| L i n e a g e # |
Name and Bio. |
Also Known As | Titles Held | Text from O'Ferrall's Linea Antiqua | Other Text (inc. Annals of the Four Masters) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 90 | Niall Noigiallach (Niall of the Nine Hostages) King of Ireland. Niall was a tall, fair-haired, blue-eyed hero of Gaelic blood, who became High King of Ireland in 379 A.D. Niall's father became High King of Ireland in the middle of the 4th century. Niall underwent many tests as a young man as did all five of Eochaidh's sons. Eochaidh had to choose an heir and young Niall frequently did extremely well. In one story, the five brothers were helping in a smith's forge learning the art when it suddenly caught fire. The King who just happened to be there (it is believed that he set the fire), told his sons to save what they could. Niall's brothers saved the chariots, a sword, a shield, the forge trough and a bundle of wood. Niall saved the bellows, sledges, anvil and anvil-block thus saving the smith from disaster. After this test Niall was selected as successor of the Ard Ri or High King of Ireland. A renowned warrior, much of his life was spent in predatory excursions against neighboring countries such as England, Wales and France. During one of these raiding expeditions, the future St. Patrick was carried off from Britain as a child to become a slave who herded sheep on Slemish Mountain for his pagan master. Niall died on one of these military forays to France in A.D. 405. Besides taking St. Patrick in his youth, Niall's reign is known mainly for two things. First, he consolidated the northern region of Ireland and created a dynasty that kept his descendants High Kings of Ireland for 600 years. Nial was the founder of the Ui Neill (descendants of Niall) dynasties of the midlands and the north of Ireland. Second, his military ability led him to the Irish Control of all of Alba and a large part of Britain. He seriously damaged the Romans ability to control Britain and even managed to carve out some Irish controlled territory in France. Niall asserted the nominal rule of Tara over the whole of Ireland and possibly campaigned against the Roman general Stilicho (father-in-law of the Emp. Honorius). Some songs say he was killed abroad by a hostage king of Leinster, and others say by a thunderbolt. He died a pagan, but after the coming of Christianity his descendants were among the most zealous in promoting and endowing the Church in Ireland, and nearly 300 of them were eventually canonized as saints. Niall had several sons: i) LOEGAIRE [High King of Ireland] ii) CONALL CREMHTHOINN [King of Meath] iii) MAINE iv) EOGAN [King of Ailech] v) CONALL GULBAN [King of Tir Conaill] vi) ENDE vii) CAIBRE |
Nial Naoighiallach, Niall Mor (or Niall of the Nine Hostages), Niall Noígiallach, Niall Mor Naoi-Ghiallach, Niall I of the Nine Hostages, Niall Noígillach of the Nine Hostages, Niall Noigiallach mac Echach Mugmedoin (Byrne), Niell | High King of Ireland | Youngest and only son of Eochaidh by the second wife, as aforesaid, succeeded Criomthainn and was the 126th monarch of Ireland. Was a stout, wise and warlike prince and fortunate in all his conquests and achievements and therefore called great; He was also called Niall Naoighiallach, i.e., Nial of the Nine Hostages, from the hostages taken from the nine several counties by him subdued and made tributary, viz., Munster, Leinster, Connacht, Ulster, the Britons, the Picts, the Saxons and the Morini, a people of Gaul towards Calais and Picardy; From whence he marched with his victorious army of Irish Scots, Picts and Britons further into Gaul in order to the conquest thereof; and encamping at the River Loire, was treacherously slain as he sat by the riverside by Eochaidh, King of Leinster, in revenge of a former wrong by him received from the said Niall,A.D. 405. And in the 27th year of his reign St. Patrick was first brought into Ireland at the age of 16 years, amoung 200 children brought by the armyout of Little Brittany, called Armorica, in Gaul. He was the first that gave the name of Scotia Minor to Scotland and ordained it to be called so ever after, till then (and still by the Irish) called Albion. | "Niall’s first expedition was into Alba to subdue the Picts. The little Irish (Scotic) colony in that part of Alba just opposite to Antrim had gradually been growing in numbers, strength, and prestige—until they excited the jealousy and enmity of the Picts, who tried to crush them. Niall fitted out a large fleet and sailed to the assistance of his people. Joined then by the Irish in Alba, he marched against the Picts, overcame them, took hostages from them and had Argyle and Cantire settled upon the Albanach Irish. After obtaining obedience from the Picts, his next foreign raid was into Britain. When Maximus and his Roman legions were, in consequence of the barbarian pressure upon the Continental Roman Empire, withdrawing from Britain, Niall, with his Irish hosts and Pictish allies, treaded upon their hurrying heels." A History of the Irish Race "One of the greatest high kings was Niall of the Nine Hostages, whose reign began in AD 379. He formed an alliance with the Scots and Picts and sent ships to plunder England, Scotland, Wales, and France. These raids did much to weaken the power of Rome in Britain and France. Neill reigned for twenty-seven years before being killed by the arrow of a rival, Eochaida, the deposed king of Leinster. Niall's ships brought many captives back to Ireland. One of them, Patrick, was the sixteen-year old son of a British Roman official. Patrick escaped from Ireland after six years of slavery, became a bishop, and returned to Ireland to convert its people to Christianity." The Royal History of Ireland Slain by an arrow shot by Eochaidh, son of Enna Ceinnseallach [Eochaid mc Énna Ceinselaig], on the brink of the River Loire in France. Eochaidh had been banished as the King of Leinster and had plans to be the High King of Ireland. The Annals of the Four Masters place Niall's death at Muir nIcht, i.e. the sea between France and England. The Eochaidh who shot the fatal arrow had been King of Leinster, was banished to Alba by Niall, and accompanied Scots King Gabhran, chief of the Dal Riada, when Gabhran took troops to France to support an expedition of Niall. |
| 405 A.D. Death of Niall of the Nine Hostages | |||||
| 433 A.D. St. Patrick returns to Ireland as Christian missionary and confronts King Loegaire. | |||||
| 91 | Eogan (Owen) King of Aileach. Eogan's mother was Ine, daughter of Dubtach (son of Moindach [King of Ulster]). With three of his brothers (Conall Gulban, Ende, and Cairbre) he took part in the overthrow of Ulidian power and the conquest of northwest Ireland, capturing the great stronghold at Aileach c425. He established his own kingdom in the peninsula of Innishowen (Innis Eoghain or “Eoghan’s Isle”) with its capital at the Grianan of Aileach, a prehistoric stone-built fortress on a hill at the root of the Inishowen peninsula near Derry. The territory of Conall, now Donegal was formerly known as Tir-Conall (the land of Conall). The O'Donnells were descendants of Conall. Owen's clan later expanded into Tyrone (Tir-Owen, the land of Owen). Eogan was converted to Christianity by St. Patrick himself c442 (who called him “the lion Eoghan mac Neill”). It is said Eogan was baptised by St. Patrick at a small well near the Grianan of Aileach. Eogan died 465; bur. at Eskaheen. His descendants, the Cenel Eoghain, became the principal branch of the Northern Ui Neill. By his wife, Indorb Finn “the White” (a princess of unknown nationality), he had with other issue: i) MUIREDACH [King of Aileach] ii) EOCHAID BINNIGH “the Tuneful,” who was ancestor of St. Maelrubha (b. 642; d. 722), founder of Applecross Abbey in Pictland, 673. iii) FERGUS, who had with other issue a son, Fiachra [Bishop of Cenel Eoghain c500]. |
