Murtagh King facts for kids

Murtagh King (born around 1562 – died around 1639) was an Irish writer and translator. He was known for translating parts of the Bible into the Irish language.

Early Life and Family

Murtagh King came from a family of bards in County Offaly, Ireland. Bards were like poets, storytellers, and historians all in one. His family, the Ó Cionga, were skilled writers. They often wrote poems, copied important texts, and even helped create legal papers for local leaders like the Fox and Mageoghegan families.

Murtagh King first appeared in records in the 1590s. He was known as "Murtagh O Kinge" or "Murtho O King." Later, in the 1610s, he worked for Lord Lambert, managing his lands near Athlone. Around 1620, he received some land himself in his home area. His nephew, Paul King, also became a priest.

Working with William Bedell

In 1627, Murtagh King started working for William Bedell. Bedell later became the Bishop of Kilmore. King's job was to teach Irish to Bedell and students at Trinity College, Dublin.

Under Bedell's guidance, Murtagh King joined the Church of Ireland. He became a priest on September 23, 1633. This job helped him earn money while he worked on a very important project: translating the Old Testament and other religious texts into Irish. He was chosen because he was a master of the Irish language.

The translation of the Old Testament was finally published in 1685. It was a big achievement, making the Bible available in Irish for many people.

Questions About His Faith

Towards the end of his life, some people questioned Murtagh King's commitment to the Church of Ireland. He was accused of not always following the church's rules. For example, some said he might still be attending Catholic services with his family. There were also questions about how he performed some church ceremonies.

People claimed he was not always clear when reading the Bible. They also said he sometimes let his assistant, who was not a priest, perform duties that only a priest should do.

However, Bishop Bedell strongly defended Murtagh King. Bedell believed King was a very skilled Irish scholar. He worried that attacks on King would make people think less of the important Bible translation. In a letter from December 1638, Bedell wrote that King was a much more capable person than others claimed. He said King had few equals as an Irish scholar in the whole country. Bedell felt that someone who translated God's Word into Irish deserved better treatment.

Murtagh King passed away shortly after these events. He was survived by his wife, Margery, and their children.