Máel Muire ingen Amlaíb facts for kids

Máel Muire (died 1021) was an important figure in early Irish history. She was known as the Queen of Ireland, a title that was even mentioned in old records like the Annals of Clonmacnoise.

Máel Muire was married to Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill, who was the High King of Ireland. A High King was like the most powerful ruler over all the smaller kingdoms in Ireland at that time.

Máel Muire's father was Amlaíb Cuarán, who was the King of Dublin and had also been the King of York in England. This meant Máel Muire was part of the Uí Ímair family, a powerful group with both Norse (Viking) and Irish roots. She was actually the first Queen of Ireland known to have a family background that wasn't purely Gaelic (Irish).

Her family was quite famous! One of her brothers was Sitric Silkbeard, who was also a well-known King of Dublin. Her sister, Gytha, was married to Olaf Tryggvason, who was the King of Norway.

Máel Muire's Life as Queen

Máel Sechnaill had been married before. His earlier wife, and possibly Máel Muire's own mother, was Gormflaith ingen Murchada. Gormflaith later married Brian Bóruma around the year 999. It's not clear exactly when Máel Muire became Máel Sechnaill's queen.

Brian Bóruma became the High King in 1002, taking the title from Máel Sechnaill. It's possible that Máel Muire was already queen when this happened. She became queen again after Brian Bóruma died in the famous Battle of Clontarf in 1014. This means she might have been queen twice, following in the footsteps of her possible mother, Gormflaith.

During the times when she wasn't the Queen of Ireland, she was known by other important titles. She was called the Queen of Mide and also the Queen of Tara. The Hill of Tara was a very important place in ancient Ireland, often linked to kingship.