Duffy | Home | Conference Programme | Booking | UCC | Further information | Conference organisers
| Muirchertach Ua Briain is widely regarded as the most successful of Brian Bóruma's successors in the kingship of Munster. He stands out among his contemporaries specifically in regard to his role as secular architect of the great ecclesiastical reforms of early twelfth-century Ireland and as a leading player in the politics of the Irish Sea region for a period of forty years from the mid-1070s onwards. He is also perceived as being something of an innovator as regards the internal politics of pre-Norman Ireland, who, like his great-grandfather Brian, was not bound by convention and did not play by the 'rules' of contemporary politics: his success is deemed to be a consequence of this supposed innovation and forward-thinking. This paper looks again at the career of Muirchertach, examining his record vis-à-vis that of his contemporaries, and reassessing his claim to 'greatness' in military and political affairs. His 30-year stewardship of the Dál Cais claim to supremacy within Munster is examined, as is his bid for supreme political dominance throughout Ireland. How successful was he in attaining the latter? In his quest for the high-kingship did he neglect his home base? Did he, for example, make adequate provision for his succession, were the Uí Briain stronger or weaker at his demise, and did he take adequate measures to prevent a resurgence among his dynasty's Eóganacht enemies? |