The kings of
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 ...
( ga, Rí Tuamhain)
ruled from the establishment of
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 ...
during the
High Middle Ages
The High Middle Ages, or High Medieval Period, was the periodization, period of European history that lasted from AD 1000 to 1300. The High Middle Ages were preceded by the Early Middle Ages and were followed by the Late Middle Ages, which ended ...
, until the
Early modern period. Thomond represented the legacy of
Brian Bóruma
Brian Boru ( mga, Brian Bóruma mac Cennétig; modern ga, Brian Bóramha; 23 April 1014) was an Irish king who ended the domination of the High King of Ireland, High Kingship of Ireland by the Uí Néill and probably ended Viking invasion/domi ...
and the
High Kings 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 ...
of his line who could not hold onto all of
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 ...
, so had to partition the realm between themselves and
Desmond, ruled by their rivals the
Eóganachta
The Eóganachta or Eoghanachta () were an Irish dynasty centred on Cashel which dominated southern Ireland (namely the Kingdom of Munster) from the 6/7th to the 10th centuries, and following that, in a restricted form, the Kingdom of Desmond, an ...
. The
Kings of Thomond
Kings or King's may refer to:
*Monarchs: The sovereign heads of states and/or nations, with the male being kings
*One of several works known as the "Book of Kings":
**The Books of Kings part of the Bible, divided into two parts
**The ''Shahnameh'' ...
were drawn from the leading kindred of the
Dál gCais
The Dalcassians ( ga, Dál gCais ) are a Gaelic Irish clan, generally accepted by contemporary scholarship as being a branch of the Déisi Muman, that became very powerful in Ireland during the 10th century. Their genealogies claimed descent fr ...
known as the
Ó Briain
The O'Brien dynasty ( ga, label=Classical Irish, Ua Briain; ga, label=Modern Irish, Ó Briain ; genitive ''Uí Bhriain'' ) is a noble house of Munster, founded in the 10th century by Brian Boru of the Dál gCais (Dalcassians). After becoming ...
. For centuries they fought off challenges from the Normans, including the
de Clare
The House of Clare was a prominent Anglo-Norman noble house that held at various times the earldoms of Pembroke, Hertford and Gloucester in England and Wales, as well as playing a prominent role in the Norman invasion of Ireland.
They were de ...
family and internal conflict between factions. Eventually
Murchadh Carrach Ó Briain decided to
surrender and regrant
During the Tudor conquest of Ireland (c.1540–1603), "surrender and regrant" was the legal mechanism by which Irish clans were to be converted from a power structure rooted in clan and kin loyalties, to a late-feudal system under the English l ...
his realm to the
Kingdom of Ireland
The Kingdom of Ireland ( ga, label=Classical Irish, an Ríoghacht Éireann; ga, label=Modern Irish, an Ríocht Éireann, ) was a monarchy on the island of Ireland that was a client state of England and then of Great Britain. It existed from ...
in 1543 and accepted the titles
Baron Inchiquin and
Earl of Thomond
Earl of Thomond was an hereditary title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created twice for the O'Brien dynasty which is an ancient Irish sept native to north Munster.
History and background
First creation
Under the Crown of Ireland Act 1542, Ki ...
.
The current holder of these titles is
Conor Myles John O'Brien.
Kings of Thomond
Ó Briain, 1118-1277
, -
,
Conchobhar Ó Briain 1118–1142
, ,
, , Son of Diarmuid Ó Briain , , ''unknown'' , , 1142
, -
,
Toirdhealbhach mac Diarmada Ua Briain
Toirdhealbhach mac Diarmada Ua Briain was King of Munster in an interrupted reign from 1142 to 1165.
Reign
He was the son of Diarmaid Ua Briain, King of Munster. He began his reign as King of Munster in 1142, he was deposed by his brother Tadhg ...
1142–1167
, ,
, , Son of Diarmuid Ó Briain , , ''unknown'' , , 1167
, -
,
Muircheartach mac Toirdelbhach Ó Briain
Muirchertach (modern spelling: Muircheartach, anglicised as Murtagh) is an Irish language male given name meaning "mariner". The name was sometimes Anglicised as "Mortimer." The Old Norse name Kjartan is derived from this name. Ásgeir Blöndal Mag ...
1167–1168
, ,
, , Son of Toirdelbhach mac Diarmaida Ó Briain , , ''unknown'' , , 1168
, -
,
Domhnall Mór Ó Briain 1168–1194
, ,
, , Son of Toirdelbhach mac Diarmaida Ó Briain , , Orlacan Ní Murchada
Four children, , 1194
, -
,
Muircheartach Dall Ó Briain
Muirchertach (modern spelling: Muircheartach, anglicised as Murtagh) is an Irish language male given name meaning "mariner". The name was sometimes Anglicised as "Mortimer." The Old Norse name Kjartan is derived from this name. Ásgeir Blöndal Mag ...
