Ancient Meath

ANCIENT MEATH. THE PRINCIPAL FAMILIES IN THE KINGDOM OF MEATH
Clann Colgcan Laign Tribe
Offaly, Dublin

Septs of Clann Cholgaín noted in northern Offaly (centered in the barony of Lower Philipstown, Co. Offaly) were the septs of Ua hUallachain (O'Holohan or O'Houlihan) and Ua hAonghusa (O'Hennessy). Other Clann Colgcan septs noted in the ancient genealogies included the Úí Rotaidi, the Úí Muricáin, the Úí Bróen and the Úí Cholgan. MacLysaght (Irish Families) mentions that a branch of Clan Cholgain was located nearer to Dublin, the head of it being Chief of Gailenga Beg on the north side of the River Liffey on the borders of Counties Meath and Dublin, before being displaced by the Anglo-Norman invasion (late 12th century). O'Hennessy of Gailenga Bec, and of Úí Mac Uais. MacLysaght- The Offaly O'Hennessys spread into Tipperary and Clare - in the latter county they are now called Henchy, formerly Hensey.
The old gaelic chiefs who ruled over the territories within the bounds of Offaly today would not recognise the area as a political unit as it existed in their time. Offaly as we know it only goes back to the sixteenth century. Before that it was divided into several "tuath" or lordships which constituted larger kingdoms. The ancient territory of Uí Failghe now divided between the modern counties of Offaly, Laois and Kildare was originally made up of a number of divisions. These were Clan Colgan (Daingean area), Tuath da Muighe (Edenderry), Tuath Geisille (Geashill), Clan Maol Ughra (Cloneygowan), Magh Life (in Kildare), Uí Riaghain (Clonaslee - Rosenallis in Laois) and Tuath Leighe (Lea in Laois). Their centre of power was at Daingean where they had their chief fortress.
Uí Enechglaiss
Through Cathaír Mor's son, Bressal Enechglass, descended the Úí Enechglaiss (e.g. O'Feary). During the ascendancy of the Úí Dúnlainge in th 5th and 6th centuries, the Úí Enechglaiss were driven across the Wicklow mountains, to south of Arklow in county Wicklow, from their original holdings near the plains Brega and the river Liffey. A similar fate appears to have transpired for the Dál Messin Corb who moved to an area just north of the Úí Enechglaiss about this same time. In the 12th century the sept of Ua Fiachrach is given as kings of Úí fEnechglais.
In ancient writings Ireland is called Fail, as in Inis Fail, signifying Insula Fatalis or the Island of Destiny: a name given to Ireland by the Tuatha-de-Danans from a remarkable stone called the Lia Fail, signifying Lapis Fatalis, Saxum Fatale or Stone of Destiny. The Lia Fail is believed to be the stone on which Jacob rested: and sitting on which the ancient Irish Kings, the de-Danans and the Milesians were crowned at Tara. This stone was sent to Scotland in the sixth century by the Irish monarch Murcheartach Mor MacEarca for the coronation of his brother Fergus Mor MacEarca, the founder of the Scottish Monarchy. It had been used for many centuries at the coronation of the Scottish Kings and kept at the Abbey of Scone.
Uí Failge Offaly. Some of the original Laiginian tribes included the Úí Failge, Uí Bairrche and Úí Enechglaiss.Cathaír Mór was the ancestor of the Free Tribes of Leinster: through his son Ross Failge descended the Uí Failge.The Úí Failge dynasty in later times are noted in the three septs of the Ua Conchobair Failghe. The territory of Ua bhfailghe came to be anglicized as Ofaily or Offaley, now commemorated in the modern county Offaly. Under the O'Connor Faly, the Úí Failge are noted in the 16th century as one of the last Gaelic Lordships to fall to the English Crown.

