Tommaltach Ua Conchobair
Encyclopedia
Tommaltach Ua Conchobair, bishop of Elphin and archbishop of Armagh
, lived from c. 1150-1201.
(1088-1156) via his son, Aed. However, Tairdelbach had two sons of that name, one of whom, Aedh Dall Ua Conchobair
, was blinded by Tairdelbach for rebellion in 1136.
Tommaltach was nephew to Ruaidhri, King of Ireland (reigned 1156-1183) and King Cathal of Connacht, (reigned 1202-1224); first cousin to Rose, wife of Hugh de Lacy, Lord of Meath
(died 1186), and associate of archbishop of Dublin
, Lorcan Ua Tuathail
(died 1180).
about 1174, and may have travelled to Rome
to receive confirmation. He may have been responsible for the founding of a Cistercian house at Athlone. In 1179 he attended Ua Tuathail's council in Dublin, giving the latter's reforms his support. Ua Conchobair travelled with the archbishop to Armagh
early in 1180 to settle the diocese's succession dispute; Ua Tuathail, at the time the Papal Legate
to Ireland
, appointed Ua Conchobair to the position.
, bishop Mael Isu Ua Cerbaill of Clogher, with Ua Conchobair unable to fully regain his see until 1186.
He appears to have maintained good relations with Hugh de Lacy, Lord of Meath
, and King John
during the latter's visit to Ireland in 1185.
Much of his diocese was destroyed by the long war between John de Courcy
and King Ruairi of Ulaid
. Despite this, he was assisted by de Courcy in commissioning a life of Saint Patrick
to advance Armagh's claim to the primacy of Ireland, against that of Dublin.
At the 1192 Synod of Dublin he successfully regained for Armagh control of the diocese of Louth
, which had been claimed by King Donnchadh Ua Cearbaill
of Airgialla
in the 1150's.
The on-going warfare in Ulster between the Ulaid and de Courcy forced Ua Conchobair to spend most of the last five years of his life in Drogheda
. Much of his correspondence and diocesan documents have been lost, but those that survive include letters from Innocent III concerning disputed elections, support for canons of the Arrouasian order and the canonical position of women.
He died in 1201 while travelling to Armagh, and was buried at the Cistercian abbey of Mellifont.
Archbishop of Armagh
The Archbishop of Armagh is the title of the presiding ecclesiastical figure of each of the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland in the region around Armagh in Northern Ireland...
, lived from c. 1150-1201.
Family background
Ua Conchobair was a grandson of King Tairrdelbach Ua Conchobair of ConnachtConnacht
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...
(1088-1156) via his son, Aed. However, Tairdelbach had two sons of that name, one of whom, Aedh Dall Ua Conchobair
Aedh Dall Ua Conchobair
Aedh Dall Ua Conchobair, Prince of Connacht, died 1194.Aedh was the eldest child of King Tairrdelbach Ua Conchobair . His mother's identity is uncertain - Tairrdelbach had six wives - but his full brothers were Tadhg Alainn and Abbot Máel Ísa of Roscommon .Despite his seniority, Aedh's...
, was blinded by Tairdelbach for rebellion in 1136.
Tommaltach was nephew to Ruaidhri, King of Ireland (reigned 1156-1183) and King Cathal of Connacht, (reigned 1202-1224); first cousin to Rose, wife of Hugh de Lacy, Lord of Meath
Hugh de Lacy, Lord of Meath
Hugh de Lacy, Lord of Meath was an Anglo-Norman magnate granted the lands of the Kingdom of Meath by Henry II in 1172, during the Norman Invasion of Ireland.-Early life:Hugh de Lacy was born before 1135...
(died 1186), and associate of archbishop of Dublin
Archbishop of Dublin
The Archbishop of Dublin may refer to:* Archbishop of Dublin – an article which lists of pre- and post-Reformation archbishops.* Archbishop of Dublin – the title of the senior cleric who presides over the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin....
, Lorcan Ua Tuathail
Lorcán Ua Tuathail
Lorcán Ua Tuathail, also known as St Laurence O'Toole, was born at Castledermot, Kildare, Ireland, in 1128, and died at Eu, Normandy, France, on 14 November 1180; he was canonized in 1225 by Pope Honorius III.-Early life:...
(died 1180).
