Mesca Ulad
Place and tribal names
(Onom. = Onomasticon Goedelicum)
(FM. = Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland by the Four Masters, ed. O’Donovan)
(Fy. = The Genealogies, Tribes and Customs of Hy-Fiachrach, ed. O’Donovan)
(Lct. = Leabhar na gCeart, ed. O’Donovan)
(Tp. = Topographical Poems, ed. O’Donovan)
(Ods. = O’Donovan’s Supplement to O’Reilly’s Irish-English Dictionary)
(ML. = Cath Mhuighe Léana, ed. O’Curry)
(Ra. = Reeves’ Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dromore)
(Au. = Annals of Ulster, ed. Hennessy/MacCarthy)
(Rc. = Revue Celtique)
In addition to the above online sources, identification of the placenames below is based on the Fascicles of the following publication, where available:
HDGP = Historical dictionary of Gaelic placenames (Ó Riain et al.)
The placenames marked with a star (*) below have been identified and appear in the Google Map above.
*Abann Hua Cathbhath, the Dead River (a tributary of the Mulkear River) in the baronies of Clanwilliam, Co. Tipperary, and Coonagh, Co. Limerick (Map) (HDGP i p. 7, s.n. Abha(nn) Ua gCathbhadh) (Onom. ‘a. hua cathbhath’), §19
*Aine Cliach = Aine, (Éoganacht Áine), (Map – Eóganacht Áine), a hill in Knockainy East / Knockainy West townlands, barony of Smallcounty (Map), Co. Limerick (FM. i p. 278, note e) (HDGP i p. 33, s.n. Áine Chliach; p. 32, s.n. Áine (1)) (Onom. ‘aine cliach’, ‘aine’), §19
Alba, from the 9th Century, the Gaelic kingdom in Scotland, later the whole of Scotland (HDGP i p. 50, s.n. Alba (1)) (Onom. ‘alba’), §§9, 30, 49
*Áth na Forari, at Sliabh Fuaid, Co. Armagh; perhaps at County Bridge in Altnamackan, Altnamackan, townland, barony of Fews Upper, Fews Upper (Map), Co. Armagh (HDGP i p. 148, s.n. Áth na Foraire (1)) (Onom. ‘á. na forari’), §19
*Benn Gulban, Benbulbin Mountain, barony of Carbury (Map), Co. Sligo (FM. iii p. 493, note o) (HDGP ii p. 122, s.n. Beann Ghulba(i)n (1)) (Onom. ‘b. gulban’), §2
Berna Mera ingine Trega = Bernán Éle, (HDGP ii p. 132, s.n. Bearna Bheara Inghine Treagha (See Bearnán Éile)) (Onom. ‘berna mera ingine trega’), §19
*Bernán Ele, Devilsbit Mountain, barony of Ikerrin (Map), Co. Tipperary (Tp. p. lxxxv (299), note 772) (HDGP ii p. 135, s.n. Bearnán Éile) (Onom. ‘bernán ele’), §19
*Bóand, the River Boyne in Leinster (FM. i p. 91, A.M. 5160) (HDGP ii p. 155, s.n. Bóinn (Bóann), an) (Onom. ‘bóand’), §19
Bri Errgi, in Ulster; perhaps in Co. Down (HDGP ii p. 195, s.n. Brí Eirighe / Airighe) (Onom. ‘bri errgi’), §§10, 33
*Brosnachaib Bladma, the Little Brosna River rises in the Slieve Blooom Mountains near Roscrea and flows North-West via Birr, Co. Offaly, to the River Shannon, opposite Mellick (HDGP ii p. 202, s.n. Brosnach, an (2) / Brosnacha) (Onom. ‘brosnachaib bladma’), §19
Carnmag Ulad, unidentified; in Ulster (HDGP iii p. 84, s.n. Carnmhagh Uladh) (Onom. ‘c. mag ulad’), §40
Cathair Osrin, unidentified; in Ulster (HDGP iii p. 114, s.n. Cathair Oisrin) (Onom. ‘c. osrin’), §19
*Cenn Abrat, probably Seefin Mountain, in Glenosheen townland, barony of Coshlea (Map), Co. Limerick (HDGP iv p. 67, s.n. Ceann Abhradh, p. 74, s.n. Ceann Eabhradh) (Onom. ‘c. abrat’), §20<
Claithar Cell = Fir Cell, their territory comprised the baronies of Ferceall (now Eglish), Ballycowan and Ballyboy (Map), Co. Offaly (HDGP v p. 1, s.n. Claithar Ceall (See Fir Cheall)) (Onom. ‘claithar cell’, ‘f. cell ’), §19
Clanna Dedad, alias for Éarna, associated with Temair Luachra (HDGP v p. 57, s.n. Clanna Deadhadh) (Onom. ‘c. dedad’, ‘luachair’, ‘l. dedad’), §§33, 35, 43
Clíu Máil maic Ugaine = Clíu, (Cliú), (Map – Clíu), approximately equivalent to the diocese of Emly (Map) (most of East Co. Limerick, with parts of the baronies of Owney and Arra and Clanwilliam (Map), Co. Tipperary) (FM. v p. 1648, note t) (HDGP v pp. 71-2, s.n. Cliú (1)) (Onom. ‘c. máil maic ugaine’), §§19, 20, 22, etc.
