Picts Of The Uladh 



- Introduction -

"Halstatter Celts introduced the bronze age to the British Isles about 800BC.  They mixed with pre-Celts in Britain to form the Cruithni, who came to Ulster before 700BC, and forged the Kingdom of Airghialla, a loose confederation of tribes of whom the  Dal n-Araidh dominated the line of kings for over 1,100 years.  La Tene Erainn (Firbolg) tribes brought the Iron age to Ulster before 400BC but did not usurp the line of kings until the 5th century AD, by which time the population of Ulster was a thorough mixture of Cruithni and Firbolg.  Therefore, all Ulidians were, by definition, Picts." 
 - Hal MacGregor - 

- List of Contents -

 
 Lough Neagh, "Loch Eathach" in Gaelic (lake of the boatpeople), the largest lake in the British Isles, steeped in history and romance, is where Neolithic lake dwelling people first appeared in Ireland around 6,000 BC.

 

A Timeline of Irish History
"Firbolgs" (men from Belgium) brought the culture of lake dwelling to Ireland

Pre-Historic Times

10,000 BC - The earliest humans arrived in Ireland, in the Mesolithic or Middle Stone Age period as the northern hemispheres was recovering from the last ice age. They crossed by land  from Albann. These people were mainly hunter/gatherers.

6,000 BC -  Neolithic Europeans introduced lake dwelling to the British Isles.

3000 BC - Agrarian colonists of the Neolithic period reached Ireland.  Remnants of their civilization have been excavated at Lough Gur in Co. Limerick. They traded in a limited form in products, such as axe-heads. One of their monuments, a megalithic tomb at Newgrange in Co. Meath, has survived. 

2000 BC - Beaker people, who were bronze and gold metalworkers, arrived.  Metal deposits were discovered, and then, objects were made. 

1200 BC - More people reached Ireland, producing a greater variety of weapons and artifacts.  A common dwelling of this period was the "crannog", an artificial island, constructed in the middle of a lake.

700 BC - Halstatter Celts started arriving in Ireland from Britain;  The north, and some areas of the south, were settled by Cruithni from north Britain, the south was settled primarily by Celts who sailed directly from Gaul.  They continued to arrive up to the time of Christianity. They soon began to dominate Ireland, and the earlier inhabitants, as was the Celtic manner. 

400 BC -  La Tene Celts (named after a Celtic site in Switzerland) arrived with iron technology.  Celtic Ireland was not politically unified, only by culture and language.  The country was divided into about 150 miniature kingdoms, each called a 'tuath'.  A local king ruled a 'tuath', subject to a more powerful king who ruled a group of tuaths, who was in theory, subject to one of the five provincial kings.  This struggle for living space caused constant fighting and a shifting in power, among the most powerful contenders, as was the Celtic way throughout Europe.

Celtic Ireland had a simple agrarian economy.  No coins were used, the "Kerry" cow was the unit of exchange.  As with the Picts in northern Albann, a "house" cow was brought inside at night during cold winter months to help warm up the place.

Kerry cattle evolved over thousands of years in hills and mountains in Europe where food was scarce. They  escaped the modern so-called "improvements" that have destroyed other breeds.  They remain small and thrifty, ideal for the homestead, and ideal for the hard times that we occasionally face.

They are good mothers, their milk is delightful, and they have long productive lives.  We must resist the temptation to attempt to "change" them.  They have a history that goes back to the first humans on the emerald isle.

There were no towns.  Society was stratified into classes, and was regulated by the Celtic Brehan Laws, based largely on the concepts of the 'tuath' as the political body, and the 'fine', or Clanna as the social unit.

200 BC - Arrival of the Ibero-Celtic "Gaels" from the Iberian peninsula.  They quickly overran the previous inhabitants in the south, and established a classical European style Celtic system of two classes, one of Druids & warriors, and the other comprising the earlier inhabitants who were the food producers.  When they confronted the Brythonic Celts in the north, a thousand year war erupted.

The moat and wall near Emain Macha, the ancient capital of the Uladh

150AD - The Brythonic Ulaid of the north built a wall and moat "Black pig's dyke" along their southern border to mark their territory, which was the northern third of the island.  It was more of a symbolic warning than a defensive line, the remains of which can be seen today in County Armagh  in modern Ulster.  It is proof the people of Ulster put a lot of effort into keeping the southern Ibero-Celts out of their homeland, and were in close touch with the situation in Albann, where two such lines were constructed by the Romans for defensive reasons.  It is sometimes called the "Hadrian's Wall of Ireland".

193AD - The Isle of Man, was seized, and incorporated into the Kingdom of Ulidia.

200 AD - Beginnings of the High Kingship at Tara in the south.

331AD - The three Collas, leading a southern army, overran Ulidian defenses in Armagh county, and established their district of Airghailla.  This marked the end of the splendid isolation of the Brythonic north.  The Dal Fiatach tribe of southern Ulster usurped the established Ulidian line of kings, and began a thousand year feud between the Dal-Fiatach and the Dal n-Araide, during which the kingship often rotated back and forth between the two houses.

390AD - Cunedda and his Briton cohorts drove the Irish (from Leinster) out of North Wales.

395AD - Niall of the nine hostages was slain on a raid in Britain.  St. Patrick was kidnapped by Dal n-Araidian soldiers under Niall, and became a shepherd slave.

431 AD - Pope Celestine I sent Palladius to the Irish.  Palladius died soon after.

432 AD - Pope Celestine sent Patrick to Ireland.  St. Columba was born at Gartan, Donegal, Ireland.

465AD - The Death of St. Patrick at the monastery of Saul in Ulidia, March 17th A.D. 465, aged 78 years.

546AD - King Rhydderich, Bishop Mungo, St. Gildas and their retinue of nuns and monks arrived in Ulidia as refugees after being exiled from Strathclyde by a Druidic revolution.

 



- The Beginning of Written History -  

550  - Irish monks began to re-Christianize Europe.
561 Battle of Culdremne was won by the Christian forces of King Aed over the Ard Ri, Diarmid.
563 Colum-Cille sailed to Iona, from where he Christianized Albann and much of England.
597 Colum Cille (Saint Columba) died.  His name was the greatest in the Irish Church. 
800 Viking Norsemen attacked Ireland on Lambay Island. 
806 Vikings massacred sixty-eight monks at Iona.  Columba's body was taken to Ulidia.
908 The Eoganach were defeated, when they tried to force Cashel's rule in Leinster. 
914 Vikings established settlements at Waterford.
916 Vikings established settlements at Dublin (Black Bay).
920 Vikings established settlements at Limerick.
940 Briuin Boru was born.  Son of a leader of one of the free tribes of Munster.
976 Briuin succeeded his brother Mahon, as King of Munster.
999 Briuin defeated Vikings.
1002 Briuin wins recognition as Ard Ri.
1014 Briuin killed at Battle of Clontarf.
1167 Arrival of Normans at Baginbun, starting an 800 year struggle between English and Irish.
1170 Arrival of Richard de Clare, known as Strongbow.
1171 Strongbow became king of Leinster.
Arrival of Henry II, beginning the involvement of England in Ireland.
1166-1175 Reign of Rory O'Connor, last native Ard Ri.

 


The site of the battle of Culdremne in 561AD

The Battle of Culdremne

Tradition tells us that the cause of this battle was due to a confrontation between Diarmid, the Ard Ri, and Aed, the king of Connaught.  That much is indisputable. Although the actual underlying cause is little known.  Legend claims that Columba secretly copied the gospel without permission of its owner, Bishop Finbar.  The Bishop objected, and the case was referred to the Ard Ri for adjudication.  The Ard Ri decreed Columba was wrong in that "A Cow has its calf and a book has its copies".  Columba fled to Connaught under the protection of its Christian king.

This story has too many holes to be factual.  The Christians in Ireland would never apply for judgment before the Ard Ri as he was not a judge.  If it had been taken before the court, it would be before the Chief advisor, the Arch Druid, MacDe.   However, in matters of faith, order and discipline of its clerics, the church always reserved the right of judgment.

The actual underlying cause of the confrontation was due to the confrontation between Druidism and Christianity in Ireland.  The pagan forces in Ireland were emboldened by the recent successes of Druid revolts in Strathclyde and Goddodin.  The actual spark that instigated it was a game of hurley, the precursor to hockey.   At Teltown, ten miles north of Tara, an Aenach (fair) was held every three years.  At the Aenach in 561, Prince Curnan, son of Connaught's King Aed, struck and killed  an opposing player with a hurley stick.  He fled to Columba and was granted the sanctuary of the church. 

Brehan law entitled Curnan to a fair trial, and if a blood-fine was paid. the matter would be put to rest.  Nevertheless, Diarmid's soldiers dragged Curnan out of the church and killed him.  Diarmid had not only broken the law that he had sworn to uphold, but he had also vio0lated the rights of the church.  This was the real cause of the battle.  Diarmid attacked the king of Connaught as he was a Christian, and Diarmid felt it was time to put the Christians in their place.  The main strength of the Christians was in the north amongst the people of Connaught and in Ulster.  Religion had made strange bedfellows.  Now the northern O'Nialls and the men of the Uliad combined to defend their Christianity against the pagan Ard Ri.

Diarmid marched his men across country to Sligo Bay where he intended to cut the two forces apart.  However, Aed, stood his ground at a narrow pass between the ocean and Ben Bulben.  The battle was short and decisive.  Diarmid lost 3,000 men and the men of Connaught lost one, who disobeyed orders and stepped out of line.  As battles go, this was not a great battle but it was decisive.  It marked the high water mark of Druidism in Ireland and from then on, Christianity took the initiative.


In 806AD, Vikings massacred sixty-eight monks at Iona.
The Viking Massacres in Iona

The isolation of the island and the severe weather of the North Atlantic always served to protect the brethren at Iona.  As the Vikings descended on coastal monasteries and churches along the north and west Albann coasts, it became necessary to flee to larger centres.   The first raid came in 794 as three dragon ships descended on Iona.  Priceless relics and artifacts donated by Princes from all over Europe were plundered, never to be seen again.  After being struck three times,  that splendid place of inspiration and learning was lost.  Some of the Monks went to Ulidia, others went to Dunkeld in Albann.  The loss of Iona effectively separated the Irish and Albann churches.  Saint Columba's body was taken to Ulidia where it remains alongside those of Saint Patrick and Saint Brigid.

 A Shrinking Ulidia

 

In the south, Ibero-Celts from the Iberian peninsula had overran the previous inhabitants, to establish a classical (European style) Celtic agrarian society, where the newcomers constituted the Druidic (intelligentsia) and warrior class, while the previous inhabitants were the food producers.  Safe from external intrusions, they settled down to endless altercations over tribal living spaces.
As Brythonic tribes fled to the north, LaTene Celts and Cruithni established a redoubt society, in an effort to retain a Brythonic culture in the face of an aggressive Goidelic culture in the south.  The increasing military threat from the south served as an impetus to establish a cooperative effort to retain their culture and local independence.

With the advent of Roman occupation in Britain, Brythonic refugees appeared on the east coast.  Responding to Gaelic incursions in the south, a wall and moat was constructed along a new shorter border to symbolically mark their territory.   This idea was borrowed from the two Roman walls in Albann.

In the 4th century AD, the Ard Ri's position was weakened by powerful expanding dynasties, including the O'Neills and the Collas.  The O'Neills invaded the northwest of the Ulaid, and carved out a new province called Aileth.  Then, the three Cola's saw an opening, and invaded Ulaid in the southwest, and carved out another province, called Airgialla. (modern day  Armagh).   Brythonic Ulaid shrank in size, and never recovered its lost territories, although they maintained control of the Isle of Man with their strong Navy.

The once all powerful northern  Kingdom of the Ulaid began losing  its predominant military position, and began to work within the southern political system.  Several Ulaid kings became High Kings of all Ireland.  As southern Gaels adopted Ulaid expertise, they sought military supremacy, competing for influence and power.

In the 4th century AD, the Ard Ri's position was weakened by powerful expanding dynasties, including the O'Neills and the Collas.  The O'Neills invaded the northwest of the Ulaid, and carved out a new province called Aileth.  Then, the three Cola's saw an opening, and invaded Ulaid in the southwest, and carved out another province called Airgialla (modern day Armagh).  Ulaid shrank in size, and never recovered its lost territories, although they maintained control of the Isle of Man with their strong Navy, until 582.

Meanwhile, in the south, some remaining Brythonic tribes fled to mainland Britain to escape persecution from the Gaels.  Internally, several Brythonic tribes moved out of the way of expanding Gaelic dynasties or disappeared in the turbulence.  The O'Nialls were well on their way to becoming the dominant force in all of Ireland. 

Under constant pressure from the expanding O'Nialls to their west, the Dal Riata founded a colony in Albann.  The Romans were still in control of southern Britain, and offered a stability to those seeking relief from the torment.  Irish plunderers began raiding settlements on the western coasts of Britain.

- A Summary of Ulidian History -

In 325 BC, Pytheas [a Greek geographer], referred to the British Isles (Britain, Hibernia and the Isle of Man) as the 'Isles of the Pretani'.  There were no Ibero-Celts there yet.  Ptolemy drew a map of Hibernia in 150AD, which was based on the epic voyage of Pytheas.  This map contains some identifiable names such as the Volunti (Ulaid) in the north-east.  Ptolemy wrote: "The Pretani are the ancient British people, and are made up of the Picts of Albann, the Britons of Cymru (pronounced Kemry) and the Cruithni of Hibernia."

The south of Hibernia was first inhabited by the Neolithic Firbolg (men of Belgium in Gaelic), and the north by the more advanced Cruithni (Picts).  The close proximity of the north of Hibernia to Albann (12 miles across the strait) meant Pictish kingdoms often encompassed both parts of the north of mainland Britain and parts of the north of Hibernia.  Several Albann High Kings were recorded as also being kings of Ireland (Ulster).  The Cruithni stayed near the coast, as their ancestors had flourished in Moray on the north-east coast of Albann, and they were expert at surviving on shoreline flora and fauna.  

By 350 BC, European P-Celtic speaking LaTene Celts had overwhelmed Britain, pushing as far north as Strathclyde in Albann and from there, into  Hibernia.  Those newcomers were called "S'Goth" (boat people) by the pre-Celtic inhabitants .  Those Brythonic Celts were the ancestors of the modern day Welsh and of the Ulaid, for whom Ulster was named.  The Ulaid became the elite class in the north of Hibernia living generally peacefully along side, and sometimes battling, the Cruithni tribes.

Around 200 BC, Q-Celtic speaking Ibero-Celts (Gaels) arrived in southern Ireland from the northern Iberian peninsula, and quickly expanded northwards, assimilating the Firbog.  The Ulaid built a defensive wall and dyke along its southern border called "Black Pig's Dyke" (Cob O Mochyn du in P-Celtic), the remains of which still stands today, to mark the southern border of their territory. 

The Ulaid and Cruithni grudgingly cooperated in the face of a more numerous enemy, and became fierce and efficient fighters.   As a price for their  protection, the Cruithni and all  people who lived in the Kingdom of Ulidia were obliged to serve in the army of Greater Ulidia, when required.  In return, the strong Ulaid army protected all Ulster tribes from southern Gaelic incursions, and fought a centuries long series of wars to maintain their independence.  Therefore, the Kings of the Ulaid were considered to be the Overlords of Greater Ulster, fully one third of Ireland..

In 71AD, on the British mainland, the 9th Roman Legion was moved north to York.  In 78AD, the Governor, Agricola, decided to eliminate the harassments by the Britons and the Caledonians.  After defeating the Britons that year; in 79AD, he pushed up to the Tyne and Solway, established there a line of forts from sea to sea,  which forty years later, Emperor Hadrian would build into a wall, linking a chain of forts, fortlets and military outposts.

Many of the Britons and Picts who lived south of that line, especially in Galloway,  were in close contact with their fellow Brythonic Celts in Ulidia, so when the Romans came, many fled west to Ulidia to safety, where there were no Roman soldiers.

By this time, the Romans had completely overwhelmed the Kemry (Welsh), and had a suffocating military grip on all of mainland Britain except northern Albann, where they had built two massive defensive walls, and were paying the Picts not to attack.  With those borders secure, there was a distinct possibility the expanding Roman empire would attack Hibernia.

In 165AD, Conaire, son of Mogh Lamha, had three sons, Cairbre Baschaean, Cairbre Musc, and Cairbre Riatal, from whom sprang the Dal Riata.  Following a famine in the south, Cairbre Riadal led his people to the extreme northeast of Ireland, and some of them overseas to the nearest part of Albann, where they formed the most important settlement of Irish there, and are considered to be the founding fathers of New Dalriada..

In 193AD, a civil war broke out between the Roman governor of Britain, Decimius Clodius Albinus, and Senator Septimius Severus for control of the Roman Senate and Empire.   Albinius departed for the continent with his best men, leaving a military vacuum in Britain.   With the Roman Empire in a period of unrest, Ulidia felt it was opportune to act in its own defence by pre-empting the Romans, and seized the Isle of Man, and quickly fortified it against any possible attack.  Its Brythonic character was ensured for the foreseeable future, and it could not be used as a base to attack Ulidia.

The Kings of Ulster - were of the Ulaid, and until  450AD, ruled as over-kings of the ancient Cóiced (property) of Ulster.   Ptolemy's map (compiled about 150AD, from many earlier sources) shows them as the Voluntii.  In their prime, they seem to have been direct rulers of what are now County Monaghan, County Armagh, County Down, County Antrim and much of County Louth.  The centre of the province was held by the Airgialla, a loose confederation of tribes of the Cruithin race, who were sometimes allies and sometimes competitors of the Ulaid, and later of the O' Niall.  Ptolemy's map lists two tribes further west, the Vennikinii in County Donegal and the Erpitianni along lower and upper Lough Erne; who were both subject to Ulaid rule. 

The Ulaid were once the most powerful tribal group in the whole of Ireland, and it is from them the province of Ulster derived its name. . . . However, in the 4th and 5th centuries they were driven eastwards into the modern counties of Antrim and Down under pressure from the Ui Neill and the Collas.  In the south, the new boundary between the Ulaid and the Airgialla may have been between the northern limit of the Newry River and the ford of the Bann at Banbridge.  Of the chief Ulaid tribes, Ui Echach Coba were located along this borderland and Dal nAraide east of Lough Neagh and the lower Bann.  A third tribe, Dal Fiatach, settled in Lecale and in the vicinity of Strangford Lough.  Their capital at Dun da Lethglas (modern Downpatrick) was to become an important ecclesiastical centre.  Smaller tribal kingdoms within the reduced Ulster were the Conaille Muirthemne in north Louth (the Cooley peninsula) and Dal Riata in the northern Glens of Antrim.

From the sixth to tenth centuries the kingship of Ulaid was unhappily shared by the Dal Fiatach, Dal nAraide and Ui Echach Coba, but in the 8th century the Dal Fiatach extended their influence northward over the area east of Lough Neagh.  The diocese of Down, the boundaries of which were settled in the 12th century, was centred on the church at DownPatrick, and stretched as far north as the contemporary territorial limits of Dal Fiatach, though limited on the west by the Ui Echach diocese of Dromore.  Through their ruling family of Mac Duinnshleibhe (the brown of the hill),  later shortened to MacDonlevy, Dal Fiatach retained some power as 'king of the Irish of Ulidia' (rex Hibernicorum Ulidiae) until the 13th century.   Yet, as late as 1080, King of Ulaid, Aod Meranach Ua Eochada, attempted to revive the Ulaid over-kingship.   Because of such perseverance, the title Rí Ulaid/King of Ulster was never held by any of O'Niall's descendants. 

Until the rise of the O'Nialls and the Collas, the kings of Ulster were the most powerful of all regional kings.  A continuing war for living space sea-sawed back and forth between north and south.  The pattern was set;  In one battle, the southern Ard Ri (High King) would kill a Ulaid King.  Later, a Ulaid King would kill the Ard Ri.  Sometimes a Ulaid king was able to wrangle the throne of the Ard Ri, although, in those days, it was very unusual for kings of any stripe to die in bed.

We are now approaching the borderland of history in Ireland, and turning our backs on the rich, dim, and debatable regions of romance.  With Niall of the Nine Hostages, so called from pledges which he wrung from nine nations, Irish history may be said to commence. 

Niall, who ruled from A.D. 379 to 405, was the successor of Criffan the Great, whose reign from 366 to 379 is almost coincident with the command of the Roman general Theodosius in Great Britain. Niall followed up an invasion of Britain, made by Criffan, with a raid on the seaboard of Wales, and was with difficulty repelled by Stilicho, the valiant general who conquered Alaric and won the praise of the poet Claudian, who, in referring to this incident, and speaking in the person of Britannia, says: "By him was I protected when the Scot moved all Ireland against me, and the sea foamed beneath his hostile oars ".

The "Scot" referred to by the poet was Niall.  The "Scottish" settlement of New Dalriada was not invented until the 480s .  It is possible in connection with this raid to associate two great names;  In his " Confession" St. Patrick declared: "I was brought captive into Ireland, with so many thousand men, according as we had deserved".  Niall was assassinated in Britain by one of his own chiefs, who killed him with an arrow in the back.

What little direct knowledge we possess of St. Patrick is derived from an Irish Celtic church manuscript known as The Book of Armagh, which contains amongst other things, the Confession already quoted, and an Epistle, which some authorities claim was originally penned by St. Patrick himself, and transcribed by a monk in the ninth century.  The Book of Armagh also contains a church-doctored "life of St. Patrick", which is the principal source from which later biographers have drawn.

 

 

 

St. Patrick was born Maewyn Succat (warlike), in 387 and died in 461. He was a native of Dumbarton, on the Clyde, from which he was carried a captive to Ireland, probably by a contingent of Dal n-Araidh soldiers in the service of Niall, and became the slave of an inferior chieftain of the Dal n-Araidh, named Milcho, whose sheep he tended on the Slemish mountains in Antrim.  As Niall's troops retreated back to their secure Irish base through southern Albann, they would have swept up any children, animals  and other items of value as booty of war.  After six years' captivity, he escaped, and succeeded in getting to Britain, and thence to Gaul and Italy.

By 410AD, the last regular Roman soldier had left Britain to tend to a greater threat from the East.  Only Romanized Brythonic auxiliaries were maintaining security, and they were no match for fierce Ulidian, Cruithni and Manx raiders.  The Romans collectivity called them Scotti (people who break things), and officially referred to Hibernia as Scotia for the next 200 years.

After the departure of the Roman army from Britain, the Romanized Kemry came under attack from an unlikely quarter.  Due to a European invasion by the Huns, panicky Germans were fleeing to Britain.  Most returned to mainland Europe after the Huns left, but others stayed as mercenaries of the Kemry in an effort to thwart Pict raids, but later turned on their paymasters, and aggressively pushed them westwards for lebensraum (living space).

