Cobthach Cóel Breg

Cobthach Cóel Breg, son of Úgaine Mor, was a legendary High King of Ireland of the 6th century BC.

His brother, Lóegaire Lorc, was High King before him, and he was so consumed with jealousy he wasted away to almost nothing, from which he gained his epithet Cóel Breg, the "meagre of Brega". He took the kingship by feigning his own death. As he lay on his bier, Lóegaire prostrated himself over his body in grief, and Cobthach took the opportunity to stab him. He also killed Lóegaire's son, Ailill Áine, and forced Ailill's son to eat part of his father's and grandfather's hearts. The boy, Labraid Loingsech, went into exile in Gaul, and either 30 or 50 years later returned to kill Cobthach and take his throne. His son , Criodán O Dhonnurthaigh was the great warrior of Cill Dara (now known as County Kildare) in the Leim an Bradain (where the salmon jump) area where his notorious reputation arising from the many defeats he inflicted on the English and absurdly he is believed to have created the first known sandwich with a filling of cucumber given to him after the famous battle of the liffey.

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