Ireland and Scotland

SCOTLAND

SCOTLAND: "The Green Island" The Gaels named the island "Scota’s Land" after their first Queen.

Dalrida: Name of the people who came to the Western Isles and Highlands of Scotland from Ireland and whom the Romans called the Scots.

PICTS: The Picts were most likely ½ Gaelic Irish.

VIKINGS: The chief ancestor/god of the Vikings was Odin. They settled on the islands along Scotland’s west coast and some in Ireland also. The Vikings intermarried with the Irish and the Picts - becoming a new people = the Highland Clans.

Highlander: Highlanders were the inhabitants of the Western Isles and Highlands of Scotland. These people inherited the lusty genes of the Vikings. They are happiest when quarreling with friends, neighbors and foes. They were of the Old Irish Catholic faith. Independent. The Highlanders were willing to fight and die just for the fun of it. They often served as gallowglasses - hearty fighting men. (Gallowglass - gaelic - Galloglaugh, a heavy armed soldier). This group of people settled in Donegal and in the Glens of Antrim in Northern Ireland. There they married Irish women.

Tartans

The custom of the Scottish Highland Tartans was first developed by Tigernmas, 13^th Monarch of Ireland. During his reign he made a law requiring that each "grade" or class of society be identified by the number of colors of it’s wearer. The system of colors was:

IRELAND

IRELAND: The Irish Chieftains used the title of "THE" before their surname. The Gaelic Irish were thought to have originated from what is now part of Russia.

National Government - if any

Laird - law unto himself

The Kingship in Ireland has ancient roots. The local king was loyally defended, down to the "last man, last arrow". The local citizens could take up disputes, etc., directly with the king, because he was local to them and not thought of as some far off, remote Head of State.

The King of Tara became the first High-King of Ireland. The O’Donel of Tirconnell (in 1976 was a Franciscan friar and the lay head of the Kindred of St. Columba). O’Flahertys.

Five over-kings of Ireland - Kings of Ulster, Leinster, Munster (including the sacral Tara), Connaught, and Meath.

In Northern Ireland during the 700’s was ruled by Connachta (Ui Neill). Connaught ruled during the 300’s, it was he who combined statesmanship backed by force who first conceived the idea of a united Ireland.

The Ui Neill royal family: most important in Irish history.

The generic name of Neill was derived from Niall of the Nine Hostages, king of Tara in the early 400’s. Ulaidh - kings of Dal Riada moved across the Irish Channel to Argyll [meaning frontier of the Gael] where they founded the kingdom of the Scots about 490.

Kings of Ireland (Ui Neill):

Domnal mac Aedo   628-642

Loingsech mac Oengusso        695-704

Maelsechnaill mac Maele Ruanaid         846-862

Niall Gundub mac Aeda          916-919

Congalach Cnogba mac Maelmithig, 944-956

Domnall ua Neill     965-980

Maelschnaill mac Domnaill, 980-1002 & 1014-1020

Brian Boruma mac Cennetig, 1002-1014

Toirrdebach ua Briain, 1064-1086

Muirchetach MacLochlainn, 1156-1166

Ruaidri Ua Conchobar (last high-king of Ireland)      1166-1186; d. 1198

In the Southern portion of Ireland. King Conall Corc - Christian

Tigernmas, 13^th Monarch of Ireland, made a law requiring that each "grade" or class of society be identified by the number of colors of it’s wearer. The system of colors was:

This custom was later carried by descendants into Scotland where it lives on today in the form of the Tartans of the Scottish Highlands.