelsechlainn is believed to have been the son of a previous king, Tadhg Caech Ó CellaighTadhg Caech Ó Cellaigh
Tadhg Caech Ó Cellaigh, King of Ui Maine, retired 1476.Upon the death of Aedh na gCailleach Ó Cellaigh in 1469, the Ui Maine elected two kings, ruleing Iar Ui Maine and Airthir Ui Maine respectively. They were Tadhg Caech Ó Cellaigh of Airthir, and William in the west...
, who died in 1476.
Dispute with Clanricarde
Ui Maine bordered on the lordship of ClanricardeClanricarde
Clanricarde was a term meaning both a territory and a title in Ireland between the 13th and early 20th centuries.-Territory:The territory, in what is now County Galway, Ireland, stretched from the barony of County Clare in the north-west along the borders of County Mayo, to the River Shannon in the...
. In 1503, the then lord, Ulick Fionn Burke "gave a very great overthrow to O'Kelly and a party of the people of Conmaicne-Cuile, where the greater part of the gallowglasses of both the Clann-Donnell and Clann-Sweeny were slain around their constables, and where Walter, the son of John Burke, a distinguished captain, was also slain."
To add to the antagonism, Burke was living in open adultery
Adultery
Adultery is sexual infidelity to one's spouse, and is a form of extramarital sex. It originally referred only to sex between a woman who was married and a person other than her spouse. Even in cases of separation from one's spouse, an extramarital affair is still considered adultery.Adultery is...
with Ó Cellaigh's wife.
According to the Annals of the Four Masters
Annals 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...
, this resulted in a battle at Beal Ath na nGarbhan:
"The defeat of Bel-atha-na-ngarbhan was given by John Burke, the son of Ulick, son of Ulick, grandson of Rickard, Tanist of Clanrickard, to O'Kelly, in which fell Walter, the son of John, son of Thomas Burke, heir to the lordship of Conmaicne, and many others of the Clann-Donnell and Clann-Dowell, were slain."
Immediately after this, Burke seized and demolished three of Ó Cellaigh at Garbh Dhoire, Monivea
Monivea
Monivea It was formerly part of the kingdom of the Soghain of Connacht. It is located approximately 30 km from Galway City and 9 km from Athenry. Monivea is known for its sizable forest, Monivea Castle which now lies in partial ruins, and a well-preserved mausoleum...
and Gallagh:
"Three castles belonging to O'Kelly, viz. Garbh-dhoire, Muine-an-mheadha, and Gallach, were demolished by Mac William Burke (i.e. Ulick the Third). O'Kelly, i.e. Melaghlin, went to the Lord Justice to complain of the injury done him, the result of which was, defeat of Cnoc-Tuagh.
Knockdoe
In the resulting Battle of KnockdoeBattle of Knockdoe
The Battle of Knockdoe was a conflict between the Hiberno-Norman de Burghs and Anglo-Norman Fitzgeralds, along with their respective Irish allies. On the 19th of August 1504, the Parish of Lackagh was the site of what appears to have been an unusually bloody conflict, arising from a dispute...
, Ó Cellaigh fought on the side of Gerald FitzGerald, 8th Earl of Kildare
Gerald FitzGerald, 8th Earl of Kildare
Gerald Mór FitzGerald, 8th Earl of Kildare, KG , known variously as "Garret the Great" or "The Great Earl" , was Ireland's premier peer...
, Lord Deputy of Ireland
Lord Deputy of Ireland
The Lord Deputy was the King's representative and head of the Irish executive under English rule, during the Lordship of Ireland and later the Kingdom of Ireland...
. As many as ten thousand are believed to have participated, with fully five thousand killed, mainly on the side of Clandricarde and Toirdhealbhach Donn Ó Briain. It was one of the bloodiest battle ever fought in 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...
.
Ó Cellaigh accompanied FitzGerald and lifted Burke's occupation of Galway
Galway
Galway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the...
and Athenry
Athenry
Athenry is a town in County Galway, Ireland. It lies east of Galway city, and one of the attractions of the town is its medieval castle. The town is also well-known by virtue of the song "The Fields of Athenry".-History:...
.
Further references
The rest of Maelsechlainn's reign is obscure. The only event which indirectly refers to Ui Maine occurred in 1509, when "An army was led by O'Donnell into Lower Connaught, and brought the hostages of Lower Connaught with him to his house." On his death in 1511 he was succeeded by his son, Tadhg, who ruled for only two years. No further rulers of Ui Maine appear to descend from him.Family
Further reading
- The Tribes and customs of Hy-Many, John O'DonovanJohn 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:...
, 1843 - The Parish of Ballinasloe, Fr. Jerome A. FaheyJerome A. FaheyFather Jerome A. Fahey was an Irish priest and writer, 1843–1919.Fahey was born at Killomoran, Gort, and educated in the town's national school and St. Jarlath's, Tuam. He studied at Maynooth from 1860, been ordained there in 1867....
. - The Surnames of Ireland, Edward MacLysaghtEdward MacLysaghtEdward MacLysaght was one of the foremost genealogists of twentieth century Ireland. His numerous books on Irish surnames built upon the work of Patrick Woulfe's Irish Names and Surnames and made him well known to all those researching their family past.-Early life:Edward was born in Flax Bourton...
, Dublin, 1978. - A New History of Ireland - lists and genealogies, vol. 9, Oxford University Press, 1984.
- Fields of Slaughter - The Battle of Knockdoe 1504, William Henry (historian), 2004
- Revised edition of McCarthy's synchronisms at Trinity College Dublin.