(O'Connor Faly)
the Úí Riacáin (O'Dunne)
Clann Máellugra (O'Dempsey)

The old territory of Offaly is described by O'Donovan in his Ordnance Survey letters. He notes the territory of Uí Failghe or Ophaley comprised the following Baronies:

Geshill in the King's Co.
Upper and Lower Philipstown in the King's Co.
Warrenstown and Collestown in the same County
Ophaley or Offaley in the Co. of Kildare
Portnahinch and Tinahinch in the Queen's County

O'Donovan goes on to cite O'Heerin giving that the principality of Ofaley was originally subdivided into seven cantreds, viz.;

Tuath Geisille [Geashill]
Hy-Regan [Tinahinch],
Clann-Maoilughra [ Upper Philipstown & Portnahinch]
Clar Colgain [ Lower Philipstown]
Tuath-Maighe or Tethmoy [Coolestown and Warrenstown]
Magh Aoife or Fearann Uí Murchain [northern half of the Barony of Ophaley in the County of Kildare]
Tuath-Leighe [southern half of the Barony of Ophaley in the County of Kildare]

Keating in his History cites O Conchubhar Failghe with his family branches: i.e. O Caomhanaigh, O Tuathalaigh, O Branaigh, Mac Giolla Phadraig, O Duinn, O Diomasaigh, O Duibhidhir, muinntear Riain.

Uí Riacáin (e.g. O'Dunne) Other descended septs of the Úí Failge, Kildare
The O'Duinn (Dunne) sept were Lords of Úí Riacáin (Iregan, Hy-Regan, or Oregan), naming their territory after their ancestor Riacáin. Riacáin was a son of the Úí Failge over-king Cináed, and a grandson of Mugrón, another Úí Failge king who was slain beside Kildare monastery in 782. By the 11th century the O'Duinn territory was centered in the barony of Tinnahich, the most northern barony of Co Leix (Laois, Queens County).
Clann Máellugra (e.g. O'Dempsey). Laign Tribe / Leix
The O'Dempsey family derive their name from Diummasach, an 11th century Úí Failge prince of the Clann Máel Ugra, aka Cenél Maoilughra. The Clann Máel Úgra, in turn, took their name from Máelaugrai, an Úí Failge Chieftain who flourished in the middle of the 9th century. The center of their territory, anglicized Clanier, was near Ballybrittas in northeast Co. Leix. Their power later extended into the barony of Upper Phillipstown. O'Donovan, in his Ordnance Survey letters, places Clann-Maoilughra in the present Barony of Upper Philipstown in the King's County and the Barony of Portnahinch in the Queen's County.
OFFALY gets its name from the O’Connors who were known as O’Connor Faly and were descended from Ros Failghe, son of Cathair Mor, King of Ireland in the second century AD. The O’Connors took their name from Conchuibair who died in 977. The O’Connors allied with the Ó Neills and the O’Mores in the Nine Years War and lost their power around 1600. The O’Carroll family derived their origin from Cearbhal who sided with Brian Boru at Clontarf in 1014. Their territory stretched from modern south Offaly to north Tipperary and was called Ely. During the Anglo-Norman invasion, they lost the Tipperary portion of their territory and were confined to the baronies of Clonlisk and Ballybritt in modern Offaly. The Fox and Kearney clans linked with Co. Offaly were originally one clan. They controlled an area situated in the north-west of the county called Kilcoursey. The name Fox was later adopted instead of Kearney.

