Niall of the Nine Hostages had seven sons, two of which, Owen (Eoghan) and Conall Gulban (Conaill) traveled north from the over-kingdom of Connacht and into the northern and western regions of the over-kingdom of Ulster, an area equivalent to modern-day County Donegal.
These two became the progenitors of the two Cenél's (or kindreds) that would make up the Northern UàNéill; the Cenél Eóghain based in Inishowen, with their capital at Ailech; and the Cenél Conaill centered in the rich area of Magh Ithe, in the valley of the river Finn. For a time the Cenél Eóghain and Cenél Conaill alternated as kings of the Northern UàNéill until the 8th century. The Northern UàNéill would also alternate the High-Kingship of Ireland with their southern cousins the Southern UàNéill into the 10th century.
The Cianachta, or the race of Kane, also known as Clann Cian, descend from Cian, son of Oilioll ÃÂlum, king of Munster in the 3rd century. The territory of the Cianachta spanned the present-day barony of Keenaght, which derives its name from them. By the 12th century, the Cianachta would be conquered by the ÃÂ CathaÃÂn.
The Cianachta Glenn Geimin of Clann Cian, or the Cianachta of Glengiven, ruled a region now known as Dungiven.
The SÃÂl Colla FochrÃÂth, descend from Colla FochrÃÂth, the first king of AirgÃÂalla and one of Three Collas. Clans and septs that are claimed to descend from Colla FochrÃÂth but with no other information given include; Ui Maine, Fir Dubhshlat, Ui Conaill, and Ui Luain.
Imchad was one of Colla FochrÃÂth's sons, and from him son Muiredach Méth would descend the UàMéith. The UàMéith territory spanned northern County Louth, eastern County Armagh, and later in County Monaghan. John O'Donovan in his notes on the Annals of the Four Masters marks that there were two groups of the Ui Meith name; the UàMéith Macha (or UàMéith Tiri) and the UàMéith Mara.
The UàMéith Macha were based in the barony of Monaghan in County Monaghan. The UàMéith Mara, meaning "Omeath by the sea", was seated in Cualigne in northern County Louth. The name UàMéith survives as the present day name of the village Omeath.
The Cenél Rochada are descended from Rochad, one of Colla FochrÃÂth's sons. The following terms are noted in the Annals to describe or group the clans and septs that would descend from Rochad:
The Clann Nadsluaig descend from Nadsluag, one of the sons of Cairpre Dam Argait, and part of the SÃÂl Daim Argait. Their territory was in County Monaghan.
The Clann Lugain descend from Cormac, one of the sons of Cairpre Dam Argait, and are part of the SÃÂl Daim Argait. Their territory was in County Fermanagh.
Clann Ceallaigh descend from Cellach, son of Tuathal, king of the UÃÂ Chremthainn, who in turn was descended from Daimine, one of the sons of Cairpre Dam Argait, and are part of the SÃÂl Daim Argait. Clann Ceallaigh's name is preserved as the name of the modern barony of Clankelly in County Monaghan.
The Fernmag, or Fer Fernmaighe, is an area around Lough Ooney, aka Lock Uaithne near Smithborough in the barony of Dartry, County Monaghan. Immigration to south-eastern Monaghan brought the territorial name along with it, being preserved in the name of the barony of Farney. The genealogies given for the Fernmag claim they descend from Fergusa, the son of Nadsluaig, who was one of the sons of Cairpre Dam Argait.
The FÃÂr Lemna (also known as UÃÂ Tuathail and SÃÂl Tuathail) are cited as being one of the "TrÃÂ Tuatha of Oirghialla" alongside the UÃÂ Chremthainn and SÃÂl Dubthir. Its territory is thought to have been near Clogher, County Tyrone. The region of Magh Lemna is given as being in the parishes of Clogher and Errigal Keerogue in southern County Tyrone bordering County Monaghan. Their ancestry is cited as being from Tuathal, a son of DaimÃÂne, making them part of the SÃÂl nDaimini.
The SÃÂl Fiachra Cassán, descend from Fiachra Cassán, a son of Colla FochrÃÂth. Airthir (barony of Lower and Upper Orior), meaning 'east', was one of the main branches of the SÃÂl Fiachra Cassán until the 8th century when it split into the main septs of the UàNialláin, the UàBressail, and the UàEchdach. The territory of Airthir was centered in Ard Macha (County Armagh), along the eastern baronies of Orior. Some of the clans given as part of the SÃÂl Fiachra Cassán include:
The UàEchach, or the UàEchach AirgÃÂalla to distinguish them from the neighbouring UàEchach Cobo of the Dál nAraidi, are suggested as ruling an area known as Tuath Echach, comprising the barony of Armagh in County Armagh. The UàEchach Beg and UàEchach Mór are noted as two branches of this group, but are also placed as being in Dál nAraidi and thus maybe part of the UàEchach Cobo. According to the books of Lecan and Ballymote, the SÃÂl Ciarain UàEchach were located in Airthir.
