Events from the 5th century in

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

5th century

;405 *Possible year of death of

Niall Noígíallach Niall ''Noígíallach'' (; Old Irish "having nine hostages"), or Niall of the Nine Hostages, was a legendary, semi-historical Irish king who was the ancestor of the Uí Néill dynasties that dominated Ireland from the 6th to the 10th centuries. ...

. The ''

Annals of the Four Masters The ''Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland'' ( ga, Annála Ríoghachta Éireann) or the ''Annals of the Four Masters'' (''Annála na gCeithre Máistrí'') are chronicles of medieval Irish history. The entries span from the Deluge, dated as 2,24 ...

'' dates his accession to 378 and death to 405. The chronology of Geoffrey Keating's '' Foras Feasa ar Éirinn'' broadly agrees, dating his reign from 368 to 395, and associating his raiding activities in

Great Britain Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the northwest coast of continental Europe. With an area of , it is the largest of the British Isles, the largest European island and the ninth-largest island in the world. It is ...

with the kidnapping of

Saint Patrick Saint Patrick ( la, Patricius; ga, Pádraig ; cy, Padrig) was a fifth-century Romano-British Christian missionary and bishop in Ireland. Known as the "Apostle of Ireland", he is the primary patron saint of Ireland, the other patron saints be ...

. Geoffrey Keating, ''Foras Feasa ar Éirinn'
1.48
/ref> However, the traditional roll of kings and its chronology is now recognised as artificial. The High Kingship did not become a reality until the 9th century, and Niall's legendary status has been inflated in line with the political importance of the dynasty he founded. Based on

Uí Néill The Uí Néill (Irish pronunciation: ; meaning "descendants of Niall") are Irish dynasties who claim descent from Niall Noígíallach (Niall of the Nine Hostages), a historical King of Tara who died c. 405. They are generally divided into the ...

genealogies and the dates given for his supposed sons and grandsons, modern historians believe that he is likely to have lived some 50 years later than the traditional dates, dying circa 450.Francis J. Byrne, ''Irish Kings and High-Kings'', Second Edition, Dublin: Four Courts Press, 2001, Chapter 5 ;410 *At about this date, with the

end of Roman rule in Britain The end of Roman rule in Britain was the transition from Roman Britain to post-Roman Britain. Roman rule ended in different parts of Britain at different times, and under different circumstances. In 383, the usurper Magnus Maximus withdrew tr ...

, raiders from Ireland such as the

Uí Liatháin The Uí Liatháin (IPA: �iːˈlʲiəhaːnʲ were an early kingdom of Munster in southern Ireland. They belonged the same kindred as the Uí Fidgenti, and the two are considered together in the earliest sources, for example ''The Expulsion of th ...

and

Laigin The Laigin, modern spelling Laighin (), were a Gaelic population group of early Ireland. They gave their name to the Kingdom of Leinster, which in the medieval era was known in Irish as ''Cóiced Laigen'', meaning "Fifth/province of the Leinsterm ...

harry the coasts of Britain. They plunder towns and capture slaves but later

colonise Colonization, or colonisation, constitutes large-scale population movements wherein migrants maintain strong links with their, or their ancestors', former country – by such links, gain advantage over other inhabitants of the territory. When ...

large areas of

Gwynedd Gwynedd (; ) is a county and preserved county (latter with differing boundaries; includes the Isle of Anglesey) in the north-west of Wales. It shares borders with Powys, Conwy County Borough, Denbighshire, Anglesey over the Menai Strait, and C ...

, in particular the Llŷn Peninsula, the coasts of

Arllechwedd The ancient Welsh cantref of Arllechwedd in north-west Wales was part of the kingdom of Gwynedd for much of its history until it was included in the new county of Caernarfonshire, together with Arfon and Llŷn under the terms of the Statute ...

and Arfon and

Anglesey Anglesey (; cy, (Ynys) Môn ) is an island off the north-west coast of Wales. It forms a principal area known as the Isle of Anglesey, that includes Holy Island across the narrow Cymyran Strait and some islets and skerries. Anglesey island ...

430s

;431 * Palladius sent by Pope Celestine I as bishop to Irish Christians ;432 *

arrives in

to help convert pagan Gaelic kings to

Christianity Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. It is the world's largest and most widespread religion with roughly 2.38 billion followers representing one-third of the global pop ...

(traditional date) (but see also 456) ;435 or 436 *Death of Bressal Belach, King of Leinster

440s

;440 *Death of

Amalgaid mac Fiachrae Amalgaid mac Fiachrae (died 440) was a King of Connacht of the Ui Fiachrach sept. He was the son of Fiachrae mac Echach Mugmedóin and grandson of the high king Eochaid Mugmedón (died 362). He is mentioned as king of Connacht in the ''Laud Sync ...