Cnoc Uachtair Fórcha = Uisnech, (HDGP v p. 184, s.n. Cnoc Uachtair Eraca (See Uisneach)) (Onom. ‘c. uachtair fórcha’, ‘c. uachtair erca’), §§4, 12
Connachta, the territory west of the River Shannon (HDGP vi p. 48, s.n. Connachta) (Onom. ‘connachta’), §44
Crích Saithi, between Mag Muirthemne, Co. Louth and Dubid, Co. Meath (HDGP vi p. 116, s.n. Críoch Shaithe) (Onom. ‘c. saithi’), §19
*Cruachan Aigle, Croaghpatrick Mountain, barony of Murrisk (Map), Co. Mayo (Au. ii pp. 86-87, note 1) (HDGP vi p. 136, s.n. Cruachán Aighle) (Onom. ‘c. aigle’), §2
Dál n-Araide, (Dál n-Araidhe), (Map – Dál nAraide), the dominant people of the Cruithne (Picts) of North-East Ulster in the early historic period who provided many overkings of Ulaidh. They occupied lands mainly in South Co. Armagh (East of the River Main), though some of their sub-kingdoms held territory in North Co. Down (Ra. pp. 334-348) (HDGP vii p. 14, s.n. Dál nAraidhe) (Onom. ‘d. n-araide’), §22
Dése Bec, a territory and people in the barony of Smallcounty, Co. Limerick, which also extended into the baronies of Coshma and Coshlea (Map), Co. Limerick (HDGP vii p. 70, s.n. Déis Bheag, an) (Onom. ‘dése bec’), §§19, 20, 22
*Dabach, strand / ‘Dough castle’/ Dough townland, barony of Corcomroe (Map), Co. Clare (HDGP vii p. 2, s.n. Dabach, an (1)), §17
Dá Chothad Feda, the Fews in Co. Armagh (Meyer (1888), op. cit., p. 152, note 2), §§17, 33
Daib-chini, §17
Dofolt, a river in Crich Ross, in Ulster (Onom. ‘dofolt’), §49
Droichet na nDaltae, in Alba, §67
Druim na Mármhuice, see Magh Breg (HDGP viii p. 40, s.n. Druim na Mórmhuice) (Onom. ‘d. na mármhuice’), §§17, 38
*Druimne Breg, perhaps in or near Drumman townland, barony of Duleek Lower (Map), Co Meath (HDGP viii p. 50, s.n. Druimne Breagh) (Onom. ‘d. breg’), §38
Dún Forgaill = Bruiden Forgaill Monaig, in Luglochtaib Loga (HDGP ii p. 211, s.n. Bruidhean Fhorghaill Mhanaigh; viii p. 105, s.n. Dún Forghaill) (Rc. xxi p. 397) (Onom. ‘d. forgaill’, ‘b. forgaill monaig’), §§10, 54, 73, 85
*Dún Scathaigh = Dún Scáith, Dunscaith Castle, Isle of Skye, Scotland (Onom. ‘d. scathaigh’, ‘d. scáith’), §§65, 67, 68
*Emain Macha, Navan Fort, Navan, (Map – Eamhain Macha), 2 miles West of the town of Armagh, Armagh, Co. Armagh (FM. i p. 431, note d) (Onom. ‘e. macha’), §§5, 7, 8
Eoraip, Europe (Onom. ‘eoraip’), §10
Eraind = Erna Dedad, (Map – Erainn), the South Munster tribe to which Cúrói belonged; a sept of the Firbolgs, seated in the present county of Kerry (Fy. p. 309, note o) (FM. i p. 39, note l) (Onom. ‘eraind’, ‘erna dedad’), §§52, 53
Ériu, Ireland (Onom. ‘ériu’), §§1, 2, 23, etc.
