Ollamh Síl Muireadaigh
Encyclopedia
Ollamh Síl Muireadaigh was a hereditary post, held almost exclusively by members of the Ó Maolconaire
family, from at least the 13th to the 17th century. The Síol Muireadaigh
were a dynasty of related clans, all descendants of King Muiredach Muillethan
of Connacht]] (died 702), all of whom lived in north-central Connaught.
An ollamh was the highest rank in the learned orders of law, poetry, or history. These educated professionals, today grouped together in the popular consciousness as "bard
s", maintained an oral tradition
that pre-dated Christianization
of Ireland.
It is likely that the post had existed for at least as long as the Síl Muireadaigh dynasty themselves, but earlier ollamhs are unknown. The first of the family so listed was Dúinnín Ó Maolconaire
.
Ó Maolconaire
Ó Maolconaire was the surname of a family of professional poets and historians in Medieval Ireland. It is now rendered Mulconry, Conroy, Conaire.-Overview:...
family, from at least the 13th to the 17th century. 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...
were a dynasty of related clans, all descendants of King Muiredach Muillethan
Muiredach Muillethan
Muiredach Muillethan mac Fergusso was a King of Connacht from the Uí Briúin branch of the Connachta. He was the grandson of Rogallach mac Uatach , a previous king. He belonged to the Uí Briúin Ai sept...
of Connacht]] (died 702), all of whom lived in north-central Connaught.
An ollamh was the highest rank in the learned orders of law, poetry, or history. These educated professionals, today grouped together in the popular consciousness as "bard
Bard
In medieval Gaelic and British culture a bard was a professional poet, employed by a patron, such as a monarch or nobleman, to commemorate the patron's ancestors and to praise the patron's own activities.Originally a specific class of poet, contrasting with another class known as fili in Ireland...
s", maintained an oral tradition
Oral literature
Oral literature corresponds in the sphere of the spoken word to literature as literature operates in the domain of the written word. It thus forms a generally more fundamental component of culture, but operates in many ways as one might expect literature to do...
that pre-dated Christianization
Celtic Christianity
Celtic Christianity or Insular Christianity refers broadly to certain features of Christianity that were common, or held to be common, across the Celtic-speaking world during the Early Middle Ages...
of Ireland.
It is likely that the post had existed for at least as long as the Síl Muireadaigh dynasty themselves, but earlier ollamhs are unknown. The first of the family so listed was Dúinnín Ó Maolconaire
Dúinnín Ó Maolconaire
Dúinnín Ó Maolconaire was a member of the Ó Maolconaire family of Connacht, who served as historians and poets to the Síl Muireadaigh, and their rulers, the Ó Conchubhair Kings of Connacht. He is the first of the family listed as the Ollamh Síol Muireadaigh, his genealogy listing him as the son of...
.
Ollamh Síol Muireadaigh
- Dúinnín Ó MaolconaireDúinnín Ó MaolconaireDúinnín Ó Maolconaire was a member of the Ó Maolconaire family of Connacht, who served as historians and poets to the Síl Muireadaigh, and their rulers, the Ó Conchubhair Kings of Connacht. He is the first of the family listed as the Ollamh Síol Muireadaigh, his genealogy listing him as the son of...
, died 1231 - Máeleoin Bódur Ó MaolconaireMáeleoin Bódur Ó MaolconaireMáeleoin Bódur Ó Maolconaire was a member of the Ó Maolconaire family of Connacht, who served as historians and poets to the Síol Muireadaigh, and their rulers, the Ó Conchubhair Kings of Connacht...
, died 1266 - Dubsúilech Ó MaolconaireDubsúilech Ó MaolconaireDubsúilech Ó Maolconaire was a member of the Ó Maolconaire family of Connacht, who served as historians and poets to the Síol Muireadaigh and their rulers, the Ó Conchubhair Kings of Connacht....
- Tanaide Mor mac Dúinnín Ó MaolconaireTanaide Mor mac Dúinnín Ó MaolconaireTanaide Mor mac Dúinnín Ó Maolconaire was a member of the Ó Maolconaire family of Connacht, who served as historians and poets to the Síol Muireadaigh, and their rulers, the Ó Conchubhair Kings of Connacht....
, 1270-1310 - Mael Sechlainn Ó DomhnalláinMael Sechlainn Ó DomhnalláinMael Sechlainn Ó Domhnalláin, Irish poet, died 1375.Ó Domhnalláin was a member of the Ó Domhnalláin bardic family of Ui Maine Mael Sechlainn Ó Domhnalláin, Irish poet, died 1375.Ó Domhnalláin was a member of the Ó Domhnalláin bardic family of Ui Maine Mael Sechlainn Ó Domhnalláin, Irish poet, died...
, Ollav of Sil-Murray in particular in poetry, and the most learned man in all Ireland in the same art, died of Fiolun in 1375. - Tanaide Ó MaolconaireTanaide Ó MaolconaireTanaide Ó Maolconaire was the Ollamh Síol Muireadaigh for an unknown number of years prior to his death in 1385.Tanaide Mor mac Dúinnín Ó Maolconaire, who died in 1310, was the only such Ollamh recorded in the annals for the 14th century prior to this. There must have being at least one Ollamh...
, died 1385 - Donnchad Baccach Ó MaolconaireDonnchad Baccach Ó MaolconaireDonnchad Baccach Ó Maolconaire, Ollamh Síl Muireadaigh from 1385 to 1404.Very little is known about Donnchad Baccach. The Annals of Connacht merely relate that he was Ollam of the Síol Muireadaigh in history. Given that all known past holders of the office had been drawn from the clan Ó...
