Fiachu mac Néill
Encyclopedia
Fiachu mac Néill was a king of Uisnech
in Mide of the Ui Neill
dynasty. He was the son of the high king Niall Noígíallach. According to the king list in the Book of Leinster
, he succeeded his brother Conall Cremthainne
(died 480) as king of Uisnech.
According to the Tripartite Life of Saint Patrick, Saint Patrick
visited Fiachu and his brother Éndae at Uisnech
. Fiachu refused baptism from the saint who put a curse on Uisnech. Tírechán
gives a different account stating that Fiachu's son killed one of Patrick's followers during the visit causing Patrick to curse his descendants.
Fiachu appears as the conqueror of Meath in the annals with Failge Berraide
, the ancestor of the Leinster dynasty of Uí Failgi, as his opponent. In 507 Fiachu was defeated by Failge at the Battle of Frémainn (Frewin Hill, near Mullingar
, County Westmeath
). Fiachu had a false prophecy that he would win this battle and desired revenge. In 514 he achieved this revenge by defeating Failge at the Battle of Druim Derg. By this victory the plain of Mide was taken away from the Laigin.
Fiachu was ancestor of the Cenél Fiachach whose lands extended from Birr
to Uisnech in southern Westmeath and part of Offaly and their southern territory became known as Fir Cell (land of the churches). His son Túathal established a northern branch and his son Úathnemgenn a southern branch. Another son Crimthann was great-grandfather of a local saint Áed mac Bricc
(died 589). The O'Higgins sept which produced a number of filí or poets in later generations is said to be descended from his son Uigín.
Uisnech
The Hill of Uisneach, or Ushnagh, also Uisnech , formerly regarded as the centre of Ireland, is a historical site in County Westmeath . The 182 metre hill lies on the north side of the R390 road, 8 km east of the village of Ballymore, beside the village of Loughanavally...
in Mide of the Ui Neill
Uí Néill
The Uí Néill are Irish and Scottish dynasties who claim descent from Niall Noigiallach , an historical King of Tara who died about 405....
dynasty. He was the son of the high king Niall Noígíallach. According to the king list in the Book of Leinster
Book of Leinster
The Book of Leinster , is a medieval Irish manuscript compiled ca. 1160 and now kept in Trinity College, Dublin, under the shelfmark MS H 2.18...
, he succeeded his brother Conall Cremthainne
Conall Cremthainne
Conall Cremthainne , also called Conall Err Breg, was an Irish king. He was the son of Niall of the Nine Hostages, and one of the progenitors of the Uí Néill dynasty....
(died 480) as king of Uisnech.
According to the Tripartite Life of Saint Patrick, Saint Patrick
Saint Patrick
Saint Patrick was a Romano-Briton and Christian missionary, who is the most generally recognized patron saint of Ireland or the Apostle of Ireland, although Brigid of Kildare and Colmcille are also formally patron saints....
visited Fiachu and his brother Éndae at Uisnech
Uisnech
The Hill of Uisneach, or Ushnagh, also Uisnech , formerly regarded as the centre of Ireland, is a historical site in County Westmeath . The 182 metre hill lies on the north side of the R390 road, 8 km east of the village of Ballymore, beside the village of Loughanavally...
. Fiachu refused baptism from the saint who put a curse on Uisnech. Tírechán
Tírechán
Tírechán was a 7th century Irish bishop and biographer of Saint Patrick. Tírechán wrote his untitled memoir sometime after the death of his mentor, Ultan of Ardbraccan, in 657. The work survives in the manuscript The Book of Armagh.Tírechán's account, which J. B...
gives a different account stating that Fiachu's son killed one of Patrick's followers during the visit causing Patrick to curse his descendants.
Fiachu appears as the conqueror of Meath in the annals with Failge Berraide
Failge Berraide
Failge Berraide was a King of the Uí Failge of County Offaly.His exact identity is not known. As the eponymous ancestor of the Uí Failge he may be associated with Rus Failge, the son of the high king of Ireland, Cathair Mór, said to have lived in the early 2 cd century. This is the ancestor...
, the ancestor of the Leinster dynasty of Uí Failgi, as his opponent. In 507 Fiachu was defeated by Failge at the Battle of Frémainn (Frewin Hill, near Mullingar
Mullingar
Mullingar is the county town of County Westmeath in Ireland. The Counties of Meath and Westmeath Act of 1542, proclaimed Westmeath a county, separating it from Meath. Mullingar became the administrative centre for County Westmeath...
, County Westmeath
County Westmeath
-Economy:Westmeath has a strong agricultural economy. Initially, development occurred around the major market centres of Mullingar, Moate, and Kinnegad. Athlone developed due to its military significance, and its strategic location on the main Dublin–Galway route across the River Shannon. Mullingar...
). Fiachu had a false prophecy that he would win this battle and desired revenge. In 514 he achieved this revenge by defeating Failge at the Battle of Druim Derg. By this victory the plain of Mide was taken away from the Laigin.
Fiachu was ancestor of the Cenél Fiachach whose lands extended from Birr
Birr
Birr is a town in County Offaly, Ireland. Once called Parsonstown, after the Parsons family who were local landowners and hereditary Earls of Rosse. It is also a parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe....
to Uisnech in southern Westmeath and part of Offaly and their southern territory became known as Fir Cell (land of the churches). His son Túathal established a northern branch and his son Úathnemgenn a southern branch. Another son Crimthann was great-grandfather of a local saint Áed mac Bricc
Áed mac Bricc
Áed mac Bricc was an Irish bishop and saint. Áed's principal church was at Rahugh in modern County Westmeath. He was regarded as a patron saint of the Uí Néill and was said to be a descendant of Fiachu mac Néill...
(died 589). The O'Higgins sept which produced a number of filí or poets in later generations is said to be descended from his son Uigín.