resettled in Greagraidhe, in Sligo, now
the Barony of Coolavin, and were later known as lords of Coolavin. They built their
stronghold, Moygara, at the northeastern extremity of Lough Gara. Branches went to Munster
before the end of the sixteenth century, and are known as Geary or Guiry. The
O’Duanys or Devanys of Sligo are a branch of the O’Garas.
The Dealbhna Eathra and Dealbhna Nuadat
The Dealbhna Eathra and Dealbhna Nuadat were closely related to the
Cianacht and Saithne. They originally comprised a single tribal kingdom in the
Roscommon-Offaly area, but in course of time the various branches of the Deal bhna became
separated under different overlordships, just as the Ui Maine became separated from their
collateral kinsmen to the northeast of the Shannon, the Oirghialla, by the growing apart
of the North Gaels which itself resulted in the ultimate overkingdoms of the Connachta and
Ui Neill. The Dealbhna Eathra were situated to the east of the Shannon around
Clonmacnoise, as a semiindependent tribal kingdom nominally subject to the Southern Ui
NieII. Their chief families in medieval times were the MacCoghlans and O’Conrahys.
The MacCoghlans (Mac Cochla in) descend from
Cochlan, lord of Dealbhna Eathra in 1053. The heads of the family were for centuries the
lords of Dealbhna Eathra, and the territory of their tribal kingdom was in later times
called after them "Delvin (Dealbhna) MacCoghlane." Their territory cornprised
the modern barony of Garrycastle, in County Offaly. They were once very powerful, and had
ten strong castles in the Garrycastle area. The O’Conrahys (O Conratha) are a branch
of the MacCoghlans.
The Deal bhna Nuadat were centered on the
other side of the Shannon, between it and the River Suck in County Roscommon, and were
tributary to the Ui Maine. Their later representatives are the O’Hanlys of Connacht.
The O’Hanlys (O hAinle) were chiefs of
Cinel Dobhtha, called in later tirnes Tuaohanly and Doohy Hanly, being a district along
the River Shannon north of Lough Ree. The O’Hanleys held this territory as late as
the seventeenth century as tributaries of the O’Connor Don of Ui Maine. In the late
sixteenth century several related gentlemen of the name were given in succession the
office of "Seneschal" ("Royal Officer") of "Tohahohanly"
under Queen Elizabeth I.
The Saithne
The Saithne were closely related to the Cianacht and Dealbhna. They
originally inhabited a territory in the southern part of the kingdom of Brega, the
kingship of which they in ancient times had shared with kindred groups. Their lands in
Brega lay southeasterly, midway between the River Boyne and the River Liffey. Their later
representatives were the O’Caseys. |
