In 629, he fought the Battle of Carn Feradaig (Cahernarry, County Limerick) versus Guaire Aidne mac Colmáin (d.663) of the Ui Fiachrach AidhneofConnachta.[3] Faílbe won the battle and Guaire was put to flight and his ally Conall mac Máele Dúib of the Uí Maine and many Connaught nobles were slain. Guaire ruled at the height of Ui Fiachrach power in south Connaught and sought to recover the lost Connaught territories in Thomond.[4] Byrne believes that the true expansion of the Deisi into County Clare dates from this battle.[5]
The other important event of his reign was the Battle of Áth Goan in the western Liffey plain fought in 636.[6] In this battle Faílbe intervened in the Leinster kingship. He gave his support to Fáelán mac Colmáin (died 666) of the Uí Dúnlainge versus Crimthann mac Áedo of the Uí Máil who was king of Leinster. Failbe and Fáelán were allied with Conall Guthbinn mac Suibni (died 637) of Mide. They were victorious and Crimthann was slain. A Munster tract claims that Faílbe paid the tribute of the Laigin to the Ui Neill but Byrne dismisses this as later Munster propaganda to claim Leth Moga (the southern half of Ireland).[7]
Faílbe Flann is mentioned in various volumes of Peter Tremayne (Peter Berresford Ellis)'s "Sister Fidelma Mysteries" as the father of the fictional detective for whom the series is named.