By 450 AD, acting in concert with the Collas, the O'Nialls had managed to seize the north-west of Ulidia.  The Ulaid capital fell, and Ulidia became a much reduced nation as it's border retreated eastwards.  The Dal Riatans established a colony in the remote Argyle region of south-western Albann.  A pervasive Q-Celtic linguistic influence had led to the Gaelic language becoming the dominant spoken tongue of the Cruithni, and to a  lesser extent of Ulidia, although pockets of P-Celtic remained for over 100 years.   It was these people who had absorbed Gaelic from their overlords that gave Scotland its Gaelic language. 

By 500 AD, the petty king of Dal Riata in Ulidia, Uurgus Mac Erp, ruled a trans-border kingdom that encompassed areas in both Ulidia and Albann.  However, the Dal Riatans in Hibernia were a part of Ulidia, and had to serve in the Ulidian army, this servitude requirement also extended to the New Dalriadan territory in Albann, creating a conflict in loyalties to the New Dalriadans.  In addition, the New Dalriadans maintained their presence in Argyle entirely at the sufferance of the powerful High King of Albann, Brud, son of Maelgwn Gwynedd, king of the most powerful part of the Kemry mainland holdings in northern Wales (Cymru).

In 560AD, Brud Mauur, became fed up with illegal property stealing by the Scots, and devastated New Dalriada, killed their king and followed his rival overseas to Irish Dal Riata, and ceremonially drowned him.  This legally constituted an invasion of Ulidia, however the Ulidians were eager to teach the Dal Riatans a lesson in humility, and did not respond.   Brud had proven he had the power to enforce his will on the Dal Riatans when necessary, and Dal Riatan territory in Ulidia became a defacto colony of Albann for 77 years.

Saint Columba visited King Brud's court in 565AD (when he took along two Brythonic-speaking Cruithni as interpreters) to gain Brud's acceptance of his presence in Albann, and to convince Brud that New Dalriada should remain viable albeit a part of Albann, and as a base for his Christian mission to mainland Britain.  In that sense, Columba's visit was a resounding success.

Later, Columba arbitrated a disagreement between the Ulidians and the New Dalriadans regarding a continuing requirement for servitude in the Ulidian army, which effectively released them from their oath during wartime.  In 582AD, without warning, the Dalriadan sub-king, Aed, attacked the Isle of Mann, and annexed it, changing its language to Q-Celtic for the first time.  The Ulidians knew that Aed had to have the permission and support of the Albann High King, Brud, in this endeavour so the fraternal friendship between Ulidia and Albann became increasingly strained.

The long history of Ulidia was one of a continuous struggle to maintain its independence against the encroaching southern Gaels.  The history of Ireland records that time and time again, Ulidian armies fought desperate battles with the Gaelic southerners of Eire against overwhelming odds. 

Ulidia is where Saint Patrick first preached the Gospel, and it is where Ireland's three main saints, Saint Patrick, Saint Columba and Saint Brigid, are buried.  Ulidia found its destiny by becoming the centre of Irish Christianity for centuries, sending forth missionaries throughout Ireland, Albann, Wales, England and Europe.  Who were these missionaries?
1.  Colum-Cille (Columba) went to Iona in 563 to convert the Picts of Albann.
2.  Columbanus went to Gaul in 591, then to other pars of Europe to establish monastic schools.
3.  Furso went to east Anglia and Gaul in 635 to establish centres of learning.
4.  Aiden became the bishop of Lindesfarne in Northumbria in 635.

In AD 628, Congal Claen, king of the Ulaid slew Suibne Menn, king of Ireland. Domnall son of Aed son of Ainmire then became king of Ireland and defeated Congal at the Battle of Dun Cethirn. Congal fled to Albann, where he raised an army amongst the Scots, Picts and Northumbrians. and returned with a large army.  The Battle of Moira was in  637AD; Domnall son of Aed defeated Domnall Brecc., Albann withdrew from Ireland .

Although they retained limited independence in their east, this was effectively the end of the unqualified independence of the ancient Brythonic nation of Ulster.  Today, largely through the intervention of the British in 1201, six counties of Ulster remain independent of the southern Gaels, and their second language is a distinct Scots Gaelic.

 

The Four Waves of Celtic Colonizers In Ireland

We know from historical references that at least four  distinct waves of Celtic invaders colonized Ireland.  First, there were the Priteni who settled both Ireland and Britain, beginning as early as 800BC; next the Euerni, or Belgae, (Firbolg) who invaded Ireland from Britain; then the Laigin tribes, who came from northwest Gaul, and who may have invaded Ireland and Britain more or less simultaneously; and lastly the Goidels ) who fled to Ireland from northern Iberia and south-western Gaul.  The first invading Celts were linguistically known as Q-Celts; the second and third waves were P-Celts, and the Goidels belonged to the linguistic family of Q-Celts, and due to their extreme aggressiveness and organizational abilities, their tongue eventually replaced the earlier established P-Celtic, and eventually became the dominant dialect of both Ireland and Albann.

1/  The Priteni tribes, after whom Ireland and Britain were known to the early Greeks as the Pritenic Islands, are believed to have arrived in Britain about 800BC, and in Ireland before 700 BC.   In Ireland their descendants became the Cruithni tribes, later living alongside the powerful Dal Riada and Dal Fiatach Belgae people.   They dominated northeastern Ulster up to the ninth century AD.  The Romans referred to them also as the Picti, probably because of their incursions into Pictish Albann.

2/  The second wave, known as the Euerni and later called Erainn (also known as Menapii, Bolgi, Belgae and Firbolgs) by annalists and historians, arrived after 500 BC. They called their new home Eueriio, which would later evolve through the old Irish Eriu to Eire.  Claudius Ptolemy's map of 325BC Ireland shows branches of the Erainn widely dispersed throughout the island, but with strongest connection in the areas around Cork and Kerry where they first settled.  These tribes, more frequently called the Firbolgs, were, according to historian J. Rhys (1890), a seafaring people who wore breeches, wielded improved weapons and traced their origins to the goddess Bolg.  

Their origin has been traced to the Menappi, a confederation of Belgae Celts from north Gaul and the area now known as Belgium.  Among the several tribes he identifies as members of this group, were the Dal Riada of west Co. Antrim and the Dal Fiatach of east Co. Down.   Mongon suggests that many Firbolgs survived into early historic times as "tributary" tribes. He also suggests that many of today's nameplaces in Ireland and elsewhere containing terms such as mong, muin, maion, maine, managh, monach, manach, mannog, etc., attest to the presence of the Firbolgs in the area at some stage.  Although some historians have attributed the Firbolgs as the first inhabitants of Connaught, it is obvious the Cruithni were there first as their tribes formed the first royal lines of kings.

3/  The third colonization is believed to have taken place sometime about 300 B.C.  These trailblazers, called the Laigin, and mythologically referred to as the Tuatha De Danann, are believed to have come from the northwestern region of Gaul, later Normandy.  Their name association with Laighi, the ancient name for Leinster, suggests that this was where they first settled.  Eventually, they extended their power to Connaught, and in the process forced the Firbolg tribes into the remoter parts of the province.  The remains of many great stone forts built by the Firbolgs in their defense against the Laigins can still be seen in remote areas of western Ireland.  Within a few generations the Laigin tribes had established themselves in Connacht, where in County Sligo, their descendants include the O'Haras, O'Garas, and others.  Their strength, nonetheless, was uppermost in southeastern Leinster where they remained the dominant power into historic times.  In Munster and in Ulster they made little impact, suggesting that their conquest was limited to parts of present-day Leinster and Connaught.

4/  The last major Celtic settlement in Ireland took place about 150 BC. They were the Q-Celtic speaking Gaodhail, or Milesians after their leader, Milish or Mil, who, according to records, fled Roman incursions into the Iberian Peninsula.  They landed at two locations -- Kerry in the south and the Boyne estuary in the east. Those who landed through the Boyne estuary pushed the earlier Laigin settlers from their land in north Leinster and established their kingship at Teamhair.  The southern Gaodhail invaders pushed inland moving from one district to another until eventually they made Cashel in Co. Tipperary, in Munster province, their headquarters.

Most pre-Gaodhail tribes remained in place forming the basis for a classical European Celtic society which would be dominated by the less numerous but more powerful Gaodhail.  Verse passed down from the Filidh mentions that tribes from the Gaodhail, Firbolgs and Laigin peoples coexisted and intermarried.  In his Introduction to Leabhar I Eadhra (1980), Lambert McKenna, S.J. mentioned that the Filidh tell us of the existence of two distinct kinds of ruling families in early Ireland. The first kind were the families of the conquering Gaodhail people, who had established themselves as ascendancy powers.  To the second were the leading families of the other races, such as the Cruithni, Firbolg and Laigin peoples, who, although demoted to the level of tributary folk in many instances, were allowed to carry on a certain measure of prestige and freedom within their communities.   This form of overlordship was the classical Gaullish system in central Europe but was never established in Britain.

 

Their chieftains, many of whom were men of wealth and influence, were of noble ancestry, linking them to the ruling Gaodhail families.  Early annalists tell us that Firbolg people survived as distinct tribes well into early historical times. In Connaught, they were the Ui Maine, Conmhaicne, and others farming alongside Ui Fiachrach and Ui Briuin families of the ascendancy Gaodhails. In Leinster, they were the Ui Failige, Ui Bairrche and Ui Enechglaiss to mention but a few.  In Ulster and in Munster many tribes can be identified whose pedigrees can be traced to the Firbolgs.

Likewise, tribes of the Laigin people flourished alongside their Iberian Gaodhail masters.  In the Midlands, they entered the service of the Gaodhail who assigned them "sword-land" in return for their services and tribute.  Laigin tribes (Gailing) also aided the Gaodhail in their conquest of Connaught, and were rewarded with a grant of territory in Mayo where the barony of Gallen preserves their name.

Meanwhile, in the northern third of the island, the Cruithni confederation remained in firm control for 1,100 years.

- Tribes of the Cruithni - 

The Cruithni of Ireland  were a semi-mythical people, who were the first inhabitants of several areas of Ireland.  Cruithni was the more accurate Goidelic word for the peoples referred to in Roman histories as the Picts (people who paint themselves).

The Gaelic (Q-Celtic) name Cruithni is cognate with the P-Celtic Pruteni (recorded in Ancient Greek as pryteni), from which derives the name Pretannike (Latin = Britannia), used as the term for Britain by Pytheas in about 325 BC.  Today they are referred to as the Ancient Britons, whose nearest cultural descendants are the Kemry (Welsh).  The medieval Latin slang form Bretani is the origin in the modern Irish term "Breathnach", which also means Welsh.

However, T. F. O'Rahilly in his historical model suggested that these Priteni were the first Celtic group to inhabit Britain and Ireland, and identified them with the Picts of Scotland.  They settled in Britain and Ireland between 800 and 500BC.   Around 50BC, Diodorus wrote of "those of the Priteni who inhabit the country called Iris (Ireland)".  Whether the Priteni can be considered Celts in the linguistic sense depends on the classification of the Pictish language.  It is clear from place name and personal name evidence that a (mostly Brythonic) Celtic language was spoken by the Picts in historical times.  However, considering personal names, they no doubt earlier used a non-Celtic language and then, when the first Hallstatter Celts arrived, they blended their original language with Q Celtic.  Later, about 500BC, more advanced LaTene Celts arrived, and they found themselves again influenced by Celts who spoke a P-Celtic language.

The Cruithne of Scotland were the original Albans, or natives of Albann (north of the Firth of Forth), and are commonly referred to in early historical times as Picts.  The Picts were an equestrian warrior aristocracy of the classic early Celtic type, in overlord status over a more numerous pre—Celtic population.  They were the last of the Cruithne to lose their matrilineality.  This happened to the Cruithne of Ireland about 450A, and to the Picts of Albann during the ninth and tenth centuries.   This came as a result of the merger of the Pictish kingdoms with those of the patrilineal Erainnian tribes.  This mixing resulted in kin groups being equally of two ethnic groups, one Erainnian and tracing itself in the male line, the other Pictish and at the point of transition from the female line to the male line descent system. The Gaelic-speaking Erainnian half became linguistically dominant at the official level, if only because, in the event of cultural influence from the rest of Gaeldom to the south and west, the Gaelic language was more useful, as a matter of choice, over the relatively isolated and unique P-Celtic tongue of the Picts, especially where bardic literary sharing and political negotiations were concerned. 

Gaelic also had obvious cultural advantages and prestige, for it was Gaelic speakers who first brought Christianity, Latin learning and, significantly, writing itself in to both Albann and Ulster.  Therefore, the spread of Christianity hastened the demise of the Picto/Brythonic dialects of both Ulster and Albann.

Among the Cruthnian tribes that survived intact in southern Ireland were the Loíges (Warriors) and Fothairt (Fortunate ones) in Leinster.  The name of the first of these tribes survives in the modern form of Laois as the name of one of the counties of Leinster.  The other main group who lived in County Down, became allied to the Dal Fiachna kingdom of Ulidia, and are ancestral to the chiefs of the Magennis and McCartan clans.  The Annals of Ulster refers to a deceased County Down man in 698 as "nepos Predani", the Latin form of a "son of the Cruithni".  Despite a separate ethnic sense, the Cruithni groups were culturally a part of the Gaelic world at the arrival of Christianity and record keeping, c. 500AD.

Dal n'Ariade (kindred of the special people) was at times called Crich na Cruithni  (Country of the Cruithni), because tribes of Cruithni from North Britain first settled in northeastern Hibernia.  Adamnan speaks of St. Comgall, who was a Dal n'Araidan, as belonging to the "Cruithni people."  The native annals record the names of many of the chiefs of this territory and of their transactions; from these we learn that the lordship of Dalaraidia, after the assumption of surnames was enjoyed principally by chiefs named Crychiog, Larlaid, Ledlobar and Ua Loingsig, names that are definitely not Celtic.

Saint Columba was close to, and considerably influenced by, the Cruithni of Dalaraidia.  He was baptized in Ireland at Tulach-Dubhglaise, now Temple-Douglas, by a Cruithni priest named Cruithnechan (and was probably spelled as Nehhann in Pictish), who afterwards became his foster-father and tutor.  When Columba visited King Brud Mauur in 565, he took along his two best friends, Comgall, Abbott of Bangor, and Cinnidd, Abbott of Achabo.  They were both Irish Cruithni, and spoke fluent P-Celtic. 

- Dal n'Araidh -

This tribe is the historically dominant member of the ancient Picts of Ulster.  In the early Middle Ages, the tribe held the over-kingship of Uladh, roughly eastern Ulster, later, alternating it with the chief clan of the Ulster Erainn, Dal Fiatach.

The O’Lynches (O Loingsig) were a very important family during the eleventh century.  They were chiefs of Dal nAraidh in Modern Antrim and Down. They were dispossessed by the Normans but their descendents remain numerous in Antrim and Down.

Dál n-Araidh - predated all other Celtic tribes in Ireland.  Their ancient homeland, Dalaraida, was considered an integral  part of ancient Ulidia.  Northern branches of the Dál n-Araidh included those of Eilne on the western side of the river Bann in Co. Antrim.  They were encroached upon by the Oirghialla east of the Bann by the rise of the O' Neill, beginning in the 7th centuries.  By the 10th century, the Ui Thuitre had acquired the territory of the Eilne branch of the Dál n-Araidh.  The Dal n-Araidh in Co. Antrim included the Ua Loingsig kings who ruled Magh Line from Lisnalinchy. 

An early genealogy of the Dal Araidh is cited as:  (Note: m. means son of)
Domnall m. Connor m. Echrí m. Flathroí m. Áeda m. Loingsig m. Meicc Étich m. Lethlabair m. Loingsig m. Tomaltaich m. Indrechtaich m. Lethlabair m. Echach Iarlathi m. Fiachna m. Báetáin m. Echdach m. Condlae m. Cóelbad m. Cruind Ba Druí m. Ethach m. Lugdach m. Rossa m. Imchada m. Feidelmid m. Caiss m. Fiachach Araide m. Áengus Goibnenn m. Fergus Gallen m. Tipraiti Tírech m. Bressal Brecc m. Ferb m. Mál m. Rochride m. Cathbad m. Giallchad m. Condchad m. Findchad m. Murdoch Finn m. Fiachu Findam

Legendary chiefs of Dal nAraidh: Cermna -- Sobairce -- Sétna Artt -- Fiachu Findscothach -- Ollam Fótla -- Fínnachta -- Slánoll -- Géde Ollgothach -- Berngal m. Géide -- Ailill -- Find m. Blátha -- Sírlám -- Argatmár -- Áed Rud -- Díthorba -- Cimbáeth -- Macha  (queen) -- Rudraigh -- Bressal Bódíbad --Conall Cearnach -- Fachna  -- Éllim m. Conrach -- Mál m. Rochraigh -- Cóelbad m. Cruind.
The Annals cite:

  • For 10 AD, Tibraid Tireach, of the Dal n'Araidh died.

  • For 356, Caolbhahd, mac Cruinn Bathrai, Ri n'Uladh died.

  • For 483, Fiachra Lon, son of the king of Dalaraida died. For 547, Eochaidh, King of Ulidia, son of Connla, died.

  • For 592, Aedh Dubh, son of Suibne, King of Ulidia, was slain by Fiachna, son of Baedan.

  • For 616, Death of Aedán son of Mongan, King of Dal n-Araidh.

  • For 622, The battle of Lethed Midinn, at Drung, was fought by Fiachna, son of Deman, Lord of Dal Fiatach, against Fiachna, son of Baedan, King of Ulidia. The battle was gained over Fiachna, son of Baedan, and he fell therein.

  • For 665, Maelcaeich, son of Scannal, chief of the Cruithne of Dalaraidia, died.

  • For 696/698, Aedh Aired, chief of Dal n-Araidh, died.

  • For 790, Tomaltach m. Innrechtaigh Ri Dalaraidia, died.

  • For 792, Bressal son of Flaithrí, Ri Dalaraidia, and Dorm Corci, king of Dál Riata, died.

  • For 824, Eochaid m. Bressal, Ri Dalaraidia died in Tuaisceirt.

  • For 892, Murdoch, son of Maeleitigh, lord of Dalaraidia.

  • For 904, Bec Ua Ledlobar, Lord of Dalaraidia, died.

  • For 912, Loingsig a Ledlobar, Lord of Dalaraidia, died.

  • For 1003, Duncan Ua Loingsig, Lord of Dalaraidia.

  • For 1015, Domhnall mac Loingsig, Lord of Dalaraidia.

  • For 1113, Findchaise H. Loingsig Ri Dalaraidia.

  • For 1176, Cú Muighe Ó Flynn, Ri Uí Thuirtre, Fir Lí, Dál Riada and Dalaraida, was treacherously killed by his brother Cú Midhe Ó Flynn.

  • For 1177, An army was led by John De Courcy and his knights into Dalaradia and to Dun da leathghlas, where they slew Donnell, the grandson of Cathasach, Lord of Dalaraida.

 Some modern unique Dal n-Araidh names: Lynch, Flaherty, Flynn, Lanahan, Brazeau, Murdock, Tierney, Rooney, Kavanagh, Donnelly.

- Ui Eathach Coba - 

Uí Eathach Coba (Kindred of the Victorious Mariners) - was centered about the baronies of Upper and Lower Iveagh in County Down. They gave rise to the Clan Aodha and the Cineal Faghartaigh. The Clan Aodha, or MacGuinness (Mag Aonghusa), rose to great power in the twelfth century, and became the chief lords of Ui Eathach, now the baronies of Upper and Lower Iveagh in County Down.  Many distinguished chiefs of the name are mentioned in the Irish annals. By the end of the 1500s, some of the family had spread southward and westward, into Leinster and Connacht. The Cineal Faghartaigh, or MacCartans (Mac Artan) were lords of the barony of Kinelarty, County Down. They were normally subordinate to the MacGuinness, but in about 1350 they were for a short time lords of lveagh, a position usually held by the MacGuinness.  An ancient genealogy of the Uí Eathach, is cited as:   (Rawlinson)

Flaithbertach m. Echmílid m. Áeda m. Echmílid m. Áeda m. Echmílid m. Ónnus m. Aitíd m. Laigne m. Blaithmeic m. Domnall m. Conchobar m. Bressal m. Fergusa m. Áedáin m. Mongáin m. Sáráin m. Maine m. Fothaid m. Conaille m. Cóelbad m. Cruind Ba Druí m. Fráechair m. Uurgus m. Lugdach m. Rossa m. Imchatha m. Feideilmid m. Caiss m. Fiachach Araidi m. Ónnus Goibnenn m. Uurgus m. Tipraite m. Bressal Bricc m. Briúin m. Uurb m. Máil m. Rochride m. Cathbath m. Ailchada m. Cuindchatha m. Findchatha m. Murdoch m. Fiachach Findamnais m. Iaréol Glúnmáir m. Conall Cernaig m. Amargin m. Caiss m. Fiachna m. Capai m. Ingai m. Rudraigh m. Sittride m. Duib m. Fomuir m. Argatmáir m. Sírláim m. Uund m. Blátha m. Labrada m. Ollaman Fótla m. Fiachach Fínscothaig m. Sétnai Airt m. Ébricc Bricc m. Ébir m. h- Ír m. Míled Espáine.

The Annals cite:

  • Uurgus, son of Ibdach, king of Ulaid, in the battle of Druim Cleithe, by Demán son of Cairell and the Uí Ethach.

  • CS685, The death of Bressal son of Uurgus,  king of Coba from disease.

  • For 703, The battle of Mag Cuillinn between the Ulaid and the Britons, when Radgann's son fell. 

  • M712, A battle between the sons of Beg Boirche and Bressal, chiefs of Ui Eathach Coba; where the sons of Bressal won the victory.

  • M732, Conchadh, son of Cuanach, chief of Coba, was slain.

  • U733, The slaying of Echaid of Coba, son of Bressal, chief of Uí Eathach. 

  • M734/U739, Uurgus Glut, king of Coba, died.

  • M756, The battle of Arth Dumha between the Ulidians and Ui Eathach.  Ailill, lord of Ui Eathach and Gormghal, lord of Cuin were slain.

  • U776, Gormgal son of Conall Cru, king of Coba, fell.

  • M790, Cathasach, son of Toirpthea, lord of Uí Eathach of Iveagh, died.

  • M796, Eogan, son of Ailell, lord of Coba (Iveagh), was slain.

