, often Anglicised as Hy Many, was one of the oldest and largest kingdoms located in Connacht, Ireland. Its territory of approximately encompassed all of what is now north, east and south County Galway, south and central County Roscommon, an area near County Clare, and at one stage had apparently subjugated land on the east bank of the Shannon, together with the parish of Lusmagh in Offaly.

There were two different Uí Mhaine, the Uí Mhaine of Tethbae and the Uí Mhaine of Connacht; these tribes were separated by the Shannon River. The people of the kingdom were descendants of Maine Mór, who won the territory by warfare. Its sub-kingdoms, also known as lordships, included – among others – Soghan, Corco Modhruadh, Delbhna Nuadat, Síol Anmchadha, and Máenmag. These kingdoms were made up of offshoots of the Uí Mháine dynasty, or subject peoples of different backgrounds.

The Uí Mhaine are among the ancient Irish dynasties still represented today among the recognised Irish nobility and Chiefs of the Name, by the O'Kelly of Gallagh and Tycooly, Prince of Uí Mhaine and Count of the Holy Roman Empire. The Fox (O'Kearney) may represent the eastern Uí Mhaine of Tethbae.

Early times

Maine Mór is said to have established the kingdom around 357 AD, and ruled for fifty years. Before his arrival, the area had been occupied by the Fir Bolg, ruled by King Cian d'Fhearaibh Bolg.

Early leaders (in order)

{| class="wikitable"

|-

! Name

! Years Ruled

! Death

|-

| Maine Mór

| 50 years

| natural death

|-

| Breasal mac Maine Mór

<small>son of Maine Mór</small>

| 30 years

| natural death

|-

|Fiachra Finn

<small>son of Breasal</small>

|17 years

|slain by brother

|-

|Connall Cas Ciabhach

<small>son of Breasal</small>

|22 years

|slain

|-

|Dallán mac Breasal

<small>brother of Fiachra Finn</small>

|11 years

|mortally wounded, then drowned

|-

|Duach mac Dallán

<small>son of Dallan</small>

|16 years

|slain by Maine Macamh

|-

|Lughaidh mac Dallán

<small>son of Dallan</small>

|14 years

|natural death

|-

|Feradhach mac Lughaidh

<small>son of Lughaidh</small>

|24 years

|slain by successor

|-

|Marcán

|15 years

|slain with a sword

|-

|Feradhach mac Lughaidh

<small>son of Feradhach</small>

|9 years

|slain by successor

|}

Main families

Descendant clans of the dynasty include the O'Kelly, Kelly, Ó Ceallaigh, Ó Comáin, Ó Draighnáin, Ó hUallacháin, Ó Madadháin, A third branch came to Portugal in the person of Waldron Kelly of Maddenstown, born in Maddenstown, County Kildare, Leinster, on 1 October 1794, who died at the Caribbean Sea, near Lucea, Hanover Parish, and Montego Bay, Saint James Parish, Cornwall County, Jamaica, on 11 November 1836 and was buried there. He married twice, firtsly to Jane Owens and secondly to Ana Ludovina de Lemos Pacheco de Aguilar, born in Cedovim, Vila Nova de Foz Coa, on 1 October 1794 and died in Dublin, County Dublin, Leinster, 4 April 1883, and buried there, a relative of the 1st Viscount and 1st Count of Samodães, and had issue by both marriages.

See also

  • Kings of Uí Maine
  • Leabhar Ua Maine
  • Edward Kelley
  • The Uí Maine were traditionally thought to be descended from Colla da Crioch, one of the Three Collas. Their original homeland was Oirghialla. DNA testing of descendants of Uilliam Buidhe Ó Cellaigh, however, speculates that the Uí Maine were not descended from the Three Collas.

References

  • http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~irlkik/ihm/uimaine.htm
  • Annals of Ulster at CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts at University College Cork
  • Annals of Tigernach at CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts at University College Cork
  • Revised edition of McCarthy's synchronisms at Trinity College Dublin.
  • Irish Kings and High-Kings, Francis John Byrne, Dublin (1971;2003) Four Courts Press,
  • History of the O'Maddens of Hy-Many, Gerard Madden, 2004. .
  • The Life, Legends and Legacy of Saint Kerrill: A Fifth-Century East Galway Evangelist by Joseph Mannion, 2004.
  • http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/G105007/index.html