Conchobar mac Tadg, King of Connacht 967–973 and eponym of the

O'Conor The O'Conor family ( Middle Irish: ''Ó Conchubhair''; Modern ga, Ó Conchúir) are an Irish noble house and were one of the most influential and distinguished royal houses in Ireland. The O'Conor family held the throne of the Kingdom of C ...

family of

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 ...

Biography

A son of Tadc ''in Túir'' (of the tower), Conchobar's father died in 956 as king of Connacht, but his sept of the Síol Muireadaigh were successfully opposed by

Fergal ua Ruairc Fergal Ua Ruairc (died 967) was King of Connacht, Ireland. The annals state that, in 961, he won the battle of Catinchi. References * '' Leabhar na nGenealach'', Dublin, 2004-2005 * '' Annals of the Four Masters'', ed. John O'Donovan, Dublin ...

of the Uí Briúin of Bréifne, who reigned till 967. According to Ailbhe Mac Shamhráin,

"''Conchobar had inherited marriage-alliances with the principal dynasties of the Uí Néill: his sister Bébinn was wife to the king of Brega, Domnall son of
Congalach Cnogba Conghalach Cnoghbha (older spelling: Congalach Cnogba or Congalach mac Máel Mithig) was High King of Ireland, according to the lists in the Annals of the Four Masters, from around 944 to 956. Congalach is one of the twelve "kings of Ireland" liste ...
, while another sister, Muirgel, was married into the Cenél Conaill. It was his brother-in-law Domnall son of Congalach who slew Fergal grandson of Ruarc in 966, leaving the way clear for Conchobar to assume overkingship of Connacht, the new provincial ruler, however, was not to enjoy an untroubled reign.''"

The death of one of his sons occurred in 967 while supporting Muirgel's husband's kindred against their great rivals, the Cenél nÉogain. The kings of Bréifne continued to attempt to re-gain the provincial kingship, as attested by Conchobar's defeat of Ualgarc ua Ruarc. The Book of Leinster implies that Conchobar died of

colic Colic or cholic () is a form of pain that starts and stops abruptly. It occurs due to muscular contractions of a hollow tube (small and large intestine, gall bladder, ureter, etc.) in an attempt to relieve an obstruction by forcing content out. ...

, and that his successor, Cathal, was killed at the battle of Céis Chorainn, reigning three days. His killer was Murchad Glun re Lar mac Flaithbertaigh of Cenél nÉogain. Mac Shamhráin states:

"''It seems that the provincial kingship remained weak for the next twenty years, as dynasty from several different lines extended their sway over parts of Connacht. However, through his son Cathal, who eventually emerged as provincial ruler, Conchobar became the ancestor of the royal line of Ua Conchobair (O'Connor), which provided most of the later kings of Connacht.''"

His great-grandchildren were the first to be known by the surname Ua Conchobair, and his senior male descendant is The Ó Conchubhair Donn. A brother of Conchobar's was

Máel Ruanaid Mór mac Tadg Maelruanaidh Mor mac Tadg, first King of Moylurg, and ancestor to all subsequent Kings of Moylurg. He is usually assumed to have lived in or about the year 956. Maelruanaidh was a son of Tadg mac Cathal (King of Connacht 925–956) and brother t ...

, ancestor of the Kings of Moylurg and the families of Ua/Ó Maolruanaid (

Mulrooney Mulrooney is a surname of Irish origin. The name may refer to: * Belinda Mulrooney (1872–1967), Irish-American entrepreneur who made a fortune in the Klondike Gold Rush * John Mulrooney (contemporary), American comedian, actor, and television hos ...

) and MacDiarmata ( MacDermot).

References

* "Conchobar", by Ailbhe Mac Shamhráin, pp. 730–31, volume two, ''Dictionary of Irish Biography'', 2009. * "Mac Dermot of Moylurg: The Story of a Connacht Family", Dermot Mac Dermot, 1996. * http://www.macdermot.com/ 973 deaths 10th-century births People from County Roscommon O'Conor dynasty 10th-century kings of Connacht {{Ireland-royal-stub