Ruarc mac Bran
Encyclopedia
Ruarc mac Brain was the fourth of ten Kings of Leinster
to be inaugurated and based on Lyons Hill
, Ardclough
, County Kildare
, a member of the Uí Dúnchada, one of three septs of the Uí Dúnlainge
dynasty which rotated the kingship of Leinster between 750-1050, significant in County Kildare History.
One of two sons of Bran mac Fáeláin
to be counted as king, the succession of kings in Leinster
is difficult to follow in his time. The king lists have Ruarc succeed his father, and be followed by Lorcán mac Cellaig
, and then Túathal mac Máele-Brigte
and lastly Muirecán mac Diarmata
, who died the year after Ruarc.
In 843 the Annals of Ulster
record that Artacán mac Domnaill was "deceitfully killed" by Ruarc mac Brain, but no further identification or titles are give. Likewise in 846, when he fought alongside Máel Sechnaill mac Máele Ruanaid and was defeated by Tigernach mac Fócartai
no titles are given. His obituary in the Annals of Ulster in 862 calls him only "king of Uí Dúnlainge". The Annals of the Four Masters
add that he was killed by the Uí Néill
, the leadership of which passed in theory from Máel Sechnaill to Áed Findliath that same year at Máel Sechnaill's death, and perhaps in practice rather earlier.
Other entries in the Irish annals
conflict with the regular succession shown in the king lists. In 848, when reporting one of the several defeats of Viking
s that year, at Sciath Nechtain, near modern Castledermot
, County Kildare
, the Annals of Ulster say that the Leinstermen were led by Lorcán. In 854 Tuathal is called "king of Uí Dúnlainge" in the notice of his death and Muirecán is "king of Naas
" in 863. Byrne
suggests that the root of this apparent confusion lay in the fact that the Uí Dúnlainge kings exercised little real authority due to the aggressions of their western neighbour Cerball mac Dúnlainge
, King of Osraige. Cerball, while unable to install himself as king of Leinster, was able to prevent any rival king exercising real power there.
Kings of Leinster
The following is a provisional list of the kings of Leinster who ruled the Irish kingdom of Leinster up to 1632 with the death of Domhnall Spainnach MacMurrough-Kavanagh, the last legitimately inaugurated head of the MacMurrough Kavanagh royal line...
to be inaugurated and based on Lyons Hill
Lyons Hill
Lyons Hill is a restored village, and former parish with church, now part of the community of Ardclough in north County Kildare. At a time when canal passenger boats travelled at Lyons was the nearest overnight stop to Dublin on the Grand Canal. On the hilltop is a trigonometrical point used by...
, Ardclough
Ardclough
Ardclough, officially Ardclogh , is a village and community in the parish of Kill County Kildare, Ireland, two miles off the N7 national primary road. Amongst its buildings today are a national school, a church, Ardclough GAA Club, and one shop "Buggys". Ardclough also contains the historic round...
, County Kildare
County Kildare
County Kildare is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Kildare. Kildare County Council is the local authority for the county...
, a member of the Uí Dúnchada, one of three septs of the Uí Dúnlainge
Uí Dúnlainge
The Uí Dúnlainge, from the Old Irish "grandsons of Dúnlaing", were an Irish dynasty of Leinster kings who traced their descent from Dúnlaing mac Énda Niada. He was said to be a cousin of Énnae Cennsalach, eponymous ancestor of the rival Uí Chennselaig....
dynasty which rotated the kingship of Leinster between 750-1050, significant in County Kildare History.
One of two sons of Bran mac Fáeláin
Bran mac Fáeláin
Bran mac Fáeláin was a King of Leinster of the Uí Dúnchada sept of the Uí Dúnlainge branch of the Laigin. This sept had their royal seat at Líamhain . He was the nephew of Fínsnechta Cethardec mac Cellaig and grandson of Cellach mac Dúnchada , previous kings. His father Fáelán had been abbot of...
to be counted as king, the succession of kings in 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...
is difficult to follow in his time. The king lists have Ruarc succeed his father, and be followed by Lorcán mac Cellaig
Lorcán mac Cellaig
Lorcán mac Cellaig was a King of Leinster of the Uí Muiredaig sept of the Uí Dúnlainge branch of the Laigin. This sept had their royal seat at Maistiu in the south of modern County Kildare. He was the son of Cellach mac Brain , a previous king.The succession of kings in Leinster is difficult to...
