The Kingdom of Breifne or Bréifne ([ˈbrʲeːfnʲe]; anglicized Breffni, Breffny, Brefnie, Brenny) was a confederation of Irishtúaithe headed by a ruirí drawn from the Uí Briúin Bréifne. The Bréifne territory included current day Irish counties of Leitrim and Cavan, along with parts of County Sligo (an area roughly equivalent to the modern Roman Catholic Diocese of Kilmore).
Breifne is said to derive from an obsolete Irish word meaning "hilly", a description which describes the topography of this part of Ireland. 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, a brave soldier-woman.
At its height in the 12th century, when Tigernán Ua Ruairc was king of Bréifne, it extended from Kells in County Meath to Drumcliffe in County Sligo.
In 1296, according to the Annals of the Four Masters, "Maelpeter O'Duigennan, Archdeacon of Breifny...died."
In 1256, a great battle was fought between the O'Rourkes and the O'Reillys near Ballinamore. This led to the division of Breifne between the O'Rourkes and O'Reillys. The Bréifne region was split into East Bréifne and West Bréifne.
The Ó Ruairc kings (O'Rourke) maintained lordship over West Bréifne (mainly County Leitrim), while the Ó Raghallaigh kings (O'Reilly) retained lordship over East Bréifne (County Cavan). The Kingdom of Bréifne region was part of the kingdom of Connacht up until the time 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.
The Ó Ruaircs were effectively lords of Breifne O'Rourke through the turbulent 16th century.
History of Breifne
In ancient times the area that became to be 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) tribal groupings 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 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 O'Ruaircs had established themselves as kings of Breifne.
In the 10th and 11th centuries the O'Ruairc kings of Breifne fought some battles for the title of king of Connacht, 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.
Old Territories that 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 O'Mulclohy (Ó Maolchloiche).
Cairpre Gabra – northern County Longford, barony of Granard. O'Ronan (Ó Ronáin) were chieftains in the barony of Granard until dispossessed by the O'Farrells 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).
List of the Kings of Breifne
Note: Where mentioned spelling used in the document is used here.
Early kings
Echu Mugmedón, father to Brión, Fiachra, and Niall (of the Nine Hostages).
Brión: son of Echu Mugmedón and the ancestor of the O'Briuin Kings of Connacht.
Aodh Fionn mac Fergna: king of Breifne
Maenach mac Báithin: king of Ui Briuin Breifne – c.653–
Dub Dothra: king of the Ui Briuin & Conmaicne & Breifne – c.743–
Cormacc mac Duibh Dá Críoch: king of Breifni – c.790
Muircheartach mac Donnghal, king of Breifne: c.800–806
Mael Dúin mac Échtgal, king of Breifne: died822
Ceallach son of Cearnach, son of Dubh Dothra, king of Breithfne
Tighearnán mac Seallachan, king of Breifne: c.888 – father of Ruarc
Ruarc mac Tighearnáin, lord of Ui Briuin Breifne: c. 893 – grandfather of Sean Fergal
Flann mac Tighearnáin, lord of Breifne: c.910
Cernachan mac Tighearnáin, king of Breifne: died 931
Conghalach mac Cathaláin, lord of Breifne: c.935
Cléircén son of Tigernán, king of Bréifne: C. 937
Fergal? ua Ruairc, king of Bréifne
Ó Ruairc dynasty, Kings of Bréifne, c. 964 - 1257
(Sean) Fergal Ó Ruairc king of Connacht & Breifne: c.964–67
Niall Ó Ruairc, heir of Breifne: 1000–1001
Aedh Ó Ruairc, king of Breifne: died 1014–1015 – son of Fergal
Art an caileach Ó Ruairc, king of Breifne: c.1020–1030? – son of Fergal
Aedh Ó Ruairc, lord of Dartraige: 1029
Art uallach (oirdnidhe) Ó Ruairc, king of Connacht & Breifne: c.1030–1046 – son of Aedh mac Fergal
Niall Ó Ruairc, king of Breifne Connacht: 1047 – son of Art uallach
Domnall Ó Ruairc, lord of Breifne: c.1057 – son of Niall
Cathal Ó Ruairc, lord of Breifne: c.1051–1059 – son of Tighernan
Aedh in Gilla Braite Ó Ruairc, king of Breifne: 1066 – son of Niall son of Art Uallach
Aed Ó Ruairc, king of Connacht & Breifne: c.1067–1087 – son of Art Uallach
Donnchadh cael Ó Ruairc, king of Breifne: c.1084 – son of Art an caileach
Ualgharg Ó Ruairc, royal heir of Connacht: 1085 – son of Niall son of Art uallach
Donnchadh Ó Ruairc, lord of Ui Briuin and Conmaicne: 1101 – son of Art Uí Ruairc
Domnall Ó Ruairc, king of Connacht & Breifne: c.1095–1102 – son of Tigernán son of Ualgharg
Cathal Ó Ruairc, lord of Ui Briuin Breifne and Gailenga: 1105 – son of Gilla Braite son of Tigernán
Domnall Ó Ruairc, lord of Ui Briúin: c.1108 – son of Donnchadh
Aedh an Gilla Sronmaol Ó Ruairc king of Conmaicne: c.1117–1122 – son of Domnall (or Donnchadh).
