ERAINN (Medieval Ireland)

This is the name of one of the ancient peoples of Ireland. It is first attested in the Geography of Claudius Ptolemaeus of Alexandria (c. 150 a.d.) as Ivernioi. Ptolemy also records the "town" Ivernis, "the Fertile Place," from which is derived the name of the island, Ivernia, and the people, Ivernioi. Ptolemy’s Ivernioi inhabited the southwest of Ireland. According to the genealogists the Erainn are found in other parts of Ireland as well. Genealogical theory changed over time so the status of the Erainn and their relationships with other peoples evolved in accordance with the evolving political landscape. The main groups classed as Erainn were the Corcu Lofgde, in historical times located in southwest County Cork, the Muscraige of Cork and Tipperary, the Corcu Duibne of Kerry, the Corcu Baiscinn of west Clare, the Dal Riata of north Antrim, and the Dal Fiatach (Ulaid) of County Down. The genealogists considered the Erainn, the Laigin, and the Cruthin as being distinct races. In the historical period the Ulaid (Ulstermen) were the most prominent of the Erainn and they, together with the Laigin (Leinstermen), were regarded as "free races." By the eighth century the Eoganachta of Munster and the Connachta (in particular the Uf Neill) had come to dominate the island and they made up the third "free race," the Feni. In time the Erainn were brought within the circle of the Feni as a relative of "Mil."

It is clear that the Erainn had been politically important in the proto-historic period, although in the historical period many of them had been reduced to servile or politically subordinate status. In the saga literature the ancestor of many of the Erainn, Conaire, was depicted as the just and beneficent king of Tara. Lugaid mac Con of the Corcu Lofgde was said to have been king of Tara and was succeeded by Cormac mac Airt (ancestor of the Uf Neill). The Corcu Lofgde (Loigodewa, "the people of the Calf Goddess") were the most important of the Munster Erainn. Genealogical theory claimed that they shared power with the more recent Eoganachta. Early tradition suggests that the Osraige, a major people between Munster and Leinster, had been ruled by or were in alliance with the Corcu Lofgde. Indeed they may have been closely related. This association was disrupted during the sixth century, however, when the Eoganachta rose to dominate Munster with the help of the Uf Neill. It is likely that the Corcu Lofgde had been dominant in Munster, if not beyond the province, before the rise of the Eoganachta and for this reason had been given the status of most-exalted vassals of their new masters. By the twelfth century the Corcu Lofgde still retained an element of prestige when the core of their territory became the diocese of Ross. St. Ciaran of Saigir, patron of the Osraige, was one of their kin. Their lord during the later Middle Ages was O’Driscoll, whose wealth was based upon the sea, trading in wine with Gascony.

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