He became Ollamh in 1270, succeeding Dubsúilech (and possibly Dunlang) Ó Maolconaire on the "seat in the Ollam's Chair of the province of Connacht," and was himself a son of a previous Ollamh, Dúinnín Ó Maolconaire.
The same source quotes a fragment of verse which relates that "Tanaide the teacher/a learned Ollamh/son of Dúinnín/spent forty famous years/on the floor of Liss Lerthaile," the latter place presumably being where he lived and taught his pupils.
His obituary in 1310 states "Tanaide Ó Maolconaire, Ollamh in poetry and history of the Síol Muireadaigh, died at the beginning of this year, that is, in the hard spring."
His immediate successor is unknown; the next person named in the office was Tanaide Ó Maolconaire who died in 1385.
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