The Kings of Connacht were rulers of the cóiced (variously translated as portion, fifth, province) of Connacht, which lies west of the river Shannon, Ireland. However, the name only became applied to it in the early medieval era, being named after The Connachta.

The old name for the province was Cóiced Ol nEchmacht (the fifth of the Ol nEchmacht). Ptolemy's map of c.150 A.D. does in fact list a people called the Nagnatae as living in the west of Ireland. Some are of the opinion that Ptolemy's Map of Ireland may be based on cartograpy carried out as much as five hundred years before his time.

The Connachta were a group of dynasties who claimed descent from the three eldest sons of Eochaid Mugmedon: Brion, Ailill and Fiachrae . They took their collective name from their alleged descent from Conn Cétchathach. Their younger brother, Niall Noigiallach was ancestor to the Ui Néill.

The following is a list of kings of Connacht from the fifth to fifteenth centuries. Biographical details will follow.

Pre-Historic Kings of Ol nEchmacht

• Gennan
• Conrac Cas
• Fidach
• Eochaidh Allat
• Meabh and Tinni mac Conri
• Meabh and Ailill Mor
• Maine Aithreamhail mac Meabh agus Ailill Mor
• Sanbh Sithcheann mac Ceat mac Magha
• Cairbre mac Maine Aithreamhail
• Eochaidh Fionn
• Aodh mac Cu Odhar
• Eochaidh mac Cairbre
• Aonghus Fionn mac Domhnall
• Cormac Ulfhada
• Aonghus Feirt mac Aonghus Fionn
• Connall Cruchain mac Aonghus Feirt
• Fearadach mac Connal Cruchain
• Forghus Fiansa
• Forghus Fiansa and Art mac Conn
• Ceidghin Cruchain mac Connall Cruchain
• Aodh mac Eochaidh
• Aodh Alainn mac Eochaidh Baicidh
• Nia Mor mac Lughna
• Lughaidh mac Lughna Fear Tri
• Aodh Caomh mac Garadh Glundubh
• Coinne mac Fear Tri
• Muireadh Tireach mac Fiachra Sraibrintne
• Eochaid Mugmedon

