Áed mac Echach
Encyclopedia
Áed mac Echach Tirmcharna (d.575) was a King of Connacht
from the Uí Briúin
branch of the Connachta
. He was the son of Echu Tirmcharna
mac Fergusso (d.c.556). He came to the throne in the year 557 and ruled till 575.
The slaying of one of his sons was the cause of a war with the high-king Diarmait mac Cerbaill
(d.563). Geoffrey Keating
states that Diarmait held a feast at Tara at which Aed's son Curnán mac Áedo (d.559) slew a nobleman. Curnán then put himself under the protection of Forguss and Domnall mac Muichertaig of the Cenél nEógain
of the northern Uí Néill
who placed him under the protection of their kinsman Saint Columba
. However Diarmait had Curnán executed for violating laws of Tara in 559. According to the Annals of the Four Masters, Curnán was torn from the hands of Columba. As a result Columba organized a confederacy of the northern Ui Neill including the Cenél Conaill
with Aed of Connacht against Diarmait.
In 560 was fought the Battle of Cúl Dreimne(in Co.Sligo) by this alliance against Diarmait. The Annals of the Four Masters mention that the prayers of Columba prevailed over the druids of Diarmait and he was defeated. T.M.Charles-Edwards places this battle in later Cenel Caipre Droma Cliab territory in the region between the Northern Ui Neill and the Connachta stating that Diarmait was on the offensive and tried to cut the allies off. He also states that the true cause of this battle was probably a dispute over the succession to Diarmait.
Prof. Byrne doubts the legitimacy of the early Ui Briun genealogies and even goes so far as to doubt that these early Ui Briun kings were even of this branch. He cites the reference in the annals to the death of Aed in 575 who is said to be killed by the Ui Briun and to a reference in the Annals of Innisfallen that he gave Enach Dúin (Annaghdown on L.Corrib) to Saint Brendan
of Clonfert. He doubts that a ruler from the Mag nÁi region would be able to make this gift. Charles-Edwards on the other hand believes that the Ui Briun were set up in Connacht by Diarmait mac Cerbaill as a balance to the Ui Fiachrach
before Aed joined the alliance against him.
He was succeeded by his son Uatu mac Áedo
(d.600).
Connacht
Connacht , formerly anglicised as Connaught, is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the west 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...
from the Uí Briúin
Uí Briúin
The Uí Briúin were an Irish kin-group. Their eponymous apical ancestor was Brion, son of Eochaid Mugmedon and Mongfind, and an elder half brother of Niall of the Nine Hostages. They formed part of the Connachta, along with the Uí Fiachrach and Uí Ailello, putative descendants of Eochaid Mugmedon's...
branch of the Connachta
Connachta
The Connachta are a group of medieval Irish dynasties who claimed descent from the legendary High King Conn Cétchathach...
. He was the son of Echu Tirmcharna
Echu Tirmcharna
Echu Tirmcharna mac Fergusso was a king of Connacht from the Uí Briúin branch of the Connachta. Genealogically he is mentioned as the great-great grandson of Dauí Tenga Uma a previous king. Prof. Byrne believes that the early Uí Briúin genealogies are fabricated however. His place in the king...
mac Fergusso (d.c.556). He came to the throne in the year 557 and ruled till 575.
The slaying of one of his sons was the cause of a war with the high-king Diarmait mac Cerbaill
Diarmait mac Cerbaill
Diarmait mac Cerbaill was King of Tara or High King of Ireland. According to traditions, he was the last High King to follow the pagan rituals of inauguration, the ban-feis or marriage to goddess of the land....
(d.563). Geoffrey Keating
Geoffrey Keating
Seathrún Céitinn, known in English as Geoffrey Keating, was a 17th century Irish Roman Catholic priest, poet and historian. He was born in County Tipperary c. 1569, and died c. 1644...
states that Diarmait held a feast at Tara at which Aed's son Curnán mac Áedo (d.559) slew a nobleman. Curnán then put himself under the protection of Forguss and Domnall mac Muichertaig 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...
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....
who placed him under the protection of their kinsman Saint Columba
Columba
Saint Columba —also known as Colum Cille , Colm Cille , Calum Cille and Kolban or Kolbjørn —was a Gaelic Irish missionary monk who propagated Christianity among the Picts during the Early Medieval Period...
. However Diarmait had Curnán executed for violating laws of Tara in 559. According to the Annals of the Four Masters, Curnán was torn from the hands of Columba. As a result Columba organized a confederacy of the northern Ui Neill including 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....
with Aed of Connacht against Diarmait.
In 560 was fought the Battle of Cúl Dreimne(in Co.Sligo) by this alliance against Diarmait. The Annals of the Four Masters mention that the prayers of Columba prevailed over the druids of Diarmait and he was defeated. T.M.Charles-Edwards places this battle in later Cenel Caipre Droma Cliab territory in the region between the Northern Ui Neill and the Connachta stating that Diarmait was on the offensive and tried to cut the allies off. He also states that the true cause of this battle was probably a dispute over the succession to Diarmait.
Prof. Byrne doubts the legitimacy of the early Ui Briun genealogies and even goes so far as to doubt that these early Ui Briun kings were even of this branch. He cites the reference in the annals to the death of Aed in 575 who is said to be killed by the Ui Briun and to a reference in the Annals of Innisfallen that he gave Enach Dúin (Annaghdown on L.Corrib) to Saint Brendan
Brendan
Saint Brendan of Clonfert or Bréanainn of Clonfert called "the Navigator", "the Voyager", or "the Bold" is one of the early Irish monastic saints. He is chiefly renowned for his legendary quest to the "Isle of the Blessed," also called St. Brendan's Island. The Voyage of St...
of Clonfert. He doubts that a ruler from the Mag nÁi region would be able to make this gift. Charles-Edwards on the other hand believes that the Ui Briun were set up in Connacht by Diarmait mac Cerbaill as a balance to the Ui Fiachrach
Uí Fiachrach
The Uí Fiachrach were a dynasty who originated in, and whose descendants later ruled, the coicead or fifth of Connacht at different times from the mid-first millennium onwards. They claimed descent from Fiachrae, an older half-brother of Niall Noigiallach or Niall of the Nine Hostages...
before Aed joined the alliance against him.
He was succeeded by his son Uatu mac Áedo
Uatu mac Áedo
Uatu mac Áedo was a King of Connacht from the Uí Briúin branch of the Connachta. He was the son of Áed mac Echach Tirmcharna .. The kinglists place his reign after his father which would put his succession in the year in 575. Prof...
(d.600).