Muirecán mac Diarmata
Encyclopedia
Muirecán mac Diarmata was a King of Leinster of the Uí Fáeláin sept of the Uí Dúnlainge
branch of the Laigin. This sept had their royal seat at Naas
in the eastern part of the Liffey
plain, Airthir Liphi. He was the son Diarmait mac Ruadrach (died 832), King of Airthir Liphi. His uncle Muiredach mac Ruadrach
(died 829) and grandfather Ruaidrí mac Fáeláin
(died 785) were Kings of Leinster.
The succession of kings in Leinster is difficult to follow in his time. The king lists in the Book of Leinster
have him listed after two kings who died later than he (869 and 885) and the next king is Túathal mac Máele-Brigte
who died in 854. Another previous king was Ruarc mac Brain who died in 862. The king list gives Muirecán a reign of one year which would coincide to 862-863. Francis John Byrne
suggests that the root of this apparent confusion lay in the fact that the Uí Dúnlainge kings exercised little real authority due to the aggressions of their western neighbour Cerball mac Dúnlainge
(died 888), King of Osraige. Cerball, while unable to install himself as king of Leinster, was able to prevent any rival king exercising real power there.
In his obit in the annals in 863 it states that he was killed by the Norsemen. He is only accorded the title of King of Naas and Airthir Liphi.
His sons Domnall mac Muirecáin
(died 884) and Cerball mac Muirecáin
(died 904) were also kings of Leinster, while his son Máel Mórda mac Muirecáin (died 917) was king of Airthir Liphi.
Uí Dúnlainge
The Uí Dúnlainge, from the Old Irish "grandsons of Dúnlaing", were an Irish dynasty of Leinster kings who traced their descent from Dúnlaing mac Énda Niada. He was said to be a cousin of Énnae Cennsalach, eponymous ancestor of the rival Uí Chennselaig....
branch of the Laigin. This sept had their royal seat at Naas
Naas
Naas is the county town of County Kildare in Ireland. With a population of just over twenty thousand, it is also the largest town in the county. Naas is a major commuter suburb, with many people residing there and working in Dublin...
in the eastern part of the Liffey
River Liffey
The Liffey is a river in Ireland, which flows through the centre of Dublin. Its major tributaries include the River Dodder, the River Poddle and the River Camac. The river supplies much of Dublin's water, and a range of recreational opportunities.-Name:The river was previously named An Ruirthech,...
plain, Airthir Liphi. He was the son Diarmait mac Ruadrach (died 832), King of Airthir Liphi. His uncle Muiredach mac Ruadrach
Muiredach mac Ruadrach
Muiredach mac Ruadrach was a King of Leinster of the Uí Fáeláin sept of the Uí Dúnlainge branch of the Laigin. This sept had their royal seat at Naas in the eastern part of the Liffey plain, Airthir Liphi. He was the son of Ruaidrí mac Fáeláin , a previous king...
(died 829) and grandfather Ruaidrí mac Fáeláin
Ruaidrí mac Fáeláin
Ruaidrí mac Fáeláin was a King of Leinster of the Uí Fáeláin sept of the Uí Dúnlainge branch of the Laigin. He was the son of Fáelán mac Murchado , a previous king. This sept had their royal seat at Naas in the eastern part of the Liffey plain, Airthir Liphi...
(died 785) were Kings of Leinster.
The succession of kings in Leinster is difficult to follow in his time. The king lists in the Book of Leinster
Book of Leinster
The Book of Leinster , is a medieval Irish manuscript compiled ca. 1160 and now kept in Trinity College, Dublin, under the shelfmark MS H 2.18...
have him listed after two kings who died later than he (869 and 885) and the next king is Túathal mac Máele-Brigte
Túathal mac Máele-Brigte
Tuathal mac Máele-Brigte was a King of Leinster of the Uí Muiredaig sept of the Uí Dúnlainge branch of the Laigin. This sept had their royal seat at Maistiu in South Kildare. He was possibly the son of Muiredach mac Brain , a previous king...
who died in 854. Another previous king was Ruarc mac Brain who died in 862. The king list gives Muirecán a reign of one year which would coincide to 862-863. Francis John Byrne
Francis John Byrne
Francis John Byrne is an Irish historian.Born in Shanghai where his father, a Dundalk man, captained a ship on the Yellow River, Byrne was evacuated with his mother to Australia on the outbreak of World War II...
suggests that the root of this apparent confusion lay in the fact that the Uí Dúnlainge kings exercised little real authority due to the aggressions of their western neighbour Cerball mac Dúnlainge
Cerball mac Dúnlainge
Cerball mac Dúnlainge was king of Osraige in south-east Ireland. The kingdom of Osraige occupied roughly the area of modern County Kilkenny and lay between the larger provincial kingdoms of Munster and Leinster....
(died 888), King of Osraige. Cerball, while unable to install himself as king of Leinster, was able to prevent any rival king exercising real power there.
In his obit in the annals in 863 it states that he was killed by the Norsemen. He is only accorded the title of King of Naas and Airthir Liphi.
His sons Domnall mac Muirecáin
Domnall mac Muirecáin
Domnall mac Muirecáin was a King of Leinster of the Uí Fáeláin sept of the Uí Dúnlainge branch of the Laigin. This sept had their royal seat at Naas in the eastern part of the Liffey plain, Airthir Liphi. He was the son of Muirecán mac Diarmata , a previous king.There is much confusion in the king...
(died 884) and Cerball mac Muirecáin
Cerball mac Muirecáin
Cerball mac Muirecáin was king of Leinster. He was the son of Muirecán mac Diarmata and a member of the Uí Fáeláin, the descendants of Fáelán mac Murchado , of one of three septs of the Uí Dúnlainge of modern County Kildare in Ireland....
(died 904) were also kings of Leinster, while his son Máel Mórda mac Muirecáin (died 917) was king of Airthir Liphi.