Events from the 8th century in Ireland.

700s

;701 * Death of

Niall mac Cernaig Sotal Niall mac Cernaig Sotal (died 701) was a king in southern Brega of the Uí Chernaig sept of Lagore of the Síl nÁedo Sláine. He was the grandson of the high king Diarmait mac Áedo Sláine (died 665).Charles-Edwards, ''Early Christian Ireland'', ...

,''The Chronology of the Irish Annals'', Daniel P. McCarthy a king in southern

Brega Brega , also known as ''Mersa Brega'' or ''Marsa al-Brega'' ( ar, مرسى البريقة , i.e. "Brega Seaport"), is a complex of several smaller towns, industry installations and education establishments situated in Libya on the Gulf of Sidra, ...

of the Uí Chernaig sept of Lagore of the Síl nÁedo Sláine. He was the grandson of the high king

Diarmait mac Áedo Sláine Diarmait (died 665) was a son of Áed Sláine. According to the Irish annals, he was High King of Ireland. Sons of Áed Sláine Diarmait's father Áed Sláine was a son of Diarmait mac Cerbaill, the apical ancestor of the southern branches of t ...

(died

665 __NOTOC__ Year 665 ( DCLXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. The denomination 665 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar er ...

).Charles-Edwards, ''Early Christian Ireland'', pp. 602–603 ;702 * Death of

Írgalach mac Conaing Írgalach mac Conaing Cuirre (died 702), also called Írgalach ua Conaing, was a King of Brega from the Uí Chonaing sept of Cnogba (Knowth) of the Síl nÁedo Sláine branch of the southern Ui Neill. He was the son of Conaing Cuirre mac Congaile ...

, also called Írgalach ua Conaing, was a King of Brega from the Uí Chonaing sept of Cnogba (

Knowth Knowth (; ga, Cnóbha) is a Neolithic passage grave and an ancient monument of the World Heritage Site of Brú na Bóinne located 8.4 km west of Drogheda in Ireland's valley of the River Boyne. It is the largest passage grave of the Brú ...

) of the Síl nÁedo Sláine branch of the southern Uí Néill. He was the son of Conaing Cuirre mac Congaile (died

661 Year 661 ( DCLXI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. The denomination 661 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the ...

) and brother of Congalach mac Conaing Cuirre (died

696 __NOTOC__ Year 696 ( DCXCVI) was a leap year starting on Saturday the (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. The denomination 696 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calend ...

), previous kings of Brega.T.M. Charles-Edwards, ''Early Christian Ireland'', Appendix II. He ruled from 696 to 702. ;703 * Death of Loingsech mac Óengusso. He was an Irish king who was

High King of Ireland High King of Ireland ( ga, Ardrí na hÉireann ) was a royal title in Gaelic Ireland held by those who had, or who are claimed to have had, lordship over all of Ireland. The title was held by historical kings and later sometimes assigned ana ...

. * Congal Cennmagair becomes High King of Ireland. He belonged to the northern Cenél Conaill branch of the Uí Néill. ;704 *Death of

Adomnán Adomnán or Adamnán of Iona (, la, Adamnanus, Adomnanus; 624 – 704), also known as Eunan ( ; from ), was an abbot of Iona Abbey ( 679–704), hagiographer, statesman, canon jurist, and saint. He was the author of the ''Life of Co ...

, ninth abbot of

Iona Iona (; gd, Ì Chaluim Chille (IPA: �iːˈxaɫ̪ɯimˈçiʎə, sometimes simply ''Ì''; sco, Iona) is a small island in the Inner Hebrides, off the Ross of Mull on the western coast of Scotland. It is mainly known for Iona Abbey, though there ...

''The Oxford Illustrated History of Ireland''. Foster, RF. Oxford University Press, Oxford. 1989 (b. c

627 __NOTOC__ Year 627 ( DCXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 627 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Eur ...

). ;707 * The Uí Néill High King of Ireland Congal Cennmagair campaigned in Leinster and obtained Cellach Cualann's submission to his authority. ;708 or 710 * High King of Ireland Congal Cennmagair died 708, or 710 according to some sources. ;709 * Lethlobar mac Echach died. He was a Dal nAraide king of the Cruithne in Ulaid (Ulster). ;709 or 710 * Fergal mac Máele Dúin in 709, or 710 according to some sources, becomes High King of Ireland. Fergal belonged to the Cenél nEógain sept of the northern Uí Néill.

710s

;711 * Death of Seachnasach, the 17th king of the

Uí Maine U or u, is the twenty-first and sixth-to-last letter and fifth vowel letter of the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''u'' (pro ...

