Heremonian Ui Cobhthaigh Ui Felim Dal Cuinn "Northern" Ui Niaill Cenel Conaill Septs
The "Northern" Ui Niaill Cenel Conaill Septs are directly descended from 91.Conall "Gulban," who gained his epithet "Gulban" from Ben Ghulban / Ben Bulbain / Beann Bulbain near Sligo in Co. Sligo in the north - west of the Connacht Province were he was to be eventually killed. He was one of the 8 sons of *90.Niall of the Nine Hostages the Heremonian Ui Cobhthaigh Ui Felim Dal Cuinn 126th King of Tara / Ireland in the late 4th Century AD who is the direct male line ancestor of all of the Ui Niaill Septs both "Southern" and "Northern." He in turn was descended from *83 Conn of the Hundred Battles the 110th King of Tara / Ireland (Dal Cuinn - People of *83.Conn) in the 2nd Century AD descended from *82.Felim / Feidhlimidh the 108th King of Ireland, *60.Coffey / Cobhthach the 69th King of Tara / Ireland (Ui Cobhthaigh) descended from 37.Heremon the Celtic Gaelic Milesian Joint 1st King of Tara / Erinn / Ireland (Heremonians). The Cenel Conaill initially had their Tuath / Family region in the territory in Co. Donegal in the north - west of the Ulster Province along with that of 2 of his "Northern" Ui Niaill brothers who together made up the 3 "Northern" Ui Niaill Septs. 91.Eogan (Cenel nEogain Septs) who were to have their territory in the north and north - east and eventually the centre of Ulster, in Co. Derry, Co. Antrim and Co. Tyrone, and 91.Enda (Cenel Endae Septs) whose territory was also in the north of Ulster in between both of his brothers territories. The Cenel Conaill Septs were to produce 10 Cenel Conaill Kings of Ireland up until 734 AD, when the Cenel nEogain Septs of his brother 91.Eogan were to become much more predominant in the Kingship along with their kinsmen, the "Southern" Ui Niaill Septs, emanating from their other 5 brothers whose territories were mainly in the Midlands / Midhe / Meath (Northern Leinster).
Cenel Conaill Septs
Cenel Aedha - Main Septs: Ui Mael Doraidh, O Cannon / Ui Canannain who had their territory in Tir Aeda (The Land of *92.Aedh) in Co. Donegal. Sept : O Gallagher / Ui Gallchobhair. Ancestors: *95.Aed mac Ainmerech the 138th King of Ireland, *94.Ainmere the 135th King of Ireland, 93.Setna / Setnae, 92.Fergus "Cennfhoda" / "Cendfota," 91.Conall "Gulban" (Cenel Conaill).
Arda Midhair - Main Sept: O Doherty / Ui Dochartaigh Chiefs of Arda Midhair / Ardmire. Septs: Mac Bride / Mac Gilbride / Mac Kilbride / Mucklebreed / Mheic Giolla Brighdhe, Mac Cafferty / Mac Cafferky / Mac Caverty / Mheic Eachmharcaigh, Mac Davitt / Mac Dade / Mac Daid / Mac Devitt / Mheic Daibhi. Their territory was at Inishowen in Co. Donegal in the Ulster Province. Ancestors: 94.Lugdach (A brother to *94.Ainmere the 138th King of Ireland), 93.Setnai, *92.Fergus "Cennfhoda" / Cendfota, 91.Conaill "Gulban (Cenel Conaill).
Cenel mBoghaine (Tir Boghaine - The Land of 91.Enda / Enna / Ennae "Boguine") Banagh and part of Boylagh in Co. Donegal. Ancestors: *92.Enda / Enna / Ennae "Boguine" the 6th son of 91.Conall "Gulban" (Cenel Conaill).
Cenel Chindfaoladh - Main Sept: O Boyle / Ui Baoighill (Tir Ainmireach - The Land of *95.Ainmere) near Ardara, 3 Tuatha near Falcarragh and Kilmacrennan and at Boylagh in Co. Derry. Ancestors: Boyle / Baigell, Bradagain, Murtough / Muirchertach, Cindfhaeladh. 91.Conall "Gulban" (Cenel Conaill).
