Congalach mac Conaing (died 778) was a King of Brega from the Uí Chonaing sept of Cnogba (Knowth) of the Síl nÁedo Sláine branch of the southern Ui Neill. He was the son of Conaing mac Amalgado (died 742), a previous king.[1]
He is listed as the successor to his uncle Dúngal mac Amalgado (died 759) in a poem in the Book of Leinster; it appears that this was just to leadership of the Uí Chonaing who were called kings of Ciannachta at this time.[2] The annals mention Coirpre mac Fogartaig (died 771), of the rival Uí Chernaig sept of Lagore in south Brega, as King of Brega.[3] Congalach would have ruled all Brega from 771 to 778.
The Ciannachta are mentioned as having participated in the expedition of the high king Donnchad Midi (died 797) against Leinster. They separately attacked the Uí Théig branch of the Laigin and crushed them at the Battle of Ath Cliath. However many of them were drowned in the full tide when returning.[4]
Donnchad and Congalach appear as enemies in the annals and this may be due to a rivalry regarding succession to the high kingship on the abdication of Niall Frossach (died 778) of the Cenél nEógain.[5] In 777, Donnchad led a hosting of the Laigin against Brega.[6] Then in that same year Donnchad caused a disturbance at an assembly versus the Ciannachta leading to outright war.[7] This war ended in the Battle of Forchalad in 778 in victory for Donnchad with Congalach and many others slain including Dúnchad mac Aléni, king of Mugdorna. The Annals of Ulster say of this event:
From the battle of Forchalad which was fought on a gloomy sad Sunday, many a fond mother was sorrowful the Monday on the morrow.
His sons included Flann mac Congalaig (died 812), Cernach mac Congalaig (died 818), Cummascach mac Congalaig (died 839), all kings of Brega, and a son named Cellach.
^T.M. Charles-Edwards, Early Christian Ireland, Appendix II
^Book of Leinster, Flann Mainistrech: Síl Aeda Sláne Na Sleg
^Annals of Ulster AU 771.4
^Annals of Ulster AU 770.10
^Charles-Edwards, pg.577
^Annals of Ulster AU 777.3
^Annals of Ulster AU 777.6
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CongalachmacConaing (died 778) was a King of Brega from the Uí Chonaing sept of Cnogba (Knowth) of the Síl nÁedo Sláine branch of the southern Ui Neill...
the southern Ui Neill. He was the son of Conaingmac Amalgado (died 742) and brother of CongalachmacConaing (died 778), previous kings. He ruled from...
Cnogba were known as the Uí Chonaing. His sons CongalachmacConaing Cuirre (died 696) and Irgalach macConaing (died 702) were also kings of Brega. Irgalach's...
northern sept of Uí Chonaing based at Cnogba(Knowth) in the person of CongalachmacConaing (died 778). Niall became ruler of Deiscirt Breg or southern Brega...
nÁedo Sláine branch of the southern Ui Neill. He was the son of CongalachmacConaing Cuirre (died 696). He ruled in north Brega from 702 to 718. Amalgaid's...
Uí Néill. He was the son of CongalachmacConaing (died 778) and brother of Flann mac Congalaig (died 812) and Cernach mac Congalaig (died 818), previous...
nÁedo Sláine branch of the southern Ui Neill. He was the son of CongalachmacConaing (died 778), a previous king. He ruled from 786 to 812. The Síl nÁedo...
branch of the southern Ui Neill. He was the son of CongalachmacConaing (died 778) and brother of Flann mac Congalaig (died 812), previous kings. He ruled...
(approximate date) CongalachmacConaing, king of South Brega (Ireland) Eterscél mac Áeda, king of the Uí Cheinnselaig (Ireland) Mac Flaithniadh, abbot...
southern septs which included the Uí Chernaig. In 688 Niall defeated CongalachmacConaing Cuirre (died 696) of Uí Chonaing and his Ciannachta allies at the...
Niall mac Cernaig Sotal (died 701), a king in southern Brega of the Uí Chernaig sept of Lagore of the Síl nÁedo Sláine defeated CongalachmacConaing Cuirre...
targets. This is explicitly linked to the war between Donnchad and CongalachmacConaing, the King of Knowth, which began earlier in 777 when Donnchad led...
was the son of High King Flann Sinna by his wife Gormlaith ingen Flann macConaing. The date of his birth is not known, but he was apparently an adult in...
wife. Flann's son Donnchad Donn, his grandson Congalach Cnogba, and his great grandson Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill, all held the kingship of Tara, Máel...
married Conaingmac Flainn of the Síl nÁedo Sláine, and several other sons. After Duffy, Atlas of Irish History, pp. 18–19. Hudson, "Niall mac Áeda". Hudson...
Gohan mac Congaile was slain. Another encounter occurred in 733 in a battle fought in Mag nÍtha in which another cousin of Flaithbertach, Conaingmac Congaile...
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