Conchobar Ó Cellaigh

Conchobar Ó Cellaigh, 43rd King of Uí Maine and 10th Chief of the Name, died 1268.

Historical background

Uí Maine during his reign fell away from subordinate status to the Kings of Connacht and regained something of its former independence, but at the cost of encastellation and settlement under Richard Mór de Burgh (died 1242) and his son, Walter de Burgh, 1st Earl of Ulster (died 1271).

There are only the most indirect references to Uí Maine in the annals, perhaps reflecting the kingdom's reduction into less significance or its domination by the de Burgh dynasty.

Family

Conchobar is stated in the Book of Lecan to have been the eldest son of Domnall Mór Ua Cellaigh. His brother, Tomás Ó Cellaigh, was Bishop of Clonfert.

Ó Cellaigh's mother was Dubh Cobhlaigh Ní Briain, a daughter of King Domnall Mór of Thomond (died 1194). According to later genealogies, this made him a first-cousin of Richard de Burgh.

Conchobar had three wives; the daughter of Ó hEidhin (anglicised as Hynes) of Aidhne; Derbhforgaill, daughter of Ó Loughlin of the Burren; Eadaoin, daughter of Mac Con Mara (MacNamara) of Thomond.

By Ní hEidhin he had two sons,

• Domnall Ó Cellaig (died 1295), later king of Uí Maine and ancestor to the O'Kelly of Belagllda.
• Murchadh.

By Derbhforgaill Ní Loughlin he had

• Donnchad Muimnech Ó Cellaigh (died 1307)
• Maine Mor Ó Cellaigh (died 1271)

By Eadaoin Ní Con Mara he had

• Cathal na Finne
• Cairbre
• Maurice

References

• The Tribes and customs of Hy-Many, John O'Donovan, 1843
• The Surnames of Ireland, Edward MacLysaght, Dublin, 1978.
• The Anglo-Normans in Co. Galway: the process of colonization, Patrick Holland, Journal of the Galway Archaeological and Historical Society, vol. 41 (1987-88)
• Excavation on the line of the medieval town defences of Loughrea, Co. Galway, J.G.A.& H.S., vol. 41, (1987-88)
• Anglo-Norman Galway; rectangular earthworks and moated sites, Patrick Holland, J.G.A. & H.S., vol. 46 (1993)
• Rindown Castle: a royal fortress in Co. Roscommon, Sheelagh Harbison, J.G.A. & H.S., vol. 47 (1995)
• The Anglo-Norman landscape in County Galway; land-holdings, castles and settlements, Patrick Holland, J.G.A.& H.S., vol. 49 (1997)
• Annals of Ulster at CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts at University College Cork
• Annals of Tigernach at CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts at University College Cork
• Revised edition of McCarthy's synchronisms at Trinity College Dublin.