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Clans and Families of Ireland and Scotland
VIII. The Laigin


Ui Briuin, although they were Laiginian (the original "Three Connachts" included the Ui Neill, who branched eastwards and started a new and separate dynasty in the early 5th century A.D.). The MacKeoghs (Mac Eochadha) are a branch of the O’KeIlys, and were formerly chiefs of Moyfinn in the Barony of Athlone in County Roscommon.

The O’Fahys (O Fathaigh) were chiefs of a territory known as Poblewinterfahy (Pobal Mhuintir Ui Fhathaigh), which lay in the Barony of Loughrea in south-central Galway. They remained in possession of these lands down to the Cromwellian confiscations of the mid-seventeenth century. Fahysvillage, in Loughrea, recalls their presence there.

The O’Horans (O hUghroin; later O hOghrain) are a branch of the Ui Maine, and were originally seated around Clonrush in the south of County Galway, where they remained numerous and held large estates down to the Cromwellian confiscations of the mid seventeenth century. A branch migrated early to County Mayo, where they became co-arbs (hereditary successors) of St. Mochua at the abbey of Balla.

The O’Sheehans (O Siodhachain) are a Ui Maine sept of Galway that in the High Middle Ages (tenth—thirteenth centuries) were hereditary trumpeters to The O’Kelly. They later spread into neighboring County Clare, and became attached to the ruling dynasty there, under the Ui Toirdealbhaign or O’Briens, and as a result came to be regarded as Dalcassian.

The Clann Bhreasail were settled in southeastern County Galway between Lochrea and Ballinasloe. Their chief family was that of O’Donnellan (O Domhnallain), the head of which family resided at his castle at Ballydonnellan in the clan territory. The family was famous as ollavs (professors), and produced several famous poets, mentioned in the Annals.

The Clann Uadach or O’Fallons (O Fallamhain) were lords of a territory in the barony of Athlone which comprised the parishes of Camma and Dysart, in the south of what is now County Roscommon. The ruins of their castle are at Milltown, in the parish of Dysart.

The Siol nAnmchadha or O’Maddens (O Madain were of the same stock as the O’Kellys, from whom they separated and became independent about 1050. They descend from Madadhan (slain A.D. 1008), son of Gadhra Mor, chief of the Ui Maine from 1014 to 1027. The clan-lands, called after them Siol nAnmchadha, comprised the modern barony of Longford in the southeast of County Galway, and also the parish of Lusnagh in County Offaly, on the other side of the Shannon. They held these lands under the Burke overlordship and remained in possession down to the Cromwellian confiscations of the mid seventeenth century (some of their confiscated estates were restored to them under the Act of Settlement in 1677). In 1612, Donal O’Madden, "captain of his nation," settled all of his estates, including his manor and castle of Longford, on his son and heir, Anmchadh, or Ambrose, O’Madden, in tail male.


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