Máel Dúin mac Áedo

Máel Dúin mac Áedo (died 786) was a possible King of Munster from the Eóganacht Locha Léin branch of the Eóganachta. He was the son of Áed Bennán mac Conaing (died 733), a king of Iarmuman or West Munster and great great grandson of Áed Bennán mac Crimthainn (died 618) who may have been King of all Munster.

The Eóganacht Locha Léin branch ruled in west Munster or Iarmumu with authority over the surrounding peoples and were semi-independent of the ruling inner circle of Eóganachta ruling from Cashel. Máel Dúin possibly succeeded to the throne of Iarmumu in 747 when Cairpre son of Cú Dínisc was slain at the Battle of Carn Ailche (possibly Carnelly, County Clare) in a civil war amongst the men of Munster.

His accession to the throne of Munster cannot be dated with certainty. His accession broke the rotation of the Munster throne among the inner circle Eóganachta. The records become obfuscated for the later 8th century after the reign of the powerful Cathal mac Finguine (died 742). Cathal's successor Cathussach mac Eterscélai is only known from king lists and the Laud Synchronisms give him a reign of 27 years which would put the end of his reign in 769. However the annals record activity of Máel Dúin prior to this who is not included in the king lists.

The earliest record of Máel Dúin is in 757 when the Annals of Tigernach record that Cummascach, King of the Leinster tribe of Uí Failge of Offaly was slain by him and he is referred to as king of Munster. The Annals of Innisfallen (a pro-Munster source) and the Annals of Ulster (a more primary chronicle) are however silent on this. He is next mentioned in the Annals of Innsifallen under the year 766 where he was defeated by the Uí Fidgenti and the Arad Cliach of County Limerick at the Battle of Énboth Breg. In this mention he is not given a title. his next mention is at his death obit in 786. In the Annals of Ulster he is styled only King of Irluachair (Iarmumu or west Munster) while in the Annals of Innsifallen he is King of Munster.

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