Uí Néill
The
Uí Néill (
Irish for "descendants of Niall" Uí pronounced 'Ee': ) were an
Irish dynasty who claimed descent from
Niall Noigiallach (Niall of the Nine Hostages), a semi-historical
High King of Ireland who died about
405.
The first generation of the Uí Néill were his sons, seven in all:
*
Conall Gulban, ancestor of the
Cenél Conaill dynasty.
*
Endae*
Eogan, ancestor of the
Cenél nEógan dynasty.
*
Coirpre, ancestor of the
Cenél Cairpre dynasty.
*
Lóegaire, ancestor of the
Cenél Lóegaire dynasty.
*
Conall Cremthainne, ancestor of the
Clan Cholmain and
Sil nAedo Slaine.
*
Fiachu, ancestor of the
Cenél Fiachach.
All these men were in their lifetime known as members of
The Connachta dynasty, or as "the sons of Niall." The term Uí Néill did not - by its very nature - come into use until the time of Niall's grandsons and great-grandsons.
Dynasties descended from the Uí Néill, such as the
Cenél Conaill and
Cenél nEógan, held power in
Ulster until their defeat in the
Nine Years War in
1603. The heads of the families left for
Catholic Europe in 1607, an event known as the
Flight of the Earls.
Conn Cétchathach, grandson of
Tuathal Teachtmhar | ________________________________________ | | | | | | | | | | Art mac Cuinn four other sons Fiacha Suighe, ancestor of the | Dal Fiachrach Suighe | Cormac mac Airt | | Cairbre Lifechair | | Fiacha Sraibhtine | | Muiredach Tirech | | Eochaid Mugmedon | | ___________________________________________________________________________________ | | | | | | | | Brion Fiachrae Ailill Niall Fergus | _________________________|___________________________________________ | | | | | | | | | | | | Conall Gulban Endae Eogan Cairbre Lóegaire Conall Cremthainne Fiachu * "The Great Book of Irish Genealogies", Dubhaltach Mac Fhirbhisigh (ed. Nollaig O'Muralie), Dublin, 2005.
* "Irish Kings and High Kings", Francis John Byrne, Dublin, 1973.
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