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A supplement to Ireland History in Maps
Page Index: Fomorians | Firbolgs | Tuatha De Danann | Laigain | Dal gCais | Eoghanacht | Dal Riata | Corca Duibhne | Dal Fiatach | Dal nAraide | Luigne | Gailenga | Ui Maine | Ui Maille | Ui Briuin | Ui Fiachrach | Eile | Ciannachta | Fir Manach | Ui Bairrche | Ui Chennselaig | Ui Neill | Cenel Conaill | Cenel nEoghain | Southern Ui Neill | Airgialla (Oriel) | Breifne | Osraige (Ossory) | Decies | Ulster | Mide (Meath) | Brega | Thomond | Desmond | Laigin (Leinster) | Connacht | Conmaicne Mara | Tribes of Galway | Four Tribes of Tara | Seven Septs of Laois
Fomorians
The Myth:
"The tribe of the Fomorians was on the scene long before any other races came to Ireland. However, the Fomors lived mainly in the sea. The first outside race to invade Ireland was the race of the Partholon; very little is known of them. After 300 years of struggle against the Fomors, the Partholons died of an epidemic.
Next came the race of Nemed who also suffered from an epidemic. This time, though, some of them survived, only to be oppressed by the Fomors.
Later came colonizers from Spain or Greece called the Fir Bolgs. They were actually three tribes; men of Domnu, men of Gaillion, and men of Bolg. They inter-married with the Fomors and held the country until the arrival of the Tuatha De Danann".
Source: (from Ancient and Shining Ones - by DJ Conway)
Firbolgs - Ui Failge, Ui Bairrche, Ui Enachglais, etc. -
The Euerni and later called Erainn (also known as Menapii, Bolgi, Belgae and Firbolgs) by annalists and historians, arrived after ???? BC. They called their new home Eueriio, which would later evolve through the old Irish Eriu to Eire, and from Eire to Ireland.
The early annalists tell us that Firbolg people survived as distinct tribes well into early historical times. In Leinster, they were the Ui Failige, Ui Bairrche and Ui Enechglaiss to mention but a few.
Source: http://www.thecore.com/let-ros/plavin/lavin.html
Tuatha De Danann The De Danann people arrived after the Firbolgs, and were to force the Firbolgs into partial serfdom. The Tuatha De Danann established Tara on the Boyne Valley, the ritual inaugaration and burial place for the ancient Kings of Ireland.
Source: various
In a famed battle at Southern Moytura (on the Mayo-Galway border) it was that the Tuatha De Danann met and overthrew the Firbolgs. The Firbolgs noted King, Eochaid was slain in this great battle, but the De Danan King, Nuada, had his hand cut off by a great warrior of the Firbolgs named Sreng. The battle raged for four days. So bravely had the Firbolgs fought, and so sorely exhausted the De Dannann, that the latter, to end the battle, gladly left to the Firbolgs, that quarter of the Island wherein they fought, the province now called Connaught. And the bloody contest was over.
Source: http://www.vretail.com/history.htm
Laigain
The Laginian colonization is believed to have taken place sometime about 300 B.C., and are believed to have come from the northwestern region of Gaul, later Normandy. They are mythologically referred to as the Tuatha De Danann. Their name association with Laighi, the ancient name for Leinster, suggests that this was where they first settled. Eventually, they extended their power to Connacht, and in the process forced the Firbolg tribes into the remoter parts of the province. The remains of many great stone forts built by the Firbolgs in their defense against the Laigain tribes can still be seen in remote areas of western Ireland. Within a few generations the Laigain tribes had established themselves in Connacht, where in County Sligo their descendants include the O'Haras, O'Garas, and others.
Source: http://www.thecore.com/let-ros/plavin/lavin.html The ancient Laigin or Dumnonii group moved from the western region of Normandy as the Roman built up pressure on Gaul about 100 B.C. The Laigin settled first in southern Britain and then in Ireland. The Ui Neachtain (Naughton) are said to belong to the Laigain group, later living in the territory of the Ui Maine.
