Muintir Murchada

Muintir Murchada was the name of an Irish territory which derived its name from the ruling dynasty, who were in turn a branch of the Uí Briúin. The name was derived from Murchadh mac Maenach, King of Uí Briúin Seóla, who died 891.

Overview

The ruling dynasty was first recorded as a lineage in 1061 and by 1238 the term denoted the territory. It came under the control of the Uí Briúin about the 11th century, its original rulers taking the surname Ó Flaithbheartaigh (O'Flaherty). They were expelled by the Ua Conchobhair Kings of Connacht to Iar Connacht where they are still to be found.

Muintir Murchada appears to have comprised the following parishes: Killursa, Kilkilvery, Killeany, Kilcoona, Cargin, Killower, Cummer. It also is thought to have included parts of Belclare, Donaghpatrick, Corofin, Tuam, Kilbennan and Killererin.

Crichaireacht cinedach nduchasa Muintiri Murchada is a tract dating to the reign of its lord, Flaithbertaigh Ua Flaithbertaigh (died 1098), who ruled as King of Connacht from 1092 to 1098. It lists the main families and their estates within Muintir Murchada.

Kings of Maigh Seóla

Donn mac Cumasgach, died 752
Maelan mac Cathmogha, died 848
Murchadh mac Maenach, died 896
Cléirchén mac Murchadh, died 908
Urchadh mac Murchadh, died 943
Donnchadh mac Urchadh, died 959
Brian mac Maelruanaidh, died 959
Muireadhach ua Flaithbheartach, died 1034
Murchadh an Chapail Ua Flaithbheartaigh, died 1036
Cathal mac Ruaidhri, died 1043
Amhalgaidh mac Cathal, died 1075

Kings of Iar Connacht

Rúaidhri Ua Flaithbheartaigh, died 1061
Aedh Ua Flaithbheartaigh, died 1079
Mac meic Aedh Ua Flaithbheartaigh, died 1091
Flaithbertaigh Ua Flaithbertaigh, died 1098
Ruaidhri Ua Flaithbheartaigh, died 1145
Áedh Ua Flaithbheartaigh, died 1178
Ruadhri Ua Flaithbertaigh, alive 1197
Murtough Ua Flaithbertaigh, died 1204
Rudhraighe Ó Flaithbheartaigh, fl. 1214
Áedh Mór Ó Flaithbheartaigh, died 1236
Morogh Ó Flaithbheartaigh, fl. 1244
Ruaidhri Ó Flaithbheartaigh, fl. 1256–1273

Taoiseach of Iar Connacht

Brian Ó Flaithbheartaigh, died 1377.
Áedh Ó Flaithbheartaigh, c. 1377–1407; built the church at Annaghdown
Domnell mac Áedh Ó Flaithbheartaigh, d. 1410
Murchad mac Brian Ó Flaithbheartaigh, d. 1419
Gilla Dubh Ó Flaithbheartaigh, d. 1442
unnamed Ó Flaithbheartaigh, fl. 1503
Áodh Ó Flaithbheartaigh, fl. 1538

Ó Flaithbheartaigh Iarthair (the Western Ó Flaithbheartaigh)

Domnell Crone Ó Flaithbheartaigh, fl. 1559

Ó Flaithbheartaigh Oirthir (the Eastern Ó Flaithbheartaigh)

Murrough na dTuadh Ó Flaithbheartaigh, fl. 1560–1593.

Crichaireacht cinedach nduchasa Muintiri Murchada

Crichaireacht cinedach nduchasa Muintiri Murchada is a tract concerning the medieval territory called Muintir Murchada, located in County Galway, Ireland.

Outline

It lists forty place-names and more than seventy tribal, sept or family names and surnames, many still identifiable in the county.

