Gaelic Kingdoms

High Kings of Ireland

Settled at some point after about 500 BC by the Indo-European Celts, Ireland was never conquered by the Romans. Instead the Irish helped to hasten the end of Roman control over Britain by constantly raiding the British coastline, capturing slaves and booty. They were converted to Christianity by the Romano-British Saint Patrick in the mid-fifth century. Isolated from the chaos that swept Britain during the Anglo-Saxon invasion, Ireland was able to develop its own rich and prominent Christian culture. During the sixth century, Saint Columba followed in the footsteps of the Irish Scotti to spread the Celtic Church into Dal Riada (now Western Scotland), while in western Wales, the Deisi had settled and helped to form the kingdom of Dyfed.

Ireland was never politically unified enough to translate its religious and cultural influence into political power. There were some signs that unity would have eventually come, however. At various points in its later history, from the eighth or ninth centuries onwards, Ireland was united under the High Kings (Ard Ri), and, but for many incursions by Danes, Normans and the English, Ireland might have developed into a fully unified single kingdom in the same way as England had in the tenth century. The later High Kings were nominally in charge, but in practice, descended as they were from the prominent Ulster Ui Neill / O'Neill Clan, the only territory under their command without dissent was Ulster, while for the earlier High Kings, the title was more of a ceremonial one, and never implied political control of the whole country.

The earliest priest-kings who claimed the High Kingship are often legendary, with little or no proof of their actual existence bar oral history. As such, where necessary, they are shown over a lilac-tinted background.

364

According to Ammianus Marcellinus, the Picts, Scotti, Saxons, and Attacotti attack Roman Britain in what seems to be a serious incursion.

367

The Barbarian Conspiracy sees attacks falling on Roman Britain from all sides, including from the Scotti.

379 - 405

Niall Noígillach of the Nine Hostages

Ruled from Tara. First non-legendary High King?

404/405

Attacks on the south coast of Britain by Niall are best associated with this year.

405 - 428

Dathi / Nath I

429 - 463

Lóeguire macNéill

First Ui Neill High King?

433

Lóeguire, or Loegaire, is said to be on the losing side in a druidic contest with St Patrick over the lighting of the Easter Fire.

463 - 483

Ailill Motl mac Nath I

483 - 507

Lugaid macLóeguiri O'Néill

c.480 - 550

During this period, the domination of the High Kings pressurises the Scoti, in the north and east of Ulster, into migrating to western Pictland. Once there, they found the Dal Riada kingdom.

507 - 534

Muirchertach macErcae O'Néill/Muiredach

Dau. m Sawyl Penuchel, king of Dunoting.

534 - 544

Tuathal Máelgarb macCorpri Cáech O'Néill

544 - 565

Diarmait macCerbaill O'Néill

Last pagan High King.

According to the Irish Annals, Diarmait macCerbaill is cursed by St Ruadhán of Lorrha. This represents the end of pagan kingship in Ireland and the rise of the new Christian way of life. Tara is abandoned around the same time, its role as a centre of pagan druidry and sacral kingship outliving its usefulness. However, its reputation as a place of greatness lives on in Irish minds, and the later High Kings do much to foster this reputation.

565 - 566

Domnall macMuirchertaig O'Néill

565 - 566

Forggus macMuirchertaig O'Néill

566 - 569

Ainmere macSátnai O'Néill

569 - 572

Báetán macMuirchertaig O'Néill

569 - 572

Eochaid macDomnaill O'Néill

572 - 581

Báetán macNinnedo O'Néill

581 - 598

Aed macAinmerech O'Néill

598 - 604

Aed Sláine macDiarmato O'Néill

598 - 604

Colmán Rímid macBáetáin O'Néill

Rival claimant.

