MacShamhran (p. 203) writes that "difficulties relating to this marriage leave it probable that it is a fiction – created when memory of Gormlaith became assimilated to the "sovereignty goddess" who had three husbands".
[1] Cormac was killed at the battle of Bealach Mugna in 908 by an alliance of Flann Sinna of Tara and Cerball mac Muirecáin, King of Leinster.
[3] MacShamhran writes (p. 203) "... the case for accepting as historical her marriage to Cerball is strengthened by a dindshenchas poem in the Book of Leinster, which also presents a different view of their relationship, implying that she was involved in intrigue on his behalf.
This circumstance, along with the fact that Cerball had the support of Flann Sinna at Belach Mugna, fits well with a Clan Cholmain-Ui Faelain alliance in the years prior to that battle."
219), citing the poem Cell Chorbbáin (composed shortly after 909), writes: "It states quite categorically that Gormlaith was responsible for the death of Cellach of Carmun and his wife Aillend – 'she laid them in the church ground' (dos-fuc i talmain cilli) and by these actions 'she wrought terrible deeds' (do-ringni gnimu grana).
Ó Cróinín goes on to compare the data in the poem with that of Cóic ríg tríchat to show that "there is something wrong with the Ui Dunlainge succession at precisely this point.
It looks very much as though the struggle for succession ... saw several of the Ui Muiredaig line eliminated in the first half of the ninth century, and their names were simply expunged from the record:" After Cerball's death in 909 Gormlaith married her stepbrother Niall Glúndub,[4] who died in 919.
McCraith, noting that "the charm of Gaelic verse depends for the most part on an elaborate system of repetition and alliteration, which no other language can reproduce", gives this translation of the poem "Gormlaith, the daughter of Flann, speaks to the Priest":[5] "Monk, remove thy foot!