Co. Donegal
The fall of the (Old Kingdom) Akkad empire established by Sargon seems to have been as sudden as its rise, and little is known about the Gutian period. From the fall of Akkad until around 2100 BC and the Ninth Dynasty wars in Egypt; Magh Ithe, first recorded battle in Ireland myths (2071 BC). Twenty years later Magh Ithe is the first recorded prehistoric battle in Ireland in the Annals of the Four Masters. Cíocal Grigenchosach, son of Goll, son of Garbh, of the Fomorians, and his mother, came into Ireland, eight hundred in number, so that a battle was fought between them and Partholón's people at Sleamhnai Maighe Ithe, where the Fomorians were defeated by Partholón, so that they were all slain. Magh Ithe, the "Plain of Ith", was said to have been named after Ith, the uncle of Míl Espáine, who was killed by the Tuatha Dé Danann. The Denyen-Phillistines are one of the groups associated with the Sea Peoples, raiders associated with the (Doric Invasion) of the Eastern Mediterranean Dark Ages. Magh Ithe was located between Lough Foyle, Lough Swilly and the River Finn in Counties Donegal and Londonderry.
8 baronies, Inhabited anciently by the Vennicnii and the Pictish tribe, Rhobogdii according to Ptolemy, and later formed the northern part of Eircael (or Eargal) which extended into Co. Fermanagh. The latter Rhobogdii of whom also occupied part of the county of Londonderry prior to the arrival of the sons of Niall in the 4th century. Later there were the Dál Riata, Dál nAraide and the Dál Fiatach. The Dal nAriade and the Dal Fiatach were the ruling dynasties for much of Uladh's history. By the 4th and 5th centuries much of the western and central portions of Ulster began to be dominated by the tribes of the northern Uí Neill (The Rights of Ua Neill) and the Oirghialla. Emania near the old town of Ballyshannon, on the Erne, are the ruins of the time-honored abbey of Assaroe, founded in the early twilight age of Christianity in Ireland.
Ulster (Greater and Lesser) had its ancient capital at Emain Macha, near the modern city of Armagh. An ancient capital, cultural center for the Ulaid was at Emhain Macha, in modern county Armagh and Monaghan, before being driven east by the incursion of the three Collas to Navan Fort. Another sept not mentioned in any of these lists were the Mac Giolla Fhinneins, chiefs of Muinter Peodachain on the Donegal - Fermangh border. St Columb came out of Donegal to escape the plague 1,400 years ago and founded his first monastery in Derry, the oak grove (Doire in Gaelic), a gift from his cousin, Prince of Aileach. In Coleraine, it is believed that a small church was built at Errigal around 560 A.D. Under old Gaelic Ireland, much of Derry was in the old territory of Tirowen. (Ulster Clans)
The Airghialla (Collas) federation included Uí Cremthainn, Uí Méith, Uí Tuirtre, Uí Meic Uais, Uí Fiachra Ard Sratha, Mughdorna, Uí Meic Cáirthinn, Airthir, Fernmhaighe, and Fir Lí.
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Banagh
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Boylagh
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Inishowen (East)
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The most ancient name of the district in which this barony was situated was Moy Ith (Magh Ithe), the Plain of Ith, a district which comprehended the tract between Loughs Foyle and Swilly and extended as far south as the river Finn. Moy Ith was once divided into Inis-Owen and Tir Enda, named after two sons of Niall of the Nine Hostages. Previous to the 12th century Moy Ith was occupied by a branch of the Cenél Éoghain, called Clan Conor, of which the most distinguished families were those of O'Cathan, O'Cairellan, O'Murry, O'Kennedy, O'Corran, O'Quin, and O'Dugan.
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Inishowen (West)
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Between the 9th and the 13th century the whole of Inishowen was divided into three sectors, Aileach, Bredach and Carraic Brachaidhe (Carraickabraghy) which is situated in the west of Inishowen. The dominance of the Cenél Eóghain continued as they drove further south, subjugating other Airghiallan tribes, and by the 11th century the Cenél Eóghain had moved their power base from Aileach to that near Tullahogue in modern day county Tyrone (named from Tir Eóghain, or Tir Owen).
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Kilmacrenan
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Rosguill, a promontory (or Ross) in the barony of Kilmacrenan, co. Donegal, between Sheep Haven and Mulroy bay, i.e. in the parish of Mevagh. O'Dugan (Poems) cites that Ros-Guill and Ros-Iorguil belong to MacGillatsamhais. Ros-Iorguil, or Irguill, is equated to Horn Head, to the west of Ros Guill, in the index to the Four Masters. Both areas are west of Fanad. Who the MacGillatsamhais' (Mac Giolla Shamhais) were is not known.
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Raphoe (North)
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Raphoe (South)
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Tirhugh
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The
Major Septs of Donegal
From O'Hart's "Irish Pedigrees," quoting O'Dugan's Topographical Poems.
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