Muiredach mac Brain (died 818) was a
King of Leinster
The kings of Leinster ( ga, Rí Laighín), ruled from the establishment of Kingdom of Leinster, Leinster during the Irish Iron Age, until the 17th century Early Modern Ireland. According to Gaelic traditional history, laid out in works such as th ...
of the Uí Muiredaig sept of the
Uí Dúnlainge
The Uí Dúnlainge, from the Old Irish "grandsons (or descendants) of Dúnlaing", were an Irish dynasty of Leinster kings who traced their descent from Dúnlaing mac Énda Niada. He was said to be a cousin of Énnae Cennsalach, eponymous ancest ...
branch of the Laigin. This sept had their royal seat at Maistiu (Mullaghmast) in South Kildare. He was the son of
Bran Ardchenn
Bran Ardchenn mac Muiredaig (died 795) was a King of Leinster of the Uí Muiredaig sept of the Uí Dúnlainge branch of the Laigin. He was the son of Muiredach mac Murchado (died 760), a previous king. This sept had their royal seat at Maistiu (Mu ...
mac Muiredaig (died 795), a previous king. He ruled from 805 to 806 and again from 808 to 818.
Though not listed in the king list in the ''Book of Leinster'', he is mentioned in the Irish annals. He is given the title (one of two kings) at his death in 818 (''Annals of Ulster'') and ruled in conjunction with
Muiredach mac Ruadrach
Muiredach mac Ruadrach (died 829) was a King of Leinster of the Uí Fáeláin sept of the Uí Dúnlainge branch of the Laigin. This sept had their royal seat at Naas in the eastern part of the Liffey plain, Airthir Liphi. He was the son of Ruaidr ...
(died 829) of the
Uí Fáeláin sept.
In 795 his father, Bran, had been assassinated by his successor
Fínsnechta Cethardec
Finsnechta Cethardec mac Cellaig (died 808) was a King of Leinster of the Uí Dúnchada sept of the Uí Dúnlainge branch of the Laigin. He was the son of Cellach mac Dúnchada (died 776), a previous king. He ruled from 795 to 808. His byname Ceth ...
mac Cellaig (died 808) of the Uí Dúnchada sept as a direct challenge to the high-king. In 805 Fínsnechta was deposed by the high king
Áed Oirdnide
Áed mac Néill (; died 819), commonly called Áed Oirdnide ("the anointed"), was King of Ailech. A member of the Cenél nEógain dynasty of the northern Uí Néill, he was the son of Niall Frossach. Like his father, Áed was reckoned High King ...
(died 819) of the
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 ...
who installed Muiredach mac Brain and
Muiredach mac Ruadrach
Muiredach mac Ruadrach (died 829) was a King of Leinster of the Uí Fáeláin sept of the Uí Dúnlainge branch of the Laigin. This sept had their royal seat at Naas in the eastern part of the Liffey plain, Airthir Liphi. He was the son of Ruaidr ...
as kings. Finsnechta took refuge with
Muirgius mac Tommaltaig
Muirgius mac Tommaltaig (died 815) was a King of Connacht from the Uí Briúin branch of the Connachta. He was the great-grandson of Indrechtach mac Muiredaig Muillethan (died 723), a previous king. The death of his father Tommaltach mac Murgail ( ...
(died 815), the King of Connacht who then aided him in recovering his throne in 806.
Upon the death of Finsnechta, Muiredach mac Brain and
Muiredach mac Ruadrach
Muiredach mac Ruadrach (died 829) was a King of Leinster of the Uí Fáeláin sept of the Uí Dúnlainge branch of the Laigin. This sept had their royal seat at Naas in the eastern part of the Liffey plain, Airthir Liphi. He was the son of Ruaidr ...
were returned to rule. In 814 a battle is recorded between the Uí Cheinnselaig of south Leinster and the sons of Bran. The battle was won by the sons of Bran, probably Muiredach and his brother
Cellach mac Brain
Cellach mac Brain (died 834) was a King of Leinster of the Uí Muiredaig sept of the Uí Dúnlainge branch of the Laigin. This sept had their royal seat at Maistiu (Mullaghmast) in South Kildare. He was the son of Bran Ardchenn mac Muiredaig (die ...
(died 834).
[Byrne, pg.161] Upon the death of Muiredach mac Brain, Muiredach mac Ruadrach became sole ruler.
Muiredach's sons,
Tuathal mac Muiredaig (died 854) and
Dúnlaing mac Muiredaig
Dúnlaing mac Muiredaig (died 869) was a King of Leinster of the Uí Muiredaig sept of the Uí Dúnlainge branch of the Laigin. This sept had their royal seat at Maistiu (Mullaghmast) in South Kildare. He was the son of Muiredach mac Brain (died ...
(died 869) were also kings of Leinster. Another son Artúr mac Muiredaig (died 847) was king of western Liffey, Iarthair Liffey.
Notes
References
* ''Annals of Ulster'' a
CELT: Corpus of Electronic Textsa
University College Cork* ''Book of Leinster'',''Rig Laigin'' a
a
University College Cork* Byrne, Francis John (2001), Irish Kings and High-Kings, Dublin: Four Courts Press,
External links
a
University College Cork
Kings of Leinster
Kings of Uí Dúnlainge
8th-century births
818 deaths
9th-century Irish monarchs
People from County Kildare
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