Muintir Dalachain - Main Sept: O Kernaghan / Ui Cearnachain, O Dallaghan / Ui Dalachain. Territory - Tuath Bladhach - Bladhaigh / Tuath Doe / Creslough and Dunfanaghy south of Ros - Iorguil / Downing's and Carrigart, Co. Donegal. Ancestors: Boyle / Baigell, Bradagain, Murtough / Muirchertach, Cindfhaeladh. 91.Conall "Gulban" (Cenel Conaill).
Cenel Duach - Ancestors: 92.Tierney / Tigernach / "Dui" / Duach, 91.Conall "Gulban" (Cenel Conaill).
Cenel Eanna - Main Sept: O Hanna / O Hainey / O Haney / O Heaney / Ui hEighnigh / Ui hAnnaidh Kings of Magh Ith, Tir Eanna and Fanad, Co. Donegal. Ancestors: 92.Enda / Eanna the 6th son of 91.Conall "Gulban" (Cenel Conaill).
Siol Lugdach - Cenel Luighdech. Main Sept: O Donnell / Ui Domhnaill Chiefs of Clann Dalaigh, Territory in the north of Co. Donegal in the Ulster Province. Septs: O Boyle / Ui Baoighill Chiefs of Clann Chindfaoladh, Mac Brearty / Mac Breartie / Mac Murty / Mheic Muircheartaigh, Mac Coyle / Mac Cowle / Mac Ilhoyle / Mulcoyle / Mheic Gilla Comghall, O Crumley / O Cromley / O Crumlish / O Crummell / Ui Cromlaoich, O Deeny / O Deany / O Deeney / O Denny / Peoples / Ui Duibhne, O Deery / O Darry / O Derry / Ui Daighre, Mac Dockery / Mac Dockrey / Mac Dockry / Mheic Dailredochar, O Doherty / Ui Dochartaigh Chiefs of Ard Midhair / Ardmire. O Doohey / Ui Dubthach, O Doonan / O Donayne / O Donnan / Ui Dunain, O Glacken / Ui Glacain, Mac Granahan / Mac Crenahan / Mac Crenaghan / Mheic Reannachain, O Harley / Harrell / O Harrily O Heral / Ui hEarghaile, O Henegan / O Hanaghan / O Hannigan / Ui hEigneachain, O Heraghty / O Erachty / O Errarty / Ui hOireachtaigh, Mac Menamin / Mac Manamon / Mac Menam / Mac Menamy / Mheic Meanman, Mac Monagal / Mac Moneygal / Mheic Maongail, O Quigley / O Quigly / O Cogley / O Kegley / O Twigley / O Quigg / Ui Coigligh, Mac Roarty / Mag Robhartach, O Rowan / O Raghan / O Roane / O Rohan / O Roughan / Ui Robharchain, O Scannell / O Scanlan / Ui Scannail, O Tarrant / O Toran / O Torrens / Ui Torain. Ancestors: 94.Lugdach, (A brother to *94.Ainmere the 138th King of Ireland,) 93.Setnai / Setnae, 92.Fergus "Cennfhoda" / Cendfota, 91.Conaill "Gulban (Cenel Conaill).
Families
Mac Campbell / Mac Cawell / Mac Call, Mac Carron, O Connellan, O Connor,
O Dallan, O Dermond, Mac Diver, O Donegan, O Donnell, O Donnelly,
O Fairy, O Ferry / Farry, O Friel / O Freel, O Furan,
Mac Gee, Mac Giblin, Mac Gildea / Kildea, Mac Groarty,
Mac Killerlean,
O Mulderry, O Muldory, Munroe / Monroe,
Septs in the Cenel Conaill territory of Tir Conaill
The Cenel Conaill Clanns, Kings and Chiefs who had their territory in Tir Conaill (The Land of 91.Conall) in the 12th Century AD were; 1. O Muldory, O Cannon and Clan Daley who were their most important Chiefs at that time. Previously in the 10th Century AD the Clan na Dalaigh had evolved who were descended from the Cenel Conaill Chief, Dalach whose death was recorded as 868 AD by the Four Masters. Later the the Clann na Dalaigh evolved into the O Donnells / Ui Domhnaill descended then from Donnell / Domnall who was a grandson of Dalach. 2. The O Boyles were the Chiefs of Clan Chindfaoladh of Tir Ainmireach and Tir Boghaine territories, which comprised the present Baronies of Boylagh and Banagh / Crioch Baoighilleach (O Boyles Country). (Tir Boghaine was the Barony of Banagh). 3. The O Mulvanys, were the Chiefs of Magh Seireadh / Massarey. 4.The O Hughs, were the Chiefs of Easruadh / Esroe or Ballyshannon, in the Barony of Tir Hugh. 5. The O Tarkerts were the Chiefs of Clan Neachtain and of Clan Snedgaile / Snell. 6. The Mac Duanes, were the Chiefs of Cenel nEnna / Cenel Enda, a district which lay in Inishowen. 