The Kingdom of Breifne or Bréifne (), anglicized as Breffny, was a medieval overkingdom in Gaelic Ireland. It comprised what is now County Leitrim, County Cavan and parts of neighbouring counties, and corresponds roughly to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kilmore. It had emerged by the 10th century, as a confederation of headed by an overking drawn from the Uí Briúin Bréifne.
By the 11th century, Bréifne was ruled by the Ua Ruairc (O'Rourke) dynasty. The kingdom reached the height of its power in the 12th century, under Tigernán Ua Ruairc. During the latter part of his reign, Bréifne took part in campaigns against the Norman invasion of Ireland. His assassination by the Anglo-Normans in 1172 was followed by a succession dispute, and a conflict between the Ua Ruairc and Ua Raghallaigh (O'Reilly) dynasties.
Following the Battle of Magh Slecht in 1256, Bréifne split into West Breifne (ruled by the Ua Ruairc) and East Breifne (ruled by the Ua Raghallaigh).
Bréifne was part of the province of Connacht until the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. In that time it was shired into the modern counties Cavan and Leitrim, Leitrim remaining a part of the province of Connacht while Cavan became part of Ulster.
History
is said to derive from an obsolete Irish word meaning "hilly", a description which describes the topography of this part of Ireland. But this derivation is opposed by the likes of O'Connellpage 4 and MacEoin. It was referred to as the rough third of Connacht. Alternatively, the Metrical states the name is derived from , daughter of , the grandson of Nemed, a brave soldier-woman. She was slain by Regan after whom Tomregan is supposedly named.Part 71 of The Metrical Dindshenchas
In ancient times the area that became known as Bréifne was said to be occupied by the Erdini, called in Irish 'Ernaigh', who possessed the entire country bordering Lough Erne.
At the time of the Christianization of Ireland (c. 5th–6th century), groups believed to be in or near Breifne included the Glasraighe, Masraige, Dartraige, Armhaighe, Gallraighe, the Fir Manach, and the Gailenga.
Around the 6th century, a people known as the Conmaicne Rein are thought to have moved north from around the present Dunmore in County Galway and settled in Magh Rein (the area around Fenagh). From here they peopled what is now South Leitrim, which became known as Magh Rein, and its inhabitants as the Conmaicne Magh Rein. They consisted of different family groupings – Muintir Eolais, Muintir Cearbhallain (O Mulvey), and Cinel Luachain, among others.
About the 8th century, the area since known as Breifne was conquered and settled by the Uí Briúin Bréifne who were a branch of the royal family of Connacht. The Uí Briúin established themselves first in modern county Leitrim and then into what is now County Cavan. It can be argued that there is no contemporary evidence to support these speculations.
By the 9th century, the Ó Ruaircs had established themselves as kings of Breifne.
In the 10th and 11th centuries, the Ó Ruairc kings of Breifne fought some battles for the title of king of Connacht, with four different kings of Breifne gaining the title.
During the 12th century the reign of Tighearnán Ua Ruairc, the kingdom of Breifne was said to comprise most of the modern counties of Leitrim and Cavan, and parts of Longford, Meath, Fermanagh and Sligo.
In the 16th century Breifne O'Rourke eventually became County Leitrim and Breifne O'Reilly became County Cavan.
Territories The following territories were at one stage part of Breifne. Cenél Cairpre (Cairbre) – northern County Sligo and northeast County Leitrim. The territory of Coirpre, son of Niall of the Nine Hostages, around the 6th century extended from the Drowes west to the Owenmore River in Ballysadare.
Duncarbry (Dun Chairbre) marks the border of Cairbre's territory on the Drowes, while the Barony of Carbury in North Sligo still reminds us also today.
Noted chiefs of Cenél Cairpre included Ó Maolchloiche (O'Mulclohy).
Cairpre Gabra – northern County Longford, barony of Granard. Ó Ronáin (O'Ronan) were lords in the barony of Granard until dispossessed by the Ó Fearghails in the 13th century.
According to the Annals of the Four Masters, about 476 AD, the Battle of Granard was fought by Eochaidh, son of Cairbre, son of Oilioll, son of Dunlaing, son of Enda Niadh against the Ui Dunlainge, Ui Briúin Cualann and Ui Fergusa of North Leinster.
Cenél Laegaire – County Fermanagh. The Fir Manach, the Cinéal Eanna and the Cenél Laegaire were early indigenous tribes in the County Fermanagh area. The Cenél Laegairi mic Neill were noted west of Loch Erne (Book of Lecan). The Cenél Laegairi mic Neill were also noted in central Ireland (Mide, Meath).
Kings of Breifne Note: Where mentioned spelling used in the document is used here.
