Families of the

The "Northern" Ui Niaill Cenel Conaill Septs are directly descended from *88.Conall "Gulban," who gained his epithet "Gulban" from Ben Ghulban / Ben Bulbain / Beann Bulbain near Sligo in Co. Sligo in the north - west of the Connacht Province were he was to be eventually killed. He was one of the 8 sons of *87.Niall of the Nine Hostages the Heremonian Ui Cobhthaigh Ui Felim Dal Cuinn 126th King of Tara / Ireland in the late 4th Century AD who is the direct male line ancestor of all of the Ui Niaill Septs both "Southern" and "Northern." He in turn was descended from *80 Conn of the Hundred Battles the 110th King of Tara / Ireland (Dal Cuinn - People of *80.Conn) in the 2nd Century AD descended from 60.Coffey / Cobhthach the 69th King of Tara / Ireland (Ui Cobhthaigh) descended from 37.Heremon the Celtic Gaelic Milesian Joint 1st King of Tara / Erinn / Ireland (Heremonians). The Cenel Conaill initially had their Tuath / Family region in the territory in Co. Donegal in the north - west of the Ulster Province along with that of 2 of his Ui Niaill brothers who together made up the 3 "Northern" Ui Niaill Septs. 88.Eogan (Cenel nEogain Septs) who were to have their territory in the north and north - east and eventually the centre of Ulster, in Co. Derry, Co. Antrim and Co. Tyrone, and 88.Enda (Cenel Endae Septs) whose territory was also in the north of Ulster in between both of his brothers territories. The Cenel Conaill Septs were to produce 10 Cenel Conaill Kings of Ireland up until 734 AD, when the Cenel nEogain Septs of his brother 88.Eogan were to become much more predominant in the Kingship along with their kinsmen, the "Southern" Ui Niaill Septs, emanating from their other 5 brothers whose territories were mainly in the Midlands / Mide / Meath / Northern Leinster.

Cenel Conaill Septs

Cenel Aedha - Main Septs: Ui Mael Doraidh, O Cannon / Ui Canannain who had their territory in Tir Aeda (The Land of *92.Aedh) in Co. Donegal. Sept : O Gallagher / Ui Gallchobhair. Ancestors: *92.Aed mac Ainmerech the 138th King of Ireland, *91.Ainmere the 135th King of Ireland, *90.Setna / Setnae, *89.Fergus "Cennfhoda" / "Cendfota," *88.Conall "Gulban" (Cenel Conaill).

Arda Midhair - Main Sept: O Doherty / Ui Dochartaigh Chiefs of Arda Midhair / Ardmire. Septs: Mac Bride / Mac Gilbride / Mac Kilbride / Mucklebreed / Mheic Giolla Brighdhe, Mac Cafferty / Mac Cafferky / Mac Caverty / Mheic Eachmharcaigh, Mac Davitt / Mac Dade / Mac Daid / Mac Devitt / Mheic Daibhi. Their territory was at Inishowen in Co. Donegal in the Ulster Province. Ancestors: *91.Lugdach (A brother to *91.Ainmere the 138th King of Ireland), *90.Setnai, *89.Fergus "Cennfhoda" / "Cendfota," *88.Conaill "Gulban (Cenel Conaill).

Cenel mBoghaine (Tir Boghaine - The Land of 89.Enda / Enna / Ennae "Boguine") Banagh and part of Boylagh in Co. Donegal. Ancestors: *89.Enda / Enna / Ennae "Boguine" the 6th son of *88.Conall "Gulban" (Cenel Conaill).

Cenel Chindfaoladh - Main Sept:- O Boyle / Ui Baoighill (Tir Ainmireach - The Land of *92.Ainmere) near Ardara, 3 Tuatha near Falcarragh and Kilmacrennan and at Boylagh in Co. Derry. Ancestors: Boyle / Baigell, Bradagain, Murtough / Muirchertach, Cindfhaeladh. *88.Conall "Gulban" (Cenel Conaill).

