and installed Muiredach mac Ruadrach (died 829) and Muiredach mac Brain (died 818) as joint kings of Leinster. Finsnechta took refuge with Muirgius mac Tommaltaig (died 815), the King of Connacht, who then aided him in recovering his throne in 806. In 808 Conchobar of Meath made a bid for the high kingship and was joined by King Muirgius of Connacht. They advanced as far as the assembly grounds of Tailtiu but on the appearance of Aed's army the allies dispersed. Áed pursued them and burned the borders of Mide. In 808 or 809 Áed again attacked Leinster but was defeated on the banks of the Liffey. In 809 Áed campaigned against the Ulaid and defeated them ravaging from the Bann to Strangford Lough. The motive for this conflict was apparently the killing of Dúnchú, superior of the monastery of Tulach Léis (now Tullylisk near Banbridge, County Down), by the Ulaid. In 815 one of Áed's brothers, Colmán mac Néill, was killed by the Cenél Conaill, and Áed led an expedition against them in revenge. In 818 Áed again assembled his forces at Dún Cuair and attacked Leinster, dividing Leinster between his two candidates, who were nevertheless unable to retain their positions. That same year the vice abbot of Cell Mór Enir (modern Kilmore, County Armagh) was killed by the Laigin. As a result, Áed led another expedition versus Leinster and laid waste the land of Cualu as far as Glenn dá Locha (Glendalough). In 819 Áed died near Áth dá Ferta in the territory of Conaille Muirtheimne in modern County Louth. Church relations In 804 a meeting of the synods of the Uí Néill in Dún Cuair was presided over by Condmach mac Duib dá Leithe (died 807), abbot of Ard Macha (Armagh), at which the clergy were freed from military obligations by Áed. It is possible that this was the assembly at which Áed was ordained as king. In 806 Áed had the law of Saint Patrick promulgated. In 811 the fair of Tailtiu was prevented from being held by Áed due to a boycott by the clergy who were protesting an offence made against the community of Tallaght during Áed's campaign against Leinster in 809. Áed made amends to the community. The campaigns of Áed versus Ulaid in 809 and Leinster in 819 were part of Áed's desire to pose as champion of the church. Áed had