Conchobar Maenmaige Ua Cellaigh, 40th

King King is the title given to a male monarch in a variety of contexts. The female equivalent is queen, which title is also given to the consort of a king. *In the context of prehistory, antiquity and contemporary indigenous peoples, the tit ...

Uí Maine U or u, is the twenty-first and sixth-to-last letter and fifth vowel letter of the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''u'' (pro ...

and 7th

Chief of the Name The Chief of the Name, or in older English usage Captain of his Nation, is the recognised head of a family or clan (''fine'' in Irish and Scottish Gaelic). The term has sometimes been used as a title in Ireland and Scotland. In Ireland In Eliza ...

, died 1180.

Origins

Conchobar Maenmaige is agreed in all sources to have been king for forty years, so it appears he succeeded

Tadhg Ua Cellaigh Tadhg Ua Cellaigh, 39th King of Uí Maine and 6th Chief of the Name, abducted 1145. References in the Annals Tadhg and Uí Maine are mentioned infrequently in the annals, reflecting the kingdom's subordinate status within the kingdom of Connacht ...

sometime after his abduction by an army from

Munster Munster ( gle, an Mhumhain or ) is one of the provinces of Ireland, in the south of Ireland. In early Ireland, the Kingdom of Munster was one of the kingdoms of Gaelic Ireland ruled by a "king of over-kings" ( ga, rí ruirech). Following the ...

in 1145. His succession meant the end of Síol Anmchadha's brief independence and overlordship of Uí Maine, and its dynasty would henceforth be confined to their own homeland. Conchobar is stated in all the genealogies as being the son of Diarmaid, whose immediate descent is uncertain but is given as the son or grandson of

Tadhg Mór Ua Cellaigh Tadhg Mór Ua Cellaigh, 36th King of Uí Maine and 1st Chief of the Name. Background Ua Cellaigh was the first King of Uí Maine to bear the surname Ua Cellaigh, derived from his grandfather, Ceallach mac Finnachta, who was in turn a sixth-gene ...

, who was killed at the Battle of Clontarf in 1014. However, it may actually mean that he was the son or grandson of the Tadhg who was abducted in 1145.

Ecclesiastical work

John O'Donovan John O'Donovan may refer to: *John O'Donovan (scholar) (1806–1861), Irish language scholar and place-name expert *John O'Donovan (politician) (1908–1982), Irish TD and Senator *John O'Donovan (police commissioner) (1858–1927), New Zealand pol ...

says of him that ''"he built O'Kelly's Church at Clonmacnoise, in the year 1167 … and is stated in some of the pedigrees to have built twelve churches in the territory of Moenmoy Máenmaige."'' His

epithet An epithet (, ), also byname, is a descriptive term (word or phrase) known for accompanying or occurring in place of a name and having entered common usage. It has various shades of meaning when applied to seemingly real or fictitious people, di ...

probably refers to his being fostered, or at least raised, in the area, which is centered on Loughrea.

References in the ''Annals''

Conchobar and Uí Maine are mentioned infrequently in the annals, reflecting the kingdom's subordinate status within the kingdom of Connacht. Some references include the following:

1145:''The men of Munster proceeded with an army into Connaught; and they carried off Ua Ceallaigh, i.e. Tadhg, son of Conchobhar, lord of Ui-Maine, and slew
Ruaidhri Ua Flaithbheartaigh ' Ruaidhri Ua Flaithbheartaigh (died 1145) was King of Iar Connacht. Biography The succession of the chiefs of Muintir Murchada after 1098 is uncertain, unless it is that Ruaidhri reigned from then until his death in 1145. However, as of 1117, ...
.''

1147:''The battle of Ath-luain was gained over Domhnall, the son of
Toirdhealbhach Ua Conchobhair Toirdhealbhach Mór Ua Conchobhair (old spelling: Tairrdelbach Mór Ua Conchobair; 1088 – 1156) anglicised Turlough Mór O'Conor, was King of Connacht (1106–1156) and High King of Ireland (ca. 1120–1156). Family background and early life ...
, and the Ua-Maine, by the men of Teathbha, where the grandson of Amhalghaidh Ua Flainn and others were slain.''

1155:''Magh-Finn was preyed by the men of Teathbha, who plundered some of the Ui-Maine.''

