The Line of Ir
IR was the fifth son of Milesius of Spain (who, see page 50, is No. 36 on "The Stem of the Irish Nation"), but the second of the three sons who left any issue. His descendants settled in Ulster.
THE STEM OF THE "LINE OF IR." OR,
THE Stem of the Irish Nation, from Ir down to (No. 105) Feargal, a quo O'Farrell, Princes of Annaly.
36. Milesius of Spain.
37. Ir: his son. This Prince was one of the chief leaders of the expedition undertaken for the conquest of Erinn, but was doomed never to set foot on the "Sacred Isle;" a violent storm scattered the fleet as it was coasting round the island in search of a landing place, the vessel commanded by him was separated from the rest of the fleet and driven upon the island since called Scellig-Mhicheal, off the Kerry coast, where it split on a rock and sank with all on board, B.C. 1700.
38. Heber Donn: his son; born in Spain; was granted by Heber and Heremon the possession of the northern part of Ireland, now called Ulster.
39. Hebric: his son; was killed in a domestic quarrel.
40. Artra: his youngest son; succeeded in the government of Uladh or Ulster; his elder brothers, Cearmna and Sobhrach, put forth their claims to sovereign authority, gave battle to the Monarch Eochaidh, whom they slew and then mounted his throne; they were at length slain: Sobhrach at Dun Sobhrach, or "Dunseverick," in the county of Antrim, by Eochaidh Meann; and Cearmna (in a sanguinary battle fought near Dun Cearmna, now called the Old Head at Kinsale, in the county of Cork, where he had his residence), by his successor Eochaidh Faobhar-glas, grandson of Heber Fionn, B.C. 1492.
41. Artrach: son of Artra.
42. Sedna: his son; slew Rotheacta, son of Maoin, of the race of Heremon, Monarch of Ireland, and, mounting his throne, became the 23rd Monarch. It was during his reign that the Dubhloingeas or "pirates of the black fleet" came to plunder the royal palace of Cruachan in Roscommon, and the King was slain, in an encounter with those plunderers, by his own son and successor, who mistook his father for a pirate chief whom he had slain and whose helmet he wore.
43. Fiacha Fionn Scothach, the 24th Monarch: son of Sedna; so called from the abundance of white flowers with which every plain in Erinn abounded during his reign; was born in the palace of Rath-Cruachan, B.C. 1402; and slain, B.C. 1332, in the 20th year of his reign, by Munmoin, of the Line of Heber.
44. Eochaidh (2): his son; better known as Ollamh Fodhla,[1] i.e., "Ollamh, or chief poet of Fodhla" (or Ireland); began his reign, A.M. 3882, B.C. 1317 (according to the received computation of the Sep-tuagint, making A.D. 1 agree with A.M. 5199). This Eochaidh was the 27th Monarch of Ireland, and reigned 40 years. It was this Monarch who first instituted the Feis Teamhrach (or "Parliament of Tara"), which met about the time called "Samhuin" (or 1st of November) for making laws, reforming general abuses, revising antiquities, genealogies, and chronicles, and purging them from all corruption and falsehood that might have been foisted into them since the last meeting. This Triennial Convention was the first Parliament of which we have any record on the face of the globe; and was strictly observed from its first institution to A.D. 1172; and, even as late as A.D. 1258, we read in our native Annals of an Irish Parliament, at or near Newry. (See "O'Neill" Stem, No. 113.) It was this Monarch who built Mur Ollamhan at Teamhair (which means "Ollamh's fort at Tara"); he also appointed a chieftain over every cantred and a brughaidh over every townland.
According to some chroniclers, "Ulster" was first called Uladh, from Ollamh Fodhla. His posterity maintained themselves in the Monarchy of Ireland for 250 years, without any of the two other septs of Heber and Heremon intercepting them. He died at an advanced age, A.M. 3922, at his own Mur (or house) at Tara, leaving five sons, viz.: 1. Slanoll; 2. Finachta Fionnsneachta (or Elim); 3. Gead Ollghothach, and 4. Fiacha, who were successively Monarchs of Ireland; and 5. Cairbre.
45. Cairbre: son of Ollamh Fodhla; King of Uladh; d. in the 22nd year of the reign of his brother Fiacha.
46. Labhradh: his son; governed Ulster during the long reign of his cousin Oiliol, son of Slanoll.
47. Bratha: his son; was slain by Breasrigh, a prince of the Heberian race, in the 12th year of the reign of Nuadhas Fionn-Fail.
48. Fionn: his son; fought against the Monarch Eochaidh Apach at Tara, defeated him, and became the 42nd Monarch; but after a reign of 22 years was slain by Seidnae Innaraidh, his successor.
49. Siorlamh: his son; so called from the extraordinary length of his hands (Lat. "longimanus," or long-handed); slew the Monarch Lugbaidh Iardhonn, and assumed the sovereignty of the kingdom, which he held for 16 years, at the expiration of which, in B.C. 855, he was slain by Eochaidh Uarceas, son of the former King.
