Cathal mac Conchobair
Cathal mac Conchobair (died 925) was King of Connacht.
Family background
Cathal was the third son of Conchobar mac Taidg Mór (died 882) to rule Connacht, following his older brother Áed mac Conchobair (died 888) and youngest brother Tadg mac Conchobair (died 900).[1] There may have been a fourth brother, Máel Cluiche mac Conchobair, who died in battle in 913.
They belonged to the Síl Muiredaig branch of Uí Briúin Ai kindred. The Uí Briúin Ai claimed descent from Brion, an older brother of Niall of the Nine Hostages, and the kingship of Connacht alternated irregularly between the Síl Muiredaig and the Síl Cathail branches of the kindred. By Cathal's time, the Síl Cathail were all but excluded from the succession.
King of Connacht
On becoming king, Cathal was faced with a demand from Flann Sinna (died 916), the High King of Ireland, for acknowledgement of his authority. This was agreed in a meeting at Clonmacnoise in 900, and Cathal is found frequently fighting alongside and on behalf of Flann.[2]
The Munster Wars
War broke out between the high king and the King of Munster, Cormac mac Cuilennáin (died 908) and Cathal became caught up in this as an ally of Flann Sinna. In 907, the forces of Munster campaigned against the Connachta as far as Mag nAí (in central modern County Roscommon) and the Ui Neill and took the hostages of Connacht.[3] These forces included a naval force operating on the Shannon. In 908, however, the forces of the high king which included Cathal defeated and crushed the forces of Munster at the Battle of Bellaghmoon in Mag Ailbe (Ballaghmoon, in northern modern County Carlow) and Cormac was slain.[4]
Connacht invaded
In 913, Niall Glúndub (died 919) of the Cenél nEógain of the northern Ui Neill began to make his bid to be recognized as heir to the high Kingship. He invaded Connacht and defeated the men of North Connacht (Uí Amalgada and the men of Umall).[5] Cathal's brother was slain in this affair. Niall became high king in 916.
Defeat of Donnchad Donn
The next high king Donnchad Donn (died 944) of Meath invaded Connacht in 922.[6] His forces were however defeated in the wilderness of Áth Luain (Athlone). Whether this was the usual attempt of a new high king to impose his authority on Connacht or directed against the intense Viking activity on the Shannon at this time is not mentioned. The King of Aidne, Mael son of Duí had been killed by Vikings that year[6]
Death of the Tainist of Connacht
The death of Cathal's heir is mentioned in the annals in 923. According to The Annals of Ulster this was Máel Cluiche who was treacherously killed, however his death is mentioned in 913 in this annal. The Annals of the Four Masters give his heir the name Indrechtach and state he was another son of Conchobar.[7] This same Indrechtach was found operating a fleet with the men of Meath on Loch Derg clearing out the Munster fleet from the Shannon.[8]
Death and succession
Cathal died in 925 in penitence.[9] Cathal was succeed on his death by his son Tadg in Túir (died 956), who was succeeded in his turn by Fergal ua Ruairc (died 967) of the rising Uí Briúin Bréifne branch of the Uí Briúin.
Notes
References
- Annals of Ulster at [1] at University College Cork
- Annals of the Four Masters at [2] at University College Cork
- Chronicum Scotorum at [3] at University College Cork
- Byrne, Francis John (2001), Irish Kings and High-Kings, Dublin: Four Courts Press, ISBN 978-1-85182-196-9
- Ó Corráin, Donnchad (1972), Ireland Before the Normans, Dublin: Gill and Macmillan
Preceded by Tadg mac Conchobair | Kings of Connacht 900–925 | Succeeded by Tadg mac Cathail |
External links
- CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts at University College Cork
- v
- t
- e
- Conn of the Hundred Battles
- Art mac Cuinn
- Cormac mac Airt
- Cairbre Lifechair
- Fíacha Sroiptine
- Muiredach Tirech
- Eochaid Mugmedon
- Brión mac Echach Muigmedóin
- Dauí Tenga Uma
- Duinseach ingen Duach
- Echu Tirmcharna
- Áed mac Echach
- Uatu mac Áedo
- Rogallach mac Uatach
- Muiredach Muillethan
- Indrechtach mac Muiredaig
- Áed Balb mac Indrechtaig
- Tipraiti mac Taidg
- Muirgius mac Tommaltaig
- Diarmait mac Tommaltaig
- Cathal mac Muirgiussa
- Conchobar mac Taidg Mór
- Áed mac Conchobair
- Tadg mac Conchobair
- Cathal mac Conchobair
- Tadg mac Cathail
- Conchobar mac Tadg
- Máel Ruanaid Mór mac Tadg
- Cathal mac Tadg
- Cathal mac Conchobar mac Taidg
- Tadg in Eich Gil
- Áed in Gai Bernaig
- Ruaidrí na Saide Buide
- Dubhchobhlaigh Ní Conchobair
- Tadg mac Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair
- Domnall Ua Conchobair
- Tairrdelbach Ua Conchobair
- Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair
- Conchobar Ua Conchobair
- Donnell Mor Mideach Ua Conchobair
- Aedh Dall Ua Conchobair
- Máel Ísa Ua Conchobair
- Brian Breifneach Ua Conchobair
- Maghnus Ua Conchobair
- Mór Ní Conchobair
- Aed mac Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair
- Rose Ní Conchobair
- Conchobar Maenmaige Ua Conchobair
- Diarmait Ó Conchobair
- Muirghis Cananach Ua Conchobhair
- Nuala Ní Conchobair
- Toirdhealbhach mac Ruaidhrí Ó Conchobhair
- Aedh mac Ruaidri Ó Conchobair
- Cathal Carragh Ua Conchobair
- Mathghamhain mac Conchobar Maenmaige
- Muirchertach Tethbhach
- Donnchadh Conallagh Ua Conchobair
- Tadhg mac Conchobar Maenmaige
- Mael Seachlainn mac Conchobar Maenmaige
- Aodh mac Conchobar Maenmaige
- Aedh Ua Conchobair
- Felim O'Connor
- Hugh McFelim O'Connor
- Aedh Muimhnech Ó Conchobair
- Hugh McOwen O'Conor
& Ó Conchobhair Ruadh
- Cathal Crobhdearg Ua Conchobair
- Ruaidri na bhFeadh Ó Conchobair
- Felim McHugh O'Connor
- Toirdelbach Ó Conchobair
- Aedh mac Tairdelbach Ó Conchobair
- Toirdhealbhach Óg Donn Ó Conchobair
- Ruaidri mac Tairdelbach Ó Conchobair
- Cathal mac Ruaidri Ó Conchobair
- Matthew O'Conor
- Thomas O'Connor
- Charles O'Conor
- Denis O'Conor
- Nicholas O'Conor
- Luke O'Connor
- Charles Owen O'Conor
- Denis Maurice O'Conor
- Denis O'Conor Don
- Category