Irish High Kings

Thanks to Piaras Mac Domhnaill for providing the website which is the basis for this information.

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 of the 15th-century BC. The victorious invaders were led by two men, Eireamhón (also called Eremon) and Éibhear (also called Eber), the former becoming the sole king of Ireland after killing the latter in a battle. Eireamhón ruled from a court located on the hill of Tara.

Although the earliest of the kings in these lists are legendary characters, the later kings are historical persons. The first king to truly have power throughout Ireland was Niall Naoighiallach (379). His descendants were known as the Uí Néill, and they ruled for the next several centuries. However the title High King (in Irish Ard Rí) was not actually used until later.

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

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NameYears
Adamair283-278 BC
Ainmire568-570
Airgeatmhar643-613 BC
Aodh I Ruadh596-589 BC; 575-568 BC; 554-547 BC
Aodh II Mac Ainmire571-598
Aodh III Allán598-605
Aodh IV Uairiodhnach605-612
Aodh Ó Lochlainn1153-1154; 1156-1166
Aodh V Álainn734-743
Aodh VI Oirdnidhe797-819
Aodh VII Finnliath862-879
Aonghus I Olmucadha1162-1144 BC
Aonghus II Ollamh364-346 BC
Aonghus III Tuirmheach250-218 BC
Art I Imleach880-868 BC
Art II677-671 BC
Art III Aoinfhear219-249
Badhbhchadh459 BC
Baodán I566-568
Baodán II570-571
Bearnghal946-934 BC
Blathmhac658-665
Breas828-819 BC
Breasal103-91 BC
Brian Bórú1002-1014
Cairbre I Ceanncait88-93
Cairbre II Lifiochair279-296
Caolbhadh357-358
Cathaoir Mór173-176
Ceannfaolaidh671-674
Cearma Fionn1267-1227 BC
Cellach642-654
Cimbaoth582-575 BC; 561-554 BC; 540-526 BC
Cionnaith724-727
Cobhtach Caol Breagh457-407 BC
Colla Uais327-331
Colmán598-605
Conaing I709-704 BC
Conaing II Beag-Eaglach697-677 BC
Conaire I2 BC-58
Conaire II211-219
Conall I Collamhrach218-213 BC
Conall II642-654
Conall III654-658
Conchubhar I71-72
Conchubhar II819-833
Conghalach I76-61 BC
Conghalach II704-711
Conghalach III943-956
Conmaol1384-1354 BC
Conn Céad Cathach176-211
Conn Ó Lochlainn1022-1024
Connla Caomh328-308 BC
Corcrán Claireach1022-1024
Cormac Ulfhada Mac Airt254-277
Criomthann I Cosgrach186-182 BC
Criomthann II72-88
Criomthann III366-379
Daithí405-428
Diarmuid I544-565
Diarmuid II658-665
Diarmuid Ó Briain1117-1118
Diothorba589-582 BC; 568-561 BC; 547-540 BC
Domhnall I Ilchealgach565-566
Domhnall II628-642
Domhnall III743-763
Domhnall IV Ard Mhacha Ó Néill956-980
Domhnall Ó Lochlainn1089-1101; 1118-1121
Donnchadh770-797
Donnchadh Ó Briain1024-1064
Duach I Fionn770-760 BC
Duach II Ladhgrach613-603 BC
Duach III Dallta Deadhadh61-51 BC
Éanna I Airgtheach1144-1117 BC
Éanna II758-746 BC
Éanna III Aigneach206-186 BC
Éibhear1434-1433 BC
