Conall Guthbinn


Conall mac Suibni, called Conall Guthbinn, Prince of Meath, was King of Uisnech in Mide of the Clann Cholmáin. He was the son of Suibne mac Colmáin, a previous king. He ruled from 621 to 635. His byname Guthbinn meant "sweet voiced".
His father Suibne had been killed in 600 by his uncle Áed Sláine mac Diarmato eponymous ancestor of the Síl nÁedo Sláine. This set off a feud between the Clann Cholmáin and Síl nÁedo Sláine and in 604 a battle was fought in Faithche Mic Mencnain on the shore of Loch Semdid,. During the battle Conall saw his foster brother Áed Gustan slaying Áed Sláine. Áed Rón of the Uí Failge and Áed Buide, king of Tebtha, Áed Sláine's allies, were also slain.
The Annals of Ulster record:
It was no time when counsel prevailed, for the warriors beyond Tuirbe: Conall slew Áed of Sláine, Áed Sláine slew Suibne.

Conall succeeded as King of Uisnech in 621 on the death of Óengus mac Colmáin, son of Colmán Bec. In 622, during the Battle of Cenn Deilgthen, Conall defeated a rival faction of cousins led by two sons of Librén, son of Illand, son of Cerball. Illand was the brother of Conall's great-grandfather the high king Diarmait mac Cerbaill. Domnall Brecc, later king of Dál Riata fought alongside Conall.
In 633, at the Battle of Áth Goan, west of the Liffey, Conall allied with Faílbe Flann mac Áedo Duib, the king of Munster, to assist Fáelán mac Colmáin of the Uí Dúnlainge in defeating and slaying Crimthann mac Áedo of the Uí Máil, acquiring the throne of Leinster. The Clann Cholmain assisted the Ui Dunlainge in their rise to power, neutralizing the border situation with the Ui Failgi, as the Ui Dunlainge carried out their rivalry with the Síl nÁedo Sláine. Fáelán mac Colmáin married Conall's sister Uasal ingen Suibni.
In 634, at the Battle of Loch Trethin at Fremainn, Conall slew Congal mac Áedo Sláine, King of Brega, and his brother Ailill Cruitire, continuing the feud with the Síl nÁedo Sláine. In 635 Diarmait mac Áedo Sláine killed Conall in the house of Nad Fraích's son.
Conall's son Airmetach Cáech was slain at the Battle of Mag Rath in 637 fighting for Congal Cáech of Ulaid and against the High King Domnall mac Áedo of the Cenél Conaill. Airmetach's son Fáelchú was also slain in this battle. Airmetach's other son, Diarmait Dian mac Airmetaig Cáech, was a King of Uisnech.