7th century in Ireland

1 600s
2 610s
3 620s
4 630s
5 640s
6 650s
7 660s
8 670s
9 680s
10 690s
11 700s
12 References

600s

601

Probable year in which Colmán mac Cobthaig, Uí Fiachrach becomes king of Connacht.^[1]

602 or 604

Death of Áed mac Diarmato or Áed Sláine (Áed of Slane), the son of Diarmait mac Cerbaill. Legendary stories exist of Áed's birth. Killed his nephew and was in turn slain by his grandnephew.

603

Death of Brandub mac Echach^[2] an Irish king of the Uí Cheinnselaig of Leinster. His father, Echu mac Muiredaig had been a king of the Ui Cheinnselaig. They belonged to a branch known as the Uí Felmeda.^[3]

605

Birth of Colmán of Lindisfarne (died February 18, 675) also known as Saint Colmán, Bishop of Lindisfarne from 661 until 664.^[4] Colman resigned the Bishopric of Lindisfarne after the Synod of Whitby called by King Oswiu of Northumbria decided to calculate Easter using the method of the First Ecumenical Council instead of his preferred Celtic method. After his resignation he retired to live on the island of Inishbofin in Galway where he founded a monastery.^[5]

607

Áed Uaridnach or Áed mac Domnail' (died 612), ended his reign as High King of Ireland. He is sometimes also known as Áed Allán, a name usually reserved for the 8th century king of the same name, this Áed's great-great-grandson.

608

Death of Fiachra Cáech, brother of Fiachnae mac Báetáin king of the Dál nAraidi and high-king of the Ulaid in the early 7th century.^[6]

609

Death of Saint Molua (also known as Lua, Da Lua), was an Irish saint, and a Christian abbot.^[7] He was the founder of Killaloe (Irish: Cill-da-Lua), which bears his name Lua.^[8]

610s

610

Death of Conall Laeg Breg mac Áedo Sláine,^[2] a King of Brega from the Síl nÁedo Sláine branch of the southern Ui Neill. He was the son of the high king Áed Sláine mac Diarmato (died 602). He ruled from 602-610. He is not called King of Brega in the annals but is second in a poem on the rulers of Síl nÁedo Sláine in the Book of Leinster.^[9]

611

Suibne Menn or Suibne mac Fiachnai (died 628) was an Irish king who is counted as a High King of Ireland and started his reign in 611.

612

Death of Áed Uaridnach, High King of Ireland until 607.

613

Death of Rónán mac Colmáin of the Uí Dúnlainge, son of Colmán Már mac Coirpri.^[10] The Annals of Tigernach includes his death obit with the title King of Laigin, that is King of Leinster^[11] These annals interpolated dates for some Leinster kings in this period from the king lists.

615

Death of Saint Columbanus at Bobbio (now in northern Italy)^[1]

616

Death of Áedán mac Mongain, of the Ui Echach Coba branch of the Dal nAraide and father of Fergus mac Áedáin,^[12] a king of Ulaid from 674-692.^[13]

618

Death of Saint Kevin of Glendalough.^[14]
Death of Fíngen mac Áedo Duib, also known as Fingen Flann, a King of Munster.^[15] His sobriquet Flann meant "blood-red".
Death of Áed Bennán mac Crimthainn ^[2] was a possible King of Munster from the Eóganacht Locha Léin branch of the Eoganachta. He was definitely king of West Munster or Iarmuman. He was the great grandson of Dauí Iarlaithe mac Maithni also a possible king of Munster from this branch.^[16]

620s

620

Death of Saint Finbarr (born c. 550), Bishop of Cork and patron saint for the city and diocese of Cork.

621

The murder of the relatives of Baetan at Magh Slécht

622

Battle of Cennbag (at Cambo, modern County Roscommon): death of Colmán mac Cobthaig, Uí Fiachrach king of Connacht,^[1] succeeded by his son Guaire Aidne mac Colmáin

623

Suibne Menn or Suibne mac Fiachnai (died 628) was an Irish king who is counted as a High King of Ireland and ended his reign in 623.

