Luighne Connacht
Encyclopedia
Luighne Connacht was a territory located in north-central Connacht
, on the boarders of what is now County Mayo
and County Sligo.
, south of Kells
in what is now County Meath
. The baronys of Lune in Meath, and Leyney in Sligo, were called after them. According to Lambert McKenna
(pp.xvi-xvii):
"[They] probably acquired their land in Connacht as a reward for military service rendered to the tribes which had victoriously invaded that part of the country. Their migration ... and their settlement in Connaught are constantly referred to in the poems of this book" (see The Book of O'Hara) "and are the chief subject of the story of the Battle of Crionna; it evidently remained a very lively tradition among them even down to late times."
According to this story, the Luighne accompanied Tadhg mac Cian, who "The genealogists brought Tadc and his descendants from Éli
in northern Munster
, but since we find the Luigni and Gailenga
closely associated as neighbours and allies in Connacht ... there is reason to agree with MacNeill that they were vassal
tribes of fighting men whom the Connachta
and Ui Neill
... planted on the lands they had conquered" (IKHK, p. 69)
Of the original Brega-based tribes called Gailenga, Luigni, Saitne, Delbhna, Ciannachta, Francis John Byrne
goes on to say: "the Brega peoples of that name ... extending as they did in a group of tribal kingdoms from Glasnevin
to Lough Ramor
in Cavan
, give the impression of a remarkably homogeneous body. They are so closely connected that in the later period before the Norman invasion we find that the kingship of the various tribes seem to have been interchangeable. They form a striking contrast to the population of Mide... But the Boyne
valley had been an area of settled culture since Neolithic
times, so that it is likely that a basic unity persisted under the superstructures of succeeding conquests." (IKHK, p. 69) Members of these population-groups were able to exploit the political weakness of the Clann Cholmáin
during the 11th and 12th centuries and become Kings of Brega
after centuries of subordination.
had close alliances with the Luighne, Gailenga, Grecraige and Corca Fhir Trí
, all of whom were found in close association with Connachta territory west of the Shannon
. ("It was probably not until the end of the sixth century that the name Connachta was restricted to those of the dynastic group who remained in the west: the Uí Fiachrach, Uí Briúin and Uí Ailello." IKHK, p. 231).
In Connacht, the Luighne and neighbouring tribes were classed as Fortuatha
("kingdoms not ruled directly by members of the dominant dynasty of a province", IKHK, p. 45), meaning external or alien
tribes. Byrne notes that the Luighne dominated smaller, minor tribes (including the likes of the Calraige
, Grecraige and Corca Fhir Trí), "and have some claim to be considered an over-kingdom, as was recognised in the twelfth century when their lands were erected into the diocese of Achonry
."
McKenna (p.xvii) writes "Less common that "Luighne" there is "Luighne Connacht", the use of which is puzzling. sometime it appears to be synonymous with "Luighne". ... On the other hand "Luighne Connacht" is often used to denote a folk distinct from "Luighne". In Rawlinson B 502 ... we find a separate "genealogy of Luighne Connacht" breaking off from the main Luighne line somewhere in the eight century, and descending from Ceannfhaoloadh brother of Flaithgheas. (see Genealogy, below).
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Cormac Cas Eógan Már Cian
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Dal gCais
Eóganacht Tadhg (Eile, Ciannachta, Gailenga, Luigni, Delbna, Saitne, &co)
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Cormac Gaileang Connla
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Loi
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Nia Corb Art Corb
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Art
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Fiodhchuire
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Fidsheng
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Natfraoch
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Brénuinn
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Fionnbharr
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Diarmaid Mór
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Ceann Faoladh
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Taicleach
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Flaithgheas Ceann Faoladh
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Béc "Luighne Connacht"
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Saorghus
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Eaghra Poprigh mac Saorghus
, d. 928. Sleiteachán
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Clann Ó hEaghra Gadhra
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Domhnall mac Gadhra
, d. 931.
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Clann Ó Gadhra
, noted on his death in 885 as king of Luighne Connacht. Dobhailen is explicitly listed as of the Corca Fhir Trí
, so his people, originally themselves thought to be subject to the Luighne, had come to rank as one of Luighne's ruling dynasties.
