Kings of Airgíalla

Ireland early peoples and politics

Between the sixth and sixteenth centuries, the Kingdom of Airgíalla (Anglicized as Oriel) was one of the three major kingdoms that formed what is now the province of Ulster. The others were In Tuisceairt to the north and west, and Ulaid to the east.^{[citation needed]}

Originally a confederation comprising some nine different, mainly unrelated peoples, its kings were from a number of different dynasties. There were times when there was no one supreme king of Airgíalla, with two or more kings ruling portions of the kingdom. They have not been included on this list.

List of kings[]

Early kings, 513-1022[]

Colga mac Loite mac Cruinn, died 513
Cairpre Daim Argat, died 514
Daimine Daim Argat, died 565
Conall Derg mac Daimine
Bec mac Cuanu, died 594
Aed mac Colgan, died 606
Mael Odhar Macha, died 636
Dunchad mac Ultan, died 677?
Mael Fothartaig mac Mael Dubh, alive 697
Cu Masach mac Cathal, died 825
Gofraidh mac Fearghus, fl. 835
Foghartaigh mac Mael Breasal, died 850/852
Congalach mac Finnachta, died 874
Mael Padraig mac Mael Curarada, died 882
Maol Craoibh ua Duibh Sionach, died 917
Fogarthach mac Donnegan, died 947
Egneach mac Dalach, died 961
Donnacan mac Maelmuire, died 970
Mac Eiccnigh mac Dalagh, died 998
Mac Leiginn mac Cerbaill, died 1022

Ó Críochain, 1022-1027[]

Cathalan Ua Crichain, died 1027

Ó hEignigh, 1027-1048[]

Gilla Coluim ua Eichnech, died 1048

Ó Laidhgnén, 1048-1590[]

Leathlobair Ua Laidhgnen, died 1053
Leathlobair Ua Laidhgnen, died 1078

Ó Baoighealláin, 1078-1093[]

Aodh Ua Baoigheallain, died 1093

Ó hAinbheith, 1093-1094[]

Ua Ainbhigh, died 1094

Ó Cearbhaill, 1094-1101[]

Cu Caishil Ua Cerbaill, died 1101

Ó hEignigh, 1101-1127[]

Giolla Crist Ua hEiccnigh, died 1127

Ó Cearbhaill, 1130-1196[]

Donnchadh Ua Cearbaill, 1130–1168/1169
, 1168–1189
Muirchertach, 1189–1194
?, died 1196

Ó hEignigh, 1196-1201[]

Ua Eichnigh, died 1201

Ó hAnluain, 1201-1243[]

Name	Portrait	Birth	Marriages	Death
1201–1243		unknown	unknown	1243

Mac Mathghamhna, 1243-1590[]

Eochaid mac Mathgahamna mac Neill, died 1273
Brian mac Eochada, 1283–1311
Ralph/Roolb mac Eochada, 1311–1314
Mael Sechlainn mac Eochada, 1314–?
Murchad Mór mac Briain, ?–1331
Seoan mac Maoilsheachlainn, 1331–1342
Aodh mac Roolb, 1342–1344
Murchadh Óg mac Murchada, 1344–1344
Maghnus mac Eochadha, 1344–1357
Pilib mac Rooilbh, 1357–1362
Brian Mór mac Aodh, 1362–1365
Niall mac Murchadha, 1365–1368
Brian Mór mac Aodh, 1368–1371
Pilib Ruadh mac Briain, 1371–1403
Ardghal mac Briain, 1403–February 1416
Brian mac Ardghail, 1416–1442
Ruaidhri mac Ardghail, 1442–1446
Aodh Ruadh mac Ruaidhri, 1446–31 March 1453
Feidhlimidh mac Briain, 1453–1466
Eochan mac Ruaidhri, 1466–1467
Reamonn mac Ruaidhri, 1467–November 1484
Aodh Óg mac Aodha Ruaidh, 1485–16 September 1496
Brian mac Reamoinn, 1496–1497
Rossa mac Maghnusa, 1497–1513
Reamonn mac Glaisne, 1513–c.1 April 1521
Glaisne Óg mac Reamoinn, 1521–1551?
Art Maol mac Reamoinn, 1551–1560
Aodh mac Briain, 1560–1562
Art Ruadh mac Briain, 1562–1578
Sir Rossa Buidhe mac Airt, 1579–August 1589
Hugh Roe McMahon (Irish: Aodh Ruadh mac Airt), 1589–September/October 1590.

References[]

MacMahons of Oriel: Mac Mathghamna, Kings of Oirghialla to 1590, in A New History of Ireland, pp. 215–16, volume IX, ed. Byrne, Martin, Moody. Dublin, 1984
(II) The "Airgialla Charter Poem", Ailbhe Mac Shamhrain and Paul Byrne, in The Kingship and Landscape of Tara, Edel Bhreathnach, pp. 213–224, edited Edel Bhreathnach, Four Courts Press, Dublin, 2005