Luighne Connacht facts for kids

Luighne Connacht was an old territory in Ireland. It was located in the central-northern part of Connacht. This area is now split between County Mayo and County Sligo. The land of Luighne was about the same size as the modern Roman Catholic Diocese of Achonry.

Who Were the Luighne People?

The Luighne were a group of people, or a "tribe." Their name means "tribe of Lugh," who was an important god in Irish mythology. They originally lived in an area called Brega. This was south of Kells in what is now County Meath.

Moving to Connacht

The Luighne likely moved to Connacht to help in battles. They might have been rewarded with land for their military service. This move and their new home in Connacht were important stories for them. People remembered these events for a long time.

One story says the Luighne came with a leader named Tadhg mac Cian. Historians believe the Luighne and other groups were "vassal tribes." This means they were fighting groups who served stronger kingdoms. The Connachta and Ui Neill leaders probably settled them on lands they had won.

Connected Tribes

The Luighne were part of a group of tribes from Brega. These included the Gailenga, Saitne, Delbhna, and Ciannachta. They were very connected and often worked together. Sometimes, the same person could even be king of different tribes within this group.

This area, the Boyne valley, has been settled for thousands of years. This long history likely created a strong sense of unity among these tribes. Later, in the 11th and 12th centuries, some of these groups became powerful kings in Brega.

Luighne in Connacht

The early Connachta rulers had strong friendships with the Luighne. They also allied with the Gailenga, Grecraige, and Corca Fhir Trí. All these groups lived near the Connachta lands, west of the Shannon.

External Kingdoms

In Connacht, the Luighne and their allies were called Fortuatha. This means "external" or "alien" tribes. They were not directly ruled by the main Connachta family. The Luighne were very strong and controlled smaller tribes. These included the Calraige, Grecraige, and Corca Fhir Trí.

Because of their power, the Luighne were seen as an "over-kingdom." This was officially recognized in the 12th century. Their lands became the diocese of Achonry.

Different Names

Sometimes, the name "Luighne Connacht" was used. This could mean the same thing as "Luighne." But other times, it meant a separate group of people. There was even a different family tree for "Luighne Connacht." This family line split off from the main Luighne line around the 8th century.

The Three Luighne Families

There were three main ruling families of Luighne. These were the Ó hEaghra, Ó Gadhra, and Ó Dobhailen families. The Ó Dobhailen family came from a leader named Dobhailen mac Gormghus. He was called "king of Luighne Connacht" when he died in 885.

Changes in Power

The Ó Dobhailen family was originally from the Corca Fhir Trí. This shows that even groups once under Luighne rule could become important leaders. The old records, called the Annals, often mention "Gaileanga." This word could mean a group of people or a specific area.

Later, the area known as Gallen was ruled by the Ó Gadhra family. They were chieftains of Luighne. But in the early 13th century, another family, the Jordans, took over. After that, the area was often called "Mac Jordan's country."

See also

• Kings of Luighne Connacht
• Luighne Brega
• Mac Siúrtáin