Uí Néill

Uí Néill
Parent houseConnachta (Dál Cuinn)
CountryIreland
Founded5th century AD
FounderNiall Noígíallach
Current headby sept dynast
Titles

The Uí Néill (pronounced [iː ˈnʲeːl̠ʲ]; meaning "descendants of Niall") are Irish dynasties who claim descent from Niall Noígíallach (Niall of the Nine Hostages), a historical King of Tara who died c. 405. They are generally divided into the Northern and Southern Uí Néill.[1]

Branches

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The founders of the Uí Néill branches are the alleged sons of Niall Noigiallach, seven in all:

The Northern Uí Néill branch:

The Southern Uí Néill branch:

All these men were in their lifetime known as members of 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 nEógain, held power in Ulster until their defeat in the Nine Years War in 1603. Many of the heads of the families left for Catholic Europe in 1607, an event known as the Flight of the Earls.

Uí Néill family tree

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Bold indicates a supposed High King of Ireland.

Genealogy of the Uí Néill
Conn Cétchathach
Art mac CuinnSonSonSonSon
Cormac mac Airt
Cairbre Lifechair
Fiacha Sraibhtine
Muiredach Tirech
Eochaid Mugmedon
BrionFiachraeAilillNiall NoigíallachFergus
MóranchélEndaeEóganCoirpreLóegaireMaineConall CremthainneFiachu

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Downham, 2018, pp. 93-7.

Bibliography

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  • Downham, Clare (2018), Medieval Ireland, Cambridge{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link).
  • O'Brien, Michael A., ed. (1962). Corpus Genealogiarum Hiberniae. Vol. 1. Kelleher, John V. (intro. in the reprints of 1976 and 2005). Dublin: DIAS. pp. 133–4, 178–80. ISBN 0901282316. OCLC 56540733. Genealogical tables for the Uí Néill
  • Byrne, Francis John (1973), Irish Kings and High Kings, Dublin{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link).
  • Ó Muraíle, Nollaig (2005), "Dubhaltach Mac Fhirbhisigh", The Great Book of Irish Genealogies, Dublin{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link).
  • Smyth, Alfred P (1974), "The Hui Neill and the Leinstermen in the Annals of Ulster, 431–516 A.D", Études Celtiques, 14: 121–43, doi:10.3406/ecelt.1974.1522.