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Christianity was introduced to Ireland in the fifth century by captured slaves from the west coast of Britain during the breakup of the Roman Empire. St Patrick was the most famous of these slaves. Connemara people frequent two great pilgrimage mountains associated with St Patrick, Mán Ean in the Maumturks and Croagh Patrick. By the early seventh century monks had founded important monasteries on the remote and rugged islands of Inishark by St Leo, on High and Omey islands by St. Fechin, Inis Ní by St. Mathias and on Oilean Mhic Dara by St. Macdara. It is probable that ST. FECHIN was born in Bella, a townland in Collooney (Kilvarnet) parish, belonged to the O'Hara family, and that his early education was directed by St. Nathy. Traditionally his mother's name was Lassara and she also is venerated as a saint. Fechin's name still lives on in parts of the locality: an area called Parc-Ehin (Fechin's field); Fechin's Well in the neighbouring townland of Kilnamonagh; Fechin's Bed, once a place of pilgrimage; Fechin's Strand near Ballysadare. Fechin then left the West of Ireland and some time later set up his most famous foundation, that at Fore in Co. Westmeath. Fechin is so closely associated with this - later famous - abbey that he is generally called 'St. Fechin of Fore' (Naomh Féchín Fabhar). In later life Fechin returned to the West where he was associated with foundations in CONG (of Thomond, Briefne, and Roscommon) - later a famous abbey - and in west Galway and at High Island and Omey Island off the Galway coast.
Founded on Skellig Michael in 560 AD. Skellig Michael is 8 miles off the west coast of Kerry, and known throughout the world of archeology as the site of a well-preserved monastic outpost of the early Christian period.
Gallarus Oratory church overlooks the harbour at Smerwick on the Dingle Peninsula
According to tradition St. Finian established a church in Achonry (Irish Achadh Chonaire, the field of Conaire), Co. Sligo, in the sixth century and placed his pupil NATHY who was born in Sligo possibly of the O’Hara family , in charge of it. The boundaries of the diocese emerged in the early twelfth century and it was formally established by the Synod of Kells in 1152 when the present Irish diocesan structure was laid out. Abbot Nathy of Fobhar is commonly referred to in the writings as Crumther Nathy or Cromnathy (Irish Cruimhthir, a priest) in Westmeath, and served as its first abbot. From the likelihood that Nathy had been a priest for some years when St. Finian died in 552 and that he was still alive when St. Fechin founded the abbey in Fore - which was probably not before 610. St. Nathy and St. Attracta are the patrons of the diocese. St. Attracta had her convent in Killaraght (Irish Cill Araght, the church of Attracta), where she was renowned for her charity and her hospitality. A very old tradition associates her with St. Patrick, which would place her in the fifth century and close to the origins of Christianity in Ireland. In 650, Aileran became rector of Clonard, and was recognized as a classical scholar and a master of Latin and Greek. He wrote The Fourth Life of St. Patrick, a Latin-Irish Litany and The Lives of St. Brigid and St. Fechin of Fore. Aileran died from the Yellow Plague. His death on December 29, 664 is chronicled in the Annals of Ulster.
The Conmhaicne Mara (the Conmhaicne of the sea) were Located in what is now the extreme west of County Galway and gave their name to the territory they occupied i.e. Connemara, which is the anglicised form of Conmhaicne Mara. The territory of Conmhaicne Mara / Connemara covers all of the barony of Ballynahinch and the civil parish of Inishbofin, which is in the barony of Murrisk. The Érainn were the second of the Celtic groups to come to Ireland.
When the first inhabitants of the Arans, probably coastal fishers from the Connemara region, arrived on Inis Mór, they found it divided into two distinct regions, much as it is today. The highest parts of the island faced the Atlantic, sheltering the fertile lowlands from the violent storms that lash the western coast of Ireland. From their safe harbors facing the Connemara coast, the islanders could send out boats to catch the abundant fish of Galway Bay or the Atlantic, and they could build houses and farms on the sheltered lowlands. Irish (Gaelic) is still the first language for many of the inhabitants.
On the West side of the island there is a group of three thatched cottages, in the village called Cinn an Bhaile. They are among the last remaining inhabited thatched houses on Inis Meain. The village, has spectacular views of Inis Mor. The area of County Galway in which Connemara lies is known as Iar Connacht ie the portion of County Galway west of Loch Corrib and a small piece of County Mayo. The territory contains the five Catholic parishes of
- An Clochán (Clifden; Omey & Ballindoon); the territory contains the five Catholic parishes of An Clochán (Clifden, Omey & Ballindoon), Iorras Ainbhtheach (Carna), Cloch na Rón/(ROUNDSTONE), Baile na Cille (Ballynakill) and Inis Bó Fine/(Inishbofin).
- Iorras Ainbhtheach (Carna),
- Cloch na Rón/(Roundstone),
- Baile na Cille (Ballynakill)
- Inis Bó Fine/(Inishbofin).
Other branches of the Conmhaicne located in what is now County Galway include the Conmaicne Toland, the Conmaicne Dun Mor. The parish of Kilconickny, which means "church of the Conmaicne" is located west of the town of Loughrea, nearby Clonfert. Loughrea (Baile Locha Riach in Irish) is a town in County Galway, Ireland. The town lies on Loch Riach, "the grey lake" although some say the name derives from Loch Riabhach which means "speckled lake" which seems more appropriate given its beauty. The town has a range of hills along its southern boundary. The only remaining buildings from medieval times are St. Brigids Church in Caherwalter, the Town Gate and the Carmelite Abbey and Graveyard. Chiefs of Conmaicne Rein (Muintir Eolais) included Reynolds (Mac Raghnaill, Mac Rannall), with the O'Rourke (Uí Ruairc) dynasty cited as over-lords of this area. A Mulvey (Maoil Mhiadhaigh) sept was cited early as chiefs of Tellach Cearbhallan in Muintir Eolais. An early genealogy of the Conmaicne is given as: Finer, son of Cúmscrach (aka Cumascrach) m. Cécht m. Eircc m. Erccdail m. Duib m. Ma Druaid m. Nertai m. Fhernertai m. Cécht m. h-Uisli m. Béirre m. Beidbi m. Luigdech m. Conmaic (a quo Conmaicne) m. Oirbsen Máir (a quo Loch n-Oirbsen).
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