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Conaille Muirthemne was a
Cruithin The Cruthin (; mga, Cruithnig or ; ga, label=Modern Irish, Cruithne ) were a people of early medieval Ireland. Their heartland was in Ulster and included parts of the present-day counties of Antrim, Down and Londonderry. They are also said ...
kingdom located in
County Louth County Louth ( ; ga, An Lú) is a coastal county in the Eastern and Midland Region of Ireland, within the province of Leinster. Louth is bordered by the counties of Meath to the south, Monaghan to the west, Armagh to the north and Down to the ...
,
Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel, the Irish Sea, and St George's Channel. Ireland is the s ...
, from before 688 to after 1107 approximately.


Overview

The
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 ...
according to historian
Francis John Byrne Francis John Byrne (1934 – 30 December 2017) was an Irish historian. Born in Shanghai where his father, a Dundalk man, captained a ship on the Yellow River, Byrne was evacuated with his mother to Australia on the outbreak of World War II. A ...
'possibly still ruled directly in Louth as far as the Boyne in the early seventh century' at a time when Congal Cáech of the Cruthin of
Dál nAraidi Dál nAraidi (; "Araide's part") or Dál Araide, sometimes Latinised as Dalaradia or Anglicised as Dalaray,Boyd, Hugh AlexanderIrish Dalriada ''The Glynns: Journal of The Glens of Antrim Historical Society''. Volume 76 (1978). was a Cruthin ki ...
made a bid for the
kingship of Tara The term Kingship of Tara () was a title of authority in ancient Ireland - the title is closely associated with the archaeological complex at the Hill of Tara. The position was considered to be of eminent authority in medieval Irish literature a ...
. Conaille Muirtheimne once formed part of the over-kingdom of the Ulaid, and it remained an ally of it for the greater part of its history. In
Lebor na gCeart ''Lebor na Cert'', or the ''Book of Rights'', is a book of Early Irish laws, from medieval Ireland. The text details the rents and taxes paid by the King of Cashel, to various others in Ireland. The Great Book of Lecan and the Book of Ballymot ...
(the Book of Rights) the Conaille are listed among ''"The Territories whose King paid Tribute to the Ulaidh."'' In return, the king of Ulaid owed to ''"The Heroic King of Muirthemhne – six round goblets full of ale, ten ships from the Hero of Elga, ten steeds and ten brights cloaks."'' They are believed to be a branch of the Cruthin.
Dubhaltach MacFhirbhisigh Dubhaltach Mac Fhirbhisigh (), also known as Dubhaltach Óg mac Giolla Íosa Mór mac Dubhaltach Mór Mac Fhirbhisigh, Duald Mac Firbis, Dudly Ferbisie, and Dualdus Firbissius (fl. 1643 – January 1671) was an Irish scribe, translator, histori ...
stated of them: ''"To the Cruithne of Ireland belong the Dal Araidhe, the seven Laighsi of Leinster, the seven Soghain of Éire, and every Conaill of Eirinn."'' For much of its history it was at war with the
Airgíalla Airgíalla (Modern Irish: Oirialla, English: Oriel, Latin: ''Ergallia'') was a medieval Irish over-kingdom and the collective name for the confederation of tribes that formed it. The confederation consisted of nine minor kingdoms, all independe ...
and the
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 t ...
; sometimes even with its Ulaidh allies. The Conaille occupied the district of ''Magh Muirthemne'', also known as ''Machaire Conaill'', closely associated with two mythological heroes of the Ulaid,
Cú Chulainn Cú Chulainn ( ), called the Hound of Ulster ( Irish: ''Cú Uladh''), is a warrior hero and demigod in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology, as well as in Scottish and Manx folklore. He is believed to be an incarnation of the Irish god Lu ...
and
Conall Cernach Conall Cernach (modern spelling: Conall Cearnach) is a hero of the Ulaid in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. He had a crooked neck and is said to have always slept with the head of a Connachtman under his knee. His epithet is normally transla ...
, renowned defenders of the province of
Ulster Ulster (; ga, Ulaidh or ''Cúige Uladh'' ; sco, label=Ulster Scots dialects, Ulster Scots, Ulstèr or ''Ulster'') is one of the four traditional provinces of Ireland, Irish provinces. It is made up of nine Counties of Ireland, counties: si ...
. Unusually for a character from the