McKenna further states (p.xviii-xix): "In their many entries the Annals use the word Gaileanga to indicate sometimes a people but more often, especially in their later ones, a district, i.e., the district afterwards known as the barony of Gallen
. In 993 the Lord of Gaileanga is said to be Ua Gadhra. Hence it would appear probable that the territory afterwards called Gallen was at first ruled by its Gaileanga princes, and that towards the end of the tenth century it came under the power of the chieftains of Luighne, chiefly that of the Í Ghadhra, who ruled it till the early thirteenth century when they were thrust aside by the Jordans; it is often afterwards referred to as Mac Jordan's country."
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...
, on the boarders of what is now County Mayo
County Mayo
County Mayo is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the village of Mayo, which is now generally known as Mayo Abbey. Mayo County Council is the local authority for the county. The population of the county is 130,552...
and County Sligo.
Origin
The Luighne were a people, originally found in BregaKings of Brega
-Overview:Brega took its name from Mag Breg, the plain of Brega, in modern County Meath, County Louth and County Dublin, Ireland. They formed part of the Uí Néill kindred, belonging to the Síl nÁedo Sláine branch of the southern Uí Néill. The kingdom of Brega included the Hill of Tara, the site...
, south of Kells
Kells, County Meath
Kells is a town in County Meath, Ireland. The town lies off the M3 motorway, from Navan and from Dublin. In recent years Kells has grown greatly with many Dublin commuters moving to the town....
in what is now County Meath
County Meath
County Meath is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Mide . Meath County Council is the local authority for the county...
. The baronys of Lune in Meath, and Leyney in Sligo, were called after them. According to Lambert McKenna
Lambert McKenna
Lambert McKenna S.J. was a Jesuit priest and writer.He was born Andrew Joseph Lambert McKenna in Dublin and studied in Europe. He collected and edited religious and folk poetry in the Irish language...
(pp.xvi-xvii):
"[They] probably acquired their land in Connacht as a reward for military service rendered to the tribes which had victoriously invaded that part of the country. Their migration ... and their settlement in Connaught are constantly referred to in the poems of this book" (see The Book of O'Hara) "and are the chief subject of the story of the Battle of Crionna; it evidently remained a very lively tradition among them even down to late times."
According to this story, the Luighne accompanied Tadhg mac Cian, who "The genealogists brought Tadc and his descendants from Éli
Eli
Eli or ELI may refer to:*El , or Eli, a variant on the name of God as spoken in Arabic, Hebrew, and Aramaic*Eli , a common first name in Hebrew...
in northern Munster
Munster
Munster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the south 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 administrative and judicial purposes...
, but since we find the Luigni and Gailenga
Gailenga
Gailenga was the name of two related peoples and kingdoms found in medieval Ireland in Brega and Connacht.-Origins:Along with the Luighne, Delbhna, Saitne and Ciannachta, the Gailenga claimed descent from Tadc mac Cein mac Ailill Aulom. Francis John Byrne, in agreement with Eoin MacNeill, believes...
closely associated as neighbours and allies in Connacht ... there is reason to agree with MacNeill that they were vassal
Vassal
A vassal or feudatory is a person who has entered into a mutual obligation to a lord or monarch in the context of the feudal system in medieval Europe. The obligations often included military support and mutual protection, in exchange for certain privileges, usually including the grant of land held...
tribes of fighting men whom the Connachta
Connachta
The Connachta are a group of medieval Irish dynasties who claimed descent from the legendary High King Conn Cétchathach...
and Ui Neill
Uí Néill
The Uí Néill are Irish and Scottish dynasties who claim descent from Niall Noigiallach , an historical King of Tara who died about 405....
... planted on the lands they had conquered" (IKHK, p. 69)
Of the original Brega-based tribes called Gailenga, Luigni, Saitne, Delbhna, Ciannachta, Francis John Byrne
Francis John Byrne
Francis John Byrne is an Irish historian.Born in Shanghai where his father, a Dundalk man, captained a ship on the Yellow River, Byrne was evacuated with his mother to Australia on the outbreak of World War II...
goes on to say: "the Brega peoples of that name ... extending as they did in a group of tribal kingdoms from Glasnevin
Glasnevin
Glasnevin is a largely residential neighbourhood of Dublin, Ireland.-Geography:A mainly residential neighbourhood, it is located on the Northside of the city of Dublin . It was originally established on the northern bank of the River Tolka...
to Lough Ramor
Lough Ramor
Lough Ramor is a large natural lake of 741 hectares situated near Virginia, County Cavan. From early records Vita Tripartita identified as being in the territory of Cenal Muinreamhair. The literal meaning of the term Muinreamhair is 'fat-neck' and appears to be derived from a prehistoric or...
in Cavan
Cavan
Cavan is the county town of County Cavan in the Republic of Ireland. The town lies in the north central part of Ireland, near the border with Northern Ireland...
