7th Century AD In Ulster at this time the Dal Riada

ULSTER: At this time the Dal Riada - riata Sept descended from 68.Cairbre - aka Eochaidh “Riada” were still in Co. Antrim - North East Ulster, with the Eilni Sept further inland below them while the kingdom based on the Cruthin, of the Dal nAraide Sept descended from 90.Crond “Ba Drui” were further south near Larne. The dominant tribe in Ulster was still the Dal Fiatach Sept descended from Forgg mac Dallain who were situated in the territory around Belfast further south with one of their sub - Septs the Ui Echach Cobo down below them in the west of Co. Down - South East Ulster. The Heremonian Dal Cuinn Northern Ui Niaill Cenel Conaill & Cenel nEogain Septs were continuing to expand their territory here also further into Co. Derry - Northern Ulster & Co. Tyrone - Central Ulster. The Ui Thuirtri Sept were in the centre behind Loch Neagh and the Ui Mocha Uais Sept were below them but were further to the west. The actual Heremonian Dal Cuinn 3 Colla Septs' kingdom of Airghialla - Oriel who were descended from 84.Eochy “Doimhlen” was below them in the centre, opposite to the Ui Echach Cobo who were to the east. In the centre of and below these two tribes were the Airthir Sept with the 3 Colla Conaille Muirthemne Sept on the coast below the Ui Echach Cobo.

CONNACHT: The Heremonian Dal Cuinn 3 Connachta Tuatha - Family region had by now produced their two main Septs, the Ui Briuin descended from 88.Brion, and the Ui Fiachrach descended from 88.Fiachra who were both becoming more dominant in Connacht. The Cairpre Droma Cliab Sept were on the north west coast near Co. Sligo in the north - west with the Dartraige Sept to the east of them near Enniskillen in Co. Fermanagh - South Western Ulster. The Calraige Sept were below the Dartraige and the Northern Ui Fiachrach were near *Ballina with the Luigne Sept descended from 85.Cian situated below them and in the centre of the Ui Fiachrach & Calraige. The Gailenga Sept also descended from 85.Cian was directly below them and the Conmaicne were still in the centre of Ireland, opposite and in the middle of both of the Gailenga who were also in the east of them. The Ui Mall Sept were near *Westport on the west coast with the Fir Chera Sept descended also from 87.Fiachra through one of his sons, 88.mac Ercae further inland near *Castlebar and the Ui Briuin Sept in the centre of Ireland also opposite them. In the Midlands - Northern Leinster the Cairpre Gabhra Sept descended from 88.Cairpre one of the sons of 87.Niall were in the north - west but well inland from the Sil nAedo Slaine Sept descended from 91.Aed “Slaine” who was himself descended from 88.Conall “Cremthainne” another of the sons of 87.Niall who were further east near Drogheda in Co. Louth - North East Leinster. *Tethbae was to the west below them slightly and the Cairpre Gabhra with their kinsmen the Clann Cholmain descended from 91.Colman “Mor,” a brother to 91.Aed “Slaine,” were below Tethbae and the Sil nAedo Slaine, which was all Southern Ui Niaill territory. The Cairpre was also around Mullingar in Co. Westmeath - North West Leinster and the Heremonian Dal Cuinn Ui Maine was in Connacht around Athlone to the west opposite the Cairpre with the main Conmaicne Sept also in the far - west of Connacht between *Clifden on the coast & *Tuam in Co. Galway further inland. The Southern Ui Fiachrach also descended from 87.Fiachra were also around Co. Galway with the Muscraige Tire also descended from 68.Cairbre - aka Eochaidh “Riada” near *Birr further inland in Co. Offaly - Western Leinster near the River Shannon.

