Hughes says "Niall himself must have died not before the middle of the fifth century". Famous descendants include Niall's great-great-grandson Saint Columba, Saint Mel Ruba, the Kings of Ailech, the Kings of Tir Eogain, and the Kings of Tr Conaill. Niall releases Fiachrae, who becomes king of Connacht and Niall's right-hand man. As the number of hostages was nine, Niall earned the epithet 'of the Nine Hostages'. Niall of the Nine Hostages. Following the genealogists' trail McVoy comments: "There are certain surnames that seem to have come from Ui Neill. gene. Keating credits Niall with two wives: Inne, daughter of Lugaid, who bore him one son, Fiachu; and Rignach, who bore him seven sons, Legaire, ndae, Maine, Egan, Conall Gulban, Conall Cremthainne and Coirpre. the brothers decide they're not that hungry or thirsty. [11] Another version has Mongfind try to poison Niall, but she takes the poison herself by mistake. Perhaps more myth than man, Niall of the Nine Hostages is said to have been a King of Tara in northwestern Ireland in the late 4th century C.E. Such a level of promiscuity and a resulting high number of offspring would He is presumed to have been a real person, but most of the information about him that has come down to us is legendary. [19][20] According to the PBS documentary series Finding Your Roots, Bill O'Reilly, Stephen Colbert, Colin Quinn, Bill Maher, and the show's host, Henry Louis Gates, Jr. all display STR markers consistent with the Irish Modal Haplotype. [3]:7678[7]:220. When Niall grows up he returns to Tara and rescues his mother from her labour. That is to say, after 6-10 generations, you will lose track of entire ancestors and their ethnicity. the brothers, Fergus, goes off to look for water and comes upon an ugly hag. Abruptly, the tale then has Niall appearing before an assembly of Pictish bards in Scotland, where he is killed by an arrow shot by Eochaid from the other side of the valley. Niall chains Eochaid to a standing stone, and sends nine warriors to execute him, but Eochaid breaks his chain and kills all nine of them with it. [5] O'Rahilly suggests that the nine hostages were from the kingdom of the Airgialla (literally "hostage-givers"), a satellite state founded by the Ui Nill's conquests in Ulster, noting that the early Irish legal text Lebor na gCeart ("The Book of Rights") says that the only duty of the Airgialla to the King of Ireland was to give him nine hostages. Variations of this story are told of the earlier Irish high king Lugaid Logde, in Arthurian legendone of the most famous versions appears in both Geoffrey Chaucer's The Wife of Bath's Tale and the related Gawain romance, The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnelleand in John Gower's Middle English poem Confessio Amantis. The earliest version of the Lebor Gabla says Eochaid killed him on the English Channel, later versions adding that Niall was invading Brittany when this happened. Brin defeats Fiachrae and hands him over as a prisoner to Niall, but Fiachrae's son Nath continues the war and eventually kills Brin. Moore, Laoise T., Brian McEvoy, Eleanor Cape, Katharine Simms and Daniel G. Bradley, O'Grady, Standish H. (ed. Crimthann refuses to drink it unless she does too; they both drink, and both die. Fiachrae gives her a quick peck, but not enough to satisfy her. [6], Keating credits Niall with two wives: Inne, daughter of Lugaid, who bore him one son, Fiachu; and Rignach, who bore him seven sons, Legaire, ndae, Maine, Egan, Conall Gulban, Conall Cremthainne and Coirpre. A complete list will be found at Ard Rthe na hireann / High Kings of Ireland A list of the early Kings is in Adam through Kings of Ireland and Scotland To English Lines A list of the High Kings of Ireland after Niall Nogillach of the Nine Hostages will be found in the Periphery of Francia (See also Adam through Kings of Ireland and Scotland To English Lines and Irish Genealogy To trace the descent from Heremon, the son of Mil, go to The Sons of Mil on the Early Family web site. [4], A legendary account of Niall's birth and early life is given in the 11th century saga Echtra mac nEchach Muimedin ("The adventure of the sons of Eochaid Mugmedn"). Brin rules the province of Connacht, but Fiachrae makes war against him. Irish tradition had forgotten that the Romans once ruled Britain, and relocated his remembered confrontations with the Empire to continental Europe, with Alba, the ancient name for Britain, being confused with Elpa, the Alps, or being understood with its later meaning of Scotland. These sources date from long after Niall's time and their value as history is limited at best. [21] However, geneticists today do not believe that the haplotype presented in the Moore paper represents descent from Niall of the Nine Hostages as Niall, being possibly mythical, does not have verifiable remains that can be tested. There are [2]:70, A legendary account of Niall's birth and early life is given in the possibly-11th-century tale Echtra mac nEchach Muimedin ("The adventure of the sons of Eochaid Mugmedn"). Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. There is a large community of M222 men and a very interesting "family tree" of sorts is emerging as these men get into Y-DNA testing. Niall Nogallach (pronounced[nil noilx]; Old Irish "having nine hostages"),[1] or Niall of the Nine Hostages, was a legendary, semi-historical Irish king who was the ancestor of the U Nill dynasties that dominated Ireland from the 6th to the 10th centuries. have been High King of Ireland. Niall must have made many incursions into Britain and probably several into Gaul. This person appears in many published genealogies, but the facts I have found so far are vague.The earliest history and dates for Ireland are legendary and speculative. By the 8th century, the Ui Nills held power in the north west where they were known as the Northern Ui Nill, and also in the Midlands where they are known as the Southern Ui Nill. [3] Laidchenn responds by satirising Leinster so that no corn, grass or leaves grow there for a year. Over the generations, a genetic Niall succeeds to the High Kingship, and Brin becomes his second in command. Brin defeats Fiachrae and hands him over as a prisoner to Niall, but Fiachrae's son Nath continues the war and eventually kills Brin. Niall and his dynasty. Mongfind, purporting to make peace between her brother and her sons, holds a feast, at which she serves Crimthann a poisoned drink. Written by the creator ofIrish Genealogy ToolkitandIrish Genealogy News, 'The Family Tree Irish Genealogy Guide' is full of advice, tips and strategies to ease what can be a challenging journey. It was in one of these Gallic expeditions that the lad Succat, destined under his later name of Patrick to be the greatest and noblest figure Ireland ever knew, was taken in a sweep of captives, carried to Ireland and to Antrim, there to herd the swine of the chieftain, Milcho. Niall of the Nine Hostages leapt from the legends of Ireland straight into the modern world when scientists at Trinity College Dublin revealed that as many as three million men living today may carry his y-DNA signature. Son of Eochaidh Muighmheadhoin #124. 6) [S9890] Your Family Tree, gives this spelling and the info that he was the 126th Monarch of Ireland.. 8) Download, http://www.dcs.hull.ac.uk/cgi-bin/gedlkup/n=royal. The little Irish (Scotic) colony in that part of Alba just opposite to Antrim had gradually been growing in numbers, strength, and prestigeuntil they excited the jealousy and enmity of the Picts, who tried to crush them. Of their Irish sample, the geneticists found that 21 percent of men from north-western Ireland, 8 percent from all of Ireland, a substantial percentage of men from western and central Scotland, and about 2 percent of men from New York bore the same Y-chromosome haplotype. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. hostages from the family of neighbours and under-kings. Most of the Milesian kings ruled from Tara. [2] The chronology of Keating's Foras Feasa ar irinn broadly agrees, dating his reign from 368-395, and associating his raiding activities in Britain with the kidnapping ofSaint Patrick (ca. Celtic blood is in Ireland,Uk,France and Spain. (Princess Of Britain ROIGHNEACH was born about 380. He ruled Ireland in the fifth century and was said to have consolidated his power by leading raids on the Roman Empire, taking hostages from rival royal families in Britain and . Keating associates these raids with those mentioned by Gildas and Bede, and deduces that, since some Irish sources say Patrick was abducted from Brittany, that Niall's raids must have extended to continental Europe as well.[6]. His men carry his body home, fighting seven battles on the way, and his foster-father Torna dies of grief. DNA research that traces a distinctive genetic marker back to the Irish High King, Niall Nogallach (Old Irish "having nine hostages"). They defeat him and win great spoil, but Fiachrae is wounded in the battle and dies of his wounds shortly afterwards. He then kills Laidchenn by throwing a stone which lodges in his forehead. [3 ] However, the traditional roll of kings and its chronology is now recognised as artificial. Niall belongs to Haplogroup R1b1c7 (M222). certainty, even if its founder is not. In All sources agree he died outside Ireland. 