UA CONCHOBAIR, TAIRRDELBACH (1088–1156)the recovering Ua Conchobair kingdom of Connacht,
heralding decades of civil war. After enlisting Domnall
Ua Briain and the English, Ruaidrí pillaged through-
outwest Connacht in 1185, burning churches and ter-
rorizing the population. Even though Conchobar
Máenmaige ravaged Thomond in revenge, the slaugh-
ter appalled him, leading him to agree to share Connacht
with his father. In 1186, Conchobar Máenmaige
thought better of this accommodation and exiled
Ruaidrí to Munster, but later recalled him and allotted
him new lands. Despite this, Ruaidrí refused to relin-
quish his dream of taking the kingship back and con-
tinued to plot against Conchobar Máenmaige. His
dream became a reality after Conchobar Máenmaige
was assassinated by Ruaidrí’s supporters, causing the
Connacht nobility to recall him. Upon his return,
Ruaidrí was triumphantly welcomed by the nobility
and received their hostages. This was to prove his last
triumph. In reality, he was too old for the rigors of
Connacht politics and was deposed before the end of
the year. In 1191, he tried yet again to reclaim his
kingship, traveling to Ulster, Mide, and Munster to
gather troops. His decline was evident as, everywhere
he went, none would help him. Finally, the Connacht
nobility prevailed upon him to return home, telling him
that lands had been put aside for him in southwest
Galway. The old man returned, but soon entered the
monastery of Cong to begin his penance. Ruaidrí, last
of the high kings, died at Cong in 1198 and was buried
with his father in the church of Clonmacnoise. Even
in death, Ruaidrí proved turbulent, as his remains were
disinterred and placed in a stone shrine in 1207.
EMMETO’BYRNE
References and Further Reading
Giraldus Cambrensis, History and Topography of Ireland.
Dublin: 1952.
———.Expugnatio Hibernica. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy,
1978.
Hennessy, W. and B. MacCarthy, ed. The Annals of Ulster. 4 vols.
Dublin: 1887–1901.
———.The Annals of Loch Cé. 2 vols. London, 1871.
Luard, H., ed. Matthiaei Parisiensis Chronica Majora. Vol. 2.
London, 1884.
O’Donovan, John, ed. The Annals of the Four Masters. 7 vols.
Dublin, 1851.
Ó hInnse, Séamus, ed. Miscellaneous Irish Annals. Dublin: Irish
Manuscript Commission, 1947.
Orpen, Godfred, ed. The Song of Dermot and the Earl. Felinfach,
1994.
Mac Airt, Seán. The Annals of Inisfallen. Dublin: Dublin Insti-
tute for Advanced Studies, 1951.
Murphy, Denis. The Annals of Clonmacnoise. Dublin: Royal
Irish Academy, 1896.
Stokes, Whitley, ed. “The Annals of Tigernach.” Rev. Celt16–18
(1895–1897).
Stubbs, W., ed. The Historical Works of Gervase of Canterbury.
Vol. 1. London: 1879.
.Chronica Magistri Rogeri de Houedene. Vol. 2. London:
1869.
See alsoHenry II; Lacy, Hugh de; Mac Lochlainn,
Muirchertach; Mac Murchada, Diarmait; Ua
Conchobair, Tairrdelbach; Uí NéillUA CONCHOBAIR, TAIRRDELBACH
(1088–1156)
Tairrdelbach Ua Conchobair, son of Ruaidrí Ua
Conchobair(d. 1118), king of Connacht, and Mór
(d. 1088), daughter of Tairrdelbach Ua Briain (d. 1086),
high king of Ireland. Tairrdelbach’s early life was
troubled. According to the Annals of Tigernach,
Tairrdelbach’s mother died the year he was born, sug-
gesting his birth was arduous, and in 1092 his father
Ruaidrí was blinded by Flaithbertach Ua Flaithbertaig
(blinded, in turn, in 1098). Thereafter Connacht fell
largely under the sway of Tairrdelbach’s maternal
uncle Muirchertach Ua Briain (d. 1119), high king of
Ireland. Ua Briain possibly took Tairrdelbach into his
household to groom him for the day when he would
be king of Connacht. In 1106, that day came when Ua
Briain replaced Domnall Ua Conchobair (d. 1118),
Tairrdelbach’s elder half-brother, with his protégé.
Tairrdelbach carefully maintained his alliance with
Ua Briain, sending troops to aid the high king against
the Uí Ruairc of Bréifne in 1109. But he was also
determined to defend his kingdom against predators
such as Domnall Mac Lochlainn (d. 1121), king of the
north of Ireland. In 1110, Mac Lochlainn attacked
Connacht, carrying captives and cattle back to Ulster.
The raid rattled Tairrdelbach, leading him to attack
Conmaicne and Bréifne with mixed fortunes. He beat
the former at Mag nAí, but the latter defeated his
troops at Mag Brenair. During 1111, he raided north,
plundering Termonn Dabeoc in Tír Conaill and rav-
aged Fermanagh to Lough Erne. By 1114, Tairrdelbach
was undisputed master of Connacht, having banished
Domnall into Munster as well as expelling the Conmaicne
from Mag nAí. Recognition came in a prestigious mar-
riage to his second wife Orlaith (d. 1115), daughter of
Murchad Ua Máelsechlainn of Mide (d. 1152), some-
time enemy of Ua Briain. After Ua Briain fell ill in
1114, Toirdelbach’s greater ambitions became evident.
He turned to Ua Briain’s enemies, reaching an agree-
ment with Mac Lochlainn and Ua Máelsechlainn.
Pooling their forces, they attacked Munster, forcing
the Uí Bhriain to sue for peace. Such was Tairrdelbach’s
new strength that in 1115 he gave the kingship of
Thomond to Domnall son of Tadg Ua Briain. The latter
proved no puppet and revolted against Connacht,
prompting an outraged Tairrdelbach to devastate
Thomond and dispatch his former protégé.