Áed Bennán (‘of the spiked helm’?) (d. 619/21), son of Crimthann and overking of Munster, belonged to the dynasty of Éoganacht Locha Léin (centred in mid Co. Kerry). Áed supposedly had two brothers, Áed Finn and Áed Damán, which suggests genealogical confusion. It is said that he married Damnat, daughter of Feidlimid son of Tigernach of Éoganacht Raithlind, and that she was the mother of his four sons, Máel-dúin (d. 661), Colcu, Cummíne, and Máel-Caích. Áed also had at least two daughters: Suithchern, who married Lonán son of Bindech, a dynast of the Éli, and Mór (d. 631), who married Fíngin (d. 619) son of Áed Dub of Éoganacht Chaisil. Very prominent in Munster folklore, Áed Bennán and his sons are often mentioned in the context of the adventures of Mór, who appears to have been an historical figure with whom the classical Irish myth of the goddess of sovereignty became associated.
Áed is one of seven Éoganacht kings featured in a complex genealogical poem ascribed to Luccreth (qv) of the moccu Chiara. Nonetheless, few details of his career are ascertainable. He seems to have emerged as king of Iarmumu (a mórthuath or regional kingdom in west Munster) in the early years of the seventh century. The provincial overkingship then rested with his son-in-law, Fíngin. However, Caisel probably exercised little effective authority over the western reaches of the province at this early date. It appears that Áed laid claim to the overkingship for a short period after Fíngin's death, although the regnal list in the Book of Leinster has Áed precede Fíngin, and credits him with a reign of nine years. In any case, his high profile in the available record seems to indicate a level of prestige greater than that attained by any Munster dynast before the time of Cathal Cú cen Máthair (qv) (d. 665/6). Áed died in 619 or 621. Later kings of Iarmumu descended from his sons Máel-dúin and Cummíne.