Sithric 'Carrach-in-Cairn' Mág Tighearnán

Sithric 'Carrach-in-Cairn' Mág Tighearnán (anglicised Sitric 'the Scabbed of Carn' McKiernan) was chief of the McKiernan Clan and Baron or Lord of Tullyhunco barony, County Cavan in the year 1290.^[1]

Ancestry

Sithric was the son of Duarcán Mág Tighearnán, the Second (d.1290), son of Íomhaor Mág Tighearnán, the Second (died c.1269), son of Tighearnán, son of Duarcán the First, son of Íomhaor the First, son of Gíolla Chríost, son of Amhlaoibh, son of Tighearnán, the founder of the clan.^[2] His father Duarcán had been a previous chief of the clan.

Description

Sithric's nickname Carrach-in-Cairn meant he had a scabbed, mangy or bald head or rough-faced and lived in Carn townland in Tullyhunco before becoming chief.

Chieftainship

On the death of the previous chief, his father Duarcán Mág Tighearnán, the Second in 1290, Sithric took the chieftaincy and resided in the castle of Croaghan of the Cups (Irish- Cruachan O'Cúbhrán), besides the modern town of Killeshandra.

Death

Sithric died in 1290 shortly after succeeding to the chieftaincy but some of the annals give a later date.

The Annals of Ulster for 1290 state

Carrach-in-cairn Mag Tigernain, chief of Tellach-Dunchadha, rested in Christ.

The Annals of Connacht for the year 1293/4 state-

Two chieftains of Tullyhunco died this year, Duarcan and Sitrecc [Mag Tigernain]. Carrach in Chairn Mag Tigernain, chieftain of Tullyhunco, died.

The Annals of Loch Cé for the year 1293/4 state-

Two chieftains of Tellach-Dunchadha died in hoc anno. Carrach-in-chairn Mac Tighernáin, chieftain of Tellach-Dunchadha, mortuus est.

Family

Sithric had a son Gíolla Íosa 'Leith' Mág Tighearnán.

References

1. C. Parker, "Two minor septs of late medieval Breifne", in Breifne Journal, Vol. VIII, No. 31 (1995), pp. 566–586
2. M.V. Duignan (1934), "The Uí Briúin Bréifni genealogies", pp. 90–137, in JRSAI Vol. 4, No. 1, Jun. 30, 1934.