Cath Almaine
Background information
References in the Annals of the Four Masters, the Annals of Ulster and the Annals of Inisfallen
M4658.1 Cobhthach Cael Breagh, son of Ugaine, after having been fifty years in the sovereignty of Ireland, fell by Labhraidh Loingseach, [i.e.] Maen, son of Oilioll Aine, with thirty kings about him, at Dinn Righ, on the brink of the Bearbha.
M512.2 Saint Erc, Bishop of Lilcach … died on the second day of the month of November.
U524.2 Repose of St Brigit in the 70th year of her age.
U595.1 Repose of Colum Cille on the fifth of the Ides of June in the 76th year of his age.
U707.2 The slaying of Indrechtach son of Dúnchad of Muirisc. Fergal son of Mael Dúin … and Conall Menn, king of Cenél Cairpri, slew him.
U710.9 Fergal son of Mael Dúin begins to reign.
U715.4 The hosting by Murchad son of Bran to Cashel.
U717.3 Condalach son of Conaing, king of Uí Chremthainn, was killed.
U718.3 The battle of Cenannas … Conall Grant was victor, and [this] Conall Grant, grandson of Cernach, was killed two months after the battle by Fergal, son of Mael Dúin.
U721.6 The wasting of Mag Breg by Cathal son of Finnguine, and by Murchad son of Bran.
AI721.2 The harrying of Brega by Cathal son of Finnguine, king of Mumu, and after that he and Ferga son of Mael Dúin, king of Temuir, made peace; and Ferga submitted to Cathal.
U721.8 An invasion of the Laigin by Fergal, and the cattletribute was imposed and the hostages of the Laigin secured for Fergal son of Mael Dúin.
U722.8 The battle of Almain on the third of the Ides [11th] of December, the sixth feria, in which fell Fergal son of Mael Dúin, son of Mael Fithrich son of Aed Uairidnach, i.e. by Murchadh son of Bran; and Conall Menn king of Cenél Cairpri; Clothgna son of Colgu; Dub dá Crích; Flann son of Rogallach; Aed Laigen son of Fithchellach, king of Uí Maine; the sons of Muirgius; Nuada son of Dúnchad; Éicnech son of Colgu, king of Airthir; Fergal grandson of Aithechda.
U724.5 The killing of Lethaithech son of Cú Charat.
U727.7 Murchad son of Bran, king of Laigin, dies.
U727.9 The battle of Bairenn or Inis Bregainn, in which Eterscél son of Cellach of Cualu, and Congal son of Bran fell. Faelán was victor.
U728.2 The battle of Ailenn between two brothers, the sons of Murchad son of Bran; and Dúnchad the elder having been killed, Faelán, the younger, reigns.
U730.5 The Gaul from Lilcach … fell asleep.
M723.2 St. Gall Lilcaigh died.
U732.12 A battle between the Laigin Desgabair and the Munstermen, in which Aed son of Colgu was victor.
U734.8 An encounter in Mag Itha between Flaithbertach son of Loingsech and Fergal’s son — Aed Allán.
U734.10 Aed Allán begins to reign.
U735.3 A battle between Mumu and Laigin, in which many of the Laigin and well nigh countless Munstermen perished; Cellach son of Faelchar, king of Osraige, fell therein, but Cathal son of Finnguine, king of Mumu, escaped.
M730.5 The battle of Bealach Ele [was fought] between Cathal, son of Finguine, King of Munster, and the Leinstermen, where many of the Leinstermen were slain. There fell of the Munstermen here Ceallach, son of Faelchair, chief of Osraighe [Ossory], and the two sons of Cormac, son of Rossa, chief of the Deisi, with three thousand along with them.
AI735.1 The battle of Féil between Cathal, son of Finnguine, and Faelán, king of Laigin, in which Faelchar, king of Osraige, fell, and Cathal was victor.
U737.9 A meeting between Aed Allán and Cathal at Tír dá Glas.
U738.1 Faelán grandson of Bran, king of Laigin, died unexpectedly at an unripe age.
U738.4 The battle of Áth Senaig i.e. the ‘battle of groans’ on the 14th of [the Kalends] of September, the sixth feria, between the Uí Néill and the Laigin was sternly fought, and the two kings respectively, leaders firm and exalted i.e. Aed Allán king of Temair and Aed son of Colgu king of Laigin. One of them i.e. Aed Allán, though wounded, survived triumphant, but the other i.e. Aed son of Colgu was beheaded by a battle-sword … There fell in the battle, moreover, excellent leaders: Aed son of Colgu, Bran Bec son of Murchad i.e. two kings of Laigin.
U738.9 A hosting by Cathal son of Finnguine to Laigin and he took hostages from Faelán and great treasures.
U740.5 Cú Bretan son of Congus dies.
U742.3 Death of Cathal son of Finnguine, king of Caisel.
U743.4 The battle of Seredmag [won] by Domnall son of Murchad, i.e. in Cenannas, in which fell Aed Allán son of Fergal.
M743.8 Congal, son of Eigneach, lord of the Airtheara [the Oriors], was slain at Rath Esclair, by Donnboo, son of Cubreatan.