Ulster Cycle The Ulster Cycle ( ga, an Rúraíocht), formerly known as the Red Branch Cycle, is a body of medieval Irish heroic legends and sagas of the Ulaid. It is set far in the past, in what is now eastern Ulster and northern Leinster, particularly coun ...
, Conall appears to have been taken on in
medieval In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire a ...
Irish
genealogies Genealogy () is the study of families, family history, and the tracing of their lineages. Genealogists use oral interviews, historical records, genetic analysis, and other records to obtain information about a family and to demonstrate kinsh ...
by the Cruithne as an ancestor in the 7th century including by the kings of the Dál nAraidi and the
Uí Echach Cobo Iveagh ( ; ) is the name of several historical territorial divisions in what is now County Down, Northern Ireland. Originally it was a Gaelic Irish territory, ruled by the ''Uí Echach Cobo'' and part of the overkingdom of Ulaid. From the 12th ...
. By tradition the forest and lands of Conall Cernach ran from the area of
Newry Newry (; ) is a city in Northern Ireland, divided by the Clanrye river in counties Armagh and Down, from Belfast and from Dublin. It had a population of 26,967 in 2011. Newry was founded in 1144 alongside a Cistercian monastery, althoug ...
to the Boyne at ''Tuath Inbir'' and ''Tráig Indbir Colpa''. Though the Conaille Muitheimne never extended that far south in the 7th-century, as Ferrard was then occupied by the Árd Ciannachta, they represent pseudo-historical claims by the Cruithne through Conall Cernach. The first member of the dynasty to occur in the sources is Dícuill mac Ossénié who is registered as ''rex'' in ''Vita S. Romani''. He was of the generation before the king killed at the Battle of Imlech Pich in 688. In either 732 or 735, the
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 ...
suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of the Cenél nEógain led by Áed Allán in the
battle of Fochart A battle is an occurrence of combat in warfare between opposing military units of any number or size. A war usually consists of multiple battles. In general, a battle is a military engagement that is well defined in duration, area, and force ...
in Magh Muirthemne, which saw the king of Ulaid,
Áed Róin Áed Róin mac Bécce Bairrche (died 735) was the Dál Fiatach ruler of the over-kingdom of Ulaid in Ireland. He reigned from 708 to 735. He was the son of Bécc Bairrche mac Blathmaic, (died 718), a previous king of Ulaid who had abdicated in 707 ...
, decapitated. As a result, the Cenél nEógain brought Conaille Muirthemne under their suzerainty. The last recorded king of Conaille Muirthemhne died in 1081, yet in 1107 ''Fergus, son of the King of Conaille, was killed in battle by the Uí Breasil Macha"'', so it seems the kingdom still retained independence. However, the Airgíalla seem to have brought it under their control sometime after this, most probably c. 1130 by
Donnchad Ua Cerbaill Donnchad Ua Cerbaill or Donnchadh Ó Cearbhaill, king of Airgíalla, fl. –1168. Ua Cerbaill was a supporter of the Irish religious reform movement of the 12th century. He was a close associate of Saint Malachy, and with him founded Mellifont A ...
, king of Airgialla, and it was incorporated into his kingdom. He settled elements of the Uí Méith, an Airgialla tribe, on the Conaille of Cuailgne, on the south side of Carlingford Lough which gave their name to the district of
Omeath Omeath (; or ''Uí Meth'') is a village on the Cooley Peninsula in County Louth, Ireland, close to the border with Northern Ireland. It is roughly midway between Dublin and Belfast, very near the County Louth and County Armagh / County Down bor ...
. In 1153 when High King Domhnall Mac Lochlainn ''" ... plundered ... and burned Conaille."''
Eoin MacNeill Eoin MacNeill ( ga, Eoin Mac Néill; born John McNeill; 15 May 1867 – 15 October 1945) was an Irish scholar, Irish language enthusiast, Gaelic revivalist, nationalist and politician who served as Minister for Education from 1922 to 1925, Cea ...
held the Conaille Muirtheimne to be kin of Ulaid and
Érainn The Iverni (, ') were a people of early Ireland first mentioned in Ptolemy's 2nd century ''Geography'' as living in the extreme south-west of the island. He also locates a "city" called Ivernis (, ') in their territory, and observes that this se ...
, descending from Conall Anglonnach, a son of Dedu mac Sin (MacNeill, pp. 97–8). Their association with the Cruthin appears to be the end result of a series of later inventions. Possible surnames derived from this group include Connolly.


