Conall Gulban

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Conall Gulban (died c. 464) was an Irish king and eponymous ancestor of the Cenél Conaill, who founded the kingdom of Tír Chonaill in the 5th century, comprising much of what is now County Donegal in Ulster. He was the son of Niall Noígiallach.^[1]

His by-name Gulban derives from Benn Ghulbain in the north of modern-day County Sligo, from which centre the sons of Niall set out upon their conquest of the North.^[2] King Conall Gulban was murdered by the Masraige at Magh Slécht in Tullyhaw in what later became Bréifne (Tullyhaw is now a barony in the west of modern-day County Cavan) in 464, on a Friday.^[3] He was buried by Saint Caillín at Fenagh in the south of modern-day County Leitrim.^[4] He is important in the history of Irish Christianity as he was the first nobleman baptised by Saint Patrick, thus opening the way for the conversion of the ruling classes of Ireland.

He appears as a host and companion of Caílte mac Rónáin, one of the central Fianna figures in the tale Acallam na Senórach (Colloquy of the Ancients) who survive into Christian times and recounts tales of the Fianna and the meaning of place names to a recently arrived Saint Patrick. Caílte performs the same function to Conall in Tír Conaill and uncovers the treasures of the Fianna from the various megalithic tombs of its members on their journeys.

He was apparently very close to his brother Eógan mac Néill who died of grief over his brother's death the next year.^[5]

His sons included Fergus Cendfota, Dauí (founder of the Cenél nDuach) and Énna Bogaine (founder of the Cenél mBogaine).