Diarmait (died 665) was a son of
Áed Sláine
Áed mac Diarmato (died 604), called Áed Sláine (Áed of Slane), was the son of Diarmait mac Cerbaill. Legendary stories exist of Áed's birth. Saint Columba is said to have prophesied his death. His descendants, the Síl nÁedo Sláine—the ...
. According to the
Irish annals
A number of Irish annals, of which the earliest was the Chronicle of Ireland, were compiled up to and shortly after the end of the 17th century. Annals were originally a means by which monks determined the yearly chronology of feast days. Over t ...
, he was
High King of Ireland
High King of Ireland ( ga, Ardrí na hÉireann ) was a royal title in Gaelic Ireland held by those who had, or who are claimed to have had, lordship over all of Ireland. The title was held by historical kings and later sometimes assigned ana ...
.
Sons of Áed Sláine
Diarmait's father Áed Sláine was a son of
Diarmait mac Cerbaill
Diarmait mac Cerbaill (died ) 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.
While many later stor ...
, the apical ancestor of the southern branches of the
Uí Néill
The Uí Néill (Irish pronunciation: ; meaning "descendants of Niall") are Irish dynasties who claim descent from Niall Noígíallach (Niall of the Nine Hostages), a historical King of Tara who died c. 405. They are generally divided into the ...
kindred which dominated Ireland from the late 6th century until the rise of
Brian Bóruma
Brian Boru ( mga, Brian Bóruma mac Cennétig; modern ga, Brian Bóramha; 23 April 1014) was an Irish king who ended the domination of the High King of Ireland, High Kingship of Ireland by the Uí Néill and probably ended Viking invasion/domi ...
in the late 10th century. The descendants of Áed Sláine were known as the
Síl nÁedo Sláine
Síl nÁedo Sláine () are the descendants of Áed Sláine (Áed mac Diarmato), 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 ...
. With the possible exception of
Óengus mac Colmáin
Óengus mac Colmáin Bec (died 621) was an Irish king. He was the King of Uisnech in Mide from 618 to 621.
He belonged to the southern Uí Néill. According to the genealogies, he was a son of Colmán Bec (died 587), son of Diarmait mac Cerbaill ( ...
, all Uí Néill kings descended from Diarmait mac Cerbaill belonged to the Síl nÁedo Sláine until the death of
Cináed mac Írgalaig
Cináed mac Írgalaig (died 728) or Cináed Cáech, "the one-eyed", was an Irish King of Brega who was High King of Ireland.
Background
Cináed was the son of Írgalach mac Conaing (died 702), a previous King of Brega. He belonged to the Uí Chon ...
in 728. The Síl nÁedo Sláine were
Kings of Brega
The Kings of Brega were rulers of Brega, a petty kingdom north of Dublin in medieval Ireland.
Overview
Brega took its name from ' ('), meaning "fine plain", in modern County Meath, County Louth and County Dublin, Ireland. They formed part of th ...
, and the
Hill of Tara
The Hill of Tara ( ga, Teamhair or ) is a hill and ancient ceremonial and burial site near Skryne in County Meath, Ireland. Tradition identifies the hill as the inauguration place and seat of the High Kings of Ireland; it also appears in Iri ...
, where High Kings were inaugurated, lay within their lands. Other groups descended from the sons of Diarmait included
Clann Cholmáin
Clann Cholmáin is the dynasty descended from Colmán Már mac Diarmato, son of Diarmait mac Cerbaill. Part of the Southern Uí Néill — they were the kings of Mide (Meath) — they traced their descent to Niall Noígiallach and his s ...
, or more precisely Clann Cholmáin Már, descended from Colmán Már, which replaced the Síl nÁedo Sláine as the dominant group of the southern Uí Néill from the middle of the 8th century, and the less important
Caílle Follamain or Clann Cholmáin Bicc, descended from Colmán Beg.
Áed Sláine himself is said to have been High King jointly with
Colmán Rímid
Colmán Rímid (or Colmán mac Báetáin) (died 604) was an Irish king who is included in some lists as a High King of Ireland. Colmán was the son of Báetán mac Muirchertaig (died 572), also considered to be a high king, and belonged to the C ...
of the northern
Cenél nEógain
Cenél is a surname. Notable people with the surname include:
*Cenél Conaill, the name of the "kindred" or descendants of Conall Gulban, son of Niall Noígiallach defined by oral and recorded history
*Cenél nEógain (in English, Cenel Eogan) is ...
branch of the Uí Néill, following the death of
Áed mac Ainmuirech
Áed mac Ainmuirech (born c.530 - died 598) was high-king of the Northern Uí Néill. He belonged to the Cenél Conaill and was a distant cousin of Columba of Iona. He was the son of Ainmuire mac Sétnai (died 569), a previous possible high king ...
. Áed Sláine died
circa
Circa is a word of Latin origin meaning 'approximately'.
Circa or CIRCA may also refer to:
* CIRCA (art platform), art platform based in London
* Circa (band), a progressive rock supergroup
* Circa (company), an American skateboard footwear com ...