O'h-Ainbeath or O'Hanvey	Chief of Fearbhile, now the Barony of "Farbill," in Westmeath.
O'h-Aongusa or O'Hennessy	Chief of Hy-Mac-Uais, now the Barony of "Moygoish," in Westmeath. The Clan-Mac-Uais or MacEvoy, sometimes called MacVeagh and MacVeigh, of the race of Clan Colla, were the original Chiefs of this territory.
O'h-Aodha	(Anglicized O'Hughes and O'Hayes), Chief of Odhbha (probably "Odra" or "Oddor," in the Barony of Skrine, near Tara)
O'Braoin or O'Breen	Chief of Luighne, now the pariah of "Leney," in the Barony of Corcaree, Westmeath.
O'Cairbre or O'Carbery	Chief of Tuath Binn.
O'Cathasaigh or O'Casey	Chief of Saithne, now "Sonagh," in Westmeath, where one of the castles of De Lacy stood, who conferred that property on the Tuite family.
MacCochlain or MacCoghlan (of the Dalcassians)	Lord of Dealbhna-Eathra, now the Barony of Garrycastle in the King's County.
O'Coindeal-bhain (O'Kendellan, or O'Connellan)	princes of Ibh-Laoghaire or "Ive-Leary," an extensive territory in the present counties of Meath and Westmeath, which was possessed by the descendants of Leary, Monarch of Ireland, at the time of St. Patrick. The parish of Castletown Kendellan in Westmeath shows one part of this ancient territory, and the townland of Kendellanstown, near Navan, shows another part of it.
O'Connolly	respectable families in Meath, Dublin, and Kildare; were Chiefs in the county Kildare.
O'Donchadha or O'Donoghoe	Chief of Teallach Modharain, probably now "Tullamore," in the King's County.
O'Dubhainor Duane	Chief of Cnodhbha, probably "Knowth," near Slane.
O'Dubhlaidhe or O'Dooley	Chief of Fertullach, the present Barony of "Fertullagh," in Westmeath.
MacEoghagain or MacGeoghagan	Prince of Cenél Fiacha, now the Barony of Moycashel, with parts of Rathconrath and Fertullagh. The MacGeoghagans were one of the principal branches of the Clan Colman, and were called Cenél Fiacha, from one of the sons of Niall of the Nine Hostages.
O'Fallamhain or Fallon	Lord of Crioch-na-gCeadach: so called from Olioll Cedach, son of Cahir Mor, King of Leinster, and the 109th Monarch of Ireland. The "Country of the O'Fallons" was near Athlone in the county Westmeath, but they were afterwards driven across the river Shannon into Roscommon.
O'Fionnallainor O'Fenelan	(of the race of Heber, and tribe of the Dalcassians), Lord of Delbhna Mór, now the Barony of "Delvin," in Westmeath.
O'Heogchadha	(O'Heoghey, O'Hoey,O'Howe, etc.), Chief of Cenél Aengusa.
O'Hionradhain	Chief of Corcaraidhe, now the Barony of "Corcaree" in Westmeath.
O'Kelly of Bregia	Chiefs of Tuath Leighe, parts of the baronies of West Narragh and Kilkea, in the county Kildare; they had also the district about Naas, and had their Chief residence and castle at Rathascul or the Moat of Ascul, near Athy: the territory comprising these districts was known as "O'Kelly's Country." These O'Kellys are distinct from the O'Kellys of Clan Colla, who were princes of Hy-Maine, a territory in Galway and Roscommon. The Four Tribes of Tara
O'Lochain or O'Loughan	Chief of Gailenga, now the parish of "Gallen" in the Barony of Garrycastle, King's County.
O'Maollugach	Chief of Brogha, part of the now baronies of Delvin and Farbill.
O'Maelcolain or O'Mellon	Chief of Delvin Beg or Little Delvin adjoining the Barony of Delvin.
O'Maolmuaidhor O'Mulloy	Prince of Ferceall, comprising the present baronies of Ballycowen, Ballyboy, and Eglish or "Fercall," in the King's County.
O'Regan	Chiefs of Hy-Riagain, now the Barony of Tinnehinch in the Queen's County. The Four Tribes of Tara
O'Ruadhri or O'Rory	now Rogers, Lord of Fionn Fochla in Bregia.
MacRuairc or MacRourke	Chief of Aicme-Enda, descended from Enna Finn, another son of Niall of the Nine Hostages. This clan was located in the district in which is situated the Hill of Uisneach, in the Barony of Rathconrath, in Westmeath.
O'Tolairg or O'Toler and O'Tyler	Chief of Cuircne (cuircne : Irish, "the progeny of Cuirc", anglicised "Quirk"), now the Barony of Kilkenny West, in Westmeath.

