History Files Nav bar
 

 

Gaelic Kingdoms

Kingdoms of Ireland

 

 

 

The High Kings of Ireland

Ireland was never conquered by the Romans. Instead the Irish helped 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).

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, 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 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.

The earliest rulers 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

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 pressurised the Scoti, in the north and east of Ulster, into migrating to western Pictland. Once there, they founded the Dal Riada.

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

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

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

846 - 862

Máel Sechnaill macMáele Ruanaid O'Néill

King of Mide.

879 - 916

Flann Sionna macMáele Sechnaill O'Néill

King of Mide.

862 - 879

Aed Findliath macNéill Caille O'Néill

Cenél Ailech.

916 - 919

Niall Glúndubh macAedo Findliath O'Néill

Cenél Ailech.

919 - 944

Donnchad Donn macFlann O'Néill

944 - 950

Ruaidrí ua Canannáin

Rival claimant.

944 - 956

Congalach Cnogba macMáel Mithig O'Néill

956 - 980

Domnall macMuirchertaig O'Néill

980 - 1002

Máel Sechnaill macDomnaill O'Néill

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 - 1064

Donnchad MacBrian

King of Munster (1022?-1064).

1064 - 1072

Diarmait MacMáil na mBó

King of Leinster.

1072 - 1086

Toirdelbach O'Brien

King of Munster.

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. Henry II of England now styles himself "Lord of Ireland".

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.

1801

The Act of Union joins Ireland with Britain.

1914

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

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.

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.