Dál nAraidi (; "Araide's part") or Dál Araide, sometimes latinised as Dalaradia or

anglicised Anglicisation or anglicization is a form of cultural assimilation whereby something non-English becomes assimilated into or influenced by the culture of England. It can be sociocultural, in which a non-English place adopts the English language ...

as Dalaray,Boyd, Hugh Alexander
Irish Dalriada
''The Glynns: Journal of The Glens of Antrim Historical Society''. Volume 76 (1978). was a

Cruthin The Cruthin (; or ; ) were a people of early medieval Ireland. Their heartland was in Ulster and included parts of the present-day counties of Antrim, Down and Londonderry. They are also said to have lived in parts of Leinster and Connacht ...

kingdom, or possibly a confederation of Cruthin tribes, in north-eastern

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 ...

during the

Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and ...

. It was part of the over-kingdom of

Ulaid (Old Irish, ) or (Irish language, Modern Irish, ) was a Gaelic Ireland, Gaelic Provinces of Ireland, over-kingdom in north-eastern Ireland during the Middle Ages made up of a confederation of dynastic groups. Alternative names include , which ...

, and its kings often contended with the

Dál Fiatach Dál Fiatach was a Gaelic Ireland, Gaelic dynastic-grouping and the name of their territory in the north-east of Ireland, which lasted throughout the Middle Ages until their demise in the 13th century at the hands of Normans in Ireland, Normans ...

for the over-kingship of the province. At its greatest extent, the borders of Dál nAraidi roughly matched those of

County Antrim County Antrim (named after the town of Antrim, County Antrim, Antrim, ) is one of the six counties of Northern Ireland, located within the historic Provinces of Ireland, province of Ulster. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the c ...

, and they seemed to occupy the same area as the earlier Robogdii of

Ptolemy Claudius Ptolemy (; , ; ; – 160s/170s AD) was a Greco-Roman mathematician, astronomer, astrologer, geographer, and music theorist who wrote about a dozen scientific treatises, three of which were important to later Byzantine science, Byzant ...

's ''

Geography Geography (from Ancient Greek ; combining 'Earth' and 'write', literally 'Earth writing') is the study of the lands, features, inhabitants, and phenomena of Earth. Geography is an all-encompassing discipline that seeks an understanding o ...

'', a region shared with

Dál Riata Dál Riata or Dál Riada (also Dalriada) () was a Gaels, Gaelic Monarchy, kingdom that encompassed the Inner Hebrides, western seaboard of Scotland and north-eastern Ireland, on each side of the North Channel (Great Britain and Ireland), North ...

. Their capital was Ráth Mór outside Antrim, and their

eponym An eponym is a noun after which or for which someone or something is, or is believed to be, named. Adjectives derived from the word ''eponym'' include ''eponymous'' and ''eponymic''. Eponyms are commonly used for time periods, places, innovati ...

ous ancestor is claimed as being Fiachu Araide.

Territory

The mythological Dál nAraidi was centered on the northern shores of

Lough Neagh Lough Neagh ( ; ) is a freshwater lake in Northern Ireland and is the largest lake on the island of Ireland and in the British Isles. It has a surface area of and is about long and wide. According to Northern Ireland Water, it supplies 4 ...

in southern

. Dál nAraidi was one of the more prominent sub-kingdoms of

, with its kings contending with the

for the over-kingship of the province for some centuries. To the north of Dál nAraidi in County Antrim lay the Dál Riata, the boundary between which was marked out by the River Bush to Dál Riata's west, and the southern boundary running from Ravel Water to just north of Glynn on the east Antrim coast.