Early kings Echu Mugmedón, father to Brión, Fiachra, and Niall (of the Nine Hostages). Brión: son of Echu Mugmedón and the ancestor of the Uí Briúin Kings of Connacht. Aodh Fionn mac Fergna: king of Breifne Maenach mac Báithin: king of Ui Briuin Breifne – c.653 Dub Dothra: king of the Ui Briuin & Conmaicne & Breifne – c.743 Cormacc mac Duibh Dá Críoch: king of Breifni – c.790 Muircheartach mac Donnghal, king of Breifne: c.800–806 Mael Dúin mac Échtgal, king of Breifne: died 822 Ceallach son of Cearnach, son of Dubh Dothra, king of Breifne Tighearnán mac Seallachan, king of Breifne: c.888 – father of Ruarc Ruarc mac Tighearnáin, lord of Ui Briuin Breifne: c. 893 – grandfather of Sean Fergal Flann mac Tighearnáin, lord of Breifne: c.910 Cernachan mac Tighearnáin, king of Breifne: died 931 Conghalach mac Cathaláin, lord of Breifne: c.935 Cléircén son of Tigernán, king of Bréifne: C. 937 Fergal? ua Ruairc, king of Bréifne
Ó Ruairc dynasty, Kings of Bréifne, c. 964–1257 (Sean) Fergal Ó Ruairc king of Connacht and Breifne: c.964–67 Niall Ó Ruairc, heir of Breifne: 1000–1001 Aedh Ó Ruairc, king of Breifne: died 1014–1015 – son of Fergal Art an caileach Ó Ruairc, king of Breifne: c.1020–1030? – son of Fergal Aedh Ó Ruairc, lord of Dartraige: 1029 Art uallach (oirdnidhe) Ó Ruairc, king of Connacht and Breifne: c.1030–1046 – son of Aedh mac Fergal Niall Ó Ruairc, king of Breifne Connacht: 1047 – son of Art uallach Domnall Ó Ruairc, lord of Breifne: c.1057 – son of Niall Cathal Ó Ruairc, lord of Breifne: c.1051–1059 – son of Tighernan Aedh in Gilla Braite Ó Ruairc, king of Breifne: 1066 – son of Niall, son of Art Uallach Aed Ó Ruairc, king of Connacht & Breifne: c.1067–1087 – son of Art Uallach Donnchadh cael Ó Ruairc, king of Breifne: c.1084 – son of Art an caileach Ualgharg Ó Ruairc, royal heir of Connacht: 1085 – son of Niall, son of Art uallach Donnchadh Ó Ruairc, lord of Ui Briuin and Conmaicne: 1101 – son of Art Uí Ruairc Domnall Ó Ruairc, king of Connacht and Breifne: c.1095–1102 – son of Tigernán son of Ualgharg Cathal Ó Ruairc, lord of Ui Briuin Breifne and Gailenga: 1105 – son of Gilla Braite, son of Tigernán Domnall Ó Ruairc, lord of Ui Briúin: c.1108 – son of Donnchadh Aedh an Gilla Sronmaol Ó Ruairc king of Conmaicne: c.1117–1122 – son of Domnall (or Donnchadh). Tigernán mór Ó Ruairc, king of Breifne: c.1124–1152, 1152–1172 – son of Donnchad macDomnail Aedh Ó Ruairc, king of Breifne: 1152–1152, 1172–1176 – son of Gilla Bruide, son of Domnall Amlaíb Ó Ruairc, king of Breifne: 1176–1184 – son of Fergal, son of Domnall, son of Tigernán Aedh Ó Ruairc, king of Breifne: 1184–1187 – son of Máelsechlann, son of Tigernán mór Domnall Ó Ruairc, lord of the greater part of Breifne: c.1207 – son of Ferghal mac Domnall, son of Fergal Ualgarg Ó Ruairc, king of Breifne: c.1196–1209 – son of Cathal, son of Aedh, son of Donnchadh Art Ó Ruairc, king of Bréifne: 1209–1210 – son of Domnall, son of Fergal, son of Domnall Niall O'Ruairc, king of Dartry and clann Fermaige: 1228 – son of Congalach, son of Fergal, son of Domnall Ualgarg Ó Ruairc, king of Breifne: c.1210–1231 – son of Cathal, son of Aedh, son of Donnchadh Cathal riabach O'Ruairc, king of Bréifne: 1231–1236 – son of Donnchadh, son of Aedh, son of Gilla Braite Conchobar O'Ruairc, king of Bréifne: 1250?–1257 – son of Tigernán, son of Domnall, son of Cathal
