Uí Cheinnselaig
Encyclopedia
The Uí Ceinnselaig from the Old Irish
"grandsons of Cennsalach", are an Irish
dynasty
of Leinster
who trace their descent from Énnae Cennsalach
, a supposed contemporary of Niall of the Nine Hostages
. Énda was said to be a grandson of Bressal Bélach and a first cousin of Dúnlaing mac Énda Niada, eponym
ous ancestor of the rival Uí Dúnlainge
.
The earliest associations of the Uí Ceinnselaig are with the region around Rathvilly
, County Carlow
, and the headwaters of the River Slaney
, but in time the centre of their power was pushed southwards, later being found around Ferns
, in County Wexford
, site of the monastery of Saint Máedóc (d. 626 or 632
).
In early times the Kings of Leinster
came from the Uí Ceinnselaig and the Uí Dúnlainge, but the Uí Dúnlainge came to dominate the kingship of the province, and after Áed mac Colggen
(d. 738) it was three hundred years until the next Uí Ceinnselaig king of Leinster, Diarmait mac Mail na mBo
. See Kings of Uí Ceinnselaig
.
Notable kings of the Uí Ceinnselaig and related kindreds included:
Old Irish language
Old Irish is the name given to the oldest form of the Goidelic languages for which extensive written texts are extant. It was used from the 6th to the 10th centuries, by which time it had developed into Middle Irish....
"grandsons of Cennsalach", are an Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
dynasty
Dynasty
A dynasty is a sequence of rulers considered members of the same family. Historians traditionally consider many sovereign states' history within a framework of successive dynasties, e.g., China, Ancient Egypt and the Persian Empire...
of Leinster
Leinster
Leinster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the east of Ireland. It comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Mide, Osraige and Leinster. Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the historic fifths of Leinster and Mide gradually merged, mainly due to the impact of the Pale, which straddled...
who trace their descent from Énnae Cennsalach
Énnae Cennsalach
Énnae Cennsalach was a King of Leinster and founder of the Uí Cheinnselaig sept of the Laigin. He was the grandson of Bressal Bélach , a previous king.The chronology of Leinster kings in the 5th century is contradictory...
, a supposed contemporary of Niall of the Nine Hostages
Niall of the Nine Hostages
Niall Noígíallach , or in English, Niall of the Nine Hostages, son of Eochaid Mugmedón, was an Irish king, the eponymous ancestor of the Uí Néill kindred who dominated Ireland from the 6th century to the 10th century...
. Énda was said to be a grandson of Bressal Bélach and a first cousin of Dúnlaing mac Énda Niada, eponym
Eponym
An eponym is the name of a person or thing, whether real or fictitious, after which a particular place, tribe, era, discovery, or other item is named or thought to be named...
ous ancestor of the rival Uí Dúnlainge
Uí Dúnlainge
The Uí Dúnlainge, from the Old Irish "grandsons of Dúnlaing", were an Irish dynasty of Leinster kings who traced their descent from Dúnlaing mac Énda Niada. He was said to be a cousin of Énnae Cennsalach, eponymous ancestor of the rival Uí Chennselaig....
.
The earliest associations of the Uí Ceinnselaig are with the region around Rathvilly
Rathvilly
Rathvilly is a village in County Carlow, Ireland. The area has the family seat of Baron Rathdonnell. Rathvilly has won the Irish Tidy Towns Competition on three separate occasions, 1961, 1963, and 1968.-History:...
, County Carlow
County Carlow
County Carlow is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Carlow, which lies on the River Barrow. Carlow County Council is the local authority for the county...
, and the headwaters of the River Slaney
River Slaney
The Slaney is a river in the southeast of Ireland. It rises on Lugnaquilla Mountain in the western Wicklow Mountains and flows west and then south through counties Wicklow, Carlow and Wexford, before entering St George's Channel in the Irish Sea at Wexford town...
, but in time the centre of their power was pushed southwards, later being found around Ferns
Ferns, County Wexford
Ferns is a small historic town in north County Wexford, Ireland with a population of about 900. It is 16 km from Enniscorthy, where the Gorey to Enniscorthy N11 road joins the R745 regional road...
, in County Wexford
County Wexford
County Wexford is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wexford. In pre-Norman times it was part of the Kingdom of Uí Cheinnselaig, whose capital was at Ferns. Wexford County Council is the local...