U759.2 The battle of Emain Macha in which Dúngal grandson of Conaing and Donn Bó were slain.
Lebor Gabála Érenn (Macalister), Volume 5
p. 277 Cobthach Cóel Breg took the kingship of Ireland for fifty years till he fell in Dinn Ríg on the night of Great Christmas, at the hands of Labraid Loingsech.
The History of Ireland (Geoffrey Keating), Volume 1
p. 111 The seventh division (of Ireland), namely, the division of Conn Céadchathach and Mógh Nuadhat. Conn and Mógh Nuadhat divided Ireland into halves between them, that is to say, all that is from Gaillimh and from Athcliath northwards, and Eisgir riadha for a boundary between them to Conn: and it is from that came Leath Chuinn to be given to the side which was north; and Leath Mhógha to Mógh Nuadhat; and it is from that was given Leath Mhógha to the half which was south.
The History of Ireland (Geoffrey Keating), Volume 2
p. 163 Cobhthach Caol mBreagh son of Ughaine Mor … held the sovereignty of Ireland thirty years, or, according to others, fifty years. He was called Cobhthach Caol mBreagh, for a severe disease afflicted him through envying his brother Laoghaire Lorc, who was king of Ireland before him, so that he got into decline, and his blood and flesh melted away, so that he was thin; and Magh Breagh is the name of the place in which he lay sick, and hence he was called Caol mBreagh; and this Cobhthach was slain by Labhraidh Loingseach, son of Oilill Aine, at Dionn Riogh, on the eve of greater Christmas.
The History of Ireland (Geoffrey Keating), Volume 3
p. 145 The Battle of Almhuin was fought between Murchadh, son of Bran, who was fifteen years king of Leinster, and Fearghal, son of Maolduin, king of Ireland; and the host the king of Ireland brought to that battle amounted to twenty-one thousand, and the host the king of Leinster brought there amounted to nine thousand and eight score chosen warriors as a bodyguard to the king himself when going into the battle. And the king of Ireland was defeated in the battle, and two hundred and sixty-nine of his people were seized with frenzy, and three thousand two hundred of them were slain; and others say that seven thousand of them were slain. The reason why this disaster befell the king of Ireland was that when he was on the point of setting out to fight the Battle of Almhain, a party of his followers went to plunder a church called Cillin, and carried off by force the one cow that the solitary hermit of that church had and the hermit cursed the king and his host, and hence they met reverse in battle; and the king of Ireland fell there with many of his people, as we have said above.
pp. 147-149 The Battle of Bealach Feile was fought between Munster and Leinster, wherein fell many Munstermen and Leinstermen, together with Ceallach, son of Faolchur, king of Osruighe. It was Cathal son of Fionghaine, king of Munster, who won that battle.
Related saga online: Fáitsine Fergaile meic Máele Dúin (The prophecy of Fergal mac Máele Dúin)
John O’Donovan (ed. & tr.), Annals of Ireland: Three Fragments, Dublin, 1860, pp. 22-33.
Digital Edition at Archive.org (pp. 22-33 (35-46))
J. N. Radner (ed. & tr.), Fragmentary Annals of Ireland, Dublin, 1978, pp. 60-67.
Irish text at CELT: Annal FA 177, 721 Kl; English translation at CELT: Annal FA 177, 721 Kl
Related saga online: Bóroma (The Bóroma)
Whitley Stokes (ed. & tr.), “The Bóroma”, Revue Celtique, 13, 1892, pp. 36–117, 299–300.
Digital Edition at Archive.org (pp. 36–117); (pp. 299-300)
Related saga online: Orgain Denna Ríg (The destruction of Dinn Ríg)
Whitley Stokes (ed & tr.), Zeitschrift für Celtische Philologie, 3, 1901, pp. 1-14.
