Uilliam's father died in 1307 His half brother Aodh took over the kingship in 1326-1332. By 1340 a puppet-king, Tadhg Og was installed by the king of Connacht in Tir Mhaine. This is noted in the Annals as a civil war in Tir Mhaine. Uilliam refused to accept Tadhg who in turn attempted to banish Uilliam from Tir Mhaine. Uilliam, however wounded and captured Tadhg, who later died of his injuries. It wasn't until 1349 that Uilliam gained complete lordship over the Ui Cheallaigh.
Of note during his reign the black death came to Ireland in 1349. The enmity between the King of Connacht and Uilliam continued until 1356 when his wife the daughter of Seoinin a Burc was kidnapped by Aodh Ó Conchobhair who was subsequently slain. This resulted in Aodh (son of Feilim) Ó Conchobhair an ally of Uilliams assuming the kingship of Connact.
Uilliam had Kilconnell Friary built for the Franciscan's in 1353. About this time the Catholic Church was trying to crush the influence of the Irish Bardic tales. The Irish nobles in turn took to supporting the Poets and artisans. William's 1351 Christmas Feast was perhaps the best known example but there are other notations that show he was not the only patron of the time
The Book of Ui Mhaine provides the following biography of Uilliam:
Uilliam s[on of] Donnchadh M[uimhneach], the youngest of the family, took the kingship of Ui Mhaine from Caire to Grian in defiance of his enemies, and he made the noblest Christmas feast ever heard of for the poets and chief-poets of Ireland and for all the artistic and mendicant folk of every Irish population, and he distributed food [read 'steeds'] and silver and many treasures such as had never been given before, and he was thirty-five years in full kingship of Ui Mhaine. [ Ó Muraile]
The poem Tath aoinfhir ar iath Maineach in the Book of Ui Mhaine gives a detailed account of the rule, nobility and integrity of Uilliam.
Uilliam died in 1381 in Galey Castle, Knockcroghery, Co. Roscommon, Ireland. Uilliam was buried in 1381 at Kilconnell Abbey.
William, the son of Donough Muimhneach O'Kelly, Lord of Hy-Many, a man of greatest character, worth, and renown, of his own tribe; the man who had given a general invitation of hospitality to the schools of Ireland, and had given them all their own demands, died a very old man, after the victory of penance; and his son Melaghlin assumed his place. [Annals of the Four Masters 1381]
No comments:
Post a Comment