The Cenél nGabráin was a kingroup, presumed to descend from Gabrán mac Domangairt,[1] which dominated the kingship of Dál Riata until the late 7th century and continued to provide kings thereafter. Kings of Alba and of Scotland traced their descent through Gabrán to his grandfather Fergus Mór, who was seen as the ultimate founder of the royal house as late as the 16th and 17th centuries, long after the Gaelic origins of the kingdom.
Unlike the Cenél Loairn, the Senchus Fer n-Alban does not list any kindreds within the Cenél nGabráin. However, probable descendants of Gabrán, such as Dúnchad mac Conaing and his many kinsmen, would appear to have disputed the succession with the descendants of Eochaid Buide grandson of Gabrán, so that this absence of explicit segments in the kindred may be misleading.[2] A genealogy of David I of Scotland in the Book of Ballymote notes the following divisions:
After Eochaid Buide, between the main line and the "children of Fergus Goll" and the "children of Connad Cerr ... or the men of Fife", although modern studies make Connad Cerr a member of the Cenél Comgaill
The domain of the Cenél nGabráin appears to have been centred in Kintyre and Knapdale and may have included Arran, Jura and Gigha. The title king of Kintyre is used of a number of presumed kings of the Cenél nGabráin. Two probable royal sites are known, Dunadd, which lies at the northern edge of their presumed lands, and Aberte (or Dún Aberte), which is very likely the later Dunaverty on the headland beside Southend, Kintyre.
Kilmartin may have been an important early Christian site by reason of its proximity to Dunadd and its dedication to Saint Martin of Tours, as may Kilmichael Glassary. However, there appears to be no religious site of the importance of Lismore in the lands of the rival Cenél Loairn.
^See Sharpe's discussion of Ioan mac Domnaill mac Gabráin, note 258 to Adomnán's Life; the presumption that the Cenél nGabráin takes its name from Gabrán mac Domangairt is no more than that.
^Sharpe, "The thriving of Dalriada", argues for the unimportance of such segments.
Lane, Alan & Campbell, Ewan, Dunadd: An early Dalriadic capital, Oxbow Books, Oxford, 2000. ISBN1-84217-024-4
Sharpe, Richard, "The thriving of Dalriada" in Simon Taylor (ed.), Kings, clerics and chronicles in Scotland 500–1297. Four Courts, Dublin, 2000. ISBN1-85182-516-9
April 12, 2024
cenél, ngabráin, kingroup, presumed, descend, from, gabrán, domangairt, which, dominated, kingship, dál, riata, until, late, century, continued, provide, kings, thereafter, kings, alba, scotland, traced, their, descent, through, gabrán, grandfather, fergus, mó. The Cenel nGabrain was a kingroup presumed to descend from Gabran mac Domangairt 1 which dominated the kingship of Dal Riata until the late 7th century and continued to provide kings thereafter Kings of Alba and of Scotland traced their descent through Gabran to his grandfather Fergus Mor who was seen as the ultimate founder of the royal house as late as the 16th and 17th centuries long after the Gaelic origins of the kingdom Unlike the Cenel Loairn the Senchus Fer n Alban does not list any kindreds within the Cenel nGabrain However probable descendants of Gabran such as Dunchad mac Conaing and his many kinsmen would appear to have disputed the succession with the descendants of Eochaid Buide grandson of Gabran so that this absence of explicit segments in the kindred may be misleading 2 A genealogy of David I of Scotland in the Book of Ballymote notes the following divisions After Aedan mac Gabrain between the main line called the sons of Eochaid Buide and the children of Cinaed mac Ailpin and the sons of Conaing After Eochaid Buide between the main line and the children of Fergus Goll and the children of Connad Cerr or the men of Fife although modern studies make Connad Cerr a member of the Cenel Comgaill After Eochaid mac Domangairt between the main line and the Cenel ComgaillThe domain of the Cenel nGabrain appears to have been centred in Kintyre and Knapdale and may have included Arran Jura and Gigha The title king of Kintyre is used of a number of presumed kings of the Cenel nGabrain Two probable royal sites are known Dunadd which lies at the northern edge of their presumed lands and Aberte or Dun Aberte which is very likely the later Dunaverty on the headland beside Southend Kintyre Kilmartin may have been an important early Christian site by reason of its proximity to Dunadd and its dedication to Saint Martin of Tours as may Kilmichael Glassary However there appears to be no religious site of the importance of Lismore in the lands of the rival Cenel Loairn See also editOrigins of the Kingdom of Alba List of monarchs of ScotlandNotes edit See Sharpe s discussion of Ioan mac Domnaill mac Gabrain note 258 to Adomnan s Life the presumption that the Cenel nGabrain takes its name from Gabran mac Domangairt is no more than that Sharpe The thriving of Dalriada argues for the unimportance of such segments References editAdomnan of Iona Life of Saint Columba tr amp ed Richard Sharpe Penguin London 1995 ISBN 0 14 044462 9 Bannerman John Studies in the History of Dalriada Scottish Academic Press Edinburgh 1974 ISBN 0 7011 2040 1 Lane Alan amp Campbell Ewan Dunadd An early Dalriadic capital Oxbow Books Oxford 2000 ISBN 1 84217 024 4 Sharpe Richard The thriving of Dalriada in Simon Taylor ed Kings clerics and chronicles in Scotland 500 1297 Four Courts Dublin 2000 ISBN 1 85182 516 9 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cenel nGabrain amp oldid 1082987565, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
