- Eógan mac Néill
Eógan mac Néill (died 465 [all dates per "The Chronology of the Irish Annals", Daniel P. McCarthy] , son of Niall Noígiallach, was an Irish king who founded the kingdom of
Ailech laterTír Eógain (modernCounty Tyrone ) in the 5th century. He was also the ancestor of theCenél nEógain dynasty and their septs (O'Neill, O'Docherty, O'Boyle, etc).Overview
Eogan was a close friend of
Saint Patrick and received Patricks blessing. [T.M.Charles-Edwards, "Early Christian Ireland", pg.51] With his brother the high kingLóegaire mac Néill (d.462), he was one of the judges in a dispute over the succession to Amalgaid (d.440), king ofConnacht among his sons competing to rule their territory of Tir Amalgaidh in northwest Connacht. [T.M.Charles-Edwards, "Early Christian Ireland", pg.26]Eoghan, King of Tír Eógan, and Prince of InnisEoghan is buried at St. Patrick's Church in Iskaheen, Innishowen, Donegal. A plaque there states "Eoghan Prince of Iniseoghain, Son of Niall of the Nine Hostages. Died 465 of grief for his brother Conall. Baptised by Patrick and buried in Uisce Chaoin"
His sons included
Muiredach mac Eógain , his successor in Ailech; Fergus, founder of the Cenél Fergusa; and Echach Binnich, founder of the Cenél mBinnig.Notes
References
* "Annals of Ulster" at [http://celt.ucc.ie/index.html CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts] at [http://www.ucc.ie/ University College Cork]
* 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.cs.tcd.ie/Dan.McCarthy/chronology/synchronisms/annals-chron.htm Revised edition] of McCarthy's synchronisms atTrinity College Dublin .
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