Ailech, or the Grianán of Aileach, (sun palace) was the caput, or
principal royal seat of the early medieval Northern Úi Neill kings of
Cenel nEogain, until they moved their headquarters to Tulach Oc in the
kingdom of Airgialla at the beginning of
the eleventh century. The place-name Ailech was also used as the
distinguishing sobriquet of the Northern Úi Neill dynasty. Ailech is
popularly identified as a large multi-period fortification situated on
Greenan Mountain at the southern end of the Inishowen Peninsula, County
Donegal. However, Elagh, which is an Anglicized form of "Ailech," in
nearby County Derry, could also have been the location of the historic
Northern U Neill capital. The chronicles note the destruction of the
Grianán of Ailech by the army of Muirchertach Ua Briain, king of
Munster, in 1101. It was demolished in revenge for the destruction of
the Úi Briain stronghold at Cenn Corad (Kincora), Killaloe, County
Clare, which had been destroyed by Domnall Mac Lochlainn of the Northern
Úi Neill in 1088.
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