Ireland was traditionally divided into five regions of which four survive: Ulaid (Ulster) in the north, Fir Ol nEchmacht (Connacht) in the west, Mide (Meath) in the centre, Laigin (Leinster) in the east and Mumu (Munster) in the south. Fir Ol nEchmacht undoubtedly refers to a people but it is unclear whether the other names refer to people or places.
A High King (Ard Ri) ruled over a province of his own and although the legendary High Kings are said to have ruled over all five kingdoms they actually had to rely on the support of others and it was not until the fifth century that a High king could genuinely claim supremacy over the other provinces.
Dál Fiatach (seventh century AD) was a tribe in eastern County Down, Ulster. It was part of the over-kingdom of Ulaid and the main ruling dynasty for most of Ulaid’s history. Their capital was Dun Lethglaise (Downpatrick) and from the ninth century their main religious site was Bangor Abbey.
Fiatach Finn mac Daire, the eponymous ancestor of the Dál Fiatach, was a king of Ulaid and later the high king of Ireland (r.36-39) until he was murdered and succeeded by Fíachu Finnolach (r.39-56). Fíachu was killed and succeeded by Elim mac Conrach (r.56-76). Fíachu’s wife Eithhe, who was pregnant, fled to her father the king of Alba (Scotland) and gave birth to Túathal Techtmar.
Twenty years later Túathal Techtmar (r.76-106) took an army to Ireland and reclaimed his father’s throne. Túathal is said to be the ancestor of the Uí Néill and Connachta dynasties through his grandson Conn Cétchathach (‘of the Hundred Battles’). He is said to have annexed segments from each of the four provinces to form a fifth province that he called Mide, and built fortresses at Teamhair (Hill of Tara), Tailtiu (Teltown) and Tlachtga (Hill of Ward) in County Meath, and at the Hill of Uisneach in County Westmeath.
Túathal was killed and succeeded by the Ulaid king Mal mac Rochride (r.106-110), son of Rochraide – a descendant of the legendary hero Conall Cernach – at Mag Line (Moylinny) near Larne, Country Antrim. Mal was killed and succeeded by Túathal’s son Fedlimid Rechtmar (r.110-119), who died and was succeeded by Cathair Mór (r.119-122).
Cathair was killed and succeeded by Conn Cétchathach (r.122-157), ‘of the Hundred Battles’, ancestor of the Connachta and, through his descendent Niall Noígiallach, of the Uí Néill dynasties. Conn’s wars with Mug Nuadat, the king of Munster, ended with the permanent division of Ireland into two parts: the Leth Cuinn (‘Conn’s half’) in the north and the Leth Moga (‘Mug’s half’) in the south, with the border along the Eiscir Riada, a gravel ridge (formed at the end of the last glaciation) running in a line roughly between Dublin and Galway. Conn was eventually killed by Tipraiti Tíreach, the king of Ulster (136-187), founder of Dal nAraidi and the son of the earlier High King Mal mac Rochraide.
Conn was succeeded by his son-in-law Conaire Cóem (r.157-165), who was killed by Nemed, son of Sroibcenn, in the battle of Gruitine, and succeeded by Conn Cétchathach’s son, Art mac Cuinn (r.165-195). Art was killed in the battle of Mag Mucrama and succeeded by Lugaid mac Con (r.195-225), the foster son of Ailill Aulom, the king of Munster.
At the age of thirty, Cormac mac Airt (r.226-266), grandson of Conn, expelled Lugaid from Tara and killed him in Munster. He was himself then driven from Tara by the king of the Ulaid, Fergus Dubdétach (r.225-226). Within a year he was succeeded by Cormac who, with the assistance of Tadc mac Céin, grandson of Ailill Aulom, defeated and killed him.
Cormac died and was succeeded by Eochaid Gonnat (r.266-267), who ruled for a year before falling in battle. He was succeeded by Cormac’s son, Cairbre Lifechair (r.267-284). In the Fenian Cycle, Cairbre defeated the wandering band of the Fianna at Gabhra but at the cost of his own life.
He was succeeded by Fothad Cairpthech and Fothad Airgthech (r.284-285), sons of Lugaid mac Con. They ruled for a year until Airgthech killed his brother and then was himself killed by Caílte mac Rónáin – nephew of Fionn mac Cumhaill, the last leader of the Fianna – and the followers of Caibre’s son, Fiacha Sraibhtine (r.285-322). Fíacha’s son, Muiredach Tirech (r.326-356), commanded the army because the king himself was not allowed to go into battle. While Muiredach was away fighting in Munster, Colla Uais (r.322-326) and his two brothers, i.e. the Three Collas, grandsons of Cairbre Lifechair, killed their uncle Fiacha.
Muiredach gained power by exiling the Three Collas. The Collas later returned and tried to provoke him into trying to kill them. When he didn’t, they entered his service and led his armies. According to legend, around 331 AD the Three Collas invaded Ulaid, destroyed its ancient capital Emain Macha, and restricted Ulaid to the eastern part of its territory: east of the Lower Bann and Newry rivers. It is said that the territory the Three Collas conquered became the kingdom of Airgíalla.
Muiredach was killed and succeeded by Caelbad (r.356-357), a descendant of Mal mac Rochride. Within a year Caelbad was killed and succeeded by Muiredach’s son Eochaid Mugmedon (r.357-365). Eochaid died and was succeeded by Crimthann mac Fidaig (r.365-376), the brother of Muiredach’s wife Mongfind. Crimthann was poisoned by his sister so that one of her sons could take the throne, but instead it went to Niall Noígiallach (r.376-405), ‘Niall of the Nine Hostages’, the son of Eochaid’s second wife, Cairenn Chasdub. Niall was so named because in his early reign he consolidated his power by taking hostages from opposing royal families. Niall was killed while campaigning outside Ireland and succeeded by his nephew Nath Í (r.405-428). Nath died after being struck by lightning while on an expedition to the Alps. He was succeeded by Lóegaire mac Néill (r.428-458), a son of Niall Noígíallach.
Leave a Reply