Ruaidrí mac Fáeláin (died 785) 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 Fáeláin 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. He was the son of Fáelán mac Murchado (died 738), a previous king. This sept had their royal seat at Naas in the eastern part of the Liffey plain, Airthir Liphi. He ruled from 776 to 785. The men of Leinster had submitted to the authority of the high king

Donnchad Midi Donnchad mac Domnaill (733 – 6 February 797), called Donnchad Midi, was High King of Ireland. His father, Domnall Midi, had been the first Uí Néill High King from the south-central Clann Cholmáin based in modern County Westmeath and western ...

(died 797) of the

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 ...

in 770. In 777 a host of the Laigin was led by Donnchad into his war with 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 ...

Brega Brega , also known as ''Mersa Brega'' or ''Marsa al-Brega'' ( ar, مرسى البريقة , i.e. "Brega Seaport"), is a complex of several smaller towns, industry installations and education establishments situated in Libya on the Gulf of Sidra, ...

. In 780 Donnchad campaigned against leinster again. Ruaidrí and the king of the southern Uí Cheinnselaig,

Cairpre mac Laidcnén Cairpre mac Laidcnén (died 793) was a king of the Uí Cheinnselaig of South Leinster. He belonged to the Sil Chormaic sept of this branch of the Laigin and specifically to a branch which took over leadership of the Uí Dróna - the baronies of ...

, were defeated at the Battle of Óchtar Ocha (at Kilcock, near Kildare). Donnchad pursued them with his adherents, and laid waste and burned their territory and churches. the ''Annals of Ulster'' state of this event:

"Great hosts ... pour forth for themselves streams of gore; a company parts with Life in the overthrow of Óchtar Ocha."

That same year a congress of the synods of Uí Néill and Laigin was held at Tara and peace was restored. This campaign by Donnchad may have been in support of his son-in-law

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 rival of Ruaidrí. The next year, in 781, however, border warfare with the Síl nÁedo Sláine of Brega occurred. The Battle of the Rig was fought and the king of the Uí Garrchon, Cú Chongalt, was slain. In 782 open warfare between Ruaidrí and his rival Bran of the Uí Muiredaig sept broke out. Bran was defeated and captured at the battle of Curragh (near Kildare). Brans's allies Mugrón mac Flainn, king of Uí Fhailgi, and Dub dá Crích son of Laidcnén of the Uí Cheinnselaig were slain.''Annals of Ulster'' AU 782.3 His sons included

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), a king of Leinster; and Diarmait (died 832), King of Airthir Liphi and ancestor of the later Uí Fáeláin kings.

Notes

References

* ''Annals of Ulster'' a
CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts
a
University College Cork
* Byrne, Francis John (2001), Irish Kings and High-Kings, Dublin: Four Courts Press, * Charles-Edwards, T. M. (2000), ''Early Christian Ireland'', Cambridge: Cambridge University Press,

External links

a
University College Cork
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ruaidri Mac Faelain Kings of Leinster Kings of Uí Dúnlainge 8th-century births 785 deaths 8th-century Irish people 8th-century Irish monarchs People from County Kildare