Domnall mac Murchada facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Domnall mac Murchada
King of Leinster; King of Dublin
Domnall's name as it appears on folio 43v of Oxford Bodleian Library Rawlinson B 489 (the Annals of Ulster).
King of Leinster (nominal)
Reign	1072–1075
Predecessor	Diarmait mac Máel na mBó
Successor	Donnchad mac Domnaill Remair
King of Dublin
Reign	1075
Predecessor	Gofraid mac Amlaíb meic Ragnaill
Successor	Muirchertach Ua Briain
Died	1075
House	Meic Murchada (Uí Chennselaig)
Father	Murchad mac Diarmata

Domnall mac Murchada (died 1075) was an important Irish leader in the late 1000s. He was a claimant to the Kingdom of Leinster and also a King of Dublin.

Domnall was the son of Murchad mac Diarmata, who was King of Dublin and the Isles. His grandfather was Diarmait mac Máel na mBó, a powerful King of Leinster. This meant Domnall was part of the Uí Chennselaig family, a very important group in Ireland. Domnall was also the first of the Meic Murchada, a new branch of his family named after his father.

In 1071, Domnall and another family member, Donnchad mac Domnaill Remair, fought for control of Leinster. Even though some old records call Domnall "King of Leinster," it seems Donnchad was stronger. Domnall's title as King of Leinster was likely just in name.

Domnall became King of Dublin in 1075. This happened after the previous king, Gofraid mac Amlaíb meic Ragnaill, was removed by Toirdelbach Ua Briain, the King of Munster. It's not clear how Domnall became king. He might have worked with Gofraid against Toirdelbach, or Toirdelbach might have put him in charge. Sadly, Domnall died that same year. After his death, Toirdelbach made his own son, Muirchertach, the new King of Dublin.

Domnall's Family and Background

Locations relating to Domnall's life and times.

Domnall was the son of Murchad mac Diarmata, who was a King of Dublin and the Isles. Murchad's father was Diarmait mac Máel na mBó, a very powerful King of Leinster. This means Domnall was part of the important Uí Chennselaig family. He was also the first of the Meic Murchada, a new family branch named after his father. Domnall had two brothers: Donnchad, who later became King of Leinster, and Énna.

In 1052, Domnall's grandfather, Diarmait, took control of the Kingdom of Dublin. He then made Domnall's father, Murchad, the King of Dublin. About ten years later, Murchad also became King of the Isles, including the Isle of Man. Diarmait's strong rule over Dublin lasted for twenty years. This was a big achievement for an Irish king.

However, in 1070, two of Diarmait's sons, Murchad (Domnall's father) and Glún Iairn, died unexpectedly. Diarmait himself died in battle two years later, in 1072.

Struggles for Leinster

After Diarmait's sons died, and even before Diarmait himself passed away, the Uí Chennselaig family began to fight among themselves. This struggle was likely because of the sudden deaths of Diarmait's sons.

Old Irish records, like the Annals of the Four Masters and the Annals of Inisfallen, tell us that Domnall fought against his cousin, Donnchad mac Domnaill Remair. Their fighting was for control of the Kingdom of Leinster. Eventually, Diarmait's ally, Toirdelbach Ua Briain, the King of Munster, stepped in to stop the fighting and bring peace to Leinster.

When Diarmait died, he left a power gap in southern Ireland. Toirdelbach Ua Briain quickly took advantage of this. He wanted to become the High-King of Ireland. To do this, he needed to control Leinster. The family fighting among the Uí Chennselaig made it easier for Toirdelbach to take over Leinster. He also took control of Dublin. Taking over coastal kingdoms like Dublin was very important for anyone trying to become High-King.

Toirdelbach later captured Donnchad in Dublin. This suggests that Donnchad was a very important leader of the Uí Chennselaig family. It also shows that Donnchad might have been trying to make Dublin the main city of Leinster.

The Book of Leinster, an old book from the 1100s, says that Domnall became King of Leinster after his grandfather. However, it seems Donnchad was the more powerful leader. Another part of the same book, which lists the kings of Uí Chennselaig, doesn't even mention Domnall. It says Donnchad was the one who became King of Uí Chennselaig after Diarmait. So, Domnall might have been called King of Leinster, but he probably didn't have much real power.

Some records say that the people of Dublin offered their kingship to Toirdelbach. This might have been a way for them to avoid being ruled by a nearby Leinster king. Within a year, Gofraid mac Amlaíb meic Ragnaill became King of Dublin. He was related to an earlier king, and Toirdelbach might have put him in charge.

Becoming King of Dublin

Excerpt from Trinity College Dublin 1339, page 39 (the Book of Leinster) concerning Domnall and Donnchad, and the succession of the kingship of Leinster. Despite Domnall's inclusion here, it is uncertain how much authority he had in Leinster.

In 1075, Toirdelbach removed Gofraid from the kingship of Dublin and forced him out of Ireland. We don't know exactly why Gofraid was removed or how Domnall became king.

One idea is that Gofraid was helping Anglo-Danish groups fight against the Normans in England. If this is true, Gofraid might have been against Toirdelbach, who seemed to have good relations with the Normans. In this case, Domnall might have become king with Toirdelbach's approval. Toirdelbach might have used Domnall and his cousin in Leinster to keep the Uí Chennselaig family divided. Domnall's cooperation would have been helpful to Toirdelbach. This is because Domnall's father was important in Dublin, and Domnall himself likely lived there for much of his life.

Another idea is that Gofraid was removed because he sided with the Leinster people against Toirdelbach's family. If this happened, it's possible that even though Gofraid couldn't continue the fight, his allies from the Uí Chennselaig family managed to take Dublin from Toirdelbach's control.

No matter how Domnall became king, his rule in Dublin was very short. Old records like the Annals of Inisfallen, the Annals of the Four Masters, and the Annals of Ulster all say that Domnall died within the same year after a short illness. The last two sources say he was sick for only three nights. The Annals of Inisfallen and the Annals of Ulster call him King of Dublin. They don't mention him being connected to the Leinster kingship.

After Domnall died, Toirdelbach made his own son, Muirchertach, the King of Dublin. By doing this, Toirdelbach made his power in Dublin even stronger. He was following a pattern set by Domnall's grandfather: a powerful king trying to become High-King would put his own heir in charge of Dublin.

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  Domnall's name as it appears on folio 43v of Oxford Bodleian Library Rawlinson B 489 (the Annals of Ulster).