AD 432 — AD 546

Patrick & the Rise of the Uí Néill

Christianity arrives, by tradition with Patrick in 432. It spreads fast. At the same time the sons of Niall of the Nine Hostages come out of the midlands: the Northern Uí Néill take the north-west off the Ulaid, and their Airgíalla allies take the southern borderlands. The old kingdom of Ulster ends up squeezed east of the Bann.

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Who holds the land

Counties did not exist yet. The colours lay the dominant power over today’s 32 counties so you can find the place you know — they are not borders anyone drew at the time, and the further back you go the rougher the fit.

The Connachta ↗
The dynasties of the west claiming descent from the legendary Conn of the Hundred Battles, centred on the royal site of Cruachan (Rathcroghan).

Galway Mayo Sligo Leitrim Roscommon Cavan
Laigin (Leinster) ↗
The peoples of the south-east, who gave Leinster its name. Their kings contested the rich Liffey plain with Mide for centuries.

Kildare Wicklow Carlow Wexford Kilkenny Laois
Mumu (Munster) ↗
The southern over-kingdom, ruled in early centuries by the Eóganachta from the Rock of Cashel, later seized by the Dál gCais of Brian Boru.

Cork Kerry Limerick Clare Tipperary Waterford
Mide (Kingdom of Meath) ↗
The 'middle kingdom' around the Hill of Tara and Uisneach, seat of the (largely symbolic) High Kingship of Ireland.

Meath Westmeath Longford Offaly Dublin
Airgíalla (Oriel) ↗
A federation of nine tribes of the south Ulster borderlands, 'the hostage-givers', usually clients of their more powerful Uí Néill neighbours.

Armagh Monaghan Fermanagh Louth
Northern Uí Néill (Ailech) ↗
Descendants of Niall of the Nine Hostages who carved out the north-west, ruling from the stone fort of Grianán Ailigh. Ancestors of the O'Neills and O'Donnells.

Donegal Derry / Londonderry Tyrone
Ulaid ↗
The ancient over-kingdom of the north, ruled from Emain Macha and remembered in the Ulster Cycle sagas. Pressed steadily eastward into Antrim and Down by the rising Uí Néill.

Antrim Down

🕯 Unknown history Patrick was not the first. Rome sent Bishop Palladius 'to the Irish believing in Christ' in 431, a year before Patrick, but his mission was quietly absorbed into the Patrick legend by later propagandists of Armagh.

People of this age

St Patrick — Britain-born missionary, author of the Confessio
Palladius — First bishop sent to the Irish, 431
St Brigid of Kildare — Abbess whose foundation rivalled Armagh
Lóegaire mac Néill — King of Tara in the Patrick legends

Almost everyone who lived through this age left no name. Records keep kings, abbots and whoever could write, so this is a list of who was written about rather than who was here.

📜 The chronicle — events of this age

AD 432

St Patrick's mission begins ↗

Traditional date of Patrick's return to Ireland as a missionary bishop.

AD 546

Derry founded ↗

Colmcille (Columba) founds his monastery of Doire — the oak grove.

Quick answers

When was Patrick & the Rise of the Uí Néill in Ireland?

Patrick & the Rise of the Uí Néill spans AD 432 to AD 546 in this atlas. Christianity arrives, by tradition with Patrick in 432.

Who ruled Ireland during Patrick & the Rise of the Uí Néill?

Power was divided: The Connachta (6 counties); Laigin (Leinster) (6 counties); Mumu (Munster) (6 counties); Mide (Kingdom of Meath) (5 counties); Airgíalla (Oriel) (4 counties), among others. County boundaries are modern approximations.

What is a lesser-known fact about Patrick & the Rise of the Uí Néill?

Patrick was not the first. Rome sent Bishop Palladius 'to the Irish believing in Christ' in 431, a year before Patrick, but his mission was quietly absorbed into the Patrick legend by later propagandists of Armagh.

↗ links go to the relevant Wikipedia article for each event and ruler (sources & further reading).

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