Conall Grant
Encyclopedia
Conall Grant mac Cernaig (died 718) was a King of Brega
of the Uí Chernaig sept of Lagore of the Síl nÁedo Sláine
. He was the grandson of the high king Diarmait mac Áedo Sláine
(died 665). His father Cernach Sotal had died during plague years in 664. His byname Grant meant "Grey-haired"
In his time there was a rivalry between the northern septs of the Síl nÁedo Sláine, including the Uí Chonaing sept of Cnogba (Knowth) and the Síl nDlúthaig of Fir Cúl, with the southern sept of the Uí Chernaig. Conall's brother Niall mac Cernaig Sotal
had been killed by the Uí Chonaing king of Brega, Írgalach mac Conaing
Cuirre (died 702) The kingship of Brega at this time was in rivalry between the septs. Two contemporaries were also considered kings of Brega around this time, Amalgaid mac Congalaig
(died 718) of the Uí Chonaing, and Conall Grant's nephew, Fogartach mac Néill
(died 724).
Conall is among the guarantors of the Cáin Adomnáin
(Law of Innocents) proclaimed at the Synod of Birr
in 697 where he is given the title King of Deiscirt Breg or southern Brega. These titles were added to the list of guarantors in 727 and the first use of the title King of South Brega in the Annals of Ulster is not until 751
In 712 his nephew Maine mac Néill
was slain in battle versus Flann mac Áedo
(died 714) of the Síl nDlúthaig. In 714 his nephew Fogartach was deposed from th kingship and went to Britain possibly by the high king Fergal mac Máele Dúin (died 722) of the Cenél nEógain. Conall may have acquired the rule of Brega and in 715 he was responsible for the assassination of Murchad Midi
, the King of Uisnech
from the Clann Cholmáin
, possibly the deputy of Fergal. His nephew Fogartach returned to the rule of Brega in 716.
Then in 718 Conall fought the Battle of Cenannas (near Kells) and defeated and slew Amalgaid of Cnogba and his brother Fergal, along with their allies, Gormgal mac Áedo of Síl nDlúthaig and Tuathal Ua Fáelchon of Clann Cholmáin Bicc. The high king Fergal intervened and had Conall killed two months later.
The descendants of Conall known as the Síl Conaill Graint based at Calatruim developed a rivalry with the descendants of his brother Niall, the main Uí Chernaig line at Lagore, within the southern Brega septs of Síl nÁedo Sláine. Conall's son Niall mac Conaill
Graint (died 778) was a King of Southern Brega. Another son, Ailill mac Conaill Graint (died 722) was slain at the Battle of Allen where the men of Leinster defeated the Ui Neill.
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...
of the Uí Chernaig sept of Lagore 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....
. He was the grandson of the high king 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). His father Cernach Sotal had died during plague years in 664. His byname Grant meant "Grey-haired"
In his time there was a rivalry between the northern septs of the Síl nÁedo Sláine, including the Uí Chonaing sept of Cnogba (Knowth) and the Síl nDlúthaig of Fir Cúl, with the southern sept of the Uí Chernaig. Conall's brother Niall mac Cernaig Sotal
Niall mac Cernaig Sotal
Niall mac Cernaig Sotal was a king in southern Brega of the Uí Chernaig sept of Lagore of the Síl nÁedo Sláine. He was the grandson of the high king Diarmait mac Áedo Sláine...
had been killed by the Uí Chonaing king of Brega, Írgalach 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...
Cuirre (died 702) The kingship of Brega at this time was in rivalry between the septs. Two contemporaries were also considered kings of Brega around this time, Amalgaid mac Congalaig
Amalgaid mac Congalaig
Amalgaid mac Congalaig 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 Congalach mac Conaing Cuirre...
(died 718) of the Uí Chonaing, and Conall Grant's nephew, Fogartach mac Néill
Fogartach mac Néill
Fogartach mac Néill , sometimes called Fogartach ua Cernaich, was an Irish king who is reckoned a High King of Ireland. He belonged to the Uí Chernaig sept of the Síl nÁedo Sláine branch of the southern Uí Néill...
(died 724).
Conall is among 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 Innocents) proclaimed 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...
in 697 where he is given the title King of Deiscirt Breg or southern Brega. These titles were added to the list of guarantors in 727 and the first use of the title King of South Brega in the Annals of Ulster is not until 751
In 712 his nephew Maine mac Néill
Maine mac Néill
Maine mac Néill was a king in southern Brega of the Uí Chernaig sept of Lagore of the Síl nÁedo Sláine. He was the son of Niall mac Cernaig Sotal and great-grandson of the high king Diarmait mac Áedo Sláine ....
was slain in battle versus Flann mac Áedo
Flann mac Áedo
Flann mac Áedo was a King of Fir Cúl in Brega of the Síl nDlúthaig sept of the Síl nÁedo Sláine of Brega. He was the son of Áed mac Dlúthaig , King of Fir Cúl and great-grandson of Ailill Cruitire mac Áedo Sláine , a king of Brega....
(died 714) of the Síl nDlúthaig. In 714 his nephew Fogartach was deposed from th kingship and went to Britain possibly by the high king Fergal mac Máele Dúin (died 722) of the Cenél nEógain. Conall may have acquired the rule of Brega and in 715 he was responsible for the assassination of Murchad Midi
Murchad Midi
Murchad mac Diarmato , called Murchad Midi , was an Irish king. One of four or more sons of Diarmait Dian, he succeeded his father as King of Uisnech at the latter's death in 689....
, the King of 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...
from the Clann Cholmáin
Clann Cholmáin
Clann Cholmáin is the name of the dynasty descended from Colmán Mór , son of Diarmait mac Cerbaill. Part of the Southern Uí Néill — they were the kings of Mide — they traced their descent to Niall Noígiallach and his son Conall Cremthainne.Related dynasties descended through Conall...
, possibly the deputy of Fergal. His nephew Fogartach returned to the rule of Brega in 716.
Then in 718 Conall fought the Battle of Cenannas (near Kells) and defeated and slew Amalgaid of Cnogba and his brother Fergal, along with their allies, Gormgal mac Áedo of Síl nDlúthaig and Tuathal Ua Fáelchon of Clann Cholmáin Bicc. The high king Fergal intervened and had Conall killed two months later.
The descendants of Conall known as the Síl Conaill Graint based at Calatruim developed a rivalry with the descendants of his brother Niall, the main Uí Chernaig line at Lagore, within the southern Brega septs of Síl nÁedo Sláine. Conall's son Niall mac Conaill
Niall mac Conaill
Niall mac Conaill was King of South Brega of the Uí Chernaig sept of the Síl nÁedo Sláine branch of the southern Ui Neill. He was the son of Conall Grant mac Cernaig who had contended for the rule of all Brega in the 710's...
Graint (died 778) was a King of Southern Brega. Another son, Ailill mac Conaill Graint (died 722) was slain at the Battle of Allen where the men of Leinster defeated the Ui Neill.