Forggus’s Double Law
Archived: 1 November 2026
Abstract
In the political moment around 744, Irish annals record regional deaths, warfare and the close alliance of kingship and church authority. Ardgal, king of Éile, died, while bishops and ecclesiastical leaders including Laidcnén of Saigir and Colmán of Lesán were killed. Conflicts claimed Conchobor of Uí Fhidgente and other elites, and the Déisi defeated Corcu Mo-Druad. Most significantly, Forggus son of Cellach, Uí Briúin king of Connacht, jointly enforced the laws of Saints Ciarán of Clonmacnoise and Brénainn of Clonfert, securing ecclesiastical rights through royal power. Differing annalistic chronologies place much of this cluster in 743 or 744. Sources differ.