Conall Gulban
Conall Gulban (died c. 464) was an Irish king and eponymous ancestor of the Cenél Conaill, who founded the kingdom of Tír Chonaill in the 5th century, comprising much of what is now County Donegal in Ulster. He was the son of Niall Noígiallach.[1]
His by-name Gulban derives from Benn Ghulbain in County Sligo, from which centre the sons of Niall set out upon their conquest of the North.[2] King Conall Gulban was murdered by the Masraige at Magh Slécht (County Cavan) in 464. He was buried by Saint Caillin at Fenagh, County Leitrim.[3] He is important in the history of Irish Christianity as he was the first nobleman baptised by St. Patrick, thus opening the way for the conversion of the ruling classes of Ireland.
He was apparently very close to his brother Eógan mac Néill who died of grief over his brother's death the next year.[4]
His sons included Fergus Cendfota, Dauí (founder of the Cenél nDuach) and Énna Bogaine (founder of the Cenél mBogaine).
Descendants
His descendants were known as the Cenél Conaill.
The peninsula of Inishowen in the north of County Donegal was fought for by the Ó Dochartaigh clan (known modernly as Doherty, Daugherty, Docherty, Dougherty, etc.) who were then given the title of Princes of Donegal. This family also descends from Conall (see Clann Ua Dochartaig).
The Cenél nEógain, descended from his brother Eoghan, became the other premier Uí Néill sept in the North. Their kingdom was known as Tír Eógain. Modern day County Tyrone shares both its name and much of its territory. Its respective royal dynasties, the Kings of Tir Connaill and the Kings of Tír Eógain. Its last de jure native rulers fled abroad in the episode known as the Flight of the Earls but, as with all the major Irish kingships, the line of descent continues into the present day.
Notes
References
- Annals of the Four Masters at CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts at University College Cork
- Byrne, Francis John (2001), Irish Kings and High-Kings, Dublin: Four Courts Press, ISBN 978-1-85182-196-9
Cenél Conaill
Niall Noígiallach, died c. A.D.455. | |______________________________________________________________________________ | | | | | | | | | | | | Conall Gulban Eoghan Coirpre Fiacha Conall Cremthainne Lóegaire | | | | | | | | | | | | | Cenél nEógain | Cenél Fiachach | Cenél Lóegaire | | | | Cenél Cairpre / \ | / \ | / \ | Clann Cholmáin Síl nÁedo Sláine | Cenél Conaill of In Fochla | |_______________________________________________ | | | | | | Fergus Cennfota Doi Enna Bogaine | (Cenél nDuach) (Cenél mBogaine) | | | | | | | Ninnid, fl. 561 Melge | | | | | | | Baetan, d. 586 Brandub | | |_________ ? | | | | | Garban Setna Feidlimid | | | | | | Sechnasach, Rí Cenél mBogaine, d. 609 | Columb Cille, 521-597 | |_______________________________ |______________ | | | | | | | | | | Ainmire, d. 569 Colum Lugaid Mael Tuile Bresal, d. 644 | | | | | | | Cenél Lugdach Dungal, Rí Cenél mBogaine, d. 672 | | | | | |_____________ | Ronan | | | | | | | | Sechnasach Dub Diberg, d. 703 | Garb | | | | ? | | | | Flaithgus, d. 732 | | Forbasach | | | Rí Cenél mBogaine ? | Cen Faelad d. 722 | | | Rogaillnech, d. 815 | _______________________| | | | | | | | Mael Duin Fiaman | | | | ? ? | | | | Airnelach Maenguile | | | | | | | | | | | | | Cen Faelad Dochartach | | (Clann Ua Dochartaig) | | | |____________________________________________ | | | | | | | Dalach, 'Dux' Cenél Conaill, d. 870. Bradagain | | | | | | | Eicnecan, Rí Cenél Conaill, d. 906 Baigill | | (Clann Ua Baighill) | | | |______________________________________________________________ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | two sons Flann Adlann Domnall Mor Conchobar | d. 956 & 962. Abbot of Derry (Clann Ua Domnaill) | d. 950. | |___________________ | | | | Aed, d. 598 Ciaran | | | | | Fiachra, founder of Derry, died 620. | |__________________________________________________________ | | | | | | | | Domnall, d. 642 Conall Cu Mael Cobo, d. 615 Cumuscach, d. 597 High King of Ireland d. 604 | | |_____________ | | | | | | | Cellach Conall Cael | | both died 658/664 | | | (Clann Ua Gallchobair) | | |________________________________________________________________ | | | | | | | | | | Oengus, d. 650 Conall Colgu Ailill Flannesda Fergus Fanat | d.663 d.663 d.666 d.654 | | | | | Congal Cenn Magair | d. 710 | | | __________|__________ | | | | | | | | | Donngal Flann Gohan Conaig | d. 731 d.732 d.733 | Loingsech, d. 703 | |____________________________________________________________________ | | | | | | | | | | Flaithbertach, deposed 734. Fergus, d. 707 three other sons, all killed 703 | |_____________________________________________________________________ | | | | | | Aed Muinderg, Ri In Tuisceart, d. 747. Loingsech Murchad | Rí Cenél Conaill Rí Cenél Conaill |_______________ d. 754 d. 767 | | | | | | Domnall Donnchad Mael Bresail d. 804 fl. 784 Rí Cenél Conaill | d. 767 | | Flaithbertach | | Oengus | | Canannan | (Ua Canannain) Mael Doraid (Ua Maildoraid) | _______|_______ | | | | Fogartach Mael Bresail Rí Cenél Conaill Rí Cenél Conaill d. 904 d. 901