Írgalach mac Conaing
Encyclopedia
Írgalach mac Conaing Cuirre (died 702), also called Írgalach ua Conaing, was a King of Brega from the Uí Chonaing sept of Cnogba (Knowth
) of the Síl nÁedo Sláine
branch of the southern Ui Neill
. He was the son of Conaing Cuirre
mac Congaile (died 662) and brother of Congalach mac Conaing Cuirre
(died 696), previous kings of Brega. He ruled from 696 to 702.
Írgalach is listed as one of the guarantors of the Cáin Adomnáin
("Law of the Innocents") of Saint Adomnán arranged at the Synod of Birr
in 697 where he is called King of Ciannachta.
Írgalach's reign began an intense rivalry between the Uí Chonaing and Uí Chernaig sept of Lagore in south Brega of the Síl nÁedo Sláine. His brother Congalach had been defeated by Niall mac Cernaig Sotal
(died 701) of this sept at the Battle of Imlech Pich in 688. In 701 Irgalach killed Niall, who was under Adomnán's protection, at Drumain Ua Casan. The Fragmentary Annals of Ireland
give the story of the curse the saint laid upon Irgalach for this act:
According to the account in the Fragmentary Annals Adomnán also cursed Írgalach's descendants. His wife Muirenn (died 748), daughter of Cellach Cualann
(died 715), the Uí Máil
king of Leinster
was pregnant and begged Adomnán to spare her unborn child. This he did, in part, but her child, Cináed mac Írgalaig
, later High King of Ireland
, was born half-blind, from which he derived his byname Cináed Cáech. {Cinaed died 728-defeated and killed at the battle of Druim Corcainn (or Druim Ciarain, the place is unidentified) by Flaithbertach mac Loingsig
of the northern Cenél Conaill
}. The Annals of Ulster
record that Írgalach met his death the next year in 702 when invading Britons slew him on the coast opposite Inis Mac Nesáin (Ireland's Eye
), and the Fragmentary Annals link this with Adomnán's curse.
Joan Radner, translator of the Fragmentary Annals, notes that while the deaths of Niall and Írgalach, and Cináed's blindness, are all attested by the Irish annals
, the remainder of the account is of unknown reliability and "the legend fits into the cracks between annal entries".
Knowth
Knowth is a Neolithic passage grave and an ancient monument of Brú na Bóinne in the valley of the River Boyne in Ireland.Knowth is the largest of all passage graves situated within the Brú na Bóinne complex. The site consists of one large mound and 17 smaller satellite tombs...
) of the Síl nÁedo Sláine
Síl nÁedo Sláine
Síl nÁedo Sláine is the name of 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....
branch of the southern Ui Neill
Uí Néill
The Uí Néill are Irish and Scottish dynasties who claim descent from Niall Noigiallach , an historical King of Tara who died about 405....
. He was the son of Conaing Cuirre
Conaing Cuirre
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...
mac Congaile (died 662) and brother of Congalach mac Conaing Cuirre
Congalach mac Conaing Cuirre
Congalach mac Conaing Cuirre was a King of Brega from the Uí Chonaing sept of the Síl nÁedo Sláine branch of the southern Uí Néill. He was the son of Conaing Cuirre mac Congaile , a previous king of Brega. The territory of Brega that he ruled was called Cnogba or North Brega which he ruled from...
(died 696), previous kings of Brega. He ruled from 696 to 702.
Írgalach is listed as one of the guarantors of the Cáin Adomnáin
Cáin Adomnáin
The Cáin Adomnáin , also known as the Lex Innocentium was promulgated amongst a gathering of Irish, Dál Riatan and Pictish notables at the Synod of Birr in 697. It is named after its initiator Adomnán of Iona, ninth Abbot of Iona after St...
("Law of the Innocents") of Saint Adomnán arranged at the Synod of Birr
Synod of Birr
The Synod of Birr, held at Birr in modern County Offaly, Ireland in 697 was a meeting of churchmen and secular notables. Best remembered as the occasion on which the Cáin Adomnáin—the Law of Innocents—was guaranteed, the survival of a list of the guarantors of the law sheds some light...
in 697 where he is called King of Ciannachta.
