Brian Boru

Brian Boru (d. 1014), usually regarded as the greatest of Ireland's high kings, belonged to what had been a minor Munster dynasty, Dál Cais (based in the lower Shannon basin), which rose to prominence in the mid-10th cent., ending the supremacy of the Eóganacht dynastic federation. Brian's father, Cennétig mac Lorcáin, began the family's rise to power and died in 951 as king of north Munster (Thomond). Brian succeeded his brother Mathgamain in 976 and rose swiftly, dominating the Viking towns of Limerick and Waterford, and quickly establishing himself as king of all Munster. At this point he emerged as a challenger to the reigning high king, the midlands ruler Mael Sechnaill mac Domnaill of the southern Uí Néill, who in 997 acknowledged Brian as king over the southern half of Ireland and who finally submitted to Brian as high king in 1002. Brian set about asserting his dominance throughout the island, adopting the title ‘Emperor of the Irish’ in 1005. A revolt by the Leinstermen and the Hiberno-Norse of Dublin led to Brian's great victory over them in the battle of Clontarf in 1014, at which, however, he himself was slain. His descendants, who remained powerful in Thomond for centuries, bear the surname O'Brien.

Sean Duffy