Clann Taidg was the name of a

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

cantred located in what is now

County Galway County Galway ( ; ) is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is in the Northern and Western Region, taking up the south of the Provinces of Ireland, province of Connacht. The county population was 276,451 at the 20 ...

Ireland Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially Names of the Irish state, named Irelan ...

. 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 virt ...

, Monivea, Tiaquin, Kilkerrin, Moylough, Killererin, Ballynakill-Aghiart (in Killian), Kilmoylan, and possibly Abbeyknockmoy. 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. The smallest ''túath ...

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 th ...

, specifically in the reign of King Tadg of

Connacht Connacht or Connaught ( ; or ), is the smallest of the four provinces of Ireland, situated in the west of Ireland. Until the ninth century it consisted of several independent major Gaelic kingdoms (Uí Fiachrach, Uí Briúin, Uí Maine, C ...

(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 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, 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