1161 - 1166 AD
"The Rise and Fall of *Murtough Mor Mac Loughlin"
1161 AD *111. Murtough Mor Mac Loughlin / Muirchertach Mheic Lochlainn, who was now the Heremonian Dal Cuinn "northern" Ui Niaill Cenel nEogain 182nd King of Ireland - with opposition, divided the territory of his kinsmen the Heremonian Dal Cuinn "southern" Ui Niaill Clann Cholmain Sept in their kingdom of Meath / Midhe in the south of Northern Leinster "again," to further try and weaken their previously long held authority there in Meath and over Ireland generally, and also any chance of them regaining an opportunity to a claim to the overall Kingship of Ireland. These constant attacks on the position previously held by the Clann Cholmain would not bode well for them when the Anglo Norman English were to shortly invade and set up The English Pale nearby surrounding Dublin.
109.Turlough O Brian the Heberian Dal gCais Ui mBriain 46th King of Cashel / Munster, who was still *111.Murtough Mac Loughlin's main opposition in their territory in Mogha's Half in the south of Ireland, "besieged" the south of the Munster Province to increase his overall position in the scheme of things there over his own Heberian kinsmen the Heberian Eoghanachta Septs, who were especially, at this time represented by the Heberian Chaisil O Donoghue Sept and their Heberian Eoghanacht kinsmen the O Keefe Chiefs who were to be among those to be slain in this particular conflict, together with a son of 109.Cormac 11 Mac Carthy, the Heberian Eoghanacht Chaisil Prince / Tanaiste of Southern Munster / Desmond / Des Mhumhain. Because of these "violent actions" against his own Heberian kinsmen, his son 110.Murtough O Brian, who was the Heberian Dal gCais Tanaiste / heir apparent / Prince of Northern Munster /Thomond / Tuath Mhumhain was to "banish" his father as the head of the Dal gCais Septs, and then took up his position, becoming the new King of Norhern Munster / Thomond.
*115.Rory O Connor the
Heremonian Dal
Cuinn Ui Briuin Ai
Siol Muireadhaigh / Sil Murray
Ui Conchobair
56th King of Connacht.
who was by now a firm contender also for the overall
Kingship of Ireland,
Teague / Tadhg O Lonergan the Heberian Dal gCais Ui Bloid Ui Turlough Catholic Bishop of Killaloe in Thomond / Northern Munster, "died" this year.
1162 AD
The "infamous" 113.Diarmait Mac Murrogh na Gall - of the Foreigners the Heremonian Ui Laoghaire Cu Corb Ui Cheinnselaig 59th King of Leinster, who was an "ally" of *111.Murtough Mac Loughlin the Heremonian Dal Cuinn "northern" Ui Niaill Cenel nEogain 182nd King of Ireland - with opposition, was now to make further advancement also in his overall position becoming the "overlord" of Dublin in Co. Dublin on the coast of the north - east of Southern Leinster.
Laurence O Toole / Lorcan Ua Tuathail, from the Heremonian Ui Laoghaire Cu Corb Ui Dunlainge Ui Muireadhaigh Sept who had previously been the Abbot of the Reefert Church at Glendalough in Co. Wicklow in the east of Southern Leinster, was now be installed as the "first" Irish Catholic Archbishop of Dublin, and was to remain in charge there at Christchurch Cathedral until 1180 AD. (The O Toole Sept and their kinsmen the Heremonian Cu Corb UI Faelain O Byrnes at this time had their territory in Co. Wicklow in Southern Leinster).
The Newry monastery,
and the adjacent Yew Tree
in Co. Down
in the south - east of the
Ulster Province, that
was
originally
planted by
St. Patrick, that had survived for
700 years, were both "burnt" down this year.
St. Malachy O Morgair who had worked so hard to revitalise the Catholic faith and practises in Ireland became Ireland's only "Papal Saint" when he was canonized this year by Pope Victor 1V.
1163 AD
St.
Kieran's
/
Ciaran's
church that
St. Malachy O Morgair
had founded
at
Glendalough
/
Glenda Loch in
Co. Wicklow in the south - east of Southern Leinster was
also "burnt" down this year.
1164 AD The monastery at Terryglass / Tir Dha Ghlas (The Land of the Two Streams) in Co. Tipperary in the north - east of the Munster Province, was destroyed by "foreign" raiders from out of Galway in Co. Galway in the south - west of the Connacht Province, while the "Cistercian" monastery there at Clonfert in Co. Galway was also ravaged by fire.
