efforts by Cathal to assert authority over Leinster. In
732, he was defeated by the king of Uí Chennselaig—
but invaded Leinster again three years later. The Annals
of Ulstermaintain that he was repulsed with heavy
losses, including his ally the king of Osraige, but
Inisfallen insists that he secured victory over his recal-
citrant son-in-law, Fáelán.
The case for Cathal, in parallel with his Leinster
ventures, having challenged Uí Néill supremacy in Mide
has drawn considerable debate. The Annals of Ulster
at733 records battles at the symbolic sites of Tailtiu
(Teltown, Co. Meath) and Tlachtga (Hill of Ward, Co.
Meath) involving one Cathal. Many (e.g., Binchy,
Byrne, Jaski, Swift, Herbert) identify the protagonist as
Cathal mac Finguine, but some (Ó Riain, Charles-
Edwards) contest this, instead suggesting Cathal mac
Áeda of Síl nÁeda Sláine. Those favoring Cathal mac
Finguine note that he had previously invaded Brega;
besides, the annal record at 733 contains no patronymic,
which might be expected for a less well-known dynast.
This annal entry aside, however, there are strong indi-
cations that Cathal not only claimed sway beyond Mun-
ster but was feared as a threat by the Uí Néill. The poem
“Teist Cathail meic Finguine,” in the Book of Leinster,
styles him Ardrí Temrach(high-king of Tara), while the
law tract “Bretha Nemed Toísech” (probably a Munster
product dating to 721–742) makes reference to the Feis
of Tara. Even more significant is the probability that the
Uí Néill regnal poem “Baile Chuinn,” in mentioning fer
fingalach(a kin-slaying man)—a descendant of Corc
(an Eóganachta dynast) who is “overlord of Munster of
great princes in Tara”—refers to Cathal mac Finguine.
In 737, Cathal attended a rígdál(royal meeting) at
Terryglass (Co. Tipperary) with Áed Allán son of Fergal,
the new Uí Néill king of Tara. Presumably, the aim was
to conclude a nonaggression pact, but the location of
the meeting, bordering Leth Moga and Leth Cuinn, sug-
gests mutual respect, with neither king summoned into
the other’s realm to betoken submission. The subsequent
extension of the Rule of Patrick throughout Ireland—
which recognized the ecclesiastical authority of Armagh
in Munster—need not imply capitulation by Cathal, and
may even have allowed him greater influence over
Munster’s Patrician foundations. However, it seems
unlikely that Cathal—unless under duress—would have
allowed Áed Allán to intervene in Leth Moga. Acknowl-
edging that the annal record for 738 is somewhat disor-
dered, it is possible to interpret Áed Allán’s invasion of
Leinster and defeat of its rulers—which seemingly drew
no reaction from Cathal—as itself a response to the latter
having taken the hostages of Leinster earlier in the year.
Cathal died in 742. Later assessments of his reign
as a “milestone” ensured his place in Middle Irish
literature, being featured in the historical tale Cath
Almaine(the Battle of Allen) and in the satire Aisling
Meic Conglainneas the king from whom the hero Mac
Conglainne expels a demon of gluttony. Following his
death, the succession record for Munster is confused;
apparently, he was followed by ephemeral kings from
other Eóganachta lineages. His son—or grandson—
Airtrí (d. 821) regained the kingship in 796, and was
ancestor of later Eóganacht Glennamnach kings.
AILBHE MACSHAMHRÁINReferences and Further Reading
The Annals of Inisfallen, ed and trans. Seán MacAirt. Dublin:
Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 1944.
The Annals of Ulster to A.D. 1131. ed and trans. Seán MacAirt
& Gearóid MacNiocaill. Dublin: Dublin Institute for
Advanced Studies, 1983.
The Book of Leinster, vi, ed. Anne O’Sullivan Dublin: Dublin
Institute for Advanced Studies, 1983, pp. 1376, 1379.
“The Ban Shenchus,” ed. Margaret Dobbs, Revue Celtique,
47–9 (1930–1932), 185, 223;
E. Bhreathnach, F. J. Byrne, J. Carey & K. Murray, “Baile
Chuinn Chétchathaig: edition.” Edel Bhreathnach (ed.),
Ta r a: kingship and landscape. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy,
2004, forthcoming.
Breatnach, Liam. “Canon law and secular law in early Ireland:
the significance of Bretha Nemed,” Peritia, 3 (1984), 439–59;
Byrne, Francis John. Irish kings and high-kings. London: Batsford,
1973; new ed. Dublin: Four Courts Press, 2001. xix, 150,
188–9, 203, 205f, 207–11.
Charles-Edwards, Thomas. Early Christian Ireland. Cambridge:
Cambridge University Press, 2000. 280, 477–8.
Jaski, Bart. Early Irish kingship and succession. Dublin: Four
Courts Press, 2000. 54, 219–20.
Mac Niocaill, Gearóid. Ireland before the Vikings. Dublin: Gill
& Macmillan, 1972. 121, 123–4, 130.
MacShamhráin, Ailbhe & Byrne, Paul. “Prosopography I: kings
named in Baile Chuinn Chétchathaig and the ‘Airgialla
Poem’.” Edel Bhreathnach (ed.), Ta r a: kingship and land-
scape. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy, 2004, forthcoming.
Ní Chon Uladh, Póilín. “ The Rígdál at Terryglass (737 A.D.),”
Tipperary Historical Journal,(1999), 190–6;
Ó Corráin, Donnchadh. Ireland before the Normans. Dublin:
Gill & Macmillan, 1972. 3, 23, 97, 101.
Ó Riain, Pádraig Introduction to P. Ó Riain (ed.), Cath Almaine.
Dublin: Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 1978. xiii-xv
Swift, Catherine. “ The local context of Óenach Tailten.” Ríocht
na Midhe, 11 (2000), 24–50, esp. 41.
See alsoEóganachta; Historical Tales; Leinster;
Leth Moga; Mide; Munster; Osraige; Satire; Uí
Dúnlainge; Uí NéillCÉITINN, SEATHRÚN
SeeForus Feasa ar ÉirinnCÉLI DÉ
TheCéli Dé(plural of Céle Dé, anglicized culdee,
“servant of God”) were a religious movement that
emerged in Leth Moga, “the southern half of Ireland,”CATHAL MAC FINGUINE (d. 742)