The Three Collas

Ui Mhic Carthainn and their origins in the Three Collas

The Three Collas are major figures in the early history of Ulster. One of them, Colla Uais was the grand father of Cairthend and the gggggrandfather of Dunchad (+677). Echu Doimlen has been cited as the father of the Three Collas and it can be usefully noted that his wife was from Scotland. In summary the Ui Mhic Carthainn who had their origins in the Three Collas have a rich recorded history and we are indebted to recent scholars for highlighting this history.

In “Place –Names in Tirkeeran Barony" by John O’Donovan, cited in the Ordnance Survey Memoirs (1) he refers to the Three Collas, noting that Forgo after whom Tikeeran is named, was the great great grandson of King Colla Uais.

After the destruction of the Ultonian palace of Emmania in the fourth century (as we are informed by Irish writers), the 3 Collas drove the ancient Rudrician Kings and their adherents into the present county of Down, and seized upon very extensive possessions in the northern province comprising the present counties of south Armagh and Monaghan, which ancient writer always designate by the name of Oriel. Their descendants in due course settled also and obtained lands in various other parts of Ireland, as O’Kelly in Hy-Many in Connaught, O’Madden of the same province, O’Flynn (now O’Lynn) of Hy-Tuirtre on the county of Antrim.

It appears from old Irish books of genealogy and O’Flaherty’s Ogygia Part III that Carthann, the great-grandson of King Colla Uais, had a son Forgo, who was patronymically called MacCarthan from his father, and that from him a people and territory near the bay of Lough Foyle which washes Londonderry are called Hy-MacCarthen.

Brian Lacey (2) records the Three Collas connection as follows, putting the Argilla in context and outlining the Kings of the Ui Meic Cairthinn;

“ Most of these tribal kingdoms (with the exception of the Cianachta Glenn Geimin in the valley of the River Roe – for which below) belonged to a larger group known as the Ui Macc Uais which in turn was part of the over kingdom of the Airgialla. The Airgialla were in occupation of much of Mid Ulster at the point when records first became available. The Ui Macc Uais traced their descent form the legendary hero Colla Uais, one of the conquering three Collas who were said to have driven the Ulaid east of the Bann in late prehistoric times. According to a local tradition all three Colla brothers are said to have been buried on Slieve Gallion in south Derry.

A poem in the Book of Leinster genealogies tells us that Colla Uais had two sons

Erc o shleib fothuaid; Erc north [recte west] of the mountain [the Sperrins]

O shleib fodess Fiachra Tort; Fiachra Tort to the south [recte east]

The genealogies go on to state that Erc had two sons, Cairthend and Fiachrach, who were ancestors respectively of the Ui Meic Cairthinn of Lough Foyle and the Ui Fiachrach Ard Sratha. Fiachra Tort was the ancestor of the thus related, Ui Tuirtre and (in most versions) of the Airgillan Fir Li. Some sources suggest that another son of Colla Uais, Faradach, not mentioned in the poem quoted above was the ancestor of the Airgillan Fir Chraibe. The Ui Fiachrach Ard Sratha were to be found south of the Mourne river in modern County Tyrone. All other peoples mentioned here, along with the Cianachta Glenn Geimin, shared the territory which would be much later become County Derry.”

Lacey goes on to consider the fate of the Ui Mhic Carthainn on the Death of Dunchad as well as drawing out the family tree;

“Genealogical Table 5.3

Ui Meic Cairthinn Kings

Colla Uais

Erc

Cairthend

Enna ----------------------------------------- Muiredach

I I

Forco Amalgada

I I

Eogan Aed Guaire

I I

Colmain Colman Mucaid

I I

Ultan Fergus (+668)

Dunchad (+677)

