Cináed Cáech (d. 728), son of Írgalach and king of Tara, belonged to the Uí Chonaing lineage of the Uí Néill dynasty of Síl nÁedo Sláine. His father Írgalach (qv), ruler of Brega, was slain in 702; his mother was Muirenn, a daughter of Cellach Cualann (qv). According to tradition, Cináed was born blind (cáech) in one eye because his father had slain a kinsman of Adomnán (qv), thus earning the saint's curse. In the early eighth century, the power-balance within the dynasty shifted, and Cináed's immediate predecessor in the kingship of Brega and of Tara was Fogartach (qv) son of Niall, who belonged to the rival lineage of Clann Chernaig Shotail. On 7 October 724 Fogartach was defeated and slain by Cináed in the battle of Cenn Deilgden. In the following year Cináed invaded Leinster and defeated the Uí Dúnlainge king Dúnchad (qv) son of Murchad (qv).
Meanwhile, the Uí Néill dynasties of the north, racked with internal conflict, were in no position to challenge this assertion of authority by Cináed. His courageous attempt at rebuilding the fortunes of his dynasty was ended four years later, however, when he fell at Druim Corcáin alongside two of his sub-kings at the hands of the Cenél Conaill dynast Flaithbertach (qv) son of Loingsech (qv). For more than two centuries after the death of Cináed, paramount kingship of the Southern Uí Néill was lost to Síl nÁedo Sláine, till circumstances contrived to bestow this dignity on Congalach Cnogba (qv) son of Máel-mithig. Otherwise, pre-eminence rested with the dynasty of Clann Cholmáin.