Clann Taidg was the name of a

medieval In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the Post-classical, post-classical period of World history (field), global history. It began with t ...

cantred A cantred was a subdivision of a county in the Anglo-Norman Lordship of Ireland between the thirteenth and fifteenth centuries, analogous to the cantref of Wales or the hundred of England. In County Dublin the equivalent unit was termed a serjeant ...

located in what is now

County Galway "Righteousness and Justice" , anthem = () , image_map = Island of Ireland location map Galway.svg , map_caption = Location in Ireland , area_footnotes = , area_total_km2 = ...

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

. It consisted of the parishes of

Athenry Athenry (; ) is a town in County Galway, Ireland, which lies east of Galway city. Some of the attractions of the medieval town are its town wall, Athenry Castle, its priory and its 13th century street-plan. The town is also well known by virtu ...

Monivea Monivea () is a village in County Galway, Ireland. It is located approximately 30 km from Galway City and 9 km from Athenry. It was formerly part of the kingdom of the Soghain of Connacht. Monivea is known for its forest, Monivea Cas ...

, Tiaquin,

Kilkerrin Kilkerrin () is a village in County Galway, Ireland. It is situated on the R364 regional road 6 km south of the town of Glenamaddy. Features in the area include Kiltullagh Lake and the Lough Lurgeen raised bog. The local Gaelic Athlet ...

Moylough Moylough ( ; ) is a small rural village located in County Galway in Ireland. It is located on the N63 national secondary road (Cnoc Tua Mór–Longford), and is served also by the R328 and R364 regional roads. It is 50 km from Galway, 30 ...

, Killererin, Ballynakill-Aghiart (in Killian), Kilmoylan, and possibly

Abbeyknockmoy Abbeyknockmoy () is a village and parish in County Galway, Ireland. It is known for the nearby ruins of the 12th century Cistercian abbey, established with the Kings of Connacht as its benefactors. The abbey was the burial site of King Catha ...

. Clann Taidg consisted of a number of

túath ''Túath'' (plural ''túatha'') is the Old Irish term for the basic political and jurisdictional unit of Gaelic Ireland. ''Túath'' can refer to both a geographical territory as well the people who lived in that territory. Social structure In ...

s, including Corca Mogha and Uí Diarmata. Clann Taidg seems to have come into existence during a wave of expansion by the

Uí Briúin The Uí Briúin were a royal dynasty of Connacht. Their eponymous apical ancestor was Brión, son of Eochaid Mugmedon and Mongfind, and an elder half brother of Niall of the Nine Hostages. They formed part of the Connachta, along with the U ...

, specifically in the reign of King Tadg of

Connacht Connacht ( ; ga, Connachta or ), is one of the provinces of Ireland, in the west of Ireland. Until the ninth century it consisted of several independent major Gaelic kingdoms (Uí Fiachrach, Uí Briúin, Uí Maine, Conmhaícne, and Delbhn ...

(925-956). His son, Muiredaig mac Tadg, was the ancestor to the Uí Taidg an Teaghlaigh sept of the Síl Muiredaig who are recorded in the annals from 1048 onwards. The area, previously part of Uí Briúin Seóla, was called after the sept who are believed to have become its lords sometime in the mid-eleventh century. However, by the end of the twelfth century it was said to have been seized by Donn Cathaig Mór Mac Airechtaig of Síl Muiredaig. Adrian Martyn notes that "an Teaghlaigh," meaning "of the household," denotes that Clann Taidg were "hereditary marshalls to their cousins, the kings of Connacht." Clann Taidg are also credited with evicting the Ui Mainnin Kings of

Soghain The Soghain were a people of ancient Ireland. The 17th-century scholar Dubhaltach Mac Fhirbhisigh identified them as part of a larger group called the Cruithin. Mac Fhirbhisigh stated that the Cruithin included "the Dál Araidhi ál nAraidi th ...

from the

area, c. 1135-52.Martyn, Adrian. ''The Tribes of Galway: 1124-1642'', Galway, 2016, pp. 25-26. By 1241 much of the area was seized by

Meyler de Bermingham Meyler de Bermingham (d. before 1275) was an Anglo-Irish lord, founder of Athenry. Ancestry Meyler was a great-grandson of Robert de Bermingham who is said to have obtained a grant of Offaly from Strongbow or Henry II about 1172. Robert's son ...

, who made

the seat of his lordship.

References

Sources

* ''Medieval Ireland: Territorial, Political and Economic Divisions'', Paul MacCotter, Four Courts Press, 2008, pp. 134–135. History of County Galway Gaelic-Irish nations and dynasties Connacht Geography of County Galway {{Galway-geo-stub

See also

References

Sources