624

Domnall mac Áedo (died 642) was a son of Áed mac Ainmuirech; he was High King of Ireland from 624 until his death. He belonged to the Cenél Conaill kindred of the northern Uí Néill.

625

Death of Rónán mac Colmáin^[2] was a King of Leinster following Brandub mac Echach (died 603).^[17] He belonged to the Uí Cheinnselaig and was the son of Colmán mac Cormaicc.^[3] The later Leinster king Crundmáel Erbuilc mac Rónáin (d. 655) was his son.

626

Fiachnae mac Báetáin was killed at the Battle of Leithet Midind, defeated by Fiachnae mac Demmáin of the Dál Fiatach.^[6]

627

Death of Cathal mac Áedo Flaind Chathrach, king of Munster.

627 or 628

Possible year of birth of Saint Adomnán of Iona

629

The Battle of Carn Feradaig (Carhernarry, County Limerick); Guaire Aidne mac Colmáin, king of Connacht suffered a defeat at the hands of the Munster king Faílbe Flann mac Áedo Duib.

630s

630

Approximate date of the foundation of Fore Abbey at the modern village of Fore, County Westmeath

632

31 January: death of St. Aedan of Ferns (b. 550), an early bishop of Ferns.
Death of Colman MacDuagh co-founder the Kilmacduagh monastery

632 or 633

Death of the legendary Mór Muman (632 according to the Annals of Ulster, 633 according to the Annals of Tigernach)

633

Possible beginning of the reign of Máel Dúin mac Áedo Bennán, a King of Iarmuman (west Munster)^[18]

634

Death of Áed Dammán, called a King of Iarmumu in his obituary. He was an uncle of Máel Dúin mac Áedo Bennán.^[18]

635

Mochuda (St. Carthage) and eight hundred of his community were expelled from Rahan near modern Tullamore, County Offaly by Blathmaic, a Meathian prince.

636

Battle of Maigh Rath (Moira, County Down).
Battle of Áth Goan in the western Liffey plain for the kingship of Leinster involved Faílbe Flann mac Áedo Duib.

637

Death of Conall mac Suibni,^[2] called Conall Guthbinn, a King of Uisnech in Mide of the Clann Cholmáin. He ruled from 621 until his death.^[19]

639

Death of Faílbe Flann mac Áedo Duib, king of Munster.^[2]
Death of St Molaise of Leighlin (also known as Laisrén and Laserian), a missionary who worked in both Ireland and Scotland.

640s

640

Likely date of Adamnán^[20] joining the Columban familia (i.e. the federation of monasteries under the leadership of Iona Abbey). He was to become the eight Abbot of Iona.
Birth of Saint Kilian, an Irish missionary bishop and the apostle of Franconia (nowadays the northern part of Bavaria), was born at Mullagh, in modern County Cavan.

641

Death of Cúán mac Amalgado,^[2] a King of Munster from the Áine branch of the Eóganachta. He was the son of a previous king Amalgaid mac Éndai (d. 601).^[21] He succeeded Faílbe Flann mac Áedo Duib in 639.

642

Birth of Máel Ruba (Old Irish spelling), or Malruibhe (d 722), sometimes Latinised as Rufus, a monk, originally from Bangor, County Down, and founder of the monastic community of Applecross in Ross, one of the best attested early Christian monasteries in what is now Scotland.
Death of Domnall mac Áedo, a High King of Ireland from 624 or 628 until his death.

643

Death of Dúnchad mac Fiachnai, who is mentioned as king of Ulaid at the time of his death.^[22]

644

Battle of Cenn Con in Munster between Mael Dúin, son of Áed Bennán, and Aengus Liath of Glendamnach
Death of Aengus Liath

646

Death of Lochéne mac Finguine,^[13] a king of the Dal nAraide.

647

Death of Scandal mac Bécce,^[13] a king of the Dal nAraide.

648

Death of Máel Cobo mac Fiachnai,^[2] a Dal Fiatach king of Ulaid. He was the son of Fiachnae mac Demmáin (d. 629).^[23]

649

Death of Rogallach mac Uatach,^[2] a king of Connacht from the Uí Briúin branch of the Connachta.

