Conaing Cuirre
Conaing mac Congaile, called Conaing Cuirre, was a King of Brega from the Síl nÁedo Sláine branch of the southern Ui Neill. He was the son of Congal mac Áedo Sláine, a previous king of Brega. The territory of Brega that he ruled was called Cnogba or North Brega which he ruled from 634 to 662.
He ruled during a time when his uncles Diarmait mac Áedo Sláine and Blathmac mac Áedo Sláine were jointly High King of Ireland. The annals record a battle between Blathmac and the adherents of Diarmait at the Battle of Ogomain in 662. Conaing was slain fighting on the side of Blathmac in this civil war. His allies, Ultán son of Ernaine, chief of Ciannachta, and Cenn Fáelad son of Gerthide, chief of Ciannachta Arda were also slain.
His descendants ruling at Cnogba were known as the Uí Chonaing. His sons Congalach mac Conaing Cuirre and Irgalach mac Conaing were also kings of Brega. Irgalach's son Cináed was late High King of Ireland, the penultimate Uí Chonaing High King, the last being Congalach Cnogba in the 10th century. His daughter Caintigern married Cellach Cualann, the Uí Máil king of Leinster and was mother of Saint Kentigerna.
