Muire ( en, Mary) is an Irish name given exclusively to the

Blessed Virgin Mary Mary; arc, ܡܪܝܡ, translit=Mariam; ar, مريم, translit=Maryam; grc, Μαρία, translit=María; la, Maria; cop, Ⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ, translit=Maria was a first-century Jewish woman of Nazareth, the wife of Joseph and the mother ...

. The Irish name ''

Máire Máire is the Irish language form of the Latin Maria, which was in turn a Latin form of the Greek names Μαριαμ, or Mariam, and Μαρια, or Maria, found in the New Testament. Both New Testament names were forms of the Hebrew name or Mir ...

'' is typically used for the name ''Mary''. ''Muire'' is used exclusively for the Virgin Mary. The only known exception to this rule is in the song ''Caoineadh na dTrí Mhuire'' ( en, Lament of the Three Marys), in which the three Marys present at the crucifixion speak their thoughts. The name ''Muire'' is used so as not to give the Blessed Virgin Mary a common name.

Court Title

It is suggested that the word Muire in the context below did not exist in that spelling. A court title in pre-Norman

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel, the Irish Sea, and St George's Channel. Ireland is the s ...

, and for a time after the Norman invasions when Gaelic nobility maintained varying levels of tradition. The Muire, or Muiredach is the

Marshal Marshal is a term used in several official titles in various branches of society. As marshals became trusted members of the courts of Medieval Europe, the title grew in reputation. During the last few centuries, it has been used for elevated o ...

of a territory of an Irish noble or free-landholder of the rank of Boaire or higher. In exchange for service, he was gifted a portion of land called a Methas, a region of farmland similar to that held by an Ocaire (a free-landholder below the nobility and subservient to the Boaire.) His duties included acting as a

sheriff A sheriff is a government official, with varying duties, existing in some countries with historical ties to England where the office originated. There is an analogous, although independently developed, office in Iceland that is commonly transla ...

and levying the Ceithernn, or warband, during times of war or regional emergency, and during war, his rank included a command position on the battlefield, and he was allowed to keep a 'small' court, including his own standard-bearer, shield maker, and cupbearer for ceremonies, though he was technically a member of his overlords' court. He was the head of his master's Cliarthairi, the 'guards' or 'troopers', professional soldiers inhabiting the territory of a Boaire or noble. He also had the duty of acting as Muire Rechtgi, the intermediary between the local king and his subjects during a legal dispute, appearing in his place at court. Often he would also take the duty of the Rechtaire, or tax collector.

In popular culture

Muire are featured as a recruitable heavy infantry unit for the

faction in the Kingdoms expansion to the PC strategy game Medieval II: Total War.

References

{{Unreferenced, date=March 2008 Irish-language feminine given names