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Máel Muad mac Brain (died 978), commonly anglicised Molloy and referred to in several texts as Maelmuadh son of Bran, was
King of Munster The kings of Munster () ruled the Kingdom of Munster in Ireland from its establishment during the Irish Iron Age until the High Middle Ages. According to Gaelic traditional history, laid out in works such as the ''Book of Invasions'', the earli ...
, first possibly from 959 or alternatively 963 to around 970, when he may have been deposed (usurped) by Mathgamain mac Cennétig of the
Dál gCais The Dalcassians ( ) are a Gaels, Gaelic Irish clan, generally accepted by contemporary scholarship as being a branch of the Déisi Muman, that became very powerful in Ireland during the 10th century. Their genealogies claimed descent from Tál ...
, and then again from 976, following his putting to death of the latter, until his own death in the Battle of Belach Lechta against Mathgamain's brother Brian Bóruma in 978. From around 970 to 976, he is referred to in the sources only as King of Desmond (also known as "lord of Desmumu"), but remained "in opposition" to Mathgamain throughout his career. Máel Muad's chief ally in Munster was Donnubán mac Cathail, to whom he partly owed his second reign, and with whom he is also associated earlier. Along with Donnubán he was also allied, according to the not contemporary saga and political tract ''
Cogad Gáedel re Gallaib ''Cogad Gáedel re Gallaib'' ("The War of the Irish with the Foreigners") is a medieval Irish text that tells of the depredations of the Vikings and Uí Ímair dynasty in Ireland and the Irish king Brian Boru's great war against them, begin ...
'', with Ivar of Limerick, who may himself have temporarily been overlord of the province. Máel Muad belonged to the Uí Echach Muman or Eóganacht Raithlind and is an ancestor of the medieval and modern O'Mahony family. His last ancestor to be
King of Munster The kings of Munster () ruled the Kingdom of Munster in Ireland from its establishment during the Irish Iron Age until the High Middle Ages. According to Gaelic traditional history, laid out in works such as the ''Book of Invasions'', the earli ...
was Feidlimid mac Tigernaig. His son Cian mac Máelmuaid became a close ally of Brian Bóruma, reputedly marrying his daughter Sadb, according to late traditions and the antiquarian John O'Mahony.


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* * * * * * * * (see O'Donovan) 10th-century Irish monarchs Kings of Munster 978 deaths Year of birth unknown {{Ireland-royal-stub