Saran mac Cáelbad
Sárán mac Cáelbad was a Cruithin political figure and patriarch of the McGuinness family in Ulster, Ireland. He was second son of Cáelbad and was King of Ulster for 26 years before he was ousted (357?) by the three brothers known as the Three Collas.[1]
King of Ulster
The Three Collas conquered Ulster, burnt and destroyed the regal city of Emhain Mhacha and transplanted the natives to Dál nAraidi and Iveagh. Sárán was the last king of Ulster of the Irian line. He and his descendants were removed to the Barony of Iveagh, where they lived for many generations as the MacAonghusa family.[2]
Chief of the Dal Airaidhe
Sárán was Chief of the Dál nAraidi during the time of Saint Patrick. He was seemingly known as a blood thirsty warrior who terrorised the kingdom of Dál nAraidi, killing and enslaving many people and criticizing St.Patrick. Olcán, an Irish saint with a monastery at Armoy, agreed to baptise Saranto save lives . It infuriated St Patrick that Olcan would baptise such a remorseless enemy to Christianity. Patrick prophesied that day that Olcan’s monastery would drown in blood, lose its honor, and be destroyed three times. Eerily, the Irish historical annals record that the Armoy monastery was indeed raided by a King of Dál Riata, later by Cucuaran, and finally by Eochaid, who burned it down, leaving only the stump of its round tower.[3]