Kingdom of Breifne Bréifne (Irish)
c. 750–1256
Coat of arms
Motto: Buagh (English: Victory)
Breifne c. 900
Capital	Dromahair
Common languages	Irish
Religion	Christianity
Government	Tanistry / Elective monarchy
King
• 743	Dub Dothra
• 1250–1257	Conchobar Ó Ruairc
History
• Split from Connacht	c. 750
• Dissolution	1256
Preceded by Succeeded by Connacht East Breifne West Breifne
Today part of	Ireland

Ireland in 1014 showing the patchwork of kingdoms

The Kingdom of Breifne or Bréifne (Irish: [ˈbʲɾʲeːfʲnʲə]), anglicized as Breffny, was a medieval overkingdom in Gaelic Ireland. It comprised what is now County Leitrim, County Cavan and parts of neighbouring counties, and corresponds roughly to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kilmore. It had emerged by the 10th century, as a confederation of túatha headed by an overking drawn from the Uí Briúin Bréifne.

By the 11th century, Bréifne was ruled by the Ua Ruairc (O'Rourke) dynasty. The kingdom reached the height of its power in the 12th century, under Tigernán Ua Ruairc. During the latter part of his reign, Bréifne took part in campaigns against the Norman invasion of Ireland. His assassination by the Anglo-Normans in 1172 was followed by a succession dispute, and a conflict between the Ua Ruairc and Ua Raghallaigh (O'Reilly) dynasties.

Following the Battle of Magh Slecht in 1256, Bréifne split into West Breifne (ruled by the Ua Ruairc) and East Breifne (ruled by the Ua Raghallaigh).

Bréifne was part of the province of Connacht until the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. In that time it was shired into the modern counties Cavan and Leitrim, Leitrim remaining a part of the province of Connacht while Cavan became part of Ulster.

History

Septs of Breifne c. AD 700

Breifne is said^[1] to derive from an obsolete Irish word meaning "hilly", a description which describes the topography of this part of Ireland.^[2] But this derivation is opposed by the likes of O'Connell^[3] and MacEoin.^[4] It was referred to as the rough third of Connacht. Alternatively, the Metrical Dindshenchas states the name is derived from Brefne, daughter of Beoan mac Bethaig, the grandson of Nemed, a brave soldier-woman. She was slain by Regan after whom Tomregan is supposedly named.^[5][6]

In ancient times the area that became known as Bréifne was said to be occupied by the Erdini, called in Irish 'Ernaigh', who possessed the entire country bordering Lough Erne.

At the time of the Christianization of Ireland (c. 5th–6th century), groups believed to be in or near Breifne included the Glasraighe, Masraige, Dartraige, Armhaighe, Gallraighe, the Fir Manach, and the Gailenga.

Around the 6th century, a people known as the Conmaicne Rein are thought to have moved north from around the present Dunmore in County Galway and settled in Magh Rein (the area around Fenagh). From here they peopled what is now South Leitrim, which became known as Magh Rein, and its inhabitants as the Conmaicne Magh Rein. They consisted of different family groupings – Muintir Eolais, Muintir Cearbhallain (O Mulvey), and Cinel Luachain, among others.

About the 8th century, the area since known as Breifne was conquered and settled by the Uí Briúin Bréifne who were a branch of the royal family of Connacht. The Uí Briúin established themselves first in modern county Leitrim and then into what is now County Cavan. It can be argued that there is no contemporary evidence to support these speculations.

By the 9th century, the Ó Ruaircs had established themselves as kings of Breifne.

In the 10th and 11th centuries, the Ó Ruairc kings of Breifne fought some battles for the title of king of Connacht, with four different kings of Breifne gaining the title.

During the 12th century the reign of Tighearnán Ua Ruairc, the kingdom of Breifne was said to comprise most of the modern counties of Leitrim and Cavan, and parts of Longford, Meath, Fermanagh and Sligo.

