Reign 894–905
908–928 Father Cerball mac Dúnlainge Grandparent Dúngal mac Fergaile | House Dál Birn Parents Cerball mac Dúnlainge Great-grandparent Anmchad mac Con Cherca | |
Predecessor Riagan mac Dúnlainge
Cellach mac Cerbaill Successor Cellach mac Cerbaill
Cuilen mac Cellaig People also search for Cerball mac Dúnlainge, Cellach mac Cerbaill, Mór ingen Cearbhaill, Cathal mac Finguine | ||
Diarmait mac Cerbaill was a king of Osraige from 894 to 905, and again from 908 to 928 AD. He is not to be confused with the early Irish high king Diarmait mac Cerbaill.
History
He was a son of Cerball mac Dúnlainge of the Dál Birn lineage, and his mother was the daughter of high-king Máel Sechnaill mac Máele Ruanaid. He appears to have been militarily active after the death of his father. In 891 he won a victory over the Eóganachta of Munster with the men of Leinster. Diarmait succeeded his uncle Riagan mac Dúnlainge to the throne of Osraige. He was deposed in 905 and his brother Cellach was put in his stead. After Cellach's death in 908, he returned to the kingship by his cousin Flann Sinna the high king, and ruled for another twenty years, reposing in 928.
He is remembered in the Banshenchas thus: "The mother of Diarmait son of Cerball, hero of the brilliant Ossorians, and of Tadg son of perfect Concobar (noble, wealthy, destructive and impetuous) was the daughter in of brown poetical Mael Sechlaind of the main-line of famous Mael Ruanaid."