Muirthemne
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Conaille Muirthemne was a Cruithin kingdom located in
County Louth County Louth ( ; ga, An Lú) is a coastal county in the Eastern and Midland Region of Ireland, within the province of Leinster. Louth is bordered by the counties of Meath to the south, Monaghan to the west, Armagh to the north and Down to the ...
,
Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...
, from before 688 to after 1107 approximately.


Overview

The
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 in ...
according to historian
Francis John Byrne Francis John Byrne (1934 – 30 December 2017) was an Irish historian. Born in Shanghai where his father, a Dundalk man, captained a ship on the Yellow River, Byrne was evacuated with his mother to Australia on the outbreak of World War II. Af ...
'possibly still ruled directly in Louth as far as the Boyne in the early seventh century' at a time when
Congal Cáech Congal Cáech (also Congal Cláen) was a king of the Cruthin of Dál nAraidi in the medieval Irish province of Ulaid, from around 626 to 637. He was king of Ulaid from 627–637 and, according to some sources, High King of Ireland. Origins Whil ...
of the Cruthin of
Dál nAraidi Dál nAraidi (; "Araide's part") or Dál Araide, sometimes Latinised as Dalaradia or Anglicised as Dalaray,Boyd, Hugh AlexanderIrish Dalriada ''The Glynns: Journal of The Glens of Antrim Historical Society''. Volume 76 (1978). was a Cruthin kin ...
made a bid for 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 a ...
. Conaille Muirtheimne once formed part of the over-kingdom of the Ulaid, and it remained an ally of it for the greater part of its history. In Lebor na gCeart (the Book of Rights) the Conaille are listed among ''"The Territories whose King paid Tribute to the Ulaidh."'' In return, the king of Ulaid owed to ''"The Heroic King of Muirthemhne – six round goblets full of ale, ten ships from the Hero of Elga, ten steeds and ten brights cloaks."'' They are believed to be a branch of the Cruthin. Dubhaltach MacFhirbhisigh stated of them: ''"To the Cruithne of Ireland belong the Dal Araidhe, the seven Laighsi of Leinster, the seven Soghain of Éire, and every Conaill of Eirinn."'' For much of its history it was at war with the
Airgíalla Airgíalla (Modern Irish: Oirialla, English: Oriel, Latin: ''Ergallia'') was a medieval Irish over-kingdom and the collective name for the confederation of tribes that formed it. The confederation consisted of nine minor kingdoms, all independe ...
and 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 the ...
; sometimes even with its Ulaidh allies. The Conaille occupied the district of ''Magh Muirthemne'', also known as ''Machaire Conaill'', closely associated with two mythological heroes of the Ulaid,
Cú Chulainn Cú Chulainn ( ), called the Hound of Ulster (Irish: ''Cú Uladh''), is a warrior hero and demigod in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology, as well as in Scottish and Manx folklore. He is believed to be an incarnation of the Irish god Lugh, ...
and Conall Cernach, renowned defenders of the province of
Ulster Ulster (; ga, Ulaidh or ''Cúige Uladh'' ; sco, label= Ulster Scots, Ulstèr or ''Ulster'') is one of the four traditional Irish provinces. It is made up of nine counties: six of these constitute Northern Ireland (a part of the United King ...
. Unusually for a character from the Ulster Cycle, Conall appears to have been taken on in
medieval In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the Post-classical, post-classical period of World history (field), global history. It began with t ...
Irish genealogies by the Cruithne as an ancestor in the 7th century including by the kings of the Dál nAraidi and the Uí Echach Cobo. By tradition the forest and lands of Conall Cernach ran from the area of Newry to the Boyne at ''Tuath Inbir'' and ''Tráig Indbir Colpa''. Though the Conaille Muitheimne never extended that far south in the 7th-century, as
Ferrard Ferrard () is a barony in County Louth, Republic of Ireland. Etymology Ferrard derives its name from ''Fera Arda Ciannachta'', "men of the high Ciannachta", referring to the uplands around Mount Oriel. Location Ferrard is found in south Co ...
was then occupied by the Árd Ciannachta, they represent pseudo-historical claims by the Cruithne through Conall Cernach. The first member of the dynasty to occur in the sources is Dícuill mac Ossénié who is registered as ''rex'' in ''Vita S. Romani''. He was of the generation before the king killed at the Battle of Imlech Pich in 688. In either 732 or 735, the
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 in ...
suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of the Cenél nEógain led by
Áed Allán Áed Allán (or Áed mac Fergaile) (died 743) was an 8th-century Irish king of Ailech and High King of Ireland. Áed Allán was the son of Fergal mac Máele Dúin and a member of the Cenél nEógain, a branch of the Northern Uí Néill. Ferga ...
in the battle of Fochart in Magh Muirthemne, which saw the king of Ulaid, Áed Róin, decapitated. As a result, the Cenél nEógain brought Conaille Muirthemne under their suzerainty. The last recorded king of Conaille Muirthemhne died in 1081, yet in 1107 ''Fergus, son of the King of Conaille, was killed in battle by the Uí Breasil Macha"'', so it seems the kingdom still retained independence. However, the Airgíalla seem to have brought it under their control sometime after this, most probably c. 1130 by Donnchad Ua Cerbaill, king of Airgialla, and it was incorporated into his kingdom. He settled elements of the Uí Méith, an Airgialla tribe, on the Conaille of Cuailgne, on the south side of Carlingford Lough which gave their name to the district of Omeath. In 1153 when High King Domhnall Mac Lochlainn ''" ... plundered ... and burned Conaille."'' Eoin MacNeill held the Conaille Muirtheimne to be kin of Ulaid and Érainn, descending from Conall Anglonnach, a son of
Dedu mac Sin Deda mac Sin (Deda, son of Sen) was a prehistoric king of the Érainn of Ireland, possibly of the 1st century BC. Variant forms or spellings include Ded, Dedu, Dedad, Degad, Dega, Dego, Deguth and Daig, with some of these occurring as genitives ...
(MacNeill, pp. 97–8). Their association with the Cruthin appears to be the end result of a series of later inventions. Possible surnames derived from this group include Connolly.


