I am working on a novel set in Fifth-Century Ireland. I need to know
the proper way to state that a character is associated with a certain
tribe. For example, would I say, "Cullen of Ui Neill"? or "cenell ui
Neill"?

Hi reneeq,

The following is the correct way to refer to  the "descendants of
Niall" (Uí Néill).

Cullen of the Uí Néill
or
Cenél of the Uí Néill

Uí Néill
"The Uí Néill (Irish for "descendants of Niall" Uí pronounced 'Ee': )
were an Irish dynasty who claimed descent from Niall Noigiallach
(Niall of the Nine Hostages), a semi-historical High King of Ireland
who died about 405.
The first generation of the Uí Néill were his sons, seven in all:
 * Conall Gulban, ancestor of the Cenél Conaill dynasty.
 * Endae
 * Eogan, ancestor of the Cenél nEógan dynasty.
 * Coirpre, ancestor of the Cenél Cairpre dynasty.
 * Lóegaire, ancestor of the Cenél Lóegaire dynasty.
 * Conall Cremthainne, ancestor of the Clan Cholmain and Sil nAedo Slaine.
 * Fiachu, ancestor of the Cenél Fiachach. 
All these men were in their lifetime known as members of The Connachta
dynasty, or as "the sons of Niall." The term Uí Néill did not - by its
very nature - come into use until the time of Niall's grandsons and
great-grandsons.
Dynasties descended from the Uí Néill, such as the Cenél Conaill and
Cenél nEógan, held power in Ulster until their defeat in the Nine
Years War in 1603. The heads of the families left for Catholic Europe
in 1607, an event known as the Flight of the Earls."
http://www.answers.com/topic/u-n-ill

"Group names based on collective nouns -- dear people -- are succeeded
by names indicating patrilineal descent, Ui Neill, Ui Cinnsealaigh.
They are followed by even more general names.
* Ui -- grandsons of * Cenel -- descendants of * Cland -- children of * Sil..."
http://caxton.stockton.edu/Ireland/stories/storyReader$49

"Cenel nEogain of the Ui Neill"
http://members.aol.com/michellezi/timelines/ireland600-800.html 

A clan is an extended family unit of multiple families, and is
considered much smaller than a tribe (it's generally believed to be a
concept of a 'fractured' tribe; the first 'cenell' were actually
portions of the Ui Neill TRIBE, when it broke up due to infighting)
http://evileditor.blogspot.com/2006/07/face-lift-121.html

Names of Celtic Tribes
Ui Neill - Ulster
http://users.ev1.net/~gpmoran/appv.htm

Northern Uí Neill
Ulster Series 
http://www.rootsweb.com/~irlkik/ihm/uineill.htm#conaill

The Uí Neill and the High Kings
Ulster and Mide Series 
(SU-CL) = Southern Ui Neill, Cenel Loighaire
(SU-Ca) = Southern Ui Neill, Cenel Cairpri
(SU-CCC) = Southern Ui Neill, Clan Conaill Cremthainni
(SU-SAS) = Southern Ui Neill, Sil Aedo Sláine
(SU-CC) = Southern Ui Neill, Clan Cholmain
(CC) = Northern Ui Neill, Cenel Conaill
(CE) = Northern Ui Neill, Cenel Eoghain
(CE-CME) = Northern Ui Neill, Cenel Eoghain, Cenel Mac Earca
(CE-CF) = Northern Ui Neill, Cenel Eoghain, Cenel Feradaigh 
http://www.rootsweb.com/~irlkik/ihm/uinkings.htm

Meaning of Common Irish Names
http://britam.org/genealogy/celts.html

I've enjoyed working on this for you, very interesting. If you have
any questions, please post a clarification request and wait for me to
respond before closing/rating my answer.

Thank you,
hummer

Some Google search terms used: 
"ui neill" celtic tribe ulster niall noigiallach descendants

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Request for Answer Clarification by reneeq-ga on 08 Aug 2006 11:04 PDT

Hi Hummer:
Thanks for your answers. I have actually looked at some of those
websites, and the reference to the evileditor blog was actually a
response to my query letter to that website, which garnered a lot of
negative response to the way I was using the Irish names!  Too funny!
Thanks again.

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Clarification of Answer by hummer-ga on 08 Aug 2006 11:47 PDT

Dear reneeq,

Hmm, how did that blog link slip in there, I hadn't meant to include
it in my answer! Thank you for your nice note, rating, and tip, I'm
glad to hear that I was able to help. Perhaps you are so immersed in
the forest, it's becoming hard to see the trees.

Mise, le meas,
hummer

Very complete research - above and beyond. Thanks.