View source for Connacht

{{Short description|Traditional province in the west of Ireland}}
{{About|the traditional Irish province}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=December 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}}
{{More citations needed|date=September 2014}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name                   = Connacht
| native_name                     = {{native name|ga|Connachta}}<ref name=foclóir>{{Cite web |url=https://www.focloir.ie/en/dictionary/ei/connacht |title=Connacht (also Connaught)|website=foclóir.ie |publisher=Foras na Gaeilge |access-date= 16 December 2022}}</ref>
| motto                           = 
| website                         = 
| image_shield                    = Coat of arms of Connacht.svg
| image_skyline                   =
| shield_size                     = 90px
| image_flag                      = Flag of Connacht.svg
| flag_size                       = 150px
| image_map                       = Connacht locator map.svg
| mapsize                         = 192px
| subdivision_type                = State
| subdivision_name                = [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]
| subdivision_type2               = [[Counties of Ireland|Counties]]
| subdivision_name2               = [[County Galway|Galway]]<br />[[County Leitrim|Leitrim]]<br />[[County Mayo|Mayo]]<br />[[County Roscommon|Roscommon]]<br />[[County Sligo|Sligo]]
| leader_title                    = [[Teachtaí Dála]]
| leader_name                     = 6 [[Independent politician (Ireland)|Independent]] TDs <br /> 5 [[Fine Gael]] TDs<br /> 4 [[Fianna Fáil]] TDs <br /> 4 [[Sinn Féin]] TDs
| leader_title2                   = [[Member of the European Parliament|MEPs]]{{Ref label|MEP|a|}}
| leader_name2                    = 2 [[Fine Gael]] MEPs<br /> 1 [[Sinn Féin]] MEP<br /> 1 [[Independent politician (Ireland)|Independent]] MEP
| coordinates                     = {{coord|54|-9|display=inline,title}}
| area_total_sq_mi                = 6,839
| area_total_km2                  = 17,713
|area_rank        = [[Provinces of Ireland#Demographics and politics|4th]]
| timezone                        = [[Western European Time|WET]]
| utc_offset                      = ±0
| timezone_DST                    = [[Irish Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset_DST                  = +1
| population_as_of                = 2022
| population_total                = 589,338
|population_rank  = [[Provinces of Ireland#Demographics and politics|4th]]
|population_density_km2 = auto
| population_footnotes            = <ref name=Census>{{Cite web |url=https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-syi/psyi2016/people/cen/ |title=Population by province |publisher=[[Central Statistics Office (Ireland)|Central Statistics Office]] |year=2016 |access-date=30 October 2018 |archive-date=31 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181031052758/https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-syi/psyi2016/people/cen/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| iso_code                        = IE-C<ref name=ISO>{{Cite web |url=http://www.iso.org/iso/iso_3166-2_newsletter_ii-1_corrected_2010-02-19.pdf |title=ISO 3166-2 Newsletter II-1 (including Irish language names for provinces and counties) |date=19 February 2010 |page=20 |publisher=[[International Organization for Standardization]] (ISO) |access-date=30 December 2012 |archive-date=3 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170203140951/http://www.iso.org/iso/iso_3166-2_newsletter_ii-1_corrected_2010-02-19.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
| area_code_type                  = [[Telephone numbers in the Republic of Ireland|Telephone area codes]]
| area_code                       = 07''x'', 09''x'' <small>(primarily)</small>
| postal_code_type                = [[Eircode]] routing keys
| postal_code                     = Beginning with F, H, N <small>(primarily)</small>
| footnotes                       =
a. {{Note|MEP}} Connacht is part of the [[Midlands–North-West (European Parliament constituency)|Midlands–North-West]] constituency; the five Connacht counties contain 36.2% of the population of this constituency.<ref>Census of Ireland 2016: 550,742 out of 1,521,592 total.</ref>
| name                            = 
}}
'''Connacht''', also spelled '''Connaught''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|ɒ|n|ɔː|t|,_|ˈ|k|ɒ|n|ə|(|x|)|t}},<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20190126220734/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/us/Connacht "Connacht"] (US) and {{Cite dictionary |url=http://www.lexico.com/definition/Connacht |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200211073158/https://www.lexico.com/definition/connacht |url-status=dead |archive-date=2020-02-11 |title=Connacht |dictionary=[[Lexico]] UK English Dictionary |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite Merriam-Webster|Connacht|access-date=January 11, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite American Heritage Dictionary|Connacht|access-date=11 October 2019}}</ref> {{langx|ga|Connachta}} {{IPA|ga|ˈkʊn̪ˠəxt̪ˠə|}} or {{lang|ga|Cúige Chonnacht}} {{IPA|ga|ˌkuːɟə ˈxʊn̪ˠəxt̪ˠ|}}), is the smallest of the four [[provinces of Ireland]], situated in the west of Ireland. Until the ninth century it consisted of several independent major [[Gael]]ic kingdoms ([[Uí Fiachrach]], [[Uí Briúin]], [[Uí Maine]], [[Conmhaícne]], and [[Delbhna]]).

Between the reigns of [[Conchobar mac Taidg Mór]] (died 882) and his descendant, [[Aedh mac Ruaidri Ó Conchobair]] (reigned 1228–33), it became a kingdom under the rule of the [[Uí Briúin]] Aí dynasty, whose ruling [[sept]] adopted the surname Ua Conchobair. At its greatest extent, it incorporated the often independent [[Kingdom of Breifne]], as well as [[vassal]]age from the lordships of western [[Mide]] and west [[Leinster]]. Two of its greatest kings, [[Tairrdelbach Ua Conchobair]] (1088–1156) and his son [[Ruaidri Ua Conchobair]] (c. 1115–1198) greatly expanded the kingdom's dominance, so much so that both became [[High King of Ireland]].

