Niall Noigíallach, Árd Rí na hÉireann,

Niall High King of Ireland,

The O'Neill Clan Arms & Crest

Niall of the Nine Hostages (Irish: Niall Noigíallach) an ancestor of the O'Higgins, was a High King of Ireland who was active in the late 4th century and early 5th century, being born around 357 and dying around 405. He is said to have made raids on the coastlines of Britannia and Gaul: these raids are usually credited with bringing Saint Patrick to Ireland as a boy. He was the progenitor of the O'Neill Clan, of which the O'Higgins are a Sept.

The fourth and youngest son of Eochaid Mugmedon, an Irish High King, and Cairenn, the enslaved daughter of a British king, he was the eponymous ancestor, through his sons Conall Gulban, Endae, Eogan, Coirpre, Lóegaire, Maine of Tethba, Conall Cremthainne and Fiachu Fiachach, of the Uí Néill dynasties.

Early Life

According to legend, Niall was the son of the High King Eochaid Mugmedon and his second wife, Cairenn, daughter of Sachell Balb, king of Britain. When Cairenn became pregnant, Eochaid's first wife, Mongfind, was consumed with jealousy and made Cairenn do heavy work in the hope of forcing her to miscarry. Out of fear of Mongfind, Cairenn exposed her baby, but he was rescued and fostered by Torna the poet. Niall returned to Tara as an adult and rescued his mother from the heavy labour Mongfind had imposed on her.

Mongfind demanded that Eochaid name a successor, hoping it would be one of her sons. Eochaid gave the task to a druid, Sithchenn, who devised a contest between the brothers, shutting them in a burning forge, telling them to save what they could, and judging them based on the objects they emerged with. Niall, who emerged carrying an anvil, was deemed greater than Brion, with a sledgehammer, Fiachrae with bellows and a pail of beer, Ailill with a chest of weapons, and Fergus with a bundle of wood. Mongfind refused to accept the decision.

Sithchenn made the five brothers weapons and they went out hunting. Each brother in turn went looking for water, and found a well guarded by a hideous hag who demanded a kiss in return for water. Fergus and Ailill refused and returned empty-handed. Fiachra gave her a peck, but not enough to satisfy her. Only Niall kissed her properly, and she was revealed as a beautiful maiden, the Sovereignty of Ireland. She granted Niall not only water but also the kingship for many generations. Fiachra was granted a minor royal line. After that, Mongfind's sons deferred to Niall.

(This "loathly lady" motif appears in myth and folklore throughout the world. Variations of this story are told of the earlier Irish High Kings Lugaid Laigde and Conn Cétchathach; and in Arthurian legend of Sir Gawain, as told by Geoffrey Chaucer in the Wife of Bath's Tale.)

Another tale tells of Mongfind's attempt to poison Niall, but she died after accidentally taking the poison herself.

King and High King

There are various versions of how Niall gained his epithet Noígiallach. The oldest is that he took a hostage from each of the nine tuatha or petty kingdoms of the Airgialla. The later, better known story is that he took a hostage from each of the five provinces of Ireland (Ulster, Connacht, Leinster, Munster and Meath), and one each from the Scots, Saxons, Britons and French (or one each from Dalriada, Caledonia, Strathclyde and Northumbria).

Irish sources describe Niall's expeditions to Britain and France, and his reign, as given in the Irish Annals, is roughly contemporaneous with the foundation of Dalriada in Scotland by Irish migrants and the raids by "Scots" on late Roman and post-Roman Britain.

Niall and Saint Patrick

During one of his many raids on Britain, in around 400 AD, Niall is believed to have captured the future Saint Patrick and brought him in bondage to Ireland. Many years later Saint Patrick succeeded in escaping to Britain. After many years of study, he returned to Ireland, and succeeding in turning the pagan Celts into the Christians of today.

Death

Niall is believed to have died on a raid in Roman Gaul in 405 AD. There are several other traditions, however, which have him dying in battle against the Picts in Scotland or in the English Channel. All sources are unanimous in that he died outside of Ireland.

Descendants

The Northern and Southern Uí Néill dynasties, which provided most of the High Kings for centuries, descended from Niall. Other famous descendants include Saint Columba, Niall's great-great grandson.

In addition to these illustrious figures, several Scottish clans, including the MacNeils and the MacLachlans, can claim descent from Niall. Uigín, a son of Fiachu and grandson of Niall is believed to be the progenitor of the O’Higgins Sept of the O’Neill Clan, and they were hereditary scribes to many of the Kings of Connacht and High Kings of Ireland.

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Sources:

Annals of the Four Masters, 1636; 1990 edition.

Martin Freeman, A. The Annals of Connacht (1944).

Bynre, F. J. Irish Kings and High Kings (1973).

Dubhaltach MacFhirbhisigh, Leabhar Mor Genealach,. ed. O'Muralie, (2004).