Comment by Ryan O'Rourke on June 2, 2013 at 12:59am

Hi,Janet.  I believe the ultimate source of this account of Dearbhfhorghaill's elopement with Mac Murchada is found in "The Annals of the Four Masters."  You can find a great deal more about the incident and the succeeding events by doing a Google search for her husband, Tiernan O'Rourke (or Tighearnán Mór Ua Ruairc).  The bit about Dearbhfhorghaill being buried facing west was passed down orally to me, and confirmed by a woman working as a guide at Mellifont Abbey when I visited there in 2008.  Dearbhfhorghaill apparently spent the second half of her life trying to make amends in various ways.  She paid for the construction of what is now known as "Nun's Church" in Clonmacnoise as well as being a major benefactor for other abbeys, friaries, etc.  She lived until the grand old age of 86, then was buried at Mellifont where she had provided much financial assistance.

Comment by Janet L Lloyd on June 2, 2013 at 4:33pm

Ryan,  was it really a fair question then if the answer could not be found online?  I have read the information about her husband and about Dearbhfhorghaill and her charitable works.  I have also read that Dearbhfhorghaill 1) went willingly, 2) was a pawn in a power play on the part of her paternal family (the royal family of Meath), and 3) she was a victim of abuse and was glad to get away.   I know that the only information I found said that her remains have not been positively identified.  The following is taken from the book Mellifont Abbey, Co. Louth: A Guide and Popular History published by James Duffy &Co.,Ltd.,Dublin 1897  "... southern side, are the piscina surrounded with a dog-tooth moulding, and the remains of the sedilia or stalls, which were occupied by the celebrant, deacon, and sub-deacon at High Mass. Under these sedilia a tomb was discovered during the excavations. A skull and some bones, together with a gold ring, were raised from their resting-place; the bones were replaced and covered with the slab of concrete now seen at this spot, but the ring was sold by a workman and could never be recovered. No inscription or tradition identifies the occupant of the hallowed grave. Could it have been that of the famous Dervorgilla? She was certainly buried at Mellifont, but unfortunately, we do not know the spot where her remains were laid when “life’s fitful fever” was over;".

 I must add that I am enjoying  the questions and searching for the answers . :-)

Comment by Ryan O'Rourke on June 2, 2013 at 6:07pm

Janet, the question being asked was regarding her elopement with Mac Murchada.  The one person who received credit answered that portion correctly.  The other surrounding details (which are admittedly difficult to come by on the internet) were not really a part of the question being asked.  As you've said yourself, history attests to the fact that she was a willing participant in the elopement to the south with Mac Murchada ... and this is why oral tradition says that she was buried in an honourable place in Mellifont, but facing west as opposed to the traditional east preferred in Christian burials of that day.

Again, one person did correctly answer the part we were really looking for about her elopement -- which can be found on the web far and wide.  So yes, I do believe it is a fair question.  We wanted to give a couple difficult questions to offset some of the easier ones we've been asking.  Hopefully we all learn some interesting facts along the way.  Besides, not everything can be found on the internet. :-)

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