Cathal mac Conchobair
Cathal mac Conchobair (died 925) was
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
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,
Connacht invaded
In 913,
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