Ulster Murphys can claim a line back to Niall of the Nine Hostages, the 5th century High King best known for bringing St. Patrick to Ireland as a slave in 432. Niall’s descendants, the Uí Néill (O’Neill) were probably the most influential of all Irish septs.
Niall belonged to the Connachta, an ancient tribe that spread from Connacht into central Ireland, overthrowing the Leinster kings and assuming the High Kingship of Ireland at Tara.
Niall consolidated his power by sending his sons out to the regions. One of these, Eoghan, set up a kingdom in western Ulster. Today, the county Tyrone (Tír Eoghain) and Donegal’s Inishowen peninsula (Inis Eoghain) still bear his name.
Eoghan’s dynasty was long-lasting, and many of his descendants succeeded Niall as High King of Ireland. Their seats of power included Grianán an Aileach, the great circular stone fort that still survives in County Donegal.
The Ulster Uí Néill eventually lost the high kingship to their southern cousins in 743, but they retained their regional power bases in Ulster. One of Eoghan’s descendants, Murchadh, held on to territory in Inishowen. He had a grandson named Bern, whose descendants, Muintir Bheirn (family of Bern) subsequently adopted the surname MacMurchadha when such practice became the norm in Medieval times.
The MacMurchadhas remained powerful in Inishowen and other parts of Donegal (e.g. Bannagh) until they were defeated by their rivals the O’Donnells in 1208. They subsequently moved to South Tyrone, where their original clan name survives today in the village of Minterburn, near Aughnacloy.
In the 15th century, the family moved again after an O’Neill feud to Armagh, and eventually spread further to parts of Monaghan and Fermanagh. The Murphy surname is still widespread in these areas today.
Murphys of Ulster
Grianán an Aileach, Co. Donegal - Photo courtesy of pdphoto.org