O

87. Nial Naoighiallach, youngest and only son of Eochaidh by the
second wife, as aforesaid, succeeded Criomthainn and was the
126th monarch ofIreland. Was a stout, wise and warlike prince
and fortunate in all his conquests and achievements and
therefore called great; He was also called Niall
Naoighiallach, i.e., Nial of the Nine Hostages, from the
hostages taken from the nine several counties by him subdued
and made tributary, viz., Munster, Leinster, Connacht, Ulster,
the Britons, the Picts, the Saxons and the Morini, a people of
Gaul towards Calais and Picardy; From whence he marched with
his victorious army of Irish Scots, Picts and Britons further
into Gaul in order to the conquest thereof; and encamping at
the River Loire, was treacherously slain as he sat by the
riverside by Eochaidh, King of Leinster, in revenge of a
former wrong by him received from the said Niall,A.D. 405.
And in the 27th year of his reign St. Patrick was first
brought into Ireland at the age of 16 years, amoung 200
children brought by the army out of Little Brittany, called
Armorica, in Gaul. He was the first that gave the name of
Scotia Minor to Scotland and ordained it to be called so ever
after, till then (and still by the Irish) called Albion.

89. Eoghan or Owen, one of the sons of the said Nial Mor, from
whom the territory of Inis-Eoghan in Ulster was called, had
eleven brothers, viz, Laoguire, the 128th Monarch of Ireland;
in the 4th year of whose reign St.Patrick came into Ireland
the second time to plant the Christian faith, A.D.432. 2)
Conal Cremthainn, ancestor the the O'Melaghlin kings of Meath;
3) Conal Gulban, ancestor to the O'Donnells, Lords and Earls
of the territory of Tirconnell in Ulster, so called from him;
4) Fiachu, from whom the from Birr to the Hill of Uisneach in
Medio Hibernica (Meath) is called; Cinel Fiacha and from him
MacGeoghegan, Lords of that territory; O'Molloey, O'Donechar,
etc., derive their pedigree; 5) Maine, whose patrimony was
all the tract of land from Loch Ree to Loch Annin, near
Molingar, and whose descendants are Muinter Tagan, that is,
Sionnach, now called Fox, Lords of that territory of Muinter
Tagan; MacGawley of Cabry, O'Dugan and O'Mulchoney,the prime
antiquaries of Ireland; 6) Cairbre, ancestor of O'Flannagan
of Tuath-Ratha, Muinter Cathalan or Cahill; 7) Fergus, a quo
Cinel Fergusa; 8) Enna 9) Aongus 10) Aulthearg and 11)
Fergus Ailtleathan. Of the last four I find no issue; of the
rest of them and their issue more in due place.

90. Muireadhach, son of Eoghan, had nine brothers, viz., 1)
Ailill 2) Fergus 3) Felim 4) Eochaidh Binneach 5)
Cormac 6) Aongus 7) Dallan 8) Iallaun and 9) Dechin;
of which Fergus, ancestor to O'Conor of Magh-Ith; Eochaidh
Binneach, a quo Cinel Binne in Scotland; and Felim, a quo O
Dibhdiorma, more of which hereafter. The said Muireadach had
many sons, but two especially by his married wife, Earca,
daughter of Loarn, King of the Dal Riata in Scotland,
Muirchertach Mor and Fergus Mor, both called Mac Earca, or the
sons of Earca, their mother. Whether anymore of thesons was by
the said Earca is not set down.

