Uí Dúnchada Irish lineage and kingdom.

Lineage

Divisions of the Uí Dúnlainge kingdom derived from three sons of

Murchad mac Brain Mut Murchad mac Brain Mut (died 727) was a King of Leinster from the Uí Dúnlainge branch of the Laigin. He was the son of Bran Mut mac Conaill (died 696), a previous king. He ruled from 715 to 727. His reign His first mention in the annals is whe ...

of Uí Dúnlainge, king of Laigin (d. 727). "The third brother,

Dúnchad mac Murchada Dúnchad mac Murchada (died 728) was a King of Leinster from the Uí Dúnlainge branch of the Laigin. He was the son of Murchad mac Brain Mut (died 727), the previous king. He ruled from 727 to 728. Biography Dunchad participated in his father's ...

(d. 728), was ancestor to Uí Dúnchada" (2008, p. 162). The Uí Dúnchada lineage took the surname Mac Gilla Mo Cholmóc by 1100.

Kingdom

The Uí Dúnlainge were a "powerful lineage ... which had risen to dominance in Laigin Tuadgabair, divided into three segments during the early eighth century, each of which in turn formed distinct kingdoms." (2008, p. 163). Uí Dúnchada became a "regional kingdom", its territory "later represented by two cantreds,

Newcastle Lyons Newcastle () is a village in the south-western part of South Dublin county, Ireland. It is also a civil parish in the barony of the same name. It was the location of the castle of the barony, which in historical and official documents is descri ...

and Fercoulen", the former representing the trícha of Uí Dúnchada proper. MacCotter states:

The cantred of Newcastle Lyons appears to derive from the Uí Dúnchada of 'proper', as distinct from the regional kingdom of the same name. Uí Dúnchada may have moved into this area as early as the late eighth century, and were certain here by the early tenth century, when one of their kings is styled Lorcán Liamna (from Liamhain or Newcastle Lyons, their later seat). The Uí Dúnchada tract mentions two territorial units in the kingtdom in addition to Fír Chualann: Uí Dúnchada 'proper' and Uí Gabla, both of which seem to have lain in Uí Dúnchada (which) itself certain contained all of south Dublin west of the Dodder.

Henry II retained both cantreds for himself in 1171-72. Grants of 1173, 1185, 1207, 1213 and 1377, make clear that it included the parishes of Ballybought, Ballymore and Tipperkevin in

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, ...

; Kilbride, Blessington, Burgage, Boystown, Hollywood, Crehelp, Tober, Dunlavin, Rathsallagh and part of Donard, all in

County Wicklow County Wicklow ( ; ga, Contae Chill Mhantáin ) is a county in Ireland. The last of the traditional 32 counties, having been formed as late as 1606, it is part of the Eastern and Midland Region and the province of Leinster. It is bordered by t ...

. Rathdown Castle (anciently Rath Oinn) was a historical centre of Uí Dunchada power.

References

* Gilbert, J.T., ''A history of the city of Dublin'', 1854. * Byrne, Francis John, Irish Kings and High-Kings, Dublin: Four Courts Press, 1973; 2001 reprint * MacCotter, Paul, ''Medieval Ireland: Territorial, Political and Economic Divisions'', 2008, pp. 162-64. {{DEFAULTSORT:Uí Dúnchada Medieval Ireland Kingdoms of medieval Ireland History of County Dublin History of County Kildare History of County Wicklow