Máel Dúin mac Máele Fithrich
Encyclopedia
Máel Dúin mac Máele Fithrich (died 681) was a King of Ailech
and head of the Cenél nEógain
branch of the northern Uí Néill
. He was the son of Máel Fithrich mac Áedo
(died 630) and grandson of the high king Áed Uaridnach
(died 612). He ruled as King of Ailech from circa 668-681.
The annals record the destruction of Ailech in 676 by the high king Fínsnechta Fledach
(died 695) of the southern Uí Néill who appears to have asserted his authority in the north.
Máel Dúin was active increasing the power of the Cenél nEógain. In 677 he slew Dúnchad son of Ultán, king of Airgialla -of the Uí mac Carthainn, near Lough Foyle, Tirkeeran in modern County Londonderry
- in Dún Forgo. In the summer of 681 he was successful over Dúngal Eilni mac Scandail
of Dal nAraide and Cenn Faelad mac Suibni of the Ciannachta of Glenn Geimin (Keenaght, County Londonderry) at what was called the burning of the kings at Dún Ceithirn (in barony of Coleraine, in modern County Londonderry).
He belonged to the Cenél maic Ercae branch of the family. The rival Cenél Feradaig branch dominated the kingship for most of the 7th century. At the beginning of winter 681 he was defeated and slain at the Battle of Bla Sléibe (in modern County Londonderry) by the Ciannachta of Glenn Geimin and by Fland mac Máele Tuile
(died 700) of the rival Cenél Feradaig.
He had married Cacht ingen Cellaig, daughter of the high king Cellach mac Máele Coba
(died 658) of the Cenél Conaill
and their son Fergal mac Máele Dúin
(died 722) was high king of Ireland.
Máel Dúin mac Máele Fithrich is recorded as the ancestor of the Ó Dálaigh
bardic family in the O'Clery Book of Genealogies.
Ailech
Ailech was a medieval kingdom in Ireland, roughly centred on modern-day County Tyrone and the Inishowen peninsula in Ulster....
and head of 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...
branch 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....
. He was the son of Máel Fithrich mac Áedo
Máel Fithrich mac Áedo
Máel Fithrich mac Áedo was a King of Ailech and head of the Cenél nEógain branch of the northern Uí Néill. He was the son of the high king of Ireland Áed Uaridnach...
(died 630) and grandson of the high king Áed Uaridnach
Áed Uaridnach
Áed Uaridnach was an Irish king who was High King of Ireland. He is sometimes also known as Áed Allán, a name most commonly used for the 8th century king of the same name, this Áed's great-great-grandson....
(died 612). He ruled as King of Ailech from circa 668-681.
The annals record the destruction of Ailech in 676 by the high king Fínsnechta Fledach
Fínsnechta Fledach
Fínsnechta Fledach mac Dúnchada was High King of Ireland. Fínsnechta belonged to the southern Síl nÁedo Sláine sept of the Uí Néill and was King of Brega, in modern County Meath, Ireland. He was a grandson of Áed Sláine. His father Dúnchad had died in 659...
(died 695) of the southern Uí Néill who appears to have asserted his authority in the north.
Máel Dúin was active increasing the power of the Cenél nEógain. In 677 he slew Dúnchad son of Ultán, king of Airgialla -of the Uí mac Carthainn, near Lough Foyle, Tirkeeran in modern County Londonderry
County Londonderry
The place name Derry is an anglicisation of the old Irish Daire meaning oak-grove or oak-wood. As with the city, its name is subject to the Derry/Londonderry name dispute, with the form Derry preferred by nationalists and Londonderry preferred by unionists...
- in Dún Forgo. In the summer of 681 he was successful over Dúngal Eilni mac Scandail
Dúngal Eilni mac Scandail
Dúngal Eilni mac Scandail was a Dal nAraide king of the Cruithne. He came to the rule of these tribes some time after 668. He was the son of Scandal mac Bécce , a previous king....
of Dal nAraide and Cenn Faelad mac Suibni of the Ciannachta of Glenn Geimin (Keenaght, County Londonderry) at what was called the burning of the kings at Dún Ceithirn (in barony of Coleraine, in modern County Londonderry).
He belonged to the Cenél maic Ercae branch of the family. The rival Cenél Feradaig branch dominated the kingship for most of the 7th century. At the beginning of winter 681 he was defeated and slain at the Battle of Bla Sléibe (in modern County Londonderry) by the Ciannachta of Glenn Geimin and by Fland mac Máele Tuile
Fland mac Máele Tuile
Fland mac Máele Tuile , also Flann Finn or Flann Albus was a King of Ailech and head of the Cenél nEógain branch of the northern Uí Néill...
(died 700) of the rival Cenél Feradaig.
He had married Cacht ingen Cellaig, daughter of the high king Cellach mac Máele Coba
Cellach mac Máele Coba
Cellach mac Máele Coba was an Irish king and is said to have been High King of Ireland.Cellach was the son of Máel Coba mac Áedo and belonged to the Cenél Conaill branch of the northern Uí Néill...
(died 658) 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....
and their son Fergal mac Máele Dúin
Fergal mac Máele Dúin
Fergal mac Máele Dúin was High King of Ireland. Fergal belonged to the Cenél nEógain sept of the northern Uí Néill. He was the son of Máel Dúin mac Máele Fithrich , a King of Ailech, and great grandson of the high king Áed Uaridnach...
(died 722) was high king of Ireland.
Máel Dúin mac Máele Fithrich is recorded as the ancestor of the Ó Dálaigh
Ó Dálaigh
The Ó Dálaigh were a learned Irish bardic family who first came to prominence early in the 12th century, when Cú Connacht Ó Dálaigh was described as "The first Ollamh of poetry in all Ireland" .-Name derivation:The name Ó Dálaigh means 'descendant of Dálach'...
bardic family in the O'Clery Book of Genealogies.