Ríocht (nó b'fhéídir cónaidhm treibheanna) na gCruithne ba ea an Dál Araí (Sean-GhaeilgeDál nAraidi),[1][2] i n-oir-thuaisceart na hÉireann le linn na meánaoise. Ba chuid de 'chúige' Ulaid í an ríocht, agus bhíodh a ríthe in iomaíocht leis an Dál Fiatach le haghaidh ríogacht na cúige. Ba é Ráth Mór laistigh d'Aontroim a bpríomhchathair. Maítear gurbh é Fiacha Araí (Fiachu Araide) a sinsear eapainmneach.
Is amhlaidh go raibh an Dál Araí lonnaithe sna críocha chéanna ina raibh na Rhobogdioi (Ῥοβόγδιον) dar le Tolamaes ina shaothar dar teideal Geografaíocht. Fuarthas ann chomh maith an Dál Riada.
Ba é an Dál nAraidi Mag Line príomh-rítheaghlach an Dáil nAraí. Lonnaithe i ndeisceart Chontae Aontroma a bhí an dál, agus Ráth Mór a phríomhchathair.[6]
I lár na 7ú haoise, chloígh Dál nAraidi Mag Line, faoi cheannas Uí Chóelbad, ríocht Eilne ar an taobh thiar thuaidh, agus is amhlaidh gur lonnaigh craobh den dream ann.[7] In am trátha, tugadh Dál nAraidi ar an gcraobh seo sa Tuaiscirt agus Dál nAraidi Mag nEilne fosta.[8]
Faoi dheireadh na 8ú haoise, bhí craobhacha na gCruithne a bhí suite i gContaetha Aontroma agus an Dúin scartha óna chéile de bharr leathadh an Dáil Fhiatach.[2] Thiontaigh an chraobh ina ríocht darb teideal Uíbh Echach Cobo, atá anois suite ar Mhaigh Cobha i gContae an Dúin.[9][10] Dúradh gur ríthe Chobha (Cuib) iad. De réir ginealach meánaoiseach, ba de shliocht an Dáil Araí iad, cé gur lag é an nasc seo.[11] Faoin 10ú haois, bhí Uí Echach Cobo luaite mar cheann de dhá thuath déag Ulaid.[9]
Tugadh críocha Uíbh Echach Cobo mar bunús den déanacht mheánaoiseach agus cantred Normannach darbh ainm Oveh, maraon le deoise Dhroma Mhóir.[12] Galldaíodh é níos déanaí mar Iveagh. Ba hé leathadh a gceantar cumhachta, sa 14ú haois, a bheadh mar bhunús ar bharúntacht Uíbh Eachach.
Faoi thús an ré stairiúil in Éirinn sa 6ú haois, bhí ard-ríocht na nUlad teoranta a bheag nó a mhór taobh thoir den Bhanna.[14] Bhí críocha fós ámh ag na Cruithne taobh thiar den abhainn i gContae Dhoire. Sula ndeachaigh siadsan chun cinn is dócha go raibh finte níos luaite i gceannas ann.[14]
Sa bhliain 563, de réir Annála Uladh, is amhlaidh go raibh achrann inmheánach i measc na gCruithne agus mar thoradh, rinne Báetán mac Cinn margadh le hUí Néill an Tuaiscirt. Gheall sé dóibh críocha Ard Eólairg (Aird Mhic Giollagáin) agus an Lí, taobh thiar den Bhanna.[14] Mar thoradh sin, tharla Cath Mhóin Daire Lothair (Muine Mór an lae inniu) idir Uí Néill agus comhaontas ríthe Chruithne, inár cloíodh go millteanach na Chruithne.[14] I ndiaidh an catha, chuir Uí Néill a gcomhghuaillithe as Oirialla a gcónaí i nEilne, iar-chríocha Chruithne suite idir an Banna agus an Buais.[14] Idir an dá linn, chuir na Cruithne clóite atheagar orthu féin laistigh den Dál Araí.[14]
