Genelach Dáil Cuinn Project™ Forum

Yes, Tirerrill was first part the territory of the Uí Ailella, who were destroyed by the Síl Muiredaig, and then later occupied by the Cland Maíl Rúamaig Mac Dondcháda. But there is good evidence that the original Uí Ailella territory extended from Tirerrill down to just north of Elphin, and from Airtech on the west to the Shannon on the east. So it may have included Mag Luirg; but certainly bordered it.

Another important battle in 792 was the battle of Ard Maiccrime in County Sligo, where the Ui Ailello were delivered their death blow. Among the slain were Cathmug mac Flaithbertaig of the Cenél Coirpri and Cormac son of Dub dá Crích of the Uí Briúin Bréifne. The Annals of the Four Masters states that Muirgius was the victor in this battle also. The Ui Briun profited by the decline of the Ui Ailello and a branch of the Sil Muiredaig later occupied Mag Luirg.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muirgius_mac_Tommaltaig

But I have always been puzzled by that reference to the Uí Ailella in the one Muinter Murcháda Tract recension. The Tract was written ~1095 AD, but the Uí Ailella had been effectively exterminated (at least as far as being recorded in subsequent histories) by ~792 AD.

"240.8: Ó Dathlaoich was the chieftain of Uí Bhruin Ratha (or Ó Duilligh was the chieftain of the fourteen townlands of Uí Bhruin Ratha) and they belonged to the family of Cairbre Airdcheann s. Brian, and [they held] fourteen townlands of all Ui Bhruin Ratha, and belonging to them were Uí Cheinneidigh and Uí Dhuinn and Uí Fhionnog of Cnoc Tuagha and Uí Laideanain (or Laidhghin) of Leacach and Uí Challannain of Ceall Chathghaile (or [Ceall] Chatail] and Uí Cheannabhain, the physicians of Muintir Mhurchadha and Uí Oilealla, and they belong to Tuath na dToibrineadh. (Another book says 'Ui Fhlaithbheartaigh where this says 'Muintir Mhurchadha.')

204.9: Ó Laidhigh were princes of Ui Bhriuin Seola together with their septs: Uí Fheichin, Uí Bhalbhain, Uí Dhuibh, Uí Mhadadhain, Meic Giolla Ghannain from Magh Lis Lionn ((a) a different version: the cavalry chiefs of Ó Flaithbheartaigh) and Uí Cholgan ((b) from Baile Uí Cholgan: the standard-bearers of Ó Flaithbheartaigh), Meic Fhionnain from Cill Chuanna and Uí Mhaoil Fhabhaill (or Maoil Ampuill) of Domhnach Padraig ((c)) the judges of Ó Flaithbheartaigh) and Uí Chleirchein of Rath Bhuidhbh and Uí Mheallaigh from Ceall na Manach and Ceall na gCaolan.

O’Dathlaoich is the taiseach of the fourteen ballys of the Hy-Briuin ratha; and of these are the O’Kennedies, and the O’Duinns, and the O’Innogs of Cnoc-tuadh, and O’Laighin of Lackagh, and O’Callanan, comharba of Killcahill.

O’Canavan, medical ollamh of O’Flaherty, in Tuath na d-Toibrineadh, but others say that O’Laighidh [O’Lee].

The chiefs of Hy-Briuin-Seola, with their correlatives, are O’Fechin, O’Balbhain, O’Duff, and O’Madudhain.
https://genelach.org/transcript-muinter ... ract.xhtml

O Dallaigh taiseach ceitri mbaili ndeg .H. mBruin ratha & as dibsein I Ceindeidigh & .H. Duind & .H. Findog cnuic tuadhgha & .H. Laidhain leacaigh & .H. Callannan cille cathaile & .H. Ceanndubhan ollamhain leighis .H. Flaithbertaig, a tuaith na doibh rinedh adberadaroile .H. Laidigh flaithe .H. mBruin seola gona fremhaibh I Feicin & .H. Balban & .H. Duibh & .H. Madadhan
https://genelach.org/transcript-book_of ... ithbertaig

