Congal mac Áedo Sláine (died 634) was a King of Brega from the Síl nÁedo Sláine branch of the southern Ui Neill. He was the son of the high king Áed Sláine mac Diarmato (died 604). [1]
The Kings of Brega were rulers of Brega, a petty kingdom north of Dublin in medieval Ireland.
Síl nÁedo Sláine[ˈsʲiːlʲ ˈnaiðo ˈslaːnʲe] are the descendants of Áed Sláine, son of Diarmait mac Cerbaill. Part of the Southern Uí Néill—they were the kings of Brega—they claimed descent from Niall Noígiallach and his son Conall Cremthainne.
Áed mac Diarmato, called Áed Sláine, was the son of Diarmait mac Cerbaill. Legendary stories exist of Áed's birth. Saint Columba is said to have prophesied his death. His descendants, the Síl nÁedo Sláine—the seed of Áed of Slane—were prominent in 7th and early 8th century Ireland.
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His father had treacherously slain his nephew, Suibne mac Colmáin (died 600) of the Clann Cholmáin and was then himself slain in battle by Suibne's son Conall Guthbinn setting off a feud among the southern Ui Neill. [2] The date of Congal's accession to Brega is not stated in the annals. His brother Conall Laeg Breg was slain in the Battle of Odba by Óengus mac Colmáin Bec (died 621) in 612. [3]
Suibne mac Colmáin was a King of Uisnech in Mide of the Clann Cholmáin. He was the son of Colmán Már mac Diarmato, also King of Uisnech. He ruled Uisnech from 587 to 600.
Clann Cholmáin is the dynasty descended from Colmán Már, son of Diarmait mac Cerbaill. Part of the Southern Uí Néill — they were the kings of Mide (Meath) — they traced their descent to Niall Noígiallach and his son Conall Cremthainne.
Conall mac Suibni, called Conall Guthbinn, Prince of Meath, was King of Uisnech in Mide of the Clann Cholmáin. He was the son of Suibne mac Colmáin, a previous king. He ruled from 621 to 635. His byname Guthbinn meant "sweet voiced".
In 634 Congal and his brother Ailill Cruitire were defeated and slain at the Battle of Loch Trethin at Fremainn (Loch Drethin at Frewin Hill, Co.Westmeath) by the same Conall Guthbinn who had slain their father. Congal is recorded as king of Brega in the annals regarding this event. [4]
Ailill Cruitire mac Áedo Sláine was a King of Brega from the Síl nÁedo Sláine branch of the southern Ui Neill. He was the son of the high king Áed Sláine mac Diarmato. His byname meant "harper".
Congal's son Conaing Cuirre (died 662) was also a king of Brega and ancestor of the Uí Chonaing of Cnogba (Knowth) or North Brega.
Conaing mac Congaile, called Conaing Cuirre, was a King of Brega from the Síl nÁedo Sláine branch of the southern Ui Neill. He was the son of Congal mac Áedo Sláine, a previous king of Brega. The territory of Brega that he ruled was called Cnogba (Knowth) or North Brega which he ruled from 634 to 662.
