Muirgius mac Tommaltaig

Muirgius mac Tommaltaig (died 815) was a King of Connacht from the Uí Briúin branch of the Connachta. He was the great-grandson of Indrechtach mac Muiredaig Muillethan (died 723), a previous king. The death of his father Tommaltach mac Murgail (died 774) is recorded in the annals where he is called king of Mag nAi. Muirgius was of the Síl Muiredaig sept of the Uí Briúin. He reigned from 792 to 815.

The annals state that his reign began after Battle of Sruth Cluana Argai (Cloonargid, Roscommon,Co.) in 792 when he defeated Cináed mac Artgail (d. 792), of the Síl Cathail sept, who was slain. In 793 we find him imposing the Law of Saint Commán of Roscommon in conjunction with abbot Aildobur (d. 800) upon the three Connachta at Cruachu.

Another important battle in 792 was the battle of Ard Maiccrime in Sligo Co., where the Ui Ailello where delivered their death blow. Among the slain were Cathmug mac Flaithbertaig of the Cenél Coirpri and Cormac son of Dub dá Crích of the Uí Briúin Bréifne. The Annals of the Four Masters states that Muirgius was the victor in this battle also. The Ui Briun profited by the decline of the Ui Ailello and a branch of the Sil Muiredaig later occupied Mag Luirg.

The Annals of Innisfallen refer to Colla mac Fergusso (d. 796) as king at his death obit who may have been a rival to Muirgius. Also, in 796 we find Muirgius defeated at the battle of Áth Féne on the northern border of Ciarraige in his home territory. His reign though appears uncontested after the battle of Dún Gainiba in 799 where Muirgius was victorious in a battle among the Connachta. Also that year Gormgal, abbot of Armagh imposed the Law of Saint Patrick on Connacht.

Muirgius then turned his attention to the south and in 802 he destroyed the fortress at Loch Riach(Loughrea) in the Uí Maine territory of Maenmag. The next year the Cruithne Sogain tribe revolted against their Uí Maine overlords in this region in 803.

Muirgius had imposed his son Cormac (d. 805) as abbot of Baslick, a church of the Ciarraige Aí but Cormac was slain by this tribe in 805. In revenge Muirgius devastated their lands that year.

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