Lords of Bréifne Ó Ruairc, 1257–1605 Sitric Ó Ruairc, king of Bréifne: elected and killed 1257–1257 – son of Ualgarg, son of Cathal Amlaíb Ó Ruairc, king of Breifne West: 1257–1258 – son of Art, son of Domnall, son of Fergal Domnall Ó Ruairc, king of Breifne: 1258 to 1258 (deposed) – son of Conchobar, son of Tigernán Art Ó Ruairc, king of Breifne East: 1258–1259 (deposed) – son of Cathal riabach, son of Donnchadh Domnall Ó Ruairc, king of Breifne: 1259 to 1260 (killed) – son of Conchobar son of Tigernán Art Bec Ó Ruairc, king of Breifne West: 1260–1260 (killed) – son of Art son of Domnall son of Fergal Art Ó Ruairc, king of Breifne: 1261–1266 (deposed)– son of Cathal riabach son of Donnchadh Conchobar Buide Ó Ruairc, king of Breifne: 1266–1273 – son of Amlaíb, son of Art Tigernán Ó Ruairc, king of Breifne: 1273–1274 – son of Aedh, son of Ualgarg, son of Cathal Art Ó Ruairc, king of Breifne: 1275–1275 – son of Cathal riabach, son of Donnchadh Amlaib Ó Ruairc, king of Breifne: 1275?–1307 – son of Art, son of Cathal riabach Domnall Carrach Ó Ruairc, king of Breifne: 1307–1311 – son of Amlaíb, son of Art Ualgarg Mór Ó Ruairc, king of Breifne: 1316–1346 – son of Domnall carrach Flaithbheartach Ó Ruairc, king of Breifne: 1346–1349 (deposed) – son of Domnall carrach Aodh Bán Ó Ruairc, king of Breifne: 1349–1352 – son of Ualgarg mór, son of Domnall Flaithbheartach Ó Ruairc, king of Breifne: 1352–1352 (died) – son of Domnall carrach Tadhg na gCaor Ó Ruairc, king of Breifne: 1352–1376 – son of Ualgarg mór son of Domnall carrach Gilla Crist Ó Ruairc, lord of Breifny: died 1378 – son of Ualgarg mór, son of Domnall carrach Tigernán mór Ó Ruairc, king of Breifne: 1376–1418 – son of Ualgarg mór, son of Domnall carrach Aodh buidhe Ó Ruairc, king of Breifne: 1418–1419 – son of Tigernán mór Tadhg Ó Ruairc, king of West Breifne: 1419–1424 – son of Tigernán mór Art Ó Ruairc, king of East Breifne: 1419–1424 – son of Tadhg na gcoar Tadhg Ó Ruairc, king of Breifne: 1424–1435 – son of Tigernán mór Lochlann Ó Ruairc, king of East Breifne: 1435–1458 – son of Tadhg na gcoar Donnchadh bacagh Ó Ruairc, king of West Breifne: 1435–1445 – son of Tigernán mór? Donnchadh Ó Ruairc, king of West Breifne: 1445–1449 – son of Tigernán óg, son of Tigernán mór Tigernán óg Ó Ruairc, king of Breifne: 1449–1468 – son of Tadhg, son of Tigernán mór Donnchadh losc Ó Ruairce, king of Breifne: 1468–1476 – son of Tigernán mór, son of Ualgarg mór Domnall Ó Ruairc, king of Breifne: 1468–1476, – son of Tadhg, son of Tigernán mór Feidhlimidh Ó Ruairc, king of Breifne: 1476–1500 – son of Donnchadh son of Tigernán óg Eóghan Ó Ruairc, king of Breifne: 1500–1528 – son of Tigernán óg son of Tadhg Feidhlimidh Ó Ruairc, king of Breifne: 1528–1536 – son of Feidhlimidh, son of Donnchadh Brian ballach mór Ó Ruairc, king of Bréifne, 1528–1559, 1560–1562 – son of Eóghan, son of Tigernán óg Tadhg Ó Ruairc, king of Breifne: 1559–1560 – son of Brian ballach Aodh gallda Ó Ruairc, king of Breifne: 1562–1564 – son of Brian ballach Aodh buidhe Ó Ruairc, king of Breifne: 1564–1566 – son of Brian ballach Brian na múrtha O'Rourke, king of Breifne: 1566–1591 – son of Brian ballach Brian óg na samhthach O'Rourke, king of Breifne: 1591–1600 – son of Brian na múrtha Tadhg Ó Ruairc, lord of Breifne: 1600–1605 – son of Brian na múrtha
Lords of Bréifne Ó Raghallaigh (Muintir Maelmordha) Godfrey Ua Raghallaigh, lord of Muintir-Maelmordha: 1161 Cathal Ua Raghallaigh, lord of Muintir-Maelmordha: 1161–1162 – son of Godfrey Fergal son of Cu Chonnacht O'Raigillig, King of Dartry and Clann Fermaige: 1239 Cathal Ua Raghallaigh, lord of Muintir-Maelmordha: 1256 Con Ua Raghallaigh, chief of Muintir-Maelmordha: 1256–1257