The Three Collas were three brothers, sons of Eochaid Doimhlen, son of the High King Cairbre Lifechair, who are credited with establishing the kingdom of Airgialla in north-eastern Ireland in the 4th century. They were:
- Cairill, aka Colla Uais (the noble)
- Áed, aka Colla Menn (the stammerer)
- Muiredach, aka Colla Fo Críth (of the two territories)
They gave battle to their uncle, Fiacha Sraibhtine, who was High King at the time, because Fiacha's son Muiredach Tirech appeared better placed to win the High Kingship next. They defeated and killed him, and Colla Uais took the High Kingship for four years until he was expelled with his brothers by Muiredach Tirech.
| Preceded by Fiacha Sraibhtine |
High King of Ireland AFM 322-326 FFE 306-310 |
Succeeded by Muiredach Tirech |
They went into exile in Alba (Scotland), because their mother was a daughter of the king of Alba. The Scottish MacDonald clan trace their ancestry to Colla Uais. However they later returned from exile and tried to provoke Muiredach Tirech into trying to kill them. When he didn't, they entered his service and led his armies. He encouraged them to take land from the Ulaid for their descendants, and they carved out the kingdom of Airgialla. They destroyed Emain Macha, which was never again used as the capital of Ulster.