Sa bhliain 626, bhain rí Dhál Araí Congal Cáech ríogacht ruire na Ulad amach, agus sa bhliain 628, mharaigh sé i mbun catha an t-Ard Rí, Suibne Menn Uí Néill an Tuaiscirt.[15] Sa bhliain 629, bhí Connal i gceannas nuair a chloígh Uí Néill an Dál Araí.[14] Ag iarraidh tar éis sin an t-Ard-Ríogacht a bhaint amach do féin, bhunaigh Connal comhghuaillíochtaí leis an Dál Riada agus Srath Chluaidh. Mar thoradh siúd, tharla Cath Mhaigh Rath sa bhliain 637, inar maraíodh Connal ag an Ard-Rí Domnall mac Áedo Uí Néill an Tuaiscirt, agus i dteannta sin, lagaíodh go donna idir an Dál Araí agus an Dál Riada araon.[16][15]
Insítear san Annála Uladh Dúin bhliain 668 gur tharla Bellum Fertsi (Cath Bhéal Feirste) idir na 'hUlaid' (Dál Fiatach) and 'Cruithne' (Dál Araí).[14] Lena linn sin, bhí an Dál Araí ag tríd is aghaidh chúngrach Uí Néill an Tuaiscirt. Sa bhliain 681, maraíodh Dúngal Eilni den Dál Araí an Tuasicirt agus a chomhghuaillí Cenn Fáelad den Chiannachta as tuaisceart Dhoire ag Dún Cethirinn ag Máel Dúin den Cenél Mhic Ercae den Cenél nEógain.[14][17][18]
Le linn na 7ú haoise, chaill na Cruithne de réir a chéile a gcuid tailte taobh thiar den Bhanna, agus bhí an Dál Araí ansin an t-aon chineál amháin na gCruithne i gContae Aontroma.[2] Tar éis na bliana 776, ní ghlaonn na hannála a thuilleadh Cruthin ar an Dál nAraidi, ach ina ionad sin fir Ulad.[2]
Sa 8ú haois, chloígh an Dál Araí ríocht an Dáil Riada.[20] Ag an am gcéanna, mhéadaigh Dál Fiatach a gcuid críoch, ag sáinniú an Dáil Araí ó Uí Eachach Cobha.[2]
Faoi dheireadh na 9ú haoise, d'éirigh leis an Dál Araí cumhacht a bhaint den Dál Fiatach. Tháinig deireadh leis an gcinseal seo go dtí an bhliain 972, nuair a chuir Eochaid mac Ardgail an Dál Fiatach i réim arís.[21]
Sa bhliain 1005, Brian Bóramha ó thuaidh chun umhlú na nUlad a glacadh. Ní bhfuair sé ámh ach umhlú rí an Dáil Araí ina phríomhchathair Ráith Mór.[22]
Faoi thús na 12ú haoise, faoi cheannas Uí Loingsigh, bhí iar-críocha an Dáil Araí i nAontroim caillte acu d'Uí Fhloinn, agus teoranta ansin i Maigh Line. Príomhchlann Uí Thoirtre as Oirialla, agus ceannairí fosta na bhFear Lí ba ea Uí Fhloinn. Mar thoradh chleamhnas agus comhghuaillíochtaí, mar aon le brú cúngaigh ó Cenél nEógain, d'aistrigh siad féin soir thar an mBanna. Ach a raibh siad i gceannas i nAontroim, ghlaoigh siad orthu féin ní amháin tiarnaí a muintire féin, Uí Thoirtre, ach fosta ríthe Dhál Araí (an Tuaiscirt), Dhál Riada agus Fhir Lí.[20]
Dál Sailni:[38] Síolraithe ó Fedhlim Sailne.[38] B'fhéidir é gur iar-shaorthuath ba ea é, ach d'éirigh sé ina aitheachthuath na Dáil Araidi Mag Line. Cé go dtagadh na ríthe as rítheaghlach Dáil nAraidi Mag Line, mar a bhí Uí Choelbad, bhíodh an phríomheaglais, Conaire, i gcríocha an Dáil Shailne.[39] Tar éis ré na Lochlanach, ghlac Uí Tuirtri as Oirialla lena cúngracht an Dál Sailni agus a eaglais.[39]
Tuath Sine: luaite mar aithechthúatha an Dáil Araidi Mag Line.[38]
Domhnach Comhbhair.[3]An Comar i gContae an Dúin, b'fhéidir.[41] Deirtear gur tógadh an mhainistir seo ag Conla, a bhuail tráth le Naomh Pádraig.[41]
Domnach Mór Maige Damoerna.[3] Tuath ba ea Mag Damoerna.[37]
