Guaire Aidne mac Colmáin (died 663)[1] was a king of Connacht. A member of the Ui Fiachrach Aidhne and son of king Colmán mac Cobthaig (died 622).[2] Guaire ruled at the height of Ui Fiachrach Aidne power in south Connacht.
Guaire appears to have succeeded his father as king of the Ui Fiachrach Aidhne in 622. In 629 was fought the Battle of Carn Feradaig (Carhernarry, County Limerick), where he suffered a defeat at the hands of the Munster king Faílbe Flann mac Áedo Duib (died 639). His ally Conall mac Máele Dúib of the Ui Maine was slain. According to Keating, Guaire's reason for this campaign was to recover the Thomond region from Munster.[3] Prof. Byrne believes that this defeat marked the true expansion of the Déisi Tuisceart into Thomond.[4] He also states that this defeat may have paved the way for Rogallach mac Uatach (died 649) in acquiring the overlordship of Connacht.
Carn Conailledit
The next event recorded of Guaire in the annals is the Battle of Carn Conaill (in his home territory near Gort) in 649. In this battle he was put to flight by the high-king Diarmait mac Áedo Sláine (died 665) of Brega. Diarmait was the aggressor in this war and the saga Cath Cairnd Chonaill gives much detail of this affair. Diarmait won the support of the monastery of Clonmacnoise and refused the request of Cumméne Fota (died 662), the abbot of Clonfert, for a truce; who had been sent by Guaire to ask for one. Also Caimmín, abbot of Inis Celtra, put a curse on Guaire before the battle. However, Guaire was able to turn his defeat into a moral victory when upon submitting to Diarmait he outdid the high-king with his generosity to the poor. Diarmait granted him a peace treaty and friendship.[5]
Also according to the saga, the following Munster allies of Guaire were slain in this battle: the king of Munster Cúán mac Amalgado (died 641) (called Cúán mac Éndai in the saga); Cúán mac Conaill, king of the Uí Fidgenti; and Tolomnach, king of the Uí Liatháin. Byrne believes this is not probable however; based on Cúán mac Amalgado's death date in the annals and on the improbability of the Uí Liathain being involved in a conflict far from their territory in South Munster.[6] The Annals of Ulster and Annals of Innisfallen do not mention the Munster connection but the saga tradition is preserved in the Annals of Tigernach. Interaction with the Ui Fidgenti are evidenced by the 8th century poem The Lament of Créide, a poem written about his daughter's lament for a young man of the Ui Fidgenti.[7]
Guaire in Irish sagasedit
Dunguaire Castle built on the site of Guaire's original residence
Anecdotes are told about his relations with such saints as Cumméne Fota of Clonfert, Caimmín of Inis Celtra, and Colmán mac Duach of Kilmacduagh. He also was associated with the church at Tuam Gréine (Tuamgraney) and was ancestor of two 8th century abbots there. He seems to have patronised the expansion of West Munster saints up the Shannon. For this reason, Byrne believes his influence must have extended into parts of Munster including overlordship of Corco Mruad and Corco Baiscind tribes in Thomond and actual holdings in the later territory of Dál gCais.[8]
In the saga Scéla Cano meic Gartnáin (The Story of Cano mac Gartnain) the exiled prince of Dalriada comes to live at his court for a while where Guaire's daughter Créide falls in love with him. Creide however was married to Marcán mac Tommáin (died 653) the king of the Ui Maine.[9] According to the c.1300 tale called Tromdámh Guaire (The Heavy Company of Guaire[10]) or Imtheacht na Tromdhaimhe (The Proceedings of the Great Bardic Institution[11] Guaire was visited by the Chief Ollam of Ireland, Senchán Torpéist who was accompanied by one hundred and fifty other poets, one hundred and fifty pupils "with a corresponding number of women-servants, dogs, etc".
Later years and legacyedit
Guaire is listed after his brother Loingsech mac Colmáin (died 655) in the king lists. It is possible that his defeat at Carn Conaill caused a temporary abdication and entering of a religious life.[12] Upon Loingsech's death in 655, Guaire then became over-king of Connacht ruling until his death in 663. He was buried at Clonmacnoise.
In the following centuries the Ui Fiachrach lost power to the Uí Briúin, who ever after were kings of Connacht. To the south, in what is now County Clare, the Déisi Tuisceart would in the 700's annexe Thomond permanently to Munster.
