Máel Cothaid mac Máele Umai (flourished 601) was a King of Connacht from the Uí Fiachrach branch of the Connachta. He was of the Fir Chera sept of this branch and áelCothaidmacMáwas the grandson of Feradach mac Ross (died c.557), a previous Connacht king. The king lists such as the Book of Leinster have placed his reign after his grandfathers and before Áed mac Echach Tirmcharna (died 575) and give him a reign of three years. Prof. Byrne has placed him after Uatu mac Áedo (died 600).

In 601 was fought the Battle of Echros (Aughris Head) where he suffered a defeat at the hands of the Cenél Coirpri led by Colman. This was part of the perennial feud between the Connachta and the northern Ui Neill for control of the strategic route through County Sligo. Mael Cothaid is only mentioned as king of the Uí Fiachrach in reference to this battle in the annals. His defeat may have contributed to the failure of his line to maintain their hold on the Moy estuary and his branch is found later in Carra, County Mayo and provided no further kings of Connaught.

Máel Cothaid mac Máele Umai

Notes

See also

List of kings of Connacht

References

Annals of Tigernach

Annals of Ulster

T.M.Charles-Edwards, Early Christian Ireland

Francis J.Byrne, Irish Kings and High-Kings

Book of Leinster,Section 30

The Chronology of the Irish Annals, Daniel P. McCarthy

External links

CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts at University College Cork

Kings of Connacht

Monarchs from County Mayo

7th-century Irish monarchs

Máel Cothaid mac Máele Umai