Espáin, Spain (Onom. ‘éspain’), §1
Fedain Cualngi, unidentified; in Ulster (Onom. ‘fedain cualngi’), §§10, 33
Finnsruth = Abann Hua Cathbhath (Onom. ‘f. sruth’), §19
Iarluachair = Irlóchir, (Éoganacht Iar-Luchair), a district comprising East Co. Kerry and some adjoining parts of South Co. Limerick and West Co. Cork (Au. i p. 188, note 1) (Lct. pp. 74-75, note y) (Onom. ‘irlóchir’, ‘iarluachair’, ‘e. iar-luchair’), §§22, 24, 25, etc.
*Látharna, (Map – Latharna), the district about Larne, Larne, Co. Antrim (Ra. p. 54, note k, pp. 264-265) (FM. i p. 8, note b) (Onom. ‘látharna’), §§4, 12
*Leamhain, the River Laune which flows from Lough Leane (the Lakes of Killarney) into Castlemaine Harbour, Co. Kerry (FM. i p. 59, note a) (Onom. ‘leamhain’), §53
*Linn Luimnig, the River Shannon below the city of Limerick (FM. i p. 272, note b) (Onom. l. luimnig’), §20
Lí Tuaga, unidentified; in Ulster; between Cathir Osrin and Dún Rígáin (Onom. lí tuaga’), §19
*Loch Gair, Lough Gur, in the parish of Knockainy, barony of Small County (Map), Co. Limerick (FM. v pp. 1335-1336, note p) (Onom. ‘l. gair’), §19
Luachair = Luachair Dedad, Sliabh Luachra, near Castleisland, barony of Trughanacmy (Map), Co. Kerry (FM. v p. 1720, note a) (Onom. ‘luachair’,‘l. dedad’), §26
Machaire mór na mMuman, unidentified (Onom. ‘m. mór na muman’), §19
Mag Breg = Brega, (Map – Brega), the Eastern part of the central plain, between Mide and the Irish Sea, mainly in Co. Meath, with parts of Co. Dublin (North of the River Liffey) and Co. Louth (South of the River Dee) (Lct. p. 11, note z) (HDGP ii p. 174, s.n. Breagha (1)) (Onom. ‘m. breg’, ‘brega’), §2
*Mag Itha, a plain along the River Finn in the barony of Raphoe South (Map), Co. Donegal (Rc. xvi p. 40) (Tp. p. xviii (232), note 87) (Onom. ‘m. itha’)
Mag Léna, plain and heath of Moylen, in the barony of Ferceall (now Eglish) (Map), Co. Offaly) (Onom. ‘m. léna’), §19
*Mag Macha, the plain around the town of Armagh, Armagh, Co. Armagh (FM. i p. 10, note w) (Onom. ‘m. macha’), §19
Mag Muirthemne = Muirthemne, (Map – Conaille Muirthemne), an ancient plain that extended from Drogheda to Dundalk and Carlingford (FM. i p. 10, note u) (Onom. ‘muirthemne’), §19
*Máig, the River Maigue which flows by Bruree, Co. Limerick (FM. vi p. 2278, note i) (Onom. ‘máig’), §19
Mairtine (Muman), an ancient tribe, located in the baronies of Coshlea and Small County (Map), Co. Limerick and the barony of Clanwilliam (Map), Co. Tipperary (Ods. p. 675 (690)) (Onom. ‘mairtine’), §19
Mide, (Mide) (Map – Mide), Mide is nearly coextensive with the diocese of Meath (Map), which includes the greater part of Co.’s Meath, Westmeath and Offaly (Au. ii p. 133) (Onom. ‘mide’), §19