The Kingdom of Connacht collapsed in the 1230s because of civil war within the royal dynasty, which enabled widespread [[Hiberno-Norman]] settlement under [[Richard Mór de Burgh, 1st Baron of Connaught]], and his successors. The Norman colony in Connacht shrank from c. 1300 to c. 1360, with events such as the 1307 battle of Ahascragh (see [[Donnchad Muimnech Ó Cellaigh]]), the 1316 [[Second Battle of Athenry]] and the murder in June 1333 of [[William Donn de Burgh, 3rd Earl of Ulster]], all leading to Gaelic resurgence and colonial withdrawal to towns such as [[Ballinrobe]], [[Loughrea]], [[Athenry]], and [[Galway]]. Well into the 16th century, kingdoms such as Uí Maine and [[Tír Fhíacrach Múaidhe]] remained beyond English control, while many Norman families such as de Burgh, de Bermingham, de Exeter, de Staunton, became entirely [[Gaelicised]]. Only in the late 1500s, during the [[Tudor conquest of Ireland]], was Connacht [[shire]]d into its present [[Counties of Ireland|counties]].

Connacht's population was 1,418,859 in 1841.<ref>{{Cite book |title=The National Cyclopaedia of Useful Knowledge, Vol IV |date=1848 |publisher=Charles Knight |location=London |page=858}}</ref> Then came the [[Great Famine (Ireland)|Great Famine]] of the 1840s, which began a 120-year decline to under 400,000. The province has a population of just under 590,000 according to the preliminary results of the [[2022 census of Ireland|2022 census]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Geographic Changes |website=Central Statistics Office|date=23 June 2022 |url=https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-cpr/censusofpopulation2022-preliminaryresults/geographicchanges/|access-date=2023-01-03|language=en}}</ref>

[[Anglicisation]] was less prominent in the west of Ireland, and Connacht today has the highest number of [[Irish language]] speakers among the four Irish provinces. Currently, the total percentage of people who consider themselves as Irish speakers in Connacht is 39.8% (more than 202,000 persons).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cso.ie/px/pxeirestat/Statire/SelectVarVal/saveselections.asp|title=Percentage of Irish Speakers and Non-Irish Speakers Aged 3 Years and Over 2011 to 2016 by Sex, County and City, Statistical Indicator and Census Year|website=Central Statistics Office|access-date=2018-10-31|archive-date=10 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170710165025/http://www.cso.ie/px/pxeirestat/Statire/SelectVarVal/saveselections.asp|url-status=live}}</ref> There are [[Gaeltacht]] areas in Counties [[County Galway|Galway]] and [[County Mayo|Mayo]].

The province of Connacht has no official function for local government purposes, but it is an officially recognised subdivision of the Irish state. It is listed on [[ISO-3166-2]] as one of the four provinces of Ireland and "IE-C" is attributed to Connacht as its country sub-division code.<ref name=ISO /> Along with counties from other provinces, Connacht lies in the [[Midlands–North-West (European Parliament constituency)|Midlands–North-West]] constituency for elections to the [[European Parliament]].

== Name ==
The name comes from the medieval ruling dynasty, the ''Connacht'', later [[Connachta]], whose name means "descendants of Conn", from the mythical king [[Conn of the Hundred Battles]]. The name of the province in the Irish language is ''Connachta''.<ref name=foclóir /> Originally ''Connacht'' was a singular [[collective noun]], but it came to be used only in the plural ''Connachta'', partly by analogy with plural names of other dynastic territories like [[Ulaid]] and [[Laigin]], and partly because the Connachta split into different branches.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=O'Rahilly|first=T. F.|year=1942|title=Notes, Mainly Etymological|journal=Ériu|publisher=Royal Irish Academy|volume=13|page=157|jstor=30006811}}</ref> Before the Connachta dynasty, the province (''cúige'', "fifth") was known as [[Cóiced Ol nEchmacht]]. In Modern Irish, the province is usually called ''Cúige Chonnacht'', "the Province of Connacht", where ''Chonnacht'' is plural [[genitive case]] with [[Irish initial mutations#Lenition|lenition]] of the ''C'' to ''Ch''.

