in the years immediately prior to 1149, the respective interests of connacht - still ruled by high king tairrdelbach mac ruaidri ua conchobair - and of thomond had were confined to putting down rebellions and civil strife in their kingdoms, as well as maintaining their areas of interest. ruaidri was frequently at odds with the o neills in ulster and meath, and had a sometime antagonistic relationship with tighernan o rúairc, king of brefine, which was a buffer state carved out of disputed territory between connacht and ulster.