Loughlin

Loughlin represents the Irish Mac Lochlainn, also Ó Lochlainn, a leading kindred of the Northern Uí Néill, named from Lochlann mac Máelsechnaill, king of Inishowen, who died in 1023. From their peninsula homeland they rose to dominate the north: Domnall Ua Lochlainn held the high kingship of Ireland until his death in 1121, and his grandson Muirchertach Mac Lochlainn was again high king until 1166.

After Muirchertach's death the kindred's supremacy crumbled. In 1235 Domnall Mac Lochlainn seized the kingship of Tír nEógain, but the family was crushed by Brian Ua Néill and the king of Tír Conaill at Caimeirge in 1241, leaving the O'Neills supreme.

The survivors lost Inishowen to the rising Ua Dochartaigh, or O'Doherty, kindred and continued as a minor sept. In 1601 two Mac Lochlainn chieftains were recorded holding small castles in their old homeland around Buncrana.