Cináed mac Írgalaig
Cináed mac Írgalaig (died 728) or Cináed Cáech, "the one-eyed", was an Irish King of Brega who was High King of Ireland.
Background
Cináed was the son of Írgalach mac Conaing (died 702), a previous King of Brega.[1] He belonged to the Uí Chonaing sept of Cnogba (Knowth) of the Síl nÁedo Sláine branch of the southern Uí Néill.
Tradition records that Cináed was born half-blind to his mother Muirenn (died 748), after Saint Adomnán cursed his father Írgalach's descendants for the killing of Niall mac Cernaig Sotal (died 701) of the rival Uí Chernaig sept of South Brega. Muirenn was pregnant at the time and entreated the saint to relent. The Fragmentary Annals of Ireland render the words of the saint as follows:[2]
"The infant in your womb will be king indeed, but one of his eyes is now broken as a result of the cursing of his father."
Career
Cináed ruled Brega from 724-728 and in North Brega from 718. His accession to the rule of North Brega could date from 718 when he succeeded Amalgaid mac Congalaig (died 718). However, Suibne mac Congalaig of the Uí Chonaing is listed as being slain at the Battle of Allen where the Uí Néill were crushed by the men of Leinster in 722.[3] He won the kingship of Brega and the high kingship by defeating and slaying Fogartach mac Néill of the Uí Chernaig sept at the Battle of Cenn Deilgden (possibly Kildalkey, Meath).[4]
The Annals of Tigernach record events of his reign where he asserted his dominance over other areas of Ireland. These are not recorded in the Annals of Ulster. In 725 is recorded his taking of Ulaid, and in 726, he defeated the Leinstermen at the Battle of Maíne and he received what he wanted from the Laigin.[5] The remains of Saint Adomnán were brought over to Ireland and his law was promulgated anew in 727.[6]
Death
In 728, he was defeated and killed at the battle of Druim Corcainn (or Druim Ciarain—the place is unidentified) by Flaithbertach mac Loingsig of the northern Cenél Conaill, who then established himself as High King.[7] Feradach mac Máele Dúin of the Cenél Lóegaire was also slain in this battle.
The historian T.M. Charles-Edwards links the definitive conquest of Ciannachta Breg between the Boyne and the Delvin by the Uí Chonaing and between the Delvin and the Liffey by the Uí Chernaig to his reign.[8] With the exception of Congalach Cnogba in the 10th century, he was the last Síl nÁedo Sláine High King of Ireland. His son Domnall mac Cináeda (died 749) was slain at the Battle of Ard Ciannachta.[9]
See also
Notes
- ^ T.M. Charles-Edwards, Early Christian Ireland, Appendix II
- ^ Fragmentary Annals of Ireland, FA 150
- ^ Fragmentary Annals of Ireland, FA 178
- ^ Annals of Ulster AU 724.3
- ^ Annals of Tigernach AT 725.5, 726.8
- ^ Annals of Ulster AU 727.5
- ^ Annals of Ulster AU
- ^ Charles-Edwards, pg.550-552
- ^ Annals of Ulster AU
References
- "The Annals of Ulster AD 431-1201". CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts. Retrieved 24 October 2007.
- Annals of Tigernach at CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts at University College Cork
- Fragmentary Annals of Ireland at CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts at University College Cork
- Byrne, Francis John, Irish Kings and High-Kings. Batsford, London, 1973. ISBN 0-7134-5882-8
- Charles-Edwards, T.M., Early Christian Ireland. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2000. ISBN 0-521-36395-0
- v
- t
- e
- Diarmait mac Cerbaill
- Forggus mac Muirchertaig and Domnall Ilchelgach
- Ainmuire
- Báetán mac Muirchertaig and Eochaid mac Domnaill
- Báetán mac Cairill
- Áed mac Ainmuirech
- Fiachnae mac Báetáin
- Áed Sláine and Colmán Rímid
- Áed Uaridnach
- Máel Coba
- Suibne Menn
- Óengus mac Colmáin
- Domnall mac Áedo
- Congal Cáech
- Cellach and Conall Cóel
- Diarmait and Blathmac
- Sechnassach
- Cenn Fáelad
- Fínsnechta Fledach
- Loingsech
- Congal Cennmagair
- Fergal mac Máele Dúin
- Cathal mac Finguine
- Fogartach
- Cináed
- Flaithbertach
- Áed Allán
- Domnall Midi
- Niall Frossach
- Donnchad Midi
- Áed Oirdnide
- Conchobar mac Donnchada
- Fedelmid mac Crimthainn
- Niall Caille
- Máel Sechnaill mac Máele Ruanaid
- Áed Findliath
- Flann Sinna
- Niall Glúndub
- Donnchad Donn
- Congalach Cnogba (Ruaidrí ua Canannáin)
- Domnall ua Néill
- Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill
- Brian Bóruma
- Diarmait mac Maíl na mBó
- Toirdelbach Ua Briain
- Muirchertach Ua Briain
- Domnall Ua Lochlainn
- Toirdelbach Ua Conchobair
- Muirchertach Mac Lochlainn
- Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair