HISTORY

MILNAMOW "MILNAMOW, what kind of name is that?" asked the check-in clerk at the Great Southern hotel in Killarney. "Irish" I answered and she gave me that look that said all Americans think they are Irish. Had she consulted the Book of Leinster she would have found the Kings of Laigin (Leinster) included Donchad Mael na mBo, died 1003 and Diarmait mac Mail Na mBo, died 1072. Diarmait mac Mail Na mBo was the high-king of all Ireland, although the Book of Leinster mentions he was "high king with opposition". In 1014 the great Brian Boru died at the battle on Clontarf where he led a united Irish army against the Danes (of Viking lore) and succeeded in defeating them and driving them out of Ireland. After Brian Boru's death the coalition of Irish chieftains dissolved and it was another 40 years before Diarmait mac Mail Na mBo was recognized as the next high-king of Ireland. Dairmait is mentioned several times in the excellent book Irish Kings and High Kings by Francis John Byrne, St Martin's Press, 1973. Byrne mentions that Dairmait mac Mail Na mBo fought for the high-kingship from 1040 to his death in 1072. It was to mac Mail Na mBo that the sons of Harald, after the battle of Hastings in 1066, fled for protection. In The Royal Line of Succession, Pitkin Pictorials, Ltd., 1972, the editor of Debrett's Peerage, Patrick W. Montague-Smith traces queen Elizabeth II lineage through various royal houses including the kings of Scotland and the kings of Ireland. Curiously the queen of England traces her ancestry back to Brian Boru. Following Brian Boru is listed Dermot MacMailnamo, King of Leinster and of Ireland (d 1072). Notice the Anglicization of the name becomes Mailnamo. Mail Na mBo is obviously the gaelic spelling and is pronounced mil-na-mow according to Byrne, just like the current pronunciation. Gaelic names have meanings. The only translation we have obtained states that Maol means someone dedicated to or devoted to, such as devoted to a saint. na-mBo means of cows or cattle. Devotee of cattle? Cowboy? Breeder of cattle? Rustler? All translations will be accepted. Terry Milnamow (MilnamBo@aol.com)