Lethlobar mac Loingsig

Who is Lethlobar mac Loingsig?

Lethlobar mac Loingsig was a Dál nAraidi king of Ulaid, which is now Ulster, Ireland. He was the grandson of Tommaltach mac Indrechtaig, a previous king of Ulaid. He belonged to the main ruling dynasty of the Dal nAraide known as the Uí Chóelbad based in Mag Line, east of Antrim town in modern county Antrim. He ruled as king of the Dal nAraide from 824/849-873 and as leth-ri of Ulaid from 857-871 and sole king of Ulaid from 871-873.

Lethlobar first appears in the annals in the year 828 when he inflicted a battle-route on the Vikings. He is called King of Dál Araidi regarding this event and Lethlobar follows Eochaid mac Bressail as king in the king lists in the Book of Leinster. However two other kings of the Dál Araidi appear in the Annals of Ulster, Cináed mac Eochada and Flannacán mac Eochada. These last two kings as well as Eochaid mac Bressail are however referred to as kings of Dál Araidi in the north and they belonged to a sept descended from Fiachra Cossalach who may have been related to the northern Eilne branch. There was a branch of the Dal nAraidi in west County Down in the south, the Uí Echach Cobo, but they were always referred to as Kings of Coba in the annals.