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The Three Collas

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testers have traced their ancestry back to an ancient McDonald pedigree that goes back to Colla Uais. Two McMahon testers have traced their ancestry McMahon pedigree that goes back to Colla Crioch. In 2009, a public project was started at Family Tree DNA for testers who have Colla DNA. The testers with Colla DNA belong to a haplogroup named R-Z3008, a mutation that occurred very roughly around 450 AD. This differs from the R-M222 haplogroup of testers with surnames descended from the Uí Néill and the Connachta. The historical interpretation by Donald Schlegel is consistent with recent Y-DNA analysis.
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In 2020, a study of 466 testers with Z3008 Y-DNA found that 232 have 20 surnames found in ancient Irish genealogies descended from the Three Collas. The 232 testers are composed of 53 McDonald, 43 McMahon, 23 McKenna, 17 MacCan, 17 Duffy, 12 McGuire, 8 Hughes, 8 McQuillan, 8 Monaghan, 7 Boylan, 5
288:, who established the kingdoms of Tir Eógan and Tir Conaill in north-western Ulster in the mid-5th century. He believes the Three Collas are literary doublets of the three sons of Niall, their story a genealogical fiction intended to give the tributary kingdoms of the Airgialla a noble pedigree. 195:
The mother of Three Collas was said to be Ailech, the daughter of Udhaire, king of Alba. According to Keating's version Udhaire put them in command of three hundred warriors. After that they returned to Ireland, hoping that Muiredach might kill them, and deprive his descendants of the throne. But
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In 2007, Josiah McGuire discovered that male DNA testers with surnames historically associated with the Three Collas in ancient pedigrees had the same Y-chromosome DNA. This Y-DNA is passed down from father to son like surnames. Included among the surnames were McDonald and McMahon. Six McDonald
276:, the traditional story of the Three Collas is not historical, although it has a basis in history. O'Rahilly argues that the breaking of the power of the Ulaid, the destruction of Emain Macha and the establishment of the kingdoms of the Airgialla were actually accomplished by the three sons of 240:
dates his High Kingship to 322–326, and his destruction of Emain Macha and conquest of Ulster to 331. However, the chronology of early Irish historical tradition is regarded by historians as artificial. One story makes Fiachra Cassán of the Airgíalla, son of Colla Fo Chrí, the foster-father of
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Donald Schlegel claims the brothers' tripartite names to be the only examples in ancient Ireland of brothers using the Roman style naming convention of personal name followed by family name followed by an epithet. This may reflect their alleged "return" from exile in
184:, with Colla Uais taking the kingship. It was prophesied that whoever killed them, his descendants would never rule Ireland. Colla Uais ruled in Fíacha's place for three years (323-326 AD), and as High-King of Ireland for four years, until Fiacha's son 889:
Note: This family tree does not reflect the fact the DNA data of Colla descendants does not match that of Eochaid Mugmedón descendants, namely those of Niall of the Nine Hostages who bear the widely-distributed M222 mutation.
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for four years. Recent DNA analysis confirms the history of the Three Collas in fourth-century Ireland, but questions their descent from Eochaid Doimlén and Cairbre Lifechair.
326:, the name given to the territory the Three Collas conquered in Ulster. In regards to Colla, it may derive from the names Coill or Coel, both of which 223:, the Ulster capital, after which it was abandoned, and seized substantial territories in mid-Ulster, thought to be the origin of the kingdom of 245:, who according to the usual chronology was his own great great grandfather, and an alternative tradition dated the fall of Emain Macha to 450. 1162: 144: 116: 1167: 123: 38:) were, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, the fourth-century sons of Eochaid Doimlén, son of 311:. Schlegel suggests that being put in command of 300 soldiers may have meant that were centurions in the Roman army. 163: 97: 130: 199:
After several years, Muiredach decided the Collas should have territory of their own, and sent them to conquer
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Muiredach knew of the prophecy, and despite knowing they had killed his father, took them into his service.
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Schlegel also argues that the Three Collas, along with their name "Colla", may have descended from the
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Hart, 5 Kelly, 4 Higgins, 4 McArdle, 4 MacDougall, 3 Carroll, 3 Cooley, 3 Larkin, 3 Neal, 2 Devine.
