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From:
Subject: Colla vs. Dalriata
Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2006 03:47:54 EST


I find myself quite baffled by posts on this list which somehow confuse the
line of Colla Uais and the Irish Dal Riata in Scotland. By legend, the Irish
Dal Riata in the persons of Fergus Mor, Angus and Loarn, sons of Erc, did
invade and settle in Scotland sometime in the 5th century AD. Old Irish
genealogical manuscripts preserve this pedigree in the line of the Kings of
Scotland.

Rawlinson B.502 (ca. 1120 AD).

ITEM RÍG ALBAN
.
¶1697] Máel Snechtae m. Lulaich m. Gillai Comgáin m. Máel Brigti m. Ruaidrí
m.
Domnaill m. Morggáin m. Cathamail m. Ruaidrí m. Ailgelaich m. Ferchair m.
Feradaich
m. Fergusa m. Nechtain m. Colmáin m. Báetáin m. Echdach m. Muiredaich m.
Loairn m.
Eircc m. Echach Muinremuir.

There is also a confused variant of the same legend in Keating's History
which makes the three sons of Erc (Fergus Mor, Loarn and Angus) brothers of
Muirchertach Mac Erca, the Ui Neill Irish High King. Some old clan histories
(such as the MacNeills) quote this version of the legend. But it's obviously
a duplicate of the earlier legend correcting deducing Erc from Echach
Muinremuir as in the Rawlinson pedigree.

But whether it is true or not the legend of the Irish Dal Riata is quite
distinct from that of Colla Uais, one of three brothers said to be the
ancestors of the Irish Airgialla, to which the MacDonalds are linked by pedigrees
dating to the 14th century (G2 ms). In the infamous ms. 1467 of Skene, only
the MacDonalds have a pedigree linked to Colla Uais. The great majority of
Scottish clans are linked to descendants of the Irish Dal Riata; a few are
linked to the O'Neills of Ireland through the person of Anradan. Some are
admittedly Norse in origin.

That being said, there were historical links between the Airgialla of
Ireland and western Scotland. Sellar mentioned most of them in his valiant if
flawed defense of the MacDonald pedigree. And no one yet has volunteered an
explanation for why the Airgialla would be listed as a fighting force among the
Cenel Loarn in the Shenchus Fer nAlban (10th century). Are they the same as
the Airgialla or Ireland or just have the same tribal name? No one seems to
know or venture an opinion.

"he expeditionary force of the Cenel Loairnd, seven hundred men, but the
seventh hundred is
from the Airgialla. If it be an expeditionary force, moreover, for
sea-voyaging, two seven-benchers from every twenty houses of them."

I"ve seen a lot of talk on this list about a Colla DNA pattern. Or is it
really a Dal Riata DNA pattern, because the two things are quite different
in historical terms.. Both lines (Airgialla and Dal Riata) are tied into the
stem of the Ui Neill line in Ireland at different places, and both are most
likely pure fiction. O Rahilly (Early Irish History and Mythology)
identifies the Irish Dal Riata as Erainn; quite distinct from the Q-Celtic Ui Neill
tribe to whom they were linked by pedigree. The Erainn were Belgae, originally
from northern Gaul, with branches in Britain and Ireland.

When it comes to DNA and the Dal Riata in Ireland there is probably not
much to check. The royal house removed itelf to Scotland as portrayed in the
sons of Erc legend; and although the territory name survived in Antrim and is
still known as the Ruta or Route no surnames are associated with the Dal
Riata in later Irish history. No known clans in Ireland descend from this stock.

And what, pray tell, happened to all the Picts or Cruithin in Scotland (or
Pretani). In terms of pedigrees and clan histories they all disappeared,
except for a brief mention in legends mentioning Kenneth MacAlpin uniting the
kingdoms of the Picts and Scots.

The line of the Collas in Ireland is also a complete mystery. O Rahilly
didn't buy their descent from the Ui Neill of Tara; he thought they were a
ragtag collection of mercenery tribes who served the Ui Neill of Tara as
fighting forces and were rewarded with land in Ulster taken from the Ulaidh.

So what is it you have really found? A genetic pattern applicable to the
Collas or one applicable to the Dal Riata? If it's a Colla pattern there
should be connections to the Maguires, McMahons, O Flynns and other Airgialla
tribes of Ireland. But DNA researchers in Ireland are reporting difficulties
in establishing links between the Airgialla tribes, in particular, between the
Maguires and the MacMahons, indicating the old tale of the Collas may not be
true after all. And as far as I am aware there is nothing left to test in
Ireland in terms of the old Irish Dal Riata, since no identifiable surnames
or chieftains survive..

The truth probably is the Scottish clans, especially those in the west,
were probably a mixture of tribes, including remnants of the old Picts, some
Brythonic tribes, Erainn from Ireland (the Dal Riata) and possibly some
Airgialla tribes from Ireland. Possibly even some Ui Neill tribes, if the old
legends have any truth in them at all. One thing is sure - there was a lot of
coming and going between the western parts of Scotland and Ireland over the
centuries. And the old legends of the settlement of Scotland probably only tell
part of the story and may not even get that exactly right


John





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