Cenél Conaill, the name of the "kindred" or descendants of Conall Gulban, son of Niall Noígiallach defined by oral and recorded history
The Cenél Comgaill are thought to have been centred in Cowal, which is plausibly derived from Comgall or Comgaill, and the isle of Bute.
While most early abbots of Iona were members of Cenél Conaill they came from minor branches of the kindred, but Dúnchad came from the ruling line, grandson of one High King of Ireland and the nephew of two others, Cellach and Conall.
His fellow captive, Conamail, is thought to have been the son of Cano Garb – who gave his name to the protagonist of the romance Scéla Cano meic Gartnáin – of Cenél nGartnait, a kindred based in Skye.
The domain of the Cenél nGabraín appears to have been centred in Kintyre and Knapdale and may have included Arran, Jura and Gigha.
There are no records or traditions of Loarn as king, and his main significance is as the eponymous ancestor of Cenél Loairn, a kindred whose name is preserved in Lorne.
The general confusion of the sources makes any conclusion difficult, but while it is likely that Máel Dúin was co-ruler, with his brother Domnall Donn, of the Cenél nGabráin lands in Kintyre, it is not likely that Máel Dúin and Domnall were high kings of Dál Riata.
Payton states that most of the Cenél Moen families were driven out of their homeland and east over the Foyle river - "This journey was probably completed by the end of the 13th century, and the O Gormley's, chiefs of the Cinel Moain, thereafter held sway over a territory which extended from Derry to Strabane."
In 712 Selbach besieged Aberte (Dunaverty, near Southend, Kintyre, in the lands of the Cenél nGabráin) and rebuilt Dún Olaigh in 714.
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A month later he faced the Cenél nGabráin, led by their king Dúnchad Bec, also called king of Cenn Tíre (Kintyre), in a sea battle off Ard Nesbi.
It was divided into three kingdoms known as Cenél Dobtha between Slieve Bawn and the River Shannon; Corca Achlann to the west and Tir Briuin na Sinna to the north.