The usual English spelling in Ireland since the [[Gaelic revival]] is ''Connacht'', the spelling of the disused Irish singular. The official English spelling during [[British rule in Ireland|English and British rule]] was the [[anglicisation]] ''Connaught'', pronounced {{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|ɒ|n|ɔː|t}} or {{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|ɒ|n|ə|t}}.<ref name="Wells2008">{{Cite book|last=Wells|first=John C.|title=Longman Pronunciation Dictionary|year=2008|publisher=Pearson Longman|isbn=978-1-4058-8117-3|pages=s.v. Connacht; Connaught|no-pp=y}}</ref> This was used for the [[Connaught Rangers]], an Irish regiment in the [[British Army]]; in the title of Queen Victoria's son [[Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn|Arthur, Duke of Connaught]]; and the [[Connaught Hotel]], London, named after the Duke in 1917. Usage of the Connaught spelling is now in decline. State bodies use ''Connacht'', for example in [[Central Statistics Office (Ireland)|Central Statistics Office]] census reports since 1926,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cso.ie/en/media/csoie/census/census1926results/volume1/C%201926%20V1%20T1.pdf|title=Population of Saorstát Éireann and of each Province at each Census since 1881 and the Numbers of Marriages, Births and Deaths Registered in each Intercensal Period since 1871|work=Census 1926 Volume 1 – Population, Area and Valuation of each DED and each larger Unit of Area|publisher=CSO|access-date=15 June 2014|archive-date=14 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114121311/http://www.cso.ie/en/media/csoie/census/census1926results/volume1/C%201926%20V1%20T1.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> and the name of the [[Connacht–Ulster (European Parliament constituency)|Connacht–Ulster]] European Parliament constituency of 1979–2004,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1977/en/act/pub/0030/sched2.html|title=European Assembly Elections Act, 1977, Schedule 2|work=[[Irish Statute Book]]|access-date=15 June 2014|archive-date=27 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140727003020/http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1977/en/act/pub/0030/sched2.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1993/en/act/pub/0030/sec0009.html|title=European Parliament Elections Act, 1993, Section 9|work=[[Irish Statute Book]]|access-date=15 June 2014|archive-date=27 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140727010852/http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1993/en/act/pub/0030/sec0009.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1997/en/act/pub/0002/sched3.html|title=European Parliament Elections Act, 1997, Schedule 3|work=[[Irish Statute Book]]|access-date=15 June 2014|archive-date=27 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140727003433/http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1997/en/act/pub/0002/sched3.html|url-status=live}}</ref> although ''Connaught'' occurs in some statutes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2014/en/si/0091.html|title=S.I. No. 91/2014 – Statistics (Carriage of Passengers, Freight and Mail by Air) Order 2013.|work=[[Irish Statute Book]]|access-date=15 June 2014|archive-date=27 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140727022300/http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2014/en/si/0091.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1987/en/si/0200.html|title=S.I. No. 200/1987 – Garda Síochána (Associations) (Superintendents and Chief Superintendents) Regulations, 1987.|work=[[Irish Statute Book]]|access-date=15 June 2014|archive-date=27 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140727013005/http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1987/en/si/0200.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Among newspapers, the ''[[Connaught Telegraph]]'' (founded 1830) retains the anglicised spelling in its name, whereas the ''[[Connacht Tribune]]'' (founded 1909) uses the Gaelic. [[Connacht Rugby]] who represent the region and are based in [[Galway]], use the Gaelic spelling also.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.connachtrugby.ie/|title=Connacht Rugby Website|website=www.connachtrugby.ie|access-date=2016-07-28|archive-date=25 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160725111403/http://www.connachtrugby.ie/|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Geography and political divisions ==
The province is divided into five traditional [[Counties of Ireland|counties]], the fewest of any province. These are: [[County Galway|Galway]], [[County Leitrim|Leitrim]], [[County Mayo|Mayo]], [[County Roscommon|Roscommon]] and [[County Sligo|Sligo]]. Connacht is the smallest of the four Irish provinces both in terms of size and population. [[Galway]] is the only official city in the province.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-cpr/censusofpopulation2016-preliminaryresults/geochan/|title=Table B – Population of administrative counties, 2011 and 2016|website=Central Statistics Office|access-date=2018-10-31|archive-date=24 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210924154355/https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-cpr/censusofpopulation2016-preliminaryresults/geochan/|url-status=live}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|- style="background:#ddd;"
! County !! Population <br /> (2022) <br /> !! Area
|-  style="text-align:right; background"
|align=left|[[County Galway|Galway]] <small>(''Gaillimh'')</small>||276,451||{{convert|6151|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}
|-  style="text-align:right; background"
|align=left|[[County Leitrim|Leitrim]] <small>(''Liatroim'')</small>||35,199||{{convert|1590|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}
|-  style="text-align:right; background;"
|align=left|[[County Mayo|Mayo]] <small>(''Maigh Eo'')</small>||137,231||{{convert|5586|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}
|-  style="text-align:right; background;"
|align=left|[[County Roscommon|Roscommon]] <small>(''Ros Comáin'')</small>||70,259||{{convert|2548|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}
|-  style="text-align:right; background;"
|align=left|[[County Sligo|Sligo]] <small>(''Sligeach'')</small>||70,198||{{convert|1838|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}
|-  style="text-align:right; background;"
!align=left|Grand Total!!589,338!!{{convert|17713|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}
|}

=== Largest settlements ===
{{Largest population centres
| country = Connacht in 2022
| stat_ref = <ref name="F1015">{{cite web|url=https://data.cso.ie/table/F1015|title=Census 2022 Profile 1 - Population Distribution and Movements|publisher=[[Central Statistics Office (Ireland)|CSO]]}}</ref> 
| list_by_pop =
| div_name =
| div_link = Counties of Ireland{{!}}County
| city_1 =Galway
| div_1 = County Galway
| pop_1 = 85,910
| img_1 = The Tribes of Galway, Eyre Square.jpg

| city_2 = Sligo
| div_2 = County Sligo
| pop_2 = 20,608
| img_2 = Sligo Harbour 2020.jpg

| city_3 = Castlebar
| div_3 = County Mayo
| pop_3 = 13,054
| img_3 = Castlebar large view from above.jpg

| city_4 = Ballina, County Mayo{{!}}Ballina
| div_4 = County Mayo
| pop_4 = 10,556
| img_4 = Fly fishing, River Moy, Ballina, Mayo, Ireland.jpg

| city_5 = Tuam
| div_5 = County Galway
| pop_5 = 9,647

| city_6 = Westport, County Mayo{{!}}Westport
| div_6 = County Mayo
| pop_6 = 6,872
| img_6 = Westport (2409320233).jpg

| city_7 = Ballinasloe
| div_7 = County Galway
| pop_7 = 6,597

| city_8 = Roscommon
| div_8 = County Roscommon
| pop_8 = 6,555

| city_9 = Loughrea
| div_9 = County Galway
| pop_9 = 6,322

| city_10 = Oranmore
| div_10 = County Galway
| pop_10 = 5,819
| img_10 = Oranmore Castle.jpg

