Notes on the Pedigree of the
McLaughlins of Tirconnell
There is considerable confusion in printed sources regarding
the true descent of the McLaughlin of Tirconnell sept. That version
most frequently encountered has them descend from Domhnall, the
brother of Niall Glundubh, said variously to be the older or
younger son of Aodh Finnlaith. This version appears in John O'Hart's
"Irish Pedigrees," which was largely a copy of O'Ferrall's "Linea
Antiqua," and is actually a corruption of the pedigree of Clan Domhnall,
the second version. A third version, less frequently encountered, has the
McLaughlins of Tirconnell descend from Nial Glundubh, rather than from
his brother, Domhnall.
Version 1 Version 2 Version 3
Aedh Finnlaith Aedh Finnlaith Aedh Finnlaith
Domhnall Domhnall Nial Glundubh
Muirchertach Flann Muirchertach
Domhnall Maelruanaidh Domnall
Domhnall Oge Maelsechlain Muirdaigh
Muirdaigh Lochlan Lochlan
Lochlan
(corrupted version) (Clan Domhnall) (Nial Glundubh)
It is readily apparant that the corrupted version 1 is simply a
combination of version 2 and version 3. It contains the descent from
Domhnall, s. of Aedh Finnlaith, of version 2, but also contains the basic
pedigree from version 3, with the addition of a superfluous "Domhnall oge."
It appears in the O Curry transcript of MacFirbis, p. 125, col. c (bottom),
headed "Clan ele Neill caille," or "another clan of Neill Caille".
But MacFirbis clearly didn't this a MacLochlainn pedigree. His pedigree
of MacLochlainn is labeled "Genealogy of Meg-Lochlainn in Erenn." Preceding
that is a pedigree identical to that of Clan Domhnall above labeled "Clann
Neill here." This also was clearly not intended to be a MacLochlainn pedigree.
Which is the correct version? Unfortunately, there are no sure answers.
Seamus O Ceallaigh has ably summarised the data supporting both versions
in his book, "Gleanings from Ulster History." The following chart will
show the two possible lines of descent for the McLaughlins of Tirconnell.
Aedh Finnlaith
High King +879
|
___________|_____________________
| |
Nial Glundubh Domhnall Dabhaill
High King +919 +915
| |
| |
Muirchertach 'of the Flann
Leather Cloaks' +906
+943 |
| |
| |
Domhnall 'of Armagh' Mael Ruanaidh
High King +940
| |
| |
Muireadhach Mael Sheachlainn
| +996
| |
Lochlan Lochlan
+1023
Supporting the Nial Glundubh descent are the following sources:
1. Rawlinson B.502 (c. 1120)
2. Leabhar Leacdin (Book of Lecan) (c. 1390)
3. Leabhar Bahile an Mhota (Book of Ballymote) (c. 1390)
4. Annals of Tighernach
5. Annals of Ulster
6. Annals of Clonmacnoise
7. The O'Clery Book of Genealogies
Supporting the Domhnall descent are the following sources:
1. Annals of Inish Faithlinn
2. Leabhar Laighean (Book of Leinster) (c. 1170)
(O Ceallaigh also lists the MacFirbis Genealogies as supporting both
lines of descent, which they do - both pedigrees may be found in this
work - He also lists the opinions of O'Clery and O'Donovan to support
the "Nial Glundubh descent; and Todd, Eoin MacNeill and Seamus O hOgain
to support the Domhnall descent; but these are all later writers and I
have omitted them from the above sources tables. He also lists the
Leabhar Eoghanch by O Flaithbheartaigh as a source, but admits it's a
doubtful one at best, since it was composed under the auspices of the
O'Neills, who had their own reasons for promoting certain historical
inaccuracies).
Rawlinson B.502 (c. 1120)
Genelach Clainne Neill
Domnall
m. Ardgair m. Neill Frosaich
m. Lochlaind m. Fergaile
m. Muiredaich m. Maele-duin
m. Domnaill m. Maeli-fithrich
m. Muirchertaich m. Aeda Uaridnaich
m. Neill Glunduib m. Domnaill
m. Aeda Findleith m. Muiredaich
m. Neill Caille m. Eogain
m. Aeda Oirdnide m. Neill
Genelach Clainne Domnaill
Aed item:
m. Neill Aed
m. Mael-Sechnaill m. Neill
m. Mael-ruanaidh m. Flaithbertaich
m. Flaind m. Murchertaich
m. Domnaill m. Domnaill
m. Aeda Findleith m. Murchertaich
m. Neill Caille m. Neill Glunduib
m. Aeda Findleith
Book of Ballymote
"Muiridach mac Domnaill micMuirchertaigh na cochall craicinn
mic Neill glunduibh - mac do Lochlaind ri Oiligh. Aen mac la
Lochlaind .i. Ardgal ..... Mac don Ardgal sin mac Lochlaind
Domnall righ Erenn ..... Ceithri mic ag Domnall mac Ardgair mic
Lochlaind mic Muiredaigh mic Domnaill mic Muircertaigh mic
Neill glunduibh .i. Muircertach 7 Magnus 7 Nial 7 Concobar."
