Óengus mac Colmáin

Who was Óengus mac Colmáin?

Óengus mac Colmáin Bec was an Irish king. He was the King of Uisnech in Mide from 618 to 621. He belonged to the southern Uí Néill. According to the genealogies, he was a son of Colmán Bec, son of Diarmait mac Cerbaill. The later Caílle Follamain traced their descent through Óengus.

Before acquiring the rulership of Uisnech, the annals record Oengus' involvement in the feud between the rival midland dynasties of Clann Cholmáin and Síl nÁedo Sláine. In 612 he won the Battle of Odba in which Conall Laeg Breg mac Áedo Sláine was slain. This battle may have been caused by Conall's claims to succeed Áed Uaridnach as high king who died in 612.

He acquired the throne of Uisnech in 618 succeeding Fergus mac Colmáin. According to the Annals of Ulster, Oengus was killed in 621.

According to entries in the Irish annals reporting Óengus's death in 621, which incorrectly call him a son of Colmán Már, he was regis Nepotum Neill or ríg h-Úa Neill, that is king of the Uí Néill. This appears to be synonymous with the alternative titles of High King, King of Ireland, or that King of Tara. It is suggested that the explanation for this is that when Suibne Menn killed Máel Coba mac Áedo in 615, he supported Óengus's claims rather than taking power himself, or perhaps that Óengus was a deputy king in the south.