- Conmaicne Mara
The Conmhaicne (descendants of
Con Mhac ) were an ancient tribal grouping that were divided into a number of distinct branches that were found scattered aroundIreland in the early medieval period. They take their name from a mythical ancestor known as "Con Mhac" "hound son".The Conmhaicne Mara (the Conmhaicne of the sea) were located in what is now the extreme west of
County Galway and gave their name to the territory they occupied i.e.Connemara , which is the anglicised form of Conmhaicne Mara. The territory of Conmhaicne Mara / Connemara covers all of the barony of Ballynahinch and the civil parish of Inishbofin, which is in the barony ofMurrisk . The territory contains the five civil parishes of Ballynakill/Baile na Cille, Ballindoon, Moyrus/Maigh Iorras, Omey/Iomaidh Fheicín and Inishbofin/Inis Bó Fine. The territory contains the five Catholic parishes of "An Clochán" (Clifden ,Omey &Ballindoon ), "Iorras Ainbhtheach" (Carna), "Cloch na Rón"/(Roundstone), "Baile na Cille" (Ballynakill ) and "Inis Bó Fine"/(*Inishbofin (County Galway ).The area of County Galway in which Connemara lies is known as
Iar Connacht ie the portion of County Galway west ofLoch Corrib and a small piece ofCounty Mayo .Other branches of the
Conmaicne located in what is now County Galway include theConmaicne Toland , theConmaicne Dun Mor . The parish ofKilconickny , which means "church of the Conmaicne"is located west of the town ofLoughrea .
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