Eochu Apthach

For other people with the same name, see Eochaid.

Eochu (or Eochaid) Apthach ("outlaw" or "fatal")^[1] of the Corcu Loígde of County Cork, a distant descendant of Breogán, the father of Míl Espáine, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland. He took power after killing the previous incumbent, Bres Rí. He only ruled for a year, and it is said there was a plague every month during that year. He was killed by Finn mac Blatha, a descendant of Ollom Fotla. The Lebor Gabála Érenn synchronises his reign with that of Darius the Great of Persia (522–485 BC).^[2] The chronology of Geoffrey Keating's Foras Feasa ar Éirinn dates his reign to 726–725 BC,^[3] that of the Annals of the Four Masters to 953–952 BC.^[4]

Preceded by Bres Rí

High King of Ireland LGE 6th/5th century BC FFE 726–725 BC AFM 953–952 BC

Succeeded by Finn mac Blatha