Írgalach's reign began an intense rivalry between the Uí Chonaing and Uí Chernaig sept of Lagore in south Brega of the Síl nÁedo Sláine. His brother Congalach had been defeated by Niall mac Cernaig Sotal
Niall mac Cernaig Sotal
Niall mac Cernaig Sotal was a king in southern Brega of the Uí Chernaig sept of Lagore of the Síl nÁedo Sláine. He was the grandson of the high king Diarmait mac Áedo Sláine...
(died 701) of this sept at the Battle of Imlech Pich in 688. In 701 Irgalach killed Niall, who was under Adomnán's protection, at Drumain Ua Casan. The Fragmentary Annals of Ireland
Fragmentary Annals of Ireland
The Fragmentary Annals of Ireland are a Middle Irish combination of chronicle from various Irish annals and narrative history. They were compiled in the kingdom of Osraige, probably in the lifetime of Donnchad mac Gilla Pátraic , king of Osraige and of king of Leinster.The Fragmentary Annals were...
give the story of the curse the saint laid upon Irgalach for this act:
"Cursed son," said he, "hardest and worst man of God's making, know that shortly you will be separated from your sovereignty, and you will go to Hell."
According to the account in the Fragmentary Annals Adomnán also cursed Írgalach's descendants. His wife Muirenn (died 748), daughter of Cellach Cualann
Cellach Cualann
Cellach Cualann mac Gerthidi was the last Uí Máil king of Leinster. Cellach's byname is derived from the land of Cualu which lay around Glendalough.The name Uí Máil may mean "grandsons of the princes"...
(died 715), the Uí Máil
Uí Máil
Uí Máil were an Irish dynasty of Leinster. They were descended from Maine Mál, the brother of the legendary high king Cathair Mór. The Uí Máil were a dominant dynasty in Leinster competing for the kingship in the 7th century before being eventually ousted by the Uí Dunlainge and retreating east...
king of Leinster
Leinster
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 Norman invasion of Ireland, the historic fifths of Leinster and Mide gradually merged, mainly due to the impact of the Pale, which straddled...
was pregnant and begged Adomnán to spare her unborn child. This he did, in part, but her child, Cináed mac Írgalaig
Cináed mac Írgalaig
Cináed mac Írgalaig or Cináed Cáech, "the one-eyed", was an Irish King of Brega who was High King of Ireland.-Background:Cináed was the son of Írgalach mac Conaing , a previous King of Brega...
, later High King of Ireland
High King of Ireland
The High Kings of Ireland were sometimes historical and sometimes legendary figures who had, or who are claimed to have had, lordship over the whole of Ireland. Medieval and early modern Irish literature portrays an almost unbroken sequence of High Kings, ruling from Tara over a hierarchy of...
, was born half-blind, from which he derived his byname Cináed Cáech. {Cinaed died 728-defeated and killed at the battle of Druim Corcainn (or Druim Ciarain, the place is unidentified) by Flaithbertach mac Loingsig
Flaithbertach mac Loingsig
Flaithbertach mac Loingsig was a High King of Ireland. He was a member of the Cenél Conaill, a branch of the northern Uí Néill. He was the son of Loingsech mac Óengusso , a previous high king...
of the northern Cenél Conaill
Cenél Conaill
The Cenél Conaill is the name of the "kindred" or descendants of Conall Gulban, son of Niall Noígiallach defined by oral and recorded history. They were also known in Scotland as the Kindred of Saint Columba....
}. The Annals of Ulster
Annals of Ulster
The Annals of Ulster are annals of medieval Ireland. The entries span the years between AD 431 to AD 1540. The entries up to AD 1489 were compiled in the late 15th century by the scribe Ruaidhrí Ó Luinín, under his patron Cathal Óg Mac Maghnusa on the island of Belle Isle on Lough Erne in the...
record that Írgalach met his death the next year in 702 when invading Britons slew him on the coast opposite Inis Mac Nesáin (Ireland's Eye
Ireland's Eye
Ireland's Eye is a small uninhabited island off the coast of County Dublin, Ireland, situated directly north of Howth Harbour. The island is easily reached by regular tourist boats...
), and the Fragmentary Annals link this with Adomnán's curse.
Joan Radner, translator of the Fragmentary Annals, notes that while the deaths of Niall and Írgalach, and Cináed's blindness, are all attested by the Irish annals
Irish annals
A number of Irish annals were compiled up to and shortly after the end of Gaelic Ireland in the 17th century.Annals were originally a means by which monks determined the yearly chronology of feast days...
, the remainder of the account is of unknown reliability and "the legend fits into the cracks between annal entries".