The Sogain
The Sogain were the original tribe of the County Galway area, with
branches to the north and east, that is, among the Laiginian tribe of Oirghialla in Ulster
and also in the Westmeath area (Mide). After the invasion and settlement of their Connacht
territory by the Laiginian tribe of Ui Maine (ca. AD. 4OO) they became tributary to the Ui
Maine king, but held on to a territory in north-central Galway between Galway Bay and the
Shannon, which was centered on the barony of Tiaquin. Their chief family in later times
was that of O’Mannin.
The O’Mannins, or Mannions
(O Mainnin)
were the chief family of the Sogain, and their head resided at the castle of Clogher in
the barony of Tiaquin, County GaLway. They were important tributaries to O’Kelly of
Ui Maine, and retained their estates until the confiscations of the seventeenth century.
The name is sometimes made into "Manning": Cornet John Manning of O’Neills
Dragoons in the Irish army of James II was by descent an O’Mannin.
The Loigis
The Loigis were commonly referred to as the "Seven Septs of
Leix." There were several families of this tribe in historical times, including the
O’Mores, O’Nolans, O’Dorans, O’Lawlors and O’Dowlings.
The O’Mores (O Mordha) were chief among
these families of Leix, and as princes of Leix they were foremost among the chiefs of
central Ireland in resisting the English conquest of the sixteenth century. Their main
fortress was at Dunamase, near Maryborough, the ruins of which remain to this day. The
O’Mores were famous for their conspicuous bravery in defying for several centuries
the English conquest and occupation of their territory. Few Gaelic families met with
greater cruelty at the hands of the English. In 16O9 the remnant of the clan was
transplanted to Kerry, where they settled in the neighborhood of Tarbert. However, many
subsequently returned to Leix. The O’Mores considered themselves to be under the
special protection of St. Fintan.
The O’Nolans or Knowlans
(O Nuallain)
are a branch of the O'Mores, and were a famous and respected family in Leinster, where
their head, as chief of Fothart Feadha, now the barony of Forth, County Carlow, had the
privilege of inaugurating MacMurrough as king of Leinster. A branch went to Connacht in
the sixteenth century, and became great landowners in Mayo and Galway.
The O’Dorans (O Deorain) were also of
the Loigis tribe. They were a great brehon (legal) family in Leinster until their power as
a sept was broken by the English. Subsequently the chief family was transplanted to Kerry,
and most of the clansmen migrated to Wexford. A branch also went north to Armagh.
The O’Lalors (O Leathlobhair) of Dysart Enos, near the
Rock of Duna- |
