7th century in Ireland

Events from the 7th century in Ireland.

600s

601

Probable year in which ColmÃÂ¡n mac Cobthaig, UÃÂ Fiachrach becomes king of Connacht.

602 or 604

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

603

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

605

Birth of ColmÃÂ¡n of Lindisfarne (died February 18, 675) also known as Saint ColmÃÂ¡n, Bishop of Lindisfarne from 661 until 664. 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.

607

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

608

Death of Fiachra CÃÂ¡ech, brother of Fiachnae mac BÃÂ¡etÃÂ¡in king of the DÃÂ¡l nAraidi and high-king of the Ulaid in the early 7th century.

609

Death of Saint Molua (also known as Lua, Da Lua), was an Irish saint, and a Christian abbot. He was the founder of Killaloe (), which bears his name Lua.

610s

610

Death of Conall Laeg Breg mac ÃÂedo SlÃÂ¡ine, a King of Brega from the SÃÂl nÃÂedo SlÃÂ¡ine branch of the southern UÃÂ NÃÂ©ill. He was the son of the high king ÃÂed SlÃÂ¡ine 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 SÃÂl nÃÂedo SlÃÂ¡ine in the Book of Leinster.

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 ÃÂed Uaridnach, High King of Ireland until 607.

613

Death of RÃÂ³nÃÂ¡n mac ColmÃÂ¡in of the UÃÂ DÃÂºnlainge, son of ColmÃÂ¡n MÃÂ¡r mac Coirpri. The Annals of Tigernach includes his death obit with the title King of Laigin, that is King of Leinster 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)

616

Death of ÃÂedÃÂ¡n mac Mongain, of the Ui Echach Coba branch of the Dal nAraide and father of Fergus mac ÃÂedÃÂ¡in, a king of Ulaid from 674-692.

618

Death of Saint Kevin of Glendalough.

Death of FÃÂngen mac ÃÂedo Duib, also known as Fingen Flann, a King of Munster. His sobriquet Flann meant "blood-red".

Death of ÃÂed BennÃÂ¡n mac Crimthainn was a possible King of Munster from the EÃÂ³ganacht Locha LÃÂ©in branch of the Eoganachta. He was definitely king of West Munster or Iarmuman. He was the great grandson of DauÃÂ Iarlaithe mac Maithni also a possible king of Munster from this branch.

619

Construction begins on the earliest known tide mill, Nendrum Monastery mill on Strangford Lough.

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 SlÃÂ©cht

622

Battle of Cennbag (at Cambo, modern County Roscommon): death of ColmÃÂ¡n mac Cobthaig, UÃÂ Fiachrach king of Connacht, succeeded by his son Guaire Aidne mac ColmÃÂ¡in

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 ÃÂedo (died 642) was a son of ÃÂed mac Ainmuirech; he was High King of Ireland from 624 until his death. He belonged to the CenÃÂ©l Conaill kindred of the northern UÃÂ NÃÂ©ill.

625

Death of RÃÂ³nÃÂ¡n mac ColmÃÂ¡in was a King of Leinster following Brandub mac Echach (died 603). He belonged to the UÃÂ Cheinnselaig and was the son of ColmÃÂ¡n mac Cormaicc. The later Leinster king CrundmÃÂ¡el Erbuilc mac RÃÂ³nÃÂ¡in (died 655) was his son.

626

Fiachnae mac BÃÂ¡etÃÂ¡in was killed at the Battle of Leithet Midind, defeated by Fiachnae mac DemmÃÂ¡in of the DÃÂ¡l Fiatach.

627

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

627 or 628

Possible year of birth of Saint AdomnÃÂ¡n of Iona

629

The Battle of Carn Feradaig (Carhernarry, County Limerick); Guaire Aidne mac ColmÃÂ¡in, king of Connacht suffered a defeat at the hands of the Munster king FaÃÂlbe Flann mac ÃÂedo 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 (born 550), an early bishop of Ferns.

Death of Colman MacDuagh co-founder the Kilmacduagh monastery

632 or 633

Death of the legendary MÃÂ³r Muman (632 according to the Annals of Ulster, 633 according to the Annals of Tigernach)

633

Possible beginning of the reign of MÃÂ¡el DÃÂºin mac ÃÂedo BennÃÂ¡n, a King of Iarmuman (west Munster)

634

Death of ÃÂed DammÃÂ¡n, called a King of Iarmumu in his obituary. He was an uncle of MÃÂ¡el DÃÂºin mac ÃÂedo BennÃÂ¡n.

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 ÃÂth Goan in the western Liffey plain for the kingship of Leinster involved FaÃÂlbe Flann mac ÃÂedo Duib.

637

14 May: Death of Abbot Mo Chutu of Lismore.

Death of Conall mac Suibni, called Conall Guthbinn, a King of Uisnech in Mide of the Clann CholmÃÂ¡in since 621.

639

14 May: Death of St. Mo Chutu of Lismore, Abbot.

Death of FaÃÂlbe Flann mac ÃÂedo Duib, king of Munster.

