Failge Berraide
Encyclopedia
Failge Berraide was a King of the Uí Failge of County Offaly.
His exact identity is not known. As the eponymous ancestor of the Uí Failge he may be associated with Rus Failge, the son of the high king of Ireland, Cathair Mór
, said to have lived in the early 2 cd century. This is the ancestor listed in the genealogies, though chronologically impossible. The Book of Leinster king list names an early king Failge Rot mac Cathair. The Uí Failge appear to have had an early leadership among the Laigin
tribes. This is testified by the early Irish poem Timna Cathaír Máir ("The Testament of Cathair Mór) where Rus Failge is given the succession to his father.
Failge appears as the opponent of Fiachu mac Néill
of the Ui Neill
, founder of the Cenél Fiachach branch. In 507
Fiachu was defeated by Failge at the Battle of Frémainn (Frewin Hill, near Mullingar, County Westmeath). Fiachu had a false prophecy that he would win this battle and desired revenge. In 514
he achieved this revenge by defeating Failge at the Battle of Druim Derg. By this victory the plain of Mide was taken away from the Laigin
and Fiachu conquered the territory from Birr
to Uisnech
in County Westmeath
.
His exact identity is not known. As the eponymous ancestor of the Uí Failge he may be associated with Rus Failge, the son of the high king of Ireland, Cathair Mór
Cathair Mor
Cathair Mór , son of Fedlimid Fir Urglais, a descendant of Mug Corb, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland. He took power after the death of Fedlimid Rechtmar. He is said to have had thirty sons, but only ten of them had children; several medieval...
, said to have lived in the early 2 cd century. This is the ancestor listed in the genealogies, though chronologically impossible. The Book of Leinster king list names an early king Failge Rot mac Cathair. The Uí Failge appear to have had an early leadership among the Laigin
Laigin
The Laigin, modern spelling Laighin , were a population group of early Ireland who gave their name to the province of Leinster...
tribes. This is testified by the early Irish poem Timna Cathaír Máir ("The Testament of Cathair Mór) where Rus Failge is given the succession to his father.
Failge appears as the opponent of Fiachu mac Néill
Fiachu mac Néill
Fiachu mac Néill was a king of Uisnech in Mide of the Ui Neill dynasty. He was the son of the high king Niall Noígíallach. According to the king list in the Book of Leinster, he succeeded his brother Conall Cremthainne as king of Uisnech.According to the Tripartite Life of Saint Patrick, Saint...
of the 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....
, founder of the Cenél Fiachach branch. In 507
507
Year 507 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Anastasius and Venantius...
Fiachu was defeated by Failge at the Battle of Frémainn (Frewin Hill, near Mullingar, County Westmeath). Fiachu had a false prophecy that he would win this battle and desired revenge. In 514
514
Year 514 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Cassiodorus without colleague...
he achieved this revenge by defeating Failge at the Battle of Druim Derg. By this victory the plain of Mide was taken away from the Laigin
Laigin
The Laigin, modern spelling Laighin , were a population group of early Ireland who gave their name to the province of Leinster...
and Fiachu conquered the territory from Birr
Birr
Birr is a town in County Offaly, Ireland. Once called Parsonstown, after the Parsons family who were local landowners and hereditary Earls of Rosse. It is also a parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe....
to Uisnech
Uisnech
The Hill of Uisneach, or Ushnagh, also Uisnech , formerly regarded as the centre of Ireland, is a historical site in County Westmeath . The 182 metre hill lies on the north side of the R390 road, 8 km east of the village of Ballymore, beside the village of Loughanavally...
in County Westmeath
County Westmeath
-Economy:Westmeath has a strong agricultural economy. Initially, development occurred around the major market centres of Mullingar, Moate, and Kinnegad. Athlone developed due to its military significance, and its strategic location on the main Dublin–Galway route across the River Shannon. Mullingar...
.