Hi
I am a researcher of Clan Aedacain and descend from County Longford Keegans.
My research has Loughrea near two important places for the Clan Aedagain, Duniry and Athenry.
Athenry being the place where a Mac Aeducain Chief, Brehons to the O'Conchobair was killed in the two Battles of Athenry, 1249 (Baethgalach Mac Aedacain) and 1316 (John Mac Aedhagain) .
Duniry being home to Aed mac Conchbair Mac Aodhagáin (1330–1359). Mac Aodhagáin was a member of a bardic family who originated from Park, in north County Galway. He was a scribe and based in Dún Daighre, (Duniry), County Galway, and was an ollamh in law for the Clanricarde.
I will include a snippet of my research into the homeland of Clan Aedacain, circa 1200AD
Annála Connacht
1260.3
Macwilliam Burke made an expedition against Fedlimid [O Conchobair]. He came to Roscommon, from where he sent a raid into Cruffon, plundering the Clann Aedacain.
Cruffon
Located in Galway, containing the Barony of Killian and a large part of Ballymoe.
Clann Aedhagáin
MacEideadhain or Mac Aodhagain (anglicised "MacEgan") were chiefs of Clan Diarmada, a district in the barony of Leitrim, county Galway; and had a castle at Dun Doighre, now "Duniry." The MacEgans were Brehons in Connaught, and also in Ormond; and many of them eminent literary men. The Mac Egans supplied hereditary Brehons to different parts of Ireland. MacEgans were marshals of the forces to the O'Kellys, princes of Hy-Maine; and of the same descent as the O'Kellys, namely that of the Clan Colla.
The Uí Maine were traditionally thought to be descended from Colla da Crioch, one of the Three Collas. Their original homeland was Oirghialla.
The O Kellys of east Galway are an offshoot of the wider Uí Maine family group, whose ancestor has traditionally been held to be one Maine mór, son of Eochaidh feardaghiall, chief of a tribe of people who established themselves as the dominant group in the south-eastern region of Connacht by about the end of the fifth century.[ii]
The ancient Irish tract ‘life of St. Grellan’ describes this family grouping as ‘the race of Colla da Chríoch,’ from whom they were said to be descended and relates the story of their migration from Oirghialla in Ulster, by way of an area known as Druim clasach and Tír Maine (later Anglicised ‘Tir Many’) in what would later be known as County Roscommon. In this account their leader Maine, son of Eochaidh, is said to be of Goedilic descent, a race of people who came to dominate the earlier tribes of Connacht. The historian Rev. Patrick K. Egan, however, in his book ‘the Parish of Ballinasloe’ was of the opinion that it is more likely that Maine mór and his tribe originated in County Roscommon rather than Ulster and were of an earlier race settled in Ireland before the Goedelic.
Maine mór and his descendants appear to have subjugated many of the existing tribes and peoples that inhabited their land and established a petty kingdom, covering much of the later east Galway named from their progenitor as Uí Maine (later Anglicised as ‘Hy Many’). The senior-most family descended from this Maine was the O Kellys, from whom the rulers or chieftains of Uí Maine were drawn.
DNA testing of descendants of Uilliam Buidhe Ó Cellaigh, however, speculates that the Uí Maine were not descended from the Three Collas.[2]
Kind Regards
Col Keegan
Australia