Airgíalla

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(Redirected from
Oirialla
)

Oriel
Airgíalla
331–1585
Airgíalla and other Irish kingdoms in the 7th–8th century
Airgíalla and other Irish kingdoms in the 7th–8th century
Common languagesMiddle Irish, Early Modern Irish, Latin
Religion
  • Gaelic Christianity
  • Catholic Christianity
  • Gaelic tradition
Rí
 
• 331–?
Colla Uais
• 1579–1585
Rossa Buidhe Mac Mathghamhna
History 
• Established
331
• Disestablished
1585
ISO 3166 codeIE
Preceded by		 Succeeded by
Ulaid
Kingdom of Ireland
Today part of

Airgíalla

overking, usually from the most powerful dynasty.[3] Airgíalla at its peak roughly matched the modern dioceses of Armagh and Clogher, spanning parts of counties Armagh, Monaghan, Louth, Fermanagh, Tyrone and Londonderry.[3] Its main towns were Armagh and Clogher
. The name's usage survives as a cultural area of folk tradition in South East Ulster and adjoining areas of County Louth.

According to legend, Airgíalla was founded by the

Three Collas,[3] who are said to have conquered what is now central Ulster from the Ulaid. The decisive victory was the battle of Achadh Leithdheirg
, said to have been fought around the year 331. However, this tale is thought to be mostly fiction, and the actual year and circumstances of how the Airgíalla confederation came about is unknown.

Originally thought to have been under the dominance of the neighbouring Ulaid to the east, the territory of the Airgíalla from the 6th century onwards was gradually eroded by the encroachment of their northern neighbours, the Cenél nEógain of the

Norman Invasion of Ireland—under the Mac Mathghamhna, until the end of the Gaelic order in Ireland.[3]

Etymology

Airgíalla may mean "those who give hostages" or "the hostage givers", and refers to both the Irish over-kingdom of Airgíalla, and the confederation of tribes that formed it.[3][5] It is commonly Anglicised as Oriel; however, archaic Angliciations include: Uriel, Orial, Orgialla, Orgiall, Oryallia, and Ergallia.[6]

After the Anglo-Norman invasion, the Anglicisation "Uriel" became the name of the part of Airgíalla that had extended into modern-day County Louth.[3] Similarly, the portion of Airgíalla that survived in modern-day County Monaghan, became known as Oirghialla,[3] from which derives the Anglicisation "Oriel".

In early manuscripts the Bishop of Clogher was styled Bishop of Oirialla.

History

Origins

According to legend

In the beginning of the 4th century, three warlike brothers, known as the

Emain Macha
, the ancient capital of Ulaid.

However, in general it can be shown that the origin legend was written (or composed) in the second quarter of the 8th century to seal their alliance with the Northern Uí Néill.[attribution needed]

Historical emergence

The earliest reference to the Airgíalla occurs in the Annals of Tigernach under the year 677, where the death of Dunchad mac Ultan, "Rí Oigriall", is noted. However, it is suspected of being a retrospective interpolation. On the other hand, the entry in the Annals of Ulster under the year 697 which lists Mael Fothataig mac Mael Dub as "Rex na nAirgialla" may indeed be genuine. Both Mael Fothatag and his son, Eochu Lemnae (died 704), are listed among the guarantors of the "Cáin Adomnáin" in 697. Thus it is believed that the Airgíalla were probably in existence as an entity by then, or certainly by the opening years of the 8th century.

Approximate location of Airgíalla c.900

8th–12th centuries

13th–16th centuries

Downfall of the Realm

Rossa Buidhe surrendered Airgíalla to Lord Deputy, John Perrot.

The Kingdom of Airgíalla came to an end in 1585 when

O'Neill. Initially, Rossa Boy made moves which suggested an alliance with Tír Eoghain, as he married the daughter of Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone. However, evidently hoping to be left alone to run affairs locally, while pledging allegiance to a distant monarch in Elizabeth I, the MacMahon met with John Perrot, then Lord Deputy of Ireland (according to some, a natural son of Tudor monarch Henry VIII) and agreed to join their Kingdom of Ireland.[9] Airgíalla, now known as Monaghan, was divided into five baronies under native Gaelic
chiefs, mostly from the MacMahon themselves.