, give the impression of a remarkably homogeneous body. They are so closely connected that in the later period before the Norman invasion we find that the kingship of the various tribes seem to have been interchangeable. They form a striking contrast to the population of Mide... But the Boyne
Boyne
Several terms incorporating the word "Boyne" include:* Boann, the Irish goddess after whom the river is named* Boyne River * Boyne Falls, Michigan,* Boyne Resorts, a ski resort company in Michigan...
valley had been an area of settled culture since Neolithic
Neolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
times, so that it is likely that a basic unity persisted under the superstructures of succeeding conquests." (IKHK, p. 69) Members of these population-groups were able to exploit the political weakness of the Clann Cholmáin
Clann Cholmáin
Clann Cholmáin is the name of the dynasty descended from Colmán Mór , son of Diarmait mac Cerbaill. Part of the Southern Uí Néill — they were the kings of Mide — they traced their descent to Niall Noígiallach and his son Conall Cremthainne.Related dynasties descended through Conall...
during the 11th and 12th centuries and become Kings of Brega
Kings of Brega
-Overview:Brega took its name from Mag Breg, the plain of Brega, in modern County Meath, County Louth and County Dublin, Ireland. They formed part of the Uí Néill kindred, belonging to the Síl nÁedo Sláine branch of the southern Uí Néill. The kingdom of Brega included the Hill of Tara, the site...
after centuries of subordination.
The Luighne of Connacht
The early ConnachtaConnachta
The Connachta are a group of medieval Irish dynasties who claimed descent from the legendary High King Conn Cétchathach...
had close alliances with the Luighne, Gailenga, Grecraige and Corca Fhir Trí
Corca Fhir Trí
The Corca Fhir Trí were a people located in the kingdom of Gailenga , Luighne Connacht and Corann The Corca Fhir Trí were a people located in the kingdom of Gailenga (later the Barony of Gallen, County Mayo), Luighne Connacht and Corann The Corca Fhir Trí were a people located in the kingdom of...
, all of whom were found in close association with Connachta territory 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...
. ("It was probably not until the end of the sixth century that the name Connachta was restricted to those of the dynastic group who remained in the west: the Uí Fiachrach, Uí Briúin and Uí Ailello." IKHK, p. 231).
In Connacht, the Luighne and neighbouring tribes were classed as Fortuatha
Fortuatha
-Definition:In Irish Kings and High Kings, Francis John Byrne defines Fortuatha as "kingdoms not ruled directly by members of the dominant dynasty of a province" . T. F...
("kingdoms not ruled directly by members of the dominant dynasty of a province", IKHK, p. 45), meaning external or alien
Extraterrestrial life
Extraterrestrial life is defined as life that does not originate from Earth...
tribes. Byrne notes that the Luighne dominated smaller, minor tribes (including the likes of the Calraige
Calraige
The Calraige were a population-group found mostly in northern Connacht as well as County Westmeath and County Longford. They were purported descendants of Lugaid Cal mac Daire Sirchrechtaig, who was himself a supposed descendant of Lugaid mac Itha, a first cousion of Mil Espainne.Daire is stated as...
, Grecraige and Corca Fhir Trí), "and have some claim to be considered an over-kingdom, as was recognised in the twelfth century when their lands were erected into the diocese of Achonry
Diocese of Achonry
The Bishop of Achonry is an episcopal title which takes its name after the village of Achonry in County Sligo, Ireland. In the Roman Catholic Church it remains as a separate title, but in the Church of Ireland it has been united with other bishoprics....
."