| city_11 = Carrick-on-Shannon
| div_11 = County Leitrim
| pop_11 = 4,743

| city_12 = Athenry
| div_12 = County Galway
| pop_12 = 4,603

| city_13 = Claremorris
| div_13 = County Mayo
| pop_13 = 3,857

| city_14 = Ballinrobe
| div_14 = County Mayo
| pop_14 = 3,148

| city_15 = Boyle, County Roscommon{{!}}Boyle
| div_15 = County Roscommon
| pop_15 = 2,915

| city_16 = Gort
| div_16 = County Galway
| pop_16 = 2,870

| city_17 = Ballyhaunis
| div_17 = County Mayo
| pop_17 = 2,773

| city_18 = Ballaghaderreen
| div_18 = County Roscommon
| pop_18 = 2,387

| city_19 = Castlerea
| div_19 = County Roscommon
| pop_19 = 2,348

| city_20 = Barna{{!}}Bearna
| div_20 = County Galway
| pop_20 = 2,336
}}

=== Physical geography ===
{{multiple image
| align = right
| direction = horizontal
| width = 
| total_width = 300
| perrow = 2
| image2 = Glencar waterfall01.jpg
| image1 = County Sligo - Carrowmore Passage Tomb - 20181022224551.jpg
| image4 = Cliffs-Of-Moher-OBriens-From-South.JPG
| caption1 = Passage Tomb, part of the Listoghil Complex at [[Carrowmore]], County Sligo
| caption2 = Glencar Waterfall, County Leitrim
| caption4 = The [[Cliffs of Moher]]
| caption_align = center
| footer =
| footer_align = centre
| alt1 = 
}}
The highest point of Connacht is [[Mweelrea]] (814&nbsp;m), in County Mayo. The largest island in Connacht (and Ireland) is [[Achill]]. The biggest lake is [[Lough Corrib]].

Much of the west coast (e.g. [[Connemara]] and [[Erris]]) is ruggedly inhospitable and not conducive for agriculture. It contains the main mountainous areas in Connacht, including the [[Twelve Bens]], [[Maumturks]], Mweelrea, [[Croagh Patrick]], [[Nephin Beg]], [[Ox Mountains]], and [[Dartry Mountains]].

[[Killary Harbour]], one of Ireland's fjords (the others being [[Carlingford Lough]] and [[Lough Swilly]]), is located at the foot of Mweelrea. [[Connemara National Park]] is in County Galway. The [[Aran Islands]], featuring prehistoric forts such as [[Dún Aonghasa]], have been a regular tourist destination since the 19th century.

Inland areas such as east Galway, Roscommon and Sligo have enjoyed greater historical population density due to better agricultural land and infrastructure.

Rivers and lakes include the [[River Moy]], [[River Corrib]], the [[River Shannon|Shannon]], [[Lough Mask]], [[Lough Melvin]], [[Lough Allen]] and [[Lough Gill]].

== History ==
=== Early history ===
[[File:Ireland early peoples and politics.gif|thumb|Early peoples and kingdoms of Ireland, c.800.]]
Up to the early historic era, Connacht then included [[County Clare]], and was known as [[Cóiced Ol nEchmacht]]. Later myths state the [[Fir Bolg]] ruled all Ireland before the [[Tuatha Dé Danann]] arrived. When the Fir Bolg were defeated, the Tuatha Dé Danann drove them to Connacht. Sites such as the [[Céide Fields]], [[Knocknarea]], [[Listoghil]], [[Carrowkeel Megalithic Cemetery]] and [[Rathcroghan]], all demonstrate intensive occupation of Connacht far back into prehistory.<ref>{{cite book |last=Meehan |first=Cary |date=2004 |title=Sacred Ireland |url= |location=Somerset |publisher=Gothic Image Publications |pages=580, 641 & 678|isbn=0 906362 43 1 |access-date=}}</ref> Enigmatic artefacts such as the [[Turoe stone]] and the [[Castlestrange stone]], whatever their purpose, denote the ambition and achievement of those societies, and their contact with the [[La Tène culture]] of mainland Europe. In the early historic era (c. A.D. 300 – c. A.D. 600), Ol nEchmacht was not a united kingdom but a region. It comprised dozens of major and minor [[túath]]; rulers of larger túatha ([[Maigh Seóla]], [[Uí Maine]], [[Aidhne]] and [[Máenmaige]]) were accorded high-king status, while peoples such as the Gailenga, Corco Moga and [[Senchineoil]] were lesser peoples given the status of [[Déisi]]. All were termed kingdoms, but according to a graded status, denoting each according the likes of lord, count, earl, king.

Some of the more notable peoples or ethnic groups included the following:
{{columns-list|colwidth=35em|
* [[Conmaicne]] – west coast and northern areas of County Galway
* [[Dartraige]] – north-west County Leitrim
* [[Delbhna]] – south County Roscommon, and both sides of the [[Lough Corrib]]
* [[Fir Craibe]] – County Clare (then part of Connacht) and south-west Galway
* [[Fir Domnann]] – west coast of Mayo
* [[Soghain]] – most of east-central County Galway
}}
By the 5th century, the pre-historic nations such as the [[Auteini]] and [[Nagnatae]] – recorded by [[Ptolemy]] (c. AD 90 – c. 168) in ''[[Geography (Ptolemy)|Geography]]'' – gave way to dynasties. This is demonstrated in the [[noun]] ''moccu'' in names such as [[Muirchu moccu Machtheni]], which indicated a person was ''of the Machtheni people.'' As evidenced by kings such as [[Mac Cairthinn mac Coelboth]] (died 446) and [[Ailill Molt]] (died c. 482), even by the 5th century the [[gens]] was giving way to kinship all over Ireland, as both men were identified as of the [[Uí Enechglaiss]] and [[Uí Fiachrach]] dynasties, not of tribes. By 700, ''moccu'' had been entirely replaced by ''mac'' and ''hua'' (later ''Mac'' and ''Ó'').

