Cathair Mór ("the great"), son of Feidhlimidh Fiorurghlas, a descendant of
Conchobar Abradruad, was, according to
Lebor Gabála Érenn
''Lebor Gabála Érenn'' (literally "The Book of Ireland's Taking"; Modern Irish spelling: ''Leabhar Gabhála Éireann'', known in English as ''The Book of Invasions'') is a collection of poems and prose narratives in the Irish language inten ...
, a
High King of Ireland
High King of Ireland ( ) 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 was later sometimes assigned anachronously or to leg ...
.
Foras Feasa ar Éirinn
''Foras Feasa ar Éirinn'' – literally 'Foundation of Knowledge on Ireland', but most often known in English as 'The History of Ireland' – is a narrative history of Ireland by Geoffrey Keating, written in Irish and completed .Bernadette Cun ...
, Section 40, page 259, http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/T100054/text050.html UCC CELT project. by Geoffrey Keating. He took power after the death of
Fedlimid Rechtmar
Fedlimid Rechtmar (; "the lawful, legitimate" or "the passionate, furious") or Rechtaid ("the judge, lawgiver"), son of Tuathal Techtmar, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland. His mother was Báin ...
. Cathair ruled for three years, at the end of which he was killed by the Luaigne of
Tara, led by Conn Cétchathach. The ''
Lebor Gabála Érenn
''Lebor Gabála Érenn'' (literally "The Book of Ireland's Taking"; Modern Irish spelling: ''Leabhar Gabhála Éireann'', known in English as ''The Book of Invasions'') is a collection of poems and prose narratives in the Irish language inten ...
'' synchronises his reign with that of the
Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius
Marcus Aurelius Antoninus ( ; ; 26 April 121 – 17 March 180) was Roman emperor from 161 to 180 and a Stoicism, Stoic philosopher. He was a member of the Nerva–Antonine dynasty, the last of the rulers later known as the Five Good Emperors ...
(161–180). The chronology of
Geoffrey Keating's ''
Foras Feasa ar Éirinn
''Foras Feasa ar Éirinn'' – literally 'Foundation of Knowledge on Ireland', but most often known in English as 'The History of Ireland' – is a narrative history of Ireland by Geoffrey Keating, written in Irish and completed .Bernadette Cun ...
'' dates his reign to 113–116, that of the ''
Annals of the Four Masters
The ''Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland'' () or the ''Annals of the Four Masters'' () are chronicles of Middle Ages, medieval Irish history. The entries span from the Genesis flood narrative, Deluge, dated as 2,242 Anno Mundi, years after crea ...
'' to 119–122.
Genealogy
According to
Foras Feasa ar Éirinn
''Foras Feasa ar Éirinn'' – literally 'Foundation of Knowledge on Ireland', but most often known in English as 'The History of Ireland' – is a narrative history of Ireland by Geoffrey Keating, written in Irish and completed .Bernadette Cun ...
, Cathaoir Mor was a son of Feidhlimidh Fiorurghlas, son of Cormac Gealta Gaoth, son of Nia Corb, son of Cu Corb, son of Mogh Corb, son of
Conchubhar Abhradhruadh, son of Fionn File, son of Rossa Ruadh, son of Fearghus Fairrge, son of
Nuadha Neacht, son of Seadna Siothbhac, son of Lughaidh Loithfhionn, son of Breasal Breac, son of Fiachaidh Foibhric, son of Oilill Glas, son of Fearadhach Foghlas, son of Nuadha Fullon, son of Ealloit, son of Art, son of Mogh Airt, son of
Criomhthann Coscrach, son of Feidhlimidh Foirthriun, son of
Fearghus Fortamhail, son of Breasal Breodhamhan, son of
Aonghus Ollamh, son of Oilill Bracain, son of
Labhraidh Loingseach of the race of
Eireamhon.
Legends
He is said to have had thirty sons, but only ten of them had children; several medieval dynasties of
Leinster
Leinster ( ; or ) is one of the four provinces of Ireland, in the southeast of Ireland.
The modern province comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Meath, Leinster and Osraige, which existed during Gaelic Ireland. Following the 12th-century ...
traced their ancestors to them.
The Testament of Cathair Mór
', translated by Miles Dillon His daughter Cochrann was said to have been the mother of the
fenian
The word ''Fenian'' () served as an umbrella term for the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) and their affiliate in the United States, the Fenian Brotherhood. They were secret political organisations in the late 19th and early 20th centuries ...
hero
Diarmuid Ua Duibhne.