So in summary,

• Recension 1 says the O’Canavan were the physicians to the Muinter Murcháda/O’Flaherty and the Uí Ailella, while the O’Lee were princes of Uí Briúin Seóla.
• Recension 2 says the O’Canavan were physicians to the Muinter Murcháda/O’Flaherty and maybe the O’Lee too. But it is easy to see how the O’Lee could have been meant to be the chiefs (princes) of Uí Briúin Seóla, as Recensions 1 and 3 have it.
• Recension 3 says the O’Canavan were physicians to the Muinter Murcháda/O’Flaherty and the O’Lee were princes of Uí Briúin Seóla. I think that “a tuaith na doibh rinedh adberadaroile” between stating the O’Canavan were physicians to the Muinter Murcháda/O’Flaherty and the O’Lee were princes of Uí Briúin Seóla is what has been translated in Recensions 1 and 2 as “they belong to Tuath na dToibrineadh” and “in Tuath na d-Toibrineadh”.

Only Recension 1 appears to mention the Uí Ailella, so it is suspect. Also in all the above, it is not clear whether the use of Uí Briúin Seóla is meant to refer to the people, or to the territory. Either way, they were significantly south of Tirerrill.

I will throw a curve ball at you too in the form of the Uí Laideanain (or Laidhghin) of Leacach/O’Laighin of Lackagh/.H. Laidhain leacaigh. That surname would sound like "lain" or "lean" after all the mutations, so if you throw in the change from Ó to Mac and factor in the Uí Briúin Bréifne started off in Mag Seóla/Uí Briúin Seóla, well it's a possibility...

Thanks so much for all that info David! I've been reading some transcriptions from surviving medical manuscripts from King Inns, and the O'Canavans & O'Shiels have entries written in Mac an Leagha's manuscript while in Sligo around the time Mac an Leagha was writing in the same place. I would bet there was a school there drawing in different medical families.

As I'm awaiting Gurry's BigY to finish, Im thinking it's pretty likely that FT130287 was one of the groups of people that was pushed towards Delbhna Nuadat. Whether they arrived there immediately or were possibly associated with the more dominant Sil Muireadhach who came into the area with Clann Uadach are both possiblities. I seem to have made some solid headway with Fraher. I had been thinking for quite some time that the Mayo surname O'Fearchair had just spread throughout Connacht by the 18th c., however there is another source for this surname around E. Galway/S. Roscommon.

Just a few townlands from where the Mac an Leagha had their ancestral lands named in the James I Patent Roll (Ballyforan, Coolatober, Cloonagh, Ballina) was Ardcolman in Dysart p. (Clann Uadach)
"-- To Edmund mc William O'Fallon, Ferriagh mc Bryan O'Fallon, Teige mc Thomas O'Fallon, Donnell mc Bryan O'Fallon, Melaghlin O'Kelly, Wm oge mc Dermott Reough O'Fallon, and William Magaraher of Ardcolman, gent., the town, lands and quarter of Ardcolman"

It turns out that "Fearchair" was the name of two Ui Fallamhain chiefs, one was "steward of the Ui Maine", asserting power of the Sil Muireadhach in the area.

1169 Ferchair Ua Fallamhain, taoiseach Clann-Uadach, maon Ui Maine
1225 Amhlaibh m. Ferchair Ui Fallamhain
1356 Ferchair H. Fallamhain, taoiseach Clann-Uadach

The name largely had the Mac or Mag prefix in Clan Uadach, and the O-prefix on the other side of the Suck, and the specific spelling "Fraher" was in Ballinasloe. I was glad to find some very early references to the name other than 19th century parish records which are far too late in my opinion.

I overlayed 1641 Down Survey proprietors over Taghboy with parts of Cam/Dysart. It seems Clann Uadach obtained a good portion of Taghboy as well at some point, most of which was named in a 1578 lease from the Dublin govt to Coagh Fallon Esq, although I'm not sure if this was just a re-grant from an earlier holding.



Cam-Kiltoom, specifically the townland of Eskerbaun was a solid Gurry/Gurhy population, 1749. FT130287 may have been here prior to any of the surnames that the branches emerge with.

All records of FT130287 variants concentrating around Clann Uadach

Chris,

As always, truly amazing research!

