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Ó Maolchonaire, more properly Ó Maol Chonaire, sometimes Ó Mhaoilchonaire, Ó Maolconaire, etc., was the surname of a family of professional poets and historians in medieval Ireland. Traditionally it would have been spelled without the 'h', but with a dot over the 'c', either of which indicatesaspiration. In a period prior to the surrender of the Ó Conchubhair Donn and the other Connacht chieftains, it was anglicised O'Mulconry; however, the family was required to drop the national prefixes as part of the terms of surrender. Specific families, particularly the educators, were systematically targeted as part of the plot to destroy the Irish culture and language, as well as the Catholic religion. This can add great confusion to researchers of this important literary and religious family. It is now rendered most commonly Conry, sometimes Conroy, and possibly sometimes King. There are many distinct groups of Conroys, some of whom also, though less commonly, use Conry, which are Anglicisations of disparate Irish Gaelic names.
A bardic family descended from Maine of Tethba, based in County Roscommon in Connacht, many members of the Ó Maol Chonaire family were successive Ollamh Síl Muireadaigh to the Síol Muireadaigh and other Irish dynasties from the 12th to 17th centuries. Their principal seat was at Cluaine na-hOidhche near Strokestown and their primary patron was the Ó Conchobhair Donn, but they also served the MacDermot Kings of Magh Luirg, among many of the other principal chieftains of the Síol Muireadaigh, as well as various other dynasties throughout Ireland. As chiefly historians and poets of the royal variety, they had immense land holdings on account of their profession. In Gaelic Ireland the filídh and séanachie were held in high esteem, with the Ollamh considered to be of equal stature to the Ard-Rí.
Among their principal surviving works are the Annals of Connacht, which covers the years 1224 to 1544. Fearfeasa Ó Maol Chonaire was one of the "four masters" who were credited with compiling the Annals of the Four Masters. The family was also responsible for the literary manuscript now known as 23 N 10, and Egerton 1782.
Students of the family included John de Burgh, Archbishop of Tuam. In a much later period, William J. Higgins, Speaker of the Newfoundland House of Assembly, and leader of the Liberal-Labour-Progressive Party, was the student, law partner and protégé of Charles O'Neill Conroy, only son of James Gervé Conroy.
Flaithri Ó Maolconaire, also Florence Conry (Conroy, O'Mulconry), Irish Franciscan and theologian, founder of the College St. Anthony at Louvain, and Archbishop of Tuam.
From 180.7, pp. 402–03, Leabhar na nGenealach, volume I.
Ruaidrí mac Tairrdelbach Ua Conchobair was King of Connacht from 1156 to 1186, and High King of Ireland from 1166 to 1198. He was the last High King of Ireland before the Anglo-Norman invasion.
Ollamh Síol Muireadaigh was a hereditary post, held almost exclusively by members of the Ó Maolconaire family, from at least the 13th century until the 17th century. The Síol Muireadaigh were a dynasty of regional clans, named after King Muiredach Muillethan of Connacht, all of whom lived in north-central Connacht. While many of the ruling chieftains such as the Ó Conchubhair Donn, Ó Conchubhair Ruadh, Mac Diarmata, and Ó Flannagain were descendants of this Muiredach Muillethan, the Ó Maolconaires are of Laiginian, or mythically of Tuatha Dé Dannan stock, although their Milesian pedigrees claim differently. The Laiginians arrived in Connacht in the 3rd century AD from Leinster, conquering the ruling Fir Bolg and Fomorians, and ruling until conquered by the Gael under the Connachta in the 5th century.
Dúinnín Ó Maolconaire was a member of the Ó Maolconaire family of Connacht, who served as historians and poets to the Síl Muireadaigh, and their rulers, the Ó Conchubhair Kings of Connacht. He is the first of the family listed as the Ollamh Síol Muireadaigh, his genealogy listing him as the son of Nede son of Conaing Buide Ó Maolconaire. He died in 1231.
Dubsúilech Ó Maolconaire was a member of the Ó Maolconaire family of Connacht, who served as historians and poets to the Síol Muireadaigh and their rulers, the Ó Conchubhair Kings of Connacht.
Tanaide Mor mac Dúinnín Ó Maolconaire was a member of the Ó Maolconaire family of Connacht, who served as historians and poets to the Síol Muireadaigh, and their rulers, the Ó Conchubhair Kings of Connacht.
Tanaide Ó Maolconaire was the Ollamh Síol Muireadaigh for an unknown number of years prior to his death in 1385.
Donnchad Baccach Ó Maolconaire, Ollamh Síl Muireadaigh from 1385 to 1404.
Flaithrí Ó Maolchonaire, was an Irish Franciscan and theologian, founder of the College of St Anthony of Padua, Leuven, and Archbishop of Tuam.
Dublin, Royal Irish Academy, MS 23 N 10, formerly Betham 145, is a Gaelic–Irish medieval manuscript.
Flann Óc mac Séoan Ó Domhnalláin was Ollamh Síol Muireadaigh for an unknown time in 1404.
Sadhbh Uí Mhailchonaire, Ban Ollamh Síol Muireadaigh, 1441-1447 was an Irish poet.
Torna Ó Maolconaire was Ollamh Síol Muireadaigh from 1447-1468.
Mailin mac Tanaide Ó Maolconaire, Ollamh Síol Muireadaigh, c.1360–1441.
Dauid mac Tanaide Ó Maolconaire, Ollamh Síol Muireadaigh, died 1419.
Cormac Ó Domhnalláin, Ollamh Síol Muireadaigh, died 1436.
Muiris mac Torna Ó Maolconaire, dead 1645, was an Irish scribe, historian and poet.
Muirgheas mac Pháidín Ó Maolconaire, Gaelic-Irish scribe, died 1543. He was a native of Cluain Plocáin, parish of Kiltrustan, County Roscommon. It lies close to an inlet of the river Shannon, north of Strokestown.
Fearfeasa Ó Maol Chonaire, sometimes Fearfeasa O'Mulconry and other variations, was an Irish chronicler who is primarily known as the co-compiler and scribe of the Annals of the Four Masters.
Sigraid Ó Maolconaire was the Ollamh Síol Muireadaigh, died 1487.