View source for List of Irish kingdoms

{{Short description|None}}
{{further|History of Ireland (1169–1536)}}
[[File:Ireland900.png|thumb|250px|Ireland circa 900]]
[[File:Www.wesleyjohnston.com-users-ireland-maps-historical-map1014.gif|thumb|250px|Ireland in 1014]]
[[File:www.wesleyjohnston.com-users-ireland-maps-historical-map1300.gif|thumb|250px|Maximal extent of the Norman [[Lordship of Ireland]] in 1300.]]
[[File:Ireland 1450.png|thumb|250px|right|Ireland in 1450]]
This article lists some of the attested [[Gaelic Ireland|Gaelic]] kingdoms of [[early medieval]] [[Ireland]] prior to the [[Norman invasion of Ireland|Norman invasion]] of 1169-72.

For much of this period, the island was divided into numerous [[Irish clans|clan]] territories and kingdoms (known as ''[[túath]]a''). These túatha often competed for control of resources and thus they continually grew and shrank (in both size and number). In addition to kingdoms or túatha, Gaelic Ireland was also divided into [[Provinces of Ireland|five prime overkingdoms]] (Old Irish ''cóiceda'', Modern Irish ''cúige''). These were [[Ulster|Ulaid]] (in the north), [[Connacht]] (in the west), [[Leinster|Laighin]] (in the southeast), [[Munster|Mumhan]] (in the south) and [[Kingdom of Mide|Mide]] (in the centre).

After the Norman invasion, much of the island came under the control of the [[Lordship of Ireland]], although some parts remained under the control of Gaelic dynasties. After 1350, Norman control began to weaken, and a "[[History of Ireland (1169–1536)#Gaelic resurgence .281350.E2.80.931500.29|Gaelic resurgence]]"
took place which resulted in the direct influence of the [[Parliament of Ireland]] shrinking to an area known as [[The Pale]] by 1500. In 1541, the [[Kingdom of Ireland]] was established by Henry VIII, and the [[Tudor conquest of Ireland]] commenced. The repudiation of the terms of the [[Treaty of Mellifont]] by the [[British Crown|Crown]] resulted in the [[Nine Years War (Ireland)|Nine Years War]] and the [[Flight of the Earls]], which marked the end of the Gaelic order.

==Ulster==

===Earliest times===
*[[Darini]], in [[County Tyrone|Tyrone]], [[County Armagh|Armagh]] and [[County Down|Down]], possibly a branch of the [[Érainn]] and linked with their supposed ancestor deity [[Dáire]]
*[[Erdini]] in [[County Fermanagh]]
*[[Robogdii]], in [[County Antrim|Antrim]] and [[County Londonderry|Londonderry]]
*[[Venicnii]] in [[County Donegal]]
*[[Voluntii]], probably the people later known as the [[Ulaid]], in [[County Armagh|Armagh]], [[County Down|Down]], [[County Monaghan|Monaghan]] and [[County Cavan|Cavan]]

===Early Christian===
*[[Airgíalla]] or [[Kingdom of Oriel|Oirghialla]] or Oriel
*[[Airthir]]
*[[Cairbre Drom Cliabh|Cairpre Droma Cliab]]
*[[Cenél Conaill]] ([[Tir Chonaill]])
*[[Cenél nEogain]] ([[County Tyrone|Tir Eogain]])
*[[Conaille Muirtheimne]]
*[[Cruithne (people)|Cruithne]]
*[[Dál nAraidi]]
*[[Dál Fiatach]]
*[[Dál Riata]]
*[[Dartraige]]
*[[Dartraige Con-innsi]]
*[[Eilne]]
*[[Fermanagh|Fir Manach]]
*[[Iveagh]]
*[[Uí Echach Cobo]]
*[[Northern Uí Néill]]
*[[Ulaid]]

===From the 12th century===
*[[East Breifne]]

==Meath==
{{main|Kingdom of Meath}}
===Earliest times===
*[[Ebdani]], [[Eblani]] or [[Blanii]] (probably variants of the same name)