  • U801, A battle between the Ulaid and the Uí Ethach Coba.  Echu son of Ailill, king of Coba, and Cairell son of Cathal fell. 

  • M803, Cinnidd, son of Connor, was slain at Magh Coba, by the Cruithni

  • M808, Dunlaing, son of Flannchaidh, lord of Uí Eathach, died.

  • U825, Mael Bressal son of Ailill of Cuib, king of Dalaraidia, died.

  • M825, Murdoch, son of Eogan, lord of Uí Eathach Coba died.

  • M/U-851, Cearnach, son of Maelbressal, lord of Coba, died.

  • U967 Aed ua Aididh, king of Uí Ethach, was killed by his own people.

  • M1005 Echmhilidh Ua n-Aididh, lord of Ui-Eathach, was slain by the Ulidians themselves.

  • M1011, Murdoch Mac Artán, King presumptive of Iveagh, was slain at the Battle of the Mullachs.

  • U1046 Aididh, king of Uí Ethach Coba, was killed.

  • M1065 Echmhilidh Ua n-Aididh, lord of Ui-Eathach, was slain by the Cinel-Eogan of the O'Nialls.

  • U1086. A victory was won by the Airgailla on the Uí Eathach, in which Domnall ua n-Aididh fell.

  • M1094 Flaithbheartach, lord of Ui-Eathach-Coba, was blinded by Donnchadh Ua Eogan, King of Ulidia.

  • M1102 Duncan, son of Echri Ua Aididh, of Ui-Eathach, was killed by the Ulidians.

  • M1119 Domhnall, lord of Ui-Eathach, was killed by Echri, son of Flaithbheartach.

  • M1136 Echri Ua n-Aididh, lord of Ui-Eathach, was killed by his own people.

  • 1172, Mulmurry, Lord of Muintir Birn, was slain by Hugh Magennis and the Ui Eathach Coba.

  • M1179, O'Rogan, Lord of Iveagh, died shortly after being expelled for violating the Canoin-Phatruig.

  • M1208, Duvinnsi Magennis, Lord of Clann-Coba, in Iveagh, was slain by the son of Donlevy O'Haughy.

  • M1347, Thomas MacArtan, Lord of Iveagh, in Ulidia, was hanged by the English.

 Some modern unique names of Eathach Coba are : Reagan, Connor, Arden, Gorman, Carroll, MacGuinness, Ives, MacCartney,

- Conaille Muirthemne -

Conaille Muirthemne (Union of Fellowship)- the Sil Conaill Glaiss centered about the barony of Dundalk in County Louth.  The Irish Nennius cites their lands extending to Mag Fothaid, Mag Uisnig, and Mag Mogna, Mag Sulide, Fernmag, Mag Mache, Inber Buasse, and Iath Aiche. Their early genealogy is closely tied to that of Uí Eathach Coba, their kindred to the north.

An early genealogy of the Conaille Muirthemne is cited as:   (Rawlinson)
Cináed m. Murdoch m. Ingeirrce m. Congalaich m. Meicc Étich m. Cuilennáin m. Máel Brigti m. Speláin m. Sluagadaich m. h-Uargalaich m. Uchtbrain m. Uarcride m. Dícolla m. Columb m. Oissíne m. Crónáin m. Dúngaile m. Colmán m. Cairill m. Conall m. Echdach m. Cruind Ba Druí.

The Annals cite for the term Conaille:

  • For 686, Uaircridhe Ua Oisene, Ri Conaille Muirthemne, was slain.

  • For 736, Amhalgaidh, son of Cathasach, Ri Conaille, died.

  • For 747/52, Foidmeann, son of Fallach, king of Conaille died.

  • For 784, Sluaigheadhach, Ri Conaille Muirthemne, died.

  • For 822, Spealan, son of Sloigheadhach, king of Conaille died.

  • For 829, Maelbrighde, king of Conaille, was captured by the Vikings.

  • Obit. 867, Maelbrighde, son of Spealan, Ri Conaille died.

  • Obit. 875, Gairbith, son of Maelbrighde, Ri Conaille, beheaded by the Ui Eathach.

  • For 879, Gibleachan, lord of Conaille Muirthemne, gained victory over Ulaid and Coba.

  • For 886, Githleachan, son of Maelbrighde, Ri Conaille died.

  • Obit. 887, Maelmordha, son of Gairbhith, Ri Conaille died.

  • For 894,  the Conaille were slaughtered by the Ui Eathach, where three sons fell of Gairbhith, Eitigh, and Maelmoghna.

  • For 908, Conghalach, son of Gairbith, Ri Conaille, was slain by his own people.

  • For 910, Domhnall, mac Gairbith, Lord of Conaille died.

  • For 911, Maelbrighde, son of Geibhleachan, Ri Conaille, was slain by the Ui-Eathach.

  • For 921, Spelan, son of Conghalach, Ri Conaille, was killed.

  • For 935, Crongilla son of Cuilennain, Ri Conaille died.

  • For 949, Mac Eitigh, mac Cuilendáin, Tighearna Conaille, was slain by the Mughdorn Maighen.

  • For 976, Cinnidd, mac Croinghille, Tigherna Conaille died.

  • For 987, Congalach Ua Cui-lennain, Ri Conaille died.

  • For 995, Matudhan ua Croinghille, Tigherna Conaille, was slain.

  • For 998, Giolla Criost ua Cuilennáin, Tigherna Conaille died.

  • For 1004, Murdoch, tigherna Conaille, was slain by the Mughdhorn.

  • For 1010, Críonán, mac Gormladha, Tigherna Conaille, was slain by Coin Cuailgne.

  • For 1066, Cinneadh, son of Odharmhac, Ri Conaille, died after penance.

  • For 1078, mac Uí Treodáin, Tigherna Conaille died.

  • For 1081, Mac Angeircce, Tigherna Conaille, was slain by the men of Fernmag.

  • For 1093, Aodh O'Boylan, Tigherna Airghiall, was slain by the Conaille Muirthemne. 

Some modern unique names of the Conaille Muirthemne are: Connelly, Conroy, Galbraith, Gallagher, Murphy, Coleman and Tierney.

- Cuailgne -

Cuailgne -  According to the Leabhar na Cear, the kings of Ulaid at one time paid tithes to the Cruithni kings of Cuailgne, Araidh, Coba and Muirthemne.  Cuailgne is remembered in the parish of Cooley in county Louth according to the Lebor na Uider, an area around and between Carlingford Lough and Dundalk.  O'Donovan places the mountains of Cuailgne near Carlingford, and in his notes mentions the Ui-Meath-Mara, seated in Cualigne.
Muirthemne, Cuailgne and Coba were "the three provinces of which Eoghain Mac Conaill was King" (Codex Salmanticensis). K.

The Annals cite:

  • M236, A battle at Eth; the battle of Ceann Daire; the battle of South against the Ulstermen; the battle of Slight Cuailgne.

  • CS970, The battle of Cell Mona was won by Domnall son of Congalach with the foreigners of Áth Liath over Domnall son of Muirchertach king of Tamari, in which fell many including Ardgar son of Matudan, king of Ulaid, Donna can son of Maolmuire, king of Oirgialla, and Fergus the generous, king of Cuailgne, and the grandson of Cuilennán, king of Conaille, and other nobles.

  • M1044, A predatory excursion was made by Niall, son of MacLachlan, lord of Aileach, into Ui-Meith and Cuailgne; and he carried off twelve hundred cows, and led numbers into captivity, in revenge of the profanation of Clog-an-Eathach.

  • M1131, a predatory excursion was made by Tighearna Ua Ruaidrí, and the men of Refine, into Cuailgne; and they plundered Ui-Meith.

  • M1145, A predatory excursion was made by Murchadh Ua MacLachlan into Airghialla, and he carried off cows from Cuailgne.

  • U1178, The attack of Cúailnge [was gained] by Ulidians and by Foreigners over John De Courcy.

- Kinelarty - 

Kinelarty - named for the Cenel Foghartaigh, e.g. Mac Artán, whose territory at one time included the present baronies of Kinelarty, Dufferin (Dubthrín) and part of Castlereagh, in county Down.  According to Keating the Mac Artán genealogy derives from the same origins as the Dál n-Araidhe and Uí Eathach, his genealogy citing the line of Mac Artán descending from Sárán m. Cóelbad m. Cruind Ba Druí m. Echach m. Lugdach m. Rossa (of clann Conaill Cernaich).

The Annals cite:

  • M1004, A battle was gained at Loch-Bricrenn, by Flaithbheartach, over the Ui-Eathach and the Ulidians, where Artan, royal heir of Ui-Eathach, was slain.

  • U1005, A rout of the Ulaid and of the Uí Echach at Loch Bricrenn, in which Artán, heir designate of Uí Echach, fell.

  • M1011, A battle was gained over Niall, son of Dubhtuinne, i.e. the battle of the Mullachs, by Niall, son of Eochaidh, son of Ardghar, where many were slain, together with Muircheartach, son of Artan, Tanist of Ui-Eathach; and he afterwards deposed Niall, son of Dubhthuinne.

  • U1165, Diarmait Mac Artain, chief of Clann-Fogartaigh, hospitality and benefaction of all Ui-Echach, died.

  • M1269, Eghmily Mac Artan was slain by O'Hanlon.

  • M1347, Thomas Mac Artan, Lord of Iveagh, in Ulidia, was hanged by the English.

  • U1370, Mac [C]artain, sub-king of Cenel-Foghartaigh, was killed in treachery by his own kinsman, namely, by the son of Gilla-Ternainn [Mac Cartain].

  • C1375, Mac Airtein, lord of Kinelarty, was treacherously killed by MacGilla Ternaind.

- Uachtar Tíre -

Uachtar Tíre - described in Onomasticon Goedelicum as west of the inner bay of Dundrum, placing it perhaps in the southern part of county Down. The genealogies of Rawlinson B502 place Uachtair Tíre in relation to the Oirghialla, e.g. Airthir and Uí Nialláin.

An early genealogy of Uachtair Tíre:   (Rawlinson)
Niall m. Gillai Fechín m. Néill m. Fergusa m. Cummascaich m. Écertaich m. Lorcáin m. Cernaich m. Máel Bressail m. Ailella m. Feidelmid m. Fiachrach Cassáin m. Colla Fochríth.

The Annals cite:

  • U1046, Muiredach son of Flaithbertach ua Néill, heir designate of Ailech, and Aiteid ua hAiteid, king of Uí Echach Ulad, were burned in a house set on fire by Cú Ulad son of Congalach, king of Uachtar Tíre.

  • LC1054, The victory of Finnmhagh was gained over the Uí-Meith and the men of Uachtar-Tire, by the Uí-Echach Coba, in which fell the Croibhdherg, royal heir of Uachtar-Tire.

  • M1054, The battle of Finnmhagh was gained over the Ui-Meith and the people of Uachtar-Tire in Ui-Eathach-Uladh, where Croibhdhearg the Redhanded, Tanist of Uachtar-Tire, was slain.

  • U1061, Cú Ulad son of Congalach, king of Uachtar Tíre, died in penance.

- Dál mBuinne -

Dál mBuinne (kindred of the river)- alias Muintir Branáin, in Moylinny, east of Lough Neagh in the south of modern county Antrim. The territory is described in The Irish Nenenius (Hogan) in the barony of Upper Masserene and also in the parishes of Kilwarlin and Drumbo. As such, their land may be considered a buffer area between the dominent Dál Fiatach and Dál nAraidi. The name Dál mBuinne is preserved in the medieval rural deanery of Dalboyn. The Dál mBuinne are claimed to descend from the Ulaid, where they have a minor reference in the genealogies of Rawlinson B502 and Laud 610 (Dal mBuindi). The Book of Lecan tells us the chief families of the Dál mBuinne region included Dál Corbna Fuama, Dál mBuain, Cenél Máeláin, Uí Nádsluagda (or Dásluaga), Cenél nErnain and Gailine and Dál mBuachalla. A sept of Mac Serraigh (Mac Sherry?) are noted as later chiefs of Dál mBuinne.
The Dál mBuain, and Dál Cuirb, and Monaigh Arad, are called from 3 grandsons of Capha (Cabha), in county Down, according to O'Curry's Lectures on the Manuscript Materials of Ancient Irish History. Cited in O'Laverty's History of Down and Connor, the territory of Dál mBuain (aka Dal Buinne according to O'Hart) included the parishes of Drumbeg, Drumbo, Hillsboro, Blaris, Lambeg, Derryaghy, Magheragall, Magheramesk, Aghalee, Aghagallon, Ballinderry, and Glenavy. The Book of Lecan and other genealogies cite the Dál mBuain descending from Buan, son of Scannlan.

The Annals cite:

  • U1130, An army was brought by Conchobor ua Lochlainn and the north of Ireland into Ulaid, and the Ulaid gathered to give them battle. The Ulaid, however, were defeated, and slaughter inflicted on them, including Aed ua Loingsigh, king of Dál Araide, and Gilla Pátraic ua Serraigh, king of Dál Buinne, and Dub Railbe son of Cairtin, and many others.

  • LC1130, Gillapatraic Mac Serridh, king of Dal-Buinne.

  • M1130, Gillaphadraig Mac Searraigh, lord of Dal-Buinne,

  • M1176, Niall, the son of Mac Loughlin, was slain by Muintir Branan, i.e. the Dal-m-Buinne.

- Dál Monaig -

Dal Monaig (kindred of the mountains)- The Journal of the Ulster Place-name Society places the Monaigh Uladh in the region of Downpatrick, which is located in the barony of Lecale (Leth Cathail). The Book of Lecan notes the Monaich Ulad of Rusat, and the Monaigh of Lough Erne. O'Curry in his Manuscript Materials mentions Monaigh Arad, being called from one of the three grandsons of Capha, in county Down.
Reeves' Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dromore places the Cenél Maelche, a sept of the Ulidians of Dal-Araidians or Dal Fiatach, near Moira (Mag Rath), county Down, or in Antrim, alias Monach. The Annals of the Four Mastersnotes Cearran, son of Colman, chief of Cenél Mailche, was slain, in alliance with the Dal-Araidhe in the year 912, at Carn-Ereann near the Ravel Water in Ulster. The Book of Ui Maine places the Cenél Mailche in Monach.
The annals make note of Mac Giolla Epscoip (e.g. Mac Gillespie) as a chief of Clann Aeilabhra, rector of Monach-an-Dúin, legislator of Cath Monaigh. O'Donovan places the Clann Ailebra in county Down (Four Masters). MacLysaght (More Irish Families) places these Mac Giolla Epscoips, chiefs of Aeilabhra in the barony of Iveagh, county Down; later becoming erenaghs of Kilraine in couny Donegal.
The Book of Lecan mentions the place-name Magh Monaigh, the four "prímthuatha na Bredcha" in Magh Monaigh in Ulster being the Cenél Dogfa, Clann Corcráin, Ui Thacain, and Artraidi. It goes on to note the Cenél Cridain in Magh Monaigh, in Ulster.

As tradition has it the ancient Manaigh or Monaigh occupied the area near Lough Erne, giving their name to the modern county of Fermanagh. The Journal of the Ulster Place-name Societyalso noted their presence in county Down. The Monaig are often associated with the Manapioi (Menapii), a maritime Belgic tribe of Northern Gaul who are noted on Ptolemy's 2nd century map of Ireland in southeast Ireland. They spread northwards as the Fir Manach, or Monaig in Irish. Early Irish genealogists claim they migrated from south Leinster, their descent from the ancient Laiginian ancestor-god, Catháer Máir.

An early Manach genealogy (among the Uladh pedigrees):   (Rawlinson)
Ragnall m. Cernaich m. Gillae Brigte m. Coscraich m. Cenndubáin m. Duiligén m. Galáin m. Cainnecháin m. Máel Tochaid m. Gilluráin m. Inglaind m. Comgaill m. Corccáin m. Manaich m. Ailella (Móir) m. Féicc m. Dáire Barraich m. Catháer Máir.

The Annals cite:

  • U1056, Étrú son of Labraid, chief of the Monaig, a pillar of the glory of Ulaid, died in penitence.

  • M1056, Etru, son of Labhraidh, chief of Monach, pillar of the glory of Ulidia, died, after a good life.

  • U1104, Cormac ua Cormaic, chief of Monach, died.

  • LC1171, Gilla-Aenghusa, son of Gilla-Espuic, viz.: the rector of Monach-an-Dúin.

  • M1171, Gilla-Aenghusa, son of Mac Gillaepscoip, ruler of Monaigh at Dun (Downpatrick).

  • U1171, Gilla-Oenghusa Mac Gilla-espuic, namely, by the lawgiver of Monaigh.

  • M1172, Mac Giolla Epscoip, chief of Clann-Aeilabhra, legislator of Cath Monaigh, was treacherously slain by Donslevy O'Haughy, king of Ulidia. The chiefs of Ulidia, who were as guarantees between them, put Donslevy to death for it i.e. for his crime .

- Uí Labhradha -

Uí Labhradha (orator) - the 'extended family' name later represented by the Laverys (Lowry, et al), who were centered in the neighborhood of the parish of Moira in northeast county Down.  O'Dugan, in his 14th century compilation cited in Topographical Poems (ed. O'Donovan), mention the O'Labhradha as a noble sept of the county Down area. McLysaght (Irish Families) mentions that branches of the family were called Baun-Lavery, Roe-Lavery and Trin-Lavery. He also notes that Trin-Lavery became Armstrong in some cases, due to mistranslation. According to Reeves (Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dromore) the Laverys held many townlands in the parish of Moira and in neighboring Magheralin, early in 17th century.

The Annals cite:

  • M1039, Muireadhach, son of Flaithbheartach Ua Neill, was slain by the Ui-Labhradha.

  • U1056, Étrú son of Labraid, chief of the Monaig (perhaps Monaigh Arad in Co. Down), a pillar of the glory of Ulaid, died in penitence.

- Ui Blathmaic -

Uí Blathmaic (bloom of youth) - an area which included the north part of the barony of Ards, and much of the barony of Castlereagh, according to John O'Donovan. In Reeves' Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dromore it's name was preserved, for a time, in the deanery of Blaethwyc, or Blathewic, which later became the deanery of Newtownards.
The name Blathmaic occurs in the genealogies and the Annals as Blathmaic mhic Maoilchobha, a king of Uladh about the 7th century. An expanded genealogy in Rawlinson cites: Fiachna m. Áeda Róin m. Béicce Bairche m. Blaithmeicc m. Máel Coba m. Fiachnae m. Duib Thuinne m. Demmáin m. Cairill m. Muredaich Mundeirg.

 - Fothairt -

Fothairt (or Fortharta) (fortunate ones) of Leinster.
The O'Nuallains were princes of the Fotharta (Foherta), now the Barony of Forth in County Carlow, Ireland.  In pre-Norman days their chiefs held high office under the Kings of Leinster due to respect and first nation status.  Nuallain was later Anglicised to Nolan and Nowlan.  Other modern equivalents are Doran, Moore, Morrow, and Farley.

The O’Nolans or Knowlans (O Nuallain) are a branch of the O'Mores, and were a famous and respected family in Leinster, where their head, as chief of Fothart Feadha, now the barony of Forth, County Carlow, had the privilege of inaugurating MacMurrough as king of Leinster. A branch went to Connacht in the sixteenth century, and became great landowners in Mayo and Galway. 

- Loigis -

The Loigis (Fiery ones), now the Barony of Laois in Co. Leinster:
The Loigis were commonly referred to as the "Seven Septs of Leix." There were several families of this tribe in historical times, including the O’Mores, O’Dorans, O’Lawlors and O’Dowlings.

The O’Mores (O Mordha) were chief among these families of Leix, and as princes of Leix they were foremost among the chiefs of central Ireland in resisting the English conquest of the sixteenth century. Their main fortress was at Dunamase, near Maryborough, the ruins of which remain to this day. The O’Mores were famous for their conspicuous bravery in defying for several centuries the English conquest and occupation of their territory. Few Gaelic families met with greater cruelty at the hands of the English. In 16O9 the remnant of the clan was transplanted to Kerry, where they settled in the neighborhood of Tarbert. However, many subsequently returned to Leix. The O’Mores considered themselves to be under the special protection of St. Fintan.

The O’Dorans (O Deorain) were also of the Loigis tribe. They were a great Brehan (legal) family in Leinster until their power as a sept was broken by the English. Subsequently the chief family was transplanted to Kerry, and most of the clansmen migrated to Wexford. A branch also went north to Armagh.  The O’Lalors (O Leathlobhair) of Dysart Enos, near the Rock of Duna-

Some modern unique names of the Loigis are: Lucas, Loeb, Layton, Lawlor, Doran, Moore . 

- Sogain -

Sogain - (the happy people), of Connaught.  Co. Mayo/Galway. Ó Mannáin (Mannion), McWards, O'Scurrys (Scarrys), O'Lennans, O'Casins, O'Gillas, O'Maigins and O'Dugevans (s).   Among the Ui Máine dwelt the Sogain, a Cruithin (Pict) tribe.  The Sogain were the original tribe of the County Galway area, with branches to the north and east, that is, among the Laigin tribe of Oirghialla in south-west Ulster and also in the Westmeath area (Mide). After the invasion and settlement of their Connacht territory by the Laigin tribe of Ui Maine (ca. AD. 4OO) they became tributary to the Ui Maine king, but held on to a territory in north-central Galway between Galway Bay and the Shannon, which was centered on the barony of Tiaquin. Their chief family in later times was that of O’Mannin.

The O’Mannins, or Mannions were the chief family of the Sogain, and their head resided at the castle of Clogher in the barony of Tiaquin, County Galway. They were important tributaries to O’Kelly of Ui Maine, and retained their estates until the confiscations of the seventeenth century. The name is sometimes made into "Manning": Cornet John Manning of O’Neills Dragoons in the Irish army of James II was by descent an O’Mannin.  
 Some modern unique names of the Sogain are: Manning, Ward, Lennan, Duggan

 

 

Family Tree of the Cruithni of Ireland
 (Appeared before 700BC from Albann)

CUAILGNE
Co. Louth 		UI EATHACH-COBA
Southern Co. Down 		 Conaille-MUIRTHEMNE
 Co. Louth 		Dal n-Araidh  
Southern Co. Antrim
| | |  | 

EILNE
Western Co. Antrim
       |       
 AILELLA    
Northern Co. Connacht

  


Uí Blathmaic
 Ards & Castlereagh

Sogain
 Central Co. Connacht 
 | 
LOIGIS
 Co. Leinster
|
Fothairt
 Co. Leinster

DAL m-BUINNE
 Southern Co. Antrim
 |
MONAIG
Eastern Co. Down
|
UI-LABHRADHA
North-east Co. Down

 

 Kinelarty
 Co. Down
|
 Uachtar Tíre
Southern Co. Down

 

 The Cangen Rhudd (Red Branch)

They were a militarized warrior caste who considered they had a divine right to defend and rule Ulster.  Boys were groomed from a young age to be warriors in the defence of the realm.  As the image of the warrior on horseback (below) found within the ruins of Emain Macha indicates, Red Branch warriors fought naked in the Albann Pict tradition.

