541 - 550 AD
541 AD St. Molaisse founded a monastery at Loch Erne on Devenish Island, in Co. Fermanagh - named for the Fir Manach Sept / The Men of Manach in the south - west of the Ulster Province, who came up there originally from the Leinster Province. He also founded another nearby on Inish Murray Island, in Co. Sligo in the north - west of the Connacht Province, which is a half mile wide by a mile long, lying low at the entrance to Donegal Bay. (There are still 3 small churches there to see surrounded by a cashel, including a Women's Church, the Church of Fire, St. Molaisse’ Church, and a beehive hut.)
542 AD Ailbe, died.
543 AD A Great Plague occurred during this year and took a third of the population throughout the known World.
543 / 548 AD The Battle of Tortu occurred against the men of Leinster / Laigin who were successful and 93.mac Ercae, the son of *92.Ailill Molt the previous 129th King of Ireland, was killed, which ended his particular Dal Cuinn Ui Fiachrach male line to the Kingships.
543 AD St. Finnbarr, who was born at Rath Raithleen in Crookstown in Co. Cork in Southern Munster, became the first Catholic Bishop of Cork and he requested Pope Gregory to confirm his office, but he refused to do so due to his lack of education, despite this his school there, was to last for 200 years. He was to also found a monastery on the Gougane Barra Loch at the bottom of the Sheehy Mountains in the west of Co. Cork. From this date down to 615 AD St. Columbanus was to found monasteries in Ireland, Albion / Briton, France and Burgundy.
543 AD / 547 AD 94.Eogan Bel, the Heremonian Ui Cobhthaigh Ui Felim Dal Cuinn Ui Fiachrach 4th King of Connacht, was killed in the Battle of Sligeach at the River Slicech, in which the Septs in the Connacht Province were defending the territory of the Cul Conaire in Carra / Cera in Co. Sligo in the north - west of Connacht against the 2 Cenel nEogain Princes / Tanaistes, *94.Fergus / Forggus and *94.Donnell Ilchelgach, who were 2 sons of and the heir apparents of *93.Murtagh mac Ercae the previous northern Ui Niaill Cenel nEogain 131st King of Tara / Ireland. 94.Eogan Bel, had been a son of 93.Kelly / Cellach, one of the 2 sons of *92.Ailill Molt the previous 129th King of Tara / Ireland, (93.Kelly' also had a brother also known as 93.macc Ercae who was to die also in 543 AD who left no aristocratic warrior issue). The Dal Cuinn northern Ui Niall Cenel nEogain Septs were at this time still allied with their northern Ui Niaill Cenel Conaill close kinsmen in *94.Ainmire, (the son of 93.Setnae, the son of 92.Fergus Cendfota), and his second cousin, 93.Ninnid, the son of 92.Daui, a brother to 92.Fergus Cendfota as both had been sons of 91.Conall Gulban the direct male line ancestor of the Cenel Conaill). 91.Eoghan Bel was to also be buried upright and facing northward with his red spear still in his hand, at Raith Ua Fiachrach on Knockarea, towards his enemies the Dal Cuinn northern Ui Niaill to create the impression that the Dal Cuinn northern Ui Niaill would never defeat the 3 Connachta. Later on the Dal Cuinn northern Ui Niaill disinterred his body, and buried him face down at Oenach Locha Gile (The Assembly Place) at Loch Gill. 94.Eogan Bel was to be the father also of another 95.Kelly / Cellach who became the Bishop of Killala, while another of his sons, 95.Murray / Muireadach was to be killed by 98.Guaire Aidni during an internal Ui Fiachrach dispute between the northern and southern Septs. 544 AD or 548 AD ? (It was also recorded that 94.Eoghan Bel was killed in battle at Tortan in Co. Meath in the north - east of Northern Leinster, fighting against the men of Leinster.)
95. Ailill Inbanda became the new Heremonian Ui Cobhthaigh Ui Felim Dal Cuinn Ui Fiachrach 5th King of Connacht, who was the son of 94.Eogan Bel the previous 4th King of Connacht descended from 90.Fiachra the second Dal Cuinn King of Connacht who was the direct male line ancestor of all of the Ui Fiachrach Septs in the Connacht Province who had been a son of Eochy Mugmedon the previous 124th King of Tara / Ireland. 95.Ailill Inbanda would rule in Connacht for 11 years.
544 / 549 AD At this time *93.Diarmait mac Carroll / Diarmaid mac Cerbaill from the Dal Cuinn southern Ui Niaill Cenel Cremthainne Sept, who had become the 5th King of Meath, since the death of his brother, 93.Maine, was hiding out in the marshes of the River Shannon, from the wrath of *93.Toole / Tuathal Mael Garb the southern Ui Niaill Cenel Coirpre 132nd King of Tara / Ireland. He had previously banished *93.Diarmait from out of Tara altogether and also from the surrounding territory in Meath and he had then gone with his followers into the reaches of the Upper Shannon for 9 years to escape his fury.
