 From Dál Riata to the Innse Gall
Created by: * Glaisne Niall, 2007-04-18 17:27:02
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The Senchus fer n-Alban lists three main kin groups in Dál Riata in Scotland, with a fourth being added later
The Cenél nGabráin, in Kintyre, supposedly the descendants of Gabrán mac Domangairt.
The Cenél n-Óengusa, in Islay and Jura, supposedly the descendants of Óengus Mór mac Eirc.
The Cenél Loairn, in Lorne, perhaps also Mull and Ardnamurchan, supposedly the descendants of Loarn mac Eirc.
The Cenél Comgaill, in Cowal and Bute, a later addition, supposedly the descendants of Comgall mac Domangairt.
The Senchus does not list any kindreds in Ireland. Among the Cenél Loairn it lists the Airgíalla, although whether this should be understood as being Irish settlers or simply another tribe to whom the label was applied is unclear. The meaning of Airgíalla 'hostage givers' adds to the uncertainty, although it must be observed that only one grouping in Ireland was apparenly given this name and it is therefore very rare, perhaps supporting the Ui Macc Uais hypothesis. It is also interesting to speculate whether this is the real basis of the later Clan Donald claims of linkage to the Irish Airgíalla. There is no reason to suppose that this is a complete or accurate list...
..However Dál Riata came to form, the period in which it arose was one of great instability in Ulster, following the loss of territory by the kingdom of Ulaid, including the ancient centre of Emain Macha, to the Airgíalla and the Uí Néill. Whether the two parts of Dál Riata had long been united, or whether a conquest in the 4th century or early 5th century, either of Antrim from Argyll, or vice versa, in line with myth, is not known...
If the Vikings had a great impact on Pictland and in Ireland, in Dál Riata, as in Northumbria, they appear to have entirely replaced the existing kingdom with a new entity. In the case of Dál Riata this was to be as the kingdom of the Sudreys, traditionally founded by Ketil Flatnose (Caitill Find in Gaelic) in the middle of the 9th century.
The story may be more complex. A cryptic entry (for 836) in the Annals of the Four Masters records that "Gofraid mac Fergusa, chief of Airgíalla, went to Alba, to strengthen the Dál Riata, at the request of Cináed mac Ailpín." The Annals also (for 851) record the death of "Gofraidh mac Fergusa, chief of the Innsi Gall." The Innsi Gall, or "foreigner's islands", was the name given to Hebrides, due to Viking settlement there. Why a Gaelic Irish king should be chief of the "foreigner's isles" at about the time that Ketil is supposed to have founded the kingdom of the Sudreys is unknown, and perhaps unknowable.
Remaining IRISH Dal Riata (- posts)