Source: http://miso.wwa.com/~naughton/nau_hist/naughton.html
The Milesians King Milesius and his sons are said to have come from either Spain or France to the island of Ireland, and were ancestors of the Gaels. Of the Milesians, who invaded the Tuatha De Danann lands, Eber and Eremon divided the land between them - Eremon getting the Northern half of the Island, and Eber the Southern. The Northeastern corner was accorded to the children of their lost brother, Ir, and the Southwestern corner to their cousin Lughaid, the son of Ith.
Source: http://www.vretail.com/history.htm
The descendants of Milesius are said to be the monarchs and leading families of early Ireland.
Ui Bairrche
The Ui Bairche (Hy Bairrche) was the generic name for the O'Gormans and related families. The Ui Bairche ruled the tuath or territory of now known as the barony of Slievmargy in Southeast Queens County (Southeast County Leix) adjoining Carlow. An early king of Leinster (Laigin) was Móenach macMuiredach Sníthe O'Bairrche, King of Leinster
Source: http://www.cois.on.ca/~epix/index2.html
Dal gCais
(Dalcassion) the race of Cas, the sixth in descent from Cormac Cas, son of Oilioll Olum, King of Munster in the 3rd century. Through this line they are connected to Cashel and the other great families of the province of Munster. This great clan of Thomond (North Munster), holds several distinguished families including the chief family of the name, the O'Briens. The clan of the noted high king, Brian Boru.
Clann Chuileainn - the race of Cuilean, another branch of the Dal gCais. One of several clan names which apply to the MacNamaras and their co-relatives in Thomand.
Ui Caisin - descendants of Caisin, son of Cas, the name of a branch of the Dal gCais of which MacNamara was chief.
Cineal Cuallachta - the race of Cuallachta or Collachtach; a branch of the Dal gCais or Dalcassions. These families are descended from Aonghus Ceannathrach, son of Cas, and centered in the barony of Inchiquin, Co. Clare. O'gRiobta was the chief family of this tribe.
Muintear Ifearnain - The family of Ifearnan, a branch of the Dal gCais. This was the clan name of the O'Quinns of Thomand who descend from Ifearnan, son of Corc, the 15th in descent from Cormac Cas, the ancestor of the Dal gCas or Dalcassions.
Ui Bloid - descendants of Blod, son of Cas, a branch of the Dal gCais. This clan includes the O'Kennedy, O'Shanahan, O'Durack and O'Ahern families of eastern Co. Clare. The name is still preserved in the place name of the deanery of Omulled.
Ui Cearnaigh - descendants of Cearnach, the branch of the Dal gCais of which the Ahernes were chiefs.
Ui Ronghaile - descendants of Ronghal, a branch of the Dal gCais of which the O'Shanahans were chiefs.
Ui Toirdealbhaigh - descendants of Toirdealbach (Father of St. Flannan), King of Thomand. The clan name of the O'Briens and their co-relatives in the east of Co. Clare.
Corca Bhaiscinn - the race of Cairbre Baschaoin, centered in the south-west of Co. Clare.
Corca Modhruadh - the race of Modruadh, son of Fergus MacRoigh. This is the name of a 'great clan' in the north-west of Co. Clare. Their territory was co-extensive with the Diocese of Kilfenora. The chief families of this clan were the O'Loughlins and the O'Connors. They were not a Dalcassion clan.
Ui Cormaic - descendants of Cormac, the clan name of the O'Hehirs in Thomond.
Source: http://www.irishroots.com/july96.html
Eoghanacht
The descendants of Eoghan Mór, son of Aillil Olumm (Oilill Olum).
The Eóghanacht Dynasties include the septs of the Eóghanacht Locha Lein, Eóghanacht Maige, Eóghanacht Raithlind, Eóghanacht Airthir Chliach, Eóghanacht Glendamnach, Eóghanacht Chaisil, Eóghanacht Aine, Ui Fidgeinti, Ui Liathain, Ui Maic, Ui Echach Muman, Ui Corpri
Sources: http://acad.smumn.edu/uasal/gencharts/chart01.gif
http://acad.smumn.edu/uasal/eoghan.html
Oilill Olum became King of Munster and, as head of both the Eberian and Ithian tribes he became the first true King of the whole province. Thereafter the Kingship of Munster was handed down in Oilill Olum's family. Oilill willed, and his will was observed for many centuries, that the crown of Munster should henceforth alternate between the descendants of his two eldest sons, Eogan Mor and Cormac Cas. The MacCarthys are descended from Eogan Mor and the O'Briens are descended from Cormac Cas. The O'Carrolls are descended from Oilill Olum's youngest son Ciann and his son Taig.
