Cairenn [61400]

  General Notes:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cairenn


Cairenn Chasdub; Caireann ("curly-black (hair)") was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, the daughter of Sachell Balb, king of the Saxons , the second wife of the Irish High King Eochaid Mugmedón , and the mother of Niall of the Nine Hostages .
When she was pregnant with Niall, Eochaid's first wife Mongfind was jealous and made her do heavy labour, hoping to make her miscarry . She gave birth beside a well as she was drawing water, and, out of fear of Mongfind, left the baby exposed to the birds. But the child was rescued and brought up by a poet called Torna . When the child, Niall, grew up he returned to Tara and relieved his mother of her labour, and went on to become High King himself.[1][2]
Given Niall's dates (he is traditionally supposed to have died around the turn of the 5th century, although modern historians place him half a century later),[3] it is anachronistic for his mother to have been a Saxon, but O'Rahilly argues that the name Cairenn is derived from the Latin name Carina , and that it is plausible that she might have been a Romano-Briton.[4] Indeed, Geoffrey Keating describes her not as a Saxon but as the "daughter of the king of Britain".[5]

References
1. ^ Tom Peete Cross & Clark Harris Slover (eds.), "The Adventures of the Sons of Eochaid Mugmedon" <http://www.maryjones.us/ctexts/eochaid.html>, Ancient Irish Tales, 1936, pp. 508-513
2. ^ Tom Peete Cross & Clark Harris Slover (eds.), "The Death of Niall of the Nine Hostages" <http://www.maryjones.us/ctexts/niall.html>, Ancient Irish Tales, 1936, pp. 514-517
3. ^ Francis J. Byrne, Irish Kings and High-Kings, Second Edition, Dublin: Four Courts Press, 2001, Chapter 5
4. ^ T. F. O'Rahilly <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T._F._O%27Rahilly>, Early Irish History and Mythology, 1946, Chapter 12
5. ^ Geoffrey Keating <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoffrey_Keating>, Foras Feasa ar Éirinn 1.48 <http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/T100054/text058.html>

Cairenn married Eochaidh Mugmedón King of Connacht [4973] [MRIN: 551617625], son of Muireadach (Muredach) Tireach King of Connaught [60056] and Muirion Princess of Ulster [60057]. (Eochaidh Mugmedón King of Connacht [4973] was born about 287 and died about 365 in Tara/Teamhair, Ireland.)