McGettigan, Darren

Áed (d. 598), son of Ainmere and overking of Uí Néill, belonged to Cenél Conaill, one of the leading dynasties of Uí Néill. His father Ainmere (qv) (d. 569), a first cousin of Colum Cille (…

Áed Abrat (‘of the eyelid’) (d. 577), son of Eochu Tírmchárna and overking of Connacht, features as an ancestor of the Uí Briúin Aí dynasty of Co. Roscommon from which the later Ua Conchobair kings of Connacht claimed descent. His pedigree, however, is dubious, with elements…

Áed Allán (d. 743), son of Fergal and king of Tara, belonged to the Cenél nÉogain dynasty. His father, Fergal (qv) son of Máel-dúin, king of Tara, was slain by the Leinstermen in 722. His mother was probably a daughter of Ernán, a Cenél…

Áed Bennán (‘of the spiked helm’?) (d. 619/21), son of Crimthann and overking of Munster, belonged to the dynasty of Éoganacht Locha Léin (centred in mid Co. Kerry). Áed supposedly had two brothers, Áed Finn and Áed Damán, which suggests genealogical confusion. It is said that he…

Áed Dub (‘black [haired]’) (d. 639), bishop of Kildare, belonged to the ruling Uí Dúnlainge dynasty of north Leinster; his father Colmán Már and his brother Fáelán (qv) were overkings of Leinster. Another of his brothers, Áed Find, was ancestor…

Áed Dub (‘black [haired]’) (d. 588), son of Suibne Araide and overking of Ulaid, belonged to the Dál nAraide dynasty of the Ulster Cruthin. He emerged as king of Dál nAraide after the battle of Móin Dairi Lothair (563), in which the Uí Néill severely defeated the Cruthin.…

Áed Findliath (‘light-grey’) (d. 879), son of Niall and king of Tara, belonged to the Northern Uí Néill dynasty of Cenél nÉogain. His father, Niall Caille (qv), previously king of Tara, died in 846. His mother, Gormlaith, was a daughter of…

Áed Menn (‘stammering’) (d. 738), son of Colcu, king of south Leinster and contender for overkingship of the province, was a member of the Síl Cormaic lineage of Uí Chennselaig. His father Colcu (d. 722) had held the relatively minor kingship of Ard Ladrann, the caput of…

Áed Oirdnide (d. 819), son of Niall and king of Tara, belonged to the Cenél nÉogain dynasty. His father, Niall Frossach (qv), was king of Tara until his abdication c.770. His mother Dunlaith was a daughter of…

Áed Rón (‘seal[-like]’) (d. 735), son of Bécc Bairrche and overking of Ulaid, was a member of the Cenél Demmáin lineage of Dál Fiatach. His father Bécc Bairrche (qv), was previously king of Ulaid (east Ulster), having abdicated in 707.…

Ailill Molt (‘ram[-like]’) (d. 482), son of Nath Í, king of Connacht and putatively king of Tara, was an early representative of the Uí Fhiachrach dynasty of Connacht. His father, Nath Í son of Fiachra, is claimed by Middle Irish sources to have been king of Tara. His mother is…

Ainmere (d. 569), son of Sétnae and putatively king of Tara, belonged to the Cenél Conaill dynasty of Uí Néill. His father Sétnae is credited with six sons, but none of the others achieved any distinction. According to the ‘Banshenchas’ (lore of women), Ainmere married Brigit,…

Amalgaid (d. 1049), abbot of Armagh, son of Abbot Máel-Muire, belonged to the ecclesiastical lineage of Clann Sínaig, and heads the genealogy of his line in Rawlinson B. 502, being eighth in descent from the eponymous Sínach. The lineage was a discard segment of the Uí Echdach dynasty,…

Amlaíb (Óláfr) Cuarán (d. 981), son of Sitriuc Cáech (qv), was Norse king of Dublin. He first came to notice in 940 when he left Dublin to join his cousin Amlaíb (qv) son…

Amlaíb (Óláfr Godfridsson) (d. 941), Norse king of Dublin, was son of Gofraid (king 921–34), the last surviving grandson of Ímar (qv); nothing is known of his mother. He married Aldgyth, daughter of an Anglo-Danish jarl, Ormr. If he had any…

Ardgal (d. 970), son of Matudán and overking of Ulaid 950–70, was of the Dál Fiatach dynasty. He succeeded his father Matudán son of Áed, overking of Ulaid 937–50, who was slain by the Uí Echach. During the reign of Ardgal, the Ulaid faced a threat from the Northern Uí Néill; in…

Artrí (d. 821), son of Cathal and overking of Munster, belonged to the Éoganacht Glendamnach dynasty of north Co. Cork. His father is generally identified as Cathal (qv) son of Finguine, a very important and able king of Munster (721–42),…

Artrí (d. 833), bishop and abbot of Armagh, was son of Conchobar – perhaps Conchobar (qv) son of Donnchad Midi (qv) and king of Tara 819–33. This parentage would attach him to the Clann…

Báetán (d. 581), son of Cairell and overking of Ulaid, belonged to the Dál Fiatach dynasty. His father Cairell, allegedly a son of Muiredach Muinderg, is included in the Ulster king-lists. His mother, according to genealogical tradition, was Cummíne daughter of Furudrán. He had a…

Báetán (d. 586), son of Ninnid and putatively king of Tara, belonged to the Cenél Conaill dynasty. His father, Ninnid son of Duí, was an early representative of the lineage of Cenél Duach. He had at least two brothers: Eochaid, who was slain by the Cianachta, and Feradach,…

Báetán (d. 664) of the moccu Chormaic, abbot of Clonmacnoise, belonged to a prominent line of Conmaicne Mara. He became ninth abbot (653) in succession to Áedlug son of Camán, and held office into the twelfth year, which was quite a long period in power given that candidates…

Barid (Bárith, Bar∂r) (d. 881), Norse king of Dublin, was (although his origin is uncertain) possibly a son of Ímar (qv) (d. 873), and was certainly among the allies of Amlaíb Find (Olaf the White). According to the Irish annals, Barid had…

Bécc Bairrche (d. 718), son of Blathmac and overking of Ulaid, belonged to the Dál Fiatach dynasty. One of the seven sons of Blathmac (qv) son of Máel-Cobo, who had died (670) as overking of Ulaid, Bécc owed his sobriquet to the district of…

Blacair (Blakkr) (d. 948), king of Dublin, was son of Gofraid and belonged to the Norse-Hebridean dynasty that claimed descent from Ímar (qv) (d. 873). He had at least two brothers, …

Blathmac (d. 670), son of Máel-Cobo and overking of Ulaid, belonged to the Dál Fiatach dynasty. He was one of four brothers, among whom was Óengus, ancestor of the rulers of Leth Cathail (Lecale, east Co. Down). Blathmac had seven sons, the most distinguished of whom was…