Gluaire.[3][42] Suite i dtuath Latharna, eaglais bunaithe ag Naomh Pádraig.[42]
Lathrach nó Leitir Pátraic,[3] aitheanta anois mar Lann Abhaigh.[34][43] Deirtear gur bhunaigh Naomh Pádraig an eaglais, a d'fhág i gceannas a dheisceabal Daniel, abhach.[43]
Dún Daen Hi Fidbaid, Dún dá Én i fFiodhbhaidh,[3] Dún Dá Éan i bhFíobha.[44][45] D'fhéadfadh gur chine é Hi Fidbaid, mar atá Uí Fidbaid; nó fíobha/foraois.[46]
Ráith Line, suite i Maigh Line, ainm eile b'fhéidir ar Ráith Mór.[47]
Ráith Sithe,[3] eaglais a deirtear gur bhunnaigh Naomh Pádraig í.[48] Faightear an tagairt is luaite fúithi i nAnnála Uladh, agus bás easpaig, 'Eoghan Ratha Sithe', sa bhliain 618 á thuairisc.[48][49]
Seo a leanas suíomhanna a bhíodh laistigh den Dál nAraidi, de réir fianaise:[3]
Airther Maigi Cobhai,[3][50][51]Oirthear Maí Chobha, suite i ríocht an Dáil Riada. Deirtear gur bhaist Naomh Pádraig Naomh Olcan anseo, agus d'insealbhaigh é mar easpag ann.
Cairloegh. Claimed as being located near Na Lee in what became the barony of Coleraine. Said to have been granted to Fiachra for defeating Ailill in the battle of Ocha.[23]
Cothraighe.[3][23] Located in Dál Riata, the name preserved in the barony of Cary.[3][23]
Cúil Raithin. Meaning "corner/nook of ferns".[52] Modern-day Coleraine. Located in Eilne, it was once an episcopal see.[3][23] A church had been founded here by St. Patrick.[23] It has been suggested that it lost its status after the Ui Choelbad ruling dynasty of the Dál nAraidi of Magh Line conquered Eilne in the mid-7th century, and a prince of theirs settled there. Their own church in Magh Line, at Domnach Combair, was also an episcopal see and they may have been content to see Cúil Raithin lose its status.[53]
Cúl Cáel. Where Fiacha mac Baetain, king of Dál nAraidi killed Fiacha mac Demain, king of Dál Fiatach. Possibly Kilkeel in County Down, which derives from Cill Chaoil.[23][54]
Inber Olarba, the estuary of the river Olarba, present-day Larne.[58]
Laethet.[34]Suíomh de cathidir Dál nAraidi agus Dál Fiatach, possibly modern-day Knocklayd, in the north of County Antrim.[34] Knocklayd derives from Cnoc Leithid, meaning "hill of the slope".[59]
Linn Dóe, alias Linn Uachaill, which formed part of the boundary of Dál nAraidi.[34] Said to belong to the Clanna Conall Cearnach.[34]
Linn in Goban, alias Linn na nGobann, Cenn Guba, and Cnoc Glinne. Said to have been where the legendary figure Tuathal Techtmar was slain.[23][34] Stated as being a hill at Móin an Chatha in Magh Line.[23]
Ross Torathair.[3][47] Suite gar do Chúil Raithin, a battle for this place between St. Columba and St. Comgall is referenced to in the Amra Choluim Chille, the Elegy of St. Columba.[47][60]
Scirit, aitheanta fosta mar Scirec Archaile, meaning (Arcail: great valley).[27] Now known as Skerry. Located near Slemish in Dál nAraidi in Tuaiscirt, it was an ancient burial place.[27]
Buas.[3] Modern-Irish An Bhuais, meaning "the cow-like one", modern-day River Bush.[61] A river in north-western County Antrim that was the boundary between west of Dál Riata and the east of Eilne.[3]
