List of consorts of the monarch of Ireland


There have been no native queens of Ireland since the late 12th century, following the complex sequence of the Norman invasion of Ireland, Treaty of Windsor, and death of the last true High King of Ireland, Rory O'Connor, in 1198. Between 1171 and 1541 the kings of England were lords of Ireland; for a list of their consorts, see List of English consorts from Isabella of Angoulême to Catherine Howard. The Crown of Ireland Act 1542 declared Henry VIII of England and his successors to be kings of Ireland; for a list of their consorts, see List of English consorts from Catherine Parr onwards, and List of British consorts.

Queens of Ireland

Semi-historical Queens

Historical Queens

QueenHusband's ReignSpouseRemarks
Gormlaith Rapach ingen Muiredach855-879Áed FindliathDaughter of Muiredach mac Eochada, King of Ulster of the Dal Fiatach. Known as "the Harsh". According to the 12th century Banshenchas , she was mother of Domnall mac Áeda and Eithne ingen Áeda.
Land ingen Dúnlainge855-879Áed FindliathDaughter of Dúngal mac Fergaile, King of Osraige and sister of Cerball mac Dúnlainge. She was widow of High King Máel Sechnaill. According to the 12th century Banshenchas , she was mother of Domnall mac Áeda and Eithne ingen Áeda. She died in 842.
Máel Muire ingen Cináeda855-879Áed FindliathDaughter of Cináed mac Ailpín, King of the Picts of the House of Alpin. She was mother of Niall Glúndub by her first marriage. According to Annals of Ulster, she died in 913. She remarried after her husband's death.
Gormlaith ingen Flainn879-916Flann SinnaDaughter of Flann mac Conaing, King of Brega of the Síl nÁedo Sláine. She was mother of Donnchad Donn.
Eithne ingen Áeda879-916Flann SinnaDaughter of Áed Findliath, High King of Ireland of the Cenél nEógain. She was mother of Máel Ruanaid. She was also married to Flannácan, King of Brega, by whom she had a son named Máel Mithig, although whether this preceded her marriage to Flann is unclear. It is likely that Flann divorced Eithne in order to follow the tradition of marrying his predecessor's widow, Eithne's stepmother. Eithne died as a nun in 917.
Máel Muire ingen Cináeda879-916Flann SinnaDaughter of Cináed mac Ailpín, King of the Picts of the House of Alpin. She was mother of Domnall mac Flainn, King of Brega, and Lígach ingen Flainn. According to Annals of Ulster, she died in 913.
Gormlaith ingen Flainn916-919Niall GlúndubDaughter of Flann Sinna, High King of Ireland of the Clann Cholmáin. Was the widow of Cerball mac Muirecáin, the King of Leinster and before that Cormac mac Cuilennáin, the King of Munster. Legend depicted her as a tragic figure; she was resorted to begging from door to door after Niall's death. She was mother of Muirchertach mac Néill. The Annals of Ulster record her death in 948.
Cainnech ingen Canannáin919-944Donnchad DonnDaughter of Canannán mac Flaithbertach, King of the Cenél Conaill of Tír Connaill. She died in 929.
Órlaith íngen Cennétig919-944Donnchad DonnDaughter of Cennétig mac Lorcáin, King of the Dál gCais of Thomond. She was killed in 941, apparently on Donnchad's order, perhaps due to a sexual relationship between her and her stepson Óengus.
Dublemna ingen Tigernán919-944Donnchad DonnDaughter of a Tigernán, a lord or king of Bréifne of the Ua Ruairc. She died in 943.
Gormflaith ingen Murchada980-1002Máel Sechnaill mac DomnaillDaughter of Murchad mac Finn, king of Leinster, and also widow of Olaf Cuaran, the Viking king of Dublin and York. She remarried to Brian Boru.
Mór1002-1014Brian BoruDaughter of Gilla Brigte Ua Maíl Muaid of the Cenél Fiachach. Mother of his successor Murchad mac Brian, who was slain with his father at the Battle of Clontarf.
Echrad1002-1014Brian BoruMother of his successor Tadc mac Briain.
Gormflaith ingen Murchada1002-1014Brian BoruDaughter of Murchad mac Finn, king of Leinster. Widow of Olaf Cuaran, the Viking king of Dublin and York, and former wife of Máel Sechnaill. Mother of his successor Donnchad mac Brian, later King of Munster. She was said to be his true love, having mistakeningly challenged his authority one too many times, they divorced. Though she is said to be the cause of his death, she was also said to be the one to mourn him the most. She died in 1030.
Dub Choblaig1002-1014Brian BoruDaughter of a king of Connacht. Mother of Cénnetig mac Briain.
Máel Muire ingen Amlaíb1014-1022Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill
Daughter of Amlaíb Cuarán of the Norse-Irish Uí Ímair, she is the first known Queen of Ireland of Norse descent. Máel Muire died in 1021, a year before her husband, to whom she may have been wed for over two decades. The Annals of Clonmacnoise actually style her Queen of Ireland.
Cacht ingen Ragnailldied 1064 Donnchad mac BriainPossibly sister of Echmarcach mac Ragnaill, king of Dublin, also of the Uí Ímair. The marriage was in 1032. Cacht died in 1054, styled Queen of Ireland.
Derbforgaill ingen Donnchaddied 1072 Diarmait mac Maíl na mBóDaughter of Donnchad mac Briain, king of Munster of the Dál gCais.
Dubchoblaig of the Uí Cheinnselaigdied 1086 Toirdelbach Ua BriainOf the Uí Cheinnselaig. Mother of Diarmait Ua Briain, perhaps named for her kinsman and Toirdelbach's protector Diarmait mac Maíl na mBó. She died in 1088
Derbforgaill of Osraigedied 1086 Toirdelbach Ua BriainMother of Tadc and Muirchertach.
Gormlaith of Ua Fógartadied 1086 Toirdelbach Ua BriainOf the Ua Fógarta.