The Meic Lochlann, also spelt as Mic Lochlainn, and Mac Lochlainn, were a leading branch 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) i ...

, who were in turn a segment of the

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 ...

. The Meic Lochlainn descended from Domnall Dabaill (died 915), son of

Áed Findliath Áed mac Néill (died 879), called Áed Findliath ("fair-grey Áed"; Modern Irish: ''Aodh Fionnadhliath'') to distinguish him from his paternal grandfather Áed Oirdnide, was king of Ailech and High King of Ireland. He was also called Áed Olac ...

. Another son of the latter was

Niall Glúndub Niall Glúndub mac Áeda (Modern Irish: ''Niall Glúndubh mac Aodha'', "Niall Black-Knee, son of Áed"; died 14 September 919) was a 10th-century Irish king of the Cenél nEógain and High King of Ireland. Many Irish kin groups were members of th ...

eponymous ancestor of the Ua Néill. McGettigan (2005). As a result of their descent from Domnall Dabaill, the Meic Lochlainn were known as Clann Domnaill or Clann Domhnaill. The eponym behind the surnames of the Meic Lochlainn—'' Mac Lochlainn'', '' Ua Lochlainn'', '' Ó Lochlainn''—is Lochlann mac Máelsechnaill, King of Inishowen (died 1023). The surnames themselves formed not as a result of Lochlann's prominence, but as a consequence of the remarkable success of his grandson,

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 ...

(died 1121). Byrne (2001) p. xxxv. Domnall ruled as High King of Ireland for twenty years. He was succeeded in the kingship of Tír nEógain by his son, Niall. Domnall's grandson, Muirchertach (died 1166), also ruled as High King of Ireland. Following the latter's death, the power of the Meic Lochlainn was lost. Following the English conquest of

Ulaid Ulaid (Old Irish, ) or Ulaidh ( Modern Irish, ) was a Gaelic over-kingdom in north-eastern Ireland during the Middle Ages made up of a confederation of dynastic groups. Alternative names include Ulidia, which is the Latin form of Ulaid, and i ...

John de Courcy {{Infobox noble , image = Sir John de Courcy (1150-1219).jpg , caption = , alt = , more = no , succession = , reign = , predecessor = , successor = , ...

(died c. 1219), Muirchertach's son,

Niall Niall is a male given name of Irish origin. The original meaning of the name is unknown, but popular modern sources have suggested that it means "champion" (derived from the Old Irish word ''niadh''),. According to John Ryan, Professor of Early an ...

(died 1176), assisted the Ulaid against the conquerors. In 1215, Áed Mac Lochlainn was slain battling the Uí Catháin, a rising kindred in what is today County Londonderry. In 1235, Domnall Mac Lochlainn wrenched the kingship of Tír nEógain from an Ua Néill incumbent he slew. Although Domnall had success against the English, he was later utterly defeated by Brian Ua Néill and Máelsechnaill Ua Domnaill, King of Tír Conaill. The virtual extirpation of the Meic Lochlainn leadership at this defeat meant that the family was finally eclipsed by the rival Ua Néill kindred. Although there are later recorded Meic Lochlainn chieftains, the diminished family lost the lordship of their

Inishowen 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 ...

homeland, which in turn came to be possessed by the Ua Dochartaigh kindred. In 1601, two members of the Meic Lochlann are noted in Inishowen: Hugh Carrogh, described as "chief of his sept", who held Carrickmaquigley Castle; and Brian Óg, who held Garnigall Castle.

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* * * * * * {{refend Gaels People from County Donegal Medieval Ireland