Eoghan | King of Aileach | One of the sons of the said Nial Mor, from whom the territory of Inis-Eoghan in Ulster was called, had eleven brothers, viz, Laoguire, the 128th Monarch of Ireland; in the 4th year of whose reign St.Patrick came into Ireland the second time to plant the Christian faith, A.D.432. 2) Conal Cremthainn, ancestor the the O'Melaghlin kings of Meath; 3) Conal Gulban, ancestor to the O'Donnells, Lords and Earls of the territory of Tirconnell in Ulster, so called from him; 4) Fiachu, from whom the from Birr to the Hill of Uisneach in Medio Hibernica (Meath) is called; Cinel Fiacha and from him MacGeoghegan, Lords of that territory; O'Molloey, O'Donechar, etc., derive their pedigree; 5) Maine, whose patrimony was all the tract of land from Loch Ree to Loch Annin, near Molingar, and whose descendants are Muinter Tagan, that is, Sionnach, now called Fox, Lords of that territory of Muinter Tagan; MacGawley of Cabry, O'Dugan and O'Mulchoney,the prime antiquaries of Ireland; 6) Cairbre, ancestor of O'Flannagan of Tuath-Ratha, Muinter Cathalan or Cahill; 7) Fergus, a quo Cinel Fergusa; 8) Enna 9) Aongus 10) Aulthearg and 11) Fergus Ailtleathan. Of the last four I find no issue; of the rest of them and their issue more in due place. | The "Tripartite Life of St. Patrick", written in the 9th century, tells of St. Patrick's blessing upon Eogan and family: "Then Patrick blessed Eogan (Owen) with his sons. 'Which of thy sons' saith Patrick, 'is dearest to thee?' 'Muredach,' saith Eogan. 'Kingship shall descend from him forever' saith Patrick. 'And after him?' saith Patrick. 'Fergus,' saith Eogan. 'Ordained persons from him,' saith Patrick. 'And then Eochu Bindech' saith Eogan. 'Warriors from him,' saith Patrick. The story then goes on to show how one son of Fergus, Coelbad by name, made a bad beginning in respect to the fulfilment of the prophecy, for he expelled the saint from his territory. The other son Aedh (Hugh), whose territory adjoined Coelbad's, gave Saint Patrick a loving welcome and there they erected Domnach Mor Mach Tochair. The account of this visit to Inishowen indicates how the peninsula was apportioned to some of Owen's sons at a very early date in the history of his descendants, and if one is sceptical about the prophecy which Patrick is stated to have made about the future of the three favored sons of Owen, one must admit the substantial accuracy of the fulfilment. |
| 465 A.D. | |||||
| 92 | Muiredach
King of Aileach. Muiredach eloped with Eirc, wife of Saran, a British king. She m. 3rd his cousin, Fergus Cennfada “Long-head”, and was a daughter of Loarn Mor “the Great” (a king of the Scots who settled in Argyll, and after whom the district of Lorn is named). Muiredach died c480, having had with other issue four sons: i) MUIRCHEARTACH [King of Ireland] ii) MOEN, ancestor of the Cenel Moen, including Domnall O’Gairmleadhaigh [King of Cenel Eoghain 1143-45]. iii) FERADACH iv) EOGAN, father of Ronan, who was father of Ferdach, who was father of St. Mura [Abbot of Fahan, located west of Innishowen]. Mura (d. c645) is revered as the particular patron saint of the O’Neills, who have preserved his richly adorned pastoral staff (the “Bachal Mura”) and his bell. |
Muireadhach, Muirdach, Murdock | King of Aileach | Son of Eoghan, had nine brothers, viz., 1) Ailill 2) Fergus 3) Felim 4) Eochaidh Binneach 5) Cormac 6) Aongus 7) Dallan 8) Iallaun and 9) Dechin; of which Fergus, ancestor to O'Conor of Magh-Ith; Eochaidh Binneach, a quo Cinel Binne in Scotland; and Felim, a quo O Dibhdiorma, more of which hereafter. The said Muireadach had many sons, but two especially by his married wife, Earca, daughter of Loarn, King of the Dal Riata in Scotland, Muirchertach Mor and Fergus Mor, both called Mac Earca, or the sons of Earca, their mother. Whether anymore of thesons was by the said Earca is not set down. | Baptised by St. Patrick. Married Erca, the daughter of Loren Mor, Prince of Scottish Dalriada, now Knapdale in Argyll, Scotland. He died around 480. |
| 500 - 800 A.D. The Golden Age of Ireland. A period of great artistic and literary creativity during the rest of Europe's Dark Ages. | |||||
| 93 | Muircheartach
King of Ireland 512-34 A.D. “Mac Earca” was one of the victors in the battle of Ocha (482), in which the high king Ailill Molt — not a descendant of Niall Noigiallach — was killed, and which established the Ui Neill alone in the high kingship for the next five centuries. Muircheartach defeated and killed Oengus [King of Munster] in 489, did likewise to Duach Teangumha “Brazen-Tongued” [King of Connaught] in 504, extended the kingdom of Ailech into Derry by conquest, and defeated the Leinstermen, 524. He m. Duaibhsech, daughter of his enemy, Duach (who was also the ancestor of the O’Conor Don. He killed Sighe mac Dian, whose daughter, Sin, became his concubine to avenge her father; he was killed when she set fire to the house where he lay drunk, All Hallows’ Eve 534. By Duaibhsech he had with other issue three sons: i) FERGUS [King of Ireland 563-66], ruled jointly with his brother Domnall and may have been his twin; d. 566 of plague. ii) DOMNALL ILCEALGACH iii) BAETAN |
Muirchertach Mac Earca, Muircheartach Mor Mac Earca, Murtough, Muirchertach macErcae O'Néil, Muircheartach Mac Earcae mac Eogain (Byrne), Mac Erceni. Mac Niocaill: Muirchertach Mac Erca, Murkertach Mac Erca, Cenel nEogain †534. | High King of Ireland | Eldest son of Muireadhach, foresaid, the 131st Monarch of Ireland, reigned 24 years and died naturally in his bed, which was rare amoung the Irish monarchs in those days, says Keating, but others contradict him and say he was burnt in a house after being drowned in wine (perhaps meaning he was drunk) on all-holantide Eve, A.D. 527. It was in the 20th year of his predacessor's reign that his brother Fergus Mor, with five more of his brothers, viz., Fergus Mor, two more named Loarn and two named Aongus, with a complete army went into Scotland to assist his grandfather King Loarn, much afflicted by his enemies the Picts; who in several battles and engagements, were vanquished and overcome by Fergus and his party; who prosecuted the war so vigorously and followed the enemy to their own homes and reduced them to such extremity that they were glad to accept peace upon the conquerer's own conditions; whereupon the king's death, which happened about the same time, the said Fergus was unanimously elected or chosen as king, as being of the blood royal, by his mother; and the said Fergus, for a good and lucky omen, sent to his brother, then monarch of Ireland, for the marble chair called Liath-Fail or Cloch-na-cinnemhna, the latter importing in English "stone of destiny or fortune," to be crowned thereon; which fell out accordingly, for as he was the first absolute king of all Scotland of the Milesian race, so the succession contined in his blood and lineage ever since to this day as is partly hinted before and more fully shall appear in due place; this Muirchertach had four other brothers besides the six already named, viz., Forrach, ancestor to Mac Tathmaol Tigernach, a quo O Cunigan or Cunningham; Mongan, a quo O Croidhen and O Dunely; Dalagh, a quo O Daly and Moan or