Murchad mac Finn O'Fáeláin, King of Leinster

FINN (-923). The Annals of the Four Masters record the death in 921 of “Finn son of Maelmordha son of Muiregan heir apparent of Leinster” killed by “Ceallach son of Cearbhall”[603]. m ---. The name of Finn´s wife is not known. Finn & his wife had five children:

1. FLANN (-942). The Annals of the Four Masters record the deaths in 942 of “Flann son of Finn and Muireadhach son of Maelmordha, two royal heirs of Leinster”[612].
2. MURCHAD (-972). King of Leinster 965. The Annals of the Four Masters record that “Murchadh son of Finn king of Leinster” led an army “into Osraighe” in 965[613]. The Annals of Inisfallen record the death in 972 of "Murchad son of Finn king of Laigin”[614]. m ---. The name of Murchad´s wife is not known. Murchad & his wife had three children:

a) MAELMORDA (-killed in battle Clontarf 23 Apr 1014). King of Leinster. The Annals of Ulster record that "Brian son of Ceinnéitig son of Lorcán king of Ireland and Mael Sechnaill son of Domnall king of Temair" led an army to “Áth Cliath” in 1014, adding that “Mael Mórda son of Murchad king of Laigin” was killed in the battle[615]. The Annals of the Four Masters record that “Murchadh son of Finn king of Leinster” was killed in 1013 in the battle [of Clontarf][616]. m ---. The name of Mail-mordha´s wife is not known. Mail-mordha & his wife had two children:

i) CEARBALL (-killed 1017). The Annals of Tigernach record that “Cearball mac Mail-mordha crownprince of Leinster” was killed in 1017[617].
ii) BRAEN (-Köln 1052). King of Leinster. The Annals of Ulster record that "Braen son of Mael Mórda king of Laigin” was blinded in 1018 “in Áth Cliath by Sitriuc son of Amlaib”[618].

b) GORMLAITH (-1030). The Annals of Tigernach record the death in 1030 of “Gormlaith, daughter of Murchad son of Fland” mother of “Sitric son of Olaf king of the Foreigners and of Donnchad son of Brian king of Munster”[619]. Her third marriage is confirmed by the Annals of the Four Masters which record the death in 1030 of “Gormlaith daughter of Murchadh son of Finn, mother of the king of the foreigners Sitric, Donnchadh son of Brian king of Munster, and Conchobhar son of Maeleachlainn king of Teamhair”[620]. It is assumed that Maelsechnaill separated from Gormlaith as he is recorded with another wife before Gormlaith died. m firstly as his third wife, OLAF Sihtricsson King of Dublin, son of SIHTRIC King of York & his first wife --- (-981). m secondly (after 981, [separated]%29 [as his second wife,] BRIAN Boroma, son of CEINNÉITIG & his wife --- (941-killed in battle Clontarf 23 Apr 1014). m thirdly ([separated]) as his [third] wife, MAELSECHNAILL King of Ireland, son of DOMNALL & his wife --- ([949/50]-Cró Inis of Lough Ennell 2 Sep 1022).
c) BRAEN (-killed in battle Teamhair [978/80]). The Annals of the Four Masters record the death in 973 of “Ceallach son of Domhnall, lord of Ui-Faelain” killed by “Broen son of Murchadh”[621]. The Annals of the Four Masters record that “Braen son of Murchadh royal heir of Leinster” was killed in 978 in “the battle of Teamhair”[622], the battle being dated between 978 and 980 in different sources.

3. DOMNALL (-947). The Annals of the Four Masters record the death in 947 of “Dormhnall son of Finn royal heir of Leinster”[623]. m ---. The name of Domnall´s wife is not known. Domnall & his wife had one child:
4. MAELMORDA (-966). The Annals of the Four Masters record that “Maelmordha son of Finn royal heir of Leinster” was mortally wounded in 966[626].
5. CONCHOBAR (-977). The Annals of the Four Masters record the death in 977 of “Conchobhar son of Finn, lord of Ui-Failghe”[627]. m ---. The name of Conchobar´s wife is not known. Conchobar & his wife had one child:

[612] Annals of the Four Masters 942.6 and 942.7, p. 651.
[613] Annals of the Four Masters 965.19, p. 689. [614] Annals of Inisfallen, 972.4, p. 159. [615] Annals of Ulster, 1014.2, p. 448. [616] Annals of the Four Masters 1013.11, p. 773. [617] Annals of Tigernach II, p. 249. [618] Annals of Ulster, 1018.2, p. 453. [619] Annals of Tigernach II, p. 263. [620] Annals of the Four Masters 1030.21, p. 821. [621] Annals of the Four Masters 972.14, p. 701. [622] Annals of the Four Masters 978.3, p. 709. [623] Annals of the Four Masters 947.6, p. 661. [624] Annals of the Four Masters 970.10, p. 697. [625] Annals of the Four Masters 972.14, p. 701. [626] Annals of the Four Masters 966.7, p. 691. [627] Annals of the Four Masters 977.7, p. 709. [628] Annals of the Four Masters 1014.19, p. 783. [629] Annals of the Four Masters 1016.10, p. 791. [630] Annals of the Four Masters 1026.5, p. 811.

• [http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/IRELAND.htm Charles Cawley's Medieval Lands: IRELAND