Fáelán mac Colmáin was a King of Leinster

Leinster

Leinster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the east of Ireland. It comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Mide, Osraige and Leinster. Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the historic fifths of Leinster and Mide gradually merged, mainly due to the impact of the Pale, which straddled...

 from the Uí Dúnlainge

Uí Dúnlainge

The Uí Dúnlainge, from the Old Irish "grandsons of Dúnlaing", were an Irish dynasty of Leinster kings who traced their descent from Dúnlaing mac Énda Niada. He was said to be a cousin of Énnae Cennsalach, eponymous ancestor of the rival Uí Chennselaig....

 branch of the Laigin. He was the son of Colmán Már mac Coirpri, a previous king. Faelan was the founder of the true fortunes of the Ui Dunlainge dynasty.

Rise to the throne

Faelan is first mentioned in the annals when he defeated and slew Crundmáel Bolg Luatha

Crundmáel Bolg Luatha

Crundmáel Bolg Luatha mac Áedo was a King of Uí Cheinnselaig. He was the grandson of a previous king Éogan Cáech and great-great grandson of the Leinster king Crimthann mac Énnai...

 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...

 at the Battle of Duma Aichir in 628.
The annals seem to give him the title of king of Leinster by anticipation. Then in alliance with Faílbe Flann mac Áedo Duib

Faílbe Flann mac Áedo Duib

Faílbe Flann mac Áedo Duib was a King of Munster from the Eóganacht Chaisil branch of the Eoganachta. He succeeded Cathal mac Áedo Flaind Chathrach of the Glendamnach branch in 628. He was the younger brother of a previous king Fíngen mac Áedo Duib...

 (died 637), the king of Munster

Munster

Munster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the south 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 administrative and judicial purposes...

 and Conall Guthbinn

Conall Guthbinn

Conall mac Suibni , called Conall Guthbinn, was a King of Uisnech in Mide of the Clann Cholmáin. He was the son Suibne mac Colmáin , a previous king. He ruled from 621 to 635. His byname Guthbinn meant "sweet voiced"....

 mac Suibni (died 635) 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...

 he defeated and slew Crimthann mac Áedo

Crimthann mac Áedo

Crimthann mac Áedo was a King of Leinster from the Uí Máil branch of the Laigin. He was the son of Áed Dibchine mac Senaig , a previous king. He would have succeeded sometime after the death of Rónán mac Colmáin...

 (died 633), the Uí Máil

Uí Máil

Uí Máil were an Irish dynasty of Leinster. They were descended from Maine Mál, the brother of the legendary high king Cathair Mór. The Uí Máil were a dominant dynasty in Leinster competing for the kingship in the 7th century before being eventually ousted by the Uí Dunlainge and retreating east...

 king of Leinster, at the Battle of Áth Goan in western Liffey. From this date he becomes king of Leinster. The Book of Leinster gives him a reign of 30 years and his death obit of 666 in the annals appears to be an interpolation based on the king lists. It is more probable that he died before 656 when Crundmáel Erbuilc

Crundmáel Erbuilc

Crundmáel Erbuilc mac Rónáin was a King of Leinster from the Uí Cheinnselaig branch of the Laigin. He was the son of Rónán mac Colmáin , a previous king of the Sil Chormaic sept....

 mac Rónáin is called king of Leinster at his death obit.

Church relations

The traditions of Saint Kevin of Glendalough assert that Faelan was fostered by Kevin when rejected by his stepmother. Ui Dunlainge patronage of Glendalough kept this tradition alive. Faelans brother Áed Dub was abbot and bishop of Kildare and his nephew Óengus mac Áedo Find was also bishop of Kildare. The possession of Kildare by family members was important to his hold on power. One of his wives was Sárnat ingen Echach of the Fotharta Fea, a tribe with connections to Saint Brigid of Kildare.

Relations with the Uí Néill

The rise of the Ui Dunlainge to power appears to have been assisted by the Clann Cholmain who were looking to neutralize the border situation with the Ui Failgi so as to carry out their rivalry with the Síl nÁedo Sláine. One of his wives was Uasal ingen Suibni(died 643), sister of Conall mac Suibni who had assisted him at Ath Goan.

The Irish saga Bóroma ("The Cattle Tribute") claims that the high king Sechnassach

Sechnassach

Sechnassach mac Blathmaic followed his father Blathmac mac Áedo Sláine and uncle Diarmait mac Áedo Sláine as High King of Ireland and King of Brega...

 mac Blathmaic(died 671) 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....

 led a large army to claim the cattle tribute from Laigin but was defeated by Faelan mac Colmain but this doesn't fit chronologically with Faelan's reign.

Family

His son by Sarnat was Conall mac Fáelán, who was father, by Conandil ingen Crundmáel of the Ui Dunlainge, of Bran Mut mac Conaill

Bran Mut mac Conaill

Bran Mut mac Conaill was a King of Leinster from the Uí Dúnlainge branch of the Laigin. He was the grandson of Fáelán mac Colmáin , a previous king. He ruled from 680-693....

(died 693), a king of Leinster.

External links

• CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts at University College Cork