During the mid-8th century, what is now County Clare was absorbed into [[Thomond]] by the [[Déisi Tuisceart]]. It has remained a part of the province of [[Munster]] ever since.

The name Connacht arose from the most successful of these early dynasties, The [[Connachta]]. By 1050, they had extended their rule from [[Rathcroghan]] in north County Roscommon to large areas of what are now County Galway, County Mayo, County Sligo, and County Leitrim. The dynastic term was from then on applied to the overall geographic area containing those counties, and has remained so ever since.

=== Kingdom of Connacht ===
[[File:Www.wesleyjohnston.com-users-ireland-maps-historical-map1014.gif|thumb|right|250px|Ireland's main kingdoms as of 1014. Clockwise from the north-east they are [[Ulaid]], [[Airgíalla]], [[Kingdom of Mide|Mide]], [[Laigin]], [[Munster]], [[List of kings of Connacht|Connaught]], [[Kingdom of Breifne|Breifne]] and [[Aileach]]. The city-states of [[Dublin|Dyflin]], [[Wexford|Weisforthe]], [[Waterford|Vedrafjord]], [[Cork (city)|Corcach]] and [[Limerick|Luimneach]] are shown. Missing are kingdoms of [[Kingdom of Osraige|Osraighe]] and [[Uí Maine]].]]

The most successful sept of the [[Connachta]] were the [[O'Conor|Ó Conchobair]] of [[Síol Muireadaigh]]. They derived their surname from [[Conchobar mac Taidg Mór]] (c. 800 – 882), from whom all subsequent Ó Conchobair [[Kings of Connacht]] descended.{{Citation needed|date=February 2020}}

Conchobar was a nominal [[vassal]] of [[Máel Sechnaill mac Máele Ruanaid]], [[High King of Ireland]] (died 862). He married Máel Sechnaill's daughter, Ailbe, and had sons [[Áed mac Conchobair]] (died 888), [[Tadg mac Conchobair]] (died 900) and [[Cathal mac Conchobair]] (died 925), all of whom subsequently reigned. Conchobar and his sons' descendants expanded the power of the Síol Muiredhaigh south into [[Uí Maine]], west into [[Iar Connacht]], and north into [[Uí Fiachrach Muaidhe]] and [[Bréifne]].{{Citation needed|date=February 2020}}

By the reign of [[Áed in Gai Bernaig]] (1046–1067), Connacht's kings ruled much what is now the province. Yet the Ó Conchobair's contended for control with their cousins, the Ua Ruairc of [[Uí Briúin Bréifne]]. Four Ua Ruairc's achieved rule of the kingdom – [[Fergal Ua Ruairc]] (956–967), [[Art Uallach Ua Ruairc]] (1030–1046), [[Áed Ua Ruairc]] (1067–1087), and [[Domnall Ua Ruairc]] (1098–1102). In addition, the [[usurper]] [[Flaithbertaigh Ua Flaithbertaigh]] gained the kingship in 1092 by the expedient of blinding King [[Ruaidrí na Saide Buide]]. After 1102 the Ua Ruairc's and Ua Flaithbertaigh's were suborned and confined to their own kingdoms of Bréifne and [[Iar Connacht]]. From then until the death of the last king in 1474, the kingship was held exclusively by the Ó Conchobair's.{{Citation needed|date=February 2020}}

The single most substantial sub-kingdom in Connacht was [[Uí Maine]], which at its maximum extent enclosed central and south County Roscommon, central, east-central and south County Galway, along with the territory of Lusmagh in [[Munster]]. Their rulers bore the family name [[Kelly (surname)|Ó Ceallaigh]];<ref>{{Cite web| url = http://www.ucc.ie/celt/online/T100015/text002.html| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20010914100800/http://www.ucc.ie/celt/online/T100015/text002.html| archive-date = 2001-09-14| title = Part 2 of MAC CARTHAIGH'S BOOK}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.libraryireland.com/names/oc/o-ceallaigh.php|title=Ó Ceallaigh – Irish Names and Surnames|access-date=1 April 2016|archive-date=24 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210924154521/https://www.libraryireland.com/names/oc/o-ceallaigh.php|url-status=live}}</ref> its spelling sometimes varying slightly from scribe to scribe.

Though the Ó Ceallaigh's were never elevated to the provincial kingship, Uí Maine existed as a semi-independent kingdom both before and after the demise of the Connacht kingship.

=== Kings and High Kings ===
{{Unreferenced section|date=February 2020}}
[[File:Rory O'Connor Stone Carving.jpg|thumb|Stone carving of Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair from [[Cong Abbey]] ]]

Under kings [[Tairrdelbach Ua Conchobair]] (1088–1156) and his son [[Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair]] (c. 1120–1198), Connacht became one of the five dominant kingdoms on the island. Tairrdelbach and Ruaidrí became the first men from west of the [[River Shannon|Shannon]] to gain the title ''Ard-Rí na hÉireann'' ([[High King of Ireland]]). In the latter's case, he was recognised all over the island in 1166 as ''Rí Éireann'', or [[King of Ireland]].

