Kingdom of Mide

Midhe about the year 900

The Flag of Mide

Mide (Old Irish pronunciation: [ˈmʲiðʲe]; English: /ˈmiːð/), spelt Midhe in modern Irish and anglicised as Meath, was a medieval kingdom in Ireland for over 1,000 years. Its name means "middle", denoting the fact that lay in the middle of Ireland.

At its greatest extent, it included all of the current County Meath (which takes its name from the kingdom), all of Westmeath, and parts of Cavan, Dublin, Kildare, Longford, Louth and Offaly.

History

Meath is traditionally said to have been created during the 1st century AD by Tuathal Teachtmhar. The Uí Enechglaiss was an early dynasty who were kings of the region. An ogham stone found south of Slane suggests they originally may have controlled this area in County Meath. They along with the Uí Failge and Uí Bairrche, belonged to the Laigin, but may also be associated with the Érainn.

During the early 500's, they were driven away from their original homeland in Kildare and over the Wicklow Mountains by the Uí Néill, whose sept, the Clann Cholmáin, took their place. The Uí Enechglaiss were later based in and around Arklow well into the historic period, and its ruling dynasty later took the surname O'Feary.

In medieval Ireland, the Kings of Mide were of the Clann Cholmáin, a branch of the Uí Néill. Several were High Kings of Ireland. After the collapse of the kingdom in the 12th century, the dynasty of the Ua Mael Sechlainn or O Melaghlins were forced west and settled on the east bank of the Shannon. Bearers of the name were still noted as among the Gaelic nobility as late as the 1690s, though they had lost any real power long before. Melaugh is the more commonly associated name in Ireland today, though it is more often wrongly rendered McLoughlin.

Province and diocese

Meath is also considered to have been one of five Provinces (Irish cúige "fifths") of Ireland, along with the four current provinces of Munster, Connacht, Ulster and Leinster. The Diocese of Meath established by the Synod of Rathbreasail in 1111 had boundaries similar to those of the kingdom.

See also

• Kings of Mide

References

• "Clann Cholmain Kings of Mide 766–1184", page 195–196 in "A New History of Ireland", Vol. IX, ed. Byrne, Martin, Moody, 1984.
• "Irish Leaders and Learning Through the Ages", Paul Walsh; ed. O Muraile, 2004.
• "King James II's Irish Army List", D'Alton, 18??

External links

• Ireland's History in Maps: Ancient Midhe and Brega, the southern Uí Neill
• Ireland's History in Maps: Tribes of Mide & Brega, the Southern Uí Neill, et al: Background on Midhe