Historic Kings of Connacht

• Niall Noigiallach/Niall of the Nine Hostages, died c.450/455.
• Amalgaid, d.???
• Dathí|Nath Í, d.???
• Ailill Molt, d. 482.
• Daui Tenga Uma, d. 502.
• Eogan Bel, d. 543/547.
• Ailill Inbanda, d. 550.
• Echu Tirmcharna mac Fergus, d. ???
• Feradach mac Ross, d. ???
• Aed mac Echach, d. 577.
• Uatu mac Aed mac Echach, d. 601/602.
• Mael Cothaid/Donn Cothaid, fl. 602/603.
• Colmain mac Cobthach, d. 622.
• Rogallach mac Uatach, reigned 622 - 649.
• Laidgnen/Loingsech mac Colman, 649-655.
• Guaire Aidne mac Colman, 655-663.
• Muirchertach Nar mac Guaire Aidne, 663-668.
• Donn Faelad mac Colgu, d. 682.
• Dunchad Muirisci mac Tipraite, d. ???
• Fergal Aidne mac Artgal mac Guaire, d. 696.
• Muriredach Muillethan mac Rogallach, 697-702.
• Cellach mac Rogallach mac Uatach, 702-705.
• Indrechtach mac Dunchad Muirisci, 705-707.
• Domnall mac Cathal mac Rogallach, 707-714.
• Indrechtach mac Muiredach Muillethan, 714-723.
• Domnall mac Cellach mac Rogallach, 723-728.
• Cathal mac Muiredach Muillethan, 728-735.
• Aed Balb mac Indrechtach, 735-742.
• Fergus mac Cellach, 742-756.
• Ailill Medraige mac Indrechtach mac Dunchad Muirisci, 756-764.
• Dubh Indrecht mac Cathal, 764-768.
• Donn Cothaid, 768-773.
• Flaithri mac Domnall, 773-777; abdicated.
• Artgal mac Cathal, 777-782; abdicated.
• Tipraite mac Tadg, 782-786.
• Cinaed mac Artgal, 786-792.
• Colla mac Fergus, 792-796.
• Muirgius mac Tommaltach, 796-815.
• Mael Cothaid, fl. 818.
• Diarmait mac Tommaltach, d. 833.
• Cathal mac Muirgius, d. 839.
• Murchad mac Aed, 839-840.
• Fergus mac Fothad, 840-843.
• Finsnechta mac Tommaltach, 843-848.
• Mugron mac Mael Cothaid, 848-872.
• Conchobar mac Tadg Mor, 872-882.
• Aed mac Conchobar, 882-888.
• Tadg mac Conchobar, 888-900.
• Cathal mac Conchobair, 900-925.
• Tadg mac Cathal, 925-956.
• Fergal Ua Ruairc, 956-967.
• Conchobar mac Tadg, 967-973.
• Cathal mac Tadg, d. 973.
• Cathal mac Conchobar mac Tadg, 973-1010.
• Tadg in Eich Gil Ua Conchobair, 1010-1030.
• Art Uallach Ua Ruairc, 1030-1046.
• Aed in Gai Bernaig Ua Conchobair, 1046-1067.
• Aed mac Art Uallach Ua Ruairc, 1067-1087.
• Ruaidri na Saide Buide Ua Conchobair, 1087-1092; deposed.
• Flaithbertach Ua Flaithbertaig, d. 1098.
• Tadg mac Ruaidri Ua Conchobair, d. 1097.
• Domnall mac Tigernan Ua Ruairc, d. 1102.
• Domnall mac Ruaidri Ua Conchobair, 1102-1106; deposed.
• Tairrdelbach mac Ruaidri Ua Conchobair, 1106-1156.
• Ruaidri mac Tairrdelbach Ua Conchobair, 1156-1186; deposed.
• Conchobar Maenmaige Ua Conchobhair, 1186-1189.
• Cathal Carragh Ua Conchobhair, 1190-1202.
• Cathal Crobderg Ua Conchobair, 1202-1224.
• Aedh mac Cathal Crobdearg Ua Conchobair, 1224-1228
• Aedh mac Ruaidri Ua Conchobair, 1228-1233.
• Felim mac Cathal Crobderg Ua Conchobair, 1233-1256
• Aedh mac Felim Ua Conchobair, 1256-1274
• Aedh Muimhnech mac Felim Ua Conchobair, 1274-1280
• Cathal mac Conchobair Ruadh Ua Conchobair, 1280-1288.
• Maghnus mac Conchobair Ruadh Ua Conchobair, 1288-1293
• Aedh mac Eoghan Ua Conchobair, 1293-1309
• Ruaidri mac Cathal Ua Conchobair, 1309-1310
• Felim mac Aedh Ua Conchobair, 1310-1316.
• Rory na-bhFeadh mac Donough Ua Conchobair, 1316-1317.
• Tairdelbach mac Aedh Ua Conchobair, first reign 1317-1318
• Cathal mac Domhnall Ua Conchobair, 1318-1324
• Tairdelbach mac Aedh Ua Conchobair, second reign, 1324-1350
• Aedh mac Aedh Breifneach Ua Conchobair, 1342-1342; died 1345.
• Aedh mac Tairdelbach Ua Conchobair,
• Ruaidri mac Tairdelbach Ua Conchobair, 1368-1384.
• Cathal mac Ruaidri Ua Conchobair, 1426-1439; last de facto King of Connacht.

See O Connor Donn , O Connor Roe , and O Connor Sligo .

Sources

• "Annals of the Four Masters", 1990 edition.
• "The Annals of Connacht", A. Martin Freeman, 1944.
• "Irish Kings and High Kings", Francis John Byrne, 1973.
• "Leabhar Mor Genealach", Dubhaltach MacFhirbhisigh, ed. O'Muralie, 2004.