Domhnall Mac Murchada (born c. 700, died 20 November 763), called Domnall Midi (Donald of Meath), was

High King of Ireland High King of Ireland ( ga, Ardrí na hÉireann ) was a royal title in Gaelic Ireland held by those who had, or who are claimed to have had, lordship over all of Ireland. The title was held by historical kings and later sometimes assigned ana ...

. He belonged to the

Clann Cholmáin Clann Cholmáin is the dynasty descended from Colmán Már mac Diarmato, son of Diarmait mac Cerbaill. Part of the Southern Uí Néill — they were the kings of Mide (Meath) — they traced their descent to Niall Noígiallach and his ...

branch of the

Uí Néill The Uí Néill (Irish pronunciation: ; meaning "descendants of Niall") are Irish dynasties who claim descent from Niall Noígíallach (Niall of the Nine Hostages), a historical King of Tara who died c. 405. They are generally divided into the ...

. Clann Cholmáin's pre-eminence among the southern Uí Néill, which would last until the rise of Brian Bóruma and the end of the Uí Néill dominance in Ireland, dates from his lifetime. Domnall was chief of Clann Cholmáin for almost fifty years, and High King of Ireland for twenty. In spite of this, and his importance as a dynast, the

Irish annals A number of Irish annals, of which the earliest was the Chronicle of Ireland, were compiled up to and shortly after the end of the 17th century. Annals were originally a means by which monks determined the yearly chronology of feast days. Over t ...

contain relatively few reports of his activities. He was a patron of the

Columba Columba or Colmcille; gd, Calum Cille; gv, Colum Keeilley; non, Kolban or at least partly reinterpreted as (7 December 521 – 9 June 597 AD) was an Irish abbot and missionary evangelist credited with spreading Christianity in what is toda ...

n churches, particularly

Durrow Abbey Durrow Abbey is a historic site in Durrow, County Offaly in Ireland. It is located off the N52 some 5 miles from Tullamore. Largely undisturbed, the site is an early medieval monastic complex of ecclesiastical and secular monuments, visible and ...

, where he is buried.

Origins and background

Domnall was a son of Murchad mac Diarmato. He had at least one sibling, a brother named Coirpre who died in 749, and it is likely that the Bressal mac Murchado who was killed in 764 was also his brother. Domnall's father ruled as

king of Uisnech The Kings of Uisnech were of the Uí Néill and one of its major southern branches, the Clann Cholmáin. The Hill of Uisnech is located in what is now County Westmeath, and was in early historic Ireland considered as the area where all five provin ...

from the death of his father,

Diarmait Dian Diarmait Dian mac Airmetaig, also Diarmait Guthbinn, (died 689) was King of Uisnech in Mide of the Clann Cholmáin. He was the grandson of Conall Guthbinn mac Suibni (died 635), a previous king. His father Airmetach Cáech was slain at the Battle o ...

, in 689 until his own death in 715. He was killed by

Conall Grant Conall Grant mac Cernaig (died 718) was a King of Brega of the Uí Chernaig sept of Lagore of the Síl nÁedo Sláine. He was the grandson of the high king Diarmait mac Áedo Sláine (died 665). His father Cernach Sotal had died during plague yea ...

of the

Síl nÁedo Sláine Síl nÁedo Sláine () are the descendants of Áed Sláine (Áed mac Diarmato), son of Diarmait mac Cerbaill. Part of the Southern Uí Néill—they were the kings of Brega—they claimed descent from Niall Noígiallach and his son Conall ...

branch of the southern Uí Néill. A year earlier Murchad drove out Conall's nephew

Fogartach mac Néill Fogartach Mac'Artain (died 724), sometimes called Fogartach ua Cernaich, was an Irish king who is reckoned a High King of Ireland. He belonged to the Uí Chernaig sept of the Síl nÁedo Sláine branch of the southern Uí Néill. He was King of Br ...

, probably the chief king among the southern Uí Néill, who was exiled to

Britain Britain most often refers to: * The United Kingdom, a sovereign state in Europe comprising the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland and many smaller islands * Great Britain, the largest island in the United King ...

