Niall of the Nine Hostages (400-450) was the Chief of Kildare from 430 to 450, preceding Eogan mac Neill.
Biography[]
Niall was the son of Eochaid Mugmedon, the High King of Ireland, and his second wife Cairenn Chasdub. His stepmother Mongfind attempted to force his mother to miscarry by putting her through hard labor; Niall was nevertheless born healthy and was raised by the poet Torna, and he later returned to Tara to save his mother from her labors. He won a tournament against his brothers to become his father's heir, and, after he kissed a hideous hag in return for water, she revealed herself to be a beautiful maiden, the Sovereignty of Ireland; she then promised Niall that 26 generations of his family wouls be High Kings of Ireland. Niall became High King while his brothers became local kings, and he later went to war with Ennae Cennsalach, King of Leinster. Ennae's son Eochaid mac Ennai killed nine warriors sent to execute him, and Niall was killed by Eochaid while raiding Brittany across the English Channel.