The Annals Of Tighernach for the year 559, record the death of Curnan son of Aed, son of Eochaid Tirmcharna by Diarmait mac Cerbaill, while Curnan was 'ar comairce Coluim chilli - under Colum Cille's protection'.
That Diarmait had violated the sanctuary of the termonn at the Columban monastery of Kells is given as the reason for the battle.
It said that the judgement resulted in Columba leaving his homeland for Scotland, where he founded Iona Abbey in 563.
However, these later versions have been disputed by modern scholarship on several grounds, [5] particularly as early mentions of the battle do not refer to the book incident.
It may have been a dynastic battle between the Cinel Cairbre and Diarmait Mac cerbaill who had wrested the kingship at Tara from them after the death of Tuathal Maelgarb.