“In 677 the king of the Ui Meic Cairthinn, Dunchad mac Ultain (table 5.3) was killed by the Cenel nEogain king, Mael Fithrich. Dunchad would have succeeded to the kingship of his own people after the death of his predecessor Fergus son of Colman Mucaid who died in 668. Mael Duin was an ambitious warlord who, as we shall see again, was actively attempting to expand Cenel Eogain influence, across from their homeland in Innishowen, to the eastern side of Lough Foyle. The Chronicon Scottorum, Annals of Tigernach and Annals of the Four Masters all claim that Dunchad was overking of the confederation of the Airgialla at the time of his death. While several modern authors have cast doubt on the reliability of the references to such a position prior to 696, it seems safe, at least, to assume that Dunchad must himself have been a powerful and ambitious king of his tribe, a suitable opponent for Mael Duin. Dunchad was killed at Dun Forgco, a location which may be identifiable with the Dungorkin mentioned above. There are two possible fortifications in this townland: a crannog in the now dry Lough Lohan and a nearby site known locally as the “Doon”, which may have been some kind of inland promontory fort.

Dunchad’s death must have signalled the end of the “independence” of the Ui Meic Cairthinn of Lough Foyle and their subjugation from then on to the Cenel Eogain.

However the tribe survived in some form as a puppet kingdom until the end of the eleventh century. In the year 1096 the annals record that “Conchobhor ua hAinniaraidh, king of Cianachta [the neighbouring people] and Ua Cein king of the Ui Meic Cairthinn fell by each other in combat”. The cause of the mutual regicide is not recorded but it may have had something to do with the aftermath of an incident which had occurred twenty years earlier. In 1076 Aed ua Mael Sechlainn, king of Aileach, defeated the Cianachta “co ro ladh ndergar” (and a bloody slaughter was inflicted on them) at the battle of Belat. Belat has been identified as a site in the vicinity of Gorticross a few miles east of Derry and at the time of the battle in the territory of the Ui Meic Cairthinn Locha Febhail. Whatever the reasons for the battle its location would seem to imply that on this occasion it was the Cianachta who were the aggressors.”

A review of a book (3) by Brian Lacey mentions the father of the Three Collas as being one Echu Doimlen (Eochaidh Dublein [i][iv]):

“Saliva swabs taken from bearers of surnames originating in Cenél nÁeda Esa Ruaid (Cannon, Gallagher), Cenél Lugdach (Boyle, Doherty, McMenamin, O’Donnell), and Cenél nEógain (Devlin, Donnelly, Gormley, McLoughlin, O’Kane, Quinn) reveal a common genetic marker from a single ancestor who lived about 1,730 years ago in the Irish northwest. Lacey persuasively eliminates Niall Noígiallach as that progenitor, but other (fictional?) candidates remain: Cana mac Luigdech Lámfhata, Dál Fiatach leader of Sentuatha Ulaid (ECG); Echu Doimlén, father of the Three Collas (T.F. O’Rahilly, Dáibhí Ó Cróinín).”

The wife of Echu Doimlen is cited[ii][v] as the daughter of Frighiu who was son of Rubae the Red out of the island of Britain which has been read as Scotland.

“Out of the island of Britain went Frighriu son of Rubae the Red. He was the craftsman of Fubthaire king of Scotland, and with the king’s daughter Ailech he eloped to Ireland. Then Fubthaire went on his daughter’s track to Ailech, (and the king of Ireland protected the two lovers from Fubthaire, and granted to the girl the site of Ailech). There, then, Frighriu built her a house of red yew, and that house

was set out with gold and silver and brass and gems, so that it was equally radiant by night and by day. And therein the girl was put to be hoarded, and ’tis said that she was a fosterling (or pupil) of the craftsman, and she became the wife of Eochu Doimlén and the mother of the (three) Collas. And Fiacha Sraibtine was then king. Whence Ailech Frighrenn ‘Frighriu’s Stonehouse’ is named.”

The Ui Mhic Carthainn were part of the Ui Meic Uais who were in turn part of the Argialla. The other members of the Argialla[iii][vi] federation were Uí Cremthainn, Uí Méith, Uí Tuirtre, Uí Meic Uais, Uí Fiachra Ard Sratha, Mughdorna, Uí Meic Cáirthinn, Airthir, Fernmhaighe, and the Fir Lí.

