Muircheartach mac Pilib Ó Ceallaigh

Muircheartach mac Pilib Ó Ceallaigh[pronunciation?] (Maurice O'Kelly; died 1407 or 1409) was Archbishop of Tuam in Ireland, and patron of the literary compilation An Leabhar Ua Maine. He was a son of Pilib Ó Ceallaigh, and a brother to William Buidhe Ó Cellaigh, King of Uí Maine and Chief of the Name (died c. 1381).

Leabhar Ua Maine

While Bishop of Clonfert, Ó Ceallaigh commissioned the work known as Leabhar Ua Maine, written by ten scribes in Uí Maine before 1392 and after 1394. It includes a series of metrical dindsenchas, An Banshenchas, poems, genealogies and pedigrees. The largest single section is devoted to the origins and genealogies of the Ó Cellaigh dynasty of Ui Maine, its contents updated to the time of compilation. There were ten scribes, eight of whom are anonymous. It remained in the possession of the O'Kelly family till 1757.[citation needed]

Archbishop

Ó Ceallaigh has been described as "a learned and witty prelate" and was in favour with the Pope.[1] He was elected archbishop of Tuam in the summer of 1392, but not translated from Clonfert until 26 January 1393. He died 29 September 1407 or (according to Cotton)[1] 1409.

References

  • The Ó Cellaigh Rulers of Uí Maine - A Genealogical Fragment, c.1400, (Part 1), Nollaig Ó Muraíle, Journal of the Galway Archaeological and Historical Society, pp. 32–77, volume 60, 2008
  • Compilations of lore and legend: Leabhar na hUidhre and the Books of Uí Mhaine, Ballymote, Lecan and Fermoy, John Carey, in Bernadette Cunningham and Siobhán Fitzpatrick (eds), Treasures … , Dublin, 2009, pp. 17–31.
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Archbishop of Tuam
1393-1407
Succeeded by
Preceded by Bishops of Clonfert
1378-1393
Succeeded by