Lorcán mac Cellaig
Encyclopedia
Lorcán mac Cellaig was a King of Leinster of the Uí Muiredaig sept of the Uí Dúnlainge
branch of the Laigin. This sept had their royal seat at Maistiu (Mullaghmast
) in the south of modern County Kildare
. He was the son of Cellach mac Brain
(died 834), a previous king.
The succession of kings in Leinster is difficult to follow in his time. The king lists in the Book of Leinster
have Lorcán succeed Ruarc mac Brain (died 862) of the Uí Dúnchada sept and followed by Túathal mac Máele-Brigte
(died 854). According to these lists Ruarc ruled for 9 years (c.838-847) and Túathal for 3 (c.851-854). Lorcán's reign then corresponds to c.847-851. Francis John Byrne
suggests that the root of this apparent confusion lay in the fact that the Uí Dúnlainge kings exercised little real authority due to the aggressions of their western neighbour Cerball mac Dúnlainge
(died 888), King of Osraige. Cerball, while unable to install himself as king of Leinster, was able to prevent any rival king exercising real power there.
In 848 Lorcán led the Laigin in alliance with Ólchobar mac Cináeda
(died 851) in avictory over the Vikings in the Battle of Sciath Nechtain near modern Castledermot
, County Kildare, in which fell the jarl Tomrair. Lorcán's father Cellach had also been aligned with Munster during the reign of Feidlimid mac Cremthanin
(died 847).
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. This sept had their royal seat at Maistiu (Mullaghmast
Mullaghmast
Mullaghmast , is a hill in the south of County Kildare, Leinster, near the village of Ballitore. It was an important site in prehistory, in early history and again in more recent times...
) in the south of modern County Kildare
County Kildare
County Kildare is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Kildare. Kildare County Council is the local authority for the county...
. He was the son of Cellach mac Brain
Cellach mac Brain
Cellach mac Brain was a King of Leinster of the Uí Muiredaig sept of the Uí Dúnlainge branch of the Laigin. This sept had their royal seat at Maistiu in South Kildare. He was the son of Bran Ardchenn mac Muiredaig , a previous king and brother of Muiredach mac Brain...
(died 834), a previous king.
The succession of kings in Leinster is difficult to follow in his time. The king lists in the Book of Leinster
Book of Leinster
The Book of Leinster , is a medieval Irish manuscript compiled ca. 1160 and now kept in Trinity College, Dublin, under the shelfmark MS H 2.18...
have Lorcán succeed Ruarc mac Brain (died 862) of the Uí Dúnchada sept and followed by Túathal mac Máele-Brigte
Túathal mac Máele-Brigte
Tuathal mac Máele-Brigte was a King of Leinster of the Uí Muiredaig sept of the Uí Dúnlainge branch of the Laigin. This sept had their royal seat at Maistiu in South Kildare. He was possibly the son of Muiredach mac Brain , a previous king...
(died 854). According to these lists Ruarc ruled for 9 years (c.838-847) and Túathal for 3 (c.851-854). Lorcán's reign then corresponds to c.847-851. Francis John Byrne
Francis John Byrne
Francis John Byrne is an Irish historian.Born in Shanghai where his father, a Dundalk man, captained a ship on the Yellow River, Byrne was evacuated with his mother to Australia on the outbreak of World War II...
suggests that the root of this apparent confusion lay in the fact that the Uí Dúnlainge kings exercised little real authority due to the aggressions of their western neighbour Cerball mac Dúnlainge
Cerball mac Dúnlainge
Cerball mac Dúnlainge was king of Osraige in south-east Ireland. The kingdom of Osraige occupied roughly the area of modern County Kilkenny and lay between the larger provincial kingdoms of Munster and Leinster....
(died 888), King of Osraige. Cerball, while unable to install himself as king of Leinster, was able to prevent any rival king exercising real power there.
In 848 Lorcán led the Laigin in alliance with Ólchobar mac Cináeda
Ólchobar mac Cináeda
Ólchobar mac Cináeda was King of Munster from 847 until his death. He may be the "king of the Irish" who sent an embassy to Frankish Emperor Charles the Bald announcing a series of victories over Vikings in Ireland in 848.-Origins:...
(died 851) in avictory over the Vikings in the Battle of Sciath Nechtain near modern Castledermot
Castledermot
Castledermot is an inland village in the south-east of Ireland in County Kildare, about from Dublin, and from the town of Carlow. The N9 road from Dublin to Waterford passes through the village but completion of a bypass is due during 2010.-Demographics:...
, County Kildare, in which fell the jarl Tomrair. Lorcán's father Cellach had also been aligned with Munster during the reign of Feidlimid mac Cremthanin
Feidlimid mac Cremthanin
Fedelmid mac Crimthainn was the King of Munster between 820 and 846. He was numbered as a member of the Céli Dé, an abbot of Cork Abbey and Clonfert Abbey, and possibly a bishop...
(died 847).