Emain Macha was established by Cimbead about 0AD, who named the city after his wife, and second cousin, Macha.  When he died, Macha ascended the throne and became the only legitimate Queen to ever have ruled either Ulster or all Ireland.  Macha was designed to be a religious as well as capital city.  It was designed to be impregnable, and home to the Red Branch, a select group of warriors who were trained from early boyhood in the arts of war.  It was no error that the greatest mythical hero of Ulster, Cúchulainn, a Cruithni of the Conaille Muirthemne tribe, based in County Louth,  fought in the "Red Branch" elite group of warriors.  Emain Macha was controlled by the two adjacent Cruithni tribes of Ui Eathach Coba and Conaille Muirthemne.

In their code, the most honorable sacrifice was to die in the defence of Ulster.  They were the Ulster equivalent of the Spartans.  Their training base was situated in the south, and consequently they were the first line of defence against southern Gaelic encroachments on Ulster.   Their ancestors ruled all of Ulster from Emain Macha, and they are the ones renowned in the Ulster Cycle, such as King Conchubar mac Nessa, Fergus,  Sualtam mac Roth, Conall Cearnach, Lugaid and the mythical Cúchullain.  The best fighting men of all Ireland manned its defences, and their prowess was recognized throughout the entire Celtic world.

The legend of Cúchullain grew throughout the Celtic world, however, it was based on fact.  The main characters really did exist, and most of the stories were based on real events.  There really was a great cattle raid on the plains of Cualigne, and there really was a king Conchubar in Ulster and a king Ailell in Connaught.  The legend is useful in determining the ancient borders of Ulster, the relationship between Ulster and Albann, and the mindsets of those long ago characters and heroes.

The period })AD to 331AD was the golden age of the Uladh.  Almost every Uladh king became the high king of all Ireland.  The Uladh were the centre of military strength in Ireland.  The Isle of Man was incorporated into Ulidia.  Galloway was a defacto Ulidia colony in northern Britain.  However, deep resentments wee brewing in southern Ireland.

After Ulster's  disastrous defeat in 331AD at the hands of three Connaught and Leinster armies under the O'Nialls and the three Collas, the kingdom of Ulaid was reduced to include the lands which would become County Down and County Antrim, as well as parts of Armagh and Tyrone.  In 450AD, the two Gaelic allies struck again in concert, and Ulidia was further reduced to Counties Antrim and Down.  A void appeared in Ulster leadership, which would be filled by a more cunning and ruthless dynasty.  

- The Dal Fiatach -

With the second humiliating defeat at the hands of the southern alliance, the Dal n-Araidh went into decline, giving others an opening.  Some historians are convinced a group of Firbog descendants who formed the Dal Fiatach (the wild ones)  were involved in the defeat of the Cruithni alliance which had ruled Ulster since time immemorial.  Nevertheless, from that time onwards, the Dal Fiatach, who claimed sole ownership of the term "Uladh", dominated Ulster Royal families, with the Dal n-Araidh merely serving for short periods between Dal Fiatach reigns.  Often, when a Dal n-Araidh king attained the throne. a Dal Fiatach warrior would assassinate him, and the incumbent would be replaced by his assassin. 

One might ask, why would the Dal Fiatach resist southern encroachment on Ulster as fiercely as the Cruithni had.  It must be remembered, the ruling dynasties in southern Ireland were Q-Celtic speaking descendants of Ibero-Celts whereas the Dal Fiatach were descendants of more advanced P-Celtic speaking Gauls from northwest Europe. 

County Down became the centre of Dál Fiatach lands, and their chief royal site and religious centre was established at Downpatrick.  The most outstanding Dal Fiatach king was Fiachna.  

Fiachna restored the fortunes of the Dal Fiatach during his long reign. In 759 he became involved in a dispute among the churchmen of Armagh. Fiachnae supported the abbot Fer-dá-Chrích versus a priest named Airechtach who had the support of Dúngal mac Amalgado of the Ui Neill of Brega. Fiachnae defeated them at the Battle of Emain Macha, near Armagh, and Dúngal and his ally Donn Bó mac Con Brettan, king of Fir Rois were slain.

In 761, Fiachna defeated the Uí Echach Cobo (a branch of the Dal nAraide) of the west part of county Down in the Battle of Áth Duma where their king Ailill mac Feidlimid was slain. The Uí Echach Coba were to suffer another defeat in 776 this time at the hands of the Airthir (an Oirgialla tribe of modern County Armagh).

The Dal nAraide proper engaged in internecine civil wars in 776 and 783. In one of these conflicts in 776, Fiachna's son Eochaid gave support to the claimant Tommaltach mac Indrechtaig (died 790) and they defeated and slew the incumbent King of Dal nAraide, Cinaed Ciarrge mac Cathussaig, and his ally Dúngal, king of the Uí Tuirtri (an Airgialla tribe west of Lough Neagh) in the Battle of Drong. 

The power of Fiachna was such that the Irish high king, Donnchad Midi, sought a conference with him at Inis na Ríg in eastern Brega. However, mutual distrust prevented Fiachna from coming ashore and Donnchad from going out to sea to meet him.  The purpose of the meeting may have been to delineate spheres of influence.  Donnchad may have been seeking to settle affairs involving the Uí Echach Coba and Airthir and the border region of the Conaille Muirthemne (in modern County Louth).

The expansion of the Dal Fiatach northwards to the shores of Lough Neagh began in his reign and this cut off the Dal nAraide proper from their kinsmen, the Uí Echach Coba in the south.  Fiachna gave his patronage to Bangor, traditionally a Dal n-Araide monastery.  He also converted Downpatrick into a royal monastery.   Among the most influential Dál Fiatach kings were:

  • Báedán macCairill, (d. 581)

  • Áedh Róin (d. 732)

  • Fiachna, son of Áed Róin (d. 789)

  • Niall mac Eochada (d. 1063)

A junior branch of the Dál Fiatach ruled the Leth Cathail also known as "the Giant's causeway", now the Lecale peninsula.  The prestigious monastic site of Downpatrick remained under the control of the main line of Dál Fiatach kings.  The descendants of this royal line include the clans MacDonslevy and O'Hatty.  The O'Hatty or O'Hoey branch was dominant in the 10th century.  However by the 12th century the McDonslevy  branch of the royal line was in power.  Among those clans within the Dál Fiatach tribe were MacGuinness, Lynch, O'Flarity,  McCartan, Lowry, O'Haughan, O'Morna, O'Mahan, O'Garvan, O'Hanvey, Devany, Downey, Doolan and Coulter.

- The Dal Riata -

Dalriada was named for the clan known as the Dál Riata whose origins were in the coastal region of north-east Antrim. The tribes of this part of Ireland were generally Cruithni while Dál Riata were Eireann. This left them somewhat isolated and subject to frequent raiding and attacks from other tribes.   Alongside larger clans such as the Uí Nialls of Ulster, the Dál Riata were a relatively small force.

The boundaries of Dalriada are hard to determine and probably, as a result of skirmishes, changed frequently. At its largest extent it may have extended from the estuary of the River Bann to the west, south along the Antrim Coast to Glynn in Islandmagee.  What is well-documented, is that the core area of the kingdom ran from the River Bush in the west, south to Glenravel.  The most likely site of the capital of Dalriada was Dunseverick in County Antrim.

This is the parent tribe of the colony of New Dalriada in Argyll, Albann, formally established about 480AD, under pressure from the northern O'Nialls.  Seeing the possible loss of their homeland in Ulster, The Dal Riatans sent several families across the 12 mile stretch of sea to form a safe haven under the protection of the High King of Albann, Drust II.

Dal Riata's loyalties became divided between Ulidia and Albann.  Between the years 560 and 637, Ulidian Dal Riata was actually a colony of New Dalriada under the protection of the Albann high King, Brud Mauur.  After the disastrous battle of Moira in 637, Albann lost its Irish colony, and Ulidia came under the overlordship of the Ard Ri of Ireland.  Ulidian Dal Riata never recovered, and fell into decline, preferring to send its children to New Dalriada.

Dalriada was a Gaelic overkingdom on the western seaboard of Albann with some territory on the northern coasts of Ulster.  In the late 6th and early 7th century, it encompassed roughly what is now Argyll, Bute and Lochaber, in Scotland and also County Antrim in Northern Ireland.

In Argyll it consisted initially of three kindreds: Cenél Loairn in north and mid-Argyll, Cenél nÓengusa on Islay and Cenél nGabráin based in Kintyre; a fourth kindred, Cenél Chonchride in Islay, was apparently considered too small to be considered a major division.  By the end of the 7th century a fourth kindred, Cenél Comgaill (kindred of Comgall) had emerged, based in eastern Argyll. The Lorn and Cowal districts of Argyll take their names from Cenél Loairn and Cenél Comgaill respectively, while the Morvern district was formerly known as Kinelvadon, from the Cenél Báetáin, a subdivision of the Cenél Loairn.

Dál Riata is commonly viewed as having been an Irish Gaelic colony in Albann, although some archaeologists have recently argued against this. The inhabitants of Dál Riata are often referred to as Scots, from the Latin scotti for the inhabitants of Ireland, and later came to mean Gaelic-speakers, whether Scottish, Irish or other. They are referred to here as Dál Riatans.

The kingdom reached its height under Áedán mac Gabráin (r. 574-608), who married into the Albann aristocracy, but its expansion was checked at the Battle of Degsastan in 603 by Æthelfrith of Northumbria.  Serious defeats in Ireland and Scotland in the time of Domnall Brecc (d. 642) ended Dalriada's Golden Age, and the kingdom became a client of Northumbria, then in an alliance with Albann.

There is disagreement over the fate of the kingdom from the late eighth century onwards.  Kenneth MacAlpin, who is claimed in some sources to have taken the kingship there in c.840, following the disastrous defeat of the Pictish army by the Danes.  Dalriada' s independent existence was erratic as it was sporadically annexed into Albann proper whenever Albann High kings were strong enough to subdue it.  Its indedendance finally ended forever in 843, as it merged with Albann (which changed its name to Scotland in 1057AD).

During the reign of Kenneth (848-858), Dalriada was overrun by the Vikings, forcing most Scots to flee their homeland to became refugees in eastern Albann, hastening the assimilation of the Picts of Albann into a Gaelic milieu. 

SOME  WELL KNOWN IRISH CRUITHNI
(listed alphabetically after Saint Comgall)
 There are far too many famous Ulster people to place in this manuscript.  I have limited space for just a few.

Saint Comgall - St. Comgall of Bangor (Beannchair) was born in Dalaradia in Ulster near the place now known as Magheramorne in the present County Antrim.  He was the son of Fianghalach, and was of the tribe of Dal n-Araidh.   The year of his birth is actually uncertain, but according to the testimony of the Irish annals it must be placed between 510 and 520; his death is said to have occurred in 602 or 597.    Saint Comgall is revered in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Church.

He  served first as a soldier, and on his release from military service, he is said to have studied at Clonard with St. Finnian, and at Clonmacnoise with St. Ciaran, who died in 549.  We next find him in Ulster in an island on Lough Erne accompanied by a few friends following a very severe form of monastic life.  He intended to go to Britain, but was dissuaded from this step by Lugidius, the bishop who ordained him, at whose advice he remained in Ireland, and set himself to spread the monastic life throughout the country. The most famous of the many monasteries founded by Comgall is Bangor, situated in the present County Down, on the Southern shore of Belfast Lough and directly opposite to Carrickfergus.

According to the Irish annals, Bangor Monastery was founded between 552 and 555.  According to Adamnan's "Life of Columba", there was a very close connection between Comgall and Columba though there does not appear to be sufficient authority for stating that Comgall was the disciple of Columba in any strict sense.  He is said to have been the friend of St. Brendan, St. Cormac, St. Cainnech, and Finnian of Moville. 

Comgall belonged to what is known as the Second Order of Irish Saints. These flourished in the Irish Church during the sixth century. They were for the most part educated in Britain, or received their training from those who had grown up under the influence of the British Schools. They were the founders of the great Irish monastic schools, and contributed much to the spread of monasticism in the Irish Church.

There has come down to us a Rule of St. Comgall in Irish.  Saint Columbanus, a disciple of Comgall and himself a monk of Bangor, drew up for his Continental monasteries a "Regula Monachorum".  This  would lead us to believe that there had been a similar organization in Bangor in his time.  After intense suffering he received the Eucharist from St. Fiacre and expired in the monastery at Bangor.  He died kneeling at an alter in his own monastery in 601AD.  He is the patron saint of Connaught.

Columcille (Saint Columba) -  A native of Donegal, converted most of the population of Albann to Christianity in the 6th century, and saved New Dalriada from extinction by befriending High King Brud Mauur of Albann.

Cúchulainn -  Although mythical, he is undoubtedly the best known of all Irish Cruithni.  His full story is related below under Myths and Legends.  Other Irish people promote him as being "Irish", but he was strictly Ulster in spirit, and he spent his entire life defending Ulster from Gaelic intrusions.  He has appeared in books, comics and in motion pictures.

Francis MacComie -  An Ulster man of Donegal, founded American Presbyterianism in the early part of the last century.

Liam Neeson - William John "Liam" Neeson, OBE (born 7 June 1952) is an Ulster actor.   He is known for his roles as Oskar Schindler in Schindler's List, Michael Collins in Michael Collins, Qui-Gon Jinn in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace and Aslan in The Chronicles of Narnia film series. He has also starred in several other blockbusters, including Darkman, Rob Roy, Kingdom of Heaven, Batman Begins and Taken.

Liam has played several characters based on real people, including Oskar Schindler, Michael Collins and Alfred Kinsey, and is set to play U.S. President Abraham Lincoln in a 2011 Steven Spielberg-directed biographical film based on the book Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin.

Also -  Michael Stone; The Rt. Hon. Rev. Dr. Ian Paisley M.P; Darren Clarke; Damien Johnson; Iain Dowie; Jeff Whitley; Dennis Taylor; Alex Higgins.

42 US Presidents have had their roots in Ulster.

The Alamo - Nine of the 189 men, mostly Texans and Tennesseans, who died at The Alamo in March, 1836, fighting for the freedom and liberty of Texas, were born in Ulster, and many others in this gallant number, like Davy Crockett, William Travis and Jim Bowie were first, second or third generation away from 18th century Ulster pioneering settlers who crossed the Atlantic on the immigrant ships.  Ulster-born soldiers who died at The Alamo were: Samuel Burns, Andrew Duvalt, Robert Evans, Joseph Mark Hawkins, James McGee, Jackson J. Rusk, Burke Trammel and William B. Ward.

The unique contribution of Ulstermen to the United Sates of America -  Ulstermen moved to the New World in such numbers that they became the most important element in the colonial population of America after the English. By the time the United States became independent, one American in five was of Ulster stock. 

Colla Uais, His Invasion and Partition of Ulster

Background on the Three Collas: The three sons of Eochaid Duibhlein and Aila, a daughter of the King of Albann, all bore the name of Colla - Colla Uais, Colla Meann and Colla da Crich.  The designation Colla, meaning strong man, was "imposed on them for rebelling," their original names being Cairsall, Aod and Murdoch, respectively.  The three Collas went to Albann to obtain the assistance of their Pict kindred to place Colla Uais on the Irish throne, and with their military help, placed him there, but four years later, he was compelled to give way to a cousin, Muiredach Tireach, who had a better title to the sovereignty.

Given the time period involved, Aila's father was probably Brud, who reigned in Albann from 258 to 275AD.  This is the second instance on record where Albann Pict and Irish Royalty were interconnected.  Doubtlessly there were many other unrecorded unions of the two crowns as the record shows marriages between Picts, Kemry and Gaels were common.

Muiredach Tireach, the son of the slain king Fiachadh, overthrew the three Collas and their followers.  About the year 327, the three Collas were exiled to Albann.  They were welcomed into their maternal grandfather's court, the High court of the Picts. 

  • The Irish Annals record for the year, 322AD cites, "Fiachadh Sraibhtine, after having been thirty seven years as king over Ireland, was slain by the Collas, in the battle of Dubhchomar, in Crioch Rois, in Breagh."

  • The annals further record for the year 323, "The first year of Colla Uais, son of Eochaidh Doimhlen, as High king over Ireland."

  • For the year 327 the annals state, "The fourth year of Colla Uais, in the sovereignty of Ireland, when Murdoch Tireach expelled him and his brothers into Albann with three hundred along with them."

  •  The annals continue for the same year, "At the end of this year, the three Collas returned to Ireland; and there lived not of their forces but twenty seven persons only.  They went to Murdoch, having been instructed by a druid.  They scolded him, and expressed evil words, that he might kill them, and the curse of Fingal should alight on him.  As he did not oppose them, they tarried with him, and were faithful to him."

     "It was when Muiredach Tireach, grandson of Cairbre of the Liffey, was High King of Ireland, that Ulster was despoiled and broken by his nephews, the three Collas, who, on the ruins of the old kingdom of the Uladh, founded a new kingdom - of Oirghialla, which was for nearly a thousand years to play an important part in the history of Northern Ireland."

    "The Collas first went to their kin in Connaught and Leinster, where they gathered a great army for the invasion of Ulster.  On the plain of Fernmaighe in Monaghan, they met the Ulaid under their king, Uurgus, and on seven successive days broke battle upon them, finally slaying Uurgus, and putting the Ulaid to complete rout.  Of the conquered portion of Ulster, from Louth in the south to Derry in the north, and from Loch Neagh to Loch Erne, the Collas made themselves the new kingdom of Oirghialla.

The Irish Annals record for the year of our Lord 331, "The battle of Achadh Leithdheirg, in Fearnmhagh, was fought by the three Collas against the Ulaid, in which Uurgus fell, son of Uurad, the last king of Ulster, who resided at Eamhain Macha. They afterwards burned Eamhain Macha, and the Ulaid did not dwell there again. They also took from the Ulaid that part of the province extending from the Righe and Loch Neagh westwards.  Colla Meann fell in this battle."

Geoffrey Keating adds in his History that "On that occasion, the Collas wrested the following territory from the Ulidians, namely, Modharnuigh, Ui Criomthainn, and Ui Mac Uais.  Colla Meann took possession of Modharnuigh, and Colla da Chrioch of Ui Criomhthainn, and Colla Uais of Ui Mac Uais.   Muiredach Tireach was felled by Caolbhaidh, son of Cronn Badhraol."

 

- Descendant Groups and Families of the Three Collas -


The first king of Arghialla was Colla-da-Chrioch.
The Book of Ballymote cites the extent of his stock as: Airthera, Rigradh Dartraighe Coindinse, Ui Meth, Fir Fernmuighe, Fir Manach, Fir Lemna, Síl Duibtiri, Ui Briuin Archoill, Fir Roiss, Ui Maine, Fir Dubhshlat, Ui Cennfhada, Ui mic Brocc, Ui Echach bega, Ui Echach móra, Ui Dortaind, Ui Níalláin, Ui Conaill, Ui Bresail of Macha and of Mughdorn, Ui Cremthaind, and Ui Luain.
1/  Colla-da-Chrioch - had four sons noted here; Imchad, Findchad, Rochaid, Fiachra Cassán.

From Imchad came Murdoch Méth, a quo Uí Méith and the Uí Maine Connacht.

From Rochad, descended the Cenél Rochada, that is the Fernmuigi and Síl Daim Argait and Uí Briúin ar Chaill and Uí Labrada and Dál n-Uaich and Uí Chremthainn and Uí Meic Brócc and Uí Tuathail.

From Fiachra Cassán, descended the Síl Fiachra Cassán, that is the Airthir of Ard Macha and Uí Breasail and Uí Nialláin and Uí Dorthain and Uí Eochada and Uí Cruind and Uí Trena.
2/  Colla Uais -  had two sons named Eathach and Erc.  From Colla Uais, descended the Uí Meic Uais, Uí Tuirtri, Uí Cormaic, Uí Dáire, Ui Fiacrach Arda Sratha, Cenél Meic Cárthind, Cenél mBecce, Cenél Raithne and Cenél n-Erchoil.
3/ Colla Menn - had two sons named Mennit Chruthnech and Mugdorn Dub di Ultaib.  From Colla Menn, descended the Mughdorna and the Dál Mennat.

From Colla-da-Chrioch are claimed to descend some of these noble families of Ulster and elsewhere - Boylan, Brassil, Cahil, Callaghan, Carbery, Carey, Carroll, Cassidy, Conan, O'Connor, Corrigan, Cosgrave, Devine, O'Donnell, Donnelly, Duffy, Dwyer, Fogarty, Garvey, Gavin, Hanlon, Hart, Higgins, Hollgan, Kelly, Kennedy, Keogh, Lane, Larkin, Leahy, Lynch, MacCabe, MacDaniel, MacKenna, MacMahan, MacManus, Madigan, Madden, Maguire, Malone, Mitchell, Mooney, Muldoon, Norton, Traynor & Tully,

WHO WERE THE CRUITHNI OF ULSTER?

Some historians would undoubtedly question whether all the Cruithni of Ireland were true Picts from Albann.  For those who look for proof, there are several characteristics of Picts that are related in tales of the Cruithni: 

  •  When Cúchulainn was forced to fight his dear friend, Ferdiad, to the death during the long battle of Cuailgne, a scene describing Ferdiad donning his armour;  "He put on his shirt of striped silk, with its border of speckled gold, next to his white skin."  

There is no mention of a "ruddy" coloured skin as is almost universal language for all masculine champions.   The reference to "white skin" on a man is very rare in storytelling, and is reflected herein in the descriptive name the Greek sailors gave those north Britain natives, "Albiones", which meant literally in Greek, white skinned people.  Either Lady Isabella Augusta Gregory acknowledged they were pale skinned Picts or she copied the story as she knew it.  Either way, according to the Cúchulainn legend, the Ulster menfolk had white skin.

Why did the Picts have pale white skin?  They acclimatized to their feeble northern sun as did the Caucasian Laplanders and Vikings of northern Scandinavia.  Their ancestors arrived in north Britain about 8,000 years BC.  In that long time period, any ruddy skinned population would have lost their southern pigmentation.

  • From the very inception of Cruithni tribes settling in Ulster, Albann was referred to as the fatherland, and numerous Albann Monarchs included parts of Ulster in their empires (and visa versa). 

