Cathal Crobhdearg Ua Conchobair

Cathal Crobhdearg Ua Conchobair (Anglicised as Cathal O'Connor/O'Conor and Cathal the Red-handed O'Conor) (1153–1224), the youngest son of the Irish High King Tairrdelbach mac Ruaidri Ua Conchobair, was a King of Connacht.

Biography
He was King of Connacht from 1189 to 1199, and was re-inaugurated on the stone at Clonalis c.1201, reigning until 1224. He first succeeded his elder half brother Ruaidri's son Conchobar Máenmaige as ruler of Connacht. Conchobar Máenmaige's son Cathal Carrach then ruled from 1199 to 1202, with Cathal Crobhdearg back in power from then. From his base west of the river Shannon he was forced to deal with the Norman invaders. He was a competent leader despite problems, avoiding major conflicts and winning minor skirmishes. Ua Conchobair attempted to make the best of the new situation with Ireland divided between Norman and Gaelic rulers. His long reign was perhaps a sign of relative success. He had succeeded his elder brother Rory O'Connor the previous King of Connacht. He is the subject, as Cáhal Mór of the Wine Red Hand, of the poem A Vision of Connaught in the Thirteenth Century by the 19th-century Irish nationalist James Clarence Mangan.

He founded Ballintubber Abbey in 1216, and was succeeded by his son, Aedh mac Cathal Crobdearg Ua Conchobair. His wife, Mor Ní Briain, was a daughter of King Domnall Mór Ua Briain of Thomond, died in 1218.

In 1224 Cathal wrote to Henry III as Lord of Ireland, asking that his son and heir Od (Aedh) be granted all of Connacht, in particular those parts, Breifne, owned by William Gorm de Lacy.

Inauguration
An account of Cathal Crobhdearg's inauguration has been preserved, written down by Donogh Bacach Ó Maolconaire, the son of O'Connor's very inaugurator Tanaide Ó Maolconaire, who was also his historian and recorded all tributes due to O'Connor. Among those present was his door-keeper, O'Feenaghty, his physician Mac Tully, and Mac Aodhagáin, his brehon.

Annalistic references
From the Annals of the Four Masters:


 * M1205.10. Teige, the son of Cathal Crovderg, died of one night's sickness at Clonmacnoise.

Family Tree

 * Kg. = King of Connacht

Tairrdelbach, King of Connacht & Ard Rí na hÉireann, 1088–1156 |   |_____________________________________________________________________________    |                                              |    |                                              |   Ruaidrí, last Ard Rí na hÉireann, c.1115–1198. Cathal Crobhdearg, 1153–1224 =Mor Muman Ní Briain, d. 1218 |    ______________________________________________|___________________________     |                                                                         |     |                                                                         |     Áed, Kg. Conn. 1224–28. Fedlimid, Kg. Conn 1230–31; 1233–65. died 1265. |                                                                        |     |________________________________ __________|___________     |            |                  |                               |                    |     |            |                  |                               |                    |     Cathal Dall Ruaidrí       Toirrdelbach, Kg. 1249–50. Áed, kg. 1265–74. Áed Muimnech, Kg. 1274–80. |           |                  |     |            |                  |     Áed,         Éoghan, Kg. 1274 Tadg Ruad, Kg. 1274-8. Kg. 1274. |    _____________|___________________     |                               |     |                               |     Donnchad                       Áed, Kg. 1293–1309. |                              |     |                               |__________________________________________________     Ruaidrí na Fed                  |                                |                | Kg. 1316;d. 1321.               |                                |                |                                     Fedlimid, Kg.1310–15;16. Cathal na bhFeadh Toirredlbach, Kg 1317–18;24–42;43–45. |                            died 1361. |                                    |                                                 |                              Ó Conchubhair Ruadh                                Ó Conchubhair Donn