Loarn mac Eirc
Encyclopedia
Loarn mac Eirc was a legendary king of Dál Riata
who may have lived in the 5th century.
The Duan Albanach
and the Senchus Fer n-Alban
and other genealogies name Loarn's father as Erc
son of Eochaid Muinremuir. There are no records or traditions of Loarn as king, and his main significance is as the eponymous ancestor of the Cenél Loairn kindred.
around the Firth of Lorne
, most probably centred on Lorne
(a place within the region named Lorna) but perhaps including the Isle of Mull
, Morvern
and Ardnamurchan
. The chief place of the kingdom appears to have been at Dun Ollaigh
, near Oban
. The chief religious site may have been on Lismore
, later the seat of the High Medieval bishop of Argyll
.
In High Medieval times the Mormaers of Moray
claimed descent from Loarn.
Dál Riata
Dál Riata was a Gaelic overkingdom on the western coast of Scotland with some territory on the northeast coast of Ireland...
who may have lived in the 5th century.
The Duan Albanach
Duan Albanach
The Duan Albanach is a Middle Gaelic poem found with the Lebor Bretnach, a Gaelic version of the Historia Brittonum of Nennius, with extensive additional material ....
and the Senchus Fer n-Alban
Senchus fer n-Alban
The Senchus Fer n-Alban is an Old Irish medieval text, believed to have been compiled in the 10th century. It may have been derived from earlier documents of the 7th century which are presumed to have been written in Latin...
and other genealogies name Loarn's father as Erc
Erc of Dalriada
Erc was king of Irish Dál Riata until 474. He was the father of Fergus Mór and Loarn mac Eirc, and may have been the great-grandfather of Muirchertach mac Muiredaig. Confusion arises from the latter's matronym, Macc Ercae, said to come from his legendary mother Erca, daughter of Loarn mac Eirc....
son of Eochaid Muinremuir. There are no records or traditions of Loarn as king, and his main significance is as the eponymous ancestor of the Cenél Loairn kindred.
Cenél Loairn
The Cenél Loairn controlled parts of northern ArgyllArgyll
Argyll , archaically Argyle , is a region of western Scotland corresponding with most of the part of ancient Dál Riata that was located on the island of Great Britain, and in a historical context can be used to mean the entire western coast between the Mull of Kintyre and Cape Wrath...
around the Firth of Lorne
Firth of Lorne
The Firth of Lorn is a body of water on Scotland's west coast, in Argyll and Bute. It lies between the Isle of Mull to the northwest and the Isles of Kerrera, Seil and Luing along with parts of the Scottish mainland southwest of Oban on the southeast side...
, most probably centred on Lorne
Lorne, Argyll and Bute
Lorne is an ancient district in the west of Scotland, now part of the Argyll and Bute council area. It is within the region once named Lorna which may have taken its name from Loarn mac Eirc. However the last cartographical reference to Lorna is in 1607 with that same area being referred to as...
(a place within the region named Lorna) but perhaps including the Isle of Mull
Isle of Mull
The Isle of Mull or simply Mull is the second largest island of the Inner Hebrides, off the west coast of Scotland in the council area of Argyll and Bute....
, Morvern
Morvern
Morvern is a peninsula in south west Lochaber, on the west coast of Scotland. The name is derived from the Gaelic A' Mhorbhairne . The highest point is the summit of the Corbett Creach Bheinn which reaches in elevation....
and Ardnamurchan
Ardnamurchan
Ardnamurchan is a peninsula in Lochaber, Highland, Scotland, noted for being very unspoilt and undisturbed. Its remoteness is accentuated by the main access route being a single track road for much of its length.-Geography:...
. The chief place of the kingdom appears to have been at Dun Ollaigh
Dunollie Castle
Dunollie Castle is a small ruin located on a hill north of the town of Oban, on the west coast Scotland. It commands a view of the town, harbour and, outlying isles. The ruin is accessible by a short, steep path. There is no entrance fee, there is a small layby at the foot of the hill...
, near Oban
Oban
Oban Oban Oban ( is a resort town within the Argyll and Bute council area of Scotland. It has a total resident population of 8,120. Despite its small size, it is the largest town between Helensburgh and Fort William and during the tourist season the town can be crowded by up to 25,000 people. Oban...