, site of the monastery of Saint Máedóc (d. 626 or 632
Aedan of Ferns
Saint Máedóc , also known as Áedan, was a saint in Irish tradition, founder and first bishop of Ferns and a patron of other churches, such as Rossinver and Drumlane .-Background:...
).
In early times the Kings of Leinster
Kings of Leinster
The following is a provisional list of the kings of Leinster who ruled the Irish kingdom of Leinster up to 1632 with the death of Domhnall Spainnach MacMurrough-Kavanagh, the last legitimately inaugurated head of the MacMurrough Kavanagh royal line...
came from the Uí Ceinnselaig and the Uí Dúnlainge, but the Uí Dúnlainge came to dominate the kingship of the province, and after Áed mac Colggen
Áed mac Colggen
Áed mac Colggen was a king of the Uí Cheinnselaig of Leinster. Some sources incorrectly make him joint king of Leinster with Bran Becc mac Murchado, but it appears that Áed was main ruler of Leinster in 738 His father Colcú mac Bressail was called king of Ard Ladrann at his death obit in the...
(d. 738) it was three hundred years until the next Uí Ceinnselaig king of Leinster, Diarmait mac Mail na mBo
Diarmait mac Mail na mBo
Diarmait mac Maíl na mBó was King of Leinster, and also High King of Ireland .He was one of the most important and significant Kings in Ireland in the pre-Norman era...
. See Kings of Uí Ceinnselaig
Kings of Uí Cheinnselaig
The Kings of Uí Cheinnselaig were a branch of the Laigin who came to dominate southern Leinster, known also as Laigin Desgabair. They were semi-independent of their overlords in the north of Leinster and sometimes provided rulers of all Leinster....
.
Notable kings of the Uí Ceinnselaig and related kindreds included:
- Brandub mac EchachBrandub mac EchachBrandub mac Echach was an Irish king of the Uí Cheinnselaig of Leinster. His father, Echu mac Muiredaig had been a king of the Ui Cheinnselaig. They belonged to a branch known as the Uí Felmeda descended from Fedelmid, son of Énnae Cennsalach...
(died 603) - Áed mac ColggenÁed mac ColggenÁed mac Colggen was a king of the Uí Cheinnselaig of Leinster. Some sources incorrectly make him joint king of Leinster with Bran Becc mac Murchado, but it appears that Áed was main ruler of Leinster in 738 His father Colcú mac Bressail was called king of Ard Ladrann at his death obit in the...
(died 738) - Diarmait mac Maíl na mBóDiarmait mac Mail na mBoDiarmait mac Maíl na mBó was King of Leinster, and also High King of Ireland .He was one of the most important and significant Kings in Ireland in the pre-Norman era...
(died 1072) - Murchad mac Diarmata (died 1070)
- Diarmait mac MurchadaDermot MacMurroughDiarmait Mac Murchada , anglicized as Dermot MacMurrough or Dermod MacMurrough , was a King of Leinster in Ireland. In 1167, he was deprived of his kingdom by the High King of Ireland - Turlough Mór O'Connor...
(died 11711171 in Ireland-Events:*Death of Dermot MacMurrough.*Richard de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke becomes lord of Leinster.*Henry II of England arrives in Ireland.*Submission of Irish bishops and most Irish kings....
) - Aoife of Leinster (died 1188)
- Art mac Art MacMurrough-KavanaghArt mac Art MacMurrough-KavanaghArt Mór Mac Murchadha Caomhánach is generally regarded as the most formidable of the later Kings of Leinster. He revived not only the royal family's prerogatives but their lands and power...
(died 14171417 in Ireland-Deaths:Art Óg Kavanagh of Pulmonty, King of Leinster who built Ballyloo Castle in Tinryland, County Carlow...
)
See also
- LaiginLaiginThe Laigin, modern spelling Laighin , were a population group of early Ireland who gave their name to the province of Leinster...
- Gaelic nobility of Ireland
- Chief of the Name
- Irish royal familiesIrish Royal FamiliesThe Irish Royal Families were dynasties who ruled large overkingdoms and smaller petty kingdoms on the island of Ireland over the last two millennia.-Locality:...