The Kings of Connacht were rulers of the ''cóiced'' (variously translated as portion, fifth, province) 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 ...
, which lies west of the
River Shannon,
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 ...
. However, the name only became applied to it in the early medieval era, being named after the
Connachta.
The old name for the province was
Cóiced Ol nEchmacht (the fifth of the Ol nEchmacht).
Ptolemy
Claudius Ptolemy (; grc-gre, Πτολεμαῖος, ; la, Claudius Ptolemaeus; AD) was a mathematician, astronomer, astrologer, geographer, and music theorist, who wrote about a dozen scientific treatises, three of which were of importanc ...
'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:
Brion,
Ailill and
Fiachrae. They took their collective name from their alleged descent from
Conn Cétchathach. Their younger brother,
Niall Noigiallach
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. ...
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 ...
* Eochaidh Allat
* Tinni mac Conri
*
Medb, Queen of Connacht
*
Medb and
Ailill mac Máta
Ailill mac Máta is the king of the Connachta and the husband of queen MedbMatson, Gienna: ''Celtic Mythology A to Z'', page 2. Chelsea House, 2004. in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. He rules from Cruachan (Rathcroghan in County Roscomm ...
* 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
*
Eochaid Mugmedon
*
Niall Noigiallach
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. ...
/
Niall of the Nine Hostages, 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
See also
*
List of High Kings of Ireland
*
List of kings of Ulster
The King of Ulster (Old Irish: ''Rí Ulad'', Modern Irish: ''Rí Uladh'') also known as the King of Ulaid and King of the Ulaid, was any of the kings of the Irish provincial over-kingdom of Ulaid. The title rí in Chóicid, which means "king of ...
*
List of kings of Leinster
*
List of kings of Munster
*
List of kings of Mide
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 Burkeat 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