Fearghal Ó Taidg an Teaghlaigh
Encyclopedia
Fearghal Ó Taidg an Teaghlaigh, Chief of the Name, Marshal
and bodyguard
of King Cathal Crobhdearg Ua Conchobair of Connacht
and his successor, Aedh, died 1226.
-956
), and was thus distant related to the Ua Conchobair (O'Connor
) ruling dynasty. His family were one of a number of septs of the Síol Muireadaigh
, which included clans such as Geraghty
(Mac Airechtaig), Moran
, Flanagan
, Mulrooney
, and MacDermot
.
Two early members of the family are listed in the Annals of the Four Masters
sub anno 965
and 1048:
The Ó Taidg family ruled an area in mid-County Galway
, which was called Clann Taidg
after them. It appears to have come into existence during a wave of expansion by the Uí Briúin
in the middle decades of the 10th century. Previously part of Uí Briúin Seóla, the Ó Taidg's are believed to have become its lords sometime in the mid-eleventh century. However, by the end of the twelfth century it was said to have been seized by Donn Cathaig Mór Mac Airechtaig of Síl Muiredaig.
By 1241 much of the area was seized by Meyler de Bermingham
, who made Athenry
the seat of his lordship.
an Teaghlaigh to their surname. It derived from the fact that the family were household chiefs and bodyguards of the Kings of Connacht
. The earliest record of the term occurred in 1132, when
such as John Marshal (c. 1105–1165) - Feargal would have been at Cathal's side for many years, especially when on campaign.
had been deprived of his lands by Aedh, and now sought the help of Domnall Óg Ó Néill of Tír Eógain. In 1225 Ó Néill invaded and set up a new king. Only a few of the Síol Muiredaig namely, Mac Dermot, David O'Flynn, &. stayed loyal to Aedh.
Aedh then resolved to repair to the English to the Court of Athlone; for it happened, fortunately for him, that the chiefs of the English of Ireland were at that very time assembled there, and the greater part of them were friendly to him, on his father's account as well as on his own, for both had paid them wages for military services, and had been bountiful towards them. The English received him with joy, and kept him among them with much affection for some time afterwards. He then engaged in his cause the Lord Justice, and as many of the chiefs of the English of Ireland as he considered necessary, together with Donough Cairbreach O'Brien, and O'Melaghlin, with their forces.
In the warfare that followed engagements occurred all over Connacht, from Turlough
in County Mayo
to Meelick
in County Galway
. Coolcarney was plundered, after which some of its people fled to Duvconga, but the greater part of these were drowned; and the baskets of the fishing weirs were found full of drowned children.
No sooner had the English left than the sons of Ruaidri O Connor rose up in revolt again. In the subsequent Battle of Ardrahan Niall, the son of Farrell O'Teige, and others, were slain; but the man who slew Niall O'Teige, i.e. the brother of Colen O'Dempsey, was slain himself also.
Eventually, a truce was declared, of which the annals say
King Aedh was killed in 1228 and succeeded by his cousion, Aedh mac Ruaidri Ua Conchobair
.
Marshal
Marshal , is a word used in several official titles of various branches of society. The word is an ancient loan word from Old French, cf...
and bodyguard
Bodyguard
A bodyguard is a type of security operative or government agent who protects a person—usually a famous, wealthy, or politically important figure—from assault, kidnapping, assassination, stalking, loss of confidential information, terrorist attack or other threats.Most important public figures such...
of King Cathal Crobhdearg Ua Conchobair of Connacht
Connacht
Connacht , formerly anglicised as Connaught, is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the west of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for...
and his successor, Aedh, died 1226.
Background
Ó Taidg was a descendant of King Tadg mac Cathal of Connacht (reigned 925925
Year 925 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Alfonso IV the Monk becomes king of Leon....
-956
956
Year 956 was a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar.- Events :* The Great Lighthouse at Alexandria was damaged by an earthquake.- Deaths :...
), and was thus distant related to the Ua Conchobair (O'Connor
O'Connor
O'Connor is a surname of Irish origin, originally meaning Ó Conchobhair .-Law and Politics:*Sandra Day O'Connor O'Connor is a surname of Irish origin, originally meaning Ó Conchobhair ("grandson/descendant of Conchobhar").-Law and Politics:*Sandra Day O'Connor O'Connor is a surname of Irish origin,...
) ruling dynasty. His family were one of a number of septs of the Síol Muireadaigh
Síol Muireadaigh
Síol Muireadaigh, Gaelic-Irish dynasty and territory, located in north County Roscommon.-Overview:The Síol Muireadaigh were a dynasty of related clans, all descendants of King Muiredach Muillethan of Connacht , all of whom lived in north-central Connaught...
, which included clans such as Geraghty
Geraghty
Geraghty and the variant Garaghty are Irish surnames, and may refer to:* Agnes Geraghty , swimmer* Barry Geraghty , jockey* Ben Geraghty , baseball player* Brian Geraghty , actor...
