Uí Máil

Last updated

Uí Máil were an Irish dynasty of Leinster. They were descended from Maine Mál, the brother of the legendary high king Cathair Mór. The Uí Máil were a dominant dynasty in Leinster competing for the kingship in the 7th century before being eventually ousted by the Uí Dunlainge and retreating east from the River Liffey plain in the 8th century. They are then found along the western foothills of the Wicklow Mountains. The Glen of Imaal, named for them, appears to have been a center of their power. [1]

Leinster province in Ireland

Leinster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the east of Ireland. It comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Mide, Osraige and Leinster. Following the 12th-century Norman invasion of Ireland, the historic fifths of Leinster and Mide gradually merged, mainly due to the impact of the Pale, which straddled both, thereby forming the present-day province of Leinster. The ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial purposes. In later centuries, local government legislation has seen further sub-division of the historic counties.

Cathair Mór, son of Feidhlimidh Fiorurghlas, a descendant of Conchobar Abradruad, was, according to Lebor Gabála Érenn, a High King of Ireland. He took power after the death of Fedlimid Rechtmar. Cathair ruled for three years, at the end of which he was killed by the Luaigne of Tara, led by Conn Cétchathach. The Lebor Gabála Érenn synchronises his reign with that of the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius (161–180). The chronology of Geoffrey Keating's Foras Feasa ar Éirinn dates his reign to 113–116, that of the Annals of the Four Masters to 119–122.

River Liffey Principal river of Dublin, Ireland, rising in Co. Wicklow

The River Liffey is a river in Ireland, which flows through the centre of Dublin. Its major tributaries include the River Dodder, the River Poddle and the River Camac. The river supplies much of Dublin's water and a range of recreational activities.

Contents

Kings of Leinster from the Ui Mail included:

Áed Dibchine mac Senaig was a King of Leinster from the Uí Máil branch of the Laigin. He is the first king of this branch to hold the overlordship of Leinster.

Crimthann mac Áedo was a King of Leinster from the Uí Máil branch of the Laigin. He was the son of Áed Dibchine mac Senaig, a previous king. He would have succeeded sometime after the death of Rónán mac Colmáin. His brother Rónán Crach was possibly the Leinster king mentioned in the saga "Fingal Rónáin" and is also said to have been a bishop who was slain by Crimthann.

Fiannamail mac Máele Tuile was a King of Leinster from the Uí Máil branch of the Laigin. He was the great-grandson of Áed Dibchine mac Senaig, a previous king and grandson of Rónán Crach, possibly the Leinster king mentioned in the saga "Fingal Rónáin".

Finamnail was ancestor to the Uí Théig (O'Tighe) north of Uí Máil territory just west of the Wicklow mountains, while Cellach Cualann was ancestor to the Uí Ceallaig Cualann (O'Kelly) on the Dublin-Wicklow border in the foothills of the Wicklow mountains. The region of Cuala was applied frequently to the foot-hills of southern Dublin. [1]

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 Ireland's History in Maps
  2. ↑ All dates per The Chronology of the Irish Annals, Daniel P. McCarthy

Related Research Articles

The Uí Ceinnselaig, from the Old Irish "grandsons of Cennsalach", are an Irish dynasty of Leinster who trace their descent from Énnae Cennsalach, a supposed contemporary of Niall of the Nine Hostages. Énda was said to be a grandson of Bressal Bélach and a first cousin of Dúnlaing mac Énda Niada, eponymous ancestor of the rival Uí Dúnlainge.

Rónán mac Colmáin was a King of Leinster following Brandub mac Echach. There were two men named Rónán mac Colmáin active in Leinster in the early seventh century and confusion exists as to which one was king. Some later sources confuse the two Rónáns, but historian Francis John Byrne notes that the earliest sources do not.

Cellach Cualann mac Gerthidi was the last Uí Máil king of Leinster. Cellach's byname is derived from the land of Cualu which lay around Glendalough.

Coirpre Cromm mac Crimthainn was a King of Munster from the Eóganacht Glendamnach sept of the ruling Eoganachta dynasty. This branch was centered at Glanworth, County Cork. He was the son of Crimthann Srem mac Echado.

