Domhnall ua Néill (old spelling: ''Domnall ua Néill''; anglicised as Donal O'Neill) (died 980) was
High King of Ireland
High King of Ireland ( ) was a royal title in Gaelic Ireland held by those who had, or who are claimed to have had, lordship over all of Ireland. The title was held by historical kings and was later sometimes assigned anachronously or to leg ...
from 956 to 980.
Domnall was the son of
Muirchertach mac Néill, and grandson of
Niall Glúndub, a member of 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) is ...
northern
Uí Néill
The Uí Néill (; meaning "descendants of Niall") are Irish dynasties that claim descent from Niall Noígíallach (Niall of the Nine Hostages), a historical King of Tara who is believed to have died around c. 405. They are generally divided ...
. He became co-
King of Ailech
The Kings of Ailech were the over-kings of the Medieval Ireland, medieval Irish Provinces of Ireland, province of Ailech in north-western Ireland. It encompassed the territories of the Cenél nEógain and Cenél Conaill. After the battle of Cl ...
with his brother Flaithbertach ua Néill on the death of his father in 943. He became High King of Ireland on the death of his maternal cousin
Congalach Cnogba of the southern Uí Néill sept of the
Síl nÁedo Sláine.
Domnall is considered to have been an effective ruler who introduced military reforms later credited to
Brian Boru
Brian Boru (; modern ; 23 April 1014) was the High King of Ireland from 1002 to 1014. He ended the domination of the High King of Ireland, High Kingship of Ireland by the Uí Néill, and is likely responsible for ending Vikings, Viking invasio ...
. Much of his reign was spent in war against his sister Dúnflaith's husband
Amlaíb Cuarán, the
King of Dublin. In 980 he abdicated and entered the monastery
Armagh
Armagh ( ; , , " Macha's height") is a city and the county town of County Armagh, in Northern Ireland, as well as a civil parish. It is the ecclesiastical capital of Ireland – the seat of the Archbishops of Armagh, the Primates of All ...
where he died shortly afterwards.
Domnall was called "High King of Ireland" () in his obituary, and was the last of his family to hold the title. He was succeeded by
Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill of
Clann Cholmáin.
Domnall's children included Muiredach, whose son Lochlann may have been the ancestor of
Domnall Ua Lochlainn
Domhnall Ua Lochlainn (old spelling: Domnall Ua Lochlainn) (1048 – 10 February 1121), also known as Domhnall Mac Lochlainn (old spelling: Domnall Mac Lochlainn), was king of the Cenél Eogain, over-king of Ailech, and alleged High King o ...
, and Muirchertach, ancestor of the
O'Neills of
Tír Eógain. His grandson
Flaithbertach Ua Néill was King of Ailech and the leading figure among the Uí Néill, certainly from the death of Máel Sechnaill in 1022, if not earlier.
References
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10th-century births
10th-century deaths
980 deaths
10th-century kings of Ailech
O'Neill dynasty
10th-century High Kings of Ireland
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