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Birth:           942 Kincora, Munster, Ireland
Death:          23 Apr 1014 Battle of Clontarf, Dublin, Ireland
Cause of Death: killed in battle

Notes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diarmait_Mac_Murchada
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Boru
Brian Boru (c. 941 – 23 April 1014, Old Irish: Brian Bóruma mac Cennétig; Middle Irish: 
Brian Bóruma; modern Irish: Brian Bóramha) was an Irish king who ended the 
domination of the High Kingship of Ireland by the Uí Néill. Building on the 
achievements of his father, Cennétig mac Lorcain, and especially his elder brother, 
Mathgamain, Brian first made himself King of Munster, then subjugated Leinster, 
eventually becoming King of Ireland. He was the founder of the O'Brien dynasty.

With a population of under 500,000 people, Ireland had over 150 kings, with greater 
or lesser domains.[1] The Uí Néill king Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill, abandoned by 
his northern kinsmen of the Cenél nEógain and Cenél Conaill, acknowledged Brian as 
High King at Athlone in 1002. In the decade that followed, Brian campaigned against 
the northern Uí Néill, who refused to accept his claims, against Leinster, where 
resistance was frequent, and against the Norse-Gaelic Kingdom of Dublin.

Brian's hard-won authority was seriously challenged in 1013 when his ally Máel 
Sechnaill was attacked by the Cenél nEógain king Flaithbertach Ua Néill, with the 
Ulstermen as his allies. This was followed by further attacks on Máel Sechnaill by the 
Dubliners under their king Sihtric Silkbeard and the Leinstermen led by Máel Mórda 
mac Murchada. Brian campaigned against these enemies in 1013. In 1014, Brian's 
armies confronted the armies of Leinster and Dublin, with Norsemen fighting on both 
sides, at Clontarf near Dublin on Good Friday. The resulting Battle of Clontarf was a 
bloody affair, with Brian, his son Murchad, and Máel Mórda among those killed. The 
list of the noble dead in the Annals of Ulster includes Irish kings, Norse Gaels, 
Scotsmen, and Scandinavians.

The immediate beneficiary of the slaughter was Máel Sechnaill, who resumed his 
interrupted reign. The Norse-Gaels and Scandinavians also produced works 
mentioning Brian, including Njal's Saga, the Orkneyinga Saga, and the now-lost 
Brian's Saga. Brian's war against Máel Mórda and Sihtric was to be inextricably 
connected with his complicated marital relations, in particular his marriage to 
Gormlaith, Máel Mórda's sister and Sihtric's mother, who had been in turn the wife of 
Amlaíb Cuarán, king of Dublin and York, then of Máel Sechnaill, and finally of Brian.
Many Irish annals state that Brian was in his 88th year when he fell in the Battle of 
Clontarf in 1014. If true, this would mean that he was born as early as 926 or 927.[2] 
Other birth dates given in retrospect are 923 or 942.[2]

He was one of the 12 sons of Cennétig mac Lorcáin (d. 951), king of Dál gCais and 
king of Tuadmumu (Thomond), modern County Clare, then a sub-kingdom in the north 
of Munster. Cennétig was described as rígdamna Caisil, meaning that he was either 
heir or candidate ("king material") to the kingship of Cashel or Munster,[3] although 
this might be a later interpolation. Brian's mother was Bé Binn inion Urchadh, daughter 
of Urchadh mac Murchadh (d. 945), king of Maigh Seóla in west Connacht.[2][3] That 
they belonged to the Uí Briúin Seóla may explain why he received the name Brian, 
which was rare among the Dál gCais.[3]

Brian was born at Kincora, Killaloe, a town in the region of Tuadmumu.[3] Brian's 
posthumous cognomen "Bóruma" (anglicised as Boru) may have referred to "Béal 
Bóruma", a fort north of Killaloe, where the Dál gCais held sway.[2][3][4] Another 
explanation, though possibly a late (re-)interpretation, is that the nickname 
represented Old Irish bóruma "of the cattle tribute", referring to his capacity as a 
powerful overlord.[2]

When their father died, the kingship of Tuadmumu passed to Brian's older brother, 
Mathgamain, and, when Mathgamain was killed in 976, Brian replaced him. 
Subsequently, he became the king of the entire kingdom of Munster.[5]
Wives and children[edit]

Brian's first wife was Mór, daughter of the King of Uí Fiachrach Aidne of Connacht. 
She is said to have been the mother of his sons Murchad, Conchobar and Flann. Later 
genealogies claimed that these sons left no descendants, although in fact Murchad's 
son Tadc is recorded as being killed at Clontarf along with his father and grandfather.
[14]

Another wife, Echrad, was a daughter of Carlus mac Ailella, King of Uí Áeda Odba, an 
obscure branch of the southern Uí Néill. She was the mother of Brian's son Tadc, 
whose son Toirdelbach and grandson Muirchertach rivalled Brian in power and fame.
[15]

Brian's most famous marriage was with Gormflaith, sister of Máel Mórda of Leinster. 
Donnchad, who had his half-brother Tadc killed in 1023 and ruled Munster for 40 
years thereafter, was the result of this union.[16]

Brian had a sixth son, Domnall. Although he predeceased his father, Domnall 
apparently had at least one surviving child, a son whose name is not recorded. 
Domnall may perhaps have been the son of Brian's fourth known wife, Dub Choblaig, 
who died in 1009. She was a daughter of King Cathal mac Conchobar mac Taidg of 
Connacht.[17]