Tairrdelbach was highly innovative, building the first stone castles in Ireland, and more controversially, introducing the policy of [[primogeniture]] to a hostile Gaelic polity. Castles were built in the 1120s at [[Galway]] (where he based his [[Naval fleet|fleet]]), [[Dunmore, County Galway|Dunmore]], [[Sligo]] and [[Ballinasloe]], where he dug a new six-mile canal to divert the river Suck around the castle of Dun Ló. Churches, monasteries and dioceses were re-founded or created, works such as the Corpus [[Missal]], the High Cross of [[Tuam]] and the [[Cross of Cong]] were sponsored by him.

Tairrdelbach annexed the [[Kingdom of Mide]]; its rulers, the [[Clann Cholmáin]], became his vassals. This brought two of Ireland's five main kingdoms under the direct control of Connacht. He also asserted control over [[Dublin]], which was even then being recognised as a kind of national capital.

His son, Ruaidrí, became king of Connacht ''"without any opposition"'' in 1156. One of his first acts as king was arresting three of his twenty-two brothers, ''"Brian Breifneach, Brian Luighneach, and Muircheartach Muimhneach"'' to prevent them from usurping him. He blinded Brian Breifneach as an extra precaution.

Ruaidrí was compelled to recognise [[Muirchertach Mac Lochlainn]] as Ard-Rí, though he went to war with him in 1159. Mac Lochlainn's murder in 1166 left Ruaidrí the unopposed ruler of all Ireland. He was crowned in 1166 at [[Dublin]], ''"took the kingship of Ireland ...[and was] inaugurated king as honourably as any king of the Gaeidhil was ever inaugurated;"'' He was the first and last native ruler who was recognised by the Gaelic-Irish as full [[King of Ireland]].

However, his expulsion of [[Dermot MacMurrough]] later that year brought about the [[Norman invasion of Ireland]] in 1169. Ruaidrí's inept response to events led to rebellion by his sons in 1177, and his deposition by [[Conchobar Maenmaige Ua Conchobair]] in 1183. Ruaidrí died at [[Cong, County Mayo|Cong]] in 1198, noted as the annals as late ''"King of Connacht and of All Ireland, both the Irish and the English."''

=== High medieval era ===
{{Unreferenced section|date=February 2020}}
Connacht was first raided by the [[Anglo-Normans]] in 1177 but not until 1237 did [[encastellation]] begin under [[Richard Mor de Burgh]] (c. 1194–1242). New towns were founded ([[Athenry]], [[Headford]], [[Castlebar]]) or former settlements expanded ([[Sligo]], [[Roscommon]], [[Loughrea]], [[Ballymote]]). Both ''Gael and Gall'' acknowledged the supreme lordship of the [[Earl of Ulster]]; after the murder of the last earl in 1333, the [[Anglo-Irish]] split into different factions, the most powerful emerging as Bourke of Mac William Eighter in north Connacht, and [[House of Burke|Burke]] of [[Clanricarde]] in the south. They were regularly in and out of alliance with equally powerful [[Gaels|Gaelic]] lords and kings such as [[Conor|Ó Conchobair]] of [[Síol Muireadaigh]], [[Kelly (surname)|Ó Cellaigh]] of [[Uí Maine]] and [[MacDermot|Mac Diarmata]] of [[Moylurg]], in addition to extraprovincial powers such as [[O'Brian|Ó Briain]] of [[Thomond]], [[FitzGerald dynasty|FitzGerald]] of [[Kildare]], [[O'Donnell dynasty|Ó Domhnaill]] of [[Tyrconnell|Tír Chonaill]].

Lesser lords of both ethnicities included [[McDonagh|Mac Donnchadha]], [[Costello (surname)|Mac Goisdelbh]], Mac Bhaldrin, [[Mac Jordan of Connacht|Mac Siurtain]], [[O'Hara (surname)|Ó hEaghra]], [[O'Flaherty|Ó Flaithbeheraigh]], [[Dowd|Ó Dubhda]], [[O'Shaughnessy|Ó Seachnasaigh]], [[Monahan|Ó Manacháin]], [[Joyce (name)|Seoighe]], [[O'Malley (surname)|Ó Máille]], [[Rourke|Ó Ruairc]], [[Madudan mac Gadhra Mór|Ó Madadháin]], [[Clan Barrett|Bairéad]], [[Mulrooney|Ó Máel Ruanaid]], [[Eidhean mac Cléireach|Ó hEidhin]], [[Finnerty|Ó Finnaghtaigh]], [[Fallon (surname)|Ó Fallmhain]], [[Welsh language|Breathneach]], [[Geraghty|Mac Airechtaig]], [[Naughton|Ó Neachtain]], [[Ó hAllmhuráin]], [[Fahy|Ó Fathaigh]].

[[File:Old-Galway.jpg|268px|thumb|left|[[Galway]] map of c. 1651 displaying the medieval town, which now forms the modern city centre]]

The town of [[Galway]] was the only significant urban area in the province. Its inhabitants governed themselves under charter of the king of England. Its merchant families, [[The Tribes of Galway]], traded not only with the lordships around them and in [[Lordship of Ireland|Ireland]], but with [[Kingdom of England|England]], France, and Spain. Its mayor enjoyed supreme power but only for the length of his office, rarely more than a year. Galway's inhabitants were of mixed descent, its families bearing surnames of Gaelic, French, English, Welsh, Norman and other origins.

Connacht was the site of two of the bloodiest battles in Irish history, the [[Second Battle of Athenry]] (1316) and the [[Battle of Knockdoe]] (1504). The casualties of both battles were measured in several thousand, unusually high for Irish warfare. A third battle at Aughrim in 1691 resulted in an estimated 10,000 deaths.

