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.
Name | Years | Other Names | |
---|---|---|---|
Éibhear | 1434-1433 BC | (Eber) | ![]() |
Eireamhón | 1434-1418 BC | (Eremon) | ![]() |
Laighne | 1418-1415 BC | ![]() | |
Luighne | 1418-1415 BC | ![]() | |
Muimhne | 1418-1415 BC | ![]() | |
Fearán | 1415 BC | ![]() | |
Fergen | 1415 BC | ![]() | |
Ir | 1415 BC | ![]() | |
Orba | 1415 BC | ![]() | |
Nuadhat I Neacht | 1415-1414 BC | (Nuada) | ![]() |
Irial Faidh | 1414-1404 BC | ![]() | |
Eithrial | 1404-1384 BC | ![]() | |
Conmaol | 1384-1354 BC | ![]() | |
Tighearnmhas | 1354-1278 BC | ![]() | |
Eochaidh I Eadghadhach | 1271-1267 BC | ![]() | |
Cearma Fionn | 1267-1227 BC | ![]() | |
Sobhairce | 1267-1227 BC | ![]() | |
Eochaidh II Faobharghlas | 1227-1207 BC | ![]() | |
Fiachadh I Labhrainne | 1207-1183 BC | (Fiacha) | ![]() |
Eochaidh III Mumho | 1183-1162 BC | ![]() | |
Aonghus I Olmucadha | 1162-1144 BC | (Aengus) | ![]() |
Éanna I Airgtheach | 1144-1117 BC | (Enna) | ![]() |
Roitheachtaigh I | 1117-1092 BC | ![]() | |
Séadhna I | 1092-1087 BC | ![]() | |
Fiachadh II Fionnscothach | 1087-1067 BC | (Fiacha) | ![]() |
Muineamhón | 1067-1062 BC | ![]() | |
Faildeargdoid | 1062-1052 BC | ![]() | |
Ollamh Fodhla | 1052-1015 BC | ![]() | |
Fionnachta I | 1015-995 BC | ![]() | |
Slanoll | 995-978 BC | ![]() | |
Gedhe Ollghothach | 978-966 BC | ![]() | |
Fiachadh III Fionnailches | 966-946 BC | (Fiacha) | ![]() |
Bearnghal | 946-934 BC | ![]() | |
Oilioll I | 934-918 BC | (Ailill) | ![]() |
Siorna Saoghaileach | 918-897 BC | ![]() | |
Roitheachtaigh II | 897-890 BC | ![]() | |
Elim I Oillfionnsheachta | 890-889 BC | ![]() | |
Giallchaidh | 889-880 BC | ![]() | |
Art I Imleach | 880-868 BC | ![]() | |
Nuadhat II Fionn Fáil | 868-828 BC | (Nuada) | ![]() |
Breas | 828-819 BC | ![]() | |
Eochaidh IV Aptach | 819-818 BC | ![]() | |
Fionn | 818-796 BC | ![]() | |
Séadhna II Innarraigh | 796-776 BC | ![]() | |
Simeon Breac | 776-770 BC | ![]() | |
Duach I Fionn | 770-760 BC | ![]() | |
Muireadhach I Bolgrach | 760-758 BC | ![]() | |
Éanna II | 758-746 BC | (Enna) | ![]() |
Lughaidh I Iardonn | 746-737 BC | ![]() | |
Síorlámh | 737-721 BC | ![]() | |
Eochaidh V Uaircheas | 721-709 BC | ![]() | |
Conaing I | 709-704 BC | ![]() | |
Eochaidh VI | 709-704 BC | ![]() | |
Lughaidh II Láimhdhearg | 704-697 BC | ![]() | |
Conaing II Beag-Eaglach | 697-677 BC | ![]() | |
Art II | 677-671 BC | ![]() | |
Fiachna Tolgrach | 671-661 BC | (Fiacha) | ![]() |
Oilioll II Fionn | 661-650 BC | (Ailill) | ![]() |
Eochaidh VII | 650-643 BC | ![]() | |
Airgeatmhar | 643-613 BC | ![]() | |
Duach II Ladhgrach | 613-603 BC | ![]() | |
