Donald (Munro) Munro Ist of Foulis (abt. 990 - abt. 1039)

Born about 0990 in Dungiven Castle, Dungiven, Ireland [uncertain]

Descendants

Died about 1039 at about age 49 in Ross-shire, Scotland [uncertain]

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Donald (Munro) Munro Ist of Foulis was a prominent member of a Scottish Clan. Join: Scotland Project Discuss: Scotland

Biography

Donald (Munro) Munro Ist of Foulis is a member of Clan Munro.

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Donald is the first Munro Clan Chief, and the first Munro to come to Scotland. He was most likely born around 990 A.D. at Dungiven Castle (also see Dungiven Castle on Wikipedia), near Limavady, in what is now Northern Ireland. This was the seat of the O'Cahan Clan.

Donald was said to be a prince of a Chief who ruled from the River Roe (hence the name Monro), in Ireland. His father was said to be an O'Caan or an O'Cahan. Cionntach O'Cathan was the clan chief during the time that Donald Munro I came to Scotland to fight the Viking invaders. Also, Cionntach O'Cathan had a son, Giollachriosd O'Cahan who died 19 years before Donald did, indicating a possibility that Donald may have been his younger brother, which would explain how he was a "Prince" and yet went off to battle and to settle down somewhere else while Giollachriosd O'Cahan went on to be the Clan Chief of the O'Cahans.

The existence of Donald is only in tradition that has no documented mention earlier than 700 years after his death. The information about the first several Clan Chiefs had been handed down in oral tradition. It is assumed to be true, but there is, admittingly, no actual proof. Further, the mention of Cionntach O'Cathan being his father is an educated guess based on this unproveable history, so this should be taken with "a grain of salt."

Tradition holds that Donald came to Scotland to assist King Malcolm II of Scotland fight off the invading Vikings. the Norsemen of Norway, Denmark and Iceland had been brutal to the British Isles for many years off and on, and on several occasions Celtic clans from Scotland, Wales, and Ireland would team up together and travel to each others lands to help expel these invaders.

For his trouble, Donald was given the land that is now around the area overlooked by Foulis Castle.

Donald's son, George Munro succeeded him to be the second clan chief.

Sources

• The People of Medieval Scotland - This is a database of all known people of Scotland between 1093 and 1314 mentioned in over 8600 contemporary documents.

• The National Library of Scotland

• Electric Scotland This is a fantastic site where links to books, publications, articles. Sources which have been published and are great for research and citation and documentation of facts. Free.

• Celticstudio Database - A Scottish Clan Database

• Scotland Magazine

• Mitchell Library one of the largest public reference libraries in Europe and has great online resources on virtually anything you need.

• The Scots Peerage : founded on Wood's edition of Sir Robert Douglas's Peerage of Scotland containing an historical and genealogical account of the nobility of that kingdom. Free.

• The National Archives of Scotland - A National Records of Scotland Website

• Kittybrewster.com - This site was compiled and published by Sir William Arbuthnot and lists sources and documents related to the Arbuthnot family around the world. Additional links provide resources and documentation of this and related families.

• BMD Registration Districts that changed counties

• Maps of old Glasgow BMD registration districts 1874- 1900

• Scottish BMD Registration Districts Codes Full List of Scottish BMD Registration Districts from 1855 to present

• GenGuide - The idea behind the GenGuide is to offer beginners and experienced genealogists and family historians an easy and convenient way to find descriptions of and information on genealogical sources. Keeping track of developments in new databases, web sites and reference books is a challenge and one of the aims of the GenGuide is to provide a facility where these resources are easily and quickly found.

• The Peerage by Darryl Lundy. A genealogical survey of the peerage of Britain as well as the royal families of Europe.

Further Information

You can learn more about Clan Munro including its Clan Societies and other useful information by going to the Clan Munro page https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Category:Clan_Munro

Research note by John M Sutherland-Fisher

The display of coats of arms in relation to Scots is governed by the Law of Scotland and regulated by the Lord Lyon King of Arms. If you follow the link below you can read my guidance on the matter. https://www.wikitree.com/g2g/835548/illegal-images-under-appearing-profiles-scottish-individuals