Children and descendantsedit
Guaire's known sons were Cellach mac Guairi (died 666); Artgal mac Guairi; and Muirchertach Nár mac Guairi (died 668), the latter a king of Connacht. Guaire is the ancestor of the families of Ó Cléirigh, O'Shaughnessy, Colton, Mac Kilkelly, Hynes, O'Dowd, and others. Descendants of Guaire include the following:
According to the Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland, the modern surname Hynes frequently derived from the Irish name Ó hEidhin ('descendant of Eidhin'), adding that 'the principal family of this name is descended from Guaire of Aidhne, King of Connacht'.[13]
Reference in Literatureedit
Is included in the poem by William Butler Yeats entitled The Three Beggars
A comprehensive history of King Guaire and his descendants is given in The Hynes of Ireland and supplemented in The O'Shaughnessys, both books by James Patrick Hynes and published by Appin Press (Countyvise Ltd), Birkenhead, United Kingdom.
^The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland, ed. by Patrick Hanks, Richard Coates, and Peter McClure, 4 vols (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2016), II, p. 1369 [s.v. Hynes]; ISBN978-0-19-967776-4.
Referencesedit
Annals of Tigernach
Annals of Ulster
Annals of Innisfallen
G.Keating, History of Ireland
T.M.Charles-Edwards, Early Christian Ireland
Francis J.Byrne, Irish Kings and High-Kings
The Chronology of the Irish Annals, Daniel P. McCarthy
Ó Coileáin, Seán, "Some Problems of Story and History", in Ériu 32 (1981): 115–36.
Ó Coileáin, Seán, "The Structure of a Literary Cycle", in Ériu 25 (1974): 88–125.
CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts at University College Cork
January 18, 2024
guaire, aidne, colmáin, died, king, connacht, member, fiachrach, aidhne, king, colmán, cobthaig, died, guaire, ruled, height, fiachrach, aidne, power, south, connacht, contents, early, reign, carn, conaill, guaire, irish, sagas, later, years, legacy, children,. Guaire Aidne mac Colmain died 663 1 was a king of Connacht A member of the Ui Fiachrach Aidhne and son of king Colman mac Cobthaig died 622 2 Guaire ruled at the height of Ui Fiachrach Aidne power in south Connacht Contents 1 Early reign 2 Carn Conaill 3 Guaire in Irish sagas 4 Later years and legacy 5 Children and descendants 6 Reference in Literature 7 See also 8 Notes 9 References 10 External linksEarly reign edit nbsp Early peoples and kingdoms of Ireland c 800Guaire appears to have succeeded his father as king of the Ui Fiachrach Aidhne in 622 In 629 was fought the Battle of Carn Feradaig Carhernarry County Limerick where he suffered a defeat at the hands of the Munster king Failbe Flann mac Aedo Duib died 639 His ally Conall mac Maele Duib of the Ui Maine was slain According to Keating Guaire s reason for this campaign was to recover the Thomond region from Munster 3 Prof Byrne believes that this defeat marked the true expansion of the Deisi Tuisceart into Thomond 4 He also states that this defeat may have paved the way for Rogallach mac Uatach died 649 in acquiring the overlordship of Connacht Carn Conaill editThe next event recorded of Guaire in the annals is the Battle of Carn Conaill in his home territory near Gort in 649 In this battle he was put to flight by the high king Diarmait mac Aedo Slaine died 665 of Brega Diarmait was the aggressor in this war and the saga Cath Cairnd Chonaill gives much detail of this affair Diarmait won the support of the monastery of Clonmacnoise and refused the request of Cummene Fota died 662 the abbot of Clonfert for a truce who had been sent by Guaire to ask for one Also Caimmin abbot of Inis Celtra put a curse on Guaire before the battle However Guaire was able to turn his defeat into a moral victory when upon submitting to Diarmait he outdid the high king with his generosity to the poor Diarmait granted him a peace treaty and friendship 5 Also according to the saga the following Munster allies of Guaire were slain in this battle the king of Munster Cuan mac Amalgado died 641 called Cuan mac Endai in the saga Cuan mac Conaill king of the Ui Fidgenti and Tolomnach king of the Ui Liathain Byrne believes this is not probable however based on Cuan mac Amalgado s death date in the annals and on the improbability of the Ui Liathain being involved in a conflict far from their territory in South Munster 6 The Annals of Ulster and Annals of Innisfallen do not mention the Munster connection but the saga tradition is preserved in the Annals of Tigernach Interaction with the Ui Fidgenti are evidenced by the 8th century poem The Lament of Creide a poem written about his daughter s lament for a young man of the Ui Fidgenti 7 Guaire in Irish sagas edit nbsp Dunguaire Castle built on the site of Guaire s original