The Mac Lochlainn () were a leading branch of the
Cenél nEógain and during the early medieval period, the most powerful clan in 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 ...
.
[ McGettigan (2005).] They descended from
Domnall Dabaill (died 915), son of
Áed Findliath. Another son of the latter was
Niall Glúndub eponymous ancestor of the
Ua Néill
The O'Neill dynasty (irish language, Irish: ''Ó Néill'') are a lineage of Irish people, Irish Gaels, Gaelic origin that held prominent positions and titles in Ireland and elsewhere. As kings of Cenél nEógain, they were historically one of t ...
.
As a result of their descent from Domnall Dabaill, the Mac Lochlainn were known as Clann Domnaill or Clann Domhnaill. The eponym behind the surnames ''Mac Lochlainn and'' ''
Ó Lochlainn'' (''Ua 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 (died 1121).
[ Byrne (2001) p. xxxv.]
Domnall ruled as
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 ...
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
(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 ...
by
John de Courcy (died c. 1219), Muirchertach's son,
Niall (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
County Londonderry (Ulster Scots dialects, Ulster-Scots: ''Coontie Lunnonderrie''), also known as County Derry (), is one of the six Counties of Northern Ireland, counties of Northern Ireland, one of the thirty-two Counties of Ireland, count ...
.
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 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.
People
Mac Lochlainn
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Muirchertach Mac Lochlainn, 12th-century Irish king
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Niall Mac Lochlainn, 12th-century Irish king
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Pádraig Mac Lochlainn, 21st-century Irish politician
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Tadhg Mac Lochlainn, 20th-century Irish historian
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Gerry MacLochlainn, 21st-century Irish politician
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Úna MacLochlainn, 21st-century Irish singer-songwriter
See also
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Ó Lochlainn
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McLaughlin
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McLoughlin
Citations
References
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{{Connachta
Irish-language masculine surnames
Gaelic nobility of Ireland
O'Neill dynasty
Irish families
Irish clans