List of kings of Connacht

Connacht about the year 900

The Kings of Connacht were rulers of the cóiced (variously translated as portion, fifth, province) of Connacht, which lies west of the River Shannon, Ireland. However, the name only became applied to it in the early medieval era, being named after The Connachta.

The old name for the province was Cóiced Ol nEchmacht (the fifth of the Ol nEchmacht). Ptolemy's map of c. 150 AD. does in fact list a people called the Nagnatae as living in the west of Ireland. Some are of the opinion that Ptolemy's Map of Ireland may be based on cartography carried out as much as five hundred years before his time.

The Connachta were a group of dynasties who claimed descent from the three eldest sons of Eochaid Mugmedon: Brion, Ailill and Fiachrae. They took their collective name from their alleged descent from Conn Cétchathach. Their younger brother, Niall Noigiallach was ancestor to the Uí Néill.

The following is a list of kings of Connacht from the fifth to fifteenth centuries. Biographical details will follow.

Pre-Historic Kings of Ol nEchmacht

• Genann
• Conrac Cas
• Eochaid Feidlech
• Eochaidh Allat
• Tinni mac Conri
• Medb, Queen of Connacht
• Medb and Ailill mac Máta
• Maine Aithreamhail mac Ailill Máta
• Sanbh Sithcheann mac Ceat mac Magha
• Cairbre mac Maine Aithreamhail
• Eochaidh Fionn
• Aodh mac Cu Odhar
• Eochaidh mac Cairbre
• Aonghus Fionn mac Domhnall
• Cormac Ulfhada
• Aonghus Feirt mac Aonghus Fionn
• Connall Cruchain mac Aonghus Feirt
• Fearadach mac Connal Cruchain
• Forghus Fiansa
• Forghus Fiansa and Art mac Conn
• Ceidghin Cruchain mac Connall Cruchain
• Aodh mac Eochaidh
• Aodh Alainn mac Eochaidh Baicidh
• Nia Mór mac Lughna
• Lughaidh mac Lughna Fear Tri
• Aodh Caomh mac Garadh Glundubh
• Coinne mac Fear Tri
• Muireadh Tireach mac Fiachra Sraibrintne
• Eochaid Mugmedon
• Niall Noigiallach/Niall of the Nine Hostages, died c.450/455.

Early historic kings

King	Clan sept	Reign
Amalgaid mac Fiachrae	Uí Fiachrach	406–440
Nath Í	Uí Fiachrach	440–445
Ailill Molt	Uí Fiachrach	445–482
Dauí Tenga Uma	Uí Briúin	482–500
Eógan Bél	Uí Fiachrach	500–542
Ailill Inbanda	Uí Fiachrach	542–549
Echu Tirmcharna mac Fergu	Uí Briúin	549–556
Áed mac Echach Tirmcharna	Uí Briúin	556–575
Uatu mac Áedo mac Echach	Uí Briúin	575–600
Colmán mac Cobthaig	Uí Fiachrach Aidhne	600–622
Rogallach mac Uatach	Uí Briúin	622–649
Loingsech mac Colmáin	Uí Fiachrach Aidhne	649–655
Guaire Aidne mac Colmáin	Uí Fiachrach Aidhne	655–663
Cenn Fáelad mac Colgan	Uí Briúin Seóla	663–682
Dúnchad Muirisci mac Tipraite	Uí Fiachrach Muaidhe	682–683
Fergal Aidne mac Artgaile mac Guaire	Uí Fiachrach Aidhne	683–696
Muiredach Muillethan mac Fergusso mac Rogallaig	Uí Briúin Ai	696–702
Cellach mac Rogallach mac Uatach	Uí Briúin	702–705
Indrechtach mac Dúnchado Muirisci	Uí Fiachrach Muaidhe	705–707
Indrechtach mac Muiredaig Muillethan	Uí Briúin Síl Muiredaig	707–723
Domnall mac Cellaig mac Rogallach	Uí Briúin Síl Cellaig	723–728
Cathal mac Muiredaig Muillethan	Uí Briúin Síl Cellaig	728–735
Áed Balb mac Indrechtaig	Uí Briúin Síl Cellaig	735–742
Forggus mac Cellaig	Uí Briúin Síl Cellaig	742–756
Ailill Medraige mac Indrechtaig mac Dúnchado Muirisci	Uí Fiachrach Muaidhe	756–764
Dub-Indrecht mac Cathail	Uí Briúin Síl Cathail	764–768
Donn Cothaid mac Cathail	Uí Fiachrach Muaidhe	768–773
Flaithrí mac Domnaill	Uí Briúin Síl Cellaig	773–777
Artgal mac Cathail	Uí Briúin Síl Cathail	777–782
Tipraite mac Taidg	Uí Briúin Síl Muiredaig	782–786
Cináed mac Artgail	Uí Briúin Síl Cathail	786–792
Colla mac Fergusso	Uí Briúin Síl Cellaig	792–796
Muirgius mac Tommaltaig	Uí Briúin Síl Muiredaig	796–815
Diarmait mac Tommaltaig	Uí Briúin Síl Muiredaig	815–833
Cathal mac Muirgiussa	Uí Briúin Síl Muiredaig	833–839
Murchad mac Áedo	Uí Briúin Síl Muiredaig	839–840
Fergus mac Fothaid	Uí Briúin Síl Muiredaig	840–843
Finsnechta mac Tommaltaig	Uí Briúin Síl Muiredaig	843–848
Mugron mac Máel Cothaid	Uí Briúin Síl Muiredaig	848–872
Conchobar mac Taidg Mór	Uí Briúin Síl Muiredaig	872–882
Áed mac Conchobair	Uí Briúin Síl Muiredaig	882–888
Tadg mac Conchobair	Uí Briúin Síl Muiredaig	888–900

