Irish Geography
Locations of the Ancient Territories
The following ancient territories, were in existence from prehistoric times to the break-up the Gaelic order in the sixteenth century:
Breffny (Breifne): Cavan and west Leitrim.
Corca Laoidhe: South-west Cork.
Dalriada: North Antrim.
Decies (Déise): West Waterford.
Desmond (Deasmhumhan): Kerry and much of Co. Cork.
Iar Connacht: West Connacht, mainly Connemara.
Muskerry (Muscraidhe) North-west and central Cork.
Oriel (Orghialla): Cos. Armagh and Monaghan and parts of south Down, Louth and Fermanagh.
Ormond (Urmhumhan): Much of Co. Kilkenny and north Tipperary.
Ossory: The extent of the ancient kingdom of Osraighe was approximately the same as that of the diocese of Ossory, ie. Co. Kilkenny and some adjacent areas.
Thomond (Tuathmhumhan): Most of Co. Clare with adjacent parts of Cos. Limerick and Tipperary.
Tirconnell (Tir Chonaill): Co. Donegal.
Tirowen (Tir Eoghain): Co. Tyrone with adjacent part of Co. Derry.
Ancient Population Groups
Cenél Conaill: The race name of the O'Gallagers,
O'Boyles and other families traditionally descended
from Conall Gulban, son of Niall of the Nine
Hostages, located in Tirconnell.
Cenél Eoghain: The clan name of the O'Neills
etc. descended from Eoghan, son of the Nine Hostages,
located in Tyrone and south Derry.
Dál gCais: Otherwise called the Dalcassians;
embraces the main septs/clans of Thomond.
Eoghanacht: The clan name of the descendants of
Eoghan, son of Oilioll Olum, to which many of the
main families of south Munster belonged.
Síol Anmchadha: A branch of the Uí Maine.
Sí Muireadhaigh (Silmurray) The clan of the
O'Connors and other north Connacht septs.
Uí Fiachrach: The northern and more important,
ie. Uí Fiachrach Muaidhe, were located in north
Mayo and Sligo; the other branch (Aidhne) occupied
that part of south Galway covered by the small
diocese of Kilmacduagh.
Uí Maine (At one time anglicized Hy Many):
Mid-Galway and south Roscommon.
Current Geography
Ireland is made up of four provinces, Ulster, Connacht, Leinster, and Munster, which are divided into thirty-two counties. Six counties in the province of Ulster make up the territory of Northern Ireland.
Province of Connacht: Cos. Galway, Roscommon, Leitrim, Sligo, and Mayo.
Province of Munster: Cos. Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary, and Waterford.
Province of Leinster: Cos. Carlow, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenney, Leix (Laois), Longford, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, Wexford, and Wicklow.
Province of Ulster: (Republic of Ireland) Cos. Cavan, Donegal, and Monaghan. (Northern Ireland) Cos. Antrim, Derry (Londonderry), Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, and Tyrone.
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