650s

650

The Book of Durrow is begun.^[14]

652

August 12: death of Ségéne mac Fiachnaí, or Ségéne of Iona, the fifth abbot of Iona. Suibne moccu Fir Thrí becomes the sixth Abbot of Iona.^[20]

653

Death of Máel Dóid mac Suibni,^[2] a king of Uisnech in Mide of the Clann Cholmáin. He was a son of Suibne mac Colmáin (died 598) and brother of Conall Guthbinn mac Suibni (died 637), previous kings.^[24] He ruled from 637 to 653.^[25]

654

Death of Flannesda, a son of Domnall mac Áedo (died 642), High King of Ireland.

655

Death of Laidgnen/Loingsech mac Colmáin, son of Colmán mac Cobthaig, king of Connacht from the Ui Fiachrach branch of the Connachta.^[2]

656

Death of Crunnmael mac Suibni Menn, a King of Ailech

657

Death of St. Ultan of Ardbraccan, an Irish saint and Abbot-Bishop of Ardbraccan

658

Death of Blathmac, son of the first Uí Cheinnselaig king, Rónán mac Colmáin (died 625)^[2]

659

Death of Ailill, brother of Fínsnechta Fledach mac Dúnchada^[2] who was High King of Ireland.

660s

660

Death of Conall Crandomna, king of Dál Riata. He is succeeded by Domangart mac Domnaill.^[26]^[27]

661

Death of Laidcenn mac Buith Bannaig, poet.
Death of Máenach mac Fíngin,^[2] a King of Munster from the Cashail branch of the Eoganachta.

662

Conall and Colgu, two sons of Domhnall, son of Aedh, son of Ainmire, were slain by Ceirrceann.^[22]

662 or 663

Death of Guaire Aidne mac Colmáin, son of Colmán mac Cobthaig, King of Connacht: he is succeeded by Muirchertach Nar mac Guaire Aidne^[1]^[22]

664-666

A major yellow plague hits much of the island

664

May 3: an eclipse of the sun was visible from Ireland.
The Annals of the Four Masters ^[22] records the following deaths:

“

A great mortality prevailed in Ireland this year, which was called the Buidhe Connail, and the following number of the saints of Ireland died of it: St. Feichin, Abbot of Fobhar, on the 14th of February; St. Ronan, son of Bearach; St. Aileran the Wise; St. Cronan, son of Silne; St. Manchan, of Liath; St. Ultan Mac hUi Cunga, Abbot of Cluain Iraird Clonard; Colman Cas, Abbot of Cluain Mic Nois; and Cummine, Abbot of Cluain Mic Nois. After Diarmaid (Diarmait mac Áedo Sláine) and Blathmac (Blathmac mac Áedo Sláine), the two sons of Aedh Slaine, had been eight years in the sovereignty of Ireland, they died of the same plague. There died also Maelbreasail, son of Maelduin, and Cu Gan Mathair (Cathal Cú-cen-máthair), King of Munster; Aenghus Uladh. There died very many ecclesiastics and laics in Ireland of this mortality besides these.

”

665

Yellow plague outbreak at Fore Abbey
Cathal Cú-cen-máthair, King of Munster, dies in the plague^[28]

666

The Battle of Aine, between the Aradha and Ui Fidhgeinte, where Eoghan, son of Crunnmael, was slain.
The Battle of Fertas (Belfast) was fought between the Ulaid and the Cruithne and Cathussach mac Luirgéne, their king, was defeated and slain.
The Annals of the Four Masters^[22] records the following deaths:

“

A great plague raged in this year, of which died four abbots at Beannchair Uladh Bangor, namely, Bearach, Cummine, Colum, and Aedhan, their names. Blathmac, son of Maelcobha, King of Ulidia, died.

”

Death of Cellach mac Guairi, a son of Guaire Aidne mac Colmáin, a king of Connacht
Death of Fáelán mac Colmáin,^[2] a king of Leinster from the Uí Dúnlainge branch of the Laigin. He was the son of Colmán Már mac Coirpri, a previous king.^[10]
Probable date of the death of Eochaid Iarlaithe,^[6] a son of Fiachnae mac Báetáin.