1007: 942: 90: 1080: 137: 285: 63: 277: 8: 1003: 989: 978: 212: 1119: 962: 663: 462: 177: 1091: 273: 359: 39: 1144: 1131: 1069: 955: 575: 327: 292: 219:, king of Ulster, in the seventh. Colla Menn also died in this battle. They burned 185: 242: 307:, which at the traditional time of their story—the 4th-century—was part of the 261: 31: 1156: 946:: The Book of the Taking of Ireland Part V, Irish Texts Society, 1956, p. 343 851: 281: 249: 188:
banished the Three Collas, exiling them and three hundred followers to Alba (
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Dáibhí Ó Cróinín, "Ireland, 400-800", in Dáibhí Ó Cróinín (ed.),
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The martyrology of Donegal; a calendar of the saints of Ireland
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This theory is followed by more recent historians, including
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According to tradition, the Three Collas killed their uncle,
304: 1034:, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 1946, pp. 224-232 1058:
A New History of Ireland I: Prehistoric and Early Ireland
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of Britain. He claims that Trinovantes mistranslated by
869: 1020:The Martyrology of Óengus mac Óengobann the Culdee 207:, they fought seven battles in a week against the 1154: 1104:Newsletter of the Middlesex Genealogical Society 234:dates Colla Uais' High Kingship to 306–310. The 180:, at the Battle of Dubhchomar, in Crioch Rois, 1081:Clan Colla R-Z3000 project at Family Tree DNA 940:R. A. Stewart Macalister (ed. & trans.), 330:mentioned in the area the Trinovantes lived, 1085: 1074: 1063: 1060:, Oxford University Press, 2006, pp. 202-203 923: 921: 919: 917: 915: 267: 1096: 1102:"Relating Y-DNA to Ancient Genealogies," 912: 164:Learn how and when to remove this message 929:Reweaving the Tapestry of Ancient Ulster 322:into Irish could have produced the name 14: 1155: 876: 874: 867: 865: 858: 856: 849: 847: 845: 843: 821: 819: 817: 811: 809: 807: 789: 787: 785: 783: 764: 758: 756: 754: 752: 750: 744: 742: 740: 738: 736: 734: 724: 722: 720: 714: 712: 710: 708: 706: 700: 698: 696: 694: 692: 690: 683: 681: 679: 673: 671: 669: 667: 662: 660: 658: 656: 654: 652: 642: 640: 638: 632: 630: 628: 626: 624: 618: 616: 614: 612: 610: 608: 599: 597: 592: 590: 585: 583: 581: 579: 574: 572: 570: 568: 566: 564: 512: 510: 508: 506: 504: 498: 496: 494: 492: 490: 488: 477: 472: 470: 468: 466: 461: 459: 457: 455: 453: 451: 425: 423: 421: 399: 397: 395: 393: 391: 389: 374: 372: 369: 358: 356: 354: 352: 350: 348: 1047:, Four Courts Press, 2001, pp. 66-73 102:adding citations to reliable sources 73: 24: 1070:Abridged Clan Colla Big Y SNP Tree 998:, 1575-1643; 1861 edition editors 272:According to a theory advanced by 25: 1179: 1092:R-M222 project at Family Tree DNA 1032:Early Irish History and Mythology 248:The sixth century female saint, 78: 1163:Legendary High Kings of Ireland 893: 89:needs additional citations for 1050: 1037: 1024: 1013: 983: 967: 949: 934: 931:, pp. 729-731. Clogher Record. 