Aradh Tíre and Aradh Chliach

Ara, Arae, Arad, Arada or Aradh.


The Leabhar na gCeart cites the people of Ara (Arada, Aradh) were Rudricians, descended from Feartlachta, son of Fearghus, King of Ulster, in the 1st century; but these people were driven out by the descendants of Eoghan, son of Ailioll Óluim, and thereafter the territory was called Eoghanact Aine Cliach. O'Ciarmhaic, the chief, paid tribute to King Munster. Many of the early kings of Ulster through the centuries were of the Dál n-Araidhe and the Dál Fiatach clans of counties Armagh, Down and Antrim:

The Irish Annals record for the yeare of our Lord 322 cite, "Fiacha(dh) Sraibhtine, after having been thirty seven years as king over Ireland, was slain by the Collas, in the battle of Dubhchomar, in Crioch Rois, in Breagh."

In early texts there is mention of the four Aradhs, descended from Feartlachtga, son of Feargus. The Book of Fenagh says they were Uí Monan, Uí Fidhmuine, Artroighi and Teochraide. The Book of Leinster makes them the Taechraige, Artraige, Descert Cliach and Hui Idban (Hui Fidbannaig). The Book of Lecan cites the Taecraidi, Artraidi, Deisceart Cliach, Uí Fidban and Uí Feitheamna. The Laginian tribes of Leinster descend from Cú Corb, a descendant of Find File. From Cú Corb's son Cairpre descend the Dál Cairpre Arad, whose territory was in Munster. From Cú Corb's son Corbmac descend the Dál Cormaic, Uí Gabla, Uí Labrada and Uí Buide (O'Kealy). From Cú Corb's son Nia Corb descended Cathair Mór and Maine Mál. Maine Mál was the ancestor of the Uí Máil, which included the septs of the Uí Theig (O'Tighe) and Uí Ceallaig Cuallan (O'Kelly of the Wicklow hills). Cathair Mór was the ancestor of the Free Tribes of Leinster: through his son Ross Failge descended the Uí Failge.

Prior to the arrival of the sons of Niall of the Nine Hostages in the 5th and 6th centuries, this area of Ireland was probably inhabited by the tribes of the Uí Failge, Uí Enechglaiss and Dal Messin Corb, who later retreated into Leinster; the Cianachta, of Munster origin; the Déisi and Corco Roída, claimed to be descended from nephews of Conn of the Hundred Battles; the Uí Maic Uais, descended from one of the Three Collas; the Delbna septs; the Gailenga Brega, the Luigni Mide and Fir Chul, the Saithne Brega, and the Mugdorma, among others. Mac Firbis cites the parts of Leinster, belonging to the Clann Cormaic (Dál Messin Corb) are Cuthraighe, Ua Trena, Ui Cruinn or Ui Cuinn, Ua Gabla Fine and Ua Gabla Roireann. From Cú Corb's son Corbmac descend the Dál Chormaic, Uí Gabla, Uí Labrada, Uí Buide (O'Kealy), and the Cuthraighe. From Cú Corb's son Nia Corb descended Cathair Mór and Maine Mál. An the Ui Cormaic - descendants of Cormac, the clan name of the O'Hehirs in Thomond.

Aradh Tíre was located in northern Tipperary, within the half barony of Ara (and Owney) or the northern half of the barony of Owney and Ara. Ua Donnacáin (O'Donegan) is cited as king of Arad or Aradh Thíre prior to the Norman arrival, with Uí Riada (O'Reidy) cited as king of Aradh in 1129. The Mac I Brien were also noted here in the 14th century. The territory of Araid Tíre was east and south-east of Lough Derg on the east side of the Shannon in County Tipperary. an early Dál Cairpri Arad Tíre genealogy:   (Rawlinson) Connaid m. Máeli Doburchon m. Lóchéne m. Demle m. Lommáin m. Cuirc m. Findchada m. h-Írchada m. Fir Roith m. Fir Nuad m. Buain m. Airgetbrain m. Cairpri Cluichechair m. Con Corb unum genus est & Dál Cairpri Arad Tíre.