Branches

In Tuaiscirt

In the mid-7th century the Dál nAraidi of Magh Line, ruled by the Uí Chóelbad dynasty, conquered Eilne (alias Mag Eilne) to their north-west and a branch of their dynasty seems to have settled there. This branch of the Uí Chóelbad descended from Fiachra Cáech (d. 608), brother of Fiachnae Lurgan, king of Dál nAraidi and over-king of Ulaid. Dungal Eilni, great-grandson of Fiachra Cáech and king of Dál nAraidi, was possibly the first of this branch to be based in Eilne, however in 681 was killed at Dún Ceithern (modern-day Giant's Sconce in the parish of Dunboe, west of the

River Bann The River Bann (from , meaning "the goddess"; Ulster Scots dialects, Ulster-Scots: ''Bann Wattèr'') is the longest rivers, river in Northern Ireland, its length, Upper and Lower Bann combined, being 129 km (80 mi). The total length ...

). This branch of the Magh Line Dál nAraidi eventually became known as the Dál nAraidi in Tuaiscirt (Dál nAraidi of the North) and . The first reference to Dál nAraidi in Tuaiscirt can be found in the

Annals of Ulster The ''Annals of Ulster'' () are annals of History of Ireland, medieval Ireland. The entries span the years from 431 AD to 1540 AD. The entries up to 1489 AD were compiled in the late 15th century by the scribe Ruaidhrí Ó Luin� ...

under the year 824. Between 646 and 792, the Dál nAraidi in Tuaiscirt held the overkingship of Dál nAraidi seven times, with two of that number becoming overkings of Ulaid. Cathussach mac Ailello, king of Eilne and Dál nAraidi, and claimed as having ruled the over-kingdom of Ulaid for sixteen years, was killed at Ráith Beithech (Rathveagh, County Antrim) in 749. Eochaid mac Bressal, who died in 832, was the last known king of the Dál nAraidi in Tuaiscirt to hold the over-kingship of the Dál nAraidi. The last known king of Dál nAraidi in Tuaiscirt is recorded in 883. The church (or monastery) of Cuil Raithin on the shore of the River Bann lay in Eilne and was said to have been founded by Cairbre, who subsequently became its bishop. According to the Tripartite Life of St. Patrick, written in the 9th century, the Dál nAraidi had granted this church to

Saint Patrick Saint Patrick (; or ; ) was a fifth-century Romano-British culture, Romano-British Christian missionary and Archbishop of Armagh, bishop in Gaelic Ireland, Ireland. Known as the "Apostle of Ireland", he is the primary patron saint of Irelan ...

. 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 indepen ...

n dynasty of Uí Tuirtrí that lay west of the River Bann had been active east of it from as early as 776, and by the 10th century had taken control of Eilne. Dál nAraidi in Tuaiscirt is said to have corresponded to the later baronies of

Dunluce Lower Dunluce Lower is a barony in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. To its north runs the north-Antrim coast, and it is bordered by three other baronies: Dunluce Upper to the south, Cary to the east, and the North East Liberties of Coleraine to the ...

and North East Liberties of Coleraine, and appears to correspond to the

trícha cét The , also known as , meaning "thirty hundreds", was a unit of land-holding in eleventh and twelfth century Ireland. It also became an Anglo-Norman cantred called Twescard, which later would absorb the cantred (county subdivision) of Dalrede (based on Dál Riata), with these two combined cantreds forming the basis for the rural

deanery A deanery (or decanate) is an ecclesiastical entity in the Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Anglican Communion, the Evangelical Church in Germany, and the Church of Norway. A deanery is either the jurisdiction or residence of ...

of Twescard. A sub-division of in Tuaiscirt called ''Cuil an Tuaiscirt'', meaning the "nook/corner" of Dál nAraidi in Tuaiscirt, was located in the north-west of the petty-kingdom near

Coleraine Coleraine ( ; from , 'nook of the ferns'Flanaghan, Deirdre & Laurence; ''Irish Place Names'', page 194. Gill & Macmillan, 2002. ) is a town and Civil parishes in Ireland, civil parish near the mouth of the River Bann in County Londonderry, No ...

. Its territory would form the basis of the later barony of North East Liberties of Coleraine.