341: 13: 1: 906: 927:Schlegel, Donald M. (2002); 230:The chronology of Keating's 7: 10: 1184: 1168:4th-century Irish monarchs 1045:Irish Kings and High Kings 975:Annals of the Four Masters 237:Annals of the Four Masters 203:. With an army drawn from 1141: 1124: 1116: 837: 835: 833: 825: 823: 815: 813: 805: 801: 795: 773: 760: 748: 746: 728: 726: 718: 716: 704: 702: 677: 675: 646: 644: 636: 634: 622: 620: 558: 556: 554: 548: 546: 544: 536: 532: 530: 528: 526: 524: 518: 502: 500: 475: 445: 443: 441: 439: 437: 429: 427: 419: 415: 413: 407: 405: 385: 379: 367: 365: 363: 268:Historical interpretation 69: 48:Muiredach Colla Fo Chrí 1106:, December 2020, p. 5 62:. Colla Uais ruled as 960:Foras Feasa ar Éirinn 232:Foras Feasa ar Éirinn 1127:High King of Ireland 98:improve this article 64:High King of Ireland 42:. Their names were: 1010:1815-1892;1864, p71 1004:James Henthorn Todd 213:Achaidh Leithdeircc 1043:Francis J. Byrne, 996:Mícheál Ó Cléirigh 943:Lebor Gabála Érenn 252:, associated with 113:"The Three Collas" 44:Cairell Colla Uais 1151: 1150: 1142:Succeeded by 1030:T. F. O'Rahilly, 887: 886: 360:Cairbre Lifechair 278:Niall Noígiallach 174: 173: 166: 148: 40:Cairbre Lifechair 16:(Redirected from 1175: 1145:Muiredach Tirech 1120:Fíacha Sroiptine 1117:Preceded by 1114: 1113: 1109: 1100: 1094: 1089: 1083: 1078: 1072: 1067: 1061: 1054: 1048: 1041: 1035: 1028: 1022: 1017: 1011: 987: 981: 971: 965: 956:Geoffrey Keating 953: 947: 938: 932: 925: 664:Eochaid Mugmedón 576:Muiredach Tirech 463:Fíacha Sroiptine 346: 345: 328:Geoffrey Keating 297:Dáibhí Ó Cróinín 293:Francis J. Byrne 186:Muiredach Tirech 178:Fíacha Sroiptine 169: 162: 158: 155: 149: 147: 106: 82: 74: 52:Colla da Chrioch 28:The Three Collas 21: 1183: 1182: 1178: 1177: 1176: 1174: 1173: 1172: 1153: 1152: 1147: 1135: 1130: 1122: 1112: 1101: 1097: 1090: 1086: 1079: 1075: 1068: 1064: 1055: 1051: 1042: 1038: 1029: 1025: 1018: 1014: 988: 984: 972: 968: 954: 950: 939: 935: 926: 913: 909: 896: 473:Eochaid Doimlén 344: 274:T. F. O'Rahilly 270: 243:Cormac mac Airt 170: 159: 153: 150: 107: 105: 95: 83: 72: 23: 22: 15: 12: 11: 5: 1181: 1171: 1170: 1165: 1149: 1148: 1143: 1140: 1123: 1118: 1111: 1110: 1095: 1084: 1073: 1062: 1049: 1036: 1023: 1012: 1008:William Reeves 1000:John O'Donovan 982: 966: 948: 933: 910: 908: 905: 895: 892: 885: 883: 882: 875: 873: 866: 864: 857: 855: 848: 846: 844: 841: 840: 838: 836: 834: 832: 830: 827: 826: 824: 822: 820: 818: 816: 814: 812: 810: 808: 806: 804: 802: 800: 798: 796: 794: 792: 790: 788: 786: 784: 781: 780: 778: 775: 774: 772: 770: 763: 761: 759: 757: 755: 753: 751: 749: 747: 745: 743: 741: 739: 737: 735: 732: 730: 729: 727: 725: 723: 721: 719: 717: 715: 713: 711: 709: 707: 705: 703: 701: 699: 697: 695: 693: 691: 688: 686: 685: 684:Fiachra Cassán 682: 680: 678: 676: 674: 672: 670: 668: 666: 661: 659: 657: 655: 653: 650: 648: 647: 645: 643: 641: 639: 637: 635: 633: 631: 629: 627: 625: 623: 621: 619: 617: 615: 613: 611: 609: 606: 604: 603: 598: 596: 591: 589: 584: 582: 580: 578: 573: 571: 569: 567: 565: 562: 561: 559: 557: 555: 553: 551: 549: 547: 545: 543: 541: 538: 537: 535: 533: 531: 529: 527: 525: 523: 521: 519: 517: 515: 513: 511: 509: 507: 505: 503: 501: 499: 497: 495: 493: 491: 489: 486: 485: 483: 480: 479: 476: 474: 471: 469: 467: 465: 460: 458: 456: 454: 452: 449: 448: 446: 444: 442: 440: 438: 