Murchad mac Diarmata was a King 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...

 and Dublin. He was a member of Leinster's Uí Cheinnselaig

Uí Cheinnselaig

The Uí Ceinnselaig , from the Old Irish "grandsons of Cennsalach", are an Irish dynasty of Leinster who trace their descent from Énnae Cennsalach, a supposed contemporary of Niall of the Nine Hostages...

 dynasty.

Murchad was survived by his father Diarmait mac Maíl na mBó

Diarmait mac Mail na mBo

Diarmait mac Maíl na mBó was King of Leinster, and also High King of Ireland .He was one of the most important and significant Kings in Ireland in the pre-Norman era...

 (died 1072). He was succeeded as King of Leinster by his son Domnall mac Murchada (died 1075), his brother Enna (died 1092) and Enna's son Diarmait (died 1098).

The family of Mac Murchadha (MacMurrough) and MacMurrough-Kavanagh took their name from him. His grandson, Dermot MacMurrough

Dermot MacMurrough

Diarmait Mac Murchada , anglicized as Dermot MacMurrough or Dermod MacMurrough , was a King of Leinster in Ireland. In 1167, he was deprived of his kingdom by the High King of Ireland - Turlough Mór O'Connor...

 was King of Leinster 1126–1171, and became known as the man who brought the Normans to Ireland.

Murchad's death in the Annals of the Four Masters

Murchadh, son of Diarmaid, son of Mael-na-mbo, lord of the foreigners and of Leinster, under his father, died at Ath-cliath, precisely on Sunday, the festival of Mary, in winter. It was in lamentation of him the poet composed these quatrains:

There is grief for a chief king at Ath Cliath

County Dublin

County Dublin is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Dublin Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Dublin which is the capital of Ireland. County Dublin was one of the first of the parts of Ireland to be shired by King John of England following the...

,

Which will not be exceeded till the terrible Judgment Day;

Empty is the fortress without the descendant of Duach,

Quickly was the vigour of its heroes cut down.

Sorrowful every party in the fortress

For their chief, against whom no army prevailed;

Since the body of the king was hidden from all,

Every evil has showered ever constant.

For Murchadh, son of Diarmaid the impetuous,

Many a fervent prayer is offered;

In sorrow for the death of the chief is every host

That was wont to defeat in the battle,

Great the sorrow that he was not everlasting;

Pity that death hath attacked him.

Too early it was that he removed from him his complexion,

That he removed one like him from his body.

Liberal of wealth was the grandson of Mael-na-mbo;

He bestowed horses, and he distributed cows,

For the sake of his going to God.

Who is it to whom 'tis best to give fleeting wealth?

Sources

• http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/T100005B/index.html
• "Irish Kings and High Kings", Francis John Bryne, Dublin, 1973.
• Ancestral Roots of Certain American Colonists Who Came to America Before 1700 by Frederick Lewis Weis, Line 175-4.