. The chief religious site may have been on Lismore
Lismore, Scotland
Lismore is a partially Gaelic speaking island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. This fertile, low-lying island was once a major centre of Celtic Christianity, with a monastery founded by Saint Moluag and the seat of the Bishop of Argyll.-Geography:...
, later the seat of the High Medieval bishop of Argyll
Bishop of Argyll
The Bishop of Argyll or Bishop of Lismore was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Argyll, one of Scotland's 13 medieval bishoprics. It was created in 1200, when the western half of the territory of the Bishopric of Dunkeld was formed into the new diocese. The bishops were based at Lismore...
.
Descendants of Loarn
Several kings of Dál Riata were members of the Cenél Loairn, and thus claimed descent from Loarn.- Ferchar FotaFerchar FotaFerchar Fota was probably king of the Cenél Loairn of Dál Riata, and perhaps of all Dál Riata. His father is named as Feredach mac Fergusa and he was said to be a descendant in the 6th generation of Loarn mac Eirc....
- Ainbcellach mac FerchairAinbcellach mac FerchairAinbcellach mac Ferchair was king of the Cenél Loairn of Dál Riata, and perhaps of all Dál Riata, from 697 until 698, when he was deposed and exiled to Ireland....
- Selbach mac FerchairSelbach mac FerchairSelbach mac Ferchair was king of the Cenél Loairn and of Dál Riata. Selbach's existence is well-attested as he is mentioned repeatedly in Irish annals.-Life:Selbach mac Ferchair was a son of Ferchar Fota...
- Dúngal mac SelbaigDúngal mac SelbaigDúngal mac Selbaig was king of Dál Riata. His reign can best be placed in the years 723 to 726, beginning with the abdication of his father, Selbach mac Ferchair, who entered a monastery, and ending with rise of Eochaid mac Echdach of the Cenél nGabráin...
- Muiredach mac AinbcellaigMuiredach mac AinbcellaigMuiredach mac Ainbcellaig was king of the Cenél Loairn, and of Dál Riata , from about 733 until 736.He was the son of Ainbcellach mac Ferchair. His coming to power is reported in 733, and is not obviously associated with the death of Eochaid mac Echdach, king of Dál Riata, in the Irish annals...
In High Medieval times the Mormaers of Moray
Mormaer of Moray
The Mormaerdom or Kingdom of Moray was a lordship in High Medieval Scotland that was destroyed by King David I of Scotland in 1130. It did not have the same territory as the modern local government council area of Moray, which is a much smaller area, around Elgin...
claimed descent from Loarn.
- Findláech mac RuaidríFindláech of MorayFindláech of Moray was the King or Mormaer of Moray, ruling from some point before 1014 until his death in 1020....
- Máel Coluim mac Máil BrigtiMáel Coluim of MorayMáel Coluim of Moray was King or Mormaer of Moray , and, as his name suggests, the son of a Máel Brigte...
- Gille Coemgáin mac Máil BrigtiGille Coemgáin of MorayGilla Coemgáin was the King or Mormaer of Moray, a semi-autonomous kingdom centred around Inverness that stretched across the north of Scotland. Unlike his two predecessors, he is not called King of Scotland in his death notice, but merely Mormaer...
- Mac Bethad mac FindláichMacbeth of ScotlandMac Bethad mac Findlaích was King of the Scots from 1040 until his death...
(also king of AlbaKingdom of AlbaThe name Kingdom of Alba pertains to the Kingdom of Scotland between the deaths of Donald II in 900, and of Alexander III in 1286 which then led indirectly to the Scottish Wars of Independence...
) - Lulach mac Gille CoemgáinLulach of ScotlandLulach mac Gille Coemgáin was King of Scots between 15 August 1057 and 17 March 1058.He appears to have been a weak king, as his nicknames suggest...
(also king of Alba) - Máel Snechtai mac LulaichMáel Snechtai of MorayMáel Snechtai of Moray was the ruler of Moray, and, as his name suggests, the son of Lulach, King of Scotland.He is called on his death notice in the Annals of Ulster, "Máel Snechtai m...
- ÓengusÓengus of MorayÓengus of Moray was the last King of Moray of the native line, ruling Moray in what is now northeastern Scotland from some unknown date until his death in 1130....