References and Further Reading
Byrne, Francis John. Irish Kings and High Kings, 2nd ed. Dub-
lin: Four Courts Press, 2001.
Dillon, Myles. “The Inauguration of O’Conor.” In Medieval
studies. Presented to Aubrey Gwynn, edited by J. A. Watt, J.
B. Morrall, and F. X. Martin, 186–202. Dublin: Three Can-
dles, 1961.
Knox, H. T. “Occupation of Connaught by the Anglo-Normans
afterA.D. 1237.” Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries
Ireland32 (1902): 132–138, 393–406; and 33 (1903): 58–74.
Ó Corráin, Donncha. Ireland Before the Normans (The Gill
History of Ireland, Vol. 2). Dublin: Gill and MacMillan,
1972.
Walsh, Paul. “Christian Kings of Connacht.” Journal of the
Galway Archaeological and Historical Society17 (1937):
124–143.
Walton, Helen. “The English in Connacht, 1171–1333.” Unpub-
lished Ph.D. dissertation, Trinity College Dublin, 1980.
See alsoAnglo-Norman Invasion; Bermingham;
Burke; Clonmacnoise; Connachta; Gaelicization;
Leth Cuinn and Leth Moga; Niall Noígiallach;
Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair; Tairrdelbach Ua
Conchobair; Ua Conchobair; Uí Briúin; Uí
Mhaine, Book of; Uí Néill; Ulster, Earldom of
CONNACHTA
Connachta is the collective name for the dynasties that
dominated the province of Connacht and claimed
descent from a mythic figure named Conn Cétchath-
ach. In the early historical period, the name applied
only to the dynasties of Uí Fíachrach, Uí Briúin, and
Uí Ailello, which shared a common fifth-century
ancestor and were known collectively as na téora Con-
nachta(the Three Connachta). Aside from legends and
some scattered references in the early annals, very little
is known about their origins and activities before the
eighth century.
The Connachta of the prehistoric period are much
celebrated in Irish myth and legend. Their perennial
feuds with the Ulaid, which may have a basis in fact,
provided the background for the Ulster Cycle, while
some of their more famous kings, like Cormac mac
Airt, became enshrined in the early Irish historical
tales. Legend has it that they had lived in Ireland for
centuries and had controlled much of the north, an area
known as Leth Cuinn, from their ancient capitol at
Cruachu on Mag nAí in County Roscommon. Some
legends also connect them with Tara. Although their
ultimate origins are not known, one story suggests that
they came to Ireland from Spain in the distant past,
under the leadership of Tuathal Techtmar, the grand-
father of Conn.
Out of these legendary beginnings, the historical
Connacht dynasties emerged in the course of the fifth
and sixth centuries A.D. They are said to originate with
three brothers named Fíachra, Brïon, and Ailill, whose
father, Eochaid Mugmedón, was king. Their activities
are closely connected with those of their half-brother,
Níall Noígíallach, who became the progenitor of their
collateral kin, the Uí Néill. In the fifth century, it is
claimed, all four siblings together with their families
struck out in different directions, possibly from Mag
nAí, and began the conquest of what was to become
their historical homelands. Whatever the truth behind
these events, the historical Connachta and Uí Néill did
share a sense of common kinship. It is likely too that
they originally recognized a joint over king, presum-
ably the king of Tara, since there is little evidence for
a separate provincial kingship of Connacht during this
period. Exactly when the two groups finally parted
ways is not clear, but it must have happened after the
death of Ailill Molt (d. 482), apparently the last of the
Connachta featured in the Tara kinglists.
During the fifth and sixth centuries, the descendants
of Fíachra, Brïon, and Ailill gained control of the best
lands in Connacht and asserted their suzerainty over
the local populations. These people included groups
such as the Conmaicne, Partraige, Greccraige, Cíar-
raige, Luigni, and Gailenga. For some time, though,
they failed to gain ascendancy over the Uí Maine, a
powerful kingdom in the southeast of the province.
What evidence there is for this period suggests that the
Uí Fíachrach were dominant, although they faced
fierce competition from the Uí Briúin. The former had
split early on into two main lines, the one controlling
the northern coasts of the province, the other the south-
ern border. The northern line consisted of four main
septs that were collectively known as Uí Fíachrach in
Tuaisceirt. These included the Uí Fíachrach Múaide
on the river Moy; the Uí Fíachrach Muirsce in the north
of County Sligo; the Uí Amolngada, the family of
Tírechán, in the north of County Mayo; and the Fir
Cherai in west-central Mayo. The southern line lived
along the Munster border and was known as Uí
Fíachrach Aidne. They reached the height of their
power in the seventh century under Guaire Aidne
(d.663), who later became a celebrated figure in Irish
legend. But despite their early prominence, both the
northern and southern lines were on the decline in the
eighth century, and after the death of Donn Cothaid in
773, the Uí Fíachrach never again produced an over
king of Connacht.
During this same period, the Uí Ailello enjoyed
local autonomy in their lands north of Mag nAí, though
they never played a major role in Connacht politics.
In the eighth century, they ran into constant conflict
with their subject peoples, the Luigni and Greccraige,
and possibly also the expanding Uí Briúin. They wereCONNACHTA