High medieval era

• Cathal mac Conchobair, 900–925.
• Tadg mac Cathail, 925–956.
• Fergal Ua Ruairc, 956–967.
• Conchobar mac Tadg, 967–973.
• Cathal mac Tadg, d. 973.
• Cathal mac Conchobar mac Taidg, 973–1010.
• Tadg in Eich Gil, 1010–1030.
• Art Uallach Ua Ruairc, 1030–1046.
• Áed in Gai Bernaig, 1046–1067.
• Áed Ua Ruairc, 1067–1087.
• Ruaidrí na Saide Buide, 1087–1092; deposed.
• Flaithbertaigh Ua Flaithbertaigh, d. 1098.
• Tadg mac Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair, d. 1097.
• Domnall Ua Ruairc, d. 1102.
• Domnall Ua Conchobair, 1102–1106; deposed.
• Tairrdelbach Ua Conchobair, 1106–1156.
• Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair 1156–1186; deposed.
• Conchobar Máenmaige Ua Conchobhair, 1186–1189
• Cathal Carragh Ua Conchobhair, 1190–1202
• Cathal Crobderg Ua Conchobair, 1202–1224
• Aedh Ua Conchobair, 1224–1228
• Aedh mac Ruaidri Ua Conchobair, 1228–1233
• Felim mac Cathal Crobderg Ua Conchobair, 1233–1256

Later kings

• Aedh Ó Conchobair, 1256–1274
• Aedh Muimhnech Ó Conchobair, 1274–1280
• Cathal Ó Conchobair, 1280–1288.
• Maghnus Ó Conchobair, 1288–1293
• Aedh Ó Conchobair, 1293–1309
• Ruaidri Ó Conchobair, 1309–1310
• Fedlim Ó Conchobair, 1310–1316.
• Rory na-bhFeadh Ó Conchobair, 1316–1317.
• Toirdelbach Ó Conchobair, first reign 1317–1318
• Cathal mac Domhnall Ó Conchobair, 1318–1324
• Toirdelbach Ó Conchobair, second reign, 1324–1350
• Aedh mac Aedh Breifneach Ó Conchobair, 1342; died 1345.
• Aedh mac Tairdelbach Ó Conchobair
• Ruaidri mac Tairdelbach Ó Conchobair, 1368–1384
• Cathal mac Ruaidri Ó Conchobair, 1426–1439
• Toirdhealbhach Óg Donn Ó Conchobair, d. 9 December 1406
• Cathal mac Ruaidhri Ó Conchobair, d. 19 March 1439
• Aodh mac Toirdhealbhaigh Óg Ó Conchobair, d.15 May 1461
• Feidhlimidh Geangcach Ó Conchobair, d. 1474; last de facto King of Connacht.

See also

• O'Conor Don
• O Connor Roe
• O Connor Sligo
• Clan Muircheartaigh Uí Conchobhair
• Irish Kings
• Annals of the Four Masters

Sources

• Annals of the Four Masters, 1990 edition.
• The Annals of Connacht, A. Martin Freeman, 1944.
• Irish Kings and High Kings, Francis John Byrne, 1973.
• Leabhar Mor Genealach, Dubhaltach MacFhirbhisigh, ed. O'Muralie, 2004.

External links

A Poem on the Kings of Connacht