  • Although they lived on the island of Ireland, Ulstermen considered the Picts of Albann to be their natural friends and family, not only in legends such as Cúchulainn but in actuality, while they diligently fought to keep the southern Gaels out of their homeland.  Their natural trading relationship was with their Fatherland.

  • Story after story relates how Ulstermen (often with Albann Pict mothers) went to the High Court of Albann to seek refuge from their enemies in Ireland, and they were welcomed there, conversed freely with them, and drew military support from them;  i.e. The three Collas and Congal Claen.

  • It is a known fact that the Isle of Manx was totally Brythonic speaking from its colonization by Celts via Britain about 500BC.  The Manx were trading partners and were friendly with the Ulstermen.  When the Romans became a threat, Ulster incorporated Manx into Ulidia proper, and fortified it.  Its recorded history still relates how its seizure by Scottish Dal Riadans (from Argyll) in 582AD, forced the Q-Celtic Gaelic language on its inhabitants for the first time. 

  • The common Brythonic language of Ulster, Manx, Albann and Cymri (Wales) solidified their societies, and that relationship continued until the Brythonic dialects were eclipsed in Ulster, Manx and Albann.  i.e. Even in the legend of Cúchulainn, mention was made regarding a certain Manannan (man from Manx).


The ruins of Dunseverick Castle, built as a redoubt by Sobhairce, a Cruithni Dal n-Araidan king, who was also joint Ard-Ri of Ireland. From here, one could easily enjoy a startling view of Albann.  A coincidence?

 

List of Kings and Important Events in Ulidia 

The Kings of Ulster were of the Uladh, and until about 450AD, ruled as over-kings of the ancient cóiced of Ulster (roughly one quarter of the land mass of Ireland).  Ptolemy's map (compiled about 150AD from many earlier sources) shows them as the Uoluntii.  In their prime they were direct rulers of what are now County Monaghan, County Armagh, County Down, County Antrim and much of County Louth. The centre of the province was held by the Airgialla, a loose confederation of tribes of the Cruithin race, four of whom were paid annual tithes by the Ulaid, and later the Uí Niall.  Ptolemy's map lists two tribes further west, the Uennikinii in County Donegal and the Erpitianni along lower and upper Lough Erne; both were no doubt subject to Uladh rule.

However, about  331AD, the Uladh capital of Emain Macha was attacked and destroyed by the half Albann Pict, three Collas leading two armies from Connacht and Leinster in concert with the northern Ua Nialls attacking County Dunegal.  After those events, the Uladh were slowly reduced to being mere kings of their homelands east of the upper and lower River Bann, which was Uladh proper. Yet as late as 1080, King of Uladh, Aed Meranach Ua hEochada attempted to revive the Uladh over-kingship.  Because of such perseverance, the title Rí Ulaid/King of Ulster was never held by any of Niall's descendants until a century after the Normans conquered Ulster in 1205AD.  

Note: All the early Uladh kings were Cruithni.  All names would have been Brythonic-Celtic up to 450AD. For ease of understanding the context, some names have been translated into English.   Asterisks denote mythological kings.

The following kings have a semblance of reality, in that the Cruithni ruled all of Ireland soon after they arrived from Albann.  The names from this point on are Cruithni/Celtic.

(Before the 7th century) - SOBHAIRCE* (pronounced severik) (This man of the world), Also joint high king of Ireland.  According to tradition, he ruled the north, and his brother, Cearmna, ruled the south.  He built a castle (Dunseverick) in northern Antrim with a startling view of Albann (12 miles away), from where he came. He ruled for 40 years.  Sobhairce was killed by Euuen Mann, leading a revolt of the pre-Celtic inhabitants of Ulster. (Dal n'Araidh)

FIACHA*, son of Sedna.  Also high king of Ireland. (Dal n'Araidh)

EUUEN*, son of Fiacha.  Also high king of Ireland. (Dal n'Araidh)

CAER*, son of Ollaman.  (Dal n'Araidh)

XX - 701BC - LABRAID CONDILG*, son of Cairbre (Dal n'Araidh)

701 - 731BC - AILILL - Son of Bearnghal, also became Ard Ri of Ireland.  About this time, Sirna wrested the government of Teamhair from the Uladh. (Dal n'Araidh)

731 - 703BC - AOD RHUDD*, son of Budog.  (Dal n'Araidh) 28 years.

724 - 668BC - CINNIDD*, son of Fintan (with Macha, a daughter of Aod Rhudd). (Dal n'Araidh)

668 - 654BC -  Macha*, the Queen, founded the city of Emain Macha in present day county Armagh. (Dal n'Araidh)

654 - 426BC - EOLACH*, son of Feig. (Dal n'Araidh)

426 - 425BC - UAMANCHAN*, son of Cas. (Dal n'Araidh)

425 - 395BC - CONCHUBAR*, son of Cathir. Ruled 30 years.  

395 - 379BC - FIACHNA*, son of Uulim.  Ruled 16 years. (Dal n'Araidh)

379 - 308BC - DAIRE*, son of Uurgus. Ruled 71 years. (Dal n'Araidh)

308 - 303BC - ENNA*, son of Rocha. Ruled 5 years. (Dal n'Araidh)

303 - 301BC - FINNEAD*, son of Bacceadh. Ruled 2 years. (Dal n'Araidh)

301 - 289BC - CONCHUBAR MAOL*, son of Fortha.  Ruled 12 years. (Dal n'Araidh)

289 - 279BC - RUDHRUIGH MOR*(Great red spear), son of Sithrighe.  Also high king of Ireland. (Dal n'Araidh)

279 - 252BC - CORMAC*, son of Lathig.  Ruled 27 years.  (Dal n'Araidh)

252 - 249BC - MOCHTA*, son of Morchai.  Ruled 3 years.  (Dal n'Araidh)

249 - 246BC - ENNUA*, son of Daire.  Ruled 3 years.  (Dal n'Araidh)

246 - 225BC - EUCHDACH*, son of Lathig. (Dal n'Araidh)

225 - 205BC - ROSSA RUD*, son of Rudruigh Mor. (Dal n'Araidh).

205 - 195BC - EOCHU*, son of Salbuide.  Ruled 10 years.  (Dal n'Araidh)

195 - 183BC - BRESSAL*, son of Elad.  Ruled 12 years.  As a final gesture of revenge, his grave was located in an area where the rising sun did not shine. 

183 - 169BC - CONGAL CLAROINEACH, Brother of Bressal.  Ruled 14 years. 

169 - 139BC - FIACHTNA, son of Rossa Rudh.  Ruled 30 years.  (Dal n'Araidh)

139 - 127BC - UURGUS I, Ruled 12 years.

127 - 124BC - UURGUS II*, son of Libde.  Ruled 3 years.  He gave up the throne to teach at the Red Branch military academy.  His two star pupils were Conall Cernach and Cúchulainn (the basis of the mythical hero), cousins to the king by marriage.  (Dal n'Araidh)

Note:  After this, the king line was substantiated by written records.

124 - 84BC - CONCHUBAR, son of Nessa and Cathbad (a Druid).  Ruled 40 years. Called the greatest king of the Uladh. He died in 27BC after a conflict with cattle raiders. (Age of mythical hero, Cúchulainn). (Dal n'Araidh).

84 - 81BC - CUSàCT, grandson of another Macha.  Ruled 3 years.  (Dal n'Araidh)

Note: At this point in time, the Cruithni of Ulster appear to have converted from a Matrilineal to a Tanist succession system.  Macha is the only reigning Queen of Ulster on record.  Before this point, not one Uladh king succeeded his father.  Afterwards, most did. 

81 - 72BC - GLASNE, son of Conchobar.  Ruled 9 years. (Dal n'Araidh)

72 - 58BC - CONALL CERNACH, a son of Conchubar.  Ruled 14 years. (Dal n'Araidh)

58 - 0AD - IAREL GLUNMAR,  son of Conall Cearnach.  (Dal n'Araidh)

0 - 54AD - FIACHU FINDAMNAS, a son of Iarll Glunmar. Ruled 20 years.  (Dal n'Araidh).

54 - 57AD - Murdoch, son of Fiachu.  Ruled 3 years. . (Dal n'Araidh)

57 - 60AD - FIATACH FINN, son of Daire.  Ruled for 3 years. (Founder of Dal Fiatach line) 

60 - 80AD - ELIM, son of Connrach. Ruled 20 years.  Also high king of Ireland 101 - 120AD.  (Dal n'Araidh)

80 - 92AD - OGAMAN,  son of Fiatach. Ruled 12 years. (Dal Fiatach)

92 - 122AD - RHUDRHAIDD (Crimson spear), son of Cathbad.  (Dal n'Araidh)

122 - 147AD - MAOL, son of Rhudrhaidd. Ruled 35 years.  He killed Tuathal Teachtmhar, Ard Ri of Ireland, in battle, and became Ard Ri himself. (Dal n'Araidh)

147 - 187AD - TIùBHRADH TIREACH, son of Mail. Ruled thirty years. Born 136 and died after 187AD.  He killed Conn of a Hundred battles, high king of Ireland.  Also became high king of Ireland. (Dal n'Araidh).

187 - 203AD - BRESSAL.  Son of Elad, the king of Cornwall.  He was very popular with the ladies due to his good looks but unpopular with the men due to his heavy taxes to support his army.  As a final gesture of revenge, his grave was located in an area where the sun did not rise.  (Welsh).

187 - 207AD -  Uurgus, son of Iomchadha. He was King of Ulidia for one year when he fell in a battle against Cormac, Ard Ri of Ireland.  His two brothers, Uurgus the long-haired and Uurgus the fiery, also fell.  Cormac defeated the Ulaid with the aid of Tadg, son of Cian, who received vast areas of eastern Ireland as compensation. (Dal n'Araidh) 

207 - 215AD - Onnus FINN, son of Uurgus.  Irish High king, Cormac, fought again against the Ulaid.  Onnus fell with the slaughter of many Ulaid about him, at the battle of Crionna Fregabhail.  Ruled 8 years.  (Dal n'Araidh). 

215 - 223AD - Onnus Gaibne, son of Onnus.  ruled 8 years.  (Dal n'Araidh).

223 - 233AD - LUGAID LORC, Son of Onnus.  Ruled 10 years.   Lugaid killed the High King of Ireland, Eogan Gonnat.  In 326AD, in the fourth year of Colla Uais as Ard Ri of Ireland, Murdoch Tireach expelled him & his brothers (who were Tireach's nephews) plus three hundred more to a remote area of western Albann.  Murdoch Tireach became  Ard Ri of Ireland until 356AD.  For a detailed explanation of the background of the three Collas, and how Colla Uais successfully destroyed Ulster, scroll down to the end of this chapter. (Dal n-Araidh)

234 - 254 AD - FIACHA ARAIDH - Another son of Onnus Gaibnenn. Ruled 20 years. (Dal n'Araidh).

254 - 269AD - FEIDHMIÚIL, Son of Cas. Ruled 15 years. (Dal n'Araidh).

270 - 277AD - IOMCHUIDH, Son of Feidhmiuil. Ruled 7 years. (Dal n'Araidh).

278 - 281AD - Uurad, son of Dallan. Ruled 3 years. (Dal n'Araidh).

282 -- 331AD - UURGUS FODA,  Son of Uurad.  He was killed in battle against the three Collas commanding a vast army from Connaught and Leinster, at the battle of Achadh Leithdheirg in 331AD.  He was the last king of Ulster who resided at Eamhain Macha.  The Collas burned Eamhain, leaving no trace of it, and expelled all previous inhabitants out of their newly won territory, renamed Oirghailla.  The Collas also took the part of the province of Ulster that extended from the Righ and Lough Neagh westwards, Colla Meann also fell in battle.  The remaining part of Ulster would be called Ulidia, and it was at the mercy of the southerners.  (Dal n'Araidh).

Subsequently, the Vultures were circling in the north, as the northern O'Neil saw an opening in a now weakened Ulaid territory, this time in their north- western region by the O'Niall Northern Alliance, including the three sons of Nial of the nine hostages (Eogan, Conall and Enda). Ulster had no friends in Ireland.

331 - 346AD - CAOLBHADH, Son of Crunn. Ruled for 15 years.  Some historians believe Caolbhaidh was the king of Ulster when it was defeated by the Collas, and the year was 357.  Others believe the king at the time of the defeat (331) was Uurgus. Caolbhadh killed Muireadhach Tireach, the high king of Ireland in battle.  Ulster was not dead yet. (Dal n'Araidh) 

346 - 357AD - EOCHU COBA, Son of Crunn. King of the Kingdom of Ulidia. (Ua Eathach Coba)

357 - 383AD - SARAN, Son of Caolbhadh. Ruled 26 years.  (Dal n'Araidh)

383 - 451AD - UURGUS, Son of Crunn.  (Ua Eathach Coba)  The Ui Eathach Coba allied themselves with the Dal Fiatach, and their combined line of kings was subsequently called Dal Fiatach.

In 434AD.  The first raid in Ulster by the Saxons .

In 452AD.  The birth of St. Brigit.

451 - 479AD - Murdoch, Son of Uurgus, son of Dallan.  (Dal Fiatach)  [Also father of Tallorh III, High King of Albann (541-552)].  He reigned for twenty-eight years.  He died a natural death in 479AD.   In 463AD, Saint Patrick arrived in Ulidia.

479 - 499AD - EOCHAIDH. Son of Connla. He was the father of Saint Domangart, but on account of his opposition to St. Patrick, the saint prophesied that the scepter should pass to his brother Cairioll.  According to the Annals of Ulster, it is to this Eogan, Patrick said there should never be a king from him, nor enough of his race to constitute an assembly or army in Ulster, but that his tribe should be scattered and dispersed; that his own life would be short, and that he should meet a tragic fate. (Ui Eathach Coba).

This was the cause Patrick had against Eogan : — Two virgins, who had offered their virginity to the Lord, were bound and sent on the waves to be drowned, as they refused to adore idols and to marry.  When Patrick heard this, he pleaded with the king regarding them, but in vain. ' Your brother, Cairell, has thy luck since he granted me a good request, said Patrick, 'and you have lost it through your disobedience to God.  Cairell shall be a king, and there shall be kings and chiefs of his race over your children, and over all Ulster, so that from him sprung the race of kings, and of his son Denman, son of Cairell, son of Murdoch, according to the words of Patrick.  (Dal Fiatach).

Eogan's wife immediately cast herself at the feet of Patrick.  He baptized her and blessed the child in her womb, — who became the excellent and illustrious, Saint Domangart.  Saint Patrick died at Downpatrick in Ulidia on 17 March 1491.  In 498AD, Uurgus, son of Murdoch Muindearg, with his brothers, went to Albann.  In 486, Nehhton Mauur, High King of Albann, was expelled (with his retinue) to Ulidia by his brother, Drust.

503 - 526AD - CROND BADRUI,  Son of Eochaidh.  Ruled 22 years.  (Dal Fiatach) 

He was the father of St. Thuan of Tamlaght.

Examination of Oak trees in bogs in Ireland has led to the discovery of a catastrophic climatic anomaly in the late 530s AD which caused disastrous crop failures and widespread famine around the world.  It was at this time there were dynastic collapses in China and Mexico.  Then, a devastating plague swept Europe.  It was in this environment that Christianity became a meaningful means of salvation to a grief-stricken Europe.

527 - 547AD - EOCHAIDH, son of Conlaed.  (Dal n'Araidh) A descendant of Cruinn, reigned twenty years.  Diarmid of the southern O'Niall, claimed the sceptre of the Ard Ri in 544.  He had little support amongst the northern O'Niall, and Leinster was his bitter enemy.  He did not have enough support to hold the traditional festival at Tara for fourteen years.  He sent his son to Ulster to exact tribute but the Ulidians slew him in his chariot.

546AD - King Rhydderich, Bishop Mungo, St. Gildas and a host of monks and nuns from Candida Casa in Strathclyde, arrived in Ulidia as refugees after being exiled from Strathclyde by a druidic mob.  This caused great anxiety among Irish Christendom, as they had their own pagan revival to worry about.

547 - 551AD - Uurgus, Son of Connlaed.  (Dal n'Araidh).  He was slain by Deman, son of Cairell, and the Ui Eathach Coba at the battle of Dun-Cleithe.

551 - 552AD - LEDLOBAR, another son of Nolwenn.  (Dal n'Araidh)  He died within the year. 

In 558AD, Diarmid was strong enough to hold his festival at Tara.

565 - 572AD -  DEMAN, Son of Cairell. (Dal Fiatach)  He was killed by the shepherds of Borinn.  In 572AD, Brud Mauur, High King of Albann, invaded Antrim and drowned the fleeing king of New Dalriada.  Albann was not through with Ulster yet.  For the next 77 years, Dal Riata in Ulster remained a defacto colony of Albann, albeit administered from New Dalriada. 

561 - 568AD -  AEDAN Dubh, 1st time.  Son of Suibhne, (Dal n'Araidh) also king of Dal Riata.  Aod Dubh defeated Irish High King Diarmid in the battle of Culdremne in 565, while protecting Saint Columba.  In 561AD.   It was Fraechán, son of Teimnén, who made the druidic 'fence' for Diarmid.  Tuatán cast the druidic 'fence' over them.  Maglaine leaped over it and he alone was killed.

In 563AD.  The battle of Móin Daire Lothair won over the Cruithni by the Uí Néill of the North.  Cenél nEógain and Cenél Conaill were hired, being given the Lee and Ard Eolarg as recompense.  Seven Chieftains of the Cruithni fell.  On this occasion, the Lees and Carn Eolairg lands were forfeited to the Clann O'Niall of the North.  The new western border of Ulidia in the north followed the River Bann north through Lough Neagh and on down the lower Bann north to the Atlantic.

In 565, a sea fleet was brought by Colman Beg and Conall, son of Comgall, Chief of Dal Riata, to Sol and Ile, where they took many spoils.

568AD - UURGUS.  Another son of Cairell. (Dal Fiatach)

568-585AD -  BaeDan.  (Dal Fiatach) Another son of Cairell.  In 582, Aedan, king of New Dalriada seized the Isle of Mann from the Ulidians.

585-592AD -  AEDAN Dubh, 2nd time.  (Dal n'Araidh).  He won the battle of Magh Ochtair over the O'Niall of the North at the hill over Cluain Conaire.  He was killed by Fiachna, son of Baedan.  In 586AD, Aed MacAinmire, provincial king of Aileth, became the Ard Ri of Ireland.

592 - 622AD - FIACHNA I. Son of Baedan. (Dal Fiatach)

 By the beginning of the 7th century, the dominant power in Ulster was the Dal Fiatach, over their rivals, the Dal n'Araidh tribes in the north.

622- 626AD - FIACHNA Son of Demán. (Dal Fiatach) In 622AD, Conaing, son of Aedán was drowned.  In 626AD, the battle of Leithet Midind in which Fiachna of Lurga fell.  Fiachna son of Demán was the victor. The battle of Ard Corainn was won by Connad Cear, Lord of Dal Riata, where Fiachna was slain.  

627-634AD -  CongAL II.   Son of Scannlan.  (Dal n'Araidh) Congal became the military overlord of Ulster, and in 628, he killed the Irish High King, Suibe Menn in Taerr Bréni.   Domnall, son of Aed, son of Ainmire, then became High king of Ireland.  It is said Congal was urged to murder the King, by Domnall), the head of the rival O'Niall family of O'Niall Northern Alliance, in whose house he had been reared.  Domnall ascended the vacant throne, but he did not fulfill his promise of restoring to Ulidia the territories which they anciently possessed.  Congal, offended at the conduct of the King, led his Ulidians in 624AD, to the Cyclopian fortress of Dún Ceithirn, (now the Giant's Causeway), but Domnall was the victor, and Congal fled from the bloody field of battle to Albann, where he remained for nine years.

In 629AD, the battle of Fid Eóin in which Mael Caích son of Scannal, king of the Cruithni, was victor. The Dál Riata fell. Connid Cerr, king of Dál Riata, fell.

Congal collected a great army of Saxons, Britons, Picts, and Albann Scots.  Aided by these, he hoped that his Ulidians would be able to drive the O' Nialls and the Clann Colla from Ulster.  Domnall also mustered a powerful force from the south, and in the battle which ensued, which was fought for six successive days, Congal's troops were almost annihilated and he himself slain.  This was the great battle fought in 637AD, at Magh Rath (Moira), in present day County Down.  This was a historically important battle over the control of Ireland, in which the Albann sub-kingdom of Dalriada lost its Irish territories, denying Albann an Irish opening, and estranging New Dalriada from Ireland forever.  It was also the end of a Brythonic Ulidia.

634 - 643AD - Duncan I.  Son of Fiachna.  In 643AD, Duncan died.  (Dal Fiatach)

643 - 647AD . MaEL COBA I.  Son of Fiachna.  In 646, the slaying of Scannall son of Béicce son of Fiachra, king of the Cruithni. (Dal Fiatach). 

647 - 670AD - Blathmac.  Son of Maolcobha.  During his reign, a battle was fought at Fearsat (Belfast) in 656AD. between the Ulidians and the Cruithni of Dalaraidia.  In 665, Maelcaeich, son of Scannal, chief of the Cruithni of Dalaraidia died.  Eogan Larlaid, king of the Cruithni, also died.  Maelduin, son of Scannal died, terminating any hopes the Dal n'Araidh would provide the next king.  (Dal Fiatach). 

670-674 AD . Congal CENNFOTA III. Son of Duncan.  Congal was killed by Bég Boirche. (Dal Fiatach).

674-689AD -  Uurgus II, Son of Lodan.  In 679, Dungal, son of Scannal, Chief of the Cruithni, and Ceannefaeladh, son of Suibhne, were burned by Maelduin, son of Maelfithrigh, of the Ui Eathach Coba at Dun Ceithirnn.  Uurgus reigned thirteen years, and was slain by the Ui Eathach Coba in 689AD. (Dal  n'Araidh). 
In 684, Ecgberht, Saxon king of Mercia (south of Albann),  sent an expedition to UIidia under his general, Berht, which seems to have been unsuccessful in the sense that no Irish land was conquered by the Northumbrians.  However, the expedition was successful in that Ecgberht's men did manage to seize a large number of slaves and made off with a significant amount of plunder.  Bede wrote that many monasteries and churches were destroyed. 