7. The Mac Lynchehan / Lynch / Loingseachain, were the Chiefs of Glean Binne; and O Breslin / O Breslane, the Chiefs of Fanaid / Fanad, on the western shore of Loch Swilly. 8.The O Dohertys were the Chiefs of Ard Miodhair. In the Annals of the Four Masters, in 1197 AD, Echmarcach O Doherty is mentioned as the Chief of all of Tir Conaill. The O Dohertys maintained their rank as the Chiefs of Inishowen down to the reign of the English King, James 1st. 9. The Gilljames / James / Fitz James, were the Chiefs of Ros - Guill / Rosgul, in the Barony of Kilmakrenan. 10. The O Kernaghans, and O Dallans, were the Chiefs of the Tuath Bladhaidh. 11. The O Mullligan, were the Chiefs of Tir Mac Carthain, 12. The O Donegans, and Mac Gaiblins / Mac Giblins, were the the Chiefs of Tir Breasail; and the O Maol "Gaoithe" were the Chiefs of Muintir Maol Gaoithe (gaoth - the wind - pronounced "ghee") and some members of this Clann also anglicized their name to Magee; and others to Wynne, another variation of "wind," the English for the word "gaoth." 13. The Mac Ternans, were the Chiefs of Clan Fearghoile / Fergal. 14.The Heremonian Ui Cobhthaigh Ui Felim Dal Cuinn "Northern" Ui Niaill Mac Sweeney / Mac Swiggan, a branch of the O Nialls / Neills descended from 102.Niall "Glun Dubh" the King of Ireland, who settled in Co. Donegal, and formed three great families, namely, Mac Sweeney of Fanaid, who had territory west of Loch Swilly, and whose castle was at Rathmullan; Mac Sweeney "Boghainach" of Tir Boghaine (The Barony of Banagh), who had his castle at Rathain, and in which territory was situated Reachrain Muintir Birn ( Rathlin O Beirne Islands), and Mac Sweeney "na d-Tuath," - of the Territories (Tuatha Toraighe - Districts of Tory Island). His territories were in the Barony of Kilmacrenan. He was also known as Mac Sweeney of the Battle- Axes the Chief of the Galloglasses (mercenaries) and standard bearers and marshals to the O Donnells. A branch of the Mac Sweeneys, who were distinguished aristocratic warrior leaders, also settled later on in Southern Munster in Co. Cork, in the 13th Century AD where they became commanders under the Heberian Eoghanacht Mac Carthys, the Princes of Desmond. 15. The O Gallaghers, were descended from a Cenel Conaill aristocratic warrior named Gallchobhar, who had their territory in the Baronies of Raphoe and Tir Hugh, and also had a castle at Ballyshannon, and another at Lifford where they were they were commanders of the O Donnell's cavalry. Sir John O Gallagher is mentioned in the wars of Elizabeth 1st. 16. The O Forans were the Chiefs of Fionn Ruis (The Rosses in the Barony of Boylagh). 17. The O Donnellys, were the Chiefs of Fear Droma, a district in Inishowen in 1177 AD. 18.The O Laneys / O Lanes were the Chiefs of Cenel Maoin, a district in the Barony of Raphoe. 19. The O Clerys / Clarkes from the Ui Fiachrach Sept of Connacht Province were the hereditary historians to the O Donnells and were among the authors of the "Annals of the Four Masters," and other valuable works on Irish History and antiquities. They had large possessions in the Barony of Tir Hugh, and resided in their castle at Kilbarron, the ruins of which still remain on a rock on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean near Ballyshannon. 20.The Mac Wards were the bards to the O Donnells, and were very learned men. Tir Connell (The Land of 91.Conall) was renamed Co. Donegal by the English appointed Lord Deputy in Ireland, Sir John Perrot, in the reign of his half - illegitimate sister, Elizabeth 1st and its actual meaning is Dun na Gall (The Fort of the Foreigners).
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