Kingdom of Airgíalla
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Oriel (derived from Irish orgialla meaning "hostage of gold"; also Airgialla, Uriel, Orgialla, Orgiall, Oryallia, Ergallia) was an ancient Irish kingdom.
The ancient kingdom or principality of Orgiall comprised an extensive territory in Ulster. In the beginning of the 4th century three warlike princes, called the Three Collas, sons of Eochy Doimhlein, son of Cairbre Lifeachar, legendary High King of Ireland, of the race of Eremon, made a conquest of a great part of Ulster, which they wrested from the old possessors, princes of the race of Ir, called the Clanna Rory, or Rudericians.
The Three Collas in the great Battle of Achadh Leithdheirg in Fearmuighe (also Fearnmhagh), in Dalaradia, on the borders of Down and Antrim, 331, defeated the forces of Fergus Foga, king of Ulster, who was slain; and the victors burned to the ground Eamhain Macha or Emania, (near the present city of Armagh,) the famous palace of the Ultonian kings, which had stood for six centuries, and had been long celebrated by the Irish bards. The place where this battle was fought is called also Carn Achy-Leth-Derg, and is now known as the parish of Aghaderg, in the barony of Iveagh, county of Down, where there still remains a huge Carn of loose stones near Loughbrickland. The sovereignty of Ulster thus passed from the race of Ir to the race of Heremon.
The names of the three chiefs were Colla Uais, or Colla the noble, Colla Meann, or Colla the famous, and Colla da Chroich, or Colla of the two territories. Colla Uais became monarch of Ireland 327, and died in 332. The territory conquered by the three Collas comprised the present countries of Louth, Monaghan, and Armagh.
The name of Oirgiall is thought to derive from the circumstance of the Collas having stipulated with the king of Ireland, for themselves and their posterity, that if any chiefs of the clan Colla should be at any time demanded as hostages, and if shackled, their fetters should be of gold: thus, from the Irish, ór, gold, and giall, a hostage, came the name orgialla.
The O'Carrolls, a noble clan of the race of the Dal Fiatachs, were at the time of St. Patrick, kings of Oriell, or that part of it comprising the county of Louth. The Dal Fiatachs or Dalfiatacians, who founded many powerful families in Ulster, particularly in Dalaradia or Down, were descended from Fiatach Fionn, legendary high king of Ireland at the commencement of the second century, of the race of Eremon. The O'Carrolls continued kings of Oriel, down to the 12th century, when they were dispossessed by the Anglo-Normans under John de Courcy. Donogh O'Carroll, prince of Oriel, the last celebrated head of this dynasty, founded the great Abbey of Mellifont in Louth, in the twelfth century.
The Mac Mahon family styled themselves Princes of Oriel. The title barons of Oriel has existed and was held by the Foster family.
In early manuscripts, the bishops of Clogher are frequently styled bishops of Orgiall and Ergallia.
