The Conmhaicne Luacháin (Conmaicne descended from Luchan) or Cenel Luchain (race of Luchan), were an early people of
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 ...
, whose
tuath comprised the parishes of Oughteragh and
Drumreilly
Drumreilly civil parish is situated partly in the baronies of Carrigallen and Dromahaire, County Leitrim and partly in the barony of Tullyhaw, County Cavan, Ireland.
Etymology
The name of the parish derives from Drumreilly townland in the paris ...
,
barony of Carrigallen, in southern
County Leitrim
County Leitrim ( ; gle, Contae Liatroma) is a county in Ireland. It is in the province of Connacht and is part of the Northern and Western Region. It is named after the village of Leitrim. Leitrim County Council is the local authority f ...
.
Origin

The Conmhaicne or Conmaicne were a people of early Ireland, perhaps related to the
Laigin
The Laigin, modern spelling Laighin (), were a Gaelic population group of early Ireland. They gave their name to the Kingdom of Leinster, which in the medieval era was known in Irish as ''Cóiced Laigen'', meaning "Fifth/province of the Leinster ...
, dispersed to various parts of
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 ...
. Settling in
Connacht and
Longford
Longford () is the county town of County Longford in Ireland. It has a population of 10,008 according to the 2016 census. It is the biggest town in the county and about one third of the county's population lives there. Longford lies at the meet ...
, they gave their name to several territories. After the sixth century, the Conmaicne Rein came from the south to the region, west of Lough Garadice, and some septs settled at Cenel Luacháin,
Cluain Conmaicne,
Maigh Rein
The barony of Mohill ( ga, Maothail, historically Conmhaícne Maigh Réin) is an ancient barony in County Leitrim, Republic of Ireland.
Etymology
Mohill barony shares its name with Mohill (, "soft or spongy ground") village. Historically a va ...
, and
Maigh Nissi, overrunning and absorbing the existing inhabitants called the
Masraige
The Masraige () were a semi-legendary Fir Bolg tribe inhabiting Magh Slécht in County Cavan, Ireland. They were also called Masragii, Masraide, Masraidhe, Masruidhe, Mascraide, Masree, Macraighe or Mascraidhe. The name can be translated as "Bea ...
.
Luacháin
Luacháin may be a personal name.
Hogan
A hogan ( or ; from Navajo ' ) is the primary, traditional dwelling of the Navajo people. Other traditional structures include the summer shelter, the underground home, and the sweat house. A hogan can be round, cone-shaped, multi-sided, or squ ...
, and
Book of Fenagh
The ''Book of Fenagh'' ( ga, Leabar Fidhnacha) is a manuscript of prose and poetry written in Classical Irish by Muirgheas mac Pháidín Ó Maolconaire in the monastery at Fenagh, West Breifne (modern-day County Leitrim). It was commissioned ...
, say their name derives from a branch of Conmaicne Rein, of the race of Luachan, son of Onchu, 4th in descent from Cumscrah. Cenel Luach is sometimes corrupted "Kinel-Luachain".
Territory
Centered in Oughteragh parish, barony of Carrigallen, southern county Leitrim, their territory was bounded by native Irish forests on all sides,
Sliabh an Iarainn
Sliabh an Iarainn ( Irish for "iron mountain"), anglicized Slieve Anierin, is a mountain in County Leitrim, Ireland. It rises to and lies east of Lough Allen and northeast of Drumshanbo. Its present form evolved from the southwestward moveme ...
west and north,
Tullyhaw
Tullyhaw ( ga, Teallach Eathach) (which means 'The Territory of Eochaidh', an ancestor of the McGoverns, who lived ) is a Barony in County Cavan in the Republic of Ireland. The area has been in constant occupation since pre-4000 BC. Locat ...
north east, and Conmaiche of
Maigh Rein
The barony of Mohill ( ga, Maothail, historically Conmhaícne Maigh Réin) is an ancient barony in County Leitrim, Republic of Ireland.