Lughaidh III Laighdhe | 603-596 BC | ![]() | |
Aodh I Ruadh | 596-589 BC; 575-568 BC; 554-547 BC | (Áed, Aedh) | ![]() |
Diothorba | 589-582 BC; 568-561 BC; 547-540 BC | ![]() | |
Cimbaoth | 582-575 BC; 561-554 BC; 540-526 BC | ![]() | |
Macha | 533-519 BC | ![]() | |
Reachtaidh Righdhearg | 519-499 BC | ![]() | |
Ugaine Mór | 499-459 BC | ![]() | |
Badhbhchadh | 459 BC | ![]() | |
Laoghaire I Lorc | 459-457 BC | ![]() | |
Cobhtach Caol Breagh | 457-407 BC | ![]() | |
Labhraidh Loingseach | 407-388 BC | ![]() | |
Melghe Molbhthach | 388-371 BC | ![]() | |
Modhcorb | 371-364 BC | ![]() | |
Aonghus II Ollamh | 364-346 BC | (Aengus) | ![]() |
Irereo | 346-339 BC | ![]() | |
Fearchar | 339-328 BC | ![]() | |
Connla Caomh | 328-308 BC | ![]() | |
Oilioll III Caisfhiaclach | 308-283 BC | (Ailill) | ![]() |
Adamair | 283-278 BC | ![]() | |
Eochaidh VIII Ailtleathan | 278-261 BC | ![]() | |
Fearghus I Fortamhail | 261-250 BC | (Fergus) | ![]() |
Aonghus III Tuirmheach | 250-218 BC | (Aengus) | ![]() |
Conall I Collamhrach | 218-213 BC | ![]() | |
Nia Seadhamáin | 213-206 BC | ![]() | |
Éanna III Aigneach | 206-186 BC | (Enna) | ![]() |
Criomthann I Cosgrach | 186-182 BC | ![]() | |
Ruadhraighe | 182-112 BC | ![]() | |
Innatmar | 112-103 BC | ![]() | |
Breasal | 103-91 BC | ![]() | |
Lughaidh IV Luaighne | 91-76 BC | ![]() | |
Conghalach I | 76-61 BC | ![]() | |
Duach III Dallta Deadhadh | 61-51 BC | ![]() | |
Fachtna Fathach | 51-35 BC | ![]() | |
Eochaidh IX Aireamh | 35-23 BC | ![]() | |
Eochaidh X Feidhliach | 23-8 BC | ![]() | |
Eidirsceol | 8-3 BC | ![]() | |
Nuadhat III | 3-2 BC | (Nuada) | ![]() |
Conaire I | 2 BC-58 | ![]() | |
Lughaidh V | 63-71 | ![]() | |
Conchubhar I | 71-72 | ![]() | |
Criomthann II | 72-88 | ![]() | |
Cairbre I Ceanncait | 88-93 | ![]() | |
Morán | 88-93 | ![]() | |
Fearadhach Finnfeachtnach | 93-115 | ![]() | |
Fiatach Fionn | 115-118 | ![]() | |
Fiachadh IV | 118-125 | (Fiacha) | ![]() |
Elim II | 125-129 | ![]() | |
Tuathal I Teachtmhar | 129-159 | ![]() | |
Mal Mac Rochraidhe | 159-163 | ![]() | |
Feidhlimidh Reachtmhar | 163-173 | ![]() | |
Cathaoir Mór | 173-176 | ![]() | |
Conn Céad Cathach | 176-211 | ![]() | |
Conaire II | 211-219 | ![]() | |
Art III Aoinfhear | 219-249 | ![]() | |
Lughaidh VI | 249-252 | ![]() | |
Fearghus II | 252-254 | (Fergus) | ![]() |
Cormac Ulfhada Mac Airt | 254-277 | ![]() | |
Eochaidh XI | 277-279 | ![]() | |
Cairbre II Lifiochair | 279-296 | ![]() | |
Fothadh I | 296-297 | ![]() | |
Fothadh II | 296-297 | ![]() | |
Fiachadh V | 297-327 | (Fiacha) | ![]() |
Colla Uais | 327-331 | ![]() | |
Muireadhach II | 331-357 | ![]() | |