. The notice of Murchad's death calls him "king of the Uí Néill", meaning that he was the southern deputy of then-High King

Fergal mac Máele Dúin Fergal mac Máele Dúin (died 11 December 722) was High King of Ireland. Fergal belonged to the Cenél nEógain sept of the northern Uí Néill. He was the son of Máel Dúin mac Máele Fithrich (died 681), a King of Ailech, and great grandson o ...

of the northern

Cenél nEógain Cenél is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: *Cenél Conaill, the name of the "kindred" or descendants of Conall Gulban, son of Niall Noígiallach defined by oral and recorded history *Cenél nEógain (in English, Cenel Eogan) is ...

King of Uisnech, King of Mide

According to later king lists such as those in the ''

Book of Leinster The Book of Leinster ( mga, Lebor Laignech , LL) is a medieval Irish manuscript compiled c. 1160 and now kept in Trinity College, Dublin, under the shelfmark MS H 2.18 (cat. 1339). It was formerly known as the ''Lebor na Nuachongbála'' "Book ...

'', Domnall succeeded his father as

on the latter's death. If this is correct, the

take no notice of him, and it is not until 730 that he is first mentioned. During this time, the internecine conflict within the Síl nÁedo Sláine continued. Fergal mac Máele Dúin had died in battle in

Leinster Leinster ( ; ga, Laighin or ) is one of the provinces of Ireland, situated in the southeast and east of Ireland. The province comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Meath, Leinster and Osraige. Following the 12th-century Norman invasion of Ir ...

in 722. Fogartach mac Néill, who had returned to Ireland in 716 and was once again chief king among the southern Uí Néill, later Fergal's deputy, succeeded him. Fogartach was killed in battle against his Síl nÁedo Sláine kinsman

Cináed mac Írgalaig Cináed mac Írgalaig (died 728) or Cináed Cáech, "the one-eyed", was an Irish King of Brega who was High King of Ireland. Background Cináed was the son of Írgalach mac Conaing (died 702), a previous King of Brega. He belonged to the Uí Chon ...

in 724. Cináed was killed in 728 fighting against

Flaithbertach mac Loingsig Flaithbertach mac Loingsig (died 765) was a High King of Ireland. He was a member of the Cenél Conaill, a branch of the northern Uí Néill. He was the son of Loingsech mac Óengusso (died 703), a previous high king. He ruled from 728 to 734. He ...

of the northern

Cenél Conaill Cenél is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: *Cenél Conaill, the name of the "kindred" or descendants of Conall Gulban, son of Niall Noígiallach defined by oral and recorded history *Cenél nEógain (in English, Cenel Eogan) is ...

who became High King after this victory. In the early 730s war broke out among the northern Uí Néill. Flaithbertach was defeated in 732 by Fergal's elder son

Áed Allán Áed Allán (or Áed mac Fergaile) (died 743) was an 8th-century Irish king of Ailech and High King of Ireland. Áed Allán was the son of Fergal mac Máele Dúin and a member of the Cenél nEógain, a branch of the Northern Uí Néill. Ferga ...

and the Cenél Conaill were again defeated by Áed in 733 when Fergus, son of Congal Cendmagair, was killed. Flaithbertach was again defeated by Áed in 734. The ''

Annals of Ulster The ''Annals of Ulster'' ( ga, Annála Uladh) are annals of medieval Ireland. The entries span the years from 431 AD to 1540 AD. The entries up to 1489 AD were compiled in the late 15th century by the scribe Ruaidhrí Ó Luinín, ...

'', which rarely record the beginnings of the reigns of high kings in this period, record that Áed was inaugurated later in 734. Flaithbertach had been deposed, although he survived and entered religion, dying in 765, having outlived two successors. Perhaps taking advantage of this strife, the

King of Munster The kings of Munster ( ga, Rí Mumhan), ruled from the establishment of Munster during the Irish Iron Age, until the High Middle Ages. According to Gaelic traditional history, laid out in works such as the '' Book of Invasions'', the earliest ...

Cathal mac Finguine Cathal mac Finguine (died 742) was an Irish King of Munster or Cashel, and effectively High King of Ireland as well. He belonged to the Eóganacht Glendamnach sept of the dominant Eóganachta kin-group whose members dominated Munster from the ...

, invaded the midlands in 733. Cathal encamped at

Tailtiu Tailtiu or Tailltiu (; modern spelling: Tailte) (also known as Talti) is the name of a presumed goddess from Irish mythology. The goddess's name is linked to Teltown (< OI ''Óenach Tailten'') in Co. Meath, site of the

< ...

