Eógan mac Néill

Not to be confused with Eoin MacNeill.

Eógan mac Néill (Irish orthography: Eoghan mac Néill) (reportedly died in 465^[1]) was a son of Niall Noígiallach and the eponymous ancestor of the Cenél nEógain (kindred of Eoghan) branch of the Northern Uí Néill.^{[lower-alpha 1]} The Cenél Eoghan would found the over-kingdom of Ailech and later Tír Eoghain, which would span the greater part of Ulster. His burial place is said to be in the Inishowen Peninsula in County Donegal, Ireland which was named after him. The historical accuracy or existence of Eógan and his father however are unknown.

The old graveyard and the ruined church in Iskaheen - the resting place of Eógan mac Néill

The plaque marking the reputed burial place of Eógan mac Néill

Overview

Eogan mac Néill is claimed as having been a close friend of Saint Patrick and received Patrick's blessing.^[2] With his brother, the High King Lóegaire mac Néill (d.462), he was one of the judges in a dispute over the succession to Amalgaid (d.440), king of Connacht, among his sons competing to rule their territory of Tir Amalgaidh in northwest Connacht.^[3]

Eoghan is reputedly buried at St. Patrick's Church in Iskaheen, Inishowen, Donegal. A plaque there states, "Eoghan Prince of Inis Eóghain, Son of Niall of the Nine Hostages. Died 465 of grief for his brother Conall [Gulban]. Baptised by Patrick and buried in Uisce Chaoin".

His sons included Muiredach mac Eógain, Fergus mac Eógain, founder of the Cenél Fergusa, and Anghusa mac Eógain, founder of the Cenél Anghusa.^[4]

Notes

1. The manuscript known as the Laud 610 Genealogies (Oxford, Bodleian Library MS. Laud 610, fo. 75a 1, fifteenth century) gives seven descendant clans of the Cenél nEogain, in the Bredach.

References

1. All dates per McCarthy, Daniel P. (1998). The Chronology of the Irish Annals. Vol. PRIA 98 C.
2. Charles-Edwards, T. M. (2000). Early Christian Ireland (Reprint ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 51. ISBN 9780521363952.
3. Charles-Edwards, T. M. (2000). Early Christian Ireland (Reprint ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 26. ISBN 9780521363952.
4. "page 293". Archived from the original on 16 September 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2020.

Sources

• Annals of Ulster at CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts at University College Cork.
• Byrne, Francis John (2001), Irish Kings and High-Kings, Dublin: Four Courts Press. ISBN 978-1-85182-196-9
• Revised edition of McCarthy's synchronisms at Trinity College Dublin.