McKenna (p.xvii) writes "Less common that "Luighne" there is "Luighne Connacht", the use of which is puzzling. sometime it appears to be synonymous with "Luighne". ... On the other hand "Luighne Connacht" is often used to denote a folk distinct from "Luighne". In Rawlinson B 502 ... we find a separate "genealogy of Luighne Connacht" breaking off from the main Luighne line somewhere in the eight century, and descending from Ceannfhaoloadh brother of Flaithgheas. (see Genealogy, below).
Gnealogy
Ailill AulomAilill Aulom
In Irish traditional history Ailill Ollamh , son of Mug Nuadat, was a king of the southern half of Ireland. Sabia, daughter of Conn of the Hundred Battles, was his wife. He divided the kingdom between his sons Éogan, Cormac Cas, and Cian. Éogan founded the dynasty of the Eóganachta...
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Cormac Cas Eógan Már Cian
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Dal gCais
Dál gCais
The Dál gCais were a dynastic group of related septs located in north Munster who rose to political prominence in the 10th century AD in Ireland. They claimed descent from Cormac Cas, or Cas mac Conall Echlúath, hence the term "Dál", meaning "portion" or "share" of Cas...
Eóganacht Tadhg (Eile, Ciannachta, Gailenga, Luigni, Delbna, Saitne, &co)
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Cormac Gaileang Connla
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Loi
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Nia Corb Art Corb
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Art
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Fiodhchuire
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Fidsheng
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Natfraoch
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Brénuinn
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Fionnbharr
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Diarmaid Mór
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Ceann Faoladh
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Taicleach
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Flaithgheas Ceann Faoladh
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Béc "Luighne Connacht"
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Saorghus
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Eaghra Poprigh mac Saorghus
Eaghra Poprigh mac Saorghus
Eaghra Poprigh mac Saorghus, eponym and ancestor of the clan Ó hEaghra, King of Luighne Connacht, died 928.-Ancestry:Eaghra Poprigh mac Saorghus was a member of the Gailenga people of north Connacht. They were originally from the kingdom of Brega on the east coast of Ireland...
, d. 928. Sleiteachán
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Clann Ó hEaghra Gadhra
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Domhnall mac Gadhra
Domhnall mac Gadhra
Domhnall mac Gadhra, King of Gailenga and Luighne Connacht, died 931.Domhnall was a son of Gadhra, from whom the surname O'Gara derived.The Annals of the Four Masters, sub anno 931, state that "Domhnall mac Gadhra, king of Luighne, slain 931." He may have been the only representative of his line...
, d. 931.
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Clann Ó Gadhra
The Three Luighne
An Teora Sloinnte Luighne (the three Luighne) appear to have beeing the clans of Ó hEaghra, Ó Gadhra and Ó Dobhailen; the latter descend from Dobhailen mac GormghusDobhailen mac Gormghus
Dobhailen mac Gormghus, King of Luighne Connacht, died 885.The Annals of the Four Masters, sub anno 885, state "Dobhailen, son of Gormghus, lord of Luighne Connacht, died."...
, noted on his death in 885 as king of Luighne Connacht. Dobhailen is explicitly listed as of the Corca Fhir Trí
Corca Fhir Trí
The Corca Fhir Trí were a people located in the kingdom of Gailenga , Luighne Connacht and Corann The Corca Fhir Trí were a people located in the kingdom of Gailenga (later the Barony of Gallen, County Mayo), Luighne Connacht and Corann The Corca Fhir Trí were a people located in the kingdom of...
, so his people, originally themselves thought to be subject to the Luighne, had come to rank as one of Luighne's ruling dynasties.
McKenna further states (p.xviii-xix): "In their many entries the Annals use the word Gaileanga to indicate sometimes a people but more often, especially in their later ones, a district, i.e., the district afterwards known as the barony of Gallen
Barony of Gallen
The Barony of Gallen is one of the nine baronies in County Mayo, Ireland. It is situated in the eastern part of the county south of the town of Ballina, bordering County Sligo...
. In 993 the Lord of Gaileanga is said to be Ua Gadhra. Hence it would appear probable that the territory afterwards called Gallen was at first ruled by its Gaileanga princes, and that towards the end of the tenth century it came under the power of the chieftains of Luighne, chiefly that of the Í Ghadhra, who ruled it till the early thirteenth century when they were thrust aside by the Jordans; it is often afterwards referred to as Mac Jordan's country."
External links
- http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~irlkik/ihm/connacht.htm#cai
- http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/T100011/index.html