Magh Line

The Dál nAraidi Magh Line, or the Dál nAraidi of Moylinny (modern-Irish ''Maigh Line'', meaning "plain of Line") was the predominant dynasty of the Dál nAraidi. It was centered in southern County Antrim, with Ráith Mór its royal seat. In the 10th century they are counted as one of twelve tuatha (a territory or its people) of Ulaid. Line may represent the name of an original population grouping. It was also known as Mocu Aridi. Their territory at its height spanned southern County Antrim and northern County Down containing the tuatha of Magh Line, Dál mBuinne, and Dál Sailni. It was later known as ''Trian Congaill'', meaning the "third of Congal Claen" (Caech), and became an alias for the territory of Clandeboye, named as such after the Clandeboye O'Neill's who conquered the area in the late 14th century. By the 10th century Dál mBuinne was counted amongst the twelve tuatha of Ulaid. After the Viking era, Dál Sailni and its church at Connor, the principal church of Dál nAraidi was lost to the encroaching Uí Tuirtri. The royal seat of the Dál nAraidi Magh Line was Ráith Mór (meaning "great fort", anglicised as Rathmore), located near Lough Neagh in the civil parish of Donegore. It is first recorded in the

Annals of the Four Masters The ''Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland'' () or the ''Annals of the Four Masters'' () are chronicles of Middle Ages, medieval Irish history. The entries span from the Genesis flood narrative, Deluge, dated as 2,242 Anno Mundi, years after crea ...

under the date 680 as ''Ratha moiré Maighe Line''. Neighbouring Ráith Mór was Ráith Beag (meaning "little fort", anglicised as Rathbeg), and is attested location where Áed Dub mac Suibni, king of Dál nAraidi and Ulaid, killed High King Diarmait mac Cerbaill in 565. By the 16th century Ráith Mór became known as ''Ráth Mór Mag Ullin'', meaning "great fort of the MacQuillans", and was burnt to the ground by Art mac Hugh O'Neill in 1513 after which it was never restored. Cráeb Telcha, usually linked to modern-day Crew Hill near Glenavy, was the inauguration site of the Dál Fiatach kings of Ulaid, however it appears to have also been the same for the Dál nAraidi prior to the 9th-century contraction of their territory.

Magh Cobo (Uí Echach Cobo)

By the late 8th century, Dál Fiatach expansion had cut off the County Antrim and Down branches of the Cruthin from each other. As a result, the County Down branch consolidated into the kingdom of the

Uí Echach Cobo Iveagh ( ; ) is the name of several historical territorial divisions in what is now County Down, Northern Ireland. Originally it was a Gaelic Irish territory, ruled by the ''Uí Echach Cobo'' and part of the overkingdom of Ulaid. From the 12th c ...

, based at Magh Cobo, "the plain of Cobo". They were styled as kings of Cuib. According to the medieval genealogies they are descended from the Dál nAraidi, though this link is tenuous. By the 10th century Uí Echach Cobo was counted amongst the twelve tuatha of Ulaid. Uí Echach Cobo's territory formed the basis of the medieval deanery and Norman cantred of Oveh, as well as the diocese of Dromore. Their territory was later anglicised as Iveagh. Their 14th-century expansion formed the basis for the later barony of Iveagh.

Uí Erca Céin

Also spelt as ''Uí Dercco Céin'' and ''Uí Dearca Chein'', the Uí Erca Céin where a branch of the Dál nAraidi, and according to the 10th-century

Lebor na Cert ''Lebor na Cert'', or the ''Book of Rights'', is a book of Early Irish laws, from medieval Ireland. The text details the rents and taxes paid by the King of Cashel, to various others in Ireland. The Great Book of Lecan, and the Book of Ballymo ...

, one of the twelve minor principalities under the king of Ulaid. They appear to have been based near Semne in Latharna, with their base possibly being

Carrickfergus Carrickfergus ( , meaning " Fergus' rock") is a large town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It sits on the north shore of Belfast Lough, from Belfast. The town had a population of 28,141 at the 2021 census. It is County Antrim's oldest t ...

