Kings of Ailech

The Kings of Ailech were the over-kings of the medieval Irish province of Ailech in north-western Ireland. It encompassed the territories of the Cenél nEógain and Cenél Conaill. After the battle of Cloítech in 789 its kings were exclusively from the Cenél nEógain. The royal fort for Ailech was the Grianan of Aileach,^[1] a hillfort on top of Greenan Mountain in modern-day County Donegal, Republic of Ireland.

Early kings (5th–8th centuries)

Earlier Kings of Cenél nEógain and Ailech included:

Eógan mac Néill Noigallach (died 465);
Muiredach mac Eógain (died c. 489);
Muirchertach mac Muiredaig (died 534);
Forggus mac Muirchertaig (died 566);
Domnall Ilchelgach mac Muirchertaig (died 566);
Báetán mac Muirchertaig (died 572);
Eochaid mac Domnaill (died 572);
Colcu mac Domnaill (died 580);
Colmán Rímid mac Báetáin (died 604);
Áed Uaridnach mac Domnaill (died 612);
Suibne Menn mac Fiachnai (died 628);
Máel Fithrich mac Áedo Uaridnach (died 630);
Ernaine mac Fiachnai (died 636);
Crundmáel mac Suibni Menn (died c. 660);
Ferg mac Crundmaíl (died c. 668);
Máel Dúin mac Máele Fithrich (died 681);
Fland mac Máele Tuile (died 700);
Urthuile mac Máele Tuile.

Kings between 700 and 1185

The following is a list of their Kings from 700 to 1197. Some were also High Kings of Ireland:

Fergal mac Máele Dúin 700 – 11 December 722
Áed Allán mac Fergaile 722–743
Niall Frossach mac Fergaile 743–770
Máel Dúin mac Áedo Alláin 770–788
Áed Oirdnide mac Néill 788–819
Murchad mac Máele Dúin 819–823
Niall Caille mac Áeda 823–846
Máel Dúin mac Áeda 846–867
Áed Findliath mac Néill c. 855 – 20 November 879
Murchad mac Máele Dúin 879–887
Flaithbertach mac Murchado 887–896
Domnall mac Áeda 887–915
Niall Glúndub mac Áeda 896 – 15 September 919
Flaithbertach mac Domnaill 916–919
Fergal mac Domnaill 919–938
Muirchertach mac Néill 938 – 26 February 943
Domnall mac Muirchertaig ua Néill 943–980
Flaithbertach mac Muirchertaig meic Néill 943
Ruaidrí ua Canannáin 943-956
Flaithbertach mac Conchobair 956–962
Tadg mac Conchobair 956–962
Conn mac Conchobair 956–962
Murchad Glun re Lar mac Flaithbertaigh 962–972
Fergal mac Domnaill meic Conaing 980–989 (still styled as king of Aileach in his obituary in 1000)
Áed mac Domnaill Ua Néill 989–1004
Flaithbertach Ua Néill 1004–1031
Áed mac Flaithbertaig Ua Néill 1031–1033
Flaithbertach Ua Néill (again) 1033–1036
Niall mac Máel Sechnaill 1036–1061
Ardgar mac Lochlainn 1061–1064
Áed Ua hUalgairg 1064–1067
Domnall mac Néill 1067–1068
Áed mac Néill 1068–1083
Donnchad mac Néill 1083–1083
Domnall Ua Lochlainn 1083 – 9 February 1121
Conchobar mac Domnaill 1121–1128
Magnus Ua Lochlainn 1128–1129
Conchobar mac Domnaill 1129–1136
Domhnall Mac Lochlainn 1136-1136
Muirchertach Mac Lochlainn 1136–1143
Domnall Ua Gairmledaig 1143–1145
Muirchertach Mac Lochlainn (again) 1145–1166
Conchobar mac Muirchertaigh Mac Lochlainn 1166–1167
Niall Mac Lochlainn 1167–1176
Aed In Macaem Toinlesc Ua Neill 1167–1177
Mael Sechlainn mac Muirchertaigh Mac Lochlainn 1177–1185
Domhnall Mac Aedh Mac Lochlainn 1185-1186
Ruaidhri Ua Flaithbheartaigh 1186-1187
Domhnall Mac Aedh Mac Lochlainn (again) 1187-1188
Muirchertach Mac Muirchertaigh Mac Lochlainn 1188-1196
Flaithbheartach Ua Maol Doraidh 1196-1197

Kings post-1185

From 1185, the Cenél nEógain ruled as Kings of Tír Eógain.

The last to actually be styled King of Ailech was Áed Buide Ua Néill (died 1283).

References

^ Seán Duffy (2014); "Brian Boru and the Battle of Clontarf", page 21. Gill & Macmillan. ISBN 978-0-7171-6207-9.

Sources

"Cenel nEogain Kings of Ailech 700-1185", pages 194–195 in A New History of Ireland, volume IX, ed. Byrne, Martin, Moody, 1984.
T. M. Charles-Edwards; Early Christian Ireland.
Francis J.Byrne; Irish Kings and High-Kings.

External links

Grianan of Aileach Visitor Centre

[Clontarf21-1] Seán Duffy (2014); "Brian Boru and the Battle of Clontarf", page 21. Gill & Macmillan. ISBN 978-0-7171-6207-9.

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