Mathgamain mac Cennétig

Mathgamain mac Cennétig was King of Munster from around 970 to his death in 976. He is the elder brother of Brian Bóruma and the ancestor of the McMahon family of County Clare in Western Ireland (Thomond).

Mathgamain was the son of Cennétig mac Lorcáin of the Dál gCais. His father died in 951 and is called king of Tuadmumu in the report of his death, and was probably succeeded by Mathgamain's brother Lachtna, who died in 953 and is not given any distinguishing title at his death.

In 967, Mathgamain is called "king of Cashel", by the Annals of Ulster. However he is not believed to have become king of Munster until 970 or shortly after, after deposing Máel Muad mac Brain.

In 967 Mathgamain defeated Ivar of Limerick in the celebrated Battle of Sulcoit.

Mathgamain was captured in 976 by Donnubán mac Cathail, prince of Uí Fidgenti, with whom the Dál gCais were rivaling for territory, and who were currently in alliance with Ivar of Limerick. Donnubán handed him over to his most powerful ally Máel Muad mac Brain, previous king of Munster, who had Mathgamain killed.

References

• "Annals of Ulster AD 431-1201". CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts. Retrieved 2007-10-24.
• Byrne, Francis John, Irish Kings and High-Kings. Batsford, London, 1973. ISBN 0-7134-5882-8
• Duffy, Seán (2004). "Brian Bóruma [Brian Boru] (c.941–1014)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Retrieved 2007-10-22.
• Thornton, David E., "The genealogy of Gruffud ap Cynan" in Maund, Kerry L. (ed.), Gruffudd Ap Cynan: A Collaborative Biography. Boydell & Brewer, Woodbridge, 1996. ISBN 0-85115-389-5