Áed mac Echach
Áed mac Echach Tirmcharna(d.575)[1] was a King of Connacht from the Uí Briúin branch of the Connachta. He was the son of Echu Tirmcharna mac Fergusso(d.c.556).[2] He came to the throne in the year 557 and ruled till 575.
The slaying of one of his sons was the cause of a war with the high-king Diarmait mac Cerbaill (d.563). Geoffrey Keating states that Diarmait held a feast at Tara at which Aed's son Curnán mac Áedo (d.559) slew a nobleman. Curnán then put himself under the protection of Forguss and Domnall mac Muichertaig of the Cenél nEógain of the northern Uí Néill who placed him under the protection of their kinsman Saint Columba. However Diarmait had Curnán executed for violating laws of Tara in 559.[3] According to the Annals of the Four Masters, Curnán was torn from the hands of Columba. As a result Columba organized a confederacy of the northern Ui Neill including the Cenél Conaill with Aed of Connacht against Diarmait.
In 560 was fought the Battle of Cúl Dreimne(in Co.Sligo) by this alliance against Diarmait. The Annals of the Four Masters mention that the prayers of Columba prevailed over the druids of Diarmait and he was defeated. T.M.Charles-Edwards places this battle in later Cenel Caipre Droma Cliab territory in the region between the Northern Ui Neill and the Connachta stating that Diarmait was on the offensive and tried to cut the allies off. He also states that the true cause of this battle was probably a dispute over the succession to Diarmait.[4]
Prof. Byrne doubts the legitimacy of the early Ui Briun genealogies and even goes so far as to doubt that these early Ui Briun kings were even of this branch. He cites the reference in the annals to the death of Aed in 575 who is said to be killed by the Ui Briun and to a reference in the Annals of Innisfallen that he gave Enach Dúin (Annaghdown on L.Corrib) to Saint Brendan of Clonfert. He doubts that a ruler from the Mag nÁi region would be able to make this gift.[5] Charles-Edwards on the other hand believes that the Ui Briun were set up in Connacht by Diarmait mac Cerbaill as a balance to the Ui Fiachrach before Aed joined the alliance against him.[6]
He was succeeded by his son Uatu mac Áedo(d.600).
Notes
See also
References
- Annals of Tigernach
- Annals of the Four Masters
- Annals of Innisfallen
- G.Keating, History of Ireland
- T.M.Charles-Edwards, Early Christian Ireland
- Francis J.Byrne, Irish Kings and High-Kings
- The Chronology of the Irish Annals, Daniel P. McCarthy