667

Mayo Abbey, founded by St Colman for Saxon monks who had followed him from Lindisfarne following a Church row about how to calculate when Easter falls.

668

Deaths of two of the three known sons of Guaire Aidne mac Colmáin; Artgal mac Guairi and Muirchertach Nár mac Guairi, a king of Connacht.

669

February 24: death of Cumméne Find, seventh abbot of Iona. Fáilbe mac Pípáin becomes the eight abbot of Iona^[20]

670s

670

Death of Blathmac mac Máele Cobo,^[2] was a Dal Fiatach king of Ulaid. He was the son of Máel Cobo mac Fiachnai (d. 648).^[23]

671

Death of Sechnassach mac Blathmaic ^[2] who had followed his father Blathmac mac Áedo Sláine (died 665) and his uncle Diarmait mac Áedo Sláine (died 665) as High King of Ireland and King of Brega. He belonged to the Síl nÁedo Sláine kindred of the southern Uí Néill which took its name from his grandfather Áed Sláine (died 602).^[29]

672

Cenn Fáelad mac Blathmaic (died 675) followed his father Blathmac mac Áedo Sláine (died 665) and his brother Sechnassach (died 671) as High King of Ireland and king of Brega.

673

Cenn Fáelad mac Blathmaic ended his reign as High King.^[29]

674

Death of Congal Cennfota mac Dúnchada,^[2] a Dal Fiatach king of Ulaid. He was the son of Dùnchad mac Fiachnai (d. 644).^[23] His nickname Cennfota means Long-headed.

675

Death of Cenn Fáelad mac Blathmaic.^[2]

676

Fínsnechta Fledach (d. 695) of the Síl nÁedo Sláine destroyed Ailech, center of Cenél nEógain power.^[30]

677

At the Battle of Loch Gabor (Lagore, County Meath) the Laigin fought with the high king Fínsnechta Fledach. There was slaughter on both sides but Finsnechta emerged the victor.

678

Death of King of Munster Colgú mac Faílbe Flaind

679

Death of Cenn Fáelad mac Aillila, Irish scholar and poet and grandson of Colmán Rímid.

680s

680

Death of Fiannamail mac Máele Tuile,^[2] a King of Leinster from the Uí Máil branch of the Laigin.

681

Death of Dúngal Eilni mac Scandail^[13] a Dal nAraide king of the Cruithne. He came to the rule of these tribes some time after 668.^[31] In 681 he and Cenn Fáelad mac Suibne, chief of Cianachta Glinne Geimhin were burned by Máel Dúin mac Máel Fithrich of the Cenél nEógan at Dún Ceithirn.

682

Death of Cenn Fáelad mac Colgan,^[2] a King of Connacht from the Uí Briúin branch of the Connachta. He was of the branch which developed into the Uí Briúin Seóla, who were centred around Tuam in modern County Galway.

683

Death of Dúnchad Muirisci mac Tipraite,^[2] a King of Connacht from the Ui Fiachrach branch of the Connachta. He was of the Ui Fiachrach Muaidhe sept based along the River Moy.

685

Bressal mac Fergusa, son of Fergus mac Áedáin King of Ulaid died of disease which was rampant at the time.^[13]

688

Fínsnechta Fledach abdicated as king of Brega and High King of Ireland to become a monk. He reclaimed the crowns the following year, 689 and abandoned monkishness.
At the Battle of Imlech Pich, Niall mac Cernaig Sotal (died 701),^[2] a king in southern Brega of the Uí Chernaig sept of Lagore of the Síl nÁedo Sláine defeated Congalach mac Conaing Cuirre (died 696) of Uí Chonaing and his Ciannachta allies.^[32]

690s

690

Death of Aillil mac Dúngail Eilni, a chief of the Dal nAraide and son of Dúngal Eilni mac Scandail (d. 681)^[13]

691

Death of Fithceallach mac Flainn, a king Uí Maine

692

Death of Fergus mac Áedáin,^[13] a king of Ulaid from 674. He was the first member of the Dal nAraide to hold the throne since death of Congal Cáech at Mag Roth in 639. He was of the Ui Echach Coba branch of the Dal nAraide and was the son of Áedán mac Mongain (d. 616).^[12]

693

Death of Bran Mut mac Conaill,^[2] a King of Leinster from the Uí Dúnlainge branch of the Laigin. He was the grandson of Fáelán mac Colmáin (d. 666), a previous king.^[10] He ruled from 680 until his death.

