Looking for Information on Early Rathlin Island

kroisis

Historically I find reference to what is now commonly called "Rathlin Island" listed under the names: Rikina (Ptolemy), Rechru (St. Columba), Reachra, Reachrainn, Reachlainn, Rechrean, Rathlin (circa 1200), and Raghery (semi-current).

What i am particularly interested in are any known records of what the island looked like and who was living there at the time of the first viking attack in 795. I would also like to know what forts or garrisons (if any) were extant at the time and any family names that may have been present at the time. If it's unknown, can we conjecture what it most likely would have been?

I have already Pdfs of several archaeological digs conducted on the island but these all seem to deal with a much earlier history of the island.

I realize this is somewhat controversial as the term used to name the island in the Annals of Ulster (Rechru) may also be a reference to Lambay.

"U795.3 The burning of Rechru by the heathens, and Scí was overwhelmed and laid waste."
Source: http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/T100001A/

Also, was Rathlin at this time still a part of the Kingdom of Dalrieda? If so, what part would this have played in who the vikings likely encountered? Would the kingdom of Dalreida (which appears to have been on the decline at this time) have mounted any sort of operation to either avenge or care for those left behind? Were there survivors? Who would likely have provided the first report of the depredations to the rest of the world?

So many questions. Just trying to understand the place in it's time in history.

I ask here as I seem to have exhausted all on line resources I could find over the last six months. ANY help is gratefully appreciated! Discussion even more so!

kroisis

Dates, Data, and Sources that may have bearing on my historical quest, "Rathlin at the time of the Viking Raid".

(I realize that some of my sources here may be suspect due to lack of reference and/or peer review from their source, but this is the genesis of the quest.)

In the fourth century AD, Ireland was inhabited by the Scotti people, under the leadership of Niall of the Nine Hostages. Said to have been based on Rathlin, the Scotti carried out extensive sea raids on the fading Roman Empire in Britain...."
Source: http://www.culturenorthernireland.org/article/868/the-ancient-history-of-rathlin-6000bc-ad400

"...Although from the earliest times of recorded history there had been frequent cultural and commercial exchanges across the Irish Sea, the first substantial link between the two lands came in the 5th Century, in the kingdom of Dál Riada. This was founded in the year 470AD by the three sons of the Ulster king Erc, and in particular Fergus Mór, who created a power block to rival that of the O’Neills in Ulster. The kingdom was the most successful militarily of any Celtic kingdom ever, controlling all the major sea routes north of the Isle of Man. From the extension of their power in Ulster, the sons of Erc introduced the Gaelic language and culture into the west coast of Scotland, which in time spread throughout most of the country. These settlers were known as Scotti by the Romans, and it was they who gave modern day Scotland its name.

For hundreds of years, the Ulster-Scottish link was one of almost complete cultural unity, with both territories of Dál Riada referred to as the one country, but the capital of which existed at Scone, in Scotland. However, with the continuing expansion of the Anglo-Saxons northward, the kings of Dál Riada began to concentrate on the formation of a Scottish nation, by uniting with first the Picts of the north and then the Britons of the south. Ulster was left out of the equation, after the defeat of the Ulster Dál Riadans at the hands of the O’Neill, at the Battle of Moira in 637AD.

For the next few hundred years the Ulster Irish, whilst sending out Christian missionaries throughout Europe, continued to wage war against each other. It was not until 1169 that a new enemy dramatically affected the balance of power in the north – the Normans. And as politics with the Normans developed in Ulster, similar happenings were taking place in Scotland. Not long afterwards, the affect of Norman politics in Scotland became an incentive for the first migration of Scots back to Ulster, for many of them, their ancestral home..."
Source: http://www.scotlandsgreateststory.bravehost.com/ulsterscots.html

Compiled timeline

682 AD British invade northern Ireland in Antrim and defeat the Dal nAridid Cruithin at the battle of Raith Mor Maige Line.
Source: http://www.brianstimelines.co.uk/Ireland.html

700-719 AD Selbach mac Eogan, King of Dal Riada.
Source: http://www.historyfiles.co.uk/KingListsBritain/GaelsDalRiada.htm

703 AD British raiders are defeated by the Ulaid at Ards peninsula.
Source: www.brianstimelines.co.uk/Ireland.html

721-741 AD The kingdom of Dal Riada temporarily collapses and three Cenéla dissolve into at least seven families.
Source: http://www.historyfiles.co.uk/KingListsBritain/GaelsDalRiada.htm

732 AD Mordacus/Muredach Possibly claimed the throne of Dal Riada for a short time.
Source: http://www.historyfiles.co.uk/KingListsBritain/GaelsDalRiada.htm

734-743 AD Pictish King Oengus mac Forgusso ravages Dalriada.
Source: http://www.brianstimelines.co.uk/Ireland.html

734 AD Aed Allan mac Fergaile of Cenel nEogain defeated and deposed High King Flaithbertach mac Loingsig, the last Cenel nConaill High King. A fleet from Dalraida fought for Flaithbertach; the relics of Sts. Peter, Paul, and Patrick are taken on a circuit of Ireland to establish Armagh's primacy.
Source: http://www.brianstimelines.co.uk/Ireland.html

