Coleraine (barony)

This article is about the geographical unit. For the noble title, see Baron Coleraine. For other uses, see Coleraine (disambiguation).
Coleraine
Cúil Rathain[1] (Irish)
Cowlrain or Cowlraine[2][3] (Scots)

Location of Coleraine, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland.
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Country Northern Ireland
County Londonderry

Coleraine (named after Coleraine town) is a barony in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland.[4] It connects to the north-Londonderry coastline, and is bordered by five other baronies: Keenaght to the west; Loughinsholin to the south; North East Liberties of Coleraine, Dunluce Upper, and the Kilconway to the east.[4] Before its creation it was once a territory known as "Firnacreeve".[5]

The largest settlement in the barony is the town of Coleraine, which also crosses into the North East Liberties of Coleraine.

History

Before its creation, the barony of Coleraine was a region known as Firnacreeve, or simply "the Creeve", a territory ruled at an early date by the Airgiallan people of Fir na Craoibhe (English: men of the tree/branch).[6] At some point another Airgillian people known as the Fir Li (claimed to be descended from Colla Uais) came to dominance in the region between the River Moyola and the Camus (south of Coleraine), covering over half the territory of Firnacreeve.[6] The Fir Li would eventually fall under the domination of the Cenél nEóghain by the 9th century, with many being driven east across the River Bann.[6]

The Cenél mBinnigh and later Clan Conchobhair, both of the Cenél nEóghain migrated to the Creeve.[6] By the beginning of the 12th century the Ó Catháin (English: O'Kane), a sept of the Cenél nEóghain, had risen to dominance over the territories of Keenaght and the Creeve by subjegating the Ó Conchobhair (English: O'Connor) of the Cianachta Glenn Geimin) and the Fir na Craoibhe.[7] Along with the territory of Tirkeeran; Keenaght and Firnacreeve would form the basis of Tircahan or Cathanaght both signifying "O'Cahans Country"[8] and later County Coleraine.

References in the Annals

In the Annals, Fir na Craoibhe is noted by various names such as; Craebh, Craoibhe, Craibh, Firna-craibhe, and so on:[6]

From Fir na Craoibhe to Coleraine

When the baronies of Ulster were being created by the English around 1585, the general manner was to name it after the principal town or castle lying within the area, in which they held their court, baron, and gaol. This resulted in Firnacreeve being renamed as the barony of Coleraine, just as Kinel-Ferady was renamed Clogher.[5]

List of main settlements

List of civil parishes

Below is a list of civil parishes in the barony of Coleraine:[9]

References

  1. ↑ Flanaghan, Deirdre & Laurence; Irish Place Names, page 194. Gill & Macmillan, 2002. ISBN 0-7171-3396-6
  2. ↑ North/South Ministerial Council – 2003 annual report in Ulster-Scots
  3. ↑ North/South Ministerial Council – 2001 annual report in Ulster-Scots
  4. 1 2 PRONI Baronies of Northern Ireland
  5. 1 2 Where did and do the Ui Mhic Carthainn live?, Edward Cartin
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Ireland's History In Maps - The Three Collas and the Kingdom of Airghialla (Oriel)
  7. ↑ Clan Kane.net - Clan Conchobhair
  8. ↑ Ireland's History In Maps - Baronies
  9. ↑ Map of the baronies and civil parishes of County Londonderry

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