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Gaelic British Isles & Ireland

Tribes and States of Ireland

 

MapKings of Thomond (North Munster) (Gaels of Ireland)
Incorporating the Gangani/Concani

There exists a very small window through which to view the early tribes of Gaelic Ireland (those which largely pre-date the Roman presence in Britain). Ptolemy's Geographia recorded the tribes of Ireland some time in the second century AD, seemingly the first person to do so. Shortly after this, between the second and fourth centuries AD, most of Ireland shifted from tribal naming to descent naming. The shift was so complete by around AD 400 that it is almost impossible to link many of the early tribal names to the later descent names. Within the territory that later formed Thomond dwelt the Gangani tribe.

The Gangani appear to have been divided between Ireland and Britain. In the latter they were called the Gangani, while in the former they originally settled on Ireland's east coast, known by what may be an earlier form of the name, the Concani. It seems possible that they were a sea-mobile tribe. These had a tendency to travel by water, which would explain their presence in two places in Ireland and two areas along the coast of North Wales. If they were indeed sea-mobile, there was a good chance they were third wave Celtic arrivals, similar to the Belgic tribes in the south and east of Britain (notably the Atrebates, Belgae, Cantii, and Catuvellauni). Once settled in Ireland, part of the tribe migrated again, to the Lleyn peninsula. The Irish contingent also appear to have migrated again, possibly en masse. They ended up on the west coast by the second century AD, in the later territory of Thomond. Whether they travelled across land or by sea is unknown (although the latter is more likely).

(Additional information by Edward Dawson, and from Geography, Ptolemy.)

1st century BC

Elements of the Concani tribe probably migrate to the Lleyn peninsula in Wales from Ireland around this time. They force out the original inhabitants, who may be related to the Ordovices, and quickly split into two bodies. The first settles in the peninsula where retains its name (becoming altered as Gangani), while the second body, perhaps larger in size, migrates eastwards into the area that is now Clwyd and becomes known as the Deceangli. At some point after this, but before the middle of the second century AD, the Concani in Ireland migrate again, ending up on Irelands west coast in the later territory of Thomond.

1142 - 1167

Turlough

Son of Dermot of Munster.

Donnell More

Died in 1164.

1239 - 1242

Donough Cairbreach

Son.

1242 - 1258

Conor na Suidane

Son.

1258 - 1259

Teige Caeluisce

Son.

Turlough

Died in 1306.

1307 - 1343

Mortogh

Son.

1364 - 1369

Mahon Moinmoy

Son.

1370 - 1399

Brian Catha an Eanaigh

Son.

1446 - 1459

Turlough Bog (the Soft)

1461 - 1466

Teige an Chomard

1499 - 1528

Turlough Don

1540 - 1543

Murrough

Last king of Thomond.

1543

Thomond submits to Henry VIII of England and its ruler is granted an earldom.

 
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