, king of

Connacht Connacht ( ; ga, Connachta or ), is one of the provinces of Ireland, in the west of Ireland. Until the ninth century it consisted of several independent major Gaelic kingdoms (Uí Fiachrach, Uí Briúin, Uí Maine, Conmhaícne, and Delbhn ...

whose death led to a long-running dispute over the succession ;444 *

Niall of the Nine Hostages Niall ''Noígíallach'' (; Old Irish "having nine hostages"), or Niall of the Nine Hostages, was a legendary, semi-historical Irish king who was the ancestor of the Uí Néill dynasties that dominated Ireland from the 6th to the 10th centuries. ...

active in Ireland and Britain (but see the year 405 as well) *

Armagh Armagh ( ; ga, Ard Mhacha, , "Macha's height") is the county town of County Armagh and a city in Northern Ireland, as well as a civil parish. It is the ecclesiastical capital of Ireland – the seat of the Archbishops of Armagh, the Pri ...

founded as the chief church in Ireland. ;445 * Death of Dathí/Nath Í mac Fiachrae ;446 * Battle of Femen, in Brega;

Mac Cairthinn mac Coelboth Mac Cairthinn mac Coelboth (?-446?-530?) was an Uí Enechglaiss King of Leinster. Background Mac Cairthinn is one of the very earliest verifiable Irish kings. Though not listed in any extant Irish genealogies, the Annals of Innisfallen record h ...

, King of Leinster, killed ;447 * Death of Secundinus/St

Seachnaill Secundinus (fl. 5th century), or Sechnall (Modern Irish: ''Seachnall'') as he was known in Irish, was founder and patron saint of Domhnach Sechnaill, Co. Meath, who went down in medieval tradition as a disciple of St Patrick and one of the firs ...

, bishop in Ireland, on 27 November, founder of Dunshaughlin

450s

;450 *Probable date of fall of

Ulaid Ulaid (Old Irish, ) or Ulaidh (Modern Irish, ) was a Gaelic over-kingdom in north-eastern Ireland during the Middle Ages made up of a confederation of dynastic groups. Alternative names include Ulidia, which is the Latin form of Ulaid, and in ...

over-kingdom *Approximate date of the foundation by St Macculin of a monastery at Lusk *Death of

(see the entry for 405 for more on this) ;451 *Probable year of birth of Brigid of Kildare (Saint Brigid) ;453 *Probable date of death of

(but see also the years 405 and 450) *Probable date of the start of the reign of

Óengus mac Nad Froích Óengus mac Nad Froích (430-489) was an Eoganachta and the first Christian King of Munster. He was the son of Nad Froich mac Cuirc by Faochan, a British lady (called daughter of the King of Britain). In Geoffrey Keating's ''History of Ireland'' ...

, first Christian king of Munster ;454 * Lóegaire mac Néill, King of Tara, celebrates Feis Temro (Feast of Tara), pagan inauguration rite. ;456 * Suggested date - 5 April - for arrival of

St. Patrick ST, St, or St. may refer to: Arts and entertainment * Stanza, in poetry * Suicidal Tendencies, an American heavy metal/hardcore punk band * Star Trek, a science-fiction media franchise * Summa Theologica, a compendium of Catholic philosophy an ...

in Ireland (but see also 432) ;457 *Probable death of Palladius ;459 * Death of Auxilius, missionary bishop in Ireland, founder of Killashee,

County Kildare County Kildare ( ga, Contae Chill Dara) is a county in Ireland. It is in the province of Leinster and is part of the Eastern and Midland Region. It is named after the town of Kildare. Kildare County Council is the local authority for the county, ...

460s

;461 or 462 * Death of Lóegaire mac Néill, King of Tara, son of

Niall Noígiallach Niall ''Noígíallach'' (; Old Irish "having nine hostages"), or Niall of the Nine Hostages, was a legendary, semi-historical Irish king who was the ancestor of the Uí Néill dynasties that dominated Ireland from the 6th to the 10th centuries. ...

, who founded the kingdom of

Tír Eógain This article lists the rulers of Tyrone (Irish: ''Tír Eoghain'') from 1185 to 1616. They are listed from their date of accession to date of death, unless otherwise stated. Prior to this, the ruling dynasty - the Cenél nEógain - were most of th ...

(modern

County Tyrone County Tyrone (; ) is one of the six Counties of Northern Ireland, counties of Northern Ireland, one of the nine counties of Ulster and one of the thirty-two traditional Counties of Ireland, counties of Ireland. It is no longer used as an admini ...