50. Argeadmar (or Argethamar): his son; ascended the Throne of Ireland, B.C. 777, and was the 58th Monarch; after a reign of 30 years, was slain by Duach Ladhrach. He left four sons: 1. Fiontan, whose son, Ciombaoth, was the 63rd Monarch; 2. Diomain, whose son, Dithorba, became the 62nd Monarch; 3. Badhum, who was father of Aodh Ruadh, the 61st Monarch, who was drowned at Eas Ruadh (or Assaroe), now Ballyshannon, in the county of Donegal, and grandfather of Macha Mongruadh, or "Macha of the Golden Tresses," the 64th Monarch, and the only queen Ireland ever has had, who laid the foundation of the Royal Palace of Emania, in the county of Armagh, where her consort Cimbath, died of the plague; the fourth son of Argeadmar was Fomhar.
51. Fomhar: son of Argeadmar; died during the reign of Cimbath.
52. Dubh: his son; was King of Ulster.
53. Eos: his son.
54. Srubh: his son.
55. Indereach: his son.
56. Glas: his son.
57. Carbre (or Cathair): his son.
58. Feabhardhile: his son.
59. Fomhar (2): his son.
60. Dubh (2): his son.
61. Sithrich: his son.
62. Ruadhri (or Rory) Mór: his son; was the 86th Monarch; died B.C. 218. From him the "Clan-na-Rory" were so called. He left, amongst other children 1. Bresal Bodhiobha, and 2. Congall Clareineach, who were respectively the 88th and the 90th Monarchs; 3. Conragh, the father of the 105th Monarch Eiliomh; 4. Fachna Fathach, the 92nd Monarch, who, by his wife Neasa was father of Conor; 5. Ros Ruadh, who by his wife Roigh, the father of the celebrated Fergus Mór; and 6. Cionga, the ancestor of the heroic Conal Cearnach,from whom are descended O'Moore, MacGuinness, M'Gowan, and several other powerful families in Ulster and Conacht.
63. Ros Ruadh: son of Rory Mór; m. Roigh, dau. of an Ulster Prince.
64. Fergus Mór: his son; commonly called "Fergus MacRoy" or "Fergus MacRoich," from Roigh, his mother, who was of the sept of Ithe; was King of Ulster for three (some say seven) years, and then forced from the sovereignty by his cousin, Conor MacNeasa, whereupon he retired into Conacht, where he was received by Maedhbh (Maev) Queen of that Province, and by her husband Oilioll Mór, and, sustained by them, was in continual war with Conor MacNeasa during their lives.
Maedhbh was the dau. of Eochy Feidlioch, the 93rd Monarch, who gave her in marriage to his favourite Tinne, son of Conragh, son of Ruadhri Mór (No. 62 on this stem), with the Province of Conacht as a dowry. This prince was slain at Tara by Monire, a Lagenian prince, in a personal quarrel; and Maedhbh soon after married Oilioll (who was much older than she was), the son of Ros Ruadh by Matha Muireasg, a Lagenian princess. Oiliol was far advanced in years when Fergus Mór sought shelter beneath his roof at Rath-Craughan, in Roscommon, and the Queen Maedhbh, being young, strayed from virtue's path, proved with child by Fergus, and was delivered of three male children at a birth. The names of these princes were: 1. Ciar [Kiar], a quo Ciarruighe Luachra, Ciarruighe Chuirc, Ciarruighe Aoi, and Ciarruighe Coinmean; 2. Corc, a quo Corc Modhruadh (or Corcumroe); and 3. Conmac, a quo Conmaicne-Mara (now Connemara), Conmaicne Cuile Tolaigh (now the barony of Kilmaine, co. Mayo), Conmaicne Magh Rein (the present co. Longford, and the southern half of the co. Leitrim), Conmaicne Cinel Dubhain (now the barony of DunMóre, co. Galway).
According to the native genealogists these three sons of Fergus and Maedhbh ought to stand in the following order 1. Conmac; 2. Ciar; and 3. Corc.
Fergus Mór was slain by an officer belonging to the court of Oiliol Mór, as he was bathing in a pond near the royal residence, and he was interred at Magh Aoi.
The other children of Fergus Mór were: 1. Dallan, 2. Anluim, 3. Conri, 4. Aongus Fionn,[2] 5. Oiliol, 6. Firceighid,[3] 7. Uiter, 8. Finfailig,[4] 9. Firtleachta, and 10. Binne.
65. Conmac: eldest son of Fergus Mór, by Maedhbh; whose portion of his mother's inheritance and what he acquired by his own prowess and valour, was called after his name: "Conmaicne" being equivalent to Posterity of Conmac. The five Conmaicne contained all that (territory) which we now call the county of Longford, a large part of the counties of Leitrim, Sligo, and Galway; and Conmaicne Beicce, now called "Cuircneach" or Dillon's Country, in the county of Westmeath, over all of which this Conmac's posterity were styled Kings, till they were driven out by English adventurers.
