Niall of the Nine Hostages

by Larry Chamberlin

Niall of the Nine Hostages , or Niall Nóigiallach, was the youngest son of Eochaidh Mugmedon (King of Connacht). Niall was said to have ruled over Tara, but modern historians think it more likely that Tara was founded by Niall's decendents, and that Niall himself actually set up his kingdom at Uisnech, another "royal hill".

One of the first verifiable historical Irish leaders, Niall Nóigiallach was king from about AD 400 to his death. In 405 he led an expedition against Britain, where it is rumored that he may have captured a young Romano-British boy named Patricus, son of Calpurnius, a local magistrate. Patricus later came to be known as St. Patrick. Niall was famed for his raids on Britain along with his brothers and sons. He eventually came to control most of the Northern half of Ireland. He conquered the Uliad aristocracy, which ruled in Ulster, and by this victory and subsequent consolidation of power was able to found a dynasty, the Ui Neill, which gave rise to the O'Neill clan. Three of his sons founded kingdoms in Ulster (collectively the Northern Ui Neill), other sons founded kingdom in the Irish midlands (the Southern Ui Neill).

Emain Macha, the capital of the Uliada, which Niall captured early on, became the capital of the Airgialla (lit: "givers of hostages") which is said to explain Niall's second name (Noigiallach = "of the Nine Hostages").

A son of Niall, who succeeded his father at Tara circa 427-430, welcomed St. Patrick to his court in 432.

Sources:

MacDermot of Moylurg : The Story of a Connacht Family, Dermot MacDermot, (c)1996 , Drumlin Publications, ISBN 1873437161

A History of Ireland, peter & Fiona Somerset Fry, Rutledge, (c)1988; Barnes & Noble [reprint] (c)1993, ISBN: 1-56619-215-3

prepared by Larry Chamberlin

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