This article lists the rulers of Tyrconnell ( Irish: ''Tír Ċonaıll''), a medieval Irish kingdom which covered much of what is now County Donegal.

Oral history

It was founded in the fifth century by a son of

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. ...

, Conall Gulban, of whom the Cenél Conaill are descended. They ruled the kingdom until the Flight of the Earls in September 1607, which marked the end of the kingdom.

Early Chiefs of Cenél Conaill

* Conall Gulban mac Néill (died 464) *....... * Ninnid mac Dauach (flourished 544-563) * Ainmuire mac Sétnai (died 569) *

Báetán mac Ninneda Báetán mac Ninneda (died 586) was an Irish king of the Cenél Conaill, a sept of the northern Uí Néill. He was the son of Ninnid mac Duach (flourished 561–563) and great grandson of Conall Gulban (died 464). He was a member of the Cenél nDua ...

(died 586). *

Áed mac Ainmuirech Áed mac Ainmuirech (born c.530 - died 598) was high-king of the Northern Uí Néill. He belonged to the Cenél Conaill and was a distant cousin of Columba of Iona. He was the son of Ainmuire mac Sétnai (died 569), a previous possible high king. ...

(died 598) *

Conall Cú mac Áedo Conall Cú mac Áedo (died 604) was a chief of the Cenél Conaill branch of the Northern Ui Neill. He was the son of Áed mac Ainmuirech (died 598), high king of Ireland. Upon the death of his father in 598, rivalry broke out among the Ui Neill f ...

(died 604) *

Máel Coba mac Áedo Máel Coba (died 615) was a High King of Ireland. Máel Coba was the son of Áed mac Ainmuirech (died 598) and brother of Domnall mac Áedo (died 642), both also reckoned High Kings of Ireland. They belonged to the northern Cenél Conaill branch o ...

(died 615) *

Domnall mac Áedo Domnall mac Áedo (died 642), also known as Domnall II, Was an Irish king and son of Áed mac Ainmuirech and his consort Land, the daughter of Áed Guaire mac Amalgada of Airgíalla. Domnall was High King of Ireland from 628 until his death. He be ...

(died 642) *

Conall Cóel Conall mac Máele Coba, called Conall Cóel, (died 654) was an Irish king and is said to have been High King of Ireland. Biography Conall was the son of Máel Coba mac Áedo and belonged to the Cenél Conaill branch of the northern Uí Néill. Acc ...

mac Máele Coba (died 654) *

Cellach mac Máele Coba Cellach mac Máele Coba (died 658) was an Irish king and is said to have been High King of Ireland. Cellach was the son of Máel Coba mac Áedo (died 615) and belonged to the Cenél Conaill branch of the northern Uí Néill. According to the Iris ...

(died 658) * ...... * Loingsech mac Óengusso (died 703) * Congal Cennmagair mac Fergusa (died 710) * Flaithbertach mac Loingsig (died 765) * Áed Muinderg mac Flaithbertaig (died 747) * Loingsech mac Flaithbertaig (died 754) *

Murchad mac Flaithbertaig Murchad mac Flaithbertaig (died 767) was a chief of the Cenél Conaill of the northern Uí Néill in modern County Donegal. He was the son of the high king Flaithbertach mac Loingsig (died 765) who abdicated in 734 and retired to the monastery at ...

(died 767) *

Domnall mac Áeda Muindeirg Domnall mac Áeda Muindeirg (died 804) was a chief of the Cenél Conaill of the northern Uí Néill in modern County Donegal and sometimes styled "King of the North". He was the son of Áed Muinderg (died 747) and grandson of the high king Flaithbe ...

(died 804) * Máel Bresail mac Murchada (died 819) * Ruaidrí ua Canannáin (died 950)

Kings of Tyrconnell (''Rí Thír Chonaill'') from c. 1201 to 1608

* Eneas MacDaly (''Eigneachan mac Dalach''), 1201-1207 * Donall Mor MacEneas (''Domhnall Mór mac Eicnechain''), 1207-1241 *

Melaghlin O'Donnell Melaghlin O'Donnell (Irish: ''Maol Seachlainn Ó Domhnaill'') was king of Tyrconnell and a member of the O'Donnell dynasty. He was a son of Donall Mor O'Donnell (''Domhnall Mór Ó Domhnaill''), king of Tyrconnell (died 1241), a man who was marr ...

, 1241–1247 *

Goffraid O'Donnell Gofraid O'Donnell (Irish: ''Gofraidh Ó Domhnaill'') was a king of Tyrconnell and the first chieftain of mark in the O'Donnell dynasty. Early years O'Donnell was a son of Donal Mor O'Donnell (died 1241). Career O'Donnell rapidly came to power, ...

, 1247-1258 *

Donal Óg O'Donnell Donald is a masculine given name derived from the Gaelic name ''Dòmhnall''.. This comes from the Proto-Celtic *''Dumno-ualos'' ("world-ruler" or "world-wielder"). The final -''d'' in ''Donald'' is partly derived from a misinterpretation of the ...

, 1258-1281 * Turlough (Toirdhealbhach) O'Donnell (sone of a daughter of Angus Mor Macdonald, Lord of the Isles), 1290–91 * Turlogh O'Donnell (''Tairrdelbach an Fhiona Ó Domhnaill''), 1380-1422 * Niall Garve O'Donnell, 1422-1439 * Naughton O'Donnell (''Neachtan Ó Domhnaill''), 1439-1452 * Hugh Roe O'Donnell, 1461-1505 *

Hugh Duff O'Donnell Sir Hugh Dubh O'Donnell (Irish: ''Sir Aodh Dubh Ó Domhnaill'') was a leading figure in Gaelic Ireland during the Tudor era. He was part of the ruling O'Donnell dynasty of Tyrconnell. In Ulster Irish, Sir Hugh Dubh is pronounced as 'Sir Hugh Doo' ...

(''Aodh Dubh Ó Domhnaill''), 1505-1537 *

Manus O'Donnell Manus O'Donnell (Irish: ''Maghnas Ó Domhnaill'' or ''Manus Ó Domhnaill'', died 1564) was an Irish lord and son of Sir Hugh Dubh O'Donnell. He was an important member of the O'Donnell dynasty based in County Donegal in Ulster. Early life Hug ...

(d. 1564) * Calvagh O'Donnell (d. 1566) *

Sir Hugh O'Donnell Sir Hugh McManus O'Donnell (Irish: ''Sir Aodh mac Maghnusa Ó Domhnaill''; died c. 1600) was an Irish Gaelic lord. He was ''The O'Donnell'' of his clan, and king of Tyrconnell in medieval Ireland. Biography O'Donnell's second marriage was to I ...

(d. 1600) * Hugh Roe O'Donnell (d. 1602) * Rory O'Donnell, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell (d. 1608)

Oral history

Early Chiefs of Cenél Conaill

Kings of Tyrconnell (''Rí Thír Chonaill'') from c. 1201 to 1608

References

Further reading