Cenn Fáelad hua Mugthigirn (died 872) was a King of Munster of the Eoganachta, the ruling dynasty of Munster. He ruled from 861-872. He was also abbot of Emly from 851-872, an important monastery in County Tipperary where he succeeded a previous King of Munster, Ólchobar mac Cináeda (died 851).
He was originally considered a member of the Eóganacht Airthir Cliach as a 5th generation descendant of Cormac Sriabderg, brother of Fergus Scandal mac Crimthainn (died 582), King of Munster.[1] Recent research has shown this pedigree to be faulty and it is more likely he was of the Eóganacht Áine branch and a 6th generation descendant of Garbán mac Éndai (flourished 596), King of Munster.[2] The Laud Synchronisms also refer to him as from this branch. This branch of the family was centered at Cnoc Áine (Knockaney, County Limerick) in the region of Cliú (eastern Limerick) not far from Emly. His uncle Rechtibrae mac Mugthigirn (died 819) was abbot of Emly from 787-819 and his grandfather Mugthigern mac Cellaig (d.785) was abbot of Innis Celtra (Holy Island in Loch Derg). His father's name may have been Murchad.
Cenn Fáelad acquired the throne in 861 after a two-year interregnum.[3] The high king, Máel Sechnaill mac Máele Ruanaid (died 862) of Clann Cholmáin had reduced Munster to complete submission in 858 and detached Osraige from Munster in 859. The King of Munster, Máel Gualae mac Donngaile (died 859), was then captured by the Norse and stoned to death. In 860, the men of Munster accompanied the forces of the high king in his expedition to the north against the Northern Ui Neill.[4]
The Norse Vikings in Munster remained active in this period. In 866, Vikings from Limerick led by Tomrar plundered Clonfert but were then defeated and Tomrar went mad and died on the Isle of Man.[5] The Ciarraige tribe then attacked his followers and with the aid of the sea they were victorious.[6] Also, in 866, The Norse of Cork, led by a man named Gním Cinnsiolaigh, led an attack on the Fir Maige Fén, a tribe centered at (Fermoy, County Cork). The Déisi, however, joined forces with the attacked and defeated the Norse leader who fled to a fort for refuge. The Norse leader appealed to Cenn Fáelad for protection but he refused it and the Norse leader was dragged from his refuge and killed.[7] In 871, an attack on Munster by the powerful Osraige king Cerball mac Dunlainge is recorded as far as West Munster across the Sliabh Luachra.[8]
The death of Cenn Fáelad is recorded in 872 after prolonged suffering.[9] His son Eógan mac Cinn Fáelad (died 890) was abbot of Emly from 887-890.
Annals of Innisfallen at CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts at University College Cork
Annals of Ulster at CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts at University College Cork
Byrne, Francis John (2001), Irish Kings and High-Kings, Dublin: Four Courts Press, ISBN978-1-85182-196-9
Fragmentary Annals of Ireland at CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts at University College Cork
External linksedit
CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts at University College Cork
April 10, 2024
cenn, fáelad, mugthigirn, died, king, munster, eoganachta, ruling, dynasty, munster, ruled, from, also, abbot, emly, from, important, monastery, county, tipperary, where, succeeded, previous, king, munster, Ólchobar, cináeda, died, originally, considered, memb. Cenn Faelad hua Mugthigirn died 872 was a King of Munster of the Eoganachta the ruling dynasty of Munster He ruled from 861 872 He was also abbot of Emly from 851 872 an important monastery in County Tipperary where he succeeded a previous King of Munster olchobar mac Cinaeda died 851 He was originally considered a member of the Eoganacht Airthir Cliach as a 5th generation descendant of Cormac Sriabderg brother of Fergus Scandal mac Crimthainn died 582 King of Munster 1 Recent research has shown this pedigree to be faulty and it is more likely he was of the Eoganacht Aine branch and a 6th generation descendant of Garban mac Endai flourished 596 King of Munster 2 The Laud Synchronisms also refer to him as from this branch This branch of the family was centered at Cnoc Aine Knockaney County Limerick in the region of Cliu eastern Limerick not far from Emly His uncle Rechtibrae mac Mugthigirn died 819 was abbot of Emly from 787 819 and his grandfather Mugthigern mac Cellaig d 785 was abbot of Innis Celtra Holy Island in Loch Derg His father s name may have been Murchad Cenn Faelad acquired the throne in 861 after a two year interregnum 3 The high king Mael Sechnaill mac Maele Ruanaid died 862 of Clann Cholmain had reduced Munster to complete submission in 858 and detached Osraige from Munster in 859 The King of Munster Mael Gualae mac Donngaile died 859 was then captured by the Norse and stoned to death In 860 the men of Munster accompanied the forces of the high king in his expedition to the north against the Northern Ui Neill 4 The Norse Vikings in Munster remained active in this period In 866 Vikings from Limerick led by Tomrar plundered Clonfert but were then defeated and Tomrar went mad and died on the Isle of Man 5 The Ciarraige tribe then attacked his followers and with the aid of the sea they were victorious 6 Also in 866 The Norse of Cork led by a man named Gnim Cinnsiolaigh led an attack on the Fir Maige Fen a tribe centered at Fermoy County Cork The Deisi however joined forces with the attacked and defeated the Norse leader who fled to a fort for refuge The Norse leader appealed to Cenn Faelad for protection but he refused it and the Norse leader was dragged from his refuge and killed 7 In 871 an attack on Munster by the powerful Osraige king Cerball mac Dunlainge is recorded as far as West Munster across the Sliabh Luachra 8 The death of Cenn Faelad is recorded in 872 after prolonged suffering 9 His son Eogan mac Cinn Faelad died 890 was abbot of Emly from 887 890 Notes edit Byrne Table 13 Byrne corrigenda pg xxv xxvi Annals of Innisfallen AI 861 1 Annals of Ulster 860 1 Annals of Innisfallen AI 866 1 Fragmentary Annals of Ireland FA 337 FA 341 FA 341 FA 342 FA 399 AU 872 3References editAnnals of Innisfallen at CELT Corpus of Electronic Texts at University College Cork Annals of Ulster at CELT Corpus of Electronic Texts at University College Cork Byrne Francis John 2001 Irish Kings and High Kings Dublin Four Courts Press ISBN 978 1 85182 196 9 Fragmentary Annals of Ireland at CELT Corpus of Electronic Texts at University College CorkExternal links editCELT Corpus of Electronic Texts at University College Cork Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cenn Faelad hua Mugthigirn amp oldid 1214518786, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
