Cobhlaith Mór Ní Conchobhair Explained

Cobhlaith Mór Ní Conchobhair, Gaelic Lady, died 1395, Ireland.

Biography

Cobhlaith Mór was a member of the Uí Chronchobair dynasty, whose Síol Muireadaigh ancestors had been Kings of Connacht since the 7th century. Her father, Cathal mac Domhnall Ó Conchobair, reigned 1318–24 and was the first Ó Conchobhair Sligigh; his ancestor, Tairrdelbach Ua Conchobair (died 1156), was one of the last native Kings of Ireland

Ní Conchobhair was an affluent Irish woman and the preserver of Gaelic customs at a time when they were being undermined by Edward III of England.^[1] In 1367, Gaelic traditions had been declared illegal by the Statutes of Kilkenny.

Her obituary states she was married to the following Gaelic kings:

1. Niall Ó Domhnaill, King of Tír Chonaill
2. Aodh Ó Ruairc, King of Breifne
3. Cathal mac Aedh Breifneach Ó Conchobair, a ríoghdhamhna and brother to Aedh mac Aedh Breifneach Ó Conchobair, king in 1342.^[2]

In the Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland, Mor is referred to as "Port na-d-Tri Namhat" (trns. the port or harbor of three enemies) because her three husbands were enemies of one another.^[3]

She was interred in the monastery of Boyle.

See also

• Dub Chablaigh ingen Cathal, Empress of the Irish, died 1009.
• Dubhchobhlaigh Bean Ua hEaghra, Queen of Luighne Connacht, died 1131.
• Rose Ní Conchobair, Lady of Meath, fl. 1180.
• Mor Ni Conchobair, Queen of Munster, died 1190.
• Nuala Ní Conchobair, Queen of Ulaid, died 1226

Notes and References

1. Book: Women in Renaissance and Early Modern Europe. 2000. Four Courts Press. Portland, OR. Christine Meek.
2. Book: McAuliffe, Mary.

   . 'The Fragility of Her Sex'?: Medieval Irishwomen in Their European Context. 1996. Four Courts Press. Portland, OR. 153–62. . Christine Meek and Katharine Simms.

3. Web site: Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland, Volume 4 (AD 1373–1500). 737. Corpus of Electronic Texts (UCC). 25 September 2013.