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Aodh 'the lazy youth' Ua Neill, the competitor to Nial MacLochlainn with whom the kingdom of Tryone was divided in 1167, appears two generations later than Nial in the pedigrees. Brian of Catha Duinn, the competitor to Domnall MacLochlainn at the Battle of Caim Eirge in 1241, appears three generations later than Domnall in the pedigrees. O Ceallaigh points out as well that according to the Lebor Eoghanach, this Aodh 'the lazy youth' could only have been about six or seven years old when he managed to break into the MacLochlainn succession of the kingdom of Aileach in 1167. According to the L.E., Aodh was born after the death of his father in 1160 A.D. His father's death is probably evidenced by the annal entry of 1160: 1160 [AU] The defeat of Magh-Lughad was inflicted by the Cenel-Eogainof Telach-og upon Ua Gailmredhaigh and upon Domnall Ua Cricain and upon the Ui-Fiacrach, so that a large party of them were killed. And it is on that occasion Muircertach Ua Neill fell innocently [i.e., undesignedly] by Lochlann Ua Lachlainn, but so that in revenge of him Lochlann fell afterwards by the son of Ua Neill. In the pedigrees Aodh's father is called 'Magh Line', spelled Magh Lughan in the L.E. O Ceallaigh himself is puzzled by the description. "The Magh Line of Muircheartach's designation is spelt Magh Lughan by L.E. - with confusing results, for there was a district in the older Ui Thuirtre, west of the Bann, called Magh Lughad." But the nickname probably should be "Magh Lughad," after the battle in which Muirchertach was killed in 1160. O Ceallaigh actually says Aodh was sixteen years old at the time of his succession to power - but the partition of Aileach occurred in 1167, which would make him instead 6 or seven years old at the time. O Ceallaigh probably based his statement on when Aodh was recognised as the King of the Cinel Eoghainn in the Annals, which occurred in 1176 just prior to his death in 1177. The L.E. persists in making Aodh 'the lazy youth' a very young child in 1160. It also contains a brief story of how he obtained his nickname after being visited by Muirchertach MacLochlainn, who died in 1166. "There is more relish in the story told in L.E. as to how Aodh got his nick-name. His father (killed by MacLochlainn in 1160) was called of Magh Line. The father was married to the daughter of O Floinn Line, ruler of Ui Thuirtre, which, by now, was on the eastern side of the Bann, and extended from Tuaim towards Carraic Fearghuis. This is where Magh Line and Rath Line were. The child Aodh was born after his father's death. MacLochlainn came questing afterwards to O Floinnn's house, and met the boy, who did not show due respect to the visitor by leaving his chair. "Is toinleasg an macaomh," said MacLochlainn - "Oh! thou tardy to arise" (but perhaps, as was common, he got the name, by antiphrasis, by reason of his sense of dash and despatch). Howbeit, O Floinn secreted his grandson and saved him, and (following L.E.) the latter can only have been 16 years of age when he broke down the MacLochlainn jurisdiction and established possibilities for his own family." Aodh could have been no older than five or six years old in this tale - which is plausible - except for the fact that a year or so later we are supposed to believe that he shared the partitioned kingdom of Ailech with Nial MacLochlainn in 1167. The dating of Aodh's birth in the L.E. was probably a clumsy attempt to reconcile the difference in the generations all too apparent in the pedigrees of Muirchertach MacLochlainn and the O Neills. If we now examine the generation given for Brian 'catha duinn' O Neill - the competitor of Domnall 'of Caim Eirge' in 1241 - the results are even more outlandish. If Domnall MacLochlainn and Brian Catha Duinn had been in the same line, their relationship would have been one of a son to his great-grandfather! It is incomprehensible how these two pedigrees could be so far off in the time span covered. O Ceallaigh speculated that a few extra names, perhaps of brothers, had crept into the pedigree of the O'Neills by mistake. The pedigreees are in reasonable alignment as late as line 105, i.e,. Ardgar MacLochlainn and Aodh Athlaman, 1064 vs. 1033. Aodh Athlaman died before his father in 1033. But within a hundred years (1064 to 1167) the pedigrees have diverged by two to three generations. Assuming a genealogical average of 3 generations per hundred years, this is statistically almost impossible. The pedigree of the O'Neills is fully traceable from Aodh 'the lazy youth' Ua Neill, so if there are added names in the pedigree, as O Ceallaigh speculates, they should be found within the stretch of the earlier O'Neill ancestors who do not appear in the Annals. O Ceallaigh also pointed out other major problems with the pedigree of the O Neills. According to O Ceallaigh, the Lebor Eoghanach states that Aodh Athlaman was the "last of his race." "Of the four persons carrying the family back to Flaithbertach's son, Aedh Allan, not one, as far as I can see, is mentioned in the annals. Not even their orbits are recorded. This fact in itself would arouse misgivings. For six generations in sequence the family depends upon a single individual to maintain the succession; no brothers or uncles are mentioned, and L.E. expressly states that Aodh was the last of his race." It's difficult to see how the O'Neills could have been descended from someone who was the last of his race! The key question here is of course: Did Aedh Athlaman have a son named Domnall an trogdam Ua Neill, as the O Neill pedigree states? The traditional pedigree of the O Neills makes its first appearance in the Books of Ballymote and Lecan, both written ca. 1400 A.D. The Rawlinson B.502 MS. does have a pedigree for Flaithbertach an Trostain; the purported ancestor of the O Neills - but the pedigree mentions only Neill as a son of Flaithbertach. Rawlinson B.502 (1120 AD)
Genelach Clainne Domnaill
Aed item:
m. Neill Aed
m. Mael-Sechnaill m. Neill
m. Mael-ruanaidh m. Flaithbertaich [an trostain]
m. Flaind m. Murchertaich
m. Domnaill m. Domnaill
m. Aeda Findleith m. Murchertaich
m. Neill Caille m. Neill Glunduib
m. Aeda Findleith
Book of Lecan 1390 A.D.
