Fiacha Finnailches
Encyclopedia
Fíachu Findoilches, son of Fínnachta
, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland
. He succeeded to the throne on the death of his uncle Géde Ollgothach, whom, according to some versions, he had killed. His epithet findoilches means "white or fair hidden one", although some sources call him Fíachu Cendfinnán ("little white/fair head"), perhaps confusing him with the much earlier Fir Bolg
king of that name
. It is said that all the cattle, or flowers, of Ireland had white heads in his reign, and that he exacted a tax on white-headed cattle. He founded Kells, County Meath
. He is said to have been the first king in Ireland to dig wells, but grain
did not stay on the stalk in his reign. He ruled for either twenty or thirty years, and was killed by Géde Ollgothach's son Berngal in revenge for his father. The chronology of Geoffrey Keating
's Foras Feasa ar Éirinn dates his reign to 863-833 BC, that of the Annals of the Four Masters
to 1231-1209 BC.
Finnachta
Fínnachta, son of Ollom Fotla, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland in succession to his father. His given name was Elim. There is said to have been snow of wine in his reign, from which he gained his better-known name...
, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland
High King of Ireland
The High Kings of Ireland were sometimes historical and sometimes legendary figures who had, or who are claimed to have had, lordship over the whole of Ireland. Medieval and early modern Irish literature portrays an almost unbroken sequence of High Kings, ruling from Tara over a hierarchy of...
. He succeeded to the throne on the death of his uncle Géde Ollgothach, whom, according to some versions, he had killed. His epithet findoilches means "white or fair hidden one", although some sources call him Fíachu Cendfinnán ("little white/fair head"), perhaps confusing him with the much earlier Fir Bolg
Fir Bolg
In Irish mythology the Fir Bolg were one of the races that inhabited the island of Ireland prior to the arrival of the Tuatha Dé Danann.-Mythology:...
king of that name
Fiacha Cennfinnán
In Irish mythology Fiacha Cennfinnán , son of Starn, son of Rudraige, of the Fir Bolg, became High King of Ireland when he overthrew his great-uncle Sengann....
. It is said that all the cattle, or flowers, of Ireland had white heads in his reign, and that he exacted a tax on white-headed cattle. He founded Kells, County Meath
Kells, County Meath
Kells is a town in County Meath, Ireland. The town lies off the M3 motorway, from Navan and from Dublin. In recent years Kells has grown greatly with many Dublin commuters moving to the town....
. He is said to have been the first king in Ireland to dig wells, but grain
Cereal
Cereals are grasses cultivated for the edible components of their grain , composed of the endosperm, germ, and bran...
did not stay on the stalk in his reign. He ruled for either twenty or thirty years, and was killed by Géde Ollgothach's son Berngal in revenge for his father. The chronology of Geoffrey Keating
Geoffrey Keating
Seathrún Céitinn, known in English as Geoffrey Keating, was a 17th century Irish Roman Catholic priest, poet and historian. He was born in County Tipperary c. 1569, and died c. 1644...
's Foras Feasa ar Éirinn dates his reign to 863-833 BC, that of the Annals of the Four Masters
Annals of the Four Masters
The Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland or the Annals of the Four Masters are a chronicle of medieval Irish history...
to 1231-1209 BC.