In 563 the battle of Móin Daire Lothair (modern-day
Moneymore) took place between an alliance of Cruthin kings and the
Northern Uí Néill. The Cruthin suffered a devastating defeat and lost the territories of Ard Eólairg (
Magilligan peninsula) and the Lee, which both lay west of the River Bann, with the Northern Uí Néill settling their
Airgíalla allies in Eilne. The Cruthin afterwards consolidated themselves in the Dál nAraidi. In the mid-7th century the Dál nAraidi of
Magh Line conquered Eilne to their north-west and one of their dynasty seems to have settled there, with this branch eventually being known as the
Dál nAraidi in Tuaiscirt. In 681,
Dungal Eilni, king of the Cruthin, who was of the Dál nAraidi in Tuaiscirt was killed at Dún Ceithern (modern-day Giant's Sconce in parish of Dunboe, west of River Bann) along with the king of
Cianachta Glenn Geimin by
Máel Dúin mac Máele Fithrich of the Cenél Meic Ercae of
Cenél nEógain.
Cathussach mac Ailello, king of Eilne and Dál nAraidi, and claimed as having ruled the over-kingdom of Ulaid for sixteen years, was killed at Ráith Beithech (Rathveagh, County Antrim) in 749. At the end of the 8th-century, the
Airgíallan
Uí Tuirtri, whose kingdom lay west of the River Bann, started to migrate into Eilne due to pressure from the encroaching Cenél nEógain. Eochaid mac Bressal, who died in 832, was the last known king of the Dál nAraidi in Tuaiscirt to hold the over-kingship of the Dál nAraidi. By the 10th-century, Eilne was under the control of the Uí Tuirtri who had also moved their client kingdom of Fir Lí eastwards as well.
List of kings Below is a list of the known kings of Eilne: •
Dúngal Eilni mac Scandail, of the Dál nAraidi in Tuaiscirt, king of Dál nAraidi and the Cruthin after 668 to 681. •
Ailill mac Dúngaile Eilni, of the Dál nAraidi in Tuaiscirt, king of Dál nAraidi and the Cruthin 682-690. •
Cú Chuarán mac Dúngail Eilni, of the Dál nAraidi in Tuaiscirt, king of Dál nAraidi from 698 to 708, and of Ulaid from 707 to 708. •
Fiachra Cossalach, of the Dál nAraidi in Tuaiscirt, king of Dál nAraidi and the Cruthin 709-710. •
Flathróe mac Fiachrach, of the Dál nAraidi in Tuaiscirt, king of Dál nAraidi and the Cruthin 749-774. Was the last king to be called king of the Cruthin. •
Cathussach mac Ailello, of the Dál nAraidi in Tuaiscirt, king of Ulaid in the mid-8th century. •
Cináed Ciarrge mac Cathussaig, of the Dál nAraidi in Tuaiscirt, king of Ulaid from 774 to 776. • Eochaid mac Bressal, of the Dál nAraidi in Tuaiscirt, died 832, the last king of Eilne from this dynasty. ==Religious foundations==