Muircheartach Ó Briain was
King of Thomond
The kings of Thomond ( ga, Rí Tuamhain) ruled from the establishment of Thomond during the High Middle Ages, until the Early modern period. Thomond represented the legacy of Brian Bóruma and the High Kings of Ireland of his line who could n ...
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 supported
Edward Bruce
Edward Bruce, Earl of Carrick ( Norman French: ; mga, Edubard a Briuis; Modern Scottish Gaelic: gd, Eideard or ; – 14 October 1318), was a younger brother of Robert the Bruce, King of Scots. He supported his brother in the 1306–1314 st ...
and lost the support of
Richard de Clare
Richard is a male given name. It originates, via Old French, from Old Frankish and is a compound of the words descending from Proto-Germanic ''*rīk-'' 'ruler, leader, king' and ''*hardu-'' 'strong, brave, hardy', and it therefore means 'stron ...
, then fleeing to join the Bruce camp in
Connacht
Connacht ( ; ga, Connachta or ), is one of the provinces of Ireland, in the west of Ireland. Until the ninth century it consisted of several independent major Gaelic kingdoms (Uí Fiachrach, Uí Briúin, Uí Maine, Conmhaícne, and Delbhn ...
. After Donnchad's departure Muircheartach came to power. He fought the
Battle of Lough Raska where the rival Clann Briain whom the Norman de Clare's had supported were defeated. He banished de Clare's protege Mathgamain O'Briain from
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 ...
and then fought him at the
Battle of Dysert O'Dea
The Battle of Dysert O'Dea took place on 10 May 1318 at O'Dea Castle, Dysert O'Dea near Corofin, County Clare, Corofin, Ireland. It was part of the Bruce campaign in Ireland. The Normans, Norman Richard de Clare, Steward of Forest of Essex, R ...
where his forces were victorious in driving the Normans from
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 ...
and
Richard de Clare
Richard is a male given name. It originates, via Old French, from Old Frankish and is a compound of the words descending from Proto-Germanic ''*rīk-'' 'ruler, leader, king' and ''*hardu-'' 'strong, brave, hardy', and it therefore means 'stron ...
was killed.
Family[ ]John O'Hart
John O'Hart (1824–1902) was an Irish genealogist. He was born in Crossmolina, County Mayo, Ireland. A committed Roman Catholic and Irish nationalist, O'Hart had originally planned to become a priest but instead spent two years as a poli ...
,"Irish Pedigrees or the Origin and Stem of the Irish Nation", Volume 1, 1892, page 159, https://archive.org/stream/irishpedigreesor_01ohar#page/158/mode/2up
He married Étaín, the daughter of his standard bearer MacGorman of
and had two known sons:
*
Mathghamhain Maonmhaighe
*Toirdhealbhach Maol
References
{{Reflist
Kings of Thomond