1194–1198
1203–1210
, ,
, , Son of
Domhnall Mór Ó Briain and Orlacan Ní Murchada, , ''unknown'', , 1210
, -
,
Conchobhar Ruadh Ó Briain
( is an old and famous Irish male name meaning "lover of canines". It is the source of the Irish names Conor, Connor, Connors, Conner, O'Connor, etc. It is a name borne by several figures from Irish history and legend, including:
* Conchobar ...
1198–1203
, ,
, , Son of Domhnall Mór Ó Briain and Orlacan Ní Murchada, , ''unknown'', , 1203
, -
,
Donnchadh Cairbreach Ó Briain
Donnchadh Cairbreach Ó Briain was King of Thomond from 1198 to his death in 1242.
He founded Moor Abbey, (Galbally, Tipperary) early in the 13th century before it was re-founded in 1471 and established by the first Franciscan pontiff under the ...
1210–1242
, ,
, , Son of Domhnall Mór Ó Briain and Orlacan Ní Murchada, , ''unknown'', , 1242
, -
,
Conchobhar na Suidaine Ó Briain 1242–1268
, ,
, , Son of Donnchadh Cairbreach Ó Briain, , ''unknown'', , 1268
, -
,
Brian Ruadh Ó Briain
Brian (sometimes spelled Bryan in English) is a male given name of Irish and Breton origin, as well as a surname of Occitan origin. It is common in the English-speaking world.
It is possible that the name is derived from an Old Celtic word me ...
1268–1276
1277
, ,
, , Son of
Conchobhar na Suidaine Ó Briain, , ''unknown'', , 1277
, -
Ó Briain Clann Tadhg, 1276-1311
, -
,
Toirdhealbhach Mór Ó Briain 1276–1306
, ,
, , Son of
Tadhg Cael Uisce Ó Briain , , ''unknown'' , , 1306
, -
,
Donnchadh mac Toirdelbach Ó Briain 1306–1311
, ,
, , Son of
Toirdelbach Ó Briain , , ''unknown'' , , 1311
, -
Ó Briain Clann Briain Ruadh, 1277-1284
, -
,
Donnchadh mac Brian Ruadh Ó Briain 1277–1284
(claimant) , ,
, , Son of
Brian Ruadh Ó Briain
Brian (sometimes spelled Bryan in English) is a male given name of Irish and Breton origin, as well as a surname of Occitan origin. It is common in the English-speaking world.
It is possible that the name is derived from an Old Celtic word me ...
, , ''unknown'' , , 1284
, -
Ó Briain Clann Briain Ruadh, 1311-1317
, -
,
Diarmuid Cléirech Ó Briain 1311–1313
, ,
, , Son of
Donnchadh mac Brian Ruadh Ó Briain , , ''unknown'' , , 1313
, -
,
Donnchadh mac Domhnall Ó Briain 1313–1317
, ,
, , Son of Domhnall mac Brian Ruadh Ó Briain and Mairéad Nic Mathghamhna, , ''unknown'' , , 1317
, -
Ó Briain Clann Tadhg, 1317-1343
, -
,
Muircheartach Ó Briain
Muircheartach Ó Briain was King of Thomond from 1317 until his death in 1343. Reign
He was the son of Toirdhealbhach Mór Ó Briain. He was expelled by his Clann Briain cousin King Donnchad Ó Briain in 1314. He came to power after Donnchad s ...
1317–1343
, ,
, , Son of
Toirdhealbhach Mór Ó Briain, , Éadaoin Nic Gormáin
Several children , , 1343
, -
Ó Briain Clann Briain Ruadh, 1343-1350
, -
,
Brian Bán Ó Briain 1343–1350
, ,
, , Son of Domhnall mac Brian Ruadh Ó Briain and Mairéad Nic Mathghamhna, , ''unknown'' , , 1350
, -
Ó Briain Clann Tadhg, 1350-1543
, -
,
Diarmuid mac Toirdelbach Ó Briain 1350–1360
, ,
, , Son of
Toirdelbach Ó Briain, , ''unknown'' , , 1360
, -
,
Mathghamhain Maonmhaighe Ó Briain 1360–1369
, ,
, , Son of
Muircheartach Ó Briain
Muircheartach Ó Briain was King of Thomond from 1317 until his death in 1343. Reign
He was the son of Toirdhealbhach Mór Ó Briain. He was expelled by his Clann Briain cousin King Donnchad Ó Briain in 1314. He came to power after Donnchad s ...