604, a death said to have been prophesied by Saint
Columba
Columba or Colmcille; gd, Calum Cille; gv, Colum Keeilley; non, Kolban or at least partly reinterpreted as (7 December 521 – 9 June 597 AD) was an Irish abbot and missionary evangelist credited with spreading Christianity in what is toda ...
. Áed's sons are said to have included Diarmait,
Blathmac
Saint Blathmac ( la, Blathmacus, Florentius) was a distinguished Irish monk, born in Ireland about 750 AD. He is known as "Blathmac, son of Flann", to distinguish him from the poet and monk Blathmac mac Con Brettan.
He was killed and became a ...
(died 665), Congal (died 634), Ailill (died 634), and Dúnchad (died 659).
Domnall mac Áedo and Congal Cáech
Diarmait was one of the younger sons of Áed Sláine. According to king lists, the kingship of Brega was held by Congal and then by Ailill, both killed by
Conall Guthbinn
Conall mac Suibni (died 635), called Conall Guthbinn, Prince of Meath, was King of Uisnech in Mide of the Clann Cholmáin. He was the son of Suibne mac Colmáin (died 600), a previous king.Charles-Edwards, ''Early Christian Ireland'', p. 604, tab ...
mac Suibni of Clann Cholmáin in 634, after which Diarmait and his brother Blathmac were jointly kings of Brega. Diarmait killed Conall Guthbinn mac Suibni "in the house of Nad-Fraích's son" according to the ''
Annals of Ulster
The ''Annals of Ulster'' ( ga, Annála Uladh) are annals of medieval Ireland. The entries span the years from 431 AD to 1540 AD. The entries up to 1489 AD were compiled in the late 15th century by the scribe Ruaidhrí Ó Luinín, ...
'', in 635. That same year Diarmait defeated Clann Cholmáin Bicc in battle at Cúil Caeláin where Óengus mac Colmáin's son Máel Umai was killed.
At this time the High Kingship of Ireland may have been disputed between
Domnall mac Áedo
Domnall mac Áedo (died 642), also known as Domnall II, Was an Irish king and son of Áed mac Ainmuirech and his consort Land, the daughter of Áed Guaire mac Amalgada of Airgíalla. Domnall was High King of Ireland from 628 until his death. He be ...
of the northern
Cenél Conaill
Cenél is a surname. Notable people with the surname include:
*Cenél Conaill, the name of the "kindred" or descendants of Conall Gulban, son of Niall Noígiallach defined by oral and recorded history
*Cenél nEógain (in English, Cenel Eogan) is ...
branch of the Uí Néill and the
cruithne king
Congal Cáech
Congal Cáech (also Congal Cláen) was a king of the Cruthin of Dál nAraidi in the medieval Irish province of Ulaid, from around 626 to 637. He was king of Ulaid from 627–637 and, according to some sources, High King of Ireland.
Origins
Whil ...
. In this complicated contest Diarmait and Blathmac were allied with Domnall. They fought alongside him at the
Battle of Mag Rath
The Battle of Moira, also known as the Battle of Magh Rath, was fought in the summer of 637 by the High King of Ireland, Domnall mac Áedo, Domnall II, against his foster son Congal Cáech, King of Ulaid, supported by his ally Domnall Brecc, Kin ...
where Congal was killed. Some branches of the Uí Néill fought against Domnall and Diarmait's foster-father Lommainnech is said to have killed Conall mac Suibni's son Airmedach in the battle.
High King
The compilers of the various
Irish annals
A number of Irish annals, of which the earliest was the Chronicle of Ireland, were compiled up to and shortly after the end of the 17th century. Annals were originally a means by which monks determined the yearly chronology of feast days. Over t ...
were apparently uncertain as to the succession following the death of Domnall mac Áedo in 642. The ''Annals of Ulster'' state:
Here it is uncertain who reigned after Domnall. Some historiographers state that four kings, i.e. Cellach, Conall Cóel
Conall mac Máele Coba, called Conall Cóel, (died 654) was an Irish king and is said to have been High King of Ireland.
Biography
Conall was the son of Máel Coba mac Áedo and belonged to the Cenél Conaill branch of the northern Uí Néill. Acc ...
, and two sons of Aed Sláine son of Diarmait son of Fergus Cerrbél son of Conall of Cremthann son of Niall Noígiallach
Niall ''Noígíallach'' (; Old Irish "having nine hostages"), or Niall of the Nine Hostages, was a legendary, semi-historical Irish king who was the ancestor of the Uí Néill dynasties that dominated Ireland from the 6th to the 10th centuries. ...
, namely Diarmait and Blathmac, reigned in mingled rule.
According to the late 7th century ''
Baile Chuind Chétchathaig Baile ("dance" in Spanish) may refer to:
* Baile (Spanish play), a Spanish dramatic form
* Baile funk, a type of dance music from Rio de Janeiro
* Baile, the Irish Gaelic word for a town, usually anglicized as "bally" or "balla"
* Baile, the Scot ...
