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King Muircheartach na Cochall Craicenna MacGabran, "of the Leather Cloaks"

King Muircheartach na Cochall Craicenna MacGabran, "of the Leather Cloaks"

Male 911 - 943  (32 years)    Has more than 100 ancestors and 84 descendants in this family tree.

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  • Name Muircheartach na Cochall Craicenna MacGabran 
    Prefix King 
    Suffix "of the Leather Cloaks" 
    Birth 911 
    Gender Male 
    Death 26 Feb 943  Ardee Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I32072  Geneagraphie
    Last Modified 13 Sep 2002 

    Father King Niall Glundubh MacGabran, "Black-Knee",   b. 870   d. 15 Sep 919, Rathfarnham, Dublin, Leinster, Éire Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 49 years) 
    Mother Gormlaith   d. 946 
    Marriage 910 
    Family ID F13320  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Lann   d. 938 
    Children 
    +1. King Domnall Ardmacha of Armagh o' Neill   d. 980, Co. Armagh, Éire Find all individuals with events at this location
    +2. Donnflaith   d. Yes, date unknown
    Family ID F58647  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 29 Aug 2000 

  • Notes 
    • King of Ailech 938-943, Royal Heir of Ireland, "the Hector of the west of the world", one of the greatest Irish commanders, generous to his enemies, often defeated the Danes or Norsemen and overran their territory around Dublin; slew his rebellious tributary Goach, local king of Keenaght, 927; was surprised in his own stone fortress of Ailech by the Norse, and carried prisoner to their ships on Lough Swilly, but escaped, 939; fitted out his own fleet, and pursued them to their Hebridean Islands, which he plundered, 941; made his famous Circuit of Ireland in midwinter with a picked force of the Cenel Eoghain equipped with leather cloaks, carrying off the local King in chains, feasting them splendidly at Ailech and sending them as hostages to his father-in-law the High King, 941; his bard commemorated this expedition with a celebrated poem, 942; had long yellow hair; and was killed in battle at Ardee against Blacar, King of Dublin,

      slain by Blacaire, lord of the Danes, 26 Mar 941 [recte 26 Feb 943].

      Not to be confused with his brother Muriartach na-Cochal, Prince of Ulster, who left no issue.

      This Muircheartach (Murkertagh or Murtagh), the northern chieftain who was the "Roydamna" or heir apparent to the throne, as being the son of Niall Gludubh, had conducted a fleet to the Hebrides, whence he returned flushed with victory. He assembled a body of troops of special valor, and, at the head of a thousand heroes, commenced his "circuit of Ireland:" the Danish chief, Sitric, was first seized as a hostage; next Lorcan, King of Leinster; next the Munster King, Callaghan of Cashel (who then had leagued with the Danes, and in conjunction with them invaded Meath and Ossory, AD 937), "and a fetter was put on him by Murkertagh." He afterwards proceeded to Connaught, where Connor, son of Teige, came to meet him, "but gave no gyve or lock was put upon him." He then returned to Aileach, carrying these Kings with him as hostages; where, for five months, he feasted them with knightly courtesy, and then sent them to the Monarch Donoch, in Meath. Murkertagh's valor and prowess procured for him the title of -- "The Hector of the west of Europe;" in two years after his justly famous exploit he was, however, slain by "Blacaire, son of Godfrey, lord of the foreigners," on 26 Mar 941; and "Ardmacha (Armagh) was plundered by the same foreigners, on the day after the killing of Murkertagh." -- Miss Cusack.



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