The Ciarraige Óic Bethra were a population-group found in early

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 period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire ...

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 ...

Origins

The word Ciarraige means ''the people of Ciar'', and denoted descent from Ciar, son of

Fergus mac Róich Fergus mac Róich (literally " manliness, son of great stallion") is a character in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. Formerly the king of Ulster, he is tricked out of the kingship and betrayed by Conchobar mac Nessa, becomes the ally and lo ...

. The Ciarraige Óic Bethra were located in the kingdom of

Aidhne Aidhne (modern Irish: ), also known as Uí Fhiachrach Aidhni, Mag nAidni, later Maigh Aidhne ("Plain (of) Aidhne"), was the territory of the Uí Fhiachrach Aidhni, a túath (tribal kingdom) located in the south of what is now County Galway in ...

, in what is now south County Galway. According to Ó Muraíle, ''"they are said to have been one of three peoples (the others being the Tratraige and the Cóenraige) who were settled in Aidhne before the advent of the

Uí Fiachrach Aidhne Uí Fhiachrach Aidhne (also known as Hy Fiachrach) was a kingdom located in what is now the south of County Galway. Legendary origins and geography Originally known as Aidhne, it was said to have been settled by the mythical Fir Bolg. Dubhalta ...

. An alternative version omits any mention of the Ciarraige, referring simply to Óic, and Óca, Bethra, and states that they came from Crích Ella - apparently the territory of

Duhallow Duhallow () is a barony located in the north-western part of County Cork, Ireland. Legal context Baronies were created after the Norman invasion of Ireland as divisions of counties and were used in the administration of justice and the raisin ...

in north Cork."'' In a note on the same page, he writes "The forms of the name combining Ciarraige with Óic Bethra are rather problematical; instead of ''Ciarraidi Oic Beatha'' ... and ''Ciarraighe Óga Beathra'' ... one might expect ''Ciarraige Óc mBethra''", citing versions that appear in O Raghaillaigh's ''Genealogical Tracts'' (p. 137) and John O'Donovan's edition of ''Hy-Fiachrach''. They were not the only Ciarraige located in Connacht. The Ciarraige Áei, Ciarraige Locha na nÁirne and the Ciarraige Airtech once formed a large over-kingdom in central Connacht prior to the emergence of the Uí Briuin in the 8th and 9th centuries.

References

* ''Irish Kings and High Kings'', p. 160, 236, 247,

Francis John Byrne Francis John Byrne (1934 – 30 December 2017) was an Irish historian. Born in Shanghai where his father, a Dundalk man, captained a ship on the Yellow River, Byrne was evacuated with his mother to Australia on the outbreak of World War II. ...

, 3rd edition, Dublin, 2001 * ''Ciarraige'', p. 166, ''Some Early Connacht Population Groups'',

Nollaig Ó Muraíle Nollaig Ó Muraíle is an Irish scholar. He published an acclaimed edition of Dubhaltach Mac Fhirbhisigh's ''Leabhar na nGenealach'' in 2004. He was admitted to the Royal Irish Academy in 2009. Life and career A native of Knock, County Mayo, Ó ...

, in ''Seachas: Studies in Early and Medieval Irish Archaeology, History and Literature in Honour of Francis J. Byrne'', ed. Alfred P. Smyth, Four Courts Press, Dublin, pp. 161–177, 2000. . {{DEFAULTSORT:Ciarraige Oic Bethra Gaelic-Irish nations and dynasties Ethnic groups in Ireland History of County Galway

Origins

See also

References