- Fáelán mac Colmáin
Fáelán mac Colmáin (died 666) was a King of
Leinster from theUí Dúnlainge branch of the Laigin. He was the son of Colmán Már mac Coirpri, a previous king. [Francis J.Byrne, "Irish Kings and High-Kings", Table 9] Faelan was the founder of the true fortunes of the Ui Dunlainge dynasty. [Byrne, pg.151]Rise to the throne
Faelan is first mentioned in the annals when he defeated and slew
Crundmáel Bolg Luatha of theUí Cheinnselaig at the Battle of Duma Aichir in 628. ["Annals of Ulster" AU 628.1; "Annals of Tigernach" AT 630.1] The annals seem to give him the title of king of Leinster by anticipation [Byrne, pg.151] . Then in alliance withFaílbe Flann mac Áedo Duib (died 637), the king ofMunster andConall Guthbinn mac Suibni (died 635) of theClann Cholmáin he defeated and slewCrimthann mac Áedo (died 633), theUí Máil king of Leinster, at the Battle of Áth Goan in western Liffey. From this date he becomes king of Leinster. ["Annals of Ulster" AU 633.2; "Annals of Tigernach" AT 636.2; "Annals of Innisfallen" AI 637.2] The "Book of Leinster" gives him a reign of 30 years and his death obit of 666 in the annals appears to be an interpolation based on the king lists. It is more probable that he died before 656 whenCrundmáel Erbuilc mac Rónáin is called king of Leinster at his death obit. [Byrne, pg.151]Church relations
The traditions of
Saint Kevin of Glendalough assert that Faelan was fostered by Kevin when rejected by his step-mother. Ui Dunlainge patronage of Glendalough kept this tradition alive. [Byrne, pg.151-152] Faelans brother Áed Dub was abbot and bishop of Kildare and his nephew Óengus mac Áedo Find was also bishop of Kildare. The possession of Kildare by family members was important to his hold on power. [Byrne, pg.152] One of his wives was Sárnat ingen Echach of the Fotharta Fea, a tribe with connections toSaint Brigid of Kildare. [Byrne,pg.154]Relations with the Uí Néill
The rise of the Ui Dunlainge to power appears to have been assisted by the Clann Cholmain who were looking to neutralize the border situation with the Ui Failgi so as to carry out their rivalry with the Síl nÁedo Sláine. One of his wives was Uasal ingen Suibni(died 643), sister of Conall mac Suibni who had assisted him at Ath Goan. [Byrne, pg.154]
The Irish saga "Bóroma" ("The Cattle Tribute") claims that the high king
Sechnassach mac Blathmaic(died 671) of theSíl nÁedo Sláine led a large army to claim the cattle tribute from Laigin but was defeated by Faelan mac Colmain but this doesn't fit chronologically with Faelan's reign. [Dan M.Wiley, [http://www.hastings.edu/academic/english/Kings/Boroma.htm Boroma] , "Cycles of the Kings"]Family
His son by Sarnat was Conall mac Fáelán, who was father, by Conandil ingen Crundmáel of the Ui Dunlainge, of
Bran Mut mac Conaill (died 693), a king of Leinster.Notes
ee also
*
Kings of Leinster References
* "Annals of Ulster" at [http://celt.ucc.ie/index.html CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts] at [http://www.ucc.ie/ University College Cork]
* "Annals of Tigernach" at [http://celt.ucc.ie/index.html CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts] at [http://www.ucc.ie/ University College Cork]
* "Annals of Innisfallen" at [http://celt.ucc.ie/index.html CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts] 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
* "Book of Leinster","Rig Laigin" at [http://celt.ucc.ie/index.html CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts] at [http://www.ucc.ie/ University College Cork]External links
* [http://celt.ucc.ie/index.html CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts] at [http://www.ucc.ie/ University College Cork]
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