Maine. Note: this is incorrect. The Fergus Mor who settled in Scotland was not the brother of Muirchertach Mac Earca.This error (also in Keating's History) apparantly arose because of confusion between Earca, the mother of Muirchertach Mac Earca and Eirc or Erc, the father of the Fergus Mor who settled in Scotland, by legend accompanied by his brothers Loarn and Aongus. Earca, the mother of Muirchertach, was the daughter of Loarn, brother of this Fergus Mor, son of Erc, King of the Dal Riada in Ireland. | Son of Muireadhach [Muiredach Mor Mac Erc] [Keating says he was the son of Erc, son of Muireadhach], son of Eoghan son of Niall of the Nine Hostages. The Senchus Fer n'Alban says that Eochaid Muin-remor was the father of Erc. Keating says: "Earc, daughter of Lodharn king of Alba, was the mother of Muircheartach, son of Earc." The Annals of the Four Masters report that Loarn, another son of Eochaidh Muinreamhar, was born in 434. Brother of Fergus Mor Mac Earca, the founder of the Milesian Monarchy in Scotland, who crossed to Scotland and founded the kingdom of Dal Riada, becoming King of Dalriada. In 527, Muircheartach was burned to death in the house of Cleiteach, over the Boyne, on the night of Samhain, the first of November, after being drowned in wine. Father of Domhnall, Fearghus, and Baedan. |
| 527 A.D. | |||||
| 94 | Domnall Ilcealgach (Domnall the Deceitful) King of Ireland 563-566 A.D. Domnall ruled jointly with his brother, Fergus, who may have been his twin. They campaigned together, defeating and mortally wounding Eogan [King of Connaught] in 558 A.D. on the River Sligo; defeating Ailill [King of Connaught], who tried to escape battle in his war chariot in 549 and was killed; and winning the battle of Cul-Dreimhe in 561 against their kinsman, Diarmaid [King of Ireland & head of the Southern Ui Neill], because Diarmaid had offended their cousin, St. Columba. They also defeated the Irish Picts in 562 and the Leinstermen in 563. Domnall died 566 A.D. of plague, leaving three sons: i) EOCHAID [King of Ireland 569-72], ruled jointly with his uncle, Baetan, and was killed with him in 572 by Cronan [King of Keenaght & Cianachta of Glengiven]. From him descended the later sept whose chiefs were style O’Donnghaile (O’Donnelly) and who held Ballydonnelly in Co. Tyrone. All these chiefs were famous soldiers and were hereditary marshals of O’Neill’s military forces until the 17th century. ii) COLGU [King of Ailech 572-80], was defeated and killed in 580 by his kinsman Aedh Mac Ainmire [King of Tir Connaill] in rivalry for the over-kingship of the north [see above]. iii) AEDH UAIRDHNACH |
Domhnall Ilchealgach, Domnall Ilchealgach, Donall (1), Domhnall Ilchealgach, Domnall mac Muirchertaig O'Néill | High King of Ireland (Dual reign with brother Fergus) | i.e., the deceitful, son of Muirchertach, the 134th Monarch of Ireland, reigned jointly with his brother Fergus, 3 years, and died of the plague, both in one day, A.D. 561. They had three other brothers, Boadan, the 137th Monarch of Ireland, Niall and Scanlan. | Joint rule by the two sons of Muircheartach, son of Muireadhach. Their mother was Duinnseach, daughter of Duach Teangumha, king of Connaught. "Brothers—both died of the Plague in one day." Domhnall was the father of Eochaidh and Aedh Uairidhnach. Mac Niocaill: Forgus and Domnall, Cenel nEogain †566. |
| 566 A.D. | |||||
| 95 | Aedh Uaridhnach (Hugh of Ague) King of Ireland 604-12 A.D. Hugh “with the Ague” was a friend and benefactor of his cousin, St. Mura, and defeated the Leinstermen and exacted the famous cattle-tribute (the “borama”) — which the Leinstermen never paid without a fight. He died 612 A.D. of ague at the Ford of the Two Graves in Louth. He had one son, i) MAELFITHIG |
Aodh Uaridhnach, Aodh Uaridhrach, Aodh Uariodhnach, Aedh III Uaireodhnach, Aed Uaridnach macDomnaill O'Néil, Aed Allan (alias Aed Uaridnach) mac Domnail (Byrne) | High King of Ireland, King of Aileach |
His son [Domnall], the 143rd Monarch of Ireland, 7 years, slain in the battle of Atha-da-facla, A.D. 607. He had an older brother Eochu who was the 136th Monarch of Ireland and was slain by Cronan, King of Connacht, A.D. 563. | Son of Domhnall Ilchealgach, son of Muircheartach, son of Muireadhach, son of Eoghan. Brother of Eochaidh. Brigh, daughter of Orca Mac Eirc, son of Eochaidh, was the mother of Aedh Uairidhnach. Fell in the battle of da Fhearta. Mac Niocaill: Aed Uaridnach, Cenel nEogain †612. |
| 612 A.D. | |||||
| 96 | Maelfithig
Maelfithig was possibly King of Ailech 628-30 A.D., but that is disputed. Called by the chroniclers Chief of the Cenel- mac-Earca, succeeded his cousin Suibhne Menn, as ruler of Ailech, but was killed in battle by Suibhne’s brother Ernaine [Chief of the Cenel Fearadhaigh], who then took the kingship of Ailech in 630. Maelfithig had a son, i) MAELDUINE |
Maolfrithich, Maelfitric | King of Aileach? | His son [Aedh] | Lived at Aileach but did not become King of Aileach, or High King of Ireland. He was killed in battle in 630. |
| 630 A.D. | |||||
| 97 | Maelduine (Man of the Brown Pools) King of Ailech 671-81 A.D., who succeeded his kinsman Fergus (grandson of Suibhne Menn) in 671. He killed Dunchad [King of Oriel] in 677 and burned Dun-Ceithirn (and with it Dunghal [King of the Irish Picts], and also Cenndaeladh [King of Keenaght]). He was himself killed in battle in 681 at Leathairbhe, in rivalry against his kinsman Congal [King of Tir Conaill and afterwards King of Ireland] in the rivalry for the kingship of the North. Maelduin m. Cacht, daughter of Maelcobha [King of Tir Conaill], and by her had a son: i) FERGAL |
Maoldoon | King of Aileach, Prince of Ulster |
His son [Maelfithig] | Prince of Ulster 630-706, became King of Aileach 671-681 and died in 706. |
| 681 A.D. | |||||
| 98 | Fergal (The White Gael) King of Ireland 710-22 A.D. Fergal defeated the Southern Ui Neill of Meath in 710 at Armagh and banished his eldest heir to Britain for committing a homicide at the annual festival assembly at Taltiu (the “Fair of Teltown”), 1 Aug 716. He exeacted the cattle tribute from Leinster in 721 and was killed in battle in 722, leading 21,000 men against the Leinstermen at Allen, Kildare. He m. secretly a daughter of Congal [King of Ireland] (who had killed his father), and by her had a son: i) AEDH ALAINN “the Handsome” [King of Ireland] FERGAL m2. Athiocht, daughter of Cian [King of Keenaght], and by her had with other issue two sons: ii) NIALL FRASACH “of the Showers” [King of Ireland] iii) CONCHOBHAR, whose descendants were styled O’Caithain (O’Cahan, O’Cane); they seized Glengiven (Dungiven in Derry, conquered from the Clanachta or Keenaght) in the 12th century and thereafter produced the most powerful “ur-ri” (under-kings) among the Cenel Eoghain, with the duty of inaugurating the O’Neill himself as King of Tir Eoghain. |
Feargall, Fearghal, Fergal Mac Maolduin, Feargall, Fergal mac Maele Duin, Fergal mac Máele Dúin O'Néill | High King of Ireland, King of Aileach, Prince of Ulster |
His son [Maelduine], the 156th Monarch of Ireland, 10 years, slain in the battle of Allon by Moroch, King of Leinster, A.D. 718. He had a brother Adain, a quo the Dalyes of Leath-Cuinn. | Son of Maelduin (Maoilduin, Mael Duinn †681), son of Maelfithrigh (Maoilfhithrigh, Mael Fithrig †630), son of Aodh Uairidhnach, son of Domhnall, son of Muircheartach, son of Muireadhach, son of Eoghan, son of Nial of the Nine Hostages. Slain in the battle of Almhain, by Dunchadh, son of Murchadh, and Aedh, son of Colgan, an heir presumptive to the sovereignty. Father of Niall Frosach and Aedh Allan. Mac Niocaill: Fergal, Cenel nEogain †722. |
