Cathal mac Néill

Who is Cathal mac Néill?

Cathal mac Néill or Cathal Cerr or Cathal Corc was a king of Southern Brega at Lagore. He belonged to the Uí Chernaig sept of the Síl nÁedo Sláine branch of the southern Uí Néill. He was the son of Niall mac Cernaig Sotal and great-grandson of the high king Diarmait mac Áedo Sláine. He ruled the Uí Chernaig from 724-729 succeeding his brother the high king Fogartach mac Néill.

His father had been assassinated by the Uí Chonaing king of Brega, Írgalach mac Conaing setting off a longstanding feud between theses two septs of the Síl nÁedo Sláine. Cathal himself was killed in 729 but the circumstances are not given. Tha Annals of Tigernach give him the title ríg Desceirt Breagh, the first member of the sept to be so titled in the annals. The more primary source, The Annals of Ulster, do not give him this title however.