Máel Cothaid mac Fogartaig(flour.818)all dates per The Chronology of the Irish Annals, Daniel P. McCarthy was a possible King of Connacht from the Uí Briúin branch of the Connachta. He was the grandson of Cathal mac Muiredaig Muillethan(d.735), a previous king and nephew of Dub-Indrecht mac Cathail(d.768) and Artgal mac Cathail(d.791).Francis J.Byrne, Irish Kings and High-Kings, Table 20 He was of the Síl Cathail sept of the Ui Briun. His father Fogartach mac Cathail was defeated in a battle among the Connachta in 789 at Druim Góise during a time when the throne of Connacht was being contested.
The king lists such as the Book of Leinster do not mention him as king nor is he referred to as king in the annals. The only reference for him in the annals is where, in conjunction with Diarmait mac Tommaltaig(d.833), as chiefs of the Ui Briun, they defeated the Ui Maine at the Battle of Foráth in the territory of the Delbna Nuadat between the Suck and Shannon Rivers in 818. The king of the Ui Maine, Cathal mac Murchadh, was slain.
His son Mugron mac Máel Cothaid (d.872) was the last Sil Cathail king of Connacht.
Notes
See also Kings of Connacht
References
Annals of Ulster Francis J.Byrne, Irish Kings and High-Kings Book of Leinster, Section 30 The Chronology of the Irish Annals, Daniel P. McCarthy
External links CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts at University College Cork