Fox Sites in Ireland updated Fox History updated Fox Genealogy and links Fox Events updated Fox Lines The Fox Septs Pictures from September 2000 Fox News Milesius of Spain to Niall of the Nine Hostages
List of Sources
1. O'Hart's Irish Pedigrees
2. History of Ireland
3. Stokvis
4. The Annals Of The Four Masters
5. Ogygia
Milesius of Spain * * * * *
Heremon * * * * *
Irial Faidh * * * * *
Ethrial * * * * *
Foll-Aich * * * * x
Tigernmas * * * * *
Enboath x * * x *
Smiomghall x * * x *
Fiacha Labhrainn * * * * *
Aongus Olmucach * * * * *
Main * * * * *
Rotheachtach * * * * *
Deman x x x * x
Dein x * x * *
Siorna Saoghalach * * * * *
Olioll Aolcheoin * * * * *
Gialchadh * * * * *
Nuadhas Fionnfail * * * * *
Aednas Glas * * * * *
Simeon Breac * * * * *
Muredach Bolgach * * * * *
Fiacha Tolgrach * * * * *
Duach Ladrach * * * * *
Eochaidh Buadhach * x * * x
Ugaine Mor * * * * *c. 275 BC
Cobhthach Caelbreagh * * * * *
Melg Molbhthach * * * * *
Iran Gleofathach * * * * *
Conla Caomh * * * * *
Oilioll Casfiachlach * * * * *
Eochaidh Alteathan * * * * *
Aongus Tuirmheach??
Teamhrach * * * * *
Enna Aigneach * * * * *
Labhradh Lorck ? x * x * x
Blathachta? x * x * x
Assaman Eamhna * * x * x
Roighen Ruadh * * x * x
Fionnlogh * * * * x
Fionn * * * x x
Eochaidh Feidlioch * * * * *
Fineamhnas??
(Bress-Nar-Lothar) x * * x *
Lughaidh Sriabh Dearg * * * * *
Crimthan Naidnar * * * * *
Fearadhach Finnfeachtnach * * * * *
Fiacha Fionnla * * * * *
Tuatal Teachtmar * * * * *
Fedhlimidh Rachtmar * * * * *
Con of the 100 Battles * * * * *
110th King; 123-157AD
Art Aonfhi?? * * * * *
Cormac Mac Art * * * * *
Cairbre Liffeachar * * * * *
Fiacha Sraibhtine(Fiacha III) * * * * *285 AD, 120th K of Ire
Mureadhach Tireach * * * * *
Eochaidh Muigheadhoin * * * * *
Niall of the Nine Hostages * * * * *d. 405 AD
See below:
Niall had 12 sons, one of whom, Laoguire, became 128th monarch of Ireland in 428AD. (so who were the 125th, 26th, and 27th?). Another one of those sons was Main or Maine. His patrimony was all the tract of land from Loch Ree to Loch Annin, near Molingar. His descendants are referred to as the chiefs or lords of Muinter Tagan, or Family Tagan, the Tagan referring to a descendant who lived in the 8th century (see below). This line branched off to Sionnach in the late 11th century and is now called Fox. Maine is also considered to be the founder of MacGawley of
Cabry, O'Dugan and O'Mulchoney,the prime antiquaries of Ireland;
Maine's genealogical line goes as follows:
Main - d. 440AD
Brian
Brannan
Aogh (Hugh): son of Brannan. Had a brother, Creamthann, who was ancestor of the Breens.
Bladmhach: son of Aogh. Had a brother, Aongus, who was the ancestor of the Loughnan and Loftus families of Meath.
Congall: son of Bladmhach.
Colla
Giolla Brighid
MaolbeanachtachTagan: son of Maolbeanachtach from which began Muintir
Tagain, the ancestral home in West Meath. (8th century) (around his time there was Flann Sionna- "The Fox", King of Ireland from 876-916AD, but is not known to be related)
Beice
Connor
BreasalCathiarnach: son of Breasal; ancestor of the O'Catharnaigh that was anglicised to Carney.
Cathalann: son of Cathiarnach.
Cathiarnach (2): son of Cathalann.
Rory: son of Cathiarnach (2).
Fogartach: son of Rory.
Rory (2): son of Fogartach.Teige (Tadhg): d. 1084 AD. - son of Rory(2); Ancestor of the MacSionnaigh
Sept. Anglicised to Sionnach, Seeny, Reynard and Reynardson. _________________________________________
Sources : Irish mythology - the Legendary Descent of the Irish Clans
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
The Lineage
Eochaida Muigh Meadhoin, the124th ruler of Ireland, had four sons;
Brian, Olioll, Fiachra and Niall. This Niall is #87 on the O'Neill
(Prince of Tyrone) pedigree.
