Irish Kings

According to legend the earliest inhabitants of Ireland were a godlike race called the Tuatha De Danann. Legend goes on to tell how these people were defeated by the forces of Milesius, an Iberian warrior. The victorious invaders were led by two men, Éremón and Eber, the former becoming the sole king of Ireland after killing the latter in battle. Éremón ruled from a court located on the hill of Tara.

Although the earliest of the kings listed here are legendary, the later kings are historical persons. The first to truly have power throughout Ireland was Niall Noígíallach in the 4th century. His descendants were known as the Uí Néill, and they dominated Ireland for the next several centuries. The title High King (in Irish Ardrí) was not actually used until the 9th century. Few kings ruled the entirety of Ireland in practice; listed here are those who controlled a large portion of the island.

The Irish kingship was ended shortly after the Anglo-Norman invasion of 1169. There were later attempts to fill the position, most notably in 1316 by Edward Bruce, brother of Robert the king of Scotland.

display
category
NameYears
Éber1287-1286 BC
Éremón1286-1272 BC
Laigne1272-1269 BC
Luigne1272-1269 BC
Muimne1272-1269 BC
Ér1269 BC
Fergna1269 BC
Ferón1269 BC
Orba1269 BC
Íriel Fáid1269-1259 BC
Ethriel1259-1239 BC
Conmáel1239-1209 BC
Tigernmas1209-1159 BC
Eochaid Étgudach1159-1155 BC
Cermna Finn1155-1115 BC
Sobairce1155-1115 BC
Eochaid Fáebar Glas1115-1095 BC
Fíachu Labrainne1095-1071 BC
Eochu Mumu1071-1050 BC
Óengus Olmucaid1050-1032 BC
Énna Airgdech1032-1005 BC
Rothechtaid mac Maen1005-980 BC
Sétna Airt980-975 BC
Fíachu Fínscothach975-955 BC
Muinemón955-950 BC
Faildergdóid950-943 BC
Ollom Fótla943-913 BC
Fínnachta913-895 BC
Slánoll895-880 BC
Géde Ollgothach880-863 BC
Fíachu Findoilches863-833 BC
Berngal833-831 BC
Ailill mac Slánuill831-815 BC
Sírna Sáeglach814-794 BC
Rothechtaid Rotha794-787 BC
Elim Olfínechta787-786 BC
Gíallchad786-777 BC
Art Imlech777-755 BC
Nuadu Finn Fáil755-735 BC
Bres Rí735-726 BC
Eochu Apthach726-725 BC
Finn725-705 BC
Sétna Innarraid705-685 BC
Siomón Brecc685-679 BC
Dui Finn679-674 BC
Muiredach Bolgrach674-670 BC
Énna Dearg670-658 BC
Lugaid Íardonn658-649 BC
Sírlám649-633 BC
Eochu Uairches633-621 BC
Eochu Fíadmuine621-616 BC
Conaing Begeclach621-599 BC
Lugaid Lámderg616-609 BC
Art mac Lugdach599-593 BC
Fíachu Tolgrach593-586 BC
Ailill Finn586-577 BC
Eochu mac Ailella577-570 BC
Airgetmar570-547 BC
Dui Ladgrach547-537 BC
Lugaid Loígdech537-530 BC
Áed Rúad530-509 BC
Díthorba509-488 BC
Cimbáeth488-468 BC
Macha468-461 BC
Rechtaid Rígderg461-441 BC
Úgaine Mór441-411 BC
Bodbchad411 BC
Lóegaire Lorc411-409 BC
Cobthach Cóel Breg409-379 BC
Labraid Loingsech379-369 BC
Meilge Molbthach369-362 BC
Mug Corb362-355 BC
Óengus Ollom355-337 BC
Irereo Fáthach337-330 BC
Fer Corb330-319 BC
Connla Cáem319-315 BC
Ailill Caisfhiaclach315-290 BC
Adamair290-285 BC
Eochu Ailtlethan285-274 BC
Fergus Fortamail274-262 BC
Óengus Tuirmech Temrach262-232 BC
Conall Collamrach232-226 BC
Nia Segamain226-219 BC
Énna Aignech219-191 BC
Crimthann Coscrach191-184 BC
Rudraige184-154 BC
Finnat Már154-151 BC
Bresal Bó-Díbad151-140 BC
Lugaid Luaigne140-135 BC
Congal Cláiringnech135-120 BC
Dui Dallta Dedad120-110 BC
Fachtna Fáthach110-94 BC
Eochaid Feidlech94-82 BC
Eochaid Airem82-70 BC
Eterscél Mór70-64 BC
Nuadu Necht64-63 BC
Conaire Mór63-33 BC
Lugaid Riab nDerg33-13 BC
Conchobar Abradruad13-12 BC
Crimthann Nia Náir12 BC-5
Feradach Finnfechtnach5-25
Fíatach Finn25-28
Fíachu Finnolach28-55
Cairbre Cinnchait55-60
Elim mac Conrach60-80
Túathal Techtmar80-100
Mal mac Rochride100-104
Fedlimid Rechtmar104-113
Cathair Mór113-116
Conn Cétchathach116-136
Conaire Cóem136-143
Art Óenfer143-173
Lugaid mac Con173-203
Fergus Dubdétach203-204
Cormac mac Airt204-244
Eochaid Gonnat244-245
Cairbre Lifechair245-272
Fothad Cairptech272-273
Fothad Airgthech272-273
Fíachu Sroiptine273-306
Colla Uais306-310
Muiredach Tírech310-343
Cáelbad343-344
Eochaid Mugmedón344-351
Crimthann Mór351-368
Niall Noígíallach368-395
Nath Í395-418
Lóegaire mac Néill418-448
Ailill Molt463-482
Lugaid mac Lóegairi483-507
Muirchertach mac Muiredaig507-534
Túathal Máelgarb534-544
Diarmait mac Cerbaill545-565
Domnall Ilchelgach565-566
Forggus565-566
Ainmuire566-569
Báetán mac Muirchertaig569-572
Eochaid mac Domnaill569-572
Báetán mac Ninnedo572
Áed mac Ainmuirech586-598
Áed Sláine598-604
Colmán Rímid598-604
Áed Uaridnach604-612
Máel Coba612-615
Suibne Menn615-628
Domnall mac Áedo628-642
Conall Cóel642-654
Cellach642-658
Blathmhac658-665
Diarmait mac Áeda Sláine658-665
Sechnassach665-671
Cenn Fáelad672-675
Fínsnechta Fledach675-695
Loingsech696-704
Congal Cennmagair704-710
Fergal710-722
Fógartach722-724
Cináed724-728
Flaithbertach728-734
Áed Allán734-743
Domnall Midi743-763
Niall Frossach763-770
Donnchad Midi770-797
Áed Oirdnide797-819
Conchobar mac Donnchada819-833
Niall Caille833-846
Máel Sechnaill mac Máel Ruanaida846-862
Áed Findliath862-879
Fland mac Máel Sechnaill879-916
Niall Glúndub916-919
Donnchad Donn919-944
Congalach Cnogba944-956
Domnall ua Néill956-980
Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill980-1002; 1014-1022
Brian Bórú1002-1014
Donnchad mac Briain1024-1063
Diarmait mac Máel na mBó1042-1072
Toirdelbach ua Briain1064-1086
Domnall ua Lochlainn1083-1121
Muirchertach Mór ua Briain1101-1119
Toirdelbach Mór ua Conchobair1119-1156
Muirchertach mac Lochlainn1156-1166
Ruaidrí ua Conchobair1166-1198
Brian ua Néill1258-1260
Eideard Bruis1316-1318