Rogallach mac Uatach was a king of Connacht from the Uí Briúin branch of the Connachta. He was the son of Uatu mac Áedo, a previous king. He acquired the throne of Connacht after defeating the previous king Colmán mac Cobthaig of the Ui Fiachrach Aidhne, who was slain at the Battle of Cennbag in 622. Professor Francis Byrne believes he is the first reasonable representative of this branch to be said to have held the throne of Connacht

Faílbe Flann mac Áedo Duib was a King of Munster from the Eóganacht Chaisil branch of the Eoganachta. He succeeded Cathal mac Áedo Flaind Chathrach of the Glendamnach branch in 628. He was the younger brother of a previous king Fíngen mac Áedo Duib. His sobriquet Flann meant "blood-red".

Muirchertach Nár mac Guairi was a possible King of Connacht from the Ui Fiachrach Aidhne branch of the Connachta. He was the son of Guaire Aidne mac Colmáin, famous in Irish sagas.

Fergal Aidne mac Artgaile was a King of Connacht from the Ui Fiachrach Aidhne branch of the Connachta. He was the grandson of Guaire Aidne mac Colmáin, the hero of many Irish sagas, and was the last member of this branch to hold the overlordship of Connacht.

Domnall mac Cellaig was a King of Connacht from the Uí Briúin branch of the Connachta. He was the son of Cellach mac Rogallaig, a previous king. The sept of Ui Briun he belonged to was the Síl Cellaig of Loch Cime.

Murchad mac Brain Mut was a King of Leinster from the Uí Dúnlainge branch of the Laigin. He was the son of Bran Mut mac Conaill, a previous king. He ruled from 715 to 727.

Cellach mac Dúnchada was a King of Leinster of the Uí Dúnchada sept of the Uí Dúnlainge branch of the Laigin. He was the son of Dúnchad mac Murchado, and Taileflaith. This sept had their royal seat at Líamhain. He ruled from 760 to 776.

Muiredach mac Murchado was a King of Leinster from the Uí Dúnlainge branch of the Laigin. He was the son of Murchad mac Brain Mut, a previous king. He ruled from 738 to 760.

Fiachu mac Néill was a king of Uisnech in Mide of the Ui Neill dynasty. He was the son of the high king Niall Noígíallach. According to the king list in the Book of Leinster, he succeeded his brother Conall Cremthainne as king of Uisnech.

Cellach mac Fáelchair or Cellach Raigni was a King of Osraige in modern County Kilkenny. He was the son of Fáelchar Ua Máele Ódrain, a previous king.

Bran ua Máele Dúin was a king of the Uí Cheinnselaig of South Leinster. He was of the Sil Máeluidir sept of this branch of the Laigin, who were found in the later baronies of Shelmalier on the lower reaches of the Slaney River in southern modern County Wexford. The date of Bran's accession is unknown but the Book of Leinster king list gives him a reign of three years which would correspond to 709-712.

Fland Dá Chongal or Flann Ua Congaile was a king of the Uí Failge, a Laigin people of County Offaly.

Events from the 5th century in Ireland.

Events from the 8th century in Ireland.

Ó Ceallaigh Irish family

Ó Ceallaigh is the most influential dynasty of the ancient túath of Uí Maine, and the original Irish Gaelic name for the surname commonly Anglicized as Kelley, Kelly, or Kellie. It is a name meaning "Descendant of Ceallach," "bright haired," or "troublesome." Though some have linked it to the old Irish "ceall" for "church."

Cualu or Cuala was a territory in Gaelic Ireland south of the River Liffey encompassing the Wicklow Mountains. Edmund Hogan concludes from primary sources that it "seems to extend from Arklow to the Liffey, and to be coextensive with [the] diocese of Glendaloch". The Slíghe Chualann ["Cualu Way"] was a major road to Tara which crossed the Liffey at Áth Cliath ["Ford of Hurdles"], beside the later site of Dublin city. Henry Morris suggested, based on a story in a law tract, that the Fir Chualann ["men of Cualu"] had originally lived further north, in Brega around Tara, until displaced by the Ciannachta after the battle of Crionna. Among the kings of Leinster were Cellach Cualann and Crimthann mac Áedo who the Annals of Tigernach say was "of Cualu". "Tuathal son of Cremthann, king of Cualu" died in 778.

References

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.