Geographical description of the kingdom

This description of Conaille Muirtheimne is taken from the article cited below: :''"Until it fell under the control of the O'Carrols in the twelfth century, what is now
County Louth County Louth ( ; ga, An Lú) is a coastal county in the Eastern and Midland Region of Ireland, within the province of Leinster. Louth is bordered by the counties of Meath to the south, Monaghan to the west, Armagh to the north and Down to the ...
was divided between three minor kingdoms. In the south lay that of Fir Arda Ciannacht (whence Ferrard); ... In the east and centre of the present county was the Airgiallan kingdom of Fir Roise, and in the north was that of the Conaille Muirtheimne ... The territory of Conaille Muirtheimne was associated with Mag Muirtheimne, 'the Plain of Muirtheimne' ...the core area of the kingdom appears to have been roughly equivalent to the barony of
Dundalk Dundalk ( ; ga, Dún Dealgan ), meaning "the fort of Dealgan", is the county town (the administrative centre) of County Louth, Ireland. The town is on the Castletown River, which flows into Dundalk Bay on the east coast of Ireland. It is h ...
Upper plus the parish of Dromiskin. The regions to the south-west (
Louth Louth may refer to: Australia *Hundred of Louth, a cadastral unit in South Australia * Louth, New South Wales, a town *Louth Bay, a bay in South Australia **Louth Bay, South Australia, a town and locality Canada * Louth, Ontario Ireland * County ...
) and north-east (Cuailgne), i.e.,
Cooley Cooley may refer to: *Cooley (surname), a surname (and a list of people with the surname) *Cooley Distillery, an Irish whiskey distillery *Cooley LLP, a Silicon Valley-based law firm *Cooley Peninsula, Ireland *Cooley High School, Detroit, Michigan, ...
, were of uncertain or perhaps fluctuating status."''


