He was a son of Cathal mac Áedo Flaind Chathrach (died c. 628) and belonged to the Glendamnach sept of the Eóganachta dynasty.
Cú-cen-máthair succeeded Máenach mac Fíngin of the Eóganacht Chaisil, the Cashel branch of the kindred.
A surviving poem attributed to Luccrech moccu Chérai contains a list of his ancestors back to Adam.
Cú-cen-máthair died in 665 of a plague which killed many others as recorded in the Irish annals.
Cú-cen-máthair left at least two sons, Finguine mac Cathail (died 696) and Ailill mac Cathail (died 701), both of whom are listed as Kings of Munster in the annals.