Colla Uais
Encyclopedia
Colla Uais son of Eochaid Doimlén, son of Cairbre Lifechair
, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland
. His given name was Cairell. He and his two brothers, Muiredach (Colla Fo Chrí) and Áed (Colla Menn), were known was the Three Collas.
was campaigning in Munster with his army, they defeated Fíacha in the Battle of Dubchomar, and Colla Uais took the throne. He ruled for four years, until Muiredach overthrew him, took the throne, and exiled him and his brothers, with three hundred men, to Alba
(Scotland
). Their mother, Ailech, was the daughter of Udaire, king of Alba, and they took service with their grandfather for three years. After that they returned to Ireland, hoping that Muiredach might kill them, and deprive his descendants of the throne. But Muiredach knew of the prophecy, and despite knowing they had killed his father, took them into his service.
After several years, Muiredach decided the Collas should have territory of their own, and sent them to conquer Ulster
. With an army drawn from Connacht
, they fought seven battles in a week against the Ulaid
at Achaidh Leithdeircc
, killing Fergus Foga, king of Ulster, in the seventh. Colla Menn also died in this battle. They burned Emain Macha
, the Ulster capital, after which it was abandoned, and seized substantial territories in Ulster, thought to be the origin of the kingdom of Airgíalla
.
The chronology of Geoffrey Keating
's Foras Feasa ar Éirinn dates Colla Uais' High Kingship to 306-310. The Annals of the Four Masters
dates his High Kingship to 322-326, and his destruction of Emain Macha and conquest of Ulster to 331.
However, the chronology of early Irish historical tradition is known to be artificial. One story makes Fiachra Cassán of the Airgíalla, son of Colla Fo Chrí, the foster-father of Cormac mac Airt
, who according to the usual chronology was his own great great grandfather, and an alternative tradition dated the fall of Emain Macha to 450. It has been suggested that the Three Collas are doublets of Conall
, Endae and Eógan, the three sons of Niall Noígiallach, who also made conquests in Ulster in the 5th century.
Traditionally, the Three Collas were considered to be descended from the same ancestors as Niall Noígiallach. DNA testing of present-day descendants of Niall and the Collas, however, indicates that they were not related.
near Straffan
(53.27789°N 6.56528°W), was said to be “of the race of Colla Uais, Monarch of Érinn”.
Cairbre Lifechair
Cairbre Lifechair , son of Cormac mac Airt, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland. He came to the throne after the death of Eochaid Gonnat...
, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland
High King of Ireland
The High Kings of Ireland were sometimes historical and sometimes legendary figures who had, or who are claimed to have had, lordship over the whole of Ireland. Medieval and early modern Irish literature portrays an almost unbroken sequence of High Kings, ruling from Tara over a hierarchy of...
. His given name was Cairell. He and his two brothers, Muiredach (Colla Fo Chrí) and Áed (Colla Menn), were known was the Three Collas.
Overview
The Three Collas plotted against their uncle, the High King Fíacha Sroiptine. It was prophesied that whoever killed them, his descendants would never rule Ireland. While Fíacha's son Muiredach TirechMuiredach Tirech
Muiredach Tirech, son of Fiacha Sraibhtine, was a legendary High King of Ireland of the fourth century. He gained power by exiling the three Collas, who had killed his father. The Collas later returned and tried to provoke him into trying to kill them. When he didn't, they entered his service and...
was campaigning in Munster with his army, they defeated Fíacha in the Battle of Dubchomar, and Colla Uais took the throne. He ruled for four years, until Muiredach overthrew him, took the throne, and exiled him and his brothers, with three hundred men, to Alba
Alba
Alba is the Scottish Gaelic name for Scotland. It is cognate to Alba in Irish and Nalbin in Manx, the two other Goidelic Insular Celtic languages, as well as similar words in the Brythonic Insular Celtic languages of Cornish and Welsh also meaning Scotland.- Etymology :The term first appears in...
(Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
). Their mother, Ailech, was the daughter of Udaire, king of Alba, and they took service with their grandfather for three years. After that they returned to Ireland, hoping that Muiredach might kill them, and deprive his descendants of the throne. But Muiredach knew of the prophecy, and despite knowing they had killed his father, took them into his service.
After several years, Muiredach decided the Collas should have territory of their own, and sent them to conquer Ulster
Ulster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...
. With an army drawn from Connacht
Connacht
Connacht , formerly anglicised as Connaught, is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the west of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for...
, they fought seven battles in a week against the Ulaid
Ulaid
The Ulaid or Ulaidh were a people of early Ireland who gave their name to the modern province of Ulster...
at Achaidh Leithdeircc
Achaidh Leithdeircc
Cath Achaidh Leithdeircc h-i Fernmoigh The Battle of Achadh Leithdheirg, in Fearnmhagh took place in 331The place of the battle has been disputed*Farney, Monaghan, County Monaghan*Loughbrickland, County Down...
, killing Fergus Foga, king of Ulster, in the seventh. Colla Menn also died in this battle. They burned Emain Macha
Emain Macha
]Navan Fort – known in Old Irish as Eṁaın Ṁacha and in Modern Irish as Eamhain Mhacha – is an ancient monument in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. According to Irish legend, it was one of the major power centers of pre-Christian Ireland...
, the Ulster capital, after which it was abandoned, and seized substantial territories in Ulster, thought to be the origin of the kingdom of Airgíalla
Airgíalla
Airgíalla or Airgialla was the name of an Irish federation and Irish kingdom which first formed around the 7th century...
.
The chronology of Geoffrey Keating
Geoffrey Keating
Seathrún Céitinn, known in English as Geoffrey Keating, was a 17th century Irish Roman Catholic priest, poet and historian. He was born in County Tipperary c. 1569, and died c. 1644...
's Foras Feasa ar Éirinn dates Colla Uais' High Kingship to 306-310. The Annals of the Four Masters
Annals of the Four Masters
The Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland or the Annals of the Four Masters are a chronicle of medieval Irish history...
dates his High Kingship to 322-326, and his destruction of Emain Macha and conquest of Ulster to 331.
However, the chronology of early Irish historical tradition is known to be artificial. One story makes Fiachra Cassán of the Airgíalla, son of Colla Fo Chrí, the foster-father of Cormac mac Airt
Cormac mac Airt
Cormac mac Airt , also known as Cormac ua Cuinn or Cormac Ulfada , was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland...
, who according to the usual chronology was his own great great grandfather, and an alternative tradition dated the fall of Emain Macha to 450. It has been suggested that the Three Collas are doublets of Conall
Conall Gulban
Conall Gulban was an Irish king who founded the kingdom of Tír Conaill in the 5th century, comprising much of what is now County Donegal. He was the son of Niall Noígiallach....
, Endae and Eógan, the three sons of Niall Noígiallach, who also made conquests in Ulster in the 5th century.
Traditionally, the Three Collas were considered to be descended from the same ancestors as Niall Noígiallach. DNA testing of present-day descendants of Niall and the Collas, however, indicates that they were not related.
Derchairthinn
The sixth century female saint, Saint Derchairthinn (feast day March 8), associated with Oughter ArdOughter Ard
-Arthur Guinness and Other Notable Burials:Until the construction of the turnpike road in the adjoining valley in 1729, Oughterard was situated on the main road from Dublin to Limerick and Cork...
near Straffan
Straffan
Sruthán was mistakenly cited by Thomas O'Connor in the Ordnance Survey Letters in 1837, and adopted as the Irish form of Straffan. Seosamh Laoide used it in his list of Irish names of post-offices published in Post-Sheanchas . An Sruthán gained currency among those involved in the Irish revival...
(53.27789°N 6.56528°W), was said to be “of the race of Colla Uais, Monarch of Érinn”.