East Breifne

Kingdom of East Breifne
Breifne Uí Raghallaigh (Irish)
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1256–1607 = →
 
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Coat of arms

Motto
Fortitudine et prudentia
(English: With fortitude and prudence)
A map of 1450 Ireland shows Breifne O'Reilly
Capital Cavan
Languages Irish
Religion Christianity
Government Monarchy
King
 •  1256–1257 Conchobar mac Cathail
 • 1603–1607 Maolmhordha mac Aodha Connallaigh
History
 •  Split from Breifne 1256
 • Shired 1579
 •  Disestablished 1607
Ireland in 1014 showing the patchwork of kingdoms. Clockwise from the north-east they are Ulidia, Oriel, Southern Ui Neill (Meath), Leinster, Munster, Connaught, Breifne, and Northern Ui Neill. The cities states of Dubh Linn (Dublin), Wexford, Waterford, Cork and Limerick are also shown.

East Breifne (Old Irish Muintir-Maelmordha; Irish Breifne Uí Raghallaigh) was an historic kingdom of Ireland roughly corresponding to County Cavan.

In 1211 Walter de Lacy erected the castle on Turbet Island in the abortive Anglo-Norman attempt to gain control of the area.[1] This and his capture of Cloughoughter Castle in 1220 severely weakened the O'Rourkes. The subsequent activities of William Gorm de Lacy, his half-brother, who seized the central Breifne strongpoints for himself, allowed the Ó Raghallaigh's to establish themselves in east Breifne away from the control of their original O'Rourke, and de Lacy overlords. By 1233 Cathal mac Annaid Ó Raghallaigh was in a position to capture Cloughoughter for himself after William Gorm was killed.

A great battle, fought between the O'Rourkes and the Ó Raghallaigh's, in the year 1256 near Ballinamore led to the permanent division of Breifne between the O'Rourkes and O'Reillys. In 1579 East Breifne (Breifne O'Reilly) was renamed Cavan and shired into Ulster, when it took on its present boundaries. The dynasty was part of the Ó Raghallaigh of Muintir Maoilmhordha and lasted until 1607. After this, in the early 17th century, Cavan was settled by colonists from England and Scotland who laid the foundations for towns such as Belturbet, Killeshandra and Virginia.[2]

Kings (Lords) of Breifne O'Reilly (Irish Bréifne Ó Raghallaigh)

The following is a list of the kings of East Breifne, an Irish kingdom situated in modern County Leitrim and County Cavan.

Kings (Lords) of Bréifne Ó Raghallaigh (Old Irish)

Etymology

History in Ireland

See also

References

  1. ↑ COUNTY CAVAN DEVELOPMENT PLAN 1996
  2. ↑ County Cavan History
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