O'Rourke Family History - Chart of the O Ruairc Kings of Breifne
Chart of the Ó Ruairc Kings of Bréifne
Kings are noted with the approximate ending year of their reign (in brackets)
Note: Errors are possible. Visitors are welcome to review the sources used.
Fergal (967, Sen Fergal, King of Connacht) Aedh?
__|________________________________________________________________________________ _|_
| | |
Aedh (1014) Art an caileach (1031?) Niall (1000)
__|__________________ _|_ _|_
| | |
Art oirdnidhe (1046, Art uallach, King of Connacht) Donnchadh cael (1084) Tighernán
__|__________________________________________________________________ _|_
| | | |
Aedh (1087, King of Connacht) Donnchad dearg (1039) Niall (1047) Cathal (1059)
__|_ _______________|___________________ _|_
| | | |
Domnall Aedh an Gilla Braite (1066) Ualgarg (1085) Domnall (1078)
_|_ ________________|_______
| | |
Aedh (this line from Rawlinson) Tighernán Domnall
___________________________________________________________________|_ _|_
| |
Domnall (1102, King of Connacht) Donnchad
_|____________________________ _______________________________|________
| | | | |
Fergal (1157) Donnchad Gilla Bruide (1125) Tighernán mór (1172) Aedh (1123?) Niall
_|______________ _|_ _|_ _|_
| | | | |
Amlaíb Domnall (1207) Aedh (1176) Máelsechlann Cathal liath
(1184) _|__ _|_ _|_ _|___________________
| | | | |
Art (1210) Donnchadh óg Aedh (1187) Ualgarg (1231) Domnall mhatail
________|________ _|____ ____________|_ _|_
| | | | | |
Amlaíb (1258) Art bec Cathal riabach (1236) Sitric (1257) Aedh Tighernán na corradh
_|_____________ (1260) _|___________ _|_ _|_
| | | | |
Conchobar Domnall Art (1275) Tighernán (1274) Conchobar (1257)
buidhe (1273) carrach (1311) |__________ _|_
_______________|____________ | |
| | Amlaíb (1307) Domnall (1259)
Ualgarg mór (1346) Flaithbhertach (1352)
__|________________________________________________________________________
| | | |
Aedh bán (1352) Tadhg na gCaor (1376) Gilla Crist (1378) Tighernán mór (1418)
_________________________|_ ______________________________________|_________________________________
| | | | | | |
Art (1424) Lochlann (1458) Tighernán óg Aedh buidhe (1419) Tadhg (1435) Donnchadh Donnchadh
_|_ ____|___ _____________|________ bacagh (1445) losc
| | | | (1468)
Eoghan Donnchadh (1449) Tighernán óg (1468) Domnall (1468)
(O'Rourkes of Cloncorick) | |
Feidhlimidh (1500) Eóghan (1528)
| |
Feidhlimidh (1536) Brian ballach mór (1562)
|
(O'Rourkes of Chartha) Brian na múrtha (1591)
(O'Rourkes of Dromahair)
Notes on the names highlighted in bold:
The earliest portion of the above lineage is reflected in the 12th century Book of Leinster, that is, Ualgarg son of Niall son of Art son of Aedh son of Fergal. The full text suggests that a Tigernan was a son of Donnchad, son of Domnall, son of Ualgarg (above noted). This Tigernan would logically be Tighernán mór, who died in 1172, and this pedigree is also reflected in Francis Byrne's work, Irish Kings and High Kings.
O'Clery's 17th century Book of Genealogies, provides a full lineage from Fergal down to Brian na múrtha as follows:
[m = "son of "]
Briain na murthadh m Briain ballaigh m Eoghain m Tighernain m Taidhg m Tigernain moir m Ualgairg m Domnaill m Amhlaibh m Airt m Domhnaill m Ferghail m Domnaill m Tigernain m Ualghairg m Neill m Aedha m Airt oirdnighe m Aedha m SenFerghail.
Note on O'Clery: O'Clery erroneously adds an extra Aedha to this pedigree (see strikethrough). Earlier in the same tract, O'Clery shows the same Ualgharg m Neill as a grandson of Airt oirdnighe. This error is also corroborated in the late 14th century Book of Ballymote, and in the 15th century An Leabhar Donn.
Notes on the Kings of Connacht:
The four Ua Ruaic kings of Connacht are noted in the Irish Annals; and in "A poem on the Kings of Connacht" (manuscript sources: MS. Rawlinson B 502 [facs. p. 165]; Z Celt Philol 9 (1913) 461--69). In the translated poem the four are cited as:
- Fergal son of Ruarc from the Rige, who seized all the country round through battle-rage. (Note: Fergal was a grandson of Ruarc)
- Art grandson of Ruarc of the royal seat; Art the Fair of the land of Codal. (Note: Art oirdinte, righ Connacht, son of Aedh)
- Aed son of Art, seized on Sart of lasting valour. (Note: Aedh, righ Connacht, son of Art oirdinte)
- Domnall son of Tigernan the Silent. (Note: Domnall, rige Conacht, son of Tigernan son of Ualgarg)
(the additional notes attached to the above kings of Connacht are taken from the genealogies of Ballymote, Leabhar Donn, and O'Clery)
Notes on Linea Antiqua and O'Harts Pedigrees:
Both O'Ferral and O'Hart confuse Tighernan, father of Domnall (the last O'Ruairc to be called king of Connacht), with Tighernan Mor who died in 1172. Tighernan Mor could not have had son who died in 1102 with the title of king of Connacht. Compared with earlier genealogies, O'Ferral and O'Hart also confuse Tadhg (son of Tighernán mór who died in 1418) with Tadhg na gCaor.
For additional detail about the individuals covered in the chart above, refer to a series of articles referenced at the History Index.
Information compiled and interpreted by Dennis Walsh, Copyright 2004, All Rights Reserved
Also see
Ua Ruairc of Breifne --
Lords and Kings of Bréifne --
Descent from Ruarc --
Kings of Connacht