436: 434: 431: 430: 428: 426: 424: 422: 420: 418: 416: 414: 412: 410: 408: 406: 404: 402: 400: 398: 396: 394: 392: 390: 387: 386: 384: 382: 380: 377: 376: 373: 371: 368: 366: 364: 362: 357: 355: 353: 351: 349: 343: 340: 269: 266: 262:County Kildare 172: 171: 86: 84: 77: 71: 68: 60:Áed Colla Menn 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1180: 1169: 1166: 1164: 1161: 1160: 1158: 1146: 1138: 1133: 1129: 1128: 1121: 1115: 1108: 1105: 1099: 1093: 1088: 1082: 1077: 1071: 1066: 1059: 1053: 1046: 1040: 1033: 1027: 1021: 1016: 1009: 1005: 1001: 997: 993: 992: 986: 980: 977: 976: 970: 964: 961: 957: 952: 945: 944: 937: 930: 924: 922: 920: 918: 916: 911: 904: 900: 891: 884: 881: 880: 872: 871: 863: 862: 854: 853: 842: 839: 831: 829: 828: 803: 799: 797: 793: 791: 782: 779: 777: 776: 771: 769: 768: 762: 733: 731: 689: 687: 665: 651: 649: 607: 605: 602: 595: 594:Colla Fó Chrí 588: 577: 563: 560: 552: 550: 542: 540: 539: 534: 522: 520: 516: 514: 487: 484: 482: 481: 464: 450: 447: 435: 433: 432: 417: 411: 409: 403: 401: 388: 383: 381: 378: 361: 347: 339: 337: 333: 329: 325: 321: 317: 312: 310: 306: 300: 298: 294: 289: 287: 283: 279: 275: 265: 263: 259: 255: 251: 250:Derchairthinn 246: 244: 239: 238: 233: 228: 226: 222: 218: 214: 210: 206: 202: 197: 193: 191: 187: 183: 179: 168: 165: 157: 146: 143: 139: 136: 132: 129: 125: 122: 118: 115: –  114: 110: 109:Find sources: 103: 99: 93: 92: 87:This section 85: 81: 76: 75: 67: 65: 61: 57: 53: 49: 45: 41: 37: 33: 29: 19: 1125: 1103: 1098: 1087: 1076: 1065: 1057: 1052: 1044: 1039: 1031: 1026: 1015: 990: 985: 973: 969: 959: 951: 941: 936: 928: 901: 897: 894:DNA analysis 888: 877: 868: 859: 850: 765: 600: 593: 586: 334:(modern-day 313: 309:Roman Empire 301: 290: 284:, Endae and 271: 247: 235: 231: 229: 198: 194: 175: 160: 151: 141: 134: 127: 120: 108: 96:Please help 91:verification 88: 59: 55: 51: 50:(also spelt 47: 43: 35: 32:Modern Irish 27: 26: 1006:1805-1869; 1002:1809-1861; 342:Family tree 332:Camulodunum 316:Trinovantes 254:Oughter Ard 221:Emain Macha 217:Fergus Foga 154:August 2022 1157:Categories 907:References 601:Colla Menn 587:Colla Uais 336:Colchester 215:, killing 124:newspapers 36:Trí Cholla 18:Colla Uais 861:Connachta 767:Airgíalla 324:Airgíalla 225:Airgíalla 1139:322–326 979:M322-331 879:Uí Maine 852:Uí Néill 258:Straffan 205:Connacht 190:Scotland 56:Fochrich 1134:306–310 138:scholar 58:); and 478:Ailech 375:Udaire 320:Ollams 295:, and 282:Conall 201:Ulster 182:Breagh 140:  133:  126:  119:  111:  70:Legend 286:Eógan 256:near 209:Ulaid 145:JSTOR 131:books 54:, or 963:1.47 370:Aine 305:Alba 117:news 1137:AFM 1132:FFE 338:). 211:at 192:). 100:by 1159:: 994:, 958:, 914:^ 299:. 280:, 260:, 227:. 46:; 34:: 870:* 167:) 161:( 156:) 152:( 142:· 135:· 128:· 121:· 94:. 30:( 20:)

Index

Colla Uais
Modern Irish
Cairbre Lifechair
High King of Ireland

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"The Three Collas"
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Fíacha Sroiptine
Breagh
Muiredach Tirech
Scotland
Ulster
Connacht
Ulaid
Achaidh Leithdeircc
Fergus Foga
Emain Macha
Airgíalla
Annals of the Four Masters
Cormac mac Airt
Derchairthinn
Oughter Ard

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