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.

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NameYearsOther Names
Adamair290-285 BC(Adhamair)
Áed Allán734-743(Aedh, Aodh)
Áed Findliath862-879(Aedh, Aodh)
Áed mac Ainmuirech586-598(Aedh, Aodh)
Áed Oirdnide797-819(Aedh, Aodh)
Áed Rúad530-509 BC(Aedh, Aodh)
Áed Sláine598-604(Aedh, Aodh)
Áed Uaridnach604-612(Aedh, Aodh)
Ailill Caisfhiaclach315-290 BC(Oilioll)
Ailill Finn586-577 BC(Oilioll)
Ailill mac Slánuill831-815 BC(Oilioll)
Ailill Molt463-482(Oilioll)
Ainmuire566-569
Airgetmar570-547 BC(Airgeadmhar)
Art Imlech777-755 BC
Art mac Lugdach599-593 BC
Art Óenfer143-173
Báetán mac Muirchertaig569-572(Baodán, Baotán)
Báetán mac Ninnedo572(Baodán, Baotán)
Berngal833-831 BC(Bearnghal)
Blathmhac658-665
Bodbchad411 BC(Badhbhchaid)
Bres Rí735-726 BC(Breas)
Bresal Bó-Díbad151-140 BC
Brian Bórú1002-1014
Brian ua Néill1258-1260
Cáelbad343-344(Caolbhadh)
Cairbre Cinnchait55-60
Cairbre Lifechair245-272
Cathair Mór113-116(Cathaoir)
Cellach642-658(Ceallach)
Cenn Fáelad672-675(Ceann)
Cermna Finn1155-1115 BC(Cearmna)
Cimbáeth488-468 BC(Cimbaoth)
Cináed724-728(Cainneach)
Cobthach Cóel Breg409-379 BC(Cobhthach)
Colla Uais306-310
Colmán Rímid598-604
Conaing Begeclach621-599 BC(Conann)
Conaire Cóem136-143
Conaire Mór63-33 BC
Conall Cóel642-654
Conall Collamrach232-226 BC
Conchobar Abradruad13-12 BC(Conchúr)
Conchobar mac Donnchada819-833(Conchubhar, Conchúr)
Congal Cennmagair704-710(Conghal)
Congal Cláiringnech135-120 BC(Connal)
Congalach Cnogba944-956(Conghalach)
Conmáel1239-1209 BC(Conmaol)
Conn Cétchathach116-136
Connla Cáem319-315 BC
Cormac mac Airt204-244
Crimthann Coscrach191-184 BC(Criomhthann)
Crimthann Mór351-368(Criomhthann)
Crimthann Nia Náir12 BC-5(Criomhthann)
Diarmait mac Áeda Sláine658-665(Diarmaid, Diarmuid)
Diarmait mac Cerbaill545-565(Diarmaid, Diarmuid)
Diarmait mac Máel na mBó1042-1072(Diarmaid, Diarmuid)
Díthorba509-488 BC(Diothorba)
Domnall Ilchelgach565-566(Domhnall)
Domnall mac Áedo628-642(Domhnall)
Domnall Midi743-763(Domhnall)
Domnall ua Lochlainn1083-1121(Domhnall)
Domnall ua Néill956-980(Domhnall)
Donnchad Donn919-944(Donnchadh)
Donnchad mac Briain1024-1063(Donnchadh)
Donnchad Midi770-797(Donnchadh)
Dui Dallta Dedad120-110 BC(Duach)
Dui Finn679-674 BC(Duach)
Dui Ladgrach547-537 BC(Duach)
Éber1287-1286 BC(Éibhear)
Eideard Bruis1316-1318(Edward)
Elim mac Conrach60-80(Eilimh)
Elim Olfínechta787-786 BC(Eilimh)
Énna Aignech219-191 BC(Éanna)
Énna Airgdech1032-1005 BC(Éanna)
Énna Dearg670-658 BC(Éanna)
Eochaid Airem82-70 BC(Eochaidh, Eochu)
Eochaid Étgudach1159-1155 BC(Eochaidh, Eochu)
Eochaid Fáebar Glas1115-1095 BC(Eochaidh, Eochu)
Eochaid Feidlech94-82 BC(Eochaidh)
Eochaid Gonnat244-245(Eochaidh)
Eochaid mac Domnaill569-572(Eochaidh)
Eochaid Mugmedón344-351(Eochaidh)
Eochu Ailtlethan285-274 BC(Eochaid, Eochaidh)
Eochu Apthach726-725 BC(Eochaid, Eochaidh)
Eochu Fíadmuine621-616 BC(Eochaid, Eochaidh)
Eochu mac Ailella577-570 BC(Eochaid, Eochaidh)
Eochu Mumu1071-1050 BC(Eochaid, Eochaidh)
Eochu Uairches633-621 BC(Eochaid, Eochaidh)
Ér1269 BC(Éar)
Éremón1286-1272 BC(Éireamhón, Érimón)
Eterscél Mór70-64 BC(Eidirscéal)
Ethriel1259-1239 BC(Eithrial)
