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Kings of Uí Failghe / Offaly (Gaels of Ireland)
This Gaelic kingdom apparently formed from tribal origins in
Ireland's midlands region.
Ireland was never politically united enough to translate its religious
and cultural influence into political power, so its rival kingdoms waxed
and waned both in terms of power and territory. Uí Failghe was never more
than a minor territory, initially of
Laigin, and then a minor
kingdom in its own right. Even so, it does seem to have maintained an air
of relative independence, fighting off attempts at dominance by the Eóganachta
of Munster to the south, while
also repelling attempts at conquest by the Uí Neill kings of
Mide to the immediate north.
The kingdom's traditional capital was Rathangan in the modern County Kildare,
which translates from the Gaelic original as the 'fort of Iomghain'. It was
founded between AD 600-700, during the kingdom's early historical period.
Today the rath sits a little to the north-west of the modern town of
the same name. Iomgain means 'wonder, vulnerator'. There may have been several
people of that name in ancient Ireland, but the relationship between the name
and the Uí Failghe kings is uncertain.
The name Uí Failghe was gradually Anglicised (or mangled) as Offaly by the
Anglo-Norman
elite who assumed control large areas of eastern Ireland from the twelfth century
onwards. The 'f' would have been a 'v' in prehistory and before that a 'w'
sound (the
Roman 'v')
in common Celtic.
The '-ghe' suffix is less clear, possibly a form of '-ig' and/or '-/ic'? If the
latter, then Wallic (equivalent to 'Welsh', 'Gallish') may be the name's oldest
form. Today the kingdom's ancient borders are partially mirrored in the modern
County Offaly, but the kingdom itself was about four times the size of the
county.
(Information by Peter Kessler and Edward Dawson, with additional information
by Laurence Fullam, from An Etymological Dictionary of the Gaelic Language,
Alexander MacBain (1982), from Ireland Before the Vikings, Gearoid Mac
Niocaill (1972), from A New History of Ireland, Volume IX, T W Moody,
F X Martin, & F J Byrne (Eds, Oxford University Press, 1984), and from
External Links:
English-Old Gaelic Dictionary, and
History of the Catholic Church, and the
Book of Leinster, and
St
Piran Trust, and
Bunscoil Bhríde.) |
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c.113 - 116? |
Rus
Failge, son of the high king of
Ireland,
Cathair Mór, may be associated with the founding of a tribal kingdom of Uí
Failghe, although this is far from certain. Only the name serves as a
connection, while the first historically-known king (or at least,
semi-historically-known), Failge Berraide, is a rather mysterious figure.
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Shown here are the remains of the fort of Iomghain - early
capital of the Uí Failghe - which lies just north-west of
the modern town of Rathangan, which itself is a mangling of
the ancient name
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The Book of Leinster names one Failge Rot mac Cathair as an early
king here, which is close enough to Rus Failge and his father's name to
provide a possible link. The early Irish poem, Timna Cathaír Máir
(The Testament of Cathair Mór) says that Rus Failge is granted the
kingdom in succession to his father, so the assumption has to be that
Cathair Mór holds the kingship of Uí Failghe, and his son succeeds him.
This would seem to establish an early tribal kingdom towards the end of
Ireland's legendary period (the apparent misalignment of dates is not a
serious concern as those of the legendary period can be very flexible
if need be). |
fl 116 |
Rus Failge |
Legendary son of
High King
Cathair Mór. Failge Berraide? |
c.116 - 136? |
Events
late in Ireland's
legendary period involve the territory of the Uí Failghe, although no
actual kings of the Uí Failghe are mentioned. This makes it highly likely
that, if a tribal kingdom does not already exist, the events are being
written down much later and are using contemporary names to describe
past or legendary events. Following his seizure of
Munster and expelling the
previous kings, Mug Neit attacks High King Conn Cétchathach (from AD 116).
