Máel Mórda mac Murchada

Máel Mórda mac Murchada (died 23 April 1014) was King of Leinster.

Son of Murchad mac Finn and brother of Gormflaith, he belonged to the Uí Fáeláin sept of the Uí Dúnlainge, whose lands lay around Naas on the middle reaches of the River Liffey, in modern County Kildare.

Máel Mórda is best known as the enemy of Brian Bóruma; both men died in the bloody battle of Clontarf, fought on Good Friday in 1014. Máel Mórda's son Bran was king of Leinster from 1016 until he was deposed in 1018. Thereafter, perhaps as a result of the heavy losses at Clontarf, the kingship of the Uí Dúnlainge was held by the Uí Muiredaig sept.

References

• Byrne, Francis John, Irish Kings and High-Kings. Batsford, London, 1973. ISBN 0-7134-5882-8

References In Media

The Irish doom metal group Mael Mórdha take their name from Máel Mórda mac Murchada and many of their songs are based on the events of the battle of Clontarf.^{[citation needed]}