Chronologically, most Irish mottes probably date to
the short period from the end of the twelfth century
up until the first quarter of the thirteenth century, but
with some, especially in Leinster, still being built in
the second half of that century. Contemporary docu-
mentary sources relating to Irish mottes are limited,
and the archaeological record is concentrated geo-
graphically, almost wholly to one county, that of
Down. Additionally, most excavations have concen-
trated on the motte perimeter to the exclusion of the
other important elements of these castles. Therefore,
future archaeological research should examine the bai-
leys as well as the external peripheries of these impor-
tant sites in order to further progress our knowledge
of this important component of Anglo-Norman mili-
tary settlement.
T
ERRY
B
ARRY
References and Further Reading
Barry, Terry.
The Archaeology of Medieval Ireland
. London:
Routledge, 1999.
McNeill, Tom.
Castles in Ireland, Feudal Power in a Gaelic
World
. London: Routledge, 1997.
O’Conor, Kieran.
The Archaeology of Medieval Rural Settle-
ment in Ireland
. In
Discovery Programme Monographs
, vol.
3. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy, 1998.
Sweetman, David.
The Medieval Castles of Ireland
. Cork: The
Collins Press, 1999.
See also
Anglo-Norman Invasion; Armies; Castles;
Ringforts
MUIRCHERTACH MAC LIACC
Described as
ardollamh Erenn
(“chief poet of Ireland”)
in the Annals of Ulster on his death in 1016, is prima-
rily associated with Brian Boru in later tradition whose
literary biography he is credited with composing,
along with poetic works on various aspects of the
career of the Munster king. These include the mournful
elegy,
Anoir tánic tuitim
Briain
(“Brian’s downfall
came from the east”), and
A Chinn Choraidh, caidi
Brian
lamenting the neglected state of Brian’s County
Clare citadel, rendered into English by James Clarence
Mangan as “O, where, Kincora, is Brian the great?,”
as well as versified genealogies of Brian’s Dál Cais
dynasty. Frequently associated with Mac Coisse, said
to be chief poet of Brian’s main rival, Máel Sechnaill
mac Domnaill, he engages him in dramatic dialogue
in one particular work. What these compositions have
in common is that their varied late dates link them with
the polished poetic persona Mac Liacc subsequently
became, rather than with a historical personage of that
name about whom we know next to nothing. The latter
may have been the author of a
dinnshenchas
text
explaining the origin of Carn Conaill in south County
Galway, in which he describes himself, metaphori-
cally, according to Edward Gwynn, as Mac Liacc
Linni
na nÉces
(“of Linn na nÉces,” literally “of the pool of
the poets”). Of the same “pool” was his son, Cumara,
who is also described as a poet on his death in 1030.
However, to the later literary legend bearing his name,
this elusive Mac Liacc bears scant resemblance.
M
ÁIRE
N
Í
M
HAONAIGHReferences and Further Reading
Gwynn, Edward, ed. and trans.
Todd Lecture Series
.
5 vols.
Vols. 8–12,
The Metrical Dindshenchas
, pp. 440–449.
Dublin: Royal Irish Academy, 1903–1935.
Ó Lochlainn, Colm. “Poets on the Battle of Clontarf.”
Éigse: A
Journal of Irish Studies
, vol. 3 (1941–42), pp. 208–218; vol.
4 (1943–44), 33–47.
See also
Brian Boru; Dál CaisMUIRCHÚ
Muirchú Moccu Macthéni (d. + 697) was the author
of a
Life of Patrick
, written at the “dictation”—i.e.,
command—of his bishop Aéd of Sletty (d. 700).
According to
Félire Óengusso
, Muirchú was of Lein-
ster origin and went with bishop Áed to Armagh. The
Additamenta in the Book of Armagh states that Áed
had gone to Armagh during the abbacy of Segéne
(661–688) and gave a bequest of his church and “kin”
to Patrick. It is likely that Muirchú wrote his Life of
Patrick shortly after Fland Feblae’s succession to the
abbacy following the death of Segéne, while Áed was
still at Armagh, where he died, probably in retirement
as an anchorite. Both Muirchú and Áed appear on the
guarantor list of the
Cáin Adomnáin
drawn up at a synod
of the ecclesiastics and nobles of Ireland held at Birr,
County Offaly, in 697. The note in
Félire Óengusso
for
his feast on June 8 says “Medron and Murchon, two
brothers, in Cell Murchon among the Huí Ailella.
Medron and Murchu, sons of Húa Machthéni... ”
(p. 145). Muirchú was probably the father of Colmán
mac Murchón, abbot of Moville County Down and
author of a Latin hymn to St. Michael (“In Trinitate spes
mea”). Muirchú’s death is not recorded in the annals,
and nothing more is known of him.
The prologue to his Life is modeled on the prologue
to Luke’s Gospel (“Quoniam quidem mi domine
Aido... ”) and is also modeled on earlier hagiogra-
phy, especially Sulpicius Severus’
Vita Martini
and the
early Life of St. Samson of Dol. He claims Cogitosus,
the author of an earlier Latin Life of Brigit, as his
“father,” that is, his predecessor in the new genre of Irish
hagiography, but probably also at some time his abbot.
His reference to Cogitosus would seem to confirm
Muirchú’s Leinster origins, though other sources placeMUIRCHÚ