List of rulers of Tír Eoghain
List of rulers of Tír Eoghain
This article lists the Kings of Tír Eoghain or Tyrone from 1185 to 1616. They are listed from their date of accession to date of death, unless otherwise stated.
Prior to this, the ruling dynasty - the Cenél nEógain - were most of the Kings of Ailech. During the tenth and eleventh centuries, two main septs within the dynasty emerged; the Meic Lochlainn and the Ó Néill. The latter family pushed aside the Meic Lochlainn, and from 1241 onwards the kingdom was ruled exclusively by members of the Ó Néill family.
For the O'Neill kingdom, distinct from Tyrone, that was ruled by the descendants of Aedh Buidhe mac Domnaill Óg below, see Clandeboye.
Kings of Tír Eóghain 1185-1616
Domhnall mac Aodha Mac Lochlainn: 1185; deposed 1186 ;restored 1187; died 1188
Ruaidhri Ó Flaithbheartaigh: 1186 - 1187
Muircheartach mac Muircheartaigh Mac Lochlainn: 1188 - 1196
Aodh Méith mac Aodha Ó Néill: 1196 - 1230; first Ua Neill (Ó Néill) king.
Conchobhar Beg mac Conchobhair Mac Lochlainn: 1201 - 1201
Niall Ruadh mac Aodha Ó Néill: 1230-1230
Domhnall mac Muirchertaigh Mac Lochlainn: 1230; dep. 1230; res. 1234; died 1241 (last Meic Lochlainn King of Tír Eógain; all subsequent kings were Ó Néills)
Domhnall Óg mac Aodha Méith Ó Néill: 1230 - 1234
Brian mac Néill Ruaidh Ó Néill: 1238-16 May 1260; High King of Ireland 1258-1260.
Aodh Buidhe mac Domhnaill Óg: 1260; dep. 1261; rest. 1263; died 1283 (the last to be styled King of Ailech)
Niall Culanach mac Domhnaill Óg: 1261; dep. 1263; res. 1286; dep. 1290; died 1291
Domhnall mac Brian Ó Néill: 1283; dep. 1286; res. 1290; dep. 1291; res. 1295; died 1325
Brian mac Aodha Buidhe: 1291 - 1295
Éinri mac Briain meic Aodha Buidhe: 1325; dep. 1345; died 1347
Aodh Reamhair (Aodh Mór) mac Domhnaill: 1345-1364 - with one exception, all future kings were his descendants.
Niall Mór mac Aodha Reamhair: 1364; also styled as King of Ulster 1364; abdicated 1397; died 1398
Niall Óg mac Néill: 1397-1403
Brian Óg mac Néill Óg: 1403-1403
Domhnall mac Éinri Aimhreidh: 1404; dep. 1410; res.1414; dep.1419; res.1421; died 1 January 1432
Eoghan mac Néill Óg: 1410; dep.1414; res.1419; dep. 1421; res. 1432; abdicated 1455; died 1456
Éinri mac Eoghain: 1455; abdicated 1483; died 1484
Conn mac Éinri: 1483 - 8 January 1493
Éinri Óg mac Éinri: 1493 - 21 August 1498
Domhnall Clarach Ó Néill: 1498 - 6 August 1509
Art mac Aodha: 1509-1513; descended from Aed Buidhe; his mother was daughter of Eoghan mac Neill Og.
Art Óg Ó Néill: 1513-1519
Conn Bacach mac Cuinn Ó Néill: 1519; created Earl of Tyrone 1542; deposed 1558; died 1559
Seán Donnghaileach (Seán an Diomuis mac Cuinn Bhacaigh): 1559 - 2 June 1567
Toirdhealbhach Luineach mac Neill Chonnalaigh meic Airt Óig Ó Néill: 1567; surrendered kingship to Hugh O'Neill 1593; died c. 10 September 1595
Aodh Mór mac Feardorcha Ó Néill: 1593; fled 1607; died 10 July 1616 (by the Julian calendar; 20 July Gregorian).
It could also be argued that Conn Bachach had taken the title earl of Tyrone in 1542, as part of the process of Surrender and regrant, and in the process had waived his title. Whether he could waive it without consulting his clan derbfine is part of this debate.
Conn Bacach's grandson Aodh Mor was not proclaimed king at Tullyhogue in 1593, but assumed the title after arranging to pay Turlough Luineach an annuity.
Sources
"Kings of Tír Eógain and Earls of Tyrone, 1185-1616", pages 211-213, "A New History of Ireland", Volume 9: Maps, Genealogies, Lists; A Companion to Irish History Part II", edited by T. W. Moody, F.X. Martin, F.J. Byrne, Oxford, 1984.