The high king defeats him in two battles in the territory of the Uí Failghe
(partially within the modern County Offaly and its immediate surrounding
territory) and he is killed. The former kings of Munster are restored to
their position. |
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5th century? |
The Laigin interest
in Tara, the seat of the high kings of
Ireland, probably
becomes a thing of the past when the Southern Uí Neill clan (whose northern
kin are beginning to advance on the borders of
Ulaid) take over the
area known as Brega in which Tara lies, probably in this century. In doing
this they apparently push back the old Leinster descent-named tribe known
as the Laigin to the area south of the River Liffey, and separate them from
their kin the Uí Failghe.
The leader of this advance seems to be Coirpre mac Néill, claimed as high
king during the late middle fifth century and son of one of the most famous
high kings, Niall Noígillach of the Nine Hostages. The heart of this new
territory eventually becomes known as
Mide, although it is
not a single kingdom. In fact, it seems to operate on the same basis as
Ireland as a whole, with various local minor kingdoms and an acknowledged
(or otherwise) high king at Tara. Immediately to the west of this advance,
the Uí Failghe may already feel threatened. |
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fl 507 - 514 |
Failge Berraide |
First king known to history. Possibly a dynasty founder. |
507 - 514 |
Failge
Berraide opposes Fiachu mac Néill, son of Niall Noígillach of the
Northern Uí Neill
and king of Uisnech in
Mide.
Fiachu is defeated by Failge at the Battle of Frémainn (Frewin Hill, near
Mullingar in the modern County Westmeath). This could be seen as a first
advance towards Uí Failghe territory by the Uí Neill of Uisnech, and the
rebuff only encourages another attack. Fiachu had apparently received a
prophecy that he would win this battle and in 514 he determines to fulfil
the prophecy by defeating Failge at the Battle of Druim Derg. This gains
him the plain of Mide from the
Laigin, as well
as the territory between Birr and Uisnech in County Westmeath. |
early 6th cent AD |
St Piran is the patron saint of tin-miners, and is generally regarded as the
national saint of
Cornwall.
While the saint's origins are open to debate, it is generally accepted that
he is St Ciarán of Saigir who had been born and raised on the island of Cape
Clear off County Cork in
Ireland. His
parents are Lughaidh and Liedania (father and mother respectively). After
studying scriptures in
Rome, he
returns to Ireland to be made bishop at his monastic settlement of Saighir
Kieran in the territory of the Uí Failghe. There is no reference to his
death but St Piran is best known for landing on Perran Beach in Cornwall
in the early sixth century and building the tiny St Piran's Oratory on
Penhale Sands near Perranporth.
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The 2014 project to unveil the 1500 year-old St Piran's Oratory
in Cornwall included long-term conservation work and a plan to
ensure that the remains would be displayed to the public,
although the work is ongoing
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579 |
No
further mention is made of Failge Berraide, and the fate of the Uí Failghe
following their defeat of 514 is unknown. Given the potential scale of the
defeat, the tribe or kingdom could be dominated from
Uisnech
for much of the century before establishing (or having appointed for them) a
line of minor native kings. The list of these early kings between the sixth
and ninth centuries records their dates of death alone - no reignal dates
are included. A date of death is normally a good indication of the end of
a reign, although this is not always the case. |
? - 579 |
Bruidge mac Nath Í |
Grandson of Failge Berraide. |
579 |
The first of the established line of kings is Bruidge mac Nath Í (shown
inaccurately in the Book of Leinster as Bruigdi mac Cathair). How he
comes to be king is unknown, as is the question of whether the
Uisnech
kings have dominated here until now, and whether they continue to dominate.
