Bécc Bairrche mac Blathmaic
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Bécc Bairrche mac Blathmaic (died 718) was king of Ulaid
from 692 to 707 from the Dal Fiatach
clan. He was the son of Blathmac mac Máel Cobha (died 670), a previous king. His byname Bairrche refers to the region of the Mourne Mountains in south County Down. Bynames like his can refer to a region or to fosterage and there may be a connection to the Uí Bairrche
of Leinster in his byname.
The Dal Fiatach had dominated the kingship of Ulster from 637 to 674. Family strife was a common theme among the dynasty at this time. The grandfather of Bécc, Máel Cobo mac Fiachnai
had been slain by his nephew, Congal Cennfhatar mac Dúnchada in 647. In 674 Congal, now King of Ulaid, was himself slain by Bécc who thereby acquired the rule of the Dal Fiatach.
He, however, did not acquire the Ulaid throne until after the death of Fergus mac Áedáin
of the rival Uí Echach Cobo
branch of the Dal nAraide in 692 who may have been a compromise candidate.
The high king Fínsnechta Fledach
of the Síl nÁedo Sláine
may have been married to the daughter of Congal named Conchenn and may have had some personal antagonism towards Bécc. The offensive was struck by Bécc who penetrated into southern Ui Neill
territory only to be defeated by the high king at Tailltin in 679.
Bécc was also married to Conchenn ingen Congaile probably after the death of Fínsnechta in order to bolster his position in Ulaid. He also married Barrdub, daughter of Lethlobar mac Echach
(died 709) of the Dal nAraide.
He acquired the throne of Ulaid in 692 and as ruler of such was one of the guarantors of the Cáin Adomnáin
(Law of Adomnán) at Birr in 697.
In 691 the Dál Riata
despoiled the Cruithin (Dal nAraide) and the Ulaid (Dal Fiatach). British marauders were active around the turn of the 8th century. In 697 The Ulaids and the Britons laid waste to Mag Muirtheimne in County Louth, home of a border tribe of Ulidia known as the Conaille Muirtheimne. In 703 the Britons and Ulaid were at war with each other and the Battle of Mag Cuilind was fought in the Ards Peninsula
. The British enemy, the son of Radgann (known for despoiling churches) was slain.
He abdicated and took up the pilgrim's staff in 707 and died in 718.
His son by Conchenn ingen Congaile, Áed Róin
(died 735) was also a King of Ulaid.
Ulaid
The Ulaid or Ulaidh were a people of early Ireland who gave their name to the modern province of Ulster...
from 692 to 707 from the Dal Fiatach
Dál Fiatach
The Dál Fiatach were a group of related dynasties located in eastern Ulster in the Early Christian and Early Medieval periods of the history of Ireland.-Description:...
clan. He was the son of Blathmac mac Máel Cobha (died 670), a previous king. His byname Bairrche refers to the region of the Mourne Mountains in south County Down. Bynames like his can refer to a region or to fosterage and there may be a connection to the Uí Bairrche
Uí Bairrche
Uí Bairrche was an Irish kin-based group that originally held lands in the south of the ancient province of Leinster . Another south Leinster kin group associated with the Uí Bairrche were groups of the Fothairt. The south of Leinster was dominated by the Uí Chennselaig in the 8th century...
of Leinster in his byname.
The Dal Fiatach had dominated the kingship of Ulster from 637 to 674. Family strife was a common theme among the dynasty at this time. The grandfather of Bécc, Máel Cobo mac Fiachnai
Máel Cobo mac Fiachnai
Máel Cobo mac Fiachnai was a Dal Fiatach king of Ulaid. He was the son of Fiachnae mac Demmáin and half-brother of Dúnchad mac Fiachnai , previous kings. He ruled from circa 644-647....
had been slain by his nephew, Congal Cennfhatar mac Dúnchada in 647. In 674 Congal, now King of Ulaid, was himself slain by Bécc who thereby acquired the rule of the Dal Fiatach.
He, however, did not acquire the Ulaid throne until after the death of Fergus mac Áedáin
Fergus mac Áedáin
Fergus mac Áedáin was king of Ulaid from 674. He belonged to a branch of the Dal nAraide known as the Uí Echach Cobo in the west part of county Down. They were distinct from the main branch located in County Antrim who were known as Kings of the...
of the rival Uí Echach Cobo
Uí Echach Cobo
Uí Echach Cobo were a branch of the Dál nAraidi in Ulster . They gave their name to the early medieval Kingdom of Coba located in the baronies of Upper and Lower Iveagh in modern County Down...
branch of the Dal nAraide in 692 who may have been a compromise candidate.
The high king Fínsnechta Fledach
Fínsnechta Fledach
Fínsnechta Fledach mac Dúnchada was High King of Ireland. Fínsnechta belonged to the southern Síl nÁedo Sláine sept of the Uí Néill and was King of Brega, in modern County Meath, Ireland. He was a grandson of Áed Sláine. His father Dúnchad had died in 659...
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....
may have been married to the daughter of Congal named Conchenn and may have had some personal antagonism towards Bécc. The offensive was struck by Bécc who penetrated into 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....
territory only to be defeated by the high king at Tailltin in 679.
Bécc was also married to Conchenn ingen Congaile probably after the death of Fínsnechta in order to bolster his position in Ulaid. He also married Barrdub, daughter of Lethlobar mac Echach
Lethlobar mac Echach
Lethlobar mac Echach was a Dal nAraide king of the Cruithne in Ulaid . He was the son of Eochaid Iarlaithe mac Lurgain , a previous king. He belonged to the main ruling dynasty of the Dal nAraide known as the Uí Chóelbad based in Mag Line, east of Antrim town in modern county Antrim...
(died 709) of the Dal nAraide.
He acquired the throne of Ulaid in 692 and as ruler of such was 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 Adomnán) at Birr in 697.
In 691 the Dál Riata
Dál Riata
Dál Riata was a Gaelic overkingdom on the western coast of Scotland with some territory on the northeast coast of Ireland...
despoiled the Cruithin (Dal nAraide) and the Ulaid (Dal Fiatach). British marauders were active around the turn of the 8th century. In 697 The Ulaids and the Britons laid waste to Mag Muirtheimne in County Louth, home of a border tribe of Ulidia known as the Conaille Muirtheimne. In 703 the Britons and Ulaid were at war with each other and the Battle of Mag Cuilind was fought in the Ards Peninsula
Ards Peninsula
The Ards Peninsula is a peninsula in County Down, Northern Ireland which separates Strangford Lough from the North Channel of the Irish Sea, on Ireland's northeast coast. A number of towns and villages are located on the peninsula, such as the seaside town of Donaghadee, with the surrounding area...
. The British enemy, the son of Radgann (known for despoiling churches) was slain.
He abdicated and took up the pilgrim's staff in 707 and died in 718.
His son by Conchenn ingen Congaile, Áed Róin
Áed Róin
Áed Róin mac Bécce Bairrche was the Dal Fiatach king of Ulaid, which is now Ulster, Ireland. He reigned from 708 to 735. He was the son of Bécc Bairrche mac Blathmaic, , a previous king of Ulaid who had abdicated in 707 to become a pilgrim....
(died 735) was also a King of Ulaid.