Ollamh Síol Muireadaigh was a hereditary post, held almost exclusively by members of the
Ó Maolconaire family, from at least the 13th century until the 17th century. The
Síol Muireadaigh were a dynasty of regional clans, named after King
Muiredach Muillethan of
Connacht (died 702), all of whom lived in north-central
Connacht. While many of the ruling chieftains such as the
Ó Conchubhair Donn,
Ó Conchubhair Ruadh,
Mac Diarmata, and
Ó Flannagain were descendants of this
Muiredach Muillethan, the
Ó Maolconaires are of Laiginian, or mythically of Tuatha Dé Dannan stock, although their Milesian pedigrees claim differently. The Laiginians arrived in Connacht in the 3rd century AD from Leinster, conquering the ruling Fir Bolg and Fomorians, and ruling until conquered by the Gael under the Connachta in the 5th century.
An
ollamh was the highest rank in the learned orders of law, poetry, or history. These educated professionals, today grouped together in the popular consciousness as "
bards", maintained an
oral tradition that pre-dated
Christianization of Ireland.
The post had likely existed for at least as long as the Síl Muireadaigh dynasty themselves, but earlier
ollamhs are unknown. The first of the family so listed was
Dúinnín Ó Maolconaire.
Mael Sechlainn Ó Domhnalláin, Ollav of Sil-Murray in particular in poetry, and the most learned man in all Ireland in the same art, died of Fiolun in
1375.
Mac Dermot of Moylurg: The Story of a Connacht Family Dermot Mac Dermot, 1996.
A New History of Ireland VIII: A Chronology of Irish History to 1976 - A Companion to Irish History Part I edited by T.W. Moody, F.X. Martin and F.J. Byrne, 1982.
ISBN0-19-821744-7
The Celebrated Antiquary Nollaig O Muralie, Maynooth, 1996.
Irish Leaders and Learning Through the Ages Fr. Paul Walsh, 2004. (ed. Nollaig O Muralie).