Cenél nEógain
Tyrone · the kindred of Eógan
Cenél nEógain, in English Tyrone, said KEN-ayl NOH-in. A ruling kindred.
The Ó Néill country. Tír Eoghain, Eógan's land, which is still the name of the county.
The name
the kindred of Eógan
Where
Inishowen first, then out across Tyrone and into Derry at the expense of everyone to the east.
In today's counties: Tyrone (Tír Eoghain), Londonderry (Doire), Donegal (Dún na nGall).
When it mattered
The strongest of the northern Uí Néill from the eighth century until the Flight of the Earls in 1607.
Cenél nEógain began in Inishowen and spent four centuries expanding south and east, pushing the Airgialla back and taking the land that became Tyrone and much of Derry. Their inauguration site was at Tullyhogue, where the Ó Néill were made kings on a stone chair.
They were the last great Gaelic dynasty to fall. Hugh O'Neill fought Elizabeth to a standstill for nine years, lost at Kinsale in 1601, submitted, and then left Ireland in 1607 with the Ó Domhnaill of Tír Chonaill. The Flight of the Earls emptied the north of its ruling families and the Plantation of Ulster followed within four years.
What is left of the name
Tír Eoghain is County Tyrone. Tullyhogue is still there, outside Cookstown.
Names out of it
Families on this site that belong to Tyrone. A surname is not a pedigree, and plenty of people carry these names for reasons that have nothing to do with the old kingdom.
Next to it
- Uí Néill (The Uí Néill)
- Cenél Conaill (Tirconnell)
- Airgialla (Oriel)
- Ulaid (The Ulaid)