Genealogy of the O’Neills of Tyrone (simplified)
1. Niall Noígiallach (“of the Nine Hostages”)
High King of Ireland (c. 379–405 AD, traditional dating).
Ancestor of the Uí Néill dynasty.
2. Eógan mac Néill (d. c. 465)
Son of Niall.
Progenitor of the Cenél nEógain (“kindred of Eógan”).
Gave his name to Tír Eoghain (Tyrone).
3. Early Cenél nEógain Kings (5th–10th centuries)
Successive rulers included Muiredach mac Eógain, Muirchertach mac Ercae (High King, d. 534), and others.
The dynasty alternated dominance with the Cenél Conaill.
4. Áed Findliath (d. 879)
High King of Ireland, from Cenél nEógain.
Married to Máel Muire, daughter of Kenneth MacAlpin of Scotland — linking Gaelic Ireland with Alba.
5. Domnall ua Néill (d. 980)
High King of Ireland.
One of the earliest to adopt the surname Ó Néill (“descendant of Niall”).
6. Medieval O’Neills of Tyrone (11th–15th centuries)
From Domnall’s line came the O’Neill dynasty proper.
They solidified as rulers of Tyrone.
Key figures:
Áed Méith O’Neill (d. 1230) – resisted Anglo-Norman expansion.
Domhnall O’Neill (d. 1325) – claimed High Kingship, appealed to the Pope against English conquest.
Niall Mór O’Neill (d. 1397) – powerful chief consolidating Tyrone.
Henry O’Neill (d. 1489) – his descendants would form competing branches (Great O’Neill, O’Neill of Clannaboy, etc.).
7. Shane O’Neill (1530–1567) – “Shane the Proud”
Defied English authority.
Styled himself “The O’Neill,” maintaining Gaelic independence.
Killed in battle against rival clans.
8. Hugh O’Neill (1550–1616) – Earl of Tyrone
Grandson of Con O’Neill, 1st Earl of Tyrone (who had accepted the English title).
Led the Nine Years’ War (1594–1603) against Elizabeth I.
Defeated at Kinsale (1601); submitted in 1603.
Flight of the Earls (1607): departed Ireland with other Gaelic nobles → exile in Rome.
Died in Rome (1616).