) ;464 * The murder of King Conall Gulban of

Donegal Donegal may refer to: County Donegal, Ireland * County Donegal, a county in the Republic of Ireland, part of the province of Ulster * Donegal (town), a town in County Donegal in Ulster, Ireland * Donegal Bay, an inlet in the northwest of Ireland b ...

by the Masraighe at

Magh Slécht Magh Slécht (sometimes Anglicised as Moyslaught) is the name of a historic plain in Ireland. It comprises an area of about three square miles (8 km2) situated in the south-eastern part of the Parish of Templeport, Barony (Ireland), Barony ...

;465 * Death of Iserninus, missionary bishop in Ireland (''Epsop Fith''), founder of Kilcullen,

, and

Aghade Aghade () is a small civil parish, in the barony of Forth, County Carlow, Ireland. It is 3 miles from Tullow and has a notable bridge over the River Slaney The River Slaney () is a large river in the southeast of Ireland. It rises on Lu ...

County Carlow County Carlow ( ; ga, Contae Cheatharlach) is a county located in the South-East Region of Ireland, within the province of Leinster. Carlow is the second smallest and the third least populous of Ireland's 32 traditional counties. Carlow Cou ...

* Death of Eógan mac Néill, son of

, who founded the kingdom of

(modern

) (but see also 461) ;467 * Death of St. Benigius, Bishop of Armagh ;468 * Battle of Bri Ele ;469 *

Ailill Molt Ailill mac Nath Í (died c. 482), called Ailill Molt, is included in most lists of the High Kings of Ireland and is also called King of Connacht. His cognomen, ''molt'', means "sheep, ram" but its origin is unknown. Family Ailill was said to be ...

mac Nath Í/Dathí celebrates Feis Temro

470s

;470 * First Battle of Dumha Aichir ;476 * First Battle of

Granard Granard () is a town in the north of County Longford, Ireland, and has a traceable history going back to AD 236. It is situated just south of the boundary between the watersheds of the Shannon and the Erne, at the point where the N55 nationa ...

480s

;480 * Second Battle of

;481 * Death of St. Iarliathe mac Treno, third bishop of Armagh ;482 * Battle of Ochae (in Mide or

Leinster Leinster ( ; ga, Laighin or ) is one of the provinces of Ireland, situated in the southeast and east of Ireland. The province comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Meath, Leinster and Osraige. Following the 12th-century Norman invasion of Ir ...

killed, and the

branch of the

Connachta The Connachta are a group of medieval Irish dynasties who claimed descent from the legendary High King Conn Cétchathach (Conn of the Hundred Battles). The modern western province of Connacht (Irish ''Cúige Chonnacht'', province, literally "f ...

monopolise kingship of Tara ;483 * Assassination of Cremthann mac Endai Chennselaig, King of Leinster ;484 * Probable year of birth of Saint Brendan "the Navigator" ;485 * Death of

Fincath mac Garrchu Fincath mac Garrchu (or Findchad mac Garrchon) (died 485) was a king of Leinster. He was a member of the Dál Messin Corb dynasty's principal sub-sept, the Uí Garrchon. He was the son of the founder of this sept Garrchú mac Fothaid. Not mentio ...

(or Findchad mac Garrchon), King of Leinster ;485 or 486 * Battle of

or Grainaret.

Coirpre mac Néill Coirpre mac Néill ('' fl''. '' c''. 485–493), also Cairbre or Cairpre, was said to be a son of Niall of the Nine Hostages. Coirpre was perhaps the leader of the conquests that established the southern Uí Néill in the midlands of Ireland. Th ...

, King of Tara, defeats and kills

or ''Findchad mac Garrchon'': he was a king of Leinster, was defeated and killed by the Uí Néill. (He is not mentioned as king in the Book of Leinster, he is however given this title in the Annals of Innisfallen). ;486 * Death of Crimthann mac Énnai Cennsalach who was a King of Leinster from the Uí Cheinnselaig sept of the Laigin. He was the son of Énna Cennsalach, the ancestor of this dynasty.Francis J.Byrne, ''Irish Kings and High-Kings'', Table 8 ;487 * Death of Bishop Mel of Ardagh, 6 February ;489 * Battle of Cell Osnadha: death of

, first Christian

King of Munster The kings of Munster ( ga, Rí Mumhan), ruled from the establishment of Munster during the Irish Iron Age, until the High Middle Ages. According to Gaelic traditional history, laid out in works such as the '' Book of Invasions'', the earliest ...

* Battle of Tailtin * Death of St. Cianán of

Duleek Duleek (; ) is a small town in County Meath, Ireland. Duleek takes its name from the Irish word ''daimh liag'', meaning house of stones and referring to an early stone-built church, St Cianán's Church, the ruins of which are still visible in Du ...

