Kings of Tir Eogain
Encyclopedia
This article lists the Kings of Tír Eoghain or Tyrone
(Modern Irish
: Tír Eoghain
) from 1185 to 1616. They are listed from their date of accession to date of death, unless otherwise stated.
Prior to this, the ruling dynasty - the Cenél nEógain
- were most of the Kings of Ailech
. During the tenth and eleventh centuries, two main septs within the dynasty emerged; the Mac Lochlainn
and the Ó Néill
. The latter family pushed aside the Mac Lochlainns, and from 1241 onwards the kingdom was ruled exclusively by members of the Ó Néill family.
For the O'Neill kingdom, distinct from Tyrone, that was ruled by the descendants of Aedh Buidhe mac Domnaill Óg below, see Clandeboye
.
It could also be argued that Conn Bachach had taken the title earl of Tyrone
in 1542, as part of the process of Surrender and regrant
, and in the process had waived his title. Whether he could waive it without consulting his clan derbfine is part of this debate.
Conn Bacach's grandson Aodh Mor was not proclaimed king at Tullyhogue in 1593, but assumed the title after arranging to pay Turlough Luineach an annuity.
Tyrone
The name Tyrone can refer to:*County Tyrone, a county in Northern Ireland, roughly corresponding to the ancient kingdom of Tír Eogain*An Earl of Tyrone*A small steam train which runs between Bushmills and the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland-Places:...
(Modern Irish
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
: Tír Eoghain
County Tyrone
Historically Tyrone stretched as far north as Lough Foyle, and comprised part of modern day County Londonderry east of the River Foyle. The majority of County Londonderry was carved out of Tyrone between 1610-1620 when that land went to the Guilds of London to set up profit making schemes based on...
) from 1185 to 1616. They are listed from their date of accession to date of death, unless otherwise stated.
Prior to this, the ruling dynasty - the Cenél nEógain
Cenél nEógain
Cenél nEóġain is the name of the "kindred" or descendants of Eógan mac Néill , son of Niall Noígiallach who founded the kingdom of Tír Eoghain in the 5th century...
- were most of the Kings of Ailech
Kings of Ailech
The Kings of Ailech belonged to the northern Uí Néill and took their name from the Grianán of Ailech , a hillfort on top of Greenan Mountain in modern County Donegal...
. During the tenth and eleventh centuries, two main septs within the dynasty emerged; the Mac Lochlainn
McLaughlin
McLaughlin or MacLaughlin is a surname of Irish and Scottish origin. The name is an Anglicisation of the Gaelic Mac Lochlainn ....
and the Ó Néill
O'Neill dynasty
The O'Neill dynasty is a group of families that have held prominent positions and titles throughout European history. The O'Neills take their name from Niall Glúndub, an early 10th century High King of Ireland from the Cenél nEógain...
. The latter family pushed aside the Mac Lochlainns, and from 1241 onwards the kingdom was ruled exclusively by members of the Ó Néill family.
For the O'Neill kingdom, distinct from Tyrone, that was ruled by the descendants of Aedh Buidhe mac Domnaill Óg below, see Clandeboye
Clandeboye
Clandeboye is in modern times an area of Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland. It is named after the Clandeboye family, a branch of the O'Neill dynasty. They settled in the 1330s after the death of the Earl of Ulster in what is now south Antrim and north Down, giving their name to the territory...
.
Kings of Tír Eóghain 1185-1616
- Domhnall mac Aodha Mac Lochlainn: 1185; deposed 1186;restored 1187; died 1188
- Ruaidhri Ó Flaithbheartaigh: 1186 - 1187
- Muircheartach mac Muircheartaigh Mac Lochlainn: 1188 - 1196
- Aodh Méith mac Aodha Ó NéillAodh MéithAodh Méith or Áed Méith was a 13th-century Ó Néill chief and king of Tír Eoghain. The son of Aodh an Macaoimh Tóinleasg, first Ó Néill king in over a century, Aodh spent much of his career fighting off threats from Fir Manach, Tír Conaill and Galloway, as well as John de Courcy and the English crown...
: 1196 - 1230; first Ua Neill (Ó Néill) king. - Conchobhar Beg mac Conchobhair Mac Lochlainn: 1201 - 1201
- Niall Ruadh mac Aodha Ó Néill: 1230-1230
- Domhnall mac Muirchertaigh Mac Lochlainn: 1230; dep. 1230; res. 1234; died 1241 (last Mac Lochlainn King of Tír Eógain; all subsequent kings were Ó Néills)
- Domhnall Óg mac Aodha Méith Ó Néill: 1230 - 1234
- Brian mac Néill Ruaidh Ó NéillBrian Ua NeillBrian Ua Néill, also known as Brian O'Neill, was the High King of Ireland from 1258 to 1260. He died in the Battle of Druim Dearg in 1260.- Revolt in Ireland :...