Other early references to the sept are summarised as follows;

“Uí mac Carthainn

- near Lough Foyle, Tirkeeran, co. Derry, according to Onomasticon Goedelicum. O'Flaherty's Ogygia cites an Uí Cormaic in Uí mac Carthainn. O'Dugans topographical poem cites O'Corbmaic, over the valiant Ui MacCarthainn, and goes on to note the chieftains of Ui Meic Carthainn as O'Colgan and O'Connell (perhaps two separate regions in Oirghialla).

Francis Byrne in his Irish Kings and High Kings states the Uí Maic Caírthinn south of Lough Foyle, the Uí Fiachrach Arda Sratha and Uí Thuirtri west and east of the Sperrins were collectively known as the Uí Macc Uais.

A Tír Mac Cartainn is cited by Goedelicum east of the barony of Boylagh in county Donegal.

An early genealogy cites a lineage for an Uí mac Carthaind from Colla Uais, i.e. Cairthand (a quo H. Mc. Carthaind), son of Eichin, son of Bec (ri Airgiall) m. Cuanach m. mc. Dairi mc. Feidhlimidh mc. Echin mc. Fiacrach Tort mc. Echach mc. Colla Uais.

The Annals cite:

· LC1096, Conchobhar Ua hAiniaraidh, king of Cianachta, and Ua Cein, king of Uí-mic-Cairthinn, fell by each other in combat. “

A Clan Colla DNA project is underway.(7)

References

1 Ordnance Survey Memoirs of Ireland parishes of Co Londonderry 1831-5 Volume 36

Edited by Angelique Day and Patrick McWilliams Published by the Institute of Irish Studies The Queen’s University of Belfast 1991 Page 104 Place –Names in Tirkeeran Barony by John O’Donovan

2 In Derry and Londonderry History & Society Eds O’Brien & Nolan Geography Publications ISBN 0 906602 85 8 Page 123

3 CENÉL CONAILL AND THE DONEGAL KINGDOMS, AD 500 – 800. Brian Lacey

Four Courts Press, Dublin, 2006. Pp 351. Price 45 Euro. ISBN 978-1-85182-978-1.

“In fact, though, a newly-published DNA analysis of modern surname-bearers demonstrates that these Cenél Conaill peoples share a distinctive haplotype characteristic with each other and with Cenél nEógain [Laoise T. Moore et al., ‘A Y-Chromosome Signature of Hegemony in Gaelic Ireland,’ American Journal of Human Genetics 78 (2006) 334-38]. Saliva swabs taken from bearers of surnames originating in Cenél nÁeda Esa Ruaid (Cannon, Gallagher), Cenél Lugdach (Boyle, Doherty, McMenamin, O’Donnell), and Cenél nEógain (Devlin, Donnelly, Gormley, McLoughlin, O’Kane, Quinn) reveal a common genetic marker from a single ancestor who lived about 1,730 years ago in the Irish northwest. Lacey persuasively eliminates Niall Noígiallach as that progenitor, but other (fictional?) candidates remain: Cana mac Luigdech Lámfhata, Dál Fiatach leader of Sentuatha Ulaid (ECG); Echu Doimlén, father of the Three Collas (T.F. O’Rahilly, Dáibhí Ó Cróinín); or perhaps Lacey’s own anonymous Cruithin prince.”

4 Kings of Ulster—to Colla da Chrioch by Hugh McGough

http://www.magoo.com/hugh/ulsterkings.html

In 331 A.D., the three Collas and their army conquered Ulster and burned the capital city of Emain Macha, now Navan Fort. Colla da Chrioch became king of the western and central part of Ulster. He ruled over the kingdom of Orghialla, anglicized as Oriel, with a capital at Clogher. Colla da Chrioch was one of the three sons of Eochaidh Dublein who were known as the three Collas. Eochaidh Dublein was the brother of Cairbre Liffeachair, Irish Kings #117. See the "Background on the Three Collas" on the Kingdom of Arghialla web page of Ireland's History in Maps.

