Finnachta
Encyclopedia
Fínnachta, son of Ollom Fotla, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland
in succession to his father. His given name was Elim. There is said to have been snow of wine (Old Irish fín, "wine", snechta, "snow") in his reign, from which he gained his better-known name. He ruled for twenty years before dying of plague at Mag Inis in Ulster
, and was succeeded by his brother Slánoll
. The chronology of Geoffrey Keating
's Foras Feasa ar Éirinn dates his reign to 913-895 BC, that of the Annals of the Four Masters
to 1278-1258 BC.
High King of Ireland
The High Kings of Ireland were sometimes historical and sometimes legendary figures who had, or who are claimed to have had, lordship over the whole of Ireland. Medieval and early modern Irish literature portrays an almost unbroken sequence of High Kings, ruling from Tara over a hierarchy of...
in succession to his father. His given name was Elim. There is said to have been snow of wine (Old Irish fín, "wine", snechta, "snow") in his reign, from which he gained his better-known name. He ruled for twenty years before dying of plague at Mag Inis in Ulster
Ulster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. 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...
, and was succeeded by his brother Slánoll
Slanoll
Slánoll, son of Ollom Fotla, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland. He succeeded to throne on the death of his brother Fínnachta. It is said that there was no disease during his reign...
. The chronology of Geoffrey Keating
Geoffrey Keating
Seathrún Céitinn, known in English as Geoffrey Keating, was a 17th century Irish Roman Catholic priest, poet and historian. He was born in County Tipperary c. 1569, and died c. 1644...
's Foras Feasa ar Éirinn dates his reign to 913-895 BC, that of the Annals of the Four Masters
Annals of the Four Masters
The Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland or the Annals of the Four Masters are a chronicle of medieval Irish history...
to 1278-1258 BC.