Cellach mac Rogallaig

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Cellach mac Rogallaig (d. 705)^[1] was a King of Connacht from the Uí Briúin branch of the Connachta. He was the son of Rogallach mac Uatach (d.649), a previous king.^[2] He succeeded his nephew Muiredach Muillethan mac Fergusso (d.702) as king in 702. The reign of Cellach is misplaced in the king-lists who place his reign between Dúnchad Muirisci mac Tipraite (d.683) and Fergal Aidne mac Artgaile (d.696).^[3]

In 703 the high-king Loingsech mac Óengusso of the Cenél Conaill led a large army into Connacht to levy tribute but was defeated and slain along with many of his sons and other kings of the Ui Neill at the Battle of Corann (in S.Sligo,Co.). The saga tradition of this battle is preserved in the Fragmentary Annals of Ireland. According to this the bards of the high-king mocked Cellach for being an old shaky king. However Cellach:

sprang from his chariot swiftly and far from the chariot, and the cracking of the old man's bones was audible as he leaped out of the chariot. And after that he said, in a loud voice, springing to the nearby battle: ‘Connachtmen, defend and protect your own freedom, for the people who are against you are not nobler or braver than you, and they have not done any better than you up to now.’ And he was talking to them like that, with his voice quavering and his eyes on fire."^[4]

The Connaughtmen rose to the challenge and won the battle.

At his death obit in 705 in the annals it is mentioned that he entered the clerical life. He is also referred to as Cellach Locha Cime. This lake is now Lough Hackett, near Headford. His children were called the Síl Cellaig and contested the kingship of Connacht with the Síl Muiredaig and Síl Cathail throughout the 8th century. They were later displaced from this area by the Uí Briúin Seóla.^[5]

His children included Domnall mac Cellaig(d.728) and Forggus mac Cellaig(d.756), both kings of Connacht.