. ;714 *

Fogartach mac Néill Fogartach Mac'Artain (died 724), sometimes called Fogartach ua Cernaich, was an Irish king who is reckoned a High King of Ireland. He belonged to the Uí Chernaig sept of the Síl nÁedo Sláine branch of the southern Uí Néill. He was King of Br ...

was deposed as king of Brega and exiled in Britain. ;715 * Death of Cellach Cualann mac Gerthidi, the last Uí Máil king of Leinster. Cellach's byname is derived from the land of ''Cualu'' which lay around Glendalough. ;718 * Death of Conall Grant mac Cernaig, a King of Brega of the Uí Chernaig sept of Lagore of the Síl nÁedo Sláine. He was the grandson of the high king Diarmait mac Áedo Sláine. His father Cernach Sotal had died during plague years in 664. ;719 * Áed mac Cellaig, son of Cellach Cualann, was slain at the Battle of Finnabair (Fennor, County Kildare) in a fight among the Laigin.

720s

;721 * Cathal mac Finguine becomes King of Munster, reigning until his death in 742.''The Concise History of Ireland.'' Duffy, S. Gill & Macmillan, Dublin. 2005 ;722 * 11 December: death of Fergal mac Máele Dúin, a High King of Ireland. Fergal belonged to the Cenél nEógain sept of the northern Uí Néill. ;724 * Death of

, sometimes called Fogartach ua Cernaich, an Irish king who is reckoned a High King of Ireland. He belonged to the Uí Chernaig sept of the Síl nÁedo Sláine branch of the southern Uí Néill. He was King of Brega and was the son of Niall mac Cernaig Sotal ;727 * Death of

Murchad mac Brain Mut Murchad mac Brain Mut (died 727) was a King of Leinster from the Uí Dúnlainge branch of the Laigin. He was the son of Bran Mut mac Conaill (died 696), a previous king. He ruled from 715 to 727. His reign His first mention in the annals is whe ...

, was a King of Leinster from the Uí Dúnlainge branch of the Laigin. He was the son of Bran Mut mac Conaill (died

693 __NOTOC__ Year 693 ( DCXCIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. The denomination 693 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar ...

), a previous king.Francis J.Byrne, ''Irish Kings and High-Kings'', Table 9 He ruled since 715. ;728 * Death of Dúnchad mac Murchado, a King of Leinster from the Uí Dúnlainge branch of the Laigin. He was the son of Murchad mac Brain Mut, the previous king. ;729 * Death of

Cathal mac Néill Cathal mac Néill (died 729) or Cathal Cerr or Cathal Corc was a king of Southern Brega at Lagore. He belonged to the Uí Chernaig sept of the Síl nÁedo Sláine branch of the southern Uí Néill. He was the son of Niall mac Cernaig Sotal (died ...

or Cathal Cerr or Cathal Corc, a king of Southern Brega at Lagore. He belonged to the Uí Chernaig sept of the Síl nÁedo Sláine branch of the southern Uí Néill. He was the son of Niall mac Cernaig Sotal. He ruled the Uí Chernaig from 724-729 succeeding his brother the high king Fogartach mac Néill.

730s

;733 *Birth of

Donnchad mac Domnaill Donnchad mac Domnaill (733 – 6 February 797), called Donnchad Midi, was High King of Ireland. His father, Domnall Midi, had been the first Uí Néill High King from the south-central Clann Cholmáin based in modern County Westmeath and western ...

, called ''Donnchad Midi'', High King of Ireland. His father,

Domnall Midi Domhnall Mac Murchada (born c. 700, died 20 November 763), called Domnall Midi (Donald of Meath), was High King of Ireland. He belonged to the Clann Cholmáin branch of the Uí Néill. Clann Cholmáin's pre-eminence among the southern Uí Néill, ...

, had been the first Uí Néill High King from the south-central Clann Cholmáin based in modern

County Westmeath "Noble above nobility" , image_map = Island of Ireland location map Westmeath.svg , subdivision_type = Sovereign state, Country , subdivision_name = Republic of Ireland, Ireland , subdivision_type1 = Provinces o ...

and western County Meath, Ireland. The reigns of Domnall and his successor, Niall Frossach of the Cenél nEógain, had been relatively peaceful, but Donnchad's rule saw a return to a more expansionist policy directed against Leinster, traditional target of the Uí Néill, and also, for the first time, the great southern kingdom of

Munster Munster ( gle, an Mhumhain or ) is one of the provinces of Ireland, in the south of Ireland. In early Ireland, the Kingdom of Munster was one of the kingdoms of Gaelic Ireland ruled by a "king of over-kings" ( ga, rí ruirech). Following the ...

. ;734 *Abduction of Flaithbertach mac Loingsig. Cenél Conaill now excluded from Uí Néill Overkingship. ;738 * Death of Fáelán mac Murchado, 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 since the death of his brother Dúnchad in 728.