This was not the end of the matter, however. Fearing the encroachment of the English, moving in closer and closer to his own territories, Hugh O'Neill turned to

Brehon laws and O'Neill was hoping to bring the "phantom" Airgíalla realm back into his camp on the death of Rossa Buidhe through this pact. For his part, Ross Buidhe was trying to engineer a pro-English succession through his brother Hugh Roe MacMahon. When the new Lord Deputy, William FitzWilliam began to pressure the acceptance of an English High Sheriff of Monaghan, O'Neill used his influence to exact opposition to it from clansmen in Monaghan (the same policy was promoted in Leitrim, Fermanagh and Donegal to encircle Tyrone). As a consequence, a military force led by Henry Bagenal was sent into the county in early 1589 to impose the sheriff and by the summer of that year, Rossa Boy was dead[how?
].

Dynastic groups

Airgíalla was composed of nine minor-kingdoms, each named after their ruling dynasty. These were:[4]

  • Uí Tuirtri, also spelt as Uí Tuirtre, meaning "descendants of Tort". They were based east of the
    Sperrin Mountains in eastern County Londonderry and Tyrone. From 776, the Uí Thuirtri had moved east of the River Bann and into the over-kingdom of Ulaid, and by 919 they had lost all links to the Airgíalla.[4]
  • Uí Maic Cairthinn, meaning "descendants of Cairthend". Based south of Lough Foyle in north-western County Londonderry.
  • Uí Fiachrach Arda Sratha, meaning "descendants of Fiachrach of Ard Straw". Based at Ardstraw in modern-day County Tyrone. They became subject to the Cenél nEógain by the 12th-century, and expanded southwards into Fir Luírg, in County Fermanagh.[10]
  • Uí Cremthainn, based in what is now parts of modern-day County Fermanagh, Monaghan, and Tyrone.
  • Uí Méith, based in modern-day County Monaghan.
  • Airthir, meaning "Easterners".[4] They were based around the city of Armagh, and held control of the offices of the church in Armagh, which had preeminence in Ireland.[4]
  • Mugdorna, or Crích Mughdornd, based in County Monaghan (Cremorne barony), however by the 12th-century had settled the territory of Bairrche, located in southern County Down, and named it after themselves.[11] Their name lives on as "Mourne", the present-day name for the area and the Mourne Mountains.[11]
  • Fir Chraíbe, also known as the Fir na Chraíbe,[12] meaning "men of the branch". They were located west of the River Bann in north-eastern County Londonderry. By the 9th-century they were a subject-people of the Cenél nEógain.[12]
  • Fir Lí, also known as the Fir Lee, meaning "people of Lí". They were located west of the River Bann in mid-eastern County Londonderry. By the 9th-century they were a subject-people of the Cenél nEógain.[12]

Uí Moccu Úais

The Uí Tuirtri, Uí Maic Cairthinn, and Uí Fiachrach Arda Sratha, were collectively known as the Uí Moccu Úais as they claimed descent from Colla Uais.[4] The pedigrees in the Book of Leinster states that Colla Uais had two sons, Erc and Fiachra Tort. From Fiachra Tort came the Uí Tuirtri. From Erc, came Cairthend and Fiachrach, who were respectively the ancestors of the Uí Maic Cairthinn and the Uí Fiachrach Arda Sratha. The Fir Lí are also claimed as being descended from Fiachra Tort, though other sources claim they descend from another son of Colla Uais called Faradach.

The Uí Moccu Uais were also found in counties Meath and Westmeath.[4] They were known as Uí Moccu Uais Midi and Uí Moccu Uais Breg, meaning the Uí Moccu Uais of Meath and Brega, respectively.

