Toirrdealbach 1064-1086

Toirrdealback Ua Brian Hi king with opposition 1054 or 1064-1086

Toirrdealbach m Tadg Ua Brian was made hi king with opposition[fressabra] on the death of his uncle Donnchad at Rome in 1064.

Toirrdealbach also known as Turlough or Terrance was the 46 Hi king of Ireland since Niall Noigialach.

Ib this first year of his reign Mahon killed the King of Ulster.

In 1065 Willam the Conqueror had a great victory at Hastings over Harold king of Norway and the Danes were overthrown in England.
The Saxons served as ally to the Normans.

In 1066 King Dermott m Moylenamo and his ally Turlogh O Brien the king of both Munster and Ireland went with their combined forces to Connact against Aed [Hugh] O Connor [Conchobar] where Aed was killed.
Hugh m Art O Ruiairc had the victory.

In 1067 Muragh O Brien was killed at Teafia.
His head was cut off and taken to Clonmacnoise where it is buried and his body at Darrow monastary.

Donell O Melaglyn[Domnaill O Mclauglin] prince of Ailech killed his brother.

In 1068 Toirdealbach [Terrance] made an expedition to Leinster and was given the Saxon kings standard by Diarmait m Mael na mBo who had fought for the hi kingship against Donnchad Ua Brian. from 1040 on till Donchad ws deposed by his nefew Terrance Ua Brian.

m na mBo died in 1076.

In 1068 Turlough renewed the Cain Domnain also called the Rechtge of the prince being a Proclaimation.
The Cain had been originally issued by his uncle Donnchad and forbade the locking in of stock horses or cattle in barns or the carrying of arms or any kind of theviery on Sunday hence its name the Law of Sunday.

Toirdealbach had established his capital at Limerick during this period.
He had been expelled from Munster by his uncle Donnchad and Diarmaid m Mail na mBo of Leinster had given him santuary.

Tadg his father had been half brother to Donnchad and Donnchad has had him killed in 1023.

However Donnchads missing hand a blemish left him unable to claim the hi kingship for himself.

1069 the battle of Owa was fought in which Dermott m Moyle na mBo styled king of Ireland, Wales, Danes of Dublin and a protectorate of Leith Cuin was killed by Connor O Melaghlin of Meath.

Terrance O Brien son of Teige m Brian succeded Dermott who had been king of Leinster for 25 years.

The head of Connor Melaglyn king of Meath was taken out of Clonmacnoise where it had been buried by an act of violance to take it to Thomond.

However a mouse ran out of the head scarring this grave robbing King to which his hair fell out and he got a wasting desease[ probably cancer].
Because of this he retuned the head to Clonmacnoise with a gold offering on Good Friday in 1070.

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In 1073 Connor O Kelly was grandfather to Donnagh O Kelly who was killed by his brother on Loch Keyln as the princes continued their rivalry for princedoms.

In 1074 Toirrdealbach O Brien went into the North with the Army of Meath,Connact, the Danes Ossary and Leinster.
He got no hostages from Ulster which slaughtered his army at Ath Monan.

Toirrdealbach made his son Murcheartach king of the Danes of Dublin .

In 1075 Awley m Moielan {Moylan or Mulan] prince of Gaelenga killed the king of Meath in the steeple[round tower] at Kells and was immediately killed himself by the son of O Melalglin.

1076 brought a food shortage and a persecution of religious houses.
this probably because the common people were hungry while the Church had much plenty for itself.

In this year Gormflaith wife of Toirrdealbach died.
She was a daughter of ffohartie [Foogarty].
She left much cattle and money to the Church.

Irish women though not named in the annals for their many offspring where holders of their own property and goods which they had the right to retain in marriage and dispose of as they desired.

By 1077 the Church was often robbed, preyed as it had cattle and the people were hungry.
In this year 4 princes were killed.

This preying of termon lands continued indicating muvch poverty among the septs while the Church flourished under its preaching of poverty and chastity which it does today.

In 1078 Reprisals for Church robberies were common.

1080 bropught the death of Donell O Connor killed by his uncle Cahil m Hugh o Connor.
It was an envy and malice killing.

Toirdealbach took an army to Ath Cliath and Maelsechlainns desendants 'came into his hous' with the Cross of Jesus, the clergy of Munster and the corab of St Patrick[ArchBishop of Armagh],

In 1081 the Gallaib foreigners plundered Ara Inis in Galway Bay.

In1082 Donchaed O Ruairc with E Connact, Carbery and Gailenga were met in battle by Mourtagh U Brian m Terlough son of the KIng with his Danes, Munster, Lienster where he killed O Rourke prince along with Kennedy O Brien.
Donnchad Ua loughlin became king of Cenel Eogain.

1083 brought a recurance of the kings desease where his hair fell out again.
This was 14 years since the first occurance on the mouse running out of the head of the killed Conor Melaglyn.

In 1084 some of the Lords now began to pay wages for client soldiers similar to the Ua Loughlin pattern established by Domnall King of Ailech who had hired the men of Fernmanagh to prey the Conaille on the plain of Muirtheimne.
This prectice was picked up by the king of Ulidia who hired the son of ua Rouirc to carry out a prey while Donslieve was gone from Ulidia.
A prey was made by Domnall the originator of the hired soldier to take Ulidias cattle and take hostage prisoners.

Munster invaded Meath while they were gone into this expidtion. The Conmaicne of Connact went to Thomond burned the fortress and carried of spoils.
The Ua Ruairc with e Connact, the Cairbre and Gailenga went to prey Leinster but they were met by Muircheartach Ua Brian son of Toirrdealbach in a battle which took place at Mon Cruinneoige in Leixlip Kildare on November 4 where some 4000 were killed,and Donnchad Ua Ruaircs head was carried to Limerick.

In 1085 Murhcad Ua Maeldory tigerna of Cinel Conaill died.

Ualgarg Ua Ruairc royal heir of Conncat died.

Aengus ua Caindealban lord of Laegaire died.

Gilla Brigde Lord of Deise died.

Toirrdealbach plundered Munster Eolias and took as hostage Muireadach m Dubh.

In this year there was there was such disturbance of men and cattle by these usurping lordy expeditions or raids that many well off farmers BoAire had to till their own fields and sow their own seed crops as no labor was availabe.

In 1086 the battle of Corann was fought between Aed m Art Ua Ruairc and Ruidri Ua Concobar king of Connact in which O Ruairc was killed Rory being the winner.many cheifs of the Eolais were also killed.

In this year Toirdealcach the king died in his bed at Ceen Corad.
on the 14 of July.
He was 77 years old.

He had been king of Munster for 32 years and Hi King for 25 years becoming king at the displacement of his uncle Donnchad in 1054 in Munster and hi king at the death of Dunchad in Rome in 1064.

his son Teige followed him in his death and no new king was found in Munster. A son listed as Diarmait is later listed as king of Munster from 1114-1118.

Domanall mcLaughlin was than King of Ailech in the North and the son of Toirdealbach ,Murcheartach along with this provinical northern king became joint Hi Kings of the Island in 1086.

Judi Donnelly
copyright may 3 2008