5 Reply [deleted] 4 yr. ago Oh, got it. In the study scientists found an area in northwest Ireland where they claim 21.5% carry Nialls genetic fingerprint, says Brian McVoy, one of the team at Trinity. Modern surnames tracing their ancestry to Niall include (O')Neill, (O')Gallagher, (O')Boyle, (O')Doherty, O'Donnell, Connor, Cannon, Bradley, O'Reilly, Flynn, (Mc)Kee, Campbell, Devlin, Donnelly, Egan, Gormley, Hynes, McCaul, McGovern, McLoughlin, McManus, McMenamin, Molloy, O'Kane, O'Rourke and Quinn. [6], Early in 2006, geneticists at Trinity College, Dublin suggested that Niall may have been the most fecund male in Irish history. She grants Niall not only water but the kingship for many generationstwenty-six of his descendants will be High Kings of Ireland. Over the generations, a genetic He and his descendants continued to dominate much of Ireland After obtaining obedience from the Picts, his next foreign raid was into Britain. The story then becomes confused. My original information was obtained from Genealogy information held at University of Hull. Often this information is passed down through family stories, for instance, my mother claims to be a quarter Irish and so Im apparently one-eighth Irish. Keating associates these raids with those mentioned by Gildas and Bede, and deduces that, since some Irish sources say Patrick was abducted from Brittany, that Niall's raids must have extended to continental Europe as well.[3]. Each brother in turn goes looking for water, and finds a well guarded by a hideous hag who demands a kiss in return for water. Niall Nogallach (Niall of the Nine Hostages) was an Irish king, the ancestor of the U Nill kindred who dominated Ireland from the 6th century to the 10th century. three centuries of Irish emigration to North America. I welcome your input, feedback and support: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1195848313/niall-and-the-stone Niall Nogallach (Old Irish "having nine hostages") (pronounced [ni%CB%90%CB%88%C9%99l nojilax])[1], English: Niall of the Nine Hostages, son of Eochaid Mugmedn, was an Irish king, the eponymous ancestor of the U Nill kindred who dominated Ireland from the 6th century to the 10th century. This goes for most large haplogroups. predominant, while the M222 pattern is found in 8.2% or one man in twelve. Medb, for example, was said to have participated in a ritual union with nine of the high kings, preventing the rule of any candidates who refused to mate with her. By his wife, Carthann, daughter of a British king, Eochaid had the son Niall. The story then becomes confused. Also known as: Niall Nogiallach King of Ireland. It is now more commonly referred to as the Northwest Irish/Lowland Scots variety.[15]. I descend from the same Sephardic Jewish clan over a dozen times. Birth & Accession According to legend, Niall was left on the ground by his mother Cairenn Chasdub as she was afraid of what Mongfind, the first wife of Eochaid Mugmedon, would do to the baby. He not only ruled Ireland greatly and strongly, but carried the name and the fame, and the power and the fear, of Ireland into all neighboring nations. [2] He was himself the grandson of King Conn of the Hundred Battles. and probably less reliable, story is that Niall took a hostage from each of latter a misleading term that should not be construed as meaning the bearer had See: High King Niall: the most fertile man in Ireland by Jan Battles in the Sunday Times of Ireland of January 6, 2006; and If Irish Claim Nobility, Science May Approve by Nicholas Wade in the New York Times of January 18, 2006. Our DNA tests indicate that we "share a paternal-line ancestor with Niall of the Nine Hostages. Niall of the Nine Hostages Irish leader Learn about this topic in these articles: association with Conn In Conn Ctchathach to be the ancestor of Niall of the Nine Hostages (reigned 379-405), who founded the U Nill, the greatest dynasty in Irish history. However, the genetic evidence of the study does seem to show that the Based on U Nill genealogies and the dates given for his supposed sons and grandsons, modern historians believe he is likely to have lived some 50 years later than the traditional dates, dying circa 450. [2] Famous descendants include Niall's great-great grandson Saint Columba, Saint Mel Ruba, the Kings of Ailech, the Kings of Tir Eogain, and the Kings of Tr Conaill. Niall of the Nine Hostages received his name from the taking of hostages as a strategy for playing mental havoc upon his opponent's chieftains. The M222 pattern is a lot rarer in the south of the island. Killed in Battle. [4], [edit]L egendary biography[edit ]Early life, Although it is anachronistic for Niall's mother to have been a Saxon, O'Rahilly argues that the name Cairenn is derived from the Latin name Carina, and that it is plausible that she might have been a Romano-Briton. The High Kingship did not become a reality until the 9th century, and Niall's legendary status has been inflated in line with the political importance of the dynasty he founded. The U Nill ruled to various degrees as kings of Ireland from the 7th to the 11th century C.E. Irelands most popular baby names of 2022 - by county! Niall Of The Nine Hostages DNA Match Men of Irish descent who have taken their Y-DNA or higher test with FamilyTreeDNA may discover that you have an exact DNA match to Niall, King of Connachta. Niall chains Eochaid to a standing stone, and sends nine warriors to execute him, but Eochaid breaks his chain and kills all nine of them with it. [2]:81, T. F. O'Rahilly argues that Niall and his sons were responsible for the breakup of the ancient kingdom of Ulster and the creation of the kingdoms of Tir Conaill and Tir Egan, and the satellite kingdom of the Airgalla.