Corann was an ancient Irish

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 ...

in northwest

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 ...

represented now by the present

barony of Corran Corran (''An Corán'') is a historic barony in south County Sligo in Ireland. It corresponds to the ancient túath of Corann. The barony is centred broadly about the town of Ballymote. To the north and east lies the barony of Tirerril, to the ...

County Sligo County Sligo ( , gle, Contae Shligigh) is a county in Ireland. It is located in the Border Region and is part of the province of Connacht. Sligo is the administrative capital and largest town in the county. Sligo County Council is the local ...

. The name is derived in legend from Corann, the harper of

Dian Cecht In Irish mythology, Dian Cécht (Old Irish pronunciation ; also known as ''Cainte'' or ''Canta'') was the god of healing, the healer for the Tuatha Dé Danann, and son of the Dagda according to the ''Dindsenchas''. He was the father of Cu, Ceth ...

of the

Tuatha Dé Danann The Tuath(a) Dé Danann (, meaning "the folk of the goddess Danu (Irish goddess), Danu"), also known by the earlier name Tuath Dé ("tribe of the gods"), are a supernatural race in Irish mythology. Many of them are thought to represent deity, ...

Organisation

Ballymote Ballymote () is a market town in southern County Sligo, approx. 24 km south east of Sligo town in the province of Connacht, which is located in the north-west of Ireland. Ballymote lies in the barony of Corran. A commuter town with a stro ...

became the centre of the túath after construction of

Ballymote Castle , location=County Sligo, Connacht , nearest_town=Ballymote , country=Ireland , image=Co. Sligo, Ballymote Castle 2, 1792.jpg , alt=The castle in the 1790s , caption=The castle in the 1790s , pushpin_map=Ireland , pushpin_map_alt=Location ...

in the 13th century.

History

The well of Corann that alternated between sweet water and salt in time with the ebb and flow of the tide. It was first shired as part of the new County Sligo by the English Lord Deputy

Sir Henry Sidney Sir Henry Sidney (20 July 1529 – 5 May 1586), Lord Deputy of Ireland, was the eldest son of Sir William Sidney of Penshurst, a prominent politician and courtier during the reigns of Henry VIII and Edward VI, from both of whom he received ...

in 1564.

References

Medieval Ireland Historic Gaelic Territories {{Sligo-geo-stub