Uí Fidgenti

Uí Fidgenti
4th century–1178
Capital	Brugh Ríogh (Dún Eochair Maigue)
Language(s)	Irish
Religion	Celtic polytheism, Celtic Christianity (coexistent)
Government	Monarchy
King
- fl. circa 340 AD	Fiachu Fidgenid
- 1178	independent princes
Historical era	fl. Late Antiquity
- Established	4th century
- Disestablished	1178

The Uí Fidgenti (Fidgeinti, Fidgente, Fidgeinte; English pronunciation: /iː ˈfiːjɛnti/ or /ˈfiːjɛntə/)^[1] or Wood-Sprung People were an early kingdom of northern Munster, situated mostly in modern County Limerick, but extending into County Clare and County Tipperary, and possibly even County Kerry and County Cork, at maximum extents, which varied over time. They have been given various origins among both the early or proto-Eóganachta and among the Dáirine by different scholars working in a number of traditions, with no agreement ever reached or appearing reachable. It is entirely possible that the Uí Fidgenti were the product of a combination of lineages from both these royal kindreds, or alternatively of another origin entirely.

Closely related to the Uí Fidgenti were the Uí Liatháin, who claimed descent from the same 4th century AD dynast, Dáire Cerbba (Maine Munchaín), and who in the earliest sources, such as The Expulsion of the Déisi (incidentally),^[2] are mentioned together with them.

They supposedly took their tribal name from their ancestor Fiachu Fidgenid, a son of Dáire Cerbba. Fid-genid probably means Wood Person in the mystical sense of sprite, elf or fairy.^[3] Uí Fidgenti is partly cognate with Viducasses, and the meanings are approximately the same.

The kingdom was divided into two principal dynasties or septs, the Uí Chairpre Áebda and Uí Chonaill Gabra.^[4][5][6][7] The latter were more often the stronger power.^[8]

Among the "officially recognized" Irish nobility the Uí Fidgenti are represented today by the O'Donovan family, of the Uí Chairpre Áebda. Famous modern descendants of the Uí Chonaill Gabra include Michael Collins of the Ó Coileáin,^[9] and possibly also the O'Connells of Derrynane.^[10][11][12]

Size and extents

A variety of sources show that Uí Fidgenti was the most prominent of the non-(classical)-Eóganacht overkingdoms of medieval Munster, once the formerly powerful Corcu Loígde and distant Osraige are excluded as non-participating.

Saint Patrick

Vita tripartita Sancti Patricii ^[13]

Saint Senan

Senán mac Geircinn

Uí Fiachrach Aidhne

The Annals first note the Uí Fidgenti in 645 (649) as allies of the celebrated king of Connacht, Guaire Aidne mac Colmáin, at the Battle of Carn Conaill. His dynasty, the Uí Fiachrach Aidhne, controlled much of the territory to the immediate north of the Uí Fidgenti and the two must have had frequent relations. Byrne argues ^[14] the two kingdoms were in rivalry for control over several smaller tuaths, but the available evidence clearly suggests they were allied.^[15]

Sites and finds

The Ardagh Chalice

See also: Ressad

Dún Eochair (Maighe) was the great capital of the Uí Fidgenti,^[16][17] described by Geoffrey Keating as having been one of the two great seats of the Dáirine and the legendary Cú Roí mac Dáire.^[18] The earthworks remain and the fortress can be found next to the modern town of Bruree,^[19] on the River Maigue. The name means "Fortress on the Brink of the Maigue", and the name of the town is anglicized from Brugh Riogh, meaning "Palace of Kings". Another common name for the site, but probably fanciful, is Lissoleem, thought to be from the name of Ailill Aulom,^[19][20] a legendary king of the Deirgtine who is sometimes seated there in literature.

To the south of Brugh Riogh can be found Cnoc Samhna ("Hill of Samhain"),^[21] also known as Ard na Ríoghraidhe ("Height of the Kingfolk"). Associated with Mongfind,^[22] this may have been the Uí Fidgenti inauguration site.

