Domnall mac Áeda Muindeirg


Domnall mac Áeda Muindeirg was a chief of the Cenél Conaill of the northern Uí Néill in modern County Donegal and sometimes styled "King of the North". He was the son of Áed Muinderg and grandson of the high king Flaithbertach mac Loingsig.

Life

During the eighth century the Cenél Conaill vied with the rival Cenél nEógain for supremacy in the north. His father had been recognized as King of the North as the representative of the high king Domnall Midi of the Clann Cholmáin of the southern Ui Neill. However his successors were not and in 763 Niall Frossach of the Cenél nEógain had acquired the high kingship of Ireland.
Domnall succeeded his uncle Murchad mac Flaithbertaig as King of the Cenél Conaill upon his assassination in 767. Domnall began to make a bid for supremacy in the north upon the abdication of Niall Frossach in 770 or 772. In 779 the new high king Donnchad Midi of Clann Cholmáin made an expedition to the north and took hostages from Domnall who is given the title King of the North in the annals at this time. Domnall asserted his authority with a victory over the Cenél mBógaine, in 784.
In 787 Domnall was defeated in battle by Máel Dúin mac Áedo Alláin of the Cenél nEógain and lost his supremacy in the north. Upon the death of Máel Dúin, Domnall made a bid to ragain his supremacy but was defeated in 789 at the Battle of Clóitech by Áed Oirdnide of the Cenél nEógain. Áed Oirdnide became high king of Ireland in 798. Domnall was recognized as King of the North in his death notice in the annals in 804 but the circumstances of how he recovered the title are not known.