Fachtna Fáthach110-94 BC
Faildergdóid950-943 BC(Faildeargdóid, Faildergdóit)
Fedlimid Rechtmar104-113(Féilim)
Feradach Finnfechtnach5-25(Fearadhach)
Fer Corb330-319 BC(Fear Carbaid)
Fergal710-722(Fearghal)
Fergna1269 BC(Feargna)
Fergus Dubdétach203-204(Fearghas)
Fergus Fortamail274-262 BC(Fearghas)
Ferón1269 BC(Fearón)
Fíachu Findoilches863-833 BC(Fiacha, Fiachadh)
Fíachu Finnolach28-55(Fiacha)
Fíachu Fínscothach975-955 BC(Fiacha, Fiachadh)
Fíachu Labrainne1095-1071 BC(Fiacha)
Fíachu Sroiptine273-306(Fiacha)
Fíachu Tolgrach593-586 BC(Fiacha)
Fíatach Finn25-28
Finn725-705 BC(Fionn)
Fínnachta913-895 BC(Fíonnachta)
Finnat Már154-151 BC(Innatmar)
Fínsnechta Fledach675-695(Fíonsneachta)
Flaithbertach728-734(Flaithbheartach)
Fland mac Máel Sechnaill879-916(Flann)
Fógartach722-724
Forggus565-566(Fearghus, Fergus, Forgas)
Fothad Airgthech272-273(Fothadh)
Fothad Cairptech272-273(Fothadh)
Géde Ollgothach880-863 BC(Gedhe, Geide)
Gíallchad786-777 BC(Giallchaidh)
Irereo Fáthach337-330 BC
Íriel Fáid1269-1259 BC(Írial)
Labraid Loingsech379-369 BC(Labhraid)
Laigne1272-1269 BC(Laighne)
Lóegaire Lorc411-409 BC(Laoghaire)
Lóegaire mac Néill418-448(Laoghaire)
Loingsech696-704(Loingseach)
Lugaid Íardonn658-649 BC(Lughaidh)
Lugaid Lámderg616-609 BC(Lughaidh)
Lugaid Loígdech537-530 BC(Lughaidh)
Lugaid Luaigne140-135 BC(Lughaidh)
Lugaid mac Con173-203(Lughaidh, Mac Con)
Lugaid mac Lóegairi483-507(Lughaidh)
Lugaid Riab nDerg33-13 BC(Lughaidh)
Luigne1272-1269 BC(Luighne)
Macha468-461 BC
Máel Coba612-615(Maol Cobha)
Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill980-1002; 1014-1022(Maolsheachlann)
Máel Sechnaill mac Máel Ruanaida846-862(Maoilsheachlainn)
Mal mac Rochride100-104
Meilge Molbthach369-362 BC
Mug Corb362-355 BC(Mac Corb, Mugh Carbad)
Muimne1272-1269 BC(Muimhne)
Muinemón955-950 BC(Muineamhón)
Muirchertach mac Lochlainn1156-1166(Muircheartach)
Muirchertach mac Muiredaig507-534(Mac Ercae, Muircheartach)
Muirchertach Mór ua Briain1101-1119(Muircheartach)
Muiredach Bolgrach674-670 BC(Muireadach)
Muiredach Tírech310-343(Muireadach)
Nath Í395-418(Daithí, Dathí)
Nia Segamain226-219 BC
Niall Caille833-846
Niall Frossach763-770
Niall Glúndub916-919
Niall Noígíallach368-395
Nuadu Finn Fáil755-735 BC(Nuadha, Nuadhat)
Nuadu Necht64-63 BC(Nuadha)
Óengus Ollom355-337 BC(Aengus, Aonghas)
Óengus Olmucaid1050-1032 BC(Aengus, Aonghas)
Óengus Tuirmech Temrach262-232 BC(Aengus, Aonghas)
Ollom Fótla943-913 BC(Ollamh)
Orba1269 BC
Rechtaid Rígderg461-441 BC(Reachtaidh)
Rothechtaid mac Maen1005-980 BC(Roitheachtaigh)
Rothechtaid Rotha794-787 BC(Roitheachtaigh)
Ruaidrí ua Conchobair1166-1198(Ruaidhrí, Ruairí)
Rudraige184-154 BC(Rudhraí)
Sechnassach665-671(Seachnassach)
Sétna Airt980-975 BC(Séadhna, Séadna)
Sétna Innarraid705-685 BC(Séadna)
Siomón Brecc685-679 BC(Simeon)
Sírlám649-633 BC(Síorlámh)
Sírna Sáeglach814-794 BC(Síorna)
Slánoll895-880 BC
Sobairce1155-1115 BC(Sobhairce)
Suibne Menn615-628(Suibhne)
Tigernmas1209-1159 BC(Tiarnmhas, Tighearnmhas)
Toirdelbach Mór ua Conchobair1119-1156(Tairrdelbach, Toirdhealbhach, Turlough)
Toirdelbach ua Briain1064-1086(Toirdhealbhach)
Túathal Máelgarb534-544
Túathal Techtmar80-100
Úgaine Mór441-411 BC(Uaghaine)