Énnae Cennsalach (5th century) was a King of Leinster and founder of the Uí Cheinnselaig sept of the

Laigin The Laigin, modern spelling Laighin (), were a Gaelic population group of early Ireland. They gave their name to the Kingdom of Leinster, which in the medieval era was known in Irish as ''Cóiced Laigen'', meaning "Fifth/province of the Leinste ...

. He was the grandson of Bressal Bélach (died 436), a previous king. The chronology of

Leinster Leinster ( ; or ) is one of the four provinces of Ireland, in the southeast of Ireland. The modern province comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Meath, Leinster and Osraige, which existed during Gaelic Ireland. Following the 12th-century ...

kings in the 5th century is contradictory. He is counted as a King of Laigin in the ''Book of Leinster'' but is not mentioned in the annals. Keating records wars of the High King Eochaid Mugmedón with Énnae Cennselach. Eochaid was defeated at the Battle of Cruachan Claonta by the Leinsterman. According to the sagas ''Aided Néill'' and ''Orcuin Néill Noígíallaig'', Énnae's son Eochu was the killer of the high king Niall Noígíallach. ''Orcuin Néill Noígíallaig'' relates that Eochu killed Niall's chief poet. This led Niall to harry Leinster and exile Eochu. Eochu took refuge with King Erc of Dalriada and later killed Niall on his return from a raid. ''Aided Néill'' relates that Niall's son Fergus avenged his father by killing Eochu.Wiley, Dan M.
Aided Néill
''Cycles of the Kings'' Énnae's son Crimthann mac Énnai (d. 486) also became King of Leinster. Another son Fedelmid was ancestor of the Uí Felmeda branch of the Uí Cheinnselaig.

Notes

References

* Byrne, Francis John (2001), Irish Kings and High-Kings, Dublin: Four Courts Press, * ''Book of Leinster'',''Rig Laigin'' a
CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts
a
University College Cork
* Geoffrey Keating, ''History of Ireland'' a

a
University College Cork
* Wiley, Dan M.

''Cycles of the Kings'' * Wiley, Dan M.

''Cycles of the Kings''

External links

a
University College Cork
Kings of Leinster 5th-century Irish monarchs People from County Carlow Year of birth unknown Year of death unknown {{Ireland-royal-stub