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Clans and Families of Ireland and Scotland
VIII. The Laigin


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.


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