Sligo and Mayo, Ireland, the Ui Fiachrach Muaidhe

 

Sligo and Mayo, Ireland,

Uí Fiachrach Muaidhe

In Connacht, Ireland – the area that is now called County Sligo and County Mayo was occupied in the ancient past by the People called  Uí Fiachrach Muaidhe.

They are the O Dubhda — or the modern, O’Dowd !

HISTORY:

In 982 Aedh ua Dubhda (Aedh grandson of Dubhda), King of Uí Fiachrach Muaidhe, died “an untroubled death”. He was the first of his dynasty to use the surname O Dubhda (anglicised to O’Dowd, Dowd). Brian, Melaghlin Carragh, Connor Oge, and Murtogh mac Connor O Dubhda fought at the Second Battle of Athenry in 1316, only Brian surviving. However, by the 14th century their power was much reduced, as was their territory which now almost entirely consisted of the barony of Tireragh. For this reason they were no longer referred to as Kings, but as Taoiseach (Chieftain) of Uí Fiachrach Muaidhe.

Here the family became sponsors of the Clan Mac Fhir Bhisigh, a family of hereditary historians and judges. Because of this, the O Dubhda is singular in having his inauguration ceremony preserved in an old book, the Great Book of Lecan. Written between 1397 and 1418 at Enniscrone in Tireagh, it was commissioned by Tadhg Riabhach O Dubhda.

A later Tadgh O Dubhda, Tadhg Buí, became Taoiseach in 1595. In 1601 he led the men of Uí Fiachrach south to Kinsale, never to return. A tradition states that “he survived the battle and settled in Co. Kerry, where his family later became known as Doody”. The last true O Dubhda of Uí Fiachrach was Dathi Og, patron and lord of Dubhaltach MacFhirbhisigh. Bearers of the name are still found scattered through Sligo, Mayo and Galway.

PRESENT DAY SLIGO AND MAYO IRELAND.

County Sligo, Ireland

County Mayo, Ireland.  They both were part of the Barony of Gallen, and the  Barony of Gallen is one of the nine baronies in County Mayo, Ireland, but the borders were changed in 1898. It is situated in the eastern part of the county south of the town of Ballina, bordering County Sligo. It incorporates the area between Foxford (north and west) Ballyvary (southwest), Swinford (south) and Bonniconlon (east).[1]

The descendants of Cormac Gaileng, great grandson of Olioll Olum were called Gailenga, the race of Gaileng, and they gave their name to the barony of Gallen in Mayo.[2]

 

Gallen Barony aka Bellalahen, the barony was formed from the ancient territory called Coranne. The barony was also part of the ancient territory of Gailenga at one time. O’Connellan (of Meath?) were centered here and in Kilmain. The Rowley family is cited in the parish of Kilshesnan. This area was later referred to as MacJordan’s country, named for descendants of the Norman named Jordan d’Exeter.