(Mac Airechtaig), Moran
Moran
Moran is a modern Irish surname and derived from membership of a medieval dynastic sept. The name means a descendent of Mórán, translated as Big One. Morans were a respected sept of the Uí Fiachrach dynasty in the western counties of Mayo and Sligo...
, Flanagan
Flanagan
-People:* Flanagan , a common Irish surname, people with that surname* Flanagan , early page 3 girl-Places:* Flanagan, Illinois* Flanagan Island, an island in the United States Virgin Islands...
, Mulrooney
Mulrooney
Mulrooney is a surname of Irish origin. The name may refer to:*Belinda Mulrooney , Irish-American entrepreneur who made a fortune in the Klondike Gold Rush*John Mulrooney , American comedian, actor, and television host...
, and MacDermot
MacDermot
Mac Diarmata is an Irish surname, and the surname of the ruling dynasty of Moylurg, a kingdom that existed in Connacht from the 10th to 16th centuries.-Overview:...
.
Two early members of the family are listed in the Annals of the Four Masters
Annals of the Four Masters
The Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland or the Annals of the Four Masters are a chronicle of medieval Irish history...
sub anno 965
965
Year 965 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* The Khazar fortress of Sarkel falls to the Kievan Rus....
and 1048:
- 965: The battle of Formaeil, at Rath-beg, was gained by the Cinel-Eoghain over the Cinel-Conaill, where Maelisa Ua Canannain, lord of Cinel-Conaill, and Muircheartach Ua-Taidhg, royal heir to Connaught, were slain, together with many others.
- 1048: A predatory excursion was made by the royal heirs or chieftains of Ui Maine into DelbhnaDelbhnaThe Delbna or Delbhna were an ethnic group in Ireland. They had a number of branches in central and western Ireland.*The Delbhna Tir Dha Locha were the most westerly branch, based in Iar Connacht....
, where the royal chieftains were all slain, namely, Ua MaelruanaidhMulrooneyMulrooney is a surname of Irish origin. The name may refer to:*Belinda Mulrooney , Irish-American entrepreneur who made a fortune in the Klondike Gold Rush*John Mulrooney , American comedian, actor, and television host...
, Ua Flannagain, An Cleireach Ua Taidhg, and Mac Buadhachain, royal heir of Dealbhna Nuadhat.
The Ó Taidg family ruled an area in mid-County Galway
County Galway
County Galway is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county...
, which was called Clann Taidg
Clann Taidg
Clann Taidg was the name of a medieval cantred located in what is now County Galway, Ireland.It consisted of the parishes of Athenry, Monivea, Tiaquin, Kilkerrin, Moylough, Killererin, Ballynakill-Aghiart, Kilmoylan, and possibly Abbeyknockmoy....
after them. It appears to have come into existence during a wave of expansion by the Uí Briúin
Uí Briúin
The Uí Briúin were an Irish kin-group. Their eponymous apical ancestor was Brion, son of Eochaid Mugmedon and Mongfind, and an elder half brother of Niall of the Nine Hostages. They formed part of the Connachta, along with the Uí Fiachrach and Uí Ailello, putative descendants of Eochaid Mugmedon's...
in the middle decades of the 10th century. Previously part of Uí Briúin Seóla, the Ó Taidg's are believed to have become its lords sometime in the mid-eleventh century. However, by the end of the twelfth century it was said to have been seized by Donn Cathaig Mór Mac Airechtaig of Síl Muiredaig.
By 1241 much of the area was seized by Meyler de Bermingham
Meyler de Bermingham
-Ancestry:Meyler was a great-grandson of Robert de Bermingham who is said to have obtained a grant of Offaly from Strongbow or Henry II about 1172. Robert's son and grandson were both described as of Tethmoy, which is thought to have been the baronies of Warrenstown and part of Coolestown...
, who made Athenry
Athenry
Athenry is a town in County Galway, Ireland. It lies east of Galway city, and one of the attractions of the town is its medieval castle. The town is also well-known by virtue of the song "The Fields of Athenry".-History:...
the seat of his lordship.
An Teaghlaigh
By the early 12th century the family added the suffixSuffix
In linguistics, a suffix is an affix which is placed after the stem of a word. Common examples are case endings, which indicate the grammatical case of nouns or adjectives, and verb endings, which form the conjugation of verbs...
an Teaghlaigh to their surname. It derived from the fact that the family were household chiefs and bodyguards of the Kings of Connacht
Kings of Connacht
The Kings of Connacht were rulers of the cóiced of Connacht, which lies west of the River Shannon, Ireland. However, the name only became applied to it in the early medieval era, being named after The Connachta.The old name for the province was Cóiced Ol nEchmacht . Ptolemy's map of c. 150 AD...
. The earliest record of the term occurred in 1132, when
The castle of Bun-Gaillmhe (GalwayGalwayGalway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the...
