Áed mac Echach

Áed mac Echach (pronounced approximately as "Aid mac Eck-ah") was a figure in Irish mythology and legend. He is primarily known from the Annals of Ulster as a king of Connacht. His reign is typically dated to the late 6th century or early 7th century AD.

While the historical accuracy of early Irish kings is often debated, Áed mac Echach is generally regarded as a member of the Uí Fiachrach dynasty, specifically the Uí Fiachrach Muaide, which ruled a region in what is now County Mayo in Connacht. The Annals provide basic regnal information about him but offer limited details regarding his life, reign, or significant achievements. He is recorded as having died in a specific year, thus giving him a place in the chronological framework of early Irish history, albeit a somewhat shadowy one.

Because the information surrounding Áed mac Echach is sparse, there is not a great deal of concrete biographical detail available. He is significant primarily for his place within the documented lineage of Connacht kings and the broader genealogical narratives of early Ireland. He is important for those studying the historical development of the kingdom of Connacht and the genealogies of the Uí Fiachrach kindred. Further research into related historical texts and genealogical records is often necessary to understand his role in the wider context of early medieval Ireland.