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testers have traced their ancestry back to an ancient McDonald pedigree that goes back to Colla Uais. Two McMahon testers have traced their ancestry McMahon pedigree that goes back to Colla Crioch. In 2009, a public project was started at Family Tree DNA for testers who have Colla DNA. The testers with Colla DNA belong to a haplogroup named R-Z3008, a mutation that occurred very roughly around 450 AD. This differs from the R-M222 haplogroup of testers with surnames descended from the Uí Néill and the
Connachta. The historical interpretation by Donald Schlegel is consistent with recent Y-DNA analysis.
80:
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In 2020, a study of 466 testers with Z3008 Y-DNA found that 232 have 20 surnames found in ancient Irish genealogies descended from the Three Collas. The 232 testers are composed of 53 McDonald, 43 McMahon, 23 McKenna, 17 MacCan, 17 Duffy, 12 McGuire, 8 Hughes, 8 McQuillan, 8 Monaghan, 7 Boylan, 5
288:, who established the kingdoms of Tir Eógan and Tir Conaill in north-western Ulster in the mid-5th century. He believes the Three Collas are literary doublets of the three sons of Niall, their story a genealogical fiction intended to give the tributary kingdoms of the Airgialla a noble pedigree.
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The mother of Three Collas was said to be Ailech, the daughter of
Udhaire, king of Alba. According to Keating's version Udhaire put them in command of three hundred warriors. After that they returned to Ireland, hoping that Muiredach might kill them, and deprive his descendants of the throne. But
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In 2007, Josiah McGuire discovered that male DNA testers with surnames historically associated with the Three Collas in ancient pedigrees had the same Y-chromosome DNA. This Y-DNA is passed down from father to son like surnames. Included among the surnames were McDonald and McMahon. Six McDonald
276:, the traditional story of the Three Collas is not historical, although it has a basis in history. O'Rahilly argues that the breaking of the power of the Ulaid, the destruction of Emain Macha and the establishment of the kingdoms of the Airgialla were actually accomplished by the three sons of
240:
dates his High
Kingship to 322–326, and his destruction of Emain Macha and conquest of Ulster to 331. However, the chronology of early Irish historical tradition is regarded by historians as artificial. One story makes Fiachra Cassán of the Airgíalla, son of Colla Fo Chrí, the foster-father of
302:
Donald
Schlegel claims the brothers' tripartite names to be the only examples in ancient Ireland of brothers using the Roman style naming convention of personal name followed by family name followed by an epithet. This may reflect their alleged "return" from exile in
184:, with Colla Uais taking the kingship. It was prophesied that whoever killed them, his descendants would never rule Ireland. Colla Uais ruled in Fíacha's place for three years (323-326 AD), and as High-King of Ireland for four years, until Fiacha's son
889:
Note: This family tree does not reflect the fact the DNA data of Colla descendants does not match that of
Eochaid Mugmedón descendants, namely those of Niall of the Nine Hostages who bear the widely-distributed M222 mutation.
66:
for four years. Recent DNA analysis confirms the history of the Three Collas in fourth-century
Ireland, but questions their descent from Eochaid Doimlén and Cairbre Lifechair.
326:, the name given to the territory the Three Collas conquered in Ulster. In regards to Colla, it may derive from the names Coill or Coel, both of which
223:, the Ulster capital, after which it was abandoned, and seized substantial territories in mid-Ulster, thought to be the origin of the kingdom of
245:, who according to the usual chronology was his own great great grandfather, and an alternative tradition dated the fall of Emain Macha to 450.
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311:. Schlegel suggests that being put in command of 300 soldiers may have meant that were centurions in the Roman army.
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After several years, Muiredach decided the Collas should have territory of their own, and sent them to conquer
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Muiredach knew of the prophecy, and despite knowing they had killed his father, took them into his service.
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Schlegel also argues that the Three Collas, along with their name "Colla", may have descended from the
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Hart, 5 Kelly, 4 Higgins, 4 McArdle, 4 MacDougall, 3 Carroll, 3 Cooley, 3 Larkin, 3 Neal, 2 Devine.
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946:: The Book of the Taking of Ireland Part V, Irish Texts Society, 1956, p. 343
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banished the Three Collas, exiling them and three hundred followers to Alba (
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104: in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
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Dáibhí Ó Cróinín, "Ireland, 400-800", in Dáibhí Ó Cróinín (ed.),
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The martyrology of
Donegal; a calendar of the saints of Ireland
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This theory is followed by more recent historians, including
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According to tradition, the Three Collas killed their uncle,
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1034:, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 1946, pp. 224-232
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A New
History of Ireland I: Prehistoric and Early Ireland
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of
Britain. He claims that Trinovantes mistranslated by
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1020:The Martyrology of Óengus mac Óengobann the Culdee
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1104:Newsletter of the Middlesex Genealogical Society
234:dates Colla Uais' High Kingship to 306–310. The
180:, at the Battle of Dubhchomar, in Crioch Rois,
1081:Clan Colla R-Z3000 project at Family Tree DNA
940:R. A. Stewart Macalister (ed. & trans.),
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1060:, Oxford University Press, 2006, pp. 202-203
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929:Reweaving the Tapestry of Ancient Ulster
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998:, 1575-1643; 1861 edition editors
272:According to a theory advanced by
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1032:Early Irish History and Mythology
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62:. Colla Uais ruled as
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232:Foras Feasa ar Éirinn
1127:High King of Ireland
98:improve this article
64:High King of Ireland
42:. Their names were:
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1004:James Henthorn Todd
213:Achaidh Leithdeircc
1043:Francis J. Byrne,
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943:Lebor Gabála Érenn
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113:"The Three Collas"
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96:Please help
91:verification
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50:(also spelt
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32:Modern Irish
27:
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1006:1805-1869;
1002:1809-1861;
342:Family tree
332:Camulodunum
316:Trinovantes
254:Oughter Ard
221:Emain Macha
217:Fergus Foga
154:August 2022
1157:Categories
907:References
601:Colla Menn
587:Colla Uais
336:Colchester
215:, killing
124:newspapers
36:Trí Cholla
861:Connachta
767:Airgíalla
324:Airgíalla
225:Airgíalla
1139:322–326
979:M322-331
879:Uí Maine
852:Uí Néill
258:Straffan
205:Connacht
190:Scotland
56:Fochrich
1134:306–310
138:scholar
58:); and
478:Ailech
375:Udaire
320:Ollams
295:, and
282:Conall
201:Ulster
182:Breagh
140:
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70:Legend
286:Eógan
256:near
209:Ulaid
145:JSTOR
131:books
54:, or
963:1.47
370:Aine
305:Alba
117:news
1137:AFM
1132:FFE
338:).
211:at
192:).
100:by
1159::
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914:^
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46:;
34::
870:*
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161:(
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30:(
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