) was burned and demolished by a fleet of the men of Munster; and a great slaughter was made of the people of West Connaught, together with Ua Taidhg an Teaghlaigh, and many other noblemen.
King Cathal
Fearghal's lord and king was Cathal Crobhdearg Ua Conchobair, who fought for the kingship of Connacht from the 1180s, succeeding in becoming undisputed king in 1202. As both his bodyguard and chief of his household - much like a royal MarshalMarshal
Marshal , is a word used in several official titles of various branches of society. The word is an ancient loan word from Old French, cf...
such as John Marshal (c. 1105–1165) - Feargal would have been at Cathal's side for many years, especially when on campaign.
The war of 1225
Cathal died in 1224, and succeeded by his son Aedh who was almost immediately beset with problems. Donn Óge Mag OireachtaighDonn Óge Mag Oireachtaigh
-Biography:Mag Oireachtaigh had been dispossessed of his lands by King Aedh Ua Conchobair and to regain them enlisted the aid of King Aed Meith Ua Neill of Tír Eógain...
had been deprived of his lands by Aedh, and now sought the help of Domnall Óg Ó Néill of Tír Eógain. In 1225 Ó Néill invaded and set up a new king. Only a few of the Síol Muiredaig namely, Mac Dermot, David O'Flynn, &. stayed loyal to Aedh.
Aedh then resolved to repair to the English to the Court of Athlone; for it happened, fortunately for him, that the chiefs of the English of Ireland were at that very time assembled there, and the greater part of them were friendly to him, on his father's account as well as on his own, for both had paid them wages for military services, and had been bountiful towards them. The English received him with joy, and kept him among them with much affection for some time afterwards. He then engaged in his cause the Lord Justice, and as many of the chiefs of the English of Ireland as he considered necessary, together with Donough Cairbreach O'Brien, and O'Melaghlin, with their forces.
In the warfare that followed engagements occurred all over Connacht, from Turlough
Turlough
Turlough can mean:* Turlough * Turlough O'Brien Anglicised form of Toirdelbach Ua Briain, King of Munster, effectively High King of Ireland* Turlough O'Neill Ulster chieftain...
in County Mayo
County Mayo
County Mayo is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the village of Mayo, which is now generally known as Mayo Abbey. Mayo County Council is the local authority for the county. The population of the county is 130,552...
to Meelick
Meelick
-Places:Meelick, is a placename used in the West of Ireland.It may refer to:* Meelick, County Clare* Meelick, County Mayo* Meelick, County Galway...
in County Galway
County Galway
County Galway is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county...
. Coolcarney was plundered, after which some of its people fled to Duvconga, but the greater part of these were drowned; and the baskets of the fishing weirs were found full of drowned children.
Restoration and the death of Niall
Aedh was eventually restored, but the price was giving to the English the chiefs of his people, as hostages for the payment of their wages, as Flaherty, O'Flanagan, Farrell O'Teige (i.e., Fearghal) and others of the chiefs of Connaught, who were subsequently obliged to ransom themselves.No sooner had the English left than the sons of Ruaidri O Connor rose up in revolt again. In the subsequent Battle of Ardrahan Niall, the son of Farrell O'Teige, and others, were slain; but the man who slew Niall O'Teige, i.e. the brother of Colen O'Dempsey, was slain himself also.
Eventually, a truce was declared, of which the annals say
This was a necessary tranquillity, for there was not a church or territory in Connaught at that time that had not been plundered and desolated. An oppressive malady raged in the province of Connaught at this time: it was a heavy burning sickness, which left the large towns desolate, without a single survivor.
Death
Despite this, warfare continued again next year. Fearghal was killed in County Sligo by Donslevy O'Gara, who had been forced to make peace with King Aedh the year before.King Aedh was killed in 1228 and succeeded by his cousion, Aedh mac Ruaidri Ua Conchobair
Aedh mac Ruaidri Ua Conchobair
Aedh mac Ruaidri Ua Conchobair was King of Connacht from 1228 to 1233.Extracts from the Annals of Connact concerning Aedh:"Vast war arose between Aed and Toirrdelbach, the two sons of Ruaidri O Conchobair, after the death of Aed mac Cathail Chrodbeirg, for the younger did not yield respect to the...
.
Descendants
Of Fearghal's family there are few notices in the subsequent annals. A bald statement for 1251 state Muiredach O Taidc died.. In 1429 it was noted that Melaghlin, son of Conor Anabaidh O'Kelly, who was the son of the Lord of Hy-Many, was slain with one cast of a javelin, by John Cam O'Teige, one of O'Conor's people. After this, the family fade from history.Sources
- Early Irish Kingship and Succession, Bart Jaski, 2000. ISBN 1-85182-488-X
- Medieval Ireland: Territorial, Political and Economic Divisions, Paul MacCotter, Four Courts Press, 2008, pp. 134–135. ISBN978 1 84682 098 4