RAINBOW FARMS AUSTRALIA                                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

                                                                                                                                              11th Century AD - 1

                                                                                                                               "The position of Irish Septs at this time."

                                                                                                                  During this Century, Ireland was known as "Scotia."

      The Heremonian Ui Laoghaire Ui Lughaidh Cu Corb Ui Dunlainge Tuatha / Family regions in Southern Leinster would by this time be well and truly feeling the crunch of being constantly "weakened" by the previous Centuries of battle for overall supremacy in Ireland against their kinsmen the Heremonian Ui Cobhthaigh Ui Felim Dal Cuinn Ui Niaill Septs, and also the Tuetonic Scandinavian Vikings who now had "settlements" mainly along the "eastern coastal" regions of Ireland. The Heremonian Cu Corb Septs in Southern Leinster due also to the ongoing Viking attacks, were to be "defeated" by their closer kinsmen in the Heremonian Ui Laoghaire Ui Connla Kingdom of Ossory in Co. Kilkenny in the south - west  of Southern Leinster, whose territory and Kingdom actually created a "buffer" zone between the Munster Province and Southern Leinster in ancient Mogha's Half. (The emerging kingdom of Ossory, due to these never - ending Viking attacks from the nearby "coastal" regions, was to now also be capable of escaping the "over lordship" of the Heberian Septs in Munster Province, and endeavour also to become Kings of Leinster in their own right). Although all of the Gaelic Milesian Heremonian Septs in Southern Leinster were always under "attack," either from the Heremonian Ui Cobhthaigh Ui Felim Dal Cuinn Ui Niaill Septs, the Heberian Eoghanachta Septs, the Heberian Dal gCais Septs, the various Irish Septs of Ulster Province, and the Vikings, a similar circumstance that was occurring to the two Gaelic Milesian Ulaid Septs who were also feeling the pressure on the "north - east coast" of Ulster Province, who nevertheless were more "genetically united." There was only the Gaelic Milesian Irian Ui Loigis Sept who had their territory and Kingdom in Co. Offaly in the north - west of Southern Leinster, and the Heremonian Ui Cobhthaigh Ui Felim Fothairt Sept settled among the Heremonian Cu Corb Septs who were "vassal" Irish Septs, who were not Heremonian Cu Corb Septs there. (The Heremonian Fotharta Mara Sept had their Kingdom in the far "south - east" of Southern Leinster and their kinsmen the Heremonian Fotharta Fea Sept were on the River Slaney in Co. Wexford and Co. Carlow in Southern Leinster. They were also to be found around Kildare in Co. Kildare in Central Southern Leinster where St. Bridget had eminated from their particular Sept, and where their territory was situated near the Heremonian Cu Corb Ui Bairrche Sept who were descended from 91.Daire Barrach, who had been another of the 9 sons of *90.Caher / Cathair Mor the 109th King of Tara / Ireland to leave aristocratic warrior issue towards the Kingships. (The Ui Bairrche Sept had been an especially "important" Sept during the 6th - 7th Centuries AD). (At one time Cormac mac Dermot / mheic Diarmata from the Heremonian Cu Corb Ui Bairrche Sept was the King of Southern Leinster, and 99.Columb mac Cormac / Colman mheic Cormaic from the Heremonian Cu Corb Ui Cheinnselaig Sept was the King of Northern Leinster. The fortunes of the  Heremonian Cu Corb Ui Cheinnselaig / Cinnsela Sept would now also be on the "rise" once again this Century, as opposed to their close kinsmen the Heremonian Cu Corb Ui Dunlainge Sept who had previously over a long period been the most pre - dominant Heremonian Cu Corb Sept in Southern Leinster.

    The Heremonian Ui Cobhthaigh Ui Felim Dal Cuinn "northern" Ui Niaill Cenel nEogain Sept in the north in the Ulster Province who were descended from 91.Eogan the 1st King of Ailech there were to evolve not only into the main Septs of the O Nialls / O Neills and Mac Loughlins, but also the O Canes / O Kanes / Ui Cathain, the O Hagans / Ui hAgain and the O Gormleys / Ui Goirmleadhaigh who were all to be descended through 91.Eogain and his descendant *103.Niall Glun Dubh - of the Black Knee the previous 170th King of Ireland who had been slain by the Tuetonic Scandinavian Vikings in a battle in 919 AD in Dublin. The Mac Loughlins / Mheic Lochlainns who would come to be the more dominant Heremonian Cenel nEogain Sept in Ulster Province this Century were to be also descended either from *103.Niall - of the Black Knee / or from his brother, 103.Donnell / Domhnall who had been the 28th King of Aileach there in Ulster Province.

