Bran mac Fáeláin
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Bran mac Fáeláin (died 838) was a King of Leinster of the Uí Dúnchada sept of the Uí Dúnlainge branch of the Laigin. This sept had their royal seat at Líamhain (Lyons Hill, on the Dublin-Kildare border). He was the nephew of Fínsnechta Cethardec mac Cellaig (died 808) and grandson of Cellach mac Dúnchada (died 776), previous kings.[1] His father Fáelán (died 804) had been abbot of Kildare. Bran ruled from 835-838.
The annals record that in 835, the high king Niall Caille of the Cenél nEógain led an army into Leinster and set up Bran as king.[2] The previous king Cellach mac Brain (died 834) of the Uí Muiredaig sept had been aligned with Feidlimid mac Cremthanin (died 847), the powerful king of Munster. The annals mention a co-ruler, his cousin Riacán mac Fínsnechtai who died in 837.[3]
Viking raids occurred during his reign. In 837 a viking force of sixty ships operated on the Liffey river and plundered the surrounding plain.[4]
Bran's sons Muiredach mac Brain (died 885) and Ruarc mac Brain (died 862) were also Kings of Leinster.
[edit] Notes
[edit] References
- Annals of Ulster at CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts at University College Cork
- Book of Leinster,Rig Laigin 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