740s

;741 *Death of Indrechtach mac Lethlobair a Dal nAraide king of the Cruithne in Ulaid (Ulster). ;742 *Death of

Conaing mac Amalgado Conaing mac Amalgado (died 742) was a King of Brega from the Uí Chonaing sept of Cnogba (Knowth) of the Síl nÁedo Sláine branch of the southern Ui Neill. He was the son of Amalgaid mac Congalaig (died 718), a previous king. He ruled from 728 t ...

, a King of Brega from the Uí Chonaing sept of Cnogba (

) of the Síl nÁedo Sláine branch of the southern Uí Néill. He was the son of

Amalgaid mac Congalaig Amalgaid mac Congalaig (died 718) was a King of Brega from the Uí Chonaing sept of Cnogba (Knowth) of the Síl nÁedo Sláine branch of the southern Ui Neill. He was the son of Congalach mac Conaing Cuirre (died 696). He ruled in north Brega fro ...

(died 718), a previous king. He ruled from 728-742. *Death of Cathal mac Finguine, King of Munster, who had reigned since 721. *Death of

Áed Balb mac Indrechtaig Áed Balb mac Indrechtaig (died 742) was a King of Connacht from the Uí Briúin branch of the Connachta. He was the son of Indrechtach mac Muiredaig Muillethan (died 723), a previous king.Francis J.Byrne, ''Irish Kings and High-Kings'', Table 20 ...

, King of Connacht. ;743 * Clann Cholmáin takes the Overkingship of Uí Néill. ;748 *

Dúngal mac Amalgado Dúngal mac Amalgado (or Dúngal Cnogba) (died 759) was a King of Brega from the Uí Chonaing sept of Cnogba (Knowth) of the Síl nÁedo Sláine branch of the southern Ui Neill. He was the son of Amalgaid mac Congalaig (died 718) and brother of C ...

or Dúngal Cnogba, from the Uí Chonaing sept of Cnogba (Knowth) of the Síl nÁedo Sláine branch of the southern Uí Néill became King of Brega . He was the brother of Conaing mac Amalgado (died 742), a previous king. He ruled until his death in 759.

750s

;759 * Death of Dúngal mac Amalgado.

760s

;760 * Start of the reign of

Cellach mac Dúnchada Cellach mac Dúnchada (died 776) 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 (died 728), and Taileflaith. This sept had their royal seat at Líamhain (Lyons ...

, (died 776), as King of Leinster. He was the son of Dúnchad mac Murchado (died 728), a previous king. The royal seat was at Líamhain (Lyons Hill, on the Dublin-Kildare border). ;763 * 20 November: death of Domnall Midi or ''Domnall mac Murchado'' (born before 715), King of Mide and, according to the later lists, High King of Ireland. ;764 * Diarmait Dub, brother of

Donnchad Midi Donnchad mac Domnaill (733 – 6 February 797), called Donnchad Midi, was High King of Ireland. His father, Domnall Midi, had been the first Uí Néill High King from the south-central Clann Cholmáin based in modern County Westmeath and western ...

was killed leading the forces of the monastery of Durrow in battle against those of Clonmacnoise, led by Bressal mac Murchado, who was either his father's brother or his brother's son. ;765 * Death of Flaithbertach mac Loingsig, high-king of Ireland ;766 * Donnchad Midi or Donnchad mac Domnaill becomes King of Mide ;768 *

Cú Dínaisc mac Conasaig Cú Dínaisc mac Conasaig (also called Cudinaisc, Cudinaisg, Cú Dínisc, Cudiniscus; c. 720 – 791) was the Abbot of Armagh, Ireland from 768 to 772. Genealogy and birth Cú Dínaisc was a member of the Uí Eachach clan from the Ards Penin ...

becomes

Abbot of Armagh 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 ...

;769 * St. Maelruain’s Monastery founded in Tallaght

770s

;770 *Donnchad Midi, King of Mide, succeeded to the Kingship of Tara and the supposed High Kingship of Ireland when Niall Frossach abdicated. *Ciarán the Pious of Bealach-duin, who founded

Castlekeeran Castlekeeran is a former monastery and a National Monument in County Meath, Ireland. Location Castlekeeran survives as a walled graveyard, south of Carnaross and on the south bank of the Leinster Blackwater. History Castlekeeran was founde ...

monastery died. ;771 *

Niall mac Conaill Niall mac Conaill (died 778) was King of South Brega of the Uí Chernaig sept of the Síl nÁedo Sláine branch of the southern Ui Neill. He was the son of Conall Grant mac Cernaig (died 718) who had contended for the rule of all Brega in the 710 ...