Source: http://www.holy.demon.co.uk/chapt01.htm
The MacCarthys, the O'Sullivans and the O'Callaghans, all of Eoghanacht Caisil stock, migrated southwards into Counties Cork and Kerry in pre-Norman times, ousted from their original lands in Counties Tipperary and Limerick by the aggression of the Dál Cais. From longer established tribal groupings in County Cork, such as the Corca Laidhe, the Muscraighe and the Eoghanachts of the Cork region, emerged such family names as O'Driscoll, O'Leary, Cronin; Murphy; O'Mahony and O'Keeffe, respectively.
Source: http://homepages.iol.ie/~irishrts/CorkNames.html
The Eoghanachta ruling families were the O'Mahony's and the O'Donoghues. Other names have descended in the form of Spillane, O'Neill, Long, Flynn, Keating, Ring, Canty, Mehigan, Dillon, Healy, Slattery, Coghlan, Cahalane, Canniffe, Heenigan, Flahive, Hurley, Wholey, Kearney, etc.
Source: http://www.clon.ie/text/system/clehis1.html
Dal Riata
The earliest knowledge we have of them comes from when they were still in Ireland. At that time there were four septs or main families of the Erainn stock, who were considered to be a section of the original inhabitants of Eire. These four septs were named the Muscraige, Corco Duibne, Corco Baiscind and Dal Riata, who came from three sons of Conaire Mor called Cairpre Musc, Cairpre Baschain and Cairpre Riata. These four septs of the Erainn migrated from Breg in the north of Ireland to Munster in the south. No reason is given as to why they travelled south, although it is probable that their own family lands could no longer contain them
Source: http://www.dalriada.co.uk/history/kingdom.html
Corcu Duibhne
The name comes from Corc, a son of Cairbre Musc and his sister Dubinn.
As early as the 6th century, the Corcu Duibne, a kin group which was to later branch into the O'Shea, O'Falvey, and O'Connell families, had become well established on the Dingle and Iveragh peninsulas in the west of what is now County Kerry. The Uí Séaghdha, Uí Failbhe, and the Uí Conaill septs branched out from the Corcu Duibne in the 10th century.
Source: http://acad.smumn.edu/uasal/CorcDuib.html
Dal Fiatach and Dal nAraide
The Dal Fiatach who were also known as the Ulaid, and the Dal nAraide also known as the Cruithne. Cruithne is also the name applied to the ancient Picts of Scotland. The Dal Fiatach and the Dal nAraide were constantly warring with one another over the rulership of their territory (in Ulster) with the Kingship falling into the hands of which ever one was the most powerful at the time. The portion of Dal Riata that remained in Ireland (County Antrim) allied themselves to the Dal nAraide, helping to make them more powerful, while Cairpre Riata led the rest of his people across the water to the land of the Picts.
Source: http://www.dalriada.co.uk/history/kingdom.html
Ui Maine (Hy Many)
Another powerful federation of tribes was the Ui Maine (O'Kelly) whose extensive territory embraced large areas of what is now south Roscommon, Galway and north Clare. According to O'Rahilly, the Ui Maine were pre-Milesian Celts who were later given a fictitious Milesian pedigree showing them descended from Maine Mor, son of Eochu, etc. Notwithstanding their importance, O'Rahilly points out that they were vassals who paid tribute to the Milesian kings of Connacht. Among the Ui Maine dwelt the Sogain, a Cruthin (Pict) tribe, and the Dal naDruithne believed to be Tuatha De Danann Celts.
Source: http://www.thecore.com/~efinn/let_ros/plavin/ The Ui Maine was reportedly founded by the brother of Fiacha Straivetine, King of Ireland, A.D. 285, whose original territory comprised parts of what are now the counties of Galway, Roscommon, Clare, and Offaly. Irish annals tell us that the Ui Maine kingdom gained its name when its 4th century leader, Maine Mor, conquered a territory of southeastern Connaught from the Firbolgs and settled there in 357 A.D.
