Gailenga Mór

An illustration of the Gailenga expanding into Brega in the 9th century.
The Gailenga expanding into Brega in the 9th century

The Gailenga were a group of people found both in Connacht and Brega. They sometimes appear alongside another group of people known as the Luigne, who were based outside Kells. Both may have been related as on occasion the Annals list one king as ruling both territories.

It is thought that the Gailenga were warriors from Connacht who were planted in Brega when the Uí Néill pushed eastward in the 5th century. However, it is also possible that they were already an established dynasty in Brega long before the Uí Néill arrived and settled in Connacht later.1 Their origin legend actually pushes them back as early as the 3rd century, when their founder, Cormac Gaileng, helped Cormac Mac Airt reclaim the high kingship at Tara. Regardless of which century they arrived, the Gaelinga were an important people on the outermost frontier of Brega who defended its borders to the north. The original name for the Loughanlea Mountains in Tierworker was ‘Sliabh Gaileng’, meaning ‘The Mountain of the Gailenga’,2 so they may have had an observation post here overlooking the various roadways and routes into the kingdom.

In Brega, the Gailenga were divided into two families at opposite ends of the kingdom: Gailenga Mór, ruled by the O’Leochain (Logan) family, and Gailenga Beg, ruled by the O’hAenghusa (O’Hennessy). Gailenga Mór gives its name to the modern barony of Morgallion but its territory was much bigger and included the barony of Clankee in Cavan.3 They were in control of Knowth sometime around 800AD until dispossessed by the Uí Chonaing.4 Around the same time they pushed the Mugdornai out of Brega and later took control of the Kingdom Fir Chúl,5 possibly around AD827 when they were said to have caused a ‘disturbance’ at the Oenach Tailteann.6

The Gailenga may have had a royal seat on the crannóg at Ervey lake as a quantity of high status early medieval metalwork was found here.7 They are also recorded as using a crannóg on Lough Ramor as a base which was destroyed by High King Malachy 1st in AD847:

“..there a large band of wicked men of Luigni and Gailenga, who had been plundering the territories in the manner of the heathens” 8

The Gailenga caused frequent problems like this for the Uí Néill, though they are recorded as helping them at the Battle of Tara in 980AD.9 This battle is often overlooked in place of the Battle of Clontarf but is equally as significant, with the High King inflicting a devastating defeat on the Vikings of Dublin, laying siege to the city and freeing all the Irish slaves held there.

The Gailenga’s dominance on the Meath-Cavan border came to an end in the late 11th to early 12th centuries when they fell victim to the exploits of both the O’Rourkes and the O’Reillys of Breifne. A battle recorded in the Annals of Ulster in 1130 may reflect the exact date their final defeat:10

“Ambhlaíb grandson of Senán, King of Gailenga, Aengus ua Caíndelbaín, King of Loegaire, and many other nobles fell by the men of Bréifne at Sliabh Guaire”11

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References

  1. Patrick Gleeson, ‘Luigne Breg and the origins of the Uí Néill’ in Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy: Archaeology, Culture, History, Literature Vol. 117 (2017), pp. 65-99
  2. H. G. Tempest & E. MacNeill, ‘An Ancient Poets View from Sliabh Fuaid’ in Journal of the County Louth Archaeological Society Vol. 7, No. 4 (1932), p. 464
  3. Paul Mac Cotter, ‘The early history and sub-divisions of the kingdom of Bréifne’, in J. Cherry, B. Scott and W. Nolan (eds.), Cavan: History and Society (2014), pp. 1-25
  4. Geraldine Stout, Newgrange and the Bend of the Boyne (Cork, 2002), p. 78
  5. Francis John Byrne, Historical note on Cnogba (Knowth), appendix to George Eogan, ‘Excavations at Knowth, Co. Meath 1962-1965’ in Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy: Archaeology, Culture, History, Literature, Vol. 66 (1967-8), pp. 383-400
  6. G. Eogan and F. J. Byrne, ‘Excavations at Knowth, Co. Meath, 1962-1965’ in Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy: Archaeology, Culture, History, Literature. Vol. 66 (1967/1968), p.394-395
  7. Gleeson, Luigne Breg and the origins of the Uí Néill, p. 12
  8. The Annals of Ulster, Year 847.3, Available at https://celt.ucc.ie (Jan. 31 2022)
  9. The Annals of Tigernach, Year T980.3, Available at https://celt.ucc.ie (June 6th, 2022)
  10. Tom Smith, ‘A 9th century Uí Briúin settlement in County Cavan’, Available at www.academia.edu (Mar. 23, 2024)
  11. The Annals of Ulster, Year 1130.3, Available at https://celt.ucc.ie (Mar. 23 2024)

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