91. Muirchertach Mac Earca, eldest son of Muireadhach, foresaid,
the 131st Monarch of Ireland, reigned 24 years and died
naturally in his bed, which was rare amoung the Irish monarchs
in those days, says Keating, but others contradict him and
say he was burnt in a house after being drowned in wine
(perhaps meaning he was drunk) on all-holantide Eve, A.D. 527.
It was in the 20th year of his predacessor's reign that his
brother Fergus Mor, with five more of his brothers, viz.,
Fergus Mor, two more named Loarn and two named Aongus, with a
complete army went into Scotland to assist his grandfather
King Loarn, much afflicted by his enemies the Picts; who in
several battles and engagements, were vanquished and overcome
by Fergus and his party; who prosecuted the war so vigorously
and followed the enemy to their own homes and reduced them to
such extremity that they were glad to accept peace upon the
conquerer's own conditions; whereupon the king's death, which
happened about the same time, the said Fergus was unanimously
elected or chosen as king, as being of the blood royal, by his
mother; and the said Fergus, for a good and lucky omen, sent
to his brother, then monarch of Ireland, for the marble chair
called Liath-Fail or Cloch-na-cinnemhna, the latter importing
in English "stone of destiny or fortune," to be crowned
thereon; which fell out accordingly, for as he was the first
absolute king of all Scotland of the Milesian race, so the
succession contined in his blood and lineage ever since to
this day as is partly hinted before and more fully shall
appear in due place; this Muirchertach had four other
brothers besides the six already named, viz., Forrach,
ancestor to Mac Tathmaol Tigernach, a quo O Cunigan or
Cunningham; Mongan, a quo O Croidhen and O Dunely; Dalagh,
a quo O Daly and Moan or Maine.

92. Domhnall Ilchealgach, i.e., the deceitful, son of
Muirchertach, the 134th Monarch of Ireland, reigned jointly
with his brother Fergus, 3 years, and died of the plague, both
in one day, A.D. 561. They had three other brothers, Boadan,
the 137th Monarch of Ireland, Niall and Scanlan.

93. Aodh Uaridhrach, his son, the 143rd Monarch of Ireland, 7
years, slain in the battle of Atha-da-facla, A.D. 607. He had
an older brother Eochu who was the 136th Monarch of Ireland
and was slain by Cronan, King of Connacht, A.D. 563.

94. Maolfrithich, his son

95. Maoldoon, his son. Had a brother Maoltuide, a quo
O'Maoltuly.

96. Fergal Mac Maolduin, his son, the 156th Monarch of Ireland,
10 years, slain in the battle of Allon by Moroch, King of
Leinster, A.D. 718. He had a brother Adain, a quo the Dalyes
of Leath-Cuinn.

97. Niall Frasach, i.e., of the showers, so called from three
wonderful showers that fell in his time in three different
places in Ireland. The first, a shower of honey, in Fathan-
beg; the second, a shower of silver in Fathan-Mor; the third,
a shower of blood in Magh-laghen. So says Keating, wherein
other authors differ, who say the first shower was of silver,
the second of honey and the third of wheat, and describe the
miraculous occasion of the said showers as followeth: In that
monarch's reign there was an extraordinary famine throughout
all the kingdom and the king being one night at supper, with
seven revered Bishops in his company, all the lights in the
room accidentally expired and when new lights were brought the
king perceived the table and dishes all bloody; and inquiring
the cause thereof the Bishops ingeniously confessed that they
being very hungry while they were in the dark, cut one another
shouting who should have most of the meat, either to satisfy
their present hunger or to put up and reserve for another
time. Whereat the king, a just, pious and religious Prince,
was moved with pity, considering what a sad condition the
generality of the nation was in seeing the Rev. Prelates
reduced to that extremity. Whereupon he immediately made a
vow never to eat more until God in his infinite mercy were
graciously pleased to deliver the people in their great
distress. And thereupon desired the Prelates to join with him
in fasting and prayer that the Lord would mercifully withdraw
his wrath from the nation. And to that end they all went to
the King's oratory, where they continued 24 hours. A
messenger came to the King to tell him of a great shower of
silver which had fallen in the fields of Fathan-beg; which,
when the King heard he bemoaned that silver was of no avail to
the poor people when victuals could not be had for it; and
entreated the Bishops to continue their devotions, which,
having done 24 hours more, news came to the King of a great
shower of honey that dropped in the fields of Fathan-mor.
Whereat the King bemoaned the second time saying that honey
was of little avail as silver in regard that if the people in
their hungry, starving condition did eat thereof they would
swell up and die. And thereupon renewed their earnest
supplications which they contined 24 hours longer. At the end
thereof the King had notice that God was pleased to shower
down a vast quantity of wheat in the fields of Magh-laighen,
which the King ordered to be gathered up and distributed
amoung the people of the whole nation and thereby relieved
them from the famine. And the King in thankful acknowledgment
of God's great mercy and favor wooed at that time,
immediately, after his reign of 7 years, laid down his crown
and kingdom to his next successor and retired into Scotland
and exchanged his royal diadem and robes for a monk's cowle
and habit in St. Columba's Monastery of Iona, A.D. 765; where
he spent 8 years wholly devoting himself to works of piety and
Christian repentence, being a great penitent, and dying a holy
saint, A.D. 773. He was the 162nd Monarch of Ireland and had
three brothers, Conor, ancestor of O'Cahan; Hugh Allan, a quo
O'Brain and Colea, a quo Clan Colean.