Neill oig (1397-1403)
m. Neill Mor (1364-97 abd; d. 1398)
m. Aodh (1345-64)
m. Domnall (1283-86 dep; 1290-91 dep; 1295-1325)
m. Brian (1238-60)
m. Neill ruadh (d. 1223)
m. Aodh (d. 1177)
m. Muirchertach (s. 1160)
m. Tadg
m. Concobar
m. Flaithbertach
m. Domnall
m. Aodh (ATHLOAN
m. Flaithbertach
m. Muirchertach*
m. Domnall
m. Muirchertach
m. Neill glundubh
Book of Ballymote 1390 A.D.
Neill Mor
m. Aeda
m. Donaill
m. Brian Cata
m. Neill
m. Aeda
m. Muirchertaigh
m. Tadg GL.
m. Concobar na fiod
m. Flaithbertach L.A.
m. Donaill
m. Aeda Atloan
m. Flaithbertach
m. Muirchertaigh
m. Donaill
m. Muirchertaigh na cc
m. Neill GL.
Until recently the above pedigrees of the O'Neills in the Books of Ballymote
and Lecan have been our only examples of the O'Neill pedigree in Irish manuscript.
This has made it difficult or impossible to analyse the pedigree, given the lack
of corroborating annal entries. A recent find from the G2 manuscript in the
National Library alters the equation in significant fashion. It is dated to
c. 1350 A.D., earlier than or at worst contemporary with Ballymote and Lecan,
and equaly authoritative. The pedigree ends with Aeda Mor (1345-64).
G2 MS fol. 9v (National Library) 
Aeda Morniall briain [d. 1260] nell ruaidh aeda risinabairti in mc am toinlesg [d. 1177] murcertaigh muighi lughan taidhg glinde concobair na figdha flaithbertqich locha hadha domhnaill aedha athlumhan flaithbhertaich itrosdan aeda moir domnaill .i. intogdhamh Murceartach na co^coll criceann Nell glunduib Aeda Finleth There are several oddities in this pedigree, the first of which is that the O'Neills are made to descend from Aedh Mor, son of Domnall 'of Armagh', no doubt Aedh 'of Craebh Tulcha', who died in 1004. Secondly, Domnall 'of Armagh' is described as an t-ogdam, or 'the young oxe,' an appelation we find in other manuscripts reserved for Domhnall, the son of Aedh Athlaman. Thirdly, the pedigree also contains the names of Flaithbertach an Trostain and his son, Aedh Athlaman, neither of whom descend from Aedh 'of Craebh Tulcha.' There is some support for the idea that the O'Neills were descendants of Aedh 'of Craebh Tulcha' in Irish manuscripts. The Poems of Giolla Brigdhe MacCon Midhe Giolla Brigdhe MacCon Midhe, the bard of first the MacLochlainns and later the O'Neills after 1241, wrote a poem commemorating the death of Brian Catha Duinn Ua Neill, beheaded in the Battle of Downpatrick in 1160. He was a contemporary witness to the events of 1160 and his account predates the Books of Lecan and Ballymote by 140 years. One stanza of the poem appears below: 78. Beloved was both trunk and branch: great O Neill and his son;alas, they were a noble pair, Domhnall and Aodh of Aileach. This stanza can only refer to Domnall 'of Armagh' and his son, Aedh 'of Craeb Tulcha.' It describes Aedh as a branch of the Ua Neills in descent from Domnall 'of Armagh' (the trunk.) Can we take this trunk and branch statement from this poem as a possible indication of Brian O'Neill's descent? In not why would the poet have bothered to include it in his poem to Brian Ua Neill? The Poem of 1425 Excerpts from a poem written by Tuathal O hUiginn (O'Hogan)shortly after 1425 for Enri O Neill (+1484), in the line of Brian Catha an Duinn (+1260). 23. Brian of bright cups, ever to the front in fight with Goill - 'twas in the desire to ruin him that Aodh O Neill advanced claims on him: he thought he was doing nothing rash in that. 24. Aodh said: "This Brian Boraimhe - his charter promises not that he rule in Art's House; he has no right to it; better is my right to this Steading of Niall." 25. Fierce-hearted Brian said he would agree to Aodh's proposals, but his promise to Aodh did not represent his real intention; his wrath was stored deep in his heart. 26. Said Brian: "His (Aodh's) land he has not yet put under cess - though he (seems to) think this of no moment! Until he has secured possessionof it why need I say anything? 