All of Connacht's lordships remained in states of full or semi-independence from other Gaelic-Irish and Anglo-Irish rulers until the late 16th century, when the [[Tudor conquest of Ireland]] (1534–1603) brought all under the direct rule of King [[James I of England]]. The counties were created from c. 1569 onwards.

=== Confederate and Williamite Wars ===
{{Unreferenced section|date=February 2020}}
During the 17th century representatives from Connacht played leading roles in [[Confederate Ireland]] and during the [[Williamite War in Ireland]]. Its main town, Galway, endured several sieges (see [[Sieges of Galway]]), while warfare, [[plague (disease)|plague]], famine and sectarian massacres killed about a third of the population by 1655. One of the last battles fought in pre-20th century Ireland occurred in Connacht, the [[Battle of Aughrim]] on 12 July 1691.

=== Early modern era ===
{{Unreferenced section|date=February 2020}}
{{Main|Republic of Connacht}}
[[File:Green harp flag of Ireland.svg|thumb|Flag of the short-lived "Republic of Connacht"]]
Connacht was mainly at peace between 1691 and 1798. In 1798 Connacht was a major backdrop to the [[Irish Rebellion of 1798]] when French forces under General [[Jean Joseph Amable Humbert|Jean Humbert]] of the [[French First Republic|French Republic]] landed in Killala, County Mayo to link up with the [[United Irishmen]]. Together, the French army and United Irishmen rebels defeated a force of Crown troops at the [[Races of Castlebar]] before proclaiming the [[Irish Republic (1798)|Irish Republic]], which later became better known as the "Republic of Connacht" as its area of effective control never extended beyond the province. The Republic, and the Rebellion itself, was effectively crushed at the [[Battle of Ballinamuck]].

A [[population growth|population explosion]] in the early 18th century was curbed by the [[Irish Famine (1740–1741)|Irish Famine]], which led to many deaths and some emigration. Its memory has been overshadowed by the [[Great Famine (Ireland)]] one hundred years later.

=== The Famine to World War I ===
Connacht was the worst hit area in Ireland during the [[Great Famine (Ireland)|Great Famine]], in particular, counties Mayo and Roscommon. In the Census of 1841, the population of Connacht stood at 1,418,859, the highest ever recorded. By 1851, the population had fallen to 1,010,031 and would continue to decline until the late 20th century.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.libraryireland.com/articles/DeclinePopulationThom1861/index.php|title=1861 Census: Decline of the Population in Ireland (Famine, Disease and Emigration)|website=www.libraryireland.com|access-date=2020-02-09|archive-date=28 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200128064110/https://www.libraryireland.com/articles/DeclinePopulationThom1861/index.php|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Politics ==
[[Connacht–Ulster (European Parliament constituency)|Connacht–Ulster]] was one of Ireland's four regional [[constituency|constituencies]] for elections to the [[European Parliament]] until it was superseded in 2004 by the constituency of [[North-West (European Parliament constituency)|North-West]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/government-parties-hope-to-woo-electorate-during-six-months-1.1128832|title=Government parties hope to woo electorate during six months|date=2004-01-05|newspaper=The Irish Times|access-date=2018-11-06|archive-date=24 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210924154529/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/government-parties-hope-to-woo-electorate-during-six-months-1.1128832|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Irish language ==
{{further|Connacht Irish|History of the Irish language}}
The [[Irish language]] is spoken in the [[Gaeltacht]] areas of Counties Mayo and Galway, the largest area being in the west of County Galway. The Galway Gaeltacht is the largest Irish-speaking region in Ireland, taking in [[Gaeltacht Cois Fharraige|Cois Fharraige]], parts of [[Connemara]], [[Conamara Theas]], the [[Aran Islands]], [[Joyce Country|Dúithche Sheoigeach (Joyce Country)]] and the [[Galway City Gaeltacht]]. Irish-speaking areas in County Mayo can be found in [[Iorras]], [[Acaill]] and [[Tourmakeady]].

According to the 2016 census, Irish is spoken outside of the education system on a daily basis by 9,455 people in the Galway County Gaeltacht areas.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-cp10esil/p10esil/ilg/|title=Census of Population 2016 – Profile 10 Education, Skills and the Irish Language. Irish Language and the Gaeltacht. The Gaeltacht|website=Central Statistics Office|access-date=2018-11-06|archive-date=8 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201208225214/https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-cp10esil/p10esil/ilg/|url-status=live}}</ref>

There are 202,667 Irish speakers in the province, over 84,000 in Galway and more than 55,000 in Mayo.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cso.ie/px/pxeirestat/Statire/SelectVarVal/saveselections.asp|title=Percentage of Irish Speakers and Non-Irish Speakers Aged 3 Years and Over 2011 to 2016 by Sex, County and City, Statistical Indicator and Census Year|website=Central Statistics Office|access-date=2018-11-06|archive-date=10 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170710165025/http://www.cso.ie/px/pxeirestat/Statire/SelectVarVal/saveselections.asp|url-status=live}}</ref> There is also the 4,265 attending the 18 [[Gaelscoileanna]] (Irish language primary schools) and three [[Gaelcholáiste]] (Irish language secondary schools) outside the Gaeltacht across the province.{{Citation needed|date=April 2013}} Between 7% and 10% of the province are either native Irish speakers from the Gaeltacht, in Irish medium education or native Irish speakers who no longer live in Gaeltacht areas but still live in the province.{{Citation needed|date=February 2020}}