"Muirdach son of Domhnall son of Muirchertach 'of the Leather Cloaks'
son of Neill glundubh - son of Lochlan, king of Ailech. The son of
Lochlan, i.e., Ardgal......the son of Ardgal son of Lochlan, Domnall,
King of Ireland....the four sons of Domnall son of Ardgair son of
Lochlan son of Muiredaigh son of Domhnall son of Muirchertach son
of Neill glundubh, i.e., Muirchertach and Magnus and Nial and
Connor."
O tugamar in treas-sin do chraebscailedh Claindi Eogain
meic Neill tabram da ngeinelachaib andso sis bodheasta
Nial 7 Conchobar
m. Domnaill
m. Ardgair
m. Lochlaind
m. Muiredaich
m. Domnaill
m. Muirchertaich
m. Neill Glunduib
m. Aeda Findleith
m. Neill Kaille
m. Aeda Ordnide
Aed
m. Neill
m. Maeltsechlaind
m. Mael-ruanaidh
m. Flaind
m. Domnaill
m. Aeda Findleith
Cland Domnaill conige sin
Book of Lecan
(from the Corpus Genealogiarum Hiberniae)
Genelach Meg Lachlainn annso .i. riga Ceniuil Eogain
Niall 7 Conchobar da mac
Domnall
m. Ardgail
m. Lochlan
m. Muiredach
m. Domnaill
m. Muirchertach
m. Neill Glundubh
Cland Lachlaind andso
Aedh
m. Niall
m. Mael sechnaill
m. Lachlaind a quo Cland Lachlaind
m. Flaind
m. Domnall
Cland Domnaill cosin
The Book of Leinster
(from the Corpus Genealogiarum Hiberniae)
Genelach Rig Ailig
Muirchertach
m. Neill
m. Domnaill
m. Lochlaind
m. Mael Sechnaill
m. Mael Ruanaidh
m. Flaind
m. Domnaill
m. Aedha Finleith
Annals of Tighernach
1064 A.D.
"Ardghal mac Lochlainn hUi Neill mortuus est"
"Ardgal son of Lochlan O'Neill is dead."
Annals of Ulster
1099 A.D.
"Da etire trena tuctha
Do Loechraidh Uladh o chein
In tres cen dibadh, abb Compgaill,
Do righadh Domhnaill hUi Neill."
"Two important hostages were given over
Of the heroes of the Ulaidh of yore;
The third, in triumph, the abbot of Comgall,
To enking Domhnall O Neill."
Annals of Clonmacnoise
1133
"Mortagh m'Neale was king of Ireland 14 years, he was
of the O'Neales of the North."
Annals of Inis Faithlinn
1093
"Comdal ic righ Ailig .i. mac meic Lochlainn hUi Mail Shechnaill,"
7 ic hU Eochodha ic rig Ulad hic Dornann Dabaill for bru Locha
Echach, 7 co ndersat chomluge fo minnaib imdaib im bachaill Isu
tre chombaig i n-agid Hui Briain 7 Lethe Mogo." (Fol. 29 e)
O'Clery Book of Genealogies
447. Muiredhach mac Domhnaill mic Muircertaigh na cocall ccrooicenn,
mac do, Lochlainn ri Oiligh. Aenmac ag Lochlainn .i. Ardghar....
448. Mac don Ardhar sin mac Lochloinn, Dhomhnall, ri Erenn.....
449. Ceithri mic Domhnaill mic Ardghair mic Lochlainn mic Muirdehaigh
mic Domhnaill mic Muircertaigh na cocall ccroicenn .i. Muircertach,
et Magnus, Niall, et Conchobar....
450. Mac do Niall, Muircertach, ri Eirenn.
To which sources we might also add the Laud 610 Tribal Histories
and Genealogies, although the lines end with the sons of Domnall 'of
Armagh."
Laud 610
"Da mac Aeda Finnleith .i. Niall Glundubh 7 Domnall rig Ailig.
Tri maic Neill Glundubh .i. Muirchertach 7 Conaing & Maelciaran.