604 - 612

Aed Uaridnach macDomnaill O'Néill

612 - 615

Máel Cobo macAedo O'Néill

615 - 628

Suibne Menn macFiachnai O'Néill

628 - 642

Domnall macAedo O'Néill

642 - 654

Conall Cóel macMáele Cobo O'Néill

642 - 658

Cellach macMáele Cobo O'Néill

656 - 665

Diarmait macAedo Sláine O'Néill

Joint ruler.

656 - 665

Blathmac macAedo Sláine O'Néill

Joint ruler.

665 - 671

Sechnussach macBlathmaic O'Néill

671 - 675

Cenn Fáelad macBlathmaic O'Néill

675 - 695

Finsnechtae Fledach macDúnchada O'Néill

695 - 704

Loingsech macOengus O'Néill

695

A church synod is allegedly held at Tara by Adamnan, abbot of Iona, who is also the biographer of the life of St Columba.

704 - 710

Congal Cinn Magir macFergus Fánat O'Néill

710 - 722

Fergal macMáele Dúin O'Néill

And Cenél Ailech.

722 - 724

Fogartach macNéill O'Néill

724 - 728

Cináed mac Irgalaig

724 - 734

Flaithbbertach macLoingsig O'Néill

Died in 765.

734 - 743

Aed Allán macFergal O'Néill

743 - 763

Domnall Midi O'Néill

763 - 770

Niall Frossach macFergal O'Néill

Died in 778.

770 - 797

Donnchad Midi macDomnaill Midi O'Néill

797 - 819

Aed Oirdnide macNéill Frossach O'Néill

819 - 833

Conchobar macDonnchado Midi O'Néill

833 - 846

Niall Caille macAedo Oirdnide O'Néill

841

Vikings set up a settlement of their own in a place called Dublin, a longphort or ship camp of extremely large proportions.

845

Shortly before becoming high king, Máel Sechnaill is recorded by the Annals of Ulster as capturing and drowning the first Viking king of Dublin, Thorgest.

846 - 862

Máel Sechnaill macMáele Ruanaid O'Néill

King of Mide.

862 - 879

Aed Findliath macNéill Caille O'Néill

Cenél Ailech.

865 - 870

Ivarr the Boneless and his brothers, sons of Ragnarr Lothbrok, king of Denmark, lead the first Viking army from Dublin to invade mainland Britain in search of conquest rather than pillage. They conquer Northumbria in 867. East Anglia falls in 869-870, and the capital of Alt Clut is sacked in 870.

879 - 916

Flann Sionna macMáele Sechnaill O'Néill

King of Mide.

902

The combined forces of Leinster and Brega expel the Vikings from Dublin.

916 - 919

Niall Glúndubh macAedo Findliath O'Néill

Cenél Ailech.

917

Sihtric and Ragnald, both descendants of Ivarr the Boneless, lead separate fleets in an attack on Ireland. While Ragnald is initially defeated by Niall Glúndubh, Sihtric turns the tables and defeats the High King's army. The Vikings resettle Dublin and re-found their kingdom.

919 - 944

Donnchad Donn macFlann O'Néill

944 - 956

Congalach Cnogba macMáel Mithig O'Néill

944

One of Congalach Cnogba's first acts is to sack Viking Dublin from his base in Brega, adding to the weakened kingdom's woes. The new Viking king is Olaf II, an ally of Congalach's, and it is possible that the two band together to fight off the rival for the High Kingship, Ruaidrí ua Canannáin.

944 - 950

Ruaidrí ua Canannáin

Rival claimant.

956 - 980

Domnall macMuirchertaig O'Néill

980 - 1002

Máel Sechnaill macDomnaill O'Néill

Nephew. Half brother to Glúniairn by his mother.

980

Máel Sechnaill conquers Viking Dublin, the first time the Irish kings manage to achieve this. As a result, some Irish date the founding of Dublin to this year (or 988), despite its ancient heritage. Máel appoints his half-brother, Glúniairn, to rule the Viking kingdom.