| 722 A.D. | |||||
| 99 | Niall Frasach (Niall of the Showers) King of Ireland 763-70 A.D. Niall saw his reign open with three months of snow and continue with famine, earthquakes, and pestilence. Taking this as a bad sign, he abdicated in 770 and retired to Iona as a monk, where he died 778. He had m. Eithne (d. 768), daughter of Breasal of Brega, and by her had a son, i) AEDH ORINEDHE |
Niall Frossach, Niall Frosach, Nial Frossach mac Fergaile, Niall Frassach, Niall II of the Showers, Niall Frossach mac Fergal O'Néill. (Listed as Niall Frassach by O Corrain in his table of Kings of the Northern Ui Neill.) | High King of Ireland | i.e., of the showers, so called from three wonderful showers that fell in his time in three different places in Ireland. The first, a shower of honey, in Fathan- beg; the second, a shower of silver in Fathan-Mor; the third, a shower of blood in Magh-laghen. So says Keating, wherein other authors differ, who say the first shower was of silver, the second of honey and the third of wheat, and describe the miraculous occasion of the said showers as followeth: In that monarch's reign there was an extraordinary famine throughout all the kingdom and the king being one night at supper, with seven revered Bishops in his company, all the lights in the room accidentally expired and when new lights were brought the king perceived the table and dishes all bloody; and inquiring the cause thereof the Bishops ingeniously confessed that they being very hungry while they were in the dark, cut one another shouting who should have most of the meat, either to satisfy their present hunger or to put up and reserve for another time. Whereat the king, a just, pious and religious Prince, was moved with pity, considering what a sad condition the generality of the nation was in seeing the Rev. Prelates reduced to that extremity. Whereupon he immediately made a vow never to eat more until God in his infinite mercy were graciously pleased to deliver the people in their great distress. And thereupon desired the Prelates to join with him in fasting and prayer that the Lord would mercifully withdraw his wrath from the nation. And to that end they all went to the King's oratory, where they continued 24 hours. A messenger came to the King to tell him of a great shower of silver which had fallen in the fields of Fathan-beg; which, when the King heard he bemoaned that silver was of no avail to the poor people when victuals could not be had for it; and entreated the Bishops to continue their devotions, which, having done 24 hours more, news came to the King of a great shower of honey that dropped in the fields of Fathan-mor. Whereat the King bemoaned the second time saying that honey was of little avail as silver in regard that if the people in their hungry, starving condition did eat thereof they would swell up and die. And thereupon renewed their earnest supplications which they contined 24 hours longer. At the end thereof the King had notice that God was pleased to shower down a vast quantity of wheat in the fields of Magh-laighen, which the King ordered to be gathered up and distributed amoung the people of the whole nation and thereby relieved them from the famine. And the King in thankful acknowledgment of God's great mercy and favor wooed at that time, immediately, after his reign of 7 years, laid down his crown and kingdom to his next successor and retired into Scotland and exchanged his royal diadem and robes for a monk's cowle and habit in St. Columba's Monastery of Iona, A.D. 765; where he spent 8 years wholly devoting himself to works of piety and Christian repentence, being a great penitent, and dying a holy saint, A.D. 773. He was the 162nd Monarch of Ireland and had three brothers, Conor, ancestor of O'Cahan; Hugh Allan, a quo O'Brain and Colea, a quo Clan Colean. | Son of Fearghal. In 763, Eithne, daughter of Breasal Breagh, and wife of the King of Teamhair Tara, died. In 765, Niall resigned; and he died at I Coluim Cille, on his pilgrimage, eight years afterwards. Father of Aedh Oirdnidhe. Mac Niocaill: Niall Frossach, Cenel nEogain †778. |
| 795 A.D. Vikings invade Ireland | |||||
| 100 | Aedh Oirnidhe (Hugh the Dignified) King of Ireland 797-819 A.D. Aedh devastated Meath in 798 and Leinster (also taking hostages from its king) in 804. He punished the Ulaid in 805 for profaning St. Patrick’s shrine, drove the Connaught invaders out of Meath in 808 “as if they were goats and sheep,” and sent ambassadors to Charlemagne. He was prevented from celebrating the Fair of Taltiu in 811 by the monks of Tallaght, whose territory had been violated, but made ample reparations. He defeated the Cenel Conaill in 815 and died 819. He m. Maedhbh, daughter of Inreachtach [Chief of Durias, in Antrim], and by her had with other issue two sons: i) NIALL CAILLE [King of Ireland] ii) MAELDUIN [King of Ailech] |
Aodh Orinedha, Aedh Oirnidha, Aed Oirdnide mac Neill, Aodh Oirndighe, Aodh Ornigh, Aedh V The Dignified,Aed Ordnee. Aed Oirdnide mac Néill Frossach O'Néill. (Listed as Aed Oirnide by O Corrain in his table of Kings of the Northern Ui Neill.) | High King of Ireland, King of Aileach, Prince of Ulster |
Son of Niall Frasach, the 164th Monarch of Ireland, after 25 years' reign, was slain in the battle of Fearta, A.D. 817. Others say he died a great penitent at a place called Athada-Fearta. He had four brothers, Colman, a quo Clan Colman; Fearchar, from whom are Clan Fearchar; Cuana, a quo Muitnir Clunbro and Muirchertach, a quo Clan Muriarty of Loch-Eanach. In his reign such prodigeous thunder and lightening happened that killed many men, women and children over all the kingdom and particularly in a nook of the country between Coreavaghan and the sea in Munster. 1010 persons were destroyed thereby and many other prodigies, the forerunner of the Danish invasion which soon after followed. | Son of Niall Frosach. Keating says that it was during his reign that depredations of the Lochlonnach (man who is strong at sea) against Ireland began. The Annals note that in 797, Hi Coluim Cille was burned by foreigners, i.e. by the Norsemen, and that in 801, Hi Coluim Cille was plundered again by foreigners. In 804, the high king plundered Ulidia in revenge of the profanation of the shrine of Patrick, against Dunchu. Died at Ath Da Fhearta, in Magh Conaille. Keating says he was slain in the battle of Da Fearta by Maolcanaigh. Father of Niall Caille. Mac Niocaill: Aed Ordnide, Cenel nEogain †819. |
| 817 A.D. | |||||
| 101 | Niall Caille (Niall of the River Caillen) King of Ireland 833-46 A.D. Niall deposed his cousin Murchad in 823 and became King of the North. In 827 he defeated the men of Oriel who had opposed the election in of his personal confessor as Archbishop of Armagh. He routed the Norse invaders who landed at Lough Foyle in 823, and defeated the Danes twice more in 835, and again in 843. He defeated Feidhlimidh [King of Munster] in 840, and defeated the Danes again in 846, but during the pursuit of the latter he was drowned in the flooded River Callain while trying to rescue one of his men. He m. Gormfhlaith (d. 860), daughter of Dunchad mac Domhnaill, by whom he had three sons and a daughter: i) AEDH FINNLIATH “White Hair” [King of Ireland] ii) OENGUS, ancestor of the Cenel n’Oengusa. iii) FLAITHBERTACH, whose son, Ualghrg [Royal Heir of the North], who d. 879, was ancestor of Aedh O’Ualghairg [King of Cenel Eoghain 1065-67]. iv) A daughter (name unknown), who m. Conaing [K. of Brega]. She composed a poem on the Battle of Cilluaindaighri, in which was slain her son, Flann. |
