Brandub mac Echach

Brandub mac Echach (died 605) was an Irish king of the Uí Cheinnselaig of Leinster. His father, Echu mac Muiredaig had been a king of the Ui Cheinnselaig. They belonged to a branch known as the Uí Felmeda descended from Fedelmid, son of Énnae Cennsalach. His son Óengus, grandson Muiredach, and great-grandson Eochu were all kings of the Uí Cheinnselaig.

According to the Book of Leinster, Brandub succeeded Áed Cerr mac Colmáin Már (died 595) of the Uí Dúnlainge as king of Leinster (actually Áed Dibchine mac Senaig of the Uí Máil)

In the Rawlinson B 502 manuscript, dated to c. 1130, is the poem Gein Branduib maic Echach ocus Aedáin maic Gabráin (The Birth of Brandub son of Eochu and of Aedán son of Gabrán). This tells how Áedán mac Gabráin of Dál Riata was Brandub's twin brother, exchanged at birth for one of the twin daughters of Gabrán, born the very same night, so that each family might have a son. Whether the tale is entirely fabricated, or whether it echoes a foster-relationship between Brandub and Áedán, can only be surmised. According to this story Brandub's father Echu had been expelled from the kingdom by Fáelán mac Síláin, his predecessor in the kingship of the Uí Chennselaig and had gone to live in Dál Riata at the court of Gabrán where Brandub and Aedán were fostered together. Later Echu returned to be king and brought his son with him. Afterwards, when Aedán and Brandub were both rulers, Aedán made a claim to the kingship of Ireland and invaded Leinster.

The first mention of Brandub in the annals is as victor in the Battle of Mag Ochtair (Cloncerry, N.Kildare) over the Ui Neill in 590. In 598 Brandub defeated the Uí Néill High King Áed mac Ainmuirech of the Cenél Conaill at the Battle of Dún Bolg (Dunboyke, Wicklow Co.) and the high king was slain, stopping the southward expansion of the Uí Néill. The Borúma Laigin (Cattle Tribute of Leinster) and the annals record that the war was caused by Brandub's killing of Áed's son Cummascach in 597 at Dún Buchat.

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