The Three Collas and Their Impact on the History of Scotland
Read about the Three Collas and Their Impact on Irish History -
The story of the Three Collas—Colla Uais, Colla Da Chrioch, and Colla Meann—dates back to the 4th century AD, a time of great upheaval and transformation in both Ireland and Scotland. These three brothers, believed to be grandsons of Conn Cétchathach (Conn of the Hundred Battles), High King of Ireland, played a pivotal role in shaping the Gaelic kingdoms of Scotland. While their immediate impact was most visible in Ireland, their exile to Scotland and their descendants' legacy would prove crucial in the development of Scottish clan society, particularly in the rise of Clan Donald and the Lords of the Isles.
Though they are often remembered for their conquest of Ulster, their influence on Scotland’s political and cultural landscape has been significant, forming deep connections between the Gaelic world of Ireland and Scotland. This blog post will explore how the Three Collas impacted the early medieval kingdom of Dalriada, the genealogy of Scottish clans, and the rise of the MacDonalds, one of Scotland’s most powerful clans.
The Three Collas and Their Exile to Scotland
The Three Collas—Caireall (Colla Uais), Muredach (Colla Da Chrioch), and Aodh (Colla Meann)—were among the most ambitious figures of their time. Around 322 AD, they challenged their cousin, Fiacha Sraibhtine, for the High Kingship of Ireland. In a fierce battle, the Collas emerged victorious, and Colla Uais became High King. However, his reign was short-lived.
Fiacha’s son, Muiredach Tirech, later waged war against them and forced the Three Collas into exile. According to medieval Irish sources, including The Book of Clanranald, they sought refuge in Scotland, where they lived among the Gaelic kingdom of Dalriada, which covered parts of modern-day Argyll and Antrim in Ireland.
Their exile forged strong ties between Irish and Scottish Gaelic nobility, strengthening an already existing connection. The Gaels of Scotland were closely linked to their Irish counterparts, and the Collas’ stay in Dalriada further cemented cultural and military alliances that would last for centuries.
The Scottish kings of Dalriada, including Fergus Mór (d. 501 AD), are believed to have been influenced by the traditions and military strategies of the Collas. By the time the Scotti (Gaels) of Dalriada expanded their influence into Pictish Scotland, they carried with them a shared Gaelic identity that the Three Collas had helped shape.
Scottish Clans Descended from the Three Collas
One of the most enduring impacts of the Three Collas on Scotland was their role in the formation of major Gaelic clans. Many powerful Scottish families, particularly in the western Highlands and Isles, claim descent from Colla Uais, the most prominent of the three brothers.
1. Clan Donald (MacDonald)
Perhaps the most significant legacy of the Three Collas in Scotland is their connection to Clan Donald, one of the most powerful Highland clans in Scottish history.
According to The Book of Clanranald, the MacDonalds trace their lineage directly to Colla Uais. This descent established their claim to nobility and reinforced their historical ties to Ireland, as many of their early leaders were involved in Gaelic politics on both sides of the Irish Sea.
The MacDonalds would later become the Lords of the Isles, a powerful ruling dynasty that governed much of the western Highlands and Islands of Scotland from the 12th to the 15th century. Their power rivaled that of the Scottish Crown, and they maintained strong cultural and political ties with Ireland, much like their ancestors, the Collas.
2. Clan MacDougall
Another significant Scottish clan believed to descend from the Three Collas is Clan MacDougall, Lords of Lorn and Argyll. Their name derives from Dubhghall (Dubhgall, meaning "dark foreigner"), a term used to distinguish Gaels from the Norse settlers who arrived in Scotland during the Viking Age.
The MacDougalls were among the early rulers of western Scotland and played a crucial role in the wars of Scottish independence, often in opposition to Robert the Bruce. Their lineage, which traces back to Colla Uais, reinforces their claim as one of the ancient noble houses of the Highlands.
3. Clan MacAlister
A close relative of Clan Donald, Clan MacAlister (MacAlasdair) also traces its ancestry to the Three Collas. Established as a distinct branch of Clan Donald in the 13th century, the MacAlisters were prominent in Kintyre and the western Highlands.
Their history reflects the Gaelic warrior tradition that the Collas embodied, with members of the clan actively participating in conflicts such as the Wars of the Isles and the Scottish-Norwegian War of the late medieval period.
The Lords of the Isles and the Colla Legacy in Scotland
The Lords of the Isles, ruled by Clan Donald, were the closest Scotland ever came to having an independent Gaelic kingdom in the medieval period. Established in the 12th century, this powerful dynasty controlled much of western Scotland, the Hebrides, and parts of northern Ireland.
1. The Gaelic Kingdom of the Isles
The Lordship of the Isles operated as an almost independent state, much like the Dalriadan kingdom that the Three Collas once found refuge in. The Lords maintained their own army, fleet, and council (the Council of the Isles), ruling over Gaelic clans with an authority that often surpassed that of the Scottish king.
The Lordship preserved many aspects of Gaelic governance, which the Three Collas had helped establish in Ireland centuries earlier. Their system of clan leadership, bardic traditions, and legal customs all had roots in the old Gaelic world that the Collas had shaped.
2. The Fall of the Lordship
By the 15th century, the Scottish Crown saw the Lords of the Isles as a direct threat to its power. King James IV of Scotland launched a series of military campaigns to break the independence of the Lordship, culminating in its official forfeiture in 1493.
Though the Lordship was dismantled, the legacy of the MacDonalds and their connection to the Three Collas endured. Many Highland clans, particularly those with Colla ancestry, continued to fight for the restoration of Gaelic power in Scotland, notably during the Jacobite risings of the 17th and 18th centuries.
Cultural Impact and Gaelic Identity
The influence of the Three Collas on Scotland was not just political but also cultural. Their exile in Dalriada and their descendants’ influence helped to:
Strengthen Gaelic identity in Scotland, particularly in the Highlands and Islands.
Establish kinship ties between Irish and Scottish clans, leading to centuries of cross-border alliances.
Preserve Gaelic customs, including clan warfare, bardic traditions, and legal systems, many of which lasted until the destruction of the clan system after Culloden (1746).
Even today, their impact can be seen in the persistence of Gaelic place names, Highland traditions, and clan heritage across Scotland.
Conclusion: The Lasting Influence of the Three Collas in Scotland
Though they lived in the 4th century, the Three Collas left an enduring mark on Scottish history. Their time in exile in Dalriada helped shape the early Gaelic kingdoms, and their descendants played a key role in Scottish history for over a thousand years.
From the rise of the MacDonalds and the Lords of the Isles to the fierce Highland warriors of later centuries, the influence of the Colla lineage remains deeply embedded in the DNA of Scotland.
The Gaelic culture, traditions, and warrior spirit that they embodied continue to be celebrated in Highland games, clan gatherings, and Scottish history today.
Adapted From: MacMhuirich, N. (Comp.). (1911). The Book of Clanranald. In A. Macbain & J. Kennedy (Eds. & Trans.), Reliquiae Celticae (Vol. 2, pp. 147-223). Inverness
