Events from the 8th century in

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

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 of the Uí Chernaig sept of

Lagore Loch Gabhair (Lagore), meaning "Lake of the Goats", is an area in the barony of Ratoath, County Meath, Ireland. It is located between the villages of Ratoath and Dunshaughlin and is the namesake of the townlands of Lagore Big (Loch Gabhar Mór) an ...

of the

Síl nÁedo Sláine Síl nÁedo Sláine () are the descendants of Áed Sláine (Áed mac Diarmato), son of Diarmait mac Cerbaill. Part of the Southern Uí Néill—they were the kings of Brega—they claimed descent from Niall Noígiallach and his son Cona ...

. 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 ...

(died 665).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 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 ...

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

branch of the southern

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 ...

. He was the son of

Conaing Cuirre __NOTOC__ Conaing mac Congaile (died 662), called Conaing Cuirre, was a King of Brega from the Síl nÁedo Sláine branch of the southern Ui Neill. He was the son of Congal mac Áedo Sláine (died 634), a previous king of Brega. The territory of ...

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 Congalach mac Conaing Cuirre (died 696) was a King of Brega from the Uí Chonaing sept of the Síl nÁedo Sláine branch of the southern Uí Néill. He was the son of Conaing Cuirre mac Congaile (died 662), a previous king of Brega. The territory ...

(died 696), 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 Loingsech mac Óengusso (died 703) was an Irish king who was High King of Ireland. Loingsech was a member of the northern Cenél Conaill branch of the Uí Néill. Although his father Óengus (died 650) had not been High King, his grandfather Do ...

. He was an Irish king who was High King of Ireland. *

Congal Cennmagair Congal Cennmagair (died 710) was High King of Ireland. He belonged to the northern Cenél Conaill branch of the Uí Néill. His father, Fergus Fanát, was not a high king, although his grandfather, Domnall mac Áedo (died 642), was counted as a ...

becomes High King of Ireland. He belonged to the northern

Cenél Conaill Cenél is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Cenél Conaill, the name of the "kindred" or descendants of Conall Gulban, son of Niall Noígiallach defined by oral and recorded history * Cenél nEógain (in English, Cenel Eogan) i ...

branch of the

. ;704 *Death of Adomnán, ninth abbot of Iona''The Oxford Illustrated History of Ireland''. Foster, RF. Oxford University Press, Oxford. 1989 (b. c 627). ;707 * The Uí Néill High King of Ireland Congal Cennmagair campaigned in

Leinster Leinster ( ; ga, Laighin or ) is one of the provinces of Ireland, situated in the southeast and east of Ireland. The province comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Meath, Leinster and Osraige. Following the 12th-century Norman invasion of ...

and obtained

Cellach Cualann Cellach Cualann mac Gerthidi (died 715) was the last Uí Máil king of Leinster. Cellach's byname is derived from the land of ''Cualu'' which lay around Glendalough. The name Uí Máil may mean "grandsons of the princes". This, along with their ...

'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 Lethlobar mac Echach (died 709) was a Dál nAraide king of the Cruthin in Ulaid, an over-kingdom in Ireland. He was the son of Eochaid Iarlaithe mac Lurgain (died 666), a previous king. He belonged to the main ruling dynasty of the Dál nAraide ...

died. He was a

Dal nAraide In Indian cuisine, ''dal'' (also spelled ''daal'' or ''dhal''; pronunciation: , Hindi: दाल, Urdu: ) are dried, split pulses (e.g., lentils, peas, and beans) that do not require soaking before cooking. India is the largest producer of ...

king of the Cruithne in Ulaid (Ulster). ;709 or 710 *

Fergal mac Máele Dúin Fergal mac Máele Dúin (died 11 December 722) was High King of Ireland. Fergal belonged to the Cenél nEógain sept of the northern Uí Néill. He was the son of Máel Dúin mac Máele Fithrich (died 681), a King of Ailech, and great grandson o ...

in 709, or 710 according to some sources, becomes High King of Ireland. Fergal belonged to the

Cenél nEógain Cenél is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Cenél Conaill, the name of the "kindred" or descendants of Conall Gulban, son of Niall Noígiallach defined by oral and recorded history * Cenél nEógain (in English, Cenel Eogan) i ...

sept of the northern Uí Néill.