I cannot remember if this was mentioned previously, but from Dr. Daniel Curley's paper William Buide O’Kelly and the late medieval renaissance of the Uí Maine lordship:

The O’Conors adopted a policy of positioning branches of their own wider kin group as a means of securing power in eastern Connacht. A dynastic family of the Síl Muiredaig, the Clann Uadach, and their chiefs, the O’Fallons, were transplanted from their homeland in Tír Briúin na Sinna (between Elphin and Jamestown, Co. Roscommon) into the O’Kelly ancestral trícha cét of Tír Maine at some point in the early twelfth century, a tactic designed to limit O’Kelly power in the area.

What is interesting to me about that is the original O’Fallon territory was closer to the Uí Briúin Bréifne territory before they were transplanted in the 12th century AD. Could they have pulled some Uí Briúin Bréifne families with them? Or were those families already situated in the Cam and Dysert parishes? It is pretty clear at this point the O’Fallon were FGC5939+ and definitely part of the FGC5939+ Síl Muiredaig; whereas many of these other families are R1b-A5902+.

It is unclear to me as yet as to whether the Uí Briúin Bréifne familes first pushed out of the Mag Seóla region and some of the Uí Briúin Aí families followed them, or whether it was vice versa. The fact the O’Fallon were originally situated near the Doon of Drumsna, which as far as I can determine was originally Uí Ailella territory, does beg the question. Unfortunately, AFAIK we do not have any of the Tír Briúin inda Sinna families's Y-DNA test results; or if there are some, they are definitely not R1b-A259+.

There's a lot of interesting history behind all this.

Wow that definitely makes a lot of sense, I had no idea where they had come from exactly. This is the last mention of them in their homeland but I wasn't sure where "Druim Drestan" is/was.

ATighernach, 1137: A raid by Tighearnán Ó Ruairc and the men of Brefne into Connacht over the Ford of the Islet of streams, and he plundered Clann Uadach in Druim Drestan, and Ailill son of Giolla Énáin was slain, and Tighearnán went home over Athlone.

it appears from what I've read that the Sil Muireadhach seem to have been more powerful and were encroaching on Maigh Seola from the NW after they were pushed out, in a much quicker timeframe than the Ui Briuin Breifne became dominant in their area of settlement. The A5902+ in particular seem to be quite a fledgeling group for close to two centuries after their settling. The Sil Muireadhach may have had a number of allied families of other Ui Briuin septs, as it's just human nature to align one's self with a stronger entity in times of struggle/survival, or "taking back" one's ancestral homeland.

Chris,

One thing to keep very clear is that probably at least by 1000 AD, the O’Conor line was NOT Síl Muiredaig. Exactly when the SCE occurred is unclear as yet.

Based on the place names in that annals entry I did find:

1. Drum: “ancient Drum Dreastan...Dr[.]stans ridge”.
2. And, of course, Athlone.

2187
áth insin tsruthra ATig. RC xviii 156; Breifne raided into Connacht over Áth insin tSruthra, and plundred Clann Uadach in Druim Drestan, and went home over Áth Luain, ibid; Áth innsin Sruthra, AFM-ndx; Crech lá Tigernán Ua Ruairc et lá Feraib Breifne a Connachtoibh, tar Áth Innsi an tSruthra, gur airg Clann Uadach a nDruim Drestan, H. 1. 18, 106; he went from Mag nAí over Áth Innsin Sruthra into Breifne, AFM ii 1112.

9556
clann uadach *clann uatach* al. Clann Uattach, ATig. RC xviii 156; Druim
Drestan in it; Ua Fallamain taísech Clainne Uadach, ALC ii 214, AU ii 200, 220,
458, AFM iii 98, 236; comprised p. Camma, and most (or all?) of p. Dysart in b.
Athlone, c. Roscommon, AFM iv 866, Top. Poems, Kilkenny J ii 342; O’Fallons in
b. Athlone, c. Roscommon, CS 328; v. Clann Uatach infra.

13998
druim drestan *? druim drostain* in Connacht in Uí Maine, UM 41b1, Lec 187; in
Clann Uadach, Connacht, H. 1. 18, 106, RC xviii 156; p. Drum, b. Athlone, c.
Roscommon, AFM iii 258, Hy Maine, 78.

