General Notes

[1700591.ged]
Noigiallach is the first undisputed historically documented high king.
He raided mainland Britain, Chester and Caerleon, in 395. He united the
southern Irish kingdom and Ulster.  He led several incursions and died
when his boat sank with all hands on yet another.  His people were called
Scotti, involving many confusions
with Scotland which was called Alba, or Caledonia.
There was an Irish kingdom called Dal Riada, founded by Carbri Riada, in
current day Scotland (Argyle & Kinyre), and Niall defended this against
the Picts. Dal Riada declared itself an independent Irish kingdom (like
Ulster) in 575 and became a
scottish kingdom in 634.
Tara was his seat, near Dublin, County Meath.  His line was called Ui
Neill (O'Neil) and ruled for 600 years.  St. Columba claimed descendancy
from him.  A strong pagan, 2 generations after his death saw the arrival
of Patrick to Ireland, and 2
generations after that saw the whole of Ireland becoming Christian in the
wake of a dreadful plague.
There were 2 legends regarding the choosing of Niall as High King.  The
first is when he was on an expedition with his four half brothers. 
Parched with thirst they came to a stream, but it was guarded with a
hideous hag who demanded that they kiss and
bed her for a drink.  Niall was the only one who agreed, and when he
approached her she became a beautiful goddess, who demanded the 4
brothers kneel and swear their allegiance, that no other could be king
but Niall.  The other says that when they were
young lads and working in the foundry, their father set it on fire to see
how they would each behave.  They all chose different things to save from
the fire, but only Niall chose the tools and anvil, the valuable pieces
without which another foundry
could not be raised.  Thus the father decreed that he would be king.
-from Kingdoms of the Celts: A History and Guide by John King 1998