The Uí Fidgenti, Fidgeinti, Fidgheinte, Fidugeinte, Fidgente, or Fidgeinte ( or ;In the pronunciation, the -d- is silent, and the -g- becomes a glide, producing what might be anglicized Feeyenti or Feeyenta. "descendants of, or of the tribe of, Fidgenti") were an early kingdom of northern Munster in Ireland, situated mostly in modern County Limerick, but extending into County Clare and County Tipperary, and possibly even County Kerry and County Cork, at maximum extents, which varied over time. They flourished from about 377 AD (assumption of power of Fidgheinte) to 977 (death of Donovan), although they continued to devolve for another three hundred years. They have been given various origins among both the early or proto-Eóganachta and among the Dáirine by different scholars working in a number of traditions, with no agreement ever reached or appearing reachable.
Clans Genealogies deriving from the Uí Fidgenti include O'Billry, O’Bruadair (Brouder), O'Cennfhaelaidh (Kenneally/Kenealy), Clerkin, Collins (Cuilen), O'Connell, O'Dea, O'Donovan, Flannery, O'Heffernans, Kenealyes, Mac Eneiry, O'Quin, and Tracy.Book of Munster Whether a surname is distinguished with an "O'" is irrelevant, as all the old Irish families derive from their "Ui" prefix designation; the use of the "O" was discouraged during the era of the Penal Laws, and came back into vogue in connection with the rise of Irish nationalism after the 1840s.
Closely related to the Uí Fidgenti were the Uí Liatháin, who claimed descent from the same 4th century AD dynast, Dáire Cerbba (Maine Munchaín), and who in the earliest sources, such as The Expulsion of the Déisi (incidentally), are mentioned together with them.
The Uí Fidgenti descend from Fiachu Fidgenti, the second son of Dáire Cerbba, whom, it is believed, became the senior line of the Milesian race upon the death of Crimhthann in 379 AD Fiacha himself, however, never became King of Munster, for he was killed by his rival, Aengus Tireach, great-grandson of Cormac Cas, in a battle fought at Clidhna, near Glandore Harbor.Appendix to the Annals of the Four Masters edited by John O'Donovan, page 2434 As noted in the Book of Lecan, Fiacha received the designation because he constructed a wooden horse at the fair of Aenach Cholmain.
Ultimately, six hundred years after the time of Fiacha, the territories of the Uí Fidgenti divided into two principal factions or septs, the Uí Chairpre Áebda and Uí Chonaill Gabra.O'Donovan 1856Mac Spealáin 1960Mac Spealáin 2004 The latter were more often the stronger power. By 1169, the Uí Chairpre had further divided into the Uí Chairpre and the Uí Dhonnabháin,MacCarthaigs Book, 1177.2 though comparing the genealogies set forth in Rawlin and the Book of Munster, the lines diverged with Cenn Faelad, four generations before Donovan (died 974), reflecting that specific family's alliance with the Danes of Limerick and Waterford.
Modern descendants of Daire Cerbba include the O'Connells of Derrynane,O'Hart, pp. 183–85Cusack, p. 6 ff Daniel Charles, Count O'Connell having explicitly declared this to the heralds of Louis XVI of France. Also was Michael Collins, descending from the Ó Coileáin of Uí Chonaill Gabra,Coogan, pp. 5–6O'Hart once the most powerful sept of the Uí Fidgenti.
Size and extents
A variety of sources show that Uí Fidgenti was the most prominent of the non-(classical)-Eóganacht overkingdoms of medieval Munster, once the formerly powerful Corcu Loígde and distant Osraige are excluded as non-participating. passim; Charles-Edwards, passim By circa 950, the territory of the Ui Fidgheinte were divided primarily between the two most powerful septs, the Ui Cairbre and the Ui Coilean. The Ui Cairbre Aobhdha (of which O’Donovan were chief), lay along the Maigue basin in Coshmagh and Kenry (Caenraighe) and covered the deanery of Adare, and at one point extended past Kilmallock to Ardpartrick and Doneraile. The tribes of Ui Chonail Gabhra extended to a western district, along the Deel and Slieve Luachra, now the baronies of Upper and Lower Connello. Other septs within the Ui Fidgheinte were long associated with other Limerick locations; a branch of the Fir Tamnaige gave its name to Mahoonagh, or Tawnagh.Westropp, Ancient Churches in Co. Limerick, page 332-333 Feenagh is the only geographical trace extant today of ancient Ui-Fidhgeinte. Though the changes in the name of Ui-Fidhgeinte down to the modern Feenagh seem strange, they are quite natural when one takes into account the gradual change from the Irish to the English tongue with a totally different method of spelling and pronunciation and the omission of the "Ui" which was unintelligible to those acquainted only with the latter language. During 1750 to 1900, Fidgeinte had become FOUGHANOUGH or FEOHONAGH,Lewis, Topographical Dictionary, under the word Mahonagh and finally FEENAGH—a name now confined to a single parish southeast of Newcastle in County Limerick."Genealogical Memoir of the O'Donovans, formerly Kings of Ui Fidgheinte" C. L. Nono & Son, Printers and Stationers Ennis, Co. Clare, Ireland 1902
Saint Patrick
Vita tripartita Sancti PatriciiStokes 1887, pp. 202–5
Saint Senan
Senán mac Geircinn
Uí Fiachrach Aidhne
The Annals first note the Uí Fidgenti in 645 (649) as allies of the celebrated king of Connacht, Guaire Aidne mac Colmáin, at the Battle of Carn Conaill. His dynasty, the Uí Fiachrach Aidhne, controlled much of the territory to the immediate north of the Uí Fidgenti. Byrne argues the two kingdoms were in rivalry for control over several smaller tuaths, but other evidence suggests they were allied.Ó Coileáin 1981, p. 133 In the 8th century Lament of Crede, daughter of Guaire, the Ui Fidghente are noted as opponents of her father at the battle of Aine in 667.