989

Glúniairn is killed in Dublin, apparently by his own slave when he is drunk, although the death is more likely to be the result of factional in-fighting in Dublin. Máel Sechnaill descends on the kingdom and installs Sitric Silkbeard, another son of Olaf, as king.

1002

Máel Sechnaill is dethroned by Brian Bóruma - Brian Boru - and Viking Dublin, never entirely conquered, fights back.

1002 - 1014

Brian Bóruma macCennétig / Brian Boru

King of Munster (976-1014).

1014

Brian Boru defeats the Dublin Norse at the Battle of Clontarf, but dies in the process, destroying Irish unity.

1014 - 1022

Máel Sechnaill macDomnaill O'Néill

Restored.

1022

Máel Sechnaill's restoration has brought a relative amount of peace during his reign, but his death marks the beginning of a period of internecine warfare as Leinster, Munster, and Connacht fight for control of Ireland, making it easier for the Normans to invade in 1171.

1022 - 1064

Donnchad MacBrian

King of Munster (1022?-1064).

1064 - 1072

Diarmait MacMáil na mBó

King of Leinster, and ruler of Dublin (1070-1072).

1072 - 1086

Toirdelbach O'Brien

King of Munster, and ruler of Dublin (1072-1074?).

1086 - 1090

Muirchertach O'Brien

King of Munster, and ruler of Dublin (1074-1086).

1090 - 1121

Domnall macArdgar O'Lochlainn O'Néill

Cenél Ailech.

1121 - 1135

Toirrdelbach macRuaidrí na Saide Buide ua Conchobair / Turlogh

King of Connacht (1106-1156).

1141 - 1150

Toirrdelbach macRuaidrí na Saide Buide ua Conchobair / Turlogh

King of Connacht (1106-1156).

1150 - 1166

Muirchertach macNéill macLochlainn / Murtagh

Cenél Ailech (1136-1166).

1166 - 1175

Ruaidrí macToirrdelbaig

King of Connacht (1156-1183).

1175 - 1258

Ruidri is the last of the High Kings. In 1175, Henry II of England styles himself 'Lord of Ireland', although the title is handed to his son, John, as the governor of Ireland. When John becomes king of England in 1199 the control of Ireland is held directly by the crown.

1258 - 1260

Brian Catha an Duin

1260 - 1316

English rule is restored.

1316 - 1318

Edward de Bruce

1318

English rule is restored.

1541

Henry VIII of England raised Ireland from a lordship to a kingdom and assumes the title 'King of Ireland'.

1579 - 1583

The Second Desmond Rebellion against England is put down.

1594 - 1603

The Nine Years' War between England and Irish rebel Hugh O'Neill ends with the surrender of the Irish.

1649

One of the leaders of the English Parliament, Oliver Cromwell, supports the execution of the Stuart king in January 1649, and leads an army to crush the Irish in August of the same year.

1798

The United Irishmen rebel against British rule in Ireland, but despite French help they are defeated.

1801

The Act of Union joins Ireland with Britain.

1914

A Home Rule for Ireland Bill is passed in Parliament, but immediately suspended upon the outbreak of the First World War.

1916 - 1918

The Easter Rising in Dublin and a declaration of an Irish Republic in 1916 leads to the proclamation being ratified by the Irish Parliament in 1918.

1921 - 1922

The British government legislates to establish Ireland as an autonomous region of the United Kingdom, terming the twenty-six counties of the south as, appropriately, Southern Ireland.

1922

Following the Anglo-Irish Agreement, the Irish Free State is a dominion in the British Commonwealth. Irish nationalist leader Michael Collins, head of the Irish Free State, is killed by militant Republicans.

1937

The Irish Free State is abolished as a state which is called simply Ireland comes into being with a new constitution on 29 December, although it is still represented internationally by the British monarchy as an instrument of Irish policy.

1949

The Republic of Ireland is declared with a president at its head, but the six protestant counties of Northern Ireland remain part of Britain.