Melaghlin O'Donnell
Maol Seachlainn Ó Domhnaill (died 1247) was King of Tír Chonaill and a member of the Uí Domhnaill. He was a son of Domhnall Mór Ó Domhnaill, King of Tír Chonaill (died 1241),[1] a man who was married to Lasairfhíona, daughter of Cathal Crobhdhearg Ó Conchobhair, King of Connacht. Maol Seachlainn had two brothers: Gofraidh (died 1257) and Domhnall Óg (died 1281).[2]
Reign
In 1245, Maol Seachlainn ravaged North Connacht. The following year, Maurice fitz Gerald invaded Tír Chonaill, seizing several hostages and secured them within Sligo Castle.[3] The year afterwards, Maol Seachlainn counter-attacked Maurice, and the hostages were killed in retaliation.[4]
In 1247, Fitz Gerald invaded Tír Chonaill again, and was halted at Ballyshannon by the combined forces of Cineál Chonaill and Cineál Eoghain. When Cormac Ó Conchobhair forded the River Erne and came upon Maol Seachlainn's combined forces from the rear,[5] and Maol Seachlainn fell in the resulting Battle of Ballyshannon.[6]
Following Maol Seachlainn's death, Fitz Gerald installed Ruaidhrí Ó Cannanáin as King of Tír Chonaill. The latter, however, was later repulsed and slain by Gofraidh.[7]
Maol Seachlainn is the subject of a contemporary elegy composed by Giolla Brighde Mac Con Midhe (died c. 1272).[8]
Citations
- ^ Simms (2001) p. 14 tab. ii; McKenna (1946) p. 371.
- ^ Simms (2001) p. 14 tab. ii.
- ^ Ó hUiginn (2016) p. 112.
- ^ Ó hUiginn (2016) pp. 112–113.
- ^ Ó hUiginn (2016) p. 113.
- ^ Ó hUiginn (2016) p. 113; Ó hUiginn (2016) p. 113; McKenna (1946) p. 371; Orpen (1915) p. 280.
- ^ Ó hUiginn (2016) p. 114.
- ^ Ó hUiginn (2016) p. 113; McKenna (1946).
References
Primary sources
Secondary sources
- Orpen, GH (1915). "The Normans in Tirowen and Tirconnell". The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland. 5 (4): 275–288. ISSN 0035-9106. JSTOR 25514431 – via JSTOR.
- Ó hUiginn, R (2016). "Annals, Histories, and Stories: Some Thirteenth-Century Entries in the Annals of the Four Masters". In Boyd, M (ed.). Ollam: A Festschrift for Tomás Ó Cathasaigh. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group. pp. 101–115. ISBN 978-1-61147-834-1 – via Google Books.
- Simms, K (2001). "The Clan Murtagh O'Conors". Journal of the Galway Archaeological and Historical Society. 53: 1–22. ISSN 0332-415X. JSTOR 25535718 – via JSTOR.