Description
The area of Co. Galway, lying between Kilkieran Bay to the west and Lough Corrib to the east, is sometimes described as Iar Connaught on some maps and books, however this is incorrect, as this area was the territory of Dealbhna Thíre Dhá Locha which only ever formed a part of Iar Chonnachta.
Maigh Seola the part of County Galway east of Lough Corrib, stretching from Tuam to Athenry to Maree was included in Iar Chonnachta before the 13th century. After its leading family, the O'Flahertys, were expelled west of Loch Corrib and the Galway (now Corrib) River during the English invasion of Connacht, Maigh Seola was no longer considered to be in Iar Chonnachta.
Since the middle of the 19th century most of Iar Chonnachta has been generally called Connemara largely due to the emerging tourist industry of that time.
The territory of Dealbhna Thíre Dhá Locha / Delbhna Tir Dha Locha covered the eastern half of Iar Chonnachta.
Connemara / Conmhaicne Mara (Conmaicne Mara) covered the western portion of the territory. Joyce Country (the Barony of Ross) covered the north-eastern portion of Iar Chonnachta.
The native rulers of Joyce Country were the Partraighe an tSléibhe whose territory also covered the south of the barony of Carra in County Mayo.
Maigh Seola the plain lying on eastern side of Lough Corrib was also considered to be part of Iar Chonnachta up until the 13th century when the native rulers of Maigh Seola - the O Flahertys / Uí Fhlaithbheartaigh - were ousted from Maigh Seola during the Norman invasion of Connacht in that century.
As they were the most powerful clan in this part of Connacht it seems that the O Flahertys and the earlier kings of Maigh Seola held some sway over all of Iar Chonnacht even before been were forced west of Loch Coirib. The O Flahertys are believed to have had control over Dealbhne Thíre Dhá Locha before leaving Maigh Seola. When the O Flahertys fled west of Lough Corrib, they established complete rule over the native clans there. The O Flahertys remained as lords of Iar Chonnachta until they lost their lands in the upheavals of the mid 17th century.
It is uncertain if the Aran Islands formed part of the territory.
Read more about this topic: Iar Connacht
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