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Bran Ardchenn mac Muiredaig (died 795) was a King of Leinster of the Uí M u i r e d aig sept of the Uí Dúnlainge branch of the Laigin. He was the son o f M u i r e dach mac Murchado (died 760), a previous king. This sept had th ei r r o y a l seat at Maistiu (Mullaghmast) in South Kildare. He ruled from 7 8 5 - 7 9 5.
Bran was a rival of Ruaidrí mac Fáeláin (died 785) of the Uí Fáeláin se p t f o r t h e throne. In 780 the high king Donnchad Midi (died 797) campai g n e d a g ainst Leinster and defeated Ruaidrí mac Fáeláin, devastating the t e r r i t ory of his adherents. That same year a congress of the synods of U í N é i l l a nd Laigin was held at Tara and peace was restored. Donnchad ma y h a v e b e en campaigning in the interests of Bran and he may have been i ns t a l l ed as king at this congress.
In 782 Bran was defeated and captured at the battle of Curragh (near Ki l d a r e ) by Ruaidrí. Brans's allies Mugrón mac Flainn, king of Uí Failgi, a n d D u b d á C rích son of Laidcnén of the Uí Cheinnselaig were slain. Bran s u c c e e ded to the throne in 785.
Bran had married Eithne ingen Domnaill (died 795), the sister of Donnch a d M i d i , the high king of the Clann Cholmáin. This relationship ensured g o o d r e l ations with the high king during his reign. In 794 Donnchad led a h o s t i n g into Munster to protect the Laigin.
On 6 May 795 Bran and Eithne were assassinated in a church at Cell Cúil e D u m a ( n ear Stradbally, Co. Leix) by his successor Fínsnechta Cetharde c m a c C e l laig (died 808) of the Uí Dúnchada sept. This was a ruthless p ol i t i c al gesture directed at the high king Donnchad.
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Abt 730 - 795 (65 years)