Cenél Loairn

The Cenél Loairn, the descendants of Loarn mac Eirc, controlled parts of northern Argyll around the Firth of Lorne, most probably centred in Lorne but perhaps including the islands of Mull and Colonsay, Morvern and Ardnamurchan. The boundary to the east was the Druim Alban mountain ridge that separated Dál Riata from Pictland. The chief places of the kingdom appear to have been at Dun Ollaigh, near Oban, and Dunadd, near Crinan.^[1] The chief religious site may have been on Lismore, later the seat of the high-medieval bishop of Argyll.

Descendants of Loarn

Several kings of Dál Riata were members of the Cenél Loairn, and thus claimed descent from Loarn:

• Ferchar Fota
• Ainbcellach mac Ferchair
• Selbach mac Ferchair
• Dúngal mac Selbaig
• Muiredach mac Ainbcellaig

In high-medieval times, the Mormaers of Moray claimed descent from Loarn:^[2]

• Findláech mac Ruaidrí
• Máel Coluim mac Máil Brigti
• Gille Coemgáin mac Máil Brigti
• Mac Bethad mac Findláich (also king of Alba)
• Lulach mac Gille Coemgáin (also king of Alba)
• Máel Snechtai mac Lulaich
• Óengus