Domnall mac Áeda Muindeirg
Encyclopedia
Domnall mac Áeda Muindeirg (died 804) was a chief of the Cenél Conaill
of the northern Uí Néill
in modern County Donegal and sometimes styled "King of the North". He was the son of Áed Muinderg
(died 747) and grandson of the high king Flaithbertach mac Loingsig
(died 765).
During the eighth century the Cenél Conaill vied with the rival Cenél nEógain
for supremacy in the north. His father had been recognized as King of the North as the representative of the high king Domnall Midi
(died 763) of the Clann Cholmáin
of the southern Ui Neill. However his successors were not and in 763 Niall Frossach
(died 778) of the Cenél nEógain had acquired the high kingship of Ireland.
Domnall succeeded his uncle Murchad mac Flaithbertaig
as King of the Cenél Conaill upon his assasinationj in 767. Domnall began to make a bid for supremacy in the north upon the abdication of Niall Frossach in 770 or 772. In 779 the new high king Donnchad Midi (died 797) of Clann Cholmáin made an expedition to the north and took hostages from Domnall who is given the title King of the North in the annals at this time. Domnall asserted his authority with a victory over the Cenél mBógaine, (a branch of the Cenél Conaill in the barony of Banagh, County Donegal) in 784.
In 787 Domnall was defeated in battle by Máel Dúin mac Áedo Alláin
(died 788) of the Cenél nEógain and lost his supremacy in the north. Upon the death of Máel Dúin, Domnall made a bid to ragain his supremacy but was defeated in 789 at the Battle of Clóitech (now Clady
on the River Finn
) by Áed Oirdnide (died 819) of the Cenél nEógain. Áed Oirdnide became high king of Ireland in 798. Domnall was recognized as King of the North in his death notice in the annals in 804 but the circumstances of how he recovered the title are not known.
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....
of the northern 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....
in modern County Donegal and sometimes styled "King of the North". He was the son of Áed Muinderg
Áed Muinderg
Áed mac Flaithbertaig , called Áed Muinderg, was a chief of the Cenél Conaill of the northern Uí Néill. He was the son of the high king Flaithbertach mac Loingsig . His byname Muinderg means "red-necked"....
(died 747) and grandson of the high king Flaithbertach mac Loingsig
Flaithbertach mac Loingsig
Flaithbertach mac Loingsig was a High King of Ireland. He was a member of the Cenél Conaill, a branch of the northern Uí Néill. He was the son of Loingsech mac Óengusso , a previous high king...
(died 765).
During the eighth century the Cenél Conaill vied with the rival 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...
for supremacy in the north. His father had been recognized as King of the North as the representative of the high king Domnall Midi
Domnall Midi
Domhnall Mac Murchada , called Domnall Midi , was High King of Ireland. He belonged to the Clann Cholmáin branch of the Uí Néill...
(died 763) of 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...
of the southern Ui Neill. However his successors were not and in 763 Niall Frossach
Niall Frossach
Niall Frossach was an 8th century Irish king of Ailech, sometimes considered to have been High King of Ireland. Brother of high king Áed Allán , Niall was the son of high king Fergal mac Máele Dúin and a member of the Cenél nEógain, a branch of the Northern Uí Néill...
(died 778) of the Cenél nEógain had acquired the high kingship of Ireland.
Domnall succeeded his uncle Murchad mac Flaithbertaig
Murchad mac Flaithbertaig
Murchad mac Flaithbertaig was a chief of the Cenél Conaill of the northern Uí Néill in modern County Donegal. He was the son of the high king Flaithbertach mac Loingsig who abdicated in 734 and retired to the monastery at Armagh.....
as King of the Cenél Conaill upon his assasinationj in 767. Domnall began to make a bid for supremacy in the north upon the abdication of Niall Frossach in 770 or 772. In 779 the new high king Donnchad Midi (died 797) of Clann Cholmáin made an expedition to the north and took hostages from Domnall who is given the title King of the North in the annals at this time. Domnall asserted his authority with a victory over the Cenél mBógaine, (a branch of the Cenél Conaill in the barony of Banagh, County Donegal) in 784.
In 787 Domnall was defeated in battle by Máel Dúin mac Áedo Alláin
Máel Dúin mac Áedo Alláin
Máel Dúin mac Áedo Alláin was a King of Ailech and head of the Cenél nEógain branch of the northern Uí Néill. He was the son of Áed Allán , a high king of Ireland. He ruled from 770 to 788....
(died 788) of the Cenél nEógain and lost his supremacy in the north. Upon the death of Máel Dúin, Domnall made a bid to ragain his supremacy but was defeated in 789 at the Battle of Clóitech (now Clady
Clady, County Tyrone
Clady is a small village in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, about 4 miles from Strabane, on the River Finn and the border with County Donegal in the Republic of Ireland. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 423 people. In 1842 the population was 176...
on the River Finn
River Finn
The River Finn is a river that flows through County Donegal in the Republic of Ireland and County Tyrone in Northern Ireland. It rises in Lough Finn in County Donegal and flows east through a deep mountain valley to Ballybofey and Stranorlar and on to the confluence with the River Mourne at Lifford...
) by Áed Oirdnide (died 819) of the Cenél nEógain. Áed Oirdnide became high king of Ireland in 798. Domnall was recognized as King of the North in his death notice in the annals in 804 but the circumstances of how he recovered the title are not known.