The Ardagh Chalice was discovered in Uí Fidgenti territory, at Reerasta Rath in 1868.^[23][24]

Eóganachta relationship

The Uí Fidgenti, despite the questions about their origins, had an excellent relationship, if peculiar, with the Eóganachta kings at Cashel. Theoretically unable to share in the Cashel kingship, they had the unique status of close foreign allies. Ólchobar mac Flainn may have been recognized King of Munster, but this is unlikely since he was not a descendant of Conall Corc, and he may in any case be confused with Ólchobar mac Duib-Indrecht.^[25]

However, a curious passage in The Expulsion of the Déisi^[26] names the Uí Fidgenti, including the Uí Liatháin, among the Three Eóganachta of Munster, the others being the Eóganacht Locha Léin and the Eóganacht Raithlind.^[27] All three were of sufficient military and political standing to exchange hostages with the Cashel kings instead of simply giving them as would proper subjects, and the relationship was apparently terminable.^[28]

Disintegration

The principal destruction of the Uí Fidgenti took place in 1178, when Domnall Mor O'Brien drove many into County Kerry (AI). The O'Connells, later of Derrynane House, would remain there, while the O'Donovans would depart for Carbery (County Cork), possibly at the invitation of their friends the O'Mahonys. The O'Collins, the most powerful sept, would follow the O'Donovans some decades later,^[29] but one or two smaller septs, notably the MacEnirys,^[29] would remain in County Limerick for several centuries more as lords under the new Earls of Desmond. Important families which did not survive the war with the O'Briens, and the subsequent incursion of the FitzGeralds, were Kenneally, Flannery, Tracey, Clerkin, and Ring. These became scattered all over Munster.

This conflict with the O'Briens had its origins two centuries before, when Donnubán mac Cathail, progenitor of the O'Donovans, formed an anti-Dalcassian alliance with two other leaders, his father-in-law Ivar of Limerick, the Danish king of Limerick, and Máel Muad mac Brain, King of Munster and ancestor of the O'Mahonys.^[29][30][31] The result of this was the assassination of the elder brother of Brian Bóruma, Mathgamain mac Cennétig, and Brian's subsequent revenge by killing all three members of the alliance.^[30] Donndubhán was married to Ivar's daughter, but her name has not survived.

It can be argued that the core of the Uí Chonaill Gabra, under the O'Collins, remained a powerful force in Munster for some period of time. The Annals of Inisfallen note that in 1177 there was "An expedition by Domnall Ua Donnchada (Donnell O'Donoghue) and Cuilén Ua Cuiléin (Colin O'Collins) against Machaire, and they took away many cows. Peace was afterwards made by the son of Mac Carthaig (MacCarthy) and by the Uí Briain (O'Briens)".^[32] This suggests the Uí Chonaill Gabra commanded one of the largest forces in Munster at this time and that it was not until after sustained attacks from the FitzGeralds that they were forced to retire to Cork in the mid 13th century. The same Cuiléin Ua Cuiléin and many of the nobles of Uí Chonaill Gabra were slain in a battle with Domnall Mac Carthaig in 1189,^[33] an unfortunate event which contributed to their weak resistance against the invading Cambro-Normans.

The last King of Uí Chairpre mentioned in the annals is Amlaíb Ua Donnubáin, slain by William de Burgh and the sons of Domnall Mór Ua Briain in the year 1201 (AI). Notably he was slain well outside of Uí Fidgenti in County Cork, near to the later home of many O'Donovans and O'Collins in Carbery.

County Clare

Because of the later dominance of County Clare by the Dál gCais, the Uí Fidgenti septs there have proven difficult to trace and identify. A powerful branch of the Uí Chonaill Gabra known as the Uí Chormaic preserved their identity, from whom descend the O'Hehirs, but it is believed that other families were later wrongly classified as Dalcassian. Notable possibilities are the O'Deas and O'Quins of Uí Fearmaic ^[34] and the MacNamaras of Clann Cuilean.

Corcu Loígde

Evidence may or may not exist for long-term exchange between the Uí Fidgenti and Corcu Loígde. This appears to be a relic of the pre-Eóganachta political configuration of Munster, and may support the theory of (some) Uí Fidgenti origins among the Dáirine as cousins of the Corcu Loígde. There are a number of historical septs who may have their origins with one or the other, evident in collections of pedigrees as early as those found in Rawlinson B 502,^[35] dating from 550 to 1130,^[36] and as late as those collected by John O'Hart in the 19th century.^[29]

An early O'Leary family are given an Uí Fidgenti (Uí Chonaill Gabra) pedigree,^[37] but the Munster sept as a whole are generally regarded to belong to the Corcu Loígde.

