General Notes

Eochu is said to have killed Crimthann mac Ennai Chennselaig, king of Laigin

Kelley's "The Ancestry of Eve of Leinster" (The Genealogist, 1980) IX:6.
sbald@auburn.campus.mci.net (Stewart Baldwin) posted to
GEN-MEDIEVAL-L-request@rootsweb.com on 26 Nov 1998
Subject: Llywelyn AT:
. "Eochu (or Eochaid) Guinech, king of Ui Bairrche, said [AI, CS] to have
killed Crimthann mac Ennai Chennselaig, king of Laigin (see #4587968)
[CGH.117a=LL337f (Rw.6, CGH.6); R.121a=LL.313b=Lec.87b=BB.126aa
(Rw.180, CGH.46)] [Note: The names Eochu and Eochaid have been
frequently confused, even in the early sources, and it is not clear which
one is correct. The official genealogy then proceeds to make Eochu a son
of Oengus, son of Mac Ercca, son of Breccan, son of Fiacc, son of Daire
Barrach (eponym of the Ui Bairrche), son of Cathair Mar, of whom the last
two can be regarded as certainly mythological. (See, for example, EIHM
pp. 36-8). An Eochu Guinech also appears as a son of Daire Barrach in the
Ui Bairrche genealogies [R.121a (Rw.181, CGH.46)], suggesting confusion,
and it is difficult to accept the genealogy prior to Eochu. The Leinster
king list [LL.39b] states that Eochu was the maternal grandson of
Crimthann (the king of Leinster whom he killed). However, since CS,
under the year 487, names Eochaid Guinech as one of the victors in a
battle in which Oengus mac Nad Froich (king of Munster) and his wife
Eithne (daughter of Crimthann mac Ennai) fell, it is possible that
confusion between Oengus of Ui Bairrche (father of Eochu in the official
genealogy) and Oengus of Munster has led to confusion here. While
possible, more evidence is desirable before the claimed relationship
between Eochu and Crimthann can be accepted.] "