Kingdoms of Ireland

The earliest known kingdoms or tribes in Ireland are referred to in Ptolemy's "Geography", written in the 2nd century. He names the Vennicni, Rhobogdi, Erdini, Magnatae, Autini, Gangani, Vellabori, Darini, Voluntii, Eblani, Cauci, Menapii, Coriondi and Brigantes tribes and kingdoms.

Irish medieval accounts give a division of five kingdoms. The island is divided into "fifths" (Old Irish "cóiceda", Modern Irish "cúige"). There is "Ulaid" (Ulster) in the north, "Cóiced Ol nEchmacht" (Connacht) in the west, "Mumha" or "Mhumhain" (Munster) in the south, and "Laighin" (Leinster) in the east. They all surround the central kingdom of Míde (whose name has survived in the modern counties Meath and Westmeath). Each of the outer four-fifths had their own king, with the High King of Ireland ruling over them from Tara in Míde.

In historical times Míde disappeared as a province. The four remaining fifths contained large numbers of "tuatha" or sub-kingdoms, shifting as old dynasties died and new ones formed. Some known from historical sources are:

Ulster

Earliest times

* Darini, in Tyrone, Armagh and Down, possibly a branch of the Érainn and linked with their supposed ancestor deity Dáire
* Erdini in County Fermanagh
* Robogdii, in Antrim and Londonderry, possibly related to the later Dál Riata
* Venicnii in County Donegal
* Voluntii, probably the people later known as the Ulaid, in Armagh, Down, Monaghan and Cavan

Early Christian

* Airgíalla or Oirghialla or Oriel
* Airthir
* Cairpre Droma Cliab
* Cenél Conaill (Tir Chonaill)
* Cenél nEogain (Tir Eogain)
* Conaille Muirtheimne
* Cruithne
* Dál nAraidi
* Dál Fiatach
* Dál Riata
* Dartraige
* Dartraige Con-innsi
* Eilne
* Uí Echach Cobo
* Northern Uí Néill
* Ulaid

Meath

Earliest times

* Ebdani, Eblani or Blanii (probably variants of the same name)

Early Christian

* Cianachta
* Southern Uí Néill

Leinster

Earliest times

* Brigantes in south Wexford, also known from northern Britain; possibly linked with the goddess Brigit
* Cauci around Dublin
* Coriondi north Wexford
* Menapii in County Wicklow, also known from Gaul; their name is linked to Fermanagh and Monaghan, although they are much further north

Early Christian

* (To be added)

Munster

Earliest times

* Gangani or Concani in Counties Limerick and Clare; also lived in Wales - Ptolemy calls the Llŷn Peninsula the "Promontory of the Gangani"
* Iverni in County Cork, later known as the Érainn
* Luceni in Counties Kerry and Limerick
* Usdiae, Udiae or Vodiae in Counties Waterford and Cork, possibly related to the later Osraige
* Uterni in County Cork
* Vellabori or Velabri in County Kerry

Early Christian

* Builg
* Corcu Duibhne
* Corcu Loígde
* Déisi
* Eóganachta
* Érainn
* Osraige

Connacht

Earliest times

* Auteini in County Galway, identified with the later Uaithne
* Nagnatae in County Mayo, possibly linked with the "Ol nÉcmacht"; "Cóiced Ol nEchmacht" was an ancient name for Connacht.

Early Christian

* Aidhne or Ui Fiachrach Aidhne
* Breifne
* Conmaicne Mara
* Connachta
* Corco Moga
* Delbhna
* Delbhna Nuadat
* Delbhna Tir Dha Locha
* Fir Domnann (aka Irrus Domnann)
* Hy Briuin Ai
* Hy Diarmata
* Hy Fiachrach Aidhne
* Hy Fiachrach Fionn
* Hy Fiachrach Muaidhe
* Hy-Many
* Kinela
* Moylurg
* Muintir Murchada
* Síol Anmchadha
* Síol Muirdeach
* Tír Soghain
* Uí Fiachrach
* (To be added)

ee also

*History of Ireland
*Kingdom of Ireland

External links

* [http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Periods/Roman/_Texts/Ptolemy/2/1*.html Ptolemy's Geography of Ireland]