During this year *93.Diarmait mac Carroll was to meet up with St. Kieran / St. Ciaran who had previously returned from Inis Ainghin to the mainland, and he was to personally assist him to stake out his plans for a monastery at Clonmacnoise in Co. Offaly in the north - west of Southern Leinster. (This would be on land that *93.Diarmait would eventually officially grant him there when he was to become the 133rd King of Tara / Ireland in his own right). (Also still in existence there to see is a Cathedral and 8 other churches, including Teampall Finghin.) Previously *93.Diarmiat mac Carroll had been on the River Shannon, when St. Kieran had landed there, and from there he had followed him to the Hill of the Well / Droim Tibrait now known as Clonmacnoise / Cluain mac Nois (The Meadow of the son of Nois) where he stopped over. He then approached St. Kieran while he was starting to build his small Church / Eglais Beg there, and St. Kieran encouraged him to help him out, and in appreciation also informed him that one day he would become the Dal Cuinn King of Tara / Ireland. On hearing this Mael Morda, who was a son of Airgeadon, a descendant of mac I, who was 93.Dermot mac Carroll's foster - brother and tutor, was excited by this prophesy, and he decided that he would make it come true, so he went off to Grellach Eillti / Allta in the north of Co. Westmeath in the south - west of Northern Leinster, where he had learnt that *93.Toole Mael Garb who was the present Dal Cuinn southern Ui Niaill Cenel Coirpre 132nd King of Tara / Ireland was staying. He then speared him in the chest and killed him, and he himself was then also killed in return, but *93.Diarmait mac Carroll was now well and truly in the running for the overall Dal Cuinn southern Ui Niaill Kingship of Ireland. (The demise of *93.Toole Mael Garb meant that he was to be the one and only Dal Cuinn Cenel Cairpre King of Tara / Ireland ever to be descended from 91.Cairbre / Coirpre, who was another of the 8 sons of *90.Niall of the Nine Hostages.) *93.Diarmait mac Carroll was a son of 92.Fergus Cerball / Carroll, who was a son of 91.Conall Cremthainne, who was also another of the 8 sons of 90.Niall of the Nine Hostages, and therefore under the Brehon Law he was of equal right to succeed to the southern Ui Niaill Kingship of Tara / Ireland. 91.Conall Cremthainne had also been a brother to 91.Conall Gulban, the direct male line ancestor of the Dal Cuinn northern Ui Niaill Cenel Conaill Sept, as it was common to use the same name for brothers in Ireland and then later also use a different epithet to suite his character until the 16th Century AD. Although 91.Conall Cremthainne's other son, 92.Ardgal had been the Cenel Cremthainne 3rd King of Meath and the direct male line ancestor of the Cenel nArdgail Sept, they were never to produce a King of Tara / Ireland in their own right. (The Kingships however were to be continued to the end now, as Fate would have it through 92.Fergus Cerball and his younger son, *93.Diarmait mac Carroll, whose older brother, 93.Maine, the previous Dal Cuinn Cenel Cremthainne 4th King of Meath, had been killed in 531 AD while trying to gain authority also over the Heremonian Ui Cobhthaigh Ui Felim Dal Cuinn Ui Maine Sept of Connacht.)
545 AD. St. Kieran / St . Ciaran founded Clonmacnoise monastery in Co. Offaly in the north - west of Southern Leinster on the River Shannon where it was to become the burial ground for many of the Gaelic Milesian Irish Kings. It also became a great learning centre and was to be burnt down 13 times from 722 AD to 1205 AD, and plundered 8 times by the Vikings from 832 AD to 1163 AD, and because of its connection to the many different and individual aristocratic warrior Gaelic Septs it was also to be besieged by the Irish themselves 27 times from 832 AD - 1163 AD. It would also be attacked by the Anglo - Norman English 6 times from 1178 AD to 1204 AD.)
*93.Diarmait mac Carroll, was brought to Tara in Meath, were he became the Heremonian Ui Cobhthaigh Ui Felim Dal Cuinn southern Ui Niaill 133rd King of Tara / Ireland, the very next day, and was so effected by this immediate result, as he truly believed that it was through the intercession of St. Kieran, that he became a benefactor to the holy site at Clonmacnoise in Co. Offaly in the north - west of Southern Leinster itself, and soon there were to be seven more churches there and two round towers. All were situated on the east bank of the River Shannon, seven miles below Athlone in Co. Westmeath in the south - west of Northern Leinster. *93.Diarmot mac Carroll then set up his own fortress, at the ancient site at Ceanannus Mor (Kells) on the River Blackwater in Co. Meath in the south - east of Northern Leinster were his ancestor, *85.Cormac mac Airt the previous Christian 115th King of Tara / Ireland had retired to after the injury to his eye, and had choked to death there on a bone after being cursed by the Druids for accepting Christianity.
