Áed Bennán mac Crimthainn
Encyclopedia
Áed Bennán mac Crimthainn (died 618) was a possible King of Munster from the Eóganacht Locha Léin
branch of the Eoganachta
. He was definitely king of West Munster or Iarmuman
. He was the great grandson of Dauí Iarlaithe mac Maithni
also a possible king of Munster from this branch
There is some dispute in the sources as to his reign and that of Fíngen mac Áedo Duib
(d. 618) of the Chaisil barnch. The Annals of Tigernach call him King of Munster and place him before Fingin. The Annals of Ulster and Annals of Innisfallen do not give him a title at his death obit. In the Annals of The Four Masters he is only king of Iarmuman.
In his death obit in the Annals of The Four Masters this is said of him
"Aedh Beannan,
of Eoghanacht Iar-Luachair,—
Woe to the wealth of which he was king!
Happy the land of which he was guardian.
His shield when he would shake,
his foes would be subdued;
Though it were but on his back,
it was shelter to West Munster"
According to the saga Mór of Munster and the Violent Death of Cuanu mac Ailchine his daughter Mór Muman
(d. 636) was married to Fingen and later married his successor Cathal mac Áedo
(d. 627), thereby transferring the kingship to him. Another daughter Ruithchern was the cause of a war between the Loch Lein and Glendamnach branches in the next generation. This war may reflect the extent of this branches power at this time as besides the Corco Loigde, Corco Duibne, and Ciarraige of Iarmuman; other subject tribes mentioned were the Corco Mruad and Corco Baiscinn of Thomond.
His known sons were Máel Dúin mac Áedo Bennán
(d. 661) and Cummíne.
Eóganacht Locha Léin
Eóganacht Locha Léin or Ui Caipre Luachra were a branch of the ruling Eoganachta of Munster. Their territory was in Iarmuman or West Munster. Luachair is the old name of a large district on the borders of Co Cork, Kerry and Limerick...
branch of the Eoganachta
Eóganachta
The Eóganachta or Eoghanachta were an Irish dynasty centred around Cashel which dominated southern Ireland from the 6/7th to the 10th centuries, and following that, in a restricted form, the Kingdom of Desmond, and its offshoot Carbery, well into the 16th century...
. He was definitely king of West Munster or Iarmuman
Iarmuman
Iarmhumhain was a Kingdom in the early Christian period of Ireland in west Munster. Its ruling dynasty was related to the main ruling dynasty of Munster known as the Eóganachta. Its ruling branch was called the Eóganacht Locha Léin or Ui Chairpri Lúachra. Their center was around Killarney, County...
. He was the great grandson of Dauí Iarlaithe mac Maithni
Dauí Iarlaithe mac Maithni
Dauí Iarlaithe mac Maithni was a King of Iarmuman from the Eóganacht Locha Léin branch of the Eoganachta, the ruling dynasty of Munster. He was the grandson of the founder of this branch of the dynasty, Coirpre Luachra mac Cuirc...
also a possible king of Munster from this branch
There is some dispute in the sources as to his reign and that of Fíngen mac Áedo Duib
Fíngen mac Áedo Duib
Fíngen mac Áedo Duib was a King of Munster from the Eóganacht Chaisil branch of the Eoganachta. He was the great-grandson of Feidlimid mac Óengusa, a previous king. He succeeded Amalgaid mac Éndai as king in 601....
(d. 618) of the Chaisil barnch. The Annals of Tigernach call him King of Munster and place him before Fingin. The Annals of Ulster and Annals of Innisfallen do not give him a title at his death obit. In the Annals of The Four Masters he is only king of Iarmuman.
In his death obit in the Annals of The Four Masters this is said of him
"Aedh Beannan,
of Eoghanacht Iar-Luachair,—
Woe to the wealth of which he was king!
Happy the land of which he was guardian.
His shield when he would shake,
his foes would be subdued;
Though it were but on his back,
it was shelter to West Munster"
According to the saga Mór of Munster and the Violent Death of Cuanu mac Ailchine his daughter Mór Muman
Mór Muman
Mór Muman , also written Mór Mumhan or Mór Mumain, is stated to have been a daughter of Áed Bennán, sometime King of Munster, but may in fact represent a euhemerised sovereignty goddess, particularly associated with the Eóganachta.The Irish language tale Mór Muman 7 Aided Cuanach meic Ailchine Mór...
(d. 636) was married to Fingen and later married his successor Cathal mac Áedo
Cathal mac Áedo
Cathal mac Áedo Flaind Chathrach was a King of Cashel in Munster from the Glendamnach sept of the Eoganachta. He was the son of Áed Fland Cathrach and grandson of Coirpre Cromm mac Crimthainn a previous king of Cashel...
(d. 627), thereby transferring the kingship to him. Another daughter Ruithchern was the cause of a war between the Loch Lein and Glendamnach branches in the next generation. This war may reflect the extent of this branches power at this time as besides the Corco Loigde, Corco Duibne, and Ciarraige of Iarmuman; other subject tribes mentioned were the Corco Mruad and Corco Baiscinn of Thomond.
His known sons were Máel Dúin mac Áedo Bennán
Máel Dúin mac Áedo Bennán
Máel Dúin mac Áedo Bennán was a King of Iarmuman from the Eóganacht Locha Léin branch of the Eoganachta. He was the son of Áed Bennán mac Crimthainn , who may have been King of all Munster...
(d. 661) and Cummíne.