- Áed Aired
Áed Aired (died 698) or Áed Airdd or Áed Airech was a
Dal nAraide king of theCruithne in Ulaid (Ulster). He ruled from 690-698.In the 6th and 7th centuries the Dal nAraide were part of a confederation of Cruithne tribes in Ulaid (Ulster) and were the dominant members. [Byrne, pg.109] He was a member of the Uí Dercu Chéin sept which resided in the Lagan river valley on the borders of modern County Down and Antrim. [Byrne, additional notes-pg.xvii] The annals call him King of Dal nAraide at his death obit whereas the normal title used during this time was King of the Cruithne.
The annals record his death at the Battle of Telach Garraisc in Fernmag (Farney, County Monaghan) along with Conchobar Macha mac Máele Dúin, King of the Airthir (an
Airgialla tribe of modern County Armagh) in 698. ["Annals of Ulster", AU 698.1; "Annals of Tigernach, AT 698.1] One explanation of the battle is that they were allies fighting against the Uí Cremthainn (another Airgialla tribe of eastern County Fermanagh and northern County Monaghan) [Byrne, pg.117] Another is that Conchobar was his enemy and they slew each other in battle. [Byrne-additional notes, pg.xvii; Mac Niocaill, pg.114] The motivation may have been to protect the ecclesiastical independence of Armagh from theCenél nEógan [Byrne, pg.117]Notes
References
* "Annals of Ulster" at [http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/T100001A/index.html] at [http://www.ucc.ie/ University College Cork]
* "Annals of Tigernach" at [http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/G100002/index.html] at [http://www.ucc.ie/ University College Cork]
* Byrne, Francis John (2001), "Irish Kings and High-Kings", Dublin: Four Courts Press, ISBN 978-1-85182-196-9
* Gearoid Mac Niocaill (1972), "Ireland before the Vikings", Dublin: Gill and MacmillanExternal links
* [http://celt.ucc.ie/index.html CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts] at [http://www.ucc.ie/ University College Cork]
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