Ainmuire mac Sétnai
Encyclopedia
Ainmuire mac Sétnai or Ainmire or Ainmere was a High King of Ireland
from the Cenél Conaill
branch of the Uí Néill
. He was the great grandson of Conall Gulban
(died 464), founder of this branch. He ruled from 566-569. He was the first high king from the Cenél Conaill.
Before becoming high king, Ainmere is mentioned in a number of events in which he is allied to other northern Uí Néill princes. These were Forggus mac Muirchertaig
and his brother Domnall Ilchelgach
(died 566) of the Cenél nEógain
, as well as Ainmere's cousin Ninnid mac Dauach (a member of the Cenél nDuach branch of the Cenél Conaill). The northern Uí Néill fought the Connachta at the Battle of Slicech (modern County Sligo) in 544/547 and slew the king Eógan Bél
.
In 561 these northern Uí Néill princes allied with Áed mac Echach
(died 577) of Connacht versus the high king Diarmait mac Cerbaill
(died 565) of the southern Uí Néill whom they defeated at the Battle of Cúl Dreimne (County Sligo). According to the annals, Saint Columba
organized this confederacy. The purpose of this battle may have been to ensure the succession to Diarmait for the northern Uí Néill.
In 563 these northern princes fought the Battle of Móin Dairi Lothair versus the Cruthin
tribes in the north and crushed them. By this victory they expanded into modern county Londonderry
to the River Bann
. According to the report in the annals, Ainmere recovered the possessions of his father Sétnae.
Ainmere succeeded to the high kingship on the death of Domnall Ilchelgach in 566. The middle Irish king lists have misplaced his reign putting it later than the annalistic tradition but other king lists have him in the correct order. He is also omitted from the earliest list of Kings of Tara, the Baile Chuind (The Ecstasy of Conn), a late 7th century Irish poem. He was slain by Fergus son of Néilléne (died 570) of the Cenél nEógain in 569. This Fergus was killed the next year by Ainmere's son Áed mac Ainmuirech
(died 598) who was also a high king. According to Keating, Báetán mac Ninneda
of the Cenél nEógain instigated the assassination.The Chronicum Scotorum records of Ainmire's death:
Ainmere had married Brigid ingen Cobthaig of the Uí Cheinnselaig
who was mother of his son Áed.
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...
from the 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....
branch of the Uí Néill
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 great grandson of Conall Gulban
Conall Gulban
Conall Gulban was an Irish king who founded the kingdom of Tír Conaill in the 5th century, comprising much of what is now County Donegal. He was the son of Niall Noígiallach....
(died 464), founder of this branch. He ruled from 566-569. He was the first high king from the Cenél Conaill.
Before becoming high king, Ainmere is mentioned in a number of events in which he is allied to other northern Uí Néill princes. These were Forggus mac Muirchertaig
Forggus mac Muirchertaig
Forggus mac Muirchertaig , also called Forrgus mac Maic Ercae, is included in most lists of High Kings of Ireland.Father Muirchertach mac Muiredaig, also called Mac Ercae, brother Domnall Ilchelgach with whom he is said to have ruled jointly...
and his brother Domnall Ilchelgach
Domnall Ilchelgach
Domnall mac Muirchertaig , called Domnall Ilchelgach and Domnall mac Maic Ercae, was said to be a High King of Ireland....
(died 566) of the Cenél nEógain
Cenél nEógain
Cenél nEóġain is the name of the "kindred" or descendants of Eógan mac Néill , son of Niall Noígiallach who founded the kingdom of Tír Eoghain in the 5th century...
, as well as Ainmere's cousin Ninnid mac Dauach (a member of the Cenél nDuach branch of the Cenél Conaill). The northern Uí Néill fought the Connachta at the Battle of Slicech (modern County Sligo) in 544/547 and slew the king Eógan Bél
Eógan Bél
Eógan Bél mac Cellaig was a king of Connacht from the Ui Fiachrach branch of the Connachta. He was the grandson of the high king Ailill Molt. His reign began sometime after 500....
.
In 561 these northern Uí Néill princes allied with Áed mac Echach
Áed mac Echach
Áed mac Echach Tirmcharna was a King of Connacht from the Uí Briúin branch of the Connachta. He was the son of Echu Tirmcharna mac Fergusso . He came to the throne in the year 557 and ruled till 575....
(died 577) of Connacht versus the high king Diarmait mac Cerbaill
Diarmait mac Cerbaill
Diarmait mac Cerbaill was King of Tara or High King of Ireland. According to traditions, he was the last High King to follow the pagan rituals of inauguration, the ban-feis or marriage to goddess of the land....
(died 565) of the southern Uí Néill whom they defeated at the Battle of Cúl Dreimne (County Sligo). According to the annals, Saint Columba
Columba
Saint Columba —also known as Colum Cille , Colm Cille , Calum Cille and Kolban or Kolbjørn —was a Gaelic Irish missionary monk who propagated Christianity among the Picts during the Early Medieval Period...
organized this confederacy. The purpose of this battle may have been to ensure the succession to Diarmait for the northern Uí Néill.
In 563 these northern princes fought the Battle of Móin Dairi Lothair versus the Cruthin
Cruthin
The Cruthin were a people of early Ireland, who occupied parts of Counties Down, Antrim and Londonderry in the early medieval period....
tribes in the north and crushed them. By this victory they expanded into modern county Londonderry
County Londonderry
The place name Derry is an anglicisation of the old Irish Daire meaning oak-grove or oak-wood. As with the city, its name is subject to the Derry/Londonderry name dispute, with the form Derry preferred by nationalists and Londonderry preferred by unionists...
to the River Bann
River Bann
The River Bann is the longest river in Northern Ireland, the total length being 80 miles . The river winds its way from the south east corner of Northern Ireland to the north west coast, pausing in the middle to widen into the enormous Lough Neagh...
. According to the report in the annals, Ainmere recovered the possessions of his father Sétnae.
Ainmere succeeded to the high kingship on the death of Domnall Ilchelgach in 566. The middle Irish king lists have misplaced his reign putting it later than the annalistic tradition but other king lists have him in the correct order. He is also omitted from the earliest list of Kings of Tara, the Baile Chuind (The Ecstasy of Conn), a late 7th century Irish poem. He was slain by Fergus son of Néilléne (died 570) of the Cenél nEógain in 569. This Fergus was killed the next year by Ainmere's son Áed mac Ainmuirech
Áed mac Ainmuirech
Áed mac Ainmuirech was high-king of the Northern Uí Néill. He belonged to the Cenél Conaill and was a distant cousin of Columba of Iona. He was the son of Ainmuire mac Sétnai , a previous possible high king....
(died 598) who was also a high king. According to Keating, Báetán mac Ninneda
Báetán mac Ninneda
Báetán mac Ninneda was an Irish king of the Cenél Conaill, a sept of the northern Uí Néill. He was the son of Ninnid mac Duach and great grandson of Conall Gulban . He was a member of the Cenél nDuach branch of the Cenél Conaill...
of the Cenél nEógain instigated the assassination.The Chronicum Scotorum records of Ainmire's death:
"Femhen, when he was king was not an ignoble place; today, crimson is its aspect from Ainmire, son of Senna."
Ainmere had married Brigid ingen Cobthaig of the Uí Cheinnselaig
Uí Cheinnselaig
The Uí Ceinnselaig , from the Old Irish "grandsons of Cennsalach", are an Irish dynasty of Leinster who trace their descent from Énnae Cennsalach, a supposed contemporary of Niall of the Nine Hostages...
who was mother of his son Áed.