710s

;711 * Death of

Seachnasach Seachnasach (died 711) was the 17th king of the Uí Maine. Seachnasach's genealogy lists him as ten generations removed from Máine Mór, the founder of Uí Maine: ''"Sechnasaigh, mic Congail, mic Eogain, mic Comain, mic Brenaind Daill, mic C ...

, the 17th king of the Uí Maine. ;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 B ...

was deposed as king of Brega and exiled in

Britain Britain most often refers to: * The United Kingdom, a sovereign state in Europe comprising the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland and many smaller islands * Great Britain, the largest island in the United King ...

. ;715 * Death of

mac Gerthidi, the last

Uí Máil Uí Máil were an Irish dynasty of Leinster. They were descended from Maine Mál, the brother of the legendary high king Cathair Mór. The Uí Máil were a dominant dynasty in Leinster competing for the kingship in the 7th century before being even ...

king of Leinster The kings of Leinster ( ga, Rí Laighín), ruled from the establishment of Leinster during the Irish Iron Age, until the 17th century Early Modern Ireland. According to Gaelic traditional history, laid out in works such as the ''Book of Invasion ...

. Cellach's

byname An epithet (, ), also byname, is a descriptive term (word or phrase) known for accompanying or occurring in place of a name and having entered common usage. It has various shades of meaning when applied to seemingly real or fictitious people, di ...

is derived from the land of ''Cualu'' which lay around

Glendalough Glendalough (; ) is a glacial valley in County Wicklow, Ireland, renowned for an Early Medieval monastic settlement founded in the 6th century by St Kevin. From 1825 to 1957, the head of the Glendalough Valley was the site of a galena lead min ...

. ;718 * Death of

Conall Grant Conall Grant mac Cernaig (died 718) was 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 (died 665). His father Cernach Sotal had died during plague yea ...

mac Cernaig, a King of Brega of the Uí Chernaig sept of

of the

. He was the grandson of the high king Diarmait mac Áedo Sláine. His father Cernach Sotal had died during plague years in

664 __NOTOC__ Year 664 ( DCLXIV) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. The denomination 664 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era be ...

. ;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 Cathal mac Finguine (died 742) was an Irish King of Munster or Cashel, and effectively High King of Ireland as well. He belonged to the Eóganacht Glendamnach sept of the dominant Eóganachta kin-group whose members dominated Munster from the ...

becomes

King of Munster The kings of Munster ( ga, Rí Mumhan), ruled from the establishment of Munster during the Irish Iron Age, until the High Middle Ages. According to Gaelic traditional history, laid out in works such as the '' Book of Invasions'', the earliest ...

, reigning until his death in 742.''The Concise History of Ireland.'' Duffy, S. Gill & Macmillan, Dublin. 2005 ;722 * 11 December: death of

, a High King of Ireland. Fergal belonged to the

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

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 The kings of Leinster ( ga, Rí Laighín), ruled from the establishment of Leinster during the Irish Iron Age, until the 17th century Early Modern Ireland. According to Gaelic traditional history, laid out in works such as the ''Book of Invasion ...

from the

Uí Dúnlainge The Uí Dúnlainge, from the Old Irish "grandsons (or descendants) of Dúnlaing", were an Irish dynasty of Leinster kings who traced their descent from Dúnlaing mac Énda Niada. He was said to be a cousin of Énnae Cennsalach, eponymous ances ...

branch of the Laigin. He was the son of

Bran Mut mac Conaill Bran Mut mac Conaill (died 693) was a king of Leinster from the Uí Dúnlainge branch of the Laigin. He was the grandson of Fáelán mac Colmáin (died 666), a previous king. He ruled from 680 to 693. According to the saga '' Bóroma'' ("The ...

(died 693), 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

. He belonged to the Uí Chernaig sept of the Síl nÁedo Sláine branch of the southern

. 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, called ''Donnchad Midi'', High King of Ireland. His father, Domnall Midi, had been the first Uí Néill High King from the south-central

Clann Cholmáin Clann Cholmáin is the dynasty descended from Colmán Már mac Diarmato, son of Diarmait mac Cerbaill. Part of the Southern Uí Néill — they were the kings of Mide (Meath) — they traced their descent to Niall Noígiallach and his ...

based in modern County Westmeath and western

County Meath County Meath (; gle, Contae na Mí or simply ) is a county in the Eastern and Midland Region of Ireland, within the province of Leinster. It is bordered by Dublin to the southeast, Louth to the northeast, Kildare to the south, Offaly to the ...

