Domhnall Caomhánach

Domhnall Caomhánach (Domhnall mac Murchada or Domhnall Caomhánach mac Murchada, anglicized as Donal Kavanagh) is the ancestor of the Caomhánach line of the Uí Ceinnselaig dynasty and was King of Leinster from 1171 to 1175. Domhnall was the eldest son of the 12th century King of Leinster, Diarmait Mac Murchada in Ireland.[1][2][3]

Domhnall Caomhánach
King of Leinster in Ireland

King of South Leinster
King of Uí Ceinnselaig
Reign1171–1175
PredecessorDiarmait Mac Murchada
SuccessorMuirchertach Caomhánach
son of Domhnall Oge Caomhánach
Bornc.1140
Leinster in Ireland
Died1175 (aged 34–35)
Battle of Naas in 1175
Burial
Ferns, County Wexford
Issue(1) Connor Caomhánach
(2) Domhnall Oge
DynastyCaomhánach
FatherDiarmait Mac Murchada [1][2][3]
MotherSadb Ní Faeláin

Domhnall was fostered for his training and education at the monastery of St. Caomhan at Kilcavan in the Barony of Gorey, County Wexford.[4] In an effort to distinguish himself from his other brothers, Domhnall assumed the name Caomhánach (an adjective of the name Caomhan, meaning "of Caomhan", in modern English "of Kevin").[5] Contrary to usual Irish practice, the name was adopted by his descendants as an inherited surname.[6]

King of Leinster

After the death of his father Diarmait Mac Murchada (English: Dermot McMurrough) in 1171, Domhnall was proclaimed King of Leinster by some clan chiefs, in line with the traditional Brehon law. Domhnall's legitimacy to the title was widely disputed by the Cambro-Norman invaders who viewed that their leader, Strongbow (Richard de Clare, the 2nd Earl of Pembroke), was the legitimate successor due to his marriage to Domhnall's sister Aoife/Eva and that Domhnall's claim was "illegitimate" under Norman law.[7]

In any case, Diarmait had given Leinster as a dowry with Aoife / Eva on her marriage to Strongbow, and there is no record that Domhnall publicly opposed her endowment at the time of her marriage.

In 1175, it is recorded in the Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland that Domhnall was killed by O'Foirtchern and O'Nolan during the Battle of Naas.[8][9] He is buried near his father Diarmait Mac Murchada in the Cathedral graveyard of Ferns village. After his death, Domhnall was succeeded as King by his grandson Muirchertach, the son of Domhnall Oge Caomhánach.

See also
Preceded by
Diarmait Mac Murchada		 King of Leinster
c.1171–1175		 Succeeded by
Muirchertach mac Domhnall mac Domhnall Caomhánach mac Murchadha

References
  1. Irish Pedigrees: Or, The Origin and Stem of the Irish Nation by John O'Hart, Volume 1. 1892. p. 493.
  2. Hoare, Richard Colt (1863). The historical works of Giraldus Cambrensis containing the Topography of Ireland, and the History of the conquest of Ireland. H.G. Bohn. p. 222. ISBN 9781171630234.
  3. "Directory of Royal Genealogical Data". Hull University.
  4. Annals of Ireland, by the Four Masters by John O'Donovan (New York, N.Y.: AMS Press, 1966) Volume 4 - Page 849 - Footnote "Z".
  5. Royal House of Leinster. "Origin Of The Name Caomhánach". Retrieved 2007-12-19.
  6. Sloinnte Gaedheal is Gall: Irish Names and Surnames by Rev. Patrick Woulfe (1923)
  7. Hoare, Richard Colt (1863). The historical works of Giraldus Cambrensis containing the Topography of Ireland, and the History of the conquest of Ireland. H.G. Bohn. p. 191. ISBN 9781171630234.
  8. Ó Cléirigh, Mícheál (1856). Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland by the Four Masters, from the earliest times to the year 1616, Volume 3. p. 21.
  9. "Kavanagh Pedigree (No.1)". Library Ireland. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
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