The UàEchach descend from Echach the grandson of Fiachra Cassán.
The UàNialláin, or Clan Cernaich, descend from Nialláin, son of Féicc, son of Feidelmid, who was the son of Fiachra Cassán. Their territory lay in the baronies of Oneilland East and West in County Armagh, which both derive their name from the UàNialláin rather than the O'Neills. The Airthir kings of the UàNialláin sept ruled from Loch gCál (modern-day Loughgall).
The UÃÂ Bresail, also known as the UÃÂ Bresail Airthir, ruled an area in northern County Armagh along the southern shore of Lough Neagh (in the barony of Oneilland East) before they were displaced by the lords of Clanbrassil, the MacCann's.
The Fir Rois were located in the barony of Farney, County Monaghan, and in the barony of Ardee, County Louth, and in Meath. CrÃÂch Ross stands 4 miles northwest of the point where the three counties meet.
The SÃÂl Colla Uais descend from Colla Uais, one of the Three Collas. Years before the Three Collas founded AirgÃÂalla, Colla Uais ruled as king of Ireland until he and his brothers and three hundred followers were exiled to Scotland. Colla Uais had several sons including Eachach and Ercc.
The UÃÂ Meic Uais descend from Ercc, a son of Colla Uais. The UÃÂ Meic Uais are cited as having several branches;
Yet the following are cited by Francis Byrne as being collectively known as the UÃÂ Meic Uais, though groups of this name are also noted in the midland regions:
The UàTuirtri descend from Fiachu Tort, a son of Colla Uais. Their territory was said to have included an area west of Lough Neagh as well as north-west of Lough Neagh. One of the principal chiefs of the UàTuÃÂrtri was the O'Lynns, who ruled from Lough Insholin, Desertmartin, County Londonderry â the name of which is preserved in the modern barony of Loughinsholin. The UàTuÃÂrtri territory would expand into the lands north of Lough Neagh as they were driven eastwards by the Northern UàNéill about the 10th century. At one stage the O'Lynns ruled a territory stretching all the way to the sea deep in Ulaid territory.
Cú Muighe àFloinn is cited as being king of the territories of UàTuirtri, Fir LÃÂ, Dál Riata, and Dál nAraidi. Muircertach mac Thomas àFloinn the heir aspirant was slain "treacherously" by Hugh, grandson of Aodh Buidhe àNéill (progenitor of the Clandeboye O'Neills), and when his father Thomas died the realm passed into the hands of the Clandeboye O'Neills.
The Fir Luirg, or men of Lurg, are listed as being among the SÃÂl Colla Uais. By the 14th century, they were subjugated by the Maguires. Fir Luirg survives in the present-day name of the barony of Lurg, County Fermanagh.
The UàBriúin Bréifne, or O'Brien Breffny, are a branch of the UàBriúin kin-group. The UàBriúin descend from Brion, son of Eochaid Mugmedon and Mongfind, and was an elder half brother of Niall of the Nine Hostages. The traditional territory of the UàBriúin Bréifne was known as the kingdom of Bréifne, which included the modern Irish counties of Leitrim and Cavan, along with parts of County Sligo. It is speculated that Breffny derives its name from a pre-Celtic substrate language spoken in Ireland meaning 'ring' or 'loop', therefore making Breifne one of the oldest placenames in Ireland, dating prior to 500 B.C.
The two principal families of UàBriúin Bréifne were the O'Rourkes and O'Reillys, who after a great battle in 1256, split the kingdom into East Bréifne and West Bréifne. The kingdom of Bréifne region remained part of the kingdom of Connacht until the time of Queen Elizabeth I when it was shired into the modern counties of Cavan and Leitrim, with Leitrim remaining within Connacht and Cavan becoming part of Ulster.
Below is a list of other Irish septs in Ulster that can't be attached to any specific Cenél or Clann.
All common Anglicised forms provided relate to usage in the province in Ulster and thus do not contain other Anglicised forms that relate to mirror Gaelic names from outside of Ulster. For example, the Irish name ÃÂ Flaithbheartaigh is Anglicised as Flaherty, Flaffery and Flaverty in Connacht, however due to the aspiration of the 'F' in Ulster Irish, it is Anglicised and recorded as Laverty and Lafferty in Ulster thus the F variants have been excluded. The same for Flynn outside of Ulster, which is Lynn in Ulster.