O'Dugan, in the continuation of his Topography of Meath, enumerates the different Chiefs and their territories in Teffia; among whom were the following :
O'Catharnaigh or O'Kearney
O'Cuinn or O'Quinn
O'Confiacalaor O'Convally
O'Lachtnain or O'Loughnan	Anglicized Loftus
O'Mureagain, (Murrin or Murrigan)	The O'Quinns were Chiefs of Muintir Giolgain, and had their Chief castle at Rathcline, in Longford. The other Chiefs were:--O'Flannagain or O'Flanagan, Chief of Comar, which O'Dugan places beside "O'Braoin's Country"
O'Braoin or O'Breen of Breaghmhuine	The Barony of "Brawney" in Westmeath
MacConmeadha or Conmy	of Muintir Laodagain
MacAodha or MacHugh	of Muintir Tiamain
MacTaidhg or MacTague	of Muintir Siorthachain. By some of the family the name has been anglicised "Montague"
MacAmhailgadh	(anglicised respectively, MacAwley, Macaulay, Magauley, and MacGawley), Chief of Calraidhe or Calrigia, a territory on the borders of Westmeath and the King's County; comprising (according to MacGeoghegan) the Barony of Kilcourcy, in the King's County.
MacGarghamna	(anglicised MacGorgan), of Muintir Maoilsionna.
O'Dalaigh or O'Daley	of Corca Adhaimh or Corcadium, a territory in or contiguous to the Barony of Clonlonan, in Westmeath.
O'Scolaidhe or O'Scully	of Dealbhna Iarthar or West Delvin.
O'Comhraidhe (anglicised O'Corry)	of Hy-Mac-Uais or Moygoish in Westmeath.
O'Haodha or O'Hea	of Tir Teabtha Shoir or East Teffia.
O'Cearbhaill or O'Carroll	of Tara.
O'Duin, O'Doyne, or O'Dunne	of the districts of Tara.
MacGiolla Seachlan O'Shauglin of Deisceart Breagh	now the parish of "Dysart" in Westmeath.
O'Ronain or O'Ronayne	of Cairbre Gaura or northern Teffia.
O'h-Aongusa or O'Hennessy	of Galinga Beg, now the parish of "Gallen" in the King's County. Galinga Beg: According to O'Donovan, "Galinga Beg" included Glasnevin, near Dublin, north of the river Liffey; but this Galinga Beg could not be the same as the Galinga Beg, in the King's County
O'Dugan: has not given the following Chiefs and clans in Meath and Westmeath--
O'Sionnagh	(anglicised Fox), of the southern Hy-Niall, Lords of Muintir Tadhgain in Teffia, containing parts of the baronies of Rathconrath and Clonlonan in Westmeath, with part of the Barony of Kilcourcy in the King's County. The head of this family was distinguished by the title of "The Fox," and obtained large grants of land from Queen Elizabeth, with the title of Lord of Kilcourcy
O'one	a branch of the O'Connors, Kings of Connaught, who had large possessions in the Barony of Brawney, in Westmeath. In former times, these Chiefs had the title of "Barons of Clan-one," and afterwards obtained that of "Barons Sunderlin," of Lake Sunderlin, in Westmeath
O'Fagan	a numerous clan in Meath and Westmeath, of which there were many respectable families, the head of which had the title of "Baron of Feltrim," in Fingal. The following were also clans of note in Westmeath. The Chiefs and clans of ancient Meath (O'Brogan) were, with few exceptions, of the same race as the southern Hy-Niall; in our days, there are but few families of note, descendants of the ancient Chiefs and princes of Meath
O'Cobthaidh or O'Coffey
O'Higgin
O'Loingseach or O'Lynch in Meath
O'Murphy
O'Murray
O'Brogan
The Four Tribes of Tara: "The Four Tribes of Tara", according to the Battle of 'Magh- Rath' [Moria], where those tribes are mentioned, were the families of O'h-Airt [O'Hart]; O'Ceallaigh [O'Kelly], of Breagh or Bregia; O'Conghaile (considered to be O'Connolly); and O'Riagain [O'Regan]." --Book of Rights.

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