689-704AD. BeG BOIRCHE,  In 696AD, a battle was fought at Tulach Gairaisg, in Fearnmhagh, where Connor Macha, son of Maelduin, and Aod Aird, a chief of the Dal n'Araidh were slain. He abdicated in 718.  (Dal Fiatach)

I the year 697, according to the Annals of Ulster, the Law of the Innocents was enacted  at the Synod of Birr held in county Offaly, and was the work of one Adomnan, abbot of Iona.  The intent of he Law was to free women, innocent children and the Clergy from the devastating effects of warfare.  However, the result was the loss of equality of women in Irish and British society, and they eventually became property. The church benefited the most as Church clergy has ever since been excluded from conscription in Christian armies.  This law was enacted by all jurisdictions in the British Isles, and is universally considered to be the precursor to the Geneva Convention.
In Albann, Taran II, High King of Albann, was expelled to Ulidia, with his retinue in 699AD, and retired there.

704-706AD . CUCUARAN I.  king of Ulidia & Dalaraidia.  He was killed by Aod Ronain in 706. (Dal n'Araidh)

706-72AD . Aod RONAIN.  Son of Beg Boirche. In 717, Nehhtonn III, High King of Albann, in exercising his authority to break the Pictic Church from the Scottic Church, expelled all the Columban Clergy to Ulidia who resisted his decree that they conform to Roman Catholic church rules.  (Dal Fiatach).

720- 732AD -  CEMOYTH, son of Congalach III, (Dal Fiatach).

732-749AD - Aod Roin.  A grand-nephew of Congal III. He was slain in 749AD, at Rath Bethecli.  (Dal Fiatach). 

749-750AD . CATHASACH, Son of Ailell.    He was slain after a reign of one year at Downpatrick, in the year 733. (Dal Fiatach).

750 - 789AD -  FIACHNA IV, son of Aod Roin, (Dal Fiatach). The battle of Camhain Macha (the Navan Fort near Armagh), was won in 754AD  by this King over the O'Niall tribe In 779.  In the year 779, the High King of Ireland induced Fiachna, King of Ulidia, to meet him at Inis-na-righ (Island of the King) off the coast of Meath or Dublin; the Annals term the conference "a royal meeting," Fiachna died A.D. 789.

789 - 790AD - Tommaltad, son of Indrectad.  (Dal n'Araidh).  He was slain in A.D. 787 by Eochaidh.

790 - 810AD -  EoCHAIDH III. Son of Fiachna. (Dal Fiatach) Issue: (a) Murdoch II, (# 35)   (b) Aod, prince, the father of Ainbit, Eogan,  &  Airemon.  In 796AD, there was a battle between the Ulidians and the people of Inveigh, in which the King of Inveigh fell.  A battle was fought in  814AD, against Eogan by his own brother, Cairell, who was defeated.  In the same year, Ulidia was plundered by the High King of Ireland, Aedh Oiixiuidhe, an O'Niall Northern Alliance prince, in revenge for the desecration of the shrine of Saint Patrick.

810 - 819AD - CAIRELL, Son of Fiachna.  (Dal Fiatach).

825 - 839AD - Murdoch II, Son of Eochaid. (Dal Fiatach).

839 - 857AD - MaTUDAN I. Son of Murdoch. (Dal Fiatach).

857 - 871AD - Catalan (Dal n'Araidh) co-ruled with Ledlobar (Dal n'Araidh) 

871 - 873AD -  Ledlobar, son of Loingsig.  (Dal n'Araidh). 

873 - 882AD -  AiNBHITH.  Son of Aed, son of Matudan.  (Dal Fiatach)

882 - 883AD -  EoCHAIDH IV.  Son of Aed. (Dal Fiatach).

883 - 886AD -  EremHON, son of Aed.  (Dal Fiatach).

886AD -  FIACHNA V, son of Ainbhith. (Dal Fiatach).

886 - 890AD -  BeCC II, son of Erimhon.  (Dal Fiatach)

890 - 895AD -  Murdoch III,  son of Eochaidh.   Deposed,  He was slain by Aididh in 897, (Dal Fiatach)

895 - 89AD - Maol  MORDHA III. son of Erimhon.  (Dal Fiatach) 

896 - 904AD -  AIDIDH,  son of Luighne.  (Dal n'Araidh).

904 - 919AD - AodHA III, Son of Eoghan.  (Dal Fiatach)

919 - 925AD - Dugall , Son of Aodha.  (Dal n'Araidh).

925 - 932AD - LOINGSIG. Son of Ledlobar. (Dal n'Araidh)

932 - 937AD - EOCHAIDH IV, Son of Conall. (Dal n'Araidh)

937 - 950AD -  MaTUDAN II, Son of Aodha.  (Dal Fiatach)

950 - 957AD -  Artgal, Son of Matudan. (Dal Fiatach)

957 - 971AD - Niall I  The King of Ulidia led an army in 968AD, against the foreigners, he succeeded in plundering Connor, which was then in their possession, but he lost many of his followers;.  In 976AD, Niall I was slain in the battle of Kill Mona in which he was assisting Dorin O'Niall, High King of Ireland, against the Southern O'Niall and the Vikings.

971 - 972AD - AEDH IV, son of Loingsig, and the last monarch of the Cruithni dynasty.  He perished in 978AD, in a war which he waged against the Dal n' Araidh.

972-1004AD -  EoCHAIDH V,  Son of Artgal.  In conjunction with the Ard Ri, Malachy, he laid siege to Danish controlled Dublin, out of which they liberated two thousand Irish prisoners, and took a large amount of rich spoils.  Malachy issued a proclamation stipulating that all the race of Niall  of the Nine Hostages should be henceforth free from tribute to the foreigners, and declared every Irishman then in bondage to the Danes be released from captivity.

In 1001 AD, Sitric, the Dane, set out on a plundering excursion into Ulidia, plundered Kilclief and Inch, and carried off many prisoners.

Briuin Boron of a Connaught tribe, conceived the ambitious project of deposing the monarch, Malachy, obtained the aid of the Danes and Leinstermen against him.   Malachy gave him hostages, acknowledged him monarch ; and the people of Connaught also acknowledged his authority.   Briuin, accompanied now by the deposed monarch and a great force, marched to Dundalk to compel the northern O'Nialls to acquiesce in the revolution, but Hugh O'Niall, who as King of the Aileth, was the presumptive heir to the monarchy, and Eogan, King of Ulidia, with the whole force of the O'Niall Northern Alliance and the Clann Colla repaired to the same place to meet them, and did not permit them to advance further.

It would seem, that the Ulidians were inclining to join Briuin against their hereditary enemies, the O'Nialls, for in the following year, 1003AD, the O'Niall Northern Alliance invaded Ulidia and defeated the Ulidians in the terrible battle of Craobh-Tulcha, near Olenavy.  In this battle, Eogan fell, together with his two sons, his brother, many of the chiefs, including Ghiirbhidli, lord of Iveagli, and the most part of the Ulidians.  The battle raged as far as Dun-Eathach and Drimbo.  Hugh O'Niall perished in the battle, and Duncan, grandson of Loingsig, lord of Dalaraidia and heir apparent of Ulidia, was slain on the following day by the Aileth.

1004-1005AD - Gille-Comgall.  After the battle of Craebh-Tulcha, Gille Comgall, brother of the slain king, mounted the throne of Ulidia, and was slain in the following year by another brother, Maolrhunn.

The fall of their King left the Ulidians prey to dissensions; and the jealousy entertained against them by the Aileth.  Lest they would join with Briuin, subjected them to many an invasion.   In 1004AD, Briuin carried off the pledges of the Dal-n'Araidh and Dal-Fiatach, and the same year  Flagherty O'Niall, King of Aileth, plundered Lecale, slew its king, and defeated the Ulidians and people of Iveagh at Lough Brickland.

In the following year, A.D. 1005, Briuin again passed with a great force through the O'Niall Northern Alliance, from whom he could obtain no acknowledgment of submission.  He then crossed the Bann at Camus, near Coleraine, then through Dalaraidia, and into Ulidia, which acknowledged his sovereignty by giving him hostages.  In the meantime, frightful anarchy reigned in Ulidia.

1005 60AD -  MAEL RUADH.  In half a year, he was slain by Matudan.

1005AD -  MaTUdAN III, Son of Domhnall.  In a month, he was slain in the church of St. Bridget in Downpatrick, by Donlevy.

1005AD - DONLEVY.  Son of Eochaidh, who was killed at Crabh-Tulcha.  He was killed in 1005AD, out of revenge by Murdoch, the son of his predecessor.

1007AD -  DOMHNALL.  Son of Donlevy.  He was slain by the same murderer in the year 1006AD.

1007 - 1008AD -  Murdoch IV. Son of Matudan.

1008 - 1016AD -  NIALL II  Son of Duibh Tuinne.  He had scarcely mounted the blood-stained throne when Flagherty O'Niall entered Ulidia, slew the lord of Lecale, and carried off seven hostages.  The same prince again returned in 1010, burned the fortress of Dun-Eathach, demolished the town, and carried off pledges from Niall.

In the following year Flagherty led another army as far as the Ards, and he bore off from thence spoils, the most numerous that a king ever bore.  Niall, however, had even a worse enemy to contend with; Niall, the son of Eogan, who was killed at the battle of Craobh-Tulcha.  This prince encountered the King of Ulidia in 1011AD, in the battle of the Mullachs, where many were slain, together with Murdoch, of Iveagh; he afterwards deposed the king, and took possession of the throne.

In 1015AD, Malachy having again recovered the sovereignty of Ireland after the death of Briuin in the battle of Clontarf, marched into Ulidia, and compelled the Ulidians to give him hostages.

1016 - 1062AD -  NIALL III. Son of Eochaidh.  The dethroned king of Ulidia, Niall, son of Dub Tuinne, attempted to recover his lost position by the aid of the Dal n'Araidians, but Niall, son of Eogan, defeated the combined forces, and slew his rival, together with Domnall ua Loingsig, king of Dál Araide,  and Conchubar O'Domhnallain, King of Ui Thuirtre. and many others.  Niall son of Eochaid was triumphant.

Niall was threatened in 1019A.D, by the ambition of another rival, perhaps a brother of his own, one Flagherty O'Heochadh, but he prevented the ambition of that rival from again disturbing his reign by blinding him, for according to Brehan law, no one having a personal blemish or disfigurement could ascend an Irish throne.   

In 1019AD, Ruaidrí ua Ailelláin, king of Uí Ethach Coba, was killed by the men of Fernmag. Two sons of Ceinnétig, i.e. Congalach and Gilla Muire, were then promptly killed in revenge for him.

In 1020AD, Flaithbertach ua Eochada was blinded by Niall son of Eochaid.  Finnlaech son of Ruaidrí, king of Albann, was killed by his own people.

In 1022AD, Niall, defeated the Danes off Dublin in a naval engagement, in which he took most of their ships.  A defeat was inflicted in Sliabh Fuait on the Airgialla by Niall, and there was a great slaughter of the Airgialla there.

In 1027AD, the Aileth invaded Ulidia, although, in 1047AD, a great famine came upon the Ulidians, many left, and went into Leinster.

In 1031AD, Niall led an expedition into Uí Ethach, burned Cell Chomair and its oratory, killed four clerics, and took thirty captives.

In 1041AD, The Airgialla made a raid in Conaille, and the Conaille Muirthemne routed them in Mag dá Chainnech.  Ua Niall made a raid into Uí Echach Coba and took a great prey.

In 1056AD, Niall made a predatory incursion into Dalaraidia, in which he carried off two thousand cows and sixty prisoners.

in 1059AD,  A similar incursion was made into Dalaraidia by Ardghar MacLoughlin, at the head of the Aileth, in which he carried off a great cattle spoil, and killed, or carried off two hundred persons.

In 1062AD, Eochaid, son of Niall, son of Eochaid, heir designate of Uladh, and Eochaid ua Laithéin, king of Síl Duibtire, died in penitence.

In 1063AD, Niall son of Eochaid, over-king of Ulaid, died on Thursday the Ides 13th of November, the eighteenth of the moon.  Niall had reigned fifty-six years .

1063 - 1065  Donnchad II, Ua Mathgamna, king of Ulaid, was assassinated in the stone church of Bangor by Brodur.  In turn, Brodur, the enemy of Comgall, who killed his king in Bangor, was killed by the king of Dál Araidh.  Domnall Ua Loingsig, king of Dál n-Araidh, and Muirchertach ua Maílfhábaill, king of Carraic Brachaide, were killed by the Uí Méith of Menn Tíre.

1065 - 1069AD -  CU-ULAID, He was burned in 1069AD, by the men of Meath. In 1072, Cú Uladh ua Flathraí and the son of Assidh, king of Uí Gabla, were killed by the men of south Brega.

1070AD - AEDH V.   He was drowned in Lough Neagh.  

1070AD -  Maelruanaid.  He was slain in battle immediately by Donslevy, Son of  Eochaidh. Murdoch Ua Loingsig was beheaded by his own people.

1070 - 1094AD - DONSLEVY O'HATAID, then mounted the throne.  In 1080AD, he went into Munster "with the chiefs of Ulidia to serve for stages'* in an effort to reinstate the overlordship of the Kings of Uladh over all Ulster.  He went on a similar expedition in 1084AD, to Drogheda, but during his absence, Domhnall MacLoughlin, at the head of Aileth, entered Ulidia, and carried off many cattle and prisoners.

In the year 1086, a battle was won by the people of Airghialla, over the people of Iveagh but another battle in 1089AD was gained by the Ulidians over the Airghialla, who were under a chief named O'Eogan.  This battle was fought at a place named Eochaid (the yew wood), which is in the parish of Kilkeel.  After a reign of twenty-four years, Donslevy O'Hataid, was slain by Domhnall MacLoughlin, King of Aileth at Bealach-Guirt-an-Iubhair (the road of the field of the yew, in the parish of Killelagh, Co. Derry.  Donslevy's death marked the end of the final effort to bring the ancient powers back to the Kings of Uladh.

1094AD -  LOUGHLIN 

1094-1101AD - DONSLEVY III, 1st time.   Donslevy, ascended his father's throne, and immediately proceeded to Dublin to enforce MacLoughlin's claims to the sovereignty of Ireland.  He returned, however, soon from that expedition, and blinded Flagherty O'Hataid, Lord of Iveagh.  In 1095AD, a great victory was gained by the Dal Riatans.

1101 - 1104AD -  AODH VI, (1st time) 

1104 - 1107AD -  EOCHAIDH VII

1107AD -  ConNOR I

1107 - 1113AD -  Duncan III, 2nd time

1113 - 1117AD -  EOCHAIDH VIII 

1117-1122AD -  AodH VI, 2nd time

1122 - 1127AD -  Niall IV

1127AD -  AODH VII

1127-1128AD -  CEINNÉTIG, Son of Aodh. 

1128-1131AD -  RAGHNALL, Son of Eochaidh.

1131 - 1148AD -  CU-ULAID III, 1st time  In 1147AD, an army was led by Murdoch, son of Niall MacLoughlin, the Aileth, Donnough O'Carroll, and the Airgialla into Ulidia.  The Ulidians were encamped at the brink of Aghderg, near Loughbrickland to meet them but they abandoned the camp to the O'Niall Northern Alliance and the Airgialla, who pursued them till they reached the shore of Dundrum, in Lecale.

The Ulidians gave battle there, on the day of festival of Paul and Peter (29th of June); but they were defeated, and a great number of them slain, together with Archu OTlathrai, Lord of Lecale.  After this, the forces plundered and burned all Lecale, and carried off hostages from the Ulidians.  In the midst of these tumults, the great St. Malachy was using every effort for the restoration of peace, and the promotion of discipline and morality.

However, unfortunately his efforts, owing to the constant state of conflict of those times, were too frequently fruitless.  He died at Glairvaux, on his second journey to Home, on the 2nd of November, 1148, in the arms of his dear friend, the illustrious St. Bernard, surrounded by a number of Abbots and the religious of his order.  MacLoughlin and 0*Carroll returned to Ulidia and carried off hostages and the son of the king of Ulidia, and placed four lords over the territory.

1136AD -  CONNOR II, (rival-king).

1148-1149AD - DUNCAN IV.  The Ulidians, having detached O'Carroll from the Aileth, forgot their engagements, but MacLouglin returned across Toome, expelled Cu-Ulaid O'Donlevy, and placed Duncan, a prince of the same family, on the throne.  Peace was afterwards made at Armagh between MacLoughlin, O'Carroll and the Ulidians, and they left hostages with MacLoughlin.

1149-1157AD - CU-ULAID III, (2nd time).  In  1149AD, the expelled Cu-Ulaid returned to Ulidia, and drove off Duncan from the chieftainship of the upper part of Ulidia.  Duncan, assisted by his brother, Murdoch, and 0'Mahouy attacked the camp of Cu-Ulaid, but they were defeated.  After this the combined forces of the Aileth and Oirghialla entered Ulidia, and plundered all the upper part of it, from Carlingford Bay to Droichet-narFeirtsi (near Newcastle).

A party of them went upon the islands of Lough Strangford, and they plundered Inis-Curascraidh, Killeein, Moville, Bangor, and all the other churches except Down and Saul.  Cu-Ulaid then delivered his own son to MacLoughlin, and whatever other hostages he demanded.  Murdoch  MacLoughlin, who had inflicted such injuries on Ulidia, became the unopposed monarch of all Ireland.

In 1156AD, when Turlough O'Connor, his rival, closed his turbulent career in death, the Ulidians rebelled, and Cu-Ulaid led an army to chastise them.  O'Linchey, Lord of Dalaraida, was slain, but the Aileth lost O'Henry, one of their chiefs, .  Cu-Ulaid, son of Aod, son of Donlevy O'Hataid, King of Ulidia, A.D. 1157, died at Dun-da-Leathglas, and was interred there.

In 1167AD, O'Connor convened an assembly of the clergy and chiefs of the North of Ireland at Athboy, at which thirteen thousand horsemen were present, of whom O'Carroll and O'Hataid brought four thousand.  Several useful regulations, say the Annalists, were made by this assembly,  so that women could travel Ireland alone.

Roderick, with a large army entered the territory of the Aileth, and divided it between Niall O'Loughlin and Hugh O'Niall, giving to the former the country lying to the north of Slieve Gidlion, and to the latter the territory to the south of that. The territory of the Aileth comprised at that period the whole of the present counties of Derry, Tyrone, the barony of Inisowen, part of the barony of Raphoe, together with parts of the present county of Armagh.

As the Aileth advanced its boundaries, the neighbouring septs, who were mostly of the Clann Colla, were eager to seek other settlements.   At the instigation of a renegade monk, who had been expelled from Melifont, he drove out, A.D. 1170, the monks, whom St. Malachy had placed in the abbey of Saul, and deprived them of their books and all their goods.  The Ulidians fitted out a fleet, A.D. 1171, with which they invaded the territory of the Aileth, and carried off many cows.

In revenge, Niall MacLoughlin entered Ulidia where he slew many, and carried off countless cows.  The king of Ulidia led a predatory force into Cil-an-Tuaisceart, where they plundered Coleraine, and many other churches ; but a small party of the Aileth under Connor O'Cathan  overtook them, and slew twenty-one chieftains and sons of chiefs, together with many of commoners.  The king, although wounded, escaped from the battle, but he was slain a few weeks afterwards in Downpatrick by his own brother, Donlevy, who succeeded him in the kingdom.

1157 - 1158AD -  Connor O'Cathan III. Rival King.

1158AD -  AODH MAGENNIS VIII.  Brother of Cu-Ulaid: The charter of Newry abbey granted by family of Murdoch MacLoughlin in 1158AD, records the name of Donald 0'Hede as then king of Iveagh, while it names Aod Mor Magennis, Chief of Clan Aod, of Iveagh, of Ulaid.  In 1173AD, he and the Clann Aod plundered a large quarter of Armagh; and he was slain three months after wards.   Cu O'Flynn, lord of O'Tuirtre, Firlee, and Dal Riata was slain by his own brother. 

1158 - 1166AD -   EogHAN MAC DUINN IX.  Son of Donlevy.  Because he had plundered some of the neighbouring territories in 1165AD, a neighbouring monarch led a great army against him, which plundered the whole country, except some of the principal churches, and exiled Eogan from the kingdom. Some time afterwards  Donnchadh Dal Cearbhall, lord of Oirghialla, brought Eogan to the High King at Armagh, and requested that he would again restore him to his kingdom.

The High King restored him, but Eogan was required to deliver to him his own daughter, and a son of every cheiftain in Ulidia as hostages ''And many jewels were given to him. He also give up Bairche (the present barony of Mourne) to O'Loughlin, who immediately granted it to O'Cearbhaill, and a townland was granted to the clergy of Saul for the luck of the reign of MacLoughlin.  However, on the very next year, A.D. 1166, this unfortunate King of Ulidia, " Eogan MacDonlevy, pillar of the Church, was blinded by MacLoughlin.  Also, the three best men of the Dal-nAraidh, including two MacLoingseach, and the grandson of Cathasach O'Flathry, were killed in violation of the protection of the successor of Saint Patrick.

This so provoked O' Carroll, the Ulidians, and others, that they invaded Aileth, and slew Murdoch MacLoughlin.  Slain along with him, were  0'Hamill, and many others.   As Eogan, being blinded, could no longer reign over Ulidia, Magnus, succeeded him.

1166 - 1171AD -  MAGNUS O'HATTY  I. 

1171 - 1172AD -  DonSlevy O'HATTY II.  In the year 1172, a Gille-Anghusa was treacherously slain by Donlevy, and the chiefs who were guarantees between them, executed the king for his crime. 

1172-1176AD -  Cu-ULAID IV. Son of Donlevy.  In the same year, Hugh Magennis and the Clann Eathach Coba of Iveagh slew Malmurry MacMurrough, an Aileth chief.  Cu-Ulaid was deposed, and died in 1178AD.

1176 - 1177AD -  CUAILGNE Mac DONSLEVY. 

1197 - 1201AD -  RUAIDHRI Mac Duinn (Rory Mac Donlevy), was defeated by Normans in 1201.  He was the last king of Ulster's native people.  Ironically, he held the same name as the legendary King "Rory" of the "crimson spear" in the golden age of Ulster in the third century BC.  That magnificent line of kings of the UIadh had indeed come full circle.

 

- Myths & Legends of Ulster -

Mythological Cruithni warrior:  Cúchullain was an Ulster super hero who appeared in the stories of the Ulster Cycle, as well as in Irish, Albann and Manx folklore.  Those stories were first published in the 7th to 9th centuries, when Ulster was still independent.

Lady Isabella Augusta Gregory (a MacGregor by birth) rewrote a novel about "Cúchulain of Muirthemne" in 1902, which  was a very popular novel of the time.   Lady Gregory retold, by means of translation from the original Irish, adaptation and arrangement, the stories of the heroes of the Red Branch of Ulster, a group of warriors similar to the Knights of the Round Table of Britain.  She brought them to startling life as no one had done before or since.   She wrote in such intricate detail, one would think she actually witnessed the entire saga.  All the stories of Cúchulainn before her, were flat and lifeless, and in that sense she gave him immortal life.

