Brian Breifneach Ua Conchobair,
Prince
A prince is a male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary, in some European states. T ...
of
Connacht, fl. 1156.
Brian Breifneach was one of some twenty-two sons of King
Tairrdelbach Ua Conchobair
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 ...
of
Connacht (1088-1156. His nickname, ''Breifneach'', indicates that he was fostered in
Breifne, probably by King
Tigernan Ua Ruairc.
Upon the death of Tairrdelbach at
Dunmore, County Galway in spring 1156, Brian was apparently considered a very creditable successor to the kingship. Other candidates were his brothers
Ruaidri Ua Conchobair, Brian Luighneach and Muirchertach Muimneach.
To prevent this, Ruaidri arrested Brian Breifneach, Brian Luighneach and Muircheartach Muimneach. As an extra precaution, he had Brian blinded, preventing him from becoming an active contender. Ruaidhri went on to serve as king of Connacht from 1156, and
King of Ireland from 1166, till he was deposed in 1183.
References
* ''Ua Conchobair, Ruaidhri'', Ailbhe Mac Shamrhain, in ''Dictionary of Irish Biography ... to the Year 2002'', p. 572.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ua Conchobair, Brian Breifneach
People from County Galway
People from County Leitrim
Medieval Gaels from Ireland
12th-century Irish people