Cóiced Ol nEchmacht is an ancient name for the province of Connacht, Ireland.
Etymology and extent
Cóiced Ol nEchmacht may be translated as the portion/fifth/province of the Ol nEchmacht, also called the Fir Ol nEchmacht ("Fir" means "men"). The name nEchmacht has been linked by some scholars to the tribe called Nagnatae on Ptolemys 2nd century AD world map.
They were divided up into three main tribes: the Fir Craibe, or Fir na Criabe; the Tuatha Taiden; the Gamanraige. Each tribe ruled respective kingdoms within Ol nEchmacht.
The kingdom of the Fir Craibe extended from Limerick to the Palace of Fidach, a place thought to be located in north-eastern Aidhne. In later centuries the territory south of Aidhne, Thomond, would be annexed by Munster, which it is still counted as part of.The kingdom of Tuatha Taiden extended from Fidach eastwards to and across the Shannon towards Tara, and was probably co-extensive with Hy-Many at its greatest extent.The Gamanraige ruled the territory between the Gallimhe or Galway river, to the Drowes and Duff rivers in the north-east. Their capital was Rath Eochaidh, later called Cruachan.This territory seems to have been Ol nEchmacht proper.
It was only with the rise of the Connachta dynasty that the term Fir Ol nEchmacht was dropped and the province was renamed Connacht.
Nations known to have resided in Ol nEchmacht during this era included:
Badhna - uncertainBunrath - north of Athenry/south-west of TuamCairpre - around Drumcliffe in County SligoCalraige - border of County Sligo/County LeitrimCattraige - uncertainCiarraige - central MayoClann Úmóir - Aran Islands, Galway and MayoConmaicne - west coast, and northern areas of, County GalwayCorco Fhir Trí - south County SligoCorco Moga - north-east County GalwayDál nDruithne - east of LoughreaDartraige - north-west County LeitrimDelbhna - south County Roscommon, and both sides of the CorribErdini - County Leitrim/County CavanFir Craibe - County Clare (then part of Connacht) and south-west GalwayFir Domnann - west coast of MayoGabraige - along the River SuckGamanrad - west shore of Killala BayGailenga - central County MayoLuigne - east County MayoMairtine Mór - branchh of a Munster nation, possibly located in ConnachtMedraige - nowadays the townlands of Maree, OranmoreNagnatae - County SligoÓic Bethra - area around ClarenbridgePartraige - in Connemara and Partry, County MayoSenchineoil - centered on what is now BallinasloeSoghain - most of east-central County GalwayTuatha Taiden - east Galway and south RoscommonUaithne - County Roscommon/County Galway (likely Ptolemy's Auteini)Uí Mail - the area around Clew Bay