Ruaidrí ua Canannáin

Who was Ruaidrí ua Canannáin?

Ruaidrí ua Canannáin was king of the Cenél Conaill, and according to some sources, High King of Ireland.

The Cenél Conaill, a branch of the northern Uí Néill had been excluded from the alternating succession to the High Kingship which had been largely dominated by the northern Cenél nEógain kings of Ailech and the southern Clann Cholmáin kings of Mide since the early the 8th century. Ruaidrí was a descendant in the seventh generation of the previous Cenél Conaill High King, Flaithbertach mac Loingsig.

In the period before Ruaidrí ua Canannáin rose to prominence, the Cenél nEógain heir apparent to the High Kingship, Muirchertach mac Néill, was killed in battle in 943, while the High King, Donnchad Donn of Clann Cholmáin, died the following year. The deaths of Muirchertach and Donnchad appear to have left the field open to less likely competitors. The Uí Néill king lists make Congalach Cnogba of the southern Síl nÁedo Sláine, a kin group long excluded from the succession, Donnchad's successor. Congalach was Donnchad's sister's son. However, Donnchad's apparent policy of making strategic marriages to rising families also made Ruaidrí his kinsman. His aunt, Cainnech ingen Canannáin, had been Donnchad's first wife.