Kingdom of Meath - Westmeath, Annaly and Longford County - Ancient Kingdoms

The Administrative County of Longford was part of various Kingdoms over the last 2000 years.

The name Longford is an Anglicization of the Irish  Longphort  , from  long  (meaning "ship") and  port  (meaning "port" or "dock"). This name was applied to many Irish settlements of Viking origin and eventually came to mean fort or camp in the Irish language, and so  Longfort  the modern Irish spelling, is the name of this town, which was one of the only Gaelic Irish market towns to arise without first being founded by Vikings or Normans.

Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, in 1172 the kingdom of Meath was awarded to Hugh de Lacy as the Lordship of Meath by Henry II of England in his capacity as Lord of Ireland.

The territory corresponding to County Longford was a frontier colony of the Kingdom of Meath in the first millennium. Between the fifth and twelfth centuries the Longford territory was called the kingdom of Tethbae

By an act of the 34th of Henry VIII, the ancient palatinate of Meath was divided. The Eastern portion of Meath retained its former name and the western being called Westmeath. County Longford was a portion of the WestMeath but cut out into a distinct county by Queen Elizabeth in 1586. The Feudal Lords of WestMeath controlled much of the region both before and after the separation. The Counties of Meath and Westmeath Act ( Henry VIII 34 ) of 1542, proclaimed Westmeath (which then included Longford which separated in 1586) a county, separating it from Meath. https://www.libraryireland.com/topog/W/Westmeath.php

Longford, whose early name was Annaly or Anghaile, or Anale, was a principality of the Chiefs/O’Farrells and was originally part of County Meath. In the 12th century it was granted by Henry II to Hugh de Lacy, who started an English colony there. On the division of Meath into two counties in 1543, Annaly was included in Westmeath. By 1569 Annaly was a shire under the name of Longford. Area 421 square miles (1,091 square km). Pop. (2002) 31,068; (2011) 39,000.

With an area of 1,091 km2 (421 sq mi) and a population of 40,810, Longford is the fourth smallest of the 32 counties in area and second smallest in terms of population.[1] It is also the fourth smallest of Leinster’s 12 counties by size and smallest by population. It borders counties Cavan to the northeast, Westmeath to the east and southeast, Roscommon to the west and southwest and Leitrim to the northwest.

Barony of Longford - Longford barony derives its name from the town of Longford (from Irish Longphort Uí Fhearghail, "O'Fergal's riverside camp".[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longford_(County_Longford_barony)

Administrative Barony History 

Anciently Longford barony was part of a territory known as Cairpre Gabra (northern Tethbae), and later Muinter Anghaile (Annaly). The present barony is formed from the territory of Moytra (Clongesh and part of Templemichael parishes), and the territory of Clan Hugh (in Killoe parish). Carn Clonhugh was a ritual centre for the Clan Hugh (Clann Aoidh).[2]

Anghaile or ** Annaly," which was formed out of the ancient territory of Teffia, comprised the whole of the County Longford, and was the principality of OFarrell. His chief residence was the town of << Longford," anciently called Longphort-Ui-Fhearghail or the Fortress of 0*£arrelL This territory was divided into Upper and Lower Annaly: the former comprising that part of Longford south of Granard, and a part of the County Westmeath, was possessed by O'Farrell Buidhe (or OTarrell the Yellow) ; the latter, or that portion north of Granard, was possessed by O'Farrell Ban (or O'Farrell the Fair). 

The success of the Anglo-Norman arms in Ireland was more immediately felt by the native princes and chiefs inhabiting the districts adjoining Dublin. In 1172 Henry the Second despoiled Murchard O’Melaghlin of his kingdom of Meath, and granted it to  Hugh De Lacy, who was appointed Lord Palatinate  of the territory. De Lacy divided it among his various chiefs, who were commonly called “De Lacy's Barons

Longford-Westmeath Grants to Lord Delvin or Lord Westmeath

Do. OXIII.— " Grant from the King to Sir Richard, Lord Delvin.— Longford County. Licence to hold a Thursday market and a fair on  the 1st of August, and two days at Longford, with the usual courts  and fees ; rent, 6s. 8d., English. — 7 Dec. 3rd."   