All that is known is that Bruidge dies in this year (so say the Annals of
Ulster), possibly in battle against the Uí Neill. His son, Cathal mac
Bruidgi, is not mentioned in the king list, so perhaps he is also dead. |
? - 604 |
Áed Rón mac Cathail |
Grandson. Son of Cathal mac Bruidgi. |
604 |
Possibly it is Uí Failghe's recent history with the kings of
Uisnech that informs
the king's choice. During the feud amongst the Southern Uí Neill, Áed Rón
mac Cathail sides with the Síl nÁedo Sláine branch in their fight against
the Clann Cholmáin. Unfortunately he his slain along with Aed Sláine, king
of Uisnech, whilst opposing Conall Guthbinn (who dies in 635) and the
Clann Cholmáin. |
? - 639 |
Ailill mac Áedo Róin |
Son. |
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Conaing |
Relationship unknown. Not shown in genealogies. |
fl c.639? |
Conaing is known only by his name. The genealogies in the Book of
Leinster show Ailill mac Áedo Róin being succeeded by Cillíne mac
Forannáin, but the genealogies contain a poem which mentions the royal
fort of Rathangan (in the modern County Kildare) and also places Conaing
as king between these other two kings. There is no hint of who he may be,
so two relatively safe conclusions could be drawn: that he is a usurper who
has ended one line of kings and is replaced by a junior branch of kings in
the form of Cillíne, great-grandson of Máel Uma; or that he is an unpopular
or illegitimate son of Ailill who is removed from the throne and excised
from official king lists. |
? - 652 |
Cillíne mac Forannáin |
Great-grandson of Máel Uma, brother of Áed Róin.
Killed. |
652 |
Internal strife hits the Uí Failghe. Cillíne mac Forannáin is killed at the
Battle of Cúil Corra. Again an otherwise unknown king succeeds him, one Máel
Dúin (according to the Annals of Ulster). His reign may be short,
which marks him as a potential opportunist who has no legitimate claim to
power, and he is eventually replaced by Fland Dá Chongal (who himself is not
mentioned in the annals but is mentioned in genealogies).
Fland's position in the list is somewhat speculative, but is the best fit
given the subsequent reigns of his many sons. Together they form the Uí
Flaind. In addition, with the mother of a couple of those sons being Érenach,
daughter of Murchad Midi, king of
Uisnech from 689, it is
possible that their dominance heralds a scaling back of the traditional
enmity against the Southern Uí Neill. |
652 - ? |
Máel Dúin |
Relationship unknown. Not shown in genealogies. |
697? - 711? |
Fland Dá Chongal / Flann Ua Congaile |
Nephew of Cillíne mac Forannáin. Reigned 14 years. |
711? - 714? |
Forbassach Ua Congaile |
Reigned for 3 years (Book of Leinster). Died 714. |
? - 741 |
Ailill Corrach mac Flainn |
Son of Fland Dá Chongal. First of many Uí Flaind kings.
Killed. |
738 |
The Battle of Áth Senaig takes place, with the men of
Laigin being crushed
by the high king of Ireland,
Áed Allán. As Laigin men themselves, the warriors of Uí Failghe naturally
fight on the side of their eastern kin. Unfortunately four of the many
sons of Fland Dá Chongal are killed during the disastrous outcome.
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This modern illustration shows typical Irish warriors between
the seventh and tenth centuries AD, with the average foot
soldier wearing little (centre), while kings and sub-kings (the
next figure to the right) looked very lordly in their Gaelic
finery, and mounted warriors from the ninth and tenth centuries
were influenced by their Viking enemies, wearing more clothing
than had their ancestors
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? - 755 |
Flaithnia mac Flainn |
Half-brother. |
? - 757 |
Cummascach mac Flainn |
Half-brother. Killed. |
757 |
Cummascach mac Flainn is given a reign of ten years by the Book of
Leinster. This may seem to conflict with the two year period following
the death of his predecessor and half-brother, but in actuality all of the
brothers may be counted as 'reigning' while they provide leadership to the
tribal kingdom, while only one of them at any time can be counted as the
king of the Uí Failghe. Cummascach meets his own end at the hands of Máel
Dúin mac Áedo, who is claimed by the Annals of Tigernach as a king of
Munster (although
that claim is open to doubt). |
? - 770 |
Cináed mac Flainn |
Brother. Killed. |
770 |
Seeing that the high king of
Laigin, Cellach mac
Dúnchada, is in trouble following attacks launched against him by the
Southern Uí Neill,
Cináed mac Flainn also challenges Cellach's authority. Unfortunately,
Cellach is still powerful enough to slay Cináed at the Battle of Áth Orc