Muintir Dalachain - Main Sept: O Kernaghan / Ui Cearnachain, O Dallaghan / Ui Dalachain. Territory - Tuath Bladhach - Bladhaigh / Tuath Doe / Creslough and Dunfanaghy south of Ros - Iorguil / Downing's and Carrigart, Co. Donegal. Ancestors: Boyle / Baigell, Bradagain, Murtough / Muirchertach, Cindfhaeladh. *88.Conall "Gulban" (Cenel Conaill).

Cenel Duach - Ancestors: *89.Tierney / Tigernach / "Dui" / Duach, *88.Conall "Gulban" (Cenel Conaill).

Cenel Eanna - Main Sept: O Hanna / O Hainey / O Haney / O Heaney / Ui hEighnigh / Ui hAnnaidh Kings of Magh Ith, Tir Eanna and Fanad, Co. Donegal. Ancestors: *89.Enda / Eanna the 6th son of *88.Conall "Gulban" (Cenel Conaill).

Siol Lugdach - Cenel Luighdech. Main Sept: O Donnell / Ui Domhnaill Chiefs of Clann Dalaigh, Territory in the north of Co. Donegal in the Ulster Province. Septs: O Boyle / Ui Baoighill Chiefs of Clann Chindfaoladh, Mac Brearty / Mac Breartie / Mac Murty / Mheic Muircheartaigh, Mac Coyle / Mac Cowle / Mac Ilhoyle / Mulcoyle / Mheic Gilla Comghall, O Crumley / O Cromley / O Crumlish / O Crummell / Ui Cromlaoich, O Deeny / O Deany / O Deeney / O Denny / Peoples / Ui Duibhne, O Deery / O Darry / O Derry / Ui Daighre, Mac Dockery / Mac Dockrey / Mac Dockry / Mheic Dailredochar, O Doherty / Ui Dochartaigh Chiefs of Ard Midhair / Ardmire. O Doohey / Ui Dubthach, O Doonan / O Donayne / O Donnan / Ui Dunain, O Glacken / Ui Glacain, Mac Granahan / Mac Crenahan / Mac Crenaghan / Mheic Reannachain, O Harley / Harrell / O Harrily O Heral / Ui hEarghaile, O Henegan / O Hanaghan / O Hannigan / Ui hEigneachain, O Heraghty / O Erachty / O Errarty / Ui hOireachtaigh, Mac Menamin / Mac Manamon / Mac Menam / Mac Menamy / Mheic Meanman, Mac Monagal / Mac Moneygal / Mheic Maongail, O Quigley / O Quigly / O Cogley / O Kegley / O Twigley / O Quigg / Ui Coigligh, Mac Roarty / Mag Robhartach, O Rowan / O Raghan / O Roane / O Rohan / O Roughan / Ui Robharchain, O Scannell / O Scanlan / Ui Scannail, O Tarrant / O Toran / O Torrens / Ui Torain. Ancestors: *91.Lugdach, (A brother to *91.Ainmere the 138th King of Ireland,) *90.Setnai / Setnae, *89.Fergus "Cennfhoda" / "Cendfota," *88.Conaill "Gulban (Cenel Conaill).