Source: http://miso.wwa.com/~naughton/nau_hist/naughton.html
Ui Mail (Hy Maile) and Cualu (Cualan)
According to MacFirbis, Main Mal, a younger brother of Cathal Mor, Monarch of Ireland in the second century, was ancestor of O'Ceallaigh of Cualan. These Kellys were also referred to as Chiefs of Hy Maile. Their territory was believed to occupy north west Wicklow lying south of Tallagh along the northern slopes of the hills and stretching across the northern slopes of Glenasmole. It included Killininny, Ballycullen and Kilmacheth. They were neighbours of the O'Byrnes and the O'Tooles. This territory was wrenched from their control early in the Anglo-Norman invasion.
Source: http://www.wombat.ie/pages/kelly/seenkelly.html
Ui Briuin and Ui Fiachrach
Eochaidh Mugmedon was king of Connacht at the end of the fourth century. In early historical times his offspring: Brioin, Fiachra and Ailill separated into three dynasties -- the Ui Briuin, ancestors to the Sil Murray (O Conors and MacDermots); the Ui Fiachra, ancestors to the O Dowds and O Heynes; and the Ui Aillela, whose descendants left no mark in history, except their name is perpetuated in the barony of Tir-Errill in County Sligo. In the seventh century the Ui Briuin began separating into three branches -- Ui Briuin Seola (O Flahertys), Ui Briuin Breffney (O Rourkes) and Ui Briuin Ai (O Conors, MacDermots and others). The Ui Fiachrach formed a Northern sept, known as the Ui Fiachrach Muaide in County Sligo, and a Southern sept known as the Ui Fiachrach Aidne in south Galway.
Source: http://www.thecore.com/~efinn/let_ros/plavin/
Éile
The Éile, the Iron Age tribal group from which the Ui Chearbhaill (O'Carroll) emerged, are immortalised in the ancient place name Bri Éile, now Croghan Hill in north County Offaly, and Moin Éile, the 'Notorious Red Bog of Ely' as Sir William Petty and his wary surveyors described it in 1657. Éile was a territory between Lough Derg on the river Shannon and the Slieve Bloom mountains. The territory consisted of Lower Ormond and the Ikerrin in north Tipperary together with Clanrisk and Ballybritt in south Offaly.
Source: http://www.holy.demon.co.uk/chapt02.htm
The Fiachach Eile (in north-east of Tipperary - Thurles and Roscrea) were descended from Deachluath, grandson of Eoghan Mor (ancestor of the Eoghanacta). Source: http://acad.smumn.edu/uasal/eoghan.html
Ciannachta
descendants of Cian, son of Ailill Olomm.
The septs included the Ciannachta, Gailenga, Luigni, Eile, ... Taig, son of Ciann, supported Cormac in his fight against Fergus for the high Kingship of Ireland. Fergus was overthrown at the battle of Crionna (on the Boyne) where Fergus and his two brothers were slain. For his aid, Taig was granted a large territory between Damlaig (Duleek) and the River Liffi, since then called the Ciannachta. He became the ancestor of the O’Hara’s, O’Gara’s, O’Carroll’s, and other now Northern families.
Source: http://www.vretail.com/history/Histroy4.htm
Gailenga and Luigne
Among the pre-Milesian tribes of Connacht were the Gregraige, a Firbolg tribe, that inhabited much of the western part of present day County Sligo between Loch Gara and the Ox mountains. Other tribes sharing the same area were the Gailenga and the Luigne, tribes of the Tuatha de Danann Celts from which O'Hara and O'Gara are descended. The Ciarrage tribes or "black people" populated much of northwestern County Roscommon and are believed to have been the early lords of Airtech, an area corresponding to the present-day barony of Frenchpark. Their seat was believed to be at Baslic near Castlerea. The Calraige, another important tribe, had lands in Sligo and Mayo and north Roscommon. They may have been the rulers of Moylurg who were in later centuries absorbed by the expanding Sil Murray (later the MacDermots).
Source: http://www.thecore.com/~efinn/let_ros/plavin/
Fir Manach
In Co Fermanagh, where the name Monaghan is numerous, the family are thought to be part of the original inhabitants of the area, the Fir Manach, from whom the county gets its name. Their base was in the district of Lurg. From here the Monaghan name migrated into the adjoining counties of Monaghan and Derry.