27. (Brian) O'Neill's not keeping his troops back from fighting (the Goill) until he would have them all (i.e., all the Ui Neill including Aodh's followers) united under his command was the reason why his march to the South did not result in peace-heralds coming to him (from the Goill). Note: Brian O'Neill in line 27 is a reference to Brian Catha an Duinn, slain in 1260 at the Battle of Down. The earlier reference to an Aodh O'Neill in lines 23-26 seem to refer to the same Aodh mentioned in lines 28-33. This was Aodh, son of Domnall 'of Armagh', slain in 1004 at the Battle of Craobh Tulcha. The Poet seems to be warning the current O'Neill not to make the mistakes his ancestors did in going to battle without first securing his position in the North of Ireland. 28. (Once too) famous Eochaidh, Ardghal's son, when pride had swelled up in his heart, imagined himself a match for Aodh (O Neill), and set himself up against his prince (Aodh). 29. "If Eochaidh son of Ardghal yield not up to me part of all he has, both plain and hills, he shall not have leave from me to keep them; tell him that from me," so spake Aodh. 30. "This is my answer," said (Eochaidh) the straight-judging hero: let Aodh choose to meet me in battle or else that we both rule." 31. Sad to tell, Eochaidh - he deserved it - and Aodh his rival too were slain side by side at Craobh Tulcha in the North. 32. If Enri like Niall Og, hero quick to wrath at disobedience march against the Greek Goill, may his course have the same fortune (as Niall's). Note: Niall Og O'Neill (1397-1403) was the grandfather of Enri O'Neill. Eoghan (1456) in line 34 was his father. 33. Aodh had not considered carefully enough his plans (i.e. in attacking Eochaidh); they miscarried though they were bold; Enri is not going to do this; before he marches Westward he will be full king (of Ui Neill). 34. Fruit-branch of royal flesh and blood, smooth-browed son of Eoghan, Ox of Re from the Fort of the Hostages, he springs from the noblest of the Nialls and the Aodhs. 35. The noble spirit of the Aodhs makes bright his breast; (by his deeds) he shows the Aodhs to be in the lineage of O Neill; (the kingship of) the seven Nialls with this wavy-haired hero comes out in the curling of his locks. The most interesting oddity about this poem from a genealogical standpoint is that the supposed ancestors of the O'Neills, Flaithbertach an Trostain and Aedh Athlaman, are not mentioned at all! The poem contains a line reminiscent of the trunk-branch description of the earler Giolla Brigdhe MacCon Midhe poem ("fruit-branch of royal flesh and blood" vs. "the trunk and the branch") The poem then goes on to state that Enri O'Neill sprang from the "noblest of the Nialls and the Aodhs" and in the last line here quoted states the "noble spirit of the Aodhs makes bright his breast." It is quite clear from the earlier verses that the Aodh referred to in these passages was Aodh Ua Neill 'of Craeb Tulcha,' who died in 1004 A.D, not Aedh Athlaman. Lastly, there is an odd statement in Keating's Pedigrees that may have soem bearing on the subject. 107 Flaithbheartach an trostain, son of106 Muircheartach Midheach, son of 105 Domhnall of Ard Macha. Brother to this Domhnall was Aodh son of Muircheartach of the leather-cloaks, from whom are Clann Aodha Buidhe; son of 104 Muircheartach of the leath-cloaks, son of 103 Niall Glundubh, son of 102 Aodh Fionnliath, son of According to Keating, the Clann Aodha Buidhe descended from an Aedh, brother of Domnall 'of Armagh.' This can only be the Clanna Aodha Buidhe or 'Clannaboy', a branch of the O'Neills. But according to genealogical manuscripts, Muirchertach 'of the Leather Cloaks' did not have son named Aodh. Laud 610 Cethri Maic Murchertaig mic Neill Glunduib .i. Domnall ri Herend7 Flaithbertach ri Ailig 7 Murchad 7 Flann. Cethri Maic Domnaill: da hAed 7 Muiredach. Or - Muirchertach 'of the Leather cloaks, son of Neill Glundubh, had four sons, Domnall 'of Armagh', King of Ireland, Flaithbertach, King of Aileach, Murchadh and Flann. The four sons of Domhnall 'of Armagh' were two Aedhs and Muiredach. A similar passage in the Book of Ballymote adds the name Muirchertach to the sons of Domnall 'of Armagh.' The Aodh intended in this passage in Keating can be none other than one of the two sons of Domnall 'of Armagh' named Aodh - and probably Aedh 'of Craebh Tulcha,' given the references to him in the poems above quoted. All of these pedigrees for the O'Neills are corrupt; that much is obvious. But if we take the G2 pedigree and remove the names that do not belong in the line of Aedh 'of Craebh Tulcha' (Flaithbertach an Trostain and his son, Aedh Athlaman) we arrive at an interesting result: |