Early career
He became bishop of ElphinDiocese of Elphin
The Diocese of Elphin was established following the Synod of Rathbreasail in the year 1111. In that year the see for east Connacht was moved from Roscommon. Elphin was the traditional site of a monastic house established by St Patrick c.450, although there are no remains of that date.Following the...
about 1174, and may have travelled to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
to receive confirmation. He may have been responsible for the founding of a Cistercian house at Athlone. In 1179 he attended Ua Tuathail's council in Dublin, giving the latter's reforms his support. Ua Conchobair travelled with the archbishop to Armagh
Armagh
Armagh is a large settlement in Northern Ireland, and the county town of County Armagh. It is a site of historical importance for both Celtic paganism and Christianity and is the seat, for both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland, of the Archbishop of Armagh...
early in 1180 to settle the diocese's succession dispute; Ua Tuathail, at the time the Papal Legate
Papal legate
A papal legate – from the Latin, authentic Roman title Legatus – is a personal representative of the pope to foreign nations, or to some part of the Catholic Church. He is empowered on matters of Catholic Faith and for the settlement of ecclesiastical matters....
to Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, appointed Ua Conchobair to the position.
Archbishop of Armagh
However, he was not fully accepted by the local clergy on his own terms till 1181. In 1184 there was an attempt to replace him with a member of the ruling dynasty of the kingdom of AirgiallaAirgíalla
Airgíalla or Airgialla was the name of an Irish federation and Irish kingdom which first formed around the 7th century...
, bishop Mael Isu Ua Cerbaill of Clogher, with Ua Conchobair unable to fully regain his see until 1186.
He appears to have maintained good relations with Hugh de Lacy, Lord of Meath
Hugh de Lacy, Lord of Meath
Hugh de Lacy, Lord of Meath was an Anglo-Norman magnate granted the lands of the Kingdom of Meath by Henry II in 1172, during the Norman Invasion of Ireland.-Early life:Hugh de Lacy was born before 1135...
, and King John
John of England
John , also known as John Lackland , was King of England from 6 April 1199 until his death...
during the latter's visit to Ireland in 1185.
Much of his diocese was destroyed by the long war between John de Courcy
John de Courcy
John de Courcy was a Anglo-Norman knight who arrived in Ireland in 1176. From then until his expulsion in 1204, he conquered a considerable territory, endowed religious establishments, built abbeys for both the Benedictines and the Cistercians and built strongholds at Dundrum Castle in County...
and King Ruairi of Ulaid
Ulaid
The Ulaid or Ulaidh were a people of early Ireland who gave their name to the modern province of Ulster...
. Despite this, he was assisted by de Courcy in commissioning a life of Saint Patrick
Saint Patrick
Saint Patrick was a Romano-Briton and Christian missionary, who is the most generally recognized patron saint of Ireland or the Apostle of Ireland, although Brigid of Kildare and Colmcille are also formally patron saints....
to advance Armagh's claim to the primacy of Ireland, against that of Dublin.
At the 1192 Synod of Dublin he successfully regained for Armagh control of the diocese of Louth
County Louth
County Louth is a county of Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Louth. Louth County Council is the local authority for the county...
, which had been claimed by King Donnchadh Ua Cearbaill
Donnchadh Ua Cearbaill
Donnchad Ua Cerbaill or Donnchadh Ó Cearbhaill, King of Airgíalla, fl. 1130's.Ua Cerbaill was a supporter of the Irish religious reform movement of the 11th century. He was a close associate of Saint Malachy , and with him founded Mellifont Abbey. He was also responsible for foundations by the...
of Airgialla
Airgíalla
Airgíalla or Airgialla was the name of an Irish federation and Irish kingdom which first formed around the 7th century...
in the 1150's.
The on-going warfare in Ulster between the Ulaid and de Courcy forced Ua Conchobair to spend most of the last five years of his life in Drogheda
Drogheda
Drogheda is an industrial and port town in County Louth on the east coast of Ireland, 56 km north of Dublin. It is the last bridging point on the River Boyne before it enters the Irish Sea....
. Much of his correspondence and diocesan documents have been lost, but those that survive include letters from Innocent III concerning disputed elections, support for canons of the Arrouasian order and the canonical position of women.
He died in 1201 while travelling to Armagh, and was buried at the Cistercian abbey of Mellifont.