1163:''A royal heir's feasting visitation was made by Niall, son of Muircheartach Ua Lochlainn, the son of the King of Ireland … He afterwards proceeded across Ath-Luain, into Connaught, with a force of twelve score men; and they feasted upon the Ui-Maine, but they were all killed by Conchobhar Ua Ceallaigh,
Conchobar Maenmaige Ua Conchobair Conchobar Maenmaige Ua Conchobair, son of High King of Ireland Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair, was King of Connacht from 1183 to 1189. He was a military commander and opponent of the Norman invasion of Ireland. Early life Conchobar Maenmaige took his ni ...
, and the Ui-Maine, through treachery and guile, except some deserters and fugitives; and Niall, son of Muircheartach Ua Lochlainn, was taken prisoner, and conducted in safety to his house, by advice of their meeting.''

1167:''A church was erected at Cluain-mic-Nois, in the place of the Dearthach, by Conchobhar Ua Ceallaigh and the Ui-Maine.''

1170:''A great fleet was brought upon the Sinainn, by Ruaidhri Ua Conchobhair, to plunder
Munster Munster ( gle, an Mhumhain or ) is one of the provinces of Ireland, in the south of Ireland. In early Ireland, the Kingdom of Munster was one of the kingdoms of Gaelic Ireland ruled by a "king of over-kings" ( ga, rí ruirech). Following the ...
. A predatory incursion was made by the Ui-Maine into Ormond, and a predatory incursion was made by the people of West Connaught into
Thomond Thomond (Classical Irish: ; Modern Irish: ), also known as the kingdom of Limerick, was a kingdom of Gaelic Ireland, associated geographically with present-day County Clare and County Limerick, as well as parts of County Tipperary around Nenag ...
. They the Ui-Maine plundered Ormond on this occasion, and destroyed the wooden bridge of Cill-Dalua.''

The Battle of the Conors

A decline in the power of

Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair Ruaidrí mac Tairrdelbach Ua Conchobair (Modern Irish: Ruairí Ó Conchúir; anglicized as Rory O'Conor) ( – 2 December 1198) was Kings of Connacht, King of Connacht from 1156 to 1186, and High King of Ireland from 1166 to 1198. He was the l ...

initiated civil unrest in Connacht, from about 1177. The

appeared to take advantage of this, which cumulated in the Battle of the Conors, which took place at an unknown location, possibly within Máenmaige, sometime in 1180. The victor was King Ruaidrí son,

Conchobar Maenmaige Ua Conchobair Conchobar Maenmaige Ua Conchobair, son of High King of Ireland Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair, was King of Connacht from 1183 to 1189. He was a military commander and opponent of the Norman invasion of Ireland. Early life Conchobar Maenmaige took his ni ...

, who had a palace at Dún Ló ( Ballinasloe). The Four Masters relate that Conchobar Maenmaige Ua Cellaigh was killed, along with ''"his son Teige ( Teige Tailtenn Ua Cellaigh); his brother Dermot; Melaghlin, the son of Dermot O'Kelly; and Teige, the son of Teige O'Conor.''

Descendants

Future kings of Ui Maine descended from Conchobar included: *

Domnall Mór Ua Cellaigh Domnall Mór Ua Cellaigh, 42nd King of Uí Maine and 9th Chief of the Name, died 1221. Reign Domnall Mór's reign is one of the most obscure of the High Medieval kings of Uí Maine. The kingdom is only indirectly mentioned in the annals. While t ...

, died 1121 * Conchobar Ó Cellaigh, died 1268 *

Donnchad Muimnech Ó Cellaigh Donnchad Muimnech Ó Cellaigh (died 1307) was King of Uí Maine and Chief of the Name. Uí Maine during his reign fell away from subordinate status to the Kings of Connacht and regained something of its former independence, but at the cost o ...

, died 1307 * Gilbert Ó Cellaigh, died 1322 *

Tadhg Ó Cellaigh Tadhg Ó Cellaigh, also known as Tadhg mac Domnall O Cellaigh (Anglicized: Teig O'Kelly) (died 10 August 1316) was King of Uí Maine and Chief of the Name. Background Tadhg was one of five sons of Domhnall mac Conchobar mac Tadhg Taillten Ó Cel ...

, died 1316 *

Tadgh Óg Ó Cellaigh Tadhg Óg Ó Cellaigh (died 1340) 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. * ''The Anglo-Normans in ...

, died 1340 * Tadgh Ruadh Ó Cellaigh, died 1410

References

*''The Tribes and customs of Hy-Many'',

, 1843 *''Annals of Ulster'' a
CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts
a
University College Cork
*''Annals of Tigernach'' a

a
University College Cork
of McCarthy's synchronisms at Trinity College Dublin. {{DEFAULTSORT:Ua Cellaigh, Conchobar Maenmaige People from Loughrea Kings of Uí Maine 12th-century Irish monarchs Conchobar Maenmaige