Eideard Bruis1316-1318
Eidirsceol8-3 BC
Eireamhón1434-1418 BC
Eithrial1404-1384 BC
Elim I Oillfionnsheachta890-889 BC
Elim II125-129
Eochaidh I Eadghadhach1271-1267 BC
Eochaidh II Faobharghlas1227-1207 BC
Eochaidh III Mumho1183-1162 BC
Eochaidh IV Aptach819-818 BC
Eochaidh IX Aireamh35-23 BC
Eochaidh V Uaircheas721-709 BC
Eochaidh VI709-704 BC
Eochaidh VII650-643 BC
Eochaidh VIII Ailtleathan278-261 BC
Eochaidh X Feidhliach23-8 BC
Eochaidh XI277-279
Eochaidh XII358-366
Eochaidh XIII566-568
Fachtna Fathach51-35 BC
Faildeargdoid1062-1052 BC
Fearadhach Finnfeachtnach93-115
Fearán1415 BC
Fearchar339-328 BC
Fearghal711-722
Fearghus I Fortamhail261-250 BC
Fearghus II252-254
Fearghus III565-566
Feidhlimidh Reachtmhar163-173
Fergen1415 BC
Fiachadh I Labhrainne1207-1183 BC
Fiachadh II Fionnscothach1087-1067 BC
Fiachadh III Fionnailches966-946 BC
Fiachadh IV118-125
Fiachadh V297-327
Fiachna Tolgrach671-661 BC
Fiatach Fionn115-118
Fionn818-796 BC
Fionnachta I1015-995 BC
Fionnachta II674-690
Flaithbheartach727-734
Flann879-915
Fógartach722-724
Fothadh I296-297
Fothadh II296-297
Gedhe Ollghothach978-966 BC
Giallchaidh889-880 BC
Innatmar112-103 BC
Ir1415 BC
Irereo346-339 BC
Irial Faidh1414-1404 BC
Labhraidh Loingseach407-388 BC
Laighne1418-1415 BC
Laoghaire I Lorc459-457 BC
Laoghaire II428-463
Loingseach690-704
Lughaidh I Iardonn746-737 BC
Lughaidh II Láimhdhearg704-697 BC
Lughaidh III Laighdhe603-596 BC
Lughaidh IV Luaighne91-76 BC
Lughaidh V63-71
Lughaidh VI249-252
Lughaidh VII483-508
Luighne1418-1415 BC
Macha533-519 BC
Mal Mac Rochraidhe159-163
Maoilsheachlainn I846-862
Maoilsheachlainn II980-1002; 1014-1022
Maolcobha612-615
Melghe Molbhthach388-371 BC
Modhcorb371-364 BC
Morán88-93
Muimhne1418-1415 BC
Muineamhón1067-1062 BC
Muircheartach I Mór Mac Earca508-527
Muircheartach II Na Gcochall Craicneach919-943
Muircheartach Mór Ó Briain1086-1089; 1101-1117
Muireadhach I Bolgrach760-758 BC
Muireadhach II331-357
Nia Seadhamáin213-206 BC
Niall I Naoighiallach379-405
Niall II Frasach763-770
Niall III Caille833-846
Niall IV Glúin Dubh915-919
Nuadhat I Neacht1415-1414 BC
Nuadhat II Fionn Fáil868-828 BC
Nuadhat III3-2 BC
Oilioll I934-918 BC
Oilioll II Fionn661-650 BC
Oilioll III Caisfhiaclach308-283 BC
Oilioll IV Molt463-483
Ollamh Fodhla1052-1015 BC
Orba1415 BC
Reachtaidh Righdhearg519-499 BC
Roitheachtaigh I1117-1092 BC
Roitheachtaigh II897-890 BC
Ruadhraighe182-112 BC
Ruaidhrí Ó Conchubhair1166-1175
Seachnasach665-671
Séadhna I1092-1087 BC
Séadhna II Innarraigh796-776 BC
Simeon Breac776-770 BC
Síorlámh737-721 BC
Siorna Saoghaileach918-897 BC
Slanoll995-978 BC
Sobhairce1267-1227 BC
Suibhne615-628
Tighearnmhas1354-1278 BC
Toirdealbach Mór Ó Conchubhair1127-1153; 1154-1156
Toirdealbach Ó Briain1064-1086
Tuathal I Teachtmhar129-159
Tuathal II527-544
Ugaine Mór499-459 BC