Ailill Ollamh (or Oilill Olum) in Irish traditional history was the son of
and was a king of the southern half of
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 ...
, placed in the 3rd century by early modern
Irish genealogy
Irish genealogy is the study of individuals and families who originated on the island of Ireland.
Origins
Genealogy was cultivated since at least the start of the early Irish historic era. Upon inauguration, Bards and poets are believed to ha ...
.
Sadb ingen Chuinn
Sadb ingen Chuinn was a daughter of Conn of the Hundred Battles, a High King of Ireland. She married firstly Macnia mac Lugdach, prince of the Dáirine or Corcu Loígde, and was mother of Lugaid Mac Con, High King of Ireland. Upon the death of Ma ...
, daughter of
Conn of the Hundred Battles
Conn Cétchathach (), or Conn of the Hundred Battles, son of Fedlimid Rechtmar, was a legendary High King of Ireland who is claimed to be the ancestor of the Connachta, and through his descendant Niall Noígiallach, the Uí Néill dynasties, w ...
, in her second marriage, married Ailill. He divided the kingdom between his sons
Éogan Mór
In Irish traditional history Éogan (or Eoghan Mór—a name also used by his grandfather, Mug Nuadat), eldest son of Ailill Ollamh, was a 2nd or 3rd century AD king of Munster. He ruled for either fifteen or seventeen years, though fifteen i ...
,
Cormac Cas, and Cían. Éogan founded the dynasty of the
Eóganachta
The Eóganachta (Modern , ) were an Irish dynasty centred on Rock of Cashel, Cashel which dominated southern Ireland (namely the Kingdom of Munster) from the 6/7th to the 10th centuries, and following that, in a restricted form, the Kingdom of De ...
. Sadb's son
Lugaid Mac Con
Lugaid Mac Con, often known simply as Mac Con, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland. He belonged to the Corcu Loígde, and thus to the Dáirine. His father was Macnia mac Lugdach, and his mothe ...
, who was Ailill's foster-son, became
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 ...
.
The
Book of Leinster
The Book of Leinster ( , LL) is a medieval Irish manuscript compiled and now kept in Trinity College Dublin. It was formerly known as the ''Lebor na Nuachongbála'' ("Book of Nuachongbáil"), a monastic site known today as Oughaval.
In 2023 ...
contains poems ascribed to him.
Several Irish surnames claim descent from Ailill Ollamh, reflecting a common tradition in Irish genealogy where families trace their lineage back to notable figures in mythology and history.
An Leabhar Muimhneach
''An Leabhar Muimhneach'', also known as ''The Book of Munster'', is an Irish genealogical manuscript.
''An Leabhar Muimhneach'' is preserved in a number of 18th century manuscripts, the most complete being the work of the scribe Richard Tippe ...
(The Book of Munster) has an extensive genealogy of the Eóganacht septs.
Closer to history
In one of the oldest surviving tracts on the early history of the
Deirgtine
The Deirgtine (Deirgthine, Dergtine, Dergthine), Clanna Dergthened or "Descendants of Dego Dergthened" were the proto-historical ancestors of the historical Eóganachta dynasties of Munster. Their origins are unclear but they may have been of fair ...
, the Proto-Eóganachta, Ailill is himself called a
druid
A druid was a member of the high-ranking priestly class in ancient Celtic cultures. The druids were religious leaders as well as legal authorities, adjudicators, lorekeepers, medical professionals and political advisors. Druids left no wr ...
.
Scéla Mosaulum
' Furthermore, whether or not his father Mug Nuadat ever existed beyond some family association with the god
Nuada, Ailill is usually believed a relation or probable descendant of
Nia Segamain
Nia Segamain, son of Adamair, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland. He took power after killing his predecessor, Conall Collamrach. Geoffrey Keating says his mother was the presumed woodland god ...
.
See also
*
Gailenga
Gailenga was the name of two related peoples and kingdoms found in medieval Ireland in Brega and Connacht.
Origins
Along with the Luighne, Delbhna, Saitne and Ciannachta, the Gailenga claimed descent from Tadc mac Cein mac Ailill Aulom. Fr ...
*
Luighne Connacht
Luighne Connacht was a territory located in north-central Connacht, on the borders of what is now County Mayo and County Sligo, Ireland. The Tuatha of Luighne was co-extensive with the modern day boundary of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Achon ...
References
External links
Eoghanacht Genealogies
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ailill Aulom
Legendary Irish kings
Cycles of the Kings
Áine
Irish poets