Eógan mac Néill

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The old graveyard and the ruined church in Iskaheen - the resting place of Eógan mac Néill

The plaque marking the burial place of Eógan mac Néill

Eógan mac Néill (died 465 ^[1], son of Niall Noígiallach, was an Irish king who founded the kingdom of Ailech later Tír Eógain (modern County Tyrone) in the 5th century. He was also the ancestor of the Cenél nEógain dynasty and their septs (O'Neill, O'Docherty, O'Boyle, etc).

[edit] Overview

Eogan was a close friend of Saint Patrick and received Patricks blessing.^[2] With his brother the high king Lóegaire mac Néill (d.462), he was one of the judges in a dispute over the succession to Amalgaid (d.440), king of Connacht among his sons competing to rule their territory of Tir Amalgaidh in northwest Connacht. ^[3]

Eoghan, King of Tír Eógan, and Prince of InnisEoghan is buried at St. Patrick's Church in Iskaheen, Innishowen, Donegal. A plaque there states "Eoghan Prince of Iniseoghain, Son of Niall of the Nine Hostages. Died 465 of grief for his brother Conall. Baptised by Patrick and buried in Uisce Chaoin"

His sons included Muiredach mac Eógain, his successor in Ailech; Fergus, founder of the Cenél Fergusa; and Echach Binnich, founder of the Cenél mBinnig.

[edit] Notes

^ all dates per The Chronology of the Irish Annals, Daniel P. McCarthy
^ T.M.Charles-Edwards, Early Christian Ireland, pg.51
^ T.M.Charles-Edwards, Early Christian Ireland, pg.26

[edit] References

Annals of Ulster 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
Charles-Edwards, T. M. (2000), Early Christian Ireland, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, ISBN 0-521-36395-0
Revised edition of McCarthy's synchronisms at Trinity College Dublin.