ÃÂed mac Diarmato (died 604), called ÃÂed Sláine (ÃÂed of Slane), was the son of Diarmait mac Cerbaill. Legendary stories exist of ÃÂed's birth. Saint Columba is said to have prophesied his death. His descendants, the SÃÂl nÃÂedo Sláine—the seed of ÃÂed of Slane—were prominent in 7th and early 8th century Ireland.
ÃÂed's mother is said to have been Mugain Mór, perhaps an euhemerisation of a Munster sovereignty goddess. This Mugain is called the daughter of Conchrad mac Duach, the king of Osraige. Mugain and Diarmait's marriage is barren, and Mugain is humiliated by Diarmait's chief wife until she is given blessed holy water to drink by Saint Finnian of Moville, after which she gives birth to a lamb, then to a salmon, and finally to ÃÂed.
The two great Southern UàNéill dynasties of the midlands were the SÃÂl nÃÂedo Sláine (the Seed of ÃÂedo of Slane), kings of Brega in the east, and the Clann Cholmáin Máir (the Children of Colmán the Great) in Mide with their centre in the heart of modern Westmeath. The former are more prominent in the seventh century, but after the death of Cináed mac ÃÂrgalaig in 728 all the high-kings of the Southern UàNéill come from the Clann Cholmáin except for a brief period between 944 and 956 when the king of Knowth, Congalach Cnogba, restored the high-kingship to the Brega line.
Finnian prophesied that ÃÂed would "surpass his brethren and more kings will come from him than from the sons of others". This prophecy may date to the period before 750, when the SÃÂl nÃÂedo Sláine were dominant, after which the descendants of ÃÂed's brother Colmán Már—Clann Cholmáin—were clearly the most important group descended from Diarmait mac Cerbaill. A third brother of ÃÂed, Colmán Bec, was also an ancestor figure, but of the less important CaÃÂlle Follamain.
Compared to his father and his sons, relatively little is said of ÃÂed, either in the Irish annals or in other sources such as hagiography or heroic verse.
Adomnán recounts Columba's prophecy to ÃÂed in his Life of St Columba. Columba told ÃÂed that he would be as great a king as his father—Adomnán calls Diarmait king of Ireland—only if he avoided kinslaying. If he killed a kinsman he would be king only of his own people and that for only a short time.
According to some later king lists, ÃÂed was jointly High King of Ireland with Colmán RÃÂmid of the Cenél nEógain after the death of ÃÂed mac Ainmuirech in 598. ÃÂed mac Ainmuirech died in battle near Baltinglass, modern County Wicklow, fighting against Brandub mac Echach, King of Leinster.
It was to distinguish him from that ÃÂed and from others that ÃÂed mac Diarmato received his cognomen, "ÃÂed of Slane", referring to the Hill of Slane, a prehistoric site near the Hill of Tara, which lay within his lands. Some sources omit ÃÂed from the list of kings, including the earliest, that found in the Baile Chuind Chétchathaig, a work of dynastic propaganda compiled in the reign of ÃÂed's grandson FÃÂnsnechta Fledach. His omission from this is believed to be a transcription error, and it is very likely that he was High King.
In 600 ÃÂed had his nephew, Suibne mac Colmáin Már, killed, "treacherously" says Adomnán. According to Marianus Scotus, Suibne, rather than ÃÂed and Colmán RÃÂmid, had been High King. In 604 both ÃÂed and Colmán RÃÂmid died by violence. Colmán was murdered by a kinsman and Suibne's son Conall Guthbinn killed ÃÂed. This may have happened in battle and ÃÂed may have been allied with the UàFailgi, neighbours of Conall's. ÃÂed and Colmán RÃÂmid were followed as High King by ÃÂed Uaridnach.
ÃÂed's recorded children are at least six sons, including Diarmait and Blathmac, and a daughter named Rontud. ÃÂed's grandchildren included FÃÂnsnechta Fledach, Sechnassach and Cenn Fáelad. His wife's name is recorded as Eithne.