MacMurrough, Murchadh

by Emmett O'Byrne

MacMurrough, Murchadh (c.1510–1557), Gaelic warlord, was probably the third son of Muiris MacMurrough (d. 1530), king of Leinster, and became MacMurrough leader after the death of Cathaoir mac Airt MacMurrough (qv). Murchadh acted as tánaiste to Cathaoir mac Airt, as was made evident by the latter's letters patent of 8 February 1554. These stipulated that Cathaoir mac Airt was granted the title of baron of Ballyanne, while Murchadh was designated as his successor. Rather than allow Murchadh to use the old MacMurrough title, the Dublin government granted him the title of baron of Coolnaleen, but there is no evidence that he ever used it. After the death of Cathaoir mac Airt, the government took especial care to balance Murchadh's power, raising Cathaoir's son Diarmait MacMurrough to the office of tánaiste.

From early in his career as the principal MacMurrough leader, Murchadh showed that he was uneasy with the growing encroachments of the Dublin government on his country. Also, like other aristocrats in east Leinster he cannot but have been appalled by the government's ongoing plantation of the O'More and O'Connor Faly lordships of Laois (Leix) and Offaly. The earlier coercion of Cathaoir mac Airt in the early 1550s was mild by comparison with the steady hardening of the government's position towards the Leinster nobility after 1556. Even more shocking was the crucifixion of Conall Og O'More, lord of Laois, as well as the hanging of Domhnall mac Laoiseach O'More, lord of Slemargy, at Leighlinbridge in March that year.

The growing unease among the Leinster nobility probably prompted Diarmait MacMurrough and a large contingent of O'Tooles to raid the Pale in May. Although Diarmait was eventually forced to surrender at Powerscourt castle, resulting in the execution of many of his men at Dublin, the tension continued. While Murchadh held aloof from these disturbances, he was not impervious to the developments. By 1557 his fears about the behaviour of the government had begun to manifest themselves in open acts of dissension and defiance. The Annals of the Four Masters record that ‘he had begun to exalt and foment disturbances against them [the English]’. At some time that year the administration of the lord deputy, Sir Thomas Radcliffe (qv), arrested Murchadh and accused him of high treason. At Leighlinbridge Murchadh was condemned, suffering the indignity of a public execution by hanging, drawing, and quartering before crowds. He left four recorded sons and a daughter.