98. Aodh Oirnidhe, son of Niall Frasach, the 164th Monarch of
Ireland, after 25 years' reign, was slain in the battle of
Fearta, A.D. 817. Others say he died a great penitent at a
place called Athada-Fearta. He had four brothers, Colman, a
quo Clan Colman; Fearchar, from whom are Clan Fearchar;
Cuana, a quo Muitnir Clunbro and Muirchertach, a quo Clan
Muriarty of Loch-Eanach. In his reign such prodigeous
thunder and lightening happened that killed many men, women
and children over all the kingdom and particularly in a nook
of the country between Coreavaghan and the sea in Munster.
1010 persons were destroyed thereby and many other prodigies,
the forerunner of the Danish invasion which soon after
followed.

99. Niall Caille, so called after his death from the River
Caillen, where he was drowned after 13 years' reign, A.D.
844, the 166th Monarch of Ireland. He fought many battles
with the Danes and Norwegians, in most of which, although the
Danes were wasted, yet continual supplies pouring into them
made them very formidable. For this reason they and
fortified Dublin and other strong places upon the sea banks.
He had three brothers, Mailduin, a quo Siol Muldoon;
Fogartach, quo Muintir Con-sidhe, or King; and Blathmac of
Dubheana.

100. Aodh Finnlaith, i.e., hoary, son of Niall Caille, the 168th
Monarch of Ireland, 16 years, in which time he fought and
defeated the Danes in several battles and was worsted in
others and died at Deom-Enesclaun, A.D.876. He had four
brothers, Dubhiontagh (O'Dubhionnachta); Aongus,a quo
Clanongusa; Flahertach, a quo O'Hualby and Brian Oge, a quo
Clan Braoin of Magh-Ith. He married Maoilmuire, or Mary,
daughter of Kenneth, son of Alpin, both kings of Scotland, by
whom he had issue.

101. Niall Glundubh, i.e., black-knee, the 170th Monarch of
I reland, for three years, had many conflicts with the Danes,
wherein most commonly he had the better, at last making up a
great army in order to besiege Dublin. A battle was fought
between them wherein the Monarch lost his life, and after a
great slaughter on both sides, his army routed, A.D. 917.
From him the surname O'Neill or Clanna Neill took beginning.
He had a brother Domnall, King of Aileach, ancestor to the
familly of MacLochlin, some of whom were monarchs of Ireland.

102. Muirchertach na ccochall ceraiciann, i.e., of the leather
cloaks; had two brothers, Conell and Maoilciaran but no issue
from either that we find.

103.Domnall of Ardmacha, the 173rd Monarch of Ireland, after 24
years' reign, died at Ardmacha, A.D. 978. During his long
reign we find but little progress by him made against the
invading Danes, but wholely bent his arms against his
subjects, preying, burning and slaughtering the Connacians,
whether deservedly or not, I know not. But know it was no
seasonable time for them to fall foul upon one and other while
their common enemy was victoriously triumphing over them both.

104. Moriartus na-midhe i.e., of Meath, the first that
assumed the Sirname and Title of the Great O Neil, Prince
of Tyrone.

105.Flathbertach an Trostain O Neil, Prince of Tyrone.