Kings of Conaille Muirtheimne 688–1107

See # Uarcraide mac Dícuill mac Osseni, d. 688, ally of Congalach, king of Brega and Dub dá Inber, king of Ard Ciannachta, killed at the battle of Imlech Pich. # Amalgaid mac Cathasaig, d. 741, # Fagall (Fallach) Finn mac Oengusa, d. 743 # Foidmenn mac Fallaig/Fallomain, d. 752 # Uargal (Uargalach mac Uachtbrain mac Uarcraide), grandson of Uarcraide, d. 765 # Sluagadach mac Uargalaig, fourth son of Uargal, d. 789 # Fiachain, d. 792 # Spelan mac Sluagadaig, d. 824 # Mael Brigte mac Spelain, d. 869; he and his brother Canannán were taken captive by the vikings in 831; possibly he retired before 850. # Gairbith mac Mail Brigte, first son of Mael Brigte, d. 878, decapitated by Uí Echach # Ciblechan mac Mail Brigte, second son of Mael Brigte, d. 890 # Mael Morda mac Gairbitha, first son of Gairbith, d. 891, decapitated by Cellach mac Flannicáin # Conglach mac Gairbitha, fourth sonThe second and third sons of Gairbith, Mac Étig and Mael Mogna have been killed in 899 by the Uí Echach. of Gairbith, d. 913; in 912 he had killed the son Gairbith of Mael Morda but the next year he was killed by his brother Dommnall # Dommnall mac Gairbitha, fifth son of Gairbith, d. 914 # Mael Brigte mac Ciblechain, d. 914 in battle # Spelan mac Congalaig, probably son of Conglach mac Gairbitha, d. 923, killed by treachery and perhaps by his own people # Crongilla mac Cuilennain, d. 937, is the first son of the third son Cuilennain of Mael Brigte # Mac Etig mac Cuilennain, d. 951 is the third son of Cuilennain mac Mael Brigte # Cinaed mac Crongilla, d. 970, son of Crongilla mac Cuilennain # Congalach mac Meic Etig, d. 988, son of Mac Etig mac Cuilennain # Matudan mac Cinaeda, d. 996, son of Cinaed mac Crongilla # Gilla Crist ua Cuilennain, d. 999, probably son of Mac Etig mac Cuilennain # Muiredach, d. 1005, son of Congalach mac Meic Etig # In Gercce, d. 1005; either he is the son of Muiredach, or we have a single person Muiredach In Gercc mac Congalaig # Crinan mac Gormlada, d. 1012 # Cinaed mac In Geircce, d. 1029, son of (Muiredach) In Gercc mac Congalaig # Domnall mac Gilla Christ, d. 1052; he is not the grandson of Cuilennain but descends by the line of the last son, Mail Forthardaig, of Cuilennain mac Mael Brigte # Cinaed mac meic Odormaic, d. 1066 # Mac Ui Threodain, d. 1078 # Mac In Geircce, d. 1081, either a son of (Muiredach) In Gercc mac Congalaig or another descendant of Muiredach # Unnamed King of Conaille, alive 1107.


See also

*
Irish kings This page serves as an index of lists of kings of the Gaelic kingdoms of Ireland of the Early Medieval period. *List of High Kings of Ireland *Kings of Ailech *Kings of Airgíalla *Kings of Brega *Kings of Breifne *Kings of Connacht *Kings of Dá ...
*
Irish royal families Irish royal families were the dynasties that once ruled large "overkingdoms" and smaller petty kingdoms on the island of Ireland. Members of some of these families still own land and live in the same broad locations. Locality Significant kingdoms ...


Footnotes


References

* * *"Conaille-Muirthemhne" in ''Feilscribhin Eoin O'Neill'', Dublin, 1940. {{DEFAULTSORT:Conaille Muirtheimne Ulster Kingdoms of medieval Ireland Érainn