Cennselach mac Brain (died 770) was a king of the Uí Cheinnselaig of South Leinster. He was of the Sil Máeluidir sept of this branch of the Laigin, who were found in the later baronies of Shelmalier on the lower reaches of the Slaney River in southern modern County Wexford. He was the son of Bran Ua Máele Dúin (died 712), a previous king.Mac Niocaill, pg.128, fig.22 He ruled from 769 to 770.
The Uí Cheinnselaig were involved in infighting at this time. The Sil Máeluidir sept had not held the throne since 727. In 769, Cennselach defeated his predecessor Dub Calgaid mac Laidcnén, who was slain, at the Battle of Ferns.Annals of Ulster AU 769.2, Mac Niocaill, pg.130 Cennselach, himself, was defeated and slain in battle in 770 by his successor Eterscél mac Áeda (died 778).Annals of Ulster AU 770.7, Mac Niocaill, pg.130; Byrne, pg.157
Notes
References
Annals of Ulster at at University College Cork Byrne, Francis John (2001), Irish Kings and High-Kings, Dublin: Four Courts Press, Gearoid Mac Niocaill (1972), Ireland before the Vikings, Dublin: Gill and Macmillan Book of Leinster,Rig Hua Cendselaig at at University College Cork
External links CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts at University College Cork