Which King ruled Ireland for over 900 years?

Question

Not the same King of course, but the same family name.

Answer 1

I'll second the above. The O'Briens ruled, from *Drumoland* castle, for 900 years.

The above is the product of my googling. The below is my result.

Answer 2

As far as I remember, Brian Boru, High King of Ireland til the, er, 'incident' at the Battle of Clontarf in 1014, had a son named Donagh O'Brian (O'Brien). The O'Briens ruled from somewhere in Clare... maybe Bunratty? Not sure, I'll have to check that out.

Anyway, for the next 900 years, some branch of the O'Briens ruled. Actually, I think they were forced to surrender to Henry VIII during the 17th century.

Answer 3

Sure didn't you know t'would have to be the English!! Couldn't fecken leave us alone the gobshites!!! lol

Answer 4

There were several High Kings of Ireland dating back from 1934 BC forward, but they were from alternating clans.  It was King Henry (Tudor, family name), the Second of England who assumed the crown in 1169 AD, but originally his title in Ireland was Lord of Ireland.  In 1542 AD, Henry the Eighth became King of Ireland.  The title stayed until the death of George VI in 1949 AD.

Answer 5

he might have been the king but//////// he was not IRISH

Answer 6

J.D. has it pretty much correct. The Kingdom of Ireland (as opposed to various other entities that may have been controlled by kings or  other feudal lords) existed from 1541 when Henry VIII (King of England, Lord of Ireland) created it as a Kingdom (actually he had the Irish parliament do it and proclaim him king). The Kingdom was created as the Lordship was created on foot of a papal decree and Henry needed protestant legitimacy not based on Rome. The Kingdom persisted until 1801 when it merged with the United Kingdom of Great Britain (a union of England and Scotland) to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (or Triple Crown - England, Scotland & Ireland) which persisted until 1922.

In short though the Kings who ruled over the island of Ireland from the 12th to 20th century were the Kings of England under various titles. Today their successor Elizabeth continues to reign as Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain Northern Ireland  over the north east of the island while the rest of the island is a republic.