The death of Brian Boru

Prince Albert has just left these shores, President Obama is on his way and so too is Queen Elizabeth. Prince Albert remembered the visit of his parents here in 1961 when his mother, Princess Grace, visited her ancestral home in  Mayo.

President Obama is to visit his ancestral home in Moneygall. His decision might have been influenced by the song There’s No One as Irish as Barack Obama although it is not what you might call an Irish family name. He will be made very welcome, whatever other county he decides to visit.
If we can believe all we read and hear, then he has been invited to most of the counties and Minister for State Michael Ring has promised to do his best to get him to visit Mayo. I’m sure the fact that next year is an election year in his home country has no relevance whatsoever to the visit.
Neither had elections any connection with any visits by previous presidents. John F Kennedy came here in the year before an election but unfortunately he was killed within that year. During a state visit in 1970 Richard Nixon visited his ancestral home in Timahoe and we cannot forget Ronald Reagan’s famous visit to Ballyporeen.
Clare County Council and our tourism bodies have missed a great opportunity to promote the county and attract hundreds of thousands of visitors. Why was Queen Elizabeth not invited to Clare, the county of her ancestors? Queen Elizabeth is descended from Brian Boru.
If we all go back far enough we will find ourselves in some way connected with the said Brian but the ancestors of royalty are recorded somewhat more accurately than that of ordinary commoners.
Brian is listed as an ancestor of James II of Scotland and Henry IV of England. Through these comes the link to the present monarch. Also listed along the way are people such as Henry VIII, Winston Churchill, Lawrence of Arabia, FD Roosevelt and Orson Wells.
It seems the Queen can trace ancestry through her paternal and maternal lines. Her father was said to have descended from Diarmuid Mac Morrough’s daughter, Aoife, who married Strongbow. She was a great-great-great-great-great grand-daughter of Brian Boru. Her mother’s ancestors trace their links back through the Lords of Inchiquin to Brian’s grandson, Turlough, who became King of Munster in 1064.
It is said that she will visit Cashel, which has strong O’Brien connections but surely there could also have been a case made for a visit to Killaloe or St Cronan’s Church in Tuamgraney, where her ancestor worshipped.
Brain Boru was one of the most powerful Ard Rí’s that ever ruled Ireland. He succeeded in bringing all the country under his control and famously travelled to each of the kingdoms, forcing their kings to pay him tribute.
The last group to challenge his authority were the Danes in Dublin. Together with some Irish allies and Vikings from other countries, their final attempt to challenge his power was at the Battle of Clontarf. Brian proved victorious but at a price. He was killed while in his tent by Brudair, a Dane fleeing the battle.
Brian Boru, Ard Rí of Ireland and ancestor of Queen Elizabeth, was killed on April 23 1014 – 997 years ago this week.