, where the Uí Néill high kings traditionally held their main óenach. He was attacked there by Domnall and driven off although he later defeated the minor Uí Néill kindred of

Clann Cholmáin Bicc A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, clans may claim descent from founding member or apical ancestor. Clans, in indigenous societies, tend to be endogamous, meanin ...

led by

Fallomon mac Con Congalt Follaman mac Con Congalt (died 766), also written Fallomon mac Con Congelt, was King of Mide, a kingdom of the Uí Néill in central Ireland in modern County Westmeath and County Meath. Background Follaman belonged to the Clann Cholmáin Bic ...

at the

Hill of Ward The Hill of Ward (, formerly ''Tlachtgha'') is a hill in County Meath, Ireland. Geography The hill lies between Athboy (to the west) and Ráth Chairn (to the east). During medieval times it was the site of great festivals, including one at w ...

, the site of another major Uí Néill óenach. Áed Allán's reign was remembered as a time of war. He began by attacking his traditional enemies, the

Ulaid Ulaid (Old Irish, ) or Ulaidh ( Modern Irish, ) was a Gaelic over-kingdom in north-eastern Ireland during the Middle Ages made up of a confederation of dynastic groups. Alternative names include Ulidia, which is the Latin form of Ulaid, and i ...

, in 735.

Áed Róin Áed Róin mac Bécce Bairrche (died 735) was the Dál Fiatach ruler of the over-kingdom of Ulaid in Ireland. He reigned from 708 to 735. He was the son of Bécc Bairrche mac Blathmaic, (died 718), a previous king of Ulaid who had abdicated in 707 ...

, the

King of Ulster The King of Ulster (Old Irish: ''Rí Ulad'', Modern Irish: ''Rí Uladh'') also known as the King of Ulaid and King of the Ulaid, was any of the kings of the Irish provincial over-kingdom of Ulaid. The title rí in Chóicid, which means "king of ...

, was killed at a battle near

Faughart Faughart (also written Fochart) is an early Christian ruins and shrine site just north of Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland. As a popular site for modern pilgrimages, it was the birthplace of St. Brigid in 451 AD, and one of her relics is held in a c ...

. The war among the Síl nÁedo Sláine continued in 737 and that same year Áed met with Cathal mac Finguine at

Terryglass Terryglass () is a village in County Tipperary, Ireland. The small town is located on the R493 regional road on the north-eastern shore of Lough Derg near where the River Shannon enters the Lough. It is a civil parish in the historical barony ...

. Exactly what was agreed there is unknown, but the annals also state that the law of

Saint Patrick Saint Patrick ( la, Patricius; ga, Pádraig ; cy, Padrig) was a fifth-century Romano-British Christian missionary and bishop in Ireland. Known as the "Apostle of Ireland", he is the primary patron saint of Ireland, the other patron saints be ...

was in force throughout Ireland. It may be that Áed and Cathal agreed on an alliance against

. Áed's father Fergal had been killed campaigning there, and the annals are full of Cathal's generally unsuccessful campaigns against the Leinstermen. In the following Áed and Cathal separately attacked Leinster. Áed's invasion led to the battle of Áth Senaig, fought on 14 September 738 near

Ballyshannon Ballyshannon () is a town in County Donegal, Ireland. It is located at the southern end of the county where the N3 from Dublin ends and the N15 crosses the River Erne. Incorporated in 1613, it is one of the oldest towns in Ireland. Location B ...

County Kildare County Kildare ( ga, Contae Chill Dara) is a county in Ireland. It is in the province of Leinster and is part of the Eastern and Midland Region. It is named after the town of Kildare. Kildare County Council is the local authority for the county, ...

, also called the battle of the groans. This was a crushing defeat for Leinster. Their king,

Áed mac Colggen Áed mac Colggen (died 738) was a king of the Uí Cheinnselaig of Leinster. Some sources incorrectly make him joint king of Leinster with Bran Becc mac Murchado, but it appears that Áed was main ruler of Leinster in 738. His father Colcú mac Br ...