'', a list of High Kings composed in the reign of Diarmait's nephew
Fínsnechta Fledach
Fínsnechta Fledach mac Dúnchada (died 695) 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 ...
, son of Dúnchad, Domnall mac Áedo was succeeded by Diarmait and Blathmac. The ''Baile Chuind'' omits several kings, including Áed Sláine, some of which may be copying errors, but others are apparently deliberate. It is a work of dynastic propaganda, its purpose to demonstrate that the Síl nÁedo Sláine should by right be High Kings of Ireland. For these reasons, although it is the most nearly contemporary witness, it is not necessarily to be trusted.
Of the two or four kings, Diarmait was the most active according to the record which survives in the Irish annals. In 649, he defeated
Guaire Aidne mac Colmáin
Guaire Aidne mac Colmáin (died 663) was a king of Connacht. A member of the Ui Fiachrach Aidhne and son of king Colmán mac Cobthaig (died 622). Guaire ruled at the height of Ui Fiachrach Aidne power in south Connacht.
Early reign
Guaire app ...
,
king of Connacht
The Kings of Connacht were rulers of the ''cóiced'' (variously translated as portion, fifth, province) of Connacht, which lies west of the River Shannon, Ireland. However, the name only became applied to it in the early medieval era, being name ...
, at the battle of Carn Conaill. The verse ''Cath Cairnd Chonaill'' purports to describe the battle and its context. It states that the
king of Munster
The kings of Munster ( ga, Rí Mumhan), ruled from the establishment of Munster during the Irish Iron Age, until the High Middle Ages. According to Gaelic traditional history, laid out in works such as the '' Book of Invasions'', the earliest ...
was present as an ally of Guaire, but this is late and unreliable evidence. In 654, Diarmait killed Conall Cóel and Cellach died in 658.
A plague arrived in Ireland in 664, called the ''buide Chonaill''. The annals record that Diarmait and his brother Blathmac both died of the disease the following year. The king lists have them followed by Blathmac's son
Sechnassach
Sechnassach mac Blathmaic (died 671) followed his father Blathmac mac Áedo Sláine (died 665) and uncle Diarmait mac Áedo Sláine (died 665) as High King of Ireland and King of Brega. He belonged to the Síl nÁedo Sláine kindred of the souther ...
, possibly ruling jointly with another son of Blathmac,
Cenn Fáelad
Cenn Fáelad mac Blathmaic (died 675) followed his father Blathmac mac Áedo Sláine (d. 665) and his brother Sechnassach (d. 671) as High King of Ireland and king of Brega. He belonged to the Síl nÁedo Sláine kindred of the southern Uí Néil ...
.
Descendants and posterity
Diarmait's descendants formed the Uí Chernaig branch of the Síl nÁedo Sláine, named for Diarmait's son Cernach. The centre of their power lay around
Loch Gabhair
Loch Gabhair (Lagore), meaning "Lake of the Goats", is an area in the barony of Ratoath, County Meath, Ireland. It is located between the villages of Ratoath and Dunshaughlin and is the namesake of the townlands of Lagore Big (Loch Gabhar Mór) an ...
in modern
County Meath
County Meath (; gle, Contae na Mí or simply ) is a county in the Eastern and Midland Region of Ireland, within the province of Leinster. It is bordered by Dublin to the southeast, Louth to the northeast, Kildare to the south, Offaly to the sou ...
. Few of Diarmait's descendants were major figures in Irish history. His grandson Conall mac Cernaig, usually called
Conall Grant
Conall Grant mac Cernaig (died 718) was a King of Brega of the Uí Chernaig sept of Lagore of the Síl nÁedo Sláine. He was the grandson of the high king Diarmait mac Áedo Sláine (died 665). His father Cernach Sotal had died during plague yea ...
, was an important figure in the 710s, and a great-grandson,
Fogartach mac Néill
Fogartach Mac'Artain (died 724), sometimes called Fogartach ua Cernaich, was an Irish king who is reckoned a High King of Ireland. He belonged to the Uí Chernaig sept of the Síl nÁedo Sláine branch of the southern Uí Néill. He was King of Br ...
, was later High King.
For editors and creators of
Middle Irish language
Middle Irish, sometimes called Middle Gaelic ( ga, An Mheán-Ghaeilge, gd, Meadhan-Ghàidhlig), is the Goidelic language which was spoken in Ireland, most of Scotland and the Isle of Man from AD; it is therefore a contemporary of late Old Engli ...
literature, the reign of Diarmait and Blathmac was imagined as a Golden Age. Works set in this period include the ''
Cath Cairnd Chonaill'' and the ''
Scéla Cano meic Gartnáin
The ''Scéla Cano meic Gartnáin'' ( en, The Story of Cano mac Gartnáin) is an Old Irish prose tale of the ninth century or later. It forms part of the Cycles of the Kings.
It deals with the exile and return of Cano mac Gartnáin in sixth century ...
''.
References
*
*
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Diarmait Mac Aedo Slaine
665 deaths
High Kings of Ireland
Kings of Brega
People from County Meath
7th-century Irish monarchs
Year of birth unknown