Geographical description of the kingdom

This description of Conaille Muirtheimne is taken from the article cited below: :''"Until it fell under the control of the O'Carrols in the twelfth century, what is now
County Louth County Louth ( ; ga, An Lú) is a coastal county in the Eastern and Midland Region of Ireland, within the province of Leinster. Louth is bordered by the counties of Meath to the south, Monaghan to the west, Armagh to the north and Down to the ...
was divided between three minor kingdoms. In the south lay that of Fir Arda Ciannacht (whence Ferrard); ... In the east and centre of the present county was the Airgiallan kingdom of Fir Roise, and in the north was that of the Conaille Muirtheimne ... The territory of Conaille Muirtheimne was associated with Mag Muirtheimne, 'the Plain of Muirtheimne' ...the core area of the kingdom appears to have been roughly equivalent to the barony of
Dundalk Dundalk ( ; ga, Dún Dealgan ), meaning "the fort of Dealgan", is the county town (the administrative centre) of County Louth, Ireland. The town is on the Castletown River, which flows into Dundalk Bay on the east coast of Ireland. It is hal ...
Upper plus the parish of Dromiskin. The regions to the south-west (
Louth Louth may refer to: Australia * Hundred of Louth, a cadastral unit in South Australia * Louth, New South Wales, a town * Louth Bay, a bay in South Australia **Louth Bay, South Australia, a town and locality Canada * Louth, Ontario Ireland * Co ...
) and north-east (Cuailgne), i.e., Cooley, were of uncertain or perhaps fluctuating status."''


Kings of Conaille Muirtheimne 688–1107

See # Uarcraide mac Dícuill mac Osseni, d. 688, ally of Congalach, king of Brega and Dub dá Inber, king of Ard Ciannachta, killed at the battle of Imlech Pich. # Amalgaid mac Cathasaig, d. 741, # Fagall (Fallach) Finn mac Oengusa, d. 743 # Foidmenn mac Fallaig/Fallomain, d. 752 # Uargal (Uargalach mac Uachtbrain mac Uarcraide), grandson of Uarcraide, d. 765 # Sluagadach mac Uargalaig, fourth son of Uargal, d. 789 # Fiachain, d. 792 # Spelan mac Sluagadaig, d. 824 # Mael Brigte mac Spelain, d. 869; he and his brother Canannán were taken captive by the vikings in 831; possibly he retired before 850. # Gairbith mac Mail Brigte, first son of Mael Brigte, d. 878, decapitated by Uí Echach # Ciblechan mac Mail Brigte, second son of Mael Brigte, d. 890 # Mael Morda mac Gairbitha, first son of Gairbith, d. 891, decapitated by Cellach mac Flannicáin # Conglach mac Gairbitha, fourth sonThe second and third sons of Gairbith, Mac Étig and Mael Mogna have been killed in 899 by the Uí Echach. of Gairbith, d. 913; in 912 he had killed the son Gairbith of Mael Morda but the next year he was killed by his brother Dommnall # Dommnall mac Gairbitha, fifth son of Gairbith, d. 914 # Mael Brigte mac Ciblechain, d. 914 in battle # Spelan mac Congalaig, probably son of Conglach mac Gairbitha, d. 923, killed by treachery and perhaps by his own people # Crongilla mac Cuilennain, d. 937, is the first son of the third son Cuilennain of Mael Brigte # Mac Etig mac Cuilennain, d. 951 is the third son of Cuilennain mac Mael Brigte # Cinaed mac Crongilla, d. 970, son of Crongilla mac Cuilennain # Congalach mac Meic Etig, d. 988, son of Mac Etig mac Cuilennain # Matudan mac Cinaeda, d. 996, son of Cinaed mac Crongilla # Gilla Crist ua Cuilennain, d. 999, probably son of Mac Etig mac Cuilennain # Muiredach, d. 1005, son of Congalach mac Meic Etig # In Gercce, d. 1005; either he is the son of Muiredach, or we have a single person Muiredach In Gercc mac Congalaig # Crinan mac Gormlada, d. 1012 # Cinaed mac In Geircce, d. 1029, son of (Muiredach) In Gercc mac Congalaig # Domnall mac Gilla Christ, d. 1052; he is not the grandson of Cuilennain but descends by the line of the last son, Mail Forthardaig, of Cuilennain mac Mael Brigte # Cinaed mac meic Odormaic, d. 1066 # Mac Ui Threodain, d. 1078 # Mac In Geircce, d. 1081, either a son of (Muiredach) In Gercc mac Congalaig or another descendant of Muiredach # Unnamed King of Conaille, alive 1107.


See also

* Irish kings * Irish royal families


Footnotes


References

* * *"Conaille-Muirthemhne" in ''Feilscribhin Eoin O'Neill'', Dublin, 1940. {{DEFAULTSORT:Conaille Muirtheimne Ulster Kingdoms of medieval Ireland Érainn