Histories of the High Kings of Ireland till the reign of Niall of the Nine Hostages
Welcome to the High King Histories Page. Here I will do research on the High Kings I have found within our direct Family Line and post my findings here to share with you. Below you will find The High Kings starting with the ones furthest back in History and working their way up in time. Many others before and after Niall are related to us but not part of the direct line from them down through History to us. Those after Niall, though distant kinsmen were not directly in line. We are descended from Conall Gulban son Of Niall of the Nine Hostages. Conall created his own kingdom in the area of present day Donegal and was the last Celtic/Gaelic Kindom to stand free in the world. I hope you enjoy the small part of our clan history I have been able to restore to you. Perhaps you will walk a little taller and let our Noble qualities shine forth.
Remember our current clan MOTO:
"Who so ever ask me of my birth...
I will tell them I am born of Irish Princes who Ruled in Donegal
A thousand years ago; that I am descended from the High Kings of Ireland,
and my name is from the Clann O'Dochartaigh!"
Remember our current clan MOTO:
"Who so ever ask me of my birth...
I will tell them I am born of Irish Princes who Ruled in Donegal
A thousand years ago; that I am descended from the High Kings of Ireland,
and my name is from the Clann O'Dochartaigh!"
Niall of the Nine Hostages 126th High King of Ireland
Reigned from 379AD-406AD. Son of Eochaidh Muighmheadhoin (124). He was twice married: - his first Queen was Inne, the daughter of Luighdheach, who was the relict of Fiachadh; his second Queen was Roigneach, by whom he had Nos. I., II., III., IV., V., VI., and VII., as given below. This Niall Mór succeeded his Uncle Crimthann. He was a stout, wise, and warlike prince, and fortunate in all his conquests and achievements, and therefore called "Great." He was also called Niall Naoi-Ghiallach or "Niall of the Nine Hostages," from the royal hostages taken from nine several countries by him subdued and made tributary: viz., - 1. Munster, 2. Leinster, 3. Conacht, 4. Ulster, 5. Britain, 6. the Picts, 7. the Dalriads, 8. the Saxons, and 9. the Morini - a people of France, towards Calais and Piccardy; whence he marched with his victorious army of Irish, Scots, Picts, and Britons, further into France, in order to aid the Celtic natives in expelling the Roman Eagles, and thus to conquer that portion of the Roman Empire; and, encamping on the river Leor (now called Lianne), was, as he sat by the river side, treacherously assassinated by Eocha, son of Enna Cinsalach, king of Leinster, in revenge of a former "wrong" by him received from the said Niall. The spot on the Leor (not "Loire") where this Monarch was murdered is still called the "Ford of Niall," near Boulogne-sur-mer. It was in the ninth year of his reign that St. Patrick was first brought into Ireland, at the age of 16 years, among two hundred children brought by the Irish Army out of Little Brittany (called also Armorica), in France. Niall Mór was the first that gave the name of Scotia Minor to "Scotland," and ordained it to be ever after so called; until then it went by the name of "Alba." Niall had twelve sons: - I. Eoghan; II. Laeghaire (or Leary), the 128th Monarch, in the 4th year of whose reign St. Patrick, the second time, came into Ireland to plant the Christian Faith, A.D. 432; III. Conall Crimthann, ancestor of O'Melaghlin, Kings of Meath; IV. Conall Gulban, ancestor of O'Donnell (princes, lords, and earls of the territory of Tirconnell), and of O'Boyle, O'Dogherty, O'Gallagher, etc.; V. Fiacha, from whom the territory from Birr to the Hill of Uisneach in Media Hibernioe (or Meath) is called "Cineal Fiacha," and from him MacGeoghagan, lords of that territory, O'Molloy, O'Donechar, Donaher (or Dooner), etc., derive their pedigree; VI. Main, whose patrimony was all the tract of land from Lochree to Loch Annin, near Mullingar, and from whom are descended Fox (lords of the Muintir Tagan territory), MacGawley, O'Dugan, O'Mulchonry (the princes antiquaries of Ireland), O'Henergy, etc.; VII. Cairbre, ancestor of OFlanagan, of Tua Ratha, "Muintir Cathalan" (or Cahill) etc.; VIII. Fergus (a quo "Cineal Fergusa" or Ferguson), ancestor of O'Hagan, etc.; IX. Enna; X. Aongus or Æneas; XI. Ualdhearg; and XII. Fergus Altleathan. Of these last four sons we find no issue.