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| Niall |
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| Niall was the son of King Eochu whose other sons were born of his legal wife.She wanted her sons to inherit so she kept Niall's mother - the King's mistress Caireann - as a slave in the kitchen. Niall was born by the well where his mother had to draw water every day. No-one dared to help her except a poet called Torna who took the child and cared for him. When Niall reached his majority, Torna took him back to his mother where she still worked as a slave, drawing water every day. Niall took her from that place and clothed her in a silken cloak. Niall became the King in Eochu's place and the other sons were disinherited. Niall became a powerful king known as Niall of the Nine Hostages - the more hostages you held, the more powerful you were |
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