Ceann Fhaoladh was a soldier and scholar who lived in the seventh century. He was well-known as a professor and as a king in Co. Donegal, where he had a fort, between Gort an Choirce and Falcarragh

He started Irish-language literature when he wrote the first ever book in the Irish language. He compiled Irish grammar, at a time when Greek and Latin were the only languages for which grammar was available. He was the driving force behind the change from Latin to Irish as the primary language of the learned classes in Ireland. He was also a war-hero and fought bravely in the Battle of Magh Rath