, son of Conall Grant mac Cernaig (died 718), becomes King of South Brega. He ruled until 778. ;775 * Donnchad Midi, King of Mide took control of the monastery at Clonard in the Leinster borderlands. He also campaigned in

. The ''Annals of Ulster'' record that Donnchad "did great devastation in the territory of the Munstermen, and many of the Munstermen fell". ;776 * Death of Cellach mac Dúnchada, King of Leinster. ;777 * Donnchad Midi is recorded as twice having disturbed the

óenach An aonach or óenach was an ancient Irish public national assembly called upon the death of a king, queen, or notable sage or warrior as part of ancestor worship practices. As well as the entertainment, the óenach was an occasion on which kings an ...

of Tailtiu, first in 774, when no explanation is given, and again in 777. The annals state that the Ciannachta, by which the Síl nÁedo Sláine, this time the north Brega branch of the kindred, are meant, were the targets. This is explicitly linked to the war between Donnchad and Congalach mac Conaing, the

King of Knowth The Kings of Brega were rulers of Brega, a petty kingdom north of Dublin in medieval Ireland. Overview Brega took its name from ' ('), meaning "fine plain", in modern County Meath, County Louth and County Dublin, Ireland. They formed part of the ...

, which had begun earlier in 777 when Donnchad led an army from Leinster into Brega. ;778 * Donnchad Midi of Clann Cholmáin becomes King of Tara (but see also 770). * Death of Niall mac Conaill, King of South

* Death of

Mac Flaithniadh Mac Flaithniadh (died 8th century in Ireland, 778) was Abbot of Clonfert. References * * ''Annals of Tigernach'' aCELT: Corpus of Electronic TextsaUniversity College Cork Abbot of Clonfert The Abbot of Clonfert was the monastic head of the abbey of Clonfert in County Galway, Ireland. The abbey was founded by Saint Brendan in the early sixth century. The abbots also bore the title "Coarb, Comarbai Saint Brendan, Brénaind", "succes ...

. ;779 * Donnchad Midi campaigned against the northern Uí Néill and received the submission of the "king of the North", Domnall, son of Áed Muinderg.

780s

;782 * Death of

Mugrón mac Flainn Mugrón mac Flainn (died 8th century in Ireland, 782) was a king of the Uí Failge, a Laigin people of County Offaly. He was one of the many sons of Fland Dá Chongal, a previous king. He ruled from 770 to 782. He was the third of Fland's sons by ...

, king of the Uí Failge ;785 * Death of

Ruaidrí mac Fáeláin Ruaidrí mac Fáeláin (died 785) was a King of Leinster of the Uí Fáeláin sept of the Uí Dúnlainge branch of the Laigin. He was the son of Fáelán mac Murchado (died 738), a previous king. This sept had their royal seat at Naas in the east ...

, son of Fáelán mac Murchado (died 738), King of Leinster The royal seat was at Naas in the eastern part of the Liffey plain, Airthir Liphi. He ruled from 776-785. ;786 * Death of Diarmait mac Conaing, King of South Brega, son of Conall Grant mac Cernaig (died 718) He ruled in south Brega since 778.

790s

;791 *Death of

(also called Cudinaisc, Cudinaisg, Cú Dínisc, Cudiniscus) (b. c.720 ), was a former

, 777 - 782. ;792 * Death of Mael Ruain, leader of the Culdee reform movement at Tallaght. ;793 * Artri mac Cathail ordained King of Munster ;795 *First Viking raids on Ireland at

Rathlin Island Rathlin Island ( ga, Reachlainn, ; Local Irish dialect: ''Reachraidh'', ; Scots: ''Racherie'') is an island and civil parish off the coast of County Antrim (of which it is part) in Northern Ireland. It is Northern Ireland's northernmost point. ...

Inishmurray Inishmurray ( or ) is an uninhabited island situated off the coast of County Sligo, Ireland. Geography The island covers . Etymology Inishmurray may be named after the early saint, Muiredach mac Echdach ( fl. early 6th century) of Killal ...

and Inishbofin. *Viking raid on

Lambay Island Lambay Island ( ga, Reachrainn), often simply Lambay, is an island in the Irish Sea off the coast of north County Dublin, Ireland. The largest island off the east coast of Ireland, it is offshore from the headland at Portrane, and is the eas ...

;797 *Death of Donnchad Midi, King of Mide. *Death of

Muireadhach mac Olcobhar Muireadhach mac Olcobhar (died 797) was Abbot of Clonfert. References * ''Annals of Ulster'' aCELT: Corpus of Electronic TextsaUniversity College Cork* ''Annals of Tigernach'' aaUniversity College Cork Abbot of Clonfert The Abbot of Clonfert was the monastic head of the abbey of Clonfert in County Galway, Ireland. The abbey was founded by Saint Brendan in the early sixth century. The abbots also bore the title "Coarb, Comarbai Saint Brendan, Brénaind", "succes ...

. ;799 *Death of Domnall mac Donnchado, King of Mide since 797.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:8th Century In Ireland