Sechnassach’s Killing
Archived: 2 November 2026
Abstract
In 671 CE, the most consequential recorded Irish event was the killing of Sechnassach mac Blathmaic, king of Tara, at the beginning of winter. The terse notice in the Irish annals is unusually revealing despite its brevity: it names his killer, Dub Dúin of Cenél Cairpri, and preserves a four-line verse remembering the king’s household as rich in bridles, horse-switches and surplus. The same annalistic year also records a battle at Druim Cepais, the death of Fergus son of Crunnmael, the death of Bran Finn of the Déisi in one source, and Máel Ruba’s sea-voyage from Ireland to Britain. Together