Murchad mac Diarmata

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For the Clann Cholmáin king of Uisnech, see Murchad Midi.

Murchad mac Diarmata (died 1070) was a King of Leinster and Dublin, a son of Diarmait mac Maíl na mBó (died 1072). He was a member of Leinster's Uí Cheinnselaig dynasty who had only recently wrested the kingship from the Uí Dúnlainge. The last Ui Cheinnselaigh king of Leinster was Áed mac Colggen who died in 798, but Murchad's last direct ancestor to reign as king was Crimthann mac Enna Cennsalagh who died in 483.

Murchad was survived by his father Diarmait mac Maíl na mBó (died 1072). He was succeeded as King of Leinster by his son Domnall mac Murchada (died 1075), his brother Enna (died 1092) and Enna's son Diarmait (died 1098).

The family of MacMurrough or MacMurrough-Cavanagh take their name from him. His grandson, Diarmait MacMurrough was King of Leinster 1126–1171.

Regnal titles
Preceded by
Echmarcach mac Ragnaill		 King of Dublin
1052–1070		 Succeeded by
Diarmait mac Maíl na mBó
Preceded by
Echmarcach mac Ragnaill		 King of Mann and the Isles
1061-1070		 Succeeded by
Fingal Gofredson

[edit] Murchad's death in the Annals of the Four Masters

Murchadh, son of Diarmaid, son of Mael-na-mbo, lord of the foreigners and of Leinster, under his father, died at Ath-cliath, precisely on Sunday, the festival of Mary, in winter. It was in lamentation of him the poet composed these quatrains:

There is grief for a chief king at Ath Cliath,
Which will not be exceeded till the terrible Judgment Day;
Empty is the fortress without the descendant of Duach,
Quickly was the vigour of its heroes cut down.
Sorrowful every party in the fortress
For their chief, against whom no army prevailed;
Since the body of the king was hidden from all,
Every evil has showered ever constant.
For Murchadh, son of Diarmaid the impetuous,
Many a fervent prayer is offered;
In sorrow for the death of the chief is every host
That was wont to defeat in the battle,
Great the sorrow that he was not everlasting;
Pity that death hath attacked him.
Too early it was that he removed from him his complexion,
That he removed one like him from his body.
Liberal of wealth was the grandson of Mael-na-mbo;
He bestowed horses, and he distributed cows,
For the sake of his going to God.
Who is it to whom 'tis best to give fleeting wealth?

[edit] Sources