Niall Caille mac Aeda, Niall Caille mac Aeda Oirdnide O'Néil, Niall Caillne. (Listed as Niall Caille by O Corrain in his table of Kings of the Northern Ui Neill.) | High King of Ireland, King of Aileach |
So called after his death from the River Caillen, where he was drowned after 13 years' reign, A.D. 844, the 166th Monarch of Ireland. He fought many battles with the Danes and Norwegians, in most of which, although the Danes were wasted, yet continual supplies pouring into them made them very formidable. For this reason they and fortified Dublin and other strong places upon the sea banks. He had three brothers, Mailduin, a quo Siol Muldoon; Fogartach, quo Muintir Con-sidhe, or King; and Blathmac of Dubheana. | Son of Aedh Oirdnidhe.The Lochlonnaigh brought 60 ships from Normandy to the Boyne, and forty to the Liffey, and plundered the country. In 844, at the age of 55, he drowned in the Callainn River "which flows by the side of Maras." Father of Niall Glundubh. |
| 844 A.D. | |||||
| 102 | Aedh Finnlaith (White Hair) (Hoary) King of Ireland 862-79 A.D. Aedh to war against the Southern Ui Neill in 860 and invaded the camp of Maelsechlainn [King of Ireland] but was driven back. He plundered all the Danish fortresses in Ulster and defeated the Danes near Lough Foyle in 866, after which “twelve score of their heads were counted before him.” He won a great victory in 868 against heavy odds at Killaderry over the Meath and Leinstermen, who were allied with the Dublin Vikings. The bards called Aedh “Chief King of the Gael”; he died 879. He m. Maelmuire, daughter of Kenneth MacAlpin [King of the Scots & Picts]; she was probably the widow of Run [King of the Strathclyde]. By her he had two sons and a daughter: i) DOMNALL [King of Ailech] ii) NIALL GLUNDUBH “Black Knee” [King of Ireland] iii) A daughter (name unknown), who m. Olaf “the Young” [Norse King of Dublin 853- 72]; Olaf was killed in battle 874 in Scotland. |
Aodh Finnlaith, Aedh Finlaigh, Aed Findliath mac Neill, Aodh Fionnliath, Aodh Finnliath, Aedh VI, Aidus Finliath, Aed Findliath mac Néill Caille O'Néill. (Listed as Aed Finnliath †879 by O Corrain in his table of Kings of the Northern Ui Neill.) | High King of Ireland, King of Aileach Prince of Ulster |
i.e., hoary, son of Niall Caille, the 168th Monarch of Ireland, 16 years, in which time he fought and defeated the Danes in several battles and was worsted in others and died at Deom-Enesclaun, A.D.876. He had four brothers, Dubhiontagh (O'Dubhionnachta); Aongus,a quo Clanongusa; Flahertach, a quo O'Hualby and Brian Oge, a quo Clan Braoin of Magh-Ith. He married Maoilmuire, or Mary, daughter of Kenneth, son of Alpin, both kings of Scotland, by whom he had issue. | Son of Niall Caille. Married to Maolmire, daughter of Cionaoth, Scots Kings, son of Ailpin, Scots Kings, king of Alba. She was the mother of Niall Glundubh. McLaughlin's descended from Aodh Finnliath. Grandson of Muiredach, who was king of Ulster for about 20 years before his death in 839. SS#7788 shows the death of Aed Findlaith on November 20, 879, with burial at Armagh. |
| 879 A.D. | |||||
| 103 | Niall Glundubh (Black Knee) King of Ireland 916-19 A.D. Niall captured and drowned a murderer in 907 who had violated the sanctuary of Armagh; he also revived the ancient Fair of Taitiu in 916. He campaigned repeatedly against the Danes and Norse in Ireland, but was mortally wounded in battle near Dublin, 15 Sep 919, fighting against Sigtryg [King of Dublin, afterward King of York]. He m. Gormfhlaith (who died 947 after accidentally falling on her sharp-pointed bedpost), widow 1st of Cormac [King of Munster] and 2nd of Cearbhall [King of Leinster]; she was the daughter of his predecessor, Flann Sionna “the Fox” [King of Ireland 876-916], head of the Southern Ui Neill. By her he had three sons: i) CONAING [Royal Heir of Ireland], who killed 1,200 Ulidians in battle near Lough Erne. He died 937, leaving a son, Domnall, whose son, Fergal [King of Ailech 980-89], died 1001, and whose decendants were local kings of Tulach Og until 1068. ii) MUIRCHEARTACH “of the Leather Cloaks” [King of Ailech, Royal Heir of Ireland] iii) MAELCIARAIN |
Niall Glun-Dubh, Niall Glundubh mac Aeda, Niall Glundubh (aquo O'Neill), Niall IV Black-Knee, Niall Glunduff, Niall Glúndub macAedo Findliath O'Néill, Niall Glundub mac Aeda (Byrne). (Listed as Niall Glundub by O Corrain in his table of Kings of the Northern Ui Neill.) | High King of Ireland, King of Aileach, Prince of Ulster |
i.e., black-knee, the 170th Monarch of Ireland, for three years, had many conflicts with the Danes, wherein most commonly he had the better, at last making up a great army in order to besiege Dublin. A battle was fought between them wherein the Monarch lost his life, and after a great slaughter on both sides, his army routed, A.D. 917. From him the surname O'Neill or Clanna Neill took beginning. He had a brother Domnall, King of Aileach, ancestor to the familly of MacLochlin, some whereof were monarchs of Ireland. | Note: The text from O'Ferrall's "Linea Antiqua" regarding Domnall in the column to the left is incorrect. The McLaughlins properly descend from Niall Glundubh rather than from his brother, Domnall. Son of Aedh Finnliath. Also King of Ailech. Grandson of Kenneth (MacAlpin), Scots Kings. Slain in the battle of Ath-cliath (i. e. of Cill-Mosamhog, by the side of Ath-cliath) in which victory was gained over the Irish, by Imhar and Sitric Gale. The Pictish Chronicles say he died on September 15, 919. One of eight kings of the Ui Neill, and four of other dynasties, called a "king of Ireland" by the Annals of Ulster. (Byrne p. 256) The O'Neills take their surname from Niall Glundubh and not from Niall of the Nine Hostages as so many imagine. |
| 919 A.D. | |||||
| 104 | Muirchertach (Muirchertach of the Leather Cloaks) King of Ailech 938-43 A.D., Royal Heir of Ireland. Muirchertach was called “the Hector of the Western World”. He was one of the greatest of Irish military commanders, and was known by his long yellow hair. Though generous to his enemies, he often defeated the Danes and Norsemen and overran the region around Dublin; in 927 he defeated and killed Goach, the rebellious local king of Keenaght. He was caught offguard by the Norse in his own fortress of Ailech in 939, and was taken as a prisoner to their ships on Lough Swilly, but escaped; he fitted out his own fleet and pursued the Norse to their base in the Hebrides, which he plundered in 941. He then made his famous Circuit of Ireland in midwinter of that year with a picked force of the Cenel Eoghain (wearing leather cloaks against the cold), carrying off the local kings in chains, feasting them royally at Ailech, and them sending them as hostages to his father-in-law, the High King. Muirchertach was killed in battle against Blacar [King of Dublin] in Mar 943. He m1 Flann (who died 940), daughter of Donchadh [King of Ireland 919-44], head of the Southern Ui Neill]. He m2 941 Dubhdara, daughter of Ceallach [King of Ossory]. By Flann he had with other issue two sons and a daughter: i) FLAITHBERTACH [King of Ailech], who was killed 949 defending his lands against a raid by the Cenel Conail. ii) DOMNALL ARDMACHA “of Armagh” [King of Ireland] iii) DONNFHLAITH, who m1 DOMNALL [King of Meath 951-54], head of the Southern Ui Neill. She m2 Olaf Cuaran “Hairy-Breeches” [King of Northumberland 941-44 & 948-52; King of Dublin 945- 48 & 953-81], who resigned his kingdom and died 981 a pilgrim in Iona. |
