Crundmáel Erbuilc mac Rónáin (died 656) was a King of Leinster from the Uí Cheinnselaig branch of the Laigin. He was the son of Rónán mac Colmáin (died 625), a previous king of the Sil Chormaic sept. [1]
Rónán mac Colmáin was a King of Leinster following Brandub mac Echach. There were two men named Rónán mac Colmáin active in Leinster in the early seventh century and confusion exists as to which one was king. Some later sources confuse the two Rónáns, but historian Francis John Byrne notes that the earliest sources do not.
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His accession to the thrones of Leinster and to the throne of the Ui Cheinnselaig cannot be dated with certainty. The problem begins with the question of whether his father Ronan was king of Leinster or whether this king was Rónán mac Colmáin Már of the Uí Dúnlainge. His namesake Crundmáel Bolg Luatha mac Áedo was king of Uí Cheinnselaig when slain at the Battle of Duma Aichir in 628 by Fáelán mac Colmáin (died 666) of the Uí Dúnlainge who became king of Leinster in 634. [2] Crundmáel Erbuilc became king of the Ui Chennselaig in 647 on the death of Colgu Bolg Luatha mac Crundmail. [3]
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.
Crundmáel Bolg Luatha mac Áedo was a King of Uí Cheinnselaig. He was the grandson of a previous king Éogan Cáech and great-great grandson of the Leinster king Crimthann mac Énnai. He ruled from 625 to 630 and succeeded Rónán mac Colmáin of the Sil Chormaic sept as King of Ui Cheinnselaig.
Fáelán mac Colmáin was a King of Leinster from the Uí Dúnlainge branch of the Laigin. He was the son of Colmán Már mac Coirpri, a previous king. Faelan was the founder of the true fortunes of the Ui Dunlainge dynasty.
The Book of Leinster gives Faelan a reign of 30 years and his death obit of 666 in the annals appears to be an interpolation based on the king lists. [4] It is more probable that he died before 656 when Crundmáel Erbuilc mac Rónáin is called king of Leinster at his death obit. [5] The Annals of Ulster refer to him as king of Leinster but the Annals of Tigernach call him king of south Leinster. [6]
The Book of Leinster, is a medieval Irish manuscript compiled ca. 1160 and now kept in Trinity College, Dublin, under the shelfmark MS H 2.18. It was formerly known as the Lebor na Nuachongbála "Book of Nuachongbáil", a monastic site known today as Oughaval.
His son Áed Rón was ancestor of a branch which took over leadership of the Uí Dróna and his son Fiachra was ancestor of the later Leinster king Áed mac Colggen (died 738). By his wife Faílend ingen Suibne of the Déisi Muman he had a daughter Eithne who married Failbe mac Domnaill of the Uí Bairrche. [7] He was succeeded as King of Uí Cheinnselaig by his brother Cummascach mac Rónáin. [8]
Áed mac Colggen was a king of the Uí Cheinnselaig of Leinster. Some sources incorrectly make him joint king of Leinster with Bran Becc mac Murchado, but it appears that Áed was main ruler of Leinster in 738. His father Colcú mac Bressail was called king of Ard Ladrann at his death obit in the annals in 722 which mention that he was killed. He was the great-great grandson of Crundmáel Erbuilc, a King of Leinster, and was a member of the Sil Chormaic sept.
Uí Bairrche was an Irish kin-based group that originally held lands in the south of the ancient province of Leinster. Another south Leinster kin group associated with the Uí Bairrche were groups of the Fothairt. The south of Leinster was dominated by the Uí Chennselaig in the 8th century. Uí Bairrche held lands around Carlow, however Uí Chennselaig expansion split the kindred. The result was that one Uí Bairrche branch persevered in the Barrow valley; and another was forced to move south towards the Wexford coast.