Tigernán mór Ó Ruairc, king of Breifne: c.1124–1152, 1152–1172 – son of Donnchad macDomnail
Aedh Ó Ruairc, king of Breifne: 1152–1152, 1172–1176 – son of Gilla Bruide son of Domnall
Amlaíb Ó Ruairc, king of Breifne: 1176–1184 – son of Fergal son of Domnall son of Tigernán
Aedh Ó Ruairc, king of Breifne: 1184–1187 – son of Máelsechlann son of Tigernán mór
Domnall Ó Ruairc, lord of greater part of Breifne: c.1207 – son of Ferghal mac Domnall son of Fergal
Ualgarg Ó Ruairc, king of Breifne: c.1196–1209 – son of Cathal son of Aedh son of Donnchadh
Art Ó Ruairc, king of Bréifne: 1209–1210 – son of Domnall son of Fergal son of Domnall
Niall O'Ruairc, king of Dartry and clann Fermaige: 1228 – son of Congalach son of Fergal son of Domnall
Ualgarg Ó Ruairc, king of Breifne: c.1210–1231 – son of Cathal son of Aedh son of Donnchadh
Cathal riabach O'Ruairc, king of Bréifne: 1231–1236 – son of Donnchadh son of Aedh son of Gilla Braite
Conchobar O'Ruairc, king of Bréifne: 1250?–1257 – son of Tigernán son of Domnall son of Cathal
Lords of Bréifne Ó Ruairc, 1257-1605
Sitric O'Ruairc, king of Bréifne: elected and killed 1257–1257 – son of Ualgarg son of Cathal
Amlaíb O'Ruairc, king of Breifne West : 1257–1258 – son of Art son of Domnall son of Fergal
Domnall O'Ruairc, king of Breifne: 1258 to 1258 (deposed) – son of Conchobar son of Tigernán
Art O'Ruairc, king of Breifne East: 1258–1259 (deposed) – son of Cathal riabach son of Donnchadh
Domnall O'Ruairc, king of Breifne: 1259 to 1260 (killed) – son of Conchobar son of Tigernán
Art bec O'Ruairc, king of Breifne West: 1260–1260 (killed) – son of Art son of Domnall son of Fergal
Art O'Ruairc, king of Breifne: 1261–1266 (deposed)– son of Cathal riabach son of Donnchadh
Conchobar buide O'Ruairc, king of Breifne: 1266–1273 – son of Amlaíb son of Art
Tigernán O'Ruairc, king of Breifne: 1273–1274 – son of Aedh son of Ualgarg son of Cathal
Art O'Ruairc, king of Breifne: 1275–1275 – son of Cathal riabach son of Donnchadh
Amlaib O'Ruairc, king of Breifne: 1275?–1307 – son of Art son of Cathal riabach
Domnall carrach O'Ruairc, king of Breifne: 1307–1311 – son of Amlaíb son of Art
Ualgarg mór O'Ruairc, king of Breifne: 1316–1346 – son of Domnall carrach
Flaithbheartach O'Ruairc, king of Breifne: 1346–1349 (deposed) – son of Domnall carrach
Aodh bán O'Rourke, king of Breifne: 1349–1352 – son of Ualgarg mór son of Domnall
Flaithbheartach O'Ruairc, king of Breifne: 1352–1352 (died) – son of Domnall carrach
Tadgh na gcoar O'Rourke, king of Breifne: 1352–1376 – son of Ualgarg mór son of Domnall carrach
Gilla Crist O'Rourke, lord of Breifny: died 1378 – son of Ualgarg mór son of Domnall carrach
Tigernán mór O'Rourke, king of Breifne: 1376–1418 – son of Ualgarg mór son of Domnall carrach
Aodh buidhe O'Rourke, king of Breifne: 1418–1419 – son of Tigernán mór
Tadhg O'Rourke, king of West Breifne: 1419–1424 – son of Tigernán mór
Art O'Rourke, king of East Breifne: 1419–1424 – son of Tadhg na gcoar
Tadhg O'Rourke, king of Breifne: 1424–1435 – son of Tigernán mór
Lochlann O'Rourke, king of East Breifne: 1435–1458 – son of Tadhg na gcoar
Donnchadh bacagh O'Rourke, king of West Breifne: 1435–1445 – son of Tigernán mór?
Donnchadh O'Rourke, king of West Breifne: 1445–1449 – son of Tigernán óg son of Tigernán mór
Tigernán óg O'Rourke, king of Breifne: 1449–1468 – son of Tadhg son of Tigernán mór
Donnchadh losc O'Rourke, half-king of Breifne: 1468–1476 – son of Tigernán mór son of Ualgarg mór
Domnall O'Rourke, half-king of Breifne: 1468–1476?, – son of Tadhg son of Tigernán mór
Feidhlimidh O'Rourke, king of Breifne: 1476–1500 – son of Donnchadh son of Tigernán óg
Eóghan O'Rourke, king of Breifne: 1500–1528 – son of Tigernán óg son of Tadhg
Feidhlimidh O'Rourke, king? of Breifne: 1528–1536 – son of Feidhlimidh son of Donnchadh
Brian ballach mór O'Rourke, king of Bréifne, 1528–1559, 1560–1562 – son of Eóghan son of Tigernán óg
Tadhg O'Rourke, king of Breifne: 1559–1560 – son of Brian ballach
Aodh gallda O'Rourke, king of Breifne: 1562–1564 – son of Brian ballach
Aodh buidhe O'Rourke, king of Breifne: 1564–1566 – son of Brian ballach