The Ui Briuin Septs of Connacht descending from 87.Brion also now came to play no part in the Dal Cuinn High Kingship of Ireland as their fortunes were to decline in this regard during the following century while the Ui Niaill dynasties of those Septs descending from his half - brother, 87.Niall of the Nine Hostages grew stronger. The newly won territories in the Midland - Mide - Meath Province had been shared among 5 of the sons of 87.Niall of the Nine Hostages and of these 88.Conall "Cremthainne's" son, 89.Fergus "Cerball" was to be the father of, 90.Diarmait mac Carroll - Cerbaill who had his territory in Slane in Co. Meath - North East Leinster. He had become the Southern Ui Niaill 8th High King of Ireland. This had been due to circumstances beyond his control, as both his grandfather, 88.Conall "Cremthainne" and his father, 89.Fergus "Cerball" had never gained any real distinction in their own right up until his time under the Gaelic True Family - Derbh Fhine succession. Their male line had been in big trouble and could have easily become extinct as their only claim to fame up until 90.Diarmait was that his uncle, 89.Ardgal, a brother to 89.Fergus "Cerball," had become the direct ancestor of the Cenel nArdgail Sept. Despite this lack lustre start 90.Diarmait’s line was to continue to be among the High Kings of Ireland with two of the Ui Niaill Septs the Sil nAedo Slaine & Clann Cholmain emanating through him . The Sil nAedo Slaine were directly descended from his son, 91.Aed "Slaine" and the Clann Cholmain from his brother, 91.Colman "Mor." Although 90.Diarmait's other son, 91.Colman "Bec" was to become the ancestor of the Caille Follamain Sept they did not produce any Southern Ui Niaill High Kings of Ireland.

LEINSTER - the Southern Ui Niaill Septs were continuing to establish their authority in the Midlands - Mide & Brega - Co. Westmeath & Co. Meath especially the two most dominant descending from 87.Conaill "Cremthainne" the Clann Cholmain & Sil nAedo Slaine. Among those feeling the impact of the Southern Ui Niaill attempts to expand their territories in Northern Leinster were the Heremonian Cu Corb Septs descending from 60.Leary - Laoghaire “Lorc” through 78.Laoghaire and 86.Cu “Corb.” The Ui Dunlainge Sept, emanating from 94.Dunlaing was to eventually become the most dominant of these along with the Ui Cheinnselaig Sept descending from his cousin 94.Enda “Cennsalach.” The Dal Messin Corb Sept descending from 87.Mess “Corb,” the Ui Enechglais Sept descending from 91.Bressal “Enechglas” and the Ui Failge Sept descending from 91.Ros “Failge” were to especially feel the impact. With all the pressure being exerted on them the influence of the Dal Messin Corb, and their Ui Garrchon Sept descended also from 87.Mess “Corb” through his descendant 90.Garrchu was to be reduced in particular. The Ui Failge Sept were near *Ballinsloe and the Ui Faelain Sept descended from 99.Faelan were further up towards the east with the Ui Briuin Cualann Sept on the east coast opposite them. The most dominant, the Ui Dunlainge were further inland below the Ui Faelain with the Ui Failge above them and further to the west. The Dal Messin Corb Sept of the Ui Garrchon were on the east coast below the Ui Briuin Cualann with the Ui Bairrche Sept descended from 91.Daire “Barrach” further west and below them. The Ui Enechglais Sept were on the east coast below the Ui Garrchon Sept and the Ui Drona Sept descended from 94.Dron were below them much further inland towards the west above the Ui Cheinnselaig Sept, who were beginning to also take over in the south who were descended directly from his brother, 94.Enda “Cennsalach,” who had been the Cu Corb 2^nd King of Leinster. The Loigis were below the Ui Bairrche Sept who were still in a strong position actually situated in between the Loigis.

SOUTH WESTERN LEINSTER - the Heremonian aristocratic kingdom of Ossory of the Osraige Sept was on the border of Leinster & Munster where it was based originally on the previous Fir Bolg kingdom there situated below the Loigis but higher up than the Ui Drona further to the west, above *Nenagh. It was under the control of the Heremonian Connla Kings of Ossory who were descended from 78.Connla, a brother to 78.Leary the ancestor of 86.Cu “Corb” and also a descendant of 60.Leary - Laoghaire “Lorc.”