, and then Túathal mac Máele-Brigte
Túathal mac Máele-Brigte
Tuathal mac Máele-Brigte was a King of Leinster of the Uí Muiredaig sept of the Uí Dúnlainge branch of the Laigin. This sept had their royal seat at Maistiu in South Kildare. He was possibly the son of Muiredach mac Brain , a previous king...
and lastly Muirecán mac Diarmata
Muirecán mac Diarmata
Muirecán mac Diarmata was a King of Leinster of the Uí Fáeláin sept of the Uí Dúnlainge branch of the Laigin. This sept had their royal seat at Naas in the eastern part of the Liffey plain, Airthir Liphi. He was the son Diarmait mac Ruadrach , King of Airthir Liphi...
, who died the year after Ruarc.
In 843 the Annals of Ulster
Annals of Ulster
The Annals of Ulster are annals of medieval Ireland. The entries span the years between AD 431 to AD 1540. The entries up to AD 1489 were compiled in the late 15th century by the scribe Ruaidhrí Ó Luinín, under his patron Cathal Óg Mac Maghnusa on the island of Belle Isle on Lough Erne in the...
record that Artacán mac Domnaill was "deceitfully killed" by Ruarc mac Brain, but no further identification or titles are give. Likewise in 846, when he fought alongside Máel Sechnaill mac Máele Ruanaid and was defeated by Tigernach mac Fócartai
Tigernach mac Fócartai
Tigernach mac Fócartai , also called Tigernach of Lagore, was King of Lagore.-Background:Tigernach belonged to the Uí Chernaig branch of the once-powerful Síl nÁedo Sláine kindred, part of the southern Uí Néill. His great-great-grandfather Fogartach mac Néill had been High King of Ireland...
no titles are given. His obituary in the Annals of Ulster in 862 calls him only "king of Uí Dúnlainge". 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...
add that he was killed by the Uí Néill
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....
, the leadership of which passed in theory from Máel Sechnaill to Áed Findliath that same year at Máel Sechnaill's death, and perhaps in practice rather earlier.
Other entries in the Irish annals
Irish annals
A number of Irish annals were compiled up to and shortly after the end of Gaelic Ireland in the 17th century.Annals were originally a means by which monks determined the yearly chronology of feast days...
conflict with the regular succession shown in the king lists. In 848, when reporting one of the several defeats of Viking
Viking
The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...
s that year, at Sciath Nechtain, near modern Castledermot
Castledermot
Castledermot is an inland village in the south-east of Ireland in County Kildare, about from Dublin, and from the town of Carlow. The N9 road from Dublin to Waterford passes through the village but completion of a bypass is due during 2010.-Demographics:...
, County Kildare
County Kildare
County Kildare is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Kildare. Kildare County Council is the local authority for the county...
, the Annals of Ulster say that the Leinstermen were led by Lorcán. In 854 Tuathal is called "king of Uí Dúnlainge" in the notice of his death and Muirecán is "king of Naas
Naas
Naas is the county town of County Kildare in Ireland. With a population of just over twenty thousand, it is also the largest town in the county. Naas is a major commuter suburb, with many people residing there and working in Dublin...
" in 863. Byrne
Francis John Byrne
Francis John Byrne is an Irish historian.Born in Shanghai where his father, a Dundalk man, captained a ship on the Yellow River, Byrne was evacuated with his mother to Australia on the outbreak of World War II...
suggests that the root of this apparent confusion lay in the fact that the Uí Dúnlainge kings exercised little real authority due to the aggressions of their western neighbour 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....
, King of Osraige. Cerball, while unable to install himself as king of Leinster, was able to prevent any rival king exercising real power there.