The Síol Muireadaigh or Síol Muireadhaigh ( lit. ' Seed of Muiredach ' ; Anglicized Sil Murray or Silmurray ), was a leading sept of the Connachta group of Gaelic dynasties in medieval Ireland. The name Síol Muireadaigh was also used to refer to the territory occupied by the group which was centered around the ancient royal site of Cruachan on the plains of Connacht (Mag nAí/Machaire Connacht) in County Roscommon .
7-528: A branch within the royal Uí Briúin ( Uí Briúin Aí ) dynasty, the tribe of Síol Muireadaigh consisted of all the descendants of Muiredach Muillethan , a 7th-century King of Connacht . The term Síol denotes the seed , or descendants , of Muiredach. The major division within the tribe was between the descendants of Muireadhach's two sons, Indrechtach and Cathal (a quo Clann Cathail), who would both go on to become Kings of Connacht. Síol Muireadagh's parent dynasty,
14-675: A reign of 696-702 for Muiredach as king of Connacht succeeding Fergal Aidne mac Artgaile (died 696). Nothing is recorded of his reign however. He was married to Cacht of the Corco Cullu (a minor tribe in Mag nAí), daughter of the slayer of his grandfather Rogallach . He was the ancestor of the Síol Muireadaigh of Connacht and his known sons were Indrechtach mac Muiredaig Muillethan (died 723) and Cathal mac Muiredaig Muillethan (died 735), both future kings of Connacht. This biography of
21-983: The Gaelic High King of Ireland. The family groupings within Clann Cathail shown below are as listed in McFirbis' Leabhar na nGenealach (The Great Book of Irish Genealogies). Clann Cathail was ruled at various times by the O'Morans, O'Mulrenins, and the O'Flanagans, but the line of chiefs became permanent among the O'Flanagans by late medieval times. In addition to the family groupings below McFirbis lists 13 other surnames that he says also belonged to Clann Cathail: O'Mothlachain, O'Dathail, OhUllsa, O'Cloithfhilidh, O'Gusain, O'Fionnagain, O'Laighin, O'Laoghog, O'Tomhrair, O'Caomhoige, O'Breslein, O'Dubhain, and O'Fannain. He lists another sub-tribe in Clann Cathail called Siol Con Bhuidhe (a townland in Kilcorkey Parish called Ballyconboy
28-687: The Uí Fiachrach Aidhne . His uncle Cathal mac Rogallaig is reported as dying in the year 680. The date of his accession to rule over the Uí Briúin is not known but must have been after the death of Cenn Fáelad mac Colgan (died 682) of the Uí Briúin Seóla. The king lists vary in their order of kings in this period. The Laud Synchronisms place his reign after Fergal while the Book of Leinster places his reign much later. The Annals of Tigernach report
35-624: The O'Connor Roe in the 1300s. Septs of the Síol Muireadaigh included Muiredach Muillethan Muiredach Muillethan mac Fergusso (or Muiredach Mag Aí ) (died 702) was a King of Connacht from the Uí Briúin Aí branch of the Uí Briúin . He was the grandson of Rogallach mac Uatach (died 649), a previous king. His sobriquet Muillethan means "broad-crowned". The annals report that his father Fergus (Muirgius) had been killed in 654 by
42-460: The Uí Briúin, held the Kingship of Connacht , with one exception, for over 700 years (696–1474). The vast majority of Uí Briúin kings were members of the Síol Muireadaigh, whose power reached its peak in the 12th century when Toirdhealbhach Mór Ua Conchobhair was recognized as High King of Ireland . Toirdhealbhach's son Ruaidri mac Tairrdelbach Ua Conchobair , would go on to succeed him, becoming last
49-531: Was the land of that group). Other sources refer to O'Maolmordha (O'Moore) and O'Carthaig (O'Carthy) as being sub-chiefs of O'Flanagain. The O'Flanagans had their main seat in Mantua (previously called Mointeach) which is located along the southern borders of Cloonyeffer and Corry East townlands in Shankill Parish. They also had another seat in the townland of Ballyroddy in Shankill Parish. They lost their territory to
#331668