The Gamanraige were the main branch of the Fir Ol nEchmacht

Fir Ol nEchmacht

Fir Ol nEchmacht was the name of a group or race of people living in pre-historic Ireland. The name may be translated as Fir=men; Ol =race, people; nEchmacht=the given name of the people....

, a people who ruled much of 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...

 west of the Shannon

River Shannon

The River Shannon is the longest river in Ireland at . It divides the west of Ireland from the east and south . County Clare, being west of the Shannon but part of the province of Munster, is the major exception...

 in the pre-historic era.

The Gamanraige ruled the territory between the Gallimhe or 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...

 river, to the Drowes and Duff river

Duff River

The River Duff, or Bunduff, is a river in County Sligo and County Leitrim, Ireland. The River Duff is long, flowing from Glenade Valley in County Leitrim to the sea. In County Leitrim it is also known as the Black River. It is joined by the Ballanaghtrillick River, which runs out of the...

s in the north-east. Their capital was Rath Eochaidh, later called Cruchain.
This territory seems to have been Ol nEchmacht proper. It was only with the rise of The Connachta dynasty that the term Fir Ol nEchmacht was dropped and the province was renamed Connacht

Connacht

Connacht , formerly anglicised as Connaught, is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the west of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for...

.

Sources

• "Foras Feasa Eirann", Geoffrey Keating
  Geoffrey Keating
  Seathrún Céitinn, known in English as Geoffrey Keating, was a 17th century Irish Roman Catholic priest, poet and historian. He was born in County Tipperary c. 1569, and died c. 1644...
  
  , 1636.
• "Leabhar Mor nGenealach", Dubhaltach MacFhirbhisigh, 1649-1666.
• "Ogyia", Ruaidhri O Flaithbheartaigh
  Ruaidhri Ó Flaithbheartaigh
  Ruaidhri Ó Flaithbheartaigh, King of Iar Connacht and Chief of the Name, fl. 1244-1273.-Biography:Ruaidhri was a brother of the preceding chief, Morogh...
  
  , 1684.
• "The History of Mayo", T.H.Knox, 1908.