

He mar Gormlaith ingen Murchada (see here) and had issue:

Tradition says Brian Boru was buried in 1014 at Armagh Cathedral (which has been re-built many times since).Photo from here

English and British monarchs since Henry II Henry II invaded Ireland in 1169. It took just over 200 years for the English royal family to be descended from the Irish kings.Every English and British monarch from Henry IV on (succ 1399) descends from Brian Boru.Extract of "Coins of English monarchs" poster. See full size . You can order it here It incorrectly labels Richard I the Lionheart as "Richard II".

THE QUEEN'S IRISH ANCESTORS

Madam

While we are all re-evaluating the Queen as someone who might actually like Ireland, it might be timely to summarise her extensive Irish ancestry.

The two great Norman families of medieval Ireland were the Butlers and the Fitzgeralds. The Queen directly descends from both many times. The most recent descents I can see for her are from James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde (died 1688), from James Fitzgerald, 10th Earl of Desmond (died 1529) and from Gerald Fitzgerald, 11th Earl of Kildare (died 1585). Through the latter she descends from Irish heroes Garret Mor Fitzgerald, 8th Earl of Kildare, and Garret Og Fitzgerald, 9th Earl of Kildare. Her ancestor Baron Portlester lies in a spectacular tomb in St.Audoen's church on High Street in Dublin.

In terms of Gaelic families, the Queen descends (remarkably) from the rebel Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone (died 1616) and also from Diarmaid O'Brien, 5th Baron of Inchiquin (died 1624). Through the latter she descends from Connor O'Brien, King of Thomond (died 1540) and Domnall Mor O'Brien, King of Thomond (died 1194). Ultimately, she descends from Aoife Mac Murrough (who married Strongbow in 1170) and from Brian Boru, High King of Ireland (died 1014).

In fact, Ireland is littered with her ancestral homes and her ancestors' tombs. Her most recent Irish-born ancestor was apparently Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquess Wellesley (died 1842). Given all this, it does seem unfair that she was never allowed visit her ancestral homeland until now.

Yours

Mark Humphrys