List of kings

  • Colga mac Loite mac Cruinn, died 513
  • Cairpre Daim Argat, died 514
  • Daimine Daim Argat, died 565
  • Conall Derg mac Daimine
  • Bec mac Cuanu, died 594
  • Aed mac Colgan, died 606
  • Mael Odhar Macha, died 636
  • Dunchad mac Ultan, died
    677
    ?
  • Mael Fothartaig mac Mael Dubh, alive
    697
  • Cu Masach mac Cathal, died 825
  • Gofraidh mac Fearghus, fl. 835
  • Foghartaigh mac Mael Breasal, died 850/852
  • Congalach mac Finnachta, died 874
  • Mael Padraig mac Mael Curarada, died 882
  • Maol Craoibh ua Duibh Sionach, died 917
  • Fogarthach mac Donnegan, died 947
  • Egneach mac Dalach, died 961
  • Donnacan mac Maelmuire, died 970
  • Mac Eiccnigh mac Dalagh, died 998
  • Mac Leiginn mac Cerbaill, died 1022
  • Cathalan Ua Crichain, died 1027
  • Gilla Coluim ua Eichnech, died 1048
  • Leathlobair Ua Laidhgnen, died 1053
  • Leathlobair Ua Laidhgnen, died 1078
  • Aodh Ua Baoigheallain, died 1093
  • Ua Ainbhigh, died 1094
  • Cu Caishil Ua Cerbaill, died 1101
  • Giolla Crist Ua hEiccnigh, died 1127
  • Donnchadh Ua Cearbaill
    , 1130–1168/1169
  • Murchard Ua Cerbaill, 1168–1189
  • Muirchertach, 1189–1194
  • ?, died 1196
  • Ua Eichnigh, died 1201
  • Giolla Pádraig Ó hAnluain, 1201–1243

Mac Mathghamhna chiefs, 1243–1590

Main article: McMahon_clans § The_MacMahons_of_Oriel_(Monaghan)
  • Eochaid mac Mathgahamna mac Neill, died 1273
  • Brian mac Eochada, 1283–1311
  • Ralph/Roolb mac Eochada, 1311–1314
  • Mael Sechlainn mac Eochada, 1314–?
  • Murchad Mór mac Briain, ?–1331
  • Seoan mac Maoilsheachlainn, 1331–1342
  • Aodh mac Roolb, 1342–1344
  • Murchadh Óg mac Murchada, 1344–1344
  • Maghnus mac Eochadha, 1344–1357
  • Pilib mac Rooilbh, 1357–1362
  • Brian Mór mac Aodh, 1362–1365
  • Niall mac Murchadha, 1365–1368
  • Brian Mór mac Aodh, 1368–1371
  • Pilib Ruadh mac Briain, 1371–1403
  • Ardghal mac Briain, 1403–February 1416
  • Brian mac Ardghail, 1416–1442
  • Ruaidhri mac Ardghail, 1442–1446
  • Aodh Ruadh mac Ruaidhri, 1446–31 March 1453
  • Feidhlimidh mac Briain, 1453–1466
  • Eochan mac Ruaidhri, 1466–1467
  • Reamonn mac Ruaidhri, 1467–November 1484
  • Aodh Óg mac Aodha Ruaidh, 1485–16 September 1496
  • Brian mac Reamoinn, 1496–1497
  • Rossa mac Maghnusa, 1497–1513
  • Reamonn mac Glaisne, 1513–c.1 April 1521
  • Glaisne Óg mac Reamoinn, 1521–1551?
  • Art Maol mac Reamoinn, 1551–1560
  • Aodh mac Briain, 1560–1562
  • Art Ruadh mac Briain, 1562–1578
  • Sir Rossa Buidhe mac Airt, 1579–August 1589
  • Hugh Roe McMahon (Irish: Aodh Ruadh mac Airt), 1589–September/October 1590.

See also

Bibliography

References

  1. ^ pronunciation: http://forvo.com/word/airg%C3%ADalla_%28old_irish%29/#ga [needs IPA]
  2. ^ Ulster Irish to English Dictionary
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Connolly, p. 12.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Duffy, p. 14.
  5. ^ Duffy, p. 13.
  6. ^ cf. Airgialla, Uriel, Orial, Orgialla, Orgiall, Oryallia, Ergallia, srl.
  7. ^ John O'Donovan (1856). Annala Rioghachta Éireann: Introductory remarks. Annals, to A.D. 902. Hodges, Smith, and Company. pp. 124–.
  8. ISBN 978-0-940134-77-5
    .
  9. ^ "The Fall of the MacMahons and the End of Oriel". Jim McMahon. 21 July 2015.
  10. ^ Cosgrove, p. .
  11. ^ a b Magoo - The Mughdorna
  12. ^ a b c Warner, p. 60.

Bibliography

External links
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