    *105.Brian Boru - of the Tributes who was the Heberian Dal gCais King of Northern Munster / Thomond and 41st King of Cashel / Munster in Mogha's Half / Southern Ireland was also to "revive" the boroimhe / tribute to be paid by the Heremonian Cu Corb Southern Leinster Septs because they had continued to adhere to the Teutonic Scandinavian Danish Viking cause, mainly due to the many Viking "settlements" that were situated nearby along their eastern coastline and the Viking culture, which had remained "foreign" to the Irish Septs up until now, had only always had a destructive impact on the Irish Septs in Ireland, as their warfare was more "brutal" and "savage" and less discriminating in regard to their victims. The ongoing turmoil because of the constant Viking attacks had by now conditioned many of the Celtic Gaelic Irish Septs to abandon their "traditional respect" for Holy Places and the tenets of "The Irish Brehon Law," as there was now a constant struggle for the "Survival of the Fittest" for total Overlordship to try and counteract the continuing Viking onslaught. (Despite the terrible impacts that had been created by this "turmoil," only 50 odd Norse words were ever to infringe into the Gaelic Irish language). One "positive" aspect during this terrible period was that the Gaelic Irish warriors were to gain "first hand knowledge" of the Viking's military craft, and were to also "adopt" the battle axe as their principal weapon during their continuing Celtic culture aspect of "one on one" during combat.

     During this Century and the next, the Celtic Heremonian Ui Cobhthaigh Ui Felim Dal Cuinn Colla Da Crioch Ui Cremthainn Sept who had their territory and Kingdom in Central  Ulster Province, under the leadership of the Colla Da Crioch O Carrolls / Ui Cerbaill were to either push, or be pushed "southwards" towards the River Boyne, enveloping the territory of their kinsmen the Colla Da Crioch Ui Muirtheimne Sept in the south - east of the Ulster Province, and what was by now the Heremonian Dal Cuinn "northern" Ui Niaill Cenel nEogain sub - kingdom of the Heberian Fir Arda Cianachta Sept, and from now on many of the O Carrolls were to become the Kings of Orghialla / Airghialla / Oriel there.

     This Century was to also see the "introduction" of Irish "surnames" following on from any one outstanding "overall leader" of an Irish Sept / Family branch, which then allowed a much simpler genealogy for following Family names, such as those taken up by the Heberian Eoghanachta Septs and the Heberian Dalcassian Septs in the Munster Province, including, *107.Turlough O Brian, the grandson of *105.Brian Boru who would become the 175th High King of Ireland and 108.Murrough mac Carthy, the son of 107.Carty / Carrthach a Heberian Eoghanacht Chaisil Prince / Tanaiste / heir apparent who was an outstanding and great aristocratic warrior campaigner for his Eoghanacht Sept in Co. Kerry. In the north other examples of important "surnames" occurred at this time in the Ulster Province including *105.Donnell Ard Macha O Niall, (the grandson of *103.Niall Glun Dubh -of the Black Knee the previous 170th King of Ireland, and Cathbarr O Donnell, the grandson of Donnell the Heremonian Dal Cuinn Cenel Conaill King of Tir Conaill / Tyrconnell now known as "Co. Donegal." In the Connacht Province there was also 111.Teague O Connor, the grandson of 109.Conor / Conchobar who had been the 44th King of Connacht, and in Southern Leinster 112.Donough mac Murrough the Heremonian Cu Corb Ui Cheinnselaig 56th King of Leinster, the son of 111.Murrough / Murchad the 51a King of Leinster, just to mention a few who all took up their surnames from their immediate or most close "important" / standout ancestor.

Previously in the early 7th Century AD, 99.Bran Dubh who was then the Heremonian Cu Corb Ui Cheinnselaig 7th King of Leinster was able to resist the advance of the Heremonian Ui Cobhthaigh Ui Felim Dal Cuinn Ui Niaill Septs into their territory in Northern Leinster, but since then after 104.Aed their 17a King of Leinster had died in 738 AD, their close kinsmen the Heremonian Cu Corb Ui Dunlainge Sept had become the completely "dominant" Sept in the Kingship of Leinster. During this Century this would once again "change" as the Heremonian Cu Corb Ui Cheinnselaig / cinnsela Sept would re - emerge as the "dominant" Heremonian Cu Corb Sept there in Southern Leinster. *110.Diarmait mac Maele na mBo - of the Many Cattle who would become the "leader" of the Heremonian Ui Laoghaire Ui Lughaidh Cu Corb Ui Cheinnselaig Sept would be the "catalyst" for this re - emergence, and he was to have his fortress at Ferns (at the monastery established by St. Maedoc) in Southern Leinster and have ambitions of re - gaining the "previous glory" for the Ui Cheinnselaig Sept to once again become the Kings of Leinster, which he was to do, and also become the "unofficial " 77th King of Ireland - with opposition. The newly burgeoning Ui Cheinnselaig Sept was to then "evolve" into the Mac Murrough / Mheic Murchada Septs who were to then monopolise the Kingship of Leinster, and win back the "overlordship" in Southern Leinster for the Ui Cheinnselaig Sept. An "alliance" would also be formed this Century between the Celtic Heremonian Ulaid Septs in the north - eastern region of the Ulster Province under Niall mac Eochadha and the Heremonian Cu Corb Ui Cheinnselaig Septs under the very successful *110.Diarmait mac Maele na mBo when he was to become the Heremonian Cu Corb Ui Cheinnselaig 51st King of Leinster.

