Events from the 8th century in

Ireland Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially Names of the Irish state, named Irelan ...

700s

;701 * Death of Niall mac Cernaig Sotal,''The Chronology of the Irish Annals'', Daniel P. McCarthy a king in southern

Brega Brega , also known as ''Mersa Brega'' or ''Marsa al-Brega'' ( , i.e. "Brega Seaport"), is a complex of several smaller towns, industry installations and education establishments situated in Libya on the Gulf of Sidra, the most southerly point of ...

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'', pp. 602–603 ;702 * Death of Írgalach mac Conaing, also called Írgalach ua Conaing, was a King of Brega from the Uí Chonaing sept of Cnogba (

Knowth Knowth (; ) is a prehistoric tomb overlooking the River Boyne in County Meath, Ireland. It comprises a large passage tomb surrounded by 17 smaller tombs, built during the Neolithic era around 3200 BC. It contains the largest assemblage of megali ...

) of the Síl nÁedo Sláine branch of the southern

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 was the son of

Conaing Cuirre __NOTOC__ Conaing mac Congaile (died 662), called Conaing Cuirre, was a King of Kings of Brega, 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. Th ...

mac Congaile (died 661) and brother of Congalach mac Conaing Cuirre (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, an Irish language male name meaning ''exile'' or ''sailor'', might refer to: * Labhraidh Loingseach, a legendary high king of Ireland and ancestor of the Laigin * Loingsech mac Colmáin (died 655), king of Leinster * Loingsech mac Flaithb ...

. He was an Irish king who 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 ...

. * Congal Cennmagair 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) is ...

branch of the

. ;704 *Death of

Adomnán Adomnán or Adamnán of Iona (; , ''Adomnanus''; 624 – 704), also known as Eunan ( ; from ), was an abbot of Iona Abbey ( 679–704), hagiographer, statesman, canon jurist, and Christian saint, saint. He was the author of the ''Life ...

, ninth abbot of

Iona Iona (; , sometimes simply ''Ì'') is an island in the Inner Hebrides, off the Ross of Mull on the western coast of Scotland. It is mainly known for Iona Abbey, though there are other buildings on the island. Iona Abbey was a centre of Gaeli ...

''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 ( ; or ) is one of the four provinces of Ireland, in the southeast of Ireland. The modern province comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Meath, Leinster and Osraige, which existed during Gaelic Ireland. Following the 12th-century ...

and obtained Cellach Cualann'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 died. He was a Dal nAraide 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-grandso ...

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) is ...

sept of the northern Uí Néill.

710s

;711 * Death of Seachnasach, the 17th king of the Uí Maine. ;714 * Fogartach mac Néill was deposed as king of Brega and exiled in

Britain Britain most often refers to: * Great Britain, a large island comprising the countries of England, Scotland and Wales * The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, a sovereign state in Europe comprising Great Britain and the north-eas ...

. ;715 * Death of Cellach Cualann mac Gerthidi, the last Uí Máil king of Leinster. Cellach's

byname An epithet (, ), also a byname, is a descriptive term (word or phrase) commonly accompanying or occurring in place of the name of a real or fictitious person, place, or thing. It is usually literally descriptive, as in Alfred the Great, Suleima ...

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 mac Cernaig, 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. His father Cernach Sotal had died during plague years in 664. ;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 7t ...

becomes

King of Munster The kings of Munster () ruled the Kingdom of Munster in Ireland from its establishment 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 earli ...

, 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 Fogartach mac Néill, 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 Síl nÁedo Sláine 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, was a King of Leinster from the Uí Dúnlainge branch of the Laigin. He was the son of Bran Mut mac Conaill (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 or Cathal Cerr or Cathal Corc, a king of Southern Brega at Lagore. 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 based in modern

County Westmeath County Westmeath (; or simply ) is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster and is part of the Eastern and Midland Region. It formed part of the historic Kingdom of ...

and western

County Meath County Meath ( ; or simply , ) is a Counties of Ireland, county in the Eastern and Midland Region of Republic of Ireland, Ireland, within the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster. It is bordered by County Dublin to the southeast, County ...

. The reigns of Domnall and his successor, Niall Frossach 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 Munster ( or ) is the largest of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the south west of the island. In early Ireland, the Kingdom of Munster was one of the kingdoms of Gaelic Ireland ruled by a "king of over-kings" (). Following the Nor ...

. ;734 *Abduction of Flaithbertach mac Loingsig.

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 a Dal nAraide 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 (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 or Connaught ( ; or ), is the smallest of the four provinces of Ireland, situated in the west of Ireland. Until the ninth century it consisted of several independent major Gaelic kingdoms (Uí Fiachrach, Uí Briúin, Uí Maine, C ...

. ;743 * Clann Cholmáin 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 west ...

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

Clonmacnoise Clonmacnoise or Clonmacnois (Irish language, Irish: ''Cluain Mhic Nóis'') is a ruined monastery in County Offaly in Republic of Ireland, Ireland on the River Shannon south of Athlone, founded in 544 by Saint Ciarán of Clonmacnoise, Ciarán, ...

, 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 becomes Abbot of Armagh ;769 * St. Maelruain’s Monastery founded in

Tallaght Tallaght ( ; , ) is a southwestern outer suburb of Dublin, Ireland. The central village area was the site of a monastic settlement from at least the 8th century, which became one of medieval Ireland's more important monastic centres. Up to th ...

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 ...

and the supposed High Kingship of Ireland when Niall Frossach 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

. 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) 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 Óenach Tailten. A legendary dindsenchas "lore of ...

, first in 774, when no explanation is given, and again in 777. The annals state that the Ciannachta, by which the Síl nÁedo Sláine, 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, the King of Knowth, which had begun earlier in 777 when Donnchad led an army from Leinster into Brega. ;778 * Donnchad Midi of Clann Cholmáin becomes King of Tara (but see also 770). * Death of Niall mac Conaill, King of South

* 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.

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 ea ...

, 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 Cú Dínaisc mac Conasaig (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 reform movement at

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

Viking Vikings were 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 settled throughout parts of Europe.Roesdahl, pp. 9� ...

raids on Ireland at

Rathlin Island Rathlin Island (, ; Local Irish dialect: ''Reachraidh'', ; Scots: ''Racherie'') is an island and civil parish off the coast of County Antrim (of which it is part) in Northern Ireland. It is Northern Ireland's northernmost point. As of the 2021 ...

, Inishmurray 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