| The first O'Flaherty, known in the Irish
as ua flaithbhertaig, is mentioned in the annals of Ireland in the year
1034 - Muireadhach Ua Flaithbheartach, Lord of Ui-Briuin-Seola, a
descendant of the Muinter Murchada and the Ui Briuin clans.
Muireadhach O'Flaherty ruled his clan as
a high chief (or "low king") and claimed his royal blood
through many an Irish hero. He united many of the descendants of the the
Ui Briuin tribes in the area east of Loch Corrib near the western coast
of Ireland.
These O'Flaherty tribes were nominally
subjunct to the tribe of Sil Murray, the O'Connors, but they were also
fiercely independent. The O'Flaherty tribes who dominated the area
around Galway Bay served as the Admirals in the forces of the O'Connor
dynasty during the 11th and 12th centuries. In the year 1092, Flaherty
O'Flaherty briefly siezed the Kingdom of Connaught from Ruadri O'Connor,
and proclaimed himself Ard Ri of Ireland. However, discovering the
better part of valor, he chose not to hold the throne, eventually
conferring the Kingship on Muirchertach O'Connor. Flaherty O'Flaherty
died in battle, slain by the MacLochlainn tribe in the year 1098.
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