Tadhg Ó Cellaigh
Encyclopedia
Background
Tadhg was one of five sons of Domhnall mac Conchobar mac Tadhg Taillten Ó Cellaigh, listed as
"Gilbert, King of Hy-Many, David, Tadhg Mor of the Battle of Ath na Righ, and Conchobhar, King of Hy-Many, and Aedh. Only two of them were by the same mother, viz., Tadhg and Conchobhar, and their mother was Abis, the daughter of O'Flainn O'Flynn."
King of Ui Maine
Tadhg usurped his brother, Gilbert Ó CellaighGilbert Ó Cellaigh
Gilbert Ó Cellaigh was King of Uí Maine and Chief of the Name.-References:* The Tribes and customs of bananas and Hy-Many, John O'Donovan, 1843* The Surnames of Ireland, Edward MacLysaght, Dublin, 1978....
in the wake of the war of 1315–16, which arose with the return of Ruaidhri mac Cathal Ó Conchobair from Ulster
Ulster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. 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...
and his successful seizure of the kingship 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...
from his cousion, Fedlim Ó Conchobair. Tadhg expelled Gilbert and allied with Ruaidhri, who
assembled the men of Connacht and Brefne, together with many gallowglasses, and penetrated to the midst of Sil MurraySíol MuireadaighSíol Muireadaigh, Gaelic-Irish dynasty and territory, located in north County Roscommon.-Overview:The Síol Muireadaigh were a dynasty of related clans, all descendants of King Muiredach Muillethan of Connacht , all of whom lived in north-central Connaught...
and the rest of ConnachtConnachtConnacht , 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...
, and forthwith burned the town of SligoSligoSligo is the county town of County Sligo in Ireland. The town is a borough and has a charter and a town mayor. It is sometimes referred to as a city, and sometimes as a town, and is the second largest urban area in Connacht...
, Ballymote, the great castle of Kilcolman, BallintoberBallintober, County RoscommonBallintober is a village in County Roscommon, Ireland.Ballintober, County Roscommon, is 6 kilometers from the town of Castlerea. It contains a reasonably well preserved remains of a stone castle first mentioned in writing in 1311...
, Dunamon with its castle, RoscommonRoscommonRoscommon is the county town of County Roscommon in Ireland. Its population at the 2006 census stood at 5,017 . The town is located near the junctions of the N60, N61 and N63 roads.-History:...
, Randoon and AthlonAthlonAthlon is the brand name applied to a series of x86-compatible microprocessors designed and manufactured by Advanced Micro Devices . The original Athlon was the first seventh-generation x86 processor and, in a first, retained the initial performance lead it had over Intel's competing processors...
e, as well as all the houses which lay on his route ... he took pledges and hostages of the rest of the Sil Murray and was made king on Carnfree. After this he remained for some time among them, ravaging every neighbour who was not submissive to him.
Winter campaign
Tadhg accompanied Ruaidhri on his subsequent winter raids around ConnachtConnacht
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...
, such as those at
Leith Luigne and the slopes of Sliab Gam, and in particular to Glenn Fathraim, where they killed many thousand cows and sheep and horses. At that time they stripped women and ruined children and lowly folk, and never within the memory of man were so many cattle, fruitlessly destroyed in one place.
Returning to Ui Maine, he proceeded to burn the casle of Aughrim, County Galway
Aughrim, County Galway
Aughrim is a small village in County Galway, Ireland. It is located in the west of Ireland, between the towns of Loughrea and Ballinasloe, along the N6 national primary road that connects Galway and Dublin....
and plunder and burn Máenmaige
Máenmaige
Máenmaige was a originally a kingdom, later termed a trícha cét, and in Anglo-Norman times a cantred, which formed the barony of Loughrea.-Early historic rulers:It was first under the control of Ui Fhiachrach Fionn, and later by the Uí Maine...
.
As a result both of the warfare and severe climatic conditions, "Many afflictions in all parts of Ireland: very many deaths, famine and many strange diseases, murders, and intolerable storms as well."
Moin Crinnoge
In February the two Ó Conchobair's fought each other at Tochar Mona Conneda (now Moin Crinnoge). Rudhri was defeated, and Fedlim "plundered the officers of Ruaidri O Conchobair and seized the kingship of Connacht from Assaroe (Assaroe FallsAssaroe Falls
Assaroe Falls , also known as Cathaleen’s Falls, was a waterfall on the River Erne near Ballyshannon, County Donegal, Ireland. It was named after Aodh Ruadh, who according to tradition, slipped and fell from the waterfall and drowned....
) to Slieve Aughty himself .. and took hostages of the Clann Cellaig." Forced to submit, Tadhg now accompanied Fedlim, who switched sides and proceeded to wage war against his former allies, the Anglo-Irish
Anglo-Irish
Anglo-Irish was a term used primarily in the 19th and early 20th centuries to identify a privileged social class in Ireland, whose members were the descendants and successors of the Protestant Ascendancy, mostly belonging to the Church of Ireland, which was the established church of Ireland until...
of Connacht.