, died 1404 - Flann Óc mac Séoan Ó DomhnalláinFlann Óc mac Séoan Ó DomhnalláinFlann Óc mac Séoan Ó Domhnalláin Ollamh Síol Muireadaigh for an unknown time in 1404.The annals record an unusual number of bardic deaths in 1404. Donnchad Baccach Ó Maolconaire died, leaving the office of Ollamh vacant...
, died 1404 - Dauid mac Tanaide Ó MaolconaireDauid mac Tanaide Ó MaolconaireDauid mac Tanaide Ó Maolconaire, Ollamh Síol Muireadaigh, died 1419.The Annals of Connacht state:1419. Dauid son of Tanaide O Mailchonaire ollav of the Sil Muiredaig, died of the plague in his own house at Kilmore, after Unction and Penance, and was buried in the monastery of John Baptist at Trim,...
, died 1419 - Cormac Ó DomhnalláinCormac Ó DomhnalláinCormac Ó Domhnalláin, Ollamh Síol Muireadaigh, died 1436.The Annals of Connacht state:1436:Cormac O Domnallain, ollav of the Sil Murray in Poetry, died.-Sources:*The Encyclopaedia of Ireland 2003; ISBN 0-7171-300-2....
, died 1436. - Mailin mac Tanaide Ó MaolconaireMailin mac Tanaide Ó MaolconaireMailin mac Tanaide Ó Maolconaire, Ollamh Síol Muireadaigh, c.1360-1441.The Annals of Connacht, sub anno 1441, say of him:Mailin son of Tanaide O Mailchonaire, ollav of the Sil Murray, principal author of the learning of Ireland and Scotland and head of his family for thirty-seven years, went the...
, died 1441. - Sadhbh Ó Mailchonaire, died 1447.
- Torna Ó MaolconaireTorna Ó MaolconaireTorna Ó Maolconaire, Ollamh Síol Muireadaigh, 1447-68.The Annals of Connacht, sub anno 1468, say of him:Torna O Mailchonaire, ollav of Sil Murray in History and Poetry, died after a victory of repentance in his own house at Lis Ferbain after St. Patrick's day; he was buried under the protection of...
, died 1468 - Urard Ó MaolconaireUrard Ó MaolconaireUrard Ó Maolconaire, Ollamh Síol Muireadaigh, died 1482.The Annals of Connacht, sub anno 1482, say of him:1482:Urard O Mailchonaire, ollav of Sil Murray in learning and poetry, the chief chronicler of the western world, specially learned in the phases of the moon, translator of a part of the...
, died 1482 - Sigraid Ó MaolconaireSigraid Ó MaolconaireSigraid Ó Maolconaire was the Ollamh Síol Muireadaigh, died 1487.The Annals of Connacht, sub anno 1487, state:* O Mailchonaire, that is Sigraid son of Sean Ruad, died....
, died 1487 - Mailin mac Torna Ó Maolconaire, died 1519
- Torna mac Torna Ó Maolconaire, died 1532
- Conchobar mac Domnall Ruad Ó Maolconaire 1532 - 15??
- Muirges mac Paidin Ó Maolconaire?, d.1543
- Lochlainn mac Paidin Ó Maolconaire, died 1551
See also
- Ollamh Érenn
- Ollamh Tuisceairt
- Ollamh Airgialla
- Ollamh Ulaidh
- Ollamh Laigin
- Ollamh Osraighe
- Ollamh Desmumu
- Ollamh Thomond
- Ollamh Mumu
- Ollamh Ormond
- Cllamh Ui Maine
- Ollamh ConnachtaOllamh ConnachtaOllamh Connachta was the highest professional level recognised for a poet, historian or lawyer within the province.-Annals:* 1413:Be Binn, daughter of Maelsechlainn son of Muirgius Mac Donnchada and wife of Master Matha Mac in Oclaig, died....
- 1416:Tomas Mac ind Oclaig, erenagh of Killery and chief master of Law in Connacht, died after a victory of repentance. - Ollamh ClanricardeOllamh ClanricardeOllamh Clanricarde was a hereditary post, held almost exclusively by members of the McEgan family.An ollamh was the highest rank in the learned orders of law, poetry, or history. These educated professionals, today grouped together in the popular consciousness as "bards", maintained an oral...
- 1438.3:Conchobar Mac Aedacain, ollav of Macwilliam of Clanrickard, died. - Ollamh Ui Fiachrach - 1414:Donnchad Mac Fir Bisig, prospective ollav of the Ui Fiachrach Muaide, died this year.
Sources
- The Encyclopaedia of Ireland 2003; ISBN 0 7171 300 2.
- Mac Dermot of Moylurg: The Story of a Connacht Family Dermot Mac Dermot, 1996.
- A New History of Ireland VIII: A Chronology of Irish History to 1976 - A Companion to Irish History Part I edited by T.W. Moody, F.X. Martin and F.J. Byrne, 1982. ISBN 0 19 821744 7
- The Celebrated Antiquary Nollaig O Muralie, Maynooth, 1996.
- Irish Leaders and Learning Through the Ages Fr. Paul Walsh, 2004. (ed. Nollaig O Muralie).
External links
- List of Published Texts at CELT — University College Cork's Corpus of Electronic Texts