Muirchertach na ccochall ceraiciann, Muircheartach Na Cochall Craicenn, Muirchertach Na Midhe | King of Aileach, Prince of Ulster |
i.e., of the leather cloaks; had two brothers, Conell and Maoilciaran but no issue from either that we find. | Took his nickname from the leatherjacket he invented that partly served as armor for his soldiers. A great hero and Royal Heir of the High Kingship, but was killed in battle against Blaear, the Danish king of Dublin, before he could become High King. |
| 943 A.D. | |||||
| 105 | Domnall of Armagh
King of Ireland 956-80 A.D. Domnall was the first of the line to be styled “O’Neill” (Ua Neill or “grandson of Niall), being possibly the first Irishman of station to assume what became an hereditary surname; it may have been intended as a quasi-title during the period 944-56, when to be a grandson of Niall “Black-Knee” implied rightful inheritance of the High Kingship (despite the usurpation of Congalach [King of Brega], who had seized the High Kingship by force of arms). Domnall was a patron of learning, and gave “the full of St. Patrick’s Bell of silver” to the Archbishop of Armagh in 947. In 962 he carried light boats overland and raided the Danes in the lake-dwellings and islands on Lough Ennell; he raided the settlers again in 969, buring 300 of them in one house. He defeated and overran Meath in 970, and killed Gillacoluim [King of Tir Conaill] in 977. He died 980 at Armagh, after serving a long penance for his sins. He m. Mor, who was probably a daughter of Tadhg “of the Three Towers” [King of Connaught], and had issue: i) MUIRDAIGH, who had two sons, Muircheartach and Lochlann ii) MUIRCHEARTACH Midheach (Royal Heir of Ireland), forefather of the three main branches of the O'Neill dynasty (the O'Neill Mor of Tyrone, the O'Neill of the Fews, the O'Neills Buihe of Clanaboy) iii) AEDH CRAOIBHE TULCHA [King of Ailech 989- 1004], defeated the Ulidians 1004 at Craebh-Tulcha, where the Ulidian kings were inaugurated under the sacred tree (the “craebh”) at Crewe, Antrim; however, he was killed in his moment of victory at the age of 28 years (and left issue) iv) AEDH II (“da Aedh”) [Royal Heir in the North], who was called by the same name as his older brother, and was killed 1021. |
Domnall of Ardmacha, Domnall Ua Neill, Donall (4), Domhnall IV, Domnall macMuirchertaig O'Néill, Domhnall Ua Neill (e.g., M967.10, M969.5, M976.7), Domnall ua Neill (Byrne). (Listed as Domnall by O Corrain in his table of Kings of the Northern Ui Neill.) | High King of Ireland, King of Aileach |
The 173rd Monarch of Ireland, after 24 years' reign, died at Ardmacha, A.D. 978. During his long reign we find but little progress by him made against the invading Danes, but wholely bent his arms against his subjects, preying, burning and slaughtering the Connacians, whether deservedly or not, I know not. But know it was no seasonable time for them to fall foul upon one and other while their common enemy was victoriously triumphing over them both. | Also, King of Ailech. Son of Muircheartach of the Leather Cloaks †943, King of Ailech, son of Niall Glundubh. In 963, the Annals record: "An intolerable famine in Ireland, so that the father used to sell his son and daughter for food." In 967, in contrast, there was "very great fruit, so that eight sacks were brought from the foot of one tree." Died at Ard-Macha. One of eight kings of the Ui Neill, and four of other dynasties, called a "king of Ireland" by the Annals of Ulster. (Byrne p. 256) |
| 980 A.D. | |||||
| 106 | Muirdaigh
Muirdaigh had two sons: i) MUIRCHEARTACH, killed 1015 by Conchobhar O'Domhnallain, and ii) LOCHLAN, whose dynasty took the surname Mac Lochlainn. |
Muiredach, Muirdach | -- | The son of Domnall of Armagh;; had a younger brother Muirchertach, from whom descend the O'Neills, in later centuries Princes of Tyrone and Lords of Clanaboy. | Neither Muirdaigh nor his son, Lochlan, appear in the Annals of Ireland. |
| 1014 A.D. High King Brian Boru permanently curbs Viking expansion into Ireland at the Battle of Clontarf. Boru is killed in the battle. | |||||
| 107 | Lochlan
Lived about 1020 A.D. The personal name "Lochlan" or its variant in Irish, "Lachlan," forms the basis for the surname MacLochlainn (genitive form), meaning "son of Lochlan," commonly anglicised to MacLaughlin or MacLoughlin. Many interpretations have been advanced for the surname MacLochlainn, which is commonly said to have been of Norse origin, including "men of the fiord-land or lakes, strong at sea and sons of the sea." But these interpretations are based on the Irish root "Loch" meaning lough or lake and are clearly of Irish origin. In the ancient annals of Ireland, however, the homeland of the Norse invaders of the 9th and 10th centuries was invariably referred to by the annalists as "Lochlan," often found in the text as "Tir na Lochlannaigh" or the "land of the Norsemen." Lochlan had a son, i) ARDGAR [King of Ailech 1061-64] |
Lochlann, Lochlainn | -- | The son of Muirdaigh. Of Lochlan, little is known, except that by legend he was the son of a Viking Princess, hence his name (Lochlan, i.e., Land of the Norsemen) | Norse scholars influenced by the work of Marstrander believe the name "Lochlan" was a corruption of the Norse "Rogaland," a region of Norway from which many of the first Norse invaders of the western isles emigrated. According to Marstrander, on an Irish tongue "Rogaland" would become Rochlann which would later become "Lochlann" under the influence of the second "L" and a folk-entymological association with Loch (Gaelic for lake). Irish experts (Woulfe and MacLysaght) indicate "Lochlan" was a Norse personal name, but there is no support for this thesis in traditional Norse genealogies and if the name did originate as a personal name amoung the Norse it did so in Ireland. Many have suggested that the name "Lochlan" therefor indicates intermarriage with the Norse and this may well have been the case, particularly in those families which were amoung the first to adopt the name. |
| 108 | Ardgar MacLochlainn
King of Ailech 1061-64 A.D. Ardgar took the surname MacLochlainn (Mac = son. i.e. MacLochlainn = son of Lochlan.) Ardgar held the local kingship of Tulach Og in 1051, when he was expelled by Aedh O'Neill, another grandson of Niall "Black-Knee." He was restored to Tulach Og 1054 and promoted to Ailech 1061. He died 1064 at Tulach Og and was buried in the royal tomb at Armagh. Ardgar had a son, i) DONALD [King of Ireland 1090-1121] |
Ardghal MacLochlainn | King of Aileach, King of Tulach Og |
Son of Lochlan. Ardgar, the King of Aileach, died A.D. 1064. Was the first to assume the surname MacLochlainn (McLaughlin). | Expelled from kingship of Tulach-og in 1051. Died at Tuloch-og and buried at Armagh in the mausoleum of the Kings in 1064. |
| 1064 A.D. | |||||
| 109 | Donald MacLochlainn