and Éadaoin Nic Gormáin, , Úna Ní Conchubhair
Several children, , 1369
, -
,
Brian Sreamhach Ó Briain 1369–1400
, ,
, , Son of
Mathghamhain Maonmhaighe Ó Briain and Úna Ní Conchubhair, , Sláine Nic Con Mara
Several children , , 1400
, -
,
Toirdelbhach Maol Ó Briain 1375–1398
(claimant) , ,
, , Son of Muircheartach Ó Briain and Éadaoin Nic Gormáin, , ''unknown'' , , 1398
, -
,
Conchobhar mac Mathghamhna Ó Briain 1400–1426
, ,
, , Son of Mathghamhain Maonmhaighe Ó Briain and Úna Ní Conchubhair, , ''unknown'' , , 1426
, -
,
Tadhg an Glemore Ó Briain 1426–1438
, ,
, , Son of
Brian Sreamhach Ó Briain and Sláine Nic Con Mara, , ''unknown'' , , 1438
, -
,
Mathghamhain Dall Ó Briain
Mathghamhain mac Cian was an Eóganacht Raithlind nobleman and maternal grandson of Brian Boru. He was the son of Cian mac Máelmuaid and his wife Sadhbh, who was a daughter of the High King Brian Boru. He died at the Battle of Clontarf in 1014 f ...
1438–1444
, ,
, , Son of Brian Sreamhach Ó Briain and Sláine Nic Con Mara, , ''unknown'' , , 1444
, -
,
Toirdhealbhach Bóg Ó Briain 1444–1459
, ,
, , Son of Brian Sreamhach Ó Briain and Sláine Nic Con Mara, , Catherine Burke
Several children , , 1459
, -
,
Tadhg an Chomhaid Ó Briain 1459–1466
, ,
, , Son of
Toirdhealbhach Bóg Ó Briain and Catherine Burke, , Annabella Burke
Several children , , 1466
, -
,
Donnchadh mac Mathghamhna Ó Briain Donnchadh () is a masculine given name common to the Irish and Scottish Gaelic languages. It is composed of the elements ''donn'', meaning "brown" or "dark" from Donn a Gaelic God; and ''chadh'', meaning "chief" or "noble". The name is also written ...
1459–1461
(claimant) , ,
, , Son of
Mathghamhain Dall Ó Briain
Mathghamhain mac Cian was an Eóganacht Raithlind nobleman and maternal grandson of Brian Boru. He was the son of Cian mac Máelmuaid and his wife Sadhbh, who was a daughter of the High King Brian Boru. He died at the Battle of Clontarf in 1014 f ...
, , ''unknown'' , , 1461
, -
,
Conchobhar na Srona Ó Briain 1466–1496
, ,
, , Son of
Toirdhealbhach Bóg Ó Briain, , ''unknown'' , , 1496
, -
,
Toirdelbhach Óg Ó Briain 1496–1498
, ,
, , Son of
Toirdhealbhach Bóg Ó Briain and Catherine Burke, , ''unknown'' , , 1498
, -
,
Toirdhealbhach Donn Ó Briain 1498–1528
, ,
, , Son of Tadhg an Chomhaid Ó Briain and Annabella Burke, , Raghnailt Nic Con Mara
Several children
Joan FitzMaurice
Several children , , 1528
, -
,
Conchobhar mac Toirdhealbaig Ó Briain 1528–1539
, ,
, , Son of Toirdelbhach Donn Ó Briain and Raghnailt Mac Con Mara, , ''unknown'' , , 1539
, -
,
Murchadh Carrach Ó Briain 1539–1543
, ,
, , Son of Toirdelbhach Donn Ó Briain and Raghnait MacNamara, , ''Eleanor FitzGerald'' , , 1551
, -
Line of Kings
See also
*
List of High Kings of Ireland
Medieval Irish historical tradition held that Ireland had a High King (''Ard Rí'') based at Tara since ancient times, and compilations like the 11th-century ''Lebor Gabála Érenn'', followed by Early Modern works like the ''Annals of the Fo ...
*
List of kings 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 k ...
*
List of kings of Desmond
The following is a list of monarchs of the Kingdom of Desmond. Most were of the MacCarthy Mór ("great MacCarthy"), the senior branch of the MacCarthy dynasty.
12th century MacCarthy
MacCarthy claimants
O'Brien claimants
MacCarthy
13th c ...
*
List of kings 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 Provinces of Ireland, Irish provincial over-kingdom of Ulaid. The title rí in Chóicid, ...
*
List of kings 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 ...
*
List of kings of Connacht
The Kings of Connacht were rulers of the ''cóiced'' (variously translated as portion, fifth, province) of Connacht, which lies west of the River Shannon, Ireland. However, the name only became applied to it in the early medieval era, being named ...
*
List of kings of Mide
Notes
References
External links
Official Website of Clan O'Brien
{{Gaels
O'Brien dynasty
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 ...
Dál gCais