The kingdom of Uí Fháilghe, Uí Failge (early spelling) or Uíbh Fhailí (modern spelling) (/ i:wʲ ˈalʲi: /) was a Gaelic-Irish kingdom which existed to 1550, the name of which (though not the territory) is preserved in the name of County Offaly (Irish: Contae Uíbh Fhailí), Ireland.
County Offaly was constructed from elements of a number of ancient Irish Kingdoms of which Uí Failghe was one amongst such as Mide (present day west Offaly) and Munster (present day south Offaly). In modern territorial boundaries the kingdom today would correspond with County Offaly east of Tullamore, western parts of Kildare and parts of north east Laois. The name was also retained in the names of two baronies in County Kildare that formed part of the kingdom, Offaly (Ophaley) East and Offaly (Ophaley) West.
Uí Failghe may have existed as a kingdom from the early historic era. It takes its name from the legendary king Failge Berraide (fl. AD 507–514). It successfully fought off encroachments by the Uí Néill, the Eóganachta, and the Normans however with loss of territories. "The traditions of warfare in the fifth century between Ui Neill and Laigin in Brega and Mide ... [show] the Ui Failgi certainly suffered most material damage through the loss of territory in Offaly and Westmeath".[1]
From the mid eleventh century its ruling dynasty adopted the surname Ua Conchobhair Failghe (modern spelling: Ua Conchúir Fhailí) or O Connor Faly (they were unrelated to the other notable Ua Conchobhair dynasties of Connacht and Kerry). Their seat was originally in Rathangan but moved to Daingean with the Norman arrival. On the death of the last de facto king, Brian mac Chathaoir Uí Chonchúir Fhailí, about 1556, the Parliament of Ireland passed the Settlement of Laois and Offaly Act and Ui Failghe was divided between Queen's County, King's County and County Kildare during one of the Plantations of Ireland. Upon Irish independence in 1922, 'King's County' was renamed County Offaly in commemoration of Uí Failghe.[2]
Description
Uí Failge, according to O’Donovan
The old territory of Offaly is described by O'Donovan in his Ordnance Survey letters.[2] O'Donovan notes the territory of Ui Failghe, or Ophaley, comprising the baronies of: Geshill, Upper and Lower Philipstown, Warrenstown, and Collestown all in King's County; Ophaley (or Offaley) in County Kildare; Portnahinch and Tinahinch in Queen's County.[2] O'Donovan cites O'Heerin as giving that Offaly was originally subdivided into seven cantreds: Tuath Geisille (Geashill); Hy-Regan (Tinahinch); Clann-Maoilughra (Upper Philipstown and Portnahinch); Clar Colgain (Lower Philipstown); Tuath-Maighe or Tethmoy (Coolestown and Warrenstown); Magh Aoife, or Fearann Uí Mhurcháin, (northern half of the Ophaley); Tuath Leighe (southern half of Ophaley).[2]
^Byrne, Francis John "Irish kings and High Kings" (Dublin : Four Courts, 2001; 2nd ed.), p.142.
^ abcdeIreland's History in Maps - The Tribes of Laigen Leinster Series
Hui Failgi relations with the Hui Neill in the century after the loss of the plain of Mide, Alfred P. Smyth, Etudes Celtic, 1975, pp. 501–523.
Ui Fhailghe, Uibh Fhaili, etc.; The Name of Offaly, Nollaig O Muraile, in Offaly Heritage:Journal of the Offaly Archaeological and Historical Society, pp. 9–11, volume one, 2003
January 08, 2023
kingdom, failghe, kingdom, fháilghe, failge, early, spelling, uíbh, fhailí, modern, spelling, ˈalʲi, gaelic, irish, kingdom, which, existed, 1550, name, which, though, territory, preserved, name, county, offaly, irish, contae, uíbh, fhailí, ireland, county, of. The kingdom of Ui Fhailghe Ui Failge early spelling or Uibh Fhaili modern spelling i wʲ ˈalʲi was a Gaelic Irish kingdom which existed to 1550 the name of which though not the territory is preserved in the name of County Offaly Irish Contae Uibh Fhaili Ireland County Offaly was constructed from elements of a number of ancient Irish Kingdoms of which Ui Failghe was one amongst such as Mide present day west Offaly and Munster present day south Offaly In modern territorial boundaries the kingdom today would correspond with County Offaly east of Tullamore western parts of Kildare and parts of north east Laois The name was also retained in the names of two baronies in County Kildare that formed part of the kingdom Offaly Ophaley East and Offaly Ophaley West Contents 1 Background 2 Description 3 See also 4 ReferencesBackground EditUi Failghe may have existed as a kingdom from the early historic era It takes its name from the legendary king Failge Berraide fl AD 507 514 It successfully fought off encroachments by the Ui Neill the Eoganachta and the Normans however with loss of territories The traditions of warfare in the fifth century between Ui Neill and Laigin in Brega and Mide show the Ui Failgi certainly suffered most material damage through the loss of territory in Offaly and Westmeath 1 From the mid eleventh century its ruling dynasty adopted the surname Ua Conchobhair Failghe modern spelling Ua Conchuir Fhaili or O Connor Faly they were unrelated to the other notable Ua Conchobhair dynasties of Connacht and Kerry Their seat was originally in Rathangan but moved to Daingean with the Norman arrival On the death of the last de facto king Brian mac Chathaoir Ui Chonchuir Fhaili about 1556 the Parliament of Ireland passed the Settlement of Laois and Offaly Act and Ui Failghe was divided between Queen s County King s County and County Kildare during one of the Plantations of Ireland Upon Irish independence in 1922 King s County was renamed County Offaly in commemoration of Ui Failghe 2 Description Edit Ui Failge according to O Donovan The old territory of Offaly is described by O Donovan in his Ordnance Survey letters 2 O Donovan notes the territory of Ui Failghe or Ophaley comprising the baronies of Geshill Upper and Lower Philipstown Warrenstown and Collestown all in King s County Ophaley or Offaley in County Kildare Portnahinch and Tinahinch in Queen s County 2 O Donovan cites O Heerin as giving that Offaly was originally subdivided into seven cantreds Tuath Geisille Geashill Hy Regan Tinahinch Clann Maoilughra Upper Philipstown and Portnahinch Clar Colgain Lower Philipstown Tuath Maighe or Tethmoy Coolestown and Warrenstown Magh Aoife or Fearann Ui Mhurchain northern half of the Ophaley Tuath Leighe southern half of Ophaley 2 This gives the kingdom an approximately triangular shape with a southwest corner in the Slieve Bloom Mountains a southeast corner at Dun Ailinne and the River Boyne and its tributaries Milltown River Yellow River marking its northern border Keating cites the following family branches as belonging to the o Conchubhar Fhailghe o Caomhanaigh o Tuathalaigh o Branaigh Mac Giolla Phadraig o Duinn o Diomasaigh o Duibhir o Conchuir Of Offaly and North Wexford Muintear Riain 2 See also EditKings of Ui Failghe Irish kings Gaelic Ireland LoigisReferences Edit Byrne Francis John Irish kings and High Kings Dublin Four Courts 2001 2nd ed p 142 a b c d e Ireland s History in Maps The Tribes of Laigen Leinster Series Hui Failgi relations with the Hui Neill in the century after the loss of the plain of Mide Alfred P Smyth Etudes Celtic 1975 pp 501 523 Ui Fhailghe Uibh Fhaili etc The Name of Offaly Nollaig O Muraile in Offaly Heritage Journal of the Offaly Archaeological and Historical Society pp 9 11 volume one 2003 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kingdom of Ui Failghe amp oldid 1114460244, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
