Donal Mor O'Brien
d. 1194
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Family
About
Donal Mor O'Brien was the last King of North Munster. He drove the Anglo-Normans out of Limerick in 1176, made his submission to Henry II on the banks of the Suir, and founded the cathedral on the Rock of Cashel. He died in 1194. He married Orlaith, a daughter of Diarmait Mac Murchada, King of Leinster, which means that the king who brought the Normans into Ireland is an ancestor of this family twice over: once through Orlaith into the Gaelic royal house, and once through her sister Aoife, who married Strongbow.
Research notes
✓ (O'Hart, Irish Pedigrees (1892), 'O'Brien (No.1) King of Thomond', gen. nos. as cited; corroborated by the Annals of the Four Masters and by the DC782/R-L226 O'Brien Y-DNA study (which independently numbers this same descent 105 Brian Boru -> 120 Turlogh Donn). Wired 23 Jul 2026.): DONAL MOR O'BRIEN, THE LAST KING OF NORTH MUNSTER (Thomond); d. 1194. Expelled the Anglo-Normans from Limerick 1176; founded the cathedral at Cashel 1169; MADE HIS SUBMISSION TO HENRY II on the banks of the Suir, 1172. m. Orlacan, dau. of Diarmait 'na Gall' MacMurchada. Father of Donogh Cairbreach (our line). Direct ancestor.