Diarmaid Mc Morough

 

Diarmaid McMorough  No 19

 

This man deserves a page all to himself he is probably the most notorious villain in our history, a megalomaniac, wife stealer, betrayer, untrustworthy just not the kind of guy you would want as a pal. Irish History gives great notoriety to Cromwell another murderous invader from across the water or what about Trevelyan who starved us to death.1847. The difference, McMorough was one of our own chieftains who would do anything to hold on to power, our tyrant, our Mussolini, our Hitler! When we read history or historical type stories that claim to be history, however they tend to white wash the distant past making history the thing of legend. The other Irish chieftains had enough of Dermott’s ways marched on his territory and sent him on the run. Diarmaid made his way to England to plead with Henry11 to help him get his kingdom back. Henry 11 was a French Norman and he was off in France fighting his own battles to keep his kingdom. But Diarmaid got hold of another Norman called Strongbow and promised him the divil including his daughter Aoife in marriage. Sure, Strongbow was delighted gathered his gang together including a shower of Welsh archers and so the invasion of Ireland began

. Giraldus Combrensis an English cleric who visited Ireland in 1169 with Strongbow’s invading army recorded (And he a holy man wouldn’t tell a lie)” Dermot was a man who liked to be feared by all than loved by any a tyrant to his own subjects, hated by strangers, his hand was against every man, and every man’s hand against him”

Diarmaid was a great man for chopping off heads and even the Normans who were a rough lot of mercenaries were shocked at his barbarity dancing on the heads of his defeated enemy.

According to the four masters Diarmaid died of an insufferable disease and he became putrid while living. Nasty! This was all revenge By God and the saints for his nasty ways. Man, they knew how to get you even in the afterlife.

Great stuff! no forgiveness he went the same rotten way as Cromwell but that lad was dug up and hung drawn and quartered after he was dead, lovely carry on. Diarmaids daughter Aoife went on to Marry Strongbow and they are buried in Christ church cathedral in Dublin, down in the basement. You can see their stone caskets.

Diarmaid died about 1 May 1171 and was buried in Ferns Cathedral, where his grave can be seen in the outside graveyard.

A year later Strongbow claimed the kingship of Leinster his daughter with Aoife married William Marshall 11 ex89 and as sole heir to her father’s land and title she made her husband one of the richest men in the kingdom, didn’t he do well.

You just can’t beat the money gang and on it goes