Sites and finds
Dún Eochair (Maighe) was the great capital of the Uí Fidgenti,FitzPatrick described by Geoffrey Keating as having been one of the two great seats of the Dáirine and the legendary Cú Roí mac Dáire. The earthworks remain and the fortress can be found next to the modern town of Bruree, on the River Maigue. The name means "Fortress on the Brink of the Maigue", and the name of the town is anglicised from Brugh Righ, meaning "Fort (Brugh) of Kings (Righ)". The town still has a section Lissoleem, meaning, literally, the ringfort ("lis") of Oilioll Olum (alternative spelling Ailill Aulom), who died 234 AD, entombed at Duntryleague, and who was the great-great-great-grandfather of Fiachu Fidhgeinte, and from whom many of the Eoghanachta tribes descend.
To the south of Brugh Riogh can be found Cnoc Samhna ("Hill of Samhain"),Placenames Database of Ireland also known as Ard na Ríoghraidhe ("Height of the Kingfolk"). Associated with Mongfind,FitzPatrick 2004, pp. 131–2 this may have been the Uí Fidgenti inauguration site.
The Ardagh Chalice was discovered in Uí Fidgenti territory, at Reerasta Rath in 1868.
Eóganachta relationship The Uí Fidgenti are credited with having a unique relationship with the Eóganachta kings at Cashel. Five generations before Fiacha, Oilioll Olum (died 234 AD) is credited with dividing Munster into two parts and between two of his sons, and enjoined that their descendants should succeed to the governance of the province in alternate succession; this injunction was complied with until the time of Brian Boru, who is credited with slaying Donovan of the Ui Fidgheinte in 977.Appendix to the Annals of the Four Masters, edited by John O'Donovan, page 2432
The Ui Fidgheinte were not subject to the Eóganachta kings at Cashel, and did not pay tribute. The Book of Rights noted that the stipends of the King of Cashel to the kings of his territory included, to the King of Ui Chonaill: ten steeds, shields, horns; and, to the King of BrughRigh (now Bruree): seven steeds, horns, swords and seven serving youths and seven bondmen. It also noted that the word of the King of Ui Chonail to the Kings of Cashel was sufficient, and no hostages need be exchanged as consideration for an agreement. A passage in The Expulsion of the Déisi names the Uí Fidgenti, including the Uí Liatháin, among the Three Eóganachta of Munster, the others being the Eóganacht Locha Léin and the Eóganacht Raithlind. All three were of sufficient military and political standing to exchange hostages with the Kings at Cashel, instead of them being required as would be demanded from a subjugated opponent.
Disintegration The disintegration of the Uí Fidgenti commenced in 1178, when Domnall Mor O'Brien caused the Uí Chonaill and Uí Chairpri to flee as far as Eóganacht Locha Léin and others into County Kerry (AI). The O'Collins, the most powerful sept, would follow many of the O'Donovans some decades later, but one or two smaller septs within the Ui Fidghente, notably the Ui Donnabhains of Feenagh and the MacEnirys, of Coshma, remained in their historical territory in County Limerick for several centuries, adjacent to the Earls of Desmond. Important families which did not survive intact from the war waged by the O'Briens, and the subsequent incursion of the FitzGeralds, were Kenneally, Flannery, Tracey, Clerkin, and Ring. These septs scattered all over Munster.
The recurring conflict with the O'Briens had its most infamous event more than two centuries before, when Donnubán mac Cathail, progenitor of the O'Donovans, formed an anti-Dalcassian alliance with two other leaders, his father-in-law Ivar of Limerick, the Danish king of Limerick, and Máel Muad mac Brain, King of Munster. The result of this was the death of the elder brother of Brian Bóruma, Mahon, Mathgamain mac Cennétig, for his frequent attacks on Ui Fidghente. His death resulted in Brian Boru's subsequent revenge by defeating all three members of the alliance. In the 10th century, the territory of the Ui Fidghente bordered those of Mahon (in Cashel) and of Brian Boru (in Thomond), and territorial conflicts were not uncommon.
The Danish connection of the Ui Fidghente was also a considerable factor in the decrease of their power. The Ui Fidghenete had allied with the Ui Imhar five generations before Donovan was slain in 977, and the O'Donovans continued to carry Danish-dominated names well past the death of Amlaíb (Olaf) Ua Donnubáinof in 1201. Having allied with the losing side of the Danish / Irish conflicts in the late 10th century, the O'Donovans of Ui Chairbre saw their influence wane during the next two centuries while they tried to stem the tide against more powerful forces.