Mac Shamhráin, Ailbhe

Fínán Camm (6th–7th cent.), founder and first abbot of Cenn Éitig, and saint in the Irish tradition, is traced by the genealogists to the Munster population group of Corco Duibne. His parents are named as Móenach son of Arddae, of the Corco Duibne, and Becnat daughter of Cian of…

Findchú (6th cent.), founder and first abbot of Brí Gobann and a saint in the Irish tradition, is traced – according to the strongest genealogical tradition – to Clann Branáin of Uí Briúin Bréifne. His father is named as Sétna son of Abra, while a later tradition gives his…

Find (Mod. Ir. Fionn; Arch. Ir. Vind; Celt. Vindos) son of Cumall, hero figure and central character of the Fianaigecht cycle, was almost certainly a euhemerised deity. A continental background for a deity of this name is well attested; he is commemorated in placenames such as…

Fínshnechtae Cetharderc (d. 808), son of Cellach and overking of Leinster, belonged to the Uí Dúnchada lineage of Uí Dúnlainge. His sobriquet, meaning ‘looking four ways’, may be intended to convey a circumspect character; he certainly proved to be a political survivor and did much…

Fínshnechtae Fledach (d. 695), son of Dúnchad and king of Tara, belonged to the Uí Néill dynasty of Síl nÁedo Sláine. Fínshnechtae was a strong king who defended the midlands against threats from Leinster and from the north. The Old Irish regnal poem ‘Baile Chuinn’ (the ‘ecstasy’ or…

FitzGerald, Gerald fitz Maurice (‘Gearóid Iarla’) (1338–98), 3rd earl of Desmond , justiciar of Ireland and poet, was son of Maurice fitz Thomas FitzGerald (qv), 1st earl of Desmond, and his second wife, Aveline, daughter…

Flaithbertach (d. 765), son of Loingsech and king of Tara, belonged to Cenél Conaill, a dynasty of the Uí Néill federation, which by the eighth century (if not earlier) had divided into Northern and Southern groupings. His father Loingsech (…

Flann (d. 896), son of Lonán, was acknowledged by contemporary annalists as a poet of distinction, although his historical identity and career are hard to separate from later legend. His obit in the Annals of Inisfallen styles him rí filed nÉrenn (king of the poets of…

Flannán (8th cent.), anchorite, founder of Killaloe, and saint in the Irish tradition, is traced to the north Munster dynasty of Dál Cais. His father, Tairdelbach son of Caidléne, himself accorded a reputation for sanctity, was an early ruler of In Déis Becc (in south-east Limerick…

Flann dá Chongal (d. 740?), son of Díummasach and king of Uí Fhailge, features prominently in the genealogies of Uí Fhailge, where he is represented as the common ancestor of a number of lineages including Clann Cholccan, Clann Chináeda, Clann Máel-ugrai, Clann Chairpri, and Uí…

Flann Mainistrech (‘of the monastery’) (d. 1056), lector (head of the monastic school) of Monasterboice, and one of the most distinguished poets and historians of pre-Norman Ireland, belonged to the Cianachta of Brega. His father is identified as Echthigern son of Óengus; his…

Flann Sinna (‘of the Shannon’) (d. 916), son of Máel-Sechnaill and king of Tara, was a member of the Clann Cholmáin dynasty of the Southern Uí Néill. His father Máel-Sechnaill (qv) had died as king of Tara in 862; his mother was Lann…

Fogartach (d. 724), son of Niall and king of Tara, belonged to Clann Chernaig Shotail, a lineage of Síl nÁedo Sláine, a constituent dynasty of Uí Néill. His father was a son of the eponymous Cernach Sotal (d. 668); his mother is not named, but four of his brothers or half-brothers…

Forannán (d. 852), abbot of Armagh, probably belonged to a lineage of Airgialla. Identified as the son of Murgal, he emerged as a rival to Diarmait (qv) grandson of Tigernán, when the latter succeeded…

Gilla-Cóemáin (Gilla-Cóemgin) (fl. c.1072) was one of the most distinguished poets and historians of pre-Norman Ireland, and made a very significant contribution to Irish pseudo-history and early history. His father was Gilla-Samthainne, whose name, which implies devotion…

Gilla meic Liac (Gelasius) (d. 1174), abbot of Derry, archbishop of Armagh, was the son of Annaid, grandson of Ruaidrí, and belonged to a line of the Cenél nÉogain (RIA, MS 23. D. 17). The description of his father as in fer dána…

Gobbán (Mo-Gobbóc) (7th cent.) of the moccu Láime, alleged founder of Leighlin and saint in the Irish tradition, belonged (as his tribal designation indicates) to a minor population group, the Lámraige. His tribe was probably of Munster origin, but was also found as an …

Gofraid Méránach (d. 1095), grandson of Harold and king of Dublin, is almost certainly to be identified with Godred Crovan, king of Man. Not only are they contemporaries, but the personal names are equivalents and the sobriquets may both refer to the hand, méránach…

Gormlaith (d. 1030), daughter of Murchad and allegedly queen consort in turn to the kings of Dublin, Tara, and Munster, belonged to the Uí Fháeláin lineage of northern Leinster. Her father, Murchad son of Finn, died in 972 as king of Leinster; her mother apparently belonged to a…

Gormlaith (d. 948), daughter of Flann Sinna and queen consort in turn of Munster, Leinster, and Tara, belonged to the Southern Uí Néill dynasty of Clann Cholmáin. Her father Flann Sinna (qv) was king of Tara, and her mother (also named…

Guaire Aidni (‘of Aidne’) (d. 663), son of Colmán and overking of Connacht, was an early representative of the dynasty of Uí Fhiachrach Aidni. His father Colmán, who features in the regnal lists as overking of Connacht, was slain in 622 by an Uí Briúin rival, Rogallach son of Uatu,…

Iarlaithe (Jarlath) (fl. c.550), founder and first bishop of Tuam, and a saint in the Irish tradition, is traced to the Conmaicne of Connacht. According to the genealogies, his father was Lug son of Dana, who belonged to the Conmaicne, and his mother was Mongfinn…

Ibar (Ibhar, Iberius, Ivory) (d. 500?), bishop and founder of Becc-Ériu and a saint in the Irish tradition, was probably of Ulster origin. The genealogies give his father as Lugna son of Corc, who, according to the strongest tradition, was a dynast of the East Ulster Uí Echach. Ibar's…

Illann (d. 527?), son of Dúnlaing and putatively overking of Leinster, was an early representative of the Uí Dúnlainge dynasty. His father Dúnlaing (qv) son of Énnae Nia, allegedly a grandson of Bressal Bélach, is eponymous ancestor of the…

Ímar (Ívaar) (d. 873), son of Gofraid, was joint king of the Scandinavians of Dublin. The Irish annals record that he came to Ireland around the mid ninth century and became joint ruler of viking Dublin with Amlaíb Find (Olaf the White). According to some accounts, Ímar, Amlaíb,…