It exists in three recensions preserved in the following three manuscripts:

TCD MS 1319 [=H.2.17], 188RB-va, undated but possibly penned some time in the fifteenth century.
RIA MS 536 [=23 P 12], 90ac-b – the Book of Ballymote, compiled about 1390.
UCD Add. MS 14 – Leabhar na nGenealach by Dubhaltach Mac Fhirbhisigh

Family surnames

Surnames listed include:

Ó hAllmhuráin (Halloran)
Ó Ceanndubháin (Canavan)
Ó Dathlaoich (Daly)
Ó Laoí (Lee)
Ó Flaithbhertaigh (Flaherty)
Mac Giolla Cheallaigh (Kilkelly)
Ó Faghartaigh (Faherty)
Ó Muirghile (Ó Muraíle)

The text

"204.6: The native family-stocks of Muintir Mhurchadha and their territory here. Ó hAllmhuráin was chieftain of the twenty-four townlands of Clann Fhearghaile, and in truth they belong to the family of Aonghus s. Brian; from Fearghal s. Muireadhach s. Eochaidh s. Eórrán s. Aonghaus s. Brian) is Clann Fhearghaile, i.e., the twenty-four townlands of Clann Fhearghaile, and Uí Fhearghusa of Ros Cam."

"204.7: Mág an Ghamhain (or Meic an Ghamhna) and Mág Catharnaigh are the two chieftains of Meadhraighe and have their own septs under them. (end pp.448–449)"

"240.8: Ó Dathlaoich was the chieftain of Uí Bhruin Ratha (or Ó Duilligh was the chieftain of the fourteen townlands of Uí Bhruin Ratha) and they belonged to the family of Cairbre Airdcheann s. Brian, and [they held] fourteen townlands of all Ui Bhruin Ratha, and belonging to them were Uí Cheinneidigh and Uí Dhuinn and Uí Fhionnog of Cnoc Tuagha and Uí Laideanain (or Laidhghin) of Leacach and Uí Challannain of Ceall Chathghaile (or [Ceall] Chatail] and Uí Cheannabhain, the physicians of Muintir Mhurchadha and Uí Oilealla, and they belong to Tuath na dToibrineadh. (Another book says 'Ui Fhlaithbheartaigh' where this says 'Muintir Mhurchadha'.)

"204.9: Ó Laidhigh were princes of Ui Bhriuin Seola together with their septs: Uí Fheichin, Uí Bhalbhain, Uí Dhuibh, Uí Mhadadhain, Meic Giolla Ghannain from Magh Lis Lionn ((a)) a different version: the cavalry chiefs of Ó Flaithbheartaigh) and Uí Cholgan ((b)) from Baile Uí Cholgan: the standard-bearers of Ó Flaithbheartaigh), Meic Fhionnain from Cill Chuanna and Uí Mhaoil Fhabhaill (or Maoil Ampuill) of Domhnach Padraig ((c)) the judges of Ó Flaithbheartaigh) and Uí Chleirchein of Rath Bhuidhbh and Uí Mheallaigh from Ceall na Manach and Ceall na gCaolan."

"204.10: Uí Choraighein were chieftains of Boghaid and Uí Chathasaigh from An Bheitheach and Uí Aingle from Doire Uí Aingle."

"204.11: Ó Faghartaigh king of Dealbhna of Cuil Fhabhair and Muintir Fhathaigh and Fiodh Luaraigh, Ó Domhnaill from An Ardraith (i.e., from Ath, etc., see ahead of you: from Ath Meic Cinn to Loch Oirbsean) and Uí Aodha: they were of equeal rank – carousal chiefs to Ó Flaithbheartaigh."

"204.12: The seed of Aodh of Eanach Duin belonged to the family of Ceallach s. Raghallach s. Uada, i.e., Clann Cheallaigh also. Aodh s. Eochaidh Tiormcharna s. Fearghus first granted Eanach Duin to God and to Breanainn."

Annalistic references

From The Annals of the Four Masters:

M1417.5. Rory, the son of Murrough O'Flaherty; Rory, the son of Dermot Duv O'Flaherty, and sixteen others of the O'Flahertys, were drowned in the bay of Umallia.
M1422.5. Donnell Finn O'Flaherty was slain by the sons of Donnell O'Flaherty.
M1442.7. O'Flaherty, i.e. Gilladuv, the son of Brian, Lord of West Connaught died.
M1565.5. Murrough, the son of Donnell, son of Rory O'Flaherty, was drowned.

References

Nollaig Ó Muraíle (2008) A tract on the Connacht territory of Munitir Mhurchada Journal of the Cork Historical and Archaeological Society, vol. 113.
Medieval Ireland: Territorial, Political and Economic Divisions, Paul MacCotter, Four Courts Press, 2008, pp. 140–141. ISBN 978-1-84682-098-4