Caolbhadh | 357-358 | ![]() | |
Eochaidh XII | 358-366 | ![]() | |
Criomthann III | 366-379 | ![]() | |
Niall I Naoighiallach | 379-405 | ![]() | |
Daithí | 405-428 | ![]() | |
Laoghaire II | 428-463 | ![]() | |
Oilioll IV Molt | 463-483 | (Ailill) | ![]() |
Lughaidh VII | 483-508 | ![]() | |
Muircheartach I Mór Mac Earca | 508-527 | ![]() | |
Tuathal II | 527-544 | ![]() | |
Diarmuid I | 544-565 | ![]() | |
Domhnall I Ilchealgach | 565-566 | ![]() | |
Fearghus III | 565-566 | (Fergus) | ![]() |
Baodán I | 566-568 | ![]() | |
Eochaidh XIII | 566-568 | ![]() | |
Ainmire | 568-570 | ![]() | |
Baodán II | 570-571 | ![]() | |
Aodh II Mac Ainmire | 571-598 | (Áed, Aedh) | ![]() |
Aodh III Allán | 598-605 | (Áed, Aedh) | ![]() |
Colmán | 598-605 | ![]() | |
Aodh IV Uairiodhnach | 605-612 | (Áed, Aedh) | ![]() |
Maolcobha | 612-615 | ![]() | |
Suibhne | 615-628 | ![]() | |
Domhnall II | 628-642 | ![]() | |
Cellach | 642-654 | (Ceallach) | ![]() |
Conall II | 642-654 | ![]() | |
Conall III | 654-658 | ![]() | |
Blathmhac | 658-665 | ![]() | |
Diarmuid II | 658-665 | ![]() | |
Seachnasach | 665-671 | ![]() | |
Ceannfaolaidh | 671-674 | ![]() | |
Fionnachta II | 674-690 | ![]() | |
Loingseach | 690-704 | ![]() | |
Conghalach II | 704-711 | ![]() | |
Fearghal | 711-722 | ![]() | |
Fógartach | 722-724 | ![]() | |
Cionnaith | 724-727 | ![]() | |
Flaithbheartach | 727-734 | ![]() | |
Aodh V Álainn | 734-743 | (Áed, Aedh) | ![]() |
Domhnall III | 743-763 | ![]() | |
Niall II Frasach | 763-770 | ![]() | |
Donnchadh | 770-797 | ![]() | |
Aodh VI Oirdnidhe | 797-819 | (Áed, Aedh) | ![]() |
Conchubhar II | 819-833 | ![]() | |
Niall III Caille | 833-846 | ![]() | |
Maoilsheachlainn I | 846-862 | ![]() | |
Aodh VII Finnliath | 862-879 | (Áed, Aedh) | ![]() |
Flann | 879-915 | ![]() | |
Niall IV Glúin Dubh | 915-919 | ![]() | |
Muircheartach II Na Gcochall Craicneach | 919-943 | ![]() | |
Conghalach III | 943-956 | ![]() | |
Domhnall IV Ard Mhacha Ó Néill | 956-980 | ![]() | |
Maoilsheachlainn II | 980-1002; 1014-1022 | ![]() | |
Brian Bórú | 1002-1014 | ![]() | |
Conn Ó Lochlainn | 1022-1024 | ![]() | |
Corcrán Claireach | 1022-1024 | ![]() | |
Donnchadh Ó Briain | 1024-1064 | ![]() | |
Toirdealbach Ó Briain | 1064-1086 | ![]() | |
Muircheartach Mór Ó Briain | 1086-1089; 1101-1117 | ![]() | |
Domhnall Ó Lochlainn | 1089-1101; 1118-1121 | ![]() | |
Diarmuid Ó Briain | 1117-1118 | ![]() | |
Toirdealbach Mór Ó Conchubhair | 1127-1153; 1154-1156 | ![]() | |
Aodh Ó Lochlainn | 1153-1154; 1156-1166 | (Áed, Aedh) | ![]() |
Ruaidhrí Ó Conchubhair | 1166-1175 | ![]() | |
Eideard Bruis | 1316-1318 | (Edward) | ![]() |