Glossary of terms

Cenn áit—lordship centre (lit. ‘head place’).

Crannog—defended settlement constructed on a man-made island.

Tír Maine—area consistent with the barony of Athlone, Co. Roscommon, plus the civil parishes of Ahascragh, Killosolan and Killian, Co. Galway.

Trícha cét—unit of landholding in medieval Ireland (lit. ‘thirty hundreds’).

Uí Maine—area largely consistent with the modern diocese of Clonfert. The medieval O’Kelly lords of modern south Roscommon and east Galway are traditionally known as the kings of Uí Maine.