accepted Edward Bruce’s offer of the kingship of
Connachtand left de Burgh’s army. Feidlim fell in
1316 in the Battle of Athenry, fighting against the earl’s
cousin William de Burgh.
In the subsequent decades, succession disputes were
rife and contestants found it near impossible to obtain
and maintain ascendancy for any length of time. Not
only the descendants of Áed son of Cathal Crobderg,
and members of the Clann Muirchertaig sought the
kingship, but also members of other branches, as for
instance Cathal of the Clann Briain Luignig, who man-
aged to become king (1318–1324). Tairrdelbach,
brother of Feidlim Ua Conchobair, also had to contend
with Walter son of William de Burgh, who attempted
to have himself made king of Connacht. However, de
Burgh was defeated and starved to death by his kins-
man the earl of Ulster in 1332. Tairrdelbach was killed
in 1345, and was succeeded by his son Áed. His reign
was brief, and Áed son of Feidlim managed to become
king without opposition. He was succeeded by Ruaidrí
son of Tairrdelbach. After Ruaidrí’s death in 1384,
the descendants of Áed son of Cathal Crobderg split
in two branches, the Uí Chonchobair Ruad (“Red”)
and the Uí Chonchobair Donn (“Brown”). The former,
with their territory in the north, were supported by
Mac Diarmata and the branch of the de Burghs
called MacWilliam Burke of Mayo, whereas the latter
allied with Ua Ceallaigh and the de Burgh branch of
ClanRickard.
The Uí Chonchobair Sligig, descended from Tair-
rdelbach Mór’s son Brian Luignech, were lords of
Carbury. In 1420, the leading member of this branch
of the family, Brian son of Domnall son of Muirchertach,
built Bundrowes Castle, County Donegal. In 1425,
Cathal son of Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair Donn became king
over all Connacht. Feidlim Geancach Ua Conchobair
Donn was the last king of Connacht, and after the 1460s
the title “king of Connacht” disappeared.
FREYA VERSTRATEN
References and Further Reading
Dillon, Myles. “The Inauguration of O’Conor.” In Medieval
Studies. Presented to Aubrey Gwynn, edited by J. A. Watt,
J. B. Morrall, and F. X. Martin, pp. 186–202. Dublin: Printed
by Colm Ó Lochlainn at the Three Candles, 1961.
Fitzpatrick, Elizabeth. “The Inauguration of Tairdelbach Ó
Conchobair at Áth an Termoinn.” Peritia: Journal of the
Medieval Academy of Ireland12 (1998): 351–357.
O’Flaherty, Roderic. A Chorographical Description of West or
h-Iar Connaught. Edited by James Hardiman. Dublin: Irish
Archaeological Society, 1846.
O’Donovan, J., ed. The Annals of the Four Masters. Vols. 2–5.
Charles, Owen and Don O’Conor. The O’Conors of Connaught:
An Historical Memoir. Compiled from a MS of the late John
O’Donovan, LL.D. With additions from the State Papers and
Public Records. Dublin: Hodges, Figgis, and Co., 1891.
Orpen, Goddard Henry. Ireland under the Normans 1216–1333.
4 vols. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1911 and 1920.
Simms, Katharine. “A Lost Tribe—the Clan Murtagh
O’Conors.” Journal of the Galway Archaeological and His-
torical Society53 (2001): 1–22.
Simms, Katharine. “‘Gabh umad a Fheidhlimidh’—a Fifteenth-
Century Inauguration Ode?” Ériu31 (1980): 132–145.
Walsh, Paul. “Christian Kings of Connacht.” Journal of the
Galway Archaeological and Historical Society17 (1937):
124–143.
Walton, Helen. “The English in Connacht, 1171–1333.” PhD
diss., Trinity College Dublin, 1980.
See alsoConnacht; King and Kingship; Uí Briúin;
Uí RuaircUA CONCHOBAIR, RUAIDRÍ
(c.1116–1198)
Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair, son of Tairrdelbach Ua
Conchobair (d. 1156) and his third wife Caillech Dé,
daughter of Ua hEidin, was the last undisputed high
king of Ireland. Ruaidrí was born about 1116, he and
his sister Mór being the only fruit of their parents’ brief
union. During the late 1110s, Tairrdelbach married
Mór (d. 1122), daughter of Domnall Mac Lochlainn
(d. 1121), allowing Caillech Dé to later successively
marry Tairrdelbach Ua Briain (d. 1167) and Murchad
Ua Briain. From the events of Ruaidrí’s early life it
would appear that his father did not favor him. During
1136, Tairrdelbach’s fortunes were at an all-time low,
encouraging the ambitions of Ruaidrí and some of his
brothers. Although under the protection of Bishop
Muiredach Ua Dubthaig (d. 1150) and Ua Domnalláin,
Tairrdelbach arrested Ruaidrí with Uada Ua
Concheanainn (d. 1168), ordering his intended heir
Conchobar Ua Conchobair (sl. 1144) to blind another
son, Áed Ua Conchobair. How long Ruaidrí spent in
confinement is uncertain, but he again incurred his
father’s wrath in 1143. Then Tairrdelbach ordered
Conchobarwith Tigernán Ua Ruairc of Bréifne (sl. 1172)
to arrest Ruaidrí, breaking sureties given by Archbishop
Ua Dubthaig, Tadg Ua Briain (d. 1154), and Murchad
Ua Ferghail. Ruaidrí’s arrest led the clergy and the
nobility to fast at Rathbrendan for his release and, on
hearing their petitions, Tairrdelbach outwardly
relented, promising to release Ruaidrí in April 1144.
Tairrdelbach had little intention of releasing Ruaidrí,
but the killing of Conchobar in Mide (Meath) during
1144 forced a rethink. Under pressure from Archbishop
Gilla mac Liac (Gelasius) of Armagh (d. 1173) with
the clergy and nobility of Connacht, the high king finally
released Ruaidrí along with Domnall Ua Flaithbertaig
and Cathal Ua Conchobair.
Tairrdelbach now favored another son Domnall
Midech Ua Conchobair (d. 1176) but, with typical deter-
mination, Ruaidrí slowly rose in his father’s estimation,UA CONCHOBAIR (UÍ CONCHOBAIR, Ó CONCHOBAIR)