Source: http://www.vretail.com/names8.htm
Ui Chennselaig, Ui Dunlainge, Ui Garrchon, Ui Mail, Ui Faelain
Early kings of Laigin (Leinster) from these tribes included:
Year bef. 400 - Chennselaig, Crimthann macÉndae, King of Leinster. The Chennselaig clans became MacMurroughs, Kavanaghs and Kinsellas.
Year bef. 460 - O'Dúnlainge, Coirpre macCormac, King of Leinster.
Year bef. 485 - MacGarrchon, Findchad, King of Leinster.
Year 624 A.D. - O'Máil, Aed Díbchíne macSenaig Díbig, King of Leinster.
Year 808 A.D. - O'Fáeláin, Muiredach macRuaidrí, King of Leinster. The O'Fáeláin clans became Phelans or Whelans.
Source: various
Uí Néill
Niall Noigiallach (of the Nine Hostages) established himself as King of Midhe (Meath) at Tara around 400 A.D. This kingship was followed by many of his descendants, thereafter referred to as the Ui Neill. The Ui Neill dynasty divided into two in the 400’s, the Northern Ui Neill (Cenel nEoghain and Cenel Conaill) remained in the north while the Southern Ui Neill moved to Meath and the eastern midlands - they took it in turns to be Kings of Tara and, later, High-Kings of Ireland.
Source: various
Cenel nEoghain
Son of Niall of the Nine Hostages, Eogan, King of Ailech (later referred to as Tir Eoghain, later Tyrone) took part with three of his brothers (Conall Gulban, Enda and Cairbre) in the overthrow of Ulidian power and the conquest of north-western Ireland, capturing the great pre-historic dry-stone stronghold at Aileech (whose keep can still be seen surrounded by three remaining rings of ramparts) circa 425; established his own kingdom in the peninsula still called after him Innishowen (Innis Eoghain or Eogan's Isle) between Lough Swilly and Lough Foyle; was converted to Christianity by St. Patrick himself, who called him "the lion Eogan mac Neill" circa 442; and died 465, being buried at Eskaheen. His descendants, known as the Cenel Eoghain, became the principal branch of the Northern Ui Neill.
Source: http://www.lcs.net/users/rneill/nial.htm
In the fourteenth century a branch of the Tyrone O'Neills migrated to Antrim where they became known as Clann Aodha Bhuidhe (Clannaboy).
Cenel Conaill
Son of Niall of the Nine Hostages, Conall Gulban, King of Tir Conaill or the Land of Conall (Tyrconnell, later Donegal), which was his share of the family's conquests in north-western Ulster after 425. His descendants, known as the Cenel Conaill, formed one of the principle branches of the Northern Ui Neill, and until the 12th century their kings were inaugurated at the sacrifice of a white mare, going down on all fours like a stallion and lapping its broth. As the kindred of St. Columbia, members of this branch were also Abbots of Iona 563-891 or later, Abbots of Dunkeld from the 9th to 12th centuries, and Kings of Scots from Duncan I (slain by MacBeth 1040) to Alexander III (died of a fall from his horse 1285/86).
Source: http://www.lcs.net/users/rneill/nial.htm
Southern Ui Neill
The descendants of Fiacha, son of Niall of the Nine Hostages, were collectively known as Cenel Fhiachaigh (Fiachach). Fiacha and two of his brothers are said to be the descendants if the Southern Ui Neill septs, which included the O'Melaghlins (MacLoughlins), O'Molloys, MacGeoghegans, Foxes, among others.
Source: http://homepage.tinet.ie/~eddiegeo/GeogHist.txt
Around 700 A.D. the territory of the Southern Ui Neill included the Cenel Fiachach, Tethba, Loegaire, Gailenga, Luigne, Ciannachta, Saithne, Fir Tulach and two septs of the Cairbre. The ancient sub-kingdom of Brega as well as the royal sites of Tara, Knowth, and Lagore were also within its boundaries, which stretched through the modern counties of Meath, Westmeath, Longford, southern Louth and Cavan, and northern Dublin, Kildare and Offaly.