The pedigree is as follows:
#87 Niall of the Nine Hostages: son of Eochaida; was the 126th
Monarch of Ireland. He ruled from 378-405 A.D.. He was one of the
first Christian rulers. Was to have been responsible for bringing St.
Patrick to Ireland as one of his hostages taken from Gaul in 388 A.D..
Niall's mother was the daughter of the King of Britain.
#88 Main: son of Niall
#89 Brian: son of Main
#90 Brannan: son of Brian
#91 Aogh (Hugh): son of Brannan. Had a brother, Creamthann, who
was ancestor of the Breens.
#92 Bladmhach: son of Aogh. Had a brother, Aongus, who was the
ancestor of the Loughnan and Loftus families of Meath.
#93 Congall: son of Bladmhach.
#94 Colla: son of Congall.
#95 Giolla Brighid: son of Colla.
#96 Maolbeanachtach: son of Giolla Brighid.
#97 Tagan: son of Maolbeanachtach from which began Muintir
Tagain, the ancestral home in West Meath.
#98 Beice: son of Tagan.
#99 Connor: son of Beice.
#100 Breasal: son of Connor.
#101 Cathiarnach: son of Breasal; ancestor of the O'Catharnaigh that was anglicised to Carney.
#102 Cathalann: son of Cathiarnach.
#103 Cathiarnach (2): son of Cathalann.
#104 Rory: son of Cathiarnach (2).
#105 Fogartach: son of Rory.
#106 Rory (2): son of Fogartach.
#107 Teige (Tadhg): son of Rory(2); Ancestor of the MacSionnaigh
Sept. Anglicised to Sionnach, Seeny, Reynard and Reynardson. He
lived about
1000 #A.D.
Backgrond on Niall's 12 sons:
91. Eoghan or Owen, one of the sons of the said Nial Mor, from whom the
territory of Inis-Eoghan in Ulster was called, had eleven brothers, viz, Laoguire, the 128th Monarch of Ireland, in the 4th year of whose reign St.Patrick came into Ireland the second time to plant the Christian faith, A.D.432.
2) Conal Cremthainn, ancestor the the O'Melaghlin kings of Meath;
3) Conal Gulban, ancestor to the O'Donnells, Lords and Earls of the territory of Tirconnell in Ulster, so called from him;
4) Fiachu, from whom the from Birr to the Hill of Uisneach in Medio Hibernica (Meath) is called; Cinel Fiacha and from him MacGeoghegan, Lords of that territory; O'Molloey, O'Donechar, etc., derive their pedigree;
5) Maine, whose patrimony was all the tract of land from Loch Ree to Loch Annin, near Molingar, and whose descendants are Muinter Tagan, that is, Sionnach, now called Fox, Lords of that territory of Muinter Tagan; MacGawley of
Cabry, O'Dugan and O'Mulchoney,the prime antiquaries of Ireland;
6) Cairbre, ancestor of O'Flannagan of Tuath-Ratha, Muinter Cathalan or Cahill;
7) Fergus, a quo Cinel Fergusa;
8) Enna
9) Aongus
10) Aulthearg and
11) Fergus Ailtleathan.
Of the last four I find no issue; of the rest of them and their issue more in due place.
Source: Irish mythology - the Legendary Descent of the Irish Clans
http://members.aol.com/lochlan2/legends.htm
The Lebor Gabala Erren
The Book of the Taking of Ireland
Book of Leinster 1150 A.D.
The Legendary Descent of the McLaughlins of Tirconnell
Text from Roger O'Ferrall's "Linea Antiqua" ca. 1710
(As it appeared in Sir William Betham's transcription).
Of all the great queens and ladies of Ireland, there was one Queen of many talents, who outshone many others, famous and quite capable in her own right. This great Queen, of whom Ireland rightly boast's, was Macha Mong Ruad (the Red-Haired)
who reigned over the land in approximately 300 B.C. Her father, Aod Ruad (Red Hugh) was one of a triumvirate consisting of his brothers ~ Dithorba and Cimbaoth ~ who by mutual agreement took turns at seven year intervals in reigning. Aod Ruad was the first of the brothers to govern but met his death by drowning at Eas-Aod-Ruad (Assaore) ~ now known as Ballyshanny.
At the death of Aod Ruad, his daughter, Macha stepped forth to claim her right to wear the crown, and refused to give up the realm, thereby becoming the first Milesian Queen of Ireland. But for this right, she had to battle her father's two brother's ~ which she willing did, conquering and slaying first Dithorba; then
with equal skill and mastery she deftly turned her attention towards her father's remaining brother, first defeating Cimbaoth and then compelling him to wed her, thereby confirming her right to rule all of Ireland as queen. Which, had theanticipated result of settling everything.