Athenry
Fedlim's army, numbering as many as two thousand plus, seem to have assembled at Ballinasloe in late July or early August upon receiving the news that Sir William Liath de Burgh had returned from Scotland with GallowglassGallowglass
The gallowglass or galloglass – from , gallóglach – were an elite class of mercenary warrior who came from Norse-Gaelic clans in the Hebrides and Highlands of Scotland between the mid 13th century and late 16th century...
mercenaries, and was assembling an army at 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:...
to fight Fedlim.
Tadgh led the army of Uí Maine and Síol Anmchadha
Síol Anmchadha
Síol Anmchadha was a sub-kingdom or lordship of Hy-Many, and ruled by an off-shoot of the Ui Maine called the Síol Anmchadha , from whom the territory took its name....
, along with their vassal
Vassal
A vassal or feudatory is a person who has entered into a mutual obligation to a lord or monarch in the context of the feudal system in medieval Europe. The obligations often included military support and mutual protection, in exchange for certain privileges, usually including the grant of land held...
s, arriving at Athenry by 10 August 1316
The Second Battle of Athenry
Second Battle of Athenry
The Second Battle of Athenry took place at Athenry in Ireland on 10 August 1316 during the Bruce campaign in Ireland.-Overview:The collective number of both armies are unknown, and can only be estimated. Martyn believes the royal army to have been as much as or more than a thousand, while that of...
was fought on that day, and Fedlim's army soundly defeated, with "Tadc O Cellaig, king of Ui Maine [falling] with him, together with twenty-eight men who were entitled to succeed to the kingship of Ui Maine." Fedlim and his household bodyguard were slaughtered at what is now known as Kingsland, a plateau
Plateau
In geology and earth science, a plateau , also called a high plain or tableland, is an area of highland, usually consisting of relatively flat terrain. A highly eroded plateau is called a dissected plateau...
due east of, and overlooking the town.
Final hours
Tadhg, however, survived the battle, and with a single bodyguard, hid in the woods outside AthenryAthenry
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:...
. In the evening, John Husse, the town executioner
Executioner
A judicial executioner is a person who carries out a death sentence ordered by the state or other legal authority, which was known in feudal terminology as high justice.-Scope and job:...
and his servant were among the many local men surveying the battlefield for survivors and loot
Looting
Looting —also referred to as sacking, plundering, despoiling, despoliation, and pillaging—is the indiscriminate taking of goods by force as part of a military or political victory, or during a catastrophe, such as during war, natural disaster, or rioting...
. Tadhg stepped out of the woods and made a pledge to Husse that, if he would switch sides and be his man, Tadhg would guarantee him power and position. Husse's servant agreed with Tadgh and urged his master to acquiesce.
In reply, Husse unsheathed his sword and beheaded his servant on the spot. He then engaged Tadhg's servant, defeated him, and fought Tadgh in a one-on-one sword fight. He ran Tadgh through and beheaded him and his bodyguard. Husse returned to Athenry, receiving reward from his lord, Rickard de Bermingham
Rickard de Bermingham
Rickard de Bermingham , aka Rickard Mac Fheorais, was Anglo-Irish lord of Athenry.-Family background:Rickard is reckoned third lord of Athenry and Dunmore, both in County Galway. He was a grandson of Meyler de Bermingham, the founder of Athenry...
for the three heads. Tadh's head, along with that of King Fedlim, was surmounted on the twin towers of the main gate of Athenry, as the most dangerous of the defeated Irish. Their heads are featured to this day in the coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
of Athenry.
Descendants
His son Tadgh Óg Ó CellaighTadgh Óg Ó Cellaigh
Tadgh Óg Ó Cellaigh was King of Uí Maine and Chief of the Name.-References:* The Tribes and customs of Hy-Many, John O'Donovan, 1843* The Surnames of Ireland, Edward MacLysaght, Dublin, 1978....
, briefly gained the kingship of Ui Maine in 1339 but was successfully opposed by William Buidhe Ó Cellaigh
William Buidhe Ó Cellaigh
William Buidhe Ó Cellaigh, King of Uí Maine and Chief of the Name, died c.1381.-References:* The Tribes and customs of Hy-Many, John O'Donovan, 1843* The Surnames of Ireland, Edward MacLysaght, Dublin, 1978....
, who captured him. Tadgh Óg was injured and subsequently died of his wounds.
Tadhg's family are described in Leabhar Ua Maine
Leabhar Ua Maine
Leabhar Ua Maine is an Irish genealogical compilation, created c...
as:
Tadhg of the Battle of Ath na Righ, the son of Domhnall, had three sons, viz., Donnchadh, Tadhg, and Conchobhar. Tadhg, had three sons, viz., Tadhg Og, Donnchadh Euadh, and a second Tadhg, surnamed Ruadh. Conchobhar, son of Tadhg, had three sons, viz., Ruaidhri, Eoghan, and Aedh.