King of Aileach 1083-90 A.D. High King of Ireland 1090-1121. Donald was perhaps the most warlike and most capable ruler of his time, was the ancestor of the Mac Lochlainn kings of the Cenel Eoghain. Donald took advantage of the decline of the Clan Domhnall dynasty (from Niall Glundubh's brother) to move north and seize Inishowen, moving his base to Derry around 1100. He safeguarded his position in the north by imposing his son Niall as King of Tir Conaill to the west. His main opponents for the high kingship were the O'Brien kings of Munster. During this period, the O'Brien clan set up their capital at Tullyhog where their kings where inaugurated on a sacred stone. Donald engaged the O'Briens in countless military compaigns across the country. Donald penetraded into Munster and burnt the palace of Kinkora. In return, Mortogh O'Brien invaded Ulster, destroyed many of its settlements, and leveled the palace of Aileach. Each of Muircheartach O'Brien's soldiers carried one of Aileach's stones back to Munster as a proof of their chief's retaliation. The climactical showdown between the two leaders resulted in a remarkable reconciliation. Muircheartach had invaded Ulster with and immense army, and was met by Donald at the head of the forces of the north on the plains of Muirtimne. The armies were already drawn up in order of battle, waiting for the signal to engage, when the archbishops of Armagh and Cashel threw themselves between the two forces, and a resulting treaty secured a solid and lasting peace. Muircheartach retuned soon after to a monastery. Donald also retired some time before his death to the house of St. Columb in Derry, in which he died, 1121, in his seventy-third year. He was, according to one of the ecclesiastical writers, most successful in his undertakings, frank, a just rewarder of the powerful, a generous giver of the poor, and the handsomest of his country-men. Donald had three sons, i) NIALL Heir to the kingship of Aileach, was slain in 1119. ii) MAGNUS [King of Aileach 1128] Slain in 1128. iii) CONCHOBAR (Connor) [King of Aileach 1121-28 & 1128-36] Slain in 1136. |
Domnall MacLochlainn, Domhnall MacLochlainn, Donnell MacLochlainn, Domnall Ua Lochlainn, Domhnall Mac Lochlainn, Donall MacLoghlin, son of Ardgal, King of Aileach. Donall O'Loghlann, Domnall macArdgar O'Lochlainn O'Néill. Domnall Ua Lochlainn (Byrne). (Listed as Domnall by O Corrain in his table of Kings of the Northern Ui Neill.) | High King of Ireland, King of Aileach |
The King of Aileach and the 179th Monarch of Ireland, reigned jointly with Muirchertach O'Brien, the King of Munster, and alone, both before and after him, 35 years, most of which time was spent in bloody wars and devastations between these two competitors, until at length they agreed to the old division of Leath Mugha (the south) and Leath Cuinn (the north) between them; and both ended their days penitently, Muirchertach a monk at Lismore, A.D. 1119 and Domnall [Donald] in the Monastery of Columcille at Derry, now Londonderry, A.D. 1121. | Also King of Ailech. Son of Ardgar macLochlain, King of Ailech. Jointly contested for the rule with Muircheartach Ua Briain. U1083.6 Domnall ua Lochlainn assumed the kingship of Cenél Eógain. He carried out a king's raid on the Conaille and carried off a great prey of cattle and gave stipends from that prey to the men of Fernmag. M1088.10—An army was led by Domhnall, the son of Mac Lochlainn, King of Ireland. M1090.4—A great meeting was attended by "Domhnall, the son of Mac Lochlainn, King of Aileach . . . M1090.7." In the year 1111 an army was led by the eastern Ulidians to Tullyhog (Tulach Og) where they cut down its ancient trees. In revenge Neill MacLochlainn made a raid upon the Ulidians, and carried off 3,000 cows. In 1113, Donald MacLochlainn at the head of the army deposed the King of Ulidia, retained a portion of Ulidian territory, and divided the remainder into two parts under petty chiefs. Donald ordered the creation of a beautiful and costly shrine (protective covering), made to cover and protect the Bell of St. Patrick. At that time the bell was over 500 years old and was a cherished holy relic. Both St. Patrick's Bell and the shrine are now in the National Museum in Dublin. |
| 110 | Niall MacLochlainn
Niall, intruded King of Tir Conaill and the royal heir to the kingship of Aileach, was slain by the Cinel Moain of Magh Ith at 28 years of age. Niall had a son, i) MUIRCHERTACH (slain 1166) |
Nial MacLochlainn | King of Aileach, King of Tir Conaill |
Son of Domnall [Donald]. The King of Aileach; had a brother, Conor. Died A.D. 1119; 28 years old. | Niall's brother Conchobar (Connor) became King of Aileach from 1121 and, except for a short period when his brother Magnus took his place, remained so until his death at the hands of a rival dynasty in 1136, within three months of Magnus' entering the kingship. |
| 1121 A.D. | |||||
| 111 | Muirchertach MacLochlainn
King of Aileach in 1136 A.D. and High King of Ireland with opposition in 1149. His main opponents for the high kingship had now become the O'Connor kings of Connacht. He carried on numerous military campaigns against them and in 1161 they submitted to his authority, leaving Muirchertach as undisputed high king of Ireland. He allied himself with the religious order founded by St. Columcille and cooperated with them to remodel Derry in the 1160's, building a wall to divide the religious settlement from the secular settlement that had grown up around it and constructing the Teampall Mor [Great Church]. Like his grandfather, he dismembered the kingdom of Ulaid but his adventures there would lead to his undoing. In 1166 he was killed after blinding the king of Ulaid in violation of the protection of the king of Airgialla. Tir Eoghain was subsequently divided in two by O'Connor, his successor as high king, in an attempt to destroy MacLochlainn hegemony in the north. In 1167 the Annals of the Four Masters state that: "…..Ua Conchobhair divided the territory into two parts, i.e., gave that part of Tir-Eogain north of the mountain, i.e., Callainn [Slieve Gallion], to Naill Ua Lochlainn…...and that part of the country of the Cenel to the south of the mountain to Aedh Ua Neill…..". So began a new era in which the MacLochlainns lost their monopoly of succession to the kingship, which became bitterly contested with the O Neills. Alone among the dynasties of Ireland the Aileach dynasties refused to submit to Henry II after the Anglo-Norman invasion of 1169 but, once Ulaid had been obliterated by the Anglo-Norman earldom of Ulster, Tir Eoghain found itself within the Anglo-Norman sphere of influence. Muirchertach had 4 sons: i) CONCHOBAR (Connor) MACLOCHLAINN (slain 1170) ii) NIALL MACLOCHLAINN (slain 1176) iii) MAELSECHNAILL MACLOCHLAINN (slain 1185) iv) MURTOUGH MACLOCHLAINN (slain 1196) |
Muircearth MacLoghlin, king of the Ui Neill, Murtagh MacLochlainn, Muirchertach mac Neill mac Lochlainn, Murkertach O'Loghlan, Murtough O'Loughlin, Muirchertach Mac Lochlainn. (Byrne). (Listed as Muirchertachby O Corrain in his table of Kings of the Northern Ui Neill.) | High King of Ireland, King of Aileach |
