Cathal mac Áedo
Encyclopedia
Cathal mac Áedo Flaind Chathrach (died 627) was a King of Cashel in Munster
from the Glendamnach sept of the Eoganachta
. He was the son of Áed Fland Cathrach and grandson of Coirpre Cromm mac Crimthainn
(died 577) a previous king of Cashel. He succeeded to the throne on the death of Fíngen mac Áedo Duib
in 618.
According to an old saga poem Mór of Munster and the Violent Death of Cuanu mac Ailchine, he married the widow of his predecessor Mór Muman
(died 636) who was the daughter of Áed Bennán mac Crimthainn
(died 618) of the Loch Lein Eoganachta of West Munster thereby assuring his right to rule at Cashel. After rescuing her sister Ruithchern from the Uí Liatháin
who had captured her, the two sisters proceeded to lament the dead king Fíngen mac Áedo Duib and the prosperity of his time for which they were rebuked by Cathal.
Mór marries Ruithcern to Lonán mac Findig who is a close ally of Cathal’s, probably of the Éile
. However one day the king bids him rise and show respect to the king of the Déisi
. Lonán takes offense at this request and leaves Cashel taking his wife with him planning to stay with his wife’s family, the sons of Áed Bennán, but en route, he is attacked and wounded by Cuanu mac Ailchine of the Fir Maige Féne who abducts Ruithchern. This leads to a war between the sons of Áed Bennán and the sons of Cathal. The warfare led to attacks by both septs on the subject peoples of each other avoiding direct confrontation with each other.
The events of this saga in terms of the feud between the Glendamnach and Loch Lein branches is reflected in some references in the annals to events in the next generation. In 644 was fought the battle of Cenn Con in Munster between Máel Dúin mac Áedo Bennán
(died 661), and Aengus Liath (died 644) of Glendamnach (the brother of Cathal) with much slaughter on both sides and Máel Dúin was put to flight. The death of Cuanu mac Cailchín is mentioned in 644.
Cathal had seven sons including Cathal Cú-cen-máthair
mac Cathaíl (died 665) a king of Cashel.
Munster
Munster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the south of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial purposes...
from the Glendamnach sept of the Eoganachta
Eóganachta
The Eóganachta or Eoghanachta were an Irish dynasty centred around Cashel which dominated southern Ireland from the 6/7th to the 10th centuries, and following that, in a restricted form, the Kingdom of Desmond, and its offshoot Carbery, well into the 16th century...
. He was the son of Áed Fland Cathrach and grandson of Coirpre Cromm mac Crimthainn
Coirpre Cromm mac Crimthainn
Coirpre Cromm mac Crimthainn was a King of Munster from the Eóganacht Glendamnach sept of the ruling Eoganachta dynasty. This branch was centered at Glanworth, County Cork. He was the son of Crimthann Srem mac Echado ....
(died 577) a previous king of Cashel. He succeeded to the throne on the death of Fíngen mac Áedo Duib
Fíngen mac Áedo Duib
Fíngen mac Áedo Duib was a King of Munster from the Eóganacht Chaisil branch of the Eoganachta. He was the great-grandson of Feidlimid mac Óengusa, a previous king. He succeeded Amalgaid mac Éndai as king in 601....
in 618.
According to an old saga poem Mór of Munster and the Violent Death of Cuanu mac Ailchine, he married the widow of his predecessor Mór Muman
Mór Muman
Mór Muman , also written Mór Mumhan or Mór Mumain, is stated to have been a daughter of Áed Bennán, sometime King of Munster, but may in fact represent a euhemerised sovereignty goddess, particularly associated with the Eóganachta.The Irish language tale Mór Muman 7 Aided Cuanach meic Ailchine Mór...
(died 636) who was the daughter of Áed Bennán mac Crimthainn
Áed Bennán mac Crimthainn
Áed Bennán mac Crimthainn was a possible King of Munster from the Eóganacht Locha Léin branch of the Eoganachta. He was definitely king of West Munster or Iarmuman. He was the great grandson of Dauí Iarlaithe mac Maithni also a possible king of Munster from this branchThere is some dispute in the...
(died 618) of the Loch Lein Eoganachta of West Munster thereby assuring his right to rule at Cashel. After rescuing her sister Ruithchern from the Uí Liatháin
Uí Liatháin
The Uí Liatháin were an early kingdom of Munster in southern Ireland. They belonged the same kindred as the Uí Fidgenti, and the two are considered together in the earliest sources, for example The Expulsion of the Déisi...
who had captured her, the two sisters proceeded to lament the dead king Fíngen mac Áedo Duib and the prosperity of his time for which they were rebuked by Cathal.
Mór marries Ruithcern to Lonán mac Findig who is a close ally of Cathal’s, probably of the Éile
Éile
Éile, Éle or Éli, commonly anglicised Ely, was an ancient and medieval kingdom of northern Munster in Ireland.-Overview:They claimed descent from Céin , a possibly mythical or spurious younger son of Ailill Aulom and brother of Éogan Mór, and thus kinship with the Eóganachta...
. However one day the king bids him rise and show respect to the king of the Déisi
Déisi
The Déisi were a class of peoples in ancient and medieval Ireland. The term is Old Irish, and derives from the word déis, meaning "vassal" or "subject"; in its original sense, it designated groups who were vassals or rent-payers to a landowner. Later, it became a proper name for certain septs and...
. Lonán takes offense at this request and leaves Cashel taking his wife with him planning to stay with his wife’s family, the sons of Áed Bennán, but en route, he is attacked and wounded by Cuanu mac Ailchine of the Fir Maige Féne who abducts Ruithchern. This leads to a war between the sons of Áed Bennán and the sons of Cathal. The warfare led to attacks by both septs on the subject peoples of each other avoiding direct confrontation with each other.
The events of this saga in terms of the feud between the Glendamnach and Loch Lein branches is reflected in some references in the annals to events in the next generation. In 644 was fought the battle of Cenn Con in Munster between Máel Dúin mac Áedo Bennán
Máel Dúin mac Áedo Bennán
Máel Dúin mac Áedo Bennán was a King of Iarmuman from the Eóganacht Locha Léin branch of the Eoganachta. He was the son of Áed Bennán mac Crimthainn , who may have been King of all Munster...
(died 661), and Aengus Liath (died 644) of Glendamnach (the brother of Cathal) with much slaughter on both sides and Máel Dúin was put to flight. The death of Cuanu mac Cailchín is mentioned in 644.
Cathal had seven sons including Cathal Cú-cen-máthair
Cathal Cú-cen-máthair
Cathal Cú-cen-máthair mac Cathaíl , often known as Cú-cen-máthair, was an Irish King of Munster from around 661 until his death. He was a son of Cathal mac Áedo Flaind Chathrach and belonged to the Glendamnach sept of the Eóganachta dynasty...
mac Cathaíl (died 665) a king of Cashel.