Follaman belonged to the Clann Cholmáin Bicc branch of the southern Uí Néill, a kin group which traced its descent from Colmán Bec, son of Diarmait mac Cerbaill and, rather less certainly, from Niall of the Nine Hostages.
Clann Cholmáin Bicc's own lands lay around Lough Lene, in Mide, the west-central part of the southern Uí Néill kingdoms, from which the names Meath and Westmeath are derived.
Early in that year open warfare broke out among the northern Uí Néill, between Flaithbertach mac Loingsig of Cenél Conaill, who was the reigning High King of Ireland, and Áed Allán of Cenél nEógain, who would eventually force Flaithbertach to abdicate and become a pilgrim or monk.
The Annals of Ulster record that Cathal—usually taken to be Cathal mac Finguine, King of Munster—was first of all defeated by Domnall Midi and Clann Cholmáin Máir at Tailtiu, site of the main Uí Néill óenach, and then victorious against Follaman and Clann Cholmáin Bicc at the Hill of Ward, site of the óenach of Tlachtga, second in importance only to that of Tailtiu.
This alliance is presumed to have existed from the earliest part of Domnall's reign, if not before, which began when he defeated and killed Áed Allán in 743.