Kairpre Dam Irkit

Kairpre Dam Ayrkit was the son of Eokhaid and the grandson of Krimtann Letan , who ruled Ayrgialla in the middle of the 5th century ^[1] . According to the lists of Ayrgiall kings, Kairpre received the throne of this kingdom after the death of King Kruynn Mac Erodain , which some historical sources date back to the year 507 ^[2] . Kairpre probably got his nickname “Ayrkit” (“Rich”) because of the possession of a large number of livestock ^[1] .

At the beginning of the VI century, Ayrgialla was an association of nine tribes living on the border of the possessions of the Northern Ue Neil and Ulster . Kings Ayrgially were in a dependent position on the control of the eastern and northern lands of Ireland Ui Neilov ^[3] . Their located in the border lands have repeatedly been the scene of military clashes between the Ulsterians and the Wye Neil ^[4] .

Medieval sources provide very little details about the reign of King Kayrpre Dam Irkit. It is assumed that he or his son, Daimin Ayrkit, could have been the first Ayrgyal Christian kings ^[1] . The 10th chapter of the life of St. Medoc, identified with Aidan Fernsky , contains anachronistic evidence that, as a child, Daimin drowned, but was resurrected by the prayers of this saint ^[5] .

The “ Annals of Ulster ” mention the death of King Kayrpre in 514 ^[6] . Thus, Kairpre is the first of the Ayrgiall kings, whose existence is confirmed by the Irish annals ^[1] . According to the lists of the rulers of Ayrgially, after the death of Kairpre, the throne passed first to Loyte poppy Aedo , whose death is dated to 517, and then to Daimin poppy Kruynnu . However, any detailed information was preserved only about the third successor of Kairpra, King Kolgu Mak Loyte , mentioned in 520 or 523 ^{[2] [7]} .

According to medieval genealogical treatises , Kairpre Dam Ayrkit was the ancestor of Ayrgiall septum Ui Hremtayn . The Laud Genealogies and Tribal Histories reports that Kairpre was the father of seven sons: Cormac, Nad Sluayg, Ferada, Dyming Ayrkit, Fiaha, Briand and Aed ^{[2] [8]} , who became the ancestors of the various branches of the genus Wuy Khremtayn ^{[ 9]} . According to the 12th century treatise Banshenchas (On Famous Women), Kairpre's daughter was Angas, the second wife of King Munster, Nad Froih ^[10] .