Delbhna Tír Dhá Locha ("''The Delbhna of the Two Lakes"'') was a tuath of

Gaelic Ireland Gaelic Ireland ( ga, Éire Ghaelach) was the Gaelic political and social order, and associated culture, that existed in Ireland from the late prehistoric era until the early 17th century. It comprised the whole island before Anglo-Normans co ...

, located in the west of Ireland in Connemara,

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

. The Delbhna Tír Dhá Locha were one branch of a much larger population group called the Delbhna. The two lochs to which the name of the territory refers are Loch nOirbsean, and Loch Lurgain. The territory occupied nearly all the land between the two lakes and the River Corrib. It was roughly coextensive with the later barony of Moycullen, which took in the civil ''parishes'' of Moycullen, Kilcummin, Killanin, and Rahoon. The kings of the Delbhna Tír Dhá Locha eventually took the surname Mac Con Raoi (anglicised as Conroy and King). The

Chief of the Name The Chief of the Name, or in older English usage Captain of his Nation, is the recognised head of a family or clan (''fine'' in Irish and Scottish Gaelic). The term has sometimes been used as a title in Ireland and Scotland. In Ireland In Eliza ...

Clan A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, clans may claim descent from founding member or apical ancestor. Clans, in indigenous societies, tend to be endogamous, meaning ...

Mac Con Raoi directly ruled Gnó Mhór, which was later the civil ''parishes'' of Kilcummin and Killannin. Gnó Beag's king was later surnamed Ó hÉanaí (anglicised as Heaney and Heeney). Gnó Beag made up of the civil ''parishes'' of Rahoon and Moycullen. Loch Lonáin north of the ''village'' of Maigh Cuilin (Moycullen) and the Aille River between the villages of An Spidéal ( Spiddal) and Indreabháin ( Inverin) are the principal features which mark the divide between Gnó Mór and Gnó Beag. All four parishes were combined into the ''barony'' of Moycullen (distinct from the parish) soon after the Cambro-Norman invasion. Both

Irish clan Irish clans are traditional kinship groups sharing a common surname and heritage and existing in a lineage-based society, originating prior to the 17th century. A clan (or ''fine'' in Irish) included the chief and his patrilineal relatives; howe ...

s were evicted and forced west by the

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family, who took over their lands. Clan Meic Con Raoi resettled at Ballymaconry (sometimes known as Kingstown Glebe) in Connemara along Streamstown Bay near Clifden, and they had another, Ballyconry in Co. Clare in the barony of Ballyvaghan. By the 19th century, almost all members of the family had Anglicized their name to King and Ballymaconry became Kingstown. In the early 20th century, styles changed and the family used the Anglicization "Conroy". The Meic Con Raoi were counted among the sea-kings of Connacht, the others being the O'Malleys, the O'Dowds, and the O'Flahertys.

References

;Sources * ''Medieval Ireland: Territorial, Political and Economic Divisions'', Paul MacCotter, Four Courts Press, 2008, pp. 140–141. History of County Galway Connacht Geography of County Galway Kingdoms of ancient Ireland Septs of the Dál gCais {{Galway-geo-stub

See also

References