Airgialla (Oriel)
The ancient kingdom of Airgialla was formed around AD 330. At one time, it included the southern parts of the modern counties of Tyrone and Derry, as well as much of Armagh, Monaghan and Fermanagh. With its royal site at Clogher, it included the Ui Thuitre, Ui Cremthainn, Ui Meith, Airthir, Mugdorna, Daitre and Fir Rois tribes. Later the septs of the MacMahony, O'Hanlon, and O'Neill of the Fews were prominent in this area.
The Anglo-Norman advance in the 13th century broke up Oriel, but Monaghan remained dominated by the MacMahons and lay outside the main area of Anglo-Norman influence. In 1589 a large area came under the English crown; in 1591 Monaghan was divided into estates between seven MacMahons and a McKenna and was not included in the later plantation of Ulster.
Source: various
Bréifne
Counties Leitrim and Cavan formed part of the kingdom of Bréifne, also known as Ui Briuin Breifne, whose septs were descendants of the great Ui Briun clans of Connacht. Early on the Ui Ruairc and the Ui Ragallaig were dominant in this region. In later times County Leitrim, or West Bréifne, became known as Bréifne O'Rourke, and Cavan, or East Bréifne, became distinctively Bréifne O'Reilly.
Bréifne long resisted colonization by the Anglo-Normans, and the O'Reilly's of Cavan were not brought under permanent English rule until the late 16th century. Cavan, previously part of Connacht, was designated a part of Ulster in the early 17th century and included in the Ulster plantation from 1608 onward, when it was settled by Scots and English colonists.
Source: various
Osraige (Ossory)
The ancient Kingdom of Osraige, whose first king was Aengus Osrithe, flourished in the second century of the Christian era. In the fifth century the neighbouring tribe of the Deisi, aided by the Corca Laighde, conquered South Ossory, and for over a century, the Corca Laighde chiefs ruled in place of the dispossessed Ossory chiefs. Early in the seventh century the ancient chiefs recovered much of their lost possessions, the foreigners were overcome, and the descendants of Aengus ruled once more. One of the greatest was Carroll, prominent in the ninth century and distinguished in the Danish wars.
Kilkenny County forms much of what was known as the kingdom of Ossory. Kilkenny became one of the counties of Leinster in 1210, and also became the residence of Marshall, Earl of Pembroke, Strongbow's heir and descendent, by whom Kilkenny Castle was built. Before the fourteenth century Marshall's inheritance passed to the Butlers.
Source: various
Decies
Native Gaelic peoples called the Deisi, who were driven from Tara, conquered and settled in the area now known as Co. Waterford. Originally referred to as Deise Muman, the area between the River Blackwater and the River Suir is still today called "The Decies".
Waterford city, of Norse foundation and an important port and centre of trade, was a bridgehead for the Anglo-Normans in the 12th century. The eastern part of the county came under the control of the Le Poers, or Powers, family, and the western part, called the Decies, came under a branch of the Fitzgeralds. The native Irish character of the population was never wholly obliterated; and in the west, near Dungarvan, Gaelic continued to be spoken into the 20th century.
Source: various
Ulster
Ulster was an ancient province of northest Ireland, named after one of it's chief inhabitants, the Ulaid (Voluntii). Other early peoples included the Pictish tribe of the Robogdii, the Cruithin and the Darini. Later there were the Dal Riata, Dal nAraide and the Dal Fiatach. Ulster had its capital at Emain Macha, near the modern city of Armagh.
Attacks from the midland kingdom of Mide led to Ulster's disintegration in the 4th and 5th centuries. The province subsequently split into the three kingdoms of Airgialla (in central Ulster), Aileach, (in western Ulster), and the kingdom of Ulaid (in eastern Ulster). By the 8th century the island's clans had grouped themselves into five provinces, of which Ulster under the Uí Néill dynasty was the leading one until the 11th century.
Norman adventurers from England, South Wales, and the European continent succeeded in establishing themselves in Ireland by the mid-12th century, and in 1205 the English king, John Plantagenet, took control and created an earldom of Ulster.
Meanwhile, the O'Neills (of County Tyrone) and the O'Donnells (of County Tyrconnell) had become virtually supreme in much of Ulster. These two Roman Catholic clans were involved in a serious rebellion against Queen Elizabeth I from 1594 to 1601, caused in part by attempts to impose the English Reformation on the Irish. The failure of negotiations with James I led to the flight of the northern earls of Tyrone, Tyrconnell, and many others in 1607.