, was killed, as was

Bran Becc mac Murchado Bran Becc mac Murchada (died 738) was a King of Leinster from the Uí Dúnlainge branch of the Laigin. He was the son of Murchad mac Brain Mut (died 727), a previous king. He ruled briefly in 738. The ''Annals of Tigernach'' claim that in 738 Cat ...

. The ''Annals of Ulster'' say: "so many fell in this great battle that we find no comparable slaughter in a single onslaught and fierce conflict throughout all preceding ages." Later Cathal campaigned in Leinster and apparently took hostages and tribute from the new king, perhaps Fáelán mac Murchado. In 739 the ''Annals of Ulster'' record that some of Domnall's household were burned to death in a banqueting hall at the unidentified ''Bodbráith''. The enemy are not named. The following year Domnall, it is reported, "went off into clerical life".

King of Tara

In 743 Domnall defeated and killed Áed Allán and a number of kings of the

Airgíalla Airgíalla (Modern Irish: Oirialla, English: Oriel, Latin: ''Ergallia'') was a medieval Irish over-kingdom and the collective name for the confederation of tribes that formed it. The confederation consisted of nine minor kingdoms, all independe ...

, perhaps at ''Mag Sered'' near Kells, although some annals place the battle in modern

County Longford County Longford ( gle, Contae an Longfoirt) is a county in Ireland. It is in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Longford. Longford County Council is the local authority for the county. The population of the county was 46,6 ...

, either location suggesting that Áed was the aggressor. The annals offer no explanation as to why the two were at war, but it has been suggested that Áed's expansion into the lands of the

Conailli Muirthemne Conaille Muirthemne was a Cruithin kingdom located in County Louth, Ireland, from before 688 to after 1107 approximately. Overview The Ulaid according to historian Francis John Byrne 'possibly still ruled directly in Louth as far as the Boyne i ...

(in modern County Louth) or the killing of

Conaing mac Amalgado Conaing mac Amalgado (died 742) was a King of Brega from the Uí Chonaing sept of Cnogba (Knowth) of the Síl nÁedo Sláine branch of the southern Ui Neill. He was the son of Amalgaid mac Congalaig (died 718), a previous king. He ruled from 728 t ...

, king of Brega, supposedly strangled by Áed in 742, may have been connected to Domnall's return. Having defeated Áed, the ''Annals of Ulster'' state that Domnall again entered the religious life in 744. When Flaithbertach's son

Áed Muinderg Áed mac Flaithbertaig (died 747), called Áed Muinderg, was a chief of the Cenél Conaill of the northern Uí Néill in Ireland. He was the son of the high king Flaithbertach mac Loingsig (died 765). His byname Muinderg means "red-necked". His f ...

died in 747, the ''Annals of Ulster'' call him "king of the North", suggesting that he was Domnall's deputy among the northern Uí Néill. Domnall seems also to have had a deputy in the south. His distant kinsman Fallomon mac Con Congalt of Clann Cholmáin Bicc may have been king of Mide in 733, and is definitely styled as such at his death in 766. Other than this, very little is recorded of Domnall during the twenty years in which he is reckoned to have been High King of Ireland. Unlike Áed Allán, he maintained good relations with the

Uí Dúnlainge The Uí Dúnlainge, from the Old Irish "grandsons (or descendants) 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 ances ...

kings of

. In 753 he is said to have imposed the "law of

" on behalf of Sléibéne, Abbot of Iona. Domnall's support for Iona, a policy followed by his descendants, caused the principal Columban church to move to Kells during the

Viking Age The Viking Age () was the period during the Middle Ages when Norsemen known as Vikings undertook large-scale raiding, colonizing, conquest, and trading throughout Europe and reached North America. It followed the Migration Period and the Ger ...

. There is only one report of Domnall at war, this in 756. The ''Annals of Ulster'' report that Domnall led an army from Leinster into Conailli Muirthemne. This again suggests that he saw the presence of the Cenél nEógain on the eastern coast as a threat to his family's power and emphasizes his good relations with the kings of Leinster. Domnall died in 763 and was buried at

in present-day County Offaly. Although he enjoyed good relations with Iona and was seemingly devout, he was not well regarded by all Irish churchmen. The '' Félire Óengusso'', written at

Tallaght ) , image_skyline = TallaghtDublinD24.jpg , image_caption = Tallaght, Dublin , image_flag = , flag_size = , pushpin_map = Dublin#Ireland , pushpin_label_position = left , ...

in the borderlands of Leinster, apparently includes him among the oppressive secular rulers whom the authors held in contempt.

