Fiachna Dubhtuile, son of Deaman, had two sons, viz., Dunchadh and Maelcobha. Maelcobha slew Dunchadh; and Congal Ceannfoda, son of Dunchadh, slew Maelcobha at Dun-mor. It was this Maelcobha that entertained the poets of Ireland when Hugh, son of Ainmire, discarded them at the Meeting of Dromceat.
Ut dixit the poet: It was this Maelcobha that entertained the poets of Ireland when Hugh, the son of Ainmire, monarch of Ireland, discarded them at the Meeting of Dromceat. Ut dixit the poet: "At a time that the popular Maelcobha was at lubhar Chinntrachta [Newry], Twelve hundred poets he discovered. Hard by the lubhar on the north-west. A three years happy coigny Maelcobha the king gave to them : Its renown shall ever live. For the comely Cenel Demain". "The two sons of Maelcoba were Blathmac, a quo the Kings of Ulidia; and Aengus, a quo the Cenel Aengusa, of whom are the Kings of Leath Cathail. Blathmac (son of Maelcobha) assumed the kingship of the province, as did also his son Bec Boirche after him."
--- from: Duald Mac FhirbisighThe Journey North through County Down
An Dún Mór, Rath Deamán, and Dún Lethglaiss
Quote from Ecclesiastical antiquities of Down, Connor, and Dromore
Máel Coba reigned three years from circa 644-647, and was slain by Congal Ceannfada in 647 AD. He was married to Cumne Find Baetan Caech.
He was a Dál Fiatach king of Ulaid, the son of Fiachnae mac Demmáin (died 627) and half-brother of Dúnchad mac Fiachnai (died circa 644), who were both previous kings.
The Dál Fiatach recovered the overlordship of Ulaid after the death of Congal Cáech at the Battle of Mag Roth in 637 and were to retain it until 674.
Máel Cobo was himself killed by his nephew Congal Cennfota mac Dúnchada (died 674) in 647.
His sons were Blathmac mac Máel Cobo (d. 670), a king of Ulaid and Óengus whose grandson Cathal mac Muiredaig was ancestor of the Leth Cathail sept of the Dál Fiatach.
- Rev. William Reeves (1847), Ecclesiastical antiquities of Down, Connor, and Dromore
- Byrne, Francis John (2001), Irish Kings and High-Kings, Dublin: Four Courts Press, ISBN 978-1-85182-196-9
- Charles-Edwards, T. M. (2000), Early Christian Ireland, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, ISBN 0-521-36395-0
- Dáibhí Ó Cróinín (2005), A New History of Ireland, Volume One, Oxford: Oxford University Press
- Gearoid Mac Niocaill (1972), Ireland before the Vikings, Dublin: Gill and Macmillan