Conall Guthbinn

Who was Conall Guthbinn?

Conall mac Suibni, called Conall Guthbinn, was a King of Uisnech in Mide of the Clann Cholmáin. He was the son Suibne mac Colmáin, a previous king. He ruled from 621 to 635. His byname Guthbinn meant "sweet voiced".

His father Suibne had been killed in 600 by his uncle Áed Sláine mac Diarmato eponymous ancestor of the Síl nÁedo Sláine. This set off a feud between the Clann Cholmáin and Síl nÁedo Sláine and in 604 a battle was fought in Faithche Mic Mencnain on the brink of Loch Semdid. In this battle Conall was able to witness the slaying of Áed Sláine slain by his foster brother Áed Gustan. Áed Sláine's allies; Áed Rón of the Uí Failge and Áed Buide, king of Tebtha; were also slain.

Of this feud, the Annals of Ulster record:

It was no time when counsel prevailed, for the warriors beyond Tuirbe: Conall slew Áed of Sláine, Áed Sláine slew Suibne.

Conall then succeeded to the kingship of Uisnech in 621 on the death of Óengus mac Colmáin, son of Colmán Bec. In 622 he defeated a rival cousinly line led by two sons of Librén, son of Illand, son of Cerball. Illand was a brother of his great-grandfather the high king Diarmait mac Cerbaill. This was fought at the Battle of Cenn Deilgthen and Conall had the assistance of Domnall Brecc, later king of Dál Riata.