Conaing Cuirre
Encyclopedia
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
(died 634), 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.
He ruled during a time when his uncles Diarmait mac Áedo Sláine
(died 665) and Blathmac mac Áedo Sláine
(died 665) were jointly High King of Ireland
. The annals record a battle between Blathmac and the adherents of Diarmait at the Battle of Ogomain in 662. Conaing was slain fighting on the side of Blathmac in this civil war. His allies, Ultán son of Ernaine,chief of Ciannachta, and Cenn Fáelad son of Gerthide, chief of Ciannachta Arda were also slain.
His descendants ruling at Cnogba were known as the Uí Chonaing. His sons Congalach mac Conaing Cuirre
(died 696) and Irgalach mac Conaing
(died 702) were also kings of Brega. Irgalach's son Cináed
(died 728) was late High King of Ireland, the penultimate Uí Chonaing High King, the last being Congalach Cnogba
in the 10th century. His daughter Caintigern married Cellach Cualann
(died 715), the Uí Máil
king of Leinster
and was mother of Saint Kentigerna
.
Kings of Brega
-Overview:Brega took its name from Mag Breg, the plain of Brega, in modern County Meath, County Louth and County Dublin, Ireland. They formed part of the Uí Néill kindred, belonging to the Síl nÁedo Sláine branch of the southern Uí Néill. The kingdom of Brega included the Hill of Tara, the site...
from 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 Congal mac Áedo Sláine
Congal mac Áedo Sláine
Congal 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 ....
(died 634), a previous king of Brega. The territory of Brega that he ruled was called Cnogba (Knowth
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...
) or North Brega which he ruled from 634 to 662.
He ruled during a time when his uncles Diarmait mac Áedo Sláine
Diarmait mac Áedo Sláine
Diarmait was a son of Áed Sláine. According to the Irish annals he was High King of Ireland.-Sons of Áed Sláine:Diarmait's father Áed Sláine was a son of Diarmait mac Cerbaill, the apical ancestor of the southern branches of the Uí Néill kindred which dominated Ireland from the late 6th century...
(died 665) and Blathmac mac Áedo Sláine
Blathmac mac Áedo Sláine
Blathmac was a son of Áed Sláine. According to the Irish annals he was High King of Ireland.-Sons of Áed Sláine:Blathmac's father Áed Sláine was a son of Diarmait mac Cerbaill, the apical ancestor of the southern branches of the Uí Néill kindred which dominated Ireland from the late 6th century...
(died 665) were jointly 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...
. The annals record a battle between Blathmac and the adherents of Diarmait at the Battle of Ogomain in 662. Conaing was slain fighting on the side of Blathmac in this civil war. His allies, Ultán son of Ernaine,chief of Ciannachta, and Cenn Fáelad son of Gerthide, chief of Ciannachta Arda were also slain.
His descendants ruling at Cnogba were known as the Uí Chonaing. His sons 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) and Irgalach mac Conaing
Írgalach mac Conaing
Írgalach mac Conaing Cuirre , also called Írgalach ua Conaing, was a King of Brega from the Uí Chonaing sept of Cnogba of the Síl nÁedo Sláine branch of the southern Ui Neill. He was the son of Conaing Cuirre mac Congaile and brother of Congalach mac Conaing Cuirre , previous kings of Brega...
(died 702) were also kings of Brega. Irgalach's son Cináed
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...
(died 728) was late High King of Ireland, the penultimate Uí Chonaing High King, the last being Congalach Cnogba
Congalach Cnogba
Conghalach Cnoghbha was High King of Ireland, according to the lists in the Annals of the Four Masters, from around 944 to 956...
in the 10th century. His daughter Caintigern married 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...
and was mother of Saint Kentigerna
Kentigerna
Caintigern , or Saint Kentigerna, was a daughter of Cellach Cualann, King of Leinster, and of Caintigern, daughter of Conaing Cuirre. Her feast is listed in the Aberdeen Breviary for 7 January....
.