Fir Manach (Ua hEignigh)

Who he is

Name

Niall Ua hEignigh

Title

King of Fir Manach, and king of Airgialla in the lists

Since

1199 as king of Airgialla (after a Cenel Conaill attempt to set him up, which Aed Ua Neill forced to submit); the previous king of Airgialla died in 1196

Born

Not pinned

Family

His daughter Bean Mide married Aed Meith Ua Neill about 1199-1200

Confidence

medium

Killed at Ballysadare in 1201 fighting for Cathal Crobderg (the Four Masters, misdating it to 1199, call him 'lord of Oriel'); then Gilla Patraic Ua hAnluain is king of Airgialla (1201-43).

Overlord

Aed Ua Neill, to whom he submitted in 1199

What it holds

• Fir Manach round Lough Erne
• The title of king of Airgialla and the hostages of the lesser Airgialla lords where he can take them

How it was acquired

Cenel Conaill's backing (1199), then Ua Neill's acceptance.

Allies and rivals

Father-in-law and client of Aed Ua Neill; ally of Cathal Crobderg (1200-01).

How things stand that morning

King, under Ua Neill.

Wealth

Lough Erne and its islands.

Military

The Fir Manach hosting and boats on the lake.

Threats

• The Connacht war

What the year holds

What happened next, if nothing in play changes it. Each event carries what it depends on and what would stop it.

1. 1201 (later course)Killed at Ballysadare fighting for Crobderg.Depends on: Joining the Connacht expedition Stopped by: Staying home

Where the sources disagree

Evidence: King list, Mac Carthaigh's Book and the Aed Meith article agree.

On the map: Approximate.

Primary sources for Airgialla

Chronicles, registers, sagas and inscriptions written in or near 1200 that cover this entry. Each has its own page with editions, translations and where to read it.

• Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland by the Four Masters, Various; compiled by Micheal O Cleirigh and others (1632 to 1636, from medieval annals now partly lost). A seventeenth century compilation but it draws on lost medieval annals, so its 1200 entries add names and incidents missing elsewhere: the Connacht war and the English of Meath and Munster, the deaths of Irish kings and churchmen across the island, and raids in Thomond and Desmond. Read online
• Annals of Ulster, Various; compiled by Cathal Mac Maghnusa (compiled about 1498 from much older annals; the entries for 1200 derive from contemporary record). The most reliable Irish annal for the north. Read online