Anmchad mac Con Cherca

Anmchad mac Con Cherca
King of Osraige
Reign	742–760s
Predecessor	Forbasach mac Ailella
Successor	Tóim Snáma mac Flainn
Died	760s
Issue	Fergal mac Anmchada
House	Dál Birn
Father	Cú Cherca mac Fáeláin

Anmchad mac Con Cherca (died 760s) was king of Osraige, a kingdom largely situated in modern County Kilkenny and western County Laois and forming part of the kingdom and province of Munster in south and south-west Ireland. Anmchad was an active ruler, who mounted repeated campaigns against his eastern neighbours in Leinster.

The kingdom of Osraige, later anglicised as Ossory, was one of over 100 small kingdoms which existed in 8th century Ireland. The Osraige—their name means people of the Deer—inhabited much of modern County Kilkenny and parts of neighbouring County Laois. The most important churches were at Aghaboe (County Laois), chief church of Saint Cainnech, and at Seir Kieran (County Offaly), chief church of Saint Ciarán of Saighir.

While provided by learned men with an imposing genealogy stretching back into myth and legend, the ruling dynasty of Osraige to which Anmchad belonged appears to have come to power in the later 6th century. Colmán Mór son of Feradach appears in the life of Saint Cainnech of Aghaboe as king of Osraige, and Colmán's son Scandlán, who is mentioned in Adamnán's life of Saint Columba, appears also to have been king, dying in 643.

The succession of Osraige kings in the 7th century is obscure following the death of Scandlán and the kings who preceded Anmchad are little more than names. Anmchad's father Cú Cherca, was king and died c.713. Cellach mac Fáelchair, killed in 735 in a battle between Cathal mac Finguine and the Leinstermen, and Forbasach mac Ailella was probably killed in 740, but how and by whom is not recorded. Anmchad is presumed to have become king after Forbasach's death.

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