Of all the Ulster champions, none was more illustrious than Cúchulainn (pronounced koo-koo-layn).  With his divine connections, supernatural powers, magical weapons, human weaknesses and short but brilliant life, he was the epic hero par excellence.  His mother, Dechtire, was the daughter of the druid, Cathbad, and half sister of Ulster king, Conchubar, son of Nessa.  His father's identity was a mystery, although in one story, he was the Celtic god, Lugh.  His mortal father was Sualtim, an Ulster war hero.

The young Setanta (an abbreviation of SEUD - ANTRUAS, meaning "merciless hero") killed the giant guard dog of the Ulaid lord Culann, in self defence.  Then, he offered to take the place of  the dog, until Culann trained another dog.  Setanta took the name Cúchulainn, and became Culann's cú (or hound). 

Cúchulainn's Training: The nobles of Ulster argued over which of them would be his foster-father, until the wise Morann decided he should be fostered by several of them: Conchubar himself; Sencha son of Ailella, who taught him good judgment and eloquent speech; the wealthy Blaí Briugu, who protected and provided for him; the noble warrior Uurgus, son of Róichaide, who cared for him and taught him to protect the weak; the poet Amergin, who educated him, and his wife Findchóem, who nursed him.

He was raised in the house of Amergin and Uuindchóem on the Cruithni Muirthemne Plain in modern County Louth, alongside their biological son, the great Conall Cearnach.  As a boy, he put to flight Conchubar's 150 strong youth brigade, and then entered the Ulster king's service. 

Although he was a Pict of the Conaille-Muirthemne tribe through his mother's line, which was a cadet branch of the Ui Eathach Coba, Cúchulainn became the war leader of the Knights of the Red Branch, who were centered at Eamhain Macha.  He was always successful in repealing attacks on Ulster by the Irish Gaels of queen Medb.  He was then sent to Albann for a time, where he trained under the tutelage of the great Pict female warrior, Scathach. 

At the age of seven, Cúchulainn began to train as a warrior.  Later he fell in love with Emer, daughter of Uurgus Monach. Her father secretly opposed the marriage, but said that it could take place once Cúchulainn had completed his training as a warrior at Dun Scaith on the Isle of Skye in Albann, where the mythical warrior queen Scathach  ran her "school for heroes". Cúchulainn and his friend Ferdiad duly travelled to Skye and gained access to Dún Scáith, where Scathach turned them into fully fledged warriors.  She also gave Cúchulainn his deadly barbed spear, the Gáe Bulg.

As part of his training Cúchulainn helped Scathach overcome a neighbouring female chieftain, Aoífe (who  was Scathach's sister), and forced her to make peace, in the process fathering a son by Aoífe.  Cúchulainn also ended up sleeping with Scathach's daughter Uathach, whose husband Cochar Croibhe, he then killed in a duel. On completion of his training, Cúchulainn also slept with Scathach.

Upon returning to Ireland, Cúchulainn found that Uurgus was still refusing to let him marry Emer.  Cúchulainn responded by capturing Uurgus's fortress, killing twenty-four of the defenders including Uurgus himself, and abducting Emer, who he later married.  Some years later, Connlaoch, Cúchulainn's son by Aoífe, came to Ireland to find his father.  Cúchulainn mistook him for an intruder and killed him.  When he found out the truth Cúchulainn was grief-stricken.

Cúchulainn's Greatest Triumph: At the age of seventeen he defended Ulster single-handedly against the armies of queen Medb of Connacht in the epic Táin Bó Cúailnge ("The Cattle Raid of Cooley").  It was prophesied that he would gain everlasting fame, but that his life would be short. Cúchulainn carried his dead friend, Ferdiad, across the river.

He was known for his terrifying battle frenzy or ríastrad, in which he became an unrecognisable monster who knew neither friend nor foe.  When his blood was up, he was gripped by a frenzy and became a god.  His muscles bulged and his body rotated within its skin.  One eye protruded from his head, the other sank into his skull and his battle cry drove men insane.  This apparent supernatural transformation was fed by the Pict obsession with ensuring their warriors had all the necessary devices to appear terrifying to their enemies, including extreme body painting, fighting naked and impressive headgear.  Psychological warfare was practiced to a high degree by Celts.

Cúchulainn often fought from his chariot, driven by his loyal charioteer, Láeg, and drawn by his faithful ponies, Liath Macha and Dub Sainglend.  The Celtic war goddess, Badb, often flew alongside in the form of a Raven to protect him.  Many Roman chroniclers, including Julius Caesar, reported in detail the unbelievable prowess of Celtic charioteers, and how they would run back and forth on the harness pole, while at a full gallop.  With the speed of the chariot taken into account, a spear thrown from a chariot would have enough momentum to pierce any metal armour known at that time.  Typically a chariot would carry three spears, which was a magical number to the Celts.

The Celtic Tradition of Single Combat:  Although a large army of men and women set out to do battle, combat was primarily undertaken on a one to one basis.  Warriors were chosen from each side who would engage in combat with each other. The outcome would determine which side had won or lost. This was seen to be preferable to all out combat in which many lives were lost regardless of whoever was ultimately victorious.  It was considered the height of barbarism to waste human life needlessly when heroic champions were an integral part of Celtic culture, and had been specifically trained in the warrior arts - it was the champion's role to fight on behalf of many people rather than just themselves.

This was how Cúchulainn came to defend Ulster single-handedly.  Instead of being overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of  the army of Queen Medb of Connaught, he defended his position by vanquishing warrior after warrior in single combat.

The Death of Cúchulainn: His death came seven years after the Táin Bó Cúailnge.  Queen Medb plotted to kill him using six sorcerers, who were children of the druid, Calathin, who was slain by Cúchulainn.  King Conchubar knew that not even a super-hero could combat such an array of magical power, and tried to keep the warrior out of harm's way.  However, the sorcerers conjured up a vision in Cúchulainn's mind that Ulster was being laid waste.  As he rode forth from his place of safety, he was struck by a sorcerer's magic spear.  Mortally wounded, he tied himself to a standing stone so that he could face his enemies with honour, standing upright.  For three days, none of his enemies dared to approach him.  Finally, Badb landed on his shoulder.  Cúchulainn did not stir, and everyone knew Ulster's greatest hero was dead.  It is an ironic twist of fate that  Cúchulainn's homeland of Louth would ultimately become part of Leinster in the modern Republic of Ireland, and not remain as part of his beloved Ulster.

Fictional Heroes:  In ancient Ulster, a need for a mythical hero arose from the continuous  draining state of warfare that was imposed on the people there.  Tales of great heroes inspired men who were expected to selflessly give their lives in defence of their country.  Cúchulainn fit the bill, and his exploits grew with each storytelling.  Did the people of Ulster believe he was ever real?  Probably the children did believe until they were old enough to realize super heroes were fictional.  But then, the Irish often believed in Fairies and Leprechauns (with a wink).  With the ancient Celtic dependency on verbal accounts, we will never know whether any of Cúchulainn's exploits were taken from the deeds of actual men, however, the suspicion will always be there.

The Albann Connection:  In every account of Cúchulainn, Albann is mentioned in a paternal manner.  It was where he was sent to undertake special military training, it was where he fathered his only son, and it was where his contemporaries often visited.  Cúchulainn always fought for Brythonic (Pict) independence from the Irish Gaels of the south, and Albann was considered the "fatherland".  This is the overwhelming impression everyone receives who reads "Cúchulainn of Muirthemne" by Lady Isabella Augusta Gregory in 1902.  Uniquely, she always referred to Pict-dominated Britain as Albann, not Scotland.

The Brythonic Cúchulainn:  He was born and raised within Ulster before Conchobar died in 27BC, when it was still a strictly P-Celtic speaking nation.  He spent considerable time in Albann, which at that time was also P-Celtic speaking.  The stories of him began in Ulster and later spread throughout the Isle of Man, Albann and Gaelic Ireland.  His stories were very popular in Ireland where he was allotted a Gaelic name. He would have originally had a Pict/Brythonic name.  Isabella Augusta Gregory lived and wrote in the rich local Gaelic vernacular of western Ireland, and then translated her stories into English. 

"Cu" in Welsh means Beloved.  "Guron" in old Welsh means Hero.  It is very likely that his original name was "Cuguron" (beloved hero).  When the Gaelic Irish heard of his exploits, they maintained the "Cu" and later added the story of his killing of the hound of Culann to explain how he was called Culann's hound.  In Irish, "Cúlánta" means shy, withdrawn.  That would explain why Culann kept a large vicious guard dog to maintain his privacy.  "Cu-guron" versus "Cu-culan", two very similar sounding names, the first being old Welsh, the second being Irish Gaelic.  Irish folklore is rich in romance and mythical heroes, so the Irish readily adopted Cúchulainn as one of their own..

 Red Hand of Ulster -  Unique among nations, Ulster's best known symbol is a bloody right hand on a black background, obviously the colours chosen for the official flag of the modern County of Down, and no doubt in tribute to ancient traditions of the origin of that symbol.  There are several versions as to its true origins.  The first version involves a race between two ships carrying one of the many peoples to invade Ireland. The captains of two ships had a wager that the first to set his hand on the land would own it.  One of the captains, seeing he was going to lose cut off his right hand and threw it to the shore winning the wager.

The second version has a biblical reference (Genesis 38 v 28-30) to back the story up and involves Zareh and Pharez, the sons of Judah, the fourth son of Jacob. During their birthing, Zareh's hand protruded first and the midwife tied a scarlet cord around the hand to identify the firstborn. But Zareh drew back his hand and his brother Pharez came out first.  Zareh's descendents were therefore disinherited and left the other tribes ending up eventually Ireland and legend tells they developed the first kingdom of Ulster in 1480 BC.

The third version is of Nuadh, an early king of Ulster.  Nuadh was called "Nuadh of the Silver Hand" because he had one of his hands cut off by Sreng at the first Battle of Moytura.   Regardless of its actual origins, the red hand has become a symbol of the militant  independence group in today's Ulster, and as such. is not a "politically correct" banner to be parading around with (according to some sources), although the red hand flag is popular.  I have even seen it flying in front of some homes in my own County of Lanark in Ontario, Canada. 

The Stone of Scone - After the destruction of Jerusalem and Solomon's Temple in 588 B.C. by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, Jeremiah the Bible Prophet brought the daughter of king Zedekiah of Jerusalem, from the line of David, who was from the Pharez branch of Judah, to Ireland in 583 B.C., via Gibraltar. Jeremiah also brought Jacob's Pillar Stone (Bethel), which became the Throne of David - the Lia Fail Stone (of Destiny), which is today called the Stone of Scone, and was the traditional seat of inauguration of Albann kings.

 

Queen Medb -  Queen Medb (Maev in Gaelic) was given the district of Connaught by her father, therefore she was the true ruler there, and her will, not that of her husband, King Ailell (a Cruithni), was law, and her passion was as unbridled as her greed was limitless.  Medb did as she wanted, went where she wanted, and took who she wanted.  Queen Medb was tall with pale skin, a face that hypnotized men holding them in her sky blue eyes, her hair was as yellow as wheat and smooth as silk it hung long down to her hips.  She was reputed to have tremendous sexual and military powers.

The time came one fateful day while counting up their possessions, Ailell and Medb broke into one of their many arguments. This argument centered around one of Medb's bulls, a mighty creature named Finnbenach who would abide with Ailell's herd and would not allow itself to be led or controlled by any of Medb's farm workers.  Medb became angry and felt that although she had many possessions if she could not possess a bull as mighty as Finnbenach who would obey her will, then she owned nothing.

Medb consulted Uurgus and asked him if there were any bulls mightier than Finnbenach, and Uurgus told her there was only one. The Bull of Quelgny, owned by Dara son, of Fachna in Ulster the land of her rivals.  Medb pondered this, and at once summoned Uurgus for she knew that the Ulstermen would not give up this sacred bull without a fight, for the fate of the bull was tied to the fate of the land of Ulster for as long as the bull stayed in Ulster, the land would prosper, and if the bull was separated from the land of Ulster, then their crops would wither away to dust .

Medb offered Dara a tempting offer for the loan of the Bull of Quelgny for a year, he would receive 50 heifers and if he chose to settle in Connacht he would be given as much land there as he had in Ulster and a chariot worth 21 female servants, however Dara had learned that if he did not comply with the offer, then Medb would steal the bull from him anyway.  Dara was a patriot of Ulster, and in a fit of anger refused the offer daring her to invade.  Medb as promised began her plans for an invasion.  First, arranging an untimely demise for Dara so that he could not warn the king.

Ulster was home to the finest warriors in all Ireland so Medb needed an advantage although she had cunning and the best sorcerers at her disposal, she wanted something that would ensure victory and soon she got it through an old curse, for some years ago in Ulster there was a man named Crundchu a farmer who was a widower.  Now one day upon arriving home, he found a woman of great beauty doing the household chores by day, and by night laying with him as his wife.  Her name was Macha and she was no ordinary woman she was of the fairy folk from the land of Tir, and as long as Crundchu told no one about her she would stay with him forever.

One day, Crunden was invited to a feast in the castle of his king.  When the feast was over, someone had boasted that there was nothing in Ireland as fast as the king's horses but Crunden who had much to drink forgot himself, and boasted that his wife could run faster than these horses.  The insulted king ordered that Crunden be held prisoner, and unless his wife did as he boasted she could do, he would be slain before the next sunset.

Macha was brought before the king but was heavy with child and her time was soon approaching.  Macha asked that the king and his spectators wait until after she had given birth but the king was interested only in spectacle, and his own bruised ego so he ordered her to race all his horses.  Macha did so and outran the horses but as she came to the finish line, she was seized with birth pangs, and gave birth to twins on the spot, and as she did so all the men of Ulster felt her pain and so began the Curse of Macha that when Ulster was in time of it's greatest need, there would be no man born of mortal man or woman in all of Ulster who would be strong enough to lift a dirk much less take arms for they would be seized with the agony of childbirth for a full month.

When Queen Medb showed up at the border with her army , Cúchulainn was there to confront them.  He held them off for a month by successively challenging them to send a champion to fight him in single combat, which was his right under Brehan Law, until the regular Ulidian male soldiers could assist  in driving the invading army back beyond Black Pig's Dyke.

Nuadh and Bressal - Nuadh  fought in the West, and he had an artificial hand made out of silver by Dancet, the physician, with which he could hold a weapon.  After the Battle of Moytura, he was obliged under the laws of Brehan to name a regent, because no-one who was disfigured could rule and lead an army into battle.

Nuadh nominated Bressal, the eldest son of Elad, who was king of Cornwall, as his regent for seven years, but Bressal was greedy and selfish and taxed the people so heavily that they became poor and miserable.

This was common in Ireland, which was divided into many little kingdoms, with the local kings fighting each other for supremacy and taxing their subjects very heavily to pay for their soldiers and to keep themselves in relative luxury. The subjects were also expected to fight and were being maimed or killed, and their lives were an absolute misery .

Nuadh  fought against Bressal  to institute The Torah (God's Law) to Ireland, at the Battle of Unna (Destruction), where he bravely rode in his chariot against Balor of the Mighty Blows.  After missing Balor with his first two spears, Nuadh rode against him with his third spear but as he passed one of Balor's soldiers, the soldier struck his horse's heels causing it to rear-up and fall.  Balor leapt from his chariot and slew Nuadh.

Dowth - The Tomb of Darkness - Bressal, the son of Elad, ruler of Cornwall in the third century B.C.   Bressal was a very handsome man, loved by the women for his good looks but hated by the menfolk for his greed and meanness.

Bressal  was made the champion and regent of Nuadh of the Silver Hand, as king of Ulster for seven years, during which time he hoarded wealth and made the menfolk's lives a misery.  On receiving notice from Cornwall, he went home to fetch and escort Teia Tephi, the future mother of Onnus who built Newgrange, from Cornwall to Tara, years before Onnus was born.

At Tara, after Tephi was inaugurated as queen of all Ireland, the people complained to her about Bressal, so she arranged an election in which he was removed as regent.  His laws and taxes were then abolished, and The Torah put in their place.  At that point a number of kings and warlords in the already divided and war-torn country of Ireland joined Bressal and rebelled against Tephi, because under The Real Law of The Torah, that she brought, they would have to give back all the wealth that they had un-fairly stolen from the people under their own laws and taxes that they had made up themselves.  A huge battle then transpired, known as the Battle of Unna (Destruction), where all of the rebel kings and warlords and their armies led by Bressal the son of Elath of Cornwall, fought against Teia Tephi and her army.  As Teia Tephi was fighting for God and His Laws, her army defeated all of the rebels in the battle which was held at Slane, called the Battle of Unna (Destruction), and lasted for four days.

Four days before the battle commenced, there was a Lunar Eclipse in the Constellation of Taurus, when the Moon would have looked blood-red and would have been interpreted as an "Omen of Death" and defeat for the Baal-worshippers, whose symbol is the bull.  Taurus being the sign of the bull. The Baal-worshippers led by Bressal mac Elatha (known in legend as Bressal "Bodibal" - "Bo destroyer") fought to destroy God's Chosen, Teia Tephi (Bo) at the Battle of Destruction, but failed. This Lunar Eclipse is shown in hieroglyphics in Jeremiah's Tomb, Cairn T at Loughcrew, nr. Oldcastle.

There was a total of six thousand six hundred and sixty-eight people killed in the Battle of Unna. Five thousand and sixty-three of whom were on Bressal's side including forty-two kings from various regions of Ireland, and the rest of the British Isles.  From Teia Tephi's army, only sixteen hundred and five were killed, those of rank from both sides that fell at the battle were buried at Knowth, and those of lower rank were buried in the many satellite graves around Knowth and through-out the Boyne Valley.

Bressal, the leader of the rebels, although defeated, wasn't killed in the battle, and after swearing allegiance to Teia Tephi and the Torah was sent out to help clear the sea of Fomorians (pirates). The people never forgot his meanness and arrogance, and when he died he was buried in the tomb that was made to face the setting sun rather than the sunrise and his tomb was named Dowth which is derived from the old Gaelic word, Dubad, meaning darkness. He had fought for the lord of Darkness against God the Lord of Light, attempting to defeat and destroy God's Chosen, Teia Tephi and God's Perfect Law - The Torah.

The Laws of Brehan



- Introduction -

Ireland was possibly the most advanced of all European cultures for over a thousand years: It had an Iron Age culture which included bards, historians, judges and a set of laws that governed all aspects of life.  This voluminous set of laws covered everything from hurting a chained dog to behavior while drinking alcoholic beverages.  The set of laws was known as the Law of the Commoner or Freemen, or the Brehan Law.

So balanced and just was the ancient Law that it was adopted by the majority of the Norman conquerors, and held sway among the populace until ruthlessly put down by Cromwellian forces in the 17th century.

Many suppose that the Brehans served as judges. Actually, the Brehan was but the legal expert. His primary function was arbitration. In the event that judgment must be forced, it was the Righ (ruler) who, in consort with his Law Givers, gave judgment. However, even the Righ was not the final authority. A Righ who became unpopular could be summarily voted from office. . Ultimate control was the moral power of public opinion. Every individual felt it his or her bound duty to ensure that their venerated Brehan Law was upheld.

Although the age of these laws is unknown, they appear to be at least four thousand years old, as they date back at least to the time of the earliest inhabitants in Ireland. They are perhaps even older, as there is mention among the history of Ireland that the Tuatha and the Fir Bolg people made agreements under a law of the time. This agreement gave one side the right to even the odds by reducing the opposing force and allowing time to prepare weapons.  

The practitioners of these laws were called Brehans.  They were not judges or lawyers although many consider them so. In actuality, they were arbitrators whose responsibility it was to settle disagreements. The Brehans had to study the laws for years before they were allowed to practice their art and this is due in part to the size or volume of the laws that were enforced. It was an oral code to the greatest extent, and was only written down around the 3rd Century and in later times.

Here are a few of the most interesting Brehan laws quoted from the book of Irish Traditional Law.  Many  serve to illustrate the degree of civilization of the ancient Celts, and show how  Irish society was once ordered. 



No particular order

"It is illegal to override a horse, force a weakened ox to do excessive work or threaten an animal with angry vehemence which breaks bones."

''There are three trespasses of a hen in a herb garden: the soft-swallowing of bees, injury to the dye plants, and attacks on the garlic. A guilty hen shall have her feet tied together, or rag boots put on."

''At the main feast of the assembly the king and the chief poet of the tribe shall be served a thigh of the roast. The young lord is served a leg. Blacksmiths and charioteers shall be served the head and queens get haunches.''

''The wife who minds the sheep shall be paid two lambs a year.''

''The chief poet of the tribe earns twenty-one cows annually, plus enough pasture lands to feed them, plus two hounds and two horses.''

''If a person who is of a higher rank than you refuses to pay his debt you may sit at his doorstep and fast until he submits to arbitration. If you die before he submits he shall be blamed for your death and shall suffer lifelong disgrace.''

"N o king of any level, with any disfigurement shall remain king, nor will he lead an army into battle."

''Whether the offspring of kings, warriors, poets, workers  in wood or stone, or tillers of the soil, a son or daughter shall follow the career of his or her parents.''

''...the son of a king of Erin shall wear satin and red clothes...''

''The sons of the inferior classes of chieftains shall wear black, yellow, or gray clothing..."

''The sons of the lowest class of chieftain shall wear old clothes...''

''A king exercises not falsehood nor force nor oppressive might. He is righteous towards all his people, both weak and strong.''

"Three things that cause the overthrow of a king; injustice, extortion, and kin-slaying.''

''For digging in a churchyard to steal from it, for making a dam in a stream to take an excess of fish, or for stealing a hunter's tent, your cattle will be taken to the animal pound for three to ten days, depending on the circumstances.''

''If a tribesman breaks another tribesman's leg he must pay a fine and supply a horse for the victim to ride on.''

''All members of the tribe are required to offer hospitality to strangers. The only exceptions are minor children, madmen, and old people.''

''The selfish man, who thinks only of his cows and his fields, and not of his fellow human beings, may be insulted without risking a  fine.''

''The satirist who satirizes a guiltless person will grow blisters on his own face. And then he will die.''

Every third year roads must be cleared of brambles, brush, weeds, and water to make ready for the great assembly, feast/fair.

The creditor who holds your brooch, necklaces and, rings as security for your pledge must return them back to you to wear at the great assembly and prevent embarrassment.

For the best arable land the price is 24 cows. The price for dry, coarse land is 12 dry cows.