18128
inis an tsruthra Ó Ruairc et Fir Breifne do dhul i cConnachtaibh tar Áth Innsi an
tSruthra, H. 1. 18, 106.

[ E-Onomasticon ]

The Age of Christ, 1154 ...An army of the north of Ireland was led by Muircheartach Ua Lochlainn into Connaught, till he reached Dun-Imghain{a}, in Magh-Aei ; and he plundered the fort and destroyed the corn-crops of Magh-Luirg and Magh-Aei. He did not, however, obtain cows or hostages. He afterwards directed his course across the ford of Innsin-Sruthra{b} into Breifne, and compelled the men of Breifne to submit to Tighearnan Ua Ruairc; and Ua Lochlainn banished Godfrey Ua Raghallaigh into Connaught.

[ AFM, Vol. 2, p. 1113 ]

{a}Dun-Imghain - Now Dunamon, on the River Suck, at this period the seat of O'Finachtaigh.

{b}The ford of lnnsin-Sruthra: i. e. the Ford of the little Island of Sruthair. This was probably the name of a ford on the Shannon, but nothing has been yet discovered to prove its situation. There is a Sruthair, now Shrule, in the county of Longford, and a Tuaim-Sruthra, in the county of Roscommon; but neither place lies on the route from Dunamon into Breifne.

[ AFM, Vol. 2, p. 1112 ]

Based on the location of Dunamon and from the descriptions given above, then the Ford of the Islet of streams COULD be the neck at Ballyleague/Lanesborough at the northern end of Lough Ree.

So if that is correct, then it looks like Tigernán Ó Ruairc's raid crossed the Shannon River and made a southwest strike to Drum and then retreated back to the southeast and re-crossed the Shannon River at Athlone. That being the case, we know the Cland Uadach had already relocated from Tír Briúin na Sinna by 1137 AD.

And although Drum is in Drum Parish, which is a little to the southeast of Dysart and Cam Parishes, the traditional Cland Uadach territory, it is extremely close, so that the Cland Uadach territory could well have encompassed parts of Taghmaconnell and Drum Parishes as well. What is also very interesting is that the Barony of Moycarn is just to the south; and that is the territory of the Cland Flaithemáin Ó Cináeda.

Wow I didn't think to look south of Dysart/Cam, thank you for the research, this is really getting more interesting. Something I took note of a while ago while learning the geography of Ui Maine is that also in Moycarn (Creagh p.) is Atticorra (Áit tíghe Corra or Áit tíghe Comhraidhe). Mac gCorra is an alternate possibility of Gurry/Gorry, as the very well researched townland of Rathmagurry in Leyny b., Co. Sligo was determined to be Ráth Mhac gCorra. Meanwhile the Ó Corra surname seems to be an north Roscommon population.

Chris,

My pleasure to assist with research where I can.

BTW, I forgot to mention that the R1b-FGC5939 Maicne Eócháda Tírmchárnai do not only include the Uí Briúin Aí, Síl Muiredaig, but also several families that settled in southern and southeastern Co. Galway, such as the Ó Mainnín, the Ó Domnalláin, and possibly the Ó Lóegacháin. So from that perspective, it looks like the Maicne Eócháda Tírmchárnai expansion was always outward from Mag Seóla. I think the appellation Uí Briúin Aí for one particular branch came later after they had pushed outward, just like the Uí Briúin Bréifne.

We still have no idea yet where the R1b-Y166841 Uí Briúin, likely Maicne Cathail, were situated before they were incorporated into the later Ó Conchobair lineage sometime after ~1000 AD. I have wondered if this branch was the original Uí Briúin Aí before their incorporation into the Síl Muiredaig, which may have caused confusion with the path of expansion. For example, it looks like the Cland Maíl Rúamaig MAY have been situated in Cruffon before moving northward into Mag Luirg and Tirerrill. There were just a lot of events that seem to have occurred ~mid 700s AD that significantly affected later events, but we just don't have enough records of the ~mid 700s events, and/or they became corrupted. This is a puzzle we may never solve.