Máel Muire, Earl of Atholl

Who is Máel Muire, Earl of Atholl?

Máel Muire of Atholl was Mormaer of Atholl at the beginning of the 12th century, until sometime perhaps in the 1130s. According to the Orkneyinga Saga, Máel Muire was a son of king Donnchad I and a younger brother of King Máel Coluim III. A Malmori d' Athótla is mentioned in a charter relating to a year after 1130, contained within the Book of Deer. If the first part is true, and the second part refers to the same Máel Muire, then this Máel Muire lived for more than 90 years, between the death of King Donnchad I in 1040 and the 1130s. It seems likely that his paternal grandfather Crínán was also Mormaer of Atholl. Máel Muire then probably inherited the Mormaerdom in compensation for not inheriting the Kingship.