in Uí Failghe territory. This conflict would seem to suggest that the Uí
Failghe no longer look upon the Laigin as close kin. |
? - 782 |
Mugrón mac Flainn |
Brother. Killed at the Battle of Curragh. |
? - 783 |
Domnall mac Flaíthnia |
Son of Flaithnia mac Flainn. Captured and later killed. |
? - 803 |
Óengus mac Mugróin |
Son of Mugrón mac Flainn. Killed. |
803 |
Fínsnechta Cethardec mac Cellaig, over-king of the
Laigin, is keen on
ensuring his dominance over the church of Kildare. In a way which remains
unexplained, this leads to conflict with the Uí Failghe. Óengus is killed
through treachery by the followers of Fínsnechta Cethardec. His successor
and cousin, Flaíthnia mac Cináeda, is also assassinated just three years
later, probably also on the orders of Fínsnechta Cethardec. The Book of
Leinster gives Flaíthnia a reign of two years, which is not incompatible
with a reign of 803-806 if it begins at the end of 803 and ends at the start
of 806. |
? - 806 |
Flaíthnia mac Cináeda |
Son of Cináed mac Flainn. Killed. |
? - 829 |
Cináed mac Mugróin |
Brother of Óengus mac Mugróin. Founder of the Clann
Cináeda. |
? - 842 |
Mugrón mac Óengusa |
Son of Óengus mac Mugróin. |
? - 849 |
Niall mac Cináeda |
Son of Cináed mac Mugróin. |
? - 881 |
Máel Sinchill mac Mugróin |
Grandson of Óengus mac Mugróin. |
? - 891 |
Conchobar mac Flannacáin |
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? - 897 |
Uathmarán mac Conchobair |
Son. |
897 |
The Uí Failghe and their kings sink into a period of obscurity at this
point. The reasons are unknown but could be related to the recent wave of
Viking attacks in
Ireland
from their various east coast bases such as the one at
Dublin.
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This may be a fairly typical image of Vikings staging a raid
- whether in Ireland or Britain the scene would have been
very much the same - but they seem to be faced with some
well-armed opposition on the shore
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c.1051 |
Re-emerging from a century and-a-half of obscurity, the kings of Uí Failghe
have, recently it seems, adopted the clan name of Ua Conchobair Failghe,
although they bear no relationship to the powerful Ua Conchobair kings of
Connacht.
In later years this is simplified as Ó Connor Faly, possibly thanks to
Norman
influence. |
? - 1051 |
Congalach Ua Conchobair |
Died 1051. |
1051 - 1071 |
Gilla Patraic
mac Conchobair Ua Sibleain |
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1071 - 1115 |
Conchobar mac Congalaig |
Joint king of
Laigin. Killed by
the Vikings of
Dublin. |
? - 1095 |
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Muirchertach |
Joint king? |
1115 |
Donnchad mac Murchada, king of
Laigin, and
Conchobar mac Congalaig (also referred to as Conchobar Ua Conchobair Failge)
see an opportunity to make the most of the faltering power of
Munster
- under the power of the Uí Briain. The pair launch an attack on
Dublin,
whose defending forces are led by Domnall mac Muirchertaig ua Briain (Domnall
Gerrlámhach) of the Uí Briain (dies 1135). The attempted invasion is defeated
and both kings are killed, but Donnchad's successor is soon able to seize Dublin
for Laigin. |
1115 - c.1118 |
Rogan mac Domnaill meic Conchobair |
Son of Domnaill. |
1117 |
With the death of Diarmait mac Énna meic Murchada of
Laigin in
Dublin, his successor and
kinsman, Enna, is expelled by Domnall mac Muirchertaig ua Briain
(Domnall Gerrlámhach). The Uí Briain of
Munster now
control the stronghold once again. |
c.1118 - 1130 |
Cu Faifne mac Congalaig |
Brother of Conchobar. |
1130 - 1134 |
Donnchad mac Con Faifne |
Son. |
1134 - ? |
Aed mac Domnaill |
Brother of Rogan mac Domnaill. |
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Mael Morda mac Conchobair |
Son of Conchobar. |
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Conchobair mac Con Faifne |
Brother of Donnchad mac Con Faifne. |
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Mael Sechlainn mac Conchobair |
Brother of Mael Morda? |
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Congalach mac Con Faifne |
Brother of Conchobair mac Con Faifne. |
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Murchad mac Con Faifne |
Brother. |
? - c.1151 |
Muirchertach mac Muirchertaig |
Relationship unknown. |
c.1151 - 1159 |
Aed mac Donnchada (Gilla na Findmona) |
Son of Donnchad
mac Con Faifne. Fled to
Connacht
1156-1157. |
1156 - 1157 |
High King Muirchertach mac Lochlainn of
Ireland installs his own client king in
Mide. Then he evicts
the kings of Loígis, Uí Failghe, and Osraige. All three dispossessed kings
flee to Connacht.
