Cairpre mac Laidcnén (died 793) was a king of the Uí Cheinnselaig of South Leinster. He belonged to the Sil Chormaic sept of this branch of the Laigin and specifically to a branch which took over leadership of the Uí Dróna - the baronies of Idrone in modern County Carlow. His last paternal ancestor to hold the throne was his great great grandfather Crundmáel Erbuilc (died 655) [1] He was the brother of Donngal mac Laidcnén (died 761) and Dub Calgaid mac Laidcnén (died 769). He ruled from 778 to 793.
Leinster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the east of Ireland. It comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Mide, Osraige and Leinster. Following the 12th-century Norman invasion of Ireland, the historic fifths of Leinster and Mide gradually merged, mainly due to the impact of the Pale, which straddled both, thereby forming the present-day province of Leinster. The ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial purposes. In later centuries, local government legislation has seen further sub-division of the historic counties.
The Laigin, modern spelling Laighin, were a population group of early Ireland. They gave their name to the province of Leinster, which in the medieval era was known in Irish as Cóiced Laigen, meaning "province of the Leinstermen". Their territory, located in south-east Ireland, is thought to have once extended from the River Shannon to the River Boyne.
County Carlow is a county in Ireland, part of the South-East Region and the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Carlow, which lies on the River Barrow. Carlow County Council is the local authority. The population was 56,932 at the 2016 census.
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In 780 warfare occurred between the Laigin and the high king Donnchad Midi. Caipre cooperated with the Leinster king Ruaidrí mac Fáeláin (died 785) of the Uí Dúnlainge but they were defeated at the Battle of Óchtar Ocha (at Kilcock, near Kildare). [2] Donnchad pursued them with his adherents, and laid waste and burned their territory and churches. The battle has also been associated with a site near Kells and may have been a Laigin offensive that failed. [3]
Donnchad mac Domnaill, called Donnchad Midi, was High King of Ireland. His father, Domnall Midi, had been the first Uí Néill High King from the south-central Clann Cholmáin based in modern County Westmeath and western County Meath, Ireland. The reigns of Domnall and his successor, Niall Frossach of the Cenél nEógain, had been relatively peaceful, but Donnchad's rule saw a return to a more expansionist policy directed against Leinster, traditional target of the Uí Néill, and also, for the first time, the great southern kingdom of Munster.
Ruaidrí mac Fáeláin was a King of Leinster of the Uí Fáeláin sept of the Uí Dúnlainge branch of the Laigin. He was the son of Fáelán mac Murchado, a previous king. This sept had their royal seat at Naas in the eastern part of the Liffey plain, Airthir Liphi. He ruled from 776 to 785.
The Uí Dúnlainge, from the Old Irish "grandsons of Dúnlaing", were an Irish dynasty of Leinster kings who traced their descent from Dúnlaing mac Énda Niada. He was said to be a cousin of Énnae Cennsalach, eponymous ancestor of the rival Uí Chennselaig.
In 782 Caipre seems to have given his support to Bran Ardchenn mac Muiredaig (died 795) in his bid for the Leinster throne versus Ruaidrí. Bran was defeated and captured at the Battle of Curragh (near Kildare). Cairpre's brother, Dub dá Crích, was slain fighting for Bran. [4]
Bran Ardchenn mac Muiredaig was a King of Leinster of the Uí Muiredaig sept of the Uí Dúnlainge branch of the Laigin. He was the son of Muiredach mac Murchado, a previous king. This sept had their royal seat at Maistiu (Mullaghmast) in South Kildare. He ruled from 785-795.