1165 AD
117.Donnell
Mac
Donough
Mac Gilla
Patrick / Fitz Patrick,
the
Heremonian
Ui Laoghaire
Ui Connla
King
of
Ossory / Co. Kilkenny,
who was a son of
116.Donough
/
Donnchad
Mheic Giolla Patraic
Mheic Giolla,
was slain by the
Gaelic Milesian
Irian
Ui Laeghis Ui Morda
(Moore) Sept
who had their territory
adjacent to the north in nearby
Co. Laois
in the mid - west of
Southern
Leinster,
during a dispute over who now had the real authority throughout that particular region
as the
Ui Laeghis
Sept were a vassal Sept of the
nearby Heremonian
Ui Laoghaire
Cu Corb
Ui Cheinnselaig
Sept who were now under the leadership of
the "infamous" and unscrupulously ambitious
113.Diarmait Mac Murrough
na Gall
- of the Foreigners the
59th
King
of
Leinster.
*111.Murtough Mor Mac Loughlin
the
Heremonian Dal Cuinn "northern"
Ui Niaill
Cenel nEogain 182nd King
of
Ireland
- with opposition was called on to
settle a "revolt" by some of the
Irish Kings in his particular region in the
Ulster Province and
113.Eochy Mac Dunlevy
/
Eochaidh Mheic Duinnshleibhe
the Heremonian Dal Fiatach 66th King of
Ulaid who had
his territory and kingdom in the east of the
Ulster Province and to the east of the
River Bann, was taken "prisoner" by *111.Mutough
Mor Mac
Loughlin's vassal
O Carroll
/ Ua Cerbaill
there ho was the Heremonian
Dal Cuinn Colla Da Crioch
King of Orghialla / Oriel in
Southern Ulster.
As he too was also subject overall in the
Ulster
Province to
*111.Murtough Mor O Niall
and
arrangements were then made for his "release" under the
auspices of the Catholic Archbishop
of Armagh,
and
O Carroll then gave his word to act as a "peacemaker" between
*111.Murtough Mor
Mac Loughlin the
182nd King of Ireland
-
with opposition and
113.Eochy Mac Dunlevy
who was then granted territory
for his Heremonian Dal Fiatach
Sept at Benna Bairrche, in the
Mountains of Mourne
(These mountains are named for the
Heremonian Dal Cuinn Colla Mend Mugdorna Sept
who are
descended from 88.Colla Mend,
one of the
3 Colla
brothers
who had
migrated there from the O Carroll's territory in
Co. Monaghan.)
1166 AD *111.Murtough Mor Mac Loughlin the Heremonian Dal Cuinn "northern" Ui Niaill Cenel nEogain 182nd King of Ireland - with opposition and his "infamous" ally, 113.Dermot mac Murrough na Gall - of the Foreigners the 59th King of Leinster were to come "undone" this year, when *111.Murtough Mor Mac Loughlin was to break the terms of the "agreement" in regard to 113.Eochy Mac Dunlevy the Heremonian Dal Fiatach 66th King of Ulidia when he took him prisoner and "blinded" him and this "upset" all of the Septs in Ireland and *111.Murtough Mor Mac Loughlin was then totally "abandoned" by one and all throughout the whole of Ireland, except for his previously mentioned "infamous" ally, 113. Dermot Mac Murrough na Gall the 59th King of Leinster. O Carroll the Heremonian Dal Cuinn Colla Da Crioch King of Orghialla in Southern Ulster, who had agreed to ensure the "safety" of 113.Eochy Mac Dunlevy' was so disturbed at what *111.Murtough Mac Loughlin had done to 113.Eochy Mac Dunlevy that he now transferred his "allegiance" to *115.Rory O Connor the Heremonian Dal Cuinn Ui Briuin Ai Siol Muireadhaigh / Sil Murray Ui Conchobair 56th King of Connacht and Tanaiste / heir apparent of Ireland. Sundry "revolts" were then to occur against the previous action instigated by *111.Murtough Mor Mac Loughlin and he was to be slain by O Carroll in battle, as O Carroll was naturally really upset as he had been the one who was personally responsible for the safety of 113.Eochy Mac Dunlevy.
