Dealbhne Thíre Dhá Loch(a) ("The Dealbhne of the Two Lochs") was a tuath

Tuath

Túath is an Old Irish word, often translated as "people" or "nation". It is cognate with the Welsh and Breton tud , and with the Germanic þeudō ....

 of Gaelic Ireland

Gaelic Ireland

Gaelic Ireland is the name given to the period when a Gaelic political order existed in Ireland. The order continued to exist after the arrival of the Anglo-Normans until about 1607 AD...

, located in the west of what is now Co. Galway, Ireland

Ireland

Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...

. It is now called Connemara

Connemara

Connemara is a district in the west of Ireland consisting of a broad peninsula between Killary Harbour and Kilkieran Bay in the west of County Galway.-Overview:...

Overview

It was ruled by the Mac Conraoi clann. The two lochs concerned were Loch nOirbsean

Lough Corrib

Lough Corrib is a lake in the west of Ireland. The River Corrib or Galway river connects the lake to the sea at Galway. It is the second largest lough in Ireland . It covers 178 km² and lies mostly in County Galway with a small area of its northeast corner in County Mayo.The first canal in...

, and Loch Lurgain

Galway Bay

Galway Bay is a large bay on the west coast of Ireland, between County Galway in the province of Connacht to the north and the Burren in County Clare in the province of Munster to the south. Galway city is located on the northeast side of the bay. It is about long and from to in breadth...

.

Mac Conraoi was chief of the Delbhna Thira Dha Locha and ruler of Gnó Mhór, while his senior cadet was Ó hÉanaí (Heeney), ruler of Gnó Beag.

In the 12th and 13th centuries the Ó Flaithbertaigh family were expelled into the area, first by the Kings of Connacht

Kings of Connacht

The Kings of Connacht were rulers of the cóiced of Connacht, which lies west of the River Shannon, Ireland. However, the name only became applied to it in the early medieval era, being named after The Connachta.The old name for the province was Cóiced Ol nEchmacht . Ptolemy's map of c. 150 AD...

, and later by the de Burgh Lord of Connacht. The Ó Flaithbertaighs ruled what is now called Connemara

Connemara

Connemara is a district in the west of Ireland consisting of a broad peninsula between Killary Harbour and Kilkieran Bay in the west of County Galway.-Overview:...

 until the upheavals of the mid 17th century.

Tribal origins

The Delbhna

Delbhna

The Delbna or Delbhna were an ethnic group in Ireland. They had a number of branches in central and western Ireland.*The Delbhna Tir Dha Locha were the most westerly branch, based in Iar Connacht....

 (also Dealbhne or Dealbhnaí) were any early tribal grouping with a number of different branches in Ireland.

Nomenclature

Dealbhne Thíre Dhá Locha was also known as Dealbhna Fiodh/Feadha ("The Delbhna of the Fews) "Fiodh", anglicised the Fews, literally means "heather", denoting a rough, unfertile area.

Area

Dealbhna Thíre Dhá Locha comprises the civil parishes (which are coextensive with the medieval parishes of the same names) of Kilcummin, Killannin, Moycullen and Rahoon. Conmaicne Mara

Conmaicne Mara

The Conmhaícne were an ancient tribal grouping that were divided into a number of distinct branches that were found scattered around Ireland in the early medieval period...

 / Connemara bordered the territory on the west while Joyce Country lies to the north of the territory. The entire territory west of Galway

Galway

Galway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the...

 City is now referred to as Connemara

Connemara

Connemara is a district in the west of Ireland consisting of a broad peninsula between Killary Harbour and Kilkieran Bay in the west of County Galway.-Overview:...

.

Sub-divisions

Tír Dhá Locha was divided into two sub-sections, Gnó Mór and

Gnó Mhór/Gnó Mór denoted the civil parish of Kilcummin and most of the civil parish of Killannin.

Gnó Beg denoted the civil parishes of Moycullen and Rahoon and part of the parish of Killannin.

Loch Lonáin north of the village of Maigh Cuilin and the Aille river between the villages of An Spidéal and Indreabháin are the principal features which mark the border between Gnó Mór and Gnó Beag.