In the 16th century Breifne O'Rourke eventually became County Leitrim and Breifne O'Reilly became County Cavan.

Territories

The following territories were at one stage part of Breifne.

• Cenél Cairpre (Cairbre) – northern County Sligo and northeast County Leitrim. The territory of Coirpre, son of Niall of the Nine Hostages, around the 6th century extended from the Drowes west to the Owenmore River in Ballysadare.

Duncarbry (Dun Chairbre) marks the border of Cairbre's territory on the Drowes, while the Barony of Carbury in North Sligo still reminds us also today.

Noted chiefs of Cenél Cairpre included Ó Maolchloiche (O'Mulclohy).

• Cairpre Gabra – northern County Longford, barony of Granard. Ó Ronáin (O'Ronan) were lords in the barony of Granard until dispossessed by the Ó Fearghails in the 13th century.

According to the Annals of the Four Masters, about 476 AD, the Battle of Granard was fought by Eochaidh, son of Cairbre, son of Oilioll, son of Dunlaing, son of Enda Niadh against the Ui Dunlainge, Ui Briúin Cualann and Ui Fergusa of North Leinster.

• Cenél Laegaire – County Fermanagh. The Fir Manach, the Cinéal Eanna and the Cenél Laegaire were early indigenous tribes in the County Fermanagh area. The Cenél Laegairi mic Neill were noted west of Loch Erne (Book of Lecan). The Cenél Laegairi mic Neill were also noted in central Ireland (Mide, Meath).

Kings of Breifne

Note: Where mentioned spelling used in the document is used here.

Modern Breifne

The Prince of Breifne is a courtesy title given to the Chieftain O'Rourke in 1994 by the Office of the Chief Herald of Ireland. In 2003, however, the Chief Herald stopped giving out courtesy titles due to a scandal over the MacCarthy Mór.

See also

• Gaelic nobility of Ireland
• Bélchú
• Beara-Breifne Way
• https://royalcourtofbreifne.org/ Royal Court of Breifne

Notes

References

• Egan, Terry, ed. (2006). A Travel Guide to Bréifne: the Lost Kingdom of Ireland. Belfast: The Stationery Office Ltd. ISBN 978-0-337-08747-9.
• "The Adventures of Sir Lancelot du Lac in Breifne, Ireland", by Tom Smith^[1]
• Annals of Connacht
• Annals of the Four Masters
• Annals of Tigernach
• Annals of Ulster
• Annals of Innisfallen
• Hennessy, William M., ed. (1871). Annals of Loch Cé. Vol. II. London: Longman and Co.
• Chronicon Scotorum
• Martin; Moody (1984). A New History of Ireland. Vol. IX.
• O'Reillys of East Breifne: O Raghalliagh, Kings of Muintir Maoilmhordha, a.1161–1607. pp. 229–230.
  in Martin; Moody (1984)
• O Ruairc, Kings of Breifne, a.1128–1605. pp. 228–229.
  in Martin; Moody (1984)
• O'Duignan, Manus. (late 14th century). Book of Ballymote. On microfilm in Irish national archives.
• Keating, Geoffrey (1632). Forus Feasa ar Erinn [The History of Ireland] (PDF). Comyn, Edward and Dinneen, Patrick S. (trans.). Ex-Classics Project. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
• Cú Choigcríche Ó Cléirigh [Book of Genealogies]. (1642). On microfilm in Irish national archives.
• Mac Fhirbhisigh, Dubhaltach Óg. Leabhar na nGenealach 1650–1666. On microfilm in Irish national archives.
• O'Hart, John (1876). Origin and Stem of the Irish Nation.
• https://royalcourtofbreifne.org/

Further reading

• A 9th century Uí Briúin settlement in County Cavan
• Joyce, P. W. (1903). A Social History of Ancient Ireland. Vol. I. London. pp. 70–71. Retrieved 3 July 2012.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)