, a follower of

, on 24 November

490s

;490 * In about this year, the Dál Riata establish a kingdom in

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the ...

;492 * About this year the deaths occur of St. Mac Caill, Bishop of Cruachu Brig Ele ( Croghan,

County Offaly County Offaly (; ga, Contae Uíbh Fhailí) is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Eastern and Midland Region and the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Uí Failghe. It was formerly known as King's County, in hono ...

); and

, King of Cashel (but see also 489) ;493 *The battle of Sruth *The second battle of Granairet * 17 March: traditional date for the death of

(also entered in Annals of Ulster under A.D.

492 Year 492 ( CDXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Anastasius and Rufus (or, less frequently, year 1245 '' Ab urbe co ...

). Cath Corp Naomh Padraigh (''"

Battle for the Body of St. Patrick Saint Patrick ( la, Patricius; ga, Pádraig ; cy, Padrig) was a fifth-century Romano-British Christian missionary and bishop in Ireland. Known as the "Apostle of Ireland", he is the primary patron saint of Ireland, the other patron saints be ...

"'' fought for possession of his body) ;494 * Battle of Ceann Ailbhe ;495 * Second Battle of

; Echu mac Coirpri defeats and kills

Fráech mac Finchada Fráech mac Finchada or Fróech mac Findchado (died 495) was a king of Leinster. Fráech was a member of the Dál Messin Corb dynasty's principal sub-sept, the Uí Garrchon. He succeeded his father, Fincath mac Garrchu, (died 485). He ruled from 48 ...

, King of Leinster (but see also 480) ;496 * 6 September: death of St. Mac Cuilinn, Bishop of Lusk ;497 * Death of Cormac, Bishop of Armagh, ''heres Patricii'' (heir of

Patrick Patrick may refer to: * Patrick (given name), list of people and fictional characters with this name * Patrick (surname), list of people with this name People * Saint Patrick (c. 385–c. 461), Christian saint *Gilla Pátraic (died 1084), Patrick ...

) ;498 * Birth of saint

Kevin of Glendalough Saint Kevin (modern Irish '; Old Irish ', '; latinized '; 498 (reputedly)–3 June 618) is an Irish saint, known as the founder and first abbot of Glendalough in County Wicklow, Ireland. His feast day is 3 June. Early life Kevin's life is not ...

(died 618 according to his legend), the

Abbot Abbot is an ecclesiastical title given to the male head of a monastery in various Western religious traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not the head of a monastery. The fem ...

of Glendalough in

County Wicklow County Wicklow ( ; ga, Contae Chill Mhantáin ) is a county in Ireland. The last of the traditional 32 counties, having been formed as late as 1606, it is part of the Eastern and Midland Region and the province of Leinster. It is bordered by t ...

, Ireland * 23 June: death of St. Mo Choi of

Nendrum Nendrum Monastery was a Christian monastery on Mahee Island in Strangford Lough, County Down, Northern Ireland. Medieval records say it was founded in the 5th century, but this is uncertain. The monastery came to an end at some time between 974 an ...

; also listed under 497 in

Annals of Ulster The ''Annals of Ulster'' ( ga, Annála Uladh) are annals of medieval Ireland. The entries span the years from 431 AD to 1540 AD. The entries up to 1489 AD were compiled in the late 15th century by the scribe Ruaidhrí Ó Luinín, ...

;499 * ''"Bellum"'' (war) listed as occurring in

* 23 April: death of Bishop Ibar of Bergerin,

Wexford Wexford () is the county town of County Wexford, Ireland. Wexford lies on the south side of Wexford Harbour, the estuary of the River Slaney near the southeastern corner of the island of Ireland. The town is linked to Dublin by the M11/N11 N ...

Harbour

500

;500 *Composition of archaic

genealogical poems by Laidcenn mac Bairchedo and others *Archaic Old Irish period (to c. AD 700) *Warfare continues in Leinster between its kings and the

References

*''A New History of Ireland VIII: A Chronology of Irish History to 1976 - A Companion to Irish History Part I,'' edited by T.W. Moody, F.X. Martin and F.J. Byrne, 1982.
List of Published Texts at CELT
—

University College Cork University College Cork – National University of Ireland, Cork (UCC) ( ga, Coláiste na hOllscoile Corcaigh) is a constituent university of the National University of Ireland, and located in Cork. The university was founded in 1845 as one of ...

's ''Corpus of Electronic Texts'' project has the full list of Irish Annals. {{DEFAULTSORT:5th Century In Ireland