741-748 AD Divided kings defeated by Picts. Dal Riada is re-united over next few years.
Source: http://www.historyfiles.co.uk/KingListsBritain/GaelsDalRiada.htm

748-778 AD Aed Finn mac Eochu, king of Dal Riada.
Source: http://www.historyfiles.co.uk/KingListsBritain/GaelsDalRiada.htm

768 AD Aed Finn invades Pictland and re-establishes Dal Riadan independence.
Source: http://www.historyfiles.co.uk/KingListsBritain/GaelsDalRiada.htm

778-781 AD Fergus King of Dal Riada & Pictland. Father of Constantine of Pictland.
Source: http://www.historyfiles.co.uk/KingListsBritain/GaelsDalRiada.htm

781-792 AD Donald mac Constantine King of Dal Riada (Donncorci.)
Source: http://www.historyfiles.co.uk/KingListsBritain/GaelsDalRiada.htm

790 AD Eochaid becomes King of Ulaid. Eochaid mac Fiachnai
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eochaid_mac_Fiachnai

795 AD "U795.3 The burning of Rechru by the heathens, and Scí was overwhelmed and laid waste."
Source: "The Annals of Ulster", Author:[unknown], Electronic edition compiled by Pádraig Bambury, Stephen Beechinor
from Mac Airt & Mac Niocaill's translation (1983). http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/T100001A/

A bit of a lengthy quote here regarding the region..

...It was on this eastern region of Ulster that the raids of the sea-pirates had fallen, before the time of S. Patrick and ever since. Beyond Loch Neagh, with its hundred and fifty-three square miles of stormy water and surrounding forests, lay four independent states very loosely bound together—Dal nAraide, Conaille, Dal Riata, and the land of the Ulaid. Dal nAraide and Conaille were kingdoms of the Cruithne or Picts. Dal Riata, once the most important of the states, had before 470 A.D. sent colonies oversea to Alba, and as the centre of government gradually shifted the kings crossed to their new dominion, and from there ruled the Irish territory for two hundred years under their dynastic title of kings of Dal Riata. The battle of Mag Rath decided their fate in Ireland. " The present condition of the dynasty of Dal Riata," wrote Adamnan about the year 690, " is such as would draw groans and tears from those who witness it." The decaying kingdom became at last almost extinct, and was possibly made tributary either to the neighbouring Picts or to the northern Ui Neill, whose territory had been extended to the Bann. After the eighth century it was hardly more than a geographical term in the Annals, and with the Norse invasions it disappeared altogether....

Source: Green, Alice Stopford. History of The Irish State to 1014. London: MacMillan and Co., Ltd. St. Martin's Street, 1925. Page 291-293. (Text may be downloaded in pdf format from http://archive.org).

Persons of note or interest in this area near the time:
AEDH McCAIBRE. Abbot of Rathlin Island. Feast day April 7th.
St. FLANN.
CUMIAN. He was another Abbot of Rathlin Island. He was the successor of St. Flann. He lived in the mid 8th century. Feast day June 1st.
COBHTACH.
MURGHAL. Native of Rathlin, County Antrim, successor to Cobhtach. He lived in the mid 8th century. Feast day September 29th.
SEGHINE. Abbot of Iona, 623 to 652, he was the founder of Rathlin Island. This saint was a zealous advocate of the ancient Irish Paschal observance. Feast day August 12th.
Source: http://rathlin-island.info/?q=node/125

Persons of note or interest from primary source material:

743. Died the blessed Cobthach, abbot of this church
764. The abbot Murgaile M'Ninned died September the 29th (M'Geog. Tr.Th. p.509 and Index.)
768. Died the abbot St, Aid; he was son of Corbreus. (Tr.Th.p.509.)
790. A fleet of Danish pirates ravaged this island with fire and sword; the shrines and holy altars perished in the general destruction.(T.Th.p.509.) The "Annals of Ulster" place this melancholy event in the year 794, which answers to our year 795.(Usher, Supr.) This was the first descent of those barbarians upon our coasts.
(Rechreyn)
794. Died the blessed Feradach, Son of Segineus, and abbot of this place.
Source: "Monasticon Hibernicum" Archdall, Mervyn. Vol.I. 1873, Dublin.

I hope this post has not droned on for too long....
These are but a small sample of the data I have perused so far.

kroisis

...another question I am keen on answering concerns the practice of "fosterage" as it was carried out at that time period and in that region.

How was a foster parent selected?
What was the process for selection?
At what age was a child moved to a foster family?
Might a foster family be in fact distant kin (if so how distant traditionally)?
At what age (if any) did they return to their parent's household?
Was this reserved for chieftains or practiced by the general public?
Was it limited to the male children or were females included?

If you have any books you might recommend on any of these topics please drop a post here. If they are available on line in PDF so much the better!

Thank You for taking the time to read all of my confusing ramblings.

kroisis

In my first post I mentioned the following:

"...If it's unknown, can we conjecture what it most likely would have been?"

Let me clarify that what I am looking for are typical family names associated with the area during that era. I'm not asking for inventions.

I just want to to know what names I might should be searching for to find links to event in question. Any help would be greatly appreciated.