Mo - Bi Clareineach died this year due to the Blefed (Plague)?
546 AD 94.St. Columbcille, had been with St. Mobhi who had set himself up at the Fair Stream / Finglas at Glasnevin in Co. Dublin in the north - east of Southern Leinster, and after it was ravaged by the Plague also, he had gone up to the Ulster Province to escape it's effects. His cousin, *94.Ainmire the Dal Cuinn northern Ui Niaill Cenel Conaill Prince / Tanaiste in Tyrconnell / Co. Donegal / Tir Connell (The Land of 91.Conall Gulban) gave him the Oak Grove / Daire / Derry on the River Foyle to construct a religious settlement, and monastery there, on a site that had been previously known there as Calgarch's Oak Wood / Daire Calgaich. 94.St. Columbcille, who was now 25 year old, then built the Black Church monastery there on the island of Derry in the north - east of Ulster, which also became known as Daire Columbcille / The Oak Wood of Columbcille). He also founded another monastery at Drumlane on Loch Oughter near Milltown in Co. Cavan in Southern Ulster, where the ruins are also still there to see. The Inauguration / Crowning Stone / Gort na Moyan of his Dal Cuinn northern Ui Niall Cenel Conaill Sept was situated only 3 mile to the west of Garvagh in Co. Derry there in the north - west of Ulster.
546 AD The Battle of Cuilne occurred this year were many of the Corciche Sept were killed.
97.Cairbre / Coirpre was still the Heremonian Ui Laoghaire Ui Lughaidh Cu Corb Ui Dunlainge 6b King of Leinster at this time, who was a son of 96.Cormac, the previous Ui Dunlainge 6a King of Leinster, a son of 95.Ailill the 6th King of Leinster, one of the 2 sons of 94.Dunlaing, the direct male line ancestor of all of the Ui Dunlainge Septs descended from 86.Cu Corb, 78.Lewy / Lughaidh, *60.Leary / Laoghaire Lorc the 68th King of Erinn and *37.Eremon. (Heremonians.)
547 / 553 AD 93.Eochy / Eochaidh, the Irian 4th King of the Dal nAraidi Sept and 4th King of Ulaid, died this year, who was a son of 92.Connla / Condlae the 2nd King of the Dal nAraidi, a son of *91.Coelub / Caolbhradh, one of the 3 sons of 90.Crond Ba Drui. (There was now to be a change of dynasties in Ulaid once again in their territory there in the east of the Ulster Province.) 92.Fergnae now became the Dal Fiatach 5th King of Ulaid, who was a son of, 91.Aengus / Oengus Ibdach, who was another of the 3 sons of 90.Forgg mac Dallain.
Crimthann, the son of Brian, also died this year, as did St. Dubhthach the Abbot of Armagh / Ard Macha who was from the Heremonian Ui Cobhthaigh Dal Cuinn Colla Uais Sept in Southern Ulster, descended from *88.Carroll / Cairell Colla Uais - the Noble the previous 121st King of Tara / Ireland, 87.Eochy Doimhlen, *86.Cairbre Liffeachair the 117th King of Tara / Ireland.
St. Carthy / St. Carthach founded the monastery at Lismore in Co. Waterford in the south - east of the Munster Province where students attended from Albion / Briton, Scotland and Ireland, and later on in the 9th Century AD, Alfred the Great the Saxon King of Wessex would be a student there also.
At this time the Pagan Celtic Brythonic Kings in Northumbria in Albion / Briton and the Lowlands of Scotland, were threatening the Celtic Cruthin Gaelic Picts, the Celtic Gaelic Irish Heremonian Ui Conaire Scottii of Dal Riada and also the Brythonic Celts of Strathclyde.