Mara Miss, the sea near Slieve Mish Mountains, barony of Trughanacmy (Map), Co. Kerry (FM. i p. 25, note b) (FM. v p. 1731, note d) (Onom. ‘mara miss’, ‘s. mis’), §26
Muma, Munster (Map), Munstermen (Onom. ‘muma’), §44
*Óinach Senchlochair = Óinach Clochair, perhaps Clogherbeg Mote, Raheennamadra, barony of Coshlea (Map), Co. Limerick (HDGP i p. 62, s.n. Aonach Clochair; p. 67, s.n. Aonach Seanchlochair; v p. 84, s.n. Clochar (4)) (Onom. ‘ó. senchlochair ’, ‘ó. clochair’), §22
*Ollarba = Olarba, modern research suggests that the name Ollarba refers to the Six Mile Water, Six Mile Water rather than to the Larne River (Ra. pp. 266-269) (FM. i pp. 100-101, note z, p. 121, note d) (Onom. ‘ollarba’, ‘olarba’), §19
Port Nóth, unidentified; between Mag Muirthemne and Áth na Forari (Onom. ‘p. nóth’), §19
Ráith Cealtchair = Dún Dá Lethglas, (Onom. ‘r. celtchair’), §33
*Ráith Imil = Ráith na Sciath, in the townland of Ardilea, Ardilea, over Tond Rudraigi, the inner bay of Dundrum Bay, Dundrum Bay, Co. Down (Onom. ‘r. imil’, ‘r. na sciath’), §32
*Rinn Seimne = Semne, Island Magee, Island Magee, a parish in the barony of Belfast Lower, Belfast Lower (Map), Co. Antrim (Ra. p. 270) (Onom. ‘rinn seimne’, ‘semne’,) §§4, 12
*Sliab Cáin, the Ballyhoura Mountains (‘an Sliabh Riabhach’), on the borders of Co. Limerick and Co. Cork (FM. vi p. 2118, note i) (Onom. ‘s. cáin’), §20
Sliab Edlicon, in the North of Ireland (Onom. ‘s. edlicon’), §2
*Sliab Eiblinne = Sliab Eblinne ingine Guaire, the Slieve Felim Mountains in the North of Co. Limerick (Ods. p. 701 (716)), (ML. p. 24 (60), note k) (Onom. ‘s. eiblinne’, ‘s. eblinne ingine guaire’), §§19, 20
*Sliab Fúait, Sliabh Fuaid, the highest mountain in the Fews, a mountain range near Newtownhamilton, in the barony of Fews Upper, Fews Upper (Map), Co. Armagh (FM. i p. 26, note g) (Onom. ‘s. fúait’), §19
Smertaini, unidentified; in Co. Limerick, §19
*Temair na h-Árda, Tara Fort, in the townland of Tara, Tara, barony of Ards Upper, Ards Upper (Map), Co. Down (Onom. ‘t. na h-árda’), §38
*Temair Luachra = TemairLóchrae, possibly near Ballahantouragh (Béal Átha an Teamhrach) in the parish of Dysert, barony of Trughanacmy (Map), Co. Kerry (FM. v p. 1731, note c) (Onom. ‘t. luachra’, ‘t. lóchrae’), §§22, 23, 24, etc.
*Tráig Baili, strand at Dundalk, Co. Louth (FM. iv pp. 723-724, note r) (Onom. ‘t. baili’), §4
Tráig Tola, unidentified; in Ulster (Onom. ‘t. tola’), §4
Uaithne, the barony of Owney and Arra (Map), Co. Tipperary and the barony of Owneybeg (Map), Co. Limerick (Onom. ‘uaithne’), §53
*Uisnech, Ushnagh Hill, (Map – Uisneach), barony of Rathconrath (Map), Co. Westmeath (FM. i p. 166, note c) (Onom. ‘uisnech’), §4
Ulaid, Ulster, Ulstermen (Onom. ‘ulaid’), §2, 3, 4, etc.