General Notes

Niall reigned as the 170th Monarch of Ireland from 914 to 917. He had many
conflicts with the Danes in which generally he was victorious At length,
making up a great army, in order to besiege Dublin, a great battle was fought
between them in which the Monarch lost his life, and his army was later routed
in 919. From this Monarch, the surname O'Neill or Clan-na-Neil, Neilson, and
Nilson are derived. Niall Glundubh attained to the monarchy in 914 after the
death of Flan Siona, King of Meath. He died in battle near Dublin.

The following passage from one of the many "Lamentations" written by the Irish
bards after this Monarch's death, shows the affections entertained for him by
his people. Sorrowful this day in sacred Ireland
Without a valiant chief of 'hostage' reign;
It is to see the heavens without a sun,
To view Magh Neill without Niall.

"Magh Neill" here mentioned, signifies the Place of Niall - meaning no doubt,
the "O'Neill Land" forming the two baronies of that name in Armagh, which
constituted the ancient patrimony of Hy-Niallain, or the descendants of
Niallan, who was collaterally descended in the fifth degree from
Colla-da-Chrioch, whose heraldic emblem was "The Red Hand of Ulster".