Reign
Immediately after the death of Bran Mut a battle between the Leinstermen and their western neighbours the kingdom of Osraige is recorded, but Cellach is not associated with this. Cellach was one of the guarantors of the Cáin Adomnáin (Law of Adomnán) in 697 promulgated at the Synod of Birr.
In 704 he warred with his northern neighbours, the Uí Néill of Clann Cholmáin, led by Bodbchath mac Diarmata Déin, and of Síl nÁedo Sláine, led by Fogartach mac Néill. The Battle of Claenath, fought near Clane in modern County Kildare, was a victory for Cellach, with Bodbchath killed and Fogartach fled. In 707 the Uí Néill High King of Ireland Congal Cennmagair campaigned in Leinster and obtained Cellach's submission to his authority.
In 709, aided by British allies—usually presumed to be mercenaries, exiled members of the warbands of the British kingdoms conquered by expansionist Northumbria—he fought a battle at Serg where his sons Fiachra and Fiannamail were killed. Serg is unidentified, Whitley Stokes translates it as "the battle of the Hunt". The Annals of Tigernach locate it somewhere in the fortuatha of Leinster, that part of the province east of the Wicklow Mountains. His adversaries are not named. Cellach's death in 715 is reported without comment by the Irish annals.
Read more about this topic: Cellach Cualann
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