Niall Mac Aedo (abt. 845 - abt. 919)

Born about 0845 in Ireland

Ancestors

Descendants

Died about 14 Sep 0919 at about age 74 in Rathfarnham, Co. Dublin, Ireland

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Biography

This profile is part of the O'Neill Name Study.

Niall Glúndub Mac Áedo, Niall of the black knee, the son of Áedh mac Niall was a 10th-century Irish king of the Cenél nEógain and High King of Ireland

Lamenting his death, the poet wrote 'Without a mighty king in command of hostages; It is to view the heaven and not to see the sun; To behold Niall's plain (of Brega) without Niall.' ^[1]

Niall Glundubh is listed as the 170th Monarch of Ireland, reigning from 0914 in John O'Hart's Roll of the Monarchs of Ireland. ^{[2] [3]}

In his father's time he protected the territories of the Uí Néill against depredations of neighbouring clans. ^[4]

He had many conflicts with the Danes, in which, generally, he was victorious. Niall, led his combined army of North & South Uí-Neill into Munster c: 917 against Sitric Cáech. ^[5]

In 919, the Vikings won a battle against the Irish at Dublin, in which fell Niall Glúndub son of Aed, king of Ireland, in the third year of his reign, many Irish nobles were killed that day. This battle of Áth Cliath won by the foreigners. ^{[6] [7]}

It is from this Monarch the surname O'Neill or "Clan-na-Neil," Neilson, Nelson and Nilson are derived. ^[7]This is the origin of the O'Neill surname.

"Niall Glúndub mac Áedo (modern spelling: Niall Glúndubh mac Aodha) (died 14 September 919) was a 10th-century Irish king of the Cenél nEógain and High King of Ireland. While many Irish kin groups were members of the Uí Néill and traced their descent from Niall of the Nine Hostages (Niall Noígiallach), the O'Neill dynasty took its name from Niall Glúndub rather than the earlier Niall. His mother was Máel Muire, daughter of Kenneth MacAlpin, King of Scots." ^[8]

Niall Glúndubh married Gormflaith ingen Flann Sinna, c.870-948.

Two sons - ^[9]

Muriartach na-Cochall Prince of Ulster (who left no issue)

Murchertach "The Hector of Western Europe" who was slain by Blacare, lord of the Danes in 941

Research Notes

This profile is based on Jaski's table 12

Clann Name: Cenél nEógain, Ua Néill

Annals

Celt: Annals of Ulster : U917.3 - Niall son of Aed, king of Ireland, led an army of the southern and northern Uí Néill to Munster to make war on the heathens. He halted on the 22nd day of the month of August at Topar Glethrach in Mag Feimin. The heathens had come into the district on the same day. The Irish attacked them between the hour of tierce and midday and they fought until eventide, and about a hundred men, the majority foreigners, fell between them. Reinforcements(?) came from the camp of the foreigners to aid their fellows. The Irish turned back to their camp in face of the last reinforcement, i.e. Ragnall, king of the dark foreigners, accompanied by a large force of foreigners. Niall son of Aed proceeded with a small number against the heathens, so that God prevented a great slaughter of the others through him. After that Niall remained twenty nights encamped against the heathens. He sent word to the Laigin that they should lay siege to the encampment from a distance. They were routed by Sitriuc grandson of Ímar in the battle of Cenn Fuait, where five hundred, or somewhat more, fell. And there fell too Ugaire son of Ailill, king of Laigin, Mael Mórda son of Muirecán, king of eastern Life, Mael Maedóc son of Diarmait, a scholar and bishop of Laigin, Ugrán son of Cennéitig, king of Laíges, and other leaders and nobles.

Celt: Annals of the Four Masters : M917.7 - The battle of Ath-cliath (i.e. of Cill-Mosamhog, by the side of Ath-cliath) was gained over the Irish, by Imhar and Sitric Gale, on the 17th of October, in which were slain Niall Glundubh, son of Aedh Finnliath, King of Ireland, after he had been three years in the sovereignty; Conchobhar Ua Maeleachlainn, heir apparent to the sovereignty of Ireland; Aedh, son of Eochagan, King of Ulidia; Maelmithidh, son of Flannagan, lord of Breagh; Maelcraeibhe Ua Duibhsinaich, lord of Oirghialla; Maelcraeibhe, son of Doilghen, lord of Tortan; Ceallach, son of Fogartach, lord of South Breagh; Cromman, son of Cinneitich; and many other noblemen and plebeians, who are not enumerated, along with the king.

Celt: The Annals of Ulster : U919.3 - The heathens won a battle against the Irish at Duiblinn in which fell Niall Glúndub son of Aed, king of Ireland, in the third year of his reign, on the fourth feria, the eighteenth of the Kalends of October 14 Sept., and here fell also Aed son of Eochucán, king of Conchobor's Province, and Mael Mithig son of Flannacán, king of Brega, and Conchobor grandson of Mael Sechnaill, heir designate or king of Temair, and Flaithbertach son of Domnall, heir designate of the North, and the son of Dub Sínaig, i.e. Mael Craibe, king of Airgialla, and many other nobles.—The battle of Áth Cliath won by the foreigners.

Sources

1. ↑ Celt: The Annals of Ulster : U919.3
2. ↑ Library Ireland : Roll of the Monarchs of Ireland since the Milesian Conquest
3. ↑ Irish Pedigrees or the origin and stem of the Irish Nation by John O'Hart vol:1 part ll page 61 pub: 1892, Dublin
4. ↑ Celt: Annals of the Four Masters : M913.6
5. ↑ There is a detailed description of the ensuing battle in Celt: Annals of Ulster : U917.3 see also, a similar description of the battle though with a slightly different date Celt: Annals of the Four Masters : M915.6
6. ↑ Celt: Annals of Ulster : U919.3
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} Library of Ireland, Line of Heremon
8. ↑ O'Neill Clans Ancient History, Niall Glundubh
9. ↑ :Library Ireland : The Stem of the Line of Hermon : O'Neill No:1

• Wikipedia : Niall Glúndub
• Genealogical tables of medieval Irish royal dynasties Table-12 Early Irish Kingship Succession by Jaski Bart, Published by Four Courts Press, 2013, ISBN 1846824265 ISBN 9781846824265
• http://www.thepeerage.com/p15012.htm#i150119