[James MacKillop, ''Dictionary of Celtic Mythology'', Oxford University Press, 1998, p. 72]
He features in the saga ''
Esnada Tige Buchet'' ("The Melody of the House of Buchet"). Cathair's daughter Eithne Tháebfhota is
fostered by a hospitable Leinsterman named Buchet who has many herds of cattle, but Cathair's sons so exploit Buchet's hospitality that he is left with only one bull and seven cows, and the king, now old and enfeebled, is unable to restrain them. Buchet and his family, including Eithne, are reduced to living in a hut in the forest in
Kells, County Meath
Kells (; ) is a town in County Meath, Ireland. The town lies off the M3 motorway, from Navan and from Dublin. Along with other towns in County Meath, it is within the commuter belt for Dublin, and had a population of 6,608 as of the 2022 ce ...
. Later, when
Cormac mac Airt is king, he marries Eithne and restores Buchet's fortunes (in other stories the king who marries Eithne is Cathair's successor
Conn Cétchathach
Conn Cétchathach (), or Conn of the Hundred Battles, son of Fedlimid Rechtmar, was a legendary High King of Ireland who is claimed to be the ancestor of the Connachta, and through his descendant Niall NoÃgiallach, the Uà Néill dynasties, w ...
). In another saga, ''Fotha Catha Cnucha'' ("The Cause of the Battle of Cnucha"), Cathair gives the hill of Almu (Knockaulin,
County Kildare
County Kildare () is a Counties of Ireland, county in Ireland. It is in the Provinces of Ireland, 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 gove ...
) to the
druid
A druid was a member of the high-ranking priestly class in ancient Celtic cultures. The druids were religious leaders as well as legal authorities, adjudicators, lorekeepers, medical professionals and political advisors. Druids left no wr ...
Nuada son of Aichi. This hill will later be famous as the home of Nuada's great-grandson
Fionn mac Cumhaill
Fionn mac Cumhaill, often anglicised Finn McCool or MacCool, is a hero in Irish mythology, as well as in later Scottish and Manx folklore. He is the leader of the ''Fianna'' bands of young roving hunter-warriors, as well as being a seer a ...
.
Offspring
*
Ros Failgeach mac Cathair Mór, ancestor of the Ó Conchubhair of
UÃ Failghe
* Daire Barrach mac Cathair Mór, ancestor of Uà Treasaig and
Mac Gormáin of
UÃ Bairrche
* Bresal Einechglas mac Cathair Mór
* Fergus Luasgan mac Cathair Mór
* Ailill Cethech mac Cathair Mór
* Aengus Nic
mac Cathair Mór
[Daniel Byrne-Rothwell]
The Byrnes and the O'Byrnes
Volume 2, House of Lochar, 2010 - Ireland, p. 8
* Eochu Timine mac Cathair Mór
* Crimthann mac Cathair Mór, ancestor of Dubh of Leinster
* Curigh mac Cathair Mór, killed by
Fionn mac Cumhail
** Slectaire mac Curigh, maternal grandfather of
Diarmuid Ua Duibhne and
Oscar
Oscar, OSCAR, or The Oscar may refer to:
People and fictional and mythical characters
* Oscar (given name), including lists of people and fictional characters named Oscar, Óscar or Oskar
* Oscar (footballer, born 1954), Brazilian footballer ...
** Uchdelbh mac Curigh, wife of Fionn Fothart, a son of
Conn Cétchathach
Conn Cétchathach (), or Conn of the Hundred Battles, son of Fedlimid Rechtmar, was a legendary High King of Ireland who is claimed to be the ancestor of the Connachta, and through his descendant Niall NoÃgiallach, the Uà Néill dynasties, w ...
*
Eithne Tháebfhota,
wife of
Conn Cétchathach
Conn Cétchathach (), or Conn of the Hundred Battles, son of Fedlimid Rechtmar, was a legendary High King of Ireland who is claimed to be the ancestor of the Connachta, and through his descendant Niall NoÃgiallach, the Uà Néill dynasties, w ...
* Landabaria mac Cathair Mór, wife of
Conn Cétchathach
Conn Cétchathach (), or Conn of the Hundred Battles, son of Fedlimid Rechtmar, was a legendary High King of Ireland who is claimed to be the ancestor of the Connachta, and through his descendant Niall NoÃgiallach, the Uà Néill dynasties, w ...
* Cochrann, mother of the
fenian
The word ''Fenian'' () served as an umbrella term for the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) and their affiliate in the United States, the Fenian Brotherhood. They were secret political organisations in the late 19th and early 20th centuries ...
hero
Diarmuid Ua Duibhne.
** Fiacha Baicheda mac Cathair Mór, ancestor of
Mac Murchada of the
Uà Cheinnselaig, and O'Byrne and others families of the Uà Dúnlainge
* Sodhealbh nà Cathair Mór
[On the page of thi]
book
the author wrote that Sodhealbh and her sister, Eithne, were the daughters of Baite, Cathair Mor don't be her father. Bu
later on the book
mentioned Sodhealbh as Cathair Mor's daughter and Oilill Olum's wife, probably a mistake of this author. Oilill Olum married Sadb, daughter of Eithne, another daughter of Cathair Mor.
References
External links
The Testament of Cathair
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cathair Mor
Legendary High Kings of Ireland