5 The Prose Tales in the Rennes Dindsenchas Translation Author: Whitley Stokes machine-readable text by: Niall Brady

‘The Prose Tales in the Rennes Dindsenchas’, ed. Whitley Stokes, Revue Celtique16 (1895) 31-83

http://www.ucd.ie/tlh/xml/ws.rc.16.001.t.xml

6 128 Kingdom of Airghialla Ulster Series http://www.rootsweb.com/~irlkik/ihm/colla.htm

The Airghialla were a loose federation of tuath, largely located in the modern province of Ulster. Their territory, depending on timeframe, included much of what includes the modern counties of Monaghan, Armagh and Fermanagh. In addition, other places where Arghialla groups have been noted included areas within the modern counties of Tyrone, Cavan, Meath, Westmeath, Louth, and Derry. The Airghialla federation included Uí Cremthainn, Uí Méith, Uí Tuirtre, Uí Meic Uais, Uí Fiachra Ard Sratha, Mughdorna, Uí Meic Cáirthinn, Airthir, Fernmhaighe, and Fir Lí, among other terms descriptive of tribal groupings and territories.

The Book of Fenagh states the sub-territories of Airgialla were: Ui Nialláin (Oneilland baronies, co. Armagh.); Ui Bresail (now in the baronies of Oneilland); Ui Echach (baronies of Iveagh, co. Down); Ui Meith [Macha] (parishes of of Tullycorbet, Kilmore and Tehallan. co. Monaghan.); Ui Tortain (around Ardbraccan, co. Meath); Ui Briuin Archaill (in the barony of Dungannon, co. Tyrone); Trí Tuatha (here comprising Fir Lemna, Ui Cremthainne and Síl Dubthir of Lct.); Dartraige, alias Dartraige Coininnsi (barony of Dartry, c. Monaghan.); Fera Manach (Fermanagh), Fernmag (barony of Farney, co. Monaghan.); Mugdorn and Ross (Cremorne with the parish of Carrickmacross, and parish of Clonany, co. Monaghan., and adjoining parts of Louth and Meath undefined).

Noted chiefs of Airghialla included Ua Laidhgnén (O'Leighnin?), Ua Éiccnigh (O'Heany or Hegney), Ua Cerbhaill (O'Carroll), Ua Baígelláin (O'Boylan), Ua Anluain (O'Hanlon), Mac Mathgamna (MacMahon), among others.

A steady push by the Cenél nEógain in the 7th and 8th centuries reduced the size of the Aighiallan federation as the people of northern Airghialla came to be treated as sub-kingdoms of the Cenél nEógain. During a similar period the southern branches of the Airghialla came under the dominion of the southern Uí Néill kingdoms of Mide and Brega. By the 9th century Airgialla proper, as a political entity, was practically confined to the modern counties Armagh, Monaghan, Fermanagh, and part of Louth, with the Uí Thuirtri kingdom in east Tyrone in process of being absorbed into the Cenél nEógain over-kingdom of Ailech. Ancient Irish tradition tells us that Airghialla (or Oriel) was a territory in northern Ireland founded by the three Collas about the 4th century of the Christian Era, and inhabited by their descendants in later centuries. As is the case with much of Irish saga prior to the 6th century keep in mind the line between myth and history is unclear. The term Airgialla is translated as 'those who give hostages', alluding to a subordinate status of the various groups inhabiting the area. Contemporary writers, e.g. O'Rahilly and Byrne, suggest the three Collas are mere doublets of the three sons of Niall Noigiallach who conquered portions of early Ulster, their names being Eogan, Conall and Enda.

The three sons of Eochaid Duibhlein and Aileach, a daughter of the King of Alba, all bore the name of Colla - Colla Uais, Colla Meann and Colla da Crich (Fochríth). The designation Colla, meaning strong man, was "imposed on them for rebelling," their original names being Cairsall, Aodh and Muredach, respectively. The three Collas went to Scotland to obtain the assistance of their kindred to place Colla Uais on the Irish throne, and with their help placed him there, but he was compelled to give way to a relative, Muredach Tirech, who had a better title to the sovereignty.

