Map of
Ireland with tribes, AD 800; the Delbhna are circled.
The Delbna or Delbhna were a
GaelicIrish tribe in
Ireland, claiming kinship with the
Dál gCais, through descent from Dealbhna son of Cas. Originally one large population, they had a number of branches in
Connacht,
Meath, and
Munster in Ireland.[1]
Branches
The Delbhna Tir Dha Locha (of the Two Lakes), or Delbhna Feadha (of the Heather), were based in the area of
County Galway between
Lough Corrib and
Lough Lurgan/Galway Bay. Their chiefs took the surname MacConraoi, or MacConroy, later Anglicized to King. The MacConraoi held Gno Mor while their cadets, O'hEanna or O'Heney, held Gno Beg, but in the annals MacConraoi is always styled Ri or Tighearna Thira Da Locha.[2][3]
The Delbhna Nuadat, or Delbhna Uí Maine, were lords of a large section that is now Athlone in
County Roscommon, situated between the Suck and
Shannon Rivers. From the early historic era they were a subject people of the
Uí Maine. This place is where the Uí Maine expelled the old kings of the province. Their chiefs took the surname O'Flannagain or Flannagan.[5][3][6]
The Delbhna bEthra may have once formed a single kingdom with the Delbhna Nuadat until subjugated by the
Uí Maine. By the late 5th century they had fallen under the control of the
Uí Néill. Their chiefs took the surname Mac Cochláin or Coughlan, and their territory was what is now
Garrycastle in
County Offaly, but did not include the Parish of Lusmagh, as that belonged to the
MacCuolahans/Ó hUallacháins of
Síol Anmchadha.[7][8]
The Delbhna Mor were located in what is now
Delvin in
County Westmeath. Their chiefs took the surname O'Finnallain or Fenelon. They lived together with one of the seven branches of the
Soghain.[5]
The Delbhna Bheag, or Delbhna Bec, were based in what is now Demifore in
County Westmeath. Their chiefs took the surname Ua Maoilchallan, or Mulholland.[7]
The Delbhna Sith Neannta ruled over the area now called Fairymount in
County Roscommon. Their chiefs took the name O'Laoghog or Logue.[9]
The Delbhna Teannmhagh, or Delbhna Iarthair Mhidhe, at one time controlled what is now Rathconrath in
County Westmeath. Their chiefs took the surname Ua Scolaidhe or O'Scully.[10][5]
According to their earliest legends, the Delbhna took their name from their ancestor
Delbáeth, son of either
Aengus or
Ogma, a god of the
Tuatha Dé Danann who succeeded
The Dagda, or
Eochaid Ollathair, as
High King of Ireland and who for various reasons is identified as the same as
Tuireann. A later story told that the Delbhna descend from Suman, son of
Lugh Delbáeth, son of Cas, progenitor of the
Dal gCais.[6] A possible derivation from the name is from the
Old Irishdelb, "form, likeness" and nae, "people", therefore the delbnae are "the beautiful people."[11][12][13]
^O'Clery, Michael; O'Clery, Cucogry; O'Mulconry, Ferfeasa; O'Duigenan, Cueogry; O'Clery, Conary; O'Donovan, John (1856).
Annals of the kingdom of Ireland. University of California Libraries. Dublin : Hodges, Smith and co.
^Keating, Geoffrey (30 November 1908).
"The History of Ireland". Irish texts society – via Google Books.
Map of
Ireland with tribes, AD 800; the Delbhna are circled.
The Delbna or Delbhna were a
GaelicIrish tribe in
Ireland, claiming kinship with the
Dál gCais, through descent from Dealbhna son of Cas. Originally one large population, they had a number of branches in
Connacht,
Meath, and
Munster in Ireland.[1]
Branches
The Delbhna Tir Dha Locha (of the Two Lakes), or Delbhna Feadha (of the Heather), were based in the area of
County Galway between
Lough Corrib and
Lough Lurgan/Galway Bay. Their chiefs took the surname MacConraoi, or MacConroy, later Anglicized to King. The MacConraoi held Gno Mor while their cadets, O'hEanna or O'Heney, held Gno Beg, but in the annals MacConraoi is always styled Ri or Tighearna Thira Da Locha.[2][3]
The Delbhna Nuadat, or Delbhna Uí Maine, were lords of a large section that is now Athlone in
County Roscommon, situated between the Suck and
Shannon Rivers. From the early historic era they were a subject people of the
Uí Maine. This place is where the Uí Maine expelled the old kings of the province. Their chiefs took the surname O'Flannagain or Flannagan.[5][3][6]
The Delbhna bEthra may have once formed a single kingdom with the Delbhna Nuadat until subjugated by the
Uí Maine. By the late 5th century they had fallen under the control of the
Uí Néill. Their chiefs took the surname Mac Cochláin or Coughlan, and their territory was what is now
Garrycastle in
County Offaly, but did not include the Parish of Lusmagh, as that belonged to the
MacCuolahans/Ó hUallacháins of
Síol Anmchadha.[7][8]
The Delbhna Mor were located in what is now
Delvin in
County Westmeath. Their chiefs took the surname O'Finnallain or Fenelon. They lived together with one of the seven branches of the
Soghain.[5]
The Delbhna Bheag, or Delbhna Bec, were based in what is now Demifore in
County Westmeath. Their chiefs took the surname Ua Maoilchallan, or Mulholland.[7]
The Delbhna Sith Neannta ruled over the area now called Fairymount in
County Roscommon. Their chiefs took the name O'Laoghog or Logue.[9]
The Delbhna Teannmhagh, or Delbhna Iarthair Mhidhe, at one time controlled what is now Rathconrath in
County Westmeath. Their chiefs took the surname Ua Scolaidhe or O'Scully.[10][5]
According to their earliest legends, the Delbhna took their name from their ancestor
Delbáeth, son of either
Aengus or
Ogma, a god of the
Tuatha Dé Danann who succeeded
The Dagda, or
Eochaid Ollathair, as
High King of Ireland and who for various reasons is identified as the same as
Tuireann. A later story told that the Delbhna descend from Suman, son of
Lugh Delbáeth, son of Cas, progenitor of the
Dal gCais.[6] A possible derivation from the name is from the
Old Irishdelb, "form, likeness" and nae, "people", therefore the delbnae are "the beautiful people."[11][12][13]
^O'Clery, Michael; O'Clery, Cucogry; O'Mulconry, Ferfeasa; O'Duigenan, Cueogry; O'Clery, Conary; O'Donovan, John (1856).
Annals of the kingdom of Ireland. University of California Libraries. Dublin : Hodges, Smith and co.
^Keating, Geoffrey (30 November 1908).
"The History of Ireland". Irish texts society – via Google Books.