The Cenél Conaill, or "kindred of Conall", are a branch of the

Northern Uí Néill The Northern Uí Néill is any of several dynasties in north-western medieval Ireland that claimed descent from a common ancestor, Niall of the Nine Hostages. Other dynasties in central and eastern Ireland who also claimed descent from Niall we ...

, who claim descent from

Conall Gulban Conall Gulban (died c. 464) was an Irish king and eponymous ancestor of the '' Cenél Conaill'', who founded the kingdom of ''Tír Chonaill'' in the 5th century, comprising much of what is now County Donegal in Ulster. He was the son of Niall N ...

, 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 centurie ...

, and allegedly the first Irish nobleman to convert to Christianity. Their kingdom was known as

Tír Conaill Tyrconnell (), also spelled Tirconnell, was a kingdom of Gaelic Ireland, associated geographically with present-day County Donegal, which has sometimes been called ''County Tyrconnell''. At times it also included parts of County Fermanagh, Cou ...

, with their powerbase at Mag Ithe in the Finn valley, however they gradually expanded to cover what is now counties

Donegal Donegal may refer to: County Donegal, Ireland * County Donegal, a county in the Republic of Ireland, part of the province of Ulster * Donegal (town), a town in County Donegal in Ulster, Ireland * Donegal Bay, an inlet in the northwest of Ireland b ...

and

Fermanagh Historically, Fermanagh ( ga, Fir Manach), as opposed to the modern County Fermanagh, was a kingdom of Gaelic Ireland, associated geographically with present-day County Fermanagh. ''Fir Manach'' originally referred to a distinct kin group of a ...

. The Cenél Conaill clashed regularly with their kin the Cenél nEogain, eventually capturing the latters original power-base of Ailech in the

Inishowen peninsula Inishowen () is a peninsula in the north of County Donegal in Ireland. Inishowen is the largest peninsula on the island of Ireland. The Inishowen peninsula includes Ireland's most northerly point, Malin Head. The Grianan of Aileach, a ringfort ...

—in modern-day

County Donegal County Donegal ( ; ga, Contae Dhún na nGall) is a county of Ireland in the province of Ulster and in the Northern and Western Region. It is named after the town of Donegal in the south of the county. It has also been known as County Tyrcon ...

—by the 12th century. Below is a list of their principle clans and septs.

Cenél Luighdech (also Sil Lugdach)

The ''Cenél Luighdech'' (more commonly known as ''Sil Lugdach'') descend from Lugaid mac Sétnai, the great-grandson of Conall Gulban. Their tribal territory extended from ''Dobhar'' (Gweedore) to the river ''Suilidhe (''Swilly) in County Donegal. The O'Donnells and O'Dohertys who descend from this branch, were the two principal and most powerful septs of the Cenél Conaill. The most famous descendant of the Cenél Conaill is

Saint Columba Columba or Colmcille; gd, Calum Cille; gv, Colum Keeilley; non, Kolban or at least partly reinterpreted as (7 December 521 – 9 June 597 AD) was an Irish abbot and missionary evangelist credited with spreading Christianity in what is tod ...

, who founded the monastery at

Derry Derry, officially Londonderry (), is the second-largest city in Northern Ireland and the fifth-largest city on the island of Ireland. The name ''Derry'' is an anglicisation of the Old Irish name (modern Irish: ) meaning 'oak grove'. The ...

, and is claimed as being the grandson of Conall Gulban.

Clann Chindfaoladh

The ''Clann Chindfaoladh'' are a branch of the ''Cenél Luighdech'' and take their name from Cindfhealadh, the great-grandfather of Baighill, the eponym of this clans leading sept, the Ó Baoighill's (O'Boyle). The Ó Baoighill were chieftains of Tír Ainmireach and Tír Boghaine in southern Donegal, with territory originally extending from Donegal town to near Kilmacreannan along the west coast. The barony of Boylagh is alleged to take its name from the O'Boyles. By the 13th century, the O'Donnells would see the O'Boyle territory divided in two; Tír Ainmireach in the south and the Three Tuatha in the north.

Clann Dálaigh

The ''Clann Dálaigh'' (also ''Síl Dálaigh''), or Clan Daly, is another name for the Ó Domhnaill sept of the Cenél Luighdech. This clan takes its name from Dálach, the father of Éicnechán, a chieftain of the Cenél Luighdech.

Cenél Aedha

The ''Cenél Aedha'', or "kindred of Hugh", are descended from Aedha mac Ainmirech, great-great grandson of Conall Gulban. His father, Ainmirech mac Sétnai is brother of Lugaid mac Sétnai, founder of the Cenél Luighdech. The Cenél Aedha are said to have given their name to the barony of

Tirhugh Tirhugh (; ) is a barony in County Donegal, Republic of Ireland. Baronies were mainly cadastral rather than administrative units. They acquired modest local taxation and spending functions in the 19th century before being superseded by the Loc ...

(Tír Aedha) in County Donegal.

Cenél mBógaine

The ''Cenél mBógaine'', or "kindred of Binny", descend from Énna Bóguine, son of Conall Gulban. The territory of the Cenél mBógaine is stated as Tír Boghaine, which O'Donovan equates to being the barony of Banagh, and part of the barony of Boylagh in County Donegal. The Laud 610 Genealogies, compiled c.1000 AD, give seven sons for Énna Bóguine- ''Secht maic Bógaine .i. Áedh Cesdubh, Feidilmid, Brandubh Caech Cluassach, Anmere, Crimthan Lethan, Fergus, Eichín & Melge''. However O'Clery's Book of Genealogies give a different listing- ''Ui. mic Enda bogaine mic Conaill gulban .i. Melge, Lugaid,Criomhthann, Anguine, Niall, Cathair. Mac don Chathair sin Caelmhaine diaruo mac an Conall errderc''. The O Clery Book of Genealogies, Seamus Pender (ed.), in Analecta Hibernica, No. 18, 1951 pp. 1-198 Saint Crona (Croine Bheag) is descended from the Cenél mBógaine, being 5th in lineal descent from Énna Bóguine.

Cenél Duach

The ''Cenél Duach'', or "kindred of Duach", are named after Tigernach Duí (Duach), son of Conall Gulban. Tigernach's son Nainnid is mentioned as being at the battle of Móin Daire Lothair (modern-day

Moneymore Moneymore () is a village and townland in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It had a population of 1,897 in the 2011 Census. It is situated within Mid-Ulster District. It is an example of a plantation village in Mid-Ulster built by the ...

County Londonderry County Londonderry ( Ulster-Scots: ''Coontie Lunnonderrie''), also known as County Derry ( ga, Contae Dhoire), is one of the six counties of Northern Ireland, one of the thirty two counties of Ireland and one of the nine counties of Ulster. ...

) where the Northern Uí Néill defeated the

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 sai ...

. Baedan, grandson of Tigernach through Nainnid would rule as

king 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 ...

for one year in AD 568.

Cenél Eanna/Enda

The ''Cenél Eanna/Enda'', or "kindred of Enda", descend from Eanna, the sixth son of Conall Gulban. They are listed as kings of Magh Ith, Tír Eanna, and Fanad in present-day County Donegal, a territory around the southern tip of Inishowen.

Ó Breasláin

The ''Ó Breasláin'' of Fánad (Fanat) descend from the Cenél Enda branch of the Cenél Conaill via descent from Fergus Fanad.

Cenél Luighdech (also Sil Lugdach)

Clann Chindfaoladh

Clann Dálaigh

Cenél Aedha

Cenél mBógaine

Cenél Duach

Cenél Eanna/Enda

Ó Breasláin

Linked Septs

See also

Bibliography

References