===Early Christian===
*[[Ciannachta]]
*[[Southern Uí Néill]]
*[[Kings of Brega|Brega]]
*[[Loch Gabhair|Lagore]]
*[[Knowth|Cnogba]]
*[[Tethbae]] (Old Irish pronunciation: [ˈt̠ʲeθβe]; also spelled Tethba, often anglicised Teffia
*[[Annaly]]
*[[Cairpre Gabra]]

==Leinster==

===Earliest times===
*[[Brigantes]] in south [[County Wexford|Wexford]], also known from northern Britain; possibly linked with the [[goddess]] [[Brigit]]
*[[Cauci]] around [[Dublin]]
*[[Coriondi]] north Wexford
*[[Menapii]] in [[County Wicklow]], also known from [[Gaul]]; their name is linked to Fermanagh and Monaghan, although they are much further north
*[[Osraige]]

===Early Christian===
*[[Kingdom of Dublin]]
*[[Uí Ceinnselaig]] 
*[[Uí Dúnlainge]]

===From the 12th century===
*[[Kingdom of Leinster]], see also [[Kings of Leinster]].

==Munster==

===Earliest times===
{{main|Kingdom of Munster}}

*[[Gangani (Ireland)|Gangani]] or [[Gangani (Ireland)|Concani]] in Counties [[County Limerick|Limerick]] and [[County Clare|Clare]]; also lived in [[Wales]] - [[Ptolemy]] calls the [[Llŷn Peninsula]] the "Promontory of the Gangani"
*[[Iverni]] in [[County Cork]], later known as the [[Érainn]]
*[[Luceni (Ancient Irish Kingdom)|Luceni]] in Counties [[County Kerry|Kerry]] and Limerick
*[[Usdiae]], [[Udiae]] or [[Vodiae]] in Counties [[County Waterford|Waterford]] and Cork, possibly related to the later [[Osraige]]
*[[Uterni]] in Cork
*[[Vellabori]] or [[Velabri]] in Kerry

===Early Christian===
*[[Builg]]
*[[Corcu Baiscind]]
*[[Corcu Duibne]]
*[[Corcu Loígde]]
*[[Dáirine]]
*[[Dál gCais]]
*[[Deirgtine]]
*[[Déisi]]
*[[Eóganachta]]
*[[Érainn]]
*[[Iarmuman]]
*[[Mairtine]]
*[[Múscraige]]
*[[Uí Fidgenti]]
*[[Uí Liatháin]]

===From the 12th century===
*[[Kingdom of Desmond]]
*[[Kingdom of Thomond]]
*[[Kingdom of Ormond]]

==Connacht==

===Earliest times===
*[[Auteini]] in [[County Galway]], identified with the later [[Uaithne]]
*[[Nagnatae]] in [[County Mayo]] and [[County Sligo]], possibly linked with the ''Ol nÉcmacht''; ''[[Cóiced Ol nEchmacht]]'' was an ancient name for Connacht.

===Early Christian===
*[[Aidhne]] or [[Uí Fiachrach Aidhne]]
*[[Kingdom of Breifne|Breifne]]
*[[Conmaicne Mara]]
*[[Connachta]]
*Corco Moga
*[[Delbhna]]
*[[Delbhna Nuadat]]
*[[Delbhna Tir Dha Locha]]
*[[Fir Domnann]] (aka Irrus Domnann)
*[[Uí Briúin|Hy Briuin Ai]]
*[[Uí Díarmata|Hy Diarmata]]
*[[Uí Fiachrach Aidhne|Hy Fiachrach Aidhne]]
*[[Ui Fiachrach Finn|Hy Fiachrach Fionn]]
*[[Uí Fiachrach Muaidhe|Hy Fiachrach Muaidhe]]
*[[Uí Maine|Hy-Many]]
*[[Iar Connacht]]
*[[Kinela]]
*[[Moylurg]]
*[[Muintir Murchada]]
*[[Partraige]]
*[[Síol Anmchadha]]
*[[Síol Muireadaigh|Síol Muirdeach]]
*[[Soghain|Soghan]]
*[[Tyrconnell]]
*[[Uí Fiachrach]]

