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Robert Lister Macneil, The Clan MacNeill: Clann Niall of Scotland, 1923

Page vi: From their root insular situation in the Hebrides the Macneils of Barra must have had far closer relations with the Norse invaders than was the case with some of the mainland Clans. Barra was dedicated to and no doubt converted to Christianity by the labors of S. Bairre, Barr of Finbar, first Bishop of Cork, who was a native of Connaught, being the son of Amairgen, son of Dubduibne, son of Art, son of Carthann, son Fland, son of Ninnid, son of Brian, son of Cochaidh Muigmedon, who was High King or Ardrigh of Ireland.

Page xix: Heremon landed in Leinster and became the first Milesian Monarch of Ireland, A.M. 2935-48, B.C. 1028-15. He married Tea, daughter of Lughaidh, son of Ith, and cousin of Milesius. She was buried in County Meath, on a hill, afterwards from her called Tea Mor or Tea’s Mound, now Tara. Here, in after time, the High Kings of Ireland had their principal seat.

Page 1: Irial Faidh, the Prophet, son of Heremon, ruled as High King of Ireland from A.M. 2951 to 2961 (B.C. 1012-02). He built seven royal palaces known as Raths Ciombaoith, Coincheada, Mothuig, Buirioch, Luachat, Croicne and Boachill. He was buried at Magh Muagh. …… His son Foll-Aich was deprived of the kingship by Conmael, but the grandson, Tighernqmas succeeded as High King A.M. 3011, B.C. 952, and reigned for twenty-three years. It was during his time that the first gold mine in Ireland was discovered in County Wicklow. He is said to have been the first to introduce idolatry and to erect pagan altars, about one-hundred years after the landing of the Milesians. According to Keating he was struck down, with the greater part of his subjects, while worshipping his idol Crom Cruadh, a stone capped with gold, about which stood twelve lesser stones, in Magh Sleacht, the Plain of Adoration, in County Craven.

Page 2: His son Aongus Olmucach (Aongus of the Large Hand) became High King in 3151 (B.C. 812) and again subdued the Picts, the inhabitants of Scotland. He was killed at the battle of Carman in the year 3168. The kingship passed his son Maen who was succeeded by his son Rotheachtaigh.

Roitheachtaigh was High King during the years 3192 to 3203 (B.C. 771-760) and was slain by Seadhna. The next two generations, Deman and Dian, did not succeed to the Crown and it was not until 3360 (B.C. 603) that the latter’s son Siorna Saegalach (Siorna the Long-Lived) became Ardrigh or High King. After reigning for twenty-one years he was slain at Aillin by Rotheachta, who usurped the kingship and Siorna’s son Olioll Aolcheoin did without recovering it.

Giolchadh, son of Olioll, became High King in 3389 (B.C. 574). He was killed by Art Imleach nineteen years later and his son Nuadhas Fionn Fail (Nuadhas the Fortunate) succeed him two years later. After being on the throne for thirteen years he, in turn, was slain by Beasioghacta in 3423 (B.C. 540).

Adan Glas, son of Nuadhas, was not successful in his attempt to regain the throne. It was in his tim that the coasts were infested with pirates and a dreadful plague, which appears to have been the smallpox, judging from the sobriquet given his son, Simeon Breac (Speckled Simeon) who became High King in the year 3467 (B.C. 496).

Page 4: Melghe Molbhthach, (Melghe the Praiseworthy) son of Colethach, was High King from 3696 to 3708 (B.C. 267-255). He died at the hands of Modhchorb, a son of Cobhthach Caomh.

His son, Iaran Gleofathach, reigned from 3721 to 3727 (B.C. 242-236). He was said to have been a king of great justice and wisdom and lost his life at the hands of Farchorb, son of Modhchorb.

After a lapse of seven years his son Conla Caomh (Conla the Comely) became High King for four years, when he died a natural death. He was immediately succeeded by his son Olioll Ras-Fiachlach (Olioll of the Crooked Teeth) who, twenty-five years later, was slain by Adhamhar Foltchaion in 3763 (B.C .200).

In 3768 (B.C. 195) Olioll’s son Eochaidh Altleathan (Eochaidh of the Long Hair) secured the throne, which he held for seven years when he died at the hands of Feargus Fortamhail.

Twelve Years later, 3787 (B.C. 176) Eochaidh’s son Aongus Tuirmeach-Teamrach was crowned High King and ruled for thirty-two years, being slain at Tara in 3819 (B.C. 144).

