Cathal mac Conchobair (died 925) was King of Connacht.
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.
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]
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]
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.
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]
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]
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.
Niall mac Áeda, called Niall Caille to distinguish him from his grandson Niall mac Áeda, was High King of Ireland.
Flann Sinna was the son of Máel Sechnaill mac Máele Ruanaid of Clann Cholmáin, a branch of the Southern Uí Néill. He was King of Mide from 877 onwards and is counted as a High King of Ireland. His mother Land ingen Dúngaile was a sister of Cerball mac Dúnlainge, King of Osraige.
Muiredach Muillethan mac Fergusso was a King of Connacht from the Uí Briúin Aí branch of the Uí Briúin. He was the grandson of Rogallach mac Uatach, a previous king. His sobriquet Muillethan means "broad-crowned".
Indrechtach mac Muiredaig Muillethan was a King of Connacht from the Uí Briúin branch of the Connachta. He was the son of Muiredach Muillethan mac Fergusso, a previous king. He was of the Síl Muiredaig sept of the Uí Briúin.
Cathal mac Muiredaig Muillethan was a King of Connacht from the Uí Briúin branch of the Connachta. He was the son of Muiredach Muillethan mac Fergusso, a previous king and brother of Indrechtach mac Muiredaig Muillethan. He was of the Síl Muiredaig sept of the Uí Briúin. He ruled from 728 to 735.
Áed Balb mac Indrechtaig was a King of Connacht from the Uí Briúin branch of the Connachta. He was the son of Indrechtach mac Muiredaig Muillethan, a previous king. He was of the Síl Muiredaig sept of the Uí Briúin. His sobriquet Balb means "Stammerer".
Dub-Indrecht mac Cathail was a King of Connacht from the Uí Briúin branch of the Connachta. He was the son of Cathal mac Muiredaig Muillethan, a previous king. He was of the Síl Cathail sept of the Ui Briun and ruled from 764 to 768.
Muirgius mac Tommaltaig was a King of Connacht from the Uí Briúin branch of the Connachta. He was the great-grandson of Indrechtach mac Muiredaig Muillethan, a previous king. The death of his father Tommaltach mac Murgail is recorded in the annals where he is called king of Mag nAi. Muirgius was of the Síl Muiredaig sept of the Uí Briúin. He reigned from 792 to 815.
Máel Cothaid mac Fogartaig(flour.818) was a possible King of Connacht from the Uí Briúin branch of the Connachta. He was the grandson of Cathal mac Muiredaig Muillethan(d.735), a previous king and nephew of Dub-Indrecht mac Cathail(d.768) and Artgal mac Cathail(d.791). He was of the Síl Cathail sept of the Ui Briun. His father Fogartach mac Cathail was defeated in a battle among the Connachta in 789 at Druim Góise during a time when the throne of Connacht was being contested.
Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair, called Ruaidrí na Saide Buide was King of Connacht, perhaps twice.
Conchobar mac Taidg Mór was a King of Connacht from the Uí Briúin branch of the Connachta. He was the grandson of Muirgius mac Tommaltaig, a previous king. His father Tadg Mór had been slain fighting in Muirgius' wars versus the minor tribes of Connacht. He was of the Síl Muiredaig sept of the Uí Briúin. The Ó Conchobhair septs of Connacht are named for him.
Áed mac Conchobair was a King of Connacht from the Uí Briúin branch of the Connachta. He was the son of Conchobar mac Taidg Mór, the previous king and was the first of his three sons to rule in succession. He was of the Síl Muiredaig sept of the Uí Briúin. He ruled from 882-888.
Events from the 7th century in Ireland.
Tadg mac Conchobair was a King of Connacht from the Uí Briúin branch of the Connachta. He was the son of Conchobar mac Taidg Mór, a previous king, the second of his three sons to rule in succession, succeeding his brother Áed mac Conchobair. He was of the Síl Muiredaig sept of the Uí Briúin. He ruled from 888-900.
Diarmait mac Tommaltaig was a king of Connacht from the Uí Briúin branch of the Connachta. He was the great-grandson of Indrechtach mac Muiredaig Muillethan, a previous king. The death of his father Tommaltach mac Murgail is recorded in the annals where he is called king of Mag nAi. He succeeded his brother Muirgius mac Tommaltaig. He was of the Síl Muiredaig sept of the Uí Briúin. He ruled from 815 to 833.
Cathal mac Muirgiussa was a King of Connacht from the Uí Briúin branch of the Connachta. He was the son of Muirgius mac Tommaltaig, a previous king. He was of the Síl Muiredaig sept of the Uí Briúin. He ruled from 833–839 succeeding his uncle Diarmait mac Tommaltaig.
Murchad mac Áedo was a King of Connacht from the Uí Briúin branch of the Connachta. He reigned from 839-840.
Events from the 9th century in Ireland.
Events from the 10th century in Ireland.
The Kings of Ui Fiachrach Muaidhe were the northern branch of Ui Fiachrach, based on the plain of the Muaidhe.
Preceded by Tadg mac Conchobair | Kings of Connacht 900–925 | Succeeded by Tadg mac Cathail |