punishing Ua Ruairc with a raid into Dartry during
- During 1146 and 1150, he improved his status,
capturing and later killing Domnall Ua Conchobair,
Tairrdelbach’s nephew and enemy. In 1147, Domnall
Midech was defeated in Mide, and his fall was com-
pleted by his arrest in 1151, allowing Ruaidrí to stake
his claim as his father’s heir. This role gave him new
confidence, attacking Thomond successfully during - After Tairrdelbach’s great victory over the army
of Tairrdelbach Ua Briain (d. 1167) at Móin Mór,
Muirchertach Mac Lochlainn (sl. 1166) compelled the
high king to give hostages. Mac Lochlainn’s interven-
tion did not prevent Ruaidrí from pursuing his hard
line against Thomond, burning Croome in Limerick.
And during 1153 Tairrdelbach expelled Ua Briain into
the north, causing Mac Lochlainn to come south. In
Mide, Tairrdelbach, Ruaidrí, Diarmait Mac Murchada
(d. 1171), and Tadg Ua Briain attempted to halt Mac
Lochlainn. But Tairrdelbach retreated to Connacht
after his allies had suffered heavy losses, leaving Ruaidrí
exposed. At Fardrum in west Mide, Mac Lochlainn
pounced, routing Ruaidrí and his west-Connacht
troops. However, Tairrdelbach and Ruaidrí were deter-
mined not to allow Mac Lochlainn to get the better of
them, defeating him at sea during 1154. But Mac
Lochlainn proved stronger on land, plundering east
Connacht and Bréifne that year. Upon the death of
Máelsechlainn Ua Máelsechlainn of Mide in 1155,
Mac Lochlainn came south again. Tairrdelbach and
Ruaidrí vehemently resisted the enforcement of
Muirchertach’s settlement of Mide, building a bridge
at Athlone and sacking Cullentragh castle.
Ruaidrí finally became king of Connacht upon the
high king’s death in May 1156, inheriting the struggle
with Mac Lochlainn. He quickly stamped his authority
on his familial rivals, arresting three brothers, blinding
one. On learning of Tairrdelbach’s death and Ruaidrí’s
accession, Mac Lochlainn took hostages from Mac
Murchada before plundering Osraige (Ossory).
Ruaidrí competed with Mac Lochlainn for control of
Leinster and the midlands, transforming the whole
region into an arena where their respective clients
struggled for its kingships. That winter, Ruaidrí
strengthened Connacht’s midland frontier, position-
inga fleet on the Shannon in anticipation of Mac
Lochlainn’s next move. In 1157, Mac Lochlainn deposed
Donnchad Ua Máelsechlainn of Mide (sl. 1160), giving
the kingship of Mide to Diarmait Ua Máelsechlainn
(sl. 1169) before taking hostages of Mac Murchada.
He then attacked Ruaidrí’s client kings in Uí Failge and
Loígis (partly reflected in the modern counties Offaly
and Laois) and Osraige, forcing them to flee to Connacht
before subduing Munster and Ostman Limerick.
Ruaidrí had to hit back or lose face. Taking advantage
of Mac Lochlainn’s absence in Munster, Ruaidrí
attacked the north, burning Incheny near Strabane and
plundered parts of Derry. As Mac Lochlainn hurried
home, Ruaidrí then doubled back and appeared in
Munster to overturn the high king’s settlement of
Munster, dividing it between Tairrdelbach Ua Briain
and Diarmait Mac Carthaig (sl. 1185).
During 1158 Ruaidrí proved even more crafty. With
Mac Lochlainn putting down a rebellion in Tír Conaill
(Co. Donegal), Ruaidrí invaded Leinster and
reversed the high king’s settlement of Loígis and
Osraige, carrying Macraith Ua Mórda of Loígis in
chains to Connacht. As king of Connacht, he proved
equally ruthless, blinding the two sons of the rebel
Murchad Ua Ceallaig. Avoiding Mac Lochlainn on
land, Ruaidrí used Connacht’s maritime superiority to
hit the high king and his clients, plundering Inishowen
before ransacking Tethbae in Mide. But the greatest
weapon in Ruaidrí’s arsenal was political skill. As an
intriguer, he was unequalled, winning over Donnchad
Ua Máelsechlainn in 1158. In 1159, he dumped Ua
Máelsechlainn to take advantage of Ua Ruairc’s dis-
content at Mac Lochlainn’s deposition of Diarmait Ua
Máelsechlainn (sl. 1169) as king of Mide. Ruaidrí now
decided to make his move on Mac Lochlainn, attacking
Mide and capturing the Ua Máelsechlainn caput on
Lough Sewdy before invading Airgialla, home of
Donnchad Ua Cearbaill (sl. 1167), Mac Lochlainn’s
ally. Close to Ardee, Mac Lochlainn annihilated the
Connacht army and its allies and pursued Ruaidrí to
the Shannon and wasted Bréifne. Later Mac Lochlainn
invaded Connacht and humiliated Ruaidrí, sacking his
capital at Dunmore and several other forts. Ruaidrí stub-
bornly refused to submit and left the high king no
alternative but to withdraw. While a chastened Ruaidrí
licked his wounds, he watched Mac Lochlainn win back
Ua Ruairc, strengthen Donnchad Ua Máelsechlainn’s
kingship of Mide, confirm Leinster to Mac Murchada,
and expel Fáelán Mac Fáeláin (d. 1203) from Leinster
to Connacht.
In 1160, Ruaidrí, displaying considerable tenacity,
exploited Mac Lochlainn’s difficulties in putting down
another northern rebellion. And the killing of
Donnchad Ua Máelsechlainn allowed him to sweep
into Mide, take its hostages, and make Diarmait Ua
Máelsechlainn king. At Assaroe near Ballyshannon,
Mac Lochlainn met him, but they failed to agree to a
peace. Mac Lochlainn then marched into Mide to take
its hostages and those of Bréifne, prompting Ruaidrí
to come to the aid of Diarmait Ua Máelsechlainn and
Ua Ruairc. Mac Lochlainn backed off and returned
home, allowing Ruaidrí to erode his hold on Munster,
placing a fleet on the Shannon to take hostages of
Tairrdelbach Ua Briain. Ruaidrí continued to erode
thehigh king’s authority in 1161. He and Ua Ruairc
went into Mide and Leinster and took the hostages ofUA CONCHOBAIR, RUAIDRÍ (c.1116–1198)