: 1238-16 May 1260; High King of Ireland 1258-1260. - Aodh Buidhe mac Domhnaill Óg: 1260; dep. 1261; rest. 1263; died 1283 (the last to be styled King of Ailech)
- Niall Culanach mac Domhnaill Óg: 1261; dep. 1263; res. 1286; dep. 1290; died 1291
- Domhnall mac Brian Ó Néill: 1283; dep. 1286; res. 1290; dep. 1291; res. 1295; died 1325
- Brian mac Aodha Buidhe: 1291 - 1295
- Éinri mac Briain meic Aodha Buidhe: 1325; dep. 1345; died 1347
- Aodh Reamhair (Aodh Mór) mac Domhnaill: 1345-1364 - with one exception, all future kings were his descendants.
- Niall Mór mac Aodha Reamhair: 1364; also styled as King of Ulster 1364; abdicated 1397; died 1398
- Niall Óg mac Néill: 1397-1403
- Brian Óg mac Néill Óg: 1403-1403
- Domhnall mac Éinri Aimhreidh: 1404; dep. 1410; res.1414; dep.1419; res.1421; died 1 January 1432
- Eoghan mac Néill Óg: 1410; dep.1414; res.1419; dep. 1421; res. 1432; abdicated 1455; died 1456
- Éinri mac Eoghain: 1455; abdicated 1483; died 1484
- Conn mac Éinri: 1483 - 8 January 1493
- Éinri Óg mac Éinri: 1493 - 21 August 1498
- Domhnall Clarach mac Éinri: 1498 - 6 August 1509
- Art mac Aodha: 1509-1513; descended from Aed Buidhe; his mother was daughter of Eoghan mac Neill Og.
- Art Óg mac Cuinn: 1513-1519
- Conn Bacach mac Cuinn Ó NéillConn O'Neill, 1st Earl of TyroneConn O'Neill, 1st Earl of Tyrone King of Tír Eógain, c. 1480–1559.-Biography:A son of Conn Mór, King of Tír Eógain, grandson of Henry Ó Néill, the King of Tír Eógain, was the first of the Ó Néills whom the attempts of the English in the 16th century to subjugate Ireland brought to the front as...
: 1519; created Earl of TyroneEarl of TyroneThe Earl of Tyrone is a title created three times in the Peerage of Ireland.It was first created as part of the Tudor attempt to establish a uniform social structure in Ireland by converting the Gaelic kings and chiefs into hereditary nobles of the Kingdom of Ireland...
1542; deposed 1558; died 1559 - Seán Donnghaileach (Seán an Diomuis mac Cuinn Bhacaigh: 1559 - 2 June 1567
- Toirdhealbhach Luineach mac Neill Chonnalaigh meic Airt Óig Ó NéillTurlough Luineach O'NeillToirdhealbhach Luineach Mac Néill Chonnalaigh Ó Néill , the earl of the Clan-Connell, was inaugurated as the King of Tyrone, upon Shane O’Neill’s death...
: 1567; surrendered kingship to Hugh O'Neill 1593; died c. 10 September 1595 - Aodh Mór mac Feardorcha Ó NéillHugh O'Neill, 3rd Earl of TyroneAodh Mór Ó Néill, anglicised as Hugh The Great O'Neill , was the 2nd or 3rd Earl of Tyrone and was later created The Ó Néill...
: 1593; fled 1607; died 10 July 1616 (by the Julian calendar; 20 July Gregorian).
It could also be argued that Conn Bachach had taken the title earl of Tyrone
Earl of Tyrone
The Earl of Tyrone is a title created three times in the Peerage of Ireland.It was first created as part of the Tudor attempt to establish a uniform social structure in Ireland by converting the Gaelic kings and chiefs into hereditary nobles of the Kingdom of Ireland...
in 1542, as part of the process of Surrender and regrant
Surrender and regrant
During the Tudor conquest of Ireland , "surrender and regrant" was the legal mechanism by which Irish clans were to be converted from a power structure rooted in clan and kin loyalties, to a late-feudal system under the English legal system...
, and in the process had waived his title. Whether he could waive it without consulting his clan derbfine is part of this debate.
Conn Bacach's grandson Aodh Mor was not proclaimed king at Tullyhogue in 1593, but assumed the title after arranging to pay Turlough Luineach an annuity.
Sources
- "Kings of Tír Eógain and Earls of Tyrone, 1185-1616", pages 211-213, "A New History of Ireland", Volume 9: Maps, Genealogies, Lists; A Companion to Irish History Part II", edited by T. W. Moody, F.X. Martin, F.J. Byrne, Oxford, 1984.