Congal Cennfota mac Dúnchada (died 674) was a Dal Fiatach king of Ulaid. He was the son of Dúnchad mac Fiachnai (died circa 644), a previous king.Byrne, Table 6; Charles-Edwards, appendix XXI; Mac Niocaill, pg.155 He ruled from 670 to 674. His nickname Cennfota means "Long-headed".
The Dal Fiatach dominated the kingship of Ulster from 637 to 674. Family strife was a common theme among the dynasty at this time. In 647 he killed or slew his uncle Máel Cobo mac Fiachnai the king of Ulaid.Annals of Ulster AU 647.1; Annals of Tigernach AT 648.1; Mac Niocaill, pg.100 However Mael Cobhas son Blathmac mac Máele Cobo is mentioned as king of Ulaid before him in the annals so he probably did not acquire the overlordship of Ulaid till after Blathmac's death in 670. Congal suffered the same fate as his uncle when he was slain or killed by his cousin's son Bécc Bairrche mac Blathmaic (died 718) in 674.AU 674.1; AT 674.1; Mac Niocaill, pg.101
Congal had a daughter named Conchenn ingen Congaill who was married first to Fínsnechta Fledach (died 695) of the Síl nÁedo Sláine, high king of Ireland and Congal may have had some support from the Ui Neill.Mac Niocaill, pg.101 She married secondly Bécc Bairrche.Mac Niocaill, pg.115
Notes
See also Kings of Ulster
References
Annals of Ulster at at University College Cork Annals of Tigernach at at University College Cork Byrne, Francis John (2001), Irish Kings and High-Kings, Dublin: Four Courts Press, Charles-Edwards, T. M. (2000), Early Christian Ireland, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, Gearoid Mac Niocaill (1972), Ireland before the Vikings, Dublin: Gill and Macmillan
External links CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts at University College Cork