On the death of the previous chief, Duarcán Mág Tighearnán, Macraith took the chieftaincy and resided in the castle of Croaghan of the Cups (Irish- Cruachan O'Cúbhrán), now in the townland of Coolnashinny, besides the modern town of Killeshandra.
He acknowledged Felim Ua Conchobair, King of Connacht from 1233 to 1265, as his overlord and gave him his sons as hostages.
[1][2] The Annals of Connacht for the year 1256 state- After the battle of Magh Slécht, Fedlim O Conchobair and his son Aed na nGall, with the men of Connacht, and Tigernan O Ruairc, with the men of Brefne, made an expedition to Loch in Trein; and the two armies fell upon the churches of Brefne, all except Fenagh, and returned to their homes with hostages of the Fir Brefne, that is, of Mac Fiachrach and Mac Tigernain and Mag Samradain and of the son of Art O Ruairc; and Fedlim gave the hostages of the chieftains into the custody of O Ruairc and handed over Mag Samradain to his own son, Aed na nGall.
The Foreigners returned home after this, and the Bishop O'Maicin was 'drowning their candles' about nones, when it was equally dark in field and wood.
The Annals of the Four Masters for 1258 state- Magrath Mac Tiernan, Chief of Teallach-Dunchadha, was slain by Donnell, son of Conor O'Rourke.
The Connacians, and the men of Breifny in general, upon this took the lordship from Donnell, and the inhabitants of Tealach-Dunchadha slew his brother, Cathal, son of Conor.
And for this reason the men of Brefne and the Connachta took his kingship from the said Domnall and the Tellach Dunchada killed his brother Cathal, and the men of Brefne and the Connachta gave the kingship of the Ui Briuin to Art son of Cathal Riabach O Ruairc.
The Annals of Breifne for 1259 state: Domhnall mac Tighearnain uí Ruairc do mharbhadh do Theallach nDonnchadha a cCruachain ó cCumróin do dhíol madhma na Beithighe air, ('Donall, son of Tighernan O'Ruairc, was killed by the Tullyhuncans at Croaghan Ó'Cuprain as a result of an attack by na Beithighe') [i.e. by Domhnall Mór O'Reilly, son of Cathal na Beithighe].