547 / 548 / 549 AD St. Kieran / St. Ciaran, who had also been a disciple of St. Finnian of Clonard, had been able to found his monastery at Clonmacnoise / Cluain mheic Nois (The Meadow of the sons of Nois) in Co. Offaly in the north - west of Southern Leinster, as a school for his monks, situated at the territorial junction of the Connacht Province, the kingdom of Meath / Midhe in Northern Leinster and the Munster Province. His Church was also near his Holy Well, which is one of the most beautiful Wells in Ireland, and it was surrounded there by 4 crosses that marked Sanctuary for anyone within the vicinity who may have been in trouble. He had previously left Hare Island on Loch Ree with 8 of his companions, but within 7 months of arriving he was to die here on the River Shannon at 33 / 37 years of age, and may have been interred there in his own church. Many of the Gaelic Milesian Irish Kings were to also be interred there, including *115.Rory O Connor who was to be the last Heremonian Ui Cobhthaigh Ui Felim Dal Cuinn Ui Briuin Ai 175th King of Ireland, after the Anglo - Norman English Invasion, and there are over 500 grave - slabs throughout the area to see. St. Kieran's monastery was in close proximity to the centre of Ireland, near a ford on the River Shannon were the Esker Ridge crosses Ireland from the east to the west, and it was to be supported especially by the Heremonian Dal Cuinn Septs in Conn's Half. The Vikings were to ravage it over and over again, including Turgesius the Viking King who was the one to burn it in 844 AD, while his wife, Ota was carrying out sacrileges to heathen oracles on the altar there.
548 / 54 / 550 AD St. Tierney / St. Tigernach who had been the first Catholic prelate at Clones / Cluain Eois (The Meadow of Eois), after he had founded a monastery there in Co. Monaghan in the south - west of the Ulster Province, also died from the Plague this year.
548 AD Dubthach / Duach from the Dal Cuinn Colla Uais Sept who was the Abbot of Ard Macha, died.
The Battle of Slicech occurred ?
549 AD Sinheall, the Bishop of Killough / Cille Locha (The Lake Church) on Killough Bay in Co. Down in the south - east of the Ulster Province, died this year, at a very great age. Finnia moccu Telduib, Colm a descendant of Criffan / Crimthann, mac Tail of Cell Cuilinn, Sinchell the son of Ceannan, the Abbot of Cill Archid Druim Fhata, and Colum of Inis Celtra, all died this year.
550 AD *93.Diarmait mac Carroll who was now the Dal Cuinn southern Ui Niaill Cenel Cremthainne 133rd King of Tara / Ireland granted Ceanannus Mor (The Great Head Fort) / Kells in Co. Meath in the south - east of Northern Leinster to 94.St. Columbcille / St. Columba were he also built a monastery, which had previously been an aristocratic Milesian Gaelic Royal residence for centuries. (This was the place were *85.Cormac mac Airt the Christian 115th King of Tara / Ireland had retired to and choked to death on a bone.) Another monastery was also built at Tuamgraney in Co. Clare in the north - west of the Munster Province, and a Columban monastery was also constructed at Moone, 3 miles from Ballintore in Co. Kildare in Central Southern Leinster.
95.Ailill Inbanda the Heremonian Ui Cobhthaigh Ui Felim Dal Cuinn Ui Fiachrach 5th King of Connacht, who was the son of 94.Eogan Bel the previous 4th King of Connacht was killed this year, along with Aed Fortamhail / Fortobol his brother, at Cuil Conaire in Cera / Carra by 94.Fergus and 94.Donnell Ilchegach, the sons of *93.Murtaugh mac Ercae the previous Heremonian Ui Cobhthaigh Ui Felim Dal Cuinn northern Ui Niaill Cenel nEogain 131st King of Tara / Ireland. They would become the future joint 134th Kings of Ireland, in their own right, although the territory there was to continually be the cause of dispute with the Dal Cuinn 3 Connachta Septs there in Connacht and the Dal Cuinn northern Ui Niaill Cenel nEogain Septs in Central Ulster, right on down to the 16th Century AD. This would see the end of the Ui Fiachrach male line from 92.Ailill Molt the previous Ui Fiachrach 2nd King of Connacht as 95.Ailill Inbanda left no aristocratic warrior issue.
St. Finnian Cam founded the monastery of Agha More, in what was to later become the Mac Carthy Desmond / Des Mhumhain / Southern Munster territory in Co. Kerry in the south - west of the Munster Province, which is now known as Derrynane, and situated still there to see, on the north end of Church Island near Waterville in Co. Kerry, are the ruins of his Oratory.
St. Comhghall, was born this year, who later on was to build a monastery at Bangor in Co. Down in the south - east of the Ulster Province, where he was to have St. Columbanus and St. Gall as his disciples. St. Mochuda / St. Cuddy who was a member of the Heberian Eoghanacht O Sullivan Clann from Co. Kerry in the south - west of the Munster Province was also born this year, near Slieve Mish in Castlemaine, and it was from him that the Mac Gillycuddys / Mheic Giolla Chuda (Descended from a son of a devotee of St. Mochuda) were to later on gain their surname in Co. Kerry.
St. David was the Bishop of Menevia in Wales and had converted the Welsh to Christianity.