. The reigns of Domnall and his successor,

Niall Frossach Niall Frossach (or Niall mac Fergaile) (718–778) was an 8th-century Irish king of Ailech, sometimes considered to have been High King of Ireland. Brother of high king Áed Allán (died 743), Niall was the son of high king Fergal mac Máele Dú ...

of the

, had been relatively peaceful, but Donnchad's rule saw a return to a more expansionist policy directed against

, traditional target of the Uí Néill, and also, for the first time, the great southern kingdom of Munster. ;734 *Abduction of

Flaithbertach mac Loingsig Flaithbertach mac Loingsig (died 765) was a High King of Ireland. He was a member of the Cenél Conaill, a branch of the northern Uí Néill. He was the son of Loingsech mac Óengusso (died 703), a previous high king. He ruled from 728 to 734. H ...

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 Indrechtach mac Lethlobair (died 741) was a Dal nAraide king of the Cruithne in Ulaid (Ulster). He was the son of Lethlobar mac Echach (died 709), a previous king. He belonged to the main ruling dynasty of the Dal nAraide known as the Uí Chóel ...

king of the Cruithne in Ulaid (Ulster). ;742 *Death of Conaing mac Amalgado, 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

, King of Munster, who had reigned since 721. *Death of Áed Balb mac Indrechtaig, King 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 Del ...

. ;743 *

takes the Overkingship of Uí Néill. ;748 * Dúngal mac Amalgado 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, (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 weste ...

was killed leading the forces of the monastery of Durrow in battle against those of

Clonmacnoise Clonmacnoise ( Irish: ''Cluain Mhic Nóis'') is a ruined monastery situated in County Offaly in Ireland on the River Shannon south of Athlone, founded in 544 by Saint Ciarán, a young man from Rathcroghan, County Roscommon. Until the 9th cen ...

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

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770s

;770 *Donnchad Midi, King of Mide, succeeded to 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 ...

and the supposed High Kingship of Ireland when

abdicated. *Ciarán the Pious of Bealach-duin, who founded Castlekeeran monastery died. ;771 * Niall mac Conaill, 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 Munster. 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 of

Tailtiu Tailtiu or Tailltiu (; modern spelling: Tailte) (also known as Talti) is the name of a presumed goddess from Irish mythology. The goddess's name is linked to Teltown (< OI ''Óenach Tailten'') in Co. Meath, site of the

< ...

, first in 774, when no explanation is given, and again in 777. The annals state that the Ciannachta, by which the

, 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 Congalach mac Conaing (died 778) 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 mac Amalgado (died 742), a previous king. He is listed as t ...

, the King of Knowth, which had begun earlier in 777 when Donnchad led an army from Leinster into Brega. ;778 * Donnchad Midi of

becomes King of Tara (but see also 770). * Death of Niall mac Conaill, King of South Brega * Death of Mac Flaithniadh, Abbot of Clonfert. ;779 * Donnchad Midi campaigned against the northern Uí Néill and received the submission of the "king of the North", Domnall, son of

Áed Muinderg Áed mac Flaithbertaig (died 747), called Áed Muinderg, was a chief of the Cenél Conaill of the northern Uí Néill in Ireland. He was the son of the high king Flaithbertach mac Loingsig (died 765). His byname Muinderg means "red-necked". His f ...

780s

;782 * Death of Mugrón mac Flainn, 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 Abbot of Armagh, 777 - 782. ;792 * Death of Mael Ruain, leader of the

Culdee The Culdees ( ga, Céilí Dé, "Spouses of God") were members of ascetic Christian monastic and eremitical communities of Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England in the Middle Ages. Appearing first in Ireland and subsequently in Scotland, attac ...

reform movement at

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. ;793 * Artri mac Cathail ordained King of Munster ;795 *First

Viking Vikings ; non, víkingr is the modern name given to seafaring people originally from Scandinavia (present-day Denmark, Norway and Sweden), who from the late 8th to the late 11th centuries raided, pirated, traded and se ...

raids on Ireland at Iona, Rathlin Island,

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 Killala ...

and Inishbofin. *Viking raid on Lambay Island ;797 *Death of Donnchad Midi, King of Mide. *Death of Muireadhach mac Olcobhar, Abbot of Clonfert. ;799 *Death of Domnall mac Donnchado, King of Mide since 797.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:8th Century In Ireland