Death of St. Molaise of Leighlin (also known as LaisrÃÂ©n and Laserian), a missionary who worked in both Ireland and Scotland.

Death of St. Gobhan, Abbot, founder of St Laserian's Cathedral, Old Leighlin and founder of Killamery monastery.

640s

640

Likely date of AdamnÃÂ¡n joining the Columban familia (i.e. the federation of monasteries under the leadership of Iona Abbey). He is to become the eighth Abbot of Iona.

Birth of Saint Kilian, an Irish missionary bishop and the of Franconia (modern-day northern Bavaria), at Mullagh (in modern-day County Cavan).

641

Death of CÃÂºÃÂ¡n mac Amalgado, a King of Munster from the ÃÂine branch of the EÃÂ³ganachta and son of a previous king, Amalgaid mac ÃÂndai (died 601). He succeeded FaÃÂlbe Flann mac ÃÂedo Duib in 639.

642

Birth of MÃÂ¡el Ruba (Old Irish spelling), or Malruibhe (died 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 modern-day Scotland.

Death of Domnall mac ÃÂedo, a High King of Ireland since 624 or 628.

643

Death of DÃÂºnchad mac Fiachnai, who is mentioned as king of Ulaid at the time of his death.

644

Battle of Cenn Con in Munster between MÃÂ¡el DÃÂºin, son of ÃÂed BennÃÂ¡n, and Aengus Liath of Glendamnach.

Death of Aengus Liath.

646

Death of LochÃÂ©ne mac Finguine, a king of the Dal nAraide.

647

Death of Scandal mac BÃÂ©cce, a king of the Dal nAraide.

648

Death of MÃÂ¡el Cobo mac Fiachnai, a Dal Fiatach king of Ulaid. He was the son of Fiachnae mac DemmÃÂ¡in (died 629).

649

Death of Rogallach mac Uatach, a king of Connacht from the UÃÂ BriÃÂºin branch of the Connachta.

650s

650

The Book of Durrow is begun.

652

August 12: death of SÃÂ©gÃÂ©ne mac FiachnaÃÂ, or SÃÂ©gÃÂ©ne of Iona, the fifth abbot of Iona. Suibne moccu Fir ThrÃÂ becomes the sixth Abbot of Iona.

653

Death of MÃÂ¡el DÃÂ³id mac Suibni, a king of Uisnech in Mide of the Clann CholmÃÂ¡in. He was a son of Suibne mac ColmÃÂ¡in (died 598) and brother of Conall Guthbinn mac Suibni (died 637), previous kings. He ruled from 637 to 653.

MarcÃÂ¡n mac TommÃÂ¡in, 15th King of the UÃÂ Maine.

654

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

655

Death of Laidgnen/Loingsech mac ColmÃÂ¡in, son of ColmÃÂ¡n mac Cobthaig, king of Connacht from the Ui Fiachrach branch of the Connachta.

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 UÃÂ Cheinnselaig king, RÃÂ³nÃÂ¡n mac ColmÃÂ¡in (died 625)

659

Death of Ailill, brother of FÃÂnsnechta Fledach mac DÃÂºnchada who was High King of Ireland.

660s

660

Death of Conall Crandomna, king of DÃÂ¡l Riata. He is succeeded by Domangart mac Domnaill.

661

Death of Laidcenn mac Buith Bannaig, poet.

Death of MÃÂ¡enach mac FÃÂngin, 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.

662 or 663

Death of Guaire Aidne mac ColmÃÂ¡in, son of ColmÃÂ¡n mac Cobthaig, King of Connacht: he is succeeded by Muirchertach Nar mac Guaire Aidne

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 records the following deaths:

665

Yellow plague outbreak at Fore Abbey

Cathal CÃÂº-cen-mÃÂ¡thair, King of Munster, dies in the plague

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 LuirgÃÂ©ne, their king, was defeated and slain.

The Annals of the Four Masters records the following deaths:

Death of Cellach mac Guairi, a son of Guaire Aidne mac ColmÃÂ¡in, a king of Connacht

Death of FÃÂ¡elÃÂ¡n mac ColmÃÂ¡in, a king of Leinster from the UÃÂ DÃÂºnlainge branch of the Laigin. He was the son of ColmÃÂ¡n MÃÂ¡r mac Coirpri, a previous king.

Probable date of the death of Eochaid Iarlaithe, a son of Fiachnae mac BÃÂ¡etÃÂ¡in.

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 ColmÃÂ¡in; Artgal mac Guairi and Muirchertach NÃÂ¡r mac Guairi, a king of Connacht.

669

February 24: death of CummÃÂ©ne Find, seventh abbot of Iona. FÃÂ¡ilbe mac PÃÂpÃÂ¡in becomes the eight abbot of Iona

670s

670

Death of Blathmac mac MÃÂ¡ele Cobo, was a Dal Fiatach king of Ulaid. He was the son of MÃÂ¡el Cobo mac Fiachnai (died 648).

