Fáelán mac Colmáin (died 666) was a King of

Leinster Leinster ( ; ga, Laighin or ) is one of the provinces of Ireland, situated in the southeast and east of Ireland. The province comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Meath, Leinster and Osraige. Following the 12th-century Norman invasion of Ir ...

from the

Uí Dúnlainge The Uí Dúnlainge, from the Old Irish "grandsons (or descendants) of Dúnlaing", were an Irish dynasty of Leinster kings who traced their descent from Dúnlaing mac Énda Niada. He was said to be a cousin of Énnae Cennsalach, eponymous ancest ...

branch of the Laigin. He was the son of Colmán Már mac Coirpri, a previous king. Faelan was the founder of the true fortunes of the Ui Dunlainge dynasty.Byrne, pg.151

Rise to the throne

Faelan is first mentioned in the annals when he defeated and slew Crundmáel Bolg Luatha of the Uí Cheinnselaig at the Battle of Duma Aichir in 628. The annals seem to give him the title of king of Leinster by anticipation. Then in alliance with Faílbe Flann mac Áedo Duib (died 637), the king of

Munster Munster ( gle, an Mhumhain or ) is one of the provinces of Ireland, in the south of Ireland. In early Ireland, the Kingdom of Munster was one of the kingdoms of Gaelic Ireland ruled by a "king of over-kings" ( ga, rí ruirech). Following th ...

and

Conall Guthbinn Conall mac Suibni (died 635), called Conall Guthbinn, Prince of Meath, was King of Uisnech in Mide of the Clann Cholmáin. He was the son of Suibne mac Colmáin (died 600), a previous king.Charles-Edwards, ''Early Christian Ireland'', p. 604, tab ...

mac Suibni (died 635) of the

Clann Cholmáin Clann Cholmáin is the dynasty descended from Colmán Már mac Diarmato, son of Diarmait mac Cerbaill. Part of the Southern Uí Néill — they were the kings of Mide (Meath) — they traced their descent to Niall Noígiallach and his ...

he defeated and slew

Crimthann mac Áedo Crimthann mac Áedo (died 633) was a King of Leinster from the Uí Máil branch of the Laigin. He was the son of Áed Dibchine mac Senaig (died 595), a previous king. He would have succeeded sometime after the death of Rónán mac Colmáin. His ...

(died 633), the

Uí Máil Uí Máil were an Irish dynasty of Leinster. They were descended from Maine Mál, the brother of the legendary high king Cathair Mór. The Uí Máil were a dominant dynasty in Leinster competing for the kingship in the 7th century before being event ...

king of Leinster, at the Battle of Áth Goan in western Liffey. From this date he becomes king of Leinster. The ''Book of Leinster'' gives him a reign of 30 years and his death obit of 666 in the annals appears to be an interpolation based on the king lists. It is more probable that he died before 656 when Crundmáel Erbuilc mac Rónáin is called king of Leinster at his death obit.

Church relations

The traditions of Saint Kevin of Glendalough assert that Faelan was fostered by Kevin when rejected by his stepmother. Ui Dunlainge patronage of Glendalough kept this tradition alive. Faelans brother Áed Dub was abbot and bishop of Kildare and his nephew Óengus mac Áedo Find was also bishop of Kildare. The possession of Kildare by family members was important to his hold on power. One of his wives was Sárnat ingen Echach of the Fotharta Fea, a tribe with connections to

Saint Brigid Saint Brigid of Kildare or Brigid of Ireland ( ga, Naomh Bríd; la, Brigida; 525) is the patroness saint (or 'mother saint') of Ireland, and one of its three national saints along with Patrick and Columba. According to medieval Irish hagiograp ...

of Kildare.

Relations with the Uí Néill

The rise of the Ui Dunlainge to power appears to have been assisted by the Clann Cholmain who were looking to neutralize the border situation with the Ui Failgi so as to carry out their rivalry with the Síl nÁedo Sláine. One of his wives was Uasal ingen Suibni (died 643), sister of Conall mac Suibni who had assisted him at Ath Goan. The Irish saga ''Bóroma'' ("The Cattle Tribute") claims that the high king Sechnassach mac Blathmaic(died 671) of the

Síl nÁedo Sláine Síl nÁedo Sláine () are the descendants of Áed Sláine (Áed mac Diarmato), son of Diarmait mac Cerbaill. Part of the Southern Uí Néill—they were the kings of Brega—they claimed descent from Niall Noígiallach and his son Co ...

led a large army to claim the cattle tribute from Laigin but was defeated by Faelan mac Colmain but this doesn't fit chronologically with Faelan's reign.Dan M.Wiley
Boroma
, ''Cycles of the Kings''

Family

His son by Sarnat was Conall mac Fáelán, who was father, by Conandil ingen Crundmáel of the Ui Dunlainge, of

Bran Mut mac Conaill Bran Mut mac Conaill (died 693) was a king of Leinster from the Uí Dúnlainge branch of the Laigin. He was the grandson of Fáelán mac Colmáin (died 666), a previous king. He ruled from 680 to 693. According to the saga '' Bóroma'' ("Th ...

(died 693), a king of Leinster.

Notes

References

* ''Annals of Ulster'' a
CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts
a
University College Cork
* ''Annals of Tigernach'' a

a
University College Cork
* ''Annals of Innisfallen'' a

a
University College Cork
* Byrne, Francis John (2001), Irish Kings and High-Kings, Dublin: Four Courts Press, * ''Book of Leinster'',''Rig Laigin'' a

a
University College Cork

External links

a
University College Cork
{{DEFAULTSORT:Faelan Mac Colmain 660s deaths Kings of Leinster 7th-century Irish monarchs People from County Kildare Year of birth unknown