Uí Néill

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The Uí Néill (Irish for "descendants of Niall" Uí pronounced 'Ee': ) were an Irish dynasty who claimed descent from Niall Noigiallach (Niall of the Nine Hostages), a semi-historical High King of Ireland who died about 405.

The first generation of the Uí Néill were his sons, seven in all:

Conall Gulban, ancestor of the Cenél Conaill dynasty.
Endae
Eogan, ancestor of the Cenél nEógan dynasty.
Coirpre, ancestor of the Cenél Cairpre dynasty.
Lóegaire, ancestor of the Cenél Lóegaire dynasty.
Conall Cremthainne, ancestor of the Clan Cholmain and Sil nAedo Slaine.
Fiachu, ancestor of the Cenél Fiachach.

All these men were in their lifetime known as members of The Connachta dynasty, or as "the sons of Niall." The term Uí Néill did not - by its very nature - come into use until the time of Niall's grandsons and great-grandsons.

Dynasties descended from the Uí Néill, such as the Cenél Conaill and Cenél nEógan, held power in Ulster until their defeat in the Nine Years War in 1603. The heads of the families left for Catholic Europe in 1607, an event known as the Flight of the Earls.

Uí Néill family tree

Conn Cétchathach, grandson of Tuathal Teachtmhar
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|________________________________________
|                |   |    |   |    |
|                |   |    |   |    |
Art mac Cuinn    four other sons   Fiacha Suighe, ancestor of the
|                                         Dal Fiachrach Suighe
|
Cormac mac Airt
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Cairbre Lifechair
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Fiacha Sraibhtine
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Muiredach Tirech
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Eochaid Mugmedon
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|___________________________________________________________________________________
|      |          |      |       |
|      |          |      |       |
Brion  Fiachrae   Ailill Niall  Fergus
|
_________________________|___________________________________________
|             |      |      |        |         |                   |
|             |      |      |        |         |                   |
Conall Gulban Endae  Eogan  Cairbre  Lóegaire  Conall Cremthainne  Fiachu

References

"The Great Book of Irish Genealogies", Dubhaltach Mac Fhirbhisigh (ed. Nollaig O'Muralie), Dublin, 2005.
"Irish Kings and High Kings", Francis John Byrne, Dublin, 1973.

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