1552- Grant to Nugent - Friars of the Order of St. Dominick  Longford County Domincan Convent - THE Convent of Longford was founded in the year 1400, for Dominicans, by O'Ferrall, Prince of Annaly. # This house had been celebrated for the number of its learned men, three of whom, Connor, Diarmed and Henry Duffe M“Fechehan, became victims to the general plague which raged throughout Ireland in 1448.

This place did not exist longer than the year 1580, because we find it recorded that this monastery, with certain lands attached, was granted in the fourth year of the reign of Philip and Mary — that is, about the year 1552 — to one Richard Nugent and his heirs, in capite, for ever.

St Brigid’s Priory was dissolved and was the first property in Longford to be the subject of a crown grant when in 1556–7 it was given to Richard Nugent, Baron of Delvin.

Westmeath Ancient Boundaries with only Baron Delvin.

• County Longford  [6 baronies] - Leinstermap
  
  
• All - The territory now called Longford anciently went by the names Teathba and Teffia. North Teffia was inhabited by the Glasraidhe, descendants of early inhabitants. By the 5th century Longford was divided into north and south. The northern territory became known as Cairbre Gabhra, after Cairbre a son of Niall of the Nine Hostages. Another son received the southern half. In the 8th century the Conmaicne (e.g. O'Farrells) invaded the Ui Cairbre and by the 11th century were the dominant people as the territory became known as Annaly, and was considered part of the province of Meath. It was controlled in the north by the O'Farrel Ban (White) and in the south by the O'Farrel Buy (Yellow). Longford was formed as a county (shire) in 1576.
• Ardagh - was formed from the territory of Sleughtwilliam (Mostrim parish), the territory of Clangillernan (Templemichael), and from part of the church lands in the parishes of Ardagh and Ballymacormick.
• Granard - Anciently this was part of a territory known as Cairpre Gabra, alias Corpre Tethbae, or North Teffia. The barony was formed from the territory of Clanshane (Granard, Abbeylara, and part of Colmcille parishes), and from the territory of Slewcarberie (Clonbroney and part of Colmcille parishes). Muintir Geradhain was located on the west side of Lough Gowna, where Ó Geradhain (Gaynor or MacGinver) is mentioned as lord here in the 11th century.
• Longford - was formed from the territory of Moytra (Clongesh and part of Templemichael parishes), and the territory of Clan Hugh (in Killoe parish). Anciently it was part of a territory known as Cairpre Gabra, and later Muinter Anghaile (Annaly).
• Moydow - (Magh Dumha) Anciently it was part of a territory known as Tethba. The barony was formed from the territories of Clanawlye (Ardagh & Moydow), and parts of the territories of Moybrawne (Taghshinny parish), Clanconnor (part Kilcommock, part Cashel parishes), and Muintergalgan.
• Rathcline - was formed from the territories of The Callow (left bank of Shannon, Lanesboro to Ballymahon) and the territory of Clanconnor (part Kilcommoc, part Cashel). Callow is derived from the gaelic 'Caladh na hAnghaile', a former name for the barony, located between Muinter Gillagan and the river Shannon. O Fergail (O'Farrell) is noted as chief here. O'Faughny is also noted as chief of the Callow (Callo) into the 16th century.
• Shrule or Abbeyshrule - was formed from parts of the territories of Moybrawne (Shrule), Clanconnor and Muintergalgan. Moybrawne was anciently part of a territory known as Bregmaine, or Mag Bregmaine, in Cenél Maine.
• Misc - The O'Cuinn (O'Quinn) was a principal chief of Teffia and later held a small territory in Annaly centered at Rathcline.