Uí Néill

Not to be confused with O'Neill dynasty.
Uí Néill
Country Ireland
Ancestral house Connachta (Dál Cuinn)
Titles
Founder Niall Noígíallach
Current head by sept dynast
Founding 5th century AD
Cadet branches House of Dunkeld ?

The Uí Néill (Irish pronunciation: [iː ˈnʲeːl̪ʲ], descendants of Niall) are Irish and Scottish dynasties who claim descent from Niall Noigiallach (Niall of the Nine Hostages), an historical King of Tara who died about 405.

The first generation of the Uí Néill were his sons, seven in all:

All these men were in their lifetime known as members of The Connachta dynasty, or as "the sons of Niall." The term Uí Néill did not - by its very nature - come into use until the time of Niall's grandsons and great-grandsons.

Dynasties descended from the Uí Néill, such as the Cenél Conaill and Cenél nEógain, held power in Ulster until their defeat in the Nine Years War in 1603. The heads of the families left for Catholic Europe in 1607, an event known as the Flight of the Earls.

Contents

Uí Néill family tree

Bold indicates a High King of Ireland.

 
 Conn Cétchathach
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Art mac Cuinn
 
 Son
 
 Son
 
 Son
 
 Son
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Cormac mac Airt
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Cairbre Lifechair
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Fiacha Sraibhtine
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Muiredach Tirech
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Eochaid Mugmedon
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Brion
 
 Fiachrae
 
 Ailill
 
 Niall Noigíallach
 
 Fergus
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Conall Gulban
 
 Endae
 
 Eógan
 
 Coirpre
 
 Lóegaire
 
 Maine
 
 Conall Cremthainne
 
 Fiachu

See also

References

http://www.rsai.ie/index.cfm?action=obj.display&obj_id=165

Further reading