Kings of Ailech



The Kings of Ailech were the over-kings of the medieval Irish province of Ailech in north-western Ireland. It encompassed the territories of the Cenél nEógain and Cenél Conaill. After the battle of Cloítech in 789 its kings were exclusively from the Cenél nEógain. The royal fort for Ailech was the Grianan of Aileach, a hillfort on top of Greenan Mountain in modern-day County Donegal, Republic of Ireland.

Early kings (5th–8th centuries)
Earlier Kings of Cenél nEógain and Ailech included:
 * Eógan mac Néill Noigallach (died 465);
 * Muiredach mac Eógain (died c. 489);
 * Muirchertach mac Muiredaig (died 534);
 * Forggus mac Muirchertaig (died 566);
 * Domnall Ilchelgach mac Muirchertaig (died 566);
 * Báetán mac Muirchertaig (died 572);
 * Eochaid mac Domnaill (died 572);
 * Colcu mac Domnaill (died 580);
 * Colmán Rímid mac Báetáin (died 604);
 * Áed Uaridnach mac Domnaill (died 612);
 * Suibne Menn mac Fiachnai (died 628);
 * Máel Fithrich mac Áedo Uaridnach (died 630);
 * Ernaine mac Fiachnai (died 636);
 * Crundmáel mac Suibni Menn (died c. 660);
 * Ferg mac Crundmaíl (died c. 668);
 * Máel Dúin mac Máele Fithrich (died 681);
 * Fland mac Máele Tuile (died 700);
 * Urthuile mac Máele Tuile.

Kings between 700 and 1185
The following is a list of their Kings from 700 to 1197. Some were also High Kings of Ireland:
 * Fergal mac Máele Dúin                      700 – 11 December 722
 * Áed Allán mac Fergaile                     722–743
 * Niall Frossach mac Fergaile                743–770
 * Máel Dúin mac Áedo Alláin                  770–788
 * Áed Oirdnide mac Néill                     788–819
 * Murchad mac Máele Dúin                     819–823
 * Niall Caille mac Áeda                      823–846
 * Máel Dúin mac Áeda                             846–867
 * Áed Findliath mac Néill                    c. 855 – 20 November 879
 * Murchad mac Máele Dúin                         879–887
 * Flaithbertach mac Murchado                     887–896
 * Domnall mac Áeda                           887–915
 * Niall Glúndub mac Áeda                     896 – 15 September 919
 * Flaithbertach mac Domnaill                     916–919
 * Fergal mac Domnaill                            919–938
 * Muirchertach mac Néill                     938 – 26 February 943
 * Domnall mac Muirchertaig ua Néill 943–980
 * Flaithbertach mac Muirchertaig meic Néill      943
 * Ruaidrí ua Canannáin                           943-956
 * Flaithbertach mac Conchobair                   956–962
 * Tadg mac Conchobair                            956–962
 * Conn mac Conchobair                            956–962
 * Murchad Glun re Lar mac Flaithbertaigh         962–972
 * Fergal mac Domnaill meic Conaing               980–989 (still styled as king of Aileach in his obituary in 1000)
 * Áed mac Domnaill Ua Néill                      989–1004
 * Flaithbertach Ua Néill                     1004–1031
 * Áed mac Flaithbertaig Ua Néill                 1031–1033
 * Flaithbertach Ua Néill (again)                 1033–1036
 * Niall mac Máel Sechnaill                       1036–1061
 * Ardgar mac Lochlainn                           1061–1064
 * Áed Ua hUalgairg                               1064–1067
 * Domnall mac Néill                              1067–1068
 * Áed mac Néill                                  1068–1083
 * Donnchad mac Néill                             1083–1083
 * Domnall Ua Lochlainn                       1083 – 9 February 1121
 * Conchobar mac Domnaill                         1121–1128
 * Magnus Ua Lochlainn                            1128–1129
 * Conchobar mac Domnaill                         1129–1136
 * Domhnall Mac Lochlainn                         1136-1136
 * Muirchertach Mac Lochlainn                 1136–1143
 * Domnall Ua Gairmledaig                         1143–1145
 * Muirchertach Mac Lochlainn (again)             1145–1166
 * Conchobar mac Muirchertaigh Mac Lochlainn      1166–1167
 * Niall Mac Lochlainn                        1167–1176
 * Aed In Macaem Toinlesc Ua Neill            1167–1177
 * Mael Sechlainn mac Muirchertaigh Mac Lochlainn 1177–1185
 * Domhnall Mac Aedh Mac Lochlainn                1185-1186
 * Ruaidhri Ua Flaithbheartaigh                   1186-1187
 * Domhnall Mac Aedh Mac Lochlainn (again)        1187-1188
 * Muirchertach Mac Muirchertaigh Mac Lochlainn   1188-1196
 * Flaithbheartach Ua Maol Doraidh                1196-1197

Kings post-1185
From 1185, the Cenél nEógain ruled as Kings of Tír Eógain.

The last to actually be styled King of Ailech was Áed Buide Ua Néill (died 1283).