See also

• Uí Fiachrach Aidhne
  Uí Fiachrach Aidhne
  Uí Fhiachrach Aidhne was a kingdom located in what is now the south of Co. Galway.-Legendary origins and geography:...
  
  
• Clann Fhergail
  Clann Fhergail
  Clann Fhergail was a cantred located in County Galway, compriseing the baronies of Moycullen and Galway, the parishes of Oranmore and Ballynacourty and Rahoon....
  
  
• Clann Taidg
  Clann Taidg
  Clann Taidg was the name of a medieval cantred located in what is now County Galway, Ireland.It consisted of the parishes of Athenry, Monivea, Tiaquin, Kilkerrin, Moylough, Killererin, Ballynakill-Aghiart, Kilmoylan, and possibly Abbeyknockmoy....
  
  
• Muintir Murchada
  Muintir Murchada
  Muintir Murchada was the name of an Irish territory which derived its name from the ruling dynasty, who were in turn a branchh of the Uí Briúin. The name was derived from Murchadh mac Maenach, King of Uí Briúin Seóla, who died 891.-Overview:...
  
  
• Senchineoil
  Senchineoil
  The Senchineoil was the name of the pre-Gaelic inhabitants of what is now central and east County Galway and south County Roscommon.-Overview:...
  
  
• Uí Maine
• Soghain
  Soghain
  The Soghain were a people of ancient Ireland. Dubhaltach Mac Fhirbhisigh identified them as part of a larger group called the Cruithin, and stated of them:...
  
  
• Trícha Máenmaige
• Uí Díarmata
  Uí Díarmata
  Uí Díarmata was a local kingdom located in what is now north County Galway.-Origins:The ruling dynasty took its name from King Diarmait Finn of Connacht , and the territory in turn was named after them. It seems to have been created by the Uí Briúin in the ninth century during a wave of expansion...
  
  
• Cóiced Ol nEchmacht
  Cóiced Ol nEchmacht
  -Etymology and extent:Cóiced Ol nEchmacht may be translated as the portion/fifth/province of the Ol nEchmacht, also called the Fir Ol nEchmacht . They were divided up into three main tribes: the Fir Craibe, or Fir na Criabe; the Tuatha Taiden; the Gamanraige...
  
  
• Síol Anmchadha
  Síol Anmchadha
  Síol Anmchadha was a sub-kingdom or lordship of Hy-Many, and ruled by an off-shoot of the Ui Maine called the Síol Anmchadha , from whom the territory took its name....
  
  
• Iar Connacht
  Iar Connacht
  Iar Chonnachta , was a region covering all of County Galway west of the river Corrib and Lough Corrib; Maigh Seola; and part of the barony of Ross in County Mayo.-Description:The area of Co...
  
  
• Maigh Seola
  Maigh Seola
  Maigh Seola was a term used to describe the land along the east shore of Lough Corrib in County Galway, Ireland. It was bounded by the Uí Maine vassal kingdom of Soghain. Its rulers up to the 1220s were the Muintir Murchada, who took the surname O'Flaherty...
  
  
• Cenél Áeda na hEchtge
  Cenél Áeda na hEchtge
  Cenél Áeda na hEchtge was a trícha cét Cenél Áeda na hEchtge (also Cenél Áeda, Kenloth, Kinalethes, Kenealea, Kinelea)was a trícha cét Cenél Áeda na hEchtge (also Cenél Áeda, Kenloth, Kinalethes, Kenealea, Kinelea)was a trícha cét (later a cantred, (a branch of the Uí Fiachrach Aidhne) and which...
  
  
• Cenél Guaire
• Muintir Máelfináin
• Conmaícne Cenéoil Dubáin
• Conmaícne Cúile Toland
• Bunrath
• Uí Briúin Rátha
• Tír Maine
• Uí Briúin Seola
• Machaire Riabhach
• Maigh Mucruimhe
• Airthir Connacht
• Meadraige
• Corca Moga
• Óic Bethra