Mathgamain mac Cennétig (also known as Mahon) was

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 ...

from around 970 to his death in 976. He was the elder brother 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 ...

. Mathgamain was the son of Cennétig mac Lorcáin of the

Dál gCais The Dalcassians ( ga, Dál gCais ) are a Gaelic Irish clan, generally accepted by contemporary scholarship as being a branch of the Déisi Muman, that became very powerful in Ireland during the 10th century. Their genealogies claimed descent fr ...

. His father died in 951 and is called king of

Tuadmumu Thomond ( Classical Irish: ; Modern Irish: ), also known as the kingdom of Limerick, was a kingdom of Gaelic Ireland, associated geographically with present-day County Clare and County Limerick, as well as parts of County Tipperary around Nen ...

in the report of his death, and was probably succeeded by Mathgamain's brother Lachtna, who was assassinated in 953 by rival septs of the Dál gCais (The Uí Fhloinn and Uí Chearnaigh). After this Mathgamain succeeded him. In 967, Mathgamain is called "king of Cashel", by 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, ...

''. However he is not believed to have become king of Munster until 970 or shortly after, deposing

Máel Muad mac Brain Máel Muad mac Brain (died 978), commonly anglicised Molloy, was King of Munster, first possibly from 959 Green, p. 362 or alternatively 963 to around 970, when he may have been deposed (usurped) by Mathgamain mac Cennétig of the Dál gCais, and ...

. In 967, Mathgamain defeated

Ivar of Limerick Ivar of Limerick ( ga, Ímar Luimnich, rí Gall; Ímar ua Ímair; Ímar Ua hÍmair, Ard Rí Gall Muman ocus Gáedel; Íomhar Mór; non, Ívarr ; died 977), was the last Norse king of the city-state of Limerick, and penultimate ''King of the For ...

in the celebrated

Battle of Sulcoit The Battle of Sulcoit was fought in the year 968 between the Gaelic Ireland, Irish of the Dál gCais, led by Brian Boru, and the Vikings of Limerick, led by Ivar of Limerick. It was a victory for the Dál gCais and marked the end of Norse expan ...

, following raids by Mathgamain into Ui Fidgente territory in 964. The most common account of Mathgamain's death was that he was captured in 976 by

Donnubán mac Cathail Donnubán ('donuva:n), Donndubán ('donðuva:n), or Donnabán mac Cathail, anglicised Donovan, son of Cahall (died 980), was a tenth-century ruler of the Irish regional kingdom of Uí Fidgenti, and possibly also of the smaller overkingdom of Uí C ...

Tigerna A tiarna (Irish), or tighearna ( Scottish), both from the Old Irish tigerna, is a lord in the Gaelic world and languages. An Ard Tiarna is a "high lord", approximately equal in rank to a count or earl, although many of such higher rank still happe ...

(

Chief of the Name The Chief of the Name, or in older English usage Captain of his Nation, is the recognised head of a family or clan (''fine'' in Irish and Scottish Gaelic). The term has sometimes been used as a title in Ireland and Scotland. In Ireland In Eliza ...

) of the

Irish clan Irish clans are traditional kinship groups sharing a common surname and heritage and existing in a lineage-based society, originating prior to the 17th century. A clan (or ''fine'' in Irish) included the chief and his patrilineal relatives; howe ...

Uí Fidgenti The Uí Fidgenti, Fidgeinti, Fidgheinte, Fidugeinte, Fidgente, or Fidgeinte ( or ;In the pronunciation, the -d- is silent, and the -g- becomes a glide, producing what might be anglicized ''Feeyenti'' or ''Feeyenta''. "descendants of, or of the ...

, with whom the Dál gCais were vying for territory, and who were in alliance with Hiberno-Norse King

. Donnubán handed him over to his most powerful ally

(Mulloy, son of Brain) previous king of Munster, who had Mathgamain killed.

References

Sources

* * Byrne, Francis John, ''Irish Kings and High-Kings.'' Batsford, London, 1973; * Máire Ní Mhaonaigh, "Cogad Gáedel Re Gallaib" and the Annals: A Comparison, Ériu Vol. 47 (1996), pp. 101-126. * * Thornton, David E., "The genealogy of Gruffud ap Cynan" in Maund, Kerry L. (ed.), ''Gruffudd Ap Cynan: A Collaborative Biography.'' Boydell & Brewer, Woodbridge, 1996; {{DEFAULTSORT:mac Cennétig, Mathgamain People from County Clare 976 deaths Kings of Munster 10th-century Irish monarchs O'Brien dynasty Year of birth unknown Dál gCais