*115.Rory O Connor the 56th King of Connacht was also "allied" in his campaign to become the new High King of Ireland by his near kinsman the "aged," 113.Tiernan O Rourke the Heremonian Dal Cuinn Ui Briuin Breifne King of West Breifne, whose territory was also in the north of the Connacht Province in Co. Leitrim, and they had both previously been involved in "combined" attacks on *111.Murtough Mor Mac Loughlin in anticipation of *115.Rory O Connor eventually gaining the Kingship of Ireland, as his father, *114.Turlough O Connor had been the previous 181st King of Ireland. With the "Irish Brehon Law" now in total "disarray" since the coming of the Vikings in the 9th Century AD, the system of "election" of the King of Ireland from within 4 generations was in flux, instead it was now the "Survival of the Fittest." *115.Rory O Connor and 113.Tiernan O Rourke decided once again that the time was right to make their move and were determined more then ever to take this opportunity to push towards *115.Rory O Connor assuming the Kingship of Ireland in his own right, and to this end they "besieged" the Heremonian Dal Cuinn "southern" Ui Niaill Clann Cholmain kingdom of Meath / Midhe in the south of Northern Leinster. (The Clann Cholmain had "previously" been the "most important" Sept in Ireland under *103.Malachy 1st and *107.Malachy 11 / Mael Sechlainn). Although they were to be "successful "on this occasion, *115.Rory O Connor's son was to be slain during the conflict, and because of this they demanded that the Heremonian Dal Cuinn "southern" Ui Niaill Septs there, who finally submitted, were to pay 400 cows in reparation for his demise. (The loss of this particular son would have great "future" consequences for Ireland and the Heremonian Dal Cuinn Ui Briuin Ai O Connors in the years ahead). *115.Rory O Connor and his followers, after this particular initial success, then headed down into Co. Dublin to the Viking settlement of Dublin on the north - coast of Southern Leinster to continue to gain further kudos to attempt to assume the Kingship of Ireland, and to solidify his claim there also he gave them 4,000 cows for their submission, and they then also joined in with him. He returned to the north of Ireland to ensure that he truly had the support of O Carroll the Heremonian Dal Cuinn Colla Da Crioch King of Orghialla / Oriel in Southern Ulster, who then also submitted personally to him, and gave over hostages in return for his personal commitment and *115.Rory O Connor gave him 240 cows also. Keeping up the pressure, he decided to subject the whole of Southern Leinster in Mogha's Half, and the Gilla Mac Patrick (Fitz Patrick) kingdom of Ossory / Co. Kilkenny in the south - west of there, and from there he returned to the north - west into his own kingdom and territory in the Connacht Province after receiving all of these vital submissions from the various Gaelic Chiefs throughout Ireland. Later he was to head further to the "north - west" and besiege the last bastion of opposition there, the Heremonian Dal Cuinn "northern" Ui Niaill Cenel Conaill in Tir Conaill / Tyrconnell now known as Co. Donegal / The Fort of the Foreigners in the far - west of the Ulster Province who where to also "submit" and give over hostages.
During this Century the O Mulderrys / O Muldoreys / Ui Maoldoraidh and the O Donnells / Ui Domhnaill were to become the Heremonian Dal Cuinn "northern"' Ui Niaill Cenel Conaill Princes / Tanaistes there in Tir Conaill / Tyrconnell / Co. Donegal and were to be totally in control there and make Loch Foyle and the River Foyle and the River Finn the "boundaries" between Tir Conaill and the territory of Tir Eogain of their close kinsmen the Heremonian Dal Cuinn "northern"" Ui Niaill Cenel nEogain Sept who had previously also dominated the Kingship of Ireland.
*115. Rory O Connor was now to be generally acknowledged throughout Ireland as the 183rd King of Ireland, but despite this positive aspect there was soon to be another "negative" involved in the form of 110.Donnell Mor O Brian who also had his own "agenda," who would later on through fate, become the Heberian Dal gCais King of Northern Munster / Thomond whose father - in - law unfortunately by chance was also to be the "infamous" and highy ambitious 113.Diarmait Mac Murrough na Gall - of the Foreigners the Heremonian Cu Corb 59th King of Leinster who had been previously the "ally" of *114.Murtough Mor O Loughlin the recently deceased 182nd King of Ireland. 110.Donnell Mor O Brian also had his own High Kingship ambitions, as his previous recent ancestors, beginning with *105.Brian Boru - of the Tributes had also been Kings of Ireland, and because of his personal agenda in the future he was to ensure that *115.Rory O Connor was to only ever become the 183rd King of Ireland - with great opposition when a combined commitment only to Ireland itself would be most sorely needed.