residenceAnecdotes are told about his relations with such saints as Cummene Fota of Clonfert Caimmin of Inis Celtra and Colman mac Duach of Kilmacduagh He also was associated with the church at Tuam Greine Tuamgraney and was ancestor of two 8th century abbots there He seems to have patronised the expansion of West Munster saints up the Shannon For this reason Byrne believes his influence must have extended into parts of Munster including overlordship of Corco Mruad and Corco Baiscind tribes in Thomond and actual holdings in the later territory of Dal gCais 8 In the saga Scela Cano meic Gartnain The Story of Cano mac Gartnain the exiled prince of Dalriada comes to live at his court for a while where Guaire s daughter Creide falls in love with him Creide however was married to Marcan mac Tommain died 653 the king of the Ui Maine 9 According to the c 1300 tale called Tromdamh Guaire The Heavy Company of Guaire 10 or Imtheacht na Tromdhaimhe The Proceedings of the Great Bardic Institution 11 Guaire was visited by the Chief Ollam of Ireland Senchan Torpeist who was accompanied by one hundred and fifty other poets one hundred and fifty pupils with a corresponding number of women servants dogs etc Later years and legacy editGuaire is listed after his brother Loingsech mac Colmain died 655 in the king lists It is possible that his defeat at Carn Conaill caused a temporary abdication and entering of a religious life 12 Upon Loingsech s death in 655 Guaire then became over king of Connacht ruling until his death in 663 He was buried at Clonmacnoise In the following centuries the Ui Fiachrach lost power to the Ui Briuin who ever after were kings of Connacht To the south in what is now County Clare the Deisi Tuisceart would in the 700 s annexe Thomond permanently to Munster Children and descendants editGuaire s known sons were Cellach mac Guairi died 666 Artgal mac Guairi and Muirchertach Nar mac Guairi died 668 the latter a king of Connacht Guaire is the ancestor of the families of o Cleirigh O Shaughnessy Colton Mac Kilkelly Hynes O Dowd and others Descendants of Guaire include the following Major General William O Shaughnessy 1673 1744 Micheal o Cleirigh c 1590 1643 main compiler of the Annals of the Four Masters William Brooke O Shaughnessy 1808 1880 toxicologist and chemist Tech Entrepreneur H H Marquis Landon Hines other known as Marquis Cabrera born 1988 United States CEO amp Chairman of Stat Zero Margaret Heckler born 1931 US Republican politician from Massachusetts Thomas Shaughnessy 1st Baron Shaughnessy 1853 1923 President of Canadian Pacific Railway John O Heyne fl 1706 Dominican HistorianAccording to the Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland the modern surname Hynes frequently derived from the Irish name o hEidhin descendant of Eidhin adding that the principal family of this name is descended from Guaire of Aidhne King of Connacht 13 Reference in Literature editIs included in the poem by William Butler Yeats entitled The Three Beggars A comprehensive history of King Guaire and his descendants is given in The Hynes of Ireland and supplemented in The O Shaughnessys both books by James Patrick Hynes and published by Appin Press Countyvise Ltd Birkenhead United Kingdom See also editKings of Connacht Gort Gort Inse Guaire County GalwayNotes edit all dates per The Chronology of the Irish Annals Daniel P McCarthy Francis J Byrne Irish Kings and High Kings Table 18 G Keating History of Ireland Book III pg 71 Byrne pg 239 Keating Book III pg 59 65 and Byrne pg 240 41 Byrne pg 241 Byrne pg 242 Byrne pg 242 43 Dan Wiley s site on the Cycles of the Kings Archived 20 November 2008 at the Wayback Machine Tromdamh Guaire Ossian 1860 The Proceedings of the Great Bardic Institution Byrne pg 240 The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland ed by Patrick Hanks Richard Coates and Peter McClure 4 vols Oxford Oxford University Press 2016 II p 1369 s v Hynes ISBN 978 0 19 967776 4 References editAnnals of Tigernach Annals of Ulster Annals of Innisfallen G Keating History of Ireland T M Charles Edwards Early Christian Ireland Francis J Byrne Irish Kings and High Kings The Chronology of the Irish Annals Daniel P McCarthy o Coileain Sean Some Problems of Story and History in Eriu 32 1981 115 36 o Coileain Sean The Structure of a Literary Cycle in Eriu 25 1974 88 125 Preceded byColman mac Cobthaig King of Ui Fiachrach Aidhne655 663 Succeeded byCeallach mac GuairePreceded byLoingsech mac Colmain King of Connacht655 663 Succeeded byCenn Faelad mac ColganExternal links editCELT Corpus of Electronic Texts at University College Cork Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Guaire Aidne mac Colmain amp oldid 1193377314, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