Successors, descendants and family

According to the lists of High Kings and the evidence of the annals, Domnall was followed as High King by Niall Frossach, Áed Allán's younger brother. The succession to the leadership of Clann Cholmáin was disputed. Domnall had at least five sons and at least one daughter. His only recorded wife is Ailbíne ingen Ailello. His son

Donnchad Midi Donnchad mac Domnaill (733 – 6 February 797), called Donnchad Midi, was High King of Ireland. His father, Domnall Midi, had been the first Uí Néill High King from the south-central Clann Cholmáin based in modern County Westmeath and western ...

was also High King. His son, Muiredach, who died in 802, was named king of Mide in the report of his death. Domnall's son Diarmait Dub died in 764, leading an army raised from the lands of

. His opponent, his uncle or nephew Bressal mac Murchado, was leading the forces of the monastery of

Clonmacnoise Clonmacnoise ( Irish: ''Cluain Mhic Nóis'') is a ruined monastery situated in County Offaly in Ireland on the River Shannon south of Athlone, founded in 544 by Saint Ciarán, a young man from Rathcroghan, County Roscommon. Until the 9th cen ...

. Domnall's son Murchad, died in battle in 765, fighting against Donnchad. Domnall's son Indrechtach died in 797, soon after his brother Donnchad. Domnall's daughter Eithne was killed, with her husband

Bran Ardchenn Bran Ardchenn mac Muiredaig (died 795) was a King of Leinster of the Uí Muiredaig sept of the Uí Dúnlainge branch of the Laigin. He was the son of Muiredach mac Murchado (died 760), a previous king. This sept had their royal seat at Maistiu (Mu ...

King of Leinster The kings of Leinster ( ga, Rí Laighín), ruled from the establishment of Leinster during the Irish Iron Age, until the 17th century Early Modern Ireland. According to Gaelic traditional history, laid out in works such as the ''Book of Invasion ...

, on 6 May 795 at ''Cell Cúile Dumai'', near modern

Abbeyleix Abbeyleix (; ) is a town in County Laois, Ireland, located around south of the county town of Portlaoise. Abbeyleix was formerly located on the N8, the main road from Dublin to Cork. At one point, up to 15,000 vehicles passed along the town' ...

, County Laois, by Fínsnechta Cetharderc, a rival for the kingship of Leinster. Domnall's later descendants included the High Kings

Conchobar mac Donnchada Conchobar mac Donnchada (or Conchobar mac Donnchado) was High-King of Ireland with opposition (''rí Érenn co fressabra'') between 819 and 833. Conchobar was the son of Donnchad Midi, high-king of Ireland (733– 797); his mother was Fuirseach, ...

Máel Sechnaill mac Máele Ruanaid Máel Sechnaill mac Máel Ruanaida (Modern Irish: ''Maolsheachlann Mac Maolruanaidh''), also known as Máel Sechnaill I, anglicised as Malachy MacMulrooney (died 27 November 862) was High King of Ireland. The Annals of Ulster use the Old Irish ...

Flann Sinna Flann Sinna ( lit. ''Flann of the Shannon''; Irish: ''Flann na Sionainne''; 84725 May 916), also known as Flann mac Máel Sechnaill, was the son of Máel Sechnaill mac Máele Ruanaid of Clann Cholmáin, a branch of the Southern Uí Néill. He wa ...

Donnchad Donn Donnchad Donn mac Flainn (''Duncan of the Brown Hair, son of Flann'') (died 944) was High King of Ireland and King of Mide. He belonged to Clann Cholmáin, a branch of the southern Uí Néill. Origins Donnchad was the son of High King Flann Sin ...

and

Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill ( ga, Maolsheachlann mac Domhnaill), also called Máel Sechnaill Mór or Máel Sechnaill II (949 – 2 September 1022), was a King of Mide and High King of Ireland. His great victory at the Battle of Tara aga ...

.Byrne, ''Irish Kings'', p. 282.

Notes

References

* * * * * * * * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Domnall mac Murchado 7th-century births 763 deaths High Kings of Ireland Kings of Uisnech Kings of Mide People from County Westmeath 8th-century Irish monarchs Gaels