== Sport ==
=== Gaelic games ===
[[Gaelic football]] and [[hurling]] dominate sport in Connacht with 212 [[Gaelic Athletic Association]] affiliated clubs in the province.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.joe.ie/sport/infographic-the-number-of-gaa-clubs-in-every-county-in-ireland-and-every-continent-around-the-world/420318|title=Infographic: The number of GAA clubs in every county in Ireland and every continent around the world|access-date=24 November 2015|archive-date=25 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151125045713/http://www.joe.ie/sport/infographic-the-number-of-gaa-clubs-in-every-county-in-ireland-and-every-continent-around-the-world/420318|url-status=live}}</ref>

Gaelic football is played throughout the province with the five counties annually competing in the [[Connacht Senior Football Championship]] to determine the provincial champion. [[Galway GAA|Galway]] are the most successful side in Connacht with 48 Connacht titles and 9 [[All-Ireland Senior Football Championship]]. [[Mayo GAA|Mayo]] have been the dominant force in the province in recent years winning a five-in-a-row of Connacht titles from 2011 to 2015, and have regularly reached the semi-finals and finals of the [[All-Ireland Senior Football Championship]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Rooney|first=Declan|date=2015-07-19|title=Mayo crush Sligo for Connacht five-in-a-row|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2015/0719/715869-mayo-c/|language=en |website=[[RTÉ]]}}</ref> No football team from Connacht has won the All-Ireland since [[Galway GAA|Galway]] in [[2001 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship|2001]].

Hurling in Connacht mostly played in County Galway. [[Galway GAA|Galway]] is the only team in the province to compete in the [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship]] winning the [[Liam MacCarthy Cup]] five times. The [[Galway GAA|Galway hurling team]] compete in the [[Leinster Senior Hurling Championship]] due to the lack of competition in the province.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/gaa/hurling/galway-moved-leinster-championship-more-2029995|title = Dublin have had better preparation ahead of Leinster final clash with Galway claims Cathal Moore|date = 6 July 2013|access-date = 24 November 2015|archive-date = 25 November 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151125024627/http://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/gaa/hurling/galway-moved-leinster-championship-more-2029995|url-status = live}}</ref>

=== Rugby union ===
Connacht is represented by [[Connacht Rugby]] in the [[United Rugby Championship]] and the [[Rugby Champions Cup]]. Connacht home games are played in the [[Galway Sportsgrounds]] in [[Galway]]. During the 2015/2016 Season of the Pro12, Connacht, for the first time, reached the play off stages of the competition and won the final in Edinburgh against rivals Leinster. It was their first ever Pro12 title.

Connacht-based teams who have played in the [[All-Ireland League (rugby union)|All-Ireland League]] include [[Buccaneers RFC]], [[Galway Corinthians RFC]], [[Galwegians RFC]], [[Ballina RFC]] and [[Sligo RFC]].

=== Other sports ===
Some other sports are overseen by provincial bodies, including in association football, where the [[Connacht Football Association]] is the governing body for a number of [[Connacht Senior League (association football)|Connacht league]] and [[Connacht Senior Cup (association football)|cup competitions]]. Traditionally there have been two main senior men's teams from the province that compete on a national level, [[Galway United F.C.]] and [[Sligo Rovers F.C.]] Both clubs have won various domestic honours. 

[[Cricket]] is a minor, but growing, sport within the province. The [[Connacht Cricket Union]], founded in 2010, is the governing body for cricket in the province.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/cricket-ireland-expands-into-the-west-1.1248946|title=Cricket Ireland expands into the west|date=2010-11-08|newspaper=[[The Irish Times]]|access-date=2018-10-26|archive-date=12 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412141453/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/cricket-ireland-expands-into-the-west-1.1248946|url-status=live}}</ref> There are cricket clubs based in Ballaghaderreen, Ballyhaunis, Galway, and Sligo. Connacht does not currently enter a team into the [[Cricket in Ireland#Domestic cricket|provincial competitions]].

== See also ==
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
*[[Galway city]]
*[[Connacht Senior Football Championship]]
*[[Grace O'Malley]]
*[[Kings of Umaill]]
*[[Kings of Uí Fiachrach Muaidhe]]
*[[Kings of Uí Maine]]
*[[Kings of Luighne Connacht]]
*[[Kings of Sliabh Lugha]]
*[[Corca Fhir Trí]]
*[[List of Cities and Towns in Connacht by population]]
*[[Coin of Connaught]]
*[[Connaught Rangers|The Connaught Rangers]]
*[[Duke of Connaught]]
*[[Kings of Connacht]]
*[[Lords of Connaught]]
{{div col end}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
{{NIE Poster|Connaught}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20130526045359/http://census.cso.ie/sapmap2011/Results.aspx?Geog_Type=GA&Geog_Code=03#T3_300 Census 2011 – Galway Gaeltacht stats]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20130526050557/http://census.cso.ie/sapmap2011/Results.aspx?Geog_Type=GA&Geog_Code=05#T3_300 Census 2011 – Mayo Gaeltacht stats]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20131006183717/http://www.ahg.gov.ie/ie/Straiteis20BliaindonGhaeilge/Foilseachain/Staid%C3%A9ar%20Cuimsitheach%20Teangeola%C3%ADoch%20ar%20%C3%9As%C3%A1id%20na%20Gaeilge%20sa%20Ghaeltacht%20%28achoimre%29.pdf Gaeltacht Comprehensive Language Study 2007]
*[http://www.gaelscoileanna.ie/assets/Staitistic%C3%AD-2010-2011_Gaeilge.pdf Gaelscoil stats]

{{wiktionary|Connacht}}
{{Ireland counties}}
{{Connaught}}
{{Kingdom of Connacht}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Connacht| ]]
[[Category:Provinces of Ireland]]