, and a list of Uí Erca Céin kings are given as having ruled Latharna until the mid-7th century, though there are records of kings down to around 900 AD. A branch of the Uí Erca Céin line of kings, the Síl Fingín, also twice held the overkingship of Dál nAraidi. After 750, the Uí Erca Céin became associated with the church of Bangor. At some point they disappear from Latharna and by the 14th century are found in the territory of Leath Cathail in central County Down. The Uí Erca Céin had five vassal tribes all of different origins: the ''Cenél Talain'' and ''Dál Fhocha nUchtar'', both of whom appear to also have been of the Cruthin, and possibly refugees driven from their home that went to "Dercco Chen". A tradition of the Cenél Talain mentions that they had an ancestor who fought alongside Fiacha Araide, the eponymous ancestor of the Dál nAraidi; the ''Crothraidi'', who according to tradition descended from the western province 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 ...

, however migrated to Ulaid and after 600AD had joined the Uí Erca Céin; ''Crothraidi Buaingine'', who are said to descend from Munster; and the ''Dál Coirb Fobair'', a portion of whom where located in the south Antrim territory of Dál mBuinne, and are claimed to have descended from a

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 ...

(southern province) prince called Cú Corb.

History

By the start of the historic period in Ireland in the 6th century, the over-kingdom of Ulaid was largely confined to east of the

in north-eastern Ireland. The Cruthin however still held territory west of the Bann in County Londonderry, and their emergence may have concealed the dominance of earlier tribal groupings. In 563, according to the Annals of Ulster, an apparent internal struggle amongst the Cruthin resulted in Báetán mac Cinn making a deal with the

Northern Uí Néill The Northern Uí Néill was any of several dynasties in north-western medieval Ireland that claimed descent from a common ancestor, Niall of the Nine Hostages. Other dynasties in central and eastern Ireland who also claimed descent from Niall ar ...

, promising them the territories of Ard Eólairg ( Magilligan peninsula) and the Lee, both west of the River Bann. As a result, the battle of Móin Daire Lothair (modern-day Moneymore) took place between them and an alliance of Cruthin kings, in which the Cruthin suffered a devastating defeat. Afterwards the Northern Uí Néill settled their

allies in the Cruthin territory of Eilne, which lay between the River Bann and the River Bush. The defeated Cruthin alliance meanwhile consolidated itself within the Dál nAraidi dynasty. In 565,

Áed Dub mac Suibni Áed Dub mac Suibni (died c. 588) was an Irish king of the Dál nAraidi in the over-kingdom of Ulaid (in modern Ulster). He may have been king of the Ulaid. Áed was succeeded by his great-nephew Fiachnae mac Báetáin. Áed Dub — Black ...

, king of Dál nAraidi and Ulaid, killed High King

Diarmait mac Cerbaill Diarmait mac Cerbaill (died ) was King of Tara or High King of Ireland. According to traditions, he was the last High King to follow the pagan rituals of inauguration, the ''ban-feis'' or marriage to goddess of the land. The last High King to ...

at Raith Bec (Rathbeg, County Antrim). The Dál nAraidi king Congal Cáech took possession of the over-kingship of Ulaid in 626, and in 628 killed the

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 ...

Suibne Menn Suibne Menn (or Suibne mac Fiachnai, "Suibne the Stammerer, son of Fiachnae"; died AD 628) was an Irish king who is counted as a High King of Ireland. Suibne belonged to the junior branch of the Cenél nEógain kindred of the northern Uí N� ...

of the Northern Uí Néill in battle. In 629, Congal led the Dál nAraidi to defeat against the same foes. In an attempt to have himself installed as

, Congal made alliances with Dál Riata and

Strathclyde Strathclyde ( in Welsh language, Welsh; in Scottish Gaelic, Gaelic, meaning 'strath

alley An alley or alleyway is a narrow lane, footpath, path, or passageway, often reserved for pedestrians, which usually runs between, behind, or within buildings in towns and cities. It is also a rear access or service road (back lane), or a path, w ...

of the River Clyde') was one of nine former Local government in Scotland, local government Regions and districts of Scotland, regions of Scotland cre ...