Etymology
Mohill barony shares its name with Mohill (, "soft or spongy ground") village. Historically a va ...
to the south. In the eighth century, when Ua Bruin Breifne claimed large swaths of north Connacht, some Cenel Luachain migrated to
Teathbha
Tethbae (; also spelled ''Tethba'', often anglicised ''Teffia'') was a confederation of túatha in central Ireland in the Middle Ages. It was divided into two distinct kingdoms, north Tethba, ruled by the Cenél Coirpri, and south Tethba, ruled ...
.
Septs
Sept or tribal names of the Conmhaícne of Cenel Luacháin, in north east south Leitrim, are listed.
* Ui Dubain (Devine)
* Mac Maelfabhaill (O'Mullaville, Lavelle)
* Ui Bathbairr (O'Kearon or O'Kerrane or O'Kerrivane or O'Kerwan or O'Kirrane)
* Tullach Cleirig (O'Kearon or O'Kerrane or O'Kerrivane or O'Kerwan or O'Kirrane)
* Ui Braci (O'Kearon or O'Kerrane or O'Kerrivane or O'Kerwan or O'Kirrane)
* Tullach Maelfinnen
* Ui Buidbhin
* Ui Chailti
* Ui Cianacian
* Ui Conbhuidhe
* Ui Damaigh
* Ui Dimusaigh
* Ui Dubhain (their seat was Inis Doiri Dubhain)
* Ui Erailb
* Ui Eturrai
* Ui Gabhadain
* Ui MAelpatraig
* Ui Maelsuthain
* Ui Muinechain
* Ui Tredmain.
* Teallach Tanaidhe.
Taoiseach
The Magc Dorchaids (Mac dorcy, Darcy) were the chief family. Ua Cuaggain and Ua Tormadain are noted as chiefs in 1159.
"The MacDarchaids, Dorchys, or Darcys as the name is now Anglicised, derive their descent from Luchain, or Duchain, otherwise Dubhchain, of the race of Fergus M'Roy. According to John O'Dugan and the Four Masters, the M'Dorchys were chief the country denominated Cinel Luachain, which was co-extensive with the parish of Oughteragh in the barony of Carrigallen, and county of Leitrim, containing about 16,000 statue acres, watered by the Oughteragh stream. By O'Dugan they are thus mentioned: M'Dorchy, whose tribe is not enslaved, Rules over the heroic Cinel Luchain.".
Rectory of Cinel Luachain
The parish of Drumreilly derives its name from Druim Airbhealaigh, (pronounced 'Drum-ar-va-lay') which means "the ridge of the eastern pass". The parish is centered on the medieval island church in Lough Garadice, whose ruins are extant today. All churches of the parish, and one townland, inherited the parish name.
The parish of Oughteragh contained a church located on a high hill one kilometre north of present-day
Ballinamore
Ballinamore (, meaning "mouth of the big ford") is a small town in County Leitrim, Ireland.
Etymology
, corrupted ''Bellanamore'', means "town at the mouth of the big ford", so named because it was a main crossing (ford) of the Yellow River. T ...
. The church, and nearby holy well, were dedicated to Saint Brigid. There was a hospital ga, teach spidel dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, located at the (Ballinamore) ford over the Yellow River.
Both parishes were joined together to form the "Rectory of Cinel Luachain". This is confirmed by the Annates for 1423 (p. 230) which state "rectoria parrochialium ecclesirum de Drumreilly et Oughteragh alias de Kenel Luchan vulgariter nuncupata". The rectory corresponded with the territory of the Conmaicne of Luachain.
See also
*
Conmhaicne
*
Ballinamore
Ballinamore (, meaning "mouth of the big ford") is a small town in County Leitrim, Ireland.
Etymology
, corrupted ''Bellanamore'', means "town at the mouth of the big ford", so named because it was a main crossing (ford) of the Yellow River. T ...
References
Secondary sources
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Conmhaicne Luchan
History of County Leitrim
Historical ethnic groups of Europe
Ethnic groups in Ireland
Gaelic-Irish nations and dynasties
Conmaicne Luacháin