The Kings of Connacht were rulers of the ''cóiced'' (variously translated as portion, fifth, province) of Connacht, which lies west of the

River Shannon The River Shannon ( ga, Abhainn na Sionainne, ', '), at in length, is the longest river in the British Isles. It drains the Shannon River Basin, which has an area of , – approximately one fifth of the area of the island of Ireland. The Shan ...

, Ireland. However, the name only became applied to it in the early medieval era, being named after 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 ...

. The old name for the province was Cóiced Ol nEchmacht (the fifth of the Ol nEchmacht). Ptolemy's map of c. 150 AD does in fact list a people called the

Nagnatae The Nagnatae (Ναγνάται) or Magnatae (Μαγνάται) were a people of ancient Ireland, recorded in Ptolemy's 2nd century ''Geography'' as living in northern Connacht. O'Rahilly suggests a connection between the Nagnatae and the Fir Ó ...

as living in the west of Ireland. Some are of the opinion that Ptolemy's Map of Ireland may be based on cartography carried out as much as five hundred years before his time. The Connachta were a group of dynasties who claimed descent from the three eldest sons of

Eochaid Mugmedon Eochaid Mugmedón () was a semi-legendary Irish king. According to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, Eochaid was a High King of Ireland, best known as the father of Niall of the Nine Hostages and ancestor of the Uí Néill and Conna ...

: Brion, Ailill and Fiachrae. They took their collective name from their alleged descent from Conn Cétchathach. Their younger brother, Niall Noigiallach was ancestor to the Uí Néill. The following is a list of kings of Connacht from the fifth to fifteenth centuries.

Pre-historic Kings of Ol nEchmacht

Genann Genann Mac Dala (modern spelling: Geanann), son of Dela (Dela was a descendant of Starn, son of Nemed), of the Fir Bolg was a legendary joint High King of Ireland with his brother Gann, succeeding their brother Rudraige. His wife was Cnucha. Whe ...

* Conrac Cas *

Eochaid Feidlech Eochu or Eochaid Feidlech ("the enduring"), was a High King of Ireland, according to medieval Irish legends and historical traditions. He is best known as the father of the legendary queen Medb of Connacht. Family Eochu was son of Finn, son o ...

* Eochaidh Allat * Tinni mac Conri *

Medb Medb (), later spelled Meadhbh (), Méibh () and Méabh (), and often anglicised as Maeve ( ), is queen of Connacht in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. Her husband in the core stories of the cycle is Ailill mac Máta, although she had seve ...

, Queen of Connacht *

and Ailill mac Máta * Maine Aithreamhail mac Ailill Máta * Sanbh Sithcheann mac Ceat mac Magha * Cairbre mac Maine Aithreamhail * Eochaidh Fionn * Aodh mac Cu Odhar * Eochaidh mac Cairbre * Aonghus Fionn mac Domhnall * Cormac Ulfhada * Aonghus Feirt mac Aonghus Fionn * Connall Cruchain mac Aonghus Feirt * Fearadach mac Connal Cruchain * Forghus Fiansa * Forghus Fiansa and Art mac Conn * Ceidghin Cruchain mac Connall Cruchain * Aodh mac Eochaidh * Aodh Alainn mac Eochaidh Baicidh * Nia Mór mac Lughna * Lughaidh mac Lughna Fear Tri * Aodh Caomh mac Garadh Glundubh * Coinne mac Fear Tri * Muireadh Tireach mac Fiachra Sraibrintne *

* Niall Noigiallach/

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. ...

, died c. 450/455

List of historical kings

Uí Fiachrach, 406–482

Uí Briúin, 482–500

Uí Fiachrach, 500–549

Uí Briúin, 549–600

Uí Fiachrach Aidhne, 600–622

Uí Briúin, 622–649

Uí Fiachrach Aidhne, 649–663

Uí Briúin Seóla, 663–682

Uí Fiachrach Muaidhe, 682–683

Uí Fiachrach Aidhne, 683–696

Uí Briúin Síl Muiredaig, 696–702

Uí Briúin Síl Cellaig, 702–705

Uí Fiachrach Muaidhe, 705–707

Uí Briúin Síl Muiredaig, 707–723

Uí Briúin Síl Cellaig, 723–728

Uí Briúin Síl Cathail, 728–735

Uí Briúin Síl Muiredaig, 735–742

Uí Briúin Síl Cellaig, 742–756

Uí Fiachrach Muaidhe, 756–764

Uí Briúin Síl Cathail, 764–768

Uí Fiachrach Muaidhe, 768–773

Uí Briúin Síl Cellaig, 773–777

Uí Briúin Síl Cathail, 777–782

Uí Briúin Síl Muiredaig, 782–786

Uí Briúin Síl Cathail, 786–792

Uí Briúin Síl Cellaig, 792–796

Uí Briúin Síl Muiredaig, 796–839

Uí Briúin Síl Cathail, 839–843

Uí Briúin Síl Muiredaig, 843–848

Uí Briúin Síl Cathail, 848–872

Uí Briúin Síl Muiredaig, 872–956

Ó Ruairc, 956–967

Ó Conchobhair, 967–1030

Ó Ruairc, 1030–1046

Ó Conchobhair, 1046–1067

Ó Ruairc, 1067–1087

Ó Conchobhair, 1087–1092

Ó Flaithbheartaigh, 1092–1095

Ó Conchobhair, 1092–1097

Ó Ruairc, 1097–1102

Ó Conchobhair, 1102–1280

Muircheartaigh Uí Conchobhair, 1280–1293

Ó Conchobhair, 1293–1309

Muircheartaigh Uí Conchobhair, 1309–1310

Ó Conchubhair Ruadh, 1310–1317

Ó Conchobhair, 1316–1317

Ó Conchubhair Donn, 1317–1350

Ó Conchobhair Sligigh, 1318–1324

Muircheartaigh Uí Conchobhair, 1342–1350

Ó Conchubhair Donn, 1368–1474

Sources

*''Annals of the Four Masters'', 1990 edition. *''The Annals of Connacht'', A. Martin Freeman, 1944. *''Irish Kings and High Kings'', Francis John Byrne, 1973. *''Leabhar Mor Genealach'', Dubhaltach MacFhirbhisigh, ed. O'Muralie, 2004.

External links

Ó Conchobair and Burke
at The Irish Story * tp://ftp.ucc.ie/pub/celt/texts/T105013.txt A Poem on the Kings of Connacht {{DEFAULTSORT:Connacht, Kings Of Connachta Ui Fiachrach Lists of Irish monarchs O'Conor dynasty