, which resulted in the disastrous Battle of Moira in 637, in modern-day County Antrim, which saw Congal slain by High King

Domnall mac Áedo Domnall mac Áedo (died 642), also known as Domnall II, was an Irish king and son of Áed mac Ainmuirech and his consort Land, the daughter of Áed Guaire mac Amalgada of Airgíalla. Domnall was High King of Ireland from 628 until his death. He ...

of the Northern Uí Néill and severely weakened both Dál nAraidi and Dál Riata. The Annals of Ulster record that in 668, the battle of ''Bellum Fertsi'' (modern-day

Belfast Belfast (, , , ; from ) is the capital city and principal port of Northern Ireland, standing on the banks of the River Lagan and connected to the open sea through Belfast Lough and the North Channel (Great Britain and Ireland), North Channel ...

) took place between the Ulaid and Cruthin, both terms which then referred to the Dál Fiatach and Dál nAraide respectively. Meanwhile, the Dál nAraidi where still resisting the encroaching Northern Uí Néill. In 681, the Dál nAraidi led by Dúngal Eilni of the In Tuasicirt branch, along with their allies, the Cianachta Glenn Geimin of northern County Londonderry led by Cenn Fáelad, were killed at Dún Cethirinn by

Máel Dúin mac Máele Fithrich Máel Dúin mac Máele Fithrich (died 681) was a King of Ailech and head of the Cenél nEógain branch of the northern Uí Néill. He had married Cacht ingen Cellaig, daughter of the high king Cellach mac Máele Coba (died 658) of the Cenél Con ...

of the Cenél Meic Ercae of

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 ...

. Some form of combination of the Dál nAraidi, the Cianachta Glenn Geimin and the Cenél Feradaig was suspected of involvement in the death of Eochaid mac Domangairt, king of the

Cenél nGabráin The Cenél nGabráin was a kin group, presumed to descend from Gabrán mac Domangairt, which dominated the kingship of Dál Riata until the late 7th century and continued to provide kings thereafter. Kings of kingdom of Alba, Alba and of Scotland ...

of Scottish

in 697. Throughout the 7th century, the Cruthin had gradually lost their lands west of the River Bann, allowing Dál nAraidi to become the sole Cruthin dynastic grouping in County Antrim. After 776, the annals no longer refer to the Dál nAraidi as being of Cruthin stock, but to be of the Ulaid population-grouping instead, being called the ''fir-Ulaid'', the "men of Ulster". In the 8th century the kingdom of Dál Riata was overrun by the Dál nAraidi. Concurrently the Dál Fiatach extended their territory cutting off the Dál nAraidi from the Uí Echach Cobo. By the end of the 9th century the Dál nAraidi had taken control of Ulaid from the Dál Fiatach. This however only lasted until 972, when Eochaid mac Ardgail restored Dál Fiatach's dominance. In 1005,

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 ...

, marched north to accept submissions from the Ulaid, which including marching upon the Dál nAraidi capital Ráith Mór where he received only the submissions of their king. By the beginning of the 12th century the Dál nAraidi, ruled by the Ó Loingsigh (O'Lynch), had lost control of most of Antrim to the Uí Fhloinn (O'Lynn) and became restricted to the territory of Magh Line. The Uí Fhloinn were the ruling sept of the Airgíallan Uí Tuirtri as well as rulers of Fir Lí, and in a process of gradual infiltration by marital and military alliances as well as growing pressure from the encroaching Cenél nEógain, they moved their power east of the Bann. Once they had come to prominence in Antrim the Ua Flainn styled themselves as king of Dál nAraidi (in Tuaiscirt), Dál Riata, and Fir Lí, alongside their own Uí Tuirtri.

Tribes and relations

Tribes and septs of the Dál nAraidi include amongst others:

Locations

Tuatha

*Latharna, alias Latharne, meaning the "descendants of Lathar", present-day

Larne Larne (, , the name of a Gaelic Ireland, Gaelic territory)Larne/Latharna
Placenames Database of Ireland. is a to ...