Brian had at least three daughters, but their mothers are not recorded. Sadb, whose 
death in 1048 is recorded by the Annals of Innisfallen, was married to Cian, son of 
Máel Muad mac Brain. Bé Binn was married to the northern Uí Néill king Flaithbertach 
Ua Néill. A third daughter, Sláine, was married to Brian's stepson Sihtric of Dublin.[18]

According to Njal's Saga, he had a foster-son named Kerthialfad.[19]

Family heritage[edit]

The descendants of Brian were known as the Uí Briain (O'Brien) clan, hence the 
surnames Ó Briain, O'Brien, O'Brian etc. "O" was originally Ó which in turn came from 
Ua, which means "grandson", or "descendant" (of a named person). The prefix is 
often anglicised to O', using an apostrophe instead of the Irish síneadh fada: "´". The 
O'Briens subsequently ranked as one of the chief dynastic families of the country (see 
Chiefs of the Name).

Brian's third great-granddaughter was Gwenllian ferch Gruffydd (c. 1097 – 1136), 
Princess consort of Deheubarth in Wales, leader of the "patriotic revolt" and battle 
that contributed to the Great Revolt of 1136.

Cultural heritage[edit]

Literature

The play Brian (1888) by Irish-American composer and dramatist Paul McSwiney 
depicts Brian Boru's life-story.

In the 1949 novel Silverlock by John Myers Myers, the death of Brian Boru is 
described from the main character's viewpoint.

Morgan Llywelyn has written a novelization of Brian's life called Lion of Ireland (1980). 
The sequel, Pride of Lions (1996), tells the story of his sons, Donough and Teigue, as 
they vie for his crown.

Donal O'Neill's Sons of Death (1988), a historical novel about Brian Boru, is told from 
the point of view of MelPatrick, a young nobleman at Brian's court. It uses the 
fictional device of the long-lost Brjánssaga as its source. It is the third in a series 
based on Irish history, beginning c. 800 BC (vol. 1, Crucible; vol. 2 Of Gods and Men).

Edward Rutherfurd affords Brian Boru a chapter in his historical fiction The Princes of 
Ireland: The Dublin Saga (2004). His version supports the contention that Brian died 
while praying in his tent.

The story of Brian Boru's final battle and death is told in Frank Delaney's novel Ireland 
(2005).

The second volume of Brian Wood's Vertigo graphic novel series Northlanders (2007–
2012) is set against a backdrop of Viking "occupation" of Ireland, including the Battle 
of Clontarf.

Music
 
Brian Boru's March

His name is remembered in the title of one of the oldest tunes in Ireland's traditional 
repertoire: "Brian Boru's March". It is still widely played by traditional Irish musicians.

He was the subject of at least two operas: Brian Boroihme (1810) by Johann Bernhard 
Logier (1777–1846) and Brian Boru (1896) by Julian Edwards (1855–1910).

His burial in St Patrick's Cathedral is referenced in the song "Boys from the County 
Armagh" by Thomas P. Keenan (1866–1927).

Film/TV

In the Disney film Darby O'Gill and the Little People (1959), King Brian Conners of the 
Leprechauns shows Darby the sword Brian Boru used to drive out the Danes (Vikings).

The character of Miles O'Brien in the science fiction television show Star Trek: Deep 
Space Nine (1993–1999) says that he is a direct descendant of Brian Boru in the 4th-
season episode "Bar Association".

In an episode of the TV series Relic Hunter (1999–2002) a search is made for the 
missing crown of "the last king of Ireland", Brian Boru.

Sports

Top class racehorse Brian Boru was named in honour of the high king. The horse won 
two Group 1 races, the Racing Post Trophy as a two-year old and the St Leger as a 
three-year old.

Many Gaelic Athletic Association clubs have been named after Brian Boru.

Professional wrestler Sheamus has referenced Brian several times while cutting 
promos as part of his character, King Sheamus.

Other

The exhumation of Brian Boru's remains were the subject of a 'learned' article on 1 
April 2014 - a well-constructed April Fools' Day hoax.[20]
http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=jweber&id=I13901
Note: The O'Briens, one of the few native Irish families with a peerage, descend in the 
male line from Brian Boroimhe, Prince of Thomond (North Munster or the north part of 
southwest Ireland, roughly commensurate with an area centered on modern Co. Clare) 
and Chief of the Dalgais, who became High King of Ireland 1002 and was killed at the 
victory over the Danes of Clontarf 23 April 1014. [Burke's' Peerage, p. 1495]

Parents
MAC LORCAIN Cennetig ( -  951)
URCHADH Be Binn Inion ()

Siblings
BORU [BOROIMHE] Brian ( 942 - 23 Apr 1014)

Marriage To UI AEDA ODBA Eachraidh (ABT  947 - ABT  980)
    m.  

Notes

Parents
UI AEDA ODBA Charllus (ABT  910 - )
----- ----- ()

Children by UI AEDA ODBA Eachraidh ABT  947 - ABT  980
MCBRIAN Blanaid (ABT  968 - )
MAC BRIAN Tadhg (Tadc) (Tadg) (Teige) (ABT  970 - 1023)
BORU Slani (Slaine) (ABT  980 - )

Marriage To MURCHADA Gormflaith (ABT  950 - 1030)
    m.  

Notes

Parents
MAC FINN Murchad (ABT  915 -  972)
NA CONNACHT ----- (ABT  930 - )

Children by MURCHADA Gormflaith ABT  950 - 1030
OF LEINSTER Donnchad (ABT  985 - 1064)

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