Now that *111.Murtough Mor O Loughlin was out of the way, the "infamous" 113.Diarmait Mac Murrogh na Gall - of the Foreigners the Heremonian Cu Corb Ui Cheinnselaig 59th King of Leinster was in real "trouble" in his own territory in Southern Leinster, where a "revolt" was begun against his "tyranical" authority by many of his old enemies there, and he certainly had many, as he had been a ruthless King, and besides this, those who were previously under his control in Dublin were now "allied" also with *115.Rory O Connor. 113.Tiernan O Rourke the Heremonian Dal Cuinn Ui Briuin Breifne King of West Breifne who had his territory in Co. Leitrim in the north of the Connacht Province, was on the other hand now in a prime "position" to do something personal also about the "infamous" 113.Diarmait Mac Murrough na Gall, due to his solid connection to his Heremonian Dal Cuinn Ui Briuin close kinsman and "ally," *115.Rory O Connor who was now the 183rd King of Ireland. He now had the "opportunity" to persue more "personal" matters and settle the long running score with the "infamous" 113.Dermot Mac Murrough na Gall, not only over the previous "abduction" of his young wife, Dervorgilla O Rourke, who had been the "sister" of the deceased Don O Melaghlin / Ua Mael Sechlainn who had also been the Heremonian Dal Cuinn "southern" Ui Niaill Clann Cholmain King of Meath / Midhe at the hands of the "infamous" 113.Diarmait Mac Murrough himself. 113.Tiernan O Rourke was now also joined by his and her aristocratic warrior kinsmen the Heremonian Dal Cuinn "southern" Ui Niaill Clann Cholmain Sept and they carried out a "siege" against 113.Diarmait Mac Murrough na Gall destroying his fortress at Ferns in Co. Wexford in Southern Leinster, where they were also able to capture him, and 113.Tiernan O Rourke then strongly beseeched his "ally" and kinsman *115.Rory O Connor to "banish" the long ongoing Southern Leinster troublemaker altogether, and "exile" him out of Ireland for good.
August - early: *115.Rory
O Connor
as
the Heremonian Dal Cuinn
Ui Briuin Ai
Siol Muireadhaigh
/ Sil Murray
55th King of Connacht
held an Assembly / Oenach at Athlone
in Co. Westmeath in
the south - west of Northern Leinster, where he was to be
"officially" recognized as the
183rd King
of
Ireland
until 1186 AD, and as
such he would be
the "last" Gaelic
Milesian
King of Ireland,
in
his own right in
Dublin also with the assistance of the
Vikings there even though the "infamous"
113.Diarmait
Mac Murrogh
na Gall had previously
"opposed" his nomination.
113.Tiernan O Rourke, now had a great delight
and satisfaction in finally persuading
*115.Rory O Connor, as the "officially recognized"
183rd
King
of
Ireland, to "banish"
113.Diarmait Mac Murrogh
na Gall from Ireland,
especially as his own "repressed" subjects
in Southern Leinster had also "risen up" against him as
they too would
be more then glad to see him long gone.
*115.Rory O Connor agreed to his proposal and
113.Diarmait Mac Murrogh na Gall
was then "exiled" out of
Ireland, which was to have "immense repercussions" in
the future for everyone
for well over 1,000 years to come.
*115.Rory O Connor then
"divided" up
113.Diarmait Mac Murrough na Gall's
Heremonian
Ui Laoghaire Cu Corb
Ui Cheinnselaig territory,
with one part going to 113.Diarmait
Mac Murrough na Gall's
brother, and the
other part to Donnell Mac
Gilla
Patrick (Fitz Patrick) the
Heremonian
Ui Laoghaire Ui Connla
King of Ossory
who had his territory in nearby
Co. Kilkenny.
(Little did anyone suspect that the
113.Diarmait Mac Murrough na Gall went straight over to "Bristol" to try and get Henry 11 the "first" Plantagenet Angevin Anglo - Norman English King, who he had previously assisted personally with is own ships, to also return the favour and assist him in regaining his Kingship in Southern Leinster, and in his own self - interest and now with little to lose, to get him more inclined, he informed Henry 11 of the great wealth and opportunities to be gained in Ireland. Henry 11 at this time was having quite a bit of "trouble" with the Celtic Welsh Princes in Wales and his Cambro - Norman Marcher Barons there in the south of Wales, who were by this period in time becoming very close to being "allies" with the Welsh Princes against him, as a revolt against Hnry 11 there in Wales at this time was certainly in the wind. He gave 113.Diarmait Mac Murrough na Gall a letter to seek out the assistance of these upset Cambro - Norman Barons there in Wales, as he knew that at this time this would keep them "busy," and he would kill 2 birds with the one stone and Robert Fitz Stephen the Norman Earl in Wales who was one of their leaders "agreed" to assist 113.Diarmait Mac Murrough na Gall if he granted him the Viking town of Wexford there on the east coast in his previous territory in Co. Wexford in Southern Leinster should they be successful in their expedition and he did.