The Ui Enechglaiss were a dynasty attested in 5th-century Ireland, who provided some of the early kings of Laigin.
Background
The dynasty were initially based on the plains of Kildare around Naas, (Devane, 2005, believes that they were based at Carbury Hill) but were forced east over the Wicklow Mountains by the invasions and conquests by the Uí Néill in the first half of the 6th century. An ogham stone from south of Slane in County Meath points to a connection with that area. They became a politically unimportant people, situated between the Dal Messin Corb and the Ui Dega, on the coast of County Wicklow, based around Arklow. In the 11th century, their rulers adopted the surname Ua Fiachraige, now rendered as O'Fieghraie, O'Feary and Feary.
Heartland
Devane (p. 187, 2005) believes that "the heartland of Ui Enechglaiss [was] in Carbury, Co. Kildare, before dislocation either by Coirpre, son of Niall, or by his sons in the late 5th/early 6th century." She goes on to state that, by inference of the sources, "the Dál Messin Corb (a branch of the Uí Enechglaiss) was, in fact, dominant in north Leinster in the 5th century and was to the fore in the defence of the province against Coirpre and Ui Neill. This view is supported by the 'Vita Tripartia', in which Saint Patrick, or more likely Palladius, encountered members of the Uí Garrchon soon after his arrival in Ireland. The meeting took place in the vicinity of Naas, which is situated in Mag Liphi (the Liffy Plain), then heartland of political power in north Leinster."
Notables
Mac Cairthinn mac Coelboth, who was killed at the battle of Fremen in 446, was King of Leinster and one of the earliest historically attested Irish kings.
The poet Dubhthach moccu Lughair was a native of Gorey, though he lived some sixty years prior to the dynasty's removal to the area.
Septs
A number of septs of the Ui Enechglais were the following:
Ui Chuanach - descended from Cuanu mac Mael Aithgean, a gr.gr.gr.-grandson of Finchad mac Breasal Enechglas Ui Thairmeisc - descended from Tairmesc mac Scandlan, gr.gr.gr.-grandson of Finchad mac Breasal Enechglas Ui Muirenaig - descended from Emmal mac Breasal Enechglas Sil nDiocolla meic Eogain - from Dicuill mac Eogan, gr.gr.gr.-grandson of Nath I mac Breasal Enechglas Ui Meic Fhirithe - from Daurthecht mac Breasal Enechglas Ui Ailella - also descended from Daurthecht Ui Fergnae - from Nannaid mac Breasal Enechglas Ui Fiachrach - from Fiachra mac Finsnechta, fl. 984
Ui Enechglais genealogy
Ui Enechglais
Cathair mar
Bressal Enechglas
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Finchad Emmal Nath I Daurthecht Nannaid
Ua/O Feary genealogy
Dicuill mac Eogan m. Berach m. Muiredach m. Amlagaid m. Nath I m. Bressal Enechglas | Mael Doborchon |________________________
Tuaimmin Cu Dobur
Dungalach Conmael
Dunlang Dub da Leithe
Dunchad Rudgus
Fiachra Dungalach
Cathal Cinaed | Cinaed, died 917 | Finsnechta | Fiachra, fl. 984, a quo Ua/O Fiachraige | Dunlang | Gilla Coemgin | Cu Mara | Gilla Coemgin
References
Irish Kings and High Kings, Francis John Byrne, Dublin, 1973; 3rd edition, 2001 Kings, Saints and Sagas, Alfred P. Smyth, in Wicklow:History and Society, Dublin, 1994. p. 42, 43, 47, 99. Carbury, Co. Kildare - topographical and onomastic hypotheses, Caitriona Devane, in Above and beyond:Essays in memory of Leo Swan, pp. 187–122, edited by Tom Condit and Christiaan Corlett, Wordwell, 2005. .