Page 5: The six generations following Enna's reign were excluded from the High-Kingship; they were Labraidh Lorc (the Fierce), Beotact, Blatact, Assaman Eamhna, Roighnen Ruadh (the Red), in whose time there was a great cattle plague, and Fionn Fionnlogha who married Benia, daughter of Crimthan, and had Eochaidh Feidhlioch (Eochaidh of the Constant Sighs) who became High-King in the year 3922 (B.C. 41). He married Crofinna, daughter of Art of Uellthan, and lived in Aileach. He built a royal palace at Druin-na-n Druagh in Connaught and died at Tara in 3934 (B.C. 29). His son Finn Eamhna was excluded from the High-Kingship. Finn's sister, Maeve, Queen of Connaught, is still remembered as the Queen of the Irish fairies.

Finn's son Lughaidh Sriabh-n Dearg (Lughaidh of the Red Circles) succeeded as Ardrigh A.M. 4015, A.D. 63, and ruled for ten years, when he committed suicide by falling on his sword. He married Derbforguill, a Danish Princess, and had Crimthann Niadh Nar (Crimthann the Champion of Nar) who was High-King from A.D. 74 to 90. He married Nar-Tath-Chaoch, daughter of Loich, son of Darletus, King of the Picts. He was slain, with many other princes and nobles at a great feast given in their honour at Magh Cro, near Knockma, County Galway.

Five years later his son Feredach Fionn-Feachtnach (Feredach the Just) was crowned High-King at Tara. He appointed Moran his chief Brehon, or judge and councillor, and under their joint sway the country enjoyed peace and prosperity. The fame acquired by Moran is attributed to the chain called Idh Moran which when put around the neck, of a guilty person would squeeze him to suffocation, but if placed about the neck of an innocent person would expand and fall to the ground. He is said to have received the chain from the Apostle Paul, according to a legend in the Book, of Ballymote.

Page 6: Feredach died peacefully at Tara in A.D. 116, after a reign of twenty-one years. Three years after his death his son Fiacha Fionn Ola (Fiacha of the White Oxen) who married Ethne, daughter of Imgheal, King of the Picts (Scotland) became High-King. Shortly after his accession the provincial kings formed a conspiracy to dethrone him and, about the year 126, his forces being absent in Scotland contending against the Roman Legion, they marched to Tara and slew him in the palace. It was said he died by the sword of Eiliomh Mac Conrach.

Page 7: Art Eanfhear (Art the Lonely) son of Conn became High King in the year 220. He married Trea, daughter of Cian of Munster. It is said he was called the Lonely or the Melancholy because he was the only son of Conn, his two brothers having been murdered by their uncles. He wrote an epitaph on his own sepulchre, and was killed in battle in the year 250. ….. Cribber Lifeachar (Cairbre of the Liffey), son of Cormac, married a daughter of the Prince of the Hebrides and was crowned High King in the year 278. After a region of seventeen years he was slain at the battle of Gabhra by Siomeon, son of Ceirb.

Page 8: Fiacha Srabhteine (Fiacha of Castle Srabhteine), son of Cairbre, succeeded his two cousins in the sovereignty A.D. 297. He married Aoife, daughter of the King of Gall Gaodhal (Prince of the Hebrides). About the year 328 he was slain by the Three Collas, Colla Uais, Colla Mean and Colla da Chrioch. Colla Uais was then proclaimed High-King and held the sovereignty for three years when he was overthrown by Muireadach, son of Fiacha.

Muireadach Tireach, High-King from 331 to 356, married Murion, daughter of Fiachra, Prince of Munster. Calvagh, King of Ulidia, met the Ardrigh in battle at Portri and defeated and killed him, but only held the throne for a few months when he in turn was killed by Eochaidh, son of Muireadach, who was crowned in the same year.

Page 10: Niall's first task as High-King was to subdue the hostile provincial Irish Kings in which he appears to have been highly successful. At the request of the Irish Dalriads, he then led an army against the Picts and obliged them to surrender Ceann Tire and Argyll, in Scotland, to his countrymen. At their request he changed the name of Alba (Scotland) to that of Scotia Minor, as distinguished from Ireland, called Scotia Major, in honour of Queen Scota, wife of Milesius. Having appeased the troubles in Alba, he entered Britain and ravaged the whole country in the year 388.

He then embarked for Armoric Gaul, whence he brought considerable booty and two hundred captives, one of them being St. Patrick, Apostle of Ireland, then in his sixteenth year.

Page 12: Niall married first Righneach, daughter of Medabh, by whom he had several sons, and secondly Ineachtfee, daughter of Dubhteach, son of Moindeach, King of Ulidia, by whom he also had several children, among them being Eoghan, who carried on the direct line.

