Cú Chuarán mac Dúngail Eilni

Who was Cú Chuarán mac Dúngail Eilni?

Cú Chuarán mac Dúngaile was a Dal nAraide king of Ulaid. He was the son of Dúngal Eilni mac Scandail and brother of Ailill mac Dúngaile Eilni, previous Kings of Dál nAraidi

In the 6th and 7th centuries the Dal nAraide were part of a confederation of Cruithne tribes in Ulaid and were the dominant members. Cú Chuarán belonged to a branch of this family settled in Mag nEinli, a plain between the Bann and Bush in County Antrim. This plain had been conquered by the Dal nAraide by the middle of the seventh century.

He would have become king of Dal nAraide on death of Áed Aired ruling from 698 to 708 and king of Ulaid upon abdication of Bécc Bairrche mac Blathmaic in 707 of the Dál Fiatach ruling from 707 to 708. The Annals of Ulster call him king of the Cruithne. The king lists and other annals though also give him the title king of Ulaid.

Cú Chuarán led an attack on the Irish lands of Dál Riata in northeast County Antrim. The Irish lands of Dál Riata were under attack by the Dal nAraide since the Battle of Mag Roth. He was killed by Scanlán Finn húa Rebáin a member of the Dal nAraide and the kingship reverted to the Dál Fiatach..