Source: various
Mide (Meath)
Mide (Midhe), "the middle kingdom," consisted of the present Counties of Meath and Westmeath, with parts of Cavan and Longford. It was one of the five early provinces of Ireland, and by 400 A.D. it comprised much of the territory of the Southern Ui Neill with its capital at the royal site of Tara, Ireland's first captial.
In 1172 Henry II bestowed Meath as an earldom to Hugh de Lacy, creating an English territorial nobility that lasted into the 17th century. The county of Meath came into existence in the 13th century. By the 14th century the territory of Meath was split down the middle by as a territory known as Trim.
As the English hold in Ireland deteriorated in the 13th and 14th centuries, only part of Meath remained inside the English Pale (territory) and under direct rule from Dublin. Following the 16th-century reconquest of Ireland, Westmeath was separated from Meath in 1541 and ultimately passed into the hands of English landlords. Meath's northern boundary, west of Drogheda, was the scene of the Battle of the Boyne (1690), in which William III defeated James II and asserted English Protestant rule over Ireland.
Source: various
Brega (Breaga)
The eastern part of Meath is also known as the kingdom of Brega. The name dreives from the plain where Tara (Temuir), the ancient capital of Ireland, stood. For over 500 years, beginning with Niall of the Nine Hostages in 445 A.D., the Southern Ui Neill held the kingship at Tara, giving the title-holder the Kingship of Ireland as well. The ancient home to the kings of the sub-kingdom of Brega was at Knowth.
Source: various
Thomond
Early people of Thomond included the Corca Baiscind, Uaithne, Corca Mruad and the Dal gCais. The Norse, who sacked the early settlement of Limerick in 812, made it the principal town of their kingdom; they were expelled at the end of the 10th century by the Irish hero Brian Boru. From 1106 to 1174 it was the seat of the kings of Thomond, or North Munster.
County Clare was part of Thomond, or North Munster, of which the O'Briens remained lords until the 16th century, despite the Anglo-Norman colonization in the 12th century. Clare was made a shire in the reign of Elizabeth I. In 1828 Daniel O'Connell won the election in Clare that led to the emancipation of Catholics in Ireland.
County Kerry was divided in 1127 between the O'Brien kingdom of Thomond, or North Munster, and the MacCarthy kingdom of Desmond, or South Munster.
Source: various
Desmond
Desmond was an ancient territorial division of Ireland approximating the modern counties of Kerry and Cork. Gaelic Desmond extended over the modern County Kerry south of the River Maine and over the modern County Cork west and north of the city of Cork. Early peoples of the area included the Erainn, Corca Duibhne, Corca Loigde, Ui Fidgente, Obraigne, Ciarraige Luachra, and septs of the Eoganachta.
Anglo-Norman Desmond extended over north Kerry from the River Maine, over most of the modern county of Limerick, southwest Tipperary, east and south County Cork, and east Waterford.
Desmond was MacCarthy territory from as early as A.D. 150. In 1329 Maurice Fitzgerald was created earl of Desmond, and his descendants became almost independent rulers during the 15th century.
Source: various
Connacht
In the 4th century AD the ancient line of Connacht kings was displaced by the midland rulers, whose centre was at Tara. Two members of this Tara dynasty, Brion and Fiachra, founded septs, or clans, the Uí Briúin and the Uí Fiachrach, to which all the rulers of Connaught from the 5th to the 12th century belonged. Turloch (Toirdelbach) O'Connor (d. 1156) and his son Rory (Ruadri; d. 1198) were strong enough to be recognized as kings of Ireland, but the Anglo-Norman settlement of the mid-12th century disrupted their power. Rory's brother, Cathal Crovderg, was king of Connaught until his death in 1224, but in 1227 the English king Henry III granted Connaught to the Norman baron Richard de Burgh (or de Burgo). His descendants held the lordship of Connaught with the earldom of Ulster until the titles fell to the crown in 1461. The land of Connaught was thereafter controlled by two junior branches of the de Burghs, who ultimately became the Clanricarde and Mayo Burkes.