. Lathar, alias Lath, is claimed as being the son of Úgaine Mór. Semne, modern-Irish ''Seimhne'', now known as Island Magee, is located within Latharna and was the name of an early tribal grouping, which became the name of a petty-kingdom. *Maige Damoerna, alias Mag Damairne. Modern-Irish ''Machaire Morna'', meaning "plain of Morna", and anglicised as Magheramorne. Located west of Larne Lough. * Dál mBuinne, alias Dál Buain. Also known as Mic Ui Buan, Maccu Boin, and Tuath Búain, an ''aithechthúatha'' (client-people) of Dál nAraidi Magh Line. * Dál Sailni, alias Dál Selle, Dál Sailne, and Tuath Selle. They descended from Fedhlim Sailne, and were possibly a former ''sóerthúatha'' (free-people), however became an ''aithechthúatha'' of Dál nAraidi Magh Line. Whilst the ruling dynasty of the Dál nAraidi Magh Line, the Uí Choelbad, supplied the principal kings, Dál Sailni held the principal church of Connor. In the post-Viking era, Dál Sailni and its church was taken over by the encroaching Uí Tuirtri. *Tuath Sine, cited as a ''aithechthúatha'' of Dál nAraidi Magh Line.

Religious foundations

*A local chieftain is said to have given St. Patrick a space to build a church on the north bank of the

, a history claimed by St. Patrickʼs Church, Coleraine. The spot was overgrown with ferns, which led to the area being called ''Cúil Raithin'' ('nook of ferns'), which was later anglicised as ''Colrain'', ''Colerain'' - now

town. *Cell Glass, alias Cell Glas. A church said to have been founded by St. Patrick. Located in Eilne, east of Domnach Mór. *Lathrach Pátraic, also spelt as Leitir. Meaning "St. Patrick's site", the place is now known as Glenavy, modern-Irish ''Lann Abhaigh'', meaning "church of the dwarf". Called "Lathrach Pátraic" in the Tripartite Life of Saint Patrick, the church referenced was said to have been founded by St. Patrick who left his disciple Daniel, who was of diminutive size, in charge. *Domnach Combair. Possibly Comber in County Down, modern-Irish ''An Comar'', meaning "the confluence". ''Domnach'' means "church/monastery", and refers to a monastery said to have been built by Conla who had encountered St. Patrick. *Domnach mór Maige Damoerna. ''Domnach mór'' means "great church", and was located in the petty-kingdom of Maige Damoerna. *Telach or Cell Conadain. Possibly Saint Cunning, parish of Carncastle, barony of Glenarm Upper *Gluare. Modern-Irish ''Gluaire'', meaning "brightness, purity", and anglicised as Glore. Located in the petty-kingdom of Latharna, it was a church founded by St. Patrick. *Cell Boetáin, alias Cell Baedáin and Cell Scoba. Said to be within the territory of the Cland Sogain mic Fiachrach Araidi. *Cell Fhindsiche, alias Cell Finnische. Possibly modern Killinchy in barony of Dufferin in County Down. *Cell Ruad. Modern-Irish ''Cill Ruaidh'', meaning "church of the red land", anglicised as Kilroot. Located on the banks of Loch Laigh, it is associated with St. Colmán. *Luidh Pátraic. *Cell Ciannáin, located in Semne. *Domnach Cainri, a church located in Cothraighe.

Forts and symbolic places

*Raith Sithe. Modern-Irish ''Ráth Sí'', meaning "fairy fort", modern-day Rashee, a church alleged to have been founded by St. Patrick. Its earliest mention is in the Annals of Ulster, which mentions the death of Bishop Eoghan of "Ratha Sithe" in 618AD. *Raith Epscuip Fhindich in Húi Darca-chein. *Rath Aidhne, located in Semne. *Ráith Cimaeith, located in Semne. *Ráith Cind Con. *Ráith Line, located in Magh Line, possibly an alternate name for Ráith Mór. *Ráith Bacain, located in Latharna. *Ráith Bachall, located in Latharna. *Dún Daen Hi Fidbaid and Dún dá Én i fFiodhbhaidh. Modern-Irish ''Dún Dá Éan'', meaning "fort of the two birds", present day Duneane. ''Hi Fidbaid'' may represent ''Uí Fidbaid'', a possible tribe. Otherwise Fiodhbhaidh'' means "forest".