Digital Edition at Archive.org (pp. 1-14); Irish text at CELT; English translation at CELT
Táin Bó Cúalnge (O’Rahilly)
The talking head of Donn-Bó (See Section 19), the talking head of Sualtaim, §40, p. 247
Fianaigecht (Meyer), Reicne Fothaid Canainne
The talking head of Donn-Bó (See Section 19), the talking head of Fothad Canainne, p. 9
Togail Bruidne Dá Derga (Stokes), Revue Celtique, 22, 1901
The talking head of Donn-Bó (See Section 19), the talking head of Conaire, p. 323
Lectures of the Manuscript Materials of Ancient Irish History (O’Curry)
List of Historic Tales in the Book of Leinster includes:
Argain Dinn Righ (The Slaughter of Dinn Righ), p. 590 (626)
Airec Menman Uraird Maic Coise (Byrne), Anecdota from Irish Manuscripts, Volume 2
List of the gnathscela Herenn includes:
Orgain Dinn Rig, p. 46 (142), §8, line 3
D = The Martyrology of Donegal (O’Donovan)
G = The Martyrology of Gorman (Stokes)
O = The Martyrology of Oengus the Culdee (Stokes)
D: 20 January, Loichein, i.e., Molaga of Tulach-min-Molaga, in Munster (See Section 26), p. 23 (85)
G: 20 January, Lochéin, .i. my Laca in Tulach mín mo-Laca in Munster (See Section 26), p. 21
O: 20 January, Lochíne, my Laca, i.e. of Telach min Molaga in Fermoy in Munster (See Section 26), p. 37 (96), p. 49 (108)
D: 1 February, Brighit, virgin, abbess of Cill-dara (See Section 11), pp. 35-37 (97-99)
G: 1 February, Brigit, the chief virgin of Ireland (See Section 11), p. 29
O: 1 February, Brigit, chaste head of Erin’s nuns (See Section 11), p. 58 (117), p. 65-67 (124-126)
D: 12 March, Cillin of Lilcach (See Section 17), p. 75 (137)
G: 12 March, Cilléin of Lilcach (See Section 17), p. 53
D: 9 June, Colum Cille, son of Felim, abbot of Black Monks, at Doire Choluim Chille and at I in Albain (See Section 11), pp. 151-163 (213- 225)
G: 9 June, Colomb cille, abbot of Black Monks, at Doire Choluimb-chille and in Hí in Scotland (See Section 11), p. 113
O: 9 June, Colum cille (See Section 11), p. 139 (198), p. 145-149 (204-208)
D: 2 November, Earc of Slaine, Bishop of Lilcach (See Section 17), p. 293 (355)
G: 2 November, Prudentius, Bishop Erc of Lilcach and Gallus (See Section 17), p. 211
D: 12 December, Finnen of Cluain Eraird (See Section 8), pp. 333-335 (395-397)
G: 12 December, Finnian, abbot of Clúain Eraird (See Section 8), p. 237
O: 12 December, Finnian, abbot of Clúain Iraird (See Section 8), p. 251 (310), p. 259 (318)
R = The Rennes Dindshenchas (Stokes), Revue Celtique, 15-16, 1894-95
M = The Metrical Dindshenchas (Gwynn)
B = The Bodleian Dinnshenchas (Stokes), Folklore, 3, 1892
S = Silva Gadelica (O’Grady), Volume 2
R: Almu (in Adarca Hua Failgi §16) (See Section 4), Part 1, pp. 308-309, (‘Almu’)
M: Almu I (See Section 4), Volume 2, pp. 73-77, pp. 106-107
M: Almu II (See Section 4), Volume 2, p. 79, p. 107
R: Insi Mod (in Loch Con §74) (See Section 24), Part 2, pp. 474-475, (‘Insi Mod’)
M: Insi Mod (in Loch Con) (See Section 24), Volume 3, p. 409, p. 553
B: Insi Mod in Loch Con §32 (See Section 24), p. 497, (‘Loch Con’)
R: Laigin §9 (See Section 1), Part 1, pp. 299-301, (‘Laigin’)
M: Lagin I (See Section 1), Volume 2, p. 51, p. 102
M: Lagin II (See Section 1), Volume 2, p. 53, p. 102
B: Laigin §3 (See Section 1), pp. 471-473, (‘Laigin’)
S: Laigin (See Section 1), p. 500 (535)
R: Mag mBreg §111 (See Section 1), Part 3, pp. 62-63, (‘Mag mBreg’)
M: Mag Breg (See Section 1), Volume 4, pp. 191-193, p. 427
B: Mag mBreg §2 (See Section 1), pp. 470-471, (‘Mag mBreg’)
S: Mágh mBregh (See Section 1), p. 517 (552)
S: Osraighe (See Section 28), p. 500 (535)
Cóir Anmann: Fitness of Names (Stokes), Irische Texte, Ser. III.2
Cobthach Coel Breg §93 (See Section 8), p. 329, p. 414
Connachta §76 (See Section 17), p. 325, p. 414
Laigin §174 (see Section 1), pp. 363-365, p. 419
Muma §1 (See Section 18), p. 289, p. 412
Ossairge §213 (See Section 28), p. 375, p. 420
Wikipedia
Yellow Book of Lecan
Cycles of the Kings
Áed Allán (d. 743); High Kings of Ireland; Kings of Ailech; Cenél nEógain
Áed mac Colggen (d. 738); Kings of Leinster; Uí Ceinnselaig
Cathal mac Finguine (d. 742); Kings of Munster; Eóganacht Glendamnach
Cobthach Cóel Breg; High Kings of Ireland
Conall Grant (d. 718); Kings of Brega; Síl nÁedo Sláine
Conn Cétchathach; High Kings of Ireland
Fáelán mac Murchado (d. 738); Kings of Leinster; Uí Dúnlainge
Fergal mac Máele Dúin (d. 722); High Kings of Ireland; Kings of Ailech; Cenél nEógain
Mug Nuadat; Kings of Munster
Murchad mac Brain Mut (d. 727); Kings of Leinster; Uí Dúnlainge
Saint Brigit of Kildare (d. 524); Saints of Ireland
Saint Columba (Colm Cille) (d. 595); Saints of Ireland
Saint Finnian of Clonard; Saints of Ireland
Hill of Allen
Isle of Man