NORTHERN MUNSTER / THOMOND: The Corco Mruad Sept descended also from 85.Cian was still in Co. Clare around *Lisdoonvarna with the Corco Baiscin Sept descended from 37.Ir further down the coast and the In Deis Tuaiscirt descended from 85.Cormac “Cass” on the west and east of the River Shannon around Ennis. In Southern Munster the Eoghanachta descended from his older brother, 85.Eoghan “Mor” was widespread and pushing further south into the east of Co. Kerry & Co. Cork were they were to overtake the Mairtine & Erainn - Ithian Corca Loigde Sept descended from 36.Lewy - Lughaidh. The Deisi Mumhan descended from 79.Felim - Feidhlimidh "Reachtmar" who had been the Heremonian 108th King of Tara - Ireland were in the east around Co. Waterford and the Eoghanacht Ui Fidgeinte Sept descended from 89.Fiacha “Fidgennid” were in the far - north - west near *Adare in Co. Limerick. The Cirraige Luachra Sept were below them around *Tralee in Co. Kerry with the Corco Duibne near *Dingle and the Muscraige Mittinein also descended from 68.Cairbre - Eochaidh “Riada” in the centre of Munster below the Eoghanachta & Deisi Mumhan. During this period also the Eoghanacht Aine Sept from Eastern Limerick, the Eoghanacht Chaisil Sept from Cashel in Co. Tipperary and the Eoghanacht Glendamnach Sept from Northern Cork who were all descended from 85.Eoghan "Mor" were in control of the Heberian Kingship of Munster. Meanwhile the Heberian Dal gCais Sept - Dalcassians descended from his younger brother, 85.Cormac "Cass" were by this time only one of over 40 Gaelic tribes who were descended from 37.Heber in Munster.

In Alba - Scotland after the 6^th Century AD Strathclyde & Rheged were still in existence under the control of the Britons. The Gaelic speaking Scottii in the Highlands were spreading out and the new German Teutonic races of the Jutes, Angles & Saxons, who would become the English, were expanding from Northumbria into the Lowlands. The kingdom of the Priteni - Pictii - Painted People was in the North of Clyde & Forth also in the Scottish Highlands. The Goidelic language was in use with Gwyddel being used as Welsh for Irish. The Scottii - Irish of Dal Riada under the leadership of 89.Aedan’s grandson, 91.Donnell “Breac” was to push the frontier of the Scottii in Albany up the Great Glen nearly to Inverness but were to be defeated and the German Teutonic Angles advanced in the south crossing both the Forth and the Tay.

They all had equal shares of land in their territories and their genealogies were even more important now to sustain their land rights over them.

St. Finnbarr who was a son of a metal worker to Prince Tigherach had founded a Monastery on Corcaigh Island - Marshy Place, which later became the City of Cork in Co. Cork. St. Canice - Kenneth, died at Aghaboe in Co. Kilkenny ? and was venerated in Scotland where several Churches in Argyle - The Land of the Gael are named after him. St. Senan from Scattery Island - Innis Cathaigh could trace his genealogy back 1600 years.

The "Golden Age" in Ireland had begun during the 6^th Century with the beginning of the monastic schools and would last until the coming of the Vikings but in the meantime Ireland would become known as the "Island of Saints & Scholars" as her missionaries would travel throughout Europe during and after the Dark Ages establishing religious centres everywhere they went.

RAINBOW FARMS 603 Roxburgh Road., Muswellbrook. N.S.W. 2333

Situated on the western bank of the Hunter River , Midway between Muswellbrook and Denman in the "Horse Capital Country" of the Hunter Valley in N.S.W. * Web: Ern - 02 65 479 144

John & Sue Markham

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