694

Loingsech mac Óengusso (died 704), an Irish king, becomes High King of Ireland. The Chronicle of Ireland records the beginning of Loingsech's reign as 696, having recorded the killing of his predecessor Fínsnechta Fledach the year previously.

695

Death of Fínsnechta Fledach mac Dúnchada,^[2] High King of Ireland, who belonged to the southern Síl nÁedo Sláine sept of the Uí Néill and was King of Brega in modern County Meath.

696

17 June: death of Saint Moling, the second Bishop of Ferns. The town of Monamolin in County Wexford is named for him.
Death of Finguine mac Cathail Con-cen-máthair,^[2] a King of Munster from the Glendamnach branch of the Eoganachta.
Death of Congalach mac Conaing Cuirre,^[2] a King of Brega from the Uí Chonaing sept of the Síl nÁedo Sláine branch of the southern Uí Néill.

697

Synod of Birr and the proclamation of the Cáin Adomnáin (Law of the Innocents).^[33]

698

Death of Áed Aired,^[13] a king of the Dal nAraide.

700s

700

End of archaic Old Irish period (from c. AD 500)

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d The Oxford Illustrated History of Ireland. Foster, RF. Oxford University Press, Oxford. 1989
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q ^r ^s ^t ^u ^v ^w ^x ^y ^z ^aa all dates per The Chronology of the Irish Annals, Daniel P. McCarthy
^ ^a ^b Byrne, Francis John, Irish Kings and High-Kings. Batsford, London, 1973. ISBN 0-7134-5882-8. Table 10.
^ Powicke Handbook of British Chronology p. 237
^ Walsh A New Dictionary of Saints p. 127
^ ^a ^b ^c Byrne, p.111 and 287
^ The Oxford Dictionary of Saints, p.343
^ http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08641a.htm Retrieved June 14, 2007
^ Book of Leinster, Flann Mainistrech: Síl Aeda Sláne Na Sleg"
^ ^a ^b ^c Byrne, Table 9.
^ Annals of Tigernach AT 613.4
^ ^a ^b Early Christian Ireland by T. M. Charles-Edwards
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Date per Annals of Ulster
^ ^a ^b Illustrated Dictionary of Irish History. Mac Annaidh, S (ed). Gill and Macmillan, Dublin. 2001
^ Byrne, Table 12.
^ Byrne, Table 15.
^ The Book of Leinster gives him a reign of 10 years as King of Leinster and 20 years as King of Ui cennseleig
^ ^a ^b Annals of Innsifallen AI 633.1
^ The Book of Leinster and Laud Synchronisms give him a reign of 15 years
^ ^a ^b ^c Sharpe, Richard, Adomnán of Iona: Life of St. Columba, (London, 1995)
^ Byrne, Table 13.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Annals of the Four Masters
^ ^a ^b ^c Byrne, Table 6.
^ Byrne, Table 3
^ the Book of Leinster gives him reign of 15 years and Laud Synchronisms give him a reign of 16 years
^ Broun, Dauvit, The Irish Identity of the Kingdom of the Scots in the Twelfth and Thirteenth Centuries. Boydell, Woodbridge, 1999. ISBN 0-85115-375-5
^ Bannerman, John, Studies in the History of Dalriada. Scottish Academic Press, Edinburgh, 1974. ISBN 0-7011-2040-1
^ Byrne
^ ^a ^b T.M. Charles-Edwards, Early Christian Ireland, Appendix II
^ Annals of Ulster AU 676.4
^ the last date in the Annals of Ulster in which a chief of the Cruithne is mentioned prior to Dungal
^ Annals of Ulster, AU688.4; this contains a lament, attributed to one Gabairchenn, for the Ciannachta leaders killed in battle.
^ The Concise History of Ireland. Duffy, S. Gill & Macmillan, Dublin. 2005