If a woman makes an assignation with a man to come to her bed or behind a bush the man is not guilty of rape even if she screams. If she has not agreed to the meeting, however, he is guilty as soon as she screams.

The groom shall pay a bride-price of cattle, land, horses, gold, silver, to the Father of the bride. Husband and wife retain individual rights to property, goods and possessions each bring to the marriage.

If a pregnant women craves a morsel of food and her husband withholds it through stinginess, meanness or neglect he must pay a fine.

A fine of 6 cows for breaking a tribesman's two front teeth; 12 heifers for maiming a homeless man. For pulling off the hairs of a virgin Bishop one yearling for each 20 hairs.

It is illegal to give someone food in which a dead weasel or mouse has been found.

If your neighbor does not repay the debt he owes you, you may prevent him from going about his daily business. A withe-tie goes around the blacksmith anvil, carpenter's axe or tree fellers hatchet. He is on his honor to do no work until the debt is settled or wrong righted. If a Bard or physician is the debtor immobilize his horse whip for both ride their circuits. The creditor may fast in front of the debtor's house to humiliate him until the debt is paid.

If a rational adult brings a simpleton into an ale house for amusement and the simpleton injures a patron the adult who brought him must make compensation.

The blacksmith must rouse all sleeping customers before he puts the iron in the fire to guard against injury from sparks. Those who fall asleep again will receive no compensation.

When a judge deviates from the truth, a blotch will appear on his cheek. Whoever comes to your door, you must feed him or care for him, with no questions asked.

The chief poet of the tribe shall sit next to the king at a banquet. Each shall be served the choicest cut of meat.

The poet who overcharges for a poem shall be stripped of half his rank in society.

The mill-owner is exempt from liability for injury to a person caught between the millstones.

The husband who, through listlessness, does not go to his wife in her bed must pay a fine.

If a pregnant woman craves a morsel of food and her husband withholds it through stinginess or neglect, he must pay a fine.

A layman may drink six pints of ale with his dinner, but a monk may drink only three pints.

This is so he will not be intoxicated when prayer-time arrives.

If the poet or the physician is in debt, immobilize his horse-whip, for both ride their circuits on the backs of horses.

The lender of a horse must give notice of the horse's kicking habits.

Notice of the hound in heat and the mad dog must be sent to the four nearest neighbourhoods.

The harpist is the only musician who is of noble standing. Flute-players, trumpeters and timpanists, as well as jugglers, conjurers and equestrians who stand on the backs of horses at fairs, have no status of their own in the community, only that of the noble chieftain to whom they are attached.

The creditor who holds your brooch, your necklace or your earrings as a pledge against your loan must return them so you may wear them at the great assembly.  Or he will be fined for your humiliation.

The time allotted to each Brehan for pleading his case is long or short according to his dignity.  In determining the length of the speech, he is allowed, count eighteen breathings to the minute.

On the best land everything is good. The herbs are sweet and no manure or shells are needed. There will be no plants that will stick in a horse's mane or tail: no briars, no blackthorns, no burdocks.

Note:  Over 70 legal texts are known to have existed, treating matters as diverse as the structure of society to criminal offenses to beekeeping.  Most of these texts are translated in the "Ancient Laws of Ireland" (1865-1901) Vols. 1-5.

Male Ulster names and their English Equivalents  

Goidelic

Pronunciation

Alternative(s)

Brythonic

English

Meaning

Aedan

- -

Aodhan

Aod

Aidan

little fire

Aidid

- -

Aideachail

Edifar

- -

penitent

Ailella

- -

Ailill

brav

- -

beautiful

Aindriu

- -

Aindrias 

Andreas

Andrew

One of Christ's disciples

Ainnle

Aillidh 

Glân 

- - 

- -

handsome young man

Airgeadmar

erg-vra-mar

Airegde

Pendifig

- -

noble-like

Oirghialla 

Or-iel

- -

- -

Oriel

rich country

Aoife

Ûyv

- -

- -

- -

cheerful countenance

Ardghal

Ardal

Ardhghal

Artgal

Árdal

Supreme ruler

Araidh

Arai

Àraide

Arbenig

- -

special

Ardan

Àrd

Uchel 

- -

- -

Tall man

Badb

Bibe (as in "jibe")

Baidh

- -

- -

fondness

Bodb

Bove

bódbda

- -

- -

frightening

Bodhar

Bovar

Bodhair -

- -

- -

deafening -

Bec

Bek

Beic

Ufudd

- -

obedience

Baetan

- -

Baithis

Baeddan

- - 

Crowned

 Bram

- -

- - 

Bramm

Abraham

father

Breach

Brae

Breac

Brecc

- - 

freckled

Brennan

- -

Brandon

Brenin

Brendan

King

Bressal

- -

Breasal

Brynepil

- -

tribe from the Highlands

Briuin

- -

Brigh

Bri

Brian

fame

Caolbhad

Kay-la

 Caolbadh

Carol

A lean man

Cairell

câral

Cairéal

Doeth

- -

tactful, diplomatic, wise

Cathal

Cal

Cahal

Siarl

Charles

Mighty battle

Cathbad

Cabad

- -

- -

- -

battleship

Ceanalta

- -

- -

Talladd

Curtis

polite, affable

Ceilthair

Kellar

- -

- -

- -

Celt from afar

Cethern 

Kern

Ceathairne

- -

- -

Man fit for war

Ciaran

- - 

Kieran, Kieran 

- - 

- - 

Little dark one

Cinneadh

Kin-ae

Cinneadh

Cinnidd

Kenneth

hunter

Cliodna

Kleev-na

Cliobach

- -

- -

awkward

Coba

- -

Cobhar

Buddugol

- - 

victorious

Cobhthach

Kow-hak

Cobhartach

budd

- -

booty

Colla

- -

Col, Collach

Cryf

Cole

restrained, obedient

Colmcille

Kolm-kill

Columb

Columba

Colm

Dove

Conchubar

Kona-koor

Conchubhar

Bwriadol

Connor, Connacher

strong willed

Conlaoch

Konnallo

Colaoch

- -

- -

A similar hero

Conaille

Kon-Ale

Conlaigh

Casgliad

- -

gathering

Connla

Connlach

brush, firewood

Cormac

- -

 Cormack

mabcerbydwr

MacCormack

brewer

Cotreb

- -

Caotreibh

- -

- -

blind person

Crateric

- -

Blevog

Blewog

Asper

rough, hairy

Crìonna 

- -

- - 

Treabhar

Trevor

prudent

Cruachroioch

Kru-roy

Crichiog

Caled

Harding

callous

Crunn

kir-unn

Crùn

Kurun

thunder

Cruithni

Kruini

Cruithne

Priteni

Briton

Celtic tribes of British Isles

Cu

Koo

Cú

Bytheiad

- -

hound, dog

Cúchulainn

Ku-hoo-lin

Cúchulan

Cuxulann

- - 

Culann's hound

Cumhaidh

Kum-hay

- - 

 Pridol

Abel

proper, suitable

Curoi

Curadh

- -

Pleidiwr

Currie

champion

Cunann

- -

Cúnánta

- -

- -

shy, withdrawn

Cusàct

Cùiseach

reliable, shrewd

Daire

Dâr

Doire

Dâr

Oak tree

Dancet

- -

Dan-Ceistach

Cydran-arholwr

- - 

resolute examiner

De

- -

Dia

Duw

- - 

God

Deaglan

- -

- - 

Deagan

Declan

Filled with goodness

Dermott

- -

Diarmid

Freinivr

MacDermot

a free man

Domhnuill

Don-al

Dohmnall  

Donnell

Donald

Ruler of the world

Dubhglaise

Du-glass

- -

Duglas

Douglas

Dark grey

Duinesléibhe

Donlevy

- - 

Donlevy

Donleavy

brown of the hill

Durthacht

Door-at

- -

- -

- -

district

Eathach

Ya

S'goth

- - 

- - 

boat people

Eilne

- -

- -

inisvr

- -

Islander

- -

- -

Ennyn

Enna

- -

excitable

Erc

- -

 Ferb 

Erbin, Uurb

Earp, Erb

Seafarer

Eochaidh

êchcach

Euchdach

Eogan

Eugene, Owen

heroic, brave

Fiorghlan

Furlan

Ferat

Uurad

Ferlan 

refined, polite, witty

Fearghus 

Fer-gus

Fearghais

Uurgus

Fergus

brave, manly

Feargna

Fer-gnu

Feargnè

a quality man

Feidmiúil

Éifeachdach

efficient

Ferbaeth

Ferb

- -

Uurad

- -

cherished man

Fernmaighe

Far-ney

Fear Manach

Uurnu

- -

grassy claim

Fiacha

Fia

Fiachra

Teilung

- - 

worthy

Fiall

fee-ûl

Fialaidh

Hael

- -

kind, generous

Fiatach

Fiat

Neal, Niall

Anial

Neil

Wild

Fintan

- -

- -

- -

- -

thin white-skinned man

Finchoem

fin-coom

fíneáil-chomh

- -

- -

so fine

Flan

- -

Flannery

- - 

Flann

Blood red

Findchad

Find

- - 

Uundad

- - 

most savage

Forgall 

Uurdall

Adrian

dignified

Forthairt

Faird

Fortharta

Nuallann

Nowlan, Nolan

Prolonged shout

Gae bald

gaud

gabhd

Uffererf

hellish weapon

Gearoid 

- -

Gareth

Gared

Gerard

Shining

Geanann 

- -

Geanil

- -

- -

cheerful

Gege

- -

Gairge

- -

- -

fierce

Gliasna

- -

Gasta

Dawnus

- - 

clever

Gradh

gragh

Gràdh

Cariad

- -

dear friend

Gwilyn

- -

Liam

 Uuillium

William

Protector

Iomchuidh

- -

- -

- -

- -

proper

Inbhir

In-ver

- -

- -

- -

cove

Iriel

- -

Iriseal

Gwylaidd

- -

humble, unpretending

Kast

- -

Custantin

Cystennin

Constantine

firmness, steadiness

Kevan

- -

- - 

- - 

Kevin

Gentle child

 Laeg

lu-ug

Laighin

- -

- -

a man from Leinster

Laighen

Li-hon

- -

- -

- -

one who reclines

Lann

- -

- -

Glân

Alan

Handsome

Laegaire

- -

Laghach

- -

- -

decent man

Leathlobhair

Lay-lair

Ledlobar

- - 

- - 

Big sailor, mariner

Liban

- -

- -

Gwyn

- -

fair coloured woman

Loigis

Lo-is

Laoch

- -

Lois

warrior, hero

Loingsig

Lynch

Loingsech

Badwr

Lynch 

Boatman

Lugaid

Lude

Luc'hed

Lightning

Lugh

Loo

- -

- -

- -

blasphemer

Suidhe

Sive

- - 

- -

- -

the couple of a house

Mael

mal

- - 

Morwyn

Merlin

devotee

Maelcom

mal-com

- - 

Maolcom 

Malcom

 devotee of Columba

Magennis

magin-ess

- - 

- - 

MacGuinness

to give birth

Madhanta

Manta

- - 

Matudan

- - 

Valiant, courageous

Magh Tuaireadh

Moy-tirra

- -

Senurol

- -

sensible

Manannan

- -

- -

Manauaidd

- -

man from Manx

Morann 

- -

Moran

Mauur

Moran, Dyle, Dyer

Great man

Muireadhach

Mur-hev

Muredach

Murdoc

Murdock

champion

Muirthemne

Mûr-hev-na

Muirtheimnhe

Cymdeithas

- -

fellowship

Naoise

- -

Na-locht

Hebnam

- -

without defect

Nechtan

Ne-ton

Nekton

Neifion

MacNaughton

God of the sea

Niamha

Nee-av

- -

Claer

- -

lustrous

Oenghus

Onnis

Onnuist

Onnus

Angus

dignified

Ollaman

- -

Eolach

Deskin 

- - 

learned

Peadair

- -

Pedr 

Per

Peter

rock

Padhraig

- -

Padraic

Padrig

Patrick

aristocratic

Quilan

- -

Làidir

Egniol 

Quinlan

athletic

Reamonn

- -

- - 

- - 

Raymond

wise protector 

Rhyan 

- -

Rian

Riwal 

Ryan

Little king

Righinn

Ree-yin

- -

- -

Regan, Reagan

tough

Robaird

Rovair

- - 

Roparzh

Robert

bright fame 

Rochraide

Rory

Rochridi

Gorau 

- -

the best

Rogh

Ru

Rogha

Dewis

- -

choice

Ronan

- -

- - 

Reunig

Rowan

Seal

Rórdán

- -

- - 

- - 

Rearden 

little poet king

Rudhruighe

Rur-y

Ruanadh

Ruz, Rhudd

Todd

red-haired

Runn

Run

Haearn

Iarunn

Steele

From Gaullish for Iron, Isern.

Seamas

Shae-mus

Seamus

Disoldwr 

- -

One who supplants

Seaghan

Shawn

Shaun

Dawn 

Shawn, Shane

Gift from God

Senoll

Senol

Sceimholl

Anferth

- -

massive in appearance

Setanta

Sóinseála

Cutach

Bychan

- - 

small

Sidhe

Shee

- -

Aelod

- -

fairy

Siorlamhach

sheerlavak

Sirlam

- -

- -

 eternal mastery

Sithrighe

- -

- -

- -

- -

peaceful toughness

Sobhairce

Sever-ik

Sobharraice

Briallin

Severick

easy to get to know

  Sogain

- -

Sogan

Gwynedd

- -

happiness

Suailceach

Silky

- -

Rhywiogrwydd

- -

friendly, genial

Sualtim

Sultmhar

- -

Pleserus

- -

entertaining

Tagd

- -

Tegid

Bardd

Teagan

poet

Tavish

- -

Tomas

Gefell 

Thomas

twin

Tibraith

Tiver

Firsléibhe

Mynyddwr

- -

mountaineer

Tireach

tee-ru

Tirech 

Gwladgarol

- - 

patriotic

Tiùbradh

ti-ooru 

Thilbruidhe 

- - 

- - 

act of giving

Tomaltach

- -

Tommadac

Sylweddol

- -

substantial

Tuinne

Tune

Tuinnidh

Cadarn

Ackhart, Grady

firm, unmovable

Turlough 

Tur-loo

Turlach 

Tyner

Terry

tender

Uaircridhe

- -

Gaëlle

Làidir

- - 

generous

Uais

- -

Uaisle 

Bonedd

- - 

nobility

Usnach

Usna

Sotolac

Haerllug

- -

impudent

Uthecar

Ekar

- -

Enbyd

- -

awful
 

Female Ulster names and their English Equivalents  

--

Goidelic

Alternative(s)

Brythonic

English

Meaning

Aillinn

Aillean

Swil

Aileen

bashful, shy

Aine

Aiteas 

Anna

Anne

joy,  radiance

Aislinn

Aislynn, Isleen

Breuddid 

Aisling

vision, dream

Aoife

Ava

Efa 

Eva, Eve

radiant

Blanad

Bláthanna

Bleûn

- -

flower

Blath

Brod 

Blodyn 

- - 

flower bud

Brigid

Brighdin

Berc'hed

Brigitte

exalted one

Caitriona

Catriona, Caitlin, Caiti 

Catrin

Catherine

pure

Cecilia

Cecily, Celia, Cilla

Dubleva

- -

black-haired one

Clair

Claire

Claer

Clare

bright

Clodagh

Clidna, Cliona

- -

- -

river in Tipperary

Dechtire

Deirdre, Diedra

 Gofidus

- - 

sorrowful

Eireen 

Sith

Heddi

Irene

peace

Eirinn

Éire

Eirian

Erin

bright, beautiful

Eithne

Aithne

Bevan 

Enola, Edna 

kernel 

Emer

Eun

Aderyn

- -

bird

Fand

Fann

Eiddil

Fanny

feeble

Fionna

Finella

Ffiion

Ffion

vine

Grainne

Grania

Graen

Grace

grain goddess

Levarcham

Lebhair-chom 

Meinir

- -

slender

Liban

Libin

Gleben

- -

soaked (wet)

Maev

Mheabhair

Medb

Mavis

thoughtful, intelligent

Maire

Mears, Maille, Mariead

Maureen 

Mary

mother of Jesus

Mallaidh

- -

Hirbleven

Molly

long-haired

Moyra

Máire

Mari

Moira

rebellious

Nessa

Neas

Gwenci

- -

weasel

Niamh       

Gallu

- -

brilliance

Oilbhe

Baine

Ailbhe

Albann

white

Padraigin

- -

Padriga

Patricia

patrician

Rioghnach

Banrion

Brenhine

Rowena

Queen

Sadhbh

Sive

Dainoni

Sally

goodness

Scáthach

Sgàileach 

Cysgodol 

- -

shady

Sina

Shinead

Sian

Jane

feminine form of John

Siobhan

Siubhan

Siwan

Joan

God is great

Teamhair

Tair

Byrne

Tara

hill of Kings in Ireland


Working with Ulster names, an example: The name, Sobhairce, was formed from So (easy), bharr (from) and aice (closeness), to form "easy to get close to" or "easy to get to know".  Most Celtic names were compounded from two or more simple terms.

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
The 37 marker y-dna (male) signature of the Cairbre Dalriadic Royal House
& Comparisons to those of six Scottish lines

Cairbre Riata, king of Dal Riata in Ulster,  was descended from Connor II, High King of Ireland and Sarad, daughter of Conn of the Hundred Battles.  Irish history tells us that Cairbre led his followers from Munster (the southernmost part  of Ireland) to Antrim (at the extreme north-east coast of Ireland).  This family is traditionally considered to be of Érainn descent.  Fergus (Uurgus), Angus (Onnus), and Lorne (Lann) were sons of Erc (Erp) who were the traditional founders of Scottish Dalriada, were descended per Irish and Scottish records, from Cairbre. 

The Érainn were the second of the Celtic groups to come to Ireland.  They arrived from mainland Europe between 500 and 100 B.C., and established their culture throughout the island as a military aristocracy possessing superior iron weapons technology.   Descendants of the Dalriadic royal house of Scottish Argyle lie in the group below.

All the following y-dna strings were tested at the University of Arizona, and have been open to the public on the Family Tree web site.  For illustrative purposes, the yellow shaded alleles represent one marker off, the red shaded alleles are two or more markers off.  Generally, the fewer variations form the original, the closer is the family connection. 

Dalriadic Royal House Modal ydna as per claim by Clan Ranald USA
393 390 19 391 385
a		 385
b		 426 388 439 389-1 392 389-2 458 459
a		 459
b		 455 454 447 437 448 449 464
a		 464
b		 464
c		 464
d		 460 H4 YCA
a		 YCA
b		 456 607 576 570 CDY
a		 CDY
b		 442 438
13 24 14 10 11 14 12 12 12 13 13 17 18 9 10 11 11 25 15 19 30 15 15 17 17 11 12 19 24 15 15 18 17 37 38 12 12
 

Typical Clan Ranald R1b group (those descended from Dalriadic Royal house)
93 390 19 391 385
a		 385
b		 426 388 439 389-1 392 389-2 458 459
a		 459
b		 455 454 447 437 448 449 464
a		 464
b		 464
c		 464
d		 460 H4 YCA
a		 YCA
b		 456 607 576 570 CDY
a		 CDY
b		 442 438
13 24 14 10 11 14 12 12 12 13 13 17 18 9 10 11 11 25 15 19 30 15 16 17 17 11 11 19 23 16 15 17 17 37 38 12 12

       1 allele off out of first 25.   5 alleles off out of 37
 
 Hal MacGregor's y-dna, listed in Clan Gregor's dna project as #17711. 

393

390

19

391

385
a

385
b

426

388

439

389-1

392

389-2

458

459
a

459
b

455

454

447

437

448

449

464
a

464
b

464
c

464
d

460

H4

YCA
a

YCA
b

456

607

576

570

CDY
a

CDY
b

442

438

13

24

14

10

11

14

12

12

12

13

13

17

18

9

10

11

11

25

15

19

30

15

15

17

17

11

11

19

24

15

15

18

17

36

37

12

12
          Perfect match out of first 25.   3 alleles off out of 37
 

MacGregor House of Glencarnoch (Chief' of Clan Gregor's line) #2124.

393

390

19

391

385
a

385
b

426

388

439

389-1

392

389-2

458

459
a

459
b

455

454

447

437

448

449

464
a

464
b

464
c

464
d

460

H4

YCA
a

YCA
b

456

 607 576

570

CDY
a

CDY
b

442

438

13

24

14

10

10

14

12

12

12

13

13

17

17

9

10

11

11

25

15

19

30

15

15

17

17

11

12

19

24

17

15

18

17

37

38

12

12

                     2 alleles off out of first 25.   4 alleles off out of 37
 
 
MacGregor House of Glengyle # 1774

393

390

19

391

385
a

385
b

426

388

439

389-1

392

389-2

458

459
a

459
b

455

454

447

437

448

449

464
a

464
b

464
c

464
d

460

H4

YCA
a

YCA
b

456

607

576

570

CDY
a

CDY
b

442

438

13

24

14

10

10

14

12

12

12

13

13

17

17

9

10

11

11

25

15

19

30

15

15

17

17

11

11

19

24

17

15

17

18

37

39

12

12
          2 alleles off out of first 25.    8 alleles off out of 37
 

MacGregor Houses of Roro and Balhaldie #2125.

393

390

19

391

385
a

385
b

426

388

439

389-1

392

389-2

458

459
a

459
b

455

454

447

437

448

449

464
a

464
b

464
c

464
d

460

H4

YCA
a

YCA
b

456

607

576

570

CDY
a

CDY
b

442

438

13

24

14

10

10

14

12

12

12

13

13

17

17

9

10

11

11

25

15

19

30

15

15

17

17

11

11

19

24

17

15

18

17

37

39

12

12

          2 alleles off out of first 25.     6 alleles off out of 37
 

Modal ydna of Duncan of Loch Awe (first Lord Campbell) as per Campbell dna project

393

390

19

391

385
a

385
b

426

388

439

389-1

392

389-2

458

459
a

459
b

455

454

447

437

448

449

464
a

464
b

464
c

464
d

460

H4

YCA
a

YCA
b

456

607

576

570

CDY
a

CDY
b

442

438

13

23

14

10

11

15

12

12

11

13

13

17

20

9

10

11

11

25

15

19

30

15

15

16

17

?

?

?

?

 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

                    6 alleles off out of first 25  (others not available)
 

Author's Note: 
I am very grateful to those many scholars, researchers and writers who have made it possible to compile this information.  A particular enthusiasm was gained from the classic works of Lady Isabella Augusta Gregory and Forbes MacGregor.

For comments: contact Hal MacGregor at rioghal@allstream.net.

 

The End of - Picts of The Uladh