Pedigree

Based primarily on Rawlinson B 502:^[38]

  Dáire Cerbba / Maine Munchaín
               |
               |_______________________________________________________________________________
               |                   |                   |                   |                   |
               |                   |                   |                   |                   |
          Fidach              Uí Liatháin         Uí Fidgenti          Uí Dedaid       Uí Duach Argetrois
          |                                                                
          |__________________________     
          |                          |    
          |                          |
Crimthann mac Fidaig             Mongfind = Eochaid Mugmedón = Cairenn
                                          |                  |
                                          |                  |
                                      Connachta           Uí Néill

Notes

1. ^ In the pronunciation, the -d- is silent, and the -g- becomes a glide, producing what might be anglicized Feeyenti or Feeyenta.
2. ^ ed. Meyer 1901
3. ^ from the Dictionary of the Irish Language
4. ^ O'Donovan 1856
5. ^ Begley
6. ^ Mac Spealáin 1960
7. ^ Mac Spealáin 2004
8. ^ Begley
9. ^ Coogan, pp. 5-6
10. ^ O'Hart
11. ^ descent presented by Daniel Charles, Count O'Connell to the heralds of Louis XVI of France
12. ^ Cusack, p. 6 ff
13. ^ Stokes 1887, pp. 202-5
14. ^ Byrne 2001, p. 243
15. ^ Ó Coileáin 1981, p. 133
16. ^ Begley
17. ^ FitzPatrick
18. ^ p.123
19. ^ ^{a b} Begley 1906
20. ^ Joyce 1903 vol. II, pp. 101-2
21. ^ Placenames Database of Ireland
22. ^ FitzPatrick 2004, pp. 131-2
23. ^ Gógan 1932
24. ^ Begley 1906
25. ^ Byrne 2001, p. 213
26. ^ Meyer 1901
27. ^ Byrne 2001, p. 178
28. ^ Byrne 2001, p. 197
29. ^ ^{a b c d} O'Hart 1892
30. ^ ^{a b} Todd 1867
31. ^ O'Donovan 1856, vol. VI
32. ^ Annals of Inisfallen 1177.4
33. ^ Annals of Inisfallen 1189.3
34. ^ The Kingdom of Thomond
35. ^ see edition by Ó Corráin 1997
36. ^ Ó Corráin 1997
37. ^ O'Leary of Uí Fidgenti (O'Hart 1892)
38. ^ ed. Ó Corráin 1997, p. 195 (176)

