Eóganacht Chaisil

Eóganacht Chaisil were a branch of the Eóganachta, the ruling dynasty of Munster during the 5th-10th centuries. They took their name from Cashel (Tipperary County) which was the capital of the early Christian kingdom of Munster. They were descended from Óengus mac Nad Froích (died 489), the first christian King of Munster, through his son Feidlimid mac Óengusa.

In the seventh century, they split into two main clans. Cenél Fíngin was descended from Fíngen mac Áedo Duib (died 618) and became the O'Sullivans of County Tipperary. Clann Faílbe from Faílbe Flann mac Áedo Duib (died 639) and became the MacCarthys of Desmond in Counties Cork and Kerry (having been displaced by the Normans).

The Eóganacht Chaisil were considered part of the inner circle of Eoganachta dynasties which included the Áine and Glendamnach branches. These three branches rotated the kingship of Munster in the 7th and much of the 8th centuries. The Chaisil branch provided most of the kings in the 9th and 10th centuries in Munster.

References

* Byrne, Francis John (2001), Irish Kings and High-Kings, Dublin: Four Courts Press, ISBN 978-1-85182-196-9
* Charles-Edwards, T. M. (2000), "Early Christian Ireland", Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, ISBN 0-521-36395-0
* [http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~irlkik/ihm/munster.htm#eoghanacht Ireland's History in Maps]