Editing Amlaíb Cuarán (section)

==Congalach and Ruaidrí==
[[File:Viking Ireland.png|thumb|Scandinavian settlements in 10th century Ireland]]
After being driven out of Northumbria, Amlaíb returned to Ireland while Ragnall may have been killed at York.<ref>Costambeys, "Ragnall"; Downham, ''Viking Kings'', p. 46; the killing of Ragnall is reported in the ''Annals of Clonmacnoise'', s.a. 937.</ref> The Uí Ímair in Ireland had also suffered in 944 as Dublin was sacked that year by the [[High King of Ireland]] [[Congalach Cnogba]], whose power base lay in Brega, north of Dublin on the lower reaches of the [[River Boyne]]. The following year, perhaps as a result of the sack of Dublin, Amlaíb's cousin Blácaire was driven out and Amlaíb replaced him as ruler of Dublin. Amlaíb was allied with Congalach and may have gained power with his assistance.<ref>Downham, ''Viking Kings, pp. 46, 241 & 248; Hudson, ''Viking Pirates'', pp. 35&ndash;36.</ref>

Congalach and Amlaíb fought against [[Ruaidrí ua Canannáin]], a rival for the High Kingship who belonged to the [[Cenél Conaill]], based in modern [[County Donegal]]. In 945 the two defeated part of Ruaidrí's army in [[Conaille Muirtheimne]] (modern [[County Louth]]) and the following year Amlaíb raided [[Kilcullen]] in the province of [[Leinster]]. In 947 Ruaidrí routed Congalach and Amlaíb at [[Slane]]. Losses among the Dublin men were heavy, with many drowning while fleeing the battle. This defeat appears to have lost Amlaíb his kingship, as the annals record that Blácaire, not Amlaíb, was the leader of the Dublin forces in the following year. Blácaire was killed in 948 by Congalach, and was succeeded by Amlaíb's brother [[Gofraid mac Sitriuc|Gofraid]].<ref>Downham, ''Viking Kings'', pp. 46&ndash;47 & 241; Hudson, ''Viking Pirates'', pp 36&ndash;37; Woolf, ''Pictland to Alba'', p. 186.</ref>