Ara Chliach was centered east of the city of Limerick, perhaps in or near the baronies of Clanwilliam and Coonagh in northeastern county Limerick. The Éoganacht Araidh Cliach in the barony of Coonagh, the Eoghanacht Aine Cliach in the barony of Small County, and the Uaithne Cliach in the barony of Owneybeg, were all close neighbors. The Book of Ballymote mentions the Araidh Clíach descended from Eber, son of Ir, an ancient lineage tying them to the Rudricians, aka Clanna Rory of Ulster. The tribal group called the Dál Mo Dola migrated from Pallas Grean in Arada Cliach, to the area of Airthir Cliach (in Munster) according to the Tripartite Life of St. Patrick. Airthir Cliach is thought to be in the territory of Muscraighe Mitine (Hogan). The Éoghanacht Leag in Arad Cliach and the Éoganacht Airthir Cliach share a common lineage according to the genealogies.

The Dál Coirpri Aradh were of Laiginian [Leinster] origin, descendants of Cu Chorb, who possibly settled in County Tipperary. The Book of Leinster places them in Ara Thíre and Ara Cliach, located as cited above. The same source mentions the Dál Coirpri Aradh Cliach descended from Mál mac Arbhara, and the Dál Coirpri Aradh Tíre descended from Finnchaidh, son of Ferroith; both located in Munster. an early Dál Cairpri Arad genealogy:   (Rawlinson) Flaithbertach m. Crunnmaíl m. Commáin m. Fínáin m. Fhaigir m. Eirníne m. Féicc m. Meic Ieir m. Gossa m. Fabrich m. Máil m. Ainmerech m. Fir Roith m. Muine m. Fir Neud m. Fir Lugdach m. Buain m. Argatibair m. Cairpre Cluichechair m. Con Corb.

Dál Coirpri Cliach - The Book of Lecan and Book of Ballymote mention the Dál Coirpri Cliach in descent from Lughaidh Corb. The Dál Coirpri in Ara Cliach were noted, by O'Donovan and Hennessy, in and near the barony of Idrone in Co. Carlow (in Leinster). The latter, and perhaps the former, were also referred to as Dál Coirpri Loingsic Beic, a chief family of early Leinster, by the Book of Leinster. The Dál Coirpri in Ara Cliach were also recognized in the Book of Ballymote as a chief family of Leinster. To confuse matters, the Book of Leinster also recognizes a Dál Coirpri Loingsic in Munster, named from Coirpri Musc the poet, who received the land of Tír nAmhais from Aongus Musc.

Corco Moga - Identified by O'Donovan in Topographical Poems of O'Dugan and O'Heerin as Corcamoe (Corco Mogho), comprising the parish of Kilkerrin, in the barony of Killian, co. Galway. O'Hart mentions the O'Sgaithgil or Scahil, as chiefs of Corca Mogha, as well as O'Broin, anglicized "Burns," who was chief of Lough Gealgosa, a district adjoining Corca Mogha.

Ó Concheannainn (O'Concannon), said to be a sept of the Uí Maine? (by McLysaght), were lords of Uí Diarmada in the parish of Kilkerrin, County Galway, from the 11th to the 15th centuries. They claim descent from Cú Chenand, son of Tadhc mac Muirchertaigh, who was killed about 991. The genealogies of the Book of Ballymote place their descent through the Síl Muiredaigh of Uí Briúin, under the heading Genelach Diarmata Find mc. Tomaltaig. A lineage there is cited as Murgius (of 1037), son of Uatu, son of Cú Cenand, son of Tadg, son of Muircertach, son of Ailill, son of Uatu, son of Datláech, son of Diarmaid Find, son of Tomaltach, son of Murgal, son of Indrachtach, son of Muiredach muillethan. Not to be confused with O'Cairellain of Clann-Diarmada in North Ireland, or with Mac Diarmada, kings of Magh-Luirg (Moylurg).