When Inishowen ruled Donegal, all of Ulster and sometimes Ireland

The Lands of Éogain project will host a special cultural evening in the Inishowen Maritime Museum, Greencastle, on Friday 26 September.
The event will mark the launch of historian and archaeologist Brian Lacey’s latest book, Cenél nEógain and the Donegal Kingdoms, AD 800-1200, which traces how a royal dynasty from Inishowen rose to dominate Ulster after defeating their rivals, the Cenél Conaill, at the Battle of Clóitech (near Clady in what’s now County Tyrone) in 789.

From their power base at Ailech, the Cenél nEógain extended their influence across Derry, Tyrone, and Armagh, producing ruling families such as the Mac Lochlainns and the O'Neill’s who shared and alternated the high-kingship of Tara with the ruling clans from the south.

The Cenél Conaill made a comeback by around 1200 and from then until the Ulster plantation in the 1600s, the O’Neills and the O’Donnells ruled Ulster. Lacey's book covers the period from 800-1200 and will describe how this came about.

Read more: Inishowen's Spanish Armada treasures to undergo conservation work

Dr Brian Lacey is a leading authority on the history and archaeology of north-west Ireland between 500-1200AD and has published some 15 books and many research papers besides.

His latest work, a 352-page illustrated study published by Four Courts Press, was released on 19 September and will be officially launched at 7.30pm on Friday 26 September in the Inishowen Maritime Museum in Greencastle.
The evening will also see the launch of a new History Inishowen podcast and a new Lands of Éogain website.

Admission is free, with music and refreshments on the night. Doors open at 7pm.

Archaeology field trip

Earlier on Friday 26 September, archaeologists from the National Monuments Service and local archaeologists will lead a field trip delving into some of Inishowen's pre-Christian and early Christian sites.

The field trip will include a little walking over rough terrain, and participants are advised to wear walking boots, waterproofs and to bring water and snacks.

The trip leaves from the council offices car-park in Carndonagh at 2pm and is scheduled to take three hours. Attendance is free, but please register through the eventbrite.ie website.