Cethri maic Murchertaig mic Neill Glunduib .i. Domnall ri Herend
7 Flaithbertach ri Ailig 7 Murchad 7 Flann. Cethri Maic Domnaill:
da Aed 7 Muiredach. Se maic Domnaill .i. Fergal mac Domnaill ri
Ailig 7 Donchadh, ota Dubgail mac Donchada, 7 Flann, diata Naill mac
Mailsechnaill 7 Flaithbertach, diata Murchad hua Flaithbertaig, 7
Maelmithig, 7 Conchobar, dia rabatar Mic Conchobar, Finit."
This page states Domnall son of Aedh Finnleith had four sons,
but only three are named in the text.
two (da) Aedhs and Muirdach.
The Book of Ballymote has a nearly identical passage listing
all four sons:
Cetri mc. Domnall, da Aedh & Muircertach & Muiredach.
Aedh Finnleith
|
_________|________________________
| |
Nial Glundubh Domnall
|_______________________
| | |
Muirchertach Conaing Maelciaran
|_________________________________
| | | |
Domnall Flaithbertach Murchadh Flann
|______________________________
| | | |
Aedh Aedh Muirchertch Muirdach
[O Neill] [MacLochlainn]
This pedigree is of interest in that it lists Muirdach, the son
of Domnall 'of Armagh.' Neither Muirdach nor his son, Lochlan,
appear in the Annals of Ireland.
There are also two additional references to the McLaughlins as
"Ua Neill" which O'Donovan cites in his footnotes to the Annals of the
Four Masters.
1. Under the year 1177, O'Donovan quotes from a passage in the Dublin
copy of the Annals of Inishfallen: "Melaghlin O'Neill, at the head
of the Kinel-Owen...." This passage throws some doubt on the
internal consistency of the Annals of Inishfallen, which in the year
1093, refer to Domnall McLaughlin as "Ua Maelsechlainn."
2. Under the year 1164, O'Donovan also quotes a passage from the Annals
of Ulster:
"The great church of Dyrei built by the Coarb of Columbill,
by Flahvertagh mac in Espug O'Brolchan, by Sama-Coluim-Kille,
and by Murtagh O'Neale, archking of Ireland.
In other copies of the Annals of Ulster, this identical reference
appears, but in them Murtagh is described as "Ua Lochlainn."
These two references reveal a great deal of internal inconsistency
between the various copies of the manuscripts in question.
So, we have some sources which have the McLaughlins descend from Nial
Glundubh, and others which have them descend from his brother, Domnall.
The Annals of Ireland are inconclusive on this issue; Only one Lochlan
appears in the annals at his death in 1023, and he is named the son of
Mael Seachlainn. Were there two Lochlans in this royal line, one of whom
did not appear in the Annals?
O Ceallaigh chose to believe the Domhnall descent was the correct one
for the McLaughlins; so did Eoin MacNeill, and Seamus O hOgain. On the
other hand, O'Clery and O'Donovan both followed the Nial Glundubh line
of descent for the family.
As O Ceallaigh admits in his article, the weight of the evidence lies
on the side of a Nial Glundubh descent for the McLaughlins. This is
primarily because they are named "Ui Neill" or "a descendant of Nial
Glundubh," at least once in both the Annals of Ulster and the Annals of
Tighernach, as well as in the Book of Ballymote and the Book of Lecan.
In addition, the Rawlinson B. 502 genealogies were composed in about
1120 A.D., either during or shortly after the lifetime of Domnall
MacLochlainn (described in the Annals of Ulster as 'Ui Neill'or 'O'Neill').
Since Domnall MacLochlainn was the High King of Ireland at his death in
1121, we must assume the annalists of the North at least were well aware
of his descent, and chose to name him "Ui Neill" for a reason.
The entries promoting a Clan Domhnall descent for the family include a
vague reference to the same Domhnall MacLochlainn as "mac mac Lochlan Ui
Maol Seachnail" in the Annals of Inishfaithlin and a pedigree in the Book
of Leinster showing a Clan Domhnall descent for the McLaughlins. The Book
of Leinster was composed shortly after the Rawlinson B.502 genealogies
(in 1170). However, elsewhere in the Annals of Inishfallen, the
McLaughlins are also described as "Ua Neale," according to O'Donovan. The
inconsistency of these references would incline us to disregard the Annals
of Inishfallen as a source in this matter, leaving only the pedigree in
the Book of Leinster as a source showing a descent from Domnall for the
McLaughlins.
There is no way to prove or disprove the lineage of the MacLochlainns
of Tirconnell. But clearly the weight of the source material does point
more strongly to a Nial Glundubh origin for the family in terms of the
number of references given.