Ólchobar mac Flainn
Encyclopedia
Ólchobar mac Flainn was a supposed King of Munster from the Uí Fidgenti
of County Limerick
, allies and/or distant cousins of the Eóganachta
. He was the first non-Eóganachta to be considered king (for several centuries) in some sources. He belonged to a branch of the Uí Fidgenti known as the Uí Conaill Gabra, ancestors of the later famous septs of O'Connell of Kerry
and Ó Coileáin of Carbery
. His father Flann mac Erca (died 762) and brother Scandlán mac Flainn (died 786) were kings of the Uí Fidgenti.
It is more likely that he has been confused with Ólchobar mac Duib-Indrecht
(died 805) in some sources. Only the Annals of Ulster call him King of Munster at his death obit in 796. The consideration that a non-Eóganachta could have held the throne is a symptom of the decline of the inner circle of the Eóganachta in the later 8th century after the death of Cathal mac Finguine
(died 742). The Annals of Innisfallen do not call him King of Munster at his death obit but do refer to his holding the lay-abbacy of Inis Cathaig or Scattery Island.
He was succeeded as King of Uí Fidgenti by his brother Murchad (died 807).
The Uí Fidgenti had their own large capital at Dún Eochair, established several centuries before the rise of the Eóganachta by the Dáirine
, once the great power of Munster. An account is given by Geoffrey Keating
. The Uí Fidgenti have been accused of being Dáirine themselves or at least a mixture of Dáirine and Eóganachta, and so if true then it would have been highly unusual for a member to occupy the still new capital of Cashel
. Theoretically only the descendants of Conall Corc
could enjoy the Cashel kingship, and whether cousins of the Eóganachta or not the Uí Fidgenti, and the related Uí Liatháin, were certainly not his descendants. If the most ancient genealogies are correct, e.g. Rawlinson B 502, they descended from an uncle of Conall Corc known as Dáire Cerbba
, known elsewhere as the grandfather of the powerful monarch Crimthann mac Fidaig
.
Thus it is very unlikely that Ólchobar mac Flainn would have been able to rule from Cashel with authority or with the permission of the septs of the inner circle.
Uí Fidgenti
The Uí Fidgenti or Wood-Sprung People were an early kingdom of northern Munster, situated mostly in modern County Limerick, but extending into County Clare and County Tipperary, and possibly even County Kerry and County Cork, at maximum extents, which varied over time...
of County Limerick
County Limerick
It is thought that humans had established themselves in the Lough Gur area of the county as early as 3000 BC, while megalithic remains found at Duntryleague date back further to 3500 BC...
, allies and/or distant cousins of the Eóganachta
Eóganachta
The Eóganachta or Eoghanachta were an Irish dynasty centred around Cashel which dominated southern Ireland from the 6/7th to the 10th centuries, and following that, in a restricted form, the Kingdom of Desmond, and its offshoot Carbery, well into the 16th century...
. He was the first non-Eóganachta to be considered king (for several centuries) in some sources. He belonged to a branch of the Uí Fidgenti known as the Uí Conaill Gabra, ancestors of the later famous septs of O'Connell of Kerry
Daniel O'Connell
Daniel O'Connell Daniel O'Connell Daniel O'Connell (6 August 1775 – 15 May 1847; often referred to as The Liberator, or The Emancipator, was an Irish political leader in the first half of the 19th century...
and Ó Coileáin of Carbery
Michael Collins (Irish leader)
Michael "Mick" Collins was an Irish revolutionary leader, Minister for Finance and Teachta Dála for Cork South in the First Dáil of 1919, Director of Intelligence for the IRA, and member of the Irish delegation during the Anglo-Irish Treaty negotiations. Subsequently, he was both Chairman of the...
. His father Flann mac Erca (died 762) and brother Scandlán mac Flainn (died 786) were kings of the Uí Fidgenti.
It is more likely that he has been confused with Ólchobar mac Duib-Indrecht
Ólchobar mac Duib-Indrecht
Ólchobar mac Duib-Indrecht was a supposed King of Munster from the Eóganacht Áine branch of the Eóganachta. His last paternal ancestor to hold the throne was Cúán mac Amalgado , five generations previous. His great grandfather Uisnech had been the brother of another King Eterscél mac Máele Umai...
(died 805) in some sources. Only the Annals of Ulster call him King of Munster at his death obit in 796. The consideration that a non-Eóganachta could have held the throne is a symptom of the decline of the inner circle of the Eóganachta in the later 8th century after the death of Cathal mac Finguine
Cathal mac Finguine
Cathal mac Finguine was an Irish King of Munster or Cashel, and effectively High King of Ireland as well. He belonged to the Eóganacht Glendamnach sept of the dominant Eóganachta kin-group whose members dominated Munster from the 7th century to the 10th...
(died 742). The Annals of Innisfallen do not call him King of Munster at his death obit but do refer to his holding the lay-abbacy of Inis Cathaig or Scattery Island.
He was succeeded as King of Uí Fidgenti by his brother Murchad (died 807).
The Uí Fidgenti had their own large capital at Dún Eochair, established several centuries before the rise of the Eóganachta by the Dáirine
Dáirine
The Dáirine , later known dynastically as the Corcu Loígde, were the proto-historical rulers of Munster before the rise of the Eóganachta in the 7th century AD. They appear to have derived from the Darini of Ptolemy and to have been related to the Ulaid and Dál Riata of Ulster and Scotland...
, once the great power of Munster. An account is given by Geoffrey Keating
Geoffrey Keating
Seathrún Céitinn, known in English as Geoffrey Keating, was a 17th century Irish Roman Catholic priest, poet and historian. He was born in County Tipperary c. 1569, and died c. 1644...
. The Uí Fidgenti have been accused of being Dáirine themselves or at least a mixture of Dáirine and Eóganachta, and so if true then it would have been highly unusual for a member to occupy the still new capital of Cashel
Cashel, County Tipperary
Cashel is a town in South Tipperary in Ireland. Its population was 2936 at the 2006 census. The town gives its name to the ecclesiastical province of Cashel. Additionally, the cathedra of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly was originally in the town prior to the English Reformation....
. Theoretically only the descendants of Conall Corc
Conall Corc
Corc mac Luigthig, also called Conall Corc, Corc of Cashel, and Corc mac Láire, is the hero of Irish language tales which form part of the origin legend of the Eóganachta, a group of kindreds which traced their descent from Conall Corc and took their name from his ancestor Éogan Mór. The early...
could enjoy the Cashel kingship, and whether cousins of the Eóganachta or not the Uí Fidgenti, and the related Uí Liatháin, were certainly not his descendants. If the most ancient genealogies are correct, e.g. Rawlinson B 502, they descended from an uncle of Conall Corc known as Dáire Cerbba
Dáire Cerbba
Dáire Cerbba was an Irish dynast of uncertain origins, named in many early and late sources as the grandfather of the semi-mythological Mongfind and Crimthann mac Fidaig, and the most frequently named early ancestor of the historical Uí Liatháin and Uí Fidgenti...
, known elsewhere as the grandfather of the powerful monarch Crimthann mac Fidaig
Crimthann mac Fidaig
Crimthann Mór, son of Fidach , also written Crimthand Mór, was a semi-mythological king of Munster and High King of Ireland of the 4th century. He gained territory in Britain and Gaul, but died poisoned by his sister Mongfind. It is possible that he was also recognized as king of Scotland or Alba...
.
Thus it is very unlikely that Ólchobar mac Flainn would have been able to rule from Cashel with authority or with the permission of the septs of the inner circle.