          During the following Century the territory of Tethbae in the Kingdom of Meath / Midhe in the south - west of Northern Leinster was to be taken over also by the Heremonian Ui Cobhthaigh Dal Cuinn Ui Briuin Breifne Sept who controlled the Gaelic Mlesian Irian Conmaicne Maige Rein Septs there under the O Rourkes the Ui Brian Breifne Kings of West Breifne along with other territory, taking in the "southern" borders of Co. Westmeath and Co. Offaly. (Many of the Kings of Tethbae and the Heremonian Ui Cobhthaigh Ui Felim Dal Cuinn Colla Da Crioch Ui Maine Sept were to be interred at the monastery of Clonmacnoise in Co. Offaly in the north - west of Southern Leinster). Close by on the "western" side of the River Shannon, from Co. Westmeath, was the territory of the Heremonian Dal Cuinn  Colla Da Crioch Ui Maine Sept whose territory was in the east of the Connacht Province where, previously earlier on their territory had been farther north into Co. Roscommon were it bordered on the territory of the Heremonian Dal Cuinn "southern" Ui Niaill kingdom of the similar named Cenel Maine descended from 91.Maine of Tethbae, who was another one of the 8 sons of *90,Niall - of the Nine Hostages the 126th King of Tara / Ireland. Their Kings were also interred at Clonmacnoise in Co. Offaly, and it could all have been one kingdom at one time, were in the east it may have extended down south to Tethbae taking in the Cuircne Sept, the Bregmuine Sept, the Calraige Sept, and Delbna Bethra Septs, where Clonmacnoise itself is actually situated. Another branch of the Sept were the Delbna Nuadat who were situated north of Clonmacnoise also in Co. Offaly in Southern Leinster between the River Suck and the River Shannon, who were now under the over lordship of the Heremonian Dal Cuinn Colla Da Crioch Ui Maine Sept who were in nearby Co. Galway in the Connacht Province.   

            The Gaelic Milesian Irian Conmaicne Maige Rein Sept, descended initially in Ireland also from 37.Ir, were to be in the "south" of Co. Leitrim in Northern Connacht during the 11th and 12th Century AD, as they had "migrated" from the east of the River Shannon into the territory of Mag Rein, with their "overlords" as mentioned now being the Heremonian Ui Cobhthaigh Ui Felim Dal Cuinn Ui Briuin Breifne Sept of the Heremonian Dal Cuinn O Rourkes / Ui Ruairc. They were to also take over much of the territory in Co. Longford nearby in the north - west of Northern Leinster, driving the Heremonian Ui Cobhthaigh Ui Felim Dal Cuinn "southern" Ui Niaill Cenel Maine of Tethbae further "south", with the territory there eventually becoming the Barony of Ardagh.

        Many "foreign" students at this time were to still attend the Gaelic Irish "scholastic" and "religious" schools from all over Europe, and they too were now going out "to spread" the Catholic Christian faith in the known World.

        *105.Brian Boru the Heberian Dal gCais 41st King of Northern Munster / Thomond was to carry out further repair work, including the Chapel at Killaloe in Co. Clare in the north - west of the Munster Province of his Family's kinsmen, 100.St. Flannan who had previously constructed it there as *105.Brian Boru was a sixth generation relation of his and he was to do much during his lifetime to sustain his much "revered" memory.  

          This Century Ivarr the Viking King of Dublin in the north - east of Southern Leinster and Waterford in the south - east of the Munster Province which were situated on the south - east coast of Ireland, was to "die, " and the Tuetonic Scandinavian Vikings were now also to attack the monastery at Kells / Ceanannus Mor in Co. Meath in the south - east of Northern Leinster  destroying it. 

            The Celtic Gaelic Heremonian Scottii composed now on the "maternal line" of the Ui Cobhthaigh Ui Conaire Dal Riada Sept and on the "paternal" line of their kinsmen the Heremonian Ui Cobhthaigh Dal Cuinn "northern" Ui Niaill Cenel nEogain  who had initially had territory in the north - east of the Ulster Province in Co. Antrim in the far - north - east of the Ulster Province and Co. Derry were by now also well settled among the Celtic Scythian Gaelic Picts of Alba / Caledonia / Scottish Highlands and would continue now to produce the Gaelic Milesian Kings of Scotland until the coming of the Teutonic Normans into Albion / England.

         The Celts who were to be driven from Southern Leinster were to be known as the Iverni Sept in Co. Cork in Southern Munster, while there were other "Celtic" Septs who left traces of their names throughout Ireland, including those of the Ciarraige Sept in Co. Kerry in the south - west  of the Munster Province, and the Fir Maige Sept / Fermoy in Co. Cork in Southern Munster.

 

                                  Return to Celtic Heritage                                                                                    On to 11th Century AD - 2