Eachaid mac Muiredaig Muinderg (died 509) was a king of

Ulaid Ulaid (Old Irish, ) or Ulaidh (Modern Irish, ) was a Gaelic over-kingdom in north-eastern Ireland during the Middle Ages made up of a confederation of dynastic groups. Alternative names include Ulidia, which is the Latin form of Ulaid, and in ...

from the

Dál Fiatach Dál Fiatach was a Gaelic Ireland, Gaelic dynastic-grouping and the name of their territory in the north-east of Ireland during the Middle Ages. It was part of the over-kingdom of Ulaid, and they were its main ruling dynasty for most of Ulaid's ...

. He was the son of

Muiredach Muinderg Muiredach Muinderg mac Forggo (died 489) was a king of Ulaid from the Dál Fiatach. He was the son of Forgg mac Dalláin. His sobriquet means ''red-necked''. His death date is given in the ''Annals of Tigernach'' in 489. The ''Book of Leinster'' ...

mac Forggo (died 489). His death date is given in the ''Annals of Tigernach'' in 509. This annal gives him a reign of 489–509. In the period following the destruction of

Emain Macha Navan Fort ( sga, Emain Macha ; ga, Eamhain Mhacha, label=Modern Irish ) is an ancient ceremonial monument near Armagh, Northern Ireland. According to tradition it was one of the great royal sites of pre-Christian Gaelic Ireland and the cap ...

after 450, Ulidia underwent a recuperation in which the Dal Fiatach emerge as the overlords with his father Muiredach as the first historical king. The early seat of power of this dynasty appears to have been in County Louth at Ochtar Cuillche (Colland) at Collon, south of Ardee, County Louth and his descendants are said to have divided their inheritance here in the early 6th century. In 496/498 the annals record the storming of Dún Lethglaise (Downpatrick, modern County Down) which may be connected with the rise of Dal Fiatach in this area which was to become their power base. The ''Tripartite Life of St. Patrick'' has a story that

Saint Patrick Saint Patrick ( la, Patricius; ga, Pádraig ; cy, Padrig) was a fifth-century Romano-British Christian missionary and bishop in Ireland. Known as the "Apostle of Ireland", he is the primary patron saint of Ireland, the other patron saints be ...

cursed the descendants of Eachaid and gave his blessing to the descendants of his brother

Cairell mac Muiredaig Muinderg Cairell mac Muiredaig Muinderg (died 532) also Cairell Coscrach ("victorious") was a king of Ulaid from the Dal Fiatach. He was the son of Muiredach Muinderg mac Forggo (died 489) and brother of Eochaid mac Muiredaig Muinderg (died 509), previous ...

(died 532). This was due to Eachaid ordering two virgins who wanted to serve God to be drowned. Eachaid's pregnant wife threw herself at Patrick's feet and received baptism in order to spare the curse on her unborn son.The Most Ancient Lives of Saint Patrick
edited by James O'Leary Cairell's descendants did monopolize the kingship.

Notes

References

* ''Annals of Tigernach'' a

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, * Dáibhí Ó Cróinín (2005), ''A New History of Ireland'', Volume One, Oxford: Oxford University Press * Gearoid Mac Niocaill (1972), ''Ireland before the Vikings'', Dublin: Gill and Macmillan

External links

a
University College Cork
{{DEFAULTSORT:Muiredach Muinderg, Eochaid Mac Kings of Ulster 509 deaths 6th-century Irish monarchs Year of birth unknown