For many years the reign of Macha and Cimbaoth (which co-incides with that of the legendary Alexander the Great) marks the beginning of certainty in Irish history ~ according to the famed remark of the trusted eleventh century historian, Tighenach of Clonmacnoise, where he stated that such records prior to that reign were uncertain.
Upon the death of her husband, Cimbaoth, Macha once again took up the sole reins of government herself. But the record above all others that this distinguished warrior and leader leaves to history is her founding of the ancient and oft storied stronghold, named after her ~ Emania Macha, later to become renown as the
fortress of the Red Branch, which was for more than six hundred years to play a vital and most important role in the fortunes and history of Uladh (now Ulster) as well as that of Ireland itself. Today, Emania Macha is represented by the grassy ramparts of a great hill-fortress, now known as Navan Fort, about three miles
north-west of Ard Macha (Armagh), A complete description and plan of the rath by H. d'Arbois de Jubainville may be found in the Revue Celtique, vo1. XVI, p. 1ff.
"The five sons of Dithorba, having been expelled out of Ulster, fled acroos the Shannon and in the west of the kingdom plotted revenge against Macha. Then it was that the Queen went down alone into Connaught and there found the brothers. Thinking themselves alone and safe in the forest, the brothers, wearied with a successful hunt, were cooking a wild boar and resting before the freshly kindled fire. Suddenly, Macha appeared, her aspect grim and fearsome to behold, terrible and fierce as war itself but with bright and flashing eyes. One by one the brothers
were inflamed by her sinister beauty, and one by one she overpowered them in battle and bound them. Taking her burden of the five sons of Dithorba back with her to the north. Where with the spear of her brooch she then marked out on the plain the circuit of the city of Emania Macha, whose very ramparts and trenches were constructed as punishment by the captives, laboring like slaves under her command."
According to one of the derivations offered in Keating's "History of Ireland," the
word Emain is derived from eo meaning a bodkin and the word muin meaning the
neck. Emain then, translating roughly to brooch; Emania Macha meaning the
Brooch of Macha. Now an Irish brooch then was a large circular wheel of either
gold or other metal, crossed by a long pin in the center. The great circular rampart
that surrounded a Celtic fortress could easily be likened to that of a brooch
holding the cloak of a queen.
It was Macha's foster-son, Ugani-Mor (the Great) who after succeeding her, led
forth his armies into Britain to have his power and reign acknowledged there.
After bringing the greater part of Britain to obedience to his rule, some traditions
say that his ambitions led him forth onto the Continent where he also met with a
great many victories and success's, thereby giving basis for the ancient seanchies
styling him "King of Ireland and the whole of Western Europe as far as the Muir
Torian" - the Mediterranean Sea.
All of the leading families of Ulster, Leinster and Connaught trace their descent
from Ugani Mor ~ the common father of those three great provinces. This many
faceted woman, Macha Mong Ruad, indeed left a legacy befitting her.
_
Neill 'of the Nine Hostages'
|
Maine 440
|
Fiachna
|
Brian
|
Brenand 575
|_____________________
| |
Aed 588 Cremthainn
| |____________________________
| | | | |
Blathmac 664 Ainmiri Ronan Baetlobur Domnall
| |
Congal Flannchadha
| |
Colla 736 Ruairc
| |
Bec 766 Brain
| |
Conchobor Echtigeirn
| |
Bresal Floinn
|_____________________ |
| | |
Braigthe Gabalaigh Sittruic
|_____________________ |
| | |
Mail Bendachta Finnachta Echtighern
|___________
| | (O'Breen)
Tadgan Mac Odhar
|_________________________________________________________________
| | | | | | | |
Cernachan Dubcend Dushlat Congal Mugaidi Fagaratch Machuda Gabalach
|______________________
| | |
Muirigen Cibleachan Cathalan
|_____________________
| |
Catharnach Congalach
a quo Ui Catharnaigh (Ui Aodha Iartuig)
|____________
| |
Muredach Fagartach
d. 1031-38 |
____________________________________________|____________________________________________________________________
| | | |
Tadg an Sinnach Find (teaftha taisigh) Becc an Sinnach Odhar Murchertach Cinaed
d. 1086 Chieftain of Tethbha | an cleric (d. 1105) (Extinct)
|________________________________ | |_________________
| | | | | | |