===From the 12th century===
*[[Clanricarde]]
*[[Mac William Íochtar]]
*[[West Breifne]]

==See also==
*[[Irish nobility]]
*[[Pre-Norman invasion Irish Celtic kinship groups]]
*[[Irish clans]]
*[[List of Irish clans]]
*[[MacDunleavy (dynasty)]]
*[[Monarchy of Ireland]]
*[[O'Donnell dynasty]]

==References==
{{refbegin|2}}
*Bhreathnach, Edel (ed.), ''The Kingship and Landscape of Tara''. Four Courts Press for [[The Discovery Programme]]. 2005.
*Byrne, Francis J., ''Irish Kings and High-Kings''. Four Courts Press. 3rd edition, 2001.
*Charles-Edwards, T.M., ''Early Christian Ireland''. Cambridge University Press. 2000.
*Curley, Walter J.P., ''Vanishing Kingdoms: The Irish Chiefs and their Families''. Dublin: Lilliput Press. 2004.
*Dillon, Myles, ''The Cycles of the Kings''. Oxford. 1946. / Four Courts Press. Revised edition, 1995.
*Duffy, Seán (ed.), ''Medieval Ireland: An Encyclopedia''. Routledge. 2005.
*Keating, Geoffrey, with David Comyn and Patrick S. Dinneen (trans.), [http://celt.ucc.ie/published/T100054/index.html The History of Ireland by Geoffrey Keating]. 4 Vols. London: David Nutt for the Irish Texts Society. 1902-14.
*MacKillop, James, ''A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology''. Oxford. 1998.
*Koch, John T. (ed.), ''Celtic Culture: A Historical Encyclopedia''. 5 volumes or single ebook. ABC-CLIO. 2006.
*Lalor, Brian, ''The Encyclopedia of Ireland''. Yale University Press. 2003.
*Mac Niocaill, Gearóid, ''Ireland before the Vikings''. Dublin: Gill and Macmillan. 1972.
*Meyer, Kuno (ed.), [http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/G105005/index.html "The Laud Genealogies and Tribal Histories"], in ''Zeitschrift für Celtische Philologie 8''. Halle/Saale, Max Niemeyer. 1912. Pages 291-338.
*Ó Corráin, Donnchadh (ed.), [http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/G105003/index.html Genealogies from Rawlinson B 502] University College, Cork: Corpus of Electronic Texts. 1997.
*Ó Corráin, Donnchadh, ''Ireland before the Normans''. Dublin: Gill and Macmillan. 1972.
*O'Donovan, John (ed. and tr.), [[Annals of the Four Masters|Annála Ríoghachta Éireann. Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland by the Four Masters, from the Earliest Period to the Year 1616]]. 7 vols. Royal Irish Academy. Dublin. 1848-51. 2nd edition, 1856.
*O'Rahilly, Thomas F., ''Early Irish History and Mythology''. Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies. 1946.
*Rynne, Etienne (ed.), ''North Munster Studies: Essays in Commemoration of Monsignor Michael Moloney''. Limerick. 1967.
*Sproule, David, "Origins of the Éoganachta", in ''Ériu 35'' (1984): pp.&nbsp;31–37.
{{refend}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20170720143629/https://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~irlkik/ihm/province.htm Ancient Kings, Kingdoms, and Territories of Ireland]
*[https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Periods/Roman/_Texts/Ptolemy/2/1*.html Ptolemy's Geography of Ireland]
{{Gaels}}

{{Ireland topics}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:List Of Irish Kingdoms}}
[[Category:Kingdoms of ancient Ireland| ]]
[[Category:Former countries in Europe|*Ireland]]
[[Category:Ireland history-related lists|Kingdoms]]
[[Category:Lists of former countries|Irish kingdoms]]