His son [Niall], the King of Aileach and the 182nd and last save one Monarch of Ireland of the Milesian Irish. A warlike, victorious and fortunate Prince, brought all the provinces of Ireland under his subjugation, forced hostages from them and after 10 years' absolute reign, was by Donoch O'Carroll, King of Oirgialla or Oriell , slain in battle, A.D. 1166. | Son of Niall, son of Domnall [Donald], son of Ardgar, son of Lochlann (Lochlainn). Also King of Cenel Eogan from 1136 to 1143, when he was deposed, and from 1145 to 1166. Keating says he "held the sovereignty of Leath Cuinn and of the greater part of Ireland eighteen years till he fell by the men of Fearnmhagh [Farney] and by O'Briunn." The victorious army was led by Donnchadh Ua Cearbhaill (O'Carroll), lord of Oirghialla. (M1166.10). One of eight kings of the Ui Neill, and four of other dynasties, called a "king of Ireland" by the Annals of Ulster. (Byrne p. 256) Muirchertach MacLochlainn was the last McLaughlin High King of Ireland and according to the annalists, the "last, save one, Monarch of the Irish Milesian race," a reference to the arrival of the Norman-English barons in Ireland in 1171 under Strongbow, an event which effectively ended the Irish High Kingship of the island. Like his grandfather Donald, Muirchertach reigned with opposition from a rival claimant to the Monarchy, this time from Ruaidhri (Rory) O'Connor, the King of Connacht. He suffered quite a different fate than his distinguished ancestor, Donald. In 1156 Muirchertach MacLochlainn attended the consecration of Millifont Church, gifting the clergy with 120 cows and 60 ounces of gold. In 1162 he led a hosting of the north of Ireland to Magh-Fitharte, where he spent a week burning the corn and the towns of the foreigners (English). In 1166 he slew Aodh O'Mulfoyle, the King of Carrickabraghy and blinded Eochaidh MacDunleby O'Haughey, the King of Ulaid, in violation of sanctuary offered by the church and Donnchadh O'Carroll, the King of Oriel. In retalliation for this outrage against the church, O'Carroll led an uprising of the subject kingdoms of Aileach against Muirchertach MacLochlainn. Because of his treachery in blinding O'Haughey, Muirchertach was abandoned by his sept, "save a few," the Annals relate, and was slain by Donnchadh O'Carroll along with thirteen members of his party. He was buried in Armagh "to the dishonor of the Derry community in being carried away from the cemetery, 1166 A.D." |
| 1169 A.D. The Anglo-Normans arrive in Ireland, conquering much of the south. Anglo-Norman expansion begins under Henry II, John de Courcy, Strongbow, and Hugh de Lacy. | |||||
| 112 | Murtough MacLochlainn (The destroyer of the Cities and Castles of the English) Murtough and his brother Maelsechnaill enjoyed considerable success against the Anglo-Normans. Murtough and his three brothers held the kingship of Aileach in turn between 1167 and 1196. The Kingdom of Aileach had lost some of its early grandeur by the 12th century, since the Mormans had moved into parts of Ulster and controlled vast territories on the North of Ireland. The appelation "King of Aileach" was still used by the Annalists, but more often the term "King of Cinel-Eoghainn," or "King of the kindred of Owen" becamed used in its place, in tacit recognition of the advances of the Normans beginning in about 1177. The mistake of pursuing tribal quarrels and personal vendettas in the face of a common enemy (the Normans), which ended in the defeat of 1182, was to be repeated again. Under the year 1196, the Annals record that Murtough McLaughlin, described as presumptive heir to the throne of Ireland and destroyer of the cities and castles of the English, was killed by Donough, son of Blosky O'Cahan, at the instigation of Clan Owen Murtough had 2 sons: i) CONCHOBAR (Connor) "the Little" MACLOCHLAINN (slain 1201) ii) DOMNALL MACLOCHLAINN (slain 1241) |
Muirchertach MacLochlainn, Muircheartach MacLochlainn, Murtagh MacLochlainn | King of Aileach, Lord of the Cinel Eoghainn |
Murtough, the son of Murtough O'Loughlin, Lord of Kinel-Owen, presumptive heir to the throne of Ireland, tower of the valour and achievements of Leth-Chuinn, destroyer of the cities and castles of the English, and founder of churches and fair nemeds (sanctuaries), was killed by Donough, the son of Blosky O'Kane, at the instigation of the Kinel-Owen, who had pledged their loyalty to him before the Three Shrines and the Canoin-Phatruig i.e. the Book of Armagh. His body was carried to Derry, and there interred with honour and respect. | The struggle for supremacy between the McLaughlins, Kings of Aileach, and the O'Neills, newly-erected Lords of Tyrone, was for the leadership of the entire Cinel Eoghainn rather than for a specific kingdom. In 1186 the Annals of Ulster state there was a "great disturbance in the north this year." In that year a MacLochlainn, Lord of the Cinel Eoghainn, was deposed by the nobles of the Cinel Eoghainn in favor of Ruaidhri Ua Flaithbertach, a compromise candidate acceptable to all sides. Ruaidhri was soon slain in battle, however, ending the brief respite in hostilities between the warring McLaughlins and O'Neills. The following years, from 1187 to 1196, witnessed a succession of McLaughlin chieftains of the Cinel Eoghainn. |
| 1196 A.D. | |||||
| 113 | Domnall MacLochlainn
In 1230 Domnall MacLochlainn is recorded as Lord of the Cinel Eoghainn. In that year he made an alliance with the Norman-English and led a hosting of the "foreigners" into Tirconnell. In 1234 he slew Domnall Ua Neill, the son of Aodh. In 1237 Domnall was deposed as Lord of the Cinel Eoghainn by the same "foreigners," but a year later regained the Lordship after the Battle of Carn-Siadhail, in which he routed the O'Neill forces and slew Domnall Ua Neill of Tamnach and Magh Mathgamna. In 1239 Mac Maurice, the Norman Lord Justice of Ireland and Hugo De Lacy, the Norman Earl of Ulster, marched into Tyrone with an army, deposed Domnall MacLochlainn and awarded the Lordship of the Cinel Eoghainn to Brian O'Neill. A battle was fought between the rival claimants later that year at Carnteel, after which Domnall MacLochlainn resumed the Lordship, but the Annals add, "was deprived of it without delay." In 1241 Domnall MacLochlainn again managed to expell Brian O'Neill from the Lordship of the Cinel Eoghainn. Then the Annals tersely relate, Brian O'Neill went to Maoilseachlainn O'Donnell, and O'Donnell with his force went with Ua Neill into Tyrone and they gave battle to Domnall MacLochlainn in the Battle of Caim Eirge, in which Domnall MacLochlainn and ten members of his family were slain along with all of the chieftains of the Cinel Eoghainn. Brian O'Neill was then installed as Lord of the Cinel Eoghainn and the McLaughlins, for centuries Kings of Aileach and High Kings of Ireland, never again challenged the O'Neills for supremacy within the Cinel Eoghainn. Domnall had a daughter who survived the events of 1241. Her name was Seisilin and her death notice in the Annals of Ulster in 1250 implies that she was married to Brian O'Neill, the man responsible for the slaughter at Caimeirge. Domnall had 2 sons: i) AODH MACLOCHLAINN (slain with his father Domnall at the battle of Caimeirge 1241) Aodh MacLochlainn had a son (Domnall's grandson): i-a)DIAMAID GALLOGLAS MACLOCHLAINN (slain 1260) ii) MURCHADH MACLOCHLAINN (slain with his father Domnall at the battle of Caimeirge 1241) Murchadh MacLochlainn had a son (Domnall's grandson): ii-a) EOGHAN MOR MACLOCHLAINN (from whom the McLaughlin Family Dynasty descends.) |
Domhnall MacLochlainn, Domhnall of Caimeirge | King of Aileach, Lord of the Cinel Eoghainn |
His son [Murtough]. King of Aileach and the Lord of the Cinel Eoghainn (Clann Owen); Slain at the battle of Caim Eirge in 1241 in present day Londonderry Co. by the combined forces of the O'Neills, his kinsmen, and the O'Donnells. After which the O'Neills gained the supremacy of the north of Ireland and never again were challenged by the McLaughlins. | In 1199 Aodh Ua Neill, the son of the Aodh Ua Neill slain in 1177, is mentioned as leading a hosting of the Cinel Eoghainn as their leader. He was deposed in 1201 by the nobles of the Cinel Eoghainn and Domnall's brother, Conchobar (Connor) "the Little" MacLochlainn, was crowned Lord of the Cinel Eoghainn in his place. Conchobar was soon slain in battle. In 1209 Aodh Ua Neill was again named Lord of the Cinel Eoghainn and in 1215, the King of Aileach as well as the Lord of Tyrone. After his death in 1230 the leadership of the Cinel Eoghainn was contested bitterly by the two rival families. |
| 1241 A.D. | |||||