Source: various
Laigin (Leinster)
The ancient province of Laigin derives its name from the Laigain people who were among the earlier inhabitants of the area. Included among the early peoples were the Cauci, Manapii, Coriondi, Brigantes, Domninii and Usdiae. By the 5th century the Southern Ui Naill encroached on the Northern borders of the province decreasing its area. The Ui Chennselaig and Ui Dunlainge tribes were the dominent septs during this period. Others included the Ui Faelain, Cuala, Ui Garrchon, Ui Drona, Ui Biarrche and Ui Enachglais, with the sacred capital at Naas.
As its borders expanded in later centuries the territories of the Fine Gall (Dublin), Ui Dunchada, Ui Failge, Loiges, Osraige, Eile, Fothairt, Ui Mail and Ui Muiredaig were included. Later the more prominent clans included the MAcMurroughs, O'Tooles, Phelans, O'Connors, Kilpatricks, O'Byrnes, O'Moores and O'Dempseys.
The arrival of the Anglo-Normans occured in Leinster in 1169/70, at the invitation of the ousted King of Leinster, Dermat MacMurrough. Earldoms were established in Kildare (Fitzgeralds) and Ormond (Butlers). The area of English control around Dublin, referred to as the Pale, expanded into the province of Leinster next with settlements and fortifications by the new Anglo-Normans lords. By the 17th century, the Cromwellian campaigns supplanted these with English rule and land ownership.
Source: various
Conmaicne Mara
The name Connemara comes from the tribe of Conmac, or Conmaicne, a warrior tribe which was sent to the area by the ancient Gaelic Kings of Connacht to ensure their hegemony. The branch of the tribe which went to the coastal area became known as Conmaicnemara, or 'the tribe of Cormac by the sea'.
Source: http://www.mayo-ireland.ie/ConnConc/History/History.htm
In medieval times Connemara was ruled by the O'Cadhlas and later by the 'ferocious' O'Flaherty's who built a series of castles along the coast.
Source:http://mike.rtc-galway.ie/ireland/connemar.html
Conmaicne Mara is bordered on the west by Lough Corrib (Loch Oirbsen). The ancient territories along the Loch were Iar-Chonnacht, comprising Gnó Mor and Gnó Beag -- with Conmaicne-Mara, now Conamara, on the west, and Uí Briúin Seóla on the east border, and towards the north-west, Dútha Seóigheach, the Joyce Country, between it and Loch Measca; and more to the north-east, Conmaicne Cúile Tola, the barony of Kilmaine, where the first great battle of Moytura was fought.
Source: http://www.cse.bris.ac.uk/~cckhrb/eire/corrib.html
Tribes of Galway an expression, first invented by Cromwell's forces, as a term of reproach against the natives of the town of Galway. These families were thirteen in number, i.e. Athy, Blake, Bodkin, Browne, D'Arcy, Ffont (or De Fuente), Ffrench, Joyes (or Joyce), Kirwan, Lynch, Martin, Morris and Skerrett.
Source: http://www.wombat.ie/galwayguide/archive.cgi/history/hardiman/c1.html
Four Tribes of Tara
The O'Harts, the O'Regans, Connollys, and the O'Kellys formed the "Four Tribes of Tara".
Source: http://indigo.ie/~okellyc/okbreagh.htm
Seven Septs of Laois
After the arrival of the Anglo-Normans, the Leix (Laois) County was divided among seven Septs or Clans: O'Moore, O'Kelly, O'Deevy, O'Doran, O'Lalor, O'Dowling and McEvoy.
This confederation began after the 3rd century CE, when the family group that would become the O'Mores came from Ulster to Leinster under the leadership of Laoighseach Cean More, son of Connall Cearnach of the Red Branch, and helped to defend Leinster under the kingship of Cuchorb, and expelled the Munster forces from the region. They continued to hold principality over what became Leix (Laois), so named after Laoighseach, and this confederation continued through the Elizabethian wars of the 1500's, when the military and political power of the families were broken and the clans dispossessed and relocated. Of these seven clans, the O'Mores were the leader family, holding the position and title of Kings, and then Princes of Leix, as well as the Marshell's and treasurers of Leinster since the 3rd century.
Source: http://members.aol.com/Septsleix/septs.html
Further Reference:
Irish to English Surname List
Irish History in Maps
Surnames of Clan Cian
Kings of Leinster and Osraige
Septs of Desmond
Septs of Thomond
Septs of Ormond and Decies
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