Other places

The following locations have all been cited to have been within Dál nAraidi: *Imlech Cluane. Located in Semne. *Cúil Raithin. Meaning "corner/nook of ferns". Modern-day Coleraine. Located in Eilne, it was once an episcopal see. A church had been founded here by St. Patrick. It has been suggested that it lost its status after the Ui Choelbad ruling dynasty of the Dál nAraidi of Magh Line conquered Eilne in the mid-7th century, and a prince of theirs settled there. Their own church in Magh Line, at Domnach Combair, was also an episcopal see and they may have been content to see Cúil Raithin lose its status. *Ross Torathair, also spelt as Ros/Rois Torothair. Situated near Cúil Raithin, a battle for this place between St. Columba and St. Comgall is referenced to in the ''Amra Choluim Chille'', the Elegy of St. Columba. *Druim Dáganda. *Echdruim Brecain. Modern-Irish ''Eachdhroim'', meaning "horse ridge", anglicised Aughrim. It was situated according to

O'Donovan The O'Donovan family is an ancient Irish nobility, Irish noble family. Their patronymic surname derives from Irish ''Ó Donnabháin'', meaning the grandsons or descendants of Donnubán, referring to the 10th century ruler of the Uí Fidgenti, ...

along the border of Dál nAraidi and Dál Riata. *Airther Maigi Cobhai. Modern-Irish ''Oirthear Maí'', meaning "the east of the plain", and anglicised as

Armoy Armoy ( ) is a village and civil parish in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is 5.5 miles (9 km) southwest of Ballycastle and 8 miles (13 km) northeast of Ballymoney. According to an estimate in 2013 by the Northern Irel ...

. St. Patrick is alleged to have baptised St. Olcan here and installed him as bishop of its church. It was located in the kingdom of Dál Riata. *Scirit, also known as Scirec Archaile, meaning (Arcail: great valley). Now known as Skerry. Located near Slemish in Dál nAraidi in Tuaiscirt, it was an ancient burial place. *Inber Olarba, also spelt Inver Olarba, the estuary of the river Olarba, present-day Larne. *Laethet. The site of a battle between the Dál nAraidi and Dál Fiatach, possibly modern-day Knocklayd, in the north of County Antrim. Knocklayd derives from ''Cnoc Leithid'', meaning "hill of the slope". *Linn Dóe, alias Linn Uachaill, which formed part of the boundary of Dál nAraidi. Said to belong to the Clanna Conall Cearnach. *Linn in Goban, alias Linn na nGobann, Cenn Guba, and Cnoc Glinne. Said to have been where the legendary figure Tuathal Techtmar was slain. Stated as being a hill at Móin an Chatha in Magh Line. *. *Fid átha luain, alias Fedha baile atha luain. Linked with Dún Daen Hi Fidbaid. *Cairloegh, alias Carrlóig. Claimed as being located near ''Na Lee'' in what became the barony of

. Said to have been granted to Fiachra for defeating Ailill in the battle of Ocha. *Cothraighe, alias Cothrugi. Located in Dál Riata, the name preserved in the barony of Cary. *Cúl Cáel, alias Cúl Cóil. Where Fiacha mac Baetain, king of Dál nAraidi killed Fiacha mac Demain, king of Dál Fiatach. Possibly Kilkeel in County Down, which derives from ''Cill Chaoil'', meaning "Caol's church" or "church of the narrow place". *Cúl Fothirbi, alias Cell Fuithirbi. *Alt na n-Ingen, located in Crích Dalaraide.

