1166 CE - Muirchertach Mac Lochlainn loses the Ard Rí to Ruadrí Ua Conchobair

by Larry Chamberlin

On the death of Toirrdelbach Ua Conchobair, the Ard Rí was won by Muirchertach Mac Lochlainn, king of the Uí Néill. However, Muirchertach was guilty of outrageous cruelty to some submissive chiefs, and lost the Ard Rí, and his life, to Ruadrí Ua Conchobair (Rory O'Connor), son of the previous Ard Rí, Toirrdelbach. Dairmait Mac Murchada, as Muirchertach's supporter, was attacked by Tigernán and several other kings and driven from his kingdom. Tigernán achieved his revenge.

On the first day of August, 1166, Dairmait and his daughter Aifa, sail to Bristol, seeking aid from Henry II to regain his throne.

Sources:

Oxford History of Ireland, ed. R. F. Foster, Oxford University Press, (c)1989, ISBN 0-19-285271-X

A History of Ireland, Peter & Fiona Somerset Fry, Rutledge, (c)1988 & Barnes & Noble [reprint] 1993, ISBN: 1-56619-215-3

Chronicles of the Celts, Iain Zaczek, Collins & Brown, London, (c)1996, ISBN: 1-85585-407-4

The Geraldines, an Experiment in Irish Government, 1169 - 1601, Brian Fitzgerald, The Devin-Adair Company, New York, 1952; Staples Printers Ltd., Rochester, Kent, (c)1951

The World of the Celts, Simon James, Thames and Hudson Ltd., 1993, ISBN 0-500-0567-8

The People of Ireland, ed. Patrick Loughery, New Amsterdam Books, N.Y., (c)1989, ISBN: 0-941533-55-7

***The Celts, Jean Markale (orig. publ. as "Les Celts et la Civilsation Celtique" by Payot, Paris, 1976; U.S. ed. publ. by Inner Traditions, Rochester, Vermont, 1993, ISBN: 0-89281-413-6)

AUTHOR'S NOTE: *** = These tracts deal with mythical legends and historical events, without clearly distinguishing between the two. Markale, while presenting the historical texts of the contemporary writers in great detail and with a fine critical analysis, nonetheless includes events from Irish legend without properly disclaiming their authenticity. Despite this shortcoming, if one is cautious enough to note the sources, the books is excellent.

prepared by Larry Chamberlin

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