Maelsechlainn mac Tadhg Ó Cellaigh

Family background

Maelsechlainn is believed to have been the son of a previous king, Tadhg Caech Ó Cellaigh, who died in 1476.

Dispute with Clanricarde

Uí Maine bordered on the lordship of Clanricarde. In 1503, the then lord, Ulick Fionn Burke "gave a very great overthrow to O'Kelly and a party of the people of Conmaicne-Cuile, where the greater part of the gallowglasses of both the Clann-Donnell and Clann-Sweeny were slain around their constables, and where Walter, the son of John Burke, a distinguished captain, was also slain."

To add to the antagonism, Burke was living in open adultery with Ó Cellaigh's wife.

According to the Annals of the Four Masters, this resulted in a battle at Beal Ath na nGarbhan:

"The defeat of Bel-atha-na-ngarbhan was given by John Burke, the son of Ulick, son of Ulick, grandson of Rickard, Tanist of Clanrickard, to O'Kelly, in which fell Walter, the son of John, son of Thomas Burke, heir to the lordship of Conmaicne, and many others of the Clann-Donnell and Clann-Dowell, were slain."

Immediately after this, Burke seized and demolished three of Ó Cellaigh at Garbh Dhoire (known today as Garbally Castle), Monivea and Gallagh:

"Three castles belonging to O'Kelly, viz. Garbh-dhoire, Muine-an-mheadha, and Gallach, were demolished by Mac William Burke (i.e. Ulick the Third). O'Kelly, i.e. Melaghlin, went to the Lord Justice to complain of the injury done him, the result of which was, defeat of Cnoc-Tuagh.

Knockdoe

In the resulting Battle of Knockdoe, Ó Cellaigh fought on the side of Gerald FitzGerald, 8th Earl of Kildare, Lord Deputy of Ireland. As many as ten thousand are believed to have participated, with fully five thousand killed, mainly on the side of Clandricarde and Toirdhealbhach Donn Ó Briain. It was one of the bloodiest battle ever fought in Ireland.

Ó Cellaigh accompanied FitzGerald and lifted Burke's occupation of Galway and Athenry.