Eóganacht Chaisil
Encyclopedia
Eóganacht Chaisil were a branch of the Eóganachta
, the ruling dynasty of Munster
during the 5th-10th centuries. They took their name from Cashel
(Tipperary County) which was the capital of the early Christian kingdom of Munster. They were descended from Óengus mac Nad Froích
(died 489), the first Christian King of Munster, through his son Feidlimid mac Óengusa
.
In the seventh century, they split into two main clans. Cenél Fíngin descended from Fíngen mac Áedo Duib
(d. 618) and became the O'Sullivan
s and MacGillycuddy
s. A descendant of Fíngen was Feidlimid mac Cremthanin
(d. 847). Clann Faílbe descended from Faílbe Flann mac Áedo Duib
(d. 639) and became the MacCarthy dynasty
, rulers of the Kingdom of Desmond following their displacement by the Normans. The O'Callaghans belong to the same line as the MacCarthys, while the MacAuliffe
s are a sept of the MacCarthys.
The Eóganacht Chaisil were considered part of the inner circle of Eoganachta dynasties which included the Eóganacht Glendamnach
and Eóganacht Áine
branches. These three branches rotated the kingship of Munster in the 7th and much of the 8th centuries. The Chaisil branch provided most of the kings in the 9th and 10th centuries in Munster. Kings of Cashel and Munster from the Eóganacht Chaisil were:
Eóganachta
The Eóganachta or Eoghanachta were an Irish dynasty centred around Cashel which dominated southern Ireland from the 6/7th to the 10th centuries, and following that, in a restricted form, the Kingdom of Desmond, and its offshoot Carbery, well into the 16th century...
, the ruling dynasty of Munster
Munster
Munster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the south of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial purposes...
during the 5th-10th centuries. They took their name from Cashel
Cashel, County Tipperary
Cashel is a town in South Tipperary in Ireland. Its population was 2936 at the 2006 census. The town gives its name to the ecclesiastical province of Cashel. Additionally, the cathedra of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly was originally in the town prior to the English Reformation....
(Tipperary County) which was the capital of the early Christian kingdom of Munster. They were descended from Óengus mac Nad Froích
Óengus mac Nad Froích
Óengus mac Nad Froích was an Eoganachta and the first Christian king of Munster. He was the son of Nad Froich mac Cuirc by Faochan, a British lady...
(died 489), the first Christian King of Munster, through his son Feidlimid mac Óengusa
Feidlimid mac Óengusa
Feidlimid mac Óengusa or Feidlimid Dub was an Eoganachta King of Munster in the early 6th century. He was the son of Óengus mac Nad Froích, the first Christian king of Munster....
.
In the seventh century, they split into two main clans. Cenél Fíngin descended from Fíngen mac Áedo Duib
Fíngen mac Áedo Duib
Fíngen mac Áedo Duib was a King of Munster from the Eóganacht Chaisil branch of the Eoganachta. He was the great-grandson of Feidlimid mac Óengusa, a previous king. He succeeded Amalgaid mac Éndai as king in 601....
(d. 618) and became the O'Sullivan
O'Sullivan
O'Sullivan or simply Sullivan is an Irish surname, associated with the southwestern part of Ireland, originally found in County Tipperary before the Anglo-Norman invasion, then in County Cork and County Kerry, which due to emigration is also common in Australia, North America and Britain...
s and MacGillycuddy
McGillycuddy of the Reeks
The McGillycuddy of the Reeks is one of the hereditary chiefs of the name of Ireland. The current family head is Donough McGillycuddy, who lives in Himeville, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.-Mythology:...
s. A descendant of Fíngen was Feidlimid mac Cremthanin
Feidlimid mac Cremthanin
Fedelmid mac Crimthainn was the King of Munster between 820 and 846. He was numbered as a member of the Céli Dé, an abbot of Cork Abbey and Clonfert Abbey, and possibly a bishop...
(d. 847). Clann Faílbe descended from Faílbe Flann mac Áedo Duib
Faílbe Flann mac Áedo Duib
Faílbe Flann mac Áedo Duib was a King of Munster from the Eóganacht Chaisil branch of the Eoganachta. He succeeded Cathal mac Áedo Flaind Chathrach of the Glendamnach branch in 628. He was the younger brother of a previous king Fíngen mac Áedo Duib...
(d. 639) and became the MacCarthy dynasty
MacCarthy dynasty
The MacCarthy dynasty was one of Ireland's greatest medieval dynasties. It was and continues to be divided into several great branches. The MacCarthy Reagh, MacCarthy of Muskerry, and MacCarthy of Duhallow dynasties were the three most important of these, after the central or MacCarthy Mór...
, rulers of the Kingdom of Desmond following their displacement by the Normans. The O'Callaghans belong to the same line as the MacCarthys, while the MacAuliffe
McAuliffe (surname)
McAuliffe or MacAuliffe is a surname of Norse Irish origin. The name is an Anglicisation of the Gaelic Mac Amhlaoibh , meaning "son of Amhlaoibh". The Gaelic name, Amhlaoibh, was derived from the Old Norse personal name Olaf. The surname occurs frequently in Munster, especially northern County...
s are a sept of the MacCarthys.