Geographical features

*Buas. Modern-Irish ''An Bhuais'', meaning "the cow-like one", modern-day River Bush. A river in north-western County Antrim that was the boundary between west of Dál Riata and the east of Eilne. *Fregabhail. Modern-Irish ''Freabhal'', meaning "towards the fork", modern-day Glenravel River. Formed the northern border between Dál nAraidi and Dál Riata. It also formed part of the boundary between the medieval deaneries of Tuaisceart and Ui Tuirtre. *hi nDíthruib Slébi Mis. Modern-Irish ''Sliabh Mis'', meaning "Mis's mountain", modern-day

Slemish Slemish, historically called Slieve Mish (), is a hill in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It lies a few miles east of Ballymena, in the townland of Carnstroan. Tradition holds that Saint Patrick, enslaved as a youth, was brought to this area ...

. *Fertais Tuama. Modern-Irish ''Fearsaid Thuama'', meaning the "ford of Toome", present-day Toome. The ford referenced crossed the River Bann near

. *Conaire, also spelt as Condaire and Connere. Modern-Irish ''Coinnire'', meaning "(wild-)dog oak-wood", and anglicised as Conner. It is the location of the medieval cathedral for the diocese of Connor. Its patron is stated as being St. Mac Nissi. *Glenn Indechta. Modern-Irish ''Gleann Fhinneachta'', meaning "Finneacht's glen", anglicised as Glynn. St. Patrick is said to have founded a church here. Glenn Indechta also marked the southern boundary of the kingdom of Dál Riata. *Magh Latrainn, alias Lathraind, Latharrne, and Latharna, the plain of Latharna running from the hills to the sea. *Ollarba, alias Olarba. Modern-day River Larne, which empties into Larne Lough. Some claim it is instead the

Six Mile Water The Six Mile Water is a river in southern County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is an indirect tributary of the River Bann, via Lough Neagh. Name The river was historically called the ''Ollarbha'' and is known in Irish language, Irish as ''Abhainn ...

, which starts near Larne and empties into Lough Neagh. It was located to the south-east of Magh Line, running past Ráith Mór. *Olar. A river that like the Olarba starts at Móin an Chatha but instead flows into Lough Neagh. *Móin an Chatha, the bog of which the rivers Olar and Ollarba start. *Sliab Cáin, located at "Glenn in Scáil". *Glenn in Scáil, alias Muintir Diugna. Near Slemish, it is where Milchú kept St. Patrick as a slave. *Magh Monaich. *Magh Séle, located in Semne. *Men, alias Mena, Main, Myn, modern-Irish ''An Mhin'', meaning "the river/water", now known as the River Maine. This river flowed into "Rubha Mena", now known as Mainwater Foot, at

. *Monai, a bog located somewhere in Dál nAraidi. *Loch Daim Deircc. A lake located west of Tráig Fhirgrinne Mic Dheagaid and of Uisce Labrainde, both west of Slemish. *Inber n-Ailinne. *Loch Laigh, alias Loch Lóig and Loch Láig. Modern-Irish ''Loch Lao'', meaning "sea-inlet of the calf", now known as Belfast Lough. *Cluain Beoan and Cluain Fiachna. *Cnoc Cennghaba, alias Cnoc Glinne-an-Gabhann and Cnoc Glindi Ui Gaband, located in Magh Line. A prince of Fremand Fini was also slain here. *Crich Araide Adruiad. One of the mountains of Ulaid, seen from County Louth. *Slebe Ulad. Mountains of Ulaid, containing . *Arcail, a great glen located to the north of Sliabh Mis. Now known as the Braid Valley. *Arda Corrain. A battle occurred here between the Dál nAraidi and Dál Riata. Fiachna mac Demmain, king of Dál nAraidi and Ulaid was slain here. Possibly the hill above "the Corran of Larne".

References

Bibliography

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Byrne, Francis John, ''Irish Kings and High-Kings.'' Batsford, London, 1973. * Duffy, Seán (ed.), ''Atlas of Irish History.'' Gill & Macmillan, Dublin, 2nd edn, 2000. * Ó Cróinín, Dáibhí, ''Early Medieval Ireland: 400–1200.'' Longman, London, 1995. {{DEFAULTSORT:Dal Naraidi Cruthin Ulaid Ancient Irish dynasties People from County Antrim