66. Moghatoi: his son.
67. Messaman: his son.
68. Mochta: his son.
69. Cetghun: his son.
70. Enna: his son.
71. Gobhre: his son.
72. Iuchar: his son.
73. Eoghaman: his son.
74. Alta: his son.
75. Tairc: his son.
76. Teagha: his son; had a brother, Dallan,[5] who had a son Lughdach, who had a son Lughdach, whose son was St. Canice of Aghaboe.
77. Ethinon: his son.
78. Orbsenmar: his son; after whose death a great Lake or Loch broke out in the place where he dwelt; which, from him, is ever since called "Loch Orbsen" (now Lough Corrib).
79. Conmac: his son; some Irish annalists are of opinion that the territories called "Conmacne" above mentioned, are called after this Conmac, and not from Conmac, No. 65 on this Stem.
80. Lughach: his son.
81. Beibhdhe: his son.
82. Bearra: his son; a quo O'Bearra, anglicised Berry and Bury.
83. Uisle: his son.
84. Eachdach: his son.
85. Forneart: his son.
86. Neart: his son.
87. Meadhrua: his son.
88. Dubh: his son.
89. Earcoll: his son.
90. Earc: his son.
91. Eachdach: his son.
92. Cuscrach: his son.
93. Fionnfhear: his son.
94. Fionnlogh: his son.
95. Onchu: his son.
96. Neidhe: his son.
97. Finghin: his son.
98. Fiobrann: his son; had four brothers, from three of whom the following families are descended: 1. Maoldabhreac (whose son Siriden was ancestor of Sheridan), ancestor of O'Ciarrovan (now Kirwan), O'Ciaragain (now Kerrigan), etc.; 2. Mochan, who was the ancestor of O'Móran; and 3. Rinnall, who was ancestor of O'Daly of Conmacne.
99. Mairne: his son. From this Mairne's brothers are descended O'Canavan, O'Birren, Birney, and MacBirney, O'Kenney, O'Branagan, Martin, Bredin, etc.
100. Croman: son of Mairne.
101. Eimhin: his son; had three brothers: 1. Biobhsach, who was ancestor of MacRaghnall (or Reynolds) of Connaught; 2. Gearadhan, ancestor of Gaynor; 3. Giollagan, ancestor of Gilligan and Quinn of the co. Longford. From these three brothers are also descended Shanly, Mulvy, Mulkeeran, etc.
102. Angall: his son. From this Angall that part of Conmacne now known as the county of Longford, and part of the county of Westmeath was called the "Upper Anghaile," or Upper Annaly; and the adjacent part of the county of Leitrim was called the "Lower Anghaile," or Lower Annaly; and his posterity after they lost the title of Kings of Conmacne, which his ancestors enjoyed, were, upon their subjugation by the Anglo-Normans, and on their consenting that their country be made "Shire ground," styled lords of both Anghalies or Annalies.
103. Braon: his son. This Braon's brother Fingin was ancestor of Finnegan, etc.
104. Congal: son of Braon.
105. Feargal ("feargal": Irish, a valiant warrior): his son; a quo O'Fergail, anglicised O'Farrell, O'Ferrall, Farrell, Freehill, and Freel.
Notes
[1] Ollamh Fodhla: See the Paper in the Appendix headed "The Irish Parliaments," for further information respecting this truly celebrated Irish Monarch.
[2] Aongus Fionn: This Aongus was ancestor of the Chiefs of Owny-Beg, now a barony in the county of Tipperary:
64. Fergus Mór, King of Ulster.
65. Aongus Fionn: his son.
66. MacNiadh: his son.
67. Orchon: his son.
68. Foranan: his son.
69. Labhra: his son.
70. Cait: his son.
71. Oiliol: his son.
72. Diochon: his son.
73. Sleibhe: his son.
74. Gofnid: his son.
75. Conor: his son.
76. Dermod: his son.
77. Lochlan: his son.
78. Dubhthaig: his son.
79. Maolbrenan: his son.
[3] Firceighid: This Firceighid was ancestor of the Eoghanacht of Ara-Cliach, a district in the county of Limerick on the borders of Tipperary:
65. Firceighid: son of Fergus Mór.
66. Rory: his son,
67. Lawlor: his son.
68. Daire: his son.
69. Conri: his son.
70. Benard: his son.
71. Doncha: his son.
72. Eocha: his son.
73. Eoghan: his son; a quo Eoghanacht Ara-Cliach.
74. Cuchonacht: his son.
75. Maonaig: his son.
76. Dinfeartach: his son.
77. Duibtheach: his son.
78. Loingsedh: his son.
79. Dunlaing: his son.
80. Bruadar: his son.
[4] Finfailig: This Finfailig was ancestor of O'Dugan and O'Coscridh, chiefs of Fermoy, in the county of Cork. (See the "Dugan" Stem.)
[5] Dallan: Had a son Lughdach, who had a son, Nathi, who had a son, Baer, who had a son, Becan, whose son, was St. Mochna of Ballagh, sometimes called St. Cronan.