Artrí mac Cathail

Who is Artrí mac Cathail?

Artrí mac Cathail was a King of Munster from the Glendamnach branch of the Eoganachta. He was the son of Cathal mac Finguine, a previous king. He reigned from 793 to 820.

The kingship of Munster had rotated among the inner circle of Eoganachta during the seventh and most of the eighth centuries. But the Eoganachta experienced a decline after the death of Cathal mac Finguine in 742. The rotation was interrupted by the rule of Máel Dúin mac Áedo of the Eóganacht Locha Léin branch which ruled in Iarmumu. The definitive restoration of the rule of the inner circle is considered to be the ordination of Artrí as king in 793. Simultaneously with his ordination, the Law of Ailbe, patron saint of Emly was proclaimed in Munster. In 794 an expedition by the high king Donnchad Midi is recorded to aid the laigin versus Munster but Artrí is not directly connected with this.

Artrí may have recognized Ólchobar mac Duib-Indrecht of the Áine branch as heir, who is recognized as such in his death obit in the Annals of Innisfallen. An alternative is that Ólchobar succeeded Máel Dúin in 786 and was deposed in 793 by Artrí.