Uí Mháine Explained

Native Name:	Uí Mhaine
Common Name:	Ireland
Year Start:	4th century
Year End:	1611
Life Span:	1,300 years
Today:	Ireland
Status:	Túatha
Status Text:	Túatha of Connacht (until 6th century)
P1:	Senchineoil
P2:	Connacht
S1:	Connacht
S2:	Clanricarde
S3:	Kingdom of Ireland
Image Map Caption:	Early peoples and kingdoms of Ireland, c.800
Common Languages:	Old Irish, Middle Irish, Early Modern Irish, Latin
Religion:	Gaelic Christianity Catholic Christianity Gaelic tradition
Government Type:	Tanistry
Title Leader:	Rí
Leader1:	Máine Mór
Year Leader1:	357–407
Leader2:	Feardorcha Ó Cellaigh
Year Leader2:	1593–1611

Irish, Middle (900-1200);: Uí Mháine|italic=unset, often Anglicised as Hy Many, was one of the oldest and largest kingdoms located in Connacht, Ireland. Its territory of approximately 1000sqmi encompassed all of what is now north, east and south County Galway, south and central County Roscommon, an area near County Clare, and at one stage had apparently subjugated land on the east bank of the Shannon, together with the parish of Lusmagh in Offaly.

There were two different Uí Mhaine, the Uí Mhaine of Tethbae and the Uí Mhaine of Connacht; these tribes were separated by the Shannon River. The people of the kingdom were descendants of Maine Mór, who won the territory by warfare. Its sub-kingdoms, also known as lordships, included – among others – Soghan, Corco Modhruadh, Delbhna Nuadat, Síol Anmchadha, and Máenmaige. These kingdoms were made up of offshoots of the Uí Mháine dynasty, or subject peoples of different backgrounds.

The Uí Mhaine are among the ancient Irish dynasties still represented today among the recognised Irish nobility and Chiefs of the Name, by the O'Kelly of Gallagh and Tycooly, Prince of Uí Mhaine and Count of the Holy Roman Empire. The Fox (O'Kearney) may represent the eastern Uí Mhaine of Tethbae.

Early times

Maine Mór is said to have established the kingdom around 357 AD, and ruled for fifty years. Before his arrival, the area had been occupied by the Fir Bolg, ruled by King Cian d'Fhearaibh Bolg.

Early leaders (in order)

Name	Years Ruled	Death
Maine Mór	50 years	natural death
Breasal mac Maine Mórson of Maine Mór	30 years	natural death
Fiachra Finnson of Breasal	17 years	slain by brother
Connall Cas Ciabhachson of Breasal	22 years	slain
Dallán mac Breasalbrother of Fiachra Finn	11 years	mortally wounded then drowned
Duach mac Dallánson of Dallan	16 years	slain by Maine Macamh
Lughaidh mac Dallánson of Dallan	14 years	natural death
Feradhach mac Lughaidhson of Lughaidh	24 years	slain by successor
Marcán	15 years	slain with a sword
Feradhach mac Lughaidhson of Feradhach	9 years	slain by successor

Main families

Descendant clans of the dynasty include the Ó Ceallaigh,^[1] Ó Draighnáin, Ó hUallacháin, Ó Madadháin,^[1] Ó Neachtain,^[1] Ó Cnaimhín,^[1] Ó Domhnalláin, Ó Maolalaidh,^[1] Ó Fallamháin,^[1] Ó Cionnaith,^[1] Ó Géibheannaigh Ó Bhreasail

Customs

An early 15th-century text Nosa Ua Maine, states that they were given rewards and treasures such as:

A portion of all "strongholds and seaport towns in the province"
A portion of all prizes and wrecks of the sea
- This included any wines or goods that had been washed to shore from shipwrecks, etc.
- It also included whales and fish which came to be known as "royal fish" and were given to only the kings and queens
Hidden treasures found underground, all silver and gold mines and other metals
They were given a third of any revenues received by the king of Connacht of any other provinces where wrong had been done
The revenue (or Irish: eric) of killing a person was considered very large and in one document recorded was stated as being "168 cows"

Along with the privileges that kings and queens of Uí Maine received, the clans that fought for Uí Maine were also given privileges and rights:

Any member of a clan was given a choice to go to battle in spring or autumn. Most members who chose not to attend battle spent time maintaining their crops.
It was required that "no man of the province is to be taken as a witness against these tribes, but another Hy Manian is to bear witness".
If the king of Connacht did not pull out or end a battle in six weeks or less when fighting in Ulster or Leinster, any member was allowed to return home.
"However great may be the accusation brought against them by dishonest people, only one man or one witness is required to dent it or prove it against the other party."
Uí Mhaine were to be baptised by the Comharba of St. Bridget. If parents chose not to baptise their children at St. Bridget's because they lived too far away they were required to pay the Comharba a penny.
Uí Mhaine were required to pay a Irish: sgreaball ongtha to the Comharba to prepare for death during an illness. This fee was said to be 3 Irish pennies.

Members of Uí Maine Families

Thomas MacNevin
Albéric O'Kelly de Galway
William O'Kelly Nevin (Irish Republican and personal physician to Empress Maria Theresa of the Holy Roman Empire)
Edward Kelley, also known as Edward Talbot (11 August 1555 – 1 November 1597), Tudor occultist and self-declared spirit medium who worked with John Dee.
Gerald Lally-Tollendahl (Marquis de Lally-Tollendal, prime minister of Scotland under James I; Lord of Tollendahl)

External links

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~irlkik/ihm/uimaine.htm
Annals of Ulster at CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts at University College Cork
Annals of Tigernach at CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts at University College Cork
Revised edition of McCarthy's synchronisms at Trinity College Dublin.
Irish Kings and High-Kings, Francis John Byrne, Dublin (1971;2003) Four Courts Press,
History of the O'Maddens of Hy-Many, Gerard Madden, 2004. .
The Life, Legends and Legacy of Saint Kerrill: A Fifth-Century East Galway Evangelist by Joseph Mannion, 2004.
http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/G105007/index.html

Notes and References

Book: O'Donovan, John . The Hy Many . 143–144.
http://www.peterspioneers.com/colla.htm DNA of the Three Collas