His last direct ancestor to hold the throne of Ulaid was Fergus mac Áedáin (died 692) of whom he was a 6th generation descendant.
He was then responsible for the assassination of Muiredach mac Eochocáin (died 895), another Dal Fiatach King of Ulaid.
[4] In the year of his accession, the king of Ard Cianachta, Cummascach mac Muiredaig, (a subject tribe of Brega in County Louth) was killed by the Ulaid.
[5] Also in 896 he led a force in alliance with the Conaille Muirtheimne (of the Dundalk area of County Louth) which defeated the Norse and slew Amlaíb son of Ímar.
In 897 the King of Brega, Máel Finnia mac Flannacain (died 903) defeated the forces of the Ulaid at the Battle of Rath Cró.