List of kings of Connacht explained

Royal Title:	Kings
Realm:	Connacht
Native Name:	Rí Chonnacht
Coatofarms:	Kingdom of Connacht-900.svg
Coatofarmssize:	250px
Coatofarmscaption:	Map of Connacht, c. 10th century.
First Monarch:	Genann
Last Monarch:	Feidhlimidh Geangcach Ó Conchobair
Style:	Rí Chonnacht
Residence:	Rathcroghan Carnfree
Appointer:	Tanistry
Began:	Ancient
Ended:	1474
Pretender:	Desmond O'Conor Don (Ó Conchubhair Donn)

The Kings of Connacht were rulers of the cóiced (variously translated as portion, fifth, province) of Connacht, which lies west of the River Shannon, Ireland. However, the name only became applied to it in the early medieval era, being named after the Connachta.

The old name for the province was Cóiced Ol nEchmacht (the fifth of the Ol nEchmacht). Ptolemy's map of c. 150 AD does in fact list a people called the Nagnatae as living in the west of Ireland. Some are of the opinion that Ptolemy's Map of Ireland may be based on cartography carried out as much as five hundred years before his time.

The Connachta were a group of dynasties who claimed descent from the three eldest sons of Eochaid Mugmedon: Brion, Ailill and Fiachrae. They took their collective name from their alleged descent from Conn Cétchathach. Their younger brother, Niall Noigiallach was ancestor to the Uí Néill.

The following is a list of kings of Connacht from the fifth to fifteenth centuries.

Prehistoric kings of Ol nEchmacht

Genann
Conrac Cas
Eochaid Feidlech
Eochaidh Allat
Tinni mac Conri
Medb, Queen of Connacht
Medb and Ailill mac Máta
Maine Aithreamhail mac Ailill Máta
Sanbh Sithcheann mac Ceat mac Magha
Cairbre mac Maine Aithreamhail
Eochaidh Fionn
Aodh mac Cu Odhar
Eochaidh mac Cairbre
Aonghus Fionn mac Domhnall
Cormac Ulfhada
Aonghus Feirt mac Aonghus Fionn
Connall Cruchain mac Aonghus Feirt
Fearadach mac Connal Cruchain
Forghus Fiansa
Forghus Fiansa and Art mac Conn
Ceidghin Cruchain mac Connall Cruchain
Aodh mac Eochaidh
Aodh Alainn mac Eochaidh Baicidh
Nia Mór mac Lughna
Lughaidh mac Lughna Fear Tri
Aodh Caomh mac Garadh Glundubh
Coinne mac Fear Tri
Muireadh Tireach mac Fiachra Sraibrintne
Eochaid Mugmedon
Niall Noigiallach/Niall of the Nine Hostages, died c. 450/455

List of historical kings

Uí Fiachrach, 406–482

See main article: article and Uí Fiachrach.

Reign	Parentage	Death
406–440		440
440–445	Son of Fiachrae	445
445–482		482

Uí Briúin, 482–500

See main article: article and Uí Briúin.

Uí Fiachrach, 500–549

Name	Reign	Clan Arms	Parentage	Death
	500–542			542
	542–549			549

Uí Briúin, 549–600

Reign	Parentage	Death
549–556	Son of Fergus mac Muireadach	556
556–575		575
575–600		600

Uí Fiachrach Aidhne, 600–622

See main article: article, Uí Fiachrach Aidhne and Ó Seachnasaigh.

Uí Fiachrach Aidhne, 649–663

Reign	Parentage	Death
649–655		655
655–663	Son of Colmán mac Cobthaig	663

Uí Briúin Síl Cellaig, 702–705

width=35%	King	width=20%	Clan sept	width=20%	Reign
		702 - 705

Uí Briúin Síl Cellaig, 723–728

width=35%	King	width=20%	Clan sept	width=20%	Reign
		723 - 728

Uí Briúin Síl Cathail, 728–735

See main article: article and Ó Flannagáin.

Uí Briúin Síl Cellaig, 742–756

width=35%	King	width=20%	Clan sept	width=20%	Reign
		742 - 756

Uí Briúin Síl Cellaig, 773–777

width=35%	King	width=20%	Clan sept	width=20%	Reign
		773 - 777

Uí Briúin Síl Cellaig, 792–796

width=35%	King	width=20%	Clan sept	width=20%	Reign
		792 - 796

Uí Briúin Síl Muiredaig, 796–839

Reign	Parentage	Death
796–815	Son of Tommaltach mac Murgail	815
815–833	Son of Tommaltach mac Murgail	833
833–839		839

Uí Briúin Síl Cathail, 839–843

Reign	Parentage	Death
839–840	Son of Aedh mac Fogartach	840
840–843	Son of Fothaid mac Dub-Indrecht	843

Uí Briúin Síl Muiredaig, 872–956

Reign	Parentage	Death
872–882	Son of Tadhg Mór mac Muirgius	882
882–888		888
888–900		900
900–925		925
925–956		956

Ó Ruairc, 956–967

See main article: article, Uí Briúin Bréifne and Kingdom of Breifne.

Ó Conchobhair, 967–1030

See main article: article and Ó Conchobhair.

Name	Reign	Clan Arms	Parentage	Death
	967–973			973
	973			973
	973–1010			1010
	1010–1030			1030

Ó Conchobhair, 1102–1280

Name	Reign	Clan Arms	Parentage	Death
	1102–1106			1106
	1106–1156			1156
	1156–1186			1198
	1186–1189			1189
	1190–1202			1202
	1202–1224			1224
	1224–1228			1228
	1228–1233			1233
	1233–1265			1265
	1265–1274			1274
	1274–1280			1280

Muircheartaigh Uí Conchobhair, 1280–1293

See main article: article and Muircheartaigh Uí Conchobhair.

Name	Reign	Clan Arms	Parentage	Death
	1280–1288; 1293			1293
	1288–1293			1293

Ó Conchubhair Donn, 1317–1350

See main article: article and Ó Conchobhair Donn.

Name	Reign	Clan Arms	Parentage	Death
	1317–1318 1324–1350			1350
	1324			1345

Ó Conchobhair Sligigh, 1318–1324

See main article: article and Ó Conchobhair Sligigh.

Ó Conchubhair Donn, 1368–1474

Name	Reign	Clan Arms	Parentage	Death
	1368–1384			1384
	1384–1406			9 December 1406
	1406–1439			19 March 1439
	1439–1461			15 May 1461
	1461–1474			1474

Sources

Annals of the Four Masters, 1990 edition.
The Annals of Connacht, A. Martin Freeman, 1944.
Irish Kings and High Kings, Francis John Byrne, 1973.
Leabhar Mor Genealach, Dubhaltach MacFhirbhisigh, ed. O'Muralie, 2004.

External links

Ó Conchobair and Burke at The Irish Story
[ftp://ftp.ucc.ie/pub/celt/texts/T105013.txt A Poem on the Kings of Connacht]