Nephin

For the Crusader fortress in the Holy Land, see County of Tripoli.

Nephin
Néifinn
Nephin with Lough Conn
Elevation	806 m (2,644 ft)
Prominence	c. 750 m
Listing	Marilyn, Hewitt
Location
Location	County Mayo,  Ireland
OSI/OSNI grid	G103079

Nephin or Nefin^[1][2] (Irish: Néifinn), at 806 metres (2646 ft), is the second highest peak in County Mayo (after Mweelrea) and the second highest in Connacht, in Ireland. It is part of the Nephin Beg Mountains range in the North West of the county.

Situation

It lies in the centre of Gleann Néifinne, a district bounded by Lough Conn to the east, the Windy Gap/Barnageehy to the south, and Birreenacorragh mountion to the west. Its northern limit was in 1838 noted as the townland of Ballybrinoge in the parish of Crossmolina. However, a prose tract of the 14th/15th century makes clear that its northern and western borders were contracted during the later medieval era.

Historical background

The mountain, which gives its name to the district, may take its name from Nemed, ancestor of the Fir Bolg and Tuatha de Danann. That the area once held pre-Christian significance - the term nemed referred to the sacred class in Gaelic society - may be inferred by the decision at the Synod of Raith Bressail in 1111 to make Nephin the northern boundary of the diocese of Cong.

In early medieval times, the area was inhabited by the Gamarad, who were Kings of Connacht in prehistory. One of their kings, Ailill Finn, is stated to have held residence at Dun Atha Fene, now Caorthannan/Castlehill townland, in the parish of Addergoole and Crossmolina. The legend of the Táin Bó Flidhais tells the story of a cattle raid on Ailill Finn and his wife Flidais otherwise known as The Mayo Táin.

Gleann Neimhthinne is stated by John O'Donovan as been one of the seven constituent parts of Tirawley, the others being An Lagan, Breadach, Calraighe Maighe nEleag, Caoille Conaill, Ui Eathach Muaidhe and An Da Bhac.

In Leabhar Fiachrach, a topographical and genealogical tract written by Giolla Iosa Mor Mac Fhirbhisigh about 1400, the areas early peoples and families are listed thus:

• Clann Mhuireadhaigh mec Fearghusa mec Amhalghaidh - descended from Muireadhach, a king of Ui Amhalghaidh, a branch of the Connachta.
• O Lachtna - 12th century lords of An Da Bhac and Glen Nephin, rendered O Lachtnain, Loughnane, Loughney, Loftus.

King Tairrdelbach Ua Conchobair of Connacht (1088-1156) intruded his vassals and kinsmen, the Mac Diarmada of Moylurg, as a colony in the area, and into Ui Maill, in the first half of the 12th century. After the Anglo-Norman conquest of Connacht (c.1237-1270), the Clann Ricinh Baireid expelled the O Lachtnain chiefs, and became its new owners. They in turn were gradually squeezed out the Barrett family in the second half of the 14th century by the Bourke descendants of Sir Edmond Albanach de Burgh(died 1375). Do Bhreathnuib in Ibh Amhalghaidh mec Fiachrach tract commonly referred to as The Welshmen of Tirawley, preserves tradition concerning the settlement of Glen Nephin by William Mor na Maighne Barrett (fl. 1267), and a gruesome account of a long conflict between the Bourkes, the Barretts, and tenents of the latter clan, the Lynnots.

In the first half of the 17th century the proipretors were still members of the Barrett and Bourke clans. In 1632 Myler, son of Pierce Barrett of Ballysakeery, sold most of his lands to Tibbot and Walter Bourke of Turlough, Castlebar. After the end of the Irish Confederate Wars in 1653, Cromwellian forces confiscated the land from Barrett and Bourke alike. In 1666, Dubhaltach Mac Fhirbhisigh stated that "now there is neither Barrett nor Burke, not to mention Clann fiachrach, in possession of any lands there." Its new owners were named Jackson, Gore, Hadsor, and others.

Glen Nephin remained Gaeltacht into the second half of the 19th century.

Coordinates: 54°00′43″N 9°22′05″W / 54.012°N 9.368°W / 54.012; -9.368

References

• Historical Note of the Medieval Territory of Gleann Neimhthinne, Tomas G. O Cannan, Cathair na Mart 20, pp. 118–128, Westport, County Mayo, 2000

1. ^ Statistical survey of the county of ... - Google Books. Books.google.ie. http://books.google.ie/books?id=i0UTAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA9&dq=%22nefin%22&hl=en&ei=8dBPTOHtDpycOIfg8ZAB&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&ved=0CEkQ6AEwCA#v=onepage&q=%22nefin%22&f=false. Retrieved 2010-07-28. 
2. ^ The love songs of Connacht: being ... - Google Books. Books.google.ie. 2009-12-02. http://books.google.ie/books?id=WTNKAAAAYAAJ&q=%22nefin%22&dq=%22nefin%22&hl=en&ei=8dBPTOHtDpycOIfg8ZAB&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCYQ6AEwAA. Retrieved 2010-07-28.