671

Death of Sechnassach mac Blathmaic who had followed his father Blathmac mac ÃÂedo SlÃÂ¡ine (died 665) and his uncle Diarmait mac ÃÂedo SlÃÂ¡ine (died 665) as High King of Ireland and King of Brega. He belonged to the SÃÂl nÃÂedo SlÃÂ¡ine kindred of the southern UÃÂ NÃÂ©ill which took its name from his grandfather ÃÂed SlÃÂ¡ine (died 602).

672

Cenn FÃÂ¡elad mac Blathmaic (died 675) followed his father Blathmac mac ÃÂedo SlÃÂ¡ine (died 665) and his brother Sechnassach (died 671) as High King of Ireland and king of Brega.

673

Cenn FÃÂ¡elad mac Blathmaic ended his reign as High King.

674

Death of Congal Cennfota mac DÃÂºnchada, a Dal Fiatach king of Ulaid. He was the son of DÃÂ¹nchad mac Fiachnai (died 644). His nickname Cennfota means Long-headed.

675

Death of Cenn FÃÂ¡elad mac Blathmaic.

676

FÃÂnsnechta Fledach (died 695) of the SÃÂl nÃÂedo SlÃÂ¡ine destroyed Ailech, center of CenÃÂ©l nEÃÂ³gain power.

677

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

678

Death of King of Munster ColgÃÂº mac FaÃÂlbe Flaind

679

Death of Cenn FÃÂ¡elad mac Aillila, Irish scholar and poet and grandson of ColmÃÂ¡n RÃÂmid.

680s

680

Death of Fiannamail mac MÃÂ¡ele Tuile, a King of Leinster from the UÃÂ MÃÂ¡il branch of the Laigin.

681

Death of DÃÂºngal Eilni mac Scandail a Dal nAraide king of the Cruithne. He came to the rule of these tribes some time after 668. In 681 he and Cenn FÃÂ¡elad mac Suibne, chief of Cianachta Glinne Geimhin were burned by MÃÂ¡el DÃÂºin mac MÃÂ¡el Fithrich of the CenÃÂ©l nEÃÂ³gan at DÃÂºn Ceithirn.

682

Death of Cenn FÃÂ¡elad mac Colgan, a King of Connacht from the UÃÂ BriÃÂºin branch of the Connachta. He was of the branch which developed into the UÃÂ BriÃÂºin SeÃÂ³la, who were centred around Tuam in modern County Galway.

683

Death of DÃÂºnchad Muirisci mac Tipraite, a King of Connacht from the UÃÂ Fiachrach branch of the Connachta. He was of the UÃÂ Fiachrach Muaidhe sept based along the River Moy.

684

June: King Ecgfrith of Northumbria sent an expedition to Ireland under his ealdorman Berht, laying waste to the territory of FÃÂnsnechta Fledach, King of Brega.

685

Bressal mac Fergusa, son of Fergus mac ÃÂedÃÂ¡in King of Ulaid died of disease which was rampant at the time.

688

FÃÂnsnechta 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 monasticism.

At the Battle of Imlech Pich, Niall mac Cernaig Sotal (died 701), a king in southern Brega of the UÃÂ Chernaig sept of Lagore of the SÃÂl nÃÂedo SlÃÂ¡ine defeated Congalach mac Conaing Cuirre (died 696) of UÃÂ Chonaing and his Ciannachta allies.

690s

690

Death of Aillil mac DÃÂºngail Eilni, a chief of the Dal nAraide and son of DÃÂºngal Eilni mac Scandail (died 681)

691

Death of Fithceallach mac Flainn, a king UÃÂ Maine

692

Death of Fergus mac ÃÂedÃÂ¡in, a king of Ulaid from 674. He was the first member of the Dal nAraide to hold the throne since death of Congal CÃÂ¡ech at Mag Roth in 639. He was of the Ui Echach Coba branch of the Dal nAraide and was the son of ÃÂedÃÂ¡n mac Mongain (died 616).

693

Death of Bran Mut mac Conaill, a King of Leinster from the UÃÂ DÃÂºnlainge branch of the Laigin. He was the grandson of FÃÂ¡elÃÂ¡n mac ColmÃÂ¡in (died 666), a previous king. He ruled from 680 until his death.

694

Loingsech mac ÃÂengusso (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 FÃÂnsnechta Fledach the year previously.

695

Death of FÃÂnsnechta Fledach mac DÃÂºnchada, High King of Ireland, who belonged to the southern SÃÂl nÃÂedo SlÃÂ¡ine sept of the UÃÂ NÃÂ©ill 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-mÃÂ¡thair, a King of Munster from the Glendamnach branch of the Eoganachta.

Death of Congalach mac Conaing Cuirre, a King of Brega from the UÃÂ Chonaing sept of the SÃÂl nÃÂedo SlÃÂ¡ine branch of the southern UÃÂ NÃÂ©ill.

697

Synod of Birr and the proclamation of the CÃÂ¡in AdomnÃÂ¡in (Law of the Innocents).

698

Death of ÃÂed Aired, a king of the Dal nAraide.

700s

700

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

References