References

• Begley, John, The Diocese of Limerick, Ancient and Medieval. Dublin: Browne & Nolan. 1906.
• Byrne, Francis John, Irish Kings and High-Kings. Four Courts Press. 2nd revised edition, 2001.
• Charles-Edwards, T.M., Early Christian Ireland. Cambridge. 2000.
• Coogan, Tim Pat, Michael Collins: The Man Who Made Ireland. Palgrave Macmillan. 2002.
• Cormac mac Cuilennáin, and John O'Donovan (tr.) with Whitley Stokes (ed.), Sanas Cormaic, or Cormac's Glossary. Irish Archaeological and Celtic Society. Calcutta: O.T. Cutter. 1868.
• Cusack, Sister Mary Francis, Life of Daniel O'Connell, the Liberator : His Times - Political, Social, and Religious. New York: D. & J. Sadlier & Co. 1872.
• FitzPatrick, Elizabeth, Royal Inauguration in Gaelic Ireland c. 1100-1600: A Cultural Landscape Study. Boydell Press. 2004.
• Gógan, Liam S., The Ardagh Chalice. Dublin. 1932.
• Joyce, Patrick Weston, A Social History of Ancient Ireland, Vol. I and A Social History of Ancient Ireland, Vol. II. Longmans, Green, and Co. 1903.
• Geoffrey Keating, with David Comyn and Patrick S. Dinneen (trans.), The History of Ireland by Geoffrey Keating. 4 Vols. London: David Nutt for the Irish Texts Society. 1902-14.
• Kelleher, John V., "The Rise of the Dál Cais", in Étienne Rynne (ed.), North Munster Studies: Essays in Commemoration of Monsignor Michael Moloney. Limerick: Thomond Archaeological Society. 1967. pp. 230–41.
• MacNeill, Eoin, "Early Irish Population Groups: their nomenclature, classification and chronology", in Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy (C) 29. 1911. pp. 59–114
• Mac Spealáin, Gearóid, Uí Cairbre Aobhdha. Baile Átha Cliath: Oifig an tSoláthair. 1960.
• Mac Spealáin, Gearóid, Ui Conaill Gabhra i gContae Luimnigh: A Stair (A History of West County Limerick). Limerick: Comhar-chumann Ide Naofa. 2004.
• Meyer, Kuno (ed. & tr.), "The Expulsion of the Dessi", in Y Cymmrodor 14. 1901. pgs. 101-35. (also available here)
• Meyer, Kuno (ed.), "The Laud Genealogies and Tribal Histories", in Zeitschrift für Celtische Philologie 8. Halle/Saale, Max Niemeyer. 1912. Pages 291-338.
• Meyer, Kuno (ed. & tr.), "The Song of Créde daughter of Guaire", in Ériu 2 (1905): 15-17. (translation available here)
• Murphy, Gerard (ed.), "The Lament of Créide, Daughter of Gúaire of Aidne, for Dínertach, Son of Gúaire of the Ui Fhidgente", in Gerard Murphy (ed.), Early Irish Lyrics: Eighth to Twelfth Century. Oxford: Clarendon Press. 1956. pp. 86–88. Also known as It é saigte gona súain (comp. Donnchadh Ó Corráin 1996)
• Ó Coileáin, Seán, "Some Problems of Story and History", in Ériu 32 (1981): 115-36.
• O'Connell, Mary Ann Bianconi, The Last Colonel of the Irish Brigade: Count O'Connell. London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner and Co. 1892.
• Ó Corráin, Donnchadh (ed.), Genealogies from Rawlinson B 502. University College, Cork: Corpus of Electronic Texts. 1997.
• Ó Corráin, Donnchadh, "Prehistoric and Early Christian Ireland", in Foster, Roy (ed.), The Oxford Illustrated History of Ireland. Oxford University Press. 2001. pgs. 1-52.
• Ó Cróinín, Dáibhí (ed.), A New History of Ireland: Prehistoric and Early Ireland, Vol. 1. Oxford University Press. 2005.
• O'Donovan, John (ed. & tr.), Annala Rioghachta Eireann. Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland by the Four Masters, from the Earliest Period to the Year 1616. 7 vols. Royal Irish Academy. Dublin. 1848-51. 2nd edition, 1856.
• O'Hart, John, Irish Pedigrees. Dublin. 5th edition, 1892.
• O'Keeffe, Eugene (ed. & tr.), Eoganacht Genealogies from the Book of Munster. Cork. 1703. (available here)
• O'Rahilly, Thomas F., Early Irish History and Mythology. Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies. 1946.
• Rynne, Etienne (ed.), North Munster Studies: Essays in Commemoration of Monsignor Michael Moloney. Limerick. 1967.
• Sproule, David, "Origins of the Éoganachta", in Ériu 35 (1984): pp. 31–37.
• Sproule, David, "Politics and pure narrative in the stories about Corc of Cashel", in Ériu 36 (1985): pp. 11–28.
• Stokes, Whitley (ed. & tr.), The Tripartite Life of Patrick. London: Eyre and Spottiswoode for Her Majesty's Stationary Office. 1887.
• Todd, James Henthorn (ed. and tr.), Cogadh Gaedhel re Gallaibh: The War of the Gaedhil with the Gaill. Longmans. 1867.
• Westropp, Thomas Johnson, "A Survey of the Ancient Churches in the County of Limerick", in Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy Volume XXV, Section C (Archaeology, Linguistic, and Literature). Dublin. 1904-1905. Pages 327-480, Plates X-XVIII.

Sites of interest

• The Territory of Thomond discusses the extent of the Kingdom of Uí Fidgenti
• Tuadmumu has maps and convenient Uí Fidgenti-related genealogies
• Tribes & Territories of Mumhan
• Tracys of the Eóganachta features a very detailed genealogy of the Uí Fidgenti, compiled and translated from numerous primary and secondary sources
• South Irish R1b