Of fourteen sons only eight left issue, the first four remaining in Meath, from whom descended the Hy Nials of the South, and from the last four the Hy Nials of the North, and it was from these two branches of the Clan Neil that generally, though not always, the High-Kings of Ireland were alternately elected.

It is in descent from Neil of the Nine Hostages that the Chiefs of the Clan Macneil record their numerical succession.

Page 18: V. Donal became High-King in the year 559, on the death of Dermod, and ruled jointly with his brother Fergus. Two years later they both died of the plague. Donal was known as Donal Ilchealgach, the Deceitful.

VI. Aodh, son of Donald Ilchealgach, ascended the Throne of Ireland in the year 599. He was called Aodh Uariodhnach or Hugh of the Ague. After eight years in the sovereignty his death sickness seized him and he sent for Mura, and Mura came, and the King said to him, "Cleric, thou hast deceived us, for we have neglected our penance, because we through thy word thought it would come to pass that we should be aged in life, and now methinks death is near me." He died, in 607, at Ath-da-Fearta, the Ford of the Two Graves, County Louth.

VII. Maolfreach, son of Aodh Uariodhnach, succeeded as Prince of Ulster, but not as High-King. He was slain between the years 626 and 630.

Page 19: IX. Feargal, High-King of Ireland from 709 to 718. In717 he exacted the Baruma from the Lagenians. This Baruma was a tax which, in present-day standards, would have amounted to more than £250,000. In the following year, however, the Lagenians refused payment. Thereupon Feargal assembled an army of 21,000 and, marching into Leinster, fought the great battle of Allen, County Kildare. Seven thousand are said to have lost their lives, including Feargal and ten grandsons of Maolfreach. Feargal was slain by Aodh Menn, son of the King of Leinster, and his head was presented to Cathal, son of the King of Munster.

Cathal, when he saw the head, was grieved, and had it washed and the hair plaited and combed smooth, "and a cloth of velvet put around it, and seven oxen, seven wethers and seven bacon-pigs, all cooked, were brought. Then the head blushed in the presence of all the men of Munster, and it opened its eyes to God to render thanks for the respect and great honour shown it. Then the food was distributed by Cathal to the neighbouring churches, after which he went with a choice gathering of the men of Munster and gave the head to the Neils in Aileach."

Page 21: XII. Nlall reigned as High-King from 832 to 845. He was called Niall Caille, or Niall of the Callan, from the river in which he was drowned. He married Gormfhliath, daughter of Donogh mac Donal. He was very successful in his battles with the Danes, but on one of his expeditions against them, in the endeavour to save a bodyguard who had fallen into the River Callan, he lost his own life, at the age of fifty-five.

XIII. Aodh, son of Niall, was called Aodh Finnlaith, or Hugh the Hoary. Sixteen years after his father's death, 861, he became High-King of Ireland (known in Gaelic as Ardrigh), King of Aileach and Prince of Ulster. He marched against the Ulidians and the Connacians from whom he exacted hostages and pledges, and in 864 he proceeded against the Danes, whose fortress he plundered, and when the battle was over "twelve score of their heads were counted before him." Again in 871 he captured one of their fortresses, putting 240 of them to the sword and carrying off their goods and many captives.

Page 26: 5. The complete accord of the traditional descents as handed down from generation to generation of Barramen, and which can be checked against known historical facts. This exact knowledge of the generations of the Chiefs of the Clan straight through from Neil of the Nine Hostages to their day was not at all uncommon among the older Barra people of the past century.

In the year 563 Saint Columba, or Colum Cille, a cousin of Donal Hchealgach, V, and Fergus, joint High-Kings of Ireland and Kings of Aileach, of the Clan Niall, left Ireland to carry the teachings of the Saviour to his fellow Scots in Dalriada and to the Picts in the north. He established a monastery on the Isle of Iona, given to him by Bruidhi, King of the Picts, which became the head of the church in Scotland. He also placed smaller monasteries in various parts of the western coast and from these he sent out priests to nearly all the islands of the west. In later years his missionaries established several churches in the Outer Hebrides, there being one or more on each of the Islands. There is a well in the Township of Tangasdale, near Castlebay, Barra, named after him, as well as an old chapel on Mingulay, near Barra.

Saint Columba's teachings were of the purest Christian character, and while the people accepted Christianity they could not completely abandon the pagan rites of their forefathers, so that to this day traces of odd superstitions and old customs which are relics of a pre-Christian era are found.

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