TheConmaicne (Old Irish pronunciation:[ˈkɔnˠˌβ̃ɑkʲːnʲɛ];Modern Irish:Conmhaicne) were a people of early Ireland, perhaps related to theLaigin, who dispersed to various parts ofIreland. They settled inConnacht andLongford, giving their name to several Conmaicne territories.T. F. O'Rahilly's assertion the Conmaicne were non-Goidelic is not widely accepted.[1]
Their name originates from a mythical ancestor known asConmac(c) (Old Irish:[ˈkˠʰɔnˠˌβ̃ɑkˠː]), meaning "hound-son" (con, prefix form ofn-stemcú hound;mac, son). Conmac(c) descended fromFergus mac Róich and QueenMedb ofConnacht. However,Walsh stated "Conmac son of Fergus is a genealogical fiction".[2] The wordConmaicne means "progeny of Conmac" (-ne, a progeny). The name inOld Irish spelling containsm (without a followingh) andc (or more etymologically,cc), thusOld Irish Conmac(c) and Conmaic(c)ne, but in ModernIrish spelling containsmh (with unetymologicalh as a sign oflenition) and singlec, thus Conmhac and Conmhaicne).
Branches of the Conmaicne dispersed to various places.
TheDiocese of Ardagh was established in 1111 as thesee for eastConnacht. Fourteen years later, at theSynod of Kells-Mellifont, its area was reduced to the territory of the Conmaicne Rein and Conmaicne Angalie, south county Leitrim and all county Longford.[6] The diocese was commonly called "the Diocese of the Conmaicne".[7][4]
Known Septs in south County Leitrim were:
John O'Donovan wrote:
The chief families of the Conmacians were the O'Fearralls, princes and lords of Annaly, or Longford; the Mac Rannalls, a name anglicised to Reynolds, who were Lords of Conmaincee of Moy-Rein and Muintir-Eolais, in Leitrim; the Mac Keoghes, who were chiefs in Galway, and also in Lenister; the MacShanleys; O'Rodaghans; MacDorchys; O'Mulveys; O'Morans, and O'Mannings, chiefs and clans in various parts of Longford, Leitrim, and Roscommon.[9]
Notables descended from the Conmhaicne includeCruimthear Mac Carthaigh,St. Jarlath ofTuam and some abbots ofClonmacnoise.
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