Brian Boru and Tuamgraney

Gerard Madden

Tuamgraney is undoubtedly one of the most important ecclesiastical and historical villages in Ireland. It is mentioned in the Annals no fewer than thirty two times between the years 735 and 1582. Its pagan past is recorded in its townland names, in pillar stones and holy wells. Its monastic past is recorded in the Annals and in the lives of the Saints. St. Cronan’s Church built in the first millennium is still used for worship and is open to the public as the East Clare Heritage Centre1.
In 964, the Chronicum Scotorum, a chronicle of Irish Affairs, from the earliest times to A.D. 1135, gives perhaps the most significant mention regarding its importance. It records the death of  “Cormac ua Cillín, of the Uí Fhiachrach  Aidhne, Coarb of Ciaran and Coman (Coelan), by whom the great church of Tuam Gréine  and its Cloictech were constructed.”

The western portion of this great church with its famous doorway is still extant but unfortunately there is no trace of the Cloictech (Round Tower). It is interesting to note that this is the first mention in the Annals of the building of a Round Tower, though it is now accepted that Round Towers were being built since about 900A.D.

Today we are celebrating Tuamgraney’s association with Brian Boru. His grandfather Lorcan was the first of his tribe to become king of Dál Cais. Their tribe name was Ui Toirdelbaig from an ancestor, Toirdelbaig, who lived about 740. Lorcan died in 932 and there must have been a keen struggle to appoint a successor for the new King was none other than Rebachan the Abbot of Tuamgraney.  He was an eminent ecclesiastic and would hardly have any direct descendents to carry on the claim to royal honours. He died in 934 and was succeeded by Cennédig the son of Lorcan. Cennédig  married Bé Bhionn, daughter of King Murchadh of west Connaught. They had Lachtna, Mahon, Donncuan, Echthighearn, Marcán and Brian.

Brian Boru’s first wife was Mór, daughter of Eiden, of the Fiachrach Aidne, a tribe with a long association with Tuamgraney.  Clerics of the Uí Fiachrach dynasty, an area now comprised in the diocese of Kilmacduagh, supplied eight of the fourteen abbots of Tuam Graney between 752 and 1100. Eiden gave his name to the family of
 O’h-Eidin (Hynes)2. Mór was the mother of three sons, Murchadh, Conchobar and Flann.

Tuamgraney, since earliest times had an honorary association with Clonmacnoise and Holy Island. Cormac Ua Cillín was described in 964 as ‘coarb of Ciaran and Coelan.’
St Coelan is credited with writing a life of St. Bridget of Kildare. This manuscript was preserved until its destruction in the famous monastery of Monte Cassino in Italy.
A holy well traditionally associated with St. Coelan can be seen at the side of the road between Tuamgraney and Bodyke. There is another associated with him at Youghalarra in Tipperary. He is also the patron saint of Nenagh3.

Brian’s brother Marcán was made comarba of Emly in 989. This was the chief church of Munster at the time. Brian’s nephew, Céilechar, son of Donncuan was abbot of Terryglass. When he died in 1008, Brian’s brother Marcán became abbot. He also became abbot of Holy Island and Killaloe. It is impossible not to see the hand of Brian in all these appointments. Marcán died in 1010 and was described in the Annals of the Four Masters as “cenn cléireach Muman”- the chief prelate in Munster.
 
A eulogy of Brian in the 12th century, entitled Cogadh Gaedhal re Gallaibh, (wars of the Gael with the  foreigner), attributed to the Dalcassian poet and historian, MacLiag, states: -‘by him were erected the Church of Killaloe and the Church of Inniscaltra and the bell-tower of Tuamgraney, and many other works in like manner. By him were strengthened every dun and fortress and all the islands and famous round forts of Ireland.’ These events took place about the year 1007 according to Keating’s History of Ireland.It is of course an exaggeration but it shows the regard in which Tuamgraney was held. We know that the Bell Tower or Round Tower was there since before 964 so it must have been repair work that Brian commissioned.
A fragment, believed to be Mac Liag’s life of Brian, preserved in Trinity College states-
 ‘It was Brian that endowed seven monasteries both (in) furniture, cattle and land, and thirty two cloictheachs (round towers) and it was by him the marriage ceremony was confirmed; and it was during his time surnames were first given and territories were (allotted) to the surnames and the boundaries of every lordship and cantred were fixed.’
John O’Donovan has stated that this is more rhetorical than correct as the following list shows the periods at which some of the progenitors of important families flourished and died –
O’Kelly of Ui Maine flourished 874
O’Ruairc of Breffni died 893
O’Cahill of Ui Fiachrach flourished 900
O’Neill of Ulster slain 919
O’Sullivan of Desmond flourished 950
O’Connor of Connaught died 974
O’Donovan slain 976
Mac Egan of Ui Maine flourished 940
O’Madden of Ui Maine flourished 1008

That the marriage ceremony was confirmed, by Brian Boru is of doubtful authenticity in view of his own regard for that institution. We know that Brian’s first wife was Mór, daughter of Eiden, of the Fiachrach Aidne. Her death is not recorded. He married secondly Gormflaith whom he seems to have repudiated but allowed to reside at Kincora. He married thirdly Echrad of the Uí Aeda Odba tribe in Westmeath.  He married fourthly Dubchoblaig a sister of the King of Connaught. She died in 909. Gormflaith co-existed for many years with these latter wives.