The Eóganacht Chaisil were considered part of the inner circle of Eoganachta dynasties which included the Eóganacht Glendamnach
Eóganacht Glendamnach
Eóganacht Glendamnach were a branch of the Eóganachta, the ruling dynasty of Munster during the 5th-10th centuries. They took their name from Glendamnach . They were descended from Óengus mac Nad Froích , the first Christian King of Munster through his son Eochaid mac Óengusa and grandson...
and Eóganacht Áine
Eóganacht Áine
Eóganacht Áine or Eóganacht Áine Cliach was a princely house of the Eóganachta, dynasty of Munster during the 5th–12th centuries. They took their name from the Hill of Aine near the present day village of Knockainy, County Limerick. This region of Cliú is centred around the barony of Small...
branches. These three branches rotated the kingship of Munster in the 7th and much of the 8th centuries. The Chaisil branch provided most of the kings in the 9th and 10th centuries in Munster. Kings of Cashel and Munster from the Eóganacht Chaisil were:
- Fíngen mac Áedo DuibFíngen mac Áedo DuibFíngen mac Áedo Duib was a King of Munster from the Eóganacht Chaisil branch of the Eoganachta. He was the great-grandson of Feidlimid mac Óengusa, a previous king. He succeeded Amalgaid mac Éndai as king in 601....
, d. 618 - Faílbe Flann mac Áedo DuibFaílbe Flann mac Áedo DuibFaílbe Flann mac Áedo Duib was a King of Munster from the Eóganacht Chaisil branch of the Eoganachta. He succeeded Cathal mac Áedo Flaind Chathrach of the Glendamnach branch in 628. He was the younger brother of a previous king Fíngen mac Áedo Duib...
, d. 639 - Máenach mac FínginMáenach mac FínginMáenach mac Fíngin was a King of Munster from the Eóganacht Chaisil branch of the Eoganachta. He was the son of Fíngen mac Áedo Duib , a previous king. His mother was Mór Muman , daughter of Áed Bennán mac Crimthainn of the Loch Lein. He succeeded Cúán mac Amalgado as king in 641 The annals...
, d. 661 - Colgú mac Faílbe FlaindColgú mac Faílbe FlaindColgú mac Faílbe Flaind was a King of Munster from the Eóganacht Chaisil branch of the Eoganachta. He was the son of Faílbe Flann mac Áedo Duib , a previous king. He succeeded Cathal Cú-cen-máthair mac Cathail as king in 665. The annals mention no details of his reign...
, d. 678 - Cormac mac AilelloCormac mac AilelloCormac mac Ailello was a king of Munster from the Eóganacht Chaisil branch of the Eoganachta and the Cenél Fíngin sept of this branch. He was the grandson of Máenach mac Fíngin a previous king. He succeeded Eterscél mac Máele Umai in 702 who had abdicated.The annals report that Cormac fought...
, d. 712 - Tnúthgal mac DonngaileTnúthgal mac DonngaileTnúthgal mac Donngaile was a supposed King of Munster from the Eóganacht Chaisil branch of the Eoganachta. He was a fifth generation descendant of Colgú mac Faílbe Flaind , a previous king....
, d. 820 - Feidlimid mac CremthaninFeidlimid mac CremthaninFedelmid mac Crimthainn was the King of Munster between 820 and 846. He was numbered as a member of the Céli Dé, an abbot of Cork Abbey and Clonfert Abbey, and possibly a bishop...
, d. 847 - Áilgenán mac DonngaileÁilgenán mac DonngaileÁilgenán mac Donngaile was a King of Munster from the Eóganacht Chaisil branch of the Eoganachta, the ruling dynasty of Munster. He was of the Clann Faílbe sept of this branch and a grandson of Tnúthgal mac Donngaile , whom some sources name as King of Munster. His branch of the ruling dynasty had...
, d. 853 - Máel Gualae, d. 859
- Cormac mac CuilennáinCormac mac CuilennáinCormac mac Cuilennáin was an Irish bishop and was king of Munster from 902 until his death. He was killed fighting in Leinster, probably attempting to restore the fortunes of the kings of Munster by reimposing authority over that province.Cormac was regarded as a saintly figure after his death,...
, d. 908 - Cellachán CaisilCellachán CaisilCellachán mac Buadacháin , called Cellachán Caisil, was King of Munster.The son of Buadachán mac Lachtnai, he belonged to the Cashel branch of the Eóganachta kindred, the Eóganacht Chaisil. The last of his cognatic ancestors to have held the kingship of Munster was Colgú mac Faílbe Flaind Cellachán...
, d. 954 - Donnchad mac CellacháinDonnchad mac CellacháinDonnchad mac Cellacháin was a son of Cellachan of Cashel who is alleged to have briefly ruled as King of Cashel and Munster from 961 until 963, when he was murdered by his brother....
, d. 963