Cairbre Lifechair

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Cairbre Lifechair ("lover of the Liffey"), son of Cormac mac Airt, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland. He came to the throne after the death of Eochaid Gonnat. During his time Bresal Belach was king of Leinster, and refused to pay the bórama or cow-tribute to the High King, but Cairbre defeated him in the Battle of Dubchomar, and from then on exacted the bórama without a battle.

Reign

According to the 8th-century text known as

Óengus Gaíbúaibthech of the Déisi, it being against the law for the king to have any physical blemish. The chronicles indicate that Eochaid Gonnat
succeeded Cormac, but was soon succeeded by Cairbre following his death in battle.

According to

Fiacha Sraibhtine and Eochaid Doimlen killed Óengus Gaíbúaibthech. To make peace, Cairbre betroths his daughter, Sgiam Sholais, to a Déisi prince. However, the fianna demand a tribute of twenty gold bars, which they claimed was customarily paid on such occasions. Cairbre decides the fianna have become too powerful, and raises a huge army from Ulster, Connacht and Leinster against them. They are joined by Goll mac Morna and his followers, who turn against their comrades in the fianna, but Munster and the Déisi side with the fianna. Cairbre's army wins in the Battle of Gabhra, but Cairbre himself falls in single combat against Fionn's grandson Oscar, who dies of his wounds shortly afterwards. Fionn himself either dies in the battle, or had been killed on the River Boyne the previous year. The only survivors of the fianna are Caílte mac Rónáin and Fionn's son Oisín
.

Cairbre had ruled for seventeen, twenty-six or twenty-seven years. He was succeeded by

Lugaid mac Con, ruling jointly. The chronology of Geoffrey Keating's Foras Feasa ar Éirinn dates his reign to 245–272, the Annals of the Four Masters to 267–284.[1][2][3][4]

Family tree

Conn Cétchathach
Eithne Táebfada
Achtan
Macnia mac LugdachSaruit
Lugaid mac Con
AineCairbre Lifechair
Fothad Airgthech
Fíacha SroiptineEochaid Doimlén
Colla Fo Chrí
Airgíalla
Uí Maine

References

  1. ^ R. A. Stewart Macalister (ed. & trans.), Lebor Gabála Érenn: The Book of the Taking of Ireland Part V, Irish Texts Society, 1956, p. 339-341
  2. ^ Geoffrey Keating, Foras Feasa ar Éirin 1.47
  3. ^ Annals of the Four Masters M267-284
  4. ^ James MacKillop, Dictionary of Celtic Mythology, Oxford University Press, 1998, pp. 63-64
Preceded by High King of Ireland
FFE 245–272
AFM 267–284 		Succeeded by
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