[6]:pp. I believe you may be interested in the first fully illustrated children's book about Niall of the Nine Hostages. Irish annalistic and chronicle sources place his reign in the late 4th and early 5th centuries, although modern scholars, through critical study of the annals, date him about half a century later. [6], Keating credits Niall with two wives: Inne, daughter of Lugaid, who bore him one son, Fiachu; and Rignach, who bore him seven sons, Legaire, ndae, Maine, Egan, Conall Gulban, Conall Cremthainne andCoirpre. A second, and probably less reliable, story is that Niall took a hostage from each of Ireland's five ancient provinces (Connaught, Munster, Leinster, Ulster and Meath) and also captured a Briton, a Gaul, a Saxon and a Scot. Distant view of Round Tower at Glendalough, Neill, Boyle, Bradley, Campbell, Cannon, Coleman, Connor, Devlin, Doherty, Donnell, Niall makes war in Europe as far as the Alps, and the Romans send an ambassador to parlay with him. While the signature is typical for R1b European males in general, it is characterized by 11,13 at DYS 385a/b and 14 at DYS 392. [3] However, the traditional roll of kings and its chronology is now recognised as artificial. In addition to the 100 participants, famous Irish names also participated including former Taoiseach [Prime Minister] of Ireland Enda Kenny and former Minister of State Michael Ring. https://reddit.app.link/S7mCRh4DeR I think you're probably right about the Northern Spain theory. men who can trace their ancestry to Ireland, and especially the north of Niall married Princess Of Britain ROIGHNEACH. He makes war and destroys the poet's stronghold, killing his son Leat[11] (Keating has it that Laidchenn was a druid, and that Eochaid killed his son after he used defamatory language towards him). [2] A poem by the 11th-century poet Cined Ua Hartacin in the Book of Leinster credits Niall with seven raids on Britain, on the last of which he was killed by Eochaid "above the surf of the Ictian Sea";[2][13] a poem attributed to the same poet in Lebor na hUidre credits him with going to the Alps seven times. Niall's accession to the throne possibly took place around 379AD. the first high king of Ireland. Privacy Policy. As Niall was his father's favorite, Mong Fionn did not rest until she had outcast him and his mother, Carthann, and made Carthann her menial, carrying water to the court. While Cairenn is pregnant with Niall, the jealous Mongfind forces her to do heavy work, hoping to make her miscarry. They should really stop doing that, the Niall of the Nine Hostages haplogroup is actually R1b-L21 (M222) which is way downstream . Brin rules the province of Connacht, but Fiachrae makes war against him. Crimthann refuses to drink it unless she does too; they both drink, and both die. In it, Eochaid Mugmedn, the High King of Ireland, had five sons: Four, Brin, Ailill, Fiachrae and Fergus, by his first wife Mongfind, sister of the king of Munster, Crimthann mac Fidaig; and a fifth, Niall, by his second wife Cairenn Chasdub, daughter of Sachell Balb, king of the Saxons. Mongfind, purporting to make peace between her brother and her sons, holds a feast, at which she serves Crimthann a poisoned drink. His body is said to have been buried at Ochann, now known as Faughan Hill at Jordanstown, a few miles west of Navan in County Meath. One of stories say that the future St Patrick was among hostages taken from one such Also known as Niall of the Nine Hostages.. A legendary account of Niall's birth and early life is given in the possibly-11th-century tale Echtra mac nEchach Muimedin ("The adventure of the sons of Eochaid Mugmedn"). Dedicated to helping YOU discover your Irish Heritage. One of the first verifiable historical Irish leaders, Niall Nigiallach was king from about AD 400 to his death. The maternal DNA results showed greater genetic diversity than the paternal, including lineages that dated back to some of the islands earliest settlers, and some others that arrived more recently, ie: the Vikings. Are you familiar with the Irish 'Wild Geese'? As he lands a passionate kiss, the ugly hag transforms into Copyright 2023 Irish Studio LLC All rights reserved. Even though I dont have a Y chromosome, I can learn about my paternal line through my biological brothers or fathers DNA. McEvoy states: "As in other polygynous societies, the siring of offspring was related to power and prestige." and our But while he is away on a tour of his lands in Scotland, Mongfind's sons seize Ireland. His men carry his body home, fighting seven battles on the way, and his foster-father Torna dies of grief. Niall exiles him to Scotland. They defeat him and win great spoil, but Fiachrae is wounded in the battle and dies of his wounds shortly afterwards. Of their Irish sample, the geneticists found that 21 percent of men from north-western Ireland, 8 percent from all of Ireland, a substantial percentage of men from western and central Scotland, and about 2 percent of men from New York bore the same Y-chromosome haplotype.