Munster is subdued,
although this is quickly reversed by Ruaidrí mac Toirrdelbaig ua Conchobair,
king of Connacht. |
1159 - 1161 |
Domnall Ruad mac Congalaig |
Son of Conglach mac Con Faifne. |
1161 - 1164 |
Mael Sechlainn mac Congalaig |
Brother. |
1164 - ? |
Donchad Ruad Roigne |
Relationship unknown. |
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Diarmait mac Congalaig |
Son of Conglach mac Con Faifne. |
1166 - 1170 |
King
Dermot mac Murrough is forcibly ejected from
Laigin by the high
king of Ireland.
He flees to Bristol and then
Normandy
where he gains the support of the
English
king, Henry II, and Norman allies with which to return to Ireland. The main
invasion takes place in 1169 at Bannow Bay with the arrival of the first
army of Norman mercenaries to enter Ireland, totalling thirty knights, sixty
men-at-arms, and three hundred archers under the Fitzgeralds, marcher lords
of Wales.
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The coming of the Normans to Ireland was a blow for the Irish -
the newcomers were tactically and militarily far more powerful
than anything seen before by the native kings
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Laigin is quickly regained following the Battle of Baginbun. A hundred
Normans break 3,000 Irish by driving cattle through them to shatter their
formation. Then the better armed and equipped Normans slaughter many of the
Irish, and take a large number of prisoners from the rest. The Norman
commander, Richard de Clare, earl of Pembroke (nicknamed Strongbow), marries
Dermot's daughter and is named his heir.
This coming of the Anglo-Normans also heralds changes within Ui Failghe.
Very soon the ancient capital of Rathangan is abandoned in favour of a new
seat further west at Daingean. The name in Gaelic is An Daingean, meaning
'the fort', or Daingean Ua bhFáilghe. meaning 'the fort of the Uí Failghe
clan'. (Daingean is later established under Queen Mary
Tudor
as the county town of the newly-formed King's County, named as such for her
husband, Philip II of
Spain.) |
? - 1169? |
Muirchertach mac Congalaig |
Brother. |
1169? - 1172? |
? |
Unknown king or kings. |
aft 1172 - 1193 |
Diarmait mac Con Broga Ua Dimmusaig |
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1175 |
The native high kingship of
Ireland is ended
when Henry II of
England
styles himself 'Lord of Ireland'. He hands the title to his son, John, as
governor of Ireland. When John becomes king of England in 1199, the lordship
of Ireland is held directly by the crown in personal union. The king of
England is also the king of Ireland.
The arrival of the Vikings in Ireland had begun a process of linguistic
transition. The process is now almost certainly hurried along by the
Norman
takeover of the island's eastern regions. Gaelic names become mangled by
their
French pronunciation (the same process is also taking place in the
English language, already subtly altered by the
Danes). Over time
Connacht becomes
Connaught, Laigin
becomes Leinster,
Ulaid becomes Ulster,
and Mide becomes Meath.
Lesser regions or groups also change, such as the Uí Failghe to Offaly,
Uí Neill
to O'Neill, Ua Conchobair to O'Conner, and so on. The '-ster' endings are
Viking. |
fl 1212 |
Muirchertach mac Brian |
Of the meic Donnchada (clan). |
? - 1225 |
Mael Morda mac Muirchertaig |
Son. |
1225 - ? |
Muirchertach mac Mael Morda |
Son. |
1229 |
Maurice FitzGerald, second
Anglo-Norman
lord of Offaly (a territory which neighbours the Uí Failghe kingdom), becomes
lord lieutenant of
Ireland,
the king's representative on the island.