Fregabhail.[3] Modern-Irish Freabhal, meaning "towards the fork", modern-day Glenravel River.[5] Formed the northern border between Dál nAraidi and Dál Riata.[5] It also formed part of the boundary between the medieval deanerys of Tuaisceart and Ui Tuirtre.[57]
Men, alias Mena, Main, Myn, modern-Irish An Mhin, meaning "the river/water", now known as the River Maine. This river flowed into "Rubha Mena", now known as Mainwater Foot, at Lough Neagh.[36][63]
Ollarba, alias Olarba.[3][58] Modern-day River Larne, which empties into Larne Lough.[64] Some claim it is instead the Six Mile Water, which starts near Larne and empties into Lough Neagh.[65] It was located to the south-east of Magh Line, running past Ráith Mór.[58]
Olar. A river that like the Olarba starts at Móin an Chatha but instead flows into Lough Neagh.[36]
Átha
Fertais Tuama.[3] Modern-Irish Fearsaid Thuama, meaning the "ford of Toome", present-day Toome.[66] The ford referenced crossed the River Bann near Lough Neagh.
Foraoisí
Conaire, also spelt as Condaire and Connere.[3][67] Modern-Irish Coinnire, meaning "(wild-)dog oak-wood", and Anglicised as Conner. It is the location of the medieval cathedral for the diocese of Connor. Its patron is stated as being St. Mac Nissi.[68]
Gleannta
Arcail, a great glen located to the north of Sliabh Mis. Now known as the Braid Valley.[50]
Glenn in Scáil, alias Muintir Diugna.[36] Near Slemish, it is where Milchú kept St. Patrick as a slave.[69]
Glenn Indechta.[3] Modern-Irish Gleann Fhinneachta, meaning "Finneacht's glen", Anglicised as Glynn.[4] St. Patrick is said to have founded a church here. Glenn Indechta also marked the southern boundary of the kingdom of Dál Riata.[4]
Locha
Loch Daim Deircc. A lake located west of Tráig Fhirgrinne Mic Dheagaid and of Uisce Labrainde, both west of Slemish.[34][70]
Loch Laigh, alias Loch Lóig and Loch Láig.[23][34] Modern-Irish Loch Lao, meaning "sea-inlet of the calf", now known as Belfast Lough.[71]
Macairí srl
Magh Latrainn, alias Lathraind, Latharrne, and Latharna, the plain of Latharna running from the hills to the sea.[36]
Móin an Chatha, the bog of which the rivers Olar and Ollarba start.[36]
Monai, a bog located somewhere in Dál nAraidi.[36]
Sléibhte
Arda Corrain. A battle occurred here between the Dál nAraidi and Dál Riata. Fiachna mac Demmain, king of Dál nAraidi and Ulaid was slain here. Possibly the hill above "the Corran of Larne".[50]
Cnoc Cennghaba, alias Cnoc Glinne-an-Gabhann and Cnoc Glindi Ui Gaband, located in Magh Line.[23] A prince of Fremand Fini was also slain here.[23]
Crich Araide Adruiad.[23] One of the mountains of Ulaid, seen from County Louth.[23]
Slebe Ulad. Mountains of Ulaid, containing Crích Araide Adruaid, Sliab Mis magnech, Monor nGand, and Sliab Caín Comramach Calland.[72]
Sliab Cáin, Sliabh Cáin, suite i nGleann an Scáil.[27]
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