Cellach mac Rogallaig
Encyclopedia
Cellach mac Rogallaig (died 705) was a King of Connacht
from the Uí Briúin
branch of the Connachta
. He was the son of Rogallach mac Uatach
(died 649), a previous king. He succeeded his nephew Muiredach Muillethan
mac Fergusso (died 702) as king in 702.
He reigned from 702 to 705. The king lists in this period vary in their order of kings. The reign of Cellach is misplaced in the king-lists who place his reign between Dúnchad Muirisci
mac Tipraite (died 683) and Fergal Aidne mac Artgaile
(died 696). Both the Annals of Tigernach and the Annals of Ulster call him King of Connachta at his death obit however in 705. To confuse matters further he is listed as the guarantor of the Cáin Adomnáin
in 697 at the Synod of Birr
as King of Connacht.
In July, 703 the high-king Loingsech mac Óengusso
of the Cenél Conaill
led a large army into Connacht to levy tribute but was defeated and slain along with many of his sons and other kings of the Ui Neill
at the Battle of Corann (in South County Sligo). The saga tradition of this battle is preserved in the Fragmentary Annals of Ireland. According to this the bards of the high-king mocked Cellach for being an old shaky king. However Cellach:
The reason for Loingsech's attack may have been because the Cenél nEógain
had outflanked the Cenél Conaill in the north resulting in expansion into Connacht as the only option available for them as well as a desire by Loingsech to assert his authority as high king. It also may have been due to the pressure of the Uí Briúin on the Cenél Coirpri in the direction of Breifne which would have cut off the Cenél Conaill from their access to the midlands.
At his death obit in 705 in the annals it is mentioned that he entered the clerical life. He is also referred to as Cellach Locha Cime. This lake is now Lough Hackett, near Headford in modern County Galway. His children were called the Síl Cellaig and contested the kingship of Connacht with the Síl Muiredaig and Síl Cathail throughout the 8th century. They were later displaced from this area by the Uí Briúin Seóla.
His children included Domnall mac Cellaig
(died 728) and Forggus mac Cellaig
(died 756), both kings of Connacht.
Connacht
Connacht , formerly anglicised as Connaught, is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the west of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for...
from the Uí Briúin
Uí Briúin
The Uí Briúin were an Irish kin-group. Their eponymous apical ancestor was Brion, son of Eochaid Mugmedon and Mongfind, and an elder half brother of Niall of the Nine Hostages. They formed part of the Connachta, along with the Uí Fiachrach and Uí Ailello, putative descendants of Eochaid Mugmedon's...
branch of the Connachta
Connachta
The Connachta are a group of medieval Irish dynasties who claimed descent from the legendary High King Conn Cétchathach...
. He was the son of Rogallach mac Uatach
Rogallach mac Uatach
Rogallach mac Uatach was a king of Connacht from the Uí Briúin branch of the Connachta. He was the son of Uatu mac Áedo , a previous king. He acquired the throne of Connacht after defeating the previous king Colmán mac Cobthaig of the Ui Fiachrach Aidhne, who was slain at the Battle of Cennbag...
(died 649), a previous king. He succeeded his nephew Muiredach Muillethan
Muiredach Muillethan
Muiredach Muillethan mac Fergusso was a King of Connacht from the Uí Briúin branch of the Connachta. He was the grandson of Rogallach mac Uatach , a previous king. He belonged to the Uí Briúin Ai sept...
mac Fergusso (died 702) as king in 702.
He reigned from 702 to 705. The king lists in this period vary in their order of kings. The reign of Cellach is misplaced in the king-lists who place his reign between Dúnchad Muirisci
Dúnchad Muirisci
Dúnchad Muirisci mac Tipraite was a King of Connacht from the Ui Fiachrach branch of the Connachta. He was of the Ui Fiachrach Muaidhe sept based along the River Moy. This line was descended from Fiachnae, a brother of Ailill Molt ....
mac Tipraite (died 683) and Fergal Aidne mac Artgaile
Fergal Aidne mac Artgaile
Fergal Aidne mac Artgaile was a King of Connacht from the Ui Fiachrach Aidhne branch of the Connachta. He was the grandson of Guaire Aidne mac Colmáin , the hero of many Irish sagas, and was the last member of this branch to hold the overlordship of Connacht.The kinglists have misplaced his reign...
(died 696). Both the Annals of Tigernach and the Annals of Ulster call him King of Connachta at his death obit however in 705. To confuse matters further he is listed as the guarantor 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...
in 697 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...
as King of Connacht.
In July, 703 the high-king Loingsech mac Óengusso
Loingsech mac Óengusso
Loingsech mac Óengusso was an Irish king who was High King of Ireland. Loingsech was a member of the northern Cenél Conaill branch of the Uí Néill...
of 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....
led a large army into Connacht to levy tribute but was defeated and slain along with many of his sons and other kings 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....
at the Battle of Corann (in South County Sligo). The saga tradition of this battle is preserved in the Fragmentary Annals of Ireland. According to this the bards of the high-king mocked Cellach for being an old shaky king. However Cellach:
sprang from his chariot swiftly and far from the chariot, and the cracking of the old man's bones was audible as he leaped out of the chariot. And after that he said, in a loud voice, springing to the nearby battle: ‘Connachtmen, defend and protect your own freedom, for the people who are against you are not nobler or braver than you, and they have not done any better than you up to now.’ And he was talking to them like that, with his voice quavering and his eyes on fire."The Connaughtmen rose to the challenge and won the battle.
The reason for Loingsech's attack may have been because 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...
had outflanked the Cenél Conaill in the north resulting in expansion into Connacht as the only option available for them as well as a desire by Loingsech to assert his authority as high king. It also may have been due to the pressure of the Uí Briúin on the Cenél Coirpri in the direction of Breifne which would have cut off the Cenél Conaill from their access to the midlands.
At his death obit in 705 in the annals it is mentioned that he entered the clerical life. He is also referred to as Cellach Locha Cime. This lake is now Lough Hackett, near Headford in modern County Galway. His children were called the Síl Cellaig and contested the kingship of Connacht with the Síl Muiredaig and Síl Cathail throughout the 8th century. They were later displaced from this area by the Uí Briúin Seóla.
His children included Domnall mac Cellaig
Domnall mac Cellaig
Domnall mac Cellaig was a King of Connacht from the Uí Briúin branch of the Connachta. He was the son ofCellach mac Rogallaig , a previous king. The sept of Ui Briun he belonged to was the Síl Cellaig of Loch Cime....
(died 728) and Forggus mac Cellaig
Forggus mac Cellaig
Forggus mac Cellaig was a King of Connacht from the Uí Briúin branch of the Connachta. He was the son of Cellach mac Rogallaig , a previous king and brother of Domnall mac Cellaig . The sept of Uí Briúin Ai he belonged to was the Síl Cellaig of Loch Cime named for his father...
(died 756), both kings of Connacht.