Aileach

Aileach (Runic: ᛅᛁᛚᛁᛅᚼ) is a former hillfort in County Donegal, Ireland. In the medieval period, the hillfort served as the seat and stronghold of the Kingdom of Aileach, ruled by descendants of Eógan mac Néill, the son of Niall of the Nine Hostages.

History[edit | edit source]

In the late 9th century, jarlskona Eivor Varinsdottir of the Raven Clan traveled to the settlement to find her cousin, Bárid mac Ímair, the King of Dublin, and see the Kings of Aileach, with Flann's blessing. Before her arrival, Eivor received a Kings' Pass from a Viking in Donegal. Entering the kings' home, Eivor saw both kings and a seemingly drunk Bárid. From their conversation, Eivor saw Bárid was acting drunk and started to speak coded messages within the conversation between them and the kings. At the end of the conversation, Eivor deduced that prisoners were being kept inside the ringfort and left Bárid with the kings.^[1]

From the inside, Eivor let the prisoners loose and took out the soldiers within Aileach. Taking the kings as hostages, Eivor and Bárid interrogated Kings Niall and Domnall about their captives. Both kings revealed they were forced by the Abbot Eogan mac Cartaigh to take any prisoners as he built up his army to march against the Southern Army. From the shock of Eogan's pending betrayal, Bárid already sent a messenger to Flann about this revelation. Eivor left to meet with the High King as Bárid took care of business with the captive kings.^[1]

Throughout her journey, Eivor found and claimed the Celtic Helmet within a treasure chest, under the ringfort of Aileach. Eivor also claimed a tungsten ingot, after killing and looting a soldier within the ringfort.^[2]