Tadg Sinnach Muredach Sinnach Cinaed Catharnaigh an Sinnach Odhar Becc Fogartagh Sittriuc
d. 1156 d. 1084 | |
|_____________________________________________ | |
| | | | | | | |
Ruaidri Domnall Conchobor Sitriucc Niall Gilla Issue Dubthach Cinaed
| (a priest) (a priest)
|
Neill
d. 1184
|
|
Mael Ecloind
Annals 1186
|
|
Congalaigh
|
Ruaidri
|
Neill
d. 1233
*
Fox Line of Direct Descent
from the late Fifth Century, AD
according to O'Clery's Pedigrees and an unpublished manuscript by Micahel Fox of Donegal, Fox Clan Historian
Niall of the Nine Hostages, ruled Ireland from 378-405 AD; his mother was the daughter of ? , King of Britain
Maine, son of Niall; first ruler of Teathbha; d. c. 440
Brian, son of Maine
Brannan or Brendan, son of Brian; granted land to St. Columkille which became Durrow Monastery and which produced the Book of Durrow
Aogh(Hugh), son of Brannan; his brother (or possibly uncle), Creamthann, was ancestor of the Breens
Bladmhach, son of Aogh; d. 664
Congall, son of Bladmhach
Colla or Connla, son of Congall; d. c. 738
Becc (Beice), son of Connla; d. 770
Connor, one of 6 sons of Becc
Braite (Giolla Brighid), son of Conor
Maolbeanachtach: son of Giolla Brighid
Tadhgan: son of Maolbeanachtach; although he was never king of Teffia, there are 20 kings of Teathbha which do share Tadhgan as a common ancestor, and so his role was pivotal. It is after him that the term "Muintir Tadhgain" is named.
Cernachan, son of Tadhgan; it is likely Cernachan had three brothers: Becc, Connor, and Breasal
Cathalann, son of Cernachan; at Durrow cemetary today there is a gravestone with the words "Or Do Cathalan" ("Pray for Cathalan" in Irish) on it.
Cathiarnach, son of Cathalann.
Fogartach, son of Catharnach; to offer a sense of time period here, Fogartach also had a brother, Muredach, who died somewhere between 1031 and 1038.
Tadhg an Sinnach Find (Tadhg the Fair Fox), son of Fogartach; d. 1086; this is the first individual we find to be referred to as "Fox", although there is an earlier reference to "the Sinnacha" (the Foxes) in 1050
Tadhg Sinnach, son of Tadhg the Fair Fox; d. 1156
Ruaidhri, son of Tadhg Sinnach; lord of Teathbha in 1170
Niall, son of Ruaidhri; d. 1184
Mael Ecloind (Malachy), son of Niall; this is the Fox chief most likely behind the killing of Hugh De Lacy in 1186; possibly d. 1196 or 1224; he appears to have had at least two sons, Niall and Ruaidhri (Rory)
Niall, son of Mael Ecloind; d. 1233; Niall appears to have had two sons whom he outlived: Muiredach, who died in 1201, and Congalaigh (see next entry)
Congalaigh (Conor), son of Niall; d. 1227
(note here: Congalaigh died in 1227, but no name can be found for who fulfilled the role of the Sinnach after him, though it is clear that someone did - see next entry)
Domnall, reported as son of "the Sinnagh"; reported in 1254 to have killed Murrough O'Melaghlin; he appears to have had a brother who carried on the family name - see next entry
Ruaidhri, brother? of Domnall and son of the Fox chief; d. 1287
Niall Roe Fox, son of Ruaidhri; d. 1316 in the Battle of Athenry
Muirchertach (Murray), son of Ruaidhri; d. 1370
Niall, son of Muirchertach
Maine, son of Niall
Cugory (Peregrine), son of Maine; d. 1446
Maine, son of Cugory; d. 1772
Caibre, son of Maine; d. 1500
Eoghan (Owen?), son of Caibre
Breasal, son of Owen
Hubert, son of Breasal; d. 1600
It is at approximately this point in time that the family breaks up into four separate branches:
1)Lehinch or Clara Foxes - Hubert's line, and sometimes considered the "main" line
2) Cloghatenny Foxes - Felim Fox, a cousin or nephew of Hubert's; Felim's land was primarily at the present-day area of Cloghatenny near Ballycumber
3)Kilmaledy Foxes - a Niall Fox and Breasall Fox are associated with these Foxes; the area is situated between Clara and Horseleap
4) Foxhall Foxes of County Longford - originated with a Patrick Fox, who became a succsseful Dublin merchant, who established himself in Longford (renaming the lands he purchased to Fox hall) and later Westmeath, where he was granted a castle, town and lands of Moyroe.
Of course other Fox branches or sub-branches of these four lines also devevloped. Although there is much more subsequent information in our records, it is here that Fox History begins to become more a matter of Fox genealogy. We of course would love to hear from any Foxes who are able to trace themselves back to these lines or at leat believe they can trace back to these lines but only need further information to complete the link.