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Maurice FitzGerald met his end at the Battle of Creadran Cille
(located at Ros Ceide, modern Rosses Point shown here) within
the north-western territory of Connacht, whilst fighting against
Tír Chonaill and suffering fatal wounds in single combat, leader
against leader
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? - c.1305 |
Muirchertach mac Muirchertaig |
Son. |
1305 - ? |
Murchad mac Muirchertaig |
Son. |
? - 1329 |
Mael Sechlainn mac Muirchertaig |
Brother. |
? - 1384 |
Muirchertach Óg mac Muirchertaig |
Brother. |
1384 - 1421 |
Murchad mac Muircheartaig Óg |
Son. |
1406 |
The
Battle of Cluan Immorrais sees the minor kingdom of Uí Failghe defeat the
Galls of Mide. |
1421 - c.1425 |
Diarmaid mac Muirchertaigh Óg |
Brother. |
c.1425 |
Upon
the death of Diarmaid mac Muirchertaigh Óg, the kingdom is inherited by
Máireg Béan Ó Conchubhair Fáilghe, daughter of Tadc Ó Céarbhaill of Ely.
This ends the domination of the mac Muircherartaig and begins that of the
Ó Conchubhair. Máireg is famous as a patron of bardic classes, and her
death (of cancer or possibly leprosy - the chronicler in the Annals of
Connacht seems confused over which it is) saddens everyone who knows
her. |
c.1425 - 1451 |
Máireg Béan Ó Conchubhair Fáilghe |
Dau of Tadc Ó Céarbhaill of Ely. Queen
of Uí Failghe. Died. |
c.1425 - 1458 |
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An Calbhach Mór mac Murchada |
Husband and king. |
1451 |
Feidlim mac an Chalbhaig |
Son. Died in the same year as his mother. |
1458 - 1474 |
Conn mac an Chalbhaig |
Brother of Feidlim. |
1474 - 1511 |
Cathaoir mac Cuinn |
Brother. |
1511 - 1517 |
Brian mac Taidhg meic an Chalbhaigh |
Cousin? |
1517 - c.1525 |
An Calbhach mac Taidhg |
Brother. |
c.1525 - 1556 |
Brian mac Cathaoir |
Last king. Accepted baronetcy of Offaly in 1535. Died
1550/56? |
1534 - 1535 |
Gerald FitzGerald. earl of Kildare, is
Ireland's
deputy governor. He is summoned to London and appoints as his deputy his
son, Thomas. By July rumours are circulating that Gerald has been
imprisoned and that Thomas is next. Thomas takes preventative action by
riding to St Mary's Abbey in Dublin, accompanied by 140 horsemen with
silk fringes on their helmets (earning him the nickname 'Silken Thomas').
There, he publicly renounces his allegiance to the crown, beginning his
rebellion.
Following defeat in Dublin he retreats to his stronghold at Maynooth in
County Kildare. This is captured in 1535 by Sir William Skeffington. Thomas
is absent at the time, but has over-estimated the support of the Irish
people. Eventually he surrenders with a promise of clemency, but he and
five uncles are still executed at the Tyburn gallows, on 3 February 1537.
One of his supporters is Brian mac Cathaoir, king of Uí Failghe. Brian is
pardoned and is granted the resurrected title 'baron of Offaly' as his
minor kingdom is reduced in rank.
The kingdom may effectively be at an end but the territory continues to be
ruled by its native leaders until the baronetcy is forfeited upon Brian's
death in 1550 (although some sources offer the somewhat contradictory date
of 1556). The territory is divided by Queen Mary
Tudor
into a rump county of Offaly or Ophaley (known as King's County until Irish
independence), with the other parts going to Kildare and Laois (Queen's
County until independence). In 1554 Offaly is handed to Gerald FitzGerald
of the neighbouring County Kildare (half-brother of the traitorous Thomas
FitzGerald) and now earl of Kildare in his own right. The title lapses in
1599 when Gerald's line dies out, although the senior title of Kildare is
passed to a cousin. The baronetcy of Offaly is recreated in 1620 and
survives to this day. |
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