Mac Campbell / Mac Cawell / Mac Call, Mac Carron, O Connellan, O Connor,

O Dallan, O Dermond, Mac Diver, O Donegan, O Donnell, O Donnelly,

O Fairy, O Ferry / Farry, O Friel / O Freel, O Furan,

Mac Gee, Mac Giblin, Mac Gildea / Kildea, Mac Groarty,

Mac Killerlean,

O Mulderry, O Muldory, Munroe / Monroe,

Septs in the Cenel Conaill territories

The Cineal Conaill Clanns, Kings and Chiefs who were noted as being in Tir Conaill (The Land of *88.Conall) in the 12th Century AD are; 1. O Muldory, O Cannon and Clan Daley who were the Principal Chiefs. In the 10th Century AD some had evolved into the Clan-na-Dalaigh descended from Dalach one of their Chiefs, whose death was recorded by the Four Masters as 868 AD; Later they evolved into the 1. O Donnells / Ui Domhnaill who was a grandson of Dalach. 2. O Boyle who were the Chiefs of Clan Chindfaoladh of Tir Ainmireach and Tir Boghaine territories, which comprised the present Baronies of Boylagh and Banagh / Crioch Baoighilleach (O Boyles Country). Tir Boghaine was the Barony of Banagh. 3. O Mulvany, Chief of Magh Seireadh / Massarey. 4. O Hugh, Chief of Easruadh / Esroe or Ballyshannon, in the Barony of Tir Hugh. 5. O Tarkert the Chief of Clan Neachtain and of Clan Snedgaile / Snell. 6. Mac Duane, Chiefs of Cineal Nenna / Cineal Enda, a district which lay in Inishowen. 7. Mac Loingseachain, Chiefs of Glean Binne; and O Breslin / O Breslane, the Chief of Fanaid / Fanad, on the western shore of Loch Swilly. 8. O Doherty, the Chief of Ard Miodhair. In the Annals of the Four Masters, in 1197 AD, Echmarcach O Doherty is mentioned as the Chief of all of Tir Conaill. The O Dohertys maintained their rank as Chiefs of Inishowen down to the reign of the English King, James 1st. 9. Gilljames / James / Fitz James, the Chief of Ros - Guill / Rosgul, in the Barony of Kilmakrenan. 10. O Kernaghan, and O Dallan, the Chiefs of the Tuath Bladhaidh. 11. O Mullligan, Chief of Tir Mac Carthain, 12. O Donegan, and Mac Gaiblin / Mac Giblin, the Chiefs of Tir Breasail; and O Maol "Gaoithe" the Chief of Muintir Maol Gaoithe (gaoth - the wind - pronounced "ghee") and some members of this Clann also anglicized their name to Magee; and others to Wynne, another variation of "wind," the English for the word "gaoth." 13. Mac Ternan, the Chief of Clan Fearghoile / Fergal. 14. Mac Sweeney / Mac Swiggan, a branch of the O Nialls / Neills, who settled in Co. Donegal, and formed three great families, namely, Mac Sweeney of Fanaid, who had territory west of Loch Swilly, and whose castle was at Rathmullan; Mac Sweeney "Boghainach" of Tir Boghaine (The Barony of Banagh), who had his castle at Rathain, and in which territory was situated Reachrain Muintir Birn / Rathlin O Beirne Islands; and Mac Sweeney "na d-Tuath," / of the Territories / Tuatha Toraighe (Districts of Tory Island). His territories were in the Barony of Kilmacrenan. He was also known as Mac Sweeney of the Battle- Axes the Chief of the Galloglasses (mercenaries) and standard bearers and marshals to the O Donnells. A branch of the Mac Sweeneys, who were distinguished warrior leaders, also settled later on in Southern Munster in Co. Cork, in the 13th Century AD and they became commanders under the Heberian Eoghanacht Mac Carthys, the Princes of Desmond. 15. O Gallaghers who were descended from a warrior named Gallchobhar, who had their territory in the Baronies of Raphoe and Tir Hugh, and also had a castle at Ballyshannon, and another at Lifford where they were they were commanders of the O Donnell's cavalry. Sir John O Gallagher is mentioned in the wars of Elizabeth 1st. 16. O Foran was the Chief of Fionn Ruis (The Rosses in the Barony of Boylagh). 17. O Donnelly, was the Chief of Fear Droma, a district in Inishowen in 1177 AD. 18. O Laney / O Lane was the Chief of Cineal Maoin, a district in the Barony of Raphoe. 19. O Clery / O Clarke, were the hereditary historians to the O Donnells and the authors of the "Annals of the Four Masters," and other valuable works on Irish History and antiquities. They had large possessions in the Barony of Tir Hugh, and resided in their castle at Kilbarron, the ruins of which still remain on a rock on the shores of the Atlantic near Ballyshannon. 20. The Mac Wards were bards to the O Donnells, and were very learned men. Tir Connell (The Land of *88.Conall) was renamed Co. Donegal by the appointed English Lord Deputy in Ireland, Sir John Perrot, in the reign of his half - illegitimate sister, Elizabeth 1st and its actual meaning is Dun na Gall (The Fort of the Foreigners).

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