[source: http://user.icx.net/~gimbel/genealogy/McDonald_ancestory.html]

The three Collas made war with the High King of Ireland, Fiachadh, and overthrew and killed him in order to sieze the Kingship for Colla Uais, which he enjoyed for four years. Muiredach Tirech, the son of the slain king Fiachadh, overthrew the three Collas and their followers. About the year 327 the three Collas were exiled to Alba (Scotland). They were received into their maternal grandfather's court, the court of the Scots and Picts.

[source: http://www.concentric.com/~maguire/Maguire3.html]

The Irish Annals record for the year of our Lord 322 cite, "Fiacha(dh) Sraibhtine, after having been thirty seven years as king over Ireland, was slain by the Collas, in the battle of Dubhchomar, in Crioch Rois, in Breagh."

The annals further record for the year 323, "The first year of Colla Uais, son of Eochaidh Doimhlen, as king over Ireland."For the year 327 the annals state, "The fourth year of Colla Uais, in the sovereignty of Ireland, when Muireadhach Tireach expelled him and his brothers into Alba (Scotland) with three hundred along with them."The annals continue for the same year, "At the end of this year the three Collas came (back) to Ireland; and there lived not of their forces but thrice nine persons only. They then went to Muireadhach, having been instructed by a druid. And they scolded at him, and expressed evil words, that he might kill them, and that it might be on him the curse of the finghal should alight. As he did not oppose them, they tarried with him, and were faithful to him."

[Source: http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/T100005A/text030.html]

It was when Muiredeach Tireach, grandson of Carbri of the Liffey, was High King of Ireland, that Ulster was despoiled and broken by his nephews, the three Collas, who, on the ruins of the old kingdom of Uladh, founded a new kingdom - of Oirgialla (Oriel) which was henceforth for nearly a thousand years to play an important part in the history of Northern Ireland."

"The Collas first went to their kin in Connaught [King Muiredeach] and there gathered a great army for the invasion of Ulster. On the plain of Farney in Monaghan they met the Ulstermen under their king, Fergus, and on seven successive days broke battle upon them, finally slaying Fergus and putting the Ultach (Ulstermen) to complete rout. Of the conquered portion of Ulster, from Louth in the south to Derry in the north, and from Loch Neagh to Loch Erne, the Collas made themselves the new kingdom of Oirgialla (Oriel)."

[source: http://www.ireland.org/irl_hist/hist11.htm] The Irish Annals record for the year of our Lord 331, "The battle of Achadh Leithdheirg, in Fearnmhagh (Farney), was fought by the three Collas against the Ulstermen, in which fell Fearghus Fogha, son of Fraechar Foirtriun, the last king of Ulster, who resided at Eamhain. They afterwards burned Eamhain [Macha], and the Ulstermen did not dwell therein since. They also took from the Ulstermen that part of the province extending from the Righe and Loch nEathach (Neagh) westwards. Colla Meann fell in this battle. [source: http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/T100005A/text030.html]

Geoffrey Keating adds in his History that "On that occasion, the Collas wrested the following territority from the Ultonians [men of Ulster], namely, Modharnuigh, Ui Criomthainn, and Ui Mac Uais. Colla Meann took possession of Modharnuigh, and Colla da Chrioch of Ui Criomhthainn, and Colla Uais of Ui Mac Uais. And Muireadhach Tireach fell by Caolbhaidh son of Cronn Badhraoi." Click here for a Physical Map of the Ulster region.

The descended Groups and Families of the Three Collas

Colla-da-Chrioch - The first king of Arghialla would be Colla-da-Chrioch (aka Colla Fochríth).

The Book of Ballymote cites Síl Colla Focrích; of this stock are: Airthera, Rigradh Dartraighe Coindinse, Ui Meth, Fir Fernmuighe, Fir Manach, Fir Lemna, Síl Duibtiri, Ui Briuin Archoill, Fir Roiss, Ui Maine, Fir Dubhshlat, Ui Cennfhada, Ui mic Brocc, Ui Echach bega, Ui Echach móra, Ui Dortaind, Ui Níalláin, Ui Conaill, Ui Bresail of Macha and of Mughdorn, Ui Cremthaind, and Ui Luain, with relatives.