106. Aidus Aodh Athlamh O Neil, Prince of Tryone.

107. Donald an togdhamh O Neil, had a brother
Anrachan ancestor to MacSwyny Fanad.

108. Flahertach Locha hadha O Neil.

109. Conor na Fiodhbhach O Neil, Prince.

110. Teige Glinne O Neil, Prince of Tryone.

111. Moriartus Muighe line O Neil.

112. Hugh an macaomh Toinleasc O.N.

113. Neil Ro O Neil had a Brother (same
say the Eldest) Hugh Dubh, ancestor to the family
of O Neil called Clann Hugh boy Coruptly Clanaboy.

114. Bryan Catha Duin O Neil, King of Kinelowen.
Slain at the Battle of Down, 1260.

115. Daniel O Neil, son of Bryan.

116. Hugh O Neil had a brother John.

117. Neill Mor O Neil had two Brothers Donald, and
Tirlach, Pr. Tyrone.

118. Neil Oge O Neil had a brother Henry.

119. Owen O Neil, had 7 brothers, Bryan, John, Tirlach,
Murtach, Art, Rory and Cu-ula.

120. Henry O Neil, had 8 brothers, Hugh, Bryan mor,Art, Conel,
Murtach, Felim, Cu-ula and Donald Clarach.

121. Conn O Neil, prince of Tirone, married Elinor dau. of Thonigh,
Earl of Kildare, and D. 1483, he had two brothers Henry & Daniel
and in A.D. 1492 was murdered by his brother and immediately after
he and Daniel quarrelled for the principality of Tyrone and continued
in wars till 1497, that Daniel quitted his claim to the Murderer.

122. Con Baccach O Neil, prince of Tyrone, was kept out of the
Principality by his unnatural uncle, Henry, untill the year 1490,
that he Henry was slain by this Con and his brother Tirlach O Neil,
in revenge of his father's murder, his other uncle Daniel his son Hugh
gave him no little trouble being his competitor, also, and in war with Con
till in the year 1524, in a bloody engagement between them, the said
Hugh lost his life and being thus rid of his competitors, he began to
follow his ancestors example who upon all occasions did prospect of
advantage or Success, were up in arms in opposition to the
English government, endeavoring to shake off their yoke and
recover their liberties and their right to the Irish Crown, worn
by their ancestors, for many ages successivly, as appears before but
in vain and this Conn bacach trying his fortune in the same manner
and finding his endeavours to be to as little purpose as his
Father's were, did after a time lay down his Cudgels and
Submit and going into England upon his openly renouncing his
antient title of O Neil and Prince of Tyrone was received into favor
& created Earl of 'Tyrone AD 1542 & at the same time the title
of baron of 'Dungannon given to his brothers son, called by
Sir James Ware in his annals of Ireland, Mathew (but in the
pedigree Ferdaroch or Feredinando), the eldest of Conn's
legitmate sons that he quarrelled and broke oout in Rebellion
against his father.

123. John or Shaen or Dionisius i.e., proud or Haughty (or
Shaen Dowlenach) the eldest of Con's legitmate sons, 1556,
quarrels withO Donel fights and is bested? ad the
same year, rebels calls himself Chief Monarch of Ireland in 1567,
is betrayed by the Scotts, and slain, is suceeded in the principality
by Tirlach Suinneach, by the admission of the English government
before the bastard Mathew or John, to other brothers, Torlach
and Felim Caoch.

124. Conn or Connor, son of Shaen O Diomuis, in his time 1587
Hugh, the son of Mathew was admitted to the Earldom by the
government, who order provision to be made for this Conn, and
his Brothers and for the above Tirlach Suinneach, for his surrendering
the principality to Earl Hugh in 1588, the Earl after plots with the
Spaniard against the State, and is discovered by this Conn, for which
he is surprised by the Earl Hugh and hanged, 1590.

125. Art oge O Neil.

O'Ferrall's Linea Antiqua ca. 1709 (Sir William Bethan transcription) Copied by John O'Hart in his "Irish Pedigrees."

O'Ferrall's Linea Antiqua ca. 1709

(Sir William Bethan transcription)
Copied by John O'Hart in his "Irish Pedigrees."