Colla Focrích (Colla-da-Chrioch) had four sons noted here; Imchad, Findchad, Rochaid, Fiachra Cassán.

? From Imchad came Muiredach Méth, a quo Uí Méith. According to early genealogies, the Uí Maine Connacht are also descended from Imchad.

? From Rochad descended the Cenél Rochada, that is the Fernmuigi and Síl Daim Argait and Uí Briúin ar Chaill and Uí Labrada and Dál n-Uaich (Oaich) and Uí Chremthainn and Uí Meic Brócc and Uí Tuathail.

? From Fiachra Cassán descended the Síl Fiachra Cassán, that is the Airthir of Ard Macha and Uí Breasail and Uí Nialláin and Uí Dorthain and Uí Eochada and Uí Cruind and Uí Trena.

Colla Uais had sons named Eachach and Ercc. From Colla Uais descended the Uí Meic Uais and Uí Tuirtri and Uí Cormaic and Uí Dáire and Ui Fiacrach Arda Sratha and Cenél Meic Cárthind and Cenél mBecce and Cenél Raithne and Cenél n-Erchoil.

The Book of Ballymote cites Síl Colla Uais, i.e. Ui Mac Uais, Ui Tuírtre, Fir Luirg, Ui Fiacrach Arda Sratha, Ui Mic Cairthaind, Fir na tri leth, Fir Leitreach, Fir Lugaidh, Fir in Muighe, Ui Tabarna, Fir in Chláir, Ui Mic Cairthaind of L. Febail, and the Fir ili (Fir Li?)

Colla Menn had sons named Mennit Chruthnech and Mugdorn Dub di Ultaib. From Colla Meann descended the Mughdorna and the Dál Mennat.

From Colla-da-Chrioch are claimed to descend some of these noble families of Ulster and elsewhere - Boylan, Brassil, Cahil, Callaghan, Carbery, Carey, Carroll, Cassidy, Conan, O'Connor, Corrigan, Cosgrave, Devine, O'Donnell, Donnelly, Duffy, Dwyer, Fogarty, Garvey, Gavin, Hanlon, Hart, Higgins, Hollgan, Kelly, Kennedy, Keogh, Lane, Larkin, Leahy, Lynch, MacCabe, MacDaniel, MacKenna, MacMahan, MacManus, Madigan, Madden, Maguire, Malone, Mitchell, Mooney, Muldoon, Norton, Orr, Traynor, Tully, etc.

Fir Lí - Feara Li, or Fer Li, i.e. the men of Mag Lí, was located west of the River Bann in the barony of Coleraine, Co. Derry. The Book of Lecan notes that Fir Li (and Ui mac Uais) in Ulster extended from Bir (Moyola river) to Camus (south of Coleraine). The Moyola river was anciently the boundary between the Feara Li and the Húi Tuirtre. The Fir Lí are noted as an Aighiallan people who came under the dominion of the Cenél Eóghain by the 9th century. Their neighbours appear to have been the Ui Tuirtre and factions of both groups are said to have been driven to the east of the Bann (into Ulidia) by the advance of Ua Cathain of the Cenel Eoghain. Another Airghiallan group, the Fir na Chraíbe, were also noted at an early date in the region west of the Bann.

Uí mac Carthainn - near Lough Foyle, Tirkeeran, co. Derry, according to Onomasticon Goedelicum. O'Flaherty's Ogygia cites an Uí Cormaic in Uí mac Carthainn. O'Dugans topographical poem cites O'Corbmaic, over the valiant Ui MacCarthainn, and goes on to note the chieftains of Ui Meic Carthainn as O'Colgan and O'Connell (perhaps two separate regions in Oirghialla).

A Tír Mac Cartainn is cited by Goedelicum east of the barony of Boylagh in county Donegal.

The Annals cite: Ua hAiniaraidh, king of Cianachta, and Ua Cein, king of Uí-mic-Cairthinn, fell by each other in combat

7 Clan Colla DNA project notified by Peter Biggins 21 10 2010

http://www.familytreedna.com/public/clancolla425null/default.aspx

The Web page on the Three collas DNA project is at http://www.peterspioneers.com/colla.htm